Start of something ... (INV)

Baldr, as usual had spend a great deal of time on his appearance every day. His clothing was a pristine white, his gloves unblemished, his clothing not a speck out of order, even his lapel hung symmetrically at both ends of his collar. Baldr, God of Perfection, God of Purity and Light, it was natural for him to be so diligent about something so silly, though it was often a tiring process, it never showed on his face. He was very keen on keeping any negativity, anything that was unflattering low and under his immaculate complexion. With fan in hand to keep himself cool, he moved through the various guild workshops, idly passing his time admiring or defaming works as he usually did. Baldr had an intense hatred for anything that was ugly or lacked taste which caused him to make these rounds through the wares of local shops to offer his yay or nay on various designs.

It was only when he found Melody working feverishly on something that his interest was, at least for the moment, piqued. The girl was sweating, in skin tight clothing even, though that wasn't what appealed to her, rather, her sense of style seemed to match his to some extent. It was something he felt this woman should take pride in and flaunt with a flourish, but seeing her growl at her failures only stirred the god to have more interest. It was also his belief to destroy imperfections, to erase things that were unsightly and strive for true perfection and absolution. Nothing was achievable, he felt he himself was a perfect example of the perfection someone might be able to achieve-- there was no doubt he felt this woman was also pursuing such a thing.

Of course, he wouldn't find his way into such a dirty place though, instead, pulling a handkerchief he covered his face and tried to approach Melody as close as he could without coming within cast off distance of the hammer or the ash from the fires. "Ah, miss, the beauty of a blade comes from the folding of the steels and irons and precision of the strikes to maintain a proper shape and edge. You're applying far too much strength destroying your final product-- Do restrain yourself for the metal's sake please, it so very much desires the beauty of a finely crafted edge." He tried to educate Melody in hopes that her imperfections wouldn't continue. Though it was simple advice in passing and not something that was truly revolutionary, it might help her craft what she was hoping to make.

 

Baldr slid a hand over his forehead in an effort to smooth his hair under the heat from the girl's efforts. Uncaring of how much skin the woman showed outside of appreciation for beauty, he didn't acknowledge it beyond a simple glance of vague acceptance. Instead, he tried to refute her teacher or relative's opinion with a groaner of a sigh through his cloth. "Of course, research and study is as useful as experience. Trial and error is the method of the expert, you've not yet reached that stage have you? No no, throw that trash away, commendable yes, but you do not have the mind set to create beauty at this time. Clearly your mind is elsewhere." He spoke but had to stake a step back, his gaze shot around the area with a sneer briefly for the current layout of the forge she was working at. In his gaze it was poorly maintained, improperly cleansed and cleaned. It was shoddy work in his eyes that demanded no less then perfection.

"None of this will do, completely unacceptable conditions as well. You, come with me, if you linger here in this place it will do no more then damage your aesthetic and cover you in dust. It is best if you begin with an acceptable education first." He spoke as if growing increasingly appalled by her attitude in destroying things she had no understanding of. Turning his back with flourishing gesture of his overcoat, he continued trying to gesture at her urging her to follow him. He would try to urge her away from this place that could only harm a potential diamond in the rough, whatever it was bothering this girl, he would have to snuff that out first before he begins polishing this potential gemstone. Waiting for the girl's response, Baldr was a patient man biding his time for her to make a decision, but it seemed clear to him that she would not be able to become something more in this place.

 

Baldr led her along with a steady unrushed gait, as patient as ever, it was one of his finest qualities; after all, a Gentleman's revenge and backlast can wait for even 10 years, why get bothered or irate from the provocations of others. Instead, he continued slowly and steadily, even when she asked him his name, he seemed to ponder on it briefly before turning towards her with an elegant smile. "I'm called Baldr, God of Light, Purity, Justice-- among other things." He explained that his identity was neither noble nor prick, his demeanor was simply a result of him always being 'right' and 'dignified' no matter his action he would be justice, no matter his intention it would be pure. Because of this he was rather narcissistic but for good reason to some.

Her protests and complaint however caused him to stop briefly, turning towards her, he lifted a hand to try and quiet her with a finger gesture. "Ssshh.... Ssshh now, if I were taking you to some drab and ordinary Forge, I wouldn't waste my time escorting you there personally-- No. Where I'm taking you is far more useful to your growth little gem." He urged and reassured with his typical handsome Ikeman's smile. With that reassurance out of the way though, with a soft sweep once more, he tried to continue leading her to a building with a very elegant inscribed signboard that was so artfully written it was hard to read properly. If one could decipher the hand writing however, it would read 'Golden Tapestry'. It was a textile shop, or so it seemed from the front.

