#kat vc: please stop being so formal i just wanna be normal… k?

[akuzeisms]

   ⬐ @kenasakis ⬎

Aria T'Loak rolled her eyes as she considered the gift she had acquired for Shepard's birthday. It was a rare piece of artwork from the asari homeworld, Thessia. Aria had obtained it through a complicated series of negotiations and deals, but she couldn't help feeling that the gift was a bit too sentimental for her taste.

With the gift in hand, Aria composed a note to go along with it. She wrote:

"Commander Shepard,

I'm told it's your birthday. Congratulations, you managed to survive another year. You should consider yourself lucky, given the number of times you've stared death in the face.

As a gesture of my begrudging respect, I present to you this piece of asari artwork. It's rare and valuable, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's actually worth something. Frankly, I think it's a bit tacky, but I suppose it's the thought that counts.

Anyway, happy birthday. Don't get too drunk.

Sincerely, Aria T'Loak"

Even if Aria’s tastes weren’t sentimental, Katrina’s certainly were. It wasn’t hard to recognize what the painting was; a beautiful landscape, one she wished she’d seen before it was torn asunder by the Reapers. It was a landscape painted from the highest point in Armali; Liara had talked about the view once, but that wasn’t why it was so valuable. It was valuable because of who had painted it… and more specifically, whose favourite it had been.

Her old teacher, Iryna, had talked about the view; finding out that her biotic student was an artist had been a sort of… bonding experience with them. Iryna had talked about her own work, working with paints native to Thessia that would, occasionally, glow faintly because of the natural eezo present in them. She’d talked about how in her retirement, it had been the first piece she’d painted, and how it would always be her favourite. Kat was surprised it was intact; finding something like that was… difficult.

Setting it down carefully with a smile, Kat sat down at her terminal, a gentle smile on her face as she typed out a message back to her asari friend.

Aria,

I’d say I’m surprised you remembered that conversation, but at the same time I’m not. Iryna always talked about Armali fondly. The sunset reminds me of Mindoir, too. I miss it. I miss her, too. Trust me, this is far too valuable to sell, and there’s nothing tacky about it. Just have to decide on the right spot to hang it. Maybe by the piano.

That’s an empty warning, though. I can’t get drunk. But I promise I’ll come drink you under the table in the next few weeks. Or, if you want to pay a visit, you know I always keep your favourite on hand.

Thanks, - Kat

P.S.: I think we’re past formalities. Kat is fine.