[h3][b][i]A collab between Fallen and Dervs.

The observation point...[/i][/b][/h3]

Tanya walked over to where Vellios had seated himself and picked a tree nearby, setting herself down and suppressing a relieved grunt for getting off her feet after carrying the gear. [color=cyan]"I appreciate you saying that. I'd be honoured if you accompanied me to something that important... and I think having you there as a turian will definitely show we've come a long way. Your friends never got a memorial?"[/color] she asked, leaning her rifle against the tree beside her. 

[color=rosybrown] "No. I doubt anyone really did during that fight as the scene was confusing and many of us simply followed orders to subdue the hostiles."[/color] Vellios said, his attention turned from his talons to Tanya. There was no lust, for the time being, behind his icy colored eyes while he watched her sit down. His head leaned back against the bark and thought back to the friends he had lost during the attack, partly wondering how he managed to survive it.[color=rosybrown] "Many of my old crew were about a few decades older than me and had more experience in war than I ever had. Survival and war are too different thing when you sit down to look at them. One bloody for no reason while the other is strictly just to make it to the next day, no matter who you kill to do that."[/color]   

[color=cyan]"I'm sorry about your friends, truly, I am. I was still a kid when my dad went to war with the turians, but I remember him like I'd just seen him a few months ago."[/color] Tanya said, leaning her head against the bark and looking up at the blue sky through the foliage. [color=cyan]"Doesn't mean I never found out what it's like, losing friends in combat. I guess the circumstances don't matter, or shouldn't anyways, but it just felt wrong. You know someone for months, years... suddenly they're not there anymore, and there's no warning, no ceremony. One second you're talking, the next they're looking at you with lifeless eyes. At some point, war and survival aren't so different after all. What you wouldn't do to see another day, especially after seeing what the alternative is."[/color] turning her gaze back to Vellios, she asked, [color=cyan]"So your people really don't look at the First Contact War as that big of a deal, do they? Just some minor skirmish over some new aliens not following the rules that was resolved before it got serious?"[/color]

Vellios leaned back and chose his words carefully, namely because he couldn't speak for all Turians. In addition, his connection to the culture he should've called his own was a bit fractured at best. All thanks to the bastard that called himself Syberus and the ship Haides. [color=rosybrown] "Depends on the Turian you ask. For me, personally it was another event in my life that required me to make it to the end. For Arentos Rusnos' widow, it's the last battle of her mate and the lost of her children's father. I was the one who personally volunteered to deliver the message and the medal. She blamed me for surviving and not keeping her mate alive, which I merely stood there and took it."[/color] 

He inhaled, thinking about the scene a moment then added. [color=rosybrown] "Many Turians accept their duty to the Heirarchy to follow the rules, even at the cost of their lives. So yes it would be in that case. Others are raised to break them and so for those, it was just another even they had to overcome to see tomorrow. For me, it was something I grew up on and thrived in. I could kill without being judged."[/color] 

That was a different side to things than Tanya had understood about turians; typically, they considered no cost too great for victory, and if you had to sacrifice nearly every man in your unit to win a battle, then it was worth it without reservation. They embodied the concept of total war; the stories she'd read about the krogan rebellions and how utterly the turians threw themselves into destroying their enemy actually made her choke on her water when she was studying the tactics during basic training. It was inconceivable that an entire colony being destroyed by krogan smashing a moon into it would just make them throw themselves and their resources into the war three times as hard. Humans would at some point think of suing for peace.

And so, it was amazing that the First Contact War didn't end up worse for humanity. The turians would have, from what she'd come to know, throw away half of the population of Palaven to take Earth and considered the cost just. It was horrifying to think of, but yet, here Vellios was saying how one woman carried very understandable sentiment at the horror of the loss of her family. It was so very much like Tanya's own mother, Belle Carson. For a moment, it was impossible to think of them as different people.

It was just another powerful reminder that she could not ever afford to think of an entire species with a single brush stroke. Like her paintings, there were layers and so many different shades and gradients, and all of them made art in the end. Culture was no different.

