[Citadel, Shin Akiba] The Daily Special [OPEN!]

Just toss the name thing up to more weird alien crap man.
Alex was, apparently, nothing if not utterly predictable.
"This is my first time here. I don't usually live on the Citadel, and I've been eating in the C-Sec cafe since I've started working here. The food is... well, there's a reason you'll see more of us at cafes like this then at most crime scenes." Alex replied.

Arbitrary absentmindedly sent her contact info over to Arina under the table via omnitool, along with a note 'I suppose more sensitive discussion can wait.' and responded to her question simultaneously. "I had been here a few times before, though not recently. It's good to see it hasn't changed much since the war ended, in fact I believe the nutripaste quality has improved tenfold."

She seemed to be mostly ignoring the other two at this point, especially the other Quarian. It was likely in her best interest not to invite much in the way of conversation her way, assuming it might invoke a bit of rather understandable animosity.

"Oh, I understand you too well.", Arina answered towards Alex. "The Embassy Lounge is conveniently located and all but I can't see their sandwiches anymore. There is a reason we are contracting caterers from all over the Citadel..." she laughed. Then her Omnitool vibrated silently. A small note came up, indicating she had received a message. Not knowing what it is, she checked. Could have been important work stuff after all.
I suppose more sensitive discussion can wait.

What was that supposed to mean? She raised an eyebrow at the quarian and deactivated her 'tool. Arina took another sip from her cooling kaffe.

Leeta's arms remained crossed over her chest. Her fingers drummed in quick, light succession. She was waiting for the other Quarian to finish up and leave. She couldn't really contribute to the conversation without damaging her already precarious social standing. If she said anything lacking in traditional spite, she risked being labeled as a sympathizer. Leeta silently blamed Anistasy. She must have known the awkward position she was placing Leeta in, but it was understandable that an exile wouldn't care how awkward she made a situation. When Alex's question went unanswered, Leeta turned to look at him and spoke up. Comparing it to asari bloodlines was dubious at best; asari had no control over their parentage, but an exile had control over their actions.

"She did not state a 'vas' because she is an exile and does not have one. It is the highest form of punishment reserved for crimes that are heinous or devastating in some form or another."

Arbitrary sighed softly, drumming her fingers on her leg as the other Quarian let the cat out of the bag. "The conclave also likes doing trials in absentia. If someone had told me I was being put on trial, I am sure I would have come to defend myself. Unfortunately, nobody told me anything until I was fired upon when trying to return." She stared at the one in pink, her faceplate repolarizing. "I believe I have overstayed my welcome here." She nodded to the two aliens, and stood, feeling that now would be a good time to leave.

Leeta shrugged at Anistasy's response. "I do not know the circumstances of your exile, but someone has to be implicated in a grievous crime to even be considered, absentia or not. Quarians are notified and welcome to defend themselves, and their commanding officers speak up for them. It seems highly irregular someone should be tried and convicted without notification without strong evidence backing up the accusations, regardless of whether or not they show up." Leeta hadn't witnessed any trials firsthand - she was hardly an important enough figure to be present, and she had never known any exiles firsthand but she personally had never known anyone not to have ample time to step forward to defend themselves. "If you feel you were treated unfairly, you should consider pleading your case." She certainly wasn't going to protest the other quarian leaving, but it wasn't in her habit to be cruel. She had simply been placed into an awkward situation, and had very little wiggle room as far as socially acceptable responses.

"... My apoligies for bringing it up." Said Alex.
Great. Can you go to any social event without fucking stuff up?
"Good luck with exploring new planets." Said Alex.

And this was quarian internal politics for you. Arina had been very young when the geth rebelled and drove the quarians to the flotilla. As far as she knew, they had adopted the custom of exiling only since then but wasn't completely sure. Maybe the new ways they would find to reestablish their species on Rannoch would lead to some changes here. But it may as well not since they lived short lives and one lifetime maybe wasn't enough to change the new found structures completely. She should brush up her knowledge on quarians though, Arina thought, along with studying the message she had just received.
She nodded with a smile but said nothing more, when Anistasy left. She may hear from her again anyway, if the message was supposed to mean anything.

