#could both be mshenko or fshenko

[sterniis-png]

Too lazy to draw but the idea of Kaidan helping Shepard cut their hair is giving me life atm

[spacevixen2024]

Twenty Questions for Fanfic Writers

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

13 works. I know, unlucky for some!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 399,235

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mass Effect Trilogy

In the past, I've written Stargate Atlantis, NCIS, and X Files under a different penname on FF.net.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

From The Ashes - Book Two (59 Kudos)

A month after the events of Phoenix Rising, Major Kaidan Alenko remains in command of the Normandy, while the crew find a way to bring Commander Shepard back from the brink.

Phoenix Rising - Book One (46 Kudos)

In the aftermath of the war, the crew of the Normandy struggle to comprehend the loss of their commanding officer. Major Kaidan Alenko is thrust into a role he is not ready for, and he has to do it while mourning the woman he loves.

Fast forward six weeks, Commander Faith Shepard is found alive but drastically changed, with significant memory loss that erases her recollection of the Reapers and other critical events. There's no logical explanation for her survival, hinting at something more sinister.

A Soft Place To Land (35 Kudos)

Takes place during Mass Effect 3: Citadel.

Miranda and Shepard decide to unwind with a girls' night out at the Silver Coast Casino. The evening is filled with laughter, a few too many drinks, and Shepard letting her guard down in a way she rarely does. By the time they leave the casino, Shepard is decidedly worse for wear, much to Miranda's amusement.

Miranda delivers a very tipsy Shepard to Kaidan, who is waiting patiently at her new apartment.

Don't Give Up On Us (27 Kudos)

Kaidan Alenko and Shepard have a major disagreement following the events of Desponia aka Kaidan had to know what he was signing up for when he returned to Normandy. Or did he?

In Their Own Words (Shenko Drabbles) 27 Kudos

To keep my mind fresh on days I don't have enough time to write, I'll be using a random word generator to give myself ten minutes to write.

100 words based on Shenko (how could I not??)

5. Do you respond to comments?

Yes! I love feedback and genuinely knowing if someone is enjoying the work.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Most my current stuff is angst, although will be shying away from that into more action for Book 3 of my Faith Shepard series. I would have to say Phoenix Rising...so far.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Book 3 will be the happiest but it's work in progress.

So until then it's Save A Horse, Ride A Canadian which is set years from the events of my trilogy. Some might call it spoilers, I call it HOPE!

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Had someone complaint that my slow burn was *gasp* slow.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I am new to smut, but now have a fair few. I have done mostly M/F stuff but I did write an interesting threesome. I am definitely getting more comfortable writing it.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I haven't written any yet, but the ideas are bouncing around.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Who the fuck would steal my unhinged dribbles?

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I haven't, but I'd definitely be up for it.

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

My first OTP was Mulder/Scully way back in the day. These days, Shenko both MShenko and FShenko have my heart.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I have firm belief that they were all be completed at some point.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Angst? Is that a strength?

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Happy endings?

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I am terrible at languages.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

X Files nearly 25 years ago!

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Definitely my Faith Shepard series. It's come a long way since a planned fic of only ten chapters. I am super proud of it and the friends I have made within the ME fandom!!!

[pigeontheoneandonly]

Kiss prompt 10 - mshenko/fshenko (your choice)

Thanks for the prompt, @maxrev! 

10.  staring at the other’s lips, trying not to kiss them, before giving in

Kaidan threw himself down beside her and ejected his thermal clip, panting.  "We’re overrun.“

“This bitch can train a fucking squad, I’ll give her that.”  Nathaly Shepard risked a peek overtop of the desk, and nearly got her head removed by a sniper for her trouble.  She waved aside the dust from the stray shot.  

“Think they’re really navy wash-outs?”

“I doubt it.”  She offered him a grin, quick and silly.  "I don’t think Hackett’s rejected a single warm body since the war started, even for reason of insanity.“

A brief burst of gunfire rattled against the desk.  Testing whether it would penetrate.  Kaidan bit his lip.  "We can’t hold out here long.”

Shepard watched him check his gun, sweat-streaked and filthy from their run through the Archives, her eyes wandering back to his mouth.  He had that tiny frown, the one he always got when he was thinking a little too hard.  A little indent from his teeth right there in the middle.

