[Citadel, Tayseri] Leaving the Ducts Charity Dinner (Open to all)

"That was the second time this week," one of the drell said, a red one who was dressed the most traditionally of the two men. A simple low cut white shirt showing both chest and the single strand golden necklace and, black pants and shoes and a shoulder-length black cape. Hadas looked straight out like a priest out of third generation after exodus, period piece, his hand resting on Kayana's shoulder as she leaned up against him.

"Still doesn't mean you should," the blue one said, he was the most modern dressed, Slick leather jacket, gloves, leather boots, pants tight enough, and shirt cut low enough to advertise the goods without being too showy. Azure dressed to impress.

"If you lick the biotic drell priest in a park you end-up in the pond." Hadas snorted. "I would have just asked 20 for it."

"Yes you would," Hadas chuckled.

"I'm with Hadas on this one. Seriously, what do they think is going to happen?" She was dressed in an off the shoulder dress, the squared off neckline provocative in a distinctly drell way. "We all want to pull on humans' hair or like grab a salarian's horn. We just don't do it 'cause it's not polite and they'd kick our asses."

"But here we are." She grinned, turning her face against Hadas' neck. "Today, the hanar wait on us. And don't actually get paid for it. It is a good day."

"Well don't push it... Remember the best is when they suspect but can't prove." Hadas rubbed her shoulder.

"Will you two just behave... in public. Anyway, it's not hanar that are the problem, it's assholes, who just happen to be hanar."

"Yeah whatever, I just hope they have enough food I'm starving."

"Just go inside so we can get this 'date' over with, Davril", Kari snapped. Not at all pleased at being dragged back to Tayseri. It really was one of the last places Kari wanted to be. Especially after that incident with Des'Keran several days ago (she neglected to mention that incident to Davril, but it was none of his business anyway). But she especially didn't want to be at this terrible restaurant ran by the passive aggressive jellyfish that supported child slavery.

Loud music, muscular. I recognize that one Kari thought to herself as she stared at Tango from the distance. What were they doing here? Oh what did it matter anyway? Des'Keran wasn't with them from what she could see and even if he was she wasn't going to enact vengeance on them in this place.

She just wanted this date over with (quickly) and for Davril to be happy, because she surely wasn't going to be enjoying herself.

"...I don't care how 'generous' the offer is, or how good it would make me look; I'm not cosigning a bill with that prick!" Assemblymen Max Vallario was "quiet yelling" into his omni-tool as he approached the entrance to the gala. He was on time for once- politicians like him were used to being fashionably late. He stopped short of walking in, lingering by the door as he continued arguing with his political director.

"Why? Are you kidding? He called me a 'amateur populist-wannabe' when I first got elected. I don't care how much time has past, it'll be a cold day in hell before I put my name on anything that walking, self-important fossil has written up. I don't care if it's a bill that will cure Kerpal's Syndrome, rebuild all the relays, and feed every duct rat on the station; I'm not signing!"

Something pinged in Max's head as he suddenly realized where he was just after saying 'feed all the duct rats.' "Ugh, look, I should probably go into this thing now before they notice I'm just standing outside on my OT. I'll talk to you later." He abruptly hung up before his staffer could say anything more, straightening his suit and putting on his best smile before entering the gala.

A politician like Max may go to a lot of galas and receptions, but he could immediately appreciate just how much work went into this one. Not bad he thought to himself. He'd get some food, some booze, and some good press for supporting impoverished and homeless children. That was a triple-crown in his book. After what happened a while back at the Bliss Festival, he could use an easier evening.

"It is pleased that the Rondor is happy with its choice", Quylid pulsed back. Bowing its "head" a little to the younger hanar. "And it prays that the young one is also pleased with the arrangements?"

Chatting with Laykalar it looked over the guests piling outside, picking out several persons of interest as it did so. There were the four turians of course. But they would be watched. And then there was...

a tentacle twitched in disgust. A quarian and another turian. It would certainly be watching it and having an inventory check after it left. The human female, who's name it couldn't care to remember and its escort. A raloi was skulking around somewhere it believed.

It was impressed a little at Albert's entrance. At least one human with some class had showed up.

Another tentacle twitched at Luoon. Quylid was clearly disgusted by the way it was carrying itself.

Several tentacles twitched when it thought it heard drell laughter outside.

"How does the other feel about the... guests that are entering?" it pulsed to Laykalar.

Thankfully for Kari, Tango and Breaker get back in their respective vehicles and the drivers pull away before Raelon's two associates notice the quarian who shocked Tango at Des'Karan's place.

Vindi takes a look over the crowd, seeking threats as a matter of course. She doesn't recognize anything unusual about Kari, though she has no reason to--but the fallout from that episode is one of several reasons that Trex isn't here tonight. She does notice, and wave to, Kayana; she can guess that Hadas is the one Trex has told her about, but she doesn't recognize the blue fellow.

