Water, huh? Niou is no Yanagi, but he's ready to wager a 99.5% probability that this preference is about more than idle leisure. Something to keep tucked in the back of his mind for later.
Frankly, he's impressed listening to her speak; that isn't easy to do with him. Wasn't she the one that's spent the last several years as a political hostage? She's quite well-versed in foreign affairs for a prisoner, isn't she. What's that about? How interesting.
She's savvy, too. It's not just an awareness of the international power balances she carries but a dispassionate sense of perspective on the best interests of both herself and the world more broadly.
In fact, it's almost too good to be true. How often did such a perfectly timed solution fall in your lap? Had she in fact been among the RSVPs? He'll have to check on that. It's not distrust, per se. It was simply never a bad idea to keep a healthy sense of cynicism.
But she's correct that the effects of war among Rikkai, Hyoutei, and Seigaku would ripple beyond those borders-- not least of which because they didn't abut one another. She has legitimate cause for interest in a resolution to the compromised status of Rikkai's governing head.
"That balance is shaky for other reasons as well right now. Anything we can do to stabilize it will benefit everyone. First, what would be most helpful is knowing everything we can about the root of the problem. You've picked up on a lot for having been here so little. Is there anything more you can tell me about his affliction? Or about the tome that seems connected to it?"
no subject
Frankly, he's impressed listening to her speak; that isn't easy to do with him. Wasn't she the one that's spent the last several years as a political hostage? She's quite well-versed in foreign affairs for a prisoner, isn't she. What's that about? How interesting.
She's savvy, too. It's not just an awareness of the international power balances she carries but a dispassionate sense of perspective on the best interests of both herself and the world more broadly.
In fact, it's almost too good to be true. How often did such a perfectly timed solution fall in your lap? Had she in fact been among the RSVPs? He'll have to check on that. It's not distrust, per se. It was simply never a bad idea to keep a healthy sense of cynicism.
But she's correct that the effects of war among Rikkai, Hyoutei, and Seigaku would ripple beyond those borders-- not least of which because they didn't abut one another. She has legitimate cause for interest in a resolution to the compromised status of Rikkai's governing head.
"That balance is shaky for other reasons as well right now. Anything we can do to stabilize it will benefit everyone. First, what would be most helpful is knowing everything we can about the root of the problem. You've picked up on a lot for having been here so little. Is there anything more you can tell me about his affliction? Or about the tome that seems connected to it?"