Well, this one got out of hand real quick. I thought it might be a bit long, but I rolled with it. Then when I did the final edit today, I realized it came in just over 13 pages... Yeah, the chapter took on a bit of a life of its own. Didn't feel long, and easy to write, but it was a bit of a trouble-maker in terms of length. Apologies for dragging it out, minions and minionettes.

Anyway, couple of announcements. First, DO NOT expect an update again at least until the week of the 25th. My finals start on Monday, and I really need to focus on the demon calc final so I can pass the class and be done with it. Then I've got to pack and move again, so I'm not expecting any substantial free time until the 16th, at the earliest. Second, for the references to Tali's body in the upcoming chapter, I've been using the canon picture as much as I can. However, I did use, to some degree, a much cleaner picture posted by unicron9 on deviantart. Just type his name in the search bar, it'll be the first result. If anyone was wondering.

Third, for those of you who hate reading directly from the site and wish to read it on printed paper, I've discovered a clever system glitch for you all to use. While the desktop site of fanfiction does not allow copying of posted stories, the mobile site does. So, if you want to carry your favorite stories, find them on the main site, change the www of the url to m, and you can copy to your heart's content. Just a clever glitch I've been using to read a Dishonored fic I've been reading, thought you'd like to know.

Example: main link: s/8901283/1/Diplomatic-Gestures mobile: s/8901283/1/Diplomatic-Gestures

Anyway, something for you all to laugh at as my misery/enjoyment. I posted two short chapters of a Dishonored fic I'd like to pursue. Longer, ambitious project, but I've been considering it for a while, and I want to do it. Well, I've now got five people actively antagonizing me to finish the thing. I did a brief outline of how long the story itself would be, which I promised them I would finish... The current, most plausible scenario I've found is about 72 chapters of normal length... In how many languages can we say "I'm screwed?" I'm gonna do it. Just... not... sure how... yet.

Check in with you band of freaks next time! Review or message if you have thoughts or wish to amuse me! ~MGA

The first shoppe, a provider of assorted dresses and shoes, does absolutely nothing to hold our collective attention. That's due partially to the fact Tali's body doesn't match their shapes, and partially because they're just not attractive. A store of purses has the exact same results, and so does the one for overpriced jewelry. I guess this mall isn't exactly tailored to a thrifty Quarian machinist and an Alliance Marine who prefers vintage.

After five minutes of slow walking, we haven't even gotten through the door of a single merchant yet. Some of the things in the windows are pretty to look at, but nothing can tempt us enough to focus on it. Not a huge surprise, since neither of us are much shoppers. But we did come here looking for entertainment, and this mall simply isn't providing. At least Audrey, Start the Revolution makes things a little less awkward quiet for me. Doesn't help her a whole lot, though.

"The stories of this place don't do it justice," Tali moans, still holding my hand. "I don't mean that in a good way."

I scoff. "Same here. I never did understand why people loved these things. My classmates used to swear it was paradise, but it seems more like Hell to me."

"You had a mall to visit when you were younger?" There's a bit of surprise in her voice, but it feels more like a conversation starter than anything else.

Can't hurt to chat, pass some of the time. "Kinda. My colony on Mindoir was very rural, a lot of farmland. But there was a... metropolitan center, I guess you could call it, about an hour's drive away. It was a city not even a quarter the size of this port, but to the kids out in the boonies, it felt like the Citadel. Most of them would borrow their parent's cars or get a ride there, spend the day touring the malls, the restaurants, the theaters."

"Why didn't you go?" she asks pleasantly. "It sounds like fun."

"I never liked the place. The shows and concerts were nice, but there wasn't much else for me. It felt too impersonal. Everyone seemed so wrapped up in their own world, too preoccupied with themselves to care about anyone else. It was like people just assumed they would hate you."

Tali laughs a little. "That's why I don't like Omega or the Citadel. There's no bond with those around you. On the Flotilla, even if you don't know someone, you feel like you do. You can start a conversation with anyone while waiting in line or getting a meal. It helps with the close quarters."

Wasn't expecting that one. "You don't like the Citadel? Figured you'd love it, like it was a fancy version of the Flotilla. Have all of the people and convenience, but with a variety of cultures-slash-species and less worry about air filters breaking."

"I can hardly stand it," she says, shaking her head. "I enjoy being around other people, but only if it's a pleasant closeness. On the Rayya, everyone knew everyone, at least in some way. We were cramped, but it didn't feel like it. It's the being close to people emotionally, not how close they physically are."

"I can see that. Let me guess: you were one of the kids who had a handful of really good friends, but not a bunch of general acquaintances," I speculate.

She giggles. "Exactly. How did you know?"

"I was the same way. Still am, basically," I explain. "Two of a kind can spot each other a mile away."

"I knew there was a reason I liked you," she smiles while getting a tighter grip on my hand. "So you don't like cities in general, or do you not like specific cities?"

I bob my head to each side in an effort to come up with an answer. It makes Tali laugh. "It's basically cities in general, not counting the three exceptions I've found. The way people act is a big part of it, but it's also how close everything is. I grew up on a small farm, a half-dozen acres of fenced pasture for a backyard that I had to share with a bunch of chickens, cows, and herd dogs. Anyone who gets taken from open areas like that and put in tight quarters never fully adjusts."

