Heading to the Market (Roblin)

Released from their obligations, the crew and passengers began dispersing as assorted customs officials and bureaucrats poured over the cargo and argued on values, legalities and destinations. Tsan was happy enough they weren't arguing over her, and let Roblin guide her back to the room she'd been staying in.

"Ye feeling up to some shopping? Since ye've decided to attract bullets, ye might as well be kitted out with something more practical than ye have."

Tsan gave a huff, her ears flattening. "I didn't ask to be shot." She pointed out, lowering herself to sit on the bed with far less pain than she expected, the wound healing quickly.

"Ye rather did." He stated, tugging her cloak from the stack of clothes set aside. He offered to help her up, but she refused with a wave of her hand so he waited until she stood and offered her the cloak.

Letting it drape around her to ward off the chill of the crisp sea air and wandering gazes alike, she let him guide her to the pier as they began the long walk towards the town proper. The pier itself was quite crowded with merchants, food stalls, fresh fish and cargo all moving along the broad stone lane stretching over the sea. The ships represented everything from the smaller local fishing vessels to the vast galleys used for heavy cargo.

Rob wasn't content to let the conversation drop, staying a step behind her as they navigated around clusters of sailors and stacks of cargo alike. "Ye did when ye decided to fight. Ye're an elf. Valuable. No pirate would have harmed ye more than sampling the goods if ye'd not taken up a gun."

Tsan glared back at him, but he urged her forward once more, keeping her moving. "Did I do something wrong?" She frowned, continuing to try and look back at him.

A jovial crowd of sailors almost separated them, and Rob had to take a firm grip on her shoulder to keep her close. "I ought to get ye a leash." He mused, before turning the question around on her. "Do ye think ye did something wrong?"

Her ears drooped and she looked up at him with a bit of fear in her sparkling blue eyes. "I'm sorry. I'll be good, I promise, but please don't make me wear a leash?"

He realized she'd misinterpreted the squeeze to her shoulder, but as he stared at her, Roblin felt a half-remembered queasiness in his gut. Something about her pleading like that, on the edge of tears reminded him of something, and whatever it had been, it had been bad. Rather than let her take him in, he lashed out with anger, gripping her tighter still, bruising the pale skin. "Drop the stupid act."

For an elf that he knew had scythed through pirates like they were an inconvenience, she was remarkably good at looking like she was downright terrified of him, quivering in his grip as she visibly flinched. "I don't know what you mean!?" She babbled, reverting back to her native tongue so he had to guess what she'd said.

Noticing that they were gaining attention, he shoved her onwards, getting her moving before he hauled her back against him so he could lower his voice. "You killed a half-dozen pirates dressed in your skivvies. Do you think I'm stupid enough to believe the whimpering doormat act?"

She twitched, her terror almost overwhelming her sense as she pulled against his grip on her arm uselessly. "Please!? I tried to be good, I did! I did what you asked!" Her words were barely audible, broken by panicked breaths.

And there it was, the memory he'd tried so hard not to recall. The reason he knew he had to come with them on Scragg's fool's errand. The reason he'd so casually sworn to protect the elf.