A Modest Affair [Stefan]

[Kala Leukos]

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Cintamani Pavilion, Kalzasi
69th of Frost, Year 121 Steel

It was more of a salon than a party, and she thought the scientific attaché from Zaichaer was more likely to appreciate that rather than fancy dress and politics. Of course, the scholars and scientific minds she had invited from the Academy were well dressed for the occasion, though some of them hadn't the first clue about fashion and others had the occasional ink smudge on their hands. And there were cocktails and canapés, of course. A corner of the courtyard was staked out with heat lamps, but otherwise left to the darkness so the Hytori astronomer could point things out in the night sky to anyone interested. The rest of the party was in the loggia and the adjacent ballroom, modest as far as ballrooms went, and lined now with various presentations from the assembled and some of their most promising students.

The guest list was largely human, though Kala had tried to include as much diversity as she thought her guest might accept without forcing it down his throat. She understood that mathematics was a nationless language, but the people who spoke it could still have their prejudices. She had greeted their guest of honor when he arrived, but didn't have more than a few moments alone with him before she was making introductions, interjecting herself quietly from time to time to add social lubrication.

He seemed uncomfortable at first, but once she had got him talking to the right people, he had loosened up and his smiles had seemed more genuine. Once she had made sure he received an invitation from an archivist to tour the Academy's archives, she absented herself, had a snack, did the rounds, and eventually found herself in a dark corner of the loggia, looking up at the stars. Thankfully, the astronomer had gone inside to start a conversation with an engineer about harnessing one of the floating islands and taking it far into the firmament.

She had a moment to herself, and she smiled. Through her bond, she could feel Kaus' simple pleasure as he was off carousing with Yari, Ceran, and Indric somewhere in the Commons. Science wasn't his thing, and she supposed a pair of wings might have been offputting for the Zaichaeri diplomat. It was ironic that not having the wings she so desired was helpful in this instance.

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[Stefan Dornkirk]

Of all the events Stefan was required to attend during his stay as Scientific Attache to Kalzasi, this was likely the only one he was looking forward to. He intended to, and had been granted permission to, spend some time at the Academy, to peruse its Archives, but that was not an official duty so much as a reward he was allowing himself. The sorts of information he would gain wouldn't, by all likelihood, garner anything specifically useful to the State, but who knew what they might spark in his mind?

This event, being hosted at one by one of the noble houses, (Dienerin had gotten him some information on the families' connection to the arts and sciences, which did not seem particularly high, but his understanding of how these things worked in Kalzasi was next to nothing.) would allow him to mingle with fellow scholars. Which meant he might actually enjoy it.

He would have to keep on his guard throughout, lest his natural inclination to share information cause him to let something slip that should not be. But it should still be interesting, at the very least.

Arriving dressed as he would for a lecture at the University in Zaichaer was the best he could do by way of trying to fit into fashion. He knew by then that his clothing would not be fitting into Kalzasi's current fashions, but he wasn't about to have a new wardrobe made. Perhaps his mode of dress would inspire others. The thought would have been all but laughable back home.

At first, Stefan thought that the person who came to greet him was an adolescent, which seemed odd, but, honestly, not that odd. When she began to speak it became more odd until his brain caught up that she was a small woman, not a child. Regardless of what was happening in his head he greeted his hostess with all due formality and allowed her to introduce herself and then followed her through the rooms as she introduced others. There were a few surprises among the racially diverse gathering, but there seemed to be no Avialea, which was a relief.

In this setting, at least, he was able to move with some grace, knowing he would understand the conversations and have relevant questions and answers inside them. More than an hour passed, and at some point, his hostess excused herself, which was no issue. More time passed and, eventually, Stefan needed a moment. It had been mentioned that the sky was clear for stargazing, but the astrologer was inside, engaging in a debate that sounded, to Stefan, a bit fantastical.

Fetching himself a drink and stepping outside, the cool air rushing in to refresh him from the heat of the ballroom. Thus he stood, looking up through the very clear sky, noting the difference between the relative elevations of Kalzasi and Zaichaer.

[Kala Leukos]

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Kala turned her head toward the sound of someone joining her on the loggia, and smiled faintly to herself as she observed him for a moment. She considered leaving him to his thoughts; he seemed to need a little time and space for himself, and she could certainly understand that. The Pavilion had been built for this sort of thing, and while she liked to think she was a capable hostess, but this wasn't exactly her forte. Still and all, she believed in this event; building bridges between rational minds seemed an important underpinning to any diplomacy underway between their nation-states. She wasn't an ambassador, but she would play her part.

