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7 July 2185—Docks, Zakera Ward, the Citadel, Serpent Nebula

Shepard pulled Corinthia back to him, giving her another deep kiss. She giggled. "Honestly, John! I have to go to the Gallery!"

He locked her arms behind back by her wrists, pressing his lips against hers again. "Until you start talking like Ariadne, you're mine, maggot," he growled.

Corinthia stopped struggling and drank in the kiss. "Maggot, is it? You aren't a drill sergeant."

"I outrank you."

"Only by years in service."

"Still..."

"We are NOT role playing."

"How about this? You're mine, beautiful."

She smiled and kissed him lightly. "That works."

Thane chuckled. As much as he missed his wife and family, it was good to see love in the worst of times. Shepard and Corinthia usually didn't wrestle in such a way in public, but neither was particularly willing to leave the other. Shepard was afraid to lose her, and she him. Thane felt himself drifting into solipsism as he remembered his times with his own wife.

"Irikah comes towards me, sunset eyes sparkling. Lips twitch into a smile. I shiver in anticipation. Her fingers slid along my chest. Her lips press against mine..."

Corinthia touched his arm. "Thane, you're drifting away."

Thane closed his eyes and hung his head. "Forgive me. I was remembering."

"I know." She kissed his cheek and squeezed his hand. "I'll keep Shepard off me, if it's painful..."

Thane's eyelids fluttered a little. "It is quite alright, Cassiopeia. You should enjoy one another while you can. You should not have regrets, as I do." He patted her shoulder and stepped ahead of them.

Shepard was used to Corinthia being affectionate with people (hell, she'd even managed to kiss Wrex's cheek, once), but his jealousy still reared a little. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, running his fingers through her hair.

Her cheeks flushed a little. "Don't be jealous, Shep..."

"You should know better than to taunt me like that."

She shook her head. "You aren't going to lose me. I had two years to get with Thane, if I wanted to. I didn't, now, did I? I didn't get with anyone, and believe me I had opportunities."

"As I learned at Hock's party. Ah, it was great to see Kasumi kill that bastard..."

"Just because he hit on me doesn't make him a jerk."

"He was an asshole anyway."

She glanced towards the elevator to the Presidium. "I do really have to go, now," she said sadly. "I've got all sorts of things I have to do..."

"Yeah, me too..." He glanced at Thane. "I'm not sure I'm cut out for this..."

Thane had asked Shepard to help him find his son, Kolyat, who seemed to be in some kind of trouble. Shepard didn't feel comfortable with the mission at all, but he knew he had to do it.

"You are," she reassured him gently. "You acted the gentleman with Ariadne, didn't you? You can do this. I know you can. What if it was your son?"

"I think I'd be a better father—"

"Doesn't matter what you would or wouldn't be. You would do anything to save me, and don't you dare argue that because you know you would."

"I know. Anderson sent me the paperwork for the court martial they were getting ready for me. Ignoring orders was the least of my problems."

"You never really did listen..."

"Except when you tell me to stop."

"Only sometimes."

"Sorry."

Ariadne shrugged. "It's quite alright. Now, go help Mr. Krios and meet me at the Hellas Gallery after." She ran her hand around the collar of his armor. "You and I are going to have a romantic dinner, go out dancing, and then get back to the task at hand."

He grinned stupidly. "Seriously? You mean we're actually going to go on a date?"

"Mmhm. Everyone's on shore leave for the next forty-eight hours, so we may as well get some time to ourselves..."

Shepard's mind raced into the realm of fantasy. He kissed her knuckles reverently. "I'm looking forward to it."

Ariadne left. Shepard turned to Thane, unable to stop smiling.

The drell chuckled. "It is nice to see you in a good mood, Commander."

"We've never actually been out together..."

"A product of the times, I am sure."

Shepard released a slow breath. "And now the pressure's on me to perform. Shit. What the hell am I supposed to do? We've only ever gone to bars and all that sort of thing..."

"I will gladly give you some advice, but after we find my son."

Shepard nodded. "That goes without saying."

As they went through security at C-Sec, Thane chuckled. "Any trained Assassin could find thirteen security holes to exploit."

"That would've been good to know. Last time I was here, the system got pissed at me for being dead."

"Quite understandable. It does not like when it's wrong."

"Eesh. Sounds like EDI."

"That was Cassiopeia's fault."

