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mtreebeardiles · 2 years

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Fic Author Self Recommendations

Ah! I think I got double tagged by @theoriginalladya and @mallaidhsomo, many thanks!

When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you’ve written, then pass on to at least five other writers. Let’s spread the self-love.

Oh boy do these have to be finished works haha, let’s see...

In no particular order, fave finished pieces:

No Matter What | Rating: M | Pairing: Mshenko (Everett) | An in-between piece transitioning from ME2 to ME3, and some of my favorite prose written from Evvy’s third-person limited POV.

Nightmares and beacons and warnings centuries old, echoing in his skull night after night after night. Final pleas of a race long gone, and only he could serve as their mouthpiece. They would have chosen better, he was sure, if they'd just had the option. Would've chosen someone who could inspire trust, respect, not this caricature of a man who could only try, all his shadows pulled constantly into the light for others to scrutinize.

After the Collectors, after the Bahak System, Shepard finds himself stuck in ways he never would have imagined.

The People You Meet on Omega | Rating: M | Reyes Vidal & Everett Shepard | Pre-Andromeda one-shot delving into some of Reyes’s backstory and how he came to know about the Initiative. Inspired by flashbacks in my larger mreyder fic that I wanted to play around with some more.

He's twenty-five when he winds up on Omega, seemingly for good.

A broken city for a broken man, filling the cracks and the seams with shadows and smoke, and he slips into the not-so-subtle underbelly with an ease that may have worried him, once. There's a currency here, a language he's willing to learn, prices paid in blood and bone, loyalties tested and burned. Cleverness in fingers and tongue, the art of misdirection, information as precious a commodity as the basic necessities he'd once smuggled for those in desperate need.

But Hope's End is gone, her people lost, and Reyes has nothing left but ghosts.

---

Reyes has a decision to make.

Intangible Things | Rating: M | Pairing: Mshep Clone x Major Coats | This was completely spur of the moment when a one-shot featuring Everett’s clone popped into my head and wouldn’t leave until he’d gotten his story, and now he’s got several haha. The fic that started my favorite disaster, Shawn Shepard.

...He looked like Commander Everett Shepard, Hero of Elysium, Alliance Golden Boy, Savior of the Citadel, first human Spectre. And he was none of these things. He'd tried to be, once -- recently, even. It had been only a few months since the admittedly ill-advised, harebrained scheme to steal Commander Shepard's identity, get his access codes, steal the Normandy and… And do… something.

-- After the plan to steal Commander Shepard's life spectacularly backfired, his clone is left struggling to pick up the pieces and figure out what it takes to be his own person.

Some things are easier said than done.

Mystery Requisitions | Rating: T | Pre-mshenko | One of my earliest one-shot character tests for Everett Shepard and Kaidan Alenko, pre-relationship

Kaidan Alenko is determined to solve the puzzle of the mystery baker.

Reassessments | Rating: T | Cora Harper & Reyes Vidal | An early character test for these two, exploring the sort of tone/theme I wanted to carry over into my main mreyder fic. I know most make these two antagonistic, but I ain’t convinced ;)

Stranded in a frozen city, Cora finds herself rescued by an unlikely ally.

And since I was tagged twice, two bonus In-Progress fics that I’m having a blast writing:

Stardew Effect | Rating: M | Pairings: mshenko (Everett); mshep clone x Coats (Shawn; Leigh) | Prompted by discussions in discord and I made good on my threat to combine Mass Effect with Stardew Valley. It’s been super fun and an interesting challenge so far!

A troubled youth, a soul-crushing job, and living life as the resident freak has worn Kaidan Alenko down. So he's quitting his job, abandoning his city life, and running off to the country, to a place his grandfather left him before his passing, to see if a new place, a fresh start, can rekindle his sense of wonder again.

Restoration | Rating: M | Pairings: Mshep Clone x Coats (Shawn; Leigh), with some mshenko in the periphery | THIS came about from a prompt LadyA sent me that I felt could be expanded considerably, and the next thing I knew I had Coats’s family tree sketched out and everything sorta snowballed from there. Chapters alternate between ME3 and Post-ME3.

Then: Warnings unheeded translated to despair and destruction during Reaper Occupation on Earth, the remains of the System Alliance military holding as best they can against the onslaught. Desperate tactics, overwhelming loss in the face of an overwhelming force, and it's all Major Leigh Coats can do to stem the bleeding of his broken city.

Then: a clone grapples with a budding sense of self-awareness at conflict with what is asked of him. Plans gone wrong, and uncertainty in the aftermath, but the Reapers have come to the Citadel and he has other choices to make.

Now: two men grapple with an aftermath they weren't sure they'd ever see, four years down the line, and must reckon with the cracks their pasts have left behind.

Also i am terrible at summaries lordy lordy

Let’s see... tagging @theoriginalladya (you said you had more! let’s see ‘em :D ), @tiny-banana-time, @solstheimart (not sure which of yours is appropriate for this tag), @urdnotflexthejedibard, and @illusivesoul if you like!

#my writing #fic meme #hard to choose only seven lmao #yes I realize the formatting got messed up but I ain’t fixing it lol

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shadesofmauve · 2 years

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2174, the SSV Shanghai

Kaidan walked through the corridors of the Shanghai with his eyes slitted, trying to quell the tracers racing across his vision. There'd been a little lounge down here, he was sure of it, and if he was very, very lucky—

Damn.

