#AkiMod answers

[futuresuntocrystal]

Your kind words about Naru have me screaming thank you so much I don't know how to properly express my gratitude but just know that it means the world to me.

I haven't responded to things in so long, omg... But yes!! You're so very welcome!!!

When I reblogged that gpose of yours, I'd finally gotten around to reading Naru's story and... I love it. Adore it, even! Naru is so lovely in appearance, too; your gposes not only highlight her and her character wonderfully, but the lighting!! Clothes!! Everything is so beautiful!

Count me in as a Naru Supporter. I'll get my /cheer emotes ready~! [silly]

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

Jaal reacting to seeing SAM kill you (and revive you thanks SAM) to escape from the Archon's trap, once you're both safely back on the Tempest (I feel like there should have been a scene with the LI about this, a dramatic you-almost-died-and-I-need-to-hold-you scene)

Funny how I can both not remember a scene well, but also know exactly what to do with it.That being said, we absolutely should’ve had a stronger reaction from Jaal. Even if it was barely contained emotion.

Doing this HC styled for the moment, but feel free to request this as a mini-fic, if that’s more your speed!

In the moment, he tries so hard to be okay with it. SAM said it was the only way, so it has to be the way this happens, right...?

However, Jaal is bitterly realizing he’d much rather bare through being on Kadara for hours on end if it meant he didn’t have to be here. Emotions are choking him up, especially watching your limp body collapse on the ground. Grinding his teeth when SAM is struggling a moment with reviving you.

He should be used to this. The grief. The risk of loss; why else enter the Resistance? One must face loss and still fight on. Even understanding that one’s own life is at risk. To protect the whole...

But just this once... Can’t he be greedy? Can he not wish for your survival? To not have to see you like this...?

Being revived is a relief he can hardly put to words- further choked up at you taking breaths of air once more- but his heart still aches with a fierceness unrivaled.

...For now, he holds his tongue. Stills his arms from reaching out and holding you to the point it hurts. (He’d be sorry for it, but to know your alive and can feel takes precedent over all else, at the moment.) There is still a mission to finish. He can do that much.

(As much as it maddens him to do so. For the first time in his life, Jaal loathes putting the mission first. He almost lost his darling one, and he cannot react until the end? It’s no different from past missions he’s had with other angara; this hurts in a way unlike those, however.)

He gives you some time. Gives himself a few moments to be composed, before you inevitably seek him out... Yet, he cannot still his shaking hands. Hold back a few tears from escaping. How can he find any semblance of peace when he does not want to lose you...?

His back is to you, staring at nothing, when you enter. And when your voice sounds in greeting, he is quick to turn and pull you into a hug. It’s almost crushing, but he seems to have pulled himself together just enough to prevent any further harm.

You still have to ask him to ease up!

Jaal pours out his heart without any further nudging. He loves you so, seeing that was one of the worst moments of his life, how can he bear to know you may end up like that again...?

...And yet, he cannot stop you. He needs the kett stopped as much as you do. To protect his cherished people. For the chance that someday, maybe, on an off-chance... That his creators may return. Because he loves this little “extended, friend-family” that the Tempest is for him, now.

He loves you. And to love you is to know that your people- all those from the Milky Way- need the kett gone, too. This isn’t something to give up on, even though seeing you die in front of him will haunt his nightmares for the rest of his days.

...You both cry. The hug he pulls you into is less constricting, but that’s what your heart is probably doing right now, anyways. His head nuzzles the top of yours, his tears getting on there...but you cannot find it in you to care right now.

Jaal admits that he wishes to not be without you. However, his bunk is...terribly small. Isn’t yours bigger?

You can’t help but laugh and agree. A small cutscene of the two flopping onto your bed, cuddling close. A momentary comfort, for the fight ahead.

“Keep me with you, won’t you, darling one...?”

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

How about Jaal and other angara reacting to his darling Ryder doing cool magic tricks

    In short: they’d adore you...!

Magic tricks? C’mon, Ryder, that is children’s babble; most angara are openly skeptical of such an idea.

Jaal, however, still ensures that even the doubtful stick around.

Look, bored hours aboard the Tempest with little else to do means Ryder had to show everyone something to keep time from dragging on. And when they mentioned magic tricks...

He and Liam were the two hyping you up the most. Liam’s trying to mimic you, whereas Jaal skipped straight to “bragging boyfriend,” as he tends to do.

He’s just so proud!!! He wants his affections to be known, and he doesn’t hesitate a moment in enacting it.

This goes triple for his home planet.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t take long before “Ryder’s Silly Magic Show” becomes “Ryder’s Must-See Magic Show.”

