forgivetheinsubordination | IC Contact

How do you keep up a relationship here? Do either of you get jealous? Do the rules work even if you're only sleeping with one person?

[He said three right? Oh, a third one. Nevermind, she's never been good at math.]

[Those are some heavy questions, and he takes a moment before answering.]

It's not... Hah. So. Yeah. The way they talk, just sleeping with one person isn't safe. Not to keep you from re-ed.

[Absently he opens the straw that had been given to him with his drink. Without lips he can't exactly use it, but this gives him something to do with his hands.]

There's some jealousy, yeah. But I'd prefer him be safe from the city, and I trust him. And we're the only one the other actually sleeps with. That's an exclusive. It's... It's all trust. Guess that's not different from most relationships.

[Angela's the queen of heavy and invasive question. This is just the start of a future barrage of them.]

I figured so. I just thought there might be some loophole somewhere...

[Not that she has any serious relationship prospects here and honestly, Angela isn't really looking for one here. If it happens, nice. If it doesn't, it means she can avoid potential issues that crop up with open relationships, ones she experienced in the past.]

'The only one the other actually sleeps with'? So no actual penetration with anybody but him? [That's what it sounds like Garrus is saying, but Angela wants to confirm.] And no, it's not. Without trust, you have nothing. Lord knows I know far too much about that last one.

[She glances away, looking both sad and a little bitter. Those wounds from home are still very fresh.]

[Garrus shakes his head, awkwardness fighting with sympathy for something that sounds rather personal.]

Uh, no. I mean real sleep. Falling asleep next to. It's the...

[He knows what word fits best. He tries to find another, to dance around the accurate one, but there isn't anything suitable.]

The intimacy of it. There's no time when you're more vulnerable. And considering the way the city works, I don't think it'd be safe to restrict an act.

Ah, I see.

[And she agrees. The intimacy is the best and most cherished part of any relationship to her. It's something she misses at home but especially here because Ariel seems more fitting to anonymous quickies, applications for bed partners, and sloppy drunken handjobs in a bar bathroom rather than organic relationships grown out of time spent nurturing them. Not that getting off fast and hot is a bad thing, it's just something Angela doesn't always want.

She can't lie and say she's not a little envious Garrus has somebody to have a intimate connection with. She's not going to say that outloud.]

No, you're right. There's trust there and comfort. If you don't have either one, there's no way you're sleeping through the night.

Especially... We're both soldiers. Used to being on alert. So the whole sleeping thing is a risk, too.

[He shrugs, trying to find something else to direct the conversation to. Emotional things, bonds, relationships, they're not Garrus' strong point when it comes to talking. Even talking isn't his strong point when it comes to talking. He's good at doing.]

Anything, uh, else?

[It's a risk, opening himself up for more questions considering it's clear that she doesn't mind taking him fully up on the offer, but he's willing to take it.]

[She's about to steer the conversation elsewhere when he offers up an open door for me, and well, who is she not to take the opportunity to sate her curiosity?]

So, is he human?

[Angela was wondering from the beginning really. She figures in a place like Ariel, it lends itself easily to interspecies coupling.]

Uh. No.

[He tilts his head to the side.]

Species... There aren't any other turians here. I wasn't a xenophile before I... but...

[This sounds a mess.]

He's drell. Someone I knew from back home. There wasn't anything before. It just... You rely on someone, a lot, and sometimes...

[Garrus shrugs, trailing off. He really has no idea how it happened.]

[Angela shakes her head. It may sound like a mess, but it's his mess and if it's something that brings Garrus a small measure of happiness in hell, then so be it.]

You don't owe me an explanation. You don't owe anybody an explanation. We love who we love and ninety-nine percent of the time we don't chose who, when, and where. It just happens and it's best to just accept it.

[It's so complicated... but he's going to take the out she's given him. They've just met. There's really no reason to spill the difficult details.]

Yeah, basically. You sound like you might know what you're talking about.

Well, I've been in love a few times. I'd like to think I learned something about it.

[But she stops there as far as discussing her own love life. She's great at encouraging other people to talk about theirs and to share their feelings. It doesn't quite work the same for her. Hypocritical, really.

But back to the main reason she's here, if only to change subjects before he could start asking her questions in return. Who wants to hear about how she fucked herself over so many times anyway?]

So you'd say I got the job? When do you need me to start?

[He chuckles. It's a clear diversion from the former topic, and Garrus is entirely okay with that. He's not good at sharing, she doesn't want to, time to move on.]

