11723/Blacksmithing 101 in the modern age

Blacksmithing 101 in the modern age
Date of Scene:	23 June 2022
Location:	Weapons Testing: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Fitz unveils MJ and Sonja's new forge. In the Triskelion.
Cast of Characters:	Mary Jane Watson, Leopold Fitz

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Mary Jane Watson has posed:
They had been busy. But things had allowed it. Which had been nice. Agents had assignments. And Fitzwilliams no doubt had more of them. So after enough time had passed for a short semblance of sanity to allow, they had arranged some time together.
    Mary Jane is there, sword carefully wrapped over in a large hemp blanket. "Thank you so, som uch. I totally owe you for this. Sonja's offered to kill someone for you.'

Leopold Fitz has posed:
Bumps and bruises not withstanding from missions recently passed, Dr Leopold Fitz is in good spirits. He's wearing a light colored, button-down oxford shirt with sleeves rolled up. A tie, knotted with a single 'windsor', is somewhat loose around his neck, but not unprofessionally so. Pressed slacks, oxfords, and his ID badge hanging from his belt to keep it away and safe from his work but still have it handy; Fitz looks every measure of a scientist. Crouching at a table setup, the newly created forge has strong support legs, a 10 foot or so length heating and casting area, and a makeshift anvil setup along the side.

As Mary Jane enters, he looks as if he's doing a final check before looking over and offering the newly arrived a quick wave, "Bring it over," is given in that Scottish burr of his. Rising to his full height, Fitz' fingers wiggle in a 'give it to me' gesture, "Let me take a look at it?"

A chuff of breath exits in the form of a brief laugh, "That's very kind of her.." Beat. ".. you. Her. But that's okay."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Uh.. I gave her the impression that you likely wouldn't need it but the.." Offer would be appreciated? Or that was just considered high priase and courtsey on SOnja's part if that was the immediate thing.

Well, also since MJ had made it clear that the second most immediate offer from Sonja that might come up was DEFINITELY not on the table.

"This really means a lot to both of us, thank you. Can you go ahead and show us around this? Sonja can probably figure it out but I'd just like to see it done for myself."

Leopold Fitz has posed:
"It's the thought that counts," Fitz offers up solemnly, though there is something that is akin to embarrassed amusement behind blue eyes. "I've ne'er had anyone offer to kill for me in return for a service before." He nods quickly at her words, "Is so, yes. Thank you."

In these quiet, unhurried moments beyond the reach of his lab, the lilt of the Highlands sounds a touch thicker, and his movements perhaps a little more tentative but not unsure, he's paying that attention to both forge and person.

As she approaches, Fitz takes a step aside to show off his creation, and his manner takes a more .. pedantic path. Explanations that border on lecture for the scientist.

"This is a smokeless forge. It's run off of, well.." he barks a soft laugh, "Not coke, nor wood." Every genius has his secrets, right? Particularly engineers?

Definitely engineers.

"Y'can put your sword down there. It's safe." He gestures towards the anvil before waving MJ over. "Controls are here." Before them is a pushbutton control panel, each button with a marking on it that he's more than happy to go over. "It'll go from 0 to almost sun intensity in seconds, so there's no waiting on heat. If you like gradual heating, it can do that too. You can program how long you'd like it to take to come to heat, an' in what sort of increments. 5 degrees, 10.." Fitz... is very proud of the work. He could probably market something like this, but.. he won't. He couldn't.

It's a one of a kind forge.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Sonja doesn't offer to kill people for free or for a friend. But still, it's a great favor for her. "She considers the offer open ended andy ou can take it up at any time." There's a low twitch in her face at the conversationc oming in from one end of her mind that gets a furrow and her mouth going 'no way eww' that's something internalized before it swtiches back to fully Mary Jane.

She goes to listen attentively and nods, enraptured. Something that might be not often to ehar from someone that is not a scientist as she looks fascinated. "Please do go on." she moves to take the sword out of the heavy blanket and goes to put it on. "It needs to be treated well so thank you again. I also don't want to.." Set part of the Triskelion on fire. It has enough of that.

"And tha's amazing. It's great if looking to temper the metal or heat it up gradually to even it and sharpen it."

Leopold Fitz has posed:
How long has it been since Fitz has given a talk about one of his creations and those listening //hadn't// had glazed eyes after the first couple of minutes? Perhaps it's his accent that lulls people to sleep... but it's been forever. "I'll remember that," he nods in acknowledgement, and finishes up with, "Thank you, Miss Sonja." After all, it was her offer, right?