The room was occupied. A junior officer with pilot’s wings on his shoulder was sitting at the little table in the corner. His omnitool band was spread on the table, and was working the display with both hands, hunched forward and peering at it from under a cap. The bright light from the tool sent spikes through Kaidan’s skull — but the room was still darker than the medbay, and quieter than his bunk in the marine junior officers cabin.

“D’you mind if I…”

The man in the hat shrugged, not looking away from his work. “It’s public space.”

Kaidan sat down on the one lounger, stretched out his legs, and closed his eyes. After five minutes the feeling of blessed relief had faded, and the discomforts started creeping back in. He needed to lie quiet and still, but it was uncomfortable with a total stranger in the room. Especially if he had to turn his back to him, to keep from catching the omnitool glare out of the corner of his eye. He tried to settle, but he couldn’t. He rolled back onto his back.

After a few minutes he felt the weight of the other man’s regard.

“You got a snorer down in marine land?” the pilot asked.

“Huh? Oh,” Kaidan took a deep breath, trying to make his brain spit up words. The man had asked quietly, but it still hurt. “Not snoring,” he fished for a delicate way to say Carrera and Hertz were having moaning sex two bunks over, then decided he didn’t need to be delicate if they weren’t. “Fucking.”

He listened to his own words, and the other man’s silence. Maybe that hadn’t come out right. “Not me. Other people. Noisy.”

God, he didn’t want to talk. It was even worse listening to his own voice than someone else's. His was right there in his skull with him.

The pilot snorted. “Show offs. Bone in a supply closet or something, crew quarters is just rude.”

Kaidan sighed an agreement. “So.” He waved his hand vaguely in front of his closed eyes, then winced at the movement. No more talking, please. “Gon’ be quiet. Sorry. Migraine. Medbay… too bright.”

He rolled his head toward the wall. White flag delivered, I retreat from the conversation.

There was a small, considering sound from the other corner, then rustling fabric, and a few soft thumps.

The glow that kept creeping in behind Kaidan’s eyelids dimmed.

He sank into the darkness, breathing longer and easier than it had been, the winds of his internal storm slackening by a few knots. He rode it for a while, thankful — but curiosity finally got the better of him. He rolled his head back over and cracked one eyelid.

A barricade of chair ushions blocked the omnitool screen from Kaidan’s view, leaving only a soft glow around the edges. Somewhere behind it were the quiet sounds of the pilot, back at work.

“Thanks,” Kaidan muttered, and closed his eyes.

#Kaidan Alenko #Jeff Moreau #Shades writes #Mass Effect #unexpected backstory #unintended writing #buds

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axtry · 2 years

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Kaidan's backstory is underrated and more interesting than you think

People that decided to save Ash on Virmire tend to say that Kaidan is boring, his story is bland and he has no personality but this can't be further from the truth.

First of all I don't invalidate your personal preferences for Ash over Kaidan, it's your decission. And now let's talk about why Kaidan's story is actually good and why he seems boring for others.

Kaidan's story is about physical child abuse. A bunch of kids that were forced to exposed to unknown element that could be potentionally dangerous and cancerogenic just to experiment on them. They were beaten, forced to train till total body exhaustion, it was physically and emtioally extremelly hard, they were abused physically and emotionally just for an experiment with something they weren't even sure how it actually works. This type of treatment leaves big traumas and PTSD in people, especially if they are kids or young adults with their brain still developing. It was very unprofesional, dangerous and unethical to install experimental chip to brain in middle ot developement.

The story of Kaidan is similar to Jack's story. They were both physically and emotionally abused for biotic powers. The main difference is how each of them dealt with trauma differently. They were both deeply damaged for life - it made Jack a sociopath and Kaidan was left broken and empy. Jack is full of anger, she wan't to give others the pain she suffered, Kaidan is actually depressed and don't wan't inflict the same pain on others - two sides of the same coin... of trauma.

I love Kaidan, I don't think he is dull character at all and I wish more people saw the psychology behind him as I do.

For me personally this is way more interesting than high school drama from Ashley, but it's just a personal opinion.

----

Please not that I'm not a professional psychologist or psychiatrist however I'm a medical student and I've read a lot about mental health issues. If you are a professional let me know where and why I’m wrong

#mass effect #kaidan #kaidan alenko #kaidan backstory #mass effect thought #virmire survivor #psychology

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alenkorra · 3 years

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I lose braincells every time I see people compare Kaidan to Alistair or even worse, to Cullen. And this isn’t even hate to either of those characters, I like both of them actually. i say “worse” because it frustrates me to see how people can misinterpret Kaidan’s character so badly when he’s so upfront about his past, his morals and his opinions.

Cullen let a traumatic experience color his view of the world for years and did bad things because of it. Kaidan went the complete opposite way, he had a traumatic experience as a teenager which caused him to snap and kill his abuser, but he vowed to never lose control again and he never let it control his whole life. I’m not saying this to invalidate Cullen’s trauma, it’s just a fact that they’re very different characters.

As for the Alistair comparisons, they’re both generally good/nice people but that’s about all they have in common. Kaidan is not a himbo, idk why it’s so hard for people to understand he doesn’t fit the definition of a himbo unless you see him as dumb, which he is not. he’s the biggest nerd, he just happens to have massive tiddies too. He’s also way more emotionally mature than Alistair and shows better leadership skills, which makes sense because he’s older than him and has more life experience. Again, no hate to Alistair, they’re simply not the same.

