Author's Note: Well, it was a pleasant surprise to wake up in the morning and discover two people favorited my fanfiction just a few minutes after it was released! I'd like to thank you both for encouraging me to write further. As always, constructive criticism will be much appreciated! This current story has more of a romantic angle, compared to the comedy of the first chapter. I want to test my skill in every kind of genre, and I think Mass Effect is one of the few series where I can actually do that.
Chapter 2: The Mentor
"Hey, Human, mind telling me what those tickets are for?"
Gabriel O'Conner looked down at the two tickets he held tightly in his hands. The Turian shopkeeper was curious; Gabriel didn't exactly appreciate the man's curiosity.
"They're for me and a… Uh… Friend."
The Turian leaned closer, Gabriel was sure Turians had a concept of "personal space", he didn't understand why this one shopkeeper was ignoring it though.
"Is it for that Elcor version of Hamlet? I swear, human culture is trying to dominate the movie business. You never see famous Turian playwrights getting feature length films, do you? It's always 'Shakespeare' or 'Spielberg' or some other human artist. I'll have you know that while Humans were still living in caves, Turians were writing tragedies and epics and…"
The Turian droned on and on. Gabriel eventually fazed the man out; he just wasn't worth it. In truth, the tickets were to an Orchestra that played the Asari equivalent of "Classical Music". He had to call in a lot of favors to get them, the theatre was practically sold out by the time he got there; thankfully he had a few friends that "sympathized" with him.
"Uh… Yeah… Anyways I've got to go." Gabriel said, interrupting the Turian shopkeeper. The Turian merely snorted in response.
"Yeah, fine, you should go. I don't expect humans to give a damn about superior culture." The shopkeeper continued to grumble even as Gabriel left the building.
Gabriel wandered through the wards markets, skillfully navigating the crowds until he could find a rapid transport that would lead him to the Presidium. He was twenty-five years old, and the "apprentice" of one of the most famous Asari lawyers in citadel space. His parents were proud when they discovered he would be studying intergalactic law, and with an Asari mentor as well!
The Asari were famous for a multitude of things, but their lawyers were perhaps the most well known. They were patient and intelligent, yet also honorable and determined. If you could afford an Asari lawyer, you would have literal centuries of legal knowledge backing you, and none were better than Tessia D'Roan.
Tessia was young, by Asari standards at least. She was two-hundred and eighty years old, and had been practicing law on her own for seventy years. She earned a reputation as a young prodigy, quickly surpassing her own master and opening her law firm at the age of two-hundred and ten. Many people assumed she was as hot blooded and determined as a human, but that wasn't exactly true. Tessia was pure blooded, and had the peace and serenity that was considered par of the course with the Asari.
Gabriel reached the law firm eventually. It was the same pure white color as the rest of the Presidium, when Gabriel first saw it, his inquisitive blue eyes widened in awe. The secretary –another Turian- nodded in Gabriel's direction.
"You know, sometimes it's so hard to notice you Gabriel. White skin, Blonde Hair, and blue eyes; they sort of blend in with the rest of the Presidium. I thought you were furniture for a second." The secretary said, though his tone seemed more like friendly teasing than rude like the shopkeeper.
Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, it was long, almost down to his eyes at this point. He would have combed it better, if he didn't get up early in the morning so he could buy the tickets. He chuckled and smiled at the Turian.
"Well Tarquin, maybe I should have your job? After all, I'm much easier on the eyes." Gabriel grinned; Tarquin merely rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, I'm sure that a species descended from monkeys is much easier on the eyes than one that's been apart of the council for, how many years was it now?"
Gabriel waved the Turian off, and then made towards Tessia's office.
"Oh, and Gabriel."
Gabriel turned, looking at the secretary once again.
"I noticed the tickets. All I have to say is: Good Luck."
A blush appeared on Gabriel's face, he nodded and proceeded up the stairs.
…
"Now, Gabriel, here's a case I want your input on. A group of Krogan are suing Binary Helix after their research in the genophage turned up little results. What would you recommend? You have five minutes."
Gabriel tugged at his collar nervously. In his hands was the rather extensive case file, and over his shoulder Tessia was studying him. She was a dark shade of blue and of average height and build for most Asari. Her outfit was a formal and valuable looking Asari dress, and her face had it's own unique set of markings. The markings were a multitude of lines colored light shade of red. They appeared to start at the peak of her forehead and then traveled downwards to her cheeks where they would curve up towards her eyes and meet on the bridge of her nose. She was beautiful, but then again most Asari were. To Gabriel however, she surpassed all other Asari in beauty, he wasn't sure why, but there was something unique about her.
Gabriel opened the case file and quickly skimmed through it; picking important facts out of a case in a brief read was a special talent of his. He briefly read the original contract, then spoke quickly; he was being timed after all.
"The contract doesn't specifically promise they will cure the genophage, all it mentions is that they will be conducting 'extensive research' into it. However the Krogan are right in some regards, Binary Helix were really pushing the definition of 'honesty' when they pitched the idea to them… Plus, genophage research is still in a sort of legal grey zone; if the case goes to court they may have a judge who says the very act of attempting to cure the genophage is illegal… I recommend settling this outside of court."
Tessia hummed, she did that whenever she was considering something. Eventually she nodded and took the file from Gabriel.
"Very good."
She didn't smile, Tessia never smiled. She always looked distant, at least to Gabriel. To some, it may look like she was perfectly Serene; yet the more you spoke with her, the more it would seem as if she was distant from everyone, perhaps even herself. She sat down, and examined the case, Gabriel shifted awkwardly in his seat.
"You may leave now Gabriel, but I want you to read this file over a few more times; come up with arguments that support both sides and return them to me tomorrow."
Gabriel stayed in his seat, continuing to shift around awkwardly. Tessia looked up at him, it was a dull, un-inquisitive look.
"Is something wrong, Gabriel."
Suddenly Gabriel stood up, fished through his pockets, and held out the two folded tickets.
"Uh… Tessia… I was just wondering if… You might want to, uh, well… There's this concert on the citadel next week, it's an orchestra that plays music –Asari music- and I thought… Maybe you would like to see it with me? If you don't, that's okay but… I was really hoping you'd want to."
For the first time ever, Tessia looked genuinely surprised. She stared at Gabriel silently for a few seconds, it was as if she didn't know what to say.
"…I'm sorry, Gabriel… I don't think that would work out."
Gabriel's shoulders slunk, his head lowered. He couldn't describe how he felt, but he knew the closest word was "miserable".
"Oh… Yeah you're right… Uh… I'll just go now, don't want to… Don't want to annoy you or anything."
Without another word, Gabriel slunk out of the office. He passed Tarquin without saying goodbye. The Turian watched the young human leave, and shook his head.
Poor kid…
