Prompt 29: Dote
Tink Sayo glanced left and right as she heard a very distinct sound and saw a small flash of light. She had been walking through Gridania market searching for some tea. To be precise some new tea leaves. She had felt the urge to get something fresh. Maybe something more like she would drink at home. She had the strangest sense of homesickness at the moment. Lord Vachir was keeping watch nearby so certainly it couldn’t be anything very dangerous but she still felt an odd curiosity. Her tail dancing to and fro behind her she stood on her toes and tried to find the source when... Tink Another one! This time she had seen it. Some sort of... floating pink heart had danced across the air. She pursed her lips and frowned. That was strange. Was it some sort of magic? Or.. oh! Oh! She saw it. Set up nearby was a ragged old stand. A rather rumpled looking Miqo’te with greying hair and a large scruffy beard was lounging on a chair behind the stand, smirking to himself. The small crowd in front of it seemed to be purchasing something... As Sayo watched one of the buyers, a young Roe girl slipped what looked like a ring onto her finger. She raised her hand to her mouth and blew... and indeed a tiny pink heart, shining with very faint aetheric energy, gathered atop the ring and then went flying forward where it struck a Miqo’te boy standing nearby with that tink sounds. The boy gave a startled jump and looked over his shoulder. Then he gave a mischievous smile and repeated the gesture, sending a heart right back at the girl. Sayo approached the stall slowly. “Howdy there, little miss! Interested in one of M’natha’s Fabulous Fantastic Dote-Rings? Only 500 gil, lasts for up to a year, ga-RUN-teed to win the hearts of those around you! Not that a lovely lady like yourself needs the help, yes?” He winked. ”... Dote-Ring? I am afraid I do not understand. What is a Dote-Ring?” Sayo asked, feeling rather foolish. Was this an Eorzean custom she didn’t recognize? The man guffawed and slapped the table. “Little lady, a Dote-Ring is one of ol’ M’natha’s fabulous inventions! It’s a no-muss no-fuss way to show your affection to any ol’ folks around you. You just lift your hand...” he said as he did so... “and blow!” A puff of air and the ring sparkled for a moment before a pink heart sped out to tink directly into Sayo’s face. “That seems... improper. Certainly there are many who will misunderstand your intentions?” Sayo said with some concern. “Haw! That’s half the fun, little lady! What’s the worst that can happen? Ya dote a fella who makes your loins quiver an’ he ignores it? Or maybe he comes on over an-” Sayo interrupted him quickly, her cheeks red. “Yes, yes, I understand! You do not need to go into further detail.” The man smirked and held up a small silvery ring. “So, little lady, ya want one?” “No! Of course I do not. Such a thing is tremendously improper.” Sayo huffed quietly. Though truth be told... it seemed fun and harmless, if you ignored the man’s words. Just a tiny little ring that made it easier to express a difficult emotion. She fidgeted with one of her own rings for a moments and then bowed politely. “I am sorry to waste your time, sir.” She started to turn away and then the man reached a hand out to stop her, grabbing her arm. She stiffened in nervous panic, her hands clenching tight. She looked to and fro for Lord Vachir and saw him at once, already pushing through the crowd towards her. At the sight of a very intimidating Xaela though the man quickly let go. “Hey, hey, I didn’t mean nothin’ by it Little Miss. That’s all just sales talk. It’s just a thing for fun. Don’t go readin’ too much into it.” Sayo was still stiff and uncomfortable as she turned to look back at the man. “I... see. I am sorry, your sales talk does not make much sense to me. I would rather know the truth of a product.” She spoke in an overly formal way even for her and as Vachir’s comforting presence loomed nearby she took a small breath of relief. “Yeesh, he’s a biggun’, ain’t he? Alright, alright. Tell ya what, Missy. Here’s a ring for ya free of charge.” He picked up one of the rings on the table and flicked it to her. “No hard feelings, a’ight? I ain’t lookin’ for trouble. Just tryin’ to spread a little love in the world.” Sayo caught it and studied it for a moment before she bowed in response. “All is well, sir. No ill feelings shall be held.” The man gave a halfhearted smile and motioned that maybe she could get out of the way of paying customers. Sayo stepped away from the booth and gave Vachir an appreciative nod of her head. “You should toss that away. It could be dangerous.” Sayo nodded her head in agreement and studied the ring in the palm of her hand for a moment. “I suppose you are right.” Vachir nodded and walked on ahead. Sayo studied the ring for another moment and then closed her hand around it. Tink. (@claihn for mentions.)