I didn't know I was broken 'til I wanted to change [Garth]

Iliana had been in Kattegat for a couple months now, and things were going fairly well. Her business was picking up now that word had had time to spread, and because she’d been forcing herself to go out and interact with people. She was a fairly solitary person and going up to strangers to introduce herself was such a foreign concept, it had taken her a number of tries to actually go through with it at first. But when she’d finally got the hang of it, she’d been glad, because she’d managed to make a few friends.

Today, she was on her way to visit one of those friends. Garth was one of the blacksmiths in Kattegat, and she’d met him briefly before the Harvest Feast, and had been able to actually hold a few conversations with him shortly after. During those conversations, she’d discovered he was originally from Skagerrak, and had relocated to Kattegat for much the same reason she had. It had definitely helped her to open up to him a bit, knowing they had something in common, and he wouldn’t think she was strange for abandoning the only home she’d ever known to trek out by herself.

Of course, she hadn’t exactly been very chatty or forthcoming about her background. She wasn’t the type of person who just shared their life story with everyone they met, the first time she met them. For example, she hadn’t shared that she was an orphan or that she’d never had many friends back in Uddevalla because she was an anti-social pessimist ~~with a resting bitch face~~. These were things he’d have to find out for himself, hopefully long after he already considered them to be friends.

But today Iliana actually had a favor to ask him and hoped he already considered them to be friendly enough to help. She’d struggled for nearly the whole morning, trying to decide if she was even going to ask him at all, and then when she’d decided yes, she definitely was, she wasn’t sure if it would be considered rude to go empty handed when asking a favor, or if that would seem sneaky; To be nice and give him something and then turn around and ask for something in return didn’t seem exactly friendly to her. Ultimately she’d decided yes, she was going to ask him for help, and no, she wasn’t going to bring along a bribe.

Once she arrived at the blacksmith shop, Iliana hoped her internal debating all morning hadn’t taken too long, and he’d already left to run errands or something. And also that the other blacksmith was elsewhere. She was going to feel self conscious enough, she didn’t need an audience.

Luckily, as soon as she walked inside she noticed that Garth was in the shop, and he was alone. “Good morning,” she greeted pleasantly, stepping into the shop, and away from the door so she wouldn’t be in the way if anyone else came in. She looked around quickly, taking in the once-familiar sight of a blacksmith’s shop. This was the first time she’d been in here, but her father had been a blacksmith, and it made her feel a bit funny, noticing the similarities between the way he’d had his shop and the layout of this one. “How are you?” Iliana asked finally, smiling as she turned her attention back to Garth.

She knew it was probably customary to have a bit of a chat before jumping right to asking someone for help, but she was still new at this being outgoing thing, and didn’t want to waste his time. He obviously had things that needed doing. “I’m not interrupting you, am I? I just have a quick favor to ask, but I can come back another time if now isn’t good?”

Garth had been spending his whole morning working in the forge. He had a lot of orders he was getting finished today. Which also meant he was going to get paid a lot soon too. He would be able to use that money to get some more items for his house. He wanted to get some more furs for the winter to keep warm with at night. Maybe he should just take a day off soon and just go hunting the entire day, then take everything he had to the dressmaker and have her make him a new fur blanket instead of just buying. That might be cheaper for him in the long run. Then he would be able to save up for more materials. Garth just wasn't the biggest fan of going hunting. He had no father to take him out and show him the ropes of doing so, so everything he had learned was from trial and error of doing it all on his own. There had been far more errors the success to say the least. He could ask some other man to show him what he was doing wrong, but that would be embarrassing to do. What kind of man doesn't know how to hunt properly. At least thats what Garth told himself to keep from ever asking anyone. Even though he was sure if he asked someone like Svart, he wouldn't make fun and would help. Svart knew about Garth's past and childhood. So many he would be a person who would understand. Garth would never know, he had a little bit to much pride to actually fallow through.

