Page 22 of Jorhee

“Nothing so fancy that you’re not comfortable living in it. I thought we could discuss what we need to have, as it will be the official governor’s residence and the home of two princes and their future offspring, and come up with something you’re happy with.”

“Offspring, now that’s a subject I’m sure our viewers will be interested to hear about. The Mylos adopt, but you’re the biological offspring of both your fathers, right?”

“Correct. Our scientists have a way to combine DNA to create offspring, whether the parents are two different genders or not. The embryo is then gestated in an artificial womb at a neonatal facility located within the hospital’s grounds. Right now, all we have is a clinic with a single doctor, so that service can only be done offworld at the moment. We do have plans to build a hospital, but first, we need colonists with the required skills to move here. They will have an actual hand in designing the hospital so it fits the needs of the colony and their respective fields.”

“You heard him. We need doctors, paramedics, nurses, teachers, and all kinds of folks. Probably firefighters too.” Johreenodded that this was true. “So, if you’re looking for friendly neighbors, a place to call your own, and a job with unlimited promotion potential, get your butts down to your local center to apply. Married couples are welcome too! Now, I’m hungry, so we’ll say good-bye so we can go grab some grub.”

Kiprr stopped recording. “This will no doubt get even more people to apply, both human and Dragonii!”

“I sure hope so.”

“It would be good if we get the professionals we need in addition to more land claimants,” Johree replied. “The colony needs them if it is to become successful.” He smiled at me. “Now, I believe my mate just said he was hungry.”

“I am, and I believe you said we had a house to talk about.”

No way was I going to let him weasel out of me getting my two cents in on that. There had to be official function rooms and fancy guest rooms, sure, but the main living part? I wanted that to be as ordinary as possible.

15

JOHREE

“I don’t care. I’m not doing that. I get that this is,” he wiggled two fingers of each hand in the air, quote, ‘a momentous state occasion of vast diplomatic importance for the entire galaxy’, unquote. It’s also our wedding, and since this is the only one I’m ever going to get, I want it to be how I want it. And that’s not flying off yet again someplace else, and having an over the top wedding.”

“But, Your Grace,” my father’s chief advisor, Bokynor, gasped from the view screen. “It’s Dragonii tradition for the new prince or princess to end the ceremony with their coronation.”

Jesse crossed his arms stubbornly, his eyes hard and mouth grim. “So there’s not one but two fancy pants ceremonies I gotta go through? I didn’t even go to my own college graduation as it was too much fuss for me to want to go through!”

“The king passes the crown to the prince or princess to place upon their new mate’s head; that’s all.”

“Prince Johree, please reason with your mate! Some traditions can be overlooked, but this one is sacred! After the vid announcement of your being matched came out, the only thingon any Dragonii’s lips or social media presence has been how excited they all are for the wedding!”

“Why can’t we do it here?” Jesse begged.

“You have no room grand enough to host such an event! Nor places for the guests to stay!” Bokynor screeched.

“Excuse me,” Bob interrupted politely. “But I believe Jesse’s request has merit, as does Advisor Bokynor’s comment regarding the need of the masses to bask in the comfort of tradition, especially given this is the first royal Dragonii mating outside of the species.”

“So what do you suggest?” Bokynor snipped.

“Simple,” Bob responded. “This mating has occurred because of the treaty with Earth and the lure of New Haven. Prince Johree is governor here as well. So, what I propose is a little use of modern technology and using nods to old Earth traditions as well as Dragonii. Have a wedding arch built and flowers brought in. Have the wedding outside, so the view through the arch from the audience’s side is the beautiful vista of the prairie, with one of the existing farm’s buildings in the distance. Prince Johree should wear traditional Dragonii wedding attire, while Jesse can wear something traditional to Earth.”

“I’ll happily wear a suit. One of those schmancy ones - what do they call them, like a tux only fancier?”

“A morning suit?”

Jesse snapped his fingers. “Yeah, that. Royals on Earth wear those when getting married. And um, a sash with their medals. I don’t have any medals, but how about we embroider the sash with a representation of stuff to do with me being from Earth. And, uh, we could both wear a medallion or something that represents New Haven.”

“But the protocol for the coronation would require the king, prince consort, and the rest of the royal family to fly out here, and there is nowhere suitable for them to stay! You cannotexpect them to all remain in orbit aboard the naval vessel bringing them.”

“Remember I mentioned modern technology?” Bob snarked. “This is where that comes in. Rather than upend everyone’s schedule for days just to get here, then another day for the ceremony, and more days returning them all home, I suggest instead that the king be filmed wearing his robes of state, appearing to hand the crown to someone off screen. Then, the day of the wedding, stitch it into the official wedding coverage so Prince Johree is then shown holding the crown, which he places upon Jesse's head.”

“I like that idea,” Pata said, Father nodding in agreement. “We can come for a state visit once your home is built, and have a family get together without all the fuss then. I’m sure you’ll have some lovely new buildings for us to see and someplace or other important that your father can cut a ribbon to open.”

Jesse’s guffaw caught us all off guard. “For real? Y’all make royals do shit like that too?”

I glanced at him in amusement. “Indeed. Normally, this will fall to one of us, but during a state visit, it’s then their duty.” I rubbed the scales along my arm thoughtfully. “We can build the courthouse next. The sheriff’s office and jail were just completed, as we only needed a maximum of three cells at this time and even that seems a bit excessive. We’ve only ever had two drunks at a time to handle.”

“It’ll get crowded if anyone starts a brawl,” Jesse replied drily.