[Citadel] Apartment shopping

Sarah Thompson adjusted her headwrap, peering into a cracked mirror in her old apartment's bathroom. She flattened her shirt and stepped back into the living room, where a Hanar was waiting, a faint spectrum of bio-luminescent purple rolling across the alien's surface. Apart from him, the apartment was mostly empty, apart from cracks and damage from the Reaper invasion.

"This one is thrilled to be here." The hanar spoke with as much forced cheer as he could. "Surely, this meeting will be productive."
Sarah rolled her eyes and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms across her chest.

A young lady appeared down the street. Short, rather plump, brunette with something very rare on her nose : big black glasses. She had informed Sarah beforehand of that fashion quirk of hers.

Before Sarah could even hail her, she checked her omnitool, turned on herself a little, then went down another street.

Five minutes later she was back, a bit distressed, changed some settings, asked someone for direction, and at last went in the direction of the flat... And walked right over Sarah and the Hanar, without seeing them or the flat.

Sarah crossed her arms, peering at the woman as she wandered down the hallway in the apartment complex. ".....Hey!" She barked, trying to get the woman's attention. Staying with a not-at-all-racist-bastard Hanar was getting on her nerves, and the Hanar wanted little to do with the situation apart from the resulting payout.

The hanar shifted a yellow and gold wave of color, then spoke with his usual politeness. "It would seem humans have a keen sense of direction." Zelkandros hovered across the empty apartment, faintly illuminating the wall as he passed.

The young lady at least wasn't deaf, when Sarah called her she jumped a little like a surprised squirrel, turned her face to her and displayed a big smile, ear to ear. God, she even waved while approaching.

- Hiiiii, she said while covering Sarah's hand with hers and shaking energetically, Michelle Rondor, it's a pleasure! God you look just like your avatar, so cool to see you in real, I love your posts! Ho this great!

She turned to the hanar.

- And you must be the overseer! Great to meet you! Never met a hanar before, can you believe it? Should we shake hand and tentacle or..?

Sarah found the woman's exuberance offputting. Shaking the woman's hand, she barely had time to respond before the woman darted off to the Hanar, who flushed red, briefly.. "This one has a strong belief in personal space." The alien visibly ..recoiled?

Despite this, it paused and began to speak. "This one's name is Zelkandros, and I am the overseer of this condominium."

- So nice to met youuuu! Gosh, I just arrived to the Citadel yesterday, I can't believe how beautiful it is here, it's amazing! You guys are so lucky to live here! And to think I'll open shop right here, it's perfect!

It was far from perfect of course, the place was damaged badly. Maybe Michelle's glasses didn't work that well.

- Can we visit? Let's! Let's! she said, jumping a bit on her feet.

The apartment was large, but for the most part destroyed. Scrapped of any furniture, an empty kitchen, a bathroom with a steam shower, and lots of cracks on the walls and ceiling. Sarah waved her hands, trying to get the woman to calm down. "Hey- Okay. This is it. The apartment was damaged in the Reaper invasion, has a view to the Ward and the water still works. The reason it's cost is so low is that furnishing will be on you, I'm afraid. It used to be worth about four times the current price."

The hanar peered out over the ward. "This one has been lead to believe that you will be setting up a shelter here. This building is not properly assigned for said designation, but it supposes this apartment couldn't get much worse, even with a new human occupant."

Michelle seemed to have settled down, at last. She was looking at the devastation, a smile on her face.

- Yes... Yes it's perfect. The board will go here, benches here, my office, a dormitory... This is wonderful...

She turned back on the Hanar and Sarah, much quieter now, but still smiling.

- I've thought about that plan in the shuttle actually. An apartment complex is not the best for a pure shelter, and that church on the ward is doing a great job at it. I think more of offering services for the kids here. Schooling, social counseling, even help for job hunts, and in a pinch, temporary shelter. That will be great, and that will be thanks to you guys.

Her smile was pure kindness now.

Sarah's omnitool activated, a quick line of text running along one of the panels. The woman sighs, then turns to the hanar with a scowl on her face. "Could you be any more transparent, sir? You've been rude to me and her ever since we arrived." She crossed her arms, tapping a foot on cracked panel with a rough scraping sound produced.

The hanar was quick to retort. "Transparent? Was the Sarah Thompson offering a derogatory statement?" He turned to Michelle. "That would work. You will have to send this one the paperwork it sends you. The fee is 6,000 down today, four hundred credits due every month."

Michelle was surprised.

- 400c per month? I don't understand, if I buy the place, why do I pay a rent on it?

The hanar spoke flatly. "The female is renting the apartment, the 400 helps go into the reconstruction of the entire complex, which was hit just as hard as this room. This one has already had similar deals with others. There is no need to be alarmed."

- Ho... Alright, that's fair I guess. So the contract stipulates that those payments become simple charges when the rebuilding's over no?

"Yes, as soon as the rebuilding is over. If you are purchasing today, you will sign a lease." The hanar shifted yellow and golden- "The entire complex will be repaired within the next four months. Many tenants lost more than this. Not all apartments were unoccupied when the fighting came to this region of the ward."

Michelle nodded gravely.

- I understand that very well sir. If you please I'd like to sign the lease. I'll take it.

Sarah quietly stepped out, bugged by her omnitool and a prior appointment.
The hanar activated an omnitool on one of his tentacles, holding it up for the woman. "Welcome aboard. This one will have to check in, the repairmen will be in and out. If there is anything you need, please contact the front office."

- Thank you very much!

Michelle signed on the omnitool.

- Those are my bank coordinate, I'll authorize the transfers now... Well I think we're set!
Sarah, you're leaving already?

Sarah paused in the doorway, then turned. "Oh. Yeah. I've got to meet someone- Talk to my partner about something."

- Ok...

Michelle turned to the Hanar.

- Well I guess we're done?

Sarah gave a quick wave and bolted out the door.


"Yes." The hanar stated, "You will receive the necessary paperwork at your current residence today. Please move all of your furnishing in within the month and enjoy your stay."

A large ceiling panel gave way, smashing into the floor.

- Ho, Sarah, you're leaving... ok then! CALL ME! Bye mister Zelkandros! Pleasure to have met you.

Unfazed by the state of her new acquisition, Michelle smiled brightly at the Hanar as he left, waved and all.

Then when she was alone in her new place, her smile faded and after checking everyone was gone for good, she activated her omni-tool.

- This is Virginie. It's done, the place is ours, miss Thompson didn't seem to suspect a thing. What now? Ho, apparently the price includes 400 creds per month for building reconstruction though. Will that be a problem?