WIP Whenever What ails you...
(Notes: This is a writing prompt that @natsora generously challenged me to do. The criteria was a Shiara fic with the following prompts,
Im sorry, Iām so sorry. Passing out A makes a mistake and b pays the price.
Since I was tagged for a WIP Wednesday, I decided to do this as a whenever because its obviously isnt Wednesday. And I wanted to let you know, I was working on it. :))
Our story begins... Illium 2185
Work⦠it had been increasingly difficult to do the closer the day came around.Ā
Shepardā¦Ā
Liara sat at her desk, eyes focused not on the wealth of information coming through the vid screens but the single holo picture of her newly resurrected lover. Emotions roiled within, leaving her feeling as if she were fighting a maelstrom. Trepidation at today's agenda left the normally cool headed Asari⦠rattled.
It bothered her that she found herself unable to jump in, when all she wanted was what they had lost⦠no, what she had lost. For two years she grieved, fell apart, experienced hurt so deeply that it had felt as if she could die from it. In her delirious need to fill the holes left in her soul she had hunted for Shepard⦠found her, and even gave her to a terrorist organization on the slimmest chance that she could be brought back.Ā
How many times did she feel she had betrayed her love for that desperate act? How much more hurt had she heaped upon herself for the actions she had taken? How many more was there yet to be had?
When Shepard had reached Illiam she had been beside herself with emotions⦠ones that mirrored the ones she felt now. Were there really words for them?Ā
Liara sighed, forcing herself out of the chair trying to find any distraction, but emerald eyes haunted her. That day Shepard came⦠she had wanted more than that kiss. The needs that filled her had damn near pushed her into an early unwanted heat⦠itās madness had clawed at her, raking across the soul, drawing blood. If Shepard had been alone would she have had the fortitude to tell her no? Did she have that strength now?
Goddess she felt crazyā¦
Soul sickness was a terrible curse⦠still she pined for her mate. Hungered for the bonds that had been, cried for the home that was... it left her terrified what would happen if she let herself have this concession. That kiss had nearly undone herā¦
The madness bubbled so near the surface Liara found herself suddenly considering the time allotted to her with her LĆ©aina and how hard it would be to bump it up. āCalm down Liaraā¦ā She murmured, forcing herself to take a deep breath⦠in through the nose, out through the mouth.
An action she repeated several times even as she made a mental note of how close it was for Shepard to arrive. A truly counter productive experience if ever she had one⦠Growling in frustration LiaraĀ found herself bringing up her omni toolĀ to send a quick note to Soteria, asking if she would be able to help with the time allotment change for her next session.Ā
To her surprise, her LĆ©aina sent back a quick response, one she did not anticipate at all. āIām calling you⦠pick up.ā Secondās later her omni tool said just that.
With a spike to her vitals she answered, and prayed silently to Athame that the quiver she felt did not register in her voice.Ā
āLiara speaking.ā
āHey sweetheart.āĀ
To her surprise a sense of relief filled her the moment LƩaina Soteria spoke in that warm contralto voice.
āI have this feeling your day is a lot more stressful than you anticipated. So, I wanted to personally remind you that you have my time whenever you need it, for whatever reasons, not only because of your Oestrus cycle. If you feel you need to move up tonight, or tomorrow, we will do that. Even if you need to talk, I am here for you; my Cria. I know from last time that you are going through something stressful, because of this, I felt it pertinent to remind you, I am here.ā
As if sensing Liaraās mental state she continued.
āI want you to put one hand on your stomach, and one on your chest, when you breathe in, push the hand on your stomach out, hold it⦠and out through the mouth.ā
When Liara had done this deep breathing exercise it had felt as if she were gulping air to no effect, now, under LĆ©aina Soeteriaās guidance she slowed the breath down, holding it as Soteria continued the instruction.
āAs you do it again, I want you to focus on feeling your pulse begin to slow, the tension in your neck dissipating as you relax your shoulders.ā
She drew in that breath, holding it for a count of three before expelling it through pursed lips.
āAnd a final breathā¦ā
With LĆ©aina Soteriaās guidance she was able to find the calm that she had blasted out the airlock while thinking about Shepard.
(End for now)
Special Notes: I write all my Asari with the premise that they go into Heat for their reproductive cycle. I find it a fascinating contrast to their big brains, and perhaps a necessary evolutionary adaptation for long lives and low birth counts. It is called their Oestrus cycle. They become attractive to other species who can smell these changes in them, and to eachother... while also having an insatiable desire to mate. Because of this they have a class of highly trained Asari called - Léaina - Trusted women who help asari through their heat. There are private Leaina and commercialized Leaina. They are guardians & protectors, psychiatrists, and spiritual advisors. Léaina literally means Lioness in greek :P it felt like the right choice.
They have sanctuaries called Denās where those afflicted with their oestrus will go, to protect them from the madness of themselves, and others affected by it. They can be a single room sanctuary or a large commercialized den where many rooms and many LĆ©aina work.
Cria - is ACTUALLY the name of a baby alpaca, like cats have kittens, but i wanted it to be a word one said that meant they were someone who the LƩaina not only felt responsible for, but also attached to. Like their little ones who needed protection, guidance and help when necessary. I thought what better than the name of a baby under a mothers care? :3c
(More to come later~)








