Face It

Jet fuel

Coffee was almost as precious as the water that was used to make it. There was no set limit of time, though for the sake of everyone, the lights were dimmed at 19:30-just to maintain some notion of regular civvy time. Working out in space for a prolonged amount of time made people edgy, tired, and more importantly, people depended on their caffeine fix to get them through just about every thing. Sugar and creamer were luxuries that many people pitched in for. Coffee was the first and last part of everyone's day- everybody benefited when everybody contributed.

There was a non-spoken rule about the coffee pot. You emptied it, you started a new one. If you did not the punishment was...severe. Mostly because it always seemed to be Shepard's cup of coffee that had to wait. The Commander needed coffee more than most- she could be found near said liquid any time she was up and about for longer than an hour- so waiting for a coffee pot to start filling was torture.

She didn't need sugar, or cream, or honey, or whatever the hell other people put in their java. She drank it straight, right out of the pot if necessary. There were a few people who actually praised her for her ability to drink it so boldly. Most couldn't handle the natural flavoring of coffee. They needed some kind of buffer to make it a little sweeter. Not Shepard.

"You know, I've read on the 'net that drinking large quantities of coffee will stunt human growth." Garrus said, watching Shepard drink her fourth cup of the day.

The cup made no sound when she placed it on the counter, "Garrus, I've been drinking coffee since I was a sperm, okay? I am five feet seven inches, which is above average. I don't wanna hear anything about not growing. Science can stick that in their pipe and smoke it." She said heatedly.

Garrus realized she'd probably heard all this before, so he didn't mention that Shepard had, in fact, been rebuilt, so her height was of no consequence. Her past actions had had nothing to do with the body she had now.

"Besides, if I didn't drink coffee it would be alcohol."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, and you don't want to see me like that." Her voice painted a picture of bad memories.

"Once wouldn't hurt." Garrus said.

"Yes, well... too bad. I'm responsible for all this," She swept her arm around, "plus the entire universe. I need fuel to fly." With that she grabbed her cup, refilled it, and walked away humming some kind of show tune.

Garrus shook his head. He would never understand that person.