Melodia

He walked slowly around and back to his seat across from her. He looked at her with an earnest expression. As Ruru considered her words, he tapped the table two times and leaned in, lowering his voice. "'Considering.' That means I might still not get the job." He looked down at the table and then back to her, cocking his head to the side a bit. This was not a woman to trifle with. Her look screamed that he was wasting her time and each second pushed her that much closer to the door. "Aye....I stepped in it back there. Shouldn't have mouthed off. What do I need to do to secure the position? My blade's yours if you'll have me. And I'll stow the attitude at the door."

"I wasn't aware I'd been hired." His voice was cool and he kept his gaze forward though he dare not move.

Nono walked into the Quicksand and looked about. Aya wouln't start her shift for some time. He knew. He'd been watching her times. Her routines. Tapping the table softly in a rhythmic drumbeat with his fingers, he kept his eye on Momidi, the proprietor. She was kind enough but she was trouble and didn't want her getting involved. He ran the details over in his mind and knew there were a lot of moving parts. His eyes closed for a moment and he recalled two vivid images in his mind: The first being that moment when he saw the arrow fly and hit him. The impact had been tremendous and had knocked the wind from his lungs immediately. He remembered seeing the bleeding stunned look on Ruru's face before he'd fallen off the cliff. The fall had felt so far and he wasn't even able to scream. The arrow had been lodged deep into his chest, preventing him from exhaling properly. When he'd hit, his knee had all but been destroyed by the rocks. He should have been dead save for the minor healing spell that had kept him alive long enough for the Garleans he'd been working with to pull him to safety. The second was of Ruru, drunk, wandering Ul'dah. This was always father's favorite son....and look at him...wandering around like a buffoon. Father would have been ashamed. His eyes opened slowly and remained narrow as he refused to consider what their father would have thought of his actions. Regardless, his actions were what they were and he dismissed the thought entirely. Aya had stepped out from her room and he followed her with his eyes ready to follow her to her next destination.

He held the hand there for a moment, then tilted his head, narrowing his eye. Straightening his head again he shrugged and withdrew the hand. He smiled again and slipped off the chair beginning to walk back to the bar. He paused and looked over at her. "I'ts too bad the impression you got was was that I'm a troublemaker. I'm not. I can handle myself with both blade and a bow. And I respect the job and the employer. It's a shame I put my foot in my mouth. sorry to have wasted your time." He turned to walk back to the bar, frustrated with himself, wondering how many ways Kink would kill him.

Ruru approached her relaxing a bit and came around the other side of the table, and slid into an open chair, still watching her. He felt stupid and embarrassed that he had tried so hard to be the tough guy and he now had to clean up yet another mess. He gulped and spoke, his voice still even. "Aye. And I meant no disrespect....though I'm sure that's how it came across." He looked back at the barmaid and then back to the Roe. "I've a friend who works this job. It's tough. Had a moment of sympathy was all." He leaned in and smiled. It was a friendly and confident smile. "Though I do appreciate you not making an example out of me. Least not here." Leaning back a bit, showing a relaxed pose, he nodded. "Aye....I am looking for a job. Need the work. I've found the guilds to be a pain the ass, to be honest. Not enough coin. Ah...." He looked a bit embarrassed and held out a hand. "I apologize for being rude. Vivikuso's the name."

Ooh, if you need any help, let me know. I would love the extra conflict PC yellowjackets would provide. Do it! As a new Limsa resident I like the idea of expanding the rp presence there.

When she turned and looked at him he knew it would not be a fight he could win. Had it been a smaller man, he'd have been able to move quickly enough, but he remembered the roe woman Denn and her size and strength. And she'd been helping him. If he launched an attack, he would be dead quickly. The woman was stoic and looked at him with a dismissive gaze that told him that she would not tolerate his behavior much longer. He stayed his hand, lowering it to his side. And he didn't look at Kink....didn't want to see her look which was surely disappointment. Had he already failed this first test. He was struggling to find that balance between what he was supposed to portray and his own nature. He was furious that this woman spoke that way to the barmaid, bringing fresh thoughts of Aya back in Ul'dah. It just....wasn't right. He stood firm and stared at the roe for a full minute before nodding in the silence around him. "Maybe so. Depends on who you're looking for." His voice was firm, as he tried to hide the minor fear behind them. Though he was more terrified of what Kink would do to him after this was over. He'd surely almost created more problems.

Well, for Krell, he's an antagonist to Ruru. That's pretty much it. His primary goal is getting to Ruru. Makes rp a bit challenging since they are both mine. But I can always play out any encounter here with the two on this site. But....nice thing is Krell can always engage with Ruru's contacts and friends, expanding his own circle a bit more, and perhaps in time he will find another character that rubs him the wrong way. I think he will be fine, and I can still play him as a straight villain, since he is good at play acting to be civil.

