Persea's eyes shined at the idea. She was one who desired to impress, after all- she was the face of not only her entire empire, but that of her Goddess, as well. Giving an enthusiastic nod, she took the pipe to her lips and did as was told. She was like an eager puppy, and just as he had warned, the first few times she tried she choked. Coughing out the smoke burning her lungs, it took her three tries to get it, but when she did, a small, wavering smoke ring came out. And as it did so, she gave a squeal of delight- which only ended in a victory fit of coughing and she, coarsely asking for a drink. And despite her throat burning (from her coughs, not the cooled smoke) she knew she'd be trying this again the moment her throat was cleared.
Once she had a goblet of wine to drink, she downed it quickly and released a sigh soon afterwards and licked at the droplets of wine that remained on her lips. She turned to Taj just then, her smile broadening as she went to try the smoke rings again. Her first few attempts were shaky, but after more whine and blowing, she was laughing and blowing smoke rings like a pro.
And through a laugh, she found herself asking, "So what is this other method, Taj?" And she leaned in closely to him, for they had been seated quite close. "You said there was another way... aside from me tapping my cheek." She did, after all, desire to impress. SHe wanted to learn how to blow the smoke without help from her hands at all.