"That must have been nice, having all of that room for yourself," she sighs in slight melancholy. Probably comparing it to her little hole in the wall of the Rayya as a kid and realizing how much she missed out on.

Let's see if this doesn't cheer her up a bit. "Weekends, it was Hell. Do you have any idea how long it takes to use a 20-inch push mower to cut a two-acre front lawn? That bastard ate up at least three hours of my Saturday every week, and that's if the mower didn't die and if the birds didn't attack."

I can only imagine the look of confusion under the visor. "Birds stopped you from mowing?"

"Once a month, minimum, I got scratched up by whatever decided to make a nest in the grass. There's something similar called a Killdeer on Earth, but Mindoir's version weighed about eight pounds and was a lot more hostile. Never could come up with a good name, so we just called them Pains-in-the-ass. They made nests about the size of a boot in the middle of the grass, camouflaged like no other: you couldn't see the things until you stepped in them. And if you ever got within three meters of the nest, whatever parent on duty would dive bomb your head to keep you from getting at the eggs. I learned to guess where they were, but I could only figure it out after they launched their first aerial assault." Sad part is, that's all true. I had more scars from mowing lawns than I did getting shot at before Lazarus.

"I wish I could have watched that," she giggles. Looks like my story's working. "What did you do?"

"I'd get a couple of big rocks and make a circle well around the nest, leaving them plenty of room and warning for me. Once they figured out I wasn't going to get any closer than that, they'd mostly relax. But every summer, we'd get at least three of them in the yard at the same time. Our neighbor, a little old granny named Kay, used to be a nurse and she'd stitch the wounds back up if I got a good scratch. I was a regular customer at the drug store for sutures and disinfectant."

Now she's really laughing. "And your parents let this happen? They didn't try to help you?"

"Hell, my mom would watch from the window as I got strafed by the kamikaze bastards: she thought it was hilarious." I'm trying really hard to keep a straight face while recounting this story. "They knew what was going on. They made sure I never got really hurt. But my mom always said that a little hard work and scars would build character. My dad agreed with her, though he'd always give me extra chore pay after mowing. We were a very odd family."

"I guess that was one good thing about the Rayya. There were never any animals that would attack while we did our chores," Tali giggles. "I hope we never run into those birds during a mission, or you may start to have flashbacks."

I shrug that one off. "It wasn't that bad. It was, it was worth it, actually. Mindoir grass was amazing soft after it got cut: it was just something about the planet. So every Saturday night, after the pterodactyls went to sleep, I'd grab a blanket and lay it out in the middle of the yard. Two of our dogs always followed me out there, I called them David and Goliath because of the size differences, and they'd curl up on either side of the sheet. And the three of us would lay out there under the stars for about an hour, just breathing in the fresh air and watching the stars. Sometimes it was at sunset, sometimes in the dead of night, sometimes with music like Black Balloon or Look After You. But for a good hour, I'd just enjoy the peace, and... try to remind myself life isn't all that bad, you know?"

She nods. She does it slowly, like she really does understand, rather than people who just say they do. "I know what you mean. I think everyone has something that they do to feel better. I did something similar on the Rayya when I needed to calm down."

"Was this 'something' interesting enough to tell me?" I ask with a goofy smile as extra motivation to recount her story.

She laughs and shakes her head like I'm insane. "I suppose. The Rayya is a liveship, but we also have a small farming section of the ship dedicated to food and oxygen production, in case something happens to the agriculture vessels or oxygen scrubbers. There's something resembling a garden in the far side, where a handful of plants native to Rannoch are cultivated. When the Quarians fled our home, there were some of these already on the ships for various reasons, and we became very careful about maintaining them after we realized we wouldn't be going back. We keep them in self-contained bubbles like the ones our youth are raised in before they get their suits, but with moisture, soil, and nutrients. They're arranged almost like a magazine garden, on small green platforms that simulate grass.

"My father would... he did not accept failure from me, in any form. If I received a low grade on something from school or if a teacher would say something that wasn't up to his expectations, he would yell at me for hours about my 'squandered potential' and 'what was needed from me.' When he stopped, I'd sneak out and go to the garden of Rannoch flowers. I would sit in the middle, staring at all of them... And that reminded me of why he wanted me to be the best, why he was so obsessed with finding a way to defeat the Geth. I'd think, 'This is what we lost. This is what we want back.' And that would motivate me to try harder. Not his yelling, but thinking about those beautiful flowers."

I slip my hand out of hers. She starts to grab for it again, but stops when she feels me hook her shoulder and pull her in close. She accepts by sliding her arm across the small of my back and hugging my side. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that," I say softly. She responds by digging her head deeper into my neck. "You didn't deserve that. Pushing your kid is one thing, but that's crossing a line."

"It's alright, Aaron," she murmurs. "It's something I've come to terms with. It was too long ago to bother me anymore."

Doesn't stop me from hugging her a bit tighter. "You sure? We can talk about it or something if you want."

