The bells might have been a clue.

Even over the noise of the brothel, the distant bells rang, growing closer as others took up the alarm. The activity of the brothel gradually stilled, save for Rob, who tore his eyes from Tsan, rose to his feet, and headed for the door with long, heavy strides. In a flash, he was out into the cold night air, and his eyes drew across the town, down to the harbor, where a half-dozen tall-masted ships rested. Already people were jogging past him, towards the beginnings of a plume of smoke starting to rise from one of the ships. Patrons from the brothel were already beginning to file out, driven by the knowledge of what the town watch would do to any who shirked their duty.

He paused, watching them file out, before waving the bouncers toward the ships. The girls had begun to gather on the porch, uncertain, and he turned to them. "Ye don't have clothes fer this weather. Get inside and stay there. If anyone asks, tell them I'll be back to deal with them shortly." He caught nods from the girls closest to him, glancing from one worried elvish face to the next.

Then Tsan appeared. As always, the other girls kept a careful distance from her. She'd grabbed a coat, likely left behind by a patron and wrapped herself in it, and she was pulling her hair back and tying it with a ribbon.

Selise stiffened, seeing her. "Get back inside. And get that off!" Her tone was sharp, and Rob caught the slight shift in the elf's posture and the set of her jaw.

Pausing for a moment, Tsan glared right back at Selise. "People could die." Her voice was surprisingly sharp, and her movements crisp. The dancer balanced on one foot as she pulled on a pair of deck boots, undoubtedly taken from the collection of lost clothes. Neither of the pair seemed to pay Rob any mind, and he gave them a moment, curiosity prompting him to listen.

The red-headed elf stepped close to Tsan and hissed. "How dare you. You'd endanger all of us for your silly notions of being some... hero. All for what, some **** need to atone for the sins of your people? Leave your failures or let them drag you to the deeps, but don't you dare-"

Placing her foot down with a loud thump, Tsan bristled visibly. "All your talk of fitting in, of biding time until the indenture is up, and you'd have us sit inside?"

"Enough." Rob silenced the argument. "Tsan. Take that off and go inside. You'll catch cold. There's people enough to put out one small fire. The rest of you, go on as well." He kept his tone calm and as soothing as he could.

Tsan looked at him, almost as if she were going to argue. He held her eyes, sparkling blue so bright it could be seen even when the passing file of figures eclipsed the light. Finally, she wilted, nodding and looking downwards. When she turned, he saw her eyes had changed back. He looked towards Selise, giving her a frustrated wave towards the interior.

Snow was beginning to fall, and he shivered himself before retreating, mulling over the willful whore.