Cass ran her fingers through her shoulder length hair, trying to rid it of tangles. Unfortunately, she didn't think to pack her brush when she left earth, and Aria certainly didn't have one, for obvious reasons. Getting dressed into some street clothes, the girl shimmied into black compression pants, and a red t-shirt, deciding to forgo her armor today.
Shuffling out onto the balcony overlooking the Silversun strip, the teen sighed. It seemed so lively, like the people walking around the shops and arcade and the casino didn't have a care in the world, Cass wished she could be one of those people, ignorant or even just able to ignore what could be right around the corner, but she couldn't do that. There are too many thoughts buzzing around her head like a swarm of angry bees, a swarm that's inescapable.
And in this moment, Cass could think of only one thing that may help her escape.
"Mouse, long time no see." Cass mumbled leaning against the wall, settling her baggage at her feet. The man leaning next to her paled.
"I- Cass, I'm not supposed to be hanging around you-" Mouse replied, shoving away from the wall and taking a step back.
"What? Why? I haven't like seen you in two years."
"I had a run in with your ma, and Thane Krios and well, I might have mentioned you and your mother was about to smash my face in."
"You're joking." Cass' tone flat. "She never said anything to me- well , then again, that was right about when she almost left without me."
"No-" Mouse replied, looking around, "She's not here- is she?"
"No. God you're pathetic, she locked away on earth, so can you just help me out?"
"I- what do you need?"
"You know what I need. Just get me the usual. Kay?"
"I- fine. Okay. Where do you want to meet at?"
"Outside the shuttle docks."
"You going somewhere?"
"Not sure. Maybe. See you in a few." Cass waved her hand in dismissal as she walked away.
"Here's your stuff. Just wait till you're already gone to start downing it. It's strong, well, I don't really need to tell you that, now do I?" Mouse grinned, handing over a solid bad.
"Yeah, yeah. Thanks." Cass replied, taking the bag and handing the boy credits in return.
"Good luck, Cass." Mouse said as he walked away, leaving the girl with the bag and its contents.
Cass frowned, shifting the bottle between her hands. Had Mouse forgotten the king of tequila she liked? She should have been specific, but it would do.
She didn't have a difficult time sneaking it past C-sec and through customs, now all she had to do was wait until she would board the shuttle to Mars and it was likely that the only way she was going to do that was with a little liquid courage.
"Hey kid. Kid." A gruff looking engineer shook the girl out of her fugue like state.
"Hmm?" Cass moaned; her throat sore and dry despite the bottle she had been drinking from earlier hidden in her bag.
"We're docked- Are you okay?" The man scratched his 5'oclock shadow, his eyes suspicious.
"I'm just fine. Thanks." Cass grumbled, staggering into an uneasy standing position. Shoving her way pass the man, the teen shuffled off the Alliance ship and onto the dock. Looking around, the teen realized she had no idea where she was; well, at least not sure where in the archives anyways. Sighing, the teen sauntered down the hall away from the docking ships; turning to the left, the girl settled by a window in the corner of the room, thankful that the waiting area was incredibly empty. Beyond the glass, the red sands of mars were blowing about in a storm like fashion.
Slumping down to the floor, next to backless bench, the teen dug around her duffle bag for an only slightly emptied bottle. Screwing the cap off with little difficulty, the girl brought the column to her lips and drank deeply; sputtering ever so slightly once she swallowed.
She would call Liara to come get her later, if she remembered.
"Cass? Where are you?" Liara questioned. "Are you here? I- you didn't tell me you were coming!"
"Hmmm. Yeah- I, have you always been that shade of blue?" Cass giggled.
"Are you drunk?" Liara shrilled.
"I might be."
"My information says the only shuttle arrived at one today. It's nearly 5. Have you been here all day?"
"I might have."
"Goddess. I'm coming to get you. You better still be there by the time I get over there; I'm on the other side of the station."
"Hmm. I might be." Cass slurred.
"Yeah, well you might be getting your ass kicked." Liara deadpanned, ending the call.
The relief on Liara's face was visible as she came into view of the teen. Not wasting anytime, the Asari pulled the girl to her unsteady feet; keeping a tight grip on Cass' upper arm and her other hand gripping the duffle bag, Liara pulled them along down the hall to the tram to take them back to her room.
"I can't believe this is how you would show up here." Liara scolded. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you would've been in if C-sec had caught you?"
