Benezia shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying desperately to disguise it as an attempt to move closer to Ashley Williams, seated stiffly at her right. She was certain that no one was fooled, but appearances were key and no one would be so crass as to point out her obvious dismay.
Aethyta had positively howled for nearly a minute, tears gathered at the corner of her eyes and she couldn't even muster the strength to cover her mouth for her tremors. She was still wiping tears away now, smiling to herself and occasionally glancing over to Lieutenant Alenko as if they had shared some grand joke. He chuckled too every now and again, and Benezia nearly regretted the decision to cooperate so willingly every time she caught the smirk on his face.
Kaidan must have found a trace of her earlier activities as he glanced over the security logs for the past few days, and defying all logic had chosen to pass it on to a superior with whom he was clearly at odds. Benezia hadn't counted on that; the oversight distressed her unduly.
It had been a foolish little game, she could see that now; had known even then it was a trick more worthy of some fresh off the ship maiden than a respected matriarch, but she had been so taken with the idea of keeping something from Aethyta that she had ignored all common sense. She was paying dearly for it tonight, and it would only be worse after they were excused. As the nominative head of their squad it would be well within Aethyta's purview to arrange for a penance. Benezia struggled to keep her face smooth at the thought; penance was always worse for Matriarchs, they were assumed to be more level-headed and so were dealt with far more strictly. Perhaps this public humiliation had been enough; or maybe Aethyta was in a spiteful mood- she would find out soon enough.
Benezia lifted her eyes from the table to meet the gaze of ambassador Udina, straightening her spine and tilting her chin. "I apologize, ambassador Udina, for my thoughtless actions earlier."
She couldn't very well confess that she was at odds with Aethyta, not after her lecture about presenting a united front. "I had a message of some urgency to deliver to our superiors. Matriarch Aethyta gave me clearance to see to it, but neglected to provide me with her access code. I took the liberty of using an obsolete entry code."
"Liberty? That was an egregious breach of trust and I am frankly outraged-" Benezia was forced to suppress a smile of her own as Aethyta mouthed the word along with him, mirth sparkling in her eyes.
"That you would think to abuse our hospitality in this way."
Benezia prepared to smooth over what damage had been done, mentally rehearsing a pretty little speech on her gratitude for Alliance cooperation and assurances of future good behavior when Aethyta cut in, wiping her mouth with surprising daintiness on the linen tablecloth. Benezia glared at her, noting the deliberate insolence even if their host was too preoccupied to see it.
"Needs must, ambassador. It won't happen again."
And of course she would assume that was the end of it.
"I will see to it personally."
Ah. That was most unfortunate. Aethyta was in a playful mood tonight, combine that with her authority and Benezia was sure that if she didn't wholly regret her recklessness now she surely would by the time Aethyta had assigned her penance.
Glancing once more to ambassador Udina she could see plainly that the assurance had not mollified him in the slightest; it was a wonder the man had not had an apoplexy. She could see him gathering his words, preparing a cutting statement and braced herself for a thorough dressing down the likes of which she had not experienced in centuries. It did not help any that she knew it to be deserved.
Lieutenant Alenko coughed pointedly and whatever Udina had meant to say was forgotten while the table turned to glare as one at the newest participant in the duel of wills.
"Williams and I have been reviewing footage, and we have what appears to be a lead."
Ashley started in surprise, drinking glass connecting with the table a little harder than she had intended; Benezia could see her wince at the sound.
Aethyta leaned forward, fixing him with a sharp eye. "Clarify."
This was not the time to be demanding, not so soon after her own breach of etiquette. Benezia kicked her beneath the table, stomping on her toes for good measure. Aethyta's lips tightened menacingly, "Please. That's not much to go on." Better. Not perfect, but a respectable improvement.
Alenko nodded, casting Benezia a subtly grateful look. "Surveillance near the maintenance passageways is… disjointed."
