[ manuela had had a ready response for him — I'm afraid that's your problem, isn't it? — before his next words effectively take the wind out of her sails, and she is made to confront the fact she never did learn how to fortify herself against a pathetic-looking man. drat. ]
I... will be returning to my room.
[ a world-weary sigh. ]
If I'm left to feel miserable, I would rather I do so in private.
[ holed away to wallow in her shame — or whatever dreary thing she'll be left with this time. ]
You are welcome to come if you've no other option. At the very least, you should get some water in you before you fall over on your own two feet.
[ He is primed to be as pathetic as possible to her, partly because he feels awful, partly because it's funny, but it seems he doesn't have to push too hard to get in her good(?) graces. The woman invites him to her room and he smiles in response before wincing because even smiling hurts. Oh god. ]
I am more than grateful for the invitation, xiaojie. You're quite kind!
[ And then he gestures for her to lead the way, so he can follow. ]
What's your name anyway? I haven't seen you around before.
[ manuela can feel a faint tingle in her ear when he speaks — whatever magic it is that the hotel has enacted that allows them all to understand each other appears to be malfunctioning slightly just there, and though she doubts he had called her anything unkind (he simply looks far too beaten down to manage it, as he is), it does spark her interest enough she can't quite let it go, despite her own growing migraine. ]
Manuela is my name. What is it that you just called me? I didn't quite catch it.
[ she can multitask at least, leading him swiftly back towards the elevators to head up towards the level 9 suites. ]
[ Off they go! He follows her, still feeling a little run ragged but now that he's moving again, he's trying to shake off the funk. And when she asks him what he called her, he's quick to reply. ]
Xiaojie. It's uh... a term of address? Young mistress, essentially.
[ Though, come to think of it, Manuela doesn't look exactly young so maybe he should have used a different term... ]
I was just being polite. Er, perhaps nushi would be better. That's more like, ahhh, lady? Something like that.
[ it is not unlike more familiar terms like "miss" or "ma'am," but admittedly manuela doesn't much enjoy those either. she has something of a bone to pick with terms of address that place such emphasis on age, but that is neither wei wuxian's fault nor his problem. so while a flicker of annoyance crosses her face, she stamps it down with an eventual purse of her lips. ]
..."Manuela" is just fine, I think. But if you truly insist on something else, I suppose "nushi" is most accurate.
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no subject
I... will be returning to my room.
[ a world-weary sigh. ]
If I'm left to feel miserable, I would rather I do so in private.
[ holed away to wallow in her shame — or whatever dreary thing she'll be left with this time. ]
You are welcome to come if you've no other option. At the very least, you should get some water in you before you fall over on your own two feet.
no subject
I am more than grateful for the invitation, xiaojie. You're quite kind!
[ And then he gestures for her to lead the way, so he can follow. ]
What's your name anyway? I haven't seen you around before.
no subject
Manuela is my name. What is it that you just called me? I didn't quite catch it.
[ she can multitask at least, leading him swiftly back towards the elevators to head up towards the level 9 suites. ]
no subject
Xiaojie. It's uh... a term of address? Young mistress, essentially.
[ Though, come to think of it, Manuela doesn't look exactly young so maybe he should have used a different term... ]
I was just being polite. Er, perhaps nushi would be better. That's more like, ahhh, lady? Something like that.
[ NO... NO OFFENSE... ]
no subject
..."Manuela" is just fine, I think. But if you truly insist on something else, I suppose "nushi" is most accurate.
[ ugh. carrying on— ]
Where is it you're from?