Show Me Yours, Tough Guy

Show me yours, tough guy. I bet mine's bigger. Indie RP blog for Commander Jenna "Blackjack" Shepard -- Renegon Earthborn Ruthless savior of the damn galaxy. Open to RP with any and all characters and time periods. Multi-verse, multi-ship; see "Dossier" for official headcanons. Feel free to send a message if you want to discuss plot. Tracking tag "cmdrblackjackshepard". Skype: blackjackkent Personal blog: blackjackkent.tumblr.com Other characters: Aria T'Loak | Mordin Solus Thane Krios | Philip Shepard Armando-Owen Bailey Matthias Shepard

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

User alert! Main reactor shutdown in accordance with emergency containment procedures. Manual restart required.

...uhhh...sic semper tyranosasodfaposj....[mumbles incoherently]

[maidenliara]

“Oh, that’s a relief. I thought you were going to poke fun at me rather than indicating you’ve missed me.” Liara kisses Jenna’s cheek approvingly. “I’ve missed you as well, Jenna.”

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

Jenna smiles, shifting to loop her arms around Liara’s waist. “Glad to hear it; would hate to think I didn’t measure up to all that intel.”

[bioticus]

"I can't do this anymore."

[a soft sigh through the nose] I know it’s hard, Shepard, and I… I know there’s a lot to be afraid of. But there’s one thing I know fore certain and that’s… That if anyone can get us through this it’s you.

[iintegriity]

I’m here to listen, Shepard. What kind of friend would I be if I wasn’t? [lets his hand fall from her shoulder, eyes narrowing ever so slightly in her direction] Don’t forget we have an army to help break down that wall. You’re not alone. 

[he gives her a small smile and settles himself more comfortably] They’re doing good. Won a couple of things here and there, they’re all still alive which is the important part. 

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

[manages a low chuckle] I guess you’ve got a point there. Way damn better than doing it alone...

[leans back in her seat, hooking her hands behind her head and puffing out a breath] Alive is good. There anything we can do to help them? Offer support somewhere?

[judomemes]

Snow Judo anyone?

[justaductrat-archive]

“Deal,” Adara said immediately. A choice between a pet shop with the limited tools she had, or a state-of-the-art warship with a fully stocked armory? No contest. There were a few ideas she’d had that she couldn’t effectively work on with what little tech she had. This was a chance to do something bigger, better, and faster than she’d ever been able to before. And, if they really weren’t going to be leaving the Citadel for a few days, it would give her enough time to turn one of the gangs against the group that had set her up. Perfection.

“I won’t be long,” she said as they entered the pet shop. She waved to the krogan, made that exaggerated guilty look kids used when they were caught doing things they weren’t supposed to, and disappeared behind the counter. With a glance at Shepard, the krogan followed. He scolded, she agreed he was right, and by the time she’d gathered her things and was ready to go, Adara had no doubt in her mind that the krogan would definitely want to have a few words with Shepard at some point in the next few days.

“I’m ready,” she said, tapping one strap of her backpack as she rejoined Jenna in the front of the shop.

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

“Good stuff,” Jenna answered. She, for her own part, had busied herself with picking up hamster food; Riley was starting to run low and it seemed as good a time as any to deal with it. She waved jauntily at the clearly-irked krogan, turned about, and beat a fast path out of the shop.

Even Commander Shepard didn’t actively go out of her way to deal with angry krogan if she didn’t have to.

“What was his beef?” she asked, jerking a thumb over her shoulder. “He mad that I’m taking you on?”

In the back of her mind she reflected the Normandy crew might not be too happy about her picking up stray kids either. Most likely she’d have to have a security type or two keep an eye on Adara; just because Jenna felt a kinship with the kid didn’t mean she wouldn’t steal something. In fact, she thought ruefully, it might make it more likely. She’d be careful.

[arianashepard]

     Reluctantly, Ariana relinquishes her hold on Jenna’s waist, and she slides off the Commander’s lap.  Ariana knows she’s uncomfortable – perhaps that wasn’t the right word.

         “You seemed rather…embarrassed by this whole          situation, Jenna.  I suppose I don’t blame you.  It’s          just lucky for you I find this girlish nervousness          endearing.”

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

Jenna grins sheepishly, falling into step with her towards the door. “Just a little out ‘a practice, is all...” she murmurs, her usual drawl growing more pronounced with desire and nerves. “Would hate to be a letdown given there’s been, what, a fifteen-year leadup?”

[maidenliara]

“Twelve hours. My, I have to believe that is a new record for me, or very close to one if not. Judging by your laugh perhaps I should not be so proud of this milestone.”

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

“If it were anyone but my girlfriend I’d be applauding their dedication, but as it is right now...[eyes glint teasingly] Well, call me selfish.”

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

"Commander Shepard, it is bothersome that I even have to ask this, but, I find it imperative; just how long have I been stowed away in my quarters?"