[color=cyan]"You make it sound like you've always wanted to kill; the military just happened to be a vessel that encouraged it."[/color] she observed cautiously. [color=cyan]"I apologize if I overstep any boundaries with that observation, but I always had the impression that you were damaged goods, so to speak. The way Serena talks about what it was like when it was just the two of you, well, let's just say I know trauma when I see it."[/color]

[color=rosybrown] "Your observations aren't wrong... fully, hun. I don't want to kill, but I haven't any issues doing so and I won't lose sleep over it. Been like that since I was ten years old when a pirate ship boarded the vessel we were currently living on, my mother bouncing from ship to ship to make ends meet and give me a happy childhood. She wasn't fully accepting of the Turian's Hierarchy lifestyle."[/color] 

He took a moment to consider if Tanya actually wanted to know the full details or not. Part of him suspected she rather just have the skimmed version, unlike Dex who was digging for answers, and so he watered down the experience to be polite. [color=Rosybrown] "Need less to say, I was tossed into a violent, bloody environment. After a year, which I spent about more than four within, I became a bit numb to killing. This made normal, casual living rather... hard for me to adjust to as you can imagine."[/color] 

Vellios studied her expression from the corner of his vision. If she showed any issue or concerning reaction, he was ready to alter the topic completely and focus on her quickly. It wasn't the best defense but it was better than letting the awkward situation stand for too long.    

Tanya blinked quickly a couple of times. Killing since he was ten? Pirates? What the hell had Vellios gone through? She wasn't exactly keen on prying for anyone's personal information, largely because she knew that some wounds weren't meant to be reopened, but the way Vellios spoke about it was just so matter of fact; nothing in his face or voice suggested he was recalling anything more unpleasant than the weather the day before.

[color=cyan]"Well, not where I was expecting that to go. Ten? Forget trying to give you a childhood; you didn't really have one. It's hard to reconcile the fact that you lost your mother and had to kill to survive around the same age I lost my father. I think I understand where you're coming from a lot more, and... well, there's nothing to say that'll change anything other than I wish things were different for you. No one should ever get to the point where killing means nothing."[/color] 

Vellios chuckled at her sediment. His eyes twinkled with teasing and fell back into the loving flirt he always was, his posture relaxing after the words past. 

Tanya caught herself, smacking herself on the forehead. [color=cyan]"Fuck, okay, that came out wrong. I don't mean that as a slight against you, just that shit forced you to get that way. I'm not the best around people, I never know what to say and I run my mouth before thinking sometimes. All I'm trying to say is, I accept what happened to you and it doesn't change a thing between us. I'm here, whenever you need a friend, or whatever we are."[/color]
 
 [color=rosybrown] "It's alright. I know what you mean, and agree. When you get numb to killing, it seems to make you less alive and more indifferent to others. Armis helped fix that by making me care and we had two beautiful children because of it."[/color] His voice became quiet suddenly at the topic that rose up. 
  

[color=cyan][I]"Children?!"[/I][/color] Tanya blurted out, surprised. Immediately she covered her mouth, immediately ashamed at her reaction. [color=cyan]"Oh, fuck, I... I should leave you to whatever it was you were doing as I go hang myself off some fucking palm tree or something. I'm sorry. I... Fuck."[/color] she stammered, beginning to rise up from the tree to walk away. She probably not only picked at an old wound; she went in full fisted and tore it asunder. It was not at all what she intended to do, but the revelation that Vellios was once a father was legitimately shocking, something that was rarely a thing in Tanya's world, not after all the things she'd come across in the past few years. 

She tried to get to know her crew members, and still was awkwardly tripping over anything resembling social grace in the process. What the hell was wrong with her?

Vellios lifted his arm then gently gripped Tanya's forearm before she could go into full out flight mode. His figure was risen a bit from the ground and then slowly tried to lower her down with him. [color=rosybrown] "Easy there tech girl, you're getting a little skittish and jumping over board because of it. I [i]had[/i] children... a son, Tiberian, and a daughter Killia..."[/color]

He inhaled, his heart growing heave with the conversation. However, he teased her slightly to hid it. [color=rosybrown] "You didn't know, and yes you're not the only one that reacted like that. Serena did too. It seems everyone doesn't think I'm father material and I can't blame them."[/color]  

Tanya allowed herself to slump back down against the tree, her face flush. [color=cyan]"No, no... it's not that I don't think you couldn't be a good father or any such rubbish, it's just... well, the way you carry yourself just seems like you've always been living for yourself and trying to make things work. Even on Omega, you never spared a second glance at the children there. It just never occured to me that you ever found enough peace to settle down, and I realized right as I blurted out that you no lo... I can't even say it."[/color] Tanya said quietly, her skin turning red.

