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It cannot be gainsaid that a drink of something fortifying would be nice right now - and that a proper meal would be much, <span class="mu-i">much</span> more than 'nice' - but you are more than a little worried that you would fray yourself somehow. Your knowledge of manners is largely hypothetical, and more to the point, meant for tables and company much meaner and base than this. Actually, most of your meals aren't taken at <span class="mu-i">any</span> table at all - and besides the occasional shared meal with your father, they were without any dining companions as well. Suffice to say, it is a reasonable concern that if you give yourself the chance to, you are going to make a mistake. If there was some opportunity to ... observe the proceedings here, get a sense of how you might be expected to conduct yourself, then maybe you risk it. But no one has started drinking or eating again yet. All eyes - and judging from the continued absence of conversation, all attention - are on you. Of course, you are going to need to make sure that you don't fall into the fire as you pluck yourself off of the pan; you will have to kindly but firmly reject Sulphreme's friend.
"Why, you are ... very kind as well. But I don't think I could possibly have anything. As late as it is now, it would just ... put me right out, probably. But you are so ... kind to ask."
If the man took any offense to that, then none of it boiled over onto his face. With a smile that looks much more genuine than yours feels at the moment, he glances at Sulphreme, and you take advantage in the break of eye contact to glance over at the proprietor, who you now see is walking over, no doubt having surmised your purpose in calling here. Suddenly recalling that before the interruption you were going to ask the Taker about the roads, you do so, just as the sounds of conversation and dining finally resume - disconcertingly quiet though, and maybe perhaps a bit strained, by the uncertainty of your presence here.
"Goodman Taker, I understand that there are .. troubles out on the road. Highwaymen."
The Taker, who has well and truly set upon the cup left at his seat, nods absentmindedly. Only once the cup is emptied, set down and a serving-man is called does he offer any elaboration.
"Yes, there was - "
"Taker, that news isn't suitable for fair ears."
