#wsteros: tali'zorah vas normandy.

[ritiual]

@wsteros said: “you have a greater purpose than any of us could’ve ever imagined.”

he'd always been overshadowed by nina. she was the commander shepard— the savior of the universe more times than he could count, carrying the weight of such a burden upon her shoulders. [and not a single did, did john ever hear her complain of such things.] she had been born for the position, he was the substitute. the failsafe in case things went wrong.

Q: HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN A PERSON CARRY BEFORE THEY CRACK? BEFORE THEY ROT, CRUMBLE, AND DECAY? A: NINA SHEPARD WOULD KNOW.

the normandy had been deemed inoperable and grounded with the departure of their beloved commander shepard. the idea of the failsafe rising the occasion was more challenging for those to understand, primarily the council. [john shepard? the john shepard who has been reported to have numerous sexual relations aboard the normandy? the john shepard who nearly blew up a town because his gun accidentally fired?] there was a bigger threat than the council's and alliance's poster girl being out of commission; the reapers threatened galactic life, taking planets left and right— it was only a matter of time before they succeeded in their mission if action wasn't taken hastily. [even the blinded council bore witness to that.] commander john shepard was born, while commander nina shepard sat in a rehabilitation center with a permanent leave from the alliance. he still wonders if everything has set in yet, or if he's fully numbed it— the weight of the entire galaxy's existence burrowing itself into his heart, forming a driven mission.

“i don't know about that, tali. the way i see it: who else is willing to do the job? i didn't see alenko stepping up to the plate— second human spectre, my ass.” a hand is brought down his face, rubbing at the corners of his eyes as a sigh is exhaled. “glad to know someone believes in me, though. none of these other assholes do. makes the job easier to get done.” TALI MAKES HIS ENTIRE LIFE EASIER.