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The atmosphere inside Daja's forge was calm today - she had no pressing projects of her own, she was free to fully devote her time to Hiccup's education. It was a new experience for her, teaching smithing. She had certainly been a teacher before, with students learning magic or staff fighting from her, but she had never taught her own craft.

Admittedly, despite the fact that she frequently found herself wishing that Hiccup would show more appreciation for the aesthetics of metalcraft, she found she enjoyed the experience. Even if there were the occasional frustrations, it filled her with pride to see him grow, and to know that he had the potential to grow even further.

Hiccup's current project though, was clearly an important one to him. Astrid's shield had been significantly damaged, but it was not beyond repair. It would take skill, but it was not beyond Hiccup's abilities.

"You know, if you don't mind I could add some magic into the shield," she suggested. "It would not be as strong as magic worked into something I forged myself, but I could nonetheless make it more resistant to rust and breaking."

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"That'd be great actually," Hiccup said, wiping at his forehead uncomfortably with his arm. "Astrid's the type to, well, slam right into something head on. Her shields are never going to hold up well with the way she fights unless they're crafted well at the start."

It had been a long few days. Between Zuko running around crazy, getting attacked by animal girl, and just the general oddness that was the good ship Stacy, it was nice to have a break doing work he enjoyed. It was something to concentrate on, rather than thinking about sick friends and nearly having his head clawed off by a cat-monster.

"She needs a shield that is strong, and durable," Daja agreed, nodding. "It's possible, with skill and quality materials to forge a shield that will withstand significant damage. But even the best shields can be worn down - I'm afraid Astrid's has already been weakened significantly. My magic can return some of it's former strength, but it won't be the same as it was when it was newly forged."

As always, magic could to much, but as always it needed good, strong metals and quality crafting as it's foundation. She knew that her magic amazing and impressed Hiccup, but she hoped that working with her would teach him that her magic was nothing without the essential skills of smithing.

"I think...I think I'm going to make her a new one," Hiccup said. "Though I'll patch this up so at least she still has something in the meantime."

"You spoil me," came Astrid's voice from the entrance as she let herself in, after overhearing a bit of Daja and Hiccup's chatter.

What, you guys were expecting a knock? Surely they expected her visit, of course.

She respectfully greeted Hiccup's teacher with a nod, then straightened her posture and gave them a smug smile and thumbed her nose. "You know me. Can't fight the slamming."

Daja looked up at the new arrival. "You must be Astrid," she said, smiling and returning Astrid's nod with a polite bow. "I'm glad to finally meet you - Hiccup has spoken of you often."

It might have just been the heat of the fires, but Hiccup flushed all over at mention of that, and it was all the more visible given he wasn't wearing a shirt under his blacksmith's apron.

Okay, so maybe it wasn't the heat, it was more that he knew full well he tended to never shut up about his girlfriend. He chose right then to pay special attention to the shield. My, wasn't his work interesting at the moment.

Clearing his throat, he said to Astrid, "Considering you busted it up protecting me from crazy shapeshifter girl, you deserve a little spoiling."

Her eyebrows raised and she blinked, appearing surprised for a fraction of a moment, then touched her chin. Hiccup could probably feel those eyes leering at his back. "Really? I can't imagine what he'd have to say," she hummed, feigning naivete.

Clearly it was beginning to look like Hiccup is going to positively enjoy his time spent with these ladies.

Putting that aside for now, Astrid resumed getting acquainted with Daja, offering the woman a good-natured smile. "Hiccup has mentioned you on occasion as well. He praises your style, so can't say I'm not a little excited to finally see it firsthand." And wield it after it's completed.

Hope you don't mind if she claims this bench over here as she observes, Daja. "How's it coming along so far?"

Edited 2011-05-07 11:33 (UTC)

Daja had been just as amused to watch Hiccup's embarrassment, when Hiccup mentioned how the shield has been damaged, she frowned. "Crazy shapeshifter girl?" she repeated, not liking the sound of Hiccup getting into danger. Danger enough to damage Astrid's shield, at that.

"I can find a few examples of my work, if you like," she offered to Astrid. "But the repairs on your shield are not mine - they are Hiccups."