From kids to adults, everyone is openly in awe of the magic tricks. How did you pull that credit from the crest of this child?! That is impossible, surely...

Watching them lose their minds is something of a treat. The reminder that the angara truly are an honest people; it’s a new reminder of how refreshing it is to be among them.

Bonus: The hardest ask was getting Evfra to oversee a show. He really tried to weasel out of it on complaints of business, but... Jaal’s pushiness (and his own curiosity) eventually won out.

Wholly expected it to be lame and lackluster; you couldn’t help the victorious smirk that slid onto your lips at even a simple sleeve trick.

His eyes went wide and any pretense of pretending to not care flew out the metaphorical window. Truly, Evfra is torn between swearing at you and staring into your sleeves for the rest of time, in a vain attempt to solve the mystery of how tf you did that?!

Only you know how it works and you taught him an itty-bitty lesson by holding off on explaining it to him for an extended period of time. (Jaal hardly knew how to explain it, too, leaving him to eventually plea for an explanation.)

...Even then, Evfra struggles to grasp the intricacies of magic tricks. Hasn’t stopped him from trying to practice, though!

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

Can we please have more mermaid ryder hc please!!!!!!

From this ask! Not gonna lie, I’m still not sure what more I can offer...but I will try!

After befriending you, one of Jaal’s favorite topics is cultural exchange. Learning new things- studying in general- is openly one of his favorite things to do, and getting to do so with you is deeply enjoyable for him! (He deeply hopes you enjoy knowing of his culture, too.)

He’s full of questions, but you rarely get tired of it. Even when you do, he’s more than happy to stop and give you some space... If not first seeing if he could help ease your stresses any!

...Jaal may also try to ask permission to watch you sleep. Yes, even at friendship stage/before dating. It’s a weird request, but he’s as honest as ever...and better to ask than not?

Honestly, it’s kinda why he’s so likeable; it’s hard to not be fond of the guy who will bluntly ask any question, with the open understanding he’ll listen and back off if you’re uncomfortable.

However, if you let him watch you fall asleep (whether you can sleep with him knowingly watching or ask him to mull around elsewhere for an hour, then come back), just... Prepare for more questions.

...Which turns into him helping you be better situated for sleeping?! Depending on your preferences, Jaal puts a sudden, large amount of work to ensure you will get the best sleep possible.

If plants help you feel safe, he offers plants from Aya and extra samples from Voeld. He is...unsure when you may be able to travel- or if you can at all- and wishes to further incorporate you into his life. (This is, essentially, the start of his courting phase.)

Each plant is carefully vetoed; ensuring it won’t change your tank’s structure too much and continue to keep you healthy. (There’s definitely at LEAST one plant that does it better than any from Earth, leading to those on the Initiative to work their asses off to adjust your tank around this better specimen.)

He also brings in potted plants. You’re in awe of their glorious coloration...! Some of them even glow!!!

If you have water-safe cloth, he may try to hand off the cloth to his mother, requesting she aid him in making a rofjinn for you.

Nude or jewelry only? He, as always, works with that; expect many new pieces, both as courting gifts and random expressions of his love. Hair pieces were the trickiest to figure out, but Ryder, the other humans, and even Vetra helped out.

Sahuna can’t quite visit at the moment...but she’s absolutely in love with you. She pesters Jaal and Ryder for every crumb of information she doesn’t yet have. (It makes him laugh, if also terribly shy at his mother’s excitement.)

Other angara also tend to stop by to visit, since you’ve got Jaal Ama Darav so starstruck! Some are...a little hurtful with their honesty (“I don’t see what the deal is, really,” one mused out loud), but others are fun and sweet! You try to keep the latter in mind, more.

...This is partially because you made the sincere mistake telling Jaal about one such comment. He proceeded to straighten up, a serious look in his eyes, and asked for details of this angaran. Realizing he was about to fight the mf who talked shit, you had to hurry and cover for a random person’s ass. Less Jaal throw hands about it.

(Alas, he probably did find that angaran while mulling about the Nexus. Hands were indeed thrown. A funny problem to have, all in all...and the realization angaran relations would need extra work, going forward.)

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

How do you think Jaal would deal with someone he is attracted to who is demisexual?

Actually, I think someone who's demisexual would be perfect for Jaal! (Not to say that Jaal could only vibe with them- Jaal is an alien of pure, loving understanding and learning- but we can get to that in a moment.)

The angara are often described as an emotional people, first and foremost. If they are mad, they will punch, yell...whatever. And nobody takes such acts personally, because it helps keep the honesty. You confess love when you feel it, know it to be true. You show love to those you care dearly about... Their love is the all encompassing type; from friendships to family to romantic partners.

