ROLEPLAY HQ - know-your-place

With a stretch and a yawn, the young man picks up the pace of his brother who has just gotten out of an interview. Both of them are Nerix, and now that they've graduated from the Moonsmiths Academy and can officially be Companions, they must find an Itzam to employ them. But easier said than done, as the two brothers have but one request: to be employed together, if possible. And apparently, that's what is holding back a lot of Itzams. "Why though?" he asks his brother, putting his hands behind his head as he walks. "Are Itzams really that broke? Is the rumor of the economic struggle real?" Despite asking, he knoww very well what the answer is. Companions aren't as popular as they used to, there were more cases of abuse and running away attempts so it dissuaded some employers who didn't want to end up with a rebellious Companion. Or one who'd want to be treated ratherhumanly.

Holding back a sigh of relief until he is out of the building again, Ethan starts walking as soon as he steps out. He worries that if he stays around, somehow fate wouldn't be favorable and their application was going to be rejected. They've been doing interview on interview for the past few days, and no one seemed polite enough to contact them back to tell them their profiles hadn't been selected. So they had to deal with silence, a lot of it. "If they are, then what are we?" he crossed his arms on his chest and let his gaze wander, stopping on a cat playing with a terrified mouse. "Beggars?" he lets out a chuckle, maybe it's not that far from reality. "So much for having graduated, then." Ethan's eyes trail back to his brother, only a few seconds younger than him - their fight to decide who's the eldest is still very much ongoing - yet taller. The white button up and black pants he is wearing make him look even taller, which ticks him off. But Ethan knows that out of the two, he is the one who pulls off formal wear the best. He's always been told so, and he naturally looks more elegant in it. He hopes it played in his favor during the interview. @Mr BReightside

"What do you mean I can't hire two?" Rosalia's voice carries an aggravated pitch as the man sitting across the desk from her stares blankly. It's always the same excuses. We are looking out for your safety. Two Nerix employed to a novice mage, you wouldn't survive. It's always about power to them. Before she can continue, an intern leans into the room. "Hey boss, just had another interview from those siblings, what do I do with it?" He holds up the papers to emphasize the question. The manager waves the guy off, about to dismiss him before Rosalia interrupts. "Siblings? Perfect! I want them!" An enthusiastic grin now on display as she hassles them into accepting the arrangement. After what felt like an hour of discussion, Rosalia finally makes her way out of the building. "What a pain..." She huffs, beginning her walk back to her apartment.

1:13 PM

@MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

With a sigh, he sits down near the canal that flows through the city. Throwing pebbles into it, he carefully avoids looking at his brother. The next few hours were going to be decisive. If their application was kept, they would be contacted in the following hours. A tension forms between them, a mix of anxiety and hope. This agency was the penultimate on their list, after which they'd have to look even further out of the city, drastically reducing their chances of being hired the further they'd go.

A quick glance tells him that Nate is thinking the same thing as the latter decides to stop walking. Standing next to him, the dark haired boy scans the surroundings, looking for something to fix his attention on; a bird, a passerby, a leaf, anything to distract him from the painfully long and silent seconds going by. His eyes fall on a young lady with dark hair. Her clothes swing with each step she's taking and he can't help but appreciate the beauty of physics. He is about to look away when he feels a vibration in his pocket. Before the tune has had the chance to play, he pulls out his phone and shoots a surprised look at Nate, who urges him to pick up the call. "Yes? ... , Yes, ... , Exactly, ... , Totally- er I mean, yes we are! ... Of course Sir! ... Thank you so much Sir! ... Have a good day." And he hungs up. The content of the discussion is easy to guess based on his answers and the smile of pure joy on his face. Grabbing the other boy's arm, he drags him up, clenching the phone in his free hand as if it was a precious jewel. "Holy fuck Nate, we have an offer!" he exclaims, starting to pace around. "Mr. Schnitter, the interviewer, just called to tell us we have an offer! He asked if we were available as soon as possible to fill in the papers and formally meet our employer!" Turning back to his brother, he suddenly stops pacing and starts to re-arrange himself. "Do we look presentable enough?" @Mr BReightside

