#liara romance always in my heart

[requiemforthestars]

The whole Asari thing in Mass Effect where they canonically do not reproduce amongst themselves and to do so is a whole taboo has always been super uncomfortable to me as a lesbian and felt incredibly homophobic. Like wow, you're telling me this species, which you have coded as female/female-like (which you have only done to be able to sexualize them) find it icky to reproduce with those of their same kind? That they're not enough by themselves and need something else for better offspring? That something else being other species in general but it's specially pointed that since the Asari were coded as "sexy alien women" that they lack "men", while other species do have them, and that they need those outside influences? Wow! Groundbreaking!

Idk, it was uncomfortable as a teen lesbian to play that for the first time to learn that this super cool species where everyone is the same and female-coded, and therefore inherently sapphic (in a manner of speaking) and inherently queer thinks it's icky and weird to reproduce/partner amongst themselves because they're not enough and need something else to do it properly. Like I wonder where I've heard that before, not from anyone telling me lesbian sexuality is lacking in some way and that women are incomplete if they don't partner with men, for sure.

Of course the Asari do not have a gender in the way we understand it, but back in 2007, to the devs, their gender was "blue alien sexy women". They were specifically created to be sexy, they just then were smart enough to give them some more lore other than that and to rectify those ideas a bit more. But it is not a coincidence that Asari are as sexualized as they are in the games.

And it doesn't even make much sense. How long was it in canon since the Asari made first contact? 2000 thousand years? That's what? Three to four Asari generations? I understand of course that they'd be curious and find it awesome that they can reproduce with aliens as well, but to the point where it becomes a taboo to partner with another Asari? A taboo so great that people who do it are ashamed to speak of it? And specifically because that makes them/their unions lacking in some way? (Hint: that's what homophobe say about lesbians and sapphic women) Sorry, there's some subtle homophobia there. I don't think the devs necessarily intended it, but it's there. And they didn't even need to put it there. They could have just said that the Asari reproduce both amongst themselves and other people, no judgement made on it.

This extra thing didn't need to be there. I know the in-game explanation about genetic diversity, but come on, there's outside real life influences too.

[mrabubu]

How do you think the turtles from ROTMNT would deal with their feelings if they were in love with someone (be it human, mutant, Yokai, etc.)?

Oh man... Hmmm...

I really hope that wouldn't be a problem if I mostly ramble about Leo (I'M SORRY GUYS THE BLUE TURTLE LIVES IN MY MIND RENT FREE), and maybe a couple of words about the rest. I'll also be talking about both young and adult Leos, so, here we go.

I'll give short opinions on other turtles before Leo:

Donnie: Would be neglecting his feelings and emotions at first. Even though, in my opinion, he was established as the one prone to romance, I think when he'd actually feel anything towards anyone, he'd be really conflicted, because it's one thing to see this stuff on the TV and all, and another when it's in real life. But once he'll deal with all this mess in his head, he's a real gentleman.

With Raph and Mikey I'm going to refer to @souperwrites words, I hope they don't mind xd

"Mikey is confident and lovey dovey." And I totally agree with it. I feel like he would be the one who'd have the least problems with his feelings.

"Raph is shy but very genuine in his affection but also super nervous because of his size and the potential harm he could cause without meaning to." But honestly, I think my friend @daysofmoron could also give their opinion, since they love the red turtle. xd OKAY, NOW MY BOY LEO.

If start with young Leo, in the show he was always all "EWW!" whenever any sign of romantic love is shown, be it Big Mama and Splinter or Warren and Hypno (at least I remember them being all cuddly, and Leo's was just barfing at them on the background), but I imagine once his own heart goes "doki-doki" for Y/N (let it be Y/N or "you" for now), he's a total mess at first. Remember that episode when they met Jupiter Jim actor, and Leo couldn't even put the syllables together? Yeah, that's him at the start, especially if Y/N doesn't know about his feelings towards them. He'll be trying to impress Y/N but since his emotions are all over the place, he messes up more than usual, maybe even ending up hurting himself (like, he'd try to impress you with his skateboarding skills, but ends up eating concrete because he's too distracted).

And here I'm going to add a bit of my own ideas, because I've been thinking of some scenarios, like, if taking that previous idea with skateboarding, or, more easily, let's take the episode "The Longest Fight" when he fell, I imagine if on the contrary from others you'd actually show any genuine concern about if he's hurt, he'd be like "Oh..." and blushing, because usually his brothers would make fun if him, and here comes in you who doesn't laugh at his failure and worries if he needs help. I think after a moment like this he could begin to feel something.

And with Future Leo HO OHO I have an entire game reference on how I imagine him handling a romance.

First of all, I think as an adult he would be more confident with his feelings if he ever feels anything towards anyone, because, well, he's an adult now, and because when you at war you kinda already went through a lot to be all this blushing mess over feeling butterflies in your stomach.

So, as a reference, whenever I thought of him in a relationship, I though of a romance with Garrus from Mass Effect. I imagine Leo being kinda awkward, trying to make jokes at first that are much more sloppy than usual. Especially if talking about Garrus, I always think of that scene from Mass Effect 2, when he comes into Shepard's room before the final mission, trying to lighten up the mood, flirt and all, but ends up just being an awkward (but adorable) mess, and saying: "I've seen so many things have gone wrong... I want something to go right. Just once. Just..."

And it's just really easy for me to imagine Leo say that. And instead of touching scars you touch his prosthetic.

And also that dialogue with Liara after "The Lair of the Shadow Broker" DLC, when she asks if you fight for giving Garrus some peace, and you say that he's been hurt and deserves something better.

But once Leo's over all the awkwardness and let himself relax, he's just enjoying this new experience with you, having fun.

This scene with Garrus and Shepard trying the "first date" thing which ends up them dancing tango together. With all the teasing and all, I can easily imagine Leo would do something like that.

Honestly, I think that's it? There are more scenes in Mass Effect with Garrus and Shepard where I could easily imagine Leo would do something like that, but it's a lot. If you know, you know, If don't, well, I hope I was able to gave you an idea.

[ashenlavellan]

A Kudos Post to my favorite ME LIs

this will be a condensed post of my appreciation for ALL of my favorite Mass Effect (including Andromeda) Romances - please keep in mind that this is my opinion/favorites and I may not have one of your romances listed. Please be respectful of that ^.^

Kaidan Alenko - The Sentinel Biotic

I've said it before and I'll say it again - he's by-far one of the most sympathetic, but he's also willing to stand his ground against stuff that contradicts his morals. I thoroughly appreciate that he's supportive, but he's not always a yes-man - whether or not he's romanced.

Also, I've mentioned it before, but chronic migraines are no fucking joke - the cause of them being his implants/biotics too? This man deserves an award.

