[Citadel, Tayseri] Leaving the Ducts Charity Dinner (Open to all)

Laykalar felt a stab of pride and gratitude. Snow and Rondor valued his work here, and believed that he had performed well. The relief at having won their trust, at having not let them down, warred with the shame at finding himself wedged between the cool disapproval of his people and an angry human moved to heated language on his behalf.

Tathissyl moved back, distancing herself in some disgust from the aggression on show. "The other appears unable to participate in decorous conversation. These ones will not be asked to explain themselves in the face of such crude expression".

As a group, and without another word, the hanar began to drift away.

"It thanks the honoured others for their attendance!" said Laykalar, a little desperately. He received no response, and he visibly slumped as the scholars retreated to a corner, apparently to deliberate. He assumed that they would soon be leaving, having first paid their regards to the host. They were certainly displeased, but naturally they wouldn't be impolite. He hoped the learned Rondor wouldn't think herself to blame when they made their exit.

Laykalar was left with Snow, who seemed almost slightly embarrassed, though it was still hard for him to read humans. Presumably, Snow knew that his outburst in defence of Laykalar and Leaving the Ducts was not going to endear him to the scholars, that if anything it reinforced their prejudice about Laykalar's companions, and had probably sealed their enmity. Snow was not the sort of person to care about that - Laykalar was both fascinated and sometimes shocked by his lack of regard for his image - but he knew that Laykalar saw things differently. He didn't want to make things worse for his friend.

The young hanar searched for the right words, which suddenly seemed so much harder than it usually did.

"It wishes you had not done that, on this one's account. It is very grateful, however. It is honoured that you would think so highly of this one. It cannot question the decisions of its learned betters, but it is glad that it has earned your respect, if not that of its elders. It has found its time here greatly conductive to its maturation. It has learned focus and discipline from the others. It -"

He trailed off unhappily.

He tried to tell himself that earning his elders' displeasure was simply one failed aspect to an otherwise robust argument, that the guests were enjoying themselves and socializing successfully, and that most of all his employer and colleagues were satisfied with his performance. The evening as a whole wasn't a failure.

It didn't help him feel better, though.

"Blind luck and fortunate timing," Daia agreed, raising her glass. Taking a sip, she studied the maiden across the table from her; younger, but no lack of experience or worldliness there. She wasn't unsophisticated by any means, but her manner tallied with what Daia remembered of her online presence, forthright and unapologetic.

"So how do you come to be here tonight?" she asked. "You said you don't have much time for socialising beyond work - is this a social occasion for you, or does it mix with business too?" She grinned disarmingly. "I have to admit, purely the former for me. Aside from goodwill there's not a lot a small Nos Astra business can offer a charity here on the Citadel."

Taleeze's face lit up with a smile for several reasons. Firstly, she had been right about the drell being Kayana, also she had brought her mate. Taleeze, being the total romantic she was, always found joy in the happy bonding of others. Last but not least the very Kayana-like mentioning of Azure.

"That's a surprise there, Kayana, we finally meet! Last time around it somehow didn't get together. Nice to meet you too, Hadas." of course she knew him from CDN. She then faced the assemblyman. "Mr. Vallario, I am not a voter but it's still a please to meet you in person." A small pun at the fact that he had been campaigning on CDN and always had looked for voter questions.

Towards Arina she added: "Mr. Hoffmann here happens too be a motorcycle enthusiast and helped me retrieve a very rare part for my little pet project. Maybe you have seen my rambling about it on the extranet. So when Arike invited me for a promotion event at the pildavi match, I combined job and joy."

She let Arthur do his round of handshaking. A custom obviously shared by drell and humans.

Arthur gives his friend an intrigued smile as he is pulled towards the other group. He would ask who might that somebody be had they not arrived so quickly. The human smiles to everyone in the group. A familiar looking turian catches his sight before anything else. Barefaced. Judging by this as well as the attire, Arthur assumed a ninety percent chance that this person is most probably a politician.... and then epiphany hits him. Memories of rigorous and enthusiastic extranet campaigning flash briefly into his head. He smirks as he processes the thoughts.

His attention is then brought to the Asari in the group, with whom his friend Taleeze was already familiar with. Yeah... this was probably the one he was intended to be introduced too. Her face springs something remotely familiar deep in his memory but Art couldn't quite put his finger on it. 'Embassies' the Asari says and then it clicks. He must've seen her a few times at the embassies surely.