Rosalia closes the door to her apartment behind her after rushing back. She has to be quick to return to meet her new companions, but her job comes first. Walking into one of the spare bedrooms, a small but rather impressive apothecary lab is set up. Beakers of vibrant liquids and exotic plants are arranged neatly along shelves above and atop the table of her work space. "This looks about.. Done! Excellent, let's get this packaged. I can deliver it on my way back." She voices her thoughts as she works, finding comfort in the noise. At the bottom of the beaker that has her attention rests a powder that has finished evaporating and drying. She carefully transfers it into a packet and seals it securely. "Alright, Mrs. Alice already paid the deposit, so I get the rest on delivery. She isn't too far out of the way from the agency.." An electronic jingle along with a vibration interrupts her as her phone rings, she answers it with a huff. "Hello? Yes. Excellent! I will return shortly. Thank you." Letting out a satisfied hum, Rosalia finished up the package and makes her way back out the door, and on her way. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Dragged up by force, he lets out a chuckle at the rapid succession of emotions on his brother's face. Elbowing him in the ribs, he starts walking back towards the agency after discreetly rearranging himself. "Let's go then, better not keep them waiting." Once at the agency and right before pushing open the finely carved wooden door, Nate takes a moment to glance at his brother and make sure both of them are presentable enough. With a grin, he enters. The hallway is empty, at the exception of a cleaning lady. Probably a Nerix, he thinks as he puts his foot on the stone stairs and starts going up. He quickly distances Ethan by walking the steps two by two, but he waits for him on the second floor, right before the actual door of the agency.

It's with his stomach doing happy and apprehensive flips that he follows Nate to the building. Located in a rather calm area, the river isn't far and the whole street has a picturesque charm to it. "I wouldn't mind living here," he whispers to himself before stepping inside. The lady cleaning the floor looks up at him when he walks by and gives him a warm, encouraging smile. She recalls seeing him a few minutes earlier, and his presence back here so soon can only be a good thing for them. Clearly more anxious than his brother, he fiddles with his fingers as he goes up, mentally rehearsing their introduction. Everything needs to be perfect, it's their only chance. "Excuse me, good afternoon." He starts with a voice devoid of any trace of stress, it's light and polite. "Ethan and Nate Bailey, we have an interview with Mr. Schnitter." Guided to a waiting room, they are invited to sit down while their employer is on their way. The secretary gives them a hopeful look as she walks back to her desk, sitting in front of the door. @Mr BReightside

"Thank you so much! If you need anything else, please contact me!" Rosalia smiles as she walks away, having made another successful medicine delivery. Checking the watch on her wrist, She hurries along back to the agency, eager to meet the companions she hopes to hire. Her black hair carries and trails behind her in the wind along with the hem of her skirt as she falls into a smooth stride. It doesn't take her long to return, looking around as she walks inside. She smiles to the receptionist and gives her a nod. "I'm back." Rosalia pauses beside a picture frame, taking a moment to fix her hair. Atop her head sits a pair of catlike ears, angled forward attentively as she checks her reflection with warm golden eyes. With a nod, the receptionist walks Rosalia back to the waiting room. Leaving her with two young men. A tail with well brushed black fur sways calmly behind her as she watches the receptionist lean into the office, announcing that everyone is present. Rosalia looks at the two men, assuming them to be the siblings, giving them a welcoming smile. "I hope I didn't make you wait too long, my name is Rosalia Brennan. It is a pleasure to meet you." @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Sitting rather nonchalantly on the chair, Nate straightens himself up a bit when he hears footsteps approaching. Biting the inside of his lips wondering what their employer looks like, he unconsciously furrows his eyebrows, giving his expression a stricter and colder look. When his eyes fall on the young woman, some relief passes on his face before it goes back to his stoic expression, as he starts to wonder why the hell she would have use of two Nerix. Not that he doesn't want to be employed, but judging by her looks, she must be barely older than them. Is she also employed by someone? No, she's dressed too nicely for that - unless it's someone really wealthy. Does she work someplace else, and is looking for cheap workforce? Technically, that wouldn't be illegal. But upon glancing at her hands, he rules out this possibility as well. Opening his mouth to speak, he is cut off by his brother.

