If there was one thing that he wasn’t it was rude. Especially since she’d gone out of her way to make him the tea in the first place. Of course, not many people in the guild itself knew that he not only partook of tea but he actually found it to be quite enjoyable as a drink. It could be the simplest flavor mixture and he’d still enjoy it. So there were things he wasn’t overly familiar with in the brew she’d made him that didn’t mean he wouldn’t like it.
“I guess the main reason I didn’t realize how long it’d been is due to how little time I tend to spend here in the guildhall itself. It’s been a lot calmer in the recent months than it ever had been before.”
The fact that even the hyper members had seemingly calmed down had initially been quite concerning for him to see but over time he got used to it. Now that there weren’t random guild wide brawls every other day he found spending any amount of time in the guildhall itself kind of enjoyable to be perfectly honest. At Laki’s words regarding the possibility of a gift for him he’d loft a brow. He’d not been expecting anything. He certainly wouldn’t be upset if it turned out that she didn’t have anything for him. He wasn’t the type to dwell on stuff like that. The idea of a gift is just as good to him as actually getting one.
“In the more recent years I was gettin’ treated like that too. Bein’ that I’ve helped to repair the hall more than my fair share too. Most of the time when you or I had to repair stuff we didn’t even cause any of the damage. I guess havin’ wood and iron helps them lower repair costs but it does cost us as the magic ain’t unlimited for either of us.”
He knew she’d done many more repairs to the guildhall long before he ever joined but the first time he’d aided in repairs or rebuilding was actually before he joined officially. It was one of the stipulations that Makarov had given him to allow him a trial entry in the beginning. Over the years and the many repairs he’d helped with it just became common for him to get asked to aid with them that whenever he saw damage he just tended to work on it himself. Especially if Laki wasn’t there, not that he’d ever ask her to help him repair something that she didn’t do anything to in the first place.
Yes, her magic was good for rebuilding just as his was that didn’t mean they were the inner guild repair team or any such nonsense. He’d even been asked by Sabertooth before to help them repair their own damages all because Makarov had mentioned that he was good at fixing and building things. Obviously having been asked by the Guild Masters of both guilds he couldn’t simply say no. he’d had to put off a job a few days to help repair but in the end he still got to the job location and finished it with decent time left.
“It ain’t that I didn’t notice that ya were gone, really. It’s more that I didn’t really notice much goin’ on around here as a whole. I didn’t spend much time in here so I wouldn’t be asked to repair shit that someone else broke. I’d gone on quite a few jobs in the time ya were gone as well.”
As she handed him the box containing the guitar picks a genuine smile would appear on his face for a moment. He’d open the box and take a look inside it each was unique in its own way and he liked all of them. He didn’t have any gift for her but he’d also not been expecting one himself. She may also have noticed that he genuinely knew how to play the guitar and sing as well. Since he often went onto the roof to relax and play by himself that never meant someone didn’t see or hear him at one point or another.
“Thank ya. I really like ‘em. I’ll be sure to take good care of ‘em.”
He’d close the box and place it down on the table in front of himself. He’d make sure to take them to his house when he left later. It wasn’t as if anyone else would have use for guitar picks after all.
@meganeviolet
“If it had indeed been quieter lately, then I am glad. It gives me hope that the hotheadness diminishes with age.” Laki chuckled briefly, running her right hand through her hair. The next sentence was what surprised her more.
“This sounds a bit strange. Forgive me, but at least in my eyes, you always had that slight aura of hmm... someone demanding respect. Unless it was the guildmaster who told you to repair the damages every single time. Then I understand.” she said, feeling herself starting to ramble. “I always wondered, how does he manage to command enough respect, besides raw strength, despite his disgusting perverted tendencies and disdain for the magic council, while at the same time remaining one of the Wizard Saints. Seems like a bit of hypocritical. And worrisome, because there are many perverted degenerates in our guild as well. Though, hypocrisy is a common trait throughout our guild.”
Laki finished her brief rant, peeking at her guildmate and wondering if he’d had any reaction to her, perhaps a bit controversial words, then beamed at the other’s happiness upon opening his gift.
“I am very glad you liked it, also considered I have never given you anything before, nor really talked to you that much.”
