Eden

[Rose]

“N-No?!” Vila asked, blinking in surprise. It was one of the few words she ever heard out of him, but it was never to refuse a gift. Refuse drugs or new tests or something like that, but not a book. She knew he cherished what he had and would have to be blind not to notice the fondness he held for literature. And his eyes, one of his qualities that fascinated her the most….they’d had that purple in them, what she had concluded meant something almost like excitement, joy, longing. Emotions were a hard thing to describe and harder to understand, she found. Because despite the purple, he’d said no.

After all this time was she reading him wrong? Vi blinked again, staring harder at him as he purposefully avoided her gaze. She took in the set of his shoulders, his hard eyes, the stern set of his jaw….and then it hit her. And Vi laughed. It was a sound he had never heard from her before and one she rarely heard herself. It was just a soft, almost bewildered laugh. She shook her head at the captive.

“Are you….are you sulking Furian?” She put a hand on her hip, standing in front of his cell just as defiant as he was, but with an air of authority. She put on a slightly more serious face as she held out the book once more. “Come now. I’d take the book back, but we both know you really want it. And we both know that I can get what I want, even if you don’t wish to cooperate. But I’d like to do this the easy way.”

Vi walked over and typed in a code on the computer, one that would unlock his cell in a few moments. When she returned to him she waved the book once more and nodded to the slot for his hands. With a small sigh she gave in a bit to him. She had been told he was a killer beast to be locked away, but she had learned by now that everyone was capable of being a monster, and every monster was capable of compassion. This beast had never hurt her and had grown more docile over the years. Whatever god he believed in was responsible for the punishment of his crimes. Vi would stick with her positive reinforcement. And she’d try not to leave him alone again, not without something to occupy him.

Besides, the Furian was the most stuborn creature she’d ever met. It was easier to give him what he wanted and let him give in return. The scientists gestured for his hands to bind them as always.

“Let’s make a deal, alright Furian? If you behave I won’t sedate you. I know it’s difficult to read that way. Behave and you can read while I do your tests. ” She eyed him with a small, curious smile. Their companionship was the strangest thing, one hard to describe. There was loathing and need and amusement and understanding between them. “Or are you going to keep pouting in the corner like a child? If that’s the case, I’ll just take the book back with me.”

[Ithan]

He eyed her like a child who was told that he’d go to bed with no desert. He wanted to get up but, he was still hurt. Her offer was too good to refuse though. He growled lightly under his breath and went to her. He’d milk this as best he could. He pointed to his mouth,

“Fruuitt.” He pointed to his mouth again, his fangs ever present like little reverse mountains.

Vi’s eyes widened a bit and then narrowed, “You little bashka. No I will not give you any-” but she was cut short when he spoke louder.

“Frruuuiiitt. I want to read and eat fruuiitt. You left me alone. I leave you alone.” The Furian had never said more than two things to her at once; here he was having a conversation almost making a deal with her. Vi was almost in disbelief, she blinked and turned going to retrieve the fruit he loved so much. At this point his eyes were they’re natural colour of sky blue. He didn’t know what she was doing, he thought she had left again and he truly did pout in his corner but in the minute that she returned he was on his feet again and eagerly waiting for the door to open. Wouldn’t take anything from her hands, not out in the open like that. He waited for her to put the things down on the table and then took them. He took the fruit first and bit into it taking most of the damn thing in one bite. The juices slipped down his hand, wrist and arm as the other hand was very hesitant to touch the book but when he did he touched all over it. He opened it and flipped through the pages, the scent of old paper filling his nostrils and he loved it. His eyes swirled back to the purple hue, but deeper, like a grape colour as he played with the cover. He loved the dragon on it, it intrigued him deeply.

He sat still for her as she ran all of her tests, even the ones that he didn’t enjoy. He sat on the metal slab now reading and savoring his last bite of the fruit. He was very content and calm, even without the sedative. Vi had it noted as she watched him. He seemed to be struggling a bit with the book, staring at a page for minutes trying to figure out the point of each one, trying to grasp the concept that there were no pictures and it was telling stories and not facts.

[Rose]

“Fantasy,” Vi reminded him as he stared at one page for a long time, his eyes the shade of bewilderment. “It’s not real. It’s just something a human imagined and wrote about. You must know what a story is. Tales that people tell for fun.”

