'We'll be resupplying and refuelling for most of the day, so all non-essential personnel are given leave for this day, then...those essential crew members shall have the courtesy returned to them.' That sentence seemed to do more for moral than anything else EDI had witnessed aboard the Normandy.
R&R time.
With the krogan now on their way to Palaven, the support of the turian Primarch for troops and a fleet to aid Earth, not to mention any spare krogan ground troops available and coup by Cerberus thwarted, the crew of the Normandy deserved a little down time. EDI admired the crew for their hard work and diligence, but she'd noticed performance beginning to flag a little around the ship, and although the crew still worked to exemplary standard, they usually did better. A number of smaller mission, such as finding and aiding lost or stranded ships, units, weapons, artifacts, scientists or civilians had lead the ship back into Council Space and a welcome trip to the Citadel to rest and resupply before venturing beyond the Perseus Veil.
The crew were always markedly different when not on duty, even more so when they were allowed out on their own recognisance for a period of time. EDI believed this was a good time to watch the crew and their interactions. This, however, was not without its draw backs and crew tended to scatter when turned loose, making watching them much more difficult. However, it was not difficult to predict their whereabouts as the Citadel was a finite space and much of it was under repair after Cerberus had hit. There was also the opportunity unfolding between Commander Shepard and Major Alenko.
EDI had spied an email from the Major that Shepard had read while the Normandy was on route, inviting her to lunch next time they were on the Citadel together, priorities allowing. The Commander had blushed at reading this, becoming a little nervous and glancing around to make sure no one was watching her in the CIC before she replied back in the affirmative.
Now the history between the Major and the Commander was no secret and speculation had run wild upon the Major's return. But as of yet, there had been little in the way of physical or sexual contact between the two. They talked, and often with Shepard had place a hand on Major Alenko's shoulder, for what EDI guess was comfort, when he had confided in her that his father was MIA. The Commander said she understood his feelings, relaying that her mother and the ship she served upon hadn't reported in either. With all the chaos thrown up by the Reaper Invasion, she had said, it was understandable that people go missing, but that doesn't mean the worst had happened.
But the invite to lunch was the most intriguing thing about the whole encounter as, if EDI was reading the situation correctly, this meeting could easily be a date. She had nothing concrete to confirm this, but after everything she had seen, it felt right. EDI had researched dating quite extensively and there was part of her that wondered if she could class her two encounters with Jeff, seeing The Man Who Hung Himself and the night in Purgatory dancing, could be classed as dates. She was unsure as they fit all the parameters, but something of those encounters didn't quite fall into place as a date. However, if she could observe Commander Shepard and Major Alenko together, it might help her clear up the imbalance.
'Hot date Commander?' Jeff had smirked when Shepard had entered the lift with him and EDI. Again, Jeff's perception of the goings on of the crew surprised EDI as much as it didn't. Since he was generally less able at doing things himself, he had become a voyeur and not just in the sexual sense (though he had, which again EDI found unsurprising). He watched the crew almost as much as EDI did, but his motives were a little more abstract for EDI, something almost like torture in some respects. Watching people doing all the things he couldn't, while he ferried them around and kept them alive. He was deeper than everyone gave him credit for.
But his question was a valid one. EDI had watched the Commander take a little extra time getting ready that morning. She was a little more pressed and dressed that her usual self. A life in the military, not to mention growing up aboard starships and space stations had made Shepard exceptionally efficient when it came to personal grooming and turn around. However, this morning she had purposefully taken longer. She had taken care over her uniform and her appearance, more so than usual.
When EDI looked at the Commander, she saw an attractive woman, with pale skin, high cheek bones and delicate features. However, there was a...cuteness to her that seemed to rob her from being a more mature beauty. Large, soulful green eyes and a smattering of freckles across her nose gave her a look much younger than she was, especially when the Commander wear her N7 hoodie, which she did...a lot. But to see her standing straight and dressed, with a faint fruity smell from some non-regulation shampoo, it made EDI look at her in a slightly different light. Gone was some of the childlike cuteness to be replaced with a quiet prettiness instead. It seemed, as far as the Shepard was concerned, she was going on a date and had prepared herself accordingly.
Appearance was an important thing to an organic species, although many always said it was secondary when choosing a mate. However, an attractive member of the opposite sex did gain a lot of attention. It made EDI wonder upon her own physical appearance. Was she considered attractive? Jeff certainly seemed to think so. Engineer Donnelly had made a number of laude comments on her physical platform, much to the annoyance of Engineer Daniels. Even Major Alenko had said that she 'looked good' when Shepard had questioned him about his thoughts and feelings on EDI's physical platform and whether or not it would be a problem. Her face and body also conformed to a number of attributes that were found attractive in a female. But in truth, to EDI, such things really didn't matter to her, but she kept the platform the way it had been found for Jeff as he liked it, and in return that had made EDI feel special.
'Says the guy arm in arm with his sweetheart!' Shepard had shot back without turning. It was true, Jeff was holding on to EDI's arm for support. Even the slight jarring as the lift accelerated and decelerated something threw him off balance and so EDI kept him stable. The Commander seemed a little more testy that usual, despite having been busy the whole day so far. Things had to be sorted with a number of finds, the Commander had met up with a fellow Spectre and word had already spread that she'd been up to the top of the Presidium shooting cans with Garrus, so she sould have been relaxed, but she wasn't and hadn't reacted well to Jeff's teasing.
After that, the Commander had promptly ignored Jeff and his jibes, speaking only to EDI about if the resupply was running smoothly, times and estimates and about making sure the skeleton crew left aboard got their allotted shore leave. It had made the lift journey seem like it had lasted forever, before it slowed into the Presidium and Shepard and nodded a goodbye to EDI, still ignoring Jeff.
'Come on, let's follow her and see how this pans out!' Jeff announced with a glint of mischief in his eyes. He went to go forward but was almost jerked back by EDI's stationary position. 'Come on EDI, don't you want to see what happens between them. I bet they almost get arrested for indecent exposure.'
EDI shook her head. 'No Jeff. I do not think that we should.' She finally said. 'I believe that Commander Shepard and Major Alenko should have some privacy on their date.' ...oh, too late, she'd said it.
'I knew it!' Jeff grinned.
'You must not say anything Jeff.' EDI warned him, worried about her slip. It had no really grounding as a theory, however, from her studies, it couldn't be denied. 'You should respect their time alone together. After all, how would you like someone intruding upon us while we were on a date?'
EDI watched Jeff process what she had just said, as well as its implications. Had he thought about going on a date with her? He hadn't asked her to spend time with him in a romantic way...other than to dance. Did that mean he was never going to ask? Or did he need to pluck up the courage to do so? EDI wasn't sure. Jeff wasn't the quickest of people to initiate anything outside of combat manoeuvres. He needed time to steel himself before either taking the plunge himself, or getting sweep over by a wave and seeing if he sank or swam...so to speak. EDI believed she could have investigated this...but not today. Today, she decided was a day to either sink, or swim.
'Jeff, would you like to go on a date with me today?'