Let one thing be known about Ququki Quki. Even though she knows how to make the most of the Bad Hand of cards life sure love giving to her, she always knew how to play it to the best of her ability; it's how she came as far as she did, and she is very proud of how far she came from a rookie needing to hitch a ride with another Lala in the middle of the desert for someone...that doesn't need rides that much.
So...when she screws up...well.
She screws up royally.
And thus is why she is currently wandering around the Red Wings, silently praying that Clio is around. She seriously could use some help.
Cliodhna was never an early riser, left to her own devices she was by far more prone to stay up late and sleep in but this morning she was up. Staring at the ceiling of their bedroom there was something nagging at her, something off. Giving up on sleep for the moment, she rolled out of bed and quickly dressed in her work clothes intent to work on a couple side projects till it was time to do other things or she got tired.
That was when she saw Quki sanding in the front office. She stopped short, halfway behind the desk intent on grabbing some spare paper. "Quki....What are you doing here?" Cliodhna asked, more than a tad confused. It wasn't a secret that Quki hated the desert and rarely came this way because of it. That combined with the time of day increased that nagging feeling Cliodhna was having.
Quki turned to Clio, flashing a quick smile before sombering up. She wished she could be more cheerier about the whole situation, but she couldn't talk here. Not with people probably listened.
Approaching her, and pulling her cloak closer, she looked up to her friend, giving a sad smile
"I would rather talk somewhere more private. Can't risk loose ears Clio. I shouldn't even be here..."
She pulls her covers closer, looking around suspiciously.
(ALSO SO SORRY FOR SO LATE REPLY, FALLOUT 4 SUCKED MY LIFE, SEND HELP)
Tilting her head downwards, she regarded Quki, it was rather odd she was here of all places and....not quite herself. Chewing her bottom lip a moment she nodded. "Alright, follow me." Motioning with her hand as she opened the door she had just come out of.
A short walk down the hall lead to a half flight of stairs and another row of doors. Opening one of the doors she ushered the smaller girl in. "No one will here us here." The door belonging to the bedroom she shared with Erik. Though he had been gone hours ago for some early morning meeting, the bedding was a mess of tangled cream colored sheets; a somewhat short orange and tan colored tail peeking out of a lump of covers, fat with fluffy fur.
Locking the door behind them, Cliodhna took a spot on the couch in front of the fireplace. ".....So what's this all about?" She asked calmly.
Quki rushes to the keyhole, eyeing the outside, wanting to guarantee no one is eavesdropping. She stays for at least a minute like this before glancing at windows, if the room has any, and under the bed. After assuring their privacy, she takes off the hood from her head, showing it was painted black, with blue highlights instead of their usual white/red combo. She turns to Clio, forcing a smile
" I need to dissapear, plain and simple. "
She chuckles a bit, raising her hand, where there is a single diamond ring...even though she did what she did, she still refuses to take off the ring...a reminder it is.
" Making it short and sweet, my heirloom was stolen from me by a relative I never knew existed. This relative basically sold me in slavery to a wealthy family to be the wife of a person. Raisan Arcmantle. "
She pauses again, taking a deep breath.
" If I didn't, I would be sent to some deep mine in Thanalan for the rest of my life to pay off my deceased dad's debts. And well...I don't plan the first neither the second one. It's not that Raisan is a bad person, he is definetly self-made and...pretty handsome. It's just a matter of principle I suppose, I don't want the rest of my life being constantly measured because of some marriage I never wanted. "
She finishes, not looking directly at Clio.
Clio watched her flit around the room, searching for things or people that would not be there. A low growl emitted from the bundle of blankets when she had flipped the covers back to look under the bed; a disgruntled looking lesser panda slowly emerging from his nest and scampering over to Clio before settling in her lap to resume his nap.
Quietly, she ran her nails though his fur as Quki relayed her story, brows only lightly raised at the stark change in hair color. "Wait.....Let me get this straight; he's married you off and ran off with your inheritance? Why not just use the inheritance to pay off the debts to begin with?" She paused. "Then again, if that were to happen; you'd most likely have no money for him to steal."
Sighing lightly, Cliodhna placed a fist to her mouth, free hand lightly tapping on Cinnamon's back. "So sounds to me you need a place to stay until we can figure out how to get you out of this mess."
"Nono. Basically, what he did was take claim of the inheritance, since I never did. Never thought there would be anything left to take after all."
She sighs, and nods
"Yeah. A makeover would be nice too, can't be around like this anymore."
Cliodhna blew out a small puff of air in thought, once more eyeing Quki's drastic change in hair color. "That stark change may out you just as fast as your normal hair...You may want to go with something a tad more mundane, like a light brown." Tilting her head to the side slightly as she regarded her from the couch.
"Also I'd suggest you take the ring off, either put it on a strong chain under your shirt or tuck it away for safekeeping. It could give you away while you're in hiding Far as hiding goes..." Cliodhna paused, eyeing her up and down again. "How do you feel about being my assistant for a little while? I'll list you as contracted, which will give you a right to come and go -or in your case, hide- in the hall here freely and will limit access people will have to see you if they're looking, it's also a unlikely choice they'll look here to begin with."
Quki tilts her head, thoughtful. She moves her hand throught her hair, eyeing it a bit...before nodding
"Fair enough, not like I am one to judge these kind of things."
She sighs, before slowly taking her diamond ring, and pocketing it...she is still clearly tense and looks back to the door once in a while, before replying
"I don't think this is a good idea Clio. Yes, they wouldn't think I am in Ul'dah but isn't your company loyal to them? Hiding me would just bring further strife, and that IS the thing I fled the Harbingers for starter."
"Well you're coming to me for help despite that possibility; so it must have crossed your mind at some point possible repercussions, but that being said, I'm not about to turn you out to fend for yourself just because it may compromise loyalty to Ul'dah." Cliodhna replied after a moment of consideration.
"Still, you need a place to hide and I can't think of a better place to keep you hidden and safe than here. I'll speak to Erik about it shortly but I'm sure he'd echo my thoughts on the matter."