Month: September 2017

Never be afraid to ask me anything, @wafflesrock16 !  Or anyone else, for that matter.  I absolutely love answering asks or messages of any kind.

So here we go:

FanFic Asks:

30.  What inspires you to write?

To write is a way to get my ideas out, of which I have many.  It’s like watching movies in my head, so I like to get them out onto paper, so to speak, and see what others think.  And, as bad as it sounds, readers help me to keep inspired and updating work instead of just letting the stories play in my mind.  That’s why I love talking to my readers about anything they want to know.  

45.  What is your all time favorite fanfic?

Hm… Tough one as there’s so many I love.  I think I’m going to go with what fanfic has stuck with me since reading it the first time, and that is Through An AI, Darkly by strangegibbon.  It just stuck with me, the way each character has their own hell, so to speak, and the excellent open ended ending really makes you think.  Plus, the decisions Shepard has to deal with and their consequences are something that shows the truth of life – you can’t save everyone and there is not always a happy ending.

OC Asks: (My list is jumbling letters, so if these are the wrong asks, let me know!)

18.  What is their favorite number?

I don’t think Arcanus would really have one, to be honest.  He’d see the idea of favorite numbers as confusing.  ‘What’s the point of having one number be more important?’ he’d ask, but Ellie is old school.  She likes lucky number seven.  Not that she wants to rely on luck in her work, but she can’t deny the idea of a number having some sort of power over the others.

25.  What is their preferred mode of transportation? 

I’m going to consider that these are not pertaining to space travel because, let’s face it, those answers are all the same.  For Arcanus, he would much rather prefer to walk if it’s a short distance and, if he has to, then the most comfortable. luxurious ride, especially when he once lived on the Citadel.  On Virmire, everything is so close that he just walks, enjoying the sun and sand while being able to overlook everything.

For Ellie, she likes to do anything that reveals the less about her.  She walks on Virmire, much like Arcanus, but she has a tendency not to make herself obvious out in the public eye like he does.  Old habits die hard, after all, and she’s all about blending in.  When she’s off Virmire, it’s unassuming vehicles to get around.

Fibonacci Garrus

20.  Why do they get up in the morning?

Boy, this guy is a trip to write.  Why does he get up?  Because he has no damn choice.  Staying in bed would either get him killed or make him miss out on any sort of outlet for his anger and pain through violence.  The chance to beat something or kill it is what makes him get up because, then, the hollow feeling within him seemed to be full for the time being.  

22.  How does envy manifest itself in them (they take what they want, they become resentful, etc)?

This answer depends on what he’s envious about.  If it’s a person, then he is more withdrawn and short with them.  He will often limit any conversation or interaction with them, withdrawing to resent them from afar.  If it’s a thing, then he usually just takes it.  However, with the tenuous relationship with Jon (and some of the Normandy garrison), he is less likely to move towards violence for what he wants and, instead, acts much like he does with someone he’s envious of.  He thinks that distancing from something he wants will give him the chance to see that whatever or whoever it is really isn’t as interesting as he thought and why the hell would he still want it now?  It doesn’t always work.

Questions for Me:

B.  What inspired you to create them? 

Arcanus was meant to be someone the Vakarains could look to that actually had connections to get what they wants.  Liara was there, sure, but having more than one person on your side is always better.  Plus, at the time of calling on him, they didn’t have Liara as the Broker, so he was the best way to get info for Zaeed on Vido.  And he contacted them because he saw they were powerful to have as allies and, through his friendship with Saren, had a bit of a suspicion that Sovereign was something more than the Council wanted to let everyone in on. 

Ellie was meant to be a sort of ‘what if’ for Jane.  She is what happens when someone puts work before themselves.  She almost lost the love of her life forever.  Even as it is, she wasted so much of her life working for nothing but credits in the end.  She was meant to be the warning for Jane, and, lastly, a lover for Arcanus because that old fart needed someone.

Now, for Fibonacci Garrus.  Throughout Fibonacci, I will change up character personalities and/or backgrounds.  The idea started with the ‘what if there was another reality, one Shakarian and one Shali?  (I don’t know the Shepard/Tali ship name)  After that, I blame my playing of Witcher at the time for making it a medieval setting.  Still, I wanted something different from the games because it would just be another retelling and I already did that in Parable.  So what could I do?  Well, I could switch around characters.  Silly as it sounds, the idea to make a subject zero Garrus came from the question of if turian colony paints spread throughout the body.  I mean, Mass Effect has piercings for them already, and tattoos for other species, so couldn’t that be a thing?  Plus, I think it’s pretty hot interesting.

shepard-headcanons:

I’ve thrown together the questions from my past questionnaires. Just reblog it and let your followers ask questions about your Shepard.

