Notes: So the formatting looks strange if you have the ‘read more’ xkit extension. I have no idea how to fix it. But if you actually go to ‘read more’ the formatting will go back to normal. Sorry about this folks!
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“Okay, so you’re probably tired of me asking,” Liam says, looking down at Ryder. “And I get it, I do. It’s just once I press this button,” he holds out his omni-tool to her. Does she get it? Of course she does, she’s Ryder, she’s one of the smartest people he’s ever known. But does she really get it? “there’s no turning back. You’re recorded. Naked. On my omni-tool. Forever.”
Ryder brings the sheets up over her breasts and covers her mouth. It’s adorable as all hell the way she does that. And is that a hint of a blush? Liam hopes so. He really likes the idea of making her blush. A lot. Probably more than he should, but who cares, right? It’s just the two of them. Naked and in her quarters. More like his quarters, too, with the amount of time he spends here. He wonders if they should talk about that. Maybe it’s time he officially moves in. They’ve been together long enough.
“It’s like you’re trying to talk me out of this,” Ryder says with a laugh. Fuck, he loves making her laugh. One of the best things in the galaxy, really. “Liam, I know the risks. But I trust you. And besides, SAM won’t let anything happen to the recording.”
Liam’s heart does a weird pitter-patter thing when she says the word trust. Almost as great as hearing her say that she loves him. Not quite, though. Almost. “SAM?” Liam asks. Might as well go to the source, yeah? “If anyone hacks our ‘tools?”
It will be in my power to erase any evidence that the recording took place. There will never be any danger of discovery.
“That’s what I like to hear,” Liam says. Good old SAM, always willing to help a mate out. He looks back down at Ryder, who’s tossed the sheet aside, wearing nothing but her birthday suit. Goddamn, she’s beautiful. A soldier like him, and it shows in every muscle. “Alright, so the omni-recorder is ready. You ready?”
A slow smile crosses her face and Liam knows she’s ready. He’s never done this before, recorded himself having sex. Wanted to, definitely. But never found a woman willing to indulge that side of him. Until Ryder. One night, after having probably one too many drinks, they started what he now calls the naughty list. Horrible name, he knows. But they already have a list full of things they want to do and he doesn’t want them getting the two confused. So naughty list it is. And this was at the very top.
“Come here,” she says, almost in a whisper, as she reaches out her hand. That’s all the invitation he needs. Liam lays down on top of her, never getting enough of skin on skin. She’s the most amazing combination of hard muscle and soft skin and his hands just want to touch her everywhere.
They kiss - and it’s fucking good, because kissing Ryder is always good - but he starts to think of the omni-cam watching them.
“Wait,” Liam says, breaking off their kiss as he pushes himself up on his forearms. “Shit, this isn’t working.”
“Seems like it’s working pretty good to me,” Ryder says, propping herself on an elbow.
Her hand’s around his cock now and fuck it takes him a second to remember why he stopped. Long game, Kosta, forget short term gains, Liam thinks to himself. “We’re at the wrong angle,” he says, holding back a moan. It’s really not bloody fair how good she is with her hands. “All we’ll see is my bum.”
“Sounds like my kind of vid,” Ryder says. She gives his cock a slight squeeze and it’s really not fair. How’s he supposed to think under these conditions? “A vid just of your ass? Yes, please.”
“Supposed to be something we both enjoy,” Liam says with a snort. Not that he thinks he has a bad ass, mind you. He works pretty damn hard to have a decent looking ass. But for this? He wants to see them both.
Ryder bites her bottom lip and it’s bloody adorable, like she is, but then before he’s even got a chance to process that thought, she pushes him over onto his back. She swings her leg over his hips, straddling him. Now this, he likes. No kissing, which is a shame, but nothing beats this view. “This more what you thinking of?” she asks, rolling her hips against his.
“Getting closer,” Liam says, sliding his hands up her thighs to settle on her hips.
“Should we do it like the vids?” Ryder asks, laughing, and his hearts stutters because it’s her. But as she’s sliding her hands up her body, Liam stills, because she apparently wants to give him a show and he has absolutely no problem with that. Her fingers tangle in her hair as she starts to moan. “Oh, Liam. Yes, right there. Fuck, oh Liam!”
She’s bouncing up and down and okay, her breasts look good. Really good. But she’s faking so badly that Liam can’t keep himself from laughing. “What? No,” he says, pulling Ryder down on top of him. He tries to kiss her and he thinks she’s trying to kiss him, too. She’s laughing and he’s laughing and they’re both just fucking laughing.
