outer_divide | 009 ⌥ TEXT [filtered against erik, sorry bro]

1. If you join him, you're a fool. A public call to arms is what the enemy's been waiting for. They'll kill you where you stand. No hesitation, no remorse.

[Yes, Shepard has a plan. No, she isn't letting on that she has one here. If Erik wants to be a big flaming distraction, more power to him, but she isn't letting him take anyone else down with him.]

2. My offer for weaponry's still open. No compensation necessary, I got what I needed. If you can't shoot, I'll teach you. He was right on one thing: Defense is crucial.

3. Eliot, a word? Later tonight, unless you want in goring range of a ten-ton reptile. Let me know where to find you.

4. Kaidan--I'm on my way.

[She thinks. She and the triceratops are doing a bit of sizing up as she types this, so it's all up in the air how well this'll end up working.

MEANWHILE, anyone on the main road will see a single triceratops making haste more-or-less toward the pen Kaidan mentioned. It has two or three ropes tied near the ends of each of the two primary horns, the other ends of which are in her hands as she straddles its shoulders, just barely too far back for any potential injuries from the dinosaur's crest. The aforementioned hands are glowing a faint blue--she's strong, but not quite strong enough to steer a triceratops. Not without her biotics, anyway.]

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[This brings the shadows of a grin into her tone.] Do you, now? [From his era, that's a hell of a lot more impressive. Almost makes her wish she were a tea drinker, to be honest.]

[As for his latter comment, there's a thoughtful pause, and then:] Pain. [She's not sure why she's bothering to philosophize with the Doctor, but that seems to be what's happening.] I can't say it's universal not from experience anyway, but I've been to most every nook and cranny this galaxy's got to offer at least once, and even in paradise, pain of some sort is pretty constant.

[His own grin is quite apparent in his voice.] Oh, yes. I make a point of collecting some wherever I go, if I can. ...I also collect sand, but that's not quite as palatable, particularly when I'm done with it.

[It just happens around Doctors, Shep. His voice is soft when he answers.] Yes. Part of the natural condition, I believe. One can't experience true happiness without knowing grief.

I've seen people attempt to circumvent that. It never ends well.

No, it doesn't. Doesn't help that they're usually desperate and afraid.

[She leaves the tea alone for now. Feels like a bit of a silly topic to pursue when shit's going down, not that universal constants isn't equally useless at this point.]

[His tone takes a slightly darker turn; he has plenty of experience with both.] Neither tend to lead anywhere pleasant, particularly in conjunction.

No, they do not. [She's seen plenty of it, too. Even felt it at one point, maybe two, but she's not so proud of that.

Meanwhile, as much as she legitimately doesn't mind this conversation, she should probably... go do dinosaur things now or something. Kaidan's waiting, after all.]

I'll let you know if I need your help. [Teaching, that is. She's winding the conversation to a close, he can probably tell.] Also? You might want to stay off the main stretch.

[He nods. He should be getting back to work himself, really.

Then a grin tugs at his lips.] Taking her out for a spin, are you?

Here's hoping it doesn't know how to roll.

009 ⌥ TEXT [filtered against erik, sorry bro]

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