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Twice-Blossomed Sakura	Most of the time when buildings are being constructed, it's a bunch of dour, dusty workers putting things up timber by timber, stone by stone. But of course, there are exceptions. For instance, at this particular site, a grand archway is being finished to open the way into a rich family's new manor. The stonework is immaculate, and while the concept is simple, the elegance and grace of the overall structure has a certain... austere perfection. And at the outskirts of the work site, a woman that looks decidedly out of place stands before a portable drafting table looking over the plans that are laid out. She looks young, very young to be an expert architect, yet the sway she seems to hold here suggests she is indeed exactly that. Further, rather than simple work clothes, she wears extravagant scholar's robes and a grand white cloak with subtle feather designs. She looks around the worksite, telling people to adjust this and shift that, a perfectionist to the core and seeming to actually refer to the plans... very little, really.
Flint	The person approaching the work site now doesn't look like she belongs there any more than the architect does. She's large, well muscled, and probably quite capable as a laborer for a job like this, so she could be part of the construction crew, but usually construction crews don't wander around wearing reinforced buff jackets that have clearly seen quite a bit of actual use in battle, nor wander around with long spears resting casually against their shoulders. They also don't tend to gawk quite as much as this woman does. The fact that she probably doesn't belong there doesn't stop her from approaching the table where someone who seems like they might be in charge is doing her being-in-charge thing. "That's a mighty archway!" she exclaims enthusiastically, probably interrupting. Both her appearance and her accent are definitely Linowan.
Twice-Blossomed Sakura	While she's far from a supernaturally alert woman, there's a certain... analytical look in Sakura's eyes when she turns to face the large, approaching woman. Analytical- and far older than the rest of her appearance. She tilts her head a little- as if clicking the sight of Flint into place in her mind. She offers a fairly friendly smile. "You think so? I had not a great deal of time to devote to design, but I am overall pleased with the result all the same," she says, offering a slight bow. "A fan of the craft, I presume. Sakura, miss. Twice-Blossomed, if you must." Sakura has a rather more urbane, cosmopolitan tone to her voice- a semi-thickly Thorns-born accent, for those with an ear for it.
Flint	"I don't know a thing about it!" Flint declares with a genial laugh, unrestrained and hearty. "I'm Linowan, though. I appreciate excellence, even if I have no understanding of how it was accomplished. I always wondered how they got the arch built without it falling down half way through." She stares at the arch in question for a few moments before shaking her head, running a large hand through her hair, and turning to face Sakura. "I'm Posala Eyes-of-Flint, but everyone just calls me Flint." The name is pretty apt, honestly. The irises of her eyes ARE the color of flint. "They definitely don't have the hardness of flint, though, and despite her relative youth there are laugh lines at the corners of them. Since she's still smiling, it's easy to tell why. "Did you study to learn how to make such grand things, or is it a natural talent? Or a bit o' both?"
Twice-Blossomed Sakura	Sakura pauses a moment, tilting her head and looking Flint over for a moment. "We use scaffolding, anchoring with ropes, and carefully building only parts at a time to ensure there is not enough unsecured overhang at any one time to cause an unfortunate tipping over," she says in brief, smiling again with the notion. "As for the learning- well. Bit of talent, years of study, and about sixty years of practice, all told. Of course it seems to flow a little easier, lately, but perhaps that's just me feeling quite well of late. Why? Is it something you want to learn? Certainly with a proper teacher one can learn most anything if they wish to." Said the woman with the eidetic recall of nearly every moment of her life. Probably had a relatively easy time of learning.
Flint	"Huh. Guess that makes sense. If you don't want it to fall over while you're still building it, you hold it up until you're done," Flint says, thoughtful, as she gives the back of her neck a gentle rub like it's embarrassing she didn't think of that. There are gears turning over in her mind, it seems like, if one watches her. Despite her size, it doesn't seem like she's stupid. Then something that Sakura says catches her attention and her head jerks around in surprise. "Sixty years? You look like a young lass, though! How'd you manage that? I'm not even half that age, and I nearly look like I could be your mum!" Then she lets out a gentle laugh and adds, "well, aside from the fact that I don't look a thing like you. I'm interested in learning to make things, sure, but I'm more interested in the story I sense lurking around here waiting to be told." She's eager enough in her asking that it's a wonder she doesn't start nudging Sakura with an elbow and going 'eh? eh? out with it!'
Twice-Blossomed Sakura	"Oh? Well. That's one of the few segments of my life I don't have terribly great recall of," says Sakura with a faint shrug. "But the moniker is not without its meanings. I've been old in my time, and young before. Fortunate enough to have a new lease on life, as it were." "But what of you? I see few people of the Linowan this far west. Three, precisely, in the whole of my life, barring any that I, as mentioned earlier, may have forgotten during that blank space."
Flint	"Hah! That sounds inconvenient," Flint says with a sympathetic wince. "Though I've got a few nights I wish I couldn't remember, if I'm being honest, which I usually am. Could be worse, though. At least you remember some of the things from before, yeah?" The tall Linowan woman plants the butt of her spear on the ground and rests it in the crook between her impressive shoulders and her neck, freeing her hands. "Me? Oh, I'm a spear for hire and a collector of tales. The company I was with took me pretty far to the East, and now that I'm this far from home I might as well keep seeing more of the world. Even if I'm between jobs at the moment."
Twice-Blossomed Sakura	"Very nearly all of the things from before that period, yes," says Sakura with a faint nod. She pauses a moment, reconsidering her look at Flint for a moment. "I always appreciate someone who is out to learn some things in their time. I find it the best mindset for one to have, really- open to learning as much as possible. If you ever do start to learn mathematics and design, I can certainly offer some advice and insights, if you so choose."
Flint	"There's too much out there to learn in a lifetime, I'm sure," Flint replies with a wide grin. "It won't stop me from trying. Not much for reading, though, I'll have to admit. I can do it, don't get me wrong, I just don't enjoy it so much. A story needs to have FEELING in it," she raises a clenched fist and says the word with some drama, "and as pretty as the words on a page might be, they're the delivery just isn't the same." She narrows her eyes a little, squinting in thought. "Though I bet mathematics and design would be handy for siege engines," she says, a bit softer, more to herself than to Sakura. "Then again," she says, losing the focused look. "Sieges are the worst. I'd rather just not have to engage in one at all. If you've never had the pleasure, well, THERE'S something anyone would be glad not to remember." She snorts out a soft laugh, then just shrugs her heavily muscled shoulders. "What's the greatest thing you've ever built? I'd love to hear the story of it."
Twice-Blossomed Sakura	"I would argue my family, but then I would also be a bit of a sentimental sort," answers Sakura with a wry smile. She shakes her head and waves it off. "One of the last things I remember before my blanking period was the... events in Thorns. I cannot say, after that, that I blame anyone for wishing to avoid its like. But of course, necessities at times."
Flint	"Ah, that seems like a worthy answer, even if it's not the subject matter I was inquiring about," Flint says, her grey eyes twinkling to match her smile. "And Thorns? Well, that sounds like quite the tale too. I would like to hear all about them both, but..." she looks up at the sky, squinting a little. "I should go, actually. I have an appointment to keep. Maybe I'll find a chance to come by and talk more, at some point." She turns to go, waving over her shoulder. "It was nice to meet you!"
Twice-Blossomed Sakura	A faint bow and gracious- if perhaps more subdued- smile from Sakura. She turns back around to her drafting table then, simply flicking her eyes between it and the work being done before striding off closer to the physical labour.