[center][h2]Drono and Vellios 
in 
"Punch a Drell, Save a Tree"[/h2][/center]



Drono spotted Vellios make a beeline for the exit while he himself was headed for the medical bay. His new concoction of fully legal and carefully measured drugs had the discerning effect of not affecting him at all. He wasn't entirely sure it was suppose to work that well, in Drono's world nothing worked that well.

One thing Drono did know, was a sour face. His third or second, depending on his mood, turian looked not all like he usually did. When a natural born sociopath like Vellios lost his casual swagger and confident stride, something was up. Drono, ever the concerned citizen, gave chase. Keeping his distance, he followed the pale looking turian, saying nothing for now, he would find the moment to interject. For now he was just keeping an eye on his crewmate.

Vellios needed to move. Where to, he wasn't quite sure yet and merely kept his relentless clip in his step in order to increase the growing distance. His breathing was shallow and stuck in his throat, a subtle reminder he would run himself ragged at some point. Gradually his pace slowed until he came to a nearby tree far enough from the ship he assumed nobody would hear him breaking his knuckles. 

Drono saw him slow down and his own steps followed suit. He stood, waiting for the inevitable. He would punch that tree. No man, drell or turian ever stared at nature that way without punching it. 

"So. You gonna punch it or what?" He asked out loud, keeping voice glib and light as he sat down on a stone to watch.

Most individuals jumped at being startled. Vellios threw a blade and as predicted, his talons swung lower at his hip and gripped...air. Blinking for a moment, realization of where he was came into focus gradually. With well practiced ease and some forcefulness in his muscles, Vellios pulled himself back into a stiffen, relaxed stance once more. 

[color=rosybrown] "I didn't see you there, Drono. How long have you been standing there?"[/color] 

Dronos eyes crinkled with mischief. He knew Vellios had forgotten his knives, you didn't follow an armed person so casually otherwise. "Looking for one of these?" He said, waggling his own knife at Vellios. "As for your question. Since you got here. Saw you leave the ship looking like a storm with dementia. What got you all up in a tussle?"

[color=rosybrown] "Issues I'm hoping to resolve and honestly, I'm hoping they are nothing,"[/color]  Vellios glossed over smoothly, his hands braced against his narrow hips and continued to watch Drono. 

"Uh huh. And that is why you were about to go all knuckles with a deathwish on that tree." Drono deadpanned, leaning onto his his hands, elbows on his knees. "Things don't just go away. Let me be a reminder of that if you ever question it. Now punch that goddamn tree, I didn't come out here just so you could stiff me on a good Man vs Nature punchout."

[color=rosybrown] "I know that far too well,"[/color] Vellios commented, his heart continued to pound despite his calm visage across his face. Ever fiber wanted to unleash some hidden fury and energy building within him. No longer focused on talking, he twisted on heel as his talons fisted tightly. His arm swung into a wispy tree with all his force. Knuckles made a hard thunk and the trunk rattled, stilling when the vibration died. Another thunk echoed when his other fist came in for another swipe. 

A bit of blue dropped scattered across the ground. A large split edged across the flesh and talon, his blood leaked across the carapace. He didn't stop. His torso jerked back. Again... again... each strike found its mark, leaving more blood in its wake. 

Drono flinched inwardly as each punch hit the tree with a resounding 'thunk sound'. "Man. You hit like a cripple. I should know!" Drono said as he got up on the stone. Rolling his shoulders as he eyed Vellios. Standing on the stone had the effect that it let him stare the Turian straight in the eyes.

[color=rosybrown] "Considering I have a rib cast on, that statement isn't far from true."[/color] Vellios retorted, ignoring the sting in his torso. 

"[color=a2d39c]Yeah. True.[/color]"  Drono said with a chuckle. "[color=a2d39c]Still, you punch like a Turian so one can hardly tell the difference.[/color]" He shot said turian the biggest, most aggravating shit eating grin in his arsenal. 

[color=rosybrown] "And you have weak insults, a blind Krogan could get under the carapace better than you at the rate you're going,"[/color] Another thunk, harder this time, and an indentation began to form.  

Drono raised a single eyebrow at that. He noticed how the punch was harder this time, quite a bit harder. "Y[color=a2d39c]ou are right. I just don't wanna break you too bad, I can't leave Dex with emotional cripple AND a physical one.[/color]" He raised both eyebrows at that.

