FFXIV Write 2020 Prompt 1: Crux
A parting wave was offered to the xaela man carrying her toddler and ushering the two older children back into his home, even adding a pleasant smile in as well. The roegadyn kept a reasonably calm and measured pace until she’d rounded a few corners in the portion of Shirogane his home, swiftly breaking into a full sprint once she was clear. Seemed like no matter how much padding she put into scheduling around those exchanges it was never enough and she was running well behind meeting a new contact. The power play of ‘fashionably late’ had backfired for her previously here in the Far East, and she wasn’t aiming to put herself in bad footing this time around. Several minutes of that demanding work out later and she had the tea house the met was set up at in sight, letting her come slowing down back into a more respectable speed. After all, if one is going to take the heat for being late it should at least look intentional.
A leather glove drags along her forehead and then up into her hair for one quick toss as she makes her way up to the door, doing her best to restore her carefully curated look before stepping into an unknown den. A young raen woman from the staff immediately greets Brem with a bow that the Sea Wolf returns a little slower than she likely should. “You are here to see Mister Kubo, yes? He is already waiting for you..” The roe can’t quite unhear the accusatory tone in those last few words while following the gesture from the shorter woman. A brief, slightly gruff ‘Thanks’ is offered up before she sets on her way.
Thankfully she’s had a bit of practice carefully handling the wood and paper doors closing off the side room she was sent off towards, but she’s still got to get into a significant hunch to wedge herself through the shortened doorway. It does leave her with far less distance to go when offering the man seated within already a bow before dropping herself into a pile on the opposite side of the floor-seating height table. The Hingashi hyur already there is unabashed in chuckling at the air pirate’s struggles, giving a dip of his head in return to her bow while motioning out to the cup of tea already waiting for her. “If you fit so well in the rest of Shirogane, I believe I can forgive some tardiness Miss Abylnpfefwyb.” “Glad you’re so considerate, Mister Kubo. And it’s Abylnpfefpwyn, but you still got through it cleaner than half of my Eorzean co-horts. Old Roe’ is a tricky tongue.” The cramped woman reaches out for the cup, using a pair of fingers from each hands to try and mimic what she’d seen for proper motions. “Delightful as the drink and.. accommodations are, I’ve come the other side of the star for more than a cup of tea.” A gloved hand vanishes into her overcoat for a moment before drawing out a folded letter and places it at the center of the short table between them. “Our.. mutual friend believes that you can make the appropriate introductions required for my business on this particular subject.”
Another warm laugh makes it’s way out of the hyur sat across from her, with a hand patting along the jiggling bit of paunch rounding out the front of his fine silk clothing. “I have.. a number of friends that people are eager to meet, yes. Their time is of course often highly sought after, and being able to properly manage knowing when and where their schedules would allow for outside interjection.. well that is a taxing task in it’s own right..” The diatribe is offered as he reaches out for the letter and unfolds it. A show is made of him reading it over, including several flaps of the page while he produces slim spectacles with gold trim to set upon the end of his nose. After his dramatic show his eyes turn up to the dull black orb set in the Sea Wolf’s face plate pointedly before meeting the half of her gaze that’s still animated. “I can see why our friend sent you my way, yes. I do believe I might know someone who might be able to provide some assistance. Due to their.. eclectic niche of a specialty and the demands of their... organization, I think it might be a true challenge to get some time for them to look into things for you, however...”
The lid over her natural eye was already drooping as he trailed that point off, not in any way impressed with his slow roll into the negotiation. The giant reaches out with two fingers to pluck the letter from Kubo’s own grasp. Before he can finish scoffing at the abruptness of the act, the pirate’s turned the parchment over and shoved it back across the table. “You got a finders fee like every other middleman in the world, and you’re probably trying to pluck a Garlean. Possibly an ex-pat. Hopefully so, for their sake in fact.” A finger snaps down to the figure scrawled on the face of the letter he’s got in front of him now. “I told you, I’m not here to sip tea. That is a generous number, more than generous even. Half in advance, half after I meet your ‘friend’ and know they’re worth the trouble. You can take the offer and sit here and enjoy the rest of your beverage in peace with knowledge you’re about to have a heavy coin purse, or I can go find myself another set of big ears and grubby hands.” The roe pushes the door back open and swings a leg back out to start the process of extracting herself. “Your skillset isn’t nearly as valuable as the one I’m looking for, and I’m willing to shop if you make me.”
The once chuckling expression upon the hyur’s face had soured over the Sea Wolf’s bluntness about things, but the number of digits on that letter was enough for him to pick it up and slip it into one of his pockets. “You’ll be hearing from my friend soon, Miss Abylnpfefwyb.”