"Don't be sorry, Alex. This was an awkward situation to begin with. It was, if any, my fault as well, asking for her name in the first place." Arina was wondering, why Anistasy had chosen a table with another quarian anyway. That had been calling for trouble. But maybe she was just that - out for trouble. While taking the last sip of her kaffe, Arina hoped for some less depressing subjects.

"I apologise for the awkwardness..." Leeta forced a smile, looking downward contritely. "It was the fault of no one but myself. I am not...accustomed to speaking or interacting with criminals. I usually manage quite well through indirect discussion, but given how difficult it is to be properly exiled...--" Leeta trailed off, breathing a small sigh. Nevermind that she herself would have been considered a criminal if she had ever been caught outright in any important matter. "At any rate it was neither your fault nor Stubble's. She failed to introduce herself properly, and I am not well-versed in proper protocol for addressing criminals." She looked down as her shoulders sagged, clearly embarrassed by the situation she had been thrust into. "Once again I apologise. I do not normally treat others so..." She trailed off awkwardly, clearing her throat. She looked at Alex apologetically. She felt directly responsible for ruining his lunch.

Just one day, I'd like to meet new people, say hi, be polite, be witty and smart, and actually make friends. Is it so hard to ask that a awkward situation doesn't happen every time I meet people? Huh?
Alex sighed.
"It's quite all right. I don't think that this is a social event you expect and plan for." Said Alex.
Alex consider just walking out. He hadn't paid, he barely gave a flying fuck about these people and their criminals, their racial tensions and their problems. To him, It would always be just some alien crap.
But something told him otherwise. If he kept walking away, what good would that do? He didn't walk away from fights. He didn't walk away from a case. He didn't walk away from anything.
And he wasn't going to start now.
"Anyone want some Ice cream? I haven't eaten any since I've been here and I get the feeling I need some?" He asked to the pink quarian and the Asari.

"Now that is a great idea, Alex. I love ice cream," she replied smiling. Arina wondered how universal frozen fruit and dairy was. Almost all civilizations knew something similar. There were theories that it was connected with the inevitable invention of the fridge prior to space travel.
So, yes, Friendship by Food was the name and what was more relaxing than having some sweets together.

“Let’s see what they have here. I like Shee-berries and Veil-algae.” Arina wondered what eveyrbody else would order.

The reaction to her apology from her remaining two dining companions seemed to go over well, so Leeta relaxed once more. The mention of dairy caused her to scrunch up her nose, and she was glad for the visor blocking her facial expressions from the other two. She always felt she would have a horrible poker face; she was so bad at censoring her expressions. "There are dextro equivalents for dairy products popping up," She replied, thinking of the annual cheese contest. "But I am still pretty cautious. I would enjoy a sweet nutripaste though." She didn't want to be the only one sitting there awkwardly while they enjoyed a dessert. Something sweet would definitely take her mind off of the sour social experience she had just been through.

"All right. I'll have a fudge and Strawberry. With sprinkles. And chocolate sauce." Alex said.
As he sat back down on the table, with a rather large bowl of ice cream, he wondered something.
I haven't had my lunch yet. I ordered like a hour ago...
Then Alex thought back a little.
I haven't ordered yet.
Alex thought back. Not once did he actually get up, or did a waiter or waitress arrive, or did he input anything into a machine.
I'm a bloody moron.
But time was runnning out. Whilst his job at the moment was of very little importancea, he'd have to go back eventually.
So he decided he'd have to skip the main course today.
"So, Asari have ice cream? But Quarians don't? What a sad existance." Alex said jokingly.

"You really don't?" Arina was addressing Leeta "I thought you had frozen pastes of some sort? I can understand the hesitation about dairy products though. It can be a bit insanitary if not handled with extreme caution."

