She did give Valdis an out, in all fairness. China's polite little smile didn't waver, despite Valdis' evident drop in demeanour. "Well, we are both Foreigners, after all," she said lightly, reminding Valdis of her own words. "Of course we must stick together. Especially in such a place as this."

Of course neither of them would be forgetting that China had learned something Valdis would rather she hadn't, but it was the form of the thing.

"Shall we walk?" China offered, still all polite almost-sincerity.