Real rhythm filled the mako and nothing Ashley could say would change Gale's mind. She played her Scottish rap at full volume to drown the complaining that the Chief needed an English translator to understand what the Scots apparently called English.
It was a point won for pride.
"McRoy would slaughter - what's that bloke's face that you been listenin' to? Eminem? Gimme a break, love, Eminem's put a 3 in a sock while McRoy's slayed 24/7 in the pen. I been born in the wrong time line, yeah. Would travel back in a heart beat just to witness McRoy's flow."
"You can't even understand him!" Ashley protested. "Rap can be poetry in-"
"Oi, you don't understand 'im. I hear him just fine!"
Gale jerked on the mako wheel to give Ashley something else to complain about, but added another damning threat to it all to show just how much worse she could make the Chief's life.
"Don't make me play the pipes, love. I'll bust your drums, I will. Rule goes that whoever drives the mako gets to choose the music. Today's my day."
"Everyday is your day," Ashley grumbled.
"That's right, innit?" Gale beamed a cheeky smile over her shoulder. "'Cause I'm the Commander. You can choose your tunes when you become one."
Groans sounded somewhere else in the mako. Gale leaned over to check in on Tali, sighing as she decided to turn her music down so as not to torment the motion-sick quarian even more. She huffed and puffed but ultimately stayed quiet, staying focused on bringing the team back home to the Normandy - and to be entertained by whatever the crazy archaeologist was going to try to teach her now.
"Persistent as ever, them 'info sessions' of hers. She still ain't gettin' it that I'm not there for the reason she thinks I am. Don't think she'd be as excited as she is, teachin' me about what lives in actual shite."
A repulsive shudder rolled down Shepard's spine.
"Jesus, never knew there was so much disgusting shit out there. Even got mites livin' in my eyelashes. Like what the actual fuck? Gonna end up losin' sleep 'cause of her, and not for the reason I like."
But... It was... What was the word she was searching for? She was learning things. She didn't think she'd take a liking to it, never thought she'd be sitting in on classes either. A smirk danced on Gale's lips as the more vulgar parts of her mind began to cook up a fantasy of T'Soni as her teacher - not that she had the fortune to be able to go to school.
Maybe that was it, that kept drawing her to the scientist. She got to witness a totally different lifestyle, what being a book-worm would have turned her into, if she was born wealthy.
"Does it matter now? No point thinkin' up that kinda shite. I can what if all day to the end of my days, then."
There was almost an eagerness upon wondering what next fucked up shite T'Soni would teach her about, and break a new record of just how much more fucked up shite would be flowing out her pretty lips. Apparently only she was capable of captivating Gale long enough to keep staring at that mouth, despite being thoroughly grossed out.
"Fuck the blokes that always say: y'can make watchin' paint dry interesting. This lass is literally talking about diggin' in pelvic bones and findin' worms and gettin' excited that there's worms dining on a sweet an' salty buffet of intestines. And I'm fucking rubbin' my legs every time I'm watching her."
Tension brewed upon the memories collecting and circulating. She pressed the pedal to rev up the mako and took the nearest detour off a cliff in her race to the Normandy's landing zone. She was trying to figure out a way to keep their chats at least somewhat respectable so she stopped chasing the shy doctor off, but there was compelling about the way T'Soni would get so passionate and heated about her interests.
When the hell would she be interested like that in Gale? She was gonna blow if she didn't get another chance to seize a peck on those sweet lips, scream it real loud and clear how she was feeling. It didn't have to take no expedition or numbers or investigation.
"Fuck, what if she's blowin' me off 'cause she just ain't interested? Maybe Alenko was right, maybe I've been pushin' too hard, too far. Maybe she just sees a mangy mutt like all the other uppity asari. Didn't ever stop 'em from needin' to be fucked like one."
Another cliff was taken. A poor quarian groaned in misery and made retching sounds. The lass was going to end up puking inside her helmet again, at this rate. Gale forced herself to calm down and slow down, taking more scenic routes as she descended the steep hills of this planet. Her stomach roiled itself when the Normandy came into view on her screen. She shut off her music in a last ditch scramble to think up ideas on how to approach T'Soni. She had nothing that wouldn't be immediately classified as teasing or mischief. She wasn't used to charming someone with actual charm, rather than opening the door to the concept of easy pleasure.
