#zhra'li's the baby of the family

[thebluebellcompany]

FFXIV Write Day 19 - Turn a Blind Eye

In which two brothers talk.

Okay, one more time. 

Clothes, check. Food, check. Gil stolen from the coffers of those who honestly didn’t deserve it, check. Trusty and ever reliable twin knives Hop and Skipper hidden under his coat, check. All right, everything was in place- 

“And where do you think you’re goin’?” 

Zhra’li jumped and spun around, coming face to face with another white haired miqo’te leaning against one of the nearby trees, idly spinning an arrow between his fingers. His posture was relaxed, but Zhra’li knew better than to take the older man at face value.

His brother always was better at concealing his expressions.

“Oh, Zhra’a. I’m not doing anything, actually. Other than preparing for the hunt.” 

The arrow gave one final spin before Zhra’a clutched it between a fist and gave his younger brother a knowing expression. “You’re going to go bounty hunting. With a large backpack. Filled with literally everything you could inconspicuously get your hands on and a one way ticket to Ul’dah. Right.” 

All Zhra’li could do was shrug. “And what about it?” 

“Mother won’t be pleased, you know.” 

Barking out a note of laughter, Zhra’li could only respond, “Nothing I do pleases mother. You know that.” He clutched the backpack tighter to his chest and gave his brother a pleading look. “This bounty is too important to mother, she’s been the busiest she’s ever been for the past weeks. So busy she hasn’t had the energy or the time to watch my every move like usual. The guy who got me the ticket said it would only last for three nights before the offer was up. This is my only chance.” 

He’d gone back to spinning the arrow. Whatever emotions his brother was feeling, nothing showed on Zhra’a’s face other than his usual calm expression, which did nothing to calm Zhra’li’s nerves. Nervously, he peered at the man’s back only to see that he had indeed brought his bow. Wicked sharp and tuned to perfection, if it came down to it, Zhra’li knew who would be the victor. Zhra’a was considered the best shot in the family for a reason. 

The archer gave him a long stare before nonchalantly turning around, whistling a little tune, continuing to spin that damned arrow. “If anyone asks, the last time I saw you was back at camp. You’ve got 10 seconds.” 

Eyes widened as Zhra’li looked on in disbelief. “Zhra’a-”

“Eight now.” 

The younger miqo’te turned around and sprinted, not daring to turn back, the whistling continuing through the night until he had made it out of the Twelveswood and halfway across the continent, towards the city of wealth and riches. 

Toward the city of a new start. 

#ffxiv #ffxivwrite #ffxivwrite2022 #another short one but it's an idea that's been rattling around in my head #zhra'li's family... something I want to expand on more for all the members of the company actually #but zhra'li's mother is a famous bounty hunter out of a family of famous bounty hunters #oldest followed her footsteps but the younger ones... not so much #and yes by canonical naming standards #there exists a zhra'to #zhra'li's the baby of the family