[Rilan had been hoping to hear more from her about what she learned about political marriages, but it seems that she plans to keep that to herself for now. Or, perhaps, it matters less when they will be navigating their own marriage together.
He watches her pick up her tea cup once more, admiring the shape of her fingers and the way she moves. When asked to tell her more about himself, he falls still for a moment. Reaching up, he runs his hand through his hair, averting his gaze. It's not that he minds talking about himself, but talking about himself means also talking about his family.]
I'm the youngest of three. My parents are considered celebrated heroes on our world, for what they've done for Barrith. [For the worlds they have been instrumental in conquering and exploiting.] My older siblings and I have had a typical Barrithian education, one that matches both galaxy standards and Barrithian. We attended...additional classes that our parents said would serve us later in life when we began working with them.
Military tactics. Infiltration and undercover work. We read the journals of commanders who led successful missions on other planets, and studied the places they took over and the organizations they gained access through.
[His smile is humorless and uncomfortable.]
My teachers determined that my particular aptitude was for what essentially amounted to anthropological studies. If I hadn't refused, I would have eventually become an advisor to a military leader, someone like my parents, and followed them from planet to planet. Absorbing what I learned from the places we targeted, reviewing their plans or deep cover identities to spot weaknesses or discrepancies, things that would stand out among the local population, and act as support staff in whatever capacity was deemed necessary.
[He picks up his tea once more, and takes a sip after talking so much.]
My interest in other worlds and cultures is genuine, at least, even if my people would have preferred I use it in service of their greater good.
[ most of this aligns with what sola has read in the reports, the family, the history, the power that his parents sought. there is a reason why rilan had been chosen for this arranged marriage after all. he tells her far more than she expected, especially since sola is often someone who keeps certain cards held close to her chest.
interesting. though perhaps not entirely surprising as it was rilan who laid his cards out on the table within the first ten minutes of them meeting for tea. there's a look of quiet admiration in her eyes when she lifts her gaze from the table to really take him in. ]
There is certainly more to you than meets the eye.
[ she nods appreciatively. ]
I hope you will be able to continue your studies here. I certainly would encourage you to persue that further.
[Rilan lifts a brow, surprised by her response. For a moment, he hesitates, but only to choose his words.]
Is it your hope that I will offer the services here that I refused my people?
[His job would have been in intelligence, but Rilan has never considered himself military minded, and while he wants to support Sola and what she does, the only context he has for continuing his studies and pursuing it further is Barrith's.]
No, that was not my intent. It was merely to encourage you to pursue whatever passions you prefer. [ sola pauses, considering his first conclusion, delicately running her fingertips along the rim of her now empty cup.. ] Certainly, I cannot deny the benefits, but no, that was not my intent.
[He visibly relaxes as she denies that it was her intent, trusting that she is as honest now as she has been this afternoon. His fingers toy with the handle of his tea cup quietly a moment, before he looks back up at her.]
Thank you. I'm sorry if I misinterpreted your encouragement. It's a sore subject between my family and I.
[He does not elaborate, not wanting to share and not wanting to ruin the evening with his family baggage. There is time enough for all of that.]
While it is an interest, I may take the opportunity to explore other things as well, now that I'll have the freedom to do so.
[It would be nice to find a passion of his own. A calling that hasn't been warped by the culture of his people, and can be put to use for the good of his new home planet.]
[ though it was not apparent in what she has read and memorized about him, it can be parsed out through his comments here and there. perhaps they can dive into that another time, whenever he's ready. it seems as if he is ready to finds ways to settle into his new life here and sola will make sure he will be as comfortable as possible. ]
And I will support that. [ they will be watched and sola knows that he will be met with some scrutiny, but it's starting to sound like they will be able to play their cards right. ] I hope you will come to enjoy being here.
[Rilan's diplomatic explanation brings a similarly diplomatic response from Sola. While he intends to do his best to become a friend and Ally to Sola, and feels he's made some headway to opening lines of communication and the idea that trust could be between them, it feels safe to sometimes hide behind what is both plain speaking and still carefully phrased.
He does not want to get into fussing and word wrangling on the first meeting with his intended, and he is grateful for her political instincts that allow them both to sidestep that.]