Vega called out over the comm.  "Got mercs flanking us at four o'clock.  No sign of the clone.“

“Roger,” Kaidan said, glowing faintly from his barrier.  He glanced at Shepard.  "What?“

She tilted her head with the slightest of smirks.  Suddenly, he wasn’t paying attention to the fight, either.  His breath caught.  "This isn’t–”

“Hold that thought.”  She pressed one finger to his mouth and fired past his shoulder, taking out a drone before it could sound an alarm.

He chuckled, a little amused, a little exasperated.  From the curve at the corner of his lips, a little turned on.  "Nathaly, really.“

But she couldn’t help staring, intoxicated by the way his mouth shaped her name.  She pressed forward–

Her comm crackled.  Tali.  "Hammerhead moving to the mezzanine.”

Kaidan started to get up.  She grabbed his arm.  Pulled him back, close to her face.  Saw the question on his.

Shepard recalled one of her earliest posts, where was it?  Aonia, had to be.  Trying to seduce some civilian nurse she met back in the colony.  We could all die tomorrow, she’d said, all of twenty years old.  So suave.

But it worked on her.  No reason it wouldn’t work now.  She just barely managed to raise her eyes to Kaidan’s, and dropped her voice.  "We could die at any moment.  How do you want to spend it?“

He wet his lips with the tip of his tongue, and she was done.  Another stray shot exploded a pile of filing folders just as she moved her hand to the nape of his neck and pulled him to her.  

And kissed him, deeply, thoroughly, feeling the muscular tension of their mouths and the softness of his tongue, crouched there behind the desk while paper and dust and bullets rained down on them like confetti.  His barrier an electric tingle over her skin as his arms found her body.

“Shepard?” said her comm.  "Shepard, come in.“

She took in a breath through her nose and moved her head to fit him better.  His hand slid through her hair and down to her cheek.  Rough in its hardsuit glove.

"Shepard, do you read?”

Her fingers answered automatically, activating her comm as she broke away.  "Shepard.  Yes.  What?“

Kaidan nipped gently up her neck as Shepard struggled to focus on Tali’s response, requesting support.  "I’m here.  I mean, I’m on my way.”

She swatted at him.  He grinned, his voice a purr in her ear.  "You started it.“

"And you better believe I’m going to finish it.”  A quick kiss this time, wet and full of promise and a smile.  "Soon.“

Then they both turned, braced their weapons on the top of the desk, and got back into the fight.

[maxrev]

Since I haven’t been able to write, so I’m answering these fanfic writer questions. I decided to go ahead and do them all because...why the hell not? I will try to answer from both fandoms I’m in - Fallout 4 and Mass Effect. 

It will be under the cut because it’s long ;)

Fanfic writer questions 

favorite fic you wrote this year -  For Fallout 4: Ode to Eyebrows (fallout 4) - a collab with an amazing artist @marvilus73 about Danse’s eyebrows featuring her f!sole Charlie! For Mass Effect:  Think I’m going to have to go with the first one I wrote for the ME fandom - When Darkness Comes. I had no idea I could write angst before this game. It’s fshenko and I’m still ridiculously proud of it.

least favorite fic you wrote this year - Alliance Training for Kaidan appreciation week. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to and in fact, I think it was just too long and too detailed. 

favorite line/scene you wrote this year - line:  I actually have several I’m really proud of but we’ll go with these. Mass Effect AU - “Face it, I’m my own brand of badass and you’d be lost without it. Now turn around and I’ll help strangle you with that.” Scene was in Fallout 4:  It’s long, so I’ll link it here if anyone cares to actually read it. Starts with the sentence after the second line break, "Walking slowly and carefully..." ends with "Maybe we could begin again?" -- I love this scene because it’s really emotional for Alice, my f!sole, which is unusual for her. 

total number of words you wrote this year - Wow. A lot. I think I’ve been most prolific this year after finding myself immersed in the Mass Effect fandom. So, I will include anything written for A New Reality (Fallout 4) and anything Mass Effect, including NaNo.  Basically, not counting A New Reality (chapts 10 through current!) or the endless bits and pieces I have, over 50 thousand words. 

most popular fic this year - (By hits) Fallout 4: Confusion. A little drabble about Boone and Danse. Boone realizes that Danse is more to him than just a a fellow soldier to travel with, more than just a friend.

least popular fic this year - Mass Effect - How It All Began. Written for Shepard appreciation week. A brief glimpse at Riley’s beginnings. 

longest completed fic you wrote this year - Not counting my ongoing long-fic for Fallout 4, it would be Supergiant (3330), which was written for Shepard appreciation week. An mshenko fic about some emotional upheaval in John’s life concerning his scars. 

