Summary: Simon is finally beyond his misery in those walls of metal, he meets what he thinks is after-life with a gift.
WARNINGS: Iron Lung spoilers, character death
Simon wakes with a groan, the night sky adorned with twinkling stars in front of his eyes.
Wasn't everything dead?
He pushes the confusion and focuses on finding out how the hell he got here, instinctively using both his arms to sit up but met with disappointment as he remembered seeing his left arm disconnected from his body, overtaken by the hungry blood cells in that filthy ocean.
He adjusts to the new balance, sitting up and finding that he's on some sort of rocky ground.
"What the fuck...?" He mutters. He was on a moon, free of the blood oceans that had claimed many others.
He stands, not quite managing it and falling to his knees, a grunt escaping his lips.
Pondering, he looks around him and sees only the dark sky, so many galaxies visible from here than the place he had called home before the rapture.
"I see you've made it." An angelic voice of the sort sends his head snapping back, and he sees a woman with gold for eyes and tears, and a smile that he definitely saw before. *Where?*
"Who... are you?" He asks.
She offers a wider smile, her hands coming together in a gentle hold.
"That is not important. What's important is, you're past your misery."
Simon frowns, none of the words coming out of her mouth making any sense.
She notices his curiosity, and nods. "You are not alive. You can't feel pain, you aren't in that piece of metal anymore. You've made it through."
"Okay... Uh, so where am i, exactly? A-And, how are all these stars here? The quiet rapture..."
She laughs softly but kindly. "It wasn't a quiet rapture. You, along with the stations you are familiar with, were the ones that disappeared. Humanity went on."
*What the fuck?*
"So... I was right.." Simon spaces out for a moment, the memories coming back in a flood. "Did she, um.. Ava, did she make it too?"
"Did you want her to?" The question made him freeze. Did he?
He didn't even know at this point. She left him for dead. She used him like he was her personal property. But at the end she went down for him, to save him. Or did she go down for the data? The documents? The mission?
"Uh... I— fair enough.. Am I here, like.. Forever?"
The being shrugs. "That is up to you. Although, I wouldn't want to leave." A dog enters his vision, running towards him from afar. Barks filled his ears.
Simon flinched just a bit, he couldn't make out if it was a threat or not, and how the slightly less gravity that he was used to made it bounce happily.
It made its way to him, and he could see it had a flight harness strapped onto it, but it didn't seem to mind, stopping in front of the convict with ecstatic eyes.
Simon stares it down. "This, is Laika. The space dog," The celestial being began. "She recognises you. She knows you."
"I've... never seen her before, but.. I have heard that name somehow."
The dog barks, and as he stares at her, he makes her breed out to be some sort of Mongel, mixed with either Husky or Terrier.
"Much like you, she is a patron saint of one-way trips. Left for dead by imbeciles with no soul."
He smiles sadly, but nods at her information. Tapping anticipatingly on his lap, he chuckles as Laika jumps onto it, scrunching his face as she licks it.
"She saw many people, but never opened up to any. She knew who you were before you came, how your story ended. How it began. How... much in common you both have."
"Isn't that right, little guy?" He laughs more in the form of a scoff, gently wrapping his arm around the canine companion. He felt at the harness around her body, how it was so similar to his.
She barks softly, bouncing off his lap to make laps around him, like he was the most entertaining thing she had ever laid eyes on.
"On that note, I will leave you alone." The goddess —of the sort— starts to vanish, but Simon freezes the process with stutters.
"W-Wait. If I ever decide to leave, where do I go?"
"That is a question for when you decide to leave."
His eyebrows furrow. "How will you know?"
"I will." And with that, she's gone, leaving him and the pup leading him to play with.
"How much…of me is left? Anything? Nothing?" The emissary speaks to the open air, voice breaking slightly, but only silence answers back.
"If my life is predetermined, did I ever truly have a say in the choices I made?" Lodi lifts his gloved hand to eye level, flexing each finger before slowly curling them into a fist. "Maybe Orin was right…maybe I did sacrifice too much of myself, to a collective that has already taken the lion's share of my humanity."
He winces and moves to brace himself against the wall. There's a series of flashing images behind his eyes, memories of the moment before III's death. With it comes the emotions that were felt at the time. The fear, the pain, the sense of loneliness. It reminds him that regardless of the IX's power, they still feel, that they're living organisms.
That they can die the same as him.
The memories help give Lodi clarity. He's the only one who can help the guardian-weapon fulfill III's request. Prevent extinction. Bind the IX. Stop Maya Sundaresh. The technicalities of how exactly he'll accomplish any of that will just have to be worked out along the way.
This crisis is bigger than his distress over what it means to be human. Earth already suffered through one collapse without him. He won't let another calamity take away what's left of it. Not if there's something–anything that he can do.
His clenched hand relaxes and he carefully readjusts the black frames perched upon his nose. Lodi fills his lungs with a long breath before letting it go as a means to help re-center himself. His posture straightens and he holds his head a little higher. Then, when his thoughts and sense of self feels less chaotic, he steps out of his office in search of Ikora and the guardian-weapon.
No no no please tell us more about the la squadra swim team au. Science purposes of course
This has been sitting in my drafts for literal YEARS and I wanted to post it, originally was supposed to have all the members but I lost my ideas.
La Squadra x Reader; Swim Team AU
A/N: I'm so sorry for taking this long to answer but I wanted to take my time with this ask because I really do love this AU and I was busy. Thank you to my friends for some help (since most I know of swim teams is from fuckin Free! Iwatobi Swim Club LOL) Hehe science purposes huh 😏 Sorry there's no smut in this one but I wanted to rule out the setting for the AU!
You work at your local Passione Sporting Club, a place where many a professional athletes have trained to become who they are today. And while there are various sporting facilities available, you are in charge of taking care of a specific swim team, La Squadra. The formation of the team, as you learned when you first joined, happened several years ago as seven children banded together as friends to support each other's swimming careers. And you are happy to help them on their journey. As you know, there are 4 main styles of swimming; butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle. Medleys usually take place in that order.
