A day in the Life-Open

[Sigmund]

Morning dawned bright and early, and as always, Sigmund was awake to watch the sunrise. It was a daily ritual of his. He sipped his cup of tea, watching the sun come up with stormy grey eyes. His golden hair hung in a casual disarray around his head. His home and workshop was located in the mountains of the western United States, the Rockies.  It was a forested area that he loved, away from people, politics and stupidity. Occasionally he would receive visitors, most often people looking to have something made from him, though more often than not he'd receive his work orders through phone or email. Never stopped people from arriving to meet him in person, or to have a would be apprentice show up at his doorstep and demand that he teach them. Not that he ever did. Dealing with other people wasn't really something he cared to do. He preferred solitude, and not having to argue with people over why he didn't need to get involved in their fights. Recruiters periodically showed up as well, and he always ignored them and set them packing. He had a low tolerance for stupidity, and fighting wasn't really his thing. He hated the fact that these people were always fighting stupid and pointless wars, always repeating the cycle of history. It had been going on for millenia, and he doubted it'd change anytime soon. He went about his morning routine after the sun had crested the horizon. going through his usual workout and training regime, before making himself a standard, if hearty, breakfast. He spent some time in his study, replying to pricing inquiries and specialty orders, drafted a response to an Iustus garrison looking for a mass order to outfit their troops, replied to yet another Resistance recruitment letter, and sent out his order to restock his supplies to continue his craft. He sat down and sifted through the local news as he drafted up a list for things he'd need to head back into town for at some point, specialty supplies he liked to use to make better weapons and armor, plus he needed to delivery his grocery list. His eyes flicked irritably across the Iustus propaganda that always accompanied his emails and he closed it out with a slight sound of disgust. He was getting annoyed with them after all. They only seemed to care about purist and elitist beliefs about the human race. He held no particular fondness for the Yajuu himself, but neither did he declare a holy vendetta against them. People were people as far as he was concerned, they just had different appetites. And while there were some bloodthirsty and vicious Yajuu out there that he'd put down without a second thought if he had to, the same could be said of humans. There were good and bad in every group or race, didn't mean all of them should be lumped together and wiped out for it. Either way, it wasn't his problem.

Within half an hour he was all dressed and ready to go. He wore his dark trousers and black leather boots, his shins covered by blackened silver shin guards. His shirt was black as well, covered by leather fingerless gloves from his palms to his elbows, with blackened silver bracers around his forearms. Over his chest he wore a red leather jacket armored with more silver and kevlar. He strapped his sword belt on, a long slender sword of pure, blessed silver hanging at his hip. He tightened the strap on it, and mounted his motorcycle, kicking it into gear as he rolled down the winding mountain road, heading for town. He arrived in short order, noting the various people out and about around the outskirts of the town, doing what they could to get by. He didn't care much for vultures and scavengers, but he didn't hold it against them. It was an unfortunate aspect of the world they lived in now, and they only had few options left to them in order to live. He pulled his bike into the general parking reserved for the general populace. He could have much more exclusive parking if he'd wanted, been a high ranking member of the Iustus, but he hated the fighting, and wasn't blindly devoted to their cause. He wandered through the market area, browsing over the merchandise they had, taking his time in selecting the best materials he could find there. He left his grocery list with his delivery agency as he browsed, before settling down in a small cafe to have his lunch. He received few glances, as most there knew him by sight if not reputation. He was a common face in the market, usually showing up once a week or so. He idly ate his food, savoring his tea as it was finished off, watching the bustle of people around him, enjoying the sense of community that he didn't get in the mountains.

[Valus]

Galen hadn't slept the night before, he had finished working somewhere near his apartment as he walked from his bathroom, wearing shorts and a towel on his head from the quick shower that he had. He grabbed his cellphone to check the messages after kicking the bottom of the table he grabbed it in his hands. He saw a little red light flashing. He missed a call from his boss. He shrugged, it was his day off so he wasn't going to worry about work as he shut his phone off and tossed it onto the couch. It was a small apartment, easy to get to from work as he was usually around as he grabbed a whiskey bottle and had a morning shot before giving himself coffee. He cracked his neck as he started to walk to the kitchen and turn on the coffee maker as he put the used glass in the sink and grabbed just a coffee mug as he waited for coffee to brew he went back to the washroom and brushed his teeth as he looked in the mirror and took his towel off.

