maskormenace | [video] the road that ended

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[video] the road that ended

[ For those familiar with his face, Shepard seems ... younger, somehow. Not by much, but there are fewer lines creasing his forehead and the corners of his eyes. His posture's slightly different, too, shoulders squared and spine straight even as he almost hums with alertness. ]

I'm Commander Shepard. I've been told I've been here before, but apparently I'm missing a few things. I don't recognize most of the faces on this network.

[ His voice is scratchy, hoarse from use -- or lack of it? He's had the time to go through his communicator record -- lucky it wasn't locked -- and what he's seen has mostly added to his growing confusion. Although he conceals it well, the frustration with the inability to understand what's happening grates on him. ]

Am I the only one having issues with memory loss? Is this something that happens a lot here?

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It takes some getting used to.

Just being here in general, let alone... [ A vague wave of his hand. Kaidan looks more exhausted than he'd been in over a year -- not that Shepard would notice. ]

I'm getting that.

[ It's mostly disorienting, how much older Kaidan looks -- and how he talks to Shepard. He's not sure when Kaidan Alenko stopped being deferential, and it's a strange thing to see. ]

I'm still sorry I don't remember more.

Hey, it's not exactly your fault.

[ It's weird, to see Shepard like this. Young and mostly un-traumatized -- no more than any of them had been after living through Sovereign's attack, but...

Well, it was weird when he actually felt like he outranked Shepard -- rather than being complete equals. ]

I don't know if you'll ever remember more, so don't worry about it. It's just something to roll with, you know? Besides, I'm pretty sure you got the raw end of all of this.

Actually, I think Mako has it worst.

[ The dog can't seem to decide if he's familiar to her or not, alternating between fussing for attention and standing warily at a distance. But the joke is as much to lighten the mood as anything else -- Kaidan Alenko's awkwardness would take up all the air in a room if you left it, and he's still not sure how to address the circumstances he woke up in. Kaidan's certainly avoiding talking about it. ]

We've had a lot of practice, haven't we? Rolling with things, I mean.

I guess... now it's I've had a lot of practice. [ There's a pause, there, and he's not saying everything he wants to -- for once in his life, Kaidan Alenko keeps his mouth shut from what he wants to say. ]

I'm sure Mako will figure things out quickly enough, and you'll regret that you were worried about her. She loves you.

[ It's not ideal, but it's never been Shepard's style to press people for information they didn't want to give him unless it was a matter of life or death. ]

I just ... never thought of myself as a dog person.

[ He didn't think of himself as a lot of things, but that seems the safest to settle on, for now. ]

Strange thing to be worrying about now, I guess.

Are you kidding me?

[ a soft laugh. ]

It was love at first sight, with Mako. I didn't even get a say with her, you were adopting that dog no matter what.

[ His tone says, quite clearly, that Kaidan doesn't mind. ]

I hope I remember that, eventually. She's ... she seems like a good dog.

[ A pause, and then uncertainly: ]

Did I adopt that thing in the aquarium, too?

I'm...sure you will?

[ He isn't, but... ]

That's -- uh, mine? It was a... thing. From the government. [ a beat. ] The hamster is all yours, though.

Good to know I'm not some kind of pet hoarder, then.

[ He pauses. ]

You'd tell me if I was, right?

Er -- of course I would.

[ Kaidan "shepard can do no wrong" Alenko would totally tell him. ]

Besides, it's only two, one of which is small. I think we're okay unless you decide to get another one.

I think I should probably wait on that. At least until I've got my head screwed on straight.

I don't think you need more -- ever! Do you know how much you make me do with Mako, already?

[ A pause. A sigh. ]

Sorry, that was...

You don't have to apologize for anything.

[ It's Shepard, so that even comes out sincere. ]

I don't know, actually, so ... I'd like to? It was my life, even if I don't remember it.

I --

[ wow if Shepard could hear his heartbeat from miles away... ]

You're just very...sympathetic to what Mako wants. I have to be the...disciplinarian, for her.

[ So it's not talking about other things, but... it's something. ]

So I get to be the good cop, and you're the bad cop?

[ The idea makes him chuckle, softly. ]

Then again, you always had a better handle on the Alliance code of conduct than I did. Makes sense.

Well...I think it's more... [ Good dad and bad dad... ]

No, I guess that's pretty close. It's... I think it's more that you have a soft spot for her eyes -- I don't know if you noticed, but she has that look down.

[ He cocks his head, questioning, when Kaidan trails off, but when he doesn't continue, he decides not to push it.ys

He chuckles, shaking his head slightly. ]

I don't know if I have as much of a soft spot as you seem to. The way you talk about her says a lot.

I don't know if you noticed, Commander, but the first minute you met her, you let her sit in your lap, despite.... The fact that it wasn't the ideal moment.

[ A pause. ]

I can guarantee you I'm not exactly the soft one here.

I don't know if that counts. I kind of had other things on my mind.

[ He responds, lightly enough to be a joke, but ... well, there's a grain of truth there. ]

Yeah?

[ A cough. ]

Guess so. It's a lot to take in, huh?

Not as much as the Prothean beacon was, so we're still in good shape.

[ He pauses. ]

There anything we can do to make this more private?

Uh -- [ A few taps on his omnitool ]

There we go. What's up?

[ He can't really tell the difference on his end, and this is still pretty awkward, but ... ]

I wanted to ask you something.

You can ask me anything, Shepard. Go for it.

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