Sorbet & Gelato:
Not swimmers. They're actually coaches for the other swimmers who come to Passione Sporting Club. They've been here for 10 almost 20 years watching the rest of the group who now call themselves "La Squadra" grow athletically and professionally. They were previously in the national Italian swim team as medley racers respectively. They were most fond of relay races as they loved the team work shared between team mates when doing such a race. They only teach adult swimmers but it didn't stop them from noticing younger members of La Squadra practicing in the swimming pools. The passion they saw in some of the members let them know how far they would go. You, as the team's manager, have a good professional relationship with them. However, it doesn't stop Gelato from flirting with you sometimes, surprising you considering you know he has been with Sorbet for a long time. Even more surprising that Sorbet doesn't seem fazed and is receptive to the idea. They sometimes joke about teaching you to swim as well.
Sorbet first met Gelato when he joined the local swimming club of his childhood. They became fast friends and rivals, always trying to outrace each other. Sorbet had goals of reaching the Olympics since he was a child and with Gelato's support he made it together with him. His favorite style is the front crawl which he is most comfortable with. He's proudest win was a front crawl 100m competition where he got gold.
Gelato started swimming as a hobby. He never envisioned himself as an Olympic swimmer. But when he saw Sorbet's resolve to make it, he got inspired and made it his goal to reach the Olympics with his boyfriend. His favorite style is the breaststroke and his proudest win was the a 50m backstroke competition where he got silver since it's his weakest style.
Risotto:
When Risotto was a child living in Sicily, his cousin often went swimming in the sea with him which is where he first learned. Ever since then, he'd known what career he'd like to go to once he grows up. And so, he took a swimming scholarship to college and during his pre-teens he joined Passione Sporting Club to train for his future career. Everyone knows him as a backstroke master and you can see why when you notice his immaculate back muscles during training. While he's good at the other styles, he's much faster using the backstroke. His proudest moment was winning a national competition of 100m men's backstroke where he won gold. You know he was one of the original members of "La Squadra" the other two being Formaggio and Prosciutto when those three decided to start the club. He's the most cooperative with you when it comes to competitions. As the manager, one of your duties is to rule out social and athletic events that the members will attend and he's always receptive to the competitions you tell him will be good for his career. He's not the most communicative so you have to weed out some of thoughts and feelings on the matter. Because of your friendly nature, you two share a close bond as you help him train and often see him swim way past closing. It's a secret between you two that you cherish deeply. There have been some times where he offered you to swim with him.
Risotto favors free style swimming the most but his muscle development on his upper body has made him a good breaststroke user which makes him much faster than the front crawl
Out of all competitions, he loves swimming medley relays the most. He gathers the medley participants (usually other la squadra members) to give a motivating speech and cheers the loudest when he's not swimming with them. He may not show it, but he is highly competitive and likes being challenged in the pool.
Prosciutto:
As one of the founding members of the original team, Prosciutto regards La Squadra with lots of pride. As a child he had no passion for swimming but after joining the Passione Sporting Club with a mild interest, he was quickly swept away into practice. He realized as a child that swimming allowed him a way to focus his energy and determination. He's not one to half-ass anything and swimming was no different. Eventually, he started feeling a connection to swimming after exercising out all his stress through the activity and finding a love for the activity like no other. Members like Risotto and Formaggio were inspiring to him even if he didn't admit it verbally, he showed up to practice with the two everyday, determined to be like them. He's one of the more difficult members to get along with. At first, it seems he has almost nothing to tell you except talk about his career goals and about helping other team members (namely Pesci). But eventually, your conversations turned more casual and you got to see a side of him that is much more friendly. Sometimes, he would smile towards you from the pool and you noticed that he doesn't ever miss the opportunity to show you his gratitude as their manager. Communicating that it's a difficult job and that he's glad a person like you is able to keep track of all the members and how much he appreciates your organization. You can't lie that his words are some of the only things that makes the job worth it.
Prosciutto is the only member with no preference towards style. While he was developing his swimming skills, he decided to pay hone each style so he would not be lacking in any area. While that doesn't make him a specialist, it gives him more options in competitions.
He rather enjoys individual competitions and loves competing against the other members. Whenever Formaggio dares him for a casual friendly race, he never backs down, treating it as a real race. The other members get a kick out of him taking everything a bit too seriously.
Pesci:
Swimming is as easy to him as breathing. Growing up with a fishing family by the sea, Pesci was accustomed to swimming from an extremely early age. It was sheer passion of swimming among the fish that kept him going but it was largely a hobby. He joined Passione Sporting Club as a teen, to keep up his swimming skills during high school but quickly met Prosciutto who inspired him to no end. Prosciutto once praised his style and speed saying he could make it to the nationals if he tried, maybe even the Olympics and from that moment he decided to join La Squadra and make both himself and the team proud. He's the most amicable out of anyone else in the team and since the moment you two met you'd become easy friends. At first he was a bit shy to talk to you but he caught your eye a couple of times during swim practices and it made his heart soar just a little every time you waved with a smile. Eventually, that got him talking to you and you noticed he started being more specific about his goals and ambitions for his swimming career. You quickly picked up the potential that Prosciutto always talked about regarding Pesci, truly, he was a gifted swimmer but his hard work pays off the most.
Pesci loves the butterfly stroke above all else. It's the first stroke he learned from a family member and honed his skills until it became his strongest. It gave him the biceps that he now shows off sometimes. He's pretty agile with the stroke as well but he doesn't cower from competing in other styles.
Pesci is another member who loves team sports and gets the most excited for medley relays with his team. Prosciutto and Risotto motivate him the most before the races and he's always the first to arrive out of excitement of having the team together. But most of all, he loves to hang out together with the team to celebrate afterwards.
From the template by @luckyspacerabbit! Putting under a cut because this is long.
Name: Juno Friedmann
Alias: The Ghost
Birthdate: 5/11/2154 (31 yrs)
Class, Specialization: Infiltrator; Sniping and Reconnaissance
Weapons: Sniper Rifles, Heavy Pistols
Powers:
Active:
Tactical Cloak - Juno can employ a light-bending technology that renders her invisible for a limited time, at the cost of health and shield regeneration.
Rank 4 Evolution:
Option 1: Shadow Shield - While Juno’s tactical cloak is active, the rest of the squad gets boosted shield capacity and regeneration.
Option 2: Wraith - Juno’s weapon damage doubles when her tactical cloak is active.
Decoy - Juno places a flashing decoy that mimics the glare of a sniper’s scope. This will distract and confuse hostiles, drawing fire away from the real Juno.
