[center][h2]The Giftening Part 2[/h2]
[@Rtron]-[@Fallenreaper][/center]

Serena barged into Vellios’ room, grunting as she dragged the large crate behind her. [color=hotpink]”Hey Vellios! I finally got around to giving you that gift I was talking about. Care to help? Everything is still sore and I have this pounding headache because I let those two idiots convince me to drink something. How are you?”[/color]

Vellios grunted, his arm hung from his hammock above, and twisted over to the edge. His icy blue eyes peered down at her as his chin rested on the end, cradled by the cloth while he watched her for a moment. With a quiet groan, he moved his legs then casually slide off the hammock then dropped to the floor with a heavy thump. Shaking off the grogginess he moved toward where Serena stood, hauling her collected trinkets from her girls’ night out and reached to help her. 

[color=rosybrown] “I’m doing well. Took a walk, got into a sparring match, and cleared the air with Tanya thought I’m pretty sure she trusts me as far as she can throw me in earth gravity.”[/color] He said then stopped, noting the smug look Serena gave him,[color=rosybrown] “Don’t give me that smug look. I didn’t want you harassing me into doing it later and that’s why I did it.”[/color] 

[color=hotpink]”Doesn’t mean it didn’t wooooooork.”[/color] Serena replied in a sing song voice, grinning at him. With his help she set the large crate up in the center of his room, stepping in front of it and gesturing with a dramatic flourish. [color=hotpink]”Would you care to guess what it is, or shall I just cut straight to the chase?”[/color] She asked, looking up at him expectantly. 

The turian rolled his head then removed his hands, stepping back to examine the ‘gift’ she got. His mandible twitched in irritation and spoke,[color=rosybrown] “You realize I did tell you not to get me anything, right? Not to mention, I don’t even know what your innocent mind could actually get…”[/color] 

Serena nodded. [color=hotpink]”Mhmm! I ignored it![/color]

His figure stepped back as his arms crossed over his bare chest. The head tilted and examined the crate, having very little idea what could be in it,[color=rosybrown] “I noticed. Might as well know what I might be returning later so open her up.”[/color] 

Serena looked briefly hurt before prying open the crate. Standing in the crate was a new suit of turian armor. Black, even the visor, and imposing it seemed to radiate menace. [color=hotpink]”I noticed your old suit was falling apart, so I bought a relatively unused one and fixed it up to your specifications! It doesn’t press against your neck like other armors, it can be connected directly to the various comms of the team, integrated sentinel shielding in addition to normal shields, 10 different compartments for your knives, the knuckles end in spikes-”[/color]

[color=rosybrown] “Breathe, . Or you’re going to become more blue than Haze is.”[/color] Vellios interrupted as he pressed his talon over her lips, his eyes concerned and then tapped his omnitool[color=rosybrown] “List it on my omnitool and if I’m wondering anything, I’ll ask.”[/color]  

Serena deflated slightly. [color=hotpink]”That’s no fun.[/color] She mumbled past his talon. But she did it, quickly sending over the specifications. [color=hotpink]”One thing you need to know right now is that it has my voice recorded into it. If you have an incident and I don’t have a comms or I’m too busy fighting to talk you down, I can activate it from my omni-tool, it’ll auto activate after thirty minutes, or one of the crew can activate it with a voice command.[/color]

Vellios blinked in surprise then softened his expression and scratched his neck, peeling the dead skin off a bit,[color=rosybrown] “That’s… that’s actually pretty handy. Actually keep me from going insane and attacking the crew.”[/color] 

His eyes whipped through the list as he eyed the features listed, noting their design fitted with Serena’s personal style. After a quick look over, he touched it cautiously over the the surface before he twisted about and patted her on the head,[color=rosybrown] “Also, I was teasing about sending it back so don’t get so sour. Through you realise, I’m wondering where you got the chits for the armor… mainly because we can’t fully afford it.”[/color]

The turian sized her for lies when he came to a stop in front of her.   

