Event hosted by @cactuarkitty with fanfic prompts by @vorchagirl
Prompt - All relationships have those stories. You know the ones. Those famous stories. The good ones. Like the time Shepard took down the reaper on foot. Or Kaidan got involved in the Vorcha mafia. Or the time Vega got drunk and kissed Steve. What? It happened. It totally happened.
---
“The Shifty-Looking Cow Incident”
aka How an unlikely friendship began.
Once again, to the surprise of absolutely no one, the Mako needed field repairs. Commander Amy Shepard went up and down one too many steep hills out of sheer stubbornness. Not for the first time, the tire on the front, right passenger side got loose from its axle. If it were up to Urdnot Wrex, he'd throw a grenade at it and watch the fiery explosion with impish glee. It would be heck of a lot more fun than playing guard duty a few yards away from the driver's side of the Mako. Shepard guarded the other side while Garrus Vakarian worked on the repairs.
Hours ago, they landed on this green, stormy planet called Ontarom for a mission which included a fire fight (the highlight of Wrex's day so far). After that business was done, Shepard and her team decided to explore the surrounding area for resources (practical but boring, something everyone on the team agreed on).
Well, that was what they were doing until the Mako had to be repaired. From where he stood, Wrex could hear the turian working on the axle, and the krogan let out a low growl out of boredom.
This better be quick, Wrex grumbled in his head after ten minutes of standing around – which was more like an eternity. Or else I'm gonna fall asleep out here. At that thought, he nearly laughed at the idea of Shepard and Garrus (especially the turian) being forced to drag a sleeping, 800-pound krogan back into the Mako with no biotics to speak of. That would definitely make his day... well, besides the fire fight from earlier of course.
Out of boredom, Wrex reached for a compartment in his armor that hid his credit chit. He figured it wouldn't hurt to count his money for the second time today, especially after his recent win at the Quasar machine from their last stop on the Citadel.
Except when he reached his hand into the compartment, nothing was there!
“What the-” he uttered, feeling bewildered. He quickly doubled checked the compartment. Sure enough, his credit chit, including his Quasar winnings, was gone! He then checked other parts of his armor. Maybe he placed it in another compartment of his armor, but all he found was a paperclip and a piece of lint (and he didn’t even want to know how either of them got in there).
Might be in the Mako, Wrex suddenly thought. He began to head to the rover's driver side and opened the door as soon as he was within reach. He then jumped in with a little more force than usual.
“Wrex, what the hell are you doing?!” Garrus yelled out in annoyance as the Mako shifted under Wrex's weight.
“Looking for my damn credit chit,” Wrex grumbled as he pulled the drivers set back to see if it fell under there. Nope, not there either.
“I didn't see your chit when I went in there to get my tools earlier,” Garrus mentioned.
Those words made Wrex suspicious as he glared at Garrus through the passenger side window. “And you know this how?”
“...Because I didn't see it?”
“...Or maybe you took it for yourself.”
Garrus's mandibles flared with both shock and anger over the accusation. “What? NO! Why the hell would I take your damn credit chit?”
“Why wouldn't anyone?” Wrex mentioned as he stepped out of the Mako and back onto the ground. He slammed the door behind him (causing the vehicle to sway a bit) and walked around the rover to where Garrus stood. “There were enough credits to feed myself three lunches and four dinners at Fishdog Foodshack! As you can imagine, that's a lot, even for a krogan.”
“I swear on the spirits, Wrex, I did not take your credit chit,” Garrus tried to reason.
“Well if it's not in my pockets, or in the Mako, or on the grass, then where is it?”
“How should I know?!” Garrus yelled, now annoyed with Wrex. “For all you know, you might've dropped it back at the facility we fought in earlier!”
“Not possible,” Wrex said. “I checked my pockets while we were checking for resources.”
“Why would you even bother to bring your credit chit to a mission on a mostly abandoned planet anyway?”
“And why would I leave it back on the Normandy for just anyone to take?” Wrex reasoned.
“We have lockers, you know!” Garrus pointed out.
“My best shotgun already takes up enough room as it is!”
“That's a dumb excuse!”
“Better than letting anyone mess it up while I'm not around!”
Just as Wrex said that, Garrus happened to turn his head as he noticed something. Wrex didn't bother to look as he was still arguing with the stubborn turian.
