maskormenacelogs | And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?

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And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?

WHO: Samara + Open
WHERE: Heropa various locations!
WHEN: 22nd – 25th pick a time!
WHAT: Meditations by water, walking around downtown Heropa, possibly bumping into someone as she looks at clothes shops, and getting a malt. Pick whatever!
WARNINGS: None right now!

A; Beach

[ There was something calming and beautiful about the ocean. Alaska had been the place that Samara had found the most peace since she found herself here, however the beach came close. She spent a good portion of her day there, wandering the shore and letting the waves touch her bare feet. It might make a somewhat strange sight, the tall blue asari in her black outfit, minus the boots, casually walking along the shore. If the water was cold as it touched her feet she made no indication. In fact she seemed mostly at peace as she looked out to the sea.

At night, she could be found hovering slightly above the ground meditating as far from the entrance to the beach as she could get. A bright blue glow surrounded her and illuminated her location from a fair distance away. It was hard to miss the glow, even from a distance, but she didn't expect it to attract too much attention as the sun set. And if it did, she probably wouldn't mind the company. ]

B; Downtown Heropa

[ Lately Samara had been spending most of her time in Heropa itself. It was not the city she had originally found herself in, but travel could prove difficult for someone unregistered. It was far easy to simply pick a place and stay in it for a time. Besides, there was plenty to observe and learn here and that was where her interests currently found themselves.

For the first time in a very long time Samara found herself without a true purpose and she found herself faltering slightly. A justicar had no purpose in a world like this and her ways were drastically different than anything acceptable here. To take action as the Code would see fit would cause a great deal of death, including the deaths of many innocents, which went against the Code in and of itself. In the end she was left with something of a moral quandary.

She could wait though, wait, watch, and consider her options. Luckily for her Asari were excellent at waiting to see where the tides would go. For now though she wandered the streets of Heropa. Occasionally she passed a shop and it occurred to her that she should consider finding more appropriate clothing at some point. The idea is dismissed soon though and she continues walking, not paying much attention to the people walking by. People seem to be in a hurry today and she can't be blamed too much if she happens to bump into someone, right?

At one point, later in the day, she stops for a malt bought with money she'd acquired doing a few odd jobs that people in need had required assistance with. That was how she made any money she required, which wasn't that much. She'd made do with nothing for 400 years. It wasn't really that bad.

The server that prepares it seems a bit perplexed by her appearance, but he says nothing about it. He just stares, a lot, and Samara folds her hands over her chest hoping he'll get the hint to just prepare the malt and move on. Or ask his question if he's curious about her appearance. ]

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[As Jacob got more and more involved in his new life in De Chima, he found himself with fewer reasons to return to Heropa. A chance to meet up with Samara was a good one, though. He hadn't really seen the Justicar in person since the whole adventure in Alaska. Not only did he want to stay in contact with Normandy crew for general principles, but he also found himself wanting to know what Samara thought about the situation these days.

Jacob had no idea what kind of uncertainty and doubt Samara was currently experiencing: all he saw was the placid, poised exterior of an ancient warrior for justice, confident and experienced. Someone stable and dependable. Someone he might like to talk with right now, which brought him to the beach one night while she was meditating.]

Samara. Hope I'm not interrupting you.

[The way she was sitting and levitating was exactly the way she used to in Normandy's Observation Lounge. The location had changed, but Samara herself seemed as steady as the waves of the ocean. Part of Jacob envied that kind of consistency.]

[ The worst thing about being ripped from a world where you were fighting for your right to live every day, to a world where you didn't was the...disconnect. Back home, there were things that needed to be taken care of, there was a damn war going on, and here he was, running tests for the military when he was working. It was good work, but compared to what he'd been doing, it was useless. He felt like he was spinning his wheels.

That was why, during his lunch break, he was out walking around. He'd already scarfed something down, surprisingly less than what he normally ate, but he hadn't... really needed as much, when he wasn't using his biotics so much. They didn't run as hot, and that meant his metabolism slowed. Still more than a normal person, but an idle biotic was a lot different than an active one.

He wasn't paying attention, head looking straight in front of him, when he was jostled from the side, people had been rushing all day, it seemed, and Kaidan hadn't been one of them, which was why he almost jumped out of his skin, and didn't quite swear, but he whirled around, almost skidding back.

So maybe he was jumpy. ]

Sorry, I -- [ Oh. ] Ah, Samara -- You okay? I didn't know you were in the area.

[ Kasumi has so much free time, all of a sudden. And quite frankly, she doesn't know what to do with it. Back home, there were always jobs to do, traveling to be done, deals to close out. Here there's one rather dull job (at least comparatively) and at the moment, not much else. She's still trying to wrap her head around the fact that she's stuck here, because she's never been stuck anywhere before, and much less been in an alternate dimension. She takes up reading on the goings-on of this place, and she's still trying to catch up to speed with the information given to her by those who replied to her network post, but to be honest? She can only take so much of it at a time before she can't keep going, can't keep reading about a world she's never heard of, because the more she reads, the more this all seems real.

At the very least, she's met a few nice people here. And gotten to see some interesting tech, antiquated as it may be.

