"Trust is one thing," responded Sophie, folding her arms across her chest as she did, "Assuming you automatically know better than I do and that I should be treated as a subordinate is another. I'll listen to others, but as an equal, not as some sort of follower."

It seemed as if the elf didn't fully understand just why she had made her comments in the first place. Quite simply, while it wasn't as if she didn't believe in working together as a party, she certainly didn't believe in being treated as someone's squire. That was absolutely intolerable. Sophie was an adventurer who had made it to her current rank with her own efforts, though she had worked in parties before as well. She would never accept being treated as somehow inferior as a result, and she didn't need some arrogant moron thinking they could handle her just like that. No, it was absolutely never the sort of treatment that she could accept.

With that, Sophie glanced towards the stand. An Akitsushiman merchant...? Not exactly common around here... and how had her stand gotten set up so quickly? It wasn't there the last time she had looked outside.

"Ah, [i]onii-san[/i]," began the girl behind the counter, brightly, smiling at the two who had first approached her, "I'll provide you with any goods you desire!"

She paused for a moment, nodding when she heard Kyoshiro's requests.

"Just a moment!"

With that, she disappeared around the back of the stand... and there was a strange sound like the ringing of a bell.

When she returned, the girl set down a plate of sake and rice balls. She disappeared around the back one more time, and quickly returned with a rather short Akitsushiman blade. This time, there was no bell-ringing sound.

"A [i]wakizashi[/i], forged in my hometown!" declared the girl, proudly.

[@KoL][@Raineh Daze][@Sho Minazuki][@thrrnvwls]