#its also like. partially the same thing as born blondes claiming their now brown hair is still blonde

[vintagegenderpunk]

hazel eyes tend to look grey or green depending on what the person is wearing and the lighting. it's like the brown to yellow in bright light situation, but with two different colors, so lots of hazel eyed folks claim their color changes

source: a green eyed person whose mom was an overly proud hazel eye haver

Anon said: This one may be stupid but mine color change so I never know

Feel free to tag your eye colour!

[dalishgrey-blog]

Horrors of Akuze

Chapter 2 - Silence and Shadows 5 years later [ - Last transmission - Pioneer Team: 'The settlements are progressing as expected. Colonisation proceeding. Minor tremors, nothing that requires extra foundational stability. Maintaining communication with Alliance R&D. Next transmission will be inbound at 0600 hours.' - ] Hmm. Shepard's eyes strained and she groaned, putting down the datapad. She'd read the transcription over and over and over again. There had to be something they were missing, there had to be. The screen to her left flickered and swelled, the planet falling into sight; shades of green and blue moving closer. Akuze. 'How does an entire colony disappear? Where would they go?' She sighed deeply, rubbing her eyes with the heel of her palms. Sleep held an appeal that refused to relent. Toombs dropped down beside her, breaking her momentary solitude, a familiar light of mischief in his eyes. Absent-mindedly she traced a slender finger along the line of her jaw, feeling the dip and rise of her scar. It was a subtle reminder of a life she'd left behind, but it's what drove her. The ship suddenly lurched and made her fall softly sideways in her seat, snapping her from her trail of thought. A hand gripped her arm in an attempt to balance her and pull her up. She smiled softly in thanks, silently grateful not only for the jolt that chased away the memory, but for the simple gesture from her friend that pulled her back to reality. He was a year younger than her, all dark hair and brown eyes, a brother in most respects. He had something to say and as she looked him in the face, she could see the words hanging on the tip of his tongue. "What?" She asked, trying to ignore his infectious enthusiasm, her head still minorly throbbed, making her regret staring at the glowing cyan screen for too long. "You know what this is, don't you?" His voice would have burst an eardrum, his barely contained chuckle shone through his cheesy grin, partially deepening his tone. She bit back the reluctant laugh that tried to force its way through her irritation, as Toombs more-or-less bounced in his seat. She rolled her eyes and leaned back in her seat, her armoured fingers tugging on the loose strands of her dark hair. Irritated. Uneasy. "Please, do enlighten me". He shifted forward, balancing his weight on the edge of the sturdy metallic seat. "This is my first official investigation," he answered and bit his lip, wiggling his fingers in a strange display of excitement. She sighed and rested her head on the curved rest behind her, as she muttered under her breath, near a whisper. "You sound bloody five." "What was that Shep?" She put the datapad down beside her, before pulling the wild raven layers of her hair back into a sleek ponytail and sweeping her fringe aside, exposing her eyes. "I said it's about bloody time." She answered.He quirked a brow and poked his tongue out from between parted lips, aware of her correction. "Besides, this is routine, nothing to get excited about." She smiled halfheartedly in an attempt to convince herself, just as much as him. With a sigh she leaned back in her chair, the dim light of the hold made her want to close her eyes and let sleep claim her, it'd make life easier for a few minutes. Unfortunately it wasn't an option, so she sought a moment's respite. She'd be happier once they landed. The bulkheads creaked as the ship heaved, severing the momentary bouts of silence until there was no respite from sound. The inertial dampeners were playing up ... again. Every muscle relaxed as she closed her eyes, allowing her to lose herself in the soft hum of the engines and the subtle crank of oxygen filters. It was bizarrely soothing, a small comfort when surrounded by uncertainty. With her arms across her chest, she sought a rest, trying desperately to ignore the dull drumming of Toomb's fingers against the side of his seat ... thought it seemed determined to drag her out of her relaxation; it was quietly maddening. He nudged her softly and she groaned as he jutted his head in the direction of one of the officers. She glanced up at the one in question, dark blonde hair gently framing pale blue eyes, a stubble-lined jaw clenched as he looked at her with the shadow of a smile. Shepard shook her head slightly, mouthing the word 'don't' at the man across the hold. He'd been adamant that he'd been recommended for the mission, that his name had been put forward ... and she trusted him implicitly. Yet if she was honest with herself, she didn't really know what to think, but either way it couldn't hinder the mission. "You two been fighting again?" Toombs asked, mild concern toned his voice, but his eyes danced with amusement when she glared at him in panic. "Shut up," she hissed and cast a cautious glance around the room. Only two other people knew of her relationship with Lieutenant Commander Donovan, they wanted it to stay that way. "Alright, alright! I won't pry. He's an idiot that doesn't deserve you, but I won't pry." He winked. His cheekiness, kindness and friendship was something she appreciated. He never failed to make her smile. "And for the record, no, we haven't been fighting." Things with Lieutenant Commander Adam Donovan were, complicated. He was her Commanding officer, only a few years her senior, but still she could keep up with him. From the other side of the hold Donovan watched her, with as much discretion as he could manage. His pale blue eyes searched her, moving over her body with an ill-timed intimacy that made her squirm in her seat. 