'Christmas on Europa' is, as it turns out, a pretty long vid. Slow-paced one too. It was a popular style in the 20s. Establishing shots of the frigid snowscapes aplenty, contrasted with increasingly warm views of the base's interior as the colonists accept their situation and decided to make the best of it together. Lessons are learned, laughs are shared, and everyone grows closer on their isolated little outpost. It's the sort of setting
#RedrockAgency – February 11, 2021
that probably would've been used for a horror vid or psychological thriller in any other era. It's getting late by the time the credits roll, and Cynthia seems half-asleep in her armchair. Maybe it's the boring vid. Maybe it's all those beers. Probably both.
Ilyna has been paying attention to the vid for the most part, finding the historical aspects of it fascinating. This vid must have been way before first contact. As the hours went on, the exhaustion and the passivity has caught up on her, however, and she may have had a few long blinks of her eyes in the last half hour or so. The credits rolling makes her sit up a bit in her seat.
Jason didn't last very long into the vid before his attention waned. It's not that he can't get into a good, long, campy vid. Just takes the right mood. So once the pudding disappeared, so, too, did he, Li and the wide assortment of toy weaponry. War waits for no man. Putting that Alliance training to good use, it began with a lesson. You do not draw your (toy) gun unless you think you'll need to fire it. You do not point your
(toy) gun at anyone or anything unless you're prepared to open fire. Finger off of the trigger of your (toy) gun until you're ready to fire. Safety always on unless in active combat. These are the rules. True to the marketing on the packaging, the weaponry is surprisingly realistic. Plenty of simulatory options can be deactivated, but that's not Jason's style. Fake thermal clip must be seated to fire. Simulated recoil. The
whole nine yards. Once they had geared up with their holsters and vests, a short-ranged target range was set up in the hallway using the geth targets (He begrudgingly allowed Li to take control of the Revenant, but not until after squeezing off a few shots himself, first). The targets, too, have an abundance of options. On stands, they can't do too much moving, but they do turn and lean, all the while spewing
one-dimensional empty threats at the user (Though that feature quickly got old and was disabled by Jason). Score keeping. Hit tracking both in the targets and on the vests. Aim assistance. All in all, it probably borderlines on propaganda. Ushering in the next generation of Alliance recruits. But all of that is lost on Jason. Or at least ignored. He's just having a good time teaching Li how to shoot. There is, of course, no
pressure for her to perform well. Unlike when his father took him shooting, he avoids that pitfall. Like any skill, it takes practice and, at the end of the day? These are just toys. The goal is for Li to have fun. Not become a sharpshooter. After a few runs through the makeshift killhouse he set up throughout the hallway, locker room, and gym of the second floor using the geth targets and the remaining vests, he took a seat
on the floor against the corridor wall, content with just watching as Li shoots at some targets. And that's where he remains, forearm resting against his knee, as- unbeknownst to him- the credits of the long movie begin to roll.
Vasquez just shook her head to herself as Jason and Li left, shooting Ilyna a small smirk before settling in for the rest of the vid. She was half-surprised Cynthia hadn't joined them, but between the beer and far too much food she seemed down for the count. As the vid comes to an end she yawns and stretches.
Halisi eventually moved over to the couch once it was left with lots of empty space. It's obvious that she's fond of the classic vid they're watching, and she's been content to watch in silence, enjoying a moment of calm with the others - the battlefield set up outside the rec room notwithstanding. As the credits roll the muffled sound of toy gunfire makes her glance towards the door with a chuckle. "I'm surprised they're still at it."
Li was more than happy to leave the movie behind - her attention had quickly started to drift back to her giant pile of presents, and getting out of the rec room was probably best for everyone. She was eager to get her hands on the (toy) LMG, even if the fact that it's almost as big as her made it a bit hard to handle. Good thing it doesn't weigh as much as the real thing. Still, she paid close attention to all of Jason's
instructions, a comically serious nod accompanying every sentence. Clearly she takes her duties as a member of Redrock seriously, and she's seen them work enough to know what kind of expression to put on. Maybe her focused scowl is broken by the first burst she fires, startled by the simulated recoil that almost makes her drop the (toy) gun, but after that it's on as she guns down 'bad robots' aplenty, the tinny sound of pre-recorded
toy gunfire filling the hallway. She's not a bad shot for a 7-year old - of course, the sheer volume of fire offered by the Facemelter 4800 means plenty of chances to hit. Handling, however, proves a bit of a struggle. It's a big, unwieldy (toy) gun, with pretty complex mechanisms. Jason is often called in to help with reloads, and there's a couple of instances where holding down the trigger proves too temping, and she loses control
of the gun as a result. That's exactly what happens as Jason watches, a frustrated scowl on Li's face as it kicks up towards the ceiling from an extended burst. She keeps from dropping it this time. "It's stupid!" she complains.