Vila stood beside the Furian and brushed his dark hair from his shoulder so she could take his blood again. The computer showed that his chemical levels were a little off, but that was due to the lack of sedatives and various drugs that he got on a daily basis, which she had yet to give him. She was confident that this creature wouldn’t harm her, despite his many reasons to want to. He was intelligent, and he must have known that even if he found his way out of this lab there would be nowhere to go beyond the ship. He could see space racing by outside the window. Still, Vila felt a ball of nerves in the pit of her stomach. He was so quiet and calm, his eyes intent on his book and fruit and nothing else. But she knew all to well what he was capable of.

The Furian was in her possession because a group of anonymous benefactors, or perhaps just a single wealthy, powerful man, had captured the beast and wanted a way to harvest its strength. Vila had stacks of files on the magnificent powers the creature possessed, the kind of abilities he had lurking beneath his human visage. The Furian was a criminal, his charges unknown to her, so she was doing nothing illegal by holding him. Frowned upon by most governments and riding on the lines of a few treaties, yes. But nothing that could get her in trouble, should she be discovered. Not on this ship.

Vila finished checking the Furian’s joint movement and muscle mass before leaving his side to log the information into her computers, as well as a few pages of notes on his behavior. She didn’t return him to his cell like usual, but he didn’t seem to even notice her movements now. He was wrapped up in his story for all she knew. Vila kept him in her peripherals as she typed away, and a few easy, silent minutes passed by between them like this, her nerves slowly washing away. Until a small light started blinking above the door.

Vila panicked, quickly rising to her feet and making the Furian jump slightly, his eyes on her. Vi cringed, but she was too urgent to get him back into his cell to be as soothing as she would have liked.

“Back in your cell. Now, Furian!” Her voice had taken on a slightly impatient, demanding tone, one she hadn’t used on him since the beginning of his imprisonment. The scientist nearly shoved him back into his cell, the door slamming shut automatically behind him. Vi barely had time to turn around when a man stepped into her private lab, clearing his throat.

“Miss Asari.” The man said, addressing her by her race. They didn’t get along well and even after two years they still addressed each other formally and exchanged as few words as possible. The man stepped in, looking around the room and nodding to himself as he examined the machinery. His face was pale, skin a little droopy under his eyes. Either he had gone bald or chosen to shave his head, having only a little hair on his chin. He wasn’t particularly tall, but there was some weight to him, even with the limited supplies on the ship. He was dressed in a fine tailored brown suit, looking all business. This was her benefactor’s representative. He checked in on Vila and her Furian whenever he felt like it, showing up unannounced to make sure she was doing her job.

“Hello, Mr Highland,” Vila muttered impatiently. She didn’t like being watched and checked on but knew it was necessary. What she didn’t forgive was being interrupted, especially when dealing with her subject was such a delicate matter. She wanted to tell him her recent conclusions so he could be sent away, but his face had gone a bit red and his lip curled over his perfect white teeth.

“What the hell is going on here?” he demanded, shoving Vila aside in outrage and marching over to the Furian’s cage, glaring down at him. “What is in this creature’s cage? Toys….Is that…is that a book, Ms Asari? What are you playing at? He is for you to study, not play with Vila’Tson.”

He turned to her, furious, his fat hand gesturing to the pile of puzzles and books and handheld games the Furian had been given. Vila looked outraged herself at being shoved aside but more so at this man thinking he had any right to tell her what she could and could not do. She was the scientist, not him. She was the one getting paid for this.

“Do not put us at risk for letting this creature learn. He is deceptive and cruel and will use anything against you, you idiot,” Mr. Highland went on, moving to stand just before Vila and shouting at her. “You have given us nothing but useless information recently and now I know why! I want this shit out of here, do you understand? And I want something that our benefactor gives a damn about. If you keep treating this thing like a pet I’ll have you both put down.”

Mr Highland shoved past Vila once more to stare down the Furian. He threw his hand out, waving it impatiently.

“You. I know you speak English. Give me that shit. Now. Hand it over. ”

[Ithan]

The Furian wasn't too happy about being shoved back into his cage. He wasn't too happy that she yelled at him but when he saw Mr. Highland he slightly understood. He glared at the man as he came to his cage, his eyes had changed a while ago from their happy colour of purple to orange but as he heard the conversation about his things they pooled into a strong gold as the man demanded his things.

The alien stepped up crossing his arms as he learned how to do from this very man. His eyes momentarily drifted over to Vi as if to read her expression, as if she'd tell him to do something but when she just stared back he looked back at the man locking eyes with him. His chest high and puffed up, his head held up high, the book still in his hand.

"No. Come and get them." his accent was a very cute thing honestly, even when he was being this bold.