"Of course." Aethyta muttered under her breath, foot beginning to tap impatiently. Benezia briefly considered kicking her once more, but in a mood like this it was entirely possible that Aethyta would kick her back and the last thing they needed now was to be seen bickering like children.
"But we do have a visual on Dr. T'Soni. Assuming nothing has been tampered with, we should be able to match a face to her captor within the hour."
"Then why the he-"
"You will provide an image for us as soon as it becomes accessible, lieutenant?" Benezia nodded to lieutenant Alenko reassuringly, but the look he was fixing on Aethyta said he was more than ready to carry the argument himself if it came to it. Having been on the wrong side of Aethyta's tongue a few times herself, Benezia wished him luck. Aethyta could be surprisingly articulate when she wanted; her quicksilver temper hid a calculating mind and a surprisingly observant eye as she had learned too long ago.
Lieutenant Alenko glanced to Udina and nodded once, almost uncertainly.
"Of course; the Alliance is dedicated to tracking down this terrorist and aiding our Asari allies." Speaking of quicksilver tempers, Udina seemed rather mellow suddenly; bless whomever had decided to bring out one of the more potent vintages for supper.
Williams cut in smoothly, "I will deliver it personally tomorrow morning."
"Tomorrow?" Aethyta's voice was dangerously close to a shriek. "So long?"
"Better to deliver the information all at once so we can act on it directly; it is a miracle we have acquired so much in this span of time- we cannot afford to ruin our preparations with haste now." She glanced to Alenko for confirmation, relaxing slightly at some unseen signal.
"We will run the image through a facial recognition program and see if we can't isolate a smaller portion of the grid for an in-depth search. It will take time."
Aethyta swallowed whatever comment she had been about to make, nodding her head firmly and taking another deep draught of wine. Benezia took another shallow sip of her own; it was difficult to tell how much they had drunk already, the glasses were always kept full, but she was certain it was quite a bit more than they should have. She pushed her glass aside pointedly, and catching her eye Aethyta did the same; there might be some hope for her yet.
She couldn't afford to count on it; they weren't even past the first course and already Aethyta was shaping up to be in fine form this evening. Benezia had never been particularly religious, preferring to put her faith in the more tangible work of her own hands, but she made an exception tonight and muttered a quiet prayer that her misstep and Aethyta's temper would not cost them a much-needed ally. It couldn't hurt.
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Liara dragged herself to some semblance of wakefulness; fatigue pulled at her eyelids even as she strained to open them and her limbs were reluctant to respond to her urging. She spared a moment to wonder just how long she had been asleep; minutes? Hours even? It hardly mattered, she was in the same place and the same circumstances as when she had first nodded off.
It took her a moment to notice the soft shuffling sounds from somewhere to her right; she lifted her head with effort, blinking the last of the sleep from her eyes- oddly enough she was even worse off now than she had been before her impromptu nap. She took a breath and forced herself up onto her elbows, looking for the source of the sound… and stilled.
Shepard had cast aside her boots and pinned her only just long enough hair into a sloppy ponytail; the ragged shirt she had changed into was stained with sweat that ran in a small rivulet from her neck down her back. Distracting as the decidedly indecent shirt was, Liara found she was more captivated by Shepard's movements. She looked to be rehearsing for some coming fight, feet shifting in and out of position though never leaving the floor, blearily Liara pinpointed that as the sound of the cursed shuffling, her palms and arm, elbows and wrists thudded into one of the support pillars- carefully wrapped with linens and rope. She had to have been asleep for more than a few minutes then.
Shepard grunted softly when her forearm thudded into the pillar with a little more force than necessary, "Son of a Bitch." She swept back, retreating from the post with an odd shuffling movement, gracefully balanced on the balls of her feet. How she managed to keep from pitching forward onto her face with movements as quick as that one, Liara would have given much to know. "What the fuck did you think she was going to do?"
