#MERWEEK2020

[autodiscothings]

Kol and Ori celebrating his name day, while waiting for the skycar to arrive.

[blighted-elf]

Mass Effect Relationships Week 2020 - Then and Now

[viewfromthevault]

Mass Effect Relationships Week Day 1:

First Impressions

Rhea and Garrus met just like they do in the game; she walks in on the Executor shutting down his case against Saren right before her one-sided hearing about Saren. There wasn’t a lot of time to get acquainted, but the impression was “at least this person sees the truth.” It’s the two later see each other in action at the clinic in the wards do they take a liking to each other. And yeah, the sarcastic banter began early on.

[secretagentdragon]

Mass effect relationships week - Day 1 - First Impressions

i decided to switch between my sheps and their LIs/best friends for each prompt so to start off here’s how Ven Shepard meets Traynor, her future gf!

backgrounds are my own screenshots from ME3 

[madmacci]

Hey! I heard it’s the last day of Mass Effect Relationships Week 2020 so I slapped together this thing. Made it in time, yuss!

By the by, there are too many awesome relationships in ME to pick one favourite, but I decided to go with my Shep’s “accidental” romance for this one. The idea behind my first run was to play an ace Shep that wasn’t going to romance anyone. To pull off the no romance plan I had him crushing on his seemingly straight colleague from day one. To be fair, the plan worked flawlessly for two and a half game.

[blueboxness-art]

“Perch”

Day one of MERWEEK!

[sakuhina]

i can see you again

Relationship: Liara T'Soni/Ashley Williams

Summary: Liara pays Ashley a visit at the Huerta Memorial Hospital.

[AO3 Link.]

This was written for the Mass Effect Relationships week, based on the prompt emotional moments!

[renwritesstuff]

we are family

Day 4: we are family.

Describe or draw a familiar moment. Are they close, or estranged? Are they blood relatives, or family found with friends?

Two Traynors stared each other down, hands hovering over a small box. There were 5 empty shot glasses in a semicircle around them, flanking the pristine chess board between the pair.

Wiping her hands with a dish towel, Priya Suresh-Traynor pleaded with her family. “Dessert is almost ready, do you two have to do this now?”

“The fate of the galaxy depends on it, mum,” Samantha Traynor mumbled back, not breaking eye contact with her father.

“You heard the kid,” Geoffrey Traynor seconded with a lazy smile. “I need to know my little sprog‘s mind hasn’t gotten soft since she’s been away.”

“Soft?? Did you miss the part where I kicked Polgara T’Suza’s arse across the Citadel?”

“Vid or it didn’t happen.”

What are you, five??

...God, I wish I had a vid. Are there vids? I wonder if I can ask for one...

“I have a trophy proving it happened. And a witness.” Sam’s eyes flitted over to the witness in question, her gaze narrowing.

Commander Annelise Shepard held her glass of red wine in surrender. Her voice came out wet and shaky from her fresh sip. “She’s—” Shepard patted her chest from the cough. “—She’s correct. She electrocuted that asari good.” 

And got a shower as a prize.

That narrow challenge in her eyes switched to panic as Sam glanced back at her father, who was tsking in disapproval. “Neuro-feedback chess? ...Sammy. You didn’t.”

The Comms Specialist scowled. “I didn’t choose it, it was part of the tourney rules. Usually, yes, I have slightly more integrity.” Unless I really want to win, that is. “It was just a lark, father.”

“Well as long as it was on a lark you buried that smug asari, I guess you’re forgiven. ...still can’t top your Dad at 5-Shot Speed Chess though, I bet.” The older man blew on his knuckles theatrically and gave them a wiggle before resuming his position at the worn speed clock.

Oh, you’re on.

“Oh, you’re on.”

Priya gave an apologetic smile at Shepard, who had taken up perch at the kitchen counter partition. The bar seat next to her was empty, waiting for Sam to return from her tense game. The matriarch of the Traynor family was busy at the stove stirring the simmering pot of kheer on one burner while checking a boiling sugary syrup on another. The warm kitchen filled with the scent of Indian spices and jasmine rice bled over into the prefab living room area.

“I wish I could lie and say something like ‘they aren’t usually like this,’ but…” Priya shrugged and smiled fondly at her husband as the game began. The speed clock snapped with each hit as the older and younger Traynor dove into an intense exchange of pieces. “It’s actually a tradition when Sammy comes home.” She paused before clarifying. “A tradition since Sammy was proper drinking age, mind you.”

Annelise smiled and raised an eyebrow. “Is that right?”

Sighing, Priya tapped away her Omni-tool where a reverse countdown timer could be seen by Shepard. “I think it was One-Shot Speed Chess back then,” she admitted. “I swear we were a classy family at some point. ...I can’t recall when, precisely, but I assumed we had to have bumbled into it somewhere in the last 25 years.”

“I’m 26, mum,” Sam reminded loudly as she slapped the clock once more.

“We were definitely classy when you were one, sprog,” Priya snarked back. “I mean, you weren’t because you just ate and shat all day, but Geoffrey and I were newlyweds and still extremely classy.”

“Muuuuuuum!” 

Oh my God do we have to talk about me shitting my diaper in front of Shepard???

Annelise failed to hide a staccato of exhale-laughs behind her wine glass, amused by the exchange.

Oh my God why did we come here?

...Oh shit Dad almost had me there.

Oh shit are they doing this on purpose? Working together against me??

Betrayed by my own flesh and blood!

Sam had to do a few lazy blinks to push back the swimming in her head and vision. Those shots were creeping in fast aided by a full stomach of naan and saag paneer. But she resumed focus on the game at hand, giving the clock another slap as she nudged her white bishop in an offensive position.

“So, Comm—Annelise,” Priya fumbled slightly. “What are your parents like?”

Mum. Did you not watch any ANN profiles? 

Shepard’s sip of wine was casual, unruffled by the question. “Couldn’t tell you. Both gone. Mom when I was four from eezo poisoning, Dad when I was thirteen. Fire in our apartment building.”

What could have been a very awkward silence was instead filled with Priya’s empathetic tongue cluck (honed from years of practice as a registered nurse). “You poor thing. Too much life experience forced onto someone so young.” Her vigorous stirring motion never wavered. “Not to mention the life of a marine on top of all that. What a hand this universe deals us, hm?”

“Indeed,” Annelise agreed. She smiled sadly, her eyes inward as though weighing something. “This reminds me of the dinners I had with my brother and dad.”

