#Hospital – March 24, 2019

Oxaris is currently laid up in her hospital bed, the sheets pulled up over her waist. She's currently frowning deeply at the datapad in her hands, the sheer amount of concentration evident in her features threatening to burn a hole straight through the device. Her talon taps the edge of the screen, the air heavy and tense around her. Clearly a great moment or some significant event is about to occur, a momentous decision

Zaylus navigates the hospital to Oxaris' room as he has done several times now, only this time finding himself more eager to arrive than someberly resigned. The mood change is accompanied by a change in attire, namely the forfeiture of his hardsuit. Instead he's dressed in basic, turian cut clothes of muted colors topped by the mangled grey hoodie he hasn't had the heart to let go of. With

Oxaris looks up from her datapad, the familiar voice perking her up marginally. However, it is replaced by a confused cant of her head, followed by a stifled chuckle at the managed hoodie he wears. “Did you fall through a bush on your way here?” She teases with a light-hearted smile. Despite the jab, it’s clear she is pleased of the company.

Zaylus steps into the room, bid to pause at Oxaris' curious response. Raising a brow, he thrusts his hands into the front pouch to demonstrate its utility. "Humans, great with the design, lacking in the fabrication." He turns his head to one side and takes the hood in both hands, pulling it over his fringe to reveal the hole that's been torn through by the pointed ends that now stick out

Oxaris laughs quite heartily at that, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. A soft ping sounds from her datapad and the turian peers down at it, making a small noise of affirmation. "Good move," she muses. After a moment, she taps the queen as she counters, a small smug smile appearing on her face. Setting it down once more, she turns to look at Zaylus and motion to the free chair next to her bed. "Maybe if the add

Zaylus leans forward in the chair, pushing the hood back down with a absent wrist flick. He smirks at the comment, scrutinizing her datapad for a minute before tilting his head up at her and shifting the subject. "Tell me you saw the news." He says, a hopeful quiet tone in his voice. "I want to believe it. You saw it, right?"

Oxaris nods slowly, smile fading to a much more muted one. She switches tabs to a news network and taps the headline. COLLECTORS DEFEATED. "I did. Quite the feat," she says. But something about her tone seems off. Like she sees something more to it. "A shame this news didn't come a little sooner. We may have all been spared some damage."

Zaylus sinks a little further into his hoodie, pessimism seeping through at her muted response. "Yeah, call it bad timing." He muses, eyes searching the blank wall before he presses, "So, you think it's true? Some human supremacists did what no one else could?" He asks, the credit leaving a bitter taste in his mouth almost as bad as the skeptisicm for its integrity.

Oxaris hums. "Cerberus. If what I've heard is true... then yes. I can believe it." The admission leaves a heavy stone sitting on her stomach, causing her brow to knit faintly. However, she quickly shakes it off and looks to Zaylus, affording him a much more reassuring smile. "But we take the good out of it. They're gone, defeated. The galaxy just became that little bit safer because of it."

Zaylus leans back with a long sigh, relaxing into the chair with his hands clasped inside the front pouch. "I hope you're right. The prospect of dealing with them again was pretty bleak. Maybe now we can just get back..." He trails, laughing humorlessly and subtly shaking his head. "I was going to say 'normal'. Isn't that stupid?" He mutters, scanning the array of medical equipment monitering

Oxaris rolls her shoulders in a small shrug, smile still persisting. The equipment bleeps softly, showing a steady heart-rate and good vitals for the woman. She's recovering well, it seems, albeit at a less than optimal pace. At least, one she would consider optimal. "Normalcy varies from person to person," she muses quietly. "For us, that means guard shifts in mines, dams and bars. And that's fine for me. For now, anyway."

Zaylus eventually looks back to Oxaris, his head still lazily tilted to one side. "And what about when it's not?" He asks just as quietly. "This is a dead end planet. But you're not a dead end person." He ventures, prying outside himself, perhaps to distance from the collector topic again.

Oxaris blinks a little at that comment, one that seems to have blindsided her a little. "What do you mean?"

Zaylus smiles and rolls his head up a little, seeming to be getting more relaxed or just diffusing the probing remark. "Sorry. What you said make it sound like you had some long-term plans, once you were finished with this shit. Seems like small fish for your background, that's all." He shrugs, appearing none too invested with the answer either way.

Oxaris makes a small "Ah" noise and folds her hands in her lap. She seems to go quiet for a moment, mulling something around in her head before very carefully saying, "There... may be plans. Later on. But with how everything has transpired... I'm not sure if I can go back." She spreads her hands before folding them back. "I do like it out here. It's quieter than what I'm used to."

Zaylus nods slowly, seeming unapologetic or unaware of his prying. "It is quiet." He concedes softly, looking up toward the ceiling with his head resting on the chair back. "With everything that's happened," He pauses, clearing the waver in his throat, "And now, with the collectors being out of the picture, I just feel like... it might be time to start thinking about the future, you know?

Oxaris slowly tilts her head to the side, her eyebrow arching farther and farther up her head. Then, with a bemused smile, says, "Zaylus, it sounds like you're about to propose to me." The shit-eating grin on her face betrays the fact she's just trying to wind him up, the ping from her datapad going unnoticed for now.

Zaylus 's eyes go wide and he jerks forward with raucous laughter, gently holding the sling with his free hand as the abrupt motion sends little spines into the healing bone. "Spirits, you're right." He laughs in a long drawn out breath, leaning back against the seat once the laughter subsides into snickers. "Is that a no, then?" He remarks, gently rubbing the elbow of the injured arm. A

Oxaris joins in with the laughter, ignoring the sharp shots of pain going through her still steadily healing chest. "You're a little young for me," she remarks back, leaning over to give him a gentle pat on the shoulder. She allows herself a moment to calm down before seriously considering his question. "Perhaps you're right. What would you consider, hmm?"

Zaylus hangs his head jokingly at the pat, bringing it back up with a short snicker. "Shame." He mutters. At her follow up, he shrugs lightly. "I wouldn't even know where to begin." He admits, "I've been living in days, weeks at best. It's got me this far, but... I don't know. Maybe there's more I could be doing."

Oxaris hums and considers quietly for a moment. She then shrugs lightly, her voice quiet as she says, "I can't really say much in that regard. You're a talented soldier, just with some... discipline issues." She smirks at him before continuing. "Honestly, you could probably do really well for yourself in this line of work if you just applied yourself a little more."

Zaylus raises a brow, "Apply myself? Do you mean... shoot more people? Shoot them better?" He questions skeptically.

Oxaris sighs and gives him a withering look. "I mean stop being sassy, for one. Smartass." She gives a light chuckle and adds, "I mean be more approachable. Train harder, communicate more... stop being... broody." She says with a shrug.

Zaylus gasps softly yet dramatically, "Language." He chides, quickly dropping the joke to retort, "I don't brood! Anymore. But sure, sure... training, communication. I guess that's doable." He concedes, giving a squint in mock irritation.

Oxaris rolls her eyes and nestles into her bed a little more, an affectionate smile on her face. "It's more than doable. When I'm fit for duty, I'll be the one putting you through the motions. So enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts, Zaylus."

Zaylus "I have no doubt about that." He agrees, recalling the beating in the cargo bay and his less than impressive performance. "I promise I won't freeze up on you next time." He assures, less humorlessly than intended, realizing it's a promise he may not be able to keep.

Oxaris looks at him with a scrutinising look that gives way to a gentle nod and a small gesture of her hand. "I'll hold you to that. But it comes with practice, Zaylus. So don't be too hard on yourself about it."