It's been relatively quiet for the past month or so, since they Fireclad clans little debacle/kidnapping/party. Diane's sides have swollen even more, and her sister, Sapphis, keeps teasing her, noting it's easier to dodge a pregnant felitaur's claws. The evening sun is settling on Chareka, and Diane pads into the "room" she and Shiran are sharing in the Rockhopper tower.
Diane pads up and snugs Shiran, "Kecharra, how has your day been?"
Shiran is in the midst of what appear to be a set of stretching exercises, working out the kinks in his frame that come from a day's worth of 'station business'. Wings snap shut as he eases into the snug; the move has long since ceased to startle him, and he leans in, wrapping an arm about Diane's 'waist'. "Busy. Busy, but effective." He grins up. "you?"
Diane purrs, "Doing fine. We've totally rebuilt the fleet and made all the upgrades too. Oh, and my sire has invited us to a dinner tonight, in honor of the Varella, a race that is thinking of doing trade and hiring us for shipping too. Shall we get ready?"
Shiran chuckles, not even bothering to point out that his willingness to go wasn't mentioned. "Upgrades, ah? Some 'upgrades', as they were called to the record system had us running around all day." An eye ridge tilts as the dwagon looks up (waaay up) at Diane. "What does 'ready' involve?"
Diane chuckles, "Well, my fur is a mess, I was figuring we could clean up and groom a bit, then fly over."
Shiran steps back, surveying Diane with a contemplative stance suitable to the colossus of Rhodes, hand under his chin. "We could use some straightening up, and I should probably dress for the occasion." He chuckles. "Being the sole Firaia-eth representative, and so on."
Diane grins and nods, "Well, maybe not a full bath, but I have a grooming brush around here somewhere. One of the males got even today and put me through a static discharge cleaner, which is why my fur is so spiky."
Diane finally pulls out a nice slicker style brush and some fur spray.
Shiran tsk's as he begins poking about the room, then stops short as Diane already has tools at hand. "Well, the way you keep locking and tethering people down at the oddest moments... are you really surprised?" He grins, sliding up. "I thought you were looking a bit fuzzier than usual."
Diane hmmfs, "Not my fault if some males have no sense of humor." and purrrrrs as Shiran starts brushing her fur.
Shiran chuckles. "Ah. But if they pull the same sorts of stunts as you, and _you_ do it from humor, can you really say that?" The tilts his head, running the brush through tortoiseshell fur, scales protecting him from the occasional *snap* of static charge.
Diane erps at the static and hands the bottle of fur spray to Shiran, "Here, this will kill the static somewhat. You DO realize you're trying to logically argue with a very pregnant female, don't you? ;)"
Shiran shrugs, voice lilting as he begins spraying anti-static stuff lightly before brushing, stepping back to start on the back of her humanoid body. "You realize I argue logically with everything, right? Even that power cell the other day?"
Diane giggles, "And I think you nearly won too. Ooooh..." and urrs, enjoying the brushing like any feline would, her tail tickles her mate's tail tip."
Shiran turns the brush-strokes into extended scritches as he settles. "Almost. not quite, but almost." He chuckles again, tail twitching. "Hey, now. you want your fur groomed straight, yes?"
Diane sighs and nods, "Yes, my father would like me to be presentable this evening. The Varella are a bit timid, or so he said."
Shiran's eyes go slightly wide. "you trade with shy races? My, my... how do they manage it?"
Diane bats Shiran's earfan playfully, "Oh be nice. We can't be all that bad, I know of at least one other alliance with a member of a shy race." and she grins predatorily at her mate.
Shiran ducks as he's earfan-whapped, and ends up having to re-do a swatch of fur. "Not _bad_, just... energetic." He chuckles. "And my race isn't quite as shy as you'd think, hmmm?"
Diane hmms at Shiran, "Well, I think that's good enough for my fur. So, hurry up and get...what do you call it..."dressed"? And then we can party."
Shiran steps back, setting the brush aside, and ticks fingers. "What's appropriate for this?"
Diane shrugs, "Not sure. From what my sire said, the Varella are small, a bit timid, and also wear clothes. Something basic maybe?"
Shiran hmmms. "basic, but reasonably dressy. good thing, since that's about as much as I can manage." After some rummaging, he comes up with a wrapped-and-strapped tunic and pants in a near-back charcoal color, set off by a sash of silver about the waist. "I think this should do..."
Diane oohs, "I guess it's kind of like wrapping a present, isn't it?" and she grins at Shiran.
Shiran covers his eyes. "Mmmph. If those poor people aren't shy enough now..." He grins. "Shall we, then?"
