milliways_bar | Entries tagged with kaidan alenko

Shepard's been trying to stave off cabin fever back home by training to keep her skills sharp. It helps, but not much. She's still restless and it feels like forever since she's been in space.

It recently occurred to her that there are people in Milliways who have spacecraft, or can at least get her on one for a while. She knows at least one of those people. Maybe she can find him, or some other friendly spacefarer, and get a deck under her feet again for a little while. Yes, Shepard knows it's kind of pathetic, but she needs to do something before she goes stir-crazy.

So, there's one Shepard at the bar drinking tea and looking out for spacers.

paragonsoldier

They didn't arrest Shepard when she pulled the Normandy into dry dock at Vancouver yesterday. They didn't throw her in the brig. In fact, they put her up in officers' quarters. But she isn't permitted to leave said quarters without an escort, and is not allowed off-base at all.

Shepard's off-base in a major way right now, because she's sitting at a table by the Observation Window slowly working her way through a pot of mint tea.

[OOC: Spoilers for Mass Effect 3 likely to follow.]

vance_prime

When Alyx comes into Milliways today, she is presented with a large rucksack with a note pinned to it.

Alyx reads the note, and takes out the--okay, no she doesn't, the device itself is way too heavy to pull out of the bag without help. Instead, she fishes around until she finds the holo-reader, and starts the laborious process of reading the extremely dry operations manual.

She's probably gonna be here for a while.

[ooc: Created for a plotty thread, but not plotlocked in the slightest! Open until it scrolls.]

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard can't stop grinning. She knows a secret and it's awesome. And she does not use that word lightly.

She's also enjoying a favorite meal from her childhood: spicy shredded pork with white rice. Turns out she handles a pair of chopsticks as well as she handles an assault rifle, although to a less destructive effect.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard and Tali come into the Bar, both looking positively exuberant. "I'm thinking of buying a round of drinks for the whole bar," Tali says. "Do you think I should?"

"I think we should stick to folks we know," Shepard suggests, "but we can pay for them to get stinking drunk." She chuckles.

"Sounds good!" Tali chirps as they both take their places on barstools. "First, I'm going to get you some champagne. That's what you drink to celebrate, right?"

"You've learned well, grasshopper."

"What's a grasshopper?"

Come on up, why don't you? Seems like the two of them have plenty of good mood to share.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

[OOM: It was a fonder farewell than she intended. But, you know, that's just fine.]

[OOC: Implied happy naked fun time, nothing explicit.]

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

The newest member of Shepard's crew has given her a lot to think about - not least how to establish some basic level of trust between him (or it, or them - it's complicated) and the rest of the crew. She's also wondering if she can pass on what she's learned to the Alliance, and whether they'll believe it if she does.

She's doing her mulling over a pot of mint tea at a table by the Window. It may help her if she can do her thinking out loud with the cooperation of someone else.

stargypsy.livejournal.com

Tali seems uncharacteristically pissed off today. It's not possible to see her expression unless you view her faceplate from just the right angle in a certain kind of light, but her body language is unmistakable. Especially since she's venting her frustration by blowing away targets on the firing range with a shotgun.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard's just done something that will almost certainly piss off her patron. She's sort of curious to see whether he'll still think she's worth the trouble. Whether he does or not, she has no regrets.

In fact, she's having a celebratory beer. With her chair tipped back and her feet up on the table, no less.

notamutant

So, what do you do when the two women in your life are god-knows-where in the galaxy, and you're technically not supposed to be in touch with at least one of them?

The answer is simple, he figures; leave whatever he wants them to get with Bar, and hope that one or both of them show up soon to receive it.

Thus, what with it being Valentine's Day and all, Kaidan leaves a fragrant bouquet of lilacs at the Bar for both Tali and Colene. For better or for worse, they're the women in his life, and, well, why not? Women like flowers, right?

Packages delivered, Kaidan orders himself some lunch, and finds a place to sit and eat

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Commander Shepard usually conducts herself with quiet confidence, but she never swaggers. Except today, evidently - she swaggers right up to the Bar with a slightly feral smile and Urz the varren on her heels.

She swings her leg over a stool, sits down, and says. "I want...hm. A drink to celebrate with."

