For Colin (post thebastion)

[earthandpine]

Comments

[freedom_engineer]

"They try to keep me away from the formal events," Colin says, laughing quietly. "Something about 'diplomatic incidents' and 'offending people'. I mean, would I do something like that?"

The shit-eating grin he gives her is all the more confirmation that yes, it is is a valid worry. "What I meant is... Corsican Society is set up so that everything people need it provided for them. Clothes included. The taxes are high to cover it, but what's left in peoples pockets is solely disposable income, for investment, luxury items, whatever people want," he explains, and he gives a smile he hopes isn't too patronizing. "That's what the classes would be for, to get you acclimated to the differences between what you're used to, and how this society operates. To get you through the culture shock, in other words."

He frowns, and folds his hands on the table in front of him with a shake of his head. "I'm probably not the best person to explain it," he confesses. "I'm comfortable just about anywhere you throw me, and I adapt extremely quickly. Add in a marked disregard for social norms, and that makes for an arrogant-seeming outward appearance..."

[earthandpine]

"Diplomacy is not either of our strong suits," Rosethorn agrees, amused. Colin is even worse at it than she is. Rosethorn can manage, if she has to, but she doesn't like it. "I do think you're more likely to cause incidents than I am. Most of the time."

She snorts. "It's been nothing but culture shock for the past two or three years. I said I wanted to travel, and I've gotten far more than my fill of it. What's left to be shocked about? As long as your father is as far as possible from the Yanjingyi emperor, I'll be fine." She had her fill of emperors and then some in Yanjing. She cringes away from the word these days, as a reminder of death and pain and fear.

Somehow, she doesn't think 'I'll be fine' is going to get her out of any of these classes. Quietly she admits, "I'm adaptable enough, but the differences make me homesick. Similarities might be worse."