"Asher, son of Tiana. I'm on the tourney team with Chen. He's been very happy the past few days."

"I'd noticed." 

Kaleva is terrified! And also pretty confused about why Asher is introducing himself as the son of his mom, who runs a restaurant, rather than his father, who is royalty.

"I've been thinking about some... similiarities between New Orleans and the Isle of the Lost."

…now he's interested. 

"Have you?" 

"They're both very... unusual places, from the standards of Auradon."

"Don't suppose you know of any more unusual places." 

"New Orleans and the Isle may be unique in how unusual they are, but there are always unusual people everywhere."

"Naturally. 

Unusual people can be hard to find, though, especially somewhere like Auradon Prep. They don't tend to advertise." 

"Auradon Prep can be... unkind, to strange people. And Fairy Godmother has difficulties understanding people who are different from her."

Kaleva is really really confused.

"I've noticed that too." 

There is one person in this triad who speaks subtext!

Asher smiles at Sasha and very conspicuously looks him up and down. "I like unusual people," he says.

Yeah, Sasha speaks this language. He relaxes his spine and shoulders, smiles back at Asher, looks him over. 

"Unusual is just so much more fun," he agrees. 

"Artists," Asher agrees. "Sailors. The"-- he clicks his tongue against his front teeth-- "queer."

"Can't say I know much about sailors." Whatever reference you just made, we don't have it on the island. "But if you know any artists I'd be happy to be introduced." But I think I know what you mean anyway. 

"I'm sure I can arrange to introduce you and Chen and Kaleva to some of the more interesting people of Auradon Prep, since you three are so... interesting... yourselves."

How to communicate "no way in hell is Chen ready for that and I'm dubious about Kaleva" without communicating "I don't want that" along with it. 

"I… don't know that Chen knows much about art, yet." 

"Ah, well, perhaps you'll teach him more about art in time."

"Oh, I intend to. 

In the meantime, if there's a group of artists here, I'd love to meet some of them." 

Asher ponders how to phrase this so that it doesn't sound like asking for a hookup. 

"If you're not busy tonight my roommate is out and I can invite some artists over. Of various genders."

"I'll be there." 

"I'm looking forward to it!"

Asher picks up his bowl of gumbo and departs.

"What just happened?"

"We'll talk about it later."