15168 réponses à ce sujet

[Ryzaki]

Yeah I have to agree with the Soldier.

[Ieldra]

tommyt_1994 wrote...
Random question here, does anyone else happen to play as a class that meshes well with Miranda's skill set? My next playthrough is probably going to be an Adept on Veteran, but I won't be taking any +health or shield armor pieces or upgrades for the added challenge. War bombs all around . I enjoy playing as a class that benefits Miranda and vice versa, I like the added synergy.

I like Warp explosions. The Adept should work well to set them up. If you're an Adept and you take Miranda and Jacob, you can create two Warp explosions without having to wait for the cooldown. Never mind being restricted in your weapons selection, I never needed anything but an SMG, not even on Insanity (there, though, as an Engineer, with Miranda and Kasumi)

Modifié par Ieldra2, 12 novembre 2010 - 09:21 .

[jtav]

A short excerpt from Persistence.

She crossed the room and sank onto the couch. It was surprisingly comfortable. Good. She stretched, draped an arm over the back. Her irritation subsided somewhat. If the mind wasn't quite the plaything of the body, it was close enough. Act calm and you will eventually become calm. Act furious and you will eventually become furious. An asari mercenary hired to train her in covert operations techniques had told her that when she had first come to Thessia years ago. She pretended to check her fingernails. "I'm afraid I was never much interested in Prothean mythology, or ancient history in general. Pre-Spaceflight Cultures sounded like a much more interesting way to fulfill my humanities requirement. If I'd known Dr. T'Kan was going to be such an ideologue, I might have chosen differently."

She watched as Liara made the connection. Liara gaped at her. "You went to the University of Serrice?"

Miranda suppressed a smile. It was always so terribly fun to surprise people. "class of '70. My degree is in computer science, not archaeology and you were long gone by then." She shook her head. "Tell me one thing: was the food horrible when you were there?"

"Goddess, yes!" Liara sat down beside her. "We always said we would have called it prison food except—"

"—it was an insult to prison food. It wasn't all bad, though. I remember my senior project was designing a very crude AI to make stock picks. We tracked its decisions for six weeks. It beat the average mutual fund return by eight percent. That wasn't the best part. I felt like I was entering a rare and select group. One of the privileged few allowed to create an artificial intelligence." She leaned back. "Hubris on my part, of course, but it was still a damn good AI. And Thessia was quite something to a kid who'd never left Earth. Humanity could learn so much from the asari if only we bothered."

There was something tight in Liara's smile now. She fidgeted. "The more I talk to you, the less it sounds like you should be a Cerberus operative."

"Why? Making humanity stronger somehow equates with hating aliens and being smugly superior? Cerberus were the ones who insisted I go to university off-world. I'd barely left my home before then, let alone interacted with other species. For the first time, I had colleagues. Equals. None of them were human. We aren't better than the other species, but I won't let us become dependent on them, either. The turians provide the backbone of the Council fleet. The salarians provide intelligence. Once they stop being so grateful to us, they'll expect us to start upholding their interests again and call it stability. And every single Council race looks for ways to advance its interests. At the expense of the others, if necessary."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're cynical?" There was no malice in Liara's voice, only bemusement and exasperation.

"Of course I am. It's the only way to stay alive in my line of work. Most people will do anything they can to get ahead. Most politicians are exactly alike our friend Coburn, only worse." She arched an eyebrow. "How do you think the Shadow Broker has managed to stay in business? Everybody's looking for the chance to stab each other in the back. Someone has to watch out for humanity."

Liara did not speak for a long time. When she did, her voice was grave and seemed to belong to someone much older. "What does setting a thresher maw on human marines have to do with advancing humanity? Or murdering an Alliance admiral? Shepard won't see you as the protectors of humanity. She'll hate you for Akuze. And she'll hate me for handing her over to you."

"Look at me." She cupped Liara's cheek with her left hand him and tilted Liara's head so she could look directly at her. Electricity raced upward from her fingertips. "You were nearly raped, nearly killed, I don't know how many times. For Shepard's sake. You put your personal feelings about Cerberus aside. For Shepard's sake. If she hates you for that, she's a fool." Do you have any idea how rare and precious the loyalty and devotion you've shown is? No one will ever do for me what you have done for her. How could she hate you?

"That's very kind of you to say, but you don't know how badly what happened on Akuze scarred her."

"Then show me." The thought was sudden and terrifying, but this was what she had to do, what she had to know if she was ever to understand Shepard. "Show me Akuze."

[Ieldra]

Thank you, jtav. Very nice. I can't wait to read how Miranda reacts to Akuze.

