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The Long Road Ahead


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Yayabuko was not ordinarily cantankerous. He dealt with the worst the city had to offer on a regular basis, and had profited greatly from that interaction. He was the man everyone knew, someone to go to when you were in need of connections quickly. It was not his fault that his reaction to Zhi was so poor -- she'd started it, as they say.

 

Melkire had finished it. With an extra dollop of 'hi, please hate me for the rest of my life.'

 

Yayabuko mistakenly believed that the problems that had been generated from the thirty-thou job had originated as one of Zhi's bent schemes. Being that her credit with him had already been shaky at best, attempts to turn the relationship back onto firmer ground had been. . .mixed. Bruises and scrapes had eventually convinced Zhi that it was better to go with the metaphorical version of sleeping on the couch for the next month or two (or three) -- similar to how she was out with other gangs (and for the same reason) -- but Flit represented an unexpected predicament.

 

One that, out of all her contacts, she only trusted Yayabuko to be able to resolve.

 

Funny how that worked.

 

So it was that the lalafell stared at Flit like the other man was something left by fishmongers cleaning up their wares. But, the clean accent and calm words were reasonable things that proved that Flit himself wasn't anything like Zhi. And, as Flit had said, business was business.

 

"You, go cool your heels elsewhere. I'll talk to you." The hard stare he aimed at Zhi was matched by the slightly-less-cold version that Flit himself earned.

 

Zhi leaned down a little to clap Flit on the shoulder. "Ask fer th'Heavy Handers," she said, offering a flippant smile to Yayabuko when his gaze turned frosty.

 

She turned and walked away, keeping the two men in eyesight but not so close that Yayabuko could offer any more of his withering complaints.

 

Yayabuko, for his part, turned his full attention onto Flit. He was still not happy, but at least he was more tractable than he had been. "Are you a warrior, then, looking to sell your skills?"

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He had heard her words and offered a slight nod as she walked away from them. He kept his eyes firmly on Yayabuko and waited respectfully for the man to address him. As Ruru....no...Flit.....he needed to remember that. As Flit had a ingrained sense of deference to elders and to those in power (and clearly this man had some power leverage else why would Kink waster her time taking him to see the man?), he ensured that this came across through his body language.

 

When Yayabuko spoke plainly and asked him, Flit nodded sharp, once. "Aye. I'm looking for work and I have the skills. But I was looking for particular work....the Heavy Handers......is there an opportunity there for work?" He looked at the man with a serious look in his eyes, not one of mild curiousity.

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It wasn't Yayabuko's business to ask questions, but he gave Flit a long look when he specifically mentioned the Heavy Handers. "There's always work amidst them and their ilk for skilled swordsman. However, since Kink is your guarantor, I will be charging an extra thou for this introduction. Flat. No haggling. I'm not in the mood for it. You tell her that, and I want the money by tonight.

 

"I'll arrange for a meeting tomorrow morning -- "

 

"Today!" Zhi called. Miqo'te hearing was, as always, exceptional.

 

"Two thou, by today," Yayabuko growled. "Two bells, at The Highness. Red armband. She'll know. Anything else?"

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Flit listened and nodded at the man's words, never changing his demeanor. He presented himself as a man of serious business and meant it. The exhange between Kink and Yayabuko was finished and when Flit was asked if there was anything else, Flit nodded. "Two thou....by today. You'll have it. He offered a sidelong glance in the direction of Kink. He knew he might be risking his own neck with he rbut needed to take the opportunity or it might be lost. He lowered his voice, and leaned in.

 

"Should the need arise for work in the future....am I able to come to you on my own?" He looked at the man and waited.

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"I'd prefer it," Yayabuko said, voice flat. He was looking past Flit and towards Zhi. She was approaching with an abashed sort of look.

 

Yayabuko turned away.

 

"Let's find ye a place t'stay, an' I'll round up th'gil fer our fine man here," Zhi said, holding out an arm to direct Flit away from the docks.

