#edie does surfacing

[edievctd]

Screencaps from the MDS industry best award-winning short film 'Tooth Be Told'.

I was an environment artist! I modelled and surfaced a lot of the objects in these screencaps.

The models I made were created in Maya, surfacing was done in Adobe Substance, and renders were done by my teammates in Blender.

[her-devils-advocate]

Memory Lane

pairings: Femshep x Garrus

genre: fluff, comfort

summary: In the early morning hours, Shepard’s mind begins to wander. Is she still the same woman who hunted down Saren? She would like to believe so, but recent actions have made her reconsider. Luckily for Shepard, Garrus is there to comfort her.

Set in the first half of ME2, but before Garrus’ loyalty mission.

word count: 2,662

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/58132921

The mission had gone well enough, a simple in-and-out task. One that came with a lot of bullets required. But they had successfully recruited the assassin and gained another ally to help with the impossible, a feat Shepard should be pleased by. Still, nothing had helped to stop the simmering anxiety that had been hounding her since her reawakening. The anxiety had returned to her when they arrived on the Normandy, clawing at her heels and trying to slow her escape to her quarters.

She does her best to weave through the crew members, avoiding their eyes all while strategically using a random datapad as an excuse to not be social. Not that anyone could blame her given the hour.

Throwing open the doors to her cabin, she tosses the datapad onto the desk, not bothering to see where it lands before slowly dragging her aching body to the sofa. If she’s lucky, she might be able to schedule in a small nap before they arrive at Pragia, but Shepard knows by now to not push her luck in that department. The cool leather presses against her bare arms, helping to ground her as she stares up at the ceiling, making an effort to avoid the obnoxious window above her bed.

Her long hair hangs off the side of the couch, brushing past her dangling arms before she finally gets the energy to push herself into an upright position, forgoing her attempt at a nap altogether and instead resting her head in her hands with a barely concealed sigh. 

Her skin feels wrong. Sure, it feels the same as two years ago; the same softness, the same freckle resting just below her left elbow, but now it doesn’t feel like it belongs to her. The uneasiness buzzes under the surface, wanting to tear itself out and be free from its manufactured prison. How can she be so sure she isn’t the puppet they claim she’s not?

The commander of the SR1 was a kind woman, preferring to use her words until she was sure they were no longer an option. She wanted to help as many people as possible, going as far as letting the Batarians escape to secure the hostages' safety back in the Asgard system. The old commander would never aim her gun at someone who hadn’t aimed their first, she would never play with her targets, using cheap taunts for even cheaper satisfaction. She was a kind and proud woman, a woman worthy of the title of “The First Human Spectre”, nothing like the ghost now masquerading as her.

The commander of the SR2 had risen to taunts and replied in kind. She had put her words aside and jumped straight to violence on that damned mission, something she was not proud of and now feels the overwhelming guilt and fear creeping up on her as she reflects. She can no longer run from the fact that Commander Shepard has changed, that she no longer recognises the woman who stares through the mirror at her. 

Before the sob building up at the back of her throat has a chance to escape, a smooth, metallic voice breaks her focus. 

“Commander, Garrus Vakarian is outside your quarters, shall I let him in?”

She takes a moment to compose herself, pushing the fear back down into its designated bottle and hoping that whatever expression she’s contorted her features into doesn’t give her away.

“Go ahead, EDI.” She replies, her voice lacking its usual warmth. 

She watches the blue node flicker away after giving a simple “affirmative”, interrupted by the gentle swoosh of her doors being opened. She lifts her head to give him a small grin, feeling her muscles relax at the sight of him easily waltzing through her room.

“Hey, Garrus.” She cringes at the small wobble in her voice and she can only hope that she can play it off as exhaustion. Shepard doesn’t miss the way his head tilts once he reaches her, but before she can say anything, he drops down onto the space next to her.

“Hey, Shep.” He keeps his voice casual, yet she has known him long enough to pick up the traits of hesitation and worry clinging to his voice, “So, you were quick to avoid everyone after that last mission, I think you gave Chambers whiplash with how fast you shot past her. Are you okay?”

She turns her head away, letting it hang as a curtain of hair shields her face from his concerned gaze. She debates telling him, letting him into that dark part of the supernova known as Shepard. But right now, she doesn’t want to be The Commander. She wants to talk to her friend.

“Garrus, it might be selfish of me to ask, but I need to know. How did... How do you know that I'm me? Some days I'm not even sure. I don't act the same as I did when we took Saren down, not entirely. It's got me questioning myself.”

She leans back on the couch, rubbing a hand over her forehead as she tries to corral her frayed thoughts into a coherent sentence. She’s thankful for the silence hanging between them as they both approach the delicate subject that has been a long time coming.

“I'm tired and I'm more stressed than back on the SR1 and it's now starting to show, I'm becoming blunter and less tolerant. It's... It's beginning to scare me. I don't feel the same, hell, I don't even look the same now that I'm missing my old scars and gained brand-new, glowing ones. That paired with the fact that I'm starting to act differently, how can I be certain?”

She finally turns to stare up at him, her eyes wide with unconcealed fear and for a second, she worries that she’s said too much. Garrus is silent, his mandibles slowly fluttering with nerves as he takes the time to properly look at his best friend. 

He would be blind to not notice the changes in her, both physical and mental. Humans can be resilient despite their squishiness, he will give them that. But no human has managed to perfectly heal a decades-old scar, let alone two of them. The new scars Cerberus had left her with stand out more than the lack of eyebrow and lip scarring, given the way they ominously flicker against her smooth flesh. The raw, unnatural cracks in her skin only skimmed the surface of the cracks her death had left her with on the inside.

He can’t deny that he was concerned to see her almost push a man out of a window, not after all she had taught him before her untimely departure from the galaxy, but he also can’t deny the fact of who she still is. It’s not like he hasn’t changed, possibly for the worse depending on who you ask, in those years either.

He gives her a small shrug, flicking a mandible out in the turian equivalent of a smirk as he throws his arm across the back of her sofa, leaning closer to her.

“I knew from the moment I first saw you, Shepard. Cliché, I know, but come on, who else would be crazy enough to run across a manufactured death trap, not to mention towards the sniper hellbent on killing everyone around them?”

