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[thearchitect] image/text

[ The photograph attached to the post depicts the front of a small shop called Polydegmon's Lapidary and Brew. It's got that 'new store' look, where everything looks pristine and nothing has been touched by grime or dust settling in the corners yet. It's not the most terribly modern-looking place (look, the rent was cheap).

He wouldn't even be advertising it here if a certain someone didn't bug him to. Honestly, he could do without the publicity... ]

I am now accepting commissions as a goldsmith and alchemist. My hours are from midday to six, weekdays only. Or whatever it is you call them. No, my prices are not negotiable.

[ Attached beneath the above terse remark is the address to the store. ]

Additionally, I will NOT accept requests for items to use in warfare of any sort. At all. If I find that you have done so then I will make sure you regret it for the remainder of your days.

(ooc: Please respect that a character will suffer some kind of IC consequence if they try and use his products as IC war propaganda or in serious IC war efforts. Doubly so if they deceive him for it.

[CW: Discussions of warfare in certain threads. Please use discretion when reading.]

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[Just a nervous but eager and excited boy. Izuku gives a smile, his eyes still wide with how amazing he does think this place is. It's cool...! He follows where he's beckoned although his eyes are looking all-around at the new shop still.]

Erm- I was exploring some of the caverns outside of the city. They're deep in the forests but I managed to find some useful ones inside of geodes when I went with some friends.

[He'll put his bag on the counter. And rummage around for a moment before pulling out a carefully packed up selection of crystal clear purple amethysts and a strange colored blue one he isn't sure what kind it is. Yet!]

[ He peers at the amethysts with interest. Perhaps he is a tiny bit biased, but he does adore the colour. ]

I may have to make a trip of my own sometime then. I would have thought them more difficult to find.

[ With his workspace cleared, he now brings out the container where he's been saving all the gold pieces that have been rendered useless in the course of his work. Easy fodder for alchemists like them to reshape. ]

What do you hope to create from these stones?

Yeah, I was surprised when I found them. I think crystals are more common here than in my homeworld, at least...!

[Who knew! In a fantasy world that crystals would be a hot commodity!]

After doing some research I did find out that certain crystals can enhance magic or at least support it in ways like stabilizing it or concentrating it. Like light magic...

[He glances curiously at the gold pieces as well.]

If you're working on goldsmithing, combining the two might be useful!

Indeed. Gems such as these would be used as the focii for thaumaturgy in my world. Black magic. Sorcery. The way the crystals grow is important, as it can magnify the aether one channels through it and thus--

[ Off he goes on a short ramble about the use of crystals where he's from. Deku is free to interrupt him - or take notes as the case may be. The same magical rules may not apply in Avalon but his spiel is in-depth and educational. ]

...In any case, crafting a piece of jewellery from what we have is the common usage. But if you would like a weapon that focuses your power then mayhap we can manage some sort of setting for a staff.

[Don't worry he won't be doing any interrupting. Instead, Izuku will be pulling out a notebook from seemingly nowhere (anime hammerspace?) and starts writing notes about everything that Emet-Selch is saying. With a nod of his head at each word, hanging on the information with a curious mutter on his lip! As someone who can also go off on a ramble about all sorts of things, he can relate. What a nerd. But this stuff is great to him!]

Aether... If those sorts of concepts are the same as the ones here then... Older, specially shaped crystals would be more efficient, right?

[He looks up with a nod. A sparkle in his eye!]

Do you think we could set something into a broadsword instead?

Gemstones such as the amethysts you have brought have particular structures which make them more suited to channelling the aether of certain combat styles.

[ He hums thoughtfully, tapping his chin as he eyes Deku's...well, rather scrawny figure. Comparatively speaking anyway. ]

But that, of course, may well be different here. Are you a swordsman, boy? You don't look as though you have the upper body strength to swing such a weapon.

Eh-?

[... He doesn't?! Izuku looks sheepish and embarrassed for a moment as he sweats and pats his upper arms. Yes- he does look like a frail nerdy nerd at first glance, doesn't he? He's not short but he's not particularly tall either. With a boyish face and lean frame.

... But-] I- I'm stronger than I look... I hope! I mean- I am!

[He has a hard time selling or complimenting himself sometimes but it's true!! Underneath the loose-fitting tshirt he's actually... very toned.]

I've been training with a two-handed broadsword and it's been going okay! I was thinking if I could enhance it with magic or the stones... It might be useful too!

I see. In that case...

[ He walks over to a box shelf which contains a few books and pulls one out, flipping pages until he comes to the entry on properties of gemstones and crystals. ]

Amethysts will enhance the power of siphoners and light magic users. Are you either one of those?

[............

He hangs his head so hard.]

I don't have either of those... my secondary skill is blood magic...

[They'll have to get different crystals!]

[ Glancing towards the boy, he cannot help but chuckle at their open dejection. He replaces the book on the shelf and heads towards an open doorway that leads to the back room. ]

Wait there a moment. I shall be right back.

[ There is the sound of wooden drawers opening and shutting. Muttering in a foreign language. Then finally he emerges holding some darker gemstones. ]

Hematite is the stone you want. When you wish to affix these to your sword, come to me and I will help you set them. We can use your amethysts as practice.

[Izuku looks both relieved and grateful. He perks right back up and a renewed sparkle appears in his eyes.]

