#ryan coats

[keriweird]

This was such a fun painting to do for the ever wonderful @theoriginalladya of her Caleb Shepard and his Ryan Coats (his rival to friend) for her fic Young and Proud as they go through sniper training.

Thanks so much for commissioning me! 💖🫂 I had a blast drawing your lads.

Give the fic a read here!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[theoriginalladya]

The Extra Mile

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Summary:

Norman has it's fair share of tourists every year, but rarely do people move to the town to stay.

And yet, this year, there's a new tall, dark, handsome stranger every month.

Relationships: Kaidan Alenko/Male Shepard, Coats & Male Shepard, Coats/Abby Williams

Characters: Male Shepard, Kaidan Alenko, Tadhg Shepard (O'Connell - OC), Niamh Shepard (O'Connell - OC), Caleb Shepard (O'Connell - OC), Jacob Taylor, Illusive Man | Jack Harper, Kelly Chambers, Rahna, Harbinger, Samantha Traynor, Urdnot Bakara | Eve, Barla Von, EDI, Tali'Zorah nar Rayya, Conrad Verner, Sarah Williams, Ashley Williams, Abby Williams, Coats, Alec O'Connell (OC), Iain O'Connell (OC), James Vega

Tags: Mass Effect, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Hallmark AU, Established Relationship, Pre-Relationship, Comedy of Errors, New In Town, Meddling Kids, Milkshakes, Sibling Bonding

Excerpt:

Pursing her lips, Ash speared a noodle and held it out to her sister.  A peace offering, even if there hadn’t been a fight.  “Hey, chin up, buttercup.”  As hoped, Abby frowned at the old nickname.  “You never know - maybe…things are starting to change.  Maybe this new friend of Caleb’s will be tall, dark, and handsome, too.”

“He’s got a heck of a track record.  The pair of men who followed him to town are smartass redheads,” Abby reminded her.

“True,” Ash conceded, “but this is our fantasy.”  Watching Abby stick to her rule about carbs at lunch, Ash popped the noodle into her own mouth.  “So, what do we think Caleb’s friend looks like?”

Abby considered the question, the lines in her forehead smoothing out.  “You know…I don’t need him to be tall.  Taller than me, but who wants to stand on a box to kiss their man?  Wouldn’t mind broad, though.”  She grinned at the image.  “I like a man with shoulders.”

Ash chuckled, but said nothing.

“And…short hair, I think.”  Propping her chin on one fist, Abby shifted her gaze to the maybe-real flowers as she sketched out her maybe-real man.  “That military style is pretty sexy.”  She flicked a glance at Ash.  “I’m going with decent moral standing and base intelligence as a given.”

“You don’t want to date Kevin?” Ash asked, reaching for her own iced tea.

“Service to your country is attractive,” Abby replied.  “Community service because you’re a dumbass is not.”  A pause.  “Dark hair, to go with his eyes.  ‘Eyes like the sea after a storm.’”

Ash’s lips twitched.  “And does your Dread Pirate Roberts have a scar?  A long-faded cut across his cheek, that he refuses to tell you where he got it from?”

“Yes, and don’t forget a nice voice.”  Abby grinned so Ash knew it was coming.  “Proper British, if you please.  And kinda gravelly, like he’s growling when he talks.”

The next installment of The Town of Norman series!

[theoriginalladya]

Sunday Snippet

For the snippet this week, have a bit from the next story in the ME/WWII universe for Caleb and Kaidan, Something Wicked This Way Comes, that they shared with me this week...

Setting: London, November 2, 1941, The Crown & Lion, Caleb Shepard, Kaidan Alenko, Ryan Coats

~~~

Shepard’s lips curved into a smirk. “Hammersmith, aren’t you ever on duty?”

Tall and dark haired like Shepard and dressed in the kit of a Royal Marine, the Englishman accepted the pint Reggie handed over and turned towards Shepard with a snort. “Could ask the same of you, Shannon,” he retorted. “Where’ve you been? Are you working hard or hardly working these days?”

Kaidan followed Shepard over to the bar, stepping to the side as the Irishman shook hands with the English soldier. They exchanged a few words in greeting before Shepard gestured Kaidan into the conversation. “Coats, this is Lieutenant Commander Kaidan Alenko. He’s the one who –”

Another snort. “Got your sorry arse out of France. Right. Read the report.” Coats extended his hand towards Kaidan. “Commander Ryan Coats. Nice to meet you. And thanks.”

Kaidan frowned as he released the man’s hand. “For what?”

Shepard’s sigh echoed throughout the room even before Coats said, “For getting him home.”

“Reggie,” Shepard said, positioning himself between Coats and Kaidan as he stepped to the bar, “a pint of my usual, please.” He glanced over at Kaidan.

“I will have the same.”

Reggie poured two pints of Guinness and handed them over.

As the three men crossed the room to an empty booth along the far wall, Coats couldn’t resist teasing Kaidan. “Mate, you’re supposed to be British military here, not bloody Irish!”

Shepard wasn’t surprised by the quick side-glance from Kaidan; he’d warned him about Coats’ unique sense of humor while assuring him they were best of friends.

Kaidan turned his shoulder so Coats could see the badge on his upper left shoulder. “Actually,” he said as he set his drink down and removed his greatcoat, “I am Canadian.”

Shepard bit back a laugh, dropping his coat with Kaidan’s on the back of the booth seat and sliding in with him. The bemused expression on Coats’ face was worth every penny in Britain at the moment.

“Not with that accent you aren’t.”

“C’mon, Coats,” he interjected with a wink as he lifted his glass, “I’d think you know from your own experience a man can be from two places at the same time.” He tipped his glass at Kaidan who had followed suit. “Sláinte.”

“Будьмо.”**

“Cheers,” Coats added as he belatedly raised his own glass. After taking a sip, he glared over at Shepard. “You did this on purpose, didn’t you?”

Shepard’s right brow arched upward dramatically. “Did what on purpose?”

“Don’t you play innocent with me!”