Baldr tried to open the door for her to lead her in without hesitating but if she tried to refuse, he would simply continue beckoning her in and reassuring her if he could. "Come now little gem..." He urged only to reveal that the interior was simply covered with shelves and drawers. There were miraculous fabrics and materials of all kinds, shapes, colors and designs, there were feathers, metal tools, charms, other things also hanging on display here or there but every display case was beautifully designed and well maintained, every mannequin was perfectly posed displaying an outfit or armor's appeal and aesthetic. Although there were a few glass displays here and there, there were a few that were empty as if waiting for the perfect piece to fill them.

 

Baldr ignored the moving of his piece for the moment, after all, Melody was not a member of his family, thus considered unworthy at this moment at least. There was no reason for him to educate her on his impossible standards of beauty, so he let that mannequin remain 2cm off with a furrowed brow, as if it was bothering him even now, but he moved passed it for the sake of answering the woman's question. "Nonsense little gem, the crafts themselves deserve worthy wielders as much as wielders deserve worthy equipment. If I was to chose between having any of my pieces in the hands of some derelict or miscreant knave and having it burned into cinders, I would rather obliterate my work then let it be used by those insignificant and unworthy plebeians." He explained just as blankly, though his words were far from cold, he spoke with a care for his work that bordered on mental illness to destroy the things he created rather then having them end up in the hands of someone unworthy.

In answer to her question about them being worthy of being displayed but questioning their uses though, Baldr's kind smile didn't fade, instead he gestured with a hand towards one of the mannequins to direct her attention. If Melody turned her head, she'd see a peculiar knife suddenly fly past her like a bullet into the mannequin wearing a cloth outfit. The knife had a blade that shined as if lit by stars and a hilt that was as purely white as Baldr's clothing but even an amateur could tell it was a genuine S-rank weapon. Though the knife sank into the mannequin like one might suspect, if you looked closely, you could see that the cloth of the outfit didn't cut even when stabbed with such a high quality knife. Baldr slowly began closing the gap to the Mannequin as he explained with a soft sigh of appreciation. "Carnwennan... Something I made when I was young for a young king... Or was it a Queen." He seemed distracted a moment as he tried to remember as if the wielder was unimportant. "Useful, however these pieces can survive when clashing with it at only that level." He spoke retrieving the knife from the mannequin with a flourishing twist of his wrist. Smoothing out the breast of the mannequin making sure the fabric fell flat against the masculine chest of the display doll before he turned back around towards Melody.

"Carnwennan is perhaps... More obvious in it's nature as a useful tool perhaps, these more radiant designs were all the rage back then." He spoke glancing down at the knife half in confusion half in nostalgia as he commented on the trends he seemed to follow as a God in his endless pursuit of a perfect aesthetic that never faded. "I digress however-- Little Gem, surely you can appreciate my asthetic now mm?" He offered with a pure and gentle smile, but if Melody glanced away from the knife for even a second, she'd find that it would have disappeared. If Melody however wouldn't look away from it, he would have to turn the hand holding it to break her line of sight causing it to suddenly disappear the moment it was hidden by his hand. "A good tool however requires a good wielder little Gem, if they're worn by those plebeians, they would be no different from trash... As it was with that mannequin, it will be for the ignorant masses."

 

Baldr couldn't help a refreshing laugh as he shook his head, bringing a hand to his forehead briefly as if what Melody said was quite hilarious and rib tickling. Though after a short while, he seemed to realize she was serious and quickly cleared his throat adjusting the limiter at his neck as if it were a tie with a warm and gentle smile as always. "A noble pursuit little gem, indeed noble-- Impossible-- But noble, I will attribute that quality to you." He said as gently as always despite his choice of words. "How many uses do you envision a knife having perhaps? Indeed we all know the pointy end goes into the other person, but with only that single use, how many myriad of methods are there to get the blade from point A to destination B?" He asked dusting his hands together, he actually allowed her time to think of and propose an answer after all. Baldr was the God of Light, Purity and Justice, but he was also one of Deception and Lies. If there was anyone who could use words to cross swords, it would be him. "Even something as simple as the Corn we eat, Peanuts we enjoy as a snack have hundreds of purposes and uses and yet you would endeavor-- Slave even to create a tool that would in some way impart all of it's purposes and each method to apply those uses to a person?"

