#RedrockAgency – October 17, 2017

Oxaris is sat at the terminal closest to the southern door of the headquarters, filing up a report. She's sat rigidly, dressed for once in her casual garb, a deep blue set of clothes. She sighs and, for the moment, allows her posture to slacken as she leans back in the chair, shifting uncomfortably as she tries to find some sort of position to accommodate her lanky frame. "Spirits... I may just buy my own damn

Zaylus makes his way into the offices just behind the seated Oxaris. Not one to differ from the norm he is dressed in his classic grey and green armor, Carnifex strapped at the hip. He doesn't see the turian at first with his hand pressed against his temple, but notices her as he goes to sit at the adjacent desk. "Oh." He starts, hesitating before sitting down. "Uh... hello." He greets

Oxaris starts as the door opens, shifting so she seems alert and focused on her work. She turns to look at the new arrival and blinks, not seeing him before. Her mandibles twitch and she dips her head in greeting, eyeing his armour and armament. "Hello," she replies, following him as he drops himself into the chair at the adjacent desk. "I haven't seen you about, before."

Zaylus nods slightly in response. "I haven't seen you either." He seems to decide after some thought. "Did you... just sign on?" He asks slowly, proding the terminal with an inept hand.

Oxaris nods faintly. "Haven't been around that long. My brother worked alongside Redrock for a mission and then recommended them to me," she explains, turning to her report and quickly tweaking it after a moments silence. "I'm Oxaris. Oxaris Ortoratus."

Zaylus lets out a short breath. "A brother? I guess I don't know him either." He remarks, glancing between her and the console. He lingers on her when given her name, eventually giving a nod. Then, realizing he ought to do the same, replies, "Right, I'm Zaylus." He says, leaving it just at that.

Oxaris shrugs a shoulder. "Artullin was only there for a single mission with Redrock. Freelance mercenary and his last job before he decided to head back to Palaven." She offers a polite, if lackluster smile, and bobs her head. "Nice to meet you then, Zaylus." She turns back to the terminal and taps away at the interface with a practiced hand, fingers gracing across it as she finalises the report, as if she's

Zaylus can't or won't detect the muted nature of the smile and returns one as sincerely as he can. At the question its his turn to shrug, and rolls his head in thought as he considers how to answer. "Well... sort of. Been in and out, really." He replies honestly, poking his way through a sparse report. "So this operation caught your eye, huh? I can't imagine what you've heard." He

Oxaris almost asks a follow up question indeed, but his quickly shifting of topics causes her to pause and think about what exactly she heard. "I did my research," she answers carefully. "And my brother gave a good word too. I'd say that Redrock itself has a decent enough reputation." She peers across to the turian. "I tried solo work after the Legion for a couple of years. But I much prefer being within a

Zaylus | "Sure, as far as a group goes it's one of the best." He remarks genuinely, stopping to puzzle over how to enter something in his report before pecking it in. "I'm still surprised I haven't ran across you before." He muses thoughtfully, "Have you already been out on a bigger job with them?"

Oxaris starts to shake her head before pausing and then nodding. "Once. When Redrock collaborated with a team belonging to a man called Cross. But, since then, I have only been on security detail for the mines. I've mostly kept to myself, admittedly. I've been dealing with... family issues," she admits. "I haven't really had much inclination to be sociable because of that." She clears her throat, tapping at

Zaylus looks her over thoughtfully at the admission, straightening uncomfortably in his seat. For a few moments they tap together in silence, until he rests a hand on the desk while the other reaches up to rub the side of his head. "Yeah, I can... kind of sympathize." He murmurs. Again he strives to bury the sentiment by asking a question. "Where were you before this?" He asks, this

Oxaris glances to him from the corner of her eyes and there is a brief moment where she smiles faintly. "I was a bounty hunter, working within Council and Terminus space. I did a lot of liaising between militias and governments to track down rogues and criminals." She taps once more at the interface before leaning back and turning to give him her full attention. "Two years, to be exact. Before that, however, I

Zaylus meets her gaze, giving the report a break for her answer. An interested gleam appears in his eyes as she speaks of her time as a bounty hunter, but her position in the turian military garners little interest. "That's a hell of a resume." He remarks, somewhat impressed. "This beat seems a little more quiet, compared to a bounty hunter's life at least. Is... that what you wanted?"