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As she moved him away he looked at her flatly and said, "I can cover the gil. It's my fault I'm in this mess. I can pay for my own mistake. Though he was pissed....thank you." He nodded morseo to himself than to her. He was trying to make it all make sense in his head. Kink....Yayabuko....Heavy Handers.

 

Just months ago he was a fresh faced adventurer sitting in Ul'dah posting a silly notice on the Sultansworn offices asking for work. And now he was in hiding....though it was in plain sight. And he was rather enjoying the rush of this. Though he was sure Kink would not appreciate his enjoyment of this, he was surprised by the feeling (lost for so long of late) he had from the process thus far:

 

Happiness.

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Zhi laughed, delight lighting up her face. "Yer free t'spend yer gil wherever ye want. I ain't gonna stop ye." There was speculation in her as she leaned down and slapped his upper back. "Jes watch ye don't cross th'line t'stupidity, flitter-mouse."

 

They crossed two bridges and climbed a set of stairs. Zhi stayed alert, spending more time looking away from Flit even as she talked and directed him.

 

"Now, this patch o'businesses here belongs t'one o'the barons. He likes makin' money moren' anythin' else, so long as ye keep yer fingers clean ye shouldn't be bothered. Don't stare too long at nobody, an' walk like ye mean business. Keep yer business t'yerself. Don't interfere in nothin' ye see. Fancy? Don't forget yer name is Vivikuso now. When ye rent a room, use it. Here."

 

She pointed towards a roughly-hewn stone building. There was a faded sign proclaiming it as Garters, with a crudely painted border made to look like fish guts. Charming, as was the rest of the area.

 

"Ye'll be in view o'th' part o'the docks where Heaven's Gate docks. Don't bring nobody back here. Fancy? Now go rent yer room."

 

Zhi jerked her chin towards the squat little building, and folded her arms.

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He took in every word as gospel and nodded at each pause. His brother would have been impressed with her knowledge and ties. Nonotano had worked hard to forge a similar knowledge base in Ul'dah from what Flit could remember. He shook his slightly trying to purge the sudden thought of Nono. Ghosts needn't spoil his mood.

 

He entered the building and paid a large sum to hold the room and informed the manager that he would be paying daily and ensured it was reserved for Vivikuso. Placing his gear in the room, he hid the bag with his sword and armor as best he could, making it inconspicuous. He withdrew the gil from his bag and counted out two thousand, hiding the rest amongs his bags, securing them the best he could in the room. It was modest, unlike what he was used to back in Ul'dah but liveable. He nodded to himself and locked the door on his way out, ready to report to Kink.

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Zhi met Flit outside the building, disengaging from a conversation with another woman who glanced at Flit and melted away into the sparse crowd. "Still got another bell," she grunted, eyeballing the sun while rocking back and forth from the balls of her feet to the heels. "Ye hungry?"

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He watched the stranger disappear among the people and noted it, though he wasn't sure it would do any good as he didn't see her face. When Kink asked him if he was hungry he realized he hadn't eaten since the previous day and he heard his stomach growl.

 

"Aye. I'm famished actually." He looked around and then back to Kink, hoping she knew of a good spot to find food.

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There were numerous food stalls in and around Limsa Lominsa. Most of them sold some form of fish, featuring local delicacies to common and greasy meals that used the cheapest ingredients. But all of them had some claim to using only the freshest of what was available.

 

It was, of course, a common-and-greasy variant that Zhi took Flit to. It sold fish-on-sticks primarily, using the cheapest and most common fish sold in the harbor. They were fried skin on, a half-fillet each. Zhi bought a head to go with hers: lightly crisped, it was cheap, and the eyeballs made for a pleasant zing of flavor after the greasiness of the fillet.

 

She settled them under an overhang from an awning of another business. At that time of morning, the few rickety tables and chairs set up were all taken. Limsa Lominsa was starting to come alive, the buzz of chatter and the sound of commerce filling up the city's unique structure.

 

Zhi cradled her food protectively and dug into it without regard for neatness or manners. When she spoke, it was with mouth full: she was unabashed that the masticated lump she was currently chewing on would be fully visible to anyone who looked at her face. "Th' Heavy Handers, it's possible they might be tied up wi' the man what's tryin' t' take out Thatcher." She was casual, ears flicking back and forth as she listened to their surroundings. She had her back to a wall.

