Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 9
anonymous
January 22 2015, 07:53:50 UTC
Contiguous: sharing a common border; touching.
Saren didn't know why he'd come so early to the Lounge. It was incredibly busy. Noisy.
And worse, the human barista, wasn't there. At the bar was an Asari matron and a turian female conversing with a turian male in C-Sec regalia, that must be Nilia. Wait, Nilia, of course, that is Fedorian's estranged daughter. Wearing her mother's markings? It seemed she'd disowned herself. How dramatic.
Palaven's most powerful family feuding like humans.
Pathetic.
He looked closer at who she was talking to. Executor Pallin. The idea of Pallin taking a break at a turian lounge was almost laughable, but then kava made you do silly things.
He knew all about that.
"Where is the human barista? Her kava is exquisite."
Yes. Where is she?
Then something hit him.
What?
He heard a sorry mumbled into the upper back of his armour in a human's particular cadence, he momentarily wondered how much trouble he'd get in for punching the human, and then the human slumped against him?!
He wasn't a cushion for pyjaks.
Forget the trouble. He turned and was ready to put the human in for a world of pain when he recognised their fur.
The barista? Was she ill? Was she contagious? He heard soft breathing.
She'd fallen asleep on him. He couldn't help vocalising his disgust.
"Are you going to stand there looking silly or are you going to help her?"
Nilia. The whelp. She was accompanied by Pallin who gave him a curt nod.
"Saren."
Choices. Do you push the human off of you, potentially earning the lounge owner's ire and being banned. Turian females were vicious. No more precious kava... or do you play nice?
Pallin forced his hand by trying to be courteous. Pfft. You just want free kava, old man.
"I will carry her."
He reacted to that immediately by scooping her up and holding her close to his chest. She was heavier than he thought. He discreetly examined her whilst deactivating his omnitool and adjusting the weapons on his hip. High cheekbones, shapely lips. His mind betrayed him and thought of the appreciation he had of those features in his asari lovers. Dark bags under her eyes? They were a sign of extreme exhaustion in humans.
Nihlus hadn't been lying, the red in her hair was exotic. It was a vibrant vivid hue of red that cascaded to her shoulders and judging by the lack of smell of chemicals in her hair, natural too. It smelt sweet too. Floral.
He wished he had the sense of smell of a volus. Practically none.
Wait, why was he examining her like this?
She's a human. Regardless of her great cup of kava, humans were to be systematically degraded, not compared to asari, in any capacity apart from a negative one.
Pallin looked rather baffled at the sight of him with a human in his arms. He was baffled too. Nilia was carefully blank, likely recognizing him and not know what to say. In her subvocals he thought he could hear amusement.
She wasn't stupid enough to be voicing that. So he ignored it and the human currently burrowing dangerously close to his neck.
She nuzzled his neck and sighed. She was so close to him.
Nilia's composure broke and she snorted. Pallin turned and went back to the bar, his subvocals rumbling with laughter.
Jaw implants looking more enticing by the minute.
"Just follow me."
The place was completely packed. The human hadn't been joking about C-Sec using the place as a guesthouse. There were C-Sec uniforms everywhere.
Naturally he drew attention. He just threw his most menacing expression that generally had humans evacuating their bowels prior to their deaths and ignored the human who was still nuzzling against his sensitive neck.
This is not pleasurable Saren. Repeat. Do not allow your plates to shift.
He was interrupted in his threatening of the surrounding idiots when Nilia brought horrible, horrible news.
"There are no seats left. She's clearly comfortable so if you would hold her whilst she sleeps I'll make it worth your while. Free kava and priority in queues for a year."
Saren momentarily measured the worth of the offer with respect to the huge blow his reputation of human-hater had likely just suffered. He ignored the warmth of the human's breath on his neck.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 9
anonymous
January 22 2015, 16:47:15 UTC
Glad you're enjoying it, I'll likely do at least one more update tonight. There'll be no morning updates tomorrow, I start university at 9am and I won't get home till around 8pm GMT.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 10
anonymous
January 22 2015, 22:33:00 UTC
Lounge: lie, sit, or stand in a relaxed or lazy way.
Saren surveyed the room upon Nilia's departure to the bar. She wasn't lying.
Every seat was occupied. Humans, turians and the occasional asari. Almost all of them clad in C-Sec uniforms.
And staring at him and his unwanted cargo.
He wasn't surprised to see the great amount of surprise from the turians and humans. No, what surprised him was the large amount of jealousy he felt being emanated his way. Even from his fellow turians. Peculiar.
The human's physical attributes were acceptable but regardless, she was a human. Nothing worth feeling jealous about. Or maybe they'd heard his free kava for four years from the human.
That was something to be jealous of.
He walked with the human safely ensconced in his arms to a vacant patch of the wall and leaned against it and watched the C-Sec officers in the sims. Running a simulation of a slaver ring break-up. They were surprisingly competent.
A small part of his mind thought that maybe Nihlus hadn't been exaggerating about her. He would have dismissed that thought entirely if the human hadn't pressed her lips to his neck. They were soft, warm and slightly moist.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 10 cont
anonymous
January 22 2015, 22:59:01 UTC
Accidently pressed post comment again.
___________________________
No one was looking at him now, thank the Spirits, but just to be safe he pushed the human further up his shoulder, and AWAY from his neck. Her head lolled rather unnaturally on his shoulder. He felt a little uneasy at how much her discomfort seemed to bother him. He should find it amusing.
He remembered her concern when he'd groaned after tasting her kava. It had been genuine.
More importantly, he remembered the kava he would receive upon her being well rested.
It was obvious what he needed to do.
He marched purposefully towards the best recliner in the lounge. Currently occupied by a human. No matter. Easily disposed of. He'd enjoy it even.
"Human. Remove yourself from this chair."
"What? No way. I'm not going to get up so you and your whore can do freaky shit on it."
In response, he gave the human his best mimicry of a human smile with teeth. He'd been told it was rather accurate by Nihlus.
Judging by the new found pallor in his skin, Nihlus had lied. Well. Terror was really what he wanted in the end anyway.
