#kai leng x shepard

[sol-consort]

May we have a crumb of yandere Kai Leng x reader headcannons or something like that? 🙏 🥺 (I'm sorry)

Hell yeah my dude, you may even get a smooch on the forehead for being the bravest soul out there to ask for this.

Yandere Kai Leng HC

[Dark content, yandere, stalking, obsession, possessive behaviour, enemies with tension, love/hate relationship]

[Shepard reader - gender neutral]

"You killed the scientists... What do you want?"

"Your attention."

Kai Leng is many things, an assassin, a killer, a bastard and the most annoying thorn digging at your side with exceptional delight.

The way he snatches victory from your fingertips at the last moment, drinks in the expression on your face going from genuine surprise to despair and then rage.

It makes the blood pump faster in his veins, being at the centre of your undivided attention as you stare at him with a look of pure primal rage.

Careful Shepard, you treat a man this way and he might get the wrong idea.

Next thing you know, he's breaking into the Normandy undetected while it's docked on the Citidal. Crew blissfully unaware as they enjoy their shore leave for a day.

Your quarters aren't what he expected, not from the best fighter he ever went against in his life. Yet so very endearing, you collect ship models? You care for fish?

How...cute.

He traces his gloved fingers against the surface of your desk, leaves a couple smudges on the glass of the aquarium with a smirk as he imagines the annoyed look on your face.

Sits on your chair, examines the various medals you keep in a case display. Reading what each one was for, looking through your life achievements as if it was a to do list he's crossing off, comparing his own skills to yours without a hint of shame.

Moving to your couch, he spots a half empty glass of wine. A small smudge of lips against the rim of the delicate glass.

Nimble fingers pick it up, careful not to let the sharp metal nails on his gloves scratch the surface. He drinks in the aroma of the wine.

Oh, definitely not his type, you have an awful taste in wine. He thinks as he turns the glass around, parting his lips and pressing his mouth against where your own lips have been.

Downing it in one gulp, he feels the same rush of dopamine whenever he fights you. The same shiver ran up his spine as that day he noticed a bit of your blood on his finger and licked it off while meeting your eyes, shameless at the look of disgust in yours.

You tasted just as awful as this wine, as sickingly bittersweet, and he can't get enough.

Your bed is on display next to him, all made and neat just like any alliance soldier must have been taught to do.

What a good little soldier you are, he thinks, did you keep your bed all made for him to ruin?

So many ideas go through his head on the ways he could piss you off with this, maybe spill the wine on it? Or how about his own blood? Maybe litter the cover with bullet holes and spell out his name.

He walks closers to the seemingly soft thing, lifting the covers and leaning down.

It...smells like you. Like the faint scent he catches whenever he has you pressed under him during combat, amidst the smell of gunpowder and rubble, your own scent stood out as he pressed his nose closer to your neck, alongside his sharp sword.

Kai Leng buried his face in the pillow much like he wanted to do with your neck just before you flipped him over on the ground and pointed a gun at his head.

He settles for laying on the bed, nothing else. You wouldn't have had an idea he was here except for the few wrinkles on the sheets his heavy armour would leave behind.

Your bed is surprisingly hard, much like your own body. He thought it was fitting, and yet a part of him wanted to force you on a soft bed, see you unwillingly sink into the comfortable fluffy sheets and have your muscles unconsciously relax.

Do you keep yourself constantly sharp not to lose your survival instincts? Do you refrain from allowing yourself the luxury of comfort not to grow soft around the edges?

He has read and heard so many things about you, he has searched the aftermath of every battlefield you left behind.

He knows more about you than anyone could ever claim to, more than the person you've shared this bed with before could ever attest to.

On his way out, he removes the bugs he planted to block the cameras. Twirling one of your shiny medals between his fingers, your opened wine bottle in the other hand.

"You're not as weak as I thought. But never forget that your best wasn't good enough to stop me."

He's cocky and confident in his own skills. He has nothing to prove and no one to impress.

But you, oh you, always working hard to meet other's expectations. Always being spun around and dragged from one trivial mission to another, hunting for the most useless of sentimental items to return to their owners without being asked to.

He hated seeing others use you, he felt like it was only his right to have you running around searching for him.

Whenever your focus drifted elsewhere, he'd blow up a small colony here to get you chasing after his trail again, plant a small hijacking device on an alliance ship you'd need to save, let some info slip so your sources could get a tip on him.

Let your pathetic crew think they managed to track him when he turned off his own firewalls just long enough to ignite the flames.

He always gives you just enough to keep the fire burning, just enough to keep him out of reach with you on his heels.

Just enough so you don't get distracted by lesser matters.

Or lesser people.

He has seen your record, read your personal information reports and he was not impressed by the person you've called your lover.

What do you even see in them?

Now he can't have his cute little commander getting distracted by some lame date or a sorry excuse of a person you call a lover, no he needs you to focus on him.

And if slitting more throats was all it took to keep your pretty eyes focused on him, then can you really blame him?

Can you blame him for looking forward to each fight with you.

Your back aches from the sharp stones of the cracked wall behind you digging into your armour. Legs floating just above the ground below as you were helplessly pinned to the wall by a hand against your throat, helmet cracked open with your eyes glaring into the masked figure in front of you.

There's a sharp dagger against your heart, an obsidian blade threatening to tear through your armour like paper. It has also dug a way through to your bare flesh with its tip, you feel the cold press of the sharp stone against your skin.

Heart beating, your fingers stay still against the trigger of your pistol. Despite the barrel pressed directly onto the temple of his head, Kai Leng paid it no attention as his closed his body against yours more.

Thighs touching each other, the heat radiating off of the two of you from your previous game of cat and mouse. The way he keeps all of your weight lifted off of the ground with just a single hand, pressing hard enough to choke you but not cut your air off.

He's smiling, a gesture so seemingly innocent yet smug at your scowling expression. Each one holding the thread of life of each other, the threat of snapping it hangs thick in the air but neither of you makes the first move.

The dagger is steady against your heart, his body keeps moving closer. You're struggling not to let your grip on the pistol falters, it's all you have left.

Letting go of your neck, the supply of air makes you regain your wits. His body is tightly pressed against your now, the blunt edge of his dagger pressing against his own heart.

Strangely, his free hand holds you lovingly. Holds you like you're partners in a slow dance, like you're seconds away from sharing a kiss after months spent at sea away from your lover.

His face is moving in, your eyes are glued to his lips. Your mouth parts on its own.

Closing your eyes, you feel your finger slipping from the trigger on the pistol. You feel the dagger faltering.

Within a second, you immediately bring up your knee to dig painful in his stomach and free yourself. He staggers backward before finding a cover from the barrage of bullets you fire his way.

The dagger slashed across your armor, a line from your heart and upwards to collar bone. The marks of his fingers on your neck left a visible bruise.

He noticed your high collared wardrobe choices in the following weeks, the corner of his lips tugging upwards at the purple traces peaking through the turtlenecks you wore.

But his own bruise from your solid knee hitting his stomach was on fill display as he wore lighter clothes during his training. Stopping in front of the mirror in his room to lift his shirt and admire the mark you've left on him.

He wanted more.

He wanted your claws marking down his back, he wanted your thighs squeezing his waist until it bruised.

Your teethmarks against his neck and shoulders, a slap to the face, a punch to bruise his side.

Reducing the two of you to animals in a state of primal fighting for domination, he wanted you to give your best to him and watch as he still overpowers you.

Make you struggle for your life and then lose to him, time after time he wanted to keep you frustrated and losing.

Making the acclaimed hero, the Commander Shepard, feel weak against another human for once in your life.

It gave him such a power trip. A rush of ego going straight to his heart and between his legs.

You were his. Since the day you the Illusive man handed him your file, you were fated to be his.

He wanted you more than anything, he wanted you more than air itself at times. Wanted to push and prod you and experience all of your reactions, wanted to put you below him then watch you flip him over.

Kai Leng will take anything and everything you have to offer, be it love or hate. He will gladly feed his obsession off of both, make you feel his body pressing against yours during each encounter.

Remind you of your equal, that you're not the unbreakable titanium everyone claims you to be.

That just like him, you're human too. Weak and prone to error.

He will never look at you with stars in his eyes like the rest of your loyal crew does. He will never see you as bigger than life like the other humans do.

He will always see past all the fancy titles, shiny medals and heavy armour.

And see you. Not Shepard, not your last name and not the commander.

But you.

Bare, strong, weak.

