Rei smiled absently at the ijin Elezen. He couldn’t mark where the bow came from, but it certainly wasn’t Hingan. Or Doman. And it wasn’t a salute he was familiar with in Eorzea either. His ears twitched lightly at the man’s full name which he already had forgotten.
“I…shall call you Lance,” he said decided on his own. He really had forgotten the man’s name. Ishgardian titles and names were so long and wordy. Though that wasn’t the reason he never went there. For most of his adult life, it was a snowy wasteland and Rei could not handle the cold. “I guess you can just call me ‘Rei’, then, since we are being so informal and familiar,” he laughed, “Plus it’s easier for me if we’re not screaming the Sekiro-kai’s name out loud every few seconds.”
He watched as Lance knelt by the dead man and canted his head slightly, “While kneel before them?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, “He tried to kill you and kami knows the GInro-kai are all horrible and deserve nothing short of death,” he frowned, his arms crossed even tighter, “In this case, I think they were no one’s enemies in particular. They were causing trouble in our territory and you are easy pickings,” he shrugged.
Rei moved a few steps forward, painfully aware his geta were now gone and his feet were frozen against the cobble stones, “Samurai are…” Rei’s voice trailed off, “Interesting?” he forced a smile. The Sekiseigumi hated him and he hated them, “Wha is a Skyfire Locks?” he asked, “Is that where you’re headed? I did say I’d escort you there…”
Lance knew all too well the political struggles and rivalries. After all Haillenarte was the least liked of the four Houses. Even if the rivalries between the Houses was more subtle in Ishgard.
“I was merely taking the blood from my blade. I will properly clean it later but they were the ones that sullied the steel. So it is only right to borrow their fabric to clean it. I am still alive. Halone’s justice guides me like it always does.” Lance said with a calm air. Clearly facing people trying to kill him wasn’t uncommon. A shake of his head at Rei’s question of his destination. “No. Skyfire Locks is my post when I am on duty as a knight. I am not here on business for Ishgard. I was here more for personal reasons. After all, the best defense is to learn about other forms of fighting and the best ways to combat against them.”
“ To
stab an apple?! Ser Knight, it’s not a foe! Let me show you how it’s
done!” Auriaune teased back. Of course she’d take THIS opportunity
to have the Rose Knight hanging over a bucket while bobbing his head
and trying to get an apple out of it with his teeth. The thought
alone made her giggle snort, “ Now, while I’ll show you how it’s
done, you’ll repeat after me, will you not?!~” Said as she clapped
in her hands for her manservant to come and tell him what
she was in need of. Like always, her manservant questioning his
Lady’s lady-like-behaviour.
It
didn’t take long for the boy to come back with a bucket filled with
water and red apples in it. Auriaune pointed to the table and for him
to place it on. Slowly she lumped over to the table while leaning
onto her cane and eyed at Lancefer with a grin tugged on her red
painted lips, “ Take notes, little Lance!!” As if she made it her
life’s goal in bobbing apples out of a bucket of water, she was quick
to take an apple out of the it and proudly showed it off to the Rose
Knight. She took a bite out of the apple and joyfully beckoned for
Lancefer to try it too. Hopefully he was up for some fun.
Lance crossed his arms lightly as he leaned against a pillar while he watched. If this amused Auriaune, he’d gladly at least give it a shot. Raising a brow when she called him Little. Especially since he was far from small. He was clearly taller then her even if not by a lot. There were still others taller then him. Just not Auriaune.
“Such a show off, my lady.” His tone teasing and light as she took a bite of the red apple she’d plucked out. He walked over and looked down at the bucket. Trying to decide how best to approach this task. Giving it a shot, he went to try and snag a apple in similar fashion to Auriaune. And failed. Blinking water out of his eyes as he came back up empty with a frown. This was harder then it looked to catch an apple with your teeth in water. “Are you sure I can not just stab one?”
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.”
The Seeker’s gaze narrowed as the Elezen walked away from him. He craned his neck, trying to see what he was doing. When the man threw something his way, Rei flinched noticeably, only to be draped in a heavy blanket. He blinked his surprise away, frowning. He was not expecting that. He may or may not have muttered a quiet thank you in Hingan under his breath.