'Not the time or place ... I swear to God ... ' Her mind drifted to  how they started out, a young woman, two years into her training, catching the eye of a by-the-book officer. Eventually turning into stolen kisses in the solitude of a dark hallway, a passionate touch in the confines of her apartment, but it wasn't the same anymore. The passion and affection remained, but neither of them could stand hiding their relationship; it added a stress they didn't need, but one they were willing to endure. Shepard been packing for her deployment when he'd approached her, explaining that he'd also been signed up for the mission. He managed to calm her and explain, but none of it made sense to her. Time went on and any agitation was instead swiftly followed by mildly irritated growls, unanswered questions and a very long night. Hands fumbled, caressed, gripped. Legs wrapped at his waist and fingers threaded through raven hair as they fell onto the bed. A heated night, born of frustration and ending in heavy breaths and soft apologies, but swiftly interrupted by an ill-timed message. But now, as she looked at him from across the hold, she couldn't figure out what he was doing, aside from being too obvious. She loved him, more than anything, but there were times where she felt like she could have punched him with just as much ease. 'Pfft ... you know you wouldn't ' It took her a moment to realize Toombs was nudging her, in an attempt to draw her attention. Silently she scolded herself, realizing she'd drifted into a daydream. This was why she had to stay focused. This was why it was a bad idea, personal feelings aside, there were reasons for the regulations. She looked to the man beside her, something played on his mind and she saw it in his eyes. She would have given anything to just sink into her friend's side. But she couldn't. An amused smile spread across his face and even that was enough to calm her, if only for a moment. "You're lucky I like you Corporal or I would have hit you by now," she murmured as she sighed and rested her head on the back of her chair. "What the fuck for?" He sulked. Her brow quirked at the sight of his pout, she almost felt sorry for him ... almost. "For being right ... and nosy." Her lips quirked into an amused grin as his expression changed to one of pride "Don't take it to heart, you should just be grateful I'm so professional." He couldn't help the scoff that escaped his lips, immediately regretting it as people cast glances towards them. She smiled contently, but it gradually faded, only to be replaced by contemplation. She had bigger worries, worries that surpassed the trials of her off-duty life and bled into the professional. Those issues ranged from the rumours about her being shortlisted for N7, to the unshakeable feeling in her mind and gut, that told her there was something more going on with the mission. Something they weren't being told. But she had no idea what that could be. A hint of comfort would have been ideal, but only a few things gave her it. Shepard took comfort in the battlefield, in feeling the ground beneath her feet, even in solitude and Adam's caress. Yet she also found it in simply watching or closing her eyes and right now ... those were her only options. She noticed that everyone looked around with unease, silently analyzing; tension and anxiety just as abundant as excitement. As she closed her eyes for a moment, she could hear every breath, feel the fall and rise of Toomb's chest as he sat beside her, she could taste Adam's name on her tongue. Everything seemed to strive for some sort of balance, from the personal and professional, to the worry and comfort. Slowly she sat back up, her body aching. She recognized that most of the soldiers that had volunteered were fresh out of their training, fingers not yet calloused, armour still bordering on pristine. Volunteers seeking an adventure and a thrill. Though she wasn't quite sure what could be classed as a thrill on Akuze. Yet she was thankful it was just a routine op, otherwise she'd be worried as to how most would cope if it were anything more difficult. There were a few other Officers and even they seemed to share her level of concern, though they wouldn't admit it and some dismissed it entirely. She could have easily fallen into a distracted trance, as their faces danced subtly amongst the occasional flicker of light above them, expressions constantly changing. Withdrawing back into herself, she rolled her shoulders, letting relief wash over her and almost elicit a soft moan. Toombs glanced down at the woman next to him, he watched carefully, troubled, worried. He knew something pulled and played with her mind, but he wasn't sure what. He forced away the urge to run his lightly armoured fingers through her hair, regulations and a boyfriend in his way. Several people looked in their direction. Everyone knew they were close, though not many knew of her relationship with Lieutenant Commander Donovan, but it wasn't enough to stop speculation. The soft crackle of the intercom ceased as a stern voice rung out. "E.T.A five minutes!" Finally! She jumped out of her seat and to her feet, nearly hitting Toombs along the way. She flexed her armoured fingers before offering a hand to pull him up. They put on their helmets with the fluidity of habit and Toombs smiled brightly from beneath his