[Citadel, Apartment 5305] Business as usual?

"I'm working from home today." She said. In reality, Christina Waller was out like a light, napping on the couch in her high-end apartment. A busy day of calls, the drama of Sarah returning home, and catching up with a long-lost brother can wear someone out.
The woman opened her eyes as her omnitool beeped. She'd slowly sit up, pushing her hair back.

"Ffffhh.." She began to curse, checking over the the holographic clock on the wall. Spinning to sit, she'd clunk over a bottle of wine, much to her panic- and immediate relief, as the cork was still in the mouth of the bottle. Hide away the wine, hide away anything that could make her look unprofessional.

She'd step over to the kitchen and turn on the oven. A thought occurs.

WHAT DO HANAR EAT?

Laykalar drifted with happy anticipation towards his latest alien encounter. It would be good to meet with the human again; she was a pleasant and intriguing companion, as he'd discovered at the recent ceremonial festival in honour of cheese. Perhaps, in addition to her conversational insights, he would sample further variants of cheese during the upcoming meeting? He shimmered in delight.

This wasn't to say that he didn't have regrets about being so preoccupied. There was currently a discussion taking place in the Inner Sanctum aboard ship, regarding the alarming outbreaks of virulent disease across the galaxy, as recorded in many major news outlets (including on CDN). Some of the learned scholars aboard feared that such physical ailments were representative of a deeper moral sickness that was sapping the galactic populace of vitality in the aftermath of the Great Storm. Essentially, that those nations which remained spiritually unmoored - such as the many inelegant and impolitic peoples of the Terminus - were susceptible to physical manifestations of their deficiency. Laykalar had his own, dissenting, views, and was disappointed that he couldn't contribute to what would no doubt be a fascinating discussion. However, his current mission (for such he grandly labelled it) was more important by far. As part of his assignment to arrange a charity dinner for Leaving the Ducts, he was here to enlist the aid of the mate of one of his first Citadel contacts, who seemed willing to discuss her participation as the primary caterer. He was therefore in a serious frame of mind, keeping himself focused on the goal, with that stubbornly earnest zeal that made hanar preachers feared across the known galaxy. This dinner, he had long decided, would be a far smoother affair than the chaotic tempest of its spiritual predecessor - a charity ball organized by participants of CDN that had (most distressingly) apparently sank to the abyssal depths of moral depravity. He was still shocked to read of it. But the learned Miss Rondor and the honoured Assemblyman Vallario were of course too morally and intellectually sophisticated to allow such an outcome at this event. Laykalar had the utmost faith in them.

He was here! Humans, he knew, were far less formal than hanar, but had their own, sometimes complicated, customs governing social interaction. When he'd first arrived on the Citadel, he'd caused some disconcertion with his pressed enthusiasm. He now knew to be more careful. As his latest friend received him, her facial muscles forming the shape that signified polite cheer, Laykalar felt an upswell of contentment. He pulsed warmly.

"Greetings! This one is pleased to reacquaint itself with the honoured other! It hopes the honoured other's mate is well, and that the other's sibling is in equally good health. This one is pleased to be here".

There. That was polite but not too imposing. If all went well, he would leave here today with another important commitment to the event with which he'd been entrusted...and with a greater personal bond to the human as well! And this time, there would be no alarmingly bombastic volus to monopolize the conversation.

The chef greeted her guest with a smile, peering up at the floating alien as it drifted into the apartment. "Hello there, Laykalar. We're both doing fine- Sarah's off at work, and I could work from the house today." She didn't tell her new guest 'work from home' meant 'sneak in as many naps as I can.'

"I understand you've been looking forward to meeting me for this business arrangement." She'd walk off towards the kitchen, removing a wrap from her back pocket and tying it around the width of her head, keeping her hair out of the way. "Charity balls are something we cover at Friendship and Food, and our rates are competitive. We can set up so a certain percentage of the price of plates goes towards the charity in question-"

She'd turn the oven off and step out of the kitchen, busily making her way to the study. She'd stop to think, twisting the silver band on her ring finger. She rifled through stacks of files, removing one and handing it over. "This is a billing quote, and notes on our previous charity events. We've done one for Restoring Palaven's Schools, and a few for wounded warrior charities from Earth."

