The shuttle continues for a few minutes before slowly coming to a stop. As the shuttle doors open, the passengers would be able to see their destination on the corner.
#FreedomFalls – February 26, 2014
Litae's Grace is located in a small building. At first glance it looks like your typical dive bar. A single door at the corner is the only visible entrance from the group's location, with a large window on each side of it. A small neon sign of the bar's namesake sits in one of the windows with a matching neon moon beside it.
Renala has been thoughtful for most of the trip, trying to run scenarios in her head but to little reassurance as this isn't her forte. Pushing the worry aside, she climbs out of the shuttle. "Let's see how this goes," she says with a sigh as she takes a few small steps towards the building, waiting for the others to get out.
Mendez hops out behind her. "It'll be fine, princess." he says, taking a position beside Renala. He glances back at the turian.
Zaylus jumps out of the shuttle, staring back at Mendez as he steps toward the building. "Yeah, we got sweet sunshine here. No way this could go wrong."
Mendez gives no visible reaction to Zaylus' comment, instead continuing to march towards the bar door.
Renala appoaches the entrance, looking at the windows for any signs of a krogan. "I'm counting on you two if talking fails, though," she says. "So keep your... sweet-talking ready."
Zaylus peers through one of the windows, not shifting his gaze as he speaks, "Oh darling, I'm always ready."
There's not much to be seen through the dirty windows. A few booths line the walls and part of the bar can be made out in the middle of the room. There seems to be quite a few customers.
The bar is dimly lit with a square counter in the center of the room. A pyramid-like structure in the center of the square holds a myriad of bottles of all different shapes and sizes. A single woman seems to be the only bartender. She's wearing a black tanktop and her long dark hair is pulled into a tight ponytail.
She doesn't appear to be in much of a rush, despite the large amount of customers at the bar. She manages to hold a conversation with each of the patrons as she pours their drinks, cracking jokes back and forth with an air of familiarity.
Renala enters the bar after Mendez, looking around the place. She starts walking towards the bar counter.
Upon entering, the group quickly has all eyes on them. Dirty looks and contemptuous glances from every angle. After a moment of awkward silence, everyone seems to go back to whatever they were doing before the newcomers arrival. A quick glance around the room is all it would take to realize that nearly all of the customers are in some manner of armor. Some in hardsuits, while others wear armor a bit more primitive. Renala may even recognize the old armor.
Renala stops in her tracks as everything goes quiet, feeling a little uneasy. "Definitely something going on here," she mutters, mostly to herself, when they return to normal. She continues towards the bar, appearing a little thoughtful as some of the patrons armor sets seemed familiar.
Bartender is snickering at something one of the patron's said as she cleans a glass with an old rag. Her smile fades and she quickly takes on an unfriendly demeanor as the three approach. "Can I help you?" she huffs as she puts away the glass.
Renala nods, not addressing Mendez' question right now. "We're here to meet with Mr. Quinn," she says plainly.
The raucous laughter at the bar quiets down a bit as a few nosy patrons attempt to overhear what's going on.
Mendez takes a position beside Renala, his large girth causing one of the customers to move his stool to the side a bit. "He's expecting us." he adds.
Bartender chuckles and wipes a strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. "I don't know what you're talking about. Quinn?" she asks, raising an eyebrow with feigned confusion.
Renala narrows her eyes for a moment. "Don't you, Molly?" she ventures a guess at her name. "He told us to stop by and ask you."
Molly looks slightly taken aback. "I-..." she stutters, "He didn't mention any business today." she says, "Just give me a minute, okay? Let me-... Let me let him know you're here." she says. She begins to make her way along the counter before turning back to the trio, "And what's your name?"
Renala | "Thara Dyhnas," she replies after a second, seeing no real advantage in being honest about it -- best case: it'll be all the same.
Molly gives the asari a nod and exits through a gap in the counter. She heads towards a door in the back, disappearing through it.
Renala nods. "Follow her?" She kept her voice low enough to make it barely audible to Mendez, but the turian might not overhear it if his attention is elsewhere.
ArmoredHuman shouts from his stool across the bar, "How much for a dance, baby?" He has a grin from ear to ear as he eyes the asari.
Mendez shakes his head. "I say we wait till she comes back. See how she reacts. I'd rather not push our luck and break in unless we have no other choice." he says before overhearing the human. He locks his gaze on the man, but remains quiet.
Zaylus eyes the obnoxious bar patron, almost shouting a response himself before glancing back at Renala. He stays quiet instead.
Renala stares back at him. "Not feeling up for it tonight," she replies. "Maybe next time I'm here?"
ArmoredHuman settles back into his seat, "Awww what a shame... And I thought your kind was always up for it." he says, continuing to stare down the asari. His comment gets a few laughs from the other humans around him.
The back door opens again and Molly can be seen with an armored human and a krogan. She raises an arm and points in the general direction of the group as she converates with the two.
Renala smirks and shakes her head as she turns back towards the opening door, and the smirk fades pretty fast at the sight of the krogan. She remains quiet, waiting for them to approach.
Zaylus gives the loud human a dismissive wave, turning to see the back door opening and people emerging. He may tense somewhat but doesn't show it much.
Molly leads the human over to the group, but the krogan remains by the door. The human is wearing Terminus assault armor, sans the helmet. He has a shaved head and a short, goatee. Molly has a smile on her face, but the man maintains a scowl as he approaches the three.
Molly retakes her position behind the bar. "Eddie will take you to see Mr. Williams." she says, almost sounding pleasant. A large departure from her previous disposition.
