"What?" Ethan groaned, his left temple cradled to a cool pack by one hand, and his right temple pressed down against his desk in his chair. "No thank you. I'm going to nurse my wounds right here."

"If you were that bad you should have stayed at home." Amber shook her head, stood over him and not giving him an ounce of sympathy. Like he had a hangover, not a gazillion bruises. "You didn't need to go at it so vigorously with Commander Sanock." She put her hands on her hips and exhaled at him disapprovingly.

"Yes I did." He groaned, his hazel eyes closed and whining in pain. "He didn't hold back. I had to do the same or I wouldn't have respected him as he did me. Owie." He pinned, holding his ribs through his white leather uniform with his other hand. "Don't worry. He's as battered as I am."

"Does that mean no one won?" Sasava sat on the edge of his desk, chewing on a jerky stick and patting his raven hair.

"Depends on who you ask." He chuckled, and then winced at the pain that caused to rattle through his ribs. "We were both on our hands and knees at the end of the fight. I say I won because I got more hits through his defences. He says he won because he did more damage."

"Quite frankly you both sound like idiots." Amber ground through her teeth. "You were supposed to exchange skills. Not beat the living crap out of each other."

"We wanted to find out who was better first." Ethan lifted the cool pack off his temple to smirk up at the two women with a black eye, busted lip and swollen grin. "Trust me, I'm better."

"A huh? 'coz you look better right now." Amber threw her hands up and decided to dismiss his state entirely. "Sasava? You're coming right?"

"Oh I would but…I have a meeting with the trade minister." Sasava swallowed the last chunk of her jerky stick and sighed. "Trust me, I would much prefer to come and watch the joining procession, but I promised to see Kaffra after hours to go over the specifics of the Elaaden water supply protection and Eos food shipment escorts."

"Well I can let you off as its work related." Amber nodded to Sasava, who smiled with relief. "You however." She tapped Ethan in the shin with her white boot, and he cringed in pain. "This is your own damn fault."

"Yes it is. No I'm not sorry. Yes I'm crawling back into bed at the end of my shift. Yes I'm sorry….no I'm not really." He chuckled, replacing the cool pack to his temple and wished he could go to bed right now.

"Well fine. I'll go on my own then." Amber pretended not to care either way, and nodded with determination. "It would do the initiative image good to be seen taking part in local festivities, and the ambassador is locked in negotiations with the Moshae about the upcoming council meeting. So it's done to me to represent."

"You go girlfriend." Ethan sniggered and mocked her from his prone form against the desk. An unwise decision, and she kicked his shin again. "Ow ow owwwwww."

"And for the record? You both suck." Amber stuck her tongue out, a lapse in her mature persona, and turned on her heel to face the door. "I'll tell you about it later." She strode out of the embassy with her head as high as her hopes in this endeavour.

"Have fun!" Sasava bit into another jerky stick and patted Ethan's head with the other hand again. "There there. 15 more minutes and you can go crawl into bed."

"A huh."

"Say…" Sasava looked around them, making sure they were completely alone. "Kaffra is your roommate. Could you-"

"No." Ethan moved the cool pack out of the way to narrow his black eye up at her. "I am not getting between you two again. You both clearly care about how the other one thinks, so get to the bottom of it yourselves. I'll tell you what I told Kaffra this morning. I've helped you both up to now, and you've both still managed to get on each other's nerves." He pressed the cool pack down again and hid his face with an appreciative groan to the cool pressure. "As I've not helped matters, it's down to you two to stop pussying about and get on with it. You are both professionals. Be professional." He whimpered at his own pain, rubbing his side gingerly. "I'm out. No more meddling from me. Leave me out of it."

"As my friend I would have thought that-"

"As my friend my ass."
"Oh you jerk!"