He asked, once more giving the woman time to digest the kind of challenge she was proposing. Shaking his head in response to her effort to encourage him to take a bet, he could only exhale a sigh of pity and understanding at the same time when it came to her goals and ideals. "It's a lovely dream little gem, a beautiful one even. In my youth, I too endeavored to create blades of that very make and design and for a time, I was content with them. They did their job, and those I bestowed my blessings onto were heroes of their age or villains who would be remembered for centuries, but--" He started lifting a finger. He brought his other hand behind his back, and turned to pace while wagging his finger as if he were thinking and recalling each instance in which he'd seen his weapons being misused or stolen away. "--Such a dazzling thing stimulates envy and greed. It is the sin of carrying gold coins-- as it were. If one person can use something so easily, why couldn't other people? So they get killed, their tools stolen by the people that were once closest to them, their most trusted. Your weapons go from being holy tools to becoming a coward's blade." He said with a tired sigh, as if he'd grown exhausted from such a thing happening over and over again. It was for this reason Baldr restrained himself to create the tools that Melody looked at rather then the glorious S rank equipment he made in the past.

"While you might think that you're building those tools to protect people, to teach people, in truth you're painting a target onto their backs. They will die because of you-- Would you like to bet on that? Whether or not someone they care about will kill them for the very thing you tried to build to protect them?" He asked with a gentle hand gesture towards Melody, willing to take that bet after seeing it happen so often. Even the wielder of the knife he used was killed by his own son to steal a holy sword, it was something Baldr knew all too well and had seen occur again and again. "The best laid intentions can create the most tragic of circumstances little gem. Tell me, is that the sort of legacy you hope to leave behind?"

 

Baldr heard her words, and could only heave an elegant sigh in response, this girl struggled too hard to fight against a fate that no one had any business fighting against. Humans, more specifically mortals were not only destined to repeat the past, but they were all made from the same basic parts and had the same basic desires. Some were different, some knew restraint and understood time and place, but that didn't change the reality or the parts they were made of, just because they didn't indulge didn't mean they didn't want. "Now little gem, you're very clearly misunderstanding. Nobody said anything about things being made for protection being used to kill, you're imagining things-- No, you're trying to think that this is an argument you can win, so you're trying to guess that what i'm saying has something that you can argue. That, however, was not what I said. Allow me to correct you-- What I said, is that those very things you made to Protect someone, will be the reason people kill them. Not with those things you made, no, they will kill them to TAKE those things you make from them." He clarified hoping she understood and didn't mishear him again.

"Also-- You try to clear things up, but again, you're just saying things that don't matter. What does it matter the side of the bed some mortal wakes up on? It changes nothing, just like your desires to make things to protect people will not change the fact that others will kill those people to take those things you made for them. Some people will not, naturally, some people are kind, but those people are not the ones who will be killing the people you care about. The ones who will be killing the ones you care about are those who would kill people." He explained shaking his head at Melody's efforts to be right in anything, it was something Baldr quickly tried to shut out. Baldr certainly was someone who was high and mighty and rather large headed, but that was simply because more often then not he was right. There was no reason to not be confident if you knew the answers.

When she tried to leave, Baldr tried to shut the door with a sigh once more, this poor girl simply couldn't see what he was trying to do here, it made things harder for him. Why couldn't these people simply listen and digest his words rather then feel that they were right and knew better? "Instead of making things that would simply hurt those who you hope to help, it would be better if you work with the goal of elevating the craft entirely. This way, no one would need to kill anyone to steal superior equipment, particularly equipment that would make them better at killing." He finally explained, though if Melody left, he could only heave a sigh wondering how many people this person would end up killing with their idealism.

 

Baldr couldn't help a pitying sigh at the girl's words, straight and narrow as a spear was certainly accurate imagery but in the god's mind it was inaccurate; there were many types of spears after all. Sliding a hand through his hair briefly, his soft smile remained, as welcoming and gentle as ever as he continued speaking as if her words weren't at all curt or disrespectful. "Little gem, the extra words are very important after all, they work well to accurately depict and describe the possible perils that accompany these things. This is why listening is a very important-- Albeit rare skill one must keep close and ready at all times." He spoke, digressing from the words he wanted to speak as he brought his hands together. "Since we're on the topic of spears, though, let us discuss spears." He spoke turning his back to Melody briefly as he sifted through some of the materials along his walls as he spoke. "Spears are indeed often straight and narrow and come to a fine point; when at rest, however, there are many types of spears, the kind you're referring to-- The botched spear; or 'Layman's Spear' as it were is far from the ideal." He spoke finding the right drawer and pulling from it a long piece of lumber. The wood itself was a pure and pristine white, the age rings of the tree still visible in places as a faint golden color.

