(Apologies for the delay- I have been OOG/Offline helping my dad pre/post op....
And apologies for length, trying to catch up!
)
Chiane glanced up briefly from her instruction of the fifteen before her, her eyes narrowing slightly as she quickly assessed the two entering the Rose with Jaques leading... and Remioux trailing silently behind. A well-dressed, pale Midlander female and a dour-faced Miqo'te male- likewise well dressed, but clearly as out of his element as the elegant Hyur was in it.
And just as clearly a career fighter- which explained the focused attention Remy kept on him. She noted the unabashedly armoured Duskwright's seemingly casual positioning as the group came to a halt, his hand resting on the pommel, his stance loose and back toward the wall, but in full reach and view of any potential threat.
She smirked faintly to herself as the Miqo'te shot Remy a narrowed glare from time to time- as if threatening him to make a move against his charge as well.
Males...
A subtle shifting and soft giggle caught her attention, coming from the furthest end of the table. She snapped her head back, her palm coming down on the wood with a dull 'thwack'.
"Hands on the table, you two. Miriam- what is the answer?"
Immediately four pairs of hands darted from their subterranean activities beneath the table, the Hyur female's eyes wide in surprise. "Ah- hmm? S-sorry, Miss Chiane..."
She arched her eyebrow at the young woman and her compatriot, a guiltily smirking Wildwood male. "No need to be sorry. Simply give me the result. How much gil would you expect to spend on five bolts of linen, three bottles of rolanberry dye and a skein of linen thread?"
The girl flushed, her dark eyes darting over to the Wildwood. Chi followed her gaze, her tone mild. "Or... perhaps Marquet knows?"
He shrugged, looking away, his eyes quickly darting over to Jaques- doubtless to see if the 'Master' was aware- then back to find Chiane's eyes locked on his face. He flushed, giving her a faint tremulous smile.
"Mmm. I see."Â
She glanced at the others who were either studiously working on their own problems, or watching the interplay like one would a close chocobo race.
"Well... why do you not see if you can work it out now... between you both. The price list is there before you for one unit of each. All you must do is add the amounts requested together."
She leaned forward, tapping a fingernail onto the parchment where the words were accompanied by a small detailed and colored drawing of the item for the less literate.
"Ah... em..." Miriam's brow furrowed, her fingers moving quickly as she tried to count. Chiane could see a fine sheen of sweat on her brow, her own eyes darting to the gathering nearby. "A h-hundred six gil?"
"No."
Chi pointed to the picture of the bolts. "Each one of these is forty gil. I want five. And rolanberry dye- which is rather expensive as you can see. Ninety gil per bottle... and I want three. And the thread, lest the dress you are making fall into a mess on the floor."
"Don' need no missin' thread to make my dress fall off!" One of the Lala twins giggled.
"'Specially not when entertainin' a bundle o' yummy fur like that 'un!" The other twin added, her eyes on the Miqo'te Jaques was speaking to. "I could jus' bury my fac-"
"Loli, Moli... shhh," Chiane gave both a look. "That is inappropriate."
"Why's it inappropriate, Miss Chiane?" A voice to her left asked.
"Because they are not here to request your attention. They are here to help Jaques and Vaughn keep the Sanctuary open, hm? It costs gil. Lots of it... A lot more than the cost of linen, dye and thread. And those two over there are interested in helping."
Daeswyr flashed her a confident grin. "All the more reason ta make 'em happy! I bet I could make dat kitty howl an' dat pretty Hyur scre-"
Again, Chi struck the table, her own cheeks flushing slightly, her voice a low hiss, not daring to look over at the possible benefactors. She feared that even though neither of the two were Blood, the Roe's deep voice carried. "No. No. That is not how things are done here any more. You are all worth more than the price of your bodies. And you can make others happy and do things for you without needing to do that."
S'kyla gave Chi a sultry smile, running her tongue over her teeth. "But what if we want to? What if we like to..."
Chiane let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her face. "Just.. Tell me.... how much gil... is needed to buy the linen, thread and dye, hm?"
There was a pause, then a low, hesitant voice spoke up. "Fi-five... hunnert gil...?"
She looked over at the large Roe in surprise. He had been marked a Green by Sasha, her evaluation labeling him of no more worth than a base manservant.
"Very good, Dusk."
