Insanity Round

[popehippo]

How is this different from the official challenges? These are drabbles only. Also, you will be posting your replies to this post instead of to the community.

So read the prompts, write a story, submit a prompt! But most of all, have fun!

Comments

Gunshots

[disalae]

It’s just a scratch, he says.

But nothing is just a scratch. Not for her.

Tali can see the dust in the air, and smoke curling around buildings. The architecture is alien and familiar all at once (she remembers that tower, the one with the clock on it, from one of the old vids she’d snuck from Shepard’s cabin). Beautiful, she thinks. Or at least it must have been. She’d always wanted to visit Earth after seeing those, but...but not like this.

She looks down at her hand, sees a faint streak of blood. Tries to slow her breathing but it just keeps getting faster. Feels guilt, heavy in her chest, because Shepard wasn’t scared on Rannoch, and Tali shouldn’t be scared here on Earth. Have to be strong, always.

Except she’s not, not right now.

(It’s just a scratch, he says, but there's blood and--)

No, right now? She’s scared.

Then there’s the crack of a rifle next to her, precise and efficient. The sound of impact comes next, and along with it the crack of bone and the sickening thunk and splatter of flesh

Re: Gunshots

[thirteenthchime]

Then she has to laugh (though it's barely more than a huff of breath, honestly), because if anyone had told her as a child that gunfire and sounds of death would calm her down, she would have called them crazy.

Love this line. Also, I'm curious, was the 'he' meant to be vague? Because immediately I pictured Garrus, but then I realized it could also be Shepard. I think I like that it could easily be anyone, or even someone else.

Re: Gunshots

[disalae]

Thank you ♥ And I actually started out writing it with Garrus in mind, then it seemed to be Shepard more as I actually wrote it, then I decided it didn't really matter all that much and left it up to the reader :) I kinda liked it that way too.

Repairs

[musa_nocturna]

"Well now, this is a sight. The hero of the Skyllian Blitz, Saviour of the Citadel, Destroyer of the Reapers... fixer of leaky pipes

Re: Repairs

[disalae]

I love that they're hiding away from everyone, heh. A very sweet fill.

Poker Face

[anon616]

It's not just the flashlight head, showing no emotion behind it. Tali's used to not seeing the faces of her friends, her family, even her father, so a - how did Shepard put it? - 'poker face' was not much of a problem for her. Or not the only problem

Re: Poker Face

[thirteenthchime]

Ooh, nice comparison.

Re: Poker Face

[disalae]

I love the parallel you showed here, nicely done.

Repairs (1/2)

[rose_in_shadow]

Kaidan fidgeted with the strap to the sling keeping his arm  immobile, trying to keep from scratching futilely at the amp socket at the base of his skull. The light on the door to the medbay mocked him as it blinked the steady pulse of green, indicating that Dr. Chakwas was occupied with another patient. He should have asked her to check it when she looked at his arm

Repairs (2/2)

[rose_in_shadow]

"Ma'am?" Kaidan blinked in surprise.

"A little more privacy," she said with a grimace. "No reason to put on a show for the overly curious."

He followed her into the captain's quarters, hesitant, but undeniably curious. It was dimly lit and more spacious than he had anticipated. Even the bed seemed luxuriously large. Enough for two people, was his immediate thought which he tried to not think about as Shepard gestured him over, hands on the desk chair, smiling. Kaidan felt a strange sensation in the pit of his stomach that had nothing to do with being nervous about someone else cleaning his headjack

Re: Repairs (2/2)

[thirteenthchime]

Bwahahaha. I love that we've all got the headjack stuff floating in our heads right now.

Re: Repairs (2/2)

[rose_in_shadow]

Hehe, yeah. I was definitely influenced by your drabble on your journal. I started wondering how a biotic Shepard might react differently. And, of course, all the lovely discussions about bIotics going on lately. :D

Poker Face

[nectarousness]

The pile of credit chits, various mementos, articles of clothing, and whatever other pathetic meager bets anyone can make out of desperation, sits in its lumpy, gargantuan, proud glory in the center of the green-padded table.

No one says a word. They all clutch on to the cards as if letting go will ensure their defeat. Sweat beads fall down the faces of the human players - James, Kaidan, and Joker - as they calmly try to keep their composure. The single Turian at the table has his own subtle facial expression that signals he's getting a bit frustrated.

James is the first to speak.

"C'mon, muchachos, who's gonna be the first big man to take one for the team? Major? You look like you're itching to step up to first plate."

Kaidan shakes his head and surrenders first. "Sorry to admit it, but I don't think I'm cut out for poker."

"Agh, whatever, man. What about you, Flyboy? Got any Aces up your sleeve

Re: Poker Face

[disalae]

Tali! Such a card shark. This was cute, I liked it.