Oh? Samantha’s head tilted so she could hear better. Her father was closing in on one corner of the board, but her queen sprang into a hole in his defenses.

“Oh?” Priya asked, echoing Sam’s own curiosity.

Nodding, Annelise rotating the now empty wine glass in her hand. “Dad wasn’t much for cooking, but John loved it. He loved grilling and barbecue. He’d usually save some of his courier paycheck for a good cut of meat at the store and try out different seasonings.” She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “I bet he would have loved your cooking.”

“I fear I know the answer, but where is ...John?” At Shepard’s nod, Priya continued. “Where is John now?”

Oh no.

Should have given your folks some notes, Traynor.

I didn’t think it was my tale to tell!

How are you this bad at relationships, Traynor??

“Also gone, right before Dad. Car accident.” Annelise chewed her cheek a moment. “You know, before the Skyllian Blitz, I thought I was pretty unlucky based on all that.”

“And now?”

“Well, everything’s kind of a shit show, so jury’s out on that.” Annelise looked over at Sam, who was getting louder and more erratic with her clock taps. “But lucky in other ways.”

“Oh good answer, love!” Priya crowed, snapping the towel in Annelise’s direction. “A for effort, superbly charming response.” Her Omni-tool started beeping, signaling the woman to pull the pot of rice milk off the burner and set it aside to cool before turning her attention to the syrup. “What were three favorite things your brother cooked?”

An exhale deep through Shepard’s nose as she held her chin in her hand. “Oh God, I haven’t thought about that in ages.” She nodded at Priya’s silent pantomime offer to refill her wine glass. “He loved ribeye steak. Kind of fatty for me, and too damn expensive, but… I dunno, I liked it because he liked it so much.”

Aw. Sam felt a pang of longing for Shepard. There was a fondness to the woman’s tone that didn’t come up often. 

How often does Commander Bloody Shepard have a moment to think about her family? Or talk about them?

We should work on that, Traynor.

Geoffrey piped up regarding one of his favorite subjects. “Good man! Good cut of beef. What temperature?” He pointed a finger at Annelise as though calling on a student in one of his classes.

“Medium rare.”

“Good man indeed,” Geoffrey agreed as he slapped the timer one more time. White and black sides pieces were dwindling as lines of attack thinned out.

“Let’s see, what else… He actually did a spiced mutton I really liked. Sometimes lamb. Both were dirt cheap for awhile in Seattle before the drought, so he made a lot of it.” Annelise smiled as she accepted a small round poor of kheer, a sprinkling of ground nuts on top. “Oh, and his ribs were to die for. John had this dry rub mixture he spent months tinkering with. Took damn near eight hours to cook, but worth it.”

Geoffrey exchanged a look with his wife before cutting back to the game. Priya nodded.“Oh we love lamb in this house. One of the many reasons we applied for colony life. No more ration stamps from those artificial trade wars with the Volus, and all our farming sustainable and available direct to the colony first.” Priya fired up her Omni-tool. “I have a lot of great lamb recipes if you’re—goodness! I haven’t asked how your cooking chops fare?”

Nudging a pawn over to take Sam’s knight, Geoffrey jibed. “A loaded question, dear. We all know our Sammy is completely dependent on Alliance-provided cafeteria food. How she survived four years at Oxford is a complete mystery. She should have either ended up three hundred pounds from eating rubbish or died of scurvy.”

Hey!

“You talk a lot of shit, old man, for someone who just got checked. And it’s called a dormitory meal plan, I’ll have you know. I had three square meals.”

I just probably didn’t drink water the entire time. All booze or energy drinks.

“Of cafeteria food, further proving my point. Also, check.”

Ugh. Also, what?

That exhale-laugh from Annelise almost pulled Sam away from her last ditch strategy. The Commander extended her own Omni-tool. “I’d love the help. While I can survive on a remote moon with just a knife and a canteen, I don’t prefer to. I did undercover work for a year after graduating N7, so we had to learn how to be human again. Cooking included. Some of it even some fancy five course meals meant to impress targets.”

“So you know where all the forks go and what they do?” Samantha asked, slapping the timer. “Check.”

“I definitely do.” Those green eyes glittered with mirth.

“Oooh, be still my heart.” Sam shot a finger-gun at her girlfriend.

Priya made some flicking motions with her fingers before an answering ping from Shepard’s wrist. “Well, here are some of Sammy’s favorites. Someone should have them, since the pride of my life can’t make toast.” 

“Hey!”

“I also made note of some of the ones with Sammy’s allergies.”

Annelise flicked through the holo screen, studying the recipes. “Curry, shellfish, and peanuts, right?”

You forgot public speaking and losing at chess to my father.

Sam’s mother clutched her heart theatrically. “You know! Oh Geoffrey, did you hear? Sammy trusted her with shellfish, darling!” Priya poured a ladle full of the syrup over a small pyramid of large cake-like balls that had been chilling in a dish. She brought the dish over to the pair of competitors whose game was nearing completion.

“Check! And I did, love! It seems our Samantha is serious about this one! ...or her commanding officer looked at her file.” He grinned at his daughter before reaching for one of the gulab jamun.

Scowling, Sam slapped his hand away from the bowl before slapping the speed clock again. She could feel a heat rising in her neck and jaw (hopefully it was just the alcohol). “No dessert til we finish the game! And check!” 

After a tentative bite, Annelise dug into the bowl of sweet kheer with enthusiasm. “I mean, you’re not wrong, sir. But I had the decency to act surprised when she finally told me. How was that again, Samantha?” 

Oh sonabitch.

“When we went out on a date in public for the first time and I stole a bite of your lobster roll and my throat closed and we had to go to the med center.”

Both of her parents barked her name at the same time. “Samantha Karuna Traynor!” Her father added, “You always were a sucker for lobster despite never learning your lesson. And check.”

“It was worth it!” Sam squawked. “It was delicious! Also: check mate!” The pawn she’d been nudging forward that her father ignored got promoted to a rook and was now perfectly positioned to box in his king. 

Geoffrey stared at the change of fortune, dismayed and swaying a little in his chair. The shots were clearly taking hold. He tipped his king over in surrender, bowed his head at his daughter, and grabbed the topmost gulab jamun. 

Samantha joined him with a second ball, the syrup coating dripping slightly. They raised their desserts in salute before taking a big bite.

Mouth full, Sam grinned up at Shepard who was standing next to her chair. “I had you there to rescue me, darling. I knew I’d be all right.”

“I hope that’s always the case,” Annelise smiled back as she kissed Sam’s forehead. 

Before she slowly dropped down to one knee.

[wickedwitchofthewilds]

MERweek 2020

Prompt Seven: Celebrations (Headcanons)

Characters: Evfra, So-Hee, Emma, Jaal, Akksul, Maggie

Rating: G

Read on AO3

Emma:

Jaal celebrates Emma every single day they’re together. But even still, when their one-year anniversary rolls around he spends the entire week being extra affectionate and loving. When the actual day rolls around he has planned a day for them on Havarl to explore a romantic location with no interruptions. He is so focused on making everything perfect for her, that he is surprised when she has a gift of her own for him. It’s an interlocking ring set, one for her and one for him. Angaran meditation crystals that have been cut to size are interlaid in the metal. They glow when charged with bioelectricity and are brightest when they are together. Jaal chokes when he accepts, but he suddenly worries if the ring he had made for her would be enough. He saves it for another moment. Just to be sure.

Maggie:

Akksul and Maggie have only been seeing each other six months now. There are many things he still fumbles, and sometimes he is stricken by how enamored he is with an alien. But he adores Maggie, and even more surprising to him, she loves him. So when he reads about anniversaries being important, he immediately knows what he wants to do for her. Maybe it’s too much, but he knows she’ll like it. At least, he hopes she will. His mother thinks so too, and the family is instructed to help him while keeping it a secret from Maggie. On the day, she shows up and is surprised when she only sees Akksul at home. He leads her outside with his hands over her eyes, telling her how much he cares for her, and how he wants to nurture and grow his love with her every day. When he shows her the small greenhouse, she bursts into tears and he briefly wonders if he chose wrong. But when she kisses him, his doubts dissipate. Maybe soon he’ll have the courage to ask her to move in.

So-Hee:

Evfra doesn’t get anniversaries, and he isn’t planning on doing anything. He wouldn’t even know when their anniversary would be. Does the first time they had sex count? Or does it start from the time they start to officially date? Doing something every six months seems to be excessive, and Evfra elects not to do anything. But when he wakes up one day, he decides he does want to do something nice for her. Not just because it could possibly be an anniversary, but because he wonders if he does enough nice things for her. He is still getting used to being with someone. That morning, he decides not to go into the office since nothing is happening currently and lets his Lieutenants take some of the work for the day. He spends the entire day with her. Sure, they laze around while she shows him more shows from Earth, but it is nice nonetheless since they don’t get to do so often. Later he tells her how appreciative he is of her and that she is in his life. She teases him for being soft, but the way she kisses him is softer.

[a-skyfull-of-starz]

Mass Effect Relationship Week-Day 4: family

Not sure if I enjoy this piece, but I have always wondered how Kolyat would take to his dad dating someone.  This is sort of how I imagined that going down.

.....

They got to the restaurant fifteen minutes early and were told to wait for their table to open up. “How do I look?" Shepard asked, smoothing the front of her dress.

“Beautiful as always, Siha,” Thane said, smiling gently.

“Firstly, wrong,” Shepard said.  He opened his mouth to say something, and Shepard made a shushing motion.  “You sure it’s not too much?”

“Too much for what?” Thane asked.

“Well, I want Kolyat to think that his dad is with a…well, a respectable woman,” she said, sounding uncharacteristically nervous.

Thane snorted.  “Siha, you’re anything but respectable,” he said.

“Maybe, but a girl can have her dreams.”

Thane took hold of her hand. “Shepard, are you nervous?” he asked.

“Nah,” she said quickly. He threw a sceptical look her way and she sighed.  “Yeah, maybe a bit,” she amended.

“What are you nervous of?” he asked.

“What if your kid doesn’t like me?” she asked in a small voice.  “What if I make a horrible first impression and he hates me.”

“Well, you made a horrible first impression with me, and now we are together, no?” he said sounding amused.

“Yeah but that’s different,” Shepard said.

“I don’t see how.”

Because if he doesn’t like me, you’ll have to choose between your son and me, and no good parent chooses the partner.  She didn’t say this though.  Instead she said, “Because he’s your son.”

“Hm,” Thane murmured.

At that moment, the maitre de told them their table was open.  “It is likely that Kolyat will not like you at first in any case,” Thane said. “He is still angry at me for what happened with his mother and how I handled it.”

“Great,” Shepard said. “Why are we here then?”

He gave her a stern look. “Because I have limited time left and I want to include my son in something that brings great happiness to my life,” he said.

“Fair enough, that’s a good reason,” she sighed.

Kolyat arrived soon after this.  After a rather stiff greeting and ordering drinks, they fell into a fairly easy conversation as Thane questioned about his community service he was doing for C-Sec and the friends that he had made there.

When the appetisers arrived however, Kolyat seemed to square his shoulders.  “Father, why have you asked me to come to dinner?” he asked. “And why is she here?”

“Right,” Thane said, and Shepard detected the barest hint of nervousness in his voice.  “Kolyat, I have something important to tell you.”

“Oh God,” Shepard whispered.

Thane gave her a comforting look before turning back to his son.  “Kolyat,” he repeated.

“Yes?” Kolyat asked impatiently.

“Something very important has happened in my life,” Thane said.  “You see, Shepard and I, for want of a better word, are dating.”

Kolyat’s mouth dropped open, his eyes darting between the two of them.  “Is this a joke?” he asked at last.

“You know I never do that.”

“Then what is this?” Kolyat asked.

“Exactly what it sounds like,” Thane said.  

“You are…dating….”

“Yes,” Thane said patiently.

“When…when did this happen?” Kolyat seemed to be in shock.

“Shortly after I met up with you on the Citadel,” Thane said.  

“Ok,” Kolyat said. “Why?”

“Why am I interested in her?” Thane asked.

“Why are you interested in anyone?” Kolyat asked, his voice cold.  “Or was it really that easy for you to brush Mother’s death away like it was nothing.”

“Of course it’s not easy, it’s never been easy,” Thane said.

“Then?”

“Kolyat, I miss your mother every day,” Thane said.  “All too soon, I will be reunited with her on the other side of the sea.  But right now, I’ve found someone who I want to spend my last remaining days with.  Someone who makes me happy.  Can’t you be happy with me?”

Kolyat gave a derisive snort.  “The last time we met, I thought that maybe you had changed, but it seems that you’re the same coward that you always were,” he said.

“I hardly see how this is relevant,” Thane said.

“You abandoned your wife to die,” Kolyat said, enough force to snap a tree in half in his voice. “You abandoned me.  Now you’re abandoning the memory of your family, all for what, some fun before you die?”