“I thought I was being rather polite,” he shrugged, “I talk the way I talk because I’m bored…” he was smiling again, “I get kidnapped a lot, for some reason. Also almost killed and getting into random fights…I’m used to dealing with people like you.” He tried to adjust himself in a way to get the blanket closer to him. He was still shivering but not nearly as bad as before. “I like talking about myself, especially since someone like you shouldn’t be messing with me to begin with. In fact, you should be bragging to others you had the honor of meeting me!” He sneered at the Elezen.
His ears flicked at the sound of cursing. The Seeker politely bowed his head again a the man figured things out for himself. “Belong to? No, no… I am the adopted son of one,” he corrected, “Imagine angering the leader of a multi-content wide operation just so you can get paid a little extra pocket change. Scary, isn’t it?” he canted his head slightly, still testing the chains as though something would change this time around.
Rei flinched slightly as the Elezen punched the wall and stormed out. He sat silently, figuring that the man wasn’t returning, only to be proven wrong. “A deal?” he raised an eyebrow, “What’s in it for me? I can get away from you any time I want to,” he frowned, “Just so you know, I don’t kill innocent people,” he went silent for a moment, “Are you asking me to pay you off? Because that’s not very fair to me either…”
He was silent for a long moment, and even closed his eyes to think. It would be a good few minutes before he said anything else, “Right now my father thinks I am out on personal business. The Sekiro-Kai won’t expect me back for another week regardless. For now, they won’t be suspicious since I rarely check in. Too much of a hassle,” he shrugged, “You are lucky I don’t kill children. Or spouses. Or idiots,” he was looking at the Elezen for the last point, grinning widely. The truth was he really only killed other criminals, so this man had nothing to worry about. But Yuuta wasn’t that nice.
“What are you interested in? Protection? Money? Secrecy?” he listed them off, “Do the Sky Pirates know you have me, because I’m sure they won’t be happy that you’re changing your mind on this deal either…”
Alex wanted to punch that smile off Rei’s face. The boy’s mouth really made him think long and hard about changing his deal on the Sky Pirates like this. But he wasn’t about to bring this sort of trouble down on Sanagi.
“I was interested in the price the pirates were paying. But…” He made a disgusted face at Rei. “What I ain’t interested in is tangling with some kind of crime lord. Been there, done that.” A huff as he rolled his eyes. “All I want is you not bothering people I care about, dumbass.”
Alex just spun the keyring around his finger as he kept his distance from Rei. “It ain’t no honor meeting a stuck up brat like youh. I used to be a power in the underground of Ishgard. I worked with the Carver himself as his Jackal. I ain’t washed up. I walked away for something better.” Not that he was going to mention he had walked away from being a criminal for the sake of a girl. Well two girls technically though one was ‘family’ in a sense. But Aeri could take care of herself if someone came after her. Sanagi was the one he was really worried about. “No if I had to gauge… We’re about even in terms of skill. But I have the years of experience you don’t quite have. As far as the sky pirates… They don’t know I have you. Yet. I ain’t as dumb as you seem to think I might be.”
The Seeker remained shivering on his back, his eyes still trained on the Elezen. He tested the chains again as though that would still change anything. If he were a bit warmer, he’d probably have a bit of a clearer head on how to approach this situation, but with every passing minute the shivering got worse and worse, the chains now clinking as a result. “I didn’t think you were trying to help,” his jaw tightened, forcing himself to stay jovial through the ever apparent discomfort.
“I’ll have you know I am very resistant to poisons…” He shrugged, moving his legs slightly to try and keep himself warm, “Whatever you put in my food, you’d have to do a lot better than that to kill me.” He had figured what was in his foods was drugs, but he hadn’t considered it could’ve potentially killed him. Rei wrinkled his nose as the thought of that. How stupid was this Elezen to almost accidentally kill him. “How am I acting like gutter trash?” he raised an eyebrow, “Last I checked, you’re the thug who kidnapped an innocent merchant.”
