(Untitled)

[mapmakerchur]

There is a lion-like (yet tailless and maned) woman sitting at a table, watching people go by and drinking something out of a small black metal cup. She seems friendly enough, and doesn't seem occupied by dinner or reading - perhaps she'd be open to conversation?

Comments

[dust_to_order]

Sooraya's passing by, and is always open for conversation.

"Good evening," she ventures, smiling politely. No teeth; she'd been cautioned about that.

[mapmakerchur]

Chur smiles back, a pursed-lips grin that doesn't show teeth either. "H'lo," she responds cheerfully, setting the little cup aside.

[dust_to_order]

Sooraya relaxes a little at the cheerfulness. "I'm Sooraya Qadir, of Earth," she introduces herself, extending a hand. She's almost bubbling-over curious, but determined to not ask annoying questions yet.

[mapmakerchur]

Chur touches Sooraya's hand gently, then moves it back before it can be squeezed. "Chur Anify par Chanur, of Anuurn. A few weeks away from Earth."

[dust_to_order]

"A pleasure to meet you, Chur Anify par Chanur." Her smile brightens. "Now, is all of that the name I should use to address you, or only some part of it?"

[mapmakerchur]

Chur flicks an ear. "My own name is Chur. Anify is the clan I was born to, and Chanur is my mother's clan," she explains. "If your name is formed like those of the other humans I've met here, I would call you Sooraya, right?"

[dust_to_order]

"Yes. Sooraya is my name, Qadir is my family name."

"A few weeks from Earth? I almost thought you might be from Earth, at first. Not that I doubt you, just that there are species there that look similar," she explains. "Not sentient however."

[mapmakerchur]

Chur nods ruefully. "When I was first here, Bar gave me several issues of National Geographic, translated, of course. Besides looking like lions, our clans are also ruled by a man and his wives, sisters, and aunts. I was very surprised to read about them."

[dust_to_order]

"Hm. Maybe they're--or will be, like your race, someday?" Sooraya speculates, then shrugs. "I'm no geneticist. Thank Allah," she adds under her breath.

"Sounds like you've been coming here a while," questioningly. "The Bar found me a little over a month ago."

[mapmakerchur]

"A while," Chur agrees. "I can only see the door when my ship is in jump, and time passes differently here than in jump and differently in jump than in realspace."

[dust_to_order]

"Jump is...another dimension of sorts? One you use for travel?" She may give the impression she's taking mental 'notes'(mainly 'cause she is.) "Are you a pilot, or captain?"

[mapmakerchur]

"It's... a means of travel. A ship partially leaves real-space so as to travel faster-than-light," Chur explains, awkwardly. "And I am neither - I could sit helm, but I normally sit scan or com. I'm a Mapmaker."

[dust_to_order]

She nods slowly. "I met another...traveler, a starship captain, earlier today. On my Earth we've not got that far, but the theory and uses are being worked out.
Have you ever--" she stops. "Mm. That's a lot of questions, and I think turnabout's fair. Anything you'd like to know?"

[mapmakerchur]

Chur sneezes a soft laugh. "I'm actually curious why you're dressed as you are," she admits, explaining "I haven't seen anyone cover her face," then adding hastily, "Or his, if you are not a female," in case Sooraya's offended by the use of the generic-her.

[dust_to_order]

"I'm female, and human," she confirms, unoffended. "Eighteen years old. For a human, that's adult. In the country or region of Earth where I grew up, it's customary for adult women not to allow their faces or bare skin to be seen in public. Only to family members, or if one's health requires it. It's...a tradition that goes very deep with Muslims. To do otherwise--it would be considered a vulgar display, at best.

I know customs differ in other places, but this is something I don't want to leave behind, or pick and choose only some of those laws."

[mapmakerchur]

Chur nods, thoughtfully. "Among hani, some men do not meet with women not of the clan unless a marriage has been arranged for them. It is something like that?"