#masseffectcreativecircle

[masseffectcreativecircle-blog]

MECC - Flash Creative Challenge!

This week the Mass Effect Creative Circle is holding a Flash Fanwork Creative Challenge based on a set of prompts!

The challenge is open for everyone to participate in - whether you’re a member of MECC or not, and is for creative fan content of any kind - fanfic, art, graphics, fanmixes, renders etc!

The Flash challenge will run from this Friday the 28th of September, until next Sunday the 7th of October and you can post your content at any time.

The prompts are from Quirk-y’s romantic and angsty tropes, but we’re challenging people to write, draw or be inspired them in whatever way they find best appeals to them - romance, angst, fluff, smut! Whatever!

Here is the list of prompts:

Holding their partner’s unconscious/dead body

Sobbing into their partner’s shoulder/chest

One of them is hurt and the other falls asleep in their hospital room

The other losing their mind when their partner is hurt/killed and charging into battle recklessly

“I thought I lost you” hugs

“Don’t go where I can’t follow!”

One is mind controlled and forced to fight the other

The other refusing to harm them and getting seriously injured as consequence

The person coming to and seeing what they’ve done

A last desperate “I love you!”

A tearful, hard kiss before battle, bonus points if its a confessional kiss

“Please, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Bandaging each other’s wounds

Both of them injured, and waking up beside each other

As always, take inspiration in whatever way you like! And remember to tag your flash content appropriate, and with #MECC or #masseffectcreativecircle :) 

If you’re interested in joining our super friendly MECC discord, send a message to this account to apply.

[masseffectdiary]

A small piece inspired by the prompt of @masseffectcreativecircle - darkness

[inkynyarutherford]

Trying out this Mass Effect Creative Circle prompt. I saw what it was and I was inspired. I don’t think I’ve ever posted my own fiction on here before, so here goes.

When You Wish Upon a Star

True to her word, Commander Alyson Shepard turned herself into the Alliance military after she and her crew successfully returned from the Omega 4 Relay. But not before they stopped off at the Citadel so that her compatriots could get out of dodge. Technically speaking, Shepard was the only one at risk of sanction for her actions. However, given her last words to The Illusive Man and her friends’ decision to stand with her choice, they were all in a fair amount of danger. “Let me go with you. I can speak to them. Tell them you had no choice.” Garrus lifted a taloned hand to her face and gazed into her eyes. It was one of the rare moments that he had removed his visor, but if this was to be his last viewing of her face for the foreseeable future, he didn’t want it obscured. They were laying intertwined together on her bed, and he was silently pleading that the impending buzz of the alarm would never go off. Neither had slept on their final night together, knowing that Shepard’s choices may separate them for a while. She smiled, a goofy grin trying to hide her pain, and her fear. “Nah, I’ll be alright. What’s the worst they can do to me?”

“Well, I know the Alliance doesn’t execute people... but there were a lot of Batarians at the Alpha Relay. They might make an exception.” The turian looked past her and got lost in his head. He knew how things would be dealt with in a turian military court. A hearing would be held, and evidence presented. If the evidence proved that Shepard had done all she could do to save the most people she could, the case would be dismissed, and she would probably get a medal of valor. But the Alliance military had this desire to save everyone, no matter what. They had trouble accepting the fact that sometimes, there must be a sacrifice made for the greater good of all. There was a fair chance the hearing would not go in her favor, and with the magnitude of lives lost when the Alpha Relay was destroyed, Garrus had no idea what the Alliance would do to her. Shepard shook her head and shrugged. “So? I’ve already died once.” Garrus sat up and his mandibles flared. He knew she was trying to ease the tension they were both feeling. But her glibness infuriated him. “Alyson, this is serious. The Reapers are coming and you’re likely to be court-martialed, or worse, just as they are knocking on our door! You cannot sit there and act like this is not a serious situation. Please, don’t act like you are not important… to the galaxy. And especially to me.” His admonition made her face fall. She buried her head into the crook of her elbow, and at first Garrus thought she was pouting. Until he noticed the slow, metered rise and fall of her shoulder; a tell-tale sign that she was trying to hold something in. Trying not to cry. Feeling guilty for upsetting her, he grasped the offending shoulders, hoisted her into his lap and forced her to look at him. Her eyes were swollen and wet, but her cheeks were not. She’d managed to stave off the waterworks, but she was clearly troubled. He cradled her curled formed against his chest, and they sat in silence until the tranquility was pierced by the blast of the alarm. Before she unraveled herself from him, Alyson placed a meaningful kiss on his scarred cheek. She rose from the bed and walked toward the steps leading up to where she would shower, most likely for the last time as a free woman. “I’ve only ever done what I thought was best for the most people. We’re at war, whether the Alliance or The Council, or anyone else wants to admit it. I have to fight that war.” She turned around and looked at the turian. “I can only hope they know what I did was me trying to save the most people. If they don’t... I don’t know Garrus.” She shook her head and just looked longingly at him. If there was anything he could do, he hoped she knew he would do it. Right now, she just needed him to be by her side. He nodded, resigned as she was that there was nothing more they could have done. “I know...” Six Months Later Garrus was standing on Menae, watching as wave after wave of Reapers descended on the moon, and the planet it orbited. It had been radio silence from both Shepard and the Alliance about her status, and all he could do was pray that Liara’s intel was true. According to the Shadow Broker, Shepard had been in solitary; not court-martialed but stripped of her rank and under house arrest on Earth. Then the Reapers came and all communication from Earth stopped. Garrus sat alone on an outcropping watching the hulking machines stomp their way across the rocky terrain of Palaven’s moon. They had been fighting all day, but there seemed now to be a lull in the onslaught, so he took the opportunity to get his bearings, and take a short breather. His eyes followed the silhouette of one of the behemoths skyward, struck by the sheer magnitude of them. He had been in the military long enough to know that there was no strategy that would help them with the Reapers. They were a brutally destructive force, the likes of which the turian home world had never seen. There were no tactics to make this even survivable, let alone winnable. As he sat stewing in his own thoughts, a flash of light caught his eye. His gaze moved to follow it and he saw it was a falling meteor. He smiled, remembering what Alyson had once said about them.

