I am very sorry to disturb you but *rubs the back of her neck softly* I was hoping you would have a few free moments to talk with me. I know you don't know me, or anything like that, but we have mutual friends and...
*sigs*
Would you mind telling me some things about your culture? I understand if you say no, I really do, but I could do with some help on your customs and the like.
The lady's question comes as something of a surprise to Vir, but his response is cheerful and polite.
"No - no, I don't mind at all."
Then he thinks of something else: "But perhaps a booth would be more suitable for that kind of conversation than a seat here at the bar."
And with that, he gets up from his stool and signals a waitress. After speaking quietly with her for a moment, he turns back to the mystery lady and asks, "May I ask your name?"
"My name...Oh," She laughed softly, "My name is Iris." She followed along beside him for a moment, toying with her hair.
"I know it is just strange, me appearing here like this," although it wasn't, her being a Goddess and all, "But I do need to know some things. How are women seen in your culture?"
Vir slides into the booth and folds his hands nervously, not completely comfortable with the question. Even though his service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been relatively brief, he has had enough contact with aliens to know that many species - including the Humans, a race of which this lady appears to be a member - consider Centauri customs inexcusably retrograde. And he doesn't necessarily disagree.
How to put things, then?
"Well - " He bites his lip. "Centauri women are almost universally honored for their beauty. Many poets have praised the perfection of their form, and all young men are scolded to make themselves worthy of them. And we're all expected to take on the responsibility of caring for the women we marry - in fact, if any Centauri should abandon his responsibility to his wives and his household - or treat his wives violently - tradition says that he's a man without honor and should be shunned
( ... )
Slowly she slid into the seat opposite him and smiled at his nervousness.
"They are very beautiful. I remember when I first met Li," Iris smiled remembering, "I don't think I have met such a beauty, well apart from within my own kind. And of course Adira is very beautiful also." They were really the only two women Iris had met. His next comment made her raise an eyebrow, "But you do not think it bad to kill or out do one another to better yourselves am I correct?"
Iris blushed and looked down, "I know that. But we are very much the same..." She leaned forward just a little to whisper to him, "I am not human, I think you believe I am." She waved a hand at the political aspect, "That really does not bother me. I have enough to deal with as it is but..."
She looked into Vir's eyes, "Do you believe in marrying for love or for status?"
Vir is more than a little taken aback when Iris mentions having met Li. "You have had a visitation from the Goddess Li?" he breathes, wide-eyed. "I-I-I've heard of nothing like that for many years."
Then, when Iris mentions the unpleasant reality of Centauri political life at present, he winces. "Many do not. But I don't believe they are truly Centauri. A true Centauri kills to protect his people, not to further his own ends - and even then, it's a decision that shouldn't be made lightly - or without all the facts."
On the last question, Vir blushes. "Are you asking me specifically? Because I do. I-I-I always have. But I'm... well, they consider me a radical."
Sensing his reaction Iris nodded and smiled, "I went to her temple on Davo and then I was in her garden, we talked and..." She closed her eyes, remembering how Li's touch had made her feel, "She was very kind to me. She has been more than once though."
"So a man who kills to keep control of his family. Say a man who would kill his daughter-in-law and try to kill his granddaughter to keep control over his son and their family. What would you think of this man then?"
After a moment she moves and goes to sit next to him, keeping a little close because she is almost telling him a secret, even if many people know. "There is a man, he is one of your own and I love him deeply," she blushed and looked away from him, "I want to learn as much as I can so I do not dishonour him."
Letting out a slow breath she looked back up at him, "I know it is not spoken of, that a Centauri marries out of their kind but...we want to get married and I am trying to prepare myself for what I am to face when it happens."
Vir is still astounded that Iris apparently has had a religious experience in a Centauri temple, but on the subject of Li, he does not press. Instead, he focuses on her first question, which, for him, is a matter of some concern.
"A Centauri's life is defined by duty - at least, it should be. We're all duty-bound to protect everything we've sworn oaths to - our houses, our friends and allies, and even the Republic itself. For many Centauri, those obligations often conflict, but... it seems to me that a man who murders members of his own house for the sake of control is violating one of the most important duties of all." Vir drums his fingers on the table. "I'm not sure I'm explaining this right. I-I suppose what I'm trying to say is that things like love and friendship and family ties should be honored and protected as much as possible. That... that in an ideal world, people wouldn't be forced to choose between political status and personal obligation." Vir thinks of recent events and a
( ... )
When Vir hears Kailin's name, he laughs, delighted. "Well, I-I suppose congratulations are in order!" Then, to explain his reaction: "You've chosen well. He's an honorable man."
"Don't... No... No one really knows. I...I just wanted help." She blushed at his comment, "I believe the fates were kind to make us meet. Had Adira not taken him there and Hera not sent me to deliver a message, we would never have met."
She laughed softly, her cheeks very red, "We've yet to start telling people...about getting married I mean."
