Which Cheek?

This chapter will involve no actual sex, it's unlikely the next one will either. Somehow it turned into a (quite terrible) story. Expect other stuff though. It ran away from me a lot.

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"Reservation under the name of Ellison." Ashley Williams said. Shepard raised his eyebrows at her. She smiled in return, both knowing the name well.

"Table for two, this one hopes you enjoy a table near the windows." The hanar led them towards a table with a good view of the artificial river that ran through so much of the Presidium. Shepard pulled the chair out for Ash, who then laughed.

"I see chivalry isn't dead then?" She kissed him on the cheek. "I'm just going to freshen up." Ashley walked off towards the various bathrooms the restaurant had. Catering for all the various species of the Galaxies was difficult enough, providing more...personal facilities for them all definitely made opening restaurants on the Presidium very expensive. Shepard's gaze followed her form as she walked. She started to sway her hips a bit more when she realised he was watching.

"Commander Shepard?" Shepard turned towards the voice.

"Barla Von?"

"So it is you Commander! It's been a long time. Good to hear that your alleged death was false." Shepard smiled.

"I hear this place is doing really well." Shepard had relived his death enough times to not want to explain it, even if it was no longer a particularly painful memory.

"It is doing very well, I didn't expect it to be this popular."

"Still working for you know who?"

"Not often Shepard. I do still have control of your investments though. The meal will be on me. Your profits funded this place. It's the least I can do. When you want your return, come and find me."

"Find you where?"

"You're Commander Shepard, you'll find me." Shepard was almost used to being treated like a hero.

"I will be seeing you soon then Barla." Shepard stood up as he noticed Ashley walking back. "I'd love to talk some more with you Barla, but I am..."

"Say no more Shepard I understand. I'm sure you will find the food and service here as good as anywhere in the Galaxy. Have a good dinner my friend." Barla turned around and gave Ashley a courtesy greeting.

"What was he here for?" Ashley asked.

"He owns the place. Didn't you know?" Shepard stood up but Ashley put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him down.

"Yeah I know. It's just why was he talking to you?"

"Greeting his customers I suppose. He also offered his services." Ash leant down to kiss him on the cheek before taking one of his hands and putting her still soaking wet panties into it. She smiled at him. He looked up, incredibly surprised. She moved to sit down before he had the chance to give it back. "You are an..."

"An?" She smiled. Shepard wasn't quite sure how to finish the sentence. As he opened his jacket, to put the panties into his inside pocket.

"An...incredibly adventurous woman." He couldn't find a better way to describe it.

"Not always." She looked at the menu, as it sprung up in holographic form in front of her. Shepard did the same. Her boot started running along the inside of his thigh, the long table cloth covering the action. Shepard looked at her instantly and a wry smile the only indication she knew what she was doing. "See anything you like?" She looked at him as she asked that. The holographic displays may have been between them but very translucent. Shepard looked back at the holographic menu.

"I see a few things." Shepard stood up and walked round the table to kiss Ashley. "Surprise me." He had a quick look out the window at the rebuilt Presidium and it still amazed him at such a beautiful large place in deep space.

"I'm quite good at that."

"That you are." Shepard walked off towards the myriad of bathrooms, leaving Ashley to read the menus. Though he was sure she was watching him as he did her. Shepard quickly walked into the human bathroom quickly and closed himself in an open stall. He smiled.

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Shepard walked back towards Ashley doing his best poker face. No one had seen through it yet. He knelt down to kiss her deeply, ignoring anyone else in the restaurant, a few noticing the Spectre. One hand pushed something into her boots before stroking her thigh. He smiled into the kiss before breaking it and sitting back down in his seat. She leaned forward, checking what Shepard put in her boot and taking her glass of wine. She raised her eyebrow and smiled as she pushed his underwear into her boot.

"They've got some really good wine here, I thought I'd get you some." She gestured with her glass towards his and Shepard picked it up, tasting it.

"It's good." Shepard didn't really like wine. He enjoyed Whisky more, but this was very good wine.

"You don't sound like a big fan." Shepard worked his shoes off. Much easier to do than with his combat boots.
"Wine isn't my drink really." Shepard ran his toes around the inside of Ashley's left thigh. She twitched, not expecting it. Shepard looked her in the eye. "I like Whisky more."