* * * * * * * * * * “Oh! It’s a shooting star.” She had said.

“What? No that’s just a meteor falling.”

“Yes, thank you. I know it’s a meteor, but back before our species knew about such things, they were called falling stars. If you saw one light up the night sky, you were supposed to make a wish.” Garrus had balked at the fact that the great Commander Shepard would find fascination with primitive myths and legends. But when he looked at her, she had her eyes closed. Then they opened, and her eyes met his, before looking back at the starry sky. He chuckled and jokingly asked her, “So did you just make a wish?”

“Shut up.”

He was taken aback. “You did! You subscribe to that superstitious nonsense?”

She shoved him and shook her head, looking back toward where the meteor had flared. “There’s a lot of bad in the galaxy Garrus. Sometimes it’s nice to believe in something...bigger.” He had not thought of that. He had been a gruff, duty bound turian for so long, he had forgotten what it was like to have an imagination. To look at something not for just what it was, but what it could be. “I guess you’re right Shepard.” He had wondered that night what her wish had been. Later, before they finally hit the Omega 4 Relay on their suicide mission, she told him that she had wished for him to always be by her side, no matter what came next. * * * * * * * * * * So, looking up at the sea of stars, Garrus Vakarian made a wish. “Spirits or stars or anyone who’s listening. I wish that Alyson is safe. I wish that wherever she is, she’s not helpless, hopeless or in danger. Please, just let her be alright.” The turian sighed and continued to peer into the vastness beyond the moon and the Reapers. Twinkling balls of light that looked so beautiful from far away. Nothing like the fireballs they really were. I wonder if she can see the stars right now. As if in answer to his silent question, he heard his comm start to pick up static and voices. The tower had been down for a few hours, he was glad the forward camp was finally making some headway. “General, do you read? The comm tower is now operational.” He knew that voice. It was a female and not turian. “Much appreciated Commander. I’ll contact Palaven Command.” Commander. “I knew it. It’s Shepard.” Garrus grabbed his gear and made a beeline for the forward camp. Now that he had heard her voice, he had to see her. Had to make sure she was real and really there. He listened into the comm chatter waiting to hear her voice again. “Commander Shepard come in” It was Corinthus. He seemed to be holding their position well. Garrus was certain he was grateful for Shepard to show up.

“Copy General, go ahead.”

“I have information from Palaven Command. Please return ASAP.”

“Affirmative. On our way.”

The path to the barricade had never seemed longer. Now that he was looking forward to getting there, it felt like it took an eternity to navigate the crannies and ledges. But finally, he reached the door and the young soldier standing guard saluted and lowered the gate. Garrus did not know if he could ever get used to so many people looking up to him. He strode into the camp and saw that Shepard had not come alone. Liara meandered around poking at a data pad. She looked up and smiled her coy smile before nodding and looking back down at her secrets. A large human male stood near the asari checking over his rifle. Garrus did not recognize him, but he had an amiable, albeit gruff, looking face. He also nodded at the turian as he walked by. Then he saw her, standing with her helmet off talking to the turian General. Her short blonde bob stood out brightly against the darkness of the nighttime and the steely exterior of basically everything on the moon.

“... as long as they can get us the turian resources we need.”

Garrus shot a quick eye up to the stars and with a silent thank you, walked up the ramp to see his wish come true, face to face.

[alyssalenko]

Brainwashed

Written for the Mass Effect Creative Circle Mini-Challenge of angsty romantic prompts. For a further point in My Superhero AU: Alter Ego Timeline, also on AO3. I had this plot in mind a long time ago, and then I had an excuse to expand it. I did the Brainwashed and turned against each other, and “I thought I lost you.”

The Illusive Man has captured Spectre, and unfortunately, her lover and Partner Sentinel is in for an unpleasant surprise when he finds her, having to draw upon anything he can think of to break the sinister hold on her mind...

Where was Alyss? He'd been with Ashley in the hospital after the accident The Illusive Man had caused, and she'd gone after him by herself, in his stead. She'd insisted that Ashley needed him, needed a friendly face when she woke up. That was 3 days ago and he hadn't heard from her...sure he'd been in the hospital and had to have his phone off, but when he'd turned it back on, there was nothing--no texts, no missed calls, no messages. And that wasn't like her. She hadn't even come back to check on him; he'd seen less from her in this moment, when he really needed her, than he had since they met. Ashley, though, was finally awake and practically shoving him out of her room to go get cleaned up and have some sex, because he looked like he could use it. He ran his fingers through his hair as he fired off a fifth text asking if she was okay; he never should have let her go alone...and if anything happened to her because he hadn't, he’d never forgive himself.

His biotics flared as he ducked into an alcove outside the hospital, brown eyes turning blue, his alter ego taking over. The last text he had from her was the coordinates she'd headed to, into the belly of the beast; Chronos Station. Security was lighter than he expected and had his brain screaming trap, but the woman he loved was in danger and he wasn't going to let anything stop him from getting to the bottom of her absence. Dropping stealthily onto a balcony, he skirted the edge of the building, glancing into the window as he stood in the shadows. Of all the luck, Spectre was just beyond the glass, strapped to a chair, and odd device on her temple, an unfocused look in her eyes.

Using his biotics, he burst through the window, shards of glass suspended around him, before het let them fall in slow motion to the floor. He didn't need to alert everyone to his presence. The first thing he did was remove the strange device from her temple, her expression going from unfocused to confused, as she started struggling against the restraints around her wrists, ankles and chest. Sentinel put his fingers to his lips as she opened her mouth to say something, shaking his head once and she nodded slowly, allowing him to free her. It was way too easy, and he should've known something was off, but relief at her being alive and unharmed, crowded all other rational thought from his head; the urge to take her in his arms and never let go was stronger than ever.

