[center][h2]The Giftening Part 3[/h2]
[@Rtron]-[@Hellis][/center]

Serena rounded the corner, looking up from making sure that the two boxes she had were for Drono. [color=hotpink]”Hey Drono ho-fuck! What happened to you?![/color] She hurried over to the drell, eyes wide with concern. [color=hotpink]”You look like you got mugged! What the hell happened?[/color] She put her boxes to the side as she looked him over, seeing if she had to drag him to a hospital before he bled out on her or not.

Drono, startled at Serena’s sudden appearance and the sudden need for a good excuse to not put Vellios in the doghouse for all of eternity, grinned. [color=a2d39c]“Oh you know. Nature.”[/color] He said, completely aloof. [color=a2d39c]“Just a few branches, took a tumble.”[/color] He continued, trailing off as he saw the packages. 

[color=a2d39c]“Did I order something?”[/color] He asked, a bit nonplussed. 

Serena narrowed her eyes at him. [color=hotpink]”Weird. Branches don’t usually leave marks like that.[/color] Not wanting to pursue the topic, yet, she hefted the packages. [color=hotpink]”Nope! I got you a couple gifts.”[/color] She handed him both of the packages before she could think about it and get embarrassed and anxious. 

The expected wave of embarrassment and anxiousness washed over her as he took them. She shifted back a couple steps. [color=hotpink]”So..yeah. Open them just in case I got you shit gifts and need to return them and buy better ones.[/color] She mumbled, a light blush crossing her cheeks.

He blinked up at her. A wave of different, greatly conflicting feelings rushed him. [color=a2d39c]“For me?”[/color] He said, with a confused, startled emphasis on the word 'me'. His hands actually shook as he took them. He somehow made the tremors stop, he wasn’t sure if it was because he felt overwhelmed, or the pain from Vellios beating, or his spine. But this was without a doubt something that actually meant a great deal to him. He never got presents, his relationships with other people rarely being that friendly anymore. Even before getting double crossed, he had been stealing most of his possessions. And the last person to give him a gift had been Yestin.

He banished that thought as quickly as it appeared. These were not the same kind of people.

Serena looked up in confusion.[color=hotpink]”Of course for you. Why wouldn’t it be for you?”[/color]

Instead, he closed his eyes and let it reminded him of back home. Back when he had been just another bored Drell kid. He shot her a massive smile then opened the first. [color=a2d39c]“Oh. Haha.”[/color] He said, but the mirth was unmistaken. [color=a2d39c]“Would you believe I managed to turn the last of these books I had, into napalm?”[/color] He said as he held up the book. [color=a2d39c]“Hmm. New issue?”[/color] He said, looking seriously pleased with the turn of events. Looking at the other present, his grin grew conspicuous.

Serena grinned ruefully back at the drell, pleased he was enjoying his gift. [color=hotpink]”I could easily believe that. Try not to turn this one into napalm too quickly. I think it’s a new issue. The guy assured me it was top of the line.”[/color]

[color=a2d39c]“I think the the others might space you for giving me things that go Boom.”[/color] He said without even having to open it. [color=a2d39c]“Our secret?” [/color]

Serena held out her pinky finger, smiling conspiratorially. [color=hotpink]” Our secret. Pinky promise.”[/color] 

[color=a2d39c]“Ah. Now it is a double secret. Vellios would never let me live it down if I pinky promised like some adolescent human”[/color] Drono chuckled. Today had been a weird day, but it had certainly been a better day then he had thought. He looked around, then stashed the explosives somewhere he figured nobody would look. Then he hooked his finger with Serena. [color=a2d39c]“I have been told by Humans, this is a sacred ritual.[/color] “ He said with a perfect deadpan. [color=a2d39c]“Broken only at penalty of losing your pinky”[/color]

[color=hotpink]“Oh yes. The most sacred of rituals. Pinkys are usually ripped off by a rapid varren.”[/color] Serena replied solemnly, shaking his pinky. She grinned mischievously at him. [color=hotpink]”I’ll let you in on a little secret about Vellios though. Earlier today, he pinky promised as well. Without me even asking for it! If he gives you any crap, just throw that back in his face as well.”[/color] She snickered. 

Suddenly, her pinky tightened on Drono’s, trapping his. [color=hotpink]”Now. You’re going to tell me who beat you the hell up, and why. Or so help me Drono [i]I[/i] will break your spine and drag you too that damn hospital in a gurney.”[/color]  Her eyes seemed to glitter with irritation and grim promise.

[color=a2d39c]“...I can’t. I promised. Lets just say it was my fault.”[/color] He winced at her expression. [color=a2d39c]“I really gotta stop taunting people…”[/color] He gave her a sincere, apologetic look.

