[Nevos] The Triad (closed)

Nevos was showing its best side, fantastic weather over Astella and alight, warm breeze coming from the sea, carrying an ever so slightly salty scent. Home sweet home for Taleeze.

The aircab lifted off with Taleeze and Skylar on board. In a swooping curve it turned around so they got a good view of the inner city and its harbor, the famous sign disappearing below them “Nevos: Life’s a Beach!”

Taleeze was jumpy with anticipation. She was really looking forward to see Freh again who was awaiting them at the house, a few kilometers outside Astella in a secluded bay area neighborhood. She held her partners hand and was pointing out a few sights in the city.

“Look at that. We’ll have to do a city tour, I’d like to show you the Rings of Allune and all that but with Freh’ya we can manage to get in around the tourist masses!” Having a commando girlfriend had lots of advantages.

She then sighed and looked at Skylar, a bit more serious.
“I…” she sighed and chuckled, starting over. “I want to greet Freh the way I feel. It’s going to be … the first time, but no matter what happens, you’re my siame, I love you. Always remember that. The only way this works is always to be true. I can’t… we shouldn’t hold back with displays of affection, not with Freh’ya and I most certainly won’t with you.” Damn, and should you like Freh’ya eventually, don’t hold back! She sighed again with a weak grin. “I don’t want to make this any more complicated, but giving clear signals, speaking up about … whatever is the thing, right? This is all of us holding hands feeling around…” ah, that did come out awkward maybe. “Well, I am babbling. You know all of this anyway, love.” She chuckled and leaned over for a kiss. It started out slow but Taleeze put more intensity into it before breaking and smiling, pressing Skylar’s hands.

“I am very happy you’re here. I hope you’ll like the place.” She said with revived vigor.

Skylar liked to think of herself as quite composed, and while she appreciated a good trip and taking in new sights, generally didn't do the 'tourist thing' blatantly. She was hard-pressed not to have her nose up against the crystoplast of the taxi's canopy, though, and even remaining seated with dignity, her eyes were wide, and her lips open in a dazzling smile, as she took in the view. Nos Astra had some fine coastlines, along the Jade Sea, and the shores of the lakes to the north, but Astella was something else entirely. The natural landscape would have been stunning enough, but the asari settlers had laid down their harbour capital with all the grace and artistry Skylar expected from the species she admired so much.

"Beautiful," she murmured, resolving to very enthusiastically take Taleeze up on her offer of a more thorough tour later. She looked ahead, to where their destiation lay somewhere in the bays and inlets up the coast, with their elegant rooves amid the natural greenery, and glittering skyways snaking across the landscape.

Taleeze's sigh, and certainly her hesitant tone, brought her attention wholly back inside the skycar, and she listened patiently, not rushing Taleeze at all as she faltered her way through her thoughts.

"I'm sure I will," she replied at last, smiling at the taste of the kiss lingering on her lips. "And I agree entirely. Greet her exactly as your heart tells you, and... be sure that I will be nothing but happy to see you two together again. I promise."

Today was the day. Freh’ya let out a sigh as she looked around the living room for the x-th time and her eyes traveled towards the horizon of the ocean, visible through the glass wall on the first floor of the beach house.

She had put on comfortable but somewhat elegant light colored pants and a diagonally zipped similarly colored jacket. She had tried to get everything right and perfect and nice. It was first impressions that counted. She even had purchased an extensive assortment of fruits and snacks. She had no idea what Skylar would prefer – something she could have asked in one of the letters but it was always the trivial things you forget. So she ended up with all kinds of things and Taleeze would probably scold her for overdoing it. But the first impression counted.

She looked over to the veils that were separating other areas of the top floor, they were moving very slightly with the air. She was indeed nervous and had to let out a chuckle.

Her omnitool beeped at the same time the house VI announced an approaching aircar. She took the stairs to the landing pad two at a time. There is was, a red cab descending, the hood opened and Freh’ya could see the two figures, Taleeze and the blond human woman, known as Skylar… She approached the aircar with a big smile on her face. “Tal, Skylar!”