[laughs] A good twelve hours at this point. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever gonna see you again!

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

In the Darkest Hour (Traynor/Shepard)

[normandycommspecialist]

Even the untrained observer would have been able to tell Samantha was reeling. No one had said front-line service was going to be easy, but she’d been unprepared for just how quickly everything turned upside down. The one good thing about this trip to the Citadel was the chance to catch her breath a little. Even so, she couldn’t help feeling guilty for looking at the bright side here…

If this is the new normal, I’m not sure I’ve got it in me.

There was no guarantee it would be asked of her, at least not yet. She was just with the Normandy to oversee the retrofits for the time being, and Je - the Commander wasn’t obligated to have her stay any longer than necessary. Truth be told, Sam wasn’t certain which outcome she was expecting, or even which she preferred.

After taking a few long moments to recompose herself, the specialist managed to gather her courage enough to look for Shepard. She’d been all but certain her CO was visiting Alenko in Huerta, and when her guess proved right, it took another long moment to try and sort out what to say. Was there even anything that could be said after all this time? Just turn and walk away. Reason one, it’s been fourteen years. Reason two, you’re in a hospital. Reason three, she looks absolutely beaten down…

Oh, to hell with that. I don’t take orders from a specialist.

When she strode up next to Shepard, she made sure to keep her distance. On the off chance she wasn’t wanted - or wasn’t recognized - she could turn and walk away, she thought with a hard swallow.

“Erm - Commander, I…it’s a lovely view, isn’t it?” The words sounded foolish even to her, but she couldn’t stop now. Cheeks heating, she forged on. “Sort of like Earth, isn’t it? It, ah, it reminds me of when I was small and would ride the Red Line out to the shopping district…”

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

Jenna stiffened slightly at the unexpected comment, though for a long moment her head simply remained rested against the window.  “Yeah. Well. Hell of a lot greener than Earth, at least the part where I grew up,” she said absently. “The Citadel’s always pretty; they cleaned it up proper since Sovereign’s attacks...”

She trailed off, then blinked as the woman’s words registered more closely. “Red Line, huh?” she asked. It took a little effort to force herself to straighten up and look to her side, to shove a vague grin onto her face and attempt to make conversation. The woman was one of the Normandy crew, by the uniform; her face rang a bell but Jenna could not for the life of her place where she had seen it. But if she was Normandy then Jenna had no intention of ignoring her outright, no matter how bad the day had been. 

“Had one of those in Chicago -- shuttle transit up and down the lake,” she went on. Her eyes tracked over the specialist’s face, and with the mention of Chicago something clicked into place and the familiarity grew stronger. “I--” She stopped, collected her thoughts for a moment, and then went on slowly, “I’m sorry-- I could swear I know you from somewhere. Was it Chicago you were from too?”

It was Sam. Or at least she thought so. Something about the eyes, the tone of voice -- there was little of the child in the grown woman who now stood in front of Jenna, but she could have sworn...Or was she deluding herself, looking for a long-lost friendly face to shore her up against the exhaustion of the past few weeks?

She stood stock-still, waiting for an answer, sudden uncertain energy pulsing in every vein.

[urlyegerekyok-deactivated202011]

[arianashepard]

     The Commander grins, dancing her fingers along Jenna’s sides.

         “Lead the way then.  I’m interested to see a          ship other than mine.”

     As much as she enjoys exhibitionism, sitting on a barstool in the middle of a crowd was not so much her poison.

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

Jenna grunts, squirming at the ticklish touch over her shirt, and slides off Ariana’s lap -- though not before nuzzling another quick kiss against her jaw. 

“Yeah...Uh. This way. It’s up at bay B-13...”

[normandycommspecialist]

                                           Well, in real life,

      one doesn’t move on an eight-by-eight square grid.

                                                                                                  graphics credit to @andruillasil.

[justaductrat-archive]

The girl hesitated, frowning. “He can… if I stay. If I stay, I’m safe. But i won’t.” She couldn’t, and she thought from the doubt in Jenna’s tone that the Commander would understand. While she suspected her friend wouldn’t mind in the slightest if she just followed him around everywhere he went, it just wasn’t her. She had a life of her own, and she wasn’t about to throw it away for safety’s sake. Besides which…

“I can probably get them off my back if I’m careful,” she said thoughtfully. “Turn one of the Red Sand gangs on ‘em, they’ll be too busy to worry about me. Safety now means time to plan that.”

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

Yes, Jenna knew all too well what that meant. Back on Earth there had been places to hide too, and some of them were even nice enough. But they felt like a trap, when you were used to living in the open and always having an escape route somewhere behind you. She didn’t blame the kid for not wanting to stay put in a pet shop.

But that didn’t mean she liked the idea of just leaving her flat. This was all a little too close to what she’d once had for comfort. 

