Myriads Though Bright (DragonSong)

[quaggan]

 That was quite an evasive answer, but Elethain chose not to press. It would be improper, and he could not possibly expect to have everything handed to him just because he asked. It could be a test, or perhaps he's simply bored Kana Moonglade with his incessant question. He would have to follow up on it later.

"You have my sympathies, for what it's worth" he offered. "The influence your position grants you doesn't seem to be worth all the trouble."

[DragonSong]

Kana smiled at him, briefly but genuinely. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I bear my family no grudge for my position, and I do most times quite enjoy the benefits offered by it, but... There are days I wonder if things truly balance out," she admitted with a wry chuckle.

She wasn't being intentionally evasive, it was simply a by-product of the life she led. She was unused to having someone she could speak candidly with—although, if her little scheme with Elethain worked out, perhaps it would be something she'd have to get used to.

"And what of your position?" she asked suddenly, giving him another quick smile. "I fear we've been speaking of me quite a lot. Surely there's more interesting tidbits you could share?" Her tone was playful, coaxing, but her eyes were still serious. She really did want to know more about him.

[quaggan]

 Clever. After talking about Kana for so long, it was only reasonable that she'd want some information in return. Turnabout was fair play. And she even reminded him of it right now, so he couldn't pretend to have misunderstood. Elethain carefully reined in his pleasure at being manoeuvred so efficiently. Grinning that widely was not within the bounds of etiquette.

 "At the moment, I enjoy the freedom of the position of a third child" he explained, taking a second to settle on his phrasing. "My father is mostly concerned with my brother and how adequate or inadequate an heir he is. My mother usually manages my house's affairs. That leaves me plenty of freedom, and even some influence to wield. And as for current occupation... Lady Charwright offered me a position in her chancery, but I turned her down."

 What he meant by that was that he was sure to turn her down, and to do it where others could see and draw conclusions. He wasn't really opposed to Lady Charwright, but he wanted to make certain that her enemies would see Elethain reject her offer. There was always a risk of the slighted lady retaliating, but to tell the truth, he was looking forward to seeing what she was capable of.

[DragonSong]

"A chancery?" Her eyebrows crept up. "And did you reject the offer because the idea of such work does not appeal to you, or for the form of the thing?" There was a hint of amusement in her voice as she asked, though she was genuinely curious as well.

She hesitated a moment, the. Sighed and tipped her head back slightly to look up at the magically artificial night sky. "May I speak frankly with you for a moment, Elethain?"

[quaggan]

 Good to know Lady Moonglade found the offer as nonsensical as he did. She didn't seem like the type who would want to marry a man working in Lady Charwright's chancery. "All of the above, really. And I'm pretty sure she only made an offer because she owes my father for something I haven't found out yet." Elethain liked to have several reasons for his decisions. Being able to manoeuvre his way around people who were capable of detecting lies was a point of pride of him, and a skill he was pleased to hone.

 He had several other silly anecdotes ready about what sort of positions he's held in the past (or refused to), but Lady Moonglade's sudden change of subject intrigued him. That was always a fun line to hear from someone. Most of the time it was an attempt to manipulate him, try to create an atmosphere of trust and disclosure, make him feel like he was chosen to hold this secret.

Oh, he hoped this was the case here too.

 "Please speak, and I will do my utmost to listen and understand."

[DragonSong]

"I appreciate your attention," Kana said with a low chuckle, hands folded daintily in her lap. "And your candor."

She paused for a moment, lips pursed as she turned her words over and over in her mind, wondering just exactly what she could say and what she should say in an effort to both sate some relatively innocuous curiosity and also learn more about her companion.

"When I came to you this morning," she began, "you agreed to my proposition...rather quickly. I have to wonder--why?" There were a thousand potential answers to that question, ranging from the obvious to the absurd. She could only hope that whatever answer he gave would reflect his truth.

[quaggan]

They were moving closer to the section of the garden dedicated to the the Thanati flora. The heavy scent of exotic flowers permeated the air, buffeted on the wings of a wind spell.

Coriander's free arm rose up from his side to fix the fabric of his collar. His fingers closed around the edge and pulled it back into position. A few instants passed before he gave his answer.