“Wrex-”
“What?!” Wrex bellowed.
Garrus glared at him and didn't say another word, but he did lift a hand and pointed a single talon towards a particular direction. It was clear that Garrus wanted him to see something. With a roll of his eyes and a grunt, Wrex turned his head to see whatever it was that Garrus was pointing at.
In that moment, a thresher maw could've sneaked up on Wrex and swallowed him whole, because what got his full attention mere yards away was nothing short of ridiculous.
The mammal he saw nearby was, as humans called them, a space cow (despite being more of a cross between a deer and an ant eater with two extra limbs that served as arms), which was known for having, as humans also called them, a shifty-looking face. All this time, neither Wrex nor Garrus ever noticed the animal's presence until Garrus spotted it. Were they really that stealthy that even a krogan couldn't pick up on it with their superior hearing?
Not only did that thought throw him off, but Wrex soon spotted a very familiar item in one of the cow's hands – his credit chit! He really did drop it somewhere on the ground! How it happened didn't matter. He was about to run after the cow and get his chit back, but one thing managed to stop him before he moved...
With his own eyes, Wrex saw the cow actually take Shepard's own credit chit from one of her gear pouches! What was even more insane was that Shepard – the Commander Shepard – didn't even notice it happening as she continued to remain on lookout!
Only then did Wrex truly understand how the cow got his chit in the first place. That sneaky little pyjak!
Wrex turned to Garrus, who clearly saw what the krogan saw by how wide his eyes were and the way his mandibles flared and dropped. They turned their heads again to look at the cow just as it added the newly stolen chit to the 'pile' in its other hand – with Shepard still unaware of what was going on mere inches behind her. Then their looked at each other again with bewilderment.
A split second later, it happened. A krogan and a turian - natural enemies for years ever since the start of the genophage – both lost it and howled with laughter at the same time.
This went on for a few seconds before Garrus tried to speak in between “Oh spirits – aahaha! – Y – did you s – aaahahaha!”
“It's so ridiculous!” Wrex managed to say. “And – dammit, it got me, too!” he added before he howled again. At this point, he wasn't even angry about being pick pocketed anymore, even if his chit was worth three lunches and four dinners at Fishdog Foodshack.
Then they both happened to look up – and actually made eye contact with the cow. The mammal stared at them momentarily, its eyes wide with terror as it realized that it was caught red handed. And then it actually began to scurry away from the group. Not run – scurry!
They both lost it even more right there. Garrus nearly keeled over while Wrex fell back against the Mako before he actually grabbed hold of Garrus's shoulder. The turian didn't even try to brush his hand away – or he just didn't notice at all.
Of course, their fits of laughter caught Shepard's attention and she turned to look at them both. She did spot the cow then as it continued to scurry away, but paid it no mind otherwise. Neither Wrex nor Garrus every noticed the wary gaze she gave them both, especially since neither of them really got along until now.
“What's so funny over there?” Shepard asked aloud.
They both stopped laughing and became serious in an instant. “Nothing,” they both said in unison, though Garrus cleared his throat right after. Shepard gave them both a peculiar gaze before she shrugged her shoulders and turned her back to them.
“Should we tell her?” Wrex ended up asking with a grin, and low enough that only the turian heard him.
Garrus's mandibles flared again, this time with amusement. “Mmm... maybe in a minute. Just wait until the rest of the crew hears about this.”
“Ha! They would love this story, wouldn't they?”“”
“Yeah. ...Did we just become friends?”
Wrex snorted with amusement. “You wish, turian.”
Garrus’s mandibles flared even more. “Ah, probably for the best. I’d hate to make you look like an amateur when it comes to which one of us is the best shot.”
Wrex grinned. “If that ever happened, I’d just feed you to a thresher maw.”
Wrex wasn’t about to admit it out loud of course, but it was true... he and Garrus really did get along for the first time since they joined forces with Shepard. Neither of them knew at that time that this moment was the beginning of what would become an lifetime friendship.
---
*And yes, Wrex did get his credit chit back, because of course he wasn’t going to let that shifty-looking cow get away with it. That’ll be a story to be told for another day (just not for MERweek2019).
