I know I'm a day late on this subject, but I think that with the right dialogue, marriage could be pulled off pretty well. The focus shouldn't be on any ceremonies though. It should be left at
the proposal. If Bioware plays to the suspense and emotion of those three words they could create a powerful scene. The actual marriage ceremony would be assumed to happen after the game. What follows is a redacted short story that deals with this scenario. The main story was created by Lividity Jones. I'm sorry this had to be so long, but I couldn't bring myself to trim such a good piece of writting.
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*Tali and Shepard walk hand-in-hand through the empty streets of a once-glorious quarian city, the winds of Rannoch howling through the canyons of steel and glass. Storefronts are left bare, as though waiting for their owners to return and re-stock their shelves. Nightclub doors are left wide open, inviting it's future guests into their halls. Public parks are eerily still, water left placid and without life. The faint silver glint of tears can be seen forming under Tali's eyes, visible even through the opaque violet.*
Tali: It's so... beautiful... I never imagined...
*Shepard looks to his love, his hand still holding hers, always and forever there for her. His brow furrows beneath his helmet at the sight of her tears.*
Shepard: Are you alright?
*Tali's silver eyes stare out at the vast cityscape, feeling the warm water of her tears sliding down the soft flesh of her cheeks. A strange amalgam of confusion and joy showed in her tone as the words spilled forth from her voice modulator as freely as her tears.*
Tali: I-I... I can't believe it... It's been so restored... It's like nothing ever happened... Three hundred years and nobody...
nobody has been here...
*Shepard looks out at the metal and glass spires of the city, as though noticing them for the first time. The woman beside him had occupied every thought process in his body since they had arrived, his armored hand idly thumbing the velvet-covered box hiding in one of his ammo-packs. He could think of no better a time or place to do this.*
Shepard: Do you think you... your people could have a home here?
*Tali blinks away at the tears in her eyes, the brilliant silver stars of her eyes vanishing for only a heartbreaking second beneath the opaque glass before turning those beautiful pieces of starlight to meet Shepard's gaze. Her three fingers grip his five ever so slightly tighter as her heart races.*
Tali: Yes... I think we can.
*Tali breaks her gaze, looking out at the setting orange sun in the distance, the light catching in the curve of her visor's surface, illuminating a soft, smiling face.*
Tali: I think I'd like to see it without my mask... While I still have a chance...
*Shepard feels her fingers slip from his, watching as her fingers move to the small switch concealed beneath the edges of her visor. A shoft chime sings out into the passing breeze before Tali slowly removes the visor. The wind caresses her silken smooth skin, opening her starry eyes to see her first sunset unobstructed by the burden her people endured. Her lips curl into a soft smile before turning back to Shepard and taking a deep breath of her home's air.*
Tali: I never thought I would live to see this... To be standing here...
*Shepard once again meets the face of the woman he had fallen in love with, feeling his heart racing with more passion and heat than he had ever known before his own death. He swallowed, gathering every last piece of resolve he had in his body before taking the velvet-covered box from it's hiding place. Everything seemed to slow down to a crawl, taking a few precarious steps closer to Tali before dropping to a knee before the quarian.*
Shepard: Tali... I...
*Tali tilts her head to the side curiously, her expression one of abrupt confusion. Tali crouches to meet Shepard's face, bring her hand to his cheek, her concerned voice speaking free of distortion.*
Tali: Shepard...? Are you alright?
*Shepard can feel himself sweating beneath his armor, suddenly aware of just how hot it was inside the suit. His lips quivered as he spoke, struggling to find the words after fumbling with his usual deft brilliance.*
Shepard: Tali... Please, I need you to stand up.
*Tali tilts her head to the side, concern clear in her voice.*
Tali: Why? What's wrong? You're scaring me...
*Shepard sputtered, making a vague upwards gesture with his free hand, breathing a sigh of relief when Tali hesitantly stood straight. Shepard crooned his neck upwards to gaze at the beautiful face he had dreamed of and the woman it belonged to.*
Shepard: I'm sorry... It's just... The woman is supposed to be standing for this.
*Shepard slowly opened the lid on the velvet-covered box, the snap almost definingly loud inside his own nerve-wracked mind, to reveal a ring nestled in the silk interior. A band of refined platinum, the metal taken from the Normandy's hull and shaped into something comfortable to wear, encrusted with the finest gems and diamonds Shepard could find. Tali's silver-starred eyes widen at the obviously expensive piece of jewelery.*
Shepard: Tali... You mean everything to me. I can't wake up in the morning without thinking about you. I can't sleep at night unless you're the one holding her arms around me. I have dreams about you. I used to only have nightmares... After everything that's happened... I can't think of anybody I would rather have at my side. You were there for me when the entire galaxy turned it's back on me. You give me a reason to keep fighting. You give me something to hope for. I love you. And...
*Shepard pauses, every single atom of his existance holding it's breath as he let the most important question he ever asked anyone slip past his lips.*
Shepard: ...Will you marry me?
*Tali's eyes widen, her mouth left agape, silent as pure and complete shock struck her. The silence of Rannoch seems to last an eternity before Tali erupts into a furious string of babbling.*
Tali: I... But... You... Me... We...
Married...? Keelah... I don't... Umm.... What... I...
*Shepard resists the urge to laugh at his lover's nervous babbling. He had seen her go toe-to-toe with krogan battlemasters and not even flinch, but she was a nervous, hand-wringing wreck whenever they were together. After what felt like hours, Tali finally shouts her answer, complete joy and jubilation in her voice.*
Tali: Yes! Keelah, Shepard, yes!
*Shepard finally exhaled, removing the ring from it's velvet case and sliding it onto Tali's finger, thanking whatever cosmic force that was listening that it fit. Tali brought her hand up to view the jewelery up close, tears welling up in her eyes once again. Their eyes meet, Tali smiling and bouncing on her toes before launching at Shepard in a pounce, wrapping herself around Shepard's armoured body in a passionate embrace.*
(Scene fades out )__________________________________________________________________________
Modifié par Capt_Flashheart, 28 mars 2011 - 03:57 .
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