~Jane~

Since submitting his application a week ago to get into another division of C-Sec, Garrus has been busy with his regular work hours and his evaluations and subsequent training for his entrance into Investigations.

Jane felt a bit bad that because of her support he now found himself buried in work, but she knew that he'd be happier in the long run once he found himself in a position where he would be able to accomplish all the things he joined C-Sec for in the first place. She knew that he would've gotten into the position in his own time, but, hell, if he needed that push then she was more than happy to be the pusher.

His longer hours meant that now she was often left to her own devices and had to entertain herself during the long hours he wasn't home. That is why she now finds herself in a section of Shalta Wards that contains a large amount of human centric shops. She would've never imagined the other species on the Citadel being interested in human culture, art, or food but all around the small market were many different members of each race experiencing what her people offered the universe.

Entering an antique shop that guarantees actual items from Earth to browse through, she walks amongst the aisles and makes a game of challenging herself to recognize and name the various knick knacks on the shelves. Some, she finds, are older than she expects and some are things she can't even identify. Then she sees it. On a shelf towards the back of the shop lay an acoustic guitar, made of real wood and covered in dust.

Moving towards it and picking up the instrument she inspects it and its condition. Wiping the dust away reveals that it is made of ebony wood and though it is missing some of the strings, it is in good shape and can definitely be brought back with very little work. She carries the guitar to the front of the store and finds the Elcor attending the front.

"Cordially: Greetings human. It is always a pleasure to have a visitor to my shop." He greets as she approaches. "Helpful: Is there anything I can assist you with?"

"Actually, I want to know what you're asking for this guitar." She raises the item in question, preparing for a bartering match with the shop keep. She needs to fix it up, and if she's going to be able to she needs to get a good price for it.

"Civilly: The instrument can be yours for the cost of 2000 credits." He shifts his stand, seemingly to stand taller. "Proudly: This is the only place on the Citadel to obtain such an item."

She snorts, "Yeah, and it'll stay the only place with that price. You do know that you can't possibly expect to get that amount in the condition it's in." She holds the guitar and points to the neck, "you are missing strings, which I'll have to go find a store that has something that'll work." She runs her hands over the dusting surface and shows him the residue. "Plus, I'll have to clean and buff it all off. I'll be lucky if I don't have to reseal the finish." A bit of an exaggeration but what the hell, can't deal without a little bullshitting.

"Remorsefully: I did not know it had fallen into such disrepair." He shakes his head slightly and his body sways. "Dejectedly: I will sell it for 1800 credits."

"1000 credits," she offers.

"Sternly: 1500 credits and I will not decrease the price any further." He stiffens his body and the two eye each other.

"You've got yourself a deal, sir," she smiles and pulls out her credit chit. If it had come down to it, she would've paid full price for the guitar because it wasn't in too bad of a shape. If fact, if she could find the strings she knew she could get it back into working order by tonight and if not, tomorrow.

I wonder if Garrus has ever heard a guitar before, she thinks as pays, thanking the Elcor shop owner, and heads out into the ward in search of somewhere for strings.

Finding strings had actually turned out to be quite easy and cheap as she found a store that sold various supplies for instruments across the various species. When the Asari matron running the store had seen Jane's guitar she had offered to buy it off of her, confirming that acoustic guitars that were for sale were hard to find on the Citadel. Politely refusing her offer, Jane did agree to let the Asari string and clean it if Jane also agreed to show her how it played.

As it turned out, Jane found that the old saying about never really forgetting was true and played an old tune she remembered from her childhood to the Asari. She couldn't remember the words, but the matron didn't seem to mind or care as she watched in awe as Jane's fingers flew over the strings and the notes fell from the black guitar.

That was hours ago and though she hated to disappoint the Asari matron, she didn't want to stay in the store all day playing and instead she wanted to find a nice place to just sit and clear her mind. She figured the best place to do just that would be Garrus' apartment because he would still be gone for quite some time more, so now she finds herself on a public transport to his home.

Once she steps off the transport with guitar in hand she begins to make her way to the building he lives in. On the way, she notices a group of school children and what she suspects are their parents in a nearby area that families tend to take their children to play.

She has seen the area she terms as a play area on her various excursions throughout the Citadel and particularly through the residential area of the various Wards. Because of where Garrus lives, the majority of the children are Turian and the play set they are on reflects that with a layout that resembles an obstacle course than the metal climbing bars she remembers from Earth.

As she watches the children play with a smile on her face she doesn't notice that she's gained the attention of one of the little Turian girls that's dragging her mother by the hand over from the transport.

"What's that?" Jane hears a small flanged voice ask. Looking down she sees a little copper Turian, a white swipe of paint down her chin and cheeks, with golden eyes wide in wonder, her mandible flickering in excitement.

Jane smiles and crouches down to the girl's height. She never liked being looked down upon as a kid so she certainly wasn't going to start doing the same to others. She holds the guitar flat on the top of her palms and holds it out to the little girl. "This is a guitar, it's a human instrument."

A low, little thrum, one Jane recognizes from Garrus as enjoyment, emanates from the little girl as she holds out a hand and hovers it over the wood of the guitar. She looks up to Jane in silent question, and at Jane's nod she lowers it to run along the smooth wood. She purrs, a sound Jane hasn't heard before but probably assumes much the same as the thrum, and she plucks a string with one of her little talons. She pulls back with a gasp at the note that vibrates off the string.

Jane chuckles at the girl's reaction, which is mirrored by the mother as she stands behind her daughter. The little Turian's mandibles flick out in a smile and she looks to Jane again. "Can you play it?"

"Terria," her mother scolds. She bows her head in apology for her daughter and Jane shakes it off, no harm done.

Directing her attention back to the little girl, known as Terria, Jane offers, "I can play for you but you'll have to let me find somewhere to sit first." She smirks, "I'm old and need a place to sit and play." To this the girl giggles.

Jane leads Terria and her mother to a nearby bench to begin playing and soon she finds a crowd of the children and parents forming to watch her play her new guitar.