#like this isn't even me gatekeeping and saying i know kaidan better #i'm just basing this on his canon backstory dialogue and character arc throughout the trilogy #kaidan alenko #fandom critical #rant

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happychica · 2 years

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A heaven not so large as yours, Chapter 8

Prompt number: N/A Fandom: Mass Effect (trilogy) Rating: T Warnings/Tags: discussion of past violence/criminal activity

—

Excerpt: He hoped they were the former; John deserved guardian angels, and Kaidan couldn’t stand the idea of anything else watching over his husband in a place like this.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/34775071/chapters/86854144

#Mass Effect #Kaidan Alenko #John Shepard #Spain #churches #light angst #backstory

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soldiermom1973 · 6 years

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Pictures and moments (Josie and Kaidan)

A submission for day 2 of Mass Effect Relationships Week. Another short background piece for Virmire Survivor. You can also read it on AO3.

She didn't know where it came from. If she had to guess, she'd have said it was Kelly's idea. Leave it to a shrink to think having a picture of her dead lover in her room would be a good idea. Josie's fingers flitted along the frame, her eyes gazing along features she'd only ever see like this. The dimple in his chin, the crinkle in his eyes, the soft shade of whiskey-brown eyes, and that damned bump in his hairline... all things that still haunted her dreams. Whoever thought of it probably meant well, they just didn't consider what it would do to her on top of everything else that had landed in her lap.

Josie grabbed the picture and a bottle of whatever alcohol was sitting on her desk and flopped on the couch. “I wonder what you'd have to say about this,” she murmured, taking a swig from the bottle. She winced and frowned, staring at the label for a few moments. “Seriously? Cerberus spends all these credits on this ship and they can't even get me decent liquor?”

She shook her head and took another swallow. The last few days were a whirlwind and bad booze or not, she needed the drink. One minute she was gasping for air and the next she was in some lab that was under attack. She no sooner came down from that adrenaline rush when she found out she was dead for two years. That bombshell was followed by being whisked away to some human colony that saw all the inhabitants disappear. Seeing Tali was nice even though the reunion was thick with tension because of Josie's new 'friends'. The grand finale was during the debrief with the Illusive Man, she and Joker were reunited and she was given control of a shiny new ship.

She dragged her hand down her face, still trying to get a handle on it all. Josie definitely needed a drink. And someone to talk to.

“So, I died,” she began, placing his picture on the small table in front of her. She leaned back and ran her fingers through her hair. “I saved everyone else, though. Just like I always do.”

Because that's who you are, she heard Kaidan say. It's one of the things I loved about you.

Josie chuckled and shook her head. “I don't think you'd love that I'm with Cerberus now, though. Not after all the shit we saw them do.”

Did you have a choice?

She sighed and took another long pull from the bottle, wincing at the tart warmth that tore down her throat. “There's always a choice. It's just that sometimes all of your choices really suck, you know? The Council wouldn't help because this is only affecting humans. The Alliance can't help because they're still rebuilding after what Saren and Sovereign did two years ago. So I either do nothing or take advantage of what the Illusive Man is offering.”

Making a deal with the devil, then.

“Yeah.” Another sigh. Another drink. “I'm scared Kaidan. I have Joker, but other than him, I don't know who to trust. I feel like I'm alone.”

Her fingers traced along the shape of his jaw as her tears flowed down her cheeks.

“I miss you. I wish you were here.”

I'm always here. Anytime you need me.

Suddenly, having a picture of her dead lover in her room didn't seem like such a bad idea after all.

#MERweek2018 #Virmire Survivor #Shenkrios #Kaidan Alenko #Mass Effect #backstory

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ljandersen · 3 years

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Fanfic Recs: Part 1

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

Part 2 FShenko recs

Part 3 FShenko recs

This is my first of several fShenko multi-chapter fanfic recommendation posts. I would have loved to include all my recs in one post, but I didn’t want to hide anyone under the cut.

This list is in no particular order. I’m only including multichapter fics. Many of these writers have a backlist of amazing stories, but I only chose one to showcase.

If I’ve read your fic and you don’t see it on the list, it’s not because it wasn’t amazing and isn’t worth recommending. It either slipped my mind, or it may be on an upcoming part of my list. I’ve included a few non-fShenko fics later on, but those are marked.

______________________________

Echoes of Old Embers by @ripley95

Details: Post-ME 3, 50k words, complete

Summary: After Shepard lives from the war, one of her biggest regrets was rejecting Kaidan at Apollo’s. Fate has a funny way of bringing Jane and Kaidan back into each other’s lives. A misunderstanding with Kaidan’s family makes him and Shepard relive old history and question where they stand.

What I love about it: This is an amazing, heart-warming story with a lot of character depth and sweetness. This authors writes one of my favorite versions of Kaidan Alenko. He's considerate and kind. I love how her Jane Shepard and Kaidan complement each other so well. Their romance is mature, deep, and heart-felt.

One of the areas this story shines (among many!) is with the original characters. Kaidan’s three sister and mom are distinct, layered, and bring background and warmth to the story. If you’re looking for a love story with deep meaning and family-feels, this is a must-read.

Triquetra by @hollyem

Details: Spans ME 1 to ME 3, 17k words, complete

Summary: Triquetra: a three-sided shape; a symbol representing the power of three. The Mass Effect story has three possible endings, but it also has three possible beginnings.