But that also goes to say that Jaal would need time of his own to feel love for someone. In human terms, he is also demisexual! He would want to know the person before he develops any feelings for them. Humans fairytales of "love at first sight" are charming- he gets the appeal- but also are incredibly unrealistic to him. It has been such a short time... Do they still love each other, years down the line? Does that prince ever get frustrated at the many things his princess does not know? What of the princess; does she like her new life? (He gets additional frustrated when there is no "part 2" that answers his burning questions; such tales are left to imagination.)

ALL THIS TO SAY... He would get along very well with someone who is demisexual. He'd also find it odd that people would be weirdly judgmental of your sexuality, should that situation ever come up. It makes sense to him! At the end of the day, perhaps that is all that matters.

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

*thud* Oh, hello...? If you don't mind can I ask my questions? :3 What if Jaal one day accidering on the Alley lonely little child of the Ketts and it's amazing, but this child turned out to be is very nice and cute. The kid has followed Jaal he has no parents. What would Jaal do...? Would he want to help him or not...? (Sorry for my English. 🇮🇹)

I'm not gonna lie... I have to answer this, immediately. I've been thinking a LOT about Angara/Kett relations post-the angara finding out their origins... What if a kett never fully got mind wiped; if they remembered their home and loved ones? There's still so much to explore!

And as heartbreaking as it is to imagine a kett child... Oh. Oh, I'm into this.

[Note: I'm still going with the canon/fanon (?) that kett are incapable of producing children, thus there is great importance on relying on other races to mutate from.]

To say Jaal is happy with the situation... No. How could he be?

He has found a kett child. Who were they, before the kett took them away? Changed them? What remains of the angara they were before...?

The correct thing to do...would be to kill them. But Jaal Ama Darav is not heartless enough to do that. Even thinking of putting his hand on his weapon to bring this child peace makes his insides feel rotten.

He will leave them here. An orphaned child may not survive, a kett child less so...but he cannot bring himself to do anything of use for anyone, in this situation.

...But the child follows him. Shadows his every move. Sometimes, there's a hesitant smile there. Other times, worry. But it is like they know, now. Jaal will not hurt them. Perhaps that has made him leagues better than anyone else, especially for this child.

Who knows what they've gone through before now...?

Jaal is not a cold hearted man; he soon relents a little. Ordering extra food to see if the child will eat it. (Can a kett still safely eat angaran food...?) It's a relief when the answer is yes.

The child eventually starts bonding more openly to Jaal, and he can't find it in him to deny them.

Honestly, it's probably less than a week before Jaal is holding them, teaching them all sorts of things. Language, especially; they know broken pieces of kett, but they need to learn angaran. (Kett is not yet a language that can be translated by the humans and other Milky Way races; angaran, however, is.)

Perhaps the harder bit is getting everyone else on board...

Every single angara thinks he's lost it. What's wrong with him?! Destroy that child before it grows up to be a murderer! (Jaal is openly affronted by such words; he's likely fought over words like that, too.)

The people of the Milky Way...don't get it, either. But at least they're less openly hostile. Jaal decidedly likes them better, in this situation; even people who are openly unsure or dislike kett can be won over by the child's oddly adorable eyes and, well... Childish nature. Humans, especially, are quick to pack-bond with younglings; this kett-child is no different.

(It's also why Ryder doesn't last an hour; they absolutely love the child. The kid held their hand and Ryder probably cried about it. Jaal couldn't help but laugh when the child panicked a bit, not yet used to how emotional humans can get.)

If we talk about those on the Tempest... Again, no one is thrilled with the little kett at first, but do grow to appreciate them faster than anyone else. There's a "found family" energy on the ship, anyways; who's to stop them from adopting this child into that found family, too? (Nobody, that's who. Cause once the Pathfinder adopts the kid, nobody can really reverse that choice!)

Jaal honestly steps up to be the perfect dad. There's definitely some...confusion on raising a kett child (and no one to turn to when it comes to asking for parenting advice), but between him and the Pathfinder's crew, they make it work.

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

your blog has watered my crops and cleared my skin i love jaal so much 😭😭😭

   And Jaal loves you, dear Anon~! Stay strong and clear!

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

I've been gone for ages!! So I have to ask... DO YOU LOVE JAAL TODAY??

   The winter still lingers in the Andromeda Galaxy. Some planets have experienced great chills, others, pleasantly cool temperatures. Others have- or are having- their summers, bright and warm. Perhaps even burning hot; extremes nobody could completely handle quite yet. (Perhaps even ancient tech could make those planets semi-livable, too, someday?)