Serena’s eyes narrowed into slits as she thought about who wouldn’t want him to tell people who beat him up. It only took a few seconds for her to make the necessary logical connections. [color=hotpink]”Vellios.”[/color] She almost hissed in frustration. [color=hotpink]”You picked a fight with Vellios? When he was in one of his moods? Are you fucking suicidal? You’re lucky he didn’t kill you!”[/color] She let go of his pinky and ran a hand through her hair. [color=hotpink]”He’s lucky you started it or [i]I[/i] would have killed [i]him![/i]”[/color] 

She jabbed a finger at the drell. [color=hotpink]”Now you listen, and you listen good you maniac. When Vellios wants to beat the shit out of an inanimate object so he doesn’t take his aggression out on something living, [i]you goddamn let him[/i]. The only reason I’m not smacking you around for being a well meaning fool is because your body is already beat to shit. Since you seem to need something to focus your attention on, as fighting turians who are struggling with murderous rage seems to be the only thing to assuage your boredom, you’re going to play a chess game with me at least once. In return I won’t constantly remind you of how stupid you were.”[/color] Serena glared balefully at him. [color=hotpink]”Am I clear?[/color]

The drell, to his credit, took it on his chin. When she was done however, he hummed. He kept the hum  up for a full minute and then his expression changed to one he rarely shown the rest of the crew. Anger. [color=a2d39c]“No. See. Here is where things get tricky. If Vellios keeps going the way he does, one day, it will kill him. He is [i]looking[/i] for the bullet to end him. The guys past is eating him up from the inside.”[/color] Dronos lips drew into a thin line. [color=a2d39c]“Just like mine.”[/color]

“He is crew, and I do not let crew walk out on their lonesome, without a word to simmer and stew. If nobody stir the pot, that stuff is gonna boil over at a critical moment, and we are all going to die.” He actually did a gesture like he was stirring a pot.[color=a2d39c] “He play the loner, but it is because he like me seem to have had a really bad time around other people in our pasts. What I did was reckless. But I did it for a purpose. Do not think I get beat up for fun.”[/color] He paused. [color=a2d39c]“Often.”[/color]

It wa his turn to jab a finger at her. [color=a2d39c]“Vellios is your friend. I get that you believe yourself to know him best as you two are tight. But take it from the drell who took a bullet to his back. [i]You do not[/i] let crewmembers go alone.”[/color] He took a deep breath. [color=a2d39c]“You do not let them beat their knuckles into pulp against a tree because they do not know where else to go, what else to do.”[/color]

He sighed. “Look. I do not think anyone onboard this deathtrap of a ship can make a claim for a happy, problem free past. Which is why sacrifices are made. Like my ribs. That dude has a mean left hook.” 

[color=a2d39c]“But point taken. I will not provoke a homicidal Turian.”[/color] He paused. [color=82ca9d]“Until I got my back fixed. Then I am gonna see if I can’t set up a sparring spot, or at least boxing bag for our broody turian tree killer.”[/color]

Serena rubbed her temples. [color=hotpink]”Drono. The entire reason he was going to go punch a tree was so that he [i]didn’t[/i] simmer over anything. You know what he did when someone like you pushed him before we met? He crippled them. For life. He broke their legs and spines and left them for dead. I’m not saying that your ideas and intentions aren’t wrong. Your execution is just terrible. You don’t just walk into Vellios expecting him to react like the rest of us. I did and I got seven inches of Omni-blade in my stomach.”[/color]

She sighed, emotions churning. [color=hotpink]”I know Vellios is expecting, if not actively searching for his own death. I’ve been trying to get him to stop believing that he’s past saving for over a year now. The only  progress I have made is that he stopped crippling people for life, cut down on on drugs, and is willing to attempt to explain his actions to people. I’m doing my best Drono and it doesn’t seem to be enough.”[/color] She leaned against the wall, holding her head in her hands as the reality of what she was saying finally hit her. Optimistic denial wasn’t working anymore.

[color=hotpink]”I don’t want him to die…”[/color]

Drono lay a hand on her shoulder. [color=a2d39c]“We won’t let him. I believe I atleast got one thing through his thick turian skull. And that is that he is not alone in this. And that we won’t let him go.”[/color] He shot her a grin. 

[color=a2d39c]“Guy like that. I do not know his past. But I know a person trapped in flight or fight when I see them. Whatever went down in his past, it was as bad or worse than my own. And I got shot in my damn back. By my best friend.”[/color] He rolled his shoulders. [color=a2d39c]“We won’t let him die Serena, and once he realize what a good crew and structure gives him, he might just stop looking for that bullet. I don’t think we can cure the brooding though. That guy acts like movie anti-hero if you let him.” [/color]

Serena looked up in alarm, the surprise helping her get herself back under control.  [color=hotpink]”Shit Drono. I’m sorry. You probably don’t want or need me breaking down like this when you’ve got your own, much more important, problems. Speaking of that, I heard that Haze drug you to a hospital. Anything interesting come from that or is the goal still ‘get you to Omega hospital ASAFP’?”[/color] Serena straightened, waiting for his reply. 

[color=a2d39c]“I am no longer on hallucinogens or shitty black market drugs. So it was a 50/50.”[/color] he said the last part with a straight face. [color=a2d39c]“He claims it is a good thing, I can’t feel my liver cry. But how am I supposed to know if the medicine work?!”[/color]

Serena raised an eyebrow, looking at him. [color=hotpink]”You’re still standing after having your ass kicked by Vellios. It’s working.”[/color] She moved forward and quickly gave Drono a gentle hug, careful not to do too much pressure. [color=hotpink]”Thank you.”[/color] Stepping back she flashed a grin at him. [color=hotpink]” I gotta go. Other people need their gifts, and I don’t want to be nearby when you start playing with your new toys. We might blow an actual hole in the ship.”[/color] She gave a wave and began to leave, heading back towards the hangar.

He waved as she left. He felt a little awkward, he didn’t hug much. The back was one component, but also the fact that even before that, he had never been much of a hugging person. Mostly fistbumps. This sudden level of camaraderie was a shell shock, even for the quick witted, mile-a-minute mouth that was him. He shrugged it off and turned to his box of new, explosive toys.

[color=a2d39c]“Allright. Let’s see what damage we can do with you guys…” [/color]