"I will have to remember." Ashley replied as Shepard’s foot climbed higher on her thigh. He put his glass down.

"Did you order food?" Shepard's foot still played on her thigh. She was clearly being affected, but not a great deal. He did actually want to eat.

"I did. Hope you like what I got you."

"I have no doubt that I will." Shepard replied, his toes still tracing patterns on her thigh. Ashley moved forward a touch and spread her legs a little, the table cloth covering what was happening, her actions daring her former skipper to do more.

"You know I've heard a rumour Chora's Den is re-opening?"

"That shithole? Who would put money into that?" Shepard asked, not taking the bait, his actions still quite tame.

"I don't know the names of the people behind it. Just a..." A turian came over with a plate in each hand. He put one down in front of each of them. "Ah fantastic."

"Spaghetti Bolognese?" Shepard asked, a little surprised she ordered him something so...traditional. He was expecting a human dish but not something like that.

"They're classics for a reason skipper." His toes continued to trace patterns. She spread her legs a little wider. "I've always enjoyed a good roast dinner..." She picked up her knife and fork to start eating. Shepard glanced around at the other people around, noticing the couple a few tables over who were paying a little too much attention to them. A female human and a male turian. They looked more out of place than Shepard and Ashley. Even the Elcor in the corner of the room looked right. "Oh you've noticed too have you?" She said as she was looked at him, a forkful of potato and vegetable going into her mouth soon after.

"Oh yes, I've noticed this bolognese really is good." His toe making circles on her other thigh now, but both of them knowing they were talking about the couple a few tables down. "Want a taste?" He picked up a forkful and offered it to her, his hand underneath to pick up and spills. As soon as he said it though he knew exactly what she was going to do. She leaned forward taking a grip on the fork to hold it before tasting it. She took her time with it too, making a show of eating it before licking her lips.

"Mmm, this is great food. No wonder this place has been successful."

"I agree, it's really good. I also like how they have the right cutlery, knife, forks, spoons for humans, I still have no idea what to call what it is the Salarians use but you can see them over there using it. Then the Asari, Turians. Even have it right for the Volus and the Hanar."

"I would rather they didn't." Shepard just ignored Ashley's comment. While she was no Illusive Man when it came to her treatment of non-humans, she still wasn't exactly xenophilic.

"If they have Batarian cutlery though, then I'll be impressed." Shepard continued to eat though and their conversation died down. They finished their food relatively quickly, their wine too and asked the Hanar roaming around for a refill. The couple a few tables down stood up and walked over as the Hanar left.

"Commander Shepard? Is that really you?" The Human asked, the Turian close to them. Whoever this was, they clearly weren't coming over because they were a fan.

"How can I help?" Shepard felt it was always useful to be nice the first time you meet someone. You never know when a good first impression will help down the line. How much of it was really just his morality was difficult to tell. He was never afraid to kill. The way his right hand, furthest away from the pairing coming over, moved to his gun showed this. Though his foot was still doing its work.

"I'm told you know a friend of mine." It was probably meant to be intimidating. It did not succeed.

"I know a lot of people. What's their name?" The others in the restaurant were looking at them.

“He's called Elias.” The Turian said. “You threatened him.” He took a pistol out and pointed it at Shepard.

“Oh Elias Loxam? Yeah he owes me money from a poker game, he really doesn't get the odds right.” Shepard looked entirely nonplussed, the Turian seemed downhearted from how little Shepard was intimidated. The human took a pistol out too. Pretty difficult to get anything larger into the restaurant and not look entirely ridiculous.

“Elias Kelham. We have men after your Drell companion. We're told it's Thane Krios. He's good.”

“Oh that Elias.” Shepard's expression changed to almost a snarl. “I should have killed that ass-hole. If he thinks you two are going to kill me, he is severely mistaken.” Shepard still didn't move. He was giving them one last chance.

“Oh he doesn't want to kill you. He wants to make sure you suffer first.” The human said, her voice wavering. Shepard stood up quickly, punching the Turian in the face before pulling the pistol out of his hands, dropping to the floor as the human fired her gun. The bullet went into the glass next to them, barely making a dent. Barla Von knew putting people essentially in a viewing gallery in the restaurant would be a stupid idea in this galaxy without preparing for snipers. Nothing was getting through that short of a ferrous slug. He swept her leg, kicking the gun out of her hands before pulling his out. The Turian's own pistol pointed at his face as Shepard's was pointed at the humans.