Once her hands were free, Spectre cupped the back of his head, the excitement in her eyes at seeing him, suddenly turned malicious, and she smacked his head down against the arm of the chair, her foot hooking behind his ankle and knocking him to the floor. A trickle of blood dripped from his eyebrow, as he quickly blinked it away; luckily his biotics allowed him to take a beating without passing out, but damn if it didn't hurt like hell. What had the Illusive Man done to her? His beautiful, fiery, independent Alyss, was under some sinister form of mind control, and he just hoped he could snap her out of it. Rolling out of the way of her attack, he shoved off the floor, tackling her to the ground and pinning her there. Kicking and cursing she tried to free herself, make him release her, but he held fast.

“Spectre...it's me; its Sentinel.” Something flashed behind her electric blue eyes and she stilled.

Cautiously, he released her, rolling his body off of her; he didn't want to hurt her, but the moment she was free, he felt the tingle of her biotics. He threw up a barrier. He may not be fighting her, but she definitely wasn't holding back, fighting him with blind fury. Sighing, he pushed her back, pinning her against the wall, his eyes searching hers for some kind of recognition and finding nothing behind her eyes. He felt like her hitting him with a biotic throw would've been less painful than seeing no love in her eyes. He'd barely been holding his own against her, the two of them had always been evenly matched with their powers, but he couldn't bear to use his powers against her.

He cupped her face in his hands, watching the battle raging behind her eyes at his touch. “Alyss, love, please snap out of it. It’s me. It's Kaidan.”

“Kaid--” She began, before whatever The Illusive Man had done to her started to creep back into her eyes--he wasn't going to give up so easy.

He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers, testing and teasing, surprise bristling down her spine as he held her, his body pressed flush against hers. It took only a moment for her to wrap her arms around his neck, the kiss breaking through whatever cloud had addled her mind. Maybe there was something to all those fairytales and that true love's kiss thing. Her lips were soft as he claimed them again, teeth scraping her lower lip before sucking it in between both of his, his mouth hungry and demanding against her own. His pelvis rolled against hers, tongue teasing the seam of her lips as he opened his mouth against hers, tasting her as their tongues intertwined, being very thorough to make sure she'd returned to herself. Her chest brushed his as she angled closer, one of his hands on her waist, the other tangled in her silky black hair, keeping her lips crushed against his. She hummed softly, arching her hips towards his and drawing a low growl from Kaidan's throat. She pushed him back at the shoulders, her eyes finally completely normal as he tried to catch her breath, her gaze lingering on the cut just above his eyebrow.

She reached out and brushed it gently, her trembling fingers coming away red. “Oh, Kaidan...I did that. Are you all right? The Illusive Man--he caught me by surprise and wanted us to kill each other.”

It had been like she'd been watching a recording filmed through her eyes, a prisoner in her own mind as she and Kaidan fought. And she couldn't stop it. Kaidan caught her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing her fingers, just happy she was back with him. No one had come to see what the commotion was about, and he realized, heart dropping into his stomach that this wasn't The Illusive Man’s base of operations. It was a decoy. A trap. And they'd both been sucked in, believing everything was almost over, but they were no closer to finding Chronos Station than they'd been before, but never mind that; he just needed to hold her, to reassure himself that she was fine. The hand he'd kissed, he still held, pressing it to his heart as he tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear with his free hand, as he leaned in to kiss her once again, both of their biotic aura's dissipating. The Illusive Man hadn't counted on the fact that they'd fallen in love, probably waiting for a progress report from Spectre on whether or not she'd taken care of Sentinel.

Kaidan’s hand slipped up her shirt, his touch feather-light as he eased the ¾ length sleeved v-neck upwards, fingers ghosting over her breast through the cup of her bra. She reluctantly pulled her hand out of his and stretched her arms over her head, so he could pull it off of her; she immediately missed the warmth emanating through his clothes. They spent the next few minutes helping each other out of their clothes eager to affirm that the other one was all right. How close had he been to losing her? What if they hadn't been in love...would he have lost both his partner and his friend? Once their clothing was out of the way, he swept her up into his arms and laid her gently on her back in the center of the room. She took a moment to trace the contours of his muscles with her fingers as he settled himself between her thighs. He shuddered under her touch, bringing his face scant centimeters from her,  inhaling her exhale as their lips met in a desperate kiss, his hands resting on her hips, and hers locked around his neck.

“I could've lost you.” He rasped.

“I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere.”

Alyss arched herself up against him, pressing every inch of her bare skin against his, feeling a response between her thighs from where her legs were draped about his hips. Their heartbeats pulsed in time together as he reached between them, Kaidan's fingers ghosting over her breasts, as his mouth followed the trail, kissing his way down to take a nipple into his mouth, hand still going lower and making her gasp as he used his thighs to widen the gap between her legs, fingers spreading her wetness slowly around her clit and drawing a whimper from her throat. Alyss drew a deep, albeit shaky breath, hips shooting off the bed as he slipped his fingers over her folds before dipping them inside her, inhaling her wordless cry. As his tongue pushed against hers, she rocked against his fingers, feeling his erection, hard against her thigh already a little wet and sticky because of his current state of arousal, when he used his thumb to swirl her clit around in a circle.

She stroked her hand down his jaw, pulling him into another kiss—he was a smokin’ good kisser—as he positioned himself at her slick entrance, their gazes meeting and she nodded slowly.

“Kaidan, please.” She begged.

He nibbled her earlobe. “Whatever you want.”

