dear_mun | (no subject)

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canon: mass effect

(no subject)

I... see. You originally had your sights set on the Commander, and only chose me after observing an abundance of the former and a lack of the latter. I don't know whether I should be disappointed at having been ranked as your second choice, or excited by the prospect of seeing Shepard again — Shepards, or so you tell me. Goddess. For once, I won't ask how that's possible.

Well, shall we get started? We can't very well wallow in a void of our own emotions forever, no matter how hard-hitting the ending may have been.

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Anything's possible here, sweetheart. But you're right. Better to pull your bootstraps up and move on than let some admittedly horrific endings keep you held back.

I'd think an archaeologist would know that a story is never really over, despite how it seems. Things got dark, but no matter the outcome, there's still everything that comes after, right?

Better to pull up my bootstraps? And here was me thinking you'd suggest I head-butt something.

But with archaeology, there are certain things — lost to time. To eternity, even. And Javik only proves how we romanticise the past, shape it in our own image, no matter how thoroughly we dedicate ourselves to research and understanding. We misinterpret, and we often forget, but...

I do see what you're saying, Shepard. It's good to see you.

Hey, regardless of whether you're your mun's first choice or not, you're definitely mine.

When you put it like that, there's no one else's first choice I'd rather be. I hope you don't think I meant to imply otherwise, Shepard.

Oh, I know. Just thought it bore saying again.

Of course. Hearing that sort of thing is always welcome, no matter how many repetitions have preceded it.

... by the goddess, Shepard, it's good to see you again.

You can bet we're all happy to see you. I know I am. Your face is scarce enough, believe me.

And despite being the third of its kind I've seen thus far, your face is still a sight for sore eyes, Shepard.

I'm always looking for yours, Liara. It's not home without you.

I can return the sentiment, and only all too readily. Which can only say too much about the way things have been forced to play out between us, beyond our control.

How have you been, Shepard? I don't mean to intrude, but I can only keep my curiosity to myself for so long.

I'm still alive, which is something given everything thrown my way. I'm also tired as hell, but I'll always be honest with you. Don't ever think you're intruding, because that's not possible.

That's not merely something, Shepard. That's everything. More than I should rightly dare to hope for.

After all we've been through, have you still not found time to sleep?

I wasn't sure if it'd come to that, myself. Guess I lucked out again. [She waves, her laugh soft.]

Sleep's been difficult since before Eden Prime, more so, now. Eventually, we'll all be okay.

I know we will. I'm grateful beyond words that we have an eventually to one day look forward to, and that's all because of you.

And you. All of you. None of this shit would be possible without you.

I may have played some small part in things, yes, but as humans seem fond of saying, you're the glue that holds our crew together. It takes a great leader to share credit as you do, but don't forget to save some for yourself.

Mm. Give yourself more credit. If you hadn't been part of my team, we'd probably all be dead by now. The Prothean Archives? The blueprints for The Crucible? The countless moments you saved our collective asses from the fire? Without you being you, this cycle would have ended, and I would have stayed dead.

You gave me another chance at life, Liara. And, at the moment, that means you saved civilization as we know it. Seems like that's a pretty big part in things to me.

Edited 2012-07-04 19:53 (UTC)

Indeed, but... I suppose no matter how much we appear to do, we always linger on how we could've done more. Or how we could have done things differently. There will always be lives that could've been saved, if only I'd worked faster, if only I'd seen the Temple of Athame for what it truly was.

But you're right. It's foolish to dismiss all the good we were able to do together, though you make it sound as if I had a choice in bringing you back. There were no two ways about it, Shepard, and I— echo my father's sentiments regarding the Cerberus involvement, really, I do. But I'll never regret anything I've done for you. Not ever.

You can't blame yourself for the temple, for Thessia. That wasn't your fault.

But sure, there's always a choice. [She smile is wry and she shrugs.] I constantly think about my own--situations I wish I could alter, that hang on one choice. [Sarka shook her head.]

I don't regret anything, either. Cerberus was Cerberus, they were a means to an end and I owe you and Miranda a shitton--not them.

You certainly took Cerberus for all they were worth, and in that case, nobody could argue that the end didn't justify the means. But you're right, as ever. At some point, we have to stop lingering on the past, and break out of that cycle.

Lotta cycles to break. And we gotta do right by the time we have right now. We're gonna be okay. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but in those in between moments when there's quiet. I try to find the peace where I can.

If anything, there's going to be more work than ever for all of us. Not to mention the challenge of keeping an entire galaxy of races on good terms, now that they're no longer united by pointing their guns at Reapers. But you know that I'm here for you, Shepard, whether in the peaceful moments or the more hectic ones.

There's always something to do around here. Always.

[Her head tilted slightly.]

You know where I live, Liara. And you know I'm always here for you, too.

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