Diane wing-snugs, "Yes, let's head on over." and pads over to the gravity tube in the center of the Rockhopper tower and floats up to the first floor."
Shiran dives into the 'tube, floating up in properly dramatic fashion. ;)
Diane reaches the top floor and then leaps up to the roof. Well, sort of leaps, and then kicks with her hind legs and claws with her arms and forepaws to finally scrabble onto the roof. She growls softly, noting she'd prefer zero G when this pregnant.
Shiran hops, for his own self, lightly up, boosting it with a few well-placed wing beats. "you all right?"
At one of the larger rooms near the Chirr'T'Thar council center, a rather sedate (for Chirr'T'Thar) party is going on for the Varella. A group of 20 or so of the vole like race are being wined and dined by a small swarm of the giant (to them) predators.
Diane nods, "I'm fine. Let's go." and dives off the roof, picking up as much speed as she can before snapping her wings open and achieving stable, if slightly slow flight.
Shiran keeps easy pace; no aerobatics tonight as he glides sedately off towards where he supposes Diane is leading him to the gathering.
At the convention center, Ryenar Rockhopper, the tortoise shell colored host pads up to the main ambassador of the Varella and purrs, "Well Ambassador Darnap. I hope you and your staff are having a good evening?"
Darnap says, "Oh we are being well fed. I just did not know that these Chirr'T'Thars would be so large."
Ryenar smiles, forgetting that felitaur smiles are full of teeth and fangs and purrs, "Good, good to hear. I must admit, some of the people in your staff are very attractive. Well, size isn't everything, or so I've been told."
Shiran steps in just in time to raise an eye ridge at this exchange, and give Diane an 'ut oh' sort of look.
Diane lands heavily next to Shiran and grins, "Oh, they are kind of cute aren't they? They look a bit like your friend, the mouse."
Darnap jumps back almost falling over in his chair and says, "Could you not smile like that. It is difficult enough for us to be here."
Ryenar blinks and ohs, "Sorry. But I keep telling you, we never use sapiens for food. You're perfectly safe here."
Shiran watches. "Mmmm.. bigger, but yes. They look... frightened, Diane. Not just shy."
Darnap nods and tries to compose himself again.
One of the male felitaurs has been flirting with one of the diminutive females of Darnap's staff. Finally he leans over and whispers in her ear. She takes one look at the big male and rapidly retreats, leaving him with a confused look on his face.
Diane hmms, "They do smell a bit nervous. Well, maybe we can calm them a bit. Let's go talk to my sire."
Shiran mmms. "Lets. I'm betting they don't take the, ah, flirting well, among other things."
Darnap nibbles on a small piece of bread as his eyes scan the room.
Diane nods and pads over to where Darnap and her sire, Ryenar are standing.
Ryenar, not sure what to do, breathes some relief and purrs, "Ambassador Darnap, this is my daughter Diane and her kech't, Shiran. Shiran and Diane, this is Ambassador Darnap of the Varella."
Diane nods and leans forward to give Darnap a gentle head rub, "Pleased to meet you Ambassador."
Shiran inclines his head, pulling his wings in tight to present less of a profile. "Ambassador... good evening."
Darnap jumps slightly at the touch of Diane paw and says, "Nice to meet you. I am Darnap, the Varella ambassador."
Diane starts to smile but her sire makes a quick negating motion and she smirks instead, "So, how has your evening been ambassador?"
Shiran manages an easy smile of thin lips; no teeth involved.
Darnap nose twitches as he studies them, "We have been well taken cared of. just, we are not used to so many preds around."
Diane frowns, "You have species that prey on you?"
Darnap nods, "We have in the past. But that has been many years ago. At least two or three hundred now."
Diane ohs, "I'm sorry to hear it. I'd much rather do something more fun with a sapient species."
Ryenar is looking a bit frustrated, not sure how to get the Varella to calm down.
Darnap visibly shakes at Dianes words, "Fun?"
Diane nods, "Sure, we enjoy sharing pleasure with other races. Oh...I never asked, is your race monogamous?"
Shiran mmmmphs. "As in entertaining. For all the threatening appearance... they really don't count bodily harm as fun." He keeps that smile up, still without a tooth showing.
Ryenar now knows why the council had put Copernicus in charge of most alien relations. It wasn't a promotion, it was their version of revenge.
Darnap blinks in shock but seems to calm down a bit, "Oh I misunderstood you. But yes we are monogamous."
Diane nods with Shiran, "How can you enjoy yourself if someone is getting hurt in th e process?" and turns to Darnap and ahs, "My sympathies." in a very polite, serious manner, "Well, maybe we can play a game or something then? We don't want you to be so nervous, do we father? Father?"