I appreciate that, Sola, and have little doubt that I will enjoy and appreciate being here. On this planet, and with you.
[He doesn't like to lean hard on wording and phrasing like this, finding it elegant but a little stiff for his tastes in the long-term. He picks up his cup to take another sip, finds it empty, and laughs a little at himself as he shows it to her.]
I was more absorbed in our conversation than I realized. I think I'll take it as a good sign for the future.
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no subject
He watches her pick up her tea cup once more, admiring the shape of her fingers and the way she moves. When asked to tell her more about himself, he falls still for a moment. Reaching up, he runs his hand through his hair, averting his gaze. It's not that he minds talking about himself, but talking about himself means also talking about his family.]
I'm the youngest of three. My parents are considered celebrated heroes on our world, for what they've done for Barrith. [For the worlds they have been instrumental in conquering and exploiting.] My older siblings and I have had a typical Barrithian education, one that matches both galaxy standards and Barrithian. We attended...additional classes that our parents said would serve us later in life when we began working with them.
Military tactics. Infiltration and undercover work. We read the journals of commanders who led successful missions on other planets, and studied the places they took over and the organizations they gained access through.
[His smile is humorless and uncomfortable.]
My teachers determined that my particular aptitude was for what essentially amounted to anthropological studies. If I hadn't refused, I would have eventually become an advisor to a military leader, someone like my parents, and followed them from planet to planet. Absorbing what I learned from the places we targeted, reviewing their plans or deep cover identities to spot weaknesses or discrepancies, things that would stand out among the local population, and act as support staff in whatever capacity was deemed necessary.
[He picks up his tea once more, and takes a sip after talking so much.]
My interest in other worlds and cultures is genuine, at least, even if my people would have preferred I use it in service of their greater good.
no subject
interesting. though perhaps not entirely surprising as it was rilan who laid his cards out on the table within the first ten minutes of them meeting for tea. there's a look of quiet admiration in her eyes when she lifts her gaze from the table to really take him in. ]
There is certainly more to you than meets the eye.
[ she nods appreciatively. ]
I hope you will be able to continue your studies here. I certainly would encourage you to persue that further.
no subject
Is it your hope that I will offer the services here that I refused my people?
[His job would have been in intelligence, but Rilan has never considered himself military minded, and while he wants to support Sola and what she does, the only context he has for continuing his studies and pursuing it further is Barrith's.]
no subject
No, that was not my intent. It was merely to encourage you to pursue whatever passions you prefer. [ sola pauses, considering his first conclusion, delicately running her fingertips along the rim of her now empty cup.. ] Certainly, I cannot deny the benefits, but no, that was not my intent.
no subject
Thank you. I'm sorry if I misinterpreted your encouragement. It's a sore subject between my family and I.
[He does not elaborate, not wanting to share and not wanting to ruin the evening with his family baggage. There is time enough for all of that.]
While it is an interest, I may take the opportunity to explore other things as well, now that I'll have the freedom to do so.
[It would be nice to find a passion of his own. A calling that hasn't been warped by the culture of his people, and can be put to use for the good of his new home planet.]
no subject
[ though it was not apparent in what she has read and memorized about him, it can be parsed out through his comments here and there. perhaps they can dive into that another time, whenever he's ready. it seems as if he is ready to finds ways to settle into his new life here and sola will make sure he will be as comfortable as possible. ]
And I will support that. [ they will be watched and sola knows that he will be met with some scrutiny, but it's starting to sound like they will be able to play their cards right. ] I hope you will come to enjoy being here.
no subject
He does not want to get into fussing and word wrangling on the first meeting with his intended, and he is grateful for her political instincts that allow them both to sidestep that.]
I appreciate that, Sola, and have little doubt that I will enjoy and appreciate being here. On this planet, and with you.
[He doesn't like to lean hard on wording and phrasing like this, finding it elegant but a little stiff for his tastes in the long-term. He picks up his cup to take another sip, finds it empty, and laughs a little at himself as he shows it to her.]
I was more absorbed in our conversation than I realized. I think I'll take it as a good sign for the future.