She does not answer that. She sits down.

Little old purple brings her a tray of water and fruit.

...sure, she'll take some water and fruit. "Are we rumored to be picky eaters?"

"No, why?" says Sondayo.

"Just curious. To answer your earlier question, if there were Calado blues with goals in common with us but no political power, that suggests different solutions than if there are no blues in Calado interested in any kind of diplomatic arrangement."

"I like what I've heard about you guys. Different, very one size fits all and we didn't fit very well, but you're not nearly as bad as you could be."

Nod. "We've proposed to your government that we assist them in ensuring emigration doesn't exceed the replacement rate given the abolition of population controls. Do you think that would be a good idea?"

"You'll fuck merry hell with the caste balance."

"Oh, are some people distinctly more likely to want kids?"

"Some people are more likely to leave," he says.

"Ah. The other option is to become a member state in your own right - we can more easily cooperate with restrictions on travel if conditions at home are better, and people will be less likely to even want to leave..."

"Great-grandpa won't go for that."

"I'm talking with you right now."

"Yeah. But I'm not an Yvaltan householder, I don't have a million people of my own for you."

Sigh. "There is some chance there will be a coup."

"...ah-huh. Thanks for the warning."

"We don't do that kind of thing, but we do answer questions about how we might respond, and we've gotten some."

"Why do you think there's going to be a coup?"

"The government has no public support and no credibility, there's persistent muttering about whether it would just be better to authorize a neighbor to conquer the country, the borders are currently closed because everybody was going to leave, and inquiries about how Vanda Nossëo would treat with a different government have come from people who are in a position to bring that about. 

Those people are not blue. Our impression is that it will be most reassuring if Calado's leadership stays blue."

Sondayo raises an eyebrow. "Is this a job interview?"

"Are you looking for a job?"

"I might be."

"I'd be interested in setting aside the question of what great-grandpa can be convinced of and focusing on the question of what would be good for Calado."

"If a coup wants to install me as emergency president, I won't decline the honor."

"Uh huh, and what would you do with it?"