Event hosted by @alyssalenko @vorchagirl and @starsandskies
“A Simple Touch”
Prompt - Forehead Presses (of course I picked Shakarian for this prompt =P ).
One hour... that was how long they had left before the Normandy crossed through the Omega-4 relay. The fight would soon be taken to the collectors... and it would be a matter of time before anyone knew whether or not they would survive the mission they’ve been planning for months.
Commander Amy Shepard decided to spend these last few hours in her quarters, specifically the arms of her best friend-turned-lover, Garrus Vakarian. In their time together since this mission began, the two grew close to the point where Shepard was comfortable enough to see where things would take them. When she first asked him if he wanted to take the next step in their relationship, Shepard thought it would end awkwardly to the point where she would ruin their friendship. But to her surprise, Garrus said to her, 'Why the hell not?' So they prepared... and talked about it... and prepared some more. It was better to be ready and certain than to jump into it and regret it later.
The way Shepard figured it, even if nothing more happened between them tonight, she would be grateful for this moment of peace – and even more grateful to still have his friendship.
Despite them both being unsure and a little nervous (more so on his part), the experience was... so much more satisfying and pleasurable than she had ever imagined. Shepard was pretty certain it was going to be hard to go back to humans after this.
She had to thank Mordin later for the pamphlets – as awkward as that conversation was...
They had gone at it twice already in Shepard's cabin. After the second time, they both fell asleep in each other's arms (though it did take them a moment to figure out what was most comfortable for both of them). When Shepard woke up, Garrus leaned his forehead into her temple, the touch light but still noticeable.
“Hey there,” she uttered, still feeling sleepy.
“Hey,” Garrus replied just as tiredly. “We have an hour left before...”
“Okay...” Shepard said. She leaned her head just a little closer, content on staying like this... forever if it was possible.
“I'm curious,” Garrus started as one arm wrapped around her waist. “Do humans do this a lot?”
Shepard felt confused by that question. “Do what?”
“Lay like this with our heads pressed together? Is it a common thing for humans?”
Shepard felt a smile tug at the corners of her lips. “Sometimes. It's one of many ways we show our affection to each other. How about turians?”
“It's... almost like your human kisses,” Garrus described. By now, Shepard noticed the way the tip of his talons – freshly filed and clipped - brushed gently along the side of her waist. “Although... I think I'm starting to like human kisses more.”
Shepard's smile grew bigger. “Well... I really like turian kisses, so we're even.”
As Garrus let out a breathless laugh, Shepard's grin suddenly faded. The dread of what was to come became a heavy weight in her heart. “I really hope we survive this mission... all of us...”
Garrus moved his head a little to press his mouthplate to her cheek, imitating a kiss the best he could with his lack of lips. “You prepared for this fight more than anyone else could. We're all here for you, ready on your mark. You'll get us all through this. I know you will.”
Taking a deep breath, Shepard turned to her side so that she was facing him. Once she was settled again, Garrus moved in closer to her, his arm still around her waist, and pressed his forehead to hers. Shepard pressed in closer as well before the two of them closed their eyes...
“Thank you,” she replied softly. “I couldn’t do this without you...”
For once, Garrus didn’t have a quip to follow her words. Instead, he gently pulled her in just a little closer to him.
They had an hour left before they were called upon to see to their upcoming mission through. For now, nothing else mattered but the feeling of tranquil peace and the simple comfort of each other's company...
I’ll tag @rpgwarrior4824 @obvidalous @natsora and anyone who sees this, no obligation of course.
Like before, I’ll do this with two characters. I’ve done the following already -
Adam Shepard & Kira Ryder
Marc Shepard & Luke Ryder
Amy Shepard
Amy is a huge fan of late 20th century entertainment, specially movies and music. Her favorite song from that era is Push It To The Limit from the Scarface soundtrack, and her favorite movie from that era is Grumpy Old Men.
Since childhood, Amy wanted to be a soldier. Military ran in her family and she couldn’t imagine living any other kind of life. If the Alliance didn’t pan out, she likely would’ve joined law enforcement, like C-Sec.
In the universe where her twin brother Adam is THE Shepard, Amy is still a dedicated officer of the Alliance, though she did resign for a short time after her brother’s death due to the smear campaign against him. She re-enlisted just prior to the Reaper War. The morning after the end of the war, she met Major Coats, who would become her husband a few years later.
