Summary:
Isyara St Shaiad, Hierarch of the Vodyani, invites a human diplomat to a private abode to discuss matters of a particular craving. A sin has chipped away at her thoughts, and it needs a quick satiation.
Isyara stared out at Tchinomy. It was a ruinous wasteland, with few remaining buildings peppering the skyline. It was a firm reminder of the original, fragile form that her people once held. And it was a glowing symbol to other species to take note of their own miserable bodies. For Isyara, however, it was a personal moment of privacy. So few cared to return to the surface of planets aside from the desire to hunt and consume.
She turned back, away from the window, to look at the luxurious room. Diplomacy was its intent, as apparent by the flags adorning the walls and the comfortable furniture for two humanoids to discuss with one another. Discussion was the farthest thing from her mind, but she did appreciate the reprieve the room provided. Away from all the underlings. The religious zealots. The pushy military bodies.
Calm and quiet.
Approaching the table in the center, Isyara poured herself a glass of transvine wine. She couldn't drink it, but she indulged in the aroma and enjoyed the way it swished in the glass. How long had it been since she had a taste of something? Isyara paused and brought the glass to her visor. She tried to imagine the taste and savor it. Nothing. She placed the glass back down and sat in one of the lounging couches, waiting for her diplomat.
Isyara gave Tchinomy one more glance before the automatic doors slid open. She turned her attention to them, taking note of the human that walked in. A familiar face. It was a masculine visage touched by the softness of that organic weakness.
"Kian," she said.
Kian stopped and gave a curt bow before continuing forward. The doors behind him slid shut, sealing them in. He settled into the couch across from her, appearing as official as ever with his adorned dress suit with trims of flashy material. Her own cape hung on the nearby wall, making her appear slightly less official and grand than usual.
"Isyara St Shaiad," he replied. "I am always humbled by your presence."
"Many say that. Few mean it. I believe you speak the truth, if only for selfish reasons."
"This job is for my people, after all. The Empire. Even taking into account our flavor of diplomacy."
Isyara chuckled and presented the table. "Enjoy the wine. One of our recently subsumed worlds contained bushels of transvines, ripe for the picking."
Kian reached forward and gently sipped some of the wine. Isyara watched him closely, relishing the shifting of his lips, the movement of his throat, and the spark in his eyes. The rest of his body seemed to relax into it, no doubt already enjoying the organic aphrodisiac. He set the glass down.
"Thank you for the gift, certainly the finest blend I've tasted."
"Would you truthfully say that? Or does the presence of the Hierarch tempt you into saying the most agreeable things?"
"Perhaps a part of it is simple etiquette, but I still speak the truth."
"Yes, humans and their etiquette. Were you branded with the cloth, etiquette would be your second nature."
"I would say, Hierarch, that it already is," Kian replied.
Isyara tilted her head, visor watching him. Yes, he did have a degree of self control, even without the constant overhang of religious fervor ready to strike him down at a moment's notice. A fervor she had the privilege of avoiding altogether.
"Have you ever wondered, Kian, why it is that I out of the entire church decide to meet you?"
"I figured it was a matter of religious solidarity, Hierarch. The Vodyani are known to be ecclesiastical peoples, and an element such as myself may introduce a negative idea in the eyes of your leaders," he replied.
"Blunt. I appreciate that flavor of speech. Your words do carry a truth about them. Yet, also, diplomacy is not a mainstay of the Vodyani, as I'm certain you know, we tend to exert pressure from afar. When we do have to tend to diplomatic matters, they are of a serious nature."
"And you are a serious person, certainly." Kian nodded.
"I am. To my people and yours, this should be a sign that what we speak of important matters. And yet..."
"Something amiss?"
Isyara stared at him for a moment, mentally plucking away every bit of his decorative garb. The craving of the physical returned to her, the sin knocking at her mind and shaking her faith. She would just have to open the door and deal with the intruder.
"You understand that everything we speak of is entirely of a confidential nature. To break this taboo would see harsh ramifications that ripple through your Empire."
Kian's face tightened ever so slightly. "I understand, of course. I am here to mitigate and amend any sort of misgivings our peoples have. The fact that I am here shows that we consider you an equal."
Isyara leaned back. "Unfortunate, then, that we do not see you in the same light, plodding around in your fleshy forms. We may admire the tenacity that you bring, but it is restrained by your inferior shell. Something I find curious." She raised a hand and beckoned him over. "Come."
As stoic as ever, Kian approached her side and sat down.
"What is it that you wish to speak of, Hierarch?" he asked.
"Promises, Kian." Isyara reached for his visage, running gentle fingers along its side. He was alive, feeling, nerves rousing at her touch. Her body felt so constricting now. "I promise to guarantee political favor in return for a degree of loyalty from you."