“Now my friends, we are going to talk. Chief, can you call C-Sec for me.” Ashley was out of her seat, finding it equal parts impressive and funny how easily he took the two out.

“Of course Skipper.” She didn't need to though, as C-Sec officers came in.
“Ah good to see you guys.” 3 of them came over, 1 to each of the assailants, the third talking to Shepard.

“Commander Shepard, an honour.” He put his hand out. “I believe this is a customary greeting in your culture.” Shepard put his gun back to it's hiding place, handing the other to Ashley, before shaking the Turian's hand.

“It is indeed Officer...?”

“Captain Gavorn.” They withdrew their hands and separated. “Any idea who they are Spectre?”

“They were working for Elias Kelham. He hired someone to assassinate a politician a month or so ago and I had to threaten him in order to stop it.”

“They came to kill you?”

“No, they came to capture me. Apparently Elias wanted to torture me.”

“Wanted to? Elias will have you killed.” The human spoke up as she was dragged off to the general astonishment of the crowd. Not one of them expected that statement to prove true. Least of all the one who said it. Shepard picked up his shoes from under the table and put them back on.

“Well they said Elias was trying to get my friend as well, and if you don't mind Captain, I'd like to try and help him.”

“Of course Commander.” Gavorn stepped aside. Shepard started to walk off. Before turning back.

“Captain, do you have a brother?”

“I do yes Commander. If you think you have met him though I doubt it. He's on Palaven.”

“I met a Gavorn on Omega.”

“Oh. Well, it is quite a common name.” Turian faces were just as easy to read as Human faces for Shepard. He knew the man. Well. Shepard left, Ashley coming up behind him and wrapped her arms around his.

“What happened with Elias? The actual story, not the sanitised one.” She said as they were walking towards the entrance. A few c-sec officers still around them, a few more by the entrance.

“It was just as I said. I threatened him, hit him once or twice. He gave me the name of the target, I stopped the assassin.”

“What happened to the assassin, skipper?” Shepard waited until they were outside before leaning down to whisper in her ear.

“He found his dad.”

“What?”

“It was Thane's son.”

“What!?” Ashley asked, surprised and a little angry.

“It's complicated Ash and it's private for Thane. You can ask him yourself if you like.” Ashley didn't know what to say. Shepard unwrapped himself from her and smacked the inside of his left upper arm three times. “EDI, where's Thane?”

“Hello Commander, he is on Zakera Ward.” Ashley threw herself into the back of him as gunfire rang out, going above their heads. “Commander, are you OK?” Shepard and Williams backed behind a low covering for a few trees in front of the restaurant. The plaza they were in was pretty large.

“Yes, EDI, I'm good, no one's tried to kill me all day so far.” More bullets rang out above their head, Ashley pulling her pistol out and returning fire. A sickening crunch signalled that she landed at least a shot.

“I believe I heard gunfire.”

“It was sarcasm EDI, get everyone ready. Thane is a target too. Send the teams to him first, then get the shuttle to the Presidium.” Shepard held his fingers in his hands before focusing on the sound of gunfire. “Ash, stay here, I'm running to the pillar to our left, give me cover.”

“Roger that, skipper.” They seemed to fall back into their old routine, pretty quickly. Shepard steeled himself and he jumped to his feet before running the 20 feet to the large pillar he was talking about. Ashley popped up from her cover, firing wildly at different gunners. Shepard saw at least 9 different guys as he ran to the pillar, his kinetic barrier taking a hit. He could hear 3 more guns too. He had more cover here and he could stand up. It seemed the plaza was very narrow, it would be difficult to flank. Shepard leaned out with his pistol, firing two bullets at a Salarian on the opposite flank. He was popping up, trying to hit Williams, he'd clearly not noticed Shepard run to the pillar. Both bullets landed, one breaking what minor barrier he had, the second going straight through his skull. Very few people had accused Shepard of being a poor shot. Fewer still had survived after doing so. Certainly not the other members of the Blue Suns.

“EDI, is everyone ready?” Shepard shouted into his arm.

