“I’m always looking for meaningful one night stands.”
@nadiaofazeroth rolled #4!!
I’ve been really wanting to write Gulzar lately (Hravart’s older brother), so this prompt is rather different from the others (in regards to who says the thing BUT I DIGRESS)! And where there’s a Gulzar, there is a Faian (my void elf rogue who I... have only draw in sexual situations atm LMAO). Hands down Gulzar says one of my favorite retorts to unwanted attention that I’ve been DYING to write.
Hope you enjoy!
Pubs had always been an odd sort of haven for Gulzar; a heady atmosphere combined with the perfume of beer and smoke had always been a comfort to the hunter.
Perhaps it had to do with how he’d grown up around it - in the back of a bar, hanging out with his little brother; and then, as he’d grown older, definitely hung around the back of bars with the wrong crowd. A frown crossed his lips, and he flicked the toothpick from the martini glass into his mouth like it was second nature.
I miss him, Gulzar sighed, rubbing one palm against his eye, I just… I need to find him. I need to make sure he’s okay.
He shuddered long before the finger traced down his spine, and the person who touched him yelped when he spun around on the stool to grasp their wrist in a tight grip. He twisted the man’s arm around his back, holding it uncomfortably tight.
“Didn’ ya mothah evah teach ya ta ask befo’ ya touch?” Gulzar mused. The elf struggled in his grip, and Gulzar released him with a chuckle, “no’ an ansah, bu’ I’ll take it.”
Really, Gulzar couldn’t tell if the man was blushing out of embarrassment or fury. Night elves were always a difficult race to read when it came to such emotions, as they didn’t turn red so much as they turned a deep purple.
“Was that really necessary?”
“Dunno, mon,” Gulzar scratched his neck, lounging against the bartop, “last I be checkin’, you didn’ ask if you could touch me. An’, just cuz I’m wearin’ an open back shirt don’ be an invitation eithah.”
The elf scowled; Gulzar grinned, “if I wanna’ show off my tattoo, love, den I can. Doesn’ mean you can be touchin’.”
So far, the exchange was only garnering the attention of those sitting closest to Gulzar. He stared the elf down, expression lazy. He’d dealt with countless people like this elf. It was another thing that had become second nature.
Unfortunately, this night elf took Gulzar’s words as a sort of challenge.
Fine. Makes me feel less bad about shuttin’ you down.
The night elf leaned on the bar next to Gulzar, between the troll and a human. Gulzar swivelled around to face the bar again, running his finger along the rim of his empty glass.
“Fancy sort?”
“I like ‘em colorful,” Gulzar replied in a clipped voice. The elf hummed.
“So, clearly I am not sure about you,” the elf leaned closer, and Gulzar made it a point to lean away, “but I’m always looking for meaningful one night stands.”
The hunter couldn’t help chuckling. He looked the elf up and down. A handsome one - naturally, as most elves were. He had a rogue’s build, from what Gulzar could tell, and those glowing yellow eyes. Gulzar shifted the toothpick from one corner of his mouth to the other. He moved one of his hands as if judging the height of the elf, then lowered his hand, then raised it again, and smiled.
“Sugah,” Gulzar started, dropping his hand back down to the bartop, “I be havin’ standards - an’, unfortunately… ya don’ be meetin’ dem.”
This time, the purple blossomed between the elf’s eyes. Anger, naturally. Gulzar elbowed him firmly in the solar plex when he made to move closer, his voice low when he spoke as the elf doubled over, “dat be a warning.”
“If you like, I can take him off your hands.”
Ah, now that voice, Gulzar knew. She was a void elf - a rogue too, funnily enough - and if he recalled correctly, her name was Faian. She’d so obviously fallen head over heels for the troll hunter when he’d first arrived in Duskwood.
And though Gulzar had never been one to find himself drawn to women, he could not ignore that his heart had fluttered when Faian spoke.
“That woul--”
“I wasn’t talking to you, sir,” she interrupted. To Gulzar’s amusement, she muscled between the two, nearly having to tip her head all the way back to glare at the night elf, “I was talking to the ambassador.”
Now, the night elf’s face paled, and Gulzar had to cover his mouth to stop himself from laughing outright. Faian hummed, “mmhm. And I can see that you, sir, are making some very good first impressions.”
“I uh--”
“I overheard that you hadn’t even introduced yourself.”
“That, well--”
“And I’m sure that he’s made his disinterest quite obvious.”
“Now listen--”
“Perhaps you should be the one listening.”
Gulzar grabbed Faian’s arm and jerked her to the side. He twisted his body and delivered a sharp uppercut to the night elf, though he felt pain in his shoulder where the large rogue had struck him.
Unintentionally, of course, because he’d been aiming for Faian.
