#...though probably not for an N7 and especially not a Spectre

[husband-steve-cortez]

In me2 there's flavor text for the tech upgrades saying you're basically jail-breaking your omni-tool to have greater performance at the cost of longevity (omni-tools are supposed to last decades, and I think the text implies you're cutting that down by a lot)

And Ezra is doing any omni-tool modding himself with some input from Cerberus engineers but he's like crying and weeping the whole time because this is a savant omni-tool and the odds of him ever getting his hands on another one are astronomically low and this thing was supposed to outlive him by centuries and he'll be lucky if it has another 5 years in it but also it can load up fireballs so fast

...Okay they only last like a decade for "precision work" and it's the regular every day omni-tools that last 50 years.

...It also says it reduces omni-tool lifespan by a factor of 20...so you take an omni-tool that would last a decade or so and you're looking at half a year??? Is that how the math works. Ezra is bawling his eyes out. In fact he's not doing that to his beloved savant omni-tool he'll use another still expensive but less exclusive omni-tool to try this experimental power core on. (I'd say a savant omni-tool probably lasts a little longer but you're still probably looking at like, a few years at absolute maximum.)

Also forgot that your jailbroken omni-tool needs constant recalibrating and can be unusable to anyone but yourself. Neat.

Ezra is having so much begrudging fun fucking around with his omni-tool.

[tacticalhimbo]

5O QUESTIONS - COMMANDER EDEN SHEPARD

I saw this template done numerous times on the dash thanks to N7 Day, so I thought I'd answer these all for Eden! Put under a read more because of length and the nature of the materials discussed.

Happy N7 Day to everyone except Bioware <3

Why did Shepard enlist? Any regrets?

Eden enlisted mainly because the Alliance was all she knew. Both parents were enlisted and made life-long careers out of it, so she grew up immersed in military culture and had a passion for it. Naturally, though, there are some regrets and things she would have maybe tried to do differently (e.g., the Torfan incident), but she tries not to dwell on that since it's said and done with.

How does Shepard feel about having a yeoman assigned to them in 2? And in 3?

She's definitely surprised by the assignment, and tends to spend most of ME2's plot being a bit distant with Chambers. It's not out of any negative feelings toward Chambers herself, as the two do get closer toward the end of ME2/throughout ME3, but Eden is so used to running things herself and juggling the crew that she just doesn't know what to do.

What’s their relationship with Anderson?

Oh, Eden and Anderson are very close. She sees him as a role model, especially after learning about his candidacy with the spectres. There's banter in MW2 (sorry, been on a fixation with that JFLSJAFLJ) that honestly captures what I imagine their dynamic to be (with Anderson being Ghost and Eden being Soap):

Ghost – “Be careful who you trust, Sergeant. People you know can hurt you the most.” Soap – “Good advice, Lt. I wanna be like you when I grow up.” Ghost – “You wanna be better than me, Johnny.” Soap – “Maybe I already am…” Ghost – “Now’s your chance to prove it.” Soap – “Think I’ll live that long?” Ghost – “Probably not…”

Is Shepard any good at poker?

Nope, but she tries her best. She's much better at Blackjack.

How well does Shepard know their crew? Not just the companions, but the folks making up the Normandy?

Not well, honestly. Most of the crew outside of the companions are acquaintances at best and strangers at worst, though there's a few exceptions (e.g., Dr. Chakwas. Eden adores Karin with all of her heart). She's just… busy. Tired. Missions end up pulling her left and right, and when she does have the downtime she's either working out, organizing requisitions/resources, or doing the bare minimum in terms of self care.

In terms of the companions, she considers most of them good allies/friends. Even those she doesn't get along well with, she still finds herself talking shit with them at the end of the day.

Initial reaction to EDI? Does it change?

Initially, there was hesitation. It was hard for there not to be any, especially with Joker's thoughts on the matter. Unlike him, though, Eden tried to keep an open mind to the idea and actually came to really like EDI! Once EDI got a body, some of that hesitation came back, but after seeing how capable EDI was and seeing that she could trust them with her life, Eden made EDI one of her primary companions.

Does their love interest move into their quarters?

If there were one, Eden would be reluctant to the idea. Having a relationship in that environment is tough as it is, but to make it more blatant/public? She knows that it's dangerous. There's enough targets on her crew's back (and on her own, but she's less caring about that), she doesn't want to put people in harm's way through association, so she'd keep the relationship as under wraps as possible.

What is their reaction to the Alchera mission? And after?

A lot of feelings bubble up to the surface, and Eden gets very uneasy about the thought of revisiting the Normandy crash site. She puts it off for a hot minute, but eventually prepares to go. Doesn't really tell anybody what's going on, just says she has something from top brass that she needs to take care of.

After, though, she's unwell. Seeing everything and collecting all of the crew tags tore at her. She absolutely pulled back from interacting with her current crew for a little bit after that, and it didn't take much for the longer-term members of her crew to put two and two together.

What type of fighter is Shepard? Do they fight with honor, or do they fight dirty?

It really depends on the circumstances and timeline, but the short answer is she tries to fight with honor. She fought real dirty on Torfan, and spends a lot of 1 trying to make up for that. Then, of course, everything with Cerberus, The Illusive Man, the Council, etc. ultimately puts a sour taste in her mouth and she becomes more focused on making sure the right call is made, politics be damned.

Does Shepard keep any pets? The hamster, fish, something else?

Sadly, she doesn't! She's thought about filling the aquarium in her quarters a good few times, but with her being pulled in so many directions, she decides against it.

What order does Shepard pick up companions in me2?

Zaeed, Mordin, Garrus, Kasumi, Grunt, Jack, Samara, Thane, Tali, Legion.

Does Shepard have any nicknames? What do they think of them?

Not really, outside of Shep (re: her surname). She doesn't mind it.

How does your Shep react to teasing/ribbing?

It depends on who's doing the teasing/ribbing, but she generally tends to play along with it and lean into the energy. If it's a squad mate or crew member, she keeps the joke going. If it's someone like an enemy, she goes along and lets it escalate.

Any good at flirting?

Absolutely not, but she does try.

What colors does Shepard prefer for their armor?

Standard issue. She doesn't put too much thought into her appearance, so the traditional black/white/red for her armor works well enough for her.

Is Shepard a drinker? History of other substances? Do they struggle with sobriety?

No other substances, but Eden did develop a little something with alcohol during her time under investigation/placed in custody. Being stuck with nothing to do (aka: distract herself), and having all the pressure placed on her shoulders, gave her too much time to ruminate.

She drank pretty casually prior to that, though. Usually only upon invitation or when the team was on R&R. It never really became a coping mechanism until everything around her stopped.

How does Shepard react to attention? Do they enjoy it?

Oh, Eden hates being the center of attention. Which is very ironic considering her position, and how she'd got there. Dislikes having a bunch of eyes on her, but stormed into the Council's room damned be the consequences to raise noise about the Reapers.

She does well to bite back the awkwardness and hesitation, but it sets her on edge for a good few hours after the fact.

Who’s the dream team? Which companions does Shepard fight best with, and why?

In terms of both ability and chemistry, Kaidan and Garrus. Having two biotic foot soldiers backed by a sniper provides for really good adaptability in the field, allowing them to handle most situations. Plus, they all share a really good bond with one another, which makes communication a breeze.

If Eden knows she's doing more infiltration work, she'll switch out Kaidan for Tali and/or EDI, so they have a bit more options tech-wise.

Are there any companions Shepard just absolutely cannot vibe with or relate to?

Miranda, Mordin, and Zaeed. It's less incompatible ability than it is just the wrong energy.

The way Miranda handles Eden's doubts in Cerberus' intentions rubbed her the wrong way, and they often get into quarrels about it. That said, Eden's still thankful for Miranda's involvement in bringing her back, and does try to help out with her sister (but ultimately loses Miranda's loyalty when putting an end to the argument between the operative and Jack).

Mordin's kinda similar in that regard, though it's the blinded support for the genophage. Dismissing the impact of the event and the concerns of the krogan all-together rubs Eden the wrong way. Especially given Mordin's role in it.

And Zaeed… Oh him and Eden bump heads quite a bit. It usually starts with them casually shooting the shit, but his lack of regard for things and her stubborn nature tend to create a bad mix. Hell, when helping him with his loyalty mission, she almost did leave him under the rubble. But she knew it wouldn't make her feel better, and she needed all the help she could get in taking on the Collectors, so she helped him up and convinced him to tag along.

Does Shepard enjoy looking for resources and upgrading gear, or do they see it as a chore?

Oh she loves it. It's one of the few times she can actually take a step back and see the universe for what it is. I headcanon that in between side/loyalty missions, she takes her time in traveling between systems and exploring them (granted the context allows it).

Do you have any AUs for your Shepard?

Besides fandom crossovers, not really! Haven't given it much thought, honestly.

What’s the last thing Shepard ate before the final reaper showdown?

Honestly? It wasn't a lot.

I like to imagine the whole crew kind of sat down and had one last big, communal dinner with one another because nobody knew how that shit was going to go when they touched down on Earth. Probably made one last stop to the Citadel markets to pick up proper ingredients. Use whatever spare credits they had in their allowance to buy the freshest things to make a proper, quality meal. Eden was pretty distant as is given all the planning that needed to be done, but she felt too nauseous to eat. It was only after sharing some drinks with Dr. Chakwas that Eden picked at some leftovers the doctor had snuck away (for the sole purpose of buttering Eden up; she knows her commander very well).

Who does Shepard turn to for advice? For comfort? Who do they like to gossip with?

Liara, Garrus, and Dr. Chakwas.

Even if Liara doesn't see a lot of field time alongside Eden, the two grew pretty close (to the point where Liara did begin to flirt with Eden, who respectfully shot it down both because of their work dynamic and Eden being straight). But that didn't damper their relationship one bit.

Garrus and Dr. Chakwas are pretty self-explanatory. Garrus for their work compatibility and their whole dynamic outside of missions. Dr. Chakwas because she's always been by Eden's side, and had her best interests in heart.

How emotionally articulate is Shepard? Do they emote well?

Trying to talk to Eden about her emotions is like talking to a brick wall. She's not very good at allowing herself to open up with what she actually wants to say. She knows what she wants to say. She knows how to describe what she's feeling, and she would be considered fairly emotionally articulate if she opened up. But she's stubborn, so she won't.

But she's not impossible to read by any means. She's pretty open with her expressions (and it's gotten her into trouble quite a few times. Scowls, frowns, eye rolling, and smug smirks galore).

Does Shepard have a canon romance? Who are they, and what drew Shep to them?

No canon romances here! She gets close to people, but she doesn't really see the benefit to getting romantically involved with someone within the crew. Fraternizing, to her, just feels… off. Not wrong, but just something she'd prefer not doing as it'd disrupt whatever dynamic is already going on. Plus, there is some anxiety given her stealth status, and she feels like there's already too many worms on the platter to go ahead and just open another can.

Do they have any pet peeves?

Oh yeah, Eden is very much a "no bullshit" type of person. She doesn't tolerate a lot of things and will absolutely call them out. A big one for her, though, is passiveness. Crossing boundaries, non-apologies, people saying "no offense" to lessen the brunt of criticisms, etc. Just be upfront and honest.

What about hyperfixations? What’s the topic that will get Shepard rolling, no matter the person or place?

None that I can think of! Eden's not much of a conversationalist, but she's more than happy to give her opinion on things if the time is there.

How active is Shepard? Are they hitting the gym, playing sports, or do they prefer quieter downtime?

Eden is very active, and it's one of the ways that she keeps herself occupied and focused when there's downtime between missions. Very much a gym rat, and it's not uncommon to find her in the cargo bay shooting the shit with James while they work out.

What will always make them laugh?

Eden loves when people shoot the shit and "argue" with each other. Throwing a few friendly insults amongst crew members, teasing companions about an embarrassing situation (long as they find it funny, too), and so on. She tends to show a tougher love to her close allies.

Who can always make them laugh?

Garrus. His witty remarks and his comments on things are something that will always make her laugh. He's a bad influence (joking, ofc, but he has definitely influenced her own sarcasm, especially during the events of ME2 and ME3).

What do they do when they have hit their limit angry? When they're just incandescent with rage?

She lets loose, which isn't always a great mechanism considering it's led to some… confrontations. She'll yell. She'll scream. It's entirely possible she'll get physical, whether that's getting into someone's space or outright throwing hands (RIP Khalisah al-Jilani, who absolutely got her shit rocked).

What skills do they have that are a surprise to the people around them?

Not many people would think someone as "hard" as Eden would enjoy tailoring/sewing, but it's a practical skill that she enjoys indulging in. She's always patching up her own clothing, and has offered the same to crewmates when she has the spare time.

Got any tattoos?

Nope!

Which companions have they lost? How do they cope with it?

Ashley and Miranda were the only two companions Eden lost, excluding the SSV Normandy Crew. She didn't cope well with either loss, even with any lingering tensions they had.

With Ashley's death on Virmire, Eden compartmentalized it and focused more on offering a shoulder for the rest of the team (especially Kaidan, as he naturally developed quite the survivor's guilt after the Virmire Incident). She did talk it out a bit, but kinda wrote it off as something that happened and that they all could mourn after the fact.

She did something similar with Miranda, but in the time between 2 and 3 (esp. when she was marooned on Earth and awaiting trial), she used the alone time to really reflect on things. She couldn't exactly talk it out with anybody, especially in Alliance custody, so she ruminated on everything (re: both deaths, her choices, etc.).

Do they like to style their hair, wear makeup and jewelry? How do they feel about getting dressed up?

The most Eden does is makeup, which the boldest part of that is her dark and smokey eyeshadow. I headcanon that she picked the eye style out while in N7 training, after seeing what she'd looked like when darkening her eyes for tactical purposes (re: face paint to help blend the mask for low light cover). She just kinda went, "You know what? I wanna adapt this into my everyday style", and thus the iconic smokey eye was born.

As for her feelings getting dressed up, it's a mixed bag. Dysphoria is a bitch, and she often feels that because of her physique, she comes off as "just a man in a dress" (which isn't true in the slightest, but dysphoria is anything but rational). On the other hand, she does like turning heads every now and again, and wearing that sleek black dress, or her formal blues, boosts her general confidence.

Got any bad habits?

