[center][h3]--- [i]The Village Center[/i] ---[/h3][h2][i][b]Akitsugu[/b][/i][/h2]Early Afternoon
[@Xaltwind][@Dragonydas][@Remram][@ERode][/center][hr][hr]
Brom and Myrr both had interesting thoughts on how to make the best use of their new slimy acquisition, but it was starting to look like the idea of domestication might have to wait for the next Slime they trapped inside a cold, unfeeling pot. The Dwarven man seemed intent on having this one for dinner. Akitsugu couldn't say he wasn't intrigued by the idea, but to be honest he couldn't imagine it tasting very good.

Then again, maybe it would be like...a bitter mochi? Akitsugu had eaten red bean flavored mochi, and matcha flavored, and a few others, but didn't think he'd ever had one he could describe as "acidic."

As they arrived back in the town center, the blacksmith noted the position of the sun. They might end up cutting it close, but he could [i]probably[/i] make one more trip for firewood before it got too dark. Right now, though, his arms and hands ached from carrying the two loads he had currently shouldered. With a heaving sigh of relief, he dumped both piles to one side of the longhouse's door, within easy reach for anyone who might want to fuel a fireplace or stove inside, but far enough under the lip of the roof that an unexpected rain shower wouldn't ruin the wood. He began unwinding the vine braces he'd tied around each pile as he listened to the ongoing conversation. The three from the forest hadn't been there for the whole thing, but picked up the last half at the least.

There was seemingly some mystery about the sculpture in the village center, but Akitsugu had nothing to offer on that front. [b]The treasure hunting girl, however, was saying something about collecting furniture to burn?[/b]

"Ah!" The redhead suddenly stood up, tossing aside a handful of vines, and turned towards MacKinnon. She was knelt by an empty barrel near the well, washing an assortment of objects. Akitsugu approached her with an upraised hand to get her attention. "Before you start stripping the homes around here for anything that can be burned, you need to check with the others to see if they've laid claims! I told you before that I'm a blacksmith, yes?"

He had come close enough now that the pile of things in the barrel caught his attention. It looked like the girl had made a pretty good haul---there were clay pots that might still be useful, some old rugs that might as least serve for scrap fabric, and lots of other things...including...

"Before we went to the forest, I found the former smithy's house---the furnace, some of the tools, and other things in there were still usable, so I'd appreciate it if the rest of it was left alone until I've had time to sort---"

Wait. Were THOSE the same as---!?

Akitsugu stopped short, and suddenly pointed at MacKinnon's barrel. 

"Are those MY tools!? Did you [i]take them[/i] from the smithy?!" His voice rose much louder than usual, even compared to when he'd shouted for everyone's attention before. For an instant, his brow furrowed and the corners of lips turned down sharply---but, the next moment, he'd recovered a more neutral expression. Still, there seemed to be a building tension in his jaw.

And then he realized what she was doing.

"ARE YOU USING [i]WATER[/i] TO CLEAN [i]IRON[/i] TOOLS!?"

He waited for MacKinnon's answer before he decided whether or not to be furious.