“Oooh, gettin’ real touchy again, ain’t’cha?” Gulzar mused, eyes flashing. He’d stood up now, easily a head taller than the night elf, his grip still tight on Faian’s arm, “you might be lookin’ fah a one night stand, bu’ I don’ be. In fact, I tink I might be quickah ta bed a woman den a man if dis is how alla’ dem decide ta approach me.”
Without waiting for a response - and because the elf was clearly dazed, and being held up by the human who had been sitting on the stool next to Gulzar’s - the hunter proceeded to drag Faian out of the pub. The air outside was cool, and hit him like a riverbeast. He had to lean against the nearest post, shivering violently.
“You’re really not dressed for this weather, are you?”
“No, I don’ be, bu’ it be warmer in dere,” he gestured over his shoulder, “my room be upstairs - den again, you already be knowin’ dat, don’ you?”
Faian flushed. She looked off to the side - at least, Gulzar thought she did. It was difficult to tell with elves having the glowy eyes that they did.
“I be appreciatin’ it,” he purred, unable to resist draping an arm over her shoulders. The tips of Faian’s ears darkened. He wondered if she would--
“Practice what you preach, ambassador.”
Gulzar had to bite his lip. The smile on her voice was unmistakable, and he drew his arm away from her shoulders, “of course, of course~”
She began to make her way toward a different building: the inn, where there was much less of a crowd. Initially, Gulzar had no intention of following her, but she paused to look at him over her shoulder. He was soon walking beside her.
“I don’t know if it would be wise to go back to your own room tonight,” she muttered. Gulzur hummed.
“You tink I can’t be handlin’ m’self?”
“Against one person? Of course I believe you can. You have shown to be more than capable - but,” Faian’s expression darkened, and her body pulsated with void energy, “I know that man. He likes to work in groups, and as you likely noticed, despises being denied. You’ll be safer… elsewhere.”
“Wit’ you?” Gulzar teased, and though she blushed fiercely, Faian’s stern gaze chased the boyish grin off his lips. He shivered again.
“... would you like my cape?”
He ducked his head to hide the fact that he felt his own cheeks grow warm.
“Naw, you bettah be keepin’ it. We be here anyway.”
Gulzar chuckled at her pout, and gave her cute nose a pinch.
“Ya be adorable when ya pout like dat.”
“Ah!” she covered her nose, striding through the doorway before him. He caught her mumble, “you’re a terrible tease,” under her breath. Gulzar pursed his lips. Maybe he should be more… sensitive? After all, he knew Faian fancied him, and while it be in my nature to tease… maybe I shouldn’t tease her so much.
The hunter was standing outside the door to the rogue’s room against his better judgement. His presence was not wholly tolerated here in Duskwood, but the citizens of Darkshire had warmed up to him. Being a Darkspear ambassador certainly had its perks, with guards often being concerned for Gulzar’s safety given that he was practically in the heart of Alliance territory.
And of course, Faian, one of few Alliance adventurers who was concerned for him as well.
What other reason would she have for having a beautifully crafted dagger delivered to his room?
She was still fumbling with her key to the room. Loa, his presence affected her more than he thought.
“Here,” he easily wrest the key out of her fingers and fit it into the lock. The teasing part of him had just wanted to cover her hand with his, but he was learning that he had to know better. Faian thanked him under her breath before pushing into the room.
Within the next ten minutes, Gulzar was settled on the bed. Faian had insisted that she sleep on the floor, even with Gulzar informing her that as a troll, sleeping on the floor came naturally to him.
She insisted.
He lay on his stomach, head turned to the side. Of course the bed was comfortable. No denying that. Gulzar was certain he could fall asleep at any moment.
And then Faian appeared in his line of sight.
Clearly, she was comfortable with him. The void elf had taken off her light armor and donned a soft looking nightgown. When she reached up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear, Gulzar realized the fabric was sheer.
He closed his eyes.
Next to him, the bed dipped. He could feel Faian’s eyes tracing over the tattoo on his back.
“May I?”
“Well since ya be askin’ so nicely,” he purred, looking at her as best he could from the corner of his eye, “go ‘head, Faian.”
She traced over the flowers on his back with the tip of her finger. Her nail was just long enough to lightly scrape over his skin, and he shuddered involuntarily. Faian’s voice was soft, and though he tried to her what she was saying, it was soon clear was simply mumbling to herself.
But then, she spoke more loudly;
“Hydrangeas… hyacinths, but purple, specifically… pansies, and finally carnations, mostly pink and red.”
Gulzar’s heart thumped uncomfortably in his chest - or was it the churning feeling in his stomach that was uncomfortable? Or was he giddy? He couldn’t tell.
“Yes,” he finally ventured, “you be knowin’ dem?”
She drew her hand away. From what he could see, a shameful expression crossed her features.
“You’d think I’m strange.”
“We all be a lil’ strange, Faian.”
“You’d find it weird. Possibly disturbing.”
