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?

How many times had he been warned to watch what streets he wandered down in Ul’dah… Of course his mind had been elsewhere at the time. Low and behold he’d picked one of the worst places to walk down alone. Lily had thankfully flown off to sit on a roof ledge the moment the three men had surrounded him. It kept his small feathered friend out of harm. His precious harp was safe in his room at the Quicksands.

A group of refugee thugs that wanted his gil but used the excuse of the small tune he played for a group of ladies earlier. Hiding their true motives behind what they wanted to him to believe was jealously. The sharp-eyed elezen though could see the difference in their body language. They thought him an easy target because he had a pretty face.

The worst part… Valen wasn’t exactly a close range fighter on his best day. Three against one hunter that preferred to keep a physical distance from his prey. Maybe he should rethink learning some close quarters combat mostly to protect himself. Charm wasn’t winning him out of this corner. Valen was quick but not quick enough when outnumbered with little room to maneuver.

Trying his best to protect his face and other vital areas at the men assaulted him. A silent prayer to Oschon that the beating would be over quickly. When the attacks paused as a voice spoke, Valen lowered his arm from his face to see who was foolish enough to step in. Just in time to see the splash of crimson as the small miqo’te sliced open the face of one man.

“Thank, Oschon…” Valen muttered as he wiped the back of his hand across his busted lip. One of them had gotten a lucky punch to his face. Standing with a groan as the other two men seemed to be trying to decide if they wanted to take on the newcomer. Trying to decide if bleeding was worth whatever sum of gil Valen might be carrying. Definitely not as much as they were hoping to get of course.

Valen drew his hunting knife from his right boot. Not that he could fight with it. It was really only for hunting. However it did make him look less appealing of a target now that the odds weren’t so heavily in the refugees favor. The men seemed to finally decide this venture was no longer worth it, turning tail to run off down the alley.

Sharp jade eyes looking towards Rei, assessing the would-be hero of the night. A small smile tugging at the corner of Valen’s lips. Especially when his eyes took notice of the bird in the man’s tattoos. Lily still chirping her distress from the rooftop. Valen wrapped one arm around his middle as he leaned against the wall. “Well, well… The handsome hero come to the damsel’s rescue. Sorry I’m not quite the damsel you’re looking for though.” There was the charming smile the minstrel was known for even if it was a bit strained because of being beaten about. “Thank you for the rescue all the same. Well as long as you don’t plan to finish what they started of course.” Eyes drifting down to the dagger Rei had used.