[It really doesn't. It certainly cuts some of the nervousness with a little bubble of their own euphoria. Years of loneliness settled up with "ah, this is what it's like."
The Winterfair Ball was, as it usually is, the small security nightmare that ImpSec had fevered dreams and a many, many, many strategical meetings over. Simon nodded to all of them coming in, flicking a longer glance to Bel, then the Count for confirmation. Vorkosigan merely waved a hand through the air, and the Security Chief melted back into bland unremarkability.
Reds and blues marked all of the Counts, nearly all of them, most clustering into small circles of comfortable influence and likeminded politics, but the stray wandering of an agenda could be tracked, here and there. While the gaudy parade colors and double swords saw the Counts, the Countesses were resplendent, the energy and resources of the various houses poured there in full. Minor Lords and Ladys, various servants and agents mingled, high ranking proles and merchants had thrown just as much into garb as the Countesses, at much dearer expense.
The night began with the address from the Emperor. In Gregor's own style, it was little more than thanking everyone for attending and wishing a good evening and prosperous new year, before he pulled back, as usual, to take his first dance, and then observe.
The orchestra started up, glasses clinked, and the evening began.]
no subject
The Winterfair Ball was, as it usually is, the small security nightmare that ImpSec had fevered dreams and a many, many, many strategical meetings over. Simon nodded to all of them coming in, flicking a longer glance to Bel, then the Count for confirmation. Vorkosigan merely waved a hand through the air, and the Security Chief melted back into bland unremarkability.
Reds and blues marked all of the Counts, nearly all of them, most clustering into small circles of comfortable influence and likeminded politics, but the stray wandering of an agenda could be tracked, here and there. While the gaudy parade colors and double swords saw the Counts, the Countesses were resplendent, the energy and resources of the various houses poured there in full. Minor Lords and Ladys, various servants and agents mingled, high ranking proles and merchants had thrown just as much into garb as the Countesses, at much dearer expense.
The night began with the address from the Emperor. In Gregor's own style, it was little more than thanking everyone for attending and wishing a good evening and prosperous new year, before he pulled back, as usual, to take his first dance, and then observe.
The orchestra started up, glasses clinked, and the evening began.]
So... where to?