Vakarian without Shepard

[katznhund]

Title: Vakarian without Shepard
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1451
Characters: Garrus
Pairings: Previous FemShep/Garrus
Summary: Six glimpses into Garrus' life after the Reaper War and the effect his relationship with Shepard has on it.
Spoilers: This is based on an alt ending where[Spoiler (click to open)]the kid never shows up, the Crucible fires, Shepard dies, and the Reapers are

Comments

[kitsunebaba]

Holy shit I was completely fine until that last part and now I'm on the edge of tears. Curse you and your awesome emotional writing.

[katznhund]

Um...you're welcome.

Seriously though, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I was afraid the last part might be the weakest one. And thanks for calling my writing 'awesome'. Totally made my day. :)

[tehjai]

This is wonderful, and touching, and oh lord that last bit.

I do enjoy reading stuff that cuts me to the core, and this was no exception.

[katznhund]

Another person who liked the last bit. And to think I almost didn't put it in. Glad you enjoyed it.

[xanify]

omg Garrus :((

[katznhund]

Admittedly I do feel like I was really mean to Garrus for writing this. But at the same time I don't think anyone would ever compare to Shepard for him. There would always be a third person in any relationship so he just goes on as best he can.

Gah, now I feel like I should give him a big hug.

[arysani]

A bit verklempt here, just sayin'. I held it together til the last part.

This was really beautiful. OH GARRUS ;_;

[katznhund]

I think Garrus needs a great big hug now, I was mean to him.

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it, even it if it did make you a little verklempt.

Discuss amongst yourselves. Here I'll give you a topic: The peanut is neither a pea nor a nut. Discuss.

Edited because walking and typing is hard...

[arysani]

<3333 Rhode Island is neither a road, nor an island. Discuss.

I don't think you were mean to him at all, actually. All my "oh GARRUS" feels were because he is, canonically, a character of extremes, and the extreme that he would not move on even if his life lasted another fifty years is one that, frankly, makes sense. The idea that he's had so many adventures that he wants something that's easier (like the Primacy - I'm so glad that his reluctance to discuss how far down the list he actually was pinged with other people) really works for him. That he's a workaholic who throws himself entirely into something is perfectly sensible as well, so the idea that he doesn't think about it often (deeply, as opposed to something that's become habit like toasting her) as he gets older, but when he does, it's overwhelming, just hit all the right notes.

[katznhund]

I imagined at first the grief is really hard then he starts to move on with his life and struggles with where his feelings for her fit in. Eventually she is just a part of him, sort of in the background as a subconscious guiding force, and in the end he has the freedom and wisdom to enjoy the rest of his life with his memories of her.

I also think after the war he is even higher up the list for Primarch after all the losses in battle. He helps rebuild because that's what she would have done. In my head canon where she lives he says no to the Primacy because he's had enough of politics and is busy enjoying some place remote and tropical with Shepard. ^_^

[jadealiya]

Catching up on fandom since I just got back from somewhere nice and tropical ^_^

Lovely. I adore the idea that he soldiers on and does awesome things, but still loves her. (and again, bonus points for WPA lyrics at the get go, lol.)

[katznhund]

Oh, someplace tropical sounds lovely. Glad you enjoyed it.

And what can I say. I'm a Glen fan. I do wish some of the tour stops would be anywhere near me. I'd really like to go see him in concert again be it solo, Toad, or WPA.

[jadealiya]

I <3 Glen Phillips. By far my favorite song writer. (I'm also very spoiled that he and his various groups often come through the Baltimore/DC area).

Its always nice to meet another fan (who is also into mass effect! and writes quality fanfic for my favorite pairing!)

[jadealiya]

And also, this is one of my favorite songs for Garrus/Shepard: http://remotetreechildren.bandcamp.com/track/blood-pressurize-2