The more accurate question is what bad habits doesn't Eden have. Lots of unhealthy coping (overworking, avoiding meals, drinking, risk taking as self harm, etc) packed into this commander!

Does Shepard do any activities with the companions and crew during downtime?

Oh yeah. Not so much during ME2 (solely because of her unease with the whole Cerberus thing), but during the other timelines? Absolutely.

The most notable example, naturally, is the pull-up contest/sparring session with James. They do that pretty often. They might not be super close, but they're absolutely that gym bro duo. Constantly chatting shit about each other while throwing hands in the loading bay, but it's all meant with love <3

Do they keep around any sentimental items?

Accidentally answered this more in the next question, but aside from those things… She keeps a few things from her parents/home on Earth. Photos of her with her parents, mostly.

Does Shepard actually like to collect model ships? If not, what do they display?

Eden doesn't collect them, but she has been gifted one. The model of the original Normandy sits proudly on her shelf, and she surrounds it with other small little things. A few fake plants, some books she's bought to read (whether or not she has gotten to them… well… it is what it is).

It's kind of sad, but she doesn't decorate much. It's mostly stuff she's received from others (e.g., if someone couldn't pay her for her help, and they've given her an heirloom, she keeps it and respects it).

How is Shepard with a gun? What about hand to hand?

Eden is scary with a gun. Expanding on that below.

As for hand to hand, she's capable (especially if she fights dirty and tunes into her biotic abilities). Even without them, though, she can hold her own against someone considerably larger.

Favorite weapon?

Assault rifles. I don't recall the specific models and all, but Eden likes how easy they are to modify and how versatile they are. Long range? No problem, can even change out the scope to get something with more zoom. Mid range? That's their speciality. Close range? Good stopping power and the perfect size for a blunt force attack.

Which version of the Normandy do they like best?

The SR-2. Having expanded command centers really sold her, but the layout just feels more streamlined to her. It's easier to find everything across the different levels, the crew has a larger quarter to themselves, everyone can get their own space and not worry too much about bumping into each other… It's just nice.

Do they approve of curing the genophage?

Absolutely. Eden was 50/50 at first (thanks propaganda!), but after everything she did with Wrex and Grunt (and for Tchanka), she knew that curing it was the right thing to do.

Does Shepard allow the rachni to live in me1?

She does, and for similar reasons to the last answer. She was kinda iffy about it, but talking with the Rachni Queen about it made her realize that it was just the better option than leaving her imprisoned and alone, or outright executing her.

Does Shepard practice any kind of self-care?

Not often, but when things get particularly hectic, she does try to unwind in a healthier way. It rarely works, but the few extra moments spent in bed, and her steadfast daily routine (same wakeup hours, same retire hours, consistent exercise, etc) do help… sort of.

What abilities do they rely on the most in a fight?

Despite being a vanguard, and having the skill set to use heavy-hitting biotic attacks, Eden tends to lean more into her weaponry/advanced combat abilities.

What is Shepard’s happy ending? What’s the dream that keeps them going?

Eden's ideal ending would be pretty close to what she actually achieved. Granted, she believes it would be nice if she could destroy the Reapers and survive the ordeal, but honestly? By the time that confrontation happens, she's motivated by the fact that she'll simply be saving lives. Countless lives.

Is your Shepard indoctrinated?

No, not in her primary verse. The closest she comes to the concept is when the Illusive Man takes hold of her in the Citadel and forces her to shoot Anderson. Leading up to that moment, and throughout the whole war with the Reapers, Eden knew she wouldn't have wanted to back down on the issue. But that moment in particular was what sold her more than anything: She would rather lay down her life to avenge Anderson and all those who have been lost, than to rely on something that (to her) sounds like a fringe theory.

(+1: what does Shepard smell like?)

Gunpowder lingers to every inch of her and her clothing. A subtle hint of something cosmic, airy; the biotic energy flowing through her. In the morning, conservative spritzes of an unlabeled bottle (an artifact from Earth, gifted to her by her mother every year on her birthday). The misted droplets are rich with warmth and spice. Australian sandalwood, cedar wood, cardamom, iris, violet, smoky alloy, ambrox, leather accord… An intoxicating, rustic perfume.

[shizuu-chann]

Was anyone else surprised by the Ashley/Kaidan becoming a Spectre thing when you played through ME3 for the first time? I'm not here to discuss whether or not they deserve it; they're both fine soldiers and are very skilled. I'm just saying it feels more convenient than anything else.

The way I've always understood the Spectres is that, throughout the first two games, agents were chosen from specific branches of Council species' militaries. Considering I'm almost 100% certain salarian Spectre agents are only chosen from STG, for example, and the fact that Spectres work alone or in groups of max. three, agents would be chosen from the special forces branch (or equivalent) of each species. That may be incorrect, but at the very least it makes sense in my mind and I prefer it this way because it does play into the whole "best of the best" idea that the Spectres are supposed to be. (And it's the way it works in any fics I write, though I do still keep the aspect of Ashley/Kaidan being one, there's just different context.)

Shepard being chosen makes sense, especially if they have the War Hero service history (like my Shep). In that case, they've literally already proven they can work in high-stress, high-stakes situations, alone with no backup, and be successful. On top of that, they have the highest level of special forces training the Alliance offers, and the most likely timeline for Shepard earning the N7 designation is after whatever their service history event is (as in, they were invited to the ICT Academy after proving themselves to be self-reliant, resilient, skilled, and capable of getting shit done).

Neither Ashley nor Kaidan are N7, or Special Forces at all, so it always surprised me that they were asked. I'm sure part of the reason they were asked is political maneuvering by Udina, but I'm also not sure to what end. Is he aware the the Virmire survivor has trust issues with Shepard after working with/using Cerberus in ME2, thus anticipates being able to manipulate them into doing his bidding and culminating in the coup attempt? I can't decide if I like that they were asked and inducted, partially because I like that Shepard is special because sometimes it's just that simple, but ultimately I think it's fun that your longtime friend also gets that special privilege. So, I guess I just contradicted myself, but whatever.

Regardless, the whole thing feels very calculated if we're going to be suspicious of in-game reasoning, and suspiciously plot convenient (and not in a good way) if we're going to blame the decision on questionable writing.

TL;DR I think Spectres should be chosen from the special forces of the Council species, bc that makes the most in-game sense in terms of skill sets and training. Ashley/Kaidan being chosen feels more like a political move of some kind by Udina, like maybe he hopes the VS will completely distrust Shepard and he'll get away with the coup attempt. (Yes, I realize that's probably exactly the point, bc if you don't talk with the VS while they're hospitalized and/or are aggressive and not understanding of their feelings when you're reunited on the same team again--feelings that already don't make sense, imo, like Joker/Garrus/Tali/Liara/Dr. Chakwas all trusted Shepard and knew they teamed up with the enemy for the greater good--they won't trust you when you corner the Council and you or a member of your squad have to kill them.) I suppose you could also blame it all on changes in the writing and development team, but shrug.

[captainderyn]

Fictober Day 15: “I like that about you” [I Was Lost Without You]

Category: Fanfiction

Fandom: Mass Effect

Pairings: Platonic (for now) Garrus/Femshep

Rating: Teen and up

CW: None

AO3 LINK

—

Garrus didn’t know what to do with Commander Shepard.

Yes, he stood on her ship, spending most of his free time fiddling with the Mako just to have something to do with his hands. Avoiding the suspicious and mildly hostile gazes of the humans both across the way and circling from engineering to the main deck.

Being a turian just like Saren, the crazy half cybernetic lunatic who was definitely up to no good, would do that.

But Shepard, she didn’t give him that hostile look. He didn’t know what to make of her yet, with the N7 armor and military bearing but open, laughing eyes and a bright smile. She offered him a place on her ship freely, let him come with her without a second thought.

Either she was playing some long manipulation game he couldn’t see, or she was extremely trusting. After watching her on the Citadel, giving all but the armor off her back from the denizens of the metropolis no matter their status or intentions, his gut told him she was just the latter.

Though it felt strange and invasive now that he was on her crew, when he was still with C-Sec, Garrus had searched her file when she’d come through through for Spectre authorization.

Spacer—expected, given both her parents were also Alliance Navy.

Prior enlisted and amazingly young to have reached the rank of Commander at only twenty-nine. The Officer Training School of the Alliance Navy must have fast tracked her after her enlistment. Or she somehow balanced enlisting, an education, and ambition all before she’d hit twenty-one.

Not to mention the Skyllian Blitz. If he’d known he’d be working with her, if he’d made the decision to basically beg her to let him work with her to stop Saren and do something sooner, then he wouldn’t have watched the classified drone footage.

The images of her, Lieutenant Shepard at the time, fighting for her life against the hoarde of Batarians felt too personal for him to have.

“Thinking hard over there, Vakarian?” He startled, whacking his head on the Mako with a loud curse. Scooting out from the parts he’d been fiddling with her faced Commander Shepard herself, leaning against the multi-terrain vehicle.

In typical fashion, she wore her OCPs on board the Normandy. She was debloused at the moment, the dark navy, thick t-shirt tucked into pants patterned with camo in varying shades of blue and grey. Her hair was neatly tucked into a pony tail at the base of her neck, falling down between her shoulders.

Shepard tilted her head, surveying the damage her unexpected arrival wrought. With a wince she said, “Sorry for startling you. Your head okay?”

Garrus stood, rubbing his head with a nod. The spot stung where he’d smacked it, but he’d survived worse, “I’m fine Commander. What brings you down here?”

Especially after their last conversation. Garrus had misjudged when talking about what they should do to Saren and put his foot in his mouth. Probably all the way down his throat, if he were being honest. If she was his commander in the turian military he’d have earned an ass whopping.

At most, Shepard had snapped at him that they couldn’t take shortcuts with Saren. Among other things. Her eyes had sharpened and her jaw had tightened but…that was it.

It wasn’t the first time, of course, that they’d come to disagreements about how to handle situations. Like he’d seen, she’d give the shirt off her back for anyone. He didn’t have the same blind generosity.

“I keep thinking about our last conversation.” Shepard shifted, first cocking her hip against the Mako, then crossing her feet, then standing at something similar to a parade rest. Finally she settled on her arms crossed over her chest. Was she worried? Uncomfortable, even?”

She cleared her throat, “I shouldn’t have snapped at you, Garrus. I say I never want to put down my crew’s thoughts but I dropped the ball on that one. I’m sorry.”

Garrus blinking, studying her a little closer. No, her face was completely open, her words genuine and not barbed. Was she really…apologizing? His leadership?

“You’re fine, Commander.” he said and he thought he saw part of her wince, “Shepard?” maybe that’s how she preferred to be addressed, damn it all he was still trying to sort out the human military standards and the standards that Shepard broke.

Shepard gave a slight nod, “I want you to speak your mind, Garrus. You’re not afraid to tell me how it is and I like that about you.”

A curveball indeed, Garrus looked at her quizzically, “Pardon?”

“I like that you tell me things straight. No ‘yes ma’am’ with every idea I have.” she gave a light laugh, “Some of my ideas are shit.”

Garrus gave an amused snort, “I don’t want to step out of line here.”

At that Shepard’s posture eased entirely and just like that she was just a person again, not a commander. She smacked him on the shoulder, “No such thing.” she clarified and grinned up at him, “If you’re open to it, I think we’ll get along right well. Dare I say, become friends.”

[ramblinganthropologist]

MER Week 5 - We are Family

Summary: Visiting family can be tough sometimes, especially when your job involves being the only fucking hope for humanity. Alistair’s never sure what to tell his sister when he sees her, but at least he’s got Bo to remind him he’s an idiot when he gets back. Don’t you just love family?

(ME 2 setting)

---

“So… uh… how are things going?”

Ah, the question he had been dreading for the last hour had finally shown itself. Maybe this was a bad idea after all. Worst of all, his exit was cut off. No way out but through it…

Fuck.

Normally, Alistair Shepard didn’t mind going to see his sister Anora. After all, they had a lot of catching up to do what with 11 years of separation and all between them. However, they usually had his niece as a buffer. Kelly was great for that sort of thing, especially if she wanted to hear parent-approved stories. Unfortunately, her father had custody that weekend. So, it was just the two of them, sitting on the couch and making awkward small talk.

Did he mention it was awkward? Because it was so fucking awkward. Fuck, maybe he should’ve taken a preventative anxiety dose…

The Spectre took a tentative sip of his tea just to have something to do – gross. His sister liked this variety of tea bag that he just couldn’t stand, but she was trying. That was enough to make a good try of things as she watched him over her own cup. What she was thinking, he had no clue.

It was hard to read his sister. Maybe it was because he was so used to military types?

“I mean… it’s going?” He put the cup down. “We were on Illium before we got back to the Citadel.”

Yeah, he had been hunting down an assassin and a justiciar to add to his crew in order to survive killing a shit ton of Collectors. Thane was great – he lived in Life Support so he didn’t die before the Collectors killed them. He hadn’t even mentioned Samara and her centuries of baggage, that was the best part. Reflecting on that, he knew it wasn’t exactly something you told your older sister over really shitty tea. So, he kept mum on the details.

Most of his stories wound up like that. Was that bad?

“Illium… well, at least you’d be easy to spot among the asari with your hair and all.” Anora took a cautious sip. “Did you… need armor for that one?”

Need armor – that was their codeword they’d come up when he hadn’t been sure what to call what he did. Anora had a weak stomach, and he didn’t exactly want to drag up the gory details of his job. Though, was it technically a job at that point? They had literally brought him back from the dead for it – that was nearly a calling. More than that, he wasn’t really getting paid. Cerberus was in a weird gray area…

Either way, it was a useful code.

“Yeah. It got heated at points, but nobody died.” Well… nobody on his side anyway. There were plenty of dead mercs thanks to both his crew and his own two hands. This was something else he wouldn’t tell Anora, mostly to keep her mind at ease. Apparently, hearing your younger brother was really good at killing people tended to put people off.

Civilians, couldn’t live with them…  kind of turned into a war crime if you accidentally shot them.

“Oh… that’s good. I know it…” she paused, frowning. “I know you’ve had it rough lately.  I saw you on the news with your friend Garrus and it looked like half of his face was missing.”

Alistair took another sip of his nasty tea to give him time to think of how to best phrase his possible boyfriend taking a rocket to the fucking face after a goddamn siege. It wasn’t exactly polite dinner conversation as he made the mental edits.