“Yes Commander, your team is setting out to rendezvous with Thane Krios.” Shepard looked over at Ashley, crouching in a way that her skirt was riding really high on her thighs...She leaned out to take a shot and a bullet hit her barriers as she did.

“Ash! Are you OK?” Shepard shouted, although not running over.

“I'm fine skipper, just a scratch.” Ashley looked at him, smiling. Her skirt had ridden up enough that Shepard could see the curve of her well toned ass. A bullet hit the cover next to him and they both re-focused on the task at hand, a few of their assailants advancing on Ash.

“Ash you got 3 advancing on your right, closest is 15 yards away.” Shepard took aim from behind his pillar, not needing to pop out to shoot at the one closest to her. He fired 4 bullets. “Closest is 20 metres away.”

“Nice shot skipper.” Ashley peaked her head round the cover to see where they were, then leaned out taking out the closest. “Closest is 25 metres away.”

“Advancing group neutralised.” Shepard corrected, the heat from his gun rising as the last bullet was fired. “How many bullets you got left Ash?”

“I think I got 4.” Shepard put a hand down his trousers and Ashley looked at him incredibly surprised as he did so. “What are you doing skipper?” He brought his hand back up, two clips in his hand.

“Giving you a reload Chief.” He threw a clip over to her before popping out to take a shot. “How many we got left?” Ash looked towards Shepard's flank, seeing a guy advancing on him. She used her remaining 4 bullets to incapacitate him. Both of the Turian's arms with bullets through them. She reloaded.

“I think there is 7 left skipper. I just shot one in his arms, I doubt he'll be doing much fighting.”

“That was my count too.” The remaining 7 were preparing to advance. They might have some reinforcements coming, but so would the Spectre. C-Sec would have to be on their way too. “Ash get ready, they know that they haven't got a great deal of time, they're going to advance.” Shepard fished out another pair of clips. “Why did they change the system? Clips are annoying.”

“They're more powerful now skipper. Don't overheat too.” Ash said, although Shepard knew why. He threw another clip over to her, before popping out and using the rest of his. He managed to take one out with it, advancing down Ashley's flank.

“Watch out, they've got a rocket launcher at the back. 2 advancing on you. 20 and 25 yards on your right.”

“Affirmative skipper.” Ashley popped out from cover and fired, successfully killing one, the other making it to cover. “Skipper?”

“Yes Chief?” Shepard popped out, firing towards someone advancing down his flank.

“Just like old times, right?” She smiled as she popped out firing.

“I much prefer your outfit now.” He fired just after he spoke, taking down another soldier, this one a Batarian.

“4 left.” Shepard pulled out another two clips. Bullets thudding into the pillar as he did so. “How many you got down there skipper?”

“Two more. Alliance soldiers are prepared, remember?” Shepard threw another, this one dropping a little short. “Sorry Ash.”

“No problem skipper, this stupid cover is long enough I can get it fine. Just would help if it was as tall as yours so I could stand up.”

“I'm going to advance Ash. Cover me.” Shepard could hear the assault rifle of a man on his flank firing, about 15 yards ahead.

“One ahead, 15 m.” The merc leader started shouting some orders. They all started to advance. So did Shepard.

“Commander Shepard is..” The merc shouted, startled as the Spectre ran around the pillar, firing at him. He hid behind the column he'd decided to advance to. He clearly expected more time before Shepard kneed him in the face, breaking the man's nose, before dragging him forward and throwing him back over a wall. Shepard jumped over, before shooting him in the elbows and crouching down behind the wall. The merc screamed in pain.

“You and I are going to be talking after this.” Shepard shouted at him as Ashley fired at the other mercs and their assault rifles rang out in chorus, trying to cover the advance. “I've just got to go and kill your friends. I'll buy you a cupcake later.” Shepard jumped back over the wall, firing the remains of his clip at a Batarian on his right. The Batarian's focus was on Ash, although hers was on another merc closer to her. He knew there was a merc ahead of him, but fired at the Batarian, the sound of his barriers failing preceding a horrible crunch as a bullet entered the side of his head.

“Commander Shepard? Grunt, Garrus, Jacob and Mordin have rendezvoused with Thane Krios and Kolyat, although Kolyat is wounded.” EDI rang through in Shepard's ear. Shepard replied as he ran forward, slamming his back into a column, barely 5 metres from the one remaining merc. Ashley having successfully dispatched of her target.

