thefolder | Take it in...

Entry tags:

Take it in...

Who: Marley Rose (

wall_flower) and Garrus Vakarian (

calibrates_big_guns)
What: Marley has never met Momma Shepard's beau. Time for them to run into each other.
When: 7.6.13
Where: The cafeteria for the people who live in the Newbie Housing.

WARNING: May contain talk of eating disorders!

Slowly, Marley had begun to heal from the injuries she obtained in the Dark Field. The minor cuts and scratches no longer needed bandages or ointments, the burns and the deeper cuts only needed cleaning once a day, and she could actually walk with barely a limp. She still suffered from nightmares, but staying with someone who actually went through the exact same thing she did helped to keep them at bay. For a little while, at least. Still, she was at least feeling well enough to get food for Donnie, herself, and their partners.

Truth be told, she wasn't even all that hungry. Ever since she got back from the Dark Field her appetite was minimal at best. But she knew that Donnie was hungry, and that if she didn't try to eat he would say something. That was why she found herself in the cafeteria around lunchtime with her in a clean tank top and a pair of jogging pants, leaving the remaining bandages on her arms easily viewed.

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[It may have taken a few weeks, but Garrus was starting to get used to things here. Despite the shock of suddenly being in a new world and changing species, there was something refreshing about the Digital World, now that that shock has worn off. Maybe it's because people seem to be happy here, that there's no omnipresent threat bearing down on everyone. Maybe it's because there's no grey here, no tricky, middle moral ground that casts Garrus' whole sense of justice in to doubt.

[But that's not to say that this world is perfect. There's a feeling in his gut that while there aren't Reapers out there ... there's something. But here, people seem to know, they seem ready and willing to do what it takes to save everyone from whatever is out there. Garrus is almost always going to expect the worst, it's just in his nature ... but maybe this time he's going to let himself hope for the best. With Shepard around, how can he not?

[Whatever the case, he's not going to let some amorphous threat on the horizon stop him from living his life, not when he's just starting to like it here. Well, mostly, at least. He's still not used to human food. Don't get him wrong, it's better than turian food, but it's different. Turian food is basic and nutritious, it gives you just what you need to live. Human food has more flavor, more color, more of everything except the healthy stuff, it seems. It's good, but a bit overwhelming. That's why, as he sorts through the cafeteria's array of food he's sticking to simple things.

[He sees the girl enter as he's heads towards a table. He sees the bandages, the slight limp, but it's the look in her eyes that says the most. She's been through something recently, something hard, and she's coping with it. Part of him feels like he should say something, but, well, he's not exactly the most social creature.]

Edited 2013-07-06 19:08 (UTC)

It didn't take long for Marley to order the food for her group, and making sure it was to go, she moved over to gather up napkins and utensils to eat with. Her D-Terminal went off and she pulled it out of her pocket...and managed to pull out her crest and tag as well.

"Oh no!"

She set the bag of food down to chase after the tag, watching as it bounced over to the table Garrus had settled down at.

[Right as he's about to bite in to a burger, the tag bounces off his boot. He leans under the table, picking up the small golden tag, and looking it over for a second before tossing it back to her.]

I take it that's one of the crests the kid with the computer told me about coming in? [Certainly looks like the picture.]

Marley slowed to a stop as the tag hit Garrus' boot. Was he going to take it or...

She fumbled some as he tossed the tag to her, but she managed to catch it, holding it close. At the inquisition, she nodded before lifting a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear.

"Yes. I...I only just recently got it." She held it up briefly before tucking it away in her pocket once more. "Uh...thank you. For tossing it back, I mean."

Impressive.

And, ah, don't worry about it.[Garrus replies with a smile, his strange, predator's eyes warm and friendly.]

Her cheeks flushed pink and she offered Garrus a small smile in return. He seemed friendly at least. She walked back to get stuff before moving back to stand next to Garrus.

"I don't think we've met before. I'm Marley Rose."

Probably not, I'm sort of new around here. [Garrus explained, before holding out his hand for her to shake.]

Garrus Vakarian.

Marley's smile was only slightly unsure as she adjusted the bag, looping the handle around one arm while taking the offered hand in her own bandaged one. The smile faltered with the handshake as she tried to hide the slight twinge of pain. No sense in making him worry.

"It's nice meeting you, Garrus. I'm sorry we haven't talked sooner. I'm usually...better at greeting people..."

