[Citadel, Tayseri] A day on the town. [Open]

"Yeah, you see it? Don't feel bad, I teach some duct rats self defense and it's funny how they'll pay you back." She smiled at him...then rolled her eyes at his continuing silence with a laugh. "Really? Dude, you're that intimidated?"

Her posture was almost the exact opposite of his, loose with wide arms. She was not the slightest bit intimidated by the hanar, addressing them in the same tone at the same volume.

"Nothing, really. Just giving your employee some hints about the Citadel. He seemed new." She looked back at the drell. "I'm Kay, for the record."

...Quylid had thought he read that name somewhere. Had he employed a 'Kay' at some point? He didn't think so. All drell names were similar sounding with their hard Ks and guttural sounds it had a hard time remembering.

Could it be? No. Impossible! The galaxy wasn't that small. It could never run into that thing outside of the extranet even if they shared the same station. It was like finding a single strand of kelp in the ocean. Impossible.

But there was no way Quylid was taking any chances, it'd even sacrifice its bodyguard for five moments to not have to share space with it.

Talk to her., it pulsed hoping the other drell hadn't undergone the eye surgery that allowed them to pick up on hanar language. Anything, just get that thing out of here and far away from me as possible.

The drell looked perplexed for a moment at this sudden change but nodded anyway. Moving upwards to Kayana's location. "Hello", he said, his voice oddly mellow and calm despite any confusion he may have felt. "You were saying you had... hints about the Citadel? Do you have anymore? I am sure Quylid would be grateful for anything you can give"

She'd had her eyes reverted back.

"Well, our community is tiny and incestuous. The best place to buy drell food is Arraks, up in the 24hundred block. They have prepared stuff and ingredients. Best place to get gloves and boots is Keron Sons and Co in Zakera ward, absolutely no-place else is going to have them. And there's still no proper drell dojo, but I can hook you up if you wanna know where all the hyper-competitive martial artists are." She cocked her head to the side. If Quylid was the hanar...she wasn't that interested. "And everyone dates someone from their church or temple. It's hopeless. I think I've spoken at all of them as part of Krios Memorial, so I can give recommendations."

Quylid was definitely rather uncomfortable. Laykalar had no real idea why that would be.

"This one would gladly offer what services it can! Does the other have a particular time and place in mind? This one could schedule the other in now".

There simply weren't enough hours in the day. He would have to look upon this project as being similar to his work with the children - he should prepare lessons and study materials, though he would need to tailor them to an adult hanar. It might be enjoyable. Already his mind was racing through the possibilities.

Vaken nodded but was only half-listening. 'Free' Drell culture wasn't really his culture. But he did take note of the boot and glove store for convenience's sake. "Thank you for the store name", he said. His voice the same raspy tone many drell had. "It has been really hard for this one to find anything that fits it without having to special order from Kahje", he blinked at her final comment. "Uh... This one has no need of that. But thank you anyway?"

"Wasn't the other supposed to be talking to this one about how to better protect its client?"

***

Quylid calmed a little when Vaken left to distract the idiot drell and went back to Laykalar. "This one is open to whenever the other has time", it shimmered. The hanar equivalent of a smile. "Its business is not so turbulent that it can't stand to lose a few hours of its day while something else", it struggled a bit trying to spit the words out. Even in deceit it didn't like handing over management to an underling. Even for a small time. "manages its establishment"

"At least you're a guy. I end up getting half my clothes altered." She gestured across her chest with a laugh. "I was? Don't buy or sell drugs, don't deal with gangsters, and if you want to have a sneaky clandestine meeting with another hanar, go to a well-trafficed Asari cafe or whatever? Not much you can do if he's making your job hard."

"Is he? Seriously though, make friends with the local duct rats. They have some serious knowledge."

Millen watched as the duct rat in question took in the scene. Hopefully he wouldn't be stupid enough to try anything. A smile came to the asari's lips as he slipped off, looking for an easier mark. She didn't quite recognize him, though he looked familiar. Daeva's Brood maybe. She'd look into that later, and see about getting some food to the Daeva gathering area.