Today, she's finished up her shift at the theater, after which she finds herself wandering around town, not quite wanting to return to her apartment quite yet. She'd spent the last few hours pretty much sitting around and occasionally getting up to mess with the projectors or some other menial task, so moving around feels really good. She's in the process of wondering what she should try out for dinner when she looks through the window of a place and spots a familiar figure. Immediately, she turns on her heel to backtrack to the door and enters, making her way quietly over to Samara and slipping into the seat next to hers. ]

Samara! Fancy meeting you here. Out for a malt, huh?

[ A small smile touched the corners of her mouth as recognized Jacob's voice. In one fluid motion she unfolded her legs and stood to greet him. It seemed unlikely that Jacob would find her by chance and so she found herself mildly curious in regards to his appearance. Was it chance or something else? ]

You are not. [ It's said in a tone that retains the usual calm she presented herself with. ] Though, I am surprised to see you here.

[ There was a tiny part of her that thought the question was strange for him to ask. They did not precisely get along poorly but at the same time they had gotten off to a fairly rocky start. Kaidan seemed overly stuck in his viewpoints in regards to Cerberus and his general opinion of them spread to anyone associated with them. It was difficult for her to acknowledge, but she actually found his judgement of her to be slightly irritating.

Or, no, perhaps irritating was the wrong word. Disappointing might have been more accurate. Still, she did not dislike him and she hoped that perhaps eventually he would come around. As it stood they did not get along poorly at all, if the Cerberus connection was left out.

She bowed her head in a slight apology. ] I think the apology should come from me, I'm afraid I might not have been paying as much attention as I should have. I am fine though. [ There was no awkwardness or much emotion at all in her tone. ] I have been staying in the area a bit more frequently lately. [ Not that she had specifically told anyone of that. ]

Ah.

[ The problem Kaidan had with much of the Cerberus crew, yes, was mostly the fact that Cerberus was a thing that existed, but he had nothing to say to any of them either. "By the way, Kaidan Alenko, I disagree with everything you did, but thanks for rescuing human colonists, I heard back from some of them", which just sounded awful. He had little in common with them, and what little he did was outweighed by his reservations with their employer.

Even so, he just shifted, a touch awkwardly. ] You don't always stay here? [ Actually, he didn't even know where she stayed. ] You staying at a hotel, or...

[ The server finally begins preparation on the malt, it seems like a new arrival familiar with the very strange blue woman stirs him from his staring. Which Samara finds herself somewhat appreciative of. There's something to be said for familiar faces, especially in a place such as this. Sometimes she wonders how difficult it would be were she completely alone here. Perhaps she would have been fine. Perhaps she would have even less restraint when it came to simply following her Code.

It's not a thought she chooses to linger on for too long. ]

I was out and decided to stop. [ She inclines her head to the left slightly. ] And what of you? Are you out for a malt?

No, I do not. [ It was said simply but not precisely clipped. In fact her tone was just as neutral as it usually was. Neutral and calm. She tilted her head slightly. ] Or.

[ It wasn't that she did not wish to admit she didn't exactly stay anywhere, but just that it seemed like a slightly awkward to admit it to Kaidan of all people. ]

I have been traveling lately. Or traveling as much as this place will allow one to. It is...slower to do so when you are unregistered.

Edited 2015-01-27 07:14 (UTC)

Yeah, I'm sure. That's one of the perks of going along with things, I guess. You get to... get around pretty quick that way.

[ He felt...awkward. He shifted, and started to back away from the street, against a wall, while he turned to look at her, crossing his arms. It wasn't that he wished any of them ill will, but...

Well, it was difficult to know what the right thing to do was here. ]

See anything interesting, while you were out there? The nice thing is probably that you get to...stop and see a little more, right?

One of several perks they offer to get people to see their point of view. [ She couldn't blame anyone for registering. Even if she wasn't bound by the thought of her code she probably wouldn't have chosen that path, but she couldn't fault those that did. It was the easier option and perhaps it would prove to be the better one. Though she doubted that.

She nodded. ]It does afford a lot more stops. [ A thoughtful look crossed her expression. ] Everything has been interesting in it's own way. The very small towns in particular are very unique.

[ She leans forward, her elbows on the table, and she rests her chin on one of her hands as she looks at Samara. ]

Not specifically a malt. I just got off work-- [ and there's a very small pause as she speaks, because the idea of having a job is still so strange and new to her (and hopefully short-lived) ] --so I was just wandering about town. I nearly missed you, but I have a habit of looking into windows when I pass by places.

[ As one might expect. ]

Are the malts here any good?

[ He shifted uncomfortably, but didn't say anything. So she wanted to get a jab in. He couldn't...blame her. Some days, he kind of hated himself for registering, but at the same time...it felt like they could do more good like that. They could do something. ]

Yeah? I'm sure. I haven't...seen too many small towns, it's easy to forget they're there, if you never leave the hubs.

[ A pause. ] Were you looking for something in particular?