“Yeah… kind of. The implants are healing, though. At least the mandible is still attached and all.”

Judging by the look his sister gave, that probably wasn’t the right answer.

“Omega is not a fun place.” Was his only justification as he took another sip. “I definitely don’t recommend the Terminus system for Kelly’s spring break.”

Another wince – he was just knocking it out of the park with today’s visit. Maybe he should just close his stupid mouth and drink his tea before he gave her a coronary…

Anora at least didn’t drop her cup. Concern was written all over her face though as she rolled it between her palms. There were probably a thousand thoughts running through her mind, and he just had to wait on the final decision. Lucky for him, he was good at waiting.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” A judicious answer. She sipped from her mug, face unreadable. “So… where are you going next?”

To hell in a fucking hand basket, or a least close enough when they managed to get through Omega-4. However, it wasn’t exactly something you shared over tea, especially with your older sister.

When he glanced away, Anora sighed. “Right… top secret Spectre business, then?”

“Something like that.” He frowned. What little good feeling between them was starting to wear down. Soon there would be nothing left but awkward questions and long pauses full of questions neither of them could answer. No doubt it would be time for him to go soon.

Lucky for him, his omni-tool started to beep. Someone was trying to communicate with him. Without thinking, he hit the button and his sister’s living room was soon filled with the sound of the Normandy’s cockpit. If he strained, he could hear EDI softly beeping in the background.

“Commander, you there? Sorry to break up the family visit, but we’re getting a message from Admiral Hackett. I think you’re going to want to hear this.”

Alistair could already feel his forehead throbbing at the thought. “I swear, he just bothered us…”

“Yeah, tried to mute him but you know how he does that thing to get it through anyway.” Joker was priming the Normandy for takeoff in the background. “You should probably get back to the Normandy in case we need to head out.”

Sweet relief.

“Yeah, I’ll be there in twenty. Knowing the admiral, we’re going to be in the ass end of nowhere, so start checking the relays.” He paused, sighing. “Thanks, Joker. See you soon.”

The call ended not long after. He finished his tea in one long swallow. Anora was watching him, impossible to read. She had long since abandoned her tea – it was growing cool on the table. Talk about a bad sign.

“Admiral Hackett contacts you directly?”

Alistair sighed a ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I’m kind of his go-to for confidential stuff he doesn’t want to do. Call it first human Spectre privilege I guess.”

Anora didn’t exactly look impressed. “I’m guessing armor is going to be needed then.”

“Probably.” He sighed again. “I should go. They can’t exactly leave the Citadel without a CO on deck, can they?”

His cup clinked softly as he placed it back down on the table and stood. Anora stood as well and walked him to the front door. There they hovered, neither really saying anything, eyes not really meeting.

It always ended like that. It was why he preferred Kelly there to help soften things between them.

Her hand reached out – maybe to squeeze his shoulder – but it didn’t make contact. Instead, it fell back to her side, limp. It was hard to read the emotion in her face then, but then again it always was. When it came down to it, Anora was a bit of a brick wall he wound up hitting his head against.

“Well… be safe. I’ll see you when you’re back on the Citadel?”

He nodded, already planning his route back to the ship. “Yeah. Thanks for the tea. Tell Kelly I said hi.”

She nodded, and that was it. No hug goodbye, nothing more than an awkward wave as he walked down the path. Then the door shut, and it was back to work. Maybe he felt bad about the relief that he felt as he turned to leave, like a weight had just been lifted off his shoulders. The more he walked, the easier it was to forget.

He had to anyway – he had work to do.

“Wonder what the fuck Hackett wants this time…” Alistair grumbled to himself as he aimed for the port that would get him back to the docking bay he had left earlier that day. By the time he got there, the Normandy would be ready to leave. Within the hour, he’d be shooting towards the relay. Then – who knew. With Hackett, anything was possible.

“Seriously? He wants something AGAIN? Didn’t we risk our collective asses for him last week?”

Probably because he’d be lost in his thoughts, but Alistair realized he was standing in shadow. He glanced up, unsurprised to find red eyes and a bored expression. Without much thought, he shifted his pace. He needed to – otherwise he couldn’t keep up.

Bo had a bag of snacks in her arms that jingled as she walked. From the looks of things, Joker had paged her during a grocery run. Hopefully she had managed to get the citric acid he had asked for – he was starting to run low, and without it he’d just be eating sugar. That was a line even he wouldn’t cross.

It wasn’t a big line, but every man needed one.

“Yeah, I have no idea what. Joker couldn’t tell me; I was still with Anora.”

His adopted sister winced. “So, which one would you rather have faced: her or first contact?”

“I’d say I’d rather see a turian’s face pointing a gun at me.” He winced at his own bluntness. “Sorry… have to watch my tongue around her. You know she worries.”

Bo rolled her eyes at this as she handed him a smaller bag to carry. From the looks of things, there was a massive container of citric acid inside, buried next to a candy bar he was definitely going to destroy within a few hours of achieving FTL flight. It was nice to have someone who thought of him.

“You’re a fucking N7 level marine, I think she can figure out you’re winding up in some pretty fucked up shit.”

That was another wince on his part. “Yeah, but… I don’t exactly have to tell her how I stood in the line of sight for Garrus’ rifle, now do I?”

His answer got him quite the shove forward – it was a miracle he didn’t hit the ground face first as Bo continued on ahead, bag still jingling. “I’m pretty sure she knows you’re a dumbass with a martyr complex, don’t worry.”

Ah, someone was still sore about that. Well, excuse him for using his head…

Still, attempted face plant aside, Alistair had to admit he felt a lot more at ease as he and Bo continued their walk back towards the Normandy and their continuing fight against Admiral Hackett’s to-do list. Maybe he should have felt bad about that, but he had enough actual bad things to worry about. Something like this, he’d be happy to let slide for the moment. It could get him later, when he was in bed and couldn’t sleep.

“Gee, thanks. Love you too.”

Bo flipped him the bird as he caught up to her. “Can’t help I have a dumbass for a commanding officer brother, now can I?”

“He didn’t shoot…”

“You still got in the fucking way of a sniper rifle, you moron. The ghost of Alec Ryder is going to chew your ass out when you go to bed tonight, and I’m pretty sure that bastard’s still alive.”

The last thing he wanted was Alec Ryder, corporal or otherwise, near his ass. No thanks. That was enough to give him a lifetime of nightmares…

His adopted sister nudged him again as they got closer. “Next time just… don’t be a fucking hero. I don’t even know why I’m saying it, I know you will, and it’ll piss me off and then we start all over again.”

Despite the lecture, he chuckled. “I’ll do my best.”

“No, you won’t. You’re a fucking boy scout and it’s the worst.”

At least they had at last reached the Normandy. The yellow still needed painting over, but it was a sight for sore eyes nonetheless. Alistair was happy to hop aboard as decontamination hissed around him. It was humming to life beneath his feet, almost as if it was welcoming him back.

He loved this part.

“Commander Shepard and Commander Shepard have returned. Agent Miranda stands relieved.”

EDI’s robotic voice echoed as they stepped out of decontamination. Off to the side, Joker swiveled around in his chair to greet them. His grin only got wider as he spotted the bag hanging from Bo’s arm, almost reminding Alistair of a kid in a candy store.

“Did you get it?”

Bo snorted as he pulled out a smaller bag and handed it over. “You’re worse than Saren when it comes to snacks.”

“Hey, leave my hamster out of it. Saren is a gentleman.” Alistair still chuckled as he looked out at the Citadel dock from the Normandy’s front window. Soon, it would all be the blackness of space rushing out to meet them.

“Well, can’t be too bad if I’m getting compared to that.” Joker swiveled back around, already starting the procedure for takeoff. “Hackett’s message is ready when you are, Commander.”

Right… ugh. Just thinking about it gave Alistair a headache as he watched Bo head off to distribute her snacks. Still, it was a headache he could tolerate as he felt his mind shifting back to mission mode. At least here, he was in his element.

“Go ahead and play it. Might as well find out what ass end of nowhere we’re heading to…”

And just like that, it was business as usual. Admiral Hackett needed help, and the Normandy was the only ship he could get to do it. Soon, Alistair would be back in armor and ready to face whatever hell awaited them.

In a weird way, it was good to be home. But how fucked up is it that home was a fucking bootleg Alliance frigate hotwired by Cerberus?

[talizorra]

OC Introduction: Annalise Shepard

I was tagged by @rosenkow , thank you so much! i’m in a big mass effect mood so it’s only natural i speak about my girl, she’s my everything atm 

I’ll tag: @minthara @reyesvidals @reaperkiller @snowthroat​ and whoever else wants to yell about their OC’s 

Screenshot taken in the Citadel DLC apartment with a few mods

Fandom: Mass Effect

Role: Alliance Solider (Lieutenant Commander), Spectre, full-time Garrus girlfriend

Full Name: Annalise Shepard 

Nicknames: Anna, Lizzie 

Pronouns: She/Her

Occupation: Alliance Solider, Spectre 

Birthday: April 11, 2154

Age: ME1 - 29 ; ME2 - 31 ; ME3 - 31/32

Physical Description: She is 5′7″ (175cm). She’s got long black hair and black eyes. Despite being a solider she likes wearing her hair longer, sometimes tying it up in a ponytail if it gets in the way. She has a small scar on her face under her left eye, a reminder of what happened on Akuze and what could have happened to her. 

Clothing Style: When off-duty, Annalise likes dressing up to the point where she might go above and beyond for just casual outings. She likes putting the armours away when she’s not on active duty as it helps her separate the solider from the woman (or so she likes to think. Commander Shepard is still Commander Shepard even when she’s not on the battlefield). Her preferred style is probably smart-casual, though she won’t shy away from some comofortable clothing when she’s feeling particularly tired. 

Background: Annalise grew up on various ships as her parents were both in the Alliance. She had a good relationship with her parents, but being an only child of military parents always moving from one place to another, she grew up being quite lonely. She had a few friends from different schools, but they would eventually drift away from one another. When she turned 18 she enlisted into the military, which made her parents proud, especially her mother Hannah who couldn’t stop praising her left and right. At the same time, she craved that camaraderie spirit between soliders and she dreamed of having her own crew that she could trust with her own life, and vice-versa. 

Combat and Skills

Special Skills: Annalise followed the N7 program, making her the best of the best. She’s also a biotic and she won’t shy away from slapping people with singularities lmao 

Favourite weapon(s): Assault Rifle and Shotguns 

Relationships

Family: She keeps in regular contact with her mother

Love Interest: Garrus Vakarian

Best Friends: Tali, Liara, Wrex, Mordin, Miranda

Personality

Positive traits: A natural-born leader, she is understanding, charismatic, always willing to listen and help others. She can be quite optimistic, mostly hoping for the best outcome. She’s extremely loyal to those close to her and would do anything for them. She is outgoing and not afraid to say what’s on her mind. 

Negative traits: she cares so much about those around her that she worries about them constantly. She wants to be everyone’s support pillar, she often forgets to take care of herself. She never really speaks about her feelings or her emotions unless something is really bothering her. She has a tendency to bottle things up, and when things get too much to handle, she lashes out at anyone. Most of the time she needs other people to remind her that her feelings matter too and she doesn’t need to always put other above her. 

Likes: reading, painting, the silent of outer space, the ocean, going to the beach, cold showers, chocolate, coffee, target practice with Garrus, dressing up, going to fancy restaurants, hanging out with her crew, shopping, taking pictures

Dislikes: snow, wasting time, being idle, liars, anyone hurting her friends, empty promises, being vulnerable, rachni 

Fears: dying alone, leaving Garrus alone, losing the trust of her friends, being too vulnerable, feeling worthless, having a meaningless existence, losing track of her goals 

Guilty Pleasures: chocolate cheesecake, calling Garrus her ‘turian bad boy’, teasing Garrus with human jokes

Hobbies: reading, taking pictures, painting, target practice

[pathcrier]

But what if you answered all the questions from that Shepard ask game 👉👈

Marion.....your mind.... astounding

Sol System - What is your Shepard’s class, background, military history?

Dahlia is an Adept, Spacer, and War Hero!!!

Earth - Where was your Shepard born?

She was born in Melbourne, Australia, when her mom was on shoreleave. Its where her mom was born and raised! But shortly after, they were back on warships and bound for space! Dahlia doesn't remember anything about Earth, honestly feels no true ties to Earth. She'll always be a spacer through and through.

Milky Way - What is your Shepard’s full name? Do they have a nickname?

Her full name is Dahlia Eliana Shepard. Her closest friends call her Dee, and her mom and half sisters have called her Didi 

Constellation - Does your Shepard have a family? Are they alive?

Her mom is alive and kicking, still in command of the SSV Kilimanjaro! Her two half sisters are alive as well! Though Blake had ran off to Andromeda before the Reapers hit. But Logan is still in the fray, fighting under her half sister, the illustratious Commander Shepard. Her father, well, he was a dead beat who tried claiming credit for all of Dahlia's accomplishments, and Hannah refused to have him around after he abandoned them. Last she knew, he was on Horizon after being forced to retire after an injury, and later found out he was abducted and killed by collectors. To which she feels no remorse over.

Nebula - Who is your Shepard’s best friend?

Wrex, Kaidan, and James are her best friends! She's actually known Kaidan since Alliance training days! Aside from them, her two half sisters, Blake and Logan know her even better than Wrex, Kaidan, and James.

Stars - Who is your Shepard’s LI?

Dahlia is, and will always be head over heels for Liara uwu

Moon - Did your Shepard have any dreams as a child? (dream job, plans for future etc)

Funny enough, Dahlia is actually living her dream. She used to go around telling everyone - when she was a little kid when- that one day she's going to command her own warship and be unstoppable

Sun -  Was there a person in your Shepard’s life that changed their view on life/the world?

Aside from her mother, of course. Who she got her love of space travel from. David Anderson is the one who taught her so, so much on life, and helped her shape her views on everything. He's the one who taught her that just because you lose one battle, doesn't mean it's the time to give up, to always keep fighting forward. Along with him, Javik is an obvious one. Teaching her that so long as there's even a single human left, the fight's not over.

Dark nebula - Is there something they’d change about their past?

Weirdly, no. She has absolutely no regrets. Every choice she made, every hard decision she had to take, she doesn't regret a single thing. 

