What Could Go Wrong Down There? (Part 1 of 3 - Noline)
Noline (Part 1 of 3)
Noline Aurifort arrived at her dear paramour’s quarters within the Mythril Blade in a rather prompt entrance, the Elezen tea den mother not quite spending any time to mix or mingle with anyone who may be residing within the common areas as she made her ingress quick, if not entirely unseen. Stepping within Yvette’s quarters, the tall woman - even for an Elezen - loosened and unbound the tie of her non la before placing the eastern styled headdress upon Yvette’s more practical hat stand. Yvette, of course, scolded Noline in entire jest for her entrance without even a knock to herald her arrival, yet Noline batted any criticism away with a coy wave of the hand, a kind and dismissive turn of phrase, and then swiftly directing the conversation elsewhere.
“Oh, my dear Pangolin... I admit I took great haste and focus to bring myself to you promptly. I heard about your first assignment and hold great excitement for you and wish you nothing but fortune.” Noline was eager to congratulate her paramour, after all Yvette had been right and eager to prove herself, even more to a task of such breadth and importance. Yvette explained to Noline, in her more or less uncouth and roguish ways, of the entirety of the mission plans. A vessel in the Ruby Sea had gone missing - not an entirely unseen prospect, considering the harsh waters, pirates, Confederacy, and a myriad of other reasons could cause ships to go missing! It was Yvette’s job, however, to see if this was an unfortunate accident.. Or foul play!
Throughout all of the details, Noline listened carefully yet intently, as she often did. For nothing more than an ostensibly simple woman who ran nothing more than a spa, Noline was somewhat of an enigma - even to Yvette. Noline’s eyes, with their reddish brown hue rarely blinked, especially so when the woman was focused or in deep thought, and all throughout Yvette’s “mission briefing”, Noline was holding her vigilant sway. “Alright, I think I know what this is! You’re checking in on me! How cute, mon chou!” Yvette said with her magenta painted lips curling in utter delight as she ‘caught’ Noline! “Well don’t worry, I’ve got this all under control! I went around and stirred the pot a little and I think I’ve got everything taken care of for the trip!”
“My dear twilight” Noline replied with her eyes shutting and the woman turning herself towards the door. “I admit, I did come with concern in my heart but only because you have not been to Hingashi before and while it has been many years, I am not foreign to such a land. I have no desire to step on your toes or hold your hand through this leve of your’s, my love.. I know you are more than capable and I am only here, truthfully, to see you off..” Yet as she said this, the best of Noline’s hidden and enigmatic instincts kicked in. With her head turn, Yvette could see Noline’s piercing left eye gaze right at her, delivering quite the inquisitive sight to her person. “I will see you to safe transport. The last I would have happen to you is to take a charter vessel like some kind of... farmer. And when you return, I am sure you will be successful and all will be well.”
Yvette continued to grin, knowing Noline had more to say! “... Aaaaaand..?”
Noline sighed, the ever slightest of smirks curling on the side of her lips just barely visible for Yvette to notice. “... Finding a sunken ship is very difficult. I presume you obtained the--”
With a thud of papers, Yvette whipped out and planted a thick stack of documents on her coffee table. “I told you! I stirred the pot, mon chou!” Noline giggled, showing her first real sign of humor as the tall and elegant Elezen turned back and made her way to the table. “Ooh, very well done, my Pangolin.. I can see you do not need any of my guidance at all. Which is fine, I have much work to do here in Ul’dah getting ready for the Lotus to open.. But may I whet my curiosity?” Noline’s hand and fingers - which were both elegant as they were long - gestured openly towards the papers, to which Yvette seemed to give no qualms about letting the matronly den mother open.
Noline took the stack of papers into her hands shifted through it, her face expressionless while Yvette began to ramble and rave about how she came across such things, likely a tale of intrigue, adventure, questionably criminal activity, and maybe a bit of light treason to boot! Yet all throughout, Noline barely heard a word as she began to examine the important documents from Kugane. Noline’s eyes never blinked as they stared down at one specific shipping manifest that told of the cargo the ship transported - but a single crate on a ship carrying several tonnes of cargo and at least one hundred souls.
The papers closed and Noline set it down upon the table, only after did she lean in and bestow a soft kiss on the forehead of Yvette. “Mon amore, perhaps I should join you.” “Aww, are you sure, mon chou?” The Duskwight countered, surprised by Noline’s sudden change of heart but also not one to question having her along!
“Think of me merely as luggage, my pangolin”.