It had been some suns since his encounter with Ozmama in the streets and Nono had every intention of finding her again soon. But in the meantime, he had plans. He stood up from his bed in the Inn at the Quicksand and grimaced a bit, the pain in his knee incredibly oppressive today. His joints ached, especially when it was going to rain, something about the humidity that worked its way into his system. He stretched his leg out slowly, wincing a bit and then stood. Sighing, he limped across the room to the dresser and grabbed his black tunic. He hated it. Reminded him of his spoiled brother. But he wanted to blend in a bit, and wandering around the city with mage robes tended to draw attention. Unwanted attention. No, today he was going to start draw attention in a different way. A way he could try and control. It was like fishing. If he could lure his brother out, then it would all be worth it. His knee ached and he stretched it. If Ruru'd just had the damned courtesy to have died that day, he wouldn't be in this predicament. Nono looked into the mirror and breathed. It was time to put on his mask. He smiled happily and nodded. There it was. His false face. The smile was the lie, a way to break the ice with others, with those he felt he could use. And today he would use this smile on the blonde barmaid. Aya. That was her name. He'd spent a few days ascertaining that with overheard conversations in the Quicksand. Had watched men and women come and go and engage with her. She'd been the one Ruru had talked to. So today, Nono decided he would have a chat with her and set things into motion. He laughed, his high pitched, child-like voice masking the contempt he had; the contempt for Ruru. The spoiled brat who couldn't see couldn't see the bigger picture if it was right in front of him. And if getting to him meant playing a game with his friends, then so be it. He nodded and then stepped out of the room, eager to find the woman.

As the caravan came to a stop and he heard the voice mention debris and ask for help, Ruru leaned forward, looking toward Andre and asking, "Need a hand? I'd be happy to help."

This is perfect! I said before I would be going and I will still be there! It's especially great that it's in Limsa since Ruru is already there. Will likely be +1 and looking forward to seeing everyone! (that rhymed! :thumbsup: )

Ruru heard the roe's comment and he quietly moved away from the bar speaking loudly. "You know....you came into a bar, sat down in a bar, and were asked if you wanted a drink by someone who works in a bar." He walked deliberately toward the female roe, hand close to the belt he wore. "Seems a bit unfair to holler that way to the woman just doing her job. Makes one wonder....who comes to a bar and refuses a drink?" His eyes were focused on her, trained to watch for any sign of movement of threat as he approached from her flank.

He watched her position and sat at another place further down the bar giving her no heed nor attention. He sat in the stool listening to the low murmurs he heard and glanced about. No nervously but as one who was curious might do. He gestured to the barkeep with a raised hand and a nod.

He saw the ship and as they neared, he mentally put himself in the right frame of mind. Focused on the details. He said them aloud quietly to himself. "Vivikuso. Cheated. Watchful. Wants his money but not a fight." He was recalling the lessons he'd learned at the archers' guild in Gridania and the hard lessons working his way through the gladiators guild in Ul'dah and he reminded himself that he was no mere mercenary. He was a free Paladin regardless of the garb he wore. He also remembered his pain. Saw the face of his brother. Any man in this place would not ever be as terrifying as Nono had been. He saved that fear and that anger and used it steel his nerves. He was acting a part and if one of these men or women tried to harm him he would see fit to run them through on that pain and on that fear in order to survive. He would not let Kink down. And he would not let himself be harmed or killed by the people in this place. He looked at her and shook his head. "I'll be fine." He paused and considered and then nodded. "Aye I do have a question. This....what exactly am I doing here?"

He listened intently to her words. The lesson was important, especially the first as he needed to play the part well. He set the part to his mind and adjusted his posture a bit, to look less passive, and more assertive. Her other guidance was more general and he narrowed his eye a bit as he listened. He was to go into a hornet's nest and not only hope to not get strung but to blend in among the hornets themselves. "Aye.....be the man I need to be....not the boy I am." He looked at her and smiled. "And to remember not to step in it."

"Y'ain't 'reformed.' Yer jes playin' at it now...." The words rang true. He'd harmed her impression of him and just by saying the words was not enough. He'd need to earn his place again. He nodded and then considering what she'd said, he stepped closer and looked like a bit like an eager child ready to learn. "I'm not going to step in it." He pondered her question for a second. He'd work with the Paladins and the Sultansworn to a limited extent but never with sellswords. He shook his head and kept his eye fixed to hers. "No, I haven't."

