[ Yeah, they keep frothy little monsters around to eat up their gross patchy facial hair. That actually sounds less annoying than shaving, if kind of fucked up.
Buuuut that's neither here nor there.
Jean finishes rubbing his face clean, canting his head slightly as he looks over the gift. Then he smiles a little, corner of his mouth turning up to something bemused. ]
No. They're pretending to be cookies. They're actually socks.
[His voice is amused and sarcastic as he holds the stuff out.]
And the other's a defensive amulet. Not really sure how it works, not even sure that it does work. But it was for sale and I thought it might be worth a shot. Supposed to be one-time use.
Appreciate it. Got a few throwing knives from the supply drop. Held onto them because you never know when you might need a knife; I'll be glad to be able to use them for their intended purpose.
The war we're in right now with the Reapers? They had a test-run invasion a couple of years back. Shepard and us on the Normandy crew stopped it, presented evidence to the Council that more were coming.
FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org
Sparatus and the other two councilors dismissed it.
FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org
We could have had all of that time to prepare. We didn't. Because the Council couldn't face the truth, and couldn't face the possibility that they didn't know everything.
[ Hey, socks would've been a perfectly practical gift. He gives an exaggerated eyeroll at the sarcasm before setting the towel down and taking the gifts in hand. He flips the little amulet between his fingers as he looks it over. ]
Yeah, I saw some of 'em on Selena—maybe they're magic. [ It's a thoughtful gift, and one he appreciates, but the heckling continues. Dangling it by his face, Jean's tone is hugely sardonic. ] Think it brings out my eyes?
Magic's just something we don't have a scientific or tech explanation for yet. Don't tell Anders I said that. He might pass out.
[Garrus leans back against the wall as if to get a good look when the amulet is put on display.]
And I'm pretty sure it's supposed to help keep your eyes in your head, not bring them out. You should ask Yamanaka if it looks good. Give her a minute to really take it in.
[ Oh—well, maybe that's why everything looked kind of like magic to him. It made sense what with being from the technological dark ages. And he's about to explain that it's just a turn of phrase but eh. Cultural barriers are a pain. Instead one of his brows creeps up. ]
Ino'd just make fun of me for wearing jewelry.
[ Hell, Jean himself would feel a little conscious wearing something flashy. So he wraps the cord of the charm around his wrist, secured but mostly obscured by his sleeve. ] 'Sides, who cares what she thinks anyway?
[ His tone is obviously more exasperated than malicious. ]
You're right. From what she told me, it sounds like she's looking for more discipline. She's powerful, but fire is wild and destructive. It needs control.
FROM: zuko@cdc.org
I can help with that. We'll start thinking of ways to coordinate our attacks, like you said.
FROM: zuko@cdc.org
There's another kid-- Hibari, I'm assuming you've met him, too. Anyways, he's a fire user as well. I bet we could really do some damage if all of us trained together.
FROM: zuko@cdc.org
Yeah. I know. Ajna was tough, and the next planet's only going to be worse.
Everyone cares what their friends think. Even when their friends set things up on them.
[Garrus shrugs.]
We're in for a tough time of it. You especially. You're gonna need support, everyone's gonna need support. Work on what bonds you have and don't dismiss what she thinks. She's young, but so are you, and you've both got good heads on your shoulders. Heads I'd like to see stay on those shoulders.
[They are two of his earliest bonds here, the two he'd started caring about when he thought they were assigned to share quarters with a set small group for good, the two he'd begun protecting even before he knew it. He cares. It's too late to take it back. And while he's tried not to come to care about too many others, it's spiraled out of his control and Jean and Ino are at the root of causing that.]
Plus she's getting a matching one. So if she makes fun of you, you can make fun of her right back.
Rogers was not wrong in suspecting one of the new recruits might very well be the killer. If we are to effectively protect the others on board this ship and maintain a close watch on the potential suspects, I believe assigning one senior recruit per fresh conscript makes the most logical means. I have already begun the process, but there are too many to just include our designated recruits without leads.
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