She nods and loosens the grip on me. "I'm sure, and I know we can. I'm fine, really. But would you mind if we changed subjects?"

"I think we can do that." I let go over her shoulder and return to holding her hand. Then I put on another weirdo grin. "So, got any more embarrassing childhood stories to share?"

"What, one isn't good enough?" she laughs, slowly overcoming the slight depression. Means I'm doing my job.

"I gave you three: attack by birds, my Saturday night tradition, and the fact I probably could've filed abuse charges against my parents. Give me one more, and we'll call it even."

"Ok, ok," she concedes. She grips my hand with new-found purpose while thinking of which mistake to share. "Don't humans have a holiday where you play practical jokes on each other?"

I nod. "Depends on the culture, but a lot of us do. We call it April Fool's Day."

"Our ship has something similar, but it lasts a month, and it's mostly for teenagers. The idea is to target a friend or group with a small prank, and then let them retaliate with something better, to see how the competition grows. We have rules about it, like nothing that could endanger people or the ship, but it always gets out of hand. Seven years ago, a group of my friends were competing against another, and their last prank was to make all of our omni-tools ring with an obnoxious screaming sound while we were in class. After our teacher was done lecturing us on how childish our game was, we created a plan that the Rayya still talks about."

"Why am I afraid of what you came up with?" I laugh, ready for the punch line.

She points an accusing finger. "I was not the one who created the plan: I only helped them implement it. But our leader, Rila, purchased a version of... Nerve-Stim that included multiple product keys, so it could be used on twelve different suits. And the other group had twelve people..." Tali can barely breathe, she's giggling so hard.

"Tell me you didn't," I plead.

"Keelah, I had to," she snorts. "In the middle of the same class two days later, all of their suits started stimulating them in every zone I could program. Their entire group was fidgeting in their seats, trying not to move or say anything while our teacher kept asking what was wrong. Only when the boy in front started moaning that she finally realized what was happening. We lost our lunch breaks for two months, but Keelah, it was worth it."

My eyes are officially watering now. "Damn, our April Fool's never got that bad. I wish we were that creative. What was the retribution?"

Tali lets out another short laugh. "That was the best part. There was still a week left, but they surrendered. After we were released from class, they came to us and said, 'There is no way we can beat that, and we're terrified of what you'll follow up with. You win: please don't do that to us again.' Our teacher still tells stories about our war."

"That is beautiful." I let go of her hand just long enough to clap in reverence. "I applaud you and your friends. And I will never, under any circumstances, get into a prank competition with you."

"I'll take that as a compliment. Can I hold your hand again?" she asks, clenching her paw like it misses mine.

"I suppose," I chuckle and grab it. Our fingers do their little dance of finding their positions and get into the same comfortable spots as before. "Happy now?"

"How could I not be?" she laughs while leaning her head on my shoulder.

Well, at least we're not walking as fast as Garrus and I did earlier. A quick scan shows we've covered some ground during our conversation-filled meandering, but there's still quite a bit of mall left to explore. Looks like we've made it through... ten percent, give or take? Not like they have a lot of maps up for us to check. But between our chatting and Push's chords, there's no shortage of free amusement.

And then Nos Astra decides it's time for a lovely reminder about their majority species. The store on our right is a lingerie outlet, with the usual window displays of three different brands. How little the clothing covers doesn't bother me... But the fact that they have live models does. Makes sense, I guess: Asari aren't exactly known for hiding their sexuality. Doesn't make me any more comfortable walking next to strippers, especially with Tali at my side.

"You'd think they'd keep that kind of crap in strip clubs," I groan as we pass. The middle model, the lone human in the trio, makes some kind of face and waving motion to try baiting me.

"It's a shame the Asari have to resort to this," Tali comments. "No one respects them because of the ones who undress for money. I'm glad that Quarian dancers are treated better. Among our own people, at least."

We finally get far enough away to not see the skin display. "Just thinking out loud here, but it would also be kind of hard for a Quarian to be a stripper. There's a whole host of issues with you guys taking the hardware off. Just putting it out there."

"That's true," she laughs.

As much as I hate that previous store's marketing, it did plant something in my head that's worth bringing up. "Hey, I just thought of something that would be... might be interesting to talk about. Little weird, but it could probably stand discussing."

She looks at me a bit confused. "What?"

"Well, there's the uh... there's what happened last week. Before the Omega-4?"

"Oh..." she murmurs. "That. Um..."

"Nothing detailed, I promise. I just mean, we really haven't talked about it, like, at all. And I just had a few... questions that I was kind of hoping to have answered. And I thought you might have some too, and..." My voice slowly shrinks more and more until it's gone, like a high school kid asking a girl out for the first time. I thought I outgrew this crap.

Tali isn't in much better shape. "I-I guess. I mean, I didn't really need them answered, but I wouldn't mind. And i-if you have some too... We-we could talk about it if you want. Is there something in p-particular?"

"Yeah, one or, one or two," I chuckle in nervousness. "Mostly about, uh... anatomy. One or two about you, but mostly just checking the, you know, body parts. Is that ok?"