Fitz smiles at the encouragement and continues, showing the panel. "You have the emergency shut off, there. An', if need be, the suppression system.. which I'll not demonstrate. Just be aware that it's there." He waves a hand and takes a step away, "It's not fire that needs the suppression, but heat. In case it overheats, or for some reason you need to cool it quickly. The metal can withstand it, but it'd be good to find me to make sure that there's no internal damage to the casing." Just in case.

As MJ makes the leap for the reason for the gradual, or was Sonja in there whispering, who knows, it still has the engineer nodding quickly. "Exactly. Y'have full control over the heat, an' it's progression."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
There's a light shift in body posture as Sonja would take over, ehr expression turning more serious. "Your services are accepted most graciously, Smith. I am in your debt and I swear an oath upon any time to repay you as you see best for this. Sonja owes you a boon, and she will pay it back however you feel to call upon at any point."

An open ended promise. For a barbarian and one that walked on the eternal bit of danger and betrayal, that was perhaps the ultimate show of gratitude given waht little was fuzzily recollected no doubt of Sonja's memories.

Sonja shifts back over to Mary Jane and goes to look over at it. "This is so cool! Err, hot." She would laugh. "This is amazing. So much better than anything else. This will be great. Really, really thank you so much Fitz."

Leopold Fitz has posed:
It's disconcerting for Fitz to watch the subtle transformation from one soul to another, and he looks away, uncertain really as to where to keep his eyes. When Sonja speaks again, he's nodding his head and running a hand through short hair before dropping it. "An' for that, I do accept and thank you."

With payment for the forge delivered, the exchange is finished, as it were. "I just ask that you keep it here. It's probably for the best. It's protected, enclosed, an' the area is rated for the heat y'may need for your steel." Of course it's not tempered steel. From what he's seen of the metal, it's.. lovely, and undoubtedly hard, though not brittle. Sonja's people were probably a great deal smarter than that!

For MJ, Fitz offers a smile, and some of that tension begins to depart. "I told you I would. With so many projects on my plate, I didn't want this one t'get lost in the shuffle. I mean, I still have others that need my attention. Daisy.." and her moon rock! "...for one. But this one was important."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
It's disorienting for the two as well stil. Well, moreso for Mary Jane. Sonja's still annoyed at not having it for herself full time, but has since come to (mostly) accept it. Mary jane goes to move to give a hug over to Fitz, "Really, relaly, thank you." She would hug, and then go to if allowed smooch him over on the cheek before pulling him away.

"A sword is a sword. It got used a lot. An awful lot. So they were always well made. They used steel and iron." At least tehir own equivalencies of it.

When millenia later man had switched mostly to bronze for such things would have been a question for how and why.

"Well, care to take a swing at it or do you want to watch me?"

Leopold Fitz has posed:
Fitz takes the hug, his hand lifting a touch awkwardly to return it. He's not used to expressions like this! He's the science geek, nerd.. and blushes at the brush of a kiss on his slightly unshaven cheek. "My pleasure," is murmured before he clears his throat, ready to attack the next bit.

"Right. Okay, but tempering techniques, if I recall correctly, were different the world over. Quenching, too. Oil, water.. an' I won't go into damascus." All the rolling!

Shaking his head, Fitz has a good natured smile on his face, followed quickly by a barked laugh, "No. I'll not touch the sword. It'll take more research on my part, an' it probably took her master smiths," he nods meaningfully at 'her', "a lifetime to perfect. I'm not that vain t'think I come near it." Baby steps!

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "There were a few days. Depended a lot on the climate as well. In the desert you do it differently than in the forest or in the mountains. The forest might use Earth to smother it pretty effectively. Just meant you had to be careful on cleaning it. And a sword is a sword. Each one is different. Each one might not just be your's."

Mary Jane would go to show the blade. "This one? She has stories. But she's.>" Her face would scrunch up. "For her, it was one she touched. It wasn't one that had so much meaning to her." Which seems.. Strange, for how this was teh one her spirit was bound to.

Leopold Fitz has posed:
Fitz' smile hadn't faded from the laugh and he nods, underscoring, "Aye, see? Lifetime."

As Mary Jane opens the fabric, Fitz is leaning on the anvil setup, watching, attentive, as the blade emerges. "Then what can we do to have it give meaning? Or isn't it good enough. It looked like it was balanced fairly well." Looks can be deceiving in the hands of a sword maiden, however! "I'm sorry I'm not good on swords. We're a bit past that, an' there aren't many of us that still work it."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "You'r ea good person, Fitz. And thank you." Then, blade still on the forge, Mary Jane goes to shift position, letting the heat build up over on it. Letting the blade hot and sizzle, getting ready. Then the hammer is going up.
    And down. In another day and age.. Weapons are still the same.