As he was moving around his area he heard a small “Good morning,” coming from the front of the shop. Turning his head to the front, Garth felt a large smile come onto his face. There before his eyes was the women he had taken a small fancy to. The beautiful Iliana. He wondered why she had come to see him, but he would never complain. He was glad she was here actually. He had wanted to try and talk to her many times, but got far to scared to do so, very manly of him he knows. "Good morning Iliana" He said to her with a even larger smile. Setting down what he was holding he moved a little closer to her. His work could wait. He wasn't going to miss this opportunity to give her his full attention, and have her atteion as well. He watched her look around his shop, and he wished he had picked it up a little bit better this morning now that she was here. Wanting to impress her with a clean work space. “How are you?” She then asked him, bringing him back to her and away from his dirty work area."I am very well, how are you doing Iliana?" he asked her back. He hoped he wasn't saying her name to much. He just wanted her to feel at ease around him, to make her feel conferable so she would come back to see him more than once.

He looked her over, and tried to be discreet about it. She was just as beautiful as she always was in his eyes. Garth loved her red hair. The way it looked in the light, like it was on fire. It made him think of the fire in the forge. The fire that he was so use to looking at day after day, but her fire was different. It was young and free. The way it fell down her back and moved in the wind. Not to forget her eyes, they were so blue. Like the ocean or the sky. He knew he could look at them and get lost, but he also knew he needed to not be weird. She had know idea of his attraction to her. Garth didn't want to scare her away from him. Even if she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. “I’m not interrupting you, am I? I just have a quick favor to ask, but I can come back another time if now isn’t good?” She spoke again and Garth smiled. " No you aren't interrupting anything." he said first.

Taking a deep breath he took a few more steps closer to her. Wanting to be closer to make sure she knew she had his full attention."What can I help you with? I'll gladly do any favors for you." he said next and wanted to kick himself for how that just came out. Why did he have to put his foot in his mouth like that. He had to say something to fix that and not make her think he was weird."We are friends after all." he added after a few seconds. He hoped that was enough to make what he had said less wired. Garth cursed himself and how bad he was with talking to women. Sure he could talk to his sister, and mother. However he didn't feel this way about his family, this was all very different. If Garth thought on it long enough he was realize that Iliana was the first girl he had actually liked more than a pretty face. He had been so dedicated to his work and being the best he could, that he hadn't really focused on women all that much. He had only spelt with two women his entire life. Garth wasn't ashamed of that though. He wanted to be with someone in a more intimate way before he slept with anyone again. He thought it would mean more that way.

@Iliana Andsvarrsdóttir

Garth returned her greeting and smiled at her, and Iliana noticed him putting down what he had in his hands and felt bad for bothering him. She should’ve known she would be; He was a blacksmith. They were very busy people, especially in a place like this, where vikings and shieldmaidens from all over Scandinavia travelled in the hopes of gaining fame and fortune by taking part in one of the famous expeditions to new places. But he’d greeted her and asked her a question and Iliana was at least polite, if nothing else.

“I’m well, thank you,” she answered with a smile. She watched him moving nearer and noticed the sweat on his brow. Iliana didn’t know how he did it. She couldn’t stand next to a forge all day long. She’d always preferred the cold, to be quite honest. Just one of many reasons she’d never have been able to follow in her father’s footsteps.

“Oh, good,” she replied, relieved despite knowing she most certainly was interrupting him. She smiled gratefully when he asked how he could help her, though thought his phrasing was a bit odd. Clearly he was far nicer than she was. “Right,” She added, nodding in response when he said that they were friends. She was glad he thought so.

“Well, I was just wondering if you ever might happen to have any spare bits of metal you don’t really use? Just little pieces you wouldn’t need?” Her father had had a pile of shavings and broken bits that were too small to do much with, and that’s what she’d started making jewelry with in the very beginning. “If you do, do you think could I have them? For jewelry.” She wasn’t sure if she was asking or explaining properly.

