<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'">Despite the clear display of unease at their close proximity, the slave made no move to put any distance between them. No, he continued his task unhindered, giving his charge's exhausted body a thorough cleaning. Being in a position where he was made to share space with a perfect stranger, not even one of his own slaves, was nothing short of unsettling, but he supposed he could learn to tolerate him. In Akros, he would undoubtedly have dismissed him immediately in favor of either his own slaves or solitude. Eras was mot certainly not his superior and Zyliel would have suffered no consequence if he sent the man away - but it would have defeated the purpose of his visit. And so he suffered in silence.<br/>
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If nothing else, he took some satisfaction - or at least solace - in knowing that Eras, despite being maddeningly familiar with his person, seemed genuinely devoted to his task. To helping Zyliel in his mission to build a rapport with the leaders of Dusan. That was something. It would take some time for the Lieutenant to trust him, if he was inclined to trust him at all, but it was something of a relief to know that he took his task seriously in spite of their countries' respective differences.<br/>
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Eras' explanation of the evening's festivities did nothing for his nerves, however. He nearly sighed but caught himself. "I am not much of a dancer," he mentioned. "I would hardly know any steps from my own country, much less someone else's." He did not, however, indicate any desire to be taught. Zyliel was many things, but a dancing man was not one of them. He didn't especially care for parties, either. Far too much noise, far too many drunken idiots in a great hurry to make bad decisions. No doubt his men felt differently, but Zyliel was far too stoic for such things.<br/>
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"Are events like this... common?" he queried, reluctantly turning to let Eras access his back. Only halfway, however, as he was unwilling to turn his back on a slave he didn't know. He remained even less willing to participate in extravagant parties where he would be expected to socialize. Or worse, fraternize. He certainly hadn't come all the way to Dusan to fall into bed with their slave girls, or indeed anyone who might find his foreign nature a novelty.</span>