big goddamn heroes.

"I was just waxing goddamn nostalgic." Independent Mass Effect Roleplay Blog

[pragmaticparadigm]

Ha. You’d take that back in a heartbeat. Wasn’t much good for anything but trouble back before I pulled myself together. And that joke about trouble and me still going hand in hand? I know you’re thinking it.

I wouldn’t say no to knocking back a few.

[withsulfur]

You caught me. I’ve had plenty of missions where someone like that would be perfect. Trouble tends to hit the hardest.

Damn fine to hear it.

[pragmaticparadigm]

It’s more than a speech when it’s how you get things done.

I think that goes for most of us.

[withsulfur]

You do get results. Wish I'd had someone like you working with me before the Reapers.

I guess you'd know a thing or to about that. Next time we're both on the Citadel, I'll buy you a drink. Maybe it'll help us both unwind.

[pragmaticparadigm]

Maybe. Maybe not.

I had an instructor a few years ago; she was tough as nails. I used to think nothing got under her skin, but then we crossed paths during downtime and got to talking. She told me something I could never shake: “When you think you have all the answers, you’ve gotten complacent. You’re blinded to variables and alterations.”

I didn’t know what she was telling me then. Hell, some days, I’m still not sure I do. I figure if I stop questioning it — if I stop seeing the faces that were and only the ones that are — I’m not doing my job right.

Guess it’s that doubt that reminds me of what we’re doing out there.

[withsulfur]

Hell of a speech, Shepard. Guess that's why the Alliance has you running the show. You know how to pull off impossible odds and stay morally sound. 

Doesn't help me sleep any better at night, though.

[pragmaticparadigm]

Could be the worst part of it, knowing there was someone intelligent in there. Fearing maybe there still is.

That doesn’t change what we have to do, but damn if it doesn’t complicate it.

[withsulfur]

I've killed people before who were paid to shoot at me. Hell, even killed people who’d do it for fun. The way I see it, we’re doing them a favor by putting them down. Wouldn't want it any other way if there was a shred of me left in there.

[withsulfur]

I've seen a lot of disturbing things in my time. A lot of violence, a lot of killing, but nothing compares to how bad the Reapers are. Looking at those husks, knowing that's what you're going to be if you screw up, it'd break a lot of men. Still, nasty pieces of work aren't going to slow me down.

I hate this goddamn war, though.

[garronpaduk]

[arielshepard]

[MESSAGE]: At least we establish the fact that you are paranoid (which you hide rather well,  I might add). Also since when did you care about the nuclear safety and architectural well being of the Citadel?

[withsulfur]

[MESSAGE]: I don't. Citadel has too many security flaws. I would never use a space station as a base of operations. Just look at what that Reaper and those Geth did to it a few years back.

[withsulfur]

[Red]

Sure, Zaeed’s seen red before, and usually when it came to Vido Santiago. Most things are just annoyances to him. He gets angry, but not the kind that deafens ears and blocks out any other thought except rage.

[withsulfur]

Footprints.

Zaeed’s an excellent tracker, be it across the stars or on the ground. Once, he had a bounty that took him to a densely forested planet. He was able to follow them by footprint and foliage breakage alone. 

Then again, footprints krogan make are kind of hard to miss.

[withsulfur]

Cold.

Zaeed’s never exactly been the type for warm fuzzy feelings. He’s prickly and ruthless, with good reason. Betrayal left a bad taste in his mouth, making him cold and hard. 

He’s not always like that, though. Zaeed just takes a while to warm up to new people.

[rpmissionboard]

[arielshepard]

[MESSAGE]: I wasn't being serious. There's no way I'm allowing you or Vakarian to turn my apartment that was given to me by Admiral David Anderson, mind you, into some thermonuclear bunker.

[MESSAGE]: I knew you would. 

[withsulfur]

[MESSAGE]: Don't tell me you thought I was. I'm paranoid, Shepard, but I'm not stupid. The Citadel is a terrible place to build something like that.

[arielshepard]

[MESSAGE]: While we're at it, let's also make it Reaper-proof since you're hellbent on making sure it's about as secure as the Vatican's vault.

[MESSAGE]: There are very few things in the galaxy that can make me laugh.

[withsulfur]

[MESSAGE]: I can make it so the grunts can't make it past the front door. Don't know how much help I'll be against one of those bloody giant ships.

[MESSAGE]: I believe that.

[withsulfur]

This little punk was asking me why I wear this ‘janky ass armor’. His words, not mine. I’ll have you know this armor is one of the luckiest things I own next to Jesse. Got part of it blown off by this batarian and his jury rigged shotgun. Should’ve seen the kickback on that thing, knocked him clear on his ass. Cost him his life, too. Anyways, I bought another hardsuit after that and it just wasn’t the same. Too bulky, and the shields never recharge as fast. I repaired the old set and it was good as new. 

Didn’t get my money back for that piece of shit I bought, though.  

[arielshepard]

[MESSAGE]: That still doesn't mean you have permission turn my living space into a nuclear reactor. That's not security. Are you trying to turn my apartment into a bomb?

[MESSAGE]: I had a feeling you would say that. Almost made me laugh there for a minute.

[withsulfur]

[MESSAGE]: If I wanted to blow your place up I would've done it already. It's secure.

[MESSAGE]: That I would've paid to have seen.

[arielshepard]

[MESSAGE]: I don't appreciate making my apartment inhabitable thanks to your attempts at 'security'. You also realized that a clone has /my/ DNA, it's a copy of /me/. And that said clone is /dead/.

[MESSAGE]: Is there ever a time when you couldn't use a drink, Massani?

[withsulfur]

[MESSAGE]: So I've heard. That doesn't mean an assassin might try to slip in. You can never be too careful.

[MESSAGE]: When I'm dead.

[arielshepard]

[MESSAGE]: You idiots tried to rig every water appliance in the apartment to go thermonuclear and for a death wall to be installed in the foyer that's activated by pressure plates. The clone is dead and it's not coming back.

[MESSAGE]: Drinks would be fine.

[withsulfur]

[MESSAGE]: I figured you would appreciate us trying to save your life. It's keyed to your DNA, no chance of anyone getting the drop on you again. 

[MESSAGE]: Good, I could use one.