(Untitled)

[dontfuckwith]

Characters: Aria & Nihlus
When: When I say so. Backdated a bit.
Where: Out on the streets and then Aria's place.
What: Recovering some lost memories.
Open or Closed? Closed
Rating/Warnings None?

Comments

[dontfuckwith]

[Aria certainly wasn't expecting to run into the Spectre, especially not on his own like this. She'd assumed that Saren would have kept him on a tight leash like this. She might not have known exactly what Saren's motives were in killing his partner and why he simply hadn't done it again here, acting like they were still allies of some sort, but it wasn't something that she cared about either way. She didn't like it, but as long as Nihlus was still breathing and functional (which he wasn't right now) it wasn't her concern. For all she knew or cared, Saren kept him around as a trophy or a pawn.

So what was the turian doing out here alone, then? She didn't like it, and her first assumption, like it was with any and every situation, was that it was some kind of trap. Either by Saren or this city, and it might have meant she really was paranoid, but she hasn't survived as long as she had by being complacent and trusting.

Still, after a few minutes of looking around the area, waiting to see the rogue turian show up anytime, she finally walks over to Nihlus. He didn't look good, she could tell that from a distance, but being closer made it even more apparent, so that when she finally speaks, after just standing by the bench for a while, it doesn't come out as hard and unsympathetic as she would have liked.]

Nihlus?

[30minutesdead]

[His body stiffens when she approaches, fingers spreading slightly so he can peek through. There's no recognition in his gaze, no acknowledgement of who she is. Instead there's a heightened sharpness mixed with dangerous levels of distrust. It's apparent when he speaks, his tone carrying a quiet harshness.]

Who are you?

[dontfuckwith]

[Nihlus looked, especially for a Spectre of his caliber, was especially pitiful, and it actually made her lower her guard, her cold expression softening for a brief second as she sat down next to the turian, crossing her arms and legs and looking forward.]

You still haven't remembered anything, have you?

[She's silent, thoughtful, for a moment. She was never the delicate type, and this situation really called for a gentler approach.]

I suppose it can't be helped. My name is Aria, Nihlus. Tell me, do you know about Omega? It's in the Omega Nebula, the Sahrabarik system.

[30minutesdead]

Stop.

[Nihlus has straightened, his hands resting on his knees, head tipped back. The memories come back to him in a violent montage of images and words, overwhelming him and leaving him out of breath and slightly shaken. He recovers quickly.]

Aria T'Loak. [He turns to her, gaze steady.] We encountered each other once or twice before I... [The words die in his throat and he looks forward.]-We're partners here?

[dontfuckwith]

[That was all it took for his memories of her to return? If she had known that, then she just would have spoken to him in the first place. Of course, that was kind of hard when Saren was keeping Nihlus under his "care."]

So you do remember me, then? [She didn't claim to be an expert in this, so if talking was helping, it worked for her.] Are we? You don't sound so sure of that, Nihlus. You tell me.

[30minutesdead]

[He inhales sharply, eyes widening as he shakes his head.] I don't know. The memories come back when someone says as word, a sentence-[His tone is more casual than it should be but he doesn't seem to care-far too concerned with his own predicament to worry about image.]-something important. Then everything hits me. All at once.

[He sighs and leans back on his knees, watching the streets before glancing back at her.] I think we're partners. I can't be sure. There's just a feeling. No memories. [His eyes fall back on the streets.] Where are we?

[dontfuckwith]

[This was a lot for her to take in. Not as much as it was for Nihlus, of course, but it was still a strange concept to deal with. Though, it did make things a lot easier if all she had to do was hit Nihlus with certain keywords instead of having to explain everything in detail.]

This place is called Abax, apparently. We woke up in the city's morgue, and since then have been limited to this area and a nearby park, which has a tree responsible for your amnesia. Commander Shepard is here with most of the Normandy crew, as as well as you old partner, Saren.

[She's silent for a moment, choosing her words carefully.]

We're partners, Nihlus. Of the people here, you're the only one I'd consider trusting.

[30minutesdead]

[He straightens, as if hit by a sudden impact. Keywords slam into his mind. Abax, Shepard, Normandy, partners. Everything that was missing suddenly filled in. He scrunches his eyes closed then opens them. Shakes his head. Steadies his breathing. Turns to her with his usual gaze, cold and hard, professionalism slowly seeping into his tone.]

Where are my notes?

[dontfuckwith]

[Aria is about to touch him, be more supportive than she has been for someone, but she refrains when he sits up again and looks... Like a Spectre should.

She smiles and stands up, pulling her jacket a little tighter around her.]

At my place. Feel like taking a walk?

[30minutesdead]

[He watches her with apprehension for a few moments. His memories have returned, for the most part. Well enough to understand that Aria's behavior was odd. He also remembers enough to know that his notes on the general state of Abax were not typically found in her "home"-if one could even call any place in Abax that.]

You took my notes?

[dontfuckwith]

Just so that nothing would happen to them.

[She crosses her arms, seeming more like herself now that Nihlus seemed to be putting things together now. She was concerned, of course, but letting that show too much was showing weakness, and that wasn't something she would allow herself to do, even around people she trusted.]

Would you feel better if I told you that I didn't look through them?

[30minutesdead]

[Her answer seems to satisfy him. He looks away.] There's nothing of value to them. Nothing you couldn't learn from monitoring the network.

[He stands tall, shoulders back, his confidence back. If he didn't look like a Spectre before, he was practically radiating it now. He takes a moment to glance down at her, nodding in the direction of her place.]

Lead the way.

[dontfuckwith]

That's good, then there'd have been nothing wrong had I taken a peek. [Which isn't to say that she did, but it's not to say that she didn't either.]

[She does have to take a second to admire Nihlus' posture, the respect that he commands when he's like himself. She might not give a damn about Spectres and their power, but she does recognize it, and Nihlus does have the presence that she can respect.]

I'm not to far from here, not that we can even go that far. [She starts walking, just expecting him to follow or fall into step next to her.] The club, in case you've forgotten.

[30minutesdead]

[He falls into step beside her-just as she expects, casually matching her pace. Her last comment earns a snort from in, as if insulted but he says nothing on the matter. He falls silent, brooding over past events and motives. His thoughts shift from Saren to less concerning matters-who else had been effected? Had they regained their memories yet? He moves to check his phone, scrolling through the past events as he walks, gaze flitting over the screen, taking everything in. Overall the process only takes a few minutes and he pockets the phone again, crossing his arms over his chest for warmth, his breath ghosting out in front of him.]

It's colder than I last remember.

[dontfuckwith]

You could have at least remembered to dress appropriately.

[Though, even with the heavy fur, Aria was a bit chilly too, and she wondered if it was going to be like this for the entirety of their stay in this city, since there was no sun.

She takes his arm, holding it and moving closer to him as they walked. She sighs, as if she is doing him a favor.]

Idiot.

[30minutesdead]

[He glances down at her, mandibles raising in a smile. He looks forward-though the smile stays-and leans into her slightly, soaking what little warmth he can from her company.]

Unfortunately, turian jackets provide little warmth against weather like this.

[His tone is warmer than before-more comfortable. As if Arias' presence and touch soothes him into complacency with all his discomforts. It's dangerous-but pleasant.]