January 15th. It's early afternoon when there's a buzz at the door to Ilyna's office.
#RedrockAgency – August 14, 2025
Ilyna taps on her terminal to open the door, but remains seated at the desk. She had not gotten much work done after going down to her office, but needed some time to gather her thoughts in silence since this mornings tense meeting with Vasquez. She is wearing her typical casual dress. The asari looks tired more than anything else. Upon noticing that it's Jason, she relaxes somewhat and stands up from her seat.
Jason is stood just on the other side of the door as it slides open. He's wearing a pair of jogging pants and sneakers with his thick, winter jacket. In his hand is the end of a leash. "Mind if I bring a friend...?" he asks with a smirk and a little nod to Justice, stood just beside him. The light-brown and black dog peers into the office curiously, eyes fixing to the asari at the other end of the room.
Ilyna looks over at the dog as Jason asks, then nods. "Of course," she says. She has read Vasquez' instructions a few times, but she is still a bit nervous about him, but she'd also like to get more familiar with him as she's heard Li gets along well with him.
The office has been tidied up with all toys put back into the backpack or a plastic box next to Li's desk.
Jason leads Justice into the room, giving the dog a headrub. "I don't wanna take up too much of your time. Just wanted to stop by and see how you're doing." he offers, leaving the underlying implication unsaid. "Besides... I realized you two hadn't been properly introduced yet-..." he shoots a glance down to Justice. It's an obvious excuse, but it doesn't hurt to have a bit of padding when approaching a potentially touchy subject.
The dog seems to have quickly taken to Jason, remaining by his side even as he takes a seat across from Ilyna. "...Li mention our newest member to you?"
Ilyna sits back down as Jason takes a seat and she chuckles at the question. "Yes, I barely needed the informational message," she exaggerates fondly as she looks at the dog while avoiding direct eye contact. "I've seen similar animals that before being walked by humans, but never up close."
Jason snickers. "Well this is-... uhh-... Justice." he says as he rustles the dog's fur, gaining a slightly sheepish look as he puts a name to the creature- one that Ilyna is probably already aware of given the memo Linda sent out- and passing a small shrug Ilyna's way. "...I didn't pick it. Just what his previous owner called him." he assures. Naming pets after dead friends probably wouldn't be a healthy look. "A guy down at the
Ilyna chuckles at the animal's antics before looking up at Jason. "He clearly likes you a lot, so I think you made the right call adopting him," she says. "So, how should I introduce myself to him?"
Jason looks from Justice to Ilyna. "The guy down at the spaceport was a cargo hauler and brought him along on his trips, so he seems to be pretty used to being around unfamiliar people. Just-..." he gives a shrug, "...put your hand out. Let him come to you." he explains.
Ilyna gently slides the chair back and turns to the side. "Did he say why Justice needed a new home?" she asks before cautiously holding her hand out at about knee height and leaning a bit forward.
Jason watches, removing his hand from Justice to give the creature a chance to feel out Ilyna. "Yeah-..." he begins.
Justice turns his attention from Jason's scritches to the outstretched hand. Head low, he approaches the asari, sniffing all the while. His cold, wet nose touches against Ilyna's skin and he begins sniffing her hand. After a few moments, he cheerfully licks at her hand.
Jason continues, a smile spreading across his lips as Justice seemingly passes his judgement on the asari. "Said he and his wife were hanging up their hats. Guess with all the-... uhh-..." he gestures idly before deciding the details probably aren't that important. Geth attacks. Collectors. Corporate warfare. Take your pick. "...everything going on, they decided it might be time to start angling towards retirement. Justice was
part of a larger litter from a pair of older dogs that have been with 'em for a long time. Went everywhere with him and his wife." His smile grows at the thought of a couple traveling the galaxy with their faithful companions. "Anyway, he said he felt like Justice and the rest of the litter had too much life left in them, didn't feel right for them to get stuck with a couple of old crones plotting out their retirement." He
puts his hands up defensively, "His words, not mine. So they've spent the last year trying to make sure they found good homes for 'em and Justice here-..." he leans forward, reaching out to give Justice a pat on his haunches, "...was the last dog standing."
