A Master of Conversation

Closing her eyes to steady herself, Noble took a long sip of water before answering. She somehow managed to keep a neutral expression.

"I don't think we have ever been properly introduced. Why do you ask?"

Naeve coughed awkwardly. "Oh, I suppose you just remind me of someone. Were you at the Dreamscape finals?"

"That's where I have seen you!" Fort broke in with a wide grin. "You were there at the finals, weren't you?"

Naeve chuckled. "I helped Transcendent Thane give out prizes for the group finale, yes."

Fort clapped his hands excitedly. "I was in the audience! It took all of my government pull to get me there, but I can't get enough of Queen Bee and Fireshing."

"You are a big fan of that dynamic duo, are you?" Naeve raised one eyebrow. He then sent a questioning glance to the woman across from him. 

"Fort even wanted bobbleheads of them at one point," Noble put in, hoping that would satisfy the Master's curiosity. 

"What do you mean wanted? I still want them if they ever get made!" The Deputy Director took a bite of his food indignantly. 

The three of them laughed good-naturedly.

"Ah, you both are making me miss my wife," Naeve sighed. "We like to tease each other as well."

"Do you have any children?" Noble was happy for the change in subject, but she was also curious to know the answer. To be a Master at his age would mean quite a bit of sacrifice.

The fact he was married meant he at least had someone to ground him in the waking world.

The blue-haired man nodded. "I have a five-year-old daughter. I hear you have one as well?" 

"Yes, but she is not five anymore. She will be sixteen in a few months. We also have twin boys who are eleven." Noble watched the Master's face light up. 

"Three kids. How wonderful! Are any of yours obsessed with Song of Light and Darkness like my little one? She can recite the lines by heart." 

"That's adorable!" The professor could picture the man listening to his daughter act out the scenes. 

Naeve nodded. "Her favorite character is Sunny." 

"Ah yes, Master Sunless. It's not the most flattering portrayal of him, but it does make him lovable. At our house, my teen cannot get enough of the romance. I do wonder if they will make a sequel." Noble remembered the dance she had seen at the ball the other night.

Rumors of that would be more than enough for some enterprising young movie-maker to try his hand at making a second story in the series. 

"If they do, I hope they use Griffin for the musical score." Fort nodded seriously. "I have a funny story about him, actually..." 

Although Noble had heard the tale more times than she could count, the other listener was quite interested. He gave the appropriate amount of surprise when the tale was done.

Naeve hummed softly. "I always like to hear the origin stories. I will never listen to Bored Beyond Belief the same way again." 

The three chatted on well into the next hour. The people around them changed twice, but the trio did not seem to notice. 

"And then my daughter looks me straight in the eye and says deadpan, 'Are you crazy?!' I laughed until I cried," Naeve wiped at his eyes as if the tears were still there. "You'll have to forgive me for talking so much about my daughter. There aren't a lot of other parents around here." 

"I understand," Fort nodded. "Having children changes things."

"And we would do anything for them," the Master added. "Ah, I miss my little girl. It is hard not to be with her."

"I am sure she misses you too," Noble could see the man was a devoted father. "How long will you be away?" 

Naeve pulled at his chin. "Hard to say. We leave here in a couple of weeks and then it is about three weeks to Antarctica. Even if I am escorting the first group of evacuees back, that is at least another three weeks before I return here." 

'So at least eight to nine weeks before people from Antarctica hit our shores. That seems like forever and no time at all...' 

The Master frowned. "I doubt I will be coming back any time soon though. The House of Night is rather pivotal to this operation. I will not leave my uncle to shoulder that burden alone."

"It is important work," Noble agreed.

"So is yours," Naeve countered.

"Mine?" The professor was caught off-guard.

Naeve motioned to the Deputy Director. "Fort tells me that you are here to gather information to help with the logistics and rehousing of refugees when they arrive."

"I am, but…"

"It is truly admirable." The Master seemed to believe his words.

"How can you compare deskwork to fighting on the front lines?" Noble found his logic confusing.

"Anyone can wield a sword. It takes physical strength to slay Nightmare Creatures. But helping people rebuild their lives when they have lost everything? That takes mental strength and courage. It is a daunting task indeed. I do not envy you." Naeve lifted his cup.

The professor considered his words. Of the two tasks, getting out of North America had been far quicker than trying to start over. They were different kinds of difficult.

"Thank you for your kind words," she said at last.

It seemed unfair to accept the praise. It was her mother, Lena, who was a contributor to the project. Noble was just a stand-in.

'I will send on his good wishes to Mom when I get home,' Noble promised herself. 

Fort swallowed a bite of food. "Speaking of work, how did it go today?"

"Better than I thought considering I mainly took a tour of the facility." 

The professor had managed to check a lot of things off of the list of tasks while looking around. Lena had wanted to get eyes on things at the port, and Noble had taken copious notes and a few pictures to provide as much information as she could. 

"What is your goal for tomorrow, if I may ask?" Naeve set down his cup and leaned against the table. 

"Same as the whole time I am here." Noble tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We need to figure out how to move and relocate millions of people to new homes. I don't suppose you have space in the House of Night for that many new members?" 

"Wouldn't that be nice? I will ask my uncle his opinion, but I doubt many of the refugees are going to want to have such a close ties with the water after crossing it." 

Naeve was right. Most people feared the ocean with good reason.

"I appreciate you humoring me." Noble understood his answer.

The government would have to keep looking. Not even the outskirts could absorb that many newcomers. 

Naeve stretched and rose from his seat. "This has been wonderful, but I must get back. I hope to see you both around while you are here." 

Noble also stood to wish him well when someone bumped her. Her feet did not move, but the unexpected jostle shifted her a few centimeters to one side. 

The Master studied her for a moment. "You said you were a fan of Queen Bee?" He looked at Fort. 

"That is what I said," Fort answered unapologetically. A bit of mischief played around his eyes. 

Naeve smiled warmly. "Hm, very interesting. Then again, who wouldn't like her? I must be on my way. Good to see you, Awakened Noble. Good evening Deputy Director Fort."

 As the Master turned away, Noble flushed crimson.

'Surely he didn't guess from just that! I am losing my touch!' 

Not that this was anything new. Her lack of ability to touch was always the problem anyway.