A New Home Away From Home (Revelations)

[-NekoUke-]

The Sultanate of Ul'dah was bustling with activity; particularly along the Steps of Nald, the main strip that all manner of folk often congregated. Such a place was famous for its traffic and curiosities. One of which included a pair of scantily clad dancing girls that merchants on the Ruby Road Exchange counted on to drive up sales. Interestingly, the crowd there was thin compared to the small mob that had gathered directly outside of the Quicksand. Where another, dare to say exotic curiosity clad in a rather fetching and provocative ensemble charmed the audience with their movements; a lithe frame and smooth skin complimenting and enhancing their dance which seemed to be unique in its own right. This wasn't Thavnairian dancing, but something more primal; wild yet beautiful as their body moved with precision and grace. For as untamed as their movements were, that wasn't what caught peoples attention, but rather the identity of the person performing for them.

A male Viera.

Seeing one of the leporine folk was rare enough but to lay eyes on a male of the species? They were said to be extremely reclusive, even more so than their female counterparts who were decidedly more common. Especially with Garlemalds invasion of Ivalice which included the Golmore Jungle, the homeland of the Rava folk that this male in particular seemed to belong to. A few spectators whispered murmurings that suggested that he was yet another victim, forced to flee because of the Empire.

And they'd be correct.

The twenty year old male, who went only by the name Siar after abandoning his village name, had indeed made a run for it when the Garleans came knocking. Though the boy felt a hint of guilt for leaving his brothers to fend for themselves, he accepted that the life he had there was long gone. Under Viera law; once he left the forest he was essentially exiled, unable to return to his people. As far as he was concerned, Ul'dah was his home now.

And so he danced for a living. Occasionally renting his body out to whatever patron sought to relieve themselves of their lust just so he could rest his head somewhere that wasn't an Inn room or the open air. For the most part however, he was doing fine financially. Enough to keep his belly full anyway for he gave most of his Gil away to the Quicksands owner as thanks for letting him ply his trade outside of her premises. On the whole, he was fairly comfortable.

But he could be so much more. He often thought about turning to adventuring work, or gladiatorial combat but as long as people paid to see him; he'd keep dancing.

 

[Revelations]

Perhaps the mecca of commerce in Eorzea, Ul'dah was teeming with life as usual. While the wealthy clung to their gil and power, this fortune often trickled down in subtle ways to those below, even if the very bottom only ever tasted the barest hint of scraps. Fortune could still be made within the city, and for many it was a place where dreams could come true. Few knew this story as well as (NSFW) Celde, while her parents were not native to the city, she was. With them having fled from Golmore to Thanalan, they could have easily become more of the dregs that scraped out a living within the city were it not for their talents. And while Celde lacked the mercantile talents of her parents, she had business acumen and other tricks up her sleeve – allowing her to live a life of relative luxury.

Celde was eye catching, to say the least. A statuesque beauty, she held a curvy yet athletic figure that she had no issues subtly showing off in a button down shirt of a dark red tone that silhouetted her chest and slim waist. Her more wide hips and thighs were hidden partially by the pants, but even then one could see she held a figure that was the envy of many. And with black hair tinged with ruby, her short hair fell just an edge away from her violet eyes. Of course, one would be remiss to forget the lapine ears that Viera held, adding to the woman's height ever so subtly. While not the type to intentionally dress to impress, she still held a sharp look about her, and her confidence was reflected by her outfit as well as a subtle sway of her hips as she entered the quicksands.

It normally was not her sort of place, but she had an interest in something unique that day. As her heels subtly clicked on the stone floor, her amethyst eyes scanned from table to to table, patron to patron, and even the workers within the bar. Apparently, there was a Viera dancer of some skill who had taken residence within the quicksands, and she wanted to see him personally. Finding an empty table was a bit difficult, but the moment one presented itself, she sat at it readily, sitting as she waited on a server – one who quickly approached as she ordered a drink for herself. The drink was primarily to get the chance to talk to the server about her quarry.

"I'm curious – I've heard of performer here in the quicksands. Is he here?" She asked, her tone soft but far from weak.

"Do you mean Siar?" The Hyur server asked, to which Celde gave a small nod. "He'll be performing shortly, if I understand tonight's schedule correctly."

"Thank you." Celde then spoke, her painted lips in a smile. "I look forward to seeing him." Given how rare Viera were in the city, she might stick out just a little, but perhaps that was part of her plan.

