[video] the road that ended

[sassguard]

[ 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?

Comments

Video; Private

[sassguard]

This is you, right?

[ Look, it's a familiar picture ... of Kaidan's abs. Given how much of an eyeful he'd gotten last night, though, they're readily identifiable despite the awkward angle and bad lighting. ]

Video; Private

[kanadian]

[ Kaidan Alenko's face goes bright. Red. His mouth opens, and closes, and then opens again, and then closes.

He cleared his throat. ]

Ah... I don't exactly...look at my stomach from that angle, but...

I'd say so.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

Kaidan ... I need you to be honest with me.

Video; Private

[kanadian]

Shepard, I don't think I've lied to you in my life. I'm not exactly planning on starting now.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

All right.

[ A pause. Then, worriedly: ]

Did I become some kind of pervert?

Video; Private

[kanadian]

Er --

What? No, I -- Ah, I sent that to you.

[ The more he talks, the more awkward he gets. ]

Video; Private

[sassguard]

[ Shepard audibly sighs in relief at that, shoulders slumping a little. ]

Okay, good. I was a little worried dying really changed me.

[ He pauses, then rubs the back of his neck. ]

So, uh, you and me, huh?

Video; Private

[kanadian]

[ Well. He picked up on it faster than Kaidan expected... ]

Yeah. You and me. It's... I mean -- its OK, you don't have to feel pressured or anything. I know that... Waking up to all of this is hard enough as it is, but then then this on top of it? [A pause, then. ] It's a bit much.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

Were you ever planning to say anything, or... were you hoping I wouldn't notice?

[ A beat. ]

I mean, it's hard to miss a folder with more than five hundred pictures.

Video; Private

[kanadian]

F-- five hundred? Have I even sent that many?

[ Honestly, that's what surprised him. He couldn't believe Shepard saved all of them. ]

I mean, I figured I'd give you time to adjust... It wasn't like it was that hard to figure out, considering... How you woke up.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

Apparently. If it makes you feel better, they're not all like that.

[ Actually most of them are pretty tame... some are definitely candid and taken without Kaidan noticing, though. At the reminder, Shepard's nose reddens a little, and he rubs at his chin. ]

I've had worse ways to wake up.

[ Moving on from that, quickly: ]

Anyway, so ... it's pretty serious, huh?

Video; Private

[kanadian]

We're Marines, we all have.

[ A pause, then. It's thoughtful as he considers how to actually express their relationship. ]

But, ah, yeah. It is. I mean, I don't move in with someone and adopt a bunch of pets with someone I'm not serious about, Shepard. Besides, after all the time we spent waiting...I don't think I could be anything but.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

[ Shepard's face clears a little, expression becoming more serious in turn as he considers that. ]

Good to know. If I'm fraternizing with my crew now, it'd better be serious.

Video; Private

[kanadian]

I'm not --

[ A pause. He shifted, like he was trying to make Shepard feel better but also... ]

At this point in the war, I don't think anyone cares about what a couple of spectres are doing when we're off duty.

[ It's out before he realizes what he's saying. Oops. ]

Video; Private

[sassguard]

Wait, you're a Spectre?

Video; Private

[kanadian]

Er -- yeah?

Back home, ah, in the middle of the war. I think... Udina was trying to make sure we had more resources making humanity look good. [ That's added with at twist of bitterness. ]

Video; Private

[sassguard]

[ Shepard snorts, raising his brows. ]

Come on. You know I only became Spectre so that the Council could pass hunting Saren down on us and get us off their backs.

Spectre Alenko. It's got a nice ring to it.

Video; Private

[kanadian]

But by the end, they were pretty impressed. That...never changed. Even if they thought we were kind of crazy, with all the reaper talk.

[ A half-bitter snort. ]

They don't think that now.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

[ Shepard's gaze suddenly finds itself fixed to a point somewhere off-screen. ]

I'd be surprised if they thought anything, given what happened to the Ascension.

[ Is that a dead Council joke? That sure is a dead Council joke. ]

Video; Private

[kanadian]

Well --

[ A pause. Kaidan's sense of humor is no better. ]

They replaced the councilors that were lost, you know. They still didn't listen.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

Being stubborn must be a job requirement.

[ He shakes his head, slightly. ]

So it worked out, then? Udina became a councillor?

Video; Private

[kanadian]

I -- [ He looks increasingly constipated. ]

He's no longer with us.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

[ He crosses his arms, unconsciously. ]

We didn't blow up another spaceship, did we?

Video; Private

[kanadian]

Er --

No. I...shot him? [ A Pause. ] He...betrayed us. Well, all of humanity, really.

Video; Private

[sassguard]

Kaidan ...

[ He does pinch the bridge of his nose, now. ]