“I don’t need any now or even soon probably, but I usually get it from a friend from Uddevalla, and he likely won’t be able to get back here until the spring, with the weather turning,” she made a general sweeping gesture towards the door. Winter had come and travelling back and forth from Uddevalla would be nearly impossible. It was a hazardous enough voyage when the weather was favorable. “And I didn’t want to wait until I was running out to come and ask. I know that’s the sort of stuff that builds up slowly, over time, so waiting to the last minute wouldn’t do me any good.”

Iliana thought for a moment, trying to come up with a possible trade she could offer but she didn’t know what possible need he’d have of anything she could make. “I can pay for it, or if there’s any sort of… intricate, jewelry-like decorative work you need done, I could maybe do that in exchange?” She realized she might be implying he needed help with his work and wasn’t sure if he would take offense. Garth didn’t really seem the type but she didn’t want to risk it. “Not that you need any help,” she amended quickly, hoping to avoid making it awkward. Or at least, any more awkward.

Wanting to change the subject for a few moments and hopefully clear the air in case he did find her offer rude, she turned towards the forge, where he’d left his tools. “What are you working on?” she wondered, hoping he was the sort of person who liked to talk about themselves. Iliana preferred to listen rather than speak, and she’d already said more to Garth in this conversation than she’d said to just about anyone else in Kattegat combined. That, with the fact that she was asking a favor of him, was making her feel uncomfortable. At least he was still being nice to her. For now.

Garth knew he was most likely smiling to much, and that he needed to calm himself down. But he felt happy with her in the forge. He liked it when anyone came to see him at the forge, because that meant he was going to get orders or get to talk to new people. However her being here was a new type of exciting. Sure they had spoken on an off a few times around the village, but here she was in his work place. He was glad he had a lot of his good work hung and waiting to be picked up at the moment. That ways she could see how hard he works. Garth is also very glad Svart hadn't been in the shop at the moment. For her would have felt more awkward, and Svart would have been able to tell that he liked the women in front of him. Then he would never hear the end of it for the rest of his life.It would be free martial for Svart to use. When Iliana spoke “I’m well, thank you,” he smiled at her and nodded his head. "That is good to hear" he said to her.

She listened to him tell her he wasn't busy before she said “Right,” followed by “Well, I was just wondering if you ever might happen to have any spare bits of metal you don’t really use? Just little pieces you wouldn’t need?” after. At first Garth was a little confused, why would she want the things he would throw away or melt down? He would gladly give them to her, he would even give her Svarts if she wanted them, but he just didn't know why until she spoke again. “If you do, do you think could I have them? For jewelry.” For her Jewelry, of course now it made sense to him. He nodded his head and got ready to reply when she spoke again “I don’t need any now or even soon probably, but I usually get it from a friend from Uddevalla, and he likely won’t be able to get back here until the spring, with the weather turning,” He had plenty he could and would give her right this moment, but he waited a moment to see if she had more to say before he spoke.

“And I didn’t want to wait until I was running out to come and ask. I know that’s the sort of stuff that builds up slowly, over time, so waiting to the last minute wouldn’t do me any good.”she said next and he felt himself smile more. His face might get stuck that way if she kept making him smile so much, but at least he would look friendly all the time. “I can pay for it, or if there’s any sort of… intricate, jewelry-like decorative work you need done, I could maybe do that in exchange?” he opened his mouth once more and she spoke again making him hold in a laugh. “Not that you need any help,” she was cuter then before. Garth could tell she was a little bit uncomfortable, so he new he needed to do something to make her feel more at ease. He wants her to know she can be herself around him and she can feel safe. He would never let anything bad happen to him, not while he was around. “What are you working on?”Iliana added last and he knew he could speak without interrupting her rudely.

