Cetagandan reflexes are impressive, particularly in the ways that have been bred into the ghem, rather than the haut; they are, after all, the military caste. So before even Diya has a chance to move away, one of the ghem med techs lunges in front of her with a cried, "My lady, no!"
The sleeve of her lab coat is dirtied instead of Diya, and the tech looks both indignant and disgusted -- so does the rest of the room, the heat rising palpably in the otherwise cool room; Diya looks distantly disappointed as she draws back. The martyred med tech grabs a sterile pad to clean her sleeve off, a faint flush showing through the thin veneer of delicate face paint. "She is haut," she starts angrily, but Diya, not looking pleased, holds up a hand to silence her, as does the CMO.
"My lady, I think," the CMO says, looking pained, "that you will find little interest in the rest of the proceedings. I think you'll find the reports much more to your satisfaction."
It's the politest way he can request she leave, a careful attempt to save some very fragile face in the upset of the room.
never
The sleeve of her lab coat is dirtied instead of Diya, and the tech looks both indignant and disgusted -- so does the rest of the room, the heat rising palpably in the otherwise cool room; Diya looks distantly disappointed as she draws back. The martyred med tech grabs a sterile pad to clean her sleeve off, a faint flush showing through the thin veneer of delicate face paint. "She is haut," she starts angrily, but Diya, not looking pleased, holds up a hand to silence her, as does the CMO.
"My lady, I think," the CMO says, looking pained, "that you will find little interest in the rest of the proceedings. I think you'll find the reports much more to your satisfaction."
It's the politest way he can request she leave, a careful attempt to save some very fragile face in the upset of the room.