Rei blew at the hair in front of his face again, unable to move it with his hands. He was far from innocent, as he claimed. But at least he had an idea of who wanted him and why, “Well, at least it’s the Sea of Clouds… this makes escaping from here a lot easier,” he grinned at the Elezen through chattering teeth, “Thank you for not going to the Garleans. Makes calling for help less troublesome…” his voice trailed off, “And just so you know, I am not a lord,” he frowned.
The Seeker adjusted himself again so that he was on his side, his gaze averted slightly so that he stared at the floor now. There were no keys on the Elezen that he could see and nothing like a loose nail that he could notice, “I may not be a lord, but I have money. I’ll pay you more than whatever bounty you’re hunting.” It was always his first move—offering more money for his own freedom, “Should be easy since it’s just a pirate’s fee,” his teeth were chattering as he spoke.
“Trust me, I’m the better buyer. You don’t want to anger my organization. They will kill you, your family, your family’s family…” he growled under his breath. “Think this through…carefully.” He clenched his fingers into fists behind him. It wasn’t an empty thread. Yuuta would kill hundreds if it meant getting him back.
Alex shook his head as he got up and moved towards a table in the far corner that was mostly hidden in shadows. Grabbing something fabric from the table before walking back over. He threw the fabric over Rei. It was a heavy blanket. Alex could be cruel but he wasn‘t that cruel, even to a smart-mouthed person like Rei.
“Your mouth talks like gutter trash for being an ‘innocent’ merchant. Which is what clearly tells me you ain’t no lordling. That an the fact you ain’t sniveling like some whiny brat over being kidnapped. Plus normal merchants ain’t resistant to poisons. Only those like you an me are resistant to that dung.” Alex leaned against a wall with his arms crossed as he kept his narrowed eyes on Rei. “But do feel free to keep rattling on about yourself. Give me a clear idea of who you really are.”
Organization. That world finally sunk in. Alex cursed softly under his breath, “You belong to a bloody crime lord…” Followed by another string of cursing. One line even cursing about ‘Halone’s frozen tits’. Mostly a curse used by Ishgardians. “No wonder those bloody arses refused to give me more details…”
Alex punched the wall before storming out of the room. He was only gone a moment before coming back to the room with the keys. “I ain’t letting you go. Not without some kind of deal not to dare go anywhere near those I claim. I don’t give a rat’s arse if you kill my useless father. But I have others I’ll murder you and anyone else for. Slowly and painfully. You give me a deal an you get to walk. I ain’t interested in pissing on some crime organization’s business. Or you can keep running your mouth till I punch you an hand you over to those pirates. So let’s make a deal.”
Rei stayed on his side on the floor, testing the chains around his wrists once more. They were connected to the floor anyways, he couldn’t really sit up properly, even if he tried. And he wasn’t running anywhere either. His gaze remained cool and sharp, the two crimson eyes glaring up at the man, craning his neck to even see his face properly. Apparently he didn’t take well to insults, though he had no idea what mongrel meant.
He found himself frowning, however. Rei’s ego had him well aware that he was pretty, despite his tattoos, including the one on the side of his face, and his scars. But it was rare any had commented on his appearance. Most bounty hunters just kick the crap out of him and call it a day.