"What?"

"She attempted to discover the limits of EDI's programming and caused her to glitch for several moments."

"Was she making sure that we weren't being bugged?" Shepard asked.

"I am not sure. I just happened to be in the area when I heard her cursing and Kasumi laughing."

"Figures," Shepard muttered, stepping into the Zakera Ward proper. The C-Sec officers stared at him in shock as his identity appeared on the screen.

"I thought he was dead," a turian murmured.

"Who cares?" a human answered. "He let my cousin die on Torfan. Fucking butcher..."

Shepard cracked his neck. "Where are we starting?"

"C-Sec," Thane answered.

"Seriously? Those incompetent idiots?"

"They have ears, though blind eyes more often than not."

"Tell me something I don't know..."

"I will speak to them, if you wish. You need not worry yourself. You are here for... moral support."

"That's a new one..."

"I could not ask Cassiopeia, for fear that Imreas would appear."

"I get your reasons, it's just new to me, that's all. I'm not exactly a paragon of morality... or whatever it is Ci-Ci calls me."

"It is that. I believe you are, more than you realize, Shepard. Your recent record speaks for itself." Thane's eyes twinkled oddly and he approached one of the C-Sec officers.

Shepard let out a long breath. Thane was right. Corinthia had been getting to him. He may have acted like a tough guy (which he was), but even if he was cold and cruel in his course of action, he always did the right thing in the end. Hell, he'd stopped a kid from getting himself killed on Omega by joining the mercenaries going after Archangel (the kid had even dropped Shepard a note in thanks, too). That was Corinthia's thing, not his, but he'd done it without her there. She was the voice in his head (and he got the distinct impression that he was the voice in hers... or Imreas's, as the case probably was, shouting at Harbinger to get the fuck out of Corinthia's mind).

Either way, Corinthia was the best thing that could have ever happened to him.

Thane came back.

"Mouse."

"Uh..."

"He was a contact of mine. Kolyat contacted him."

"An informant named 'Mouse'? Wouldn't 'Rat' be more appropriate?"

"He may be part of the underbelly of society, but he is a good boy. He grew up here. Many orphans wander around in the ducts and ventilation shafts of the Citadel. He was one of the lucky few to have survived."

Shepard's stomach twinged with guilt. If he hadn't been born on Earth, he could easily have been one of those kids. He rubbed the back of his neck, glad his tattoo was gone, but half-wishing it wasn't. "No kid deserves that. Ci-Ci and I are adopting."

"Are you marrying?"

"Uh..." Shepard flushed a little. "I haven't really asked her, yet, but I'm going to... I just don't know when, and when she suggested going out tonight, I kinda thought... Let's get to Kolyat first and then we can discuss how much of a coward I am."

"You are no coward. She would never refuse you."

"Not eventually, but what about now? I can't just get married in the middle of hunting down the Reapers."

Thane put his hand on Shepard's shoulder. "I learned the hard way that we have too little time with our loved ones. Do not make the same mistake I did."

Shepard frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"My wife... Irikah... She was killed because of my foolishness. I spent years hunting down the men responsible. They were the first deaths I chose to bring, so their blood is truly on my hands. I have been attempting to atone." Thane's gaze unfocused. "This is yet another attempt."

"We've all made mistakes. I'm sure we'll fix it."

"Thank you, Shepard. I appreciate your confidence. My sins against Kolyat are great..."

"It happens. Look, I'm not good with this kind of thing, but tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it."

"Again, you have my thanks."

Shepard cracked his knuckles and stretched out his fingers. "So... an interrogation?"

Thane nodded. "I take it you wish to be the proverbial 'bad cop'."

"You bet your ass I do."

"I have one request."

"Oh?"

"Do not kill him."

"Can I still make him scream?"

"Of course."

They walked into the interrogation room, where Elias Kelham was strapped to a chair. He looked over. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

Shepard exchanged a look with Thane before stepping forward. "Do you know who I am?"

"An idiot."

Shepard smirked, leaning his hands on the chair arms and putting his face in Kelham's. "I'm a Spectre. I can do whatever the fuck I want."

Elias gulped. "What do you want to know?"

Two minutes later, Shepard and Thane walked out of the room, pushing past Kelham's lawyer and trying hard not to laugh.

"That was easy," Shepard observed.

