Chapter Summary
Saren is mildly pleased. No one is rude, stares, runs screaming... it's a nice day.
Chapter Notes
Lexicon:
Faledin regil - Greeting used in formal situations(Credit: MizDirected)
Fragrutis - A dextro cactus native to Palaven. Very spicy, has a tart, savory flavor. (Credit: MizDirected)
Cisera - A non-alcoholic, foamy cider made from the juice of 20+ varieties of edible cactus analogues. (Credit: MizDirected)
Ospiti- closed dialect for 'guest' (Credit: MizDirected)
Umeshu - a type of Japanese liquor where unripe plums and sugar are steeped in alcohol, and overtime the alcohol takes on a sweet and sour taste. (Real World)
Chapter Soundtrack: Sound of the Wind by Yae (Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles OST)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
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Saren was rather pleased with the establishment thus far. The internal thermostat was set to Palaven temperatures instead of the constantly chilly Citadel norm. The staff were polite. Privacy screens kept their activities private, he'd yet to find any spyware or bugs, and the architecture was... well he would hesitate to call himself an expert, but he did have a bit of a 'thing' for good aesthetics and structural design... the location and décor were appreciable.
Having come to an end of his desired grooming, The Spectre rose from his stool, indicating to his companions that he was finished. Nihlus, having re-groomed about four times in order to mess with the bathing products, was definitely done as well. Garrus had been patiently dripping dry until they were ready.
All done, they left the pearl-stone enclave behind and followed along the corridor of grooming rooms, and there were many. At the end, a tarin was waiting behind a desk beside another wide-open entry way that lead into the bathing pools. A unobtrusive scanner ran over them, likely populating her screen with their booking details.
"Faledin regil, Mr. Vakarian, Mr... and guests. How has your experience been with us thus far?" Saren thought it was rather comical that the bath house assumed it could scan Spectres with any success using such a device. Then again, the privacy modules in his chest and limbs utterly baffled almost every scanner on the public market. He gave her credit for smoothly moving on.
"It's been wonderful, thank you." He allowed Vakarian to do the talking since he was able, willing, and apt.
"I'm so glad to hear that. Here is the passkey for your private room, it can be accessed via the stair way on the right hand side after you walk in. Are there any additional services I can arrange for you today?"
"Yes, I'd like to arrange for my talons to be done, and Familia Notas application."
"Of course. I have a note on your file that you prefer artist Helioteras. He is currently in session, would you like to book his next available appointment, or would another artist be preferable?"
"I'll wait for him to be available, no need to rush. We aren't in a hurry today."
"Very good, I'll arrange that for you. Do you have a preference for your talon services?"
"Anyone who does a really good hand massage?" The tarin laughed like dual-toned wind chimes. It was likely a request she heard often.
"Estea is my personal favorite, would she work for you?"
"Perfect. Can you add an order for fragrutis umeshu for three?"
"Of course."
She turned to the next farthest from the desk, trying to accommodate normal tier order even though she had no clue who they were, and they were standing in no particular arrangement. It happened to be Nihlus. Saren found himself entertained and pleased that she was trying so hard to be polite. It was to her credit.
"What about you sir?" Nihlus looked like a deer in the head lights. He had been visibly trying to behave, and Saren took pity on him.
"Both he and I need no services, but would care for a pitcher of Cisera."
"Certainly. I'll have those brought up to you. Is there anything else I can offer you Ospiti?"
Saren shook his head negatively.
"Well then, please enjoy your time here, and do not hesitate to ask for your wishes if there is anything else I can do for you."
They passed her by and went through to the pools. The main room was a study of marble in various states of cutting. Some areas, such as the enterance to the first and largest bath, were a smoothly cut slab that slowly descended at a tilt into deeper water. Other chunks of marble were left raw, like the edges of a rock quarry, nearly arranged and interspersed with native Palaven plant life. The largest pool took up a major portion of the room, being at ground level and descending down to a meter and a half or so with a shelf cut into the sides at sitting level. The stone cut bench was smattered with adults, lounging against the pool's sides.
To the far left and right were wandering stair cases cut into the marble that led to a second tier walk way that circled the room, even above the door way, and led to smaller pools.
Saren glanced causally around as they took the stairs, enjoying the clean aesthetics that were left-right symmetrical, but were intermingled with chunks of more organic design, both raw boulders and plants. A thin reed with feathery leaves that grew up from the base garnished the edges of many pools attractively, wavering in the rising heat. The second tier's pools were clearly the most popular, having a greater variety of depth to accommodate child safe water depths, and subsequent splashing of said children. Though even the younglings playing were relatively quiet and polite, making games of staying underwater the longest, or making the largest bubble stream from their noses. The parents watched and laughed at their antics while drinking and talking among themselves.
The room's cavernous ceiling echoed with the sounds of Turian people relaxing, enjoying themselves in the artificial hot springs.
Saren was inordinately relieved they were all too distracted or polite to stare at his exotic facial structure, battle scars, or implants. Further, Vakarian was temporarily barefaced beside him, but even then no one seemed to care, or pay attention to it. If this kept up, he did not think he would ever visit a different bath house again. He had never had such a blasé reaction before. His aural augments were not even picking up veiled whispers about him. It was... very nice. A nice change.
Was it this place? Bathing with companions? Particularly unconcerned patrons at the time? Perhaps further research was needed.
A return trip in the future may be necessary.
Their trio turned a corner after finishing the walk up the stairs and around the circle, Garrus leading them down a short hallway toward private rooms. Swiping the keycard, he let them in. The room behind the door was suitably impressive. A miniature version of the décor outside surrounded a massive stone tub with a variety of seating levels cut into the marble sides for different ages and heights. Trailing vines crept up the walls near the corners, and the back wall was a raw stone border to a sizable fish tank with colorful dextro-fish swimming about inside. There was enough room around the pool to pace if one wished to, and enough room inside to fit at least six Elcor. It was perfect.
Saren still ran a scan for bugs, contagions, and various other things out of curiosity. He merely found a VI that listened in for key words that would indicate a need for aid or request for services, it's connected storage device not saving any conversations. 'No spying devices at all?' He was almost disappointed, this was such an excellent spot for gathering intelligence...
No matter. He supposed it was to the establishment's good name that credit went for a lack of such devices. Perhaps they swept the rooms prior to use? Saren found himself caring significantly less as he lowered into the pool's molten heat. Nihlus let out a long low groan of wild abandon at the feeling, of course sounding ridiculously sexual about it. Vakarian at least had merely dissolved into an even hum with only a mild warbling of relief in it as he sunk right down in the deepest part, the water coming over his head. His breath made bubbles that surfaced along the sides of his fringe as it escaped from the gap between mandible and upper jaw.
Saren allowed himself a long, pleased sigh.
For a little while they just melted, the heat making them sleepy and relaxed. Turians really were warm climate creatures.
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Chapter End Notes
A/N: I was too excited for bath houses, and forgot about the pirate Asari! Damnit, me. You can assume Saren and Nihlus dealt with her yesterday. The Matriarch was super thankful to them, super pissed at her kid, and happily signed off the ship to Saren along with a nice cash bonus as recompense for still *having* an offspring. I'll try and remember to tie that all back in later.
Fanfic Recommendation: Followed Him Home (2823 words) by madamebadger (Mom!FemShep & Grunt)