He tossed the towel on the ground as he spat the foam out and rinsed his mouth as he grabbed his 'civil' gear, his cloak and pants a shirt as he put them on he looked at the weapon he had created. It wasn't cutting it anymore, he needed a new one. Picking up his own Tablet that he uses for work he checked his funds. Not much, but enough that he can get something nice as he yawned a bit as he walked around the place for a moment, he moved back to the kitchen and poured himself a nice cup of coffee at home while he was reading up on the news. Same boring war stuff for the most part, Galen had access to news feeds that mainly no one did as he shook his head and tossed the tablet on the bed as he grabbed his sunglasses and walked to the door. He turned the handle of the door and opened it to his surprise it was relatively nice out as he was thinking to go get something to eat as he put his hand in his pocket.

Galen walked down to a small garage where his own black Motorcycle was as he got on it and reved it up and opened the garage door he was out, the garage door wasn't even half open before he was out, just barely missing the top of his own head as he drove to a nice 'watering hole' as he drove he was looking at many people of differences passing by while he was open the open strip. It didn't take too long for him to get where he was going as he saw another Motorcycle parked in a general spot he smirked and drove his in the last spot next to it as it turned off he took off his sunglasses and pushed his hair back to hold it in a decent position. He looked around and realized this might not be his kind of place. It ruck of Iustus. He shook his head as he looked around the place once more to get a better understanding of his surroundings.

Eventually he made his way into the place seeing lots of people around and was quickly able to get a tea as he sat at a table on his own, doing his own looking around as he noted a man covered in weapons was doing almost the same time. He smirked a bit as he took his own sip fro his tea this time. To be honest, Galen liked the place, nice a homey, though. It did look like more than it was held out to be.

[Sigmund]

The afternoon bustle was in full swing as Sigmund sat and watched the crowd, enjoying a simple day of peace. Another man had arrived and had ordered similar to him, a simple cup of tea. He seemed an usual man for this type of venue, but he was hardly one to cast stones. He walked with a sword on his hip after all. He huffed out a small chuckled before ordering a second cup of tea, more than willing for the crowds to die down before continuing his shopping excursion. He pulled out a small pad of paper and a mechanical pencil as he waited, jotting down notes and thoughts for new types of equipment. He glanced around on occasion, taking in the occasional Iustus patrol who nodded politely when they noticed his attention. He always returned the nod, it'd have been rude not to after all. Most the rank and file like those out on patrol weren't all terrible people like most of the higher ranking members. They were just folks looking to provide for their families in the best way possible in the current day and age. He'd heard it told that decades ago everyone managed to get along, that the tension wasn't always this bad. Everyone seemed on edge, probably because of the mostly secretive resistance. He was one of the few people that knew about them, as they'd approached him several times over the past few years to try and recruit him. To most everyone else, they were just a myth.

He rolled his neck to stretch it out a bit, starting to get a little stiff from sitting in one place for so long. He grimaced slightly as he phone buzzed in his pocket, another message requesting him to mass produce for the Iustus soldiers. He sighed, tucking it away as he did so. "One of these days they'll learn that I'm not mass producing." he mused to himself. He doubted it would be any time soon however. He smiled politely at the waitress who brought him his tea, exchanging a few quick words where he had to assure her that he really was Sigmund, the smith that everyone said was the best. At only twenty three years old, most people didn't believe it. He was a prodigy when it came to smithing though, not that he really cared why he had his ability. It let him do what he enjoyed doing, and to lead the life that he wanted. He just happened to be exceptionally skilled at it, and it had quickly garnered him fame, and no small fortune. Add to it the fact that he seemed to be the only one in the world who could do enchanting, it made his products even better. One other thing that he didn't know why he had it, but he made the best use of it that he could. His left hand drifted down to rest on the pommel of his blade, the greatest he'd managed to forge yet. He'd never yet had the ability to field test it, but he was fairly confident of it's prowess. A light smile danced across his lips as he continued writing, remembering fondly the time he'd managed to puzzle out that particular set of enchantments and fold them into the blade.

[Valus]

Galen had watched another waitress come by to a man with another tea. Two. Teas. He a light smile went onto his face as he finished his and he heard his phone ring. It was the old Mewtwo fight theme from an old game Galen played before the war hit it was just an average ring tone and as he pulled his phone out he looked at the name and his eyes almost widened. It was his boss. With a sigh he put his hand on the phone and slid it across.

"Galen's day off- What can I not do-"

He was stopped mid sentence. Listening to the call he realized that it was something important. Some form of hit but for now he needed to renew his equipment. He pulled out a small handheld tablet from his cloak pocket and wrote down the name, date and location of the thing he needed to hunt.

