At the end of Hal-Neesa's explanation, Teroiah brought a hand up to rub the bottom of her nose and closed her eyes. The gesture was just such a convenience to cover the sly smirk that she involuntarily pulled.

As usual, Gro-Tagnud was more direct. "Perfect. Every eye you pull away from the teams going after the objective is an advantage."

"Is Vile the type that would pursue you personally if you were present, Hal-Neesa?" Sabine asked.

"Oh, even better," Teroiah breathed, drawing looks from Sabine and Gro-Tagnud.

[hr]
Just the words Meesei finished with brought a deep flush up Lunise's cheeks. After recovering back to her usual complexion, she kept to the original subject. "My mother is a stranger to me by now, as well. You have not lived half as long as she time between now and when I saw her last. But, still..."

She took a deeper breath, regaining some confidence. "This [i]disgusting[/i] panic in my head," she accused herself. "If I shan't see her now, I will never forget that I might have just stepped onto Artaeum today." Meesei felt Lunise turn around to look her in the eyes. Lunise looked hopeful. "Meesei?" She said directly, holding her hands tightly. "...Divines, you could lift the spirits of a dead rat." She very suddenly pecked her on the front of her snout. "I am going to use those words you said to wear a strong mask if your portal succeeds. But, inside, I could never fully banish the feeling of my stomach churning in fear, so I will very much be comforted by your presence in this."

As if realising how rabidly she was speaking, Lunise slowly straightened her back and resumed a more elegant cadence. "Do speak when you are ready. I shall do my best to recall the distant island. Even with all the years intervening."