Re: Wainright Manor: Iris M/Manning T/Misha B/Damian W
If anyone had voiced their preferences for seating, accommodations would have been made. But, no one had. Sitting across from Misha allowed Damian someone to peer at, and he did this. Others might consider this staring, as the man did not blink much, but he did not know it as such. He simply watched the interaction progress. He did not, as the man Manning assumed, abandon any words. That suggested he had them at hand and left them. Damian was trained in the art of efficiency. He had been raised communicating in the least amount of words possible, with little to no emotional distraction. He had come some distance in the past years, per many conversations with Misha, et cetera, in allowing for more, as it made others comfortable. But, he was not so perfect at it to pass as someone socialized in the world at large.
Iris smiled in a way Damian perceived as false. He felt the man beside him move in his seat, and he was able to deduce what was occurring. From this, he came to the conclusion that the woman was uncomfortable in the extreme and the man was comforting her. Misha had told Damian once that others did not appreciate the research he did upon them. That it was an invasion of privacy, when he aggregated the words available on the forums and ran them through programs to determine sex, race, age, and socio-economic status. They did not appreciate it when he dug through records to discover their heritage, family, and background. Heeding this, he had done very little with Manning Thorsen and Iris Morgenstern. He had decided to do this in Misha's fashion, by allowing them to divulge what they would. It would be far less accurate and dictated by subjectivity and a lack of awareness. However, if he decided it was unsatisfactory, he would fill in the blanks as needed.
Damian did not speak as Iris Morgenstern offered a bland response to Misha's question. It was far from specific. The man did likewise, giving the landmark of his doctorate, but little else. Damian blinked at Misha, at whom he had been staring. "I arrived in late November, 2015. The 22nd, I believe," he stated, after Manning spoke. He did not answer the question as to what brought him here, as he believed it aimed at Misha. Instead, he glanced away from those gathered, to watch staff approach with the mezze. This was a selection of what in English might be dubbed 'appetizers.' Baba ghannoug, (vegetarian) gollash, salata baladi, tahina, hummus, tamaaya, bisara. It was a series of small plates, platters, and bowls, set upon the table. It was not served to the guests, but it was placed in a spread they were meant to enjoy at their leisure. The main course would follow. Damian began with a piece of aish baladi—the traditional flatbread—and helped himself to the bisara nearest him.