Beta-read by Saberlin.
-J-
Shepard was lost. It was not even her first time on the Citadel's Presidium Ring, and she had gotten not only herself, but Williams and Alenko lost.
"Commander?" Williams asked hesitantly.
"Huh?"
Alenko stifled a chuckle. 'Huh?' was the response of a high schooler presented with the question 'where's your homework?'.
"Are we lost?" The question came out bravely.
"To put it in layman's terms…yes, Williams, I'm lost." It cost her something to admit it. "Which means I'm going to do the layman's thing."
"What's that?" Alenko asked, as Shepard turned to face them, putting the trio in a huddle.
Shepard pinched the bridge of her nose. "I'm going to ask for directions." Being a marine, asking for directions was not usually necessary. Usually there was a mission coordinator, or, as on Arcturus, directions painted on the walls with arrows. But disorientation made even the signs here almost meaningless.
Particularly as she was not sure which elevator they used to get out of the docking bay in the first place. She had made too many intermediate stops. "So, let me go ask." Her tone said 'pick a bench'.
Alenko did not even consider picking a bench.
Nor did Williams. Marines in a strange place should stay in a pack, especially with all the aliens walking around.
Shepard turned into the nearest venue, and stopped dead in her tracks.
Williams, scanning their surroundings for any sign of aggression aimed their way, did not see Shepard stop, and bumped into her. "Whoa, sorry…" she trailed off, taking in the business before which they stood.
"Hello there," an asari, in a flimsy gown smiled. As she moved, the dress fluttered and moved as though alive.
Shepard found herself looking around, brows furrowed in confusion. Exotic, heavy perfume assailed her nose, pulled to the entryway by the open door. The room was warm—it probably had to be, given the revealing nature of the asari's dress.
Directly behind the asari, apparently unhurried as the humans gawked, a waterfall dominating the back wall bubbled softly. It even had mossy ferns and a few water plants sprouting from the pool at its base. Shepard caught glimpses of the rooms away to the left, protected by gauzy veils of some light magenta material which puffed and billowed with the slightest movement of air. Low voices issued from beyond it.
The door behind Alenko slid shut, cutting off the light from the Presidium, revealing a business lit softly, too dimly in Shepard's opinion. She fumbled for the right word to describe her surroundings. They were so unlike the sparse, uniform, standard issue, regulation governed Alliance surroundings which filled her life.
Williams made a sucking sound with tongue and teeth, unimpressed. She could make several guesses about what this bordello-looking place was, and could not believe Shepard was really going to ask for directions, instead of herding them all out to try again somewhere else. The sweet perfume made her nose twitch.
Alenko did not find the atmosphere as disturbing as the women did, but he was sure he could, within three guesses, identify the proprietress. There was only one name bandied about the Citadel which matched such…opulent…surroundings. Yet opulent did not seem the right word.
"I assume you're here to see the Asari Consort," the asari announced, once it became apparent the humans were not sure whether to speak, or walk away.
Alenko nodded mentally. First guess.
Williams glanced around, then rolled her eyes.
Shepard did not choke, but she groaned inwardly. Hadn't she heard scuttlebutt about this place earlier? She would end up here—and 'here' was not even groundside! She should not find herself in these weird predicaments! It was as though someone was playing a game with her life.
"You'll have to wait, I'm afraid…unless you'd like to speak to one of the other attendants…?"
"No, thank you." Shepard sounded not unlike a robot as she answered the question. Her usual discomfort around asari notwithstanding, the ambiance here made her feel out of place—like a goose among peacocks. "I just stepped in for directions—Presidium docking bay?" It was the best point of reference she had.
"Ah, well, I'm sorry you won't stay," the asari smiled charmingly. "It's on the other side of the bridge—just find the C-Sec Academy."
"Thank you," Shepard turned to go, embarrassed at being so close to their destination. C-Sec Academy was, relatively speaking, right across the street. It stung that she had been in this area before now, and had not gotten lost then.
Or maybe it was the kicking of heels while waiting for the appointed time for the Council hearing. Her stomach shuddered with apprehension, the same contained apprehension detectable in her comrades.
"Yes, Shai'ira?" The asari touched a communication unit Shepard could not see. "Just a moment, Commander," the asari called softly before Shepard could usher the others out ahead of her.
How the asari know her? It was this strange perceptiveness asari all seemed to have which had always unnerved Shepard. As if they could read her mind—which was crazy. "Of course. I will. Shai'ira would like to see you, Commander. Through here, and straight back. Stairs are on the right."
Shepard teetered on saying she could not, so sorry but she had things to do…
"It won't take but a moment of your time," the asari pressed gently.
Shepard glanced back at Alenko and Williams. Williams made a face, as though refusing something distasteful. Alenko shrugged.
Shepard nodded, acquiescing. There was time.
"Excellent, your associates can either wait down here, or follow you up. I must ask you to keep your weapons out of your hands, for the comfort of our other customers." With that, the asari left her podium to pull back the gauzy drape.
Decadent, Shepard decided as she stepped down the short flight of stairs, noting the plush decoration of an otherwise drab room. That was the word for this place. Decadent.
Her military sensibilities did not like it.