Title: Not the Same
Author: Meushell
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine.
Summery: Garshaw tells Yosuuf how Per'sus changed. Takes place soon after Yosuuf and Garshaw blended.
Rating: PG
Notes: Symbiote incest mentioned. Normal for them. It's a semi-sequel to Larva, though it makes sense without it.
Sitting at the table for lunch, Yosuuf watched as Per'sus sat at the other table. The serious expression made no doubt about who was in control. He was quiet, detached. The symbiote kept his emotions within, and though Yosuuf had seen him both angry and joyful, she had not seen him frown or smile.
He does both from time to time, Garshaw thought, though it is rare. Say hello to him.
Instead of getting up and greeting her fellow Tok'ra, Yosuuf withdrew.
I meant for you to greet him, Garshaw replied, now in control.
Sorry, but he's so…important.
Per'sus is only one above you.
Yosuuf gave a mental sigh.
He and Einar both like you. If you go over there, he would probably give Einar control so that the two of you can talk.
No. Her "voice" was small.
Garshaw let it drop, never being the type to push her hosts into something they didn't want to do. She continued eating their meal, giving gesture of greetings of those who acknowledged her. She often ate with Selmak, but she was elsewhere for the week, and most of the others in the room were on their way out.
How do you know? Yosuuf asked.
Excuse me?
How do you know he likes me?
He's happy when he's working with you. He's asked about you. He's given Einar control at times to make you feel less nervous. It will not be long before he considers you a friend.
It would probably help if I approached him.
Yes.
Maybe another time.
Garshaw smiled.
I've seen your old memories of him. Per'sus used to smile a lot more.
He used to laugh too.
And yell?
Garshaw laughed. Yes, when he was angry, he yelled. He laughed. He cried. He had a sense of humor. He was friendlier too. We wouldn't be talking about you approaching him. He would have come to this table as soon as you sat down…but that was a thousand years ago.
Yosuuf saddened, knowing the reason. Egeria.
When we lost her, many of us worried about the larvae…growing up without their queen. Egeria always felt it was important to be there while we grew. It affected them as it did us, but they recovered. It was Per'sus we should have worried about. She felt Yosuuf's discomfort. Human values are not the same as symbiote values. To make strong children, it is best for a queen to select human mate. It was not uncommon for those men to be the hosts to one of her children.
She must have been selective about his hosts.
When we have a choice with hosts, we are more selective when we are mated. We want the marriage to continue. In their case, it had to continue. Thankfully, we had more options at the time. Garshaw looked over to him. They were together for nine hundred years. He loved and mourned every one of her hosts, but he could never leave her. When she lost her last battle, he lost his queen and his mates. She shook her head. For a long time, I had hoped he would return to his old self, but I now realize that will never happen.
"Hello."
Garshaw looked up to see Einar looking at them. "Hello." It seems his host became bored.
Or he noticed that you kept looking at him.
Garshaw smiled before gesturing for him to sit. "We were just talking."
Einar smiled as he settled. "As were we."
"How is Per'sus?"
"He was wondering how Yosuuf was adjusting."
Garshaw smiled. I told you he liked you.
-The End-
(I may add another chapter to show how Per'sus reacted to finding out Egeria had been found, only to die again.)