And no one else besides him will get that, no one else will be your equal but him.

He will make sure of it, that you won't get to experience this with anyone else.

Everyone is worshipping at your feet. Doesn't it get tiring? Don't you want to feel alive? Really alive rather than being reduced to this symbol of hope rather than the living being you are?

And so he reminds you of that, several messages disguised as war reports or intel from military officials sent by him.

Only for the first line to be met with, is him praising you for doing such a good job and opening these messages, falling straight into his trap.

Be good for him, read through the whole thing. Through all the demeaning praise and gratifying insults, through all the things he has written about you.

Like eating at a restaurant and leaving a review afterwards, that's how he treats those battles the two of you have. Sending you a performance review afterwards and listing the things you did wrong and how to improve them.

Making you the more confused by him, by why he does the things he does.

Sometimes, his messages include information about you that no one else knows, references to moments you were sure you've spent alone, past, and present.

He ignores every questioning message you send him, cherry picking the parts of your message to reply to.

He grew more and more unhinged with his messages as time went on, more and more shameless with his voicing his inner thoughts on a recording and sending it to you.

There's a faint sound of gunshots and screams in the background, as if he was recording them on missions. Forcing you to have to listen to them so you may catch any details on where he was and who he was killing.

Other times, you started finding things on your bed and desk that you were sure you didn't buy whenever you came back from a shore break on the Citidal.

A dark chocolate candy bar on your desk.

An apple on the table.

A shirt that's not quite your size, washed and folded on the bed.

A perfume that smells faintly familiar.

One handwritten letter you found, stabbed to the bedframe with an obsidian dagger.

"The legend of Shepard needs to be re-written.

I hope l'm there for the last chapter. It ends with your death."

[dalekofchaos]

Imagine the Virmire Sacrifice as the Cerberus assassin instead of Kai Leng

Inspired by my poll

Kai Leng was a terrible character from terrible novels. No one wanted him in the games. He could barely handle a Drell with space cancer and couldn’t even kill Anderson and Sanders, but they want us to expect us to believe that Leng is Shepard’s equal? To me I would just have him executed on Omega since Leng DID kill Aria's daughter.

But yes storywise, it's better. Shepard was haunted about not being able to save either Kaidan/Ashley. TIM would use the Virmire casualty as Plan B should Shepard turn against his interests.

Imagine Cerberus was on Virmire. Cerberus scientists working on a counter agent to stop the Genophage cure and even working on a virus that could kill Saren.

The Illusive Man reveals to his agents it's too late, however he tells them there can be a valuable asset they can retrieve.

Cerberus mad dashes to the bomb site and grabs Ash/Kaidan in time, however the bomb goes off and the after shock hits the Cerberus vessel and renders the Virmire survivor in a comatose state.

A second Cerberus ship comes and rescues Ash/Kaidan. They report to TIM that Project Virmire is ago, but once they wake up, it will take a lot of convincing. TIM has a plan.

The Virmire survivor wakes up during the time of ME2. Confused, they recognize this is not an Alliance facility and definitely no Council race facility. They put two and two together and realize it's Cerberus and try to escape and then they are sedated.

They are brought before TIM. Ash/Kaidan swears they would rather die than join Cerberus. Explains they know about Admiral Kahoku, the Rachni, Thorian and Husk experiments and most importantly Akuze.

TIM explains it easily. That they were a necessary evil. and tells them how easily their near death experience could've been avoided if those monstrosities were weaponized against Saren. The Admiral knew too much and Akuze, Shepard/Toombs got justice and Dr Wayne was put on a very public trial that damaged Cerberus reputation.

Then the manipulation begins.

If it's Ashley, then TIM uses the fact that he knew and personally served under her grandfather. Shepard, The Alliance and the Council left her for dead and acts as if the Reapers don't exist, as if the very reason she went missing never happened. Says things how "I've seen your records and seen you in action. If you were there, Shanxi never would've fallen and the Williams family would be the most prestigious family in the Alliance and you would've been the first human Spectre, not Shepard." "You were looked down on the Alliance, the family that was cursed because the good general wanted to protect and save lives. Little do you know, the Turians were looking for something on Shanxi. Saren was there, and his brother" Ashley looks curious. He has her. He explains his story with General Williams, Desolas Arterius and Saren. Desolas indoctrinated for Turian supremacy, leading Saren down the path he would take and what would be the foundation of Cerberus. Ashley asks one simple question. "When do I start?"

If it's Kaidan, TIM uses Kaidan's past against him. His righteous murder of Vyrnnus that he was shunned and how gifted he was. Admitting Cerberus should have snatched him when they had the chance. "Had we had you, you could've provided our failed experiment the guidance she needed(obviously I'm talking about Jack here) then goes on to tell him how the Alliance abandoned him, Shepard has forsaken him and worse of all, they all deny the existence of the Reapers. Kaidan refuses to believe him and snaps. Cerberus agents are prepare to stun him, TIM wavers them off. Kaidan gives off a look that he wants revenge. On The Alliance, The Council and Shepard. "They will all pay."

Ashley would be turned into Cerberus' Super Soldier. Wearing the Cerberus Assault Armor(the armor WE wear, not the shitty ME3 grunt armor), but with the Shade/Nightmare/Spirit helmet.

Kaidan becomes a mix of Phantom and Phoenix. The ultimate human biotic, he is what Jack could've became if they kept her.

Their goals would be to eliminate high valued targets for Cerberus. Killing key Alliance figures, people who are close to cracking down on Cerberus(example, Dr Wayne was publicly assassinated and after Toombs threat to get a merc team to hunt Cerberus down, they kill him) killing Alien leaders and a whole bunch of targets that stand in Cerberus's way to control the Reapers.

Or in a different scenario. The explosion nearly destroys the ship carrying them in, causing them to be husks of their former selves.

Cerberus in this scenario would experiment on them to make them the ultimate soldier for Cerberus. They would essentially become The Winter Soldier of Mass Effect.

it would’ve been far more impactful if the Cerberus assassin was masked, and later revealed to be a heavy cyborg’d and indoctrinated Ashley/Kaiden, whichever you left behind on Virmire. There would be a reaction if you bring the one you saved with to encounter the one we did not save on Thesia.

But storywise.

The first time you meet the Cerberus Assassin, is on Earth. We see this shadow stalking you and Anderson and as we’re leaving Earth, we see Kai Leng killing Anderson. With Shepard swearing revenge.

Throughout ME3, Ash/Kaidan would be stalking Shepard. Causing trouble as we encounter Cerberus. Trying to kill Eve, attempting to abduct the Grissom Academy students, activating the bomb on Tuchunka and the attempt on the Council.

When we finally confront them on Priority Citadel, they kill Thane and omni-slash their mask off. We get the reveal. Shepard is shocked, Ash/Kaidan hesitates after hearing Shepard utter their name.

It would also help to explain his inexplicable plot armor. Rather than surviving against the onslaught of Shepard due to plot reasons, he would not be killed, as Shepard is haunted by not being able to save them, Ash/Kaidan uses that as the opportunity to take him down on Thessia.

Because Ashley did not undergo her character arc, I could imagine Ashley saying things like "I should have been the First Human Spectre, a hero for humanity, not aliens." "I am the hero humanity deserves" "I will make my grandfather proud." "The Alliance has failed humanity and my family" If you romanced Ashley and accidentally left her behind "You BASTARD...I loved you and you LEFT ME TO DIE!"

With Kaidan I can see him saying things like "I am the peak of Biotic perfection." "The Alliance betrayed me. You left me and the Council deserves to die" "Vyrnaus deserved to die, I know that now." "You will pay for leaving me to die" If you didn't save Grissom Academy. "I personally went to Grissom Academy, took those kids and made them like me. Subject Zero never should have left us, now she is ascended to perfection."(if you got Jack's loyalty, Jack begs Shepard to kill her) If you romanced Kaidan and accidentally left him behind "You're just like Rahna. You left me and you betrayed me. After I kill you, I'll kill Rahna."

If we go with the Winter Soldier concept, then it's just TIM manipulating them like a puppet. However periodic exposure to Shepard and the other VS makes them remember

However, if you bring the other Virmire survivor with to Thessia, then there is a chance to turn Ash or Kaidan back to the light.

This works better if you romanced the other Virmire survivor, but if not it works the same result. You can only save Ash/Kaidan if you bring the other VS.

With a charm/intimidate option, Ash/Kaidan follows Shepard's lead and talks down Ash/Kaidan. and in the end they break through their indoctrination and apologize for everything.

