[center][i]Naryxa Kesir and Dexuret Noratus
Learn to Let Go
[sub]A [@Stormflyx] & [@DearTrickster] Collab[/sub][/i][/center]
[hr]
There were many things that Naryxa had wanted to do on her shore leave. It wasn’t like a real shore leave, seeing as they weren’t on a shore per se, and were instead, suspended in space on a station. Still, it was refreshing to not have to think about the Kett, and to at least have the downtime she had wished she’d had prior to being removed from Cryo and blasted into a mission. She felt at home on a station. The Citadel had been her home during her time in the Milky Way, and in many ways, the Nexus was akin to the Citadel in that it was a hub for the many races. Only now, there was a new race to learn about - the Angara. 

The Asari hadn’t done much reading into them yet, she was simply too excited about one area of the Nexus… The Hydroponics Garden. She rushed out of bed that morning, stretched in much too blasé of a fashion that she almost twisted a ligament in her knee as she left her quarters. Nothing was going to bring her down on this day as she bounced with a spring in her step over to the garden, a clipboard and pad in hand.

She observed first the varieties of trees that had thrived in the conditions created. Whomever had designed the garden had done their research well in finding the most appealing flora that added a tranquil ambience to the Nexus. It was like a little slice of heaven in among the chaos. She had heard that it was a Dr Camden who was head of the Hydroponic Sciences. She made a mental note to seek him out at some point for a chat, she would love to know about what they were doing, and perhaps even offer some assistance. 

She looked around the trees, practically climbing into their beds to inspect them closely from the roots to the leaves. She was in her element, oblivious to her surroundings, and it cleared her mind entirely to be sat in a fresh bush.

One such fellow patron was returning for a visit. Dex returned to the Gardens in a vain hope to see Khosin. After cooling down significantly she was filled with guilt over how she treated him. She had nothing prepared, just a sincere sorry. The protesters didn’t interest her as they did before, clearly seeing her own problems weren’t so easily sworn off. Bad habits as they are.

Dex circled around one of the flowerbeds, looking over them with mild interest seeing vibrant colours native from all over the milky way galaxy. Unable to recognize any of them. She continued walking to the copse of trees and saw the unfamiliar sight of a blue asari head among the bushes. She squinted recognizing her strange teammate Naryxa Kesir. Literally becoming one with nature. Dex figured she was now practicing being a tree with actual trees. 

“[color=007236]You’ll learn from no better mentors how to be a tree from a tree.[/color]” She called out. “[color=007236]Thought you did pretty alright on your own though.[/color]”

She’d have been lying to say that she knew her teammate was behind her while she ran her thumb over the topsoil, checking for water level. It only slightly took her by surprise. She chuckled softly at the Turian’s words, noticing for the second time that she was a very quick-witted individual. She had liked Dex from the off, she gave off a rebellious aura that settled and simmered down into something soft, warm, and inviting - and funny. The Turian was a package alright.

“Dexuret Noratus, it’s good to hear your voice again.” She wiped her hands down on the leggings she was wearing as she came up for air, smiling brightly at Dex. “I’m beginning to think you’re itching to get your tree on too - I think you do protest too much about them…” 

“Besides, I wasn’t pretending to be a tree - I’m checking moisture levels… It’s all rather fascinating what Dr Camden has done out here. I still think he needs to add some more colour though. Not a single flower planted along here - just bush… Oh well, I guess I wasn’t brought here to be a gardener…” her voice trailed off after she heard the voices of the protesters. That noise had always been [i]there[/i], she just hadn’t paid it much attention. It was an awkward kind of din playing out in the distance. 

“What brings you out this way anyway? You look like you have a bit of purpose behind that smile…” 

Dex laughed, “[color=007236]Call me Dex, please.[/color]”

Stepping up to join her, the protester’s noise [i]was[/i] distracting. “[color=007236]Gardening looks relaxing, never really had an appreciation for it growing up. My home planet was in it’s megafauna stage so the garden came to you.[/color]” She looked around reconfirming what she already knew, “[color=007236]I was hoping to run into Khosin again over here but it looks like he’s not around.[/color]” She hummed relief, “[color=007236]Glad I ran into you, instead.[/color]” 

Up close without her helmet Dex could see the Asari’s facial tattoos, bold reds lining her brows and the same colour on her lips. Dex appreciated facial tattoos on other species, as she’s been told, it’s far more painful procedure on soft tissues than facial plating. For Naryax it accentuated the frame of her face and complimented the colours of her skin. Good choices. From what she remembered reading about her career, she was accomplished with the Asari Commandos - a huntress to boot and mercenary work. Work experience hardly reflected what any one person was truly interested in, in Naryax’s case - she liked gardening. 

