[Richard misses that teasing, though he understands the tone, because what cultural context for that? Nope.] I suppose, if you'd like to talk about them, I am. [This is correct social interaction? Yes, good.

But all right, that part he can answer now, while he tries to assess her general preparedness for bad things. Richard and his friends may have had violent awakenings in their childhood, but that is all the more reason he doesn't want to push something like that onto another. But he knows she will doubtless hear about it eventually, so it's mostly a matter of taking measure of her first.

His expression becomes a little more serious.] The rationing seems to be, at least in part, related to why we are here. As the turtle sickens, so do all things on the turtle. That, at least, is how I understand it. I don't know if that was the Emperor's intended purpose, but one thing that many hear seem to be attempting is to understand the cause of Tu Vishan's illness and exploring alternate methods of providing food for the people here.