Serendipity's Teapot

Serendipity writes and drinks tea. Too much tea. She/her - 30s - Writer - Ao3/Ffn: Serendipity001 - Tip with Tea

[serendipitys-teapot]

Loyalty and Limerence

Fandom: Mass Effect

Pairings: Fshep/Garrus, minor Mshep/Tali, other side pairings

Rating: M for violence, mature topics, and a little bit of spiciness

Status: Complete

Summery: Garrus' thoughts and feelings regarding Commander John Shepard were easy to understand and explain: He respected and admired the human Spectre and would follow him into hell in a heartbeat. His feelings regarding his crewmate and friend, Lieutenant Jane Shepard, however, weren't as clear cut. She'd taken up residence in his head and wouldn't leave.

Read it on AO3

[mentoskova]

my shayla

requested by one of my Patreons

[serendipitys-teapot]

Part 1 Complete!

A Dream Within a Dream, Chapter 18

Shepard struggles to accept the ways in which her life will never be the same.

Read it on AO3

I'm still alive! Having a baby sort of throws life into chaos, though. But if a Dream Within a Dream were a movie series, this would be the end of the first movie. Thank you to everyone who made it possible! 💖

Preview:

“Regardless,” he continued with a shake of his head, “I believe that you and your abilities are key to uncovering the Conduit and defeating the Reapers.” The sudden shift in topic left her with whiplash as she sat back, her eyes wide. Her comfort of moments earlier vanished as though it’d never been. “I’m not-” She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry, “I’m not special. Whatever it is I can do now, it doesn’t make me some sort of…” Goddess. “I’m not some sort of ‘chosen one’. I’m just me .” She set her jaw, and she met his gaze with stone. “I’m just Shepard.” “I know. And I won’t ask you to be anything other than that. But we’ve never had this sort of power on our side before. This is a turning point in the war.” His words were gentle but firm, not quite a rebuke, but a reminder of everything they worked for, everything they stood for. A sudden weight settled upon her shoulders, the truth of his words landing hard. “Of course. I’ll do whatever I can to protect the Fleet.” As the words left her mouth, she could feel the gap between her and the others widening, a cold, confusing feeling cradling her aching heart as she swallowed.

[misseffect]

Slipstream - Ch.1

Part of the Flashpoints series: a Mass Effect Shakarian Formula 1 AU

There’s no feeling like getting to know a car all over again and it only takes fifteen laps for the SR1 to fit her body and brain like a glove.

The belts pin her so tightly to the seat that she can feel every gear shift, every kerb, every pitch and yaw of the chassis as she pushes the machine around her to the limits of its brilliance. It’s balanced and responsive, a little high-strung, but if Shepard asks the right questions, it drives like it’s on rails; as innate and unconscious as running.

Read more on AO3

[gammaraydeath]

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗BAD DANCE DOESN'T MATTER ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

[finchmarie]

Another watery themed piece! A commission for @serendipitys-teapot featuring some Shakarian that I'm SO PLEASED with!!!

This is a piece to accompany their Shakarian fic and you can read it here from the beginning or check out the latest chapter that this piece belongs to here!

[serendipitys-teapot]

A Dream Within a Dream, Chapter 15

Shepard begins to see Garrus in a new light. Then the shit hits the fan.

Read it on AO3

Thank you SO much @finchmarie for this lovely artwork for this chapter!! I'm absolutely in love with it and could not be happier!

Preview:

“Garrus, what…?” She trailed off as he began to move in time with the music, stepping to the side and then back, leading her through what she realized was some sort of dance. She looked down at their feet, his sure and confident steps guiding her stumbling ones in a slow pattern back and forth as they began to spin. “Surely you didn’t think combat and engineering were the only skills you could learn in a simulator program?” Garrus asked, his voice amused but his face straight as he watched her closely. The intensity in his blue gaze stabbed through her like a lance, her breath catching in her chest. They spun again, and she felt strands of her hair swirl around her face, sticking in the droplets of seawater on her cheek. They took another step, and he released her waist just long enough to lift a single talon to her cheek, tucking the auburn red strands back behind her ear. His hand returned to its original position, or perhaps an inch lower, sending a shiver down her spine. Shepard swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Thoughts fought to bubble up, but she forced them down as she flailed for something to say instead. “So you decided to take dance lessons, and you chose to learn human style dancing? Why?” The question wavered between them, hovering there. Garrus continued to hold her gaze, but as his silence stretched on, Shepard’s heart began to pound in her ears, strange new possibilities flashing in her mind like fireflies.

[finchmarie]

Another watery themed piece! A commission for @serendipitys-teapot featuring some Shakarian that I'm SO PLEASED with!!!