Taleeze looked Skylar in the eyes, with thankful and relaxed expression.
"Right! will do, will do! I think I'm more nervous than you are, which is funny." she giggled. "Oh, goddess, I feel like on a date" And here she hoped it was the end of dating!

~~~~

The house got into view. It was a two story beach house with an elevated landing pad on the roof. It faced the ocean with a large window front and was set in a wide bay, with a few similar houses cluttering the semi circle. There was a wide strip of sandy beach separating it from the sea. Lava rock formations cluttered the coastline, one to the left side of the house showed signs of artificial tide pools, Taleeze’s flower garden. The area behind the building was lush with greenery and sloping upwards to a chain of rocky hills.



Taleeze could see Freh’ya’s figure emerging on the platform. “Look, that’s our place! There’s Freh!” She said to Skylar, pointing down.

The Skycar touched down and the hood opened. One final press of Sky’s hand, then she got up and ran into the opening arms of Freh’ya.

“Freh!”

The tall huntress picked Taleeze up and spun her around, before pressing a kiss to her lips. She had thought of a short one, out of respect for Skylar, but Taleeze had other plans, indulging in the moment, kissing her very passionately, closing her eyes.
Finally she put Taleeze down, gently caressing her cheek.
“Welcome home, Tal, I missed you too!”

Freh’ya was looking over the dancer's shoulder straight into Skylar’s eyes. Her face retained the same soft smile as she approached the human. If this was supposed to work, there only was one way to do this. All the rehearsals couldn't prepare her for the actual moment, for the expression in Skylar’s eyes. That woman just had an aura about her, the breeze on the roof playing with long strands of the blond hair.

Freh’ya didn’t just offer her hands for a greeting but opened them for a hug towards Skylar, should she understand the gesture.
“Skylar, I am happy you are here finally. How was the flight?”

"Certainly puts my little apartment to shame," Skylar grinned, looking down as the skycar banked into its descent towards the pad. She admired the elegance of the building - understated, designed merely to blend form with function, to settle into the bright landscape as if it had always meant to be there. It was a far cry from the ostentatious mansions of Nos Astra or Milgrom, which wore their architecture and aesthetics like neon signs, demanding attention from all who beheld them. This was... simply a home, and beautiful simply because it had been decided that a home should be. Weathered, warm-looking walls catching the sun like an old friend, and those big windows, cool like the ocean.

She followed Taleeze's finger and nodded as she caught sight of Freh'ya, waiting for them.

"Go get her," she smiled, quite redundantly, as Taleeze obviously had had exactly that thought herself, and embraced it fully. Skylar straightened out of the 'car and approached, a few steps behind, watching the two asari kiss. An appealing image for all sorts of reasons, including some quite superficial, but Skylar was surprised at how natural it felt. The woman she loved, kissing the woman she loved; there was no feeling of exclusion, only contentment, at seeing Taleeze so obviously loved in return.

And for Freh'ya, a sense of fellow-feeling, of what they shared. And curiosity, too; she met the woman's gaze and returned it, taking a quick breath to steady herself - now, at least, some nerves couldn't be entirely shaken - and continuing forward to accept her greeting.

"Freh'ya," she replied. "It's very good to be here." When the asari extended her arms Skylar almost reached to grasp them by instinct, but just as she began to move she realised the gesture was not what she had thought. Her eyes flickered to the widespread arms, then back to Freh'ya's face, her brow furrowing slightly as if she were slightly puzzled. Then her face cleared, and with a smile she stepped forward, and entered into Freh'ya's hug without reluctance.

"It is very good to be here," she repeated softly, closing her eyes for a moment. Such a strange feeling - she and Freh'ya had exchanged a few words at most, and a handful of letters since, yet being held in her arms didn't feel like the embrace of a stranger. Skylar didn't know her, but she knew she wanted to.

Swallowing slightly, she stepped back - though not far - when Freh's arms parted, and as an afterthought let her hands trail down those arms to her hands, grasping them - finally - in the greeting she had first expected. She glanced to Taleeze quickly, then back.

"Um. The flight?" She grinned as her mind caught back up with the conversation. "No cause for complaint, but passenger liners are what they are. Excepting the company, of course," she nodded again to Taleeze, "this would definitely be one of those times when the journey is not more appealing than the destination."

Taleeze was ready to jump at Skylar’s side when she watching with amazement how Freh’ya greeted her and how the woman just responded as if it was the most usual thing. The smile on her lips was growing even wider if that was possible. She raised an eyebrow when she noticed Skylar’s fingers gliding over Freh’s arm that way.

It was a strange feeling – it was not what Taleeze had anticipated would be happening and it seemed she had worried for all the wrong reasons. Instead of Skylar needing mental support after her kissing Freh, she got all kinds of feeling seeing this touch. The feeling was very good though.

“Ugh, the food was terrible, as always! Company was making it bearable though”
She waited until the two had parted, then took Skylar's arm.

“So let’s have the Grand Tour then, shall we?”

