InsaneJournal

Well that had been an eventful afternoon already. And to think Ashley had woken up just wanting to finally go shopping for some civvies that actually fit properly. Instead she managed to piss off half the crew. It was a stellar job really, she could almost be proud of herself. But the dead thing, it was getting to her more than she thought it would. Not that she had thought it through at all, since she was supposed to be dead and there weren’t exactly consequences once that happened. Not ones she would have had to deal with anyway. Everyone else just got to move on and she was stuck.

Frowning, Ashley toyed with the chain around her neck. It was still there, a little lighter but at least it was grounding in its own way. But someone was walking towards her and she took quick note, matching him up to the pictures through the network. So this was Mordin, human salarian who managed to get the genophage cure right apparently. Peachy.

Tucking the tags away, she offered her hand out to him. “Nice to meet you, doc. You are the doc, right?”

Mordin approached purposefully, as he did everything else. There were no casual motions about his body, every step precise, calculated. Planned. As he got closer to Ashley, whom matched both her profile and the network photos, which enabled him to recognize her immediately, he tucked the files under his arm and looked at her hand for a moment before reaching out to shake it. Decidedly human greeting, but efficient. Tactile contact was important to humans and he looked at it as a preliminary bonding experience.

"Professor more accurate," he stated, inputting one of his trademark pauses. "But Doc is agreeable. Mordin also fine." He paused again and closed his eyes, remembering a few key moments from his education at the Academy on Sur'Kesh. He opened his eyes and drew in a breath before continuing, "Holovid Disc Jockey Marvelous Mordin also acceptable, if no longer applicable." He offered a small smile and gestured towards the door, as he was uncertain as to the nearest place to purchase coffee.

Good. Handshaking wasn’t weird. She didn’t think it would be but it was not like she could keep track of anything. Firm enough, a good handshake even if he wasn’t used to them. You could tell a lot about a person by their handshake, Ash always thought. At least enough for a decent enough first impression. Even if it technically was more of a second impression. “That’s a bit of a mouthful, think I’ll stick with Doc.” Ash replied slowly with the small twitch of a smile. “But if you get Shepard to start calling you that I’ll be impressed.”

“Right, so, I don’t really know the city all that well yet.” Ashley said as she started to walk towards the door, holding it open for him when they got there. “Just got here a few days ago. Still healing up. And never got to New York back in our universe. But there are like a million coffee places here. Spit and you hit one.”

Spitting. A biological function generally associated to humans. Mordin had not tried that yet. This was as good a time as any for a field test of his 'new' body. Quickly snorting to inhale air and mucus, he gathered the mixture in his mouth and spat it on the ground with an inelegant sort of body movement. "Hm. Assessment incorrect. Also, disgusting habit."

However, Mordin was nothing if not conscientious. He withdrew a folded tissue from his pocket and dabbed up the blob of spit on the ground before refolding the tissue and returning it to his pocket. "Senseless to waste good DNA sample." He then pulled out his newly acquired phone and used the Google feature to look for 'nearby coffee shops.' It had only taken him a matter of minutes to master the device inside and out. Simple, really, compared to the devices he had both used and helped design. "Ah. Would seem there is something called a Starbucks 328 feet north of our current location. Walking distance."

Had to admit, she had not expected Mordin to actually spit. Not usually one of the phrases that people took seriously. But hey it was amusing enough to see someone try and spit for the first time. “Yeah, it is.” she laughed, shaking her head a bit when he decided to collect it. Whatever, it was his tissue and spit. “I’ve known a few people that were pretty good at it though. Had it down to an art.”

“There are a lot of those.” Ashley shrugged as she started to walk down the sidewalk. “It’s kind of weird actually. I mean I guess the people here really need their coffee. Though they have like a lot of sweet random coffee drinks with like sugar and chocolate.” She had tried them. For science. And also because they had sounded really good and Ashley was a weak, weak woman sometimes. “I think most things are walking distance here, they’ve got a subway too. Trains underground.”