He smiled softly with a touch of pain and sighed before he answered. "Myself. My past. My friends. Take your pick. Any answer is applicable. But don't despair...my pains are my chains and they are my own in the case of Ul'dah. You may be luckier than me." He looked out again and then back. "I am excited to be going back to the Shroud, though. I spent months there and it's such a beautiful place. I miss it at times. Everything was simpler then."

He'd heard her snicker as she stood, but didn't care anymore what she had - Suddenly she was kneeling before him and her hand went to the wall. She was right in front of him and he had an instant of fear...that she'd run out her patience with him. He stared into her eyes, and saw the razor smile and every word she said ran through him like a a herd of chocobos. He breathed quietly staring at her considering what she'd said. And it dawned on him. He'd acted this way all of his life. He'd run from the deaths of his mother and sister; had run from his brother; had run from the Sultansworn more than once; was running from Ul'dah when he'd been confronted; and wasn't he now preparing to run again? He'd acted the coward for so long. Putting up a false bravado and yet she was right. He was a brat. A lost lonely brat. He sighed as recalled he'd pulled nearly a similar stunt with Kage outside of Wineport and it brought a red flush to his cheeks. He wiped his face as she commanded and nodded. He rose to his feet slowly took three steps away from her and nodded again. He turned to look at her, embarrassed by his behavior. His voice was low and still a bit hitched. ".....'M sorry." His eyes wandered to the ground for a second before going back to hers. "I...I won't give you a sermon....just....you're right." He turned and sighed heavily, taking in a deep breath and wiping his face once more and breathed, getting himself under control. He turned and walked close to her, a serious expression on his face. He looked down and then back at her. "Not sure what it means to to you.....but thank you. For saying what you said....thank you. It needed to be said." He took a couple of steps back and looked around, and then back to her. "And for your information, I will likely look to hire you in the future. If you don't mind working for a reformed spoiled brat, that is." He offered a soft apologetic smile at this as he hoped to put his emotional outburst behind him.

Damn man! I mean I've seen sad looking but that shot....there are country songs that capture that screenshot's message. :lol: That's what we call in the business, "Missing being the Lala"

The words were like daggers to him, as he'd never been spoken to in such a way. Even when he'd been dealing with Natalie and had deserted and then returned....she'd only scolded him and made him run. Kink's words were crushing. She didn't really care about him....only cared about the gil. He was tired and exhausted. His limit had all but been hit and he sighed heavily, tossing the remiander of his fish into the trash and walking up to her, looking up at her with a scowl. His remaining eye was glistening with a fresh set of tears and his breathing was sharp as he tried to mask his hurt feelings. He reached into his pocket and removed the small pouch with the two thousand gil promised to Yayabuko and boldly grabbed her hand and harshly placed the gil in her palm with a sharp breath. "All about the damn gil. Here's the gods damned gil! You want more? I got more if you want it so damn bloody bad!!" He was nearly shouting and fighting back a hitched voice. He'd been running out of people to count on and the combination of the day and her words and his fatigue only ensured that her reaction was more emotional. He took a step back and aimed his index finger at her. "I don't need a damn friend. I just...." His voice hitched hard, and for the first time he wanted a drink moreso than he wanted in a long time. He was tired of being left behind. And it looked like it was going to happen again. He walked away, covering his face with his hand trying to maintain some calm. He stopped....took a deep breath and looked back at her with tears streaming out of his eye. "I know you're just on the clock....doesn't mean you have to be so damned cold. And I won't waste your time with any more questions. Once the job's done I'll piss off, just like you asked." He sat next the nearest wall and stared straight ahead and frowned, unsure which of the Twelve he'd pissed off to get himself into such a situation.

To the first, yes! Resistance is...what's the word? Oh yes.....futile. And to that pic.....D'aawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! *hugs* *is killed* RIP Ruru :lol:

YUSSS!! Maybe I can ret-con Melodia a bit and use her there. We need more people in Limsa!

LOL!!! The Lala version still has those eyes....those disdainful eyes! HAHA!!! Love it!

So many good responses and ideas here. Thank you all! Based on the replies, I have a way to use my alt Krell and have reached out to the folks who would potentially be involved in my actively bringing him into the game world. For him a person grudge against my main is a good driver and the fact that Ruru has interacted with others makes them good targets...er...I mean contacts for Krell. And for C'Kayah's point about losing? I actually look forward to the little knucklehead losing. Hehe! It'll be good fun nevertheless. Thank you all again! Awesome awesome community!

I like that way of whispering.....never thought about utilizing a loud whisper. *steals idea shamelessly* :angel: