( looking back down at her dress, shepard's lips turn up in a crooked smile that is uniquely her own - tasteful and contained as ever, no masks, no lies. just the modeled patience of a solider trained by the most dedicated military in the galaxy, a woman formed by hardships and meticulous training regimes, who can still spare a goofy kind of grin in response to a boy that she likes. everyone's got something to hold onto that keeps them human - or keeps them krogan, or drell, or vorcha. shepard's is just humanity itself, and that beautiful, chaotic thing they call an earth.

she's not really thinking about it, at the moment. she's thinking about tony, who also gives her a lot of ... human urges. earthly desires, maybe. )

I didn't know I was heading off to a battle, otherwise I would've worn my boots. Should I expect fighting every time you ask me out? ( hovered somewhat close to him, she reaches a hand out to straighten the already perfect lapels of his suit jacket, tilting her head, using it as an excuse to be close to him. she wore flats, obtusely aware of how much shorter he is. ) That sounds like us. ( fondly. she pats his chest before turning.

she knows the lay of the land pretty well at this point, so the structure in question gives her pause, an eyebrow raising in curiosity. her steps forward are unquestioning - she trusts him, as always - as she makes her way into the bubble, toward the brandy. )

Hamster ball? ( she tosses over her shoulder. )