 

[-NekoUke-]

Indeed. While Ul'dah looked like a bustling, shining city of gold where one could make their fortune on the surface, if one looked a little more closely they would see the grime that was hidden underneath the glamour. Money talked and those that held the gil, held the reins. The way Siar was made to disgrace himself just to make a living in this city proved that point. It could have been worse however, he could have been among the refugees forced to beg in the streets. Perhaps he could have moved to Gridania instead? Though they had their own share of problems; their extreme distrust of outsiders for one. Nonetheless, this was the life he had chosen for himself and right now, Dancing was its own lucrative venture.

What the audience was witnessing outside of the Quicksand was merely a warm-up, a prelude before the main event as it were where he'd head inside the premises itself and perform there. As far as venues went, it was small but it was comfortable. Momodi paid him fairly and the patrons weren't so easily 'hands-on' as they would be in the more seedy establishments. Who knows? Maybe he'd be fortunate enough one day to be noticed by the Sultana herself.

Well, he was about to be noticed. Just not by the Sultana but by someone else with quite a reputation.

Eventually, he would enter the Quicksand proper as he proceeded to take his place on the temporary stage set up in front of where the Leveboard would usually be; the Bards making ready to play the music that would accompany his performance. He never bothered to scan the crowd, opting to start the performance immediately. He began with a slower pace at first, his footsteps deliberate as he moved elegantly in time. He may have been dressed for a more erotic routine but the dance he was performing was intended to lift the spirits and fill one with vigor. If one paid attention; or if they had the knowledge of such a thing they'd quickly realise his dance was of a more tribal nature, with the music being typical of the Golmore Jungle. Perhaps this choice was part of the reason his dancing was more sought after as opposed to what one would typically find in Radz-at-Han; or maybe it was his lithe and youthful form?

Whatever it was, the one unifying element to his uniqueness was his identity. A female Viera was rare enough but a male? Almost unheard of. Most swore they didn't exist.

This fact would not be lost on him the more he continued dancing. In the corner of his eye, he'd see a person that would assuredly stick out among the typical gathered races such as Hyurs, Elezens, Lalafell and Miqo'te. He could have sworn the person he spotted had lapine ears much like his own. So much so he almost lost focus but he quickly held fast to his composure. It wasn't like he had not seen a female Viera before though. But he assumed they'd mostly would have flocked to more familiar surroundings like Gridania, not the sands of Ul'dah.

 

[Revelations]

Ul'dah as a whole was a city of opportunity where fortune favored the bold. The Quicksand itself was a microcosm of the city in that way – those who put themselves at the center of attention could readily find themselves (in)famous. That was the entire reason Celde was here even – someone had made themselves famous enough to catch her attention and now she was here to see it for herself. By the time that Siar began to perform on the impromptu stage, Celde was more than interested. Male Viera felt so rare as to be ghosts, and with one in front of her, she had to admit her curiosity grew as the dance continued from a slow pace to a more elegant and rapid crescendo.

The throngs inside the quicksand might have made it hard to focus on any one member of the crowd for some time, but for Celde she made no attempt to obfuscate her presence. She wanted to let him know she was there, her sitting stance a bit more postured so her ears stuck out all the more in the crowds. Of course, she assumed just the hint of ears alone would not be enough to garner his favor or presence, so she had another idea. By the time the dance was starting to slow down, she was soon moving through the crowd – not to the stage, but to the proprietor of the sands – Momodi. The more petite Lalafell could be seen across the bar, and as Celde moved to sit there for a moment, pleasantries were exchanged as well as the promise of coin. Naturally Celde carried little with her when it came to walking through Ul'dah, but names carries power and influence, and Celde had no scruples when it came to getting what she wanted (In reason). The gil she offered was very real even if not present, and Celde was good on her word.

To that end, Momodi soon got one of the servers, and as Siar's dance ended, a Miqo'te woman would be waiting for him at the edge of the stage, offering a wave to get his attention. "Siar, good show as always." She'd say when he approached, her voice soft. "There's someone very interested in you personally, I think they're at the bar – Momodi seemed rather enthused for you two to meet."