"That's fine. As long as you don't, um... mind me being nervous," she manages to say softly.

"Damn: I'm not the only one who feels like they're back in school, right? It's not just me?"

She laughs, partially at me, and partially at her own nerves. "Me too. I don't know why, if you were wondering."

"Probably has something to do with our lack of experience, or something like that," I say, rubbing my neck. "How about I ask a question, then you, keep trading back and forth? If it makes us too uncomfortable, we can move on. That work?"

"We c-can d-do that," she stutters out without too much nervous fidgeting. "Could you go fist, though? I'm still trying to... word them properly."

"No problem. Just say something if you don't want to answer."

Now on the spot, my understanding of the English language is failing. I pop my left pointer knuckle in nervous reflex, biting my cheek until my brain finally starts to function. "This is not a complaint: it's a question of curiosity, alright? Just for reference," I start in defense. "I noticed you really don't have any... hair anywhere. I'm assuming that has something to do with your suit, but you have some really nice hair on your head. Not just the long stuff on top, but the eyebrows and the lashes, all that. Is there some kind of reason for that other than just basic anatomy, or is there something else?"

Tali nods, though I'm not sure if it's for herself or me. "Alright, um... Yes, the suit is the reason that we have no hair on our bodies. It stops most of the sunlight exposure other races get, which causes us to lose our hair and have extremely pale skin. In fact, most Quarians are almost entirely bald across our bodies. But when we're young and in the bubbles before we get our first suit, we typically have human-comparable hair: putting on the suit for an extended period of time causes the hair loss.

"The only reason I still have mine is because I take special care of it. My mother loved my hair when I was a child. Everyday, she would brush it and give me medicine created specifically to make it more... sleek and longer. We still did this when I got my first suit, even though it made doing so hard. And after she died, I decided to keep it for both of us. It reminds me of her, and it's been the one... personal luxury I allow for just myself. The medicine nourishes and stimulates hair growth around my head, which is why it also makes my eyebrows and lashes grow too. The reason it doesn't affect the area around my mouth or jaw is because Quarians have never grown hair there, even before our suits. A doctor could explain that better, but that's what I know about it."

"Ok, that makes sense," I say with a nod. "Quick follow-up if you don't mind: how do you do that, exactly? The meds, I mean."

She points to a small red circle on the inside of her left forearm, one clearly marked for some reason. "This is for medicines that require injection. It's connected to a series of small needles in the suit: if I insert something liquid into here, like medi-gel or antibiotics, it will flow through the suit until it reaches the proper location. In the case of my hair nutrients, it will reach the small needle in the top of my helmet, right above my head, and dispenses it there. From there, my veins and implants carry it just like it was blood to where it should go."

That makes a lot of sense: one designated spot to shoot the meds, let the computer decide where to stab you. "Alright. Thank you. Your turn, like I promised. Do you have one, or do you want to wait some more?"

"No, I have one, I think," she says while clenching my hand. "It's, it's along the lines of your question. I was wondering about y-your hair. When I was doing research on how to improve my immune system, I decided to look up, um, human bodies, so I could make sure that there wouldn't be, um, confusion when... Any-anyway, I found a diagram that showed an overview of male anatomy. I didn't read any of the details, but there was a note I saw about how you tend to have hair almost everywhere. And when-that night, I saw that you had very little around your chest and the... area right below that. Is that something from your rebuilding, or a condition you were born with, or did you change something for me or... Does that make sense?"

Not exactly a question I was expecting, but alright. "Yeah, I understand. So the whole Cerberus rebuild didn't change anything there, and neither did the one upgrade Mordin and Chakwas installed on me. And it's not some kind of weird medical thing either. It's mostly personal preference and a slight bit of change for you for our time alone. By default, I tend to use an electric shaver to get rid of most of the hair in those general areas. It bothers me if I leave it unattended: don't ask me why, because I have no idea. Probably has something to do with the fact that it's a pain to get blood or sweat out of, which required at least once a week.

"But I did take care to shave it all off and shower before you came up. The torso hair, I got rid of because there wasn't enough worth keeping to look decent. And I trimmed the... how do I word this?" Using my free hand, I very vaguely gesture towards my belt. "... the nether regions in case we ended up doing what we did. I'm not real fond of the idea of leaving that while we have an... intimate moment. It's probably not comfortable for either side to have that rubbing. But it was half personal preference, half making sure you were comfortable. That work for an answer?"

"Yes, it does. I was only wondering the reasons why. And thank you for shaving: I like the way your skin feels." She strokes the back of my held hand as another expression of gratitude. I always forget how nice it is when she does that. "Do you have another question?"

I nod and hold her hand a bit tighter. "Yes. Not many more about, you know, anatomy. Maybe two. If that's alright with you."

"I don't mind." Her tone makes me really want to see behind her mask again, because I just know there's another sweet, slightly nervous smile hiding back there.

