The Mog Bonanza. Not good for business. Everyone put good, hard Gil down on a long shot at a prize. It always seemed to hurt craftsmen, it seemed.

"Y'know, I'll never understand it, Mikhail." Said the massive Galka, as he easily lifted what looked like a robot onto his worktable.

"Every year, people across Vana'diel blow millions of Gil on that lottery, and only a handful of people win anything worth having!" Picking up a set of delicate tools, he began tinkering with the insides.

"Not that it's all bad. I get to work on pet projects in the meantime."

The old Tarutaru in the kitchen in back simply scoffed. Two years his apprentice had been building that damn automaton. Not even HE, Mikhail ap Pendrac, could build an automaton. Pushing it from his mind, he returned his attention to the pot of soup he had simmering.

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Outside the home of the two, a large sign hung. It read as follows.

"Iron Dragon Crafts. We do: Alchemy, Bonecraft, Tailoring, Jewelry, Tanning, Smithing, and Woodworking! No Job is too Small!"

In small print, at the bottom, an annotation was written.

"Inquire in rear for Catering"

...Quite a jack of all trades, this place.

It was hot in Bastok, as it always was at this time. The Empress of Ivalice had come on business, sort of. She needed a few new dresses made, for social events and that sort of thing. Her close friend, Lilith, had recommended a small place in Vana'diel. The healer had bought her own favourite red dress there, and had said the fabric was as wonderful today as when she bought it back then. Yukina always took Lilith's advice, as it always seemed to be correct. She stepped out of the small aircraft carrier that she had commisioned to take her there, and opened up a small black and white striped umbrella to protect her fair skin from the sun. She was wearing an older dress of her, suited to travel while still looking elegant. It was one of her only dresses that wasn't black, but instead a beautiful dark blue colour. She was wearing black boots, and trudged through the dirt until she saw the sign to which she had been directed.

"Iron Dragon Crafts," she muttered to herself, "this place better be good. Or the owner might have a little suprise in store."

She remembered her old tailor. She had walked into his shop to pick up her newest dress, to be worn at the party she was soon to be throwing. She remembered shouting at him, these jewels are not the right shade, before plunging a dagger through his chest.

She knocked lightly on the door, before opening it for herself. She saw the huge man right away, and curtsied graciously.

"Hello, sir. My name is Yukina Tarka, and I am the Empress of Ivalice. I was wondering if the seamstress was in? I need a dress made right away."

She sat down on a little wooden chair by the door to wait, and smiled at the Galka.

Looking up from his machine, the Galka smiled a bemused smile.

"We've got no seamstress. We got a tailor, and you're lookin' at 'im."

Walking out from behind his workdesk, he sat next to her.

"Ivalice, eh? ...Never heard of it."

Pulling a sketchpad from his kimono, as well as a pencil, he gave her a warm, friendly smile.

"Well, your majesty, I am called Steel Deer. But, enough about me, what can I do for you?"

Licking the pencil tip, an old force of habit, he began sketching. Not a dress, yet, just her general shape. He needed something to work from.

"So, talk to me. Color? Fabrics? And, is it just a dress? Or will you be needing anything with it? Y'know, boots, gloves, jewelry, a handbag, anything like that?"

"Not a world traveller then? Well that's alright."

She stood up and walked over to him, pulling a piece of paper from her shoulderbag. It was a list of her measurements, taken from her previous tailor after the unpleasantness. She stood with her arms folded, speaking in a smooth and delicate voice.

"Black would be preferable. Sleaveless, with a red trim if possible. I will also need this," she took a large black gem out from inside her bag, "on a necklace. I will also need matching black gloves, and shoes. As for fabric? What is the finest material you have available?"

She sat back down, smiling.

"I'll need it soon, if that's alright. And if you do a good job, perhaps I'll commision you again. As you can probably tell money is not an issue."

"My FINEST, you say?" Asked the Galka, amused. Setting the stone aside (using only his gloved hand), he pulled out a fabric book. Opening it, and flipping to the back, he began going through each of the premium fabrics. The first was a pale brown, almost wool-like swatch of cloth.

"Well, if this "Ivalice" is cold, you definitely want Cashmere. Besides being luxurious to the touch, its thermal qualities are unrivaled by any other fabric."

Pulling it from the book, and setting it on the table, his sketch joined it, revealing his idea.

