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Corian is perched in one of the comfortable chairs, a large stack of papers and datacrystals on the table before her. At the movement, however, she glances up from the paper she's perusing and offers a pleasant, if tired smile.
Aliana pauses as she sees someone, the colour rising to her cheeks as she
murmers softly, 'Sorry..I didn't mean to interrupt'
Corian shakes her head. "It wasn't an interruption at all--or if it was, it was
a welcome one." She tugs a watch from her pocket--yup, it's a
pocketwatch--and peers at it for a moment. "In fact, I should have stopped
some time ago, so you have my gratitude."
Aliana peers curiously at the pocketwatch then smiles, 'My father has one like that....He always makes a big show of consulting it.'
Corian pauses in the midst of replacing her own watch, with a quiet chuckle.
"It's an affectation, I know, but it was a gift, and I'm glad to use it, as
it reminds me of the giver."
Aliana nods her head as one hand lightly touches her necklace, "Gifts have a
way of doing that, don't they?'
Corian nods her agreement as she starts to gather up her small mountain of
paper and datacrystals. "Of course. That, I think, is part of the joy of
gift-giving."
Aliana takes a second look at the woman, this time she really sees the woman. Ali's face warms into a smile, 'I suppose I should be polite...I am Aliana.'
Corian's head inclines in a polite nod, an answering smile crossing her face.
"Corian Treston. I am very pleased to meet you."
Aliana repeats the name softly to herself, before asking "I assume you are a
delegate?'
Corian blinks, and then laughs very quietly, with a slight, graceful headshake. "No, I'm afraid not. I am a translator," she adds, with a gesture towards her papers. "I do not quite have the temperment to be a diplomat."
Aliana wrinkles her nose at that, 'I know of very few people that do have the temperment to be one....Few people that I care to deal with at least'
Corian, passing a hand lightly across her eyes, observes softly, "I am growing
to learn that, I'm afraid."
Aliana tilts her head, a bit of concern filling her eyes. "Are you
alright...would you like me to get you something?"
Corian shakes her head, a faint smile crossing her face. "Thank you, no. I am
well. It's just been a long day." She adds, with a hint of humor, "I am not
as young as I used to be." From the shine of her gray eyes, that last is a
joke.
Aliana seems to warm to this woman almost immediately. Amusement fills her eyes
as she responds easily, "None of us are"
Corian laughs very quietly at that, folding her hands lightly on one knee. "And so few people seem to realize that, whenever I make that comment."
Aliana grins at that, then something seems to occur to her..yes, Ali thinks slowly. "A translator? Not everyone speaks Standard?"
Corian nods, with a brief upwards glance that could be for the diplomats.
"There are those who don't speak Standard, yes. And translations of treaties
and such need to be made, for those people, and for the governments of other
delegations."
Aliana tilts her head as she considers this, then she nods in agreement. 'I
guess I had never thought about that. I have heard Niko speak in his
language...and a couple of the delegates talk in theirs.' A pause before she
adds, "I think they were talking"
Corian glances up at that, a trace of interest crossing her face. "You know
Niko?"
Aliana nods her head quickly, 'He is one of the Security Officers.'
Corian nods as well; apparently, she knew that. "What sort of person is he?" she inquires curiously. With a quick smile, she explains, "In a roundabout way, you see, he is my brother, but I learned that only yesterday."
Aliana takes a deep breath as she pulls her thoughts together. "Honourable...A
truly good person." Another pause as she finds her toe rather interesting. "I
don't know him very well, really....But I think he would make for a good
friend"
Corian considers that, with a slow, careful stretch. "He sounds like he shall
make for a good brother, then, too. How wonderful."
Aliana rubs the side of her nose thoughtfully, 'I didn't realize he had any
family,' A pause as Ali rethinks that, 'I guess I just didn't think about any
of the Security Officer's families. But they would have to have them,
wouldn't they?'
Corian, rubbing her hands lightly together, nods. "Indeed they do--Riley does,
at least," she adds, that twinkle in her gray eyes once more. "And Niko. I
cannot speak for the others."
The little mice can almost be seen turning the wheel in Ali's head as she muses
this over. "I would imagine you would have to work with Riley quite a bit as
a translator."
Corian ponders that for a moment. "As today is only the end of my first day
here, I can't say as yet. But I'll surely keep you posted, if you like."
There's a ghost of a laugh.
The colour fills Ali's face at the last, feet shuffling a bit on the carpet.
"Sorry, I do have a bad habit of poking my nose where it doesn't beling." Her
smile returns as she chnages the subject. "You said you just arrived...from
where, may I ask?"
Corian, expression mildly puzzled, makes a gracefully dismissive gesture with one hand. "Not to worry. And I'm most recently from the Urverianen, which, I believe, is still docked in the spaceport. My last stop before then was Kashid 3, but I've been somewhat transient for quite some time."
Aliana eyes widen in Ali's interest,'You have been many places then?' She leans forward a bit, 'Do you think you could tell me about them sometime.' She speaks with the hunger of one that craves stories and adventure.
Corian confirms, something about her tone suggesting understatement, "I have
been many places, yes." Briefly, a hint of weariness crosses her face, to be
replaced with pleasant charm. "And I would be glad to tell you about them, of
course, though I'm afraid I would make a poor storyteller tonight." And her
player has to think up details of her travels.
