Tidewater Glass & Crystal

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

	Please Send All Personal Correspondences Here Nestled along the the main thoroughfare of the Vicus Venditorum, Tidewater Glass & Crystal sat amidst the other buildings, fairly unimpressive and relatively common with its sturdy stone build and two-story mass. A sign hung outside, a square of wood with the shop's name scrawled across its grainy surface in carefully scripted black paint. The hinges that held it creaked slightly on breezy brightenings, but always the sign was visible between the wide, storefront glass window and the front door that stood to the window's left. The window itself was a dramatic panorama, a stained glass piece crafted with varying hues of blues and purples that created a vista of a wave cresting and rolling towards those who stood in front of it. The door opened inward to a shop of a small if comfortably sized shop. Directly across from the door a shelving unit constructed of blue and purple glass panels stood three shelves high and two shelves wide. It was sparsely filled with sale items carefully arranged to catch the eye. Potential customers that further surveyed the room found a near-identical shelf on the wall to the far right of the door, its shelves filled in a similar manner. The store was not otherwise packed with shelves, save for two other small tables covered in a thin clothe of dark blue, its edges trimmed in a lighter green, that had been pushed almost up against the wide storefront window so that those passing by might catch a glimpse of what wares the glassblower had to offer. Above these tables a long strip of curved metal hooks boasted suncatchers and globes hanging from thin cords that flared out a dappling of colors across the floor. A counter ran out from the right wall and ended mid-way through the shop. It barricaded the entrance to the back room, a room seen by customers only through the diamond-shaped, stained glass window set into the wall that separated shop from workroom. Situated close to one end of the counter were two small bowls, one of copper and one of silver and both of very poor craftsmanship, but nonetheless sturdy. The silver held a colorful array of marbles, the copper an assortment of beads. Alongside of them was a translucent bell made of glass with a small silver ball dangling inside of it. A simple twinkle of the bell was usually enough to bring someone forward into the front shop, although it was likely that one of two assistants to the shop's owner might be present along the counter.   Prices are given on a case-by-case basis and vary according to material, size, shape and how elaborate the piece is. All pieces are sized for humans. Prices go up for very small and very large designs. Pieces are made to order. At least three brightenings required for simple pieces. More time required for larger orders and more elaborate requests. Available Materials: Glass, Crystal, Silver & Ceramic (Earthenware or Stoneware)     Name: Finn Rhydderch Role: Clerk/Shop Help/Glass Assistant Race: Human, Distant Elvish Blood Description: A youth with bright, copper-red hair and pale, freckled skin sat perched on a stool behind the counter. He had a slightly pudgy look to his youthful face, despite the slight evidence of elvish in the angle of his hazel eyes and the slight, pointed tip of his ears. His clothing was, by no means, the greatest, but served merely to keep him warm and covered, and he sat with a slight slouch in his shoulders that straightened when customers walked in, a restrained and hesitant smile filtering over his mouth. Personality: A quick-to-smile individual with a thick accent (think Scottish brogue). He's friendly and out-going in a subdued way. He does not love glass, but he can answer pretty basic questions and has run up enough knowledge, having worked closely with Iseult. Skills: Level 1 Glassblowing Name: Quennia An'anciel Role: Glassblower Race: Thelyri Description: She possesses a slight bluish skin with usually closed gills at the neck, and dark auburn hair. Her eyes are the usual black sclera of her race, and the deep turquoise of the ocean she comes from. Personality: She is a lively and friendly individual who wants to make everything right and hates weakness. Perfection is her only choice and with that she can be strict and unforgiving. With others she is less stern, instead tries to be as friendly and optimistic towards them as possible. Her cheerful behavior can be annoying, but she is as much able to cry as she is able to laugh. History: Grew up at Ieffreon and the surrounding sea where she learned the art of glassblowing and helped out at the Seaglass Studios. When her instructor told her she should travel and improve her skills, she agreed and since that is wandering aimlessly around. During her journey she has learned to defend herself of bandits and robbers and improved her glassblowing a bit. When hearing that Iseult takes apprentices every now and then she thought that would be a great chance to improve her business skills as well as sell her products to many different people. Skills: Level 2 Glassblowing; Level 1 Business; Level 1 Stiletto     Training Opportunities: Up to Level 2 in Glassblowing and Level 1 in Precious Metalworking, Ceramics and Sketching. Employment Opportunities: Please Inquire. Can this location be self-moderated?: Ask First.