Asari diplomats were of the most skilled and interesting sort. Arthur was always keen on engaging in discussions with them; with topics varying greatly from occasion to occasion. Given Arina's apparent acquaintance with Taleeze, Arthur expected them to get along very well.

It hadn't been very long since the alliance 'promoted' him from its diplomatic corps and placed him a high position in their 'temporary' Terran government. His many years of diplomatic experience with Earth nations must have been influential to that decision. He had been adjusting to his new career very well so far but being official called a 'Minister' still sounded a tiny bit alienating to him. In a good way, at least.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Caenis. I see you are familiar with Taleeze. I am most glad to meet more of her friends!" He returns the bow curtly, smiling warmly to the asari.

'Ohhh right.. Vallario it was!' He thinks to himself as the turian was introduced to him. He gives him a bow as well, but this one was slightly deeper and more rigid. His knowledge of turian greeting etiquette came in handy very often, especially when trying to make good first impressions. "Greetings, Assemblyman."


And then there were the two Drell. Oh how intriguing they were... He didn't have the opportunity to meet many of them so they still evoked the same feelings of awe and curiosity that once every alien did, early during his diplomatic career. He smiles to both of them as warmly as he can, happily returning the handshake. "Hadas, Kayana. Good to meet you both!" The texture of their hands' skin made it feel a tiny little bit tingling. It wasn't the unpleasant sort of tingle, though.

Things were starting to get confusing as everyone was introducing themselves to one another, all at the same time, with cross-conversation and all manner of appendages reaching out for handshakes. Max was used to this though; you didn't win an election without figuring your way around an event like this and pressing the flesh a lot. He made his way from person to person as they approached, shaking hands, smiling, nodding, and greeting them in turn.

First, the younger Drell woman that had approached him first. He could tell she was after something, and that became even clearer after she introduced herself as working for "The Thane Krios Memorial Foundation." Monuments meant public money. Public money meant you needed a vote in the assembly. A vote in the assembly meant they were going to dog every single member that might conceivably vote their way. Max just smiled, bracing himself for what might come next. "I'm enjoying myself quite a bit, thank you. It's nice to be able to attend a function with so many other people who are concerned about the well-being of underprivileged children."

Max turned his attention next to the small group Arina was introducing him to, smiling at the new Asari and human man. Max was doing his best to overhear as much as he could; if he had heard the other Asari right, she had introduced herself as "Taleeze," a friend of Arina's. And the human had introduced himself as a minister of some sort for the Alliance, down on Earth. He kept on smiling- though his mandibles were starting to get a little sore from so much of it. "Taleeze! Very nice to meet you. It's a shame you aren't a voter of mine, I certainly wouldn't mind." He chuckled, giving her a quick and subtle once over before turning to the human- Hoffman, he thought his name was. He was surprised when he saw him give a rigid Turian bow in greeting. Max gave the gesture in return; he wasn't used to such formalities nowadays. "Minister, a pleasure." That was somewhat of a lie. After his run in with Lowell, Max was wary of any other Alliance officials at this dinner.

"I'd say it's a matter of both Daia, I've been observing LTD, among other organizations during my time here. My establishment is just two levels below the charity's headquarters. But you're right about the pleasure part, it's my first real break in weeks," Alystae remarking off-handedly, alluding to the brawl near the old union office and the Elthinus business, to say nothing of the Co-op's antipathy towards Bliss festival. "I could say I got lucky, one of my employees knows a member of Leaving the Ducts, he managed to coax a ticket out of Miss Rondor and company", the tall asari sipping her drink, savoring the hickory aftertaste of the bourbon. The knowing smile on Alystae's face growing a bit as she downplayed her manipulations of the Tayseri charity.

"Even just an 'atta-girl' can do a charity wonders Daia, especially one so delicately placed in Lower Tayseri. Don't sell yourself short girl", a knowing grin forming on Alystae's features, her thoughts going to the hornet's nest Leaving the Ducts kicked, the latest incident raising the ire of the Lower Tayseri Elite. Alystae's spotters had seen Boss Zahir himself confront Julian Snow and Kayana Pesh after the unlikely duo had destroyed a slant operation. "Not a matter of if, but when the night winds arrive for Leaving the Ducts", Alystae thinking as she gauged Daia's reaction, the need to mingle upon her.