"Can't imagine I been charmin' to her. She probably gets her panties up in a twist over someone who digs into bones like her, rather than the way I jump 'em."
Gale almost resigned to the fact that she just wasn't going to get to sate her curiosities about this one. She rolled the mako up into the Normandy's hangar bay and announced their return, coming over to lay a stable hand on Tali's elbow and help the queasy quarian escape her nightmare. She settled back into her routine of dropping off her weapons at the armoury to be decommissioned for the time being, then dismantled her armour to leave it for cleaning and repairs, if needed.
Determination won over and she went to her quarters, digging in her drawers until she'd found her stash of tea. She all but rushed to the mess hall, her own excitement thrumming upon seeing the doctor at the table. A breezy smile swept up her lips and she shook her little box of tea when she walked past.
"Be back soon, love, don't go nowhere, yeah? I'll brew us both a cup. Then y'can chat me up 'bout your expeditions. I got another treat I whipped up last night too, but if y'want that, then we gotta go to my quarters to try it or else the others'll get jealous. That," she winked, "And they ain't allowed to know I can make a mean dessert. Be back in a jiffy!"
Energy buzzed hard under her skin and though she didn't quite catch what T'Soni mumbled, she took the following chuckle as interest in her offer. She worked hard on this treat to ensure she stayed true to the title of being the uncontested king of Scottish desserts. She helped herself in the mess and got the kettle going while she dug in the fridge, pushing aside containers and meals until she'd reached the one in the back that she'd propped up a threatening sign for so no marine dared touch. She pulled out the tupperware of Cranachan along with the bottle of whisky she'd been saving to indulge herself for today's special occasion.
Upon returning to the mess hall, she was delighted to find that T'Soni was seemingly ready to leave, with how she'd waited at the end of the table closest to the Commander's quarters. Gale bounced her head in the direction she was going and took the lead, pressing her elbow against the button to open the door before she'd spun around and walked backwards.
"I gotta go back for our tea and grab some glasses, then I'll explain what this is. My turn for one of them info sessions or whatever y'call 'em." She dumped the tupperware on her table along with the bottle of whisky, unable to contain the excitement that was making her spirits soar. She'd left as fast as she came and was certain she was breaking her own record established in their drills with how she'd rushed back to the mess' kitchenette to grab everything she needed. When she returned, her blood burned upon watching T'Soni's dainty little fingers trail up and over the whisky's bottleneck. The shy smile that followed just about did Gale in from that alone.
"If she ain't careful, I'm gonna be showin' her what I do to bones soon."
"Out of all the bakers I've ever met... I must admit, Commander, you were the one I would least expect to be one."
"What, what, can't be a woman of many talents?" Gale teased, coming to offer one of the mugs of tea. "I ain't a baker, not really. This is the only one I cared to learn 'cause it's so bloody good. C'mon, sit." She set her cup on the table as she opened the tupperware and set one of the whisky glasses in front of T'Soni. "I tossed extra raspberries on the side if you wanna pop more in to make it sweeter. It's called Cranachan, a traditional Scottish dessert. This here's raspberries, then y'got your honey, whipped cream, oatmeal all whisked together with a bit of whisky." She flicked the bottleneck of what she had leftover with the whisky, smiling devilishly. "I love my whisky, so I usually have another glass separate to go with this dessert."
"Is today a special day for you?" T'Soni hummed as she helped herself to a spoonful of the dessert, her eyes fluttering shut as a groan reverberated in her throat.
"I know right?" Gale eagerly grinned, hoping to get away without answering the question. "So good, y'can't even talk. Those are the sounds I love to hear. Here, here, have some whisky to chase it too."
"Oh, no, I learned my lesson last time," T'Soni chuckled. "I absolutely refuse to do a drill after this."
"No drills, promise. Honest. Just relax and eat up to y'heart's content, love. I only make this once a year. Our next destination is the Citadel, no mission to rush off to."
Gale popped in her seat and dug into the same tupperware container, chastising herself for mixing it all together in one pan rather than making separate helpings from them... But she'd originally planned to celebrate alone. There was an entirely different buzzing coursing under her skin, a kind that wasn't entirely welcome either. She was a wee bit nervous, honestly, if the dainty delectable egghead across from her was going to figure it all out - find out what a mangy mutt she was.
