---

J’torha let a wry grin finally break when the auctioneer backed down, tail curling triumphantly behind him. He took a small amount of satisfaction in how little attention Tilman gave the lalafell intruder, but turned his own attention quickly to the documents he’d won. The first was a list, presumably accounting for the items taken from the house in question, although many of the items listed J’torha couldn't quite decipher. He supposed that was to be expected - it wasn't as if a house in the goblet would be stocked exclusively with aldgoat chuck and piesteskin - and gave the list a once-over anyway, nodding thoughtfully and tucking it away for safekeeping, satisfied that it was probably correct.

The next document was made from a thicker parchment, written in flowing script with a seal in the lower corner. Again he couldn't read it, but it looked enough like what he imagined a deed would look like for J’torha’s satisfaction, and he tucked it away as well, feeling (and looking) pretty proud of himself.

Turning back to Tilman and his partner, J’torha offered the pair of them a theatrical bow. “A pleasure doing business, gentlemen,” he professed, “we’ll be sure to recommend your fine establishment in the future.”

Having had his fun (and being pretty sure that pushing his luck any more would probably result in some setbacks) J’torha turned to the lalafell, who seemed to have become a business partner of his own, and considered him for a second. It was hard to tell if he'd accelerated things at all or just made Tilman sweat as a reinforcement, and to be perfectly honest, the miqo’te wasn't impressed either way. The nerve of the little thing to barge in on a negotiation J’torha had a perfect handle on, throwing around threats and giving orders with no mind to the delicacy of the situation, had certainly rubbed him the wrong way, though now was not the time nor place to address that. Still, if the intruder was going to saunter in as if he was in charge, then J’torha would saunter out the same way; satisfied, he turned heel and strode out the door, expecting the lalafell to follow.

Outside, J’torha was surprised to find the blonde free company leader and the flamboyantly dressed Seeker girl who’d fallen all over the Quicksand, both apparently waiting for them like some self-appointed pair of bodyguards. Ha! As if he needed the backup. No confidence, the lot of them. Did they really think he'd draw so much attention to himself if he couldn't handle things going sideways? He’d spent his life in Thanalan and gotten into precarious situations with people of all types from all over Eorzea; he wasn't exactly new to this sort of thing!

He'd brush aside his annoyance for the time being, distracting himself with a flirtatious grin aimed in the ladies’ direction. “A lovely entourage, and all for me?” he greeted them smoothly, leaning against the wall with arms crossed. “Truly, I'm touched.”

---

Annoyed with @Achronum, talking to @Amalyra and @Hero even though they have NO FAITH and radiating his greatness in the general vicinity of @Trainerblue192 and @Bounce

Kajin blinked at the spineless auctioneer. That was it, a little threat and suddenly he’d hand over everything? Wasn’t he supposed to put up some resistance or call some thugs to defend his profits? Honestly, Kajin was more surprised he didn’t call the Brass Blades himself. True to their Ul’dahan roots, they accepted “protection money” from even the seediest merchants as long as it didn’t cross their Syndicate owner’s interests. This Tilman seemed to fall solidly in the seedy category. But all’s well that ends well, even if Kajin’s wand finger felt a little twitchy. He really considered doing something anyways, a fun little parting gift, and he may have raised his staff but no. That was an irresponsible use of magic and aetherically advanced thaumaturges cast responsibly. He gave the pair a jaunty little wave and followed the Miqo'te out the door, only a sigh escaping once the door shut behind them.

Instead, he turned his attention to the flirting cat. Not even so much as a peep of acknowledgement, a yes or a greeting or even a “Lets go”, but no a single problem jumping into this. Kajin stared deadpanned at the cat, his feathers more than a touch ruffled but he pushed past it. Apparently, the problem child stereotype was strong in this one. Especially since the kitten hadn’t even bother telling the person who lost their home belongs that eh managed to get it back! Kajin shook his head. The kitten was going to be a headache, he could feel it already.

“He got the stuff from Tilman.” Kajin said, explaining the important parts that the kitten couldn’t be bothered too. “He gave up a list of everything sold already as well so we can probably hunt it down if it’s important enough. Said there was a cart out here with all your stuff inside too.” Kajin glanced around, picking out the Padjal from the crowd.

