The Total Eclipse of the Tai-Sun

[Merc]

"Hmm...I'll think on the stay after some food then. What is available today?" Tai-Sun asks politely.

[Kwokinator]

The waiter sighed.

"Why don't you name something and we'll see if we have it?  There's no way for me to list everything we  have."

[Merc]

"Well...I am partial to sweet pork buns as well as roast duck," Tai-Sun replies after some thought about what would really hit the spot. "If you don't have either, if you can also recommend a decently priced dish, that might do it."

[Kwokinator]

"We've got both of those," the waiter replied. "Do you want anything else?"

[Merc]

"Just some water, thank you."

[Kwokinator]

The waiter turned and walked away, and moments later returned with a cup of water, a plate of four steaming hot sweet pork buns and a plate of roast duck.

"Enjoy," he said simply, and walked away.

Elsewhere in the restaurant, the people chatter as they do everywhere: current events, affairs with other men/women, bitches everywhere, etc.

[Merc]

Tai-Sun eats his dinner in silence, though he does keep an ear out for any news of interest to an aspiring martial artist like himself.

[Kwokinator]

The occupants of the restaurant talk mostly of mindless chatter, but one subject seems to be talked of more than others.  Apparently, the daughter of the rich landlord of the city is marrying a martial artist.

[Merc]

'Surprising, most lords wouldn't care all that much for a martial artist marrying their daughters... at least not unless they had more to offer than just fighting prowess anyway,' Tai-Sun thinks regarding the matter, as he starts paying attention more to that matter as he enjoys his meal out of idle curiosity.

[Kwokinator]

From what Tai-Sun can gather from the broken pieces of conversation, the wedding about to take place is a shotgun wedding, the would-be groom having already impregnated the future bride.  The groom is also something of a wannabe-hero, his average skill making him suitable for small help but nothing that can tip the scale on anything.

[Merc]

Tai-Sun snorts at hearing the description of said martial artist's prowess. Well, he could understand the marriage now, with the pretext of keeping the girl's honor. Finishing his meal, he motions for the waiter so as to pay for his meal, the waiter having never mentioned the price.

[Kwokinator]

"The meal will be four bronze coins," a different waiter said with a smile.

[Merc]

With a nod, and handing out his payment for his meal, Tai-Sun heads towards the entrance, where he wishes to request a room for the night.

[Kwokinator]

"A room for one night will be one tael of silver for our cheap rooms, and five tael for our luxury rooms," the clerk at the counter tells Tai-Sun. "Which one do you want?"

[Merc]

"A cheap room will do," the martial artist replies politely as he hands the one silver tael. Looking outside, he checks on the sun's position to decide whether it'd be worth his time to continue walking around outside.