Observations: Laugh

The newly appointed Primarch Adrien Victus first noticed it on the shuttle to the Normandy. He couldn't think about leaving his home to play politician or that he was indeed the Primarch, something he never thought would happen, so instead he focused his attention on Commander Shepard.

He heard the tales on the vids and recognized her accomplishments, but it wasn't until he became acquainted with the reinstated Lieutenant Colonel Garrus Vakarian that he really heard about her. Anytime someone whispered her name or discussed an outlandish rumor, the turian was there to refute the claim. Eventually, the squad members began outright asking him about the Commander, some of which he answered, some he refused outright, and others he gave them a sly grin and claimed it was a tale for another day. Whatever he knew about the Commander, Victus recognized the two were close. When Victus inquired about his relationship to the Commander, his only inquiry about her, Vakarian answered immediately stating she was his best friend and there's no back he'd rather have his scope on than hers.

Victus left the answer at that but now that he was seeing her in the flesh, he couldn't help but study her. The black and red Alliance N7 armor fit her like a glove; her slender and small frame leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees; and her neatly folded hands clenched together tightly. What Victus found curious was how her bright red hair was woven together on her head, like a threaded weave. He didn't quite understand human hair but for some reason the contours of the weave reminded Victus of an asari fringe. Her face was stone solid as her green eyes stared through the bottom of the shuttle, lost in thoughts no doubt of Earth and Palaven.

But every few seconds, her eyes would flicker up to Vakarian. Victus was not familiar with human facial expressions, and the Commander masked her personal emotions as well as any well trained turian, but there was something about the way her eyes stared up at his subordinate. Vakarian mentioned they were close, perhaps she was anxious to greet him informally.

"So, Shepard…"

Vakarian's slow drawl pulled Victus out of his thoughts. The Commander's head snapped up, her green eyes staring at Vakarian intently.

Vakarian sat back as he relaxed, a humorous glint in his eyes. "Good to know things are still business as usual. You know, kicking and screaming about the Reapers coming and no one listening only to be thrown into the thickest parts of hell when we actually turn out to be right. And now we get to solve the galaxy's problems. Again." He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, "Oh and we better be sure to leave room for Hackett to call you with an urgent request that only you can take care of." He paused to grin widely at her, "Just like old times."

Victus watched the Commander, assuming she would respond soberly considering her current hardened state but he was shocked when the opposite occurred. Her face relaxed as she burst into laughter, a sound that reminded him of bright tones of the bell chimes in Cipritine Tower. Her body relaxed as she quieted, and Victus was drawn to the warmth in her eyes and the slight coloring of her cheeks.

"Good to see you haven't changed, Vakarian," she responded lightly.

Vakarian didn't say anything but his subvocals hummed. The Commander wouldn't know how to interpret them properly, but Victus did.

Best friends, hm?