"This and that. For one, word came from Izuna - albeit a bit indirectly - and he'd like to meet with you. Tomorrow morning seems ideal for him."

"All right," he nods. "I have to do my devotions at sunrise but I can stop by afterward."

She inclines her head. "Thank you."

"I also wouldn't mind speaking to you of my husband, some."

"Yes ma'am?"

She hides a smile being her teacup. "He's rather fond of you, I think, though I do wonder what your intentions are here."

He grins too, going a bit pink. "Well, clerics of Fharlanghn never stay in one place long - we have few allies but friends everywhere, the saying goes."

"I'm sure he'll pine horribly," she says, voice wry. "You intend to come and go, then?"

"Well, not so quickly as all that," his blush deepens a bit, though his grin widens, too. "But my heart does belong to the road."

Softer smile. "That does seem workable." Sip. "You two are rather cute together."

"I'm glad you think so, ma'am."

"It's hard for him, to find - people who aren't involved in local drama, really, and you've done quite a lot to help soothe that drama, even still."

He nods. "It's a familiar problem. I'm glad to be able to help with it."

"Good," she says, with another smile. "How are you liking the Leaf, by the way?"

"Quite a lot! We have some places that are similar, aesthetically, but nothing quite the same - especially nothing quite the same and human - and the technology is fascinating. And - I can tell you're trying, to be welcoming to outsiders; I suppose that's not quite what you'd like to hear on the topic but it's still interesting to see, and to navigate."

"I'm glad you're enjoying the city! And I think trying's the best anyone can do - especially given that it's a new idea. Still, if you have suggestions, we'd love to hear them. The place is a continual work in progress, it seems."

"A lot of it is pretty subtle - it's sort of like the difference between learning a language as a child and picking it up as an adult, you'll never be quite as fluent. And I think it's a little more obvious with me than it would be with most people - it seems like people are trying to figure out... how I fit in, I suppose, in ways I just don't, since I'm so very foreign. They're still doing well, but I can tell they're a little distracted by it sometimes."

She laughs a bit. "I had a similar problem, when I moved in with the Senju. Uzushio has a rather different culture, and I'd been sheltered until then."

He giggles. "I wouldn't call it a problem. What's Uzushio like?"

She begins to describe an island nation, largely isolated from the world by deadly whirlpools few have the trick to pass - and by their own choice. Peaceful, a place of scholarship and learning, a place where the art of sealing could survive and flourish all through the Warring States Period.

He listens, rapt. "It sounds wonderful. Maybe I can visit someday."

"That'll take some significant politics shifting, but... It'd be nice, I think, to open to outsiders more."

"Well, that's what I'm for, after all; I'll see what I can do."

Smile. "Good. I'll see what I can do to help, at least to get your foot in the door..."

"I'd appreciate it. It might be that I should know more about your world in general before I start on that in earnest, though."

"Certainly, especially since I suspect it'd be quite the project."