001 | Video

[twiceadays]

[The video clicks on about midsentence, revealing one dashing commander and one dashing buckethead alien. The woman taps at the screen while she talks.] --looks like some crap from the 21st Century.

[The aforementioned buckethead hums in agreement, peering at the netbook with great interest. Her eyes narrow through the purple haze of her faceplate before she shrugs and turns to face her human companion.] Mm. It’s awfully primitive. [OKAY, JAVIK oh wait we haven’t met him yet--] I wonder if I could rig our omni-tools to connect to the network instead...

Too bad EDI isn’t with us. [A pause as the woman purses her lips. But that’s right. Her ship’s AI isn’t here because someone took her ship from her. AGAIN. The tapping becomes more of a jabbing at the screen now.] I don’t know what sort of game this is, but I don’t have the time to be played with. [There’s a huff of frustration as she glances at Tali.] Think you could rig it to hail the Normandy and get our asses out of this place instead? [BECAUSE YOU CAN TOTALLY DO IT, RIGHT, TALI? THEY ARE THE NORMANDY CREW, AFTER ALL.]

[She’s an engineering genius, Shepard, not a goddamn miracle worker.] I can certainly try, but I think you’re asking for a little too much, Commander. [Tali sighs mournfully, feeling more than a little agitated herself.] I get the feeling we’re going to be stuck here for a while. You have to hand it to the people in charge here, though - they have wonderful timing.

[The flattest of all the flat looks.] I ask you to fight Reapers and plunge yourself into suicide missions, and this is asking too much? [She rubs a hand over her face, breathing out slowly. Okay, getting angry is not going to help. Angry is bad. Angry only gets results when you have something, someone, to shoot. Her eyes close briefly for a moment.] They couldn’t beam me up during my jail sentence? That would have been nice.

I’m only one quarian, Shepard. [Just gonna return that flat look with a flat tone of her own. Then she lets out another sigh and taps the ‘chin’ of her helmet thoughtfully. At least she has a slightly better hold on her temper. :|b] I don’t know. You heard what that woman said - they need our help. We can’t just turn away from that, can we?

[Shepard sighs, having the grace to at least look guilty. Taking out her frustration on Tali isn’t going to be helpful to either of them.] The Reapers have already taken Earth. I just... [Why you gotta do that, Tali, making her feel all guilty and reminding her that she’s some kind of damn hero and shit. That’s low. Super low. She’s watching you, girl.] We can’t turn away from that. [And so she jabs her finger at the screen again because luls, they’re being recorded.] I’m Commander Shepard of the Systems Alliance. [She hooks a thumb at the buckethead.] This is my friend, Tali’Zorah vas Normandy. Who here wants to be helpful and tell us things the welcome wagon obviously won’t?

[Tali waves a three-fingered hand at the camera.] Um, please. We’d appreciate anything you can tell us.

[ooc: black text is Shepard, purple is Tali c: we'll both be replying to tags~]

Comments

[tequilaselai]

So, this is a hell of a reunion.

[twiceadays]

Wish it were under better circumstances. [A pause before she gives a sharp bark of laughter.] Of course, I'm pretty sure that when we meet up again back home, it'd be just as awful.

[tequilaselai]

To be fair, our meetings have never occurred under the best circumstances. [She smiles - and then, remembering Shepard can't actually see that, starts to laugh.] That's just the way the galaxy works, I guess.

[twiceadays]

[... Oh right. :'D She shakes her head slowly.] You know what, that's it. After we get out of here and kick Reaper ass, I'm taking a long vacation and meeting people the normal way.

[tequilaselai]

I can't imagine you doing anything the normal way, Shepard. But sure, good luck with that.

[twiceadays]

[:||| Flat looks. FLAT LOOKS FOREVER, TALI. She waves off your truths.] I do plenty of things the normal way.

[tequilaselai]

[YOU KNOW SHE'S RIGHT, SHEPARD.]

Such as?

[twiceadays]

[SHEPARD IS PRETTY GOOD ABOUT DENYING THINGS ABOUT HERSELF.]

I have hobbies. Collecting model ships, keeping a fish tank. [:V]

[tequilaselai]

Need I remind you that those fish would be long gone if not for Kelly? [:V :V :V]

[twiceadays]

[Shepard sighs, and yet again waves the truth off.] Kelly wasn't much help, to be honest. [A pause.] She's not on the Normandy anymore, anyway. She's an Alliance ship now, not Cerberus. [A smirk tugs at her lips.] Not that it was much of that either after I got my hands on it.

[tequilaselai]

I know I've missed being on the Normandy. It must have been nice to have her back... even if it was just for a little while.

[twiceadays]

[Sob.] Every time I turn around, Tali, it feels like she's being taken away from me.

[tequilaselai]

Let's hope this is the last time, then.

We'll find a way out of here, Shepard, and back to your ship. Hopefully before things get any worse.

[twiceadays]

[A derisive snort.] I can't imagine what's worse than Reapers attacking.

[tequilaselai]

Well, there's the war with the geth, but that's not really worse...

[twiceadays]

Not worse, but not exactly a bright spot in our galaxy.