#RedrockAgency – November 22, 2022

Ilyna could not go straight from the meeting to the infirmary with all eyes on her; that would make it obvious. Instead, she went to her office after saying her goodbyes to check if anything urgent had come up. She emerges a few minutes later and crosses the hall to the infirmary. She knocks twice before opening the door.

Li is no longer stalking Redrock's corridors. Instead, she's sitting on the examination bed in the infirmary, head bowed as Halisi parts her hair to examine a small laceration on her scalp. There's no tears as the doctor cleans the wound, just shining eyes and gritted teeth.

Halisi smiles softly, although it's weighed down a little by Li's restrained reaction to the pain. "You're bleeding a little bit, but it's nothing to worry about. I'm going to put some medigel on it, alright?" Her tone is soothing as she reaches for a medigel canister with her free hand, extracting a drop onto her finger. "It's going to feel cool and-" She looks over towards the door as the knocks interrupt her, tossing out a quick

Ilyna raises her brows as she notices Li on the examination table, concern written all over her face as she steps up to them. "Are you okay, Li?" she asks, meeting her eyes. "What happened?"

Halisi 's hand drops away as she finishes applying the medigel, rolling her chair back slightly and turning in it to face Ilyna, a reassuring smile crossing her lips as she leaves space for the asari in front of Li.

Li looks up at the sound of Ilyna's voice. "I'm ok." she says, voice quiet and just a little strained. The bright lights of the infirmary reflect in her brown eyes.

Halisi reaches over to put the medigel back on the desk. "She had a little accident while playing, but it's all taken care of." she assures.

Ilyna glances Halisi's way as she reassures and relaxes her shoulders. She crouches to her eye level and places a hand on her shoulder. "What were you playing?" she asks rather than admonishing her for not being careful.

Halisi smiles slightly and glances at Ilyna and Li out of the corner of her eye as she wipes the residual medigel from her fingers and turns her attention to her computer.

Li frowns. "I wasn't playing! I was practicing! Shooting in the stairs. But then I fell."

Halisi smiles slightly and glances at Ilyna and Li out of the corner of her eye as she wipes the residual medigel from her fingers and turns her attention to her computer.

Ilyna sighs, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Stairs are bad places to be shooting in," she says. "The enemy has the high ground and it's hard to find good cover. You should spend as little time on them as you can."

Li 's frown remains as she nods, and reaches for the Facemelter, which sits next to her on the examination bed. She pulls the toy gun, almost as big as she is, into her lap, getting ready to leave, but her attention remains on Ilyna. "Is the meeting done? Are we going to help Lucy and her friends now?"

Halisi once again glances over towards Ilyna from her spot at the desk, curious herself how the meeting went.

Ilyna tilts her head for a moment as she cannot remember telling Li about this meeting, but she decides not to question that for now. "Yes, we are," she says. "And they're helping us too." She moves to sit on the table beside her, letting go of her shoulder. She looks at Halisi. "I don't know if Linda has already told you, Halisi," she says, "but you'll need to exchange patient information with Senya. One of

Li 's frown eases and she nods again.

Halisi raises an eyebrow, turning her chair to face Ilyna. "No, that's news, but I expected something of the sort if the deal went through. I'll be sure to prepare the paperwork."

Li lingers for a while, but as the adults start talking to each other she jumps off the examination bed, slipping out of the infirmary with the Facemelter in hand. "Bye Halisi! Thanks!" she calls out as she disappears out the door.

Halisi chuckles quietly and offers Li a wave. "Watch your step, Li! And don't pick at the medigel!"

Ilyna offers a small wave and nods along with Halisi's words. "I'll be up there soon to make lunch," she calls after her. She sighs soon after, her eyes going from the doorway to Halisi. "Thank you," she says.

Halisi flashes a small smile. "Of course. She sought me out on her own, I'm glad she's less averse to doctors than most of the adults around here." she comments with another chuckle.

Ilyna can't help but chuckle at that, even though she might count herself among them at times. Especially when her duty to those she cares for conflicts with medical advice. "I think it's mostly because she likes and trust you," she says fondly.