Oh. That was. Good. Freh’ya gently folded er arms around Skylar who went into this embrace a bit more enthusiastically than Freh had anticipated. Maybe she still underestimated the human. But how much can you guess from a handful of letters. It was better than expected. But when she ran her hands down the bare forearms, the big asari shuddered. Had Skylar noticed that? If the saying held any truth that first impressions are the ones that count, this was the best of all openings.

There was Taleeze, hugging Skylar. The woman she loved, hugging that human and it didn’t feel wrong, but… interesting and fascinating. One step at a time.

Freh’ya just snatched the bags of the two. She slung Taleeze’s bag over her shoulder and carried the others, it seemed the natural thing to do for her, she didn’t even think about it.

When the three approached the door for the elevator, an asari-shaped VI appeared as a projection.

“Welcome home, Miss Taleeze, Welcome home, Miss Skylar! I am Anemona, the housekeeper. It is a great pleasure. The house is prepared for your arrival. You will find my interface in all rooms, if you have any questions or requests, please let me know! I wish to serve to your fullest satisfaction.” She announced with juvenile enthusiasm.

Teleeze looked at Freh’ya who just looked straight ahead and seemed to flush. Hard to tell on a purple asari though.

“May I take the liberty of noting that you have beautiful hair today, Miss Skylar!” The VI didn’t wait for an answer but disappeared and the elevator opened.

Taleeze just chuckled. Oh, Freh!

Skylar chuckled at Taleeze's assessment of the flight food - one day, someone would get it right, and in her estimation likely become the richest caterer ever to exist - and held her hand as their arms lay together, feeling a quite unexpected elation. Relief she had anticipated, should all go well, but still tingling from Freh'ya's hold, and now at last accepted to her home - her family - as a partner, she felt heightened, as if her senses had all kicked into a higher gear. She had no frame of reference; looking from one asari to the other, and feeling herself smile without any conscious will on her part, she gave herself over to the moment, trusting herself to whatever tide had caught her and, evidently, pulled her into charmed waters.

"The tour," she echoed. "Yes, of course. ...oh, thank you," she added, glancing back as Freh'ya quickly detoured, and seeing her gather up their bags. She hadn't given them a second's thought since the canopy of the taxi had opened. Of course by hospitality etiquette it was Freh'ya's duty, and already she knew the woman took her duties, large or small, very seriously.

She wasn't unduly surprised when the VI materialised, although being welcomed 'home' made her blush; the following compliment, however, was a surprise. Perhaps not so startling as it might have been - Daia's Sasha was quite exceptionally chatty for a VI, serving as a frequent reminder that the technology wasn't invariably as limited as the dull, monotonous servitors she tended to encounter in corporate buildings - but a behaviour like that didn't just happen, out of nowhere. She wondered who had programmed it - Taleeze might have, before departing for Illium, or for all she knew had logged in remotely some time during. VI behaviour modification by remote via omni-tool was no mean feat, but Skylar knew Taleeze better than to doubt she had the talent. Then again from the way she chuckled, she wondered if it had been Freh'ya - who seemed suddenly to have quite a wooden face.

"Thank you kindly," she said with a smile, despite the hologram having already departed. "How did you two come by such a lovely home?"

They entered the elevator and Freh’ya assessed. This had gone not too bad from her judgment of Skylar’s reaction.

Talking all this through during the time she had with Taleeze alone on Nevos before she left for Illium and her trip had put her through all paces. There had been sad, there had been happy, there had been helplessness, there had been happy again. She had talked to the Matriarch and they they had argued before there had been an acceptance and anticipation building. And then there had been the exchange of letters. Something she had done on her own, because she wanted it. And the woman that had peeked around the corner had been such an atypical human. Not the demanding bully, claiming her rights – and for Freh’ya, what she had done had left her with no rights to claim – over Taleeze. No, there had been a gentle and caring person, as much excited and as much as curious as she herself. That had really been the moment when Freh’ya had settled in with the idea of adding a family member, she had fully embraced it and had decided that this would not be done just half arsed. If Skylar was going to be Taleeze’s – and her – partner, Freh'ya wanted to earn her. This was someone she could like and … well who knows, grow to love.

The lift ride was mere seconds and now Freh’ya was realizing that something else she had done in her brainless acts of preparation was now waiting to be uncovered.

She didn't hear a single word Taleeze had said.

“It’s really cool. It’s a bit like with the FuHa, a matter of opportunity. The marked used to be very volatile here so you could get very good deals. And to be honest, Freh’s income is not bad!” Taleeze explained as they entered the elevator that was just big enough with all the bags. “I wouldn't be able to purchase something like that alone alone but together we could. It came up almost finished when we decided to move in together so we took it. We did a few things ourselves and now it’s that place. Our place.”

