An Inconspicous Arrival

[westernqueen]

Si Wang-mu has grown accustomed to many strange things since leaving her parents’ household to work and study in the household of her lady -

But, it has to be admitted, none of those strange things involve suddenly being in an unfamilar kitchen, when you were discussing spatial geometry with your lady

Comments

[star_in_night]

A few minutes later Elaine comes out, as unobtrusive and as purposeful, in the dark slacks and plain blouse she wears in the kitchen. She hesitates only a moment at the sight of a stranger.

"Hello," she says plainly, azi to azi, without formality.

[westernqueen]

"Hello," Wang-mu says, echoing the lack of formality, but not stopping in her self assigned work. Fortunately, after one more mound of chives she is legitimately out of water, and she is able to get a good look at Elaine as she goes to the tap.

Elaine is not from Path. That's interesting. Wang-mu bends over the water - graceful, pleasing to look at if anyone's looking, but not distracting enough to really draw new attention.

[star_in_night]

"You're new?" she says, while she picks basil with careful fingers -- she's still not entirely used to plants as things to be used, rather than looked at.

[westernqueen]

"Yes," Wang-mu answers, "Still learning where everything is." Because it's true, gives nothing away, but indicates openness to further conversation. Being remembered, particularly remembered as stuck up, is not what she wants.

[sonofpellinore]

It's not Lamorak's day for hunting, and after what happened with his younger brother, he's not much in the mood for riding. So he's wandering about, trying not to get in the way. He spots her, chuckles, and says, "Has Kay got people watering the plants now too?"

[westernqueen]

Kay? Kay. She firmly files that name away and stops watering long enough to bow and say, "It must be done, sir. Nothing lives long without water."

[sonofpellinore]

"Well, true enough, though they do get rain, some." He comes a little closer. "Trust Kay to manage down to the ground, though."

[westernqueen]

"In a small garden plot most vegetables will need extra water to have the best taste, my lord," Wang-mu explains politely. "When they get dry and then wet again, they taste bitter."

[phedre_25]

She will be however noticed by a lovely young woman, brown haired, with a red mote in her left eyes - lithe but not toned, walking out purposefully with a basket on her arm.

"Oh, hello," she offers at the new site. "Are you new here? I've never seen you before..."

She's curious. Phedre has never met an Asian before.

[westernqueen]

"Yes, lady," Wang-mu says, bowing a little.

She's pretty sure where ever she is it isn't Path. Aside from the sun being wrong, this many white people would have merited a good bit of gossip, on Path.

Off world then. Off world is not good.

[phedre_25]

Phedre curtsies in turn, smiling friendlily. "Welcome to the Mansion, then," she offers kindly. "Have you been briefed thus far?"

[westernqueen]

...Phedre just curtsied at her. The disguise is not working. Oh damn. "I am still learning where things are, lady," Wang-mu says, head modestly ducked, continuing to wander, but trying to surreptitiously spot an escape route or two. Or three. Preferably five.

[dragonmurmurs]

There's a young man out near the gardens as well, currently making faces at a little green girl. The baby's laughing and bouncing a bit, and Trism grins and tousles her hair, moving to turn back to his book. But someone new catches his eye, and he gives her as much of a bow as he can while sitting down. "Hallo there!"

[westernqueen]

...Green baby. That's... that's interesting. But Wang-mu does not stare. She ducks her head modestly and moves briskly on to the lavender. "Sir," she says.

[dragonmurmurs]

Oh, you should see her grandmother. "Sir?" Trism says in amusement. "I'm not a sir, I'm a Trism. Who're you, then?" Kalyn looks up from her inspection of a bug and says "I!" cheerfully. Which, of course, means 'hi'.

[westernqueen]

All right. Fellow (ostensibly fellow) support staff? "Wang-mu," she says, a shortening of her name she'd ordinarily never use to actually introduce herself. "I'm new."

[the_bloodless]

A bit after she begins watering the plants, a redheaded man (another certainly not from Path) steps out onto the patio, perhaps there's a book under his arm. When he notices the girl diligently watering the plants he smiles at her, he has an easy, friendly smile. His clothes are simple and fairly plain, probably less fine than what she is still wearing. "Good morning."

[westernqueen]

"Good morning, sir," Wang-mu says politely, with the tiniest submissive flicker of a smile.

Country scholar? He might be. She looks to the plants, glancing sideways and up demurely through her lashes. Not quite flirtatious, but it could be, if need be.

[the_bloodless]

"I don't believe I've seen you before, just arrived?" There's no reaction to the hint of flirtation, and his manner is relaxed and open. In a way, she's not far off with her guess, though that's not the half of it.

Mun: because I forgot to say it before, OMG WANG-MU *fangirl flail* :D

[westernqueen]

"Yes, sir," she says, inwardly relieved at his lack of response. That particular route rarely winds up being fun.

Hee! Thank you! :)