She turned away from him then, allowing him a bit of privacy with his own thoughts. The only thing that came to mind to say was to notice how the stars were the same here as they were at Starfall, which was true, but seemed like a ham-handed attempt to declare their cultures the same when that was just not true.

Eventually, she sighed quietly. It was probably a good thing she wasn't an ambassador. The responsibility would likely be too much for her to handle, and yet, a Greater Goddess had sent an Ara to give her a divine quest. Someone thought she was capable.

"While I have you alone, Mister Dornkirk, is there anything I can do to make your evening more comfortable?" He seemed to be a people-pleaser, and she knew he might need permission to express anything he found lacking in the experience. She looked about to go inside so he could have the loggia to himself, which would make it easy for her to take care of anything before he returned to the other scholars.

While she had continued to take classes at the Academy, she wasn't what one would call a scholar and so she considered it the better part of hospitality to connect him with those who would stimulate his intellect.

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[Stefan Dornkirk]

The stars themselves fascinated him for long moments, long enough that he forgot to keep noting how much colder it was in this city than at home. Sipping his drink, hot spiced wine, helped too. A little smile played over his mouth, the private sort that no one ever really saw as his eyes filled with the lights of the firmament.

The quiet sigh alerted him to the fact that he was no longer alone, or, perhaps had never been. His mind ran over his physical form and actions since he'd stepped outside to reassure him he hadn't done anything ungraceful before he turned toward the sound.

Lady Leukos still appeared so young to his eyes. Her own grace and social ease had removed the idea that she might actually be a girl from his mind through her introductions and conversation. Out in the darker area, her silhouette against the brazier's wavering light made her seem almost ethereal rather than young.

His automatic response to the questions, 'No, thank you, Lady Leokus.' did not actually make it from his brain to his lips. An odd mood was moving through him and, after all, he was there to gain an understanding of a different culture. For different reasons than those projected, but no less so.

He heard himself saying,

"Do you ever think it's unfair? That some beings are born able to rise to the skies thoughtlessly, while the rest of us are left looking up at the stars?"

It was quite a stupid question. Even beings with magical flight abilities could not reach the stars. It was also undiplomatic, considering the ruling class of Kalzasi were granted the ability. He would apologize in a moment, make an excuse for himself, and thank her, again, for her hospitality. But, for just a moment, he kept looking up.

[Kala Leukos]

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"I have often struggled with that question," she admitted. "Why some are gifted the skies, others the seas. The question still remains, like an itch that can't be scratched, even after I tell myself that I ought to be grateful for being born into privilege, for being able to walk—there are so many positive things in my life, it seems wrong to focus on the negative. Sometimes I can't help it."

Kala offered a shrug and a rueful smile. At least she gave him an honest answer.

"But I suppose that focus is what drove people to invent airships, no?" Her smile changed, though it might have been difficult to pin down in what light was available from the windows. From what she gathered, Mister Dornkirk's father had built up the family fortune. There was a trope in life where one generation built a thing, the following maintained it, and then the one after that squandered it. She hoped his own children were able to live fulfilling lives without tearing down what their forebears built. Her house, however, was quite a bit older, and its future depended more on Aquilios than her, though it was her duty to foster its continued success.

It was a shame he wouldn't like her elder brother because he was born with wings. It seemed a silly prejudice, but then, she had grown up among her people. She didn't like that she had to edit herself to make her palatable to the Zaichaeri, but she could set aside her pride for the good of Kalzasi and, by extension, the people of Starfall. Perhaps someday, she would know that her efforts had made her father proud from Wraedan's embrace.

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[Stefan Dornkirk]

"Forgive me, Lady Kala. I was not thinking." Stefan gave a stiff sort of bow from his waist, the type he had been taught to give his mother or his teachers when he had given offense.

"Perhaps, with enough time and study, the answers to such questions might be achieved." It was the most diplomatic return to the intention of the evening he could manage after her unexpected honesty. When she continued he couldn't help but listen. There was something drawing about her, an appearance of innocence that unfolded to reveal a depth of knowledge and thought.

Stefan had met intelligent women, and beautiful ones, even extraordinary ladies that encompassed both. Speaking to them openly was not something he had encountered, however. Even the exception of his wife was a growing process. Delia was both beautiful and smart; smarter than Stefan in many ways, but he did not discuss philosophy or science with her beyond explaining some of his work so that they could easily converse about his days.