He smiled down at her, pushing his engorged cock into her, and pausing when he was fully hilted inside. Watching her and gauging her reactions, he drew himself out of her slowly, but not entirely, and swallowed her gasp as he thrust forward…hard, intertwining their fingers together. He thrust into her again, lips leaving hers and trailing along her jawline and down her neck before he closed his mouth over the place where her neck met her shoulder, making her whimper and buck her hips against him; he groaned against the skin of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply. She was intoxicating. He relished the feeling of her core clenching around his shaft, stretching to accommodate his girth as he filled her. He stroked her hips with his fingertips, sliding them around behind her thigh, and holding her steady, his body flush up against every inch of hers, pressing her down into the floor. She hissed quietly as he took both of her wrists in one of his hands, stretching them high above her head as he grazed her neck gently with his teeth, before his lips found hers again, his chest smashed against her breasts.

“Release my hands; I want to touch you.” She purred, her low voice a caress across his skin.

Her hand slid down his bare chest, his abdomen, and then around his back, skimming the contours of his muscles with her fingers before squeezing his ass and pulling him deeper. He sucked in a breath as she leaned forward pressing her lips to his shoulder, tongue snaking out to trace his muscles. She watched him from under her long black lashes, cheeks stained pink, as she bit her lower lip, gaze raking across his form, loving what she saw as he pulled out, his shaft coated in her arousal before thrusting; he was a sight to behold. He reached out and hooked his arm around her waist, both of them crying out in surprise and pleasure. Her breathing was getting heavier, as she rocked her hips slowly, pumping his shaft with her own wet heat, as he matched her rhythm, hips pushing forward and arching back to; his head fell backward, a strangled sound fell from his lips as she felt the coil building inside her as her clit connected with his pelvis. She rolled her hips around his shaft feeling the way his muscles tensed, her insides throbbing as he stretched and filled her when he sank back into her.

Alyss’ muscles contracted, body going rigid as she jerked and shivered, orgasm racking her body with tremors, as she collapsed into a puddle on the floor, and Kaidan came just behind her, his hips spasming just a little as he cried out her name. He collapsed on top of her, panting heavily as he rubbed his stubble against the side of her neck as they tried to recover. Feeling her chest rise and fall against his, was an amazing feeling, and she didn't want to let him go. His lips lazily caressed hers in several feather light kisses, his hand slipping between them resting on her hip, tugging her pelvis gently closer, chasing the aftershocks of her orgasm, movements strong and deliberate as he licked and kissed and nibbled her skin, hips rolling against hers. He couldn’t get enough of her, fingers caressing up and down her sides, the gentle touch making her shudder.

“Have I told you yet how glad I am that you're okay?” He asked.

She giggled, pushing a curl from his forehead. “Not in those exact words.”

[squigglysquidd]

Does anyone know if the Discord for @masseffectcreativecircle-blog is still active? I'm not on Discord so if you're a member please share it in a reblog or a DM to me 😊

[tungstenb]

Fighting Reapers all day long, cleaning battle wounds until the night [please click for high-res!]

Prompt: Darkness/Night from @masseffectcreativecircle

[barbex]

What I did in December

Can you believe I still didn’t make my monthly post? Where did the time go?

So, I wrote over 20,000 words in December, gasp! So many stories. Well, let’s get started.

I published a sweet Merrill x Carver chapter for [Lost Templar in Skyhold]. Merrill and Carver in the Fade!

After that I focused on [A Hawke Investigates], a Murder Mystery with Hawke and Sebastian Vael. Written as a ficmas gift for @joufancyhuh​, it grew and grew to 11k words and I’m very proud of it.

[Cookies and Broken Soldiers]. For the end of year exchange of the @masseffectcreativecircle, I wrote a little fic for @xenowriter with Femshep x Kaidan and Javik x Liara.

As a Christmas surprise I wrote [The Quiet Time] for @hollyand-writes and drew a little picture of Merrill and Carver.

And for another Christmas surprise, I wrote a  ficlet for LauraEMoriaty, [A Light in the Dark] and I drew a picture for it too. 

And I wrote a [little thing] for my friend @thatwriternamedvolk for Christmas and made that picture.

What did I read? Soo many fics. Just a few here:

[Pleasures Greater] by theherocomplex, @theherocomplex. A very sexy fenhawke fic

[The Captain] by Kauri, @kauriart. This is Isabela x Cullen and it’s so good! The way it portrays Cullen and his internal conflict is just great. I know I’ve read it more than three times by now.

[Let The Sky Fall] by LauraEMoriarty. A shega fic that shows so wonderfully how James always has Shepard’s back. 

[It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad Fic] by LadyNorbert, @ladynorbert, a fun fic that she wrote for me for ficmas. Isabela writing awesome friend fiction.

[Christmas on Rannoch] by Vorcha_Girl, @vorchagirl. A funny story how Tali tries to celebrate Christmas with Shepard and misunderstands a little who Santa is.

So friends and squiggles, what did you all read and write? 

[bioticfox]

MASS EFFECT FAN CALENDAR

Here is this week’s update of the Mass Effect Fan Calendar. I made the calendar as a way to keep track of all the events people in the fandom are creating for us all, and figured if I found it useful, other people might too <3

THIS WEEK

1.  @spectre-requisitions-exchange assignments are out! Please consider checking out the prompts and creating some treats :D

2. Leather & Lace is ongoing, hosted by @alyssalenko @starsandskies and @vorchagirl

3. @femslashfeb is ongoing

4. The @masseffectcreativecircle happens weekly on Saturday.

5.  @fandomtrumpshate auction is ongoing

6. The Hurt/Comfort Exchange on Dreamwidth has nominations open until 27th Feb. See the main calendar for more details.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check the Mass Effect Fan Calendar for full details, and for all upcoming events over the next few months. If I have missed any events, please let me know. Have fun ~bioticfox

[seigephoenix]

Ain't No Party

As part of the @masseffectcreativecircle Christmas exchange I was paired with 2 lovely people. The first one is @seokanori who is a wonderful artist! Seriously, go follow them if you love Mass Effect.

Here is the fic I wrote for them!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/17245673

[nilesdaughter]

Find Me On the Internet

Hello, my lovelies!

So, in the light of recent announcements to what is and is not allowed on Tumblr later this month, I decided to make a quick post about where you can find me on the Internet!

