CHAPTER 1 - Abstract Art
Nilkus groggily lumbered through the Presidium walkways, clutching tightly to a dextro nitro cold brew coffee. The brightness of the simulated Presidium sun cut into Nilkus' forehead, digging into his already growing migraine. Eyes squinted, Nilkus flipped through his meetings for the day on a datapad. Groaning softly, his mandibles fluttered slightly in frustration. Today was going to be an interesting day for sure.
Eyes glued tightly to the datapad, he began mentally filtering through what information he'd need to collect in preparation.
Fuck. He thought to himself as he stumbled upon one entry in his calendar. He'd forgotten all about the meeting with the elcor diplomats. He still needed to finish edits on the final draft of his proposal. Not only that, he would also need to be on his A game to nail that meeting. Spirits, why did I have to pick last night to-
THUD, SPLAT.
Thoughts halted to a stop, the cold liquid seeped into the sleeve of Nilkus' shirt. Glancing to his arm, he followed the streaks of liquid to his hand, and then to a newly large stain on a white piece of fabric. The blue and white coffee cup was crushed up against the arm of a human woman, her bright white dress, now a mess of brown drips and splatters.
"What the fuck-" the woman began, sharply turning her head, meeting Nilkus with a piercing blue gaze. Fierce at first glance, but surprisingly calm.
"I- I-" he was speechless, eyes fluttering in panic. She was obviously way off to the side of the walkway. Leaning against the railing, she was well out of the way of any foot traffic. His tiredness had caused him to veer to the right, and smack into her side.
A slight giggle escaped her lips as she began to speak, "It's okay, it's just a cup of coffee. No sweat. Or worries I mean."
She brushed off some of the excess liquid from her sleeve and began to walk away. The brown curls of her hair bounced with each step.
"W-wait!" Nilkus stammered, words fluttering out of his mouth, "I am so sorry! Spirits, I'm just exhausted and wasn't paying attention, I'll- I'll buy you a new dress! I am sincerely and terribly sorry."
"You really don't have to." She chuckled patiently. "It's not a big deal."
And with that she sauntered off. Nilkus didn't push the issue, but felt awful nonetheless. Her kind and calm response caught him off guard. He would have expected her to at least be irritated even if she didn't ask him to pay. You didn't find many humans, or people in general around the Presidium like her.
"Day one was going to be bad, I just didn't expect that." he muttered to himself.
After making his way to the Turian embassy, Nilkus put down his datapad and the shambles of the coffee cup onto his desk. He clutched tightly onto his face and groaned.
Get your head in the game Nilkus. Elcor meeting in 3 hours. Let's do this.
And with that, Nilkus trudged through the day, sifting through files, keeping his mandibles curled up, and trying his best to not sound exhausted when he spoke. Meeting after meeting, he pushed through as best he could, desperately swatting away any thoughts of the poor woman he had dumped his coffee all over.
Once the day was done, he dragged himself back down the Presidium walkways, so he could take the Rapid Transit home. As he walked, he kept an eye out for her, the woman with the piercing blue eyes.
There's got to be something I can do for her. I hope she at least could get the stain out. Spirits what if it was a special dress, what if she was on her way to an important meeting? Nilkus's thoughts raced vigorously, and his body continued on its own. He didn't snap out of it until a salarian behind him tapped his shoulder.
"Excuse me sir, are you going to use the transit? If not, I would like to use it." the salarian groaned irritably.
Nilkus's eyes widened and he stared down at the panel in front of him. He was already at the transit? Shaking his head, he stepped to the side, "So sorry, please go ahead.
Spirits. He thought to himself, Why am I such a disaster?
And with that, he waited for the salarian to finish with the panel and made his way home.
Waking up to the screaming of his alarm, Nilkus groaned and fumbled with his omnitool. After a bit of eye rubbing and cursing, he got the alarm to turn off. He absent mindedly reached into the drawer of his night stand and found it empty.