   Though time passes and this blog is quiet, nary a post nor meme seen... One thing remains constant...

   I STILL LOVE JAAL TODAY, AS HE LOVES ALL OF YOU!!!!!!

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

Welcome back! I'm excited to see your return just as I (also, like a few others) am replaying Andromeda! I think we must be on the same wavelength or something xD

   We Are All Play Andromeda Again (to romance Jaal AGAIN cause we thought we might do something new this time, but we LIED).

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

HCs for a lover who is obsessed with painting Jaal? They are an artsy person who just loves his looks?

   [ This is really delayed... Whoops! I hope this is what you’re looking for~! ]

He doesn’t know you’re an artist until way later in your initial friendship. Largely because he missed you the first time you spotted him and began sketching...the next time he’s out and about, he spots you as you’re intently, rough penciling his looks for later painting.

“Excuse me, but what are you... Oh.”

He immediately delights in your art and painting. This feeling only intensifies when you two begin to date, much to your embarrassment.

His respect goes from that to overwhelming pride. Anything you make MUST be reported back to the true mother, so that way Sahuna Ama Darav can then further pass the image around to the rest of the family.

You’re both mortified and flattered to know this, but everyone’s so nice about the whole thing.

The cool thing is he loves your interests as much as you do, so if you ever want him to pose a certain way, he’ll do it.

He...does complain the first time, since he didn’t expect to have to sit still for so long. After that, he slowly grows more comfortable in holding pose.

(Unless you’re okay with not having a live model, in which case, pictures and go is very nice and convenient. He likes to watch you paint as you use the photo as reference.)

After awhile, though... Expect him to ask about why you largely like to draw him. What about plants and nature? The stars? The creatures that the Pathfinders, well, find?

���That’s true, but... I like painting you the best. You’re so handsome, and I love working on the details of your rofjinn. As well, that scar you got...” You go into a whole ramble of how perfectly artistic he is to you.

When you find the time to meet his gaze... He’s blushing?!?

Darling, you flatter him... “Thank you.”

...The soft smile and affection in his eyes melts your heart.

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

Omg you're back just in time for when I'm replaying Andromeda and Jaal's romance 😭💜

   Awh!!! <3 I hope you have fun replaying and kissing our favorite squid-kitty alien all over again!! (I know I look forward to getting back into the swing of things......even if it means I must face the Architect all over again. Oof.)

   But in truth, I’ve always been here!! Just busy with other things. ;3cBut you know!! It’s always a good day to love Jaal~!

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

So uh... do you love Jaal today?

   Not only do I love Jaal, Anon........but he loves us.And it’s important that we remember that, always!

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

Back on my brand of Bullshit(tm), so I got a request if that's alright w u. Jaal with an Earth/Plant nymph s/o? S/o has flowers growing from her hair and needs special lamps to sit under or else she gets sick.

   Ahhh, I love writing Special Case!Readers, tbh... I like imagining what gets added to or taken away when you change certain things? I...love working in the constraints of canon. It’s so much fun!!!

   Anyways! Headcanon time!

The good news is that traveling along to Andromeda wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Having crew cycle in and out meant your habitat was always cycled as it needed to (light on, light off, and compost with water to enrich your home soil) and keep you healthy.

It’s just....spending about 600 years active, but not too much. Alive, but bored out of your leaves was....well, boring.

Your only savior ended up being asked to put into colder temperatures (to simulate winter) in order to hibernate with the majority of the crew and life on the ship.

You know how useful it is to have a nymph onboard a ship full of oxygen-needing humans?? Honestly, it was a gift you wanted to travel with them.

Being brought out of wintery stasis and into a new realm... So exciting!

....Until the Pathfinder admitted the original home planet idea was, uhhhhh, kinda fucked.

That sucked. Especially since the Pathfinder kept doing cool things and finding new planets and looking for the other arks while you got to sit around under your special lamp, trying not to die too much and keep up your usual “duties.” (It’s literally just breathing. Being a nymph like you are, you produce a higher amount of oxygen from your bonded habitat. Something a *lot* of species appreciate.... Y’know. Like humans.)

Things only got interesting again when the angara were settling in with the new guests. Then came the rest of the turians...then salarians! Hallelujah, friendly, familiar faces!! (Well, aside from the angara, but you know.)

Making new friends was a lot easier. Things go better, so many people to inform about your life, what you do...how pretty you look...! The angara aren’t shy about crooning over your appearance and it’s embarrassing, but you revel in it.