"Indeed. I did not know you were so convincing."

"Drop the right names and growl enough and you can do anything. So, shall we find this Joram Talid bastard and kick the shit out of him first?"

"We follow him. Kolyat will do the same. We intervene before he makes an attempt on Talid's life."

Shepard shrugged, getting into the shuttle arranged to take them to Talid's location. "Sounds fair. So, let me guess: you sneak around on the ground while I follow in the rafters or something?"

"Exactly."

After half-an-hour, they arrived at the ward. Shepard and Thane got out of the shuttle. Shepard grimaced at the blaring neon lights. "It's like being back on Earth..."

"Bad memories?"

"You have no idea... Not even Ci-Ci knows."

"I am sure she can guess." Thane inhaled nervously. "Please, Shepard, this is my only chance with Kolyat."

"I won't screw this up. You know I have a knack for pulling victory out of my ass."

Thane chuckled. "That is true..."

Shepard put his hand on Thane's shoulder. "Good luck."

"Thank you." Thane clasped his hands in prayer. "Amonkira. Lord of Hunters. Grant that my hands be steady, my aim be true, and my feet swift. And should the worst come to pass..." He looked up. "...grant me forgiveness." A person walked in front of him and he was gone.

Kolyat held a gun to Talid's head. "I'll kill him," he whispered, his voice echoing in a quasi-processes way just as Thane's did.

Shepard calmly shifted his pistol aim and shot the gun out of Kolyat's hands. "Like hell you will. Tell him, Thane."

Thane stepped forward. "Forgive me."

"You..." Kolyat hissed. "You expect me to just... just... forgive you after what you did?"

"No, I do not," Thane murmured guiltily.

"You LEFT me there! What kind of a father leaves his son like you did?"

"I was doing what I thought was necessary to protect you."

"Some job you did..."

"I did not wish this life for you."

Shepard shifted uncomfortably. He'd never really liked teenagers or kids, but he had the image of having that argument with his own son one day. His son... It was a strange thought, being a father. Worse, he actually wanted it. He wanted to give something to the world that wasn't pure destruction, something that had his best qualities mixed in with all of Corinthia's perfections. Maybe that was years away, and he wasn't even sure he'd have years. Part of him wanted to rush into the nearest store, find some kind of ring, and sweep Corinthia to the nearest court house and marry her, but he couldn't do that to her.

Honestly, the idea of marrying Corinthia frightened him. To truly have her... All of her... He actually enjoyed the anticipation, in a masochistic sort of way. To step into something so serious whilst being in the middle of their current ordeal... He couldn't do it. If he lost her... or if she lost him, the impact of losing a spouse was a thousand times more devastating than a boyfriend or girlfriend (though they'd never really been in that stage of their relationship to begin with, having skipped over that to 'we're in love, but just not engaged yet').

Besides, he couldn't ask her to marry him without a ring and, though she loved things that sparkled, he had no idea where to start. He'd probably have to wait until she started dropping hints, anyway, before he decided to act. As he knew, she was agonizingly patient when it came lo romance and love. Someday it was going to kill him, he could feel it.

Chief Inspector Bailey of C-Sec, which whom Shepard had crossed paths multiple times, entered the scene. "I'm here to arrest Kolyat."

"He hasn't done anything," Shepard growled, "except to scare the shit out of Talid."

The turian nodded quickly. "Yes... I... can I go now? I won't press charges, I swear it!"

"Good, now, fuck off," Shepard spat. The turian obsequiously thanked him and scurried off like the piece of politician slime he was.

Bailey sighed. "Well, that makes everything more complicated..."

"Or less," Shepard suggested.

"I don't like the sound of that."

"Take it easy on him. He didn't actually do anything, that politician isn't pressing charges, and he could end up being an asset to you."

Bailey scratched his head. Though one of the few humans within C-Sec that had been put into a position of power, Bailey wasn't the most intelligent of men. As seemed to be the case within law enforcement, he was one of the ones that cut corners to keep people happy and, every so often, do the right thing. As a matter of fact, Bailey had simply changed Shepard's status from "DECEASED" to "WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN" when he first came to the Citadel, no questions asked and no paperwork required.

"What do you mean? Like give him a job? Make him do community service?"

"Pick one. I'd just make him work with the kids like Mouse. They need someone that can get them off the streets."