Please keep in mind that I will NOT be leaving Tumblr--mostly because this is honestly the site where my OCs are most easily organized. But on the off-chance that I get deleted come mid-December, you can find me at the following websites.

Social Media (Links, with usernames in parentheses)

DeviantART (NilesDaughter): Yes, I do still use dA. This is where you can find my (finished) art and most of my reader inserts. NOTE: For those of you that may have started following me for my Supernatural reader inserts, the naughty ones can ONLY be found here now. While I now Tumblr has said written erotica will still be allowed, I didn’t want to risk it.

Instagram (NilesDaughter13): For food, pictures of my cat, and the occasional selfie.

Twitter (NilesDaughter13): I mostly retweet art and livetweet Critical Role episodes. I’ll also occasionally complain about D&D.

Pinterest (NilesDaughter): I’m sharing this mostly because I have OC boards that some of you may be interested in?

SoundCloud (NilesDaughter13):

I hardly ever use SoundCloud, but I guess you can add me there, too.

FanFiction.net (NilesDaughter): My account is still active, though at this point it’s more of an archive, since most of my current projects are only on AO3.

FictionPress (NilesDaughter): Another case of an active account that’s more of an archive. I don’t publicly share my original writing as much as I used to.

Archive of Our Own (NilesDaughter): The best place to find my current fanfic projects, as well as all of my contributions for @dadrunkwriting and @masseffectcreativecircle.

YouTube (NilesDaughter13): I don’t post a lot at the moment, but I may becoming more of an active YouTuber soon-ish.

Gaming (Usernames Only)

Steam: NilesDaughter

PSN: NilesDaughter

Xbox: NilesDaughter

Battle.net: NileChan#1818

Discord: NilesDaughter#9999

[masseffectcreativecircle-blog]

Mass Effect Creative Circle - Go Post!

This is your Weekend reminder post that it’s time for our regular Mass Effect Creative Circle. Participants can write fanfiction, create art, crafts, renders, make graphics - anything you like as long as you have fun!

The Optional Theme is: Enemies

Would you like to join in? You can! Just creative any kind of creative Mass Effect work and tag it with #MECC or #masseffectcreativecircle and of course, we always appreciate you tagging our blog @masseffectcreativecircle

We also have an active and friendly MECC Discord channel which you can apply to join by sending a PM to this account.

And remember, our prompts are always optional, so you can create anything you like! We welcome fic, art, crafts, graphics, playlists - anything creative! :)

[nord-ronnoc]

This is a really nice cover art for my fanfic, Mass Foundations: Little Star, by rayley. You should check her out. She has done a really good job here and I really love the harsh, red lighting!

Her userpage is here

If you want to read Little Star, you can find it here

@masseffectcreativecircle

[masseffectdiary]

I just love this scene ^^ Suvi Anwar and Sara Ryder taking a tea-break in Ryder's quarters. Sara Ryder has a friendcrush on Suvi (she's actually evolved with Liam), but this red-headed scientist is adorable when she talks about things she loves. Oh, and though Sara agrees to a mug of tea, she can't stop thinking about coffee. Tea's just not her drink. This was created thanks to this prompt My other Mass Effect art

[naromoreau]

This is your home

This was written for the pet theme week promoted by @masseffectcreativecircle

Leaving earth had felt like a dagger stabbed directly to her heart. She couldn’t believe they had to leave Anderson behind, almost feeling that she was condemning him to doom by doing so; however she knew the admiral was right, and she trusted his judgment more than she trusted hers.

Seeing the Normandy arrive, her heart had lit with an excitement she hadn’t felt since her house arrest began six months ago. The only moments of bliss, the ones she had shared with her husband. He had proven to be the rock and force that had kept her sane.

Still panting from the previous fight and with a lump in her throat that disguised the feeling of profound hopeless she felt remembering the brief presence of the little child that was no more, she tried not to cry.

She turned to see Kaidan and James, their faces a mix of horror and anguish for the last sight of the evac shuttles being obliterated by the Reapers. The young Lieutenant openly voicing his reject of the path they were supposed to be taking. She didn’t want to be that hard on him, but truth was James thoughts were her owns and in fighting him she was fighting herself, fighting the burning desire to stay.

Her mind was filled with turbulence. Just that morning she was still under house arrest playing the charade for the Alliance Brass and the outer world, and now she was escaping from the Reapers, when she was supposed to be fighting them, tearing them apart. Her head was a mess and the feeling of guilt threatened to consume her. Unbidden, her feet directed her to the only place she could find solace.

Meandering through the CIC she felt like an intruder. This was definitely not the old Normandy.

When she arrived to the cockpit, Joker turned around before she could say anything.

“Janey, oh god, finally” he said exhaling grabbing her hand and pulling her down. Taking his time he held her tight in his arms, an embrace full of love and tenderness.

She didn’t say anything, drinking from the comfort of his closeness and tearing from the burden placed in her heart, the horrible memories of the people crying and screaming when she left still loud in her ears. Seeing her tears he tried to make her smile.    

“It only took the Reapers to force them to release you. If I’d know this before, I would have given them a call” he said smirking pressing his head against hers. She couldn’t help but chuckle and suddenly she was laughing and crying.

“Do you have them on speed dial?” she asked wiping off the tears.

“Just Harbinger but hey, I could have said he could bring friends” he said giving her a soft kiss. He missed all the intimacy they couldn’t have in those six dreadful months. The spousal visits being just not enough for the both of them.

She sighed trying to shake off the feeling that if she was there was just because they needed her, not because she was free of charges. Traynor had already told her that Anderson planned to use the Normandy as his mobile command center. Her reinstating just a charade like her arrest.

“Jeff, what am I doing? I feel like a thief. This wasn’t supposed to be my ship to command anymore. I am an intruder” she said, staring at her feet, while his hands hold hers, giving her subtle kisses on her knuckles.

