>Give the tea all proper appreciative obsequiousences. We're a nob, we have to know how to proper appreciate it.>"We're going to the palace, are we?'
>Chuckle.>"Well, it's traditional to ask first, you know. It's not as though I declared we're going to have tea, for instance. What will we be doing at the palace, then?"
>The Tang are jerks...>Do we feel we can get Yukari into the palace with us without too much trouble?>"Same here. I was kinda hoping to find out some things myself. More mundane then what you're talking about, though..."
> If we can't merely walk into the palace with Yukari in tow, consider smuggling her in through our room, possibly dressing her up and disguising her.
>"Well, I suppose I can get you inside without too many issues. When are you looking to do this? And, while we finish our tea, tell me a bit about your friends?"
>"It sounds like it. How'd you get mixed up with those two?"
>Chuckle. "Wish I had someone like that.">"I'll just have to be content with my scads of money and enormous social and political clout.">"So what's it like on the other shore?"
> Frown. "Sounds like a pretty savage place. Why would you even want to stay there?"> The Tang really are jerks...
>"Well, yeah, I didn't mean to speak ill of your home. But that does sound like a little much for most people. So, what relation does your home and this princess have?"
>Frown.>"Why's that?"
>"Well, I suppose I could understand that as a motivation for wanting to get to know someone. Kinda a shame you don't intend to stay, though. I bet you could turn that shrine right around!"
> Freeze. "... Join you... to meet the princess? Or to 'the other side'?"
>"Huh.">Raise eyebrows.>"I'll have to think about that. Not like I can just up and run away from my family and things. But...perhaps an extended leave to attend to a particular place of learning could be arranged for..."
>"You've definitely got me intrigued. But you seem to be quite good at that."
>"Mmm. I could see downsides. Why don't you tell me a bit about over there, while we finish up?"