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The neon lights of Afterlife danced around in a cacophony of color. Shepard took in the sights and sounds. She remembered her first visit here, fresh off an operating table, trying to figure out what the hell she was doing. So much has changed.
She follows the familiar pathways, passing by strippers and enthralled onlookers. Omega was still the same seedy underbelly she remembered. Knowing Aria, that wouldn't change.
Shepard climbed the few steps to Aria's overlook, greeted by two rows of flashing teeth.
"Glad you could make it, Shepard. Or should I say Councilor?"
Shepard rolled her eyes. "Please. I get enough of that on the Citadel."
Aria gestured to a spot on the couch right next to her. "Sit. Relax." She called out to one of her Turian bodyguards. "Grizz, get us some Serrice Ice Brandy."
"You wanna get me drunk?"
"I don't want you to forget where you came from. You need some hard liquor in that diet of fancy wines."
Somehow Aria managed to keep things so grounded. Shepard was grateful for it. "I haven't exactly been living large. There's still rebuilding to be done."
"Tell me about it. Terminus isn't lookin' pretty but then again it never was."
Their drinks came. They drank generously.
"Liara's not too bad at that Shadow Broker gig. She doesn't seem to flinch when I ask her to make someone disappear."
Shepard smirked at the mention. "She's certainly done enough shady stuff. I think Li-Li's looking to reap the benefits." She bit her lip. "Bad pun?"
Aria actually chuckled at that. "No, Shepard. It's been a year. Those ashes are cold."
More bottles of brandy came. They showed no signs of stopping.
"So how's Archangel?"
"You mean Vakarian? He's fine. Not doing too badly as Primarch."
The pirate queen poured herself another glass. "I know you're proud."
Garrus learned much of his leadership skills on his own. Shepard had only helped him smooth out the edges. They talked about her other crew members, eventually coming back around to themselves again.
"So what does the Queen of Omega plan to do now?"
Aria looked around at Afterlife. Lights danced off her purple skin. "I don't know, Shepard. I've got a few centuries left. Haven't put much thought on the future."
Fair enough. Asari live too long to worry about the trivial things humans bicker over. "Any children?"
Her expression changed to one of pain. It briefly vanished. "I've gone down that road before. Never again."
"I understand."
A few moments of silence passed between them. Then, "What about you, Shepard?"
"I don't know. I'll play politician for a few years then retire, settle down on a beach somewhere. "
"I'll drink to that."
They clinked glasses and downed their liquor. "Wish I could have seen the Illusive Man's face when I took this place right back from under him."
"Yea. I bet he's rolling in his grave." Shepard's omni-tool beeped with incoming message. More than a few were marked as priority. She sighed.
"Duty calls?"
"Unfortunately." Shepard placed her empty glass on the tray. "Thanks for the drinks and the conversation."
"Of course."
She started down the stairs, a little reluctant to leave such amicable company. She was about to turn when Aria called out to her.
"Hey Shepard…" There was a genuine warm smile, something Shepard never thought she would see on that face.
"You're welcome to Omega anytime. Come back soon."