riverview | ( voice | un: vakarian )

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( voice | un: vakarian )

Now I haven't been here for more than a couple of months, but all these festivals? It makes me wonder if there is any sort of effort being made on our hosts' part to get people home. I like having a good time just like anyone else, but when the "good times" are a week long every month it's maybe time to start questioning how dedicated they really are. I don't think two to two and a half weeks without the distraction of another festival on the mind are really enough.

That is the Turian in me speaking, of course. The down time - even with all the strange crap that happens - is starting to get to me.

But no, really. What is the point in having a week long celebration every month?

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Hmm... *Lola's trying to think of this in terms she understands.* We're all basically like refugees. Making sure we come into a nice city, with a roof over our heads that isn't on fire would probably be more important than figuring out how to send us home?

I mean they do clearly fund sciency stuff here. Otherwise the communal housing building would still be a mess after the fire. And my hair wouldn't be as cute as it is.

*Lola why?*

A very flavorful sponge though. That can be decorated. And layered with other flavorful sponges that make it taste amazing.

I wouldn't know. It'd have to be a coordinated effort to make something similar that I could eat.

[He'll stick with the Turian chocolate he can get his hands on in the interim.]

I'm not saying that they don't fund "sciency stuff," but again that there is a priority list. Some things are more important than others so those projects receive more resources and people than the projects that are deemed less important. While making sure the city is nice and we are provided for is important... A gilded cage is still a cage.

That's a terrible existence. Do you know what would be required? I cook. And bake.

*Lola's thinking again, give her a moment.*

Well, at home the focus is on making refugees comfortable because it serves the most people. We can't... rebuild, homes in other countries to send people back to. We can build homes where we are. I know a lot of others really want to go home, and I miss my family and friends, but I can't really feel surprised that the city's government prioritizes the defense and happiness of the city.

Plus isn't science like super hard? So they could spend forever trying to understand the portal but never actually control it well enough to send you home?

Not at all. That's why it'd have to be a coordinated effort.

[It's not as though Garrus doesn't understand the plight of the city. He's not surprised by it, but it is irritating. Even if just a little bit was put forward, then it'd do much to ease his mind. Granted, Garrus still would be cynical but at least he'd be given a bone.]

I'm not entirely convinced it's a naturally occurring thing. I've never seen a naturally occurring event that has its own motives.

...I might need to ask for help then. Probably from someone smarter than me.

*Lola's good at improvising in her skillset, but this sounds like the sort of crazy that actually needs a chemist.*

It does seem conveniently impossible in like all the ways. But... it's also so impossible it could totally have just happened. Plus wouldn't you, if you wanted a portal grabbing lost people from across everything, build it on the planet instead of on the moon?

It seems like a lot of work to get up here.

[At least she gets a laugh out of him.]

I wouldn't say "smarter," but someone that knows culinary arts well enough to find substitutes that'd work.

[It's a thing on the Citadel. Or was a thing. Cultures mix and mingle, so of course foods do as well.]

Depends on the moon. Sometimes they are more viable than the planet itself.

I mean, if you don't eat cake because you can't, I'd need someone who can understand the ingredients without tasting them? Since I'm guessing what you eat probably isn't good for humans. I need someone who can help me find the right ingredients or maybe make a machine to taste test for me. I'm pretty good at improvising since coming here.

*You have to get creative with the local and exotic flora and fauna when cooking. It's mostly human edible but it isn't always tasty without knowing exactly what to do with it.*

I mean, the surface looks pretty livable from up here? But I only know what unlivable planets look like. Since that's all the stuff around Earth is.

It's not, no, and the reverse is true for me. A chemist would work, but also someone that has studied both human and Turian cuisine. ...Honestly that would probably be an Asari back home.

[Krogan wouldn't be interested. Asari? They live long enough and like to accumulate skills for whatever reason.]

Mars isn't exactly uninhabitable - at least not where I am from. Terra-forming is an option, though the tech is still somewhat underdeveloped.

I'm guessing you're the only Turian here? I can ask some of the chefs I'm friends with if anyone like you have been here before? Maybe one or two of them can tell me something.