"Alright, but I need to.. Either renew my weaponry or get new ones. Most likely new ones.."

A little more went on while he was listening to any details he had to offer. As he hung up the phone and put it away he looked at the handheld tablet, looking around the place he smirked as he almost whispered..

"Great.. Where can I find a weapons shop here in America."

He scratched his head has he looked around at the room, the realizing that someone WAS in the place literally armed from head to boot. He wasn't sure that the character would give him any information about where he got his gear but he thought he would try anyways. As he got up from his table he grabbed his tea cup as well as what was left of it and walked over to the table where the 'Army Taker' was sitting and placed his cup on the table.

"Sorry to.. Bother you in the middle of Tea hour, but you look like you got a nice party going on at this table and was curious to know who the smith was for some.. Business." He said pointing at a chair seeing if he was okay to sit down, if he was he would sit down in the chair after slowly pulling it out. He noted the pad of paper with writing on it but didn't read any of the writing as he opened his mouth. "I guess even on days off work haunts the competent yeah?"

He said with a light smile on his face while he was trying to make some form of small conversation and light jokes that might not go well, though for the most part Galen did not care at all. Though, unless he already knows about Galen's name he was going to use his 'Nickname' for Iustus jobs 'Draigo'. He rubbed his chin and snapped his fingers.

"Sorry, names Draigo." he said looking around.

It had died off a bit as he spoke, still people around, but enough to be slightly cautious in his information gathering here. He had to be slightly careful of what name he drops in each city since each 'name' he uses is for a different group. Shrugging it off he looked at his.. New found source and possible temporary ally.

Depending on where the smith was he would either improve his gear or just make new ones that he can use for now.

[Sigmund]

His pencil still swept back and forth across the paper, sprawling out formulae, listing ingredients and combinations amongst notes and measurements. His eyes flicked up as the other man approached, taking in his appearance quickly. "Go ahead and sit down, I don't mind." he said, gesturing for the man to take the seat opposite of him. He set his pencil to working again, jotting down notes on the man as he sipped his tea.He smiled briefly at the mans attempt at a joke, shrugging lightly. "No rest for the wicked, or so I've heard. I certainly don't seem to get any at least." he said before setting his pencil down and extending his hand across the table to the man. "My name is Sigmund, pleasure to meet you Draigo." he offered. He was already on his guard watching the man. Draigo seemed to be slightly paranoid, or overly cautious at the very least. His eyes kept scanning the crowd and area around them. Not very surprising given the times, but he showed more caution than most, and he was always curious as to what motivated people.

"As far as smiths go, that would be myself. According to most my work is peerless." he said, shrugging lightly. "So, Draigo, what can I do for you?" he questioned, arching a brow at him. "Though if you're looking to recruit or ask me to mass produce shoddy equipment to outfit some even shoddier troops. If that's what you're looking for, you can just get up right now and walk yourself out of here. Otherwise I'm gonna give you the boot myself." he said, before offering a business like smile. "But, if what you're after is personal arms and armor, than you'll find no one better. Whatever you want, I can facilitate, and I'm sure we can come to a price that meets what you're looking for." he said, shrugging lightly as he took another sip of his tea.

[Valus]

Galen listened to his new found ally speak.

"As far as smiths go, that would be myself. According to most my work is peerless."

He smiled a bit at the answer, he truly did like this answer that was given to him. Peerless armament is what he wanted, something more than any person or any one that he MAY have to run into. Something that can keep his own job going while he was working. He felt his hair begin to move from being held back as he ran his hand through his hair to fix it he himself began to talk.

"Well, sounds like you get a lot of praise for you work."

He picked up his own cup and put it to his lips as he finished it. The last drop trickled down his throat as he placed the cup back on the table.

"So, Draigo, what can I do for you?"

he gave it a quick thought as he crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, his legs crossed under neath the table as he kept in general eye contact with this character.

"To be honest, I have been in need of some new gear for a while."

"Though if you're looking to recruit or ask me to mass produce shoddy equipment to outfit some even shoddier troops. If that's what you're looking for, you can just get up right now and walk yourself out of here. Otherwise I'm gonna give you the boot myself."

He started to laugh.

"oh yeah, I just remembered. I'm here to buy gear for a group of morons who would be better shots with the revolver pointing backwards." He stopped laughing as he went back to trying to get some business done as Sigmund spoke up.