Then she offers a smile to Albert Lowell. "You just had to top my entrance, didn't you?" she asks, and flares her mandibles in a smile.

It seems as though little Vindi has grown up.

"They'll have plenty of food." She took a step forward, dragging Hadas with her.

Indeed, the idea of eating and drinking her way through the hanar's profit margin made her grin. "Okay, okay, innocent face on. And watch out for the humans, because you both look good enough to eat. Just for the record."

She waved at Vindi-but tensed up when she saw Albert, keeping herself between him and 'her' boys. She'd talk to the turian when Albert was well clear.

Davril shook his head. "Alright, Kari." He said, standing and calmly walking to the entrance. "I really do appreciate you coming... You know this is a topic important to me," he adds as he walks. "Next time, you can pick where we go."

Michelle's face lit up when she saw Sarah, and she greeted her with a kiss on both cheek the French way.
"So good to see you Sarah! You look splendid!"
"Thank you for the donation, and it's great you brought a journalist actually! All coverage helps us. You may want to tell him to stay near the entrance at first, we're planning a very varied turnout, it may interest him.
See the podium over there? You can set up over there. Pick some appetizers on the way and...", she added in a low voice, "don't try to make nice to Snow, please stay out of his way."
"Again, thanks for coming!" she concluded with a normal voice and a smile.

Michelle was about to resume asking the Sundowners what they wanted, but she saw Vindi and her entourage step out of the car.
Hu... That's more like it.
She realized that the two kids she was about to yell at were Sundowners too. She saw their clothes and assumed they were bad news. Great going there, "social worker"...
"Very nice to meet you Chieftain, and thank you so much for coming! Please come in and have something, the dextro table is over there."

She smiled at Albert's entrance. High class limousine, and then casual "ho, just a friend giving me lift, no biggie" attitude.
"Welcome Mr Lowell, thank you again for coming!"

She then heard Snow in her commlink.
"All right gentlemen, keep up the good work", she answered. "The turnout is already impressive and... Hey, there you are Shaart! Cool cloak!" She added a little wave to that, to kill any pretense of professionalism left.
Suddenly very self-conscious, she regained her cool. "Anyway yeah, ten four and all that."

Michelle kept greeting all the new arrivals. Fortunately for Max, the turnout was big and it was noisy, so nobody heard his conversation.
"Assemblyman Vallario! Thank you very much for coming! Please enjoy the dextro table over there!"

Michelle then saw loud, brash Kayana arrive. Despite the fact that the young drell could be a terror, she was pleased to see her here. And not alone.

"Thanks for coming Kayana! Ho, and red drell... You must be Hadas! And... Might you be Blue Azure? Thank you very much for coming, please come in, enjoy!"

"Commander Wilde! It's a pleasure to meet you at last, thank you for your support. It's sad miss Flower couldn't come. You know she gave us precious advice when we started. Advice that still serve us well. "
She felt awkward tower his quarian date. Sure she looked like Pariah, but she had seen a similarly clad quarian during her unfortunate attempt to work out at the gym. Maybe the suit with this mean looking green was all the rage. What would she be doing with Davril anyway?
"Pleasure to meet you miss, I'm Michelle Rondor, and you are?"

Albert casually closed the distance, and nodded towards Vindi, "What can I say I like to top things." He gave a quick grin before getting serious again, "double entendre aside, it is good to see you again chieftain and I hope all is as well as can be."

"Pleasure to meet you miss Rondor, I hope your evening is going well?"

He looked around and nodded towards the approaching drell, "I guess we are not the only ones from CDN."

---

"No problem for me, my face always looks innocent." The red one said with a his best innocent smile.

"Not in the bedroom you don't, anyway best behavior, got it."

"Oh great," his smile faded, "that human is here." He looked towards Kayana, who had slowed their pace, "listen, I don't like him anymore than you do, but he has seen us, and if we stop now he'll think we're scared of him or something, and I for one don't want him to even that, so what do you say that we just step up and talk to your friend despite of him?"

Laykalar considered the humble hanar's question. For the people of the Primacy, such queries carried greater weight than outsiders might assume; there was no such thing as a casual judgement, not when it came to standards of public behaviour. He knew that his people's customs were rather inflexible; it was something he had struggled to come to terms with since leaving Kahje. He was proud of his people's commitment to utilizing the gift of the Enkindlers with appropriate reverence, but knew also that such high standards carried with them, like fronds caught on one's body, a cost in terms of movement towards the goal; in this case, the goal of mutual understanding. Even through the usual haze of cheery goodwill, Laykalar could tell this was something to handle with care, and he took his time in answering.