A small chuckle breaks past her lips and she is quick to try and cover it with her hand, her nerves being settled with each passing moment. Garrus simply watches her for a moment before clearing his throat and trying to put on a more serious front. It would have worked, but she knew him too well to see the growing amusement in his eyes. 

“But if you really do need convincing, then I guess it's come to this. We're doing it.” His low voice drawls out as he finishes it with a single, firm nod.

“Doing what?” She asks, suspicion rising in her voice.

“What's one shared memory that only you, the real Commander Shepard, would know?”

Shepard gives Garrus an unimpressed look, doing her best to push down the giddy, juvenile excitement before taking a moment to think. Her lips stretch into a gentle smile as she gets lost in the memory. 

Everyone was so different back then, she realises, not just herself.

“Noveria. It was shortly after we helped take Anoleis down, but before we reached Peak 15.”

Garrus interrupts her with a loud groan, running a single hand over his fringe. She happily continues, purposefully ignoring his dramatics. He did ask, after all.

“We had to park the Mako for a moment while you repaired one of the wheels that had been damaged by the Geth. Liara had opted to remain inside the Mako, not wanting to leave her spot near its heater. You were so focused on the task at hand and completely unaware of your surroundings.” 

She pauses momentarily, trying to stifle her giggles as best as she can as she feels her eyes beginning to water from the effort. Garrus rolls his eyes, trying to look annoyed despite the fondness squeezing his heart. He loves it whenever she lets herself laugh, the sound simultaneously foreign yet familiar to him.

“You were a little bit too focused and didn't realise what I was up to until it was too late. Before you knew it, you were bumped on the head with an impressively large snowball.”

Garrus shivers from the memory before rising to her bait, his words coming out as dry as possible. “Bumped is putting it lightly, I still don't believe you when you say you didn't use any biotics to help you with that throw.”

“I didn't, I swear!” She throws her hands up in mock surrender as he narrows his eyes at her, watching as a small smirk begins to appear on her lips. “But... I guess it is true that only the real Commander Shepard would know how loud your yelp was. Seriously Garrus, I was concerned we would trigger an avalanche.”

“I believe I did warn you that Turians aren't exactly fans of the cold weather,” Garrus replies, coolly.

“How could I forget? You made sure to repeatedly remind me after that. It was worth it though, I wasn't aware that your voice could even hit that pitch.” Her words are light, unrestrained glee flowing free as she shuffles even closer to him.

Garrus scoffs, finding the fish swimming around the comically large fish tank more interesting. He would never let her know that he surprised himself that day, equally unaware his voice could go that high. He also keeps the way her maniacal cackling instantly warmed the chill caused by the snow a secret. One he’s more than prepared to take to his grave.

“Ha. Ha. You know, I do believe that you have an equally embarrassing story from Noveria. Before Anoleis, when we were still trying to get into that garage.” 

It’s now her turn to groan, bringing her knees up to her chest and burying her face against them to hide the harsh crimson that begins to take over her cheeks. She tries to silence him, moving to place a slender hand over his mouth, but he’s faster and stronger and can grab both of her wrists with ease before continuing with his recollection.

“It was shortly after we spoke to Lorik Qui'in in the Mezzanine. We had left to go grab the data from his office and on the way back, you managed to fall down the stairs.” He doesn’t bother to stop the smirk from leaking into his voice, proud at the reaction he’s drawn from her.

Shepard remembers this day well, even if she wishes she didn’t. She was younger, technically speaking, and full of fake confidence as more and more bullshit got thrown her way. She wanted to appear more put together than she felt, especially in front of her new crew which happened to be full of aliens who had very little human interaction before her. 

She had always loved the cold, especially the snow, feeling more calm whenever snowflakes descended from the sky. Noveria was like heaven to her, even if the rest of her crew made their displeasure known. During the small lull in urgency, she had let her guard down for a mere second, wanting a moment to appreciate the raging storm outside. If only she hadn’t decided to do so while walking down the stupidly steep stairs.

The horrible clacking of her armour against the polished stone stairs rang loudly through the building and brought all eyes to the figure sitting awkwardly at the bottom. The way Garrus gave a loud huff of laughter, once it was shown she was alright, at least, still echoes in the back of her mind. If that’s what it took to lure it out from him, she would take the bruised ego and flesh.

“Okay, big guy, "fall" is a bit dramatic. I might have slipped and skidded down the last 4 steps on my arse, which was an easy mistake to make! My boots were still slippery from the snow!” Commander Shepard doesn’t pout, she’s too old to stoop to such levels and she definitely didn’t have a hint of one in her voice.

Garrus simply chuckles, nodding along and letting her have her excuse, no matter how flimsy it is. They sit in silence for a moment, simply existing in the gentle mirth. A moment where the two of them don’t need to put on a mask or hide behind a title.

It had been too long since Garrus was able to simply sit beside his friend, he had honestly thought he would never get the chance to do so again, not after Liara broke the news of her death to him. But if he has learnt anything from having her back, it’s to not doubt the lengths Shepard will go to just to do the impossible. If anything, he shouldn’t be surprised by her cheating death itself.

A small voice breaks the silence and draws him out of his thoughts. He registers it as Shepard’s, yet he has never heard her voice sound so gentle before.

“Thank you, Garrus. Thank you for helping me up. All those times back then and all the ones that I'm sure will happen in the future. But more importantly, thank you for this, for helping me feel like myself again. For convincing me that I am who I’m supposed to be.”

The fragility of it shakes him and the vulnerability that shines in her eyes shoots through to his heart. The sound lures out emotions that he had tried to force down and they begin to bubble with a renowned strength. Without thinking, he moves to tenderly tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear, momentarily fascinated by how silky it felt against his finger. Her eyes widen at the action for a second before she turns to give him a shy smile.

“You're welcome, Shepard. I've got your back, then and now. No one can blame you for acting differently under the circumstances, and there are a lot of circumstances to consider. Cerberus, a new crew, being brought back only to be thrown towards a suicide mission... Not to mention the fact that the people you once gave everything to help are now acting differently around you. I would be even more concerned for you if you weren't showing signs of stress.”

She huffs out a humourless laugh, nodding along with his words, she then shocks the both of them when she lifts her hand to carefully rest it on his knee. “I’m lucky to have you, Garrus.”

One day she might know just how backwards she’s got it and that he is the lucky one. One day he might be brave enough to tell her if she doesn’t get the courage first.