Dwarf star - When was your Shepard’s first kiss?

She was maybe 15, it was one of the times she was on the Citadel while her mom was on shore leave. She had gotten very close to a young turian girl, Livia. Though it was done as a dare on Livia's part, neither regret it, and they're actually still friends to this day!

Dark energy - Are they a biotic? If yes, how old were they when their powers started to show?

Yes, she's got pretty potent powers, even before Miranda rebuilt her. They actually manifested when she was about 11 when she was trying to stick up for a salarian kid. She actually sent this krogan kid flying into the side of the wall, leaving a ridiculously large dent. Eventually she received informal training from an asari commando, who was her mother's best friend!

Ion - Does your Shepard have any tech skills? (engineering, hacking etc)

Dahlia is actually fairly decent at hacking, though she learned it from her friend Connor, it's not really her cup of tea

Meteor -  Does your Shepard have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?

Quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits? No, not really. Her most defining characteristic though is her temper and recklessness in a fight, which earned her the reputation of being a krogan stuck in a 5'0 humans body.

Stardust -  What kind of clothes do they usually wear off-duty? (sporty, elegant or specific clothes like sweatpants, jeans etc)  

Dahlia fuckin' lives for athletic wear. It's a rare occasion to see her not walking around in a sports bra and leggings / or sweats.

Comet - What is your Shepard’s sexuality?

Big ole lesbian.💖

Supernova - When did your Shepard decide to join the Alliance? Was there a breaking point in their life that made them want to become a soldier?

Her mom was her hero, as she had Dahlia when she was 18. She grew up around the Alliance all her life and found them to be so cool and wanted to be just like her mom. Seeing her mom in action a few times definitely was the catalyst for Dahlia wanting to enlist when she was old enough. 

Black hole -  What is your Shepard’s greatest fear?

Failure. Especially now that she commands her own ship, has her own crew, is an N7 and Spectre. She has a lot riding on her shoulders and a lot of people depending on her.

Star cluster -  Does your Shepard have any mental illnesses and if yes, do they visit a therapist or talk to someone about it?

Honestly, if she does, they're all left unaddressed and left to fester. She admits she needs help and will probably have severe PTSD after the war, but she can't let it bog her down and chooses to focus on fighting reapers than her own inner demons.

Galaxy -  Under what circumstances do they find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?

That's a pretty grey area for her, honestly. Having let thousands of batarians die when she destroyed the Alpha Relay. If their deaths won't be in vain, can be used to their advantage, anything to turn the tides or give them more time, she'll take it. 

[anderwhohn]

Things beyond the public record that Shepard's been open about to her squads & closest members of her crew (ie Joker, Chakwas, etc.) once friendship was established per timeline (not a definitive list by any means)

ME1

Diagnosed with PTSD as a result of Akuze - suffers from recurring nightmares, especially after any thresher maw encounters; internally struggles to remain calm and in command when dealing with thresher maws; will often retreat to her quarters and lock the door for hours on end, missing meal times once back aboard the Normandy.

Vaguely remembers her parents, though rarely speaks about them - at least, not without large amounts of alcohol involved; remembers that her father was a scientist and her mother was an engineer; both went off to work one day and neither returned; does not know or remember their names.

Trusts most other species far more than her own - comes from some serious abandonment issues from when she was orphaned, then lost to the system when she ended up growing up on the streets; visitors to Earth were always nicer to her than the locals, giving her a few credits so she could get something to eat; as a result, she wouldn't pickpocket from aliens and would always target xenophobes.

Initial identification papers required for enlistment into the Alliance were forged - won't reveal if "Shepard" is even her real last name or not; parents are listed as "John and Jane Shepard", though both first names are actually unknown, using the Doe names as a cover to reduce the number of questions asked by the recruitment officers.

Only enlisted into the Alliance to get out of the Tenth Street Reds and to get off Earth, hoping to make a new life for herself out among the stars; has little to no respect for Alliance Brass or the chain of command, save for a handful of superior officers who usually saw through her attitude for what it truly was and proved themselves worthy of her trust; joined the N7 program to gain higher status so there were fewer people who could try to give her orders.

Spectre status is ideal for her, since it gives her the freedom she needs to get the job done by any means necessary, though she still tries to intimidate or charm people out of fire fights as much as possible; using the newly gained authority to gain better gear for her squad, even if it means she's strapped for credits after each purchase; will absolutely abuse her status to give anyone on her crew a "get out of jail free" card, but they'd better not make a habit of it.

Lets her closest best friends aside from Joker in on how she hangs up on the Council every time she has them on vidcall, though she never lets any of them stay in the comm room to witness it themselves; knows this probably leads to at least one or two of them rushing up to the cockpit whenever she's filing her reports to listen in with Joker.

Comes clean about more details regarding her time with the Tenth Street Reds, including all the times that she’d manage to get into things she wasn’t supposed to, hacking into everything, taking apart tech, etc.; might be persuaded into revealing an even darker side of her past, such as her accidental exposure to red sand during a smuggling mission, and the resulting biotic accident that occurred and subsequently led to her joining the Alliance to get herself off the streets and away from the Reds.

ME2

Vividly remembers her last few moments after getting Joker safely into the escape pod and jettisoning it without her in it because even if she died, at least he would live; suffers from severe anxiety every time she has to wear her breather helmet, opting instead to wear a Sentry Interface visor on most missions, and finds the Recon Hood to be easier to cope with when she has to be fully suited up due to a lack of suitable atmosphere. (applies to ME2 canon death only)

Develops a paralysing fear of space after being brought back to life; avoids sleeping in her own cabin as a result due to the skylight looking out into space directly over her bed; gets most of her sleep in the shuttle en route to and from missions, usually using whichever squadmate she's emotionally closest to on board as an impromptu pillow as she leans against their side so that their movement when they land is enough to wake her.

Is in a constant state of existential crisis after her revival; suffers from severe depersonalisation dissociation; constantly questions whether everything she's experiencing is even real or if it's just a dream of her dying mind and she's still falling through Alchera's atmosphere; only the addition of Thane Krios to the squad seems to stir enough of a shift from what she's experienced in the past to let her start thinking maybe she really is alive again.

Isn’t actually trained in a way that allows her proper use of her biotics, despite having been fitted with implants; can barely keep them under control so as not to simply release a blast of dark energy when agitated; does decide to put that lack of control to decent use by learning enough to work alongside her N7 infiltrator training to eventually utilise Biotic Slash once she learns to direct the violent blasts she emits.

Reluctantly admits to feeling a strong resentment toward the Virmire Survivor after their reunion on Horizon, and thinking maybe she should have chosen differently for who lived and who died that day; if encounter was with a previously romanced Kaidan, her active squad likely had to physically hold her back to keep her from shooting him in the kneecap for daring to suggest she's joined Cerberus; otherwise similarly had to be held back to keep from punching the survivor for the same suggestion.

[theoriginalladya]

Wolf Caleb and Kaidan 2, 6, 8, 11, 13, 22, 24, 26; Taka 1, 5, 8, 11, 14, 20, 24, 25, 32; Ree 3, 5, 11, 13, 16, 18, 21, 26, 28 Please and thank youuuuuuuuuuuu!!