Who the hell cared? Apparently this one did, digging in the past. Gale still had trouble understanding the merits behind it. What good did past worms do to help her survive today's husks? There would always be new ways to die, and life would always find a way to adapt and evolve.
Wasn't it more enjoyable now, appreciating all this in the present? It was a gorgeous view, to be sure, watching how respectable T'Soni was even with her eating. She cleaned up after herself if she made even the tiniest mess, dabbed at her mouth to wipe off cute wee bits of whipped cream. Gale decided to pour the whisky in both their glasses, regardless, leaving the offer open whenever the scientist wanted to take it. She seemed more excited to share her findings of another past expedition, the process of her discovery to the conclusion of the answers she revealed.
It was... Inspiring, sort of, to be able to come up with something out of nothing. Still disgusting, surely, the bits about utilizing feces and parasites to figure it all out - Gale made a mental note to have her bloody body cremated so that she wouldn't be fucking violated by sweet and salty worms.
Alcohol joined the buzzing in her system soon enough. She'd been tempted with more and more ideas, restraining herself from reaching out to even touch T'Soni's hand. She'd been tormented ever since she dove in and took the risk by kissing the shy doctor - but Kaidan's advice reprimanded harshly. No teasing. No games. Dr. T'Soni deserved better. A sweet thing. She didn't seem to hold that false front that so many other asari did, that sense of superiority that needed to be taken down a peg.
Temptation could only be stalled for so long.
Gale reached across the table, a lone finger coming up to trail back forth over one of the archaeologist's knuckles. T'Soni was still going on and on about a thesis of some sort. She didn't seem like she'd ever stop.
"Liara... Can I call y'that, now, or would that make you uncomfy 'round me?" Gale interrupted bluntly, hooking her finger under T'Soni's. She smiled, surprising herself with how easy and innocent it came from her upon seeing that endearing dumbfounded deer-in-headlights look stricken across the asari's face. "Right... So here's the dirt, Liara. I'm two glasses away from gettin' smashed, and when I do, I can't guarantee that I won't be tryin' to kiss you again." She playfully rapped her knuckles against her head. "I ain't got much thought to begin with, up here. Can't stop thinking about it ever since I kissed you before."
Burgundy trickled in quickly before it consumed Liara's complexion in a nice beet blush. Gale couldn't help but get her hopes up.
"You're right flushed now, love. Does that mean you've been thinkin' about it too?"
Liara's gaze retreated to the floor, the flames of her excitement just a mere minute ago was utterly extinguished, a smoke of a memory. She fidgeted with her glass and refrained from finishing her whisky, her hands falling into the safety of her lap.
"I am not the kind of asari where you can just experience pleasure at your leisure," she mumbled, though it sounded as if she was trying really hard to sound stern and tough.
Gale stared. Regret came knocking a little too hard with all the risks she'd taken, now backfiring terribly in her face. She leaned back in her chair and opted out of her whisky.
"Aye, sorry for comin' on so strong before, love. I'm not used to others not wantin' me just for a tumble in the sheets. I caught on too slow that you ain't like that, yeah? Not that... Y'know... I'd ever have a problem if you'd want to tumble with me. Just!" She held out her hands as a peace offering when the asari's head rose with a deadpan look. "Just... Offering, yeah?"
"Is it an offer you make to everyone?"
"Only the ones I really like and wouldn't mind hearin' my name out their pretty lips."
Liara's blush darkened. "I stand by what I said before. Contrary to popular belief of my people, not all asari in their Maiden stage are promiscuous."
"So... Is that a no, the thinkin' bits? I can lay off completely if y'want me to. Just say the word. Human crushes come an' go, remember? No hard feelings."
Something seemed to be turning in those pretty blue eyes, thinking cogs, seemed like. Hopefully she wasn't figuring out the whole bit where Shepard lied and threw Alenko under the bus as the one for having a crush. Liara was coming dangerously close though.
"Is this why we haven't been going on missions together?"
"Oi, can I get an answer to at least one'uv my questions?" Gale derailed, leaning forward. "Have you thought 'bout kissing me too or not?"