While the questions in my brain try to become understandable, I give our surroundings a quick look, to see if our walk has become another blind meandering like earlier. Thankfully, it looks like we're moving about half the speed as the previous walk through. Only twenty-something percent of the mall is behind us, as compared to last time's forty-ish. If we start ignoring the mall completely again, I'll see if we can't stop and sit somewhere to keep up the chatting. Or something like that: haven't thought that far ahead. I attribute that to Tali distracting me and Deep Inside of You in my opposite ear.

"Ok. Another curiosity one. But what are those little... those silver vein things you have under your skin? I saw the two over your eyes, the few around your collarbone, and there were a few that almost seem to match up with your spine. Are they just your blood veins close to the surface, or some other body part?"

Tali giggles at the question, oddly enough. "I'm sorry: I'm not laughing at you," she immediately apologizes. "I wasn't expecting you to ask about them. It's something that every Quarian has, so I sometimes forget other races don't recognize them."

"No harm done to my dignity," I chuckle. "I was a little confused when you asked about the hair, so it makes us even."

She gets her laughter under control a few heartbeats later. "Sorry. No, they're not a natural part of my body, but they are close. Because of our weakened immune systems, an infection can spread through us much faster. So we developed a system of cybernetics that can transport various liquids across our bodies quickly. It resembles the heart's veins and capillaries, and it usually runs within the muscles. But in places where that isn't viable or efficient, the tubes have to be placed directly beneath the skin. Those are the ones you can see. Between that and the suit's mechanisms, a dose of medi-gel can reach anywhere in my body, even my organs, in seconds. Every Quarian has them implanted within the first few years of their life, and the system will grow with them through their lives."

"You guys are a clever bunch with stuff like that. Nothing quite like dire situations to speed up the invention process. Thanks: that one did have me pretty confused. I couldn't figure out for the life of me what those things were." I give her a smile and lean a bit towards her. "And I do like them, actually. They add a little accent to your already amazing face. Just so you know."

She giggles under her breath. Not sure if it's embarrassment or joy at the bit of flattery, but I'm not sure either of us care. "Thank you, Aaron. I.. No one's ever complimented me about my looks before."

"That's a shame, because you deserve a lot of them." Another quiet laugh from her. "So, your turn for the question. Got a good one for me?"

"I think so, though it's about you and the anatomy. It will make sense when you hear it." She seems to be getting less nervous as the conversation goes, thankfully. Less stutters and hand wringing. Good sign.

"Go for it," I shrug.

She runs her thumb across the top of my hand again. "I was wondering, when Cerberus rebuilt you, did they give you any upgrades from what you were? Is there anything different from the body you had on the SSV Normandy and the one you have now? Any cybernetics that are more than just reconstruction, or did they change the structure of your joints, or is anything a different size than it was before?"

I make a bit of an odd face in reflex. My mind just went in a place I'm not so sure it belongs. "When you mean size, are you referring to...?" I question.

Apparently not. She freezes for a moment, then throws her hands up in panic. "No, no, no! Keelah, not that! I wasn't thinking about that, I promise! I meant the muscles of your legs, or your shoulders! I didn't mean your-" She catches herself right before she announces to everyone what we're talking about. Her leaning toward my ear and whispering is far more subtle. "I was not referring to your... to anything in that area. I meant your body in general."

"Ok, just had to check that one. Making sure we're on the same page." I grab her hand again and pull it to my hip. "To answer your question, not much was changed. I convinced Miranda to give me a report from the project that brought me back, and I compared it to my old records to check exactly that. There is quite a bit of tech in me that's almost entirely to replace what was lost. Like there's some kind of connector in the upper half of my spine that bridges the top and bottom together, since it was pretty beat up when they found it. It speeds up the nerve messages a few nanoseconds, so it's not exactly a huge improvement. And that's what most of the rebuild was: tech to replace what I lost, along with grown muscles and tissues that were pretty close to what I had before I died. So there's a couple of little differences, but I still fit in the same clothes and everything. And all of the... nether regions I thought you were asking about? It's exactly the same as it was. No idea how they brought it back, but same size, same functionality, same everything. Just so it's out there.

"There are a few 'upgrades,' though I hesitate to call them that. I seem to retain muscle mass easier, some kind of tech in there maintaining them so I'm a bit stronger and faster. The joints are similar, maybe a hair less noticeable. But I'm dealing with them. The only thing I did accept was something Chakwas and Mordin recommended when we realized husks were back: they put a few metal plates in the tops of my knuckles. It doesn't make me punch harder, but it keeps the little bones there from breaking. That's the only real tech or upgrade I accepted. Everything else is pretty close to what I had before the attack. Few small 'enhancements,' but nothing I think you would notice."

"That's what I thought. I knew that your scars were gone because they had to regrow your skin, but I didn't know about anything else. Can I ask one more short question about that? It's more about your answer than your implants." I try to read something in her tone or body language, but come up blank. Feels like she's just being her usual, curious self.

I shrug again. "Sure."

"Why are you against using cybernetics to upgrade yourself? The way you talk about them seems like you're opposed to them entirely."