Ryenar has rushed over to warn some newcomers about open fanged smiles.
Darnap says, "A game? What kinda game?"
Shiran guesses Darnap was expecting more sedate counsellors, something he can manage. "Ambassador.. don't worry. these people really are friendly enough, just... exuberant."
Diane hmms, "Well, we have card games. Twister...no, that probably wouldn't fit well with monogamy. What do you suggest Shiran?"
Shiran steeples his hands. "I suggest, perhaps, that we let two cultures get a bit more acquainted before trying games."
Darnap turns and nods to Shiran, "That would most likely be a good idea."
Diane ahs and then notes her father coming back, and he purrs, "I was planning on having some dancers for the Ambassador and his staff, and they've just arrived. If you'd like to have a seat along the wall Ambassador?" and points to the low slung couches and bean bag like chairs.
Darnap stands up and walks to the seats as the rest of staff quickly follows him.
Ryenar's whiskers twitch along with his tail, then shrugs as he pads off and curls up on a couch next to Darnap, and motions for Shiran and Diane to sit on the other side of the nervous ambassador as the dancers start stretching in the center floor.
Shiran settles easily, trying to give what he's guessing is a shaken dignitary some room.
Shiran ends up 'next to' the Ambassador, albeit still attempting to give the envoy some breathing space.
Darnap turns to Shiran, "Shiran? Did I get that right? Anyway, while we wait, I see that you are not a Chirr'T'Thar? How did you join up with them. A trade agreement?
Shiran chuckles. "Not exactly. I met Diane while she was part of an off-world project, and we ended up paired... married, most likely, in your terms." He bobs his head. "And yes, that's right. Welcome to Chareka, albeit a bit belated."
The dancers wait as the drummer sets up his drums so that they are in reach of his arms and forelegs. As he starts up, the beat is a nice steady one, but a lot softer than normal. Apparently Ryenar noted that the boisterousness of the felitaurs was scaring their guests. The dancers flutter their wings, which have been painted in bright patterns, and start whirling around each other, wingtips and tails trailing bright streamers.
Darnap blinks and is loosing even more of his nervousness, "Oh? I think I see. You took at mate that is not of your own kind? How. . . different.
Shiran chuckles, one eye on the dancers. "Where I come from, we don't.. I didn't.. know other races even exist. And since I'm the only one to have come here, it's a matter of course."
Diane wiggles a bit to get comfortable, and it must seem obvious that the midsection of her taur body looks bloated in comparison to any of the females around. She winces and purrs to Shiran, "Could you rub my side Kecharra?"
The dancers now leap and whirl over and under and around each other, as if weaving a complicated cloth with their movements, and the tempo of the beats is picking up.
Shiran leans over, attempting massage while still talking to the Honored Guest _and_ watch he dancing. This is getting complicated.
Darnap watches the dancers with some interest but seems to me a bit more interested in Shiran and Diane. "Shiran, I hope you are not offended by me asking but is that your child?
Shiran doesn't seem _offended_, but his earfans do sort of go pale. "Well... yes, it is." He manages a weak smile; obviously the concept is still sort of sinking in and causing a certain amount of shock.
Darnap nods his head slightly, "Oh, but you two are . . . well different species. That is not possible. "
Diane mrrrrs a bit, looking a little pained from time to time, but enjoying the massage. Her father, Ryenar purrs, "Well, we've found that we tend to be compatible with a lot of species. Something odd about our biology."
Shiran takes a moment to sneak a glance up to Diane. "Are you all right?"
The crowd is cheering the dancers on as they do flips, using their wings to give them a second or so of hang time.
Diane nods, "I'm fine, it's normal to have a little pain at this time."
Darnap says, "Oh, I see", and turns back to watch the dancers again.
Shiran nods, keeping up a light scritch-rub as he plays the good little audience; it doesn't stop him from keeping half an eye on Darnap, just in case.
Diane's sides are tensing now and then, but she seems to be enjoying the dancers as they go into more complicated, and, as always, slightly sensual routines.
Darnap watches the dancers intently and seems to be enjoying the show.
Diane makes one small, sharp cry and goes totally tense for several seconds, then relaxes, panting.
Ryenar turns his head in surprise, then ahs as he comprehends.
Shiran blink-blinks up at Diane. "That was some kick..."
Darnap hears Diane, but by the times he looks at her he see her relaxed again and resumes watching the show.
Diane snugs Shiran then turns her torso around as she lies on her side and rubs the small, messy figure behind her, "Kecharra, can you take those towels from my sire and help clean up our daughter?"