“[color=007236]Learn more about your teammates out of armour than on the field.[/color]” Dex said, an eye on the protesters. “[color=007236]You like gardening and I like live theatre, I heard there’s an improv group that meets once a week. Might check it out while we’re here.[/color]” She stretched her arms above her head, loosening her shoulders. “[color=007236]There’s so much to do and squeeze in to just a few days off, I have an itch to scratch - there wasn’t much of a chance even on Prodromos, no privacy.[/color]” Relaxing back down she leaned against the tree.

She considered Naryax, Dex hadn’t anything really prepared for talking to Khosin, whether that’d be during shore leave or not. It probably wouldn’t hurt to ask for some wisdom.

“[color=007236]Actually, I was hoping to get some advice. A bit of perspective, if you want to call it that. You’re free to tell me to fuck off, but I think it’s safe of me to think you’re not the type?[/color]” Dex ventured.

Naryxa just let her talk, she listened intently to her words, giving a nod every now and then, noting how Dex changed her body language when she mentioned Khosin. She had to think about it for a moment before realising that Khosin was the Batarian. She hadn’t really had a chance to interact with him on Prodromos. She hadn’t really interacted with anyone. Just the Krogan and a human woman. The whole thing felt like it was hazed over to her, she could only just put some of the more prominent details together to form a coherent string of a memory. The mission had been a success, but it hadn’t made Naryxa feel good to think back on it. 

“Khosin is the Batarian. I… I only kind of remember him, I’m sorry. Everything is a bit of a blur to me from that mission.”

“You’re always free to ask me some advice… I can’t promise it will be what you want to hear, but you can trust I will be honest. From your tone, I’m thinking that your last run in with Khosin was less than stellar?”

Dex nodded, “[color=007236]Yeah, that’s Khosin. He and I got into it and I lost my temper.[/color]” She paused, that was a huge understatement. “[color=007236]... I lost my shit actually. Punched him then screeched in his face.[/color]”

She scratched at her facial scar, “[color=007236]Before you ask, I can’t say why I was mad. Not my secret to share.[/color]” She folded her arms, “[color=007236]He threw up this wall, his eyes were fogged over. Just couldn’t break through, no matter what I said.[/color]”

“[color=007236]How do you deal with someone like that? I’m not well equipped for dealing with trauma or bottomless guilt.[/color]” She admitted quietly, searching for the right word, “[color=007236]I [i]react.[/i] It never ends well.[/color]”

“It’s not your job to deal with him” began the Asari, looking Dex in the eyes as she spoke “it’s not your job. Plain and simple. It sounds like you’re tethered to him for some reason and sometimes the best thing you can do for the both of you is to sever it.” What she knew already of Dex suggested to her that the advice would be unorthodox to her, that it might even anger her for Naryxa to suggest it.

Dex sharply narrowed her eyes at Naryxa, remaining quiet. Her mandibles flattened, arms crossed. She listened regardless.

“I don’t mean to forget him, or stop loving him, but you need to sever this feeling of you being responsible for him. It would do you both good. It’s hard, but... “ she stopped to let out a breath and began to stare off slightly in the distance. Thinking of a time when she had done it herself before she finished what she was saying; “you are letting him leech your spirit and it brings out the worst in you.”

Dex relaxed a little, but the notion of severing herself from Khosin’s problems wasn’t completely ridiculous. Who else would he turn to, what would keep him in check? APEX and the Initiative was the safety net. They weren’t on the [i]Borealis[/i] and it really wasn’t her job to keep the crazy contained or pacify them. They were all apart of the militia.

A handful of minutes passed, both Naryxa and Dex were wrapped in their own thoughts. Dex reasoned, “[color=007236]I have some history with Khosin and some of the other members of our team. Back then I fell into this role of reigning in certain people to keep a semblance balance. We’re [i]not[/i] a mercenary crew anymore, we’re apart of APEX. So, you’re right… It’s really not my responsibility to deal with Khosin.[/color]”

“[color=007236]Thanks Naryxa. There’s not much I can do when he’s not even willing to help himself let alone have anyone else help. I think I know what to do.[/color]” She said, smiling then sinking slowly to her butt with a long winded sigh. “[color=007236]I didn’t realize what a relief that’d be to admit something like that.[/color]”

“[color=007236]Seems obvious in the big picture.[/color]”

“Sometimes you need to hear it from someone else - and want to hear it in the first place. Only then is it obvious.” She had to laugh at her own words, and how truly sage it had sounded. Like a character from one of those Earthly movies. Cheesy, she believed was the word to describe it. 

She watched as Dex gave her a nod and continued on her way, and Naryxa held onto the scene for a few more moments, watching once again, people come and go. A feeling of anticipation stirred within her. She had enjoyed her chat with the Turian, and had enjoyed her company for that short while even more so. Andromeda wasn’t just about physically building a home, but it was about creating home in the people that you met and worked with. She realised that the small interaction with Dex was the start of another beautiful friendship in Heleus, and at the thought, she smiled.