With his back straight against the back of the chair, he turns his head slightly when he hears the pair of footsteps coming towards them. The first thing his eyes do when the young lady enters is to scan her face. She seems nice, he points out to himself. After looking at her a bit more closely, he can't shake off this feeling of having seen her before, and it doesn't occur to him that he has indeed seen her, but briefly on the streets earlier that same day. Getting up, he glances at his brother for him to do the same and puts a hand over his heart, giving a little bow to who he assumed was going to be their employer. "My brother Nate and myself, Ethan Bailey. The pleasure is ours." Before they are able to go further with the introductions and small talk, the door opens and Mr. Schnitter appears in the door frame, inviting them to enter and take a seat. @Mr BReightside

Rosalia walks inside with the brothers, looking around as she goes to take a seat. Her mind buzzes with questions but she quiets them, focusing on the brothers as they find their seats, joining her. She shifts in her seat, moving her tail so that it rests beside her leg. The chair not fashioned to accommodate the feature. Taking a deep breath, Rosalia's ears angle out to the sides as she relaxes. Her golden eyes examining the two men sitting before her. They were excellent. She had been running her business on her own ever since she started it. As a herbalist, creating potions and remedies is a simple task. Aquiring the ingredients for them, then caring for the live samples she has collected, has become more time consuming than she cares to admit. Then comes the issue of security. While having just one man with her would be sufficient, The peace of mind meant more to her. She eyes Mr. Schitter, hoping he will do them the pleasure of hurrying, as she gets the impression that he doesn't want any of them here in his office. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

After imitating his brother, Nate enters Mr. Schnitter's office and take a seat, whether it's on purpose or not that it's the seat furthest from Rosalia is left to be debated. But through his demeanor, he shows that he has little interest to the young woman, or at least, that's what it seems. His mind is actually running marathons trying to figure out why she would need two Nerix, and who she is, what she does for a living, what their living conditions will be, and much more. Mr Schnitter, with a sigh, introduces each of them, both the brothers and Rosalia. Nonchalantely, his eyes go back to the watch on his wrist, and seeing the time seems to make him want to get rid of the trio even faster. If only Miss Brennan hadn't heard that the two boys had applied once again... he'd be done with his day by now. Leaning to open a drawer, he pulls out three sheets of paper that he puts to the edge of his desk. "Here is the contract that the three of you must read and agree to. Signature at the bottom, along with the date and location," he continues, barely stopping to take another breath. "This only covers the agency's policy for employment, Miss Brennan is free to give you a contract of her own if she has special needs."

Taking the remaining seat between Nate and Rosalia, he glances at his brother then at the other person sitting next to him. But he makes sure not to look at her too long, for he fears that he has already glared at her too long in the waiting room. The last thing he'd want would be to be mistaken as a judging person. Focusing his attention back to the man behind the desk, he waits for him to finish speaking before taking the sheet of paper in the middle. Carefully reading it, he looks for a pen in his pocket as he does so. The clauses seem reasonable, he doesn't have many other contracts to compare this one to, but it seems to be a decent engagement for Nate and him. Signing the paper and giving the pen to his brother, he gives back the contract to Mr. Schnitter, whose eyes seem to scream at them to hurry. @Mr BReightside

Rosalia's eyes scan through the page as she takes a pen from a holder on Schnitter's desk. She knows full well that t's there for that purpose but it will also annoy him further. She fills out and signs the contract, still holding her smile. "I'm certain we will all benefit from this." She meant it for the three of them, but also holding true about Schnitter. Returning both the signed contract and the pen to the desk, Rosalia gives the brothers a reassuring smile. She has no doubt that both of them have many questions for her and she looks forward to answering them. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Skipping over most sentences of the contract that he knows are only here for appearances, his eyes look for two information: wage and weekly hours. He knows full well they're likely going to do more hours, but when his eyes fall on the number, he raises his eyebrow in a delighted surprise. Not that he has other contracts to compare this one to, but the minimum weekly working hours look pretty reasonable to him. While his brother reads and signs, he finishes looking for the most important information in the contract, and wonders if Rosalia is going to give them a contract of her own. Part of him expects it. Taking the pen, he quickly signs and dates the paper before giving it back, his face slightly more relaxed than before.