It didn't take a doctorate in psychology to guess who she was referring to. Liara seconded the question in the privacy of her own thoughts. Shepard tangled her fingers in the glinting strands of her hair and tugged viciously, Liara winced in sympathy. It was hard to remember sometimes that human hair did not carry nerve endings, but she had to have felt a vicious yank like that. A self-imposed penance perhaps? Were humans in the habit of such practices? She didn't remember reading anything to that effect.
Shepard skipped forward, planting her knee in the center of the support and falling back to rest her weight on that leg. Liara spared a moment to appreciate the shift of muscles in her calf as she adjusted her weight. There could be no harm in making the best of a bad situation.
Doubtless sensing Liara's curious eyes, Shepard turned, wiping the sweat from her face with an already damp sleeve. "Sleep well?" Her expression had transformed almost immediately from frustration to a brittle smile that fooled neither of them.
"Not particularly." Liara's lips turned down and she stood slowly, fighting off an unexpected wave of dizziness; she was worse off than even she had the sway of her movement, Shepard stepped forward and offered a hand. Liara stepped back pointedly and Shepard tossed her head in a gesture Liara was coming to recognize as a sign of impatience.
Shepard gestured to the desk, "I brought lunch. Supper, actually. I guess." She shrugged awkwardly.
Liara wanted nothing more than to fall on the food and devour it as a dying man would his last supper, but there were other things that needed discussing first. Still, she couldn't resist edging toward the food even as she spoke.
"Where do we stand, Shepard?" No point in playing games now; this situation had spun too far out of hand and she no longer had the patience nor the inclination to step lightly.
Shepard sighed, stripping off her shirt casually and casting it aside, completely oblivious to Liara's shocked stare. Given the tight sports bra she wore it shouldn't have been so shocking, but her exercises had tightened the muscles of her center and Liara couldn't help an admiring flicker of her lashes. Best of a bad situation. Liara crossed her arms over her breasts almost protectively, forcing her gaze above Shepard's neck and congratulating herself on her restraint. This was not the time and not the place. That was at least half her problem, she decided. There would never be an appropriate time or place.
"Not precisely where we did a few hours ago? I didn't anticipate Mara's actions." Oh. Oh yes, their standing. Mara. Plans. Her distraction made her more peevish than she had intended.
"You should have. That is your responsibility, is it not? To anticipate and deflect? She will not let this rest; you have shamed her and she will make you pay." Unspoken was the knowledge that Liara too would pay for the insult.
"I know. I said as much, didn't I? It changes things."
"How much?" Liara gave up the battle and seized the apple resting on the corner of the tray; it was a little over-ripe and a trifle bruised, but she wasn't about to that she knew plans permitting she would be home soon, Liara couldn't find it in her to care much what she ate these coming hours. It would be over soon enough.
Shepard perched on the bed, hands on her knees, still flushed from her activities. Interesting to note that her blush really did show everywhere. Useful for gaging exertion, Liara was certain but it had to be inconvenient to show weakness so plainly. A topic for another time.
"You can't stay here."
Thank the goddess; the first sensible words she had heard in days. Liara could have laughed with relief, but she kept a straight face with effort. "When may I leave?" It was a trial to keep that bored tone in place.
"When I can arrange for it."
"Unacceptable. I want a time-frame."
"And I want us both to live to a ripe old age. I need to know what's happening here; if I just make off with you it will strengthen Mara's position, and she may well be able to convince others to hunt us down. I need to find a way to present this so that it seems the most logical course of action."
Liara bit back the obvious retort, Shepard had made off with her once already in far riskier would have to be persuaded with logic and rationality, provided she could still recognize sense when she heard it.
"You will be hunted either way. Neither my people nor your own Alliance will allow this to pass unchallenged. Should you escape her machinations you must still face justice." That thought sent a bolt of satisfaction of satisfaction through her that she labored to hide. Liara fixed Shepard with a firm look, "Turn yourself in and plead for clemency; offer the names and whereabouts of your co-conspirators in exchange, as well as the names of your benefactors."
