Vasquez ' gaze shifts between the two of them, and she continues to look like she's going to speak as the silence stretches... and stretches. It's a charged, awkward silence, but there's no hostility in Vasquez' eyes. Just discomfort.
#RedrockAgency – July 15, 2025
Halisi has no intention of bailing Vasquez out of making the first move, silver eyes watching her steadily as she continues to wait for her to speak. She rests her hand on Ilyna's shoulder in an attempt to offer a reassuring presence, thumb brushing back and forth in a soothing motion.
Ilyna does not enjoy this awkward silence either, but she can understand it. Her feeling love for another can be a terrifying sign, she knows that, but she still feels bitter about the treatment she received yesterday. She lifts her head slightly in the direction of the camera, without breaking eye contact. "Is this meeting off the record?" she asks softly, only offering a procedural question to break the tense
Vasquez offers a stiff nod in answer to Ilyna's questions. A few more seconds pass in silence before she finally speaks. "I wanted-" A sharp exhale, her gaze falling away to the side. "I wanted to apologize." Only after these words are spoken does she meet the asari's eyes again. "I may have concerns about..." Her gaze flits to Halisi. "...this. But the way I-... it was unwarranted." Her face is a strange grimace. The conversation
seems like pulling teeth to her, the words needing to be forced out, but they don't seem dishonest. "You're-... I consider both of you... friends. And you deserve the benefit of the doubt."
Ilyna hears her out, nodding slightly at the admission about yesterday's behavior. Last month's conflict is still fresh in her mind, and she is familiar enough with her to not disbelieve her apology in spite of how it sounded. "I...," she begins, unsure what to say, and she briefly averts her eyes. She is still tense and uncomfortable. "We are friends, which... made yesterday's confrontation hurt so much more,
but...," she continues, her expression softening a bit, "that also means I'm willing to put it behind us."
Halisi nods in support of Ilyna's answer. She's here to back her up, and is ready to follow her lead.
Vasquez lets out a long breath, shifting a little. Some of her stiffness lets up, expression softening though unease still lingers. Maybe there's a bit of relief there. "Good. I-..." A sigh and another shift, looking between the two of them. "I want you to be happy. Both of you. I do. You... you deserve to." A heavy, slightly sheepish smile tugs at one corner of her mouth for just a moment before disappearing. Most of her
discomfort has faded, replaced with a mix of drained regret and subdued worry. "I just... need you to be careful. Please."
Ilyna returns a strained smile as discomfort lingers. "I... always do," she says. "I know what's at stake, everyone I'm responsible for, so... I would so 'no' if I... didn't believe in it working." This is a bigger relief to her than she feels comfortable showing right now, for the feared response to their relationship coming to light has come and passed, even if this wasn't the way she meant for it to happen.
Vasquez nods in acknowledgement of Ilyna's words, studying her silently for a moment. "I know," she admits.
Halisi gives Ilyna's shoulder a light squeeze, shooting her a soft, encouraging look, a near-smile on her lips.
Vasquez nods once more, to herself more than anyone else this time. She seems unsure what more to say. She's under no illusions that this brief, stilted exchange will fix everything. Maybe nothing can. But it's a start, at least. One could argue a more in-depth apology could be a better start, but... "You're-... that was all. I won't keep either of you."
Ilyna is not sure Vasquez completely believes her, and she can understand if she doesn't. Their friendship is already tense, but hopefully it can be mended now that there should be no more surprises like this. "Then we won't take more of your time either," she says and gently rises from the chair, wordlessly reaching for Halisi's hand.
Vasquez nods, her attention falling to her own hands on the desk, left covering the right to still twitching fingers.
Halisi seems a little disappointed that Vasquez doesn't have more to say, a faint frown on her face as she studies her, but her attention quickly turns to Ilyna when the asari stands, taking her hand and squeezing it, offering her a small smile. If Ilyna is satisfied with this for the time being, she's not going to press the issue. "Shall we check on your little dragon?" she asks, smile widening a little as she glances towards the door.
Ilyna does notice Halisi's frown, but returns the smile that follows instead as she's content to let this be for now. "Yes, let's," she says with a chuckle as she begins exiting the office. "I didn't spend enough time up there yesterday, so I need to make up for that."