Ilyna looks a bit nervous at first with the dog sniffing and licking her hand, but it passes quickly as she thinks the dog approves of her. She moves the hand to gently pet the top of the dog's head. "It's nice to meet you, Justice," she says even if she doesn't believe he'd understand her words.
Ilyna looks a bit nervous at first with the dog sniffing and licking her hand, but it passes quickly as she thinks the dog approves of her. She moves the hand to gently pet the top of the dog's head. "It's nice to meet you, Justice," she says even if she doesn't believe he'd understand her words. She looks over at Jason as he tells the story. "That's thoughtful of them," she says. "Did they not worry about you
Jason snickers. "I didn't get the impression he worried about much. Just wanted to make sure Justice had a good home. He-... uhh-... said he'd be at the port for a while for business so I could bring Justice back if things didn't work out since I mentioned needing to run it by my wife." he explains, a hint of discomfort entering his voice at the mention of Vasquez. "Wasn't exactly sure how she'd react but-..." he gives a tilt of
his head, the thought reinforcing his smile, "...she seemed pretty happy about it all, to be honest." He scoots his chair closer, joining Ilyna in showering the dog in pets, which Justice doesn't seem to mind. "Speaking of... Linda talk to you today?" he asks, blue eyes turning from Justice to Ilyna, his smile replaced with a more cautious expression.
Ilyna chuckles as the dog seem to be enjoying the pets, finding the wagging tail quite amusing, but she does slow down the petting a bit as Jason asks her about Vasquez, and her posture stiffens as she looks up at Jason. "Yes," she said. "We... agreed to put yesterday's argument behind us, but..." She frowns and considers her words carefully. "I don't... think I put all her worries to rest, to be honest."
Jason nods softly, allowing a bit of silence to pass as he considers his words before he finally speaks up, "None of that should've ever been an issue in the first place, Ilyna. I'm sorry you had to deal with it. You know how Linda gets sometimes, she-..." he trails off, a sigh slipping out as he suddenly feels like he's making excuses for her.
Ilyna sighs. "I know," she says, and sits back up on her chair after calmly retracting her hand. "I... do understand why she is afraid, and... she's allowed to worry, but... what she did yesterday crossed a line." She closes her eyes as she tries to compose herself as some of the bad emotions that kept her up long last night start to surface.
Jason gives a small nod, gaze lowering to Justice just to have somewhere to look. "...I know." he agrees. After a moment he shrugs, looking back to her. "Linda knows it, too." he adds. After a breath, he reiterates it. "She does. She just-... I don't know." He falls silent as he sifts through his thoughts. "I think Linda has always just-... ran headlong at whatever scares her, you know? And when it's something she can't punch in
the face?" he shrugs, "...I think she just... panics. Takes it out on the people closest to her. And with everything going on? With the baby on the way? She's got a lot on her plate right now." He searches Ilyna's face for some sign that she understands. "It's not an excuse. Doesn't give her any right to come at you like that. I just-..." another sigh, "...Linda cares about you, Ilyna. You, and Li, and Halisi. I know she
does. She might not be able to say it herself, and she does a shit-ass job showing it, but I have no doubt about it."
Ilyna opens her eyes again, but there's no pushing down her feelings, especially in her tired state. She's hurt a lot by the confrontation, and Jason's words find little understanding to be read from her expression. "I... do understand," she says, at least. "That's why I just... sought peace this morning, rather than acceptance."
Jason gives a few more nods, gaze dipping briefly. "Yeah..." he offers, far from happy with how everything played out. He can't fault her for being so upset over all of this. She has every right to be. "Just-... don't give up on her." he says, his eyes seeking out hers. But it's certainly not a demand. Just a request. A plea. A hope that two of the most important people in his life can find some common ground and get past all of