“Why are you calling me?” It came out harsher than it should have and Pallas instantly regretted it.

If Maude had been phased by his aggressiveness, they didn’t show it, smiling their big crayon like smile over the flicker of a hologram.

“I’m surprised you actually picked up.” They teased.

Pallas cocked his head to the side, noting the neatness of Maude’s locs and the thin braids used to tame the rest of their usually chaotic hair.

“Was there a ceremony for you to attend?”

Maude’s smile only deepened, Pallas wondered if the holograph was washing out their face, if they were blushing or if they were just smiling.

“For someone who claims ignorance, Duke Pallas, you’re very good at paying attention. The answer is yes, I just returned from Scintilla. There was a wedding between the Prince of Lumine and the Lady of Columba.”

Pallas only had passing familiarity with those names. They were a vapid couple and often spearheading the rumor mill in the courts, messy breakups, cheating scandals, lavish star treks to neighboring ocean worlds. Their families were both hardcore traditionalists which meant that they were both going to be seen and the marriage blessed by the Master of the Sacred Penumbra.

“I can only imagine how exhausting that must have been.” Pallas mused.

Maude shook their head, “Their hearts and heads are full of air but they are happy and so I blessed them.”

Pallas nodded, “so why are you calling me? Certainly not to gossip?”

Maude shrugged, slouching a bit in their chair, “I just wanted to hear your voice. Be near something familiar, is all.”

And now Pallas felt like an even bigger jerk than usual. He exhaled out his nose and slouched into his chair as well, rubbing his blind eye and hoping the ache behind it would cease.

“Ah.” Was all he could say, “I’m sorry. Not much company, am I?”

Maude laughed, rich and lively and just a touch softer than usual, “I’d prefer your assholery to brown nosing, thank you.”

Pallas smiled and then frowned because he was smiling and Maude laughed again because Pallas was, as they had said, bad at pretending not to care.