[color=rosybrown] "I think that's more her choice, there drell,"[/color] Vellios reminded him, his fists kept going harder and harder, reality mixing with memories. His breath became faint but determined while he pushed on, his eyes fixed on the tree truck and the mark he was making. Bones seemed to tingle in protest and then gradually became numb, something he didn't care for right this moment.  

"[color=a2d39c]I think the tree had enough Vellios, I ain't gonna stand here and watch you break your hands. One, while fun to watch you spiral into violent lala-land, it's completely stupid. Two, Dex would kill me or worse, refuse me private time. Should I just stand here watching you put yourself in an even worse state. 3; Trees don't hit back, where is the challenge in that you pussy[/color]."

[color=rosybrown] "Stay out of it, Drono. I'm warning you,"[/color] Vellios growled. 

"[color=a2d39c]What. You gonna hit a cripple?[/color]" Dronos voice dropped into a half taunt, half challenge. Something inside him snapped in place. His posture shifted ever so slightly. "[color=a2d39c]Fucking dare ya.[/color]"

[color=rosybrown] "Drono, as much as I like you, you're a pain in the carapace right now."[/color] Vellios snapped then toss his right at the tree, the hook flying pass and instead of stopping... it came right at Drono's chest side. 

Drono was prepared for the punch. Not quite the feint however. He managed to pace back half a step, bringing his arms up in a guard. He was smaller, and the turian was a brawler with skills that Drell didn't have. So he stumbled. When he looked back at Vellios there was a snarling grin.

"[color=c4df9b]Yeah. Yeah. I thought so. Punching like a goddamn granny.[/color]" He said, he shook his arms out. "[color=a2d39c]Lets see what they teach you kiddies these days.[/color]" Drono had courage in spades. Self persevation? Not so much.

[color=rosybrown] "Back off Drono, or I will pop that jaw of yours."[/color] Vellios glared as he felt the satisfaction of the drell retreat,[color=rosybrown] "I'm having issues as it is and you're not helping."[/color]

"[color=a2d39c]And I might be paralyzed for life in a few, so I could give less of a fuck.[/color]" Drono said as he moved toward the Turians right. "N[color=a2d39c]ow quit bitching about what ifs, and back your words up scaley.[/color]"

[i][color=rosybrown] 'And I could be shot down like a rabid varren at any moment,"[/color][/i] Vellios mentally commented, the thoughts never reached the air. About the only one that actually knew this tidbit, aside from Dr. T'Vync and other medical professionals, was the one individual that wouldn't accept it (Serena).[color=rosybrown] "Damn it, Drono. Think with your instincts, not your head. We both know it's full of bullshit ideas!"[/color] 

Vellios figure moved forward, cutting the distance, with his fist crossing over his chest and aimed at Drono's shoulder. 

This time Drono was ready, he rolled under the punch, using his smaller stature to his advantage as he took a cheap jab at Vellios ribs. Before dancing away. "[color=a2d39c]My bullshit ideas tend to work.[/color]" Drono said. He was surprised at the speed with which Vellios punched and moved. He was not gonna last to long in this fight. Cripple or not, he would still be outmatched.

Vellios took the hit, letting the sting wash over him, but he didn't go down. Thankfully it was at the side not damaged as he grunted it off, his face turned toward Drono's cheap jabs followed by his insults. Vellios' left arm raised then popped back on reflex just when Drono started to dance away in an attempt to clip the annoying Drell and catch him off gaurd. 

The sudden punch blindsides Drono who was moving in that direction already, taking it squarely on the shoulder he winced inwardly. The Turian could throw a punch all right. Maybe he should't have agitated him so much.

The hit vibrated through Vellios' arm and into his ribs, still stinging, as he gritted his needle like teeth in his jaw. At the moment, he didn't give a shit. All he wanted to do was hit something and release the emotional stress. Vellios' left foot stepped back then to the side, his body twisted on the toes of his right to face Drono's direction. 