“I love you,” she says when they finally catch their breath and Liam’s heart grows about three sizes.
“I love you, too,” he says, kissing her shoulder. How in the hell did he get so lucky? Even now, Liam still doesn’t understand it, he every day, he’s grateful.
“Here, sit up,” Ryder says, scratching his stomach. It shouldn’t feel that good, but is always does.
Liam leans back against the headboard as Ryder straddles his hips. He can tell exactly what she’s going for and he’s absolutely okay with this development. “Try again?” she asks, raising an eyebrow. “We can cut the stuff in the beginning.”
“Oh no,” Liam says. He kisses her hard as he wraps his arms around her. He wants to be close now, as close as they can be. “We’re absolutely keeping that.”
Cause that, the laughing and mistakes, is exactly the kind of thing he’ll want to see in fifty years when they’re old and grey. Without even trying, they’ve made the perfect sex vid. For them.
18 (Kisses because I missed you), pairing of your choice!
Um, this sort of is the prompt? Kinda? And for you, you get Liam and Calhoun. :D
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He’s really got tostop listening to the comm when Ryder’s on a mission without him.
There they are! Ryderyells as Liam can only clench his fists, wishing it was him watching her six.Been wishing that for the last four hours, really. Take those skkutters out!
You swore! You fucking swore! You never swear! Even withhis girlfriend running head first into a firefight, even Liam can still smileat the amazement in Vetra’s voice.
Swearing in an alien language does not count!
“It counts,” Liamsays under his breath as he starts to pace. “Totally counts.”
Damnit, he shouldbe down there with her. He gets why he’s not. A bit of punishment for some ofthe shit he’s pulled. Totally earned. But it doesn’t change the fact that she’sfighting total assholes right now and he’s not.
He listens to thefight, trying to picture her moves. Ryder is amazing in the field, a freakingtank, bulldozing everything in her way. And the way she holds her assaultrifle-
Son of a bench that hurt! Ryder says, causing Liam to stop pacing. They should have armor cams.They totally need armor cams. Maybe Gil can whip something up, like, right now.Then maybe the worst-case scenario will stop running through his head a milliontimes.
It’s an open commline, so technically he can talk to her, make sure she’s okay. But he knowsher. He does something like that and he’ll keep sitting on the bench a longtime. And he wants to be back in the field, pronto.
Luckily Cora asksthe question Liam wants to hear. Goodshow, Cora.
You okay, Ryder?
Yeah, I’ll be fine. Shields mostly held. Liam? I know you’re listening.Date night’s off. Gonna take me forever to patch my armor tonight.
Just like that,Liam can’t stop smiling. Okay, yeah, it’s not good that she just got hit by akett. At least he thinks it’s a kett. It sounds like they’re fighting kett. Andwhat else is there really to fight on Eos?
But she just toldthe squad about date night.
If Liam could, he’dpay for an ad on the HNS, let the entire cluster know that he and Ryder aretogether. But he’s pretty sure she wouldn’t like that. This is the next bestthing, though. Her, talking casually about them, like it’s no big deal.
Even though it’s areally big deal. One of the biggest deals in his life.
The fight ends, andLiam listens to them decide to head back to a forward station for anextraction. It gives him an idea. Why’s date night got to be called off onaccount of armor, right? Better just to change the date.
“SAM?”
Yes, Liam?
“Where’s Ryder keepher patch kit?”
This is perfect. Hecan have everything ready for her when she gets back on the ship. And he’s beenwanting to change his gun mod for a while, just couldn’t find the time. This?Two birds with one stone. They’ll get better gear. And get to have a bit of a dateat the same time.
The Loadout room. I can provide detailed instructions once you’re there.
“Thanks, mate,”Liam says, leaving his room.
By the time he’sgathered everything, her patch kit, two MREs and two beers for dinner, plusthree choices for a vid after they finish, the cargo bay ramp starts to open.
The Nomad drives inquickly with the ramp starting to close the moment it’s parked. Liam puts hisbounty in his room and then goes to lean against the doorway. Ryder’s helmet isthrown out of the Nomad first, and then she hops out in one fluid motion.
She meets his eyeand walks over to him, even before taking off her weapons. “Figured you’d bewaiting,” she says with a smile. “I’m fine. Really.”
“Don’t I know it?”Liam asks. “You’re always fine.” And he hopes that never changes. Ever. Andwithout thinking, he grabs her hand and pulls her close, kissing her softly onthe lips. But then he makes the mistake of breathing deeply through his noseand starts to cough.
She smell awful.
