"Will we need to change for the ball?" Solae asked, suddenly uncertain how well she could actually dance in her current attire. The dress was certainly formal and subjectively breathtaking to her audience, but women's fashion frequently sacrificed practicality for aesthetics. Even if dancing itself was not required, she would not pass up an opportunity to see if Rene could recall how to lead from his noble upbringing. The Stellar Empire's upper echelon conducted business during social gatherings regularly. Because the traditions of the court were so essential for negotiations, as well as maintaining the reputation of a lineage, not even the most rebellious scion could be spared from countless dance lessons. The duchess remembered how much she dreaded hers; gliding across the dance floor was enjoyable, but her teacher and partner was a curmudgeonly old bachelor that was a font of seemingly endless criticism. Once she had told her mother with exasperation that the empress herself would not have been spared his insulting judgment.

"Our people will not expect you to dress as we do," Kel'shaiel reassured, her eyes flickering between the aristocrats' garments as she silently assessed whether or not they would be offensive to the other Kalderi. There would be a great deal of latitude given to the foreigners, but it not without implicit limitations.

"Would it be possible to procure the services of a tailor?" Solae asked after a moment's pause. "We left our last destination in a hurry," she clarified, "and didn't have the time to get Yarue and Dasin more comfortable clothing. What they are wearing is modified from protective uniforms made for humans. The modifications are expertly done... but it's still very [i]human[/i]. They may be my guards, but they are also representatives of the Syshin race, and I hoped to find something that is more reflective of their culture, while serving the same purpose."

"We could stay on the ship for the dance," Yarue offered in Syshin, realizing that her motivation was equally over concern for him retaining some semblance of his cultural identity as well as intending to have him attend the ball. Sitting at the same table as a high-ranking dignitary and her attache as a paid, valued employee was more than he could have hoped for.

"You can stay on the Bonaventure if that is what you really want," Solae turned to explain to the Syshin in their native tongue, "but this is an opportunity I think you should take. This is not all about me, Rene, Duke Tan, or even the empress. Stand proudly before the Kalderi and show them what your people are like. I will support you all the way," she smiled, "but you and Dasin must decide for yourself when you want to take that first step."

"Do the Kalderi... weave?" Dasin asked in Imperial Standard, gesturing towards the decorative netting over Kel'shaiei's wings.

"Humans use a great deal of synthetic fabrics," the diplomat informed her host, "but the Syshin value the art of weaving and use it in many of their textiles."

"You will go to this ball?" Yarue asked Dasin somewhat incredulously, surmising that the posed query meant that his only companion of the same race was entertaining the idea. It was such a monumental political statement that he anticipated spending an hour or more contemplating the issue.

"It does not hurt to ask for things we would like to wear better. We can wear the armor when we need to, but have clothes that are not made for humans," the other Syshin replied calmly, neither taking a stance for attending or declining the invitation. Perhaps as guards they ought to follow Solae everywhere like a shadow, looking for threats, and remaining close at hand, but there was a significant technological gap at play during this meeting. Whether or not anyone wished to acknowledge it aloud, they all knew that if the Kalderi wanted to annihilate the party at any time, they would not struggle to do so. The Bonaventure was hardly a war ship, they were vastly outnumbered, and the swords at the hip of the security detail were deadly- not to mention the Kalderi had the unique advantage of flying.