Jade5233 wrote...
Hey Fort: I am sure you've voiced your take on Kaidan's message several times over the course of a couple of threads. But with you being the most prominent "realist" I wondered what your thoughts on it are--what your main Shepard character takes it to mean for her.
The message?
I think it meant exactly what he said. Men don't speak with as much subtext as women do.
I'm sorry for what I said back on Horizon. I spent two years pulling myself back together after you went down with the Normandy. It took me a long time to get over my guilt for surviving and move on. I'd finally let my friends talk me into going out for drinks with a doctor on the Citadel. Nothing serious, but trying to let myself have a life again, you know? I take this part literally. There's nothing to read in to this. He mentions the doctor as an example of how hard it has been to move on. His friends had to talk him into going on a blind date. Even then, he was going through the motions just to force himself into being normal.
Then I saw you, and everything pulled hard to port. You were standing in front of me, but you were with Cerberus. I guess I really don't know who either of us is anymore. Do you even remember that night before Ilos? That night meant everything to me... maybe it meant as much to you. But a lot has changed in the last two years and I can't just put that aside. So he wasn't as moved on as he thought he would be and realizes that he's gone through the motions. He doesn't know who he is anymore; he's not moved on, he's lashed out instead of controlling his anger, and he is confused because he wants to do good but the Council has denied the existence of the reapers. He doesn't know who Shepard is; she's come back from the dead suddenly and she's working with terrorists. For the past two years, everything has turned upside down in Kaidan's world. And the night before Ilos meant everything to him. He'd given everything he had over to the woman that he loved and he hoped that she had done the same. He's telling her that he can't just put things aside that have happened in the past two years. I think this is a subtle hint at his job. He can't exactly leave with how his work has become.
But please be careful. I've watched too many people close to me die -- on Eden Prime, on Virmire, on Horizon, on the Normandy. I couldn't bear it if I lost you again. If you're still the woman I remember I know you'll find a way to stop these Collector attacks. But Cerberus is too dangerous to be trusted. Watch yourself. When things settle down a little... maybe... I don't know. Just take care. Again, this means exactly what he says. He's lost so many people that he's been close to and if Shepard died again, he wouldn't be able to handle it. And he knows that Cerberus will try to use Shepard for their own gain (hello... the base?) and that they're dangerous (collector ship trap much?). He's hopeful that they can start again after things settle down some, but it's a loaded statement. He's doing a lot of work for the council/Anderson and Shepard is currently with Cerberus. Then there's the reapers. So it's such a loaded statement. I don't see that he's "leaving himself a way out" like a lot of folks believe. He's putting the needs of others (doing his job) over his personal needs (wanting to be with Shepard). And he's aware that Shepard is doing the same thing. It's duty over desire.
My Shep interprets it the same way though she is directionless without him. She's formed an unhealthy dependence on him to be her moral compass and it really shows in her decision making in ME2.
Modifié par fortunesque, 12 septembre 2010 - 06:10 .