This is a piece to accompany their Shakarian fic and you can read it here from the beginning or check out the latest chapter that this piece belongs to here!

[serendipitys-teapot]

A Dream Within a Dream, Chapter 15

Shepard begins to see Garrus in a new light. Then the shit hits the fan.

Read it on AO3

Thank you SO much @finchmarie for this lovely artwork for this chapter!! I'm absolutely in love with it and could not be happier!

Preview:

“Garrus, what…?” She trailed off as he began to move in time with the music, stepping to the side and then back, leading her through what she realized was some sort of dance. She looked down at their feet, his sure and confident steps guiding her stumbling ones in a slow pattern back and forth as they began to spin. “Surely you didn’t think combat and engineering were the only skills you could learn in a simulator program?” Garrus asked, his voice amused but his face straight as he watched her closely. The intensity in his blue gaze stabbed through her like a lance, her breath catching in her chest. They spun again, and she felt strands of her hair swirl around her face, sticking in the droplets of seawater on her cheek. They took another step, and he released her waist just long enough to lift a single talon to her cheek, tucking the auburn red strands back behind her ear. His hand returned to its original position, or perhaps an inch lower, sending a shiver down her spine. Shepard swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Thoughts fought to bubble up, but she forced them down as she flailed for something to say instead. “So you decided to take dance lessons, and you chose to learn human style dancing? Why?” The question wavered between them, hovering there. Garrus continued to hold her gaze, but as his silence stretched on, Shepard’s heart began to pound in her ears, strange new possibilities flashing in her mind like fireflies.

[serendipitys-teapot]

Updated! Chapter 10

A Dream Within a Dream, Chapter 10 (One of my favs!)

Shepard learns a painful lesson about why we don't fight Spectres.

Read it on AO3

This chapter has some violence and blood, heads up!

Preview:

Shepard was nearly hyperventilating when the red sparks faded and she found herself standing in the Presidium on a bridge spanning one of the small lakes. Garrus stood nearby, his eyes still clenched shut. “Garrus, I’m done! I don’t want to do this anymore!” She yelled, and he looked up at her with a pained expression. She pulled up her omni-tool, but there was no option to leave the sim. Her eyes darted across the interface as cold sweat broke out across her brow. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, and his eyes looked past her at something on the other side of the bridge. She spun to see Saren once again. This time, he appeared to have been waiting for her. “Hello, Jane.” Shepard gasped as she took a number of steps backward, and he slowly began his approach. Shepard brought her fists up, but her whole body shook. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Taking a breath to steady herself, she forced her eyes to meet Saren’s predatory gaze. “I can do this,” she whispered to herself, and his answering smile never reached his eyes. “Can you, though?” His glowing hand came up again, and her whole body froze as though she’d been locked in a block of ice. She fought against the invisible bonds holding her, and even her lungs seemed to struggle to take in air. Her eyes rolled wildly as Saren approached, a wordless scream on her tongue. He drew his pistol and laid the barrel against the side of her head as tears began trickling down her cheeks. “I win again, Jane,” Saren whispered, and pulled the trigger.

[serendipitys-teapot]

Updated! Chapter 10

A Dream Within a Dream, Chapter 10 (One of my favs!)

Shepard learns a painful lesson about why we don't fight Spectres.

Read it on AO3

This chapter has some violence and blood, heads up!

Preview:

Shepard was nearly hyperventilating when the red sparks faded and she found herself standing in the Presidium on a bridge spanning one of the small lakes. Garrus stood nearby, his eyes still clenched shut. “Garrus, I’m done! I don’t want to do this anymore!” She yelled, and he looked up at her with a pained expression. She pulled up her omni-tool, but there was no option to leave the sim. Her eyes darted across the interface as cold sweat broke out across her brow. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, and his eyes looked past her at something on the other side of the bridge. She spun to see Saren once again. This time, he appeared to have been waiting for her. “Hello, Jane.” Shepard gasped as she took a number of steps backward, and he slowly began his approach. Shepard brought her fists up, but her whole body shook. She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Taking a breath to steady herself, she forced her eyes to meet Saren’s predatory gaze. “I can do this,” she whispered to herself, and his answering smile never reached his eyes. “Can you, though?” His glowing hand came up again, and her whole body froze as though she’d been locked in a block of ice. She fought against the invisible bonds holding her, and even her lungs seemed to struggle to take in air. Her eyes rolled wildly as Saren approached, a wordless scream on her tongue. He drew his pistol and laid the barrel against the side of her head as tears began trickling down her cheeks. “I win again, Jane,” Saren whispered, and pulled the trigger.