"But, if what you're after is personal arms and armor, than you'll find no one better. Whatever you want, I can facilitate, and I'm sure we can come to a price that meets what you're looking for."

He rubbed his chin. "Perfect.."

He continued on.

"For the most part, I've been looking for a.. Business partner, of sorts. Someone I could drop by their shop that knows my gear that would be willing to repair it or make it better as needed. Since it's getting harder and harder to do so on my own arms."

Galen had tried his best to get some form of foot in the door with him as he would be in contact with him more often than most of the people he may be seeing. Galen slowly shifted his weight to the left of the chair to get a little more comfortable with this since it seems it would be sometime before they would be leaving. He scratched at his neck for a moment. He gave it some thought to what he wanted, but first, he needed him on his side.

"Though, I always have been interested in old style Samurai swords and sheaths, though you did say you are skilled at.. Enchanting. That escapes me."

[Sigmund]

He nodded at the appropriate places as Draigo spoke, pencil scratching at his paper, jotting down more notes. Already ideas had begun forming in his mind for what to make the man. He paused to drink some more of his tea.

"Well, sounds like you get a lot of praise for you work."

"More than a little. My arms and armor have garnered attention from everyone and everything in the world. You have my personal guarantee that they'll never fail you. My blades never dull nor break, and my armor never fails to turn aside a lethal blow. The only thing my guarantee doesn't cover is theft. Or your own stupidity in misplacing it." he said, shrugging lightly.

"oh yeah, I just remembered. I'm here to buy gear for a group of morons who would be better shots with the revolver pointing backwards."

He allowed himself a small smile at the quip. "You'd be surprised how many I'd consider in need of those. I've been more than a little tempted to make something just for them that facilitates that goal. I have too much pride in my work however, I never give anything but my absolute best." he said, shrugging lightly.

"For the most part, I've been looking for a.. Business partner, of sorts. Someone I could drop by their shop that knows my gear that would be willing to repair it or make it better as needed. Since it's getting harder and harder to do so on my own arms."

"I suppose that's feasible. Martial weapons and armor you purchase from me are never going to give you issue, and I'm fairly proficient with firearms as well. I can do customizations, differing creation based on materials used, so on and so forth. Of course, the price will vary depending on the complexity of the item, the rarity of materials or additional steps needed to be taken in order to make the piece." he explained.

"Though, I always have been interested in old style Samurai swords and sheaths, though you did say you are skilled at.. Enchanting. That escapes me."

He sighed, shaking his head lightly. "It's...difficult to explain. I suppose it's a form of magic, I'm not really certain. I can imbue various abilities into the items I create. I can make them stronger, give blades a keener edge to where they cut through most anything with little to no difficulty. I can imbue them with elemental essences such as flame and frost for examples. This makes them more resistant to those elements that are aligned opposite of them. Flame blades can pierce through ice easier, maintain a warm temperature in your hand, and even cut through a cryomancers ice projected at you. Frost blades are the same but for flame. These are just some generic examples however, you can always come up with your own ideas and suggest them to see if I can do it. I haven't really had the chance to experiment too much with it since it's a rather painstaking process to refine the enchantment and make it work and last." he explained, pausing to take a drink of his tea. "I can also make them of any material that you'd like. My most common asked for is silver, no surprises there. I have a great knowledge of most every species out there, or at least basics, so I'm good at making anything that's specially effective against any kind of yajuu if you happen to be a hunter as well. Any questions?" he ended, resting his pencil for a moment, waiting patiently for his potential client to continue speaking.

[Valus]

Galen had given it some thought, most of the materials he would need for anything of what he wanted was rare and almost hard to run into. So he thought of some form of business offer. His mind was riddled with questions, though most were about his own gear and what he could make to help himself in most situations, between switching between gear and using them.

"You were right though- I am a hunter of sorts." He went on "Though I am sure some of the.. Materials you need may be hard to come across. If you want a hand."

With that being said he was sure that if Sigmund gave 'Draigo' an Item to find he could find it and use it for his own weapon, or just hunt things down for him and get some form of currency out of it. Galen was mainly trying to find jobs that can push his limits. He sat up in his chair, putting his elbows on the table with his fingers interlocking.

"Though, I was curious on a few things." He said as he was going trying to get some form of questions out. "If I were to design a weapon and brought you the design would you be able to make it?"

He was thinking of getting a sword and possibly some nice gloves or gauntlets and boots done, just in case if he ever needs to get up close and personal. It was the way he had been trained so he preferred it. He always did like melee combat.