"It believes it understands the others' concern. The number and variety of guests is challenging to these ones' comfort levels. Such is unavoidable, when one is extending hospitality to those whose standards of behaviour are different". He seemed to droop slightly. "This one's esteemed elders have expressed their concerns regarding its involvement with an alien organization. It is perceived to be in some manner undervaluing the scholarly goals of the expedition. It has been hoping that attending this event will assist them in reaching a different conclusion. Perhaps that is arrogant of this one, but it does not believe that a people can truly achieve realization of their potential by maintaining barriers to understanding!"

He perked up again.

"These ones' partners in the myriad reefs of the galaxy are admittedly ill-spoken. Their crudity and lack of structure is indeed often alarming, as is their rampant individualism. It believes, however, that the Illuminated Shepard has demonstrated to all the necessity of unity in action and unity in cause, and the potential for greater truths to be revealed through recognition of both commonality and diversity. It believes that these ones have a duty to further that goal, for these ones were Enkindled with purpose, and generosity is the key virtue of the Endindlers. These ones must learn, it thinks, how to fulfil their potential and pursue the brighter calling, and so must brave murkier waters than they have been accustomed to, without fear or hesitation!".

He shimmered happily as an example occurred to him. "Has the other observed the one engaging with the virtual intelligence of the children's presenter?"

"Justicar" was indeed still talking with "Uncle Garm Garm".

"This one finds the manner of the other in question alarming, but it chose to invite her so that she might benefit from a sense of formality and etiquette that is perhaps more appealing to her than her own peoples', which she has rejected. It hopes such exposure might cause her to reconsider her more distressing extravagances. It is "thinking outside the box" - if the other will excuse the use of alien idiom".

He had been particularly intrigued with that human expression, showing as it did an awareness of three-dimensional space that was all too often lacking in the thought processes of land-bound asaroids.

"This one believes that all attending will benefit from the proximity of that which is new and potentially alarming". He bucked up his courage and added, "including the honoured other".

There was no immediate answer to that. Laykalar decided to try a different angle. With the visual range of the hanar, he was naturally able to keep watch over the arriving guests while conversing directly with Quylid. He gestured towards the first set of guests, the turians.

"If it may offer the honoured other an example, it understands the 'Sundowners' to have a strong sense of community, and a notable commitment to familial bonding. Their separatism, it believes, has encouraged insularity. It is greatly appreciative that they have appeared in such numbers! It acknowledges that perhaps their decision to do so is due to the turian propensity to form packs, but this one prefers to assume that they have seen the value in demonstrating their commitment to a larger and more inclusive group identity; that of the ward's inhabitants. That they have a unique perspective to share and should be willing to risk asserting themselves, not as an isolated atoll but as part of a chain. It is a mutual opportunity to learn".

He also took care to point out Lowell, in case the sales pitch wasn't working.

"It notes that Albert Lowell is a respected diplomat; further, his invitation was made at the learned Rondor's own request. If the other is concerned regarding disruptive behaviour, perhaps it may reflect on the theories of social dynamics written by the Most Illuminated Ewsinye? The presence of such well-connected figures may provide a stabilizing effect, preventing the fracturing of decorum under the sheer plurality of guests?"

Kayana lowered her voice. "I am scared of him and I don't care if he knows. I'd be like, the one person who responds appropriately to Albert Fricking Lowell."

She sighed. "Alright, let's go say hi to Vindi."

Sarah stepped over to her assigned podium and stretched, slipping her feet out of the tall gold high heels and standing barefoot. Unbuckling her case, the woman removed her violin and a datapad sheet of music- a cheerful ballad of a ship's freedom in open space and the serenity the darkness can bring. Tapping her hand on the podium, she set her sheet down and strummed once to check her tuning. A string snapped. "Motherfucker!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, setting the case on the podium- before realizing her outburst and setting to work at a faster pace.

The string was replaced after a moment and she began to tune once more. After final preparations, she cleared her throat and tried to gently introduce her set list with a raised tone. "Hello, everyone! My name is Second Lieutenant Sarah Thompson and tonight I will be playing Suzuki's 'Wayfarer's Ballad' on violin." She placed the bottom of her violin against her beck and began to strum the strings as she read the notes. Her omnitool acting as a speaker, the area was soon bathed in pleasant music.

Her date slipped past everyone- before sparking with recognition. A raloi?! The man turned to face Shaart and made his way over, journalistic pride superseding common sense. With a spherical drone behind his shoulder, he framed Shaart quickly using his omnitool, then bombarded him with camera flashes. Soon, this was followed by the other arrived guests autonomously- as he made his way inside.

