[Earth] Of Cities Tall and Maidens Fair

Try as she might Erin had been unable to resist the urge to take a jaunt down to the homeworld during her vacation. After all it was only a couple of hours from the Citadel. But she wasn't going to hit the UK or the Emerald Isle. Too many memories in London. And her hometown was still a bloody mess. She caught the shuttle to Tokyo in the late morning local time. It was a little odd adjusting to a 24 hour clock again. After all she'd been going for nearly a year now on standard Citadel time.

The flight in was impressive, she'd always heard Tokyo was a gorgeous city but she'd never seen it in person before the Reapers pulverized it. The reconstruction though was obviously going well. She had to admit the flashlights were doing a pretty good job. She stepped down off the shuttle and the first thing she noted was the noise. It was actually enough to cover the mechanical whirs she was certain she heard from the bionics which had replaced her spine all the way down to her femurs. She made her way through the crowds slowly but surely. It was nice to be going without a uniform. No attention positive or negative, she was just one more tourist in a city full of them.

There was no shortage of things to do either. By the time it was close around seven in the evening she had visited two museums (and enjoyed them thoroughly) and eaten dubious vending machine food without any immediately noticeable ill effects. It was the nightlife she was here for though. Erin still enjoyed going out to bars and pubs and listening to the local talent whilst nursing a good drink. So when she heard the rock pumping out of one of the pubs she passed, she immediately took the opportunity to pop inside.

She was slightly surprised to see the lead was asari, though not nearly as much as she would have been two years ago. Aliens were a much more common sight on Earth now. She sat down at the bar and ordered a beer, all in all pretty impressed with the singer. It was kind of surprising that she was singing in a bar and not with a recording studio but hey, to each their own right?

Madira Pax played one of the songs she'd been asked to cover for the night before switching into one of her more happy tunes. The people here craved happy, though occasionally she went with one of her more emotional songs. At least tonight she was having a good time playing. Nobody in particular decided to come up and bother her, which considering her audience was a good thing.

She let her eyes rove over the audience and smiled at them as she played. No flashbacks came this time... it was usually when she was alone and thought too much as she sang.

The cheery song was more than welcome in Erin's book. It had been a hard year for everyone, she could use a little cheering up. She drank her beer and smiled back at the singer. The asari had a sweet smile, it reminded her a little of a girl she had known back at Grissom. It was a good night, she'd found a pub to suit her tastes, a good brew, she was listening to a great song by a beautiful girl. Leave didn't get all that much better than this. Maybe if she bought the singer a few drinks. But that was better reserved for fantasies. People had little interest in those with metal sticking out of their backs.

Madira finished the current song... she only had one more planned song for her set. Sometimes people would ask for encores, but tonight she wasn't so sure she was up for giving one...

"Well, I've got time for one more song... and this is a song that I actually managed to sing at a recording studio earlier today, though this will be the acoustic rendition. The song's title is 'Life Begins as the World Ends.' I hope you all enjoy it."

And she began to play.

Erin stared, her drink forgotten momentarily. Holy shit was she good. It was a much more emotional piece this time, she sniffed slightly and rubbed one eye. The whole song kinda hit home for her. It brought back memories. She thought for a few moments. Well... what harm could buying a few drinks do? The worst that could happen is she says no. She shot the bartender a few more credits and asked him to send the singer whatever her usual was. She got a knowing grin in return but no commentary at least.

After Madira finished the set, she took in the applause and as the bartender gave her a drink, she blinked. The bartender gestured at Erin as the one who sent it...

Well, far be it for her to turn down a free drink... she at least owed the girl some conversation. The asari placed her guitar down near the redhead and raised her drink to her.

"Thanks for the drink... I'm Madira."

Erin gave the asari a smile, "Pleasure to meet you, my name's Erin," she replied in a thick brogue. Even going to Grissom at thirteen and travelling the galaxy with the SAMC had done little if anything to diminish her native accent. "You're bloody amazing. Is singing in pubs a hobby? Or are you still looking to catch your big break?" She tried to sip her beer instead of gulping it like she normally would. She knew biotics didn't really need to drink more than everyone else too. But it was still a difficult habit to break.

"It's a work in progress..." Madira replied. "For a while, the only work I could get at all that wasn't construction was singing in here. I just did my first single today... but I don't know how long it'll take before it hits the airwaves."

The asari shrugged. "I really do enjoy singing though."

"Don't think you'll need to worry about it for long. If that last song was your single you should hit the big times fast," Erin opined. "It shows that you enjoy it too. You looked like you were having fun up there." She didn't state outright that she found the other woman attractive, that wouldn't be very classy would it? "Your more cheerful songs were nice too. People need some cheering up."

"Yeah... I've got a mix of different songs that I've written, but about half of what I play in pubs are covers. Makes it easier to fill out the set and people tend to enjoy what they already know." Madira shrugs. "One day I hope to sing in front of a much larger audience, but that day could be eighty years off for all I know."

"Well I hope not," Erin replies with a grin, "Eighty years from now I won't be able to got to sconcerts most likely. You've really got a bloody great voice though, there aren't enough artists out there with real talent. Too many wannabes."

"Thanks for the compliment..." Madira smiled. "So, what do you do for work? Since you obviously can see what I do."

"I'm a vanguard class biotic with the SAMC," Erin replied with more than a little pride, the image of this absolutely tiny human being a vanguard is no doubt a bit odd nonetheless, "Currently I'm assigned to CDEM mission to Parnack."

"A vanguard, impressive." Madira was actually pretty impressed. If the redhead's skills with biotics classed her as an up close and personal fighter, then there was far more to her than her size. "And Parnack... Yahg are not... pleasant creatures. To put it mildly. I'm impressed at your bravery to deal with being a part of that CDEM mission."

Wait. Parnack... Yahg... redhead... That'd be one hell of a coincidence. She wouldn't bring it up though.

"Thank you," Erin replied with a grin, "I had to work my ass off to get the job." At the comment about bravery she looked a bit more somber, "It's just a job that needs doing," she shrugs a little uncomfortably, "I don't need recognition for doing what I should be."

"Whether it needs doing or not doesn't change the fact that you're doing something that requires bravery, Erin." Madira touched the redhead's hand tentatively. "Braver than I could see myself being now..."

Erin wraps her hand around Madira's tentatively, giving her plenty of opportunity to pull away, I'm scared..." she admits softly, "I can't remember being so scared since the war ended, before I could afford to be. Now I've got a squad of people counting on me. Every time I hear we have another... visitor coming to the station I feel sick. Too many of my guys have died already."

Madira didn't pull away, instead she patted Erin's hands consolingly. "Let me tell you something someone special told me once. Bravery isn't not being scared. Bravery is being able to control that fear. To make that fear your bitch. You can be the most frightened person in the galaxy, but if you stand up to your fear, if you face it, you are brave. You're no craven."

Madira paused. "You will lose people. Your.... visitors... are dangerous. But it's something you trained for. It's something you believe needs doing. You wouldn't be there otherwise. You'd do what I did if you didn't believe."

Erin smiled wanly, "It all seemed so much simpler when I was the one being lead... Thanks. I needed that, from anyone." She looked at Madira for a moment her gaze searching, "You were a huntress once," it's not a question, "Did you leave because of what you saw?" There's no accusation, Erin almost looks wistful like she wouldn't mind signing her own discharge papers someday.

"Not... because of what I saw..." Madira's voice was a bit pained at that. A tear threatened to come to her eye. "I use my music to cope.... as an outlet..."