Liara T'Soni - The Asari Scientist / Shadow Broker

By far, one of my all-time favorite Bioware romances. Her personality and her thoughtfulness always melts my heart and even if she's not romanced, I genuinely believe that she's also a platonic soulmate. Some people may not like her for the hero/savior-complex she has in ME1, but she mellows out in the later games and it feels like she's on equal-footing later on.

Her VA is also one of my all-time favorite actresses - Ali Hillis, who also plays as Lightning (Claire) Farron from FFXIII and recently, Lace Harding from DA: Inquisition / Veilguard.

Garrus Vakarian - The Archangel of Omega

My first ever romance and what initially led me to playing the trilogy. The initial awkwardness of an interspecies liaison, which led to a flirty yet playful interaction - then we find ourselves head-over-heels for this scarred turian.

If not romanced, I genuinely believe that Garrus could also be a platonic soulmate - whether it's FemShep/BroShep. The relationship and understanding feels so... real.

Thane Krios - The Drell Assassin

This romance broke my heart and soul; his troubled life with the loss of his deceased ex-wife and the discord between himself and his son felt like so much for him to bear. Especially for an entire decade. Now, when I initially romanced him, I was merely intrigued by his personality and how he dealt with everything - knowing he had limited time.

Progressing through the story led me to the realization that he was merely getting by, but the second he finds love once more? He's devastated at the prospect that he's found his other half, but with so little time and knowing that she'll be left alone...

I was devastated and pathetically sobbed when he died; especially when watching the clips that were left behind during the Citadel DLC.

Reyes Vidal - The Charlatan of Kadara

By far, one of the most intriguing romances of ME: Andromeda and it felt like there’s a lot of chemistry between him and [preferred] Ryder - regardless if he’s romanced or not. He’s got a flair for the dramatics yet he’s terrified of losing what has become cherished to him, at the cost of his lies.

His personality and voice certainly drew me in during my first play-through - I genuinely thought there would be a game where I found none of the romances appealing, but then this shady bastard appeared and winked.

[housederiva]

Hi there! I was looking for some insight as someone who feels as though they've only scratched the surface level of the Dragon Age Lore. Inquisition was my first game, and the only one I've fully played through (3 times), and I've made it my mission to play through the other games as well, but I feel stuck when it comes to Alistair. If you wouldn't mind sharing, what do you find to be the best outcome for him? I've basically had to stop myself from falling in love with him, as it seems his a romance with him is kinda doomed unless you're a noble. And how do you handle the Dark Ritual?

Honored that you're picking my pee sized brain (affectionate) about this uwu

Alistair was the first video game character I had ever romanced (i was like 10 when i first played origins oh my god that shouldn't have been allowed also technically he might be the second because of miss liara t'soni but i can't remember which game i played first) so he has a very special place in my heart. When I was a kid, i made him the king along side Anora. But my 'canon' world state kept him as a grey warden. In my head, he's the same ranking as my warden commander Amell and Anora rules alone. I won't harden him and I wont put a crown on his head that he doesn't want. To me, Alistair staying a warden feels right and (now that im in my mid 20's) i don't romance him and no longer have that sort of attraction to his character. Amell and him are each other's only family and when the Calling comes for them, they'll go together

I really do wish the Dark Ritual was played out a different way as I have Alistair become Kieran's father, I don't like that it feels like I'm forcing him to sleep with my wife, Morrigan (if i remember right, in development a female warden could have been a part of it but that was scrapped early on) I've never done a play through where a warden sacrificed themselves. I always do the ritual becuase I trust and love Morri, I will not lose Alistair, and my Amell has lost enough. she gets to be selfish now that she's making the calls. She doesn't believe in 'In death sacrifice' and never will. She didn't choose to be a warden, but the other option was being made tranquil. My Amell will always put her Wardens and everyone she loves above a 'greater good' she doesn't think exists. Also I adore Kieran and love how he changes Morri and how much she loves him. I really hope we see him grown up in Veilguard

I'm opening this up to the peanut gallery if anyone else wants to weigh in!

[remjl]

Stray gods is amazing game.

I've just finished my first play through and that was very unique expirience to make all decisions through songs. And even I was able to guess who is responsible for what happened after act I, I was charmed by lore and by story/characters.

My Grace has charming/clever build, however I'm now looking forward to use another personality combo. Laura Bailey nailed this character and I want to see what other options of her performance game can offer.

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I'm going to write some minor spoilers ahead, so if you don't want to know anything about game come back later)

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So, I was aiming to romance Persephone on my first play through, however Freddie stole my heart in the end. It was logical to choose her after all this journey.

Hopefully, I will be able to make another choices next time, but it's like with Mass Effect - I always promise myself to romance new character and than ended up with Liara every time.

[sol-consort]

How far have you gotten in Mass Effect 2? Also have you gotten any other pets or just your fish?

I'm doing Legion's loyalty mission, and then I will go to the omega 4 mass relay. I've done all other loyalties

Just fish for now, I did get Kelly to feed them tho, the scene was very disappointing.

I got the varen to follow me on Tuchanka after I fed him some meat but he never on ship.

Oh and a space hamster! Is he the reference to Boo and Baldur's Gate? Foshkdjsw I loved Kelly's comment about him and the cute little squeek he does when you interact with his box.

I did the admiral Hackett arrival mission by accident because I didn't realise it was the one- I was underleveled with like two snipers and 5 upgrades but eh I managed.

I have several n7 assignments left but I read that I should do them after the game ends.

I'm thinking of ng+ but apparently doing that disconnects your ME1 import or something and your choices get ereased? Or is that just a rumour, Idk.

I think imma go with Thane's romance, the siha was the final nail in the coffin that sealed by fate. I'm very disappointed by how surface level they made Jacob when he has so much potential, his loyality mission was the third on the list of the most horrifically and emotionally scarring ones to do and yet we get very little in the aftermath or from Jacob himself during it.

The overlord takes the first spot no doubt, my god.

It just felt unfullfilling and like Shepard is the one gunning for a relationship when Jacob doesn't want it, only something casual and that's after a lot of time convincing him. I miss how Kaidan or Ashley would flirt with you by themselves without having to initiate it and you can reject them or encourage them.

Here I think they did this for the player's comfort, like in that Halsin scene where he asks if you're sure multiple times. But that was bear sex! We're talking about normal smooching here or holding hands.

Instead, it butchered the romance, and it feels like Shepard is making them uncomfortable and insisting on a relationship, pressuring subordinates at that too.

Maybe it's different with maleShepard? Maybe other romances would've been different. But Garrus and Jacob fully felt like they would rather be at another room. Garrus himself says he doesn't have a fetish for humans but will try for us. That's after he tells us to go sleep with another human instead since it's closer to home.

With Garrus, I don't want someone to fix it. I don't want a rapid dog to pull the leash of every time he wants to bite. It feels like I'm just here to make sure he doesn't murder others, he seems more emotionally immature than before. Hesitant and lost, I don't want to be the one to figure who he is for him, he should do that himself.

