A Spur of the Moment Visit

It had been a while since last Zurui walked the streets of his home village. There was a time when he hardly ever saw beyond the walls, but lately, it seemed like he was never home. He decided to use this small bit of free time to catch up on things, most importantly the business center of the village. Zurui possessed 4 shops here, but as the self-elected secret partner, he kept his distance from all of them. He always wondered, though, what it would be like to take an active role. Perhaps that's why he found himself walking into Halcyon Wares & Workshop.

The bell chimed as the Jounin slipped past the wooden door into the store. Zurui returned a nod from the massive man behind the counter as he approached the display cases. His eyes carried from one item to the next, footsteps just slow enough to allow for a good look at every item. The craftsmanship was good, no doubt, but it wasn't why Zurui had come to this place. He continued to browse, hoping that whoever owned this place might be around.

The person behind the counter, a stout and stern looking young man with the muscular features and toned frame expected from someone who would handle a lot of physical labor at a daily basis kept an eye out on the shop in the absence of the owner and namesake of the establishment. He calmly looked at the stranger who seemed to be assessing the general examples of the shop's quality and the crafters' ability to form proper armor. "I reckon you're not here to buy anything, but for something more delicate or grander than what is displayed here," the Man behind the counter suddenly smiled and stepped out from behind his usual place, looking at the stranger from top to bottom. "the mistress did teach me that anyone not buying anything or requesting anything within the first minute is most likely awaiting for her presence."

With a nod, the man raised one of his muscular arms, motioning with his thumb towards the back. "Just go round the outside, you can enter the workstation through the back alley, the door will be open, since 'She' is currently working today."

It seemed this was a special place indeed. Zurui wasn't in the door two minutes before the bulky man directed him towards the owner. Originally, he'd come here to see first if this was a place run directly by the owner. It clearly was. Second, he wanted to see how it differed from the way his shops were managing. Based on the few words shown already, he gathered that Halcyon was herself a smith and that everything was probably at least designed by her. Could he do the same? The only affinity for marketable items that Zurui possessed was for medicines, poisons, and enchantments. While one of his shops did specialize in herbs and medicines, he never thought his involvement would help anything; the chemist, though not especially skillful, managed well enough on his own.

As the Jounin nodded and moved on towards the back, he started to wonder if perhaps he could make something concrete out of this visit. A partnership with this Halcyon, who he assumed was the Jounin Halcyon Yomi, to enchant the items she created. Thinking on it, though, he doubted that she'd not have the ability herself. What great crafter wouldn't?

[Exit]