Network: Starpath
ARAXIS: I understand you have questions for us regarding our alliance.We have some time and are willing to answer your inquiries.
YARIX NEWS [abayan network]: [in abayan] Araxis of Creche Thiel, your creche is not yet restored to the Hall of Records though we understand a petition has been made.Given the instability of your standing, why did you choose to offer for a virra?
ARAXIS: [in abayan] I considered it in Sashen's best interests.He is an undeclared virra; any sinnenthi deserving to be head of their house would do the same.
YARIX NEWS: [in abayan] From the petition, released to Yarix News under Assembly Act 3.16.8anddesignated as permissible to sharebyAnthatheLidos of Creche Hanalthi, we have learned that the remaining faction of Creche Thiel is comprised of six adults and three children.Are these the eggs that were stolen while being transported to Creche Naival five years ago?And if so, how do you reconcile your attempt for legitimacy with these actions?If this is true, Creche Thiel harbours a criminal and three skoshas hatchlings.Do you believe Creche Thiel isina position to offer for a virra?
ARAXIS: [in abayan] Forgive me, I feel that I must address this at some length, and then we will return to the purpose of this press conference.Yes, we have made a petition to be recognized again, but that does not mean that I believe we are anything less than what we are: we are Creche Thiel, an honourable house with a long and storied history and a bright future, and so we have remained and will remain, regardless of the proclamations of the Concord.
ARAXIS: [in abayan] I reject the premise that the Concord has the right to determine if a creche is legitimate.I reject their authority entirely.Vivith of Creche Thiel acted with my consent, and as head of Creche Thiel, that is sufficient.The Concord is not a governing body; the Assembly is not a governing body.Each creche has autonomy in action and in thought.It is no coincidence that dozens of smaller creches have been declared anathema over the past forty years, and that they have been absorbed, piece by piece, into the most powerful houses.
ARAXIS: [in abayan, addressing the cameras directly] To any who sit in the Assembly and believe this could not happen to them, I ask this: what gives your fellow houses the right to take your status, your identity?What authority do they wield?None but that which you give them, and you have given them increasing amounts of power.When you allow other houses to be removed from the Hall of Records for their perceived sins, you make the path that you are permitted to walk narrower and narrower.Each time you are silent, you step closer to your own dissolution.Those who accept the Concord as an unimpeachable authority will not be spared its whims.To be in concordance is not to be one homogeneous body: it is to come to an agreement, despite disparate parts.Difference can be maintained while finding concordance.The Concord, however, perceives difference as a tool; it is a means to consolidate power in fewer and fewer hands.
ARAXIS: [in abayan, speaking to the reporter] To address your implication directly and explicitly, I reject the fundamental claim that the Concord can determine if Creche Thiel has legitimacy, or if Vivith of Creche Thiel has the right to raise children if called to do so.All abaya can petition their head of house; Vivith did, and I consented.Thus the children ofCrecheThiel are legitimate.They are not skoshas, though they would be welcome in Creche Thiel if they were.My house stands against the authoritarian claims of the Concord.I am here to demonstrate our worthiness and to provide a final answer to these questions.Creche Thiel remains, and we will not falter.We are in a strong position to offer for a virra, and we accept Sashen Solar's decision.He is human; it is not an easy thing to leave behind one's life and to join a new creche, even for abayanvirra.As I insist on Creche Thiel's right to self-determination, I also respect his.
YARIX: [in abayan] When you offered for the virra, you said you wished to protect him because he is virra and you are sinnenthi.If you allow him to compete, does this not weaken your position?And would it not be more humane for you to force the matter before you head into the arena?
ARAXIS: [in abayan] I find your question repugnant.It suggests that I wield a legitimate authority over Sashen, which I do not.Even within our society, a virra has the right to turn down an offer, regardless of what was considered acceptable behaviour in our culture's past.Sashen is entirely capable of determining his own course of action.That is his right.[In Standard] Sashen and I have spoken at great length about the importance of self-determination; there is value in knowing one's self and charting one's own course, even when those who claim authority wish to frighten one into complicity.Ours is an alliance of equals.
YARIX: [in abayan] How will you address –
SILVER SEA [in Standard]: We're going to move to our next questions.Thank you, Livrisof Creche Hanalthi.Could we go to VeeroTamkletfrom Interstellar?
INTERSTELLAR: Sashen, could you tell us more about why you took Araxis with you to the roof before Grigor Spade attacked you?
[SEGMENT THAT FOLLOWS IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE INVESTIGATION]
SILVER SEA: Finally, AdelaitheWellinfrom, hm, [in English]The Good News.
GOOD NEWS [in Standard]: Sashen, of course we all want to let you know how horrified we were to see what Grigor Spade did to you.You've been in our prayers, and we're so happy to see that you're doing well.
SASHEN: Great.
GOOD NEWS: Our readers at home want to know if you feel you've changed in the ten years since you left us, and if so, how.
SASHEN: I'm sorry, you want to know ifI'vechanged?Of course I have.For one thing, I'm not terrified I'm going to be hauled away to some colony prison for 're-education.'It's amazing what that does for your well-being.
GOOD NEWS: Oh, shoot.It sounds like you have your facts a little mixed up!We wondered if that might be the case.Seraphim doesn't condone any harmful corrective measures.We know some of our more zealous community leaders might have gotten ahead of themselves in the past, but we've worked hard to straighten things out.
SASHEN: I thought this was an interview, not a monologue.
GOOD NEWS: Sorry, sorry!It's just so exciting to see another human out and about.We're a chatty species!Alright, question: why are you so sure Seraphim hasn't changed?
SASHEN: You're kidding.You're the reason I'mhere.
GOOD NEWS: Oh, how is that?
SASHEN: Seraphim put in a massive debt claim against me for the first fifteen years of my life.Of course I can't pay it – I'm adancer– so I had to come here and try and figure a way out.
GOOD NEWS: Why were you so set against coming home?Any debts would have been cleared once you returned to Seraphim, where you belong.
SASHEN: I would rather die on the sands than go back.
GOOD NEWS: That's sad to hear, Sashen, it really is.It sounds really irrational.
ARAXIS: Your questions are finished.