Byssu gave a slight smile as Suki'a abruptly explained that there was only one pool in the housing district. She contemplated patting his head, but then remembered that she wasn't in Gridania and wasn't a guard anymore, so instead of coming across as a kindly guard patting a lost child as consolation, it would've come across as a random stranger patting the head of a child she had known for approximately five minutes. Byssu decided that a slight smile was enough. Thinking for a moment of how to phrase herself, Byssu began to explain. "You'll have to forgive me, I'm fairly new to this area and have only just arrived here today so I haven't had time to go and explore. I had assumed that there would be a high demand for pools given the surrounding desert climate. However, if there's only one pool here that does certainly make our search a bit easier."

Byssu looked to Suki and Nikulas as they weighed in, and after thinking for a few moments she returned her own opinion. "That seems like a fine idea. I think I will alter my own plan and not look from the rooftops. If Eji is as skittish as you all say, spotting me jumping around might give him cause to run and hide, which would certainly be detrimental to our efforts. Since I am unfortunately less than acquainted with the surrounding area I will leave leading the way in your more capable hands."

Byssu stepped to one side and then raised a hand upward, gesturing to the general housing district. "I'll follow your lead."

The privateer stepped back, quietly cooing at the chocobo's cute chirps. He looked up to respond to the wrangler, yet still smiled more to the bird than him. "Hardly experienced, my lad. They've just been friendly to me in my worst times. Treat them well, maybe play with them a bit more." And X'gihl reached out, ruffled the bird's feathers again with a whisper. "You be good to him, burdo. Boy might ride you about with a green dangling just out of reach."

After a short chortle, X'gihl turned on his heel and began heading back up the steps to the mainland. He called out back to Isabella and waved a hand to let her know he was moving again. For X'gihl could see no more work to be done, and this spot in particular had been a bit of a dead end in getting the house back safe and sound. Mayhap the others had more luck? At the very least, hopefully there'd been no more talk of their leader's private life. 'Twas one thing for a singular set of loose lips. The privateer didn't want to bring up bad memories in the lass, with or without her permission to be knowing what he now did.

The thought brought a fragment of his own memories to the forefront: weeks out of Gyr Abania, crossing into the Black Shroud, hungry, scared, the adults hiding something as they guided their flock.

Not something he wanted to bring back, much less for someone else. The privateer sighed as he stood at the top of the steps, taking a second for another swig of his flask; it had seemed heavier before. His one eye looked over the bazaar with a new focus; where were his new coworkers? X'gihl made his way back into the markets.

People still went about their merry ways, looking over goods, loudly discussing their trades, their merchandise, their gil, and more. X'gihl made little note of any idle chatter. His eye looked left, right, forward, backward, seeking any sign of the party he accompanied. He probably looked shifty, the way he stepped and turned and spun and dove around the marketgoers to avoid knocking into someone. Giving people so little attention while trying to find particular ones was usually done in more subtle manners, lest one looked like something besides an innocent miqo'te seeking the company he rode in with.

Yet the feeling of innocence began to find reason enough to fade. Hanging outside one of the buildings, X'gihl could make out a figure dressed in red with a rapier at her side. Beside her, a golden-haired young woman, a lalafell with blue hair, and an unmistakably horned youth. Were I a sensible sort, I'd say that's an ambush waiting to happen...

Was it?

Was it?!

"Rhalgr's ass..." X'gihl cursed under his breath, quickly picking up his pace into a light run toward them, hands poised to draw his knuckles. And then the door to the building opened and out stepped an ever-so-smug dancer with the pink-haired lalafell not far behind. The privateer slowed himself and stopped just apart from the group, feeling somewhat the fool. From their talk (and J'torha's self pleasure), it seemed like everything was taken care of and more-or-less recovered. Lyveva even seemed pleased to the point of offering the group a meal and bath.

X'gihl laughed. His gut lurched at the motion and he doubled over with hands on knees as an unseemly cackle came from him. "Fo-For just a moment, I-I thought you all were about to jump someone!" For the short time he and that lancer had been at the docks, they'd managed to do the job quick and easy. What the heck had happened? And was it worth that he now smelled of a mix of fish and chocobo?

---

A'lythana visibly tensed when the door opened, waking up from her daydreaming while her hand unconsciously went to her sword. When she looked up to see who it was, she relaxed, finding both her fellow Seeker and Lalafell companions in perfect health. 'Wait... When did the Lalafell enter? How long was I daydreaming?...' The Red Mage asked herself, slightly embarrassed that she didn't even notice someone enter the building right next to her. Shaking her head a bit, she looked to her companions, wanting to actually focus on what was happening around her this time.