from this list

Oh my goodness!!!  Well, let’s get started, shall we???!  Going to break this over three posts so I can tag them properly!  

~~~

Wolves verse   (this is a crossover universe between Mass Effect and Werewolf: the Apocalypse RPG which I play)

2 If they could each describe each other in one sentence, what would it be?

Caleb: I couldn’t ask for a more faithful, loyal companion, even if he is too stubborn at times.

Kaidan:  As challenging as it is to be around him sometimes, it brings with it the greatest rewards.

6.  What is/are their love language(s)?

Caleb:  Caleb is wolf born, and even though he spends the majority of his time in human form, his love language is physical touch.  Touch of the hands, a hug, even just a bump of shoulders or a fist bump as they head into battle, etc.

Kaidan: for Kaidan, I’d say it’s probably quality time?  Especially after losing Caleb over Alchera and realizing the missed opportunities during his absence.  After Caleb’s return, any time they can share together - as a couple or within the pack as a whole - takes on far more significance to him.

8.  What were their first impressions of each other?

Caleb:  There is an initial wariness when Caleb meets Kaidan for the first time.  Anderson is there, however, to temper the mood.  Caleb has a secret, one that very few people know, and from the beginning, even before he knows for certain Kaidan is Garou like he is (Anderson reassures him that Kaidan is ‘one of us’), he senses that Kaidan could be a formidable foe if they don’t see eye to eye.

Kaidan: At first, Kaidan thinks Caleb is a typical Garou no matter his breed form.  It’s only after the incident with the beacon on Eden Prime that he finds out that the man is hiding a much deeper secret, one not only unexpected, but could make him (Caleb) more of a target than he already is given his Alliance/N7/Spectre status.  That said, Kaidan is more than willing to give his life for him, if necessary.  

11.  What causes them to fight?

Well, by nature Caleb is Ahroun: a warrior.  He’s used to being pack leader, of not having his decisions questioned.  That said, there are a few times as he and Kaidan get to know one another that Kaidan steps on Caleb’s proverbial toes.  Kaidan is more of a questioner, a thinker, looking at all sides of an issue, making certain their decision is based on all the information possible.  Caleb very rarely makes decisions impulsively - he has a long fuse, so to speak - but if you get him to that point, watch out because when he fights, he aims to win.  But eventually, he and Kaidan come to an understanding, find a middle ground, and once that happens, their relationship really takes off.  

13.  Name something they would never do for the other person.

Caleb: Caleb will never ask Kaidan to go against his own principles.  Mostly, they agree on things, but there are occasions when they don’t.  In those moments, if they cannot see eye to eye, he will give Kaidan a way out if he can.

Kaidan: Once Kaidan comes to understand the importance of Caleb’s true mission in life, he will never ask him to go against it.  (I know I’m being very vague here, but it’ll come out in their stories when I get around to writing/posting them).  

22.  If their lives were what was originally intended at birth, would they have still fallen in love?

LOL  This is a difficult one to answer in this universe.  I suppose if they ended up Kin instead of Garou things might have been a bit more challenging for them?  Then again, maybe not.  Would they have still fallen for one another?  I have no doubt that they would, but whether or not they do anything about it is another story.

24.  What is something they have each had to forgive the other for?

Oh, man.  I’m not sure I have an answer to this one just yet?  I’ve done minimal exploring of the two worlds combined, so I don’t really have an answer just yet.  A good question, though, and one I will keep in mind as I develop them more!

26.  What are their favorite parts about physical affection/sex?

I think this goes back to the Love Language question, at least for Caleb.  Physical touch is a language unto itself, and Caleb relies on it, the subtleness of it, to express himself in ways that he otherwise doesn’t or cannot.  Kaidan can appreciate this and over time learns to express himself and what he feels in ways he never considers prior to meeting Caleb.

[rubyredsundae]

Mass Effect Trilogy Tag!

I was not tagged by anyone, I just really wanted to join in. If you see this and want to as well, please do! I've been loving reading through everyone's :)

I am a fan since… 2011ish? Definitely at least a year before ME3 came out. I remember watching my brother play ME2 and thinking it was so cool. While he was away it was a huge comfort for me to play it in his room, kind of like a bonding or cathartic experience for someone who wasn't there at the time.

When ME3 came out, me and him went to the midnight release at a gamestop like 40 minutes away or something, wearing clothes we threw together to kind of fit the N7 color scheme. Even though we don't talk anymore, those memories are still really precious to me. Also, the nostalgia of playing ME1 after-school or on the weekend, running to get my easy mac from the microwave during a cutscene, stuffing too hot mouthfuls while speeding the Mako towards the conduit on Ilos.

Favorite game of the series: It's a tough call between ME1 and ME2, but I'd say ME2. It's the game I get the urge to replay the most.

MaleShep or FemShep? Femshep all the way. I only play MShep when I want to do his exclusive romances. No offense to BroShep, but ME was the first game I ever played that let me not just be a girl, but customizable. Not just to be the already generated token girl character in a pack of boys. And not only can you play Femshep, but every game you are surrounded by smart, funny, tough women as squadmates. It was such a huge deal to me, and still is. Femshep represents so much. As Jennifer Hale put it, FemShep was a military grade boot to the video game industry glass ceiling.

Earthborn, Colonist or Spacer? I personally tend to lean spacer in-game, but I tend to use Earthborn when I'm writing fics.

Paragon or Renegade? Usually Paragon, but Renegade playthroughs can be really interesting, especially if I have a detailed background about why Shep is the way they are. My first Renegade, Krystle, is pretty bigoted and anti-alien until she meets Liara. Krystle is naturally guarded and quick to anger, so meeting someone who seemed to accept her and listen to her without judgment really opens her mind.

By the 2nd game, she wakes up in the cerberus lab with new biotic powers, having previously been a regular foot soldier. This makes her seeth, having someone completely take her agency, agreeing with the illusive man on the surface but plotting against him the entire time. She starts to lean more Paragon, if only to piss him off. She has the biggest smirk on her face when she blows up the collector base.

Biotics or Tech? Oooh, this is hard. Maybe biotics just the tiniest smidge because of Jack/Samara biotic bubble throw during the suicide mission. I don't know if we'll ever get a screen adaptation but THAT is a moment I would pay to see done with a big SFX budget behind it.

Favorite class: Sentinel! I don't know how much this reflects on my class preference in gaming in general, but I love the 'jack of all trades'ness of it. By the time I get an assault rifle, I don't really feel the need for anyone else to make up for something I lack. Also, tech armor in ME2? Where your shields regenerate automatically when it breaks, and the cool down is when you initially active it, instead of when you detonate it? Chef's kiss. I understand why it was nerfed in 3 but I'm still mad.

Favorite companion: Ho boy. This is obviously very difficult to choose but I'm gonna say Miranda. I've always loved and identified with her character, I love the accent, and she's always useful on missions. I was so happy when I learned she could be a squadmate in the armax arena.

Honorable mention to Ashley in ME1. Her character is rarely used to exposition lore, so she just gets to have her personality fleshed out. I don't always agree with her but she does seem genuinely willing to listen. ME3 tosses her out the airlock though; partially because her content was bugged and never restored, leaving her inclusion feel half-baked, and partly because Ash and Kaidan have to be able to serve the same plot function as each other and it negatively affects her character more than his. This could also be intentional on bioware's part, to try to flesh out kaidan's personality and tone down Ashley's as a response to criticisms of them from ME1.

Least favorite companion: Also difficult, because I don't really hate anyone as much as I am just less interested in some. I didn't like Zaeed for a long time, but I think he's much better and really funny in ME3. James was pushed on me too much at the beginning and it made me really dislike him, but I think he's greatly improved and also pretty funny in Citadel DLC. I'm also pretty indifferent to Jacob; I don't think he's a bad character, just disappointing because there was a lot of potential.

Not that every character has to go on and do some grand quest to be interesting, but I don't feel like Jacob every really got a big hero moment like everyone else. He is a very calm and introverted person (imo) who doesn't really share his feelings, so it's always been hard for to to connect with him on anything.

My squad selection: Depends on the game, but it usually involves Garrus lol. Typically it's Liara/Garrus in ME1, Miranda/Garrus for ME2, and Liara/Garrus again in ME3. I am very boring and predictable! If you have any suggestions for me to try out and mix things up, let me know!

Favorite in-game romance: Also depends on the game. ME1 it's Liara, hands down. It was the first game, really the first piece of media, where I was told two women could fall in love and be happy and that was okay. The amount of enlightenment and comfort in figuring out that I was bi these games brought me is kind of wild to look back on.

ME2 is a toss-up between Garrus and Thane. They are both wonderful but in completely different ways. I tend to now romance Thane on characters I don't plan on importing to ME3, or if I do, to just have a really depressed fucking Shepard lol. I hate how much Thane was brushed off, especially if you romanced him.

Other pairings I like: l love Miranda so much, but I'm a gay girl so I ship her and Femshep. Same goes for Tali, Jack, Ashley... damn I'm just really gay for straight girls huh :/

I don't really have any other ships for non-Shep related pairings.

Favorite NPC: Shiala is really cool to me, I wish we got to see her in 3. Emily Wong is also cool, also wish we saw her in 3. There's probably a lot more that when I come across them next I'll be like, "you! I love you! You're my favorite."

Oh also Joker! And EDI! But not together. Idk I feel like ME3 threw a curveball at me with "do you support organic/non-organic relationships?" Like m'am please don't ask me, I accidentally drank turian liquor last year, I'm not qualified to be an expert on this.

Favorite antagonist: Tbh I really dig Saren. I think his reasoning is super fascinating, both to set up how someone who's indoctrinated can rationalize to themselves that they are still in control; and as a foil to Shepard, to show what can happen when you become too isolated and the ends justify the means. I think his VA does a great job of walking the line between desperate survivor and madman. He's also the only antagonist in the trilogy that we ever fight 1 on 1 (ignoring squadmates) and it feels more personal. I think he's such a fantastic foe for the first entry in a trilogy and I don't think he gets enough credit.

Favorite mission: Is it cliche to say the suicide mission? It's honestly close to perfect. The stakes, the sequencing, the cinematics, the score. Everything works so well.

Favorite loyalty mission: Kasumi's and Tali's are really cool, as we all know. Samara's is also cool because it is entirely non-combat based. Shepard has to prove they can accomplish what seems impossible without a gun or biotics.

The confrontation at the end with Morinth always haunts me a little, because they are both right in their own way. Morinth's final line, "and they say I'm the monster", as you let Samara kill her, watch her scrambling backwards in fear... I know that she's a remorseless killer, but it gets me every time.

Favorite DLC: It's Citadel, obviously. Turns out what I really wanted was quality time and a party with all my friends. I love mass effect for many reasons, but simulating friends and affection when I had none has always made me bond to this series like other games don't. Is it sad? Sure! But I don't think love and affection for fictional characters should ever be shameful until it makes you hurt other people.

Control, Synthesis or Destroy? I'd say destroy. If the other options were presented earlier and we had time to stew with it, maybe I'd be more split. But all of this in 5 minutes? It's not like the collector base where the implications are obvious and the choice is just down to what Shepard believes. The 3 choices all seem like space magic out of nowhere, and none of them seem to really offer any insight on what Shepard should believe. So I say destroy, just because it's what Shep has intended and is most consistent with their character and their admiration of Anderson.

Favorite weapon: The spectre level assault rifle in ME1. Never have I felt more powerful.

Favorite place: Idk why but I just thought of the creepy lab with all the scientists during the leviathan DLC. I really love when Mass Effect leans into the Lovecraftian horror aspect of things. Talking to Sovereign and Vigil in ME1 gave me goosebumps my first few playthroughs.

A quote I like: I have hundreds, but the one off the top of my head is, "After time adrift among open stars, along tides of light and through shoals of dust, I will return to where I began." I have a poster of it up on my wall right now!

[anunquenchableflame]

Horizon’s Ghost

Setting: ME2, right after Priority: Horizon Characters: Rani Shepard, Garrus Vakarian Content: F!Shepard x Kaidan / SFW / 99% written to get one stupid joke out of my system

Shepard didn’t deal well with failure. Turned out she wasn’t great with disappointment either.

Also on AO3

Horizon had been a nightmare. 

Oh, Mordin’s upgrades had protected them from the swarm, just as he’d said they would. They’d taken down everything the Collectors could throw at them and driven them away with their harvest incomplete. But ultimately they’d been too late for most of the colony, and that counted as mission failure in Shepard’s eyes. 

Shepard did not deal well with failure.

And then there was seeing Kaidan again… nothing could have prepared her for that. He’d always been in a corner of her mind, ever since she awoke. She’d quietly imagined countless scenes of their reunion: Part of her kept an eye out for him every time they went to the Citadel, hoping happenstance would see them brought together. They’d laugh, they’d kiss, they’d cry, and they'd pick up right where they'd left off, as if it had been nothing but a few weeks apart. It was soppy and ridiculous, and all that was missing was the swelling soundtrack.

None of her idle imaginings had included the sweat, the blood, the stink of eezo, or the look of confusion that had turned to utter wounded betrayal when they finally stood face-to-face. She hadn’t imagined the clipped accusative tone of his voice, the hardness in what had always been such soft warm eyes. She hadn’t imagined how much it would hurt. They couldn’t have left the colony quickly enough after that and she’d refused to meet anyone’s eyes in the shuttle, lest they see how hard she was struggling to build a dam against her welling emotions.

Turned out Shepard didn’t deal particularly well with disappointment either. 

-

She’d been fending off call-me-Kelly ever since they’d returned to the ship. No, she didn’t want to talk about the mission; no, not about seeing Kaidan either; no, definitely not about her attitude to failure; NO. She did not want the interfering naive busybody taking notes and reporting back any more than she already did. What she wanted was to take a hot shower, cry for about an hour, eat dinner, go to bed, and maybe cry some more. Maybe hit something, should a target present itself.

She’d managed step one of that plan. Hot water had washed away the dirt and sweat of the mission and eased her tense muscles, but not her mood. She’d dried off and wrapped up in her dressing gown–warm and soft and totally devoid of Cerberus emblems, courtesy of their last trip to the Citadel–and was squeezing the moisture out of her hair when someone tapped at the door.

“I told you it’s none of your fucking business, Chambers!” Rani snapped.

“Shepard, it’s me.” Garrus’s drawl was unmistakable even through the bulkhead. She paused in towelling her hair for a moment but then went on with renewed intensity, resolutely ignoring him.

A minute later: “Still here, Shepard.”

Rani let out an exasperated sigh. She went to the door and glared at the interface for a moment, then opened it to transfer the glare to the persistent turian on the other side.

“Not now, Vakarian. It’s been a long day.”

“I know. I thought you might want to talk about it.”

“Nothing to talk about,” she said, with a shrug that wasn’t convincing anyone.

Garrus slipped past her and sauntered into the cabin while she made ineffectual protesting noises. He noted the photo frame face down on her desk. Though it was his first time in her cabin it didn’t take any great leap of deductive reasoning to guess whose face had been slammed into the desktop. He picked up the frame, which lit up at the contact, and found exactly the portrait he’d expected on the other side.

“You know,” he began casually. “I went to your memorial. Nice ceremony, if a little pompous. Everyone was very complimentary, especially the people who’d never met you. No-one who had could have said such nice things, not with a straight face.” Shepard couldn’t help but smile a little at that, despite her determination to stay disgruntled. ��Anderson was more realistic, said you were a pain in the ass but you knew how to get the job done and we’d all be a little weaker for your loss, though he may have said it more politely than that. He asked Alenko if he’d say something too, but I don’t think he had the words. Not for that crowd anyway. Now, I don’t know much about human mourning rituals but getting extremely drunk seems to be important, so as soon as we found a bar that could serve a dextro beer, I obliged. You know Kaidan starts to glow when he’s drunk a lot? At least I think that part was real, hard to tell in hindsight, there really was a lot of alcohol…” Garrus shook his head. “In any case: we talked, the way men who are very drunk and very sad do.” He carefully placed the frame back on Shepard’s desk with Kaidan’s shy smile pointed right at her, the sniper’s precise shot to the heart as unerring as ever. “He’s angry now, but I don’t think he could hate you even if he tried.”