Once Mr. Schnitter has gathered the three sheets back, he explains a few other conditions, especially about terminating the contract. In his voice, it sounds like he is used to explaining this part, and the truth isn't that far from it. "I wish you three the best, and please know that the agency and myself remain available for any questions or issues you might encounter," he finishes, standing back up to accompany them to the door. He seems a bit less in a hurry than before, but inside, he still can't wait for the trio to be gone. Squeezing his brother's hand as they walk to the door of the office, Ethan thanks Mr. Schnitter before the man closes the door on them and the trio finds itself in the waiting room from before. Eager to ask all of his questions, the long haired young man glances at Rosalia. Perhaps she wants to wait until they're outside to answer their questions. As if to answer his questioning, the secretary walks back to them and guides them to the door, with a bright smile on her face as she wishes them a good day. The cleaning lady is gone when they get down the stairs, and the weather seems even nicer once they get out. @Mr BReightside

With a breath of relief, Rosalia turns to the brothers. "Let's go have lunch. We can sit, eat, and discuss. I'm sure you have questions for me." Her cheery attitude is almost infectious as she smiles at them, shoulders and tail relaxed. She motions, inviting them to walk with her as she leads them down the sidewalk. "I'm so relieved to finally have done this. I can only imagine what you two have had to deal with leading up to today." As Rosalia leads them down the street, she moves a small backpack into a more comfortable position. Her golden eyes shifting as she scans the path ahead as they walk. Slowing down, Rosalia brings them through a open set of double doors into a cozy little café. With only a handful of people scattered about. Some are customers seated at tables and booths. The rest being the staff. One of which greets them, bringing the three of them over to a table. "What can I get for you today?" "Coffee, medium roast, please." Rosealia smiles as she takes a seat. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Hiding his grumbling stomach as he lets out a chuckle of what seems to be amusement, he follows and relaxes his shoulders and neck by rolling them, knowing it gives off the impression that he is about to fight someone. After all, now that Rosalia is their employer they also have to ensure her safety so it's not wasted time to warm up his muscles a bit. Following silently, he looks at her from the back and can't help but wonder how it would feel to have a tail of his own. Would it be bothersome or just not noticeable, the same way he didn't always remembered he had a nose? His original conclusion was that it'd be bothersome with clothing, and before he was able to ponder more on that matter, the trio reached a café. It was one he hadn't heard of, strangely enough. Because as they were looking for employers, Nate had this idea stuck in his mind that maybe he could work as a waiter, so he had applied to various establishments. Unluckily, all of them had made it clear they weren't accepting a Nerix so inecperienced as he was. Which he found the concept really stupid, but he had no choice but deal with it. Taking his seat facing Rosalia, he hesitates a brief second, not sure what he's allowed to order before he also asks for a coffee, the same as the young lady.

Ethan's stomach is a little bit fuller than his brother's and doesn't rumble as...loudly, but as they walk to the café, he grabs a hold of Nate's arm for a brief moment as his vision gets filled with black spots. Before anyone can voice their concern however, he is back to walking and smiling gently as if nothing happened. Last thing he'd want would be for Rosalia to take pity on them, especially so soon in their..partnership. Picking up the words chosen by the waiter, he guesses that it must be a place the young lady goes to often. Not only that, but her steps were affirmed and did not hesitate as if she was looking for the nearby café to stop at. She must know the area, he thinks to himself as he sits down next to his brother. Less shy about ordering, he asks for a simple green tea and thanks the waiter as they leave to go deal with their order. Adjusting his choker and sliding a hand through his hair to rearrange it, he barely waits before starting the conversation. "First of all, Miss Brennan, we are very grateful that you've chosen us. I know our experience is pretty lacking, but we've graduated top of our classes at the Moonsmith Academy and we just need an opportunity to show you what we're capable of." @Mr BReightside

The brother's anxiety isn't lost on Rosalia as she sits patiently. Sliding the backpack off of her shoulders, she sets it in the empty seat beside her. With an ear angled to the side towards the brothers, she listens as one of them makes a request for tea. She observes how they conduct themselves while not knowing what she would expect from her. While her business often requires her to interact with people, Rosalia typically avoids it whenever possible, a habit she has been trying to break. The waitress thanks them and goes into the back to prepare their orders. Bringing her attention fully back to the two gentlemen seated across from her, Rosalia listens, Her ears angled forward attentively, and her expression warm as usual. "Formal experience isn't a requirement for me, only a will to work. I am a self employed Herbalist, I run an apothecary out of my apartment; making and delivering various potions, medicines, and remedies. I will teach you everything you will need to know in order to safely and effectively assist me." She reaches into her backpack and retrieves a small notebook, opening it up to display a list of order details, setting it out for the brothers to see. "I receive steady orders, typically from clients requesting refills. Between the lab, the garden space I have, sourcing ingredients from out in the wild, and delivering to clients, I have a unique demand for more than just a single assistant." As she explains, Rosalia motions with her hands in subconscious embellishment.