One thing in the fifth paragraph: First, the AI is "very crude", then it's "damn good" - perhaps too much of a contrast. Also, Miranda talks about herself quite a bit, showing a lot of trust in Liara. I don't know where this excerpt fits into the whole story, but given Miranda's personality, it might come across as a bit premature. Perhaps it would help to insert some introspection and hesitation here and there to avoid the impression "Miranda talks too much".

I can't contribute something creative to this thread at this time, so...

Modifié par Ieldra2, 13 novembre 2010 - 07:58 .

[snfonseka]

Since I don't have anything to add...

[Elyvern]

Nice excerpt, jtav. And snfonseka - that's 1 of my fav screenshots.

[jtav]

Morning. Thanks for the feedback. I'll see what I can do about Miranda's chattiness. I'm thinking about making this the end-of-chapter cliffhanger. Thoughts?

[Elyvern]

Slow day. Mind if I post a fic excerpt for some brain food?

[tommyt_1994]

Elyvern wrote...

Slow day. Mind if I post a fic excerpt for some brain food?

Feel free

Modifié par tommyt_1994, 13 novembre 2010 - 04:06 .

[Ieldra]

jtav wrote...
I'm thinking about making this the end-of-chapter cliffhanger. Thoughts?

Cliffhangers are evil. I like it.

@Elyvern:
Go on and post.

BTW, weekends are always slow, and even more so since some people are spreading their attention between here and the CDG forum (including me).

[Elyvern]

Context: Post-CB, Shepard has saved the base, but has announced his intentions to betray TIM and not hand over the IFF transponder. This basically forces every Cerberus agent on SR2 to pick a side. This is raw (hasn't gone through the multiple reviewing that's my modus operandi), but you can consider it a "What-If" alternative to Miranda's in-game resignation scene.

Nursing a mug of synthetic coffee, Shepard finally sat down tiredly in the now-empty mess hall. It was late in the night cycle. But he couldn’t bring himself to rest.

The Illusive Man was fully capable of retribution, he was sure. Although hopefully the man had enough sense to set that aside until the Reapers were dealt with. When the blade finally fell, he would be at the top of that list, but close behind would be every Cerberus operative that chose to follow him. Not to mention everyone they care about.

He rose from his seat and made his way to Miranda’s office. Experience told him she was likely still awake. He pressed the buzzer. After a while, the light signalled green and he keyed it open.

She sat fortified behind her desk, still dressed in her Cerberus uniform, the console in front of her dark. Wary eyes followed him as he sat down on the seat across.

“What is it, commander?”

Her formal tone would dismay him under ordinary circumstances, but he was glad for it now.

“I want to apologise for springing the surprise on you.” Shepard began as neutrally as he could. “The only explanation I can give is it wouldn’t have made a difference. I know you’re probably conflicted right now, but I need to know what your decision’s going to be because while you’re my second-in-command, you’re also the top Cerberus agent on this ship.”

This wasn’t a decision he wanted her to make on the basis of their nascent relationship. Although he had the strongest of feeling something was off between them. For the past week, she’d made no attempt to approach him apart from official business. He’d kept his distance as well, but in his case, it’d been to gain an objective distance to make the fateful decision. With difficulty, Shepard pushed those thoughts out of his mind.

“It would mean a lot to me if you choose to stay in the same capacity as you are now. I know your sister’s safety is one of your concerns. But it’s one I can help with.” He opened his hands in supplication. “What I can’t is help you make your decision. The worst thing I can do is pull the emotional card on you. I can’t and I won’t buy your loyalty on that currency.”

Miranda ran a hand through her hair, and casted her eyes down. When she finally looked up, there was undisguised anger in her eyes.

“How bloody noble of you. Why don’t you just come out and say you’re waiting to see if I’d swallow my pride and admit my loyalty to Cerberus has been misplaced? Or if I’d keep turning a blind eye towards the things they’ve done?”

They’d never broached the subject about her allegiance apart from their first few conversations. That the Illusive Man had sent them into traps on the Collector Ship and Horizon was no secret to Miranda. Neither were the experimental fall-outs on Pragia and Aite. He’d made sure of that. Except now, he couldn’t help but feel dirty for manipulating her into seeing for herself the atrocities firsthand.

“I’m sorry,” she said, hands rising to shade her eyes. “That was out of line.”

Shepard tried to stifle his dismay at her obvious distraught. Where are your inspirational speeches now? Not so easy playing it so close to the heart, is it?

He swallowed and ventured to say carefully, “I came to talk to you because I wanted to make my position clear. You don’t have to give me the answer right now, Miranda.”