"Because it's an opportunity that is hard to come by, and it would open a whole new world for me. As we were talking, I've gotten a better idea of just how closed to outsiders Thanatos can be. To think even you and your father are not considered a part of this society after having spent such a long time in the role of the ambassador... It made me realize that if I was to interact with the Thanati society, this would be a barrier I could never bypass on my own."

He paused. "Your father has done admirably to work within the limitations of his role. I can't think of any way he could have gotten a society like that to accept him any earlier. I won't try to pull wool over your eyes here, make up some fanciful lie about how visiting Thanatos has always been my dream. Instead, I'll say what you might find more believable: I do not like being denied. I do not like finding doors that are closed, and I feel the need to open them, even if I would not be going through at a time. I do not wish to miss an opportunity to at least get my foot in the gate that would remain closed otherwise."

[DragonSong]

Kana listened intently as he spoke, even as the familiar scent of Thanati lotus began to perfume the air around them.

She nodded once when he'd finished, with the sort of briskness of a drill sergeant accepting the performance of a soldier. "Thank you for your honesty," she said. Then her expression softened with a smile and she added, "Which is to say, I do believe the answer you have given. Impressive in it's own way, I suppose."

They reached a small pond clustered thickly with aquatic flora and she paused beside it, her arm still linked through his.

"I suppose all that is left is to make things official," she mused aloud. "Typically you should declare your intentions to court me to my parents before we step out together, but I don't think it's all that important we follow that particular nicety. If your day is not otherwise engaged, I could escort you back to our townhouse before you return to your estate? Mother and Father should be home this time of day--perhaps we can check the declaring box just a bit out of order."

[quaggan]

 Coriander's gaze wandered over the surface of water, kept transparent and clear to make it easier for the visitors to admire the underwater flora. The siren cradle was particularly gorgeous, its long gleaming strands softly guided by the currents.

 "My part in the plan has been prepared" he concluded. "There is nothing else to do but to play my role."

 The paths of the garden were a labyrinthine tangle that allowed guests to visit separate parts in any order they chose and easily make their way wherever they wanted to. As there was no set route to funnel the guests in one direction, that demanded the central path to lead straight to the exit, to let them leave without forcing anyone to retrace their steps or take the long way around. Coriander and Lady Moonglade could return to the exit quickly and leave the garden.

 He was about to ask if they should make use of this path to leave the garden, but...

 "Is something the matter?"

[DragonSong]

Kana had settled into a thoughtful silence as they wound their way through the water gardens, clearly considering something. When Coriander asked after her, she suddenly started back into the present and turned her head toward him quickly.

"Hm? Oh. Oh, forgive me, I was...thinking about something." Lips pursed, she said delicately, "There are...certain expectations, when it comes to courtship in Thanatos. You have already told me that you are only familiar with the basic customs. I was thinking...perhaps it would be best to put off a proper introduction until tomorrow. To give you time to better prepare."

A day wasn't a lot of time, admittedly--but the life he was agreeing to embark on would involve no small amount of operation under pressure. She couldn't quite decide if it would be kinder to tell him exactly what was expected, or to simply give him that, and let him learn by experience just what might be expected of him should he decide he was truly committed to this engagement.

[quaggan]

 "I should certainly benefit from time to properly research and prepare" he admitted. There was no shame in acknowledging his ignorance on the subject. "Arca was never the centre of learning when it comes to foreign customs. The library I visited focused on customs and traditions that would be of use to a trader or a traveler, such as appropriate greetings for a variety of occasions or advice to any red-headed person to keep their head covered at all times..."

 He would have paid special attention to the customs surrounding courting and marriage, but they were absent. Lady Moonglade mentioned that it was the way of Thanatos to have parents arrange their offspring's matches when the prospective bride and groom were still children. That didn't foster a culture of grown adults pursuing one another. And there was also the acute Thanati xenophobia that he found was inevitable no matter where he went. In this situation, it manifested as the complete lack of information, as the idea of a foreigner being invited to witness one of their ceremonies was completely unheard of. And a foreigner actually taking an active part? Coriander would have better luck searching for collectors of Thanati literature and following the example set by the heroes of whatever passed of bodice rippers at the islands. But that would have been very silly.

 "There is also the question of what to do about the traditons that would be... difficult to practice here in Serendipity. I don't think we have access to many Thanati temples in Arca."