A Human Day

[Uszi]

Hey, I'm ending my strong no posting streak (since 6/27/13) to compliment you guys.

I reconnected with the Universe of Mass Effect without feeling a jaded, "HOW DID YOU FUCK IT UP SO MUCH BIOWARE," gut reaction overpowering everything. This is honestly the first time I've been able to just enjoy a Mass Effect thing in a long time. Good job!

 

[Norix596]

This (and the Blue Rose) are both excellent!

 

[Undomesticated Equine]

Meh Thane was the 2nd lamest guy (Jacob Taylor takes the 1st place) in the entire ME2 ensemble. Anyway the comic did not impress me much frankly i think ME would be a better series if they took the romance all of it out although it would still not stop lame fanfic such as this.

 

[Undomesticated Equine]

I can understand ONE dream sequence where Shepard is chasing the child, but multiple times of Shepard chasing a young child like a pedophile? Shepard's backstory can be RIPE with tragedy, but of course they had to go with the most cliched thing ever. There were a shitload of other options such as Shepard's possible squad on Akuze, the Virmire survivor like Carter said, Mordin if he died, Thane or Kirrahae, Legion, any of the people that died during the suicide squad, the possibilities are endless.

Spoiler

As the dreams go on anyone who has died up to that point appears as shadowy ghosts in the background. That last dream is a kick in the dick, showing everyone you couldn't save. I do understand why the child is the focal point though, children represent innocence, love, and life. Shep fixates on the kid because not only could he not save the kid, but Shep is coming to the realization that the reapers may, in fact, win. Thus destroying, or already destroyed, innocence, love, and life.

That's even worse, all these far more traumatic and emotional experiences are playing second fiddle to some random ass kid that you barely had more than a minute of conversation with. I know what they were trying to do with the whole innocence thing, but it was just so cliched and pointless I didn't care for it. The point is, that kid did not DESERVE to be the focal point of anything. It was lazy and about as blunt as symbolism could be. Not only that, they were repetitive as fuck save the the aforementioned voices in the background. What really irked me was the lost potential of it all. These scenes could have had a lot of emotional weight to them and really hit home the emotional turmoil Shepard was having over those that he lost. But nope, just pedo Shepard chasing after a young boy. It also screwed over people whose Shepards were praticularly dick-ish. Playing as a ruthless and sadistic Renegade Shepard? Too bad, apparently he/she has enough sympathy for this kid he/she talked to for a few seconds over to give Shepard multiple nightmares and have the Catalyst choose that form over any of the others.

But, but....
You do not understand! That was only child in ME universe, without it the humanity is doomed you hear me dooooooooomed. Poor Timmy.

 

[Sarge034]

That's even worse, all these far more traumatic and emotional experiences are playing second fiddle to some random ass kid that you barely had more than a minute of conversation with. I know what they were trying to do with the whole innocence thing, but it was just so cliched and pointless I didn't care for it. The point is, that kid did not DESERVE to be the focal point of anything. It was lazy and about as blunt as symbolism could be. Not only that, they were repetitive as fuck save the the aforementioned voices in the background. What really irked me was the lost potential of it all. These scenes could have had a lot of emotional weight to them and really hit home the emotional turmoil Shepard was having over those that he lost. But nope, just pedo Shepard chasing after a young boy. It also screwed over people whose Shepards were praticularly dick-ish. Playing as a ruthless and sadistic Renegade Shepard? Too bad, apparently he/she has enough sympathy for this kid he/she talked to for a few seconds over to give Shepard multiple nightmares and have the Catalyst choose that form over any of the others.

Can anything really be more traumatic than the realization that you will probably fail to save all life in the galaxy? Both paragon and renegade Sheps were working to save the universe so the admission that they will probably fail would affect them in similar ways. Shep basically got PTSD. So I would go on to argue that while Shep mourns those (s)he lost the turmoil is the impending destruction that you can't stop, but everyone sees it a bit differently.

 

[Denamic]

I must also open up with a comment on my partner's breasts and their elasticity henceforth, as it seemed to work out for him.

 

[Last Hugh Alive]

Whatever this is and wherever it came from, is really good. It's well drawn, carefully worded and thought provoking. I don't really know how to judge this sort of thing but Thane's character here is nailed so well I found it compelling. You guys really did the material justice. It's also sweet to see the lighter side of Shepard in the company of her love interest.

I wish for a happier ending though. I'm not against sad endings but I saw this in the morning and it brought me down all day. I should say well done, then.

I'd ask for more of these but it seems time consuming. Plus it might just be that I'm a sucker for decent romance arcs in games and few I've played come close to Mass Effect's available relationships.

 

[Jandau]

Unlike quite a few people in this thread, I loved this depiction of Shepard. I can relate to the need to act childish and carefree in your private time while being pressed by events that are grueling and soul-crushing. Yes, she's a hardarse, and judging by her skin, at least a little bit Renegade, but when the suit is off and she's out of the ship, she gets to relax and just enjoy herself for a bit without the need to be strong for everyone else. It's funny how people complain about one-note characters, but when faced with the possibility of a multifaceted interpretation of a character, they complain it's not consistent...

Great comic. Doesn't quite have the same impact as Blue Rose of Illium (that one still makes me tear up), but I don't think that was the intention. ME franchise needs more of this and less CoD...

 

[Bryan Nolen]

As a fanfic, this is a cut above the rest. Well done!

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

Really good job. So good infact it makes me want to replay the series and romance Thane so I can headcanon this comic.