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The fish was delicious and he ate quietly, watching Kink eat her food. While others might find it a mess (which it was), it was actually charming. And he caught himself smiling as he watched her before continuing with his own food.

 

As she explained the reasoning for working with the Heavy Handers, he paused and nodded, undertsanding the logic. But he had a question that had burned at him through the morning.

 

"Kink....say we are able to stop these people from what they want to do to Grace's business. And I make it out alive somehow.....what happens to me then?"

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At that, Zhi did look down at Flit. Her mouth was full, one cheek bulging out as she smirked. She looked away and swallowed. "'M I yer mam?" She carefully picked out a few bones, flicking them to the ground before taking another huge bite.

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The words stung a bit and he bit into his fish quietly before responding, his words chosen carefully and thoughtfully. With a low, measured voice, looking at the fish, he said, "No. No I suppose you're not."

 

He turned and took a couple of steps away from her then looked back over his shoulder at her, only his eyepatch visible and a stern face set upon him showing. "But as you have taken to changing my hair, my name and moving me along without much explanation of exactly what I am to do....you could at least humor me with a semblance of a conversation."

 

He took a deep breath inwardly praying he handn't overstepped with her.

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Looking back at her he smiled and chuckled a bit at her reply. "Aye....aye that we are." He wasn't aiming for a fight with her and realized it had been a long morning and he was a bit short on temper.

 

"I know you're not my mother. But as someone who knows this city..." He turned and faced her, stepping closer keeping his voice hushed. "...if I'm still alive once this blows over, I wonder if there are any...opportunities....for someone in this city? Business-wise I mean. I can't go back to Ul'dah. And I'm starting to question my decision to go to Coerthas."  He stepped back a bit and adjusted his tunic a bit before continuing. "I just thought maybe I'd ask since you seem to know this city. Would I fare well here I wonder?"

 

He turned slightly, and looked to the ground. "Or maybe I'd be dead...."

 

He looked back over his shoulder at her, with a curious look.

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Zhi took a bite. She chewed, and watched Flit, listened to him talk. She observed him for long enough after he'd stopped talking for the silence to stretch and start to become some form of awkward. She swallowed, took another bite, and talked through the mouthful. "Ye askin' t'hire me, or t'be hired?" And then, maybe because she was feeling nice, or maybe because she liked the sound of her own voice, she continued: "See, this? This ain't 'cuz I'm yer friend. Yer part o' me job wi' Thatcher. I'm gettin' paid fer this. But after this? Ye ain't me problem no more, not unless there's coin involved. And if yer lookin' t' make it down here, that's how it's gonna be. I ain't got no knowin' o' where ye come from, and I don't give a tub o' bilgewater about it -- but if yer gonna survive down here while I'm on Thatcher's gil -- and I aim fer ye to -- ye gotta know that first.

 

"So ye tell me which way ye want it t'be. Otherwise ye can feck off back t'whatever realm under Azeyma's boilin' light spawned ye. Don't matter none t'me."

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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.

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Zhi snickered. It was a cold sound, and the look that she gave him was openly scornful as she tucked the gil away. She picked a bone out of the mess in her mouth, flicked it aside and swallowed. She pushed off the wall, faced him square, and crouched. At that height, they were more or less eye to eye. She reached out a hand, placing it against the wall next to his head, blocking his face from sight of thoroughfare to her right and his left.

 

"Ye want t'have a fit? Have it in yer room. Have it wi' a whore. Have it 'round Thatcher. Don't go weepin' an' wailin' wi'me. Ain't me business if ye want t'carry on like a spoiled brat what lost his favorite toy, but ye ain't gonna do it 'round me. Fancy?"

 

Her smile was slim, and all edge. Her voice was quiet. "Now, ye want t'spend more gil on me after this take? We'll deal. But I don't deal wi' brats what can't control their little temper-tantrums. So wipe up yer ruttin' face, an' act like a sellsword, an' not some kid what got hold o' da's blade. We've work t'do."