Rani regarded the portrait for a moment, her eyes downcast, before speaking. “I know.”

“You do?” Garrus’s mandibles did the thing Shepard had always interpreted as turian eyebrow raising. “Damn, I was all prepared to talk you round. I had a speech ready and everything.”

Shepard shrugged. “I suppose I should have expected his reaction. If our roles were reversed it… would not have been so dignified. There’d be yelling and broken things. Probably no colony left at all.” She hugged her arms close to her chest. “I don’t know what I thought was going to happen. I hoped he’d be glad to see me, that he’d understand and everything would go back to how it was but it’s… more complicated than that. And after you and Tali took it all in your stride, I guess I–” She stopped and shook her head, dismayed at the insane unlikelihood of her situation. No-one was equipped for the dead coming back to life, not the bereft nor the departed themselves. Kaidan had called her a ghost, and that didn’t seem far off. It should be a wonder that anyone was coping. 

“Oh, there was some processing to be done, believe me,” said Garrus. “But it had to wait until after the siege and the rocket to the face and the lifesaving surgery, after which Commander Shepard being not so dead didn’t seem like such a stretch.” He paused. “Also I’d had a message from Tali right before that all went down, the gist of which was ‘What And How The Fuck’.”

Shepard huffed a half-hearted laugh. “Good question.” She flopped back against the illuminated glass of the fishtank and slid down until she sat on the floor. After a moment Garrus hunched down next to her.

“I guess he told you all about us then?” asked Rani, looking down at her hands as she absently picked at her fingernails. “Our illicit affair.” That sounded dramatic, but it was true enough. They’d both known how much trouble there’d be if they were found out, but that had seemed less and less important as time went on.

“Didn’t really need to, Shepard.” Garrus sounded apologetic, but also slightly amused.

“Oh.” She winced, not sure if she wanted the answer to her next question: “Did everyone know?”

“Not everyone. But I think most of us realised there was a little more going on than you wanted us to see.”

She shook her head ruefully. “We thought we were so discreet.” 

“Oh, no, you were pretty good. No-one ever caught him sneaking out of your cabin or anything. But you couldn’t hide some things: The way you looked at each other, or stood a touch closer together than normal, the way he’d help you with your armour, or all those little wordless agreements. Anyone who spent much time with the two of you could tell how close you were. And you forget- I was a detective. May not have found anything solid on Saren but you two were a much easier case to crack.”

“I’m not sure that comforts me… Who knows, maybe there’s a court martial waiting for me if I ever get back to the Alliance. Though I suppose fraternizing with a fellow officer might be quite low on the list of my offenses. Did kind of mutiny and steal a ship even before I was a traitor.”

“You saved a colony from being totally wiped out. You’ve saved a lot of people. As far as I can see you’re doing the same job you always did, how’s that make you a traitor?” 

“Oh, maybe because it’s Cerberus paying the bills? They’re the enemy, and here I am working for them. With them,” she quickly corrected herself. She grew quiet again. “Kaidan certainly thought it did.”

“He’ll come around. Right now he doesn’t have all the facts.”

“I’m not sure that I do either. I just wish we’d had more time to talk. Explain, in as much as I can.”

“Think you could have talked him into coming along?”

“Yes. No. I don’t know... Maybe it’s best that he’s not involved. They’d only find a way to use him to manipulate me. Again.” The last word was bitter in her mouth. Clearly her old crew weren’t the only ones to put two and two together. They’d known exactly how to invest her in Horizon. No, the further away Kaidan was the better it was for both of them. Not that all of her was on board with that conclusion. “I just wanted more time to talk. For him it's been years but for me it feels like only a few months. He's worked through it all and gotten over me, while I'm still- I’m still newly in love.” Her voice wavered and tears suddenly welled up, the carefully constructed floodgates of her composure finally bursting open with the admission. She buried her face in her arms. “It's so stupid.” Her shoulders shook and her words were muffled as they were forced out between sobs. “I’m a goddamned marine. N7. The first human Spectre. I won the Star of Terra when I was twenty-two. I’ve come back from the dead, faced geth and collectors and husks and reapers and rogue Spectres and- and I'm sitting here in my dressing gown crying over fucking Kaidan Alenko.”

There was a thoughtful pause.

Turians could not, technically, smirk. They didn't have the mouths for it. You needed lips and different cheek muscles. But there was a way that they tilted their heads and did a thing with their mandibles that was close, and Garrus had a voice that was basically an aural smirk anyway. So when he spoke next Rani assumed that his words were delivered with a smirk.

“Isn't this about… not fucking Kaidan Alenko?”

Her mouth formed an indignant O as she looked up, red eyed, at Garrus and smacked him on the arm. It wasn't hard and he probably couldn’t feel it through the armour and carapace, but it certainly made her feel better. “I am heartbroken and in tears, Vakarian, and you're making shitty jokes!”

“Oh come on, Shepard, I couldn't leave that there. And now you're laughing and crying, that's an improvement, right?” Shepard knew a shit-eating-grin when she saw it no matter the shape of the face it was on.

“I saved your life and this is the treatment I get?” She sniffed and wiped her nose with the back of her hand, a small grudging smile fighting the urge to resume crying. “I can’t believe I let you back on my crew, you’re terrible.”

“True enough.”

“Of all the people I could have had back I had to get the smart-arse turian.”

“Humans tell me that beggars can’t be choosers. Also something about the use of projectiles in glass structures that I’m not sure if I’m remembering correctly.” Garrus looked down at her very seriously. “I don’t know if anyone’s told you, but you’re kind of a smart-ass yourself.”

“You’re just trying to rile me up so I’m not miserable anymore.”

“Well, I know how to deal with you when you’re angry, I’m… I’m not sure what to do with sad,” he admitted. “I’m not very good at this.”

The fight went out of her in one breath. “Me either.” She wiped her nose again and pressed her lips together as the tears threatened to well up once more. “I miss everyone. Not just Kaidan- Wrex, Tali, Liara–” she paused and sniffed “–Ash. She’d have some things to say right now, I’m sure.”

Garrus chuckled. “Spirits, can you imagine? She’d be even more pissed with you than Kaidan was.”

“No doubt. Maybe if I’d had both of them glaring at me I’d have stayed right there and given Cerberus the finger.”

“I have no idea what that means but it sounds extremely intimate.”

Rani snorted. “I’m really glad you’re here Garrus.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Terrible as you are.”

“Hey, someone’s got to watch your back. And without the rest of the old crew around, I guess it had better be the smart-ass turian. Now, what does giving someone a finger mean?”

“With those talons, I think it’s best you don’t know.”

[ladyinthebluebox]

🍵 and 🎨 for each of your OC. ^^

🍵 Are there any rumours about your OC hanging around? Nasty ones or just good-humoured? Got any gossip to share about them?

There are quite a few rumours flying around Heleus Cluster concerning mostly the company Sybil Ryder keeps while the Tempest docs in the Kadara Port. People are whispering about her relationship with the certain smuggler, his shady associations as well as how much influence he has over the young human pathfinder. Not all rumours about her are like this, however. Around the Nexus you can hear the stories about her roasting members of the Nexus’ leadership.

When it comes to Scorpius Ryder, for quite a while not much was known to the wider population of Andromeda about him, except for the fact he’s kept in the Hyperion’s medical bay. Later, when he was finally awake from his coma, people began to talk about how there are crates of tech delivered to his private room in the hospital wing and what the pathfinder and her twin might be up to, When the Initiative’s personnel has finally been allowed to set an embassy on Aya, the rumours started spreading around the angara about there supposedly being not one Ryder, but TWO of them. 

There are many, and I mean MANY rumours flying around the famous or infamous Commander Shepard, especially that so many of the missions she was a part of both as an N7 operative as well as the first human Spectre, are surrounded with layers, upon layers of red tape. Some rumours are good, some are bad, and others, like the ones concerning what exactly took place on Torfan, are just disturbing. Very popular one suggests that Andromeda faked her death, though the reasons for it are unclear, ranging from infiltrating Cerberus to being a part of some sort of dodgy Council businesses. Meanwhile, some people believe it was the Council itself who planned the attack on the Normandy to get rid of the human Spectre and her ship. Then ofc, once it becomes clear that somehow, she was back, there are all sorts of rumours about the ragtag group making up her new crew and their association with Cerberus. Then, for a while, there were rumours spreading around the Citadel about Commander being seen in various parts of the station in the company of her turian crewmember.

There are quite a few rumours travelling around Thedas about the dalish elf, who became the Herald of Andraste and later took over as the Inquisitor. Most of them, however, are surprisingly positive. Smallfolk are often talking about Lady Lavellan being unusually kind, spending much time in places like the refugee camps and infirmaries. There’s one story about how she supposedly gave away a pair of her own boots to a girl who was close to getting frostbite during one of the long, cold fereldan nights, her family spent in Hinterlands’ refugee camp. Ofc there are some nobles gossiping bout her relationship with a reclusive elven scholar from her inner circle as well that together they are trying to push some sort of elf agenda but those are a minority. Later on, some whispers can be heard here and there about Deirdre’s strange connection to dragons, of how supposedly she was able to call one during the last stand in the Temple of Sacred Ashes but barely anyone believes it.

There aren’t many rumours about Falon Lavellan. One would be that supposedly the Inquisitor has a sibling somewhere, but he’s never mentioned anywhere in it. The other, spreading out between his clanmates concerns the reason why, at the age of 33, Falon still hasn’t invited a woman to his aravel and started a family. As clan Thelen isn’t upholding the traditions related to the Emerald Knights, the big wolf following him everywhere is also met with some suspicion.

Nobles living in High Town can’t stop talking about Keres ever since she and her mother moved into the old Amell’s residence. The rumours are wild, talking about how it’s not possible that her mother is actually who she claims to be. There’s also a matter of a rather suspicious company coming and going to the manor and how the strange, tall young woman is actually a mage. 

Most rumours about Renan Mahariel concern either her influence over what happened during the Landsmeet and the coronation of king Alistair that followed it. Other is related to her relationship with the assassin from the guild of the Antivan Crows and how they have been working as mercenaries in Antiva for a while. Later on there are many rumours about people who saw the Warden and her companion in the western parts of Thedas, while some other rumours suggest that she’s sucumbed to the taint.

🎨 Is your OC artistic? Can they draw or paint or do they prefer another medium? Are they a writer or musician or do they do something else? Give us a quick rundown of what they can get creative with!

Sybil isn’t artistic or any sort of creative kind of gal. She’s always been more into sports and other physical activities. I guess that the only exception for the rule fitting under this question, could be when, back in the primary school she used to be a part of a drama club. One thing she’s got left from this experience is a secret soft spot for theatre, mostly watching plays though. 

While his sister joined the drama club, Scorpius, began learning to play the piano. After two or so years, however, he’s exchanged it for violin, which he plays still. He doesn’t write music, never have been, but he can transcribe melodies to notes. Scorp is most creative in the field of computer science. He’s writing programs, scripts and constantly coming up with new upgrades for his beloved drone.

Andromeda is probably the most talented of all my OCs. In fact, her mother wanted her to go to an art school to study art history and further develop her painting and drawing skills. Andy, however, chose the Alliance instead. It’s not a very well known fact, but during long, sleepless nights, Commander often takes out her sketchbook and draws everything from the environments of the recently visited planets, faces of her crewmates to the snippets of her twisted dreams. While working on the Lazarus Project Miranda (ofc) got wind of this, and allowed herself to leave a leatherbound sketchbook with a bunch of pencils in the Commander’s private quarters right before Andromeda took command over the new Normandy. After the Reaper War was finally over, Andromeda went back to painting and for quite a while she was trying to get rid of the atrocities of the war stuck in her system by creating paintings similar to some of the surrealist works of Zdzislaw Beksinski [1] [2] [3].

As a lore keeper and earlier, a disciple of Sylaise, Deirdre was taught at least the basics of various arts and crafts practised by the dalish elves. She’s no master of any of them, though. For instance, she’s decent at singing but she’s especially worthless at embroidery. However, at some point during her travels between clans living in Free Marches, Antiva and Rivain, Derry began writing some notes, which developed into full-on journaling during the time of the Inquisition. Her journals are made of notes, dried flowers, picked up in the places they visited as well as for doodles of some things of interest.

In his spare time between hunts and learning young hunters the ways of Vir Tanadhal, Falon can be found sitting by the fire with his wolf companion lying at his feet, either carving little figurines out of wood, bones or antlers. Over the years he’s become quite skilled especially at carving out animals and many of clan Thelhen‘s kids are playing with the figurines made by him. Sometimes he’s also making necklaces and bracelets either using craved out pendants or animal teeth.

Keres has never been especially creative, except for finding out new ways to get into trouble. However, when got bach from the Deep Roads with buckets full of treasure, she discovered a taste for fashion and finery and she began bothering seamstresses around Kirkwall with her ideas for new garments. None of her ideas has ever been in line with the current fashion trends coming to Kirkwall from Orlais and other places, but Keres never cared much about it and continued to order new doublets for her, and later on for Fenris as well.

Before she became THE Warden, Renan used to be an apprentice to the clan’s Sabrae Mastercraftsman. As such, she’s learned the art of carving out wood and working with metals as well as decorating weapons and armours with traditional ornaments. She’s never mastered the art, but when she went into Vigil’s Keep forge, she‘s made a lot of weapons decorated with intricate hilts and handles and when she was about to leave, to join Zevran in Antiva, she made a pair of beautiful, decorated daggers especially for him.

Ask me maybe?

[soldiermom1973]

N7 Month, Day 16 - Hope

More Allie & Kaidan.  You can read it on AO3, too, if you prefer.

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Allie's heart hammered in her chest as she raced through the Citadel to get to the hospital, carefully cradling a bottle of what she hoped was still Kaidan's favorite whiskey.  Kaidan's message that he was awake and wanted to see her set her spirits flying.  She knew there was a possibility of him telling her to shove off, that he still didn't trust her, especially after the way he talked to her on Mars, but after watching him almost die...  it didn't matter what he had to say.  She needed to see him, to make sure for herself that he was ok.

She walked in as Councilor Udina was walking out and wondered if they'd been talking about Kaidan's Spectre candidacy.  A smile spread across her face at the thought of Kaidan becoming the second human Spectre.  If anyone deserved it, he did.  He might not have an Elysium in his file, but he'd done his fair share of heroic stuff and with his integrity, she knew he'd never turn rogue like Saren did.

“Hey,” she smiled, pulling a chair next to his bed.  A rock settled in her gut when she took a good look at him – his eyes were both bruised and a little swollen and his chest and shoulders were heavily bruised as well.  She shouldn't have been surprised at the latter part – Dr. Michel said his shoulder blades had been fractured – but the fact he was sporting two black eyes worried her.  She hoped her concern didn't show on her face.

“Shepard, hey,” he smiled back, shifting around on his bed.  “You just missed snack time. Actually, that's probably a good thing.  Thanks for coming.”

She chuckled, knowing if he was joking around, he was probably feeling better.  “No problem,” she said, sitting down and putting the bottle on the floor next to her.  “What did Udina want?  Still thinking about the Spectre position?”

Kaidan's face flushed at the recognition and a shy smile flitted across his face.  “Well, it's a big honor, a huge responsibility, I just... need to be sure.”