Baldr slowly began to bend the wood as he spoke causing it to form a tight arch, practically a J shape as he continued. "A genuine spear, a 'True Spear' bends and flexes. The material of the wood is a very important-- perhaps the most important component, because it must have give, but not break, but have a strong 'snap'." He spoke letting the lumber swing back into a straight shape with a sharp 'thwap' sound as it returned to it's straightened shape. Gesturing to the wood, as if saying 'tada' with a gesture, he smiled back at Melody, concluding his brief lesson on basic Spear design. "My point however, my 'intention' as you say is indeed C, something else entirely. After all, no rule is absolute, and absolution is a fool's game, instead, it's better to prepare as much as possible for the inevitable knowing that it will with time become inevitable little Gem." However it wasn't as if he was speaking to her as some poor degenerate or vagabond, instead, he spoke as he always did, to everyone, from a lofty pedestal on high as if no class, no matter how high would be able to compete for space. She garnered and earned the same respect he gave to anyone save for a few gods he was familiar with.

Hearing her ask him to simply get to the point though, Baldr's gentle smile softened with understanding. With a gesture he pulled a chair from his side-- exactly how long it had been there would no doubt be a mystery to anyone except those who were paying careful attention to his hands once more, but he slid it towards Melody gesturing to it softly offering her a seat. If she took it, he'd naturally sit down opposite of her on his own that came about just as oddly. Though if she refused he would simply shove the seat out from her line of sight where it would seem to fade away into oblivion as the sound of it's legs scraping the ground would stop abruptly without any kind of crash or thud. Opposite of her, he would speak very directly as he pulled out a handkerchief once more to place on her shoulder so he could hold it in an effort to be reassuring. "I am a polisher-- I like to polish things." He spoke trying to be as direct as possible, though it seemed difficult for him as his gaze searched for words through his colorful vocabulary. "Materials, Ores, Land, Pets, People-- I take things that are good and enjoy making them great-- Great becomes Greater... Little Gem, you have the potential to be 'Great', but I want to see you-- Help you, become 'Greater'."

 

Baldr looked down at her hand her terms weren't troubling, he wasn't someone who cared about people's directions or path after all. He was a God of light, justice and purity, what need would he have to deter someone from having good intentions. However, he wouldn't abide by situations and actions that caused chaos or trouble. He wanted a beautiful and dazzling world after all, one with laws and reason and understanding. If there were to be any hiccups in that, it would bother him more then Melody's OCD. "I've no care for which path you take. It doesn't include pandemonium or chaos, so the most I'll do is help where I may." He explained though for the trying not to talk as much was difficult for Baldr, he'd agree, but it would be something that he would no doubt struggle with. Words and language was what he felt he specialized in.

Though her efforts to knock him down a peg would be incredibly difficult, before anyone else would tell him, he would be the first to admit that he had a high horse he rode on and looked down on others, particularly mortals for their long lives, but that was merely because of the gap in their experience. Whether people wanted to follow him or not, he didn't know or really think mattered. He wanted people to join him because they needed him or his help more then they liked him, this was naturally because of Baldr's style; A god of deception and lies could act or pretend to be anything he needed, so when it game to liking him, that was simply the easy part, he wanted dedicated and determined members however, who even while hating him would appreciate his efforts to help him. That was the familia he hoped to achieve... one that pursued perfection above all.

"You are trying to become a weaponsmith though, there are a lot of techniques that are helpful for that sort of activity, everything from the methodology of wielding the hammer to the quenching oils and the materials to chose from. There is a lot to learn-- but, little gem, what do you feel is most important when crafting a weapon?" He asked because he wanted her to have the materials that were most useful to her development, having a niche was good enough at the start after all.

 

Baldr would hum, a hand over his face, sliding it up into his hair as he considered her words. "You're favoring the final product without care for the journey, this will make improvement difficult. It's no wonder you're having such a hard time, we should lay a proper foundation for growth then, less things continue to go out of control." He murmured in thought, it seemed like Melody was simply going through the motions to create a tool without consideration for the tool itself and only the people, this would lead to disastrous outcomes in the God's mind. Things had a flow and a pattern that needed to follow after all. "I will have to teach you another time then, a craftsman should have more pride in their work then just that. Let us start with that understanding at least mm?" He tried to offer placing the gloved hand to her bare back.

There was a clear frown on his face, touching someone else was off putting for the god who desired cleanliness and purity, but it was necessary for the Falna. Laying it on the girl would be gentle, with a soft milky glow offering her warmth on a colder day or refreshing water on a warmer day. Baldr's Falna was particularly easy to receive after all, his blessing was always very delicate and exquisite. "There is a philosophy we should discuss someday about the nature of weapons and tools. Until then though, do take care of yourself, I look forward to seeing you again little gem." He spoke with a gentle smile and closed eyes of unspoken trust.