"I suspect," He said, carefully, "that primal question has led to a great many inventions. Certainly airships. Ocean vessels, also, I imagine. Even Cardinal Runes might have been a reaction to being born... wanting." The one use of the last word, meaning 'not good enough' was intended, but also the simpler meaning; to want. He could well imagine someone being so desperate for equality in a world of abominations of magical ability that one scored one's soul to achieve it. A world where no one was ever driven to such awful necessity was the one Stefan strove for.

Emboldened by the openness of their conversation, and perhaps by the darkness he hesitated only a moment before asking,

"What is it like, growing up knowing you will always be considered inferior to the..." His normal slur came to his lips but he too knew he had to curate himself for his current company, so amended himself quickly, "Winged overlords? Even if you strive all your life and achieve all that might be gained, you would never be allowed to rule."

Stefan's tone was nowhere close to mocking, it sounded sad, as though the thought of Kala never being given the same respect as those considered superior merely by an accident of birth were a tragedy. He also sounded genuinely curious as to what growing up as a wingless noble in Kalzasi was like.

[Kala Leukos]

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"There is nothing to forgive, sir," she said with an open smile.

"If history can be trusted," she began carefully, "then the intelligent races have often been faced with existential threats, and they all made difficult decisions, desperate decisions, in order to survive. I think it is easy for us to judge from where we sit now, but I cannot know what I would be capable of given similar challenges. I hope I never know what I would be capable of. I can only imagine that I would judge myself harshly from where I stand now."

She cautiously poured a thread of aether through her Rune of Semblance, wanting to ensure that if she said something that offended him, she might know even if he was too polished to show it. His aura seemed bigger than most, but it would take time for her to figure that out.

"The Synnekar Avialae revere women," she pointed out, "a sort of respect that is meant to balance out the obvious power of the men. The idea has some merit, but I think it is imperfect. I would prefer if our Shokaze needn't be Avialae at all, and more power vested in other races. I have only a little political clout in the scheme of things, but I will always try to leave the world a better place than I found it. That was one reason I arranged this evening for you. Scientists are only people, but it requires a certain open-mindedness that lends itself to rational discourse rather than dogmatic ideology. There can certainly be dogmatic ideology within science, but whenever people begin to speak of war, I worry that no ideology is worth the loss of life, the suffering that the people will endure while those in power take the opportunities that chaos allow in order to line their pockets or increase their own power.

"I am certain you and I would disagree on any number of issues, but here we are, respecting each other enough to be honest and open." She offered another quiet smile. He was certainly a handsome man, and it was rare that one who was older than her was so sincere with her.

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[Stefan Dornkirk]

The answers he was getting were not the ones he had been expecting. Socialite ladies had been something of Stefan's bane since he'd been old enough to move in society without a chaperone. The idea that his issue with young female company might be specific to Zaichaer had never occurred to him. Not that he had met many in Kalzisi, in fact, aside from Lyra, who he assuredly did not consider a 'young lady' Lady Kala was the first. Wondering how his experience on the marriage market might have differed only lingered in his mind for a moment, he was happily married now and need not worry the subject further.

"Hmm." Was all he said for a moment, but he showed he was listening. Then, "I believe you are right, Lady Leukos. Even the most civilized man might find himself doing things he never had considered given extraordinary circumstances. I know how easy it is to judge from a position of safety and plenty, and can only hope to remain open-minded." At he spoke one hand raised briefly to his face where a fading scare ran from above his left eyebrow, down through it, skipping his eye and ending in a faint line over his cheek.

The Warrens had taught him things about himself that even his time in the ZADC had not. That was not a topic for this delicate lady, but it gave weight to her words nonetheless.

His mind came back fully to the conversation as she turned to the topic of the ruling race of Kalzasi. He nodded carefully, taking a step closer now that it appeared they would continue talking beyond simple pleasantries. When he was in the light of the brazier where she could observe him at her leisure, as was polite, he answered.

"I have long thought that choosing a leader based on qualities of birth caused an imbalance of power." This was true of nobility as well as race. Though Dornkirk was now, technically a noble house, it would rise or fall on its own merit.

"Meritocracy is a system that requires a level of civilization beyond that in which might gives rights, but I believe the world is reaching a stage in which it is possible."

As he remained closer, though no more than politely so, his wide aura began to resolve into a slight movement that would seem extremely familiar to Kala's eyes. Over time wings would materialize out of the flow around him. If concentrated on, their feathers, varied shades of grey, would grow to seem almost real on the physical plane, as though one might reach out and touch them.