[color=rosybrown] "Lowlife? Loser? There's many Lo words there Tanya that could fit there and many I've heard before."[/color] Vellios stated, offering what he thought were more mild words in the place of her original one. [color=rosybrown] ""Life isn't fair and those kids know it better than anyone. While it does hurt, I'm able to brush it off better than most because I've been where those kids are. However, I'm also bias and cold hearted. That I won't deny."[/color] 

His expression softened and continued. [color=rosybrown] "When it comes to my own, allies and family, I will do whatever is in my power to save them because they matter more to me then those kids. That's why I consider myself cold hearted." [/color] 

[color=cyan]"I thought I largely had you figured out as a loner who suffered a traumatic experience that you never quite got over and been looking out for just you and Serena this whole time, I should have never just been satisfied with my assumptions. You deserve better than that, from someone who may or may not be a friend to you. It just makes me realize how little I know about everyone, and... I need to do better."[/color] 

[color=rosybrown] "Perfectionist doesn't suit you, sweetheart, so stop being so hard on yourself. You're alive and imperfect, so mistakes are expected."[/color] Vellios remarked then nudged the machinist's cheek with his fisted talon, smiling at her. [color=rosybrown] "As I've told Dex, my past is pretty much open. You merely need to ask and I will tell you as much as I can. I had a really great and sexy asari therapist that helped me with that. Speaking of her, she might be at the memorial service. She did work with many Turian military vets, civilians, and others over their traumatic experiences."[/color]

[color=cyan]"What the hell's a turian military therapist doing on Terra Nova?"[/color] Tanya asked, leaning back into the tree behind her. [color=cyan]"And yeah, I'm not perfect, never tried to be. I mainly aim for and miss 'don't be an insensitive asshole'."[/color] she shrugged. She didn't really believe he was 100% comfortable talking about everything in his past; some things just weren't supposed to be talked about, and she certainly wasn't going to pry. 

[color=rosybrown] "Cause some of her former patients will be there and like some humans, a few of us are too proud to come out and say we need someone to relate to our pain.It's better to be there and not needed, then be missing and wanted in a time of high emotion."[/color] Vellios pointed out, showing surprising logic in his reasoning. He blinked and frowned, actually aware of the words coming out his mouth before shrugging off the 'rare' nugget of wisdom as likely never to happen again. [color=rosybrown] "A lot of them likely still suffer through nightmares and don't have a cooping method. As for insensitive asshole,I've known worse if that makes you feel better?"[/color]    

Tanya rolled her jaw, unconvinced. [color=cyan]"Y'know, you and I might be fine with each other's species and all that despite the war, but some of those veterans might take turians being there as a slight. Old scars not healing or whatever. I get where those vets are coming from... it's like me and the batarians."[/color] she replied, letting out a long sigh. It felt like such a shitty thing to admit out loud. [color=cyan]"And honestly; not really. It's pretty much the worst feeling when you come across someone or something that makes you look like a saint in comparison. Galaxy's a big, nasty place that has trillions of people, and a good chunk of them could be classified as 'classically evil.'"[/color]

[color=rosybrown] "I'm pretty sure I fall into 'classically evil'."[/color] Vellios said without missing a beat. [color=rosybrown] "Though I wouldn't say humans were the only that held a grudge though. As for how you feel, I can relate. Been there myself a long time ago so I have little right to judge you like I could any human, turian or other alien that nearly killed my ass."[/color] 

Tanya snorted, amused. [color=cyan]"Oh, come off it. You're a big softy. Rough around the edges, you can be pretty ruthless, but you have empathy and you seem to genuinely care about people. You're basically like a brother to Serena and Dex doesn't seem to think you tie up ladies and put them on railroad tracks in your spare time. Hell, I think you're alright."[/color] she said, crossing her arms and regarding the turian fondly. [color=cyan]"I barely get on our Jalopy, wondering what kind of wankers I've signed on with after finding out our captain died like a total idiot, and right away, you went out of your way to try and be kind and friendly. Not exactly inspiring fear and loathing, Vellios."[/color]