There was contemplation. Why was there contemplation? It was a simple yes or no answer. She was beginning to learn that book-worms needed to draft a bloody thesis before they did. The only hope she had was that the last time they kissed, Liara had leaned in to steal a second one for herself. Gale should've just allowed it then, but there was something about this one that she didn't just want to make crumble to the heat of the moment. She was generally curious about this individual, and the need to protect innocence was overcoming the need to corrupt it.
But that deep blush was still blowing records and growing even darker.
"Can't be healthy, that much blood runnin' to your head," Gale blurted offhandedly, almost cringing herself with how embarrassed the shy doctor looked now. She succumbed to temptation and leaned further to scoop up a hand in hers. "Here's a yes or no question y'don't need to publish a paper for: can I kiss you right now?"
"Is this why you invited me here to-"
Gale groaned. Her head fell to the table with a painful thud. "We're dancin' in circles, we are."
It was contemplation for herself and she hated contemplating anything. Just dive in head first. High risk, high reward. Why was Liara so nervous? Was she too shy to admit it? Was it worth the risk of smashing whatever this thing is between them to get up and kiss her now? It was, to Gale, and she rose from her chair as she planted her palms on the table to lean forward. She hovered above Liara's head, descending a little to challenge all the bloody push ups she's ever done in her life, and held herself a few inches away.
"You're bonkers to me and I like it, love. Yeah, I invited you here on purpose. Just you. Yeah, it's why we haven't been goin' on missions together. I'm goin' mad trying to think up what I'm supposed to do with you 'cause I ain't ever date a book before. They just aren't my type. But you're... Shite, I dunno. I'm curious 'bout you. I reckon we'd make good mates, but there's only one way to find out."
Liara smiled sheepishly. "And that's through a kiss?"
"It's a good start, innit?"
"I would like to say that there are other ways."
"Well fuck me I dunno," Gale blew a laugh, leaning up with a smile of her own. "Like I said, been wrackin' my mind. But I need help here. I been sittin' in listening to you chat up 'bout dirt hoping it'll help me, but all I got is to bury you in more books and data discs - then you hole up like a rat and I don't see you for days. I can't turn into data, y'know."
"You could," Liara murmured, and it was deep and throaty and husky and Gale swore this asari was flirting with her now.
Until it was very clear she wasn't.
"You've been touched by a Prothean beacon."
"Aw, shite!" Gale sighed as she pushed off the table and dumped herself in her chair. She laughed as she raked her hair back. "Alright but first I gotta know, is that why you've been sendin' some signals, that y'might be interested in me too then? Is it only 'cause of the beacon?"
There was a conflicted look marring the poor asari's face, and for a moment, she wore guilt and apology so so well - but then there was contemplation again.
Gale needed to cut to the chase before she died of old age here.
"Look, love, I won't be heartbroken 'bout it. I get it, yeah? It's your whole life's research, sittin' right in front of ya. Makes it clearer for me to know why you look at me like I'm cake to devour right off my minge. Alright, well, let's do that shite where you dig in my mind, then." She threw her head back to down her whisky glass before she bounced up, heading over to her bed. "And next time, just push me off and say y'don't wanna kiss. I hope you didn't play long just 'cause y'felt it was the only way to find out what the Protheans burned in my head."
Gale flopped on the edge of the bed and unlaced her boots, toeing them off as she shimmied up on her back until her head nestled on her pillow. She closed her eyes with a sigh. There was a thrumming in her nerves that wasn't for the reason she liked. She shifted uncomfortably, wanting this to be done and over with. She hated seeing the visions. She hated the debilitating headache it always left her with.
It was better to get this done and over with now, while she had liquor close by to get smashed and pass out on her bed.
Footsteps, soft and dainty and hesitant, approached ever so slowly. The asari needed to get their natural lifespan cut in half if it's because of living a thousand years made them as slow as snails. Gale tried to keep her cool, but patience hadn't ever been her strong suit. She unwittingly held her breath in through her nose when the bed dipped with extra weight.
Hands slipped over her shoulders, crawling up to cup the sides of her neck. Thumbs paced back and forth along her jawline. It helped her relax, just like the very first meld in the comm-room, even if that was quick and dirty. This was going to be more intimate, more searching than that weird shite on Eletania, maybe. The thought was unnerving.
"Relax," Liara cooed softly. "You're tensing a lot."
