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The tempest was an impressive ship. You could say whatever you wanted about the Initiative, but they spared no expense in building the Pathfinder’s ship. Granted that was before they got stuck with a Pathfinder who was grossly underqualified for the job.
Evidently, Liam and Cora didn’t see it that way. If the way they followed Ryder around was anything to go by. Vetra refused to let herself get caught up in some sort of hero worship. She was here to do a job, and that’s exactly what she would tell this new Pathfinder when they met.
For now they’re stuck waiting on the Nexus while everyone and their mother tries to grab the Pathfinder’s attention. Some of those jobs were just as important as establishing colonies in Heleus, but others could be done by plenty of people that weren’t Ryder. As it is, Vetra is amused by how incapable the Pathfinder is at saying no.
A missing colonist that may or not have been murdered by a colleague? Sure, why not? Definitely a job for Ryder instead of the Nexus’ version of the Citadel’s C-SEC. A necklace with sentimental value that got lost during the move? Count the Pathfinder in. From kidnappings to drug cartels to testing out new drinks. It seems like Ryder’s to do list keeps piling on faster than she can complete it.
It isn’t any of Vetra’s business though. She’ll do her job and make sure Ryder and the rest of the crew have the supplies they need. Hopefully, the Pathfinder won’t look too closely at who she’s dealing with to get that kind of merch in the first place. What can she say? Kadara is ripe with good quality stock and she knows how to haggle. If anything Alec Ryder not being her commanding officer might work in her favor here. Perhaps his daughter isn’t such a stickler for the rules. As long as she can do what she’s good at and take care of her sister, that’s all that matters to her.
Clearly, Liam Kosta didn’t get that message.
“So..seeing anyone?” She glares at his head of curls with as much disgust and offense as she can pack in one look. The soldier raises his hands in surrender and backs up a step. “I didn’t mean it that way! I’m just getting to know you. You know, like playing twenty questions.”
Her glare doesn’t ease. “You think this is a game? People are dying out here every day and it’s our job to make this fucked up cluster more livable.” It’s an impossible job as is, no need to add to the tension with stupid remarks. “Hey! I’m very well aware of that. It doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.” She’s actually surprised to note the earnestness in his voice and expression. He genuinely wants to be nice just to make a friend.
She can’t help but be a little flustered at that, though she won’t let it show at all. She’s never really had friends, aside from her little sister. Sometimes that feels more like a mother-daughter relation than anything more equal, like friendship. She muses silently to herself that maybe having a good starting relationship with her crewmates wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. After all, they’re going to be living out of each other’s pockets soon enough. No need to make that any harder than it’s already going to be. Especially, with a Pathfinder at the helm who has no idea what she’s doing.
Although Vetra can also acknowledge Syerra is a fast learner. They could have been left with worse. So, she doesn't punch Kosta, as much as that particular impulse has already struck over the course of the day. She even lets him help her start loading everything up when it becomes clear the Pathfinder’s hit the end of her patience with the Initiative’s bullshit.
A few hours later they’re up in space and finally heading towards their first destination for an outpost, Eos. Vetra can’t wait to finally start clearing up some of the mess the upper brass has made of this entire colonization effort. I mean, how exactly do you lose so many people in giant colony ships? They were not prepared for Heleus. Not like they should have been.
It’s in her new favorite spot and her claimed crew quarters that Liam finds her days later. He’s carrying a small datapad with a couple of movies downloaded on it. His insistence on watching it with her and getting to know her better would be infuriating. If he didn’t look like a pouting pyjak every time she sent him away. Cora is too strict and the others all have pretty busy schedules. So does she of course, but she makes up her own hours and mostly depends on communications to get all the requisitions done. Naturally, that means she’s the best one for hanging out with. According to Liam’s rambles that is.
She gives in eventually, letting him in one evening and settling on her too small cot to watch his ridiculous choice of movie. She doesn’t even know the title of what they’re watching. The opening credits start showing when he turns to her with a grin.
“So..know anyone involved in the First Contact War?” She’s so taken aback she actually chokes on the drink he brought with him. In her defense, what kind of conversation opener was that?! Most Humans and Turians avoid talking about that, if only to keep tempers in check.
“How is that possibly related to this?” She knows it isn’t. Rather it’s probably part of his ridiculous campaign to make friends with the whole crew. He’s determined to create some sort of misshapen family on the Tempest and she’s hard pressed to stop him.
“It’s small talk, you know, that thing you do when you’re trying to get through the awkwardness to the good bits of conversation. I figure we might as well get the big one out of the way first.” She has to bite her lip to hold in a laugh. It’s a brave move to bring up the First Contact War in front of a Turian like this. It’s no secret how the two species feel about that first encounter. It certainly earns him more respect than his choice of movie.
“Small talk is ‘Beautiful weather we’re having.’ not ‘Do you happen to know if one of your elders shot my grandpa?’.” Kosta has the nerve to grin at her.
“Well I wouldn’t have asked it like that.” She raises an eyebrow because she can tell something else is coming. His grin is still unrepentant as fuck.
“It was my grandma who fought in the war, not my grandpa.” She gapes at him as he just turns around to focus on the movie. A couple of seconds pass before she snorts and flicks his head as she turns to watch the movie herself.
Liam’s yelp of pain grants him a chuckle and they both silently smile to themselves.
Perhaps the Andromeda galaxy won’t be so bad after all.