#n7recweek

[queercraftingchonk]

N7 Day 2021 approaches!

Thanks to the Legendary Edition released this past May, many folks--myself included--are new to the fourteen-year-old video game trilogy. I’ve found myself neck-deep in the Mass Effect fandom since the summer and have discovered tons of great fanworks, old and new.

In anticipation of N7 Day, I began thinking about how to spread the love and support to the works I’ve enjoyed; thus was born the idea of a Fic Recommendation Week dedicated to championing the fanmade stories we each appreciate!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE_

Once a day, beginning Monday, November 1st, 2021, make a Tumblr post that provides a link or reblog to a fic you love--particularly a fic you’d be delighted to see get more attention than it currently has!

(Please do not self-promote.) 

Besides relevant fanfiction tags, include #N7RecWeek so all the recommendations can be archived together! 

Feel free to post without regard to any prompts. However, for those who like some direction or inspiration--check out the daily themes below~

[Two options/ideas are provided for each day.]

DAY_01: Favorite One-Shot | Bookmark-worthy Drabbles

DAY_02: Beloved Depiction of your OTP / OT3 / etc. | Fanwork that persuaded you towards appreciating a Rarepair / Raretrio / etc.

DAY_03: A Fic You’ve Read thru More than Once | Fic that is the Paragon of a Favorite Tag / Trope

DAY_04: Fave Ongoing Chaptered Fic | Best Queer Headcanon(s)

DAY_05: Unique AU / Premise | Crackfic that Made You Actually, Honestly, Laugh Aloud

DAY_06: Fave Complete Chaptered Fic | Exemplar of Dialogue / Banter

DAY_07: Any Fic You Love and Want to Share! | The Fic You’d Want While Trapped on a Deserted Planet

WHAT SHOULD THE POST INCLUDE?_

Be sure your #N7RecWeek post at least includes the rating, title, and author of the fanwork, along with a link to wherever the work is hosted, be it a separate Tumblr post, Ao3, FanfictonNet, etc. 

If you’re feeling particularly effusive of a fic you like, feel free to add what it is you love about the story and why you hope others take the time to enjoy the read as well. (And of course, add the event tag, too.)

ARE EXPLICIT / NSFW FICS OKAY?_ Absolutely! Just be doubly sure you are tagging and advertising the rating clearly. If your fave fics have some (or a lot) of smut, share--just be transparent about what spiciness may be in store for the reader~ IS IT OKAY IF I DON’T DO A REC EACH DAY?_ Of course~ This is meant to be a fun activity, sharing fan creations with fellow fans. Do as much or as little as you’d like. WHAT ABOUT COMICS / PODFICS?_ While the main focus is on written works, sharing graphical or auditory fics is perfectly fine. Include any tags to indicate the medium of the work! FINAL NOTES_ If you have any further questions, feel free to send @queercraftingchonk​ an Ask or DM.   I hope others will join in spreading the good words of fanfic authors this November! As a writer, I love to support fellow writers; as a reader, I love to share affecting stories with other fans. <3 P.S. From what I could gather, a Fic Recommendation “Challenge” is not currently bouncing around on Tumblr. Please let me know if I am missing or overlooking something that accomplishes this event’s goal of supporting fanfic authors and increasing visibility of beloved (and perhaps lesser known) works. ...I should go.

[yellingaboutmasseffect]

DAY 01: Favorite One-Shot | Bookmark-worthy Drabbles

This was hard to limit to just one since so I figured why not share a five and why I like them! I am going to continue to share more fics based on @queercraftingchonk‘s fic rec prompts for the rest of the week!

Autumn by @quietonewisp​ - I really adore this fic that explores where Irikah and Thane’s relationship is like right before the assassination attempt on her life. How they both love each other deeply but have fallen into routines and how Irikah surviving wakes them both up. It’s also inspired me to write something of my own so I highly recommend this fic.

A House in an Invictus Jungle by @hanarinhightown - I love how much they think about Sidonis and this is such a good story balancing the tension between Garrus and Sidonis with their prior relationship, their past, wanting to help, and balancing that in the need of the grander scheme of the war.

You’ll be in my heart by @fear-the-fairy - This fic is so wonderful and bittersweet. Based on an ending where Shepard doesn’t survive and Garrus does, it’s a wonderful take that’s different than what you normally see and is a great exploration of grief, acceptance, and moving on.

An Eye for an Eye by @bluerose5 -  This story is a great conversation between Garrus and Thane when Garrus doesn’t take the shot with Sidonis. They talk about revenge and it’s soft and sweet their feelings for each other very clear.

It Seems They Aren’t Even A Food by HushedSong - An Andromeda story where Vetra goes from not seeing the value in using resources bring cats to Andromeda to making it her mission get Sara Ryder a cat.

[queercraftingchonk]

Fic Rec: Sweet Femshep x Samara Fluff on a Snow Planet

Day 2 of #N7RecWeek, I recommend It's a Small World by alivelesbian on Ao3 as a work that got me invested in the rarepair of Female Commander Shepard and Justicar Samara. <3

Rating: G

Summary: “In truth, Shepard knew there would always be a possibility that she would run into Samara on one of their separate, independent missions one day. Though they were in a relationship and met in person as often as their duties allowed it, Shepard was still part of the Alliance, and Samara had made it clear that although the war was over, the galaxy still needed what remained of the justicars to root out injustice. Their work took them to different locations, but if the war had taught Shepard anything it was that sometimes old friends could show up in unexpected places.”