"Aye, I know," Gale chuckled halfheartedly, "It's hard, yeah? Not every day I let someone poke around in my brain." She sucked in a deep breath and tried to control her exhale, nice and slow. She could feel every muscle spindle and fibre of her body choke up even more instead. She smiled guiltily when she could hear the concern brewing just from the way the asari inhaled. "Sorry, love."
"Imagine a place you would want to be in, right now, and-"
"Inside you," Gale blurted. Then she grimaced.
"W-what?" Liara stammered, and upon looking, that pretty blush was threatening to make her head explode again. Her hands wavered and the vanguard snatched them, holding them to her neck.
"Sorry, sorry, I'll keep it together. Promise. Lemme try again." Gale closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Uh... Well I used to climb a lot, back home, as y'found out earlier maybe. But there's this one place I loved to go, never got old. A sea stack we called the Old Man of Hoy. It's made of old red sandstone and it's one of the tallest stacks y'can find - not that I had the means to travel, really, so it's just what I heard. Shame it's at risk of collapsing, gonna be a real sad day for me when that happens."
"That... It sounds lovely. If you'd like, we could start from that place in the meld, if you can visualize it enough for me to stand somewhere." A beat. "And please have a place to stand, not climb. I've never climbed before."
Gale chuckled. The tension in her muscles was rapidly flooding out from the excitement of it all, wondering if it truly was as simple as imagining and remembering, and this asari being able to take her back there. Handy trick, for sure, one she'll probably be guilty of getting all puppy-eyed and wondering how to ask Liara to bring her back to other places she used to climb back home.
"This part's new. Y'didn't do this before for the other melds."
"You didn't have this much difficulty relaxing. Your consciousness will evict me before I have a chance to enter, at this rate."
"Oh... Well, alright then. So just imagine the place?"
"Mm hm."
"Can I imagine me climbin' it, at all?"
"I'd prefer to start with both of us standing, and then you may explore."
"Right. Right. Okay then. So-"
"Try to relax, Commander," Liara chuckled softly. "You're suddenly very chatty."
Gale grinned. "What, y'don't think me voice is pretty?"
"Mm."
"That's... Not a yes."
"It's not a no, either."
Hearty laughter filled the room, and Gale's eyes snapped open to get an eyeful of the asari's smirk. She had teeth, this one. Not as innocent as she played. Delicate hands squeezed the vanguard's shoulders and she renewed her efforts to relax. She closed her eyes and fell into the rhythm of breathing that she usually did to keep herself calm and focused when she'd climb. It was the centre to center her, and the Old Man of Hoy was right there, in her grasp.
All she had to do was look up and start climbing to the top.
"That's it," Liara murmured, "You're relaxing. Do you think you're ready?"
"Not yet. Gotta climb to the top first so you have somewhere to stand. It's a sight t'see too, better than from the bottom." Gale walked herself through her imagination, etching every hold and groove from muscle memory. She blindly felt about until her hand cupped a knee, indulging for a brief second as she'd slid up a thigh. She went back down to the knee when the asari inhaled sharply. "I'm ready now."
"Very well. See you soon, Shepard. Embrace Eternity."
Gulls exploded to life, with the sounds of the sea crashing against the cliffs. There was more yearned and pulled from memory than Gale had actively visualized, and she was utterly speechless as she stood at the top of the Old Man of Hoy. She smiled at the sounds of a breath being taken away behind her and held out her arms, wishing she could just hug the whole bloody sea.
"Climbin' was my escape," she revealed. "What better way to escape than to be witness to this? Somethin' way bigger than any of us. Ain't it gorgeous?"
"I-it is," Liara replied nervously.
Why was she nervous?
Gale glanced over her shoulder, chuckling when she'd seen the asari anxiously look over the edge. There wasn't exactly that much surface up at the top of this stack. Selfishness won over for Gale to absorb this view and she went over to sit at the ledge, her legs dangling over.
"You are insane," Liara blurted, and the vanguard laughed.
"Come sit beside me," Gale lilted cheekily.
"Absolutely not."
"Sit behind me?"
An exasperated sigh. "Goddess..."
Tentative footsteps approached, but still remained a safe distance away. The hands hooked on Gale's shoulders and she'd felt the side of an arm hesitantly press against her back. She casually swung her feet about as a show that she wasn't going to be pushed over or lose her balance any time soon. The reassurance did little to quell the anxieties she could somehow feel, screaming through their connection.
