…...
A Commander and a Professor
She got up to tug on her pants and a shirt he followed her lead before they walked out she felt a lot better seeing Karin joining Nyreen in laughing by the door. She looked over and saw Tashya giving them a dirty look while Brooks giggled to herself on the floor.
"Okay...what happened?"
"Commander..." she immediately pouted.
"Oh well good morning Commander, Garrus, you see we were already up and about and we..we heard her scream and thought there was something seriously wrong because she just doesn't as you know. We come in..." Karin started.
"And...she's pointing frantically at bug in her bed...like we haven't been shooting worse things." Brooks called.
Garrus was glad it was nothing and held back a chuckle as Felicity grinned and shook her head.
"It was some gross slug thing and I didn't have my gun..it's not funny!"
"What would you have done? Shot something smaller than a typical clip that was next to your head?" Brooks asked.
She flipped her off earning more laughter.
"Is it dead now Tashya?" Felicity asked.
"Yes..."
"Good, now let's get ready for the morning routine we'll put the whole thing behind us."
Nyreen wiped her eye.
"Yes ma'am."
…..
Felicity was able to meet the others once she was done with her after work out shower as well as introduce those that didn't know one another. Veetor knew Tali and Kal'reegar and was glad to see them again.
"Usually you're so nervous, haven't had issues?" Tali asked, falling in step with Felicity she had missed her friend and was glad to see she was doing okay.
They didn't have many plans though this time they coaxed Mordin out with Padok and Karin, Chloe wasn't all that interested though she'd follow Garrus anywhere. Grunt was at least a little curious about Charr and Kargesh. After they ate the group had grown a bit.
"If we're to...go out together what plans effect all of us?" Padok asked.
"Surely something without the worry of combat. Not science no, not entertaining for everyone. Gambling has been done...hmm?" Mordin said.
"Relax Mordin we'll think of something, we have plenty of time to not see one another hmm?" Felicity said.
He smiled briefly.
"I suppose...ah it appears that Asari there is trying to get your attention."
She looked where he pointed and sighed seeing the woman she wore a dark red and black dress and waved excitedly as she hurried over.
"Oh I knew it was you Felly."
She huffed hearing the old nickname.
"Really? It's been years considering we haven't seen one another since was a kid."
"Commander Asari have good memories as long as we live a handful of years isn't enough to forget someone." Tashya said, her tone teasing.
She shook her head as the other laughed.
"See? You've barely aged you've always been adorable but you're a woman now and gorgeous at that."
"Ooh better be careful flirting this is her new bondmate." Nyreen said, Grunt had noticed a change in her scent at breakfast though even if he hadn't been there it was a little obvious in the way he acted.
Keeping her close daring any man he didn't know to even try talking to her so he could set them straight he crossed his arms as she jumped a bit.
"I'm not in any particular sort of bad mood, she speaks the truth anyways..."
Felicity nudged him though she smiled.
"Well that very awkward step aside...I am Orella, and as she said I met her when she was a kid, I was impressed hearing her sing so beautifully outside her mother tongue." she finally said after a few quick introductions.
"Outside her mother tongue..? Another language?" Miranda asked.
"Not from Earth when she said her parents gave her books to keep her well educated I was surprised how easily she took to it on her own."
"Mother always insisted we be better than the typical close minded violent Krogan though I'm still more for headbutts than chatting." Grunt said.
She grinned.
"So you don't need a translator in a few areas?"
"I'm not using one now, well incoming anyways you've never spoken to me in English." she said simply.
"Felicity you could understand us and never mentioned it? Any other secrets? Do you have Quarian blood in you too?" Tali asked, mostly teasing.
Felicity stuck her tongue out at her and she laughed having studied human actions a little more she didn't why it amused her beyond the mattered of a decorated Commander doing so...well actually that was a perfectly acceptable reason.
"Well as long as you keep in practice."
"Hey I need my translator I was told to learn the most common dialects in..school not all from one region just whichever was most used. There are others I simply don't understand and I have been introduced to a lot of aliens. I still practice though." she reasoned.
"If you say so, look I just needed a favor a one time thing that could really help out a lot of people."
"What do you need?"
"There is a charity event tonight, it's been bouncing from station to station, for those planets that haven't been protected just yet...bad luck and all the funding is for rebuilds and some refugee benefits for the future. I've been scraping by looking for acts instead of just charging for food and using those credits. When I saw you I remembered your singing, and as you know there are more ways of showing how well you work with aliens than simply fighting beside them."
She sighed.
"I appreciate what you're trying to do and the Alliance would be more than able to give a generous donation but I haven't done any singing in a long while I don't have any sort of act that the rich would be donating to see."
"Sure you don't, please?"
"It is a reasonable request. Even poorly done is worth it for a laugh many would pay for that. Would like to see, assuming you can understand me as well." Mordin said.
"I can, and h about you? What about Gilbert and Sullivan?" remembering one of their short chats while she was able on the Haestrom.
"Well done then. That was highly short lived. Interesting break."
"You know I thought you looked familiar Mordin oh you could both do it, it is alright with you if your bondmate is friendly with another man right?" Orella said eyeing Garrus.
He shook his head.
"You know there doesn't need to be any tiptoeing around me, at least I know Mordin isn't interested in women the same most of us are."
"Quite, breeding requests are the way to go, no drama needed." Felicity nudged him though he smirked in response.