"There was this girl," Hiccup explained. "She was one of the people sick with that age thing, I think, and she went crazy and was trying to kill me. She could turn into different creatures," Hiccup said, in between the clanking thuds of his hammer.

Astrid nodded and crossed her legs, chin rested on the palm of her hand. "Sure. I've got the time." Collaboration on her shield repairs or not, Daja was at least welcome to intrigue Astrid by showing off anything cool and anything she likely has never seen before.

When the topic switched over to the dramatic shapeshifting matter, she left the talking to Hiccup and glimpsed around, her eyes wandering aimlessly and taking in the interior of Daja's forge. Well, until her sights happened to settle somewhere... namely Hiccup as he showed that material who's boss.

Okay, and her eyes might've lingered, suddenly a little fascinated with his work.

You know. Something was different and... different about him.

"I see," Daja said, feeling a little concerned. Someone who could transform into different creatures sounded dangerous indeed - but Hiccup at least appeared uninjured, as did Astrid.

Her shield must have served them well.

But Daja's frown turned into a barely hidden when she noticed the way that Astrid was looking at Hiccup. "I'll go fetch a few of my projects for you, Astrid. Hiccup, try to not get too distracted while I retrieve them," she said, amused, before exiting the forge.

Distracted by what? He had a lot of work to do. And he was the one shirtless here, rather than Astrid.

"I know, I know. Nose to the grindstone. Well, more like axe to the sharpening stone--we are in a forge," he said, turning back to concentrate on his work.

It was only out of the corner of his eyes that he saw Astrid staring.

He looked up. Was she looking at his work or...? No, she'd been staring at him. Huh.

"What?" He tried to look down at his own face. "Do I have soot on my face?"

Leave it to Astrid to remain as cool as ice under these conditions. But it was a little warm, admittedly.

There was a indistinguishable gaze fixed on him, and she slowly shook her head, shrugging a shoulder. "You look hot." Now isn't that vague. Bet he's too oblivious to figure out if she meant because of the forge heat or something else.

"Carry on," she said just as nonchalant, gesturing to his latest project, then briefly rubbed under her nose, hiding her faint smile, while she patiently waited for his mentor.

Edited 2011-05-11 13:07 (UTC)

"Well, it's a forge. You know. Hot in here."

Oblivious. Totally oblivious.

She snerked, the smile still on her face. It's cute when he's concentrating. "Take a break if it gets too much. I won't tell on you."

Astrid shifted, this time her eyes drawn to his busy hands. Ready for another one of those few and far between expressions of appreciation, Hiccup? "...and thank you."

"For what?"

Seriously, for what? Fixing the shield that got busted up when you defended him from a monstrous girl-creature? And making you a new one?

All of the above... and everything else. "I'm just making it a priority to thank you for all your work."

Her eyes glanced at his face, before returning down to whatever his clever hands were currently up to. "Make it cool - I want everyone to recognize it and know who constructed it."

At that moment, Daja returned, holding a small collection of metal pieces - no weapons, but there was a small copper statue of a dog (based off of her memories of Little Bear), the magic-seeing mirror she had crafted using Living Metal, and one of the protective amulets that she had been crafting for the Magical Department.

"In time, Hiccup may develop a recognisable style," Daja said, placing her items carefully on one of the benches. "But the most effective way of promoting a smith's skill and ability is the good word of their customers."

"A recognizable style other than 'vaguely sturdy,' you mean," Hiccup joked and then went back to concentrating solely on his work.

Astrid tried not to look too terribly disappointed at the lack of menacing weaponry here, and tucked her bangs behind her ear, considering something thoughtful to say.

"They are... pretty," she said eventually.

Edited 2011-05-14 05:52 (UTC)

"You're work is more than vaguely sturdy, Hiccup," Daja said, amused. "Though I would like to see you bring more artistry into your work."

Astrid's disappointment didn't escape Daja's notice, but she was perceptive enough to guess at the reason for it. "I imagine you are more interested with weaponry?" she said to her. "I'm afraid at the moment I do not have any commissions for weapons, so I have none that I have forged to show you. But if you are familiar with Kaya's shield, or Ronnae's second sword, then you will know some of my work. And there is also a helmet, which I beleive was gifted to someone named 'Ruffnut'."

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