Daia's arrival was rather low-key, by comparison with the motorcades and convoys - a rapid transit 'car set down, opened for her to disembark, and hovered off on its merry way as she smoothed out her dress and got her bearings. The dress, at least, was less mundane, although tonight she had very deliberately opted for the demure end of her wardrobe's spectrum; if the white ankle-length dress, with its white gold trim, caught eyes, it was only because the tailoring, and her regal bearing in it, gave the impression of some fairy tale Matriarch of old, appearing amid mortals to dispense gentle wisdom with a glow of sunlight following her around. She would have wanted to appear her best for the event in any case - and certainly do nothing that might bring any disrepute to the night (however undeserved she personally thought it might be to look down on a dinner, simply because someone wore a daring skirt to it) - but she was honest enough to admit she also intended to put paid, once and for all, to certain attendees' impressions that she couldn't be classy when she wanted to be.

For obvious reasons, she didn't intend to reveal that the ensemble was quite popular with certain clients of hers.

She double-checked that her ticket was loaded ready in her omni-tool, and approached the entrance to see whom she might recognise among the crowd.

Simple elegance with a twist. Such was the attire of Arina Caenis, asari diplomat, when she exited the limousine of the embassy car park, dressed in a classic thessian robe, black with fine red outlines and applications and silken shimmery inlay down the front, outlined with a fine reddish-golden trim. The long gloves changed from black at her hands to red on her upper arms. The centerlines of her scalp tendrils were decorated by delicate silver lines.

She walked the few steps to the location entry and looking around she noticed the ever so casual C-Sec detail. Of course a gala that drew so many persons of public interest was looked after not only by private security.

Oh would you look at that! She immediately remembered the backside in front of her, dark blue skin in contrast of a beautiful white dress. With a smile and three quick wide steps - a tad inappropriate given the dress but nobody was looking - she was next to Daia.

"Daia T'Nara, what a surprise and coincidence!" She greeted her and let her present the admittance before herself. It was nice to see not everyone with a +1 tonight, so she wasn't the odd one. "Great to see you, you look fabulous! Let's have a look and see if anyone in there can compete," she said with her special smile.

Vindi turns to her uniformed escort and says, "Albert, meet Sergeant Arx Murius of Hierarchy Logistics; Arx, this is Albert Lowell of the human diplomatic corps."

Vindi is no longer under any illusions that introducing her boyfriend to Albert will prevent the human from flirting with her. Still, she feels relatively secure - Albert has a professional reputation to uphold, not just a romantic one, and she's got Battis around. She looks into Albert's eyes and smiles, but swears she sees something else in there, something hollow and cold.

She wonders what Albert sees when he looks at her.

And here comes Kayana. Kayana, who she's tried to convince that she's a good person, even as her memory of dealing with those Va'liat representatives comes to her mind. Spirits. If she were to shoot Quatra Quatri dead in the street, would that vindicate her to Kayana or prove she was no better than Sicaria all along? She wishes she didn't have to even care what a young drell thought of her, but now more than ever Trex needs friends of good influence. The incident with the gun at Des'Karan's place suggests that Trex is struggling with her darker urges....and losing.

"Well met Sergeant Murius." He nodded towards the man. Albert locked eyes with Vindi for a second, but he didn't let on if he saw something or anything, he merely turned towards the approaching drell once more.

"Mrs. Pesh, and Ser Kronos, glad to see you both again. "

"Yes," Hadas said between his nearly clenched teeth, would anyone really mind if he just lifted the human up and launched him into orbit, or something. Azure who felt the tension stepped between.

"Hey, I'm Azure." He held a broad smile, "and you must be the infamous Dippy, we should exchange tips, I heard you have thing for turians."

"I have thing for many types." Albert sized the blue drell up.

"More tips to share."

"Yeah... well anyway I should head inside," he nodded once more, "see you there" and moved to enter.

Luckily for the raloi in question, he had gotten his hand in front of his face in time for the camera flashes. "No pictures, you ape!" he hissed at the man. If he thought he'd be getting away with this invasion of privacy, the human was wrong.

A collection of sharp talons dug into the reporter's shoulder and brought him around to face Shaart. "You did not have my consent to photograph me. You will remove those pictures from your drone and omni-tool, or I will eject you from the event and LTD's lawyers will be having a word with you." he laid down his terms.

The reporter shrugged off the Raloi's talons and was quick to raise his omnitool. A swipe of the wrist. "There. Deleted. The people have the right for privacy just as much as they do information. No need to get handsy." He stepped away, the white drone buzzing Albert and his conversation partners. The reporter approached the violinist and thumbed at the Raloi's direction. She furrowed a brow and continued to play. Irritated, the reporter stepped off to get a drink. Sarah finished her song with a flourish, and set the violin in it's case.

The platinum blonde stood there, looking over the crowd, unsure expression painted on her face.