travelerscurse | There's a price to pay and a consequence

There's a price to pay and a consequence - for darlingdatura

There's protocol to be observed, both as a field agent returning from the field and as an "Imperial deserter" come to join the rising tide of resistance in Ala Mhigo. But the first thing he does the moment all of that is taken care of is secure a change of clothes out of his uniform and a bath. The bath is in a river and the clothes are simple, used but not quite threadbare yet, but it's a start. He's never liked the more "advanced" Garlean fabrics even without the farce of putting him in a soldier's uniform and it's a relief to be back in something organic, homespun, a comfort he didn't know he was missing until he had it again.

Food is next and the most difficult. He has no money, not that would be good here, anyway, and has traded what he carried for what he has gotten so far. He's down to the clothes on his back, his bow, and his instruments and none of them are things he's willing to give up.

So old habits die hard, perhaps, or maybe it's more like riding a chocobo, you don't forget, or maybe, just maybe, this is it's own form of homecoming. Whatever the reason, he finds himself singing for his supper just like he used to years ago, moving from place to place in a Calamity-pocked world, helping where he could, working where there was work. His voice is somewhat out of service like this, but it's good enough for some tavern songs and the quickly erected pavilion tent does seem to become a tavern once he starts, hopefully making the owner a bit more gil than normal, enough to off-set his own meal and mead, meager though it may be.

He's mostly been playing the violin. It and the harp are his favorites, for their ability to both allow him to sing with them and their ability to keep a tune all on their own where he needs to rest his voice, but the harp is a bit too calm for a place like this. The violin is soothing without being overbearing, and he can fiddle with it when he needs to.

It's shaping up to be a good enough evening, a balm to a soul that has seen precious little of music these past two years in Ilsabard.

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"I... sometimes feel it's a thing I can't admit, lest I... disappoint others. Or remind them of their own fear, infectious as it can be." A safe enough way to describe his worries, things he seemed almost hesitant to admit, even under the safety of anonymity.

Zaika certainly seemed to sense his unease, extracting from her subtle begging for treats or attention from Gustavain to squirm back and headbutt up under Mikka's chin, earning a soft chuckle from him as arms slid around her. "I think Zaika agrees with you though... that I should quit second guessing."

"To hold fear in because you don't wish others to be afraid is noble. But if someone were to be disappointed that you were afraid of the coming battle, that's a failing in them, not in you. You are here, are you not? What further proof of your commitment would anyone ask of you? What further proof of valor?" he grins brightly, "Let foolish men think they have certain victory. I prefer to accept how much I will likely have to work for mine. I plan to make it through this, fear or no."

He finishes a few more bites of the stew and then holds a carrot out on a fork to Zaika, his arms long enough and the table small enough that she doesn't have to leave Mikka's arms, though perhaps the gesture is a bit more intimate for it.

"She's wise, then. You aren't dead yet, after all," he points out and he does mean Mikka personally, but he also means the whole of the battle. No one is dead yet. Nothing yet has been lost.

The Elezen's comments were pragmatic, even fatalistic it was true... but Mikka found comfort in them regardless. There was something grounding about the idea of accepting that things would be difficult, but forging ahead regardless.

He smiled, both for that and for the way Zaika squirmed immediately to accept that morsel, nibbling daintily. "I rather like your plan, to be honest."

And it was no lie, both from the general idea that he wouldn't like to hear of anyone dying, for all he knew it would happen, as well as the fact that he was coming to like Gustavain as well. "I suppose that means I'd best plan to make it through too, or I'll never hear the end of it."

"That's the spirit," he says grinning broadly and holding his cup up in a toast for a moment. "Both of us shall plan to make it out of this and to help as many as we can say the same. That's all anyone can do."

His smile softens, but sticks around and there's that slightly sly but openly so look to him,

"Now, I believe I might have been promised a drink for making sure my courage rubbed off on you. I'm not one to drink much before a fight, but a nightcap before I have to go figure out who's got a warm bed for me to crawl into sounds positively lovely."

He says it so casually that it might take a moment (or miss the mark entirely) that if he's singing for his supper, he's probably not talking about purchasing one, which implies a very different kind of currency. Truth be told, he's not really thinking of it in those terms, though-- he's likely to enjoy the distraction nearly as much as the bed, after all.

Mikka chuckled shyly but held his own cup in agreement. It was... not so optimistic a take that it might make him afraid that he'd fail to live up to it. It was a thing he could do.

Gustavain might be entertained by the miqo'te almost visibly processing what he was told in that casual tone, the slight furrow of brows that smoothed out to something a bit almost surprised, before he flushed bright with a soft 'oh!' Clearly this one should stay away from card tables if he wanted to keep his gil, that was for sure.