half-visor. Shepard watched closely through the thin slit in hers, she relied on her other senses when wearing her breather helmet, but it was her preference. With a roll of her shoulders and the sliding of her weapons into their places, she was ready. The next four and a half minutes were excruciatingly slow. Subtly she bounced from one foot to the other, muscles flexing, blood flowing; eager to get out of the cramped hold and into the clear, unfiltered air. A familiar yet soft crank filled the air as the large metallic doors slid open. Bright sunlight flooded into the barely lit hold, flaring in the darkness, glinting off of her thin visor. Toombs smiled down at her, before nudging her softly and moving forward. They marched out in unison. A decent sized patch of grass separated them from the dense forest that would soon swallow them whole. Shuttles hissed to life behind them and she cast her eyes to the sky as they rounded to land. Toombs maintained his presence at her side as they approached the tree-line. Shadows twisted through the trees, surrounding them in darkness, the only hint of the previously bright sunlight, being the beams of golden-white that pierced the canopy. The only sounds filling the silence, were the distant thrum of the shuttles engines and the leaves that blew softly in the wake of the thrusters, the unanimous grunts of running marines and the snap of twig and leaf beneath their heavy boots. She took in as much of their environment as she could; trees with thick trunks stood in erratic clusters, clouds and open sky replaced by a shroud of deep green leaves. It was hectic, yet...bare. Empty. The ground beneath their feet was uneven, rocky and made it difficult to run. Imaginary figures danced between the warped, yet uniform trunks. Teasing, taunting. She pleaded to God that nyctophobia was temporary. She was at least relieved it was only mild. Shepard controlled her breaths and focused on the path ahead, using the glow of her comrades' torches to light the way. She was glad it wasn't a long trek, desperate to get out of the claustrophobic confines of the forest. After a short while, the thick trees became sparse, opening into a large clearing at the base of a mountain. The mountain itself was dotted with emerald trees and tipped with rocky peaks that stretched to greet the sky; but at the base, the expanse was mildly desolate. The silence that followed their exit into the colony was unnerving. Everyone reached a stand-still once out in the open. Some buildings lay in masses of debris, shards of dulled metal sticking from the ground, rock and earth churned and overturned. Yet there were still some buildings that stood tall, in their uniform white and grey, typical Alliance. Everything pointed towards some sort of disaster, aside from unnaturally large piles of soil and rock that had been heaved from their grassy bed, scarring the otherwise picturesque landscape. That did little more than seem to baffle the company of marines. Her heart nearly stopped in her chest at the sight, concern now clawing at every fibre of her being. 'What the fuck happened?' The sun added a subtle hint of life to it all, shining softly against the metallic panes. There was no breeze, yet every fine hair on the back of her neck, stood on end. There was no noise, yet it was so...loud. She wasn't the only one on edge. Toombs stood slightly to her rear, weapon ready and his finger hovering over the trigger. They calmly moved towards the colony, eager to get out of the open. Fifty Marines fell in line, splitting into ten groups. She visibly tensed as Donovan turned on his heel and walked closer, each step resonating with purpose. His eyes locked on her, toned with sympathy. 'Oh God...What now?' He stopped a few feet away, gesturing towards her squad. "Beta, you're with me! Main complex and East Wing, move out!" He barked. She sighed deeply, another worry now added to the mix. Shepard opened a direct and private channel. "Sir?" Her tone held every ounce of professionalism she could muster. A brow quirked beneath his visor and a stubbled jaw tensed. "Yes Lieutenant?" He asked, forcing his face into a stern line. "With all do respect sir, what's going on? I mean Beta, really?" She was agitated and understandably so, first they were stuck on the same mission, but to be stuck on the same team? A coincidence was seeming far and far less likely. Then it was combined with the secrecy of the mission; an entire colony vanishes and the Alliance doesn't know why? Bullshit. Insubordination on the grounds of curiosity, was strangely tempting. "Trust me Shepard, if I knew, I would have told you before we deployed, I apparently got assigned Beta regardless," he answered, mild frustration toning his voice "now come on, we can discuss it off-duty later." He shook his head, smiled and straightened his stance. "Aye-aye sir." She saluted, but still she was unable to shake the feeling that there was more going on. He nodded, smiled and started walking back towards the rest of the group. Her smile faded and she groaned with exasperation, her fingers tightening around the grip of her Avenger. She wanted to know, she wanted some idea. Not just with him, but with everything. A deep sigh passed through her lips, fogging her visor. She chuckled softly and her grip relaxed. 