He had a very defiant face on but it was laced in a very daring smile, his fang peeking through. This...cell...was his territory. Everything in it belonged to him and he wasn't going to give shit back.

[Rose]

Vi's eyes widened in a mixture of horror and surprise. The Furian wasn't just speaking now. He was challenging. The dangerous personality the alien held within him, the one Mr. Highland had warned her about, was shining through. But Vi was the one who should have been warning him. She knew the Furian better than anyone.

"The fuck did you just...." Mr. Highland spluttered, startled that the Furian still hadn't learned his place after so long. He spun around to fix a venomous look on the scientist. "Do you see what happens when you coddle him? He's getting cocky again."

Mr. Highland went over to the glass, pressing against it slightly, his face twisted in the same smirk as the Furian.

"You would like it if I came in there, wouldn't you? You like to have the chance to rip me apart." He reached over, chuckling as he flipped a switch. A shockwave went through the Furian's cell, making the creature writhe and drop to one knee. Mr. Highland laughed like a child burning helpless ants. His grin fell, however, when the Furian's face remained defiant and he slowly rose to his feet again, the book gripped in his twitching hand.

"You little-"

"MR. HIGHLAND." Vila'Tson shouted as the man reached for the switch again, swatting his hand away with a speed that showed a glimmer of what her species was capable of. "This is MY lab and I will NOT have you coming in here and telling me what to do. And I definitely won't stand for behavior like this. If our benefactor doesn't like how I run things then he can call me himself. Until then remember that I am the professional and you know nothing of my job. I will continue to do things as I see fit. Now get out of my lab."

Vila's blue skin took on a slightly purple hue around her cheeks as she flushed with anger. She'd never had an outburst like this, not on the Normandy. Mr. Highland looked at her like she was insane, but there was nothing for him to say. A moment later the door closed and Vila crashed into her chair, face in her hands. She didn't look up when she spoke, her voice instantly losing it anger in favor of exhaustion and worry. She had done a very stupid thing, but she didn't like people telling her how to do her job. Mr Highland was an easily flustered man, but he always got over it. She hoped he'd live up to that expectation this time.

"You may keep your things, Furian. I am in charge here, not him. Just...just relax and read your book."

[Ithan]

The poor thing was angry. He let out a frustrated growl and threw the book at the wall and kicked some toys on the ground but he sat on his bed. His eyes had changed though when he had watched her with her face in her hands. He had never seen her like that and it...concerned him. He was curious but felt guilt for it. He took one of his games and pushed it through the slot. Then another one he moved quickly, he didn't like the feeling of regret and wanted to be rid of it immediately. He continued to push all of his things through the slot until he held the last two books in his hands...his new fantasy book and his beloved bird book. He looked like he was chosing which limb he wanted to dispose of but couldn't decide. His eyes had swirled from they're orange hue of frustration to a new colour a shade Vi's has seen before but the depth of the colour...the intensity...it was the shade of remorse. A dark blue

[Rose]

Vi finally looked up when she heard the clatter of many things hitting the floor, broken periodically by the sound of feet hurrying back and forth. She rose her eyes sharply, at first afraid that the Furian was destroying things in his anger. The pile of books and puzzles and games on the floor made her watch him carefully, trying to figure out the alien's motivation. His expression confused her as much as his eyes. But for once her hands didn't itch to go to the computer and take notes. She just watched.

"Furian...what are you doing?" Vila rose to her feet, crossing to the plexiglass cell and kneeling down to retrieve the abandoned things. "I told you to keep these. I am in charge of your study. Not that man."

Vi started pushing his things back through the slot, her face twisted with a bit of frustration. Was this being afraid? She doubted it. So why was he doing this? Whatever the reason, it didn't matter to her. She was angry at the insult of being told what to do, her pride wounded a bit. She impatiently pushed the last book back through the slot and gestured harshly at it.

"You listen to me. Do you understand? You do as I say." Vila turned away, going to her computer and sitting at it, typing away but lost in thought. After a few minutes she stopped abruptly, hanging her head again. She couldn't concentrate and she felt bad suddenly. In her anger she was treating the Furian like he wasn't an intelligent being. She didn't even treat her rats that way. The Asari kept her back turned to him, but when she spoke her voice had completely changed. She wanted to pretend the situation never happened. She wasn't about to lose all the progress she'd made with the creature.

