Goemon bowed as low as he could, being seated beside the two ladies at their table.

"My apologies." For a moment, his eyes hung solely on the older Klara, the woman who until now had remained silent and apart from their little conversation. It seemed, despite appearances, that Galina was not [i]entirely[/i] in charge, her counterpart ready to step forwards should the desire catch her fancy. At this point, it wasn't really an issue -it seemed Galina had fully bitten the bait laid out for her- but the information remained interesting nonetheless.

He wouldn't be trapping the young lady with his words anytime soon. 

But his true task only became [i]more[/i] appetizing.

It was hard, but Goemon kept his features contrite and apologetic. Pretentious indeed, and such a focus on appearances! Oh no, despite the differences in their cultures, all that Klara said only affirmed to Goemon that there was quite little to be unfamiliar of. Nobility was nobility, despite the country, despite the culture. The Voice would never question his master's apparent fixation on Galina since the party back at the Winchester Estate. But [i]this[/i]? Coaxing in those well-used to their lofty titles, leading them to humiliating revelation? Oh yes, this was something very familiar, something [i]very[/i] welcome.

Just a little longer.

Goemon eyed the fish before him for a moment, then shrugged. "It seems I should have requested it raw. Mr. Selvin should be within his quarters belowdecks by now, I can show you to him whenever you would like... He truly does prefer to keep to himself most of the time, and the idea of eating up here-" He paused a moment to look around the room filled with it's gaudy occupants. "-seemed to discomfort him, so I did not press him on that."

~-~-~

Kneeling comfortably upon the floor of Mr. Selvin's small -but private- quarters near the bottom of the ship, Souma enjoyed a simple meal to himself. Raw fish was delicately sliced and rested on rolled rice, laid out before him on a low wooden bench standing just before his knees. A ceramic bottle stood at one corner, occasionally used to fill one of the two small ceramic cups with a clear liquid. 

Souma sipped the cool sake and nibbled away at his food with easy patience, knowing eventually what would come to pass. Daisuke knew how to reach the upper levels without being seen, avoiding the common halls that Goemon would use to descend. Mr. Selvin had ended up more than willing to leave with the Fist, well-bribed by the allure of kind weather, eager students and his own small boat. The knowledge they gained from the older engineer wouldn't be that much, most likely, but it was [i]something[/i], and would give those samurai who had been too proud to leave their country someone to learn from as soon as they realized how obsolete they had truly became.

Of course, small gains aside, this little mission would be the one where Souma could meet the young Galina Demidova again. The lady who's company had charmed him so before, right up until she left him sleeping within the room he had meant to rob.

He never did get to see her off that night. A lapse in politesse he would be sure to correct this evening.