[color=c4df9b]"Right. Got it."[/color]

As Csenge turns to me with marching orders and a form to ink down, I cock my head and lean in to hear her second point of direction as it comes by in what I'd class as a diplomatic undertone. Point of order, my expression stays frozen throughout, and I fix my gaze on a load-bearing column a little past the rest of the group. Better to not let anything give away how we're trying to mediate the dynamic brewing in front of us, most like— though it's some relief to have those small concerns I've been nursing validated. My instincts for people aren't always the sharpest, not really.

She strides away as I nod and step forth into the assembled group proper, leaning the elm branch that sourced my own appellation against the table nearby. I let my gaze slide between each of the three for a moment, studying each of them— A Paladin is pretty simply explained, Hrefna's mastery of curses is never far from her own lips, but for all her coiling musculature that's mimicking a python 'round our priority target's ribs... the more I look upon the lamia, the less I necessarily see a bruiser of my own ilk. Her hands aren't rough. Her shoulders are slight. Her back doesn't carry muscle.

I notice there's a fairly ostentatious looking staff, not at all far from where I've set my club down. Putting the two of them together looks a clear metaphor for the both of us— at each end of what Iron Rank could mean.

The silence is beginning to weigh on me, and I clear my throat, cutting through the awkward moment before it stretches further. My bad, everybody. It's my first day with this much responsibility.

[color=c4df9b]"Right. You heard her, ladies. Greenhorn's getting put to work,"[/color] I drawl, setting the page onto the table. [color=c4df9b]"I know of Hrefna already, but before we split for gear and the gate I'm gonna need names for the both of you so I can turn our contract in. Glad we could get you on board,"[/color] I explain, my eyes flicking to the paladin one more time, judging her reactions to who all I've implicitly locked in. I hope this all goes smoothly, but if our leader's name ringing through the hall is any indication...

[color=c4df9b]"Even if you say you're duty-bound in the first place."[/color]

... It might be that she's wise to the moments where things become headaches that she doesn't have to deal with if she doesn't want to. Good skill for contact workers to cultivate, I guess, but one I'm realizing I don't even have the dust of.