Sasava flushed dark green and sulked back over to her desk. So much for asking Ethan to help her smooth things over with Kaffra. Damn. I'm on my own on this one. Because I've done a stellar job on my own so far…

Amber didn't have to walk far before she found the main street through Aya central where crowds of Angara lined either side of the main road. She didn't push her way to the front, but climbed up onto a side wall outside the historical records building. She found that from here she could see over the top of the crowds and to the main road. To her great surprise she could see other initiative species within the crowds, here and there, also attracted to the prospect of witnessing a joining procession. Good. This actually helps the Angara see us as embracing their culture. Amber shoved her long blonde hair behind her ears and put her hands on the wall at other side of her thighs. She'd arrived just in time too, as the crowed started to applaud and cheer. It must be about to start.

"Hello? Can I help you?" Amber tensed, and turned to look to her left to see an Angaran stood looking at her. He had dark blue skin with cream skin over the lower half of his face and neck. For a moment she thought fondly how he reminded her of a sting ray with the way his skin patterns were, especially as he wore cream robes as well, but she didn't dare voice that. His bright blue eyes stared at her curiously, clearly waiting for some sort of response.

"Hello. My name is Amber Jaynes. I'm the initiative species relations officer." She smiled at him and patted the wall by her side. "I hope you don't mind me sitting here. I'm excited to witness a joining procession. Up here I can see everything. Would you like to join me?"

His cheeks flushed blue and he blinked at her a few times. "…unless you don't want to? Don't worry you can answer either way. I'm the one initiative member you really can't upset." She giggled and turned to face the crowed. The cheering was getting louder and she gasped with her hands together on her lap. "Oh wow. I've read about joining processions but the texts didn't do it justice!"

Walking down the street were two Angara. Both wore white flowing chiffon like fabric and they looked so happy. They held hands, walking down the street and followed by many other Angara behind them wearing various shades of blue. The bystanders were throwing blue petals into the street as the couple walked and skipped past them. The volume of joy around her made her skin tingle, and Amber found herself smiling longingly at them. "Oh how romantic." It was like all of Aya were celebrating in their union.

"Do you understand what you are watching?" Amber reluctantly turned away from the procession to look at her company. There was something soothing about his big blue eyes. something trustworthy. Despite being a stranger Amber didn't feel nervous around him.

"Those two have decided to join the same family and become mates." Amber turned to look back at the procession and her steely blue eyes held nothing of her envy. "The family they will both belong to wear blue to symbolise that they are now blood family with both of the joining couple."

"Yes that's right." Amber didn't cast more than a curious glance to her side when he climbed up on the wall to sit beside her. "They are welcomed by all of the Angara during the procession. They will continue to a large body of water to be cleansed and emerge as one."

"Please tell me if I'm wrong, but do you party afterwards in the water?"

"Yes." He smiled at her, and she realised that he was quite receptive to her questioning. "The immediate celebrations do anyway. Most of the joining party will wear something beneath their outfits in which to bathe in, but also to dance into the early hours of the morning." He nodded and also watched the procession from behind the wall. "Does this look odd to you?"

"Oh no. not odd." Amber beamed a smile at the display and sighed happily. "Different, but that doesn't mean bad. Different can be wonderful. We learn from things that aren't the same as we're used to. And it's nice to see that even though our people evolved in different galaxies there are some things that are just universal." She sighed dreamily as the procession moved down the road and out of her sight. "It appears love looks the same no matter where you are in the universe."

"…that is beautiful."

Amber turned to look up at her new acquaintance and blushed. He was smiling down at her and she found herself flushed with embarrassment.

"Sorry I'm a hardass normally." She chuckled nervously and shoved a stray lock behind her ear. "But I'm secretly a romantic. Don't tell anyone." She watched his reaction as he raised a dark blue brow and cocked his head to one side at her.

"Why would you not wish anyone to know you are a romantic?"

"Because my job is a lot easier if my people think I'm not to be reckoned with. If they learn I'm a softie on the inside, my life becomes more difficult."

"I see." He chuckled, but Amber wasn't really convinced that he understood what she was talking about. "Will you be going to the lake this evening?"

"Hmm?" She blinked up at him, not sure what he was talking about. "The lake?"

"For the joining celebration." He chuckled and folded his arms over his chest. "The joining ceremony itself is private, but when the night sky reflects in the waters many Angara gather there to celebrate the joy of a swelling family."