Recon Drone - Juno deploys a cloaked reconnaissance drone, which will highlight enemies and make their silhouettes visible through walls and cover.
Passive:
Phantom Soldier - Juno’s extensive training and experience increases her hardiness and stamina. Cooldown times are reduced and Juno’s health is boosted.
Armor:
Pre-Loyalty: Juno wears light armor to maximize her mobility. She wears armor plating over her boots and kneecaps. Her shirt and pants are made of high strength fabric, with additional padding. A harness and belt keeps her guns and ammo together. She also wears a cloak made of camo-patterned fabric. A neutral color scheme makes it easier for her to blend into her surroundings.
Post-Loyalty: Her outfit is recolored into an all black color scheme, with the addition of a long-sleeve undershirt. Her cloak is gone, and she has a line of black face paint under each eye.
Origin: Ex-Alliance
Codex Entry: Juno Friedmann, a human sniper, was the child of two Systems Alliance officers. Her mother, a soldier, and her father, a pilot, raised Juno on various space stations and ships as their postings changed. At eighteen, Juno followed in her parents footsteps and enlisted.
Juno proved to be a capable soldier, eventually becoming an N7. She was on track to becoming a commander when her ship was attacked by a group of pirates. Despite the crew calling for support, Juno was the only survivor. After learning that their backup was delayed due to prioritizing the escort of a retired general, Juno left the Alliance.
Eventually Juno put her skills to work and became a vigilante. Traveling across the galaxy, Juno hunted down and killed those who she believed harmed the innocent. An excellent survivalist and marksman, Juno would often track her targets for weeks across remote lands before eventually killing them at long range. Her enemies and admirers alike nicknamed her the Ghost, due to her anonymous identity and the fact she was rarely spotted.
Psychological Profile: Sole Survivor
Codex Entry: Shortly after graduating from the N7 program, Juno’s crew was assigned to transport a shipment of element zero to an Alliance research base. Pirates attacked the ship, attempting to steal the high-value cargo. Juno contacted a nearby Alliance vessel for backup, but they delayed in helping in order to secure a retired Alliance general’s transport to the same research base. When they eventually did arrive, Juno was the only member of the crew left. She survived by hiding in the ship’s maintenance shafts, where she remained undetected when the pirates boarded the ship.
Due to the commander of the ship sacrificing herself by intentionally setting off a grenade inside the vessel, all the pirates were killed. Juno and the element zero were recovered by the other Alliance ship. When she learned why their backup was delayed, Juno resigned from the Alliance.
Recruitment Dossier Text:
The Ghost
- Expert crack sniper
- Capable of surviving in harsh wilderness
- Uses sniper rifles and recon to track targets and kill them at long range
A woman believed to be the Ghost was spotted helping a wounded man outside the colony Perseverance. Intel shows that she intends to kill the colony’s leader, who is hiding information about the planet’s volatile storms.
Recruitment Mission ME2:
Juno is recruitable in the first round of dossiers, along with Garrus, Mordin, etc.
Shepard and their two squadmates will be sent to the planet Ontarom (the one from ME1 with the space cows).
When the squad touches down Shepard will be free to explore a grassy clearing on a large, rocky hill. It overlooks Perseverance. Here, you can again encounter the Shifty Looking Cow. Eventually the squad will come across the remains of a fire and a dead space cow. EDI will conclude that the animal was killed less than 48 hours ago, and that the Ghost probably used it as a food source.
At this point the squad will be attacked by a pack of wild animals. After dispatching them, the squad will come across a small cave. Going inside will result in discovering a colonist who injured himself when rock climbing. He will unintentionally reveal that the Ghost helped care for his wound, after which Shepard can interrogate him for more information.
Charm: “If you just tell us where she went, I’ll contact your colony and have them get you out of here.”
Intimidate: “Do you want me to report you to your colony officials for interfering with the business of a Spectre?”
Both methods of interrogation will result in the colonist telling Shepard what direction the Ghost went in. He will also suggest that Shepard remain hidden, as the Ghost will see the squad approach and likely shoot them upon discovery.
When Shepard emerges from the cave and follows the path that the colonist suggested, they will find themselves in another clearing surrounded by cliffs, which also overlooks the colony. The glint from the Ghost’s scope will be visible.
To approach the Ghost, Shepard has two options: They can sneak up on her, or walk into the clearing alone and fall when the Ghost hits them, as Shepard’s shields and armor will protect them from becoming seriously injured. If you sneak up on her Shepard will hold her up themself, or if Shepard plays dead their squadmates will. Regardless, the Ghost will surrender once she’s been captured. Her appearance is hidden by the recon hood she wears.
The Ghost: “You’re not colonists. Who the hell–you’re Commander Shepard! Shit, I guess the rumors really were true. You here to arrest me?”
Shepard: “That depends. Do you want to help me solve a problem the Alliance is ignoring?”
The Ghost: *Laughs* “Like I’d work for Cerberus. You don’t think I know what they’ve done? Do you know how many of them I’ve killed?”
Charm: “Entire colonies are going missing, and the Alliance doesn’t care. Cerberus does. We’re going to find out what happened to them and stop it.”
Intimidate: “Whole colonies–men, women, children–are disappearing. Cerberus is going to put a stop to it because the Alliance won’t. Do you want to help, or stand idly by?”
After some more convincing, the Ghost will explain that she’ll consider joining Shepard but her business on this planet is still unfinished. She explains that she intends to kill the colony’s president, who is hiding how dangerous the planet is in order to keep the colony profitable. When he is killed, the Ghost’s contact will be able to reveal new research that suggests the planet’s storms will quickly become much more dangerous than expected.
At this point Shepard can either refuse to help her (which will result in Shepard leaving and the Ghost not being recruited) or agree to help her. The Ghost will give Shepard the controls to her drone (named “Spot”), which is capable of scanning lifeforms and drawing their attention with a speaker. The drone, which has its own tactical cloak, will not be spotted by the colonists.
This will put the player in a sort of minigame, where the screen will show the drone's camera. The player will then have to maneuver the drone throughout the colony until they identify the target. Then the player will use the drone’s speaker (which plays an Asari pop song) to draw the target outside. At this point, the Ghost will eliminate the target with a headshot.
As the Normandy’s shuttle touches down, the Ghost will remove her hood and tell Shepard her real name: Juno. At this point, Shepard can ask her questions.
