"Do you think this will work to get us lunch at a restaurant?"

"I want to go to the government."

"What."

"Do either of us have practical skills that could get us a job."

Why would they need that. They could just pretend to be rich until these people discover the concept of saying things that aren't so, and then go on a book tour, because fraud isn't even illegal.

"You could teach."

"I have a PhD from another world in political science based around the idea that politicians sometimes say things that aren't. And your job is based on your network which you don't have."

They can just do fraud!!!!!

"Government it is, gege."

"Excuse me, sir," he says, "how do we contact the government if we have something very important to share?"

"Well, if it's very important I guess you could just call the White House and say so."

What what what what. "Do you have the White House's phone number?"

"I can look it up. You'll probably have to tell a few layers of secretaries and so on about it first? I don't know, I've never called the White House, the idea is really intimidating." She Googles the White House's phone number and provides it.

"Hello! Is this the White House?"

"Yes sir, I really hope you're not going to waste my time, what's up?"

"My husband and I are visitors from another universe and we'd like to speak to whomever is in charge of resolving that sort of situation."

"- gosh! I don't think we already have anyone in charge of that specifically, will the Secretary of State do?"

"The Secretary of State will be fine."

Behold the intoxicating feeling of power. Maybe the government isn't so bad.

"Just a moment! He's taking a dump."

Meng Yao is on hold for a minute, and then: "Secretary of State Antony Blinken here. You're from another universe? It's a good thing I just came out of the bathroom, I might have shit myself."

"Yes. Are visitors uncommon here?"

"I've never heard of one before! I guess maybe they happen pretty often and just usually catch a disease and die before they can tell anybody!"

"I'm certainly glad we didn't do that! We'd like to arrange for transport to an airport so we can have a meeting in private?"

"In private?"

"Well, right now we're in a hotel room in Kansas City and the front desk person could probably hear if he were determined."

"- so you want to meet in person for some reason instead?"

All of his instincts are wrong for this!

"In my home universe it is customary for important meetings to happen in person, would you mind accommodating us?"

"Sure, that's fine! I can have my assistant get you a plane ticket. Where are you coming from?"