#IlynaApartment – January 12, 2017

Ilyna frowns, but mentions nothing of the bad things that lead to her becoming Li's parent. The topic change is thus certainly welcome, however. "I'm not surprised, your kind is still new to the galactic community," she says. "It's possible that Li one of the first to be raised by someone like me." The asari is quick to add, "With human help, of course." She chuckles. "Anyway, what does this ask of me?" she says.

Halisi nods. "The program is fairly autonomous, but yes... there is a setup-process, but I understand the VI will guide you through it. It is also recommended that a parent or guardian oversees the education. The VI will deliver progress reports, and suggestions for exercises and other things. It's customizable, of course... ultimately how her education is handled will be up to you."

Ilyna smiles, though she is both anxious and relieved that the responsibility ultimately falls on her rather than the VI. "That sounds good," she says. "I'd love to be a part of her education." She reaches out to take the water mug. "Will the VI make recommendations for pacing, as well?" she asks while pouring herself a glass of water.

Halisi smirks slightly at Ilyna's questions, sipping her coffee again before answering. "Yes. As I said, it's a good program, from what I've read."

Li is sitting up over by the TV, looking towards the two of them. It seems like she's listening.

Ilyna gives a small smile when she sees that Li is looking their way, but she returns her attention to the doctor again. "It sounds wonderful," she says, "which makes me feel a bit guilty. I don't wish to be a burden on you financially, so if I can repay you...."

Halisi is quick to shake her head. "No, no! Don't be silly, it's a gift. My way of helping." she says with a smile.

Ilyna gives a sheepish smile and sighs. "Oh, okay, I...," she says. "I'm sorry, I'm being silly. I just cannot overstate how grateful I am, Halisi." She takes a sip of her water as she gathers her thoughts. "I can't go home to Thessia, so the chance to give her a normal childhood out here... it means a lot to me."

Halisi gives a nod at Ilyna's thanks, her smile remaining, but the mention of Thessia causes her to furrow her eyebrows. "You... can't go home?" She glances to Li and lowers her voice. "Is... this about her? I confess I'm not entirely certain of the details of the adoption."

Ilyna nods, and nods again at the second question. "My mother hired a lawyer to help us out with custody," she says, "The chances of her getting citizenship with me as her parental gauradian..." She sighs. "It's hopeless."

Halisi frowns. "I suppose the circumstances... complicate matters. I can't say I know much... or... anything about asari law." She shoots another look in Li's direction. The girl has gone back to drawing by the look of things. "I think it's clear what is best for her though. It is obvious she is happy here."

Ilyna nods, her smile showing up again. "Yeah, it is," she says, "and I couldn't be happier out here thanks to the supportive people around me." She takes another sip of her water. "I'll be able to show her Thessia when she's grown up."

Halisi sips her coffee. "Redrock helped me when I needed it... you're good people. I'm happy to help as much as I can, as well." After a moment's pause she adds. "If... you don't mind me asking... your family, how do they feel about this?"

Ilyna tilts her head at first, trying to remember what she refers to, to no avail, and she's about to ask when the topic is changed. "My mother wanted me to leave the life of a mercenary behind," she says, "but... she supports what I'm doing right now."

Li walks up to the table, climbing into one of the seats and interrupting Halisi's reply in the process. "What are you talking about?" she asks, tilting her head.

Ilyna smiles at Li, and offers an apologetic look towards Halisi. She hasn't talked much about her family with her to avoid bringing up any hurtful memories. "My family back home on Thessia," she says.

Li furrows her eyebrows. "Your family...?"

Halisi goes silent, not wanting to interrupt. She smiles slightly to herself and sips her coffee.

Ilyna nods, doing a good job hiding her worries about bringing up this subject around Li. "My mother, my sister and my brother," she says. "They live on another planet, so we can't visit them."

Li looks surprised, as if the idea is foreign to her. "You have a mom too?"

Halisi smirks at Li's astonishment from behind the coffee cup.

Ilyna chuckles, and nods. "Someone had to look after me when I was little too," she says, hopefully not introducing another alien idea.

Li develops a thoughtful frown, turning silent for a moment before nodding. "That makes sense." she agrees.

Halisi can't help but mirror Ilyna's chuckle. She puts down the cup and glances to the window before turning back to the asari. "I don't mean to take up your entire afternoon. I suppose I should get going..."

Ilyna gives a small smile when the child seems to understand her. She tilts her head when Halisi speaks. "Feel free to stay longer if you'd like to," she says. "After all you've done for us, my time is the least you need to worry about." She sighs. "There is one more thing I wanted to talk about," she says as she looks over at Li. "Her hair."

Li frowns. Her bangs have gotten long enough to get in her eyes every now and then, but she hasn't really complained about it. She keeps blowing the hair aside.

Halisi looks at Li, her smile growing. "Yes, it's getting rather long... I was wondering what-..." she glances at Ilyna. "Oh! You-... I suppose I hadn't thought about-... you need to trim it."

Ilyna raises her brows. "I barely know anything about hair," she concedes. And even if she did learn a trick or twenty, she still wouldn't know it as intimately as a human. "I... wish I didn't have to ask another favor of you, Halisi, but could you do it for me? And instruct me?"

Halisi lets out another chuckle. "Of course." she says before turning to Li, leaning down a bit to speak with her. "What do you say, Li? How about we give that hair a trim?"

Li gives Halisi a suspicious look, sinking a bit into her chair. "I like my hair..."

Ilyna looks over at Li, giving a small smile. "She's not trimming much," she tries to assure her, "just enough so it doesn't get in the way."

Li pouts, but gives the faintest of nods. "Okay..."

Ilyna pays close attention to Halisi's work, and she actually admits to having asked a human whether cutting hair hurt in the past. She'd spare the details about the person she asked, however other than that he was a fellow freelance mercenary. Ilyna asks about a lot of things, from what to expect in the coming years to how much sleep Li really needs. It was easy to find some of it on the extranet, granted, but

Halisi has stayed until the early evening, answering any and all questions, and, once they ran out, talking about work and other trivial matters. At Ilyna's gesture she chuckles, stepping into the hug and wrapping her arms around the asari. "I'm happy to help, Ilyna. There's no reason you should have to take on this responsibility all by yourself."

Li is lying in the couch, watching the TV idly. After some initial doubt she seems to have accepted her new haircut.

Ilyna smiles at her accepting the hug, and she's reluctant to let go. "And thanks to people like you, I don't have to," she says. "If someone were to tell me three years ago about... all this, I wouldn't have believed a single word of it."

Halisi loosens the hug on her end, but doesn't let go just yet. The asari's words brings out a big smile and she nods slightly. "Life can change quickly..." she offers, not knowing very much about Ilyna's past. She furrows her eyebrows, pulling away and studying the asari. "It seems like you've had an eventful few years. I'd love to hear more about it when you have the time."

Ilyna gives a slight sigh, looking a little unsure. Her past wasn't her favorite subject to discuss, considering how her secret is weaved into so much of it. She didn't read too much into potential reasons for her curiousty, however. "I wouldn't say no to another visit," she says. "Just... expect your curiosity to be returned in kind."

Halisi smirks slightly. "I'll keep that in mind." she says, before heading over to the hall to put on her winter clothes. After adjusting her beanie - a loose-fitting knit purple affair - she heads over to the couch to say goodbye to Li, and then back to the door, where she faces Ilyna again. "Alright... good luck with the VI, now. Have a nice evening." She gives a small wave before turning to the interface and opening the

Ilyna nods, moving over to stand against the kitchen counter. "If you don't hear from me soon... it's a good sign," she jokes. "And you too have a nice evening, Halisi."