sixthiterationlogs | [ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

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[ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

WHO: Tony Stark
WHERE: South Village Forge
WHEN: January 8th
OPEN TO: Smitherns (Thor, Brigitte, Annie Cresta, Siefer), Plus Ones, Passers by, and Friends! Anyone, really, come on down.
WARNINGS: Language, discussion of canon typical violence probably, drinking?

THE HEARTH

With the bulk of the work and chores done for the day, the heart's banked down to a tolerable level rather than steel meltingly hot, positively cozy. Tables are cleared of metal filings and shavings, the floor is swept, extra chairs and seating or overturned crates serve as places to kick back and enjoy the warmth. A large kettle of tea is kept brewing all night, another of coffee, and a jug of cool water for those thirsty with no real requirement RE flavor. There's a rack for coats and scarves when people don't need to be quite so bundled up, and space cleared enough for milling about, tossing ideas back and forth, or simply relaxing. Arguments happen at The Debate Wall, not by the fire.

THE FOOD

It's an eclectic spread- a pot of stew, some crusty bread, frittatas, a few large, simple cheese pizzas, bottles of wine, and whatever other food the Smitherns or their Plus Ones chose to bring. It's a bit of a potluck, food spread out on one table for perusal, plates waiting and a bin for dirty dishes. Tony will scrub up at the end of the night. By the fire there's a waffle iron and as many toppings as they could find for waffles- jams, zalpaca butter, dried fruit, preserved peaches. Serve yourself or sit and sample!

THE CHILL OUT CORNER

For the more introspective or anyone taking a break from The Debate Wall, there's a comfortable chair tucked in the far corner where the light isn't as bright, the sound not quite so loud- and in this chair sits a young Peacat, a smaller pot for tea, and a few books. Elton's a friendly sort and will chirrup to lean for pets or simply sit on a lap and purr, offering calming, quiet company.

THE DEBATE WALL

Scrubbed clean for the night, the wall opposite Tony's Scrawled projects, equations, rules and definitions- currently marked only with a few notes RE proper charcoal use 'It's for the wall, not your hands, not anyone's clothes', the large space cleared for marking out or drawing out- well. Games, hangman, tic-tac-toe, sketches, or debate points. The only other rule listed is 'If you're going to pick a hill to die on, cite your references'.

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Could definitely kill someone with one of those things. But the phrasing has Nida looking at Stark quietly for a moment, studying him.

A no then. Well, Nida would figure something else out eventually. But he can see it there, that hint of 'child soldiers.' Helps that he got some heads up with Seifer. He does allow Stark a smile, the sort that a press secretary offered in a conference. No real value there, just acknowledgment that someone had said something and he had in fact processed it.

"Works for the physics of our world, especially with healing spells. And they're more effective against a T-Rexaur than a lot of other things. Sorry, you're from an Earth, right? Tyrannosaurus was the name I was given I think. Got to do what you have to do."

He knows that look. It's not the exact same he uses but- seriously. This is what it's like to be on the other side of it, and he didn't want to deal with this shit while on a night off, more or less, shooting the shit and relaxing but here they go. Apparently. "Look. I will get back to you after I talk to Peggy. We've got spears in the inn but those things will get you killed, no crossguard. The dimensions are what I'm worried about. If you wanted like, a broadsword? I'd tell you to fuckoff."

But this is a reasonable request coming from someone that's probably not all that likely to get himself killed.

"...We're actually due another hunt. Poke your buddies, see who all wants in so I know how many to make. Good?"

"Seems we're in agreement. Unlike Seifer I wouldn't want a sword, even if you offered one. I think telling someone to fuck off in that case would be wholly justified. Swords have little purpose save for killing people, even in my world. Swords are for armies."

Was it weird for a mercenary to have such disdain for the concept of a sword, because it's there in Nida's voice. Disdain and disgust and, if you knew how to read a person's body language well, just the slightest flinch backwards. Fear? Perhaps. In a way it made sense. Swords and guns were the primary weapons of the Galbadian military back home, and many people he knew had been killed by that army.

Still, the offer was a good enough one, and Nida nodded his acknowledgement. For half a moment he looked like he would move away. Except he didn't. Except he paused there, a thoughtful look in his eyes before he glanced around. No sign of Seifer nearby, that much was obvious. Good.

"I know you're teaching Seifer how to make things here. I know he appreciates it too. This place, having work to do, something he can make, something he can provide people, and somewhere he belongs? That's important. You can't even begin to imagine what he's..."

What he's been through, but Nida stops himself and meets Tony's eyes.

"Normally I'm not the type to do this, and I know so far you've done nothing but good for my friend. I don't know what goes into teaching someone to be a blacksmith or anything like that. What I do know is that all stick and no carrot will get you no where. He will work hard to earn respect, and I don't think he'll disappoint you. But if I find out that you're punishing him because he doesn't just blindly follow orders, that he isn't as good as fast as you want, anything like that really? I'll make sure you regret it. Punish him when he truly makes mistakes. Reward him when his hard work merits it. And give him a chance to prove himself to you. I know he won't disappoint."

There is absolutely a threat in that, delivered with a simple, cold statement. There's no pleasure in the threat, and from the look in his eyes, Nida would take no pleasure in following through with it. All he wants is for Seifer to get a fair shake, to get to learn and prove himself. And not get treated like he was in Garden.

This is his friend. This is his family, and you do not fuck with family. Frankly Nida doesn't care what blow-back any of this would net him personally. He could get banned from the forge and ever getting anything from it for all he cares. What matters is Seifer getting better than Garden ever gave him.

