[center][h2]Christmas Village - Play It Forward[/h2][color=salmon]Ace Cadet[/color] & [color=ea590c]Edward Portsmith[/color]

Word Count: 2750 (+3 exp/6 rexp)
Location: Christmas Village, the Frozen Highlands[/center]
Following the snowball fights (both the first that had, well, snowballed into something more involved, and the second which involved a much more casual battle of Seekers and locals trading cold projectiles with each other under Tenna's expert eye), Ace, Sandalphon, and Tenna needed to wind down. Of course they had different ways and definitions of winding down, so when they split up it wasn't too surprising to see them jump right into the next events, though at least these were less physically intense.

Ace returned to the central workshop. He might have gotten distracted before (twice), but this time he was determined to look into the actual [i]work shop[/i] section. It wasn't hard to find, and as he took a good look around the room, he noted that the whole thing was basically dedicated to one thing at the moment: the creation of knick knacks and toys. There were sewing stations for stuffed animals, wood working stations for simple figures, metal working stations for more advanced casting of miniature vehicles and the like, and all sorts of other things to be found that were currently made for toy making. There were also a couple of small [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/39d174a80557.jpg]holiday golems[/url] which floated around the room, one cleaning up to ensure every station was clear and safe to use while the other slowly transported a few finished products down to the gift wrapping area elsewhere. 

He also wasn't shocked to see that he was not the only Seeker present there. Within, he found Edward, leaning back on a chair and with his feet up on the surface of an [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/e600d80dc682.png]elven workbench[/url]. Tiny crystal flakes glittered on the surface, scattered around both the man’s boots and a kettle from which the town decorator had poured himself the cup of hot cocoa.

Upon seeing Ace he set down the cup, removed his boots from the bench and called over [color=ea590c]”Ah, Ace. Good to see you!”[/color] before gesturing at the kettle and enquiring [color=ea590c]”Care for a cup?”[/color]

[color=salmon]"Absolutely,"[/color] the hunter said as he made his way over. 

The temperature change from outdoors to in had made an almost pleasant sting spread across his skin, but it all concentrated in his hands when he took both a seat and the mug Edward offered him. The sweet, warm drink was nice, but it also didn't last long. Ace poured another cup.

[color=salmon]"I never would have expected that we'd end up in a place like this. It's fun, right?"[/color] the Cadet said. [color=salmon]"I've been wanting to check out the workshop since we got here but there's so much stuff to do!"[/color]

Edward shrugged non-committily before replying that [color=ea590c]”It’s been enjoyable to use my talent for something other than destruction, I suppose, and I think the results shine for themselves”[/color] before vaguely gesturing out the window with his cup.

Ace followed the gesture with his eyes, then squinted for a moment at the lights and snow outside in thought until he realized what exactly Edward meant. [color=salmon]"Oh, all the new decorations! That was you guys, huh? It looks good!"[/color]

The results of their decorating looked closer to the winter festivals that Ace was more familiar with, so maybe he was a little biased, but it really did look nice. He looked back at the dreadnought with a smile on his face.

[color=salmon]"Did you come here to take a crack at making toys after you finished? I've been thinking maybe if we help out with that, they wouldn't mind if we tried making some stuff we need for the stagecoach too. Like..."[/color] he glanced around the area, pointing out a mold for casting little trains, complete with functional wheels. [color=salmon]"...if we can scale up something like this and replace the missing wheels..."[/color]

He gave a half shrug. They could at least try it, or something else to strengthen the coach, as they still had a ways to go until Moon Mountain; and the rest of the journey was guaranteed to be harder than today's section. 

Edward blinked once at the suggestion, before leaning in and saying [color=ea590c]”now there’s an idea”[/color] with a point, before rubbing his chin thoughtfully. 

After a few moments of this he agreed [color=ea590c]”Might well work, though we should probably put the workshop to its intended use before we convert it to match our own ends”[/color] before setting down his drained cup and standing to do just that.

As he began to get the workbench prepped for, well, work, he casually enquired [color=ea590c]”So, what activities have you crossed off of the list might I ask?”[/color] 

[color=salmon]"Early on Blazermate, Queen Sectonia and me got roped into picking clothes, but you probably knew that since I see you got yours,"[/color] the Cadet started with. He gave Edward space at the elven workbench, getting up to wander the rest of the shop. It wasn't a huge area, but there was room enough for a lot of people to work at once. [color=salmon]"Then I ended up in a couple of snowball fights with Tenna and Sandalphon. Now that it's already getting late, seems like the day's really sliding by."[/color]

He chose a station not far from Edward's so that they could still easily chat while they worked, dropping himself onto the wooden stool in front of it. Speaking of, he glanced over at Edward wondering if his smithing experience would translate well.

