trans_9 | (no subject)

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Daja fired up the forge, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment as she watched the burning flames. It had taken her some time to fully clean our the dust and other strange debris, organise and clean the tools, and get everything into working order - but she now had a place where she could work her craft.

But now it was time to get to work. Metals were scarce, but she had found some pieces of scrap-metal that were workable, and so she began the task of melting them down into something she could use.

She wondered if anyone would respond to her message – she hoped she had managed to use the omnicomm correctly – or perhaps even see the smoke from her forge, and visit her today.

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Sheik nods, settling in the chair with the lyre in his arms. (Somewhere in the background, Zelda chuckles, teasing, [That thing really is your baby, isn't it?]. He ignores her good-naturedly.) "Thank you - I'm not sure why it corroded in the first place, a... thing tried to grab it. When I next looked at it, it had the cracks."

Hyrule has ammonia-based monsters. Who knew?

But, of course, there is business to discuss - there's an expectant look on his face as he waits, running his thumb along an un-corroded section.

Daja frowned. "That is unusual. I can't see any traces of magic in your lyre, so if it was a magical attack, the magic is long gone now."

She settled down into a chair next to him. "I must apologise for the lack of refreshments," she said. The consumption of good food and tea was a critical part of negotiations in Trader culture, and it's absence would normally be an insult. "But it seems that food that isn't that - well I'm not sure what to call the strange blue foodstuff - is just as hard to come by as usable metals."

"Since we'll be negotiating trade together, might I know your name?" Daja said, with a slight smile.

Sheik nodded, reaching across to extend a hand. "My apologies," he said with a faint smile, "It's Sheik. And that's alright - good food is scarce here."

He was so grateful for Zelda's insistence on getting tea when they had visited Earth. So, so grateful.

Right, back to business. "For the repair and the protection, what sort of payment would you be looking for?"

"It's good to meet you, Sheik," Daja said.

With a polite expression, Daja looked at him. She liked this man, with his strange ears and his occasional flicker of magic. She could see that his instrument - and presumably, his music - was intensely important to him. As a blacksmith, Daja considered herself an artist, and she also respected other artists. They too created things of beauty, like she did. She was willing to give him a good price.

But Daja was an expert barterer. She showed none of this on her face. "As we have no currency, money is out of the question. Perhaps you have something you would like to trade?"

Bartering - this was something he was accustomed to, as well. With a thoughtful expression, he glances down and strokes one of the strings. "I have very little I may offer," he says with a carefully rueful smile. "Perhaps I may offer you a song, once the repairs are complete?"

"One song?" Daja said with a smile. "I would like to think that my skills are worth more than one song. After all, not only will I be restoring your beautiful lyre to it's former glory, I will be ensuring that it will not decay in the future."

Daja itched for some tea to drink from, to sip from when she wanted to pause.

"I would not expect anything less than seven songs for such work."

"Seven songs can be weary to listen to," he answered smoothly - and yes, he was definitely itching for tea as well. Just the thing for negotiations. (And with meals. And during conversation. And in general.) "Perhaps two songs, so that they remain fresh for you?"

"But surely you are an accomplished musician, to own such a beautiful instrument," Daja countered. "Skilled enough to hold an audience in the palm of your hand for however long you wish."

"Five songs."

"The hand that wields a sword may have little talent, no matter how finely crafted the weapon. All due must go to the craftsman - or craftswoman - who originally made it," he says, smiling, even though he's still thinking hard.

"Perhaps three songs - and a cup of tea?" he offers. "Real tea, not Sensorium tea."

Daja had been considering finalising the deal at four songs - but tea. It wouldn't be Trader tea, of course, but she would very much love to be able to drink some.

"You have a deal," she told Sheik. "If you don't mind leaving your lyre with me, I should be finished in about four hours."

Actually, she would probably only need three - but Daja wanted to give herself some extra time, in case she got other visitors.

A genuine smile spread across Sheik's face, replacing the polite one he had worn during the bartering. He was getting his lyre repaired! That was certainly worth some of his precious tea (and made the bite of leaving the instrument with a virtual stranger just that bit more tolerable).

"Four hours," he repeated, already knowing he'd be spending half the time pacing the city. "Once it's complete, would you like your songs and your tea then? I can bring it with me when I return. Or shall we arrange some other time?"

Daja's glad to see his delight - and she will enjoy restoring such a finely crafted object to it's former glory.

"Perhaps in a few days," she suggested. "Since I may have a few other visitors coming over today."

"That's perfectly fine," he smiles, giving it one last caress before carefully setting it down, scooping up the bandages that had been wrapped around it. "I will be back in four hours, then - and thank you."

"It's my pleasure," Daja said, meaning it. She stood up and showed him to the door, before returning to pick up the lyre and begin carefully spreading her magic into the metal, to strengthen and renew it, and return it to it's former glory.

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