“Kolyat, I’m abandoning nothing.”

“Prove it then,” Kolyat snapped.  “Stop running from the memory of Mother.  Stop trying to leave this galaxy in a blaze of glory and come home with me.”

“Uh maybe I should go,” Shepard said uncomfortably.  “Y’all clearly have some stuff to work through.”  She made to stand up.

“Siha, sit down please,” Thane said, a hint of tension in his voice.  “We can work this out together.”

She sat down again, clasping her hands uncomfortably.  Kolyat glanced between the two of them, his face horrified.  “Kolyat, I’m not trying to use Shepard to replace your mother,” Thane said.

“Save it,” Kolyat snapped. “I’m out of here.”

He stalked out of the restaurant.  Thane sighed. “I will admit, I hoped for better,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” Shepard said in a small voice.

“No need to be,” Thane said. “These are all my mistakes coming back to haunt me.  Do you want to eat more or shall we call it a night?”

“Let’s get out of here,” Shepard said.  “I’m not that hungry anymore.”  Thane nodded.

“Let me go pay,” he said. He touched her cheek as he got up. “Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yeah,” she said.  “I think I need some air though.  I’ll meet you outside.”

Outside, the air was a lot cooler than in the restaurant.  Shepard gazed out over the Citadel lights until her heartrate slowed down.

“He called you Siha,” a voice said from behind her.

“I thought you’d left,” she replied without turning around.

“I’m waiting for a taxi,” Kolyat replied.  He came to stand next to her.  “Do you know what it means?”

“What, taxi?”

“Siha,” Kolyat said.

“Yeah, Thane told me,” she answered.  She glanced at the angry teenager next to her.  “He’s told me everything, Kolyat.”

“Then he’s told you how my mother died, how he left his so-called “siha” to die on her own?”

“Of course,” Shepard said. “And he’s told me how much he wishes it could have gone down differently, how he regrets not having been a real father to you.”

“If that’s the case, then he can come home to me,” Kolyat said in a rush.  “Not that I care either way,” he quickly amended.  Shepard bit down on a smile.  

“He’s part of my crew because he wants to make the galaxy better before he…leaves,” she said.

“Yes, he’s said,” Kolyat said sulkily.  “Seriously, what about you makes you a Siha?  There doesn’t seem to be anything remarkable about you.”

“Honestly, I agree,” Shepard admitted.  “I feel like he’s really misusing that term as well.  But I guess it’s Thane’s prerogative.”  She studied him.  “Are you scared of losing him?”

“Not really,” Kolyat mumbled.  “I mean I guess.”

“I am too,” Shepard said. “So I’m going to make a promise to the both of us: I’ll do whatever I can to bring him safely back from our mission, ok?  That way, the two of you can at least have a little time before…”  her voice trailed off.

Shepard saw his cheek lift slightly.  “What about you?”

“What about me what?”

“Where will you be?”

She shrugged.  “Who knows?” she said.  “At this point, nothing would surprise me.  But I have made a commitment to protect this galaxy, so I guess I’d be wherever I am needed in order to do that.”

“Even if it means leaving my father behind?” Kolyat asked quietly.

“If that’s what makes him happy, then yes,” Shepard said.  “But even if he is with me now, I don’t think it means that he’s left you behind either.  He loves you, Kolyat.  A great deal.”

Kolyat sighed.  “Maybe he isn’t as dumb as I thought,” he said. He turned to face her.  “If you hurt my dad, I will kill you,” he said.

Shepard smiled.  “I’ll be waiting,” she said.  “But promise me something in return.”  He nodded.  “You don’t have to forgive him, but at least give Thane a chance.  He is trying his best to make things right.  So let him try.”

He considered this then nodded.  “Ok,” he said.  “I’ll try.” A taxi pulled up in front of the restaurant and he stretched.  “I should go,” he said.  “Take care of my father, Shepard.”

“You bet,” Shepard said. she watched as the taxi pulled away.

“Thank you,” Thane said from behind her.

She smiled.  “He’s a good kid,” she said.

“He is,” Thane agreed. He took her hand.  “Come on, Siha,” he said, kissing her cheek.  “Let’s go home.”

....

It almost became very Twilight-ish towards the end there.  Hopefully I managed to rein myself in there a bit.

[cactuarkitty]

[crqstalite]

lacuna.

(n.) a blank space, a missing part.

for MER 2020. day 7, celebration. set in 2185 [ME2].

-

She's still groggy as hell when the comm to effectively her new boss shuts off, readjusting her eyes to the dark comm room and rubbing the nonexistent sleep out of her eyes. Sore in a few places (all of them, there wasn't a single place that didn't strain when she moved -- bitterly she wonders who in hell woke her up apparently six months too early, and if they were still alive she was going to smack them to hell and back), and she can't help but gingerly touch the scars on her jaw. It was surreal to both be here, with Cerberus of all people, and to even be alive at all. To have to credit them with bringing her back to life, functional as far as she was concerned, was a little disquieting.

It's her, as much as she knows. Her thoughts still feel like her own. Her memories are all still there, fresh in her mind.

Two years, and twelve days. She can't believe it'd been that long, it felt like a very painful nap from when she'd suffocated in the wreckage of the Normandy, to when she woke up in the lab. Only a few moments before she was thrusted back into the waiting hands of the devil who couldn't let her die. Her first thought had been Joker as she raced around the station avoiding mechs left and right, she knew that the rest of the crew had gotten off the ship before she even reached the cockpit, but she'd been terrified she'd sacrificed her own life only to have one of her friends die on her. Then it'd been the rest of the crew, Liara, Garrus, Wrex, Tali.

Kaidan. To hear the Illusive Man confirm he was still alive gave her some peace of mind among all the unknowns. What he'd say to her new allegiances, she didn't know. But if he was still Alliance, and Anderson was still alive, she could find him. Explain what was going on, bring him back onto the crew. Then do the same with the rest of them, though finding them sounded significantly more difficult than finding a fellow officer.

Two years and twelve days she'd spent on that operating table on the Lazarus Project station, having Cerberus do God knew what to her to bring her back to life. There had to be some serious tech involved, because while Miranda had confirmed that no, she wasn't a cyborg and would still pass as organic, there was no way someone spent four billion credits to bring back a simple soldier who'd probably burned up past recognition on reentry.

742 days of being technically dead, dead as a doorknob really.

