https://65.media.tumblr.com/b43ec9f3d1208d3ecdb453a8d63ad74d/tumblr_oaaavjym951vauwjfo2_400.png

https://67.media.tumblr.com/84536c62f21f56dd094611d18f3167bf/tumblr_oaaavjym951vauwjfo3_400.png

https://67.media.tumblr.com/917944319a7e3c42b5c7c57cc5d86944/tumblr_oaaavjym951vauwjfo1_540.png



Iron Clad Forge is located in the Old Market area, a few blocks away from the north wall. At the corner of Thrush and Starling, around the corner from Santori's butcher shop.


Two bay doors face each other, creating a breezeway straight through the building. The inside of the forge is lit by overhead industrial pendant lamps as well as a few strings of twinkle lights (i.e., Christmas lights) that run the perimeter of the ceiling to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Smoked applewood chips and dried lavender smolder sweetly on glowing embers to provide an additional lure to any walking by.

Storage cabinets sit along three walls and between the bay doors is a rolling shelf unit that holds raw materials: sheet metal, long bars of iron and prefabricated hilts and pommels for different types of blades.

The forge itself sits along the back wall, warming the space around it within a five foot radius - for the open house, fireplace screens made by Fin guard the space to keep people at bay. A tall oscillating fan in the corner near the front door helps keep the air circulating through the open windows.

A table has been set up along the front wall, flanked by buckets of beer on each end. The table itself is covered with sandwich platters, provided by a local deli in the neighborhood, New Leaf. To-go menus were displayed between the platters to take home.

http://dfwnl.com/images/8/media/2012/11/28/beer-bucket-copper1.jpeg

http://picklebarrelcatering.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/s/t/stuffed_sandwich_platter_b.jpg

On the sidewalk outside stood an easel with a square sheet of metal resting upon it where postcards advertised his business, bearing the name on the front and contact information on the back.

http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/keJRRDlmVw9c21JnmQUJog/cid/203145616/id/0IECuMhH5hGHsqqXFPor4A/size/c600x384.jpg

They are held in place by magnets bearing bottle openers, also forged by Fin and also bearing the name of his business.

http://i.imgur.com/FXclgcP.jpg

One of the coffee trucks, Runcible Spoon, agreed to stop by from 7-9 pm to serve half-price drinks, knowing how many of his friends seemed to enjoy it at all hours of the night as well as the day.




((Feel free to post character interactions and PV sets! Once again, much much love to Ketch Creeley for the logo! It's amazing.))

http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/ck5gAxwf3Dd2SggZH69T8A/cid/203417948/id/eJcJ3UpK5hGNcCsBx0t47Q/size/c600x650.jpg

Kate heard something about a shindig of some sort so of course, she made a cameo to see what it was all about. A little birdy (or a few birdies) gave her the DL and she managed to scrounge up a gifty type of thing for the tall, blonde blacksmith.

She mingled with Charlie and Ray, gave Ketchy-pop's butt a hi five and presented Fin with his T-shirt once she managed to tear him away from the fifty other people he was talking to.

A beaming smile graced her face as she handed it over. "I think it will fit you perfectly," literally and figuratively. With a saucy wink, she kissed her fingers and pressed them to his cheek before sauntering away to grab a beer and see who else was around.


Her gift to Fin:

http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.11850200.9535/ra,unisex_tshirt,x3104,baby_blue,front-c,650,630,900,975-bg,f8f8f8.jpg

https://66.media.tumblr.com/d844b08e1e0e4b25b3441c1f47f0eceb/tumblr_oacy8bZaPw1v05l6no1_1280.jpg

Though Saila didn't know the Scottish blacksmith all that well just yet, they had run across one another enough times--most recently at Charlie's birthday party-- that the purple haired teenager made a point to come support the opening of his new shop.

Hex was glad to come with her once he found out he wouldn't have to dress up. And hey, there was beer.