Aliana nods her head quickly as she steps back, "I am sure your time is crowded
enough as it is, without having to tell stories." A pause as she nods to
herself, listening to that inner voice. "Islien would be honoured to listen
to them as well'
Corian doesn't show any startlement, but one delicate eyebrow lifts. "Islien?"
she inquires.
Aliana colours yet again, 'I am sorry...I just assume people know. Islien is my bondmate....I am Linnae's Bonded Guild. We both share a passion for stories'
Corian's other brow lifts to join the first, but her smile is one of quiet
delight. "Ah, you are a Bonded. When I learned I was to come to Linnae, I
hoped to meet one, and now that hope is granted." Fingers splayed, she rests
a hand lightly over her heart, making a graceful, bow-like gesture--as well
as one may, when seated. "It is an honor."
Delight clearly shows in Ali's eyes as she returns the bow with a deep and genuine one of her own. "I would be honoured if you would be able to meet my bondmate." She adds quickly, "when you have an opportunity"
Corian, if anything else, looks more pleased. "It would be my pleasure," she replies. "Though, as you have apparently guessed, now would not be the best of times. When I have been here a bit longer, my schedule will become a bit more clear, and I will be able to estimate when I will have free time."
Aliana nods her head quickly, 'No, I didn't mean now....But when you have a
moment.' There seems to be a slight edge to her tone as she continues, 'I
will have to squeeze you between delegate photos but I think that can be
arranged at you convience'
Corian blinks, and inquires gently, "Delegate photos?"
That edge grows deeper as Ali responds, "That seems to be our number one
responsibility. See, Delegates love to have their pictures take with an
au-th-en-ic dragon."
Corian's tone is still gentle, and holds a hint of pragmatism. "Well, yes, I'm sure a synthetic dragon would be a poor substitute." She shakes her head fractionally. "Some of these delegates are very... little people, it seems."
Aliana's expression clears into a warm smile, 'I am sure you have much better
things to do than to discuss than the vagaries of the delegates with a
dragonbonded.'
Corian shakes her head fractionally. "It's relaxing," she says, with a smile, "After a day of meetings and a difficult translation."
Aliana nods her head quickly, 'I can imagine that would get rather tiresome.' A pause as she looks around thoughtfully. "I had never ventured in here before'
Corian, with a glance about the hall, observes, "It is my understanding that
this is one of the newer sections of the Complex. It is comfortable. And I'm
glad you ventured," she adds, with a smile.
You faintly hear a chime mark the hour.
That last sentence elicits an almost suprised look from Ali, then a rather
pleased smile. "Thank you" She says quietly before her gaze moves along the
walls.
Corian replies equably, "You're quite welcome, of course." With a quiet
chuckle, she adds, "Aliana, you -are- a pleasant person with whom to
converse. I'm afraid, though, that I should seek either my wayward brother or
my quarters, for a nap, as I think it would be frowned upon if I were to
sleep here."
Aliana turns back to the woman with a warm smile, 'Thank you...I am quite pleased to have made you acquaintance. If you do see Niko, send him my best'
Corian starts to get gracefully to her feet. "Oh, I meant Riley," she says, a
bit absently. "I've not met Niko, yet. But when I do, I'll pass along your
greetings."
"Oh wait....Riley is /your/ brother?" Ali sounds rather puzzled, 'I though you
meant Niko'
Corian nods, with a puzzled little smile. "Yes. Riley is my brother--well, my
half-brother," she adds, wiggling one finger as if to draw attention to the
additional joint there. "He could hardly be my full brother. And Niko is
-his- half-brother." She pauses a moment, then muses, "Or perhaps that is not
common knowledge."
Aliana ohs as she shakes her head, 'I think that may be one of those classified
thingies.' Her expression shows how unclear she is about the whole classified
bit.
Corian's manner is still puzzled, but she nods nonetheless. "Perhaps. Military
types, after all, can be quite closedmouthed." That last is said with a brief
glance towards the AF door.
Aliana nods her head quickly, "Indeed they can be...I think its something in
the cans they drink out of.'
Corian, after a brief moment of confusion, ahhs softly. "The soda, yes. I'll
have to mention that to Riley," she murmurs, eyes glinting with suppressed
mirth. "I'm sure he'll be enlightened by that."
Aliana nods, her eyes widening, "Do you know they can debate for /hours/ about
the colours of the cans?'
Corian echoes the nod, her manner quite serious. "I wouldn't be surprised,
though," she confides, a laugh escaping her despite her efforts, "If it were
just the same liquid in the red can and the blue can, but they just won't
admit it to anyone."
Aliana's expression is indeed very serious, "I believe you are right...I think
its a matter of honour"
And Ali, having none wouldn't understand ;).
Corian fights back another smile, though her gray eyes give her away in their twinkling. "And some people can be quite stuffy about honor, yes." She shakes her head, a wisp of silvery-blonde hair brushing lightly against her cheek, then says, "Thank you for the conversation--it was a lovely way to end a somewhat difficult day. But now, I do need to seek my quarters."
Aliana nods, 'And I have kept you, I am sorry.' She offers another deep bow
before padding off and exploring.
Aliana walks towards the General Office.