Thane so far feels the most romantically available funny enough despite how much he simps for his dead wife. There are still some few throw away lines flirting with Shep that are subtle enough to miss.

Calling you "siha" an angel, one of the messenger of his gods, a protective angel that helps and aids people. Before you two have any commited relationship.

Describing how he remembers everything in great details even the smallest kiss and lets the comment be, if you say it made you uncomfortable then he apologises.

And he loves his son, that's always the biggest green flag. While Jacob buries his emotion and is defensive when talking about his father, meanwhile Garrus changed so much, where did my polite kind turian go?

It also fits, he still loves his wife, my Shepard still loves Kaidan, and he doesn't have much time left to live. I see Shepard and him finding solace in each other's arms before one has to eventually leave. Shepard comforts him during his last years of life while he helps them mend their freshly broken heart. A win win. A mutual agreement.

The good cop bad cop roleplay also was the closest thing to playful I have ever encountered in a loyalty mission.

I tried flirting with Samara, man that stung.

Liara came to my room but didn't make a move?

Pov: You're Liara seconds after blueballing my Shepard and actually only coming over for wine.

I hate my romance options. I liked Tali's mission tho it was super fun and I don't get a lot of chances to yell and play the loudest human in the room.

Anderson betrayed us and knew about Horizon, you can go to confront him and say how he was your only friend left. He doesn't apologise and says it was a necessary risk, that made me lose respect for him a bit. Shepard does not have a single soul on their side in this lifetime.

I did some DLC by accident? That's kinda why I wanna restart with ng+ and do everything in the recommended order. Plus, the widow sniper is amazing, and I don't wanna part with it just yet :(

I liked taking Legion everywhere, but it's already end game. I had put off recruiting him because I didn't know the FF mission was his, I thought it was the last mission before the endgame missions, so I must do it last.

He looks so...ominous in every screenshot, like it's taken moments away before disaster. Ik it's just his headlights but man he looks ready to jump me. It made me realise how scary the Geth can be when you're not viewing them from a sniper's lens behind a crate miles away.

I thought the last empty space was for Liara but she left.

The game is 10/10, steps on your heart a lot and more angsty than the first game, Also everything is so expensive and I am so broke. The Alliance used to pay me per fucking kill, Cerberus are so stingy.

Gonna either start with a ng+, re-import my ME1 character or just move on to ME3.

[lupinobi]

The Pretty Lies, The Ugly Truth (The Royal Romance)

Characters: Liam Rys, Emilia Tozier (MC), Drake Walker, Maxwell Beaumont, Liara Rys (OC).

Summary: As the King of Cordonia sits down with his friends and family, reality haunts him. Sick of that reality, he plans to unveil the secrets of the woman he once loved, and help her understand that his love is so pure, he doesn't mind some blood in between arguments.

Words: 3209

Rating: 18+

Warnings: Knifeplay, depictions of violence, obsessive behavior, stalking behavior. Please, do not proceed if these topics trigger you.

This takes place in an AU for my own AU.

Mentions of OC, Liara Rys Walker, Liam's sister.

Disclaimer: You can find this and more of my fics on my AO3 profile under the username @nitelunne

_________________________________________

That one night was meant for perfection. With everything greatly executed, there was no reason for something to go wrong. To be fair, nothing should go wrong. Everything had to happen in the right way, or else nothing would go as expected.

The living room was full of life by that moment, but to the King’s eyes there was just one person in there: Duchess Emilia Tozier, the woman who came into Cordonia a commoner and later became a noble, the same woman who stole his heart.

All it took for him was to look at her and he knew it was game over, he knew he was about to risk his position and the crown, but she was worth it. Just looking at her smile made all the troubles worth it, and he knew it.

From the very moment she walked into Cordonia, he knew she was going to be his downfall, and he wasn’t wrong. Emilia was just the woman he was looking for, the wife that he always wanted and dreamt about.

What a shame she wasn’t his wife.

As he looked at her hold Maxwell’s hand, something else broke inside him. One of his closest friends, and the woman he wanted by his side ruling the country. However, he knew perfectly well he was not going to let that be an obstacle. He needed her, perhaps more than the air he breathed. Even if Leo and Liara told him he was going to find love again, love like he deserved, he didn’t believe them. Neither his brother nor sister understood the pain it became to see Emilia reject him for Maxwell, for the man that swore he was going to act as a brother to her. It sickened him, knowing that Emilia found comfort in the arms of the man who took her to a foreign country as a contestant to win the future king’s affection, as a fast pass to avoid bankruptcy. And yet he tried to be happy for them, even allowing them to have the wedding of a lifetime, while trying to force himself to forget her… to forgive her, mostly. Maxwell’s hand on Emilia’s felt wrong to him. There was nothing that could make the eerie feeling of them being together go away. For a moment he wanted to avoid looking at her, thinking that it was the best thing he could do, trying to convince himself that was the only way to deal with the pain that looking at them together caused him. With every day that passed, he knew he wanted her.

He needed her. He needed her.

Looking at them together was quite the torture, and he wondered if he enjoyed that kind of torture, or if he was getting used to the pain so much that he was willing to accept it as his own. He wasn’t sure of that. However, he was sure that things needed to change. Things had to change for everything to go his way.

Whatever he was feeling for Emilia, he knew it was messing with his head, and he didn’t like it. A part of him was fighting the urge to do something impulsive while the other part was enjoying the fantasies that played in his mind. The constant thought of “the heart wants what it wants” haunted him.

And, damn, it was hard to be nice and yet be haunted by the obsession he developed towards Emilia. It was hard to play it cool around everyone, while trying to convince himself and his family that he was okay.

But how could anything be okay? She was the woman who stole his heart… the woman who broke his heart and later found comfort in the arms of someone who promised to see her as a sister, and yet broke his promise.

Liam remembered it really well, that night out he had with Maxwell and Drake, when Maxwell said the affection he had for Emilia was that of a brother towards his sister. Lies always hurt him deeply, ever since he remembered. What hurt him the most was the fact that Maxwell knew exactly how he felt about her, and yet chose to betray him and do the unspeakable, the worst he could’ve done to him. Even then, he was willing to forgive him. God, he even congratulated them for their engagement and promised them the wedding of their dreams. If only they knew he was giving up the wedding he planned for him and sweet Emilia, and still tried to convince himself that her happiness will eventually be his happiness.

How wrong he was… how mistaken he was.

He wondered if what pushed him to the limit was seeing how the perfect life he planned for him and Emilia was gifted for her to enjoy with another man. He wasn’t sure, but he knew that the pain inside him grew with each day that passed, and it could no longer be ignored. He had to do something about it… he had to embrace it.

The room went silent, making him snap out of his thoughts and turn his attention towards his sister a bit confused.

“We’re hoping for some words, Your Majesty. You said you wanted to discuss something with us”, Liara said with a warm smile, which Liam tried to replicate.

“Of course,” He replied, standing up from his chair as he started to walk around the room looking for the right words to say.