Stefan's brow furrowed as he thought over her words. His own work had always been intended to curtail the loss of life, on all sides, but no war would be bloodless. Those who would suffer would mostly be the oppressors who had caused suffering, but innocents would not be wholly spared. Hoping that, when the time came, she might remember his words he said,

"It has ever been my goal, as a scientist, to eliminate loss and suffering. Some wars are inevitable, until the world grows beyond the need, but science can do much to lessen the dire consequences. My hope in attending tonight was to gain an understanding of how our two civilizations could combine our knowledge to that end."

It was true, though it was not his only goal.

[Kala Leukos]

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She turned toward him and stepped closer to the light when he did the same, meeting in the middle. Kala hadn't really had any firm ideas of what this man would be like, but he was a gratifying surprise.

"The Kalzasern government has at least some trappings of meritocracy; the council could choose a leader from another house than Novalys. We shall see how it evolves over time." It was true that Lady Marda ruled House Ahtivan, but she was only a regent until one of her great-grandsons was old enough to take up the mantle. The reverence for women, even a High Priestess of Ioniri, only went so far. If, Goddess forbid, Aquilios and Kaus were to die, she would rule after her mother joined them, and one of her children would succeed her. At least within her house, there was more equality.

The young lady was canny enough to read between the lines whether he meant to intimate other goals or not, but she chose not to call him on them. Of course, she had more than one reason to arrange all this as well.

"I am glad that the archivist extended you an invitation to visit," she said, bringing them back around to a previous interaction from the evening. "I would have offered to take you myself, but they will give you more access and more information, I'm certain." Her smile was appreciative. "I know you are a man for laboratories and factories, but I think you will appreciate the temple to knowledge." It wasn't actually a religious building, but for seekers of knowledge, it might as well have been. But she was also wondering what her Rune was telling her. The man had an almost ghostly double, and the double had wings.

"I spend a fair amount of time there," she admitted. "I wish I could get my brother to come more often but, twins or not, we aren't identical in our interests." She laughed softly, clearly more amused than anything else by it. "Do you come from a family of scholars or are you a black sheep like me?"

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[Stefan Dornkirk]

It was nice, in one way, when they could both see each other clearly. There was also something to be said for having a conversation in which the words were the easy focus without the muddling effect of expressions.

Either way, Stefan ensure that they remained far enough apart that she would not have to strain to see his face, at least.

"Hmm. A leader chosen by vote has its positive aspects, certainly." Stefan had wondered what it would be like if Zaichaer evolved toward a democracy, but the world was still too unstable. "I do not know your politics well enough to comment on specifics but it seems that a closed number of families choosing a leader based on what it might gain or lose them can not be healthy for the population."

Taking a breath of the cool air as though he was considering his next words he went on, deciding to be a little bold for once,

"Particularly not when the most likely candidate appears to now be immortal."

His smile was small but genuine when she extended her offer, however unnecessary it was not acknowledged to be,

"I would have been very grateful to you. I spend quite a lot of time in the libraries of Zaichaer, though not as much as I was allowed when I was earning my degrees. Do you spend much time in the Archives?"

Her comment was apt for, if there was anything that Stefan might have been said to worship, it was knowledge.

As they continued to converse, the wings at his back fluttered, looking more like actual living things than the symbol they might have been interpreted as. The image stepped away from the man, looking for a moment like the pantomime of a soul being pulled from a body. The form was naked, but otherwise looked exactly like the man it had come from. It moved to hover a few feet from the ground, smiled down at Kala, then turned its gaze back to Stefan with an expression so obviously made of love that it hurt a little to see it.

"Do you?" He sounded surprised at the answer to his question. Women in Zaichaer were almost as likely to be educated as men, but he had not thought Kalzasi would be the same. The knowledge that she had a twin was interesting, but not especially so. At least, it should not have been. Something in the idea twinged in a far back part of his mind; keened almost, but he ignored it.

"What is it you study, Lady Kala? My father did study a great deal but I believe it was a means to an end for him. My family was not always wealthy, you see." He wasn't sure how she would react to that but was prepared mentally for positive or negative.

"He learned to lift himself out of his modest origin state. My own brother also studied a great deal but also, I believe for the prestige of top marks and being accepted into the Officer Corps immediately. He certainly achieved both goals but I haven't seen him cracking many scholarly volumes since."

The affection in his voice was deep, even if he was teasing the absent man a bit.

"I am not a black sheet, by any means, my family applauds my scholarly pursuits, but I think that I am the only one that loves learning for it's own sake."