"It's your lucky day, human. I'll assist you."
He yanked the human out of his seat by the shoulder and onto the floor. He'd landed rather hard, but nothing should be broken. He wasn't that angry. Yet.
He took his place and readjusted his human. She was still asleep. Smiling even. Good. The kava grew ever closer. The human male stared at him in shock and with clenched fists. Fool. He would warn him this once.
"I'm feeling rather generous. Leave now and you will retain all your limbs. I'll even let you keep your drink human."
He looked like he was about to argue. Was everyone who frequented this lounge a masochist?
Regardless, Nilia came to the human's rescue and shoved a drink into his outstretched hand.
"Here, a free drink and there's a seat on the bar. Trela will mix you some more drinks if you want. For free."
The human grumbled but turned and followed Nilia who gave Saren an exasperated look.
You asked for me to ensure the human was well rested, do not question my methods.
Speaking of his human, she was seated in his lap and it seemed she was burrowing again.
And she'd just found his neck again.
Well. He couldn't find the energy to care. The chair was far too comfortable. He activated his omnitool with a relaxed languor and began reading some information regarding the Hierarchy's Mass Effect Ballistics R&D progress. He field-tested a lot of their innovations, it would be prudent to check when he'd need to make a rotation in his gear set.
He was aware of the spectacle he was making. The silence that had surrounded him since he sat down was almost tangible.
Who gives a fuck?
Saren, you're getting the best kava you've ever tasted in unlimited supply for the next 4 years. Any blue-blooded will understand the liberties he is allowing his human to take.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 11
anonymous
January 23 2015, 23:15:41 UTC
Accord: an official agreement or treaty.
The first thing Jane noticed upon waking was the fact she was against someone's chest. An armoured chest and they weren't moving. The second was the slightly rough skin her face was pressed into.
Whomever this was needed to consider exfoliating because the level of roughness was somewhat insane.
Or not human. That complicated matters. If it was a human she could likely blag her way out of it.
She went through her mind and thought of what species could possibly have such rough skin. Turian? Well, fuck, this was awkward. She could only assume they had a human fetish to be holding her like this. A drell? She'd never spoken to one before honestly. They weren't exactly common.
It looked like she didn't need to do any further rumination, there was a three-taloned hand curling around her shoulder and securing her to their chest. Turian.
Great. She could only imagine where they'd taken her. Did she even make it to Nilia's? She remembered being completely dead on her feet outside the Hospital and nothing after.
Through her closed eyes she thought she could make out the haze of an omnitool UI. Her captor obviously didn't think she was awake (or a threat). She was in no position that would allow her to free herself without leaving herself susceptible to attack. She'd have to wait.
Then she felt a waft of hot breath over her face. Spicy.
"I know you're awake human."
She recognized the voice but could not pinpoint the owner. Maybe this wouldn't have to end in bloodshed. She could likely bribe the turian to silence with kava. She almost smiled to herself but then she opened her eyes and everything went down the shitter.
She was in Nilia's in one of the alcoves. That was good.
She was being held in the lap of Saren Arterius. Noted human-hater. That was not so good.
It was horrific.
The only thing that stopped her from bolting was the rather tight grip he had on her. His expression was rather blank, mandibles in a neutral expression and blue cybernetic eyes boring down at her whilst he dismissed whatever he had open on his omnitool. He was likely savouring her discomfort. Bastard.
Then her mouth decided to act up. There's a reason why she didn't talk to anyone shortly after waking.
"You held me in your lap for what I can only imagine to be hours, and you still call me human? I'm feeling rather stilted here."
His mandibles contracted with almost certain disgust and she could feel his chest rumble. Sometimes she wished she understood subvocalisations, it'd make her job easier. Also, the vibrations were nice.
She could have drifted back to sleep with those vibrations. He likely knew this as he stopped and spoke. His baritone was just as soothing.
A shame it was attached to a turian with the personality of sandpaper.
"You were under my protection. You should be thankful I even let you near my person, human."
Very thankful. So thankful that I'm going to run my mouth some more.
"Aren't I a little too close to your person? I'm sure it must be ruffling your delicate turian sensibilities."
She punctuated that statement by reclining back into the arm wrapped around her and wrapping her arms around his neck with a sardonic smile.
What was she doing? Was she mad? It was a good thing the place was nearly empty and no one was looking this way.
His face echoed the questions she was asking herself but luckily she could only assume he'd come to the conclusion she was an idiot. He lightly pushed her out of his arms and onto her feet without even looking at her.
Better to be an alive, healthy idiot than a potentially maimed and dead one.
It was good to be alive.
Even if being alive meant being so unsteady on your feet that someone who kills your species out of hatred has to steady you.
She looked at him and he looked at her. His expression again was blank. He towered over her. Likely 7"1. He was enormous. And she had been mocking him?
"You owe me 5 years' worth of kava. I'd suggest you get started. 2 Large. 1 sugar."
"I'm not sure how," she gazed quickly at her omnitool, "8 hours of sleeping in your arms equates to 5 years' worth of free kava."
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 12
anonymous
January 24 2015, 09:46:33 UTC
Discreet: careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially in order to keep something confidential or to avoid embarrassment.
She had just woken up, good. He'd be happy to see her make him some kava.
Happy. Who would have thought he'd be happy to see a human do anything apart from die?
He couldn't help but contemplate the last few hours he'd spent with her in his arms.
He could say with full certainty that his plates had not shifted once whilst the human was asleep despite her unnatural fascination with his neck. There had been several close moments but turian discipline had beaten human clinginess.
There hadn't really been any doubt after all which was better.
The hours he spent with her in his arms were admittedly more pleasant than he was expecting. It had been a long time since he'd sat still for the purpose of relaxation outside of sleep. Even with the human it was relaxing.
C-Sec had left several minutes after he had sat down with Pallin leading the charge back to the Academy.
The stares had not annoyed him surprisingly. Between the warmth of the human, the luxury of the chair and the paper on mass effect physics he was reading. He was quite content.
The implications of him being in such a state with a human close to him, against him even, was bizarre.
