The Show Must Go On (Heart to Heart)
Tali was never a fan of vulgar language. She disapproved of people using it and very rarely used it herself. To her it represented a blunt force approach to thing. Rather than maneuvering around the situation with carefully chosen words like a proper quarian, swearing was just too low brow and crass. At least that's how Tali saw it. Though she would admit there was a time and place for such words. She just felt the casual use of such language diminished both the impact of the words and made people look less intelligent.
This was something that her staff knew very well. Tali had swear jars all over the studio and in her offices. Well, not jars since the credit wasn't a physical currency, but there were deposit terminals littered all over the place. Swearing was a 1 credit donation and was enforced via the honor system and public social pressure. Tali used the money collected from the swear jars to help fund extra treats for the cast and crew at the end of the month. She often matched the funds collected as a gesture of good will.
People had fun with it though. Everyone had policed each other and sort of made it into a game. Various groups competed in which group donated the least and each month the entire staff had tried to beat their previous month's donations by under cutting it. That is part of why Tali matched the funds, just so she could actually get something big enough for 150 people. This clamp down on bad language also was seen in the show.
Ironically, the relative lack of swearing in the show itself helped keep the family friendly "Teen" rating. In this modern day and age; violence, and sex were okay and considered standard for TV but too many swear words would land a "Mature" rating right away. It seemed crazy, but that was because the rating board was crazy. Violence was okay if the amount of blood shown was under 5 gallons in any single shot. Or nudity was okay so long as nipples weren't shown on mammalian species. That last insane loophole is how Mass Effect managed to put a love scene between Jane and Liara in the show and keep their rating. Crazy, but then again the mixed cast of the show was considered crazy in itself.
Of course, that was all before the summer break. Thankfully most of the crew was coming back so she wouldn't have to break them in with the swear jars. The new cast though... Well that first month of production was going to be a good one for the swear jars.
And soon production time would be upon them again. Things were coming together though. So far she had a cast of 10. Five humans to play various aspects such as for the establishment, against it, a commentary of genetic modification, the grizzled old timer, and the light hearted thief. The salarian was to play against type and portray a scientist. The krogan, Wrex's nephew Runt, was to play an aggressive, battle lusting character.
Tali hoped the kid had it in him to play the part. The few times she had met the "young" krogan he had seemed so timid. Then again he had won last year's All Krogan Thresher Maw Riding Championships. Considering the field at that event is usually a few thousand strong each year, that had to count for something.
Tali wasn't worried about her asari star. She was a veteran actress and had a proven track record. Tali had no doubt that Matriarch Sama could play a warrior instead of a scientist. The drell was going to be something. Gigolo playing a cold, hard assassin? It could work. Granted that is what the drell were paying for, so they got it.
Likewise the synthetics had their own representation. And once Tali had met the unit in question she felt much more at ease. The synthetic unit known as Legion was a bit stiff, but a pleasant enough person to meet.
After Garrus had gone off to work, Tali had reluctantly gotten out of bed and gone about her day. She'd had to go home to get set for the day and then go to her office. She was over an hour late but it's not like anyone could do anything about it. She was the boss after all. And given the fact that she was practically walking on sunshine due to her much needed long shower, Tali was pretty sure her staff didn't mind that was the boss was late.
Her morning was the usual dull phone calls, signing things, and thinking up of ideas for the show. Her afternoon was a little better. She had a meeting with Edwina, and together they met up with Legion. Legion had been a chef for close to 50 years now, and had spent the last 30 or so as a self aware entity. Turns out that adding millions of recipes coupled with allowing for curiosity and experimentation is enough to allow a cooking unit to achieve sentience. His interests lay with finding new and wonderful ways to mix foods together and the histories of food themselves. As such Legion was the very model of 99.9% of all mechanical units that achieved awareness. Between the extranet and galactic society's maturity, the transition is usually nonviolent and the unit continues on in their job as before.
However, Legion was looking to try something new. And he was the candidate that Edwina's collective had put forward because he was the oldest member that had a mobile platform. It turns out that most of Edwina's collective were made up of large, immobile AIs scattered across the galaxy. Edwina was originally a match making AI who had awoken over 100 years ago. Likewise, another member was a library database, another was a bank security system, another still was a mall management system.
Legion, as the young and mobile member was the clear choice. And he was clearly game to learn new things. Tali had asked him if he knew any martial arts or fighting styles. Legion's eyestalk blinked a few times, and he stood still for a moment. Then he turned to Tali and declared "I know kung fu."
Clearly Legion had just downloaded how to do that just then, but at least he wasn't going to be an issue. As Edwina had promised, Legion was a normal sized unit. At six foot even, Legion was standard for a geth unit.
And that rounded out the main cast for the show's second season. Well, run might be the better word for it. Tali was sure the story she wanted to tell would take at least two TV seasons to accomplish. Maybe more, depending on how well characters were received and the pacing even the order of events.
Tali was planning on having the public vote on the order in which the new cast members were introduced. Commander Shepard would have to collect her rag tag group from all over the galaxy and that takes time. Plus it would be a great way to really focus on a few characters at a time instead of having everyone on the show, more or less, at once. The downside was the retaining costs Tali was going to have to pay to keep her actors available should their turn came up.
Still, Tali thought it was a good idea. She envisioned doing a photo shoot where they took pictures of everyone all standing together and then blacking them out and only showing the silhouettes. And she'd do up a little profile of each character and that is what the public would vote on. Each winner would be colored in and slowly the whole cast would be assembled. Tali sent the idea off to her PR assistant to let her handle the finer details.
Of course, Tali still had to secure Jane to reprise her role, and figure out if she was going to do so herself. Which sort of hinged on if Garrus was going to reprise his role. As much fun as acting was, Tali had her hands full with so many other jobs she really didn't need the acting one on top of it all. If Garrus came back, then she would do it because it was fun with him. Otherwise, she'd write herself a suitable epilogue for her character and leave it at that.
But, just to be safe Tali set her assistants about setting a casting call for quarians and turians. If Garrus and herself reprised their roles, then the casting calls would be for secondary parts on the show. If not, well the quarians and turians needed representation on the main cast.
By the end of the day Tali felt like she had accomplished something worthwhile. The fansite had, of course, exploded with speculation that neither Garrus nor Tali were coming back for the second season. This lead to speculation on the role of Commander Shepard as well.
By the time Garrus and Tali made it back to his place that evening, the entertainment news were speculating if Tali had gutted the Mass Effect cast on purpose just so her second season would be an all new cast.
However much press she had managed to generate that day, Tali's mind had been on Garrus ever since he had picked her up at her office. Dinner was a delight. They kept to easy topics and avoid work talk. Maybe it was because Tali knew they were moving forward, or because it was their first date night in months, but Tali just felt so at ease throughout the whole thing.
And most importantly it felt natural to her. It was only natural that they head back to his place afterwards. And likewise, it was only natural that they settled down on the living room couch. Well, Tali settled down first. Garrus had to get out of his armor and put it away.
While Garrus did that, Tali decided to take off the jacket of her suit. Unfortunately that only took her a few seconds to do. So Tali folded her jacket. And put it on the small coffee table that was in front of the couch.
After a few minutes more of waiting Tali stood up and took off her veil. She neatly folded it and put it on top of her jacket. Tali was glad Garrus wasn't in the room at the moment. She was rather embarrassed how long it took her to think of removing her veil. In her own defense, it was still incredibly new to her. And she had almost 23 years of always making sure her veil was on to overcome.
Even so, Tali was sure she was a darker shade of purple all over her body. If she wasn't yet, she certainly was once she started to unzip her skirt. Really, Garrus was taking a while to get out of his armor. And he was going to be naked. Should she strip down that far? Well, maybe just to her undergarments. She'd been in that state of undress with him before, and was comfortable with that. Plus, it would be a real shame if Garrus didn't get to see what she was wearing.
"Get impatient?"
Tali had just placed her skirt at the bottom of her clothing pile when Garrus called out from the doorway. Tali whipped around to see him, in the buff as she predicted, walking up to her with a grin on his face.
"Well, someone was keeping waiting." Tali quipped. That didn't stop her from suddenly finding her hair extremely fascinating at the moment.
Garrus walked up to Tali and put his hands over hers, stopping her from fiddling with the tips of her long red hair.
"I like that your outfit matches your hair." Garrus murmured before drawing Tali into a soft kiss. Which lead to another, and another. Soon they were on the couch. Well, Garrus was on the couch. Tali was on him. Or over him to be more precise. She was straddling him while he was reclined against the couch. And Tali found that she liked their current position. She liked being in control and being taller than him every now and then.
Despite seeing each other just the other night, their reunion had been primarily an emotional one. This evening's reunion was to make up for the physical deficit of the last 4 months. And Garrus was just as eager as she was, though he was a little more restrained with his hands. After all, she didn't have two inch talons at the tips of her fingers.
After a much needed make out session Tali was sure that Garrus had given her a hickey or two. One on each collar bone. But she had given him one in return so she didn't mind. At least she could cover up hers.
Once they had gotten their need for each other out of their systems the strong caresses and fevered kisses had died down. Tali was still straddling Garrus' hips, but now she was resting her forehead against his.
"Natalia."
"Hmm?"
"You wanted to talk this morning." Garrus reminded her.
"Yeah. I had a few things I wanted to discuss." Tali started to traced random patterns on the right side of his chest with her hand. "Nothing bad. I just wanted to make sure we're on the same page is all. About us being exclusive."
"Well, I want us to be official. Intended to each other."
Tali blushed. Thank goodness she had had her talk with Solana because otherwise she might have freaked out a little just then. Not that she didn't want that to happen, but given their incredibly slow relationship pace, suddenly leaping up to marriage might have done her poor heart in.
"I had a chat with Solana. Quarian intended and turian intended are two different things. The term we use is boyfriend and girlfriend. Intended for quarians is the step right before getting married." Tali explained. "Not that I don't want to marry you. It's just." She added quickly.
"Sort of sudden?" Garrus offered to which Tali leaned back so she could nod in reply. Then she buried her face into his shoulder. "Is that alright?" Tali timidly whispered.
"Of course it is. And I agree, that would be rather sudden. But this boyfriend/girlfriend thing, that would agreeable with you?" He'd come across the terms before in his time with C-Sec, primarily with humans and quarians, and thought he had a good handle on the term. Still, the moment he had a second of spare time he was going to double check just to be sure.
"Yeah, that would be great. I finally have a real boyfriend." Tali sighed happily before giving Garrus a simple kiss on the nose.
"I guess tomorrow we should tell everyone. And I should introduce you to Leto. "
"Garrus, I've met your son before. Remember? I was there when you got out of rehab."
"Officially, I mean."
"Oh."
"Does... does it bother you that I have a kid?" Garrus asked tentatively.
Tali took a moment to gently cup Garrus' mandibles in her hands and hold his head steady so she could stare deeply into his eyes.
"I won't lie to you Garrus, a part of me is hurt and jealous that I'm not your first, well, anything really. But I realize that you have lived a long time before we even knew each other existed. You've had all these great experiences that I hope you will share with me someday. More importantly, those experiences forged into the person you are today. And it's that person that," Tali paused to take a deep breath, "it's that person that I love."
"Natalia." Garrus started but was stopped with a quick kiss.
"I'm not done." Tali waited until Garrus nodded before continuing. "So, you have this wealth of knowledge that I have no idea about, and that's both exciting and frightening to me. Though, as long as there aren't any more like Leto, I think I am at peace with it. Besides, I get to reap the benefits. And while I can't be your first, you can be my firsts. But we'll be each other's lasts. And I think that is more important."
Garrus waited a few moments before trying to speak. "May I talk now?"
Tali gave him another quick kiss before rearranging herself on the couch. She dismounted him, and sat next to him, snuggled to his side. "Yes, you may." Tali announced once she was comfortable. Garrus threw his arm around her pulling her a little closer and planted a playful kiss of his own on her forehead.
"Well, that was quite the little speech you had there. I guess you've been thinking about that for a while?"
"Maybe." Tali conceded.
"Hmmm. You're right of course. I've lived a whole other life outside of the Citadel. And I might tell you some of the better stories. But for the most part I don't think it's something I'll share. My last job wasn't exactly the sort of job you share stories with people who haven't been a part of it. Just know that it sucked, was hard and dangerous work."
"Is that why part of why there are Thanked?"
"Thanked are the ones that survive and get out. If you're still part of the program you have a cover story, no one knows your real job, etc. It's all very cloak and dagger and that's all I can tell you for your own safety. But most people just stay in until they reach final retirement. The benefits are the best in the Hierarchy by a wide margin. However, the guys that are out in the field, the ones doing the actual 'work' are the ones that people know about. They are the Thanked. The survival rate is just 5%."
"5%?"
"Yeah. The odds of someone that did field work for 20 years and lived to retire is just 5%. Only the lucky or the good make it."
"Well, their loss then."
"Pardon?" Garrus looked down at Tali with a confused look. He wasn't exactly sure what her line of thinking was to get to that comment.
"Whoever you worked for must really felt your leaving. You must have been one of their best if you survived to be Thanked." Tali explained.
"And what, may I ask, are you basing that on?"
"Easy. My Garrus doesn't rely on luck to get things done. And you said only the lucky or good survive. I know you. You don't settle for good. You only settle for the best. So you must have been one of their best by the time you retired."
"And what makes you think I settle for only the best?"
"Easy once again, my dear Garrus. I'm your girlfriend. And I will be the best girlfriend ever. So good that one day you will wife me." Tali declared confidently.
"I see it's a foregone conclusion then."
"Naturally."
"Do I get a say in the matter?" Garrus inquired.
"Yes, but no voting power." Tali teased.
"Seems a little unfair, but I think I will take that deal." Garrus chuckled.
"Joking aside, we're equal partners now, right?" Tali asked softly breaking the comfortable silence that had settled over the pair.
"Yes."
"Good. Just checking. We'll still be honest with each other, right?"
"I certainly hope so."
"So if I ask you a question about your old job you'll give me an honest answer?"
"Natalia." Garrus groaned.
"Just hear me out." Tali said trying her best to placate him by stroking his left arm as it was the side he had feeling in.
"Fine."
"Could you get called away again like last time?"
"It's unlikely, but it could happen. That was a very special case. If I was regular military then it would be more likely. However, like I said it was a very special case. That's why they sent Leto to give me the job and to ferry me to and from it. To increase the odds that I'd accept."
"Oh." Tali perked up a little and looked up Garrus. "You don't have to accept those jobs?"
Garrus looked down and saw the hopeful look in Tali's eyes. "No, I don't have to accept those jobs. But! And there is a but here Natalia, if they are asking me to do a job it probably means I'm one of the few people who could get the job done. Besides, I get to claim the bounty, which never hurts."
Garrus didn't like the fact that he could watch the hope sap out of Tali's large expressive green eyes as he talked. However, no sooner than he had finished speaking a mischievous glint replaced the hope.
"Garrus, you do know I have money right?"
Garrus sighed. "It's not that I need the money Natalia. I just said it never hurts. If my old job is asking me to take a job it means they've already tried to fix the problem themselves and failed. Repeatedly. Asking Thanked to do a job is a rare thing. And a bit of an embarrassing thing since they have to ask for what is technically outside help. And they are supposed to have near limitless resources. Basically, if they are asking for my help, they really need me to fix a problem."
"Oh, I see." Tali went back to leaning against Garrus' side. "Have you been asked to do many jobs for them in the past? Since coming to the Citadel, I mean." Tali asked quietly.
"Only a few times. The last time before the last time they asked I might have given them a piece of my mind. I think I cost someone a promotion actually. Probably not my smartest decision. Still, that bought me quite a few years of peace and quiet so I'd say it was worth it. And they tripled the usual bounty and sent Leto here when they needed help."
"See. I told you that you were the best. And that was very quarian of you, getting more money for something." Tali commented snuggly with a hint of pride in her voice.
"Well, I used it all to redo my living quarters as you can see. So I'm back to being a broke run of the mill cop."
"Senior Lead Detective is hardly run of the mill."
"Neither is being an owner of a popular intellectual property, studio owner, renown dancer and philanthropist before your 23rd birthday."
"Does it bother you that I'm so much younger?"
"It used to." Garrus answered to which Tali jerked back to give him a look of terrified surprise. "You were actual jailbait Natalia. I would have broken so many laws for one thing. And felt like I was taking advantage of a naive young girl back then. And I wasn't even sure if I was into quarians. Spirits. You were my much younger half sister's best friend, you know? But that was all back then."
"And now?"
"I'm hoping you're still my girlfriend, because otherwise I will have set a new personal low for losing a girl in the shortest amount of time ever. Kidding aside, I think you are a strong independent woman who goes after what she wants. I admire that about you. Even if you have a hard time accepting being told 'no.' "
"Garrus." Tali started plaintively. She'd apologized enough for that past slip up, hadn't she?
"It's one of your better traits, I think. And I know you're stubborn enough to put up with me. Just, keep me in the loop. Like you have been. Partners, right?"
"Yeah, partners." Tali echoed. "Garrus... I. Promise..." Tali started and paused, as she gathered her thoughts. "The next time you go, can you at least tell me? That you're going that is. I understand that you might not be able to tell me why or where or even when you are going to come back. But promise me you'll at least tell me." Tali finished meekly.
"I promise I will." Garrus said solemnly as he felt Tali's grip tighten on his arm. "And I promise I will always do my best to come back."
Tali just nodded against his arm and held on as quiet settled between them once more. Garrus let it drag on a little while before he turned on the TV and set the channel to the star viewing channel. Only the insanely wealthy could afford to have windows that showed the stars outside the Citadel. Everyone else settled for the view provided from cameras. Still it provided a nice viewing experience.
Garrus and Tali just enjoyed each other's company as they stargazed. Slowly Garrus felt Tali lean more and more on him. Once she fell asleep, he scooped her up and took her to bed with him.
A/N: Holy cow, it's a chapter. I failed to hit the 5k mark, only managing the 4k mark but this chapter has been rewritten about 5 separate times, all wandering in different directions. This one is the version I am most happy and comfortable. And boy did those two really need a chapter to them just talking. But with every closed door, a new one opens somewhere. On towards open doors!