Otherwise, they would have to be killed and could not be saved. I don’t think that convincing him to commit suicide like Saren or TIM would work, because it would be too similar to the TIM suicide not too long, and would lose impact because of it. They would have to be fought and killed one last time in combat, and have a tragic end with Ash/Kaidan cursing Shepard while Shepard looks on them with despair or disdain.

If you saved them, then Ash/Kaidan would board the Citadel with you. And when TIM tries to talk you into controlling the Reapers, Ash/Kaidan will shoot him dead.

If Winter Soldier scenario, then both Shepard and OVS can break through and save them. They join us and depending on your war assets, if high, they kill TIM without incident. If low, they sacrifice themselves and gives Shepard the opening to kill TIM.

We talk, have a moment. If it's Kaidan, they talk about the good old days with the original Normandy. Jenkins, Dr Chakwas and Anderson. "Oh Shepard, I'm so sorry" Shepard forgives them. If romanced, they talk about the relationship they were going to start and Shepard says "we can have a cup of coffee and see where things go from there" "I'd like that, Shepard". If Ashley, they reminisce on meeting on Eden Prime, the Normandy, their almost relationship with Shepard saying "we can finish where we left off" "Oh Shepard" and remembering why she volunteered to stay behind.

Alternatively since Ash/Kaidan wasn't shot, they save Shepard. They call the other survivor and rescue Shepard as the Crucible is about to be fired off if destroyed is chosen. If you choose Control, then Ash/Kaidan shoots themselves because they can't bare to live after Shepard fulfills TIM's desires. If Synthesis is chosen then they will be on the Normandy with the other crew members.

[finallygaveintothesirencall]

How to Fix Mass Effect 3

Massive spoilers for Mass Effect 3 and the trilogy in general below the cut

This is the unhinged rant I slammed out to not forget the premises and how I had everything wrap up together.  I may or may not come back and polish it up/tighten a few things, but it’s the basic premise at least.

The Reapers have not full on invaded the galaxy, rather there are multiple advanced scouting parties that are being spotted throughout systems, making the galaxy unable to deny the Reapers are coming and that they exist.  Earth is still attacked by Reapers at the beginning, but not on nearly the scale of the game.  

Anderson is still on Earth as a contact, Shepard makes it to the Normandy.  The crucible is the main, driving force of the game.  Shepard still travels the galaxy trying to recruit assets and species to the cause.  HOWEVER, the amount of war assets added to the crucible will directly influence the amount of options you have in the end game for how to take out the Reapers AND how effective that is.  Instead of planets being COMPLETELY besieged by Reapers like Palaven, they're only dealing with a much more manageable amount, and since the uptick in sightings has been gradual but noticeable, there's SLIGHTLY more preparation.  You still need to try and get the Krogan to join the fight, make peace with the Quarian and Geth, etc.  Rather than getting people to help retake Earth, it's getting people to help on the Crucible and be ready to go to war when the full fight happens.

HOWEVER, the Quarian/Geth peace would be much more weighty.  If you're able to broker peace between them, it's a conversation peace against Fuckstick McAsshole (aka Catalyst kid) like, "hey, yeah synthetics and humans were able to reconcile.  how's your fuckoff simulation account for that asshole.  how are you gonna study that phenomenon if you harvest us you idiot sandwich."  This causes a stutter in his programming that allows the Geth or someone to do an important thing.

The Prothean VI/Cerberus Kai Leng stealing it still happens, but Thessia isn't OVERRUN with Reapers.  Still fighting them, still dealing with invasion stuff, but not in like, the heart wrenching way the game did it.  You still go to the Cerberus base, burn it to the fucking ground with EXTREME prejudice and vicious satisfaction.  The Illusive Man still fucks the Citadel off to Earth.  What this does though, is trigger the full force of the Reapers to invade, cause that's what they were waiting for.  Now it's the final end game battle.

Like Mass Effect 2, you have more choices of where to send forces throughout the final push to get the crucible attached to the citadel.  For example, if there's a heavy ground thing, you can send Krogans or Asari Commandos or Alliance members or something like that, then in the dogfights it's Quarians or Turians.  Depending on the fights and in game prompts, it's hinted at who the best choices would be, and they will effect casualties and the ease of the push to the Citadel.  There's still a ground force that has to get into the Citadel, but it's much more similar to the Ilos push where it's a race against time in the Mako or a Mako esque thing, then fighting to open the wings of the Citadel.

When you get there and meet up with Fuckstick McAsshole again, this is where the amount of War Assets you have in the Crucible comes to bear the strongest.  The purpose of the Crucible was always to destroy the Reapers.  What the number of War Assets determines is how thoroughly the Reapers are destroyed and with what consequences.  X level, general EMP, Geth and Edi are shot too and relays all explode.  Y level, general EMP, Geth and Edi gone, some relays explode, up to no relays explode.

NOW HERE'S WHERE THE GETH/QUARIANS COME INTO PLAY.  Shepard is with her squad in this, and comms are functional and open to fleet leaders.  If the Quarians and Geth are at peace, bringing this up to Fuckstick McAsshole causes his computations to glitch when Shepard brings up that he won't be able to see how it plays out if he harvests the cycle.  Geth hear the options and are like, "hey, we have a Reaper IFF we could just, reverse the logic from friend to foe" so the EMP only targets Reaper IFF signatures.  The final fight is fucking with Fuckstick McAsshole's waves of Reaper forces or whatever the hell he throws at you while the Geth install and rewrite the Reaper IFF.  

No massive war outbreak, just skirmishes and hope.  You can destroy all the Reapers, save all your friends, and preserve the Mass Relays, everyone lives happily ever after, the end.

[fresh-prince-of-denmark]

Thessia was a hate crime pass it on

[fallingghostsstuff]

One of the few renegade choice I always do.

[mass-effect-galaxy]

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Part 64 - Cerberus HQ

Some rare dialogue with James. Most people bring Liara or Garrus here.

Jeanne Shepard

Colonist, War Hero, Infiltrator,

Good guy, Xenophobe, Bi,

AI-Friendly, Pro-Cerberus (ME2), Control Ending

I had originally created this Shepard in order to play Kaidan’s and Jacob’s romance arcs. But ME3 killed the story of either one to me. So, I have changed that to make her “Traynor’s Shepard”.

I also use this Shepard to explore the “pro-human” character arc in Mass Effect, basically the opposite of what default Shepard is supposed to be. I take it that someone from Mindoir has all reasons to be wary of aliens. So, expect some dialogue options, choices, and attitudes you probably don’t agree with.

[cousinslavellan-archive]

Falling For the Prey - Pt 10

Everything’s going well, and Willow finds herself slowly falling... until the assassin makes a move. Kolyat’s in danger, and keeping his identity hidden is no longer an option.

Imma just leave this here and run... enjoy? ♥

Willow - Thursday - 17:00

Two months pass by in a near blur, and despite knowing it’s fast and still trying to be cautious, Willow finds herself falling.

The Tea Shop date is calm and relaxing, and every date following is just as enjoyable - more dinners and coffee dates, visiting the kids, going bowling with Arisa and Garrus and nearly toppling over from laughing so hard when Thane beats the turian without breaking a sweat.

“Do not worry, Garrus.” Thane had chuckled, patting the taller alien on the arm, “I am sure you will be the victor in our sniper contest.”

Garrus had puffed up again at that, huffing. “Damn right I will be! Just you wait!”

Today had been a slightly more intimate date - dinner at a fancier restaurant up on the Presidium, just the two of them. Willow can’t remember the last time she’d worn a skirt, yet here she is - skirt, blouse, heels and all, dressed up more then she has been in years.

They’re holding hands as they walk, her five digits somehow fitting perfectly with his four, talking quietly and just enjoying each other’s presence. Willow bumps him with her hip a couple of times, laughing when he bumps back, just happy and giddy in what has definitely become a mutual attraction.

Even at C-Sec, things have been slow. Kolyat’s basically trained, and he’s ready to go through the test to earn his pistol and badge, so far as Willow’s concerned.

She’s also IDed every suspect in the old cases - each of them showing as deceased - and, honestly, digging into the victims of those cases… they hadn’t seemed much like victims at all. Every single one of them had been bad news, and the Citadel was better off without them. In a way, the drell - because it was definitely one drell, using some sort of disguise program - had done them all a favour.

It didn’t excuse murder, of course, but it made her just slightly less inclined to keep tracking him.