 

[-NekoUke-]

The right - or wrong person could make themselves famous in Ul'dah. All it took was a combination of the correct skills; mostly in manipulation and enough coin to loosen lips and influence people. This was something Celde would use to her advantage soon enough as the dance came to an end; not that Siar would know it in the moment. Right now, even though he for a few split seconds had noticed her; he remained focused on his dance. Which was indeed one recognisable as a traditional Viera dance that rightfully showed off the grace and beauty of the laprine eared race.

Once his performance finished, the gathered crowd gave him a well-earned round of applause. Adventurers, patrons all were pleased with him as they always were. It was clear then that this boy was popular and well-liked in the Quicksand. A dark day it would be when he eventually was taken away by a patron rich enough to 'buy' him so to speak. Such a manner of speech had some validity to it as Momodi technically was his owner, buying him from the Madam that ran Ul'dahs house of ill repute to work in the Quicksand as entertainment as an employee rather than an indentured servant. She wasn't unfair to him either, offering him free food and board on top of a decently full coin purse.

He watched the Moon Seeker Miqo'te wave him over. In his mind she was going to applaud his performance which was what she did, but he was surprised to hear that somebody wanted to meet him. "I hope they aren't looking for an autograph." He said dryly in a soft tone of voice; hinting a tone of aloofness but also a good sense of humor. His accent reminiscent to real world Icelandic which was typical among Viera. Nevertheless, he cast his eyes toward the bar, noticing the Viera woman that he spotted in the crowd seated there. He could already guess what this was about, seeing as the way she dressed - the way she carried herself was indecisive of someone of high standing.

"Thank you for letting me know, I shan't keep them waiting." Siar said and composed himself before slowly approaching the bar where Celde sat waiting for his presence; giving a light, courteous bow in the process.

"You wished to speak with me, my Lady?"

 

[Revelations]

As the male viera approached her, Celde offered a warm smile to Siar. "Evening. Please take a seat." She spoke with confidence to her words, and as her ears flicked ever so slightly her attention seemed purely focused upon Siar as she waited to see what he would do. "I'm certain that it must feel nice to get off your feet after such a wonderful performance." Her compliments came both freely and sincerely, and as she continued her words came out smoothly, a slight huskiness to them. "And if you'd like a drink, I am sure you know your preference, no? Consider it on me. But while I do have your attention… I wanted to make a rather interesting proposal to you that I feel only comes once in someone's lifetime." She was in no particular rush to get directly to it, but she figured that if she had Siar's attention it was best to let him know why she had summoned for him personally.

With her legs crossed, Celde turned to face Siar more directly. "My name is Celde, by the way." Offering out her hand to him after a moment, it would be up to him to react and she was most certainly happy to wait for his reaction, but the woman did not lack in a more vivacious personality by any means.

"Anyway, I will admit that it's quite unusual to see someone of such skill in Ul'dah, I had heard rumors of your dancing prowess but now that I've seen it myself, I must admit they were wrong about you. They undersold just how well you compose yourself." Around them, the quicksand remained somewhat busy, but the two were still able to hear one another and hold a more casual conversation, which Celde was certainly keen on.

 

[-NekoUke-]

If she wanted his attention, she certainly got it. Indeed it would be nice to take a load off after an intense performance; showcasing a style of dance that was unheard of even in the home of the art. Maybe his form, which was rooted in Viera culture drove people to him. That or his looks, it was hard to say. Regardless he sat down when instructed, tensing up at the offer of a drink and while she never gave him any reason to not trust her, he didn't make it this far after leaving the woods by just blindly taking people at their word. Especially in a city like Ul'dah where coin ruled over decency.

Still, he felt like they had common ground with each other. Being fellow Viera even though unbeknownst to him she was city born rather than being a child of the woods as he was. Actually, he had a gut feeling she did not know much of her culture. Considering she never said anything regarding the way he danced, and only about the skill he showed. Did she not recognise it as being of her people? Then again he accepted that he had discarded his heritage completely. No more being bound to the woods laws, as if he was reborn.

"I'm Siar, it's my pleasure, Ma'am." Siar said as he took the offer of a handshake, looking at her in the eyes. "And I'm honored to hear you enjoyed my performance. It might be unbecoming of me but I'm surprised that you didn't recognise it as our cultures dance."

"You mentioned something of a proposal?"