“You’re one to talk…” he muttered under his breath, “Oh yeah?” he laughed, “Gutting me for insults, are we? Boy, are you fragile,” he sneered, “And don’t get ahead of yourself. I’m easy to find,” he shrugged from the awkward position on his side. He seemed somewhat too used to this…
He hissed under his breath as he was kicked in the shin, and then spit in the man’s face as he came down to his level. “I-If I recall correctly, Mongrel-knife ears-pointy ears-dhalmel-pretty boy, was it? You…did something…” his voice trailed off and he pulled at the bindings on his hands again, slipping on to his back as he tried to back away as far as the short chain allowed…which wasn’t very far, “drugging my food without my knowledge, smart… But I have no idea what you’re talking about…”
He really didn’t, mostly because…there were a lot of people who fit that description, “You’re going to have to be a little more specific…” he said, raising an eyebrow, “You went this far to kidnap me, but you don’t even know who I am, do you?” he canted his head slightly. “If these are Dravanian sky pirates, I assume my family must have done something to interrupt their trade routes or out competed them into the ground… Or maybe I started a fight with one of the captains?” he played innocent, as he dramatically listed off the opportunities…
“If they are from Garlemald, maybe I stole their magitek? Limsans…probably killed a crew man or two in a scuffle. Hingashi…well, there’s a whole can of dodo meat that I don’t know where to begin…” his voice trailed off. He was silent for a moment before quickly whipping his leg out to kick the squatting Elezen’s feet from under him, in an attempt to get him fall flat on the floor, “And since you apparently don’t know know who I am…you best not underestimate me. If you were thinking you were just helping ransom some poor, lost, young lordling pretty boy, you are sorely mistaken…” he grinned, barring his teeth
Alex made a disgusted face at the spit. Wiping it off his cheek as he glared down at Rei. Letting the boy talk for a moment because even if most of it was rambled garbage, some of it was still information. Information the sky pirates hadn’t given him for the job. Stuff they didn’t think a mercenary needed to know.
He hadn’t expected to have his feet kicked out from under him. Should have expected it. Didn’t. That was a dumb move on his part. Thankfully if the kid was trying to get free, Alex didn’t carry the keys on him for the shackles. He wasn’t that dumb. The only key on him right now was his own apartment key because he never left that one out of his sight.
Snarling softly as he narrowed his eyes at Rei before he pushed himself up with his elbows. “Wasn’t helping your stupid arse. I was taking you to the sky pirates in the Sea of Clouds. Why else would I take your scrawny arse anywhere near Ishgard. I just figured I’d make sure I hadn’t killed you with the stuff I put in your food. But go ahead and keep behaving like gutter trash. Been there done that. I won’t think twice about handing you over. I couldn’t give a rat’s arse if your a stupid lordling or not. If you were a lordling just mean more reason I should kick your scrawny arse around before I turn you over.”
Rei had been outside walking for quite awhile. Today’s journey was pretty aimless. In fact, he was more so clearing his head, if anything. His gaze drifted idly over the stalls and other shops set up in the area. His usual itch to spend money had died down as he appeared to be lost in his own thoughts…or in a very, very foul mood. Or both. He walked with a stark frown on his face. His piercing crimson gaze straight ahead. People seemed to move out of the way as he passed them. And maybe they should? It was the Sekiro-kai’s turf, and he was the heir.
His geta clacked lightly on the stones under his feet as his legs pulled at the fabrics of his simple Yukata. He kept a haori over his shoulders, but the rest of his appearance was pretty nondescript. His ear twitched lightly, however, at the sound of a scuffle coming from a nearby alley and his gaze darkened.
The Seeker quickly turned the corner and, low and behold, there was a fight going on. Worse, though, Rei recognized the men by their tattoos and colors. But not the taller man, no. He had no idea what an Elezen would be doing back here. The Seeker clenched his jaw, reached towards his open to pull out a knife hidden in the fabric, and charged the group, “The fuck outa here, you worthless trash,” the Seeker growled, but not that loudly. He wasn’t shouting. No, he didn’t want to alert the Sekiseigumi.
He kicked off his geta as he ran and jumped up, knife first, to stab one of the men through the back of one of the attacker’s necks. The man let out a strangled cry, bleeding out as Rei withdrew the knife. The blood soaked parts of his Yukata and hands as the man bled out and fell forward, dead. He watched idly as the other man finish the rest, keep back while he flicked his dagger to get the blood off of it. He looked at the Elezen, his blank expression grew curious.
“No, they weren’t supposed to be here…” he said, bowing his head slightly, “The Ginro-kai have been impeding on our territory as of late. These mens’ deaths will only worsen the conflict. However…” he grinned slightly, “This fixed my mood quite a bit,” he bowed his head again to the Elezen, “I am Rei of the Sekiro-kai… I am sorry that our enemies disturbed your walk,” he lifted his head, “If you’d like, I can escort you to wherever you’re headed,” he said, adjusting his yukata so that his tattoos would reman mostly hidden, “I assure you, no one else will bother you if I’m with you.”