[Eir'helm Mithania]

Second Cycle of Kalendryas in the Season of Winter

A rather young elf entered the shop. He was dressed as one of the city's guards, and came to the small shop looking to spend a few of his first pay. That wasn't to say he had much coin. After what they charged him at the roost, he didn't have much at all, but he figured, and figured properly that it was enough for a few beads, or marbles, or something he could imbue a little magic into.

The elf was a mage. He may not have been a master... or at least he was rather sure he wasn't a master, as memory was a funny thing, but he could imbue a few songs... he thought.

With a leather pouch he counted out twenty marbles, of five or six different colors. They'd provide enough variety when he went to imbue a few spells into them.

"Serale." Eir'helm said to the attendant as he offered the three crowns for payment. The little spheres should have some use, and with that, the elf literally danced out of the shop.

[Fenrisulfr Gil'dae]

The Month of Melora, in the Season of Winter, Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum.

Fenrisulfr walked into the store, intimated by all the glass. He was still very young, a child in elf years. He was quite shy for his age. He had trouble interacting with the other children.

"Hello? I-Is a-anyone here?" he asked, tiptoeing now. He had come here after hearing news that the Tidewater Glass and Crystal was hiring. "C-Can I have a job?"

He looked around for any sign of movement.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

ooc: why don't we go with Ponutis or Melora - Iseult's not here in Kalendryas and Immanis is a bit splotchy

ic:
The child was greeted by a youth with bright, carrot red hair. He had a rumpled, unkempt appearance, his clothes a bit askew and the way he shifted on the stool behind the counter gave hint to some restlessness. Regardless, he smiled brightly, freckled cheeks bunching, at Fenrisulfr and leaned forward against the counter in that manner people sometimes affect when approaching small children. He looked surprised, perhaps a little amused, at the question the child asked. "Ye'd haveta be talkin' t' Miss Fluersdotter 'bout a job," he told him quickly, voice friendly enough.

He bent and picked up a second stool, sliding off his own, and settled the wooden thing on the same side of the counter as Fenrisulfr. It was a tall stool, but with spokes and rungs that would allow for the child to climb onto it. "Ye g' 'head an' have'a seat, aye? I'll go get ye Miss Fluersdotter." Then he was gone, disappearing into a back room, the door opening just enough to allow out a small white form covered in fur with a feathery tail and pointed ears. It was a puppy that wriggled, tail wagging, tongue lolling, that bounced happily over to Fenrisulfr, looking for attention.

While the puppy relentlessly swarmed around Fenrisulfr, Finn emerged from the back room again, with him the lanky and blonde owner of the shop looking a bit confused and rather rumpled herself, but with the sweat and fatigue of a person who'd been hard at work. She swept green and black eyes over Fenrisulfr and frowned slightly, glancing at her clerk who shrugged and pointed him out as if to confirm that he was in fact the one looking for a job.

Iseult wiped her hands on a rag and Finn retreated into the back room again, leaving the elf child alone with the half-breed. "Finn said you were looking for a job." Her brows arched slightly. "What exactly were you hoping to do here?"

[Fenrisulfr Gil'dae]

OOC: Okay. I don't know much, so I'll just choose Melora.

IC: Fenrisulfr looked up to see another child like him, only he had orange-reddish hair opposed to his silver. Awkwardly, Fenrisulfr tried to stand a bit straighter. When he saw that the other child was smiling, Fenrisulfr relaxed a bit. When he talked, Fenrisulfr could hear a bit of an accent in him though that was nothing compared to his rather embarassing stutters. He mentioned "Miss Fluersdotter" though Fenrisulfr had never heard of that name before.