Her face was closely pressed to his neck. He couldn't really find the motivation to move her back to his shoulder. It was not uncomfortable.
His omnitool had the capability of making highly detailed biometric scans. He'd find out her height, she was the only human female he'd met that came up to the base of his cowl, he'd be interested in seeing the commonality of such a height.
Purely professional interest, of course.
5"11 and a half. 99.9th percentile female human height. 96th percentile asari height.
So she was considered a giant amongst her species. He was not unfamiliar with that feeling. He was 7"0 with the average turian male coming at 6"7 and females at 6"6. It was especially obvious when his kind showed far less variation in height than humans and asari did.
In the process of taking the scan his hand had brushed her hair.
What an odd texture. Absolutely alien.
He looked carefully around him. The bar was full but they couldn't see him from where they were seated. And the rest of the room was empty.
He gazed at her hair. It was freely flowing to her nape of her neck in that garish hue it contained. It almost seemed like it was taunting him.
He lightly ran his gloved fingers through it. Interesting. It was almost liquid in its solidity and so independent of each strand. Nothing like a fringe; turian or asari. It was so odd...
He cautiously stroked the main bulk of it. She sighed and clutched closer to him. Judging by the lack of arousal he smelt it was purely one of contentment. Good. He didn't want to have to throw his newly found kava slave onto the floor and have to run his armour through a Quarian-grade decontamination chamber.
The thought of kava was all the encouragement he needed to continue stroking her hair. The better well rested she was the higher the quality was likely to be.
It was a weak excuse.
Thinking carefully it was clear he had some small amount of affection for the human. He wouldn't have stopped Pallin from holding her otherwise. Or be stroking her hair.
It was not sexual at least. Thank the Spirits.
More like the affection one would have for a pet. Pets didn't threaten to make your plates shift or made exquisite kava, had a sweet scent and had an unnaturally similar body to an asari.
Okay, it was a little sexual. Thankfully, he only seemed to be attracted to her and not all human females.
And why didn't the idea of being attracted to the human, no Jane, bother him?
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 13
anonymous
January 24 2015, 18:09:57 UTC
Unanticipated: not expected or predicted.
Nilia was at the bar working her magic on a group of turian males as she approached.
Nilia gave her an evaluatory glance that held far too much amusement in it for her liking. Her eyes practically glinted.
"Good. You're awake. You look much better Jane."
"Thanks Nilia. Looking pretty good yourself."
The group of turians turned as one to look at her before turning back to the counter. She could only assume that they hadn't seen her in Saren's arms. Good.
His discretion was one of his few good qualities he possessed.
Why was she at the bar again? Oh right, to make kava.
She was taking the two cups to Saren when Nilia stopped her and dragged her over to the corner near the toilets.
This couldn't be good.
Nilia got right to the point in typical fashion. She could get behind such an approach to things.
"Jane, I kind of bartered with Saren for him to look after you."
Well that explained the 5 years of kava comment.
"So... what's the damage, Nilia?"
Just to be sure that she didn't have to sacrifice her first born child on an altar to whatever cult of human haters he was a part of. He was likely the lead cultist.
That was a bit far-fetched by her standards.
Nilia looked rather relieved by her calmness. She'd never been one to panic outwardly. Her thoughts were currently as ordered as Omega though.
"It's nothing too bad I can assure you. You just have to make him kava for free and give him priority in queues."
That was only half the story. She was sure of it. Nilia's sudden interest in making eye contact with the wall behind her only reinforced that belief.
"Really? When I woke up he told me that I owed him five years worth."
"Five years? Yes.. yeah, that's correct. Are you alright with that?"
She shrugged and smiled faintly. It seemed it was as much news to her as it was to Nilia.
"It could be worse. I could be making kava for the whole of C-Sec if someone like Pallin had looked after me."
Nilia chuckled but it was weak. Oh God.
So it had come down to Pallin or Saren? Two of the most conservative turians on the Citadel. She still couldn't remember much of what happened following her leaving the Hospital. Maybe it was best she didn't remember.
Their conversation was halted by Saren's approach. Nilia wrapped things up and made herself scarce with a slight smile at her.
"Thanks Jane. Check your bank account later tonight, you'll be pleasantly surprised. You can go home now if you want."
There was something suggestive in the go home part of her sentence. She wasn't particularly sure what Nilia was trying to imply. Best not to try. Nilia was a bit of a wildcard at times.
She slowly turned to face Saren. His attention was solely focussed on the cups in her hands. Any hint of a smirk on her face was carefully suppressed. She carefully handed him his two cups.
"Enjoy!"
Not even a nod, he just turned and walked back to his seat. Rude.
What an arsehole.
He'd likely need a thermal pad for his second cup. Best to get it now before he starts giving her death threats for giving him cold kava. His glare could probably prevent heat loss if he tried staring really hard at the other cup.
His expression could only be described as purely content when she approached him, thermal pad in hand, mid-sip. Almost open even. She couldn't help the soft smile that crossed her lips. Who would have thought that Saren Arterius could be conquered by a cup of turian coffee?
"Here you are sir. A thermal pad for the other cup."
She had just turned around to leave when his voice rumbled behind her. It was faintly mocking but she'd take what she could get. Regardless of his delivery it remained a shock.
"Thank you."
She turned to face him, he was as blank as usual but if she looked closely she thought she could see slight humour buried deep in his expression.
He probably thought that he'd caught her unawares with his gratitude.
Please. Jane Shepard was the queen of curveballs.
"No, thank you. I really appreciate you looking after me whilst I was sleeping. I slept quite well."
He had no verbal reply to that but the slight relaxation she witnessed as he took a sip of his kava in response was more than enough.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 14
anonymous
January 25 2015, 10:51:28 UTC
Daredevil: a reckless person who enjoys doing dangerous things.
She'd submitted her graduate thesis several weeks ago to her thesis supervisor.
Dr Jane Shepard; specialist in reconstructive cybernetics. That had a great ring to it.
It'd be a shame to leave Nilia's really, she'd enjoyed working there, but that was something to think on later.
When she had job offers.
