[Palaven Gardens] an afternoon in the park (closed)

It was a beautiful afternoon and the artificial sun was shining bright over Kithoi Ward and Palaven Gardens. After a few weeks of intense activities around the CEF celebrations Arina finally had the opportunity to relax and care for herself for a change.

She was wearing a comfortable sports combination and light shoes, no dresses or heels for a change. With a blanket under her arm and some chilling music in her earphones she walked down a path through the greenery. Of course, it was always clear that this was no planet, the arms of the Citadel and a segment of the Earth visible in the sky. But still, it was a relaxing feeling to be in something that at least somewhat resembled a natural environment and was not mostly steel and glass.

She slid out of her sneakers and her bare feet were rustling through the grass – a wonderful feeling – as she walked over towards a small pond. Of course, diving was forbidden here as well, not just on the Presidium. Arina made a mental note to look up short trips to Earth for swimming in diving sometime soon. She was missing that on the Citadel.

When she had found a spot she liked, her eyes met a familiar figure, associated with the scent of delicious bakery, strolling along. Oh, well, what a coincidence. Arina greeted with a wave and made an inviting gesture.
“Hello! What are you doing out here?”

Kiara looked up at Arina's voice, a smile appearing on her face. "Oh, hey, Arina! Just out for a stroll, relax and enjoy the view..."

The other Asari was wearing a light brown sundress with a floral pattern and sandals, and paused from her walk towards one of the nearby benches, turning to face Arina, before she looked up at Earth in the sky. "I'm still not entirely used to seeing a planet from the Citadel, though. You here for a run?"

“Oh, I wanted to initially but then I got lazy and brought this” she showed the rolled up blanket. “I just wanted to sprawl over there.” Arina pointed to a piece of grass, next to a tree and not far away from the small pond. “That thing is big enough for two if you want to join,” she offered with a smile.

“Yeah, I have been to the Citadel numerous times in the past and the light is sure different. It’s not that omnipresent glow of the nebula. It’s almost as if the Earth is like a moon – a big moon.” She laughed at the thought of what’s circling what really but in terms of galactic importance, the Citadel still was the communal meeting ground and the Council was facing its most important era perhaps. She shook her head. Enough thinking about politics.

Instead she looked at Kiara to distract herself. A really nice outfit and a casual contrast to what she had met her first in at the bakery.

“Have you ever been to Earth?” Arina asked, while she spread the blanket and sat down.

Kiara grinned, nodding. "Sure, I could do with a bit of lazing on the grass."

She walked with the other asari, smiling. "Same here, mostly. I've been here a few times before- shore leave, mostly."

As she sat down, she smiled. "I have been to Sydney, yeah. Again, shore leave."

Arina sat cross-legged, hands in her lap. "Oh, I have never been up there so far. I had no real time for anything else besides work since I came here. the embassy had to start from scratch basically but we have come a long way, so I am planning to go soon." Maybe she could ask Kiara later more about her experiences. She had no real idea where to start but she knew there were terran travel agencies sprouting on the Citadal. First hand accounts were always better though.

A detail in the baker's comment raised Arina's interest. "Shore leave sounds like you've been on 'duty'.... are you a huntress?"

Kiara nodded, sitting back. "I suppose it has been major work down there. Australia in general is quite an amazing place, although you need to keep a close eye on when you're going- the weather there goes to the extremes more often than it can be described as 'mild'. Pouring rain or heat waves, take your pick.

And... yeah, I was a huntress."

The younger Asari sighed, shifting on the grass.

Oh, maybe she had hit a rough spot. The younger asari seemed a bit sad at times, it had never really occurred to Arina but the eyes...

"Was... Did you drop from the service completely? I am sorry to hear that. I feel so sorry for you fighters. I've been on Niacal during the whole war. We were abandoning the cities and were scattering into the woods. The huntresses were hitting the Reapers with hot needles to keep them occupied. I was trying to establish com lines and organize supplies. I only once had to fight off husks, no comparison to anyone else really. May I ask, where you have been?"

Kiara sighed again. "Dropped completely, sort of. ...gah. I feel like I need to tell someone anyway right now, so..."

She paused, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them again. "I've got what's classified as 'mild PTSD', and by mild, they mean that I can still function and that I don't have a lot of the symptoms. But the symptoms I do have..."

A shrug. "It's hard to stay in the military when you have difficulty bringing yourself to pick up a gun anymore, let alone actually pull the trigger.

As for where I've been... do you mean fighting during the War, or in general?"

Oh, bullseye. She also had dreams from time to time with war associated subjects but nothing that was hampering her daily life. Sad stuff and so many... Arina tried not to sound too pitiful.

"I'm sorry to hear that, I really am." she made a pause. "Yes, I meant during the war. Were you on a ship, since you said 'shore-leave'?" another pause. "But I'd also like to know where you're from and stuff. If you feel like talking, I'd like to listen. I'm from Thessia myself."