Renala nods. "Thank you," she says to the bartender with a forced smile before falling into step after Eddie.
Eddie continues through the back door. "I don't know who you are." he says, "But I know Mr. Williams doesn't have any appointments." His tone is neutral, and he doesn't so much as look back at the group as he speaks.
The back door leads to a wide, nondescript hallway. A few doors are off to the sides, but the red panel beside each of them indicate that they're all locked, the door at the end being the only one unlocked. The krogan is standing off to the side of the door, at the groups flank as they enter.
Mendez steps through the door behind Eddie and continues to follow him down the hall, casting a suspicious glance in the krogan's direction as he passes him.
Renala keeps following after him, glancing over her shoulder once. "Maybe he forgot to inform you?" she suggests.
Zaylus chimes in, "I'm sure he's a very busy man, it must've slipped his mind." He assures him, following along.
Eddie gives a deep exasperated sigh and stops walking. He turns in place to face the three. "Look. Whatever you're trying to pull, drop it. You're not fooling anybody."
Mendez stops in place, casting another quick glance back at the krogan in an attempt at keeping tabs on him. "We're not trying to pull anything. We just need to talk to him, that's all."
Renala stops as well, nodding. "We're not here to start trouble," she adds to what Mendez have already said.
Wrend closes the door behind the group. "Yeah, yeah... Hand the weapons over." he growls, his voice deep and thundering, "I don't know what you're here for. But for whatever reason, Quinn's interested in talkin' to you. If you think I'm letting you walk in there with those weapons, you're dumb as a pyjak."
Mendez turns on his heels to face the krogan, "I'm not giving up my weapon." he says bluntly, taking a few steps towards the krogan.
Renala detaches her weapon and turns towards the krogan. "As long as I get it back on the way out," she says, reacing out her hand with it -- hand wrapped around the weapon's foregrip. "Fine."
Zaylus watches Mendez with strange curiosity, waiting to reach for his own weapon until something occurs. "Oh, sunshine." He mutters quietly with a shake of the head.
Wrend reaches out and grabs the asari's Locust. "Nice to see you're not all without manners." he says with a sneer, "See... You don't come into my house and lay down the rules." he continues, taking a heavy step towards Mendez. "You'd already be dead if that was what I wanted. Now hand it over or get the fuck out of here." His sneer grows, displaying a row of teeth as he extends his free hand towards Mendez expectantly.
Mendez stares at the krogan for a moment longer before reaching back and detatching his M-23, and handing it over, nearly pushing it into the krogans hand. "I'll be taking that back." he threatens.
Wrend gives a hearty laugh. "I'm sure you will." he muses before turning towards the turian. He holsters Renala's Locust at his side for storage and takes a step towards Zaylus, "Let's have it."
Zaylus produces his weapon, handing it over with no resistance. "Yes, sir." He says, just on the verge of being taunting rather than respectful.
Wrend snatches the weapon out of Zaylus' hand and holsters the remaining weapons. He returns to the rear of the group, "Keep movin'." he instructs, giving Zaylus a rough push forward.
Eddie continues forward to the end of the hall and taps at the green panel, causing the door to slide open.
Renala nods and follows wordleslly after Eddie, hoping that her biotics would be enough if they walked into trouble.
Zaylus stumbles forward, managing to catch himself before falling completely. He glares at the krogan, giving a loud grunt and making a point to proceed a bit more slowly down the hall.
The room at the end of the hall is a rather spacious. Numerous bookshelves line the walls, and a desk sits to their left upon entering. Behind the desk is a human. He has light skin and dark eyes, and is wearing what would appear to be expensive formal-wear. "Welcome!" he says pleasantly as the trio enter the room, "Have a seat." he continues, standing up and gesturing towards the seats on the opposite side of his desk.
Eddie and Wrend follow them into the room, each taking a position on opposite sides of the door. Eddie seems largely uninterested, but Wrend continues to sneer at the three.
Mendez glances at the chairs but opts, instead, to remain standing. He folds his arms and takes a position behind the seats.
Renala enters after Mendez, and makes her way over to take a seat, doing rather well to keep calm despite knowing the opposition has the advantage if things were to get out of hand.
Zaylus glances around the room, eventually making his over with Mendez, clearly having a similar idea. He folds his arms over his chest.
Quinn folds his hands on his desk in front of himself and looks between each of his guests. "So..." he begins, "As I understand it, you believe you have some business with me." He seems genuinely entertained as he speaks in an almost condescending, smug manner, "Let's hear it."
Mendez brow beats the man, "I don't appreciate being cornered in a hallway and stripped of my weapons."
Quinn | "And I don't appreciate unannounced guests lying to my employees and thinking they can just waltz into my office with their own private arsenal. Is that all? Go file a complaint with Molly." he fires back quickly, retaining an even, level-headed tone.
Quinn 's smile widens, "A job in the mines?" he asks, "Now where would you hear that?" he asks, unsteepling his hands and reaching up to touch his chin, feigning as if he's lost in thought, "Nope... Can't say it rings any bells. Mining work is more of Hnipinn's area. However..." he continues, leaning forward and lowering his voice slightly. "If it's work you're after, I've got the perfect deal for you. Little place just outside of Adrasteia. Pretty little thing like you could make a fortune." he taunts.
Mendez groans loudly, "Will you just cut the shit. Does it matter how we know? We know. And we want in." he chimes in, attempting to continue with Renala's charade.
Quinn folds his hands once more and sits back in his seat comfortably. "As I said before, I don't know what you're talking about. Now, if that's it... I'm a very busy man. I'd appreciate if you stopped wasting my time."