Saila picked up one of the post cards, and probably absconded with one of the bottle openers, too. If he was available, there were better than even odds that the muse had a million questions for Fin, wanting to know what everything was, what he did with it and how it worked. If he wasn't, then it was extremely likely the girl could be seen running her fingers thoughtfully over most anything that looked safe enough to touch. Chances are high that some of both happened.

Perhaps to make up for monopolizing some of his time with her thousands of questions, Saila had brought a gift for him. She couldn't have said why she picked it out, exactly, just that she thought it was pretty and that he might like it.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/06/05/a8/0605a85ad7fe2f73fce3964337f4a23b.jpg
(img cred)

Despite the warm summer night, the couple could probably be found in the vicinity of the forge more than once, because Saila's something of a heat-seeking lizard that way and Hex doesn't seem to mind it.

They would spend some time catching up with Charlie and Ray, Josette, and anyone else they might know or otherwise introduce themselves to. When it was time to depart, they could be seen leaving on Hex's "new" 2005 Harley Davidson Dyna Super Wide Glide.

(posted with permission/input from Hex!)

How could Thorn not support Fin's forge's opening?

The redneck was there with the merry chime of bells and jingle of chains that pretty much always accompanied her. Her smiles were sun bright and dimple flanked, and full of pride and joy for the Scot.

Matter of fact, if he didn't mind, she probably stole him for a round, or three, of squishy hugs and cheek kisses. Before hitting up the food, not so much the beer, she offered her most heart-felt and sincere congratulations to him, and a gift in the form of a forged rose in a cherry wood box.

Through the course of the evening she mingled and wandered and browsed and laughed and smiled. In general, she had a fantastic time.

http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/Kai8eTrIug9VwOAZScMAA/cid/203446210/id/HhgdoKdK5hGEGVmzFPor4A/size/c600x467.jpg

Salome came early and stayed late for three reasons. Eye candy, free food, and to support the ambitions of a very sweet man who she believed deserved nothing but good things. Just keep her away from the beer.

http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/W6uzvNY5tdkyAYhqs68XQ/cid/203460739/id/CJuSrMJK5hGYswEszX_htA/size/c600x415.jpg

http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/203425447/id/NOXyemRK5hG3w1mHO4xqOQ/size/y.jpg

Wouldn't be until the sun fell silent and dusk rose anew that Lyra made a cameo appearance. No gifts were brought in an attempt at favoritism from the proprietor of the forge; she left as empty handed as she arrived.

https://78.media.tumblr.com/5f6531902ae896cb41046b740a1f0381/tumblr_p6u9qyQ98S1xpr2cyo1_540.jpg

Lucy arrived about an hour early, just to be on hand in case anything went awry, or last minute purchases/coordinating needed to happen. Although she wasn't hosting the event by any means, she tried to help be a friendly face, subtly directing traffic towards Fin when it seemed like she was meeting potential customers, and smiling and chit-chatting with those she knew.

She did, however, regularly retreat to the background to find a moment of quiet for a drink, even if she had to step outside the place to find solitude.

Also, she was uncharacteristically empty-handed, having failed to bring Fin a gift of any kind.

The Ribbon Man and Finlay MacKenzie bounced off each other from time to time. Often enough that it made the old Crow wonder why. He thought and remembered from his vantage nearby the newly opened forge. He did not go inside although, Thorn, Lucy Mitford and the Bright Star that was Benjamin Piers made entrance tempting. He did not bring a gift.

He smoked a Murad before turning to the left and disappearing into Faerie.

Jewell liked Fin. Actually, she didn't know him well enough to really like him, but she thought he was hott and that was close! Unfortunately, she didn't like him enough (yet!) to spend any length of time in a place where iron was present.

As a local, Old Market business owner herself, she felt it was important to mark the occasion in some way. She sent a rare bottle of scotch (The Empress kept a cache of her own and tabs on who had the good stuff) and a hand-written note congratulating Fin on the opening. The card also contained a wish for good luck, which was more than just empty words as there was a smattering of silver dust on the fine paper; the faerie had worked a little magic upon it.