What I love about it: The premise for this story is fascinating! I love the dichotomy with ME having three possible ending and three possible beginnings. What if Kaidan or Ash touched the beacon? The characters are so well-written and true to the game. The three storylines braid together perfectly, and I love the contrast between circumstances as the stories unfold.

This story does a fantastic job delving into possible outcomes and spinning a unique tale for each of the three beacon-touched protagonists. This story had me constantly guessing. It subverted my expectations at every turn, and I loved that! Who dies on Virmire? What happens in ME-2 with Cerberus? How does the final battle end? How do the relationships change? If you’re looking for a compelling story full of possibilities and twists of fate, this is the story for you.

There Won’t be Trumpets by @alphahelices

Details: Spans ME-1 to ME-3, 13k words, complete

Summary: While so much of his existence has been surrounded by explosions and gunfire and shouting, Kaidan’s life has been shaped by the silences in between.

What I love about it: This story is pure beauty! The prose flows like poetry. The images are vivid and visceral. They’ll stick with you. The theme of sounds weaves the story together through all three games. There are moments that will always stick with me, like Shepard and Kaidan touching helmets to talk on a planet without atmosphere.

The relationship between Kaidan and Shepard is tender, deep, and at times, beautifully heart-breaking before the eventual joy of reconciliation. If you love precise, evocative language unfolding a moving love story, then check this out!

Discovery by @pigeontheoneandonly

Details: ME 1, 475k words, complete, WIP sequel covers ME 2

Summary: A reimagined Mass Effect 1, that keeps to the spirit of the canon while deepening connections between events and characters, delving into backstories, and expanding the narrative.

What I love about it: This story builds a foundation of profound friendship between Shepard and Kaidan. I love a good slow burn where the friendship evolves and galvanizes into bestfriends who are in love. I always want to be convinced in a story that the leads belong together, and this story leaves no doubts. They balance and challenge either. It’s everything I love in a pairing!

There are great moments in this story that you’ll wish actually happened in the game. Shepard and Kaidan’s mission to restore water on Feros and watching the snowfall on Noveria are amazing scenes that still stick with me. Nathaly Shepard is a deep and layered character with quirks, who feels real and fallible. If you love a slow burn with a strong friends to lovers foundation, then you’ll love this story!

#trilogyappreciationweek #fshenko fanfic recs #fshenko #shenko #mass effect fanfic #fanfic recommendation #fic recommendation #mass effect fanfiction #fshenko fic #multichapter long fic #long post #fanfic recs #part 2 and 3 later this week for trilogyappreciationweek #fanfic rec

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s-ewell · 2 years

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kaidan alenko is a gift to the universe and deserves all the love i'm so happy to see you love him 🥺

Yes he is!!! He deserves so much love but he's such an underappreciated character and I'm not sure why??

He has such an interesting backstory and one of the best personalities like he's so kind yet not naive, very calm but has a great sense of humor, actually really powerful but selfless and always ready to do what he believes is right? Just a very honest, soft man with the biggest heart.

I'm sorry for the unrequired character analysis thank you so much for the ask we love kaidan alenko in this house 😤💖

#don't get me started on how kaidan could have turned out to be bitter and angry after all that he's been through but actually chose not to #he has his emotions so well figured out it's impressive!!#and he's not scared to feel things and be honest about it please he's such an treasure #and even tho he was wrong about shepard and cerberus i appreciate him so much for actually doing what he believed was right #even if that meant walking away from someone he greatly respected considered a friend or even loved???? like that's so hard to do #anyways!!! sorry again i can talk about him for days ahajsjkskw #all kaidan lovers yall invited for tea at my house #answered #mass effect #kaidan

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bladeoffrontiers · 2 years

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mass effect for the ask meme

blorbo: kaidan alenko. all you have to do is look at my mass effect tag to see how much he appears.

scrunkly: joker. forever bitter that he wasn't a li.

scrimblo bimblo: it's a tie between kal'reegar or kirrahe

glup shitto: elcor ambassador my beloved.

poor little meow meow: miranda. i've had to defend her in the past because people take her at face value. which is funny considering that's part of her backstory and internal angst.

horse plinko: the turian councilor. i loved hanging up on him.

eeby deeby: kai lang. best interrupt ever.

#ask meme #thanks #mass effect

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ao3feed-mshenko · 1 year

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Personal Feedback

by X3n09

PLEASE NOTE: This is a very old fic, written under my old penname. Just revisiting it. Definitely not a great representation of my writing anymore.

Pairing: Commander Shepard (male)/ Lt. Kaidan Alenko

Summary: Commander Shepard approaches his Lieutenant to ask for personal feedback and gets a little more than a mere exchange of words.

Author's Note: This doesn't happen at any particular time during the first game. Just right whenever Kaidan is standing right outside Commander Shepard's quarters. The Shepard starring in my story (just to give you an image) is a bold red head, with short hair (buzzed on the sides), with a large scar over his eye, and domineering grey eyes. This Shepard is a renegade. I fabricated a rather elaborate backstory for him as well.

Words: 4140, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Mass Effect Trilogy

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: M/M

Relationships: Kaidan Alenko/Male Shepard

Additional Tags: Explicit Sexual Content

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/46449970

#MShenko #Kaidan Alenko/Male Shepard #Kaidan Alenko #Commander Shepard #Mass Effect #ao3feed

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dianapocalypse · 3 years

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Alright y’all, with the release of Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, it’s time for me to share my playlist for the entire trilogy.

I’ve refined this over like six years so scientifically speaking it’s probably good right. oh also it’s four hours long. so if you have a road trip or a boring job, this one’s for you. disclaimer, it’s entirely possible I have garbage taste in music. I also missed some characters and moments because there’s 65 songs here and I am merely human.

If you don’t have the patience for four hours, I recommend starting at track 45 and listening to the end, as the Mass Effect 3 portion is the strongest in my opinion.

UNDER THE CUT FOR DESCRIPTIONS WE GO!

FIRST MOVEMENT - MASS EFFECT 1

1. Atlas - Coldplay Eden Prime

“Sometimes the wire Must tense for the note Caught in the fire, say oh We're about to explode“

I really like the atmosphere of this song. It’s ominous, but also somehow hopeful, and makes me feel like Something Huge Is Coming.

2. I Will Not Sing A Hateful Song - Constantines Paragon Shepard

“But I was also born and raised To always speak and listen clear To know the last sound that I make Could be the last sound that I hear“

OK, listen, I think this song is about vampires, and I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a metaphor or not. But I think this is a great song about controlling one’s temper, about knowing that you have to Rise Above the parts of you that want to lash out sometimes to get things done and have peace. Seeing as how paragon Shepard, to me, always seems like they’re three deep breaths away from snapping, but manage to keep it in check, it fits them to a T.

And also maybe they’re a vampire.

3. Hard to Kill - Beth Crowley Renegade Shepard

“So I let the rumors Turn me into a legend 'Cause I'm only human But a good myth is hard to kill”

This one’s a recent addition, but holy cow, I love it for Renegade Shep, particularly an Earthborn or Ruthless, but it works for any of them.

4. We Own the Skies - Five Iron Frenzy Joker

“My hands are bleeding where they often crack The stars will sometimes burn with longing Through the choking black Of night shifts piling each against the next”

This really vibes with Joker’s backstory for me, his super driven serious self in flight school, contrasted with who he is when he can fly a ship. He’s the best pilot in the goddamn fleet and I love him.

5. I Just Wanna See - Smash Mouth Kaidan Alenko

“Mister moon checkin' on how y'all livin' The stars all winkin' at the day that's dimmin' I just wanna see”

This song fits into his reactions to first showing up at the Citadel and his former romanticism about living in space. Ironically, it’s a song about Earth, but I feel like it works well for him. Also, Smash Mouth absolutely sounds like the kind of music Kaidan would listen to, no I will not be taking questions or constructive criticism.

6. Don’t Give Up - Noisettes Ashley Williams

“She's got a talented face and a suitcase Ain't got no desire to go no place In her case she's got no desire with her hand in the flame say's she don't feel the fire “

The energy of this song is just perfect for Ashley’s no-nonsense chip on her shoulder attitude.

7. About As Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help At All - Dan Mangan The Council

“I was thrown in the boat/Cast out to sea Friendly with waves/There were sharks below Hungry for me/So I dangled my leg”

I mean, the title says it all.

8. The Captain - Guster Anderson

“Courageous, just like the captain Marching forward with no doubt in his head”

I have adored this song ever since my friend played it for me, and it’s the ultimate mentor-protégé jam for me.

9. Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers Garrus Vakarian

“Here's a man who leads a life of danger To everyone he meets he stays a stranger Oh, with every move he makes another chance he takes The odds are he won't live to see tomorrow”

I have to poke a little fun at Garrus and how seriously he takes himself in Mass Effect 1. I romanced him across four playthrus, I’m allowed!

10. I’m Getting Too Old For This Shit - Kill Lincoln Urdnot Wrex

“This random apathy/I swear it's killing me But I guess it's all the same, till the devil knows my name”

I don’t know ANYTHING about this band, but this song fits Wrex’s disillusionment with the Krogan well, plus, like. The title. (And also, that he secretly DOES care what happens to the Krogan.)

11. Bird Song - Juniper Vale Tali’zorah nar Rayya

“I want to dance on the horizon line But there is something I am caged behind I have a heart made for take flight But I'm low, so low”

I adore this song and the sound of Juniper Vale in general. The etherealness of this one, combined with the youthful optimism, feels very Tali. The line about ‘something I am caged behind’ works well for the suits, too. This one’s especially good if you’re a Talimancer!

12. 11. Green Garden - Laura Mvula Liara T’Soni

“And I’ll fly on the wings of a butterfly High as a tree top and down again Putting my bag down, taking my shoes off Walk on the carpet of green velvet”

I really like this song’s vibes and I feel like Liara fits it well, particularly in ME1, before all her youthful optimism is stripped from her. The scenery descriptions feel very Thessia, too.

13. Feed Me (Git It) - Little Shop of Horrors The Thorian

“The guy sure looks like plant food to me!”

Do you get it. Do you get my joke. It’s because the Thorian is a plant that eats people. (I’m not funny)

14. Blindness - Metric Matriarch Benezia

“I was a blind fool, never complained All the survivors singing in the rain “

I don’t love the use of blind here as a negative, albeit metaphorical, descriptor, but I think this song fits Benezia’s indoctrination and death well. If you have suggestions for another, though, let me know!

