Writing Prompts/Requests (especially for Ryder/Jaal or Shepard/Krios) - OPEN :)
Chapter 2
Scott spent the next 3 years finishing grade school and training with his father. Learning how to do more advanced hand-to-hand combat and how to shoot almost every type of gun. His father also got him a biotic trainer, until then Scott had no one to really teach him how to use his powers in combat so he was grateful for the extra help. Osani, his asari trainer, was a successful commando in her younger days. Although she was tough on him and often kicked his ass on the mats she was confident that in time he would become a powerful biotic. "Get back up" she always told him "If you lie you die. ALWAYS get back up." On his 18th birthday he enlisted into the Alliance.
Sara spent the next 3 years finishing grade school and a bit of time training with her father and brother as well. It was important, she believed, to keep it up at least a little bit. Although she didn't quite go into the advanced training her brother did and only cared to learn one or two different types of guns. She also, unlike her twin, wasn't a biotic. It was certainly strange for one twin to be born a biotic but not the other and no one really knew why. Considering that they were both exposed to eezo in the womb they should both have developed equally but she always figured that it was because they weren't identical twins. Or maybe the eezo exposure hit her brother's umbilical cord before hers so he absorbed it all? Who knows. Sara used to feel jealous that she didn't have the same powers as her brother when she was younger. Watching him make something float across the room to him or small stints of flying from one place to another would make anyone jealous. She wondered if that is how most of the human population felt, watching the few biotics of their species. She has gotten over that jealousy over the years though, there wasn't much point in lingering on it when she knew there was nothing she could do about it. Besides, it's not like she didn't have her own talents that her brother couldn't replicate. Her brother always called her "sneaky-sneaky" because she was so good at sneaking up on people. Her father called her "quiet-footed" for the same reason. She had a tactical cloak installed on her omni-tool but she never really used it except to scare the crap out of Scott. Although she enjoyed some aspects of Alliance training, mostly when she was bored, she wouldn't want to make a career out of it. Besides, she had other plans in mind anyway.
It didn't take her very long to find and become a regular at the Citadel's zoo. It only housed the smallest and least dangerous animals but they were still animals from all over the galaxy so Sara still loved it. It was actually at the zoo when Sara met who would eventually become one of her best friends, a vibrant turquoise skinned drell with dark blue frills. He was inside the cage that housed a family of servals. Small wild cats from Earth that have enough of a friendly temperament that they can be handled but can still be quite wild if you're not careful. Some people on Earth have even been known to keep them as pets.
Sara walked up to the exhibit and put her hand on the glass. How in the hell did he get in there? she thought, not seeing any obvious sign of entry in the fake African landscape. That would be a dream job for her while she went to university. She cocked her head to the side, observing the alien in his work. She had never seen a drell outside of pictures on the extranet before and even then never one with quite his coloring. She must have been admiring him too long because, as if he sensed her looking, he looked up and waved. A little embarrassed at being caught she waved back and watched him pack up whatever supplies he was using and walk out a back door painted to look like native tree. She was still watching the cats when the drell came around the corner and spotted her.
"Hi" he said. He had a deep dual-toned voice that sounded strange to Sara. Not like anything she had ever heard before, maybe a little like a Turian but rougher? Almost like sandpaper. Strange but pleasant. Sara liked it. "My name is Jazan" he said "Jazan Loak. Did you have any questions about the servals?"
"Oh. Ah no. No thank you, I was just wondering what you were doing in there and how you got in there. I mean...ah." She was rambling and she knew it. She took a big sigh and held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Sara Ryder. I'm going to CU for multi-species Zoology."
He took her hand and shook it, apparently being around humans often enough to know the traditional greeting. "It's nice to meet you Sara. I'm actually about to end my shift, do you care to join me for a late lunch?"
That threw her and she hesitated for a moment. "Wh..Wait really?" she asked. Shocked that this man would ask her to lunch. They had literally JUST met. Was he asking her out or something? Maybe it didn't mean that for drell. Maybe he just needed someone to talk to? She was so confused and not for the first time in her life cursed her inexperience. Maybe I should have done a bit more dating in high school she thought with mild annoyance.