[thejedipirate]

N7 Month Day 10: Transform

21 June 2185 Normandy SR-2 On route to Omega Station, Terminus Systems

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Shepard-”

“This is my body. I have a right to know what was done to it. I want to see the files from the Lazarus Project, Lawson. Please.”

Miranda hesitated for several moments before relenting. “I will have everything transferred to a datapad and I’ll deliver it within the hour, Commander.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

And so here the Commander was, sitting in this grandiose cabin - with a fish tank - reading through the sordid details of her “reconstruction”. Frankenstein’s monster is definitely an apt metaphor.  AJ sighed as she ran her left hand through her short auburn hair for a few moments before rubbing her face, the sensation of smooth, uncalloused hands sliding across angry, glowing red scars highly unnerving. Who the fuck wakes up two years after they’ve bit the bullet? No one. It’s absolute madness. Sheer lunacy. Something straight out of a cheesy 1950s science fiction movie. She snorted as the thought of her father loving just this kind of movie came to mind.

Yet one of the first things Shepard had done was have Karin do a full medical workup. The results were eye opening: increased speed, increased strength, eyesight and hearing all significantly improved beyond normal human capabilities using research stemming from Cerberus’s super soldier experiments. They’d managed to augment her DNA with Asari genes for biotics, and Krogan genes for improved musculature. 

It didn’t stop there.

Close to a third of her body was synthetic, strewn with cybernetics and biosynthetic fusion to speed along her “recovery”. There were details for additional procedures that had yet to be done: synthetic skin, muscle, and bone weaves to further increase her resistance to damage and injuries.

Frustration bubbling to the surface, energy buzzed in the air as her hands began to glow biotic blue. Oh for the love of… Taking a deep breath, Shepard focused on relaxing, the glow subsiding after thirty seconds.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Wait, you’re a biotic?” Jacob asked. AJ stared at her left fist, glowing with biotic energy. Wilson lay crumpled against the opposite wall, out cold.

“Huh. That’s… new.” 

Gently placing a hand on her shoulder, Jacob grabbed the Spectre’s attention as he motioned onward. “You can talk to Miranda about it later. We need to get to the shuttle.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“According to Operative Lawson’s notes, the explosion that sent you flying from the Normandy saturated your suit with eezo from the drive core. With multiple punctures, you had virtually no protection against a high eezo exposure. You’re lucky your first exposure occurred in utero. Even while… while dying… your body was starting to form the nodes for biotics. All Lawson had to do while rebuilding you was complete the process. You’re in the upper range for a human biotic.”

Shepard crossed her arms, leaning against a bed in the medbay. She sighed deeply, eyes darting back and forth as she tried to organize her thoughts in her head. Finally giving it a small shake, AJ addressed the doctor. “Thanks for the rundown, Karin. I’d like a copy to look through later, and for comparison.”

“Comparison?”

“I’m going to ask Miss Lawson for the files on the Lazarus Project. I want to see if she’ll hide any of this from me.”

Doctor Chakwas gave a firm nod. “Understood, Commander.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

How much of me is even me anymore? Am I just a clone that thinks it’s Commander Shepard? Some elaborate forgery designed to pass for the real person? A sophisticated AI implanted into an organic body?

Tossing the pad on her desk, Shepard let out a long sigh.

“Fuck. I need a drink.”

-The Port Observation Lounge has a bar, Commander.

“Of course it does. We’ve got a fish tank, an AI, why not a bar too?” Getting up, AJ headed for the elevator. “Thanks EDI. ETA to Omega?”

-Four hours, fifty-seven minutes.

The elevator door closed as Shepard pressed for deck three. “Tell Joker to get his crippled ass to the bar.”

AJ was already three shots in by the time Jeff arrived. "You started without me? Really?" Putting her glass down, Shepard poured the pilot a shot of tequila. He shuffled onto the bar stool to the left, quickly downing the first shot.

"Damn, that's not your usual poison." "It had the highest alcohol content. Three shots in and I'm not even buzzed. I may have to switch to ryncol if I want to actually get drunk."

They sat in companionable silence for a while, occasionally refilling their shot glasses. Jeff watched her carefully. "So... what are you chasing around upstairs?" AJ glanced in his direction before lowering her head, staring at her hands on the table.

"I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. Nothing feels real to me. I'm walking around in a daze, with a face in the mirror looking back at me. I don't recognize it. For fuck's sake, I died, Jeff!" Shaking her head, the Commander kept her focus on her hands.

“Look, you've been awake for a week now. As far as I'm concerned, I got my best friend back.” Shepard turned toward him, meeting his eyes, her own swimming in uncertainty.

“Even with the changes? With all the synthetic parts?”

“It's like the ship of Theseus. The ancient Greeks replaced any boards that were damaged, and over the course of centuries, eventually every plank was replaced. There wasn't an original board left on that ship. Was it still the same ship?”

AJ pondered his words as Jeff continued, “Our bodies are constantly replacing cells. At our age, none of my original cells are left, yet I'm still me. So are you.”

“And the biotics?”

“Are just a bonus power! I mean come on, you can lift things with your mind now! How cool is that?” Shepard huffed. "I suppose you're right. Thanks Joker." "Anytime, though don't make this a regular habit. You know I'm not a people person." Grinning, AJ nudged him with her shoulder. "Jackass." "I try."

[favoriteblogonthecitadel]

was going to ask about Xiomara and Kasumi’s relationship, which i would love to hear about, but also… who on the SR-2 is Xo closest to? does she have any designated gossip buddies, rivals, really close friends, etc…? 👀

Oohh this is such a fun question!!

In general, Xiomara is a curious coworker to have because she’s an extrovert with a strong self-preservation instinct: she tends to get along easily with people on a surface level, but develops few meaningful relationships. More on her various dynamics with the SR2 crew below!

Miranda is the intellectual rival with sexual tension. Xiomara often takes her along for missions because she’s undoubtedly capable and easy to annoy once Xo figures out her red buttons, so she gets to channel her distaste for Cerberus while getting stuff done. The more rogue Miranda goes, the more they come to like each other.

Garrus is another frequent companion because they have a friendly competition and the same aversion to talking about feelings, so it’s a nice bro relationship. I would say he also makes her laugh, but I think it’s more that she laughs at him often and appreciates that he provides that relief just by existing.