"But here I am, hogging you from all your other friends and contacts. I am kind of curious about this Taleeze individual, plus Assemblyman Vallario seems to be holding court. I've half the mind to make my way over there." Alystae gracefully rising, using her full height to her advantage, "Thank you very much for the dialogue, and you have my apologies for the zeal of my subordinates during your Bliss festival, I hope we can find an equitable solution in the future," the Nartin maiden making eye contact with Daia as she spoke. Alystae actually meaning her apology, despite her vehement disgust for the sex trade, she had more than enough enemies, no sense in gaining the animosity of Daia T'Nara.

"I seem to have a knack for that Laykalar, making things worse seems to be my thing..." Snow sighing in resignation as the scholars floated away, with nothing resolved and anger the order of the day. He looked up at his hanar colleague, Laykalar's luminesence a reflection of Snow's own emotional state as they headed back towards the gala, Laykalar to mingle, Snow to continue hhis patrol. Before the duo split off to their respective duties Snow responding to Laykalar's observation that 'discretion is the better part of valor' when dealing with the scholars,

"Yeah, I could have handled it better, but I don't let my co-workers and comrades get slagged like that. That's just cowardly in my mind. Either way, sorry for ruining your crowning moment Laykalar..." The apology a soft rasp as Snow resumed his walkthrough, passing by Max the Gun Nut's table, the thousand yard stare replacing the brief flash of humanity on Snow's face. The red hood had a job to do, critics be damned he was going to do it.

Laykalar told himself he must attend to the guests. Not only was it his duty to ensure that the complex dining arrangement continued to function effectively - he must check in with the head caterer - but there were so many layers to the conversations taking place that it would surely be greatly beneficial to participate in any one of them. He couldn't seem to generate the enthusiasm to do so, though, and he found himself drifting aimlessly near a wall, wondering what he would say when he returned to his place on the Greater Encompassing.

He felt lost.

Very soon, he saw another hanar approaching. Believing it was one of the caterers, it took him a moment to realize, through the distracting miasma of his emotions, that it was Justicar. The blue hanar was carrying a small collection of dispensers that allowed the absorption of liquids. Hesitant to inquire - the thought of something else having caused disruption was too distressing at present - he eventually found the courage to ask:

"It hopes the other has found the evening productive? Has it... been appreciative of the guests and the entertainment?".

"All entertainment is mere distraction. These one's focus should remain upon the harsher truths revealed to them in the shattered fragments of their reality" said Justicar. "All voices will be silenced with the coming tempest. The other has misjudged the intellectual and metaphysical focus of the evening's events".

She offered him one of the dispensers. "The other should be willing to confront the inevitability of the Final Enkindlement. If it is weighed down by the immensity of truth, it should partake of this".

He was intrigued. "May this one inquire as to where the other obtained the mindfish in question? Has the honoured proprietor opened its private stock?"

Such a gesture from Quylid would go some way toward balancing the disaster with his learned elders. Perhaps such generosity was a sign that the self-styled humble hanar had opened itself up to the guests in a way his elders hadn't.

Kayana did not quite know what she was doing, but that never stopped her before.

"It is, isn't it? It's surprising how many people will line up to take advantage of these kids...gangs, pimps...militaries."

"Oh hey, Taleze! Interesting crowd, yeah?" She grinned and shook hands with Arthur, determined to keep up. This was the same high she'd feel when pulling off a complex form in martial arts, pushing her skills as far as they would go. She was going to win at least one vote. "...You must get a lot of use out of a motorcycle down on Earth? I've been back a few times since the end of the war. Some crazy trails out in the desert."

Arina ever so slightly raised an eyebrow at the mentioning of militaries. She tried to recollect if the drell girl had been present at one of the recruiting presentations she and Freh'ya had been holding.

While thinking of accusing especially the asari of forcing military service on any of their own was way off target she thought this was maybe not the topic to discuss here. She had read about Kayana's hotheadedness about the compact and maybe she extrapolated this. In any way, Arina was still convinced that what the Republics offered with the monasteries was a better schooling than the kids could ever get on the Citadel. Otherwise the gangsters and criminal elements will use them as mere tools, only for their own benefit.