She laughed, a merest breath. Long minutes went by until he began to feel that his presence was unwelcome.

“I’ll...be going.” He muttered, rising from his seat and heading for the exit.

“Stop.”

He turned around. When she finally looked up at him, it was with terrifying and total attention.

“Let’s just dispense with the hand-wringing, shall we?”

“Are you sure you don’t need more time to consider?”

“I don’t see a point prolonging this any further.” Her tone was clipped. Hands flat on the tabletop, Miranda pushed herself up, blue-grey eyes never once leaving his face. “I’m with you. I’ll sever all ties with Cerberus. But I want to relocate my sister before you make your move.”

“I can make allowances for that.”

“Good.” She looked away, her motion stiff and unnatural. “Thank you.”

Silence.

“Do you want me to leave now?”

“I— Don’t you want to know my reasons?”

For answer, he walked over to regain his seat and regarded her patiently. After a moment, she sat down. Her voice when she began was so soft he had to lean forward to catch every word.

“Since EDI’s behavioural blocks were removed, I’ve been talking to her. A lot. I knew the Illusive Man ran cells in isolation, but I didn’t realised how much of it was meant to keep us in the dark over what went on elsewhere. I never knew the extent that he was willing to go, or how the cells I thought went rogue were acting under his orders the whole time.” She shook her head. “No, on some level, I had always known. It’s just...it was so easy to dismiss all that, to look the other way when there were incentives to do so—Oriana’s safety, the work and freedom I had, a place where I could put my gifts into good use...”

She shook her head. “The things I’ve seen over the past few months wouldn’t have bothered me this much before. But they do now. It’s like a door got opened, and I can’t close it.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

“I...I don’t know.” She interlaced her fingers, raising her hands in front of her face contemplatively before taking a deep breath. “No, I don’t think so.”

Her gaze settled on him even as her voice grew stronger.

“But I know who’s responsible for opening that door. It’s funny how I used to think you were an idealistic fool for wanting to believe in the Alliance and the Council. I guess the joke’s on me now that the tables are turned. But you’re right; the base can’t go to Cerberus. I didn’t want to admit it because that would mean I’ve made a mistake all these years.”

There didn’t seem to be anything appropriate to say that wouldn’t come across as patronising.

“You weren’t mistaken in thinking I’m an idealistic fool.” He finally blurted out. “Because the Alliance and the Council are the ones I’m going to give the IFF blueprints to. Even if I have to shove it down their throats.”

Her troubled eyes gradually cleared up as he said all this, and she smiled wanly.

“That’ll be a sight to see. What if they just let the blueprints rot in their databases?”

Shepard rose and walked past the table to her side and lean against it, arms crossed.

“I’m thinking of announcing my intention to release it to specialised groups like the Salarian STG. That’ll make sure no one sits on the information in case another faction decides to act and gets the upper hand.”

“Mordin could be put into good use convince the STG of the Reaper threat. But I’m not sure giving the blueprints to the Alliance or the Council is such a good idea, Shepard. You’ve already been accused of working with a terrorist group.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? What would you have me do, Miranda?” He growled in frustration, and then held back. “Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. I don’t even know how long we can keep this ship running with our current finances.”

She swivelled her chair to power up the console. A few keystrokes brought up an array of flowcharts. Shepard hunkered down beside her for a better look.

“I have something that’ll help with that. I’ve invested surpluses from our operation budget in a number of high-risk ventures. Luckily, they paid off. That should tide us for half a year at least.”

“Luck has nothing to do with it.” He reached for her hand and gripped it tight. “Thank you. That’s one load off my mind.”

Her hand was stiff on contact then slowly, her fingers curled around his.

“There’re other ways of getting more funds. For starters, I could hack into Cerberus’s accounts.”

“No. I’m done with them. And that includes taking advantage of them.” He looked at her. “You said it yourself. I’m an—”

“—idealistic fool. I can’t say if I’d agree with you, but I think I’m beginning to understand.” She turned around to look at him, her face starkly sombre. “Shepard, has it ever occurred to you the Reapers may not come for many years?"

“All the time. But I can’t be thinking that way. If they don’t come in our lifetimes, and I have to go down in history as a raving lunatic, then that’s the chance I have to take.”He tried for levity although he knew it was a poor attempt. “Although if that happens, I hope you don’t take it too badly that I led you on a tour of the galaxy.”

Modifié par Elyvern, 13 novembre 2010 - 05:05 .

[tommyt_1994]

Ieldra2 wrote...

jtav wrote...
I'm thinking about making this the end-of-chapter cliffhanger. Thoughts?

