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[normandysbest]

Hey, this is Commander Shepard. Leave a message.

text | audio | video | action

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[forwearemany]

Shepard-Commander. I have an inquiry.

[normandysbest]

Legion? Yeah, what is it?

Audio

[forwearemany]

Shepard-Commander

(They pronounce her name oddly. Sheparrrd. If a person didn't know better, they might almost sound drunk. Really drunk.)

audio

[normandysbest]

... Legion?

Are you okay?

12/13, Audio

[didntknowbest]

Hello, Miss Shephard! This is... hm. You know, saying it out loud, that does seem to be just a bit too formal a way to refer to a friend.

[She HAD said it was alright to call her whatever, so... hopefully it won't make her uncomfortable, now that it's no longer coming as a surprise that she knows.]

Jane? This is Toriel. I am just calling because, well... you had mentioned wanting to pay a visit to one of those tea rooms with me previously, did you not? I was wondering when a good time for you would be.

audio

[normandysbest]

[She smiles a bit at Toriel's message, calls back as soon as she can.]

I've got no plans for the rest of the week, honestly. Just resting after that last event.

If you're looking for something to do, we can do lunch today. Or, uh, dinner or whatever. If you're busy.

text, around midnight 12/16

[punful]

this is sans. the skeleton guy. sorry to message you out of the blue like this.

wanted to thank you for what you did for chara that last event

and

warn you that frisk isn't doing so good

chara might message you with more details but basically

they want to try to use wonderland's core to erase themselves from existence

so i'm

asking for your help in just keeping an eye on them

since i know you care about them

[normandysbest]

[God fuckin damnit, really]

No problem. I'll keep a lookout.
Any idea where they are right now?

12/25; gift left outside her door

[determinedest]

[Hopefully this will be unexpected enough for Shepard to simply not know what to make of the gift. It's been wrapped up in paper emblazoned with Christmas trees and done up nicely with a ribbon, but there's no card. There's simply a note taped to the outside, unsigned:

Watch over them, and protect them, will you not?

They're grateful, though. They've always been grateful. They knitted a hat, if somewhat clumsily, out of red yarn. Stitched along the front of it is simply one word, in white yarn:

BUTT

Perhaps it's too irreverent. But Shepard has always been more like Chara in that way.

Thank you, Shepard.

Good night.]

[normandysbest]

[Honestly, there's only two people who are deputized Butts Admirals, so the options on who delivered this are immediately narrowed down. Especially since she doesn't imagine Chara taking the time to knit them something like this. Regardless, she smiles, slides it on her head, and takes it inside.

It'll fit much better under her helmet than the cheap Butts Admiral hats, anyway.]

12/25, another gift outside her door.

[didntknowbest]

[Shephard will find a box, signed from Toriel- and inside, atop a sweater, a note.]

Dear Jane,

I am knitting sweaters for those who I would consider my family. And, even though we are not related, I think that you may be a part of mine. As I am sure you have noticed, Chara has become surprisingly fond of you. You two seem to be very close! I doubt that they would say so, but I think that they may think of you as family. Of course, I am quite fond of you as well, and would not mind calling you that, either- so I would like you to have this.

I hope that you enjoy it! With luck, it will warm your heart as much as you have warmed ours.

Love, Toriel

[Inside, is a mostly black sweater, with a large, red heart on the front.]

[normandysbest]

[Oh, gosh, this one's actually got a signed note. It's from Toriel.

It's... it's from Toriel. Ohmygod. She's suddenly incredibly thankful no one's here to see the creeping red slinking across her face as she looks over the sweater, reading the note a second time.

She takes it inside, tries it on, and keeps it on as she falls asleep that night.]

12/25, another present in the Undertale stack

[fulllifeconsequences]

[You have no idea how long Chara spent pacing and convincing themself that they'd be laughed at if they got a present for someone they aren't related to. They don't like people. They don't get attached to people. They've been a got dang mess for the past two months entirely because caring about people just blows up in their face in horrific and painful ways every single time.