10:24 AM

@MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Nervously imitating his brother, Nate adjusts his shirt and sleeves as the other speaks, and when Rosalia replies, all of his attention is focused on her. His golden eyes stay on her and follow her movements when she reaches for the notebook. Deciding between looking at the writings or listening to her, his priority is listening so he glances quickly at what is written, then quickly back at Rosalia. Deciding to finally speak, his voice comes out assured and firm. "You can definitely count on us, we'll do everything we can to help you run your business."

His anxiety slowly vanishing as they start talking, he seems to relax his shoulders a bit. Taking a good look at the orders written down on the notebook, he is rather quick to get used to Rosalia's handwriting and it doesn't take him long at all to be able to read everything as easily as if it was his own handwriting. Nodding silently at what his brother says, his eyes dart back to the waitress who's coming back with their drinks. Quick! he can't help but remark. And at the same time, he wonders if that's a quality she is looking for, seeing that she's the one who chose thei café and that she seems to be a regular here. Does she like this café in particular because of how fast service is? Or is it just the cozy ambiance? He doesn't dare ask, not yet. Maybe one day, after they've gotten to know each other a bit more. @Mr BReightside

"I appreciate the enthusiasm. If I may ask, what is your current living arrangements like? Do you have a house or apartment? I intended for you both to live with me- I have the room- but it is not a demand or requirement." While she learned to become quite independent, living alone has come to carry a sense of loneliness and vulnerability. The waitress returns with two mugs of coffee and a glass of tea, placing them out on the table for them. "Here you go! I do apologize for not having menus available at the start. I will give you a moment to look through it." "Thank you." Rosalia responds with an appreciative tone, before adding sugar and cream to her coffee. Her mind starting to swirl with anxious thoughts of her own. Would it be selfish of me to ask them to take care of me if things get bad? Her warm smile falters for just a moment before she pushes the thoughts away. "There are more.. sensitive matters I wish to discuss with you later on, once we are in a more private setting. I hope you can trust me with your patience and understanding..." Taking a sip of her coffee, Rosalia's ears and tail betray her anxiety, putting on retreated display. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Quietly letting the waitress serve their orders, he takes the instant to prepare his questions. What is she expecting of them aside from helping running her business? Is she going to ask them to move closer to her place, or workplace? A quick glance at his brother tells him that he is thinking the same questions, and Nate chooses to take the initiative. Once the waitress has left again, not even moving to try and look at the menus, he shakes his head and answers her question. "We currently live with our parents, on the outside of the city. But there would be no problem moving. In fact, it'd make things more practical for us too, by completely ruling out the possibility of unexpected accidents on the way." As he finishes speaking, he wraps his hands around the warm mug, taking a moment to appreciate the warmth of the brown liquid.

Thanking the waitress with a nod of the head and a slight smile, he takes a sip and nods with his eyes closed. The tea is good. While he is savoring it, Nate starts answering and Ethan opens his eyes again putting the glass down in the same movement. Noticing the brief change of expression of their interlocutor, he decides to not point it out and simply offers a reassuring smile with a little head tilt. "How about we introduces ourselves, to get to know each other better?" he suggests, to break the ice a bit more. @Mr BReightside

Her eyes flick to the door as a man she doesn't recognize leaves before looking back to the brothers sitting across from her. Her smile starting to return. "Of course. Please, tell me about yourselves." She looks down to the menus on the table between them before taking on to browse. "Also, please feel free to order what you like. It will be my treat." Rosalia pulls a small packet from her bag and empties the powder inside into her coffee, stirring it in. Taking a sip of her coffee, her ears and tail relax again. "I carry powdered peppermint with me for occasions like this, would either of you like some for your drinks? I find it tends to be comforting." @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Exchanging a glance with his brother, he cleared his throat and holds his mug a bit lighter. Looking through the menu quickly, he asks for a piece of blueberry pie, though as he speaks, his eyes seem to look for confirmation in Rosalia's. "I'm Nate Bailey, 19 years old. I've been a huge fan of sports ever since we entered the Moonsmiths Academy and I hope to make good use of the skills I learned from it. Speaking of qualities that would be useful for our work, I'd say I'm in great physical shape and I have a very good sense of orientation. I prefer manual tasks to intellectual ones, although, of course I can do both without problem." After his introduction, he breathes out and politely refuses the peppermint before finally taking a sip of his coffee. His eyes now flick between Rosalia and his brother.