Shiran's eyes.. just... sort of... turn into saucers before he blinks twice. "Ummmm..." The dwagon appears to be in shock; it's an outright wonder he hasn't keeled over.
With the sound of the drums and dancers Darnap does not notice what is happening just behind him.
Ryenar pads over to steady his daughter's mate and hands her the towels. The child looks to be quite healthy as it gurgles a little. Basic body form is that of a felitaur, but her skin is scaled, with soft downy fuzz covering those scales, and short little wings at her side. Her feet and tail are very dragon like, though her face seems to combine the best of feline and draconoid forms. Diane looks to Shiran, "She's beautiful, isn't she?"
Shiran's hands move in the towels, almost numbly. Wide-eyed, he can only nod; the dwagon seems a bit too preoccupied for real speech at the moment.
Finally, the dancers all come to a halt, balancing on each other, and the audience breaks out in applause and cheers. Course, a good number of the felitaurs have noted the birth.
Darnap claps politely.
Shiran seems to have 'noted' it, insofar as a librarian in pure, surprised, shock (tinged, maybe, with amazement?) can be said to 'note' something.
A half dozen or so felitaurs pad over to congratulate Shiran and Diane on their child, and Ryenar smiles to Darnap, "Well, I don't know if you are a grandsire yet or not, Ambassador, but this is a proud day for me."
Diane smiles as her daughter makes some mewling sounds, and she guides the newborn over to one of the nipples on her taur belly, then leans back and grabs Shiran in a tight snug, "So Kecharra, how do you name your children?"
Darnap turns back and with a gasps of amazement manages to say, "Oh congrats Diane"
Shiran is grabbed, limp, into a snug, and finally manages to weakly return it. "Umh. There's a set of names, for notable things.. sort of like the custom of naming for saints on many places..."
Diane looks Shiran in the eye, "Are you ok Kecharra?"
Darnap tries to scoot back but is kept where he is with all of the other furs trying to get a look at the new cub.
Ryenar, proud grandsire, finally notes Darnap getting surrounded and helps lift the ambassador free of the crowd. He pads over to a refreshment table and purrs, "Would you like something to drink Ambassador?"
Shiran nods, slowly. "Fine. Just fine." He looks all right, just.. surprised, perhaps. "Anyways. Names..."
The young cub suckles happily, she doesn't care as long as she's got food. Diane chuckles, "Well, you look a bit pale, but you seem ok. Yes, a good name for a Rockhopper child."
Darnap looks up, "Oh please sir. I am a bit nervous with such a crowd around me."
Ryenar nods and offers the Ambassador a large drink and one for himself as they move off to the side, maybe even to discuss business.
Shiran mmmmphs. "I think that's going to take a bit more deciding. No Firaia-eth I know has ever named a Chirr T'Tharr before." He manages a slight smile with this; the surprise is perhaps wearing off a bit, finally.
Takes the drink from Ryenar and takes a large drink from it.
Diane scritches Shiran's ears, "Nice to see you're recovering from my labor. ;) We can wait a few days m'love. Let you get used to being a father. My sire is strutting, can you see him? I think he's rather proud of his grand daughter."
Shiran mmmphs. "That was just... I don't surprise well." He scritches his head. "A few days. I may need a few days, but.. we don't want a new one running around nameless, no?"
Diane chuckles, "Well, it'll be a few days before she's running around, but I agree. She needs a name, doesn't she 'daddy'? :)"
The crowd fades, and Ryenar leads Darnap and his crew off to talk business for the night.
Shiran appears to become dizzy at that word. "She does at that.. and this is going to take getting used to."
Diane giggles and snugs, "She'll be a lot easier to get used to than I was m'love. For the first 20 years they are really pretty calm, relatively speaking."
Shiran chuckles, lightly. "20 years will have to be enough, then." He snugs. "Of all the times to become a parent, hmmm?"
Diane scritches along the back of Shiran's ears and purrs, "What better time? ;)"
Shiran grins. "So long as the ambassador doesn't frighten... I guess you're right."
Diane motions around to the now empty hall, "Frighten who? As for me, I'm going to stay right here tonight. We can work on a good name, and you can give me a back rub. This will be the last chance I have to milk all the work I've put into bearing your child. :)"
Shiran looks around. "Um... when did everyone leave?" the dwagon sort of shakes himself, getting bearings. "_Last_ chance? Somehow, I don't think so... but I'm not complaining."
Diane smiles, "Well, now you get to share in the work, but first a back rub."
So the two new parents spend the night talking about their new daughter, how to parent, and several other things as the moon peeks in the open roof, and, finally, the new family curls up to sleep together. Though the little girl does get hiccups at 4 in the morning. Welcome to parenthood. ;)