“You don't need me to tell you to get Kolyat medical attention EDI. Either on the ship or Dr. Michel's place, if she's still on the citadel.”

“Tali, Kasumi, Samara and Miranda are on their way to you.” They've just entered the Presidium.

“What? You sent those 4 to help me while I'm getting shot at on a date?” Shepard thought for a minute, Joker might well have told EDI to do it. “Where are Zaeed, Jack and Legion?”

“We cannot find Zaeed or Jack. We felt sending Legion onto the Citadel was unwise.”

“We?” Shepard picked up on the phrasing.

“Joker and I.” Shepard knew it.

“Tell Joker when I get back, I'm going to kill him.” Ashley fired towards the remaining merc, though his returning fire forced her head down back into cover. “First, I'm going to kill this guy.” Shepard reloaded, not sure if he'd even finished his clip, but he had a clip spare, he thought he'd use it. The assault rifle fire carried on, so Shepard ran around the column to the left as the Turian fired at Ashley on the opposite flank. As he saw Shepard appear he swung his AR round but it was already too late. Shepard shot at him, breaking his barriers before pushing his AR away and down, spinning around to elbow him in the face. The merc staggered back before Shepard finished his turn, firing at what on a human would have been his knees, before a shot from Ashley went through his face. The merc dropped to the floor, dead before he hit the ground. “Nice shot Ash.”

“Thank you Skipper.” Shepard looked back at her, smiling before walking back to the merc he'd incapacitated before. He knelt down before him, Ashley fixing her clothes and hair before picking up some dropped clips and checking the rest of the mercs.

“So, my friend. What's your name?” His eyes were glazing over as the pain got him, clearly new to being shot. He couldn't handle it. “My team is on their way. They can help you. If you tell me what I want to know.” The man looked at him, one of the few humans in the group that just attacked him.

“I...It's...” He stuttered, still in pain and intimidated by Commander Shepard. He had been told he was only a human, an exaggerated reputation, he wasn't any good. Clearly his reputation was well deserved. “It's Eric.”

“Well Eric, I'm John, pleased to meet you.” Shepard extended a hand. “Seeing as you have bullets in your elbows, I'll excuse you not shaking my hand. Who sent you? Elias Kelham?” The boy's eyes widened, then shook his head. “I would advise telling me the truth Eric. For your own health.” Shepard was a soldier and not just a good one, a great one. He knew how to be intimidating and it was clearly working.

“It wasn't Kelham. He knows our boss, but it's not Kelham. Kelham hates him.” Shepard wasn't convinced.

“Who is it then? If not Kelham?”

“I don't know his full name. The boss just said he was called 'Hammer' we don't know any more.” Ashley walked over as she heard the name 'Hammer'.

“Hammer. Who is he? Why did he want me dead?”

“We weren't after you. We were after Ashley Williams.” Shepard was surprised.

“Ashley?” Shepard turned around to look at her. “Who's Hammer?”

“He attacked an alliance ship I was on about a year ago, helping Freedom's Progress arm itself. He wanted the stuff on board, I stopped it. I put a bullet in his knee before he was dragged off the ship.”

“Nothing more? He's a pirate?”

“He's an intergalactic crime lord. Batarian. Mainly has holdings in the Terminus Systems. He's not high on the list of dangerous criminals, he wouldn't go after you. Though he clearly thinks he can beat me.”

“If he attacks you, he attacks me. Literally in this case. Is that all his name is though? Hammer?”

“I'm told his first name is Balak.”

“Balak? The guy who attacked Terra Nova?”

“It may well be the same individual.”

“Eric, where were you going to get paid? I need the details. He tried to kill millions of people on Terra Nova and we stopped him. I want to stop him once and for all.”

“I don't know the details. The boss took care of all of that! The Turian over there, he's the one with some red on his armour. He may have something on him.” Eric said, a little less nervous now. His arms still not exactly working. Ashley handed Shepard the Turian's omni-tool memory chip.

“Commander Shepard?” Shepard put the chip in a pantie free jacket pocket before standing up and turning to the voice.

“Captain Gavorn, I had wondered when C-Sec would turn up.” Shepard replied, not meaning it to be as insulting as it turned out.

