[color=mediumspringgreen][h3]Shu[/h3][/color]
Shu eyed the foreign meat on her plate, unsure of where to start – or if she could even stomach more food when she was so tense. Though she was calm and quiet as a frozen pond, every muscle was coiled, ready to react to a threat. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted the Leonias soldier – [i]Gentry[/i] – glance at her but otherwise he didn't acknowledge her. Shu turned her head slightly and caught his eyes in her own green gaze. Her eyebrow twitched up the slightest bit at him. 

Then she turned back to the food that for some reason she was determined to eat at this table. Why was that again? Oh right. Exploring her heritage or something. Wu just eyed her, giving her a flat expression. Ignoring him, Shu reached to pick up her chopsticks (though the more she looked at her food, the more she realized she'd likely need a knife and fork… did they have something against small, easy to swallow portions in Leonias?) when something shot past her face.

Shu reflexively flinched away, her hand flashing up to capture the offending object. Her mind caught up with her body and she blinked to see a wrist ensnared in her iron grip. She followed the arm up to see a blond man who was [i]much[/i] too close to her. He was filthy. And sunburnt. And quite frankly, he smelled. But the possibility that he was a threat faded with each passing second as he shifted and stared awkwardly. After a quick glance at Wu, she released the arm and lowered her hand into her lap. The Gallade was just as tense as she was, but if he didn't read this stranger as a threat, then he was likely harmless. Besides, it wouldn't do to start an international incident in the emperor's palace. 

She waited for him to excuse himself after he grabbed the meat he'd been reaching for… except he didn't. He just kept standing there. Unreasonably close to her. Talking. Great Phoenix above, he was [i]smiling[/i] at her. He couldn't possibly expect her to make conversation with him. What did he even – and why on earth did he insist on so much eye-contact?

This storm of frenzied, uncomfortable thoughts brewed under the surface of Shu's composed mask as she continued looking up at him. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wu sitting unnaturally still. That smug bastard was enjoying this. Fighting the urge to fidget, she refocused her vision on the stranger. She blinked again. Was he done talking? It seemed like he was done. That meant she should probably reply. Not knowing what else to do, she gave a small nod. Then, the picture of calm and grace, she pulled her chair out and stood, leaving her plate of food on the table. Suddenly eating at this table and exploring her heritage didn't seem all that important. Without another glance at the man, Shu turned and walked away, heading for her safe spot against the wall. Wu got up and followed after her, eyeing the stranger as he passed. If it seemed like the pair walked a bit quicker than usual, it was probably just a trick of the light.

[@densoro][@chexmix]