Shepard laughed mirthlessly, "Capital punishment is still a very real possibility at this point. Why jump into the fire?"
"At least this way you would still have a chance." Liara leaned forward, considering her words carefully and willing Shepard to pay heed. "Take me back without delay and I will testify in your favor; cooperate and I do not doubt you will find some measure of relief."
A new thought occurred to her and it was all she could do to keep it from showing plainly on her face. There was more than one way for justice to be served, and more than one governing body involved. If she could convince- Best not to mention it, not even to think it until she was sure it could work; besides, forewarned meant forearmed and she did not want Shepard to be prepared for this coup.
Shepard ran a hand through her hair, catching on knots as she pulled the tie free. "Questions of justice aside, we need to keep a sharp eye out. Mara has sympathizers, and while my display this afternoon might make them a little more hesitant to openly voice their support, you can be sure I made no friends among them today."
She glanced down, seemingly noticing for the first time that she was half undressed. She pushed up from the bed and stole a sip of the water on Liara's tray, "I need a bath and you can't stay here alone."
Liara sighed bitterly, pushing the tray aside with ill grace.
"I didn't realize opting out of your bathing time was ever an option."
Shepard shrugged carelessly, and for one wild moment Liara considered dumping the strange noodles through her hair. Only for a moment; for a while at least, they were of the same mind- find the safest, easiest way out and take it.
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Mara ran trembling fingers through what little was left of her hair once more; she had been furious at first, incapable of stopping the tears that slipped free regardless of her determination. That fury had faded into numb acceptance for a time, and she had begun the slow work of trimming the ragged locks and making herself somewhat presentable. Then resignation gave way to calculation; every eye had seen Shepard's outburst this morning, and she was sure everyone had taken a different lesson from the display. She was equally certain that for many it would be a tipping point to seeing things her way.
The trick would be to find someone dependable, someone that was widely trusted, somewhat well-liked and known to have been a supporter of Shepard from the moment she had stepped into her new role. If such a one were to be seen openly condemning Shepard's rash actions and urging a change in leadership, that would send even more stragglers to her side. She herself had made a bid for Shepard's position, and it was no secret she was disappointed with the way that had turned out, but Finch and Kev had both been staunch supporters and the loss of either would be a formidable blow to Shepard's camp.
Mara examined her work in the mirror once more, no longer seeing this as any sort of loss but rather a tool. Kevin wouldn't turn against Shepard; to be sure, he had disagreed with many of her decisions, especially of recent, but they had arrived together and worked hand in hand for too long. Old dogs really couldn't learn new tricks in her experience.
Finch however, would feel utterly betrayed. It was obvious that he was growing frustrated with Shepard's refusal to explain her decisions; quite clear too that he was disgusted with her 'punishment' and openly puzzled about her treatment of an asari that should rightfully be their prisoner and pawn. Following the events of this afternoon and Shepard's subsequent disappearance with the doctor it shouldn't be a difficult task to paint them as co-conspirators. Finch had never been the brightest, but he had always been loyal; she would need that for herself in the coming days.
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Mara found him outside, scrambling busily around but accomplishing precious little. As far as she could tell, his work seemed to consist of shifting junk from one pile to another and occasionally back again.
"Finch."
He jumped, turned red eyes to her, futilely trying to wipe away the dust; his face was already burned by the unforgiving sun just now slipping beneath the horizon and she could see the patchwork of sweat on his clothing. It didn't matter. She needed to strike while the iron was hot, and she had wasted enough time making herself presentable- an error in hindsight.
"We need to talk."
He turned away pointedly, "Nothing to talk about, Mara. You have nothing to say that I want to hear right now."
That stung, she and Finch had never been any sort of rivals, he wasn't cut out for leadership and frankly admitted it. Sometimes they had even played at being friends. "Played" being the operative word.
"Where do you think Shepard is?"