A flash of pride and triumph lit his brown eyes, quickly followed by a wide grin. "I's right?!"
She grinned back at him. "You are. Excellent job. Why do you not show Miriam and Marquet how you came up with that amount?"
The two shot the Roe a dark look, clearly humiliated they had been outdone by him.
Chi cleared her throat, gazing at them. "There is no caste system any longer. Black, Red, Purple and Green are just colors... they mean nothing. Everyone..." she arched her eyebrow at the two. "With the desire and effort to do so... has the opportunity to succeed."
She gestured to the Roe. "Blazing Dusk, please... continue."
He nodded quickly, though kept his eyes down on the paper, his voice a low rumble as he explained in halting, clearly self-conscious, sentences. The others gathered around, brows furrowed and heads cocked as they listened. She smiled faintly, watching them a moment, then glanced back to the gathering.
Vaughn had joined Jaques now, and was chatting them up with a large smile, flitting about with appetizers and tea, firmly in his element- whilst her poor brother was finally given reprieve from the attention and necessity of engaging them. She cut Jaques a small smile and nod, her eyes flickering over to the visitors briefly. The Miqo'te seemed to be dozing off, the Hyur hanging on Vaughn's words with appropriate nods and murmurs of interest.
Thankfully neither seemed the least bit interested or distracted by her and her class at the moment.
Perhaps.... all was still well.
Chiane looked back at the group the moment they went silent. Everyone was staring at their papers or scratching out their own efforts.
"Mmm.. alright then. So, now... I want someone to tell me how much gil I would have remaining after buying this linen, thread and dye... if I came to the market with a pouch of seven hundred fifty gil."
A low groan, a few hands caught chins as they leaned onto the table. She smirked.
"Last problem of the day, hm? Come now... simply take the amount you have in your pouch... Seven fifty... and remove the five hundred..."
She was tired. Trying to get the former Companions to understand the purpose and value of gil... in addition to helping them determine proper pricing and prevent them from being cheated... was difficult. Such basic math as she had learned as a child on her father's knee... should not be so frustrating. The answers seemed so obvious- but even when they came up with the right answer... five hundred gil in practice was still about the same thing in their minds as five gil. A coin is a coin... and many make a lovely clinking sound when shook in a pouch. Naught but metal with a nice engraving on it, nothing close to the value of flesh to them and what potential it possessed.
She was trying... they were all trying. But was like teaching a fish to breathe air... the entire endevour. Everything for the Companions was turned upside down, and trying to right it all again in was a different world was nothing short of impossible.
But the staff stubbornly pressed on... Everyone deserved a chance at a different, more autonomous and free life, if they wished it.
She rubbed her face wearily. Twelve, she hoped the Hyur noblewoman would have a pleasant tour and decide to assist in the maintenance of the Rose. Especially if there was enough gil left over to hire a full-time Mathematics instructor...
One class was enough to be responsible for.
"Miss Chiane?"
She gave the teenage boy standing at her elbow a smile. "Yes?"
"I think Mir and Marq have figured out how to make two become one." He snickered, darting away as she let out a heavy sigh and rose.
"Twelve...." she glanced quickly to the group behind her- but thankfully it seemed the walking tour had begun and they were unnoticed. She pulled the couple apart, leaning over to whisper. "You two... take it upstairs. In your room. And stay there unless fully dressed."
She looked at the others, each of them clearly having difficulty focusing now.
"Alright. Fine... I want the answer at next class. You are all free to go," she stopped as chairs were immediately pushed back and low chattering began. She cleared her throat, waiting til she had their attention once more.
"If the Lady asks you a question, be honest but polite. Be friendly, but not in the way. Do not try to seduce her or offer her pleasures of the House. And..." she cracked a small smirk. "I would refrain from the same in regards to her guard.
"Remember- we want to impress them and help keep the Rose open to help you all and others."
Heads bobbed, murmuring their assent, then quickly dispersed, scribbled work papers in hand.
She sighed, heading up to her own room to ensure her own presentability, then smoothed her robe down and went to join the tour in progress.
****NOTE to participants****
If you wish to comment on anything your character might have overheard or saw- but did not react to/mention before, feel free. After all, wasn't *written* here to react TO at the time. I mainly just wanted to give 'life' to what Chi was doing and why she was kinda... absent...
