I don't need to label these by now do I?
Hmph…life has not been kind lately. Apologies if this is noticeable in the writing.
Rogen80 suggested Tali first touching a flower. I have yet to find the actual moment in game where this is mentioned but there are a lot of things I haven't found so it is ultimately irrelevant.
Ciao
Tali had always been fond of surprises. They were an endless source of amusement for her when she was younger. As the years went by though, her love of surprises turned into bitter cynicism about it. She would have considered it quite the surprise for her father to say he loved her at least once in his damn life.
He never did and never would now. So much for that surprise.
Still, as she was being lead along by her husband and bondmate, she recalled these childlike feelings again. Despite burying them for years, she let them return. John was always good at surprising her and he did so love to spoil her.
She always made sure to return the favor, multiple times a night. Quarian nature after all.
So this time she was told to keep her eyes closed all the while. That was unfortunate, she loved to ogle him when his back was turned. Based on the path they were taking, with all of its twists and turns, wherever they were headed was hard to find.
They eventually came to a stop and good timing to boot. She was getting annoyed with all this secrecy.
"Alright Tali, we're here. You can open your eyes now." She did so immediately and gasped at the sight before her.
"I take it you like it?"
"Keelah John…how did…where did all this come from?"
The sight in question was truly a small slice of paradise hidden away on Rannoch. It was full of beautiful flowers and perfectly hidden away. Yet somehow, the secretive nature of it all made it seem all the more beautiful. There were all kinds of flowers that she had never seen before.
"I wish I could take the credit for all this but I don't think the flowers would like me very much then." Even in her awestruck state, she still paid enough attention to him to hear what he said. As always, it made her giggle.
"Commander Shepard felled by flowers, galaxy has gardeners lead them into glorious battle against the fiends!" He laughed at that, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close.
"Mmm and where would that leave you? Fighting them off in revenge?" She purred and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I'll take them all to the grave." She grinned at him and they touched foreheads, the quarian kiss as it was known. They remained like that for a while, staring into each other's eyes before they pulled back slightly.
"I know it's no clean room but, would you like to feel one Tali?" She nodded and moved away from him to take off her gloves. He meanwhile moved on ahead for the flower he wanted to show her.
There you are, right where I left you little one
"Over here Tali! This is the one I really wanted to show you." She made her way to him and gasped again at the flower he had found.
Perhaps flowers was the better word given what she saw.
There were two of them, entwined together as if they were in a tender embrace. One had purple petals and a black stem while they other had blue petals and a red stem.
"Tali, meet your own flower." She looked at him, confusion on her face.
"My own flower? I don't understand."
He smiled softly.
"The purple one reminds me of you. It even has your colors. Plus it's keeping the other one standing tall and strong. Just like you do for me." She felt tears come to her eyes and she hugged him tightly, smiling when his arms wrapped around her as well.
"Thank you John. Thank you so much."
Tali recalled this fond memory as she picked the same two flowers, entwined as always from her own garden at their house. He had wanted to keep the symbol with them forever and she happily agreed.
She took it along with her on this walk, holding it with the utmost care. It couldn't be mangled at all today.
She reached her destination quickly, finding she had walked faster than she thought. She was eager, and yet that bothered her.
She kneeled down at the marker, placing the flowers at the base and simply sat there, enjoying the silence for a while.
Her omni-tool chimed with the timed alert and she turned it off. No interruptions, not now. Not today.
"Happy anniversary John. I love you." She tearfully spoke as she stared unwaveringly at the gravestone.
And you thought it would be another romance.
Hmm…more emotion into finding Rael huh? Should I lay off the tragedy for a little bit after this one?
As always, leave a suggestion if you have one.
Ciao