>Why did you leave the Alliance?
Ans: My ship was transporting eezo when pirates attacked. We called for a nearby vessel to back us up, but by the time they arrived I was the only one left. Later, I found out the reason they took so long. They decided it was more important to finish escorting a retired general before helping us. I resigned right then and there.
>Why did you risk giving up your position to help that colonist?
Ans: *Shrugs* He was hurt. What was I supposed to do, let the animals eat him?
>What happens to the colony now?
Ans: I don’t know. A lot of people will probably leave. It might become a ghost town. But I think that’s a lot better than innocents dying in a freak storm just to pad the wallet of some politician.
As they board the shuttle, Shepard asks one more question:
Shepard: “This is a suicide mission. I don’t want you unless you’re serious about this.”
Juno: “Don’t worry, Commander. I’m already a ghost.”
Where Are They On The Ship ME2:
Juno joins Kasumi in the port observation deck. Juno has rearranged the cushions on the other couch into a fort, where her sleeping bag lies. A small stack of books and a datapad are next to it. Spot hovers nearby. During cutscenes with Juno, Kasumi will be absent (or cloaked).
Between missions, she can be asked about:
Her time in the Alliance
Why she left
Her old commander
Her parents
Her time as a vigilante
Any interesting stories?
Why the mask?
Her sense of justice
Her distrust of authority
Her empathy for those ignored by authority
Her rifle
A Normandy upgrade that will allow it to remotely hack Alliance ships—Juno explains she found it on a job.
Loyalty Mission:
Kelly: “Juno said she wants to speak to you as soon as possible.”
When speaking with Shepard, Juno will ask that they go to Illium so she can buy an illegal mod for her rifle. If prodded further, Juno will dodge Shepard’s questions. After the Normandy docks on Illium, Juno is nowhere to be found. EDI informs Shepard that she has already left the ship. After leaving the Normandy, Shepard will question the Nos Astra Concierge, who tells them that she saw Juno steal an empty taxi shuttle and fly off.
At this point, Shepard will get a message from Juno on their omni-tool reading: I have some business to deal with. Alone. Don’t worry about me.
EDI gains access to the taxi company’s records and manages to track the shuttle. She tells Shepard it has left the planet and is currently headed towards an Alliance cruiser, the SSV Amsterdam. EDI discovers that Juno’s father, Marcus Friedmann, is currently assigned as its pilot. EDI will also play a message that Juno recently received:
Female Voice: “This is a message to the Ghost. I’m on your father’s ship. Come and face me, or he dies.”
Male Voice: “Juno, don’t—” [The message abruptly ends.]
Shepard will try to contact the Amsterdam, but EDI will report that the ships’ comm system has been shut down and none of their messages will get through. Shepard can then decide to travel to the Amsterdam, which has stopped moving and can be found near Illium. Shepard can also ignore the quest entirely, and after the suicide mission it will no longer be available and Juno won’t ever come back.
If Shepard does choose to pursue the Amsterdam, Joker will get in close using the Normandy’s stealth systems and Shepard will board the ship via shuttle. If Shepard used Juno’s Normandy upgrade, they can enter the ship stealthily. Otherwise, they will have to brute-force it. If Shepard enters loudly or is caught while infiltrating, they will be attacked by Batarians.
Exploring the ship, Shepard can find that the ship’s crew has locked themselves in the crew quarters. After killing the Batarians trying to open the door, Shepard can speak to the crew. The crew will explain that the ship was boarded by Batrian pirates, who immediately stormed the bridge. The rest of the crew escaped to the crew quarters, where they saw on monitors that Juno boarded the ship and was escorted to the bridge by the Batarians.
Once Shepard reaches the bridge, they can pass a renegade or paragon check to get the Batarians to let them in, or just kill them. Inside, they will find the bridge crew being held hostage by the pirates. Juno’s father has been knocked unconscious. Juno and a Batarian woman are equipping their weapons.
Juno will be shocked by Shepard’s presence, and be angry at them for coming to save her. Upon Shepard demanding one, Juno will explain the situation. Years ago Juno killed a Batarian pirate by shooting him through the eyes, which is a huge insult in Batarian culture because they believe the dead’s soul leaves through the eyes. Juno was unaware of this. Now, the pirate’s partner (the Batarian woman) has taken the ship hostage and has forced Juno in a duel to the death. The Batarian woman, named Tasli, aims to kill Juno in the duel as it would be an “honorable killing” as opposed to just executing her. Tasli says she will let the Amsterdam’s crew go after the duel (but not before looting the ship, of course).
Despite Shepard’s protests, Juno insists on going forward with the duel without Shepard’s help. She only asks that Shepard make sure Tasli honors her promise of letting the crew go.
Tasli and Juno make their way to opposite sides of the cargo bay and the duel commences. Both make use of the cargo cover and try to shoot the other without being spotted. EDI will tell Shepard she has hacked the Amsterdam’s system, and that she can manipulate the electronics in the cargo bay to work in Juno’s favor (ex. using a crane to move the cargo Talsi is hiding behind).
Regardless of Shepard’s actions, Juno will shoot Talsi in the leg and disarm her. Juno will get close to her for the kill, at which point Shepard can talk to her via comms. Talsi begs Juno to kill her so she can be with her partner again.
If Shepard helped Juno using the crane and tries to convince her not to kill Talsi: Juno shoots Talsi in the heart. She is not loyal.
If Shepard helped Juno but lets her kill Talsi without protest: Juno shoots Talsi in the heart, and then admonishes Shepard for helping her.
If Shepard explains they didn’t want Juno to get herself killed: Juno is loyal.
If Shepard retorts that participating in the duel was a stupid idea: Juno is not loyal.
If Shepard did not help Juno but asks her to spare Talsi, or if Shepard did not help Juno and lets her kill Talsi without protest: Juno shoots Talsi in the heart. Juno is loyal.
The Batarians will leave without protest and take Talsi’s (along with any more of their comrades) body with them. The Amsterdam’s crew is picked up by a passing Alliance ship. After the mission, Juno will remark that she was surprised that Shepard came to try and help her. She will reluctantly thank Shepard for doing so. When asked about him, Juno will say that her father is recovering well, and that she will make a point to talk to him often even if he is mad at her for dueling Talsi.