Motioning that he'd also like a piece of blueberry pie, he holds eye-contact with Rosalia, keeping a relaxed expression. Bringing his cup of tea forward, he thanks her for her kind attention. Once he can taste the slight taste of peppermint in his tea, Nate starts to speak and he closes his eyes again, savoring his tea and letting all the attention fall on his brother. Once the latter is finished, he puts down the cup, puts one hand on top of the other, takes a breath in and introduces himself as well. "Ethan Bailey, delighted to meet you. I'm 19 years old as well and I excel in languages. From old ones no longer spoken to current ones, I can speak and read a total of 16 languages. I am also quite fit, although it tends to be accentuated in speed rather than strength. My qualities would be my patience and assiduity." @Mr BReightside

After writing down Nate and Ethan's orders, the waitress looks to Rosalia for her order. "I would like a side of fries, please" Rosalia's voice is calm, wavering slightly as her throat vibrates with a gentle purr. The waitress takes not of their orders and gives them a smile. "Two slices of blueberry pie and a side of fries, Alrighty! I will be back with them soon!" She takes all but one of the menus and walks back into the kitchen area, leaving the three of them to talk. Rosalia listens patiently as the brothers introduce themselves. Once both have finished, she speaks up. "Nate and Ethan, it is a pleasure to meet you both, really. I look forward to seeing how you can apply your skills. As I have said before, my name is Rosalia Brennan, I am a Herbalist by trade. While I am capable of using magic, I am not very skilled, it is something I'm working to better myself with." She looks around, her eyes flitting between the few people in the room before settling on Ethan. "Your patience I will value greatly. I chose this place for the safety. It's no secret that some Itzams bare trates and tendencies that are..Well.." She lets out a soft sigh as she carefully chooses her words. "I.. am cursed... My parents are Nirex, like you. So when it was discovered that I possessed an affiinitly for magic.. Their contractor cursed me, as a condition for allowing my parents to raise me themselves.." Rosalia looks down at her cup of tea as she speaks, before taking another sip. The familiar taste of peppermint comforting her. "I do not seek your pity, only your understanding and patience. I will take care of you to the best of my ability. As selfish as this sounds, can I rely on you to care for me in times of need..?" She tries not to let the fear and uncertainty show on her face as the emotions grip her chest. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

His eyes switch between his brother and Rosalia when the latter introduces himself. He quietly nods at his words, what Ethan says is completely true, before taking another sip of coffee. Raising an eyebrow hearing that although she can use magic, she isn't very skilled, he opens his mouth to ask a question. But seeing her eyes flitting around the way they do, he decides to turn his tongue in his mouth before asking, and first let her finish completely. She'll probably answer my question while speaking, he thinks to himself, cupping his hands around the warm drink.

Rosalia's cat ears twitch, angling to the side as the sound of approaching footsteps catches her attention. She lets out a anxious sigh but returns to her smile. "We can discuss that in detail after we enjoy our lunch." The waitress returns with their food, carried with a practice balance on a platter. "Two slices of blueberry pie and a basket of fries, here you go!" She sets the food out in front of their respective orders. "Enjoy!" She gives a small, polite bow before walking away to check on the few others seated in the room. "I do apologize if I made you nervous.. Having lived with something for so long, I forget it isn't something that's considered to be normal conversation." She gives an apologetic smile before eating a french fry. "For now, is there anything else you would like to know about me?" @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Still a bit surprised by her revelation, he doesn't get the chance to speak before the waitress comes back and the subject is temporarily closed. He looks down at the blueberry pie then to the side at Nate. A small smile escapes him when he sees his brother's eyes, hungry for answers. Cutting a piece of the blueberry pie, he closes his eyes when eating it, savoring the freshness of the fruit you can still feel.