Work? [ She pauses and looks a lot more curious than she usually does. Is that surprise? Is it possible that Samara is actually surprised by the fact that Kasumi has actually taken the job? Yes. Yes it most certainly is. ] I suppose I should be grateful you have that habit, it would be a shame to miss each other while I'm in town.

[ there was a short pause from her before she gave a simple nod. ] They are enjoyable. I am afraid I can't offer comparisons though, these are the first I have had.

[ She felt a bit confusion as she watched him shift, clearly uncomfortable with something she had said. Or perhaps it was her presence altogether, that she wasn't certain of. Her features didn't reveal the confusion but she did pause as if she were trying to decide if she wished to say anything in regards to his discomfort. ]

If you get the chance I would suggesting visiting one. They have a very unique feel to them. [ A strange one, but it was worth the experience in her opinion. ]

No, I was simply looking at the clothing. [ And she paused. ] You seem very uncomfortable, Major.

Really? To be honest, I can't offer you comparisons, either. [ She chuckles. Ah, the life of a lactose-intolerant person. She wonders if they make vegan malts or milkshakes... ]

But, yes, to answer your first question, I am working at a job right now. Well, sort of. [ If sitting around in a movie theater for 80% of the time counts. She sort of shifts in her seat, trying to get her posture just right. Truthfully, she's biding her time as she builds up a network and gets more contacts, but she figures that's not something Samara would necessarily like to hear. ]

Until something better comes around, at least. Or until I find something better.

I wanted to talk. Thought I might find you here. It seems like your kind of place.

[Jacob steps past Samara to look out at the ocean for a moment. It looks fantastic under the Florida night sky. Then he turns to face her.]

Do you come out here often?

Lately? Quite often, yes. You are correct in thinking it is...my kind of place. [ She looked out at the ocean, rather than at him, and fell silent for a second. ]

I must admit I am mildly surprised to hear you wished to speak with me. Is everything alright?

Oh, sorry, I was...

[ He was...what? It wasn't even Samara herself, as much as it was how uncomfortable Kaidan was in general, and how uncomfortable he was in...talking to people he didn't know. Chilton's words echoed in his head, about him needing to meet people on the battlefield to trust them. ]

No more so than usual, I'm just a little uncomfortable with being so idle all the time. I'm sure...with the way things are back home, you can understand, right?

[ There was that, and then there was the Cerberus thing, but after talking to Jacob, he was starting to feel worse and worse about how he'd thought about them all. ]

[ She shook her head. ] There is no need for apologies.

[ In complete truth she was not completely certain if she believed that was the only thing that was making him uncomfortable. Unless he was like this around everyone, in which case...well, that hardly seemed like a good way to be. ] I had thought it was my presence, I'm glad to know that isn't the case. [ She offered him the barest hint of a smile before deciding to go on, offering a bit more than she might have usually. That is something I understand, yes. There is...very little for people like us to do in a world like this.

That is a shame. [ She idly contemplates asking why, if she's never had a malt or anything similar, but she doesn't press. If she could recognize anything about Kasumi it was the fact that she was someone who would tell something if she wanted to and if she didn't...well, that was okay. ]

Are you...enjoying it? [ There was some hesitation in her tone. This was how casual conversation went, wasn't it? It felt like it had been an eternity since she had engaged in anything even similar to it and she knew she was rusty ]

Yeah.

[ The fact of the matter was: Kaidan was jumpy because he had too much up top, and not enough to say. It was uncomfortable, to talk to someone you didn't know, and didn't know how to talk to. Samara wasn't like Liara, and he kicked himself as soon as the thought crossed his head. Of course she wasn't -- she was a totally different person. ]

Kind of feels like we're spinning our wheels, while things back home are so...bad. I feel guilty.

[ Kasumi can sense the hesitation in the way Samara's carrying herself in the conversation thus far. It occurred to her, then, that they hadn't had much of a chance to have casual interactions like this aboard the Normandy. While Kasumi was mostly friendly with the crew, she still mostly kept to herself; she couldn't risk Cerberus getting more information on her than they apparently already had. ]

Oh, I definitely am. But you know me--no one thing can keep me that entertained for long, unless it's a good book.

It is an understandable feeling. The stakes are very high back home whereas in this place there are no stakes. [ There was no investment in the welfare of these people and, as far as she had seen, they were not overly welcomed here. ]

Feelings of guilt are understandable, though I hope you do not allow them to plague you for too long. There is no sense in dwelling on the things we cannot change.

[ For a second she considered bringing up the fact that no, neither of them really knew each other that well. They were both good at making observational judgement in regards to the people around them, but that didn't mean they truly knew one another. She continued to stir idly at the malt. ]

No and I doubt there is much here job wise that would be similar to what you are used to. [ At least nothing the government would hand out. ] Unless they assigned you a job as an individual that reviews books. [ It was a joke, just not a very good one. ]

No, you're right, of course. It's just difficult to get into the mindset that it'll still be the same when we get back.

I mean, logically, I know that's the case, but that doesn't mean I don't notice that it's been months since I've been busy with my real job. [ A pause. ] The war's hitting us hard, you know? There's a lot we need to do, and we can't do it.

Even if we don't dwell, it's still... there.

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And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?

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