“Tell you what...you get your stuff from your buddy’s place and you kip on the Normandy a few days. We’ll be in dock until Saturday at the earliest; repairs and all. How about that?”

[bioticus]

"I can't do this anymore."

[a soft sigh through the nose] I know it’s hard, Shepard, and I… I know there’s a lot to be afraid of. But there’s one thing I know fore certain and that’s… That if anyone can get us through this it’s you.

[bioticus]

[he tilts his head to the side, his face cast in an expression of sympathy and helplessness. if only there was a way to say it that would make him believe it all.] Liara’s not right, Shepard. You’re not banging your head uselessly against a wall… Eventually that wall is going to collapse and you’re going to make a breakthrough. 

[he reaches out and rests a comforting hand to her shoulder.] All you have to do is keep hitting. if that makes any sense.

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

[smiles slightly, head coming up a little, automatically, at the light touch to her shoulder] Aye, it does. And I guess I know that, deep down. Just a thick-ass wall sometimes...

Anyway...thanks for listening. [pause, then visibly shakes herself, changing the subject] How’re you holding up? Heard anything more about your kids?

[arianashepard]

     The Commander hums as Jenna takes the opportunity unknowingly presented her, the other woman mirroring the Commander’s actions and peppering her neck with light kisses.  Jenna’s response vibrates against the Commander’s skin, causing a smile to curl the corners of her lips.

         “Mm…unless you’re keen on a Wards alley, the only          other place I can think of is the Normandy.”

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

Jenna grunts hoarsely. “Wasn’t figurin’ an alley,” she mutters. “Just...could do without all these eyes...” She’s a little too drunk to enjoy the sense of exhibitionism; it’s the company and the touch and the warmth that she’s hungry for. “My cabin’s got a lock...”

[loak-blog1]

﹠﹠. LAWLESS.

                        “ with good reason. “ reason she was beyond explaining at the moment. this wasn’t the place or time to describe omega’s recovery or her efforts to direct the rebuild, no—- this was a celebration, a moment of relaxation in a time that made it seem impossible to do so. eyes lingered on the commander’s before gaze drifted to the whiskey. “ came prepared didn’t you? “ there was an indisputable amusement in her words, and a slight tilt of her head ( she was more curious of how quickly or slowly they’d get through the bottle of whiskey ). body pushed away from the wall, to let clicking heels close the distance between them.

                        the game she played—— aria made sure the distance between was on the border of comfortable and intruding on personal space. there was so doubt the placid expression on her features his the high energy that BUZZED under her skin, and LEAKED through her eyes as an unsatisfied hunger. but aria maintained composure, took what ball of energy that filled her chest, settle there with patience. it would be released by the end of the night ( SHE HOPED ). all in all, her plans were not too fully overwhelm the commander with an arsenal of methods that would make this BEYOND the intimacy of two friends having a drink. she would very simply and easily cross that very line one gesture at a time

                         glacial eyes were half lidded, and focused on shepard, her stare unrelenting. arms recrossed then, folded over her chest, chin slightly tilted up, “ how have you been shepard? i know our last encounter was on more… violent terms. “

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

“I’ve been having a lot of other violent encounters since,” Jenna answered ruefully. 

How the hell did Aria do that, that manner of turning all the air in a room to electricity? It made Jenna’s skin prickle just to stand there; the woman was looking at her with an amused, narrow-eyed gaze that said all too clearly she had an agenda. As she moved closer, the feeling only intensified, until she was just inside Jenna’s personal bubble and the heat that went with that fact was almost palpable.

Jenna licked her lips unconsciously, shifted her weight and set the whiskey down on a nearby table; the thunk as it hit the wood was like a sudden drumbeat. “Not that I mind,” she went on dryly. “War is kind of my business.” Unlike tension-infused encounters with women who could kick my ass and have me say thank you... Her lips twitched in an involuntary grin.

“I assume you’ve got glasses,” she said, gesturing at the whiskey bottle without tugging her gaze from Aria’s. “Wouldn’t want you t’ have to wait on starting the...celebration...”

[l2implxnts]

  Kaidan sighed to himself and leaned against the wall as he waited for Shepard to come back out of the medical wing. When she did, he looked over to her and shook his head with a small grin on his face. He was just happy to see her alive and well. 

”No, unless you gave me sentry duty.” he said and looked her over, ”Are you feeling better? Chakwas works quick.” he commented and went to rub the back of his neck. 

[cmdr-blackjack-shepard]

She chuckled hoarsely. “I still feel like a shuttle ran me over...but not so much like I’m about t’ pass out...so I’d say that’s progress.” She meandered past him and sat down heavily at the mess hall table, glancing over her shoulder at him.

“Owe you a proper thanks for the help, there,” she added quietly. Given how things had played out between them while she was with Cerberus, she was sill relishing his friendship and support now.