Chris had somehow become comfortable talking with new people.
It was a strange realization, considering the way his life had unfolded. Serathine had taught him how to wield social presence, and Cressida had taught him that kindness could be wielded with authority and that poise was in itself a weapon. Sahir had refined the final edges, reminding him that grace could be strategic. And Dax… Dax had burned into his bones the understanding that in Saha, public events were never merely social gatherings. They were battlefields with chandeliers.
So yes, he was prepared to be on guard at all times.
He simply hadn't expected that sometimes, it could still feel… pleasant.
