#themickey

Apologies weren't in Natalia's nature. She was generally of the mind that people needed to get over things. Truly, she didn't actually want to give one now. She still very much stood by what she said. If she was sorry for anything, it was for embarrassing Mickey so needlessly in the name of tough love. While she firmly believed it was what Mickey needed, even Natalia could admit there was a better way to go about it than airing the other ward's dirty laundry out at the dinner table. In hindsight, it was tactless, and for that, she was ashamed.

Knock, knock.

Two steady raps on Mickey's door and she waited. It's been several hours since dinner. She figured Mickey has had enough time to cool off from the high of emotions she experienced at dinner.

"Mickey?"

After her first handful of conversations, Natalia turned interacting with the guests into something of a game to keep herself entertained. With each person she spoke to, she tried to get closer and closer to the house. By the time she spoke to person number twelve, she had successfully navigated off the lawn, up the stairs, past the terrace, and into the Great Room. Though of course, this room was also... filled with people.

Natalia took the opportunity to get herself a drink while the crowd seemed engrossed in their conversations. With a flute of sparkling cider now in hand, she surveyed the space, trying to recognize some of the guests. There was someone from Richard's book club here, and the guy who owns that artisanal bakery in Bolton. Then her eyes eventually landed on another ward in the room, Mickey.

It didn’t take long for Natalia to pick up on the ward's discomfort, likely trapped in a conversation she wanted to escape. Knowing it'd take Mickey far too long to get out of the conversation on her own, Natalia decided to down the contents of her glass and walk over. She smoothly intervened with an excuse to pull Mickey away, something about Mrs. Tristan needing to speak with them, before she looped her arm around Mickey’s and guided her away from the crowd and out of the Great Room.

"So, how long have you been trying to get out of that conversation?" she asked, mild amusement laced in her voice.