"Oh wow, condolences, man. Happens to the best of us eventually." Alex grinned, clearly amused. This guy was okay.

"Ha. There's a lot of that in D.C. too. Lots of dignitaries visiting and all, really elaborate dinners and stuff. I don't get stuck going to all of them, but enough that I've had to learn how to tie a bowtie. Which like, not a skill I had to learn before. Even for prom I wore clip on. ...and like, lost it immediately." His chest needed to breathe. Apparently. Like it was fully getting enough air right now at least.