looking at exsilium!

[majoring]

Look. I - you know I'm always up for trying to save Earth. But this isn't exactly what I had in mind. And the other thing--

You've always written me a certain way. And I get that you want to try something different, but - come on, this is my life you're talking about here. If you put me in this place in the way you're planning to, you're taking away a huge aspect of my character. Of who I am.

I don't - she doesn't have to remember, doesn't even have to feel the same way. But what happened between me and Shepard before Ilos, and everything since then - it's important to me. Don't take that away.

Comments

[twiceadays]

[Hm. Not sure about this, Kaidan.] Sounds like an interesting challenge.

[majoring]

[Rubbing his forehead] They're talking about doing the same thing to you.

[twiceadays]

So I've noticed. [She smirks and shrugs.] It'd still be interesting. We won't realize that it's gone, you know. The night before Ilos, us.

It'll be okay.

[majoring]

I - I know we won't. But it's the principle. [a beat] You've been taken away enough already.

[twiceadays]

This just means that we can start over, Kaidan. I don't know, it could be fun. Finding romance after everything. [A small smile.]

[poetrysoldier]

Kaidan... It's good to see you.

What is your mun planning to do to you?

[majoring]

[There's a pause and then he sighs, ducking his head and chuckling slightly] Fun, huh?

[twiceadays]

[There you go, Kaidan. That's what she wants to hear. She rubs the back of her neck.] Yeah, fun. You do remember what that is, don't you, Major?

[majoring]

Hey, Ash. [His voice is a little softer, warmer. He's not unused to seeing her around these days, but he still cherishes every moment he gets to speak to her where he otherwise wouldn't have]

Oh, it's - [COUGH] She's just changing around some of my history to suit her, is all. Shepard's trying to talk me into seeing the bright side.

What about you, how've you been doing?

[tequilaselai]

You'll still be you, no matter what happens. Just... a little different, maybe.

It'll be good to see you again, regardless.

[poetrysoldier]

Kaidan.

Your history? Maybe I'm better off not knowing but...

I've been stuck on a spaceship for the last two years or so. Kaidan... Everyone is dead except those on the ship and in the pods where supposedly our loved ones are. Apparently, the ship travels through universes.

[majoring]

I might need a reminder or two.

[twiceadays]

I think I can handle that, major. After we get over your doubts about me and my loyalties, of course.

[commanding]

Oh come on, LT. It could be a new adventure.

[majoring]

Yeah. yeah, you're right. Thanks, Tali.

That part, at least, I'm looking forward to. We can continue out conversation about omni-tools. Or start it again, I guess, given where we're all coming from.

[majoring]

[a faint laugh] You aren't the first one who's made that argument at me.

[tequilaselai]

[She laughs a little at that] Sounds like a plan. I'm getting all of our omni-tools connected to the network there right now. Shouldn't be too hard to get your Logic Arrest set up, too, though it'd be even easier if you'd just listen to me and upgrade.

[majoring]

My...relationship with Shepard. [derp]

[He frowns] Everyone is dead? But - how?

[majoring]

[Oh. Yeah. That]

Can you really blame me, Shepard?

[majoring]

Like I said, I prefer stability over all the mods you've got on yours.

[commanding]

Well, then maybe it's a good argument. [Getting srs for a second here] At least Shepard is there. You'll adjust. Actually, you wont even know you're adjusting.

[twiceadays]

[UH. YEAH??????

No, not really. She shakes her head.] It's a lot to swallow, and you've always been the most logical of my crews.

[majoring]

Not there, I won't. it just - it makes me uneasy. The fact that these people can just add and take away whole aspects of our lives on a whim.

[commanding]

Believe me, I don't like them playing God anymore than you do. But you can take care of yourself, LT. I have faith you'll be fine.

...Unless you need me there to hold you hand.

[majoring]

Yeah. I mean - we've been over all this before. I guess it'll happen again, once I'm there. But out here, you know where I was coming from already, and you know how I feel about it. In there - we'll make it work.

[twiceadays]

[She punches him lightly in the shoulder.] Hey, out here we had to deal with already having a relationship that we watched falling apart. I don't know about you, but I kind of don't want a repeat of the cheating conversation.

[Pause.] Which wouldn't happen there anyway.

[majoring]

[Coughing] Technically that only happened for you, you know. To be honest, even if I had, that's not exactly how I see it. Blame me getting hit on the head at Mars for my wording.

But...yeah. Starting fresh - there's nothing wrong with that. You can't miss what you don't know you had. [a beat] Even when she takes it away, though, the feelings - those have always been there. I know that.

[majoring]

[He smiles at her] Thanks. That does make me feel a little better, actually.

You know I'd never say no to having you around, Ash.

[twiceadays]

It still happened, either way. [Her nose wrinkles.] I wish I could have had the option to punch you in your face for it. You went on a date. Why couldn't I? [She doesn't sound particularly angry or passionate as she talks. It's just more matter of fact.]

That's something strange about love, Kaidan. Even when you don't think it's there -- even if we won't have our relationship in Exsilium -- it can't be stopped. [Shepard smirks.] I think hanging around my crew has me a little addled.

[majoring]

...You were dead, Shepard. [He doesn't sound offended, though, mostly amused. Only Shepard]

That's very philosophical of you, Commander. [His voice is lower now, a little warmer. He wubs her.] That, or vice versa.

[commanding]

That's great, because I'm usually not good with the whole inspirational words thing. You can always grab Shepard, though.

Thinking about it. We'd be starting over too, you know.

[twiceadays]

Half-dead, I think is the technical term. At some point, they brought me back to life. [She isn't really sure. That whole thing about the Lazarus Project is pretty confusing.]

What can I say? You come close to the end a few times, passed on and come back, you're likely to pick up a few things. [Aw. She wubs him.]

[majoring]

Technical didn't really come into it at the time.

I guess I'll bow to superior wisdom on that one, ma'am.

[twiceadays]

No, I guess not. All the weird things we've seen...

Oh, good. I was worried we'd have a problem there.

[majoring]

Problems? That doesn't sound like us at all.

[twiceadays]

Hell no, we live on in perfection.