She followed the sound of Jaques' voice to the kitchen, smiling minutely at the rumble of his orientation as she drew closer. She paused at the doorway, leaning against the frame with arms loosely crossed, her eyes flickering from individual to individual.
Lily... was self-conscious. She had stopped the humming she did when alone or at ease. Jaques was still working through the nerves he got when he had to present anything to individuals he did not know well... causing his trademark, protective scowl to tighten his features like a ghost before he forced it back. Remy had yet to relax- not that he ever would, or did, around most anyone. His level of wariness, however, tended to wax and wane like the tides- depending on perceived threat.
The tide was very high at present.
She gave him a faint, half-smirk and nod, her eyes drifting to the main source of his agitation: The Miqo'te... who looked much less threatening now, leaning against the table, blinking slowly- his mind and eyes clearly on other things besides the availability of food and the eating schedules of the Companions. Eyes hooded, ears slightly drooped... sleepy, yet slightly angled toward the Hyur, his gaze drifting along her form, lingering at her backside, legs, then away again. Clearly bored, wishing to be elsewhere doing other things, but resigned to the moment and situation. Casual, but with ears pricking every so often, body still with the unconscious subterranean tenseness of any well-trained and blooded soldier on guard.
The Hyur female, however, seemed at ease and receptive to both Jaques' explanations, and Vaughn's continued attention and open friendliness. A lovely woman, Chiane noted now that she was closer. Elegant, fine boned, a generous smile... and perhaps the palest, finest skin she had ever seen on a Hyur. Quite the feat when living under the Thanalan sun, to be certain.
The Duskwright raised her eyebrow, absently tucking her scarred hands and fingers beneath the fabric of her robe.
Yes, it seemed of those already assembled, the only ones that seemed totally at ease... were Vaughn and the Midlander. She smirked faintly to herself, then quickly blinked, straightening up slightly as Jaques caught sight of her.
"Chiane, meet Lady Faye and Val of the Harbinger's of Dawn."
She smiled, giving them a faint nod, her voice soft with the faintest lilt of an Ala Mhigan accent. "Welcome to the Rose. Apologies for not joining you earlier, but I trust Jaques related to you the reasoning?"
Her eyes flickered over to the odd sound in the direction of the Miqo'te, fighting a grin as it seemed Jaques' recognition of her had caught Val mid-yawn. And a rather impressive yawn at that, despite his attempts to cover his gaping mouth.
The corner of her mouth nevertheless curled up into a half-smirk, interpreting the yowling-growl of a greeting, giving him a nod.
"Likewise, Val... though I fear I may prove to be much less interesting than the forementioned offerings of fruit and nuts."
She shifted, lifting her chin toward the door leading from the kitchen, giving the two Elezen males a slightly raised eyebrow. "Perhaps our guests would like to see the training area and let Lilly return to finishing preparations for our repast?"
She shifted, looking to Faye, giving her a small smile, her tone shifting from faint amusement to a calm even-ness.
"Part of our work here is to not only orient the Companions to life outside the Rose with some manner of education and trade, but to prepare them, should they need to defend themselves from those that would..." she paused briefly, her mouth twisting a bit. "Abuse them."
"Most of those here have been conditioned to take whatever cruelty dealt them without complaint, turning instead to efforts to placate and please the aggressor. Or simply take it, believing they deserve it in some way. It is... very difficult to break them of this belief- yet if they do not, they will face a life of being used, cheated and abused... and possibly returned to service."
She paused, her hand raising a bit from her crossed arm to gesture slightly with a shrug. "But it is difficult to rewire thinking and behavior that has been ingrained since birth." She smiled minutely. "Myself... I teach those with the aptitude- and willingness- for aether manipulation to use it."
Lily... was self-conscious. She had stopped the humming she did when alone or at ease. Jaques was still working through the nerves he got when he had to present anything to individuals he did not know well... causing his trademark, protective scowl to tighten his features like a ghost before he forced it back. Remy had yet to relax- not that he ever would, or did, around most anyone. His level of wariness, however, tended to wax and wane like the tides- depending on perceived threat.
The tide was very high at present.
She gave him a faint, half-smirk and nod, her eyes drifting to the main source of his agitation: The Miqo'te... who looked much less threatening now, leaning against the table, blinking slowly- his mind and eyes clearly on other things besides the availability of food and the eating schedules of the Companions. Eyes hooded, ears slightly drooped... sleepy, yet slightly angled toward the Hyur, his gaze drifting along her form, lingering at her backside, legs, then away again. Clearly bored, wishing to be elsewhere doing other things, but resigned to the moment and situation. Casual, but with ears pricking every so often, body still with the unconscious subterranean tenseness of any well-trained and blooded soldier on guard.
The Hyur female, however, seemed at ease and receptive to both Jaques' explanations, and Vaughn's continued attention and open friendliness. A lovely woman, Chiane noted now that she was closer. Elegant, fine boned, a generous smile... and perhaps the palest, finest skin she had ever seen on a Hyur. Quite the feat when living under the Thanalan sun, to be certain.
The Duskwright raised her eyebrow, absently tucking her scarred hands and fingers beneath the fabric of her robe.
Yes, it seemed of those already assembled, the only ones that seemed totally at ease... were Vaughn and the Midlander. She smirked faintly to herself, then quickly blinked, straightening up slightly as Jaques caught sight of her.
"Chiane, meet Lady Faye and Val of the Harbinger's of Dawn."
She smiled, giving them a faint nod, her voice soft with the faintest lilt of an Ala Mhigan accent. "Welcome to the Rose. Apologies for not joining you earlier, but I trust Jaques related to you the reasoning?"
Her eyes flickered over to the odd sound in the direction of the Miqo'te, fighting a grin as it seemed Jaques' recognition of her had caught Val mid-yawn. And a rather impressive yawn at that, despite his attempts to cover his gaping mouth.
The corner of her mouth nevertheless curled up into a half-smirk, interpreting the yowling-growl of a greeting, giving him a nod.
"Likewise, Val... though I fear I may prove to be much less interesting than the forementioned offerings of fruit and nuts."
She shifted, lifting her chin toward the door leading from the kitchen, giving the two Elezen males a slightly raised eyebrow. "Perhaps our guests would like to see the training area and let Lilly return to finishing preparations for our repast?"
She shifted, looking to Faye, giving her a small smile, her tone shifting from faint amusement to a calm even-ness.
"Part of our work here is to not only orient the Companions to life outside the Rose with some manner of education and trade, but to prepare them, should they need to defend themselves from those that would..." she paused briefly, her mouth twisting a bit. "Abuse them."
"Most of those here have been conditioned to take whatever cruelty dealt them without complaint, turning instead to efforts to placate and please the aggressor. Or simply take it, believing they deserve it in some way. It is... very difficult to break them of this belief- yet if they do not, they will face a life of being used, cheated and abused... and possibly returned to service."
She paused, her hand raising a bit from her crossed arm to gesture slightly with a shrug. "But it is difficult to rewire thinking and behavior that has been ingrained since birth." She smiled minutely. "Myself... I teach those with the aptitude- and willingness- for aether manipulation to use it."
