[Van Zieks as he is now is certainly not going to say anything about the drifting hands. But Sylvando will be able to get an idea that under the thin cotton of his shirt, van Zieks is surprisingly muscular given his profession.]

Well, sure. Where I'm from, there's a lot of expectations for how to behave, particularly in my station. Even being out in public without my waistcoat would be considered highly inappropriate.
[He sighs a little, maybe in relief from the tension being worked out of his muscles, maybe in exasperation at victorian society.]

But even beyond that, I didn't trust anyone, after everything that happened. So I was in the habit of pushing people away and focusing on my work. Harder to feel alone if you keep busy, you know?