rei-sekiro:

Oh, Ul’dah. It was a city horrible for business, but great for Rei indulging himself in his ever worsening hoarding habits. The sun was low in the sky at this point as the seeker had garnered quite the collection of new wares for himself to take home to Hingashi. He held on to only a handful of those items as he had the rest sent ahead to the airship dock to be loaded on to his transport home. It was a good haul, though to the passerby, he would’ve looked like a very rich man who had just spent an eccentric amount of gil on loads and loads of garbage. A very confusing disconnected from how elegantly he presented himself.

While in Thanalan, Rei always opted for lighter clothes than his usual silks. A sheer scar over his shoulders, much like a shall, did little to hide his exposed arms and shoulders, his tattoos a walking gallery of birds and flowers.  The shirt under that was sleeveless in an attempt to keep himself cool, though he could feel the sun burning the skin on his arms. Good thing the sun was setting, no more sun burn or stupid heat to contend with. But in the dessert, as the sun sets, the cold sets in too and Rei was intent on getting inside quickly. His airship wouldn’t leave until the next morning, so heading back to the quicksand wasn’t the worst of plans.

He turned back out of the markets and into the back alley that connected the rich with the poor. He was used to street thugs, living in a household now that was essentially all street thugs. With his hair tied in a loose bun above his neck, it didn’t really surprise him that a drunk man or two called out to him. Or maybe they didn’t care? Either way, Rei kept his eyes forward as he walked, his arms loose at his side. He was oddly relaxed despite the odd sense of tension in the air.

There was a loud thud in a small alley off to the side and Rei turned around to meet the sound. “Don’t go over there…” he commanded himself, his ears flicking as curiosity got the better of him. He didn’t move initially as the sounds of a struggle seemed to grow more frequent. His tail swished excitedly behind him. For all his dark deeds, Rei did consider himself a hero and what a better way to act that part then to go over and intervene. He placed his small bag of junk on the ground, knowing that when he got back, it would probably be gone.

Picking a knife out of his boot, Rei turned around to run into the alley to spot three refugees ganging up on a tall man. Most likely Elezen from the looks of it. Not many were that tall and of that build. He maneuvered himself into the middle of the group. He was much smaller than the Elezen, but he would have the presence of someone whose hands were drenched in blood. His gaze was narrowed with a killer’s instinct, his teeth barred angrily. “Leave, now,” he demanded.

But without giving one of the refugees so much as the chance to back away, Rei swung his dagger upward into a highlander’s face, cutting the man’s cheek open and cutting off some of his nose. Blood poured down the attacker’s face as shock settled in. “Stand down, or I will cut you down,” He said that too late for one man, it seemed. Was this miqo’te really a hero stepping in to help someone?

Valen laughed warmly when Rei admitted the compliments weren’t working. Something Valen was noticing without the admission but it was still amusing. Finally finding someone his charm didn’t work with. Of course laughing only made his ribs ache. Which in turn made him groan softly as he put his hand over the spot. He’d have to remember to call Rinoa or Virae later to look at it. For now he owed his ‘savior’ for the lost trinkets.

He was finding Rei to actually be a bit amusing and strange. Strange as in the way he made it sound like nothing to hurt Valen or keep him hostage. Making him wonder if that was something normal to just Rei or to the people where the man came from.

“I did not intend to offer you music here anyways. I left my harp back where I am staying. Not something I like to idly carry for fear of harming such a wonderful instrument of course. There is a nice quiet little bar just off the airship dock. I could grab my harp and meet you there. Unless you don’t trust me being as we just met. It is a little strange after all to just invite you to my room to play for you unless you really want a private performance. Not that I have any intentions of making unwanted advances despite your good looks and the amazing tattoo art on your skin. You’d likely just stick me with a knife if I tried.” Valen was smiling as he spoke honestly. There was no real point in lying right now. If he mad the man angry, he was just as likely to get sliced and diced for lying. “I leave the choice up to you of course.”

Turning towards the path back to the Quicksands since his harp was left in his room. A look back towards Rei. “Just do me a favor and don’t damage my hands if I do something to spark your anger. Pain I can live with. Music I can not.” Not quite sure why he admitted that to Rei. Maybe in an attempt to appeal to Rei’s better side. Valen wasn’t able to decide the reasoning. But he knew the threats weren’t just threats. They were promises of violence.