Shepard gets stranded on a largely uninhabited planet. Fortunately, a certain asari justicar just so happens to be in the area.

It's an absolutely delightful one-shot of romantic fluff for Femshep and Samara keeping warm on a remote blizzard planet in a cozy shelter when they happen across one another while on separate missions. Features some fun moments with Garrus and Tali as well, delighted to see their old justicar friend and teasing Shepard good-naturedly about Mako driving~

Excerpt from the one-shot: "Later that evening the couple were basking in the warmth of their cabin, relieved to finally be out of the cold. Samara was sat on the sofa doing some gentle meditation with her biotics while Shepard searched the extranet for a decent app that would project some warm golden lights onto the walls around them for romantic ambience.

Samara watched as Shepard tested a few apps before settling on one she liked the best.

“What do you think?” Shepard asked as she activated the lights for Samara's approval.

Samara powered down her biotic meditation so that she could turn her focus towards evaluating the lights. “I think they look wonderful. Very tranquil. They make me feel at ease.” She smiled.

“Perfect! Not unlike a certain asari I know, then.” Shepard teased, matching Samara's expression.

Samara wasn't one to blush but if she were, Shepard would absolutely notice it right about now. Instead, the asari in question said, “I am certain that fortunate asari must feel the same way about her bondmate. Where did you find an app to create such beautiful lights?”

Shepard pulled herself closer to Samara and held out her omni-tool so that they could both see the screen. “You know, you can find an app for just about anything on the extranet. I was impressed by the amount of different options I had to choose from.”

Samara wasn't incapable with an omni-tool by any means, but Shepard knew the justicar opted to meditate and hone her biotic powers rather than browse the extranet during her free time. Admittedly, she wasn't as up to date on the more casual range of things the extranet had to offer. This was part of the reason Shepard had gotten the idea for the lights; it would be nice to allow Samara to indulge in something pleasant like this for its own sake, something that was not strictly necessary but served to add to the mood and bring joy anyway."

[yellingaboutmasseffect]

Day 5 of N7 Rec Week

DAY 5: Going to do both Unique AU and Crackfic as separate categories since I enjoy a really good au and crackfic respectively.

Unique AU / Premise

As It Was by @acrylicsalts-inspo - I would be remiss to point out this story when I literally asked people to consider Nihlus and Samara had a cat and mouse on a planet in their Nihlus Lives AU. This fic is off to a good start and I can’t wait to see where it goes!

Points of Contact by @buskies - I have really being enjoying this take on a first contact AU where Garrus crashes on Earth near Shepard’s house when she’s on leave after being injured. It’s wonderfully paced and has great interactions between Garrus and Shepard even when they can’t communicate due to lack of translators.

(other men it is believed have seen angels) but I have seen thee and thou art enough- by Kahika - AU where Garrus takes Ashley in after the SR-1 blows up and there is only one bed as they deal with their grief over losing Shepard.

The Other Side by @mordinette -Nihlus pulls a Ghost and haunts Shepard after being murdered by Saren and things get more complicated from there. It’s such a neat premise.

Crackfic that Made You Actually, Honestly, Laugh Aloud

The Thane Krios Experience by pibroch (littleblackdog) - This is a fic where Garrus goes to the only person he trusts who also has lips to learn how to kiss, Thane Krios.

 Shepard is hot support group by mapcake - I have recommended this fic before but it’s one takes the concept of everyone is in love with Shepard and runs with it brilliantly.

[queercraftingchonk]

Fic Rec with Unique AU / Premise: suddenlycomics work Same Song, Different Verse.

An AU where Shepard never joined the Alliance and comes across Spectre Vakarian on her park ranger route in the Yukon!

Summary: When Council Spectre Garrus Vakarian goes to Earth to meet his Quarian informant for his investigation into Saren, things quickly go awry when he’s shot down over the Canadian wilderness. Just as things start to seem like a lost cause, he’s found by a human guide named Shepard. With Shepard’s help, he just might be able to rescue his informant and bring Saren to justice.

Even in a world where Shepard never joined the Alliance and Garrus became a Spectre, paths are still meant to intertwine as the universe hurtles towards the arrival of the Reapers.

FEATURES BOO THE HORSE! 🐎 🐹 🚀

& GARRUS IN A SHAWL! 🤠

A Shakarian / Shali / Talibrations / Shalibrations fic where the crew are meeting each other for the first time.

(And I don't know if necessary, but I figured I should be transparent that I am now lucky to be a beta reader for this fic.)

[yellingaboutmasseffect]

DAY 02: Beloved Depiction of your OTP / OT3 / etc.

Much like yesterday, I want to highlight a few fics today!

someone special, strings attached by RaeDMagdon - This is a fic for Vetra/Sara Ryder/Peebee and it’s just a really lovely story that makes me ache for more poly fic for Andromeda. It’s a story that has has miscommunication and messiness before they get together but it feels very authentic when Peebee is scared of commitments and Vetra has a hard time believing in her worth outside of getting people things.

First Impressions by @bluerose5 This Thane/Shepard/Garrus fic has everything: Castis Vakarian tracking down Garrus in ME2, Thane bonding with fellow dad Castis, awkward dinner, and feelings all around. It’s very good as is their entire Polyamorous Negotiations series

been looking for something but finally found it right here by anonymous Some very good Tali/Shepard/Garrus smut featuring my favorite kind of smut where everyone is very much having a good time and there are feelings.