Kaidan had learned his lesson from the day before - buy the coffee, then open the shop. His eyes were mostly on the menu, deciding what new coffee drink to try, so he only caught peripheral sight of the Asari crests. "Hey, Peebee. Nice to see you again," he called as he passed.

His senses started screaming at him the moment the words were out of his mouth. Two sets of crests - and one was a lighter color, the dress was Asari traditional. Peebee had darker crests and her clothing was - he glanced over to check and confirm - far more eclectic; the only two light colored Asari he'd met had been Samara, and..

Kaidan slowly turned to face the other Asari. At the sight of her oh, so familiar face, he paled and swallowed convulsively, almost choking on the instinct to greet her.

He wasn't sure which Liara this was. It could be his Liara. It could be the other one he'd heard about. The familiarity of her features hit him like a punch straight to the heart, and he stood there, not sure what to say or do.

[ooc: edited pose because Peebee is there too and she'd have been there first.]

Major Alenko? His relaxed a tenseness he hadn't been aware of - not his Liara, then, but someone from a similar timeline, if she knew about that promotion.

"Not really," he admitted quietly, "I'm still getting used to this place and finding the familiar to be completely unfamiliar after all." He offered a completely awkward smile, "Sorry for staring. Didn't know if you'd know me. I mean, I'm still not sure you do."

Taking a breath, realizing he was babbling, he centered himself and offered a hand and a completely awkward smile, "Kaidan Alenko, crew of the Normandy under Spectre John Shepard, 2187." He didn't say it like a year, he said the numbers individually. Because this was Liara - or, a Liara - and he was not capable of refraining from teasing her at least a little, he added, "Dr. T'Soni - it's good to see you again." If it sounded like he was echoing her accent, or repeating something he'd heard often enough to have memorized the phrasing, well, there was a reason for that.

Kaidan processed that while he gently shook her hand, and said, "Here's to the future, then. In my time, you are one of my closest friends. Have been for years." He paused, "That sounded creepier than I meant it to. Uh. I just mean, if you need anything - I'm here, and ..well, the you I know would do the same for me, if the roles were reversed."

"I'll, um, let you get back to your conversation. It was.. I wasn't kidding, Liara, it really is good to see you again."

There'd been another him, here? Well, that was certainly something to think about. "No," he said carefully, "I've only been here a few weeks, mostly supervising the renovation of my shop. Though if you knew .. me?.. as Major Alenko, you knew a version of me that's probably from a closer timeline to my own." He frowned slightly, considering, "Did he.. mention anything about it?"

He really hoped she'd answer in the negative. As much as he wanted to drop the words 'Protheans' and 'Reapers' on her to set her on the path like a scent hound, he still hadn't decided whether that would cause more problems than it would help. If a prior him had already disturbed the timeline.. Well, if that version of him showed up here again, this Kaidan would be sure to show him a proper ass kicking for it. Liara deserved to have a life free of that particular foreknowledge.

Kaidan relaxed a little more, "Good. Not that he was sad, I mean, I get that part. I'm still working out all the causality issues my being, well, here, might cause, so I'm glad..I?.. was able to keep my mouth shut about it."

Changing the subject, or so you'd think, he asked casually, "Research assistant, huh? What's your subject?"

Kaidan smiled a little, reflecting on a memory. "Oh, you're on that dig. Are you getting a publishing credit on the findings?"

Because in his memory, all of Liara's papers had become relevant.

Kaidan made a face with his entire face, on her behalf. "Your project lead is an idiot, or else, almost criminally ignorant." He paused, not sure he should have said that.

"I'm sure she knows a lot of things you don't, by virtue of having lived that long," Kaidan said diplomatically, "However, when it comes to the Protheans.. Trust your instincts, Liara."

He offered another lopsided grin, "As words of encouragement, of course."

Kaidan gave the question a few moments of thought, and then nodded slowly, "I think so. I feel like I must be here for a reason, you know? I don't know what that reason is, just sort of trust that there must be one. I'll stick around until I find out what it is." Shifting his weight, a little self conscious, he added, "Might be important. Who knows."

Thinking of something, he asked, "Are you able to email here, from your research site?"

"Would you be open to sending me any of the published research on your project, maybe with your thoughts about it?" he asked, a little hesitantly, and offered honestly, "I'd like to read it."

"Time looped," he pointed out, "It's not out of date in this Earth's timeline." Offering an awkward shrug, "I can't go back; or, at least, I wouldn't know how and do not currently have a reason to." He paused, and added, "Mostly, right now it would be familiar, and familiar is good. At least I would understand the science in your papers."

He offered her a lopsided smile, "We're a complicated species." If he were a betting man, he'd be offering up a dollar wager that eventually she understood them plenty - but that'd be cheating.

"They'd be useful to me," Kaidan persuaded, "and I would truly enjoy reading your comments, Liara." Especially if she threw in an exasperated 'By the Goddess' every so often. Of all the weird things to miss..

The title use confused him for a moment and he reviewed the conversation in his mind and then tried really hard not to wince at the familiarity with which he'd just absentmindedly addressed her. "The Alliance title is no longer relevant," he advised with a lopsided smile, "There is no Alliance yet. 'Kaidan' is fine, or 'Alenko' if you're uncomfortable with my first name." Clearing his throat, he pulled out one of his business cards and proffered it so she'd have his email address, "Thank you."