Finch shifted the junk aimlessly, but she could practically see his ears twitching.
"She went upstairs with the doctor hours ago and only came down for a tray. Why is that, do you think?"
It would do no good to force her conclusions; that would only make him stubborn and liable to rat her out at a moment's notice.
"I just think she's a little over-protective. Don't you think it's a little out of character to completely remove a captive's restraints? Maybe she's-" Mara cut off, shaking her head. "Pure speculation, but maybe she's cutting a deal and leaving us out." She sighed softly, turning on her heel.
"I know what you're doing." Finch's voice was muted so that it was a strain to catch it even in the stillness.
"And what's that?"
"You're trying to manipulate me into spreading your rumors. You want Shepard's place. You always have."
"If you know what I want then how am I manipulating you? I've always said Shepard shouldn't have as much power as she does. Look what she's done with it." Mara tugged her hair pointedly and Finch scowled.
"Mark me: she's trying to bail. She's probably talking with the asari right now about ways she can come out on top or at least break-even. Do you know how she's going to do that? Giving us up."
"Shepard's a Red-"
"Why? Because she has a cut-rate tattoo and the hair to match? Shepard does whatever the hell she pleases and we all go along with it because she's the Queen Bitch. That can change."
"She warned you not to push it. You always do, though. You've never been good at backing down."
"That's the problem." Mara sneered, "You all back down. She's got you whipped."
Finch stood, dusting off his pants legs. She could see the thoughts darting through his eyes and read them plainly on his face. She pushed away the contempt she felt for him lest it show on her face.
"So what? You think she's just going to run off and throw herself on the mercy of the Alliance? Won't work. She's a fucking terrorist now. We're way past routine gang violence" She could hear the disgust in his voice and it gave her hope.
Mara shrugged, "I never know what she's thinking or what she intends to do. I don't think anyone does; if she's not confiding in you then she's not going to tell anyone."
She turned to go and Finch caught her arm, "What do you want?"
"I thought you said you knew."
"Your ultimate objective, yes. What you're going to do about it is still a little hazy."
"Take the doctor and give her over along with the corpse of her abductor. Then we keep our heads down and wait for this to blow over."
"If Shepard and the asari are collaborating as you suspect then she's not going to-"
"We'll be sending her home. That's exactly what they want; we'll even give them a culprit all wrapped up in a pretty bow. If we step lightly maybe we'll all come out of this alive."
Mara could hear his teeth grinding with frustration, feel his hand tightening unconsciously on her arm. "Let me think. I need to think."
"Take your time."
She had him; he just didn't realize it yet.
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Liara leaned back against the wall of the bathroom, eyes finally clear of sleep and legs considerably steadier. Before her, Shepard scrubbed viciously at her face with a rough cloth, pausing every now and again to mutter angrily at her reflection. It didn't speak well for her sanity, Liara thought, but for all she knew every human was in the habit of addressing their reflections familiarly if not too fondly.
"I thought you mentioned a bath?"
"I said I needed to bathe. We don't have time for a bath."
"We?"
"Better start thinking in the plural. It's our best chance."
Liara cocked a hip and Shepard chuckled quietly, catching the action in the mirror when she glanced up.
"Why don't we have time for a proper bath?"
"Provisioning. If we try to make directly for the Atrium we'll be toast. If we make directly for the city limits we risk being caught by them or a few other people I'd really rather not run into. We're taking a roundabout route and we need to be prepared for it."
Even quiet as she was, her voice echoed in the enclosed space and Liara couldn't help flinching at the sound. What if they were caught? She didn't think the Reds would take kindly to one of their own making off in the dead of night with a prisoner.
Shepard ran the water again, water running distractingly down the line of her throat and beneath the plain bra. Liara swallowed tightly; home soon.
"I'll see to provisioning and you need to stay up here. You're either in my room or with me at all times."
"I thought we were leaving soon?"
"Counting down the hours, but a lot could go wrong. Do you know anything about weapons?"