You've got the job, yeah. Welcome onboard. And if you wanted to start...

[Trailing off, Garrus takes a moment to think over the schedule.]

Two days from now work? Come in around ten in the morning, I'll show you around the place and get you situated before the lunchbreak rush hits, and then I'll be there through it with you.

That works. My schedule's clear on that day.

[Her schedule's clear everyday, but let's not talk about that.]

Lunchbreak rush? [Angela laughs, pushing her pizza crusts around on her plate.] I can see the allure in that.

Apparently people eat dinner at their desks for a whole different reason, here.

[His voice is very dry.]

Heaviest hours are from noon to two, and then again after seven. At least, they are for the machines. I don't really pay much attention to the rest of the place. Don't need to.

[That, and his lover works one of the rooms. Garrus doesn't want to know how often Thane has clients.]

Basic things to remember about the workplace - if the door's closed and it's not the supply room, don't even knock. Just walk away. Sephiroth is the main guy in charge and he... If you don't want him, for any reason, be damn clear if he tries something.

[His voice has gone fully serious now.]

He is the type of guy who will take any hint of a maybe and push it. If he pushes you past where you're comfortable, find me. He's not sane. And he's not anything near human. A gun won't do anything even if you shot him in the head. I've seen him heal. Find me, put me between the two of you, and he will back off.

Eating.

[Angela can't help the snort that comes out of her. Honestly, it's a sex club and putting the words eating together with what everybody knows what goes on there, well, there's no way Angela won't turn into a twelve year old.

But her amusement falls to the wayside once Garrus turns serious and the name Sephiroth comes up. At first she didn't feel too threatened by him, especially when she called him out on him trying to intimidate her earlier, but now she is. It shows in her face and it's probably a good thing Sephiroth isn't here to see the expression of worry and fear.]

Oh... [Angela goes silent as she listens and takes heed to his advice. The not human part she got. No human has teeth like his.] I guess being surrounded by sex all day long isn't enough for him.

[Even having somebody letting you willingly bed them isn't enough to sooth the crazy, huh?]

It's not entirely about the sex. Which is also why I think he runs a business.

[He's not entirely sure there's a cure for the amount of crazy Sephiroth has going, even if he now has a grasp of its source.]

And some days are better than others. Just stay aware, and if I'm not on duty, get out of there. It's not my strength or anything like that, that keeps him from forcing me. He's...

[Garrus shakes his head.]

He's fascinated with me. I don't really get it. And it doesn't mean I'm always going to be safe, either. But it means that I'm safer than most.

It's a power thing, I know. I've been around people like him before.

[That doesn't mean Angela's going to let herself be caught in a room alone with him. Ever.]

Because of what you are or because you're the only person who can stop him?

[She says 'stop' for lack of a better word. Maybe distract him from his current goal at hand is a better way to phrase it.]

Because of what I am.

[He's not even sure he could stop Sephiroth, not every time. But he knows he'd be able to distract Sephiroth from another target, and make the guy focus on Garrus instead.]

Because I'm 'from the stars,' as he says.

Sounds like the start of a space fetish.

[Part of her regrets accepting this job, but it's not like she can refuse it now. She needs the money, the steady paycheck, and the mental stimulation. Construction isn't giving her anything like that.]

Anybody else I should watch out for?

[She's way more accurate than she realizes. But Garrus isn't going to mention that.]

No, not that I know of. Keep an eye out for Simon Tam, but for the opposite reason. Friendly, smart. Doctor, too, if something goes wrong. The machines are good, but there are always accidents.

[She has a knack for that. Too bad she only finds out about it after the fact.]

Yeah, we really don't need anybody bleeding because they got overexcited at a virtual mistress.

[Oh, the disasters she is imagining right now. Very vivid.]

Overexcited, distracted...

[He shakes his head, trying to hold back judgmental amusement but he's never been very good at that.]

That's the basics of the job. You wind up with any questions, go ahead and send me a message. Don't worry if it's a strange hour. I don't need as much sleep as humans do.

[Angela wonders what else he doesn't need as much as humans do, but she's already ask enough personal questions for what was supposed to be a job interview. Besides, it's nice to hold something for later.]

Got it. [She sends over a payment for her part of the meal, plus the tip. So much easier than carrying a wallet around.] Thank you for the food and the job, by the way. I appreciate it.

[Garrus gets up, sending money as well.]

Thanks for applying. We could use the help. And I'll see you in a couple days.

IC Contact - City of Ariel

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