Mass Effect, 10 recs, Shepard/Garrus
After getting sucked into the Dragon Age fandom, I noticed a lot of authors I was reading were writing and bookmarking Mass Effect fic as well, so I figured, WHY NOT? Back to Youtube for the romance supercuts I go, AO3 here I come! I knew Shepard/Garrus was the most popular ship in the fandom, which was perplexing to me, because...he's an alien. Like, he's really an alien, how does that even work?? But Garrus definitely ended up being my favorite Mass Effect romance and there is some quality fic for this pairing.
Fandom: Mass Effect
Pairing: Female Shepard/Garrus Vakarian, background Ashley Williams/James Vega
Title: turn a little faster
Author: madamebadger
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2104278/chapters/4588440
Rating/Warning(s): E, Warnings for alien sex if that weirds you out (but I mean it's HOT, so) which is also going to apply to basically every rec following
Word Count/WIP?: 18,404/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 96 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: This explains how Garrus learned how to tango in the Citadel DLC. This was super adorable and sexy, with lots of team feeeeeeels.
Title: Variations on a Theme, with Tank and Gunfire
Author: servantofclio
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/505809/chapters/889841
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 36,707/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 97 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Shepard finds herself reliving the last few years over and over again. If you like groundhog day/time loop fics, this is a great example of the trope. This is an incredibly thoughtful treatment and fix-it fic, and also interestingly meta.
Title: Earth Family Shakarian series
Author: quondam
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/series/28914
Rating/Warning(s): rated T-M
Word Count/WIP?: 86,514/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 98 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Shepard and Garrus decide to start a family, but it's harder than they expected. I...cannot count how many times I needed to stop and wail and flail around because OMG FEELINGS. SO MANY FEELINGS. Garrus as a father is lethal to one's ovaries. And it doesn't just focus on the family that Shepard and Garrus are building together, but also on healing old hurts between Garrus and his father. A fantastic series, highly recommended.
Title: Family Affairs series
Author: servantofclio
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/series/21941
Rating/Warning(s): rated T-M
Word Count/WIP?: 34,668/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 99 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: A series in which Shepard meets Garrus' family and then has a wedding. I really enjoy this take on Turian culture and the cultural barriers they have to navigate during the course of their relationship.
Title: And The World Will Be Your Playgound
Author: AceQueenKing & buhnebeest
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/4100716
Rating/Warning(s): T
Word Count/WIP?: 5078/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 100 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: In this story, Garrus finds out Shepard has been spending a lot of time at the maternity ward in the hospital. He jumps to conclusions. This was adooooooorable, and the art that accompanies it is EVEN MORE adorable! And the combination of Garrus + paternal feelings proves just as lethal as ever.
Title: Jaws That Bite, Claws That Catch
Author: Fistful_of_Gamma_Rays
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/852149/chapters/1629617
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 22,916/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 101 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: A series of vignettes which covers Shepard and Garrus' relationship from their first meeting to the end of the games. If you're new to the pairing and the games, this is actually a great introduction to their story.
Title: To Seize the Moment
Author: AceQueenKing
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2457233/chapters/5447141
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 28,212/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 102 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Due to a cultural miscommunication, Garrus and Shepard end up accidentally proposing to one another. And then once they realize the misunderstanding, they decide to go ahead and get married anyway. This was super cute.
Title: Future Perfect
Author: Ballades
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/3066161/chapters/6653756
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 4907/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 103 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Shepard and Garrus have decided to retire. Their friend Urdnot Wrex then sends them a Krogan baby to raise. This was adorable! Ughhhhhhh daddy!Garrus. I can't. And then there's a smutty coda which is delicious.
Title: Strictly Casual
Author: servantofclio
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1412329/chapters/2965300
Rating/Warning(s): Not rated
Word Count/WIP?: 7451/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 104 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: During a girl's night, Shepard drunkenly lets slip about Garrus' prowess in bed. But what they have is TOTALLY casual. Totally. And then the other women start coming on to Garrus and Shepard's realizing maybe this is less casual than she thought. This was HILARIOUS.
