"Yes, yes, I've got it," the words left the young man's soft pink lips in a way that let his uncle know of his annoyance. "I'm well aware of how ill-suited you think I am for such an errand." Sarcasm rang clear in his hushed voice, hoping he would not be slapped for being so blatantly belligerent. He was growing a little tired of being treated like a lowly errand boy, that was all. Despite the fact that running errands was basically what Wallace's job description was, it didn't mean he appreciated the goings-on.  "I'll return shortly, Uncle." The redhead pivoted and headed back to the coopery, only to located the rod that his uncle was in such desperate need of. It was a silly thing, really, and just a tool the balding, rotund male liked to tell stories with. It was a conversation piece that wasn't actually required, but that didn't mean his uncle would go without. Rod in his freckled hand, Wallace trotted back over to the Cooper's booth, slipping the rod into his uncle's hand as he spoke to a trio of merchants. They were likely in need of some quality barrels, but Wallace had no interest in the matter. His whittling had been interrupted by his uncle's pleas for the rod. The slim man sat atop a barrel and kicked his feet up atop another, both capped and able to be sat upon. He'd been scolded by his uncle for his behavior before, but the cooper was currently occupied. Wallace focused on his whittling for approximately five minutes, honed in on the little fox that the stick was slowly shaping into. The next time he looked up from his work, his uncle was trotting off behind the trio of merchants. Green eyes blinked, feet moved unconsciously. It seemed he was literally rising to the occasion. All of the attention seemed to be on other goods in the market today, so he figured he would be safe from interaction. He would just stand here until his uncle returned, and then he could get back to that fox... right? Oh, how he hoped so.

TAGGED: Tahlaia

Dale was a breath of fresh air, compared to Erebor at least. Tahlaia often left Erebor on days she knew the Dale markets where busier, she liked the atmosphere. She liked being able to walk through the streets without getting one second look or disgusted face at her appearance. Something she couldn't really find in Erebor these days. But she wouldn't change living in Erebor right now. She had her friends there. Even if her list of friends was still rather small it was bigger than it ever had been before. So the little Dwelf had gotten up as the sun rose and gotten ready to head out. Hair positioned perfectly to hide her ears, as it always was. She arranged her weapons on her person. Simply for protection rather than to start anything. Besides, she hadn't decided if she was going to go hunting after a day at the markets.

The trek to Dale didn't seem as long anymore, probably with the amount of times that she'd commuted from the mountain to the trade centre below. She'd even managed to map out the city of Dale and could move through the city quite well. There where just a few side streets in some of the less known areas she struggled with. The market place however was easy enough. A large square where most stalls stood and then a few that spread out into the connecting walkways that where large enough for such stalls.

Tahlaia strolled slowly through the markets, each stall held new wonders, she tended to move away from the glittery and shiny stalls, knowing they where Dwarrows crafts that where being sold, she saw enough of that in Erebor and she was never as attracted to the shining gems as the Dwarrow and Human women liked. Perhaps she was just more practical than the rest. She was distracted for a few minutes by a weaponry stall, small daggers and short swords presented to her. She tested a few and even bought a tiny knife that could easily be hidden in a jacket sleeve or boot. She moved on to other stalls in the area, a few clothing stores that didn't hold her attention for long, she didn't think she was the right girl for a dress. And it wasn't like she had any reason to wear one after all, she was a hunter not some silly little princess.

As she was strolling down one of the less busy rows of stalls when she noticed a young human man crafting something in his hands. She stood close by and watched him work with a little smile. After a few more seconds she actually spoke up "You have talented hands."

Walter stared at the girl for a moment, obviously dumbfounded. He hesitated, green eyes looking at his large, freckled hands. He was very unsure of how talented his hands truly were, as no one had really brought it up. Maybe that's why his uncle had chosen to take him in as an apprentice. He did tend to do well with wood... Remembering that he had been spoke to, the boy abruptly looked up from his hands and a deep red blush spread across his cheeks. Wallace hadn't socialized with anyone in a prolonged period of time, lest you could count his uncle, who was not a female. There was something about women that intimidated him, though he didn't really want to dwell on what exactly that was. "I.. ah.. thank you?" The boy was clearly unsure of himself, his stammering emphasizing that fact more than his body language could. "When I was little I was confined to my bed more often than not, and I liked to pass the time with wood carving." Though he spoke without pause, his voice was somewhat quieter than most; the words flowed, and he made sure to look at the ground whilst speaking. With a little reflection, he supposed he had gotten quite good at carving, hadn't he? He picked up the little wooden figure, noticing a few things that could be shaped further. "W-Would you like to see it in greater detail?" Without waiting for an answer from the dark-haired female, the male extended a freckled hand, figurine resting in the center of his palm. Wallace swallowed, trying to quell his nerves and act like a proper young man. It was a pity he'd forgotten to introduce himself.