They love it even more when your flowers bloom at their best, a lovely fragrance in the air following their praises. How sweet! They adore you and not a soul on Aya doesn’t know of you.

This is also how Jaal ends up learning of you.

It starts with a small conversation about who you are, what you do...the basics. Then, what Earth is like; the Pathfinder and another pair of humans on board the Tempest mention it a lot, but what more of it? You find yourself detailing it to him.

And it snowballs from there. Plant life, what societal norms mean to you, how you see the world, what you think of the cold and what he thinks of the heat. (He can’t imagine being hateful of the cold, but when you ask him how he feels about dry, burning heat then, he gets a disgusted look on his face that makes you laugh brightly. ...He then muses he sees why humans would describe laughs as a “tinkling of bells.”)

Jaal loves to bring gifts to you. He even shoves himself into learning about your compost-soil meals and what your special lamps do to make sure you’re in the best of shape.

“I wouldn’t need them if a star here could match the sun of our home,” you explain to him one day, curled around your special tree. “But the way things have been going, it doesn’t sound like we’re quite there, yet. So until then... These lamps keep me thriving, as does the air of the Nexus as a whole.”

“...I see. That is quite intriguing.”

Doesn’t stop Jaal from then asking Cora and the Pathfinder what can be done to bring you to Aya. By this point, Jaal has become set on you. Not aware of it until Cora calls him out for being so “doggedly persistent” on finding ways to bring you to Aya; that is his home city, after all.

...Yes, his feelings kind of have gone deeper than he first expected, haven’t they...? Not that he minds any. He adores you and that’s all there is to it, in his eyes.

So do you get to see Aya? Yes. Getting Director Tann to part with you for a few hours onto a spaceship to a new planet makes him nervous, but the good news is he’s a kiss-ass to the Pathfinder, so he can’t do much if he wanted to.

Aya....feels like home. You still need your lap, as Aya is a warm planet, but too warm without the tarps above their homes. Still, he finds some time after making you meet some of his family, his mother, Paaran Shie, and even Evfra before rolling you out on your special lil trolley out into the sun, where you get to soak up some natural sunlight....for once.

It feels so much better than those stupid lamps, honestly.

What’s even better, though? Jaal meeting you out into that warm sun to kiss you gently. Just enough pressure to make even a nymph like you dizzy, but still so sweet in the gentleness he has with you.

You stay out with them for a bit longer, taking over Cora’s room (since her already plant-filled room is made suited for....y’know, plants? Including plant-people?) and talking quite a lot with Jaal.

They show you Voeld from afar (you honestly whine just looking at the freezing planet it’s become), take you on a small tour of Eos (it’s not the best place, but nice...until you listen to the Pathfinder and stick your hand outside of the barrier; how is the planet still so WARM?!?), and even just admiring the galaxy itself for a little while as the Pathfinder does a few extra things along the way.

From then on, well... Things are still being worked out, but Jaal visits whenever he can. Pathfinder’s in to do help some people? Get updates? Here comes Jaal not too long later, telling you recent tales and adventures. It makes you feel bad to not have much to tell him in turn- aside from gossip- but kisses make things better.

...That and he surprisingly loves to hear gossip. Most things he leaves alone, understanding that is up to the individual to work through...but if you’ve overheard miscommunication, he will storm off to find the people involved and get things worked out, ASAP. It really is a double-edged sword, telling him things like that.....

When he’s there, will oversee trimming duties (he tries to learn from them) and those who supply your soil with compost. Jaal also ends up offering potential new, Andromeda-based ideas to add to your soil. Nobody’s sure if they should do it yet (Milky Way versus Andromeda...is it worth the risk?), but...the other caretakers and scientists keep it in mind.

Jaal’s the only one aside from Cora allowed to touch the hair. Cora, because her plant knowledge keeps her gentle, and Jaal because....everything about him is gentle. Oh, and he’s also your boyfriend now, so like-?? Why not?

He’s the only one allowed to keep any of the flowers you may shed off over your lifetime, though. The Pathfinder and Cora taught him about flower pressing; something he wasn’t initially too thrilled about, but as your blooms die out rather quickly when not attached to you anymore, he quickly realized how worth it doing that is, and now has a small collection of about 4 so far.

He’s very proud of them.

When it’s time to rest and turn the lamps off for a little while, he sings you angaran lullabies. You would’ve thought lullabies wouldn’t help you sleep, but oh boy, did they work their magic.

Still doesn’t rival the joy on his face when you wake up, though, and he’s still there to witness it. Nothing gives him more joy than to have enough time to spend with you where you can rest a bit to the sound of his voice and then see him again when he wakes up.