Kasumi is an unexpected friend. She frankly seems to have no agenda to influence Shep, she’s just there to get her credits and be hilarious. 10/10 they become gossip buddies, exchange stories about stealing from rich people, and she might even be the only person that Xo ever mentions Kaidan to. Kasumi knows what it’s like to lose your person.

She finds Mordin unnerving because she doesn’t like scientists in general, especially those of the medical kind, being a biotic who often got treated like a lab rat early in her career. The thing is that Mordin’s cold calculation often makes perfect sense to her. So she listens to his professional advice and keeps a safe distance. When he goes through his moral crisis, she lowkey goes through her own as a result, but she keeps it to herself.

Thane, Grunt, Samara, and Jack are all fine by her, they’re also just so intense that she spends less time around them. Samara and Thane also happen to be at a different, later stage in their lives, where Xo doesn’t quite relate to them. In contrast, Grunt and Jack at least share Xo’s penchant for chaos. They’re high maintenance, but what they ask of her is not emotional support or even a listening ear; just blowing stuff up with them, which is the mark of camaraderie in her book.

Jacob is a good, reliable person to have on board, just too serious to pique her interest.

Joker is the one she goes to when she needs to make inappropriate jokes in a safe environment. She definitely doesn’t trust EDI at first, but later becomes quite fond of her.

She recruits Tali last and it’s not until she’s on the Normandy that Xo realizes how fucking much she missed her. Ultimate babygirl that brings the best out of Xo while also being a supportive, unjudgmental ride or die, which means the world to her.

I haven’t gotten to Legion yet so I’m not sure what to describe there, but I can update with thoughts later. 👀

Edit: I forgot about Zaeed lmao!! Considering Xo could’ve easily become a mercenary in a different timeline I feel like they communicate easily. She calls him “old man” when he starts trying to tell her old stories. He feels a bit like a cautionary tale. @urzfanclub Adding this here whoops <3

[fictionisthebetterreality]

Shepard wakes up. Earth is in ruins. The Citadel is in pieces. The Alliance Navy is trying to put it all back together.

No one has seen the NORMANDY, or its crew.

-

She searches.

Days turn to weeks. Weeks turn to months. Or, she assumes they must. She stops keeping track.

Catalyst was right, as it turns out. Their tech is reduced to sparking heaps of metalwork; glitching at best, unresponsive at worst. Their surviving engineers get to work with a familiar, frenzied, desperate sense of purpose, and she doesn't mention Catalyst's promise, that everything should be salvageable.

She tries not to think about the Geth.

She won't let herself think about EDI.

The engineers are heralded as heroes when the first starship takes to space again, and she does nothing, says nothing to contradict it. She tells no one that their survival now, is not due to their humanity.

Her humanity.

Fallen Dreadnoughts litter the sky above Earth, their hulking carcasses blotting out the sun like clouds made of steel and death. Deadened Reaper ships float alongside them, tentacles forever frozen in a final death-spasm. Several are already establishing themselves in Earth’s orbit, visible as daytime stars. People start naming them in the style of constellations, complete with myths that are nowhere near as horrifying as the truth.

There are only a few intact ships left. The Alliance fleets are limping and crawling into dock at the Citadel, and every ship that is repaired to barely workable condition is snapped up, sent to search the debris for survivors, for resources, for anything useful. Their scans are breathtaking, thousands of wrecks already breaking down, breaking apart as solar wind and radiation whirl around planets and blast the broken hulls into pieces.

They’d thought Space was quiet once. Peaceful, even.

There are too few working ships to spare even one, certainly not for a personal mission. There are hundreds of thousands of people missing loved ones, family and friends disappeared in the chaos of battle. She prefers it, seeing the endless wallpaper of MISSING that covers every available surface; glitching holographs alongside crude hand-drawings, sometimes just a name carved into rock. Anything to find those missing.

It is so much easier to see that, than to catch sight of a sudden reunion in the street, to hear the surprised shouts and inevitable tears of relief and joy that follow. To hear the familiar litany of "Have you seen...?" and to see a person nod the affirmative, point their hand towards a building or some other destination that is undoubtably reachable.

There are too few working ships to spare even one.

Not even for a soldier gone AWOL.

[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.

[dornishsphinx]

I’ve finally played all four routes of Three Houses, and it only took me until like, 2-3 weeks after the next game in the series came out. Epilogues, untouched by the wayseer:

Azure Moon

Byleth+Ashe (I am convinced Ashe/Cyril would have happened otherwise and I am filled with regret as that became a ship of mine)

Dimitri+Flayn

Dedue+Shamir

Sylvain+Ingrid

Annette+Gilbert

Felix+Bernadetta

—

Crimson Flower

Byleth+Sothis (to be honest, out of morbid curiosity due to events, and poor, poor Rhea, she does not care)

Edelgard+Linhardt (from what I remember, surprisingly and interestingly platonic)

Hubert+Ferdinand

Dorothea+Lorenz

Petra+Ashe

Caspar+Shamir

Hanneman+Manuela

Jeritza+Mercedes

—

Silver Snow (Ashen Wolves + Faculty + gdi I missed the deadline to A-Support Rhea again Run)

Byleth+Yuri

Hapi+Linhardt

Balthus+Constance

Seteth+Flayn

Hanneman+Manuela

Alois+Catherine

Shamir+Cyril

Ferdinand+Petra (apparently so into each other they still got together despite not being fielded since White Clouds)

—

Verdant Wind

Byleth+Singledom

Claude+Flayn

Hilda+Cyril

Raphael+Ignatz

Lorenz+Lysithea

Leonie+Shamir

Marianne+Linhardt

In summation, Flayn likes powerful men and Hanneman and Manuela apparently can’t get enough of each other.

Thoughts on routes and best route order below the cut, along with controversial archetype opinions:

Azure Moon - definitely the best one to start on. Has the big cinematic reveal of who Edelgard is right after Dimitri talks about who she is and what she means to him. It has the least to do with the Agarthans or Imperial motivations. Dimitri’s character arc is cool, and it’s a more personal story about Kingdom characters with cameos of others.