Miranda said they'd restored her as is. But something about this body just felt off. Maybe because she'd lost the muscle she once had, making the armor set much heavier than she remembered on her now lithe body. The textures felt weird pressing against her skin, the curls on her head completely gone in favor of her natural hair, short and fluffy and in a style she hadn't worn since basic training all those years ago. Other than the scars on her face, every other one was just...gone. Even the one on the back of her neck from the fight with Saren's corpse was missing, smooth, untouched skin there instead.

Skin grafts, if she had to make a guess. Though, it was so seamless when she'd been able to remove her armor before the mission to Freedom's Progress that she wasn't entirely sure what to believe. Was she still her? That was the real question. Looking into a mirror in the bathroom, the scars glowed red omniously. Organic was what she hoped she was, but that was beginning to look like too much to wish for.

Freedom's Progress was just a big disassociation fest, getting used to the off center weight of the N7 armor (it wasn't like any model she'd seen before, which was to be expected two years after the last time she'd been in armor), the use of apparently thermal clips (the hell were those?) and the fact she didn't have a supply of omni-gel at her disposal anymore (which she relied on when she didn't have Kaidan, Garrus or Tali in her immediate squad). It didn't feel like her body that was taking every shot with wavering accuracy. It didn't feel like her who'd reunited with Tali and helped her with Veetor.

She didn't like 2185 to begin with, and it only kept getting worse. Human colonies, abductions, Cerberus, Collectors. None of it seemed real. Sarcastically she wonders how the galaxy went to shit as soon as she died.

It still felt so weird saying that.

She'd died.

And now the Illusive Man was giving her a ship, which she's assuming is fully kitted, paid for by who knew what funds, and either a very cocky pilot or a very capable one.

The hopeful thought flits across her mind before she even hears his voice from behind her, "Hey, Commander. Just like old times, huh?"

She can't stop the smile that spreads across her expression, feeling relief wash over her body as she turns from the comm station.

Joker.

Of course, it'd be Joker. She doesn't know how it could've been anyone else, and damn well she wouldn't accept anyone else. Except she's not entirely sure how to react, instead walking over to him on unfamiliar legs, "I can't believe it's you, Joker." She says, just a little incredulous as he turns up the stairs, and she follows without another word, taking in the sight. How he's up and walking -- albeit more limping than anything else, but still worlds better than the first time she'd met him, is a question for later. One of the thousands that she figures he can answer better than the Illusive Man, Miranda or Jacob combined.

Shit, she's never been so happy to see her pilot before.

"Look who's talking, I saw you get spaced." He answers sarcastically, though she can hear a smile in his voice, maybe just as happy to see her as she is to see him. It's unsettling to see him in Cerberus colors, yet she's sure he has some funky reason for it. Yet his response is the most familiar thing she's had since she woke up.

Her throat tightens up just thinking about the moments before she'd lost consciousness, choking on the lack of air as the vacuum of the galaxy spun around her in a dizzily pretty array.

She wills the memory away.

"I got very lucky, with a lot of strings attached, unfortunately," She deadpans, feeling one of her knees crack again, the shift of armor scratching through her undersuit. Another Cerberus sigil on the wall sends shivers down her back, "How'd you get here?"

"It all fell apart without you, Commander. Everything you stirred up, the Council wanted gone," He sounds disappointed, and she grits her teeth. Of course they did, they didn't believe her about Saren until it was too late, she wouldn't put it past them to forgo believing her about the Reapers either. To keep their idea of peace instead of acting on the writing on the wall, deciding to paint over it entirely. It was going to get them killed and doom the galaxy, "Team was broken up, records were sealed, and I was grounded. The Alliance took away the only thing that mattered to me. Hell yeah I joined Cerberus."

It was an injustice enough to keep Joker anywhere but on the Normandy. Considering his words, they turn a corner. There's someone else standing at a large bay window as her next question dies in her throat, taking in their appearance. A woman with tanned brown skin, she thinks, staring out into what she thinks is a hangar, dark hair in a ponytail pulled through the back of her hat. She's dressed identically to Joker, and when she hears them talking, she turns her head towards them, arms crossed over her chest.

"Commander," She nods, smiling, "Good to see they finally got you out of that bed, hermana."

It takes her just a second to recognize the slight accent, the way she holds herself. Her green blue eyes boring into her soul from underneath the SR-2 hat. The tiny frame that could still throw a Mako over her head with her biotics if she wanted to. The grin that has a mischief undertone to it.

The other woman barrels into her while Kodelyn holds her arms out for her. Her sister's arms hold her tightly, and she embraces her just as tight back. Afraid to let go, almost. As terrifying as it was to think Cerberus had gotten their grubby hands on her younger sister, she's just glad to see her alive and well. Tears are pooling in her eyes as Citlali mumbles something into her shoulder, before pulling back with a grin, "It's...it's great to see you. Thought Miranda was crazy at first with this whole Lazarus Project thing. Didn't think a word of what she said was possible, still I went anyway because it was you. Damn glad I was wrong."

"I-yeah. Yeah, Lali, I've never been so glad to see you somewhere you don't belong." She says sarcastically, though unable to keep from a small chuckle.

"Hey, I belong just as much as Joker here does," She laughs herself, gently pulling her by the hand over to the hand over to the window, which she assumes is a dark hangar that houses the new ship they'd be using. She has a million questions about how she ended up here, where her parents were, where her brother was, yet she bites her bottom lip to keep from going on a tangent, "Whether I belong here or not is beyond the point, sis. We've got a mission to do, and I'm sure as hell not going to let you do it alone."

"Excuse you, she wasn't going to do it alone whether you were here or not," Joker reminds the sisters of his presence, her sister giving her a look that was half offended, half amused. If she had to take a guess, they'd been here together a while. More questions cropped up, now how Joker was brought on, and then how Miranda managed to convince her sister to come onto what she believes is her new crew. Hopefully because she's not in armor, she won't be on the squad.

"You trust the Illusive Man?" She asks skeptically, turning back to the pilot and raising an eyebrow. Kodelyn didn't trust him as far as she could probably throw him, which probably was rather far. Her sister shrugs.

"I don't trust anyone who makes more than I do," Joker deadpans, and Citlali snickers here, classic Joker, "But they aren't all bad. Saved your life. Let me fly--"

Citlali moves to flicker a light on nearby, "Let us fly."

At the most, that answers her earlier question. If anything, now her sister was living the dream she'd had for years. Just for a mix of all the wrong and right reasons.