She moved closer to the drell and hanar; she couldn't help but be curious. Of course, her steps were light; she was a fairly short asari, and she was still a minor by law. She wished she was about forty cm taller rather than the 1.2 m she was, but sometimes her height or lack thereof came in handy.

Unlike the duct rat, she had both experience and training at keeping stealthy.

"This one can meet with the other later in the week! It will be maintaining its own schedule from that point - its employer is soon to take a journey off-station on official business, so it will be in charge". He revealed this proudly, pleased at being able to share the news. He was very much looking forward to the opportunity. Between finding his own place to live and the new responsibility of temporary leadership, he felt as though he was entering a new phase of his life out here in the galaxy. As though he truly belonged. He also felt great sympathy for Quylid, who was apparently having difficulty feeling the same way.

"The other may count on this one to share whatever it has learnt regarding interaction with other species!"

He hoped his fellow hanar would trust him enough to share details on precisely what was troubling it. Quylid had always seemed to him a very charitable being, invested in improving the standard of life for everyone in the Primacy. Perhaps the humble hanar was pushing itself too hard?

He wondered how well Quylid knew the local area.

"It asks if the other may briefly assist this one? It is going to investigate a vacancy at the Gentle Pull of Enticing Tides. Is the other familiar with the complex?"

He really had little sense of what he was looking for.

Vaken nodded a bit at her first comment, suppressing a chuckle. She really had no idea did she? "Quylid treats its compactees well. Its work has just been very... stressful of late. Causing it to act rather irrational", he neglected to mention that, for the years he had served Quylid, he was always an unusually aggressive and power hungry hanar. But loose lips meant you were replaced by another compactee quick.

"I will make note of the duct rats. Thank you", he said with a smile every politician in the galaxy mastered.

You can always bribe them with credits, food, or whatever they want if you ever need a little spy either way

He looked at Kayana and tilted his head, now a bit curious himself. "This one takes it you are not under the Compact?"

---

Quylid had still not really noticed the duct rat or asari, consciously anyway. It thought it detected something blue sometime earlier (and with Vaken off dealing with the Pest it would be 'mostly' harmless to any attacks (though Quylid had a few tricks up its tentacles) because once again, in its own jellyfish arrogance and self-importance. It was focusing to much on Laykalar again for now. So even without being stealthy she would have had an incredibly easy time sneaking up on it.

"This one is very grateful", it shimmered. "Very grateful for the young one's acquired knowledge" it dimmed slightly. "Unfortunately it does not know this area well. It was just here to observe a potential business opportunity. But perhaps it would be able to ask one of the ali--", it shimmered quickly. "People here for help?"

"Irrational?" She raised an eyebrow. "Dude, there's this hanar who has a total hate on for me, routinely tells me drell have no souls and that my parents should have eaten me. Oh, and it is completely incapable of articulating the phrase "Independent Drell". I'm pretty sure it has compactees. It could be worse!"

"Nah, I'm pretty much a pure independent now. I skipped out when it became clear this one's compactor wasn't taking the Reaper War seriously, using it to do clandestine housekeeping bullshit in the chaos. What the fuck, right? So...N7 Irregulars, Represent!" She mock-seriously-saluted. "My husband's independent too."

"I attend school, and I actually have a drell boss. Isn't that awesome?"

Millen leaned against a wall nearby so she could listen in properly. It wasn't that she was actually interested, just that she was bored and they were there.

"Weeehelllll would you look at that. A human church" A thickish salarian drawl picks up and carries across the pristine floor of Tayseri ward. The longish fur lined coat, simple cloth shirt and arms sleeved with different tattoos from across the galaxy all screamed out loud that the man had made some interesting career choices. He laughs and waves an omnitool through the air, taking a nice panoramic picture of the church.

Checking out the photo, Yzk clicks his tongue. Little group of Hanar around here glowing this color and that color was screwing with his picture. Eh, hanar were a polite enough bunch, maybe they would move.