Suicide Mission:
Juno will not survive being the Vent Specialist, or either Fireteam Leader, even if she is loyal. She will survive the Crew Escort as long as she is loyal, otherwise she will die protecting the crew. Juno will almost always die on the Suicide Mission if she is not loyal.
Romance: Juno is only a romance option for female Shepards. However, she has very strict morals. If Sheaprd makes a significant amount of choices she disapproves of (see below) she will refuse to romance Shepard (or break up with them if their relationship is already established).
♡ Lock in Conversation: (If Shepard chooses to flirt with Juno throughout their conversations) In the last cutscene with Juno before the suicide mission, Juno can be found at the observation deck, staring into space.
Shepard: “What are you doing?”
Juno: “Just…looking at the stars. Reminds me of when I was a kid.” She touches the glass. “I spent a lot of time looking out of ship windows.”
Shepard: “Do you know any of the constellations?”
Juno: “Not in this part of the galaxy. But I spent a summer on Earth once, and my dad taught me some. Canis Major, Leo, Orion…I’ve been thinking about my parents a lot lately.”
Option 1: “So have I.” → Shepard and Juno talk about their families.
Option 2: “You should give them a call.” → Juno says it’s too late to reach them before the mission.
Option 3: “You need to focus on the mission.” → Juno agrees, and assures Shepard she’s ready for the suicide mission.
Option 4 (Romance): Shepard places their hand on top of Juno’s. “I’ve been thinking about the people important to me, too.”
Juno: She pulls her hand away. “Shepard…”
Shepard: “What’s wrong?”
Juno: “I…we can’t do this. For both our sakes.”
Shepard: “What’s wrong?”
Juno: “We’re going on a suicide mission. We’re going to die. There’s no point in this.”
Option 1: “We’re not going to die.”
Juno: *scoffs* “You seriously believe that?”
Shepard: “I’m going to give it my best shot.”
Option 2: “You’re right. This was a mistake.” (Romance terminated)
Option 3: “All the more reason we should have some fun before we die.”
Juno: “That’s not how I work, Shepard.”
Shepard: “We still have a chance to make each other happy.”
Juno: “Look, if by some miracle we both make it out alive, we can have this conversation again. Until then…good luck.”
Option 1: “Good luck to you too, but you were right. Let’s not do this.” (Romance terminated)
Option 2: “Then once the Collectors are dead, you can tell me about the constellations again.” (Romance locked-in)
Option 3: “I don’t want luck. I want you.” Shepard caresses Juno’s face, and they kiss before Juno pulls away after a couple seconds. (Romance locked-in)
Juno: “Shepard, I…I really hope you make it.” She turns back to the window. “I’ll see you at the Collector base.”
♡ Romance Scene: If both Shepard and Juno survive the mission, Juno will tell Shepard that they should talk in Shepard’s quarters. When Juno arrives, she is wearing a t-shirt and cargo pants and carrying a bottle of champagne.
Juno: “Sorry. I don’t own any nice clothes.”
Shepard: “I don’t mind.”
Juno smiles. “Luckily this champagne is nicer. I got from a Volus as a thank-you for ‘escorting’ some creeps out of his bar. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.” Juno pours two glasses, one for herself and one for Shepard. “In the Alliance, we’d used to treat ourselves to a drink after a mission well done…never anything this fancy though.”
Shepard: “I think we both deserve it.”
Juno: “Since the Alliance, I haven’t really had anyone to drink with…anyone to care about.”
Shepard tries to say something, but Juno interrupts them. “Shepard, It’s hard for me. Having people I care about. Loving people always seems to end in pain. But with you…” Juno takes both of Shepard’s hands in hers. “I’d like to try.”
Option 1: “So do I.” → Juno and Shepard kiss. Juno wraps her arms around Shepard and the scene fades to black.
Option 2: “I’d like to try a few things with you.” → Juno responds, “Oh really?” They begin making out and accidentally spill some of the champagne. The scene fades to black.
♡ Can be Rekindled in ME3: Yes
♡ Mordin Advice: Human on human sexual activity, not a mystery. Juno? Personally, a mystery to me. Can’t provide much help besides the basics. I suggest you discover things for yourself. That’s part of the fun, yes?
♡ Kasumi Commentary: “I know that Juno can take care of herself, but if you hurt her I can’t be held responsible for my actions.” / “What have you done to that girl? I saw her actually smile today! At nothing! She was just walking around, smiling!” / “I hope you don’t mind Spot. She cares about that thing like it’s a real pet.”
♡ If Unromanced: If neither Samara or Juno are romanced, they will engage in slightly flirty dialogue with each other. In ME3, they will be in a relationship.
Citadel DLC:
Message to Meet:
Shepard,
Come meet me at the strip when you have time. Joker told me about this place I want to check out with you.
--- Juno
Friend Date:
Juno meets Shepard outside a club on a strip. Instead of her usual armor, she’s wearing a simple t-shirt and cargo pants with combat boots.
Juno: “Hey.” [Juno looks side to side, and has her arms crossed. She taps her foot on the ground.]
Shepard: “You look...relaxed.”
Juno: “I just I…never know what to do with myself on shore leave! Usually I’d just pass the time by reading or going to the shooting range, but Joker said this place would really ‘loosen me up.’”
Shepard: “A club doesn’t really seem your style.”
Juno: “That’s what I said, but Joker insisted I’d like it.”
Juno and Shepard enter the club, skipping the line due to Shepard’s status. When they get in it becomes immediately clear that it is an Asari strip club. Dancers with various amounts of clothes dance onstage, while an elaborate light show and club music plays.
Juno: “*laughs nervously* This isn’t what I was, um, expecting…”
Shepard: “Of course Joker recommended it…”
Juno: “We could, uh, just get a coffee or something instead…”
Shepard then has the option to leave and get coffee with Juno, or stay at the club. If they choose to leave, a cutscene then plays of the pair having a pleasant conversation at a cafe. If they choose to stay, a cutscene plays where they watch the strippers, drink at the bar, accidentally walk into a private room and then run out, and dance. Juno lets loose, and appears to be having a good time.
Apartment Date:
Juno will arrive with Samara and will people watch with her, along with telling stories of her own time as a vigilante. If Shepard is in a relationship with Samara, Juno will announce “I think I better get going” and leave as things get flirty. If Shepard romances Juno, they will kiss after Samara leaves. If neither Juno or Samara are romanced, Shepard will catch them holding hands when they think Shepard isn’t looking.
