IC Contact - Consignment

[forgivetheinsubordination]

vakarian.garrus@cdc.org
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late d115

[hotman]

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

GARRUS

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

SORRY I KNOW IT'S REALLY LATE BUT

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

I THINK IT'S HAPPENING

[forgivetheinsubordination]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Are you okay?

[And then his brain clicks into gear.]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Ignore that. On my way over. What do you need brought? Anything?

[hotman]

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

i dont know what do dragons even like

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

should i leave it alone or help it?!

[forgivetheinsubordination]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

I think you're only supposed to help it if it stops trying to break the egg. Do you have meat on hand? Towel? Blanket?

[hotman]

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

a little... some jerky? I SHOULD HAVE HUNTED WHY DIDNT I THINK AHEAD IM SO STUPID

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

towel and blanket, yeah i have that!!

[forgivetheinsubordination]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Breathe. Grabbing some meat from someone else, be there shortly. Make sure to keep the rover warm. Unless it's an ice dragon. Is it an ice dragon?

[hotman]

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

THANK YOU

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

I'm trying to breathe but this is a little stressful

FROM: zuko@cdc.org

No I'm pretty sure it's fire. I'll keep things warm!

action!

[forgivetheinsubordination]

[And sure enough he's there a few minutes later with levo meat, freshly 'borrowed' from Noh-Varr, knocking on the door.]

It's Garrus, Zuko!

[hotman]

[ He answers the door not more than a split second after Garrus knocks, looking every bit as anxious as his messages implied. ]

Thanks for coming.

[ He immediately pulls him inside, drawing him to the common area. There, covered in a heated blanket, is the large egg, as shiny and golden as the day it was received. The difference is, this time it's moving, rocking gently from side to side. ]

It looks like it's having a really hard time. What if it isn't strong enough?

[forgivetheinsubordination]

[Garrus nods and kneels next to the egg, setting the meat to the side. His experience with hatching things is all hearsay, stories he's read, overheard talk amongst salarians, but he's gathered a few things through osmosis.]

Think it's pretty important it makes a go of it itself. It's gotta try. If the rocking slows, we'll help, but trying too early could damage its development.

[That, and anything used to break the egg could also hurt the dragon inside.]

We're gonna be here, making sure everything's warm, keeping an eye open, but we've also gotta be patient.

[hotman]

Yeah, okay.

I wonder why that is.

[ To him, it seems like it shouldn't matter whether the creature puts in the effort itself or it gets some help. Nature worked in strange ways.

He has to find some way to occupy himself while they wait, lest he get too anxious. ]

You want some tea, Garrus?

[forgivetheinsubordination]

I don't know. Something about training them right away to strive instead of give up early, if I was to guess. But dragons aren't really things we get told about in basic.

[Hell, he's pretty sure there aren't any actual dragons in his universe, period. The reapers converted some cycles ago and still use those, but what they once were has long since been lost.]

And yeah. I'd like tea.

[It won't really be good for him, but right now he can deal with possible slight discomfort to help Zuko stay calm and focused.]

Thanks, Zuko. How long has it been hatching?

[hotman]

That makes sense. Hopefully he or she doesn't have to struggle for too long.

[ He walks over to start the tea kettle, still casting a concerned glance every now and then at the bundled up egg. A few more small cracks have appeared at the surface of the shell, but it seems to be a slow process. ]

No, I should be thanking you. You came over as soon as I asked. [ He gives Garrus a small smile. ]

It's been about ten minutes now. I messaged you as soon as I realized something was different.

[forgivetheinsubordination]

[Garrus chuckles.]

Like I'd leave any of you alone when you're panicking about something. You're not technically my Leapfrogs anymore, but technical doesn't really matter here.

[He leans forward to take a closer look at the egg as Zuko starts the water.]

They're still working. Looks like you're gonna have a strong one. Though, you know, dragon. Sorta means strong. You got names picked out yet?

[hotman]

I wasn't panicking.

[ He totally was. He sprints back over once the heat starts. There's one crack that has grown deeper and larger, but so far, no sight of anything but the golden exterior. ]

No... not really. I was thinking I'd wait to see if it's a boy or a girl... and then wait to see if something felt right.

[ He looks up at Garrus curiously. It's nice to have someone around to take his mind off the anxiety. ]

Why, you have any suggestions?

[forgivetheinsubordination]

[He was so panicking, but pushing on that point isn't going to get either of them anywhere. Garrus blinks at the question, though.]

Uh. I've never really... named a dragon before. Never named anything. Might not really want me to suggest things.

[A beat.]

Though there's Invictus. Byword for stubborn, sometimes foolishly so, with my people. Sounds like something a dragon might be. Or Digeris, colony we've fought for and defended against pretty bad odds before. Resilience gets associated with that.