15. Technologic - Daft Punk Saren

“Buy it, use it, break it, fix it, trash it, change it, mail, upgrade it”

I just think it’s Neat

16. Watershed - Vienna Teng The Reapers

“ While you were building your empires I was still sleeping”

I think this is the song that inspired the entire playlist. Vienna Teng sat down and decided to write a song from the perspective of a natural disaster, and it’s so ominous and gut-wrenching.

17. Hourglass - The Hush Sound Virmire

“This is how it ends We believe every lie and say we'll be friends How long will it last? Before we scratch all the scripts and we rework the cast “

hahahahah rework the cast get it because you have to pick who DIES

Seriously tho I really like this song for Virmire and that moment of choice that feels like it lasts 100 years on some playthroughts.

18. Pompeii - Bastille The Siege of the Citadel

“ And the walls kept tumbling down In the city that we love”

Throwback to when this song was on the radio like three times an hour. Which is around the time I made the first draft of this playlist, incidentally! It’s such a good Final Battle Jam for the Citadel, and the part about “if you close your eyes/does it almost feel like nothing’s changed at all” I think work really well for Shepard in this sequence. Shepard knew the Reapers were coming, had been fighting them all along; this attack on the Citadel is just retreading familiar territory for them, as horrifying as the war being brought to their doorstep is for the Citadel’s citizens and the council. James Vega has some good dialogue about that kind of thing in ME3.

INTERLUDE THE FIRST

19. Starships - Nicki Minaj The Normandy Crew

Starships were meant to fly Hands up and touch the sky

I like to have a little fun OK

20. Gravity - Yoko Kanno The Death of Commander Shepard

“Am I alone? is somebody there beyond these heavy aching feet still the road keeps on telling me to go on”

Welcome to mood whiplash, it’s my specialty! This is the part where you die. I think it also works for her coma very well, when she’s just drifting between life and death, not sure what’s going on, but something keeps trying to pull her back to the world.

SECOND MOVEMENT - MASS EFFECT 2

21. The Phoenix - Fall Out Boy The Lazarus Project

“Hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out? I'm gonna change you like a remix Then I'll raise you like a phoenix “

this song has no right to go as hard as it does and if you think it’s melodramatic shut up

22. My Body Is A Cage - Peter Gabriel Commander Shepard

“I'm living in an age Whose name I don't know Though the fear keeps me moving Still my heart beats so slow “

This works particularly well if you romanced The Virmire Survivor, but this song captures the energy of Shepard freaking out bc they are trapped with Cerberus, because Cerberus rebuilt their body from the ground up. That jarring, caged feeling is so palpable in ME2 that when they gave me back Joker the first time I played, I BURST INTO SOBS from relief.

23. The Lady is a Vamp - The Spice Girls Miranda Lawson

“That's all in the past, legends built to last But she's got something new”

Listen. She’s a bond babe. Handbags, heels and pistols rock. She’s got class. This is a song about Miranda. That is all.

24. Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down Jacob Taylor

“ I watched the world float to the dark side of the moon After all I knew, it had to be something to do with you “

This one’s about the Vibes for me. Also can apply to his past relationship with Miranda. I’m also super showing my age on this song, oof haha.

25. Stable Song - Death Cab For Cutie Colony Abduction

“Rows of deserted houses all Our stable mates highway bound “

I really like the mood of this one for showing up on the very first abducted colony, the eerieness and sadness of it all and Shepard’s resolve to do something about it.

26. Konichiwa Bitches - Robyn Kasumi Goto

“I'm so very hot that when I rob your mansion You ain't call the cops, you call the fire station”

THAT COUPLET ALONE MAKES THE ENTIRE SONG. I love how playful and cheeky it is.

27. Seven Nation Army Glitch Mob Remix - The White Stripes, Glitch Mob Zaeed Massani

“And I'm talking to myself at night Because I can't forget Back and forth through my mind Behind a cigarette”

Pretty sure we all had this on some playlist or another when it came out, and it’s the perfect Badass With A Grudge song.

28. Science is Real - They Might Be Giants Mordin Solus

“ And when a theory emerges Consistent with the facts The proof is with science The truth is with science “

This one actually got added by my wife to replace a song that wasn’t on Spotify, but that has the same energy; Hank Green’s “I Fucking Love Science”. I get more into the emotional side of Mordin in the ME3 section, but I also really just love his Hamster On Coffee energy and this song captures it really well.

29. Prove Yourself - Radiohead Garrus Vakarian

“I can't afford to breathe in this town Nowhere to sit without a gun in my hand Hooked back up to the cathode ray

I'm better off dead “

The absolute rock bottom mental state Garrus is in when you get back to him in ME2 is so heartwrenching. Might not always agree with my boy’s methods, but he’s one of my favorite fictional characters of all time.

30. Rat a Tat - Fallout Boy Feat. Courtney Love Jack

“We are professional ashes of roses, this kerosene's live You settled your score, this is where you come to beg”

It helps that Courtney Love sounds exactly like Jack to me, NGL.

31. Defeat You - Smash Mouth Grunt

“Hey I know what you've done It makes it that much better to defeat you “

Only I am brave enough to put two songs by Smash Mouth on the same playlist, to be shared in 2021

32. The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot - Brand New Horizon/The Virmire Survivor

“If it makes you less sad I will die by your hand Hope you find out what you want Already know what I am “

Hits harder if you romanced the Virmire Survivor. Mostly from Shep’s perspective. This is a Shep that feels Bad after that encounter rather than Mad, so Your Mileage May Vary.