“We were dealing with the people who tried to kill you at the restaurant. It seems they weren't the only ones trying today.” Eric was squirming as C-Sec stood around, knowing what he'd done. “Who are they?”

“Blue Suns mercs. This man here tells me they were hired by Balak Hammer.”

“Balak Hammer? The Batarian?”

“That's what he tells me.” They looked at Eric.

“All I know is the name Hammer! It might be a different one!” Eric may have been new to the merc game, but he tried to do his job never the less.

“So it's Balak Hammer then.” Gavorn stated. “Seems you've pissed off two quite notorious individuals.

“I've pissed off far more notorious people and I will do so again. They're small fry.”

“Kelham has quite an extensive network on the citadel, we don't even know how far it goes. Hammer has a fleet of pirates.”

“Trust me, I've pissed off far more dangerous people. They'll get what's coming to them.”

“I see.” Shepard pulled Ash over to him and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“If you don't mind Captain, I'd like to get back to my ship.”

“Commander!” Tali's voice rang out around the plaza, as the girls ran over, fully armed. The C-Sec officers had been nervous until Tali called out.

“Too late Tali, all the fun's been had. We're leaving. Captain Gavorn.” Shepard nodded his head to the Captain.

“Commander Shepard.” Gavorn nodded back, giving his unnecessary permission for the Commander to leave.

“Ashley Williams!” Tali grabbed her former comrade from under Shepard's arm and gave her a long hug.

“Good to see you too Tali.” Ashley hugged back.

“Commander Shepard, blue suns after you again?” Miranda asked.

“They seem to be everywhere. Santiago may be a vile fiend but he sure knows how to run a company.” Samara added, her voice just as authoritative and mature as always.

“He's also a thief.” Kasumi said.

“That doesn't necessarily make me hate him Kasumi. Count yourself lucky on that.” He looked at Ashley and Tali. “Ashley, this is Miranda, Kasumi and Samara.” He turned them to Ashley and put his hands on their shoulders as he said their names. “Girls, this is Ashley.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Ashley said, the girls ringing out their greetings. She noticed their clothes. Especially Samara's.

“EDI, where is Thane and Kolyat?”

“They're on board the Normandy sir, Dr. Chakwas is giving Kolyat medical attention and Thane is helping her.”

“Thank you EDI, we're on our way.” Shepard marched off, the girls following behind him, Ashley talking with Tali about the date. Ashley left out most of the details. Shepard smiled as they walked. “Where is the shuttle?”

“Docking bay 468B” Samara said catching up to his side, before asking a question herself. “Why did they attack you Shepard?” Miranda and Kasumi talked about the state of the Presidium.

“Which time?”

“You were attacked twice?” The question was met by Tali and Ashley giggling. Shepard turned his head back as he walked before turning it back.

“Yeah. Once by those Blue suns mercs, once in the restaurant by some guys working for Kelham.”

“The criminal who hired Thane Krios' son?”

“Yes. They told me that Thane would be under attack too, I don't understand why, it's quite stupid. Unless of course they want Thane and Kolyat to survive. They didn't strike me as those working for someone clever enough to do anything very intricate though.”

“How many did Kelham send?”

“Two. They were clearly new as well.”

“He can't have been serious about it then.”

“Maybe. Kelham did seem to think I would be frightened of his threats though. It could be someone setting him up for the fall. I'll find out tomorrow. It's not important.”

“He's trying to kill you, it's quite important.”

“Half the galaxy is trying to kill me Samara. Thankfully I have a spaceship full of people who are in my half.”

“It...” They turned a corner to find the lift to the Presidium Docking bays. “We'll finish this conversation some other time Commander.”

“Of course Samara.” Shepard said as he stepped onto the elevator. Miranda and Kasumi followed them in, before Ashley and Tali did. Ashley moved around to Shepard to hug him. “Docking bay 468B” Shepard spoke, the lift then descending. They descended in silence, before Kasumi and Tali started a conversation about the latest episode of a drama series they were watching.

“Kasumi, you've seen episode 5 of Pirates of the Traverse, right?”

“Yes, I can't stand how Seriana has fallen for...”

“Hey!” Ashley interrupted, a little angry under Shepard's arm. “I haven't seen it yet, don't spoil it for me.”