Video;

[herewegoto]

[The video feed opens up to Isabela and a krogan already in the middle of a drinking competition, each having their own line of shot glasses in front of them. There’s an asari dancer seated between the two of them, either acting as a bemused audience or as a judge.

The voice that comes over the audio side isn’t from the pirate on screen, however, but from a different woman who’s holding the camera. Some may recognize the voice of one Kasumi Goto.]

Shame we’re too late to find sponsors to hit the competitive circuit. There’s a market for this kind of blatant disregard for personal safety out there somewhere, I can taste it.

[Both are nearly done with their line of drinks when Isabela says something drunkenly cocky and reaches forward to grab at the krogan’s last shot. The asari dancer stands up to grab at Isabela’s wrist because Bela that’s ryncol don’t be stupid, but she misses and the pirate accidentally knocks the glass over and it lands in the krogan’s lap.]

I’m predicting a fan site. Maybe a t-shirt line. Stinks I’m done with the corporate gig. Just too much small print on those deals.

[The dancer now flees the scene as the krogan flips the table over with a loud CRASH in drunken competitive agitation. Bela’s reaching for the daggers at her back as the krogan looks about ready to charge her.

This part of Afterlife is bound to get trashed shortly, and possibly Isabela WOOPS...]

And that’s my cue. Catch us next week, kids.

[And with that the video feed cuts as Kasumi enters stealth mode and leaves Bela to her fate. Kasumi replies will be once she’s out of damage range, and Bela’s when she’s done escaping. Also open for action threads in the bar!]

Comments

[herewegoto]

[And even though she's facing away, that grin takes on a slightly evil edge.]

Oh. I know.

[fightforthelost]

[That'd probably sound creepy if it were anyone else and Shepard weren't the tiniest bit buzzed.]

Actually a bit surprised you recognized me since it seems half the crew thinks I'm supposed to be a woman.

[herewegoto]

Hm, let's say it's been a complicated year, so I keep an eye out.

[She leans back long enough to wave over another drink- nothing like meeting with old friends to bring back old habits. Like the fact her room in the Normandy had doubled as a bar.]

But that's what I've been picking up. Not sure why the universe likes you so much better with breasts. Not that I'm complaining either way, even if it's unfair I've never gotten to meet Kaname Goto. Or Marcus Lawson or the rest, for that matter.

[fightforthelost]

[Great, don't start with all the alternate universe things. Now he's imagining the genderbends of each of the crew members.]

[His mind drifts to Wrex even. A female Wrex? With boobs and everything?]

Wonder if there's a 'Wrax' out there somewhere.

[He takes another drink after that one.]

[herewegoto]

Mm. Not sure those hood...head covery things would really work with his eyes. Or the scars.

[But that gets a good laugh from her. Even if, logically, it would mean no Wrex on the team. Silly krogan gender roles. No universe was right without a bro-gan.]

Personally, I want to see if protheans had any gender difference. Javika?

[fightforthelost]

[That gets a quick, 'hah!' out of him as he turns back around to order another drink, waving his glass at the same time.]

'In my cycle, women stayed women and men stayed men.'

[herewegoto]

[Another few seconds as she finishes chuckling. She hadn't really had the pleasure of spending serving on the ship with the prothean, but she knew how to keep in touch. He sounded like an interesting shipmate.]

You always now how to pick 'em. Watch, soon you'll be ruling Omega with a neurotic hanar and emotionally disturbed elcor at your side.

[fightforthelost]

Sounds like a bad extranet meme.

[Or a Blasto movie. In any case, he looks amused as he takes another drink and looks at the bar.]

Krogan still going?

[herewegoto]

[She leans back to look, then gives a one shouldered shrug]

Looks like Bela found a friend.

[Small pause as she glances at Shep. Just let lose the fact she knew the woman being attacked- not that she looks anything but amused still.]

With an awful big hammer. Hm. That has to say something about a person.

[fightforthelost]

[Oh, so she knows the victim. That fact makes Shepard raise an eyebrow and inwardly sigh. She might not have stole anything from the krogan, but Shepard is starting to suspect that Kasumi might have had something to do with the brawl.]

Do I need to step in?

[herewegoto]

Easy, Shep. People somehow managed to survive before you got promoted.

[Her simile turns oh-so-falsely-innocent as she catches that eyebrow raise and raises her glass in return.]

Strife is how teams are born, hm? Let them play. Anyway. We're not near drunk enough for this silliness.

[fightforthelost]

Really? I was somehow under the impression that everyone in the universe tosses their problems my way no matter how small they are.

[Because the game revolves around him, okay?]

But you're right about not being drunk enough. I'll buy the next round.

[herewegoto]

Oh, now I'll really have to find something expensive.

[By which she apparently means she'll wait for him to order the next round, whatever he decides on for them.]

And they only toss because you catch them so well. It's called walking away, Shep. You could try it just once to see how it feels.

[fightforthelost]

[Oh, you really want to wait for him to order? Ryncol's next on his list.

And walking away just goes against all he is. Renegade assholes don't talk about their morals and feelings though, so he'll just divert the convo.]

Not everybody likes to watch me walk away. Except maybe you.

[Badumtish.]

[herewegoto]

[You means badumtush...nevermind. And are you trying to poison them both, Shepard. Seriously.]

Oh, you underestimate people's taste. Too bad we're in the wrong reality. I could show you some extranet pages on that subject that'd make an asari dancer blush.

[fightforthelost]

Pretty sure Joker's already tried that before.

[And here he goes, ordering some ryncol.]

[herewegoto]

[Ugh, Shep. Kasumi makes a small face, but...well. She'll try anything the once. And then make Shep clean up after her in the morning.]

So he showed you your fan pages, huh? Sneaky man. Stealing my birthday present.

[fightforthelost]

I'll still try and act surprised.

[Bottoms up! Hope your liver is enhanced.]

[herewegoto]

[Nope, she does not. Unlike a certain pirate behind then, though Kasumi at least had the sense to take a test sip.]

Shepard. The tabloids are right. You do have a death wish.

[fightforthelost]

First time trying ryncol, Kasumi?

[herewegoto]

Unlike certain heroes of the galaxy, I have survival instincts. And inebriation is a far more useful tool when it's faked on a job.

[Seriously. Why. She is ordering something with as much sugar in it as alcohol to make up for this. For both of them.]

[fightforthelost]

Faking it isn't as fun.

[Fine. He'll take a sip of the little girly, fruity drink.]

And speaking of jobs, I don't have to tell you to try and stay out of trouble while we're here, do I?

[herewegoto]

Trust me, Shep, I knew the rules of Omega before the Illusive Man got his eye implants. You won't hear my name mixed with any trouble.

['Hear' being the key word here, but a girl can hope a certain Commander will be nice enough to gloss over that wording trick.]