[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/K1yaqQb.png[/img]

[b][i]The Fastest Gun in Uvera[/i][/b][/center]

"Ken Cooper, Ms. Mayleaf; I'm a professional," The young man, barely out of boyhood, introduced himself with a smile as he did not expect this surprise, for the Sand King to actually fulfill his duty to his people by funding or allowing his loyal subordinates to fund an orphanage. "Let's just say I volunteered to help the Elf."

His smile held as he listed his nonlethal talents, "I know cooking, cleaning, first aid, maintenance of machine parts, and taking care of riding and draft animals. But right now, I'm ready to help you heal your new patient or anyone else you need; I hope you don't object to someone who can transmute waste plant matter into healing spores."

He was turning on the charm, helped by the fact that he genuinely liked orphanages, orphans, and kindhearted caretakers. Nevertheless, the young man memorized how Ms. Mayleaf was a scientist, before turning to Rajeev and saying, "Be careful with what you say about [i]scientists[/i] in front of the person you're trying to help; those arms without hands are clearly a product of their... arts."

Ken was not blind, he knew that those arms were not natural and that the Elf was clearly not in a state to have accepted them willingly unless she was a psychopath - And he didn't think she was. So he warned Rajeev, "Even in Uvera - Or Uvera-Walton if one must be exact - We've heard tales of mad science. If our guest comes to the conclusion that we're taking her to... something less than pleasant, you know what she might try."

Then the youth turned to Kazue and looked at her warmly before saying, in a warm, kind tone, "She's a Doctor. Don't worry, she won't hurt you, so you just need to relax, to rest. We'll get your wounds cleaned out and cured; don't worry." 

He leaned down towards her, pushing past his fear that she might try and kill him, "Not. Enemy. Not. Hurt. You."

Deep inside, however, the fear still ate at him, not just that she'd turn against them but that his own interest in helping her might be snuffed out by a quick rebuff or other sign of mistrust. Which is a shame, as he liked the Elf; she was a good combatant, a fierce lover of her own freedom, was also beautiful when not stained with blood, and finally... She seemed to have suffered a lot, more than he had. 

That was her biggest draw to him, more than her beauty (if he only wanted someone cute, he'd have gone ga-ga over other young men of compatible orientation). It was also what made him, despite his desire not to suffer physical or emotional damage, want to help her. So Ken Cooper pointed at himself and said, "My name is Ken. What is yours?"

[i]Please believe me, please don't hate me,[/i] were his thoughts.

[@Renose][@Sho Minazuki]