33. Violet Stars Happy Hunting! - Janelle Monae Tali’zorah vas Neema

“I'm an alien from outer space I'm a cyber-girl without a face a heart or a mind”

I just like the vibes of this one for Tali! I know it’s more about an actual AI but...IDK. I like it. So there.

34. Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd Thane Krios

“There is no pain you are receding A distant ship smoke on the horizon”

This song works both on a Literal level with his Kepral’s syndrome struggles, but also Metaphorical re: his Battle Sleep. Plus, Thane is a dad, so he gets Dad Rock.

35. My Medea - Vienna Teng Samara

“For I have made her prison be Her every step away from me And this child I would destroy If you tried to set her free “

Mom of the year award, here

36. Toxic - Britney Spears Morinth

“There's no escape, I can't wait I need a hit, baby, give me it You're dangerous, I'm loving it”

If Morinth weren’t so under-utilized after recruitment and didn’t get killed off in the background of ME3 I’d probably actually recruit her sometimes. I almost did on my most recent playthru bc that Shepard just HATES SPACE COPS. Anyway the song explains itself

37. Turn me On - David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj EDI/The Collector Attack

“My body needs a hero Come and save me Something tells me you know how to save me”

I know this song is a metaphor but also it works really well both literally and metaphorically for Joker saving EDI

38. Robots - Dan Mangan Legion

“Robots need love too They want to be loved by you “

The Geth just want to live peacefullyyyyyy

39. Be Still - The Killers Love Interest Theme

“Be still / someday you’ll leave fearlessness on your sleeve”

This song works so well for the night before Omega-4. If you had an ME2 love interest, anyway. Also “fearlessness on your sleeve” is one of my favorite set of words ever written.

40. No Cars Go - Arcade Fire The Omega-4 Relay

“We know a place no spaceships go We know a place where no subs go “

This one’s pretty literal.

41. Rocketman - Elton John Suicide Mission

“ And I think it's gonna be a long, long time 'Til touchdown brings me 'round again to find I'm not the man they think I am at home “

I like sneaking some Classics onto my playlists, and I think this is how I generally approach Shepard’s mindset during the Suicide Mission, mostly the chorus. I’m also a sucker for ballads during action sequences. This one isn’t a perfect 1:1 but the Vibes check out.

42. Blast Off - David Guetta feat. Kaz James The Normandy Crew

“Got all my people with me And none of us give a fuck So put dem hands up higher Let's smash this party up”

You have to imagine they partied HARD after recovering from Suicide Mission, but before Shep got arrested, right??? This is the Starships for ME2.

INTERLUDE THE SECOND

43. I’m Not Your Hero - Tegan and Sara Liara T’soni

“ Feeling like I am now lighting up the hall I was used to standing in the shadow of a damaged heart Learning all I know now, losing all I did I never used to feel like I'd be standing so far ahead “

This feels like a good coming of age moment for Liara, as she copes with the choices she made in the 2 years of Shepard’s death (giving them to Cerberus), losing Feron, etc. This is her coming into her own as the Shadow Broker. She’s not meant to be an uncomplicated Big Damn Hero, but she can do good from this position.

44. The Well and the Lighthouse - Arcade Fire The Alpha Relay Incident

“I'm serving time All for a crime I did commit You want the truth? You know I'd do it all again“

These opening lines I feel capture the Alpha Relay Incident really well, and how Shepard did what they HAD to do there, and would do it again, but it still feels like shit. I always wished there was more choice on that mission, but also, having something like that happen without player agency is interesting. Shepard is at their most interesting, I think, in times where we DON’T have a say in what happens to them.

45. Reignite - Malukah Commander Shepard

“Crush my heart into embers, and I will reignite”

Is it cheating to use a Mass Effect fan song on my playlist? I certainly don’t think so, and this is the best Mass Effect fan song ever written.

THIRD MOVEMENT - MASS EFFECT 3

46. This Is War - Thirty Seconds to Mars Leaving Earth

“It's the moment of truth, and the moment to lie The moment to live and the moment to die The moment to fight, the moment to fight To fight, to fight, to fight “

It feels Too Easy to use this here but I’m gonna anyway. You’ve seen AMVs of this set to everything. It’s the ending song of DA:O. It’s the quintessential World At War song.

47. Battleborn - The Killers James Vega

“Up against the wall There's something dying on the street When they knock you down You're gonna get back on your feet”

James Vega is massively underrated and I will love him til I’m cold in the ground. Aro icon.

48. Handlebars - Flobots The Illusive Man

“I can hand out a million vaccinations Or let 'em all die of exasperation Have 'em all healed of their lacerations Have 'em all killed by assassination”

The way this song escalates fits TIM and Cerberus’s fall back into being Just Full On Evil really well. Perfect song for a power trip.

49. Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect - The Decemberists The Virmire Survivor

“And I am nothing of a builder But here I dreamt I was an architect And I built this balustrade To keep you home, to keep you safe From the outside world”

I like this song for how the Virmire Survivor feels about their survivor’s guilt and also about Shepard. I honestly wish they were both more heavily utilized in ME2 and 3, but I realize it’s hard to write a ton of content for characters who just aren’t in half of all peoples’ playthrus.

