Meeting with Nobles

"Ah, Commodore Katla, a woman of the hour, we were just talking about you." One of the noblewomen greeted, the one that Artemesia had identified as Avar. The group looked up and welcomed her in with a slight shuffle. Katla could see their hands and faces moving ever so slightly, speaking with a type of sign language that was supposed to be reserved for them but which in truth anyone with the time and inclination could learn. Katla couldn't see why anyone would want to when Galactic and Spacer sign were far more useful and prevalent. She'd still been making an effort but it was slow going.

Avar's hair was practically bright orange, her suit for this occasion was black with a matching tie but she really didn't seem to have put much effort into drawing attention. The woman on her arm was a different story, wearing an almost scandalous by Avalonian standards blue shoulder-less dress with a cut in the center showing off her naval. Additionally, she had almost pure white hair, clearly a fashion statement rather than any sign of aging.

Across from them was the indicated Lady Hollow, also wearing a dress. Her's was red with spaghetti straps seeming to struggle to hold back her bust, if she sneezed the wrong way it seemed like they would pop out. The main surprise however was her eyes, they were red. Indicating a genetic imprint that someone had wanted at some point and never done away with. The final person of the group, Lady Bridges, looked like she had come straight from an office. She was a buxom blonde wearing a skirt-suit and heels that would have looked more appropriate in a CEO's office rather than at a function like this.

"All good things I hope." Katla said, offering a smile.

"For the most part," Baroness Avar said, giving a meaningful glance at her red-wearing counterpart. A few finger and eye motions going along with it. Katla thought she recognized the one for 'joke' but couldn't be certain. "But mind me my manners, I don't believe we've met formally. I am Baroness Avar, this is my wife Celine." She said, indicating her wife in turn. "Lady Hollow, and of course our good friend Lady Bridges."

"I tend to be called that by most until the loans come due. Then it turns to 'that bitch' typically." Bridges said, giving a similar gesture as Avar, either they were calling one another a rude name or it did in fact mean 'joke'. "It is certainly a pleasure to meet face to face Commodore. I heard that a member of my relation caused issues in your fleet and I am most pleased with your handling of the matter." Bridges continued.

"I did what I felt was right." Katla said, keeping her response mild.

"Speaking of there's a rumor that you'll be welcoming a relation of your own in the near future?" Avar asked, Katla didn't know where they might have gotten that information or why they would have cared but she felt no reason to hide it. She'd have to register the pregnancy with the board of peerage soon anyway and those records were public. Plus she'd already told Artemesia.

"I am." Katla confirmed. That seemed to start a flurry of hands moving. Katla wasn't entirely able to follow the second conversation that was going on but the little she picked up wasn't nearly as rude as she thought it would be.

"A wise choice, the Authority's women are quite beautiful. Very accommodating lovers as well, my daughter was sired by one as a matter of fact." Lady Hollow said approvingly. A flurry of hand gestures following the statement too fast for Katla to keep up but ending with both Avar and Bridges covering their mouths politely. Avar's wife simply rolled her eyes. Hollow seemed to look approvingly on Katla's lack of doing so, not knowing it was because Katla had no idea what the hell had just been said.

"I've found them to be the same." Katla agreed, "But they can also be the most passive aggressive lot you've ever met. Collars can only control so much."

"I've always felt that the Queendom and the Authority should have closer ties." Hollow continued, practically ignoring what Katla had just said. "I saw you meeting with Mizuki earlier, I take it you agree?"

"I'm not opposed to working together when our interests align," Katla said non-noncommittally. Hollow seemed to accept that.

"They've been trying to align our interests more than usual." Avar said, "Them and everyone else. There's something that has them circling."

"Which is all the more reason that we need friends among the big four. We need more than just alliances of convenience." Hollow pointed out.

"What we need are people we can work with." Bridges said, "National and military matters are only as good as the people in control of them. I can't say much due to privacy concerns but there have been an increasing number of such people taking out loans. They're trying to link us together economically."

"Who?" Hollow asked

"I can't say." Bridges said apologetically. "Pesky things like laws you know."

That seemed to kill the general conversation, turning it into more of a general talk about minor things like children and estates rather than full on national politics. After a little while Katla disengaged herself, seeing that the night was starting to grow a bit late. She had a number of important decisions to make and some of the servers were starting to disappear as nobles went from enjoying the conversation to enjoying something else in the side rooms that lined the main area. It was about time to give her answer to Mizuki.