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Steele studied the man like a hawk for a moment, her expression still neutral as she spoke. "You're... Rowan, I presume?" She inquired slowly, wanting him to confirm his own 'nickname'. There was no information on what his real name was, so that single word was all she had to go off of. Honestly, the file was thinner than any she'd seen before. All redacted. As if he existed, but no one knew enough about him to label him as an actual person. When the other man left, Rhys nodded curtly. "I'm sure Steele can show you around the mansion." He stated firmly. Steele slowly looked at Rhys with something akin to a glare of absolute death. She wanted to get to know this mysterious Rowan, yet, but her introveted self had already experienced too much today, and at the moment, shejust wanted to curl up on her bed and read a book. Or throw some daggers. Whatever she felt like. However, she hid it quickly and sucked in a breath. "Ah, yes. A tour." She forced the faintest of smiles, gesturing for Rowan to follow her before striding towards the giant mansion, almost so big it could be considered a castle. "My parents own this place, and they have kindly forced me to live here, so welcome to my humble abode." Her voice was slightly dry as she pushed opened the wide double doors, leading him inside. "I'm sure Rhys can explain all the safety features we already have, as well as the basic schedule. For now, I will familiarize you with the layout." She heard how she sounded- a bit monotone, and a bit fake. However, she didn't care. it was all she could do to struggle through the meeting. Steele sucked in another calming breath before turning into a side hallway. Each door was clearly labeled, something Rhys had done when he first came. The place was too big, and he hadn't wanted to frantically search in every room to try and find which one she was in. "As you can see, the rooms are labeled... this is all the main 'attractions'..." She trailed off, moving to the other side. "This is the guest areas... the dining hall... and other things. Upstairs is a storage place, really, and downstairs is my cave. Or, at least, that's what I call it. Just an assortment of random rooms, including my bedroom and the lounge. You'll be staying down there as well." She stated quietly.
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Rowan nods. "Yes Ma'am my Callsign is Rowan," He responded, he wanted to point out his name was based on the Sorbus Aucuparia and not the Irish meaning but he kept it to himself, how could someone mistake his chocolatey brown hair for ginger anyway? He sucked in a deep breath, watching the two's interactions, it made him sick to his stomach. Not in a way that he was disgusted but it almost made him feel akin to homesick. --- Rowan trailed behind them silently, his gaze scanning her current bodyguard in a bit wary fashion, almost sizing him up but his gaze was different in nature. Eventually, he started to glance around, reading labels swiftly, eyes scanning every decor in a trained fashion, searching for any hidden cameras or for anything to be bugged around him. Even his own behavior almost made him shudder, when had this habit started? He couldn't quite remember. He continued to act stereotypical, his posture constantly straight and he stayed quiet for the most part, nodding along to her words as he took it all in. Edited at November 19, 2024 09:35 PM by 4 Little Pines Ranch
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A faint smirk flit onto her face at his words. "You don't have to address me as ma'am. You can call me Steele." She stated. Honestly, she would prefer being called Steele .. ma'am made her sound like a 50 something year old rich stuck up billionaire queen of something. She wished to high heaven that she was normal, so she was going to have him, at very least, address her as if she was normal. Although, it was technically her last name, which wasn't normal, but she despised her first name and her middle name was reserved only for very close friends or family. Really, the only three people in the world that called her Alia were Rhys, her father, and her mother. Anyone else would die by her glare. Or her knives. One or the other. Rhys was silent throughout this, following along and acting like a shadow. He was tall and muscular, fitting the description of tall dark and handsome quite well, with a long scar across his right cheek and a dark gaze, but he had a gentleness to him that most people did not possess. Well, a gentle wisdom, considering his birthday was the next day and he would be turning 34. Steele constantly teased him about his age, and he always enjoyed pretending to be offended. He was like a second father to her, really. Kind of. Steele paused at the end of the shortest tour she could possibly think up. "Do you have any luggage? I can show you to your room." She offered lowly, her sharp grey gaze studying him. He wasn't as closed off as he was trying to be.. she saw the uneasiness, wariness, and attentiveness easily.
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Rowan's attention was dragged back toward the woman, and he automatically nodded. He patted the duffle bag slung over his shoulder when she asked if he had any luggage. He had brought the bare minimum, which he almost regretted bringing so little, but it wasn't like he had much back at the base either. "All I have is this Ma'am- Steele," He quickly corrected himself, posture still straight as ever as he looked over the other man one last time before his full attention to the woman. He hid a shutter, he probably looked nothing compared to the man behind the woman, he looked like he was a gym rat, getting ripped to show off and intimidate her obsessive fans, Rowan almost questioned if he had been one before he was hired, how close he was to the woman set off subtle alarm bells in Rowan's mind. Rowan had muscles, yes but they hardly showed and were more there to do things, he wondered if the current bodyguard could even lift a bale of hay, or do anything that Rowan could with his 'farm build' If he was back at the base and this guy was a recruit he'd probably tease him on it, murmur something along the lines of 'do those even work, show off?' Or something akin to that nature, but no. He was in a new place, new territory and he was already naturally skittish, and he DID NOT want to make enemies right off the bat.
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Steele nodded curtly, gesturing for him to follow her as she led the way to the very back of the house where a staircase that would not be easier to find hid tucked behind a corner. She went down it quickly, every move coordinated and precise, and it was a simple hallway with doors on each side that opened up to a room at the end. At the first door on the left she stopped, turned, and tilted her chin towards the door. "That'll be your room for however long you stay." She stated, arms folded across her chest as she glanced around. "Rhys will leave in 6 days. The reason for that is parental leave... his wife is going to have a baby." She said with a teasing smile towards Rhys. She was half torturing her old bodyguard and half just trying to get to know Rowan through his reactions. "What did you say her name would be?" She asked Rhys. - Rhys followed them quietly, watching Steele, and stopped when they did. He let out a half groan half chuckle as she spoke. "Frynn." He answered with a smile. "Never wanted to abandon you, Steele, but damn.. I cannot wait to see Adeline again, or see Frynn." He commented with a little bid wider smile, his eyes sparkling like he had obtained all the treasure in the world. - "Yet you're still abandoning me. How sad." Steele grinned, then shook her head and turned to Rowan. "Today was sort of an off day for me, so the rest of the afternoon is filled with delightful nothingness. I was hoping we could all get to know each other a little better?" She offered, her sharp grey eyes scanning for his reaction.
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Rowan at first, was startled at the staircase. He carefully picked his way down the stairs, wondering how anyone would walk up or down them quickly. His eyes scanned the hallway and the doors within it, Rowan's eyes were quickly attracted to the first door where her head was tilted to, his gaze was still 'cold' and 'distant' yet he didn't feel indifferent. He was interested in what the future held, yet he felt very homesick, he missed Phillip and everyone, he missed Hemlock, remembering the man whom barely reached the 5" mark who had almost blond brown hair that made him look like he had highlights in his hair. He had ocean blue eyes that in Rowan's mind were very captivating and alluring, interesting in their own little way. --- Rowan silently watched the man and woman converse, it made the knawing feeling within the pit of what was his stomach grow, making the feelings of homesickness even more unbearable. "I hope your wife is alright, and your baby," Rowan felt very awkward, watching their banter, he watched as the sparkle filled the man's eyes, how he seemed so excited about his new addition to his family, how..... --- Rowan's thoughts consumed him before his attention was pulled back into focus, he nodded at the woman's words, hoping that meant his job was easier, hoping he could observe their behaviors easier, adapt his behavior to fit the woman's needs and liking, like he always did, sometime's he bounced back to his normal behavior, but sometimes his behavior adapted to certain people.
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