#metamorphoria

  “You’re still working?”

Shepard’s raspy voice cuts across the mess hall. The middle of the night cycle sees the day time crew asleep or at rest, and the few night shift crew mostly running maintenance. Shepard herself retreats to the sanctity of her cabin above all for quiet, for rest, and rarely, for real sleep these days. Her venture to the mess is a rare one, satiating a seldom late night craving for something to eat. 

It almost startles the Commander to find anyone down here at this hour, though of all people, she’s not surprised to find Liara with a number of data pads spread out on the table, a cup of something hot likely gone cold. Returning to her cabin for yet another attempt at sleeping won’t be fruitful, and so, Shepard takes a seat across from Dr. T’soni, rubbing a hand over her face, through thick hair. 

Exhaustion deepens the shallows below her cheekbones, and darkens the bags beneath her eyes. Yet, she still greets Liara with a smile, and interest in the work laid out before them. 

Garrus didn’t often leave the battery unless he had to... or unless it was late. When most of the crew turned in, he felt the freedom to haunt the rest of the Normandy.

He was pacing maybe a bit earlier than his usual nightly rounds, mostly because he had a destination in mind. It was hard to tell if it was night outside of a feeling, an anxiety, something that just was. But the stars shone through the open window of the observation deck like it well and truly was.

There was the Justicar in her usual domain, staring out into the blankness of space like it was hers. There was beauty in the contrast of crimson red to deep black. Garrus Vakarian watched her for only a moment before he stepped aside, further into the deck towards the little bar in the corner-- hardly more than a place for two people to sit over rationed vodka. 

“You know, when we started retrofitting the Normandy, I didn’t exactly expect you to take up... well, all of this space and set up shop.”

The ship has been getting quieter and quieter. First, it was Tali. She returned to the Fleet with a hug and simple request that Shepard stay in touch. In lieu of lying, Shepard said she’d try. Grunt back to Tuchanka. Garrus to Palaven. Thane to be with his son. Samara and Jack departed when they landed for fuel on the Citadel. Jacob and Miranda returned to the side of the Illusive Man to deal with the Collector Base, but something in their demeanor told the Commander they wouldn’t stay there for long. It’s all fresh new chapters for her team. Of that, Shepard is thankful; she looks on the bright side for them and finds a comfort in it from what’s waiting for her.

She can’t keep putting it off. She doesn’t want to anymore. There are still a few people she wants to exonerate. She wants to go down alone. What she did, she did alone. Those who she’s worked with are not 

'sometimes a building is just a building' Liara vc: eXCUSE ME who made YOU an expert??

“ME. The only one here who was alive when these buildings were constructed.”

@metamorphoria​ said: “Your unrelenting skepticism is exhausting.” Liara @ Javik!

Meme

“Then go lie down so that I may take a break.” 

No matter how much time passed between the moment they met and now, Javik would never lack for opportunities to get under the Asari’s blue skin. He enjoyed being one of the few who could effect her in such ways. Most of the Normandy’s crew considered her to be an expert without peer or too close of a friend to criticize. ... But no one was safe from Javik’s nitpicking. No matter how accomplished. 

@metamorphoria​  unpopular opinion.  /   ❝ 🔥 !  ❞

i’m really not a fan of m*icy and more often than not the interpretations i see make moira very aggressive? and like. i honestly don’t even know how to describe it but the way their characters get butchered for that ship is just annoying to me and especially the shit i’ve seen done to moira is just. gross. sometimes it’s handled well but honestly it’s rare imo. 

also, they’re such different people like they literally contrast each other SO heavily (while kinda being different sides of the same coin hehe) that i don’t see a romantic relationship working out well with them like. ever. romantic m*icy is just not for me lmao. 

that shit where they annoy the fuck out of each other and are constantly exhausted and willing to throw hands at a moments notice? that shits hilarious and i will enjoy that until the day i die.

"The guards tell me you're an archeologist. Well, I suppose I must be some kind of living fossil to an alien that studies history, albeit one from a different timeline." Gordon Freeman said dryly, pushing his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose. 

When he displaced to this dimension, to this space station they called the Citadel, Freeman had made quite the scene. Unfortunately for him, the locals immediately detected the energetic quantum disturbance and had armed soldiers sent after him. Now Gordon was in some sort of futuristic holding cell and meeting another alien, who was markedly less horrific in appearance in comparison to others Freeman had encountered. 

Still, despite his current predicament, this was not the worst dimension to end up in. The high level of technology Freeman observed around him in his brief moment of freedom was quite dazzling. A stark contrast to the bleak utilitarianism and inhumanity of Combine equipment and architecture.  

Perhaps they could even help Gordon accomplish his mission. But that was neither here nor there. For now, Freeman had to find a way out of this cell, get his HEV suit and Displacer Cannon back, and find his bearings.