Bailey narrowed his eyes. He hadn't expected any kind of softness coming from Shepard, especially considering how much of an asshole the Commander had been at their first meeting. "You serious?"

"Of course I am."

Bailey sighed. "Alright. I'll do what I can."

"Just give Thane and his kid a chance to catch up,, first, alright?"

"Fine." Bailey turned to Thane and Kolyat. "Well, come along. We haven't got all day."

Shepard was waiting, trying to ignore the advertisements. They were annoying him to not end, since they were telling him to buy things from asari funeral shrouds to pet fish. Every so often, there was an ad for Corinthia's gallery, which made him jump the first time he heard it because she was the one talking.

Art is the physical manifestation of imagination, where stories come to life, dreams come true, and we see the perfections of nature right before our eyes...

Shepard was going to tease her for being so poetic later. He'd laughed himself silly when he saw the serious smile on her face and sultry glint in her eyes. Admittedly, if he hadn't known that she was only like that as a joke, even he might have gone by the gallery to see what was there.

Thane came out of C-Sec, a sad smile on his face.

"How'd it go?" Shepard asked.

"As well as could be expected," Thane answered. "Wounds do not heal overnight, but they are beginning to mend. It will take time... Hopefully I will have enough."

"You will, I know it."

"Thank you, Commander. I did not expect you to..."

"Blame Ci-Ci for that one. She'd kill me if I did anything else."

Thane cocked his head to one side. "I am not so sure. I believe you would have done this regardless."

"You think that, but I know better. You haven't seen me without her."

Thane clasped his hands behind his back. "I have heard the stories. I also understand better than you may realize."

"Is it that battle-sleep thing?"

"Indeed."

Shepard snorted. "Look, so maybe I'm as good a killer as you, but I chose to make every last one of them die. I can only think of one death that I didn't have a choice about, but she chose to die, too, so it's still the same thing."

"Your first instinct was still to save, not harm."

"It wouldn't have been two years ago, which for me is really just eight months ago."

"During which much has happened."

Shepard nodded. "Maybe I just don't like the idea of me being a good man."

Thane put his hand on Shepard's shoulder. "You do not walk like one, fight like one, or speak like one. Men fear you, but your friends know better. As Cassiopeia says, you are a sap."

Shepard chuckled. "I'm going to blame her for that one. Not that I mind. She's even more adorable when she thinks that I've been sweet or anything like that."

"There is nothing wrong with showing your heart while you still can."

Shepard ran his hand over his head. "Yeah, but you're talking about the woman that was so patient I didn't even know she liked me until I confronted her with my affections. I guessed that she did... hoped that she did, but when she skittered off... Argh. I'm not going into our story. It's boring."

"The entire crew has already heard it, I promise you. Ms. Chambers wasted no time in asking and Cassiopeia was more than happy to oblige."

Shepard groaned. "They all probably think I'm some kind of pussy..."

"I believe what Ms. Chambers said was, 'Wow... I never expected that of the Commander. But I'm glad to know he's human.' Is that better?"

"Did she think I was some kind of god or something?"

"That seems to be the case almost universally. You are not easily defeated."

Shepard's eyes widened. "You can't be serious..."

"Ask Cassiopeia. She may act ignorant, but she is one of the most observant people among the crew, next to Kasumi and Ms. Chambers."

Shepard shook his head. "Great. That's just... Ugh..."

"Is there something wrong, Commander?"

"It's nothing," Shepard lied, rubbing his eyes. The fact was that if everyone thought him invincible, they all thought that he could win. To everyone else, he'd overcome death. Miranda was probably the only one that didn't think like that. Even Corinthia wasn't so naive as to think he was untouchable...

Thane inclined his head. "As you wish. Shall we return to the Normandy?"

"Yeah..." Shepard's stomach dropped nervously. "I've never actually taken her out before... I mean, I have a couple times, but it was always on a job... And I don't even know if it's going to be her or Ariadne I go with. Fuck. I'm screwed."

"Do not be so hard on yourself. She seems like the sort that would have fun even if you stood in one location and talked for an hour."

"That's what we normally do, though the hour you mentioned is more like three or four... You were married, right? What did you do to court her?"

Thane stiffened slightly. Shepard knew Thane's story of meeting his wife — how she'd spotted the target laser dot against his target and thrown herself between Thane and the victim — and that Thane had begged her forgiveness for almost a year before she finally consented to notice him, eventually love him.

