No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

[Zari'to Honi]

The sigh, despite the loud pitter patter of the falling rain, was quite audible and heavy upon his lips as he huddled closer to the tree he hid under. A faint smirk played across his lips as he found himself wishing for the very hat he packed away earlier. The wide brim of the Shire Conservator's hat would had done well to shield him from the elements, yet he found he couldn't quite wear the clothing his brother gifted to him, not yet at least. Instead, he opted for his simple white vest, a common trend among his people it seemed as he noted quite a few Miqo'te adventures donning something similar, if not the same exact one.

 

"If it rains much longer, this entire city will be under water." Honi grumbled as he imagined how wide the rivers must have swelled with the current rain that befell Gridania. It wasn't pouring but the constant rain had dragged on through the bulk of the day and into the night as well, casting the cityscape in a unyielding wet blanket.

 

Now Honi didn't mind rain and in fact, adored water in general. Surprisingly, a good swim or a hot bath were high on his list of things to enjoy. However, given his current situation, he had little love for water at the moment. His right ear would flick in announce as he was pelted with rain, the tree he was under offering little cover truth be told. His bushy black tail moved back and forth as well, swaying impatiently as he watched the the fruit stall he stood opposite of. He had first noticed it a few days ago when he was exiting the Adventurers Guild. Around this hour, a young kid would arrive, moving carefully through the crowds of people along the path and wait for the owner of the fruit stand to becomes distracted. Then he would strike, plucking a loquat with deft hands before vanishing. This time, Honi thought to intervene. If the kid was hungry enough to steal, he imagined he could offer a meal instead.

 

Like clock work, the young Hyur, stalked up ever so carefully. Honi however had years of hunting the Black Shroud under his belt so his own approach was equally, if not more so stealthier then his counterpart. Moving swiftly from his spot under the tree, booted feel carried him along until he stood just behind the youth. He waited until the young thief had the a bundle of Snurbleberries in hand before reaching for his arm. The child yelped and jumped, turning about to offer a fearful look at the Miqo'te who caught him red handed. Now Honi was prepared to calm the child down and offer to get him something but in truth he never made it that far. Moments after reaching and taking hold of the child's arm,  an umbrella whacked him over the head.

 

"Ack!" He let out in surprise, turning to look at a well dressed woman standing next to him, a brow furrowed in a furious fashion. 

 

"Unhand him you brute!" She ordered.

 

Honi did as instructed and was rewarded with another whack to his head with the umbrella. The young thief snatched up the berries as the vendor was not watching the spectacle before him, as were most people coming out of the Adventures Guild. 

 

"I was... Wait.. let me... Ouch.. hey!" Were the only words he could get out in between being assaulted. 

 

"He was rough handing that poor child." The woman cried as he flailed her umbrella about.

 

Not one for being in the spot light, Honi backed out and away and then took flight himself, a confused crowd left behind as he sprinted for dear light. And to think, all he wanted to do was help someone in need. That should teach him not to butt in.

[Kaizyr]

How Lyra found herself in Gridania, she didn't really know. At this point, she was just hoping the caravan she came with wouldn't leave without her. The grumpy Lalafell driver was seemed quite vehement to get going, and the only reason why he wasn't halfway through the Shroud already was because he needed to wait for a merchant with sizable pockets.

 

That merchant wasn't Lyra, but oh well. As long as the caravan didn't leave.

 

The rain was impairing her vision somewhat, never mind that she was carrying a crate of materials. And before she could react, a Mi'qote was blindly sprinting headlong into her.

 

"Whoa, hold it--!"

[Zari'to Honi]

In his haste to get away from the drama he caused, Honi would nearly take out the woman carrying a crate. Putting a full stop to his stride, his steps stuttered and he found himself literally skidding into her. Thankfully, his luck changed and instead of barreling into her, he stopped with a jolt, hands coming to grip the same crate she carried. For a moment, it may have seemed as if the pair would topple over but he regained his balance enough to see to it that either of them would not fall.

 

"Close one..." He found himself mumbling, blissfully unaware he was still holding onto her crate.

[Kaizyr]

Lyra braced herself for impact, shutting her eyes tight, because that was really all she could do with her hands full (literally). She felt a "thud" against her crate, which rattled against her slightly... and that was it. She opened her eyes and peered around the crate to see the Mi'qote holding the other side.

 

She scowled and said rather flatly, "Ya know, if ya wanna steal my crate, you's doing a pretty piss-poor job."

[Zari'to Honi]

"Wh... What? No I'm not trying to steal your crate!" Honi let out surprised that she could so easily accuse him of such. He couldn't blame her though being how he suddenly showed up and took hold of the crate though. 