She'd confidently place her hands on her hips. "What was it you were thinking about for this event?"

As Chris moved around her apartment, Laykalar reflected on her brisk but welcoming manner. She wished to discuss terms of business directly? He must have correctly offered preliminary greetings, then. How pleasing! He was evidently improving at politic human interaction; that in turn could only improve his capacity to understand the many spiritual perspectives of this fascinating race. Happily, he drifted over to a large lamp-like structure (its flicker gave it the impression of muttering something inarticulate about bubbles), and moored alongside it.

"This one has been planning to make use of one of the larger commercial attractions of Teyseri, refurbished after being converted into a refugee centre during the war. There is a dual symbolism inherent in this - of displacement and hope - that this one hopes will convey what Leaving the Ducts hopes to achieve! This one also believes the other's participation will prove mutually symbiotic. Leaving the Ducts has arranged for the presence of the honoured assemblyman Vallario; this one hopes the other will make a face name for its own business while aiding the noble cause of the respectable Ms. Rondor".

He accepted the file she handed him in a tentacle.

"Okay, I can definitely be there. I'm moving in April for business reasons, and the event is probably one of the last things I could do personally on the Citadel before then, if it's relatively soon. So.. " She rubbed her palms together. "A city official will be there? I think that'll be good for the charity /and/ my business."

She peered over at the young man with an excited look on her face.
"Any way I can donate?"

He didn't wish to tell her that the exact date of the dinner was still somewhat uncertain; he would have to propose to Ms. Rondor that it take place soon, toward the nearer end of the allotted time period, while Ms. Waller was still able to participate. He wouldn't want to lose such an opportunity! That meant, of course, that he must apply himself with greater vigour if he were to make the event the success he envisioned. Time would be growing short (and what a delightfully puzzling expression that was! He must inquire as to how its apparent contradiction was justified). He would demonstrate his worth to the charity and earn the greater respect of the formidable intellects among which he found himself. And in doing so, show his respect for their own efforts.

Laykalar's pleasure grew more pronounced as he imagined the outcome. Elegant conversation and sophisticated exchange, between charity workers, politicians, representatives of all species and drifts of life! This, he thought eagerly, was the first major test; the real application of his educational experience on the Citadel. To join in elegant unity the diverse arguments and unique propositions provided by his multiple points of contact on the station, to weave them together into a more Illuminated whole, that would serve to Enkindle in disadvantaged youngsters the light of a better future. To demonstrate both the underlying similarity and challenging diversity of a philosophical multitude. He would be able to write an entire dissertation on his observations!

Hanar persistence and the subtle appeals of a registered charity were a match made in any one of the myriad realms of posthumous reward. He pulsed warmly.

"This one thanks the other kindly for its enthusiasm. This one feels fortunate to have drifted into such soothing shallows as these. To aid the displaced and disadvantaged is in keeping with the highest virtues of Enkindlement, and is most conductive to this one's studies! This one could not have imagined that it would have opportunity to participate in such endeavours with this degree of responsibility". Realizing that he hadn't answered her actual question - how rude of him, he must pay more attention to specifics - he gave the approved response detailed in Leaving the Ducts documentation:

"Donations may be made via secure extranet connections in the standard manner, or through direct contact with our welcoming and hard-working staff at LTD headquarters in Tayseri. Leaving the Ducts thanks the other for their kindness and vows to use the other's gift for the betterment of those who need it most. No child should live in ducts!"

He paused.

"This one can enable any transaction now, if the other wishes".

His human friend's generosity was pleasing. The virtues of Enkindlement were truly universal. He had never been so sure as he was now - the isolationist stance of the Primacy's traditionalists was an error. An error he and his ilk would need to correct.

He moved quickly onto the other major issue they'd need to discuss.