“Willow, hold a moment.” Thane’s grip on her hand halts her, jolting them both to a stop, “Something seems off.”

“What do you…?” Willow trails off, following his gaze and going stiff. There’s marks around her lock - signs of sparks, near scorch marks, like someone’s tried to tamper with it.

Her heart jumps into her throat, mind buzzing. Shit! The assassin? There hasn’t been any movement in months, but who else-

“Call Commander Shepard.” Thane says quietly, tugging away from her to approach the door, typing at his omni as he goes, “She and Garrus should stay with you tonight, Willow. We’ll need to check for traps, before anything else.”

Willow doesn’t think to question that; only dials Arisa and explains what they’d noticed, hanging up once her cousin promises they’ll be over shortly.

Thane’s finished scanning the lock by the time she approaches, expression hard to read as he motions her forwards “I cannot detect any lingering tampering in the lock, but we should still be cautious; whoever did this was targeting you, Willow - I would feel better if you allowed me to inspect inside.”

“I feel better just having you here, Thane.” she says, palming the lock open and allowing him in first, hand twitching over her pistol - dressed up or not, she knows better than to leave her gun at home.

Willow stays in the kitchen while Thane does a sweep of the apartment, feeling strangely off balance. She’s a cop, and she was Alliance - danger isn’t something she runs from. But knowing that the assassin had been there, messing with her home, so close… it’s kind of scary.

And she’s no pushover, but it’s damn nice to have Thane there, to not have come home alone to a messed up lock and the possibility of an assassin laying in wait.

Garrus and Arisa arrive just as Thane finishes checking the rooms, both in full armour and toting multiple guns - typical, typical Arisa, but Willow’s glad for it, accepting the assault rifle her cousin holds out without a second thought.

“Present for you,” she mutters, looking more angry than anything else, “You have your own armor still, figured you’d need a better gun if we’re finally dealing with this asshole.”

“Whoever tampered with the lock has left the premises, and I cannot see any traps or other evidence left behind.” Thane looks troubled as he returns to the kitchen, nodding at the newcomers, “Shepard, Garrus, would you mind taking another look? I do not believe I have missed anything, but…”

“Better safe than sorry.” Arisa agrees, jerking her head and leading Garrus further in.

Thane sets a hand on her shoulder, drawing her gaze away from the assault rifle in her hands - loosening her unconscious death grip on the weapon.

“Are you alright?” he questions softly, expression gentle.

Willow manages to nod, trying to smile and placing a hand over his, “Just a bit shaken, I guess. Not everyday someone tries to break into your apartment.”

I never said anything about the assassin because I didn’t want you dragged into it - but if that’s who did this, then-

“Hopefully, it was a simple act of vandalism, and nothing more will come of it.” Thane’s words are meant to reassure her, she knows, and while she appreciates it, something tells her this was not a one-off.

“Here’s hoping.” she agrees, shrugging, “Sorry for the weird end to the date, Thane. I had a really, really good time, before this.”

“As did I, Siha. You need not apologize.” Thane bends, pressing a kiss to her forehead as he’s taken to doing, then brushes his thumb over her cheek, looking concerned, “You will be alright, with Shepard and Garrus here?”

“Mhm, I’m good. I’ll message you if anything else happens, alright?” Willow turns her head, brushing her lips over his palm, “Thank you for looking after me, Thane.”

“It is the least I can do, Siha.” he answers, voice somewhat muffled, before he heads out.

Willow stares after him for a while, lips pursed. Something had seemed off, in those last moments… and she wonders how long this peace will last.

 Two hours later her omni beeps with a message that has her jumping up and shouting for the others.

Siha, we have a problem. I am onroute to your apartment; wear your armour.

Willow doesn’t know what’s happened, but it can’t be anything good; she’s suited up and ready by the time her chime goes off, throwing open the door and staring for a moment at the man on the other side.

This is a Thane she hasn’t seen before - dressed in all black, an armor type made for stealth, a gun on each hip. This Thane is cold, angry, and she near pities whoever has put him in such a state.

“Siha.” he says, voice deceptively calm, “He has Kolyat.”

Willow’s heart thumps, grip on her gun tightening, “Who has Kolyat?”

“The man who tampered with your lock.” Thane eyes flicker behind her before returning to her face, “The assassin sent by Cerberus. I lost track of Kolyat’s tracker two blocks from C-Sec - I need your help, and we need to move.”

“Then let’s move.” Willow follows him immediately, and she knows Arisa and Garrus are right behind them. “Why would he be after Kolyat?”

“I am unsure. I believe perhaps the assassin intended to assault you at C-Sec - and when Kolyat was there in your place, he made a connection.” Thane lowers his voice, muttering “Amateur.”

His gait is different, she notices suddenly, watching the way he strides - full of purpose, body held perfectly upright, no wasted movements or motions. Wait…

“Are you sure he has Kolyat, Thane?”

“I am not - I only know that Kolyat messaged me shortly before I lost track of him, and that I hope he has hidden himself. The other option is… disheartening.”

“We never told you about the assassin.” Willow blurts, praying her instincts are wrong this time.

“You did not need to; I have known of the contract since it was created.” Thane’s expression shifts just slightly - not anger, precisely, but exasperation, “I also knew that this amateur was taking over the hits, though I have done my best to thwart his efforts.”

“Why did he take them over?”

“Because the original assassin broke off the contract.” Thane’s lips twist in almost mocking amusement, “Cerberus was not happy about the decision.”

He lets that hang between them, leading silently forwards, and Willow’s stomach drops.

“It was you in those vids - the old murder cases.” she finally hisses, not wanting the others to overhear, and a small nod from him confirms her fears, “But why?”

“We can speak later, Siha. I promise, I will explain everything. For now… we must get to Kolyat.”

They lapse into silence then, and as they approach the area where he’d said he’d lost track of Kolyat, Willow notices Thane tense, stance shifting into something more predatory.

He’s pulled out a pistol and fired off a short before she can blink - catching and shattering a tactical shield, leaving the man behind it perfectly visible.

She’s never seen him before - stealth armor, a visor wrapped around his eyes, black hair and a sword gripped in one hand - but it’s not hard to tell who he is, and her own gun is trained on him immediately.

“Ah, the prodigal drell - bringing me gifts, I see. To bad you didn’t have the guts to finish the job yourself, old man.”

“Fool.” Thane fires again, shot grazing the man’s shoulder as he dodges, “Where is the other drell?”

“Oh, around here somewhere, little bastard gave me the slip.” the assassin swaps his grip on his sword then, grinning maniacally, “Now that my actual targets are in sight, however… the game has changed.”

Willow’s dodging even before he finishes speaking, instinct kicking in; Thane lands a glancing blow when the man appears where she’d been, dodging away before he can reciprocate.

It’s almost a test - can she move fast enough, dodge quick enough, track the damn assassin’s movements well enough to not get hit - and she’s glad, now, that Thane had given up the hit, whatever his reasons might have been.

Because if it was Thane they were facing, she’s not sure they’d have won.

The assassin nearly catches Arisa from behind - forced to dance away by Garrus’ rifle in his face, almost managing to catch him before he darts away again - and while Thane is a matching whirlwind of movement, he’s not the target.

Willow spins on instinct when she hears the slightest scuff of boots behind her, punching through the assassin's blade with biotics and sending him flying backwards into a wall.

“Thane, now!”

“On it.”

She doesn’t watch closely - only knows that he makes sure the assassin won’t be bothering them again, and that Arisa and Garrus both unload a couple of clips into the body as well - but once he’s dealt with, she sighs, looks around.

“Where’s Kolyat?”

“Here.”

She turns in time to see the younger drell emerge from behind several flower beds, his own tactical cloak dissolving as he moves. And now, suddenly, she knows exactly who taught him how to fight, and knows that the things she’s been suspicious about have been correct.

Please, please, please don’t let this all have been a front. She’s not sure she could handle that, honestly.

So when Thane finishes checking Kolyat over and turns towards them, she crosses her arms and does her best to look neutral, trying not to let any of the betrayal show through.

“I think you owe us an explanation, Thane.”

 Thane - Thursday - 20:00

“I think you owe us an explanation, Thane. If you are the same drell from all those security vids - from the old cases, ten years ago - then this doesn’t fit your style.”

Thane takes a breath, counting to ten before turning from Kolyat to face the others. To face the truth, really.

Willow has her arms crossed, and he can see her expression shifting, see the hurt in her face - and it eats at him, because this was not how he had hoped for things to go. The truth would have needed to come out, yes… but not like this.