"Do you mean after she finally forgave me?" Thane asked softly.

"Yeah."

"Our customs are not yours. We came to know one another, courted as was our way, and eventually married."

"Sorry. I'm just nervous..."

"You should not be. You already know she loves you."

"But she still has expectations."

"She is easily pleased, as you well know. How often does she shout 'ooh, yay'?"

Shepard laughed at Thane's more than pathetic impression of her. "Alright, you have a point. I just wanted to surprise her."

"You could give her a gift of some sort. Is that not a human tradition?"

Shepard flushed a little. "Well... Yeah, but only when you're going to marry them... Wait, that's not true. Shit. I've never actually had a girlfriend, you know, so..." He snapped his fingers. "Flowers. I knew there was something that — and chocolates. I know she likes those things."

"You will be fine, Commander," Thane reassured him, trying not to laugh. "Besides, I am sure she has a plan. Her voice held much promise."

"Tell me about it," Shepard answered, half-sighing. He coughed and put on his tough-guy face once more. "Right. To the Normandy."

Hellas Gallery, Presidium, the Citadel

Mia was glad to have Ariadne back in the Gallery. Though all the other employees could easily handle the work, as the artist of a third of the pieces they carried, she had a knack for creating the connection to the work. Besides, they needed to know when she was going to produce her next paintings. She had been mysteriously absent for two months and returned without anything to add.

Ariadne came out of her office, holding a datapad. "Alright, Mia. I've settled the order for the next three months. Has anyone called for me?"

Mia smirked. "Expecting Mr. Gunn, are we?"

Ariadne blushed a little. "Well, yes. After all, he is courting me."

"The Artist and the Mercenary... how romantic..." Mia sighed dreamily. "He was rather handsome, too. And the way he kissed you... Ooh, I want one!"

Ariadne smiled kindly. "There isn't anyone else like him in the galaxy. I've looked."

"I always did wonder why he was the first one to actually get you to like him."

"I have obscenely high standards. He exceeded them all."

"He must be extremely well endowed, then."

"Mia!"

"What? I know what you humans look for in mates."

Ariadne rapped Mia on the head with the datapad. "Just for that, you don't get to watch if we kiss."

"Aw... But that's the best part!"

"And it's all mine. Muahahahah!" Ariadne cackled evilly.

Shepard chuckled and put his hands on her waist. "You bet your beautiful ass I'm all yours." He kissed her cheek playfully. "Mia."

"Mr. Gunn," the asari answered, smiling dazedly.

Shepard turned Ariadne around and stroked her cheek. "Ready to go?"

"Not quite," she answered sternly, evading his kiss as she ducked out of his arms. "Give me ten minutes."

"Aw, come on! I've been dawdling for three hours waiting to come here!"

"Then ten more minutes won't kill you," she answered, shrugging apathetically. "Go wander around. See what's here."

"Fine..." He slouched off like a disappointed child.

Mia snickered. "Do you really need ten minutes?"

"No, I just like to torture him," Ariadne answered, winking.

"Can I have him for the next ten minutes, then?"

"No."

"Aw... Can I at least look?"

"He isn't going to notice."

"That's what makes it so perfect."

Ariadne sighed. She was just going to have to handle other women ogling her man.

Shepard's eyes followed Ariadne. He still couldn't get over how she looked... nor himself. He'd put on that damned monkey suit of his just to please her. She hadn't even noticed.

Mia leaned over her desk, displaying her assets marvelously. "So, Mr. Gunn, do you like what you see?"

He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "That all depends what you're talking about. I'm not really an art guy."

"So you go out with an artist?"

"I'm going out with a woman who happens to be an artist," he corrected.

"So you like class, then?"

Shepard nodded slowly. Honestly, he did. He really did. He'd loved Corinthia as a soldier, but seeing her in skin-tight dresses, heels, make-up, and long hair just made him realize just how beautiful she was (at least, to him).

He rolled his eyes as he passed a sculpture of Achilles. When he looked closely enough, he could tell that Ariadne had modeled it after him. She would, but probably only because she missed him.

Though somewhat amusing to see what sorts of things he'd inspired, art was still definitely not his thing. It seemed like a waste of good money, in his opinion. For the price of that particular sculpture, he could buy three new assault rifles and upgrade the Normandy's weaponry, shields, and med-bay (which was something he'd already done, though every new crew member seemed to have something else to add).