Having just read the mission report Freh'ya had submitted about her CME posting, Arina nodded to Kayana's comment for other than obvious reasons.
"Crazy deserts, indeed. But isn't a motorcycle not just a thing to enjoy but maybe - again - a legit means of transportation? It is cheaper, easier to maintain than an aircar and does not use up nearly as much resources. It can be deployed in larger quantities faster into zones with only little infrastructure." Looking at Taleeze and judging how the young asari looked back, she added: "And of course it's fun to ride! Too bad yours is so far away on Illium, I'd like to see it when it's finished."

"Your subordinates...?" Daia echoed, standing as Alystae did; if the disparity in heights bothered her, she didn't show it. A memory stirred. "Oh, forgive me, I recall - the Co-operative? Yes, I read that there'd been some friction during the festival." She met the maiden's gaze again, this time reassessing her - she didn't bear herself with a sense of self-importance, but from the snippets Daia had overheard and read here and there, Alystae was rather more influential than 'just' a businessowner.

"I hope that comes to pass," she agreed. "I was shocked to hear how prevalent unlicensed - and unlawful - operators were becoming. I can understand how that sort of example would put a community on the defensive, but," she gave a hopeful smile, "organisations like the Sapphire Alliance really are the best allies in combating that sort of thing."

She ducked her head slightly, not wanting to keep Alyatse when she had other guests to meet.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you," she said. "I should go refill my drink and satisfy my curiosity about these VIs, but first since you're headed that way, let me introduce you to Taleeze. I'm sure your plans for your bar's pildavi flavour will benefit from her acquaintance."

Max kept a poker face as Kayana kept talking, though alarm bells were blaring even louder in his head than they were before. If she didn't want something from him, she might be out to extract a pound of flesh or make some sort of trouble. For now, he'd play it cool, though he was now making up possible escape plans just in case he needed to duck out quickly.

"...yes, well, it's good to see that we have a diverse array of people here willing to get involved with trying to help the children. It was just like I was saying earlier; if we don't act now, within a decade or so the station could be reduced to being another Omega."

"I'll show you pictures," Taleeze replied to Arina. "And I'll probably move it to Nevos, there we have some great coastal highways. So if your job ever leads you into the Republics, you are of course invited!" She turned her attention back to the rest of the group and to Max.
The assemblyman was an impressive person in real life. On the boards Taleeze had always had the impression of him being some sort of a wimp but no, standing before her, he wasn't like that at all. Thinking abbout it, it wasn't a big surprise probably, given his success with the voters.

"The Council will never let that happen," she said with confident tone. "Such selfless undertakings as LTD deeserve all the support from Citadel officials."
Kayana seemed to have a vital interest in him. But given her political activism that wasn't a surprise either. What amused her was the fact that their first contact was in evening gown. This was not exactly how Taleeze had envisioned the young drell.
"How are you connected to LTD these days, Kayana? Last thing I heard your intership with Krios Memorial was starting."

"If it was just the 'talent scouts' and 'modeling agents' I would fully agree, but on the eve of Bliss...a pre adolescent drell girl was raped half to death. She was a duct rat so it didn't make the extranet headlines. The atrocity did raise hackles among certain circles however, so I did issue orders to evict the bottom feeders and hangers on from Lower Tayseri. I do wish to work more closely with the Sapphire Alliance in creating a vocational program for the souls that were coerced, and a support group for those who wish to pursue that...option." Alystae replying with a genteel air that masked her disdain for the sex industry as she followed Daia to where Assemblyman Vallario was holding court, spotting the maiden Taleeze among the crowd. Glancing around, the Co-Op head saw the excitable, yet capable hanar Laykalar, only he was a bit less energetic than before. "Wonder what strange tide he encountered", musing to herself as she neared the crowd, taking another sip of her bourbon, Alystae added a slight strut to her stride as she reached the edge of the gathering, reminding herself never to lead with business with politicans.

"It has been an experience Daia, and thank you for the introduction", switching to her native dialect, Alystae sounding every bit a daughter of Thessia's southern pole as she pulled up, allowing Daia T'Nara to take the lead...

