Quoted By:
<span class="mu-r">"...You're number three in the whole Hegemony in dueling? Wow, you must be of Jaxtian nobility."</span>
"I <span class="mu-i">am</span>. Jinn Garastra."
<span class="mu-r">"Oh! I had no idea we had a dueling prodigy in our midst! Perhaps you could teach me some of your pointwork which I could apply to my simple food preparations!"</span>
"Oh... It's all intended to be used on warm meat instead of cold, haha, I'm sure Swall Spear dueling you are way better then I could be!"
<span class="mu-r">"Thank you, your Grace!"</span>
You feel dirty saying it. The Jaxtian balks
"Well, err...hold on now, I'm not the Supreme Ruler or anything..."
<span class="mu-r">"I just simply wanted to show... an adequate level of respect. I'll ask the AI not to charge you your recreational tokens for the meal."</span> You cringe. He looks very pleased with himself, and gracious.
<span class="mu-r">"Oh please! The Garastra line would never impose among the common people like that; you are a craftsman here, it must be properly rewarded. If anything, I'll tip double. Hear that computer?! Make it so! And thank you for the food!"
He turns to leave, getting his moment of <span class="mu-i">noblese oblige</span>. You sigh, not wanting to make any enemies. You hope none of the Swall in the restaurant judge you too harshly for being such a suck up, but it was the best way to get him out of your hair.
As you make the rounds to take more slice requests; you see the hands of a regular patron come up to get your attention. The <span class="mu-s">old man</span> who visits every week; on bluefin day. He smiles, relaying his thoughts through signs.
<span class="mu-b">[You. Handled. Well!]</span>
You sign back in thanks. You don't think he "said" it to you in sign because he wanted to keep it on the down low; sign language is learned by all Swall before written speech and is easier for protected groups. Young hatchlings are too agoraphobic and underdeveloped to use their lungs much; and are born fully independent since Swall aren't mammals... Well, <span class="mu-i">you weren't</span>. Vocal chords are an evolutionary luxury, moreso then hands; and once Swall reach a certain age they could strain or even snap if they speak. It's not dangerous, but can be very painful, so you understand completely why he'd prefer to talk this way.</span>