No one said anything as he prepared himself, they just sat there, staring at him with smiles that he knew were going to fade. But he didn’t care.

“It’s been a year already”, he said. “A year since that wonderful wedding we celebrated for Duchess Emilia and Duke Maxwell.”

Both Maxwell and Emilia smiled to each other, as she caressed his cheek softly.

“I’d say I wasn’t surprised for your choice of a husband, Emilia, but I was. I think we all were.”

Smiles remained in the guests’ faces, while they tried to guess if what the King had just said was just a joke, or if there was something else between the lines.

“Especially, when he was the one who brought you to my home and suggested you married me.” Liara looked at him, almost staring daggers.

“Liam”, she whispered in a concerned tone.

“Liara”, he replied in a sarcastic tone, “don’t act like you never thought of it.”

By that moment, no one smiled, and the tension in the room felt so thick. He turned his gaze towards Emilia, in a look that was severe and yet had a bit of pain in it.

“Imagine my surprise when I drop on one knee for the second time and you reject me again, all because you said you found love in the man who swore you were like a sister to him.”

“Liam, I don’t understand what’s going on.” Emilia said. “Why are you saying these things?”

“Because he hasn’t moved on”, Maxwell replied, a confused look in his face that was slowly turning into anger.

Maxwell was not one to ever get angry. Liam could’ve sworn that seeing Maxwell angry was just as rare as a comet passing by. The same part of him willing to cause chaos that night wonder how far he’d go to defend himself after the betrayal, how far he’d go to defend Emilia.

“How could one ever move on after loving someone with everything that they are just to be stabbed in the back?” Liam asked. “How could one ever forgive such betrayal?”

He walked to the desk in the back of the living room, turning his back to the group.

“Betrayals used to be punished terribly bad back in the day”, he said with a stoic face, as he opened a drawer from the desk to pull out a silver dagger, turning back to them as he slowly started to play with it in his hands.

“Liam, put that down”, Liara said as she stood up, sharing a concerned look with Drake.

“Why don’t you calm down, baby sister?” Liam asked with such a calm tone that was hard to associate with the stranger they were facing at that moment. “Nothing’s going to happen to you, or your baby. I suggest you sit back down and stay quiet or simply leave with your husband. This matter does not concern any of you.”

Liara held her bump, sitting back down as she looked at Drake, and then back at Emilia and Maxwell.

He remained silent as he walked around, almost tiptoeing while still holding the dagger firm in his hand. He surrounded the group, glaring at Maxwell, not being able to stare fiercely towards Emilia.

What he felt for her at that moment was some sort of disappointment and pity. He wondered what made her lie to him several times and swear she wanted to become his queen, just to humiliate him twice after rejecting his proposal. He wasn’t sure, and it haunted him.

How could she? He remembered vividly how she promised she had feelings for him, not being able to say the word love under the excuse that she was scared, but then saying it the one night they had together. How could she? Or rather, how dared she?

“This entire kingdom could’ve been yours, Emilia”, he said stopping right next to the door. “How do you lie about loving someone and then have cold feet when you’ve managed to make them propose twice?”

He didn’t let her reply, but instead opened the door and looked at Maxwell, then at her.

“Come on, join me for a walk outside”.

“It’s pouring rain”, Emilia quickly replied.

“I thought you liked drama, Duchess Emilia. There, now, join me, it’ll do us good”.

He took his phone out of his pocket and placed it in a nearby table, smiling at his sister.

“Now, this will be a private matter. I suggest you stay here. I don’t want to risk the health of my family.”

Liara held Drake’s hand firmly as she watched Maxwell and Emilia stand up and walk towards the door right after leaving their phones on the coffee table.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Liam”, Drake warned.

“Don’t worry, my friend. I’m a peaceful man, after all.”

As Maxwell and Emilia stepped out of the room, Liam quickly closed the door behind him, turning the key to lock both his sister and Drake inside.

Whatever needed to be addressed with them would be done later, not in that moment. Everything needed to happen the right way, and they needed to stay there.

The three walked towards the back gardens, with rain and the moonlight as their only witnesses. Very little could be seen from there, and yet Liam walked further into the maze.

“We used to get lost in this maze, Maxwell and I”, Liam explained. “My friend, my true friend who promised to always be loyal.”

He stopped in his tracks, making both Emilia and Maxwell stop as well, but some feet away from him. He faced them once again, the dagger still in his hand and rage in his eyes.

“Where is that friend who promised he’d never betray me?”

“If you want me to apologise for falling for Emilia, I won’t.” Maxwell stated firmly. “I won’t ask for forgiveness because I fell in love.”

“As you shouldn’t. I’m not asking you to apologise for anything. When I congratulated you for your wedding, I meant it… I tried to mean it.”

His gaze turned to Emilia once again, softer than before.

“I wanted you to be my queen. Don’t think I didn’t see that look full of ambition the night we met. Have you told him what you told me our night together?” He smiled curiously, then shrugged. “Then I guess you haven’t.”

Maxwell looked at Emilia with both concern and confusion.

“What does he mean?”

“Go on, my dearest. Tell your husband how you planned every step of our first encounter.”

Emilia placed a hand on her forehead, avoiding both Liam and Maxwell’s gaze.

“No one was supposed to know”, she whispered. “It’s not like you would understand.”

“My love, just tell me”, Maxwell requested with a soft voice.

“Yes, my love”, Liam mocked him. “Go on.”

“I was desperate. I needed a life changing moment”, she said, still not meeting her husband’s gaze. “I was about to lose my apartment, you know that, right?”

Maxwell nodded.

“And then I met you.”

To Liam that scene was pure perfection. It was not going to make things better for him, but it was comforting to see Emilia open up about the reality of her destiny. That was the one secret he kept for her, but after wondering if it was worth it, keeping her secret, that was, he knew he had to light the match and watch everything burn.

“What if I told you none of it was accidental and the first night that you saw me nothing was gonna stop me?”

Her voice trembled. Liam wasn’t sure if it was because she was cold, or if that was a side effect of her delayed honesty.

“What do you mean, Emilia? We chose to go to the restaurant and that was it”, Maxwell said, complete confusion in his eyes.

“You found the restaurant on your own?”, she asked.

“We asked some guys on the way.”

“And wasn’t it convenient that you found them out of the blue, in a mostly desolated street?”

“I don’t get it. You sent them?”

Liam sighed, making them turn to him.

“Come on, Maxwell. She pulled strings directing us to her. And she knows how her charms work, she is no fool. She played the game and she won. What a way to survive bankruptcy.”

Maxwell looked back at his wife, now with a disappointed look.

“So, everything was for money, then? You used me and Bertrand, took advantage of our kindness to gain fame and fortune?”

“It was not like that at all”, she replied. “Yes, I did what I did to meet you, and yes, I was trying to get some money from it, and I’m not ashamed of it. Do you know what it’s like to barely have money to meet all necessities? You know I didn’t have a good life, or an easy one for the matter, I never lied to you about that. I may have come as my last effort to survive, but I never lied about how I felt.”