"R-right, I did promise that- Zaika, stay here a moment I'll be right back-" He huffed sheepishly, releasing the summon who hopped right over to better mooch attention from the Elezen while her summoner hopped up to scurry to the bar and get drinks. Not that she minded- as boisterous as people were right now, she didn't fancy getting tripped over.

Gustavain can't help but chuckle at that reaction. He knows he's rather unconcerned with the whole thing, perhaps doubly unusually so for someone from Ishgard, but it never fails to amuse him the reactions he gets from others, and Mikka's has been particularly amusing. He does let the young man go without further comment or teasing, though, and turns his attention to the little carbuncle aiming to steal more of his stew.

If Mikka takes too long, he might find Zaika curled around Gustavain's shoulders while he feeds her little bites from the plate with an indulgent smile.

"What are we drinking?" he asks, cheerfully, when Mikka returns. It's clear that he's unconcerned with the answer, so much as just wants to know so he's not shocked.

The shy little miqo'te seemed easily flustered- his tail was still frizzed and twitching a bit even by the time he returned, smiling in a pleased way to see Zaika and Gustavain getting along so well.

"You're making a friend for life right there." He commented in no small bit of amusement, a soft laugh accompanying setting cups on the table. "As for drinks, the nightcap for the evening is wine."

Some sort of sweet-scented red, likely not anything expensive but it wasn't as likely to leave Mikka too tipsy compared to some of the other options, so seemed the best option in his opinion.

"Does that mean I get you as part of the bargain?" it's hard to tell if it's just clever or if it's flirting, but it's leaving the door open for flirting, if nothing else, particularly with the grin he gives, easy and open.

"Ah, a good choice all things considered. I imagine there are entirely too many who over overindulged tonight," he takes the glass with an easy air, sips from it with a lack of concern that's probably a little jealousy inducing for Mikka. He doesn't even wait for Mikka to drink from his. "Not bad. Better than anything I've had in a while, for certain," he raises it, belatedly, in a toast, "To new friends and new beginnings."

Mikka can't help the startled chirp that slips from him at the question, cheeks staining scarlet. "Me? I... well I don't see why not?"

Surely he was reading too much into it. The handsome Elezen surely wasn't flirting seriously with him.

"As much of a lightweight as I am, it's definitely better I don't have anything stronger this evening." He managed after a moment, as Zaika was plunking down from Gustavain's shoulders to drape over the table like a spoiled cat. Sniffing at the cup sitting in front of Mikka, sneezing at the alcohol in it but otherwise unbothered which soothed his own concerns.

"I'll drink to that." He commented with a warm little grin and a lift of his cup before sipping at the wine in kind.

Oh dear, he's cute when he blushes.

Gustavain isn't exactly difficult to get into bed, never has been, nor does he usually find any difficulty in finding his way into someone else's when the mood or need strikes. But he's not really ever been one of those people who went after it aggressively, made up of intense innuendo or a lot of tension. He's more just open and clever in equal measures, and lets other people react as they will to that.

"No head for your liquor?" he says with a shake of his head, as though he's teasing, before he adds, "I'm not really any better. I have to be careful, I'll feel nothing at all for a number of drinks and then have them catch up all at once. Perhaps it's something to do with my height? Anyroad, I've learned it the hard way."

Mikka isn't sure entirely what he wants, in that respect. Had never actually tried flirting with anyone, let alone to bed them. He knows that he thinks Gustavain is incredibly charming in that sly, clever way, handsome as well. But he's uncertain if the Elezen is earnest in his flirting or if it's just a way he teases friends. Some people were like that after all... and surely he could get anyone he liked interested in him?

"None whatsoever." He replied in a cheery tone, a bit of teasing at his own expense. "You too though? Makes me feel slightly less silly, but it dashes apart my theory that it's how tiny I am."

Gustavain is mostly just honest, an odd trait for a spy, perhaps, but one that makes him easy to trust in return.

He shakes his head with a laugh,

"I've met entirely too many Lalafels who could drink me under the table. But I do think probably if you're going to feel it, you'd feel it faster if you're smaller?" he shrugs, none of that kind of figuring has ever been his strong point. "To be honest, I really only care because I think I may well be the only bard on this star that doesn't actually enjoy being drunk." He grins to that, a little too wide to be sheepish.

"They're in a league of their own, let's be real." Mikka replied with a grin. "I don't think I've ever met a Lalafel who couldn't hold their drink."

He considers the second part, nodding agreement. "I can't say I don't agree... I'm rather awkward enough sober, I feel positively foolish with alcohol to make things worse."

"Awkward, really?" he looks at Mikka skeptically, "You seem perfectly charming to me." It's not said like he's flirting, just telling the truth.

