“I've no doubt of that," Claudius says, wry and knowing. "Another reason, I suppose, for why you and Wei Wuxian make an effective team — you'll garner quite different reactions from the people you encounter. I can't sense the flow of qi or any such thing, but I can at least speak to people and assess their motives. And I’m on cordial terms with Asmodean, despite his disinvitation to the dance. In their own ways, both the dance and the zombie attack were rare opportunities — since people arrive one at a time here, and seldom gather in groups, there are few chances for me to observe everyone at once. At the dance, I could take note of who spoke with whom, who showed signs of friendly rapport or romantic connection, and who was tellingly absent. The zombie attack brought out everyone with martial or magical abilities, and some interest in defending themselves. I saw most of them with Crowley who, of course, was at a window where he wouldn’t be seen doling out assistance. I have a fair idea who has significant powers and who they’re connected to, excepting the newest arrivals.” It’s revealing quite a bit about how calculating Claudius can be, how much he watches and assesses, even when he’s meant to be enjoying a dance he put on or hiding from people-eating corpses. But he doesn’t expect it will disturb Lan Wangji, or the depth of trust between them.