The kind person offered Fenrisulfr a chair and he accepted, clumsily stepping on the rung and hugging the surface of the chair. He got up and slightly panted. "T-Thanks," he muttered. The other boy was gone, leaving Fenrisulfr to his thoughts. He sat alone for a while, admiring the types of beautiful glass that were sitting on the shelves.

I would love to make those, if they accepted me, of course.

He was a bit surprised when a puppy ran to him, attempting to jump up the chair to Fenrisulfr. "Hey there..." He patted the puppy and smiled. Then a new figure appeared and was addressing Fenrisulfr.

"Y-Yes, M-Miss Fluersdotter. My name's Fenrisulfr, but you can call me Fenris. I-I'm looking for a job as a g-glassblower and anything else you w-would want me for. I-I don't know much about glassblower except that i-it involves liquid , molten glass and t-that you can make beautiful things, like those on the shelf." He avoided eye-contact with her, feeling intimidated as usual. Instead, he turned to look at the pieces of glass. As an after thought, he added "P-Please l-let me have this j-job." He stared at her shoes.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

Iseult took notice of the puppy as it settled comfortably on its haunches near Fenrisulfr, its tail thumping audibly against the legs of the stool. Her brow creased as she frowned at the furry critter and she took a step back, pressing a hand against the workroom's door and calling back to her clerk. The redhead came out promptly enough and she pointed out the puppy. "Can you put him upstairs?" The puppy could prove to be something of a nuisance, with all that energy pent up and a rather laidback owner who could not be bothered to help the puppy rid himself of it. Her cousin had given the thing to her as a gift, as a guard dog. It was becoming quite obvious that the pup had more interest in playing with strangers than growling at them. Feth, she had never even heard the dog bark. Not once.

Finn flashed a grin at Fenrisulfr, giving him a comforting wink before he bent and scooped the squirming puppy into his arms. A gentle creature, Verre let himself be carried off without complaint into the back room and presumably above the store.

That left Iseult and Fenrisulfr alone in the shop, her dark eyes studying him as he stared down at his shoes. The lack of confidence in the youth was somewhat surprising and a bit disconcerting. She was used to dealing with stronger personalities than this one and had no idea how to coax a shy, uncomfortable child into ease. "You want to be a glassblower," she repeated back to him, voice a trace hollow, as if she wasn't certain what to make of it.

She tapped blunted nails against the countertop and shrugged after a moment. "I can't just give it to you on the promise that you might be able to hold your own here. As you said, you don't know much about it--you might end up hating it, for all I know." She narrowed her eyes on the kid slightly, trying to make a decision. She'd never been this timid as a child, but she'd certainly never felt comfortable around others. Hadn't she been interested as he was now, staring at the glass and thinking how wonderful it would be to create such forms of beauty?

She sighed and leaned her hip against the counter. "Why don't we step into the workroom? I'll give you a little tour, even test your mettle a little, see if you might be any good at it, and we'll go from there. Sound good?"

[Fenrisulfr Gil'dae]

There was a moment of silence in the air. Fenrisulfr wasn't sure whether to look up or not. Better not. He nodded his head at his decision. As his head was down, he took notice of the puppy once more. He smiled. If he really got a job here, then maybe Miss Fluersdotter would let him play with the puppy during his spare time. Of course, that would be if he did get the job and if he did get spare time. It really was a cute puppy. Unlike most of the dogs, it had never tried to bark at Fenrisulfr, which would have really scared the boy. If the puppy was nice, then the master of the puppy should be nice too! He felt his shoulders untense themselves as he let out a huge breath he didn't even know he had been holding.

The other boy appeared and took the puppy away, to Fenrisulfr's dismay. Well, it belongs to them and not me. Now, there was truely silence for the puppy had gone away to another room of this shop.

Miss Fluersdotter began talking again. She was explaining that he might hate glassblowing. He stole another glance at the beautiful glass art she had made. He had made his decision. No matter how tough it was, he would stick with it. Despite being a timid child, Fenrisulfr hated giving up. It made him feel even less of a person if he did. No; he would try his best. He stared at the shopowner. Now, if only he could somehow explain that to her without being too timid. He decided against it. Knowing his personal records, he would probably form incoherent sentences that would confuse her even further.