Shadowbroker DLC:
Terminal Messages:
Message 1: VOICE MESSAGE FROM LT. ALIX HARRIS, SENT MARCH 3RD 2182
Lt. Alix Harris: “Hey Juno. It’s me, Harris. I just wanted to check in on you…I can’t imagine what you’re feeling right now. But we don’t have to talk about any of that. It’s just…we haven’t really talked since it happened. You haven’t talked with anyone, actually. You can’t shut yourself off like this…me and the guys are really worried. Please just…call me back when you get a chance, okay? I want to see my friend again.”
[The message was never replied to, but has been replayed many times]
Message 2: SCHEDULED MESSAGE TO HANNAH AND MARCUS FRIEDMANN
Dear Mom and Dad,
If you’re reading this, I’m dead. I’m sorry. Better you hear it from me than Alliance Brass right? Don’t be too upset. I’ve been killing for as long as I can remember. It was only a matter of time until it caught up to me. If any of my stuff is left, you guys get all of it. Not like anyone else is gonna want it anyway. Don’t blame yourselves. You did a good job. Take care of each other.
I know you want to know why. I did it to protect people. Better it’s me over them.
Love,
Juno
Shadowbroker Comment: “Thank you for bringing the Ghost, T’Soni. Her head will go for a high price.”
Comments on Shepard’s Driving: “I think I’m gonna throw up…”
Neutral: Kaidan, Mordin (ME3), Wrex, Grunt, Jacob, Miranda (ME3), Jack, Thane, Cortez, Kelly
Enemies: Mordin (ME2), Zaeed, James, Javik, Miranda (ME2)
Decisions They Approve Of:
Killing Morinth
Preserving Maelon’s data
Shutting down project Overlord
Curing the Genophage
Sparing the Rachni queen
Helping the Quarians win Rannoch/brokering peace between the Quarians and the Geth
Decisions They Disapprove Of:
Killing Samara
Sacrificing the refinery workers in Zaeed’s loyalty mission
Letting project Overlord continue
Faking the Genophage cure
Punching Khalisah
Helping the Geth win Rannoch
Comments on Cerberus: “I first heard about them when I was still Alliance. I won’t lie to you, Shepard. Their ‘humans first’ agenda makes me nervous. You know it's just a matter of time before only certain types of humans are first, right?”
Comments on the Alliance: “They have their priorities skewed. All big organizations do. They get founded on some nice virtue and then, as it grows, the message gets muddled. That’s why I prefer to work alone.”
Comments on the Reapers: “I have no idea how we’re going to stop them. I guess that’s not my problem though, is it? Do you think a bigger rifle would help?”
Comments about other Squadmates:
Samara: “Now, Samara is someone I like having on my side. I wish I had known her earlier. Between her biotics and my gun, we’d be unstoppable.” (If both unromanced) “Together, we could make a real difference. *Sighs* Maybe when this is all over…”
James: “He reminds me of the boys in training. They’d say the grossest shit, but one good punch to the jaw and they’d shut right up. He’s the same.”
Zaeed: “I hope Cerberus is paying him a lot, because he won’t hesitate to stick a knife in your back for a few credits more.”
Kasumi: “I’ve stolen a few things here and there, but nothing as impressive as she has. She lets me borrow her books too. So I do like her, even if she does spy on me.”
Jack: “She was cold to me at first, but after I told her the story of how I shot the dick off a batarian trafficker, I think we’ve reached an understanding.”
Mordin: (ME2) “I don’t care how the hell he justifies it, the genophage was wrong. Salarians sure can be cunning bastards.” (ME3) “At least he’s trying to fix his past mistakes. That’s more than most would do.”
Jacob: (ME2) “I get why he left the Alliance. I guess he’s not so bad, for Cerberus.” (ME3) “I’m glad he realized what Cerberus really is. I hope he’s doing well.”
Miranda: (ME2) “I feel sorry for her. Cerberus took her in, and then the Illusive Man groomed her into being his perfect, obedient pet.” (ME3) “Oh, I’d love to see the look on the Illusive Man’s face when he realized she turned against him. Being his right hand man and then joining the other side? That’s one way to stick it to Cerberus.”
Grunt: “Krogans are such a pain to kill. If you want to down them in one go, you have to use an anti-material rifle and get them right in the eye. Good thing he’s on our side.”
Thane: “I don’t think you get a free pass on murder even if you say a prayer after. Regardless, his skills are impressive. We’d make a deadly pair: one to weaken you from afar, and another to close in for the kill.”
Legion: “Well, they haven’t tried to shoot me yet, so they’re fine be me. Unless they start stealing my kills. Then we’re going to have a problem.”
EDI: “The best extranet search engine I know. It doesn’t count as an abuse of power if I keep making her look up Black Widow mods for sale on the darknet, right?”
Kaidan: “He’s alright. He’s Alliance and a Spectre, so I wouldn’t trust him if it wasn’t for the fact that I don't think he has a single malicious bone in his body.”
Liara: “An information broker, huh? Used a couple of those back in the day. I should ask her what she has on me.”
Garrus: “He did a good thing, trying to clean up Omega’s mess. Stupid, but well intentioned. I am glad he didn’t get himself killed, though.”
Ashley: “Alliance brat, soldier, poetry lover…she’s a little too much like me. She does know how to party though…” *whistles*
Tali: “She’s cute. Smart too. I always felt bad for the Quarians. To lose your entire planet…ugh, it makes me sick thinking about it.”
Wrex: “Krogans don’t usually have a sense of humor, but he's kinda funny. He seems almost well-adjusted. Good thing he’s the one in charge.”
Javik: “Kind of a dick, yeah? Guess I’d be one too, in his situation.”
Banter:
Joker commentary on recruitment: “Juno seems okay, even if her idea of fun is tracking some bad guy through the mountains and then blowing his head off. If I start seeing a laser on my chest, I’m blaming you, Commander.”
Joker Comments: “Juno’s actually pretty nice for someone that shoots the dicks off of batarian slavers anytime she gets a chance. Still scares me though.”
Omega: “I’ve tracked a lot of people back here. It’s very vertical, but the alleys make it hard to get a wide view.”
