On finishing ME3

[shepardsvakarian]

I don't care what you say. I don't care what anyone says. I will find her.

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[femshep]

That bad, huh?

The keyboard-jockey won't tell me how it ends.

[shepardsvakarian]

...Shepard.

I ...told you to meet me at the bar.

[Do you hear the huge split in his flange, Shepard? It's all for you.]

[femshep]

[She doesn't get the reference--mun's been keeping her in the dark so Shepard doesn't go postal and spoil everyone in sight--but she can definitely read that tone.

She's silent for a bit, then:]

Did we do it?

[Because that's what matters, right? Even if she died, or whatever the hell else happened... I mean, they all did sign on knowing shit could go very badly for the lot of them... She's still got her priorities. For the most part.]

[shepardsvakarian]

We didn't.

[His head tilts to one side.]

You did.

[A little pause of his own, and then:]

But the records will show I took the killshot.

holy shit, the entire shepard brigade rolled in.

[femshep]

But it's done, then. We beat them.

[She's trying to hide it, but there's enough relief in her voice to hint that she really wasn't so sure it was even possible, let alone that they'd manage it.]

That's what matters, then. Remember that, Garrus. Remember why we were fighting.

[A chuckle.]

And give me a little more credit than that. Who's to say I won't find you?

[reigninginstars]

Garrus.

[shepardsvakarian]

[Watch him stare for a moment. His mandibles spread just a bit.]

Shepard.

[He laughs. That... hollow happy sort of laugh that's more a burst of air from his lungs more than anything.]

I hope you're ready to test my offer - I wasn't joking when I said we'd find out just what a human turian baby looks like.

[reigninginstars]

[Shepard swallows thickly as she stares back towards him, biting back the urge to run into his arms. For now.]

You're that serious about it, huh?

I'll take you up on the offer, even though I also still stand by the thought of adoption. There's ... a lot of children out there who lost their parents.

[Her eyes shift away, staring at nothing in particular.]

[shepardsvakarian]

[What the hell are you waiting for, Shepard?]

Just one, of course. No need to be greedy. Besides, I doubt the universe could handle much more Vakarian.

[Always about the jokes, even with the situation. But hell, you're here, everything is perfectly fine now.]

We'll see to it that they all find homes, Shepard. No one will ever be alone.

[Throwing your words right back at you, did you notice?]

[reigninginstars]

[That earns a soft chuckle.]

And I don't think they could handle any more Shepard's, either.

[Okay, that's it. She can't take it any longer. She's gonna close the distance between them and wrap her arms around his neck, blue eyes staring intently up into his. She didn't think she would have survived, and she's glad he did as well.]

It looks like I left a mark on you.

[Her tone drops to something softer, fingers brushing along his plating.]

I've missed you.

[More than you could ever know.]

[hasflexibility]

I said no matter what happened you'd never be alone.

Don't go doing something stupid for my sake, Garrus.

[shepardsvakarian]

I never doubted you, Shepard. I never will.

[He didn't just go through hell to not be able to pull you into his arms, and his grip is hard enough to make it feel like he's never letting go ever again. Only if you let him, of course.]

I'm not a good turian, remember? But don't worry...

[He bends his head down to press his forehead to yours.]

Now I don't have to.

[missedtwoyears]

Garrus.

[Long. Damn. Pause.]

I promise I'll save you a spot at the bar. Just don't hurry to get there.

[shepardsvakarian]

[And his is just as long.] ...Shepard.

You know I always was bad at following orders.

[missedtwoyears]

[The breath she sucks in is sharp, ragged. But when she replies, her voice is as steady as it's ever been.]

You don't get to disobey this one, Vakarian.

[One corner of her mouth quirks upwards, though it's a shadow of her usual lopsided smile.]

I'd have to claw my way out of the wreckage just to kick your ass, and neither of us wants that.

[shepardsvakarian]

I won't have to, because you're not going to be at that bar.

[His voice is resolute, even if his subharmonics say otherwise. But the laugh she pulls from him is unavoidable, if sad.]

A good Shepard ass-kicking? Hah. If it's anything like your dancing, I'll be in for a show.

[missedtwoyears]

[She folds her arms across her chest, eyebrows lifting, and tries for all she's worth to hide the answering sorrow in her eyes.

It doesn't quite work. She's been running out of places to hide it for a while now.]

Issuing ultimatums and maligning my skills? If I didn't know better, I'd think you were fishing for a demonstration.

[trickslol]

[Oh look, temporary knowledge of canon.]

Of all people to go missing, huh?

[shepardsvakarian]

[A short, hollow laugh.]

She's done it before. Another two years of waiting can't be all the bad.

[Try absolute hell. Even he can't kid himself on that one.]

[trickslol]

Uh huh. [He doesn't buy that.]

So. Any idea where to start searching?

[shepardsvakarian]

Earth. Then once i'm there... [His head bows forward and he sighs.] ...under every rock, every piece of damned rubble that I can get my hands on.

[keelahselai]

Oh, no. Keelah, she won't tell me anything - how bad is it?

[shepardsvakarian]

...It's bad.

[keelahselai]

I'll find out for myself sooner or later, I guess. It's true what they say - the not knowing is the worst.

[shepardsvakarian]

It is. Two years was hard enough. [He sighs and bows his head. It's easier opening up to you, Tali.] I don't know if I can handle a two year wait... not again. Here's to hoping your run isn't quite so bleak.

[But he's not holding his breath.]