#about valentin

Valen had decided it was time to make a bit of gil the old fashioned way. Singing for his supper. Not that he'd starve without doing so. He just liked having enough gil in his pocket without relying on his family. They wouldn't let him starve if it came down to him being broke. But he knew for sure he'd get all sorts of looks from his uncle if that happened.

He found a rather decent looking tavern to stop at for the night. Making sure it was okay with the owner for him to perform. Some places got a little iffy about people performing without permission. It wasn't that they disliked bards or minstrels. It was just sometimes you had to be careful about what sort of music was played in an area. Or how easily a bar fight might start on a bad day.

Thankfully this tavern seemed to be eager for some live performance of a musical variety. Good. Valen was eager to be a bit of a brat tonight. He knew full well his uncle would deny these songs because it was making the Jackal of Coerthas out to be more of a hero than an assassin. Valen had heard one of two of the people he'd gotten to pick up the songs had been quietly threatened by Alexois for singing those songs. Not that his uncle was likely to actually go through with those threats over music. Even better that he wasn't too far from Ishgard right now. It just made it even more amusing to sing of the Jackal.

He opened up with a song called 'Hero of the Brume'. Mixing in one of the more traditional songs afterwards. Putting too many of the Jackal songs together never fit well for him. It seemed to work better to mix them into his usual song set with older songs. Make it seem less like he was doing this on purpose and more likely he'd picked them up from other bards or minstrels. One more lively song before he stepped into the next Jackal song he'd called 'Toss a Gil to your Jackal'.

Valen had decided to play a little at the small tavern he'd stopped at with Cashmere. A little extra coin wouldn't hurt any. Not that they were hurting for coin right now. It just made him feel a little better to have some extra while they traveled. Plus he was itching to perform anyways.

Starting his little show off with a favorite number as he strummed his fingers over the strings of his small harp. Adding a bit of a merry step as he got the rhythm going. A flirtatious wink towards a nearby woman who was watching him with rapt attention. Though he missed the annoyed look of the lady's company as he spun away.

Moving to a jaunty number after that to get the mood of the place a bit more upbeat. Ever confident on the stage as he danced and played the tunes. Sweeping his arms out and bowing as he finished the last song.

Blowing a kiss towards the crowd at the their tables before he stepped off the small stage area. A couple of ladies flocked up to meet him. Something he was used to after a performance. Smiling warmly at them as he accepted their praises.

But he caught the praises that seemed more than mere fan girl. There was a clear insincerity in the tone he was able to pick up. His smile didn't fade any as he carefully glanced in the direction of the person saying the words.

Ah the woman who had been sitting with the one he'd winked at earlier. Possibly a partner? Definitely not someone he wanted to tangle with though judging by the way her shirt hugged the muscles hidden underneath. A fighter of some kind from his best guess, a jealous one at that. He was used to jealous lovers from his performances.

He let out a surprised yelp as he was suddenly being dragged around from the fan girls in front of him. Calling out apologies to them as Cashmere dragged him off by an arm. Definitely glad for the timely rescue before his adoring fan got him in trouble with her jealous partner. Cashmere was just good like that.

A little propaganda for the @woltourney

Valentin (mostly goes by Valen) is the only child between Leonceault Chassebel and Leandra Charledore. He was the result of a whirlwind romance during the time his father was passing through the Shroud where his mother lived. Leon rarely took any serious partners due to the fact he was terminally ill. Leandra knew but still wanted Leon's child. She loved Leon even if he'd never return her feelings and wanted a piece of him to still be in this world. She considered Valen to be that part of Leon that would have a better chance. Leon never knew he had a son or what Leandra had planned.

Thus Valen was raised to be a minstrel much like his father. He was naturally talented when it came to music and very well skilled with archery. But his music skills are still better than his archery. He even has the same piercing jade eyes his father did.

He left home before he'd even turned twenty summers. Learned about how things worked outside of his home away from his mother and grandparents. Grew up hearing all the stories about his father. Sang for his supper when he could. Took up bounty hunting when work as a minstrel was lacking to cover his meals and inn stays.

Eventually he happened across the lucky lady Cashmere when they were both assaulted in the Shroud by a pair of strangers. It was through Cashmere that he managed to meet his aunt and uncle. Even getting the chance to meet someone that had traveled with his father and was there for the man's final breaths. So now he has his father's bard soulstone and even more family than he ever thought he'd have.

While he teaches music classes at his aunt's free company when he's home, he still travels often to help others. Wanting to leave a legacy his father would be proud of. He's got a silver tongue and the charm to match. And despite the darkness in the world, it hasn't dimmed his spirits yet.