"Well, you're actually not the first person to ask that: Chakwas was, followed closely by Mordin," I chuckle softly. "But I'm just not fond of screwing with the human body in general. I mean, medicine to get rid of diseases is one thing, but to start running wires through your bones and rewriting your genetic code is something I don't believe in. Because then, you're talking about changing something incredibly complicated that we still don't fully understand. In the case of you guys and those upgrades, that was born our of necessity. You were losing people to infections, and there's not enough left of you to allow that, that's fine. But when it becomes less necessity and more trying to 'improve' people, it-it doesn't sit right with me. Too much room for screw ups, and it almost feels like its trying to make us this... ideal someone has that we should all be. Other people can do it if they want, but I'm not going to be one of them. Does that make sense, or did I ramble too far again?"

"No, I understand," she says while moving closer to me. "I can see what you mean. Thank you for explaining that."

"Not a problem."

Another boring shop fails to attract us as we walk right on by, a calendar store of all places. I didn't even realize they still made the things. One dedicated to the art depictions of Drell gods is worthy of being printed for others, but I'm not sure the about the format. May have to get that for Thane later, nice little gift for him. Someone Who Cares tries to play itself, and I skip it for the time being. Definitely one of my favorites, but doesn't fit my mood. Better Days is a better match.

"So, last big anatomy one, I promise," I chuckle. "Then we'll see if we can't move on to something else."

She shrugs happily. "It's ok: at least it's an interesting conversation."

"I guess it is. But still, should be the final one on this. Would you mind explaining your eye situation for me? The layout and parts has me confused. It almost looks like you don't have any irises or pupils, that the center of your eyes are basically all white. And the, what's it called, the scleras were a hazy red when you first took off the mask, but they were a light gray by the time you were putting your suit back on. That's not exactly comparable to any other race I've seen, so I'm just wondering if they've got a different structure to them or something."

"There's not much difference, actually: it only looks that way," she explains. "The structure is roughly the same as any other race. There's a pupil in the center, surrounded by an iris, with the scleras taking up the rest of the eyes. But their colors tend to hide that. The middle is predominantly white or clear, almost like an albino animal's skin. If you look closely, you can see the slightly darker streaks like the ones humans or Turians have in their irises, and the line separating the pupil and the iris. The only thing that makes them different from other races is that they're white and hard to see."

"Oh, that explains it," I laugh. "I was so confused. Every alien or animal I've seen had at least a similar eye structure, with pupils and irises and everything. That color does make it hard to realize they're the same."

She nods with a small giggle. "Exactly. Some Quarians have more of a gray tone to them instead of white, but they are as rare as blue eyes in humans. Now, the reason my scleras have the different colors is a bit more complicated. Like human eyes, they are white as a rule, and they sometimes become bloodshot. But the veins in our eyes don't run quite as close to the surface as other races do: they're set farther back, and only reach the edge in select locations. So when more blood is pumped through them, such as from alcohol or nervousness, the scleras themselves become a hazy red. They reflect the extra color behind them, and since the veins are farther back, it's more of an overall color than the small, detailed lines that humans have. That's why my scleras were red when you took my mask off and less so when we were finished: I wasn't as nervous anymore."

I give her a nod and grip her hand tighter. "I see. Thanks the explanations. Now, I'm not sure if it needs clarity, but making sure it gets said. I think your eyes are beautiful, those little cybernetics are adorable on you, and I love your hair. I didn't question a single thing because I didn't like it or didn't want to see it again. The anatomy was confusing me, and I just wanted to know the reasons. That's all, alright?"

"I didn't think you didn't like them," she says, leaning closer. The blurry outline of a smile appears behind her mask. "But it is nice to hear you say it, and I'm glad you do. Thank you, Aaron. I like everything about you that I questioned too."

I chuckle. "That's nice to hear: letting my hair grow back in would be a pain. Have any more questions?"

She doesn't have nearly as much hesitation this time asking. "I think this is my last one about our bodies," she says with none of her usual nerves. Good. "Do human bodies always feel warm, or is it only at certain times? Last week, your skin was hotter than I was expecting it to be, and it didn't seem to go down much."

I shrug. "For the most part, it's somewhat warm. But it does fluctuate, from mood or heart rate or other reasons. Kinda like your scleras: if we get nervous or something, blood starts pumping more, and it feels warmer. Of course, fever makes it even worse, but I think that's across basically every species out there."

"No, Quarians have the same problem with fevers. It makes our suits unbearably hot when we're sick," she explains softly. "But my skin has never felt as warm as yours did last week, even when I was fighting an infection. Is yours always warmer like that, or was it a single moment?"

"Well, if your slightly cooler skin is any indication, it's probably always higher than yours. It's usually lower than it was, though. I was kinda nervous and flustered, so that got the temperature up a bit more. Not that mine will ever be cold, or that yours is too cold. I hardly noticed that your skin was any cooler than mine." I throw in that last bit for defense, just in case it's worrying her.

There's a bit of a smile trying to come out through that purple haze of hers. "That's ok. I like the extra warmth. It's nice when I lay my head against your chest or your cheek. And what you said about your questions didn't mean you didn't enjoy them, that you were only curious? It's the same about mine: I love your shaved torso, your lack of cybernetics, and your extra warm skin."

