Around Every Corner

[Liara]

“A long walk and a hitchhike.” Selene said as she looked Tali over. Clint hadn’t been lying she was doing well here, prospering, and she’d made a home for herself. “And a Director.” She added smirking at Clint.

[Tali’Zorha]

"Y'know... not entirely shocked there." Tali said with a nudge to Clint's ribs. "I was actually thinking 'and I've got a Selene that would be perfect...' but I know how it is to lose a mate." she said with a soft sigh. "He came to me. Korba. Apparently... I fucked a higher plane being and had his baby. That's why Kinsey got so powerful. She's not entirely Xenexian. I just thought it was because of all my exposure to the Pit. In any case..." she glanced at Clint. "Maybe you should let us have some 'girl talk' time Director."

"Right." Clint nodded his head. "I'll be back before the dinner rush. If you hear a transport beam in, that's me."

"I SHOULD be done by then... unless we get to talking and then I want a small Pad Thai with shrimp and extra sprouts. No extra hot stuff... broke a tooth training." Tali winced. "Your girl Mac has quite a left hook. Reminds me a little of a certain Redhead..."

[Liara]

“Apparently, Cross trained her so I’m not surprised.” Selene said as she led Tali up the stairs. “Your right hook should be similar after I fixed that slop you called a punch. I seem to recall Jackson feeling it for awhile that one time.”

They stepped into the apartment. The box of additional clothes Clint has sent up was sitting in the middle of the floor. She sat the pads down on the coffee table and dragged the box over By the bed so it was out of the way.

“You didn’t come here for soap.” Selene said as she looked back at Tali with a raised eyebrow. “I had to borrow some from Joe this morning.”

[Tali’Zorha]

"I hid it. Something you taught me." Tali said as she walked into the bathroom and reached under the sink and pulled out a bottle and a bar that were taped underneath. "This reality and this planet are so different than what I'm used to." she said with a soft sigh as she tucked them in her bag. "Although it was better until my daughter and husband were captured and tortured and basically pushed to their breaking point."

Walking over to the couch she sat down and closed her eyes and ran her hands through her long brown hair. "If it wasn't for the children they left behind and the fact that I like the rest of the family they surrounded themselves with, I would have continued running. But I'm done with that. These are good people and Dominus and his brood are the worst set of bastards I've ever encountered. They may actually succeed in dismantling the entire galaxy." she looked at Selene and smiled slightly. "They need someone like you. So... I take it Cross already made an impression on you. He IS kind of cute isn't he?"

[Liara]

“He’s not bad in bed either.” Selene said with a smirk as she sat down next to Tali.

[Tali’Zorha]

"In some ways I am not at all shocked you already slept with him. And in some ways I am shocked he slept with you. I was there when she died." Tali said as she pulled off her flats and tucked her legs under herself. "Still... I could see a lot of her in you and yet she was a lot more at peace and far more domesticated. Not a bad thing mind you just different. I managed to hold my own in training and drills with Clint's team, don't think I could have if you didn't train me as well as you did." she looked at her and smiled slightly. "So, I sort of knew this was coming, them wanting me to vet a version of you. I'll confess I was ready to tell them, she's fine... as long as they don't try to control you like Jackson or your father did."

[Liara]

“They want you to read my mind.” Selene said as she looked Into Tali’s eyes. “You know what that world was like and my mind is a dark place. Clint talks of his Selene and what she has been through but he doesn’t know. We are not the same people. Our worlds were not the same. Her father wasn’t the same.”

[Tali’Zorha]

"Oh entirely... but we both know there are enough times in your past you MAY have been tampered with." Tali replied. "She had no idea she was until it came out and then she ended up killing a bunch of people and nearly killing some important people here and then feeling very bad about all of it. I kinda know what to look for. But... this is my question to you my friend... can you handle being... happy? Actually having a team, friends, an actual agency that isn't entirely corrupt?"

[Liara]

Selene considered it for a long moment. Her eyes drifting over to the bed where she and Clint had not long made love but talked into the early morning hours. Two things she’d never allowed before with any man or woman.

“I don’t know but I think I’d like to try.” Selene replied as she looked back at Tali. There was a vulnerability in her eyes that she normally would have kept hidden yet for a moment she allowed Taki to see it.

[Tali’Zorha]

"Well let me clear you and then... you can get ready for your date." Tali said with a smile as she gently touched her. "Hmm... okay... that's... unpleasant." she said as she caught a bit of a memory from when her father had done some nasty things to her. "Jackson... hmm... a little obedience compliance... " she pushed that away and locked it out.