1. What’s their favorite color?
2. Their favorite food?
3. Their favorite drink?
4. Their sexuality?
5. Their middle name? (if they have a middle name)
6. Their class?
7. Their MBTI type?
8. Their morality alignment?
9. Their Hogwarts house?
10. Favourite season? (spring, summer, autumn, winter)
11. Favourite weather?
12. Favourite music genre?
13. Are they a sun or moon person?
14. Are they a coffee or tea person? (or both?)
15. Do they prefer reading books or watching movies/tv shows?
16. What do they do during shore leave or their free time?
17. What kind of clothes do they usually wear off-duty? (sporty, elegant or specific clothes like sweatpants, jeans etc)
18. Do
    they have a nickname? (a nickname given by one person counts)
19. Do they have a morning routine or is it just complaining and groaning while trying to wake up?
20. Do they have parents/are their parents still alive? (You can write their parents’ names if you want)
21. Do/did they have siblings?
22. Are they left or right-handed or maybe even ambidextrous?
23. Do they have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?
24. As a child, did they have any dreams or a dream job?
25. What was their childhood like?
26. Did they have any friends?
27. Was there a person in their life that changed their view on life/the world?
28. When did they decide to join the Alliance? Was there a breaking point in their life that made them to become a soldier?
29. Is there something they’d change about their past?
30. When was their first kiss?
31. Were they confused about their sexuality at some point in their life?
32. Do
    they prefer one-night stands or serious relationships? Alternative: Did
    they use to have one-night stands until they met ‘The One’?
33. Do they openly talk about their relationship/gush about their partner or rather keep it private?
34. Are they optimistic or pessimistic?
35. Do they have any mental illnesses and if yes, do they visit a therapist or talk to someone about it?
36. Do they have any coping mechanisms?
37. When was their first kill?
38. Under what circumstances do they find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable?
39. What is their greatest fear?
40. Who is their LI and what do they love about them?

♔ : Finding the other wearing their clothes
♕: Holding hands
♖: Having their hair washed by the other
♗: One falling asleep with their head in the other’s lap.
♘: Cuddling in a blanket fort
♙: Sharing a bed
♚: Head scratches
♛: Sharing a dessert
♜: Shoulder rubs
♝: Reading a book together
♞: Caring for each other while ill
♟: Patching up a wound
♤: Taking a bath together
♧: One character playing with the other’s hair
♡: Accidentally falling asleep together
♢: Forehead or cheek kisses
♠: One character adjusting the other’s jewelry/neck tie/ etc.
♣: Back scratches
♥: Reacting to the other one crying about something
♦: Slow dancing

Fanfiction Questions

Fandom Questions

7.  List your NoTPs from each fandom you’ve been in.

Hm… NoTP…  Well, not to sound like I’m just jealous, but I can’t stand the Talibrations set up we have in the games.  Now, I’m not talking about fanfics if they change that dynamic between Tali and Garrus (which would probably end up changing one of the characters and taking them in OOC territory).  Now, while I’m a Shakarian shipper, the distaste for Talibrations doesn’t come from that.  It’s more a distaste for how Bioware develops the relationship.

For starters, the games build a sort of friendship that feels more like a big brother and younger sister than actual lovers.  It has nothing to do with their ages, either, but in the way they talk to each other.  Their teasing, while a bit towards that idea of siblings, isn’t the only reason I don’t really like the pairing because, let’s face it, Garrus teases a lot of people throughout the games.  It’s just who he is.  It’s more about the tone they use between each other.  Garrus teases Tali and, instead of teasing back like Shepard, Tali gets flustered.  That’s a sort of thing I’d see in a sibling relationship.

Now, the second point:  They just don’t share the same goals.  Sure, they both want to protect their people, but think about what will happen once the war is over.  Tali is sure to go back to her people and move to build a home on Rannoch.  It’s been not only her dream, but her entire people’s.  Her people will always come first, while Garrus is the kind of person to find a way to help his people, but put his own happiness first.  Especially after the war.  In his eyes, he’s done his job protecting his people and is ready to step back, as hinted at by the ‘someone who needs to hold a hammer’ statement and, if you consider it, the mention of retirement with the Shakarian romance.  Sure, he probably won’t retire because he’s not one to settle on something, but I don’t see him moving to Rannoch to build homes or deal with off-Palaven politics.  He’s bound to be active in the galaxy, and I don’t see Tali having the same thoughts.

Author Questions

23.  Name a fic you’ve written that you’re especially fond of and explain why you like it.

I think I’m going to cheat and give two answers.  Now, I’m not cheating too much as one is a, so-far, unveiled original work and the other is a public fanfic.

