Third Floor Boys' Bathroom, Monday Afternoon

[dollpocalypse]

There was a distinct smell of strawberries coming from the bathroom. It was Jessica Drew's fault.

See, a conversation yesterday had left Topher thinking that Jessica was some kind of hair care expert, and so her expert advice about using only fruit-scented hair care products had seemed rather important to him. For some reason. He didn't even wash his hair that often.

So Topher would just be here in the shower, humming the Galaxy Quest theme to himself as he lathered his hair with strawberry shampoo. As you do, or something.

It actually smelled pretty good, honestly.

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Comments

[sciencesalarian.livejournal.com]

"Reeks," Mordin corrected. "Overwhelming olfactory bulb with stimulus. Too sweet."

[dollpocalypse]

"Dude, it's strawberry," Topher objected. "What are you? Species-wise."

[sciencesalarian.livejournal.com]

"Salarian. Extraterrestial," Mordin provided.

[dollpocalypse]

There was a brief slipping sound as Topher flailed a bit excitedly. "I know salarians!" he shared. It was true: on Kaidan's field trip to the Citadel last year, Topher had learned that he and salarians got along great. "You guys are the best kind of alien from your world. It's like, you guys, then turians... no, wait. You guys, then hanar, then turians... I don't know. You guys are first."

[sciencesalarian.livejournal.com]

Mordin smiled. "Would not dare rank the Citadel races. Could cause diplomatic incident. Problematic." He breathed in deeply. "But appreciate the sentiment."

[dollpocalypse]

"Asari are dead last, though," Topher supplied, apparently ignoring Mordin's concern for diplomacy. "I didn't know we had a salarian here, though. How new are you?"

[sciencesalarian.livejournal.com]

"Asari first to discover Citadel. Advanced race--peaceful race--Asari--" Mordin stopped himself. No point to defending the asari, a position that he was surprised he had to take. He thought it was arrogant of such a new species to have disparaging opinions, though.

But he wasn't here to argue. (Or to talk, really; he was here to shower. But he was engaged now.)

"Studied over summer session. Tend to keep to myself. Find humans...odd."

[dollpocalypse]

Topher half-snorted, agreeing easily, "Yeah, they are. I mean, we." Yes, Topher. You were human.

"I'm Topher," he added. "Been here a couple years. And, yeah, the asari are peaceful, but you guys are, like, miles more effective and adapted for high-stress intellectual work than basically anyone. On a biological level, not just culturally. 'S awesome."

Even when he was rambling and being wordy, Topher still spoke pretty fast. Though in this particular instance, it was partly because he was about to dunk his head in the water as soon as he was done commenting.

[sciencesalarian.livejournal.com]

"Mordin. Solus. Pleased, Topher." Mordin was genuine. Nice to have his species' predilection for intellectualism recognized.

"Did not see you in dorms over summer. Had business elsewhere?"

[dollpocalypse]

"Yuh-huh. R&D internship for a tech company in Ohio," Topher added, before clarifying for the sake of an alien who might not be familiar with Earth geography, "Part of this country, but maybe eight hundred kilometers west. It was, like, one-tenth coffee slave stuff, nine-tenths awesome."

Finally he shut the water off, reaching awkwardly for his towel and wrapping it around his hips before exiting the shower. "All yours, dude."

[sciencesalarian.livejournal.com]

"Thank you. Appreciated conversation. Will hope to see you around. Perhaps ask about research done in internship," Mordin said and nodded.