Urz looks up at her expectantly.

"And something for Urz," Shepard adds.

The Bar produces a small bottle of Serrice ice brandy, along with a snifter, and a bowl of jerky. Shepard takes a strip of the latter and tosses it to Urz, who cheerfully snaps it out of the air.

Shepard pours herself some of the brandy and tosses it back with gusto.

vance_prime

After months of work and dozens of setbacks, the Resistance's new teleportation system, the one derived from Combine tech via Aperture Science reverse-engineering, was put through its first trial run this morning. The plan was to teleport a sensor-laden drone into the Combine's native reality, with another teleporter that would send it back after three seconds had elapsed.

It worked... after a fashion.

By 'after a fashion,' we mean 'it came back after thirty seconds instead of three and Kleiner and Magnusson have yet to figure out why.'

Alyx has a copy of the sensor logs, both from the drone and the equipment on the Borealis, and she's looking over them in the hopes of picking up on something the Resistance's senior scientists might have missed. So far, she's having no luck at all.

Distractions would be more than welcome, at this point.

not_his_pa

Before William comes downstairs, he takes a long bath and though he still feels worn out, at least he's slept.

When he orders his breakfast and coffee, a note and stack of bills appear for him.

He stares at the cash for a long time before asking Bar for an envelope that he tucks it into and puts that in a jacket pocket.

Then he starts eating with a fierce concentration, he's going to have to leave a note for Wade before he leaves once he can figure out what it should say.

Tiny tag: William Evans

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard comes into the bar in full combat armor, lightly coated with dust. Something that looks like a huge iguana with fangs and boar tusks galumphs in afterward.

Having not come intentionally this time, Shepard is rather surprised. So is the creature that came with her. It starts sniffing around curiously, occasionally making snorty noises. It's kind of cute and scary-looking at the same time.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard's picked up the last two people on Cerberus' list: the Justicar and the assassin. The latter isn't what she expected at all.

She's glad to be off Illium, since it's a lot like Omega except it hides its nastiness better. Now the Normandy is off to Tuchanka, the krogan homeworld. Most of Shepard's crew is not looking forward to visiting a harsh planet full of belligerent krogan, but Shepard is - she'll get to see Wrex again. And dealing with straightforward krogan belligerence will be a relief after Illium.

Right now, Shepard's at the bar lunching on Cobb salad and that fruity salarian soda she's developed a taste for.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

[OOC: Directly following this fiasco.]

Tali and Shepard enter the bar together. They both look tired, but mostly satisfied. "Keelah,," Tali is saying, "I'm sorry I dragged you into quarian politics." She shakes her head. "All that infighting, seeing what my father did...You were the only one there for me, Shepard - the only cover I had against that storm. Thank you."

"I imagine they're trying to fill your father's spot on the Admiralty Board," Shepard says. "What will that do to the balance of power?"

Tali shrugs. "I have no idea. Being exiled might have made it easier. A few people are suggesting me as a candidate." Oh boy. "Replacing an admiral takes time, though." Tali adds dryly, "You may not have noticed, but quarians like to debate."

Yeah, Shepard noticed, all right. "Are quarian politics always like that?"

"No. Sometimes it can actually get unpleasant," Tali answers cheekily. "We're a very social people, Shepard. We have to be, to make up for being stuck in these suits. And part of that means getting involved in each other's business."

Shepard can understand that, but the Admiralty Board went too far. "The whole trial was insulting. You should have had time to mourn your father."

"I don't think life is about what you deserve," Tali says thoughtfully, "But my father would be honored that I chose to mourn him by blowing up a lot of geth."

It seems like Tali's her old self again, mostly. Shepard puts a hand on her shoulder. "Just remember to let me know if you need anything."

"I will," Tali says. "Right now I...think I just need some time."

Shepard nods. "I understand," she says quietly. "I'll be at the Bar if you need me, okay?"

Thus, the two of them end up in separate parts of the bar: Shepard at the Bar itself, nursing a brandy, and Tali in a secluded booth, distracting herself by constructing a small sensor pack. They're both quite botherable.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

It's a chill, crisp fall morning out on the Milliways grounds. Birds and various forms of wildlife can be heard in the forest and fields. An intermittent breeze whooshes by every now and then, rustling the dry grass and blowing dry, crackling leaves around.