[wepepe-draws]

I misa them so much 😚😚😚

[serendipitys-teapot]

A Dream Within a Dream

Read it on AO3 - Completed work, updating weekly

Shepard lives out her life on the Citadel as she struggles to make sense of a warped reality. Her understanding of the nature of the universe is upended by a message from someone named "Archangel" who promises her precious answers, if only she can evade the monster hunting her in the shadows. But how deep does the rabbit hole go?

The Truth can be a dangerous thing.

[serendipitys-teapot]

New! Chapter 8

A Dream Within a Dream, Chapter 8

Shepard goes overboard with her combat training. Garrus decides to test her new knowledge.

Read it on AO3

Also, don't miss the new artwork for this fic!

Preview:

“Yeah. You’re right,” she sighed and dabbed at her bloody lip again before hissing in pain. She didn’t really have that much experience with pain. That was going to need to change. “Here, this will help.” Garrus brought up his omni-tool as he sat forward and turned to her. “Let me just…” He lifted his free hand to her chin, turning it gently to display her injured lip. Leaning closer, he brought his omni-tool up to her face, letting his fingers hover just above the skin. Shepard’s breath caught in her chest as she looked up at him, the orange light illuminating his features in the darkness of the warm night. His eyes were focused on her lip, and he seemed completely unaware of the proximity of their bodies as he leaned just a bit closer.  The pain began to fade as a coolness spread across the cut, and he looked up, his eyes meeting hers as he stiffened. Neither of them moved until finally his omni-tool faded and he pulled away abruptly without saying another word. Shepard brought her fingers up to gingerly probe her injured lip, only to find it almost completely healed. She brushed her fingertips across the spot where the cut had been before pulling them away to look down at the clear gel she’d wiped away. “What…?” “Medi-gel. It’s one of the hacks we’ve developed within the simulators and the Citadel to handle injuries. It can’t solve all problems, but it helps,” Garrus muttered as he looked away, his voice distant and distracted as he looked back up at the stars. “Wow.” Shepard’s hand came back up to rub her lip in awe. “That’s amazing. Thank you.” Without warning, he stood as he turned back toward the beach, and Shepard blinked at his sudden, jerky movement. “I, er… We should head back. It’s almost dinnertime.” 

[serendipitys-teapot]

New! Chapter 8

A Dream Within a Dream, Chapter 8

Shepard goes overboard with her combat training. Garrus decides to test her new knowledge.

Read it on AO3

Also, don't miss the new artwork for this fic!

Preview:

“Yeah. You’re right,” she sighed and dabbed at her bloody lip again before hissing in pain. She didn’t really have that much experience with pain. That was going to need to change. “Here, this will help.” Garrus brought up his omni-tool as he sat forward and turned to her. “Let me just…” He lifted his free hand to her chin, turning it gently to display her injured lip. Leaning closer, he brought his omni-tool up to her face, letting his fingers hover just above the skin. Shepard’s breath caught in her chest as she looked up at him, the orange light illuminating his features in the darkness of the warm night. His eyes were focused on her lip, and he seemed completely unaware of the proximity of their bodies as he leaned just a bit closer.  The pain began to fade as a coolness spread across the cut, and he looked up, his eyes meeting hers as he stiffened. Neither of them moved until finally his omni-tool faded and he pulled away abruptly without saying another word. Shepard brought her fingers up to gingerly probe her injured lip, only to find it almost completely healed. She brushed her fingertips across the spot where the cut had been before pulling them away to look down at the clear gel she’d wiped away. “What…?” “Medi-gel. It’s one of the hacks we’ve developed within the simulators and the Citadel to handle injuries. It can’t solve all problems, but it helps,” Garrus muttered as he looked away, his voice distant and distracted as he looked back up at the stars. “Wow.” Shepard’s hand came back up to rub her lip in awe. “That’s amazing. Thank you.” Without warning, he stood as he turned back toward the beach, and Shepard blinked at his sudden, jerky movement. “I, er… We should head back. It’s almost dinnertime.” 

[al78m]

[milkywayes]

Hi, @klynnvakarian! I'm the dispenser of your holiday cheer this year for @masseffectholidaycheer! I hope you enjoy this festive offering of Meroka Shepard and Garrus, who took the time to get their picture taken just for you ♡

[finchmarie]

A very very fun commission (also my first three person comm!) done for @serendipitys-teapot meant to be a cover for their Matrix-esque Mass Effect AU that you can read here!

Thank you again for commissioning me, what a fabulous way to start the year 🖤🖤💚💚

[serendipitys-teapot]

A Dream Within a Dream, my Mass Effect AU, now has this fantastic work of art curtesy of the wonderful @finchmarie! Thank you so much! 💖💖💖

[al78m]