Halisi 's smile widens a little. "Perhaps." she concedes, before her expression shifts into one of curiosity. "I take it the meeting went well?"

Ilyna nods. "I think it did," she says, before sighing and hesitantly adding. "I did not feel my presence contributed positively to it, though. I know I can't blame them for what happened, but... it was still an uncomfortable meeting for al lof us."

Halisi frowns slightly, casting a quick glance at her screen before returning her attention to Ilyna. "How... are you feeling about working with them?"

Ilyna tilts her head slightly in thought. "I don't want to get in the way of it, and they do deserve this chance for... helping us bring her back," she says. "It wouldn't be fair to Li for me to go on an off-world mission anyway, so... I don't think how we feel is going to be a problem."

Halisi nods in understanding, taking a moment to turn and type something on her computer before speaking. "Working with Dr. T'Mari is going to be... interesting. It's clear from the time I spent on the Jack that she's very skilled. I'm not sure I could have saved Oxaris as she did. And hopefully it will make it easier to balance my time between the hospital and Redrock, even if I suppose she will be spending most of her time on the

Ilyna frowns, thinking back at the small argument during the meeting. "She had reservations against operating in council space, but she couldn't get into detail about why," she says. "Which is fine by me, everyone has their secrets. Captain Crawford vouches for her, and she has more than proved herself to us."

Halisi raises an eyebrow. She considers the information for a moment before nodding. "That's... a little odd, but I have no doubt that she's dedicated to saving lives after working alongside her. And I suppose there's no shortage of people in Redrock with reservations about Council space." she ponders aloud, gaze lingering on Ilyna with the last comment. Aside from the various Terminus citizens and fugitives Redrock has accumulated it's

Ilyna nods. "That is true," she says, noticing that Halisi lingers on her. "I don't know if I'm in the clear after what I pulled to get Li back." Thinking about her does sour her mood for a moment, perhaps causing her to recall something. Ilyna gets to her feet, and she takes a few steps toward Halisi. "Anyway," she says. "There is a selfish part of me that wouldn't be happy if T'Mari was to take over for you in

Halisi snickers quietly, shaking her head to herself. She reaches for Ilyna's hand once in reach, looking up at her. "Rest assured I'm not planning on leaving Redrock." she says through a warm smile, giving the asari's hand a squeeze. Silver eyes search her face, smile pulling back as she tries to judge whether or not a kiss would be welcome.

Ilyna looks a bit sheepish, and her cheeks have a slight hint of purple to them. It's been a few days since they last saw each other in person, making her a little bit hesitant, though she does find reassurance in Halisi taking her hand. "Good," she says light-heartedly before trying to pull her out of her chair into a kiss.

Halisi leans out of her seat as she cranes her neck to meet Ilyna's lips halfway. She allows herself to be pulled up into a standing position, her free hand finding its way to the asari's neck. She's in no rush, the kiss soft and slow. She smells faintly of disinfectant and medigel, her long black hair loose around her face.

Ilyna moves a hand up to Halisi's neck in turn, but not without some strands of hair ending up among her fingers. She holds the kiss, shifting her body closer to her. The awkwardness from a moment ago is all but gone.

Halisi eventually breaks the kiss with a muffled chuckle, but lingers close to Ilyna. Still a novel feeling. "You know, I haven't had lunch yet. Perhaps you'd care to join me?" she suggests with a smile and a raised eyebrow as she leans back a little to study her face.

Ilyna moves her hand down to her upper back when the kiss is broken. She has a wide smile when her eyes meet Halisi, but the question is met with an unsure expression. Lunch is overdue on her and Li's part too, but leaving the infirmary means toning down the shows of affection. "Mhm," she hums affirmatively. "Just.... We should be careful. I'm not... ready to tell them yet."

Halisi snickers and nods, her smile widening into an amused grin. "Not to worry, I will restrain myself." she promises, the look in her eyes sincere despite her amused tone. She plants a quick peck on Ilyna's lips before withdrawing and, after taking a moment to put her computer to sleep, leading the way out of the infirmary, hand only letting go off Ilyna's as she passes out into the corridor.