The relative quiet is broken by a deep, thunderous POW that reverberates for seconds and miles: a flock of birds explodes from the forest, squawking, and after that all the wildlife within earshot is scared into silence.

Shepard blinks and stares at the firing range target she just demolished with her new gun - a very large sniper rifle that Shepard really shouldn't have been able to fire from the shoulder like that - and then at the gun itself. Her expression of shock and mild chagrin transforms into a beaming smile.

Looks like she got something other than grief off that Collector ship after all.

numbered_doctor

When Thirteen enters today, she has Rachel in tow. The par just barely have enough time to take in the costumed state the other patrons are in, when their own clothing changes. Thirteen, gets turned into one of the original space cowboys, while Rachel, gets turned into something much more adorable.

Kaidan, ends up gaining a bright orange jacket and a new hairstyle as he enters, not to mention a noticeable change in his skin tone.

[ooc: Open forever. Millitimed because the mun really wants to dress her pups up.]

stargypsy.livejournal.com

Tali's set up at a large table right by the Window. It's covered in various small widgets, gewgaws and parts. Tali appears to be assembling these parts into high-powered flashlights: when she finishes one, she shakes it for a couple of minutes and then flips the switch to see if it works. If it does, it goes in a box at her feet.

Her most recent flashlight didn't pass the test. She's taking it apart to see if she put something in backwards, or if a part is defective.

Botherable.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard is sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, feet up on an ottoman (yes, she took her boots off first), reading a book. An actual paperback book, not a book on a datapad. She prefers real books, when she can get them.

On the arm of the chair is a chubby little hamster, who alternates between washing himself and looking curiously at his surroundings.

Botherable.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard and Tali have obviously just gone through something very unpleasant, to say the least. The quarian is unusually subdued, and her human companion is unusually restless, not quite able to conceal seething frustration.

The two head to the Bar. Tali orders a crate of various tools, equipment, and mechanical parts; Shepard picks up a jacket, a pair of kickboxing gloves, a towel and a water bottle. They excuse themselves to each other: "I'll be in the garage." "I'll be outside." Then they go their separate ways, each to deal with her feelings in her own fashion.

So, for the next few hours, one can find Tali building rechargeable flashlights in the garage (they're for a friend) and Shepard either running laps around the lake or going a few rounds with the punching bag.

[OOC: One mun, two pups - both botherable, just not in the same thread. Threads subsequent to this post may contain spoilers for the Mass Effect 2 downloadable mission Overlord.]

notamutant

After a talk with Tali, and a whole lot of thought, Kaidan puts pen to paper, writing a ( note for Shepard. )

Once it's done, he leaves it at the Bar for her to find, and settles in a booth with a bottle of beer.

stargypsy.livejournal.com

[OOM: Commander Shepard plucks Tali off a planet chock-full of Geth.]

Tali stalks through the door muttering to herself. "Oh, Tali'Zorah, we're glad to have you. We want to make you feel at home. Let me introduce you to our ship's AI. Stupid Cerberus bosh'tet."

She goes to sit at the bar. "Flotilla liquor, please," she says. "A small bottle." The bar produces a fist-sized bottle of clear liquid with a nozzle on the top. Tali pulls a small tube from under her headdress and attaches it to the nozzle. There's a soft slurping noise from inside her helmet as the bottle collapses inward and some of the liquid goes into the tube.

Someone's obviously had a bad day.

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

[OOM: Horizon. It's not as bad as their first meeting in the bar, but it's still pretty uncomfortable.

[Tinytag: Mordin Solus]

paragonsoldier.livejournal.com

Shepard enters the bar with a slow, heavy tread and a small metal box in one hand. She goes to a table, opens the box and removes its contents - six Systems Alliance Navy dog tags, ball chains and all, still smelling very fainly of the ammonia snow in which she found them.

She lays out the dog tags side-by-side on the table, surveys them for a moment, then picks up the set belonging to someone named "Pressly, J.R." Shepard runs her thumb over the surface of one of the tags, staring at it as if she doesn't quite know what to do next - which is, in fact, the case.

[OOC: Slowtimes are inevitable.]