It’s the closest thing to a normalcy of waking up together that he’ll get and he’s very aware of it...so he doesn’t take moments like that for granted.

Nexus gave you a phone and an account to keep in touch with the Pathfinder team. This also meant an email, in which letters from Jaal’s mother, Sahuna, are very common. She plans to make a nice meal for the crew and then work with Jaal to figure out something nice for you. Is water from Aya too simple?!?

She worries a lot over how to take care of you and give you proper family treatment in a way that suits your needs. You adore her. Best mom ever.

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

Bc I am a sucker for the trope: Jaal finding his S/O sitting in the cryo bay, talking to a pod, bc theyve been thawed but the rest of their family have not yet.

Me: I’ll save this for later.Also Me, a sucker for gentle angst: No I won’t.    I also wasn’t thinking and instinctively used Pathfinder!Reader, so if you want me to adjust this later with a civilian Reader, just lemme know~

   Fifteen minutes have trekked on by and this “short stop” to the Nexus still wasn’t over. Usually, Jaal wouldn’t have minded that. Being on the Nexus meant studying the odd little life forms that now shared their galaxy. While Jaal only got better acquainted on humans through Liam and the Pathfinder, he was still a bit lacking on the other races. What of the krogan and asari? The turians, salarians...and even the left behind drell, quarians, and hanar? What were they like? What had been left behind in that Milky Way?

   Still. Even with all this research he could do, questions he could ask... There was a lot to be done with the kett. His people still needed help and it made him a bit antsy to know that Ryder hadn’t gotten back yet. Where had they gone? Where was there to go...? So Jaal set out to find out.

   He started with the main area, wandering into the bar as he looked for the familiar glimpse of the Pathfinder...with no luck. No sight of the Pathfinder in their typical casual wear anywhere.

   When sight can’t help, turn to the people. And Vetra, stationed not too far from the Tempest in her favorite hangout spot, seemed like a good start.

   “Vetra!” His voice is louder than he means it to be, but few look over at him anymore. Angara aren’t a new idea to the Nexus and neither is Jaal, having worked alongside Ryder for as long as he has. If anything, those that do start are watching the interesting trot of his legs as he hurries over to Vetra, rofjinn swaying as he stops before her. “I wanted to know if you’ve seen the Pathfinder.”

   “Ryder?” She echoes, looking around a moment...then shrugging. “Well, if not around here, maybe deeper in the Nexus. I hear they’ve still got family in cryo.” Cryo...? It hits Jaal that- for all the thoughts of his own family- he really hasn’t paid enough attention to Ryder’s own. It’s a rather embarrassing thought, really, and there’s a slight, vibrant hue to his face that rises over the purple.

   “Hey, don’t be too embarrassed,” Vetra chirps up, a kind twinkle in her eye as she pauses her work to reach up and pat his shoulder. “We’re all a bit focused on our own thing right now. The fact that you’re worried for them at all means more than you’ll know... Anyways. You’ll have to take the tram back that way,” and here, she points back farther, to a dark little hallway, “and onto the Hyperion. They’ve got their cryo bay there.”

   “Ah, thank you, Vetra. Isharay.”

   “Uh, later.” She watches him go for a moment before turning back to her work for the Tempest, while Jaal is already halfway up the ramp and moving something like an alien cheetah to the tram, stepping inside with a bit more hesitance as he looks at the screen.

   ...Does he just...click where he needs to go? Should’ve asked Vetra, but then again, he’s never used this part of the Nexus before. At least finding the Hyperion is easy enough. From there it’s... Ah! There’s the Cryo Bay! A gentle press of a button has the doors firmly shut and the car lurch into action, sending Jaal off to the Hyperion.

   Plenty of humans give Jaal weird, dirty looks for being on the Hyperion, but he doesn’t pay them much mind. The path from here on is a simple one and he doesn’t need to mind any of the weird looks people are trying to shoot his way. Give him a moment to get the Pathfinder back, and then they’ll be on their way....

   Though even before he can step into the cryo bay, he spots them. They’re nervously hovering beside a pod that hasn’t been opened yet, and seems a little damaged. However, with the people fussing around it- going to and fro like insects- he supposes they’ll be getting the person out sooner rather than later.

   ...Is that one of their family...?

   Now finding himself hesitant, he steps forward some more, until his hand can gently press against their back and draw their eyes up to his in surprise.

   They’ve been crying.

   “J-Jaal... What are you doing here?”

   “It’s been quite some time... I wondered where you’d gone.” The Pathfinder looks around a moment, freezes, then blinks into reality, sighing. Jaal isn’t quite used to this all yet, but it wouldn’t take a genius to assume SAM had cued in to tell the current time.

