Camille

Ryelle staggered forward, catching herself on Felix's arm. She straightened and leaned back into her post. "Worrying over politics is part of the job." She lifted her left hand to her chin thoughtfully. "I'd always assumed every pirate crew paid dues to One-Eye and the other underlords to avoid trouble, like the smaller corporations. I know we pay more than some to the Admiralty because of our Consortium's connections, but less since losing a place in the Syndicate..." She looked across at the highlander with a nod. "Your Captain sounded like the type to risk a skirmish to get him away personally for the heroics, rather than pay or pander. How long would you guess you have until trouble knocks at the door?"

"Representative and... nevermind..." Ryelle's shrugged faintly and murmured, "Some sort of trader is fine. Though I'd be wary of making friends with every enemy of my enemy. The politics can get impressively complicated." She stopped watching the exit, arching a brow at Val before she returned her gaze to the window. "Do you often make a habit of tasting every medicine thrown your way?"

Ryelle shrank back against the window at the sight of the highlander, disgust and fury flickering across her face. Turning away, she regained a composed frown and edged to the corner. She kept the window in the periphery of her view but eyed the exit. She seemed to relax slightly when he mentioned the liquid would knock the wounded man out. She moved alittle further from teh highlander and watched Doc work. "You're certain he'll remain unconcious?" She murmured, before clearing her throat and repeating it more clearly. "It would be rather unfortunate if he set another building on fire."

"Well, speaking as the large, evil corporation, I'm sorry the common man feels the need to lash out. Though I'm not sure it counts as heroism unless you give everything away... Anyway, when romantic idealism meshes with strategic benefit, then everyone is happy." Ryelle watched the odd man withdraw a card from his bag, leaning forward slightly, but not leaving the view from the window. "What is it an invitation to and who exactly are you tracking, if I might ask? And how did he get the images for..." She stopped and looked towards the door as someone rapped, then opened it and shouted something barely intelligible. "Even more company?" She leaned back as the ranger slipped past the new Hyur, uncrossing and recrossing her arms in discontent. She'd have to find the ranger again at a later date now and the business of the evening was set back severely. Waiting for the ship before getting to business had been a mistake. Waiting for the ship in a den of pirates was also probably a mistake, though she doubted they'd try to raid the ship once it was in port.

(Just a quick note Tyr, you're with Ryelle, not Elysia.) Ryelle looked over the group with a faint smile, curiosity sparking slightly in her eyes. She swept a graceful curtsy and then passed the unopened bottle to the ranger. "Thank you, Mister Reinard and crew, for your gracious hospitality. I'm Ryelle Lathal and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." She went past them all to the window, giving Felix an coy smirk and wink as she swept past him, to look out over the octant with her arms crossed. She glanced over her shoulder at the unnamed interloper. "As Mister Reinard said, after the unfortunate events at the Bismarck, questions would be inconvenient and probably lead to further misfortune." She frowned for a moment at the view, giving her head a small shake before turning back to the others and leaning against the window where she could watch over the harbor. "As for leaping into a nest of pirates being dangerous, I'm not a naive lass, nor is my associate and this crew does have a reputation worthy of some respect for their clemency. They also have an excellent view of everything, so a safe place to wait seems rather wise."

Stiffening slightly at the roegadyn's words, Ryelle's eyes narrowed faintly but the smile never left its place. "Of course you're a pirate... With the Phoenix Flame no less. How lovely. Perhaps your hideaway will have a view of the entire port then." She glanced at the ranger almost apologetically, then raised a brow to the odd looking hyur. "I'm positive you've nothing for me, sir, though I'm sorry you've forgotten the rest of your cards. Do excuse us but we must get moving before guards or anyone else decides to approach." (edited. )