"Well, I'm from Epira- born in Harbour Song. Quarian father, although I don't really remember her that well- she was pretty old by the time she and mum met.

Let's see... before the war, you're right, I was mainly attatched to Chronicle of Starlight as part of the Huntress contingent. Went up against... a pretty large variety, actually. Nearly a hundred years does add up when you think about it..."

Kiara chuckled, before her expression became more serious. "The War... Epira had really mixed fortunes during the War, to be honest. The Reapers hit the cities fairly hard, but the environment's still intact, and they've been able to rebuild okay from what I've heard. It's difficult to travel there right now, with the Relays and all... in any case, I was actually taking some leave on the Citadel when the news came in of Earth falling- with Palaven coming in soon afterwards..."

She shrugged. "Have you heard of the 'N7 Spec Ops' during the war? I basically ended up attatched to that program..."

At this point, Kiara paused again, giving the older Asari a chance to comment.

Of course Arina had heard about the N7 Special Ops teams. It was clear that Kiara had seen action in almost every theatre. The teams had been sent wherever there was action, they were moved around fast and never knew what they were up against or were they would end up.
"I know them alright. Niacal was too unimportant to ever receive a detachment but I was putting together a few files on these operations for the embassy. All the records are scattered or missing, but you people may not be forgotten. We owe you quite a bit.

If that means anything, I thank you for your service." She was touching the former huntress on the upper arm.

"Who knows how Mother Thessia would look without you." She couldn't imagine anything worse really but she could not have imagined the Reapers either. "I am from Dassia. My dad was salarian, I also didn't know him really. My mum passed on thirty years ago, it was just her time, it was peaceful... I'm glad she didn't have to see that mess."

Arina was lying down and turned onto her side, head resting on her arm.
"So, how's the bakery doing?"

Kiara smiled gratefully. "Thanks.

Anyway, the bakery's doing pretty well! Seems the turian customers I've been getting like the new dextro buns I've been making. I'm turning a fairly healthy profit, might look into hiring some additional workers so the store can stay open more often."

"That's great to hear! Quality should prevail. I'll be coming over again next weekend for sure.I always found it fascinating how someone can cook stuff that is dextro. I know, I know... A lot of touring-Asari couples are doing that every day but I would just freak out if I could not taste what I am doing. I had a turian friend once and we shared the same fridge, so we were defining spaces where each chirality was but it was still something I never fully trusted. He maybe neither." Arina chuckled thinking about that time.

"Currently I have the fridge on my own, I had no time to really get to know any people. I am just starting to... what about you?"

"I've met a few people from the forums, I chat with the people who come to my store... not a lot of people so far, though.

As far as chirality goes, you just have to be careful- two different workspaces, essentially. Not being able to taste the stuff is a bit wierd, sure, but I managed to get one of my turian friends from a while back do some taste-testing while she was visiting the Citadel."

“Aren't turians nice test subjects.” Arina chuckled. “So getting a turian coworker would probably be a way to go...”

For a moment she considered continuing the easy chat but somehow the story of the baker had moved her. She had never guessed that there was huntress behind this peacefull, yet a bit sad looking asari maiden. She decided to try a conversation in deeper waters. It had sounded as if Kiara didn't have many opportunities to talk about that, yet she didn't hesitate a moment ago and Arina wanted to know something.

"Listen... uhm, if this gets uncomfortable or if I ask anything that's going too far, just... say so, okay? I don't want to be an ass, but I said I'd listen... So, were you ever deployed on Thessia, what was it like? I... I can't imagine, I just can't"

Kiara sighed. "No, I didn't take part in any actions on Thessia itself. There were other teams much better placed to that area."

"Hmm" Arina replied with a nod, not much to say to that.
"So did you end up baking? Not exactly the thing one would expect from a huntress."

Kiara chuckled. "Ah... one of mum's friends loved baking when I was growing up. She taught me, and after the war... well, it was something I could do, and I had the funds to buy a shop here, so... mostly as a way to get back on my feet."

“Sounds good. Just saying though, if you ever need anything where I could be off assistance, just call in. The embassy has an open door for you. That’s the least we can do for those who served us.” Arina turned onto her back, ankles crossed, hands under her head. She was looking up at the visible part of teh Erath.

“That planet... I am thinking about a tour down there, I mentioned. I would like to go diving, if possible. I miss that on the Citadel, swimming and diving.”

Kiara smiled as she looked up into the sky as well. "Thanks. Hmmmm... that sounds nice. And a trip to Earth might be nice too..."

The younger asari deliberately didn't mention the damage. "Oh? I like swimming when I have the time... I must admit I prefer just splashing around in 'traditional swimwear' to swimming laps, though.