Yes ... partly. We are still learning the finer points. We have begun taking cooking classes.
[ He'd been starting from the absolute basics, but he has made a little progress. A thought occurs to him, sudden and wonderful precisely because it is so contrary to how things would have been at court, and Maia says brightly: ]
Perhaps I can make us a meal, later.
[ Maia follows Csevet out onto the balcony, mirroring his posture unconsciously. The city still looks so strange, but he has come to appreciate its beauty, too. The faint breeze is lovely, in the bright sunlight, and Maia looks down at the people below, going about their days. It's calming, to be so high up. The perfect setting for this conversation, all things told.
When Csevet asks if there is someone he wants to court, it catches Maia off-guard, and all that calm flies out the window. Quickly, a little too quickly, he says: ]
No! That is, uh, no, there is no one in particular. You... are correct that we wished to discuss courtship, but- there is something you do not know, that we must tell you before we go any further.
[ Maia's face feels hot, and he looks resolutely down at those small people below, keenly aware of Csevet standing beside him. ]
We- we do not doubt your discretion, Csevet, and yet we must insist that you do not tell anyone, ever, what we are about to tell you. We... had been seeing a little more of Dach’osmin Ceredin, shortly before we came here. She had been giving us dancing lessons. In that time, we came to know one another a little better, and she came to- to trust me with confidences she had not previously been able to share.
[ He is speaking slowly, in stops and starts, having difficulty framing the words. He had not told Csevet this yet, even in his own time. He had planned to. After the wedding. But putting it off in this place would lead to misunderstandings, so he forces himself to go on. ]
She has told me that... though she bears me no ill feeling, and freely consents to our marriage, her nature is- that is to say... her inclinations are towards women. She knew, her whole life, that it was her duty to be married, to bear heirs. She knows that- we have just as little freedom in this matter as she does. So- so we both have agreed to be friends, and to- share one another's bed only insofar as we must, to provide the kingdom with heirs. We will not ask her for more, and she will not ask it of us. In sooth, we were happy to make the arrangement. And if she should fall for a woman in the court, we will find a way, with the utmost discretion, to accommodate her and to allow her as much freedom and happiness as possible.
[ That was one reason he'd known he would have to tell Csevet. It would take some doing, he is sure. But he knows that Csevet will be up to the task.
Maia sighs, feeling like he has been talking for an hour, at least. He turns to look at Csevet, expression nervous. What would he think? Would he be offended? Annoyed? Shocked? ]
We- we tell you this so you will understand that... should we- if we did find someone we wished to court, here, it would not be a betrayal to her.
no subject
[ He'd been starting from the absolute basics, but he has made a little progress. A thought occurs to him, sudden and wonderful precisely because it is so contrary to how things would have been at court, and Maia says brightly: ]
Perhaps I can make us a meal, later.
[ Maia follows Csevet out onto the balcony, mirroring his posture unconsciously. The city still looks so strange, but he has come to appreciate its beauty, too. The faint breeze is lovely, in the bright sunlight, and Maia looks down at the people below, going about their days. It's calming, to be so high up. The perfect setting for this conversation, all things told.
When Csevet asks if there is someone he wants to court, it catches Maia off-guard, and all that calm flies out the window. Quickly, a little too quickly, he says: ]
No! That is, uh, no, there is no one in particular. You... are correct that we wished to discuss courtship, but- there is something you do not know, that we must tell you before we go any further.
[ Maia's face feels hot, and he looks resolutely down at those small people below, keenly aware of Csevet standing beside him. ]
We- we do not doubt your discretion, Csevet, and yet we must insist that you do not tell anyone, ever, what we are about to tell you. We... had been seeing a little more of Dach’osmin Ceredin, shortly before we came here. She had been giving us dancing lessons. In that time, we came to know one another a little better, and she came to- to trust me with confidences she had not previously been able to share.
[ He is speaking slowly, in stops and starts, having difficulty framing the words. He had not told Csevet this yet, even in his own time. He had planned to. After the wedding. But putting it off in this place would lead to misunderstandings, so he forces himself to go on. ]
She has told me that... though she bears me no ill feeling, and freely consents to our marriage, her nature is- that is to say... her inclinations are towards women. She knew, her whole life, that it was her duty to be married, to bear heirs. She knows that- we have just as little freedom in this matter as she does. So- so we both have agreed to be friends, and to- share one another's bed only insofar as we must, to provide the kingdom with heirs. We will not ask her for more, and she will not ask it of us. In sooth, we were happy to make the arrangement. And if she should fall for a woman in the court, we will find a way, with the utmost discretion, to accommodate her and to allow her as much freedom and happiness as possible.
[ That was one reason he'd known he would have to tell Csevet. It would take some doing, he is sure. But he knows that Csevet will be up to the task.
Maia sighs, feeling like he has been talking for an hour, at least. He turns to look at Csevet, expression nervous. What would he think? Would he be offended? Annoyed? Shocked? ]
We- we tell you this so you will understand that... should we- if we did find someone we wished to court, here, it would not be a betrayal to her.