"Not real, innit? Nothin' to worry about, love. Lemme have a few minutes of this, before you go pokin' for what y'want." She leaned forward, chuckling when Liara let her go so as not to be dragged along. She looked over her feet, down at the sea. "This stack is 449 feet high. I've only ever climbed it, but I've wanted to try highline walking too, and then base jumping. Never learned how to do the others, though. Needed money for it, yeah? Don't need money with your own two hands."
"You never had a harness, or safety gear?"
"Too expensive," Gale shrugged. "Not everyone's born an' privileged with books, love. I didn't even get to learn how to read 'til I had to do whatever I could to study for the Alliance aptitude test, back when I was applying for the military. I broke into the libraries for a long time, 'til one bloke took pity on me and made me a member card, free of charge. He picked out books for me to help me learn how to read, let me hide in his office too so I wouldn't be caught readin' little kiddie books. I wouldn't be here, with the Alliance, if kindness was as broke as me."
Her shoulder lifted and fell with a more sheepish shrug. She glanced over her shoulder with a smile, able to feel the glumness exuding behind her. "Careful. I can hear your bleedin' heart in here, love. Not tellin' it to colour my story, yeah? Everybody's got one. Reckon even a book like you's got one. S'pose you do, now, with your mum off on a mission to bring machines to make us all go extinct."
"It's just... It's unfortunate to hear. All the things you could have learned..." Liara bravely inched over to the side, to the ledge. "Would you still have chosen the military?"
"Had to, to survive, get out before I was buried under the kinda rubble smarties like you dig up and compare to old rich bones."
Gale softened when she could feel the sting and the grimace before she'd seen it. She sighed and hooked her hand on her nape, massaging it. "Aye, a wee bit harsh, but that was life. Still is life. Can't really afford to be unicorns and rainbows 'bout it. There's a lot y'don't know 'cause it just doesn't matter anymore, in this moment, yeah? I can read now. So what good's knowin' I couldn't before? Just makes y'sad. Kinda goin' against what I want to do for you, innit?"
With a final look up at the sky, at the gulls that circled about, she sighed. "Alright, well, do whatever y'need to do now." She laid down and spread her arms out. "Poke away."
Liara inhaled sharply. She moved back behind Gale and laid down as well, the tips of their heads touching. She surprisingly wasn't in a rush to go searching for the Prothean visions.
"I don't really have a story the way you seem to," Liara murmured. "I've had my speculations, observing your behaviour, apart from the things you just so... So casually say. You would probably scoff or laugh at the things I deemed as hardships in my life, at least for me."
"Well, from what I heard, school can be pretty hard. I wouldn't laugh at ya, love. Be a bit jealous, maybe, ain't gonna lie. But you're teachin' me stuff now, so I s'pose it ain't so bad. I've got a smokin' hot teacher that can make my brain spin in more ways than one."
Laughter surprised her. Liara reached up with a weak swat. "Goddess, you enjoy making me uncomfortable, don't you?"
"Not meant to be." She could feel the skeptical look. "What? Honest. Y'know, what's unfortunate to hear to me is that I'm apparently the first one to be tellin' you all these facts. You're smart. Gorgeous, like this view up here. Cute when you're pickin' flowers and scrunching up your nose tryin' to figure out a bloody flower. When you're excited, it makes me excited too even if I have not a single clue as to what you're really talkin' about, or how it's so bloody exciting. Yeah - guilty - it's a wee bit more fun than it ought to be, teasing you, but I can't help myself."
"That's comforting to know," Liara lilted wryly, though that timidity was what flooded through their connection the most. This lass seriously needed to own her compliments, not shy away from them.
"You're just so... You're so sweet, y'know? And I eat sweets, doc. Y'make it real hard to try not to unwrap you."
Liara cleared her throat loudly, and now more than ever, it was easy to feel that she was feeling awkward - but there was an inkling of hope that it didn't seem to be unappreciated.
"W-well... Now... Thank you. I think. I've been learning that in your own way, you are sweet as well."
"And smokin' hot too, right?"
Hesitance, for a moment. Contemplation - for once, at the best time ever, and there was a cheeky wit rushing forth.
"Mm."
Gale laughed.