Happy Birthday, Commander!

[ashehole]

HEY DID YOU KNOW THAT TODAY IS SHEPARD'S BIRTHDAY? WELL NOW YOU DO. SO COME ON DOWN TO SHEPARD'S FANCY ASS APARTMENT AND LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!

Basically a very open mingling post for all us Mass Effecters to celebrate the Commander's birthday in style.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!!!!!!!

Comments

[commanding]

[Ash is taking in the sights while she's still sober enough to do so-- jeez, Shepard, but you have quite the swanky pad.

Eventually she'll be starting drinking contests and/or arm wrestling competitions at the same time, though. Join her in either!]

[thepriiiize]

[Jacob sure doesn't know Ashley Williams that well, but any friend of Shepard's is, well. Probably either insane or suffering, so he's in good company regardless. He knows what it's like to serve with the commander.] I'll take you on, Williams. [He rests his elbow on the table, hand extended toward her.]

[commanding]

You sure about that? [She arcs an eyebrow at this newcomer, then gives him a grin. She knew a little bit about Jacob, but they hadn't really been properly introduced yet.

She figured you couldn't get much better of an introduction than an arm wrestling competition, though.] Just so you know, I hold the title back home.

[thepriiiize]

Positive. [He flicks a grin her way, fingers flexing. He knows enough about her to know that he respects her, especially the way she stood up for herself against Shepard. That takes guts.

Besides, this is a party, and he's got to loosen up at some point.] I'll be happy to take that off of your hands.

[commanding]

[Her thoughts on Jacob basically amounted to: he worked with Shepard when she couldn't, so she had to give him credit for that. Also, he'd quit Cerberus. Major bonus points, there. And now they could even become friends.

So she takes his hand, trying not to notice the fact that he had very nice arms.] I'm not so sure it's going anywhere. [Her fingers flex against his, testing, as she steadies her elbow on the table.] On three. One, two...

[thepriiiize]

[He takes a deep breath, keeping his gaze evenly on her face. That was something he's noticed about Shepard's crew; they were a generally good looking bunch. At least on the human side. And the female side. He isn't really sure how to judge male aliens.]

Three. [He steadies his elbow as well, muscles flexing as he applies pressure to her hand, attempting to force it into submission.] I like the confidence.

[commanding]

[She responds to his strength with her own pressure; it was an easy effort, not really trying to force his hand down just yet. She is testing, holding her own as she meets his gaze with a smirk.] Part of being a soldier is the raw bravado. [Or just a certain kind of stupid that her family seemed so well-versed in.] You were Alliance once, right?

[thepriiiize]

[So she's better than she looks. Jacob might have underestimated her just a tiny bit, but he's not sweating it. Not yet.] The other part is sheer stupidity, right? [He gives her an easy-going grin.] For a short period of time, yeah.

[commanding]

[He's no lightweight, that's for sure. The skin-tight outfit wasn't just for looks, then. Ashley would really like to say she's disappointed, given their situation, but finding out Jacob is as strong (or stronger) than he looks isn't a bad thing.

Her grip tightens on his hand, and she begins to push back, still testing.] You got it. [She exhales, the sound almost easy, like she isn't exerting much effort at all. Her eyes are strangely focused on their conjoined hands, though.] A very special kind of stupid-stubborn. Where were you stationed?