So they didn't sign this. And they wrapped it in some shitty old newspaper, as if newspaper is a thing that they'd have lying around in Wonderland, a place that doesn't have a paper.


It's a nerf gun.

There's a note (ha ha just a lame post-it note, not even their favourite flower stationery, ha ha see it's just a joke they don't care about this at all) that explains that although they asked the closet for the sickest gun imaginable, this was the best they could get from it.

Uh, and also, the handwriting is totally not obvious. They're a calculating genius who would never utterly overlook a clear flaw in their "make this present super anonymous" plan.]

WONDERFUL

[normandysbest]

[There's no surprise who this is from, but it makes her smile anyway. It's a nice fake gun, to be fair. She turns it over, brings it inside, and makes space for it in her weapon locker, among her sniper rifle, pistol, and submachine, and texts Chara a picture with no context.

She appreciates it, you little gremlin.]

[forwearemany]

Shepard-Commander.

We wish to apologize. We have omitted details regarding our prior existence due to concerns it would harm our efforts to establish peaceful interactions. We did not intend any dishonesty.

However, recently you have indicated you experience self blame for our decision to die. Now that you are aware of our origins, we wish to correct this. Our death cannot be your fault.

It is ours.

[normandysbest]

[... Hah. Okay, well, we're just. Doing this, aren't we.

Well, really, they are. But she needs... well, they're being honest. She should be too.]

It's not your fault, either.

[Ugh, god, admitting to her own traumas is so fuckin' hard, even to people who she trusts the most.]

I feel responsible for what happened to you because I'm your commanding officer. You were on my ship, helping me execute my mission. And... and you're my friend. If I'm gonna swear to save the galaxy and I can't help the people layin' themselves down for my goals, then... what am I, in the end?

[Alone, she thinks. She'll be alone, in the end.]

You don't deserve to die for what happened. Not now, not in the past, not for the decision you had to make.

2/14, outside Shephard's door.

[didntknowbest]

[Toriel can't believe she's doing this. She really can't. But here she is.

She already made the card. She made her way to Shephard's room. Now all she has to do is knock, and hope that she at least finds it funny.]

Hello, Jane? Are you there?

[normandysbest]

[Shepard is in her bed, scrolling through the network idly when she hears the knock. She pushes off the bed, opens the door, and... oh. It's Toriel. Suddenly, she almost feels underdressed, shirking around in loose-fitting pj pants and a hoodie. Whoops.]

Uh, hey. Uhm, I mean, hi, Toriel. What's going on?

[chantes]

What weapons are you familiar with?

[normandysbest]

Firearms. I primarily use sniper rifles, pistols, and submachines, but I'm also trained in assault rifles, shotguns, and basic melee bladework. I wouldn't say swords though. Closer to a bayonet I guess.

Why?

[Text]

[mypartnerintime]

Hi Shepard. \o

Is this photo yours?

[There's an attached picture.]

[Text]

[normandysbest]

Hey Max. o7
No, that doesn't look like mine.
Did you get it from the RQ drop?
I am kind of looking for a picture.

[fancylad]

[Ah. Voicemail.

Angus instantly, automatically turns off the connection, psyching himself out of leaving a message for her. He could send her a text, but he stares at the blank screen for several minutes until he finally takes a fountain pen and parchment out of the closet and decides to do it a way he's more familiar with.]

𝒟𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝒞𝑜𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓃𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝒽𝑒𝓅𝒶𝓇𝒹,

𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝓉𝑜 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝒸𝓊𝓈𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊. 𝒴𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝒾𝓃𝓋𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑔𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒬𝓊𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝑜𝒻 𝐻𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝒾𝓃𝒸𝓇𝑒𝒹𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓀. 𝐼 𝒷𝑒𝓁𝒾𝑒𝓋𝑒 𝐼 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐼'𝓋𝑒 𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹. 𝐼 𝓌𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑅𝒶𝒷𝒷𝒾𝓉 𝐻𝑜𝓁𝑒 𝒟𝒾𝓃𝑒𝓇 𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝓊𝓃𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓃 𝓉𝑜𝒹𝒶𝓎.