Oxaris she mulls over the question for a moment, a pensive look on her face as her mandibles twitch in thought. "To be honest, I don't mind either way. Quiet or fraught with danger, I'm just happy to be back within a unit. A group. Life as a bounty hunter was exciting and a nice change of pace for me. But, in the end, I prefer knowing I have back up and comrades." She motions idly with a talon, a gentle

Zaylus winces slightly at the inevitable return question. Never being asked so directly before, he struggles to think of an answer, especially knowing what he now knows about this turian. "I was... in a group, too. Not like this one though." He mutters, tapping his talons tensely on the desk. "Not every unit is going to have your back. Eventually I just had to get out, find something

Oxaris perks her brow up at his answer and she clears her throat at his answer. She leans back into her chair and mutters out an acknowledgement of his answer. She turns back to the terminal and stares at the report, suddenly finding herself unable to finish it up. She huffs quietly in frustration and saves it, closing it down swiftly. "Do you like it here?" She asks eventually. "Redrock, that is."

Zaylus perks at her question, his suddenly sour mood beginning to lift at the thought. "Yeah." He says gladly, a warm smile lifting his features. "I really do. Maybe I don't have a lot to compare it to, like you might," He says wistfully, gesturing her way, "but... Redrock has been good to me. Maybe if I'd come here when I was 16 I wouldn't be such an asshole to people." He shrugs

Oxaris she nods her head at his answer, smiling gently. She lets out a small, soft chuckle and she shakes her head, motioning to him. "Mind your language," she chides with a look that shows she isn't quite being serious. "You seem nice enough to me, Zaylus."

Zaylus chuckles softly in response to her chastising. "Oh?" He says hopefully, laughing lightly again as he rubs a hand near his eyes. "Well, I appreciate that. I've been trying to... not get on people's bad sides. I figure I got enough problems as it is." He explains, pressing his thumb harder onto his head, causing a brief pained expression as he rubs the area some more.

Oxaris dips her head before she looks to his motions, a brief flash of concern passing her features. "Are you alright? Do you have a headache?" She folds one leg over the other, before leaning forward on it as if to examine him better.

Zaylus groans in turn, then as a diffusing response to her concern, lets out a small chuckle. "I just... hit my head pretty bad yesterday. It was the dumbest thing." He shakes his head, forcing the hand down to the desk. "You don't think... it's probably fine, right?" He ventures hopefully.

Oxaris stands up and crosses over to him, inspecting his head with a critical eye. "Mmm... I'd say you have a serious concussion. Judging by the swelling here and the bruising here, I'd say you should go see a doctor asap." She pauses, leaving that in the air before smiling at him. "I'm joking. You're probably fine." She steps back and places a hand on her waist. "Although, I would say you probably shouldn't

Zaylus takes her assessment very seriously, looking at her with wide eyes before being let in on the joke. He narrows his eyes, only seeming actually upset for a moment before a smirk slips through. "Asshole." He mutters, only about half serious. He lets the hand sneak up to rub his head some more as he glances at his report. "I'm not making a lot of progress anyway." He admits. "So,

Oxaris laughs softly. "Language," she chides before looking thoughtful for a moment, then motioning upstairs. "Grab a drink and something to eat instead? I'll even keep you company." She twitches her mandibles for a moment before adding, "If you don't mind, that is."

Zaylus considers the offer for just a moment before nodding. "Sounds good to me." He accepts, turning back to the console to clumsily save his report before rising. "What sacrifices you make, keeping poor old me company." He teases her, gesturing with both arms for her to lead the way.

Oxaris lets out a flanging laugh as she turns out the office and starts walking towards the stairs, glancing back over her shoulder to him. "Sarcasm. How endearing," she drawls with a casual flick of her talons. "So, Zaylus, what role do you have here? Marksman, CQC, demolitions?" Despite her relaxed manner, in the end, she can't help herself from asking about his specialty.

Zaylus laughs indulgently, following close behind. "Huh, I hadn't really thought about it." He replies honestly. "I suppose I don't have much of a specialty. Not here, anyway." He adds in a thoughtful murmur. "Just me and my heavy pistol, that's all." He shrugs. "I think I can guess what you're bringing, 'Ghost Infiltrator'." He turns it back on her in a smart tone.

Oxaris she pauses at the base of the stairs to give him a prod in the chest. Which is really just a clank of talon against armour, but it gets her point across. "Don't get smart with me," she replies with a smirk. "I'm a little bit broader than just infiltrator." She starts back up the stairs, cresting the top. "But with a pistol... I'm hedging you like to get up close and personal?"

Zaylus holds up his hands in mock defense as she prods his armoured chest, looking away in innocence before returning her smirk. Following her again, he rolls his head in thought, eventually holding a hand palm up. "Yeah, you could say that. I'm a good shot, but not so good to regularly tag people long distance. Then again, not so close I'm risking some nasty hand-to-hand." As they

Oxaris she waits for him at the top, turning to look at him in a new light. "Mrm," she hums with a nod as she walks toward the recreational room, stopping by the door. "I see. Not too bad then. It means I can rely on you from both long range and close distance. Not too far from either." She eyes the pistol at his hip, before returning it to his face.

