themainframe | 5.000 mph ⚡ HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY (video/action)

[ Wally is currently in Roaming Park with Neku and Cam where things are considerably less on fire than in the kitchen. He's still not sure how they managed to burn eggs. He's trying to stand away from them at the moment, though, because he doesn't want to ruin the surprise. ]

Alright, I know most of the ladies here aren't really old enough for this occasion, but, just in case there are any mothers here, I wanted to give a shout out to all of you and all the moms back home (even though they won't see this...). Thanks for putting up with us, we couldn't have made it this far without you.

That being said... I wanna dedicate this post to Commander Shepard.

Well, me, Neku, and Cam, and I guess anyone else who looks up to her, too. We all really appreciate all you've done for us here. And even though, you know, things have been kinda patchy between me and you, the fact that you haven't totally written me off or given up on me means a lot.

Sooo...

[ He turns the camera to reveal Neku and Cam sitting on a blanket with little sandwiches and other snacky food. Thankfully Wally had intercepted their attempt at baking. ]

Ta-da! We made you a picnic. It's a thing I do with my mom and my aunt back home every year, so I figured it'd be nice to do one here for you, too. Also Neku and Cam nearly destroyed the kitchen with their cooking, so... this was safer. Plus fresh air!

Anyway, we're in Roaming Park. I guess if anyone else wants to come, they can too? We just don't have that many sandwiches...

[ He looks a little unsure, shrugs, then cuts the feed. ]

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[ Wally's glad Shep seems happy about this, especially since it's coming from him (for the most part). He really, really does appreciate her being there for him, though, since... well, obviously the people he normally talks to about things aren't here. He's not gonna lie, he misses his mom and Aunt Iris like crazy, especially today, so he's putting up a front and pretending like he's cool. It helps that Neku and Cam thought this was a good idea; he wasn't sure he was going to get to do something like this today. ]

We'll be here.

[ And there they are when she arrives. Wally rushes to give her a big hug, because he needs physical affection right now and he hasn't really hugged anyone in a while. He seems a bit embarrassed by the sudden display of affection, though, and pulls out of it. ]

Oh, sorry, I... Um. Happy Mother's Day, Commander.

[Now, it's very good that Wally came along to begin with, when Neku and Cam were attempting to bake a cake for Shepard, because well, they weren't doing very well. A few Damemon cried, let's leave it at that. But Cam's trailing behind Wally, an awkward smile on his face.

He misses his mom. He misses her a whole lot, especially considering the last she heard from him, it was that stupid letter he sent, before. Well.

So this is...sort of needed. He had to do something, for the person who's been as much of a mom to him as his own has, especially in such a short amount of time. His hands awkwardly clap together and come apart, again and again, as he waits to hug her himself; he settles for turning his smile into a grin.]

[Neku stands off to the side, wringing his hands a little but generally... smiling. He's not looking for a hug the way Cam is... at least that's what he'd say.

Thank god for Wally though, considering his clothes still smell a little like ash and flour]

Hey Commander.

[She was not expecting the hug, but, hell, she returns it willingly. Her ribs ache a little, but they're healing well enough that she's perfectly able to give her usual military-family hugs. Really, she could probably pick someone up with them if she wanted to.]

Thanks, Wally. You kids really put a lot of effort into this, didn't you?

[She grins affectionately at Wally for a moment, vaguely wondering how the hell she's already getting over the fact that he blew up an elementary school. Wait. She's friends with Krogan. That's why.]

[Once she's out of her hug with Wally, she steps over to Cam to give him a hug next. Massive cuties, the lot of them. She smiles playfully at Neku when he says hello, in a way that screams 'you're next'. Nobody escapes the hugs.]

[ Oh, right, he forgot about the whole broken ribs thing, but Shep doesn't seem that bothered, so Wally lets himself hug a little harder and needier before it occurs to him that, yes, Cam and Neku are still there. Right. ]

Well, I dunno if 'effort' is really the right word... It was a kinda spur of the moment idea. But, uh...

[ He pauses awkwardly, unsure of himself for a second. ]

... you like it, right?

[Compared to Wally, Cam's hug is a little softer; unless caught up in the moment, he always tends to be cautious with his touch anyway. It's not any less grateful, though. He doubts that he'd have even made it two weeks without Shepard.

He slips away and back with a sheepish smile, looking at the ground; spur of the moment's one way of putting it, rescue mission is another. He can't believe he made the Damemon cry...]

[Neku doesn't even want to THINK of the cooking failure. So instead he raising his hands at that look Shepard gave him]

Don't even think about it, I don't wanna be responsible for messing your ribs up more.

[His own knee is no longer obviously braced, though he still has a small limp if one knows to look for it]

[Shepard laughs.]

'course I like it. Never been on the receiving end of a mothers day present before. It's... really nice.

[And she sounds entirely sincere about that. She isn't surprised when Cam is gentler than he's been during... less cheerful hugs, but it doesn't bother her at all. She returns his sheepish smile with an openly affectionate one.]

[Then turns on Neku.]

My ribs're fine, now get over here.

[She will chase you if she must, Neku.]

[ Wally grins, and there's a hint of pride behind it. It's the same pride he felt when he was in pre-K and he gave his mom a macaroni art present and she said she loved it and stuck it on the fridge. It's in a box somewhere now, but the feeling he got from it is renewed every year. ]

And definitely better than the disaster Neku and Cam were trying to cook up. I don't even think it was food by the time I got there...

[ Speaking of Neku, it seems he's trying to get out of hugging, and that is not acceptable, no sirree, so Wally gently pushes him toward Shep just to help him out. ]

Go on, it's your turn, dude.

[Something about Cam, he likes hugs. He really likes hugs. They're like, his favorite way to show affection, so as Shepard moves on to Neku he's a lot less hesitant and more comfortable, grinning over to the oldest boy of their trio.

(And most certainly not thinking of the kitchen, not even going to acknowledge it, how did he set that egg on fire, maybe he's a mutant).]

Try to fight it and we'll pin you to a tree.

[SORRY NEKU.]

[Neku starts to grumble about the failure at culinary arts earlier int he day- only to have Wally nudge him to Shepard. And Cam was backing him up!]

Traitors.

[But he still moves into the hug, smiling and, get this, blushing.]

...thanks Jane.

Edited 2013-05-17 22:25 (UTC)

[Shepard has semi-fond memories of catching a kitchen in a military base on fire, so she makes the choice not to question it.]

I brought backup.

[She shoots a quick grin over at Wally and Cam before tugging Neku into her chest.]

[. . . She hasn't heard anyone call her Jane in a while. She smiles harder.]

Don't mention it, kid.

[ And now that hugs are over, it's time to eat! ]

So, sandwich time? I'd say "they're getting cold" but they're already cold... I'm just really hungry.

[ He laughs, mostly at himself. It's a running joke that he's always hungry. Pun very much intended. ]

I hope you like sandwiches and rice balls. That's kinda all we could afford...

[A reminder of the horrible kitchen incident. Cam can't help but wince...]

Er, sorry about that... Again.

5.000 mph ⚡ HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY (video/action)

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[action] AND 19 YEARS LATER...

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