My original (that does not yet have a name) is my favorite because it uses a theme that is so different from my fanfic writing, but also one that I, myself, read.  It’s more a psychological thriller that delves into the fear and darker history the MC tries to keep hidden.  A good example for the feel would be Jane’s nightmares in Parable from Resurgence and on.

My favorite fanfic?  Can I say the whole series?  No?  Well, no cheating on that, then.  Well, Juxtaposed has a place in my heart mainly because it started it all, but if I want to look at the overall collection of works, I’d say Nevermore is my favorite.  I feel like it got the ideas of just what Garrus had to go through during the two years without Jane because I wanted it that time to be known for the complete hopeless, dark and gritty time for him that it was.  Plus, who doesn’t love some Edgar Allen Poe?  

Thanks for the ask!  😀

cassandrapentayaaaaas:

Send me a # (questions for OCs) or a letter (questions for creators) and I’ll answer

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR OCs

1. What’s the maximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do?
2. How easy is it for your character to laugh?
3. How do they put themselves to bed at night (reading, singing, thinking?)
4. How easy is it to earn their trust?
5. How easy is it to earn their mistrust?
6. Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable?
7. What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling?
8. What were they told to stop/start doing most often as a child
9. Do they swear? Do they remember their first swear word?
10. What lie do they most frequently remember telling? Does it haunt them?
11. How do they cope with confusion (seek clarification, pretend they understand, etc)?
12. How do they deal with an itch found in a place they can’t quite reach?
13. What color do they think they look best in? Do they actually look best in that color?
14. What animal do they fear most?
15. How do they speak? Is what they say usually thought of on the spot, or do they rehearse it in their mind first?
16. What makes their stomach turn?
17. Are they easily embarrassed?
18. What embarrasses them?
19. What is their favorite number?
20. If they were asked to explain the difference between romantic and platonic or familial love, how would they do so?
21. Why do they get up in the morning? 
22. How does jealousy manifest itself in them (they become possessive, they become aloof, etc)? 
23. How does envy manifest itself in them (they take what they want, they become resentful, etc)? 
24.  Is sex something that they’re comfortable speaking about? To whom? 
25.  What are their thoughts on marriage? 
26.  What is their preferred mode of transportation? 
27.  What causes them to feel dread? 
28.  Would they prefer a lie over an unpleasant truth? 
29.  Do they usually live up to their own ideals? 
30.  Who do they most regret meeting? 
31.  Who are they the most glad to have met? 
32.  Do they have a go-to story in conversation? Or a joke? 
33.  Could they be considered lazy? 
34.  How hard is it for them to shake a sense of guilt? 
35.  How do they treat the things their friends come to them excited about? Are they supportive? 
36. Do they actively seek romance, or do they wait for it to fall into their lap? 
37. Do they have a system for remembering names, long lists of numbers, things that need to go in a certain order (like anagrams, putting things to melodies, etc)? 
38. What memory do they revisit the most often? 
39. How easy is it for them to ignore flaws in other people? 
40. How sensitive are they to their own flaws?
41. How do they feel about children? 
42. How badly do they want to reach their end goal? 
43. If someone asked them to explain their sexuality, how would they do so? 

QUESTIONS FOR CREATORS

A) Why are you excited about this character?
B) What inspired you to create them?
C) Did you have trouble figuring out where they fit in their own story?
D) Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look?
E) Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you?
F) What do you feel when you think of your OC (pride, excitement, frustration, etc)?
G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most?
H) What trait do you admire most?
I) Do you prefer to keep them in their canon universe?
J) Did you have to manipulate or exclude canon factors to allow them to create their character?

5.  On an average day, what can be found in your character’s pockets? (Garrus)

Heh.  I don’t think he’d carry too much in his civilian clothes – maybe something pertaining to that day that someone gives him or a credit chit, but that’s about it.  Now, for his armor?  He can’t seem to carry enough and needs tons of pouches.  He carries his chit – of course – but with that comes protein bars for Jane because she refuses to buy the ones she actually likes, ammo, tools to work on his visor and weapon – and now arm or Jane’s legs, grenades of all kinds, and his ring, but that’s usually around his neck or on his finger when he’s on missions.  

24.  How quick is your character to trust someone else?  (Ellie)

Hm.  This is a good one to ask!  Ellie has various takes on ‘trust’.  When she’s taking on a persona, she seems to vary her ability to trust on the persona’s individual personality.  Usually, her personas learn to trust quite easily because it usually leads to evidence or a way to get what she needs.  However, true trust comes much slower to her.  In fact, the trust with Arcanus took first sacrifices from each other.  She kept his secrets quiet and, gradually, his show of trust (as much as could be between a turian and human during the First Contact War) lead to her opening up.  You wouldn’t be able to tell after their history how she cared for him, though, after stealing turian data and leaving him to take the fall.  Eventually, when she regained Arcanus’ trust on the Normandy, she gave Jane and Garrus a chance to gain her own trust quicker than usual because she both saw herself in Jane and wanted to help her not make the same mistakes in life and she saw how much Arcanus trusted them, eventually following suit.

35.  How does your character behave around people they like?  (Arcanus)

Arcanus is normally focused all on work.  He didn’t really have friends between Saren and the Vakarians, so he had to learn how to get over that solitude and primary focus on work.  Now that he has learned how to be free again, so to speak, he tries to put forth the effort to put work aside for moments of enjoyment with friends.  For example, he will join in on parties, though he is not one to get drunk, under any circumstances, and, when invited, he won’t make excuses not to join in on get togethers.  Despite his outside appearances, he wants that connection to people he cares for and often comes across as more loyal than expected because friends are so few and far between for him thanks to his life choices.

44.  How easy or difficult is it for your character to say “I love you”?  Can they say it without meaning it?  (Arcanus)

Arcanus likes to think that actions speak more than words.  In fact, turians don’t really see the ‘I love you’ saying as something to have in a relationship.  In fact, Garrus learned it for Jane and the twins know it because of their parents.  However, the signs of ‘I love you’ come easily to Arcanus around Ellie, but he sees it as a private moment between them.  That’s probably due to his constant working habit, but he does try to use human ways to show love along with turian.  As for lying, no.  He doesn’t have reason to lie and sees it beneath him to lie about one’s feelings, but he does understand if someone has to do it for espionage, etc, and once thought the care between himself and Ellie was such.  Good thing her opening up and show of the truth and trust made him see otherwise.

i-see-light:

1. Does your character have siblings or family members in their age group? Which one are they closest with?
2. What is/was your character’s relationship with their mother like?
3. What is/was your character’s relationship with their father like?
4. Has your character ever witnessed something that fundamentally changed them? If so, does anyone else know?
5. On an average day, what can be found in your character’s pockets?
6. Does your character have recurring themes in their dreams?
7. Does your character have recurring themes in their nightmares?
8. Has your character ever fired a gun? If so, what was their first target?
9. Is your character’s current socioeconomic status different than it was when they were growing up?
10. Does your character feel more comfortable with more clothing, or with less clothing?
11. In what situation was your character the most afraid they’ve ever been?
12. In what situation was your character the most calm they’ve ever been?
13. Is your character bothered by the sight of blood? If so, in what way?
14. Does your character remember names or faces easier?
15. Is your character preoccupied with money or material possession? Why or why not?
16. Which does your character idealize most: happiness or success?
17. What was your character’s favorite toy as a child?
18. Is your character more likely to admire wisdom, or ambition in others?
19. What is your character’s biggest relationship flaw? Has this flaw destroyed relationships for them before?
20. In what ways does your character compare themselves to others? Do they do this for the sake of self-validation, or self-criticism?
21. If something tragic or negative happens to your character, do they believe they may have caused or deserved it, or are they quick to blame others?
22. What does your character like in other people?
23. What does your character dislike in other people?
24. How quick is your character to trust someone else?
25. How quick is your character to suspect someone else? Does this change if they are close with that person?
26. How does your character behave around children?
27. How does your character normally deal with confrontation?
28. How quick or slow is your character to resort to physical violence in a confrontation?
29. What did your character dream of being or doing as a child? Did that dream come true?
30. What does your character find repulsive or disgusting?
31. Describe a scenario in which your character feels most comfortable.
32. Describe a scenario in which your character feels most uncomfortable.
33. In the face of criticism, is your character defensive, self-deprecating, or willing to improve?
34. Is your character more likely to keep trying a solution/method that didn’t work the first time, or immediately move on to a different solution/method?
35. How does your character behave around people they like?
36. How does your character behave around people they dislike?
37. Is your character more concerned with defending their honor, or protecting their status?
38. Is your character more likely to remove a problem/threat, or remove themselves from a problem/threat?
39. Has your character ever been bitten by an animal? How were they affected (or unaffected)?
40. How does your character treat people in service jobs?
41. Does your character feel that they deserve to have what they want, whether it be material or abstract, or do they feel they must earn it first?
42. Has your character ever had a parental figure who was not related to them?
43. Has your character ever had a dependent figure who was not related to them?
44. How easy or difficult is it for your character to say “I love you?” Can they say it without meaning it?
45. What does your character believe will happen to them after they die? Does this belief scare them?

masseffectwritercircle:

Comment or reblog to let us know if you’ll be participating this week!  Eve if it is just a maybe!

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Me, me! 😀