>>10458220Colby has to laugh a bit at the idea of Miss USA and Amy Flame being collaborators in a plan.
>"I think your caution's really prudent. But I *do* trust Amy, and I'm sure I can safely say that she's no more fond of Miss USA than we are."The second drink is welcome, though Colby's a bit surprised that the Yellow Empress is moving so quickly on drinks. She knows it is proper etiquette to match her, and sips her own drink. Surely it'll be fine; she's bigger than the Yellow Empress, she can keep up, right?
Colby sees the food arrive and taps the table again.
>"Oh! Thank you! This looks exquisite!"She has a moment of doubt that, if pangolin is the animal she's thinking of, it might be an endangered species. But that's silly! If that's true, no doubt the Yellow Empress has, in her personal compassion and her role as an activist, led conservation efforts for pangolins. She's probably even funded humane, free-range farms raising pangolins for meat and traditional medicine. Colby tries the food, lifting the soup bowl in accordance with proper etiquette and employing her chopsticks with the barely-sufficient adeptness of a college student who had to learn to use chopsticks so as not to be bullied by her hipster acquaintances when they ate at Chinese restaurants, and finds that it's actually quite good.
>"This is remarkable! Thank you, again. And by the way, before I forget....."Colby takes a pen from her purse and quickly jots down her number, then slides it across the table to the Yellow Empress.
>"I know that there are issues of security and trust in what you do, and I won't be offended if those limit your ability to get in touch. But if you ever do need a friend you can talk to, just person to person..... feel free to reach out to me, okay? No pressure, either way, but the door's open. Normally I screen calls and texts, but I'll add you to my contacts." 