Allie grabbed the bottle of whiskey from the floor and handed it to him.  “I got you this.”

“Wow, thanks!” he said, taking it from her.  “You even remembered what kind I like!”

“Just a little pick me up,” she grinned, happy she got the right one.

“Maybe when I'm out, we can crack it open and celebrate.  I am so ready to get out of here.”  He shifted again, making Allie wonder if his back was bothering him.  “You can't tell, but I'm tied to the bed by medical red tape.  I mean, doc says I'm good to go, but then she always finds just one more test to run.”

“You doing ok, though?”  Allie couldn't believe he was awake and talking to her so soon after getting slammed against that Cerberus shuttle.

“Well, my implant got a little rattled,” Kaidan explained, “so doc just wants me to keep the biotics offline for a bit.  It's really no big deal.”

Allie studied him for a moment, making sure he wasn't just saying something to keep her from worrying.  She smiled then and asked if he wanted her to break him out.

“I'll let you know,” he laughed.

Allie stared at him for a few more moments, still relieved beyond belief he was ok.  “I'm glad you asked me to come,” she finally said.  It's good to see you're going to be ok.  You almost died on my watch, Kaidan.  It was really horrible to see and...”  She reached for his hand, thankful he didn't pull away.  “I care about what happens to you.”

“Me, too.  That means a lot, Allie.”

He ran his thumb over her knuckles and took a deep breath.  “So, just to make sure...  after Mars, after Horizon, you and me...  we're good?”  Allie's heart leapt at the concern in his voice.

“We've been through hell together,” she reminded him.  “Had each other's backs.  That kind of bond is hard to break.”

“No,” Kaidan sighed, “not just that. You were my commander, sure, but you <i>listened</i>, too.  I mean, when I told you about how Rahna broke my heart, you didn't judge me.  You knew I needed that.”

He sighed again and stared at their hands.  “We went through Ash's death together...”

“Yeah,” Allie murmured, “we did.”

“So, what do you say?” Kaidan sounded optimistic  “Are we good?”

“Yeah, we're good,” Allie smiled, even though she wasn't entirely sure she was good. His doubt on Horizon and again on Mars was a little much for her to overcome right now.  But they had to start again somewhere, right? “It was great to have you back on board the Normandy,” she added.

“Thanks,” he smiled.  “I'm really glad you came by.  Talking like this, reminds me how much I like you.”

Allie's heart ached at his choice of words, but she reminded herself that she was gone for two years and he tried to move on; that didn't necessarily mean he couldn't love her again.  She squeezed his hand and hoped her trembling jaw wasn't as noticeable as it felt.

“We're good together,” he added, glancing up at her and her heart melted.  He might not be in love with her anymore, but she knew damn well she was still in love with him.

“So, feel like we've cleared the air?”  She felt a little better, that maybe they might find their way back to each other after all, but she still wasn't sure.  Allie missed him desperately and she hoped they could continue to talk, that maybe she could persuade him to stay on the Normandy with her.

“Yeah,” came the determined response.  “I'm not sure I was wrong about Cerberus, but I know I was wrong about you.”

Her smile felt a little more genuine after that and they chatted a bit more.  He told her about a biotics spec ops division Anderson persuaded him to take over and how desperate he was go get better and get back into the thick of things. She asked about his family and her heart sank when Kaidan admitted his parents live in Vancouver.  “I just hope Dad's Alliance training took over and they're safe.  It must be killing them, not knowing where I am,” he murmured.

Allie gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Is there anything I can do?  Maybe have EDI try to reach them?”

“I'd appreciate that, Allie,” he said, “but I'll be surprised if comms and phone lines are still working.  If they are, they're probably for priority traffic only. Thanks for the offer, though.”

There was an awkward pause and Allie's thoughts turned back to Horizon and Mars and how Kaidan didn't seem to really trust her anymore.  He said he was wrong about her, a sort of back-handed apology, maybe, but that didn't do much to make Allie feel like he trusted her like he used to.  He must have picked up on her worry, because he asked what was on her mind.

“Are we really going to be able to get past Horizon?” she asked quietly.  “Just like that?”

“I'd like to, Allie.  As friends... as more than friends.  I mean, I don't know,” He stared at their clasped hands as he spoke.  “I just like having you in my life.”

So maybe if they could only be friends, she could learn to be ok with that.  “So, how do we fix it?” Allie wanted to hear him say he trusted her, that he realized she hadn't changed and she didn't have to do anything more.

He laced his fingers with hers and said, “Maybe you should know that I'm not seeing anyone... and that I still care.”

Her breath caught when she realized they might still have a chance.  She pressed her lips together and stared at their hands as he continued.  “I mean, there's a war on and maybe you and me... maybe we'll never happen, but I needed you to know that because that's how we'll get past Horizon.”

Allie nodded and an odd feeling filled her heart - hope  Something she hadn't felt for a long time; not about her and Kaidan, anyway.

They were silent for a few more moments before Kaidan offered to let her go.  “I'm sure you'll have more things to do than any one person should have to handle.  I wish I could come with you, though.”

“You just stay here and worry about getting better.  We need you at 100%.”  Allie stood and smoothed out her shirt.  “You know where to find me, though, so keep me posted, ok?”

“Will do, Commander.”  Kaidan smiled at her, a real smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

Allie couldn't help herself – she leaned over and kissed his cheek.  “Take care of yourself, Major,” she whispered in his ear.  She hurried out of his room before he could respond, wanting to make sure the last thing she saw was that heart-melting smile of his.

Once she got on the elevator and the doors closed, she crossed her arms over her stomach, replaying their conversation in her head.  He might still have a few doubts about her loyalty, but she was certain as she continued to fight the Reapers, she'd be able to show him that she hadn't changed – she was still the same woman he fell in love with three years prior.

Allie hurried back to the Normandy with hope in her heart and a smile on her face.

[thunderboltfire]

N7 Tag Game

I felt tagged by @theashenphoenix​ (since I love to talk about my OCs and I won’t miss a chance to do so XD) (BTW I’m so sorry I didn’t responded to last time when you tagged me, it got lost in time and space).

Favourite character: I have a lot of favourites and I like most of Shep’s team and some of NPCs as well. I think that Shep is a special protagonist, and as for an RPG which has a lot of ways to customise a character and gameplay Shepard has a lot of personality. When we’re talking about teammates, then team dextro, the crogans, Mordin, Legion and Ashley are my favourites, though I like most of the other characters as well.

Paragon or Renegade: Most of the time Paragon, though I tend to choose more and more Renegade interrupts along the course of the trilogy (never reached 20% of Renegade though, so I don’t think it’s enough to call it Paragade). I like the fact that playing one of the moralities isn’t necessarily a strict path - there are varying degrees of Paragon and Renegade, and that being kind doesn’t paint your character as being weak - preety much on the contrary. The Paragoniest Paragon still can and will be an efficient soldier and a Spectre who should be reckoned with.

Favourite class: I played the trilogy as Soldier and as simple as it is I like it very much (I sometimes forget using powers anyway so sheer firepower comes in handy). However my Ryder is an infiltrator and it’s pure fun! :D

War Hero, Survivor or Ruthless?: My Shep’s a survivor and I think I like it because it doesn’t set a clear background of how people see you. It doesn’t make you a glorious hero or a feared brute - the only thing that’s certain is that you’re really good at not dying. It’s implied that Survivor is a character who went through a severe trauma and emerged victorious and I imagine they would’ve react very strongly to Virmire. (I headcannon it also explains why the crazy commander is so bent on not losing anyone during Suicide Mission). We know what happened on Akuze, but we don’t exactly know how it happened. It leaves a lot up to headcannon and LET ME TELL YOU DID I FELT ROBBED WHEN ME2 CAME AND SUDDENLY WE’RE ALL OK WITH CERBERUS!

Spacer, Earthborn or Colonist?: Spacer. At least Shepard has a mom who’s alive :,)

Favourite alien: I feel that quarians have a lot of potential and I’m sad that there were none in Andromeda (I would happily pay for that Quarian Ark DLC :/)

Favourite planet/location: I think that if we’re talking about planets, the ones with best atmosphere are IMO the ones in ME1 - I like how varied the architecture on the planets from main missions is. The sequels also have a lot of memorable locations: Alcherra with Normandy wreck is very eerie, Rough post-apocalyptic Tuchanka, Quarian fleet and Citadel, which in every part shows us a different face. When it comes to Andromeda, I especially liked parts which were connected to arks, and when it comes to planets I think Aya and Voeld are my faves.

Favourite DLC: I’ve got only one big one so - Citadel! XD

Favourite weapon: In the vanilla trilogy M-96 Mattock, if we’re considering DLCs then the Lancer from Citadel DLC (infinite ammunition! that’s also why I chose the Remnant assault rifle in Andromeda). In case of my second-favourite weapon, sniper rifle, I prefer damage to rate of fire, so in the trilogy I stay with Mantis, and in Andromeda I fell in love with Isharay which became the main weapon of my Ryder.

Favourite Shepard/OC: I’m the kind of person who plays the game once and then replays it again and again with the same character XD That’s why I have only one Shepard, Wanda, for whom I have a thousand headcannons. As described above, she’s a Sole Survivor, Spacer and a soldier, almost full Paragon in the first game and only a little more renegade in next. In the third one she’s around 85% Paragon and 15% Renegade (so still overwhelmingly Paragon). Good friends with all of her crew, didn’t really noticed when she fell for the spiky sniper.

Favourite mission: There’s few very memorable loyalty missions, so in ME2 it’d be probably Tali’s loyalty mission, Garrus’ recruitment mission and Grunt’s loyalty mission, in ME3 I like Grissom’s Academy Evacuation and Priority:Tuchanka because it’s epic XD

Favourite track: Galaxy Map theme! It’s just perfect background and so relaxing!

ME1, ME2, ME3 or Andromeda: All of them XD Tbh, I find the gameplay in ME1 a little cranky but I like its atmosphere. ME2 is the craziest ride and ME3 has the biggest emotional baggage (which is probably why I see it as the most interesting one character-development-wise). I like Andromeda too! It’s easy to see that it’s a rushed game but it’s still good and I’ll probably play it again when I’ll be in a mood for more lighthearted adventure.

SR-1, SR-2 or Tempest? - I remember when I was playing the trilogy for the first time I was on a verge of tears looking at the sad wreck of SR-1. To make things worse I couldn’t find my way around SR-2 and I was really angry - like “this isn’t my ship! What even is that monster?!” However with time I got so accustomed to the second one that I may like it even more than the first one. The SR-1 will always have a special place in my heart though XD

Tagging: @the-eishiest​, @secondarysidecharacter​, @doodlownick​, @captainkartoffel​ (of course if you want to) and whoever else feels like doing it! :D

[ramblinganthropologist]

N7 Challenge - 5 (Cruelty)

Summary: It was cruel fate that stuck Garrus in that cafe, waiting for his fake date so they could get that mission going. He would’ve been so much better as the tech oversight guy... damn the fact Shepard’s too gay to pretend to be into a woman realistically.

(Aka, Chris plays fast and loose with the rules.)

ME1

---

It was a lovely day on the Citadel... and Garrus was in hell.

'Relax, you're as stiff as a board. Nobody's going to believe you're on a date like that.'

His mandibles twitched as he listened to Tali through his hidden transmitter. Normally, this was where his visor would come in handy... except he wasn't allowed to wear it. No, apparently that was against the first date dress code and he'd been made to leave it on the Normandy along with his armor and weapons.

Well, he had a pistol stowed away... but that wasn't the same as his rifle, damn it.

“I still don't get why I'm the one who had to do it.”

'We needed a tech expert, and Shepard says... Shepard, what did he say again?'

'He's too fucking gay to fake being into a woman, so Tali was out. You were the only one left, Mandibles.'

The other Shepard's deep voice disrupted the quarian's electronic tones. Garrus hadn't been expecting it – the sudden change made him wince a little. Luckily, nobody at the cafe noticed. They were too busy eye-fucking their dates.

He knew this place, had walked past it when he had still been in C-Sec. It was a popular spot for couples to have their first date thanks to the fact it was public, fairly reasonable, and offered booze if things started to go south. Had he not been on a mission, the turian definitely would've been ordering a drink or two to survive this.

After all... he had to fake being on a date with Commander Shepard.

There was a point to all this, of course. According to Alliance intel, there was something strange about this cafe and the fact a lot of well-armed people tended to stop by after hours. He hadn't heard whispers of it being a front for something, but it had been sometime since he had walked a beat. For all he knew, someone could have moved in while he was gone.

That... or he just hadn't really cared. Scoping out hot date spots had never been high on his priority list.

“Where is my date anyway? He didn't run away at the thought of being in public, did he?”

Garrus hadn't meant to use that much scorn, but it leaked out anyway. It wasn't as if he disliked the man, per se … just found him incredibly odd and more than a little off-putting. He had a way of catching you off guard and hammering home that made the turian uneasy, not to mention his strange hamster tending habits. Add in the fact they had met by colliding into each other and... well, maybe he was a little salty.

So, he didn't dislike the Commander... but maybe they weren't quite to like just yet.

'You're not that ugly, Mandibles.' The Normandy's XO sounded bored on the other end. 'I think he's scoping the area out. Make sure to appreciate the view when you see him, I worked my ass off getting him ready.'

'She really did a good job, I'll be amazed if you recognize him at all.'

Well, that was perfect. Guess they were going for the blind date angle and taking it to the extreme.

“Thanks.” Now he really meant the sarcasm as he sipped at his water. If he was on a date, he should probably wait before he ordered anything. That was polite, right? “I swear, you two are enjoying watching me suffer.”

He could expect that from the human, but Tali's cruelty really caught him off guard. Who would have known the quarian had it in her?

The line went quiet not long after that – no doubt they'd gotten their fill of his misery. Garrus was left to glance around in the hopes he might spot Shepard. He had already checked all the obvious spots, but nobody quite fit the profile of short and kind of awkward looking.

Ok.. maybe that was mean. But the guy was awkward. Even he said so.

“Where are you...” Garrus' mandibles twitched as he kept looking. Really, it was couples as far as the eye could see. Apart from a couple school-age looking girls gossiping, everyone else looked to be on a date. There was nobody who stood out as being on their own, especially not someone who looked to be casing the joint. “Shit, he better not be the girls.”

Before he could worry if he was going to have to ask one of the teenagers if they were actually a fully grown man in disguise, a shadow fell across the table. He looked up, expecting to have to apologize to the waitress for taking so long to order. The excuse was already on his tongue – his date wasn't there yet. But then it died on his tongue.

There was a man standing there, human and wearing the tightest jeans Garrus had ever seen. He gave a little wave as he smiled, eyes sparkling. Well, eye – the other one was covered by his blue-streaked blonde hair.

“Hey there, been waiting long?”

Garrus' brain had short-circuited long ago. It didn't help that his tongue had somehow glued itself to the roof of his mouth of the sight of the man and his incredibly tight pants. Really... he must have had to paint those damn things on. Weren't humans concerned with ball space or something? Their genitals were on the outside...

…

Also wasn't he supposed to be straight? Why was he checking some dude's ass out?

Right, words. “Uh... what?”

The man chuckled as he sat down. “Sorry I was late, I know we said we'd meet at 2 but I got held up at work. You didn't wait long, did you?”

By now, the turian's brain was thoroughly fried. Somehow, someone had mistaken him for their date. Scenarios to get him out ran by quickly – the most obvious being to tell him that he wasn't there on a date at all. But that would probably break his cover...

And more importantly, Shepard and Tali would enjoy it way too much. They were evil.

“I...”

“Anyway, thanks for waiting for me. I hear this place has great tea. Not sure what you can get, though. Are you allergic to levo?” The man's voice lowered as he leaned forward to whisper to Garrus. “Perimeter's clear, though the back door has some pretty serious locks for a simple business. I think we're onto something.”

…

His brain turned back on. “Wait... Shepard?”

The man's cheeks turned pink as he sat back down, playing with the ends of what Garrus realized now was most definitely a wig. “I told her it was too much, but she said otherwise I would've been too easy to spot.”

In theory, that made sense – Shepard was the first human Spectre. Pretty much everyone had seen the video of him accepting the position at least once. To say a small human with a bight red military haircut and a missing eye would've stuck out in a popular cafe was putting it mildly. Honestly if any of this was actually true, it might have gotten guns pulled on them had they tried it.