Serena froze, her smile slowly dropping off as Vellios sized her up. It was no use lying, or even trying to. [color=hotpink]”Er. Well. You see. [i]We[/i] can’t fully afford it. But with my latest payout from the last mission, small as it was, [i]I[/i] could afford it. With some favors for them. You know, fix up some other ones they had. Super simple stuff. I kinda have absolutely no money left. But! I’m not in debt either! Progress...right?”[/color] She smiled her most winning smile at him.

Vellios’ protective nature came into the surface and hard. His eyes flashed in a predatory fashion and narrowed on her, unfazed by her winning smile. A twitch of his mandible hissed with the subtle tones of his irritation as his talon came up and kneaded his closed eyes a moment. His mind flurried over the mention of having done a few favors. Favors, innocent as the word sounded, often led to trouble because some individuals weren’t willing to be content with a few. 

[color=rosybrown] “Who did you do the favors for?”[/color] His tone said in a bizarrely calm manner. 

Serena seemed to shrink in on herself. [color=hotpink]”Bob. Just down the street. Owner of Bob and Tom’s Armorers. Little old man, about seventy. Just had me fix up three armors he couldn’t fix himself and would be too expensive to pay for. Then he said we were all settled and sent me on my way, shipping the armor to the Borealis.”[/color] She twiddled her thumbs for a moment in nervousness before something clicked. She straightened, glaring at the turian.

[color=hotpink]”Vellios you leave him alone! He said our transaction was done, I have the reciept for it,  everything is fine! Don’t you dare go down there and try to bully that sweet old man.”[/color]

Vellios growled defensively when she glared at him, then turned his head and let out a huff to the side,[color=rosybrown] “Then you shouldn’t have done this. Serena what would’ve happened if he wasn’t a nice, old man? Would you have still done it and risk yourself over his greed for me? Do you recall what happened last time? If it wasn’t for the fact we were starving and I got stupid, I wouldn’t have gotten into trouble with that bitch of a Asari and I had hoped you would’ve learned from that!”[/color] 

[color=hotpink]”I did Vellios! I checked, rechecked, and then checked his background again! He’s as squeaky clean as anyone can be! Alliance veteran, served proudly and fought against the batarians. Set up his armor shop with his brother a couple years ago. He’s not greedy he just wanted to help. It’s over Vellios. Leave it and him be. Promise me Vellios. Promise me you’ll leave him alone.”[/color] Serena shifted to block the doorway, still glaring up at the turian.

[color=rosybrown] “You should’ve had me come with you. Just because someone looks good on extranet checks doesn’t mean they are good people and you put yourself at risk either way,”[/color] Vellios shot back, his figure towered over the human but not in a menacing fashion. His chest exhaled in frustration before he plopped on the bed and begrudging agreed,[color=rosybrown] “Fine…”[/color] 

Serena looked him over carefully, relaxing. [color=hotpink]”You promise? Say you promise.”[/color]

[color=rosybrown] “I already said I would but if promising makes you feel better,”[/color] Vellios commented then stood upright as he hooked her pink into his last talon, careful not to hurt her and continued,[color=rosybrown] “I promise.”[/color] 

His hand shook it then released as his eyes returned to the suit, examining it a moment,[color=rosybrown] “Just next time, will you take me? I like to judge for myself so I'm not hauling your ass out of the frying pan later since your track record isn't the best with new people.”[/color]

Serena grinned in relief and hugged him. [color=hotpink]”Thank you.”[/color]  She raised a quizzical eyebrow at him as she released him and moved to leave. [color=hotpink]”What, and spoil the surprise? No. I’ll bring Tanya or someone along. Anyways, I gotta get going. Gifts to deliver, replies to variations of ‘I didn’t want anything’ to give. Don’t break your new armor too soon!”[/color] She left the room with a cheerful wave and a flash of pink hair.

Vellios shook his head while Serena walked out, his middle was still warm from her hug, and instead took the time to admire the armor. He leaned down to test the joints and working parts, even the knives which he realized need sharpening. The turian muttered, a mixture of amused and relieved, to himself,[color=rosybrown] “Only the spirits know why I love that human like a sister because I sure don’t.”[/color]