*Lola naturally likes a challenge, if at the end of the challenge someone gets to have cake.*

Not where I'm from, we've sent a few robots to Mars but no people yet.

The only one I've seen. I think almost all my conversations end up at this topic eventually. Funny enough a lot of them are because of food or some part of human culture I don't get.

*Enjoy this girl with bright pink hair, she has a somewhat understanding smile. She's spent more than enough time on floor six hanging out with Ed, Al, Yuffie, and Jason Garrus might recognize her.*

Anything special or... unusual ends up the topic.

*She tilts her head, and her hair turns blue.*

If nobody runs into it, they have to ask how it works and why it is.

*And tilting her head the opposite direction, she wills her hair metallic silver.*

I'm sorry you're alone. I mean, that nobody else like you is here.

[Of course Garrus will reply in kind: video instead of audio. Yeah, he's seen the girl in passing, but only in passing.]

Like you're hair I take it.

[It's hard to tell that he's grinning, but he is.]

Don't worry about it. It's not really that depressing. A lot of people here are by themselves.

Oh, you're the one with the fridge full of stuff not to touch on floor six. I'm Lola.

*That explains the fridge full of stuff she's not suppose to touch. Of course she's looked at it but she's heeded all warnings.*

Yeah, usually the first time someone realizes my hair changes colors they have questions. I keep thinking of making an informational video for people to watch.

I'm the only one from my... home, I guess. None of my friends or family are here. Even if there are tons of other humans, they all have worlds with different stuff.

Why I gotta make new friends whenever I can.

[There's a pause before Garrus starts laughing.]

Yeah, yeah that would be mine. I don't really like sticking around the floor too much. Being idle doesn't really sit well with me, you know?

You wouldn't be the only one thinking about a video either. I mean the only reason I haven't is because this handsome face of mine would just be a distraction. [More chuckling. He can't help it.] Seeing your hair change colors is interesting and I would have a question, but that would a little rude, I think.

[What are manners? What is tact? Garrus doesn't always know these things were humans(?) are concerned. Obviously.]

Making friends... It doesn't look like you're having too much trouble with that.

That seems to be most people who want to return to their own universes. Not wanting to laze around here.

I'm just not the best at explaining how my hair works, just that it does. That's really what makes the questions a problem. I mean, I would be interested to hear more about where you're from if it isn't too much of a bother. Not that I can do much with that, other than know it.

*Human manners are complicated, Lola both knows them well and is often absolutely terrible at them.*

I don't really have the right skills to do much else but work, study, and make friends. It isn't like I'm able to rescue people, research portals, or explore the forests. Being really sociable is really what I'm best at.

Sometimes. Turians sort of thrive on order and hierarchy. Civil service has been drilled into us from an early age. Being idle... Yeah it doesn't work for my people. At least I'm not alone in that.

But "just that it does" makes it more an instinctual thing then, right? Or magic maybe. That seems to be a real thing around here.

[Not that it is for him. While Garrus would like a more technical explanation, sometimes it's just not there.]

Anyway, I don't mind cultural exchanges. I've been around humans for a while, but that doesn't mean I understand their sayings or expressions. It should also go without saying that people who are sociable, who make people comfortable. Some of us aren't really good at that.

It's psychic, I think. Reading my mind to determine what color it should be. I have pretty good control but there was a learning curve to it. Like having a new muscle? Not magic.

*See, explaining is kinda a dubious idea with Lola and her hair. But it definitely isn't magic.*

Well, we're from like, everywhere, so it isn't like we can all understand each other's slang and stuff. I say things and a lot of people here don't understand me. But it's pretty easy to work through. My best trick is food, really easy to make people comfortable if you can find the right flavors to remind them of home. Sorry I can't really do that for you, though.

It doesn't sound as strange as you think. Back in my little corner of the infinite parallel universes, we have people who can do some pretty helpful things with mass effect fields.

[Psychics. ESP. Biotics. It's kind of all the same thing at it's core, isn't it?]

Well everyone needs food to survive. [A laugh.] Makes sense that people would feel more at ease if they can have a bit of home with them, yeah. Again, I wouldn't worry too much about me.

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( voice | un: vakarian )

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