Chapter 19 #2
Then, there was Havali.
While Alanna was looking up precedents and laws, the First Guardian was making notes of the arguments and points as well as anything that Atem was indicating that he wanted to remember later.
He took notes, he organized information, he kept track of voting decisions Atem made.
Occasionally, he helped Alanna with her research, but he often served as someone for Atem to discuss plans and ideas with.
He was actually pretty hot.
Not just attractive physically. Scarlet knew, by domini standards, he was a handsome male.
Honestly, he met human standards nicely as well.
His features were strong and angled, his dark eyes contrasting well with his penchant for brighter colors.
He was muscular without being buff. His body looked like what a rich man paid his personal trainer to shape him into.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise her if he had a very exacting training program that he followed precisely.
But that wasn’t what she was thinking about.
This was the first time she got to watch Havali work. She knew that he did a lot – running an entire planet and now acting as Atem’s assistant and aid along with Alanna. But this was the first time she had actually seen him doing it.
He was focused and quick. Each movement purposeful and decisive. No wasted motions. No wasted energy. He leaned over and whispered something to Atem, his fingers still moving quickly against his display, not at all losing track of the discussion going on below.
And that was what she found so hot.
Havali in motion. Working hard. Proving with each decision and action exactly why he was the First Guardian. That was what she found herself entranced by.
She didn't even realize how long she had been staring until there was a break in the discussion and he turned his eyes to check on her and grinned at finding her already looking at him.
Her back snapped straight, and she felt her face heating, but she didn't look away.
“Enjoying yourself?” He asked quietly so as not to disturb the napping Peony.
Scarlet grinned. “You know very well that I’m not.”
He chuckled. “It’s boring, isn’t it?”
“I honestly don’t know how you can focus on this for so long.”
“It’s not without effort. Do you understand what’s going on?”
“Er, tentacle hair and the bug people are arguing about who gets to suck all the air out of an air planet for reasons that I’m sure make sense to someone?”
He laughed. “Yes, essentially. The planet is a wandering one. It isn’t attached to a star.
Technically, the allowee found it first, but the tsurana reached it first while the allowee were still en route.
The gasses there would be valuable for industry, but there is an argument about who gets to harvest them. ”
“And who are we thinking about voting for?”
“That is Atem’s decision. Alanna and I can only provide context, precedent, and advice.”
“Well, if it was your decision, who would you give the rights to?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment before saying, “They both have legitimate claims. The allowee found and registered the planet from a distance, but in the time that it took to officially register their claim, the tsurana found it in person and put in their own claim. So, the tsurana were there first, but the allowee found it first. There was no mistake or malice here. I believe, to keep it fair, they should split the planet’s resources.
They can both harvest from it. It’s a planet. There’s plenty for both of them.”
“And is that an option?” She asked, fascinated just by watching the way Havali thought through things.
“It will be. They are both taking an annoyingly long time to agree to it, but in the end, that will be the decision the Coalition comes to as a whole.”
“Is that how this works? They present their problem, and the Coalition tells them a solution?”
“Not quite. They present their problem – the planet harvesting rights in this case. Then, they present their individual solutions. Both claim full rights, no split. But when they’re done, the other representatives will be allowed to present their solutions.
The High Imperium will, almost certainly, put forward the idea that they split it equally.
Some others might offer uneven splits. All the plans will be gathered and recorded. Then, the subject is done.”
“And you all vote at the end?”
“Indeed. All plans will be available to vote upon. The most voted plan wins and that is the solution that will be reached.”
“What if there’s a tie?”
“Always a possibility. In the event of a tie, the discussion is re-opened after the first vote, and we vote again. And we will keep doing that until it is no longer a tie.”
Scarlet laughed. “That sounds terrifying.”
“It’s decidedly not fun,” he laughed. “And I mean it literally. After the first voting, if the topic must be re-visited no representative is allowed to leave the rotunda until a decision is made. I think the record was fifty-three days before someone finally gave up and changed their vote.”
Scarlet shook her head. “That must be miserable.”
“It definitely is. Which is why we always strive never to end up at a tie. Even before people have their chance to present their case, they are already trying to gather the required votes they would need from the pledges of others. None of us want to be trapped inside here for days on end.”
“I see. Is it our turn to talk now?” She looked back at the floor of the rotunda as the tentacle head lady – the allowee representative – stepped back into her box.
“No. Now it is the tsurana’s turn to rebuke.”
Scarlet bit back a groan. “I feel like we’ve already been here for a mark at least.”
He chuckled. “There’s food if you’re hungry. You can rest or read if you want. There’s no reason you have to bore yourself by remaining close to me.”
“Do you not want me close to you?”
The question had been mostly playful. She didn't think he really had a problem with her being here, but the look he gave her in return was unexpectedly serious.
“I always want you near me, Healer. You are soothing to my soul. But I will never keep you there against your will.”
She blinked at him, startled by his conviction, before she relaxed and smiled.
“You’re sweet, Havali.”
“I most decidedly am not.”
She chuckled, leaning across the space and kissing his cheek. He looked startled, though it wasn’t even the first time she had done such a thing.
“I am a bit hungry. How about you? Want me to bring you back something from the buffet?”
“Yes. Grab me anything. I’m not fussy,” he said, all three of his eyes on her lips.
Her face remained warm even after she got up and walked to the buffet. Since she had last checked on him, Tuvo had filled a plate with raw meat cubes, tossed in spices – a treat to the domini – and he was sipping at a cup of warmed blood.
A sight that she couldn’t believe she was used to now.
She prepared Havali his own drink of blood, lifting the pitcher from its warmer and filling a cup before garnishing it with the little blue, citrus tinged fruit that was native to Turv and used to keep blood from coagulating.
She also filled a plate with some fried mushrooms that she enjoyed, as well as a mixed greens and nuts salad.
Well, they weren’t actually green. The plants on Turv were predominantly purple, a soft, dark lavender color, and these were no exception.
She just didn't think that calling them purples had the same connotation even if it was more accurate.
She poured herself a glass of juice before taking the plate and two glasses over to the table.
Havali gave her a grateful look, though he was in the middle of conversing with Atem about the harvesting rights issue.
And though he was talking, Atem was also gently tucking Peony deeper into his side so she could sleep more comfortably.
Scarlet thought it was interesting that she was sleeping here at all.
A pregnant domini female would not be able to sleep outside of her nest. She would be too anxious.
Maybe the box, with its low light and quiet sounds, was similar enough?
Especially with Atem beside her. Her mate’s scent could do just as much as the presence of her nest to calm her.
Still, it was a bit unusual. Or it would be, for a domini. Maybe it was the human in Peony that was satisfied with just a comfy blanket, her mate, and her friends.
Or maybe the discussion was so boring, it could even lull an anxious, pregnant woman to sleep. Scarlet honestly wasn’t willing to discount that possibility.
The second half of the gas planet mining case was just as thrilling as the first and it ended exactly how Havali said it would.
Both people wanted it, the High Imperium suggested a fifty/fifty split, a few others suggested more uneven splitting, Atem didn't add his voice to the discussion, but he did tell Havali to mark him down as wanting to vote for the fifty/fifty split for reference later.
“Thank you, representatives, for your suggestions. All the compromises have been recorded and we will vote at the end,” the High Imperium declared. “The next species to present is species number 168, the domini. Representative Atem will speak.”
The box was moving again. Lowering them down.
As it did so, Atem regretfully woke Peony, kissing her forehead as she groggily returned, mumbling something unintelligible as Alanna and Scarlet got to their feet.
“Let’s do this,” Alanna said, beaming like ‘this’ wasn’t completely terrifying.