Wow, if you made it this far, you must kind of like my story! :-)
Note, that I am not a native speaker, so please review. Your comments would be of great help! Also, I'd love to hear, what you think of it so far.
"Senator Bricks," Jason nodded, shaking the third hand at this evening. "Pleasure, to meet you."
The senator of the United States was at least one foot smaller than Jason, and at least twice his weight, but Jason instantly liked the openly smiling, winking man.
"The pleasure is all mine," the senator answered and responded with a tight, dry grip to the handshake. "I heard a great deal about you, Mr Bates."
The private dinner room was filled with people of all skin colours and ethnicities. Jason knew them already from television and news broadcasting, but it still felt strangely unreal.
The door opening caught his attention, and he had to remember to breathe properly when Shalamorn and Neri entered the room. Although wearing just a simple black, sleeveless dress with lace covering the upper part, her hair done in an asymmetric braid over her right shoulder, she was an appearance, he had to process for a minute.
A friendly smack on his shoulder by Senator Bricks brought him back. "Well," he said honestly impressed. "I gotta say, your girlfriend is a princess among girls. And her older sister is a stunning revelation."
Jason grinned widely, but before he could set it right, the women had spotted him and approached them. Shalamorn's dress was a dream of flowing gold, yet modest and elegant. Her hair was pinned up, her make-up flawless.
"Senator Bricks," Jason said and put a hand on Neri's upper back. "May I introduce to you Queen Shalamorn, anointed leader of the People of the Ocean Planet, and her firstborn daughter Neri, crown princess and earthly ambassador."
Bricks was so in shock, he hiccuped. "My dear heavens, I had no idea..." He took a deep bow.
Jason jumped at the chance and leant over to Neri. "You look incredibly beautiful," he whispered and kissed her cheek.
"I am truly delighted and honoured, Your Majesty Queen Shalamorn," Senator Bricks said with another bow. "And, Princess Neri." He took her hand and placed a gallant kiss on its back. Neri blushed but gave no sign of discomfort.
His behaviour drew some attention along with curious glances to them, before another entrance distracted it.
"Ladies and Gentleman," a famous voice began, "welcome to our informal, interplanetary Meet Greet, – although I see, most of you couldn't resist sprucing up yourself a little bit." The President earned some laughter, which she rewarded with a warm smile. Her eyes scanned the room and paused with Shalamorn.
"As I see, our honoured guests are already in our midst, and I am sure, I speak for everyone in this room by saying: welcome on Earth!"
Neri shrank a little when all pairs of eyes were on them. Jason let his hand wander to her waist, to make her feel supported and safe, now holding her close, but yet keeping it appropriate for this kind of public surrounding.
"Welcome on Earth," Madame President Rugeaux repeated, and held up her glass of champaign. Those with beverages in their hands mirrored the gesture. "This is an exciting moment for all of us, and I can truly say, I am thrilled for this to happen, not just in my lifetime, but also during my term in office. Because from now on, I can proudly stand in front of my critics, and dignify their truculent attempts to challenge me with the all known – and very grown-up! – tradition of: neener-neener!"
Jason fell into the common laughter and exchanged a wide grin with his mother, who stood at the other side of the room with Senator De Souza of South America. The senator smiled too, but her pretty features were distorted in a sour kind of way. Jason suddenly remembered that Senator De Souza had been Rugeaux's opponent in the campaign for president. No wonder, De Souza seemed a bit off.
"Of course, I won't support such kind of childish behaviour on any of you," Madame President emphasised with a half-serious smile, earning another laughter.
Jason accepted the glasses of champaign, a waiter presented him and gave them to Shalamorn and Neri.
"So," Madame President finished her speech. "here is to a suspenseful first encounter of the Third Kind, to fascinating conversations, and overall to a successful prelude to a common future!"
"Hear, hear," Senator Bricks agreed, and they drank.
Jason had had some alcohol before, some wine and beer, and Shalamorn was obviously no stranger to earthly alcoholic beverages. But Neri frowned after taking a small sip.
"This taste strange," she whispered to him.
He smiled. "It's just a tradition. You don't have to drink it."
Neri licked her lip in a thoughtful expression then took another sip. Jason watched her, waiting for her final judgement. He laughed when she finally shook her head in dislike and put the glass back on the waiter's tray.
"Thank you," she said to him and smiled. The blonde bloke seemed taken by surprise, for being directly spoken to by her, but recovered quickly.
"Something else then … Your Highness?" He added, blushing and taking a small, but clumsy bow.
She blinked. "Neri," she insisted. "Water, please?"
"Water," he repeated. "Right away." Self-consciously, he turned to Shalamorn, who gave him a warm smile. "For me, as well," she said before the waiter could stumble out the question. He nodded and fled in direction of the kitchen.
"Poor boy," Shalamorn said.
"Na, I think he's gonna come around, Your Majesty. I'm sure, he will tell his grandchildren about the alien crown princess, who offered him to call her by her first name," Jason grinned.
Shalamorn took him by his arm. "And for you, it's Shalamorn, my dear. I get to be formally addressed by so many already, especially in here. We are family, are we not?"
Jason took a deep breath, then nodded and reciprocated the radiant smile, Neri gave him.