“What are you talking about?” he said with a confuse look on his face

“This. All this. This forced release and reinstating me in my old position. This wasn’t supposed to be my Normandy anymore, but Anderson’s, and now he had to stay and I’m running away…” she said with a trembling voice

“Hey” he said grabbing her chin between his index and thumb “this is your ship. I am your pilot. And you are Commander Shepard. You were destroying Reapers long before those morons in the Alliance knew they existed and you are the best soldier earth has to offer. You are no intruder, and this is your place. You command, and people will follow you, or have you forgotten how you had under your charm assassins, feral krogans, justicars, and even Cerberus operatives?”

Seeing her still doubting and with cloudy eyes, he stood up making her follow him.

“Come” he said simply.

“Where are we going?” she asked while he held her by the hand, guiding her to the elevator.

“You’ll see in a bit”

When they entered the elevator he took advantage of the situation kissing her deeply, hugging her with a need that hid a hint of desperation. It had been too long without her.

When the doors opened they were in engineering deck.

“Wh-“ she began to question

“Shh. You’ll see” he said, going down the stairs to where Jack’s bunk used to be.

Once they were there he stood in the middle of the room crossing his arms with a grin on his face.

“Jeff, wh-“

In that moment a sudden movement caught her eye, making her head turn.

“Boo!” she screamed with barely contained joy.

He started laughing. He knew how much Shepard loved that hamster.

The small furry animal had already crept under some crates, in an impossible angle to be extracted.

“You knew Boo was here?” she asked smiling

“Well, yeah, during the retrofits I saw him roaming around, but he is too fast for me. I can’t seem to catch him. That or he really doesn’t like me. Jealousy y’know? He knows you love me more” he said grinning.

She was already distracted kneeling on the floor trying to lure him out cooing sweetly, but the evasive animal wouldn’t budge. She focused on move some crates but they were too heavy.  

Joker smiled tenderly looking at her, acting so excited as a little girl. There were so many angles of Commander Shepard people didn’t know and he felt blessed to be able to see her like this. Human. Vulnerable. More than a soldier.

In a flash Boo bolted running to the other side of the room.

“Boo! Come here boy!” She yelled trying to catch him “Jeff, grab him!”

“Oh no, I’m not breaking my spine for your space hamster” he said laughing “You are on your own”

“For better or for worse remember?” she stated kneeling on the other end of the room

“I think jumping to the Reaper war covers pretty much that sweetheart” he said still standing looking at her. This was working just as he expected. Her expression had changed drastically in just minutes.

In that moment Shepard let out an excited little scream.

“Got you muffin!” she exclaimed holding the hamster in her hands. “Isn’t he the cutest ting you’ve ever seen?”

“Ehm, no” he said smirking.

“Ugh, you are impossible” she said caressing the animal’s soft fur “Poor baby, who fed you when I wasn’t around?”

“Guilty of charges” Joker said raising his hand “I mean, he is the closest thing to a kid we have”

“Oh Jeff, thank you so much!” she said kissing him softly, touching his beard with her hand. “But why didn’t he escape after being freed?” she said looking at the little hamster, that by that time was apparently sleeping soundly in her hand.

“Because this is his home” he said placing his hand beneath hers, both of them supporting Boo “As is yours. It doesn’t matter things look different, fur ball knows it’s the same. This is your home right here, with Boo and with me”

They stayed there, gazing tenderly at the caramel little rodent as if they were living peaceful times. As long as they were together, she felt whole enough to face anything that could come.

[illusivesoul]

Short Shiara drabble I made for the @masseffectcreativecircle. The prompt was parties, but the story is more of an afterparty event. I also used the prompts "Can we stay like this forever?" and "Meeting you was the best thing that ever happened to me" from a romance prompt list.

.

The apartment was dimly lit, as Glyph had reduced the intensity of the lights to make it easier for the guests to sleep.

Zaeed and Javik lay resting on the wall, Tali was cuddled up with Garrus on the couch, and the sound of the shower on the floor above mixed with the mumbles coming from it meant that Kasumi and James not only hadn't pulled Grunt out of it, but that they most likely had ended up drinking and passing out with him. All over the apartment, the current and previous crewmembers of the Normandy lay asleep, some in more uncomfortable positions than others.

On the middle of the apartment, and with cheesy human and Asari songs being played by Glyph on the background, Shepard and Liara danced slowly, the Asari's head resting on Katerina’s neck.

“If I'm honest… I don't think you dance that bad, Shepard” Liara said slowly, the alcohol in her blood making her feel like she could faint at any moment.

“You say the nicest things. That's why… I love you” Shepard replied as she held Liara tighter against her, placing soft kisses on the Asari's neck “Can we stay like this forever ?”

Liara smiled as the kisses tickled against her skin “I wish we could, my love, but my feet are getting tired”

“Then why don't we… take this party to the bedroom? I can… help you relax” Shepard spoke in a seductive tone between hiccups.

The Asari planted a quick kiss on Katerina’s lips “I don't think… either of us is in the necessary… mental or physical state to keep partying in any shape or form. Why don't we just cuddle here… by the fireplace ?”

“Aye, aye, Commander” Shepard snapped a quick salute as she and Liara dropped to the floor, almost knocking down one of the lamps near it.

Katerina placed Liara’s arms around her waist, and she slightly turned her head to whisper to Liara.

“Meeting you was the best thing ever happened to me. I love you”

Liara gave a quick kiss on her cheek, blushing as she usually did when Shepard said romantic things at her.

“I love you too, Katerina Shepard”

As they fell asleep, Glyph turned off the lights and the music before entering into sleep mode itself, leaving the apartment in peaceful silence .

[lilithhawthorne]

Bachelor Number One

This was done for the @masseffectcreativecircle and is a super silly little nonsense piece with my favorite pair of dorks.

Rating:Teen And Up  Fandoms:Mass Effect Trilogy, Mass Effect - All Media Types, Mass Effect Relationships:Female Shepard/Garrus Vakarian, Shepard/Garrus Vakarian Additional Tags: Fluff, pre ME1, alcohol mention, Fluff and Humor, One Shot Find on AO3

As far as forced parties went, Aliza Shepard wasn’t having as bad of a time as she had expected. The music left a lot to be desired, and the slough of small-talk that she was forced to endure with the first dozen guests had been enough to put her teeth on edge. But she had stuck it out for Mabel, not only because her friend was cashing in on a favor, but because Shepard was crashing on her couch until the Normandy left dock the next day. Even if she had wanted to avoid socializing, there wasn’t another place for her to go.

“It’s not so bad, is it?” As if she could read her mind, her friend had drifted to her side, a drink in each hand.

“If I admit that I’m having an OK time, promise you won’t make me dance?” Shepard took the offered drink, and the two paused the conversation to toast, the honor falling to Shepard, as usual. “To friends with shitty couches and free time to spare.”

“To obnoxious commanders who crash on shitty couches and their self-sacrificing friends.”  

Mabel took a sip, her brown eyes searching the crowd over the rim of her cocktail glass. Shepard had to admit that she was the perfect host, waving to someone in the another group and winking at someone else who drifted past.

“So,” she said, focusing her attention back to her house guest, “you’re really having fun and not lying to me? I know that you’re awkward and hate things like this.”

Shepard put on a show of being offended, her free hand fluttering against her brow as she made a keen of disapproval. “I’ll have you know that I’m incredibly charming. Well...” she trailed off and pressed a finger to her lips. “After the first 30 minutes of wondering how long I could hide in the bathroom before you noticed pass, I’m exceedingly charming.”

“Naturally.” Mabel finished off her drink and motioned with the empty glass for Shepard to do the same. “That’s exactly why I came to see you, I have use of your charm.”

As Shepard drained her glass, she felt a tug on her elbow, Mabel weaving her hapless friend through the crowd at a brisk pace.

“What do you need me to do?” Shepard enquired. She left her empty glass on a counter they passed, then helped herself to another pre-made drink that waited on the next. Mabel, as always, was the perfect party planner.

Mabel didn’t answer right away, but her impish smile and crinkled nose gave Shepard an idea of what waited for her. “Oh no,” she moaned, trying to disengage herself from the sudden vice-like grip on her arm. “Mabel, you wouldn’t.”

“I wouldn’t,” Mabel agreed. She pulled Shepard to a stop and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Still unsatisfied, she wet her thumb and ran it over Shepard’s eyebrow. “Gross, I know, just hold still- “

“Mabel!”

“Commander!” Mabel ran a hand down Shepard’s thigh, adjusting the hem of her dress as she did.” Stop fussing, you’re being a baby!”

“Don’t call me that when I’m off duty, mom. Ugh!” She attempted to slap Mabel’s hand away from the scoop of her neckline. “Stop!”

Someone cleared their throat loud enough that the two women scattered apart, guilty as two siblings caught fighting. “Sorry to interrupt,” the voice hummed in a tone that suggested they were not at all sorry.

Mabel gripped Shepard’s hand in hers and turned to face the turian who had witnessed their tussle. With the air of a true diplomat, she effortlessly slid into conversation with the turian as if she hadn’t  just been adjusting another woman’s breasts moments before. “Ah, Detective Vakarian! It’s so good to see that you were able to make it.”

Vakarian shifted his weight to his back leg, his mandibles flexing. Paired with a low subharmonic hum, Shepard guessed that he was laughing at the erratic behavior he had just witnessed. “It didn’t sound like I had a choice, Acolyte Cyders.”

Mabel laughed a little too loud, her eyes darting quickly in Shepard’s direction. “That’s nonsense, Detective! I would never force -”

“You were insistent that -”

“You’re hilarious!” Mabel cut him off and waved a hand in the air. “Isn’t he hilarious, Commander Shepard?”

Shepard ran her tongue over her teeth, her narrowed eyes darting between the two of them as heat colored her cheeks. She couldn’t decide which one was responsible for the ambush, so she pressed her lips together in a display of indifference.

As the two stared back at her, she took a moment to take in the turian in front of her. He was dressed smartly in a blue tunic with intricate silver trim. The front of his tunic hung low, falling past his spurs, and the sides were cut high enough to sit above his bony hips.

Though she was no expert in xeno-expressions and body language, she could tell he was as uncomfortable as she was. With a delayed sense of embarrassment, she also realized that he was taking the time to look her over.

“It’s nice to meet you, Detective Vakarian,” Shepard finally said, bypassing the question proposed by Mabel and trying to take matters into her own hands. She knew how persuasive Mabel could be. There was no need to rankle him when she should be saving her energy for getting back at the acolyte.  

Vakarian tilted his head to one side, his mandibles flexing once more and the thrum of his laugh deep enough that she clenched her jaw as she felt it reverberate in her chest. Mabel, keenly observant, pressed her lips together as she suppressed a smile. Shepard dug her elbow into her friend’s side.

Oblivious to, or opting to ignore, the two humans’ subtle back and forth feud, he spoke up once again: “Please, call me Garrus.”

“Sure,” Shepard said, though she didn’t offer her name in return.

Garrus cleared his throat again and looked at Mabel, his expression unreadable. Shepard kept her eyes on him. The color of his tunic matched his face markings, an observation that made her smirk as she pictured him holding up the tunic to his face in a mirror.

Mabel sighed, the silence tense only to her. “This is Aliza,” she supplied on her friend’s behalf.

“A pleasure, Aliza.”

“Uh-huh.” Shepard finished her drink and handed the empty glass to Mabel. She crossed her arms over her chest, feet hip-width apart, as if she were about to give directions.

Another stretch of silence silence dipped between the trio. Mabel shifted between feet. Garrus clacked his mandibles and looked between the two women with the universal expression of confusion playing across his features. Shepard pursed her lips.