When the waitress brought their ordered stuff, Arina was switching between the berries, who were a funny shade of pink and the green-grey algea. Sweet - salty - sweet - salty. It was a nice dessert.
"Hm, that's great. My first ice on the Citadel. Yes, we have a lot of frozen sweets you'd call 'Ice cream'. There is a cream that is made from the milk of Skafa... something remotely similar to a whale perhaps. You don't need any additional sugar, it's super sweet. "

Leeta grinned sheepishly as the other two asked her about dairy products. "Well it isn't ice cream as you would know it...and yes, we do have some frozen pastes but...well, when you grow up with a 'bland' palette, that is what you are used to. Everyone says it is a shame that nutripaste is so 'flavorless' but it isn't to us. So when I have sweeter things, they are...too sweet, I guess. Overwhelming. I can only have a little bit before it is just too 'rich'. I guess the analogy would be that elcor expressions are too subtle for the rest of us, so they announce how they feel for our benefit. For us, 'bland' foods are flavorful, but more subtle and easily overlooked to someone who is not looking for subtle."

Leeta nodded gratefully to the waitress who brought their ordered food. "I am very curious about foods like ice cream of course but...at the moment they really are not worth the risk. That is something I do in my free time though - I experiment with foods and the levels of flavor." Leeta became keenly aware that she was talking about herself too much again, and she cleared her throat. "Are you enjoying your stay on the Citadel, Stubble? The variety of food must be nice at least."

"Can't say I've tried much alien food. You have no idea what you might be allergic to after all. But there is so much earth food. I've never tried Sushi before I came here. It's bloody delicious. You have to try it... Oh wait, amino whatsamajig. Right. And my hotel room is pretty nice. Nothing overly fancy, but it's walking distance of C-Sec. I...Don't really want to go to the Presidium again. I once..." Alex consider not finishing that, but it was a good story.
"Dove into the lake. Did you know it has this little tortoise things? Adorable. But bloody cold." Alex said, not yet explaining why or when he did this.

Arina burst a laugh. "You did what? How did that happen, were you following a criminal or something?" Arina couldn't imagine someone doing this and she thought, nobody ever did in recent history.
"And I actually know your sushi. This neatly arranged seafood is a delicacy. Did you know that this form of presentation is getting popular in asari space? Especially since we do have such a wide variety of algae." she chuckled. "I think this is on of the best things humanity brought to the galactic table, so to speak. Oh, and what that 'stubble' business about?"

"All right, so it's new years eve. I've just come back from Arcturus, trying to... Well, that's not important. Anyway, It was the first holiday I had taken since the Reaper war. I needed a break. So I... You can never ever tell anyone this, I will lose my job. But I might have gotten rather very smashed when I got back here. After doing so I went to A CDN new years party. I sang Karoke, drank a horrible drink, talked to strange people. Before long I got bored. As one is to do whilst utterly smashed. I decided the best way to rid this boredom was dive off of the walkway into the Presidium lake. It's fucking freezing in there let me tell you. Spent the next day in the drunk tank along with hundreds of other people. Fun times." Alex explained.

The owner of the restaurant returned, checking her watch. It was already well past lunch hour and the CDN crowd was still here? What have they been eating? Have they been ordering anything or sitting around talking? She stepped into the back, tugging over the co-owner. The two had a silent, whispered discussion. The turian held a hand to his chest and gestured out into the sparsely-populated restaurant.

Rubbing a hand down her face, Chris sighed and made her way out once more.

"That is completely hilarious!" Arina burst into a laughter and covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh Goddess, I never heard anyone do something like this. I wonder if C-Sec even had to dust off some procedures most of them never had to execute in their life before. Did you have any fallout beyond that day to think about it? I hope not... turtoises is it then. I always thought there were supposed to be some fish."
She took a spoonful of her ice cream.