Which, probably would've made things easier but they were trying to be subtle.

“Well... she's right. Those two are probably enjoying this.” He moved in closer as well, if only to prolong the image. That close, he could definitely smell Shepard had been sprayed with something that wasn't sweat. It wasn't bad just... odd. “So... see anything else?”

Shepard pulled the menu so he could flip his wrist over to expose his omni-tool. Specs popped up, showing the blueprint of the building. Garrus' facial plates twitched as he gave it a brief once over, stopping at the basement level.

It was pretty damn big... maybe too big for a restaurant.

“I think it's shared with a building halfway down the block that has connections to the Blue Suns.” Another spec, for a place Garrus definitely remembered as being a suspected front for something. They had still been working on it when he left C-SEC. Maybe they'd wind up wrapping two cases. “It'd probably be easier to get into this one once it closes up...”

That would be in a couple hours... so they were probably doing dinner then.

“Hi there, are you two ready to order?”

Both men sprung back up as they realized they had company. A cheery looking waitress had appeared, smiling at them like she knew what was going on. At the same time, the pocket of her uniform was sitting a little weird. Maybe it was a datapad... but maybe she was packing heat. The Blue Suns were getting creative with their recruiting.

“Uh, yeah. I'd like a strawberry soda for now.” Shepard had dropped his voice way below where Garrus thought he could, and his accent was different. He grinned as he turned to the turian. “How about you, big guy? Pretty sure I picked somewhere you could eat.”

It was hard to keep his mandibles from twitching. This was going to be a long night. Luckily, there were no turians around to pick up his subvocals as he shot murder over at the human. Instead, he checked the menu fast – honestly, he had forgotten it was there.

“Coffee is fine by me.” And then he remembered he had to pretend to be into Shepard. The pants helped. “Wouldn't want to be bouncing off the walls and kill the chance of a second date.”

The waitress giggled – maybe that was a datapad. That, or she was one hell of an actress. “That's one strawberry soda and a coffee for the cute couple at table 5 then. Be right back!”

And then she was gone. Both breathed a sigh of relief as they relaxed – it was a little harder for Shepard for obvious reasons. But at least they had managed to pass the first round of this fake dating nightmare.

“You didn't seem like the coffee kind of guy, Garrus.” His fake date sounded a little too honest as he leaned back. The turian would have thought him using the position to look around under the wig, but he knew better – that eye was dead. “Let me guess, you take it black as night and bitter as hell?”

Garrus' mandibles twitched a little. “Not big on sugar. Clearly that's not the case with you. You planning to bounce around all date?”

“Some of us need the energy. Besides, if you think this is bad you should see me slam pixie sticks sometime.”

Just the thought of it made Garrus twitch. Biotics and their energy requirements...

“Right, well, we should start to figure out where we're going next.” His eyes wandered back to the storefront. “Maybe a walk around? There's a park nearby that's beautiful at night.”

Shepard smiled at him, and his stomach flopped. Maybe it was the fact he hadn't eaten anything. “Sounds good to me. Now, why don't you tell me a little about yourself so if you try to murder me and shove me in a trash can, I can text my sister beforehand so she knows who to tell C-SEC about when you go to the bathroom.”

Despite everything, Garrus found himself laughing. The human chuckled as well, maybe in spite of himself. Honestly, the whole thing was just utterly ridiculous and the plot of some cruel spirit that enjoyed jerking them around. Somewhere, they were enjoying this.

Fucking spirits...

“You two are doing great. Shepard's scan gave me a weak point you can access once the building is shut down.'

Tali was back in his earpiece. From the sound of things, she wasn't in engineering anymore. Wherever she was heading this mission's tech corner was somewhere much quieter, and with a little less foot traffic. Maybe they wanted to enjoy this in private.

'Tell Al to fix his shirt, unless he wants to show his new underwear off when you two go to take your walk.'

The other Shepard sounded almost amused by this. Garrus felt his mandibles twitch as he glanced over at the human sitting across from him. Shepard had taken to folding a napkin again and again, turning it into a rather lopsided bird. If it were real, it probably would've been spawned near a toxic waste dump and probably glowed under black light.

But at least he was doing something with his hands that wasn't too suspicious.

“Hey, I know this is awkward because I shouldn't be staring at your ass yet-” At least Shepard had the sense to chuckle at that. “But... might want to pull your shirt down.”

The blush that colored Shepard's cheeks was definitely real as he tugged his shirt down over those skin tight pants. Hooray for method acting, he assumed. If they kept this up, people might actually believe they were a couple.

Maybe. Spirits, this was hard.

“Thanks...”

“No problem.” The turian nodded as he spotted the waitress. “I spot my coffee and your sugar syrup. Refuel for round two?”

They would need it – he was starting to get the feeling things might get interesting after all. After all, it wasn't every day he faked being someone's date to get into an underground facility with a Spectre in skinny jeans.

Now that was something even the writers of Blasto couldn't come up with... too bad he was living it instead of watching it. At least he got coffee...

[kenshi-vakarian7]

For the angst/fluff prompts, 74 for Mass Effect ship of your choice, please?

Sorry for the long delay @makocartwheels , but it’s finally done!  Hope you enjoy it. :)

“Hero”

Kira Ryder was finally home.  After working for over twoyears as Pathfinder, she was finally retiring from the role (whichshe passed down to Cora Harper) and settling on Kadara with herlover, Reyes Vidal.  Their long-distance relationship was no more. The most they had spent together during the last two years was amonth, so it was going to be nice to practically have all the time inthe world.  Well, maybe not allthe time since their respective work – him as the Charlatanand her as an Arbitrator between the angara and the Milky Way speciesliving on Kadara – would keep them busy.  But at least now, theycan come home with the other waiting for them nearly every night.

Even after all this time in Andromeda, Kira didn’t bringa lot of personal items with her to Reyes’s – no – theirlittle sanctuary hidden deep within the mountains of Kadara.  Shedidn’t have a lot to begin with – mostly clothes, weapons, and afew personal items she either collected since arriving here orbrought over from the Milky Way.  All of them fit into two largeboxes, except one Milky Way item encased in a metal tube that was along as her arm.  She hadn’t opened that tube at all since waking upfrom cryo.

Reyes helped her get settled before he had to leave fora few hours to wrap up some lingering business from theKadara-related mess they both dealt with not too long ago (and thereason she took on the Arbitrator role to begin with).  He wasn’texpecting any trouble, but Kira made sure to leave her omni-tool’smessage alert on just in case.

Once Reyes left, Kira decided to take a nice hot shower(and grateful that the water no longer smells like sulfur) andfollowed that with a nap on the living room couch.  She wasn’t surehow long she was asleep before she woke up to Reyes gently kissingher forehead.  She smiled to herself when he heard him stepping awayand planned to nap just a little longer…

Suddenly, a soft popping sound was heard, making Kira’seyes snap open.  At first, she thought Reyes opened up the bottle ofwine meant for the celebration dinner they planned for tonight.  Thenuntil she spotted him just across the room… opening the metal tubeshe brought over from the Milky Way.

Oh great… Kiramoaned in her head.  She sat up from the couch and glared in hisdirection.  She momentarily thought to stop him, but eventually letout a breath as she realized that any attempt to halt his curiositywould be in vain.  If she tried to stop him now, all it would do wasmake him even more curious over the mystery item.  Besides,he’s going to find out sooner or later anyway… might as well get itover with…

“Reyes… what are you doing?” Kira grumbled.

He was just in middle of turning the tube over when shespoke.  He gazed up at her with his amber eyes and she noticed thecuriosity in them – just as she expected.  “Well my dear, Ihappen to notice you hadn’t unpacked this yet, so I thought I’d…assist.”

“Uh huh…” Kira said suspiciously.  Then shedecided to make a guess over real intention.  “You’ve been wantingto pop that open since you laid eyes on it, haven’t you?”

Reyes chuckled.  “It is a curious thing - an unopenedtube sitting in this corner while you’ve long since unpackedeverything else – and I bet you haven’t opened this once since weleft the Milky Way.  If I had to bet, and you know by now I’m abetting man, I’d say there’s something valuable in here.”

Kira shrugged.  Thinking about, it’s highly likely thathe wasn’t wrong in his assumption.  “Maybe.  Perhaps it is one of akind here in Andromeda.”

“Now you have me even more intrigued,” Reyes saidwith a grin.  He then tilted his head thoughtfully.  “I’m surprisedyou’re just sitting there and letting me open this.”

“Yeah, well.. you’re going to see what it is sooner orlater.  Might as well get it out of the way now, especially if we’regoing to be living together permanently.  Besides, I’m too tired tofight you over it.”

Reyes laughed as he finished turning the tube over. “Shame, it would’ve been fun chasing you around while you try tokeep this away from me.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Kira mumbled in a teasingtone.

A rolled-up paper slipped out of the tube and Reyescaught the end with his free hand.  It looked brand new even aftermore than six-hundred years.  The tube encasing it was clearlydesigned to keep it in the condition it was in during the long travelthrough dark space.  Reyes pulled out the paper completely beforeplacing the tube back in the corner where he found it moments ago.

Kira watched his face as he unrolled the paper justenough to get a look at what it is.  Reyes remained intrigued as hestared at the printed picture in front of him.  Then slowly, his headtilted a little to the side before one corner of his lips turnedupward and his eyes sparked in recognition.

“Is this who I was think it is?” Reyes finallyasked.

Kira couldn’t help butglare at him.  “Reyes Vidal, you know exactlywho that is.”

“Remind me,” he added in mirth.

That made Kira rolleyes only because she knewhe was teasing her.  She tried to play it cool over her next words. “If you don’t know who Commander Adam Shepard is by now, then Ican’t help but question your abilities as the Charlatan.  Informationis your business after all.”

Now that smileof his turned mischievous.  “I didn’t think you’d be so… touchyover it.  Tsk tsk.  Andif I recall, people usually don’t use Shepard’s first name whenreferring to him.  I think you’re the first.”

Kira felt her face turned hot, suddenly feeling like ayoung teenager with a crush… again.  “So what?” she balked.

“You’re blushing.”

“No I’m not.”

“You were a fan girl of his, weren’t you?”

“…Shut up.”

Reyes laughed withamusement as he continued to admire the poster.  “I can hardlyblame you.  After all, he is the hero who saved Elysium, the firsthuman Spectre, and… very, verynice to look at.  You both have the same shade of blue eyes.”

“Not really,” Kira pointed out.  “The picturesdon’t do them justice.  His was actually a bit lighter and a lotnicer looking in person.”

That got a raisedeyebrow from Reyes as he turned to look at her.  “In… person? You actually met him?”

Kira stood up to join him.  “Look at the bottom of theposter.”

Reyes unrolled the poster more until he couldn’tanymore.  By now, Kira got a good look at the photography of the Heroof the Citadel.  Shepard was standing tall in his black armor withthe N7 stripe down his right arm, the same arm possessing a glowingomni-blade at his side.  His left arm was raised and holding an M-8Avenger.  Blue eyes looked past the camera and his dark brown hairwas cut short.  Behind him was the view of the Nebula from one of thearms of the Citadel, though Kira wasn’t sure exactly which arm it was(the background was likely photoshopped in anyway).

At the bottom of the poster on the right hand corner wasa note written in metallic silver ink…

Kira -

Never let an opportunity pass you by if you trulybelieve in your heart that it will make a positive difference in yourlife.

All the best,

Cmdr A. Shepard

14 Aug 2183

Reyes hummed a little after reading that.  “Seems likea decent guy if that note is anything to go by.”

“He was more humbled than I ever imagined him to begiven his status,” Kira mentioned as she leaned the side of herhead onto Reyes’s shoulder.  “When I met him, it was only supposedto last a few minutes, but… we ended up talking for almost anhour.”

“Really?  How did that happen?”

Kira couldn’t help smiling as she recalled the memory. “I was lucky enough to still have a particular childhood friend inmy life at the time.  After the Battle of the Citadel, she and I bothgot on the station and she, well… let it slip that her olderbrother was serving under Shepard.”  She laughed over her nextwords.  “I may have threatened to end our friendship if shedidn’t speak to her brother and convince him to set up a meeting.”

Reyes laughed.  “I didn’t realize you were such aconniving little devil.”

“Hey!” she called out as she lightly slapped hisarm.  “At that time, I waited seven years to meet him in person. Before that, I admired his heroism after he saved Elysium frompirates.  I mean, not many can face wave after wave of pirates ontheir own and survive.”

“I probably could,” Reyes nearly mumbled.

Kira snorted at the way he said that.  “Is thatjealousy I hear, Mr. Vidal?”

Reyes huffed.  “Hardly.  I’d get that kind of job donein the shadows.”

“Uh huh… but then you wouldn’t get the Star of Terralike he did.”

“Medals are overrated.”  An amused look suddenlylook came over Reyes’s face.  “You sure it wasn’t a teenage crushand not a hero worship?”

“…Shut up.  And the answer is both, for therecord.”

He laughed before Kira continued.  “Anyway, Shepardgot a bit banged up during battle so he was resting.  We met up at myfriend’s brother’s apartment and she accompanied me.  I was bothexcited and nervous because I was certain I was going to look like anidiot at some point, but… that didn’t happen.  We ended up talkingabout myself more than anything.  Believe it or not, he was actuallyinterested in what I had to say, always asking questions and neverlooking bored.  I’ve met celebrities before, but meeting him, it wasthe first time a celebrity didn’t look… disinterested.  It made merealize that day why those close to him are so loyal – because hecared about them, not because of what they can do.

“After the meeting ended, he was no longer just an oldteenage crush or a hero to get starry-eyed over.  Shepard became aninspiration, someone to aspire to.”  Kira frowned a little as shebecame more thoughtful.  “I doubt I came close as Pathfinder,but…”

At those last words, Reyes rolled up the poster beforeplacing it back in the tube it came in.  “But you have,” Reyespointed out as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms aroundher waist.  “You’re an excellent leader, you made Heleus livable,created strong bonds between the angara and those from the Milky Way,and you helped those who needed it.  You’ve done things no one elsecould achieve, just like he did.”

Reyes placed a kiss on the side of Kira’s neck beforewhispering into her ear.  “But better.”

Kira chuckled as she rolled her eyes.  “How am I thebetter one?”

“For one thing… you’re better looking.”

Kira rolled her eyes again.  “Cheesy flatterer.”

Reyes laughed before adding, “You achieved theimpossible without the N7 rank.”

“To be fair, Luke and I received some N7 training fromDad,” Kira pointed out.  “Not exactly close to the real thing,but…”

“But you didn’t need it anyway, nor a medal for thatmatter,” Reyes said.  “Also, as much as I hate to bring it up, Ibet you gave him a run for his money when it comes to being broughtback from the dead if the rumors about him are anything to go by.”

“Maybe,” Kira said with a frown as thoughts overwhat possibly became of the Milky Way entered her mind from all therecordings she found in her father’s personal logs.  Before that, shehad thought that Commander Shepard had died, which happened just overa month after meeting him… but the logs said otherwise.  Even then,who knows if he – or anyone else she knew for that matter –managed to survive, end the invasion, and live out the remainder oftheir lives.  By now, the entire Initiative knew the truth and anyefforts to get in contact with the Milky Way currently remainsunsuccessful.

Kira’s thoughts stopped in their tracks when she felthis hold around her tighten.  “I didn’t-” he started to say.

Kira quickly shook her head as she reached her hands tograsp his own over her stomach.  She figured that he thought she wasthinking about all those close calls during the last two years of herlife.  “No, it’s fine.  I’m all right,” she assured him.

For a few moments, they remained silent and simply enjoybeing in each other’s arms.  Kira found herself staring at theirlittle sanctuary, still not believing that this was now home, and forgood.  Maybe eventually, the idea would sink in.  In the meantime,she couldn’t help but wonder where in their home would be a goodplace to hang up her Commander Shepard poster – once she got a niceframe for it of course.

The living room would be nice, sheconsidered.  Just as long as it doesn’t face the window and-

“By the way,” Reyes suddenly said, breaking thequiet.  “If we ever hit any hard times, a poster of Shepard, signedfor the Human Pathfinder, would fetched a lot of credits.”

As much as she appreciate the change in mood, Kiracouldn’t help but turn around in his arms to glare at him.  “Don’t. You.  Dare.”

Reyes laughed and Kira was about to protest more beforehe stopped her by pressing his lips to hers.  Whatever she was goingto say left her and she was soon returning the kiss.