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Minfilia had quite a lovely room above the Scions' quarters in Mor Dhona. It was not what one would have expected from the place, adorned with lavish furs and fine silks as befit a lady. As befit Minfilia, truly. Veronyka blinked in surprise the first time that Minfilia brought her into this little apartment.
"Well?" said Minfilia, turning to her, a smile on her lips. "What do you think?"
"I..." Veronyka trailed off, uncertain what to say. She licked her lips. "It's beautiful. Much better than what you had in the Waking Sands, only... it still suits you, if that makes sense." Minfilia giggled.
"Well, my dear, there are certain benefits to our order having more funding and being more well-known now," said Minfilia. "Come, make yourself at home, for this is your home as well now."
"My... home?" Veronyka asked, ears twitching, tail swaying back and forth.
"Of course," said Minfilia, leading Veronyka to a very plush-looking couch which was lined with stuffed pillows. There was even a throw rug over the back of it, emblazoned with an artistic design that featured a griffin in front of a sun. There were also Ul'dahn motifs woven into the image, most notably the flame and jewel scales. "My home is your home in this new world. Take a seat, I will make us some tea." Veronyka smiled, already feeling warm as she sat down on the couch, sinking into the cushions. She grabbed the blanket on a whim, unconsciously kneading her fingers into it as a cat would.
Minfilia seemed thrilled to find Veronyka purring and looking quite content when she returned, bearing a pot of tea on a tray that also held a plate of biscuits and some scones and other pastries. There were even little pots of jam, butter, and cream, no doubt sourced from the local markets (though Nyka privately hoped that the jam was made with La Noscean fruits to support the land that had raised her).
"Settled in, have you?" Minfilia teased, setting the tray down and taking a seat next to her girlfriend.
"Yeah," said Veronyka, her cheeks warm at having been caught acting so... cat-like. She used to care so much about her appearance, how others perceived her... but bit by bit, that was crumbling away.
"Glad am I to see it," said Minfilia. She picked up her teacup, taking a sip before leaning forward to butter a scone and add some cream. Veronyka watched her, her fingers still working at the blanket. "I didn't know that miqo'te truly did that." At once, Veronyka let go of the blanket, tucking her hands into her armpits, ears laid back.
"Sorry," said Veronyka. "Just... when I'm comfortable..."
"Then is it sad that I have never seen mother do that?" Minfilia asked. "Mayhap her finding me at such a young age stressed her far too much."
"Well, nobody in that situation asked for that," said Veronyka. She withdrew her hands, reaching for a biscuit and nibbling at it. The nibbles soon turned into chomps as her anxiety ebbed away, leaving her body to function normally once more.
"Still," said Minfilia.
"Not every miqo'te does that, most hide it," said Veronyka. "I normally do."
"But it's so cute!" said Minfilia. "Why hide it?"
"Well, because some miqo'te consider it insulting when others think of them as a cat," said Veronyka. "Like many of the races with bestial traits, I guess. You wouldn't call a viera a bunny or an au ra a lizard unless you knew them well, would you? Or a hrothgar a lion?"
"I see," said Minfilia. "My apologies, Nyka, for the questions, I never had the opportunity to ask Lhaminn about all of this."
"I think a little curiosity in the other races is a good thing," said Veronyka. "I can't tell you everything, though, considering I'm a Seeker but I'm not from a tribe. At least, I don't think I am."
"You may tell me only what you are comfortable with sharing," said Minfilia. Veronyka smiled, reaching to pick up her teacup.
"Well, you know that we can purr," said Veronyka. "And enjoy sunbeams. And catnaps. And that hissing and growling and other cat noises are part of our language. Weird that none of those are in my name though."
"Mayhap your parents were not tribe-born," said Minfilia, and then frowned as Veronyka glanced down into her tea. "Ah, my apologies. It seems that even being an orphan myself, I still make mistakes from time to time."
"Everyone makes mistakes, Min," said Veronyka. "But it's okay. I forgive you."
"My thanks," said Minfilia. "But what do you think of my place?"
"It's lovely," Veronyka enthused, much to Minfilia's delight. "I never expected you to be so domestic somehow, but... it suits you."
"Glad am I to hear it," said Minfilia. "A mysterious benefactor has furnished us quite lavishly, including this apartment. I tried to talk the others out of giving it to me, but they wouldn't hear it."
"As they should," said Veronyka. "I would've insisted that you have it too. You deserve nice things."
"As do you," said Minfilia. "Hence why I have had this made for you." And she reached into her top and fished out a key which hung from a delicate silver chain. It was warm in Veronyka's hand, the miqo'te blushing at where it had been.
"Now I can come over whenever I want," said Veronyka. Minfilia nodded. "And... be ravished by you." She blushed, ducking her head, and Minfilia laughed.
"Though that is certainly a valid option, this place is also a safe place that you can come to unwind if you ever need to," said Minfilia. "A safe place for a weary adventurer to rest her head. I know that you have a place with your sister but..."
"This place is nicer," said Veronyka with a laugh. "Because you're here, not just physically but..." She gestured. "All around me. You made this place your home and adopted a cat to domesticate." Minfilia laughed in delight.
"Well, my dear, you said it," said Minfilia. "Though it was not I who adopted you. That is not how we refer to our partners, unless you are interested in that...?" Veronyka bristled.
"Twelve, no!" said Veronyka. Minfilia laughed, a feeling of warmth and comfort settling deep inside. It was not often that she got to feel so domestic, but maybe here, now, with Nyka and the dawn of a new era... things would change.