When she said the words 'tour' and 'test', Fenrisulfr immediately jumped off from the stool. She was giving him a chance! He got up to where she was at, but not too close. "T-thanks Miss Fluersdotter!" He smiled brightly at her, pleased that she had not rejected him straight away.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

ooc: We'll continue Here

[Mimesis]

Melora, Winter of Era XV Post Fractum

A message for Iseult came in the hands of a young lad in a trim suit and shiny black boots. The message was stamped with the official seal of the City Council, and indeed, its contents did not disappoint in that respect.

To Miss Iseult Fluersdotter
At the Tidewater Glass & Crystal

Serale Miss Fluersdotter,
I have heard great things from Aedile Potts about you and your on-going work in the Regio. In light of her recommendation, I would like to request a commission from you on behalf of the City of Arconis. If you are willing and able, we would like you to create a true-to-life statue of the Imperial Minister of War, Alexis Sapientia, to be presented at the Creana Festival of next season and subsequently to be displayed in the Thanal Mansion.

Being rather vague on the details of your profession, the Council has decided that either a full-figure statue or a bust would suit our purposes, whichever suits you best, so long as it is a recognizable likeness.

To this purpose, should you agree with the commission, 500 crowns have been deposited at the bank as an advance to you and to defray the cost of any travel expenses you and your assistants may incur. Another 1,000 crowns will be yours on completion of the commission, if it please you.

A letter has also been sent to His Exellency Sapientia to alert him of the project.

In gratitute for all your efforts,
And in the hope of your acceptance,
Sincerely yours,
Mr. Charles Picknick
President of the City Council of Arconis

ooc: hope this works as a suitable masterpiece!

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

Iseult examined the letter as if it were the strangest thing she had ever received. Perhaps it was. After all, it wasn't every brightening that people asked for a "true-to-life statue" of the...Imperial Minister of War. Well. Perhaps stone statues, but certainly not a glass one. Not that Iseult was about to complain, of course. The compensation sounded more than fair and Iseult was not about to shirk from a commission of such a magnitude.

She chewed at her lower lip and snatched up a piece of parchment to write out her response.

It wasn't the most dashing of letters, certainly, but Iseult wasn't a woman of words and often hung on to the notion that brevity was better than extended speeches. She had said what she needed to. Nothing more or less than that.

She gave the letter to Finn and instructed him to run it off to the City Council, wherever they were--she didn't quite know--and went back to her own work.

[Pescado Branch]

Timestamp: 45th of Cryxatum, Season of Spring, Era 1 of the Celestial Mandate, Era XV PF

It had been some time since Pescado had met Iseult, but he never forgot her, the memory buried deep within his racial memory. Making his way towards her shop, remembering where she had explained to him it being, he pushed open the door, and looked around. Interesting place this was, one filled with glass, as well as other trinkets that she had most likely created after her glass hunting trip. The mystic made his way through the doorway, and into the shop, as he was interested in one or two things. Those being glass obviously. He needed items, little breakable glass marbles, to use for imbuements of illusions and animations, and he was ready to pay as much as Iseult was willing to charge for them. But first and formost he would have to speak with her, or at least her assistant about it. Making his way up to the clerk, he asked, "Issssss Issssseult here right now? I'd like to sssssspeak with her about an order that i would like to make..." He then awaited a reply from the clerk, very patiently, his metallic tail swaying back and forth...

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

The redhead at the front counter grinned pleasantly at the saurid as he approached the counter and asked to speak with the glassblower. "Aye, she be in. Ye wait 'ere a moment. I'll be gettin' 'er." Finn leaned against the door that blocked entry into the back work room and immediately the heat rolled into the front room.

On the ground by the counter, the sleeping dog twitch and rolled into awareness. He stood up as he spotted Pesc, but rather than run off or bare his teeth, he wagged his tail slightly, head ducked, and approached the saurid with his nose lower to sniff at his feet.

