"It's only VOQ, but it's home for the next two weeks," Jeff announced, (Joker: awkwardly).

EDI looked away from the apartment to regard Jeff. "It is fine, Jeff," she assured him, manufacturing a reassuring smile. "Thank you for allowing me to 'couch surf' with you."

Jeff gave her a (Joker: shifty) grin.

When word came down that the Normandy was being put on the sidelines for some repairs and maintenance, one of Shepard's first tasks had been to make sure that EDI, as an AI, would not only be safe, but wouldn't be freaking out the maintenance crews. So she made sure EDI's mobile had a place to spend the shore leave—Jeff immediately volunteered to perpetuate the 'mobility assistance mech' story, offering to keep her with him—and that she knew where that place was. That was before she made a show of escorting EDI's platform (with Jeff in tow) off the Normandy, and locked down the AI Core.

Naturally, EDI herself had the key to the core, but the 'ship's VI' wouldn't unlock it for anyone but Shepard, so anyone who wanted to have a look at the core would need to go through Shepard for authorization. VIs weren't cognitively functional enough to decide things for themselves, after all.

"I appreciate your willingness to allow me to share your domicile," EDI reiterated. Then, because Jeff still looked a little unsure what to do now, she put Pinocchio on the couch, the way Shepard often left Paddington when the bear was not occupying her other pillow.

Although she did her best to give them their privacy, knowing how humans valued such things, EDI had, more than once, watched Alenko slip away from the sleeping Shepard, pausing long enough to fetch Paddington from the couch, place the bear in his own abandoned place, then kiss Shepard's forehead. She was beginning to recognize the body language of reluctance, could tell that if Alenko had his way, Paddington would never have to sub in for him.

She wondered if Alenko or Shepard were aware that their liaison was not as secret as they might have wished. The idea that the two of them were involved had begun as an idle fancy between Palmer, Westmoreland, and Campbell. Then the three women apparently started noticing the minutiae that told them their idle fancy—which much pleased them—was more truth than imagination.

She also suspected that Vega was aware on some level. He once heard an idle thought about Shepard and Alenko, and had squelched the idea as quickly and as forcibly as possible with the necessary application of logic. She understood this: Alliance regulations would frown at such a liaison. Spectre regulations—which, ideally, would supersede those of the Alliance—were more permissive.

The Alliance leadership might frown, but EDI doubted anyone associated with Shepard would. She had listened in with interest on Palmer's, Westmoreland's and Campbell's surreptitious discussions. If they were representative, the crew would be delighted to think their unbreakable, immovable captain had some kind of…personal support.

The crew didn't see the full extent of the wear and tear EDI observed. The downtime might be hard for Shepard, but it was very necessary. One reason she had not seen fit to inform Shepard that the idea for downtime came not from Hackett, but originated in a report from Alenko to Councilor Burns.

It was (subjective assessment: amazing) how often the crew forgot she was present and listening if they couldn't see her platform.

"Wow, that didn't take long," Jeff chuckled, shaking his head. "Shepard wants to know if I'm free this evening. She wants to get sushi." He frowned at this. "Weird. I kind of thought she and Alenko would want to, you know…make the most of the time."

EDI nodded her agreement. "Shepard is fond of her crew, and is not prone to obsessive behaviors. It makes sense that she would want to spend time with some of her crew off-duty."

Jeff nodded. "Sushi. Raw fish, though. That's more Kasumi's thing."

EDI did not seek to correct his apparent impression that all types of sushi had raw fish. "Which restaurant?"

"Ryuusei," Jeff answered, frowning.

EDI tapped the Extranet. "It is a class establishment," she observed. "Best known for its display of fish. The tanks form the floor and parts of the walls."

"Seriously? Fish tank floors?" Jeff asked, looking as if he thought she might be joking.

EDI shrugged, then pulled up holos of the restaurant. "Their waiting list is…extensive."

"Perks of being a Reaper-killing Spectre. Still, Shepard wants to go there?" he said, shaking his head. "Not what I'd expect."

EDI agreed. "Perhaps it is simply the last place anyone would look?"

"…do you mind?" Jeff asked, looking (Joker: uneasy).

"Of course not." EDI decided he was uneasy because he wasn't sure how much attention she needed as a housemate. Or maybe he was worried about jealousy. "I think you should go and enjoy being friends off-duty."

Jeff ran his hand through his hair, still (Joker: perturbed). EDI knew what that was about: Jeff still blamed himself for getting Shepard killed. Even if Shepard didn't, he did. He hadn't gotten past it, and she knew that Anderson had told him, on several occasions, to 'look after' Shepard.

And Jeff simply didn't know how.

EDI didn't envy such a directive.

"If I leave now, I'll be a little early," Jeff said, tapping a response to the message. "…are you sure you'll be okay here on your own?"

"Worried I might find you secret stash?" EDI asked, inserting humor into her tone.

Jeff grinned, then pulled his hat on. "Right."

"You might want to change, Jeff. Class establishment remember?" EDI prompted, regarding his BDUs.

Jeff looked at his clothes. "I'm avant-garde. Can't you tell?"

"I do not think your definition of avant-garde will convince the establishment. I can certainly tell Shepard why you stood her up, however."

Jeff pulled a face, then disappeared back into the bedroom where his belongings were.