"An obvious one is- where is your 'shop'" He then asked at least one more question before he said far too much, "What would enchanting weapons run me roughly?"

He was curious, but as he had asked the last question he had another really important one. Ranged combat. he rubbed his eyes as he broke the pose he was in and sighed. "Well, I forgot about ammunition, you make or enchant those too?" Though this wasn't a serious question he was fine with just standard ammunition that he had, but the better he had would give him a better advantage.

Since some of his hunts he runs with both a sword and a gun he will need ammo. Something to keep other ranged attackers busy while he's dealing with others. For his own speed he won't really need it. He just likes fighting fire with fire. He looked at the ceiling for a quick moment as he looked back down and awaited his 'Table Partner's' answers. After his answers he opened his mouth asking something.

"Want a cup of tea on me?"

[Sigmund]

He waited patiently for the man to speak, listening with a detached air about himself.

"You were right though- I am a hunter of sorts. Though I am sure some of the.. Materials you need may be hard to come across. If you want a hand."

He offered a light smile at the offer, shaking his head. "No, though I thank you for the gesture. My network is impeccable when it comes to requisitioning materials needed. Occasionally I have the need for an odd item or rare gem, but those are easily purchased. Should something like that be the case, I generally include it into the price I charge." he says, shrugging lightly.

"Though, I was curious on a few things. If I were to design a weapon and brought you the design would you be able to make it?"

He tilts his head to the side, frowning lightly. "I'd hardly be any good if I couldn't. All my equipment is made to exact specifications and tailor suited to each individual client. What this partly entails is taking measurements, say for example the length of your arm through various poses, to see which length of blade would best be called for so that it feels a natural extension of your being and not a clumsy piece of metal in your hand. Everything from the style to the sheath is tailored to each individual and will never match another persons. I warn you however, I will never craft something or alter a piece merely for aesthetic value. If there is a change to be made, it is to increase its functional ability." he said, speaking slowly to ensure maximum comprehension. It was one of the few rules he had, but it was a rule all the same. A weapon was just that, a weapon. It shouldn't be decorative, that's just a waste of time, effort and materials.

"An obvious one is- where is your 'shop'"

"I have various locales and dealers throughout the world, though my main shop is but a few miles outside this town. My home and preferred workshop are located in the mountains and forests around it. It gives me the peace I desire and it seems to be a rather difficult journey for those that aren't completely devoted to trying to get my attention. Most my orders come in through email or phone calls to my office. You caught me on errands day, fortunately for you. Once every couple weeks or so I make a trip into town for special materials or something that doesn't come in on my standard orders and I don't have the patience to wait for." he said, shrugging lightly. It wasn't as if it was a great secret. He had no known enemies, and hardly made people angry enough to try and assault him. Most valued him too highly for any rash or overt action.

 "What would enchanting weapons run me roughly?"

He pauses as he runs some figures in his head, jotting down a few additional notes. "Hmm. It usually depends on the enchantments being laid into a weapon or piece of armor. Some are more powerful, and thus more costly, than others. Prices are also adjusted depending on how I feel about the client. Some I find are general assholes and I charge them more, some of the impersonal requests I get through my emails or business phones are generally neutral pricing, and of course for those that I take a liking to or I feel actually appreciate fine craftsmanship and who seem to know how to care for their armament usually get reduced prices. Generally however, the base price is several thousand for time, effort and materials. More if it becomes a rush order that someone needs done immediately." he says, frowning in thought as he considered the prices, wondering if it needed to change yet.

"Well, I forgot about ammunition, you make or enchant those too?"

"Both. Though I prefer standard hand loads to enchanting ammunition honestly. I do things like pure silver, blessed silver, wrought iron rounds, exploding, holy water, wood tipped and so on. It depends on what you'd want as a customer. Those are usually cheaper at base, but amount to the same thing. However if you decide to purchase ammunition, I provide as much as you need as long as you make your payments on time. I rarely make only a single clip or few bullets, though I can if that's all one feels they need." he said shrugging.

"Want a cup of tea on me?"

A light smiled graced his lips as he shook his head. "No, thank you. Too much makes me jittery. Further questions?" he asked, wondering what else might be going through this mans head. He'd already shown much more interest in the business than most did. He was beginning to take a liking to the man.

((OOC: Sorry for the long delay man, work has been kicking my ass the past couple weeks. It's left me exhausted and practically unable to think at night.))