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Sitting writing the sequel to this. Not done any writing for a long while, but really enjoying revisiting this.

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Thank you for tagging me @ghostxofxartemis @ficbrish and @tealenko !

I’m tagging: @rpgwrites @ripley95 @pigeontheoneandonly @halesshepardn7 @alphahelices   @shifty-looking-sheep   @acciokaidanalenko   @aricazorel   @a-cosmic-elf @bardofheartdive   @illusivesoul   @theoriginalladya   @mordinette   @crqstalite   @miniature-space-hamster and anyone else who wants to play!  No pressure.  It’s just for fun if you have a WIP you want to share!

This is from Part 4 of “Sideways.”  I’m still pounding away at the second draft.  I’m 15 chapters in at 125k words and still going.  Just got past the hurtle of a 4 chapter action sequence, the biggest action set in the series.  Nice to have it behind me.  I hate writing action, but this actually wasn’t too bad.  A lot of character stuff going on.  Anyways, this is from chapter 1.

Garrus chuckled and faced the operating room.  “What’s the plan, Shepard?  How are we getting you home?”

“Once we’re on Orian, the new Shadow Broker will contact me.  Supposedly.  Then we’ll make the trade, Feron’s orange DataKey for the location of a dormant relay.”

“And that’s it?”

Shepard folded her arms.  “I haven’t decided yet.  I’m not letting this Shadow Broker kill Kaidan after I’m gone.”

“Something more permanent then?”

“I have to figure it out.”

Garrus bobbed his head and tucked his talons behind his back.  “Is Kaidan in on this?”

“He knows about it.”  Shepard hesitated then added.  “Something’s going on with him.  Ever since you mentioned the Spiral Tower.”

“Feels guilty.”

“I don’t know.”  Shepard frowned.  “I told him something else too.  Told him about … us.”

Garrus looked over at her sharply.  “Why now?”

“I want him to trust me.  Tell me the truth.  But, I think I made things worse.”

“Hmm.”  Garrus hummed deep in his throat.  “If he won’t tell you, then maybe you should talk to someone who will.”

“You already told me your side.”

“Not me.”

Shepard hesitated.  

“I only heard it second-hand,” Garrus added.  “Go to the source.  Tali.”

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Sideways Part 3

———————————–

Chapter 19:

Another Lifetime

(End of Part 3)

Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war

Pairing: Femshep/Kaidan Alenko

Rating: Mature

Available:  AO3 (beginning, new chapter)

Summary:  

Shepard is starting to feel obsolete with her quiet life when she wakes up in another timeline. War-torn, brutal, and speeding toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by her renegade decisions. Despised and friendless, even the man she loves calls her enemy.

To get home, she’ll need to steal part of a dormant mass relay. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is a fate worse than death.

“So, you won’t sign it?” Shepard said.

“I won’t sign it now,” Cicero clarified.  “I recommend other species do the same.  The Council acts on its own – unfettered – but the rest of us have other leaders to include and a populace to represent.  Races as wide-spread and powerful as the asari, turians, and salarians need more time to consider than one day allows.”

“You just heard them say they consulted their people.  You’re the only one who hasn’t.”

“I’m the only one not dazzled by your flare with a presentation or bowed down under your intimidation tactics.  Once they have fresh air and some distance, they’ll see it too.  I’m not saying it isn’t an impressive first draft.  The time was well spent.  But you can’t pressure me nor any of us here to go against our better moral judgement.  Mine recommends caution.”

“The Alliance is the only one at this table actually at war with the krogan.  You have the most to gain.  Sign the proposal.  Stop stalling and monologuing.”

Cicero interlocked his hands on the table.  “No.”

“No?” Shepard echoed with heat.  “You’re the only one making this treaty – the one we’ve labored over for a week to create – fail.”

“I realize I risk a slapping, but let me speak plainly, the Alliance will not sign that peace treaty.”

Shepard met Councilor Wilson’s eyes on the other end of the table.  His face was puckered and red, sweat beading between his eyes, knuckles blanched from fisting the chair’s armrests. 

“That’s your final answer?” Shepard looked back at Cicero.

“I don’t believe I’ve been unclear on that point.”

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What's To crown a king about? What can you tell us about it?