"I can guarantee you it won't be a habit, but forgive me for thinking that things would turn messy after your little stunt." A'lythana sighed softly as she responded to J'torha. The Seeker couldn't help but smile, though, as Lyveva energetically celebrated their success. She then looked over to E-Siri as he entered the conversation, noting that they had found the cart they would need to bring back to the free company house. She glanced back to Lyveva as the woman cleared her throat and began to speak again, the Miqo'te's stomach growling softly at the mention of food.

The Red Mage nearly jumped again from the raucous laughter originating from the other Seeker, whom she just noticed had arrived. She watched as he doubled over with laughter, almost starting to walk towards him to see if he was alright until her nose crinkled from the stench that lingered on him. "Well, I was definitely ready to do so in case a certain someone's plan went south, but thankfully everything seems to have been resolved peacefully. Where were you and that lancer? Attempting to fish on a wet chocobo?" She spoke, trying to waft the smell away from her nose.

---

J’torha had to consciously resist glaring at the lalafell - so quick to business, didn’t anyone around here know how to have any fun? - and turned his attention to Liveria or whoever she was, grinning as she practically buzzed with excitement. He quirked a brow at the mention of… someone, who thought the young lady would fail, but was satisfied to know that his deeds would allow the girl to return home triumphant - and hopefully with someone to thank.

Producing the documents with only a little bit of flourish, J’torha offered them to Lyriva. “Ask and ye shall receive,” he announced, perhaps a little too confident for a bloke who couldn’t read the documents he’d procured. “I think you’ll find included everything you need.”

Her offer of food and a bath was certainly attractive, the remainder of J’torha’s lingering irritation melting away at the thought. “Let’s waste no time, then,” he suggested cheerily, though no sooner had he turned in search of his sea shanty-singing friend than the very same bounded up to them, doubled over in laughter and stuttering on about a jumping.

“They have no faith!” J’torha complained loudly to X’gihl, joining in on his contagious laughter. He waved off the Seeker girl’s concerns, shaking his head. “My dear, when my plans go south, it’s because I’m headed for the Sagolii,” he purred to her teasingly, offering a theatrical flourish before turning back to his newest friend. “Though, the lady has a point. I think of all of us, you’re the one who needs a good wash.”

---

extolling his virtues to @Hero, comforting @Amalyra and teasing his hetero life partner @EvictedElement

Well, all’s well that ends well! With a successful first venture under their belts, Kajin was more than happy to scurry out of the Thanalan sun and clambered up into the carriage. A bath sounded fantastic and lunch… His stomach audibly appreciated that but Kajin was far too excited to care. He was bouncing in his seat the entire ride, watching E-Siri excitedly hang out of the carriage. He chuckled to himself at the view: a Padjal, a highly respected member of the Gridannia community, taking in the sights like a boy on his namesday. He imagined they would be scandalized; Kajin thought it was endearing.

Admittedly, Kajin was just as excited as the Goblet approached. He’d heard stories of how beautiful it was but housing there was both inordinately expensive and selective so he’d never had an opportunity to explore. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped at the splendor of the place. If he didn’t know any better, he’d think he was in the richer districts of Ul’dah herself. It was everything he heard and more and he wanted to live here forever. He knew his family was attached to their place in Drybone but… he was going to have a place here of his own if it killed it him.

He was so absorbed in his surroundings that he barely noticed Lyveva call a halt to the carriage but she had his attention when she mentioned an orphan. He frowned. As much as his family got on each other’s nerves, he couldn’t imagine not having them. He’d probably die if he was cut off from them. A little pang of sympathy pulled at his chest and he was going to volunteer when E-Siri popped out of the carriage like an arrow from a bow and he wasn’t going to lose his prime resera- new friend so quickly. Kajin clambered out of the carriage after him and propped his hands on his hips.

“Well, what are we waiting for! Let’s gather up the rambunctious kid before he hurts himself. The Twelve only know what mischief I could get up to here. Could have I mean, definitely past tense.” Kajin giggled and started heading off in a directon before pausing. “Follow up question. Where is the Brimming Heart?”

"A conundrum indeed." Kajin said thoughtfully, tapping his cheek. On one hand, securing the house was probably the most important thing on the list. Food, shelter, and other resources were hard to come by in Ul'dah and even with the title, undoing whatever damage may have been caused could take months. And considering the previous incident, anyone approaching any current residents about the title will likely receive an understandably poor welcome without Lyveva standing at the helmet.

