"I'm glad to be among them, in that case." Ordinarily Anton might have made a joke about coming beneath Yunxu, but the thought made irritation boil. Then he decided that was the best reason to do so. "Though I do question my ranking under Yunxu, if so."

It didn't work, precisely, but it made him feel a little more in control nevertheless. When the jokes stopped, that was when it was time to worry. It was the Dead Men way.

"I have received some compliments for the clothes you chose for me," he added, and regretted it. China had been among those compliments. He fell silent again, focussing on the music and the steps and letting that bleed away the heat in his chest.