Strutting on up to the group, Yzk coughs loudly and speaks up.

"Pardon me, would y'all mind scooching over a tad? No offense intended but this tourist can't get a good photo around here." Noticing the drell finally, Yzk gives a near perfect head tilt. "Good day ma'am"

That is Quylid all right, Vaken thought to himself. "There are hanar who abuse and take advantage of their compactees. But I can assure you, Quylid is a honorable and well-paying employer that would never have any of its compactees do anything it would do."

He blinked. His eyes reverting back for a moment. "It ran away from its client? Did it at least give a warning before it ran away to leave it?"

He looked over and saw a salarian appear out of nowhere. "Sir, please do not disturb the hanar until they finish their conversation."

This had been a fortuitous meeting indeed! Satisfied that he had done what he could for his fellow hanar, Laykalar respectfully withdrew.

"It should let the other continue with its business" he said, unaware that this would no doubt come as quite a relief. "It wishes the other success with its plans for expansion! It is welcome to join this one whenever its schedule allows!"

A salarian had arrived on the scene while they were talking, apparently eager to access the area. It was practically dancing in place impatiently. If it knew the region, perhaps it would tell him where he needed to go? Its hurried demeanour was contagious, and Laykalar drifted to the new arrival's side, pulsing out a pleasant greeting.

"Well, I'm glad for you then."

"Ah, the full story is...a bit much for me to holler from up here, but no. I did not give two weeks notice. I walked out during a mission, during the Cerberus attack on the Citadel." Her grin was a little crooked. "Probably would have been safer staying, wouldn't have had to fight the Atlas."

"Twisted thing is I was still too way young for the the irregulars. A fellow drell helped me get forged papers. Where'd you spend the war?"

"Seems they are mostly done now bub." Brushing aside one to speak to another, Yzk replies in his own manner. "You are lucky I picked up on hanar a few years back. That and I lost a bet back before the War. Had a modified version of that drell eye surgery done." Squinting a bit he smiles, nearly patting the glowing jelly. "And a good day to you...You a native to this ward?"

Quylid bowed its 'head' as Laykalar took its leave. Grateful that the conversation was over, for now anyway. It started to make its way towards Vaken before stopping, suddenly noticing something in the more shadowy areas of the ward. It froze for several moments before it recognized the shape.

Just the asari

It laughed a little, the same grotesque pulsing from earlier as it signaled for Vaken.

---

Vaken shifted, suddenly uncomfortable. Should he really be talking this to drell? "That is... interesting", he quickly changed the subject. "This one spent the war protecting investments of its previous clients on Rough Tide it decided to go on a more 'relaxing' job afterwards and Quylid quickly hired it after it saw its credentials", he smiled. Barely.

Vaken sighed a little in relief. The conversation did seem to be over. As Laykalar drifted towards them.

He noticeably cringe (and sigh when he realized which hanar it really was) when the salarian nearly patted one though. That could have ended in disaster if it was Quylid.

She lifted her head slightly, she was proud.

"Rough Tide, eh? My father had an assignment there, a long time ago." A shrug. "He never talked about it."

She noticed the hanar breaking apart, and straightened up a bit. "Pleasure to meet you too, Quylid."

"Interesting", Vaken said, "I am not surprised he chooses to not talk about it. Rough Tides has had a bloody history...", a tiny, almost unnoticeable frown crossed his face when the drell introduced herself to Quylid.

oh dear

Quylid shuddered at the drell saying its name. But tried to keep itself composed as it shot a disapproving 'glance' at Vaken's direction. "Greetings and pleasant tides to the other as well", it said, a hint of displeasure in its voice at having to speak vocally. "Enjoying its discussion with this one's compactee?"

Kayana was entirely capable of toning her accent down, in fact that was one of the first things they'd tried to teach her.

But she didn't want to tone it down. She leaned on crossed arms, and grinned.

"I am very much enjoying my conversation with I'm-sure-he-has-a-name."