“You earned that,Costa,” Ryder says, laughing as she pushes him away. “Next time, don’t kiss agal who’s been out in the field before she showers.”
“I’ve kissed youbefore after field work-”
“Yeah, when yousmelled just as bad as I did,” Ryder says as she starts to unlatch herchestpiece. “I drew the short straw, shower wise. I’m gonna grab my patch kitwhile I wait.”
“No need,” Liamsays, feeling a bit proud of himself. “Take a look.”
He grabs her handand they walk into his room. “What’s this?” she asks, looking down at the chestholding her kit and the MREs.
“Date night,” Liamsays, crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t take rejection lightly,Ryder.”
“You did this?” sheasks with a smile, making Liam’s stomach get a bit jumpy. A good sort of jumpy,but jumpy nonetheless. She takes a step closer. “Liam, I could kiss you-“
“Oh no, not untilyou shower,” Liam says, holding up his hands to protect himself. It’s not likehe even cares about the smell; they’ve all smelled like shit once in awhile.Well, except Jaal. He never smells bad. Ever. But it’s part of the game they’replaying right now.
“Well, if you’regonna be that way about it,” Ryder says. “I guess I’ll go get naked in theshower, where I’ll be under warm water, running my hands up and down my body…”
“You put it thatway, can I join you?” Liam asks, perking up. Why didn’t he think of that? Much better date night than his idea.
Ryder makes a showof thinking about her answer before grabbing his hand. Now the jumpiness hasmoved down a bit lower. And he’s definitely okay with that. And definitely okaywith the change of plans.
The basics! Whats their full name, gender, and sexuality? Describe their general appearance and/or include a picture. Is there anything you canon beyond what the game allows?
Skylar Ryder, cisfemale, generally straight. Picture of my gal below! With her, I basically stuck to canon, cause that’s how I roll.
Then there’s Calhoun Ryder, programmed with the most tragic backstory. cisfemale, bisexual. She was engaged at 20, but her fiancee was killed in the geth attack on the Citadel, so she’s not the biggest fan of AIs.
What’s their personality like? How do they feel about being Pathfinder? How do they change, if at all, over the course of the story?
Skylar is very reserved. She’s very unsure of herself and her role as Pathfinder, so she tends to come across as stiff and overprepared. She does gain confidence as the story progresses and by the end, almost feels like she’s earned the title.
Calhoun is much more sure of herself. She believes in her abilities, and in her guns. (She really likes guns, you guys.) Basically being Pathfinder is a mission to her and Calhoun doesn’t fail at missions.
How do they feel about the Remnant? Are they worried? Curious? Simply accepting of what they can do with it?
Skylar’s very curious. She’s an engineer, so like Jaal, she wants to take things apart and figure out how they tick. So she wants to know why she can do what she does.
Calhoun is a different story. She’s a soldier. And she sees the Remnant as an enemy. But that she is able to interface with it is a tactical advantage she likes to have.
Do they ever wish they could just return to the Milky Way? Do they miss anything in particular about their old home? Did they bring anything special with them?
Skylar was done with the Milky Way. After Ellen died, she just wanted to be anywhere else. Her never got along with her dad, she and Scott didn’t have the best relationship, so she was ready for a new start. She brought about a dozen packs of colored pencils and a lot of coloring books. Good ones. Because her favorite thing to do other than Jaal is color.
There are definitely things Calhoun misses, but it’s mostly people, and she knows they’re all dead now. I headcanon that the Ryder family is a military family. So Calhoun brought over a bunch of medals that her family had earned throughout the last couple of centuries.
How do they feel about what they’ve accomplished in Helius? Are they proud? Worried? Do they feel positive about the chances for a cluster-wide unity? If they could change anything that had happened since everyone arrived in the cluster, what would it be and why?
Skylar is sort of amazed at what’s happened. She’s happy, though, especially at the idea of an alliance with the angaran. (People whisper that she’ll give them special preference since her lover is angaran. Those people don’t know her.)
Calhoun just lets it all role off her back. Once she became the Pathfinder, she treated it like a mission and she does not fail her missions. She really doesn’t think she’s done anything that her father wouldn’t have done in her place.
Favorite world they landed on? How do they feel getting to be the first human to step in many of these places?
For Skylar, it’s Aya all the way, simply because that’s the world where she met Jaal and learned about the angarans. (She knows it’s cheesy as hell, but doesn’t care!)
For Calhoun, she loves, loves, loves Elaaden. I headcanon that the Ryders had a bunch of land in Nevada, and there are times Elaaden reminds her of home.