"Right, right we don't do that anymore." he told himself, as he slowly stood up and dragged himself to the bathroom to get ready for the day.
Once he reached the Presidium, he made his way to Coffee O-Clock, the coffee shop he stopped at every morning. In line, he noticed a human in front of him ordered a sweetly smelling coffee, with an intricate golden line pattern in the foam. And with that, Nilkus had an idea.
"Hey Nilkus, cold brew as usual?" the barista asked as Nilkus walked up to the counter.
"Hey Tony, and yes, but… what did that last customer order?" Nilkus asked.
"A caramel latte. We have a turian equivalent, wanna give it a go?" Tony asked.
"No, thank you for asking though. Is it popular among you humans?" Nilkus inquired.
"Relatively so, why do you ask?" Tony inquired.
"Well, I owe someone a favor, could you make me the human version?" Nilkus asked, "And my cold brew as well?"
"Sure thing, coming right up." Tony smiled.
Now Nilkus had a mission. Sporting a tray with two drinks, he searched for that piercing blue gaze. She wouldn't accept a new dress, but maybe he could make it up to her with a coffee, an unspilled one she could safely digest.
However, even with slowly making his way to the office, he saw no sign of her.
After his unfruitful search, he finally arrived at the Turian Embassy. As he stepped in, his coworker cocked her head to side, fluttering her mandibles with interest and confusion.
"Morning Nilkus, rough night?" she asked inquisitively.
"Morning Vesta, and a little, do I look that exhausted?" Nilkus asked defeatedly.
"Oh Spirits no, sorry I didn't mean to imply that. I just saw the two coffees and assumed." she giggled.
"Oh that!" Nilkus weakly chuckled, "No I spilled my coffee on someone yesterday and was going to offer her a coffee as an apology. And yes before you ask, I offered to replace the dress. She said no and walked away."
Vesta held her mandibles close to her face, trying to stifle her laughter. Nilkus gave her a stern look and flaring out his mandibles irritably.
"I won't laugh I promise, well, not loudly at least." Vesta teased.
Nilkus just groaned in response.
"Fine, fine I'll drop it. Now don't forget our meeting with the hanar later today. The ambassador said it is going to be important" Vesta told him.
"Of course, I won't." Nilkus responded. He sadly dropped the coffee in the trash and walked over to his desk. Slumping down into his chair, he began typing away on his console.
Vesta looked over, debating if she should press for more details even though she agreed not too. Eventually, she decided against it and got back to work.
Every morning for the next week, Nilkus followed the same routine. Two coffees and a slow stroll through the presidium walkways. Often he'd take extra routes, just hoping to catch the woman.
On Sunday morning, as Nilkus defeatedly walked into the office, two coffees still in his tray, Vesta laughed out loud.
"Don't laugh at me." Nilkus said straightening up his back.
"This is like day 6 Nilkus. How much money are you going to blow on coffee for this random woman?" Vesta asked.
"Listen, I'm sure a week's worth of coffee pales in comparison to the cost of one of those fancy human dresses." Nilkus justified, "I'm still in the green right now."
"Yeah sure." Vesta laughed, "How do you even know she works in the Presidium?"
"I don't know she wore one of those dresses all the human females in the embassies wear." Nilkus said, "So I just assumed."
"How do you know she wasn't just a passerby or a reporter only here for the day? Have you even checked to see if she works around here?" Vesta asked.
"Well I mean I don't know, and I haven't because walking around asking random offices if they've seen a blue eyed woman some turian dumped coffee on may come across as creepy!" Nilkus defended.
"And buying her a coffee every morning isn't?" Vesta retorted.
"I- Well I- Fine. Fair point. Let me try again tomorrow morning, and if I don't bump into her, I'll stop." Nilkus said.
Vesta raised her mandibles in disbelief.
"I promise." Nilkus reassured.
"Good, now we have that meeting with the salarians to discuss the mineral scanner collaboration project, so make sure you have your head in the game." Vesta said.
