Private Complications

[Noelle Varanin]

August Oreno

She could only put this off for so long. Her nerves were frustrating. If she could smite them out, she would. Unfortunately her emotions weren't a report that she could solve with money or supplies. That was in part why she felt it was so necessary to do this.

She tugged the lace further up her neck and gestured for August Oreno to be let in. His business plans sat in front of her, illuminated on the holopad. They both new it was a pretense. She swallowed hard, her throat bobbing as she watched him walk in.

She felt unreasonably small behind that desk, so she stood.

"Lord Oreno," she greeted, her voice stiff and formal. She seemed to only have two states of being-- robotic, or frustrated. She fussed with her sleeve and gestured for him to sit. "Thank you for coming."

 

[August Oreno]

Noelle Varanin

The gala had done nothing if not make things more awkward between the two of them.

It had devolved- as it often did and there was no recovery in sight. Not with her sister and sister's girlfriend (?) hovering around them. In the end they had split ways and August had counted himself lucky. After all, he got a kiss out of it and not a split lip, so that was something. Wasn't it? In the end Noelle send for him.

All business like.

Maybe it was business, maybe it was more... it was difficult to gauge with her.

"My Queen, you can always call upon me." Inclining his head there as he settled himself down in the chair opposite of her. "You throw a mean party." August gave that compliment easily as he crossed one leg over the other.

"What can I do for you today?"

The fact she had situated herself with a table between the two of them had not gone unnoticed.

 

[Noelle Varanin]

She lowered herself gingerly, her spine straight on the edge of her chair. She grimaced at his party comment, nodding in tense graciousness.

"I thought..." she started carefully. "It would be best ... for us to review our... arrangement. After all, as you pointed out, I had not yet given you the chance to do so."

"As is protocol," she added. Her usual eloquence was out the window. She could barely look him in the eye, and every moment she struggled made it clear that he could read exactly what was going on with her.

"I believe I've given you some ... false expectations."

 

[August Oreno]

He leaned his chin on his hand and watched her curiously.

It was difficult to really parse what she was saying.

Was this about the contract? August didn't think so. Her body language was all over the place. Which already dripped down the hints that this was about... the other things. Noelle Varanin didn't come out and say it like that though. It was anxiety surging through her veins right now. She looked like a cornered anxious animal.

Damn.

"Oh? Are you not pleased with our arrangement? I can certainly make some changes, if our... contract is not up to snuff." August retorted with a breezy smile.

Just as difficult to parse, since he could be talking about the starport... or the other things.

And with August there was no bodily language to fall back to.

 

[Noelle Varanin]

He was being remarkably... well behaved.

Her eyes skimmed over him, taking this in with a degree of shock. She hadn't been particularly warm with him, not even when he was forward and pushes past the walls she wanted him to crash.

She supposed even an offworlder had their limits. She had expected him to stop the moment he learned who she was, but no... He was anything but predictable.

Her chest released, relief pulling a nod from her head. "I am... glad to hear that." She took another breath and nodded again, regathering herself back into some semblance of composure.

"No, on retrospect no adjustments are needed. I think this is exactly where we need to be. ... For the success of the ports," she added, sliding his plans back his way.

"Don't you think?"

 

[August Oreno]

"I exist to serve and please." He murmured in response with a little smile.

She seemed to relax.

Maybe August had been too subtle after all, which amused him, since nobody ever could claim he was subtle. Maybe for an Echani, but in his culture he was an approximation of a klaxon.

"You are certain?" He rose up as Noelle pushed the plans back his way. Before her hand could withdraw, he put his on it, trapping it in place with the plans beneath it. "I wouldn't dream of leaving you displeased, Noelle. Perhaps we can explore it in greater... depth." August smirked there and hopefully it would click there.

Certainly couldn't be more blunt without being an ox in a porcelain shop.

"After all, our plans are quite important, and they need to be rather successful. I'd think."

Noelle Varanin

 

[Noelle Varanin]

For moment she thought he understood.

Then he grabbed her hand.

"No," she told him with a degree of sudden sharpness. She pulled back her fingers, her heart leaping in her chest. "No depth, no new plans, no nothing. Don't you see? Our work must start and stop at this Starport. I am the Queen," She exploded. It was ironic. Even as she said the words she felt so weak-- not like a Queen at all. Everything about her wobbled when he looked at her.

Queens shouldn't wooble.

"I cannot be seen kissing random men at a ball, this can't happen anymore." There was the exasperation she was so endeared for. "August, we have to stop."