Also... any NPC's mentioned here are free to use for all, should you wish it. <g>
And apologies for length, trying to catch up!
)Chiane glanced up briefly from her instruction of the fifteen before her, her eyes narrowing slightly as she quickly assessed the two entering the Rose with Jaques leading... and Remioux trailing silently behind. A well-dressed, pale Midlander female and a dour-faced Miqo'te male- likewise well dressed, but clearly as out of his element as the elegant Hyur was in it.
And just as clearly a career fighter- which explained the focused attention Remy kept on him. She noted the unabashedly armoured Duskwright's seemingly casual positioning as the group came to a halt, his hand resting on the pommel, his stance loose and back toward the wall, but in full reach and view of any potential threat.
She smirked faintly to herself as the Miqo'te shot Remy a narrowed glare from time to time- as if threatening him to make a move against his charge as well.
Males...
A subtle shifting and soft giggle caught her attention, coming from the furthest end of the table. She snapped her head back, her palm coming down on the wood with a dull 'thwack'.
"Hands on the table, you two. Miriam- what is the answer?"
Immediately four pairs of hands darted from their subterranean activities beneath the table, the Hyur female's eyes wide in surprise. "Ah- hmm? S-sorry, Miss Chiane..."
She arched her eyebrow at the young woman and her compatriot, a guiltily smirking Wildwood male. "No need to be sorry. Simply give me the result. How much gil would you expect to spend on five bolts of linen, three bottles of rolanberry dye and a skein of linen thread?"
The girl flushed, her dark eyes darting over to the Wildwood. Chi followed her gaze, her tone mild. "Or... perhaps Marquet knows?"
He shrugged, looking away, his eyes quickly darting over to Jaques- doubtless to see if the 'Master' was aware- then back to find Chiane's eyes locked on his face. He flushed, giving her a faint tremulous smile.
"Mmm. I see."Â
She glanced at the others who were either studiously working on their own problems, or watching the interplay like one would a close chocobo race.
"Well... why do you not see if you can work it out now... between you both. The price list is there before you for one unit of each. All you must do is add the amounts requested together."
She leaned forward, tapping a fingernail onto the parchment where the words were accompanied by a small detailed and colored drawing of the item for the less literate.
"Ah... em..." Miriam's brow furrowed, her fingers moving quickly as she tried to count. Chiane could see a fine sheen of sweat on her brow, her own eyes darting to the gathering nearby. "A h-hundred six gil?"
"No."
Chi pointed to the picture of the bolts. "Each one of these is forty gil. I want five. And rolanberry dye- which is rather expensive as you can see. Ninety gil per bottle... and I want three. And the thread, lest the dress you are making fall into a mess on the floor."
"Don' need no missin' thread to make my dress fall off!" One of the Lala twins giggled.
"'Specially not when entertainin' a bundle o' yummy fur like that 'un!" The other twin added, her eyes on the Miqo'te Jaques was speaking to. "I could jus' bury my fac-"
"Loli, Moli... shhh," Chiane gave both a look. "That is inappropriate."
"Why's it inappropriate, Miss Chiane?" A voice to her left asked.
"Because they are not here to request your attention. They are here to help Jaques and Vaughn keep the Sanctuary open, hm? It costs gil. Lots of it... A lot more than the cost of linen, dye and thread. And those two over there are interested in helping."
Daeswyr flashed her a confident grin. "All the more reason ta make 'em happy! I bet I could make dat kitty howl an' dat pretty Hyur scre-"
Again, Chi struck the table, her own cheeks flushing slightly, her voice a low hiss, not daring to look over at the possible benefactors. She feared that even though neither of the two were Blood, the Roe's deep voice carried. "No. No. That is not how things are done here any more. You are all worth more than the price of your bodies. And you can make others happy and do things for you without needing to do that."
S'kyla gave Chi a sultry smile, running her tongue over her teeth. "But what if we want to? What if we like to..."
Chiane let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her face. "Just.. Tell me.... how much gil... is needed to buy the linen, thread and dye, hm?"
There was a pause, then a low, hesitant voice spoke up. "Fi-five... hunnert gil...?"
She looked over at the large Roe in surprise. He had been marked a Green by Sasha, her evaluation labeling him of no more worth than a base manservant.
"Very good, Dusk."
A flash of pride and triumph lit his brown eyes, quickly followed by a wide grin. "I's right?!"