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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.

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"Stop. . .sayin' 'thank ye'." Unnecessary rutting words. "Yer lookin' t'get hired by a gang, not go out t'tea."

 

She didn't want to hear it.

 

She turned a little without standing to keep him in sight, pushing the rest of the fish into her mouth. She finished it up, popped out an eyeball from the head she'd bought, and chewed on it. She snorted.

 

"Y'ain't 'reformed.' Yer jes playin' at it now, but if ye can keep from snivelin' ye can make a show at it. Ye ruin me take wi' yer -- " she made a vague gesture at him, " -- an' I'll gut ye meself. I'm keepin' ye kickin' fer Thatcher's sake, but that ain't gonna hold if ye step in it. Fancy?"

 

She stood. They were still way too early, but . . . things had changed. She didn't trust him to behave, now.

 

"Y'ever been 'round sellswords?"

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"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."

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The urge to spit in his face was strong, but she didn't need more of his cauterwauling. She needed him to focus. She stood instead, rolled her eyes, and gave him her doubt.

 

He wanted approval. She could use that.

 

"Vivikuso's been cheated. He's watchful, aye? Doubtful. He knows his worth. He'll push, but he ain't lookin' t'piss nobody off. He's lookin' fer money, not a fight.

 

"Sellswords're sellin' blood, kid. Their own blood, an' th' blood o'whoever they're told t'aim their weapons at. Gotta be cold t'do that. Gotta be good t'survive. Keep yer eyes open. Walk like yer ready t'knock off th'first scrag what looks at ye funny. Stand like yer th'most dangerous scut in th'room."

 

She shrugged one-shouldered. "What that looks like's up t'yerself, but one thing y'got t'look is fearless. If things ain't fair, ye'll tough it out. If ye whine, it ain't done serious. Place we're goin' is filled wi' folk what would slit yer throat fer bein' annoyin'. Don't piss nobody off, but don't take nobody's piss, neither. Fancy?"

 

She'd eaten the other eyeball, and had the head up to her mouth. She was gnawing on it.

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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."

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Godspit, he sounded so young. She grunted, turned and said, "Follow," as she started to walk away.

 

She kept their feet groundside as they walked through the city, not trusting him to be a good climber and not willing to waste time confirming her assumption. He was a wildcard. She didn't like those. Not at all.

 

Zhi needed Flit. He didn't need to know that. She needed him to play a part. She needed him to not feck it up beyond recovery.

 

She was rolling the dice. Again.

 

She took him down to Fisherman's Bottom, explaining the rules of Her Highness as they walked. Don't stare, keep your coin close, neutral ground, don't start fights you can't finish, and most of all: keep your mouth shut on politics, be they city politics of gang politics. Play dumb if any sensitive questions got asked. Always defer to the employer. It was all common knowledge, and common sense, but as far as she was concerned he had neither.

 

They arrived at Her Highness half a bell early. It was a boat docked up tight between the rock that housed the fishing guild and the spire behind it. Money was doubtless exchanged to keep it unseen, whether or not the jacks regularly kept eyes on it; Zhi figured running such a place on the water like that wasn't strictly legal, but its proprietor made it well known that he paid his taxes like any other law-abiding merchant.

 

The bar itself was down in the belly of the small ship. It was narrow, dingy, smoky and smelled of too many bodies and alcohol. It was unheard of to see it empty, less it was closing. Neutral ground like it where the 'neutral' part was so ruthlessly enforced was popular.

 

Zhi lingered on the outskirts, avoiding the plank that lead up to the ship. "Questions?" Her voice was low. She wasn't looking at Flit, was smirking at some dolled up doxy under the arm of a drunken pirate. She nodded to the lass, who blew a kiss back to her with a, "Resin! See me in a sun, I got gossip what'll make yer ears red!"

 

Zhi winked back, her return smirk a promise all its own. The lass giggled: Zhi never dallied with doxies. It was empty. Most of her promises were.

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