Nodding a thank you to the waitress, he pushes his plate a bit forward so that he can put his forearms crossed on the table and lean forward. Glancing at his brother, he asks his first question, soon followed by the others. "Do you plan on enrolling? Aren't you worried of the rumors about you having two Companions?" he looked at Ethan and added, "It's not gonna be a problem for us but I was asking for you..." He looked back at her, excitation building up in his voice. "Maybe you've already thought of it but you could take one of us with you while the other handles your herbalist missions?" @Mr BReightside

Swallowing first, Rosalia nods. "I'm planning on enrolling, for many reasons. With apothecary being one of them, I plan on taking my work with me. I can arrange for mail delivery, I do intend to bring both of you with me." She takes a drink of coffee, seemingly unbothered by the interesting clash of flavor between it and the salt of the french fries. Leaning back a bit, her tail plays behind Rosalia. The slender length of sleek, black fur gently curling and swaying side to side. "As for what the others might think, it couldn't be worse than the things I've already heard.." She rolls her eyes, reminding herself of the nasty, spiteful things she grew up hearing. She chuckles, her smile gaining power again. "I reminded myself of something my mother has always told me. 'Head up, shoulders back, stare them down, and give them a smile!' I love her so much." Rosalia lets out a soft laugh before eating another french fry. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Silently listening, he takes a moment to imagine what she implies. She must have heard words similar to what the brothers have heard, but it must've cut deeper. Putting down his cup, he looks back at her and offers a warm smile. "She sounds like an amazing person," he remarks.

Nodding as he listens to her answers, once she takes another fry, he finally digs into his own slice of blueberry pie. It tastes fresh and warm from the oven, he can tell this was home-made, and if he was a bit more well-versed in bakery he would be able to tell how long ago this was made. But Nate prefers sports, and reading. Classics sometimes, but mostly thrillers. The thought occurs to him that he will have less time to read now, unless he finds a way to sneak a book into his new schedule. @Mr BReightside

"She really is." Rosalia smiles as she continues eating. With an expression of thoughtful curiosity, she turns to a clean page in her notepad and makes a small list. Below that, a set of instructions and other thoughts. "Would either of you know of a stream or creek with flowing water that is nearby? It's one of the next places I wish to explore for more samples and cuttings to collect." She takes a sip of her coffee as her tail plays in the air behind her. She had to admit, she is already adjusting to being around the brothers. They have a peculiar charm to them. She had already noticed their well kept appearance. Even if there were tell-tale signs of it being done in a hurry. Her posture is relaxed, her pleasant smile unwavering. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Taking another bite, his gaze focuses on the notepad and the lines she writes on it, his curiosity piqued. He can feel excitement build up ever so slowly in his body, his arms and legs itching to move and do something now that he finally has a job. Looking at his brother when she questions them, he then looks back at her before speaking. "Well, there's the Rochburg Creek not so far..." he lets his sentence open, remembering everything he knows about the area. "...but it's still outside of the city and the path leading to it can be a bit steep."

A fast eater, he has already eaten half of his slice when his brother starts speaking. Nodding slowly as he savors each bite, he then takes a moment to readjust his choker and the collar of his shirt, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. "Although we grew up in the suburbs of the city, we've explored a lot of the surrounding lands and mountains," he explains. Catching a glance of her tail, he can't help but wonder how soft it must be. Truth is, he has already met people like her, but he has never gotten the chance to get close enough to ask the questions that fly around in his mind. It's an aspect of life he has never really done researches on, so he doesn't know if, for example, their pants have a a special cut made to allow the tail to freely move or if they have to make one themselves. But he doesn't dare ask Rosalia, at least, not yet. @Mr BReightside

Rosalia nods as she listens to Nate explain the path to the creek, making a note beside one of the items she had written on the list. Maybe? What's a wish list without wishful thinking? She glances over the other items before bringing her attention back to Ethan. Her ears perk up, seeming to be elated with their outdoors experience. "Excellent! That experience will be useful. We can plan out that little adventure later." Taking a long sip of her coffee, her warm demeanor persists. "After this, I would like to bring you to my apartment. So you can become familiar with it. There we can discuss moving in and getting anything you may need. Do either of you have any medical conditions or anything that needs accommodating? I will do my best to assist with anything you needs." She smiles, continuing with her small plate of fries. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Still only halfway through his pie, he savors another bite before drinking a bit of his cup and relaxing his shoulders. Now curious of what her place is like, Nate can feel the impatience growing in his body, this tickling sensation in your feet and hands to do something. Eyeing the fries before he catches the glance of his brother, he clears his throat and shakes his head to push away his want for fries, instead he eats another slice of the pie. While chewing, he looks back at his brother and grabs his hand under the table, squeezing it gently.

