⤠There is a rising sense of hostility.
Silence as the man just stood and stared, eventually drawing deeply from his pipe. A slow exhale, smoke blurring and fading as it curled from a nearly indistinguishable mouth. "...you're boring. How unfortunate."
Had it been idiotic to expect anything different? Naive to hope for some form of intelligent conversation in this wretched summer home? His heart longed for a palace beneath the waves. To think it had been pounding at the thought of meeting this woman just moments ago. "You are also correct. My name is Ao Kuang. I don't particularly care to learn yours." Ao Kuang's tone was starch with a dry, disheartened humor. The dragon king's projection began to flicker and dissolve at the edges. "Do you think you'll develop a personality anytime soon, girl? This place can be terribly boring." He yawned, asking out of some distant sense of hope for the future.
Of course, the chances were slim. What a poor Moon Ritual this was turning out to be. Perhaps he'd just barricade himself in his quarters, as per usual. Why do I even bother...