First of all I want to thank all of those that are following this story. I know it's been a while since my last update. I apologize and hope that the wait has been worth it. Thank you xxx.

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Waking up in my safe, warm bed was a comforting feeling when I wasn't at work that day. I arose from my slumber with a smile, deciding that optimism was perhaps the right way to go about the day. I recalled my conversation with my mother the previous night. I had no idea when I'd see her again, she disappeared for months at a time and rarely ever sent word ahead when I would be seeing her. I wondered if, now that I worked at the Citadel, she'd visit more often.

As I was forecasting that Irissa would be in meetings all day, this might actually be one of those days off where I didn't get a call half way through the day to come back into the office. 'No Falere, don't get your hopes up...' I thought to myself glumly.

I turned on the news for a while. One of the stories centred on how Ardat-Yakshi were criticizing their employers for suppression of their right to work with their colleagues as opposed to sitting alone at heavily guarded desks with security on stand-by. I was lucky in that respect in that Councillor Irissa was at least concerned about her appearance to me as a 'minority' but I had heard stories about employers that only took Ardat-Yakshi that agreed to such terms.

'Not so much suppression of rights as a necessity due to natural tendencies' I thought to myself as I finished getting ready. If I had been told to work in such conditions, I would still be working. Just the fact that we could now live outside of a monastery was thanks enough for me. I always knew how dangerous we were and was under no illusions about how people felt about Ardat-Yakshi.

Whilst shopping at the Citadel, I was able to forget about the politics and immerse myself in the latest styles of Asari fashions. I browsed some books, most notably an encyclopaedia of Asari Matriarchs. It was always inspiring to read the stories of the Matriarchs – those were Asari to look up to. To idolize above all others, for their wisdom has carried us through ages of technological evolution and societal justices. Plus, some of them were hot.

I had some difficulty making my way through the bar for a drink, however, as my body constantly found itself being groped and pushed in every direction through navigating my way to talk to the bartender. I scowled at some foul-mouthed turian who called me a 'plaything' as I ordered my drink.

As I sat down at one of the drinking booths, a male figure caught my eye. He was human. He was... walking towards my booth?

Ordinarily, I'd have been on my guard. Yet he was wearing an impeccable suit that seemed moulded to his strong frame through wear, indicating that he wasn't some average bar-goer. Perhaps he'd just got off from work or an important meeting of some kind. For what seemed like an eternity of walking over, he approached the booth holding what I then observed was a drink of his own.

Clearing his throat he started to speak.

"Excuse me miss, I beg your pardon but I believe you're sitting in my booth. You're... sitting on my jacket."

His words snapped me into action as I lifted my body up and indeed, found a navy blue jacket tucked underneath my buttocks.

"Oh! I'm sorry I – I thought this booth was empty!" I blushed, awkwardly shuffling my body out of my seat and standing up to leave. As I did so, I found that even standing up my height was no match for him. I looked up at his face – young, filled with vitality and health. I didn't know human years very well but he looked to be in the early stages of adulthood. He was taller than myself, with short brown hair that had been sexily dishevelled somehow, perhaps by dancing or perhaps he was on a date.

"Oh no, it was my fault. I shouldn't have left it unattended. I'm just grateful you're not a krogan. I'd have lost the seat for good."

I let out a small laugh as I imagined the scenario. Even though he was taller than he, I had to admit he'd be no match for a krogan.

"Lucky you" I smiled, my feet itching to leave just so that I didn't have the chance to make a fool of myself.

"Definitely." he agreed.

Suddenly, I was brought back to Earth – figuratively speaking – by the sound of my holo-pager to indicate that someone was calling me.

"Oh! Excuse me, I have to take this!" I spoke hurriedly, fleeing the situation before he had a chance to reply. Regaining my composure, I clicked to accept the call and a holo of the Councillor appeared before my eyes.

"Falere, we need you in the office. Someone has called in sick and I absolutely must have our latest figures before I go home" she spoke sternly.

"On it!" I replied, closing down the holo-pager. I remembered that I'd left my drink on my – I mean his – table. But having ran out of the bar in such a hurry, it wasn't worth returning only to awkwardly say my goodbyes again to hurry back into the office. I felt a lingering sense of curiosity about whether or not I'd always be such a klutz when meeting others. At least nobody needed to worry about me mating with anyone, for I could apparently scarcely sit at a table without offending a human by sitting on his jacket. As I returned to the office, I couldn't help but hope that sitting on their clothing wasn't too much of an offensive thing for humans.

Not that I'd likely see him again anyway.