"Miss Iseult'll be right out," Finn informed Pescado and thumped back down into his stool beside the counter.

Iseult emerged several long moments later, nudging the dog aside as he padded over to stand alongside of her. She eyed Pescado askance for a moment, then nodded in recognition. "Serale. Finn told me you wanted to place a commission with me?" Her blond brows arched slightly.

[Pescado Branch]

The saurid swayed his metallic tail back and forth for a moment, as he awaited her to come out. Turning his snakelike head downwards, he looked towards the dog that began to sniff him curiously. Not saying a word, but standing there stoicly, he looked around the shop, observing everything that there was within the front area.

It was then that Iseult made her presense known, and the saurid moved his head back upwards his attention drawn from the dog towards her. Human emotions happened to be with the saurid, but he ignored what he might think of her, her looks physically that is. It was not in a saurid's place to find beauty within a human female, though the saurid, Pescado, had done it once before, eras before even meeting Iseult.

Scanning her with sidelong eyes, his emerald green orbs viewed her, and then he began to speak his piece. "Yessssss, i do have a commisssssion... asssss you know, from our previoussssss converssssssationsssss, I am a mysssstic, an adept one at that... i'd like it if you could craft me about 20 ssssssmall round marblesssss, that could be broken when thrown againssssst a hard ssssssurfacssssse... Erm, not to have you create your work to have it dessssstroyed, but I plan to imbue them with sssssspellsssss, illusssssionsssss that would be cassssst upon the marble'ssssss dessssstruction... If you named your pricsssssse, I would gladly pay it, and perhapssssss come for more of the marblesssss in the future..." he said, and then awaited her response, hoping that she would be willing to make the marbles for him...

[Fenrisulfr Gil'dae]

Fenrisulfr skipped over the rock, nearly tumbling down into the rocky ground. He turned his body, narrowly avoiding himself from being hit by a corner. He neared the Tidewater and he heaved a sigh of relief. He quickened his pace, going from a jog to a run and nearly rammed into the door. He placed a hand on the doorknob, turned it, and walked in.

"S-Sorry for being late, Miss Iseult, I was-"


He froze, seeing the customer. He had caught the last words the saurid said, mentioning about unbreakable small marbles. From his past experience, the globes used to imbue spells, had to be broken for the spell to be activated. Maybe the small marbles would work if the person didn't throw them too hard.

"I think we sell marbles here, b-but I'm not t-too sure about unbreakable marbles."

He looked at Iseult, the most experienced out of the three glassblowers here.

[Iseult Fluersdotter]

Iseult looked up as the door popped open, Fenris spilling in with words of apology slipping out. He was greeted by one enthusiastic individual--Verre's large, gray-white body bounded over, fluffy tail wagging back and forth as he snuffed his wet nose against the boy's hands, almost as if looking for something. Iseult didn't call him back, simply let the dog entertain himself with someone familiar.

When Fenris responded to the saurid, she frowned. Not because she had a problem with people stepping in to a conversation such as this, but rather because he had not quite heard the saurid right. "He isn't looking for something that's unbreakable. He wants the sort of thing we make for Straylor--something that will shatter when you throw it at the ground." Her hands were at her hips, fingers tapping in some agitation. What was with everyone wanting to buy her work so they could break it? It rankled, but business was business and, needing the money, little of that business could be turned away.

She looked back at Pescado, inclined her chin slightly. "I'm familiar with making globes for imbuements. But I take it you want something...smaller. Marble sized, then?" She paused, considering it. "They'll need to be a little thicker in the walls than the other globes, because the size would make them more fragile, but I could manage small marble-sized globes that can be smashed."

She hesitated. Mysticism made her nervous, as he might remember well enough in his first encounter with the woman. "You'll have to pay nicely for them, given the nature of why you want them. You say it's for illusions, but who am I to know how you're going to use them? Not everyone trusts mysticism and I don't have any desire to have people pointing the finger back at me for some reason or another."