Crimson Flower - then, the other side of the conflict. Gives a bit more info about why Edelgard is up to things, introduces the Agarthans, gives the other side of the central Kingdom-Empire conflict (last chapter in Kingdom capital against a desperate dragon, compared to last chapter in Empire capital against a desperate abomination). Does nothing about the Agarthans other than be like “these are our allies we’re wary of”, slotting it neatly between Azure Moon and the last two routes as an intro to the (Slavic for some reason? I got spoiled for other things but not that Shambhala was covered in readable Cyrillic) Molemen Lore.

Silver Snow - Back to the save point, decide to go against Edelgard instead and see what happens. I mean, I didn’t actually do that, since I wanted to make it an Ashen Wolves + faculty playthrough and wanted to avoid giving Edie and Hubert experience that others could get, but one less White Clouds playthrough is good for the soul. Though it could be interesting playing Black Eagles against their classmates, the Church characters are great and deserve some focus, so honestly would highly recommend focusing more on them. You fight Rhea in the end in both Black Eagle routes, and if they’re close together, you can mark the differences in how she’s treated. Also the Edelgard defeat scene makes way more sense here than in Verdant Wind and is more impactful after the reunion fight animation post-timeskip. It should be seen in context here first rather than being confusing in Verdant Wind, plus, does hit harder if you have sided with her already.

Verdant Wind - You’ve done the surface-level major conflict already, that’s now on the sidelines, it’s time for the ones caught up in the middle (and from outside Fódlan) to demand some lore and then open up to the rest of the world, bringing the routes from the insular and lore-light routes to the lore-heavy one involving the most outsiders.

What I did though: Silver Snow | Verdant Wind. It’s more complicated to put these two in any order since they’re basically identical other than characters involved, so ironically, feels like playing them concurrently is actually better than playing them side by side. They’re way too similar, but at least if they’re played together, you can pick up on small differences more than “ugh, again?”, such as skipping Gronder Field and Claude pushing for info from Rhea where Byleth accepts what’s being said, and food for thought on implications (why does Rhea snap in one and not the other, for example? Did Edelgard treat her worse as a prisoner of war when The Professor takes her side?) Still, I’d put the Nemesis fight after Rhea fight. The opening up of Fódlan and Nemesis getting put down is a more uplifting conclusion than Rhea succumbing, and it’s the point I prefer to have it end on.

Also, Edelgard and Dimitri are a take on Alm/Celica.

Prince and princess of opposing lands. Princess, the “one” surviving child of a haggard-looking king’s consort. Knew each other for a short while in childhood before the princess was taken away again. The Agarthans go on about pitting “the children” against each other, Alm and Celica both have the brands. Echoes came out directly before Three Houses, they added a bunch more fight scenes between Alm and Celica for little reason. Alm is “the jasper lion”, Dimitri is a “blue lion”. Edelgard allies with the Agarthans, Celica… it’s not one to one, but she sure did go along with what the Duma Faithful asked of her. Also I’ve heard things that happen to Edelgard in Three Hopes which tie into some things which happened to Celica in Echoes and not in the original Gaiden which makes me even more suspicious lmao.

Okay, it’s not exact one to one, but the main thing that sparked the notion is they were childhood friends and then Edelgard was taken away, while Echoes was really recent. Three Houses is just wider than Echoes because multiple routes and Claude.

[bitter69uk]

“Esquire asked me in a questionnaire who I would like to have play me, and I answered Edie Sedgwick, because she does everything better than I do. It was just a surface question, so I gave them a surface answer.” Andy Warhol

“Andy Warhol would like to have been Edie Sedgwick. He would like to have been a charming, well-born debutante from Boston. He would like to have been anybody except Andy Warhol.” Truman Capote

Ciao, Edie! Died on this day: doomed, utterly magnetic Warhol Superstar, scene-maker and socialite Edie Sedgwick (Edith Minturn Sedgwick Post, 20 April 1943 – 16 November 1971). Caution: if you’re interested in Sedgwick, avoid the terrible 2006 biopic Factory Girl!

“If all I cared about was me, I could make a million. And that’s what they will never understand.”

EDIE SEDGWICK in a screen test at The Factory, 1965.

[edievctd]

Still life project from year two of media design school! I did everything making this from modeling to rendering.

Everything was made in Maya, except for the textures which were made in Mari.

[spookyvalentine]

mass effect au: white collar

Kasumi Goto, the galaxy-renowned art thief, forger and professional conman. Special Agent Shepard, the c-sec agent spearheading the white collar task force who caught her. EDI, the rogue AI posing as Kasumi’s very human partner-in-crime

ART BY @naarisz ‼️💖‼️

canon, crime lord, (sports coach coming soon)

Fic under the cut!

“Hello, Suit,” EDI greets, and bustles past them to set the pile of supplies Kasumi asked for on the already-crowded kitchen table. She has to push a carafe of wine uncomfortably close to the edge of the table to make room for her favorite portable printing press. EDI sniffs—hints of oak, vanilla and plum, before deepening into notes of chocolate and cherry. A Clos de los Siete, perhaps? She’d mentioned to Kasumi just the day before she was in the mood (oh! what a good friend she has). “Kas, when did you set the Malbec to breathe?”

No response.

She turns to look at her friend—observes the flush across her cheeks, the slight perspiration at the temples, her pulse jumping through the thin skin of her throat. Kasumi’s biometric readings honestly hurt to look at. She bats away the offending program.

EDI then examines the agent, who has increasingly been responsible for such reactions.

She supposes the suit always is dressed acceptably, but this is far more fashionable than their usual button down and tie.

A pinstripe vest accentuates a broad chest and a tidy waist. Their pants are… tighter? And perhaps a touch short—exposing the vulnerable jut of ankle bone. A quick scan informs her the agent is wearing vintage Brakala—a batarian designer of revolutionary couture, combining cultures and time periods—something that she doubts the agent would ever purchase for themself (let alone afford it with a government salary).

The navy fabric clings to their muscular frame and flatters their golden skin, EDI can concede.

Humans usually say something at such a sight, don’t they? Quickly, come up with something—

“You are… wearing more suit than usual?”

“Hello, Edie,” Agent Shepard says, and their face twists like it usually does when EDI talks to them—as if torn between hilarity and bewilderment. (This is a good reaction, right?) They smooth a large hand down their chest, looking down at the vest, a little self conscious—it’s charming. The action pushes out the suit jacket, and EDI catches a glimpse of their holstered pistol. Always armed. “I’m taking my wife out to dinner. Samara dressed us up, for some reason.”