50. Heaven Knows - The Pretty Reckless Grisson Academy

“One, two, three and four, the devil's knocking at your door Caught in the eye of a dead man's lie Show your life with your head held high“

This song is so perfect for Jack and her biotic kids that she’s one of the only returning characters that gets her own song on this playlist

51. The Great Fire - OK Go Javik

“But when the flames die down, and everything is gone, Will there be fire under the ashes still?”

Self explanatory. Javik is the fire remaining under the ashes.

52. Bring the Hammer Down - Paragon Priority: Tuchanka/Kalros

“ Hammer strikes the anvil A rage that breaks the chain Strikes down like a lightening In our ranks “

KALROOOOOS

53. Wake Up - Arcade Fire Curing The Genophage/Mordin Solus

“If the children don't grow up, Our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up. We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turnin' every good thing to Rust I guess we'll just have to adjust”

I just really love this song as an image of Mordin’s spirit looking out over Tuchanka as the genophage cure is dispersed, and watching over future generations. If you didn’t cure the genophage, how dare you. No song for you.

Anyway started tearing up listening to this one while writing the description don’t look at me

54. Ballad of a Politician - Regina Spektor Councillor Udina/Priority Citadel 2

“A man inside a room is shaking hands with other men This is how it happens/Our carefully laid plans”

traitor

55. Cyborgs vs. Robots - Ludo The Geth-Quarian War

“But your iron fist will never knock me down 'Cause I'm powered By a conscious right to conduct my life without fear.”

This is probably a bit silly for this awful war. But also. It does fit. You can’t tell me it doesn’t. Just save them both at the end and you can feel fine having some fun with it!

56. Artificial Heart - Jonathan Coulton The Geth

“It's not a real heart It is a real artificial heart”

Just a little fun with the Geth! This works best with Reaper Upgrades.

57. With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Anderson, Jim Sturgess The Citadel DLC

“What do you see when you turn out the light? I can't tell you, but I know it's mine

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends”

I happen to prefer this version to any other because of how much fun it sounds like they’re having

58. Dark In Here - The Mountain Goats Priority: Earth

“Steal away at sundown, pick a place to hide Check for signs of ambush, hunker down inside Tired of running, tired of never standing still Hear them riding up the hill“

You know I had to get the Goats in here. Would it be a fan playlist if there wasn’t one?

59. Adieu - Yoko Kanno Leaving your Love Interest/Shepard and the Beam

“My love for you burns deep inside me / So strong Embers of times we had And now, here I stand / Lost in a memory I see your face, and smile”

...do I need to say more than that?

60. My Way (Minor Key) - Chase Holfelder The Indoctrination of The Illusive Man

“Regrets, I've had a few/But then again, too few to mention I did what I had to do/I saw it through, without exemption“

This cover takes this song from something I tolerate when I hear it to one of my FAVORITE songs. The frenzied way he sings the “through it all” verse is PEAK Indoctrinated TIM.

61. I’m Alive - Disturbed Refusal

“There will never be a reason why I will surrender to your advice To change myself, I'd rather die/Though they will not understand”

Honestly I didn’t “get” the Refusal ending until I heard this song, then I was like, OH, I SEE IT ALL SO CLEARLY NOW. This is my favorite in-universe Shepard take on the Refusal ending. I always got it from the player’s perspective of being dissatisfied with the options, but this one puts it into the world for me. This is a Shepard who does not trust the Starchild. This is a Shepard that chooses to end things on their own terms rather than submit to their designs.

62. Machine - Regina Spektor Control

“I collect my moments Into a correspondence With a mightier power Who just lacks my perspective And who lacks my organics And who covets my defects “

I used to have Adieu here, actually, because like Refusal, I didn’t used to GET the Control ending. Now, I do, in part thanks to hearing this song. I mean, just go look at the full lyrics. If this song hadn’t been written years before the end of Mass Effect 3, I’d swear it was a fan song for it.

63. Maybe Tomorrow - Yuki Kajiura Destroy

“The moon is gone And the night is still so dark I'm a little bit afraid of tomorrow“

I’m a Destroy Ending person, I won’t lie. Full on “the starchild is a liar and my synthetic friends are FINE” indoctrination theory level destroy ending. But this song is not about that. It’s about the canonical destroy ending, and if you prefer a Shep that survives it, this song’s for you.

This song captures the exhaustion and melancholy of the end of a long journey so well. Shepard is afraid of what comes next, the collateral damage resulting from their actions. But they know that, at least, it’s over now. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

64. Waiting For the End - Linkin Park Synthesis

“ I know what it takes to move on I know how it feels to lie All I wanna do is trade this life for something new Holding on to what I haven't got”

This is one of my favorite songs of all time. The hardest part of ending is starting again. Oof. Gets me every single time. Shepard finding the resolve to sacrifice themself for the hope of something better, of things not going how they planned, ever, of learning to make peace with that and the people who loved them learning to carry on without them? OOF.

65. Shine - Vienna Teng Epilogue

“Shine with all the untold Hold the light given unto you Find the love to unfold In this broken world we choose“

Vienna Teng is a master of capturing life’s softer emotions, and this fits perfectly with the epilogue scene for me. Tell me again about the Shepard.

“Find the love to unfold in this broken world we choose” has to be one of the greatest lines about the human experience ever written.

#mass effect #mass effect legendary edition #no one's gonna listen to this #but i need the world to know it exists #it took me as long as the playlist is to put this together

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