This is fine, thank y- [It was completely uncharacteristic of Huo to trail off like that, and he recovered quickly.] Thank you. [But his eyes remained fixed on her back down to the last second, shifting away only when she turned around. His expression was sealed, unreadable as he picked up the cup. He had not expected that, had not expected that at all.

The sharp shock that ran down his spine at the sight of the phoenix was not as sharp as it had been seing Hawk's dragon - nothing could compare with that - but it was there nonetheless. He knew it by now: the shock of recognition, like seeing a bright light through a murky veil. Knowing that something was crucially important, but not how or why... and made worse because the association was immediate. Power, sovereignty, Heaven-granted might... One went with the other, dragon and phoenix. Hawk and Sumi. It made not one whit of sense.

It was on her back. Had she noticed?

He took a long, silent moment to think, sipping the tea, his expression composed and distant. It was a distraction, to be sure, from what he had originally come here to say to her...]

Yes, I believe so. [He finally said.] Although of course, that is a very vague statement. Pasts, natures - it could practically mean anything. [He was sneaking around the subject, he thought, and she was an intelligent woman - she'll soon call him out on it. But he needed time, needed to think.]