Liam clicked his tongue, running his finger along the blade of the dagger as he shook his head softly.

“That’s where I stop you, my dear. That’s where I call bullshit, as you say in your country. You did lie about how you felt when you said you loved me and one week later slept with him and made a fool out of me by humiliating me for a second time.”

“Liam, please”, Emilia whispered. Liam couldn’t tell if there were tears running down her face, or if those were raindrops. “I’m sorry if I hurt you, and I didn’t mean to. You, out of everyone in this country, should know that when you fall in love with someone unexpectedly, you just can’t help it.”

“Right”, he said, pointing the dagger towards her. “I know when you fall in love with someone you just can’t help it, but don’t you dare take me for a fool, as you have done in the past.”

He tossed his hair back, putting it in place with the help of the rain.

“You knew you loved Maxwell when I dropped on one knee and proposed, and instead of stopping me, instead of telling me not to, you chose to humiliate me, you chose to watch me pour my heart and soul as I told you how much I loved you just so you could reject me.”

“I’m sorry”, she said, holding Maxwell’s hand as he stepped forward in a protective way. “If I could go back to that day, believe me I would change my actions. I won’t lie to you and say that I would’ve chosen you, because the heart wants what it wants and, in that moment, I knew I wanted Maxwell, but I can tell you that I would’ve acted different.”

“How do you think it hurts?”, Liam asked. “The man who loves you with everything that he is, having to give up the life he planned with you, just so you could have it with another man.”

Taking two steps forward, Liam pointed the dagger at Maxwell, touching his chin with the end, pushing it a little.

Maxwell stood his ground, fists clenched.

“You can’t force her to love you, Liam. You can’t.”

“Don’t you think I know that?”, Liam replied, tears full of a mixture of rage and regret clouding his eyes. “If only you knew how I feel.”

“Liam, just stop”, Emilia said. “I’ll call security, and Leo, to see if they can snap some sense back into you.”

“No need, Duchess Emilia”, he replied, running the blade along Maxwell’s cheek, and yet he didn’t move. “I’m glad to see your husband is willing to bleed for you.”

He then brought the blade back to himself, running it along his cheek as well, trying to imitate the marking he left in Maxwell’s. Emilia pulled Maxwell aside, checking on him as the blood started dripping down his neck, staining his white shirt.

He was right, the rain added to the drama.

“You've lost your mind, Liam”, Emilia yelled, managing to snatch the dagger from Liam and throwing it aside. She pushed him, making him take two steps back to recompose himself. “I loved you; I won’t deny it. But I knew I didn’t want to be your queen, and I knew I loved Maxwell more.”

Liam chuckled, the blood staining his shirt as well.

“You know what’s worse?”, he asked. “That I know you will never love me again, but I will love you forever”.

As soon as those words left his lips, he dropped to his knees, tilting his head back as a laugh left his chest. He felt pathetic. How could he love her so much and yet it was never enough? How could this have happened to him? How on earth did him, a King, couldn’t make her love him more?

Just… how?

He closed his eyes, taking all in as soon as he stopped laughing.

When he opened them, he felt a warm hand on his arm. And he felt dry. Turning his head to his right, he saw Liara smiling at him.

“Don’t keep us in suspense, Liam. You said you had some words for us today.”

Confused, he looked around. There he was, dry and still in the living room. Maxwell and Emilia to his left, still smiling at him.

He stood up, walking slowly to the desk in the back of the room trying to not raise suspicion and cleared his throat.

“Yes, of course”, he said as he carefully opened the drawer, just to find the dagger still inside. He closed it softly, thinking that perhaps that was not the right moment to execute his plan, and not the right weapon.

He knew the reality: she was never going to love him like she loved Maxwell, but it was fun to think about the possibilities to haunt them and that comforted him.

(AI concept art made for this fic)

[5mcsinatrenchcoat]

Honestly I'm still mad (affecionate) at the sheer uno reverse bg3 did on me.

'Cause boy do I love typical "a dying hero and their lover who can do jack shit about it" ships in videogames.

BUT USUALLY IT'S MY CHARACTER WHO'S DYING, so I look at it from that angle (and also feel in my right to headcanon the death away 'cause lol that's my character please and thank you)

Sera and Kinara in Trespasser, Shepard and Liara (in ME3, in ME2 Liara famously DID DO something), V and Judy. Peebee and Ryder (multiple times 'cause it's Ryder). Even that little bit at the end of Greedfall where Siorra and De Sardet say goodbye not knowing if they see each other again. I eat that shit up! But I've always looked at it from the hero's perspective. The one who's dying. The one in need of a lover, of a respite, the one being hopelessly in love one foot in the grave. The one I can stop from dying because I said so. I considered both viewpoints, of course I did, but you know. Player's character is player's character.

And then I came to BG3 with full intention to romance Karlach from the get go and this damn game took me and plunged me ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT.

Now I am in love with a kind-hearted heroic dumbass trying to help everyone and keep a positive attitude about their own death. Now I am the one who can't do squat shit to help apart from loving them and being supportive. Now I am the one who in the end has to watch them die (or turn my whole life around and potentially prolong their suffering 'cause I just couldn't let go) come ending.

Yes Tav's technically tadpoled and also cruising for death, but halfway through the game that stopped scaring me anywhere as badly because it was under control and there was a plan (which couldn't be said for Karlach's heart).

Almost the whole game post reveal of the engine problem I had that line from Sera's journal coursing in my mind:

"Make her happy. I'll keep that she was happy."

Because yes. When it's not in your power to change whatever narrative that doomed them... What else can you do?

(i am awfully terrified of death, my own and those i love, and this romance route dragged me over the damn coals, but you know what? she's worth it.)

[sorcerous-caress]

I looked at the mods and stuff for guns in Mass Effect 1 and said “that’s a lot of words too bad I’m not reading em” and speaking of romance wishes god I wish Garrus was bi and poly existed in the game I would’ve both Garrus and Tali romanced so hard they were my ride or dies I took them everywhere unless I physically couldn’t or needed a specific a companion for a mission. Also I must’ve been really blinded by Ashley’s comments on aliens because it seems a lot of people liked her when I wasn’t really feeling her in one guess I gotta give her more of a chance.

(Also this is thebottomseareef I’m just on my main blog because I wanted to make a dnd/bg3 side blog to use on the app so it’d be more convenient and I wasn’t constantly logging into another account but I found out that you can’t send asks from side blogs so I’m just doing it from here because it’s easier)

"Too bad I'm not reading em" PEBCOQNXKQNDJSOJQSN yet you're still here reading my long ass posts, I'm honoured.

omfg yes, Garrus and Tali literally feel perfect in a poly yk? Like I've always took them with me on missions as a pair because their banter was so cute and they were the best balanced team for my character.