The amount of shading obviously meant he was thinking black, as well. The actual gown fit close to the leg, a daring split in the side, all the way to the hip. The top half fit close to the body, leaving JUST enough to the imagination to tantalize. The gloves were long, reaching halfway up the upper arm. As for shoes? Kept very simple. Soft shape, with a 2 inch heel. Very flattering overall.

Of course, the craftsman charged on ahead. The next fabric was a dark plum color, and had a bit of luster.

"This is Iron Dragon Velvet. It's a cotton\silk\mythril blend of my own making. Since you're royalty, I would reccomend this. Besides being soft, it's as tough as any beast hide you're gonna get, and twice as good-looking."

Pulling it out, he presented one last choice, with a grimace. Its silvery shine was no less than incredible.

"Finally, we have Imperial Silk. ...I'm actually hoping you go another way here, because I'm out of stock at the moment, and getting more is a pain. ...So, see anything you like?"

"Far from cold, actually. While the silk does look quite simply incredible, the Velvet would be much more suited to someone with a... lifestyle such as mine." She said, with a wry smile.

Next, she leant over the Galka's sketch. She ran her hand down the side, inspecting it to the finest detail. She leant back in her chair, running a single hand through her hair as she thought. It was suggestive, of course, but she imagined with her 'speedster' physique she could pull it off with ease. She trained regularly, of course, so her body was always in top physical condition.

"What do you reccomend for the jewelery? The cut of the gem is important, or so I've heard. Do you have anything in mind?"

She liked this guy already, he seemed to know what he was talking about.

"As for your other specialties, are you skilled in weapon making? God knows I could always use another weapon in my arsenal, but I was thinking something along the lines of a dagger... easily concealable perhaps?"

"...Would you please follow me?" The Galka asked.

Standing, he walked back to his workstation, picking up where he left on his automaton.

The shape was strange, if nothing else. The head appeared to be set into the center of the bulb-shaped body. The internal guts seemed to be all high-quality parts. The thing looked a mess of springs, wires, and various parts, but was clearly a controlled chaos. The core, especially. The center was, to the untrained eye, a haphazard amalgamation of VERY SMALL clock parts. There was just as much confusion in the being's eyes. One, in the dead center, had a dark lens, and wired directly to the bottom of an engine within the clockwork. Two, directly above, had crosshairs, and two below were blood red. Only the ones to the side looked normal. ...For it all being clockwork, the device was VERY advanced for the era. STeel was working on what could only be descrubed as "the brain".

"I hope I'm not offending yu, but I think best when busy. 'Moving Meditation', it's called, apparently."

Picking up a gold gear, he continued.

"The gem cut's pretty simple. With soft, crystalline stones like that, cut is not an issue, if we're talking jewelry. If you want a natural look, the best way is to just smack it with a mallet!"

The sparkling powder on the workbench bore witness to this practice. Many myriad colors caught the light, sparkling. It painted Steel's face many countless colors, giving him an even friendlier appearance.

He smiled wide when she mentioned Weapons.

"A Dagger, eh? Yeah, I can make you one. It's just a matter of material, design, and function. Now, you want it small... Any other features you can thi-SHIT, I DROPPED THE THING!"

Swearing loudly in his native tongue, he reached for a pair of long twezers, picking about the clockwork.

"Like I was sayin', got any features in mind?"

She stood up and followed Steel into the next room, inspecting what he was working on inquisitively. She smiled as he asked if he was offending her, simply saying: "If you were offending me, you would well know about it by now."

She ran a finger along the metallic body of what he was working on, she couldn't help but admire the work. It all looked so strange, but very organized at the same time. She ignored him talking about the gem and simply said,

"What is this you're working on?" She stepped back as he was working, and sat down again. She laid both hands in her lap, admiring how he worked so dilligently. As he asked about the dagger she mentioned, she ran potential features through her mind. She glanced up at him again, clicking her tongue before she spoke.

"Perhaps two... matching if possible. And sharp... they must be incredibly sharp."

"Oh, this? It's an Automaton. Watch this!"

Flipping a series of switches, the being sprang to life. Pushing off the table, the mess of parts walked around the room of its own accord.

"It's an artificialy intelligent machine. Something of a pet project of mine."

...Then, it spoke.

"Correction: Negative, organic. The intelligence I possess is as real as your own."