[color=salmon]"Ever made anything like this before?"[/color]

[color=ea590c]”Not since my academy days"[/color] Edward replied, as he flipped his journal back to one of its earliest pages, and then began to assemble some pre-prepared parts together as he spoke [color=ea590c]”and even then, it was an introductory project, getting students to create a small machine powered by magic before moving onto the larger, more dangerous, creations. Only so much damage you can do if the power supply for your toy soldier destablises"[/color] 

Saying that, he completed the finishing touch on one such toy solider who was for some reason armed with a [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/0d7e893f6d13.png]baguette[/url]. He placed it down on the table and then with a command of [color=ea590c]”forward march!!"[/color] caused an amber glow to alight in the soldier's eyes, who promptly matched his way forwards..

[color=ea590c]”Never had much time for such frivolities since those early days. Everything that came after was so…. hectic"[/color] he said, as he watched his creation forwards, before calling for a [color=ea590c]”halt!"[/color] before the soldier took a tumble off of the edge of the workbench.

Ace watched the toy's test with interest. He would never have thought that making similar little moving trinkets would lead to people learning how to work with their magic, but it made sense. And the toy soldier itself wasn't bad!

[color=salmon]"Seems like you still got it - doesn't even need a crank or winding key! The kids that get your handiwork are gonna be lucky!"[/color]

The Cadet himself was working on a crude but sort of endearing doll. With plenty of basic shapes already sewn and stuffed, it was only a matter of attaching them together and adding a bit of personal flair. The head of what was probably supposed to be a person flipped upside down with the likely wings of an angel or snow fairy attached to the back, along with mismatched arms to a body, finished with a couple of buttons sewn on and it was just about finished. Ace held up the [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/410ce264473c.png]doll[/url] and turned it in his hands, giving it an in depth once over. [color=salmon]"I think that looks pretty close..."[/color]

[color=ea590c]”To one of the creatures in your world? It certainly makes for a charming stuffed animal"[/color] Edward replied, as he finished scribbling a (far too technical) note with the commands for the toy soldier’s recipient, before attaching it to the toy and handing it over to one of the golems for transport to the wrapping team. It gingerly took the item and wrapped it in its cords before dutifully floating off down the hall with it.

[color=salmon]"You think so? Thanks. It is supposed to be a Yian Kut-ku, but I was basing it off of a toy I'd seen before. I knew someone that made these kinds of things a lot and I always thought they were pretty cute."[/color] The hunter sat the plush down on the table next to him, a fond expression on his face. [color=salmon]"And I've never really tried before so I figured, go with something you sort of know."[/color]

He cast his eyes over the rest of the creation options before cracking his knuckles. He wondered how many they ought to make before experimenting with the life size versions, but it was probably a lot more than just a few. [color=salmon]"One or two more and then I'll be ready to try something more Kut-kurazy."[/color]

[color=ea590c]”No time like the present, I’d say"[/color] Edward replied, beginning to stand as he did so and then pausing to give half a laugh at his unintended pun, which had earned a grin from his fellow Seeker. Then he fully got to his feet and began examining their fabric options, saying [color=ea590c]”Perhaps something traditional, however, as our first. Bears are a fairly popular choice in my reality, though, now that I think of it, I can’t say why? Perhaps it's hibernation and an association with sleep as a result?"[/color]

[color=salmon]"A bear..."[/color] it wasn't a very common word in the Cadet's vocabulary, but there was something that came to mind. Something with massive fangs and claws, with sharp spikes protruding from its back and up its arms. Not very cuddly, but it did hibernate, so maybe Edward was onto something? 

The two of them collaborated on the next toy, but perhaps because of their experiences the stuffed animal ended up looking a little meaner than a mass produced one,  especially with the amateur stitch work. But at the very least whoever dared to hug it would find it to be a [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/5ed2101e1f67.png]very warm bear[/url] indeed.

[color=ea590c]”Might have gone a little too far with the self warming"[/color] 

[color=salmon]"Nah, it seems alright! Let's do the next one with blue fur though,"[/color] Ace said with a nod. [color=salmon]"Or if we stick with animals maybe we could do some felynes - I think those are the most common stuffed dolls where I'm from."[/color]

The sewing stations did come with plenty of patterns to use, so other than the altered bear there were options for cats, dogs, and more available. While going through them, Ace pointed out the pig patterns too, and with time the two of them could make some friendlier looking [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/9b1f59759d20.jpg]plushies[/url].

Although once they got tired of needles and fabric, they could always move on to knives, wood, and sandpaper, in which case Ace was happy to show off some basic [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/2debd4189f99.png]carved figurines[/url].

[color=ea590c]”You have a very deft hand at this, don’t you"[/color] Edward said, while whittling away, doing his best to copy the design but not quite managing it. Simple shapes for the ornaments had been easy, especially when a mistake didn’t cost too much time. Getting the carving right in one go was a little trickier. 