“Mebbe you should be lettin’ me come to dat conclusion on my own, no?”
She was quiet. Gulzar relaxed, and decided that the sensation in his chest and stomach was giddiness. Few tended to ask. Fewer still knew what the flowers were. If he had a checklist of everything he wanted in a person of interest - and he certainly did - Faian would be getting a whole lot of check marks. He closed his eyes.
“I have… a strange habit - and I guess it’s… it’s become quite obvious, so I suppose there’s no point in me trying to hide it. When I am… interested in someone, I try to find out as much about them as I can. Without them having to tell me.”
“Oh yeah?”
“The first time I saw your tattoo it caught my eye. It’s just… such an beautiful mix of flowers. Not to mention, upon closer inspection,” her breath fanned over his back; it made him shiver, “the penmanship is gorgeous. As in, whoever did your tattoo did a phenomenal job.”
“He was pretteh good, yeah,” Gulzar chuckled, finding himself still giddy, but comfortable. Faian placed her palm flat against his back; about in the middle, where the hydrangeas were.
“So I looked into things. I wanted to know… why these flowers.”
Gulzar’s eyes shot open.
“I’m curious to know. Of all flowers, you have hydrangeas surrounded by the others. I dug deeper to see what I could find. Hydrangeas mean ‘thank you for understanding’. You have the hyacinths to the left and the right, cradling the hydrangeas almost. The purple ones in particular mean ‘I’m sorry’ and, ‘please forgive me’. Below the hydrangeas you have the carnations, largely used to mean ‘I miss you’, and above the hydrangeas - a fitting placement, might I add - you have the pansies.”
Gulzar pushed himself up so he could look at her better, his brow furrowed. Faian pressed her lips together, gaze going askance until she uttered the last meaning;
“‘You occupy my thoughts’.”
The hunter schooled his expression to neutrality. He had only met one other that had taken an almost scholarly interest in his tattoo. That… person hadn’t gotten very far. Gulzar pushed them to the back of his mind, because here, here was a woman that deserved Gulzar’s attention.
“Your um… your tattoo is about someone, isn’t it? Or well… directed at someone.”
“It is.”
Her smile was disheartened; her fingers twisted in the blanket.
“He must be a lucky one…”
And there it was.
Gulzar had never been one to make his ‘interests’ obvious. He wasn’t looking for love. Many, many people made passes at him, but Gulzar knew how he was. Demanding. High maintenance. High standards - impossibly high standards. Hardly anyone could reach - but he should have known that his tendency to gaze at other men wouldn’t be missed by a rogue’s keen eye.
Still, Faian seemed to collect herself, but before she could say anything more, Gulzar felt the need to dispel her thought that his tattoo was about a lover and not a loved one;
“Yeah. My little brothah.”
Faian’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I don’ know where he be, an’ I miss ‘im. Dat be de reason fah de carnations. De pansies, well,” Gulzar snorted and shifted to sit on the edge of the bed, “dat be pretteh obvious. I tink about ‘im a lot. Wonderin’ where he be, wat he be doin’, if he be takin’ care o’ himself… de hyacinths too, prob’ly be self explanatory. Dere was no’ting I could be doin’ when we be separated, bu’ I be feelin’ responsible.”
He offered the woman a soft smile, “bu’ you prob’ly be tinkin’, why de hydrangeas? I haven’ seen ‘im fah years. So many dat I be losin’ count.”
Here, Gulzar paused. Faian shuffled closer to him, a small spark of hope her in eyes.
“So… why did you pick the hydrangeas?”
“Cuz dat’s how he be. Understandin’. You could be sayin’ dat de reason I even bothahed becomin’ an ambassadah is because it be doin’ two tings fah me. One: I can be travelin’ de world practically unhindahed. Go between Alliance an’ Horde territory an’ not hafta’ be worryin’ too much. An’ two - eh, you saw dat reason today. It be keepin’ people off mah back, mo’ or less.”
Faian nodded her head.
“In that case, then your little brother is a lucky one,” she picked at threads on her nightgown, “to have an older brother like you that loves him so much.”
Gulzar couldn’t help it. He was overcome with the urge to grab her and pull her to his chest and then roll over onto the bed. Her voice was muffled against his neck. Quickly, he pushed himself up on his arms.
“You…” he licked his lips, unsure, “you keep goin’ down dis path, doin’ all dis, givin’ me fancy gifts an’ goin’ outta’ ya way ta learn more about me. Wit’out askin’.”
He allowed himself to lean closer. To enjoy to sweet scent she had. He could bury his nose in her neck if he wasn’t careful.
“You might jus’ get wat you be wantin’, Faian~”
In retaliation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against his collarbone. Gulzar flopped onto his side, wrapping one arm around her.
While it wasn’t something he was about to admit outloud, Gulzar couldn’t lie.
He felt safe in Faian’s arms.