Liara blinked, "Are you willing to give me one?"
"I'm seriously considering it." Shepard growled. "I'm assuming you're at least trained for using your biotics in combat."
"Yes." Liara admitted grudgingly. Benezia had been very insistent on that point and over the years Liara had cause to thank her many times for her foresight.
"Takes care of that then."
Liara was oddly disappointed to hear it. Something besides her own natural abilities would have been nice, but this didn't seem the time to quibble. She had more experience with her biotics anyway.
Shepard stripped out of her bra and Liara found her attention unwillingly diverted once more whilst Shepard quickly ran the cloth over her skin.
"You're welcome to stop eyeing me and join in anytime now."
How could she smile so rakishly at a time like this? The tension was obvious in her bearing, but that wink was decidedly flirtatious.
Liara stepped forward, pushing Shepard aside gently as she knelt to pull another cloth from beneath the sink. No telling how long it would be before she was afforded even this quick chance again. Shepard gazed at her with new respect when she hurriedly stripped, folding her clothes neatly once more to lay on the ledge. She raised a brow, unable to prevent a victorious smirk; Shepard clearly hadn't been expecting her to be so brazen and it left her feeling like she had won a small victory. Only she needed to stop thinking like that; from now until she was home they were… allies. That would take no small amount of adjustment.
"I concede defeat, doctor T'Soni." Shepard grinned at their reflections in the mirror and Liara ignored her in favor of seeing to her own routine. She was proud to find that her blush was pale and quickly faded as she attended to her business. No question but that modesty was her smallest concern right now; after all this she wasn't sure it would ever bother her again, really.
"I wasn't aware we were in competition, Shepard."
Shepard ducked her head, turning the tap to wet her hair and scrubbing viciously. "When we're done here I need to speak with Kevin. Try to get some sleep. I'll lock you in."
"Wonderful." Liara muttered.
"Trust me, it's better this way. If Mara makes a move-"
"I understand your reasoning. That doesn't mean I particularly care for your method."
"Just so long as you go along with it."
Liara nodded firmly, grabbing for her clothes and yanking them back into place with more force than was strictly necessary. "For tonight."
Shepard laughed; it wasn't true laughter, and no one could have thought otherwise. "I like it when you cut up snippy, save some for everyone else."
Snippy? Shepard made it sound like she was an unreasonable child throwing a tantrum. Liara T'Soni, daughter of Matriarch Benezia, expert scholar in the field of Prothean technology was not snippy. Without comment, she quietly added that remark to the already monstrously list of things she would take in payment from Shepard as soon as they were free and clear. She found the thought comforting, and had Shepard seen her little smile she might have offered an immediate apology.
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Aethyta leaned heavily against Benezia as they made their way from the dining hall. The last hour or so of conversation was a blur, some of it was the wine she knew, but most of it was Nezzie's fault.
She had been exceptionally charming tonight, always ready with a pithy observation and a witty comment. A smile for the servers that brought their food or an incisive remark whenever the conversation began to die.
In short, it was mostly the wine. How much had she had anyway? Vainly she tried to count cups, unfortunately when the servers were always filling your glass to the brim after a few sips, or gulps, it was nearly impossible to tell. It must have been an impressive amount though, Aethyta could swear she heard her father's mocking laughter in the back of her mind, knew exactly what he would have said to learn his daughter was tipsy from a few too many glasses of wine.
"Aethyta, that is the third time you have stepped on my dress in as many minutes."
"No, that's not it." Aethyta muttered. Forget her father, what would her mother have said? Aethyta winced.
"It is only a little further to your chambers; do at least control yourself that long."
Aethyta snorted, "I know how to hold my drink, Nezzie. Been doing it since you were a babe in your mother's arms."
"Not so long as that, surely?" She could hear the unwilling amusement in Benezia's voice and it warmed her a little.
"We never talked about your childhood, did we? All about mine. You wouldn't let that rest, but never yours."