"Oh, that must be like a wedding reception. But public. Huh." She chewed her bottom lip in thought. "So is this celebration open to anyone? I wouldn't want to go and upset anyone by turning up uninvited."

"Well there those who are invited and get to join in first. Afterwards you join the waters if there is room."

"Oh I'd love to, but I doubt there would be room for me at the back of the queue." She chuckled, but nodded appreciatively at the offer. He seemed to be mulling something over, but then nodded.

"You are a representative to the initiative?"

"Yes I am." She nodded. Where are you going with this?

"Then you should witness as much of our culture as you can. To know us as a people. I am invited. You will accompany me." leaned on the wall with his hands and patted it twice with a smile. "How exciting? Can you meet me here at 8pm Amber Jaynes? With something appropriate to swim in?" She blushed and scrambled off the wall after him.

"Well, yes, I can, but I mean, would I be welcome? I wouldn't want to intrude." From the look in her face she really wanted to go. An Angaran party? First hand? It was an opportunity she couldn't afford to pass up.

"You will be my date." He nodded at her, and ignored the way she blushed up at him. "Don't be late."
"W-wait." He turned away from her to return to the office behind her. "You-you never told me your name!"

"I am Kjaan Kah Leeda. Cultural historian. I am training as an anthropologist, and the idea of seeing you witness and partake in something as integral to our society as a joining celebration excites me. Consider this a mutually beneficial arrangement. You get to go to the party, and I get to observe you doing so. 8pm. Wear only your swimwear. Don't be late."

He nodded with a smile and passed through the doorway to his office.

Amber blinked a few times at the closed door, and then gulped. For a relations officer, she hadn't seen that situation coming. However immediately she began to formulate a plan of action.

I'm sure to do the initiative image a world of good being welcomed to a joining celebration party. As Kjaan's plus one I'll be accepted as a guest. I'll make sure to leave many of the Angara thinking highly of my people I'm sure.

But first, she'd need to get her hands on a swimsuit. In the next 2 hours. She ran off as quickly as she could towards the embassy. She would need to look up what the Angara wore as swimwear so she didn't show too much or too little skin. The last thing she wanted to do was embarrass herself, and the initiative by extension by looking slutty or prudish. Although prudish would be better than slutty, I bet.

Sasava sighed and hesitated in front of his door. Every time I meet with that man we always seem to end the encounter at odds with each other. Hell I ran away from him last time. If it wasn't for the fact that she had a job to do and the lives of many colonists relied on her doing that job, she would have happily cancelled this meeting via email and hid under her bed instead. As of this morning however she received an urgent request of fertilisers for the Krogan hydroponics lab on Elaaden. They were running low of vital minerals for their crops. Without them their infants, when they were born, wouldn't survive. They rely that heavily on the nutrition from those crops.

So Sasava took a deep breath, put her bravest smile on her face and knocked on the door. This time it didn't open so suddenly as the time before. Clearly he wasn't lying in wait this time. When the door finally opened Sasava could have sworn Kaffra looked surprised to see her. His icy blue eyes widened and his mouth parted with shock.

"…Sasava?"

"Oh, erm, shouldn't I be here?" Sasava held her datapad against her chest and chewed her cheek nervously. "I checked my email and I haven't received anything to make me believe our meeting was cancelled…so I came…"

"I see." Kaffra took a moment to compose himself but nodded at her. "Come in. I have been given authority to give you one guarded convoy for your Eos shipments per week, and to assign a guard patrol on Elaaden's water source. That is, if you have secured the omni-tool designs?"

"I have." Sasava took her seat fired up her data pad. "I've also been given permission to give you five chips so you can experiment on them." Kaffra sat in his chair and opened up a request form on his computer screen.

"We didn't ask for chips. Do you wish to negotiate for more than I have offered?"