Arisa and Garrus step up to stand beside her, looking confused and cautious, and Thane hesitates, wondering how best to start this.

The beginning is the best way to go, I suppose.

“Those hits were personal, Siha - those men had taken something they should not have.”

“So then… “ he can hear the waiver to her voice, the way it’s changed from merely suspicious to startled, and knows she’s caught on to the truth.

Thane clasps his hands behind his back, lets his emotions show freely, for once, and says “What you are thinking is correct, Willow. I was the original assassin hired by Cerberus.”

“You said you’d called off the hits.” she says, “What changed?”

“I started researching - I knew of Commander Shepard, but no details, and I knew nothing of you. So, as I always do, I went digging. What I found was astonishing… you were both interesting, stubborn women, determined and righteous, and I would have been doing the world a great disservice, had I taken you out of it.”

“Know, please, that I did not know Kolyat was applying to C-Sec - he became curious, once I had stopped planning hits and merely started… wishing, I suppose. He wondered what had drawn me to you so. And I did not lie; I was intrigued by your actions, your goodness, your personality. I thought to send gifts and stay away… until the children meddeled, after which I could not resist meeting you.”

Thane pauses, gaze going to the floor - he can’t stand to watch Willow’s face any longer, can’t stand the thought of loathing replacing the previous affection, much as he would understand it.

“There is more to it then that, and I would explain in more detail in a more… secure location, if you would. But I have been sincere in my intentions, Siha. And I can never apologize enough for the stress I have put you all through.”

Thane keeps his gaze on the ground, feeling Kolyat shift beside him, nervous energy seeping off of him.

Please forgive me. He doesn’t say, no matter how he wants to, and the longer the silence stretches, the more sure he is that he has lost whatever chance he may have had with Willow.

Then, finally, “I think I need a drink. You owe me an expensive dinner and lots of alcohol for this, Thane. Plus that explanation.”

Thane lifts his head just enough to see her face, not bothering to hide his surprise or elation, “Whatever you wish, Siha.”

“Alright.” Willow sighs, runs a hand through her hair, and grimaces, “I’ll message you tomorrow, alright? I need to sleep on this.”

“Of course.” Thane bows, remains like that until their footsteps have faded away, then straightens and turns his attention to Kolyat.

“You are unharmed?”

“I ran and activated my tactical cloak as soon as I could.” Kolyat looks upset, grabbing his coat, “Father, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-”

“Hush, Kolyat, you’ve done nothing wrong. It would have come out eventually.” Thane sets a hand on his son's shoulder, trying to smile, “Willow is willing to let me explain - I need to focus on that. Come, let’s get home.”

Kalahira, thank you for this chance. I will not squander it - and if I am able, I will keep Willow safe, from here on out.

[goonchef]

Mass Effect 3 + text posts

sry bout the poor quality but im broke.....also more to come probably

[aceghosts]

🩹 + ☕ + 🔥 dealer's choice... x

I had a little trouble deciding who to go with for this prompt, but I ended up going with my Shepard, Rooney, and Kai Leng as they would make the best reluctant allies. I apologize if there are any inconsistencies in his character. This is my first time writing for Kai Leng and they don't give you much about Kai in the games. (Also, this is a bit of an AU as I'm playing with the ME timeline here.)

[Prompt List]

Prompt: tending to each other's wounds + reluctant allies + slow burn

Summary: Paired together on an Alliance mission, Rooney Shepard and Kai Leng look over each other's wounds. Takes place before ME1.

Words: 851 words.

Warnings: There are some mentions of Mindoir and Akuze, but they're very general. Otherwise, no warnings

“I should tend to that wound.” Shepard’s matter-of-tone jerks Kai from his thoughts. He looks over at them, Shepard staring at him with that same cold look they give everyone.

“I’m fine, Shepard.” He stresses the ‘fine’, hoping they will leave him be. Kai looks them over, noticing the wound on their shoulder, nearly hidden by their dark armor. “Besides, I think you’re the one in need of Medi-gel,” He replies, pointing to their shoulder wound.

Shepard looks down at their shoulder, testing their shoulder. He doesn’t miss the brief wince that crosses their face. “I am able to continue with the mission.” They look back up at him, sounding incredibly robotic. Kai used to wonder if Shepard was a robot, made in some secret Alliance facility, now paired up with him to make his life difficult. They certainly acted like a robot at times. Yet, Shepard’s previous plan to get them both out of trouble displayed a level of creativity and tactical genius that a robot couldn’t have managed. It made Shepard more interesting in his eyes, more than Anderson’s boring little protégé.

He shakes his head. “No. If we’re going to do the last part of the mission, I need you to snipe from above,’ Kai points to their shoulder, ‘and you’ll have trouble with that part of the mission if we don’t put some Medi-gel on it.”

“But, I should-.”

“Sit,’ Kai points toward the bench, ‘I’m taking care of your shoulder first. Afterwards, you can tend to my wound.” It’s a simple flesh wound on his torso, but Shepard is right. He should get some Medi-gel on it if only to keep himself from getting an infection. Mercifully, Shepard doesn’t argue with him, sitting down on the bench. They sit perfectly still, back straight, or at least, until Kai starts touching their shoulder. Most people wouldn’t notice the slight tremor in Shepard’s body, but he does. Kai always catches the small quirks in Shepard’s behavior. “Do I make you nervous, Shepard?” He’s half teasing, half taunting them, enjoying watching Shepard squirm beneath his gaze.

“No.” Their voice isn’t as robotic, a hint of nervousness creeping in at the edge. He doesn’t miss the faint blush on their pale freckled cheeks.

“Really?” He asks innocently as he starts to apply Medi-gel. “You seem nervous, Shepard.”

They swallow, glaring at him now. “I do not like to be touched by most people.”

“Most people? Am I most people?”

Their glare deepens. “Right now, you are not ‘most people’, but you are edging closer to being on that list.”

“Well, I suppose I should feel honored that you think I’m worthy to touch you.” Kai teases as Shepard shakes their head in response. He finishes applying the Medi-gel, stepping back. They roll their shoulder, nodding in approval at his work.

“Thank you.” Shepard rises from the bench, motioning for Kai to sit. “You should take a seat. I want to take a look at that wound.” Kai slides onto the bench, watching Shepard carefully as they start to inspect his wounds. They look so serious as they delicately inspect his wound, their finger touches light. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

He shakes his head. “I’m tough, Shepard. You don’t have to worry about me being breakable.”

In those ocean blue eyes, Kai sees a flicker of understanding, that Shepard knows. Like Kai, they know the Galaxy is a harsh place, that you will always have to look out for yourself, appear tougher than you might actually be. They look away, returning their gaze to his wound. Kai looks over their face, noting the scars amongst the many freckles. He knows the one on their cheek is from Akuze, but the one on their lip is a mystery to Kai. “The scar on your lip? Where is it from?”

Shepard stiffens as if they’re unprepared for this question. He sees a turmoil of emotions in their eyes: guilt, pain, anger, heartbreak. “Mindoir.” Their tone is quiet, hushed, like Mindoir is a dirty secret they don’t care to talk about. Kai remembers reading about it in a newspaper, barely a blip on his radar at the time. He didn’t know that anyone survived Mindoir, except for apparently, Shepard. That shouldn’t surprise him; Shepard seems surprisingly resilient. They stand up, stepping away from him. “I’m done. We should-.”

Kai grabs their right arm, tugging Shepard a step forward. “Shepard,’ They watch him carefully, perhaps afraid that he’ll make a joke about Mindoir at their expense, ‘I’m sorry for what happened on Mindoir. I wouldn’t have asked about your scar if I had known.”

Shepard’s eyes close for a moment, before opening again. “Thank you. I know you wouldn’t have.” He can hear the unsaid part, that anyone would have asked if they had known, probably goading Shepard for all the gory details of Akuze and Mindoir. Shepard clears their throat, gently pulling their arm from his hand. “We should continue with the mission.”

“We should,” He echoes, getting up to follow Shepard. Maybe, Shepard isn’t nearly as dull as he originally thought.

[dalekofchaos]

Fixing Kai Leng

The problem with Kai Leng is Mac Walters desperately tried to convince us that Leng was Shepard's ultimate equal when he could barely hold his own against an aged Anderson and a Drell with terminal cancer and in the end he was a tryhard egdelord that would make Kylo Ren embarrassed.

