Dhivael’s gaze moved to the top she wore when the pink-haired woman mentioned how pretty it was. Aesthetically, it was meant to be pleasing to the eye, and the Rihan had researched enough to know that this sort of thing was in style. “I believe the appropriate response is ‘thank you.’” She responded to the other woman. Rihannsu had no need of such phrases, but Earthlings seemed to depend upon them as a constant means by which the pleasantness of a person was judged.
She hesitated before grasping Raina’s hand ingreeting. Touching was one of the main customs of Earthlings to which Dhivael had difficulties adjusting. Her desire to understand these beings was what drove her to attempt to imitate their actions, but for one who lived for so much of her life on a planet where it was rare to touch unless two Rihannsu were mated, touching was still an uncomfortable prospect. “I am called Dhivael ir-Elehu t’Vrenak, but my primary name ‘Dhivael’ will serve as a means of addressing me.”
When Raina divulged that she had been born with her hair colour, one of Dhivael’s brows rose curiously. “Fascinating. One would have assumed that such a colour would be recessive because it is seemingly so rare. However, in order for you to have inherited it – unless someone in your father’s line also had the hair colour – it would have to be a dominant trait. Do many others of your kind have such colouring despite the lack of it in your parents or in your siblings?” Just because she was an anthropology major didn’t mean she didn’t have knowledge about other subjects. The schools on ch’Havran ensured that, while students could pursue their own specified topics, they learned a great many other things. Science and technology were especially prevalent in the school systems.
“Yes. I only arrived on Earth for four months, six days,” the Rihan paused to look at her watch, “sixteen hours, thirteen minutes, and eight seconds.” She had a preference toward being exact. “I enrolled in Alden almost immediately after arriving, so this is my first year. Are you also new this year?” She looked young enough to be a freshman, but among supernatural beings, ages were extremely difficult to gauge. Dhivael did not like to make unfounded assumptions.