"No." Sasava tapped her teal fingers over the data pad and forwarded the requisitions form to his email account. "I reasoned it wasn't a fair enough trade to give you only design plans to the omnitool in exchange for man power at two sites. It took a while but I convinced the tech team to release five chips from storage." When Kaffra didn't speak Sasava blinked her big green eyes up from her data pad. "I want our dealings to be fair for both of our people, after all." For a moment she saw a flash of a smile across his pale blue skin, but then it was gone.

"Then I will send you the duty roster assignments and we can both have our superiors counter sign the request forms."

"Indeed." Sasava waited for the tell-tale ping of her inbox receiving an email, and then pounced. "There is another matter I'd like to discuss before you go."

"Oh?" He raised a brow at her and leaned forward in his seat. "You have something you would like to talk about?" from the look in his blue eyes it was obvious what he thought she meant. A knot twisted in her stomach and she gulped. "Because I would welcome an expla-"

"Krogan babies." Sasava blushed and cut him off. Her heart fluttered in her chest to the same tempo as the butterflies in her stomach. He looked at her with angry confusion. "It's very difficult for the Krogan to conceive children. And the ones that do survive into infancy require a specific diet or their multiple organs don't mature properly." She tried to ignore the look of disappointment on his face. Particularly when it turned into annoyance.

"It is already after hours. We can discuss this another time."

"But they will die!" She jumped to her feet when Kaffra rose to his to dismiss her. He was a little startled by her sudden animation and took a step back from her. "I received the request today as the saplings the Krogan brought with them from their native planet have stopped growing properly on Elaaden. Despite being grown in what are apparently identical conditions to their old planet. Their hydroponics experts are asking for some of the fertiliser we've seen your agricultural specialists use in harsh environments such as Kadara."

Kaffra inhaled deeply, still put out by her, but exhaled with defeat when Sasava wouldn't give up.

"I am listening. What do you have to offer in return?"

"As you know the Krogan have their own sovereignty within their territory on New Tuchanka. That means that although they are allied with the initiative, they do not answer to us directly. So we can't assign their man power as we could the Humans, Turians, Asari and Salarains."

"Is there a point to this Sasava? It's been a long day." Kaffra still stood, as did Sasava, but he put his hands on his hips and looked wearily at her.

"Well they have made a formal request that I ask your people for the fertiliser to be given to the Krogan. In return they will offer you one of their best Krantt to deploy with your resistance fighters." Sasava nodded and looked up into Kaffra's eyes with as much confidence as she could muster. Considering how testy the trade minister was becoming. Every moment she occupied after their agreed business concluded pushed him further over the edge. "A Krogan Krantt is a unit of top fighters, led by a battle master, and they are very formidable. There is an old phrase back in the Milky Way. As hard to kill as a Krogan." She bobbed her head with eager certainty.

"And…they would offer this unit of their best fighters to our cause?" He held his chin in thought, clearly considering it.

"Yes Kaffra." His name came off her lips like a soft wisp of noise. Something he didn't understand why he noticed. "This matter is urgent. Could you please make inquiries tomorrow at the earliest moment you find? If those crops fail then their infants, when born, will perish of malnutrition."

"I understand." Kaffra nodded. "I will make this request on the Krogan's behalf tomorrow. Only Evfra would have the authority to allow a foreign attack squad into our ranks and be deployed in such a way."

"Oh thank you." Sasava smiled with relief and didn't try to hide it. "I can sleep easier now. I hate the idea of babies starving." She then blushed when Kaffra seemed to stare at her intently. "Anyway I have taken up enough of your time. Thank you again for seeing me after hours. I hope I haven't kept you from anything important."

"But it's ok to keep me from anything of less importance?"

Sasava went from smiling to blinking with shock. How did he turn what she said into an insult? Just how!?

"Well, no, but, erm-" she turned to look at the door, and to her horror Kaffra side stepped and got there before her. He pressed the door lock and barred her way to the control pad.

"Our business is now concluded. Now we shall discuss why you are always upset in my presence."

"…trade minster…why have you locked me in your office?"

"Because you will run if I do not." Kaffra smirked, clearly thrilled to have the upper hand at her. "Now I will open the door as soon as you tell me why you think so low of me."