Once again, Mabel broke the silence. “I think I hear my name being called!” She looked over her shoulder and knit her brows together, pretending to strain to hear something. “Oh, yup, yeah. Someone is calling for me.” With a huff, she threw her hands up in the air and cast the two a faux look of deference. “Duty calls.”

“I’ll find you later,” Shepard warned with a smile as Mabel backed away.

Unconcerned, Mabel showed Shepard what she thought of the threat with a profane gesture. At the same time, she flashed a smile at Garrus. “Pleasure to see you again, Detective.”

As Mabel melted into another group, Shepard turned back to Garrus. He seemed to relax as Mabel left, his arms loosening at his side. “Looks like you were blindsided, eh?”

She relaxed as well and nodded in answer to his question. “If it makes you feel better, this is not the first time she’s done this.”

“That hurts my feelings a little.” Now it was his turn to feign being offended. He placed one clawed hand against his sternum and let his head droop.

Shepard laughed, surprised at the witty response. “You’ve made it further than the others,” she said on a whim.

“You haven’t even told me your name.” He looked up at her from beneath his brow ridges, head still bowed. “Officially. Mabel told me, but how do I know she isn’t lying? She seems to have a devious streak.”

There was no telling if it was the translator or the natural vibration of his speech, but she felt a flush creep across her chest when the rhythm of his voice hit her. Shepard pulled her lower lip between her teeth and considered her options. If she wanted to, she could simply walk away, insert herself into another conversation, and the worst she would get from Mabel would be a dirty look. She wasn’t lying when she said this wasn’t the first time her nosy friend had played matchmaker. And they had all been without success, which suggested either Mabel had terrible taste or no idea what her friend liked.

Then again.... Shepard looked at his empty hands. “You don’t have a drink,” she remarked.

“Neither do you,” he countered.

“My name’s Aliza. Now that introductions are out of the way, care to wet your whistle?”

Garrus perked up, his eyes lighting up in a way that Shepard took as interest. “I left my human dictionary at home, but I don’t have anything better to do.”

-[|]-[|]-

It was well past midnight and Shepard had a meeting later that day, but the house was still packed. The two had moved away from the largest clump of partygoers, and they had even been lucky enough to find a pocket of quite that meant they didn’t have to shout or risk their translators picking up another bit of conversation.

“Hold on,” Garrus interrupted her story by holding up a hand. “You expect me to believe that you went up -”

“Me and a squad of 19 other humans,” she corrected.

“You and 19 other humans went up against a krogan in a tug-of-war battle, and won?”

She nodded vigorously, a few strands of loose hair bobbing up and down as she did. “Why is that so hard to believe?”

“You know, my people have fought the krogan before.”

Shepard waited a beat. “And?”

Garrus made the turian equivalent of a snort, his mandibles open wide as he shook his head in disbelief. “And they aren’t an easy foe. I find it dubious that if we had only taken a squad of 20 humans, we would have had an easier time.”

Maybe she was feeling bold, or maybe it was the beginning of sleep deprivation as she eked closer to the hour that would mark a 24-hour cycle with no sleep, but she put her hand on the bony jut of his knee and leaned forward. “That’s the secret of the Alliance, you know.”

His eyes drifted down to where her hand alighted, and he responded by leaning forward to meet her halfway, one arm sliding across the back of the couch. His claws brushed the back of her shoulder, sending a tantalizing shiver down her spine. “What’s that?” he wondered.

“We are willing to do anything, no matter how stupid, if it means we can brag about it at parties.”

Garrus nodded his head sagely. “We’ve tried integrating a similar tactic, but the results have been mixed.”

“I’m not buying it. Come on, you’ve had your fair share of reckless fun that you’ve slotted away to brag about later.”

He made a wordless sound that she guessed was something like a human hmm, his head listing to one side as he thought.

Sometime during her story, the crowd had thinned, and only a few pockets of stragglers remained. Those that were still drinking and swaying to the music had drifted away from their corner, gravitating closer to the drinks that were being churned out at startling speed by the bartender Mabel had hired.

“Sure,” Garrus finally said, and Shepard diverted her attention back to him. “I’ve got stuff to brag about.”

“Let’s hear it.” She settled against the arm he had placed across the back of the couch, her fingers trailing away from his knee as she leaned into him. Without missing a beat, he angled his upper body towards her, his arm sliding off the couch and onto her shoulders.

“I once - and this is true - sweet talked a human commander in the Alliance into coming home with me.”

“That’s nothing to brag about.” Shepard gave a noncommittal shrug that belied the warmth that was rapidly spreading through her. “Humans are the easiest species in the Milky Way. You should watch some of our old vids.”

“You didn’t hear the part that’s truly impressive.”

“What’s that?”

“Not only did she come home with me, she even had dinner with me the next night.”

“That must have been quite the feat because I heard that she had already left for her next assignment by then.” There was a pang of disappointment that echoed in her words. He recognized the tone and dipped his head, his subharmonics rolling in disapproval.

“That’s a shame,” he said after a moment. “But she wished she had been able to stay for dinner.”

“Yes,” Shepard admitted, “she did wish she had been able to stay for dinner.”

The two sat in a comfortable silence. One of his gloved claws was tracing circular patterns on her shoulder, and she had moved her hand back to this knee. She had never had the chance to look at a turian so close before, and she used the vantage point to observe his alien features.

She must have been looking a little too intently because he made a clicking sound to get her attention. “Sorry,” she muttered, flustered that she had been caught staring. “I just - was looking.”

The two locked eyes, something like the heat she was feeling mirrored in his eyes. “Did I mention that the place I took the commander isn’t that far from here?”

Shepard looked for Mabel in the small cluster of people that still occupied the apartment. Enough time as friends must have alerted her to Shepard’s searching, and the other woman poked her head out from between two people.

No need for words. Mabel winked, an overt open-mouthed, double thumbs up gesture that made more than a few of her guests stare at her in confusion. Theatrics aside, Shepard understood.

She turned back to Garrus, patted his knee once and then stood up. “Lead the way, Detective Vakarian.”