"Familiar with underground subway technology. Often used on Alliance bases for troop transport in hostile environments. Tend to smell." Mordin nodded at Ashley's information regarding a Starbucks and mentally catalogued it for later. Perhaps he would try one of these sweet drinks with sugar and chocolate. It would be a long evening, he could use the energy.

"Have brought files," he noted, offering to pass them over to her as they walked along the sidewalk. "Alliance records not available. Compiled from 'wiki' entries on Internet. Also site called GameFAQs. Very informative. Also took liberty to get data on important missions. Lots of reading. Hope you enjoy."

“Lots of people, cramped space. Smells probably not the worst thing you’d have to worry about really. Less troops here though, way more people.” She had tried it a little, slowly edging her way through the city to get used to her surroundings and learn about it. It had only been a few days but apparently SHIELD wasn’t interested in her till after holidays.

Looking at them for a moment, Ashley hesitated before taking them. Not official ones, obviously. If they had those here Ashley really would have to look at cracking some heads. Still, that everything was online, that here none of home was real. It was even more to take than ‘oh hey here’s stuff that happened after you died. After the world went on.’

“Thanks.” she said instead, flipping through the pages for a moment before closing it and shoving it under her arm for now. For a moment she hesitated before looking over at him. “Didn’t see anything on my family in there, did you?” she asked. It was a question she’d been desperate to ask Shepard or Kaidan. But there was a whole file here. Mordin might have seen something.

"Page 14," replied Mordin, without hesitation. "Sister, Sarah, marries Alliance personnel. Name not given. Sad situation, husband killed in action. SPECTRE Ashley Williams reunites with Sarah at Memorial Wall on Citadel during Reaper Invasion. Editor's Note: Only occurs if Kaidan Alenko dies at Virmire instead of Ashley Williams. Mother, two other sisters Abby and Lynn, all presumed alive and well. Game universe not detailed on minor characters in story."

After the last sentence, Mordin turned an eye towards Ashley. "Not saying family is minor. No mention of my family either. Not part of Shepard's story. Know in heart they are well." At that point, they had reached the Starbucks and Mordin pulled the door open with a gesture for Ashley to enter first.

Ashley couldn’t fault him for how he said it. It was reading a file. Really she couldn’t say she would have done it any better. So now she had a dead brother-in-law she never met either. But if they were all right, if they were alive. But Kaidan would be dead. There was just too much of this alternate universe stuff, too much to keep up with. Spectre? Had she really had that potential? Not that it mattered. All that mattered is that her family should be safe.

“No, it’s fine.” rubbing her forehead slightly, she gave him a bit of a tense smile as he held the door open. “Thank you. For including that.”

Still she pushed it out of her mind for now and looked up at the menu. “So, ready to test out how your new stomach’s going to handle it? Bet you they might even write your disc jockey title on your cup if you ask them to.”

"Tempting, but unsure why names would be called. Collecting attendance? Was not aware coffee mandatory. Problematic. May not like it." Mordin scanned the room and took everything in. Twenty-nine humans. Room capacity forty humans. Sufficient use of space, tables available, though chairs look uncomfortable for Salarian body-types. Luckily, human now. Not a concern. He would try them. It was going to be a day of new experiences.

"Trust we are better acquainted now? Do not wish to presume. Enjoy meeting new people, sometimes heal their sick. Sometimes kill them if necessary." One of the people in the shop looked over at him with a stricken expression. Mordin nodded in his direction. "Not you. No benefit. May want to have mole looked at." Then he turned his attention back to Ashley. "Similar to Alliance military in that regard."

“It’s to keep track of whose cup is whose.” Ashley pointed out with a bit of a smile. Never thought that someone could go to that conclusion but hey it was certainly interesting. “Or I could pretend it’s mandatory and see how long I can get away with it.” she laughed. Because that wouldn’t have ended up with anyone else pissed off at her, nope.

Nodding slightly, Ashley shrugged. “You move fast, I’ll give you that. Right. You can ask me questions. But I don’t have to answer.” They were both military though, and really military was military usually. She had not spent a lot of time with the STG guys but she had spent enough. Dying together did leave a bit of a kinship feeling really. And they’d been a good squad in a bad situation.