T-thank you, Emet-Selch-san! I really appreciate it! Next time I go out looking for crystals I'll be sure to get a few for you in return...!

[He's thankful, he wants to upgrade his weapons for sure!]

Is it complicated to work with crystals and melding them into weapons?

As an alchemist? No. As long as you can clearly visualise the end result, you can create almost anything, it seems.

[ He takes a seat at the bench, gesturing for Izuku to pull up a second stool. The only reason there are two to begin with is because Hythlodaeus enjoys sitting by and watching him work. ]

I normally prefer working with my hands. For today, however, I shall use alchemy.

[ Unless the boy really wants to see him cut and refine an amethyst by hand...? ]

[Izuku is eager to sit on the stool and scoot over. Obviously with a little nervous energy but he wants to see how other alchemists work. He's an attentive student!]

I struggled with metal at first, I'm still trying to get used to visualizing what I want it to be in my head. But I'm getting better at that, too.

[He nods.]

Edited 2021-06-09 16:45 (UTC)

It may be difficult if you are already accustomed to more mundane ways of shaping metal such as smithing or forging. There are some fundamental differences between alchemy and smithing however: a smith has to fold and hammer the metal they shape and it is the process which gives each tool or weapon its unique properties. Alchemy takes the raw material and fashions it directly into the end result, but the final product lacks any of the folds in steel which go into forging a strong blade. 'Tis the difference between something decorative and something functional.

[ It is, of course, a bit more varied than that. His example only accounts for swords. For now, however, Emet-Selch takes a small piece of raw amethyst and some gold scrap, arranging them on top of a piece of paper with an alchemical circle he had prepared yesterday. ]

Nyx. [ At his call, the gwiber bounds up, landing on a perch made just for it. He closes his eyes and focuses on the paper, holding a hand above it. The circle begins to glow-- then flashes as he snaps his fingers. A small earring is left behind, set with a very rough and inelegant-looking jewel. It is still clearly raw. ]

You can see here that the amethyst yet retains its raw veneer. Alchemy will not remove the impurities from your ingredients on its own. Not like this at least. [ He taps the circle on the paper. ]

[Izuku watches and listens carefully. He doesn't flinch when the magic goes off as the spark of alchemy magic is something he's getting used to now.]

Right, we don't remove anything from the transformation we only reshape it into another shape or use. If we want to add or remove something we have to also add or remove something...

[The law of equivalent exchange, is it?]

Indeed. That is my understanding of it. On a greater scale, you will find that creating walls out of the earth leaves an equivalent crater behind. So keep that in mind when landscaping.

[ Wouldn't want your new wall to topple over because of a poor foundation! ]

Any questions thus far?

I wouldn't want to ruin the gardening...

[Haha-

But he shakes his head so far.]

I think I understand. Emet-Selch-san, have you ever had anything backfire on you?

Edited 2021-06-21 19:10 (UTC)

'Emet-Selch' alone is fine. 'Tis a title on its own.

[ But more to the point-- ]

I have not yet had a design backfire on me. They simply do not work if I have drawn them improperly, you see. And for the rest...I was already a peerless creator in my time. Visualising what I wish to make is child's play.

Sorry...! Emet-Selch.

[He's not used to adjusting to not use Japanese honorifics most of the time!]

That's what I thought... That's amazing. Sometimes I am worried I'll have something backfire on me. But so far, I've been okay with most of it. [He nods.] Thank you for helping me.

You may wish to practise meditation. Focus your mind on the visualisation of a single idea to the exclusion of all else. I know not whether erroneous thoughts can affect the end result, but 'twas often the case amongst my people that the slightest distraction could alter that which they made.

[ He nudges over one of the raw amethysts and some gold scrap with a gesture. ]

Try and make something out of this. Go on.

Edited 2021-06-30 17:10 (UTC)

Meditation...? I've never tried anything like that before. I'm not sure...

[He's not too sure if he would be any good at something like meditation. He tends to overthink- He has so many things going on in his head all the time, thoughts, worries, ideas, that it would probably be something like...

But maybe he can keep that idea for later? Maybe that's the problem Izuku has sometimes! Too much thinking! ... He quickly nods and takes the raw amethysts.]

Alright.

[He focuses and tries to conjure the shape he wants to make in his mind. With a small tickle of green electric-looking magic... the amethyst and gold warp and form into a small charm. Almost like those phone charms girls hang off their phones.]

... This looks alright...?

[ Being from a world which doesn't indulge in things like mobile phone charms, Emet-Selch gives the thing a puzzled look. But ultimately he can find nothing wrong with
it so he nods. ]

Quite. You have the correct idea. What is it?

[He nods at the confirmation. Alright, he thinks he can get the hang of this tricky business...]

Ahh... It's a phone charm. Back home girls like to hang these off their phones for decoration? Erm- Phones, like the devices they gave us here!

How curious. I didn't know you could hang anything off of one.

[ He takes out his device to inspect it. He did have a phone in his prior world but he cannot recall a spot to attach any sort of charm - and these devices are even more inscrutable, not even being square. ]

Only girls? Why not boys?

[It might be tricky to add a charm to the device but with some fandangling it should be easy enough. Maybe he should add a longer chain to attach it or something.]

I mean- boys can do it too! I used to think about getting an All Might charm for my phone. I think a lot of girls like getting them, that's all. I haven't seen the trend happening here.

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