It is sad looking at older games and realising how much they hold themselves back just to appease their main demographic, like the legendary edition was two years ago and it would've made so much sense to make the aliens poly or bi. But they didn't because they didn't want to upset the majority of their demographic about the sudden change or getting into "Mass effect is woke now hmp! >:v" online scandal.

Like the romance is nice and every character is so sweet on their own, but something inside me dies each time I'm reminded this is strictly hetro and monogamous. Like I'd be having a blast cute moment with Kaidan then it hits me in the face that and I feel sad that all of this could've been missed if I had picked a male shepherd.

Games are evolving tho and that makes me happy. Especially shooter games bc we all know that's where the second most taxic gamers are, first being moba and souls-like games.

I'm happy that Liara is poly but also very shy and nervous around romance, that she admits this is not something she has ever done before. I'm glad Kaidan becomes bi because fuck yeah all the male shepherd deserves their beautiful bromance with him.

With Ashley, she is special. I like strong woman characters who are more aggressive. Like she truly embodies the soldier aspect of soldier while Kaidan feels more like a close friend with time. Ashley is someone who will punch a person if they were making you uncomfortable. She is someone who will march up to the cashier and tell them you asked for no pickles. Ashley would defend you in combat while Kaidan is more of a support.

She is more brash, confrontational. Punch first think later. Very protective and sweet in her own "no bullshit" kind of way.

With Garrus. He is so romantic and such a gentleman, my heart cannot take it. Like yk for a fact he is all starry eyed around you because you are a specter and he wanted to be one before. The way he thanks you all sweetly for letting him join your crew instead of leaving him with the annoying c-sec paperworks job. He is like RE1 Leon before he became jaded.

Tali is everything. Her genuine love for knowledge, for the craft and survival of her colony. She feels like a future ruler but before she became wiser. Tali is still in her wander and wonder phase while she travels the galaxy and gives her best to everything around her. She is earnest and very honest. Which is sad when she is met with suspicion for being too eager to help and study things.

Garrus and Tali would bond so much, shepherd would be the one keeping the both of them in check from forming a mad scientist cult that rescues kittens from trees.

[fucknooovirmire]

You know, staying single and maintaining a close friendship with Kaidan (picking paragonish dialogue options and taking him along on missions more often than other companions) results in a fairly wholesome relationship. A lot of Kaidan's lines and behaviors with male!Shep remain the same whether you romance him or not (so long as you treat him accordingly).

Frankly, I could have been absolutely content with this "just friendship", had it not been for the Citadel DLC, where Liara is put in the LI role if you're not locked in a romance with an SR2 squadmate. That is about the only thing that truly forces me into an official romance. Oh, also the bit with Brooks at the Casino, but whatever.

The tension on Mars paved the way for this; you get to tell him "You're still with me" on Eden Prime without being in a romance, all the heart to heart talks are still filled with care and affection, "You're real enough for me" is ALWAYS there and their London goodbyes are just as heart wrenching. If Shepard goes MIA it will be Kaidan who puts/doesn't put Shepard's name plaque on the memorial board and you can't tell is he's mourning a friend or a lover. The grief is equally strong either way.

Oh, but my absolute favourite part that MADE me fall in love with this couple is the Citadel FRIENDSHIP date at Apollo's. Best damn episode in the entire effing game for me.

Their bond is so palpable.

Asexuality and Kaidan Alenko

Or, how a bisexual romance option is the only asexual friendly one. With a bit of work.

For a while, there was not a single Mass Effect romance I enjoyed. I found all of the ones I've played through fairly shallow, and as a result, I played as a single Shepard more often than not. Part of this is due to my being aroace - or for the purposes of this post, asexual.

I so badly wanted a romance with ample build up. With an emotional bond before getting together. But due to the nature of the series, most romances are sudden, and are directly tied with sex. Each romance culminates in a sex (or implied sex) scene, where they will leave if you turn it down. This is no fault of the characters, but of the writers for assuming turning down sex was equal to turning down the character entirely.

Even romances without sex scenes aren't exempt from their direct ties with sex. For example, the fan favorite romance with Garrus starts off with Shepard asking for sex out of no where. When it comes to Mass Effect, even if it is not shown, it is implied.

So, where does Kaidan fit into this?

The reason why I didn't even consider Kaidan at first was the knowledge that he (and the other ME1 love interests) were subject to a disease called the late 2000s. Romances are easy to lock into and all culminate in a sex scene. ME2 also default assumes you didn't turn them down for sex and will still act like you banged. Which. Epic game design there!

Even for a Male Shepard romancing Kaidan in ME3, it skips to a sex scene (though this I didn't mind since the build up with the trilogy long Kaidan slow burn was so fulfilling, but that's besides the point).

And then I found out that if you play as a Female Shepard, you can turn Kaidan down for sex in ME3, and he will be the only (and I mean only) romance option who doesn't leave, and instead chooses to cuddle with Shepard. Which. First of all, game changer.

Second of all, and most importantly, this meant that if I wanted to play as an asexual Shepard, all I had to do was play as a Female Shepard, abort Kaidan's romance path early on in ME1 by keeping up formalities, and then romance him in ME3, where you can turn him down for sex two times and he is totally okay with it. And he stays. Both times.

I'm not entirely sure where I'm going with this, but having the option to do such a thing in a game series spanning from 2007-2012 meant a lot to me as an asexual.

[luxflora]

a new ME1 playthrough with a totally different shep construction! Except for the face, I basically have the same face every time with just slightly different hair. But I have alive parents this time!!!

My last shep was Tom, survivor of both Mindoir and Akuze. This one is Michael, Alliance legacy brat and hero of the Skyllian Blitz. And like. It's so weird to play a character with living, accessible parents. I don't like it. I imprinted on Tom. Michael is so... he's like a baby to me. He's not even traumatized.

Unrealistic, blocked.

Anyway I've decided that Michael and Tom are cousins and they're not on bad terms or anything but Tom very much does have a lot of underlying resentment for Michael.

Notes:

Tom Shepard: Didn't romance anyone in the first two games, though briefly considered starting something with Tali at the end of ME2 (Ash and Liara both confessed in ME1 but Tom was not interested - felt they were too young & wasn't comfortable dating a subordinate). Romanced Kaidan in ME3, but half-heartedly. It was mostly out of a desire to not be alone and to try to reconnect with Kaidan after ME2 and early ME3, but things were never quite the same. Kaidan was too much of a romantic and had his own shit going on. Tom thought Kaidan's attempts at romance were kind of cute but ultimately fell flat (largely bc Tom doesn't realize he's aro and 95% ace). And even though Kaidan was fully committed and ready to try again, Tom wasn't. Tom had a hard time trusting Kaidan after he came on board the Normandy II.

