She successfully avoids Gwight for three days.

A general's schedule is a busy one, but as one of the most senior officers Gwight actually has less to do than younger ones. In a roundabout way it's a reward for loyal and long-lasting service that officers with lengthy service records have to deal with less paperwork and routine chores of office than newer officers. That said, while not formally retired, most generals of Gwight's age serve in less active roles. Rather than being responsible for the training and maintenance of troops, they often serve as advisors, teachers, or potentially researchers (be that for tactics, strategy, weapons, or what have you), as well as usually being a part of military high-command, which is responsible for most broad-strokes decisions or movements the army makes as well as taking more hands-on control of the army during wartime.

Gura would know; she's also a part of military high-command, albeit a more ceremonial member as it's not practical for her to attend every meeting. The King is a member by default, but seeing as she properly earned her position as general in the first place her position is a bit more earned.

The point is, Gwight is busy, but not so busy he can't find a moment to knock on the door of her study during an hour of her precious free time, and there's no avoiding him then.

"Your Majesty." He greets neutrally.

"General." Gura responds a bit tiredly with a nod of her head. She knew this was coming eventually. "What brings you here?"

"A question, and perhaps advice." Gwight says stoically, as if Gura isn't blatantly stalling and they both don't know what this talk is going to be about. "May I sit?"

"Please, General." Gura sighs, gesturing to the chair across from her desk. She closes the door behind him and reluctantly makes her way to her own seat. "Please, speak your mind."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Gwight says, and laces his fingers together and leans forward on her desk. "I must ask, Your Majesty… are such familiar interactions between yourself and the Empress the norm?"

Oh Poseidon, he's going to make her go over this in excruciating detail, isn't he? "...they are, General."

"I see." The old atlantean nods, expression still neutral. "And are these interactions unwelcome?"

Or maybe he's going right for the throat. "Not… exactly, no."

"Allow me to rephrase. Are these interactions, and advances, wanted?"

He's not letting her dance around this. "I… believe they are."

Gwight raises an eyebrow. "You have yet to decide?"

Well… if there is anyone she can air her worries to it's Gwight, isn't it? "I know full well what I feel, but that does not excuse a lack of pragmatism."

"Perhaps." Gwight inclines his head. "Though frankly, Your Majesty, I think you are long past 'pragmatism' being a consideration."

Gura winces, mostly because Gwight is correct. "I suppose I should have expected the operation was compromised already…"

"I did not take you for the dramatic sort, Your Majesty." Gwight snorts. "And quite frankly I think the 'operation', as you put it, could use a bit more compromising if anything. Very little about this debacle has been professional, and I see no reason to start now."

Gura can't say she was expecting Gwight to encourage her unprofessionalism, but Gwight has always had a better handle on things than she has. As strange as it might seem considering she is the queen, Gwight arguably has more political experience than she does. "I see…"

"Though, please, Your Majesty, try not to let the Empress swim all around you." Gwight says dryly; a smirk on his face. "Atlantis needs some level of dignity from its queen."

Gura squints at him. "Very funny, General."

"I have no idea what you mean, Your Majesty." Gwight says with perfect composure. "Requesting dignity from our queen is surely no strain to your energy, unless you mean to imply you have been acting less than dignified?"

Gura pinches her nose. Now he's just poking fun at her. "Dismissed, General."

"Of course, Your Majesty." Gwight says, standing out of his chair. "Do consider being more forthright with your Empress. Open conversation tends to be productive… and allows you to plan around meddling council members better."

With that, Gwight leaves, and Gura groans and rubs her forehead.

"'My' Empress?" Gura grumbles to herself. "Jumping to conclusions much?"

"Wah."

She jolts and looks up, finding a tako calmly sitting atop a shelf. It smiles lazily at her.

"Waaah."

"Listening in for state secrets, huh?" She asks.

"Wah." The tako paws at her with a little tentacle.

"You better not go telling the Empress about this." Gura grumbles. "Made enough of a fool of myself already…"

"Waaah~" The tako purrs at her. It flicks its flaps once.

She doesn't believe for a second the tako is listening to her.