Writing isn’t really my jam, but it was important to me to do something for Mass Effect Trilogy Week.
I’m another player who never had an interest in Mass Effect until very recently.
My love for western RPGs started in 2002 when I begged my parents for an Xbox so I could play Knights of the Old Republic. I went on to love and obsess over KOTOR II and every Dragon Age game upon release. But there was something about Mass Effect that turned me off. I hated the shooter combat. When the second game came out I hated the idea of continuing with one protagonist. My stubbornness held strong.
When ME3 came out I watched my boyfriend at the time play through it and considered that “good enough”. I took delight in watching him melt down over the lackluster endings.
Fast forward to 2021 when my current partner picked up the Legendary Edition, having loved and played through the game a couple of times already in his youth. I paid more attention this time and engaged more with his interest in the lore. I considered that “good enough”.
Late last year he decided to play again, but wanted to mix this play through up a bit. I suggested he save that Kaidan Alenko fella this time around, a character I never had a chance to get to know while watching my guys play. He hated that suggestion, and huffed and puffed every time Kaidan popped up on the screen. What’s so terrible about Kaidan??
I decided to finally start my own game.
Oh boy.
Suffice it to say I got sucked in hard.
Because of Kaidan. lmao
With Shenko as my main motivator, I lived and breathed Mass Effect. Honestly, I can’t really articulate why. Maybe I’m just a sucker for simple, honest relationships that aren’t perfect. Or perhaps it’s the fact that here, finally, is a video game love interest that has his shit together and doesn’t need me to fix him. You can’t disagree that he’s also just really fucking hot.
I still haven’t filled the hole it left since beating it in January. But Tumblr was there for me and my obsession.
And I’m so fucking thankful because I’ve made some sweet buddies on here, folks who are so brilliant and talented, I’m just happy to support them from the sidelines. I was ready to give up on this blog because it seemed like I couldn’t connect with anyone. But the Mass Effect fandom didn’t let me down. It accepted me even when I don’t have any pretty or cool OC to post.
It’s also because of Tumblr (along with a cascading series of coincidences that still blow our minds) that I met my hetero life mate for life, my other half, my bestie, the endlessly talented @wardencommandershepard who completes me. And at the end of the day it’s because of Mass Effect. And filthy, delicious Shenko smut, but that’s not the point of this post.