“Not just for some reason, Shepard,” Samara says, swanning into view and petting the fur stole wrapped around her elegant neck. “It is the fourteenth anniversary of your first date—you must celebrate in style.” She pats the center of the suit’s chest twice, with a delicate jingle of silver bangles. She then gestures back to the open door with a deeply content expression. “Your radiant wife.”

And goodness gracious, radiant certainly is apt word choice. Samara has an impeccable vocabulary and knows exactly how to wield it, a quality EDI admires deeply.

“Mrs. Suit,” EDI says, because somebody has to respond, what with Kasumi audibly swooning behind her while the agent looks like someone hit them over the head with a baseball bat. “You look lovely. I mean—you always do. Of course. But—”

“Thank you, Edie,” Irikah Krios says, and dazzles EDI with a smile that could stop the heart beating in her chest (if she had one, that is). Irikah glances past her, notices the table cluttered with old paper, tubes of ink, the very obvious holoprojection of an ancient Hokusai, and raises a sly brow ridge. “I hope we’re not interrupting anything.”

“You are a most welcome, and striking, reprieve from the bureaucratic oppression in my midst,” EDI says, tilting her head at the suit. It’s enough to jolt them out of their stupor.

She revels in Irikah’s laugh, a glorious tinkling of bells with the faint rumble of a purr underneath.

“Wow,” Agent Shepard says, drawing breath like they’ve surfaced from a deep dive. “Iri, wow!” They stagger towards their wife before finding their balance and nearly running to her, sliding big hands around the span of her waist and—

Well. The suit may not have the same dexterous command over language as Samara, but to cop a word—wow!

That is a smooch.

They kiss her once, fiercely; twice, sweetly; and a third time, briefly, before pressing their lips to the dark scales at the center of Irikah’s forehead, holding her close. She slides her hands up their sides and under their suit jacket, letting out a pleased hum, and then takes a step back to give her spouse (in Kasumi’s parlance) major elevator eyes.

“My, my,” Irikah says—and, wow! EDI can feel the vibrations of her throaty rumble from across the room. Her sunset-orange eyes positively shine through the dark sclera. “I almost want to open my present now.”

And will wonders never cease. A blush sits high across Agent Shepard’s cheekbones.

“Honey,” they say, shooting EDI and Kasumi a mortified glance. The blush has reached the tips of their ears, a scorching red.

Such a prude, really. EDI can read their biometrics, they can’t hide from her. It’s cute, though.

Irikah seems to agree, patting their cheek with a cooing trill. The suit practically melts into her touch.

Together they make a remarkably dashing couple. Under the warm vintage light, the two of them practically glow golden. Actually? Irikah, literally—again, wow! The burnt umbre silk of her simple gown slinks almost… obscenely over her body, thin as water, and as she presses back into her spouse, the fabric falls back to reveal a generous slice of a gold-scaled thigh. Kasumi makes a sound similar to a whistling kettle.

“How did you manage to land a date with that, Suit?” EDI surprises herself by blurting. Blurting! It’s. Well. Very unusual for her verbal processing to precede her. Part of EDI is satisfied that her organic coding seems to be rolling successfully, but another part of her wants to pull out her core and run some tests.

Irikah immediately lights up, something gleeful sparking behind her eyes—EDI feels something truly priceless is about to be dropped into her lap—and of course the agent spoils her fun, placing a finger over their wife’s opening mouth.

“Please, Iri,” Agent Shepard practically begs. “We have a reservation to catch.”

“Oh, honey,” Irikah says, fondly smoothing down the lapels of their jacket. “If you say so.”

They let out a gusty sigh of relief. Shepard turns to guide her out of the apartment, but she breaks away and beelines for Kasumi.

“Kasumi,” Irikah says, catching both of her hands. “Thank you, for bringing my spouse home to me.” She presses a kiss to Kasumi’s knuckles, and then ghosts her lips across her cheek.

EDI is certain her friend’s knees are audibly quaking before she manages to shrug off the thanks and find her own winning grin. ��Anytime, Irikah. I… owe Mercy. A lot.”

The golden drell nods, gifts her with another sweet smile, and joins her spouse at the door. The suit gives Kasumi a solemn nod before wrapping an arm around their wife’s shoulders and guiding them out into the night air.

Samara looks fondly after the couple before winking at EDI and Kasumi—knowing, saucy!—and the door closes solidly behind her.

“EDI,” Kasumi groans, like she’s been punched in the gut and clutching at her forearm and squeezing. Her pressure sensors register remarkable force from Kasumi’s thin fingers. “EDI, those married people are going to be the death of me.”

“Yes, yes,” EDI agrees.  She would bet actual money that her friend didn’t even notice Samara’s exit. “They’re both very shiny. But—hey!” she has to snap her fingers in front of Kasumi’s face a couple times to get her attention, and gestures back at the kitchen table. “We’ve got some work to do.”

(If you wanna know more about white collar au, here’s my first post sketching out the world! (it’s a lil outdated but bear w me))

thank you @jadevakarian for your batarian fashion designer’s name, brakala!!!! 🥰

thank you @acrylicsalts-inspo for the never-ending gift that is EDI as mozzie 🤌

to me @bbwind design of irikah krios is the ultimate. take a peep here and here 🤩

AND AGAIN THANK YOU @naarisz for blowing my tits CLEAN OFF the art you’ve made for me is nothing short of spectacular. Y’all go check out her shep Jocelyn and all the incredible stuff she creates 😍

[pippindot]

I don't clearly remember my first week with Pip, it was a while ago. I do know I was a neurotic mess. Back then I could only work remotely a few days so she had to get on our work schedule pretty fast. I took her on some kind of safe outing (in a container like a sling or whatever for pathogen protection) literally every single day. Whether that was to a pet friendly store, a plaza around the corner, whatever. Might have been overkill...but whatever. I had a puppy kindergarten class lined up and insurance activated before she came home.

Edi has been similar but with way less neurosis and panic crying. And I know she has had rock solid socialization at her breeder's (altho Pip did too, I just didn't know like I know for Edi), so I've been a little less of a hardass on outings. We have still done SOMETHING on each day, but I haven't perished from guilt on the few days we have stayed home.

