Small Talk


The party went on and on with no difference in tone, volume, interest, or conversation. Tigress stood with her glass cup in hand, swirling the water around. She stood in a celestial-like ballroom with dark blue trappings and sparkling night-like banners. The columns were painted in a deep satin blue that shimmered like the night sky. In fact, if it weren't for the white tables, the different masters chattering, and the duck servants tending to the tables, she would've thought she had ascended to heaven and walked among the stars with the glossy black floor decorated in a similar starry pattern. She leaned against one of the pillars, disinterestedly watching her comrades talk from one master to the next. This was another masters' party, which the Furious Five and Po had to go to. Because Po was new to the whole scene, his starstruck nature stayed with him the entire visit, talking and asking each master he could find to give him a signature.

Tigress had no such pleasure. She sat back down at a spare table draped with the finest glass, cups, and silverware that shined underneath the bright white lanterns illuminating the hall. She placed her head in her hand, lazily glancing from friend to friend seated at different tables. These meetings were never interesting to her. It wasn't because she was lonely. Most of the masters knew she enjoyed her alone time, and most of them weren't afraid of approaching her.

Most.

The problem wasn't the people; it was what they had to say. "I slew fifty of the demons." "I took the bandits by surprise and crushed them with my trusty hammer." "The technique is very interesting. It comes from beyond the Gao region." "So how is your family doing and where are the kids?"

Small talk. She hated the small talk. And beyond her friends, she didn't really have any deep desire to talk with any of the masters in a setting like this. She gazed at the water, seeing her reflection. She wasn't the party type; everyone knew that. Or at least, she didn't like this kind of party. The formalities, the prestige, the talks of glory and vain accomplishments. Seriously, anyone could crush bandits when they have a hammer.

"Feeling worn out?" said a voice behind her. Tigress's head perked up as the person sat down with an easy-going smile like he always did.

"A little," Tigress muttered.

"I can always slip you out of here and tell Master Shifu you were sick."

The tiger held a mildly surprised face. He would do that for her? Tigress shook her head. "It doesn't matter. I'm okay."

"Hehe, not really the social type?" Po guessed. Tigress said nothing. "You have fun whenever there's a party going on at my dad's shop."

"That's different," Tigress decided to answer. "People in the village are different than the Kung Fu masters."

"How?"

"They can do Kung Fu?" Tigress said it so seriously that Po would've mistaken it for authenticity. The panda narrowed his eyes as if he slightly condemned her for the remark. The feline sighed again. "The people in the village just... talk differently. They don't... try to hide or do things through... trivial talk."

"Ah, you hate small talk," Po figured out. Tigress let out a small growl. "But you don't hate talking to me."

Tigress lifted her head. "You don't say things just to start the conversation or keep the conversation going," She lifted the corner of her lips. "You are the conversation."

Po furrowed his eyebrows and crossed his arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You tend to talk for three."

"Is that bad?"

"For me? No. Especially not here. I'd rather listen to you ramble than hear someone talk about their great adventures," Tigress grumbled. Po leaned in.

"Why? I thought you'd love to hear some of the masters' adventures. They're really cool, too!"

"It just... feels different hearing it from you than them," Tigress muttered. "At least you're genuine."

"Huh?"

Tigress glanced around and leaned in next to Po. "Most masters just talk like this at these events because they want to... show off. They want to feel a little more important than the next person."

"You're saying they're gloating?"

Tigress looked away for a moment. "I don't think they do it consciously, but it feels like... that's all there is to them. Besides, I just enjoy more... meaningful conversations."

"How are any of my conversations about which fried dumpling tastes best meaningful?" Po asked.

The tiger showed a small smile. "You're... animated. And you're genuine with the things you like. It can be... a lot, but it's better than someone who just talks all about themselves to make them feel better."

They sat silent for a moment, something that Tigress knew Po wasn't comfortable with. He was a natural-born extrovert, so it was to be expected.

Of course, she didn't expect him to ask the next question.

"What about you?"

"Me?"

"What have you been doing with your life?"

Tigress blinked and tilted her head. "Po, you've been with me for a while. You live with me. You know what has been going on in my life."

"Actually, I don't. And I don't think anyone here does," Po replied. "I see what you're talking about the whole gloating stuff. But I guess that's because you can't show everyone everything when you're out in public. But, maybe I can help. Maybe talking to me about the things you want to talk about will... actually help you enjoy the party. Besides, I'm always stoked to hear what you've got to say."

"Really?" Tigress smirked with her eyebrow raised. "I didn't know I was such an interest to you."

"Come on, you're like a well-spring of secret history on the Jade Palace and practical knowledge. And let's be honest, I could use a wee bit more common sense."

"I'm pretty sure that's not something even I can teach you," Tigress smirked.

"Hey."

The tiger chuckled.

