Crux shoots Leah a grateful look, stepping inside and looking to Tara once more.
#Leah'sHouse – March 20, 2025
Tara approaches the two by the door, tightening her hold of Zoe a little to make sure she doesn't slip away while the door is still open. She's changed into jeans, and left the slippers behind in preparation for heading outside. The caution remains in her expression as she eyes Crux, but there's no fear or resentment there.
Crux ' gaze lingers for a moment on the mark plainly visible on the scarred girl's forehead, but then she catches herself and steps forward, straightening her back. She clears her throat. "I and my ally humbly apologize for our role in the attack on you and your household. We are in your debt," she announces, switching from English to the same batarian dialect as with Leah. The gesture is accompanied by stiff, formal tilt of her head.
Tara looks... baffled. Nervous, like she's done something wrong just by being the recipient of such a gesture. She shoots Leah a slightly worried glance before returning her attention to Crux, eyebrows furrowing as she tries to formulate a reply.
Crux looks a little concerned, not sure how to take Tara's reaction, but forces herself to remain silently in place, awaiting her response.
Leah closes the door once Crux is inside to keep the cold air out, and the blue menace in. As Crux begins to speak, she sucks in her lips, merely listening. The repeated sentiment is innocuous enough. The sort of thing that might pass under the radar to most people. A simple apology and a promise to make things right. But Leah knows better. After a career in the Alliance where she was often entangled in the culture clash between
humanity and the Hegemony and everything surrounding the situation that brought Tara into her life, she's well aware that the word 'debt' has a much more severe meaning in batarian culture. That same discomfort she displayed back at the hospital at the sentiment shines through once more, eyes briefly turning downward as she shifts her weight and folds her arms across her midsection. But this time it isn't for her. Far too
many people have tried to take Tara's voice from her, so Leah remains silent, merely tilting her head to meet Tara's gaze, confident that whatever she's about to say will come from a place of compassion.
Tara 's hesitation gives way to determination, and drawing a deep breath she gathers herself. She straightens up and mirrors Crux' gesture, marking them - for this moment, at least - as equals. Her discomfort is obvious, but so is the fact that she's taking this seriously. "Your debt is... absolved," she replies, delivery stilted, the dialect different from what she usually speaks.
Crux lets out a relieved breath, a smile crossing her lips as her entire posture relaxes. "Thank you. Really."
Tara mirrors the smile, although hers is smaller, and laced with the awkwardness of finding herself in a position she never would have expected.
Crux ' gaze darts again to the mark on Tara's forehead, but holds back the question that almost slips out despite her better judgment. Instead, she looks around the interior of the house in the hopes of spotting the old man, but instead finds herself distracted by environment itself, eyes wandering over furniture and decorations. "Wow. Like something out of a vid..." she mumbles.
Leah's discomfort slips away as Tara speaks, giving way to a soft smile, her face wearing all the signs of a proud older sister. As the tension lifts from the room her posture relaxes and she finds herself giving the living room a brief scan at Crux' statement. Their little house isn't much, but it's a stark contrast to the cramped apartment she rented while she was on Omega. And it's home. The comment pulls her thoughts back to
their previous conversation, causing her focus to return to Crux. "Put any thought into what comes next...?" she asks.
Crux ' gaze falls briefly to the gzzk as it lets out a content noise, smile tugging the corner of her mouth, but Leah's question quickly draws her attention. "I-.... yeah. Yeah, we- we have. Actually kinda... the other reason I'm here," she admits with a slight shrug, appraising her reaction before continuing.
Crux lets out a nervous chuckle. "Place you work for? Redrock?" she says, one hand - the one with a missing finger - reaching up to scratch her neck. This is such a stupid idea, but too late now! She steels herself and presses on. "Any shot you could get us an in?" She almost immediately seems to reconsider leaving it at that, the question followed by her raising her hands a little in a 'just hold on!' gesture as she continues: "I know
it's a big ask! But RC is level-headed and a good shot. And I'm good at what I do. You've seen that. We don't have fucking resumes or degrees or whatever like Council spacers, but if you'd vouch for us, maybe..."
Leah opens her mouth to speak as soon as the question is asked, but falls silent as Crux stops her, biting back on her words. A small frown crosses her lips as she listens, culminating in a heavy breath escaping as Crux finishes speaking. A few moments of silence pass as she considers the request, green eyes turned downward in thought. It's not like the thought hadn't crossed her mind. Still, the fact that they're so eager to put
themselves right back into the line of fire weighs heavy on her heart. Drawing in a breath, she seeks out Crux' gaze. "Okay. But I have some conditions..." she offers, allowing the sentiment to hang in the air for a moment. "First? You and RC stay out of trouble. Second-..." she gives a small tilt of her head, her posture softening once more, "...you're both young, and you're obviously smart. Even if your
decision-making skills leave something to be desired..." she adds in a bit of a mutter. "I don't really know you, but I do know all too well the kind of baggage that comes with this life. This isn't the kind of life you want." she continues, not wanting to linger on the vulnerability that comes with that statement, "It's something you get dragged into. Stuck in. There's plenty of opportunities on Aite that
don't require you to put yourself in danger. So promise me that you and RC will look for other means."
Crux pumps her fist subtly at the 'Okay', her face lighting up with an excited grin, but the mention of conditions makes her reign it in and listen. "No trouble. Got it," she hastily interjects to assure after the first condition. The second makes her eyebrows furrow, going silent. She bites back caustic response that nearly finds its way past her lips, but finds herself unsure what to say instead. Eventually she settles for a couple of
Leah doesn't look all that convinced, though she's well aware of the minefield she's navigating, frown returning to her face. "Crux-... I'm not trying to lecture you. Hell, I'm probably the last person that should be lecturing you!" she admits, a humorless snort slipping out. "I'm just saying-..." she sighs, well aware that her life is probably a good indication that she shouldn't be giving anyone advice, "Think about why
you wanted to get away from Omega. What kind of life you want. If Redrock somehow fits into that?" she offers a small shrug, smile returning, "No judgement here. Just make sure you're doing it because it's what you want and not because it's what's familiar."
Crux ' expression softens a little and she shifts in place. "Trust me, it'd be an upgrade. Big one," she mutters, not meeting Leah's gaze anymore. "But I will. We will," she adds with a firm nod, sounding more sincere this time as she looks up again.
Tara smiles a little as she listens from next to Leah, a deep devotion in her eyes as her savior-turned-sister dispenses her advice to Crux.
Leah draws in a deep breath, perking up as she lifts onto the balls of her feet briefly. "Then you have yourself a deal." she agrees, cementing her smile in place. "I can't promise you anything, but I'll put in a good word for you guys. But even if it doesn't pan out? I know quite a few people around town." Working in a bar does have its perks. Especially given her proclivity to help out with serving orders and bartending when
she has nothing better to do. Everyone loves a chatty bartender! "So we'll figure something out, okay?"
Crux ' grin returns in full force. "Awesome!" she exclaims with a laugh, almost bouncing a little in place. "RC's gonna be psyched! I should- I'm gonna head back and tell him!" she adds, pointing in the direction of the door. "I mean-... if that's cool?"
Leah snickers, stepping towards the door to open it once more with a dip of her head in acknowledgement. She bids the young woman farewell with a sincere, "Give me a call if you need anything." before hastily adding the afterthought of: "And remember! No trouble!"
Crux wastes no time in heading out, still brimming with excitement, but she spins around mid-departure and manages to get in a "Promise! Andthankyouwewon'tletyoudown!" while still backing away from the house.