The solution to this is make Leng deeply connected to Shepard's personal history. Making him be a ghost from Shepard's past with a personal connection would have made this character much better. His backstory could change with whatever your selections are for Shepard.

If you are Earthborn, you are both members of the 10th Street Reds

If you are a Spacer, Leng and Shepard's families served together and Shepard and Leng were childhood friends

If you are a Colonist, Leng was Shepard's childhood friend and was in the rubble with Shepard

If you are a War Hero, Leng was wounded as Shepard held off the Batarians during Elysium. Leng's survival and stand against the Batarians attack on Elysium caught Cerberus' interest.

If you are Sole Survivor, you both survived an ambush on Akuze. Only Leng wasn't taken to be experimented on. Leng was recruited into joining Cerberus for his survival. Cerberus convinces Leng that the Alliance left him for dead and so did Shepard. Leng's sense of betrayal and human supremacy leads him to joining Cerberus

If you are Ruthless, you and Leng slaughtered the Batarians on Torfan without mercy, The sense of ruthlessness inspired Leng's cold hearted exterior and human supremacist beliefs and led him to Cerberus.

Where do we go from here? Replace Jacob with Kai Leng. And the books would be his ventures with Cerberus(but less as a cringe tryhard) Jacob ultimately added to nothing. He's so fucking boring and unlikable and turns into the stereotypical black guy who cheats on you.

Kai Leng's motivation when it comes to Cerberus would be this. I would say he was a young man who wanted to serve the human race and the alliance but when he saw that the politics of the Alliance kept holding him back from doing the right thing or the greater good,  he saw that Cerberus was the only ones helping humanity.

Remove the cyber ninja aesthetic and combine Soldier, Adapt and Engineer to make him a Cerberus super soldier.

As for Kai Leng. A Leng who has personal history with Shepard has potential, plus Leng being indoctrinated with Cerberus human supremacist beliefs, but also somebody with a moral conscience when it comes to the missing human colonists, somebody emotional that you could agree with or understand, contrasting Miranda as a starting squadmate.

Through the course of ME2, he would grow on you as the rest of the squadmates of ME2 did. His loyalty mission would be centered around our background. If we're a War hero, we hunt down the Batarians who survived Elysium. If we are Sole Survivor, we hunt down the Alliance officer who led their squad to Akuze. If we're Ruthless, we deal with Batarians who want revenge for Torfan who plan on giving human hostages to the Collectors. Throughout their talks, Shepard can convince Leng that Cerberus is wrong and eventually Leng's loyalty with Cerberus begins to wavers, especially after TIM sends them to be ambushed in the Collector ship.

Leng started completely loyal to Cerberus, but when he works with Shepard he sees that Cerberus is wrong, but stayed loyal, but also loyal to Shepard. When The Illusive Man asks Shepard to give the base over and when he/she refuses, he asks Leng to force it. This is where Kai Leng finally stands up to Cerberus. Kai Leng all his life, all he wanted to do is serve and protect humanity. He sees that the humans of the Terminus Systems were proceed into becoming a human Reaper and was horrified and when the man he looked up to for years says we should use what killed the humans, he gets the message we should sacrifice humanity and the costs of uplifting humanity. Kai Leng has had enough. He sees through the illusion of Cerberus and with Miranda tells TIM to fuck off and he stays loyal to Shepard.

Between the events of ME2 and ME3, when Shepard betrays Cerberus, they realize that Kai Leng is probably the strongest link between Shepard and themselves, and try to use him against Shepard. Not as lucky as Miranda, TIM does not want to lose Leng so he captures and indoctrinates Leng, making him an agent, and reprogramming his mind to become somebody he was not before, working mindlessly for TIM, as his first lieutenant in combat, much like Bucky Barnes, we have an emotional connection to Kai Leng before seeing him as a villain in ME3.

The first time we'd see Leng in ME3 is on Earth. We see this lead Cerberus Phantom in a unique mask stalking you and Anderson. And as we're leaving Earth, we see Kai Leng killing Anderson. With Shepard swearing revenge.

Throughout ME3, Leng would be stalking Shepard. Causing trouble as we encounter Cerberus. Trying to kill Eve, activating the bomb on Tuchunka and the attempt on the Council.

He would become the same Kai Leng that we all know and hate but we would be able to sympathize with him more.

When we finally confront him in Priority Citadel, we face him and omni-slash his mask off. We get the reveal. Shepard is shocked, Leng hesitates after hearing Shepard utter his name. Maybe in the Cerberus coup on the Citadel, if his loyalty mission was completed in ME2, he would not kill Thane, out of respect of a former squadmate, and regain conscious thought again for a brief moment to spare him. 

It would also help to explain his inexplicable plot armor. Rather than surviving against the onslaught of Shepard due to plot reasons, he would not be killed, as Shepard still sympathizes with him, and doesn't want to kill him, sparing him and letting him escape, or not being able to fully focus, hoping there's a little bit of the real Kai Leng still in there.

Of course this would lead to multiple outcomes towards the end of the game. He could either be recruited back or un-indoctrinated somehow, but for a good plot he would only be able to turn good again and rejoin the squad way too late in the game, maybe in the last third of the game, like Legion in ME2. Bonus points if you can romance him as Femshep, would still make a better romance carrying on to ME3 than Jacob.

Otherwise, he would have to be killed and could not be saved. I don't think that convincing him to commit suicide like Saren or TIM would work, because it would be too similar to the TIM suicide not too long, and would lose impact because of it. He would have to be fought and killed one last time in combat, and have a tragic end most likely.

If we saved Kai Leng, he would've been transported on the beam. Depending on your reputation and war readiness, Leng can break through the indoctrination and kill The Illusive Man or Leng kills himself, which distracts TIM and Shepard shoots The Illusive Man. If Leng broke through and killed TIM, he apologizes for killing Anderson and being unable to control himself. If you were just friends they hug, if they were LI, they kiss. Leng's fate would be either being aboard the Normandy to put Shepard's plaque on the memorial or finding Shepard's body and bringing him back and then we'd get Shepard putting Anderson's plaque on the Normandy.

SO that's how I would've handled Kai Leng. Making him more connected to Shepard and less of a tryhard edgelord that they made him to be in canon.

[emrisemrisemris]

Last sentence meme! Rules: Post the last sentence you wrote and tag as many people as there are words.

I was tagged in by @threewhiskeylunch​ and this is the last sentence I wrote:

"I got us a room," says Shepard, and holds up the keys.

Which is from somewhere in the middle of the renegade MShep/Kai Leng thing that exactly nobody asked for, including me (this being an ambush plot-bunny of the toothiest kind.) Relatedly, I was genuinely surprised at how little Kai Leng fic there is on AO3. I mean yes he’s one of the franchise’s most hated villains and in-universe a vile excuse for a human being, but ... this applies to many characters in many universes and does not generally stop fandom doing its thing? 

tl,dr: why hello there inexplicable new rarepair. Almost everyone I’d think to tag has already been tagged in at least once, so I’ll open the floor to anyone else who wants to play.

[weird-aunt]

Mass Effect Tag

With all the discourse on Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, let's spread some positive vibes by remembering what we love about the trilogy. Fill in and tag your friends. Feel free to add your own categories to this survey.

Thank you @briarfox13 for the tag!!

