Love of the Dragon Warrior

Ostentatious Omnipresence

Eventually the day finally came to a close and everyone settled into bed, hoping for a better start the next day. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like that was going to be the case, since the first sound they heard was Superintendent Wu barking orders at the Jade Palace servants who were wandering around. The masters weren't really able to avoid him since they still had to eat breakfast, so they wound up sitting at the table with irritated looks on their faces while listening to Superintendent Wu berate the servants for not being efficient enough. Which of course was followed by Master Shifu scolding him for interfering in Jade Palace business. Master Leopard, never one to deal with morning troubles politely, made herself a pot of tea and dismissed herself from the table and asked someone to get her when breakfast was ready so she had more time to wake up and not risk saying something that would bring more disapproval from the emperor. Tigress seemed to be in a better mood since she actually sat at the table with everyone and attempted to hold a conversation with anyone who was actually awake and in a decent mood. Po was glad to see it, though it reminded him of the conversation he planned to have with Ordai and he decided he should do that quickly before she even tried doing it with Tigress. He went over the conversation in his head so that he could phrase it in a way Ordai would understand and not take offense to, though his thoughts were interrupted by Shifu slamming the doors open and quickly shutting them behind him. Wu, who had clearly followed the master to keep yelling at him, got even angrier at having the conversation forcefully halted and stomped outside to yell something at a palace servant.

"A sporadic training session hidden outside the confines of the Jade Palace sounds like a perfect antidote to the poisonous attitudes seeping through the grounds," Tigress remarked slyly, her jaw cocking into a half-smile at the suggestion.

"Honestly, Tigress," Shifu said with a tired sigh. "I just might do that." He glanced at Po and asked if it was possible to keep Wu busy so he and the Five could slip away and have an undisturbed training session for the day.

"Sure," Po said reluctantly. "Where is Ming, speaking of which?"

"No idea."

"Oh, I saw her this morning walking around the valley," Ella piped up from the table. She was sitting between Kay and Snow Leopard's empty chair, patiently waiting for Po to finish breakfast. "I went down this morning with my bodyguard to have some early morning tea at a café. Couldn't tell you what the ingrate was doing, but as long as she stays away from the Jade Palace, you'll be perfectly safe, Pooey."

"Pooey?" Lu-Shi repeated with a grimace.

"Uh, I don't suppose you have any plans, Ella?" Po asked. "I know you've been sightseeing a lot. Any new places to check out?"

"Oh, there are so many! But I was thinking of checking you out today."

Po felt a wave of panic wash over him, though any thoughts to follow were interrupted by the sound of cracking and Viper yelling out, "Tigress! Your paw!!!!"

Po turned around from the congee he was prepping and looked over at Tigress who was cleaning up the hot tea she had spilled on her hand. Judging from the mess, Ella had startled her into cracking her tea cup, though everyone else at the table pretty much shared the exact same expression of concern, surprise, and distrust.

"Why is everyone looking at me like that?!" Ella snapped. "I haven't gotten to spend any time with Po and I think it's very rude for you all to hog him like that!"

"Um...Ella," Monkey said. "You do realize you're not in the contest, right? That's why you left in the first place."

"Well I'm here now, aren't I? And your job is to keep me safe isn't it?"