Verdimond City - an exercise in learning.
He hadn't expected his first assignment to be a theocracy, but he had spent his time studying, learning what he could of the culture, and after his arrival and presentation, he had showed his willingness to fit into the culture, though the religion did tend to escape him. Kithaniel held his Virtues close to his heart all the same, knowing that they indicated an overall decency of character, and if he held to them, surely there could be very little objection to his behaviour.
Tonight was a ball, and he had attended enough of those to know what was expected of him. He reviewed, though, in front of the mirror as he set the pin in his neckcloth just so. Here, there seemed to be no social stigma against couplings of the same sex, which was something that had shocked him upon first. The sight of two men or two women being as comfortable beside one another's side in public, and the public said nothing of their unions. In Vendesey, they would've found themselves ostracised.
It had taken effort for Kithaniel not to turn his nose up at them, so used to Vendesian culture as he was. But he had to remind himself - here, there were differences. Here, their culture said that sex didn't matter. But that was something he would have to acclimate himself to, though he doubted he could ever cling to that lack of propriety as he did the Virtues he took so seriously.
A last look into the mirror and he judged himself dressed. His hair was shining, barely touching the white collar that was tied in place with a neckcloth of sapphire blue. His vest matched, the brocade shining in the lamplight, and his coat's tails hung to the back of his knees. It was the height of Vendesian formal fashion, though here, he expected it to mark him as a foreigner.
As a final touch, he tugged on his white gloves, buttoning them at the wrist, and placed his hat just so. It was precisely the last thing he needed before he left for the ball.
His arrival saw him bidding farewell to his hat, at least, but his gloves remained as he was shown in. He knew it would be his place to mingle among the higher-ups of the government, to listen, to learn, to negotiate. And this ball was his chance to gain positive opinions. He drew himself to stand up even straighter, to use his height to his advantage. He put an open, friendly expression on his face in an attempt to make himself approachable.
It was time for his trial by fire.
Tonight was a ball, and he had attended enough of those to know what was expected of him. He reviewed, though, in front of the mirror as he set the pin in his neckcloth just so. Here, there seemed to be no social stigma against couplings of the same sex, which was something that had shocked him upon first. The sight of two men or two women being as comfortable beside one another's side in public, and the public said nothing of their unions. In Vendesey, they would've found themselves ostracised.
It had taken effort for Kithaniel not to turn his nose up at them, so used to Vendesian culture as he was. But he had to remind himself - here, there were differences. Here, their culture said that sex didn't matter. But that was something he would have to acclimate himself to, though he doubted he could ever cling to that lack of propriety as he did the Virtues he took so seriously.
A last look into the mirror and he judged himself dressed. His hair was shining, barely touching the white collar that was tied in place with a neckcloth of sapphire blue. His vest matched, the brocade shining in the lamplight, and his coat's tails hung to the back of his knees. It was the height of Vendesian formal fashion, though here, he expected it to mark him as a foreigner.
As a final touch, he tugged on his white gloves, buttoning them at the wrist, and placed his hat just so. It was precisely the last thing he needed before he left for the ball.
His arrival saw him bidding farewell to his hat, at least, but his gloves remained as he was shown in. He knew it would be his place to mingle among the higher-ups of the government, to listen, to learn, to negotiate. And this ball was his chance to gain positive opinions. He drew himself to stand up even straighter, to use his height to his advantage. He put an open, friendly expression on his face in an attempt to make himself approachable.
It was time for his trial by fire.