He smiled at her as he readjusted the crate of supplies he was carrying. "Unless you don't want to of course. I just transferred here a week ago from Kahje and I haven't really had time to make any friends yet. I thought since you were studying Zoology it would give us some common ground to talk about? Please don't feel obligated." He readjusted his load again "I'm afraid I need to go put these away. If you'd like to chat than meet me at the front gate and if not perhaps I'll see you around the zoo some time. Goodbye." He bowed slightly and walked off into some building a ways behind her.
Wow she thought He's so...formal. Should she go? She looked around the zoo, it was starting to die down a bit. The animals beginning to head inside for their own meals so they wouldn't be out to look at anyway. Eh, what's the worst that can happen she thought as she started towards the front gate. Besides, she smiled he was kinda cute. She looked down at her guard Maybe… she thought, remembering how the closest writing system she could find that matched her soul mark was an ancient drell language… She shook her head No. Not again. She hadn't given up on finding her soul mate, far from it, but she had stopped actively looking. Suspecting every alien she met might have been her soul mate got tiring really quickly. Besides, that's the whole point of soul mates isn't it? That fate will lead the way?Her belly rumbled just then and any indecisiveness she may have had left at the thought of food.
Jazan turned out to be a great conversationalist. He wasn't lying when he said that he hadn't had time to make any friends yet. Literally the only people he had talked to in any depth up until this point were his supervisors at the zoo and some hanar from the embassy.
"Hanar outside of Kahje don't seem to like to chat much. Only the political figures or others high in power ever bother to leave the planet so they are usually not in the habit of making friends while they are here."
"Sounds lonely. Are there not any other drell on the Citadel?" Sara asked, poking at her noodle dish.
"Not really" he replied whilst spearing his own fruit. Sara thought it looked weird, some kind of spiky looking thing. How could he even eat that without hurting the inside of his mouth? "But that's ok. I didn't come to the Citadel to only talk to other drell. I get enough of that at home."
"There aren't very many other species besides drell and hanar on Kahje right?" Jazan shook his head "So how do we compare?" He looked at her strangely "The rest of the citadel species I mean. When I left Earth to live here for the first time it was kind of overwhelming how many other species there are here. Like, you know about them before you come of course but it's still a little overwhelming. So many different cultures and customs."
"True, it certainly is different than what I'm used to. I believe I like it this way though." He says while looking out the window to gaze at the people walking around the Presidium below. "I loved Kahje, it was where I was born after all, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it better here. On Kahje it's difficult not to offend people sometimes. The hanar customs demand politeness and that has leaked into drell society somewhat. Outside of a family unit, and even inside in many cases, being impolite is very frowned upon. Of course no one would ever tell you that you've insulted them otherwise they would be seen as impolite as well." Shaking his head "It can get very tiring." he sighs. "Besides" he looks up and lifts his arms as if to gesture to everything around him "It's so DRY!" he almost shouts causing quite a few heads in the restaurant to turn his way.
Sara tries to hold in a laugh but quickly fails. He puts his arms down and his frills darken, looking around as if just realizing that everyone was watching him. She can't really blame him for his excitement though. She once read that it rains almost all day, everyday on Kahje. Coming from a race that evolved on a desert planet it must be miserable living there sometimes. Even if you weren't an arid race having a break from being constantly waterlogged has to be a relief. She tossed a pit of the prickly piece that fell off of his fruit at him to startle him out of his funk.
"Relax Jazan" she smiled when he finally looked up at her "I'm glad your enjoying it here so much. Kahje is mostly rainy all the time right?"
"Yea" he chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck "The drell live in biodomes to help keep the rain off of us but that doesn't stop the humidity all together. It's nice to live somewhere where the air isn't so wet."
"We lived in a place on Earth called Hilo for a few months. It got really rainy there, more than any other place I've visited. It was fun for awhile but I can't imagine living there my whole life."
