It is an odd mix, that move. It speaks of familiarity and newness at the same time. He watches her hands curiously, although of course his attention flicks back up again for conversation.
"We have," he says with an easy smile. "I believe I neglected to introduce myself. Vanadi, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
He used to add a family name -- how natural it's become to leave it off. He leans comfortable against the edge of the parapet, forearms braced against the stone.
"I'm a fellow rifter, as well. I'm sure I don't need to say anything like, quite the change, hmm?"
"You could, but I do appreciate your discretion in not," she says, all good humored as she holds out her hand, "I imagine I'll have plenty of time to prefect my idle small talk in this world. Circumstances aside, it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Vanadi."
He'd noticed this straight away, of course, but as he takes her hand it once again strikes him just how beautiful this woman is. That's most of the motivation when he sweeps her hand up to kiss the air just above her fingers, splayed over his, as demanded by the courtly manners he's used to.
"Well met," he says, because of course he does. He releases her hand and drops back into his lean. "I must confess that lately I find myself happy to skip over small talk. I'd much prefer to be useful, if I could. From one foreigner to another, do you have any questions I might try my hand at?"
It's not the first time she's been given such a greeting. It's a little silly, but he carries the gesture off with more elegance than she's come to expect. She allows it to pass unremarked, aside from a regal bow in return. Diana echoes his greeting automatically, "And to you, sir."
When she straightens and finds her hand free, she settles it on her hip and tips him a smile. "I admit, I've been doing so much reading since I've arrived, I can't begin to fathom what to ask someone whose circumstances match mine. Have you had any trouble with the locals?"
"Yes," he says easily, in the same tone one might say not at all. "But it seems that's largely on account of the ears. If you keep that shard of yours to yourself, I'm sure you'll do quite fine."
She nods, some of her levity slipping. "That has been part of my reading as well, though rather frustratingly sparse. It seems the powerful are as inclined to paint over their cruelties in this world as any other. Unsurprising and yet I still am a bit disappointed."
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"We have," he says with an easy smile. "I believe I neglected to introduce myself. Vanadi, and it's a pleasure to meet you."
He used to add a family name -- how natural it's become to leave it off. He leans comfortable against the edge of the parapet, forearms braced against the stone.
"I'm a fellow rifter, as well. I'm sure I don't need to say anything like, quite the change, hmm?"
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"Well met," he says, because of course he does. He releases her hand and drops back into his lean. "I must confess that lately I find myself happy to skip over small talk. I'd much prefer to be useful, if I could. From one foreigner to another, do you have any questions I might try my hand at?"
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When she straightens and finds her hand free, she settles it on her hip and tips him a smile. "I admit, I've been doing so much reading since I've arrived, I can't begin to fathom what to ask someone whose circumstances match mine. Have you had any trouble with the locals?"
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