Kalika felt bad that she had made him uncomfortable and sad---or, that's what she thought he was displaying. Getting used to Aurian body language cues was hard. But from the tone of his voice and the lowered position of his gaze, she figured that that's what he was feeling. She didn't express sympathy, though; it felt rude to give concern for someone she had never met. All these new rules, the language, the culture...it was daunting, it really was. However, rather than look at it as an overwhelming task, she preferred to see it as a challenge, something to overcome. Not to mention that she enjoyed learning, which was a definite upside.<br/><br/>As the stack of paper landed on her---well, probably her---desk, she wasn't sure whether to be dismayed or excited. Yes, this meant that she had to do quite a bit of reading before she could get to doing 'actual' work, but on the other hand, she would get to learn about what Everett and De'voure had been doing and how it had been done. That was invaluable in aiding her understanding of what needed to be done.<br/><br/>When he seemed concerned that she would be offended or insulted by what he was saying, she smiled and reached out, touching his shoulder with two fingers. "It's quite alright, Everett," she said calmly, holding the contact for a moment before dropping her arm. "I completely understand the need for, ah, catching up." A smile. "After all, it does no good to blunder in blind, yes? I am more than happy to read about the work you and your partner have accomplished. I am sure it will be fascinating."