"No..." She squeezed his hand softly. "Kailin is wonderful and treats me like a goddess..." She laughed, after all she was a goddess, but that wasn't the point. "And Cellena, she is beautiful."
Vir smiles and squeezes back. Then: "I-I'm honored that you would come to me... and also confused. I-I-I'm not sure I'm the best person to talk to about these things. I'm young, and I'm not married."
"And you were very kind to a woman I know." Iris tilted her head a little, "You were sick at the time and so was she. I believe she is going to marry Roger...Roger Smith. The woman was called Satine. She told me about him taking her to B5 and meeting a man called Vir with interesting hair...who else has hair like you do?"
"Besides," She smiled at him, "Sometimes it is nice to hear that people don't think us being together is wrong, and to meet someone new."
"Ah..." Vir hems for a moment, a little embarrassed. "I wasn't really sick, then. It was an allergy. But yes, I do remember that day. Roger seemed very happy."
Um, hello.
I am very sorry to disturb you but *rubs the back of her neck softly* I was hoping you would have a few free moments to talk with me. I know you don't know me, or anything like that, but we have mutual friends and...
*sigs*
Would you mind telling me some things about your culture? I understand if you say no, I really do, but I could do with some help on your customs and the like.
Reply
"No - no, I don't mind at all."
Then he thinks of something else: "But perhaps a booth would be more suitable for that kind of conversation than a seat here at the bar."
And with that, he gets up from his stool and signals a waitress. After speaking quietly with her for a moment, he turns back to the mystery lady and asks, "May I ask your name?"
Reply
"I know it is just strange, me appearing here like this," although it wasn't, her being a Goddess and all, "But I do need to know some things. How are women seen in your culture?"
Reply
How to put things, then?
"Well - " He bites his lip. "Centauri women are almost universally honored for their beauty. Many poets have praised the perfection of their form, and all young men are scolded to make themselves worthy of them. And we're all expected to take on the responsibility of caring for the women we marry - in fact, if any Centauri should abandon his responsibility to his wives and his household - or treat his wives violently - tradition says that he's a man without honor and should be shunned ( ... )
Reply
"They are very beautiful. I remember when I first met Li," Iris smiled remembering, "I don't think I have met such a beauty, well apart from within my own kind. And of course Adira is very beautiful also." They were really the only two women Iris had met. His next comment made her raise an eyebrow, "But you do not think it bad to kill or out do one another to better yourselves am I correct?"
Iris blushed and looked down, "I know that. But we are very much the same..." She leaned forward just a little to whisper to him, "I am not human, I think you believe I am." She waved a hand at the political aspect, "That really does not bother me. I have enough to deal with as it is but..."
She looked into Vir's eyes, "Do you believe in marrying for love or for status?"
Reply
Then, when Iris mentions the unpleasant reality of Centauri political life at present, he winces. "Many do not. But I don't believe they are truly Centauri. A true Centauri kills to protect his people, not to further his own ends - and even then, it's a decision that shouldn't be made lightly - or without all the facts."
On the last question, Vir blushes. "Are you asking me specifically? Because I do. I-I-I always have. But I'm... well, they consider me a radical."
Reply
"So a man who kills to keep control of his family. Say a man who would kill his daughter-in-law and try to kill his granddaughter to keep control over his son and their family. What would you think of this man then?"
After a moment she moves and goes to sit next to him, keeping a little close because she is almost telling him a secret, even if many people know. "There is a man, he is one of your own and I love him deeply," she blushed and looked away from him, "I want to learn as much as I can so I do not dishonour him."
Letting out a slow breath she looked back up at him, "I know it is not spoken of, that a Centauri marries out of their kind but...we want to get married and I am trying to prepare myself for what I am to face when it happens."
Reply
Vir is still astounded that Iris apparently has had a religious experience in a Centauri temple, but on the subject of Li, he does not press. Instead, he focuses on her first question, which, for him, is a matter of some concern.
"A Centauri's life is defined by duty - at least, it should be. We're all duty-bound to protect everything we've sworn oaths to - our houses, our friends and allies, and even the Republic itself. For many Centauri, those obligations often conflict, but... it seems to me that a man who murders members of his own house for the sake of control is violating one of the most important duties of all." Vir drums his fingers on the table. "I'm not sure I'm explaining this right. I-I suppose what I'm trying to say is that things like love and friendship and family ties should be honored and protected as much as possible. That... that in an ideal world, people wouldn't be forced to choose between political status and personal obligation." Vir thinks of recent events and a ( ... )
Reply
She shook her head slowly, "I am not, but let me say if this man ever crosses me...he has hurt too many already and he needs to be stopped."
Iris looked down at the table and then up at him. Leaning forward she whispered two words into his ear. "Kailin Tyree."
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She laughed softly, her cheeks very red, "We've yet to start telling people...about getting married I mean."
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"Besides," She smiled at him, "Sometimes it is nice to hear that people don't think us being together is wrong, and to meet someone new."
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