26th maccius | de villier’s estate | @ofrosalind
the pleasantries are out of the way, but that merely leaves vaska without the familiarity of the small talk, the well tracked grooves of conversation that every noble can be reliable with, no matter the tensions or the shifts in politics, clung to with all the strength of drowning men when left floundering in strange situations.
once, vaska took advantage of this, slashing through them to cause discomfort, taunting his break away from civilisation in front of them. now, however, vaska misses the familiarity of it, vertigo from the ease at which he finds the paths once again. no matter the blood on your hands, discussions of the weather was always safe. two years spent in the desert, but even the seven before, spent in sylviane’s shadow meant little time for mingling, but it seemed as though times were changing, and vaska was no longer fit for hiding in the shadows, but courtly appearances were perhaps once again demanded, and vaska didn’t want to be seen to be scrambling.
‘ thank you again for the invitation into your home, i wasn’t expecting to be treated so well upon my return, your family certainly seems to have done well for itself. ‘