Illium: “The poor criminals run to Omega, the rich ones run here. It’s always easy enough to snipe someone on Illium. Lots of skyscrapers, and even more big glass windows.”
The Citadel: “There’s too many people here.”
Companion Banter:
[Normandy SR-2 Bug Transcript #A23]
Juno: “Samara, could a human ever join the Justicars?”
Samara: “I doubt it. The training itself takes many decades, and biotics are a large part of it. Why? Do you wish to become one?”
Juno: “No. I was just thinking about how you and I are similar.”
Samara: “In what ways?”
Juno: “Well, we don't have anything except our armor and weapons, live by a code of justice, kill those who break it…”
Samara: “Perhaps. I have also killed many people like that.”
Juno: “Well, I’d like to think my code is better than theirs.”
Samara: “I think…if you were an Asari, you would have made a good justicar.”
[End Transcript]
[Normandy SR-2 Bug Transcript #A19]
Juno: “Spot?”
Spot: *beeps*
Juno: “Who’s my good little drone, hmm? Who’s the cutest, sweetest, little Armali Council reconnaissance-spotter drone?”
Spot: *beeps*
Juno: “That’s my good Spot. My goodest, cutest, loveliest boy.”
Kasumi: “Hey Jun–”
Juno: (screams)
[End Transcript]
[Normandy SR-3 Bug Transcript #H08]
Dr. Chakwas: “You need to take better care of yourself.”
Juno: “I’m fine. I got worse than this when I was a merc, and I didn’t have a doc to patch me up.”
Dr. Chakwas: “Yeah, and that’s why you have worse vision in one eye, a twitch in your left knee, ankle pain…”
Juno: “I can deal with it.”
Dr. Chakwas: “Take these pills. One every day.”
Juno: “I don’t have time for—”
Dr. Chakwas: “Do you want me to call your mother?”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
story summary: After her mother’s death at sixteen, Rosalind was taken in by family friends Sadie and Jake Adler. Two years later, Rosalind comes for a visit and discovers their cabin burned to the ground. When she finds Sadie has joined a gang to seek revenge, Rosalind reluctantly follows suit. The last thing she expected to get was a family, and for them to change her life forever.
A retelling of RDR2’s story with my OC Rosalind and some other canon divergence.
pairing(s): Arthur Morgan & Female OC, Sadie Adler & Female OC, Mary-Beth Gaskill x Female OC
rating: teen+
Chapter 14: Magicians and Men for Sport
words: 4+ k
warnings: none
chapter summary: Rosalind and friends go to Rhodes looking for work.
SUMMARY: “and I’d choose you. In a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I’d find you and I’d choose you.” – Kiersten White. For each chapter, a prompt from the One Hundred Ways to Say I Love You list.
WORDS: 1.847
GENRE: angst, fluff
FANDOM: Inukag
FORMAT: multichapter
ALSO FOUND ON: AO3, FF.Net
Kagome wished she had chosen lower heels. Wished Sango had picked out a less crowded place to celebrate her twenty-third birthday. Wished she wasn’t so acutely conscious of Inuyasha’s voice, rising above the resounding music of the dark, cramped club to call out her name while she struggled to make an exit.
Mostly, Kagome wished she hadn’t come. Wished she hadn’t fallen so hard for him when his heart belonged to someone else. Wished she hadn’t just seen him kissing Kikyo. Wished her mind would take the damn scene off repeat.
Wished she had never met him.
“Kagome!”
She wouldn't stop, wouldn’t turn.
Hopefully, the sea of sweaty, drunk bodies between them would give her enough advantage to escape, to race the inevitable tears home.
“Kagome, wait up!”
Inuyasha was getting closer. Dangerously closer.
But so was the door.
Autumn air welcomed her out with a gentle blow, the city lights casting a colorful glow on the streets where it had just briefly rained. Kagome released a shaky breath, grateful for the temperature change and more than happy to leave all the noise behind.
Inuyasha caught up to her in a split second, making a point out of blocking her way and causing her to step aside with every intention to ignore his presence and keep going, which she would have done if he hadn’t mirrored her move, obstructing the passage once again.
“Let me by,” ordered Kagome, the words dripping out of her gritted teeth as she lifted her gaze to shoot invisible daggers at him.
Inuyasha’s features, initially worried, hardened into a scowl — an immediate response to her sour mood.
“No. We need to talk.”
“There’s nothing left to say.”
Kagome tried to walk past him, but a firm arm grip made her turn around.
“Why the fuck are you so upset?” Inuyasha was already facing her. Nostrils flared, mouth in a severe line.
“I’m not upset!”
“Good! ‘Cause you have no right to be.”
“Great,” she snapped, “then run back to your girlfriend and let me go!” For emphasis, she forcefully pulled the arm Inuyasha was still holding, wanting to break free from his touch and failing miserably to do so.
“No. No! This is bullshit. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to act like I’m breaking your heart. You were the one who turned me down. This is what you wanted. Not me. You!”
“That’s not the point. The point is I knew you were still hung up on your ex. And I was right! It took you, what? Five whole minutes to shove your tongue down her throat?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
She scoffed.
“Of course it wasn’t. Let me guess: I must have imagined it. It didn’t mean anything. You were thinking about me the entire time. It will never happen ag—”
“Why do you care?”
“What?”
“Why do you care?” He repeated, taking one step forward to reduce the poor excuse of personal space between them by half, as if expecting her answer would eradicate the remaining. “I asked you to be my girlfriend. You said no.”
“Yeah, because I didn’t want to be a detour on your path back to Kikyo, not because I didn’t lo—”
“Not because you didn’t what?” Inuyasha sounded expectant. Hopeful, even. And the nearer he got, the smaller she felt in comparison, suddenly aware of her outfit choice. Perhaps if she had gone with a set of clothes that revealed less skin she wouldn’t be feeling so utterly naked under his gaze. Or perhaps it wasn’t about the clothing at all. Perhaps it was just the effect he had over her: that he was the only one who could see right through her. “Finish the sentence, Kagome.”
A part of her wanted to. Dangerously wanted to. Even if it wasn’t wise. Even if it could only end badly. Even if weighing the pros and cons got her to the same conclusion again and again. Because Inuyasha was an addiction. Her favorite kind. Kagome knew it wasn’t good for her health and yet she would always indulge in one more drag, telling herself it would be her last, that she could quit him whenever she pleased. And she was so damn sick of being cautious, giving in seemed inescapable.
