Rei whistled absently as he followed after the Elezen, his eyes emotionlessly staring ahead, finding no need to fake anything while the man wasn’t looking. As long as he could convince the Elezen he, himself was odd but no one important, then that would be enough for him to feel all right with this outcome. If the man started asking questions, then… Rei shook his head, his hair fluttering around him again. He banished the thought. He wasn’t one to kill civilians and normal people, anyways. But if they realized too much…
“I can’t imagine what something like that must be like. Getting the urge to play music,” he said, his eyes slightly wider as he considered the idea quietly, “In Hingashi, I have a piano,” he added, tapping his chin thoughtfully, “I don’t really get the urge to play it, even though I can. I just don’t…” he shrugged again, his feet continuing to silently pace after the Elezen. If Valen didn’t look at him, it wouldn’t even sound like he was there.
“I hope you don’t think me too interesting. My sense of humor is dry, yes. But such charms and…uuuh…flirting, is it?” his brow creased slightly, “Isn’t something I process too well.” He could process it just fine, though. He was just the type who’d let the words go in one ear and out the other. At the end of the day, pretty words were just that—words. They held no meaning to him as they did not convince him of loyalty or honor. Rei stared at Valen, his eyes blank as the man went to the counter. He glanced around the quicksand for a moment and then took a step closer to the counter as though that would make him hide in the room better.
His expression remained neutral with Valen’s theatrics and his eyes moved to meet the magpie that flew on to his head. He kept his gaze up at it the entire time it sat on his head, his neutral expression wearing down until it was a bitter frown. His arms were crossed in front of him as the bird had made itself comfortable in his hair. He was pretty much glaring at his own forehead. “I’m going to eat you..” he muttered under his breath to the bird.
When Valen returned, Rei was still like that. No wonder the bird was so happy to see her friend again. Rei was…mopey. “My hair is not a nest…” he said, brushing it back into place, “I half expected to find an egg on my head before you returned…” he sighed heavily. He followed after Valen to the airship landing. Rei walked past him to sit at the table, not the bar. His back would be oddly straight in the chair as though proper posture had been instilled in to him and he was just remembering it now.
“I’ve never been to the cafe up here before,” he said absently, “What is good here…” he asked, looking back at Valen, “Will they let you just play music at a table too? Eorzea is so strange sometimes, by the kami, I swear…”
Valen laughed merrily at Rei’s egg comment. Lily just gave the miqo’te a rather indignant chirp. Which earned the little bird a gentle belly rub with one of Valen’s fingers now that she was back on his shoulder.
“Lily could not lay an egg on your head. For that to be possible she would have to have a mate. My dear Lily does not often leave my side other then when things might get dangerous.” Valen checked his harp strings as he sat. Resting one leg over the knee of his other leg. “As for music, yes. It’s Ul’dah. It’s always lively and bustling. Dancers in the streets. Music in the bars. This is basically free entertainment for this bar’s patrons right now.”
His fingers stroked over the strings. Just to check the tune. Nodding his head when he was satisfied before he set to a light and simple melody. Lily adding in chirps to accompany the music at appropriate moments. “They have some really nice alcohol choices. Food is not bad but I have had better. Plus it’s relatively decent in price. Less crowded. Definitely less people looking for a simple romp between the sheets. I guess you could say this part is a simple quiet escape for those that want something less lively then the Quicksands.”
Spirit of the Warlock 