Throw the stuff into the washing thing and meet me in the quiet carriage, I'll surprise us with the tea.

( he half-grins, waving at the ICP in a shoo shoo gesture, which feels scandalous but also, well, manageable. plus he's getting business done right now, and they're friends, so it's time to go be friendly with an elder generation who's barely older than him at all anymore.

that said, he does turn off the ICP and head to the kitchens, drumming up the tea and putting it in a thermos because there's no pot to take with him. cups are easy, at least, and so he arrives with a thermos in paisley pattern and two mugs, tail lashing in anticipatory restlessness when he sees lan xichen. )

Hey, I didn't look at what this one was called, but it smells nice. Almost roasted?

( to then sweep into the small room, setting thermos and mugs down, dispensing with formalities in a way that should feel more strange than he lets himself dwell on. unscrewing the top of the thermos, he begins to pour the tea. )

We're all spirits on train, right? So I was wondering, would Inquiry work on us?