[He noticed the wince. You don't get to be a C-Sec investigator without getting good at noticing the little things.]

It's fine, I've ran in to a few people I know. Besides, it looks like you've had some more important things to deal with recently.]

Marley looked down at her arms and smiled as she shrugged. She didn't want to talk about them, so she tried putting on a brave face to keep her pain hidden.

"I'll be okay. It's good that you found people you know. Do I know them? "

She really should be getting back, but the man held her curiosity. What if he needed help finding something? She couldn't just leave him to wander on his own...

[She doesn't want to talk, that's obvious. He's already coming up with theories thanks to his days in C-Sec, but no one here seems like enough of a dirtbag to hurt a kid, so he'll shelve those.]

Maybe. Does the name "Shepard" ring any bells?

She appreciated his acceptance of the change of subject. But what he did say made her nearly drop the bag of food. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Y-you know Commander Shepard? Are you from where she is? " She adjusted the bag of food as she sat down in the chair across from Garrus.

[Seems like everyone knows her around here. Guess somethings never change.]

Yeah. She's a ... well, let's just say we're close.

[It still felt weird in a way to say that they were dating. She's ... well, she's everything every rumor and news story makes her out to be. He's just an ex-cop, who happens to be the best shot in the galaxy.]

"Close? How close are you?" She sat up straighter in her seat, readying herself if she needed to speak up in defense of Shepard. The woman might not be here to defend herself, but Marley's had a bit of experience in standing up for people she cared about. She's more than willing to do the same for Shepard.

Dating, boyfriend-girlfriend close.

["I don't know what I'd do without her" close.]

Marley's eyes widened as she stared at Garrus. This was Shepard's...Had she mentioned him before? If she had, Marley couldn't remember. Between her time here, and then the Dark Field, little things had been slipping her mind and it needed a little jogging before remembering.

"You're dating her? I didn't--I'm sorry, I didn't know..."

It's fine, I mean, I don't expect she went around telling everyone about her crazy boyfriend.

"I've not been...really all that perceptive lately. If she said anything, I...don't remember." Her cheeks burned and she dropped her gaze. That was embarrassing, admitting to not having paid attention to someone she cared about.

I take it you're one of the kids she's been helping.

[Garrus says, looking to move her away from that looking-down-at-your-shoes embarrassment]

She offered a small nod in response, though she kept her gaze lowered.

"Yes, I am. I guess. She's been extremely nice to me and some of the others. She...She's like a mom to us..."

[Shepard has a way of touching lives for the better. Giving them solace and helping close old wounds, teaching them to do the right thing, and even saving them from themselves. Garrus never thought of her as a mother, though.]

Sounds like her.

"She's been--She makes it easier being here. There's no one from where I'm from here, and she kind of reminds me of my mom, just a bit more...soldier-like." She smiled faintly as she set the food down on the table and moved to wrap her arms around her middle.

"It really helps, having Commander Shepard around. I think a few of us would have been in trouble without her."

Heh. [He lets out a soft chuckle, because of just how familiar that sounds.]

Saving things is kind of natural to her. People, planets ... everything. It's just what she does.

Marley smiled and glanced up at Garrus, her fingers subconsciously picking at the bandages wrapped around her arms. "I wish I could have known her then. But...I'm glad I know her now. Don't know what I'd do if she...you know..."

[He looks a million miles away for a second, while a certain sort of knowing smile creeps across his face.]

Yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean.

Marley took notice of Garrus' distant look and frowned.

"I'm...sorry. I said something I shouldn't have, didn't I?" This is all Marley's fault. The sound of Tina's voice in her head made her lower her gaze once more. She upset him. It was her fault. Right?

[And that pulls him right back to the present.]

No, no, you didn't. I just understand how you feel a little better than you might think.

"Oh...Okay." She still seemed unsure, her fingers picking at her bandages. After a moment of silence, she spoke up once more. A change of subject was needed, she thought...

"Did you...How long did you know her before you two got together?"

Two-

[Hh. Do you count the two years where Shepard was dead?]

The answer is a little more complicated than you'd think, actually. It's a long story.

Edited 2013-07-30 03:52 (UTC)

Oh. Okay.

[She nodded slowly before looking to the bag of food she had picked up for Donnie. It was probably cold by now.]

I wonder if they'd mind making more...

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