“You can’t really compare that to Nos Astra, where you actually have a super beautiful apartment. You never told me what that costs but I guess you could afford a bungalow around here for that.”

On the floor below the doors opened into a single large room, interrupted only by fragile pillars and at one end an area was separated by semi transparent white veils which moved slightly in the warm ocean breeze from open windows.

“This is the living area…”

All the front facing the ocean was ceiling to floor glass with folding sections and a large balcony on one end. The view was just ocean with a near spotless sky. The dominant colors of the interior where white and light gray wood, while the back of the house facing landwards was an arrangement of raw lava rock, simulating the look of a cave wall. Plants and small water basins were integrated there, as well as indirect lighting.

While the floor was natural wood panels, the ceiling was crisscrossed with thin rails, obviously for other drapery to separate spaces, currently folded together in corners. Centerpiece was a kitchen arrangement, surrounded by a bar and stools, a bit to the side was an alcove containing what seemed to be an office with shelves and a display interface.

An L shaped sofa with lots of cushions around a large dark lava stone table was another remarkable spot of the living area.

The tour led the trio to the secluded part on the far end, Freh’ya dropped the bags, pushing the veils aside. Behind was what looked like a bedroom. In the back, forming an alcove in the natural lava wall, was a spacious bathroom, separated by a foldable glass door. It was the same colors as the rest of the room and contained a small pool bath and a shower, looking like a waterfall over lava rocks.

But right now they stood before a large bedsite, looking down. It was no real bed but large mattresses sunk flush with the floor, about three meters square, pillows and sheets neatly arranged.

Three pillows and three blankets.

“I… well. It’s …. There’s space and… so that’s the bedroom.” Freh’ya now was an example for a brick red asari.

Taleeze looked at her, then at Skalar then at the bed again, unsure what to say.
She decided to laugh finally and hugged Freh’ya, who’s shoulders slumped. She looked a bit like a wet kat.

Then she turned to Skylar and put an arm around her waist, pulling her closer gently. Their nose tips touched.
“Well, you can’t sleep in a guest bed in your home now, can you?”

Skylar walked slowly out of the elevator into the living area, silent as she looked around in open admiration. The view, of course, was stunning - Nevos had put on a beautiful day, and the wall of windows showed it off to perfection. The drapes caught her attention as they undulated slowly, and she noted the ceiling rails, a most elegant refinement to the typically asari open-plan interior arrangement. Her hand found the lava rock fixed to the rear wall and she pressed her palm to its gently textured surface, casting a glance back at the two asari to show her appreciation of their home.

Our home, she thought, bemusedly. She ran her hand along the wall, touching the surface of the water in one of the basins. Droplets ran down her fingers as she lifted her hand; one clung onto a fingertip, and she gently deposited it on the leaf of a decorative plant. It was so much to take in, but again, she put the enormity of the decision behind herself, and focused on the simple truth, that she wanted to be here. It was overwhelming being welcomed to a home, and a family, when it seemed not so long ago she and Taleeze had barely met, but if being overwhelmed was part of the path of being with her, well then, she would be overwhelmed. It would not change her course.

"Oh, this is remarkable," she murmured, crossing from the wall to the stone table. She circled the table, gazing into its smooth surface, then looked up again, turning slowly to take in the view, the arrangement of furniture facing it, the kitchen - definitely a valued feature, and she resolved to polish her culinary skills, such as they currently were - and finally moved to rejoin Taleeze and Freh'ya as they approached what proved to be the bedroom.

Again she marvelled - it wasn't luxury, as such, certainly not as Nos Astra would've understood the term, but beauty, an elegance in design that rewarded close regard, even as it ably performed the various functions it had been set out for. The spacious bath caught her eye, and she immediately pictured herself settling into its waters; Taleeze as well. Freh'ya as well, she reflected, suppressing a slight blush.

Freh'ya's voice, at that opportune moment, brought her attention back to the bed, but for the life of her she couldn't at once see what had caused her sudden hesitancy, and Taleeze's reaction only puzzled her further, seeming to look for some response from her beyond acknowledging that it was, indeed, a bed, and a very comfortable-looking example. She smiled, confused but certainly not resisting, when she was pulled closer; it was only then that she realised.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, managing not to raise her voice too much. "Um. No, I... don't suppose I can." She looked back at the bed. What she had seen as a handful of pillows was now obviously three pillows, and the implications fell into place. Of course, she wouldn't have hesitated to share a bed with anyone she called a friend, let alone 'family' - she wasn't shy, nor so wedded to arbitrary boundaries to think that sleeping alongside someone had to mean more than it did. But of course, this would mean more. She only had to think of the last bed she had shared with Taleeze, in their Citadel hotel. Even in their sated moments, nobody could have mistaken them for simply 'sleeping alongside' one another. And Taleeze and Freh'ya, without a doubt, were similarly... inseparable, given the opportunity. And this was no stop-gap arrangement, where such things might be put on hold for a night or two, until she moved to a bed of her own. And, she realised... this had been Freh'ya's doing.

