tushanshu | video;

[ Here is a blonde teenager, her hair in a loose ponytail, and her blue eyes curious. She's settled a bit, so. Here she is again. ]

Hey, guys!

First, I want to apologize for my previous post. I promise, I've now learned about the use the inboxes, and it won't happen again. Anyway! My name's Cassie, and I have a question. Sadly, it's probably not a very. important. question that might help resolve the situation, here, just something I'm curious about.

I know people here come from different times... I mean, people who know each other and come from the same world. So, that means that some of us come from other people's futures.

If a friend - or enemy, I suppose - comes in, would you want them to tell you what your future holds? What happens to you or your friends?

Or would you rather let it be?

I mean, not like - going to the Emperor to be shown. Just - being told. By friends.

I hope it makes sense?

[ She gives a wave and then ... sits back a bit, the good cheer easing up. ]

Oh, and I've heard about the people who've suddenly gone. I'm sorry to everyone missing people, um. I hope they turn up all right.

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Hi, Cassie. My name's Shepard. I'm glad you're doing okay.

[Because she knows this place can be hella tough to adjust to, for some people.]

I did go to the Emperor to see the future, so maybe I'm not the one to ask about this - but I didn't do it for myself, if that makes sense. I just... needed to know what was going to happen to the people I care about, back home.

It's a two-edged sword, and I'm still dealing with it, even though I did it months and months ago. If I had to do it all over again - I'd probably still do it, but I've also had a long time to get used to ideas like... losing people. Or knowing that I could die. Not everyone has, and that stuff can be hard to swallow. I think there's a good reason why, for the most part, we're not supposed to see our future.

[Cassie listens, then... nods.]

Thank you, Shepard. I... yeah, I thought so.

[She knows so, her heart is still hurting over Jonas. Deep breath, and another nod as she looks down.]

Yeah, I think that makes sense. I hope your people are okay. Is there any way in which I can help? To - deal with it, I mean. Or something.

[Shh, she's fifteen. But she means well.]

It's kind of you to offer. [Hey, teenagers can help, too!] I think talking about it helps - sharing my experiences with others, talking about my friends.

And it helps - well, it's never easy to lose someone you care about, but it helps to know it's not in vain. And to remember the good they did in their life.

[Cassie nods, but then...]

[Then the words that Shepard speaks hit her and she hunches down, making an effort not to start shrinking. Sometimes, those things do help. But then she thinks of her dad dying in the explosion made by Jack-of-Hearts, she thinks of so many other deaths, and.]

[Deep breaths, Cassie. Deep breaths. Don't cry.]

I'm... sorry. I - sometimes, I'm not sure it helps at all. But, I mean, some deaths are in vain, even when the lives lived up to them were good and worthy.

[Shepard's face falls into a mask of concern. She forgets, sometimes, that civilians don't always have the same kinds of experiences she's had, that it's not always so easy to categorize things - especially loss.]

It always seems senseless, losing someone you care about. But what's more important? Their life, all the years and all the things they did, all the ways they changed the world and impacted the people around them? Or the one single moment of their death, vain or not?

I made a decision, a few years ago, that cost a friend of mine his life. It was a complicated situation, and some people might think - hell, sometimes even I think - that maybe he died in vain. But I know he wouldn't think that, because no matter what the ultimate outcome, he spent his life trying to do good. That's what mattered to him.

[Cassie is not exactly civilian, per se, but she is fifteen. And she's lost very important people - some downed by friends.]

[And Jonas... for all his memories and knowledge and databases and brain patterns, how old had Jonas been when he got destroyed? A year, maybe? One year old. And it had been her fault. Cassie squeezes her eyes, trying to not. Start sobbing, right now.]

I - I'm sorry. I understand what you're saying, I just...

[Too much to cope with, too soon. She can't find words, for any of it, sorry, Shepard.]

[Shepard definitely feels bad now - like WOOPS, clearly she didn't say the right thing.]

No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you, especially so soon after you got here. If there's anything I can do to help... [She makes a vague, helpless sort of gesture.]

[She takes a few deep breaths, but she's still a bit. Shaky when she answers - this time, encrypted.]

I'm sorry. I just learned that a good friend died just a little bit after I got here. Like minutes. And he - he was a synthoid. A - an android? It's complicated. He'd only been alive for a year or so.

He did do a lot of good things. But it's... I was sad that he's gone... he will be gone? But I hadn't really realized just how little time he'd had. It's not something you said, it'd have hit me anyway.

[Shepard gives an understanding nod.] I know a few people like that. [Like a tank-bred krogan, or a geth platform...]

I'm sorry for your loss. It can really sneak up on you, sometimes.

I... thanks, Shepard.

[It's kind of fresh, too.]

Maybe we can do the whole 'talking about it' thing... eventually?

Of course, I'm always available to talk. [It's like second nature by now, Shepard's open door policy. Hey, new people might need someone to talk to, just as much as people who've been here a long time! And she's young, that's plenty to tug on her heartstrings.]

I... thanks, Ms. Shepard. I think that's a good thing. Do you have people to talk to, too?

No problem.

And I've got one or two. [Sort of. A lot more she's missing, and she's bad at talking about her own feelings with people, but that's not what she was asking anyway.]

Okay, that's at least good. I don't know that many things that are worse than being alone when you need not to be.

Agreed. Having someone around to listen or offer support is important.

Yeah, absolutely.

I mean, it's good when there isn't bad stuff to need support for, but... [ she shrugs. ]

That's kind of wishful thinking.

You and me, both.

[ Cassie ducks her head with a faint smile. ]

Thanks. Next up, working to make it happen as long as possible, I guess.

[Shepard laughs a little - not unkindly, but it's maybe a little bitter.]

If you ever figure out a trick to it, let me know.

[ Small pause, and Cassie gives a wry smile. ]

All right, I can do that. If I ever figure it out.

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