With nowhere else to go, Niaaki liked to visit the local tavern. Just like in the old days traveling with Yuuki, he'd always had a lot of luck there--provided he was careful. With a few furtive glances, carefully chosen words, and a little flirting, he could score free drinks and other such handouts. It was all about knowing where the line was and toeing it carefully, because cross it and you could wind up in a dangerous situation.
And he no longer had Yuuki or Nathaniel to watch his back.
So it was all about picking someone who didn't look like a total sleazeball or scream "I'm going to murder and rape you, in that order." Of course not everyone wore that information on their sleeve (obviously), but he liked to think he could at least rule out some of them that way.
Entering the tavern, his raggedy, button-eyed doll, "Butch", clutched under his arm, he scanned the room for any likely victims. As usual, he was dressed in loose traveling clothes that obscured his slight figure, but even with more form-fitting ones people often mistook him as a flat-chested girl rather than an androgynous man. While he hated that, over the years he had come to slowly accept it and, finally, own it. It was who he was and people weren't going to magically start realizing he was a man on sight, so fine. He wouldn't bother to correct them. He was quite secure in his own masculinity so let them assume what they would.
Besides, he could use it to his advantage. It wasn't lying if he never said he was a girl; it was simply not bothering to correct them, omitting information.
There weren't too many people inside the tavern, and many seemed occupied with each other or with a wench or two. Hrm. Maybe this wouldn't be a lucky day--ah!
That was when he saw him, a bored-looking man standing alone at the bar. Not fully Adelan from the looks of him, either, and strong-looking to boot. Well, that was as good a place to start as any, he supposed! Straightening up and shifting his doll under his arm to try to hide it as best as he could (the thing always drew the oddest looks, and he couldn't blame them) he sidled up to the bar, took a seat, and began his well-practiced spiel.
"Excuse me, ah, sir?" he said, reaching out to tap the man's arm with slender fingers. "I apologize for my forwardness, and I don't mean to bother me, but I was wondering if you could help me? I'm afraid I am a little lost and, well...have run into a little trouble..."