𝒫𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓈𝑒 𝒸𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝑜𝓃𝑒. 𝐼𝓉'𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝓉𝑜 𝓉𝒶𝓁𝓀 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉.

𝑅𝑒𝓈𝓅𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁𝓎,
𝒜𝓃𝑔𝓊𝓈 𝑀𝒸𝒟𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁𝒹

[He slips the letter beneath her door, then sets about collecting evidence of his findings thus far. Considering it's been some time since he came across these new revelations, and Shepard's post to the network no longer quite dominates the popular gossip circuits around the mansion, he's been working his way up to reaching out for a while now.

Like he wrote... it's hard to talk about.

The claw is left in his room, wrapped tightly in heavy cloth, the hunger pangs it causes going forcibly ignored as he gathers notes and heads to the diner.

He orders waffles, and is picking at them, no syrup, by sundown. Food has generally made him feel sick these days.]

[normandysbest]

[Shepard almost doesn't notice the letter at first; it's been a long time since anyone's given her any form of physical communication, but she sees it when it flutters as the door shuts. She reads it over carefully, almost not surprised when she sees the name signed at the bottom, though the contents do make her worry. She hasn't heard from Angus in a bit; with all these items floating around, it's hard to say where anyone's been, but this sounds like he may have gotten something too. What it is, well, it's hard to say.

She hopes he hasn't been hurt, and she's just been too busy to have checked in.

Regardless, Shepard arrives when she's asked to, spots him in a booth, and slides in on the other side, trying to look gentle.]

Hey, kid. Breakfast for dinner?

10/02 - Private Text

[nascensibility]

Commander Shepard:

While I initially had strong reservations, I do believe that the instatement of a "death watch" intended to keep track of people's demises for safety's sake is in Wonderland's best interest. I understand your intentions are for preservation, not persecution.

I would therefore like to make this proposal on a network-wide scale. To ensure the sincerity of the data collection for good, rather than ill, I would be willing to make my own death toll public knowledge to convey the stakes we face, and to urge others to do the same. Residents who submit information to the watch on their numbers could do so privately if they wished, to avoid embarrassment from colleagues or peers.

I would like to cite you as a strategic reference for those concerned about their safety. While I would be more than happy to lead or assist in the monitoring of people's deaths, I am not equipped to exact the security procedures of which you spoke.

Please let me know your response at your earliest convenience. Time is of the essence.

E. O'Connell

private text

[normandysbest]

[She breathes out a sigh of relief when she sees this message come in; thank god, she's reasonable. This will be much, much less teeth pulling than dealing with most buearocracy.]

I wanna start with thanking you for this.
Really.
I know everything about this is harrowing, and I wanna say first that I appreciate it.
Next, yeah, I agree.
I don't really know how to make this kind of announcement. Wasn't sure it would work because hell if I know how to organize it.
But yeah. Cite me all you want.
I'm not sure if I'll be perfect from a training standpoint, but I want this to work.

[didntknowbest]

[Late at night, Shepard suddenly receives the following text out of the blue.]

You know, 'Commander' is a very apt title for you, Jane!

After all, every time you walk into a room, you command my attention!

[normandysbest]

[She's not really sleeping- but it seems Toriel isn't either-- and she snickers, typing in a response.]

Oh jeez, Tori.
Making me blush.
Guess you really got my goat there ;)

12/25

[didntknowbest]

[Shepard will find, sitting just outside her door this morning, a relatively small, wrapped present from her girlfriend! And inside are... 5 units of medi-gel! Also, a note.

"Merry Christmas, Jane!
Normally I like to get more personal gifts, but... I recall you mentioning wanting some more of this!
Hopefully you like it- I would hate for the hours I spent requesting it from the closets until I got lucky to go to waste!"

Yeah. Some luck, huh?]

