Work Text:
(The tune is to Let's Not Talk About Love by Cole Porter)
"Ahh! Shepard, hoped you would visit," Mordin spoke while moving a slide from beneath the microscope; his brain already moved three stages ahead, a foolish task, really. The genophage required order; there was no point in planning based on theories. No, he had to be sure. It had to be right.
The Commander nodded and briefly turned her attention to the Krogan lounging on the hospital bed, "I was actually looking For Chakwas, I can-"
Mordin observed her closer, slumping shoulders and the whites of the human's eyes colored with red. There was no obvious tell in her stride, and she didn't seem to be favoring either side. Ruling out physical ailment. Her skin tone was good. Indicating she may require a regimen for vitamin D if she did not get enough exposure to sunlight, as the pale ones always did. Fascinating creatures. Healthy and physically pristine as ever, better than ever. Evidenced by her increased muscle tone and mass, perhaps increased activity on account of incarceration. Or distress, an answer to counteract serotonin hampering emotions. But there was something familiar in this state- Ah, Horizon, an event significant for the discovery of her old mating partner.
This species held on to emotions for much longer than his own lifespan.
Rumors had alluded to the partner being on board before a tragic accident before the Commander had come to cement an Alliance between the Turian and Krogan races. Before being pulled into curing the genophage. Which feat she would conquer first, if at all, a curiosity. One he was glad to witness.
"Chakwas is in the crew quarters, but first-," Mordin cleared his throat. It was important that the Commander return to a clear-headed state. For the Galaxy. For Krogan sake, for the Turians. For him. Too much at stake for Shepard to be distracted. Upset.
"What is it Mordin," the delivery was a little drier than he expected.
"Was aware, am aware of upcoming stressful situations, wanted to-"
"Mordin," the Commander cut in, "if this is the sex talk again, I swear-"
Mordin grinned brightly, exaggeratedly, "Not talk but-"
"Mordin, no-"
It was far too late. The Salarian was ready to perform.
"Let's talk about quarians, let's talk about turians,
let's remember their Dextro-animo biology before we get hurryin'
Let's speak of drell, those Reptile-folk
Don't linger too long, or you might regret what you invoke
We can discuss Mass Effect fields
Interesting prospects and yields
Or Avoiding Korgan,
Unless you want broken bones again,
Let's not think about that"
Shepard groaned, but it was not enough to make him stop. It was working to remove her frown. Her forced delivery. Progress!
"Let's talk of Salarian, little interested in sex
Only found attractive because of the way they flex
Let's start thinking of our enemies
The bugs that can be planted in cavities
Let's remember Asari,
a less interesting sexual safari,
Before we start these liaisons,
Consider the implications of the
acrobatic, hysteric,
biotic, semi-psychotic,
anaphylactic, analgesic,
behaviors quite erratic,
would you please use antiseptic,
before the acts become tantric
Let's keep singing about sex!"
Mordin brought his fist to his mouth, coughing into it when his audience did not applaud. For such an improvised skit, he thought he had done brilliantly. If Shepard would know the song from the 1940's Broadway play, Let's Face It! , debatable. Humans had strange and varying interests.
Shepard brought their palm to their face, glowing a bright red behind the hand. Ahh, phasal vasal dilation, indictive of embarrassment, perhaps arousal? It was confusing to know with these hormone-driven species. The inflection of the human's lower eyelids was always a scandal among his species. He looked to Eve; with the Krogan's face covering, it was much harder to tell, and krogan didn't have the propensity for blushing. Preferred direct contact as opposed to easily misread signals.
The Krogan female looked at him, unblinking, "I wish I hadn't heard that."
"Shepard?"
"Thanks, Mordin," Shepard squeaked out in a whisper.