She'd submitted her thesis earlier than the deadline so there was still some waiting to do.
Best to think in the present, Jane.
Nilia's was pretty packed tonight. She had been making kava non-stop. There were a lot of turian Blue Suns mercenaries at the bar. Word of mouth was a powerful thing.
It had been two months since she'd last saw Saren. She wasn't counting of course. It was just something she'd observed.
You generally keep track of the person whom you're essentially an indentured servant to.
Thankfully, any comments that anyone made about her sleeping in his arms had fizzled after about a week. The turians were generally extremely jealous when they heard what he got out of it.
She couldn't help but remember Garrus's reaction.
"Spirits? Five years worth? For free?.. Would you consider fainting now? I can be chivalrous for kava too... No?"
Humans? Well. Some of the C-Sec officers, likely led by Harkin, had come to the conclusion that it was less the kava the turians appreciated for, but acts of a more sexual nature.
The notion was hilarious to her. She'd never considered turians on a sexual level. They had nice builds admittedly; tiny waists and broad shoulders. She could appreciate those on any male. She'd heard rather interesting things about their equipment downstairs. Long. Thick. Ridged. Their voices were nice also. Saren's baritone especially. It was almost sinful.
Too bad he never had anything nice to say.
But being able to recognise a species as being physically appealing didn't necessarily lead to attraction. Most of the turians she'd met had personalities so sedate and well, boring, that she'd never been attracted to them. She liked a little excitement. So it was quite a revelation to meet turians like Nilia, Garrus, Nihlus and Saren. They felt more like people to her than turians which had become synonymous with duty-driven and boring in her mind. Kind of like the Alliance. And God wasn't that a horrible thing to think.
By all measures Saren was really not much different. Maybe it was the fact that it was so fun to poke fun at him. Or the surprising gentleness he'd held her with. She'd enjoyed waking up in his arms.
And wasn't that a shock?
One would think she were a romantic with how much that had meant to her. She'd admittedly never been held like that by a man. In the military there hadn't been time for gentle holds and reassuring presences. That was only emphasised during her time in the Interplanetary Combatives Training program. Add on to that her stature and most human men found her rather intimidating to treat in a gentle manner. Despite her pretty face she wasn't much of a princess. Part of the reason that she'd never been in a long-term relationship.
She may as well have been one of the boys with the fact her sex life all her life had been one night stands.
Judging by the fact that Saren had even held her all that time, he hadn't needed to as there were vacant seats by the time she'd woken, had to have meant something. His hatred of humans was as legendary as his exploits in both the Attican Traverse and Terminus Systems. He wouldn't have just held her if he didn't have some form of affection for her. Or her kava.
That was enough for her to work with.
She had a feeling that this was a horrible idea but she'd always loved a challenge. If she failed she could always laugh at his reaction whilst she ran for her life. She could probably get a job at Noveria, they always need lab grunts, if the Citadel became off-limits.
For better or worse, she would commence Operation Seduce Saren Arterius... no.
For better or worse, she would commence Operation Daredevil next time she saw Saren at Nilia's.
Re: Saren/FShep Coffee and Spectres (Drabbles) 15
anonymous
January 26 2015, 09:13:38 UTC
Flirtatious: behaving in such a way as to suggest a playful sexual attraction to someone.
It'd been three months since he'd last had kava or seen the barista, his traitorous mind reminded him, as he gradually grew closer to the Lounge.
He'd long ago accepted his attraction to the human barista. Acceptance didn't necessarily mean action however, he had no intention of acting upon it.
His last mission had been fairly routine, an investigation into sources of the current red sand problem on the Citadel. He'd destroyed roughly a dozen refineries and factories littered throughout the Terminus Systems. He'd have returned to the Citadel roughly a month earlier if his ship's navigational routines hadn't been completely fried by an improvised EMP by a Quarian tech that one of the facilities had hired.
It'd taken him a week to just restore the VI to a usable condition. He wasn't much of an engineer, he was a weapons expert first and foremost and an adept second.
He would have to fix that at some point.
The Lounge was largely as he remembered but there were now 2 vidscreens flanking the bar and a far more extensive collection of levo alcohol. The place would likely be luxurious in a few years with the level of patronage from C-Sec.
The bar was empty as it was extremely late into the night cycle.
The barista was there; wiping down the counter and humming under her breath. And if the warmth he felt in his stomach was what he thought it was. He'd missed his kava, and by extension, her, far more than he thought he would. He would remedy that shortly.
She noticed him as he approached the counter and gave him a smile. Where before her smiles had been gentle bearings of teeth and sardonic curves of her lips, they were now just a slight rise of the corner of the right side of her mouth.
Salacious even. He'd seen this look on asari before. It had been a while though.
He couldn't say this development was unwelcome, merely unexpected. He'd fully intended on just ignoring his attraction to the barista until it faded. The possibility of her returning it raised intriguing possibilities. Most ending with her beneath him in the throes of pleasure with a cup of kava within easy reach of him.
A turian could dream.
Where her smile was subtle, her choice of words were anything but and the smirk in her green eyes told him it was all intentional.
"How can I serve you, sir?"
He ignored the part of his mind that rationally explained that it was her job to serve him and almost quipped on her knees preferably. His plates began to shift at the idea. If she wanted to play subtly like this, he would do so too. This could be amusing.
"You know how you may serve me."
It was a good thing that she couldn't hear his subvocals, they were currently rumbling with a mix of lust and interest. The Lounge was empty, thankfully, he didn't think his reputation could recover from a further blow. Somehow, Tevos had heard of what had happened and now regarded him as something.. cute.. Quentius was full of understanding, naturally. With one of his aides bringing him kava everyday, the only thing he could do was understand.
And be jealous of course.
Her smile was full of promise and her voice full of husk as she replied to him leaning slightly over the counter. She smelt like rovale nuts, alcohol and mild arousal. His codpiece began to feel incredibly tight.
"I shall aim to please then."
He watched her almost unblinkingly as she prepared his kava. The curve of her waist, the swell of her cleavage, the knowing smirk partially obscured by her crimson hair as she brewed it. And when she methodically smoothed down her apron from her upper back to her waist his interest piqued. When she slowly stroked her waist it could only be called obsession. There was nothing innocent in the gesture.