"And, there's this." He says, gesturing out to the dark hangar, lights flashing on. They glint off a ship she can't make out just yet, but her eyes widen as she puts the pieces together. The familiar design and hull of the ship, the pattern that jumps out at her once enough lights are on, "They only told us last night."

SR-2 is painted near the cockpit, Cerberus' logo following after it. She's stunned, and for good reason. They built the new Normandy while she was sleeping, and she has more concerns the Alliance might have moles in their company if they got plans for the new version. But her heart still swells seeing it, her smile only growing. Having both one of her friends and her sister by her side, and the Illusive Man's ominous answer to her questions on her squadmates...well she has some hope she'll see them all again.

"It's good to be home, huh Commander?" Joker asks, turning his attention back to her.

"I guess we'll have to give her a name." Kodelyn concludes.

"She's got a name, just a different designation is all," Citlali answers, breaking her immersion in awe by bumping her shoulder, "C'mon. The crew's already on board, plus Miranda will have our heads if we don't leave on time."

This is all crazy, she thinks as they meet Miranda and Jacob at the door, Joker and Citlali going ahead without her. She's given her own Cerberus issue clothes, different than her pilots' and what she assumes is the Captain's version of it. Someone else takes her armor plates from her, and she finds it rather easy to slide the clothes on over her undersuit and change out of it. The new ship is bright, larger than before once she lays eyes on it. Huge even. The cockpit alone has it's upgrades, but the CIC is massive compared to the SR-1's.

It isn't exactly home, she finds. So many different faces wandering around the ship, so many new features that definitely weren't in the plans for the SR-1. Yeoman -- Kelly Chambers is friendly enough, though she's never had her own assistant to file things. Miranda is just as cold as she was when they first met and is apparently her XO now (not her first choice, but at the moment she doesn't have any other choices), Jacob doesn't say much she doesn't already know. Joker is just happy to be back in a Normandy, forget who built it, Citlali more than excited to finally put her schooling to use, hands flying over the controls at a speed that only her senior pilot can match. EDI is a new variable, one Joker doesn't like, one Citlali is wary of. Dr. Chakwas is a happy addition, the older woman was just as glad to see Kodelyn as she was to see her. Pressly was apparently dead, but they hadn't replaced him. Miranda got the XO position Pressly had, Citlali got the navigator duties.

Her cabin is on it's own floor, dubbed the loft by Chambers. There's a fish tank bubbling on one side of the wall, though devoid of any life so far. Fitted with a bed meant more for two, and enough work space for four.

It feels empty. Lonely even as she takes in all her new things scattered across the room.

They've got a mission to Omega, to find a Salarian doctor by the name of Solus. Dossiers for Archangel, who's also on Omega, a Krogan scientist on Korlus, and a criminal on Purgatory. None would be her first choice, but her first request was to get to the Citadel. She needed Alliance and Council allies, and she knew she could rely on Councilor Anderson. En route, they've got about a day until they dock.

While she has some worries about how it was acquired, she's more than happy when she finds nestled among her Cerberus issued belongings is a photo of Kaidan propped up on her desk. She places it back down, grinning like an idiot. He was still alive, not one of her dossiers but that was the only thing not making her want to defect entirely.

It'd be just like old times when she found everyone else. They'd take down the Collectors just as they did Saren, Cerberus or otherwise.

-

and with that i lead into the main part of eye of the storm, the mostly janky planned shenko fanfiction i was already thinking of two months ago. now given, this story takes place in ME2 (or at least ‘all the stars’ will, thats what this chapter leads into) so it won’t be as much shenko as it will be a retelling of ME2 with a few ocs. citlali is one of them, but johansson and petrakis will be part of it. some side...sort of shakarian? i only say that because brione (petrakis) is shepard in her own universe, but for now i’ll refer to that ship as petrakarian in the eye of the storm universe

now im rambling. im just happy i finished MER week is all. loosely followed the prompts lmao. >:3

[heroofshield]

MERWeek2020: Day One, First Impressions.

I’ve been looking forwards to this, I had a lot of fun last year and am looking to do the same this year!

This one is for my Shepard Twins AU and takes place before the start of the first game. also unbeta’d so please excuse any mistakes

--

Jason Shepard gripped his duffel bag and stared at the ship through the plate glass windows. Supposedly the Normandy was one hell of a fast ship, a joint project between the turians and Alliance to show that they’d both moved one from the First Contact War. He had his doubts about that, no matter what brass and politicians said, but if it meant he’d finally be stationed with his twin then he was willing to give it a shot.

That’s what he was doing right now, waiting for Rose to show up. They were supposed to meet an hour before she had to board and grab a bite to eat, but upon arriving he’d learned that her shuttle had been delayed because of weather. “Who would have thought two former Reds from the slums of Chicago would make it to the new flagship of the Alliance Navy?” he thought while turning away from the window and heading towards the inner concourse to see if Rose’s shuttle had landed yet.

The usual hustle and bustle was happening around the port; everyone trying to get to their next assignment, loading and unloading equipment, spotting old acquaintances or trying to get a few minutes of sleep before they had to go on another tour somewhere. Ever since turning eighteen it had been the same flow of people coming and going but Jason never got tired of it.

Rounding a corner he collided with someone else and felt his duffle fly out of his grip.

“Sorry.”

“My fault, I didn’t see you.” 

Jason took a step back as he apologized for the collision and looked up to see who he’d bumped into and felt his breath catch slightly. The man was probably around his age and build, you could tell that he worked out regularly (not including the mandatory PT), but Jason was slightly taller than the other man and his dark hair was artfully pulled back. He could also smell the faint burn of biotics which told Jason that the other man was able to control eezo.

Shaking his head slightly, Jason bent down to pick up his duffle to hide his flushed cheeks. “Sorry, you’d think after spending so much time in the spaceport I’d learn where the blind spots are.”

“That’s okay. I was rushing towards my new assignment, the Normandy.” the other man gave a throaty chuckle to show that he wasn’t angry. “I guess I’m excited to be on the test run.”

“Oh? I’m actually on my way there too.”

“Talk about coincidences. Kaidan Alenko.” the man stuck out his hand for Jason to take.

“Shepard.” Jason intentionally left out his first name, knowing that as soon as Kaidan heard it, he’d get that defining silence that spoke volumes; everyone knew who the Butcher of Torfan was.

Kaidan straightened and snapped off a salute at hearing the name. “Sorry sir, I didn’t recognize-what I mean to say is it’s an honor to meet the Hero of the Skyllian Blitz.”