"Please," he added after a moment, and there the touch of emotion comes in. Genuine concern. "Don't fail him like the other adults in our lives."

And whoops, just a little too personal there for himself, but hey, what can you do?

Tony, contrary to popular belief, knows when to keep his mouth shut and listen. Nida clearly has a few things on his mind that need saying and without much more than a quirked brow as he braces himself for what is, clearly, the platonic shovel talk. He's not been on this side of things before, he hasn't even given all that many- Rhodey is a grown man, Pepper had no reason to have him step in for any of her personal affairs- maybe for Happy now and then? So it's novel.

As is the supposed primer for dealing with Seifer. Anyone with eyes (then again what little he knows of the Gardens tells him how not so obvious that is) can tell how to handle Seifer. Or maybe only people that had been in his shoes. Tony takes the cliff notes and the threat with good humor and a slow sip of tea- well.

He tries. He means to not react, he means to keep a straight face and return the solemnity he's given but- that's not him. Certainly not while being threatened in his own forge for shit he won't ever actually do. The very idea of fucking over Seifer is laughable- so he laughs. Eyes crinkling, nose wrinkled, a half breathless guffaw that doesn't trail into a cackle so much as build into a full on belly laugh because this? This is fucking adorable.

It's what Rhodey would've done and honestly? That's the thing keeping him from telling Nida to get the fuck out.

"Look-" When he can breathe, wiping a bit of damp from his eyes (man he needed a laugh), "Kid."

Because he is. Because they are, no matter their life experiences, because more adults treating them like kids might've saved them some pain. "I don't know how you think I run this forge and honestly? I don't care. But your friend's more in danger of Thor trying to talk him into building something ridiculous than he is getting yanked around by me. I literally do not have time for that bullshit. You see that wall?"

Tony points with his thumb over his shoulder to the many, many, many special orders and projects listed. "What in any of that says I have time to play games when I need workers that are efficient and skilled? You don't get that by fucking with them."

Kid? Really? Nida isn't even impressed by that. Puts that press smile back on and decidedly does not punch Tony for calling him a kid.

"People can be busy and find time for all sorts of things," Nida answered, voice absolutely flat. "And I don't care how you run your forge. What I care about is Almasy, and provided that stays neat, then we're good. If he's going to make ridiculous things, whatever. But he needs the good."

There is a moment, though, where the smile on his lips goes genuine. Actual approval, actual emotion.

"He's been doing better since he came here. Came to you. Which makes you a good man in my books, Mister Stark. I sure as Hyne hope you stay there, because he needs people in his corner."

"When he decides to make a solid brass hunting horn with bells to blow at all hours of the night, I'll blame you." That is but one of the ridiculous ideas tossed around tonight. Just one.

Of many.

"He's fine. He and Thor get along, they work hard, the bitch of it is-" He scrubs at his jaw, eyes flickering around to find Seifer. "He's not the best with asking questions, sometimes. But we're working on that. Usually I throw enough pop culture references in until he has to ask, that helps."

Seifer doesn't ask questions? Well, Nida laughs at that, shaking his head. Of course.

"He wouldn't. Questions aren't encouraged at Garden. It's obedience first. Part of the trouble he got himself into was through asking questions. And it didn't go well for him. I can whack him upside the head if you need."

Combat Specialists obeyed. Hell, he obeyed, even if he was meant to ask questions of other people. The very idea of them laughing questions was hilariously ridiculous. What did he think they were?

"Nah. I just make sure to add a 'fun' task to his chorelist whenever he asks more than three. Positive reinforcement works better than smacking someone for being belligerent." His brows draw down, frown sitting on his list as he hears about the indoctrination- because that's what it was- the kids went through. "We're working on it."

Baby steps. "Mostly giving him life skills and social skills outside of 'hit it with a pointy stick until it dies' is the long term goal. He's got good ideas when he lets himself have them"

"He does," Nida agrees. But, again, it's about what they are allowed to have, and those weren't exactly welcomed either. And yeah, Seifer deserves all of this. It's like the guy is doing everything that is needed to make this better. To give Seifer a better chance. Which was a lot.

"Hey, he is also the master of the completely unique social skill of literally cutting something like a demi-god in half. So, you know, in some situations he's quite capable."

"That's less a social skill and more a specialty, from what I understand. Combat isn't terrible but- Building things takes more effort and in the long run is far more rewarding than killing or destroying things. He's leaning into that pretty well. Thor's also good for him because- everyone likes Thor." Just. Full stop. Even LOKI likes thor, even if he won't admit it.

“And that reward is why I am glad he has you looking out for him. And not making him a blast-ended saber,” and don’t mind him, he enjoys your distaste for the word gunblade.

Besides he had no issue with the idea that Tony took care of giving Seifer something to work toward, Rinoa have him help with shared trauma, and a Nida got to be the connection to the past. Intentionally or not it might make a good combination.

Seifer has been lucky to find this place.

"He's a good worker. Steady hands, eager to learn. Soon as I get him caught up on practical engineering I think I'll be able to give him more design projects." It's a far more in depth and hands on curation and cultivation of talent htan he normally has the time for but-

Here? He has time.

Here, he has reason.

"Meanwhile I'll make sure I don't break your smithern while sparring," Nida smirks. Because they are getting a bit rough these days. Especially since he got to the use of his green power.

Time is all Seifer has too. Nida has a feeling his friend wouldn't go back, even if he could.

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[ MINGLE ] FORGE AFTER HOURS

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