I have like two Mass Effect friends so I’ll go ahead and tag @commandersarah @pathfinderlittleduck @pip-n-flinx and @memaidraws

I am a fan since:  Maaayyyybe 2012??? Or possibly 2013. I know it was my first “real” boyfriend’s favorite game so he let me borrow the series in high school sometime after I got an xbox for the first time. Fun fact- my first romance was Kaidan because they shared a name and then I eventually ended up romancing Garrus on my fourth??? playthrough and then it wasn’t long after that we broke up lmao

Favourite game of the series?: 3, the score is so good, the gameplay is the best of the three IMO, it’s the culmination of everything from the past two games and I just LOVE seeing all the disparate plots and side quests all coming togetheer

MShep or FShep?: FShep

Earthborn, Colonist,or Spacer: Earthborn! Mostly because it’s the origin that ties in best with my OC Laena’s backstory tbh

Biotics or Tech: BIOTICS FUCK YEAH!! Overload is good for them marauders but no one knows how deadly Sir Isaac Newton is like a biotic

Paragon or renegade: Paragon for sure, but you know ya girl never misses that renegade interrupt to get Kai Leng

Favourite Class?: Sentinel always

Favourite Companion: gotta love Garrus, but not counting romances EDI is probably my fave

Least favourite Companion: I half want to say Ashley solely because that’s how I can justify leaving her behind every time but since I always do I honestly don’t know her enough to dislike her lol. My least favorite of the consistent companions is Liara. She’s just too much, like she’s too much either way. When she’s innocent and naive she’s a little too childlike but then when she goes all rage she has absolutely zero control she’s just exhausting honestly

My Squad Selection:

Mass Effect 1- Garrus and Kaidan or occasionally Wrex

Mass Effect 2- I feel like I mixed this one up a little bit more often (mostly because you had to take each companion on their own loyalty mission) but usually always Garrus and then Miranda was probably my most often second person

Mass Effect 3-Garrus and EDI every time

Favourite In-game Romance: Shakarian always

Other pairings I like: I’m still fond of Shenko and even though it’s not canon I gotta support Ashley x Fshep for my girl

Favourite NPC: Anderson and Dr. Chakwas, nothing can replace my love for Dr. Chakwas, but Bailey gets an honorable mention

Favourite Antagonist: Kai Leng solely because the final scene with him was just so good but I gotta say I also enjoyed Maya Brooks

Favourite Mission: Oh gosh I’m definitely a fan of Overlord, but nothing beats the absolute adrenaline rush I get every time I do the Rannoch mission in ME3

Favourite Loyalty Mission: I have a love/hate relationship with Grunt’s loyalty mission, I love killing the thresher maw but also I hate killing the thresher maw, but the one I really enjoy the most is Jack’s. I feel like a lot of people really relate to seeing Jack confront her childhood trauma and I just love seeing the unique aspects of her character through the mission

Favourite DLC: Well I can’t not say the Citadel DLC, it really is so much fun, but I also loved Overlord, partially because I’m just glad Shepard gets to shut that shit down

Control, Synthesis or Destroy: I think theoretically speaking, synthesis is what my preferred ending would be, but since I can never kill Shepard I always go with destroy

Favourite Weapon: Phaeston rifle

Favourite Place: I feel like it’s a cop out to say the Normandy, but there’s no place like home you know

A quote I like: The one that always makes me giggle? “Sir Isaac Newton is the deadliest son-of-a-bitch in space!" but in a more serious theme “Stand amongst the ashes of a trillion dead souls and ask the ghosts if honor matters” I always play a paragon Shep but damn that line is raw

[mass-effect-galaxy]

Joan’s Song 5: The Spectre

“Commander Shepard, It is the decision of the Council that you be granted all the powers and privileges of the Special Tactics and Reconnaissance branch of the Citadel. 

Spectres are not trained but chosen. Individuals forged in the fire of service and battle; those whose actions elevate them above the rank and file. 

Spectres are an ideal, a symbol. The embodiment of courage, determination, and self-reliance. They are the right hand of the Council, instruments of our will.

Spectres bear a great burden. They are protectors of galactic peace, both our first and last line of defense. The safety of the galaxy is theirs to uphold.

You are the first human Spectre, Commander. This is a great accomplishment for you and your entire species.”

“I am honored, Councilors”, Shepard said. ‘About time’, she thought

The ceremony felt somewhat make-shift and was a bit of a disappointment to Shepard. Of course, with Saren the Council had a rouge spectre running around the Traverse, attacking human settlements at will. Even worse, the Council had known of it, did not warn the Alliance, and had failed miserably in solving the problem by sending Nihlus after Saren. The least the Council could do now was giving a human spectre status to hunt down Saren.   

One advantage of being a spectre was free housing on the Citadel. Shepard had expected a room in the C-Sec barracks. She wasn’t prepared for a two-story apartment in the Tiberius Towers. It was furnished tailored for a human; however, Shepard didn’t like the style: several separate living areas with leather couches, two bars, an office with a poker-table and a fireplace, a completely impractical open kitchen (she wouldn’t be cooking much here, but still). The dining area had a giant table, but someone had removed the chairs. There was not a single spot she would label as “cozy”. This was the home of a middle-aged male human single. A lot of work to do. At least she would be able to do something herself about the disturbing giant paintings on both floors. 

Technically, Shepard’s assignment to the Normandy was concluded with her being appointed a spectre. In Council Space, she would now be outranking Captain Anderson anyways. Someone already had brought over Shepard’s things from the Normandy. Her bags and boxes were piled next to the entrance; as were Kaidan’s and Ashley’s. Already from the cap that brought them here, Shepard had called Admiral Hackett and asked for both being placed under her command, her personal “spectre team”. By chance, the apartment had three bedrooms and would now be their home and headquarters.

There was an additional set of packages on one of the couches. “Christmas!”, Ashley shouted and sat down unpacking the first one. Shepard liked her that way: Ashley had dropped a lot of the diffidence she had shown on Eden Prime in Shepard’s presence. It had not fitted her. That package revealed a red overall with dark boxes on the shoulders, legs, and the back. An armor. It looked ridiculously. Shepard touched one of the boxes and the hard-cups extracted. Now it was lacquered-black with a red under-armor. “I think, I stick to Alliance colors”, Shepard said. “You bet, Commander”, replied Kaidan unpacking another package. It held a folded rifle. Shepard took it and pushed the button to unfold the weapon. It was a black assault rifle with the red spectre-wings and the designation “HMWA VII” stamped into its butt. The other parcels contained the respective sniper rifle, a shotgun, and a pistol. “Just one set. I’ll requisition yours as soon as possible.”, Shepard promised. 

Kaidan went out for the evening, a date with some doctor from the Citadel.  “Or maybe, he has some itching he doesn’t wanna talk about and needs an excuse to see the doctor?”, Ashley joked. She and Shepard were at the bar in the room with the big screen on the wall. Shepard was checking the little refrigerator beneath the bar. “You dig up anything useful down there, Ma’am?”, Ashley asked. “Scotch, Tizza, and ice. Sounds like ‘Acrturus Shots’ to me.”, Shepard replied. “Shoot, Skipper.”

A few shots later, Ashley said, “Proper way to celebrate Armistice Day, isn't it?” Shepard had no idea what Ashley was talking about. “Armistice Day?”. “Yeah, First Contact War, you remember. We always celebrate it in our family.” Ashley sounded sad. “Really? I know, my father fought there, in a unit with Hackett and Anderson. What about your family;  lost anyone to the birds?” “Shepard, I am Ashley Williams.” Shepard shrugged, confused. “General Thomas Williams granddaughter.” “Shanxi-Williams?” Shepard blurted that out and immediately regretted it. “Sorry, that was unkind.” “It’s okay, Shepard. I am the offspring of a traitor.” “Ashley, listen”, Shepard said, “your grandfather's tactics were sound, and by surrendering in time, he saved countless lives. He was no traitor, the admirals just needed someone to shift the blame to.” Ashley blushed, “that’s kind of you. He would have liked that. After all, you are a hero: Akuze, Elysium, Torfan.” 

An awkward moment of silence followed. Then, Shepard said, “I am not a hero, I am a monster.” Ashley resisted the impulse to answer. This sounded serious. “On Torfan, I should have surrendered. The Alliance certainly would had paid any ransom for us. Maybe, the animals had executed me, but the others had lived.” Shepard suddenly realized that she personally was responsible for Jan’s death - not the batarians, not Major Kyle, not Admiral Hackett. ‘It was me!’ “Instead, I chose to fight. I killed the prisoners, I had my men been slaughtered, and I have blown up a compound full with our people. All for nothing but my damned selfish pride.” She trembled. ‘I am sorry. I am so sorry.’ 

Ashley came closer. She laid a hand on Shepard’s leg. “Jo, listen.”, it was the first time she called Shepard that way. Her grief turned into butterflies in her stomach. “Whatever decision you made, whatever you did or didn’t do, was bound to happen. It brought you to the place you are now. And this is the place where the Galaxy needs you.” This was one of those moments that had to come to a kiss. “Right now, I need you just by me”, said Shepard bending forward to kiss Ashley. 

Ashley didn’t open her mouth to return the kiss. Shepard backed off. “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to..., I thought...” she stuttered. “This is unexpected. I am seriously flattered, Jo. But I am really not into girls, I mean, ‘that way’.” Shepard nudged her, “Hey, I am not ‘girls’, I am Commander Shepard.” This somewhat saved the situation. They drank the last shot in silence. Shepard was the first to speak again, “Ash, I would understand if you’d feel uncomfortable serving under me now. If that’s the case, please be straight with me. I’ll arrange for another posting; a proper command with the Fleet, of course, no more garrison duties for you. I’ll promise” Ashley shook her head, “Skipper, I don’t know where this journey takes us, but I’d be proud to be a part of it. I cannot rest from travel. I will drink Life to the lees.” “You read poetry?” Shepard was genuinely surprised. “I have a degree in English Literature”, Ashley replied with pride. Shepard opened and closed her mouth. “Really?” “Yeah, Online. But don’t spread it around.”