Happy Starlight 2022

All Saints’ Wake 2022 - Valentin

Valen stared down at the small gathering of bandits below in the short distance from his hiding place. Patiently waiting with Lily perched on his shoulder. Thankfully his bird friend was silent, not that she’d stick out in the middle of the woods. Not from a distance anyways. It was only up closer that the doman magpie would stand out in the Shroud woods.

Waiting sucked but Valen knew better than to be over confident in this matter. Skilled shot or not, taking on this many was foolish. He just needed one good shot to take out the one below that was boasting to his allies. But to take him while amongst the group was far too dicey. One of the downsides to bounty hunting. The waiting when the prey wasn’t in a prime situation. 

Valen huffed softly down at the musical notes before him on the paper. Somehow he kept messing up the same spot on the new music he was trying to learn. This wasn’t something he should be messing up if he wanted to teach music at his aunt’s company. Tapping his fingers against the wood of his harp as he tried to think of how he could do this better. Avoid how he was clearly messing up.

He was supposed to have his father’s musical talent. Right now he could use the advice from him. If only the man was still alive. Sadly he couldn’t have that wish. The best he could do was keep trying. Hope that some of that talent would help him fix his mistake. Maybe his father would be watching or listening and give him a little help. 

Giving the piece another go. Still missing the transition with his fingers. A curse under his breath as he put the harp down for the moment. Maybe he was just too tired or frustrated right now. Not that he felt tired but maybe his fingers were that they kept fumbling. 

Reaching into his pocket to pull out the small green stone he kept there. “Dad… I wish you were here. Maybe you could see what I’m missing.” Running his thumb over the surface of the soulstone that once belonged to Leonceault. 

Taking a small break to get some water to drink and his fingers to rest before returning to pick up his harp again. Getting himself situated to give this another try again. Placing the small green stone down on the table next to the paper. “One more try.”

Closing his eyes for a deep calming breath before positioning his fingers. He couldn’t see or feel the presence behind him. The ghost of a man laying his hands over his. But he felt more confident somehow about this attempt. Maybe he’d manage to pull this off this time around. 

His fingers stroked over the strings to the notes on the paper. Gliding through the music more confidently. Guided unseen. Managing this time not to stumble through the transition into the next part. Finishing the song with a flourish.

Closing his eyes with a sigh against the tears though some had already spilled down his cheeks. He wasn’t sure why he felt both happy but melancholy. It wasn’t like he could feel the kiss to the top of his head from the ghost behind him. Looking down fondly at the stone.

What was the most disastrous example of him flirting with the wrong person or otherwise ill-advisedly?

And what was an example where it turned out surprisingly well?

"Oh dear. That was quite the day there in Ul'dah. I happened to flirt with a couple of lovely young ladies whose partners did not take well to my words. I did not have any plans to bed them or anything of ill sorts. I was just being my natural self and it's always lovely to see such bright smiles when giving someone compliments they much deserve." Laugh softly before reaching for a small knife tucked into the top of his boot. It didn't look overly ornate, just a simple blade that look well kept. "I ended up fleeing from their partners through the back alleys of Ul'dah where I ran into a rather dashing miqo'te lad. I wasn't much of a fighter but I am rather nimble. So running is usually my first choice to avoid getting pummeled. Well the lad beat the two people chasing me. So what started off badly ended up with me meeting this man. I showed him around the city for a bit before we parted ways at the Inn. He left me with this dagger but I haven't seen him since. Pity."

"As for a time it went well? It was entirely unintentional actually. The best time for me was definitely the day I met Cashmere. Things started off a bit rocky with a rather bouncy miqo'te man tried to skewer me with his lance. And not the fun one either. Sounds like a bad incident yes? Started that way but I promise it has such a wonderful ending." Brushing a lock of hair from his eyes as he smiles brightly. "Well Cashmere was nearby enjoying some leisure time and I didn't know her yet before this moment despite us both having done some bounty hunting. The lovely miqo'te woman came to my aid against this man the other two nuisances with him. Who know facing two expert archers in the forest would go so badly for them." A warm laugh coming from him. "Well the fight left what little remained of Cashmere's swimsuit in tatters. I offered her my shirt despite the bit of blood staining the side from an injury I took at the start of the fight and a escort back to her company's house." Pushing his shirt up on the side to show the scarring there from where the lance had caught him. "I flirted the entire fight trying to get words out of the man trying to murder me. But in the end I gained Cashmere instead. Best failure at flirting ever. I gained such a lovely woman's friendship out of something that started so poorly. I wouldn't change it."