Still held by Taleeze, she looked up into Freh'ya's eyes. She had a glimpse, she felt, of the mixed feelings there - not reluctance, but the confused meeting of curiosity and welcome with apprehension at whether she was doing the right thing. She imagined her own expression showed the same; she let it show. They were in this together, after all.

"Thank you," she said simply.

The asari were a very welcoming species. They just couldn’t do any different once they decided to welcome you, it would be open arm. On the other hand, should they decide to repel you, you get the shoulder in a very snide way, often enough experienced by quarians on Illium for example.

So once Freh’ya had decided that Skylar was going to be a part of their life, it seemed natural that she would not just allow Taleeze to be with her but to integrate her into her own life as well, should Skylar decide this to be what she herself wanted.

She noted with relief how Skylar took in the surroundings with approval. Illium was after all a very posh place and someone like Skylar must have some standards. Skylar’s reaction at the bed – something she had thought back and forth but never raised with Taleeze – made her relax endlessly. That look Skylar gave her at that very moment lifted a weight off her shoulders.
She saw a look there just as she felt herself about this. Not at all awkward but more extending a hand and trying to find out what the next stop would be. This was in a way exciting and Freh’ya knew she was blushing like a schoolgirl. She didn’t care though and she actually wanted Skylar to see what she felt. She finally smiled, showing her white teeth, and closed in, not questioning the moment. She wrapped her arms around Taleeze and Skylar and her head touched with the other two. She could easily reach around them, being so significantly taller. Freh’ya closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the two women, mixing together. Something she could definitely get used to. Hair obviously carried pheromones, she thought.

They stood like that for a moment before Taleeze chuckled.

“That’s like a dream, you two know that?” Taleeze said in a low voice.
“I didn’t know what to expect…. I ran through various ideas about this moment but reality surpasses that. I am sorry, if I sound a bit… flushed right now” she chuckled and looked from one to the other.

“I felt so bad back then, feeling like forcing something.” She remembered nights in tears, some in Freh’yas arms. “… but now seeing you two here makes so much sense. Look at you two….”

She had doubted this in many ways but all she had to do was placing some of the weight in Freh and Skylar’s hands. She did not have to carry them through this, they would come on their own and even help each other along. In all honesty, she would have liked stay right here and show both of them how deep her love was running… her mind faded a bit under the mental image. But there was no need to rush, one step at a time.

“C’mon, there’s more to see!” she said, taking Skylar and Freh’ya by their hands. “This place is not going anywhere.” She added with a grin and a very visible blush.

Wooden stairs next to the elevator led up to the roof terrace and the platform and down to the lower living area, another large living room with sofas, pillows and tables. One corner held an open fireplace inside a black lava rock arrangement and a small kitchenette, obviously for barbecue gear and a fridge. There was a wooden shelve with lots of printed books, some of them in protective cases. In another corner was an assortment of training gear, weights, a punch bag and some balls.

The wandered the other side where a door in actual wall opened into a small guest apartment, a bedroom with the same large window-door as the whole front was, and an adjoining bathroom.

Another door led to a windowless room that was equipped like a workshop for mechanics and electronics, obviously Taleeze’s corner of miracles. Large screens and a lot of tools and raw materials were occupying the various desks and benches.

Back in the main room, they went outside through the fully opened glass front. On the porch were spacious reclines around a garden table, further down across a white sand beach strip the ocean licked the shore with its soothing sound, carrying a salty breeze.

Freh’ya finally was relaxed and she started enjoying being with company. She now wanted to get to know her new family better. Her mind was taken off all the heavy thoughts and all the darkness that was sometimes haunting her was pushed back. She didn’t even realize it.

“So, that’s the house. It is set so you’re recognized as owner, you noticed already. What’s ours is now also yours.” Freh’ya continued with a formal but affectionate tone. “Our house is your house, our tribe is your tribe and my spear is your protection, Skylar.”
She cleared her throat in quandary, crossing her hands behind her back, standing very upright with all the tall figure she had.

“Well, I just felt I had to say that. I like the old sayings. They’re meaningful and were carried for generations so we should not neglect them. Some may find that’s a stupidity and we moved along nowadays. I am… certain, you’re not one of those and can cherish what this means. It means a lot to me, I assure you.”

She sighed, then laughed, clapping her hands.
