It was the first laugh he'd heard out of the Advisor in weeks and Tal finally let himself relax as they toasted.
It was far easier to take Sah's teasing than his sincere compliments; it was almost comfortable by now, though the courier would never admit it. Tal just grinned and sipped his vodka with satisfaction. "Nah, pretty sure I heard you call me popular."
His victory was short-lived as the sincerity returned and the courier reached up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly, gaze dropping to the desk. "Yeah, well... you either." Pale eyes flicked up and were caught unexpectedly. Tal froze for a moment and then cleared his throat, at a loss for words at such disarming gratitude so honestly given. "It was... just..." Neither 'nothing' nor something he would have done 'for anybody' and in the end he swallowed the lies back and took refuge in simplicity. "You're welcome."
It was far easier to take Sah's teasing than his sincere compliments; it was almost comfortable by now, though the courier would never admit it. Tal just grinned and sipped his vodka with satisfaction. "Nah, pretty sure I heard you call me popular."
His victory was short-lived as the sincerity returned and the courier reached up to rub the back of his neck awkwardly, gaze dropping to the desk. "Yeah, well... you either." Pale eyes flicked up and were caught unexpectedly. Tal froze for a moment and then cleared his throat, at a loss for words at such disarming gratitude so honestly given. "It was... just..." Neither 'nothing' nor something he would have done 'for anybody' and in the end he swallowed the lies back and took refuge in simplicity. "You're welcome."
