>>26158870We stand there and watch for another minute.
“They’re still going at it.” I say with more than a little awe. “Just how long can two people give off the impression of not hating each other?”
“For as long as their temper holds I suspect.” Galen says, taking a sip of his water.
I just shake my head and watch the two couples going at each other like a pack of impeccably polite wolves. The Sirs are discussing the quality of their respective horses, the Ladies are discussing the relative merits of each other’s dresses.
“You seem surprised Solaron.” Galen says, looking at me sideways, “Are your people not like this?”
I am about to deny his implied claim, but stop to consider. I think back to a function not unlike this one back in my homeland, where I saw my father cornered a major merchant and began discussing trade agreements. The each remained completely civil throughout the entire exchange, at least on the surface. Look a little closer and they couldn’t have been much more hostile unless they were trying to bite each other.
“I guess not.” I admit in the end, “Though we don’t usually go at each other over things like this, minor posturing and the like.”
Galen gives me a curious look, so I go on.
“Yuan Ti don’t usually engage in this sort of verbal fencing match over things like paintings and decoration, we usually reserve such confrontations for more important things like matters of wealth and political power.”
“I find that hard to believe.” Galen says, watching the nobles who are still at each other’s metaphorical throats.
“Do you mean to tell me that your people almost never get into fights like this? Or argue over the ‘little things’ as it were?”