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jacensolodjo · 3 years

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I... honestly don’t know if I got into Shane’s mindset properly here but whatever. And I never feel like I fully grasp Jack but. Look. I wrote a Thing with them ok?? I tried lmao *Tony Stark I think I did okay.gif*

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Jack had said she wanted at least 10 minutes of solo fight time. So Shane had no choice but to wait on the hill in prone, sniper rifle at the ready. She doubted she would actually fire a shot before Charging down the hill towards Jack. Patience was not at all Shepard’s strong suit and everyone knew it. Especially Jack. Shane was starting to wonder if Jack was teasing her, testing her.

And showing off. She was showing off. They both did, they both cajoled each other into higher and higher kill counts. If they were going to kill something, let it be Cerberus fuckheads, had been the logic from the get go.

Shane watched, half-disbelieving, as Jack literally ripped the spine out of a Nemesis. As the other biotic was turning to look at the hill, Shane quickly pulled the trigger. Jack flinched, just a little, as the bolt slammed through a heavily armored Centurion that had been barely a foot away, right at the brain stem. Guess I gotta tell Anderson disconnecting the computer still works, Shane thought.

“So your way was cleaner,” Jack shrugged as she spoke over the comms.

“I’m hurt y’think that’s why I did it,” Shane remarked back, rolling her eyes even though there was no way Jack could see it.

Shane really wasn’t the sniper of the crew. She could do it, but she hated it. And her original classification had always meant her CQC was top notch. And had only grown after Project Lazarus and finally getting the go-ahead to be called ‘Vanguard’ rather than ‘Adept’.

“Yeah well, still got another minute solo,” Jack said dismissively before turning to walk back into the fray. She had lured a good number of them out of the building but Shane was sure there were quite a few waiting for them inside still.

Shane tapped the side of her helmet, swapping frequencies. On her last mission she had managed to snag the frequency codes that most of the lower-level Cerberus troops used. It was far easier to eavesdrop on them that way than trying to get EDI to hack into their system. And at the moment, she didn’t even have the Normandy nearby. The two biotics had taken a simple shuttle to this simple planet for a simple kill Cerberus mission.

“We need backup! Repeat: backup! Subject Zero and Commander Shepard are here!” a frantic voice was screaming. A little late, Shane mused, but she didn’t much care if they got backup or not. It would just put her on more even footing with the scoring.

“No backup, you are ordered to evacuate. If you stay there you will be signing your own death warrant. Do not engage Subject Zero or Commander Shepard,” a calmer, cooler voice replied. Shane wracked her brain. trying to pin down where or if she had heard the voice before.

“But we need backup to cover the escape! We’ve lost a quarter of our defenses already! Our troops are saying they haven’t even seen Shepard enter the fray yet!”

“Then enjoy dying.”

“Banes, you can’t--”

Banes?!?! That was it.

“Armistan, I’m a little offended. Why shouldn’t I have some fun on y’company’s dime?” Shane broke in, unable to stop herself even knowing it meant they’d realize she had their frequency and everything else.

“Commander Shepard, this is not the first time you’ve interrupted my work,” Banes said coolly.

“An’ the first time I did wasn’t the first time y’Cerberus fucks sicced a Thresher Maw on me.”

“Ah, so you did learn about Akuze. A shame that memorial didn’t turn out like it should have...”

“Fuck you!” Shane instantly felt her biotics activate around her. “I’m going t’ fucking rip your head off your fucking body y’piece of scheiße!”

“Now, now no need to get nasty,” Banes chided, still cool as a damn cucumber. Why the hell were Cerberus men always like this? Always knowing exactly how to just make her even more mad!?

“Once I’m done here, you’ll see how fuckin’ nasty I can really be,” Shane growled, standing up. She surveyed the area in front of her. Jack had gone inside. Damn. She had gotten distracted yelling at Banes. Holding back a sigh, Shane instead Charged down the hill and past the carnage Jack was responsible for.

“I look forward to it. Troopers, change to frequency gamma. This has been a wonderful chat, Commander Shepard, but I’m afraid it ends now.”

“I’m not done with you!” she didn’t care if the frequencies had already changed. She’d get him eventually. He had to know that.

“You are for now,” Banes said before a very soft click. Shane growled again but then turned the frequency back to the one she shared with Jack.

“Where the fuck are you?” Shane demanded, a lot harsher than she meant. She was still riled by her conversation with Banes. Dammit. She thought of apologizing but knew Jack would likely just wave it off.

“I could say the same damn thing, bitch! What, were you daydreaming out there?” at least Shane could count on Jack not much caring if Shane was a little curt.

“I eavesdropped on them. They’re trying to evacuate instead of holding the area,” Shane explained, running at her max speed while following the trail that she knew would lead to Jack.

“Uh huh. You did way more than eavesdrop,” Jack said. Shane honestly didn’t know why she thought she could ever fool Jack. Jack knew what Shane was going to do before Shane even thought it.

“You would too if you heard fucking Banes on the line using your number,” Shane returned before finally sprinting around a corner to find the meat of the action once more.

“My nu-- oh, fuck that! That’s hardly--” but Jack stopped speaking to instead fling two Guardians at a wall, smashing them into pulp within their armor.

“Hardly worth gettin’ pissy over?” Shane asked mildly, Charging right past Jack to fire off a short burst from her stolen Mattock into a line of troopers.

“Well, kinda, yeah. But... thanks,” Jack admitted, before flinging a Phantom into the air. Shane smiled to herself before peppering the Phantom full of holes as it rotated in mid-air.

In all honesty, Shane was glad to hear Jack wasn’t reacting as badly to ‘Subject Zero’. She was healing. But that wasn’t going to make Shane suddenly shrug about the use of the moniker. Especially from Cerberus.

“Also, it was kinda half-selfish anyway. Banes was responsible for what happened to Kahoku’s men. He sicced a fuckin’ thresher on me when I went to look for the missing troops,” Shane continued, seeing no point in pretending it was all selfless caring of Jack’s ‘feelings’

“Ah, damn. S’e’here?” Jack asked as the pair finally reconnected to storm down a hallway. Jack had heard the tale of woe many times when it came to Akuze, but the Kahoku mission was new. Though Jack never really cared about learning new things about Shane, in that she didn’t actually go asking, it was only natural to learn more at ‘surprising’ times. They couldn’t possibly talk about each other’s 20+ years of life in the galaxy and still have time to kill some Cerberus fucks. It wasn’t hidden history, just history they hadn’t brought up yet. The reason they worked out so well is they had no expectations of such. Their histories had to come up organically, not after playing 20 questions. They bonded because their trauma was shared, the same people had caused them both a lot of pain and torment. In different ways, sure, but still the same people.

“Nah, I dunno where he is but he definitely isn’t here. The way he said things it seemed like he was already on a ship away from here,” Shane admitted. It was a disappointment but it would be rectified.

“Well, you and I both know there’s no Cerberus fuck in the galaxy who can hide from us for very long. You wanna go after him, you know I’m fucking there,” Jack said, not even sounding out of breath yet. Shane had to admire her resilience.

“Yeah, I know. Let’s finish up here then we’ll worry about Banes,” Shane said, offering a slight smile at the other biotic. Jack smirked back then as one they literally leaped into the next battle.

#femshep #jacqueline nought #subject zero #jack x commander shepard #femshep x jack #femshack #Текст #otp: biotic bitches #my writing #me: slides in on V-day with femshack while sipping a Starbucks #long post

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pansexualseaanimals · 3 years

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Chapter 9 Sneak Peeks ‘Cause You Deserve It

Hey guess what? I’m still alive! I haven’t been writing for a while because these past few chapters have kind of been making me face things about my own life that I hadn’t given due time to address and manage (especially Pyxis and Rory’s thoughts on how parents can “love you but not want you”, and stuff said by multiple people in chapter 9, the one I’m still writing) so I kinda just dealt with those thoughts and came to conclusions and stuff in my own mind while I endlessly binged anime and video games. Not that I don’t normally do that, mind you, but I did it a lot more and not much else.

Luckily, I live in a wonderful gorgeous apartment in my favorite town I’ve ever lived in (the only town I’ve ever called home, in fact! At least, in this world!) and it’s super comfortable and I live with my best friend who is way too good of a roommate if I must be frank - I’d rather be Columbia, honestly - and life has been relatively super good, so like. Don’t worry! I’m so happy in my life the way it is! I’m back home in the Midwest, surrounded by beauty and friends who’ve helped me out more than I could ever ask (but I did, let’s not lie lol) and... I still have depression and I’m working on that and planning on getting a doctor soon, but... I’m starting new good habits, getting into things I’ve been wanting to try, and yeah... I’m rambling at this point so I’ll make the rest quick.

I wanted to give sneak peeks because it’s been SO LONG and I don’t know how many people really actually read this thing? Like, “I’m excited that there’s a new chapter” kind of peeps? But no matter how few there are, you guys all deserve something nice, and this was all I could think of. Instead of just posting one scene, I’ll post a few clips from a bunch of scenes. Everything is subject to change as I keep writing, so it might not match the finished product, but... That just means you guys are extra-special! Heehee! ^__^

Excerpts are below the read-more cut. Hope it’s enjoyable!

\/\/\/\/\/

"Oh, I've got twenty-five coins for the sea show clanking in the backseat, whoa-oh. I've got thirty-two seashells lined up in a row..." Caurel happily sang as she covered the turquoise side in pink, pausing and hiding in a corner when she noticed Zebra rising out of the spawn pool. The younger Inkling, hesitant, flung her brush wildly to cover the pink ink and swam forward, repeating the process every few feet. When she dropped down to the valley, she triggered another Ink Mine, this time getting away just quickly enough.

"Not falling for that again," they sighed... right before Caurel popped out of her corner and slashed her brush at her, sending her floating right back to the spawn point. Unable to keep from giggling, Caurel re-inked the entrance ramp and climbed up to the higher level, brushing quickly down the alley as Zebra respawned again.

"And I'll swim, swim, swim, to my darling Martha... And let her lay me down in the bay where the warm winds blow~"

"Are we singing the same song?" Penny shouted from the audience, loud enough to be heard over the stage music.

"'Martha's Bay' by the Seagulls?" Caurel shouted back for confirmation.

"I knew it! Ahhh, I love you!"

"I love you, too, Butterfly!"

"Boooo!" Rocky shouted as he took out Thresher. "Get a room!"

"But their love for each other is like our love," Ankyr said with a wink.

"You really are a sea turtle."

"Hey, only Pyxis can call me-" SPLASH! Ankyr fell prey to Bonnet's Heavy Splatling.

"FOR ANKYR!" Rocky jumped up and flung his roller down before rolling toward Bonnet - and getting caught in a freshly thrown Splash Wall.

"I love it when he does that," Tiger squeaked.

\/\/\/\/\/

"What took you so long? Why did you trade Ankyr for these randos?"

"Rocky," Caurel sighed. "They're the friends we were supposed to meet today, remember?"

"Oh..."

"Guys, this is Rocky, our squad's leader," Pyxis laughed.

"Nice to meet you," Carina said, stepping forward to shake Rocky's hand. "Don't worry, my 'boyfriend' will be back soon."

"'BOYFRIEND'?" The entire crowd turned their attention to the charismatic newcomer.

"It's just an inside joke," Pyxis hastily assured them. "You'd just have to be there."

"Yeah, he kind of saved me a lot of hassle," Carina shrugged.

"My Sunshine has inside jokes with people I don't know," Moises thought out loud. "Not sure how I feel about this..."

"Well, you know us now," Hans piped up. "She's Carina, I'm Hans, this here is Shera, and the rude guy is Cygnus."

"I haven't said anything rude yet!"

"We all know you will," Shera said as she scooched over to Abbey. "So, what's your name?"

"I'm aromantic," Abbey said between sips of coffee. Their friends howled with laughter in the background.

"Aw, that's too bad... Are you... asexual, too?"

"They're not sex-repulsed, if that's what you mean," Pyxis jumped in. "That's not what asexual means, though."

"Sweet little Pyxis," Cygnus chuckled, patting his friend on the head. "Always here to educate her friends."

"...You mean their friends," Rocky corrected.

"What? No. You too? Are all Squids okay with the whole fluid-gender thing?"

"You didn't even last five minutes," Hans sighed, covering his face with his palm.

"Look, she was born with lady-parts, am I wrong or am I right?"

"Here's what I know," Rocky began slowly, stepping closer to the Octoling and staring him in the eye. "This particular group of friends respects what people choose to call themselves. When you're with us, you refer to Pyxis as they/them. If you can't handle that, you can swim back home."

"ROCKY!" Caurel grabbed her brother's arm and yanked him down to sit beside her. "They're our guests!"

"And Pyxis is family," he bit back. "Which is more important to you?"

"Wow, they really worship you around here," Cygnus laughed, turning to leave. "Do they even really know you? Your history? What have you been telling them?"

"Cygnus, get back here and act your age," Carina commanded.

"No thanks, Your Majesty."

The crowd was hushed for some time, the noises of the audience around them and the battle down below, permeating their silent space.

"Sorry about that," Carina finally spoke up. "I told him to behave himself. But he's... how do you say... stuck in his ways."

"He's only twenty-two," Shera rolled her eyes. "He's just a stubborn pufferfish."

"You okay, honey?" Hans asked Pyxis, who was too busy processing their own thoughts to realize they should answer.

"...I'm family?"

\/\/\/\/\/

And now, here’s Shera going goo-goo over more Inklings

---

“Vanilla? Is that a brand, or...?"

"Oh no, I just mean, the original one."

"So... Vanilla means original?"

"The basic form of something, yes. Regular. It's just slang."

"Who's the person with the gatling?"

"Ah, that's Pixie with the Zink Mini Splatling. Disruptor and Bubbler."

"Pixie..." Shera turned to where Pyxis was seated. "PIXIE!"

"Yes?"

"I can never call you Pixie again! That's the name of my new future wife!" Ecto and Thresher couldn't help but laugh.

"...Glad to hear it?"

"She's actually dating Ty right now," Tandy pointed out. "Sorry, you'll have to look elsewhere."

"Darn."

"Great Overseer," Carina sighed. "Why are you so thirsty today?"

"I dunno, Queenie," Shera shrugged and shook her head. "Look. I had no idea Squidlings could be so attractive, okay?"

"I mean, she's not wrong," Hans laughed. "The first time I saw Ankyr..."

"YOU CAN DO IT, GUYS!" Pyxis suddenly stood up and cheered as loud as they could.

\/\/\/\/\/

And now for some good parents! Specifically, Ecto’s dads. Well, one of them. The other is busy playing Pokémon with Caurel and co. in the living room at this moment. They haven’t been mentioned much so far, but they’re great friends with the Waters (Waters’? Waterss?) ever since all the families met, and Rocky and Caurel hang out with them a lot.

---

"That's because you can look back on the past, apply your knowledge of the present, and cook up a better future for yourself. A new happiness. Again, one that won't last forever. And maybe it's not perfect. Maybe you burn your tongue. Maybe you let it go cold without realizing. But there'll always be more soup."

"You just have an answer for everything, don't you?" Rocky scoffed, throwing more tomatoes into the pot.

"Not quite. There's one thing I've always wondered."

"The secret of life?"

"Nah, figured that out in college."

"What? No. Shut up." The two shared a laugh. Mister Plasma reduced the burner's heat and placed a lid on the pot, before turning to Rocky.

"Back when you were in Coral Reef's boat... Why didn't you say anything?"

"Well..." Rocky took a moment to continue. "Figured there wasn't any point, I guess. Can't help it if the person you have a crush on is gay. Like, if Pop was het, you wouldn't have the love of your life."

"Well I'm glad that's not the case," he said with a short laugh, before frowning and patting Rocky on the head. "Sorry, hon."

"It's fine. That's one of those 'just move on' parts in life. So I did."

"Ah..."

"Happened with Ankyr, too. But that was back when we were super tiny. Like.. That's a different kind of love. Baby love, I guess. But then again, we thought Ankyr was a girl back then. That was easier to move on from."

"You just can't catch a break," Dad laughed. "Anyone on your mind these days?" Rocky thought a while before answering.

"I... Not really. I don't know, Oji. Guess I'm kind of giving up for now. I just wanna cook and take care of the ocean. Those are my loves. Well, I'll never get tired of Turf War either. I guess... that's it."

"And that's A-okay," the adult Inkling nodded, before yelling "COME AND GET IT!" There was a multitude of shuffling sounds from the living room as the young adults made their way to the kitchen. "Come see us any time," he said again. "We'll always be here for you."

\/\/\/\/\/

And that’s all I have for you here today, I wanna stop myself before I give away more than I might have given away... But yeah, working on that slowly but surely now. I was already about halfway-ish done with the chapter before I fell off, I think? Depends if I think of adding any more scenes than what’s already planned. So, look forward to that soon! Catch you on the flip side~

P.S.: As a reminder, this is the second-to-last chapter I’m writing; after 10 is over, we’ll be moving on to the second book in the series, which will hopefully have much better pacing and will definitely be a lot different, but still be about the lives of Pyxis, Ankyr, and their loved ones - that will never change. Some of your favorite characters might not be around as much in book 2, some might get a spotlight where they hadn’t before, and of course we’ll meet lots of new friends, and you’ll just have to decide what you think of each of them. :3 But I hope you have fun. Regardless of anything, thanks for reading. If you’ve read any of Look Alive, Sunshine, you have my Heart Containers, and my eternal gratitude. Please let me know what you think, if you’ve got the time. Love & hugs!

#Splatoon #fanfic #excerpts #sneak peek #Look Alive Sunshine #mine #Pyxis Arcturus #Ankyr Moreta #True Lives #Turf War #Inkling #Octoling #writing talk

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miceenscene · 5 years

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N7 Month - Day 6

Reunion

G- If your face is feeling up to it, meet me in Afterlife. I’ll buy you a drink. -S

The overwhelming irony of what he was doing was not lost on Garrus as he walked into Afterlife (the bar) to meet up with Shepard (somehow alive… again). His face still dully throbbed with pain, understandable given it met a rocket within the last week. The pain wasn’t unmanageable, but it was certainly unpleasant. The loud music pulsing through the club seemed to be in time with the beats in his head.

Shepard was sitting at the far end of the bar. She’d even saved him a seat just like he always thought she would if he got the chance to meet her in the actual afterlife. He sat down next to her; his knee accidentally brushed hers in the process.

He ordered and as the bartender walked away she asked, “Chakwas say how long till your face heals?”

“She said it’ll be a couple months, maybe even over a year before I can take the bandage off.”

Shepard gave a low whistle.

“But she cleared me for active duty starting next week.”

Shepard nodded. She shot back the rest of her glass, making Garrus’ throat burn in sympathy. But she didn’t react. She obviously had something on her mind. Some purpose to drag the two of them off the ship.

The bartender returned with his drink and another for Shepard. Garrus sipped and looked around. In all his time on Omega, he’d never managed to get into the upper room of Afterlife. Not that it was that much different or really any better than the lower room. He blinked in surprise when he realized that he could see Aria from where they were sitting. She was standing in a booth on the level above, surveying her kingdom and looking very pleased with herself. She looked down to Shepard and then she nodded at Garrus. He ducked his head. No sense drawing extra attention.

Shepard, however, hadn’t appeared to notice. She was idly twirling the straw from her drink between finger and thumb with a far away look.

“Shepard?” Garrus asked.

She blinked a few times and her eyes focused on him. “Oh, sorry. Spaced out there for a bit.”

He couldn’t say he was the biggest fan of that phrase, but he pushed past it.

“So not that I don’t enjoy coming to a club where I’m a wanted man, but was there a reason we needed to come here? Joker said there’s a bar on the Normandy now.”

“The Normandy is bugged.”

“What? Where?”

She shook her head and shrugged. “There’s a few places I know for certain, but honestly, it could be everywhere. I wanted to talk with you where I knew the Illusive Man couldn’t hear.”

Garrus nodded and made a mental note to sweep the battery as soon as they returned to the Normandy.

“Out of curiosity, what was your plan back on the balcony?” she asked, taking a sip. “Not that I don’t admire the guts it took to goad the gangs into a stand off… but what was your exit strategy?”

“Ah.” He swirled the green liquid in the glass and considered how to answer. “It was… It was this. I was going to meet you for a drink.”

She frowned, her eyebrows knitting together. Then it clicked. He expected to get some sort of disapproving glare, but instead she chuckled once.

“You know there are other tactical options besides Blaze of Glory sometimes?”

A hollow laugh rumbled through his chest. “If you have suggestions, I’m open. I’d love to know what the great Commander Shepard would do if she was up in a balcony for five days.”

She shook her head. “Commander Shepard wouldn’t have gotten stuck up there in the first place.” She grinned sarcastically. “She’s very smart, I’m told. Courageous.”

“Hmm. And humble.”

“That too.”

This was good. This felt like it should, like he remembered. The banter flowed back and forth between them as natural as the tides, rehashing stories of missions gone almost wrong.

“Thank the Spirits Wrex was there to carry your almost corpse back to the Mako.”

“How was I supposed to know that you can’t fight a Thresher Maw on foot?”

“From the size of it, Shepard.”

But little things were out of place. Her laugh was harsher. Her quips were sharper. Her eyes never seemed to be engaged with the conversation. He didn’t want to notice. It’d be so much easier to just pretend that everything was the same, to just settle into this unexpected reunion and be grateful that the old times were back again. But after a few drinks he finally worked up the courage to ask, “So how has it been working for Cerberus?”

She didn’t answer right away. Her jaw moved side to side.

“It’s…” She huffed a sigh. “We’ve barely begun this Collector fight and everything’s already more complicated. When we took down Sovereign I was technically juggling the Alliance and the Council, but I felt like I could at least trust them both.

“With Cerberus… I know there’s an ulterior motive. There has to be. He and Miranda can spout their lines about elevating humanity all they want, but I know that they want me for something. Something useful for them. They wouldn’t have spent all the money on rebuilding me and the Normandy without some sort of point. I just haven’t figured out what yet.”

“How did they rebuild you?” Garrus asked.

“You’d have to ask Miranda for specifics. Most I know is it took two years and several billion credits, but in their eyes The Lazarus Project was a success.” She finished her drink and pushed it forward on the bar. “I guess in a way it was.”

He noticed that there were dark half-circles under her eyes. He wasn’t sure if they were significant, but they gave him another reason for concern anyway.

“Listen,” she continued, “I know we saved you from almost certain death and then patched you back up, but things aren’t like they used to be. Are you still interested in joining my team again?”

“I’m almost insulted that you feel you have to ask.” He smiled a little at her, hoping to see it returned. But she just nodded.

“Then I have a favor to ask you,” she said, solemnly.

“Anything.”

“I need you to be honest with me.” He almost made a joke, but the look on her face made him keep his mouth shut. “I need to know that there is someone on my team that I can trust implicitly. You’ve been that person before, but I need to know explicitly that I can now.”

Her eyes were focused on him with burning intensity.

He nodded. “Of course. ...Anything I should watch out for?”

She hesitated for a second. “Miranda says that they put me back together without making any changes. She says there’s not a control chip in my head…” she trailed off, her jaw clenched, the muscles in her arms tightened.

“You don’t believe them,” he finished for her.

“Would you?” He had to shake his head no. “I hope that time will prove me wrong. But if I’m not…” She didn’t finish her sentence. He could practically see the weight of the galaxy’s expectations settled on her. “I need you to watch my back, even from myself.”

“I will, Shepard. I promise.”

She relaxed and turned back to look at the bar top. “Thank you.”

They sat in silence for a few moments. The loud thumping base of the music filling the lack of conversation.

He looked down at her after a minute. “Can I ask a favor in return?”

She looked up at him. “Anything.”

“I’d like you to be honest with me too.”

She sat up a little straighter. But then nodded. “Of course.”

Permission granted, he leaned in closer and covered her hand with his. The question that had been burning on his tongue since the moment he first saw her on the balcony could finally be asked. “Shepard, are you okay?”

From the way she looked at him, he’d obviously caught her off guard.

“You can tell?” He barely heard her above the noise of the club and the expression on her face--like an animal that knew it’d been caught.

“It’s not obvious, if that’s what’s worrying you,” he assured her. He just knew her too well to not see all the small signs pointing to something much bigger. Her apprehension eased off a bit, but she didn’t fully relax. “But are you okay?”

He studied her face. She looked from him down to his hand. He almost removed it but, surprisingly, she turned her arm and took his hand in hers.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. Her eyes glanced up to meet his. It took him a moment to recognize the expression, he had seen it so few times from her. It was fear. “They woke me up early because the station was under attack. But I… I don’t think I was done. I don’t think I’m all the way here.”

As near as he could tell, Shepard had always been honest with the team, with him. As honest as any military leader could be. But this was more than just honesty. This was a vulnerability that he never expected to see. A reminder that she was just as mortal as he. He wondered just how few people got to see the cracks in her armor like this. It took his breath away.

“It’s not that I just look a little different, I feel different,” she continued in the same small voice. “I feel… numb. It’s like I’m trying to fight through a fog just to care about the simplest things.

“Cerberus did what they set out to do. They raised a Shepard from the dead. One that can walk and talk and shoot a gun. Would they even care if they didn’t raise Jane?” She lowered her head and sighed. “Would anyone?”

“I would,” he breathed.

She looked up at him with an unfathomable expression for a minute.

“I would care,” he repeated in a stronger voice.

“You would,” she echoed quietly, looking down at their hands.

She brought her other hand over and covered his. Her thumb idly ran over the tough skin on the back of his hand. Everything else around him besides her dimmed. For a few minutes neither of them spoke, just remained in a quiet reminder that the other was still beside them. He would have lingered in that thought for the rest of the night if she’d let him.

She then exhaled and looked back up at him. “Thank you, Garrus.” She smiled gently and he was gratified to see that it reached her eyes.

Unfortunately, the delicate moment between them was smashed when the bartender approached and set two drinks down in front of them.

“We didn’t order anything,” Garrus growled, his subvocals betraying his annoyance at being interrupted. Shepard pulled her hands back and frowned down at the drinks.

“What are these?” She asked.

“Dextro and levo Angel’s Delights.” The bartender gestured to the two glasses. “Compliments of Aria.”

They both turned to her balcony and saw Aria. She raised her glass to them. Shepard looked quickly down at the glasses then back to Garrus. Angel’s Delights… very subtle, Aria. He suddenly didn’t feel quite as safe as he had moments ago.

“Let’s get back to the ship,” Shepard said, standing up quickly. Garrus glanced back up at the balcony. A grin spread across Aria’s face, exposing too many teeth for comfort. He managed to toss a scowl in her direction before he followed Shepard out of Afterlife.

Later that night, he was back in the battery. Shepard had been right, of course. Garrus found several bugs in this small room alone. Hopefully he’d gotten them all. He wasn’t sure whether he should destroy them or not so they sat in a neat little pile on the crate in the corner, underneath a folded blanket.

But of all the things they’d talked about, he hoped that her instincts were wrong about at least a few. If she was compromised--he stopped himself dead in his tracks. There was no need to go down that road until it was necessary. Until then, he’d follow Shepard into the abyss if she asked him to.

Though, he quietly admitted to himself, he would rather just see her smile a real smile again. Make her face turn pink with laughter. Hold her hand and talk of old times.

He stopped. He harshly rubbed the back of his hand and forced himself to stop thinking. Things were already complicated enough in their lives. There was no need to bring any of that into what they had. He would have her six and she would have his. And that would be enough. It would have to be.

Ao3 Version

#n7month #mass effect #shakarian #female shepard #garrus vakarian #fanfic

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rizandclackers · 5 years

Text

JoJo Pirate AU

Bruno's gang are pirates, La Squadra will be all mermen. Obstacle to overcome on their great pirate adventure. The basic premise is Bruno's Crew seeks to find the treasure of the fabled Devil's Sea, but have to prepare for the long journey for it is far away and accidentally fish up Formaggio, causing the rest of the group to come after them, even after they release him. And by release, I mean selling him to the fishermen, from whom he escapes.

Bruno’s Pirate Crew

Bruno Buccaneer, Captain

Giorno Gangplank, Doctor

Narancia Gunwale, Master Gunner

Galley Mista, Boatswain

Lucre "Landlubber" Abbacchio, Cook

"Privateer" Fugo, Quartermaster

Lucre "Landlubber" Abbacchio

is the diva of the crew, insists on visiting every single port, to visit 'the ladies'. Mostly to stock up on rum and select vintage of booze for himself that he hides from the captain, and visits 'ladies' to get more makeup to hide exhaustion and stress.

Fugo

refuses to tell people his actual name and is only known as the "Privateer" for his refusal to be called a pirate and trying to do things 'by the book' even if it's a Pirate's one. Calling him a pirate is a no-no...prepare to be drawn and quartered by him if you do.

Galley Mista

spends more of his time eating than fighting and yet still somehow manages to remain fit. Uses firearms exclusively and insists on only wearing red hats, without feathers, however, cause they make him sneeze. Mediocre in melee fights, only carries a small knife to peel apples. Is proud for not needing a large blade to 'compensate' for anything like the rest of his crew, gets along best with Narancia Gunwale the Master Gunner.

Narancia Gunwale

is the gunner of the crew, relatively short and passes for a girl, which the crew uses to lure in ships, by having him pretend to be the only one left on board or stranded on an island in need of a rescue. Doesn't actually like wearing dresses, due to how heavy they are to swim in as he inevitably ends in the water by either trying to escape or being thrown overboard. Has deadly aim with cannons and firearms, but still carries several knives, one in each boot and an extra tucked into his right sleeve. Enjoys Mista's company and they often compete in shooting, though, at times Narancia is better than Mista, when drunk than when both are sober. Mista refuses to admit it.

Bruno Buccaneer

is the captain, but acts more like a parent to his band of misfits. Has several knives stored in small compartments on his clothes, that are all zipped up, but oiled well to avoid making sound. Causing him to have to wash his hands often granting him the nickname "Sticky Fingers." Though no one dares call him that in his presence. Second only to Abbacchio in age, worries his Cook might be purchasing booze for personal use rather than food making, but doesn't know how to approach the subject without upsetting him.

Giorno Gangplank

is the medic on board, though prefers to spend more of his time charming the populace in ports, often swindling and pickpocketing for petty cash, but since he is known for being a doctor, no one believes the victims, for he is polite and well-spoken. Second only to Fugo in terms of education level, but prefers to use his mind for criminal activities rather than bettering himself.

La Squadra Mermen Team

Risotto Mare, tail of an orca.

"Futtock" Formaggio, tail of a leopard shark.

"Pelagic" Pesci, tail of a cookiecutter shark.

"Purser" Prosciutto, tail of a "sleeper shark".

"Marlinspike" Melone, tail of a nurse shark.

"Island" Illuso, tail of a spotted dolphin.

"Growler" Ghiaccio, tail of a white shark.

"Gibbet" Gelato, tail of a tiger shark.

"Scuttle" Sorbet, tail of a thresher shark.

Risotto

as the de facto leader of the group of mermen, has no nickname, likely due to his intimidating aura and no-nonsense attitude. Boasts the largest tail of the lot, and yet is the most stealthy and agile swimmer, likely due to the dark colour scheme. Is strict and ruthless, but just. Has very sharp claws and teeth and will not hesitate to scratch or bodyslam any that challenge him. Prosciutto is the one responsible for making sure the group is fed and equipped for combat, by organizing hunting trips for prey or raiding parties on ports and ships. Has a habit of licking the gap in his teeth, when thinking, but gets annoyed if someone points it out and can get verbal if not violent, depending on the level of mockery.

Pesci

looks up to Prosciutto as a leader, more so than Risotto, and wouldn't mind if he was the captain, but secretly prefers Risotto to remain in charge for as much as he respects Prosciutto, he could never be like him if he were to be given responsibility, but the calm manner in which Risotto solves things appeals to his more gentle nature. Watch out if you insult his hunting skills though. He is the fastest in the group despite being the heaviest and having second to shortest tail. How he does that, no one is sure, but he has no match when it comes to acquiring provisions, which is why he is often following Prosciutto.

Gelato and Sorbet are rarely present, preferring to go on long hunting trips together, the most vicious and aggressive of the group and thus not really missed when they are gone, unless they need a raiding party or extra help for defending their reef. Gelato often being the one to reel in Sorbet's temper tantrums if he was not given his 'fair' share of the loot, especially if it contained shiny things. Sorbet doesn't care about the value, only the gleam of it and hoards metal and glass objects indiscriminately, and has the sharpest claws that he uses to cut through things. Gelato is the most sleek of the group, while Sorbet's tail is covered in scars from multiple scuffles with other mermen or pirates, for he refuses to flee, unless ordered by Risotto himself. Sorbet Holds Prosciutto in contempt for not 'training' Pesci better and for being too obsessed with appearances and keeping the better looking things for himself. Often clashes with him when dividing the loot. Gelato is more mellow and doesn't care much about what he gets as long as he's fed and has at least a hook to stab with.

Illuso

is often sitting on rocks and showing off to passing sailors, luring them in with sweet singing, and looking like a mermaid and then sending shockwaves with his tail should they try sending a rowboat near him, causing it to capsize. Most vain of the group and often fishes for compliments . Refuses to admit he is wrong on anything, but will back down if called out by the leader or Prosciutto, whom he gets along best with, due to mutual appreciation for finer things.

Formaggio

has the shortest tail and is often considered more of a pest than anything, for his insistence on throwing fishing nets on his sleeping comrades as a joke, freaking them out, but being one of the fastest in the group, second only to Ghiaccio in speed, usually gets away with it. Pesci is faster, but too timid to chase him and he doesn't mess with Ghiaccio anyway, for he does not react well to jokes or pranks due to not understanding the point of it all. Is prone to stealing loot from others, and placing it in other mermen's chosen dens to hide him doing it and provoke conflicts.

Ghiaccio

is the second fastest in the group, though believes himself to be the first in speed, but lacks maneuverability of Pesci and is often left behind, when he rushes into obstacles and sometimes knocks himself out. Has a very cynical and dry sense of humour. Does not understand wordplay, takes things too literally and often becomes frustrated when he doesn't get the jokes Formaggio tells. Doesn't really get along with anyone because of his temper, but is generally feared respected well enough to leave him alone. Has the loudest voice and can shatter glass with his siren screech, though is usually silenced by Sorbet if he's around, to avoid him breaking his 'shinies'.

Melone

is the lightest of the group, second only to Gelato in terms of being sleek, though is much better at taking care of his tail, being the only one in the group without any scars. Spends most of his time grooming himself or toying with any swimmers that have strayed too far from the rest. Uses his siren charm to confuse people and make them obey him, by talking to them as if they were a child, giving simple commands that work on a primal, basic understanding. Complicated orders are avoided, due to causing the people to think and break the charm.

Glossary

Buccaneer: Another name for pirate.

Futtock: A curved timber that forms a rib in the frame of a ship. "One o’ the bits yer trip over."

Galley: A low, flat ship with one or more sails and up to three banks of oars, chiefly used for warfare or piracy and often manned by slaves or criminals. Or the kitchen in the ship.

Gangplank: A removable board or ramp used to board a ship from a pier.

Gibbet: Chains or cages in which the rotting corpses of hung pirates are displayed in order to discourage piracy.

Growler: A small iceberg or ice floe which is barely visible above the surface of the water.

Gunwale: Originally the structure was the "gun wale" on a sailing warship, a horizontal reinforcing band added at and above the level of a gun deck to offset the stresses created by firing artillery.

Lucre: Money, especially when regarded as sordid or distasteful or gained in a dishonourable way.

Lubber: An awkward, clumsy, unseamanlike fellow.

Landlubber/Land-lubber: The worst kind of Lubber, one that’s never even been to sea before.

Mare: Italian or Latin for "sea"

Marlinspike: An iron pointed tool used to separate the strands of a rope for splicing.

Pelagic: Living in the open ocean rather than coastal or inland waters, taking place in the open ocean

Privateer: Someone who robs at sea or plunders the land from the sea with letters of marque from a government.

Purser: An officer on a ship responsible for provisions and clothing. Such provisions were often sold to sailors on credit against their next payment which meant the sailors never actually managed to keep any of their money when they were finally paid.

Scuttle: To deliberately sink a ship by making a hole in the hull.

#jojoau #jojo au #jojo pirate au #kyrare #rizandclackers #bruno buccaneer #risotto mare

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2twopiid · 6 years

Text

> Sollux: Go

It’s time.

You can’t put this off any longer. You committed to right now the moment you said goodbye. No matter how terrified you are right now—and you’re fucking terrified—you can’t turn back.

You pace around your old hive, gathering all of your important belongings into a box. Anything you don’t want potentially getting erased. Luckily for you, that isn’t many things. The sweatshirt John gave you, your signed Threshers 2 poster, the chain you’d used for your lusus, even the thumb drive with the photos of your corpse. All of those, a few of your favorite jackets, and a couple of other things make it into the box, which you send to Aradia at the hotel. Included is a note that reads: iif ii don’t make iit, break the thumb driive and giive the re2t two john. You don’t say more. You told her everything you needed to say when you were last asleep, anything else you would write, she either already knew or it was better left unsaid.

There isn’t time to dwell on your thoughts. You’ve spent weeks agonizing over those. You just have to fucking do this.

You shake out your hands, bouncing on the balls of your feet, before you move to the gaping hole in the side of your crumbling respite block. The neon paint marking the path you need to take is easily visible from here, which was sort of the whole point: More seeing, less thinking.

You’ve practiced this route enough times. You can do this.

You step off the edge, giving yourself a psionic boost in the direction you need to go.

You’re not sure if you’re actually going slower than you did when you practiced, but it definitely feels like you are. That’s not bad, necessarily. It’s the way back that you’re going to have to worry about.

The hours of flying pass slowly, and you occupy your thoughts by mumbling the colors of the arrows as you pass them.

Pink. Blue. Pink. Green. Green. Blue. Yellow. Pink. Yellow. Yellow. Green. Pink. Blue. Blue.

A good half of those were guesses, some of the colors are hard for you to tell apart, but that doesn’t actually matter. The point is, you’re not thinking about anything real.

You’re not thinking about John. You’re not thinking about Aradia. As long as they both stay out of your mind, you’re good. Because as soon as you start thinking about them, you’re going to start feeling things again, and you’re too busy for that.

Eventually, the entrance to the Denizen’s lair is in front of you. You just have to go in.

> Sollux: Hesitate

It’s only a few steps, but you can’t bring yourself to take them.

It takes you a second to realize why. You forgot to schedule a post, in case you die here. You know people know what you’re doing, but you want them to be able to confirm when you’re dead.

You quickly write up a post, stating that you’ve died, and schedule it for a few hours from now. If you survive, you’ll have time to delete it. Otherwise… You know…

Within moments of scheduling it, you find your mind wandering to exactly what you’d been avoiding.

You think about John, and the dinner he made you, and how you made sure to tell him that you love him, just so he’d know.

You think about Aradia, and the fireworks she showed you, and how you made sure to tell her how much she matters to you, even though you’re not sure you fully grasp how much that is.

Thinking about them stops you dead in your tracks, and suddenly it’s hard to breathe. Did you say enough to them? Do they know how much you care? And if they know… do they really know?

> Sollux: Get Moving

You don’t have time to dwell on that question, but your thoughts are so loud, and hard to ignore. They’re practically screaming at you, and it’s almost painfully reminiscent of the sweeps you spent plagued by the voices of the imminently deceased.

No matter. If the thoughts won’t leave your mind, you can at least shake them from your focus long enough to step through the threshold.

The lair itself is massive and maze-like, and you realize it may have been a good idea to save a can of spray paint to help you find your way out when you’re done here. Unfortunately, your lack of forethought seems like it might bite you in the ass. You guess you’ll find out.

You’re not sure how much time passes by the time you reach the Denizen, but the moment you catch sight of her, your mind is essentially blank, except for your internal screaming.

She introduces herself as Hemera, and you remember what Tavros told you: That you need to listen to the Denizen.

She tells you you have a choice to make. That much you knew. She says choosing won’t be easy. You knew that, too.

And then she offers you what has to be The Choice.

She gives it to you in riddles, but the options are clear.

You can see the game through to it’s end, with no guarantee of success, but with the potential for it.

Or you can quit now, sacrifice yourself, and restore the session you overwrote, with a guarantee of failure for both this session and that one.

You’d been skeptical, but you realize now that Tavros wasn’t fucking around when he said The Choice wouldn’t be an obvious one.

Everyone and their lusus knows that all you’ve wanted to do since day fucking one is find out how to get your friends back, and now you’re presented with a clear path to do that, and it involves doing the one thing you vowed never to do again: quit.

You stand there. Hemera towers over you, watching you struggle with the weight of this decision.

You could finish. You could play the game through to the end. You have a chance, albeit probably a slim one.

Or you could get them back. Even if you don’t make it, you could get them back.

You weight your options. You don’t know how long for, but you know that the longer you mull this over, the louder your mind screams.

Until it hits you. That isn’t your mind screaming, it’s literally you. You’re hearing your own goddamn imminently deceased voice. You’re going to die, and suddenly you know what your choice is, what it was going to be all along. You’d decided this long before you came here.

The only reason you vowed never to quit anything again was because of the consequences you faced the last time you did it—losing your friends. This time, you know the consequences ahead of time, and they’re the opposite.

You have a way to be done with the game, without having to play it for another minute. Fuck if you’re going to let this opportunity slip by you, even if you’re going to die before you experience that freedom.

> Sollux: Choose

“Fuck it,” you blurt out. “I fucking quit.”

Hemera nods sagely, as though she predicted this answer from you.

Suddenly, you feel warm.

No, not warm. Hot.

Burning?

You’re burning, but there aren’t any flames, and it hurts. Your skin is cracking, and your nose is bleeding, and you can taste it, and yeah. Those screams coming out of your mouth? Those are definitely the same ones you heard a minute ago.

So why are you just standing here? You need to make it back. You need to get off-universe. You’re running out of time.

Your legs feel weak, but you manage to stumble back in the direction you came from. It’s hard to focus on anything other than the heat in your chest, and the pain in your throat from your screams, but so far your determination is winning out.

You manage to make it back out to the entrance before you collapse on the ground.

No.

You can’t stop.

You have to get back up, you have to get back.

You need to get back to them.

You told them you’d try. You promised you’d try.

You are trying. But you’re getting weaker by the second, and you can’t get to your feet, and there’s absolutely no way you’d survive the journey, which took you hours at your peak, while you’re like this. You can’t even walk, how are you supposed to fly?

You tried.

You did everything you could, it just wasn’t enough.

You don’t have the energy to scream anymore. You don’t even have the energy to be scared. You just let the heat and the burning take over.

Your last thoughts are of them…

And then.

Nothing.

#action post #plot #((yall im crying ive been building up to this for monthS))

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ghostydoof-blog · 6 years

Text

OOCly viewed chatlog you know the drill.

-- technicalGyrations [TG] began pestering eggBoy [EB] at 08:16 --

[08:16] TG: egg BOY

[08:17] EB: egg boy.

[08:18] TG: egg boi

[08:18] EB: that's me.

[08:18] TG: like soulja boy

[08:18] EB: one hundred percent farmland fresh egg boy.

[08:18] TG: but with eggs

[08:19] EB: hot off the truck and into market, soon to be on your breakfast plate at denny's when it's 2am and you're feeling down.

[08:20] EB: we should go to denny's sometime at 2am when we're feeling down.

[08:20] TG: we could go to dennys right now if youre feeling down

[08:21] EB: it's not 2am yet and i've been up since six making myself homemade mac and cheese.

[08:22] TG: okay instead of dennys come to my work and eat mac n cheesy with me and tell me whats going on

[08:24] EB: i can't, legs are broken.

[08:25] EB: my face hurts.

[08:25] TG: JOHN

[08:25] TG: JOHN!!!

[08:25] EB: suddenly my fingers are broken too, my skin is paper and my bones glass.

[08:25] TG: JOHN EGBERT YOURE KILING ME

[08:26] EB: it happens.

[08:26] EB: you are way too excitable for this time of morning, dave.

[08:27] TG: i have to be im at work and i gotta be excitable so i dont fall asleep

[08:27] TG: so i got music playin and im knitting and drinking some tea

[08:27] EB: i'll accept that.

[08:27] TG: you could be energized too if yall came here

[08:27] EB: i've got a pot of coffee on the table next to my bed and i have been playing threshers 2 all morning.

[08:28] EB: i need to get human games so i can stop playing this.

[08:28] EB: i.

[08:28] EB: ugh.

[08:28] TG: are you havin fun with it at least

[08:29] TG: whats wrong dude

[08:29] EB: i do.

[08:29] EB: i guess?

[08:29] EB: it just upsets me.

[08:29] TG: why?

[08:29] EB: actually a lot of things upset me lately apparently.

[08:29] EB: i'm worried about sollux.

[08:30] EB: apparently i had a family that i don't remember.

[08:30] EB: oh and we're from the same earth i accept that ok?

[08:30] EB: apparently your shades are from me.

[08:30] EB: somehow we forgot these things.

[08:30] TG: i need a second to process this

[08:30] TG: okay im starting the process

[08:30] EB: so i mean i haven't been able to talk about any of it and i'm losing my mind over it!

[08:30] TG: who told you this?

[08:31] EB: rose.

[08:31] TG: how do they know??

[08:31] EB: she's the only one that i've met that will just TELL me about myself.

[08:32] EB: she knew a john that she played that god awful game with.

[08:32] EB: her john knew a dave.

[08:32] TG: and her john gave her dave the same pair of shades i have

[08:32] TG: ?

[08:32] EB: they all played that game together.

[08:32] EB: yeah.

[08:33] TG: i have a feeling that we played that game together too

[08:33] EB: how?

[08:34] EB: everyone that has KNOWS they have.

[08:34] EB: how do you forget DYING?

[08:34] EB: or being a god or something?

[08:34] TG: when i talked to sky about some of this he basically said that what my dream was lines up with some stuff that happens in it and if youre from the same place as ME then we would have HAVE to played it together or someting like that

[08:34] TG: i think were remembering it though

[08:34] TG: since meeting each other

[08:35] EB: :/

[08:35] EB: i can barely sleep anymore, my dreams are so weird they wake me up now. i can't remember them but ugh.

[08:35] EB: they leave me in a cold sweat.

[08:36] TG: ive just been having a lot of migraines lately about all of this stuff

[08:36] EB: ugh.

[08:36] EB: yeah.

[08:36] TG: no dreams i can remember besides the one of someone giving me my shades

[08:36] TG: which is now you

[08:37] EB: when rose was telling me about the shades it hurt, and when she was trying to tell me about my family i?

[08:37] EB: i had a family, dave.

[08:37] EB: a dad.

[08:37] EB: you saw me give you your shades?

[08:37] TG: in a dream, yea, but it wasnt you in my dream just some shadowy ass lookin figure

[08:37] TG: a dad

[08:38] TG: is there any way you could find him?

[08:38] EB: he doesn't exist. the actual address on my id also does not exist.

[08:38] EB: the street does, but there isn't that number house on it.

[08:39] EB: i guess he did something shitty with baked goods and that's why i still don't like them though.

[08:39] EB: so maybe it's not that much of a loss.

[08:40] TG: i had the same thing happen to me address wise like they looked it up and theyre like shit my dude you dont exist

[08:40] TG: and that makes sense i guess

[08:40] TG: some shit like that probably stayed latent in your brain and surfaces without your control

[08:40] EB: yeah.

[08:40] EB: it still sucks!

[08:40] EB: i want him back, dave.

[08:41] EB: i'm grown now but i didn't want to be stuck in foster care for two years! i hated it.

[08:41] TG: i want you to find him so he can explain where the hell hes been all these years

[08:42] EB: he's dead.

[08:42] EB: if i remember correctly, it's been mentioned that he died.

[08:42] TG: WHAT

[08:42] TG: what the fuck

[08:42] EB: or disappeared into the game, if we really did play it.

[08:42] TG: thats even worse

[08:42] TG: but if he disappeared into the game like us wouldnt he be back if were back? this is so fucked up dude

[08:43] TG: do you think if you have a dad

[08:43] TG: that i have a dad

[08:43] TG: ?

[08:44] EB: probably! rose mentioned having a mom too i think.

[08:44] EB: or someone else had a mom. or something?

[08:44] EB: i can't tell if i know this stuff or if someone told me anymore.

[08:45] TG: i mean i guess the only thing we can do is ask rose more

[08:45] TG: if she doesnt mind?

[08:45] EB: she says she doesn't but i wouldn't want to push it.

[08:45] EB: she has a key to my apartment so if you want to meet her you could use my place.

[08:45] TG: we could talk to her together

[08:45] TG: just a meeting betwen all yall

[08:46] EB: i don't know dave she's really nervous about people still.

[08:46] EB: sort of a one on one kind of girl.

[08:46] TG: i could sit in the bathroom while we talk so she doesnt have to see me

[08:47] EB: oh my god dave no.

[08:47] EB: then we'd have to be in my bedroom!

[08:47] EB: what am i going to do, text her up and be like hey rose want to hang out in my BED?

[08:47] TG: dude weve hung out in your BED before

[08:48] EB: yeah but we're also more accustomed to that sort of thing.

[08:48] EB: she's been really alone for a long time, i don't think she's quite ready for THAT.

[08:48] TG: you have seen my shirtless bod before so were past that level of friendship

[08:49] TG: okay new plan: i can hide behind the couch while all yall are on the couch and i can talk from there

[08:50] EB: she might kill you if you do that.

[08:50] EB: but it's your ass not mine.

[08:50] EB: also your body is fine dave.

[08:50] TG: okay new plan: you can facetime me and we can talk from there

[08:50] TG: my body is,

[08:52] EB: how about this?

[08:52] EB: i talk to rose and ask if she'll meet you.

[08:52] TG: that also works

[08:53] EB: no deception and you guys can still use my place.

[08:53] EB: and dave.

[08:53] EB: your body is fine.

[08:53] TG: IT IS,

[08:53] EB: it IS, yes.

[08:53] TG: im yellin

[08:53] TG: youre too nice to me

[08:53] EB: i'm telling the fucking truth you goon.

[08:54] TG: youre STILL too nice to me you goon

[08:54] EB: if i wasn't armpit deep in my clinically diagnosed depression i would come kick your ass.

[08:56] TG: i mean i want to come over to kick your ass out of your armpit deep clinical depression but im at work and also armpit deep in my clinical depression

[08:56] EB: well look at us both stuck in this quicksand of sadness.

[09:03] TG: well pull each other out eventually

[09:03] TG: just gotta wallow for a bit til we feel better

[09:03] EB: i was doing ok until the shit hit the fan.

[09:03] EB: is it bad that it bothered me less when i didn't have friends?

[09:04] TG: i mean same but thats cause you have your own ways to deal with things and when friends get involved you feel like you gotta blab to them about everything and it messes up the coping

[09:04] TG: at least thats my theory

[09:05] EB: no.

[09:05] TG: ?

[09:06] EB: it's because i had nothing to worry about. i worked, a came home to my apartment. i ate and slept and watched movies and had nothing to think about but the next day.

[09:06] EB: now?

[09:06] EB: now i'm worried about my troll friends because they might just die for no reason.

[09:07] TG: and thats making you feel worse combined with your own stuff you got on your mind

[09:07] TG: i gotcha

[09:07] EB: i worry about my human friends because some of them are so sad that i just want to hug them and tell them it will be ok.

[09:07] EB: and yet no one wants me to care.

[09:07] EB: so i'm trying to not care.

[09:07] EB: it's hard.

[09:08] TG: hey if it means anything i want you to care about me

[09:08] TG: and i bet all your friends appreciate you caring even if it seems like they dont

[09:08] EB: congrats you're the only one that does!

[09:09] EB: between troll dave shitting on me for being empathetic and me royally fucking it with sollux i'm ?

[09:09] EB: trolls?

[09:09] EB: what are they?

[09:09] EB: why are they?

[09:09] TG: trolls are strange as hell and they have different views on emotions than humans do

[09:09] TG: makes em a bit complicated

[09:10] EB: i noticed.

[09:10] EB: apparently i messed up and started doing some weird quadrant stuff at sollux.

[09:10] EB: but it doesn't matter, he says it doesn't bother him.

[09:10] EB: (spoiler alert: it does.)

[09:10] EB: and i know it does.

[09:11] TG: i mean id be surprised if it DIDNT bother him

[09:11] EB: but if i don't say anything about it and act normal maybe it will be ok.

[09:11] TG: hes probably just making it seem like it doesnt bother him both for you and for himself

[09:11] EB: but i can't bring myself to talk to him because i don't want him to stop being my friend.

[09:12] TG: you should still at least talk to him if hes your friend dude

[09:12] TG: but i also think you should talk about the pale stuff too

[09:13] EB: i tried to.

[09:14] EB: but everyone else seems to want to get their nose so deep into my business there's no room left for me. i appreciate spanky but uh...he's way too nosy for someone i don't know.

[09:15] EB: i also don't get the subtle difference in what changes being his best friend to being his pale...whatever it's called.

[09:16] TG: theres only one way to find out and thats asking him about it

[09:16] TG: but id think it over before you do

[09:16] TG: i dont completely understand troll stuff either even though i live with two of them

[09:16] TG: and dude if you need me to back off just let me know ok

[09:17] EB: well, karkat told me he doesn't want any quadrants right now so i mean i don't want to poke that hornet's nest and bite the dust on it yet.

[09:17] EB: there's also the uh.

[09:17] EB: looming possibility that he's going to die.

[09:18] EB: so that's a thing i'm supposed to probably pretend that it doesn't bother me.

[09:18] TG: um what

[09:18] EB: he's messing with that game, dave!

[09:18] EB: and something is wrong with it! like really wrong!

[09:18] TG: nothing good ever comes from that goddamn hell game

[09:18] EB: it's not like i pour over every single post of his but i see enough to know that something bad is going to happen.

[09:19] TG: you definitely pour over all his posts

[09:19] TG: callout

[09:19] TG: and yea

[09:19] EB: i do not!

[09:19] TG: i have a bad feeling about this

[09:19] EB: he's not even denying it anymore, dave.

[09:21] TG: i think cause he realizes shit is going to hit the goddamn fan

[09:22] EB: i know.

[09:22] EB: i should just let other people do things for him.

[09:23] TG: john

[09:23] TG: why

[09:23] TG: ?

[09:24] EB: because.

[09:25] EB: i don't know anything useful to him. i don't know about the game.

[09:25] EB: i don't know anything about trolls.

[09:25] EB: or their romance.

[09:25] EB: or their society.

[09:25] EB: the more i learn the more worried i get.

[09:25] EB: the more i wish i could just pull him here.

[09:25] EB: give him a hug, tell him it's ok!

[09:25] TG: once he gets into the game he might be able to get here though

[09:26] TG: transportalizers are normally a game thing i think from what ive seen

[09:26] EB: i don't want him to ever go into that goddamn game dave!

[09:26] TG: rossea didnt play and she had to build her own

[09:26] EB: i want him to stop messing with it before it's too late.

[09:26] EB: he's going to die.

[09:26] EB: and i'm going to lose my best friend.

[09:26] EB: i'm...

[09:27] TG: john

[09:27] EB: i'm sorry.

[09:27] TG: i dont think hes going to stop messing with it

[09:27] EB: i know.

[09:27] EB: i know he's not.

[09:27] TG: so you can at least hope that he finds a transportalizer and get the hell out of there

[09:27] EB: i do hope.

[09:28] EB: but we didn't.

[09:28] EB: did we?

[09:28] EB: you died.

[09:28] TG: i

[09:28] EB: and so did our friends.

[09:28] TG: i dont know

[09:29] EB: we didn't survive that game.

[09:29] EB: not the same way other people have.

[09:29] EB: did we?

[09:29] TG: i dont think so

[09:29] TG: ?

[09:30] TG: but i dont know what happened at all

[09:30] EB: well my dream says everyone died.

-- eggBoy [EB] is now an idle chum! --

[09:42] TG: my dream says at least me died so i believe your dream

-- eggBoy [EB] is now an idle chum! --

[09:44] EB: it doesn't make it any better.

[09:45] EB: i have a lot of worries ok?

[09:45] EB: i'm sorry for suddenly dumping them on you but they just keep coming.

[09:47] TG: dude john

[09:47] TG: dont be sorry at all

[09:47] TG: were friends right?

[09:47] TG: thats what friends are for

[09:47] EB: yeah!

[09:47] EB: still.

[09:48] EB: i kind of exploded there.

[09:48] EB: hey dave.

[09:48] TG: what

[09:48] TG: ?

[09:48] EB: denny's date tonight?

[09:48] TG: of course : *

[09:49] EB: good.

[09:49] EB: because i feel like sobbing into a grand slamwich.

[10:09] TG: you can sob into as many grand slamwiches as you want bud

[10:09] EB: i can only maybe handle one.

[10:10] EB: they're kind of gross.

[10:10] TG: perfect to cry into then

[10:10] EB: exactly.

[10:10] EB: you've witnessed me crying, i'm gross.

[10:11] TG: DUDE youve witnessed ME crying

[10:12] EB: then we're even.

[10:30] TG: : *

[10:30] EB: right back at you buddy.

#pesterings #viewed oocly #long post //#mentioned:#keedlez2

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miss-aligned · 7 years

Text

Coming to Terms

Ugh. I’ve been battling with this one for too long. I’ve rewritten it more times than a really care to admit. I’m just going to put it here and hope it isn’t terrible. Hehe.

(On AO3, if you prefer!)

The Normandy was oddly calm for the moment. A majority of Kaidan’s most vivid memories of this ship, including its predecessor, involved almost unfathomable levels of activity. It was typically organized chaos in response to enemy activity, stealthy strike missions, or straight up fleeing danger. Everyone had a place, everybody knew their job, and they executed those activities with practiced accuracy. Now, all was quiet. They were mid-flight to the next destination and he couldn’t help but remember the more peaceful side of being here that he’d nearly forgotten… of being home.

The door to the med bay slid open to allow him access and he was surprised to see a familiar figure leaning against one of the examination tables, arms crossed, engaged in a conversation with the doctor.

“I don’t know why you insisted on wearing that battered armor all the time, either. Thank goodness you’ve found something new,” Dr. Chakwas commented with a chuckle.

“That was good armor,” Garrus replied, his mandibles flaring playfully. “I kind of wish I had it with me now. Sort of a good luck charm, you know? I survived multiple assassination attempts, a rocket to the face, fights with thresher maws and reapers, and even a trip through the Omega 4 Relay. I’d say it did pretty well.”

Dr. Chakwas sighed heavily, shaking her head and waving Kaidan to come in. “I suppose. I wish you’d at least gotten it repaired, then. I’m sure Cerberus would have coughed up a few credits so you could look presentable. Besides, is it wise to travel alongside Commander Shepard with broken gear?”

Kaidan followed Karin’s gesture, taking a seat on the examination table beside Garrus. As much as he tried to convince himself that everything had happened for a reason, even hearing the name ‘Cerberus’ sent an unpleasant chill down his spine.

“Maybe my intention was to look like some turian hobo just to annoy Cerberus,” Garrus joked. “And I’ll have you know it’s perfectly fine to travel with Shepard while wearing damaged armor. She draws the majority of the enemy fire.”

Kaidan opened his mouth to argue that last point, but closed it again with a shrug of his shoulders when he realized it was true.

“Well I’m glad to see you here with better armor, and I’m very impressed with the way your wound has healed,” Dr. Chakwas offered with a grin as she tapped on her omni-tool in preparation for her next patient.

“Aww, thanks, doctor.” Garrus turned his attention on the new arrival. “How are you feeling these days, Kaidan?”

“Fine, actually,” Kaidan was as surprised by the outcome of the Mars fiasco as anyone else. “Dr. Chakwas just asked me to stop in every once in a while to make sure I don’t rattle my implant again.”

Karin snickered. “Rattle. Your use of that term never fails to amuse me, Major.”

A little half-smile rose to his lips. He knew things had been far more complicated than that, but somehow it was easier to face his own mortality by toning down the severity just a little. Plus, it helped other people to brush it off and treat him like a normal human being. That’s what he was, after all. He didn’t want anyone to forget.

“Hey,” Kaidan began, looking to change the subject if he could. “Mind if I ask you two something?”

“Shoot,” came a quick reply from Garrus. Karin simply nodded.

“Did you like working for Cerberus?”

“We never worked for Cerberus, Major,” The doctor quickly answered.

“We worked with them… sort of… but really we were working for Shepard. I don’t think Cerberus was too interested in formally employing a turian, a krogan, a quarian, a drell, or an asari, anyway. They put up with it because Shepard called the shots.” Garrus seemed rather amused with the memory of it all.

Kaidan nodded. He wasn’t sure what to say in response because he honestly wasn’t sure how he felt about it. He’d heard Shepard’s exasperated explanations and chatted a bit about it with the other crew without getting too deep into anyone’s motivations, but he was still having trouble understanding why anyone who might have been aboard the Normandy back in the days of chasing Saren across the galaxy might have thrown their lot in with Cerberus. Even if Shepard was the driving force, it made him sick to his stomach.

“You met some of the scientists recently, right? And Jacob?” Garrus asked. He seemed to read the discomfort written in Kaidan’s body language. The Major straightened up and tried to mask it once more, though he was mindful not to obstruct Dr. Chakwas’ readings.

“Yeah. I’m glad we were able to get them out and away from Cerberus.”

“They were normal people, right? I mean, Jacob probably doesn’t count, since he up and dove into a suicide mission with us, but overall, they were just people doing their jobs.”

“They... seemed okay. I admit that I was expecting them to be far more… extremist… than they were.”

Garrus chuckled. “Not everyone is the Illusive Man, Kaidan. Some of them were psychotic, don’t get me wrong, but a vast majority of them were good people who didn’t have a better option at the time.”

“Joker, for example,” Dr. Chakwas interjected. “He’s a great pilot who was immediately grounded by the Alliance after the SR-1 went down. You and I both know he was born to fly. Cerberus gave him that ability and a rather fine frigate to go with it.”

“I was holed up on Omega, counting the minutes before I was bound to be overrun by mercenaries. I’ve never been so happy to see that damned N7 logo as I was that day when I was lining up my shots. All things considered, Shepard and Cerberus were a much better alternative than being shot, beaten, killed, and shoved out a station airlock,” Garrus stared up at the ceiling of the med bay for a long moment as though lost in memory. Kaidan was inclined to believe the severity of the tale.

“I joined the new Normandy because Commander Shepard asked it of me,” Karin added as she recorded the results of her scans on his implant. “A far less exciting story, I suppose, but it’s true. There were times when I questioned my decision, and, perhaps, the decisions of Shepard and of Cerberus, but I can safely say now that I don’t truly regret it. It solidified the gravity of our current situation in my mind and, well, without Cerberus, Shepard wouldn’t be here today and we’d be in a far bigger mess than this.”

Kaidan didn’t want to imagine the state of things without Shepard in the picture. It had always brought him pain. Living the reality of it was worse. At one point, he’d thought it would get better after he met her on Horizon and saw her with his own two eyes. Knowing she was alive and well should have brought him some relief, but it didn’t. He thought often of her. He worried for her. He missed her. He was scared of her… or rather, of the power she still held over his poor, broken heart.

But then it came to light, in a hospital room on the Citadel, that the feelings were mutual.

Now Kaidan was left to try sorting through all his thoughts and feelings. He tried to make sense of Cerberus and Project Lazarus and collectors and reapers and Shepard and decide for himself where to go from here. His heart knew, of course, but his mind needed some convincing.

“That’s true,” he quietly responded at last, a subtle bitterness tinging his words.

“Trust me, I get more frustrated than anyone when things aren’t black and white,” Garrus commented. “But there’s a hell of a lot of gray here. As much as I’d like to say that Cerberus is worthless and that all the people working for them are monsters, I know that they’re not.”

“Let’s be frank, here,” Dr. Chakwas began as she turned her attention away from the results skirting across her omni-tool to study the two comrades before her. “Few appreciate the Systems Alliance. Not many like the Council, either. No one enjoys having Cerberus around and Cerberus itself hates everyone else. It is we lucky individuals who are caught in the middle and have to deal with it all because we have no other choice.”

“Yay,” Garrus dryly responded with a shrug of his shoulders.

“If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, Major,” the doctor continued, shutting down her omni-tool and patting him on the shoulder. “Remember the real enemy out there and be understanding of the difficult choices people have to make when they feel they’ve been backed into a corner. You and Shepard were close once. Don’t judge her too harshly for what she had to do when things were spiraling out of her control.”

Kaidan could feel the heat rising to his cheeks. He wasn’t sure why, but he suddenly felt like a shy teenager who just realized that someone knew about his crush. It was a strange sensation that he hadn’t experienced in years. Oddly enough, it had been over the same person the last time as it was now.

“That was more than one suggestion, Doc,” Garrus noted with a chuckle. He didn’t seem the least bit surprised by her forwardness.

“My apologies,” she responded with a coy smile. “I’ve never been terribly shy about speaking my mind.”

Had the bold words come from anyone else, Kaidan might have reacted defensively. Angrily, even. But now, he sat in stunned silence, unsure of what to do or say.

Garrus uncrossed his arms and placed a reassuring hand on Kaidan’s opposite shoulder. “For what it’s worth, Alenko, I agree. And good luck with that.” He turned with a slight chuckle and vanished through the doorway.

“I don’t… I mean… Shepard and I…” Kaidan began, not sure where he was going with his fumbling words. Nowhere, apparently.

“Need I remind you that there’s a physiological response when you’re thinking about someone in particular, Major?” Karin asked, her eyes filled with unexpected sympathy. She turned her gaze to her omni-tool for a moment as she continued, “I can show you your results here if you don’t--”

“No,” Kaidan answered with a small sigh. “No, that’s alright. I get it.”

“If I recall correctly, you were confused once when you were watching the same reaction occur with Shepard while checking her over after a mission, years ago.”

A wistful grin crept across his lips. He’d nearly forgotten about that. A question rose to mind just then, but he pressed his lips together suddenly to keep it from escaping. It would have been a breach of confidentiality to know if Shepard still exhibited those signs after all this time. Given that conversation they’d had at the hospital, he knew that she probably did. All in a moment, he felt a bit more comfortable letting his heart speak louder than his mind.

“Physically, everything looks good, Major,” Dr. Chakwas announced. Kaidan understood the rest of the statement that she hadn’t said aloud. Mentally and emotionally, he needed to sort things out for himself.

Wary of Cerberus though he was, he’d heard and seen enough to understand at last that nothing was so clear-cut. Suffering in regret, resentment, and misery hadn’t done him or Shepard any favors.

He could fix this.

He was finally ready to try.

#Mass Effect #me3 #shenko #shenkofic #Shepard x Kaidan #shenko implied #Kaidan Alenko #Karin Chakwas #Garrus Vakarian #i tried #writing

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cometladyicarus-blog · 7 years

Text

Alliance and Hierarchy pt.2

Okay, here’s part two which sets up for the sketch I had linked to in part 1 - a fairly generic work scene considering who’s involved, after all.

Not much to ramble about here, except for some awkward transitions I haven’t figured out how to smoother over just yet. And as before, handwave inconsistencies with canon while reading, but let me know where I was off-canon please!

I freely admit, I don’t know much (or anything) about prosthetics except for the occasional news story, but I presume that in the future prosthetics would be better than the ones available now.

Part 1

Part 2

Who doesn’t love dealing with Akuze’s aftermath?

12 March 2178 (Human Calendar)

Citadel Lower Wards

15:15 Local Time

The artificial leg was awkward, but the Salarian doctor with the motor mouth the Alliance hired had an improved version waiting for Jane in Dr. Michel’s Ward Medical Center. He may not have the right angles in his own legs, but he seemed to know how to make artificial legs for a human with a habit of tripping in heels of any kind originally. Then again, Asari have a very similar leg build, or appear be. Regardless, she doubted - if Asari did have a similar bone structure for legs as humans - she was the first creature to be missing a leg.

Doctor Michel greeted her and waved out a patient who had apparently been faking an illness to get out of work. “Lieutenant Commander Shepard, your leg has arrived. The privacy curtain is going up, now.”

“Thanks.” Jane unlaced her boots - still her active duty pair, considering her other shoes were strappy things she had been convinced to buy a year ago when Rain - no, not now. Michel passed through the curtain as she was kicking off the last bit of pant leg onto the floor.

She flashed a grin at the ward doctor as she hopped onto the table, flexing both feet, though the temporary one was slower to react and actually stuttered as she moved the ankle. “So, pop out the temp, pop in the new, and all’s good?”

“Physically.” The Human doctor frowned, but the new leg was installed with very little problem. “I still think you should speak with psychological expert again. Causes of injury like yours don’t heal without scarring of the mind.”

“I'll be fine, they cleared me as sound of mind. My nine months are almost up.” Shepard's green eyes stared out the windows. “I'm not sure I'm ready to go back into service. I’ve never actually had time to do anything else, really. Mom would still have Golden Boy John the Hero, y’know, and I could never live up to that.”

She slid to the edge of the table and placed her good foot on the floor first, leaning on the table as the false leg touched the solid surface. She shifted her stance to place more of her weight onto the new leg until she was touching the table for balance and holding one leg up. A practice walk around the table, good, good, no creaks, no cracks, just footsteps.

Jane was zipping and buttoning her pants when the doctor asked her an odd question.

“Where would you go, Lieutenant Commander, if not back to the Alliance?”

She was dancing - sort of, she was never a very graceful person, though the new leg was more stable than her original two together ever were - to the tune of some old Earth song about shutting up and just dancing with the one’s true love. Or something. Old Earth romance dance songs weren't her usual thing, she only went to Humanity's cradle for Graduation Leave. Hell, dancing wasn't, but the new leg actually supported her weight and was fully locked into the socket. It was time to celebrate giving away that stupid cane!

And what better way than to wear a cute little number that didn’t leave her ass out to the world, or try to make a fuss about making her flat chest seem bigger, in a pair of strappy heels that didn’t catch in the ball-hinge joint of her new leg? Celebrate life and freedom! And booze!

To pretend her life wasn't one disaster after another. To take back her life from The Legacy. She downed her shot- sweet, hint of fire, savory- and signed for another one.

Not drunk yet, she only started ordering her usual list that seemed longer than it used to be. Last Leave, Commander Trapper ordered them off the ship to keep from bothering the Odette crew still stuck on duty. Toombs was determined to survive Leave sober enough to take everyone back from the bar, but his plan failed when Lefty wasn't paying attention and poured rum into his soda.

She had won the drinking game as they watched some game or another and had to take a drink every time the announcer started shouted excitedly. Lefty picked an arm-wrestling match against a visiting Turian. Rain was busy lecturing on the importance of good medical care to the three equally drunk Volus.

When the commander found the whole team half-passed out playing pool and still drinking and telling bad jokes, he apologized to the bar owner.

And the team was the group of nice military people. Who chased off the xenophobic locals from harassing the Turian engineering squad also on their own Leave. The lecture Trapper almost ripped into them before the clarification—

A jittery Salarian bumped into her, breaking her memory as she stepped away from the bar and sipped at another glass of … something, blue, at the bar. He dropped a device as the Volus owner barreled through. She smiled at the mental image of a Volus pinball knocking over patrons. Maybe a Volus Vanguard on a Biotic Charge?

Ah well, the Salarian escaped the burly reach of the Human bouncer’s arms. The owner wandered back to the bar and walked under the barkeep/patron barrier ledge.

“- That Salari-an! - I know he was chea-ting.”

She knelt down to pick up the device. “Sir? Was this that Salarian gentleman's?”

“-Yes. - Thank you,- ah?”

She smiled. “Shepard, well, Jane Shepard.”

“Yes - thank you, - Jane Shepard - of Earth-Clan -.”

She spent the next two and a half weeks at Flux’s as an unofficial bouncer, stepping in when the waitress girls were being bothered, and watching the quasar machines for the accused cheater. She was paid in drinks and food from the bar. Not a bad gig. Kept her from falling too deep in old memories. Or the new ones haunting her dream hours.

Until one night, a week before her leave was up and she would have to call it quits on her unofficial job anyway, a C-Sec officer tapped her on the shoulder.

She had been telling the waitress about how she got some of the scars - not the Thresher Maw ones, too soon, no good, badbadbad - and showing off her - now scarred, being on her inner lower arm - tattoo marking which Company she was a part of, when she was tapped on the shoulder with the tattoo of her squad.

Single finger tap, a wide and long-ish instead of skinny and long finger, from an armor plated glove, blunted tip, had to be Turian. Asari did not wear armor plate, nor have wide fingers, and often tapped with two fingers like a lot of Humans. Salarians, on the other hand, tapped with one but didn’t often wear plates, nor did they have wide fingers. Krogan was unlikely, she’d just be pushed or shoved instead of tapped. Too tall to be a Volus. Elchor just spoke in a rumbly voice and wouldn't tap someone on the shoulder. She turned the barstool, adjusting the wide strap of her dress.

Turian was correct. Fringe and prominent cowl identified him as a young-ish adult male turian. He looked to be about her age, just out of mandatory military service. And taller than her, like most Turians. “Excuse me. Officer Garrus Vakarian. C-Sec.”

She smiled and held out a hand. Yeah, he was about her age. Other military officers her age were still polite and formal. Hadn't had the manners beat out of them from the hustle and bustle of getting things done yesterday and the resentment from bureaucrats messing with shit they didn't know. “Nice to meet you, Officer. Lieutenant Commander Jane Shepard, Systems Alliance Marines. Currently on a long and well-deserved leave.”

He chuckled. “Apparently, and you seem to be itching to get back if you took up bouncing for a bar.” Interesting, he didn't immediately activate the not-staring gaze at her leg that was in full display as she sat on the barstool in a skirt that didn't reach her knees. Or the scars along her arms, her face, her good organic leg. He looked her in the eye. The dance stage lights played havoc with her eyes trying to pick out the color of his clan marks. They may as well be fuchsia as far as she could tell.

She indicated the drink in front of her. “Free drinks, and I can help move people out with my drunk soldier act.” She paused for a moment. “I’m not breaking Citadel law, am I, officer?”

“No, ma’am. Just checking to see why an Alliance soldier is on a long leave, and why said soldier hasn’t checked in with her embassy for two months.”

She swore. “My mother put you guys up to this? This is why I didn’t check in; they’d tell her, she’d show up, start insisting on taking care of me or some other kind of bullshit, and then she’d wonder why the hell I’m not- Why am I ranting all this to you?”

He shrugged as his mandibles twitched in the manner she recognized as amusement. Nine months was a long time to spend on the Citadel, and Humans weren’t quite everywhere yet. “I have one of those handsome, devilishly charming, faces and a voice that can summon the truth from anyone. I don’t know what made the Embassy look for you, just that they are.”

Oh damn, he's a clever asshole. A cute clever asshole. She smiled at his disarming tactic and turned her wrists in a surrender. “Alright, I know making deals is kind of against regulations, but I’m this close,” she held her thumb and index finger very close to each other as she went on, “to catching a hacker rigging the Quasar games to his favor. That’s really why I’ve been bouncing here, C-Sec has better things to worry about than a gambling cheater and a soldier on a long medical leave.”

Vakarian paused a moment, nodded. “Alright. Who are we watching for?”

Well that’s new. He was up for playing along with her vigilante-ish scheme. On the other hand, she was helping to improve the situation of the community by trying to gather evidence for proper law enforcement- shut up, just report. “Salarian. Name’s Schells, I think. Paler face than the rest of his head, but he has spots in the lighter shade. I’d say grey or blue-grey at darkest. Half a head taller than me. Likes to wear red, but don’t rely on that. I think his eyes are green, but the lighting here is difficult enough that I can't be certain what colony color your clan marks are. And if I didn’t know my hair is red, I’d not know it either.”

He pulled up his omnitool’s display and found the Salarian in question. “So, any behavior patterns you know of?”

“He usually shows up when the place is busiest. Easier to slip in and move about when everyone is everywhere. He usually only plays a few games at a time, thanks to Flux knocking over everyone in an attempt to tackle him.”

“Like now on the left?”

She looked. “Well, he’s early. That’s poor form. Breaking a pattern is just as likely to get you caught as keeping it.”

Some yelling, and shouting, from the Salarian, but Schells was cuffed in the end, and Flux was trying to get Vakarian to accept some drinks. The nice officer kept turning them down, insisting he was on the clock.

With the Volus finally appeased and moving along back to his bar, Officer Garrus Vakarian, C-Sec, turned to Jane. “Alright, we got him, and better yet, he’s now in C-Sec hands for his crime.”

She grinned. “Great!”

“Now you’ll keep your end of the deal.” He laughed as she swore and stopped her celebrating. “Turians don’t forget that easily, Lieutenant Commander.”

And then he led the way to C-Sec headquarters, pausing only long enough to let her glance around the Presidium and for him to point out features and some of the histories of the features. She would later learn he took the less direct route.

“Officer- ah, you found her?” Another Turian, this one older and clearly not fond of tracking down people, approached and gave her a once-over. The dress felt more awkward, with her leg on display, but he seemed to make a point of not really looking at her. Damn it, she'd think Turians were familiar with what dangers are in military life and would know better than to look-not-look at scars like that. Hell, the few Krogan she’s met thought her tale was worthy of being put to song, and while it was flattering, no thanks, I really don’t have the time to listen-

Vakarian moved his hands between the two, breaking her from her mental rant and indicating who was who. “Detective Chellick, Shepard. Lieutenant Commander Shepard, Chellick.”

“Nice to meet you, Detective. As you can see I am just fine, I just didn’t want to deal with Alliance when I’m on nine months of medical leave.”

“Medical leave? Jane! What happened? How are you still standing if you needed nine months?” Captain Hannah Shepard, mother of the Akuze Sole Survivor and mother of the Hero of Elysium, gave Jane a close look-over. Examining every piece of civilian wear she was wearing when out catching a gambling cheater. Likely disapproving it all for practicality, but Jane didn't need it to do more than look pretty. Or sort of pretty. Hannah spent more time staring without staring at the leg and the scars on her arms, leg, and face. At least she couldn’t see the scars along the rest of her.

She paled, forced herself to smile, and locked her legs to keep herself from falling to the temptation that running offered her. “Mother, I didn’t want you to worry, not any more than Akuze already had you distracted from your responsibilities. I just had to have my leg replaced and get used to it all. See? I’m fine. I’ll be going back on duty next week, already booked transport back to the Alliance.”

The Captain crushed her daughter in a hug. “Why didn’t you tell me this? I heard about Akuze but-”

She clapped her arms around her mother twice before pushing her back a step with a smile. “Mom, John needs you more, I think. I trained for being out in the wilds before the mission, but he ran around being a hero in his underwear, armed with a paperclip. I think he needs you to remind him how what he did was more dangerous and incredibly stupid than me being attacked in full armor by the wildlife.” John was going to love his baby sister now she set their mother on him.

Hannah Shepard smiled and patted Jane Shepard’s head. “I was just worried.”

“Mom, you used your military clearance to track me down, I have my Omnitool on me all the time. Next time, just send a message. I have to report to the Embassy now you involved them. Wonderful to see you again, I promise I’ll visit for Winter Festives.”

Hannah smiled and left C-Sec with one of the higher-ups.

“You didn't tell her about your leg before, or did she already know?”

Jane glared at the law enforcer. “Not a word to her about Schells or anything else about my Leave. I'm making my own way, without her name paving it ahead of me. I am earning every accolade, and refusing everything that hints at her influence. I do not need her damn pity or her want to help her poor, cybernetically legged, daughter.”

"I completely understand." The way he shook his head as the elevator to the docks went up made her believe him.