Zaylus follows her gaze down to his weapon, rolling his shoulders in a shrug. "Call me paranoid." He answers the unspoken question he suspects. Then, putting a hand on his hip, he eyes her skeptically. "So, I see what it is. You're trying to suss me out, see if you can trust me out there?" He accuses her, raising a browplate.

Oxaris hovers her hand over the interface before turning around to look at him. "What? No. If we're colleagues, I trust you regardless," she states simply. "We all work together to make sure we come back together. I was merely curious. I'm sorry if I caused offence to you, Zaylus."

Zaylus falters quickly, shaking his head and trying to explain. "No, I was just- Sorry, I was mostly just messing with you." He says apologetically. "Besides, if we're going to fight together you deserve to know what I can do. Even if you're willing to trust me on sight." He finishes, lingering almost unbelievingly on the last sentiment.

Oxaris looks a little confused and now turns fully, folding her arms across her chest. She's a little short for a turian and has to cock her head up to him, perking her browplate. "Mostly," she says, highlighting that word. "Look, Zaylus, when it comes down to it, Redrock is a unit. You all fight alongside one another, you protect one another and, if need be, you die for one another. Now, I know it's different

Zaylus rubs the back of his neck uncomfortably, trying his best to meet her gaze. When she's finished he releases a low sigh. "I know. You're right." He concedes. "I... want it to be like that too. I really do. I'm just not used to that, okay?" He gestures with a hand as his gaze slips to the floor. "It's... strange. Even if it is better. I'm still trying to understand." He murmurs the

Oxaris steps forwards and places a hand against his arm, looking up at him with a flash of concern, but also sincerity in her eyes. "You just need to open up to it, alright? If you need it, I'll help you understand it too." She gives him a warm smile and a nod.

Zaylus peers down at her as she reaches out, slowly returning the smile and nod. "Yeah... thanks." He murmurs, beginning to visibly relax. "You know, there's not a lot of turians around. It's good to... talk, now and then, with someone that's like yourself." He muses, trying to brush past the brief vulnerability without rebuffing her.

Oxaris takes a step back and gives a light shrug. "Anytime," she offers as she turns and presses her hand against the interface. The door opens and she steps inside, glancing over her shoulder to invite him in. "We look out for each other." She moves over to the fridges and opens them, eyes roaming for dextro food. Annnnd there's paste. Brilliant.

Zaylus follows her into the rec room, finding the counter and leaning both arms against it. With a distant look in his eyes he lets her sentiments in but does not respond further. Eventually he snaps his attention back to their task, cocking his head to the side. "Is there actually anything in there?" He questions skeptically.

Oxaris takes out two tubes and waggles them in the air. "Yep. High quality paste! Reserved just for us," she says with faux joy in her voice. She relaxes and gently underhands a tube to him, walking across as she opens the top of hers and eyes the contents. "I think I'm going to start bringing in my own lunches like I do on shift."

Zaylus scoops the tube from the air and laughs. "Oh, I'm definitely not above some paste." He assures her, popping the top and eagerly testing the contents. After some tasting sounds he makes a 'not bad' kind of noise and shrugs. "Damn, that's a good idea. I usually just go hungry until I get off my shift. Nothing in my kitchen except liqour and broken glass."

Oxaris her gaze turns to him and she gains a brief look of concern and disapproval all in one. "Don't tell me you sustain yourself on alcohol?" She takes a taste of the tube and has to admit that it isn't actually that bad at all. But her gaze remains fixated on him, tilting her head marginally as she awaits his answer.

Zaylus 's mandibles flare as he considers the idea. "Well... I wouldn't say 'sustain'. I don't even think... hmm." He hums thoughtfully before shaking away the absurd idea. "Just haven't done a lot of cooking in my life. Not sure how to go about living like a, well, responsible person." He laughs, but it quickly peters out. "Yeah, I should work on that too." He admits, nibbling thoughtfully

Oxaris breathes a sigh that's torn between being a laugh and a sound of disbelief. She peers up at him with a wry look before leaning with her back against the counter, shaking her head softly. "You're an odd one, Zaylus," she comments lightly, her look obviously meaning no offensive. "Step one is making sure your supplies doesn't consist of alcohol and broken glass. Put some food in there, find a cooking vid

Zaylus mocks being insulted at the comment, but gives up the gesture quickly. He considers these instructions for later before he defends himself. "Well, I didn't mean to suggest the glass was for eating." He explains, as if that needed explaining. "It's a happy reminder of my head knocking." He says with mock delight, rubbing his head for emphasis. "Just haven't cleaned it up yet...