Ilyna looks towards the door, raising a brow at Li's shouting. "And it's going to be a long day tomorrow trying out everything she got," she says before being cut off by a yawn. "I'm glad we got to spoil her like this, though." She lets out a chuckle before looking back at Halisi. Her moving to the couch during the vid hasn't been unwelcome, but Ilyna has spent most of the time focused on the vid.
Jason is unable to keep a big lopsided grin from slipping out as he watches Li struggle with the ginormous weapon. "You're doing great." he encourages. "Just-... short controlled bursts, right?" he adds, indicating the earlier training session. He takes on a firing pose- at least as much of one as he can from his position on the floor, back to the wall, one leg outstretched in front of him- and shoulders an invisible rifle, head
tilting ever so slightly as if sighting down the top of it at the opposite wall. He squeezes the invisible trigger, rocking his shoulder as if fighting against the recoil, but abruptly stops, glancing Li's way as if to make sure she gets what he's trying to show her. "Short burst and, as soon as you feel that kick getting away from you-..." he rolls his shoulder for emphasis, "...let off the trigger. Go on." he nods towards
Li frowns, looking a little grumpy as she listens to the lecture. Still, she does listen, and soon enough she's mimicking Jason's posture, as practiced earlier, and her frown is aimed at one of the targets. "Stupid robot!" she says before firing. The gun jumps a little, but she remembers to let go of the trigger. The success makes her smile a little, but it soon disappears as she looks at Jason. "I wanna be really strong like you.
Then I can shoot as much as I want, and my arms will never be tired. Can I have cybnr-... cibber-..." Her eyebrows furrow as she struggles with the word.
Halisi lets out another chuckle and nods. "It's nice, isn't it?" she agrees with a smile that lingers as she studies Ilyna. "She certainly deserves to be spoiled." Her attention goes back to the rolling credits for a brief moment, before returning to the asari. "I do have the next couple of days off as well, so if you need some backup, don't be afraid to call." she offers through a snicker.
Cynthia is looking dangerously relaxed considering she still has a not-quite-empty bottle in hand...
Vasquez , fortunately, notices, grabbing the bottle before it can fall and relocating it to the coffee table. "Well, that was... long." she comments quietly as her gaze falls on the screen, her tone implying that the last word was intended to be something more positive, but she failed to find a word that fit.
Ilyna smiles at the offer. She fails to notice the beer bottle, but Vasquez going to grab it does draw her attention for a moment before she looks back at Halisi. She isn't trying to listen in on the muffled conversation from the hallway, and misses Li stepping on a sensitive topic. "I wouldn't mind that," she says. "Do you have anything planned for those days? I... don't want to get in the way of that." She rubs the
Jason gives a sharp nod of his head as Li successfully manages to control the recoil. "See? There you go!" he cheers her on, smile growing into something a bit more sincere. It pulls back a bit as she speaks up, but he masks it with a small snicker and a shake of his head, forearm coming to rest against his knee once more. His gaze turns to his hand, studying the intricate lines that weave across the unnaturally colored surface as
he opens and closes it. "Eh... Cybernetics aren't all they're cracked up to be, smally fry." he says, the unintentional tone behind the words and the sigh that slips out probably lost on the 7-year old. But he's quick to inject a little cheer back into his tone to conceal it as he looks back to Li, brow furrowed, "Besides, whaddya need cybernetics for?! You're doing great! For your first time shooting?" he nods, putting on
an air of being impressed, "Hell of a lot better than I did when my old man took me shooting for the first time, that's for sure. And I had a few years on you."
Li frowns a little, but as Jason continues she lights up. "Really?" she asks with a little bounce, smiling brightly as she holds onto the bulky toy gun.
Halisi shakes her head with a slight chuckle, turning a bit to her side as she talks to Ilyna, elbow on the backrest. "There's nothing to get in the way of." she assures. "Quite frankly I'm not used to having this much free time on my hands. If I can be of assistance, I'd be more than happy to."
