Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis
Times are changed; we, too, are changed within them

1ST OF MAY, 2013

"Aesop, come here."

In one of the backrooms of Tuesday's T.E.A Shop, that which is usually Tuesday's own Alchemy workshop, the Alchemist herself stands, staring at a simple wooden mannequin of a torse, clad in far-from-simple garments. An armour of polished steel, only ever worn once.

<'So? How did it hold up?'> The Braixen asks when entering the room, her soft paws taking quiet steps upon wooden planks until she's standing right next to Tuesday.

"It was what I expected, but I want to make some changes and I'm going to need your help." When speaking these words, she looks down at the bipedal vulpine by her side, raising a brow. Tuesday smirks, and as if mirroring her expression, Aesop smirks back, twirling the twig in his hands until it spontaneously sets alight.

<'You got it, boss. Where do we start?'>

"You'll see. There's something else I want to make before we work on improvements..."

---

On a soft cloth, the materials are laid: the shard of Moltres' egg that she had bargained for after the Noonlight raid, the circlet she had stolen from the Precipice Princess back when she was in deep slumber, and iron taken from the place where the Giant Shrine had once been.

<'Why do you even want to make a dagger anyway?'> Aesop asks, glancing at her while in the middle of fanning the forge's fire. <'Swords are waaaay cooler.'>

"I already have Tyrfing as a sword, Aesop. I have Ancile as a shield and I also have my Immovable Spear. All that's great, but if I'm going to be stepping armored into battle, I should also carry a short blade for when it's needed. All knights worth their names did back in the day." She explains, getting to work. The egg shard, beautiful but ever so sharp and dangerous will make for a good blade, the iron will be used for the hilt, and the circlet will bind them together as an adorned crossguard. "Plus, I don't want to have to use the shard by itself again. It's too impractical. A dagger would be better."

<'Eh... Still think another sword would be way cooler, but fair enough.'>

"We can forge you your own sword and armor later, Aesop." Later on, with time. There's much to be done before that, such as the forging of this dagger that makes the forge's fire burn technicolour when the shard-blade is set aflame. "Hm... I think I'll call it Asper Dagger, since it has something relating to all three shrines here."

---

A dagger is born of materials left behind from Tuesday's past, and along with it, an armour of brilliant steel, complete with a RAINBOW FLAME CLOAK of pure white feathers that gleam with rainbow pearlescence in candlelight. An armour that, before Tuesday even tries it on, is clearly not quite right; with adorned cuisses, greaves, and even vambraces that are obviously too long for the petite catwoman.

<'Hey... Tuesday, I don't think that's going to fit you...'> The Braixen declares in slight concern, looking at the armour on the mannequin and then at oh-so-short Tuesday.

"No, it won't. Not as I am right now." It had been intentional, for while Tuesday would never ever admit to making a mistake, this one had definitely not been one. Deep in thought, she stares at the armour with eyes that soon might not be mismatched anymore "If I'm going to be out there fighting, this height is a disadvantage. I need to be closer to my actual height, so I can do things as I'm used to."

That would be almost a foot taller than what Tuesday is right now, since Mars stands at a healthy 6'1". An extreme change, one that she had given much thought to and deemed absolutely necessary.

<'What? Closer to your actual height? What do you mean?'>

"You'll see. Give me a moment."

Tuesday's gaze goes from the armour to the button in her UI that allows her access to the character customization screen, and with a deep breath, she clicks it. Who knows, she might actually make some other changes while she's there.

Sometimes, changes are good and much needed.