Phil I swear I'm working on your suggestion. This was just too fun an idea to pass up.
So an anon suggested a Shepard fan club on the Rayya, with everyone's favorite Quarian as the president.
Hell, no matter how out of character that is, I am still doing it.
This should be fun.
Ciao
Whilst Shepard was briefing the Admirals on the Reaper threat, Tali had taken to losing herself in nostalgia. Being back on her home-ship brought pleasant memories to mind.
Having Shepard helped as well, adding tawdry fantasies to the mix.
Oh she wasn't naïve or careless. She knew that something would never happen between the two of them and she wasn't reckless enough to try shagging him on the Rayya.
The walls weren't soundproof for one.
Still, at least she had the fantasies. They never told her that he didn't love her, that she wasn't beautiful, that she wasn't-
"Hellooooo Shepard to Tali. Anyone in there?"
Snapped out of her fondest desires, she whirled about to face Shepard, crimson staining her cheeks.
Keelah, thank the Ancestors for this cursed mask.
"S-sorry Shepard. Just thinking." He chuckled and she knew he was grinning behind his helmet.
"Hmm Tali is thinking. What about ladies and gentlemen? My money is on her solving the secrets of the universe. Y'know, in her spare time when she's not being a badass." Her blush only deepened at his kind words. Well, mostly kind anyway.
"Hush you. I'm always 100 percent badass."
"Oh yeah that's why all badasses stare off into space for an hour. Yeah way to keep up the image Tali." He laughed when she pushed him back, muttering a Quarian insult at him.
"What's the human phrase? Home court advantage? Well I have that here Shepard. Don't tick me off."
"Oh a challenge is it Miss vas Normandy? Fine, if you win I'll do whatever you want for a day. You lose, same thing but vice versa." She let a thoughtful noise escape her.
"Alright Captain. What's the game?"
"Simple. Show me around your home ship and if you aren't embarrassed at the end, I'll concede."
No! No no no no no not a good idea! No back out Tali!
"Shepard it's nothing special. I mean they'd have given my room to another Quarian by now and even then the ship isn't something worth seeing there's no ascetics about it and-"
"Tali, you're rambling."
Oh. Crap.
"Sorry Shepard. It's not intentional really. It's just a defense mechanism and-"
"Hold up. A defense mechanism? Sounds more like you're using that to get out of this here challenge Tali." She could tell he was smirking and it both infuriated her and made her shudder with desire.
"I just don't want to okay? Can we just leave it at that?" Her exasperated tone gave Shepard pause and he seemed to take this in, giving his response after a short time.
"Alright Tali. I won't force it on you. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
You never do that Shepard…I could only be more comfortable if I was truly with you…
"It's okay Shepard. Let's just go back to the Normandy."
"Wait, did my audio detectors hear that right? Shepard? As in Commander Shepard?" The new voice drew their attention to a young Quarian woman. Her suit looked familiar to Shepard and for Tali, she suddenly became a lot more anxious.
"Wait a minute, that's a Pilgrimage suit. So you must be going out on yours soon. Guess you were given the history lesson so that's how you know me." Evidently Shepard had paid more attention to her people's history and culture than Tali had thought.
Keelah could he be any more desirable now?
"You are mostly correct Commander." She paused to bow oddly enough. "I am Ari'Razo nar Rayya. It's so great to finally meet you."
"Pleasure's all mine but what did you mean by mostly correct?" Ari seemed to look surprised at this and looked to Tali actually who was looking elsewhere and inching further and further away from the two of them.
"Well I learned all about you from President Tali who was very informative on the matter."
That caught Shepard's attention.
"Wait a minute. President? President of what?" He looked to Tali to find her almost out of the room. "Tali, is there something you'd like to tell me?"
She visibly froze where she stood, panic and fear gripping her tightly. She didn't even move as she heard Shepard approaching her. Evidently he could see she was anxious.
"Tali? Is everything okay?" It was a while before she a responded, a minor shake of her head. Words were proving a challenge right now.
That only got harder when she felt Shepard's arms around her again, turning red as Wrex's armor. She wasn't going to waste the chance and returned the hug gladly.
Their moment was interrupted with a soft "Aww" from Ari. Reluctantly, she pulled away from him and looked right at him.
"I know you have questions Shepard. I…I just want to go but…"
"Um…I can field this if you like President." Tali sighed heavily, knowing that he would let this go if she really wanted him to. But she was raised to think of others first.
"It's your call Ari."
"Oh. Well…I know about you because of…well…your fan club…" Shepard seemed surprised at this, mostly cause he didn't know he had one.
"I thought the Fleet rarely got extranet access."
"Well that is true Commander but um…we didn't get our information from the extranet. We got it from Tali…who started the club actually." Poor Ari felt so guilty now, exposing something like this about her friend to her secret crush.
Speaking of said Quarian, Tali did not look to be okay.
"Tali, you started this? That is actually…"
Here it comes.
"Very flattering."
Wait, what?
She snapped around to face him, surprise all over her.
"What do you mean flattering? This is…creepy! And odd and I don't even know what I was thinking and-" She stopped herself as she saw his finger rest on her vocalizer.
"Tali, I really don't mind. If anything, I think it's cute." She relaxed at that, perhaps a bit too much as she fell forward in the process only to be caught by Shepard.
"Heh, I think we've been here long enough." He nodded to Ari before picking up Tali in his arms like a bride and carrying her off.
Both never heard the squeal of joy from Ari.
As I said, too fun to pass up.
Ari isn't an OC really. I found a name generator and that was one of the results.
Anyway, another reviewer has suggested having Rael survive Tali's loyalty mission and for Shepard and Tali's relationship ousted while they are on the Geth Dreadnaught.
Sounds like fun.
Phil first though. They've waited long enough.
Ciao