Overall week 1 was learning about each other. How does she ask to go potty? When does she eat? How much? What time should we do bedtime and how long will she sleep? And just kinda doing overkill taking her out, offering food, etc, until we figure out if/how we can dial it back. I haven't been as aggressive with training specific behaviors (she knows a bunch of stuff from her breeder already so we are mostly building off of cues she has seen before at this stage when we do manage a session). Mostly I have been focusing on life skills that matter to me: no paws up on surfaces, and waiting at doorways have been big ones. I also introduced her mat very quickly because I want her to know where Edis should be when I am in the kitchen (also reduces opportunities for paws up). This is overall more about teaching her what choices I want her to make vs a specific thing like trick training.

Other big theme of week one was learning about the other animals in the house. I don't have a ton of advice because it has gone swimmingly with very little input from me, but the social learning has been huge!

First week has been dedicated to just learning about each other while we settle into a new routine and do our best to do an adventure when we can.

dogblr folks !!!

as someone who’s planning to get a puppy some time in the next few years but who also struggles with doing things i don’t have any sort of reference/instruction for, i have a question.

what does your first week with a puppy typically look like?

[the-yearning-astronaut]

Commander Shepard Character Profiles

Joan Shepard

Background: Earthborn, War Hero

Alignment: Paragon -- tries her best to do the right thing with as few casualties as possible; she'd much rather talk things through before using violence. Moments where she's had to kill someone in a face to face confrontation and the loss of the OG council and the Batarians weigh heavily on her consciousness.

Class: Soldier, Commando

Romance: Garrus. And then after Priority Earth they invite Tali into their relationship

Best friends/favored squadmates: Garrus and Tali

Ending: Destroy

Summary: WIP

Character Tag: #oc: joan shepard

---------------------------------------------------------

Bryce Shepard

Background: Colonist, Soul Survivor

Alignment: Paragrade -- her moral compass doesn't point quite due north; she isn't afraid to get her hands dirty to get things done (think anti-heroes like Frank Castle) and doesn't put up with bullshit from anyone. Snarky and sharp tongued.

Class: Infiltrator, Commando

Romance: Thane

Best friends/favored squadmates: Liara and Garrus

Ending: Synthesis

Summary: Bryce's life is one of loss. From her friends and family on Mindoir, to her team on Akuze. She tries to distance herself from others and ultimately fails miserably. Of all her crewmates, it seems inevitable that she'd fall for Thane. Because she has already lost Mordin and nearly lost Grunt and had just gotten Kaidan back, losing Thane breaks her. She gets more and more reckless as the war drags on and Garrus and Liara and Cortez see that and do what they can to support her through her grief. It doesn't help much, but she appreciates the effort anyway.

Her final choice is easy in the end, after Anderson dies and she loses the closest person she had to a parental figure since she was sixteen. She picks synthesis because she's sick of losing people she loves and she's sick of so much death and she's sick of the ever growing hole in her chest. And she's tired. So, so tired. If synthesis gives everyone the best chance at survival, then so be it. She's fine sacrificing herself for that if it means EDI and the Geth won't perish, if the relays remain intact and families and friends aren't separated by the vastness of space, if the cycle of annihilation ends.

Character Tag: #oc: bryce shepard

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Amos Shepard

Background: Spacer, Ruthless

Alignment: Renagon -- has a ruthless reputation for a reason. Does what needs to be done to get the results he wants in the most efficient way. Has a strict moral code and aggressively defends it. He doesn't LIKE violence but many times it's easier to use than words. Seems cold, calculated, and out together on the surface but is a bit of a mess underneath.

Class: Vanguard, nemesis

Romance: Liara (ME1), no one (ME2), Kaidan (ME3)

Best Friends/favored squadmates: Liara, Kaidan

Ending: most likely Destroy

Summary: WIP

Character tag: #oc: Amos Shepard

[persephinae]

Lmfao if you think ME2 is "glorifying Cerberus" you are fucking dumb sorry

ME2 just reinforces how fucking shitty Cerberus is and I'm really sorry you only see surface interpretations

Everything in ME2 is a trap for Shepard. Joker is there to be a friendly face (his own guilt used against him)

Cerberus crew in ME2 are the least threatening crew members TIM could find, some of whom of NO fucking idea what Cerberus have done and listen to space Fox News for their beliefs

Jacob is there as a friendly “lmao the Alliance wasn’t doing anything to help people” enticement, and depending upon some fan interpretation was DEEP into character but really does believe the end goals of Cerberus.  Jacob is morally grey.

Miranda drank the koolaid, she’d do ANYTHING to protect her sister and herself from her shitty abusive father.  She’s there as a warning to what you’ll become if you believe “the end justifies the means”.

Kelly is THE least threatening Cerberus crew member in the history of least threatening crewmembers.  

EDI was there to spy on everyone and report back to TIM.  It was in her programming. 

Then TIM made sure to turn the screws on Shep by having Kimberly Brooks set up dossiers on ALIEN comrades, including her old companions as recruitment options because they did their research.  Shep would have never accepted an ALL HUMAN CERBERUS crew.  All her old contacts and comrades as well as new ALIEN comrades were the carrot for Shep.

In fact you can call out Miranda on Cerberus and you can dig into Cerberus intel once EDI’s AI shackles are broken.  

If you played RIGHT, you actually turn all the Cerberus crewmembers AGAINST TIM and Cerberus, then STEAL HIS OWN FUCKING SHIP, because HOLY SHIT THEY’RE FUCKING TERRORISTS

fucking dumbass

[bitter69uk]

“Esquire asked me in a questionnaire who I would like to have play me, and I answered Edie Segwick, because she does everything better than I do. It was just a surface question, so I gave them a surface answer.” Andy Warhol 

“Andy Warhol would like to have been Edie Sedgwick. He would like to have been a charming, well-born debutante from Boston. He would like to have been anybody except Andy Warhol.” Truman Capote 

Ciao, Edie! Died on this day fifty years ago: doomed, utterly magnetic Warhol Superstar, scene-maker and socialite Edie Sedgwick (20 April 1943 – 16 November 1971). Pictured: portrait of Sedgwick by Jerry Schatzberg, 1966.

[heyits-asher]

Edie does pull a laugh from Asher at her joke, and he can appreciate her trying to keep it light-hearted. Be it for his sake or hers, he'd say for hers with how she fidgets here and there. Fiddling with the strap of her bathing suit, sipping at her hard tea. Asher is lightly kicking his feet beneath the surface of the pool for that same reason.