'God help me' She ran quickly to catch up. Toombs stopped in his tracks to wait for her, he eyed Donovan suspiciously as he jogged passed. They hated each other...something even Shepard was familiar with. "Eyes front Corporal." It was only a few moments before she was at Toombs' side and he could let out the breath he'd been holding in. They rejoined their squad, determined to press forward. The grass crunched underfoot, crisp, green, only some areas seeming almost untouched. The contrast to the mounds of churned soil was confusing. She approached the closest patch slowly, her omni-tool bursting to life as she scanned it, the gnawing in her gut returning with a vengeance. With her lips pursed and brow furrowed, she caught up. The young woman looked around with curiosity, watching her every step carefully, her weapon raised. She couldn't shake the confusion, the instinct. Something had happened. Something that left serious structural damage and no sign of the pioneer team insofar.   Some patches of green were darker, whether from forest-born shadow or scorch, from this distance she couldn't tell. Her eyes narrowed as an obscure blur caught her sight. The grass was striped with a rich shade of a familiar red, clotted and scarring the ground beneath it. She approached it with cautious steps and her omnitool flashed to life on her forearm. 'Shit...' "Commander!" She called out. His head snapped around to her at the sound of her voice, it was strained, urgent. His curiosity piqued and he was intrigued. He walked over with haste. "It's human blood sir, female, with high concentrations of a strange acidic compound." She tapped at the tool, reviewing every piece of information. With a quick wave of her arm, she sent him the data. 'How did we miss this?!' He took a moment to review it, a shadow of concern flickering across his lightly stubbled face. He swore under his breath. "I see..." He closed his omnitool and cast her a concerned glance, before he reluctantly turned and swapped his Katana for an Avenger "be ready you lot! Just in case." He turned his attention back to her and nodded. "Nicely spotted." He marched quickly to the rest of the group, before lifting a hand and calling everyone forward. Toombs shot her a look of cautious contemplation, but she simply smiled softly beneath her helmet and jutted her head towards the rest of their squad. "Come on." They approached the east wing with caution, each marine as vigilant as the other, all equally as uneasy. Toombs and Shepard watched the rear, side to side and back to back. She could feel agitation rolling through the air in thick waves. She tried to make sense of it all, but her head pounded as she considered every possibility. It was nothing short of infuriating. 'Acid? The blood? She...melted? But what could do that? Did the same happen to the others? What about the mounds? What could make something like that?' Shit. Think for fuck's sake!' "Shepard!" "Shit, Toombs!" She hissed, jumping a mile as the young Corporal called her. Every muscle in her body tensed. She hadn't realized she'd lost herself in thought. "Sorry," he whispered, falling in line beside her, an apologetic smile on his lips. Toombs quirked a brow, his face painted with worry. She knew him well enough to know he'd be able to tell something was wrong.    She refused to stop moving, gun raised and on a constant swivel, green eyes focused and sharp through the slit of her helmet. The Commander had run on ahead, his back pressed against the wall as he fought to open the way. The heel of his foot, lodged in the small indentation and with a strain, he pushed. Donovan called back to them once he'd pried the door open, it slowly slid with a painful grind, metal rubbing against metal in protest to their intrusion. The faint thrum of the remaining power filled the silence. "Stay alert!" He called back, taking the first step into the structure. Shepard let out a deep sigh and they all picked up into a steady sprint. Something moved in the corner of her vision and she nearly stumbled as she slid to a sudden halt. She waited, feeling the ground tremble softly beneath her feet and her eyes narrowed, an attempt to focus. She swivelled on one foot, her eyes looking down the sight of her weapon, aiming it across the field and towards what had caught her attention. Shadows danced and flickered, making it hard to discern whether or not the ground churned in the distance. But she felt the soft rumble none-the-less. She jumped, her reflexes at their height, the hand on her shoulder catching her off-guard. "Seriously?! Stop doing that!" She growled softly. "Whoa Tess, what's up?" Toombs asked. Brown eyes fixed on green, searching the depths for answers. "Nothing, I just.." she quickly cast her attention over her shoulder. The ground lay flat. Even. Unmoved. She assumed it had just been a trick of the shadow, an illusion cast by the sun. "I thought I saw something, that's all, it's nothing." She knew it wouldn't be enough to convince him, but she trusted him to leave it alone. She smiled at him coyly, her helmet blocking all expression, except for her eyes. They said too much. "Come on, let's catch up with the others". "Aye Aye Lieutenant Shepard, ma'am!" He rambled, saluting her mockingly and warranting both a roll of her eyes and a soft chuckle. "Come on you two! Back in formation! Shepard, take point!" Donovan bellowed from the doorway. Shadow and light fluttered across his form, briefly highlighting his discontent. "Yes sir!" she called, running at double the pace and taking her place at the front of the group. She passed him quickly. "Stay focused N7, we won't wait for you again," his voice was almost a whisper and the clipped, but harsh nature of his words were feigned. He felt the need to be harder on her when on deployment, it wasn't something he was used to, but he couldn't seem lenient. He also seemed to find the rumours, about her being shortlisted, amusing...and she seriously began to regret telling him. "Understood sir." She breathed deeply, raised her weapon and peered down its sights. The metallic doors jutted further open, welcoming her. "On your guard Shep..."