Ilyna looks up behind her as Jason enters the room, nodding to him. She was going to remain in the couch by Li, but she gets up when Jason asks her about the coffee maker. "That is precisely why I kept you two in the dark about this," she says as she walks over to the kitchen. "I mean, if it were to escalate any further, you would be the first to know, but as long as it was under control..., I thought you
#RedrockAgency – July 25, 2019
enjoying your vacation was more important." She stops next to the coffee maker, looking over the device briefly before turning her attention towards Jason. "I don't drink coffee," she says, "but I have made it for guests at home. I don't use a machine like this, though, I just mix a tablespoon of it in boiling water."
Jason forces a small, tired smile as Ilyna talks, merely nodding as he leans against the counter. When she turns her attention to the coffee maker, he glances at it with a sigh. "I understand..." he says, and it's unlikely he's talking about the coffee maker. His gaze remains fixed to the device for a few moments in silence as he seems to be trying to put together some sort of game plan for tackling the coffee situation. "It's not
your fault." he adds, glancing over to the asari with a small shrug, as if she probably already knows that. "You're not a babysitter and they are most definitely not children. No shifts were missed. No clients are angry-..." he lists as he raises an eyebrow, merely assuming- and hoping- that to be the case and giving her an opportunity to correct him if he's wrong with a silent, implied, 'Right?' "...The rest is-..." he
Ilyna gives a faint nod after listening to him and studying the machine along with him. "Yeah," she says, her eyes still on the device, "but keeping it from you was my choice. It was their suggestion, but... I would not have listened to them if I didn't agree." Ilyna sighs. "I've seen T'Iavay opeate this machine when I've been up here with Li, I think that's the only reason she ever comes here," she says, "but I
Jason gives a few small nods at her initial statement. Her suggestion of getting Fergus involved is met only with a glance upwards. He knows how to use the coffee maker! ...Mostly. Somehow, bringing the VI into feels like giving up, causing him to dismiss the suggestion with a small sigh. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you didn't rope us into it." he says, offering a small, apologetic shrug with it. There's some guilt to go along
with that statement, but it's the truth. "She is, too." he says, eyes darting towards the wall that separates the rec room from his and Vasquez' apartment. "And as soon as she calms down, shes gonna realize that." He shifts in place to turn away from the coffee maker, lower back resting against the counter as he folds his arms across his chest. "We both needed that trip." he admits. A few moments of silence pass as he
considers just how much has happened in the past year. And just how much has changed in the past week. Despite all of the pain that has come with it, the thought brings a small- if worn out- smile to his face. Yeah, they came back home to another opened can of worms. But it's a much smaller can than the one that was open when they left. It feels like there's room to breathe again. "Unfortunately, with everything going on I'm
thinking that celebratory drink I promised you is gonna have to wait until tomorrow." he says with a feigned apology, though it's obviously meant as an offer. A confirmation that she still wants to take him up on it. "What do you say about.... eight? Maybe nine?" he offers. "You know... Once I've made sure Linda hasn't-..." rather than saying it aloud, he pantomimes choking himself so Li can't hear the implication, "...Leah
and the others." Despite the rather grim implication, he gives a small, tired snicker, implying he doesn't believe that's a realistic outcome.
Ilyna lets her shoulders drop as Jason agrees with her choice, and a small smile shows up at the mention of the celebration. It only fades for a moment as he mentions the precondition. Ilyna knows that good things don't await Mercier and Tennhausen tomorrow, but she trusts – or hopes – that it won't go that far. "You know, with the stress and chaos that was this place up until yesterday, I... almost forgot
about that," she says. "Eight might be a bit late, though, I'd need to get someone to look after Li while I'm here. Halisi is busy, and Va'ynna... I would be surprised if Tara is back to work by tomorrow, but I would hate myself for asking Va'ynna to do that after another long day at work."
Jason furrows his brow as he listens to Ilyna's words but settles for a small, understanding nod. "Yeah... That woman works V to the bone..." he mutters, making a mental note to swing by and pay Va'ynna a visit. "Well, she could always hang out here." he offers with a nod towards Li as she watches TV. "Just an hour or so while we pop the cork on that Thessian wine. I'm sure Jasper wouldn't mind checking in on her." he suggests
Ilyna frowns at Jason's assessment of Va'ynna's situation, but doesn't dwell on the topic. "I'll be here all day tomorrow to handle the day-to-day matters while you two focus on... the debrief, so we can get to it as soon as everything is wrapped up," she says. "Speaking of, you better settle back in soon because I need a vacation too." She chuckles and casts a glance over to the couch.
Jason gives a nod in agreement with Ilyna's plan. Her added statement gets a snicker out of him but it's accompanied by a small- but sincere- nod. "Yeah... I think we've all earned a bit of vacation time..." he says softly. He shoots a glance towards Li who is absorbed in whatever she's watching. "Isn't that right, shortstack?" he asks. When he's met with no response he merely shakes his head, smile emerging once more as he looks
to Ilyna, "She doesn't care." he muses. With a grunt, he pushes himself away from the counter. "Alright, I'm gonna go figure out where Jasper is hiding." he says. "If I've learned one thing about him, it's that he makes a mean cup of coffee." he muses as he points at Ilyna for emphasis, seemingly have settled on a plan of action that doesn't involve VI assistance.
Ilyna smiles and takes a step away from the counter as well. "Sure she does," she mutters in moch defence. She then makes a brief gesture at the ceiling. "You could ask Fergus to bring him here," she says half-heartedly, assuming Jason's tenous relationship with VIs is to blame for his silent dismissal of her earlier suggestion. Not that Ilyna is one to speak here, considering how often she pulls the plug on his
eyes and ears in her office. "You should observe and steal his secrets," she offers another suggestion in the same tone.
Jason gives a snicker as he backs up across the room. "After hours in that shuttle I could do with some walking. Stretch my legs a bit." he explains. Her final suggestion causes him to jab his finger in her direction. "That's the plan!" he exclaims as if he has already victoried. It causes his smile to widen. "I'll be right back." he offers before shooting a glance towards the couch. "And when I am, you gotta bring me up to speed
on Super Centurion while I wait for the coffee to finish! I missed the last episode!" he warns Li through a smile. He passes Ilyna one last glance before giving the doorframe a pat on his way out.