The Admiralty
H A L M
N E W H E L I O P O L I S
[member="Natasi Fortan"]
It wasn't supposed to be this awkward.
The idea had been a good one - Talbot and him, Natasi and his niece, together on a much-needed vacation at Fortan's villa on Halm after the work and stress of Qeravert IV. That wasn't how it turned out to be, of course. For some reason even the best of plans had a tendency to collapse in on itself when it was least convenient. Instead... Talbot had been delayed by some pressing emergency at his charity organization and his niece had felt ill, deciding to stay back on Lianna.
That meant they were alone.
Just the two of them and a gaggle of employees that were of no assistance of making this situation less awkward. Even now, as he slowly munched on his steak as they sat in the dining room, Alec wasn't entirely sure what to say.
"The food is lovely, Natasi." Sienar commented to fill the silence after washing away some of it with the wine. Not a lie either, the steak had been exceptionally prepared. But it wasn't exactly the conversation-starter of the year either. It was strange. Usually Alec didn't have any issue to talk with people.
The charm turned on and the ladies swooned, while the gentlemen smirked.
But this was different.
This was Tal's wife, you weren't supposed to flirt or charm your best friend's wife. The fact that she drew his eye quite often wasn't helpful to push those instinctive reflexes down either.
"Tell me, how is it? Being considered the Mother of the Nation." Safe subject. Alec recalled just how enthusiastic she had been about it all those months ago on Lianna. She would start talking and Sienar could sit back, enjoy his wine and the soft trickle of awkwardness fading away.
Perfect.