Mazzio's first step into the High Kingdom. [Attn: Potenza]

[Ivernia]

During the meeting with the Ambassador Micheal Earhart, not being a speaker of any Potenzan at all, was clueless to why the Ambassador was nervous.

He put it down to general nervousness over the entire trade deal. After all Mr. Mazzio was a powerful man and this deal meant a lot of trade between the Grand Duchy and the High Kingdom.

Micheal Earhart felt the need to interject, ''Oh Mr. Mazzio I didn't know you knew the Ambassador already?''

''In such a way, I suppose I do know him.'' Mazzio replied coyly,

''Of course! What Ambassador wouldn't keep tabs on the CEO's of his nations international corporations!''

At this remark Mazzio laughed to himself once he heard it from the translators.

Micheal smiled at this and continued to the Ambassador, ''Mr. Mancini thank you for organising this lovely event. This is a great day for Iverno-Potenzan Trade relations and this banquet today was another successful cog in the deals process.''

''Oh er yes of course Prince-Elector! I am proud to do my duty to the Grand-Duchy. I do hope you both enjoy yourselves here. Please... stay around for the dinner, as I plan to toast the two men responsible for this''

The way Mr. Mancini spoke he seemed to want Micheal and Mazzio to continue mingling with the crowd rather than stay here, And so they did.

Earhart and Mazzio, with Christiana of course, generally stuck together throughout the garden party at the Potenzan Embassy. While Micheal Earhart stepped away to meet his wife (Who couldn't resist the chance to head up after Micheal for an excuse to shop in Alderburgh) and moments when Mazzio got lost in the crowd of Potenzan's who were present. Laughing with a large crowd around him as plumes of Potenzan cigar smoke circled above.

Micheal himself was offered a cigar, and he was without a doubt the finest cigar he ever had. Not as big a smoker of cigars as Prince-Elector Vincentus Aodh-Mór, he never really took to heart whenever Vincentus sang the praises of Potenzan cigars over Ivernish cigars, but now he understood.

''A Potenzan cigar and an Ivernish whiskey is a marraige made in heaven'' was one of Vincentus' favourite quotes - and favourite ways to relax.

In Ivernia, during the height of Summer, the sun never really fully sets. Darkness comes at somewhere around 11:45 and dawn breaks at 3am. As such you never notice the time fly, especially at parties as grand as this. Even though it was still bright enough to see quite clearly, the help set up small Touzen-Style lanterns around the outside. Music more styled for dance was about to be played as the large patio was being cleared to couples could dance in the cooler evening. But it was not time for dancing just yet. There was still a dinner to attend. The typical Ivernish notion of eating before the dance.

As a bell was wrung the delegates, the wives and husbands, the smokers and the talkers and laughers all filed in together into a beautiful dining room. Micheal Earhart was naturally seated next to Prince-Elector David Mac Sweeney at his left with Mr. Mazzio and Christiana surrounding the circular table. The Ambassador Mancini and Mancini's wife were also at the table of honour.
Micheal could see his wife at another table chatting with the friends she bought from Bervenia. Not one to ever lose out on gossip, his wife picked up German very very quickly. And two of the three she brought with her were actually from Franken. She waved and smiled at Micheal and returned to her conversation.

Micheal saw waiters moving to and fro handing out the first course but he couldn't see what it was yet. Even though he was usually at the table of honour - he always had the poor fortune of being one the last few to get food at these banquets.

he hated to admit it - but with the busy day he had he was looking for to just having a meal.

 

[Potenza]

Mazzio knew many of the Potenzans at the embassy, as he had plenty of connections - either as mere acquaintances or business associates - while those who didn't know him were eager to meet one of the most influential men in the Grand Duchy, and hence would be able to tell their friends they met Leopoldo Mazzio. Cristiana, for her own part, kept behind him, in the shadows, always near him but never the focus of attention, letting him have the limelight. It was the way it had always been, and she accepted it. As she was his servant, and not his wife, she had to accept it. It was she who took the a cigar, sniffed it, rubbed it gently under her nostrils, putting it back in rejection before doing the same to another, handing it to Mazzio with her approval. It was an old custom from the 19th century that many in Potenzan fine society - especially among the nobility - still maintained. The cigar indeed was fine, and Mazzio had to admit to himself that it had been a while since he had enjoyed some good tobacco. He never smoked cigarettes because they were so low class and crude to him, and unlike many in Potenza he didn't have the time to maintain and use a pipe, but when he had the chance he loved a good cigar.

The bell rang - time for dinner. Mazzio placed what remained of his cigar in a nearby ash tray (which was quite full), and motioned for Cristiana to follow him. The two followed the crowd into the dining hall, where embassy staff were sending the guests this way and that, bringing them to the appropriate tables. These two specific Potenzans were seated next to Michael, Mazzio first and Cristiana next to him. Mazzio couldn't help but notice Earhart waving to a woman some ways away, at another table, and had noticed him spending time with her earlier.

Attempting to make conversation, Mazzio tapped Earhart on the sleeve of his suit and pointed in the direction of the woman, asking in Tiburan: "La sua moglie?*"

Cristiana once again kept to herself, lifting up the glass of water before her, bringing it to her full, red lips, sipping it gently, glancing her blue eyes about the room, people watching and studying the bevy of different people - Ivernian and Potenzan, royal and common, politicians and citizens - seated about the tables.

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* "Your wife?"