Vellios shrugged, brushing off the comment as it was normal for him. His back leaned more against the tree and smirked at her adding in a cheeky reply. [color=rosybrown] "Well, I only tie ladies up when they ask me to. As for being friendly, someone had to. Can you imagine what Drono might've said to break the ice?"[/color] 

The turian chuckled as he joked, knowing the Drell would've likely tried to come up with a lame comeback and ended up tripping over himself in the process. It was a part of what Vellios actually enjoyed about his fellow crazy and brighten up a gloomy day. 

Tanya groaned. [color=cyan]"Okay, I walked into that one. Remind me not to let you spend our budget on ropes and gags and shit."[/color] She grinned at the mention of Drono. [color=cyan]"Drono's the kind of guy who would probably ask a girl if she wanted to see a dead body without thinking it's weird or inappropriate; he just sees fucked up things and wants to share it with the world the same way someone would be drinking all night, puke up a rainbow, and drag their buddy to see the evidence."[/color]

Vellios smiled at that. [color=rosybrown] "Though you got to admit, he's the first alien you want on your side in a fight. He's about as crazy as I am and that's before I totally lose my shit. Though I think I came out better during that fight back at the smuggler's mine. Too bad,"[/color] He hissed when he moved causing his cast to press at his torso and immediately made him shift to the side in order to ease it. His eyes checked down to ensure he hadn't caused more damage or Kasy would likely deny him a taste of her cooking for the second time and he wasn't about to let that happen again. When he was satisfied he hadn't caused any more damage, he leaned back to resume the conversation. [color=rosybrown]" I can't say he was stupid enough to get hurt worse the second time."[/color] 

[color=cyan]"You really should have stayed on the ship, or partner up with Iosif... not that I don't think you're capable of fighting through the pain, but you got pretty mangled."[/color] Tanya said, her expression growing terse with worry. [color=cyan]"I don't think Tonka would be happy having to come all the way up here to drag you up because you blew out your spine or some shit. Honestly, you have nothing to prove. Everyone would understand if you needed time to recouperate before we can get you patched up properly."[/color]

[color=rosybrown] "After merely walking around looking scary, it gives him some useful to do. After all, what good is that muscle if he's taking the easy job?"[/color] Vellios joked then added. [color=rosybrown] "Serious though, I've been worse. Had to climb into a ship's upper levels with a broken arm just to get away from a pack of hungry varren before and compared to that experience, this is easy. A lot easier. Though if we meet any varren in this jungle, then I'll make your prejudice with Batarian look mild. Trust me."[/color] 

She chuckled, running a hand through her hair, only to find it coming back damp from sweat. Fuck the jungle. [color=cyan]"Don't let him hear you say that; he'll poke you where it hurts. He's cuthroat like that."[/color] she teased. She shook her head. [color=cyan]"You know, I've seen a couple videos with guys like you who are literally falling apart or are broken in like six different places, and it's played up for comedy since they're acting like their eye totally isn't dangling from their sockets or razorfish aren't chewing on their thighs or whatever. It's all, 'oh yeah, I've never felt better, why'd ya ask?'. Point is, I don't care that this is easy in comparison to getting chewed on by alien salamander dogs, what I care about is we all get home in one piece. Although..."[/color] she trailed off, an impish grin crossing her face. 

Vellios was curious now. His head tilted and studied the sly look Tanya gave, trying to determine the reason until he was left asking. [color=rosybrown] "What is that impish mind of yours thinking? In the name of the spirits, do I even want to ask or know?"[/color] 

[color=cyan]"Well, for one, I've always wanted to paint a full body cast. And two, the ship would be much quieter at the dead of night without hearing the creaking of a medical bed and the trill of an irritated anti-PDA drone."[/color] She brought her hands up, making a box with her fingers over Vellios' seated frame. [color=cyan]"I'm thinking fish, or a farm pasture with sheep-varren and little krogan farmers. Maybe I'll make it look like a thresher maw tried to swallow your leg whole..."[/color]