Also, as for things for Shepard to feel guilty about, why couldn't they use the 300,000 Batarians they force you to blow up? How great the opening of the game could have been if you had to stand trial or something but no, we had to open with a bang.

 

[putowtin]

Ohh....

I may have to go and cry... and play Mass Effect again

 

[keiji_Maeda]

This was a wonderfull surprise to find.

i find myself limited in trying to summarize what i've just read, despite myself, i try not to come across as a stuttering fanboy of your work, but this was amazing. Ioften pride myself on my ability to twist a phrase or turn a word, and yet i am limited in my ability to express the gratitude i experience when stumbling across this, i am reading this on my lunchbreak, and i've laughed out loud twice, and felt sadness thrice.

this was a wonderfull surprise, and i'm so glad i found it.

 

[K.ur]

That's even worse, all these far more traumatic and emotional experiences are playing second fiddle to some random ass kid that you barely had more than a minute of conversation with. I know what they were trying to do with the whole innocence thing, but it was just so cliched and pointless I didn't care for it. The point is, that kid did not DESERVE to be the focal point of anything. It was lazy and about as blunt as symbolism could be. Not only that, they were repetitive as fuck save the the aforementioned voices in the background. What really irked me was the lost potential of it all. These scenes could have had a lot of emotional weight to them and really hit home the emotional turmoil Shepard was having over those that he lost. But nope, just pedo Shepard chasing after a young boy. It also screwed over people whose Shepards were praticularly dick-ish. Playing as a ruthless and sadistic Renegade Shepard? Too bad, apparently he/she has enough sympathy for this kid he/she talked to for a few seconds over to give Shepard multiple nightmares and have the Catalyst choose that form over any of the others.

But the child isn't there from the beginning or so a mayor theory goes. Beside, the game self acknowledges that most self aware life did become indoctrinated after a fraction of what shep handled. Another angle, look at standard male shepard and look at the boy, quite similar (or i'm racist against my own colour ¯\_(&#12484_/¯). I honestly thought that they could make the catalyst a child version of shepard. As man they have already the boy dialog, only appearance change needed.

 

[Reikan]

That's even worse, all these far more traumatic and emotional experiences are playing second fiddle to some random ass kid that you barely had more than a minute of conversation with. I know what they were trying to do with the whole innocence thing, but it was just so cliched and pointless I didn't care for it. The point is, that kid did not DESERVE to be the focal point of anything. It was lazy and about as blunt as symbolism could be. Not only that, they were repetitive as fuck save the the aforementioned voices in the background. What really irked me was the lost potential of it all. These scenes could have had a lot of emotional weight to them and really hit home the emotional turmoil Shepard was having over those that he lost. But nope, just pedo Shepard chasing after a young boy. It also screwed over people whose Shepards were praticularly dick-ish. Playing as a ruthless and sadistic Renegade Shepard? Too bad, apparently he/she has enough sympathy for this kid he/she talked to for a few seconds over to give Shepard multiple nightmares and have the Catalyst choose that form over any of the others.

What this guy said. I don't develop an emotional connection to people I don't know. Almost nobody on the planet does this. We can see how a situation is sad, but if it doesn't effect us we tend to not care. Seeing someone die can and does haunt people, but Shepard has seen a lot, renegade or otherwise, and doesn't seem the type to get hung up on one unknown. Like the comic said, the lost comrade on virmire would have been a better choice for haunting someone. Lost people in number 2 if that happened. Anyone shepard knew and counted as a comrade/lover what have you. This would have resonated with the audience more because we can all imagine or have been through the death of someone we know.

The actual ending is another beast, but yes I felt bad about the lost potential to have a game stand as one of the great stories ever told.

 

[Dreiko_v1legacy]

Yeah, ok, fine, you win. I'll play mass effect.


I guess I'm really a sucker for anime inspired art doused with generous puddles of melted cheese.

 

[WretchedFool]

Thank you, this was a lovely way to fill out Shepard's visit to the hospital in ME3. Funny and touching. Thane was so beautifully illustrated and portrayed in ME2, and shortchanged so awfully in ME3.

As to the people who posit that Drell anatomy is disagreeable to humans. Let's be blunt, the Asari were created as part of an American cultural tradition that boobage and titillation have to be in all forms of entertainment. Asari will have sex with anybody of any race, they love to perform sex work in their youth when they're not providing convenient cannon fodder as mercs. The species doesn't even really physically age except for their breasts getting larger. But not drooping, of course.

So you'll have to forgive a few women if they feel entitled to posit that male Drell anatomy is compatible with human female physiology. possibly superior to the standard human male model. Look at Thane's gorgeous lips, pillowy and covered in skin, not scales. His other tender parts are unlikely to be scaly or sharp.

 

[Roofstone]

Beautiful, this is simply beautiful. Very much so.

 

[Machine Man 1992]

Since I am a cold and flinty hearted creature, this did not, in fact, result in feels.

Nice character design though.

 

[Lono Shrugged]

Nice attempt, but I found it a bit too sugary and hard to swallow. I guess it's just my take on the characters. I saw them as a lot less 'cute' and more like a collection of of weirdos and freaks who can't fit in anywhere else. I liked the sentiment quite a bit but it's just a bit too mawkish for my taste. I am probably in the minority on that one.

Basically it was well done. But I am not crazy about what it was trying to do.

 

[Alar]

That was a very cute rendition of Shepard. Well done, over all!