"Sure, sure. I've got the make in mind, actually. Been thinkin' about this sword for a while, just never had enough cash to make the pursuit worthwhile. Certain swords need a certain hand, don't they?"

She looks the woman up and down.

She had heard things, on the smolive vine.

Certain things about the forgemaster, and her persuasions. You always found the sweetest gossip at the bottom of a bottle of sake, she considered. And the man she'd overheard had downed two completely, and had been well on his way to the bottom of his third when she heard this juicy bit.

"Not just deft, or adept, but... well, not to spill the sinistea, but I've heard the kinds of things you get up to in your spare time."

She winks, and offers a breathless whisper, forming the words on her lips:

'Me too'.

She catches on quickly. A confident smiles plays on Hana's lips as she follows the woman deeper into the building, a more private setting for a suitably private consultation. She looks around, admiring the space before she responds.

"Hana. Codename's Tsubame. New 'round here. In Rocket at least, if not Hoenn. As for what I do?"

She pats her hip, where her doublades knock together in their sheathes. She can almost hear their angry whispering as they do.

"I'm a heavy. Grunt work, wetwork... whatever works."

She nods toward the forge.

"Need work on a Johtonian blade. Apparently there's this method of folding a cursed blade that'll channel the grudges of the previous wielder. Some old crone was tellin' me about it when she parted with the katana in question. Seemed pretty damn eager to rid herself of it. Said it ended her family line, you believe that?"

She snorts, laughing, as she unsheathes a blackened, brittle sword. Upon close inspection, it seems to be a honedge of some sort, though the spirit remains dormant inside.

"Looks like it survived a house fire. Just need it refurbished, I think."

She hands Aurelie the burnt blade, then removes a scroll from her hip and hands her that as well. Inside, instructions for this special craftsmanship are inscribed, the parchment brittle and old, a water-proof casing around it the only reason it hasn't crumbled completely. Only parts of it remain legible, but they're the most important parts, so it seems.

"Six month's wages, eh?"

Hana's words are contemplative and slow, weighing the worth of all that work before she assents.

"Well, been gettin' by with nothin' til now, so why not?"

She nods her head affirmatively.

"Whatever time and materials you need, they're yours. Cash, too, when I get it. You take installment plans, don't'cha? Ain't been in Rocket long enough to cover this, unfortunately.

"But I make good on my word -- you can count on that."

"Takin' pity on lil ol' me? Not a lotta faith I'm stickin' by Rocket for long, eh?"

Hana crosses her arms with a grin, looking at the hopeless smith. She'd successfully talked her down to a price that could bankrupt her, all without trying.

"Don't need a discount that'll starve you, neither. Don't worry, I'm not your everyday sellsword. A samurai's fealty isn't given easily. I'm Rocket for the foreseeable future. And there's a lot of other ways of earnin' cash than a paycheck from Walsh, lemme tell ya...

"You'll have your coin." She insists. "And more, if you do a good job. I've got lots of swords in mind if this job pans out the way I expect. Heard a lotta good things, y'know..."

She trails off, examining the swords on the walls. They're immaculate, more than anything she'd imagined when she'd heard talk of 'em. Proof of the smith's brilliance. It's all so promising, the start of something great, assuming she can deliver on this.

"But I'll take yer invitation and watch. Always like seein' how the sausage is made."

Hana watches, intrigued as Aurelie sets everything in order. The intricacies are beyond her. Everything has its purpose, she's sure, but she'd thought smithing was just smashing things with a hammer. But no, of course it's an art. This'll be like watching some painter start from a blank canvas...

When Aurelie pauses just as she's about to begin, Hana laughs.

"Nerves got the better of ya? Sure, sure... lemme see..."

She snatches up the scroll, looking over the characters and trying to recall the words the madame had taught her long ago. At first she grasps awkwardly, but soon enough, it all comes back.

"Well, it's a bit rusty, but... looks like... and then..."