Until she remembered Kikyo’s hand tangled up in his hair, her lips on his. Far from being something she could unsee, it was a constant reminder of why Kagome had been right about rejecting him to begin with.
“It doesn’t matter. You’ve made your decision, I made mine. There’s no going back. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go home.”
“You can’t leave! It’s Sango’s birthday.”
“She wasn’t expecting me to come, anyway.”
“Because of me?”
Inuyasha was dead on money, of course. Sango was the person she confided everything to, including her complicated feelings for Inuyasha, their mutual friend. Which was why the birthday girl was completely understanding when Kagome told her she wasn’t coming to the party. To stay in the same room as Inuyasha was tempting. And confusing. She should have stuck to the plan instead of showing up at the eleventh hour.
Not that she would ever tell him that.
“Don't flatter yourself.”
“I’m not. I’m just saying I didn’t expect you to come, either.”
“That’s why you kissed her? Because you thought I wouldn’t see it?” Kagome hated how her voice cracked at the end, hated the fact that she was so irrationally jealous of someone who wasn’t hers. “You know what? Don’t answer that. I don’t wanna know.”
Inuyasha appeared to be on the verge of insanity.
“You’re... impossible!”
“Let go of me or I’ll start screaming.”
“Fine,” groaning in frustration, Inuyasha finally released her arm, “be as stubborn as you fucking want. I don’t owe you any explanations.”
“No, you don’t,” she agreed, throwing him a final, defying look before leaving Inuyasha, that cursed club and that terrible night behind, lost in thoughts of anger and self pity and the contradiction of simultaneously not wanting to see his face and wishing he would chase after her.
Then everything happened too soon, too fast.
A deafening honk transported her back to the present, to the busy street Kagome was carelessly crossing. She turned to find blinding headlights coming straight toward her. Thousandths of seconds passed. Maybe hours. It was difficult to tell the difference when they were currently one and the same.
Her brain stopped working, but not without registering the sound of his voice first, crying out her name more desperately than she had ever heard. She would have replied, however her body didn’t obey her anymore — frozen right there, waiting for her impending fate.
There was no time for anything other than the fatal collision.
An impact that never came.
Inuyasha reached Kagome before the bus ever could, pushing her out of the way and into the safety of the sidewalk with him. The landing wasn’t gracious. He absorbed most of the fall — acting as a half demon shield to protect her fragile human bones — and the impact created by the combination of his supernatural speed and strength sent them rolling over the hard ground, with Inuyasha somehow ending up on top of her.
As the state of stupor subdued, she grew mildly aware of the horrified gasps and whispers of the curious bystanders. Apparently Kagome had just escaped a deadly traffic accident, the bus that almost did it was long gone and Inuyasha saved her life. He was the reason she was still breathing. Or, rather than breathing, panting. And shaking. Really shaking, now that the severity of the situation dawned on her.
His wild eyes stared at her with unnerving intensity, an emotion she couldn’t quite name pouring out of them, raw and earnest. Kagome wasn’t sure whether to thank him or apologize, idly wondering if the incandescence of those golden irises reflected on hers now that they were teary, just like the city lights reflected on the pavement from before. Did it look as beautiful to others as it did to her?
“Inuyasha, t—”
“Damn it, Kagome! Look both ways!”
Any inclination to wave a white flag at him vanished when confronted with his rude remarks. Couldn’t he be gentle for once, at least to receive her gratitude?
“Will you stop being a jerk and let me thank you properly?”
Kagome might as well not have spoken. Inuyasha got off her and pulled himself to a sitting stand, bluntly bringing her with him in the process to make his irritation pretty clear.
“Do you have any idea of what I’d do if—” Inuyasha drifted off, as if he couldn’t bear to say the thought out loud. Next thing she knew, he had her cloistered inside the tightest, most soothing hug. “Don’t you ever do something like that again.”
Taken aback, Kagome allowed herself to return the gesture, relieved to be held in his embrace, listening to the frantic pace of his heart.
“I’m… I’m sorry.”
Inuyasha let go of her to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, allowing her to see how softer his expression had gotten. His button down shirt — sleeves casually rolled up to his elbows — was covered in dirt.
“Kikyo had one too many drinks,” he began. “I didn’t kiss her. She kissed me. And…” Inuyasha had the decency to look guilty. “I let her. And I know I shouldn’t have. I guess… I guess it was my crooked way to get back at you,” he confessed. “To hurt you the way you hurt me. But I never meant for you to see it. You weren’t supposed to be there.” Inuyasha moved his palm, slowly stroking down her cheek. “And honestly, I didn’t think you’d care.”
“You didn’t think I’d care? How could I not?”
“I thought you were using Kikyo as an excuse to let me down gently. Because anyone with half a brain can see you’re it for me. Well, anyone but you, obviously.”
“Really?” Kagome let out, not caring in the slightest how much she sounded like a child suggesting a pinky promise.
Inuyasha nodded.
“I’m sorry about tonight. I’d take it back if I could. But it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“Yeah?” Kagome smiled and Inuyasha leaned in, taking advantage of her mood improvement — and the fact that his hand was still resting on her face — to close the gap between them.
Realizing his intentions, she placed two fingers on his lips to refrain his advances, hating the heat burning her face and the way he blinked in confusion.
“Not… not on the same night you kissed her.”
“Fair enough,” he sighed, standing up at last and offering her a helping hand that was promptly accepted, “but I am taking you home. Can’t trust you to walk around alone without getting yourself killed.”
“Sure, yeah,” conceded Kagome, unable and unwilling to hide her excitement, “absolutely.”
“And tomorrow we’re going out for dinner,” he informed, “then I will kiss you senseless.”
A/N.: as of this moment I am 5% done with this fanfic... Looking back, perhaps starting a 100 prompts challenge wasn’t my brightest idea.
Anyway. Happy birthday to my fantastic girl @lavendertwilight89 I didn’t have time to write a more elaborated piece like you deserve, but at least I did write you something. And on time too! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy being your friend. Love you so, so much!
hey. im bored and im going to write something so mayhaps send me elu prompts in my ask box? i mean i’ll try my best to write them all so ye, pretty please? (also no smut prompts pls jksjsk and that’s just bc im shit at writing smut skjsks)