Vasquez casts a (slightly awkward) glance to her side at Ilyna and Halisi, before clearing her throat and getting out of the couch. "Gonna put these away." she says, starting to collect the pudding bowls. Before heading towards the kitchen she gives Cynthia a kick. "Cyn, we're about to hit the vid menu."
Cynthia startles a bit, eyes opening. "Thefuckyouwantme to do about it...?" she mutters, before her eyes widen and she looks around the room. No Li, phew.
Ilyna nods to Vasquez, but the awkwardness is lost on her as she keeps her attention on Halisi. Ilyna has her hands at her side, but she has shifted a bit to sit more comfortably as she looks her way. "I don't think there's a need for assistance," she says, "but I'd be happy if you want to join me in trying out her new toys with her, and... actually, there may be some manual-reading." She chuckles.
Jason snickers but gives another crisp nod of his head. "Absolutely. You keep practicing and you'll be a deadeye in no time." he assures. After a moment's consideration, his smile begins to slip away as he recalls their earlier conversation and he sits up a bit, shifting against the wall. "Uhh-... speaking of which..." he says in a mutter, giving the floor beside him a quick pat, "...how about you take a break? There's something
that I-... uhh-... wanna talk with you about, Li." he continues, no small amount of discomfort slipping into his voice and posture.
Li 's frown returns, the shift in Jason's tone making her tilt her head a little, but she does as asked, scurrying over and taking a seat, setting the toy gun down on the floor as she looks up at him curiously.
Halisi 's smile widens. "You might not know this, but I am excellent at reading manuals." she boasts jokingly, head tilting a little to one side as she studies Ilyna. "All those medschool textbooks." she adds with a faint shrug in way of explanation.
Vasquez makes her way over to the kitchen, clanking filling the room as she puts the bowls and spoons away in the dishwasher.
Cynthia grumbles quietly and digs out her omni-tool, the rolling credits coming to a stop as she starts to navigate the interface.
Ilyna chuckles. "I believe you," she says. "I haven't pursued higher education myself, but I've been there for one of my old friends venting about the stress of it." She lets out another yawn before adding. "So, consider yourself hired."
Jason waits for Li to get settled in, very quickly realizing that he's woefully unprepared for any sort of serious talk with a 7-year old. Hell, he struggles to discuss this sort of stuff with his peers. Discuss it honestly, anyhow. Deflect with a joke. Avoid with a charming smile. That's how he deals with problems. But her question earlier made it painfully clear that there's plenty going on in that head of hers. Of course there
is. After the nightmare she's been through, it's a wonder she's as well adjusted as she is. Kids are tough. They adapt. But she's still just a child. And, as much as he'd rather avoid the subject, he doesn't want her thinking she needs to keep that those worries to herself. Maybe a crowded room on Christmas Eve wasn't the right place for a conversation like that. But here, away from the others, a sympathetic ear is the least
he can offer. So he draws in a deep breath, bringing his left leg in to mirror his right, both forearms now resting against his knees. "It's-... uhh-... it's about what you said earlier." he begins, wincing as he shoots a glance Li's way. "About wanting a gun?" He shakes his head as he quickly spits out a stammered correction, "A-... uhh-... real gun." There's a pause as he turns his focus to the floor in front of him.
"You wanna talk about it?" he asks, shooting a glance back Li's way as he clarifies what he's trying to get at, "About the Collectors?"
Li 's gaze falls, and she pulls her legs in lose to her chest, arms wrapping around them as she rests her chin against her knees. She looks down at the floor as she picks at the hem of her dress, saying nothing.
Cynthia is still browsing the vid service, sleepiness replaced by a focused look. Is she looking for something specific?
Vasquez straightens up after finishing with putting away the dishes, leaning her hands against the countertop as she looks at the group by the couch. "Anybody want anything?"
Halisi smirks and nods. "I assure you, you'll get your money's worth." she says with an amused look. She seems about to say something else when a yawn of her own slips out, and she brings a hand up to cover her mouth. "I wouldn't mind some coffee." she says in response to Vasquez' question, glancing over towards the kitchen. "Or I fear I'll find myself falling asleep on the spot."
Ilyna looks over her shoulder at Vasquez's offer and gives a small shrug. "I'm fine, thanks," she says. She's not a coffee drinker, after all, otherwise she may have echoed Halisi's answer. "I worry I might do the same soon," she says, turning her attention back at Halisi, "but I'm counting on one of you to nudge me awake when Li wants to go home." She chuckles.