"There is another concern that this one feels the need to address. The event may regrettably require the presence of security personnel, whether Citadel Security or those affiliated with private firms". (He reminded himself to discuss the matter again with Snow, who was well-informed in such matters, and practical in his recommendations). "It regrets to inform the other that there has been disruption to some of these ones' previous efforts at assisting the Duct Rodents of Tayseri". He flickered in distress. "This one recalls that the other and its mate were themselves attacked recently while ambulating on the lower ward. Leaving the Ducts has been having difficulties not dissimilar; intimidation of those young beings seeking to better their lives through these ones' services".

It disturbed him to consider that here, on the Enkindlers' own fortress, where the intellectual offshoots of a thousand cultures intermixed, some could choose to ignore the rich input around them and strain the waters for more limited fare. To turn violently on those who opposed you was largely alien to the hanar no matter how conservative they were; if one could not move them through structured and elegant dialogue, one ignored or split off from one's opponents, in the manner of a polyp leaving a parent. It was harder, he decided, for the bipeds. Limited as they were to the medium of dry land, space was always restricted, and conflict for that space regrettably normalized. Within the Encompassing, by contrast, there was room for all.

As there will be at the dinner!

"This one would be lax in its responsibilities if it did not inform the other that there exists the potential for attention negative as well as positive".

Chris locked her arms across her chest and listened. The mugging attempt- Then Sarah getting attacked, the graffiti at the restaurant.. She'd give a knowing nod, before turning on her heel and making her way back to the study. She'd draw out a monetary transfer bill and fill in.

"Three- Four thousand." She muttered to herself, filling the bill out and returning it to the hanar.
"I'm going to be definitely seeing to this. You have my contact number, it's in the files. Mr. Snow was the bitter looking man at the last CDN event in my restaurant, right?" She lifted a dark brow.

Several emotions danced within him, chief among them pride. The other was happily committing to the planned event! Not only was he succeeding in his service to Rondor, but Chris' enthusiasm suggested he was making considerable

Another emotion, though, was mild confusion, and rising in its wake the insatiable tide of curiosity. The other, Snow, had been a stimulating and insightful partner, and Chris' choice of descriptors was unusual. "Bitter" was not a word that translated well into hanar. The vocabulary for taste was rather distinct between humans and his kind, and Laykalar considered the intriguing word with interest, teasing out its possible connotations. Was the other, Chris, suggesting that she found Snow displeasing? As far as he could tell, "bitter" was a sensation considered unpleasant, or at least uncomfortably pronounced. Of course - he thought brightly - Snow was indeed very direct in his speech, and that might cause considerable distress to some, the elders aboard ship being prime examples. He shimmered thoughtfully. In addition, he knew Snow had a criminal past, hence his current service to Rondor. Perhaps that was what Chris referred to.

"The other is most generous in its donation! This one will be delighted to inform those who depend on such generosity of the other's contribution" A slight pause. "In response to the other's inquiry, this one believes the other has indeed identified Mr. Snow. The other, Snow, has been forthright in his interactions with this one, and is of great use to Leaving the Ducts. It humbly suggests that the other may have misjudged the degree to which he remains unpalatable".

A thought occurred to him. There were other tastes in the human vocabulary.

"Perhaps this one may suggest that Mr. Snow is in fact 'sweet'?"

He pulsed cheerfully, unaware that had Snow been present he would likely have been quite pained.

Chris's watch beeped. She rubbed a brow. "I- Okay, I suppose that's all, then? I'm sorry, I've got another meeting in a half an hour that I have to get to. I'll be there at the event, trust me."

"This one thanks the other for its commitment".

A pause.

"It has enjoyed conversing with the other, and hopes for further contact in the near future".

Having learnt enough about human social courtesies, he waited politely to be shown out.

To an onlooker, he might have been doing a reasonably convincing impression of another lampstand. Lacking a face as they did, hanar all too easily blended into the furniture.

The chef politely made her way to the door and opened it. "Please call me if you'd like to talk again! I know what it's like to be out in the world on your own, it can be scary. I'm sure Sarah would be willing to help as well when I'm not here."

"This one extends thanks to the other for its hospitality. It trusts that the event will be greatly successful! May the other find itself in clear waters!"

He left the apartment satisfied. This preparatory business was easier than he'd thought it would be...