 

"Shift over..." He asked as he began to turn with the crate. 

 

As he did so, two guards raced by, apparently on the hunt for someone. Honi cleverly presented his back to them and tucked his head down into the crate.

 

"I think he ran this way... damn Miqo'te causing trouble!" One of the guards growled.

 

Honi would look past the crate and with big golden eyes pleading for help he would practically beg for her not to say anything at that moment.

[Kaizyr]

The guards raced by without a second glance at the two crate-holders. Under the cover of rain, the guards' visibility must not have been all that great. Some guards they were. Lyra glanced ambivalently at them as they passed by, then craned her neck around the crate to see Honi's big golden eyes giving her the kitty look. She didn't quite know whether she should be alarmed by the fact that this Mi'qote was being chased, or amused by the potential mess that she was inadvertently dragged into.

 

"Hold this crate for me for a sec, yeah?" Assuming that Honi does so, Lyra unwraps the red bandana from around her head. She walks over and wraps it around Honi's head, flattening his ears as much as she can before tying it tightly. The bandana covers Honi's eyes for the most part, but he can still see to a capacity similar to that of someone wearing a hood pulled far over their head.

 

"Follow my lead and help me get this crate back to my caravan."

 

She had fashioned Honi's makeshift disguise just in time. A couple more guards were hurrying past them.

[Zari'to Honi]

He balanced the crate in his arms as she released her hold and moved around to put a bandanna over is head. Taking a cue from her, he wrapped his tail around his waist in a effort to hide his appearance just as more guards appeared. He didn't see why the need for all of them, he really didn't do anything bad at all. Still the woman who hit him with the umbrella must have caused such a commotion to warrant that reaction.

 

"Thank you." He said after she asked him to help her to her caravan. His voice was soft and accented in the way his people were known for. "Honi..." He then offered his name.

 

[Kaizyr]

Lyra carefully guided them towards the caravan, which was waiting by the Blue Badger Gate. They were passing Carline's Canopy, where a handful of adventurers were mingling about on the veranda and keeping out of the rain. One was talking to the umbrella woman, who still seemed rather agitated and tried to insist that the adventurer do something about the "vile, coeurl-earred rough handler"... though unlike the guards, the adventurer only seemed mildly amused by the woman's temper tantrum.

 

Against the sound of rain, Lyra misheard him. " 'Only' what now?"

 

But before there was time for a correction, another adventurer (Hyur midlander, female, blonde and blue-eyed) caught sight of Honi and Lyra, approaching them and getting in their way. "Hey, you two wouldn't happen to have seen some kind of thievery happening today, would you?"

 

"Where I'm from, thievery's practically a daily occurrence," Lyra said tersely, channeling her inner Ul'dahn. "Not even worth taking note no more, unless it's from me of course."

 

The adventurer glanced at Honi. Whether she did so in suspicion or just nonchalance was up to Honi's level of paranoia.

 

[Zari'to Honi]

"Only what what?" He replied in confusion when the adventure approached them then and began speaking. Honi remained quiet until the adventurer looked to him, perhaps expecting a answer.

 

"All I saw was someone.. Trying to be helpful... Wish I could say more." He said before pulling at the box, forcing Lyra to follow.

 

Once far enough, he attempted to introduce himself once more. "Honi... My name.." he said it a little more louder this time.

[Kaizyr]

Lyra followed along with Honi as he pulled at the crate.

 

"Oh, that's what ya said."

 

She then takes the lead and guides them towards the caravan, which is now pretty close. As they reach it, Lyra tugs the crate away from Honi and sets it into the wagon. Heaving a big sigh and stretching a bit, she grabs a handful of her long, messy hair and wrings the ends as if they were a soaked rag. She cracks a grin at the Mi'qote.

 

"Call me Lyra. Ya gonna be staying here in Gridania a while longer? As soon as the merchant comes back, we're hitting the road."

[Zari'to Honi]

Honi was thankful she seemed inclined to help him and didn't bat a lash, simply choosing to play along. Helping her with the crate until she tugged it away and placed it on the wagon, leaving him standing there unsure of what to do next.

 

"I've much to do here still..." He said, unsure if that was a invitation of some sort. "Thank you... For your help though.... Keepers seemed to be tolerated here rather then openly welcomed... I'm sure I'd been able to explain to the guards it was just a misunderstanding, still you saved me from having to do that... I wish I had something to give you... Do you travel to Gridania much? "

[Kaizyr]

Lyra shrugged. "First time, actually. Who knows if I'll come back?"