"…are you…serious?" Sasava felt her heart hammering against her ribs and adrenaline course through her veins. She gripped her datapad to her chest like the extra barrier made her feel a touch safer. Though, it really didn't. "You can't-"

"I have never intended to upset you Sasava. Yet clearly you believe that I hold you in the same regard as 'Adhi shit'." He quoted her and leaned back against the closed doors. His arms were folded over his chest and if Sasava wasn't having a minor panic attack, she'd find his pose to be rather enticing. "What have I said or done that makes you think that you know this of me?"

"…well…you are currently holding me hostage…" Sasava chuckled nervously and gulped. Kaffra blinked slowly at her in response. He wasn't amused. "Well…honestly…"

"Yes? Honestly?" He stared down at her and seemed to be totally focused on her.

"You're…intimidating." Sasava really wished Amber was here. "A bit…brash?"

"I have never endeavoured to scare you Sasava, but I will not apologise for being cautious with you when we first met. I didn't know if you would do right by my people or make demands."

"But…" Sasava steadied her breathing and tried so hard to channel Amber in her choice of words. "Couldn't you have just asked me rather than being accusatory? And the glaring is a bit off-putting." She even timidly pointed up briefly at his face, which he balked at.

"I do not glare at you!"

Sasava pursed her lips together, baffled at how ignorant her captor was. She lifted her datapad up, a small clink came from it, and she turned the pad round to show him. She'd taken a picture of him with the nostrils of his flat nose flared, his icy blue eyes set to stun with his brow creased and his teeth visible through his snarl.

Kaffra stared at the image and cleared his throat. He wiped his hand over his mouth and lifted his icy blue eyes up to look at her. The teal skinned Asari was still very tense and seemed to be waiting for his response with baited breath.

"I…see. It appears I was glaring at you. I…have been told I can be quite blunt. And intense. On occasion." He put his hands on his hips and inhaled deeply. "But it was not my…intention to have you on edge around me."

"Really?"

"Yes." He shifted on his feet showing his discomfort. "I am easily frustrated however. But I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Then why did you sneak up on me at the bar?" now it was Sasava's turn to look at him scandalously. She clearly didn't believe him as far as she could throw him.

"If you must know it wasn't planned. You were there socialising with your work colleagues." He folded his arms over his pale yellow Rofjinn. "We are also work colleagues now. I intended to be…sociable."

"…how?" Her cheeks flushed darker green as he avoided looking her in the eye for the first time since they'd met.

"I was there having a drink with a friend." He turned and pressed the door release. It opened with a swish and he stepped out of the way. "I intended to invite you and your friends to join us." He kept his face stoic, but she couldn't tell from the look in his eye he was earnest. She blushed harder and felt a little foolish. She was mortified all over again.

"You were coming over to be nice and invite us to join you and your friend…when you heard…"

"Yes." He suddenly looked like he'd quite like her to leave now. He darted his gaze over to the door to signal this to her. "It matters not. I have my answers, and you can now continue to work with me in the knowledge that I do not think so little of you. What you have observed as rudeness is simply my manor. Offence was not intended."

"But-"

"Good evening Sasava Gaana. I will email you with the results of my inquiries on behalf of the Krogan tomorrow. I have no free meeting slots for quite some time, so please email me any urgent business you have. I trust there are no other starving babies I need to be concerned about for now?" if she wasn't filled to the brim with shame she'd have noted the light humour to his words.

"No. We've-erm-covered all the urgent stuff." She walked into the doorway, and turned to face Kaffra. She opened and closed her mouth, but bottled it and marched out of his office. The door swished shut and Kaffra shook his head. If the initiative species were so easy to offend, and so secretive with their feelings, how would he ever make it through his vassal? Would he truly have another 2 years of this?

The intercom beeped at him, and he looked to the door curiously. Who would be coming to his office so late in the day? He pressed the door release and had to do a double take when he saw it was none other than Sasava. "Good evening." She seemed nervous, but smiled and held her hand out for him. "My name is Sasava Gaana. I'm the initiative Resource Requisitions officer, or RO for short. I know it's late in the day, so I won't take much of your time, but I just wanted to introduce myself and say I'm looking forward to working together. F-for the betterment of both our people." She was blushing and seemed unsure of her actions. But her intention was clear.

