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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Kaidan? Are you okay?

What? I'm fine, it's... Shepard that I'm worried about right now.

[ he isn't, and he's obviously lying ]

I'm pretty sure he's overwhelmed right now.

Kaidan... come on. I know how this goes better than that. You know I'll help him, but that doesn't mean I'm not worried about you too.

I'll... be okay, Jaime. [ He sounds less convinced, this time. ]

I mean, I don't know what I can do to make it easier to deal with, anyway. I just need to...weather it, for now, and hope this passes pretty quick.

Being okay later is the same as being okay now.

[How much should he push? How much is right to push, when it's someone he looks up to? But Jaime is perennially like a kid with a scab -- he just picks, and picks, and picks.]

I know you wanna help him out, but do you know what's helped me? Staying away for a little while too. Let me take you out for some food, or something.

I... [ He wants to say no, but he knows that answer won't help Shepard. Hell, it wasn't like he couldn't take care of himself, either. ]

I guess if you think it'll help, I'd better take you up on it. I mean, I'm not skipping work, but... I was planning on going home right after. Maybe I should change that plan.

Change it, [Jaime says immediately, easily. He doesn't have to think twice before realizing that Kaidan can't just go home after work to sit in awkward silence with a man that's supposed to love him. No way.] Either we're going out, or you're coming over.

[Jaime pauses. This is so awkward to ask, but...]

And, um, if one of you has been sleeping on the couch, there are still a couple of spare rooms at my place. If you need one.

[Seriously, do they even have two bedrooms?]

Uh --

[ He rubbed the back of his neck, and looked down at the ground. He might have even gone a touch pink. ]

I, ah -- That wouldn't be a bad idea.

The couch is pretty uncomfortable.

[Jaime can't help but sigh a little, though it's a fond sound.] Of course you took the couch. Then it's settled -- come over tonight. It'll be like old times.

What? I'm not going to be an ass to Shepard. He pretty much just died.

Anyway, are you sure? I mean, I hate to impose... [ A pause. ] The couch isn't that good, though.

[ Jaime would know. That couch is like. A loveseat. ]

Wait, hold up -- what do you mean died?

[Isn't that a little over dramatic for a guy who just seems to have lost his memory?]

Is that the sort of thing you should be telling me about in person?

Er --

Yeah. Probably.

Where do you wanna get dinner at?

[A part of Jaime wants to say that they'll just get a ton of take-out, so he can hear what Kaidan has to say in relative silence, but... no, it'll be good for him to go out, won't it?]

I think I know a place. And you have to head home after work anyway, right? To pick up some of your stuff? At least a change of clothes. I have a toothbrush you can use, though.

[And floss. And toothpaste. He's got it all, when it comes to dental care.]

I'll swing by your place and we can go from there.

You have an extra toothbrush?

[ A pause. ]

Okay. Uh -- Shepard might be home. If you get there before I do, just, ah, be gentle, okay? I know I don't have to tell you, but...

But, I appreciate it, Jaime.

I have lots of extra toothbrushes! They just -- they come in handy, okay?

[He has a lot of visitors, and it's very important to him that they can brush their teeth when they stay over.]

Anyway, don't worry. You know I've done this before, right? I'll be nice. Shepard's my friend too.

Jaime, do you get a lot of houseguests?

[ He does not know about Jaime's dentist dreams. Right now he's thinking you're pretty weird. ]

And yeah, I know, I'm just --

I'm worried.

Yeah, people sleep over all the time. [Look, it's both houseguests and dentist aspirations! He's a multifaceted guy!] And I know you are. You couldn't not be worried, but... you know this is probably temporary, right? He didn't wake up next to the Porter. That's a good thing.

Yeah, I know. It's probably going to last a week at most, but...

That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, and he didn't -- ah, he didn't even realize we were...

Yeah, that's... rough. But he will. And he'll remember why, too. Even if this was permanent, he'd remember that eventually, but here's hoping to it not taking that long.

[Shepard and Kaidan are so solid together. It's hard, now, for him to imagine either of them with anyone else ~~which means playing Mass Effect would be very difficult for him; Shepard, you ho~~.]

Have you told him yet? That you two are together? I mean, he must have figured it out by now.

Yeah.

He, ah, thought he was some kind of pervert at first. I didn't have the heart to leave him with that delusion.

[ He honestly loves him too much for that. Obviously. ] And yeah, I'm sure...it'll be okay. Eventually. [ He isn't sure, actually. ]

...he thought he was a pervert for sleeping with you?

[He doesn't mean to say it like that, but he just sort of blurts it out anyway. How the hell would Shep come to that conclusion? He would think 'boyfriend' would be obvious, what with the whole one-bed-sharing-an-apartment business. Mostly the one bed bit.]

No, he -- didn't think anything of that.

[ His voice starts to dip. In shame. ] He -- ah -- it's not exactly --

[ Kaidan is getting red. He never gets red, but he's getting red now. ] Don't worry about it.

Kaidan, it's not that embarrassing! You live together, [Jaime says, as if they're not discussing poor Kaidan's sex life.]

Look, you, uh -- finish work. I'll be at your place once you're done. Deal?

Yeah, ah, sounds good. I'll see you then.

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[video] the road that ended

video | private ; IF KYTHA DOESN'T MIND THE THREADJACK

THREADJACK AWAAAAY /popcorn.gif

video | private ; WE LITERALLY HAD A COMBINED SAD EMOTION ABOUT THIS

HAHAH I'M GLAD time to hurt kytha more for her decisions

YEAH SHE DESERVES IT.... >(

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---> a log, or?

UM YES....

I WILL SET ONE UP LATER TODAY so we don't just action all over kytha's post, hahah

SOUNDS GOOD I AM PATIENT

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