Title: Wreckage and Recovery
Author: Evidence
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/724699
Rating/Warning(s): E
Word Count/WIP?: 31,550/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 105 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: An alternate ending to the series, which is a lot happier than the canonical ending. I adore this--this is the ending I wanted for these two.
Fandom: Mass Effect
Pairing: Female Shepard/Garrus Vakarian, background Ashley Williams/James Vega
Title: turn a little faster
Author: madamebadger
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2104278/chapters/4588440
Rating/Warning(s): E, Warnings for alien sex if that weirds you out (but I mean it's HOT, so) which is also going to apply to basically every rec following
Word Count/WIP?: 18,404/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 96 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: This explains how Garrus learned how to tango in the Citadel DLC. This was super adorable and sexy, with lots of team feeeeeeels.
Title: Variations on a Theme, with Tank and Gunfire
Author: servantofclio
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/505809/chapters/889841
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 36,707/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 97 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Shepard finds herself reliving the last few years over and over again. If you like groundhog day/time loop fics, this is a great example of the trope. This is an incredibly thoughtful treatment and fix-it fic, and also interestingly meta.
Title: Earth Family Shakarian series
Author: quondam
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/series/28914
Rating/Warning(s): rated T-M
Word Count/WIP?: 86,514/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 98 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Shepard and Garrus decide to start a family, but it's harder than they expected. I...cannot count how many times I needed to stop and wail and flail around because OMG FEELINGS. SO MANY FEELINGS. Garrus as a father is lethal to one's ovaries. And it doesn't just focus on the family that Shepard and Garrus are building together, but also on healing old hurts between Garrus and his father. A fantastic series, highly recommended.
Title: Family Affairs series
Author: servantofclio
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/series/21941
Rating/Warning(s): rated T-M
Word Count/WIP?: 34,668/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 99 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: A series in which Shepard meets Garrus' family and then has a wedding. I really enjoy this take on Turian culture and the cultural barriers they have to navigate during the course of their relationship.
Title: And The World Will Be Your Playgound
Author: AceQueenKing & buhnebeest
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/4100716
Rating/Warning(s): T
Word Count/WIP?: 5078/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 100 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: In this story, Garrus finds out Shepard has been spending a lot of time at the maternity ward in the hospital. He jumps to conclusions. This was adooooooorable, and the art that accompanies it is EVEN MORE adorable! And the combination of Garrus + paternal feelings proves just as lethal as ever.
Title: Jaws That Bite, Claws That Catch
Author: Fistful_of_Gamma_Rays
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/852149/chapters/1629617
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 22,916/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 101 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: A series of vignettes which covers Shepard and Garrus' relationship from their first meeting to the end of the games. If you're new to the pairing and the games, this is actually a great introduction to their story.
Title: To Seize the Moment
Author: AceQueenKing
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2457233/chapters/5447141
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 28,212/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 102 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Due to a cultural miscommunication, Garrus and Shepard end up accidentally proposing to one another. And then once they realize the misunderstanding, they decide to go ahead and get married anyway. This was super cute.
Title: Future Perfect
Author: Ballades
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/3066161/chapters/6653756
Rating/Warning(s): M
Word Count/WIP?: 4907/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 103 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: Shepard and Garrus have decided to retire. Their friend Urdnot Wrex then sends them a Krogan baby to raise. This was adorable! Ughhhhhhh daddy!Garrus. I can't. And then there's a smutty coda which is delicious.
Title: Strictly Casual
Author: servantofclio
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1412329/chapters/2965300
Rating/Warning(s): Not rated
Word Count/WIP?: 7451/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 104 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: During a girl's night, Shepard drunkenly lets slip about Garrus' prowess in bed. But what they have is TOTALLY casual. Totally. And then the other women start coming on to Garrus and Shepard's realizing maybe this is less casual than she thought. This was HILARIOUS.
Title: Wreckage and Recovery
Author: Evidence
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/724699
Rating/Warning(s): E
Word Count/WIP?: 31,550/No
Recced on LiveJournal By: super_tricie341 (LJ) | blackestglass (tumblr)
Special Rec: 105 of ?
Why This Must Be Read: An alternate ending to the series, which is a lot happier than the canonical ending. I adore this--this is the ending I wanted for these two.