Freed from any need to maintain the charade of sight, Anton's attention upon it lapsed. Leaning back in his chair, he idly toyed with the knife he had earlier used to slice the pear while considering the Lysanrin's questions. Again, he was struck by how bizarre the entire situation was. While it was clear that Florian was a tool of the State, Eitan had evidently failed in his duty to hone that blade for any sort of political usage. He had started to become obsessed over that question, wondering just why the Commander - himself a scion of a prominent family - had thrown someone so ill prepared into a very different sort of arena than he had trained for.
"I'm afraid that you've put me into something of a difficult spot, private. If I answer you fully, I will bore you with my unending prattle. If I answer you briefly, I will frustrate you with the inane nonsense of people who have never struggled as you have." He seemed genuinely put out by the impasse, face crunching as he thought how best to proceed. "But as far as coordinating, well, that's somewhat embarrassing. I had assumed I could do that with you, but that was before I realized you were simply Private Florian Albrecht. No more, no less. I trust that I can at least leave a message for him with you though?"
He deeply hoped that the answer to that at least was a yes. It would be more than a little embarrassing to have to call directly upon the Angevin manor after so publicly fetching the son's subordinate. Babbling about minutiae at least let him finish composing his thoughts.
"The party we attended was more than my introduction to society," he said slowly. "It was also yours. Men who only knew you as a name in a report, a resource to be directed, saw you for the first time as a living, breathing thing. I am certain that Eitan impressed upon you the importance of your best behavior in their presence, for your own safety if nothing else. We play a similar game among ourselves, but with vastly lower stakes. I must visit the airship to be seen on the airship. Similarly, I must hide that I am blind to prevent others from knowing I am blind. I understand that you do not care about this at all, but it is what is expected of me. To appear a vigorous and healthy son of Zaichaer able to support the State, not a sheltered invalid who will only drain it. You, of course, have greater concerns. If you are still confused however, I suggest you ask the Commander to explain. The Angevins know all too well the importance of appearances."
Anton raised his head to make eye contact, more or less, with Florian, the slightest hint of a smile on his face as he spoke again. "I also think that I would enjoy it. The airship, I mean. To stand above the world, even if for only a time. I have spent more than enough time in ancient estates, don't you think?"
"I'm afraid that you've put me into something of a difficult spot, private. If I answer you fully, I will bore you with my unending prattle. If I answer you briefly, I will frustrate you with the inane nonsense of people who have never struggled as you have." He seemed genuinely put out by the impasse, face crunching as he thought how best to proceed. "But as far as coordinating, well, that's somewhat embarrassing. I had assumed I could do that with you, but that was before I realized you were simply Private Florian Albrecht. No more, no less. I trust that I can at least leave a message for him with you though?"
He deeply hoped that the answer to that at least was a yes. It would be more than a little embarrassing to have to call directly upon the Angevin manor after so publicly fetching the son's subordinate. Babbling about minutiae at least let him finish composing his thoughts.
"The party we attended was more than my introduction to society," he said slowly. "It was also yours. Men who only knew you as a name in a report, a resource to be directed, saw you for the first time as a living, breathing thing. I am certain that Eitan impressed upon you the importance of your best behavior in their presence, for your own safety if nothing else. We play a similar game among ourselves, but with vastly lower stakes. I must visit the airship to be seen on the airship. Similarly, I must hide that I am blind to prevent others from knowing I am blind. I understand that you do not care about this at all, but it is what is expected of me. To appear a vigorous and healthy son of Zaichaer able to support the State, not a sheltered invalid who will only drain it. You, of course, have greater concerns. If you are still confused however, I suggest you ask the Commander to explain. The Angevins know all too well the importance of appearances."
Anton raised his head to make eye contact, more or less, with Florian, the slightest hint of a smile on his face as he spoke again. "I also think that I would enjoy it. The airship, I mean. To stand above the world, even if for only a time. I have spent more than enough time in ancient estates, don't you think?"