"Achieve results quicker. But, yes. Point of questions not always to get answers. Also judge reactions. Very useful." He glanced at the menu for approximately three seconds, as it was their turn to order. "Would like venti. Vanilla soy. Dirty. Double shot, extra hot foam. Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with light whip, upside-down, one pump Caramel. One and three-eighths pumps vanilla, heavy whip-cream. Three ice cubes, one-fourth teaspoon Nutmeg sprinkled on top. Light cinnamon dusting. Stirred. No lid." No hesitation, no pauses. There were an impressive series of options available on the menu. It was also a combination of the orders of people in the line who had gone before them. Mordin listened while talking with Ashley. Useful skill.

"Name is Mordin. Appreciate service." Then he finally turned back to Ashley as if he had never stopped talking to her. "If pretending mandatory, wish to ensure proper procedure is followed." He sniffed and lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Do not wish to blunder on first day here."

“Right, because that’s going to make me even more comfortable talking to you.” Ashley drawled, rolling her eyes slightly. She knew how interrogations worked. Shepard said he was a doctor. But it’s not like the STG training just disappeared. And if he asked something she didn’t want, there were things she was not quite ready to face yet and she knew that. Sure it was weak but damn it she was allowed a few moments.

Staring at him for a moment, Ashley gave a sympathetic look to the barista. Hopefully it would be enough to keep someone from spitting in his drink. Because if she was on the other side of the counter she would have been sorely tempted to. “I’ll just have one of the minty coffee things. For Ashley.” When the barista named something to clarify she just nodded. “Yeah, that one.”

Looking back at Mordin Ash just shrugged. “Everyone’s going to screw up eventually. New world and all. Might as well get it over with and learn from it is my thought.”

"Ask honest questions, expect honest answers. Could not be hypocritical. Will also give honest answers." Mordin smiled and passed some currency to the barista in order to pay for both drinks before collecting his change and moving to sit at a table. Before seating himself, he paused and gestured for Ashley to take a seat. Even military types can boil down to the gentleman and lady scenarios. "Have done calculations. Have both arrived here prior to deadly explosion. Interesting similarity. Wondering if others have arrived in same circumstances."

As if the thought just occurred to him, Mordin turned to look back at the counter. "Should have purchased pastry."

“Shepard has.” she said quietly. She took her seat, giving a nod of thanks. Maybe a coffee shop was the perfect place to have this sort of conversation. Public, she’d be in control. Other people being around made it easier. She could just focus on this, it was like any other debriefing right? Outside of the coffee shop part. “Least, that’s what he told me. The others so far just seemed to be pulled from different parts. Towards the end of the war or after from what I’ve got.”

People pulled right at death, they could almost have a club. “If you want one we can get back in line?”

"Have read end of story. Shepard not as indestructible as once thought. Three different selections given, though. Will need to ask which Shepard picked. Personally, would have gone with Synthesis. Best option, really. Would like to have studied synthesized beings." Mordin sat down in the middle of talking. "Will get pastry next time. Reason to return, try new things. Perhaps lemon cake."

With that completed, he pulled a few napkins from the dispenser on the table and tucked one into the top of his shirt before spreading another on the table before him. A third, he began to fold as his mind continued to race ahead. "Virmire. Must have worked with Kirrahe." Another pause, with a short intake a breath. "Good soldier. Wordy. Wants to inspire others. Noble goal. Worked well at Sur'Kesh, glad to know was with Salarian contingent when needed by Shepard." Mordin stopped talking and looked at Ashley. Then he set down the origami swan he had made almost absent-mindedly.

“Huh.” was all Ashley could say to that, setting the file down on the table as she flipped through the pages without really looking at anything yet. That was probably in here, from what Mordin had hinted at anyway. Options. Just like apparently Virmire had been an option. Added a sick twist to the whole thing really. Maybe there were even things in here about the Ashley that could have been, some Ashley who was someone other than her.

Looking back up at him, she stilled her hands and folded them on the table. “Yeah. He’s a good guy, though I’ll agree on the wordy part. Had good men. It was an honor to work with them.” And all the ones that she had under her command were dead. It was a running theme in her life. Virmire, Eden Prime. “No way Shepard and the others would have gotten out of there without them. Speeches and all.”