Starting off with a smile he said "Of course you can have the small pieces I don't use. I even have some you can have right now." he said as he walked over to his scraps. Grabbing a nice looking pot he started moving them into the pot so it would be easier for her to carry home. " I'm glad something will be done with it instead of it being in the fire or trash. I'm sure whatever you make will be beautiful." Garth said with a smile as he walked back over to her and held the pot out."I'll keep saving them for you form now on too." he said as he moved away a bit once it was in her hands. "I don't need any payment at all...just umm let me make you dinner or something at my place and we will be even?" he said and his whole face went bright red. That did not coming out the way he had planed it to. He made meant he wanted to have dinner with her. Not make it sound all weird the way he had.

Grunting to himself he moved away even more and over to his station. She had asked him what he was working on so be picked up an sword with a lot of details all over it. "I'm umm working on this one right now.Its a sword for one of the Vikings" he said as he brought it over so she could see all the details he put into the handle. Garth hoped she didn't think he was a strange person, but he felt pretty nervous around her, and it was messing with his head.

@Iliana Andsvarrsdóttir

Despite how incredibly awkward she was feeling, having to ask anyone to do her favors, whether or not they considered her their friend, Iliana thought this was going relatively well. She was glad she’d been right, that Garth seemed to be a nice person, and genuinely wanted to be friends with her, so that was making her feel a little more confident in the interaction.

And then Garth told her he’d be able to give her the scrap metal she was asking for, and even had some she could take with her right then and there. “Oh! Okay, thank you so much!” she replied when he began to gather up the metal bits for her. She honestly hadn’t expected to leave his shop with anything today, but she wasn’t going to say no. She didn’t want to crowd his shop unnecessarily with junk he didn’t need, when he was nice enough to do her this favor.

She could feel herself blushing slightly at his comment about how whatever she’d made with it would be beautiful, and knew her cheeks would’ve gone pink by now. She had very pale skin; when she was feeling awkward or embarrassed, it was hard to miss. “Thank you,” she repeated softly, taking the pot from him when he held it out to her.

It was his next statement, though, that had her furrowing her brow in confusion. “So, in exchange for giving me metal that you paid for, you want to make me dinner?” She was fairly certain that wasn’t how exchanges normally occurred. It didn’t make much sense to her, unless this was simply Garth’s attempt to get to know her better? Iliana wasn’t exactly the most knowledgeable when it came to friendships, only having a few close friends back home in Uddevalla, and she wondered if this was normal. “I’d love to? But I feel like I should at least pay for the food, or bring some of the food, or help you cook? Just, do something to help.”

After she’d asked what he was working on, to turn the subject away from how uncomfortable she was feeling at the moment, he moved away from her and brought a sword over to show her. She was no expert when it came to swords, of course, and had rarely even held on since her mother gave up trying to train her to fight all those years ago, but she’d always enjoyed looking at them and examining the small details different smiths put into their work. The small details were her favorite. “Oh, that’s beautiful!” She told him as soon as she got a good look at it. “I love this,” she added as she pointed to the details in the handle, leaning in to get a closer look. “You’re very talented.”

Garth smiled at her brightly when she spoke “Oh! Okay, thank you so much!” she said to him when he said she could have all his scraps and that he had some now that she could have. Her words and relations were enough for him. He was happy he had agreed so easily. It wasn't like it was a big deal to him anyways. The stuff he was giving her, she was going to make something beautiful with, and he would have just trashed it or melted it down. So in reality she was doing him a favor by making something so nice out of it. So it wasn't put to waste.When she told her he was sure whatever she made would beautiful Garth saw her face slowly heat up. A amazing little pink tint took over her pale face, and Garth was shocked that she could actually be even more beautiful then he had thought she could be. The blush suited her very well, and he kind of wanted to make it happen more and more. So he could see it more often. Shaking his head at himself he smiled when she spoke. “Thank you,” she said. "You're welcome. Its true. Your work is very good." he told her before sending a small wink at her, before he kicked himself again. He was so bad with women. If he didn't scare her away he would be surprised.