“Girls! You must be thirsty! I have a well filled fridge over there, why don’t you sit and make yourself comfortable while I prepare you something? I know what Tal likes, but what can I get for you, Skylar? Water, juices, beer… I even have Paragade… well, I have no idea what you drink.”

Taleeze had taken a reclined position between some cushions already, extending an arm in invitation.

Wow. Freh'ya was attractive by anyone's standards; when she smiled, she was stunning. Skylar smiled back by instinct, and seeing the larger asari move towards them, lowered her head and closed her eyes, keeping one arm around Taleeze while freeing the other to embrace Freh'ya. I could stay right here for a long, long time, she thought, as those strong, gentle arms gathered her and Taleeze and held them.

"Look at us three," she murmured, moving her hand slowly up and down Taleeze's back, comfortingly. Freh'ya had told her in one of her letters how difficult it had been for Taleeze to handle all her feelings at the start. Her other hand, on Freh'ya's back, moved the same way of its own accord.

She felt pleasantly light-headed, and shot Freh'ya a grin, as both their hands were taken and the tour continued. The lower level was the equal of the main floor, an elegant reflection of its inhabitants. The fireplace looked particularly inviting, and she wondered how cold it got on Nevos. The sun had been fit to bask in when they had landed, with the refreshing breeze taking the edge off of heat which would otherwise have had them down to minimal clothing (steady there, imagination), but perhaps the nights could grow chilly. For certain the house would have interior climate control in any case, but that would be no reason not to enjoy a good fire. She smiled at the sight of the spare bedroom - any guest would feel welcome there, but she was thoroughly happy with the alternative arrangement Freh'ya had settled upon.

"I did notice," she smiled at Freh'ya, recalling Anemona's greetings. "That's very kind of you. And of course my apartment on Illium is yours." She kept her gaze on the tall asari as she gave her more formal traditional welcome. When she finally relaxed her posture, and her hands came out from behind her back, Skylar reached for one, and held it when it was offered.

"I can see how much it means to you," she assured her, and dipped into her own store of asari tradition, acquired from years of diligent study: "Your tribe is my tribe. I thank you for the warmth of your welcome, and will sleep soundly under your protection."

She grinned to see Freh'ya's energy and vitality - it was clear how much of her earlier tension had dissipated.

"I tried Paragade for a little while, when I was newly graduated," she admitted, smiling as she took the offered place with Taleeze on the couch. "Kept me up all night - whether I wanted to be or not - and honestly, if I'm going to wake up with a headache and a sticky taste in my mouth, I'd prefer to have gotten them from indulging in something more genuinely sinful than a sports drink." She considered her choice a moment. "Speaking of indulging, though, I think I'd quite like a beer, thank you."

She watched Freh'ya depart with a grateful smile, then let her head drop back onto the back of the couch, took in a deep breath, and let it slowly out before glancing sidelong at Taleeze.

"'Dreams are true while they last, and do we not live in dreams?'" she quoted. Her smile took on an impish humour, and she winked. "So you'll sleep in the middle...?"

Taleeze had dropped her shoes the moment she had dropped onto the couch. The sun and breeze felt great on her bare feet. It was a rather hot day, even in the shadow of the bushes.
When Freh’ya hurried away to fetch drinks, Taleeze slid an arm around Skylar.

“Yeah, it seems that’s the plan,” Taleeze giggled looking back at Skylar. “I had no idea and seriously, I didn’t even think about that. I didn’t think about any of the practical things, my head being just full of air. Freh’ya on the other hand is keeping together everything… she does that all the time. I wouldn’t be surprised if she has already made space in the closet for your stuff as well.” Her eyes travelled to the tall figure rummaging around the kitchenette, getting a bit dreamy. “She’s doing really fine today.”

She then turned towards Skylar again, putting a hand on the human’s thigh.
“You’re amazing beyond believe, Sky, you really are. The way you handle this, it’s not… I don’t take it for granted, you know that?” She leaned in for a quick kiss, flushing a bit when she said in a lower voice “You two can roll a dice on who gets me first, huh?” Looking into Skylar’s eyes she added: “But maybe you’d rather be in the middle?”

She had noticed the glances of Skylar towards Freh’ya. There were no deflecting reactions whatsoever, more like an eagerness to discover the new person in the mix… like an asari would. Skylar, you’re really an asari with blond hair.
There was no need to say any more basically. Taleeze was looking forward to the evening, because she would be able to be with Freh’ya and Skylar, it would not be something to hesitate about but the natural thing to do.

She looked past Skylar towards Freh, who was just opening a bottle of beer. The white vest was just enhancing her triangular back with the broad shoulders. Taleeze smiled.
“She’s awesome, isn’t she? Just like you, love.”

“Thank you very much, I hope to see your place soon, sister! I rarely get to Illium as you can imagine but I just have to find time for that.” Freh’ya replied to Skylar’s offer. Freh’ya noted her choice of words with a wide smile.
But the way Skylar was touching her was electrifying. She could see clear as water what Taleeze had found in this woman, she was beginning to see a glimpse of it and she now wanted to see it all.