The game was not so amusing anymore, the erection he was hiding under his armour only reinforced that.
She placed the kava onto the counter with hooded eyes and slightly stroked the rim of the cup.
Saren didn't know why he'd come so early to the Lounge. It was incredibly busy. Noisy.
And worse, the human barista, wasn't there. At the bar was an Asari matron and a turian female conversing with a turian male in C-Sec regalia, that must be Nilia. Wait, Nilia, of course, that is Fedorian's estranged daughter. Wearing her mother's markings? It seemed she'd disowned herself. How dramatic.
Palaven's most powerful family feuding like humans.
Pathetic.
He looked closer at who she was talking to. Executor Pallin. The idea of Pallin taking a break at a turian lounge was almost laughable, but then kava made you do silly things.
He knew all about that.
"Where is the human barista? Her kava is exquisite."
Yes. Where is she?
Then something hit him.
What?
He heard a sorry mumbled into the upper back of his armour in a human's particular cadence, he momentarily wondered how much trouble he'd get in for punching the human, and then the human slumped against him?!
He wasn't a cushion for pyjaks.
Forget the trouble. He turned and was ready to put the human in for a world of pain when he recognised their fur.
The barista? Was she ill? Was she contagious? He heard soft breathing.
She'd fallen asleep on him. He couldn't help vocalising his disgust.
"Are you going to stand there looking silly or are you going to help her?"
Nilia. The whelp. She was accompanied by Pallin who gave him a curt nod.
"Saren."
Choices. Do you push the human off of you, potentially earning the lounge owner's ire and being banned. Turian females were vicious. No more precious kava... or do you play nice?
Pallin forced his hand by trying to be courteous. Pfft. You just want free kava, old man.
"I will carry her."
He reacted to that immediately by scooping her up and holding her close to his chest. She was heavier than he thought. He discreetly examined her whilst deactivating his omnitool and adjusting the weapons on his hip. High cheekbones, shapely lips. His mind betrayed him and thought of the appreciation he had of those features in his asari lovers. Dark bags under her eyes? They were a sign of extreme exhaustion in humans.
Nihlus hadn't been lying, the red in her hair was exotic. It was a vibrant vivid hue of red that cascaded to her shoulders and judging by the lack of smell of chemicals in her hair, natural too. It smelt sweet too. Floral.
He wished he had the sense of smell of a volus. Practically none.
Wait, why was he examining her like this?
She's a human. Regardless of her great cup of kava, humans were to be systematically degraded, not compared to asari, in any capacity apart from a negative one.
Pallin looked rather baffled at the sight of him with a human in his arms. He was baffled too. Nilia was carefully blank, likely recognizing him and not know what to say. In her subvocals he thought he could hear amusement.
She wasn't stupid enough to be voicing that. So he ignored it and the human currently burrowing dangerously close to his neck.
She nuzzled his neck and sighed. She was so close to him.
Nilia's composure broke and she snorted. Pallin turned and went back to the bar, his subvocals rumbling with laughter.
Jaw implants looking more enticing by the minute.
"Just follow me."
The place was completely packed. The human hadn't been joking about C-Sec using the place as a guesthouse. There were C-Sec uniforms everywhere.
Naturally he drew attention. He just threw his most menacing expression that generally had humans evacuating their bowels prior to their deaths and ignored the human who was still nuzzling against his sensitive neck.
This is not pleasurable Saren. Repeat. Do not allow your plates to shift.
He was interrupted in his threatening of the surrounding idiots when Nilia brought horrible, horrible news.
"There are no seats left. She's clearly comfortable so if you would hold her whilst she sleeps I'll make it worth your while. Free kava and priority in queues for a year."
Saren momentarily measured the worth of the offer with respect to the huge blow his reputation of human-hater had likely just suffered. He ignored the warmth of the human's breath on his neck.
"Four years and only from the human."
The damage was done regardless.
"Deal."
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The picture of a Saren who tries to hold his mask on while Shepard is drowsily nuzzling his neck is the best thing ever btw. You're a genius!
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Saren surveyed the room upon Nilia's departure to the bar. She wasn't lying.
Every seat was occupied. Humans, turians and the occasional asari. Almost all of them clad in C-Sec uniforms.
And staring at him and his unwanted cargo.
He wasn't surprised to see the great amount of surprise from the turians and humans. No, what surprised him was the large amount of jealousy he felt being emanated his way. Even from his fellow turians. Peculiar.
The human's physical attributes were acceptable but regardless, she was a human. Nothing worth feeling jealous about. Or maybe they'd heard his free kava for four years from the human.
That was something to be jealous of.
He walked with the human safely ensconced in his arms to a vacant patch of the wall and leaned against it and watched the C-Sec officers in the sims. Running a simulation of a slaver ring break-up. They were surprisingly competent.
A small part of his mind thought that maybe Nihlus hadn't been exaggerating about her. He would have dismissed that thought entirely if the human hadn't pressed her lips to his neck. They were soft, warm and slightly moist.
He froze.
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No one was looking at him now, thank the Spirits, but just to be safe he pushed the human further up his shoulder, and AWAY from his neck. Her head lolled rather unnaturally on his shoulder. He felt a little uneasy at how much her discomfort seemed to bother him. He should find it amusing.
He remembered her concern when he'd groaned after tasting her kava. It had been genuine.
More importantly, he remembered the kava he would receive upon her being well rested.
It was obvious what he needed to do.
He marched purposefully towards the best recliner in the lounge. Currently occupied by a human. No matter. Easily disposed of. He'd enjoy it even.
"Human. Remove yourself from this chair."
"What? No way. I'm not going to get up so you and your whore can do freaky shit on it."
In response, he gave the human his best mimicry of a human smile with teeth. He'd been told it was rather accurate by Nihlus.
Judging by the new found pallor in his skin, Nihlus had lied. Well. Terror was really what he wanted in the end anyway.
"It's your lucky day, human. I'll assist you."