"Well, that's good. I might be able to grow the hair out and fix one of those issues, but I can't do a whole lot about the other two. Not without extensive surgery, anyway. You want me to book the appointment with Mordin and Chakwas, let you cater to my needs while I rest in bed for a few weeks?"

"I think I can live with the current you," she giggles.

Another amusing song decides to play, I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) without a goofy parody commercial to go with it for once. Actually not a bad song, though it's become nothing but a running joke for humans who know the older music. A small cache of magic shoppes appears on our left, which is hilariously countered by the business-wear tailor across the street. It makes for an entertaining sight, watching the two different customer bases stare at each other in disgust or confusion. Gotta love the close proximity of malls: makes for some interesting encounters.

"That was not a well-thought decision, was it?" Tali asks with her own small laugh.
I shrug. "Not like there's laws about what can be rented here. Besides, it's a free show for the people who wander through here."

"I suppose. Are we done... asking questions? Or am I allowed to ask a few more, even if they aren't specifically about our bodies?"

"I'll never say you can't ask me a question," I concede. "Can't guarantee it'll be a great answer, but I'll try my best. What's on your mind?"

I can feel her try to pull her hand out to do that little wringing thing with them again. Then she realizes I'm still holding it and stops. "Sorry. I had one question about the... intimate moment. It-it's simple and it's not detailed: I promise."

I run my thumb across the top of her hand for comfort. "As long as you're alright with asking me. Relax, ok?"

She blows a long sigh to calm herself, like a speaker getting ready to walk out in front of her crowd. "I'll try. Did you, um... Did I... Keelah, Why can't I say this?" She leans over to my ear, so no one else can hear her whisper. "You did enjoy it, right? I-I didn't do anything wrong, or say s-something that..."

"You don't have to be nervous," I smile softly. "Yes, I did. I enjoyed it immensely. Even with us being awkward about everything, even with you stuttering and me forgetting how to speak in general, I loved that night. There's not a moment of it I would trade for anything in the galaxy. I promise."

She finally gives in to a relieved gasp for air. "Keelah, I was worried about that." A few awkward giggles escape her. "I didn't know what I was doing at all. I really thought that I had messed something up that night. I-I was sure that you didn't like it."

"Complete opposite. One of the best nights of my life, hands down." Some part of my brain realizes I should ask her the same question. "You-you liked it too, right? I wasn't too rough, or not rough enough, or anything like that? Right?"

She takes the inquiry without the slightest panic. "Definitely. How could I not when my boyfriend is such a good kisser?" Absolutely no hesitation in that answer. So either she expected this one a while ago, or that's the absolute truth from her. I have to admit, the bit of flattery is nice.

My face must be getting kind of red, because Tali starts giggling. "Did I make the great Commander Shepard blush?"

"Hey, you try having your significant other tell you you're good at that in public without losing your cool," I chuckle, rubbing my neck.

She pulls me in a little closer. "I guess it's a good thing I still have my visor on, or you would be laughing at me too. I think I'm doing the same."

"It can't be much worse than my face." I really hope no one around knows what we're talking about. This would be very hard to explain if Wong tries to interview me again and she knew about this.

Tali giggles. "I'm not so sure. Do you want to get a room and find out? There should be a nice hotel somewhere near here."

"You really know how to tempt a man, Miss vas Normandy."

And another question just popped into my head. Well, it's probably been in there for a while, but it's now current in my thoughts. Might as well find out. "I've got one more for you to answer. Still feel up for it?"

"I can tell you when I know what the question is. Is it better or worse than mine?" She seems to have recovered her sense of humor, so that's good.

"Maybe a little worse, depending on your answer." I have to fight the urge to sigh like she did before I finally ask. "About us being... intimate, or whatever you want to call it. Were you planning on, no, do you want to... you know, do it again? Not like today or anything, but anywhere in the near future? Because if you don't, I don't mind. I'd just like to, you know, know if you were considering that anymore or if it was a one night thing."

Not sure if she was expecting that one or not, but she seems to accept it pretty well. "Well, um... I was hoping a little that, um... I would like to do it again. I- Only if you want to, though: don't feel obligated, please."

My left hand comes up in some instinctual act to prove my innocence. "Hey, it's up to you. I would love to do it again, but it's not a deal-breaker. I am nothing but your liege, here to cater to what your wishes. If you want to just kiss, to stay in the suit, for us to be intimate again, or anything in between, I will be more than happy to serve."

"I understand," she giggles. "Um, sure. We can... do it again."

"Ok, thank you for clarifying that: I was a little concerned. So, two quick follow-ups. When would you be able to again, health-wise? I know you have to wait a bit so your system can recover, but I have no idea how long that takes. And two, should we just call it making love, or do you want something else as a label? Since we might, you know, talk about it again." That came out a bit quicker than I was intending, probably because of my more-than-slight nerves. But it works.

"I will probably have recovered enough by the end of tomorrow: I finally stopped having a runny nose yesterday, and the instructions on my medicine say that's the recommended time to wait between taking the suit off," she explains. "I will have Dr. Chakwas run a few tests to make sure. I would be fine calling it 'making love,' but would you mind if I used 'intimacy?' I like the way it sounds."