"Hard to say. Have seen Shepard assault Collector Base. Has good taste in crew. Would postulate that Shepard could take Virmire base with no losses or STG if not scripted to make hard choices." Exhibiting a rare amount of sympathy, Mordin looked directly at Ashley. "Apologies, not intended to dismiss sacrifice as deus ex machina. Unsatisfied to see difficult life choices as plot written by others. What is real? What is fake? Dangerous line of questioning. Existentialism. Serves to prove religion false. Written by team of developers. Choices predetermined. Do not like implications." Mordin looked as if he could keep going before he was interrupted by the barista shouting their names.

"Will get drinks. Require any additives?"

“There weren’t enough people in our team to lead that kind of assault. Not without pulling more crew.” Ashley said resolutely, because that was the way it was. Kirrahe’s plan was how they had managed to save as many people as they had. Without them, things would have been different. She just shook her head, rubbing her temple for a minute as Mordin continued rambling. She was about to kiss the barista when she called out and distracted him.

“None for me, thanks.” she said quickly before looking him square in the eye. “It is real. Back home. And that’s just where I’m going to stand on that.” It was too much of a brain stretch for her. Ashley was just a soldier, not someone who was interested in thinking about alternate universes and truth or any of that.

Though if she was going to ask for a test of faith, she couldn’t ask for a better one.

Mordin's natural reaction was to reiterate his point, until he was sure that he was being understood correctly, but he was interrupted again by the barista, calling their names again. Instead, he closed his mouth and turned on his heel to get the drinks. As they didn't need napkins or straws, and Ashley had stated she needed nothing else with her drink, he picked both of them up from the counter and thanked the less-than-impressed barista.

He then turned back to the table, where he deposited both drinks carefully before sliding Ashley's to her. He had learned long ago that arguing religion with the religious was a frustrating and victorless endeavor, so he resolved to focus only on the mission itself. "Smaller crew, smaller objective. No need to traverse Omega 4 relay. No need to deal with Collector army. No need to combat Harbinger. Reaper added difficulty. STG unknown factor for success, but undoubtedly strong assistance. Pride in team. Willing to accept STG necessary for success. Still theorize Shepard skilled enough to save both Ashley Williams and Kaiden Alenko if not forced to choose as story driver to show examples of hard decisions."

Mordin took a long sip of his coffee, started to talk again, then stopped and drank more of his coffee. "Delicious. Citadel drinks no comparison. Will get another to go."

She took her coffee, leaning back in her chair. “I don’t know, there was an entire krogan facility to destroy and the STG was how we managed to get the how.” Maybe there could have been a different plan. Everything in life was always full of maybes, no matter what some supposed game designer said. “Skilled, yeah. But that’s not how the cards fell, doc. And. That’s okay.”

Smiling slightly, she nodded. “There’s a reason these places are everywhere here. Something in the coffee. Probably the sugar. Just keeps you coming back. Though I mean could learn how to make them myself but eh.”

Mordin watched Ashley for a bit, taking mental notes. Refuses to accept possibility all actions controlled by others. Likely. Could both be correct. Also likely this world fiction in others. SHIELD and Tesseract potentially written by others. Problematic. Jump from one fictional world to other. Which is real? Which is fiction? Prime reality out there. Interested to know where.

He set down his cup and looked intently at Ashley, registering the last of her commentary. "Can scan for addictive substances. Also noted, if broken down to base materials, could duplicate coffee at Tower. Would save on repeat visits. Unless delivers." He tapped his chin as he considered the possibilities. "Have much to consider now. Many thanks, Chief Williams."

Laughing slightly, Ashley shook her head. “You manage that and I might just have to hang out with you more often.” she mused with another smile. Weirdly enough this was probably one of the most natural encounters she had come across since getting here. She didn’t know Mordin, not really. It lacked the emotion, the sense of loss that being with the others tugged at.

“Thanks to you too.” she mentioned, lifting up the file with a tilt of her head in his direction. “And you can call me Ashley if you want to. Never was a mixmaster though.”