#x'soli

The letter he’d left with her would eventually make it’s way back to his employers, since he had trouble finding Milloux unless she wanted to be found.. this had just seemed like the smartest way. The letter was in a handwriting that promised it’s author had not spent many hours penning correspondence, but despite some obvious and glaring misspellings, it read clearly enough.

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Milloux and Mr Marius,

I’ve been putin off an important task and I think it’s time I gave it another try. Didn’t figure it was right to disappear with your linkperl. Maybe when I get back I’ll find you again.  Milloux, thanks for trusting me. Mr Marius, I hope you get to see the stars in Coerthas again. Cross your fingers for me.

X’soli Tia

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Dry Bone had become his go-to location when not needed by Marius or Milloux, and more often that not where he retreated when Zhazi disappeared on one of his occasional ‘hunting trips’. 

They had Marius’s promise for room and board but, really, the seeker felt strange accepting it. Especially when he didn’t really know the strange elezen offering. Instead he tended to find himself in the same hole, in the same falling down building on the outskirts of the tiny dustbowl of a town. 

A barnloft more than anything it was dusty itself, with one and a half walls missing along with parts of the ceiling. It was filled with decades old hay and spiderwebs likely just as old, but the far corner stayed dry and cozy when the sun went down and the open portion made for a perfectly good napping spot when the sun was out warming the warped wood planks. It was high enough off the ground that he didn’t really need to worry about bandits, but it wasnt like he had much to steal to begin with. And being part of a nomad-like tribe, the seeker had never really known the security of a locked door anyway.

“Nnnnngh.” He rolled over a third time, reaching out blindly to grab another blanket and shove it against his ears. Someone- likely the church, since he wasnt far from the graveyard- had acquired chickens. Well.. a rooster, anyway. He heard it. Every morning. Long before the sun had even started to peek over the hills, even.

“It’s still daaaaark.” The catte whined at no one. Zhazi was still absent. “Stupid bird,” He grumbled, shifting yet again and flopping down with more force than was necessary. “Freakin’ chicken dinner someday..” X’soli consoled himself with tasty thoughts of revenge as he drifted back to sleep.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when the cock crowed not three feet from his head. The ‘chicken dinner’ had delivered itself, fluttering up to the highest perch it could find-- soli’s bedroom. It cawed for all it was worth, flapping it’s scrawny wings and craning it’s neck with the effort.

Moments later one of the local priests watched slackjawed as a rooster fluttered down from one of the derelict buildings nearby, squawking and feathers flying. A crazed looking Miqo’te nearly fell from the same height trying to catch the lucky bird, just barely managing to scramble back into the loft after a  brief struggle, clawing his way back onto the ledge. 

“I hear the sultana hasn’t left her room in weeks, and we certainly haven’t seen her..” “With the syndicate making such obvious power plays who can blame her?”

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“Wares! Get your wares! Buy, sell, and trade, unusual antiquities! …what you have something to sell? More Allaghan trash..”

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“…. seeing more attacks on the main roads- they aren’t even scared off by the flames anymore!”

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“Why so shy sweetheart? Cat got your tongue?” “…no.” “Want one to?”

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“Tsk, they keep turning up but all they can ever do is dance- do these cats have any real skills?”

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He stared down at the bright blue water, a thoughtful frown twisting his lips and wrinkling his nose. Limsa Lominsa was perfectly situated for a fisher, with miles and miles of water… just… out of reach..

Hmm.

The miqo'te judged the distance from the pier he was standing on to the shiny water beneath him.

Nope. Not happening. His usual method of wading into the water and fumbling around until he caught something wasn’t going to work here. He’d have to use a pole.

That or walk all the way to the nearest shoreline… His lip curled at the thought. He’d gotten lost already more times than he cared to count. And he’d never find Zhazi if he left the city altogether.

Well, there was nothing for it.

Flopping himself down on the pier he let he legs dangle over the side, several feet safe from touching any water. His fingers dug into the can of grubs Zhazi had given him, the other pulled the hook of his pole closer. He’d had a pretty good idea he’d end up fishing like this, so he was at least prepared. Even if he did look a little put out by the whole process.

Dejectedly he dropped the hook in the water and after a moment, bobbed the pole up and down for good measure. X'soli huffed, blowing tawny hair from his face, revealing one light blue eye normally hidden under too long bangs.

“You could try using a pole..” The dark haired catte replied, throwing a lazy glance at his discombobulated companion.

“That takes too long.”

X'soli didn’t look up, eyes scanning the silty water as he waited for a tell-tale tail to appear. His hands were held out, fingers splayed. He hunched over the calm surface of the water like a broken tree, branches all askew.

With his pants rolled up to his knees and his tail sagging from the weight of the water in it, he looked more clown than expert fisher. But he was undeterred. He’d been standing there for a while already.

“Shhhh.” He finally whispered, head moving slightly as he watched a fish flit closer. “Your voice will scare them away.”

He didn’t see the way Corzha'zi rolled his eyes. Or the way the archer had jumped when soli launched himself at the water in a terrifically loud splash.

The thrashing continued for a moment before the blond emerged, victorious. In his mouth, speared by tiny fangs and being held by tiny claws, flopped a fish.

He turned, dripping and triumphant, and grinned at Zhazi around the gasping fish.