[normandysbest]

[Shepard reads the note over and over, checking over the package multiple times until she's sure. This... shouldn't be possible. This item is solidly from her world- and this isn't the first time Toriel has edged something like this. She should ask. Just in case.

She brings it inside and sends over a text.]

Hey Tori!
Got your Christmas gift. Love it. Thanks.
Though, gotta ask- how'd you get the closets to pull this?
Seems like it shouldn't be able to do that.

because jay is blithely unaware of what went down during the truth event

[burntvideocassette]

[At some point on Christmas day, Shepard will find a small, thin wrapped box at her door. There's a note taped to it. The box contains the following DVD:]



[The note reads:]

It's what us earthlings thought space travel would look like, back in the day.

If you don't want to watch it alone, Tim and I do bad movie nights. Feel free to stop by.

- J

Video

[forwearemany]

Shepard-Commander.

During the recent event, we encountered your mirror.

(They're fidgeting a lot. Their headflaps twitch, the lights on the sides of their head flash briefly, not necessarily the best sign.)

Video

[normandysbest]

You did?

[She answers, as quickly as she can, not missing those odd movements. They don't usually look so... nervous. If a robot can be nervous.]

Are you okay? What happened?

text; 27.12.17

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Remember you asked me to tell you if I heard anything? Might have something for you. Or someone.

text

[normandysbest]

Oh yeah?
I appreciate that you even remembered.
Lay it on me.

Backdated to 12/25

[romsapience]

[There’s a painting left on Shepard’s doorstep, with a tag that says, ‘Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Turing’

The painting in question is a deep, dark blue, sprinkled with a myriad of small, bright stars. There’s an aurora borealis spread across the painting, filling it with bright greens. It seems that Turing’s trying to recapture their memory of the Citadel event through this painting.]

text

[thesamurai]

Been here a while, so I can't remember if we've met. I'm Michonne, been here three years now. I've seen things you've put together about Wonderland and was curious - feel like getting together to separate what we can assume to be as factual as possible from what's just rumor?

text

[normandysbest]

Just once. I think it was your event.
And yes, I do.
I can always use the insight of people who've been here longer than me, seeing as information is designed to disappear from this place.
When are you free?

[Text]

[mypartnerintime]

Hi Shepard.

I was wondering about that sort of bodyguard thing you said before...

[Text]

[normandysbest]

The Guard?
Yeah, what about it?

[Man, there are so many kids who want to join this thing. But she won’t immediately shoot her down, if she has something she can speak to in skills that Shepard might not know about.]

a note, left just outside a mirror in her rooms

[neversauntered]

[It on the floor while she's out, neatly folded with her name written on the outside. Words in a slightly shaky hand.]

Shepard-

I'm trying to start a clinic here. I don't know what's going to happen.
If you don't hear from me again, you can assume that the Queen did not approve of my efforts.
Should the worst occur, please think well of me.

- Gadreel

[normandysbest]

[She finds it when she gets back to her room, unwrapping it carefully. He's... he's doing more than she ever expected of him. He's scared, and he's trying anyway. She appreciates it in a way she doesn't know her words will properly carry.

Just in case he can see it, she writes back.]

If there's anything I can do, let me know.
And if you need to spread the word: Georgia Mason is a friend of mine.
She's good.
Can get you what you need.

Stay safe.
Good luck.

audio;

[morework]

[ He keeps the message brief, not that he's been given much to elaborate on, even if he wanted to. ]

I have a message for you from... Gadreel. He wants you to know that- things are going well. He said you would know what it means. That is all.

audio;

[normandysbest]

[Oh. Huh.]

Yeah-- I do. I appreciate it. You spoke to him?

text

[choosetruth]

Something to look into.

[attached.]

text

[normandysbest]

So, what?

You making your bid for Queen next?
Or is this where you’re hoping I’ll throw my hat in the ring?

voice;

[mandrakes]

Shepard, do you have a moment to talk?

voice;

[normandysbest]

Yeah, sure. Here, or you want to meet up?

[She's a little apprehensive as to what this could be about, but...]