Hi @rpgwrites! Thanks for the question. 'To Crown a King' was the alternative idea I had for the MEBB this year, and ultimately thought I couldn't do justice within the time constraints. In my head, it was going to be similar to the set-up for the book 'Q&A' or film 'Slumdog Millionaire', but with Wrex being chosen by a group of clan leaders to become leader of all krogan. I say 'chosen', but I mean violently interrogated really! And with each big question, we'd go to a flashback of something which has happened in Wrex's life (some pre-game, some during) which help him to give his answer. It's the one on the list which is the least completed - it's just a very rough outline currently, but I hope I'll get round to writing it eventually. I love wrex!

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WIP Ask Game

Thanks for the tag @rpgwrites!

As usual, I’ve arrived at the game pretty late, and I’m sure everyone who wants to play has done so already, so my tag is for ANYONE who hasn’t played yet and would like to.

Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it. And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.  

Every Colour Illuminates

Garrus and Kaidan Fight

Kaidan’s story

Samara stand-off

Awakening

Freedom’s Progress

The Citadel

Recruit the Veteran

Recruit Archangel

Recruit the Professor

Recruit the Master Thief

Recruit the Convict

Recruit the Warlord

To Crown a King

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WIP Ask Game

Thank you for tagging me @halesshepardn7 and @ginbiscuit for tagging me!!

Tagging: @ripley95, @a-cosmic-elf, @starsandskies, @kittimau, @shifty-looking-sheep, @blarrghe, @lyrishadow, @theoriginalladya, @mallaidhsomo, @alphahelices, @crqstalite, and @squigglysquidd, with no obligations. Only if you want to do this. 

Rules: Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it. And then tag as many people as you have WIPs.

The Path We Take

The Path We Take sequel

The impossible choice sequel

Benefactor

Effi

Diabetic complications

2 exchanges (which I can’t talk about)

Control chip

The Archon wins

Anders didn’t destroy the Chantry

No rifts or Corypheus DAI fic

Hawke didn’t go to Kirkwall

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My entry for the MEBB - first time being involved and it was so much fun!

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Sideways Part 3

———————————–

Chapter 18:

Starfrost*

Fandom: Mass Effect Trilogy, post-war

Pairing: Femshep/Kaidan Alenko

Rating: Mature

Available:  AO3 (beginning, new chapter)

Summary:  

Shepard feels obsolete. She’s controlled by daily agendas and constricted by Kaidan’s morals. Then she wakes up in another timeline.

War-torn, brutal, and speeding toward destruction, it’s a timeline formed by her renegade decisions. Despised and friendless, even the man she loves calls her enemy. To get home, she’ll need to steal part of a dormant mass relay. Powerful enemies and dangerous secrets stand in her way, but the alternative is a fate worse than death.

“What if … What if it’s the last time I use my biotics?”  Avyn’s eyes welled again.

“It’ll be okay.”  Kaidan pressed a kiss to the top of her head and stood.  “What do you want to do?  You, your mom, and me?”

Shepard shifted uncertainly.  

“I don’t know,” Avyn whispered.  “Barrier maybe.  I don’t care.”

“That’s boring,” Kaidan said. "You can’t think of anything better than that?  Look around.  What could we do?”

Avyn raised her heavy-lidded eyes from studying the blanket on her lap. They glistened, following Kaidan.

He passed along the hospital room counter, looked under the sink, examined a chair against the wall.  A coffin-shaped cryopod sat on the floor in the corner of the room.

Kaidan peered through its glass window.  “Huh.”

“What?”  Avyn knotted the blanket in her hands, voice passive, but eyes sharp on his profile.  “That’s for cryostasis.  Why’re you looking at it?”

“We probably shouldn’t.  Could get in trouble.”  He stood back from it and continued strolling around the room.  “I guess we could lift a chair.”

Avyn’s eyes hadn’t left the cryopod.  “What do you mean we’d get in trouble?  Do what?”

“Let’s just put a barrier over this side table.”  Kaidan rubbed his chin and eyed it critically, even bending down to look underneath and making a humming sound.  “Yeah, this should work.  You wanted to do a barrier, right?”