Of course, that argument stood true for recovering the child. If the Au Ra had even a dollop of common sense, he'd no doubt scatter again if he saw strangers approaching him. Plus, they had a plan in place so it shouldn't be seen poorly to prioritize the housing situation over him. All they had to do was swing by the pool area afterwards and both situations were settled.

Kajin sighed. If it was one of his siblings and he had even a trifling cause for concern, he'd be tearing this place apart to make sure they were okay.

"Go deal with the house." Kajin said after a moment of hesitation. "Eji has a fall back plan if he is lost so that makes him far more of a stable variable than the house. We can, at the very least, make sure he made it to the pool and hang out around there until you've handled the other situation. If any of us show up and start talking deeds without you, we'll probably be chased out faster than a Qiqirn out of an antlings nest." Kajin considered the matter settled, briskly walking in the direction she'd pointed. And if anyone accused Kajin for wanting to fawn over the wealth of the goblet, they'd find themselves on the wrong side of a fire spell.

Byssu raised a finger to her chin as she thought about what she should do. Her instincts from her time as a guard in Gridania told her that while a child was still unaccounted for, Byssu shouldn't stop looking around. However, Byssu reminded herself that she was no longer a guard. Additionally, a thought crossed her mind was that the last time these kits were left unattended they got into some real trouble. Especially Nikulas, who managed to get himself all the way up onto a roof and couldn't get himself down. Considering the events that had transpired today, Byssu was able to reach a new decision by setting her instincts as a guard aside: These kits needed an adult on hand in order to keep them out of trouble. Byssu was going to have to keep an eye on them, even if it meant she wasn't going to be helpful in the long run.

Nodding to Suki, Byssu gave her a response before she left. "I think I will remain here and keep an eye on everyone. Good luck on finding Eji, Suki. May The Wood guide you." Byssu mentally bonked herself for citing the old "good luck" phrase of the Viera, but dismissed it. Suki would most likely be able to pick up on it's meaning fairly quickly and so Byssu didn't worry about confusing her. Though she did mentally chide herself to remember that some of the old phrases from The Wood weren't exactly relevant to the rest of the world.

Turning to the kits that had been left behind, Byssu gave them a smile and a nod before she took on a more relaxed stance and waited for Suki to return, hopefully with Eji in tow.

---

J’torha spent the carriage ride back to the Goblet humming to himself as far in the back as he could manage, hoping to savour yet another trip he didn’t have to make on foot without having to be too aware of the smelly cloudkin that made it possible. He didn’t know the science behind what made a carriage ride so much more odorous than a ride on a chocobo porter - maybe it had to do with being situated behind the birds rather than atop them, who knew - but he wouldn’t let pestering wonderings like that distract him from the sights and sounds of one of the most opulent parts of Ul’Dah. A secret pride welled up within him as they passed through its gates; multiple times he’d tried to gain access to the district to perform, and every time he’d been denied, the guards citing ordinances or by-laws or for-laws or whatever they were against noise, soliciting, blocking shared areas, whatever they came up with on the day. As such, he couldn’t help but feel the least bit smug when they were admitted unmolested, and he even shot one of the familiar guards a wink.

A sly optimism suddenly struck him, one he was surprised didn’t occur to him before. If this free company held a property here (assuming they could reclaim it with those documents; he wasn’t altogether clear on how that worked) then maybe if he joined them, he could leverage his position as a tenant to go about his business in relative peace. J’torha wasn’t too comfortable with the idea of settling in any one place, but that made tying himself to a free company much more attractive. He probably wouldn’t even necessarily need to live there; he could probably come and go as he pleased so long as his name was on the right lists, or however they ran things here. Certainly something to think about; this many rich people in one place was a gold mine in his industry.

The Gil were shaken out of his eyes, however, when Lyveva spoke up, looking after a small Xaela child whom J’torha just barely caught a glimpse of as he took off. A fond little twinge of nostalgia struck him at the sight of those black scales, but it was eclipsed by concern; sure, the Goblet wasn’t the Sunway or anything, and there probably weren’t any piestes wandering around waiting to petrify anyone, but his time watching over the children of his tribe as a teenager had made him more than a little wary when he saw kits running around by themselves.

J’torha stared after the spot where he’d watched the boy disappear, but as a few of the others volunteered to go after him, he refrained from adding his own voice to the din. “We’ll stay with the carriage,” he half-offered, half-decided, “no need for all of us to run off like a pack of mongrels and frighten the kid.”