Oxaris rolls her eyes and shakes her head, gesturing at him with the tube. "You, mister, need to sort that out ASAP. Get some decent homecooked food in you and you'll immediately start feeling better." She nods firmly and smirks, taking a bite of the paste. "Or if you reaaaalllyyy can't be bothered, just grab some takeaway. I've heard that there are some places around that do decent food."

Zaylus nods thoughtfully, chewing through a sizable bite of paste before replying. "Oh, for sure. My first time here I lived above the Miner's Respite, so that made it easy to grab some food down at the bar. Also made it easier to get drunk all the time. Real good times." He muses fondly, then fearing he's misstepped in his choice of words, quickly continues. "You been down there yet?

Oxaris gives him yet another disapproving look that quickly fades away, she shakes her head. "No, I haven't been there yet. I kept my shifts to the mines. As I mentioned earlier, I really haven't been feeling all that sociable recently. With the exception of today, of course." She muses for a moment before adding, "So you got your own place, then?"

Zaylus cocks his head to the side and nods. "Fair enough." He replies, finishing off his tube in a bite before going on. "Yeah, it's not too bad. Cheapest I could find, just one room. Suits me well enough." He shrugs. "Anything more would feel like a waste." He finishes, the exact meaning of that statement left to the imagination.

Oxaris rolls her shoulders with a nod, taking her time with the food in comparison to him. "As long as it fulfills your needs," she agrees, though his latter comment causes her browplate to furrow in thought over what he meant. "I just have a small apartment in the middle of town. Couple of rooms, nothing flashy." She hums a small laugh, placing the paste down. "I'm more used to the shared accommodations,

Zaylus keeps his focus on the woman as he walks the empty tube to the trash, underhanding it in the bin. Then, without something to occupy his hands, he returns to the counter and stretches his arms out in front of him. Thoughtfully he considers her sentiment, finding himself nodding in agreement. "I think I kind of know what you mean." He sympathizes, and after a moment of consideration,

Oxaris nods, pointing a talon to him in agreement. "Exactly! You become so accustomed to the noise, the routine, it's almost difficult to live without it." She leans back on the counter, resting her elbows on it as she tilts her head. "A space station? Where abouts?"

Zaylus revels in the feeling of comradery, just until she asks the follow up question. Somewhat expecting this, but having no good lies on hand, he sighs defeatedly, and tells the truth. "Omega." He answers simply. "I lived on Omega, for several years actually."

Oxaris tilts her head. "Omega? Ah." She shifts uncomfortably, but not with the revelation that he lived on Omega. More about the thought of Omega itself. And something clicks in her mind, about the possibility of the group he ran with. She peers up at him for a moment before she shrugs it off and nods to him. "What made you go there?"

Zaylus shrugs tensely, sensing her discomfort with this topic but being eager to explain himself. "I was a kid. Heard all the good things about the station, but not the bad. Thought..." He grits his teeth. "I don't know what I thought. It was a mistake. Spirits help me, I hope I never set foot there again." With a dry laugh he peers at her through the corner of his eye, and tries to

Oxaris listens quietly, her head bobbing along with his words. As he concludes, she breathes a little sigh and smile lightly up at him. "This planet is rather beautiful, if you can look past... certain aspects." She looks out to the side for a moment before chuckling. "I've never been to Omega and I don't plan to."

Zaylus laughs uncomfortably. "Good." He compliments quickly, bringing his arms over his chest. "If the cold's not your thing, you may want to wait on this, but I suggest getting outside the city a bit. That's the part of the planet worth seeing." He assures her. "Maybe it's just from living station-side for so long, but the wilderness here is something else. Especially in this snow, to

Oxaris hums. "You think so? I suppose I'll give it a go at some point. I... hadn't really considered it." She admits that with a somewhat sheepish look, realising how it makes her sound quite like a stick in the floor. Or was it mud? What was that human expression again? "Any place in particular or just... anywhere?"

Zaylus hums thoughtfully, searching through his memory. "To be honest, I've never paid much attention. I just walk until I come across something worth seeing." He explains, taking his turn to seem sheepish. "I'll pay more attention next time. Give you the full report." He chuckles lightly.

Oxaris chuckles and grabs the paste, finishing it off before disposing of it in the bin. "I'd like that," she says softly before dipping her head. "Anyway, I should head home. I'd like to relax for the rest of the evening." She gives him a warm smile and a bob of her head. "It was nice meeting you, Zaylus. Truly. We'll talk later, yeah?"

Zaylus turns to keep facing her, leaning back against the counter. He gives a matching nod of the head and a small, but genuine smile. "I'm sure we will. Enjoy your evening, Oxaris." He bids her farewell as politely as he can muster.

Oxaris dips her head and starts to depart. "You too," she adds before exiting the rec room.

Zaylus lingers idly in the rec room for a few minutes after she departs, eventually going back downstairs to finish his report before heading home.