Ryelle turned to the miqo'te and gave a small shake of her head. "I'm terribly sorry, but I've no idea where the owners might be in all of this mess, though I'd imagine they'd be near the rear entrance as the fire hasn't seemed to reach it." She gave the tiniest smirk as the other woman winked at the guard. "And yes, I suppose there are a few upsides to trouble turned nasty. As for what happened, as you said, the mother of all food-fights escalated abit beyond control. Plus some insane highlander decided to throw caution to the wind and burn the building down as the quickest way to end the mess I suppose... Sorry I couldn't be of more help, good luck with your supplie collection, and enjoy the pleasanter sights of the aftermath." She gave a small nod of her head as goodbye and looped her arm through Croix's. "Lead on, Mister Reinard. We'll look for my associate and get on the way to your hideaway." She set a worried smile in place and looked around the scene for the archer and her hawk.

Happy birthday! Feel another year wiser?

Ryelle replaced the small blades in her boots and drew out a small collection of handkerchiefs, dunked them in a pitcher of water before covering her mouth with one and shoved the others into the hands of the pair of archers. She caught the cuff of one of her companions' shirts, unable to tell them apart in the smoke, and made her way out from behind the bar, assuming the second archer would follow and cover their retreat. The smoke was still thick but the heat had lessened, so she made for the main entrance nearly beside . Half-way across she blindly bumped into a slowly shuffling, enormous man with a greataxe. She uttered a small curse, jammed her last handkerchief into the man's hand. She looped an arm though one of his and began to pull him along, her other hand still latched onto the leading companion's sleeve. Ryelle bit back a scream of fury when they reached the entrance only to be face to face with the highlander who'd set the building on fire. She stood there, glaring furiously and finally followed the tug on her arm to exit the fiery building, freeing her arm from the man's as she did so. Finding an empty enough space across the street, she stood coughing and watching the blaze, finally letting go of the archer she'd followed.

Ryelle dropped behind the relative safety of the bar as the ranger let go of her arm then leaped onto the counter, drawing a small stiletto from each boot. She sunk back against the wall, content to watch the pandemonium and guard the other woman's back after she'd leaped onto the counter. As the brawl evolved into a bloody riot, her gaze flicked about the room, tracing the other with a mixture of annoyance, concern, and horror. She turned her head at a shout of "Hey! What are you crazy!? Get out of here!" Ryelle quickly glanced over the space between the temporary sanctuary and the strange man shouting at them, asessing the chaos with a worried frown. She knew she didn't stand much luck trying to dive through the fray by herself, even with protective spells, and the ranger seemed to know exactly what she was doing. She shot her companion a questioning look, deciding to let the experienced fighter make the choice of action.

Ryelle raised a brow, tilting her head in an arching manner. "I'm Ryelle Lathal, of Lathal Mining Corportaion of Ul'dah's Van'Celle Trading Consortium. One of your companion's roegadyn guards rather roughly pushed aside my associate." She straightened, the cool smile taking it's place once more. "I'm certain no offense was meant, but an apology is owed. One would hate to upset Nald'thal's balance."

Ryelle paused in her harsh smile as the large group entered the establishment, her eyes narrowing as they stomped through and one of the lummoxes shoved the woman and hawk aside. At that she stood, leaving the elezen invader at the table before he could even respond. Striding quickly to the woman as she resettled her hawk, Ryelle caught her elbow and marched them both confidently to the corner table the group had surrounded. "Excuse me gentlemen," she deftly ducked between the outer layer of roegadyn and rested her fingertips on the table. "I am sorry to disrupt your discussion, but one of your escort owes my associate an apology. I understand the unpleasantness of an interruption, but I'm sure you understand that we can't let such a thing go without redress."