Plus... Tom's heart wasn't in it. Tom's heart was with Legion from the moment they met. He felt ridiculous and out of his mind for being so willing to trust and care for a geth in the space of a heartbeat, after all that time fighting them and the business with Tali's father. But he was sick of all the bullshit from organic civilization, feeling attacked on all front and unsafe in his own body (he was convinced up to the very moment he disobeyed and destroyed the Reaper brain that Cerberus was lying about not having a kill switch implanted in him), and Legion's actions and vulnerability (and N7 armor) set him at ease, for the first time since he woke up at Cerberus. So the whole time he was with Kaidan, he was preoccupied with trying to find Legion, and making peace on Rannoch, and then grieving Legion's loss. Kaidan was cold comfort.

Tom was extremely Paragon, but he sacrificed the Ascension in ME1 out of a combination of desperation to take out Sovereign and pettiness with the Council always challenging him to make hard choices. It's his greatest regret. His next greatest regret is sacrificing the Rachni queen to save Aralakh Company, but that at least does not feel entirely pointless - he fully believes that Wrex is going to have a hell of a time not just wrangling support from the other krogan, but playing nice enough with the rest of the galaxy to save the krogan from another genocide - one they can't recover from - and that Aralakh Company will be an important factor. He also regrets not making Liara talk to her father - he thought there would be more time to reconcile them, but there never was.

Tom is very much the idea of light in the darkness, hope for a bright future when all seems lost. He's a survivor and a peacemaker. He wants to makes the best of every situation. He wants to save everyone. When there is tragedy, he tries to minimize losses and find a way forward. He can't bring himself to destroy the geth - after everything he did to bring peace to Rannoch (he didn't even punch Han'Gerrel!!), Legion's sacrifice, and the loss of the Rachni, he can't wipe out another species. And although the control choice didn't seem so bad, that had been what the Illusive Man was going to do, and his gut reaction held that it had to be worse than it sounded. So he chose synthesis - his final hard choice, his final 'way forward' for the galaxy, and prayed.

Also Tom is trans as fuck.

Michael Shepard: Michael is just slightly less Paragon than Tom was. He wants to do good, he wants to save people, he wants to make his boss happy, he wants to be liked by the galaxy and by the Alliance in particular. He doesn't have a strong sense of his own identity, of who he is, but he's a competent soldier and leader, and the Skyllian Blitz was the best thing that ever happened to him. He was in his element there, and then it was over, and somebody put a medal on him and he's been riding that high ever since.

I haven't played far enough into ME1 yet to know much about Michael. I'm not sure what I'll end up doing with him. I know he's a Paragon with a bit of a temper (he's going to punch Han'Gerrel for sure), I think he's cis, and at least in the first game he's probably going to romance Liara. He feels a lot younger than Tom did. He's a lot lighter, spiritually - he doesn't have the losses of Mindoir or the thresher maw weighing on him. Having to make a sacrifice on Virmire is going to kill him, he's going to constantly be questioning if he made the right choice, if there wasn't something more he could have done. He's a good kid, but he's very much a Golden Child, and not in a good way. He cares about people and doing the right thing, but he wants to be liked more than he actually wants to do right by people.

[albinoshepard]

❤️ HEART TROUBLE 💔

I still haven't decided who to romance in this third run.

I would like to fall in love with Thane, but there's that little problem of his death in Mass Effect 3, and I know I will miss not having of a stable romance in the Citadel DLC.

I'd like to try Liara, but I don't want to cheat on her and besides I've always saw her like a sister (*BOOM* Friendzone!) I don't know if I could fall in love with her. It's not my type.

The truth is I'm desperately in love with Garrus, and it hurts me to see him with Tali in ME3, I'm too jealous. He's so sweet and so kind and so loyal, that I know I wouldn't resist! But I want to try something new.

I can try Kaidan, but I hate how he treats me on Horizon.

Aaaargh! Why it has to be so difficult to choose?!

Any suggestions?!

Maybe I can stay single in ME1 and romance ONLY Thane in ME2 and ME3, with a little flirting with Vega, that ends after the party.

What do you think?

I'm playing on PlayStation4, so I can't add any mod, keep that in mind.

(Damn! Romancing someone in Andromeda is much better! You can flirt with everyone, have a night with PeeBee just for fun, and still choose a single fiance for the ending! Why can't just be so easy?)

[gotmolokoplus]

You know, Kaidan may be my favourite video game romance. I know a popular opinion is that he’s boring, but that’s kind of why I like him. He’s a stable adult. He’s honest about his past mistakes, but stays true to his beliefs even when faced with someone he loves asking him to compromise. Kaidan supports you, works in tandem with you, but doesn’t need you to save him or rely on you for his own emotional stability. All the other romance companions seem a little lost without Shepard for support, but Kaidan doesn’t really need you. And that’s actually a good thing.

He’s probably the best example of a healthy supportive boyfriend you could ask for in a video game.

I do kind of hate that his hospital conversation boils the ME1 romance down to “You didn’t judge me when I told you Rana broke my heart.” Like really? He says himself he’s an adult and has dealt with his issues and doesn’t need you to fix him. I always took his conversation line to be more of a discussion of why he accepts aliens, and if a confession of anything, that in a dark and confused moment of his youth, he accidentally killed a man. Rana was kind of secondary to the whole thing and it always bothered me she got top mention in ME3.

I also always thought it was a bit of an oversight that he doesn’t have a “Wait, are YOU okay?” conversation in ME3 the way Liara and Garrus and even Joker do, too.

Like really, you’re telling me Mr. Boring & Sensitive Adult isn’t going to be like “Uh, excuse me, girlfriend? Trying to save the galaxy from annihilation seems to have given you PTSD??” I don’t buy it.

Ah well. That’s my Kaidan Alenko Appreciation Post in any case.

[imakemywings]

Mass Effect Trilogy Tag

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.

Tagged by @illusivesoul

I've been a fan since: Summer 2019

Favorite game of the series: 2

MaleShep or FemShep?: Femshep all the way

Earthborn, Colonist or Spacer?: Spacer

Paragon or Renegade? Renegade

Biotics or Tech? Ooh that’s hard! I think they’re both cool.

Favorite class: Vanguard

Favorite companions: Thane, Tali, Samara

Least favorite companions: Vega, Zaeed

My squad selection: I really try to change it up so I feel like they’re all getting enough exercise

Favorite in-game romance: Shrios TT_TT It breaks my heart but I love it anyway. I love later-in-life romances which is the feel I always get from this one, especially with Thane having already had a long-term partner that he lost. Also, I feel like he asks some important moral questions for Shepard.

Other pairings I like: Second place goes to Shiara just because they really do have an epic 3-game romance after Liara arguably falls for Shepard very early in the first game. I would love to do Tali or Ashley’s romances but tragically I’d have to play as mShep which I don’t want to do. I do have Samantha queued up for my paragon run though!

Favorite NPC: Can I pick the biotic god volus? No? Aria then! She’s terrible but she’s interesting. Urdnot Bakara is also a really neat character, love getting to talk with her.

