(Untitled)

[pattersongs]

Current Normandy status: good. Status of crew: good. Status of investigations into several different weapon upgrades for use against Collectors in upcoming weeks: excellent. Likelihood of getting any further research done when door to main Normandy elevator opens onto Milliways instead: not particularly good

Comments

[first_runihura]

Tarik stops by Mordin's table on his way back from the lake area. Now there's a known face, although the scientist seems to be quite engrossed in his work.

So Tarik waits patiently to be noticed. He's good at waiting. You learn to do that, being a soldier for as long as him.

[pattersongs]

Mordin doesn't so much look up as take a deep breath and say, "See what you're doing there. How can I help?"

... it's a reflex. Usually the person at the edge of his vision is Commander Shepard.

[first_runihura]

Tarik chuckles and shakes his head. "I don't mind waiting, Professor. Just wanted to catch up, if you don't mind."

[pattersongs]

Mordin glances up at that. "Apologies. Thought you were someone else. Not doing anything particularly critical- sit if you like." He gestures to the chair opposite him at his table. "Been a while."

[laidback_shaman]

After a while, Mordin gets an audience. A quiet one, at that, though the music in Yoh's headphones might be audible. But Yoh himself is quiet, just watching.

He's never seen anything like a holographic data modeler before.

[pattersongs]

There's a point at which Mordin has to divert his attention away from the work at hand to pick up his drink, and that's when he notices the onlooker.

Salarians, alas, don't have eyebrows. Lifting one is out of the question. He does, however, cock his head curiously and assume an interested expression.

[laidback_shaman]

"I've never seen anything like that," Yoh says, pushing the headphones back off his head. "What is it?"

[pattersongs]

"Data modeling unit. Part of the standard toolset for field scientists and researchers in Citadel space," says Mordin. "Developed by turian engineers. Not most sophisticated unit available but easiest to get on loan."

As he sets it aside he adds, "Don't know if these exist in your universe. Depends when you are, nature of your home world, number of other variables."

[seat_five_girl]

Thump.
Thump.
Thump.

Over at another table Ako is gently beating her head on the table top. The surface is padded with papers and napkins so there is that.

[pattersongs]

That's a sound that's hard to miss. Mordin's heard it plenty of times made by plenty of skulls. He pauses mid-stream and glances over in the girl's direction. "Trouble?" he inquires.

[seat_five_girl]

"I,um, nothing is sticking," says Ako mournfully.

She'll show the cover of a Japanese-French dictionary to Mordin as part of the explanation.

"It's frustrating."

Usually languages go better than this.

[pattersongs]

"Hmmmm." Mordin taps one long skinny finger against his- well, it's roughly the equivalent of a chin. "Don't think I know either language. Unfortunately."

[boston_bruiser]

Don't look now, Mordin, but there's a SEAL staring at you from a nearby booth.

Voodoo barely notices the data modeling unit, because, really, HOLY SHIT IT'S AN ALIEN.

He's not gawking, you understand, just staring. He's seen a lot of weird shit in his time, but this is in the Top 20.

No offense, Mordin. First contact (well, for him, anyway) was probably bound to be awkward.

[pattersongs]

Mordin is thoroughly absorbed in his work, but eventually even he does look up. He cants his head curiously, blinking at the human, and says, "Noticed you looking. Something wrong?"

[boston_bruiser]

Voodoo blinks. "You speak English?"

He watched a special about alien abductions once when he was a) in middle school and b) bored out of his mind, but the aliens were supposedly telepathic, so this is unexpected.

[pattersongs]

"Reasonably well. Could use a translator if I had to, but actual comprehension and spoken fluency much more practical," says Mordin with a smile. "Not that difficult to learn."