Re: "Bloodlines" Fem!Shep/Garrus, Vakarian Family 4.1/?
anonymous
May 14 2014, 07:32:18 UTC
Months go by, and he thinks of contacting his son often. Being a military advisor, it is difficult for Garrus to avoid meeting the Primarch but Garrus makes it a point to do so and, annoyingly, mostly succeeds.
Soon, he thinks that will change. His son will realize the mistake he has made, and he will be there for Garrus when the spectre vanishes, leaving his son’s heart in the dust. Humans, he knows, do not grasp the concept of life-bonding, and it is common for them to suddenly decide to break their unions over the smallest of problems.
And Shepard is not just human, but a spectre as well - and spectres never stay in one place for long. Attachment is not part of the job.
Given that his son has remained on Palaven since their bonding ceremony, he is surprised Shepard hasn't left already. Palaven is a harsh climate for turians. It is harsher for humans.
He is even more surprised when his omnitool chimes one morning with an incoming call from her.
He straightens as he flicks the accept call button with his talon, sitting upright and proud as his daughter-in-law’s face flickers into view. He’s seen her on holos before - the whole galaxy has - but he has never seen her in person, and certainly never like this. She has several large scars running across her face, and her arm is fitted into a cybernetic brace that reminds him of another spectre. She does not wear his clan colors, he notices, but he can make out a ring on one of her far-too-many fingers.
“Primarch Vakarian.” She says, and her voice is thin and rough, not at all like the feminine, soft voice he remembers from all the holovids. Still, the underlying strength and determination inherent in her voice leave little doubt that this is her.
“Spectre Shephard.” He inclines his head toward her in greeting.
If she notices that he doesn’t add his name to her own, she shows no sign of being insulted by it.
“Garrus’ birthday is next week.” She begins, simply.
He nods. “I am aware.” He is thankful she does not try to make small-talk, as many humans do in discomforting situations. He likes her efficiency.
“I’m throwing a little party for him. Just friends and family.” Much to his surprise, she casts her eyes down in response and touches the hem of her shirt, rolling the fabric covering her stomach between her fingers, and he tilts his head, not understanding the very-human gesture.
“It would mean a lot to me….and to Garrus…if you would attend.” She says, and there is warmth to her voice that suggests that this, too, is an offer of peace.
“Ah.” He says, but leaves his tone neutral.
She crosses her arms and frowns.
“We would like to see you.” Her tone is insistent, commanding, but he can pick up the tiniest hint of pleading, too, and Tiberius wonders if it is Garrus or Shepard who is so desperate for his approval. He finds himself grudgingly respecting her for her deference to filial duty - she may not be turian, but perhaps, he thinks, she can understand that much.
For a moment, he entertains the thought of going. He would like to see his son. A part of him suspects he would even like to see this strange, human daughter-in-law who he finds himself begrudgingly admiring.
But knowing of Turian customs is one thing, and abiding by them is another. If she truly understood, she would never have accepted Garrus’ request for a life-bond.
And, once again, he knows he would not be doing his duty as a father to accept.
Re: "Bloodlines" Fem!Shep/Garrus, Vakarian Family 4.2/?
anonymous
May 14 2014, 07:38:10 UTC
He ignores the twinge in his gizzard as he stares resolutely into the face of the Savior of the Galaxy and turns her down.
“If Garrus wants to see me, he knows where to find me, Commander.”
For a moment, she closes her eyes and says nothing.
When she reopens them, her eyes look heavy and wet, in that odd, human way. It is more vulnerable than he has ever seen her - more vulnerable than he imagines almost anyone has seen her.
“I see. “ She finally says, and she does not need sub vocals to project the disappointment in her voice. “I guess I just…” She chuckles, and there’s a bitter tone there that reminds me entirely too much of his son. “Well, I wanted to be wrong.”
Before he can respond, she turns her head to someone beyond the screen to say words he cannot hear, the connection terminates, and she is gone.
He hears a day later from Solana, who begrudgingly thaws enough to talk to him again. It's Solana that lets it slip that Garrus has accepted a position as a security advisor on the Citadel. He will leave in a fortnight.
He feels like his gizzard has been kicked by a horde of screaming klixen at the news, but he isn’t surprised by it.
Re: "Bloodlines" Fem!Shep/Garrus, Vakarian Family 4.2/?
anonymous
May 14 2014, 12:19:26 UTC
Would you like a marshmallow?? No, oh. Okay.