Cliffhangers are evil. I like it.

@Elyvern:
Go on and post.

BTW, weekends are always slow, and even more so since some people are spreading their attention between here and the CDG forum (including me).

I hateeee cliffhangers, they're one reason I dislike reading a new chapter of a fanfic as soon as it gets out. I like to have a good 2-3 chapters if front of me so that I can keep reading until I reach a happy point. Lol its a weakness.

I was actually reading a fanfic once that revolved around Miranda faking Tali's (she was romanced by Shepard) death to the whole crew. She drugged her and made he appear dead to everyone. She then put the very much concious Tali into a coffin and taunted her 24/7, and eventually spaced her <_<. This was all unprovoked by the way, she was just following TIM's orders to get her out of the way and seduce Shepard after he blew up the base. Ugh that type of fanfic irritates me, so off-based and just...evil.

Modifié par tommyt_1994, 13 novembre 2010 - 04:37 .

[Elyvern]

tommyt_1994 wrote...

I hateeee cliffhangers, they're one reason I dislike reading a new chapter of a fanfic as soon as it gets out. I like to have a good 2-3 chapters if front of me so that I can keep reading until I reach a happy point. Lol its a weakness.

I was actually reading a fanfic once that revolved around Miranda faking Tali's (she was romanced by Shepard) death to the whole crew. She drugged her and made he appear dead to everyone. She then put the very much concious Tali into a coffin and taunted her 24/7, and eventually spaced her <_<. This was all unprovoked by the way, she was just following TIM's orders to get her out of the way and seduce Shepard after he blew up the base. Ugh that type of fanfic irritates me, so off-based and just...evil.

Ugh, to give you an idea how much I hate and avoid fics like that, I just feel like I wasted 20 seconds of my life reading the synopsis you wrote.

@jtav- I love cliffhangers, I always end my chapters with 1 or with a big SURPRISE!

Modifié par Elyvern, 13 novembre 2010 - 04:40 .

[tommyt_1994]

Elyvern wrote...

tommyt_1994 wrote...

I hateeee cliffhangers, they're one reason I dislike reading a new chapter of a fanfic as soon as it gets out. I like to have a good 2-3 chapters if front of me so that I can keep reading until I reach a happy point. Lol its a weakness.

I was actually reading a fanfic once that revolved around Miranda faking Tali's (she was romanced by Shepard) death to the whole crew. She drugged her and made he appear dead to everyone. She then put the very much concious Tali into a coffin and taunted her 24/7, and eventually spaced her <_<. This was all unprovoked by the way, she was just following TIM's orders to get her out of the way and seduce Shepard after he blew up the base. Ugh that type of fanfic irritates me, so off-based and just...evil.

Ugh, to give you an idea how much I hate and avoid fics like that, I just feel like I wasted 20 seconds of my life reading the synopsis you wrote.

@jtav- I love cliffhangers, I always end my chapters with 1 or with a big SURPRISE!

Its truly unfortunate how many Miranda haters are in existance.

[Ieldra]

That fanfic sounded rather like written by someone who hates both of them.

Modifié par Ieldra2, 13 novembre 2010 - 04:59 .

[tommyt_1994]

Ieldra2 wrote...

That fanfic sounded rather like written by someone who hates both of them.

It was a Tali fan, actually. I didn't give all the details earlier lol. Tali didn't die when she was spaced, Thane knew of Miranda's plans but couldn't go "public" because she was using Kolyat as leverage against him. He left the Normandy before the funeral and picked up the coffin with a rental ship or something. Tali had to hide the fact that she was alive to keep Shepard safe blah blah. He was drinking himself to death and they were even once in the same room, though Shepard didn't know it. According to the author, it was headed towards a sappy reunion but I stopped reading long before that came. It's Miranda's evil tendencies in these fanfics that I really dislike. It's always Tali-centric fanfics that paint Miranda as evil, take from that what you may.

[Ieldra]

@Elyvern:

Nice excerpt. Much better to see Miranda resign from Cerberus this way. I wish the game had been like that. But your Shepard really *is* an idealistic fool if he refuses Miranda's offer to hack into Cerberus' accounts - not only depriving himself of resources, but missing a chance to damage Cerberus. Just so you know he comes across as that to the reader, so much so that I'd have Miranda do it anyway.

[Elyvern]

Ieldra2 wrote...

@Elyvern:
Nice excerpt. Much better to see Miranda resign from Cerberus this way. I wish the game had been like that. But your Shepard really *is* an idealistic fool if he refuses Miranda's offer to hack into Cerberus' accounts - not only depriving himself of resources, but missing a chance to damage Cerberus. Just so you know he comes across as that to the reader, so much so that I'd have Miranda do it anyway.