She grinned back at him. "You are. Excellent job. Why do you not show Miriam and Marquet how you came up with that amount?"
The two shot the Roe a dark look, clearly humiliated they had been outdone by him.
Chi cleared her throat, gazing at them. "There is no caste system any longer. Black, Red, Purple and Green are just colors... they mean nothing. Everyone..." she arched her eyebrow at the two. "With the desire and effort to do so... has the opportunity to succeed."
She gestured to the Roe. "Blazing Dusk, please... continue."
He nodded quickly, though kept his eyes down on the paper, his voice a low rumble as he explained in halting, clearly self-conscious, sentences. The others gathered around, brows furrowed and heads cocked as they listened. She smiled faintly, watching them a moment, then glanced back to the gathering.
Vaughn had joined Jaques now, and was chatting them up with a large smile, flitting about with appetizers and tea, firmly in his element- whilst her poor brother was finally given reprieve from the attention and necessity of engaging them. She cut Jaques a small smile and nod, her eyes flickering over to the visitors briefly. The Miqo'te seemed to be dozing off, the Hyur hanging on Vaughn's words with appropriate nods and murmurs of interest.
Thankfully neither seemed the least bit interested or distracted by her and her class at the moment.
Perhaps.... all was still well.
Chiane looked back at the group the moment they went silent. Everyone was staring at their papers or scratching out their own efforts.
"Mmm.. alright then. So, now... I want someone to tell me how much gil I would have remaining after buying this linen, thread and dye... if I came to the market with a pouch of seven hundred fifty gil."
A low groan, a few hands caught chins as they leaned onto the table. She smirked.
"Last problem of the day, hm? Come now... simply take the amount you have in your pouch... Seven fifty... and remove the five hundred..."
She was tired. Trying to get the former Companions to understand the purpose and value of gil... in addition to helping them determine proper pricing and prevent them from being cheated... was difficult. Such basic math as she had learned as a child on her father's knee... should not be so frustrating. The answers seemed so obvious- but even when they came up with the right answer... five hundred gil in practice was still about the same thing in their minds as five gil. A coin is a coin... and many make a lovely clinking sound when shook in a pouch. Naught but metal with a nice engraving on it, nothing close to the value of flesh to them and what potential it possessed.
She was trying... they were all trying. But was like teaching a fish to breathe air... the entire endevour. Everything for the Companions was turned upside down, and trying to right it all again in was a different world was nothing short of impossible.
But the staff stubbornly pressed on... Everyone deserved a chance at a different, more autonomous and free life, if they wished it.
She rubbed her face wearily. Twelve, she hoped the Hyur noblewoman would have a pleasant tour and decide to assist in the maintenance of the Rose. Especially if there was enough gil left over to hire a full-time Mathematics instructor...
One class was enough to be responsible for.
"Miss Chiane?"
She gave the teenage boy standing at her elbow a smile. "Yes?"
"I think Mir and Marq have figured out how to make two become one." He snickered, darting away as she let out a heavy sigh and rose.
"Twelve...." she glanced quickly to the group behind her- but thankfully it seemed the walking tour had begun and they were unnoticed. She pulled the couple apart, leaning over to whisper. "You two... take it upstairs. In your room. And stay there unless fully dressed."
She looked at the others, each of them clearly having difficulty focusing now.
"Alright. Fine... I want the answer at next class. You are all free to go," she stopped as chairs were immediately pushed back and low chattering began. She cleared her throat, waiting til she had their attention once more.
"If the Lady asks you a question, be honest but polite. Be friendly, but not in the way. Do not try to seduce her or offer her pleasures of the House. And..." she cracked a small smirk. "I would refrain from the same in regards to her guard.
"Remember- we want to impress them and help keep the Rose open to help you all and others."
Heads bobbed, murmuring their assent, then quickly dispersed, scribbled work papers in hand.
She sighed, heading up to her own room to ensure her own presentability, then smoothed her robe down and went to join the tour in progress.
****NOTE to participants****
If you wish to comment on anything your character might have overheard or saw- but did not react to/mention before, feel free. After all, wasn't *written* here to react TO at the time. I mainly just wanted to give 'life' to what Chi was doing and why she was kinda... absent...
Also... any NPC's mentioned here are free to use for all, should you wish it. <g>