“He thinks I’m Rose.” Jason thought as he opened his mouth to clear up the miscommunication. But before he could there was a shout and he turned in time to see Rose emerge from the crowd and playfully punch him in the shoulder.

“Thought we were going to meet by the Normandy.” Rose said, grinning at Jason after going in for a hug. “Or are you already trying to land in trouble by disobeying your commanding officer?”

Jason could see the confusion in Kaidan’s eye so he decided to just clear everything up at once. “Kaiden, this is my twin; Commander Rose Shepard. I’m Lieutenant Jason Shepard.”

“You’re-”

“The Shepard Twins, yeah. Double the handful and just as much trouble in the field. Should’ve seen us in boot camp. Even in N-school we gave our instructors a hell of a time.” Rose interrupted with a smile, figuring she’d spare Jason the embarrassment of having to explain why he most likely didn’t elaborate on who he was. “Kaidan...you’re Lieutenant Alenko, right?”

“Yes ma’am.” 

“Great! It’s nice to know at least one more biotic’s going to be on the ship.” Rose’s omni-tool buzzed and she glanced at it before frowning. “I’d like to head to the Normandy together but Anderson wants to see me, probably because the Alliance decided on some last minute thing. I’ll see you later Jason. Lieutenant.” 

Jason watched Rose walk off and prepared for Kaidan to make some awkward excuse to get as far away from him but instead heard the man ask, “Care to head to the ship? One of us was going the wrong way and it was probably me.”

“You sure about that? I know my...reputation.” Jason shifted his feet while looking at Kaidan cautiously. In the years since Torfan he’d built up walls around himself so he wouldn’t get hurt again, no matter what Rose kept telling him.

“Of course. I should apologize about before, I’ve heard of the Shepard Twins but there’s just so much news I sometimes tune it out.” Kaidan gave Jason a half-smile as he spoke and was relieved to see the other man relax slightly.

Jason was still on his guard, but bit less wary of the Lieutenant. “I’d like that LT.”

“Call me Kaidan when we’re off duty, I don’t mind.”

“Then call me Jason. Or Jace. When we’re off duty as well.” Jason stumbled over his words, normally he wouldn’t have trouble but something about Kaidan made him feel off-kilter in a good way. 

“I have a good feeling about being stationed on the Normandy.” he thought as the pair made their way towards the docking bay.

[viewfromthevault]

Mass Effect Relationships Week, Day 7:

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

Movie Night becomes more of a regular thing on the Tempest as the crew throws them in celebration for any successes they achieve on their adventures. It’s a time to drink, eat snacks, relax and bond over bad movies from the Milky Way. They also watch a few angara productions too when Jaal gets a hold of some. And you can bet your bottom dollar that they reenact the corniest scenes with each other.

[maxrev]

For ME relationship week by @cactuarkitty

Day 1 - first impressions

Less Than Stellar

Studying the dossiers of each crew member, Knox paused on one of them - Staff Lieutenant Kaidan Alenko, marine detail. What specifically caught his eye was where the LT was born. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 

So, he was a fellow Canadian.

He better not expect to share stories of 'you don't sound very Canadian' with him. Fellow soldiers expected them to talk a certain way, to be polite and considerate, which most thought Canadians were down to their core. 

Those things didn't exist in Knox's vocabulary...or lifestyle. He preferred to be left alone unless it was regarding missions or standard day-to-day affairs like rotations and personnel changes. 

Stashing his rucksack away and leaving the crew quarters, Knox began a self-tour of the ship. Anderson had planned on accompanying him, pointing out key elements of the ship's design, but had been called away at the last minute before they took flight. Something to do with the Council. 

He could certainly find his way around the ship on his own without his CO's guidance. Would have been nice, though, to find out if Anderson could impart exactly what this deployment was going to entail. In the end, he was very good at being patient. 

As he walked the ship, deck by deck, he heard talk stop abruptly when he passed other crew members having conversations. Knox knew well what others thought of him. He was the Butcher of Torfan after all, even earning a medal, the Star of Terra, for his heroism during the mission. 

A medal for getting nearly his whole squad killed while trying to save a colony - is what most thought. No one knew what it had been like. The only thing anyone remembered was he'd killed his fellow soldiers. 

He's a cold, ruthless, calculating son of a bitch. If he had a chit for every time he’d heard it said to his face or whispered as he walked by, he could rival Cerberus in funds. Long ago, before he’d even joined the Alliance, he’d learned not to let the opinion of others bother him or sway him from completing a mission. He knew he was the Alliance’s rabid dog; he’d heard those words more than once as well. 

They big brass came to him when they wanted something done without bloodying their own hands or sending in their precious golden boys. And golden boy made him think of Alenko. The perfect definition if Knox had ever seen one with exemplary commendations from past COs, the consideration of fellow soldiers and adherence to Alliance standards. All of this despite being a biotic. 

Something Knox knew all too well about. He’d experienced it himself but unlike the LT, who always seemed to play it safe, Knox used what he'd learned in the Reds to get the job done. Just barely crossing the line so as to not get kicked out of the military. Though, if he did, it didn't truly matter. He'd survive no matter what; he had before. Being in three Alliance just meant a higher, and steadier, paycheck. 

What intrigued him about the biotic was the mention of BaAT in the dossier. Alenko hadn’t graduated, which wasn’t a surprise, considering his age. He would have been there when the school was shut down. But...what more did the biotic know? 

The news reports had been vague. And since joining the Alliance, not a biotic among them hadn’t heard or speculated as to what happened and knew it was all hush-hush, as there was nothing to be found anywhere - other than the school had existed and had eventually shut down. Rather abruptly. 

He pushed his thoughts away for now. 

Besides the initial meet and greet of the immediate crew when he'd come on board, he’d not had a chance to talk to any of them at length. It was a part of the job he distinctly didn’t care for. Yet, he knew it was to his advantage to know the strengths and weaknesses they had. So, to that end, he’d seek them out, one by one, to learn any details he could beyond what he found in their dossiers. After that, he’d leave them the hell alone unless they sought him out specifically for anything required of him to take care of. Socialization was not something he sought out or cared for.

Avoiding the crew quarters unless it was down time was going to be an issue on this small of a ship. Had to be somewhere dark and quiet he could find time to himself. He'd find out soon enough. 

After a couple of hours touring every level, his stomach growled, a reminder he hadn’t eaten in awhile. While his biotics were useful in battle, he found it annoying having to recharge his energy so regularly. Constantly consuming calories when he could be doing something so much more productive. 

With a newly stocked ship, he hoped it meant the provisions would be decent, at least until they’d been underway awhile. Bracing himself to encounter a full mess, he headed there.