Shepard woke up with a slight hangover. She took a pill against it. Once her head was clear again, she changed into sport tights and -shirt, both with N7-emblem. She could use some jogging but the “fitness room” of this apartment was lacking a treadmill. She checked her omnitool, but it seems there were no gyms for humans or asari on the Silversun Strip, only a fight-club for turians. Sparing would be nice, but to turians, it was part of their sexuality - and she was not interested in a bird fluttering on her back. Jogging in the streets was forbidden on the Citadel. Only humans did that for sports and it always caused a stir with the other species. Finally, she went for some rounds against the punching bag in the lower bedroom. This was supposed to be Kaidan’s room, but he obviously had not slept here. ‘Luckier than me, Alenko?’, she thought while going through a sequence of roundhouse-kicks.

When Shepard was back in her room, Anderson called her. She put him on the big screen over her bed. Anderson frowned seeing Shepard still in sport dress. “What’s that, Commander, one day off the leash and all discipline has gone? This is no shore leave! Saren is still out there and he is up to no good.” “Yes, Sir, understood. Any leads from the Council.” She heard the showers from Ashley’s bathroom. This sound caused Anderson to frown again. After all, it already was 0830. “Indeed, the aliens came around with a certain ‘Martriach Benezia’. She is working for Saren. She has a daughter by the name of Dr. Liara T’Soni, who is, and that’s interesting, an expert on the protheans.” “That must be our link to the prothean artifacts”, Shepard concluded. She had not talked with anyone about the vision from Eden Prime. Instead, she had drawn the alien that had ‘spoken’ to her and compared her image with the few artistic depictions from prothean times on the extranet. They were matching; even though most of them got the skin color wrong. “So, you want me to get that asari and use her against her mother?”, she asked Anderson. “Shepard, you are a spectre now. Only thing I can do is set you on the trail. What you do or don’t do is up to you. That’s the point with having independent spectres. There is one other thing though”, Anderson launched his omnitool, “You take the Normandy, I am transmitting the command codes to you.” Shepard protested, “That’s not right, Sir. The Normandy is yours.” “Commander, the Normandy is not mine, she belongs to the Alliance. And when the Alliance says you get her, you get her. Besides, she was specifically designed for operations like these.” “Thank you, Sir. I won’t let you down.” 

Time to go hunting asari.

The apartment hadn’t changed since Kai Leng was last here, and security in the Tiberius Towers still was a joke. He started his tour by checking the refrigerator. Someone has been making pancakes. Two were left on a plate. Kai Leng picked the plate and started to eat while moving on. Shepard had left most of her personal items here. There was a holographic easel in the office. He launched it and went through her pictures. Most either showed planet-sites or were portraits of other women. They were good on a technical level, but Kai Leng wouldn’t call them ‘artistic’. One was a nude self-portrait of Shepard: a rather slim woman, he would have expected her to be more muscled. He copied that one to his omnitool. The very recent one caught his attention too: a blue alien with four eyes. “A prothean”, he mumbled. He copied that one as well. Time to check the upper floor. In the bathroom, he found a bottle of “Oceans of Illium”, a fragrance preferred by asari prostitutes. It contained pheromones that attracted other asari but didn’t work on humans. ‘So, that little pervert likes them blue too.’, he thought. The bottle was still sealed, though. After having eaten the pancakes Kai Leng used Shepard’s brush for his teeth. Afterwards, he cleaned the brush in the toilette. Leaving the plate in the bathroom, he checked on the wardrobes. Not surprisingly, there were only a few clothes. One revealed an N7 hoodie, similar to his own, a spectre armor, and a red Apex armor that had been in use by security forces on Elysium before the Blitz. A drawer held some underwear; only black and white, nothing special. He took a white sport thong as a trophy. Lying on Shepard's bed, he went through the recordings of his surveillance bugs. Afterwards, he called the Illusive Man, “Sir, you were right about the protheans. She is now heading for the Artemis Tau Cluster.” “Anything about the reapers?”, the Illusive Man demanded to know. “No, Sir. No one has mentioned them so far.”

[briarfox13]

For fandom game ask: Mass Effect?

Thank you nonny!! 

The first character I first fell in love with: Nihlus, I was so sad that he died XD The character I never expected to love as much as I do now: Garrus, I knew I wanted to romance him but I didn’t realise how much I’d love him!  The character everyone else loves that I don’t: I’m not sure, but I’m not overly fond of Jack. But I haven’t played with her much so my opinion might change when I play the Legendary Edition! The character I love that everyone else hates: Kaidan. I know he gets some hate by some but I think he’s pretty awesome The character I used to love but don’t any longer: I don’t think I have a character like that, I like the majority of them!  The character I would totally smooch: Garrus XD The character I’d want to be like: Commander Shepard!  The character I’d slap: Kai Leng A pairing that I love: I like all pairings! But my favourites are Garrus x Shep, Thane x Shep and Kaiden x Shep A pairing that I despise: I don’t despise any ship in ME they are all amazing, but I’m personally not fond of Tali and Garrus. She just seems so rude to him XD But I think it’s awesome people ship them! 

[shadowglens]

mass effect!

also asked by @forcekenobi, ty guys!

the first character i ever fell in love with: god i feel like it was probably kaidan, or maybe joker? a character that i used to love/like, but now do not: if anything i think i’ve fallen more in love with the mass effect cast rather than growing to dislike them lol a ship that i used to love/like, but now do not: my mass effect ships haven’t really changed at all since i first played the games my ultimate favorite character™: kaidan, reyes, andersen, miranda prettiest character: miranda, keri t’vessa, liara my most hated character: kai leng if i had to choose?? i never did like the ripoff bucky barnes my OTP: shenko, shawson or reyder (i’m definitely ride or die for these three, my faves) my NOTP: idk probably any me:a incest shipping, or miranda/jack favorite episode game: me2 for Everything, but also me3 because of the shenko content and the angst saddest death: andersen. space dad ..... (also i do cry a little whenever alec dies in mea so i guess i have a weakness for my fictional dad’s dying rip)  least favorite season game: me1 purely because of it’s age, but i’m really looking forward to replaying it when the remaster comes out character that everyone else in the fandom loves, but i hate: don’t get me wrong i do like garrus, but not in the almost crazy way the fandom seems to my ‘you’re piece of trash, but you’re still a fave’ fave: jack, reyes my ‘beautiful cinnamon roll who deserves better than this’ fave: kaidan, miranda, ash, jaal my ‘this ship is wrong, nasty, and makes me want to cleanse my soul, but i still love it’ ship: all my mass effect ships are pretty tame i think my ‘they’re kind of cute, and i lowkey ship them, but i’m not too invested’ ship: ryder x jaal, shepard x vega (but only when it’s done right), shepard x joker

[seeds-jacob]

Wip Whenever

I was tagged by the awesome @crqstalite

It's a F!Shenko and a Shepard x Illusive man fic

Kaidan threw the last phantom against the wall, there was something different about this one, she wore the same armor but in black and instead of a sword she opted for twin omni-blades and biotics. The phantoms fighting style was oddly familiar as well, Kaidan slowly made his way over to her, his rifle pointed at her just in case she was playing dead to lure him in. Kaidan knelt down and slowly reached for her helmet, Edi and James ready to neutralize her if she even made the slightest movement.

Kaidan pulled her helmet off and the face underneath shocked him to his core "Lily…" she had gone missing after her mission on Omega, a Cerberus occupied station and she hadn't bothered to tell anyone why she was going or that she was going at all. Lily's long black hair that had fallen out of her ponytail was matted with her blood from the impact, Kaidan dropped his gun and took her head in his hands and turned her to face him. "Lily open your eyes...please." thankfully she was still breathing, if he could just get her out of here alive, hopefully someone could undo whatever it was Cerberus did to her.

"The Illusive man isn't going to be happy you broke his favorite toy."

Kaidan knew that voice, he clutched Lily to his chest and turned his head, glaring at Kai Leng.

"What did you do to her?" Kaidan growled.

"Made her one of us, just as the illusive man wanted."