He yanked the human out of his seat by the shoulder and onto the floor. He'd landed rather hard, but nothing should be broken. He wasn't that angry. Yet.
He took his place and readjusted his human. She was still asleep. Smiling even. Good. The kava grew ever closer. The human male stared at him in shock and with clenched fists. Fool. He would warn him this once.
"I'm feeling rather generous. Leave now and you will retain all your limbs. I'll even let you keep your drink human."
He looked like he was about to argue. Was everyone who frequented this lounge a masochist?
Regardless, Nilia came to the human's rescue and shoved a drink into his outstretched hand.
"Here, a free drink and there's a seat on the bar. Trela will mix you some more drinks if you want. For free."
The human grumbled but turned and followed Nilia who gave Saren an exasperated look.
You asked for me to ensure the human was well rested, do not question my methods.
Speaking of his human, she was seated in his lap and it seemed she was burrowing again.
And she'd just found his neck again.
Well. He couldn't find the energy to care. The chair was far too comfortable. He activated his omnitool with a relaxed languor and began reading some information regarding the Hierarchy's Mass Effect Ballistics R&D progress. He field-tested a lot of their innovations, it would be prudent to check when he'd need to make a rotation in his gear set.
He was aware of the spectacle he was making. The silence that had surrounded him since he sat down was almost tangible.
Who gives a fuck?
Saren, you're getting the best kava you've ever tasted in unlimited supply for the next 4 years. Any blue-blooded will understand the liberties he is allowing his human to take.
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The first thing Jane noticed upon waking was the fact she was against someone's chest. An armoured chest and they weren't moving. The second was the slightly rough skin her face was pressed into.
Whomever this was needed to consider exfoliating because the level of roughness was somewhat insane.
Or not human. That complicated matters. If it was a human she could likely blag her way out of it.
She went through her mind and thought of what species could possibly have such rough skin. Turian? Well, fuck, this was awkward. She could only assume they had a human fetish to be holding her like this. A drell? She'd never spoken to one before honestly. They weren't exactly common.
It looked like she didn't need to do any further rumination, there was a three-taloned hand curling around her shoulder and securing her to their chest. Turian.
Great. She could only imagine where they'd taken her. Did she even make it to Nilia's? She remembered being completely dead on her feet outside the Hospital and nothing after.
Through her closed eyes she thought she could make out the haze of an omnitool UI. Her captor obviously didn't think she was awake (or a threat). She was in no position that would allow her to free herself without leaving herself susceptible to attack. She'd have to wait.
Then she felt a waft of hot breath over her face. Spicy.
"I know you're awake human."
She recognized the voice but could not pinpoint the owner. Maybe this wouldn't have to end in bloodshed. She could likely bribe the turian to silence with kava. She almost smiled to herself but then she opened her eyes and everything went down the shitter.
She was in Nilia's in one of the alcoves. That was good.
She was being held in the lap of Saren Arterius. Noted human-hater. That was not so good.
It was horrific.
The only thing that stopped her from bolting was the rather tight grip he had on her. His expression was rather blank, mandibles in a neutral expression and blue cybernetic eyes boring down at her whilst he dismissed whatever he had open on his omnitool. He was likely savouring her discomfort. Bastard.
Then her mouth decided to act up. There's a reason why she didn't talk to anyone shortly after waking.
"You held me in your lap for what I can only imagine to be hours, and you still call me human? I'm feeling rather stilted here."
His mandibles contracted with almost certain disgust and she could feel his chest rumble. Sometimes she wished she understood subvocalisations, it'd make her job easier. Also, the vibrations were nice.
She could have drifted back to sleep with those vibrations. He likely knew this as he stopped and spoke. His baritone was just as soothing.
A shame it was attached to a turian with the personality of sandpaper.
"You were under my protection. You should be thankful I even let you near my person, human."
Very thankful. So thankful that I'm going to run my mouth some more.
"Aren't I a little too close to your person? I'm sure it must be ruffling your delicate turian sensibilities."
She punctuated that statement by reclining back into the arm wrapped around her and wrapping her arms around his neck with a sardonic smile.
What was she doing? Was she mad? It was a good thing the place was nearly empty and no one was looking this way.
His face echoed the questions she was asking herself but luckily she could only assume he'd come to the conclusion she was an idiot. He lightly pushed her out of his arms and onto her feet without even looking at her.
Better to be an alive, healthy idiot than a potentially maimed and dead one.
It was good to be alive.
Even if being alive meant being so unsteady on your feet that someone who kills your species out of hatred has to steady you.
She looked at him and he looked at her. His expression again was blank. He towered over her. Likely 7"1. He was enormous. And she had been mocking him?
"You owe me 5 years' worth of kava. I'd suggest you get started. 2 Large. 1 sugar."
"I'm not sure how," she gazed quickly at her omnitool, "8 hours of sleeping in your arms equates to 5 years' worth of free kava."
"I will not repeat myself."
The menace in his voice was palpable. Shit.
"Sure, sir. Whatever you want."
She ran to the bar.
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She had just woken up, good. He'd be happy to see her make him some kava.
Happy. Who would have thought he'd be happy to see a human do anything apart from die?
He couldn't help but contemplate the last few hours he'd spent with her in his arms.
He could say with full certainty that his plates had not shifted once whilst the human was asleep despite her unnatural fascination with his neck. There had been several close moments but turian discipline had beaten human clinginess.
There hadn't really been any doubt after all which was better.
The hours he spent with her in his arms were admittedly more pleasant than he was expecting. It had been a long time since he'd sat still for the purpose of relaxation outside of sleep. Even with the human it was relaxing.
C-Sec had left several minutes after he had sat down with Pallin leading the charge back to the Academy.
The stares had not annoyed him surprisingly. Between the warmth of the human, the luxury of the chair and the paper on mass effect physics he was reading. He was quite content.
The implications of him being in such a state with a human close to him, against him even, was bizarre.
Her face was closely pressed to his neck. He couldn't really find the motivation to move her back to his shoulder. It was not uncomfortable.
