[center][h2][i]Village Center[/i][/h2][/center] [@Zeroth] Yasunami Akitsugu [@Dragonydas] Myrravel Velasien [@Remram] Brom Stronghammer [@Lupusintus] Rinn Arniman [@ERode] MacKinnon [@CitrusArms] Niara Rootwick [@Rune_Alchemist] Yingmei Okudaira [@BunniesOfDoom] Adrila Jaaxa, [hr] [color=aqua]"'Kay~!"[/color] At the behest of the treasure hunting young woman, Wilma happily stopped her play around the statue and happily jogged over to the MacKinno's side. Squatting down next to the older girl, the child looked with sparkly eyes filled with youthful excitement and anticipation. [color=silver]"Just be careful, Wilma. Don't touch anything sharp, alright?"[/color] Ther old man casually called out, warning his grandchild not to put her soft child hands on anything that could potentially cut them open Although the treasure hunter injected herself into the conversation, and asked a question related to her prior antics of defacing every building she coould with her pickaxe, nobody really had the time to answer before -- [color=beige]"Ah, there they are! Hey, welcome back, you three."[/color] Daryl acknowledged the return of the forest troop. A smile on his face that grew even biggewr when he saw the piles of wood that the blacksmith-boy was carrying with him. Sheryl, on the toher hand, looked more confused as to why Brom was carrying a pot in his arms, and was seemingly focusing rather intently on keeping the lid on it sealed tight... He wasn't walking around with a pot full of something hot right now, surely? All the way from the forest? Unfortunately, there was no time for inquries about that either, as almost as soon as Akitsugu had dropped off the firewood and was about to rejoin the others, a scene of civil drama unfolded. The young man raced over towards where MacKinnon and Wilma were and began to loudly shout and vocalize. The sudden act made the small child, who was at that time trying to help clean one of the rugs, let out a small 'yeep!'-noise, dropping the rug and shrinking back. Things got even worse when the treasure hunting girl stood up and approached the smith, leaving Wilma without the safety of an adult to shield her from this loud, angry and scary man-child. Whcich made the little girl's eyes groew even bigger and become tear-filled aas she cluched her hands together and held them infront of her, pressed against her chest in attempt to shield herself from potential stray flak. At this point, the pair who'd gone to the farmlands in the south returned, and were equally stunned and confused by the unfolding events. As MacKinnon and Akitsugu's debate on the ownwership of the blacksmithing tools continued, Sheryl slid away from her husband and approached both Yingmei and Niara. [color=lightpink]"Seems we've got our first local spat. The red-headed foreigner boy there claims that girl stole some tools of his. What a mess."[/color] The woman explained, making a lisght nod towards the male red-head. And then MacKinnon said [i]something[/i] that triggered Akitsugu to reach for his sword. Almost instantly, both Daryl and Victor took a step forward - but they suddenly stopped. A woman's voice called out. A female voice... Coming... From Akitsugu... ...? There was a momentary pause of awkward silence accompanied by crickets chirping as the various gathered onlookers stared at the scene with a wild mix and range of emotions and expressions. [color=lightpink]"Wha-- Who...?"[/color] [color=beige]"... Was... Was that him? I mean, her? I mean[i] him[/i]?"[/color] [color=silver]"... I'm not sure, but that can wai- Ah, wait."[/color] Victor tried to stop her, but it seemed the brave botanist elf had mustered up courage and a spine, and was now trying to interpose herself between the girl who was mockingly denouncing the blacksmiths claims to tools and property he saw as rightfully his, and the boy who was ready to pull a blade on a defenseless, unarmed girl just because she said something that irked him. Of course, the elf's words were meek and weak, and didn't exactly carry much weight in the department of being a convincing deterent to the current situation. [color=beige]"C'mon now, calm down, kid."[/color] A large, burly hand fell on Akitsugu's shoulder. Daryl had, at some point, started his approach anew, and was snow standing next to the red-headed lad, although also slightly behind him. [color=beige]"You really gonna pull a blade on a girl you just met? 'Cuz she went and grabbed some rusty old lfetovers someone didn't even care enough to bring with 'em when they left?"[/color] Daryl, being a craftsman himself, could tell the quality and worth of tools as well as the next producer. Sure, he may not have used the same tools in his trade as a smith did, but he [i]did[/i] often work alongside blacksmiths when doing his job. And so, it wasn't hard for him to see that these tools that the kid was getting so worked up over... They were... Well... [i]Garbage[/i]... At the most, they'd last for maybe a handful of more projects before they'd be completely unusuable, and their only purpose would be to be smelted down and recycled for what little metal that could still be salvaged from them. [color=silver]"I can't really say one or the other is right or wrong here. Nothing left behind has an owner until they're claimed by a new one, but it also doesn't really make any sense to grab things you can't use or that others won't want."[/color] Victor tried being as... Diplomatic... As he could. After all, the old man didn't want to escalate the situation. Still, he couldn't help but have a hint of annoyed, tired elderly grumble-glint in his eyes as he looked at the two squabblers. [color=aqua]"G-grampy..."[/color] [color=silver]"Come here, Wilma. It's okay."[/color] The small girl half-walk, half-ran in a half-circle around the well, making sure to give Akitsugu a [b][i]wide[/i][/b] berth, before joining back up with her grandfather. Clutching tightly to his side and standing behind him, using the old mna as a human shield, she buried her face in his side so as not to allow anyone to see it. [color=silver]"The little elf lady's right though. If we plan to live here, all of us, then it makes the most sense that the boy here keep those tools."[color] Victor said, a small sigh escaping his lips at the tail end. [color=silver]"Still. You, boy."[/color] The old man narrowed his eyes and gave Akitsugu a stern look, his face clearly not amused. [color=silver]"You couldn't have handled this in a better way? Is screaming, shouting and threatening how a civilized person deals with a misunderstading or situation they're not fond of?"[/color] He then moved his eyes over to gaze at the girl who was defiantly standing there. [color=silver]"And you. What manner of fool antagonizes someone who is armed with a weapon when you've got none of your own? What if this boy had been a bandit or highwayman? He might've struck you down, and then the rest of us for good measure. Think before you open your mouth, girl."[/color] The old man placed a hand on Wilma's shoulder and began to speak to her quietly. Though it wasn't for anyone else to hear, as he gently turned the pair around and began moving them back towards their cart. Meanwhile, Daryl let go of the smith's shoulder and Sheryl let out a seemingly held breath. [color=gold]"Hm? What's going on?"[/color] A new voice, at least to some, suddenly rang out from the north. IT belonged to a dwarven lady. Dressed in a long coat. With a strange pair of horns worn on her head. On her back was a crossbow, and in her hand... Was a pair of rabbit-looking critters... With... Distinct puncture-points on each of them. It would seem the huntress had returned from her little trip, and had returned only just now.