Jazan hmmmmed as if lost in thought. They eventually changed the subject to animals and the different species of their respective planets. This being something they are both so passionate about, they quickly lost track of time.
Sara's wrist buzzes and she opens up her omni-tool. "Uh-oh" she says. She stands and her heart drops a little when she sees who's trying to contact her and then notices the time.
"What's wrong?" Jazan asks looking up at her in concern "Is everything ok?"
"It's fine" Sara says "I just didn't realize how late it was and my dad is calling me. He's probably upset I've stayed out this late without contacting him. I'll just be a minute." Jazan immediately nodding and giving a quick "of course" before he gets up to clean their table of the various wrappers and drink cups they've accumulated since they sat down. She smiles in thanks before turning and walking to a private corner of the cafe to answer her father's call.
"Hey dad. What's up?" She answers in greeting, trying to keep her tone light.
"What's up? Do you have any idea what time it is!? It's almost midnight! I thought you were out with your brother. Where have you been? Why haven't you contacted me or your mother if you knew you were going to be staying out this late?"
Sara sighed and bowed her head in defeat. "Yea I'm sorry dad, I just lost track of time. I met someone at the zoo late this afternoon and then we got something to eat and..."
"What do you mean? You've been out with a stranger this whole time and didn't even think to tell us? I thought I raised you to be smarter than that." Her father's tone was annoyed which annoyed Sara in turn. This is why Sara never really tried to date when she was younger. Her father always freaked out whenever she tried to spend too much time with "a stranger". She realizes his career as an N7 Alliance soldier probably made him see some scary shit out on the field, but that doesn't mean that everyone was a boogy man out to get her.
"I'm FINE dad. I can take care of myself you know." she said with more venom than the probably should have put into the phrase. "Its just a fellow zoologist. We've been sitting in a cafe getting some dinner and talking about animals. NOTHING for you to worry about ok? I'm sorry I didn't call you but I didn't intend to be out this late tonight and I just lost track of time. We are just finishing up and I'll be home soon."
Alec sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose before replying to his daughter "Next time you need to call and let us know you will be out this late. The citadel can be a dangerous place. YES even the zoo" he hurried to say before she could interrupt him. "I will see you when you get home and I expect you to apologize to your mother as well, you know the stress and worry is not good for her. Alec out" he cut the call before she could reply.
Annoyed, she resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of her nose herself, not wanting to imitate her father's behavior when she was mad at him. How dare he treat her like such a child? She was 20 for God's sake not some 14 year old trying to sneak out of the house anymore. She knew she was wrong for not calling, she called when she knew she was going to be out late more for her mother than anyone else. Ellen was steadily getting weaker and weaker over the years and Sara didn't want to worry her. She was more annoyed at the "Alec out" than anything. He couldn't try to play the over-protective father when it suited him then treat her like a soldier the few times he was actually around. She sighed and turned back towards the table.
"I hope I wasn't the cause of all that" Jazan said, noticing the frown that has now settled on her face. "I didn't mean to keep you out later than intended."
"It's no problem really" Sara said "My father is just worried. I usually call when I am going to be out this late and let them know." She picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "I enjoyed our chat today tho. We still good to meet up this weekend?" They had already exchanged contact information and planned to meet again at the zoo so he could show her which of the animals he personally got to handle.
He nodded "I look forward to it. And please tell your father I apologize on my behalf."
She chucked at his worry as she waved him goodbye "I will. Thanks again Jazan. See you this weekend" She walked home a bit lighter on her feet. Even in the wake of her father being upset at her, and more than likely grilling her for information as soon as she got home, she felt she had a great day. Although she had a few good friends over the years, they never got the chance to last very long what with how much they moved around so much. Her friends at the university are fun but everyone is so focused on their studies it didn't leave much opportunity to get very close to each other. She laughed to herself, maybe she actually found a friend that would stick around this time.
Yup we are doing some stuff before we get to Andromeda but don't worry we'll get there ;)