Laykalar moored himself on the edge of the room, taking in the sight of the guests. It seemed to be a productive forum for exchange, buzzing with conversation, but all he could think about was the potential for further disruption. What might go wrong? Where might guests run up against something that was viewed not as an opportunity to learn but as an offence to their sensibilities? What about the stalls that had been set up, offering Citadel goods? Was the language in the cards and banners created by former duct rats too crude, in spite of his occasional editing?

Maybe he had been too ambitious.

He tried some of the mindfish. It was very strong, and his immediate response was to recoil in distaste. The skin oil of this particular fish must be very potent. He had hardly ever partaken of even the milder versions. It was, however, a formal custom familiar to most species to imbibe stronger recreational chemicals than usual during events such as this. It would help put people at ease, and he was genuinely intrigued by the ritual. Did a slight intoxication add to the experience? He moved the dispenser to ensure that it was on display, trying to hold it in a manner similar to how the asaroid guests held a glass.

He tried listening in on the conversations taking place among nearby guests, but he couldn't distinguish the voices.

"It observes that the contingent from the other's vessel was unimpressed" said Justicar. For her, it was a surprisingly sensitive observation, albeit still forcefully made.

Laykalar drooped. "It is believed to be merely indulging, to have lost itself once again in its enthusiasm. When it arrived on the station, it was less able to control its excitement than it is now". He moved the dispenser idly, mimicking the hand movements of a nearby human. "Its work here, at Leaving the Ducts, has aided it in adapting, but it cannot find the means to make this apparent to its betters".

He sipped away at the liquid.

She hadn't heard of the recruiting. She would disapprove as a matter of course, these kids were vulnerable.

"Here on the Citadel? I think there are a few too many people to crash into...Besides, public transit here is pretty good. They've done a good job fixing the infrastructure."

"Yeah, I've been working with them for a few weeks now. It's a wonderful organization, they really get it. Lots of prevention and advocacy, 'cause isn't that the best way to memorialize a former child soldier who died of Keprals?"

Daia paled at the mention of the poor drell girl, and nodded unhappily.

"I hadn't heard," she said quietly, in a voice that betrayed emotion through its composure. "I don't doubt you're right, the reason why the news was... ignored, I wish I could say otherwise." She swallowed, and put on a slightly fragile smile. "All the more reason to be glad to see all this, tonight." She looked around at the assembled guests. "The more support for duct rats, the lower the odds of them being subject to that kind of violence. One can hope."

The brief prolonging of their conversation had served a purpose; Taleeze's conversation with Kayana was at a natural pause as they reached the group.

"Greetings Kayana... Tal." She offered a respectful nod to the drell, and embraced Taleeze, casting a smile about at the other gathered guests that weren't quite in her direct radius. "Good to see you both - Taleeze, this is Alystae T'Naron... you and she conversed on the pildavi thread not long ago, didn't you? She's rather keen on supporting the Keepers. Alystae, Taleeze Driana, dear friend and sporting superstar."

Sarah peered around the room at the massed guests, all of whom seemed to be occupied in conversation. Slowly rising from her chair, she adjusted a strap of her dress up her shoulder and cleared her throat. "Paul, walk with me?" She asked, turning to her date. "There's not a lot for me to do, considering my alternatives are interrupting conversation- and I wanted to talk to Laykalar."

Paul slowly rose. "Lay-Ka-Lar, right? Not Liy-Ka-Lar?" He scratched at his scruffy jawline in thought. His expression soured with embarassment- "I got it wrong, didn't I? It's the accent. I'm not exactly an expert with hanar names." He sighed, offering his arm over. "Look- These are your friends, I don't mean to embarrass you in front of them."

"You haven't embarrassed me. I've done enough damage in that category to be a contender on my own." She slipped her elbow around his, and the two walked across the dinner towards the floating Hanar. Once they approached, Sarah smiled warmly, looking up to the floating luminescent alien. "Hello again! How are you? Why aren't you out-and-about with the guests? I saw that you were- And well, I didn't want you to be lonely."

She slipped her arm free. Paul stared at the Hanar- and tried to voice his concerns. "Oh- And, I am sorry for getting your name wrong. I'm also sorry for all the camera drones- I've irritated quite a few people, I gather. I shouldn't have thought of this as a work assignment, and I'm sorry." He gestured his hand forward, as if trying to push his point across.