   “Gosh, I-I’m sorry... I wanted to run an errand, but then I wanted to check up on my sib, see how they were doing...” A pause, the soft sound of them swallowing hard. “...They’re gonna get them out of there today, you know. But they still can’t wake up yet... The pod malfunctioned. They’ll have to put ‘em through a medically induced coma before....” Ryder sniffed, raising a hand to wipe at their eyes as they sighed...and Jaal could only stare.

   How could he only think of himself? His own people’s problems? The scourge posed more problems to all of them... What could the kett do to the humans? To Ryder’s own sibling? It...worried him. So much more than he could ever find to put into words.

   Slowly, gently, he pulled Ryder into a hug, the tears moving a little faster...and Jaal, too, even cried. What must it be like, to see family that you’re so close to...be so close? Yet not there with you? They didn’t have their sibling on their first trip in Andromeda (as dangerous as it had ended up being), they wouldn’t have them for some time yet...and Ryder had already willingly told Jaal their parents were both gone.

   The humans lost plenty coming here, too. One shouldn’t shoulder all burdens...but to ignore others own hurt was terrible in its own way, too, wasn’t it?

   “Things will be alright,” he assured gently, one hand moving up to cup the back of their head. “Stay strong and clear. Remember that... I will say it, until you can say it with me.” They nodded, clinging to him a little more as the doctors set up a bed and way to get the other Ryder out of the cryo pod and into the next step...

   ...Despite everything about present circumstances, Jaal could barely wait for the day in which they could properly meet....and all the stories that would likely come from their lips. The embarrassment, the joy...and the peace that family would live on and stay together, forevermore.

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

Got on your blog as I'm starting to get back into Andromeda. Actually felt tears in my eyes as I gazed on Jaal's sweet face. How dare I neglect my husband? If you're still doing headcanons/imagines, is it alright to ask Jaal with a fem s/o going through a rough spot? Missing/Mourning family, depression making it hard to do stuff, the Fun Stuff. As always, love you and the blog <3

   And I still look upon your stuff with great joy~! I don’t think I’ve ever told you my main and, at this point, I think I’ll let it remain a mystery. :P      But I know EXACTLY how you feel… I miss Jaal so much! Sunshine of my life!!! ….But fighting that piece of shit Architect on Voeld again… I don’t want to. (And my dad’s XBOX has my file, sldkfgjfkd.)

   Anywho! I’d love to fulfill this request! Let’s get a nice fic going in this house tonight…

   At first, it wasn’t too bad. New place, new stars, a new race to meet… It all blew the Milky Way out of the water. The drell and quarians felt so far away now, Earth even farther as you got inducted into the new life that Andromeda provided. Still felt shaky, still felt uncertain at times…but the future truly was now.

   Then again, that was before the shock wore off. Before you sat down, realized your situation, and spiraled.

   Holy shit, your family is gone. The Milky Way was hundreds- no, billions- of light years away and with it, so many familiar things you might not ever see again…especially not in the same way. You knew it was bad when you burst into tears over never having your favorite chips or fast food place or favorite dessert… Yet it was still just the tip of the iceburg that was the mounting panic and depression that had begun to overtake you.

   No, that relentless panic didn’t stop until your eyes burned from tears you could no longer shed, chest aching, muscles aching in your hands where you clenched your fists, and the ever-present ache of feeling so, so alone despite being surrounded by people you’ve known. People you could know, with a little more bravery.

   You ended up falling asleep that way, napping off the exhaustion.

   It was a few hours later when you awoke, unsure why and rather dazed until you heard a muffled “I’m coming in,” and your door sliding open. The voice should’ve alerted you, but fresh from sleep, it took not the near-silent padding of his feet, but the view of Jaal Ama Darav stepping into your room for your heart to jolt into a panic, suddenly wide awake and very aware you’d passed out from a crying fit. Stars, please ensure you look decent enough for company…!

   “Jaal…?”

   “Taoshay, Darling One,” he hums gently, hesitating a moment- likely out of politeness from learned human customs (odd as they are, he’s admitted before)- before going right back to what he knows best: walking over to your bed, taking a seat near your legs, and studying your face. “Are you alright? Lunch and dinner were called, but you didn’t show.”

   “O-Oh… Has it been that long?” Not surprising, but all the same… Your stomach did kinda hurt. “Sorry. I guess time got awa-”

   “You missed breakfast, too,” he pointed out, eyes narrowing suspiciously. Instantly, you faltered in your attempts for flimsy excuses. “And dinner the night before, as well. I heard reports that you’ve been having…snacks instead of your meals. Darling one… If something is the matter, you can tell me.”