What he found much more manageable was working with a material that could be shaped and reshaped till the desired form was found, and only after was everything ready to be set in stone. Or ready to be fired, as the case was with his creation of a miniature army of clay [url=https://minionsart.github.io/aow4db/PreviewsAvif/clay_charger.avif]chargers[/url] [url=https://minionsart.github.io/aow4db/PreviewsAvif/clay_defender.avif]defenders[/url] and [url=https://minionsart.github.io/aow4db/PreviewsAvif/clay_arbalest.avif]arbalests[/url], all utalising the same spell as the earlier toy soldier to allow locomotion.

By following Edward's example Ace took a shot at making the clay soldiers as well, the first one little more than a human-shaped smudge but each subsequent one getting better and better. 

[color=salmon]"Just learning as I go, but look who's talking,"[/color] Ace said, nodding to the quality of Edward's toy army. 

He handed his passable clay creations over for the dreadnought to enchant before each was collected by the string light golems and floated away. Experimenting with various mediums and designs still took a while even as the two got faster as the motions became more familiar, but it was hard to tell how much time was passing when the cloud cover still completely blocked the sun. And so they worked on. 

[color=salmon]"I wonder if we could get any of these over to the other team as souvenirs…?"[/color]

[color=ea590c]”I’m sure the two, ah, well, actual children among them would appreciate it at least"[/color] Edward replied after a moment of thought, before continuing that [color=ea590c]”I’d have to lean on your experience when it comes to knowing which of the rest of those team members would or would not appreciate a gift like this. If they were sending us things, I don’t think, say, Ganondorf would appreciate one of these,"[/color] before wiggling the hair tendrils of the to the less than stellar [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/233933405761.gif]Mutant Aisha Plushie[/url] he’d produced.

Ace chuckled and really couldn't disagree. Though he wasn't sure he knew all of the Gold Team members that well, at least not enough to guess at what sort of things they'd like. 

[color=salmon]"Maybe just Bowser Jr. and Rika then,"[/color] he said. [color=salmon]"And Nadia too! Maybe Sakura and Pit...?"[/color] even the angel he was iffy about, and the rest of that group he hadn't a clue besides the fact he'd learned that Roland liked coffee, which didn't translate well to trinkets. Ace gave Edward a sort of 'what can you do' smile. [color=salmon]"Let's see what we end up with and pick a few good ones to send."[/color]

A few more experiments led to some thematically appropriate creations, like a [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/3f032a0fa014.png]wonky gingerbread man[/url] and snowmen that doubled as [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/74a1bc7aa254.png]keychains[/url] in various materials - which they could probably give to Roxas without much fuss. Little tiger toys in different [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/7e61f21ab7c1.jpg]colors[/url] were fairly simple to put together once they got the pattern down, especially since they could rely on pre-printed or painted fabrics for the designs. 

Indeed they were so simple that Edward managed to get a squad of copper golems to make a batch of them, only to find himself admitting that [color=ea590c]”It sort of takes the… whimsy out of it doesn't it"[/color] and dismissing the idea.

Making custom toys was simply more entertaining and, he hoped, would delight the recipients more even if the results, such as a [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/f214947435d2.jpg]bright pink car[/url] Edward managed to adapt his animation spell to, were a little off from time to time. 

In agreement that unique and handmade were best, the two Seekers toiled on. They sewed, whittled, and cast their way throughout the workshop, sending stuffed toys, carved dolls, and army play sets, all among marvels of magic thanks to Edward's enchantments. Not to be outdone (not that it was actually a competition between them), Ace honed his skill as they continued crafting until he could present what was his magnum opus... or at least the best that he was going to be able to do: a [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/cc756171994f.png]monkey on a swing[/url], deceptively detailed with his best stitching yet on a simple wooden seat that swayed when hung up but worked just as well as a regular doll when detached from it. 

Eventually the craftsmen grew so focussed that they hardly noticed when the holiday light constructs had started carrying a few [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/1cc159fabbea.png]fleas[/url] away, three in total over the course of the Seekers’ time there, who’d snuck their way into the workshop and happily play tested what Edward and Ace had set aside before being lifted off and returned to their caravan.

Only once they’d made a miniature mountain of toys for the festival, both crude and polished, with a few tucked away to send to Esaka (they had originally planned to return them to the Avenger via the armory, but when Maeve had come to check in on them she assured them that the mysterious ‘Santa’ would ensure any Christmas gifts sent from the village made it to their intended recipient) did they start to come up with ways to help themselves out too. With some of the toy sets like that of a [url=https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/1d5d5ec72a4d.png]train[/url] for a basis, it was just a matter of increasing the size and durability of what they managed to make. Armor plating for the outside would be simple but use much more metal, while attempting wheels left a whole lot of room for error. Thankfully they could -and had- practice as much as they wanted just by making toy vehicles, so once the mini-wheels were perfected they gradually scaled up until they had a few giant wheels in a couple of different materials that they could try and fit on the coach. 

And if it didn’t end up working, well, the wheels could always be recycled to make more gifts.