[color=rosybrown] "What's the point of provoking me? If I break my knuckles, I'll just patch them up like I've done hundreds of time before. You really don't think I've not learn any tricks through hell?"[/color] Vellios growled while he moved toward Drono, cutting the distance between them gradually,[color=rosybrown] "Now what do you want Drono? Tell me now before I decide to actually take this fight seriously and fuck us both up."[/color]   

[]"You are not the only one looking to blow steam off. This is your problem Vellios, you act like you are the only psycho here. Newsflash, there are two of us. And who even broods like that anymore." Drono spat back, not backing off. "You got issues. I got issues. Dex got issues." He lifted his hands in a guard position, readying himself "Grow the fuck up you selfcentered bug." 

[color=rosybrown] "I at least got the courtesy to keep it to myself,"[/color] Vellios retorted, his hands on his hips as he came to a stop just into the Drell's personal zone,[color=rosybrown] "Is that all you have to say? Um? I found a way to blow off steam that didn't hurt anyone but me, and here you are trying to take its flipping place. Are you kidding me or this some twisted need for attention?"[/color] 

"[color=a2d39c]We are crewmembers now. If you think holding your shit in and dissappearing without a word helps us, you are as stupid as you are crazy. Besides, I told you. You aren't the only crazy person onboard.[/color]" Drono said, a grin threatening to break out on his face. "[color=a2d39c]I don't know about the others, but If someone keeps randomly dissappearing without a word, I get antsy. You see, I have trust issues. Real bad ones. The bullet in my back bad ones.[/color]" Drono exhaled. "[color=a2d39c]And that is w- SUCKER PUNCH[/color]" He suddenly launched forward, clocking Vellios on the jaw with rather well placed right.
 
As Drono's fist connected, Vellios' head tilted to allow the blow to impact on the side and lessen the effectiveness. His arm snapped up in almost alien speed, the talon gripped the forearm in a vice grasp.[color=rosybrown] "That hurts. And Drono, you don't have a bullet waiting for you one day. I do."[/color] 

Without giving the drell a chance to react or digest the words, Vellios' jerked the punching arm down as his knee tried to plant into the middrift of Drono's now exposed belly.The force wasn't held back, intending to send Drono on his back.His grip let go when the knee made contact.  

 Drono saw it coming, exhaled, or rather shouted out and twisted. It hurt like a son of a bitch none the less and the shorter Drell felt his feet lift of the ground from the impact. But, not being robbed of his oxygen, he landed, moved and pushed to the right in a tackle, freeing himself. Dancing away with a wince, he gasped. "[color=a2d39c]Again with the drama. Again with the me, me, me bullshit. You are waiting for a bullet? Motherfucker, I already got mine.[/color]" He put all his power into the tackle, ready to beat some sense into the brooding Turian.
 
 Vellios gritted his teeth and his mandible twitched in annoyance. He felt the impact of his knee into guts numerous times in the past. Each time, he knew when it hit or didn’t. It didn’t take long for him to realise Drono had twisted the moment his knee shot upward, the end buried into the hard muscle and no gasp had escaped the drell’s lips. The force taken and then shook it off. 

Not falling backwards, Drono pushed against his right side. Vellios knew he had to put Drono down and fast before the drell actually pissed him off to the point his patience would be completely gone. When Drono’s shoulder and neck area smacked his side, Vellios’ side jerked to the left and lessen the impact resistance. However, he didn’t completely avoid the tackle. His right arm wrapped about the drell’s head while his hip twisted about, his left knee plowed into the drell’s unprotected side right. Any attempt to wrench away would’ve been meant by a tight, almost suffocating squeeze on the windpipe and the fact Vellios’ other hand took a handful of the drell’s shirt back. 

They both would likely hit the ground.    

Drono winced as the knee impacted his side. He groaned as there was no avoiding it. A normal person would have given up, a normal person would have realized how badly outmatched he was. Drono however, sucked it up untill he felt a arm around his throat and neck. Whether Vellios had intended to or not, he had just put Drono in a ddt, smashing the Drells face into the dirt. Another groan escaped him and he lifted a shaking hand. "[color=a2d39c]I.. Give..[/color]"

Vellios didn't let go. His eyes narrowed and carefully debated on the words being geniune or a lie. Drono, while not a bad individual, had a knack for being an oppotunist. This was a bad combination with insanity, a fact Vellios knew far too well from experience. Cautiously, Vellios spoke in a warning,[color=rosybrown] "If you start up again, I'm going to choke you until you pass out. I don't often take a fight serious and [i]that[/i] is why. I don't want to kill you Drono, but I will put you down."[/color] 

There was no light hearted or playful tone in his words. Just a cold, dead serious warning that seemed to hint of the turian's patience finally being run dry.