 

[Revelations]

"Siar, I am glad we were able to meet." As she shook the male Viera's hand, her own was soft to the touch, holding a quaint warmth to it. "I must admit, I am not as familiar with our culture as you may think. It's not something that's often celebrated In Ul'dah, the city is quite a melting pot and the customs of those living here tend to blend together… Or be forgotten." There was no shame in her tone from not recognizing the dance however, why would there be? But she had every interest in learning more about it, and she just so happened to have her eyes on someone who could help her with exactly that. When it came to her proposal however, the woman's eyes swiftly lit up, a smile on her face. "I suppose it's time to get to the meat of the conversation. I will be upfront. I would like to hire you for your skills on a long term basis." The last few words were emphasized with some importance, but she remained casual. "I am aware you are probably happy with your work here at the quick sands, but I think I might have a few ways to persuade you from your work here. The first being obvious – I am a woman of some wealth and power, and I can assure you that your pay under my service would be more than you could make here by quite a considerable amount." She wasn't afraid to flaunt money and status, especially when it could get her something she truly desired.

"Beyond simple gil however, you would certainly be well taken care of, and would have no need to worry about a place to call home, and you'd not even need to pay for it. I am not a difficult woman to work for, or so I have been told. I do however expect the utmost in excellence from those who work alongside me. And I feel very much that I can expect that sort of skill from you, Siar." The smile she offered was faint, but by no means meek or shy given the confidence she exuded.

 

[-NekoUke-]

As she spoke, he kept his eyes intently fixed upon her; attempting to ascertain her true intentions behind her honey coated words. She wanted his skills on a more long term basis, and she was a woman of considerable wealth and status. Such an admission should have raised a red flag for him. A Viera being among the wealthy in this city? From what he saw, he figured only the Hyur and Lalafell had the majority of capital so it was understandable he'd think she had some sort of connections, or dirt on higher ups. And yet, she still gave him zero reason to doubt her words. Not a modicum of lies did he detect from her.

However, there was always some sort of catch. She told him what she expected from him but not what she wanted. Were his skills all that she was interested in? Did she want a doting servant boy or was there something all the more carnal in mind? Not that he would mind the latter. After all, he was used to making money with his body in such a manner.

"What would be in it for me?" His question would seem selfish, expecting something from a woman that already offered him a lot but it was a reasonable one. If he was going to enter a contract of servitude under her, he would want to serve a decent Mistress.

 

[Revelations]

She had expected the question, so there was no surprise when he asked what was in it for him. "Well, aside from pay that would make the coin you earn here seem like a pittance, there are a few benefits." The Viera said softly. "First, is a place to truly call your own. You would not need to reside at an inn, you may treat your room with me as you wish, and ultimately you would have marked freedom to do as you please – even if that includes leaving my service in due time." She had little desire to let him leave of course, but he was not hers yet and as such she could not dictate such things. "Furthermore, a life of relative comfort at that. I do not use the term comfort lightly, but I certainly assure you that you will never find yourself wanting. I know these seem paltry, but if you feel any doubt I invite you to my demesne and see for yourself. Finally, there are two more things that I hope are a tad more tantalizing." She spoke, a certain amount of pride in her tone.

"I often find myself in the middle of… Unusual business opportunities, ones that tend to come with fruitful endeavors. You can dance here in this tavern all you like – and I know you would not be found bereft for a good while… But I am certain you must yearn for more at times, do you not?" She asked with a light smile. "To see more of Eorzea or perhaps even make a name for yourself beyond that of a dancer? I may have pegged you incorrectly but when I look at you I see a man who desires something a little more. Something that can't be found by others supplanting him with coin." Her tone took a gentler tenor to it, though it would be naive to mistake it for worry on her part. "Finally – and selfishly, you get to spend more time around one of your kin. We Viera are something of a rarity here in Ul'dah, do you never feel alone or separated from your kinfolk?"

 

[-NekoUke-]

He would not want for anything and his income would improve tenfold, so long as he pledged his service to her of course. Siar knew that she was asking him to become her servant boy in exchange for such luxuries. It honestly did not sound like that bad of a deal. Considering her obvious wealth it would certainly beat whatever he was doing before. Though she did inform him that he would be able to continue his current entertainment gig, which not only sweetened the deal but also made him a little suspicious; only a little of course. He thought she was being too generous but an offer like this did not present itself every day.

Especially when she spoke of other, more exciting prospects that awaited him should he accept. He wondered exactly what these unusual business opportunities were, but he could only guess. Did she speak of adventuring work? Why would a woman of privilege get her hands dirty with such a thing when she could hire others? Perhaps this was what made him reach a definite conclusive answer, thinking that she preferred to do any adventuring work herself.