She…wants to start again? Kaffra wasn't one for games, but he was so mentally drained he didn't have the energy to battle her over this.

"I am Trade Minister Kaffra Dem Voss." He took her hand, but didn't seem to know what to do with it. So he resisted at first when Sasava tried to shake it, but relented on the second and third shake.

"That's how we greet each other in the Milky Way. How would you greet me if I were Angaran?"

There was an evil glint in his icy blue eyes in that moment, but she didn't get chance to question it. he used his grip on her hand to yank her body flush against his. He held her hand between their bodies and held her back with the other hand. "O-oh. Like a hug." She timidly patted his back in return, and when he released her she took a step back. She looked up and saw he was actually smiling at her. Reassured by this, she nodded and returned the smile. "I thank you for all you've done already for my people, and I look forward to doing many great things together. The reason I joined the initiative and left the Milky Way was because I wanted to make a difference and work with new people."

"I see." He folded his arms and his smile started to fade. "Email me your request forms, and I'll reply with a time frame and what we would want in return. Send me your free appointments and I'll see if we have any that match up next week to go over the specifics."

"Oh I'm free as a bird." Sasava nodded eagerly and chuckled. "I know you have to deal with merchants, patents, governing bodies and so many more people. But I'm here just to do business with you. I'm all yours." She missed the blue flush to his cheeks. "So you let me know when you're free, and I'll come running." Sasava was finally feeling more like her bubbly self. She was so scared Kaffra would just shut the door in her face and not give her a second chance, but he was, so she would embrace it. "So just…let me know." She nodded, feeling the air between them getting a bit awkward. "I've taken up enough of your time. Have a pleasant evening and I look forward to your correspondence. Kaffra."

"Sasava." He nodded to her and she waved goodbye as she walked away from him. "…I wonder if all the initiative Asari are like that, or if she's just…"

He thought hard to find the right words for what he wanted to say, and chuckled when he did. "…like trying to take hold of a comet. A wonderful view, but difficult to get close to without being burned."

It didn't occur to Kaffra how close a description that was of his nature. Instead he just chuckled and returned to his office. "A strange…yet interesting woman."


When Kaffra finally entered his apartment he was shocked to find Ethan on the sofa and his hands on a scantily dressed human woman. Ethan's bruised face darted out from facing the woman's navel and chuckled up at the pale blue Angara.

"This isn't what it looks like." He teetered with laughter at the look on Kaffra's face. "I'm helping to dress Amber, not spend naked time with her. She doesn't do it for me. Actually you have perfect timing." Ethan used his grip on her hips and pivot Amber round to look like a sacrificial lamb before Kaffra. "Give me an Angaran perspective. Does she do it for you?"
"Pig!" Amber swatted his raven head and stomped off with a huff to look at Kaffra. He blushed awkwardly and still hovered near his doorway to escape quickly if he must. The sting of her hard gaze was still fresh in his memory as he looked at the blonde human. "You know what, actually, maybe your arrival is perfect timing."

"Oh I hope not." He spoke more to himself than anything. "Why?"

"Amber has a date." Ethan got to his feet and pointed at Amber's body. "She's going to a joining celebration at the lake and she's worried about showing too much skin. So I've knocked something together from some fabrics she's brought me. Such a stereotype right?" He ignored the slightly scared look on his roommate's face and chuckled at his own joke. "Well? How does she look?"

"You'd tell me if I was dressed inappropriately, wouldn't you?" Amber stepped towards Kaffra and he took a step back out of the door. "Oh God, am I indecent?!" she wrapped her arms around herself in a panic.

Kaffra dropped his gaze down her body and thought she looked rather…rather like bait.

She wore a dark red halter neck bikini. It had a collar around the base of her neck with fabric covering up her collarbone, cleavage and breasts. It wrapped under her arms and covered the same area of her upper back as it did her bust. Her midriff was bare and her bikini shorts were modest in covering her entire backside and crotch. It clung to her form, showing off her subtle curves and toned form.