"Really Garrus you too?"
"Come on Felicity I want to hear you, in my language besides we didn't have anything planned today anyhow."
She sighed as Solana pushed her toward Orella.
"Fine..."
"If it sucks I'll be the first to tell you, so don't worry about that." Jack offered.
"Gee thanks...alright fine." Orella bounced excitedly.
"Great! Come on a little flash to the mind I'll give you the steps and songs and we'll have a dress rehearsal I can't wait to see you all dolled up...in a purely platonic way." she immediately lifted them up so there wouldn't be any changed minds, knowing Felicity's stance on dancing.
"Wait steps...no dancing!"
Ignoring her knowing she was right she told the others where it was taking place and to just use her name to get in for free, she wasn't extending the offer to anyone else so all other viewers would pay plenty to get in friends of the chosen actors could get in free anyhow.
….
Felicity sighed heavily hearing the advertisement outside the window, Orella worked fast in most cases but this time she had a deadline they listened more. Commander Shepard and Mordin join the acts in hopes you'll come to support those in need it said. She sighed, she could argue all she wanted but she was mentioned as Commander more and more that's how many aliens knew her anyways. It wasn't so bad sharing the memories and doing a quick run through, she could get all the information she wanted but she still had to sell something worth seeing. Orella picked out what first looked like a a typical Asari dress design in pink and white for her though the skirt was much longer and the shoulders were cut out leaving sleeves hanging loosely.
Her hair was brushed on one side mostly curled as her make up was done lightly, the rest of the cast was certainly excited to see where this was going. As classified as operations went there was still plenty of unclassified information on the human widely trusted by aliens that fought beside them she was picking up a fanbase. She sighed looking at the triple winged eyeliner and pink gloss she hardly recognized herself.
"Ah for a moment I didn't recognize you. You look nice." Mordin said.
His usual outfit was changed out for a black and white set that looked well enough with her dress most of their scenes were together. Orella may not know Garrus but it wasn't always clear how a Turian would act around a new mate and another man no matter the situation. They had a few close dances to go through. Casual dancing..not her thing but Felicity could follow with the best of him, she refused to let him hear a word of song outside her translator though.
Granted it wasn't just alien, there were human numbers too, all for the sake of working together, it was a decent message in these times. If those who were well off could listen there might be more donations, she still called Councilor Anderson about donations which he obviously agreed to also teasing that he'd be watching on the extranet as it was being recorded and broadcasted live where it was able.
She hoped she didn't mess up, though Mordin was right it would still probably be interesting enough to win over those they were hoping to donate. She stood up slowly she wasn't all that used to the heels but it wasn't the first time they were forced on her. At least they had to make an entrance with one another so she could hold on to him. They weren't too tall but enough so that she wobbled a bit at first. There was a slit along the sighed to her knee something to give her a little more room as Orella said, if she were born in a different setting being a little more constricted in heels wouldn't have been so bad.
That however wasn't the case.
Orella had been right again...the advertisement blew up she was sure as they arrived they would only fill a hundred or so seats and yes it was all credits but still they needed more. Hearing who would be performing won over a lot more people.
"Oh it's packed."
"You can run into a warzone. Go for the kill, headshots plentiful. Hand to hand is no issue, elevated tone suggests this is what frightens you, intriguing." Mordin teased.
"Oh laugh it up, if I get frustrated I can't shoot the audience..."
"This is true. Learned during first performance. Take deep breaths, relax it will be fine." he offered.
She smiled at him.
"Maybe." she looked through the crack in the curtain until she found a good chunk of the crew at the tables in the middle they had a perfect view.
"Oh Felly it's true, the donation we received was generous, you could almost walk out right now."
"Really?"
"Oh please I'm completely messing with you, you're going on." she said with a grin.
She huffed.
"Whatever..."
"But Felicity..."
"Yes?"
"Thanks for doing this, you too Mordin it really helps and everyone will appreciate it, have fun out there."
She smiled a little wider and nodded as Orella walked out to announce the first act it was simple but with an Elcor and Hanar to get the crowd warmed up as she said.
"Commander can provide further advice where Garrus is concerned." Mordin said.
"What right now..?"
"This one...feels like a flower..."
He nodded.
"Turians not quite Avian entirely no...not like Raloi and yet not entirely Reptilian...more like Krogan, but with certain bits of both so many things common though uncommonly known. Touch is nice on smoother areas which you no doubt know by now but beyond that. Well art is not common off of Palaven it does exist and what part is Avian will appreciate a song from own language. Might recommend chafing cream anyways for after party room for more touching."
She almost laughed.
"Oh jeeze Mordin..."
"What? As Salarians don't have the same sex drives as most interesting to study. Not embarrassing just curious if you have new research after tonight let me know can study them with Padok."
She looked at him.
"You're completely yanking me around aren't you? You don't really want that..."
"Wouldn't dream of mockery, teasing yes, mockery never unless needed. As far as research I think you must be joking with me. Salarian hardly ever have reason to turn down intel."
She just shook her head as they listened for their cue, the conversation was definitely getting awkward already. Though she was curious how much Garrus might like it.
…..
(Reddestiny92: While there are obvious signs of why Turians look like what that's not what I had him getting out just basic what effects what and that might be clear but if not no I was not saying they aren't anything specific. Which sounds confusing but you know what I mean lol.)