"Circle back to the part about you being a masochist." Asher tosses that back with playfulness. "But I get that, I guess. Sorta like avoiding the worst case scenario." Like closure being the signal to the end of it all. He'd say the beginning to it, but if it is over for good then closure or no closure doesn't stop that. It isn't entirely his job to offer her solutions or encouragement. That is something Asher has to remind himself, along with the dangers of meddling in this sort of situation.

"Guess I can see why you'd be scared. I do think that in the long run, it's easier having an answer, but you also don't need it now." Maybe one day she'll go to Uly for this, to discover if there is opportunity, or if that door has long since been shut.

"What? Don't think he can fill the role?" Ash laughs, up to the sky with how he tilts his head back. "Hmm, that's a tough one. Maybe Beast, since love seems hard for him. Everyone else is too campy. Not a prince, but Jim Hawkins with his 'fuck the rules, I do what I want' attitude."

"Well, I'm a masochist, it's one of my more consistent traits," she jokes with a hollow laugh, reaching up to aimlessly scratch her shoulder just for the sake of having something to do with her hands.

No one could beat themselves up for no reason like she could. She was smart but never felt like she was smart enough for it to matter -- to be great. She made her parents proud, but she always felt like she could make them prouder. She tried her best to save people -- her father, her older brother, Uly -- and always seemed to fall short in the moments where it was the most pivotal. No matter how hard she tried.

"I'm stubborn, that's my bad habit. I think if closure exists then deep down I don't really want it," she admits, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "So I just avoid him so I don't get it. Because when it's over it's over and that's never what I wanted. I can't even handle the idea of him looking me dead in the eye and saying 'Fuck you, I'm done forever.'"

At the mention of Disney, Edie's laughter has a little more light in it.

"I'd love to see the look on his face if you ever tried to unironally call him a Disney prince."

[mevekagvain]

Chapter 373 - Rael freaking out when he realises Grandia is 'complete'... Delicious.

- Frankenstein you didn't need to shout to get your point across :/

Chapter 374 - See I understand the words but my brain's computations call bullshit.

- You're right Tao, despite having the same genes Rael's much shorter than Rajak. That's 100% the difference you mean. No way you could mean something else.

- Okay but you going after Seira is creepy behaviour Rael. Incel moments. Rajak's 'no comment' when Rael asks about it is disapproval in my heart <3 Or at least he's aware Seira will never return his feelings.

- Interesting that Rajak would give up being a clan leader if Rael wanted the position in a heartbeat though. Something to chew on.

Chapter 375 - Kaiyo 🥺 Mount's happy to see her too :)

- Edi, if the drugs are wearing off you should consider going to Raskreia, not the empty noblesse estate. Not that she's in a good enough state of mind to realise that.

- Kinda weird to just stand there and stare at Raizel's back. Still love you though, Edi.

- Not accepting this lame ass building as the Tradio manor. Fountain's cool though.

- Claudia 🥺🥺🥺❣❣❣

- You know, it's funny that nobody's ever considered that maybe Claudia's just adopted. Like how nobility might take the son of some branching family and raise him as theirs since he has their bloodline and thus can be the heir. Not that I'm into this theory. For Philemon sure and maybe other ocs but otherwise no.

- I do wonder why Gradeus didn't let the scar Rajak inflicted on him heal since we know his healing ability is pretty decent and could get rid of it fairly quickly. Like from an outside perspective it's to leave an impact and remind ppl of Rajak's sacrifice, but what would his reasoning be? Can't be like Urokai's since Rajak's dead.

Chapter 376 - Ludis refers to his fellow young clan leaders with sir except for Seira and Rael and Regis ofc, but he simply refers to Gradeus by name. Interesting implications there. He just doesn't respect Gradeus anymore.

- All Rayga does is lean against vertical surfaces, pose, and appear out of nowhere. Stand normally.

- "I hope we meet again someday." Well that didn't happen now, did it? Should have scheduled it into a calendar guys.

Chapter 377 - Kei and his waterfall have entered the fight. Might be the prettiest scenery of Lukedonia in the manhwa unfortunately.

Chapter 378 - Don't agree with Gradeus thinking he can use his power however he wants but yeah forcing clan leaders to commit suicide isn't great. Maybe he's fucked in the head because of the knowledge that he's supposed to die with the lord. All the others are too, just that they're being religiously devout, and he's a heretic.

- Messad changing in appearance because Gradeus was suppressing his power is very cool. Makes sense too since the appearance it takes is a manifestation of the wielder so if he was suppressing the power he channelled than it would obviously not look as grand either. Like how Mevek and Shikoku and Artemis typically have extremely fancy ornate soul weapons or Acala's has food motifs when representing their true selves but if they limited the power they channeled they would just be simple weapons. So rather than it being a different appearance altogether, it's more like the true one is a decorated version of the suppressed one. So in that sense it's not really a different form. More like carving the wooden pole of a spear and adding tassels. Don't think clan leaders can make their weapons take actual different forms aside from this though. Except for Rousare. He's special.

Chapter 379 - Kaiyo immediately stepping in to save Mount,,, love her. Also she immediately says they should fight Kei together like yeah maybe they would have won if they did.

- Grandpa!! In the Landegre library, or maybe his own personal one?

- Grandpa on grandpa violence 😔 such a sad sight.

Sidenotes - Idc about a lot of 'canon' heights that aren't exact heights given in cm like with the household because of several reasons. One is that they're drawn very inconsistently. Two is that I think Ludis, Rael, and Gradeus should be shorter than all the female clan leaders and shorter than present day canon Seira. It's more fun that way. Three is that tbh ppl taller than 183 cm (6 ft) are not real to me though I'm reluctantly willing to accept ppl up to 200 cm. Irl euro heritage ppl are just really tall and it's weird. Where I'm from being that tall is more of an exception than normal even if in some countries it's the average height for men. Also men that tall are just scary idk how I'm supposed to exist easily around men a head or two taller than me.

- Just like how Kuharu was an Indian stereotype, I think Drakon is based off of something along the lines of vikings or spartans or cavemen. Pretty sure it's the first because of the braids though. The latter two suggestions is because of the loincloth esque fur clothing he wears.