Lance seemed a little surprised at the idea of a territorial fight.Still he managed to give the man a proper Ishgardian bow. A chance to mask the bit of surprise.
“Ser Lancefer Aurifore of House Haillenarte in Ishgard.” Giving the man his full title. Keeping the same curteous smile though there was a little more warmth to it now that he knew Rei wasn’t out to kill him. He could never be too sure after all the drama with his family the year before. Especially after he’d married someone his mother surely disapproved of. “But you can simply call me Lance seeing we are a long way from Ishgard.”
Lance knelt by one of the dead men to wipe the blood from his blade before sheathing it at his side. He stood up and shook his head at Rei’s words. “It is fine. It gets hard to tell at times whether the enemies are mine or someone else’s. However they all bleed the same. I will not object to the company for the rest of my walk. I am still learning much about this city and it’s samurai when I have time off from my duties at Skyfire Locks.”
Valen raised a brow at Valen’s words. As if Valen hadn’t already killed people. Granted not at such close range before. Sometimes killing was necessary. It didn’t bother him to kill bad people. Waving a hand at the words. “I wouldn’t be concerned about the killing, my friend. If someone is trying to kill me they are likely not a very good person anyways. I am sure over time I will have my share of enemies for being a bounty hunter. I have no qualms taking the life of bad people.”
A merry laugh at Rei’s confusion over bards. “Well… For me I guess you could say it is a sudden urge. It runs in my blood. My father was a well traveled minstrel as well.” But his words died as Rei made the comment. Eyes slightly widening. Was that a joking jab at his own earlier charming jests…
“Well now. You are proving to be quite interesting indeed.” Rubbing his chin as he grinned. “Not much further.” Gesturing towards the Inn counter. “I shall step inside to grab my harp and then lead us down to the bar by the airship. Drinks and music await.” A light laugh as he swept into a playful bow. “Just wait here with Rei, Lily. A little assurance that I will return swiftly.” The little magpie flying off Valen’s shoulder and landing on top of Rei’s head.
Valen wasn’t long at all. Stepping into his room long enough to grab his harp and returning within a few minutes. Lily chirping happily at his return from her perch on Rei’s head. Now all set, Valen lead them to the lift and down to the bar he spoke of. It was quiet as it often was. Just a couple of patrons at one of the two tables. No one seated at the bar. Valen gestured for Rei to take his pick of where to sit. The bar or the table.
Alex leaned against the rickety wooden table in the main room of the small hideout. It was an old unused hideout that once belonged to his mentor. A little closer to the sky pirates that wanted their hands on this one.
He had debated on how long to give the captive in the other room before he went in to check on the boy.
A pretty boy. A silent snarl as Alex sharpened one of his knives a little harder. Now he wanted to know what the men wanted with someone like that. Especially when it had been far too easy to get this one to let his guard down. Just enough to slip something into Rei’s food.
Better to get this over with.
Finally giving a sigh as he pushed away from the table to go to the other room. Finding his captive awake as he walked over. A swift kick to the miqo’te’s stomach for the insult. A simple threat to bruise the boy’s face.
“Knife ears. Pointy ears. Though my personal favorite is still Mongrel. Insults ain’t getting you anywhere, pretty boy.” As if Alex had any room to talk. At
thirty-two he still had that pretty boy face. Even despite the scar and
tattoo. A pair of dark sunglasses resting on top of his head. “
Ain’t
no bounty hunter either. I’m a
mercenary. I should gut you just for insulting my hunting skills. After
all I found you now didn’t I? You made it far too easy though.”
Alex kicked Rei’s shin as he
sneered down at the miqo’te. Crouching down to be at a better level to
taunt his prey. Old habits died hard and he couldn’t resist teasing the smart-mouthed brat. “Poor little pretty boy. There are some nice sky pirates
with a price on your head. Who did you piss off to get such a nice gil
reward for your return? At least they never said you couldn’t be
bruised. Just that they wanted you alive.”
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.
Spirit of the Warlock 