Alpha Contact: The Meeting (PoV scene)
First Person
Jason and I were the first people in the meeting room. I took my seat at the head of the table with Jason on my left as we bantered about the 'good old days' of when we were running our missions. We'd run missions against pirates of all of the races were were going to see today, and neither of us was sure how to handle the whole thing.
Our reminiscing was brought up short by the first of our group to enter. She was one of the Va'atar, and moved with all of the grace her felinoid ancestors had granted her. Her smoke gray, white, and black markings contrasted sharply with the red outfit she was wearing. Though the torso and abdominal areas were closely fit with what seemed to be a form of leather running from chin to legs, the rest seemed straight out of an Arabian tale of the harem. At her side hung a sword, peace bound with a yellow cord so it could not be drawn quickly, indicating she was a member of her people's military.
Her slow, almost sensual movements spoke of contained power and grace. She moved as someone who was sure of her place and station. Kara, my fiancee, had moved like that....
"Damn cats," I heard Jason mutter to himself, drawing me out of my funk. I unsubtly kicked him under the table, and I made a note to myself to discuss his opinions later. Xenophobia would not be his friend with this mission ahead of us.
Standing, I bowed slightly to the newest arrival. "Welcome, Lady. Please find yourself a seat."
* * *
The comment of the Human that sat to the right of the, I supposed, leader did not go unnoticed by me. Nor did his emotional outburst of fear and revulsion. Why the Gods had seen fit to place me amongst those who had slaughtered our people without a single thought, I did not know. I could not, however, dishonor them by declining what was an important placement to help get our people back from... whatever.
At least the more senior Human was polite, and suprisingly not repulsed. I did not quite understand the flash of deep grief I received, however, but he covered it nicely. "Welcome, Lady," the senior Human said as he bowed. "Please find yourself a seat." Bowing slightly in return, I moved to the human's right and stood next to a chair, leaving a chair between the two of us.
"I am Sinana, Mage of Fire and Priestess of the Dinal Temple." The junior Human's emotions spiked again with fear, mixed this time with disdain. What was it with these strange people?
"Magic, right. There is no such thing as magic, you...." The sound of leather meeting flesh sounded a second time in the room as the Human's comment was cut off.
"You are rather wrong about that. Magic exists, and has existed for millenia. Look to your own quantum physics if you don't believe me." I gave the junior Human a grin that had nothing of humor or kindness, then turned to the more senior one. "May I ask my leader's name?"
Third Person
Alan and Jason entered the conference room already in conversation. Their voices carried with expliots they had both had serving with their Special Forces in actions against all three of the other Alliance species' pirates. Both had reservations as to the wisdom of the mission, as the various wars had only wrapped up just over a century ago, and hatreds still smoldered.
Their conversation was interruped as the first of the other members entered the room. A Va'atar, the only felinoid species in the Alliance, she moved gracefully and silently like a blade. The red of her outfit making her look like a living flame, the peace-bound sword at her side and her armband showing her position in her group the only concessions to ornamentation she made. As it was, she thoroughly outshone the Human contingent for finery.
As the two Humans regarded the new arrival, and she examined them, Jason made a comment under his breath, causing Alan to kick him under the table. Though the Va'atar understood the comment of "damn cats", the emotional storm they both gave off confused her briefly, especially the brief burst of grief from Alan.
Alan stood and bowed to the new arrival. "Welcome, Lady. Please find yourself a seat." The Va'atar bowed slightly in return and moved to Alan's right, taking a seat that left a seat between the two of them. Her body language showed that she did not, entirely, trust the Humans.
"I am Sinana, Mage of Fire and Priestess of the Dinal Temple." Sinana sat and folded her hands before her as Jason snorted.
"Magic, right. There is no such thing as magic, you...." Jason fell silent and glared at Alan as he was once more kicked under the table.
Alan, sighed silently to himself and made another note to speak with Jason regarding his attitude. He was just about to introduce himself when Sinana spoke again, her gaze fixed on Jason. "You are rather wrong about that. Magic exists, and has existed for millenia. Look to your own quantum physics if you don't believe me."
Sinana then smiled slightly, baring her longer canine fangs, the effect of which was rather disconcerting to the two Humans. It was obvious that it was not an entirely friendly gesture. Turning to Alan, Sinana continued. "May I ask my leader's name?"