niko-xiv

[niko-xiv]

FFXIV Write - Scale

"Anson! Please!" The auri girl and the man called Anson were sitting on the piano bench, thighs kissing from their close proximity. The man was turned to face her, staring at her and making faces. Her fingers fumbled a few sour notes and she burst out giggling, "you're supposed to be teaching me."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Do you find this distracting?" he mocked and stuck his tongue out and widened his eyes. "Yes!" she feigned anger and punched him on the arm. He grabbed her arm before she had time to pull away and wrapped his free arm around Niko's waist. Leaning in, less than an ilm from her face he murmured in his deep voice, "and how about this?" He pressed his lips to hers and she parted hers in response. After a moment, they pulled away." Come on," she grinned, "make me sing my scales instead."

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[niko-xiv]

FFXIV Write - Aberrant

"Oh, Niko, you are just the sweetest to stop by with your calming blends! Please, have a biscuit and sit with me before you run off. You'll work yourself to death." An elderly woman sat across from the auri girl and gestured at the plate on the table between them.

"Thanks," she said more than happy to oblige. They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes before there was a clanging, followed by the sounds of a slammed door. A moment later a man covered in cream scales not unlike her own appeared, clearly angry. Hands running through his hair as he paced around the yard in the two's view.

"Oh, not him again," the woman said with a severe look. "That's Hiun, nothing but problems since he's moved in. Just last week the Sekiseigumi raided his house. Drugs. And the people that come and go from there? Nasty, every single one of them, I tell you. They'd eat a sweet girl like you up." The unsettled man disappeared around the corner of his house out of view. Niko finished her biscuit quietly and stood up to leave. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you." The pair smiled and said their goodbyes. "I'll be back next week with another batch!"

Niko's hand was already digging into the bag on her hip when she passed the threshold of the house. One final wave and she was off, not along the path back home, but through the yard and around the corner of the Auri man's house. He was but three feet away, leaning on the wall and smoking a cigarette. She threw the pouch up at his face without waiting for acknowledgement. "Hey!" he barely managed to block it and fumbled as he caught the bag. "Mrs. Ogawa said you're having a rough week. That'll cheer you up." Her voice was all business, though deep down she wanted to laugh at the confusion on his face. "That old hag? Wait, aren't you the girl that sells her her tea? Sorry, honey but tea ain't cutting it for my problems." He threw the bag at her. She grimaced, tossing it back with extra force, "you don't brew it, dummy. Anyways, your old dealers weren't very conspicuous and if she's sees them around you'll probably have another fun visit with the Sekiseigumi." A look of understanding and a smirk crossed his face and he pocketed the bag. "Oh yeah, they won't be coming around anymore anyways. Not until things have cooled off here at least."

"Good. I stop by Mrs. Ogawa's this time every week. I will swing by after if you want more than that little taste." She turned to leave, "oh, and never approach me. Got it? I value discretion and if you value your life you'd be wise not to jeopardize mine." She smiled sweetly and glided back to the sidewalk.

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[niko-xiv]

FFXIV Write - Foster

Another crisp Fall morning in the markets, Niko could see her breath turn to steam in front of her eyes. The sun had only just began to peek over Kugane's cityscape and she had a moment of peace behind her stall before the bustle of the weekend would break out. The kettle behind her cried out and she turned to work on a new blend of tea. She shuffled through the containers below the table, sniffing a few and pinching various leaves into the teapot next to her. Once satisfied, she poured the water in and gathered her cup. She smiled, grateful for the warm the ceramic gave to her chilled fingers and wafted the herbal aroma.

Ready to take the first sip, something caught her eye and made her halt. Ah, another traveler, she thought. Poor guy, clearly his first time in the East. She let out a small sigh and waved him over. "Here, you need this more than me," she said a little more flatly than she intended as she handed over the mug. It was white, with pink cherry blossoms delicately adorning the brim. "Uh, thanks," the Hyur man seemed stunned but politely took it. "So it's that obvious, huh? You can tell I'm lost." She grinned, "at least you can admit it. I've been working this table every weekend for... hmm, over a year now. You're not the first newcomer I've been able to spot. Not everyone enjoys being called out on it. Where are you from?"

