#as a bonus while writing this i imagined mei-tatch the bartender overhearing this conversation and getting an aneurysm over it | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ferrocyan · 1 year

Text

Duo

With a great start to their partnership, Lue-Reeq takes an opportunity to get to know his new friend better. As in... ask for her name. Hey, better late than never!

(a slight rewrite of the level 72 DPS role quest, "Vengeance in Defeat". ~900 words)

There was no better way to end a good day than with good food, Lue-Reeq believed. So after a successful day of hunting sin eaters, he invited his new partner to a meal at the Wandering Stairs.

To his surprise, the woman agreed. Though now that they'd shared drinks Reeq supposed he shouldn't have been. She was tall for a mystel, with a serious look matched with dark hair and knee-length black coat, and few words to give. But add two glasses of wine and a roast chicken to the equation, and Reeq found his new partner to be much more approachable. Very pleasant, even! He was grateful for that.

It was good if she were easy to deal with, because otherwise the matter of her odd power might be troublesome. Seeing into the past of sin eaters... what horror! It worked to present them with information on Andreia this time, but what of the next? If she saw something that would affect her performance or willingness to hunt the cardinal virtue, that would be terrible. Not when she and Reeq were on track to claim the virtue's bounty.

They were close. Reeq could almost taste it, the sweet nectar of victory. Everyone would see how great he is, especially Father, and the name of the bounty hunter Lue-Reeq would be known all over the land!

--And his partner along with him, as well, of course! Yes, they would be known as the daring duo, Lue-Reeq and

...and...

Uh oh.

Reeq hired many people, alright? The endeavor of tracking down one of the most dangerous sin eaters in the world took a lot of manpower. Most of them were incidental services, he didn't have time to ask each and every person he hired for their names! So it... might have slipped his mind this time! He hadn't expected this woman to have exceptional strength when they'd met, so Reeq wasn't aware that they would become partners. It was an honest mistake!

Reeq glanced at her. The partner in question was busy gnawing on a chicken leg bone. He thought of an amount of money that might serve to smooth over hard feelings, then thought better of mentioning it. He cleared his throat. "Had your fill, friend? We could have more food served, or perhaps another bottle? No?"

He cringed at her refusal. Gods, why hadn't he thought of this at the beginning of dinner? Ah well, no time like the present.

Reeq put on his most charming smile and asked. "It occurs to me, my good woman, that I have yet to ask you your name." He laughed and leaned closer, "So quickly did we forge our friendship that I hardly noticed until now!"

The woman opened her mouth, but no answer came. Reeq realized with relief that she was as dumbfounded as him in this realization. He thanked the shade's blessing.

"C'astarhte Kasvert," she told him. Reeq nodded.

What... what kind of name was that? Reeq had only travelled out of Kholusia this year, but he was quite sure that he'd never heard a mystel name like that.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Castarte."

"C'astarhte."

"...C'astarhte, right." You know what, Reeq thought, there was already no coming back from this. He couldn't possibly do worse. No harm in satisfying his curiosity. "I've never heard of such a name before! From which fair land do you hail, friend?"

"Coer--" C'astarhte said something and promptly bit her tongue. She covered her mouth, then quickly added, "Pardon. Meant to say... I come from the Exarch's homeland."

Reeq nodded. "Right. I'm sorry to say I am not familiar with the Crystal Exarch. Where is his homeland?"

C'astarhte blinked. "Uh. It's, 'the Exarch's homeland'. You know," she said slowly.

"Oh, then I suppose I'll ask him directly when we meet for tea today." Reeq rolled his eyes. "Or I would, were we such close friends as you and he seem to be. But not all of us are so lucky, I suppose!"

C'astarhte looked distressed. She glanced around at the rest of the bar, then at Reeq, and whispered intently, "But this worked before... Crystarium people don't ask about the Exarch."

Reeq was taken aback. Crystarium people... "I was asking after you, though, not the Exarch," he argued, but then... Crystarium people was a good thing to be called, wasn't it? Not like Eulmore brat or lordling. Reeq liked it, he decided. "Never mind. That's some kind of code for discretion, am I right? Understood! Not to worry, my friend, your secret is safe with me."

Reeq gave her a wink, which made C'astarhte chuckle. Oh. He liked that, too.

He savored the day's events. They'd succeeded at their first hunt, shared a nice meal together, and gotten to know each other better! Reeq was sure the two of them were meant to be partners.

He thought of their certain upcoming fame again. "Reeq and C'astarhte... yes, I rather like the sound of that. Reeq and C'astarhte, the daring bounty hunter duo, the scourge of sin eaters! Soon all of Norvrandt will know our names!"

He laughed, and for once it came with relief. It would all be over soon enough.

#ffxiv #ffxiv fanfic #wolreeq #lue-reeq #my writing #lighthunter #they're both stupid your honor #as a bonus while writing this i imagined mei-tatch the bartender overhearing this conversation and getting an aneurysm over it #he would hate these two so much i think it's so fucking funny #anyway hope you enjoy! feedback would be much appreciated!!

11 notes · View notes