Favorite antagonist: Sovereign. Meeting Sovereign is when it really hits home how serious this whole situation is and I feel like they bring an excellent sense of foreboding in that even when Sovereign is dead, you can’t shake the fear of something worse coming. Also, I feel like Sovereign does a better job of being neutral about the mission which is how the reapers really should operate--Harbinger crosses into malice at times which seems to counter the notion that the reapers are just carrying out protocol to the best of their ability and don’t understand why what they’re doing is wrong.

Favorite mission: Oh man, I know I’m going to forget a bunch. Tali’s loyalty mission in 2 was really well done though and there’s a great blend of both the terror/horror of what you’re seeing combined with your pain for Tali.

“Acquire the Reaper IFF” in 2 is also a great one; the defunct reaper is so creepy and the hints along the way of the previous workers going insane from being inside it is great. I wish they’d played a bit harder on the unsettling factor vs. getting swarmed by husks, but subtlety is not really ME’s forte XD

Favorite loyalty mission: See above. Jack also has a great loyalty mission.

Favorite DLC: Lair of the Shadow Broker was pretty well done, although I knock points because if you didn’t get it you have no idea how Liara ended up becoming the Shadow Broker in 3 and I don’t think that kind of key information should be relegated to a DLC.

Control, Synthesis or Destroy? Fun fact: the first time I completed the game I chose “none of these” because I thought there would be some like, secret 4th option (and I thought Shepard might be resentful about getting this far only to be presented with 3 questionable options)...there isn’t. The galaxy was destroyed by reapers. Good thing Liara made that history USB.

That said, synthesis or destroy, for sure. I’ll still do a control run just to see how it turns out but honestly I don’t think anyone should have the kind of power Shepard would have in that position.

Favorite weapon: I’m counting biotic charge as a weapon. Also, that salarian gun you can get in 3 that shoots gel bullets or wtv at people that one’s cool

Favorite place: I love Omega

A quote I like: “I’d rather gargle acid after chewing on a razor blade “ -- Femshep after a dude in Flux asks her to have a drink with him.

Tagging: @sad-mage-central @irikahkrios @clarevoience anyone else who follows me and is into ME I forget who is

[effectingsomedragons]

Mass Effect Trilogy Tag

Tagged by: @nicolasadrabbles

I actually got into the game just after ME2 came out in 2010, when I'd bought a 360 for a much anticipated G1-based Transformers game I'd preordered. I wanted a game to play while I waited and a friend recommended Mass Effect. From that point on, I was hooked.

Favorite game of the series: Mass Effect 2. It's more character driven, sure, but I really like being able to build up relationships and the focus on learning more about the truth of what happened to the Protheans.

MaleShep or FemShep?: I've always played with femShep, and I'll always play femShep in the future.

Earthborn, Colonist or Spacer?: My two main Shepards are Spacer and Colonist respectively, and I like them both for entirely different reasons, and for entirely different levels of angst.

Paragon or Renegade?: I am physically incapable of being intentionally mean to a character in a video game, so most of my playthroughs are overwhelmingly Paragon. Desi leans a little more Paragade but still overall pretty blue.

Biotics or Tech?: Hilariously, for my main Shepard, neither. She's a soldier and she is totally fine with shooting and/or punching a problem she can't talk down until it stops being a problem. But if I had to personally pick, biotics.

Favorite class: Soldier. I know it's the stock Basic Bitch class but it's honestly really fun, and it's just hilarious that this Just A Guy soldier would become the savior of the galaxy when surrounded by space wizards and tech geniuses.

Favorite companion: Garrus is definitely top of the list, followed immediately after by Tali and Kasumi, depending on the mission. They all had some of the best dialogue, and I am terrible at balancing a party.

Least favorite companion: Vega. I love him as a character, but I really was just generally frustrated that he took up the tank slot normally filled by a krogan, and we were denied Baby Boy Grunt. Still love him though.

My squad selection: ME1 - Garrus and Wrex or Garrus and Tali, sometimes Wrex and Tali, ME2 - Garrus and Tali, usually, but occasionally Zaeed and Kasumi for shits and giggles, ME3 - I weirdly never had a set squad but I did usually have Garrus with me.

Favorite in-game romance: Garrus, with Thane a close second despite his treatment by Bioware.

Other pairings I like: Tali/Kal, Sam/Gabby, Joker/Edi

Favorite NPC: Nyreen, Kal'Reegar, Zaal'Koris, and Niftu Cal

Favorite antagonist: I am again a basic bitch and really like Saren. His history fascinates me, and he's honestly a great mirror to hold up of what Shepard could become if they aren't careful.

Favorite mission: Priority: Rannoch. There's just something really heartbreaking but at the same time really sweet about it, depending on how you play it, though I always make peace between the quarians and the geth... which I think lends to the poignancy I feel. Their war ends in peace in the very place it began.

Favorite loyalty mission: Easily Tali's loyalty mission. My heart breaks for her every single time I play through it, especially when she breaks down after finding her father's body. And being able to rally the crowd if you helped Veetor and save Kal is easily my favorite way to solve that mission... unorthodox AND fun.

Favorite DLC: Lair of the Shadow Broker. It has some of the best dialogue in the entire game, including my favorite exchange between Liara and Shepard (see below).

Control, Synthesis or Destroy?: Destroy. The whole twist "but the Reapers aren't really bad they really just want to prove organics and synthetics will never get along" bs never sits well with me when I just made peace between the quarians and the geth and taught an AI to love. I usually use one of the happy ending mods just to clear it out further.

Favorite weapon: M-7 Lancer and M-5 Phalanx, my beloveds.

Favorite place: The Migrant Fleet, for what little time we get to spend there. But part of that is a wish of what could have been- I'd have loved to have seen more of it.

A quote I like:

Shepard: What kind of weapons does this thing have? Liara: It's a taxi; it has a fare meter!

Tagging... anyone who wants to do it!

[mass-effect-anonymous]

CONFESSION:

During the lockdown I purchased Mass Effect Andromeda. It was $20 bucks and I finally wanted to experience it for myself.  While the game was not perfect and had a lot of issues, I enjoyed it alot. With the way it was described I was expecting it to be a lot worse.  I give it a 7 out of 10.  There were things I enjoyed, things I definitely did not like but as a proud card carrying Lesbian I have to say Vetra stole my heart.  This will be an unpopular opinion but while I liked Liara and I appreciate the fact she was available for me, she was just never my type. In ME3 I romanced Samantha Traynor because I just preferred her. I'm a licensed contractor, a licensed plumber, and a licensed electrician. My awesome Dad made me partner in his business and I am just a no nonsense, take charge, take no shit type of person and my amazing wife is a physical trainer so it was like Vetra was created for me.  I know most of the fandom hates Andromeda but I am glad I gave it a chance because Vetra will always be special to me. Now here is hoping for romancable female Drell in the next game!!