Lieutenant Commander V'Nille - You Have Arenas?
V'Nille
(( Tseraiq, Qareluun, Aelkuun ))
V’Nille nodded and walked to another section of the counter to take a closer look at some pastries that looked like thin flaky breads with some sort of powder on top.
V’Nille: You three go ahead. This is a tough choice to make.
Aleron: I suppose I should ask what form of currency or trade do you accept? Our people normally do not used money anymore, but we do retain the concept of it.
Reine’X: I'm sure we can work something out, K’Saalit
K’Saalit: I am sure S’Relaai will take care of it on your behalf. Please, help yourselves.
Orla: Response
Aleron: Then I will take these two, if I may.
K’Saalit: Understood. And the rest?
V’Nille: Okay, I will take one of these.
Orla: Response
Reine’X: As for me, ::she thought for a brief moment, trying to hide her annoyance that nothing was really happening at the moment and that she would rather be trying local sports or even sparring than just sitting around eating sweets.:: would you happen to serve any drinks… coffee or green tea, perhaps?
The two K’tsélai looked at each other.
S’Relaai: A cup of kiinup would probably work.
K’Saalit: It is a strong stimulant. Is a sweet drink acceptable?
Reine’X: Thank you, I think that will do.
K’Saalit began fetching everyone’s snacks and Reine’X’s drink order. V’Nille accepted hers gratefully and took an experimental bite. Whatever flour they were using for that particular pastry was definitely something from the sea, she decided, but that note was subtle compared to the overwhelming sweetness from the powder. She saw the others start sitting down but refrained herself, instead leaning against the wall across from them.
Orla: Response
Reine’X: I’m wondering, is it all right if I ask you a couple of questions? ::She turned to the two K’sélatai now that everyone had settled down with their food.:: I’m interested to know more about the planet and your culture::She paused for a moment to gauge their reactions.::
S’Relaai: Of course! That is what I am here for.
The K’tsélai baker nodded in agreement.
Aleron: We appreciate your kindness. Both of you. I hope you understand that we’re explorers by nature and we like to learn everything we can about a new group of people that we come across.
V’Nille nodded in agreement.
Orla: Response
Reine’X: But first, I was wondering about Varbuk. How did he actually end up here? Excuse my ignorance, as we are still relatively new to this region of space.
S’Relaai: When we first made contact with peoples from outside of our star system, he was among the first group we met, actually. He and others like him had lost his leader and were looking for a place to go. I think he is one of only … five or so that stayed? The rest wandered off.
K’Saalit: He came to me for a job. I gave him one. We have traded much talk about each other’s cultures since. The Valcarians are a fascinating people.
V’Nille: That makes a lot of sense. After Brol Piers died, what remained of his followers would need a place to go.
Orla: Responses
Reine’X: Can you tell me a little bit more about your society. And how does a typical family unit look? -- beyond what is in our official report.:: she winked.
S’Relaai: I do not know what is in your official report, but who we consider family is anyone within the clan. It is our clans that we organize ourselves by and how each clan does things is a little different. We have smaller family units within the clan that I recall is more alike what offworlders expect with a mother and father and children, but we do not put them above the clan.
K’Saalit: Each clan has its own territory. S’Relaai’s clan has their homes a fair distance away from here, I think? Mine moved here after the Qareluun Wars, so we’ve adapted from seas to rivers now.
S’Relaai: Yes, close to the other side of the planet from here, really. I visit them regularly both as part of my job as an envoy and to keep up with them.
V’Nille: That’s fairly similar to how it is on my homeworld. Interesting.
Orla: Responses
Reine’X :Ah, yes. And the current government? I’m just wondering how your relationships are with your neighboring planets?
S’Relaai: The K’Tserai is what you would call our planetary government. It is a representative body that handles anything that impacts us all as a whole. Everything else is up to the individual clans. I am not really informed enough to give details on our relationships with our neighbors but as a general rule, we have maintained our neutrality so far.
Orla: Responses
Reine’X: Of course. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about us and our people, ::she said with a warm, smile.::
V’Nille was happy that Reine’X was at least aware enough not to turn this into a full interrogation. She pointed at a different pastry and looked at K’Saalit questioningly. They managed to work it out so that she got it and a cup of whatever Reine’X was drinking. This pastry was more … meaty, if she had to describe it.
S’Relaai: V’Nille told me a bit about your Starfleet and the Federation it serves. Can you tell me about this Federation?
Aleron: Well, we’re actually a conglomeration of planets from all over. We blend and mesh our lives together, each world contributing to the whole while still being allowed to retain their unique individuality and sovereignty. We have some very strict rules about interference in another world’s governance.
V’Nille: Remember how I asked if you had faster than light travel? That’s related to one of the rules.
Orla: Responses
S’Relaai: Ah, I see. So like our system of governance. Just … bigger. Are all of the members fairly similar in many respects then, to agree on everything?
Aleron: Well, we’re actually very diverse. Some of our members can be very war-like, while others favor a peaceful approach. Some exhibit greed, while others could care less about wealth and profit. But we all come together to build up each other for the greater good. Instead of making us weaker, our differences actually make us stronger and better.
S’Relaai: That’s good. One reason we have our setup is to better allow each clan to keep its own character while we work to find ways to better cooperate.
K’Saalit: Fighting over Qareluun taught some hard lessons about what disagreements can lead to when left unchecked.
S’Relaai: Yes. There are still negotiations ongoing about many things, but they all happen here in Tseraiq on Qareluun because here we can meet on neutral grounds.
V’Nille: It has worked out well for you in the end, though. You mentioned Qareluun’s resources are what helped bootstrap you for space exploration?
S’Relaai: Correct.
Orla / Reine’X: Responses
Isara finished off her pastry as the others spoke, then leaned forward once more.
Aleron: Don’t get me wrong. We have our differences and sometimes that can lead to some very intense disagreements. But we always come together in the end and reach an accord.
S’Relaai: Intense disagreements?
V’Nille: Mostly in chambers like our Council, which is like your K’Tserai. There are also diplomats whose sole job is managing relationships between members. I will admit that violence has happened but we do what we can to resolve everything peacefully even if it gets to that point.
Orla / Reine’X: Responses
S’Relaai: I see. That is understandable. If you are ready, we can move somewhere else. Do you have any requests?
V’Nille: Well, we’ve gotten a taste of your food. What do K’tsélai do for fun outside of the water?
K’Saalit: Oh, S’Relaai, you should take them to the arena!
V’Nille: Arena?
Aleron / Orla / Reine’X: Responses
S’Relaai: ::sighs:: Yes. She’s talking about the fighting arena, probably, where K’tsélai will fight in arranged matches. We do also have public stages for plays as another option. Most of our recreation is done on or in the water, I’m afraid.
V’Nille: Are these bloody fights?
S’Relaai: They can be, if the fighters consent to it. One of the reasons it’s popular here is that you’ll never quite anticipate what kind of fight you’ll see there. Wrestling is the most common, but I have seen fights with blades, nets, and even firearms happen if there’s a grudge to be settled there. ::beat:: We do have medical teams on standby there for that reason.
V’Nille: Oh that sounds exciting. What do the rest of you think?
Aleron / Orla / Reine’X: Responses