So they talked, more and more, to the point that Tigress had to keep asking for a new cup of water. Tigress knew a lot of things having studied from Master Shifu himself. But Po knew some similar things but with no instructor. In fact, she often forgot that because Po was a geek and a fan of Kung Fu, he was also well-learned in Kung Fu and its history.

And food science. "Food science?" Tigress asked, nearly spluttering the words out in laughter, but the grave face on Po made her recover and say, "I didn't know food had a... science."

"It does. Do you think making food is pure art? It's a science. Why do you think I'm always experimenting with different ingredients?"

"To blow up the kitchen?"

"That was one time, it wasn't entirely my fault, and you know it," Po remarked. "Besides, it wasn't something I had a choice in. I grew up with a cook, remember?"

And yet, what Po knew about food science was surprisingly enthralling to Tigress. Tigress began talking about what she could share: her own history with Kung Fu, battle tactics she learned, and some of her studies at the Jade Palace.

"But besides that," Po interrupted, "What do you like doing?"

"Huh?"

"You basically did what you said you didn't want other people doing: Listing your accomplishments," Po said. Tigress sat quiet. "Harder than it looks?"

"No, I just... people don't usually ask for... more from me."

"Why?"

"I... I don't know." Tigress stared back into the empty glass, sighing long as she started to stand up. But Po held her by her arm. "Po?"

"I want to know more. Please?"

Slowly, she found her seat again. They spoke about things Tigress never thought she'd talk about. What she likes to wear and why, her sense of humor, and her other passions. It was during this time Po found out that Tigress had, what he called, double talk humor. "What does that mean?"

"It means while you're saying one thing, you're also saying another," Po observed.

Tigress smirked, "You mean a double entendre?"

"Uhhh I guess."

"I'm pretty straightforward with what I ask of people, Po," The feline smiled. "But I guess some people struggle with common sense."

"Hehe, yeah," Po said, pausing for a moment. "HEY!" Tigress chuckled.

The two talked and talked. Meanwhile, The other Furious Five and Shifu grouped together after the event started to wind down and saw the feline and bear chatting without a care in the world. Shifu stroked his beard as he watched with the others at another table. "Wow, I've never seen Tigress so... talkative," Viper said.

"Po can get anyone talking," Monkey smiled. "I just want to know how he does it without booze or wine."

"Perhaps," Shifu said with surprising weight, "We don't give the Dragon Warrior enough credit. He is unlike anyone we've ever encountered before." The old panda watched as his adopted daughter, for the first time in years, laugh and smile as freely as she had when she was young.

"Do you think they'll notice us leaving when the party's done?" Monkey joked.

"I'm sure when the lanterns go out they'll know," Viper smiled. Shifu smiled to himself as the party carried on.

And as it carried on, the two walked out, traveled down from the ceremony, through the night-covered village, and up to the Jade Palace, all while talking. However, Po did have to take a moment to catch his breath. "I'm surprised you haven't gotten used to the altitude yet."

"I'm fat and I have to go up and down this mountain every time my dad has a sale on Hot and Sour soup. It's not something you can get used to," Po groused, "I'm sorry if I have to slow down a bit."

"I was just making an observation."

Po glared at the tiger's slightly quirked lips. "Scratch what I said about the double talk sense of humor. You just love being this cool silent playful person that acts like an innocent student."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tigress said emotionlessly, although it was hard to figure out whether or not she was being sarcastic. They reached their bedrooms. Tigress did a double blink before scanning the place.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, I... I've never had such a great time at a ceremony like this. I wasn't aware how much time had passed."

"Yeah," Po yawned. "It is getting late. Sorry for boring you, but I hope it was better than the small talk from the masters."

"It was and you didn't bore me Po. I honestly wasn't expecting you to give me such an... intriguing conversation. I really enjoyed it."

Po made a grand bow. "Anything for the great Master Tigress." The feline rolled her eyes with a smirk. "But I liked it too. Thanks for the talk. I learned a lot about you."

"And I you," Tigress smiled. They looked at each other, longer than they thought they would, but there wasn't any awkwardness. Just a nice quiet moment staring into each other's eyes.

"Well, I should... let you get to bed. I'm sure you got a long training day tomorrow," Po said. Tigress nodded. "Soo uhh. Good night."

"Goodnight Po." She turned to go to her room but stopped. "Po?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you, for the talk. I... I haven't had a good talk like that in a while. I really appreciate it."

Po beamed, "Of course, any conversation with the Dragon Warrior is bound to be awesome."

Tigress chuckled, "Goodnight Po."

"Goodnight," Po replied. Tigress shut her door behind her, still holding the smile that settled on her face probably two hours ago. She gently sat on the edge of her bed and sighed, content.

With that, she went to bed, satisfied with the fact that she had a great conversation and friend that could help her escape the boring dangers of small talk.

But then again, it was because of small talk that she even got into the conversation with Po. Without her disliking it and Po mentioning her discomfort, she wouldn't have had a meaningful conversation with Po.

"Maybe small talk does have its use," She mumbled to herself as she drifted to sleep.