Avyn flopped over onto her stomach on the edge of the bed.  Her face was level with Kaidan’s as he hunched, testing the table with a flash of biotics.  “What did you mean about the cryopod, Dad?”

“What?  Oh, that?  Probably not a good idea.”

“I know what you’re doing.   You’re pretending like we shouldn’t do it, but it’s something good.  What is it?”

Kaidan flashed Avyn a smile and stood up.  “I really like this table.”

Avyn rolled her eyes and twisted off the bed.  She clutched the back of her gown and padded over to the cryopod.  She turned on the console and punched the control keys.

She frowned.  “It’s locked.”

“Oh. Well, see.  They probably knew what we’d want to do with it.”  Kaidan folded his arms and leaned back against the wall.  “Your mom’s never hacked the lock on a hospital cryopod.  Neither have I.  Guess we’re stuck.  Come back and look at this table.”

A brightening edge gleamed in Avyn’s eyes.  She looked between Kaidan and Shepard with a slivered gaze, the hint of a grin.  Shepard smiled back weakly.

“I know you can hack it.”  Avyn turned on her tippy toes to Kaidan.  “I want to do this one.”

“You don’t even know what it is,” Kaidan said lazily and looked sideways out the window.  “Sun’s coming up.  We could go on a hike or have breakfast on the beach if you just choose the table.  It’s the easiest option.”

“Dad!”  She groaned and galloped across the room to him.  She tugged him away from the wall by his hand.

“Okay,” Kaidan said pensively.  “If we get in trouble, let’s blame your mom.”

“Hee.”  Avyn twisted to Shepard with a wide row of teeth, one missing on bottom.

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fed up of all these fake mass effect 1 fans acting like theyre too good for the mako all of a sudden

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They Knew the Score, They Knew It Was Goodbye

They Knew the Score, They Knew It Was Goodbye

The war is over, the Reapers are dead, and Kaidan is left in charge of cleaning up the mess. He doesn’t know if he is particularly suitable for the job but he’ll do it because he’s a good soldier and that’s what good soldiers do, no matter how much they miss their CO. ->LINK TO STORY<- ->LINK TO ART<-

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Mass Effect Big Bang 2021! Fools Gold!

I cannot tell you how excited I am to list this as LIVE!! My posting for the Mass Effect Big Bang 2021 is now up and ready to read!! With huge thanks to the amazing @ladyamesindy for being my artist! Announcing:

(Actual link: in case tumblr fails on me: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34135267 )

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to find a hero…

                another must be lost.

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Face to face with a 90 year old turtle

🎥: Nicholas Breaux

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Writing Tag Game

Tagged by @ljandersen - it’s been ages since I’ve done one of these. It was fun - Thanks!

Lots of people have already been tagged, so sorry if I double up, but I’ll tag: @ghostxofxartemis  @pigeontheoneandonly  @soldiermom1973 @dr-ladybird

How many works do you have on AO3?

Four

What’s your total AO3 word count?

25,340 - I’m a newbie

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Only have four, but they go in this order:

1. Kindling: 66

2. The Speeches: 54

3. Triquetra: 23

4. This is not a relatable moment: 21

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Yes! I love reading them - it makes me so excited when I get the notification. Equally as excited as when I get a reply on a comment I’ve left on another writer’s work. I’ve looked at elements of mine and others’ stories differently after conversations in the comments, and that’s one of the big things I enjoy about being part of the fanfic writing/reading community.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

‘Triquetra’ probably. I’m not super angsty in my writing (however, the long fic I’m working on at the moment is getting angsty-er by the day), but the ending of Triquetra is open to interpretation.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

My first fic, ‘The Speeches’, is a happy ever after F!Shenko wedding fluff-fest 😁

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

No, but I’ve read a few Mass Effect/Dragon Age Crossovers which were quite fun. I’m not sure I’m going to write any myself though.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

No - Everyone I’ve met in this small community, without exception, has been lovely, helpful, and encouraging.

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

No, I think I’d be terrified! I like to pretend I’m not a prude, but I think I probably am.

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I know of.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No.

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, but I’d definitely be interested in doing so. I think it could help with motivation and hitting targets as well.

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

FemShep/Kaidan Alenko - I just love them so much.