Aleera Ryder
Aleera’s mother was a fan of old 20th and 21st century films. Through the movie Van Helsing, she discovered the name Aleera and loved it so much that she gave the name to her daughter.
As a child, Aleera received a terrarium kit for her birthday. The kit would start her love for science. Her favorite science subjects in particular were geology, biology, and ecology.
There’s a big height difference between Aleera and her twin brother, Rick. While Aleera herself is 5′3′‘, Rick is 6′3′‘. Because of this, and Aleera’s shyness, it no longer surprises the two when people get shocked over two things - 1) They were twins, and 2) Aleera is the older one.
@xenowriter encouraged those who saw her post to do this, so I shall.
I’ll tag @starsandskies @ripley95things and anyone else who sees this.
I’ve done this already for the following;
Kira Ryder
Adam Shepard
Marc Shepard
Luke Ryder
---
1. What’s your name?
Amy Leigh Shepard
2. Do you know why you are named that?
It was one of the few girl names my parents both liked and agreed on when it came time to name me and my twin brother. They had more difficulty naming my brother, which amuses me for some reason. >:)
3. Are you single or taken?
Taken.
4. Have any abilities or powers?
I’m trained to use every weapon and grenade available in the Alliance (and I’m proud to say that I can adapt well to non-Alliance weapons). I’m also sniper trained, N7-trained, and can maintain some semblance of a sense of humor even in the worst situations.
5. Stop being a Mary Sue.
...Um... wut?
6. What’s your eye color?
Umm... Blue
7. How about your hair color?
Dark Brown... though I’m pretty sure you can see that...
8. Have any family members?
There’s my father James (rest his soul), my mother Hannah, and my twin brother Adam. I also have extended relatives on my father’s side of the family.
9. Oh? How about any pets?
There’s my sweet hamster, Vinny, and my- oh sh-! *runs out of the interview and returns ten minutes later* -grumbles something about dead fish... again...- Eh... next question?
10. That’s cool, I guess. Now tell me something you don’t like.
Colossal failure always sucks, especially after trying so hard not to... also politics, but that goes without saying...
11. Do you have any activities/hobbies that you like to do?
I like music and movies from the late 20th century. I like modern club music, too. Aside from that, I also enjoy exercising, especially with a punching bag, and trying new recipes.
12. Have you hurt anyone in any way before?
Only when I’m forced to...
13. Ever… killed anyone before?
*sigh* Yes, it’s unfortunately part of the job.
14. What kind of animal are you?
A cat. Definitely a cat.
15. Name your worst habits?
People say I’m too stubborn for my own good. Unfortunately, it’s true.
16. Do you look up to anyone at all?
...Is this some kind of joke about my height?
17. Are you gay, straight or bisexual?
Straight... but I don’t see why that’s anyone’s business.
18. Do you go to school?
Last time was ICT. I admit, I’m sometimes surprised I even graduated at all.
19. Ever want to marry and have any kids one day?
*shrug* Sure, it wouldn’t hurt... maybe?
20. Do you have any fangirls/fanboys?
*tries not to think about Conrad Verner* I’m... sure they’re out there... somewhere... hopefully not too close...
21. What are you most afraid of?
...Why would I answer that?
22. What do you usually wear?
You mean when I’m not in uniform. Gimme pajamas any day, any time!
23. What one food tempts you?
It sounds cliche, but... chocolate. ^_^
24. Am I annoying you?
...A little.
25. Well, it’s still not over!
ಠ_ಠ
26. What class are you (low/middle/high)?
I don’t know, middle?
27. How many friends do you have?
Enough to form our own platoon. =P
28. What are your thoughts on pie?
It’s not something I have very often, but when I do, it better be damn delicious.
29. Favorite drink?
Coffee and whiskey... sometimes at the same time.
30. What’s your favorite place?
Does the Normandy count? It totally should. It always felt like home to me.
31. Are you interested in anyone?
I am most definitely interest in a particular bad-ass turian sniper. ^_^
32. That was a stupid question…
ಠ_ಠ
33. Would you rather swim in the lake or the ocean?
I’ll swim in either... away from this interview...
34. What’s your type?
I like the type of interviews that don’t make me want to pull my hair out.