"Of course." Nilkus nodded and defeatedly dropped the second coffee in the trash.
Waking up that morning, he didn't reach for the drawer. His coffee adventures had been a welcome distraction, but unfortunately it would all come to an end soon.
This was the last morning he would play this game of I spy with the blue eyed woman. Sighing heavily, he left the counter of the coffee shop and made his way towards the presidium walkways.
He had left a few minutes earlier that morning, to try and cover more ground. In hindsight, this whole thing was rather creepy. Vesta's words made him question his actions, but he wanted to see it through to the end if he could. Hopefully the woman wouldn't be too disturbed by him and would accept his peace offering.
Nilkus had walked most of the walkways, but still no sight of her.
I'll check in front of the Relay Monument, where I bumped into her one last time and then be done with this nonsense. Move on and get on with my life. Nilkus thought to himself.
As he turned around the corner he spotted someone.
A human woman with dark brown hair and mocha skin. The curls of her hair bounced in the slight breeze, as she peered out acrros the water. Her arms rested on the rails of the walkway, as one of her knees leaned against the glass, tugging up her pastel blue dress to expose a pair of shiny black heels.
His mandibles fluttered in excitement, could it be her? Scurrying over, he gently tapped her shoulder with a talon, "Excuse me?"
The woman leaned up straight and turned around. Finally, he was met with that piercing blue gaze.
"Oh hey, you're that coffee guy. I see you have two drinks this morning, here to do twice the damage?" she teased.
"Oh no, I- well, again I am so sorry!" He stammered.
She laughed, "No worries, I'm just messing. What did you want?"
"Oh actually, I wanted to apologize again. I know you said you didn't want me to pay for a new dress, but- well- here." Nilkus said, pulling the cup out of the tray and offering it to her. "I don't know if you like coffee, but it's human made or safe I guess. I wanted to do something to try and make up for my carelessness."
"Oh wow, I-." The woman looked at the coffee, her mouth slightly agape and then gently grabbed the drink from his hand, "Thanks, that was really sweet."
"No problem. It's the least I could do." Nilkus explained, "I have to get running, but I'm glad I could catch you. Have a great day!"
And with that, he scurried off to the office triumphantly.
The woman stood there and watched him walk away, with a slight smile on her face. Looking down to the coffee in her hand, she took a small sip and sighed
Sometimes this galaxy really can surprise you. She thought to herself, and headed off down the walkways.
Nilkus made it to the office, with only a minute to spare before the embassy opened. He walked in, head held high and proudly made his way to his desk.
"Wait… only one coffee... but you have a tray? Did you- did you actually find her?" Vesta exclaimed.
Nilkus extended his mandibles and tilted his head up proudly, "I. Am. Victorious. And you told me to give up."
"Listen, I just didn't want this going on for 3 months. That'd be a lot of wasted coffee." Vesta laughed, "But what did she say?"
"She said she thought it was sweet. I know it can't make up for the day she must have had with a coffee stained dress, but I hope it at least made this day a bit better for her." Nilkus explained.
"Awww what a sweetheart." Vesta teased, clicking her tongue, "Now why don't you continue that kindness streak and finish the fundraiser proposal. We need that by the end of the day today."
"Yeah yeah." Nilkus laughed and got to work.
The next morning, Nilkus went to the coffee shop and stepped up to the counte
"Morning Tony, one dextro nitro cold brew." Nilkus asked.
"No caramel latte?" Tony chuckled as he turned around to grab a cup.
"Nah don't need it anymore." Nilkus laughed, "Finally was able to return that favor. It's a bit of a story."
"Sounds like it. Well let me know if you ever need another latte, or more recommendations on human coffee drinks." Tony chuckled.
"Thanks." Nilkus smiled as he headed out.
The week went on rather slowly. Without the excitement of his coffee hunt, life fell back into its stressful, exhausting routine. Getting up in the morning returned to its lethargic bitter rhythm, with thoughts of the drawer and arguments with himself, about how he just needed his mental strength and a little caffeine to get through his day.