The Turian lost it as his voice box made a sound between a snort and a caw, both sounds muffled by his amusement. His hand had raised to his mandibles in order to help stifle the sound while he shook his head. The other arm was holding his side which shook from his sudden jerk and immediately forced him to tilt away from the tree, no longer enabling it to support his back. He feel to the side laughing rather hard from her statement. [color=rosybrown] "If I didn't know better, I would've almost considered that as your way of flirting. Though the thresher maw was a nice touch."[/color] 

Letting his laughter die down, his breath was heavy and slightly wheezing from the breath lost. He managed to rise to all fours but getting upright on his feet was another story. A hiss of irritation was out when he turned to Tanya with a light smirk then made a request. [color=rosybrown] "Little help darling? It was your joke that made me fall and now unable to get up..."[/color]   


[color=cyan]"Oh, I don't offer to vandalize just [I]anyone.[/I] Just the people I know can't move away when inspiration hits, or know better. Besides, I have a book of pranks I've been waiting to try on those who evoke my displeasure."[/color] she smiled devilishly, setting her wrists down on her raised knees. She regarded the prone Vellios with well-practiced skepticism. [color=cyan]"Oh, so now you're too crippled to move. You really just want to be looking at wool-covered varren for the next few weeks, don't you? I sense a trap if I go over there."[/color]

[color=rosybrown] "I'm not the prankster, remember? I just get hurt enough thanks to my own stupid and brush it off."[/color] Vellios said then managed to roll over back to his seat. He breathed deeply then gestured for his pack. [color=rosybrown] "Since you're not into helping a wounded turian, can you at least pass me my pack? My meds should be in there somewhere though I don't know if Selena refilled the pack I grabbed or not. If not, I'm going to be miserable for the night sitting in that tree."[/color]  

The pack was just out of her reach, so Tanya slid down the tree to hook the strap with her boot, pulling it towards her carefully. She stood up and carried the pack to the aching turian and set it down beside him, taking a seat next to the pack. [color=cyan]"If I open this, I'm not going to find a bunch of lewd pictures of the girls on the crew from social media, am I?"[/color] she asked, deadpan. 

[color=rosybrown] "I prefer the real thing so unless they are flesh and blood, there's no pictures. Besides, I tend to keep them closer than my pack."[/color] Vellios winked and hinted toward his omnitool. [color=rosybrown] "The best Serena repellant I've found to date."[/color] 

He held his talons for the pack, offering to take it from Tanya.  

Tanya visibly picked herself up by her hands and feet and shifted over half a foot away from Vellios in reply. She undid the straps on the bag and handed it over to him, raising an eyebrow. [color=cyan]"Uh huh. I'm pretty sure all you guys have to do is moan and talk all seductively whenever she's around and she'd find a way to get outside the ship just to get away from the icky grown-up fluid swap meet. So, your meds. Do you need a hand, or is this a journey you take on your own?" she asked. 

[color=rosybrown] "Nay, I've been doing this off and on for years so I got my own tricks on doing this."[/color] Vellios stated, his hand dugging into the pack and shuffling things about. After several moments, he pulled a small container from it then set it aside so he could secure his pack in place. Nothing was more bothersome than having the contents spilling out and being forced to pick it up item by item, then hope he had everything after it was all said and done. The turian then turned to the container and popped it open, expecting to see the syringes but instead viewed an empty box. He frowned. 

[color=rosybrown] "I think Serena forgot to replenish my reserves."[/color] He leaned against the truck and quietly cursed his luck. He turned toward Tanya then decided to risk asking. [color=rosybrown] "Don't suppose you would be willing to go back to the ship, would you?[/color]  

[color=cyan]"I think these boys can look after themselves for an hour or two."[/color] She said, standing up and offering a hand to help Vellios. She couldn't shake the feeling that Serena deliberately forgot the medication to force his hand. [color=cyan]"Besides, I don't mind getting to stretch my legs. I've been cooped up for too long."[/color]

Vellios smiled then took her hand, rising back to his feet. His torso flinched with pain as he did causing him to inhale sharply then release in relief. He felt his bones crack and pop on the way up causing him to flinch a bit while he tossed his container back into the pack roughly. Tossing the strap over his shoulder, mindful the bulk didn't smack him in the cast, he looked at Tanya and then trotted back to the ship, backtracking along the way they had came.