The bit about spending more time among fellow Viera was another thing, even if he discarded his old way of life entirely.

"You would have me in your service?" He said. "I am honored, Lady Celde and I shall be glad to serve you." Siar bowed his head in deference.

 

[Revelations]

He accepted. Outwardly she was confident – not in a smug sort of way, but a way that only the charismatic could be – those who were assured of their own success. Inwardly she had some trepidation that he would say no but these proved to be unfounded fears at the most. "Well then." Celde spoke, flagging down one of many servers. "This calls for a celebratory drink or two, what say you, Siar?" The bronze skinned Viera woman asked, a mischievous smile writ coyly on her lips. "Whatever's your poison, of course. But Regardless I very much look forward to working with you and seeing more of you." Her tone was a warm voice, friendly and impassioned in a softer manner that belied her excitement.

"And I suppose it's quite fair to give you a day or two to close out your business here at the Sands… But I do have a starting complimentary gift for you. You may consider any tabs or lingering payment you owe to the lovely proprietor here cleared as of this moment. You'll have no outstanding debt. And as I have said before, I intend to make sure your pay reflects your skill. So play your cards right and you'll never have need to worry about monetary concerns for as long as you're with me… And for quite some time afterwards." She winked. "However 'here' is a less than satisfactory place to make you sign any contracts. Come the morning I can have an escort take you to my personal estate where we may discuss the finer details and get you signed on. Is that acceptable?" She'd finish up with, her voice more casual.

 

[-NekoUke-]

"I'm alright, thanks." Siar had turned down the offer for drinks. She might have been buying but he didn't want to burden her any more than he already had. She had already agreed to take him in, no doubt as her servant boy so he didn't want to impose too much. Not that he was particularly keen on alcohol anyway. Despite this, he could not help but pay attention to what she would soon say. That she looked forward to seeing more of him. It sounded nefarious, and maybe a little lustful? It could have just been just a slight bout of paranoia, remnants of his time in the woods where staying alert and inquisitive of his surroundings were more often than not keys to survival, drilled into him by his strict mentor. A hardened Viera male whose form of training was harsh even for the already brutal and punishing methods that most male Viera were put through. Such was that not a lot of young Viera males survived, which already diminished the likely-hood of even laying eyes on a male.

But this was the city, and not the wilds. Then again, the city could be even more perilous than the forests.

She had even wiped his slate clean? This made him wonder just how well off she was, though he would not question her motives for doing so. Viera society was matriarchal, and so his instincts were telling him to mentally kowtow to her. "That's awfully generous of you, Lady Celde. Thank you. And yes, those terms are acceptable."

"Though if I may, you seem to be flush with gil. How come?"

 

[Revelations]

"Why am I wealthy?" Her tone was soft, playful even – and she seemed to hold no malice over being asked that so directly. "Many reasons. Hard working parents for one. And then many, many risky opportunities and ventures that could have ruined me were it not for me being a little more on the lucky or at least persistent side. I've moved on from wagering my life's savings on the unknown though since I am quite well off by now." Since Siar had declined a drink, she would do the same out of respect for him. "Still, it can be an exciting life still and I am sure it won't abate now that we'll be working closely together. Given the lateness of the hour and I am sure you likely need to prepare, I can have an escort arrive to bring you to my estate some time tomorrow. Would any time work best for you?" She didn't really want to end the meeting abruptly, but she was sure that he would appreciate some time alone with his thoughts as well.

 

[-NekoUke-]

Right, silly question. He thought to himself as he should have expected that answer. If there was more to her wealth, and her ventures than she was letting on then it did not look like she was ready to tell. At least from his perspective. Though he wasn't going to question her on that matter either. From the looks of it, she was older than him and thus in Viera society was his elder. The disrespect of ones elders in Viera culture was almost akin to a death sentence, and certainly he never would have questioned his mentor; never mind a woman in a culture that was matriarchal.

"Any time works best for me." Siar said. "I'll be here most of the day tomorrow anyway so I'm going to be available regardless." Even though he accepted, he still would have liked some time to himself to compartmentalize his thoughts, to take stock of his new purpose in life. Whatever he imagined would happen since he was forced to, by his own choice flee the woods and abandon his people; becoming an exile in the process it certainly wasn't this.