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Though Limsa Lominsa saw plenty of sun, even the port city had its limits. Fierce summer days where the sea lay still saw the boardwalks clear of all but the most stubborn merchants and luckless sailors
"Thal's balls, why are we even out here? No one wants to see us sweating through our clothes." K'nhusi collapsed onto a bench with a dramatic groan, weakly fanning herself with a gauzy silk scarf.
Senko winked at her. "Nonsense! It helps the sailors with their, ah, 'imagination', if you catch my drift." She swung her hip into K'nhusi's shoulder with a laugh. "Eh? Eh?"
The miqo'te rolled her eyes, weakly shoving back. "Back off, 'hemoth-hips. And that's sexy sweaty, not old dishrag sweaty, like this!" K'nhusi grumbled. "There's not even any ships coming in, so no sailors with fresh, loose purses. Let's just go back to yours and stop baking."
"Mine, huh? Going to make a move on that tia that Lareux scooped up? It's not been even a sennight yet, you hussy."
With a grimace, K'nhusi flicked the auri dancer with her scarf. "No! I'll not be interrupting that, thank you very much. Let him get bored first. I was just after your liquor."
Laughing, Senko held up her hands defensively. "And so it comes out, you little thief!" she snorted. "Go drink your own swill. I'm planning to stay here and see if I can shimmy up a few more gil before evening."
"I'll leave you the cleanup, then." K'nhusi patted their little third-hand mammet on its head, prompting a jingle of its tambourine. "Don't do anything i wouldn't do!" She trotted off, ignoring the cackling laughter behind her in favor of finding someone to charm some drinks out of.
—
Several bells later saw Senko draped across a shaded outcrop of stonework, staring thunderously into her tip basket. Her mammet shook out a mindless, unsuitably cheery tune.
"Well, two counts as 'a few,' I suppose, and I'd fain not roast for no gain… come on, little one, let's be going." She grabbed the mammet and made to disarm it.
"Might I convince you to stay just a little longer?" The sudden deep voice from half a fulm away had Senko nearly launching the mammet with a shriek.
The auri man leaped back. He bobbled the reed cup in his hands, barely managing to avoid spilling any on the woman pointing at him.
"Make a swiving sound when you move, would you?" she yelped. Senko's finger jabbed the scales across his chin - as high as she could reach. His eyes crossed a little as he looked at her delicately manicured nail.
The flush on the skin between his cheek scales deepened. "I, uh. The lass over there said it… wasn't unusual…? A good way to show appreciation?" he mumbled, scratching the base if one of his horns sheepishly. His words were heavy with a Doman accent.
"You got fleeced. She knows none of the dancers will take anything they didn't see poured." Senko glared over at Nunuyo, who was giving her a grin and a big thumbs-up from her stand across the way.
He drooped. "Ah. My shipmates warned me of how Eorzeans can be, but you drove all thought from my mind. How do you deal with them?" A little furrow formed between his brows, though he was still smiling down at her. (Menphina bless, emphasis on the down.)
Senko gasped. "Deal with them - excuse you!" She moved her mammet to rest against her hip, ignoring its chiming, so she could more comfortably go back to angrily jabbing the auri man in the chest. "I'm Eorzean!"
"... ah. Might I convince you to take this and give me a moment to remove my sandal from my mouth? The merchant has been watching me since I bought it, I promise."
"Hm." A quick check showed Nunuyo still watching them, so he was probably telling the truth. "I suppose." Senko took a delicate sip and licked a stray drop of juice off her lip. "Thank you, uhm…?"
"Tsolmon!" He beamed at her, eyes narrowed to orange slits with how wide his smile was. "And you are a dancer with the grace of Nhaama, though I am sure you have another name." He leaned back to give her a bit of space.
Senko simply raised an eyebrow. "Haven't heard that one before. Do you try that with all the girls you want to get a leg over?" She tilted the cup at him. "Because I'm a dancer, not a dockside girl."
He scooted back further, shaking his head sharply and tangling one of his braids on a horn. "No, no, you misunderstand me! I thought to ask how long your ship might be in port and if you might join me for dinner!" Tsolmon heaved a heavy sigh. "Though I could've been a bit… better about it…"
"Aye, you could have. Full fortunate for you, then, that I am both forgiving and thirsty," Senko laughed, knocking back the rest of the juice. "I've naught to do today and a remarkably free evening, so if you can convince H’lahono at the Bismarck to get you a table tonight, you'll see me there, and I can introduce you to La Noscean food that doesn't involve your own foot."
"The Bismarck?" There was a delicate rattle of jewelry as Tsolmon tilted his head to one side.
"On the upper decks? Fine food, if you can get in. I'm a busy lass and I'll not settle for a dish of peanuts at the Wench, no matter how dear Baderon can be," Senko informed him as she gathered up her mat and basket.
He laid one hand over the scales at his chest, bowing his head. "When I talk them into this-"
"If."
"-When, I am sure we will have a lovely evening!" He dropped into a deep bow, missing how Senko ogled the flash of skim and scale revealed by his wide-necked shirt. "I shall see you there this evening, then, Miss– ah." Tsolmon looked at her, flushing again. "You'll not leave me to tell them of just 'the pretty red-haired dancer,' will you?"
She shifted her armful to carry it more easily. "Mayhap I shall. Oh, don't with that face, you're a man grown!" she scolded, barely able to hold in a laugh. "Puppy eyes don't work on folk two fulms below them!"
"Nay?"
"Nay."
"Ah, but you're laughing, so I must have done something right!" He grinned.
Senko tapped her lips with her finger. He was pretty cute, and - point in his favor - actually looked at her face when speaking with her. "Senko."
He paused mid-bounce. "Huh?"
"My name. Senko."
"A lovely name for a lovely lady. Thank you for trusting me with it." Tsolmon stepped back, raising his hands. "Then, unless you'd like some help with all that…?"
"Off with you! I'm not having you follow me home until at least the third date!" Senko snapped, still laughing. "I shall see you this evening and not a moment sooner, Tsolmon."
As she wound her way down to the Mist, humming quietly, she turned the encounter over in her head. Handsome Xaela sailor on shore leave, dinner at the Bismarck, no annoying friend to provide running commentary. Maybe this day wasn't a total wash.
… Dinner at the Bismarck. Senko quickened her steps as she went up the stairs to her apartment, practically kicking in the door. "Lareux, I need something nice to wear!"