His omnitool had the capability of making highly detailed biometric scans. He'd find out her height, she was the only human female he'd met that came up to the base of his cowl, he'd be interested in seeing the commonality of such a height.
Purely professional interest, of course.
5"11 and a half. 99.9th percentile female human height. 96th percentile asari height.
So she was considered a giant amongst her species. He was not unfamiliar with that feeling. He was 7"0 with the average turian male coming at 6"7 and females at 6"6. It was especially obvious when his kind showed far less variation in height than humans and asari did.
In the process of taking the scan his hand had brushed her hair.
What an odd texture. Absolutely alien.
He looked carefully around him. The bar was full but they couldn't see him from where they were seated. And the rest of the room was empty.
He gazed at her hair. It was freely flowing to her nape of her neck in that garish hue it contained. It almost seemed like it was taunting him.
He lightly ran his gloved fingers through it. Interesting. It was almost liquid in its solidity and so independent of each strand. Nothing like a fringe; turian or asari. It was so odd...
He cautiously stroked the main bulk of it. She sighed and clutched closer to him. Judging by the lack of arousal he smelt it was purely one of contentment. Good. He didn't want to have to throw his newly found kava slave onto the floor and
have to run his armour through a Quarian-grade decontamination chamber.
The thought of kava was all the encouragement he needed to continue stroking her hair. The better well rested she was the higher the quality was likely to be.
It was a weak excuse.
Thinking carefully it was clear he had some small amount of affection for the human. He wouldn't have stopped Pallin from holding her otherwise. Or be stroking her hair.
It was not sexual at least. Thank the Spirits.
More like the affection one would have for a pet. Pets didn't threaten to make your plates shift or made exquisite kava, had a sweet scent and had an unnaturally similar body to an asari.
Okay, it was a little sexual. Thankfully, he only seemed to be attracted to her and not all human females.
And why didn't the idea of being attracted to the human, no Jane, bother him?
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Nilia was at the bar working her magic on a group of turian males as she approached.
Nilia gave her an evaluatory glance that held far too much amusement in it for her liking. Her eyes practically glinted.
"Good. You're awake. You look much better Jane."
"Thanks Nilia. Looking pretty good yourself."
The group of turians turned as one to look at her before turning back to the counter. She could only assume that they hadn't seen her in Saren's arms. Good.
His discretion was one of his few good qualities he possessed.
Why was she at the bar again? Oh right, to make kava.
She was taking the two cups to Saren when Nilia stopped her and dragged her over to the corner near the toilets.
This couldn't be good.
Nilia got right to the point in typical fashion. She could get behind such an approach to things.
"Jane, I kind of bartered with Saren for him to look after you."
Well that explained the 5 years of kava comment.
"So... what's the damage, Nilia?"
Just to be sure that she didn't have to sacrifice her first born child on an altar to whatever cult of human haters he was a part of. He was likely the lead cultist.
That was a bit far-fetched by her standards.
Nilia looked rather relieved by her calmness. She'd never been one to panic outwardly. Her thoughts were currently as ordered as Omega though.
"It's nothing too bad I can assure you. You just have to make him kava for free and give him priority in queues."
That was only half the story. She was sure of it. Nilia's sudden interest in making eye contact with the wall behind her only reinforced that belief.
"Really? When I woke up he told me that I owed him five years worth."
"Five years? Yes.. yeah, that's correct. Are you alright with that?"
She shrugged and smiled faintly. It seemed it was as much news to her as it was to Nilia.
"It could be worse. I could be making kava for the whole of C-Sec if someone like Pallin had looked after me."
Nilia chuckled but it was weak. Oh God.
So it had come down to Pallin or Saren? Two of the most conservative turians on the Citadel. She still couldn't remember much of what happened following her leaving the Hospital. Maybe it was best she didn't remember.
Their conversation was halted by Saren's approach. Nilia wrapped things up and made herself scarce with a slight smile at her.
"Thanks Jane. Check your bank account later tonight, you'll be pleasantly surprised. You can go home now if you want."
There was something suggestive in the go home part of her sentence. She wasn't particularly sure what Nilia was trying to imply. Best not to try. Nilia was a bit of a wildcard at times.
She slowly turned to face Saren. His attention was solely focussed on the cups in her hands. Any hint of a smirk on her face was carefully suppressed. She carefully handed him his two cups.
"Enjoy!"
Not even a nod, he just turned and walked back to his seat. Rude.
What an arsehole.
He'd likely need a thermal pad for his second cup. Best to get it now before he starts giving her death threats for giving him cold kava. His glare could probably prevent heat loss if he tried staring really hard at the other cup.
His expression could only be described as purely content when she approached him, thermal pad in hand, mid-sip. Almost open even. She couldn't help the soft smile that crossed her lips. Who would have thought that Saren Arterius could be conquered by a cup of turian coffee?
"Here you are sir. A thermal pad for the other cup."
She had just turned around to leave when his voice rumbled behind her. It was faintly mocking but she'd take what she could get. Regardless of his delivery it remained a shock.
"Thank you."
She turned to face him, he was as blank as usual but if she looked closely she thought she could see slight humour buried deep in his expression.
He probably thought that he'd caught her unawares with his gratitude.
Please. Jane Shepard was the queen of curveballs.
"No, thank you. I really appreciate you looking after me whilst I was sleeping. I slept quite well."
He had no verbal reply to that but the slight relaxation she witnessed as he took a sip of his kava in response was more than enough.
You're welcome.
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She'd submitted her graduate thesis several weeks ago to her thesis supervisor.
Dr Jane Shepard; specialist in reconstructive cybernetics. That had a great ring to it.
It'd be a shame to leave Nilia's really, she'd enjoyed working there, but that was something to think on later.
When she had job offers.
She'd submitted her thesis earlier than the deadline so there was still some waiting to do.
Best to think in the present, Jane.
Nilia's was pretty packed tonight. She had been making kava non-stop. There were a lot of turian Blue Suns mercenaries at the bar. Word of mouth was a powerful thing.
It had been two months since she'd last saw Saren. She wasn't counting of course. It was just something she'd observed.
