The evaluation took place in a small comfortable room (comfortably warm, lit neither too bright nor too dim). Like the therapy sessions, the evaluation was an assessment of inclination. Close physical contact only to highlight the question. Do you like what might happen next?
The four arrive in a common room of the alLan's apartment. This is the largest living space Ami ever recalls seeing, and she sees there are doors (so it must be bigger). It is even bigger than the place Ami lived in, where she lived with seven others.
He directs them to a couch and opens the cooler table to present cooled drinks. The same type drinks that were in the meeting room.
For what seems like a lengthy pause. No one says anything.
alLan: "So you have completed the assessments. This all looks to be quickly approved. Is there any additional information, you want to discuss?"
He knows that simple requests can sometimes become something else. After someone meets a near goal, a long goal or a more complex arrangement might appear. They could have simply wanted this assessment from someone popular.
"second" says: "Well, there is still the matter of a protector that is a belonger. You never directly indicated. The plan you... have."
Here the alLan feels a boost, 'they are not just playing me'.
alLan: "OK, I will submit this test application for approval, with an acceptance and release statement marked only when I reply.
Ami, have you been keeping aware of what is happening right now. I let things go quickly to get you through the testing. We are talking about forming an exclusive relationship. We three are full citizens, so there is little advantage to us. You would be a citizenship with exclusionary restrictions. Any demands made by citizens might still affect you. For certain demands, you would claim for mediation. 'I could not do this, it would affect my exclusion clause of my belonging status.' Any intimacy outside of the belonging relationship would likely break it. It would not officially have to break it, but this is a form of belonging that is rare and becoming prohibited. Weakness in exclusivity might allow for a challenge.
Unless I am wrong. The plan here is to have me be the exclusive partner to you, and these two elLans would have a level of belonging (that is assigned when the belonging is formalized). Is this sounding right to everyone?"
Ami says 'wait' walks over to the alLan. She looks directly into his gaze, her emotion labels are shifting and many are being added. All wonderful ones.
Ami: "I would like to use the nickname 'hubby'. Is that OK?"
"hubby": "That sounds lovely. It must be a phrase some Wrougs say? I will take this as acceptance."
Ami nods.
"second" immediately says: "Claim! First evaluation."
"first": "Claim! First evaluation."
"hubby" to Ami: "They are invoking a right to confirm that I am good enough for you. A claim that must be addressed before we confirm between us this new belonging relationship. Before we settle those issues, let's go over some information I collected before our meeting today. It will make things quicker for when we release public statements."
"Hubby" brings up some pictures and videos to be projected onto a wall by a device on the ceiling. Ami should confirm which she wants to have included. Ami selects mostly those where her face is not visible. Just one shot where she faces "first", right before she had said "Gee". Everyone likes her smile in that shot.
They discuss the alien, but when "hubby" displays the latest news there is a bold headline "[DEAD MAN WALKING]" Translator's note: Humans tell me this is the best way to describe that headline.
Apparently the being that fell onto Wroug that day is a copy, quite very sick, not likely to live long, and being ship...
"Hubby" sends the display back to earlier pictures.
Ami has gotten a quite disturbed look on her face. "Hubby" asks if can use her picture, with this expression. Ami says 'for what? Shown where?', and "hubby" replies just places where Lan try to model facial expressions of the Wroug. Scientific types.
Ami says: "OK, specialists would be OK. That alien, without that being, I would not be here. You get that right. "
"hubby" says: "Oh Yes. I do see it. We will make sure to credit him in the public release, does that sound OK. You look, well unsettled."
"first" and "second" draw into Ami with hugs and say: "Yes, we will be sure to give that alien being credit, and do not worry about the picture. We trust your ... our.. 'hubby'. If he turns out bad, we will protect you, but it might be tough since he has regard and popularity."
"Ami" says: "What do you mean? He could abuse someone and get away with it?"
"second" says: "It would be complicated, but yes. Abuse by those in power can happen."
Ami stands and looks into "hubby"'s eyes. The emotion labels are clear, so she does not worry. She does not worry about him. It unsettles her on another matter. Victims of power, even here with the Lan; some Lans might be helpless. She looks again at "hubby" and grabs him for a hug.