<div align="center">(https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210128/2dbbbdb83f81e86eb7c97538c683a9ea.png)</div><br/><div align="center">(https://i.imgur.com/8Dp8AqQ.jpg)</div><br/><div align="center"> ___________________________________________________________</div><div align="center"> ___________________________________________________________</div><br/>For a short time Aria said nothing, but the weight of her gaze never once left the salarian’s face. He may have remained carefully blank, yet the asari seemed to see something she found telling, and her smirk began to grow. Maybe it was his mention of the Citadel turning eyes towards her station? Maybe the idea of the council daring to make such accusations was a charming fantasy? The asari said nothing to confirm or deny Jackiro’s thoughts and projections, but she did lower her arm so that she might weave it with its twin beneath her breasts.<br/><br/>“Is that so?”<br/><br/>The smirk never once left her face, but Aria seemed to have made some decision and turned her back on the team as the silence stretched between them. Now her keen gaze was looking out over the dance floor below, very much the matriarch in control of the situation. Aria turned her head only to whisper something to Brius, who nodded once and quickly left for the stairs. Her follow-up nod to the other asari had the commando pulling up her omni tool and typing away, seemingly knowing what to do without verbal communication.<br/><br/>“You owe me a job,” Aria said without turning around. “You want my ‘blessing’? You have to earn it. I think you’re suitable for the task; but just in case I’ll send a few allies along the way. Everyone knows how ‘delicate’ salarians and humans can be, after all.” The pause amplified her growing amusement, but she still didn’t turn around to face them. “Consider it my olive branch, so long as you please me I won't beat you with it.”<br/><br/>The hanar floated forward again, bobbing in his formal way while illuminating warmly with his pleasant hum. “This one will have the honor to guide you.”<br/><br/>When the asari turned around, she was grinning with just her eyes. “We can talk more about Ipako and the krogan, when you return.” Sitting down, she wiggled into her favorite spot and crossed one leg over the other, dismissing them with a single nod of her chin.<br/><br/>Apparently, the ‘what’ of their job wouldn’t be forthcoming from her own lips, and would only be delivered when their guide thought it prudent. The hanar moved back down the stairs and picked up the conversation where he left off the last time; droning on and on about Omega and how it has thrived under Aria’s rule.