Lighten Up
They were doing it again, Garrus noticed. He and Tali were asked to watch the kids during one of their visits, when a vid call had requested Shepard's presence at a convening of the Galactic Council. Naturally Kaidan had gone along, being a Spectre assigned to her protection. That left him and his Quarian friend to keep watchful eyes on the kidlets – who were busy playing that game…the one Shepard and Kaidan had told him was called 'Tag'.
Riley seemed intent on capturing her sister, but Rhiannon was giving her a run for her money. They were, amusingly, doing laps around the couch. Squealing.
"Get her Riley!" Tali cheered as she leaned over the back of the couch to watch the two run by.
"What exactly is the point of this game?"
"Huh?" Tali raised her face and looked at him. "To have fun? Why else?"
"That seems rather…pointless." He blinked, his mandibles fluttering slightly at his confusion. "Surely there must be more to it than that."
Riley took the moment of distraction to smack her hand on Tali's behind, laughing, "Tag!" before she ran off. Tali chuckled and rolled off the couch to chase down the munchkin, Rhiannon plopping herself beside Garrus' feet where he sat at the dining room table.
"Quarians play 'tag' as well?" He asked as he set a hand on Rhi's head and ruffled the dark curls. She giggled and he felt a smile in answer.
"We have to have something to do on the Flotilla as children, you know." Tali caught Riley under her arms and lifted her, setting the little girl on her shoulders before coming back to where they were seated. "Now more than ever, being back on our homeworld, children need some fun. Lighten up Garrus."
"Hey – " he protested, giving her a look.
Rhiannon turned her face up to Garrus, pointed at him with a little finger. "Whighten up, Gawwus."
His mouth gaped as Tali burst into laughter.