"Well, Val, I'm a simple guy."  He replied, taking another sip of tea, slurping a bit loudly and not caring at all.  He could see a look of questioning and almost a glint of polite hostility, if that's even possible, but only for a flash before Valoren's gaze was returned to his cup.<br/><br/>Jack turned to face the lady of the room and smiled at her pleasantly.  "And how should I address you, ma'am?"<br/><br/>He still hadn't put his finger on it yet but there was something about these two that begged a question he hadn't asked for decades.