He could feel Mia undressing him with her eyes. It wasn't the first time someone had, as it had happened nearly every time he went into a bar when he was with the Alliance, but it was the first time in several years that he was actually aware of it. Then again, he was feeling particularly self-conscious. He was pretending to be someone else taking his girlfriend's alter-ego out on a date. There was no telling how it was going to end up or if he'd actually be going out with Corinthia out at all.

Ariadne came back. "Alright, Solomon, shall we go?"

He nodded and put his arm around her waist. "Please. Mia's been trying to eat me."

Ariadne licked his ear, grazing her teeth lightly along the lobe. "I don't blame her."

He shivered. "I hate you so much right now..."

Corinthia laughed. "Don't hate me, Shep. You just made a suggestion and I thought it was a good one."

Shepard sighed in relief. "Good. I thought for a while that it was going to be Gunn and Ariadne this entire time."

"Yeah, right. I mean, we could, but she doesn't really giggle. Besides, I couldn't let us go out for the first time and not be ourselves, you know?"

He stroked her cheek. "Can I kiss you now?"

"Definitely."

He did, not caring as people passing muttered, whistled, or just stared. Corinthia gasped for breath when he pulled away. "Damn it, Shepard, you're making me wish that we'd stay in."

He shrugged. "Well, if it's too awkward, then we can."

"Well, I mean, we are rather close to the human embassy, so Udina and Anderson may have seen..."

"Let them. Like I give a fuck. You aren't in the Alliance anymore."

"Actually, they could still press charges against you..."

Shepard through for a moment. "Fuck it. I love you more." He kissed her greedily, a little more roughly than he might have intended, but she seemed to very much enjoy it.

"Dinner?" she suggested breathlessly.

"Yeah... before I get carried away," he answered, chest heaving.

"Not that I mind..."

"Later."

"Yeah, later. Definitely later." She looped her arm around his waist. "So... Where are we going?"

He blanched. "I thought you were planning it..."

She snickered. "Of course I was, but if you'd made plans, I was going to offer you a chance to execute them."

He rolled his eyes. "I plan battles and assaults, but I can't sort out a damned date."

"Note to self: Do not expect Shepard to help with the wedding planning."

"Wedding?" he asked softly.

"Eventually. Like you said: we're forever, just not hitching up yet."

He relaxed a little. "Oh..."

She kissed his cheek. "I'm not going to pressure you into something like that. God knows we don't have the time."

"But you want to."

"Of course I do. You're talking to the biggest romantic in the galaxy."

"So..."

"So?"

He tightened his grip on her shoulders. "The thing is, if you want me to ask you, I will."

She stopped and took his hands. "John, I am never, ever going to pressure you into that. I love you, but we're not ready for that step right now. Even if we were, there's a galaxy to save. We'll have all our lives to live for after that."

"Will we?" he asked softly.

"Of course we will! You aren't — Oh..." She trailed off. "You're still not sure we'll win."

"No. Everyone just thinks that I will."

"I know you will."

"Please, don't say that, Cassie..."

"What's wrong with me having faith in you?"

"What if I don't win?" he demanded coldly. "What if I get all of us killed?" His expression darkened as he gently touched her cheek. "What if I get you killed? I couldn't live with myself."

"You won't, John. I'm not going to die."

"But what about Imreas?"

She rolled her eyes. "Stop worrying about her. She's not going to intrude. She's not even a true second personality."

"What?"

"She's just another side of me that I repress... Like what I thought I'd be like if I were you, specifically from Torfan and other particular places like that, but you get the idea. She says that we'll eventually just merge or something... I don't know, but you've got me right now. I just wanted to relax a little while we had a chance, but if you don't want to, we'll go back to the Normandy and just have more stolen moments that everyone knows about, anyway."

He caught her arm before she could leave. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I'm ruining your evening."

"Not yet you haven't. C'mon. I know of this amazing restaurant with the best food I've had in ages."

"So you think Rupert's food tastes like shit, too?"

Rupert, the cook aboard the Normandy, wasn't particularly gifted in the culinary arts, even when Corinthia went out of her way to get him higher quality food stocks.

Corinthia blushed. "I wouldn't ever tell him that..."

"But you still agree?"

"Yeah..."