...Steel was absolutely wide-eyed. Standing, he investigated the creature he'd created.

"Incredible! The speech pattens still need some work, but, I didn't expect the difference engine to be so advanced!"

Of course, the Automaton had heard Yukina's request for weapons. Tottering over to a shelf, he returned to Yukina, with blocks of soft clay.

"Command: Squeeze. This is required to optimize the grip for your dagger."

Yukina looked at Steel, then at the automation. She sighed, what was it with men and their toys? As it brought the clay over to her, she took both pieces of clay and squeezed, one in each hand. She placed them back down into the automations hands, and then back up to the Galka.

"Looks like you don't know your own talents."

She stood up, glancing at Steel one more time.

"I trust that's all you need for now? When can I expect my items to be ready?"









((Sorry it is so short, can we move this along please? ^-^))

"Speculation: If work remains dilligent, and no other oders come in, the order will be completed within a week."

Steel nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, that sounds about..."

...He trailed off as he walked towards a wall. Gently, he laid hands on a very ancient-looking katana. The very air seemed to pulse wih a strange energy. The machine chimed in as it walked INTO a kiln, to cure the grip molds. Hot air flodded the workshop as the being entered, and promptly exited, shutting the door. His exposed metal components were red hot.

"Explination: The sword my creator is holding was found withing a spiritual copy of these lands called "Dynamis". People have theorized relics of Dynamis have an innate consciousness, perhaps even a soul. Addendum: This spiritual property is the sole reason for my existence. The metals used to create the parts of my Difference Engine came from Dynamis. Speculation: It is entirely possible that the sword is communicating with my creator, on a level we are unable to comprehend."

...From within a pocket of Steel's hakama, a dim red light shone. Casting his gaze toward Yukina, the massive Galka inquired of her.

"...You are a summoner, are you not?"

The Empress nodded, smiling.

"A week is fine." She said, following him as he walked to the wall. She had eyed the katana as she entered, assuming it to be a work he had created for somebody. Judging from what the robot told her, it was his. Interesting, she thought, watching as the Galka supposedly was communicating with the weapon. She wondered what it would be like, the Empress couldn't imagine talking to any inanimate object of hers. He then asked her about her status as a Summoner, while pulling a stone from his pocket.

"Yes, I am. Although not just a Summoner, a High Summoner as some call it. I can do more than the little evokers running around these parts..." she grinned, she liked talking about herself and her own power, "Why is it you ask?"

The red light rose up, to reveal itself...

...A strange ruby.

"...Because we may have woken something. Please, excuse me."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Steel emerged agan, his attire was changed. A simple white shirt and pants, with a white robe-like device over top. Placing his weapon on the Automaton's counter, he began unflding a seriesof clothes. The entire outfit was, apparently, made from the same velvet he'd shown Yukina just minutes before. First, a kimono. Then, the wide hakama. Finally, overtop that, was a kataginu. (Those jackets shogun wear w/ the huge shoulders?) All in dark blue, the left breast of the kataginu bearing the same emblem as the signpost outside.

"...We may need to battle. Are you armed?"

Yukina nodded as he stepped out of the room, taking the chance to look around the shop. She saw hammers, thread, material, all different types of metal... just about anything she could think a multi-purpose shop would need. She was considering her options here, maybe he would like to come and live in Ivalice? Work full time? But he probably had things to do in Vana'diel... perhaps she could pay him extra to make sure he worked on her requests with a high priority...

When he came back she turned to ask whether he would be interested in a trip to Ivalice, but was cut off before she began as he spoke.

"Steel, I'm a Summoner. I am always armed." That and of course she had two swords that could be summoned at her will, but that was beside the point. She had a friend who had been asleep for a long time... and just couldn't wait to come and play.

"Where is it we're going?" She asked, cracking her knuckles in preperation. "I haven't had a good fight in a while."

"Good. ...Whatever it is, we'e gonna have quite the struggle on our hands."

Quickly collecting himself, he shouted back to Mikhail.

"I'm taking our client out to... ...Assist me. We won't be long."

==========================================================

...The southern plains of Gustaberg. With the warm, almost Californian climate, and the many, MANY open mineshafts, foul creatures could could hide for weeks, and never be noticed.

"...It's far too quiet. This is usually the moment that the floor falls out from under you; be cautious."