The day she was leaving, her omnitool beeped and sang to alert her to a call coming in.

“What is it, Vakarian?” She listened as he summarized the events regarding the Salarian madman. Busy week. “On my way.”

She ran, shoving people aside with the practiced ease of any N7 candidate until she found the Salarian matching the doctor’s description. “Halt, Saleon, in the name of--” no, not in Alliance space- “Citadel Justice!”

Well, that worked. God, she sounded like some fictional super heroine character saying that. The Salarian turned. Must have been the strange command.

“The name of what?” Strange: 1, Regulation Standard: 0.

She grinned, tackled, and locked him down, even without cuffs. Catching bad guys turned out to be fun. “Vakarian, is this him?”

“That’s him. Thank you.”

“Not a problem. I’ll just call this my great send off to the hardest training the Alliance can dish out. I believe, Doctor, this is called ‘justice.’”

The Salarian would have head-butt her if he were Krogan.

Garrus chuckled and helped her stand again. “Glad to be of help to you. I owe you a few drinks next time you’re at the Citadel.”

She grinned. “Alright.”

Maybe she had an answer for Doctor Michel's question.

28 September, 2178

Luna Base, Sol System

18:35 Earth Standard

With her N7 stripe on her armor, the patch on almost everything she wore, her footlocker packed and in hand, she squared her shoulders and stood her ground. “Nope. I am out.”

“But you passed.”

She glared. “I only passed because you all decided that I needed to be fucking rewarded for being at just the right place to survive Akuze, even with a dead leg. I passed this so you lot know I’m not quitting because I couldn’t handle this shit. I’m quitting because I am done with military life. I am done being the great Commander John Shepard’s little sister. I am done being the great Captain Hannah Shepard’s daughter. I am done with being The Sole Survivor of Akuze.”

“Alright, where will you go?”

She shrugged and remembered a flanging voice chuckling, blue eyes behind a blue half-visor, and owed drinks. “I’m thinking security. Or law enforcement. Off Earth, of course. Maybe at a station or something.”

The evaluator looked at her papers. “Your forms say you’re going into the reserve services.”

“Sir, yes, sir.”

No more reason to complain, she was still - technically - part of the Alliance’s military, and someone was bound to point out how she’s still scarred mentally by Akuze.

12 October 2178

Presidium Embassies, Citadel

08:15 Local Time

“Well, Vakarian. You’re getting a new partner. Try not to arrest this one, or else you’re out, regardless of family connections.” Executor Pallin did not look like the kind of person anyone would want to irritate.

“Don’t partner me up with someone corrupt then, sir.” Garrus looked the same as seven months before. From behind him, she could see how his hands were having a hard time staying folded behind his back. Couldn’t have been a very comfortable stance to maintain either.

She cleared her throat. “Technically, I’m a C-Sec cadet, but being an Alliance N7 was impressive enough to the bosses that I just have to memorize regulations and can skip the physical training. That and they shot at my metal leg to test my pain threshold. Guess being former military is good in general here.”

Garrus frowned as he looked her over. No, not frowned, he looked her over with an observing eye, like he was making sure she wasn't part of an elaborate joke. Did Turians prank each other? Her uniform was the correct one, right? The red and white stripes on her sleeve were just Alliance standard, but they weren’t exactly C-Sec standard, and no N7 ever left the military for Citadel Security or any other kind of security organization though Jay- “Shepard?”

She grinned, though part of her flinched at someone using her last name like it was her only name. “Vakarian.” So much for being mature and not-petty. “Call me Jane, my mother is Shepard. So is my father. And so is my brother.”

“Alright, then I’m Garrus. Vakarian’s my father.”

“Yeah, figured you two would do well together, with Schells, his elchor accomplice, and Saleon. Better not be a sign you two don’t like Salarians.”

Jane shrugged. “So, where do we start, partner?”

She held out a hand and after a moment of pause on his side, they shook hands.

#Mass Effect #garrus vakarian #female shepard #C-Sec #Sibling Shepards #spacer/sole survivor #C-Sec Officer Shepard

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xenonentity · 7 years

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HOLLERS EVERY ONE WITH THE NUMBER THREE IN IT FOR ALL UR FEMALE OR NB KROGANS

i just realized almost all my krogans are female lmao?? other than toad (and rael who i haven’t developed yet)... i technically have an NB krogan but they’re a side character/not developed i probably need more nb krogers

also i hope yo u realize that all the questions in the 30′s have threes and i am dead (ily)

Lyze; x

What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?

Pretty much nonexistent; she met him a few times when she was a kid but that’s about it.

Is your character bothered by the sight of blood? If so, in what way?

It doesn’t really bother her much.

What does your character dislike in other people?

Stuffiness, ego (in the Better-Than-You way, not the I Love Myself way), boringness. She’s wary of outsiders, especially males and non-krogans, but tries not to judge on appearances.

What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?

The genophage/experiments like Maelon’s, hospitals, the smell of dead thresher maws, most male krogans

Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.

In formal settings, especially when surrounded by non-krogans. Also, at doctors/hospitalsm etc.

In the face of criticism, is your character defensive, self-deprecating, or willing to improve?

It depends on the criticism- if it’s phrased like an insult, she’ll be incredibly defensive. She will make you eat your words and won’t take any shit.

Otherwise, if she recognizes that she’s doing something wrong and actually cares that she’s doing it wrong, she’s willing to improve. But, she’s both stubborn and frequently oblivious, so sometimes things go over her head or she accepts that she’s doing something wrong but just doesn’t care enough to change.

Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method?

A combination of stubbornness and obliviousness means she usually keeps pushing the pull door until someone points it out to her that it might work better if she pulls. Once someone (that she trusts) tells her, though, she’ll usually give their way a try to see if it works out.

How does your character behave around people they like?

Lyze isn’t one to mask who she is for others; she’s load, rambunctious, and energetic, and she’s open and friendly with anyone who lets her be, for the most part. Those that she’s very close to may see her more mellow or even unhappy moods, but they’re infrequent.

How does your character behave around people they dislike?

Lyze is who Lyze is- but she won’t put up with any shit. She’ll either simply continue to act her way and ignore those she doesn’t like, or she’ll downright go after them, depending on the reasons behind her distaste.

Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status?

Protecting her status; she took over Clan Khel after her mother was killed, and she’s determined to do a better job.

Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

She’d prefer to take care of the problem.

Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?

Yeah, definitely. Probably more than once. Also, probably deserved it. More or less unphased.

Has your character ever had a dependent figure who was not related to them?

Nope, which is probably for the best. She’s not exactly a great role model.

Ahnra; x

What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?

Really good, especially as far as krogans are concerned. She was born before the genophage, and actually had a large nuclear family, with a happily mated mother and father and lots of siblings.

It wasn’t as happy after the genophage.

Is your character bothered by the sight of blood? If so, in what way?

She’s numb to it.

What does your character dislike in other people?

Just about everything honestly she’s the epitome of “old [krogan] yells at cloud”

What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?

The genophage, stillbirth, most turians/salarians

Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.

Mostly when around lots of non-krogans (asari she’s used to, neutral towards humans), or when around children (obviously not including her daughter).

In the face of criticism, is your character defensive, self-deprecating, or willing to improve?

A nice blend of defensive and self-deprecating.

Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method?

Immediately move on, sometimes before she really gives the first thing a chance to work out.

How does your character behave around people they like?

This assumes Ahnra likes people ???

She’s usually just as gruff but more willing to actually talk to you rather than ignore or insult you. The exception is her daughter, Mezza, who she adores. She tries her best to do everything she can for Mezza, and she never snaps or shows disinterest in her.

How does your character behave around people they dislike?

Gruff, to the point, short. Doesn’t put up with shit but prefers to just ignore people. If someone really gets under her skin, though, be prepared for a fight, she has a really bad temper.

Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status?

Neither. She wants to be left alone and live out what’s left of her lifespan, she already pretty much considers herself a lost cause.

Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

Removes herself from the problem (unless the problem directly threatens the safety of the few people she cares about).

Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?

I’m sure she has. She wouldn’t be amused.

Has your character ever had a dependent figure who was not related to them?

Lyze. She took the role of Lyze’s advisor when she became chief, and kind of fulfills a motherly roll with her. Almost. Sort of. It’s complicated.

Carna; x

What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?

She was raised by her mother in a female krogan clan, so she didn’t have a very strong relationship with her father.

Is your character bothered by the sight of blood? If so, in what way?

She’s not incredibly squeamish, but she’s worried by it, especially if one of the day care children gets scratched or cut.

What does your character dislike in other people?

She tries to see the best in people, but she hates bad/abusive parents and bigoted people.

What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?

When you work with kids, you’ve gotta be prepared for just about anything. When you work with multiple species of alien children, you REALLY need to be prepared for anything. She’s pretty much completely unaffected. Whatever gross concoction you found, she’s probably dealt with it; she has a strong stomach.

Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.

Being around bad parenting, especially in a place where she’s not in a position to safely speak up.

In the face of criticism, is your character defensive, self-deprecating, or willing to improve?

She’s always trying to be better, if not for herself then for the kids she takes care of.

Side not: “krogans can’t run daycares” is an insult and not a critique. literally stop telling her that you assholes

Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method?

She’ll move on- she has to be adaptable.

How does your character behave around people they like?

Sweet as pie, mother-hen figure. She’s always fussing, making sure they’re comfortable and all-around okay.

How does your character behave around people they dislike?

Very polite, and usually doesn’t show her distaste. Occasional bits of passive aggressive among a whole lot of Kill-Them-With-Kindness.

Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status?

Protecting their status, I guess, if you consider her reputation as a daycare owner/childcare professional counts as her status. ‘Her’ kids mean everything to her.

Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

She tries to deal with the problem if possible.

Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?

Eh, it’s probably happened, but nothing too serious.

Has your character ever had a dependent figure who was not related to them?

she literally owns a daycare

Marla; x

What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?

It was decent; she had a stronger relationship with her mother, though.

Is your character bothered by the sight of blood? If so, in what way?

She doesn’t really mind it, she’s seen her share.

What does your character dislike in other people?

Unwillingness to help, know it alls who don’t actually know what they’re talking about, hypocrites.

What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?

She’s more-or-less immune to most ‘gross’ things, she’s seen a lot of weird shit while working as a krogan bartender.

Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.

She kind of takes things by stride; she’s not very well-versed on any kind of situations outside of her own clan on Tuchanka, especially formal situations.

In the face of criticism, is your character defensive, self-deprecating, or willing to improve?

Depends on who is criticizing her, what the criticism is, and how drunk she is when she hears it.

Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method?

She basically throws whatever she can at the wall and sees what sticks.

How does your character behave around people they like?

Boisterous and energetic, will go to the moon and back for you. Earth’s moon, even, probably. She will call people out on shit if she needs to, but she’s usually very happy to help and be friendly with her friends.

How does your character behave around people they dislike?

More-or-less pleasant, but short and less interested. Unless you’re someone she hates, in which case, she’s not gonna make your visit to the bar easy, that’s for sure. She has a tendency of being incredibly annoying and patronizing.

Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status?

Honor, probably

Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?

She tries to remove problems, though it sometimes ends up causing more problems.

Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?

She probably has and there’s a good chance it was prompted by her being clumsy

Has your character ever had a dependent figure who was not related to them?

She babysat a krogan named Grontt when she was younger. His murder led her to meet Justicar Nyanna.

#krogan #krogans #mass effect oc #mass effect #banter #lunei-the-white-lion #b #marla #carna #ahnra #lyze #meverse #meverse2 #meverse3 #;omnitool

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