Jirithan poked his head into an office, hoping that on the second try he would have the right one.  He was supposed to be helping out a friend that day and needed someone else to take over his class.  Ariala had been recommended to him not too long ago, and though she was young, the need was now and he hadn't heard about anyone else.  "Excuse me, but are you Ariala?" he asked the woman who was in the room.

Ari jumped half out of her skin at the sudden voice and spun around to see a man she'd seen on a number of occasions around the smithy, but couldn't recall if she knew his name or not. Since he didn't appear to know her, Ariala decided to play it safe and smiled at him, nodding. "Yes, I am. Can I do something for you?"

At that moment he decided he could deal with her.  "As a matter of fact, you can.  I'm Jirithan and I have some business to take care of this afternoon and can't take my class.  It's rather last minute, and I was hoping that I could get you to substitute in my absence?"

Blinking in surprise, Ariala couldn't think for a moment. She was hardly qualified enough to teach... what did he want her to teach anyway? "Uh, what exactly is the class?"

"Introduction to metal smithing," he replied. "If you think you'll have trouble teaching the material, I do have an outline."

"Oh," Ari said simply, trying to get her thoughts back on track. "I suppose I could manage that. Who's the class for, exactly?"

He smiled, happy at the chance to do some explaining, but mildly agitated because of the fact that she didn't jump to the opportunity.  "Junior apprentices. This particular bunch is composed of quick learners, but you have to make it interesting, or else you'll lose their attention.  Any other questions?"

The metal worker paused, taken aback by his brusque tone, then slowly shook her head. "Not really. I mean, I'll get those notes from you if you don't mind, just to see what these kids are used to. And of course when and where, but otherwise, I should be able to handle it." She smiled suddenly at Jirithan. "Thankyou for giving me the opportunity. It really is an honour."

"Class is after the noon meal.  And you're welcome."  He smiled.  "Let me know how things go."

Ariala nodded. "You can be sure of it."

Ariala pushed the small window in her room to full extension and attempted to get a little air-circulation in the over-heated room. It wasn't a particularly hot day... outside, at least. She'd discovered that her quarters had a little micro-climate of their own and nothing she did could affect it.

"Right," she muttered to herself, sitting back at her desk and poring over yet another set of plans. It seemed to be all she did - well, besides actually making stuff, of course - but it had to be done. She came across the particular bit that she'd reached before suffocating and being force to stop her perusal. "Ok, no," she spoke to the hide. "That makes no sense, you'll have to... change it. Or something."

She hadn't expected the hide to reply at all - that's what any sane person would think, right? - but a moment after she'd commented on the insensibility of it all, the hide (which she assumed was quite dead, seeing as it no longer wore an animal) quite simply knocked out a response.

Ari blinked. "Pardon me?"

The knocking sounded once more, this time coming from the general direction of the door. "Uh... I knew that," she mumbled as she headed over to answer it.

Jirithan had begun to lean against the door as he waited for permission to enter.  It opened suddenly and he stumbled away before Ariala could see what he had been doing.  "Hello," he said, smiling.  "Remember me?"

Ari blinked, recognising the man for whom she'd taken over a class not long ago. They hadn't spoken long then and so Ariala found herself faced with an almost complete stranger. "Jirithan," she said, the name popping into her head momentarily. "Hey. What can I do for?"

"Oh I just realized that I never gave you gratitude for substituting," he replied.  "From what I hear now, they can't wait until you're a teacher yourself.  If that is what you plan to do, of course."

She laughed lightly. "Thanks, I'm flattered," she replied honestly. "And I don't really know if I'll end up teaching or not. I admit, I had a good time. I don't know if I could handle it all the time, though."

"Who knows, you might change your mind later."  He bit his lip.  "A simple 'thank you' doesn't seem enough for some reason."

Ariala smiled at him, cocking her head slightly in thought. "Perhaps," she began, hesitating momentarily. "Perhaps you could thank me, say, tomorrow? The weather's been nice lately, and I haven't been out of the smithy for too long."

"You know," he said, "There's a nice little cove that's not too far from here.  It's a great place to show one's gratitude."

"Sounds wonderful." She didn't add that she also hadn't been with a man for too long, and the fact that Jirithan was rather attractive didn't help. "I'll see you tomorrow morning then."

He nodded and grinned; it was certainly a good feeling to know that he'd be spending the day with her tomorrow.  "Tomorrow.  Okay."  He stumbled towards the door and gave a little wave, then left.