~~~~

Freh’ya dropped her slippers on the porch as she approached the cuddling couple with two beers (Blue Bullet) and a limuna in a glass with icecubes and a straw, a slightly greenish asari version of a bitter lemon. The beer bottles were covered with a layer of ice crystals, the heat adding to the condensation.

“Here you go.” She handed the beverages over to their recipients. For a moment she stood and looked at the arrangement, then she decided to slide next to Taleeze. She could easily look over her head and reach over her. That was necessary, when she offered her hand with the beer for a toast with Skylar.

Taleeze had to put her head to her neck to look up at her and Freh places a small kiss on the pouted lips of her partner. Everyone was relaxed and happy it seemed when they enjoyed a cool drink. A cold beer on the porch, a lovely feeling.

“I hope it’s your brand!” she said after taking a swig.
“I need to find out what your preferences are.” Of course she meant food and drink, she didn’t even notice how double layered that sentence came out. “I have purchased some various seafood and salad for tonight. I have marinated skafa bits and eggs if you like sandwiches, since I thought something that’s not a chore to prepare would be nice today. I have not heard from Taleeze, but you don’t follow a special diet, right?”

The smaller dancer gave her a playful slap on the leg.
“Could you please stop that, Freh? You don’t have to take care of everything. It’s just fantastic as it is and we won’t die of hunger. But thank you for thinking of everything, love!” She leaned back again to collect a kiss, this time a bit more passionate.

Freh’ya chuckled and looked down. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I want everyone to be comfortable! That’s the least I can do! So, how’s the good old Citadel? I hear it’s almost all repaired, hard to believe. Actually, I need to congratulate the two of you on your successful business personally! For an Illium lawyer procedures on the Citadel must be a slice of pima-pie, right?”

Her feet were absent-mindedly playing with Taleeze’s. A round of swimming would be totally in order with that kind of heat, she thought and took a sip of the cold beer.

"I know you don't take it for granted," Skylar said quietly. "You fought for this. To make room in your heart for me. For me to be part of your family, your home. Part of you two." Savouring the kiss, she then cast a glance over her shoulder at Freh'ya, and thus was caught entirely off her guard when Taleeze got steamy.

"Um," she managed, feeling her cheeks turn red. Having properly met Freh'ya at last, just the thought of her 'getting' Taleeze was enough to make her dress feel stifling. And then she had to go and suggest Skylar be 'in the middle', at that. Her eyes must be wide as saucers, she thought, meeting the asari's gaze.

"I've had many a daydream begin with those words," some puckish part of her mind quipped, before she could stop herself. But what was the sense in denying it? Still blushing - how could one not? - she took Taleeze's free hand, the one not already around her waist, and held it in both of hers in her lap.