Like with his next mistake, offering to make her dinner in exchange for her taking his stuff. He had meant let him have her over, but he had put his foot in his mouth and messed up. “So, in exchange for giving me metal that you paid for, you want to make me dinner? She asked him and he felt his face heat up in turn. He knew he had to be bright red. As red as the fire in the forge on the other side of the room at her words. Garth had embarrassed himself greatly and would be kicking himself after she left. Why had he have to be so bad with her, with women. He had spoken to women before, but he just kept messing up with Iliana. He was just so distracted by her, and that must be why he was making a fool of himself right now. Reaching up and scratching the back of his head he tried to think of words he could say that would make what he had been trying to say make more sense to her. Without her thinking him even more odd.“I’d love to? But I feel like I should at least pay for the food, or bring some of the food, or help you cook? Just, do something to help.” she spoke, and beat him to his words. Words that would have most likely embarrassed him even more anyways.

Taking a deep breath he smiled and tried to calm his face a bit before speaking."How about we cook together, and I'll buy the food..you could bring the ale? Or whatever drink you want to drink!" he said making sure she knew that they didn't have to drink. Water would be perfect too. He didn't want to scare her away. She had agreed though, even though the had made a fool of himself. That made him smile more, and feel less badly. Then they moved onto talking about his work and Garth showed her a sword he had been working on. “Oh, that’s beautiful!” she said and his face warmed up again, and he felt his face would break from the power of his smile alone. “I love this,” she said next as she looked at his work more. It made him want to give it to her on the spot, but he couldn't. A viking would be here for it tomorrow morning. She liked the work he had place on the handle and it made him feel very proud. “You’re very talented.” that however made him even more proud."Thank you Iliana. That means a lot coming from you. I have been learning from a very young age." he told her with a smile."I can make you something if you want...as a gift..a knife or something. To have to protect yourself." he said next.Garth hoped she wouldn't be weirded out or offended. He however just wanted her to have something to keep her safe. The thought of her getting hurt made him mad and worried at the same time. "That is..if you want something like that..." he said next as he scratched the back of his head again and looked at her.

@Iliana Andsvarrsdóttir

She was slowly realizing the blush on her cheeks might be rather permanent around Garth. At least, if he didn’t quit it with the compliments. Of course she appreciated hearing that he thought her work was nice, beautiful even, but that didn’t stop her from feeling a bit awkward at how kind he was being. One of her best friends had this habit of being a rather rude person and Iliana had always preferred Brynja’s company to just about anyone. She wondered now what that said about her? Clearly Garth was a genuinely nice person, and she was worried that if she got more comfortable around him, she’d say the wrong thing and offend him because she just wasn’t used to being friends with someone like him.

“Thank you,” she repeated for about the tenth time, or so it felt, wondering if he thought she was a bit simple because that seemed to be the only thing she knew how to say.

Luckily, he came up with a solution to his strange proposal about making her dinner in exchange for also giving her free things. She probably would’ve felt a bit better about just paying for it, but maybe having dinner with him would help ease the awkwardness between them? She was watching him closely and had noticed his cheeks redden once or twice as well. Which, she didn’t think too rare, considering he worked with fire for a living, but f she didn’t know any better, she’d think he might feel just as awkwardly as she did. It actually made her relax a little bit.

“That sounds like a plan,” she told him with a smile, agreeing to cooking together and that she would bring whatever drink she wanted. “Do you like mead?” She’d always been partial to the honeyed wine, but thought it would be polite to ask, since he’d mentioned ale. Not everyone liked their drinks to be so sweet, and she wanted to make sure she picked something he’d actually like.

When he thanked her, she couldn’t help but smile. At least she wasn’t the only one saying it any longer. She wondered if he'd always wanted to be a blacksmith after he mentioned he’d been learning since he was young, but felt rude taking up any more of his time, so decided she could wait to pester him with personal questions. They had dinner plans now, right?