Benezia sighed softly, shifting closer to support a little more of her weight. Aethyta leaned into her shamelessly, basking in the familiar warmth. Plenty of truth to be found in the bottom of a glass of wine, she had seen it many times. Benezia would assume that the wine made her foolish or forgetful, and Aethyta was more than willing to take advantage of that.
"What do you think Liara will say about her childhood? Had to be rough, not having a dad."
"We made do." Nezzie's tone was dry and Aethyta laughed outright. Come to it, her laughter was probably what had Nezzie in a temper with her tonight anyway, and that raised an entirely new topic.
"So you thought you would bypass me and take charge yourself with clearance from councilor Tevos?"
Benezia stumbled slightly, it was confirmation enough. "Instead you pissed off Udina. Not hard to do, but now he actually has a reason to be angry."
"You were surprised. I take it Shiala had not yet reported to you."
It was Aethyta's turn to trip and she could feel the satisfaction radiating from Benezia. "She is under my command after all, the same as you." Oh goddess, she must be drunk indeed for her mind to veer so sharply into the sexual at that statement. She didn't remember Nezzie ever complaining of her bossy moods, quite the opposite in fact.
"You realize I will have to think up some sort of punishment for diplomacy's sake?" That had sounded downright creepy. How had she come to this and how was she going to fix it? Sleep. She needed sleep and her weight in water.
"Agreed. Unfortunately my apology will need to be altogether more public if we wish it to seem sincere. A penance should further reinforce the idea."
Aethyta groaned, "Shut up, Nezzie. Why the hell are you always so good? Not even a token protest? Tell me you didn't raise my kid this way."
"You certainly were not there to offer your thoughts on the matter."
Aethyta sighed, "You are as tipsy as I."
"Not nearly, Aethyta."
"Come off it, Nezzie. You always were a lightweight."
"And yet I am not the one leaning on you for support."
Aethyta snorted, "You might have something there. Not that you ever did that anyway."
"No, I didn't." Benezia sighed, "I need you to enter the code for your apartment, Aethyta."
"Two Zero Seven Seven. You-"
Aethyta glanced up to find Nezzie staring at her fixedly. "Liara was born that year."
"Don't have to tell me. Only good thing to come out of a shit year."
Nezzie frowned, keying in the code without further comment.
Aethyta straightened up as soon as they were through the door, eyes widening in panic. Damn. She really hadn't meant to let that last part slip. Only thing to do now was play it off as intentional.
She turned back to speak with Benezia only to find her retreating. Typical.
"Where are you going?"
Benezia narrowed her eyes dangerously, "To my quarters, Aethyta."
Petulantly, Aethyta kicked off her shoes. "Run then. We're not through by half, Nezzie; you never could face a challenge head on."
"What are you implying?"
"I thought that was fairly blunt. Allow me to try again: you're going to run at the first sign of trouble because you don't know how to do anything else."
"What am I supposed to be running from? You?" Benezia's tone could have cooled the hottest sun.
"Isn't that your default tactic?" Aethyta smirked.
Benezia's lips tightened as she turned away stiffly. Aethyta was unaccountably disappointed, she had expected better.
Fingers trembling with suppressed anger, Benezia keyed in the code and the door slid shut; it was probably her imagination, but the locking mechanism sounded sinister to her ears.
"What's this? Decided to stay a little longer?"
Aethyta was manipulating her and she knew it. Unfortunately those last few remarks had rung a little too true for her comfort.
"Indeed, Aethyta. The night, in fact."
She took a perverse satisfaction in Aethyta's wide-eyed surprise. Tomorrow she would regret this recklessness, she knew but what was the use of wine if not to lend false courage and permit a few mistakes?
Without further thought, Benezia stepped out of her shoes and moved toward the bed. "Will you assist me with these buttons?"
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Well, that took longer than expected. It's up now though, and updates will resume as per usual. :)