Except, he fails to understand it's not for the Spectre they're moving. It's for Garrus' sake. And I imagine Shepard had just recently found out she's pregnant, huh? (the prompt did say about a baby Vakarian, after all) And they're going away for the baby's security, as well.
I'm loving it!!! I'm jumping all around the place in expectation.
Soon, he thinks that will change. His son will realize the mistake he has made, and he will be there for Garrus when the spectre vanishes, leaving his son’s heart in the dust. Humans, he knows, do not grasp the concept of life-bonding, and it is common for them to suddenly decide to break their unions over the smallest of problems.
And Shepard is not just human, but a spectre as well - and spectres never stay in one place for long. Attachment is not part of the job.
Given that his son has remained on Palaven since their bonding ceremony, he is surprised Shepard hasn't left already. Palaven is a harsh climate for turians. It is harsher for humans.
He is even more surprised when his omnitool chimes one morning with an incoming call from her.
He straightens as he flicks the accept call button with his talon, sitting upright and proud as his daughter-in-law’s face flickers into view. He’s seen her on holos before - the whole galaxy has - but he has never seen her in person, and certainly never like this. She has several large scars running across her face, and her arm is fitted into a cybernetic brace that reminds him of another spectre. She does not wear his clan colors, he notices, but he can make out a ring on one of her far-too-many fingers.
“Primarch Vakarian.” She says, and her voice is thin and rough, not at all like the feminine, soft voice he remembers from all the holovids. Still, the underlying strength and determination inherent in her voice leave little doubt that this is her.
“Spectre Shephard.” He inclines his head toward her in greeting.
If she notices that he doesn’t add his name to her own, she shows no sign of being insulted by it.
“Garrus’ birthday is next week.” She begins, simply.
He nods. “I am aware.” He is thankful she does not try to make small-talk, as many humans do in discomforting situations. He likes her efficiency.
“I’m throwing a little party for him. Just friends and family.” Much to his surprise, she casts her eyes down in response and touches the hem of her shirt, rolling the fabric covering her stomach between her fingers, and he tilts his head, not understanding the very-human gesture.
“It would mean a lot to me….and to Garrus…if you would attend.” She says, and there is warmth to her voice that suggests that this, too, is an offer of peace.
“Ah.” He says, but leaves his tone neutral.
She crosses her arms and frowns.
“We would like to see you.” Her tone is insistent, commanding, but he can pick up the tiniest hint of pleading, too, and Tiberius wonders if it is Garrus or Shepard who is so desperate for his approval. He finds himself grudgingly respecting her for her deference to filial duty - she may not be turian, but perhaps, he thinks, she can understand that much.
For a moment, he entertains the thought of going. He would like to see his son. A part of him suspects he would even like to see this strange, human daughter-in-law who he finds himself begrudgingly admiring.
But knowing of Turian customs is one thing, and abiding by them is another. If she truly understood, she would never have accepted Garrus’ request for a life-bond.
And, once again, he knows he would not be doing his duty as a father to accept.
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“If Garrus wants to see me, he knows where to find me, Commander.”
For a moment, she closes her eyes and says nothing.
When she reopens them, her eyes look heavy and wet, in that odd, human way. It is more vulnerable than he has ever seen her - more vulnerable than he imagines almost anyone has seen her.
“I see. “ She finally says, and she does not need sub vocals to project the disappointment in her voice. “I guess I just…” She chuckles, and there’s a bitter tone there that reminds me entirely too much of his son. “Well, I wanted to be wrong.”
Before he can respond, she turns her head to someone beyond the screen to say words he cannot hear, the connection terminates, and she is gone.
He hears a day later from Solana, who begrudgingly thaws enough to talk to him again. It's Solana that lets it slip that Garrus has accepted a position as a security advisor on the Citadel. He will leave in a fortnight.
He feels like his gizzard has been kicked by a horde of screaming klixen at the news, but he isn’t surprised by it.
Spectres never did stay in one place for long.
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Except, he fails to understand it's not for the Spectre they're moving. It's for Garrus' sake. And I imagine Shepard had just recently found out she's pregnant, huh? (the prompt did say about a baby Vakarian, after all) And they're going away for the baby's security, as well.
I'm loving it!!! I'm jumping all around the place in expectation.
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Poor Garbear...
More please?
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