   He says it with no hesitation, staring intently at you a moment before reaching his hands out, taking one of your hands in his and cupping it. Once again, you’re reminded of how big he is… It’s somehow so easy to forget, around lanky salarians and human-esque drell, that angara are…rather big.

   You’re at a loss. Jaal’s patiently waiting. For a moment, you consider trying to dodge the topic- Jaal wouldn’t like it, but he’d accept that you don’t wish to talk about what troubles you, if it’s that bad- but remembering what’s been getting at you just a few hours earlier gets your face hot and newfound tears bubbling up in your eyes.

   “…Darling One?” He sounds so lost for once and you don’t resist; moving forward to slump into his chest. When he lets go of your hand, you hold onto him like he’s your anchor…and he seems to understand. The weight of his arms around you, heavy, and yet as soft and warm as ever, breaks down more of the ache you didn’t know you had, crying even harder than before.

   He hums a song you’ve never heard before- an angaran lullaby, maybe- and strokes your head as you cry.

   “…I see,” he hums later, having told him everything that had been on your mind. Jaal takes it as easily as anyone would expect from him, quiet and thoughtful, listening until the end. “Darling One… You are so strong, you know that?”

   “Huh?” You look up as he laughs, stroking your cheek with his thumb. A delightful sound with a pleasant look on his face… Your heart aches with affection and it’s almost hard to remember what you were upset about.

   “It’s not easy to part from family… Yet you did. Though in parting them, you realize you have a new family?”

   “I…wouldn’t really consider the other people on the Nexus my-” Your voice gets cut off by his laughter and despite your initial indignation for him laughing, it’s such a boisterous, happy sound that…you suppose you don’t mind it any.

   “The Nexus, yes… No, my dear, I mean my family. One does not have to be a mother to be one of the mothers, you understand?” …oh. It’s awkward and your cheeks heat up a little in embarrassment, but at least Jaal’s still getting a kick out of it, chest shaking gently with laughter. “But yes, there’s that…and despite your depression, you do so much. You fight against yourself every day and you win. Even if it’s just because you made it out of bed or as bold as saying hi to someone new… That’s the greatest fight of all, Darling One.”

   Jaal shifted, sitting up more and dragging up his hands to cup your cheeks, tilting your head back a little as he smiled. “There’s no greater fight than ones with ourselves. I heard that, recently. We angara are very open… You humans? Not so much. You fight so much already, physically, emotionally, and mentally… To have more to deal with is no….how do you say it?” He paused, tilting his head a moment, eyes flicking away a moment… “Ah, walk in the park. It’s no walk in the park to fight with your own mind like that…and win.

   “Darling One, if things ever become too much for you… If you need help, I am here.” Now he was gently tugging you up, pressing foreheads together before tilting his head into a gentle, loving kiss. “Remember what I say, Darling One…

   “Stay strong and clear.” You said it with him, perhaps not as strongly or as confidently as he did, but enough for that smile to brighten.

   “Very good.” With that, he readjusted his grip and stood up with his arms holding onto you, gently setting you to the floor…and hands hovering in case you weren’t ready to stand yet. (You quickly grabbed onto them, head reeling from the hours-long-nap and the lack of food.) “Now, where shall we begin? Food? Do you need to wash up?”

   “Food…and plenty of drinks,” you whined, stepping forward to rest your head on his chest. “I don’t feel so good.”

   “Not enough liquids or food,” he sighed, shaking his head. “If only you lot were adjusted to nutrient paste… Easier to have on hand, you know. Come along then, Darling One. Let’s get you a meal.”

[do-i-love-jaal-today]

❝🏆 This is the Amazing Person Award 🏆 ✨💛 Once you are given this award you are supposed to paste it in the ask of eight different people, who, in your opinion, deserve it. If you break the chain nothing will happen, but it is sweet to know someone thinks you're amazing inside and out 💛✨❞

   Awh, Nonnie.... ; o ; This is so sweet! It’s nice to know that- even now- this blog is being thought of and remembered. Especially since I’ve been feeling rather deep in the depression pit lately! Talk about an uplift!!

   So with that said... Here’s a reminder to everyone who follows this blog:

   Stay strong, and clear! Tough times are impermanent, with better times coming. I know it’s often hard to see or think that good things will happen...or that you deserve them. But you do. Your existence alone makes you special and deserving better things in life.

   So believe that they are on their way, and keep pushing on! I’m cheering for you!!! (And Jaal’s been cheering since you first met, of course. Whatta dork.)