I smile at her. "Both answers are great in my book. Just let me know if you want to be intimate, since that's what we're calling it."

"And ruin the surprise? I'm not sure I will: it's fun to catch you off-guard."

I just shake my head.

Let's see if we can't end this train of thought before it gets rated-R. "Ok, I have one final question that just occurred to me. After that, I'll stop for a while, alright?" I say while laughing just a bit. Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes attempts to serenade my left ear, but I let it become background noise. I've got bigger priorities right now.

"That's fine. Maybe when we quit, we can finally look at the stores we've been passing." She's got a point. We've hit the food court again, the main indicator that we're halfway through this place. It seems our short attention spans prevent us from shopping in the slightest.

And the general nervousness has returned with a vengeance. "Fair enough. Last one for now, I promise. But, um... you said before that you've never shown your face to anyone, though I assume your parents are an exception. Anyway, does that mean... does that mean I was your first kiss and your first lover, or did I interpret that wrong?"

"Um..." I can feel her fingers fidget in my hand, her trying to rub them to calm herself. "It may be a little silly, but yes. I've never linked my suit's environment to another's, or taken my mask off for anyone. Before you kissed me, the only people who had ever touched my skin were a few doctors and my parents. You were the first person to ever kiss me, or anything beyond that."

"Wow, that's..." I officially cannot form a single cohesive thought. "That's... It's a bit to process. Not bad, but... I guess it's just now sinking in how much you had to trust and care about me for you to do that. I didn't think that... I didn't think how big that was for you. Thank you... Really."

She leans her head onto my shoulder. "You are the first and only person I've trusted like that, Aaron," she whispers. "I care about you more than I ever thought I could. You don't need to thank me."

"You still deserve it," I say, using my other hand to stroke the side of her mask. "To trust me with your heart and give something that special to me... You know, I almost wish I was a virgin when I met you. Just so I could give you the same, let you know how much I care about you. It-it almost doesn't feel right not to."

Her mask angles itself towards me, her white eyes staring into me through the glass. "I don't care about that. All that matters is you're mine now. That's all that I want, and that's more than enough for me." Even with that stupid barrier between us, I can tell she really means it. Like she's taking something truly intimate she's held for herself and showing it to me. Like she wants me to know without a doubt how she feels. Wow... I never thought she'd ever do that for me... Never thought I'd want to do that for her.

"Thanks, baby girl," I smile and hug her tight.

She wraps her arm around my back while pushing her mask into my cheek. But the entire time, she absolutely refuses to let go of the hand she's got a hold of. It makes me hugging her back just a bit awkward, but not overly so, and it feels good. It... it actually feels really good.

"What does 'baby girl' mean?" she asks softly.

It finally occurs to me what I said. "It doesn't really mean anything. Humans have an odd tendency to try giving their partners pet names. I don't know where that came from: it wasn't in my head a second ago. My bad."

She giggles. "I like it. It sounds sweet."

"So am I going to have to call you that now?" I chuckle. "Just refer to you as my baby girl, or just 'baby girl' in general?"

"If you don't mind." She backs up enough to set her mask against my forehead. "As long as you whisper it to me the next time we kiss."

"I think I can manage that."

We finally end the hug, though we refuse to let go of each other's hand. "So are we finally going to start shopping today, or will we keep walking?" my favorite Quarian jokes.

"We should probably do that, shouldn't we?" I laugh. "Any in particular catching your eye?"

She stops and scans the surrounding walls, debating which neon sign will pull us in. "Nothing particularly. But I'm not opposed to anything."

"That's about the same here, which does not help us at all in deciding. Actually, I think I've got an idea. But I'll need my hand back."

She groans a little in protest, but surrenders my limb. I bring up my omni-tool, open up the app collection, and scroll. It settles right on the one I want: the holographic spinning bottle. Not exactly the intended use for it, but it'll work. "Let's have technology decide for us."

She gets a good giggle at me. "That will work."

With a flick of the wrist, the orange virtual Coke bottle spins on its invisible axis like a helicopter blade. I hold it out parallel with the ground and let it slow down on its own accord. It takes about ten seconds to finally settle on the destination... "Scents of Thessia, Palaven, and Everything in Between."

"A perfume store?" Tali questions. "That's not a bad choice."

I chuckle. "The digital overlord has spoken. It shall be there that we visit."

I close the omni-tool and lower my hand, which Tali immediately takes in hers. With a small laugh, we walk on over to the shoppe.

Songs in order of appearance: (I fully recommend looking them up on your music provider of choice)

Audrey, Start The Revolution by Anberlin.

Black Balloon by The Goo Goo Dolls. (It's a guy band, relax. Contemporary rock: don't be terrified by the name)

Look After You by The Fray.

Push by Matchbox Twenty.

Deep Inside of You by Third Eye Blind. (And man, I love this song lately.)

Someone Who Cares by Three Days Grace.'

Better Days by The Goo Goo Dolls.

I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meatloaf.

Everybody Needs Somebody Sometimes by Keith Urban.