Monday was no different. He worked through his morning struggles, and once again made his way to the Coffee O-Clock.
"Hey Tony, one dextro nitro cold brew." Nilkus asked politely.
"Nilkus, glad I caught you!" Tony exclaimed happily.
"Happy that you're glad, but what's up?" Nilkus asked.
"Well, I think I heard the counterpart to the caramel latte saga." Tony laughed, "Guessing it involved a white dress and some abstract art you tried to make."
Nilkus fluttered his mandibles in embarrassment, "Spirits, yes… But how do you know? Was she here?"
"Yep, and she said your coffee's paid for. Oh and to meet her if you could where you did last time, wherever that is." Tony explained.
"Wow, wait- really?" Nilkus asked unbelievingly.
"Yeah was a pretty lady if I do say so myself. Lucky you she's buying your coffee after you spilled one on her. Not the typical romantic endeavors of humans, but maybe it is in turian standards, so I don't know." Tony chuckled.
"W-what well no I wasn't trying to flirt with her or anything! It was just an accident!" Nilkus tried to explain.
"Yeah yeah whatever you say lover boy, now I got a line brewing, so get going." Tony said as he waved Nilkus away.
"Thanks Tony." Nilkus said, fluttering his mandibles at the awful pun, as he walked off.
Walking towards the same spot where they had met before, Nilkus looked around for her. And there she stood. Like the times before, gazing off into the landscape, leaning on the railing, seemingly lost in her thoughts.
"Hey." Nilkus stated shyly.
"Hey there coffee boy, I see you got my message and my present." The woman smiled.
"Yeah, you know your coffee was an apology right? I mean I owed you." Nilkus chuckled quietly.
"That was until I found out the coffee you gave me was the 7th one you bought. If anything, I think I owe you a few more." The woman smiled.
"Tony told you huh?" Nilkus asked.
"Yeah, my curiosity got the best of me, so I went early this morning to try and see if I could find out who you were. As soon as I explained what happened, the barista burst out into laughter. He told me how everything added up now with his regular customer Nilkus and his odd coffee purchases. He also told me you usually stop by later in the morning, so I gave him money for your typical coffee order and asked him to give you a message." The woman explained, "Seems like a nice guy."
"He really is." Nilkus said. "So, if you know my name, do I get to know yours?"
"Raziyah." she smiled, "But you can call me Raz."
"Well nice to meet you Raz and thanks for the coffee. And seriously you don't have to get me anymore." Nilkus smiled, "Do you work here on the presidium?"
"Yeah, I work part time in the human embassies as an IT Specialist, double checking update work done by the embassy AI, as well as a few other places around the citadel during the rest of the week. It's pretty simple and doesn't require too much technical skill." Raz explained, "Haven't been here too long either, but I'm getting used to the lay of the land."
"Well if you ever need help, I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I've been working here a few years now, so I mostly know my way around." Nilkus explained, "Ask me about csec or the lower markets however and you're out of luck."
Raz chuckled, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. What do you do?"
"I work at the turian embassy, as your average diplomat trying to maintain relations between us and other species. Didn't realize this job was also a part time bomb defuser, that was fun to learn the hard way." Nilkus joked.
"Oh I can imagine." Raz laughed.
Nilkus looked at his omni-tool to check the time, "Hey, I need to get running, but I'd love to chat again if you'd like."
"Yeah sure thing, I'm only at the Presidium on Mondays, but feel free to meet me here if you want. I'm usually here for a bit before work if you want to say hi." Raz explained.
"Sounds great. I'll try to catch you next monday then!" Nilkus smiled as he made his way to the Turian embassy.
(Fanfic title inspired by the song Cup of Coffee by Julian Moon)
Special thanks to my friend and fellow mass effect fan who reviews my work and gives me feedback! I love and appreciate you!