"[color=a2d39c]No Tricks. No choking. Got it. Killing bad. Yes yes. You are so very scary. Now, please let me chew some air, dirt is not easy on the palette."[/color] Drono groaned, his words muffled by the ground.

Vellios talons released Drono's shirt to check for any hidden blades before he released the drell and flipped him onto his back. Vellios' ribs hurt like hell while he inhaled deeply, slightly out of breath. 

[color=rosybrown] " Good, I haven't taken anything that serious since my spectre tryouts,"[/color] Vellios commented and shook the memory from his head. 

"[color=a2d39c]Yeah. Well. You sure rattled my skull.[/color]" Drono wasn't gonna try anything, he had tested the Turian to his limits, as was his intentions more or less. Perhaps, Vellios would learn from this and understand what Drono had done for him. Or perhaps not. Turians always did seem a bit thick headed. Drono sure had confirmed the Turian had a real meanstreak, but enough control that Drono wasn't too worried. This Turian would not shoot him in his back.

"[color=a2d39c]Sweet moves.[/color]" Drono groaned as he started to push himself of the ground. "[color=a2d39c]I was outmatched. I don't think I'd be able to take you even when not crippled[/color]." 

[color=rosybrown] "Only cause I took the fight seriously. Usually, even back on our first mission and the one afterward, I never take them seriously or they would've gotten done. When I set my mind to something, and actually have the drive to get it done, I'm rather dangerous At least that's what Yinso told me,"[/color] Vellios smirked then recalled the spectre's last words toward him,[color=rosybrown] "If I didn't, you might've won and I would be laughing my ass off at it."[/color] 

Drono chuckled "Man, if before was you being lighthearted and not serious? We really gotta get you out more often." Drono got to one knee, wobbled a bit then got up to standing. "I am going to get a earful from Dex. I can just tell.."

[color=rosybrown] "I'm not going to volunteer information, are you?"[/color] Vellios pipped up, his head turned toward the drell. 

"[color=a2d39c]And sign my own death warrant. If asked, I started it. Since you know, I did.[/color]" He grinned foolishly. "[color=a2d39c]And hey, no broken knuckles.[/color]"

[color=rosybrown] "Just bruises everywhere and likely my ribs got no benefit from it,"[/color] Vellios hiss as he cradled his side, then sat upright. His arm reached out and requested aid up,[color=rosybrown] "I think I preferred the tree honestly."[/color] 

"[color=a2d39c]Yes. But that is because you have a irrational hatred for nature, I am sure.[/color]" Drono said as he helped pull Vellios up to his feet. "[color=a2d39c]Sorry about the ribs. Thanks for not cracking my spine. It has enough problems as is."
[/color]
[color=rosybrown] "It was tempting, but considering I might end up killing you doing that... I thought better of it. Your corpse would've hard to hide,"[/color] Vellios joked as he came to stand, then sighed,[color=rosybrown] "Now I have to patch myself up... again. I don't look forward to this and really don't want to come out here to punch another tree."[/color] 

"[color=a2d39c]Could punch Tonka. The result would be the same in regards to your knuckles, plus the benefit of me getting to watch you get ragdolled around by a Irate Krogan.[/color]" Drono laughed slightly. For a person who gotten his ass handed to him, he was incredibly upbeat. Truth was that all the pain got his mind of the real pain. [color=a2d39c]"And are you kidding me. To a Turian, I am like... pocket sized. My body would be easy to hide![/color]"

[color=rosybrown] "Tonka might try to gloat me into breaking my hands before getting pissed. Why do you think I get alone with Krogan's so well?"[/color] The turian pointed out. 

"[color=a2d39c]Becouse you make the same kind of faces when confused?[/color]" Drono quipped. "[color=a2d39c]No but seriously. Who doesn't get along with Krogans. Aside from you know, everyone. I think It is time we head back. If anyone asked, you saved me from a angry sentient tree.[/color]" 

[color=rosybrown] "Will do,"[/color] Vellios nodded then wrapped his arm around the drell's neck, his weight leaned against Drono on their way back toward the ship.