He grins to the rest of it, shaking his head, "I mostly just prefer to know any bad decisions I make are my own," and now there's the tone, almost purring, "and to remember any memorable ones."

Flirting or no, Mikka still flushed a bit more at the observation, gaze dropping with a small smile. "Something about you makes it... easy to talk to you for me."

A faint chirp at the tone that was following, tail twitching faintly. "I... yes I can see how that would be... important."

"Well, I'll take that as the finest of compliments, then," he says with a smile, "Truthfully, though, you hardly seem shy. Just quiet. There's nothing wrong with that." He tilts his head, considering, and there's something warm in his smile and his tone as he moves into the next, something that says he's not teasing, for all some people might've,

"Though, perhaps a bit shy," he ammends, "I'm not used to flustering people quite so easily when making jokes about how I often choose to spend my nights. If it makes you uncomfortable, I can endeavor to be more circumspect."

"No, it's not anything like that," Mikka assured him with a soft chuckle. "I just... I suppose I'm still not used to such commentary. Admittedly I was somewhat sheltered before I stuck my nose into this."

An understatement to be sure, but one he was sure Gustavain would be well aware of.

Gustavain considers that for a moment. It sounds to him like perhaps the young man was more sheltered than he thinks is he, if he considers the light things Gustavain has said to be particularly bawdy.

"Well, I'm glad to have not caused offense," he says after a moment, "but perhaps I'll watch my tongue all the same. I think much of my humor might be a bit off-color for you, ser," and there's that grin again, "And I prefer to only fluster people on purpose"

Mikka couldn't help but chuckle at that, the tone wry especially in the face of that grin.

"You do me a kindness. Are you sure you're not wont to join the game of 'see what innuendo soars over Mikka's head next?' I hear it's quite entertaining." Not that he especially minded it. No one ever seemed to mean it cruelly, and there were oftentimes a scarcity of things to get people laughing.

"I prefer more obvious innuendo. What's the point if the listener doesn't understand your meaning? Moreover, it's hardly useful or interesting if it makes the hearer uncomfortable. Jokes should be funny to the listener and attempts to woo someone should be made in earnest. Anything else seems an insult, to me-- both to the ears such things fall on and the teller alike. I'd never wish to be seen as crude... well..." he takes another sip of his wine and he's so good at that grin, "not unless that were wholly my intention. I've caused a few deliberate scandals in my time, I suppose. Too many to feign absolute innocence, certainly."

Though perhaps he doesn't fully mean it to, it does put some of his earlier, gentle flirtations in an... interesting light.

It was likely quite obvious when the implications might sink in with the little miqo'te- the prick of ears, the stain of pink refreshed on his cheeks definitely quite clear signs.

"...In earnest?" He repeated as more an inquiry, the tone tentative and definitely shy. But at the same time... not a thing that sounded upset by the idea.

"...Yes?" the vowel is a bit elongated, questioning. He's not sure what's causing the reaction, at least not at first, though the reaction itself is quite obvious, and it's plain on his face. After a moment, though, realization dawns, and he smiles, setting his chin in his hand,

"Are you so shocked that I might find you charming?" If Mikka were someone else, perhaps now would be a good time for a more sexual comment, but he doesn't think Mikka would appreciate it quite so much as something like, "I already know you're pleasant enough to spend an evening with, why not a night?"

"...A little?" He admitted finally, unable to help how he fidgeted with his cup between his fingers. Not a bad response so much as just being a little nervous faced with a situation new to him, out of his comfort zone. "If... anyone's ever been interested in me in such a way before they... didn't say as much. Or if I misread, they didn't correct."

"Really?" it's his turn to be surprised, blinking at the smaller man, "I would have thought you'd have to beat the admirers off with a stick."

Gustavain is starting to become aware that Mikka maybe doesn't think super highly of himself. Perhaps it's simply that no one has ever been quite so obvious. Well, more for him, then, he supposes, or at the very least, their loss.

"If you invite me back to your tent, we don't have to stop talking when I finish my wine," he offers, "And you can set the pace for anything else. I enjoy the all the rest of it, and would absolutely enjoy it with you," he wants to make that abundantly clear, "but I don't care to make you uncomfortable. But yes, if you'd have me, I'm certainly interested"

Gustavain wasn't wrong in his assessment, but there were a myriad of reasons why Mikka felt that way, things he didn't tend to share, let alone with someone he'd only just met, no matter how handsome and charming they might be.

Whatever the case he did smile at the plainspoken offer, heartened by the clarification.

"I... think I'd like that, actually. I can't say I've experience with all the rest as you put it," Might as well be clear with that even if his cheeks reddened a bit more at the admission. "But if you've the patience for such, it is something I-I think I would like to try."

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