shortest completed fic you wrote this year - Mass Effect: Haunted (245). From a prompt list on tumblr. An mshenko/fshenko (neutral) drabble. 

longest wip of the year - Fallout 4: A New Reality (ongoing). About my f!sole Alice and her journey through the Commonwealth. A lot more involved than that but...yeah. 

shortest wip of the year - At the moment? Would probably be a Mass Effect wip -- Shore Leave part 2. An mshenko continuation of sorts to something I wrote for Kaidan appreciation week. 

fandom you enjoyed writing for the most this year -  Mass Effect. Wow..this game blew me away. The interactions between the characters, the dialogue - serious, hilarious, snarky - all of it. The characters felt like family in a way I didn’t get from Fallout 4 (the only other game I’ve been completely immersed in). It gave me incredible creativity with my writing, getting me to write POVs and emotions I’d never written before. It’s been a wild ride and I’ve enjoyed every single minute!

favorite character to write about this year - Long answer, which you can find here!

favorite writing song/artist/album of this year - I think I’ll go with Breaking Benjamin because their music has been the most consistent influence with writing ME fanfic. 

a fic you didn’t expect to write - Anything Mass Effect? I didn’t expect to fall quite so hard into this black hole that literally took over my life. Then, we can go a little further and say anything mshenko. They also took over my life and honestly, I think I’ve done some of my best work writing about the boys and their ME romance. (I was going to elaborate as to why but we’d be here forever lol) I suppose I should list the one that really blew me away as a writer. That would be - A Wonderful Life (AO3 title - Black holes/Neutron stars for Shepard appreciation week). 

something you learned this year - It’s okay to lose momentum. It’s okay to step back and take a break. I don’t have to like it -- and believe me, I don’t and I’m really having a hard time with that -- but it is okay. 

fic(s) you completed this year - That’s a thing? Endless drabbles/one-shots...whatever you call them. 

fics you’ll continue next year - Pirate AU, MEBB fic (which may or may not be used for that), A New Reality 

current number of wips - 3 major ones, a lot of one-shots

any new fics to start next year - Not if I can help it! We’ll see what happens ;)

number of comments you haven’t read - Exactly zero. I read them all and do my best to respond. 

most memorable comment/review -  Damn. I honestly had quite a few that made me grin and/or laugh and it’s so hard to choose! Mass Effect: OH MY GOSSHHH IM DEAD D ECEASED this is so sweet omg !! and your writings absolutely lovely ! Fallout 4: MAX I FOUND YOUR SINS lol Deacon tho. Gotta hand it to him. He scores some devious pointage ;)“Blue, he wouldn’t know fun if it ran straight at him. He’d probably laser it to death.” Fucking yes lmao Verdict: cute af, would read again. you rock

events you participated in this year - NaNo...though that was a bomb lol, Mass Effect Flash Fanwork, Shepard appreciation week, Kaidan appreciation week, Sole Party 2.0 (Fallout), several different themed prompts for Mass Effect, Cactuarkitty’s Mass Effect Romance week. There might be more...it’s been a proliferative year for me as a writer, which may explain my burnout! 

fics you wanted to write but didn’t - Mass Effect: Pirate AU for ME, though I have started it. I was trying to finish it for NaNo and get it out before the end of the year. However, that didn’t quuuuite happen xD Fallout 4: Finish Boone’s story after the Institute maybe someday

favorite fic you read this year - Fallout 4:  Always By Your Side  Mass Effect:  There were 2 and I refuse to choose between them. Soldier’s Heart and Wish You Were Here.

a fic you read this year you would recommend everyone read - See above question. 

number of favorites/bookmarks you made this year - 6 between both fandoms (AO3).

favorite fanfic author of the year - There are way too many that I absolutely love and go back and reread what they write. I refuse to narrow it down or accidentally exclude anyone. 

longest fic you read this year - Mass Effect: (still reading) Zero Hour from @scottrydcrs​. To be honest, I’ve read quite a few long fics this year. I don’t remember them all but that is my current one that I’m thoroughly, enjoyably immersed in ;)

shortest fic you read this year - Mass Effect: Welcome to the Suck  xD from @nightmarestudio606​ 

favorite fandom to read fic from this year - Mass Effect. The fandom has been around for so long that I keep finding hidden gems every time I search back a little further in various tags. It’s like searching for treasure and always finding a bit of sparkle in places you wouldn’t expect it. I love it!