"You give your home establishment short credit. The Bismarck is reputed to have the greatest cuisine in all of Eorzea." Setting down her spoon, Ryelle dabbed her napkin to her lips and then tilted her chin to give the appearance of looking down her nose at the elezen. "I might be a pretty purse, but I am not an complete idiot and I would have to be the most foolish trader in the world to tell you exactly who my protector is. A sensible trading company employs far more than a single guard for things of such importance. And no, I'm not a trader, I am a representative and caretaker. Obviously my companion isn't a guard, as a decent guard wouldn't walk around calling attention to herself in a city such as this." She picked up the small glass of kirsch, sipping it as she arched her brow with a frosty smile. "Now you have driven her off before I could conduct any business and I'll have to wait patiently until dinner is served to begin again, probably suffering more of your poor interrogation attempts. I suggest next time you try and gain information from 'such a fine-dressed, refined woman' try more to be more subtle and not drive her dining companions away."

"Loyalty requires earning trust first, and trust is tough to earn. Especially from a discriminating falcon." Ryelle didn't shift as some odd person in the corner shouted and doused himself, instead letting her gaze dirft around the taven once more, though she ignored the highlander ensconced in his corner. The man reading alone in a booth was curious but he looked oblivious to the world, which curbed interest. She took another sip of her kirsch, watching the lalafell approach the bar and leave over the rim of the glass. her smile nearly reached her eyes at the ensuing exchange between the barkeep and the roegadyn. "As for opals, I'm currently waiting for something a great deal more precious to come into port, though with this storm the ship will probably be delayed till late tonight." She set the glass down and daintily started on her soup, ignoring the conversation trespasser once more. "Delicious~ Atleast the Bismarck hasn't lost its culinary prowress. Perhaps the authority on the fish will be proven right."

It's nice, though some of the text is really hard to read when it goes over the darker shaded sections. It's a great first signature and I like the background image choice! (also - yay Gimp 2!)

Ryelle had been curiously glancing around at the other patrons, showing a very faint smile of approval at the dunesfolk, then smiled complacently once more at the other woman. "It's always nice to see someone of more familiar territory. The dunesfolk have such gemlike eyes, I just love them. They've always reminded me of the opals we sometimes trade in..." She stopped and tilted her head, arching a brow in controlled annoyance as the elezen took a seat. She looked him up and down quickly, the corner of her mouth turning down. "How quaint... I didn't realize the Bismarck had become so homey." She retrieved the glass of liqueur, taking an appraising sip before giving a small nod and nudged the bowl of soup off of the tray. "My companion and I will have the fish then, as well as the accompanying vegetable of the day." She paused and gave the menu a quick flip through. "Kugel for dessert I think. Oh and something for my acquaintance's little friend." Delicately setting the menu back onto the tray, she slid it towards the elezen. "That will be all, thank you." She sipped her kirsch and treated him to a disdainful glare. Ryelle's attention flicked to the hulking highlander a moment, her glare momentarily more severe. She twisted the complacent smile back into place and returned her attention to her quiet companion.

The door slammed open with and a woman entered, brushing her sodden hair back. Her attire was obviously well made, posh, and of the current fashion of Ul'dah's upper class, though somewhat out of place in the port city. "It's always pouring when one tries to go anywhere in this wretched place", she mumbled, shooting the rain an offended glare. She shook her soaked jacket off with a glower and tossed it at a hostess as she glanced around the room. Her look settled on the cloaked woman and hawk. She made her way to the table and perched on her seat like a princess, glancing to another scandalized looking waitress, "I'll have a glass of kirsch, whatever the starter of the evening is, and then the menu." She gave the waitress a dismissive wave and returned her attention to the woman before her. "Good evening. I'm Ryelle Lathal, of Ul'dah's Lathal Mining Corporation." She quirked a brow, her eyes flicking to the hawk. "You're a guide of some sort, yes? You look like the storybook version of a woodland hunter... I'm surprised they let you into the Bismarck with that, as they usually cater to a more discerning clientèle. Usually it's the one place in this city where you can avoid the pirates, thieves, and anyone that doesn't look like they carry their weight in gold."

Happy 4th and Happy Birthday Eltharian!

Making sigs is actually a fairly fun when you're in the mood. I love the blue one and the island vista, Keir. Here are a few of mine in no particular order: