#damn sahuna

[lilcooldude04]

Don't talk to me I'm thinking about them

#damn sahuna #what a stud #mass effect andromeda #pelessaria b'sayle #jaal ama darav

[wickedwitchofthewilds]

Valentine’s Prompts 2019

Disastrous Date

Requested by @natsora

Pairing: Emma and Jaal

Rating: T

Fandom: Mass Effect Andromeda-Project Olympus

Read on AO3

Emma propped her foot up on a crate to lace her boots. Jaal was waiting for her at the shuttle docks at the science station. As it were, she was already running late. It wasn’t technically her fault. The entire day had been strange. First, she had slept through her alarm. Which never happened. Then the shower on the Tempest wouldn’t turn on, some sort of malfunction Gil had told her, and then when it finally did, the water was ice cold. Drack had burned breakfast, so she was stuck with a ration bar. Then she was finally ready to get out the door, she found out the Pyjack had stolen the laces to her boots. Why? Hell if she knew. But she had to track down the little shit to get them back.

Checking the time on her omnitool, Emma jogged down the ramp. Good thing they weren’t staying in the wilds, so Emma didn’t have to worry about armor or a weapon. But she had no idea where Jaal was taking her. She just hoped being late wouldn’t throw off his plans too much. And she hoped he wouldn’t be mad at her. Not that he ever really got mad at her. Frustrated? Yes. Upset? Absolutely. But mad? No.

She saw him, leaning against the shuttle with his [Angaran omnitool]’s interface open. Maybe he was going to try and contact her to see what was keeping her. Emma hurried along, calling out to him so he would know she was on her way. When he looked up to see her, he didn’t seem angry in the slightest.

“Darling one!” He raised his hand in greeting.

Emma took the steps two at a time, only slightly out of breath. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, coming to a stop in front of him.

“It’s alright,” he reassured her. “Is everything okay?”

She nodded. “Just been a weird day so far.”

“Ah. Well, hopefully, what I have planned will make it better.”

Emma placed her hands on his upper arms and lifted up on the balls of her feet to press a kiss to his cheek. “If you’ve planned it, then I’m sure it will.”

He buzzed happily, pleased at her confidence in whatever he had planned. But Jaal knew her so well. And she knew that if he had planned something it was special for her, for the both of them, and she knew she would love it. He was always trying to do things for her. Little things for her to experience, to make her happy, to make her laugh. Jaal was kind and sweet. Sometimes it worried her. Sometimes she didn’t feel worthy of it. But over time, she felt that way less and less.

Jaal reached for her hand, and they boarded the shuttle. It didn’t take very long to get to their destination. Emma could see The Forge in the distance, but the shuttle dropped them off right before they reached it. She doubted that’s where they were going.

Jaal had a bag slung over his shoulder, and with her hand firmly in his, he led her through the thick foliage. Bioluminescent mushrooms lit the way. As always, Emma had to fight the urge to touch one even though she knew the slime was toxic. She kept her hand in Jaal’s and ignored the urge.

They walked past the mushrooms, and towards the ravine. The last time they had been here, they had been racing against the clock to disarm Akksul and his bombs. She wondered if he was finally bringing her back to The Forge. To see the beauty and importance of it, without it being tainted by the Roekkar. But after they dropped down to the ledge, he stopped while looking down at the water down below.

“This is good,” he murmured to himself. He turned back to her. “Will you close your eyes for me?” he asked.

Emma raised an eyebrow but didn’t tease him. She squeezed her eyes shut and placed her hands over them for good measure. This was his surprise and she didn’t want to ruin it. Emma heard him unzipping the bag, and then the rustling of fabric. She was curious. Just what had Jaal brought with him? She resisted the urge to peek.

Jaal cleared his throat. “Before you open your eyes,” he said. “We haven’t been able to go on a proper date and I wanted to change that. It may not be what you would have experienced in the Milky Way, but I hope you like this.” He paused. “You can open your eyes.”

Emma dropped her hands, her eyes opening and automatically going to Jaal. He was standing in front of a blanket that had been placed a few feet from the ledge. Presumably, so they could look over the edge at the water below and be close enough to marvel at The Forge. The bag was open, and she could see containers of food inside. It mostly looked like fruit, which is what was largely available right now, and some nutrient paste as well. He exuded anxious energy, waiting for her reaction.

It was perfect. Emma didn’t care about anything fancy. She just wanted Jaal and this was him. Thoughtful. Determined to make something work even if there was very little to work with. A lot of thought had gone into doing this for her and she loved it. She loved him.

Emma stepped forward, wrapping her arms around his waist. “It’s perfect,” she mumbled into his rofjinn.

“Do you really think so?” he asked, sounding pleased with himself because he already knew what her answer was going to be. Emma couldn’t lie to him. Her bioelectricity would give her away if she tried.

Emma nodded and looked up at him. “I love it.”

This time Jaal leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek. He guided her with a hand on her lower back to the blanket and they sat down together facing towards the ravine. With her shoulder against his, she looked towards The Forge. It was never lost on her just how beautiful Havarl was. It really was one of her favorite places in Andromeda. If she had to choose a place to settle down, this would be it. Especially if Jaal was involved.

Jaal reached into the bag to pull out a container. There was a portion of Paripo, just enough for the two of them. He must have already shared the rest with the crew and then saved the rest for this. Emma leaned into him as she chewed, just basking in the peaceful silence.

After weeks of dealing with the Archon, and the fallout after the fact, this quiet was well-earned. They had all been working hard since waking up in Andromeda, and they took their peace wherever they could find it. Emma was glad that Jaal and the moments they shared were her peace.

“While we are here, Sahuna wanted us to come by and have dinner with the family,” Jaal finally broke the silence.

Emma nodded. “Sounds great. I think I have some gifts on the Tempest anyway. Might as well get them off the Tempest before Kallo has a fit about weight.”

He chuckled. “Yes, a fit he has with Peebee often.”

“If he wouldn’t get in massive trouble for it, I’m sure he would jettison her escape pod.”

They both laughed. Mostly because it was true.

A rustling sound drew Emma’s attention. It sounded like it was coming from behind them. Jaal fell silent as well, noticing her change in demeanor. Emma stayed still listening but didn’t hear anything else. Maybe she was hearing things. Or maybe it was just someone walking by. After a minute or two of just listening, she shrugged and turned back to Jaal. There was a flash, and she was alert again, but there was nothing beside him. Yet…something didn’t feel right.

A low growl was the only warning Emma had before the air beside Jaal shimmered and she knew. Her fingers tangled in the fabric of his rofjinn and she pulled him towards her right as a Wraith uncloaked itself and lunged at him. A barrier slammed down around them, slicing the Wraith in half. But Emma could see others lurking in the foliage above them. Damn. How did she miss them before?

Out of habit, she reached for her sidepiece and then cursed. Of course, she hadn’t brought it. She didn’t think it would be a problem since they wouldn’t technically be in the wilds. A dumb decision really. She should know to be prepared in Andromeda no matter what. But she didn’t feel too bad. Jaal hadn’t brought his rifle either. Looks like it was another time to test her power.

Another Wraith lunged at them, but it hit the barrier head-on. Shaking its head, it backed away still growling. Emma couldn’t hold the barrier up forever, and they were too scattered for her to slam them into anything. Her eyes strayed to the ledge. But maybe she could get them to go over. There was no way they would survive the fall into the ravine.

She was more prepared when the next one lunged. Jaal stayed with her as she moved them and the barrier closer to the ledge. The Wraiths followed, believing they had Emma and Jaal cornered between a rock and a hard place. They all jumped down from the ledge. There were five altogether.

“When I say duck, I need you to duck,” she said. “I’m going to drop the barrier and throw them over the edge. Hopefully, my powers won’t fritz,” she mumbled the last part.

“You can do it,” Jaal encouraged.

She could see their haunches tense and she knew they were all going to try and lunge again. Her barrier wouldn’t withstand too many attacks, so she needed to work fast. There wouldn’t be another chance to pull up another one. The Wraith lunged as a group and Emma yelled out. Jaal ducked down beside her and she followed him, dropping that barrier. A few of the Wraith jumped right over their heads and right over the ledge. That left two. Two Emma was able to reach for with her power.

With a hold on them, she pushed, sending them flying over the edge. Jaal gripped her waist to keep her upright and steady. They stilled, waiting to see if there were any more, but it was quiet again.

“They never come this close,” Jaal said.

Emma let out a shaky breath. “I guess there’s a first time for everything.” She turned to look at him “Are you—”

She followed his gaze to the rumpled blanket and the spilled food. So much for a picnic. Emma wanted to laugh at their luck, but it died in her throat when she saw the look on his face. He looked so crestfallen. She knelt down beside him.

“I’m sorry darling one,” he said. “I perhaps didn’t plan this we—"

Emma leaned forward, his face cupped in her hands, and quieted his apology with a small kiss. “It was perfect, Jaal. I certainly won’t forget it.”

#valentines prompts 2019 #emma ryder #jaal ama darav #Miles to go before I sleep #project olympus #wickedwitchofthewilds

[candy-corps]

Late Night Snack

Sahuna written by @mygardenofmuses !

It was quiet in the flat. Everyone was sleeping or away, or, well lost. Only in the kitchen were dim lights burning now, while the chopping of a kitchen knife cut through the silence in small intervalls. Chop, chop, chop, chop ... Bruce made food. This happened often, but never just for him and never at this time. This night was different: Hunger pains had woken him up and comfortable as he was, resting with Jaal, forced him to get up eventually. He could always take the food and eat in bed, Bruce thought, as he added a pile of cut cherries to the bowl where banana, apple and grapes lay already. How he'd missed all the fruit while he was on Andromeda. Focused on his work, he noticed just late that someone got closer. Did he wake Damien? Bruce looked up.

Sahuna rubbed her eyes. She was very sleepy, and given the gravity difference between the two planets, she still put her hands on the wall for support. She blinked in surprise when she heard noises. Who could be cooking at these hours of the night? Jess had been kind enough to tell her than bat people like Bruce was often nocturnal, but she didn't expected she'd get to witness it. "H-Hello?"

No burglar. "Sahuna" Bruce recognized, his ears lowering again which had raised up in alert. "Why are you up?" he wondered. Jaal was sleepy. So she should be sleepy, too, right? Oh, how glad he was now that he had clothes on: they were not used to female guests and therefore quite free on the dressing code at night. But since it got a little chilly, Bruce wore a black dressing gown over his underwear. He fixed that up just to make sure and regret it a second later: his hands were still dirty from cutting. Bruce  headed to the sink to wash his hands - as much as he disliked it.

"I heard a noise and I thought I had to defend Jaal and you from a burglar..." She chuckled, rubbing her cheek.  "Jess told me batpeople are nocturnal. I guess this is daytime for you, uh?"

"Uhh, technically" Bruce affirmed, washing his hands. "There is no schedule right now. I sleep when Jaal does. And when we manage, we go out at night when the moon's out." Goodness, that sounded like he dragged Jaal out for no reason. "I ... need some moonlight now and then or my healing doesn't work. I also need, well, food" he added, pointing to the bowl before he turned off the tap and grabbed a kitchen towel to dry off his hands. "I was hungry so I got up to fetch some. That's all."

"Aw." Sahuna gave a look to all the ingredients. She picked up the knife and analised it. "What a small dagger. Something like this could come in handy in battle. Or cooking, which I think it is its main purpose." The Angaran woman turned to look at him. "Can I help somehow? Given I'm already here, and all, I am the guest, so I want to do my best to submit to the customs of Earth. Please tell me if there is anything I must do or avoid."

Ohh. No. Bruce' ears lowered. "There is nothing you gotta do" he assured, raising his hands defensively. "Just be yourself. I was actually about to be done." Folding his hands, Bruce looked at the bowl and then again to Sahuna. "But - Do you want something? Jaal likes fruit and almond milk."

"Almond milk?" Sahuna blinked in surprise. "Ryder mentioned it once but I never had a chance to drink it myself. Can I?", she requested, a hint of shyness in her voice.

Bruce actually smiled. "Of course." He walked over to the fridge, took the bottle Jaal stored the milk in. As he turned, he shut the door with his wing and fetched a mug from the cupboard for her. He filled it with just a little bit of milk. Sahuna should try it; not feel obligated to drink all too much when it was not to her liking. "I could warm this up for you. Warm milk is what you give people when they can't sleep" he explained as he passed her the mug.

"That is a lovely custom." Sahuna smiled and sat on one of the chairs. "I'd love to drink warm milk. It reminds me of a thing my father used to do for me when I was younger. He used to brew essence of najamuka and give it to me and the rest of my 25 siblings. We made a queue to get our cup and a good night kiss."

How cute. But 25 was too close to 27. Which was the number of all the kids that he couldn't have anytime soon. Bruce shook the thought off, but it took him a moment. "I'm sorry." Where were they? Milk! "Uh, I could add some spices, too." He turned to the shelf in question and grabbed vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa powder ... and just for the heck of it, chili flakes, too. He was curious how she'd react to these. "I hear that when it smells nice, it tends to taste good, too." He pushed the little closed jars over the counter, towards Sahuna.

"Thank you very much. You are very kind. Is there any protocol I must follow with this drink? Ryder told me that there's a drink called tea, that you have to sip it..." Sahuna struggled, but managed to raise her pinky. "And apparently it's important to drink it with this finger up. That is the "proper etiquette" to do so, and that some 'Queen of England'? would get mad if the tea gets spilt. Does this apply to almond milk too, or it is just the tea?"

"It's just the tea" Bruce promised. Then, thinking of it: "No, it's - it's nothing. No one will get mad, and no one would mind." Well, maybe the Queen of England. "I certainly won't" he assured. Damn, Sahuna ... "Just ... act naturally" Bruce requested. He took a glance at the fruit bowl, picked a pear from it and showed it Sahuna. "Tell me if that's friend- or love-shaped, for example." He truly wasn't sure and didn't want Jaal to get offended when he offered him some.

"I am not sure if I know how to 'act naturally'. Everything back home is regulated by protocols, so when I travel first thing I do is to ask about those. I don't want to disrespectful by accident." She explained and smiled. "You are a kind soul, Bruce. I like that of you." She looked down at the fruit and giggled. "Jaal told you about the friend-shaped and the love shaped fruits too?" She inquired. "That was one of the first things his real father taught him. He loved Jaal so much. Always did things so carefully." She brought a hand to her chest. "I miss him."

So that was where Jaal got it from. Bruce had to wonder how he looked like when he was young. "He died in the war, right?" Bruce guessed. He placed the pear on the table and twirled it a bit.

"Yeah. He was on the regular day at work when our enemies attacked. Some of his friends told me he died shielding some of the youngest coworkers." Sahuna smiled weakly. "He was so peaceful, and kind. He didn't deserve to die like that."

So he was no soldier. "Yeah" Bruce agreed. "I'm sorry." He didn't mean to wake bad memories; he'd just been so curious. Figuring Sahuna should like almond milk well enough, Bruce filled the mug up with the liquid. "I'll warm that up for you" he announced. Sahuna didn't smell the spices, but they could be always added later.

"Yes, please. I'd like that very much." Sahuna handed him the mug. "Maybe you can add those... species too?"

"Yeah, but ... which?" Bruce wondered. "All together will be weird" he warned. "You could smell, or ... maybe try to see what you like. wait ... " He opened a drawer and took out a teaspoon, then gave it to her. "Maye try a little, little bit. And be careful with this," He pointed to the chili one. "It's hot for me. I dunno if it's good for you, though. Our taste buds are different."

"Jaal told me that hot things in this planet are actually sweet for us. I'll try that." She picked up the chili, then added a spoonful of it to her mug. "I love sweet drinks." She commented, mixing it all.

This ... better work. "Alright" Bruce said, watching, with some horror, as Sahuna stirred the mixture. "Then let's try that." Once she stopped stirring, he took the mug and put it in the microwave, which started to hum as he turned it on. You could see the mug circle within; illuminated by the microwave's light. Another sting of pain let Bruce remember why he was in the kitchen in the first place. He took a glance at the bowl with the cut fruit in it, and, after consideration, opened one of the lower drawers - stuffed with candy. He'd sprinkle homemade marshmallows on it and then add some honey, too.

Sahuna was looking at the mug, fascinated by the movement of the microwave. "I've heard of these... microweeebs... a long time ago. But this ie the first time I see one."

"A microwave?" Bruce figured, looking at it. "Yeah, they're great. Remind me to make you popcorn before we go ... " back to Andromeda. Bruce flinched at the mere thought of it. Wasn't there something they could do to .... procrastinate on that ... - ? "Didn't you want to see Fawn?" Bruce remembered, looking back at Sahuna and adding more and more sweets to the bowl on the side.

"Yes, that!" Sahuna clapped her hands. "And thanks. I'd love to see her, but it's in the middle of the night, I don't want to bother her parents."

"I was rather thinking of, uh, tomorrow" Bruce replied. He took the bottle with honey and squeezed some on his 'fruit' bowl. And then some. And then some ...

"What are you doing with that bottle?" She asked curiosly. The microwave dinged and Sahuna took out her mug.

"Careful with that" Bruce warned. He didn't want Sahuna to burn her hands on the hot mug. "It's just honey. It's sticky, so it comes in a special container." Caught now, Bruce stopped to add honey. As he stirred everything, all was still coated, though. It was fine.

"Can I try a bit of honey? Jaal told me to be careful with it, that is very spicy." Sahuna put down the mug on the table.

"Honey's my favorite. Well, next to ... a few other things." Blood, definitely blood. But he didn't have to say that out loud, had he. "It's sweet for me. And it tastes different, depending where it's from and what kind of flowers were blooming at the time it was made. This is from the Netherlands; a place with tons of flowers. It's really, really good. I think." Bruce dripped a few drops on the spoon Sahuna's been using. Chances were low she'd like it much, but he was still hopeful.

"I like flowers. They're beautiful." Sahuna smiled and licked carefully the bit of honey. Her eyes went wide right away. "Oh my stars! This is hot, hot, super hot!"

Oh, too bad ... ! "You should try some milk" Bruce suggested. He heard that drinking water was of no use to get rid of the taste of something hot again. "I'm sorry" he apologized. Sure she asked for it, but he should have known better.

"It's OK, I asked for it, hahahaha!" Sahuna laughed and picked up the warm mug. She drank a good sip, and her expression relaxed right away. "Mmmmh oh myyyy... this is heavenly. I haven't tasted anything so sweet in a long time."

Ah. So hot ans sweet were simply reversed, was all. "I'm glad you like it" Bruce gave back, smiling. Now, cooking for Jaal should be a whole lot easier. "You know ... Angaran 'sweets' taste hot for me. I can't eat them. So ... Angaran food was hard" he had her know. Bruce took his bowl and ate a bite from it. This, yes, was very sweet, and very good. The first sweet dish he had in three days!

"Oh you poor thing... I had no idea. And here I was trying to give you sweet foods and... they were spicy for you. I'm so  sorry." Sahuna bit her bottom lip,  then looked down at her mug. "We've got a lot to learn from each other."

"It's alright." Bruce waved it off. "Jaal took care of me. He stole all the food in the fridge and I liked some of it." The blood, yes, and the algae sticks.

"I noticed. I had to go shopping." The woman chuckled, then she drank another sip. "I should go back to bed. This drink is making me very sleepy."

Bruce nodded. He picked his bowl up since there was no use to eat here once Sahuna got going. "It's still a few hours until the sun will go up. I'll go keep Jaal company" he announced.

"That's a great plan. He doesn't like to sleep alone." Sahuna smiled and walked to the door. "Thanks for everything, Bruce. Good night."

"Good night." Bruce lifted a wing to wave her goodbye; his hands being busy holding bowl and spoon. He felt sorry for Sahuna. He had someone to return to now, but he still remembered vividly what it was like to wake up without. He dimmed the lights even more and then went to return to their room; eating a mouthful of fruit now and then.

#RP #Bruce RP #Bruce and Sahuna RP

[avaquet]

Oki doki. Romance asks 1 and 2,17,26, 24 and 30.

Thank you so much anon!!!! And i’m so damn sorry this took me forever I was dying well just allergies but still

(okay tumblr don’t eat my answer)

LONG POST AHEAD:

1. What drew your character to their LI and vice versa?

- It definitely was not love at first sight, they had to build up trust with one another. But, Sara was feeling extremely alone at the time and she didn’t want Jaal to feel like an outcast on the ship because she knew how being alone felt, so she started hanging out with him more, and she got interested in angara and their culture and then just Jaal in general. It built more and more after that. Jaal appreciated what Sara was trying to do and he was horrible at trusting too early, but Sara was different, right? He was relieved to find out that he had been right, and he started learning and asking questions about humans and then Sara in general. He saw her at first, more of like a rubix cube, she was shy and introverted and awkward, and just over time she started opening up and stuff. At this point they both started to get that feeling like they’ve known each other forever, even though they really don’t. Like finding each other so easy to talk to, they continued learning new things but couldn’t shake the feeling of this “Maybe I’ve known you in a past life?” kind of thing.

Sara, doesn’t flirt, and she’s never been in a relationship before, but her words became more and more suggestive over time and she didn’t even realize it herself until SAM was like “Your heart races when you talk to Jaal” “you seem to smile more around him” “Your tone is different” etc etc. and she was like “o shit” and then Jaal sent her that email and she started freaking out because she discovered feelings and oh someone actually cares for her in that way. She actually thought Jaal sent it to the wrong person despite it having her name and being addressed to her. For Sara, she just had a very strong emotional attachment to Jaal and found him attractive internally first, through his personality and stuff, and then just over time she became more like “mm dat ass” Jaal was similar, attracted to her spirit first, her kindness, her heart, and then over time he started to get attracted to her physically and at meals would catch himself just staring at her and taking her form all in, smiling when she would smile, and just getting lost.

2. What was the first moment that they knew they were in love with their LI?

- I kinda answered this above, but here is the breakdown lol (sorry i can get carried away)

Sara basically had to be told by SAM that she was developing feelings for Jaal. There wasn’t really a pin point moment for her until Jaal sent that email after returning the Moshae to Aya, when she realized that “holy shit” her feelings are being reciprocated. There might have been a lot of squirming around in her bed with her clutching a pillow and smiling like an idiot but also just doubting everything after reading that email.

Jaal sorta had an interest in her from when he first saw her on Aya, but a different kind of interest. She’s alien, unlike anything he’s ever seen. After getting through her shy shell, he found that she was very emotional, empathetic, sympathetic, artistic, kind, etc etc. That she followed through on her actions and promises to help others, that she was steadfast in her beliefs. After a while these feelings of, “I want to know more about her” started peaking up. He found himself drawn to her and started to pay active attention to her words, and figured out that she seemed to be flirting with him. So, after he made sure he was staying on the Tempest, he sent her that email to hopefully try and get her to talk to him about these feelings they both might be having and maybe even spark a flame sometime.

17. Their ways of expressing love.

- Oh boy lol here we go… Jaal… doesn’t hold back. After every battle on the field he is constantly asking Sara if she is okay and checking her over and over. Every morning he asks about her dreams and how her sleep went, sometimes he would wake her up by planting kisses all over her face, or just zapping her, and sometimes both at the same time. Every morning he reminds her to eat, not that she needs the reminder, but she has hyperthyroidism and he wants to make sure she’s healthy as possible. He holds her often, embraces her, tries to make her laugh as much as he can (which doesn’t take much). He asks her to read him Earth stories from books that his translator cannot translate. He makes her things and writes her poems. He gives her space when she needs to be alone. He respects that she doesn’t like to show PDA, but slowly pushes those boundaries because he can’t help himself sometimes. He will draw her, he tries to immortalize her in art basically. He will treat her body like a temple and see her as a goddess. He isn’t obsessive, he doesn’t see her as weak, in fact if he’s worried that she might be doing something a bit off like hand to hand maybe, he will seek out a way to help her learn and try to teach her. At the same time he takes in everything Sara teaches him. There’s always times where he would just bathe her in affection, that’s usually before a battle, because he understands losing someone and having regrets about not spending enough time with them or just leaving things on an argument. Even in situations where he had no words, like when she is having an anxiety attack, he would just hold her and let her cry on him. He would whisper phrases in Sheelesh that cannot be translated in english, and these phrases just hold so much meaning, a meaning which cannot be translated.

Sara on the other hand, she’s hard on herself so she feels like she needs to show him more affection all the time but he reassures her that she does a lot already. and I have a headcanon angaran philosophy of; “Giving is receiving and receiving is giving.” Basically you can give someone a gift and their emotion and how they use their gift is basically a gift right back to you. That you were able to encourage this kind of reaction from someone, kind of thing. ANYWAYS, she plays music for Jaal on the violin that he made her (long story). She will draw him as well, she will worry about him, too. She lets him lay in her lap, play with her hair, etc. She gives him massages constantly, she will treat any and all wounds on him after a battle. She might not like PDA but she’s constantly testing her own limits for him. She takes in and listens to everything he says, especially when he’s in an existential crisis. She’s learning Sheelesh from him so they don’t have to rely on translators anymore in the future. She will have silent meditations with him. Sometimes she will sing him (or hum) him to sleep. She cuddles up against him constantly, which he just fekin loves. She loves to try out new things with him. She’s always communicating with him, and being honest with her emotions, and not holding anything back which he deeply appreciates. She makes sure that his work doesn’t get in the way of him eating or sleeping. She makes him feel like a god when she can. She’s always shy about her bellydancing but Jaal can get entranced by it so she gives him little shows once in a while, and over time she’s not that shy about dancing in front of him anymore. She’s always talking to Sahuna about everything really, and surprises him constantly.

Together, you’ll find them touching each other in some way. They will talk philosophy and spirituality. They constantly ask each other if they’re okay, if they’ve eaten, or how well they’ve slept. They talk about their futures together, and can be seen having late night conversations in the Pathfinder’s cabin with all the lights off, cuddling with the blanket he made her, under the stars until they’re ready to fall asleep. In battle it’s like they can get hyper aware of the other and can worry constantly. Sometimes they have little heated debates after a battle, no yelling or calling each other names or getting personal, cause they are mature, but mostly one just being very feking worried about the other. They will give each other alone time and some time apart because they know that a healthy balance alone can bring them even closer together later. And it’s also important to have time alone and it’s part of self care. They also have a lot of silent moments together; meditating, reading, star gazing, just caressing one another, doing reports, drawing, one reads while the other uses their lap as a pillow. All the fun stuffs.

24. Is there any moment that happens between them that you know happens that just makes you melt?

- Oh yes, definitely. I think… There are three main ones that happen in game that will always make me squirm in my seat. In no order:

*When Jaal says things like, “You make my heart sing.” “You are the most incredible person I’ve ever known. In body, and spirit.” And the way he just looks at her when he says these things like he’s speaking directly into her soul from his and just adkfjlashdgakjf;g

*That split second moment at the end of the game before he kisses her. Like it just hit him all the times she could (and) have died in that battle, so many times their future plans would just be ruined, that they are free of the Archon, that these future plans can come to fruition, that she is alive. And he just can’t help himself but bring her close into a fast and deep kiss because he was just so worried and now just so damn excited and just a barrage of intense emotions that he just can’t express any other way.

*That moment when she’s taking off her clothes by the waterfall and his lip does that little curl, he was just so damn ready for her. And while she was checking him out while they were both naked and he just maintained eye contact with her and just had this deep ass smile like fhsaldkjfa

and sooo many other moments too don’t worry lel

26. How important is the romance in your OC’s overall story?

- Honestly? They could’ve remained very close friends like brother and sister and still have built each other up and such, with the same amount of support and gifts. So, not a groundbreaking thing in reality. Don’t get me wrong, they’re madly in love, but if they were just friends then well like I said above. Eh, it’s hard to explain, they’re very close as friends and lovers, but the love thing was more of a cherry on top sort of deal, they realized like hey this person is one I’m attracted to intimately. They do believe (and as their writer hueheuehuehue) that they are soulmates and twin-flames so win win XD

30. How does their love change as they get older?

- Well, they were serious and mature in the relationship to begin with so that part doesn’t change much. But in the beginning, Sara was shy and Jaal was afraid of overstepping his boundaries. Things were nervous, awkward, exciting, worrisome (because of battle). As much as they enjoyed their first kiss, they had to build up to it again after a while because of nerves and such. As they experienced more together and got older, they became a hell of a lot more open with each other. They always laughed about awkward things but now it could make them roll on the floor laughing so hard. They kiss all the time, PDA isn’t much of an issue anymore, they feel so damn comfortable in the other one’s arms, things just calmed down and they found home in each other’s presence. They are (mostly Sara, cause Jaal already was) more open and honest about their emotions to each other. They learned to communicate much better, and after a while (long while), they don’t need the translators anymore. They would talk to each other in Sheelesh and in English, sometimes both in the same sentence (sometimes merging words together and being like ??? at the same time and then laughing their ass off)

Anyways! Thank you again so very very much for sending me this ask so very long ago and I apologize again for the late response, and as you can tell my urge to write is kicking in XD please send more asks! I love them all

#jaal ama darav #jaal romance #jaal x ryder #ryder x jaal #sara x jaal #Sara Talia Ryder #jaal #anon #answered asks

[tarysande]

ME:A Fic: Five Gifts (1/1)

Guys. I don’t think I have ever been the first to invent an AO3 tag before. I made this post yesterday night. It’s... been a wild ride?

Pairing: Vetra Nyx/Jaal Ama Darav

Also on AO3

#

Five Gifts

Voeld

Some time after the first trip to Voeld—where, yes, maybe she’d complained just a little about the ridiculous cold—Vetra finds a piece of fabric on her workbench. It’s the exact color of her markings, which is strange. Even stranger, the small, delicately-embroidered flowers winding around the edges are gold, and if the fabric is a perfect match for her markings, she can’t help noticing the embroidery’s the same color as her eyes.

It’s a kind of tube. Weird. She has no idea what it’s for. Pretty, though. It’s also the softest, silkiest fabric she’s ever felt, which is saying something because she’s sourced some pretty fancy shit over the years.

There’s no note, no explanation. She asks around, discreetly. She knows how to be discreet. Ryder’s as confused as she is. Drack snorts. Peebee jokes about secret admirers. Figuring it might be some kind of angaran thing, she brings it to Jaal. He’s busy with something, but instead of just turning in his chair or speaking over his shoulder, he stops what he’s working on immediately, rises, and faces her directly, as if she’s now the most important thing he has to think about. She not sure she’s ever going to get used to that. He smiles when he sees the fabric in her hands, but the smile fades when she asks if he knows what it’s for.

“Ah,” he says slowly, as if savoring the single syllable. “You did not get the note?”

(She finds it later, after an office-wide search, swept aside with a pile of irritating requisitions and hiding under two boxes of cereal, one empty.)

He takes the fabric from her hands, looking for all the world like he’s about to start performing some kind of ritual, and says, “May I?”

She’s used to people wanting things, of course. Half her life is spent getting things for people who want them. Jaal’s weird, though. When he asks, she always gets the sense that the question is real. If she said, no thanks, he’d only incline his head and accept the refusal. She’s not used to that either.

So she says, “Sure?” still without the first clue what he’s about to do. He lifts the tube, moving his hands toward her, and though she stiffens, she doesn’t pull away. He drops the fabric over her head, where it pools in her cowl, impossibly soft against the hide of her neck. She stops herself from nuzzling into it. His hands fuss a moment longer, and though he does not actually touch her, just the heat of his hands so close is almost a caress.

She’d laugh at herself if the thought wasn’t quite so unexpectedly disconcerting.

“For when you are cold,” he says, stepping out of her personal space and taking his heat with him. She’s not sure if she’s disappointed or relieved. He tilts his head, as if admiring her, though she knows he’s probably just looking at his handiwork. “It suits you. I hoped that it would.”

“Uh, thanks,” she says, managing to keep her voice even, even if her subharmonics are all over the place. She’s pretty sure he can’t tell, anyway. Hopes he can’t.

When she finds a mirror, she has to admit it does look nice. She doesn’t really believe such a flimsy scrap of pretty nothing could possibly keep her warm, though. The next time they’re down on Voeld, though, she humors him and tries it out.

Damn if the thing doesn’t work as advertised.

Aya

She loves Aya. It’s beautiful, sure, but there’s also real trade and so many new things to discover, and she’s always loved new things. And discovery, for that matter. The climate’s a relief after the insanity of Voeld and Eos, and everything smells so damn good. One thing she has to hand to the angara, they’re no slouches when it comes to hygiene. Even up to their damn eyeballs in war with the kett, they still make time for beauty.

She wanders through the market, for once a tourist instead of a trader, smelling perfumes and lotions and whatever other magical potions the angara douse themselves with. Doesn’t buy anything, though; she’s always happy to shop for Sid, but she’s not big on spending on herself. Too many years saving every credit and living job to job; old habits die hard.

Back on the Tempest, though, surrounded by the familiar but uninspiring scents of metal and Nomad and recycled air, she wishes she’d splurged.

“I saw you in the market,” Jaal says later, when it’s just the two of them in the galley.

“I’m hard to miss,” replies Vetra. “Not a lot of turians down there.”

She hasn’t figured out yet if she loves or hates the way he thinks about everything she says, even the flippant stuff. He says, “You did not buy anything.”

She shrugs, pushing food around her plate to give her hands something to do. “Yeah, well. A lot of that stuff’s… it’s nice, but it’s extravagant. Not necessary.”

He leans forward on his forearms, watching her intently. “I disagree. If we do not remember what we fight for, do we not risk becoming no better than our enemies?”

She snorts. “You’re fighting for lotion?”

He laughs, low and deep. She can’t stop the flutter of her mandibles in response. “Yes, Vetra Nyx. I am fighting for lotion.”

Three days later, there’s a small tub of lotion on her desk. She rubs a little onto the hide of her wrist. It’s not too floral, not too sweet. It reminds her—strangely, since she’s pretty sure none of the plants are the same—of her childhood, of soil after a good rain, the feel of her dad’s big hand curled around her little one, and the sweet baby smell of Sid in her skinny arms. You know, with flowers.

Instead of saving it, instead of leaving it on her desk and smelling it, she uses the lotion every day. She finds some fabric in Kadara port she thinks Jaal will like (only, she knows, if he doesn’t realize it’s from Kadara port), and trades him for more lotion when it’s gone. He insists the trade isn’t necessary. She insists it is. Besides, she wants him to have the fabric.

Havarl

After the stress of the whole Sid-pretending-to-be-her thing, when Jaal asks if she—they, she and Sid both—would like to come to meet his family, she accepts.

She worries, of course, only after she’s already agreed to go. When it would be too weird to say hey, about that meet the family thing, what exactly does that mean in angaran?

When she tells Sid, Sid says, “So what does that mean, exactly? Are you two like, a thing now?”

And Vetra thinks about the gifts Jaal’s left on her bench, and the tone of their banter, and the way he always manages to take his meals the same time she does. She thinks about how often he makes her laugh, and how she never stiffens or backs away when his arm brushes hers now, and how once or twice she’s even leaned into that touch and, well, really liked it.

“I don’t know,” she says, because she really doesn’t. “Angara. They’ve got feelings all over the place. I think we’re just friends.”

“You know there’s actually a way to find out, right?”

Vetra raises her brow plates and Sid rolls her eyes.

“I know this is a tough one, Vet, but what you gotta do is open your mouth and let words come out.”

“Ha, ha,” says Vetra, because of course she knows this. She’s just not sure she wants to hear the answer if she asks. She tells herself it’s because she likes things the way they are.

She’s always been able to lie to protect herself.

Jaal’s family is… overwhelming. Everyone talks at the same time. Everyone laughs. Here, people touch each other all the time. Forget arms brushing arms—there are hugs everywhere and it’s more common to see angara in happy piles of arms and legs and leaning heads than standing alone. A handful of cousins closes around a laughing Sid, promising to show her all kinds of exciting things.

“Mother,” Jaal says, when he introduces Vetra to Sahuna, “this is my—Vetra.”

My Vetra, thinks Vetra, as Sahuna’s arms wrap around her. This is my Jaal.

But she can’t say it. Can’t be sure. Doesn’t want to assume. My Vetra could be my friend, Vetra just as easily as it could be the Vetra I want to be mine.

He gives her the stars, just the two of them and whatever it is between them, alone in his childhood room. How different his childhood must have been, surrounded by mothers and siblings and cousins. Like the stones in a wall, he told her once. She thinks she understands better now. The back of his hand brushes the back of her hand and she knows, she knows she could reach out and wrap her fingers around his, but she doesn’t.

She does lean against him, though, just a little. Shoulder to shoulder, looking at a projected sky. My Jaal, she thinks, and wonders, just a little, how well the two stones of Vetra and Sid could fit into this wall.

Elaaden

He gives her a… poem.

She thinks it’s a poem, anyway. She’s never been all that big on… poetry? So she doesn’t understand a bunch of the metaphors and there’s an awful lot of talk about water considering how generally—and specifically—turians avoid splashing around in the stuff. There’s some really nice stuff about beauty though, and courage, and a particularly poignant stanza (she thinks they’re called stanzas?) about survival and determination.

I mean, she’s pretty sure she’d have to be dead to not appreciate that someone (Jaal, especially) thinks (she thinks?) she’s beautiful and courageous and determined. They’re all good things. She’s pretty sure they’re all things no one’s bothered calling her before, not specifically, and certainly not all at once.

He gives it to her almost nervously. She loves when he’s a bit nervous, actually. She feels like it evens the playing field a bit. It’s written on the crisp, beautiful paper one of the krogan merchants on Elaaden was selling—weird, yeah—and she’d bought thinking he’d like it.

“There was… more I wished to say,” he explains. “But I could not find the words.”

“These, um. These words are great, Jaal. I… you know, I really like these words.”

Before she can stop herself (she’s not sure she wants to stop herself) she presses her brow swiftly to his.

He nods. He shakes his head.

He probably doesn’t even know what her gesture means.

“I do not want you to answer now,” he says, bafflingly. “But—thank you, Vetra Nyx. For considering.”

She reads the poem three-hundred and forty-one times after he backs away from her little office, and she still can’t figure out the question it’s supposedly asking.

Kadara

“Hey,” she says. “Wake up.”

She’s careful not to stand too close, in case Jaal wakes the way she would: with a knife or a gun in his hand.

He doesn’t. He rolls to his side and blinks into the near-dark. It’s a couple hours until sunrise and the light filtering through the window is dim. The glow of her visor illuminates his outline, even as it spits information at her, rapid-fire. For the first time in a long time, she reaches up and turns it off. A moment later, she takes off her visor completely. She feels naked without it, strangely vulnerable, but it’s a good sort of vulnerability. She thinks. She hopes.

“What is this?” he asks, and damn if his voice isn’t even better all rough and growly with sleep. “Vetra?”

“I’m giving you a present,” she says. “Ryder’s going into the port today, and I’m getting you out before she makes you go with.”

“I hate Kadara port,” he says with real feeling, and she laughs.

“I know, Jaal. We all know. Everyone in the whole galaxy knows. Come on. Get your big purple ass out of bed. We’re on a schedule, here.”

“My… ass,” he says slowly, pushing back the blankets, “is not big.”

It is, however, definitely naked. Actually naked, not just vulnerable-naked. Angarans. Jaal. She swallows hard and turns around until she hears the rustle of fabric being pulled on.

“You are not wearing your visor,” he says.

“Yeah, well. Hopefully I’m not going to need to kill anything on the way.”

He laughs again. “We are on Kadara, Vetra.”

He doesn’t wear his eyepiece either, though, she notices.

He doesn’t ask where they’re going. She’s still kind of blown away every time he just trusts her like that, without needing anything in return. She drives the borrowed vehicle a little too fast, watching the ever-lightening darkness of the sky. She can feel Jaal watching her with his pretty blue gaze that always sees too much, but it doesn’t make her nervous anymore. Doesn’t make her want to pull back or hide or deflect. The silence now is companionable instead of strained.

He is game when she insists they climb up the cliff. Of course he doesn’t cheat, and though she wins, she doesn’t think it’s because he let her. He’s grinning when he reaches the top, every exhale almost a laugh. She’s never known anyone quite so able to wholeheartedly experience things. He holds nothing back. The sun rise is a ruddy glow on the horizon. “You are right,” he says. “This is much better than Kadara port. Thank you.”

She says, “I read your poem three-hundred and forty-one times, Jaal. I don’t even know what the question is.” She holds up a hand to stop him before he can speak. “But I have a question—there’s a question I want to ask you.”

I know this is a tough one, Vet, but what you gotta do is open your mouth and let words come out.

He nods.

“Is this… real?”

She has no visor to hide behind; he has none to distract her.

“This?”

She flicks her fingers, gesturing to herself and then to him. “This. Between us. The… gifts. And the… everything. You like me, I get that, and we’re friends, but—”

“I do not merely like you, dearest,” he interrupts. “That I thought you knew.” He touches his brow. “You… kissed me, did you not?”

Her mandibles flutter. Her stomach joins them. “I wasn’t sure you’d know what that meant.”

“I have been reading,” he says. “A lot.”

He steps closer, lifting his hands, palms-up. She inhales, catching the faint scent of both his lotion and hers—it’s probably stupid, but they smell good together—and lowers her own hands to his. Their fingers curl around each other. They stand almost as close as angara.

Low, very low, he says, “Do you want this to be, as you say, real?”

She nods. She swallows. She lets the words come out. “Yeah,” she says. “I really do.”

#mass effect andromeda #jaal ama darav #vetra nyx #vetraal #vetra x jaal #my fic #fanfiction #WHAT IS HAPPENING #i tripped and fell into a pair so rare i had to make up the relationship tag is what's happening

[fade-touched-eezo]

Ryder/Vetra?

Oh man, you have opened the slightly intoxicated floodgates here. I wrote this generic Ryder, but definitely assume that this is my Sara all the way. 

• when or if I started shipping it.

Um, so the literal second she stepped out in that trailer. Bisexual lady turian? Of COURSE I was gonna hit that. Only reinforced when she walked down that gang plank and opened her mouth.

• my thoughts:

Good lord you do not want to get me started on my feelings for these two nerds. I have a *lot* of feelings. Blasphemously: they even edge out my beloved Shakarian as my favourite bioware romance.

• What makes me happy about them:

OH man. Apart from yes, hello ROMANCABLE LADY TURIAN?

They’re just so good for each other? Vetra gets someone who Cares, about her, about Sid, about the future and is willing to move heaven and earth to get it and Ryder gets someone that believes in them and is there 100% to back them up and doesn’t give two goddamn shits about Alec Ryder’s bullshit.

Literally everything about that damn romance. 

• What makes me sad about them:

The fact I won’t see more of them in DLC?

Seriously though, the entire steak scene is just  heartbreaking. How many times had Vetra thought she’d found someone only to have them just be in it for what she could do/get for them? Or left, because they couldn’t handle what she did to surivive, or because Sid was in the picture? And then Ryder shows up and gives a shit, and gives a shit about Sid and who’s entire idea of flirting is basically roaming around shouting ‘yes hello I care, and I won’t run out on you and OF COURSE we’ll go rescue your bby sister from asshole mercs, she’s part of the fam, PLEASE I LOVE YOU’ into the void, and FEELINGS.

A small one: but Vetra’s probably the first (okay second, thanks, Kesh) person that Ryder meets on the Nexus that doesn’t hit them with the ‘where’s Alec’ bullshit. She just strolls on down that gangplank and Gets Shit Done with nary a mention that Ryder is the Wrong Pathfinder.

You know what? the fact that I got ripped off with a fade to black (show me the turian booty bioware) and TOTALLY ripped off with the Meridian end scene kiss. Where was my Big Damn Hero kiss please? Don’t make me animate that shit all on my own.

• things done in art/fic that annoys me:

Pairing up Sid with Scott/someone else on the Tempest crew. She’s like  seventeen, MAX, and i"m pretty sure she’s a little younger, so uh, how about we don’t?

Making Liam into the Assholiest Asshole of them All. (broski’s got some issues to be sure, but like… they work it out like goddamn adults if you go through the whole dialogue chain)

Otherwise, there’s not enough fic yet for certain things to piss me off, so it’s just my usual fic nopes.

• things I look for in art/fic: 

HEIGHT DIFFERENCES oh my god. Vetra having a Thing for hair. Ryder caring for the sweet birb girlfriend. The ridiculous shit Vetra got up to pre-Initiative. Lamp-related shenanigans.

• Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

My Sara? Suvi, that one turian Lieutenant that hangs out in APEX hq with Kandros (Syax?) or Avela Kjar.

Non-Sara Ryders: Pretty much anyone, depending on the Ryder.

Vetra: Suvi, Jaal or Cora (listening to all the Nomad banter has made me hella ship it tbh). Possibly the non-Pathfinder Ryder.

• My happily ever after for them:

Okay I have probably thought about this far too much for my own good (and I am more than goddamn happy to have this jossed in a sequel please god Bioware):

They start off living in a giant ass apartment on Meridian while they’re still running around Pathfinding. There’s still planets to terraform, quarians to find and kett to shoot.

Vetra and Sid somehow manage to get themselves adopted by Sahuna (probably along with half the rest of the crew: Sahuna is horrified that none of these aliens have any appreciable family but each other) and so Ryder now has a future angaran mother in law.

They find a planet that’ll take dextro and levo plant growth and stake out a claim for the future farm/vineyard. (first legit winery in Heleus? The ongoing mission is to make a levo/dextro friendly alcohol that doesn’t taste like drain cleaner)

Somewhere along the way we wake up Ellen — I’m thinking about three or four years in? — and after the fallout from that’s dealt with and everything’s cool, it’s time for the big Ryder-Nyx wedding.

A good few years later after Ryder’s had enough time to deal with all of their family related baggage, and Vetra’s enjoyed a good long time not being a caretaker (my own timeline says ten years after they first found Meridian Port) we end up with some Smol Ryder-Nxy’s running around.

There’s probably a lot of drama and Pathfinding in between all of this because I’m pretty sure Ryder’s never ready to retire, and someone’s gotta keep ‘em out of trouble.

• what is their favorite non-sexual activity?

PREENING oh my god. Once a fortnight Ryder sits down and basically mani-pedis the shit of of Vetra’s fringe

Vetra has the galaxy’s biggest collection of terribad turian dramas that she not-so-secretly adores, and the dynamic duo are slowly working their way through them. Ryder counters with their ridiculous collection of pre-contact movies.

(Vetra judges the shit out of what humans thought aliens looked like)

Idk, I like to think Lexi actually does rope both of them into separate craft activities.

(Look okay SOMEHOW Vetra is getting herself a pair of Glittens. Look at them: they’re fucking turian mittens and despite the fact that I live in a climate where I will never, ever need a pair, I’m knitting me a pair of purple ones)

#ryder x vetra #continuousspec #vetryder #vetra nyx #ryder #asks #i have a lot of feelings okay #a lot #also one of these days i will learn how to read more #but it is not today #i miss lj

[cousinslavellan-archive]

A. Ryder Log #28: Vows

Invites are sent, food is prepared, setup is done. It’s time.

The Wedding of a Pathfinder is a big event - even if she weren’t marrying an Angara. But all Aria cares about is her friends and family, and Jaal beside her.

Jaal x Ryder, Post Game, Established relationship.

Here it is, guys! The wedding chapter! Depicted oh so perfectly in the commission I grabbed from @lynngo-art and posted yesterday, over here! 

Also on AO3 under ‘The Misadventures of Aria Ryder’ over here!

“Ok, everyone that’s meant to be here for the ceremony is here. Is she ready yet?”

“Almost.” Sahuna clasps the bracelet in place around Aria’s right wrist, brushing the Pathfinders hair back from her eyes again and pausing for a moment, considering, before holding out a hand, “Tela, bring me that clasp - the blue one, young one, there you go-”

“What’s the hold up?” Peebee sashays in past Cora, grinning widely and clearly buzzed, “Ooo, Ryder, lookin’ good!”

Aria cracks a grin even as she stays still, feeling Sahuna pulling her hair back gently, “Really, Peebs? Drunk already?”

“M’not.” the Asari argues hotly, still swaying on her feet, “Ok… maybe a little. Not like it’s gonna be a long ceremony ‘nyways, c’mon! Let’s git a move on!”

“Just about…” Sahuna comes around to Aria’s front and steps back, giving her a quick once over before smiling brilliantly, “Perfect. Take a look, ladies.”

There’s a sudden rush of movement, and then she has a gaggle of females standing before her, all giving her happy looks and making excited noises.

Vetra and Syd at the back because of their height, Lexi and Suvi at midrange, Peebee and Cora and Sahuna at the front with Tela wiggling between her grandmother's arms.

Aria can’t help it; she starts laughing, too damn happy and amused by the group in front of her to do anything else.

“Auntie!” Tela succeeds in freeing herself from Sahuna’s grasp and flings herself at Aria, trying to hug her legs through the dress, “You look so pretty!”

“Thank you, Tela,” Aria doesn’t chance scooping the child up as she normally would - she’s pretty sure she’d get strangled by every other woman in the room if she screwed up her hair or makeup now - but she does bend down to hug her, unable to resist, “You look really pretty, yourself!”

They’d managed to have a flower girl dress made for the little Angara - baby blue with matching gloves for her little feet - and a basket filled with vibrant flower petals sits nearby, ready for her to start tossing as they walk.

“You look perfect, Ryder,” Vetra’s smirking at her from the back, clearly proud of herself, “I knew that dress would look great on you.”

“I appreciate your help finding it, Vetra.” Aria gently pushes Tela away towards the waiting basket, standing and smoothing her hands down over the full skirt of the dress.

The dress has a sweetheart neckline with lace extending up her neck, arms bare, full skirt sweeping the floor as she moves and the train just long enough she’d need to keep an eye on it when near other people.

Sahuna had come through and brought her an Angaran bracelet and brooch to accent the dress - though the brooch was being used as a hair clasp, instead - and Cora had found her a pair of blue earrings to match the rest.

Her omnitool bracelet was an unfortunate necessity, for the translator - even having SAM in her head didn’t negate the need for the tool itself - and Aria felt a brief pang of sadness, wishing she didn’t need it to understand the Angara.

Maybe Jaal can start teaching me Shelesh.

That thought makes her brighten, and then there’s no time to think about anything as there’s a rustling at the tent entrance, Scott sticking his head in with a sheepish grin.

“Is the, ah, bride ready to go? Your escorts are here, milady.”

Aria hears a distinctly Krogan snort from behind him and laughs, “Come on in, you two; we’re ready.”

In the end, Aria had decided to ask both Scott and Drack to walk her down the aisle.

Scott was her twin, her only living - awake, she amended - blood relative… but Drack had been there for her since Eos, ever ready with advice, a father figure even if he was grand-father age.

Neither minded sharing the role - and Drack had looked damn proud when she’d asked, so Aria knew she’d made the right choice.

Though she had to admit, Drack in a suit was a bit of a strange sight, the Krogan seeming distinctly uncomfortable as he ambled into the tent behind Scott.

A discomfort that vanishes the moment he spots her, features softening as much as they’re able. “Damn, kid. You clean up nice.”

“Thanks, Drack.” her voice cracks a little, the comment making her more emotional then she’d have expected, smiling brightly despite it.

“We ready to do this thing?”

“More then.”

Sahuna takes that as a hint to get the others moving, shooing them from the tent to find their places. She leaves after stealing one last hug, touching her forehead briefly to Aria’s before following the others.

Aria lifts her bouquet and can’t resist burrowing her nose in it for a moment - real, fresh flowers, a mix of earth-blooms and native Angaran blossoms - before arranging herself between Scott and Drack, bouquet held in the hand of the arm linked with her brothers, her right hooked loosely through the Krogans.

Tela’s bouncing in front of them, fingers already curled around a mass of petals, ready to start tossing them.

There isn’t any music - they’re really only walking her down to satisfy at least part of the human tradition, and so the guests from Aria’s side get to see her before the quick ceremony - so the moment she’s ready Aria takes a breath, nods to Tela, and squeezes Drack’s arm.

Tela skips forwards out of the tent, flinging petals the second she’s in the sunlight, and Aria hears the chorus of awwws before she even emerges from the shade.

Once she’s out, though, she feels the attention turn to her, knowing she’s blushing even as she dares to look around, to see if she recognizes anyone.

The guests are standing - more similar to the Angaran style, in that way, able to socialize before the party - and she see’s Etta and Sahruul, Finn, Lathoul and Teviint and Baranj, Sahuna and holy, they actually convinced Evfra to come!

Her own Crew was there - Gil and Jill visible with little Dian, surrounded by several curious Angara - as were Kesh and Vorn, and Kandros, and the other Pathfinder’s, and - Addison did come, huh.

She’d sent invitations to all of the Nexus Council - only expecting Kesh and Kandros to show up, truthfully, but she’d made the attempt so they couldn’t accuse her of not attempting - and it seemed the Immigration Head had decided to come.

Tann is distinctly absent. Aria’s okay with that.

Her attention is drawn back to their destination when Scott gently tugs on her arm, amber meeting deep, starry blue and her breath catching for a moment.

Jaal stands just outside the small building they’ve erected for the ceremony, hands clasped together and posture relaxing once he spots her. He’s switched out his typical armor for a bodysuit that is pure black, accented by a deep teal, elegant looking Rofjinn, a silver cuff on his left wrist that matches the clasp at the neck of the garment.

His expression is what catches her - joy, amazement, the slightest hint of nerves, and above all, love - and she smiles, feeling teary, trying to reflect that back to him.

This is real. This is happening. Aria swallows thickly, blinking back tears, Thank you, Dad. I wouldn’t be here, if…

Then suddenly they’re at the platform, and Drack steps back as Scott takes her left hand and settles it in Jaals, giving him a look that reads both serious and playful, “You better take care of my baby sister, Jaal, you hear me?”

Jaal’s answering grin reads much the same, “You have my word, Scott.”

Her twin accepts that answer, releasing her and pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before stepping back beside Drack, carefully scooping up Tela - who only pauses in tossing petals because she’s in Scott’s arms, beaming over at her.

Jaal’s grip on her hand tightens, expression never wavering as he leads her gently inside the building, the door closing behind them signalling the ceremony has begun.

Moshae Sjefa and Captain Dunn grin at them, standing ready near the back wall.

Aria had known that - as far the human traditions went - a Captain of a ship could perform a marriage, and she’d been overjoyed when Captain Dunn had agreed to play the role for them.

When Jaal had told her that the Moshae could legally perform the Angaran half of the ceremony - and that she was willing to do so - Aria had been ecstatic.

Both women had fought with her, helped her, taught her so many things… that having them perform these roles only seemed right.

“Jaal.” the Moshae greets, stepping up first, “Aria. Are you prepared?”

“Yes.” they answer almost simultaneously, giving each other little smiles.

“Good. Turn towards each other and clasp hands.”

Captain Dunn takes Aria’s bouquet and steps back, and Aria happily places her hands in Jaal’s - so much bigger than her own, so warm and gentle despite his strength - gazes locked as the Moshae begins the tradition Angaran hymns.

Even with the translator on, Aria can barely catch any of the words, but the tone and rhythm washes over her nonetheless, making her feel heady and warm.

Jaal’s grip on her tightens as the song finishes, expression ever more affectionate, and the Moshae clears her throat after a beat of silence.

“Do you both swear to be fair to one another, to be loyal?”

“We swear.” they both reply, as Aria had been told they would do.

“Do you both swear to love each other no matter what? Through any hardship or strife, any sickness or pain?”

“We swear.”

“Then by the Suns and Stars, by new tradition and old, you are wed.” the Moshae allows another grin, nodding once, “A match I did not expect when we first met, Pathfinder, but one I am pleased to seal.”

“And now, time for the human tradition,” Dunn steps up as the Moshae steps back, passing the Angara Aria’s bouquet while she digs in her pocket, “I believe those vows are close enough to the traditional human ones, so all that’s left is the rings.”

She produces the wedding bands they’d picked, and Aria has to grin; they’d managed to find a pair that almost matched her engagement ring, black gold bangs with a single blue gem on each.

Simple, but unique; perfect for them.

“Now then; put the rings on one another.”

Aria goes first, slipping the ring on his left index-finger - they’d agreed to wear them on their index’s, since Jaal doesn’t technically have a ring finger - and shivering a little at the wave of happy static he gives off.

She bites her lip when he lifts her left hand and slips the ring on her own index finger, feeling suddenly, strangely bashful, even as giddy happiness fills her chest as he again grips both her hands in his, smiling brightly down at her.

“Do you both promise to stay together, no matter what? In sickness and health, rich or poor, young or old, as long as you both shall live?”

“We do.” they answer immediately, and Dunn smirks, holding the bouquet back out to Aria.

“Then let’s get you out there and give your guests the good news.”

They all laugh, Jaal leading Aria back out onto the little platform, Captain Dunn and Moshae Sjefa close behind.

“Honored Guests!” Captain Dunn bellows, “May I present, Mr. and Mrs. Ryder-Ama Darav!”

“Jaal,” she then adds quickly, quietly, “You may kiss your bride.”

Aria’s too busy being swept into a melting kiss to really notice the cheering roar from the crowd, but she loves how that name sounds. Ryder-Ama Darav. Because Jaal hadn’t wanted her to lose any of her heritage, but he’d wanted them to have the same name. He’s too good to me.

There’s a floral archway set up not far from the building, and that’s where they head, Tela skipping alongside them now that Scott’s released her.

They’ll greet the guests, after, but they have to pose, first; Aria is not only the first Pathfinder to wed, she has also married an Angara. If this isn’t considered a diplomatic marriage, she doesn’t know what would be.

Keri T’Vessa is the one covering the wedding - on Aria’s request, since she knows and trusts the Asari - and the woman even promised to play wedding photographer, once she had enough for the ‘report’.

Aria can hear their friends and family cheering as they stop in front of the floral arch, sees the flashes of cameras, vaguely notices Tela catching her dropped bouquet as Jaal turns to take her hands in his, matching rings glinting on each of their left index fingers.

“So.” Jaal murmurs, expression one of serene joy.

“So.” Aria echoes, smile matching his, barely aware that Tela has settled on the end of her dress to toss more petals, keeping tight hold to the bouquet.

“I hardly dare to believe… we are joined, Darling One. You and I.” he bends forward, purring when she meets him halfway, foreheads pressing together, “Forever.”

“Forever.” she whispers, eyes closing as she basks in his presence - in the cheers, in Tela’s giggles, in the warm air and scent of flowers around them - and grips his hands tighter, “I love you, Jaal Ryder-Ama Darav.”

“As I love you, Aria Ryder-Ama Darav. My Darling. My Beloved. My Wife.”

Then he kisses her, and Aria knows she will never regret this moment.

Hours later they slip away from the party - well after dark, dancers and music still going strong but many guests turned in for the night - hands clasped and steps slow, simply enjoying each other’s company and the warm breeze as they head home.

It had been a fun, perfect, rewarding day. Once the report was done, Keri had released them to greet their guests, melting into the background to take the promised photos.

Dinner had gone smoothly - a mix of Nexus and Angaran dishes spread amongst the tables, depending on which guest was seated where, everything properly labelled - and once more Aria had had Tela on her lap, leading to a few interesting moments when the humans of the gathering had started clinking their glasses and demanding the couple kissed.

Overall, it had gone smoothly, and when it came time for Aria to toss her bouquet - a smaller one she had specifically for that reason, as she planned to keep her big one - the confusion of the Angaran women was endearing.

Even more so, Aria couldn’t have been happier when Cora caught the bouquet, the blonde biotic looking at first startled and then flushing a brilliant red when Scott had sidled up behind her and lifted her in his arms.

If he didn’t propose soon, Aria would be smacking her brother.

They had not asked for and did not expect any gifts, so the few they did receive were a surprise and a treasure.

It had been a good night - both Aria and Jaal had danced for hours, together, with others, with Tela - and now, at last, they were tired, and ready to retreat.

Aria wonders, briefly, if this is how her wedding night would feel, if they had not already been intimate.

So many books, movies, magazines and, hell, other women, all said the wedding night was a time of awkwardness and passion, perhaps a slight fear, a burning desire.

Aria feels no fear, no nervousness, and there’s always the barest hint of desire between she and Jaal - Angara are free with their emotions, and her husband is no exception - only content in his presence, happiness that they are together.

Would it feel different, if they hadn’t already been together? Would they not have had this calm peace with one another, this comfort and happiness in simply being beside each other?

She’ll never know - and she would never give up what they have, or change how things had gone, so she dismisses the thought and steps inside the house when Jaal opens the door.

“Mmmm….” Aria stretches her arms out above her head, shoulders popping audibly, “I’d say that was a good day. No major incidents, no one got poisoned by eating the wrong food, Peebee only fell over once…”

Jaal chuckles, coming up behind her to rub at her tense shoulders, “And she did not fall in the lake, which I believe Gil was betting on.”

“Typical Gil.” she sighs, “Undo the zipper for me? This dress is gorgeous, but I am so ready to be out of it..”

“Of course, Darling.” Jaal chuckles, deftly undoing the zipper and stepping away to work at his Rofjinn, laying it over the back of the couch, “I believe the Angara in attendance have found some new party friends, Aria; they will be dancing the night away.”

“That’s good. It’ll make diplomatic things easier.” Aria lets the dress fall over her shoulders and sighs in relief, bending to gather it up and carry it into their room to put it back in its bag, “I’m glad they approve of us, to.”

“Of course.” Jaal comes in behind her and quietly closes the door, stripping out of his body suit while Aria undoes her bra and steps out of her panties.

The garments are deposited in the laundry bin, her borrowed jewelry on her dresser, and then she turns to Jaal, smiling softly, not at all shy before his gaze. “Hello, Mr. Ryder-Ama Darav.”

Jaal chuckles and reaches out, gripping her hand and pulling her in against his chest, “Hello, Mrs. Ryder-Ama Darav.”

Aria sighs, tilting her head back and leaning up to meet him when he bends down, lips pressing softly together, moving slowly. There is no rush; they can take as much time as they want.

“Jaal.” she whispers when he trails his mouth down her neck, sucking at the skin of her throat.

“Mhmm?”

“Can you teach me Shelesh?”

He pauses, pulling back to give her a surprised look, “What?”

Aria lifts a hand to his face, stroking her thumb over the scar on his cheek, smiling softly, “I’d like to learn. To be able to understand even a few words, without the translator.”

He considers her for a moment, blue eyes hooded, before smiling brilliantly, both arms wrapping around her waist to press her even closer.

“You,” he says, one hand brushing over her hip, “Are a delight. Let us start with this; Taoshay.”

“Taoshay.” Aria echoes, shivering when he nuzzles his forehead against hers, clearly pleased, “What does it mean?”

“Beloved,” he purrs, kissing her deeply, mood shifting to something more passionate and needy.

Aria pulls away only long enough to turn off the translator and hope for the best before wrapping her arms around his neck and arching into him, breathing “Taoshay.” into his mouth.

Jaal says something deep and rumbling and then he’s sweeping her up and towards the bed, and then no words are needed at all.

They wake late, and despite Sahuna’s previous assurances that they did not need to be present for the following days, Aria drags Jaal out of bed and starts getting dressed.

She wants to at least make a brief appearance, and reasons that if they don’t, Tela will surely come looking for her eventually.

She had learned a few words the night before - yes, and please, and fuck, and more - but keeps the knowledge between the two of them, translator back on before they leave the house.

Tela is glued to her once more when they arrive, and they are greeted jubilantly with hugs all around, Sahuna grinning widely at the sight of them.

“Koana and the babies send their love and congratulations,” she tells them, more than amused by the happy child sitting on Aria’s lap, “You’ll have to come visit, Aria; they are getting so big.”

“We will,” she promises, “Soon. We have a couple of weeks off for our ‘honeymoon’ - we could probably…?”

“Perhaps.” Jaal agrees, and the rest of the day passes quickly.

Once more, they leave after dark, hands clasped and steps slow, undressing and joining together in their room, translator off.

Aria wakes with a wince on the third day, scowling and curling in on herself, away from Jaal’s familiar warmth against her back.

She feels nauseous and sore, tender near her belly, almost like a bad wave of cramps.

Is the blocker finally wearing off? She wonders, biting down on her lip, hoping they have ibuprofen or acetaminophen or something in the house, Ow, if it is, I forgot how bad the cramps were…

Jaal shifts behind her, and then there’s a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently, “Aria?”

She doesn’t answer immediately, and Jaal says something she doesn’t understand, though she can read his tone of worry.

Your translator is still off, Pathfinder. SAM informs her through their private channel.

Give me a second, she thinks back, cringing as another cramp hits, SAM, is my cycle restarting? Is that what this pain is?

Unknown. I will monitor for irregularities and try to deduce the cause.

Jaal’s still talking, tone growing more concerned from her lack of response, and Aria huffs out a breath, annoyed by her bodies timing.

“Taoshay.” she winces, turning the translator back on when the ache prevents her from stringing together the Shelesh she knows, “Jaal, I’m okay. I just… have cramps.”

“Cramps?” he repeats, and she sighs, nodding slowly.

“In my abdomen - nothing serious, but it’s a bad ache. I don’t think I’m up for going back to the party, today.” Aria pauses, mumbles, “I’d love to just soak in the bath for a while, honestly…”

“A moment, my love,” she feels Jaal bend and his lips press briefly to her forehead before he’s withdrawing, the sound of his omnitool loading up, “And you shall have your bath.”

Aria sighs again and curls as tightly into a ball as she can, willing the pain to go away as she listens to Jaal moving about the house, speaking briefly into his omnitool, and then the distinct splash of running water.

He returns several moments later and slips his arms beneath her to carefully lift her against his chest, carrying her swiftly to their bathroom.

She expects him to set her down in the water, opening her eyes in surprise when he instead steps into the tub and sits down, stretching his legs out before settling her comfortably between them, his arms resting on either side of her own, so that she’s tucked neatly against him.

Aria sighs in bliss, slipping down a little further and allowing the warmth of the water and the press of his body to relax her, the ache diluted somewhat, “You’re too good to me, Jaal. Thank you.”

“I would do anything for you, Beloved,” he chuckles, pressing a kiss to the top of her head, “I sent a message to your brother and Cora that you are unwell; we will not be disturbed today.”

Aria hums in content, closing her eyes and relaxing, far to happy where she is to consider moving.

They climb back into bed once the water has grown cold, curled into one another and talking quietly, Aria nearly falling asleep once the ibuprofen she’d found has kicked in.

They spend the rest of the day like that, falling asleep in each other’s arms when night falls, waking early enough to see the guests off the next morning.

Aria gives Tela a tight squeeze and promises she can visit again soon, hand clasped with Jaals as they wave to the shuttles, watching for a few moments after they’d disappeared.

The cramps are gone, and momentarily forgotten. Here, now, this is all she cares about.

#jaal x ryder #ryder x jaal #rydaal #jaal ama darav #aria ryder #mass effect andromeda #mass effect fanfiction #fem ryder #angara #weddings #the misadventures of aria ryder #the wedding chapter #enjoy peeps #interspecies relationship #cramps #shelesh #sahuna ama darav #tela ama darav #cora harper #cora x scott #scott ryder #drack #kesh #moshae sjefa #captain dunn

[thievinghippo]

New Fic: Courtship (1/7)

Fandom: Mass Effect: Andromeda

Chapter Title: The Tavoan (read on Ao3!)

Pairing: Jaal Ama Darav/Skylar Ryder

Rating: Teen

Summary: Jaal's family comes to Meridian, ready to ask questions and get some answers about the relationship between Ryder and Jaal. 

Notes: Finally throwing out some Andromeda fic. Yay! This is for @theherocomplex because we finally share a ship again! <3 And just a note, there are end-game spoilers here, so tread carefully if you haven’t finished the game yet. 

#

“Tell me true. Does my son satisfy you sexually?”

Ryder stills, a cup of tea halfway to her mouth, at Sahuna’s question. “Umm…” she says as a way to try to stall from answering, or better yet, not acknowledging the question at all.

This is supposed to be a relaxing lunch, a chance for Ryder to spend some time together with Sahuna. Now that Jaal’s family took the time to come to Meridian, Ryder cleared her schedule as much as possible. She and Sahuna sit in her father’s old quarters in the Hyperion, listening to music while eating an actual home-cooked meal. But instead of enjoying her salad - with actual greens from Elaaden - Ryder wants to be anywhere but here.

“Oh, how your cheeks redden,” Sahuna says, delight in her voice. “Jaal told me about the human blushing, but I never expected to see it myself.” She sets down her fork next to her plate and looks right at Ryder. “Now, why are you embarrassed?”

Another question which makes Ryder want to find a hole and let it swallow her up. She takes a breath, and tries to remind herself about the differences in human and angaran culture. “Sex isn’t something we-” Ryder stops herself to take another breath. Why is remembering to breathe suddenly so difficult? “Something that humans talk about in public.”

Especially with your boyfriend’s mother…

“I have made you uncomfortable,” Sahuna says at once. “Please forgive-”

“No, it’s fine,” Ryder says, forcing herself to make eye contact with Jaal’s mother. She might want to be anywhere else right now - the middle of a kett base sounded great - but she’ll get through this conversation if it kills her. “I’m assuming that’s a common question for angara?”

Sahuna nods, picking up her fork, which she then happily spears into a vegetable. “It is. Sex is an important part of many relationships. Not all, of course. But from what Jaal has told me, though, I’m to understand that it’s an important part of yours.”

Ryder tries not to slouch in her chair as Sahuna looks at her expectantly. “I’ve no complaints on that front, honestly,” she says, hoping her answer will end the line of questions and she can go back to her salad in peace. Maybe bring out the pie she and Jaal made last night in the Hyperion’s galley. A poor imitation of a chocolate mousse pie, but better than nothing.

“No complaints?” Sahuna says, and Ryder could hear disappointment lacing the woman’s voice. “Does that mean there is no praise?”

Where are the damn Remnant when she needs them… “No, of course not,” Ryder says quickly, folding her hands in her lap, willing herself not to stare at them. The absolute last thing she should be thinking about is Jaal and bed and praise. Not here. Not now.

“I did not realize humans could turn that shade of red.”

“We can,” Ryder says, her voice inching higher. “We most definitely can.”

Sahuna leans forward in her chair, clearly waiting for a more detailed answer. “So Jaal…”

“Yes,” Ryder says, swallowing down her embarrassment and fear. Think like an angaran, she tells herself. An angara wouldn’t think twice about such an inquiry. “He very much satisfies me.” She says nothing more, hoping beyond hope that Sahuna doesn’t request any specifics.

A smile, showing all of her teeth, crosses Sahuna’s face as she claps her hands together once. “Oh, that is so good to hear. A mother does not need to know more so let us continue to enjoy this delightful meal.”

“Right,” Ryder says meekly, trying to concentrate on her food. But her mind keeps wandering to the question Sahuna asked and just why she made such an inquiry.

Jaal better have some answers…

#

He did not expect to get back this late.

For most of the day, Jaal’s been wandering around Meridian with his siblings, reveling in being reunited with his family once more. They will be gone in less than a week, when the Tempest goes off on another assignment, but he pushes those thoughts aside, determined to enjoy the time they have together. 

And now that the hour is late, it is time to enjoy his time with Ryder.

He palms the console outside her quarters - or as she keeps saying, her father’s old quarters, as if they are not hers now by right - and lets himself inside. The lights are dim and Ryder is curled up under a blanket in their bed.

The corners of her lips turn upward as their eyes meet. Once, he believed this woman to be emotionless, with little more feeling than a Remnant. Now, he knows better, knows this small smile she sends his way is full of happiness, and more importantly, full of love.

Love for him. Jaal is truly the luckiest of all men.

He walks to the other side of the bed, ignoring the fact that he should go to the refresher to brush his teeth and oil his skin. “Love of my life,” he says, scooting forward so that his chest is flush against her back. He places a hand on her stomach and adds, “Temptress of my loins…”

Ryder turns onto her back, the smile gone from her face. Has he said something to upset her? He tries to think of what might make her smile disappear. Did they not message enough today? Did she think he ignored her while he spent time with his siblings? Did he-

“Why did your true mother ask me about our sex life today?” she asks.

Oh.

Oh.

“She did?” Jaal asks, sitting up, already feeling the loss of her skin from beneath his palm. He did not expect this, not yet. But perhaps he should have. After all, less than three months ago, he kissed Ryder for the whole galaxy to see. Of course his true mother took that as a sign of commitment, especially when he told her more than once that Ryder fiercely guards showing her feelings in public. “I see…”

Ryder lifts her chin, and a look of suspicion crosses her face. It’s subtle, a furrow of the brow and purse of her lips, but it is there all the same. “What aren’t you telling me?

She reads him so easily. Most of the time, it’s humbling, but at this very moment, it’s maddening. To give himself a chance to stall, Jaal pats his lap. An invitation. When they are alone, as far as he is concerned, they cannot be close enough.

Without hesitation, Ryder sits up and settles herself in-between his legs, leaning back against him. The trust she shows him… Stars, he loves her so much.

But now there is no more time to stall. Now he must speak. Jaal is unsure why he’s nervous. She loves him. He loves her. He’s as certain of that as he is there are stars in the sky. Yet this is different somehow. Different in a way he doesn’t understand.

“When two angara care for each other as we do, it is customary for the family to become involved,” Jaal says, leaning forward, resting his chin on her shoulder. Because of the ends of his tendrils on his chest, it is an awkward position. But less awkward than if he wasn’t close. “The family asks questions to ensure that the match is sound. It is called the tavoan.”

Ryder says nothing and for longer than Jaal likes, the only sound in the room is of the two of them breathing. “So your mother could tell you to end things with me if I didn’t answer right?” she asks and Jaal hears an unaccustomed uncertainty in her voice.

“There are no right or wrong answers, my darling one,” Jaal says before pressing his lips against her shoulder. “My mother adores you, almost as much as I do, though in a very different way. I cannot imagine she would ever be against our courtship.”

“So tavoan means courtship?” Ryder asks. Even though he cannot see her face, he can hear the smile in her voice.

He chuckles, letting out a hint of bioelectricity through his palms. She shudders against him, as he knew she would, giving Jaal a chance to hold her closer. “More like, an exploration of a trusted relationship. But courtship will do.”

“You want to court me?”

“That I do,” he says, though the truth is he’s been courting her for a long time, even before he first took her to meet his family. “And I want you to court me.”

Ryder turns quickly, swift enough he cannot stop her. Resting back on her knees, she studies him. “How?” she asks, the word eager enough to cause his chest to tighten in happiness. “What do I need to do?” She bites her lip, looking away. “Unless you’d rather not tell me. Should I look this up?”

She is so close. So close. Jaal finds he cannot resist the temptation any longer. So he leans forward, kissing Ryder gently on the lips. She kisses him back, just as softly, and for one perfect moment, there is nothing in the galaxy except the two of them.

But then she breaks away, ending their galactic solitude. “So the tavoan?” she asks. “What exactly does it entail?”

That is his Ryder, always wanting to know the specifics so she can plan. Jaal strives for now, for the moment, but she hardly seems to ever be able to let herself do the same. With the Initiative depending on her, he understands, and treasures those moments when she is firmly in the present with him.

“For an angaran, there are five aspects of self,” Jaal says. He’s not thought of this since the revelation of the Jardaan, the species that created the angara. Did they program this belief or is it something his people discovered on their own as they strove to find their place in the universe?

Ryder has her omni-tool out but Jaal grabs her hand instead. “Hey,” she says with laugh. “I wanted to take notes.”

“I hardly think notes are necessary,” he says, bringing her hand to his lips. “Surely you can remember five things?”

“Now you’re just teasing,” she says.

“Never,” Jaals says, pressing his lips against her wrist, against her pulse. It is a sacred spot, where he can feel the blood flowing through her veins. “The five aspects of self are sexual, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual. A relationship should be compatible in all five if there is any hope to last.”

His mind thinks back to the only other time he would even have considered a tavoan, with Allia. Even then he knew it would never have worked. Sexually and physically, yes. They were quite compatible there. Everything else felt stilted, especially emotionally. So when his elder brother arrived, Jaal was not surprised when things ended quickly.

But Ryder? Jaal never dreamed that he could find a match so perfect for himself. The only aspect he sometimes worries about is mental compatibility - she is so bright and quick and his education so spotty - but he’s never felt lesser. Ever.

“So your true mother is going to ask me more questions?” she asks.

“Not just my true mother,” Jaal says, thinking of the coming days ahead. His family, his beautiful family all coming together to support him and the woman he loves. It is as if he is dreaming, though he knows he is awake. “Other members of my family will ask questions as well.”

She seems to consider his words. Then with a tilt of her head, she asks, “My mother-”

Jaal puts his index finger on her lips, thinking of Ellen Ryder. Ryder almost always becomes melancholy when she thinks of her true mother and this is not the time. Now is a time for joy, and for each other.

“You are human, Ryder,” Jaal says. And he is glad she is. If she was angara, she would not be Ryder, the love of his life. “I understand that your ways are different. You do not need to conform for me.”

Perhaps Ryder agrees, he thinks as she takes his hand and puts his finger over his own lips. “I’ll figure something out,” she says quietly. Or perhaps she doesn’t. “I don’t want you missing out on something important because I’m human.”

A promise is in her voice and it makes his heart sing, that she is willing to go to such lengths for him. “I do not want to add to your stress-”

“There’s no stress,” she says lightly, kissing him quickly on the lips. “If your family is willing to ask me awkward questions, the least I can do is have my family do the same.”

“You are amazing,” he says and it is one of the truest things Jaal’s ever said, on par with I love you.

“Yeah?” she says, pressing herself against him. Her eyes are a promise and Jaal breathes in quick as her tongue darts out and wets her lower lip, already anticipating the pleasure ahead for them both. “Well, you’re not so bad yourself.”

#mass effect #mass effect: andromeda #jaal ama darav #skylar ryder #otp: favorite place in the universe #mass effect: andromeda spoilers #hippo writes fanfiction

[wilddragonflying]

Supplemental Rules of the Tempest

Credit to @momomomma2​ for helping with the first ~20

1.  All crewmembers working in the engine room are required to wear clothing over at least 50% of their bodies.

THAT MEANS NO NAKED ENGINEERING IN THE ENGINE ROOM GIL

Do you know how hot a drive core gets? Leave me alone, Cora. Knock first.

2.  Rule 1 has been amended to all crewmembers in the engine room regardless of work or leisure. The engine does not react well to bodily fluids, as Kallo would like to remind everyone.

YEAH GIL GO FUCK YOUR BOYTOY SOMEWHERE ELSE 

 Would you rather we use your quarters Sara? 

 Do that and I'll punt you both out the airlock while in FTL

3.  No placing the pyjak specifically so he will mess with people's belongings.

4.  Don't touch the space hamster. It bites and so do both Ryders.

5.  Touch my rofjinn again and I will be replacing all of your food rations with Angaran nutrional paste, Peebee

6. And you, Liam.

7.  All crew have been given a copy of Tempest dress code. It isn't a suggestion.

8.  Dr. T'Perro would like to remind all crewmembers that they are all in possession of perfectly-functioning omnitools, therefore all other Milky Way 'scientific tests' are unneeded and take up valuable medical resources to heal the consequences thereof.

9.  Stop daring Drack and Suvi to lick things.  Drack has had enough body parts replaced already and we would like to keep Suvi in her original body parts for as long as possible.

10.  No weapons on the kitchen counters even if you clean up afterwards. Do you have any idea how many contagions are in the blood of the various people and creatures you have killed with those?

11.  No weapons anywhere but the munitions cache. WHY did you have a rifle in the shower, Jaal?!

12. No kink-shaming of your fellow crewmembers.

13.  All crew members wanting to 'clean their rifle better' are requested to invite either of the Ryders to join them.

14: If taking the Ryders up on their offer, make sure you use protection. We all know how... adventurous they are.

15. Stop giggling, Gil.

16.  Use of SAM is barred from poker nights. Let me win the honest way, damn it!

17.  Do not step into the escape pod if Peebee insists that she cannot come out and is stuck. If genuinely stuck, it is her own fault and SAM can get her out.

ONE TIME SARA, ONE. TIME.

The harness couldn’t get over my fuckin’ head, Peebee. What if I’d lost another body part?

Oh come on, it’s not like you would’ve noticed.

18. ‘Fuck the kett’ is only to be used to describe one’s hatred of the kett. 

19. The Pathfinder would like to remind their crew of Rule 12.

20. All Tempest crew members just lost the Game.

21. FUCK YOU SCOTT

22. The song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ is banned from the Tempest library. Anyone caught attempting to put it back will be made to clean the plumbing. All of it.

23. Claiming SAM did it, even if technically true, still counts.

24. Only Tempest crewmembers are allowed on the Tempest. This ship isn’t that big, and no one wants to hear you going at it with your most recent bed partner.

Also it’s rude to lock most of the crew from their bunks.

25. Crewmembers are politely reminded to clean up any and all messes they make.

26. ALL.

27. Seriously why the hell would you even do that there.

28. Crewmembers are banned from asking Dr. T’Perro if she has a medical kink; violate this rule at your own risk. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Peebee.

29. High School Musical and the sequels have been removed from the vid library as well.

30. After the recent gift of noise-cancelling headphones, Rule 29 has been rescinded.

31. Memes regarding Directors Tann and Addison are banned from the Tempest.

32. Rule 31 has been amended: Memes regarding Directors Tann and Addison are banned from leaving the Tempest in any way that can be traced back to her crew.

33. Any and all attempts to capture any creature without proper planning and equipment are hereby expressly forbidden by order of Dr. T’Perro.

34. “But science!” is not a good excuse, Suvi & Peebee.

35. Neither is “for the vine.” Vine hasn’t even existed for centuries, deities.

36. NO you are not allowed to use SAM to resurrect Vine, do you WANT to be responsible for dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries????

37. You cannot pull rank to get first shower, Sara, damn it! THERE’S A LIST.

FUCK YOUR LIST I WAS COVERED. IN. WRAITH. GUTS. If you’d gotten in my way I would have strangled you with them and that’s not a report I wanted to file.

As much as I hate to agree with the Pathfinder in this matter, she does have a point. Besides, I’d have to do an autopsy on you according to regulations, and Turian autopsies are such a pain.

Thanks for the sympathy, Doc.

38. ‘Cultural curiosity’ only goes so far. Attempting to break into my room to ‘see how Angara sleep’ is extremely unappreciated.

If you really want to see, send an email to me or Scott. We’ve both got pictures.

Delete them. Immediately.

He cuddles his rofjinn - Scott

I’m telling Mother to cut you off from her pie.

NO

39. All Tempest crewmembers have a standing invitation to Sahuna Ama Darav’s house on Havarl for a piece of pie and family company.

Thanks, Mrs. Darav. Nice to be around a family again.

Family is important, Mr. Gil, especially a supportive one. You’re welcome anytime.

40. Members of the crew are discouraged from using their status to wrangle free drinks from bars. It especially won’t work on Kadara.

Unless you’re one of the Ryders; Reyes gives us free drinks.

Damn it, Scott, don’t tell people that! You know I like the expensive shit and we don’t get paid.

41. Jokes about the twins’ sometimes-intersecting sex lives are ill-advised; if you must make them, be prepared to receive jokes about your sex life in return.

42. Same goes for prank wars.

Scott and I once had one going on all school year with a couple of classmates. We won.

43. SARA’S PREVIOUS COMMENT IS NOT A CHALLENGE

Too late - Gil, Peebee, Drack, Vetra

44. Jaal and Drack are reminded to please remember that there are crewmembers from all species aboard the Tempest, and they all have varying opinions and cultural expectations regarding nudity.

For example, the humans don’t mind if the krogan wants to clean his armor without changing into civilian clothes ;)

Maybe the male humans don’t - Suvi

Yeah, you’d rather see the turian do that, wouldn’t you Suv? - Sara

Rather see you, darling - Suvi

KEEP THE FLIRTING OUT OF THE COMMENTS - Kallo

45. “Because I said so, that’s why” is not a valid argument.

46. Neither is “Because I killed the Archon and saved all your asses.”

Mostly because it’s not true; who was the one with SAM in their head at the time?

Fuck off I had him for most of that whole shitshow.

I’d like to remind you both that neither of you actually killed the Archon; technically, Meridian did. - Kallo

Semantics.

47. “Fuck you” and any variation thereof is also not a valid argument. 

Pro tip: It is an excellent way to start one.

Or a brawl.

48. Drack and Peebee are no longer allowed to share alcohol with the other members of the crew.

Seriously what the fuck did you guys put in that last batch

49. Monopoly is banned from game night. The Tempest gets enough external damage it doesn’t need damaged from the inside either.

50. WE ARE NOT PLAYING CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY EITHER

We all know I’d win, anyway - SAM

#wild writes #momomamma2 #me:a #andromeda #mass effect: andromeda #mass effect #fic

[tiaraofsapphires]

Apoptosis- A Mass Effect Andromeda fic

Everyone wants human/angara babies after this fic but instead I wrote this...

Read on Ao3 here!

-runs for the hills-

Summary: Something goes wrong during a mission and Sara is left with a choice

Sara’s mouth tasted like copper. Someone—Cora?—was dragging her backwards out of the room, arms hooked around her armpits.

People were yelling. Angry, afraid, primal. She understood why, but couldn’t comprehend.

“He didn’t mean it—he didn’t mean it,” Sara muttered.

She could barely hear herself over the yelling and the ringing in her ears but she repeated it over and over, as if it would make it true.

It wasn’t his fault. It was hers. It had been a mistake going into the holding cell. It had been a mistake to go into that wing of the Nexus in the first place.

Everyone—literally everyone, even her own brother—told her to stay away. Eyes always soft, pitying.

It had been a day and the Tempest’s crew was in various states of recovery after the battle and Sara needed to make sure it wasn’t a dream. That it wasn’t some terrible nightmare or SAM’s idea of a cruel joke, forcing her to watch a simulation of what could happen. So she could be prepared.

But, gods help her, she could’ve sworn she saw Jaal in the kett’s eyes for a moment as the creature hunched in the corner of his cell. That flash of particular softness that he always reserved for her. The light she saw was like the one she’d see when he would stare at her when he thought she wasn’t noticing. It was a sad light, mournful. As if conscious of what he had become.

She had approached, closer, her mistake, heedless to the people at her heels telling her to stay away.

He was right there. She could see the light in his eyes. He was still there inside that shell.

Then a bony hand caught the side of her head, snuffing out that hope in an instant.

Jaal would never hurt her. This wasn’t him. It wasn’t right.

Cora finally released her in a deserted hallway. They both could hear the faint sound of a scuffle, of an unnatural and garbled voice.

The door to the cell would be shut again, likely not to be opened. They would throw food at him, likely. They didn’t know if kett could survive without food and Sara didn’t want to find out by accidentally starving him.

Cora was watching her.

Sara didn’t want to look at Cora. The older woman already thought her impulsive and immature even after the Archon. This incident was only another bullet point on the growing list of Sara Ryder-related screw-ups.

“Ryder—Sara. Go back to your quarters. Clear your head. There’s nothing you can do,” Cora insisted, all but shoving her in the direction of her quarters.

Sara’s throat worked around a lump. She wasn’t going to cry. She cried enough on the ride from the mission back to the Nexus.

Nothing she could do. That was the nth time she heard that and, even then, it didn’t make it any easier. She wasn’t going to cry in front of Cora, not again at least.

“Don’t let them hurt him,” Sara said, unsuccessful in keeping the waver out of her voice.

She wasn’t sure what she’d do if she came back and one of the Initiative had executed Jaal—what was left of him at least—without her knowledge. Tann knew there would be hell to pay if anything happened to Jaal on his watch, but would that be enough?

The memories of slaughter and battle were still fresh in everyone’s minds. There was no love for the kett on board, no matter who the kett used to be.

Cora smiled, but it looked forced.

“Got it.”

Sara turned on her heel and marched to her quarters. One foot in front of the other. Ignore the ringing and the swelling and the limp and the way each breath felt like cinders were floating in her lungs. She should’ve stayed in the medical bay for at least another hour before she left for the containment cells. The medi-gel was doing its work on the burns and lacerations, bandages sticky to her skin. She should probably go back to get her head checked out.

No. Stay the course.

The people she passed eyed her strangely. She wasn’t sure if she saw pity or fear or a combination of the two.

The lump forming on the side of her face and the bandages slapped to her neck and chest made her look like she got in a fight and lost.

She did, didn’t she?

Stay the course. She bound the shattered pieces of herself with glue and tape and pride.

In a span that seemed like an instant and an eternity, she was back in her temporary quarters.

The door slid shut behind her and she leaned heavily against it.

Alone. Alone, again. Even though SAM was in her head and Scott was awake and ever-concerned about her well-being, she was alone.

She had watched a thousand paths and a thousand futures burn to one. Jaal was kett. There was no future.

Her stomach lurched and she stumbled to the bathroom, gagging into the sink.

Sara wanted to break something. She wanted to rip and tear and burn until the whole damn galaxy felt even a fraction of the pain she was feeling.

She sobbed, eyes and throat burning.

She should have killed him outright, the moment the Exaltation had taken hold of him. All of the color and light on his body had been corrupted and destroyed before her eyes, as she screamed from where she watched.

Drack had Jaal pinned to the ground before she could think to move, towards or away from him. He had also killed the kett who had Exalted Jaal. She didn’t know when he did that, but black blood dribbled out of the blistered corpse. For a bitter moment, Sara had wished the kett had lived so she could’ve killed him slowly, bit by bit.

Shaking steps had brought Sara closer to Drack and Jaal. Her hands were tight on her rifle and her knuckles cracked. Jaal struggled under Drack. He cursed and yelled, the beautiful lilt of his voice gone.

Sara knew she should have killed him. A quick shot to the head and what was left of his soul would be at peace. Or perhaps he would be reincarnated. She knew that if he was reincarnated, he would be turned into something beautiful, just as he was as Jaal Ama Darav. And then, maybe, they could find each other again.

But she gave the order, locking Jaal in the tiny holding cell on the Tempest and not listening to anyone who told her that it was futile. And she wept.

She wasn’t sure if keeping him alive, dragging him to the Nexus, was an act of mercy or weakness.

What could the Initiative do for him, except keep him in a cage? He couldn’t hurt anyone, or himself. For all she knew, he could be trapped in his own head, slowly suffering and burning as his cells died and morphed and were corrupted.

“SAM, did I do the right thing bringing him here?” Sara asked aloud.

What kind of answer she was expecting out of the AI, she didn’t know.

“I do not know. My understanding of human emotion tells me that this was the correct course of action. Killing him would have caused an immense amount of emotional damage.”

Sara nodded at nothing.

Emotional damage. Yeah. She felt broken up enough while Jaal was still alive, technically. Guilt, grief, anger. All in one roiling mess.

How would she have felt if she had to kill him herself? This kett didn’t look like Jaal. The beauty of him had been destroyed. It would have, should have been easy, killing a dead man.

Her mouth shook.

It wasn’t fair. He sacrificed so much to get them to where they were, only to be turned into a kett soldier. Because she got to close, put him in the firing line.

The kett already knew that she was unfazed by the idea of her own death. She faced death three times, one time entirely voluntarily, and still marched on.

So, what did they do, but take someone she loved and irrevocably stole him from her. That was her punishment for what she did to them. For killing the Archon. For taking Meridian from them.

It wasn’t fair. This war took and stole from her. Her father, almost her brother, now her love. Hero, savior, with nothing to show for it.

Gods, how was she going to tell Jaal’s family? How was she going to explain this to Sahuna?

Sahuna treated her like a daughter despite the difference of species, and Sara couldn’t help but regard her as someone like a mother.

“What do I tell her?” Sara asked.

“The truth would be the wisest course of action. I think it would be cruel to withhold this information from her.”

Objective. Pragmatic. Two things that she really didn’t want to be at that moment.

“I don’t think I can do it.”

“Would you rather Director Tann tell her? Or perhaps Director Addison? Or one of their secretaries?”

Sara almost punched a hole in the wall at the thought.

She could almost hear the stiff-voiced message, a flat and empty message of condolences. An offer for monetary restitution—a small one at that—and a delivery of Jaal’s personal effects.

No.

“I am activating the vid-com,” SAM said, ”Will you contact Sahuna on Havarl?”

She swallowed, regretting bringing up Sahuna in the first place with SAM. But she knew that if she didn’t do it now, she would avoid it until Sahuna was the one contacting her.

“Okay. Call her,” she muttered.

She wiped her face and walked back to the vid-com in the center of the room.

Dread and panic grew like tumors in her stomach, choking the life out of her.

She wasn’t ready. But she never would be ready. SAM knew that. He was buried so deep in her mind that her thoughts might as well be his.

Time passed, sluggish. For a moment, Sara thought she wasn’t available and wasn’t sure to look forward to or dread that fact.

Her heart dropped the moment she saw Sahuna’s image. The fresh wave of grief almost bowled her over. She hadn’t realized the similarities between them, the angles of their faces, their smiles. Not until Jaal—until…

“Sara! How nice to hear from you? How are things? Is my boy treating you well?”

Sara never hated and loved that voice more in her entire life. The lilt and the genuine happiness clearly passed from mother to son.

She wanted to die. Anything to keep her from saying what she had to say.

“I’m sorry.”

The words escaped Sara’s mouth in a fractured squeak. What more could she say but to apologize?

“I’m so sorry,” she repeated, shaking her head, eyes trained to the ground. “Jaal—he—I couldn’t.”

The kett had pinned him, overwhelmed him. Sara had been too far away, but she had the perfect view, just enough so that she was in Jaal’s field of vision.

They probably meant it that way. They wanted her to watch the starry light in his eyes and the kindness of his face be destroyed.

“My son—is he dead?”

Sahuna’s voice wavered and splintered.

Sara covered her face and started to cry. Big, heaving sobs. Her hand went up to her chest, where a large bandage covered medi-gel and burn wounds. She pressed, pain threading through pain.

“No! They turned him! They fucking Exalted him. Now he’s one of them!”

She couldn’t hear Sahuna’s grief over her own. Sahuna wasn’t there during the fight. She didn’t see Jaal fighting and struggling to break free. He hadn’t been in a trance. He had fought every moment before the injection took hold of him.

He had called out Sara’s name. It was the last thing he said. Only love in his eyes, love for her, as his skin cracked and blistered.

“It was my fault. I should’ve protected him,” Sara cried.

Everyone told her that there was nothing she could have done. There were too many kett, too few Initiative. The kett had a plan, executed to near-perfection.

It all felt like a lie, a bunch of excuses. Sara was Pathfinder. She should’ve been better and guarded her own. She never should’ve let the kett separate them. That was when everything went wrong.

The one time she failed to be able to coordinate and organize, Jaal was lost.

“Where is he?” Sahuna asked.

Her voice sounded thick with tears.

Sara wiped her eyes, forcing herself to look at Sahuna’s image. The angara looked like she aged twenty years in 2 minutes.

How unfair it was to Sahuna. She lost her husband to the kett, now her son. Even with an extended family, it would be lonely.

Sara couldn’t fill that void. She wasn’t angara.

“He’s on the Nexus. In—in a containment cell. They wanted to kill him but I couldn’t do it. I threatened to quit and take SAM with me if they did anything to him.”

She tore into Tann the instant he suggested ‘putting down’ Jaal. In fact, she was probably an inch away from strangling him if she didn’t feel so tired and deflated.

If it was fear of bodily harm or fear of losing their human Pathfinder that stayed his hand, Sara didn’t know. She didn’t care.

As long as Jaal wasn’t harmed. Even though it wasn’t Jaal. The pieces of him that she touched and loved were gone.

She wasn’t even sure if she would have followed through with the threat of leaving. Without her rank as Pathfinder, what was she, now that Jaal was gone?

“I want to see him,” Sahuna said.

Sara immediately cringed. She didn’t want Sahuna anywhere near the Nexus or the cell. Sara knew what was there. It would do them no good.

“He isn’t there anymore, Sahuna. It will—you won’t see your son.”

There was no closure to be had, surely. Who they knew as Jaal wasn’t accessible anymore. The co-opted and reanimated corpse was only to be destroyed.

The two of them cried together for a long time, few words exchanged. There was nothing more they could do at that moment. They could only cry.

The tears abated after a while, enough for them to catch their breaths.

“Sara, my daughter,” Sahuna began.

Sara hiccupped. The question that seemed to repeat itself as they cried together was brought to the foreground: why was Sahuna being so kind to her? Sara got Jaal killed, at the end of the day that was the truth. To not be yelled at, to be treated to a soft word, to be still treated like family even though the link between them had been severed.

It was more kindness than she deserved.

“I will come to the Nexus.”

“Sahuna—,” Sara started, only to pause when Sahuna raised a hand.

“I will come to the Nexus. Not to see Jaal, but to see you. Angara—we comfort each other during times of loss.”

Sara opened her mouth to argue and then let it close with a click.

“Okay.”

She felt small, smaller than she ever felt before. She stood against monsters and among the traces of gods with a stiff spine and all it took a grieving mother to bring a Pathfinder to her knees.

Sahuna nodded. There was a ghost of a smile on her mouth. Sara wondered how long it would take for Sahuna to truly smile again.

“Stay strong and clear, my daughter. I will contact you soon.”

Sahuna’s image blinked out of existence and Sara wanted to call her back.

She wanted Jaal back, alive and whole. She could return to the holding cell and watch the kett pacing the cell and try to find Jaal somewhere. She could sit there and watch and watch. She could let herself waste away watching him.

“How do I find a cure?” she whispered.

Sara kept asking that question to anyone who would listen. And those were few.

How? How could she cure Jaal from this affliction?

Lexi had pushed that cold, hard idea—Sara couldn’t call it a truth—that Exaltation was permanent. She had told Jaal this, that his people couldn’t be restored after being Exalted. Sara knew that if she went to Lexi, she would receive the same answer.

But Sara couldn’t bring herself to accept it.

There had to be some way to bring Jaal back. Death didn’t stop her the three times it tried to touch her. Why was this any different?

What was all that different from Exaltation and death?

“How do I find a cure, SAM?” she yelled.

An answer. She needed an answer. SAM killed her and brought her back from the dead. Threw her into an unknown abyss attached to thread and yanked her back in the name of the Initiative, of survival.

She remembered death feeling like falling, but that was all she could remember. Maybe people aren’t meant to, aren’t able to remember what happens after one dies. SAM experienced death too, that day. SAM was becoming more human-like by the day. If he felt what she was feeling now, the gnawing ache of sorrow, maybe he would regret sinking so close to his human symbiont.

“I don’t know,” SAM answered.

His voice offered no emotion, as usual. That was one thing that the AI lacked.

For an instant, Sara was angry. That wasn’t a good enough answer.

But, ‘I don’t know’ wasn’t ‘there is no cure’.

There was some hope to be found in that. A flickering, weak hope at that, but still hope.

Sara wasn’t sure if SAM truly understood what love was or if he could experience it.  He had been in her head through it all. When she met Jaal, when she first kissed him, when they first made love under the waterfall. SAM was there during the confessions, the kisses, the sex, everything. It could just amount in his databank as a series of memories, unattached to trivial human emotions. Or maybe he learned something that no computer could teach it.

Regardless, Sara had a feeling that he would help her get Jaal back. Help her find and exhaust every possibility.

“Do you know where to start?”

“I have a few ideas, Pathfinder.”

#mass effect #mass effect andromeda #jaal ama darav #sara ryder #rydaal #jaal x ryder #my fic #my fics

[srydcr]

to breathe deep and feel reality

jaal x sara ryder  hurt & comfort - ao3 link

Sometimes, Sara was sure that space was alive. Empty- a husk, even- but breathing nonetheless, in a sort of shallow way. It had a rhythm, though perhaps it was simply a single note, held down, measuring beats by the distant pulsing of stars she would never see; it was as much a comfort as it was a tragedy, she thought. Bittersweet. She tried to count the notes, finger tapping in time to a star that glowed a peculiar shade of blue- one, two, three, rest. He’d almost been shot. Sleep evaded her, as always. Lexi tried to help- insistent on administering melatonin supplements, magnesium pills, and even going so far as to demand Sara change her diet- but nothing ever seemed to work, and the Pathfinder would, most nights, remain awake for hours after the Tempest’s lights had been dimmed. To her knowledge, the only other person aboard who slept as little as she did was Kallo. She didn’t mind all that much, if she were to be honest. Sleep meant dreams, and dreams were rarely pleasant; all they accomplished nowadays was reminding her that the throne she sat upon was made of her own father’s bones, and that the title others worshipped didn’t belong to her, not truly. Sara was there for no other reason than to fill his shell. To be something at least reminiscent of Alec. She took after him in more ways than she would’ve cared to admit. God, she missed Scott; they were- and had always been- a single commodity, and separation rarely did either of them any good; there was a balance between them, a sort of scale that remained steady due solely to each other’s influence. Scott was a good, solid mix of soldier and diplomat, and acted as a balancing weight, so to speak, to her hot-blooded nature. She was logical, though, and creative- two things her brother had never been- and helped him consider situations in a different light to how he may have alone. In turn, he acted as 90% of her impulse control. There were nights when she would write him, despite the knowledge he could neither read nor reply; it still felt as though she was keeping him updated, though, and the idea brought her some comfort. He’d want to know what was happening. “Sara,” piped SAM, jolting her out of her reverie. “It is 4AM. Morning alarms are set for two hours.” She sighed, and moved back from the window to take a heavy seat upon her bed, hands running through her hair- the colour was beginning to fade, and Sara wondered if Vetra would be able to dig up some dye. Needed a trim, too. “Thanks, bud,” she said, after a moment. SAM himself had become something of a brother to her, if an odd, clinical one. She already had one of those. “Think I’m gonna get some food. Anyone else awake?” He was quiet for a moment, then replied, “No-one but Kallo Jath and Jaal Ama Darav, Sara.” “Right. Tell me if anyone comes, please.” With that, she made her silent way to the small kitchen just outside her personal quarters, doing her best to remain quiet. A few of her crew slept light, she knew, and Doctor T’Perro and Cora were the worst of them; both of whom would flip if they found her in the kitchen, two hours before wake-up. It was hard to pour cereal quietly, though, and each time one pinged against her bowl she nearly hemorrhaged. It was a weird thought- the human Pathfinder, sneaking into the kitchen in the dead of night to steal Blast-Ohs. It succeeded, however, in reminding her that she was absolutely 100% not cut out for this. Her dad had to have known that, had to have recognised that no, his anxious mess of a daughter was not an ideal leader; hell, her brother wasn’t perfect, but at least he had some leadership experience. Sara was a recon specialist; she knew quiet, she could do quiet, but when it came to loud, apparent, purposeful, she was lost. Scott had always been the loud one, and she his logical voice of reason. He should be here, damn it. Sara’s back hit the wall and slid, until she was curled over herself, head buried in her hands. Scott should’ve been there. Her dad should’ve been alive; he should’ve kept his fucking helmet on and flown back up onto the Hyperion to lead them, like he was meant to. In losing him, the Initiative had lost a figurehead and icon, a dreamer who forged the very foundation of their journey. And she’d lost her other parent. Sara felt like she’d never truly gotten to know her father. She just hoped she was making him proud. “Sara,” said SAM, in their private channel. “Mr. Ama Darav is coming down the hall, towards your location. I have alerted him of your presence.” Sara sighed. She and Jaal were close, but they hadn’t spoken at any great length since the incident with Akksul. It had shaken her terribly, to see yet another person she cared deeply about in danger- the bullet had been so close, and had Akksul not missed, Jaal would be dead. The thought hurt. It had been more harrowing for him, of that she was sure, and the only consolation she was familiar with was space, so that is what she gave him. A deeper part of her, however, knew that she had not been avoiding him for that reason alone- it frightened Sara, how scared she had been. She supposed she was trying to sort out what was going on in her head. Their conversations since had been amiable, yet brief. The metal against her back had begun to seep its chill through her clothes. Everything felt cold, these days; her hands, her bed, her quarters, her demeanor. Perhaps he rubbed off on you more than you thought, came a small yet decidedly spiteful voice. Plenty of those. Her mom used to help, and for a long time they were dormant; Sara’s ‘little demons’, she had called them in that motherly tone of hers. They had come back when she died though, and despite her love for Scott, his consolations were never quite the same, and without even him, her mind had run rampant. SAM and Lexi tried their best, nevertheless, and she loved them for it; Lexi in particular, despite Sara’s complaints, had very much become a stabilising crutch. SAM too, though sometimes he reminded her a little too much of her brother, and that stung.       Moments later, a familiar purple head poked its way into the kitchen, scrutinizing eyes running up and down her frame before he entered. Jaal was large, but from her vantage point on the floor, he loomed- all shoulders and arms and narrowed eyes, lips twisted into a frown that looked more concern than anger. “You should be sleeping.” “Yeah.” “But you are not.” Sara gathered her arms around herself a little tighter. “Yeah.” At that, he surveyed her a little harder, mouth pressing into a line and head cocking to the side, eyes darting, likely trying to decipher her body language. He did that a lot, the surveying thing. Initially, it had made her uncomfortable, but she understood, now- he was just trying to figure her out, to decipher why the Pathfinder could possibly be curled up on the kitchen floor beside an abandoned bowl of cereal. A moment passed in silence, and then another, and one more after that until Jaal- instead of leaving- sat down opposite her, mimicking her posture and never once breaking eye contact. “Do all humans sleep as little as you, Ryder?” Sara laughed; a small, bitten sound. “No, not generally. We’re supposed to get eight hours, I think? A night, that is. Some of us have more trouble sleeping. There’s these supplements you can take that help the process, though. Lexi’s got me on them at the moment.” “They do not seem to be working,” he said, giving her a scrutinizing look. Sara reddened. “That was not intended as criticism; I cannot sleep, either.” “I noticed,” replied Sara, giving him a smile. “So, what’s keepin’ you up?” Jaal frowned, as if it were a dumb question. “Thoughts?” The two exchanged a moment of eye contact. They were unsure of what to say- if there was, in fact, anything to be said to that, thought Sara, running a hand through her hair. “Thoughts, hey? Yeah, that’ll get you every time.” At that, he smiled. She liked that smile, even if she didn’t see it all too often; it was gentle- friendly- and soft. Inviting. Sara had been intimidated by him beyond belief, upon meeting him; this towering, broad fellow with spooky eyes, regarding her with distrust, surrounded by others who likely fancied her alien head on a pike. It remained a disquieting thought. Jaal was sweet, though, and she had taken to him quickly. He felt familiar, though for what reason, she had no idea. And when Akksul’s bullet had grazed his head, Sara had felt the devil tear at her stomach. A companionable silence stretched. Both parties were deep in thought, and she noticed his hand twitching a little; it did that sometimes, when he was thinking. Distantly, Sara wondered when she’d picked that up. Her thoughts, however, were drowned out by others, more intrusive and immediate, most of which were of her brother and father. The hole the loss of her mother had left in her was slowly expanding, first with Alec’s untimely death, and then with Scott’s… condition. He wasn’t dead, but God knew sometimes it felt that way. She promised herself she wouldn’t mourn him- he wasn’t dead. Yet sometimes she caught herself thinking of him in past tense. “Do you have family, Jaal?” The question seemed to take him off guard. His brow shot up, and he shifted; momentarily uncomfortable, it seemed, or perhaps just taken aback. “Family? It is part of our culture. We have large families, and we share parents with the community; we all have many mothers. I have a true mother, Sahuna, and many, many siblings. We are… close. We always have been.” That stung a little, but Sara smiled, regardless. She was glad. “And yourself?” asked Jaal, regarding her with curiosity. “I have not heard you talk of your family. Are you close?” “Ah- yeah. We were.” There was a moment- drawn by the peculiar silence that had fallen between them, as if a lack of speech could be a question- in which that was the only explanation she offered. It never got easier, talking about her mom; no amount of therapy or comfort could ward away the odd emptiness inside her the name ‘Ellen Ryder’ wrought, and once the death of her father had finally set in, the feeling had become a chasm. And the name ‘Alec’ was said a lot more. “My mom died a while ago. She was- uh- sick,” began Sara, slowly- cautiously. Jaal was watching her with a tilted head. “And my dad, I… lost recently. My brother’s alive, but there was a technical difficulty when they were waking him up from cryo, so he- uh- only got half-revived. He’s in a coma, but they tell me he’ll be okay.” Jaal frowned, but this time, his eyes were sad. “I’m sorry, Sara.” She smiled at him, but remained silent. She didn’t know what to say. “Tell me about him,” he said, watching her carefully, conscious of a line he did not wish to overstep. “Your brother, I mean. If you would like to.” A small breath escaped her, followed by an utterance of ‘oh’, before she brought up her omni-tool to find a picture in her archives. It was old, but the most recent one she had; they hadn’t taken many pictures, after their mom had died- if felt as if the family was incomplete. It remained her favourite, though, because it was the last one that existed of all of them before her brother dyed his hair green. Sara had hated it, so he’d kept doing it. “That one,” she said, pointing to her brother and shuffling closer to Jaal, so he could see, “is Scott. He’s a dumbass. I love him.” He made a soft, interested noise, and grasped her forearm to gain a better look, sketching Scott’s face with his eyes like he did hers. It made her smile. “He looks like you,” said Jaal, sparing her a smile before returning to look at the picture. His hand brushed the display, from her brother’s face to hers. Sara laughed. “Yeah, he’s my twin.” “And you are close?” “Yeah. We always have been,” she said, fondly. “I miss him. He and I were- I mean, we’re a double package, y’know? A two for one deal, kinda. I think you’d like him; he’s big into guns. And talking.” Jaal chuckled, leaning back to rest against the wall. His thigh brushed her hip; they were closer than she thought. “Is that so?” “I mean, we’re similar in a lot of ways, too. But yeah, he’s a motor-mouth; God forbid he get started on weapon maintenance,” she trailed off with a sigh, smirking. “He used to do it to annoy me. Eventually, it just became habit- comforting for him, and white noise for me. I- uh- miss him. A lot.” “I would like to meet him,” he said, after a small silence. “You speak of him fondly. And those are your parents?” “Oh. Yeah.” Her mom and dad hadn’t looked like that for a long time. In death, Ellen had been frail, drawn. Pallid. And her father hadn’t smiled like that in years, not for anyone. He was a good man, she knew, and a good father, in his own way; it was because of him and Scott and her actually had a chance out here. Well- that she did. Alec had taught her how to shoot, how to assemble a turret, how to hold a biotic barrier in place. Sara had never taken to tech quite like she had combat, though; she was too impatient, her father told her, and ‘thought too broadly’. Whatever the hell that meant. “You and your brother- you look like your father. He… was the previous Pathfinder, was he not? I have heard Cora talk of him.” Her finger brushed the display, over his face. A pit had formed in her stomach, as it always did at the mention of her dad. “He was. The title was meant to be handed down to Cora, in the event of his death. Don’t know why he gave it to me,” Sara paused, and smiled. It was bitter. “Guess I can’t ask him now, though. What’s done is done, though I don’t think I’ll ever really understand.” Jaal cocked his head to the side, and twisted to face her. She felt small under his gaze. “You give yourself too little credit, Sara. I have never thought you out of place; you fit the position as if it were your own skin.”     “That’s- kind of you.” He smiled. “You are kind to me.” Sara bumped his shoulder with her own, unsure of how to respond. She could feel a flush coming to her cheeks, though. “You’re my friend. I feel like that’s reason enough not to airlock you, no?” “One would hope, Pathfinder.” “Man, it never gets any less weird, hearing that,” she muttered, leaning back beside him. The clock on her omnitool read 4:40AM. “I feel like it’s still my dad’s title, y’know? Kind of like I’m borrowing it, or something. Everything’s yet to sink in, I guess. Big storm comin’.” Jaal made a noise that sounded somewhat like agreement deep in his chest, and Sara leaned her head into his shoulder absentmindedly; she felt terrible for avoiding him, and even worse for failing to check in- he was her squadmate, and her friend. Sara had to know he was okay. To her knowledge, there remained a rift between himself and her milky way crew, though it was smaller than before. Liam had done his best to make the angaran feel at home, she knew, and he and Cora seemed to be amiable, if not friends. “You really scared me, you know.” He shifted a little at that, twisting in order to look down at her, brow furrowing. Jaal said nothing, though, and instead waited for Sara to elaborate- he looked confused. “The whole thing with Akksul. I- you could’ve died, Jaal. If his aim had been better, if-” The angara heaved out a sigh, which turned into a breathy chuckle as he wrapped an arm around her in an almost-hug. Sara trailed off, instead pressing a palm to her forehead and leaning against him, taking a breath that nearly shuddered, but not quite. The warmth emanating from Jaal’s skin was almost enough to counteract the aching chill had had managed to seep into her bones. She wondered, distantly, if he could feel it. “You worry too much. It’s just a scar; scars heal.” Her lips thinned. “You don’t worry enough. Scars heal, but bullets to the face don’t.”   Sara’s voice wavered at that, a dangerous tell-tale sign of things she didn’t want to think about. Jaal seemed to notice, though, and cocked his head to the side, regarding her in that way he liked to. She’d felt so numb, upon seeing that bullet whiz past; her rifle had been in her hands, loaded, and ready to fire, but she’d frozen in place. That all-too familiar fear had gripped her, and rooted her in place. She couldn’t lose a friend, she had told herself; as if that is what she considered him, a friend. “I,” she began, stammering, trying her hardest to keep her voice steady- in vain. “I care about you. You- I can’t lose anyone else.” A large hand settled on her cheek, brushing aside the hair that had fallen into her face- the static on his skin made it stick up in a way that would’ve been comical, if not for the atmosphere. Sara shut her eyes and leaned her head against it- managing a stuttering inhale- and counted the beats of her own heart, which was hammering against her ribs, in her head. “I’m sorry, Sara,” he said, after a moment. His own voice was thick with emotion, and Sara noticed, distantly, that it was now gone 5AM. “You have suffered. I would never wish to cause you additional pain.”     She didn’t know when they’d gotten so close, but now their faces were just inches apart, and she could see every fleck of colour in his eyes. He traced the freckles dusting her nose with the back of his hand, running it down the curve of her cheek to her lips; Jaal took a breath, and she felt it stir the hair tucked behind her ear. Sara leaned forwards until their foreheads rested against one another, and pressed a hand atop his, where it lay on her cheek. “You could never.” He seemed to take that as his cue, surging forwards to capture her lips in a very human kiss that expelled any cold that remained settled in her bones. Sara’s arms snaked up and around his neck, fingers running down the peculiar folds of his head before laying flat, trying to press the two closer together, despite the fact that any space between them had been occupied. “Detecting a spike in your vitals,” said SAM, through their private channels. No fuckin’ kidding.     Jaal’s lips twisted into a smile against hers, and he pulled back to look at her, a different expression in his eyes than before. Something toeing adoration. It made her squirm and flush, averting her gaze with a muffled laugh. “Why’re you lookin’ at me like that, big guy?” said Sara, turning a deeper shade of red when Jaal leaned closer once again, smiling at her. “Because you are lovely.”  

It was an hour later when Liam, on a mission for some coffee, stumbled into the kitchen, to the sight of the Pathfinder and Jaal curled up together on the ground, both asleep and nestled against one another. Peebee owed him 20 credits.  

#mass effect andromeda #me:a #jaal ama darav #sara ryder #jaal x ryder #jaal romance #me:a fanfiction

[candy-corps]

Late Night Snack

Sahuna written by @mygardenofmuses​ ^-^

It was quiet in the flat. Everyone was sleeping or away, or, well lost. Only in the kitchen were dim lights burning now, while the chopping of a kitchen knife cut through the silence in small intervalls. Chop, chop, chop, chop ... Bruce made food. This happened often, but never just for him and never at this time. This night was different: Hunger pains had woken him up and comfortable as he was, resting with Jaal, forced him to get up eventually. He could always take the food and eat in bed, Bruce thought, as he added a pile of cut cherries to the bowl where banana, apple and grapes lay already. How he'd missed all the fruit while he was on Andromeda. Focused on his work, he noticed just late that someone got closer. Did he wake Damien? Bruce looked up.

Sahuna rubbed her eyes. She was very sleepy, and given the gravity difference between the two planets, she still put her hands on the wall for support. She blinked in surprise when she heard noises. Who could be cooking at these hours of the night? Jess had been kind enough to tell her than bat people like Bruce was often nocturnal, but she didn't expected she'd get to witness it. "H-Hello?"

No burglar. "Sahuna" Bruce recognized, his ears lowering again which had raised up in alert. "Why are you up?" he wondered. Jaal was sleepy. So she should be sleepy, too, right? Oh, how glad he was now that he had clothes on: they were not used to female guests and therefore quite free on the dressing code at night. But since it got a little chilly, Bruce wore a black dressing gown over his underwear. He fixed that up just to make sure and regret it a second later: his hands were still dirty from cutting. Bruce  headed to the sink to wash his hands - as much as he disliked it.

"I heard a noise and I thought I had to defend Jaal and you from a burglar..." She chuckled, rubbing her cheek.  "Jess told me batpeople are nocturnal. I guess this is daytime for you, uh?"

"Uhh, technically" Bruce affirmed, washing his hands. "There is no schedule right now. I sleep when Jaal does. And when we manage, we go out at night when the moon's out." Goodness, that sounded like he dragged Jaal out for no reason. "I ... need some moonlight now and then or my healing doesn't work. I also need, well, food" he added, pointing to the bowl before he turned off the tap and grabbed a kitchen towel to dry off his hands. "I was hungry so I got up to fetch some. That's all."

"Aw." Sahuna gave a look to all the ingredients. She picked up the knife and analised it. "What a small dagger. Something like this could come in handy in battle. Or cooking, which I think it is its main purpose." The Angaran woman turned to look at him. "Can I help somehow? Given I'm already here, and all, I am the guest, so I want to do my best to submit to the customs of Earth. Please tell me if there is anything I must do or avoid."

Ohh. No. Bruce' ears lowered. "There is nothing you gotta do" he assured, raising his hands defensively. "Just be yourself. I was actually about to be done." Folding his hands, Bruce looked at the bowl and then again to Sahuna. "But - Do you want something? Jaal likes fruit and almond milk."

"Almond milk?" Sahuna blinked in surprise. "Ryder mentioned it once but I never had a chance to drink it myself. Can I?", she requested, a hint of shyness in her voice.

Bruce actually smiled. "Of course." He walked over to the fridge, took the bottle Jaal stored the milk in. As he turned, he shut the door with his wing and fetched a mug from the cupboard for her. He filled it with just a little bit of milk. Sahuna should try it; not feel obligated to drink all too much when it was not to her liking. "I could warm this up for you. Warm milk is what you give people when they can't sleep" he explained as he passed her the mug.

"That is a lovely custom." Sahuna smiled and sat on one of the chairs. "I'd love to drink warm milk. It reminds me of a thing my father used to do for me when I was younger. He used to brew essence of najamuka and give it to me and the rest of my 25 siblings. We made a queue to get our cup and a good night kiss."

How cute. But 25 was too close to 27. Which was the number of all the kids that he couldn't have anytime soon. Bruce shook the thought off, but it took him a moment. "I'm sorry." Where were they? Milk! "Uh, I could add some spices, too." He turned to the shelf in question and grabbed vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa powder ... and just for the heck of it, chili flakes, too. He was curious how she'd react to these. "I hear that when it smells nice, it tends to taste good, too." He pushed the little closed jars over the counter, towards Sahuna.

"Thank you very much. You are very kind. Is there any protocol I must follow with this drink? Ryder told me that there's a drink called tea, that you have to sip it..." Sahuna struggled, but managed to raise her pinky. "And apparently it's important to drink it with this finger up. That is the "proper etiquette" to do so, and that some 'Queen of England'? would get mad if the tea gets spilt. Does this apply to almond milk too, or it is just the tea?"

"It's just the tea" Bruce promised. Then, thinking of it: "No, it's - it's nothing. No one will get mad, and no one would mind." Well, maybe the Queen of England. "I certainly won't" he assured. Damn, Sahuna ... "Just ... act naturally" Bruce requested. He took a glance at the fruit bowl, picked a pear from it and showed it Sahuna. "Tell me if that's friend- or love-shaped, for example." He truly wasn't sure and didn't want Jaal to get offended when he offered him some.

"I am not sure if I know how to 'act naturally'. Everything back home is regulated by protocols, so when I travel first thing I do is to ask about those. I don't want to disrespectful by accident." She explained and smiled. "You are a kind soul, Bruce. I like that of you." She looked down at the fruit and giggled. "Jaal told you about the friend-shaped and the love shaped fruits too?" She inquired. "That was one of the first things his real father taught him. He loved Jaal so much. Always did things so carefully." She brought a hand to her chest. "I miss him."

So that was where Jaal got it from. Bruce had to wonder how he looked like when he was young. "He died in the war, right?" Bruce guessed. He placed the pear on the table and twirled it a bit.

"Yeah. He was on the regular day at work when our enemies attacked. Some of his friends told me he died shielding some of the youngest coworkers." Sahuna smiled weakly. "He was so peaceful, and kind. He didn't deserve to die like that."

So he was no soldier. "Yeah" Bruce agreed. "I'm sorry." He didn't mean to wake bad memories; he'd just been so curious. Figuring Sahuna should like almond milk well enough, Bruce filled the mug up with the liquid. "I'll warm that up for you" he announced. Sahuna didn't smell the spices, but they could be always added later.

"Yes, please. I'd like that very much." Sahuna handed him the mug. "Maybe you can add those... specias too?"

"Yeah, but ... which?" Bruce wondered. "All together will be weird" he warned. "You could smell, or ... maybe try to see what you like. wait ... " He opened a drawer and took out a teaspoon, then gave it to her. "Maye try a little, little bit. And be careful with this," He pointed to the chili one. "It's hot for me. I dunno if it's good for you, though. Our taste buds are different."

"Jaal told me that hot things in this planet are actually sweet for us. I'll try that." She picked up the chili, then added a spoonful of it to her mug. "I love sweet drinks." She commented, mixing it all.

This ... better work. "Alright" Bruce said, watching, with some horror, as Sahuna stirred the mixture. "Then let's try that." Once she stopped stirring, he took the mug and put it in the microwave, which started to hum as he turned it on. You could see the mug circle within; illuminated by the microwave's light. Another sting of pain let Bruce remember why he was in the kitchen in the first place. He took a glance at the bowl with the cut fruit in it, and, after consideration, opened one of the lower drawers - stuffed with candy. He'd sprinkle homemade marshmallows on it and then add some honey, too.

Sahuna was looking at the mug, fascinated by the movement of the microwave. "I've heard of these... microweeebs... a long time ago. But this ie the first time I see one."

"A microwave?" Bruce figured, looking at it. "Yeah, they're great. Remind me to make you popcorn before we go ... " back to Andromeda. Bruce flinched at the mere thought of it. Wasn't there something they could do to .... procrastinate on that ... - ? "Didn't you want to see Fawn?" Bruce remembered, looking back at Sahuna and adding more and more sweets to the bowl on the side.

"Yes, that!" Sahuna clapped her hands. "And thanks. I'd love to see her, but it's in the middle of the night, I don't want to bother her parents."

"I was rather thinking of, uh, tomorrow" Bruce replied. He took the bottle with honey and squeezed some on his 'fruit' bowl. And then some. And then some ...

"What are you doing with that bottle?" She asked curiosly. The microwave dinged and Sahuna took out her mug.

"Careful with that" Bruce warned. He didn't want Sahuna to burn her hands on the hot mug. "It's just honey. It's sticky, so it comes in a special container." Caught now, Bruce stopped to add honey. As he stirred everything, all was still coated, though. It was fine.

"Can I try a bit of honey? Jaal told me to be careful with it, that is very spicy." Sahuna put down the mug on the table.

"Honey's my favorite. Well, next to ... a few other things." Blood, definitely blood. But he didn't have to say that out loud, had he. "It's sweet for me. And it tastes different, depending where it's from and what kind of flowers were blooming at the time it was made. This is from the Netherlands; a place with tons of flowers. It's really, really good. I think." Bruce dripped a few drops on the spoon Sahuna's been using. Chances were low she'd like it much, but he was still hopeful.

"I like flowers. They're beautiful." Sahuna smiled and licked carefully the bit of honey. Her eyes went wide right away. "Oh my stars! This is hot, hot, super hot!"

Oh, too bad ... ! "You should try some milk" Bruce suggested. He heard that drinking water was of no use to get rid of the taste of something hot again. "I'm sorry" he apologized. Sure she asked for it, but he should have known better.

"It's OK, I asked for it, hahahaha!" Sahuna laughed and picked up the warm mug. She drank a good sip, and her expression relaxed right away. "Mmmmh oh myyyy... this is heavenly. I haven't tasted anything so sweet in a long time."

Ah. So hot ans sweet were simply reversed, was all. "I'm glad you like it" Bruce gave back, smiling. Now, cooking for Jaal should be a whole lot easier. "You know ... Angaran 'sweets' taste hot for me. I can't eat them. So ... Angaran food was hard" he had her know. Bruce took his bowl and ate a bite from it. This, yes, was very sweet, and very good. The first sweet dish he had in three days!

"Oh you poor thing... I had no idea. And here I was trying to give you sweet foods and... they were spicy for you. I'm so  sorry." Sahuna bit her bottom lip,  then looked down at her mug. "We've got a lot to learn from each other."

"It's alright." Bruce waved it off. "Jaal took care of me. He stole all the food in the fridge and I liked some of it." The blood, yes, and the algae sticks.

"I noticed. I had to go shopping." The woman chuckled, then she drank another sip. "I should go back to bed. This drink is making me very sleepy."

Bruce nodded. He picked his bowl up since there was no use to eat here once Sahuna got going. "It's still a few hours until the sun will go up. I'll go keep Jaal company" he announced.

"That's a great plan. He doesn't like to sleep alone." Sahuna smiled and walked to the door. "Thanks for everything, Bruce. Good night."

"Good night." Bruce lifted a wing to wave her goodbye; his hands being busy holding bowl and spoon. He felt sorry for Sahuna. He had someone to return to now, but he still remembered vividly what it was like to wake up without. He dimmed the lights even more and then went to return to their room; eating a mouthful of fruit now and then.

#RP #Bruce RP #Bruce and Sahuna RP

[avaquet]

A Pie for All, or Me?

*Eternal screeching* This went up really really late- s o r r y

Chapter 2 of Seven Works of Love!

AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/11605995/chapters/26140482

Summary:

Timeline based this is before Khi Tasira. Sara takes up the offer of pie with Sahuna, and of course Jaal accompanies her. This chapter is a bit of fluff and delving into more culture and social headcanons!

Notes:

~~He holds out his hand as I stand up, offering to take my hand. I accept. We walk out of the shuttle and head for the door. Jaal uses an identifier to unlock the door and leads me in. Sahuna is already there and smiling.

"Hold still, you two." She says as she holds up the angara's version of an omni-tool/scanner. A quick flash of light tells me that she took a picture. I couldn't help but giggle a little bit.

"Mother, I wasn't ready." Jaal retorts.

"Then tell me when you are."

Jaal then picks me up in a 'princess' carry. "Wha-hey!" I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. Sahuna takes another picture.

"Ah. That's much better!"~~

I get the signal that we are soon arriving on Havarl. Sahuna invited Jaal and I to try out the pie she made. She also asked for pointers for other Earth recipes. I love her, she is so sweet. Most of the family is out of the house for the day but a few stayed behind, including Teviint, Baranjj, and Lathoul. I have a few outfits planned this time, though I want Jaal's input. The one I want to wear is a long, flowing dress, with a cute neck trim. It's a cobalt blue color that ombres into a black near the end of the dress. It is my favorite.

"Darling, I got your message and I- Stars..." Jaal walks into my cabin and the door shuts behind him as he stops to look at me.

I chuckle and blush. "Do you like?"

He takes a moment looking at me before responding, "Love is a better word."

I shy away with a huge grin across my face. "Is it appropriate?"

I hear him chuckle and approach, lightly putting his hands on my shoulders. "A bit formal for the occasion. But, it is appropriate."

"It's my favorite. I never really got to wear it."

"Oh? Why not?"

I shrug. "I was never really invited anywhere. Never went to Prom. Or any school dance for that matter."

"Prom?" He tilts his head.

"Ah, a formal dance for high schoolers. Ages like, 16-18 usually go. Doesn't happen again. Only for high school."

"And you didn't go?"

"Nope. Thought it was stupid being completely honest. Maybe that was just me being really bitter about people and I didn't like the popular music at the time. Or the hormones." I shrug again. "I guess, I was more afraid of going. That my money would be wasted. I mean I could stay at home, dancing to my favorite music without judgement, invite some friends over. I don't know."

"Do you regret not going?"

"Eh. Kinda? Not really? Still on the fence for that one."

"On the fence?"

"Idiom for 'haven't made up my mind yet' essentially." I reach up to play with my necklace.

Jaal takes notice, "What is that?"

"It's a locket. In the shape of a heart."

He scoffs playfully, "Is that what a heart looks like to humans?"

I chortle. "No. We don't know really how the shape came to be. My favorite theory is that it's two hearts sewn together and this is the outline of that shape."

"I like that. I also adore the colors on it. A green and blue stone."

"Kinda like an opal, yeah. It's not exactly a stone. That's just the colors the ashes made when turned into a stone."

"Ashes?"

I feel a lump in my throat. Echo died about a year before cryo. "Yeah. I had a pet cat named Echo. She was my emotional support kitty, I raised her, saved her from an abuser. She was a best friend, part of the family, my baby girl. She died not too long before my journey here."

I see Jaal's expression turn sympathetic. "My heart goes to you. Can you tell me more about her?"

I smile. "She followed me everywhere. Was skittish of most people, always purred when she was laying on me. Slept in my bed all the time, once she slept with her whole body holding my hand. I felt every little twitch as she dreamed."

"That sounds adorable. Even though I do not know what a cat looks like."

"It's what the locket is for." I open the stone to reveal the two pictures inside. On one side, a kitten, the other a full grown cat. Echo is a white long hair cat with silver/grey stripes. I believe she was also a runt. She also had blue/green eyes. "This is a version of a cat. They have many fur colors and lengths. I only ever take this off to bathe."

"I've never seen an animal such as this. She is beautiful."

"Thanks." I let Jaal hold the locket. "On this side, is her paw print. Sized down a bit to fit on the stone. I like this side to be the front of the locket." He closes it to see the embedded print.

"It's so... small. These are pads, yes?" I nod. "Similar to our feet."

"You have pads on your feet?"

"You haven't noticed?"

"No. I don't look at the bottom of your feet."

"We sleep together."

"I don't feel the bottom of your feet. You have peets."

"I have what?"

"Peets. Paw-feet. Peet."

He smirks. "They're not paws."

"I am still calling them peets."

"Alright. What're these markings here?" He turns the locket over to the back.

"Hand carved calligraphy. It's English. Spells, Echo Ryder."

"That is your last name in your language?"

"Yeah."

"That is... good to know."

I cross my arms. "Are you planning something?"

"Maybe." He steps back. "Anyways, we will be landing soon."

"Are you excited?"

"Sure. Or maybe I like to look at you in full."

Damn, that causes me to blush again. "I take it this looks good on me?"

"You make it look good." Jaal smirks as he leans up against the wall. "I should warn you, blue can be an arousing color."

That caught my attention. "Uh, what?"

"Blue can also be a color to induce rage or anger. It is also the color of love. It catches the eye's gaze."

"We have a color like that, except it's red."

"I think it is because you bleed red. We bleed blue."

"That... makes sense actually. Should I not wear this then?"

"Oh no, you can. Definitely. But blue does catch our eyes. I should rephrase that I find blue to be a seductive color on you."

"What would your mom think?"

"If you like the pie or not." He relaxes and stand up straight. "Wear what you want, Darling. We will not judge you. My mother knows that you come from a different place."

I shift around, playing with my necklace. "Well, I am entering your house. I want to learn more about your culture and customs anyways. What would be more appropriate?"

"Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable. I notice you wear your hoodie often. It is grey, black, has a bit of blue, and is homey. Perfect for the occasion."

"Oh, okay. What occasion would I need to dress up for?" I go to grab the hoodie and sweats. Though I start to contemplate because Havarl is humid.

"Marriage ceremonies. Parties. A formal meeting." He turns away from me. I think Liam told him about the whole 'don't watch a girl change clothes' thing, though we are together and I won't be stripping completely. I appreciate the thought and gesture.

"What makes a meeting formal?" I start taking off my shoes and slip on my sweats under the dress.

"When talking about important matters. A meeting between politicians. Things as that."

"Jaal. You can turn around. I am comfortable around you." I start taking off the dress. Leaving the bra on before the tank top.

"Ah. I wasn't sure if you wanted me to."

I slipped on the hoodie and turned back around to meet him. "Well, it's only you. Being honest again, I still get nervous changing for a doctor. And I always got really embarrassed if my mom walked in on me changing."

"Do you know why?"

"Probably the stigma humans place around the female body getting into my head. I am also really timid and afraid of judgement from others, and you can't please everyone. I just don't want to be put down for my own body. Yeah, yeah, I know. I need to get over it."

"Learn to live with it." He corrects. "You don't get over anything. How you view yourself is the most important. Though I do understand being timid and being insecure."

"How I view myself isn't much better."

Jaal approaches me, putting hair behind my ear. "How do you view yourself? And is it through your eyes, or other's?"

"What do you mean?" His touch always calms me, sends lovely little feelings down my spine to be distributed evenly throughout my body.

"For instance; if you did not like your hair color, would it be because other people prefer otherwise, or because you prefer something different?"

"I... I don't know. Something is telling me that I shouldn't be happy with how I look. I don't know if I am happy with it or not. I know I am always border-lining healthy and underweight due to this damn biotics and high metabolism thing. I see my bones in the mirror and I've always been told that seeing bones is always unhealthy. But I know that I am very healthy, and you can barely see my ribs. I eat a lot, I sleep, I get a lot of damn exercise. But then I am upset of my own thigh gap." I bring up my wrist. "You see the bones here. My collarbone is defined for a human. And so are my hip bones. I can't help it. It's just who I am, how my body is."

He holds my hand and looks at my wrist. I get a bit nervous of what he's thinking, but then he brings it up and kisses it. "If you are healthy, isn't that what matters most? Give the ignorant another thought, because they don't know you. If they don't care to listen or to understand, then they do not deserve your time. I care most that you are healthy and happy. I find your smile to be beautiful. The way it lights up your eyes is contagious. Your laugh makes my heart dance. This is healthy for you, right?" I nod. He puts his hand on my cheek and I lean in. "My heart tells me that you are beautiful. Gorgeous. Stunning. I fell for you. If this is who you are, if this makes you smile and laugh more, I am in love with it."

"And if I am not happy?"

"Then I will work with you to make sure you become happy. I find you an attractive woman, Sara. Through your heart. You reflect what you are on the inside, outside. Your kind eyes show. The charitable laughter from your lips. Your honesty and loyalty draw me to you. I can't help but find everything about you, physical and else, attractive."

My mind goes blank and I can't help but smile. I'm pretty sure my heart stopped for a minute. "That's so sweet. I... wow. I don't know what to say." I feel happy tears form.

"Your expression tells me everything I need to hear." He smiles gently. He looks longingly into my eyes for a moment before moving his hand to the back of my head and gently brings himself and I into a kiss. The sound of SAM telling us we have arrived makes us break the kiss.

"I just want to tell you, Jaal. You influence most of my happiness. You make me laugh a lot more, and your smile is just as contagious."

"I am humbled, Darling. Now, my mother is awaiting us." He takes my hand and we walk out of the ship together.

The shuttle is close nearby. The walk to it is short, and as expected, other than the pilot, we are the only ones aboard. The ride to his family's house is decently short. I look out the window and watch as we take off, above the bio-luminescent trees. Below, I can see some animals coming and going from beneath the foliage. It is calming as we hear the mantas fly above us, singing their songs. I snuggle up against Jaal and he holds me. I feel myself grow tired and close my eyes, being enveloped in a small, peaceful nap.

"Darling, we are here." Are the words I hear before opening my eyes.

I lightly stretch. "Man, time flies by."

He chuckles. "Well, you were asleep."

"Sorry."

"Don't be! There's nothing to apologize for. I found it relaxing, and you to be peaceful."

"It was. Mm. Guess I have to get up."

He holds out his hand as I stand up, offering to take my hand. I accept. We walk out of the shuttle and head for the door. Jaal uses an identifier to unlock the door and leads me in. Sahuna is already there and smiling.

"Hold still, you two." She says as she holds up the angara's version of an omni-tool/scanner. A quick flash of light tells me that she took a picture. I couldn't help but giggle a little bit.

"Mother, I wasn't ready." Jaal retorts.

"Then tell me when you are."

Jaal then picks me up in a 'princess' carry. "Wha-hey!" I laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. Sahuna takes another picture.

"Ah. That's much better!"

Jaal sets me down and Sahuna comes to hug us both.

"It's good to see you again, Sahuna."

"It's a delight having you here. You both here." Sahuna motions us to follow. "Come! Come! The pie has been ready for a while."

We follow her to an open room with a table and some neatly designed chairs. A lot of chairs. Teviint and Baranjj are helping to clean up some plates off the table and taking them to the next room. They wave at us as we enter.

"Ah. We missed dinner I see." Jaal waves back.

Lathoul comes from behind us passing by. "Gives us a chance to actually grab some food!"

"They get to try out something new though." Sahuna goes into the next room, presumably the kitchen.

Jaal and I sit next to each other at the table. We took two of the clean spots.

"Is this what I've been smelling all day?" I hear a conversation in the kitchen.

"Yes. And Sara is getting the first bite. It's an Earth recipe and I want to make sure I got it right."

"Using our fruits, though? Is that safe?"

"I've talked with her ship's doctor and yes it is."

"I thought you didn't like it, though, Mother."

"It's not about me. It's about our guest! Jaal's partner and friend! She is to be made feeling at home as best as we can offer."

I can tell that Jaal is watching me blush and grin like an idiot because he starts to chuckle, wrapping his arm around me.

"Guest?"

"Well, she's not officially part of the family."

"No, no, you're right." Sahuna peaks around the archway. "Call me 'Mother' if you wish." She quickly goes back into the kitchen.

I start to giggle. "I love her."

"I think she loves you, too." Jaal nuzzles me.

Sahuna comes back out with a pie in hands. She is followed by Teviint, Baranjj, and Lathoul. "This one I using an Earth fruit. A purple or blue berry, I cannot remember."

"Smells like blueberry. Oh man, I used to make these all the time. They're my favorite!"

Sahuna's face lights up immensely. "Then I've chosen well!"

"Wait, I overheard the conversation in the kitchen about using your fruits?"

"Oh, yes. I was hoping you would help prepare that one. I was thinking that using our fruits instead might yield a better result for us. Maybe even you? I would love some pointers from you. I am used to a live teaching rather than a recipe book. Those I use usually for reference."

"I would love to help, Mother." I smile.

I hear Jaal's breath hitch and Sahuna almost looks like she is about to jump up and down. She pushes the pie to me. "Here, try it. Try it!" She also places what seems to be a spoon next to me.

The room is silent and waiting. I am a bit uncomfortable by all the stares I am getting but I push through. I pick up the spoon and dip it into the pie. I grin as my mouth waters. The pie doesn't have a top crust, but that's always how I've made it. She probably used the same recipe as I did. I've been eating canned, dried, and freeze dried food for so long that I've forgotten how much I miss what this pie even looks like. The spoon has a nice mix of crust and warm, gooey, blueberries. I take the bite and practically melt in my chair. It might be because it's been so long, but I swear this is the best pie I've ever eaten. I let out a satisfied moan and nod profusely. "This is damn good."

Sahuna starts clapping. "Oh this is wonderful! Please enjoy it for a bit while I set up the kitchen. Lathoul, please help."

Teviint and Baranjj look at each other and shrug as Lathoul and Sahuna walk into the kitchen.

"Are you two planning something?" Jaal leans on the table. I am too busy enjoying my pie to really notice. I try to savor each bite but it's like my body is screaming at me so I would just eat it already. Real food.

"Nope. Just glad we are done cleaning." Baranjj answers.

"So, is she going to be a regular here?" Teviint crosses her arms. I can tell she is still a bit skeptical. Understandable.

"That is up to her. But I hope so." Jaal leans back.

I feel a bit uncomfortable and slow my eating down. "Is it okay if I finish this later?"

"Of course! It's considered a compliment if you take a dish back with you. Means not only that you enjoyed it, but it was able to satisfy your hunger. A well-made meal." He holds my hand. I notice he holds my hand on top of the table. On the Tempest it was under. Maybe he knows I

"Do I ask for a different container? Come back and return this one?"

"No. We use biodegradable food containers when guests arrive. In case they do want to take something home. This pie is in one of those containers."

"Oh, okay. That's neat. Thank you."

Teviint scoffs. "She doesn't even know the basics of our customs."

Baranjj lightly taps her in the shoulder. "Get Akksul out of your head. We can teach her. She deserves that much."

She lowers her head. "Skutt. Baranjj, Jaal, Sara. I apologize. I am still getting used to all of this, and getting those toxic thoughts out. Sara, I hope you can forgive me."

"Of course, Teviint." I offer a smile.

She returns it. "Thank you. Come, Baranjj, I think Finn wants to show us something out back." They wave at us before leaving.

"Stay strong and clear, Jaal and Sara." They both say as they go out of view.

"Stay strong and clear." We both respond.

I take a deep breath. The food is settling in and registering 'FULL' to my brain. She made a big pie, and I ate half of it, and it still looks so damn good.

"May I try a bite?"

I nod. "Sure." I hand him my spoon and he takes a small bite. "Any good to you?"

"I can tell it is juicy, but sadly, it is a bit disappointing to my tastes. A bit bland. Though, I am glad you like it. It was nice seeing you enter a stage of bliss."

"I cannot express it enough that blueberry pie is my utmost favorite. I used to make them all the time, and then eat all of them. Ah. I was home alone a lot."

Jaal looked like he was about to respond when Sahuna calls us into the kitchen. We stand up and go in.

"So, elmohk, paripo, or quilloa seeds?" Sahuna stands by three bowls.

"Which do you have the most of?"

"Quilloa seeds. They are quite large."

"Can I try one?"

"Sure! Here is a little piece."

I bite into it. It is like a fruity nut. If I could describe it in Earth tastes it would be a mix berry taste with unsalted cashew. It's not exactly a crunch, but it isn't soft either. It tastes really good to me. "Mm. This could go great in a pie. Bit dry though, so we should probably put in something a bit more juicy."

"Elmohk has a lot of juices." Lathoul lights up. "Goes good with a side of quilloa."

"Sounds good. May I try a piece?'

"Please! I am eager to see if you love it as much as I do." He takes the fruit and cuts it in half. Juices pour out, a greenish purple color. Thick liquid. It's about the size of a small melon. The inside reminds me of an orange, if an orange was slightly green with thick purple juices. He continues to cut it down to size, giving me a small piece.

"Do I eat the outside of the fruit?"

"Yes! It is a bit hard, though."

I bite into it not expecting a small squirt of liquid. Definitely like an orange. Though it doesn't go very far, most of it drips down the sides of my mouth. I tilt my head back to keep the juices from falling. Jaal starts laughing and comes back with a small towel in hand. The outside was definitely a crunch, but a very sweet taste, almost a bit too sweet for me. The juices are a bit tangy with a distinctive fruit flavor I cannot compare. Reiteration; juicy as all hell. Though it's like a creamy juice. A bit weird, really. Got a mouthful of pretty much everything here. I finish it and pat off the juices with the small towel Jaal gave me. "That was definitely interesting."

"Juicy enough?" Jaal smirks.

I turn to playfully glare at him, blinking a lot. "Yeah, just a bit."

He lets out a guttural laugh. Lathoul takes my attention. "Did you like it?"

"It might be an acquired taste. But I can say I am willing to keep eating it."

Sahuna brings down more ingredients. "So, let's begin!"

This went up really late and I apologize, life decided to stall me. If all goes as planned, day three chapter will be uploaded on *gasp* day three XD (I realize day three has already passed  a c k)

#jaalweek #jaal romance #jaal x ryder #Sara Talia Ryder #ryder x jaal #rydaal #jaal ama darav #jaal

[kestrelsansjesses]

Pie

[[Summary: Another utterly silly idea, based loosely on the letters Sahuna sends you as your relationship with Jaal progresses. As always, comments are very, very appreciated, and suggestions for future story ideas are welcome at my tumblr, kestrelsansjesses. I'm debating starting a longer series that goes more deeply into the political implications of what romancing an Angara would mean to a human Pathfinder, and I would love to know if this is something people want to see!

Rating: Teen, mildly naughty at the end but just implications.

Word count: 741

Pairing: Ryder/Jaal]]

The Tempest smelled like burning. “Ryder, I suggest you go to the kitchens area. The smoke detectors are going off. I have temporarily disabled them, as it appears there is no actual fire.” It was impossible to tell what tone SAM really intended, but Wren Ryder was tempted to say her implant was being dry.

Rubbing at a crick in her neck, Ryder stood, grateful for the opportunity to step away from emails. Get declared Pathfinder and save the galaxy and they still gave you a mountain of paperwork to complete, a small hill for every action you had ever taken. In an ideal world, her ship wouldn’t be on fire, but as she had swiftly discovered, there were no ideal worlds. Either way, a distraction was a distraction, and she thought there was smoke filtering in between her doors.

“Whoever is lighting my ship on fire better have a damn good explanation.” Stepping out of her room, Ryder swung into the kitchen, only to stop in the doorway. Suvi she would have expected. Vetra wouldn’t have been a surprise, and it wouldn’t be the first time Peebee had managed to light something on fire. Jaal, though- Jaal was a surprise. He subsisted almost entirely on nutrient pastes formulated specially for a specialized Angaran digestive system, supplemented by treats from Aya when the Tempest managed to swing by. He did not, as far as Ryder knew, ever go into the kitchen and actually cook things. Maybe this was why.

“Ah, my dearest one! Close your eyes. I have a surprise for you.” Against all better instincts, Ryder closed her eyes, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed. The surprise would hopefully include cleaning up after himself.

A plate was placed in her hands. “Open them!” Looking down, Ryder saw… It was supposed to be a pie, maybe, if pies were generally blackened and flaking and currently letting off an alarming amount of gray smoke.

“My True Mother, Sahuna, sent me the recipe. She was told that this is a favorite treat of humans.” Clearly anxious, Jaal looked to her for approval, making a face that it was difficult to say ‘no’ to. “The… ‘filling’ is made of an Angaran fruit you can only find on Aya. It was difficult keeping it a secret.”

“While the fruit isn’t poisonous, Ryder, I cannot tell you if it will suit human tastebuds or not,” SAM said in her head, answering at least one question she had. There was nothing left but to try; it was better than disappointing Jaal by refusing to eat it at all.

Trying not to grimace, Ryder took a heaping forkful and shoved it into her mouth. It definitely taste like burnt- an acrid taste that made her want to gang. Underlying it, however, was a pleasant, almost tropical flavor that wasn’t half bad, if you ignored how badly overcooked it was. On its own, it would probably be pretty good. In this burnt shell of a pastry, it was barely palatable. “It’s… interesting,” she finally concluded, swallowing the bite past the lump in her throat that demanded she spit it back out.

“You do not like it,” Jaal was quick to rely, disappointing creasing his face.

“No, no, it’s not that! It’s just a little overdone. How long did you leave it in the oven?”

“The recipe said an hour. I did another thirty minutes, just to be safe.” Ah, well, that would explain it.

Carefully putting the pie down on the counter, Ryder opened her arms. “Come here, Jaal.” He was so full of feelings and emotions at all times, while she struggled to show anything beyond the sarcastic front the galaxy had gotten to know so well. Here though, within the Tempest, she felt safe, her guard relaxing.

They stepped into the safety of one another’s arms, holding each other for a long moment. “Jaal, I love you. You’re unique and strange and I don’t know that I’ll ever understand you, but you can’t bake worth a damn, and that’s okay. You have other talents.”

His head rested atop her own for a minute, lips kissing the crown of her head and breath ruffling her hair. “You must remind me what those are, darling one.” This, at least, she could do.

#mass effect:andromeda #Jaal x Ryder #ryder #jaal #me:a spoilers #me:a #drabble #fluff #fanfiction #andromeda #mass effect #mass effect fanfiction

[avaquet]

Pie

Sahuna offered pie and stuff I made a FF with Sahuna and my Sara making pie and eating pie I see a question asking about my favorite fruit and I know what it is but blueberry pie is my favorite I really want some damn pie I could make a blueberry pie if I had the damn blueberries

#ramblings #my shit #it's four in the morning

[thievinghippo]

Fic Update: Courtship (5/7)

Fandom: Mass Effect: Andromeda

Chapter Title: Mentally (read on Ao3!)

Pairing: Jaal Ama Darav/Skylar Ryder

Rating: Teen

Summary: Jaal’s family comes to Meridian, ready to ask questions and get some answers about the relationship between Ryder and Jaal.

Notes: Endgame spoilers here.

chapter one | chapter two | chapter three | chapter four

#

“I missed you,” Ryder says as she pulls Jaal down for a kiss. He makes no resistance as she wraps her arms around his neck, bringing him in close.

They kiss, long enough that he wonders if there might not be time to quickly make love, before he must meet his family again. But then the door to her quarters on the Hyperion chimes, and they break apart.

“Hold that thought for later,” Ryder says, walking to the door. It opens, and an older human male that Jaal doesn’t recognize stands before them. “Harry! What are you doing here? Everything okay with Scott?”

The name clicks. Harry Carlyle, the doctor taking care of Scott. Also a close friend to the Ryder family, if Jaal is remembering things right. He wonders if he should introduce himself when Ryder says, “Harry, have you met Jaal?” She takes his arm and Jaal tries to remember which hand is the one to use for a human handshake. “Harry, this is Jaal Ama Darav. Jaal, this is Doctor Harry Carlyle.”

Jaal sticks out his left hand just as Harry puts out his right. One day he will get this right, he thinks as he quickly switches hands. Firm but not too firm, is what Ryder told him about handshakes. He doesn’t like this nearly as much as an angaran greeting, with those, there is more contact, more connection. A handshake seems almost impersonal compared to that.

They shake hands, and Jaal’s almost confident that he got the greeting right. “Good to know you,” he says.

“Thanks,” Harry says. “So SAM told me to come over here. I’m not exactly sure how this works…”

Ryder reaches out and puts her hand on Harry’s arm. That alone is unusual. Ryder hardly touches anyone other than him. A unworthy flash of jealousy courses through him. Harry is a family friend, nothing more.  It’s ridiculous, Jaal knows it is. But it is there.

“Thanks, Harry,” Ryder says. “This means a lot.” She takes her hand away. “I’m not supposed to be here for this. I’ll stop by the medbay later. I want to know when Scott will be cleared for field work.”

“It’ll be a while,” Harry says. “But stop on by. Maybe visit Elizabeth in statis. You haven’t done that for a bit.”

So Harry knows the truth about Ryder’s mother. Jaal wonders why he hasn’t been introduced to someone obviously so important to the Ryder family. But that will be a question for another day. Or perhaps tonight.

“We’ve got a plan.” Ryder turns and stands on tiptoe to kiss Jaal on the cheek. The gesture moves him more than he can express. A month ago she would have never kissed him in public. And look at her now. “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Until later, darling one,” Jaal says.

Ryder nods and stands up straighter. As she walks to the door, Jaal sees the transformation from Ryder to the Pathfinder. It’s subtle, but it’s there. A hint of tension and stress settle on her shoulders. He will have to help ease that tension for her tonight.

“You know, I’ve know Skylar and Scott since they were babies,” Harry says, crossing his arms over his chest. A smile settles on his lips. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe they’re both adults, making their own way through life now.”

“How did you know the family?” Jaal asks, curious to know more about anyone involved in Ryder’s life.

“Alec and I were roommates in college,” Harry says. “After we graduated, I went off to medical school and Alec joined the army. We stayed in touch, though. Feels like a lifetime ago.”

Jaal thinks about the differences in angaran and human culture. If the Ryders were angara, Harry would be considered family, any children of his own would be cousins to the Ryder twins. The disconnect between family and friends for humans saddens him sometimes. Perhaps he can discuss the matter with Ryder. Kesh will be having children. If some day, he and Ryder decide to raise children together, it will be good to consider Kesh’s children cousins of their own.

“It’s good for her to have someone who knows her not just as the Pathfinder,” Jaal says quietly.

Harry nods. “Agreed. She’s handling this all brilliantly, but I’m starting to see some cracks on the surface. My guess is, though, that you’re helping her handle everything. Suppose I should thank you for that.”

It’s not possible to keep the smile off of his face. “I would do anything for her,” Jaal admits, his heart clenching. What he says is true. The love he feels for Ryder is almost overwhelming sometimes, in the best sort of way.

“That’s what I gathered with this whole ritual thing,” Harry says. His brow furrows and Jaal wonders what that can possibly mean. “Now, this isn’t marriage, right? What you’re doing?”

Jaal holds out his hands, to show that no deception is within his reach. “This is a step before marriage,” he says. “But not a marriage ceremony. I think we are both too young for that.” Which is the truth. There is so much to do and learn before they should settle down and start a family of their own. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t think about it, though. “Perhaps one day…”

“I’m not sure how it works for angara, but Skylar just turned twenty-three. That’s pretty damn young for a human to get married,” Harry says. The furrow disappears and the doctor seems much more relaxed. “But a step before marriage ritual I can get behind.”

“Thank you, Harry,” Jaal says quietly. Another approval, more fuel for the ever burning fire in his heart.

“Apologies if I’m doing this wrong,” Harry says, and to Jaal’s surprise, he looks nervous. “SAM didn’t go into much detail. Does Skylar satisfy you mentally?”

“She does,” Jaal answers at once. “She is bright and knows so much. I’ve learned a great deal about the universe and even myself since we’ve met. More than that, I’m proud of her.”

Harry’s face relaxes. “You and me both. Had to admit, I wasn’t sure she’d be up for the whole Pathfinder thing. But she’s done her father proud.”

Jaal would have liked to have met Alec Ryder. Ryder’s tried to explain her relationship to him; she always thought she disappointed him, no matter what she tried to do. But Jaal is certain that cannot be the case. Who wouldn’t be proud to have a woman such as Ryder as a daughter?

“Maybe someday I will be able to meet her mother,” Jaal says in a quiet voice. He’s gone to Ellen Ryder’s stasis pod several times since the Hyperion made it to Meridian. There’s not much to do except pay his respects, but he would like to tell Ellen Ryder that he cared, even before she came out of stasis.

He hopes Ryder’s mother will be pleased her daughter found love in Andromeda.

“Wouldn’t that be something?” Harry asks. “It’ll be a while. We don’t have the manpower to research her disease yet. Someday. Hope I’m still around to see it.” He slaps his thigh with the palm of his hand. “I need to get back to cryo-bay; we’re bringing another twenty out of stasis today. Talk to you later, Jaal.”

“You as well,” Jaal says, holding out his right hand, in the proper way to say goodbye. He thinks. “It was good to meet you, Harry.”

They shake hands and Jaal can’t help but be proud of himself. He’s learning. One day, he’ll figure out the rest of the species greetings as well.

“Good to meet you, too, Jaal. You keep taking care of Skylar,” Harry says with a nod.

Skylar. It’s strange to think of her as Skylar. She is Ryder in his head, since that’s what she prefers to be called. But Jaal supposes that Harry’s known Ryder long enough that he can call her whatever he wants.

“I will,” Jaal says. He will take care of her for as long as she lets him, just like she will take care of him.

Harry exits the room, leaving Jaal to his thoughts. Only one more day to go, and then the tavoan will be complete. Then he will discover what his family thinks of their relationship.

#

She decides not to worry until dinner.

Ryder’s made sure she’s been available all day, waiting for whoever’s supposed to ask the last question for the tavoan. She’s kept herself busy in some storage rooms on the Hyperion, the door wide open, trying to find any last minute inventory that the Tempest might need. But no one ever showed up.

Anxiety starts to swell a bit as she enters the cafeteria. Jaal’s family is nowhere to be seen. What does this mean? Could they have already decided she’s failed?

It can’t be that. It can’t be. Sahuna loves her, Ryder knows this. Maybe they’ve just been busy today. His family leaves in two days, and Jaal wants to spend as much as time as possible with them, understandably so. They can always visit when they go to Havarl, but it’s not the same.

Ryder gets in line for dinner. She miscalculated her timing, putting her in the cafeteria during the busiest time. Hopefully the food she gets for dinner will be worth it.

To pass the time as she waits, Ryder decides to people watch. Her gaze goes to one corner and stops as her eyes meets Teviint.

The sister who shot Lathoul in the back. Her stomach clenches at the memory of that night, of watching Akksul point a gun at Jaal’s face, and how close she came to putting pressure on the trigger of her own pistol. If Ryder killed Akksul that night, would she and Jaal have ever gotten together? Knowing how important trust is to Jaal, somehow she doubts it.

She meets Teviint’s gaze with a level look of her own, ignoring how the angara tenses up a bit. What was Sahuna thinking? While Teviint no longer ran with the Roekaar, Ryder still isn’t sure how she feels about aliens. Especially aliens sleeping with her brother.

As quickly as she can, Ryder debates staying in line or walking over to Teviint to speak to her. Getting this over with wins out. She walks over to the corner where Jaal’s sister stands and takes a breath.

“Hi,” Ryder says, She wants to be anywhere but here right now, but she thinks of Jaal, thinks of how happy this whole process is making him, and stands her ground.

“Hi,” Teviint says.

The silence stretches out between them and Ryder isn’t sure what to do. They stand in front of a big picture window, so she turns to look outside. From here, she can see the the closest landing pad. And the Tempest.

The view of the Tempest is gorgeous from here. More and more Ryder thinks of the ship as her home. Jaal speaks of finding a home of their own some day, and it’s a beautiful thought. But right now, the Tempest and Jaal is all the home she needs 

“I am not good at this,” Teviint says, her voice on the verge of cracking. “When Mother asked this of me, I should have refused.”

“But you didn’t,” Ryder says quietly. That’s a start, right? Something to hold on to. Something to build on. “I’m glad you didn’t.”

Teviint kicks at the ground with her shoe. “There is lingering hatred in my heart,” she says. “I wish there wasn’t, not when you bring Jaal so much joy, but it is there.”

Ryder says nothing, knowing anything she says will seem like platitudes. One day, she will simply have to hope that Teviint accepts her and her place in Jaal’s life. She can’t ask for more than that. Even so, the disappointment leaves a bitter aftertaste in Ryder’s mouth. Familiar, almost. Her last relationship had been with a volus and her parents didn’t even try to understand.

What would Alec and Ellen Ryder think of Jaal? She’s not sure, and that uncertainty upsets her more than she cares to admit.

“I will not disappoint my family, not when they’ve asked me to be a part of this,” Teviint says. “So I ask you this,” she turns so that they’re looking right at each other, “does Jaal satisfy you spiritually?”

It’s a question Ryder would never have considered before the tavoan. She’s not a spiritual person, she never has been. Alec and Ellen Ryder raised their children to be logical and to question everything. The gaping holes left in Ryder’s questions about religion were too much to overcome.

Sometimes, though, she’s jealous of Suvi’s faith. Even Jaal is embracing the angaran belief of reincarnation since their brush with the concept on Havarl. But Ryder’s engineering mind refuses to think there’s anything over than a scientific explanation of what happened with that relic.

But religion doesn’t necessarily need to be spiritual. Perhaps it can be more like the turian’s spirits, to encompass a place or a thing. Or maybe it’s something that Ryder can’t even explain. She thinks of her soul, of her sense of self, of her spirit.

Any way she looks at it, she’s better off because of Jaal. And she can gladly tell his sister that. “Yes,” Ryder says, keeping her voice light. “He does. Jaal does satisfy me spiritually.”

Teviint stares at her and Ryder doesn’t look away. Let Jaal’s sister know that she’s here for the long haul. There will be no driving her away, even if there’s hatred in the woman’s heart.

“Best I speak to my mother and let her know we spoke,” Teviint says. She starts to walk away, then stops. Turning back towards Ryder, she adds, “Thank you.”

Ryder isn’t sure what exactly she’s being thanked for. But she’ll gladly take the thanks. “You’re welcome,” she says. Teviint turns again and quickly leaves the cafeteria.

Turning, Ryder sees that the line for food has gotten even longer than before. She debates if the line is worth it when she has a protein bar in her father’s quarters. But there’s a truth she can’t deny. If there’s real food to be had, Ryder wants to eat it.

With that in mind, she heads back in line.

#

Ryder stares at her email terminal in her father’s quarters, wondering which one to answer first. Messages from Tann, Addison, Christmas Tate, and August Bradley, all marked with high importance, wait for her.

She opens Bradley’s first. He’s not truly forgiven her for naming him ambassador, she thinks. But considering the other options, he made the most sense. The Moshae seems content to study the vaults, Hayjer’s needed as Pathfinder for the salarians, and Morda? No. Just… no.

Prodomus is doing well and Bradley was smart enough to train a successor as they built up the outpost. He’ll do the job and do it well. And in the end, Ryder can’t ask for more than that.

His message involves the forming of a true militia, one that would eventually act as a peacekeeper force for all of the Heleus Cluster, even for the angara, should they wish it. Somehow they doubt they will, probably preferring to protect their own.

The request would involve waking up thousands of more people in cryo, across all four species. It’s not a decision she can make on her own. The leadership for the Initiative needs to be involved with this one.

Just as she finishes her response, telling him that, the door opens, and Jaal walks inside. Since her back is to the room, Ryder turns in her chair, rolling her shoulders as she does. She’s been hunched over her desk since she finished dinner at the cafeteria, and her muscles are protesting because of it.

“Good day?” she asks as he sits in one of the overstuffed chairs.

Jaal nods as he starts taking off his rofjinn. “It’s hard to believe their visit is almost over,” he says, leaning back in the chair. “I will miss having them here.”

“We’ll be able to visit,” Ryder says, sitting on her hands. Jaal’s not quite at ease, not as he usually is this time of night, when it’s just the two of them. Something to do with the tavoan, she’s sure of it.

Harry could have asked one of two questions. With Harry, she doubts it was spiritual, so mental is the only other options. Her stomach sinks. Jaal talks about how uneven his education was. But hers was, too. She should have finished college, she knows this. It would have helped her in so many different ways, but she didn’t. And somehow, since she thinks it will be years before there’s any sort of higher education foundation in place here in Andromeda, she probably never will.

A wave of self-doubt crashes over her, memories from when she and her father argued over college. Ryder was happy as a peacekeeper, then. She was in a relationship with someone she cared about, doing a job she thought worthwhile. At the time, college didn’t seem important compared to that. But now, as Pathfinder, it does.

She thinks of the other Pathfinders. Avitus with his fifteen years of being a Spectre. Hayjer being the captain of his ark. Even Vederia’s hundreds of years old with plenty of training as an asari commando.

Then there’s Ryder. A twenty-three year old human who never even finished college. Some days it simply didn’t feel like enough.

Pushing those thoughts away, she concentrates on Jaal. It’s not his fault she doesn’t feel like enough some days, not with everything he does to try to show her that she is.

“You okay?” Ryder asks, not able to help herself. If something is wrong, she wants to know, sooner rather than later.

Jaal looks up at the ceiling and takes a breath. “Why have you not introduced me to Harry until today? If he is close enough to you to partake in the tavoan, I would have liked to have met him earlier.”

There’s hurt in his voice, which makes Ryder want to curl in on herself. It didn’t occur to her that she should have. It’s Harry, dad’s college roommate, who’s just always been there on the edges, for as long as she can remember.

But he’s basically family, or at least the closest thing she and Scott have to family these days. And family is everything to Jaal. Of course he’ll be hurt if he thinks she’s keeping family from him.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” Ryder says as she stands up. So this isn’t about the tavoan but about family. That she can deal with, she thinks, as she walks to the chair across from Jaal. She settles in, bringing her knees up to her chest. “I just don’t see family everywhere like you do.”

Jaal looks almost imposing, the way he sits back in his chair, arms up on the arm rests. But she knows he’s ticklish on the back of his lower set of knees and has seen his face when he tasted ice cream for the first time. She doesn’t think he could intimidate her even if she wanted him to.

“You said that the Tempest crew was becoming family,” Jaal says, tilting his head. “How is that not seeing family everywhere?”

“Point taken,” Ryder says. It’s true. Thanks to the Tempest, it does feel like she has a family of her own. She racks her brain, trying to think of anyone else who she should introduce to Jaal. Captain Dunn? She and Mom were friends back in the Milky Way, but Dunn wasn’t around nearly as much as Harry.

She should ask Dunn about her mom one of these days. Maybe it will help with the pain.

There are days she misses her mother so much it hurts. Scott was always closer to Dad; they seemed to be talking guns and combat scenarios and other war games that Ryder only had a passing interest. Mom was always there, ready to talk science or engineering or whatever was on Ryder’s mind.

And for six months before they left for Andromeda, Ryder lost that. She lost her sounding board, lost the one person who she knew would always be not just willing to listen, but wanted to listen. At least, she lost that until she found Jaal.

“Ryder?”

She looks up, shaking off the sudden melancholy draped over her shoulders like a cloak. “Lost my thoughts there for a moment,” she says, running her hands down her thighs. “I’m back.”

“It’s alright,” Jaal says and she sees the concern on his face.

“It’s not alright,” Ryder says, standing up. She walks over his chair and squats down. “I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry I didn’t introduce you to Harry earlier.”

His fingers trace her jawline, causing Ryder to bite her lower lip. He’s not wearing gloves, and she can feel the callouses on his fingertips and the bumpy texture of the his fused fingers. She takes his hand and bring it up to her lips, a kiss, another quiet apology.

“Apology accepted,” Jaal says and Ryder breathes out in relief. When Jaal accepts an apology, it’s over and done. A good quality to have, one Ryder would like herself.

Ryder stands up and sits down on his lap. In the chair, it’s not very comfortable, but her comfort isn’t the point. The point is to be close to Jaal, and with this, she succeeds.

“So it’s been SAM, Scott, Drack, and now Harry, right?” she asks. She can’t think of anyone else she’s close enough with who might be willing to ask a question. The thought saddens her a bit. Now that Meridian is safe, maybe it’s time to try to expand her social sphere, or work on becoming closer with the rest of the Tempest crew. Maybe even another movie night.

“Yes,” Jaal says. “And you should have answered your five questions, which means my true mother will speak to me tomorrow to tell me what she thinks.”

“Yep, all five,” Ryder says. Her voice becomes wistful. “I spoke to Teviint today. She’s still not happy with aliens.”

Jaal looks away, giving Ryder the chance to rest her cheek against his own. “She fought with the resistance during the battle for Meridian,” he says, sounding sad. “That is a very good start.”

“Agreed,” Ryder says. “I’ll keep trying to bridge that gap. Not much else I can do, right?”

Without any warning, Jaal kisses her. She kisses back, how can she not when he kisses like that, like their kiss can outshine the sun if they try hard enough. “Thank you,” he says, his voice rough. “For trying. It means so much to me.”

Ryder’s not usually one for poetry or sappy love letters, but she can’t help herself in this case. “And you mean so much to me,” she says, her cheeks reddening as the words come out of her mouth.

Jaal leans in for another kiss, but not before whispering, “Agreed.”

#mass effect #jaal ama darav #skylar ryder #otp: favorite place in the universe #hippo writes fanfiction #mass effect: andromeda spoilers