Jason watches her for a moment until it becomes clear that she's not going to say anything, causing him to nod silently to himself. His gaze, too, turns towards back towards the floor in front of him. An uncomfortable silence settles in as he's reminded, yet again, that this sort of thing isn't his strong point. "You were-... uhh-... very brave, Li." he eventually says as he looks her way again. "Back on that ship. I know it
was-..." he lets out a puff of air, gaze briefly turning to one side as he realizes that any word he uses- any turn of phrase or expression- is only going to serve to undersell just how horrifying it was. "...it was rough. But you-..." he nods again, "...you-... uhh-... you kept it together. I'm proud of you." He winces as he considers his own words, suddenly noticing just how much he sounds like his father right now. The
way he'd always clam up when the situation called for sincerity. How he would fall back on hollow words of encouragement and empty platitudes.
Li , predictably, doesn't seem put at ease by Jason's words. She barely reacts at all, beyond curling up a bit more. She frowns as she continues to stare at the floor. "How do you know when to fix the monsters and when to kill them?" she suddenly asks, a brutal break in the growing silence. If 'Varren Lord' could be fixed, could Mingxia have been? Could Johnny?
Halisi mirrors Ilyna's laugh, and offers a nod of assurance. "Not to worry. I'll carry you to the shuttle myself if I have to." she promises, before furrowing her eyebrows and adding: "I'm stronger than I look!" as if to forestall any skepticism.
Ilyna narrows her eyes in mock skepticism. "Let's... hope it doesn't come to that," she says. She glances at the vid screen for a moment, but her attention is still on Halisi.
Jason finds his gaze turning right back to the floor as the words leave Li's mouth. The weight behind them is easily recognized and his own thoughts turn to all of those they encountered. All of those they lost. All of those they killed. Not that they were left with much choice. But that excuse only gets you so far. It doesn't silence that lingering, nagging question when you're left alone with your thoughts. The 'What if'
that will probably follow him for the rest of his life. But what do you say to something like that? Asked by a child, no less. What would his father have said? Probably something to the effect of, 'You just know.' Some comfortable lie to pretend as though he had all the answers. To hide any vulnerabilities away from the world. To keep everyone at arm's length. But he's not his father. "...I don't know, small fry..." he
admits quietly, almost to himself. Maybe a comfortable lie would've been better. "I-... umm-..." he trails off again, blue eyes slowly drifting across a random floor panel as he pokes at the inside of his lower lip with his tongue. "...I wish I had a better answer for you." As the silence threatens to stake its claim, he dispels it with a deep, heavy breath, finally hazarding to face down the judgement of the 7-year old
beside him. "We just-... do the best we can. Ya know? To protect the people close to us. To-... look after each other. Keep one another safe..."
Li seems genuinely surprised by Jason's answer, eyebrows furrowing as she looks at him. It's clear that she expected him to have all the answers. Her expression is uncertain and unsettled as her attention returns to the floor. "Oh..." she says quietly, frowning as this information settles in her mind.
Halisi snickers and nods in agreement. "Last resort only." she assures, before glancing over towards Vasquez in the kitchen to check on her progress.
Vasquez has gotten a pair of cups out, and the coffee machine filled and running, but as if sensing Halisi's eyes on her back she recalls the caffeine restrictions placed on her by the doctor, shoulders dropping with a sigh as she puts one of the cups back.
Ilyna chuckles at Halisi's comment, but she doesn't answer it beyond that. She looks up at the screen, a little bit curious about which vid she's likely not going to be awake enough to watch.
Jason studies Li, his head eventually lulling back against the corridor wall with a deep sigh. "I just-... I don't want you to think that you can't talk to us if something is bothering you. I know how tough you are. But what happened? What you went through? It's-... uhh-... it's okay to not-... you know-..." he stammers. "...be okay..." he settles on, the words coming out a bit quieter. Unsure. A bit of embarrassment creeps into
Li looks surprised yet again as she looks up at Jason once more. For a moment she just lets this too sink in, but then she nods faintly and scoots closer, leaning against Jason. The frown on her face is thoughtful as she looks across the hallway at the opposite wall, processing. "I don't like being scared... or sad." she says quietly.
Vasquez places Halisi's mug in the machine to fill it up, rolling her shoulders a bit as another yawn slips out. It's been a long day for her, most of it spent on her feet.
Cynthia gains a triumphant grin as she finds the 'Super Centurion Christmas Special'. "There we fucking go!" she exclaims. "Found it will looking for presents and it is the best shit."