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1 - 5: Fire! A small fire has broken out at the local village. But what is on fire and who might be involved is up to you in your prompt response. Find a way to help keep it under control and get anyone out safely.

Tatouché was steadily gaining a reputation among Sulburi's elite as the place to go for quality work. Xipili's own unique style had taken some time to gain traction among those who preferred more traditional work, but what clientele that did stop by were more than enough to make up for it. Work was steady, he was able to keep his social standing, and Xipili still had time for his own personal pursuits. For a hybrid born out of wedlock, he couldn't have imagined a better way to start his legendary ascension.

That being said life was rarely so easy.

Within a moment of Zyura knocking on the door a few Oban staff members flung it open and ran out into the street, each in different states of distress. One hung around for only a second before running down the street screaming about a 'fire!' while the other turned toward back toward the door. The fire was still small, but easily visible now that the door was open. Smoke was starting to seep out of the back and was spreading toward the front as well.

"Miss, you need to back up, it isn't safe-" The other Oban, a younger man, started to block off the entrance when Xipili appeared in the doorway like a man possessed. His teal eyes were wide, skin flushed in anger and skin covered in smoke.

"Orlyn, what are you doing?! Go around back and close off the street-" When he caught sight of Zyura he wasted no time in shooing her back. "Get away from it! It's catching fast!" What a time for her to show up! Just when his life's work was going up in smoke!

"You can help by not getting hurt." Orlyn answered, and didn't lower his hand under he felt she was a safe distance away from the open doorway. When he caught Xipili's insistent glare, however, he picked up the pace and started to run around the perimeter toward the backside of the building. The man could be heard given directions not to get too close unless they were here to stop the fire.

With every pop and crack of his beloved building Xipili could feel a new knot of tension growing in the back of his skull. So much time, so much funding....all of his art work...smoldering infront of him!

But it wasn't beyond saving just yet...

"You said you were studying magic, didn't you? Was any of that water based? Or ice?"

While he couldn't say he wasn't disappointed, Xipili wasn't one to dwell on what couldn't be changed. He was a selfish man by nature and had absolutely no desire to see everything he'd worked for slip away without doing something to stop it.

"It's okay," He reached out to put a hand on her shoulder and nodded. In all honesty Xipili didn't know it was meant to steady her after that weak...water jet? whatever it was or his own nerves. "If you're half as capable off the dance floor as you are on then you'll be more than enough without magic." It didn't take long for the flames, the shouts and smoke to draw attention from neighboring businesses. While most were doing their best to get as much flammable debris away as they could others had started to gather buckets in time for the more experience mages to come.

Some of the magic users attacked the fire directly while others shifted water into containers that those without magic could use to help douse the flames. Xipili motioned for Zyura to follow him, "Just grab a bucket and stick with me, okay? Don't get too close; something might fall and hit you."

The higher the flames mounted the more anxiety built up in Xipili's blood. Later, you can panic later... The mantra was easy enough to repeat, but harder to follow through. How could he stop the way the heat felt or the tremor in his hands? Even if it went down it was just a building and items could be replaced. It was more important that they focus on the lives connected to it than the shop itself.

The hug wasn't expected, but it wasn't unwelcome. He allowed himself that moment to feel the gravity of the moment and hug her back, however briefly. The smell of smoke lingered on Zyura, but underneath was the same girl he'd danced with under the stars. It was a little bit of normalcy to balance out the chaos and when he stepped back he was resolved. "I'm nothing if not lucky." He grinned and turned to start sprinting. "Come on!"

Xipili's heeled boots clicked out a harsh pattern on the well worn stones around the shop and the hybrid slid to a stop next to the mages. It didn't take long for a bucket to be passed to him and he dove into helping put out the flame.

By the time it was safe enough to stop Xipili's skin was covered in a mixture of ash, grime and sweat. His hair, which was normally perfectly pinned, hung limp down his back like overwatered candy floss. The tattooist sighed and raised a hand to run it through his hair. It's just a building.... Once again he reminded himself of the greater picture, but that didn't lessen the sting. His pride, much like his coin, was going to take a big hit from all of this.

When Zyura found him he was sitting on a stoop of the building across the street. He had his arms lazily laying across his knees, heeled boots stretched out infront of him. At no point had he thought to take them off, but now that he'd spent the better part of the evening running in them Xipili could feel the ache.

Seeing her there, seeing that smile...It brought a little one out in him as well, but it didn't last. There was just too much weighing on him. "Thank you for helping."

Aukai Oceansoul

6/7

He gave a little chuckle and nodded. "We're a little booked up at the moment, but I'm sure we can schedule you in soon." Hopefully his records were alright; they'd been in the front room so the worst that would happen is smoke damage. Still, if the smoke had been thick enough...

Ah, well, no use fussing about it now.

"Thanks." Xipili took the cloth in one hand and brushed some hair away from his face with the other. He did his best to wipe away as much sweat as he could, which inevitably left a smear of soot across his jawline. "I think for today I'll just let it...settle? I think?" It was just a lot to process and Xipili didn't think he had the stomach for it today. Setting the rag down on his knee, he gladly took the water skein and took a drink. The juxtaposition of cool, fresh water against his dry throat and overheated skin felt unbelievably good.

"If you've any free time this week though, I'd welcome the help. And who knows? Maybe we could get you in for that tattoo a little earlier. Free of charge."

Xipili's eyes widened, then he closed the one closest to the rag as a rueful grin cropped up. There was so much going on inside of his head that it was hard to think at times and the very real reminder was just across the street. Still, he couldn't help feeling a little warmer because of the kind gesture. "Thanks." He crossed his hands as he sat and when she leaned into him he adjusted to make it more comfortable for her.

"You know, I may not look like it right now, but I come from wealth. I've got connections all across Oba; my family isn't part of the nobility, but we may as well be. And you'd think that, with this being a more affluent part of the city, word would have gotten to someone. That any one of of our 'friends' would have come by to help."

And yet, where were they? He hadn't seen a single emblem, not one envoy, not even so much as a mangled servant....just the closest workers and Zyura.

"Some days I really hate this place." Xipili murmured.