[center][h3][b][u]The Imperial Palace, Bushu, Musashi System, The Musashi Empire[/u][/b][/h3][/center]

(At that same reception from earlier)

Steve Woolsey had been imbibing rather…  Liberally for the duration of the celebration, only pausing in his quest for intoxication to repeat vapid greetings whenever an official wandered close enough to introduce themselves.  After he’d heard the news of Yuki’s disownment earlier in the week and conveyed it to the Cabinet he’d been in a rather dour mood, his temper such that he’d been all but avoided as a leper by the embassies staff.
 
So it was fortuitous when he received an invitation to a party celebrating that woman Xiao Xiang’s ascension to Foreign Minister of Musashi.  On some level he was well aware of the significance of the event, but the bleak reality that’d been thrust upon him mere days earlier had led him to see the occasion as little more than an excuse to ingest a rather irresponsible amount of alcohol.  Such was the mood of the Confederation’s ambassador, yet it was soon to shift dramatically.
 
Looking up between drinks Woolsey spotted Sir Kessel, the ambassador of the Commonwealth, casually strolling up to him.  With a somewhat clumsy wave Woolsey greeted him, “Ambassador.”

"Ambassador Woolsey," Kessel replied formally. Kessel noted Woolsey's off kilter wave and generally distant look. Bold move getting drunk at an event like this, though if rumours were to be believed, Woolsey had every reason to be drinking. And why not? It was a party after all. Following that line of thought, Kessel produced a flask from inside his jacket and took a swig. "Enjoying the party?" he asked.

Woolsey glanced around for a moment as if slightly confused by Kessels statement before simply gesturing to the glass in his hand, "It has been a...  A most hospitible gathering Ambassador Kessel."

"Hopsitable indeed. Its nice to have everyone out of those masks." He snagged a glass of punch from a passing server and poured some of the contents of his flask into it. "Still, the atmosphere seems a bit dour. I suppose its not everyday the heir-apparent gets disowned."

Woolsey only nodded and downed the rest of his drink.  Drumming his fingers against the table he looked over to Kessel, "You have a talent for understatement Ambassador...  But I suppose you- you're not wrong.  Tell me, what do [i]you[/i] think of that debacle then?"

Kessel took a drink and mulled it over. "It seems...overly harsh. Certainly not the way we do things back home, but then we don't put Royals in charge of diplomacy. I'd be out of a job were it otherwise. But it's not really my place to criticize Musashi domestic policy; I'm just supposed to grin and bear it."

"Isn't it always..."  Looking over to Xiang Woolsey commented, "At least somebody's grin is the real thing.  To think I hadn't even heard of that woman before we bumped into eachother after-  Well it doesn't matter.  I imagine she'll be the one we end up talking to from now on, not bloody likley another Princess will end up chatting with me.  Every one that does seem to come off worse for it."

"So I'd heard," Kessel commented, then turned his gaze over to Xiang. "Still, I'll be glad to have more opportunities to speak with Xaio Xiang. She's young, but seems to have an excellent head for diplomacy, and many other laudable qualities."

Perking up a bit Woolsey raised a brow and smiled, if weakly, for the first time all night, "Other laudable qualities eh?  It's a shame, but I don't know too much about Miss Xiao, why dont you educate me a bit on what those...  Qualities might be."

Kessel laughed. "Well she has keen instincts, excellent education, but she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. I also believe she's a talented...orator." He chuckled again and took another drink. The Yanissan concoction from his flask was taking effect, and Kessel felt distinctly more relaxed than he had a minute ago.

Abandoning all pretense Woolsey began to, of all things, giggle.  Grabbing Kessel and pulling him closer he spoke hushedly, "You know, I'm sure she'd just love to hear those compliments of yours Ambassador, you should go and say hello.  She might even be kind enough to,"  Woolsey barely kept himself composed, "recite a speech for you."

Kessel laughed amiably. "Yes it might help foster closer [i]relations[/i]. The things I do for Queen and Country." With that, he set off to track down Xaio Xiang, having not yet complimented her on her recent appointment.  As he went Woolsey snickered between drinks and watched .

Kessel added himself to the line of fawners in front of Xaio Xiang, graciously waiting his turn. When it finally was his turn, he boldly leaned in close to Xiang and kissed her on both cheeks. Seeing her confusion, he was quick to explain. "Excuse me Xiang-dono; it is a tradition in the Commonwealth. A gesture we reserve for greetings upon great accomplishments, such as your own that we celebrate tonight."


"A tradition? Is that all that was?" She asked, her mouth forming into a wide smile. Her face had become flushed from either all that she had to drink or something else. "I fear that I will never truly understand you foreigners." She simply looked at him for a moment before asking "Have you enjoyed the party Kessel-sama?"

"I've enjoyed immensely, minister-" and then there came a sound.

Craning his neck to see Kessel properly Woolsey shot his Commonwealth counterpart a thumbs up and cheered, "Wooooooooo!  Your the uh... The Ambassador!"  Though it was unlikley Kessel heard it clearly over the noise of the party.  Drawing a number of looks Woolsey waved his spectators off and went to take yet another drink.

Kessel shook his head. "You must forgive Ambassador Woolsey, Xiang-dono. He has overheard certain, ah...salacious rumours regarding the two of us."

"Salacious rumors? How dreadful. What would your mother have to say about that?" She raised a hand to mask her lower face, although it was clear she was still smiling behind it.

"Ah...minister, you wouldn't care to know. My mother was raised on a particularly [i]liberal[/i] planet in the Commonwealth, and she had very [i]progressive[/i] views on such subjets. However, apparently among the staff and servants of the embassy quarter here on Bushu, we are already an item. Oh how they gossip!" Kessel said, ever so delicately.

"Oh I know all about servants and rumors." Xiang said. "They need just the slightest of excuses and off they go, running wild." She leaned towards Kessel ever so slightly as she whispered "But what ever could have set them off this time?"

"I find myself wondering the same thing, Xiang-dono." He paused for a moment, contemplating the vivid ribbons of color now in his vision thanks to the Yanissan drink. "Oh, incidentally Minister, would you have time to drop by my office later? My government replied with some specifics regarding our new trade deal, and I confess I am most anxious to discuss them with you. Only good can come of [i]closer relations[/i]...between our nations."

"Hmmmmm.... I concur. Our nations have so much to gain by having warm relations. And of course one or both of us must lead the way." Xiang slowly swept her gaze around the room before returning it to Kessel. "Hmmm shall we do our [i]negotiations[/i] later tomorrow, or later... tonight?"

Kessel flashed her a small grin. "As I said Minister, I am [i]most anxious[/i] to discuss them. If your schedule permits, please find me in my office later tonight."

"That I shall if time permits" Xiang said with a smile of her own. "Ah... but if you could, please do what you can to prevent those salacious rumors from spreading too far. I fear my uncle would have a heart attack if her heard something so scandelous." Her expression darkened as she added in hushed tones "And I would hate for the Emperor to question my loyalty." 

"I shall take every measure to ensure that my staff cease such childish blabber. I look forward to discussing [i]trade conditions[/i] with you, Xiang dono. For now, I shall leave you to your party." With that, Kessel turned away, and made his way back to Woolsey, flashing the Confederate Ambassador a lopsided grin on the way.

Wordlessly, though with a giddy smile, Woolsey gave Kessel a subdued high five and sat him down.  There was a great deal to drink, and only so much time.