He offered to make her something, and she smiled at first, but tilted her head a bit, and raising an eyebrow when he said ‘a gift’. “I’d love a knife, actually. But I insist on paying for it.” While she was fairly confident Garth was a decent person, she didn’t like the idea of owing anyone anything. A dinner for some metal he’d throw away anyway was very different than him actually making her a weapon. That was how he made his living, and she wasn't going to accept anything like for free.

Garth smiled when he noticed her blush and when she said "Thank you" once more to him. He hoped that he would be lucky enough to make her blush more and more often. His deepest wishes that he would be the only one to make her blush someday, and he knew that was weird and a little to strong feeling for the moment. He just really liked her, and the more he talked to her the more he liked her."You're welcome" he told her once more to her thank you. He liked he reaction he got when he complimented her, maybe he could keep doing that. Did he have the guts to tell her that she was beautiful? That in his eyes she was the most beautiful girl in the world? Most likely not yet, he didn't want to scare her away, and he was to scared himself to open up like that to her. However he couldn't wait to see her face when he did tell her something like that. Would her face match her hair? That would be a wonderful site if so. He smiled even more just thinking about it.

After they fixed his mess of words and nervousness he heard her say “That sounds like a plan,” to him first, and he smiled even more. Garth smiled more today then he had done all week, maybe even most of the month.“Do you like mead?” she asked him next. Honestly he didn't drink it much, but it was still good."Yes, mead is great." he told her quickly. Sweet stuff could be great sometimes, and if she liked it he would drink it with no problem at all. He just hoped he would be less nervous when she came over to for the dinner. He didn't want to embarrass himself. He also made a mental note to go home and clean his house very well before she came over. He wanted to impress her, not make her think he was a nasty dirty man. That would be sure to scare her away, and he didn't want that, No, not one bit.

Then the conversation went to his work and he offered to make her a gift, because he could never see himself wanting to charge her.“I’d love a knife, actually. But I insist on paying for it.” she however said back to him. Fine, he would let her pay a bit, but nothing close to what he normally charged. "I guess I will let you pay." he says being brave and throwing her a wink."What are your favorite colors and runes?" he asks her next. He would get right to working on this knife,the moment she left even.So he could have it ready for their meal together. It would give them things to talk about it things were to get awkward at all. He would do his very best to keep that from happening though.

@Iliana Andsvarrsdóttir

Iliana felt like she was taking up far too much of his time, and was well past the point where she she usually ended interactions like this. She tried her best not to risk annoying or offending people and the longer she spent with them, the more likely she was to do one of those things. When you were used to being alone, you weren’t exactly the best company, and Iliana had been alone for a long time.

She smiled at Garth when he said mead was great, but knew she’d probably get some ale as well. Since he’d mentioned it. He seemed very nice, and she didn’t want to risk him saying yes to mead just because she’d asked for it specifically. This whole idea was still a bit strange to her, but she wasn’t going to take it back now. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt her to get out more and make friends. At least she’d have something to say to Redra and Brynja next time she visited Uddevalla about what she’d been up to in Kattegat. Her friends had asked all kinds of questions about what things were like for her here and she’d had no answers at all. It was embarrassing.

He said he’d let her pay for the knife he was offering to make her and she nodded at him. Of course he was! She’d just said she insisted on paying for it, hadn’t she? He asked her favorite color and runes and Iliana paused to think for a moment. “Green is my favorite color,” she told him first, still considering the runes question. “Maybe just some runes for protection?” That seemed like a good idea for a knife, right?

Taking a step back, towards the door, she smiled at him again. “Thank you again, for this,” she began, lifting the pot of scrap metal he’d given to her slightly. “And I will see you for dinner. At your house.” She nodded at him one more time before turning on her heel and leaving the shop. Well, that had gone pretty well?

» I'm still the same, but I'm trying to change [Halfdan]
» I swear it was broken when I got here
» We're all just broken pieces trying to fit somewhere [Open]
» Don't tell me what to do [Garth]
» On top of the world [Garth]