Finishing his pie to keep himself from asking embarrassing questions, he grabs back his drink and keeps it between his hands, warming them with the lukewarm cup. His eyes wander around without a goal and he relaxes his shoulder a bit. Stopping his gaze on her, he simply nods then stops, sending a hesitant glance at his brother. @Mr BReightside

Rosalia takes a drink of her coffee, letting out a soft chuckle as she sets the cup down. "There's no need to be so nervous, you can speak you mind. I hope we can be open with each other." Her smile persists, parting only to take in another fry as her lunch is getting close to being finished. The waitress returns, looking between the three of them at the table. "How is everything going over here? Are we together or separate?" Rosalia responds with a smile, "We're together, my treat." The waitress nods, checking on the brothers before returning to the back. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

(( Hi there!

@Mr BReightside @MMS (Martin-Maraiste) , We noticed this roleplay has been inactive for 90 days or more. Please reply to this message so I am pinged if you would like to keep this roleplay open. In addition, roleplay must begin within 7 days, otherwise this channel will be moved to our archives. All archived roleplays are eventually uploaded onto http://rphq.me/ and can be viewed there. If you wish to archive this roleplay yourself, you can request this with the /archiverequest command in #channel-request ))

(( Hi there!

@👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯 - jump I would like to continue but I haven't heard from Skye in a while, idk if she is still active or interested

Reply to: @👯 Bunny Dancing through Life 👯 (( Hi there!

@Mr BReightside @MMS (Martin-Maraiste) , We noticed this roleplay has been inactive for 90 days or more. Please reply to this message so I am pinged if you would like to keep this roleplay open. In addition, roleplay must begin within 7 days, otherwise this channel will be moved to our archives. All archived roleplays are eventually uploaded onto http://rphq.me/... i am so sorry, but yes, we are planning on pîcking this up!

After taking another, rather large, sip of his drink now almost finished, Ethan seems to regain a very composed expression. Checking no wandering ear is listening, he speaks again, his voice more firm and deeper than before. "Why hiring *both *of us?" His eyes speak of a desire to know, and his body language, although seeming relaxed to the outside eye, is actually tense as a string.

The sudden stiffening takes him aback, and he lets go of his brother's hand to try and shake away this idea of his. All the while glancing at Rosalia to see if she's angered by the bold question. Why does his idiotic brother insist on always knowing why people do things? Nerix like them are not supposed to question their employers! His brother not retracting his words, the light-haired boy takes it upon himself to lower his head to the table and apologize. "Please, forgive him, Miss! It doesn't matter the reason why you've chosen us, we'll be loyal to you regardless!" Under the table, he makes sure to kick his brother in the shin, to at least get a tiny reaction from him. @Mr BReightside

Rosalia can't help but chuckle softly at his question, staring down at her coffee with a small smile that fades slowly. She knew hiring two Nerix at the same time was unheard of for just a single person, but she really didn't see any other way. The woman looks up at the brothers with kind eyes as she chooses her words. "I have no doubts that the two of you will be excellent. I chose to hire the both of you for a reason. Beyond helping me with my job, I .. have a personal matter... I will not force you to help me with it. I request that you carry on with the work that needs to be done, when I cannot." Her small smile still holds, but it doesn't hide her discomfort as she looks at the brothers sitting across from her. "I.. am cursed... My parents are Nerix, like yourselves. There was tension between them and their employers for just having me. But when it was discovered that I have the gift of magic, their employers were not enthusiastic about it..." Shew takes a long sip of her coffee before continuing. "When the curse is causing my problems, I can't do my job. It also gets in the way of a lot of things, so I wanted two Nerix to help me in that regard..." Rosalia looks up at the brothers, hoping they understand what she has just reveled to them. She holds the cooling mug of coffee with both hands, trying not to shrink back in discomfort. @MMS (Martin-Maraiste)

Raising his head up as soon as he computed her words, he let an exclamation of surprise slip out from his lips. "They what ?!" A jab from Ethan orders him to lower his voice, and he visibly tries to regain his composure once more. "I mean, I'm sorry for you. That..must be tough." And in order to not risk speaking out of line again, he instead continues with the task of finishing his slice of pie, although this task is a pleasurable one.

Briefly shutting his eyes before shooting them open at his brother's reaction, he makes him quiet down before speaking as well. "I see. My apologies if it stirred unpleasant memories." His voice is gentle and warm, like a cup of tea on a cold evening. "You can rest assured, we'll help you with whatever you may need. So please, rely on us." With that, he offers a small smile and a relaxed body language, finally finishing his drink. @Mr BReightside