You generally keep track of the person whom you're essentially an indentured servant to.
Thankfully, any comments that anyone made about her sleeping in his arms had fizzled after about a week. The turians were generally extremely jealous when they heard what he got out of it.
She couldn't help but remember Garrus's reaction.
"Spirits? Five years worth? For free?.. Would you consider fainting now? I can be chivalrous for kava too... No?"
Humans? Well. Some of the C-Sec officers, likely led by Harkin, had come to the conclusion that it was less the kava the turians appreciated for, but acts of a more sexual nature.
The notion was hilarious to her. She'd never considered turians on a sexual level. They had nice builds admittedly; tiny waists and broad shoulders. She could appreciate those on any male. She'd heard rather interesting things about their equipment downstairs. Long. Thick. Ridged. Their voices were nice also. Saren's baritone especially. It was almost sinful.
Too bad he never had anything nice to say.
But being able to recognise a species as being physically appealing didn't necessarily lead to attraction. Most of the turians she'd met had personalities so sedate and well, boring, that she'd never been attracted to them. She liked a little excitement. So it was quite a revelation to meet turians like Nilia, Garrus, Nihlus and Saren. They felt more like people to her than turians which had become synonymous with duty-driven and boring in her mind. Kind of like the Alliance. And God wasn't that a horrible thing to think.
By all measures Saren was really not much different. Maybe it was the fact that it was so fun to poke fun at him. Or the surprising gentleness he'd held her with. She'd enjoyed waking up in his arms.
And wasn't that a shock?
One would think she were a romantic with how much that had meant to her. She'd admittedly never been held like that by a man. In the military there hadn't been time for gentle holds and reassuring presences. That was only emphasised during her time in the Interplanetary Combatives Training program. Add on to that her stature and most human men found her rather intimidating to treat in a gentle manner. Despite her pretty face she wasn't much of a princess. Part of the reason that she'd never been in a long-term relationship.
She may as well have been one of the boys with the fact her sex life all her life had been one night stands.
Judging by the fact that Saren had even held her all that time, he hadn't needed to as there were vacant seats by the time she'd woken, had to have meant something. His hatred of humans was as legendary as his exploits in both the Attican Traverse and Terminus Systems. He wouldn't have just held her if he didn't have some form of affection for her. Or her kava.
That was enough for her to work with.
She had a feeling that this was a horrible idea but she'd always loved a challenge. If she failed she could always laugh at his reaction whilst she ran for her life. She could probably get a job at Noveria, they always need lab grunts, if the Citadel became off-limits.
For better or worse, she would commence Operation Seduce Saren Arterius... no.
For better or worse, she would commence Operation Daredevil next time she saw Saren at Nilia's.
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A!A, you can't do this to me! Cliffhanger... now that's just mean c:
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It'd been three months since he'd last had kava or seen the barista, his traitorous mind reminded him, as he gradually grew closer to the Lounge.
He'd long ago accepted his attraction to the human barista. Acceptance didn't necessarily mean action however, he had no intention of acting upon it.
His last mission had been fairly routine, an investigation into sources of the current red sand problem on the Citadel. He'd destroyed roughly a dozen refineries and factories littered throughout the Terminus Systems. He'd have returned to the Citadel roughly a month earlier if his ship's navigational routines hadn't been completely fried by an improvised EMP by a Quarian tech that one of the facilities had hired.
It'd taken him a week to just restore the VI to a usable condition. He wasn't much of an engineer, he was a weapons expert first and foremost and an adept second.
He would have to fix that at some point.
The Lounge was largely as he remembered but there were now 2 vidscreens flanking the bar and a far more extensive collection of levo alcohol. The place would likely be luxurious in a few years with the level of patronage from C-Sec.
The bar was empty as it was extremely late into the night cycle.
The barista was there; wiping down the counter and humming under her breath. And if the warmth he felt in his stomach was what he thought it was. He'd missed his kava, and by extension, her, far more than he thought he would. He would remedy that shortly.
She noticed him as he approached the counter and gave him a smile. Where before her smiles had been gentle bearings of teeth and sardonic curves of her lips, they were now just a slight rise of the corner of the right side of her mouth.
Salacious even. He'd seen this look on asari before. It had been a while though.
He couldn't say this development was unwelcome, merely unexpected. He'd fully intended on just ignoring his attraction to the barista until it faded. The possibility of her returning it raised intriguing possibilities. Most ending with her beneath him in the throes of pleasure with a cup of kava within easy reach of him.
A turian could dream.
Where her smile was subtle, her choice of words were anything but and the smirk in her green eyes told him it was all intentional.
"How can I serve you, sir?"
He ignored the part of his mind that rationally explained that it was her job to serve him and almost quipped on her knees preferably. His plates began to shift at the idea. If she wanted to play subtly like this, he would do so too. This could be amusing.
"You know how you may serve me."
It was a good thing that she couldn't hear his subvocals, they were currently rumbling with a mix of lust and interest. The Lounge was empty, thankfully, he didn't think his reputation could recover from a further blow. Somehow, Tevos had heard of what had happened and now regarded him as something.. cute.. Quentius was full of understanding, naturally. With one of his aides bringing him kava everyday, the only thing he could do was understand.
And be jealous of course.
Her smile was full of promise and her voice full of husk as she replied to him leaning slightly over the counter. She smelt like rovale nuts, alcohol and mild arousal. His codpiece began to feel incredibly tight.
"I shall aim to please then."
He watched her almost unblinkingly as she prepared his kava. The curve of her waist, the swell of her cleavage, the knowing smirk partially obscured by her crimson hair as she brewed it. And when she methodically smoothed down her apron from her upper back to her waist his interest piqued. When she slowly stroked her waist it could only be called obsession. There was nothing innocent in the gesture.
The game was not so amusing anymore, the erection he was hiding under his armour only reinforced that.
She placed the kava onto the counter with hooded eyes and slightly stroked the rim of the cup.
Yes, the game was definitely over.
"Enjoy... sir."
She'd put emphasis on the sir...
Spirits. The things he wanted to do to her.
But first, his kava.
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Next update please come fast!
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