 

She held out her hand. "Now, I know you's growing kind of fond of that bandana on your head, but I'm gonna need it back. Kinda special to me, ya know. Besides, you can handle whatever trouble them stickler guards throw at ya at this point, yeah?"

[Zari'to Honi]

"Wh... Oh right... Thank you for that... Not many people would stop to help a Miqo'te being chased by guards... Thanks for being the exception." Honi said as he removed the bandanna and instinctively flicked his ears.Having them pressed down was not something he was use to. Handing it back to her, he offered a small smile and a thankful  bow of his head.

 

"So... If not from Gridania?" He asked in his own way where she was from. Honi had been sheltered in a sense, having never been out of the Black Shroud and so he found himself extremely curious when encountering new people. There was a whole world out there that he had been missing and he now had a thirst to learn more.

[Kaizyr]

"You can chalk it up to me feeling generous this time, I guess," the Hyur replied, in the same flat tone she'd been using this whole time.

 

Lyra wrapped her bandana around her tangle of long, dark hair. Against her tan skin and the muted colors of her ragged clothes, that bandana was the second brightest feature on her person--the first being her bright, green eyes which almost seemed to glow against the light from a nearby lantern. Perhaps the wry smile she offered to Honi added to that effect.

 

She patted a fist twice against her collar, gesturing to herself. "Ul'dah. Not that you'll find me there if ya come looking anytime soon."

 

Just then a handful of skinny, malnourished-looking male Hyur helpers approached the caravan. They each carried a crate, groaning beneath the weight of their loads. Behind them, a Lalafellian man waddled along, barking orders. "Hurry up! If we don't make it to Vesper Bay before the next moon, I'm docking all of your pays!" He gestured impatiently to Lyra. "You! Halflander! What're you moseying about for?! Help me hurry them along or your pay will be docked and you'll pay the shipper's late delivery fee!"

 

Lyra rolled her eyes, turning to the nearest helper and taking the crate off his hands. The helper was visibly relieved but made no motion to thank Lyra, instead moving along right into a caravan wagon to take a seat. Lyra loaded the crate into the nearest wagon, dusted her fingerless gloves off and turned back to Honi.

 

"If it fancies ya to ever find me again, try Limsa Lominsa," she said, taking another crate off of another thankless helper's hands and loading it into the wagon. "If I ain't drowned on the way there, I reckon I'll end up there next."

[Zari'to Honi]

Honi felt awkward just standing there and so he fell into rhythm, following her beat and aiding with the loading of crates. It seemed liked the natural thing to do, being that the others simply offloaded their burden upon her. 

 

"Lyra the Ul'Dah from Limsa Lominsa..." He committed everything she told him to memory by way of repeating. "Lunch... Or dinner..." He said in a low tone as if he was unable to decided. The odd exclamation may have seemed off but he continued. "I'd like to buy you a meal... As thanks."

[Kaizyr]

She grimaced. As much as she idn't like the sound of her name being associated with Ul'dah, Lyra couldn't deny that the money-grubbing city was part of her. Perhaps she would carry it with her wherever she went. If so, that was just something she would have to come to terms with one day. She took the last crate off Honi's hands and loaded into the wagon, loosening up her shoulders afterwards. "That's all of them."

 

When Honi offered her a meal, she blinked at him for a moment. Then she laughed and closed the gap a bit more between them, placing a hand on Honi's head and ruffling his hair. "All right, kiddo. Tell ya what: you come find me again, and then we'll talk about lunch or dinner, yeah?"

 

She didn't have time to wait for his response. The driver called out his last-call warning, and Lyra hopped into the wagon. As they started to pull away, she waved and called back to Honi, "Hey kid! If you's gonna get into trouble again, at least make sure it's the good kind, yeah?!" 

Edited February 25, 2019 by Kaizyr

[Zari'to Honi]

".... I don't know if there is a good kind!" Honi found himself yelling his reply before going on. "But I'll try my best to make sure it's worth it." He waved as she departed, thoughts of finding this eccentric woman who helped him out of trouble already swirling with in his head.

 

That made him instinctively touch his ears, thinking back to the bandana she had offered him moments before. Perhaps he should look into getting his own. He hadn't a chance to see how he looked with hers on, but giving him a opportunity to hide his obvious traits might pay off in the future. Turning about on the heel of his boot to face the adventures guild, he now had a three tasks in front of him. Find a bandana, find the child he had attempted to help earlier, and lastly, look up Limsa Lominsa. All the evidence of his brothers whereabouts lead him to believe that after his time spent in Gridania, his brother headed outward. With the potential of sharing a meal with a fairly interesting person, it seemed like the next place on his long list to visit.