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I really really REALLY hope I one day finish this ME2 AU I’m working on. It’s the first time I’ve tried to write a long-fic, and I have hit a few stumbling blocks. I’m not going to start posting it until it’s completely finished, because I don’t trust myself, but whether I ever post it or not I’ve really enjoyed writing it so far.

What are your writing strengths?

Internal monologues I think. And maybe adding specific details to flesh out the setting?

What are your writing weaknesses?

I bore myself with my action scenes, so I really need to work on that.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

In the right context, I don’t see an issue with it. At least for short stretches. If two characters are having a longer conversation it just seems like it would be something you’re forcing the reader to skip over. 

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Mass Effect. First and only.

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

‘This is not a relatable moment’ - it plopped into my brain fully formed, and I think it’s the only fic I’ve ever been 100% happy to ‘put my name to’ as something I’m really happy with.

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Writing Tag Game

Tagged by @jicklet  Thank you for thinking of me!  This is a fun one.

Tagging:  @ripley95  @rpgwrites  @alphahelices  @shifty-looking-sheep  @laelior  @mallaidhsomo  @ariadnewordweaver  @illusivesoul  @mordinette  @aricazorel  @becauseanders  @a-cosmic-elf  @jedirangerpenguin  @crqstalite  @sundogsandrainbows  @miniature-space-hamster and anyone else who wants to play!  No pressure.  Also, let me know if you prefer I didn’t tag you in games.

How many works do you have on AO3?

Eight  (2 epics, 3 one-shots, 3 multichaper)

What’s your total AO3 word count?

790,059 posted words

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

1. About Mars (ME3 fShenko, 66k):  157

2. The Favorite (ME1 femShep/Garrus vs femShep/Wrex, 2.5k):  156

3. Sideways (12 years post-war fShenko original series, 379 k, currently posting):  155

4. The Limited Edition Spaceship (ME1 fShenko, 1k): 122

5. Burning Barriers (post-war fShenko original series, 300k):  99

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Of course!  My sole reason for posting fanfic is the interaction.  

Investing energy into a comment and hearing silence is discouraging.  It’s the same discouragement writers feel after investing energy into a story and hearing nothing.  

No one is owed a story, and no one is owed a comment.  But, I think without connecting with other fans through leaving comments and responding to comments, fanfiction wouldn’t exist.  The gift economy would crumble.

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

All my stories have happy endings.  The exceptions would probably be “About Horizon” and “About Mars,” because they’re leading into other stories.  

“About Horizon” leads into ME3, where Kaidan and Shepard are at odds (like the game).  “About Mars” ends with Shepard left on the exploding Crucible and the Normandy stranded on an unknown planet (like the game).

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

“Eighteen Years and Five Months.”  It’s my only pure-fluff fic.  It ends with Shepard finding family and home again.

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

No.  With rare exception, it’s not for me.

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

No.  I’ve received concrit, but it wasn’t said with hate or malice.

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

No.  I write love scenes, but they’re not graphic.  

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not that I’m aware.  That would be like ripping a writer’s heart from their chest.  I can’t imagine anything worse.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No.  I’ve had a few requests.  While flattered, I’m not interested.  I have reasons, but I won’t go into them here.  I now have a statement on my AO3 profile preemptively clarifying that I don’t want translations of my fics. 

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No.  It could be fun, but I’m not good about dividing myself between projects.

What’s your all-time favorite ship?

FemShep/Kaidan Alenko

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

I only post finished works.  I have some unfinished stories in notebooks.  There’s a ME1 one-shot where Shepard, Garrus, and Kaidan are trapped in the mako as it dangles on the side of a lava tube.  I like it, but there’s an important joke that only works when spoken aloud.  Spelled out on paper, a big part of the story falls flat.  I’ve never finished it for that reason.   

What are your writing strengths?

Banter and plotting.

What are your writing weaknesses?

Prose and action scenes.  Practice, practice, practice.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

Generally, I don’t like it. 

If the point of view character knows the language, I prefer it be translated for the reader with a “ … the character said in German.”  If the point of view characters doesn’t know the language, I prefer it simply be stated that a character spoke in German.  Body language and tone of voice can hint at what that person means.  

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Mass Effect

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

Sideways