TAGGED: Tahlaia

The young human man was a little odd, perhaps he was just anti-social or even extremely shy, the way he acted told her that alone, but then again, when was anybody ever perfect. She didn't mind the mans quirks, she had quite a few of her own after all so she couldn't really judge for it. Besides, she doubted he meant to act that way with her, it was just his nature or a habit he had picked up a while ago.

She gave him a gentle, comforting smile as he stuttered his way through his first sentence. For now, she kept her distance knowing he would most likely only be worse if she decided to invade is personal space. Even she disliked it when somebody got a little too close for comfort and decided to breath the very same air as her. It was unnerving to say the least.

"You made something from you sickness... Instead of sitting feeling sorry for yourself you learnt, practiced a talent and clearly became quite skilled at it." She means it as a compliment even if it seems a little heavy, she smiles when he holds it out to her, she gently took it from his hand and took a closer look at the little fox carving, clearly not finished but still, the boy had very steady hands "The similarity is magnificent." She praised and looked back to him, "What is you name my friend? I am Tahlaia."

Wallace took a moment to gather his wits about him, though it didn't do much good. It wasn't often that he interacted with anyone other than his uncle and other middle-aged men, so having a random female approach and compliment his work had him in a fluster. The human hadn't too much experience with many of the other races, but he figured the brunnette wasn't a human, whatever she may have been. She was roughly dwarf sized, and Wallace had seen his fair of dwarves, but he wasn't about to implore as to her lineage. Twas none of his business. Thankfully, the smile helped Wallace to inhale deeply, a way of relaxing his jittery nerves. She was nice and that was all that mattered. It wasn't like she was going to rip his heart from his chest. She was small in stature and possessed a kind voice; why should he be on edge? Wallace nodded in response to her words, a feeble smile planted on his freckled face. "Ah, yes." The words felt awkward, but that was the norm, so he didn't think much of it. The feeble smile strengthened, turning into a full blown grin; sadly, it only lasted for a few seconds before Wallace felt uncomfortable with it, so it was quickly replaced with a smaller, more suitable smile. "Thank you." Being addressed as 'friend' made Wallace's eyebrows knit together instinctively, only to slowly relax as she introduced herself. It was then that he realized he hadn't offered his name, but the woman had managed to save his hiney in that respect. "M-My name is Wallace. It's a pleasure, Tahlaia." The beautiful name flopped about on his tongue and the boy made a mental note to begin practicing the name, next time to do pronounce it with finesse.

TAGGED: Tahlaia

The nerves of the young man in front of her where somewhat endearing. It was different from the attitude usually bestowed about young men. Most of them would be irritable brats most of the time, swinging a sword in the air and calling themselves skilled in swordsmanship. Some of them would already be in the brothels and the taverns drinking and whoring themselves to death. This young man seemed to have non of these irritable qualities, he was quiet and sheepish, perhaps a little too much considering he was probably the age of adult in human terms. But then again, Tahlaia was always one that tended to familiarise herself with the outsiders rather than the rest of the individuals in each town or city. By now she was starting to consider it as a skill rather than anything else.

The Dwelf could tell that he was still nervous and perhaps didn't know what to do with his face, he seemed to go from a small smile to a large one and then back again like he wasn't sure which one would be considered correct for the occasion, perhaps he was simply socially awkward. But she didn't think bringing it up would be very much help either so she kept her thoughts to herself to save him the embarrassment of explaining his slightly odd ways.

She looked around the area that she had come across, she could only see barrels being sold here along with some fish further along the walkway, upon taking this in she turned back to the shy boy "Do you not sell these carvings?" She questioned "I think they would make a pretty penny if you looked for the right customers." She adds, such as herself, who has a bizarre liking for the small wooden figurines she's found.