"That's why I didn't get caught, duh." The girl paused, blinking slowly. "Are you sure you've always been this blue?"
Liara rolled her eyes, giving the girl a sharp tug as the tram slowed to a stop as they got off.
"I can't believe you right now. You show up in this- this state!" Liara scolded. "I understand things have not been easy for you recently, with you mother and Omega, but this type of behavior is unacceptable-"
Liara paused; the girl she was trying to scold was no longer even conscious. The moment Liara had nearly carried her into the apartment-esque room she was staying in, she deposited Cass on the couch, and now it seems the teen had fallen asleep. She should have seen this coming.
Liara frowned slightly as she watched the girl whimper ever so slightly as she turned to her side, facing away from the Asari on the tan couch.
Sighing, Liara shut off the lights in the main room and retreated back to work.
Cass groaned, her face sticking to the leather the couch. How did she get here? And where is here? Slowly moving to a sitting position, the girl ran a hand through her tangle hair and looked around.
The room was small, with a kitchen off to one side, a half wall dividing between the living area and a small round dining table. There were two rooms, the open door on the left side of the home revealing a bathroom and the shut door likely had to be a bedroom. It reminded her much like the apartment her mother was staying in, so it was likely she was at some Alliance run facility.
Thinking back, Cass remembered getting to the archives and then in the waiting area… and then she called Liara, at least, she hopefully called Liara.
"Cass?" Liara appeared from behind the closed door, a slight smile playing at her lips.
"Oh, uh, Hey Liara." Cass frowned, sheepishly rubbing the back of her neck and evading the Asari's questioning blue eyes.
"Are you feeling okay? Well, not that I really expect for you to be feeling okay due to how drunk you were last night." Liara's smile disappearing.
"Heh, sorry." Cass mumbled.
"You should be. You could have gotten in so much trouble, no doubt that they would have sent you straight back to your mother if you were caught-"
"Spare me the lecture, Liara. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you deal with me last night, that was a mistake-"
"I never mind taking care of you, Cass, not ever. But you can't do stuff like that."
"I know it was stupid. Sorry." Cass' tone clearly unapologetic.
"What is going on with you?" Liara frowned.
"Nothing is going on with me. I'm fine."
"No you're not. You're acting very differently."
"Well, the game's changed, you must know that much. " Cass' voice lowered, hostility creeping in.
"Cassandra." Liara warned, in a tone that made the teen's blood run cold. "I care about you, I really do. And yes, I understand that things have become difficult and that there is a lot at stake right now, but I am concerned for your wellbeing, and snapping at me is not going to solve anything."
Cass, taking a deep breath, paused. Could she afford to push away one of the only people she had left?
"Sorry." Cass blinked.
"It's alright." Liara sighed. "I am concerned though, something is going on with-"
"Liara, please. I don't want to talk about this. Okay?"
"I think we need to." Liara stated, folding her arms over her chest.
"I don't have anything to say. So let's just drop this."
"Cut the crap, Cass." Liara's tone lowered. "You're not fine. I know you. You don't drink like that unless something is really going on and we're not going anywhere until you let me help you."
"Christ, Liara! I'm not the same person anymore!" Cass bellowed, her eyes gleaming. "I've changed! Okay?! I'm moving on with my own goddamn life! Are you happy now, does that answer your question?!"
Liara frowned as the girl's eyes began to well with tears, moving to the distressed teen, the Asari wrapped her arms around her, only to be pushed away.
"We're not going to do this." Cass stated her voice eerily calm as if her entire body snapped into a unrequited resolve. As the girl wiped the last of her tears away with her forearm, she swallowed thickly. "I'm sorry, Liara. I will always care about you, and you've been with me through a lot, but I can't get close to anyone."
"Cass?" Liara questioned, clearly confused at the girl's now calm and confident state.
"Don't worry, I'm fine." The girl smiled halfheartedly as a sign of reassurance, standing the teen stretched. Looking back at the Asari, the girl frowned. "So, we should get to work then, I guess."
Liara frowned, but nodded; now knowing, that more than ever, the girl's wall was at its strongest and it was going to be difficult to break it down once more.
Sorry! I kinda feel like I haven't updated in a while; so I might have rushed this a little, so forgive any grammatical errors. A little angsty, I know, but hopefully we will resolve some of that soon, or perhaps not ;) Hoping everyone had a good holiday, please review!