Taking the elevator up from his last stop in the docking bay, Knox stepped off to hear several voices coming from behind the wall where the mess was located. Nearing dinner time for the morning shift, those soldiers would all be ready for chow and then downtime before sleeping. Not usually following the hours he was assigned, he required less sleep than most. After eating, he planned on grabbing a book and making his way to the starboard lounge. Provided Anderson didn’t need him. 

Not having heard from him the whole time he was walking the ship, Knox surmised he was still speaking with the Council. 

He walked around the wall to find Alenko and Jenkins in a spirited conversation. The LT’s words were a bit short towards the young Marine who was a bit overzealous in Knox’s opinion.

Apparently, Alenko shared his views. 

“Don’t be wishing for action so soon, Jenkins. It’ll come in time and won't be what you expected. The battlefield isn't glamorous. Learn to relax and enjoy your downtime.” 

Jenkins deflated like a kicked puppy, taking his tray and going to sit next to some fellow soldiers who laughed at the exchange lightheartedly.

Approaching the line for food,  Knox grabbed a tray and followed behind the LT. Might as well start his getting-to-know-them routine now. 

“La recrue apprendra assez tôt, n'est-ce pas?” Knox inquired quietly as he grabbed some chow. 

The dark-haired man started, glancing over at him with a surprised look. After several awkward seconds, he responded with a hesitant “Oui.” 

He then turned and found a table to sit and eat. Knox felt ill at ease after the encounter, not something he was familiar with at all. At least, not since a young kid in the Reds. Feeling as if he’d somehow been chastised without the biotic ever saying a word, Knox took his own tray and sat down in an unoccupied corner. 

Eating slowly, prolonging the time in the mess in order to hopefully find a few quiet minutes to himself, Knox heard the soft but unmistakable sound of boot steps coming his way. Despite not looking up, he could tell when they stopped next to his table. Frustrated at someone already  wanting to bother him, he looked up...into the dark brown eyes of the LT. 

Thick black brows furrowed in the beginnings of a frown, Knox waited for him to speak, not about to start a conversation himself after the earlier fiasco. He waited. 

Clearly nervous, the LT rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, looked away, looked back again. Knox's impatience level was rising rapidly.  If Alenko didn’t spit out what was bothering him soon, he was getting up and leaving. Good relations be damned. 

Apparently, his impatience level was already tapped out as he barked, “Spit it out, Lieutenant.” 

The biotic winced, “S-sorry....,” he took a breath, steadied himself, “Sorry about earlier, sir. I...um...I don’t speak French very well. Took me several seconds to realize you were speaking to me and then I had to try and sort it out. Figured all of it out while I was eating.” 

Knox had momentarily forgotten the province of Vancouver was more English speaking than Toronto, where he’d grown up.

Now he felt like a jackass. Something else he wasn't well acquainted with.

Standing up and grabbing his tray, he paused to look at the LT. A blush had bloomed across his cheeks in embarrassment. Disgusted, Knox hoped he was better on the battlefield than this. He might have to leave him behind, seasoned soldier or not. Maybe Jenkins would be a better fit, even with too much enthusiasm and no experience. 

“My mistake. Won’t happen again.” Nodding to the biotic, Knox took care of his tray and left the mess. 

He didn’t see Alenko standing there awkwardly, thinking he’d already pissed off his new XO before they'd even left dry dock. 

“La recrue apprendra assez tôt, n'est-ce pas?” = The recruit will learn soon enough, won’t he?

[kingofthebottleshooters]

First Impressions

A belated drabble for the first day of Mass Effect Relationship Week 2020. Not quite to the letter of the prompt, but definitely the spirit, I think.

Day 1: first impressions. Describe or draw the first time they met. How did they meet? What was their first impression? Was it negative, neutral, or positive, and did it stay the same?

“You know, if someone had told me three years ago that I was going to fall in love with a cocky, turian sharpshooter, I’d have laughed in their face.”

Garrus frowned, his mandibles twitching in a motion that she had come to associate with confusion. “Cocky?”

“It’s a human thing. Reckless. Brash. Hot-headed. Full of yourself,” she elaborated, curling into him with a teasing smile that she hoped carried through in her tone. He chuckled, and gave her a gentle poke.

“That doesn’t sound like me at all, Tali.”

“Not now, no. Shepard’s been a good influence on you.”

“On us all,” he murmured. They lay in silence for a while, lulled by the drone of the Normandy all around them. The battery was hardly the most romantic setting, but it was private at least, and they had quickly become accustomed to snatching every moment they could, never knowing when they would get another opportunity. Or if, although neither of them mentioned that possibility. None of the crew did.

“So…what changed?” he eventually asked, breaking the silence.

“Hmm?”

“You thought I was…cocky. You didn’t like me. So…it was when we were helping Shepard against the Collectors, I guess?”

“I didn’t say I didn’t like you,” she protested, leaning up to look down at him. “The first thing you ever did was save my life, how could I not appreciate that? And you’ve always been sexy, Vakarian…”

“It’s the scars, right?”

“I wish you didn’t have them,” she said, trailing her fingers over his jaw. “I don’t like thinking about you being hurt. Although, it is a little hot that you took a rocket to the face and walked away.”

“I’m glad you weren’t there to see that,” he admitted. She didn’t reply, but bumped her helmet gently against his jaw.

“Anyway…of course I liked you, silly,” she said after a moment. “I trusted you with my life by the time we arrived on Noveria. I knew you were family after Virmire – the way you checked on everyone after…and when Shepard was – gone – and we all went our separate ways, I missed you more than anyone. I wish I’d realised sooner why that was.”

“We’re here now,” he said, hugging her a little tighter. “No regrets, right?”

“Mm. What did you think about me?” she asked, suddenly curious. She tilted her helmet up a bit as he chuckled again.

“What did I think of Tali’zorah Nar Rayaa, the scrappy little quarian barely a week out of the Flotilla and already taking on geth, gangsters and assassins without breaking sweat? I thought she was nowhere near as…cocky…as she should have been. You’ve always been incredible.”

“Oh.” The helmet was a blessing, she decided for almost the first time in her life. Without it, he would definitely have been teasing her about the flush in her cheeks, in that dry, teasing drawl that she would never admit she liked. “Flattery will get you…many places, Garrus.”

“I thought it was everywhere? Or nowhere…all or nothing, I know that.”

“Well, unless you want to explain to Shepard why you converted the battery into a clean room…”