"N-no not indecent. That added fabric helps." Kaffra pointed to the semi transparent sarong that Ethan had 'put together'.

"Told you! Don't doubt me. I know what sexy is no matter the species or the gender." Ethan limped up from the couch and fussed over his addition. He had attached three snap fasteners to the bottom of her bikini top at the back. They were close together in the middle and held the red sarong in place over her spine. Then the fabric looped down to partially hide her waist, hips and upper thighs at either side. Each side then drew up her navel and torso to click into place at the bottom of her bikini top. Right below the middle of her breasts. Like sultry curtains they both hid, and showed off her form to anyone who really wanted to look…

"Damn it Ethan I didn't ask you to make me look sexy. I asked to look decent! It was really kind of Kjaan to offer to bring me as his plus one to the joining celebration so I can learn more about Angaran culture. I don't want to embarrass him or insult-"

"Kjaan?" Kaffra took a step forward and blinked slowly. "Kjaan Kah Leeda?"

"…you know him?" Amber blushed and pushed her long blonde hair behind her ears. A tick she had when unsure. "He said it would be good for me as the relations officer to learn as much as I can about your culture. I agree, and I don't want to offend anyone by dressing inappropriately. So be honest with me. Am I passable?" She held her arms up, and Kaffra looked to Ethan for reassurance. With a nod from his roommate he decided to answer.

"Your clothing is appropriate for the joining ceremony celebration."

"Oh good." She smiled with relief and looked towards the door. "Well I better go meet Kjaan. I wouldn't want to be late."
"Just…" Kaffra side stepped to block her exit. She stared up at him with empty steal blue eyes, and he cleared his throat before speaking. "I strongly suggest you stay by Kjaan's side tonight. He is a good man and he will keep you safe."

"Safe? From what?" Kaffra held his mouth in thought. He smirked beneath his fingers, deciding not to ruin the surprise for her. Oh boy. His grin grew. What a surprise she was about to get!

"From embarrassment." His features were well schooled before he spoke again. "I trust you know what the celebration entails?"

"Not really. But I told Kjaan that and I think that's why he invited me. It's an honour really. I'm looking forward to seeing-"

"Well you shouldn't be late." He kept his face straight as he waved his hand towards the door to indicate she should hurry. "That would be very rude."

"Oh. Right. thank you Kaffra." She smiled at him and waved back towards Ethan before pulling on a pair of flip flops. "I'll give you a full debrief tomorrow! Bye Ethan." She scurried off, and the moment the door closed Kaffra released a deep and sinister chortle.

"Why are you cackling like a cartoon villain?" Ethan narrowed his swollen hazel eyes at the pale blue Angara as he walked past him to the kitchen.

"Because I doubt very much that you will receive a full debrief tomorrow. I should think she won't make it to work tomorrow if she truly wishes to take part in a true joining celebration."

"Oh you guys party hard do you?" Kaffra turned and Ethan was more than worried by the sadistic grin on his face.

"We are a passionate people Ethan. And for the Angara nothing is more passionate than a joining. For the couple, their families, and everyone in attendance. Regardless of her intent, Amber Jaynes is about to have a night that will change her life forever."

"An unforgettable night, you mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said Ethan." He was still chuckling as he took a cup of tea to his bedroom. "If only I didn't have to work so early tomorrow. I'd go just to bear witness."

Ethan stared at the bedroom door long after it shut. Should he be worried for Amber's safety? What the hell did Kaffra mean about her life changing forever? What exactly was going to happen at this joining celebration that had his roommate so amused? I'm sure she'll be fine. Amber is the relations officer. She's meant to interact with the Angara and their society to bridge the gap between our peoples. She's not stupid. No one is tripping that bombshell up. not a chance. He reassured himself and decided to take his battered and bruised body to bed. he was taking omni gel packs, but they were taking their sweet time in returning him to top form. Hopefully I'll feel more human in the morning.