Thanks, Ieldra. I meant for Shepard to begin idealistic and then become more and more cynical. This is after all right at the start of my story chronologically speaking. There has to be a marked difference between his morality and Miranda's, as long as he doesn't come across as being ridiculously stupid. (does he?) Otherwise, I can't sell him as a convincing vehicle for changing her attitudes either.  

Edit: I'm probably going to edit the part where Miranda suggests hacking into Cerberus, because for a newly-changed of heart, she's coming across as too callous against her former employer. I don't want suspicions raised that she could be agreeing with Shepard, but still secretly working for Cerberus.

Modifié par Elyvern, 13 novembre 2010 - 05:31 .

[Ieldra]

Elyvern wrote...
Thanks, Ieldra. I meant for Shepard to begin idealistic and then become more and more cynical. This is after all right at the start of my story chronologically speaking. There has to be a marked difference between his morality and Miranda's, as long as he doesn't come across as being ridiculously stupid. (does he?) Otherwise, I can't sell him as a convincing vehicle for changing her attitudes either.

I admit I *was* thinking "Could Miranda respect this Shepard and come to love him?" when I read about that refusal to move funds from the newly-made enemy's accounts. I didn't say anything before because I don't know the context of the excerpt, but since you asked... The other things are OK, since Shepard makes it clear that he's prepared to counter any ignorance and stupidity on the part of the Alliance and Council with plans of his own.

[enayasoul]

jtav wrote...

A short excerpt from Persistence.

I wanted to say that I enjoyed reading your short excerpt. Looking forward to reading more.

Modifié par enayasoul, 14 novembre 2010 - 03:42 .

[enayasoul]

Elyvern wrote...

Context: Post-CB, Shepard has saved the base, but has announced his intentions to betray TIM and not hand over the IFF transponder. This basically forces every Cerberus agent on SR2 to pick a side. This is raw (hasn't gone through the multiple reviewing that's my modus operandi), but you can consider it a "What-If" alternative to Miranda's in-game resignation scene.

Looking forward to seeing how this story develops. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[t3HPrO]

So...anyone interested in a Miranda&Tali friendship fic that's set post-CB? (Miri was romanced by a blueberry-flavored Paragade Shep and he blew up the base, she resigned from Cerberus and the whole 9 yards.) Or a post-CB Miri/Shep fic that deals with the prejudices that others have of their relationship (think of Miranda's uniform even after she resigns from Cerberus, the bumbling Council (i.e. the frog; the squid and the...air quote guy), Udina's infamous 'political s#*tstorm' and finally the general public's perception of Cerberus as some of the prejudices and you're there.)

[Ieldra]

t3HPrO, I think I can safely say there's alway interest in Miranda fanfics.

[tommyt_1994]

t3HPrO wrote...

So...anyone interested in a Miranda&Tali friendship fic that's set post-CB? (Miri was romanced by a blueberry-flavored Paragade Shep and he blew up the base, she resigned from Cerberus and the whole 9 yards.) Or a post-CB Miri/Shep fic that deals with the prejudices that others have of their relationship (think of Miranda's uniform even after she resigns from Cerberus, the bumbling Council (i.e. the frog; the squid and the...air quote guy), Udina's infamous 'political s#*tstorm' and finally the general public's perception of Cerberus as some of the prejudices and you're there.)

Both . But to answer your question seriously, I'd like to see a Tali/Miranda friendship fic. Out of all the possible friendships, that's definitely one of the more difficult ones to make and it sound convincing. Irregardless, good luck .

I've been thinking of writing another quickfic that's somewhat of a sequel to Doubts I just need a subject. Ideas anyone?

Ieldra2 wrote...
t3HPrO, I think I can safely say there's alway interest in Miranda fanfics.

I agree, and there has been quite a few as of late.

Modifié par tommyt_1994, 14 novembre 2010 - 07:47 .

[Ieldra]

tommyt_1994 wrote...
I've been thinking of writing another quickfic that's somewhat of a sequel to Doubts I just need a subject. Ideas anyone?

Hmm. It's set after the CB, that limits things somewhat regarding possible Miranda/Shepard interaction. Most ideas I have are either rather extensive, or ot personal enough. Perhaps an alternative sex scene? So many people have complained about the engine room that I'm surprised there aren't more of these. It would also be interesting to read about Miranda interacting with other members of the team. Perhaps a serious of short fics with Miranda talking with X. I can see connection points with almost every other team member.