"If you voice what you want more often I'd be happy to get it for you, you know? It would help my studies greatly if you could just communicate." She typed quickly on her computer but was trailing off on it. She didn't have much else to log. She'd already stayed in the lab much longer than usual, but she didn't want to leave and risk someone being able to find her and make her work more. She was exhausted and just wanted the rare quiet of her secret room on such a small, crowded ship.

"I know you can speak well. You just proves that...as stupid as it was to challenge Mr. Highland. I'd advise you don't do that anymore."

[Ithan]

In his mind he had a swirl f things to say but he had calmed down and his eyes returned back to their standard of light blue. He eyed her again but finally looked away. She wanted him to speak like a person but she locked him way in a cage, she sedated him and ran tests like an animal. He walked back to his bed and started reading again.

"You look tired. You should sleep." It was all he said to her. He wouldn't sleep though, his melatonin levels in his brain were so off now and had completely become dependent on the drugs. He could most likely stay up all damn week. But he didn't want them anymore, he didn't want the drugs, he found reading was so much easier when he wasn't on drugs. He had no idea of the side effects that would come with it though.

[GnomesAteMyCake]

"....Then, right, I had this thug cornered," Mikey breathed dramatically, his eyes flicking from Lucius to Robbie, a grin on his face and his hands up in the air as he gestured dramatically, his normally neat appearance ruffled. "He's got this bag'a drugs under one arm, a Wrexn kid under the other, and he's looking shifty as fuck, you know?"

"Man, Mike, how'd you get him without hurting the kid?" Robbie slurred slightly, his hands gripping the edge of the table, his eyes wide and childlike as he stared at the other detective. Lucius nodded energetically, and Mikey grinned.

If he hadn't become a cop, maybe acting would've been his calling. He loved people looking and paying attention to him after all.

"I'm getting to it, I'm getting to it! Anyways, I said..."

~~

"...This makes no sense," April muttered to herself, looking at the pictures that Vi had allowed her to take before she'd excused herself from the other females workplace and headed back to her own, only to find a steaming box of noodles, lightly flavoured with the dried herbs she and Jesse had grown a few months back whilst passing a Red Giant sat on her desk. Smiling, she'd laid the pictures across her desk and dug into the simple dinner, pouring over the pictures.

Upon closer expection, she could see what Vi had mentioned; the victim was killed by the angry slashes to the chest, dismembered, and practically destroyed afterwards. The only thing she could gather, at that moment, was that the person who did it was dangerous. More dangerous than she'd previously thought because they'd gone through the trouble to make James near unrecognisable.

Pinching the bridge of her nose, April glanced up at the clock on her office wall. Two in the morning, from what it read. Yawning, she dumped the box in the bin behind her desk and grabbed her keys, locking the small room and heading for her living quarters.

~~

"And that there, my friends, is how I saved the kidnapped child and caught the leader of one of the biggest drug rings in 06MNY," Mikey finished proudly, draining his beer and slumping on the table, groaning as he cushioned his head in his arms. "Guys. I'm fucked."

"Me too," Robbie said, finishing his own drink and pulling his lanky body out of the booth. "Come on; let's go cause some trouble, sexy." Winking at the auburn-haired cop, he grabbed his arm and pulled him from his seat, slinging Mike's arm around his own shoulders and wedging his hand firmly in the man's back pocket, grinning widely as Mikey yelped.

"Hands off, bitch. You can't even afford me," Mikey complained slightly, but didn't push the matter; he was far too drunk. "C'mon Lucius; if this dick is dragging me through the shit, you're coming too."

"Hey man, I don't drag my dick through shit....not unless you ask nicely," Robbie purred, fluttering his eyelashes and pouting at the unamused man beside him before chuckling and holding the arm that wasn't comfortabley against Mikey's ass and held it out to Lucius, eyebrows raised. "Come on duck; I've got arms for two. The best part is, I get to take you home."

[Ithan]

Lucius excused himself from the table as they were fixing to leave. He put down his half drank beer and nodded knowingly at Robbie meaning that he'd see him at home later but got dragged into the gayness of the two men. He smiled awkwardly at the two men a slight blush coming to his high cheek bones. "Ugh...hehe, Robby, i go home now. Mr Buttons needs to go home too. Yes?" he slowly slipped from their clutches was took a few steps back watching them. It wouldn't be the first time the two of them tackled him to the ground to get him to join in on their ridiculous reindeer games. When neither of them crashed into him, he relaxed and slowly turned around heading down the corridor. But that's exactly what they were waiting for...The two gave each a devilish grin and tackled the poor thing to the ground and began dragging him along despite his non-english pleads and cursing. It was going to be a long night...