"She is," she agreed with Taleeze's assessment, looking down at their hands. Her voice was quiet, and full of emotion. "She..." She took a deep, steadying breath. "I feel... you and she together are the whole of the beauty of the asari. Everything I've ever wanted to be surrounded by, be- loved, by." She wanted to say more, but she had no idea how to. Perhaps she had to let the moment come when it would. Perhaps words wouldn't be needed.

Freh'ya's approach started her slightly - for a moment there was a mad impulse to wriggle out of Taleeze's hold and contrive to look innocent, but she put it down to social conditioning, and ignored it, merely freeing the asari's hand to let her take her drink, and not monopolise her affection as Freh'ya took her seat on her other side.

"Thank you," she smiled warmly, touching her hand to Freh'ya's in return of the toast, then to Taleeze as well. "Cheers." She took a gulp and exhaled, enjoying the river of ice melting downwards through her as she swallowed. Feeling very content with the state of the world she toed off her heels, and undid the top few inches of her dress, as far as decency allowed. Taleeze's fond chiding of her mate's fussing made her chuckle.

"You're very kind to be so thoughtful," she added. "And no, no special dietary requirements. I try to eat healthy as much as possible, but for the most part I let my taste buds make the choices, and exercise off any consequences later." She glanced at the bottle in her hand. "Apricity - the club in Nos Astra - has been stocking BB as part of an arrangement with Matchday. I've taken rather a liking to it."

She leant back, settling into the cushions, and watching Taleeze and Freh'ya kiss. A private moment, but again she felt part of it, not a prying eye looking in from outside. She touched the bottom of her bottle to the exposed patch of chest below her neck, giving a little shiver as condensation trickled down her skin. She smiled and nodded at Freh'ya's query.

"It does lack a certain 'swimming with sharks' quality one becomes accustomed to in Nos Astra," she admitted wryly. "Although there are intricacies. Illium has its deserved reputation after all, which carries its share of negative connotations. In a less... adversarial setting, let's say, coming in loaded for bear can be counter-productive. Makes them think 'Ah, an Illium attack-dog lawyer, best be on our guard.' People expecting to be stung by some trick in the fine print might consider it safer to simply not take your hand to begin with, even if you happen to be offering it in peace."

She chuckled, and took another swig of her beer.

"I don't know if you've ever had much experience of the ins-and-outs of legal argument and negotiation?" she asked. "Most people underestimate the amount of theatricality involved. And the weight it can carry. That the outcome is good is what matters, in the end, but if I'm being honest, I have to admit I enjoy the gamesmanship of it, too. Victory through skill and guile. It's sometimes not that different to being on stage."

“I understand you very well, Sky… lar. Sorry, is that okay? I mean, I am so accustomed to three-letter abbreviations. But I try not to overuse them!” She chuckeld and smiled, offering another cheer over Tal’s hips.

She then put the bottle down right on said hip while continuing talking, causing Taleeze to wiggle slightly. But the cold glass didn’t feel uncomfortable.

“I’m not the very subtle type of huntress after all. Negotiating is not what I was called in for usually, so I am not too well versed at it. We do get a thorough training on it though since the prime principle is to prevent military action being necessary but usually just the possibility of asari vanguards moving onto the field is enough to make the opponent back down.” She looked at Skylar with intensity, studying the figure next to Taleeze. That slightly opened dress, the distinctive hair above the very awake eyes. Freh'ya could imagine her winning stare contests in courtroom on a daily basis. the shapely - very shapely figure with the legas of an accomplished dancer. That was obvious and something she throughly enjoyed on Taleeze. She guessed the human was working out on a regular basis.

“If you don’t mind saying, you don’t look like a picture book Illium lawyer yourself and you don’t behave like I would expect one. That’s a compliment, because you’re giving a most favorable picture of your profession. But maybe I just have the wrong picture book.” She chuckled, taking a swig.

“I like the comparison with putting on a display, like on a stage. Playing out choreography of actions and see it all fall into place as planned is satisfying, isn’t it? The same with any martial art if you allow the comparison. Actually I have looked into your human fencing a bit since you mentioned it. We don’t have an exact equivalent, most of our weapons are more distance oriented, there’s no prolonged close quarter fighting. But I would like to try it someday.” She grinned, “I’ll be at an immense disadvantage size wise though but I like a challenge.”