She caught him mid sip, making him swallow hard. "Thanalan, I'm a merchant or I'm trying to be one, more of an associate really," he wiped his lower lip and smiled at her, "This. What is this? I mean, besides the best tea I've ever had. I don't even like tea, I was just happy to have something hot!" Niko's feigned offense, "Not like tea? Don't say that near my leaves!" They chuckled together and she grabbed another cup to sip along with him. "From the desert? That checks out. You should stop by Sumire's stall, just down the way. See the purple lotus sign?" She leaned over the table on her toes and pointed to guide his view. "Yep! She sells some cozy haoris for great prices. I saw blue one with butterflies embroidered on it last time I stopped by." He eyed her and the grin she didn't realize was on her face vanished. "Ahem, I mean, not that I think that's your style. She has all sorts of options, I swear. Just tell her I said to help you out." He crossed his arms and leaned on the table almost lazily, "And who is that? We didn't have a proper introduction." She pointed to the roof of her stand, "Sakimuri, or Niko if you'd rather."

After a pause, she shuffled is a box hidden under the table, reveal a small silk pouch. "Here, this'll sweeten the deal. Might not look like much, but with that the haori should be on me. It's her favorite and in short supply." He took it hesitantly, "I've only been here a short while but should you be giving out your stock like this? To a stranger?" The Au Ra crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow at the man, "You telling me how to run my stand, apprentice?" An embarrassed blushed crossed his face, "I didn't mean-" She let out a laugh, satisfied with his reaction. "I'm kidding!" She regained her composure and stared at him more seriously. "When my dad ran this stand he said we were a success because we had the best product. I believe that, to an extent, and he built this himself so I have a lot of respect for his ways," she paused, choosing her words with care. "I also know that when I took it over and cared enough to foster relationships across Kogane Dori that we're not just the best herbalists, we are a favorite. Being the favorite pays better." She thought of all the customers' faces she memorized and learned the preferences of, even those she did not personally like. He drained the last of his cup and set it on the table, "As much as I'd love to stay here all morning, I do have to meet a client." She quickly filled the cup again, ignoring his protest and shaking her head, "go ahead, take it. I'll be here all day and I want to see which haori you pick out later! It'll give you a reason to come back." He raised one hand in surrender and picked up the cup in the other, "Okay, okay! Market closes at dusk right? I'll swing by then." He started off towards the purple lotus sign Niko had pointed out earlier and turned to give her one more smile before disappearing into the markets that were beginning to stir with shoppers, "Bye, Niko."

---

The sky was adorned with a soft orange glow that faded to a dark blue behind the shop. It had been a long day. Three customers had tried to complain their way into lower prices and she was running low on at least half a dozen ingredients. The morning had slipped her mind completely as she finished packing up the last of her herbs and closed her stand. She was all but two steps from behind her counter when she was intercepted by a familiar figure. She smiled and opened her mouth to speak, only to realize she had never learned his name. "You know, when I told you my name earlier you never gave me yours." He said nothing in return. She looked him over and frowned, "Hey, where's your haori?" He smirked, pulling a bundle with the cup from earlier sitting on top of it from behind his back, "I found one I liked." She took the package, immediately recognizing the soft blue fabric and elegant pink and white stitch work. "You didn't. You're bad! Now at least tell me you name, please. How am I supposed to thank you?" He placed a hand gently on her shoulder and leaned his face to the side of hers, brushing her horn accidentally, and whispered seductively, "I guess you'll have to foster this relationship for that." If the horn graze wasn't enough to make her blush, the feeling of his warm lips pressed to her cheek certainly made the rest of her face match the rosy hue her cheeks usually held. He was already a few yalms away when her turned again, tossing the cup he had lifted back from her in the air cheekily, "Bye, Niko." She took one step to follow after, "h-hey!" She had not recovered enough to pursue and he quickly disappeared along with the last rays of day in the sky. She looked down at the haori and smile, hugging it and feeling a bit foolish for how giddy it made her. She turned down the road, making her own disappearance into the market streets.

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