He threw L’vivia a coy grin, then looked to X’gihl. “What’s say we go make sure all this work hasn’t been for naught, eh? There’s little use for a deed to a house that’s already been gutted.” Probably. He was pretty sure that was how that worked.

---

J’torha and @EvictedElement are going on a journey to restore @Hero’s property… probably

The privateer shook his head at the group, particularly at J'torha. "No faith? In a charming courter like yourself? Maybe they know something I don't..." Indeed, from X'gihl's standpoint, the dancer had just secured the goods and the home, with some help from a small bobbing pink-headed person. He wondered what all had happened in his absence.

The subsequent carriage ride seemed somehow disappointing. X’gihl’s eye drooped a bit as things shuffled forward. He had expected a bit more excitement, maybe some open conflict with the ones who’d tried to pilfer his people's property improperly. Stop that. Most of the leves he’d taken often relied on physical exertion and some fighting here and there to accomplish the task, whether it be hunting some animal or performing an escort of sorts. Mayhap he was just getting too cozy being able to brute force his way through, and so the lacking of a reason to do so had made him antsy. Shame, would have liked to see what this group could do in a fight. The privateer thus appeared somewhat irritated, sitting in his corner, one leg drawn over the other as it tapped, arms crossed and eye half-open in boredom. Thus he sat quietly (tapping not accountable), ruminating, steaming, and maybe just a little nettled.

"Um, excuse me! Could you stop?" Lyveva called out to the driver suddenly.

Carriage halted, X’gihl’s eye and ears perked up almost immediately. He scanned forward, behind J’torha and down the length of the vehicle, leaning over his shoulder to see the rest. No immediate enemies, none coming from the rear. Yet Lyveva jumped out of the carriage, her eyes focusing on a horned child ahead of her, one with dark horns, not a Hyur but that other race; the one that has horns normally, seemed to be their object of focus. "Uh, sorry about that, but that boy looks like one of the orphans my friend watches over. The pink-haired Lalafell and the horned devil Hyur leapt out to join her.

“We’ll stay with the carriage, no need for all of us to run off like a pack of mongrels and frighten the kid.” Came J'torha as the other three discussed pursuing the Au'ra. The dancer's smile prompted X'gihl to answer with a smirk. “What’s say we go make sure all this work hasn’t been for naught, eh? There’s little use for a deed to a house that’s already been gutted.”

The privateer's half-lidded eye looked toward Lyveva and her two helpers, to the area the child ran, and back to J'torha with a nod to show his approval. "Aye. Couple mongrels like us're best put in the yard to scare away any other thieves. May as well make sure our heads have a place to lay, too."

Byssu was standing idly as she waited for Suki to arrive with the rest of her kits. While she was waiting, she made sure to keep a firm eye on the kits that had already been gathered. It would simply not do to have them wander off again or get into additional trouble. Instinctively, Byssu's eyes also flicked to the road and its various crowds. The first few times Byssu did this, nothing happened. However Byssu soon spotted someone new approaching. The many faceless people in the crowd parted for the approaching figure.

Byssu was used to getting frequent stares for her appearance, but even she was slightly intrigued by the outlandish appearance that this particular figure had. Purple skin, purple scales, horns, and green eyes? Something was quite unique with them. Byssu did her best to not stare, but as the figure continued to approach Byssu began to grow concerned. Her instincts from her days as a Gridania guard began to kick in as she assessed the threat that this person might be.

As a benefit they didn't seem hostile, despite their serious look, but beyond that Byssu was concerned for the safety of the kits that she had taken under her temporary charge while Suki had gone out to find the last one. Byssu's concern escalated as the new figure approached the house nonchalantly. Byssu's eyes flicked to the kits and then back, and her stance shifted just slightly. It would be barely noticeable, but Byssu had taken on a defensive stance. She didn't want to project an air of hostility, but she also didn't want to be unprepared in the event that whoever the approaching figure was decided that they were going to be a threat to any of the kits or the home that Byssu was waiting outside of.

As the figure went inside, Byssu's concern jumped. The kits had gone inside and so even though the strange person she had just seen go by didn't seem hostile, Byssu didn't really like the idea of leaving the kits in there with them alone. It went against the authority that she had, but Byssu stepped briskly and followed in the footsteps of the passing stranger and stepped into the house herself. Taking on an authoritative tone, something which her time with the guard force had given her a lot of practice, Byssu asked a question towards the stranger that had allowed themselves in. "Excuse me, miss. May I ask why you have entered into this home? As far as I understand it is currently in contested ownership between a guild and another party. I would like to know which of the two you belong in."