I Like Blue

the original girl boss of gaming; commander shepard everyone.

Tali’Zorah nar Rayya

EMPATHY CLUB — Downtown, City Center Cyberpunk 2077 (2020) dev. CD Projekt Red

Today I am starting what I'm calling my "Liara Friendship Playthrough", in which I play the Mass Effect trilogy but don't romance anyone, not even Liara, so I can experience what her and Shepard's friendship is like (because in all 7 of my playthroughs, I romanced Liara every time). I'm so down bad for Liara that I will purposefully "friendzone" myself to see more Liara content 😭 Wish me luck y'all 🫡

I am legit struggling to hit the "I just want to be friends." option.... god this is gonna be TORTURE. I've been sitting here for 15mins already.

I AM ATTRACTED TO YOU, LIARA. I LOVE YOU ACTUALLY!! but aghhh i want to experience your friendship! 😩

I'm pretty sure this is the only time I reject her like this.... so after this, it should be easy from then on, right? ...... right? 🥺

I DID IT - i got through ME1 without romancing Liara. The hardest part is over... or is it? UGH i hated rejecting her 😭 But! I was closest with her, talked to her the most, etc.

It was cool to hear new dialogue with her, too! I will say though, it did feel a bit emptier without a romance imo. Now onto ME2!

So even though I didn't speak at all to Kaidan in ME1, except for the obligatory story stuff, he's the one that shows up when the Normandy is being attacked. 🤔

I'm honestly shocked by this for a couple reasons. One of them being: I've seen people swear up and down that Liara is "forced" onto them, so I was full-on expecting her to show up here (though i'm sure if you play femshep and Kaidan died, she would show up). I also expected more of her being "forced" onto me during ME1, which also didn't happen. I find this... interesting... I'll just leave it at that. lmao But yeah basically I'm pretty sure it's coded for Kaidan to appear since I'm playing femShep. Ashley (if alive) would appear if i were playing broShep.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing Liara on Illium later and seeing what the non-romanced exchange is like!

OH MY GOD????

THEY HUG! And the way Liara exhales and says Shepard's name as they embrace... it was the sound of absolute relief. Relief that Shepard is right in front of her, and then getting to hold her, knowing it's really her (referencing when Liara says "I knew it was really you the first time I touched you again." when reassuring Shepard in ME3 about her possibly being an AI who thinks they're Commander Shepard). And knowing that Liara, while relieved to see Shepard, is also feeling a large amount of guilt for giving her to Cerberus and fear that Shepard might hate her... AGHH ... I almost prefer this over the kiss they have if romanced. Almost. Romanced should have both c'mon But this is really nice! I've watched it 20 times now lmao

OKAY OKAY OKAY OKAYYYY.... I finished LotSB last night and I have a lot to say!!

They still hug (*can still hug, pretty sure it's optional, since you can say "It's just nerves" instead of "[hug her]") and instead of the famous amazing kiss that is the most romantic thing I've ever seen in media... they hold hands! I find this very sweet and I was losing my mind. Even as friends, there's a considerable amount of affection (which is a positive for me, since I myself am an affectionate person). I'm so glad this is a thing because it was a lot that Liara just went through, the past 2 years included, plus the guilt and responsibility she feels, and then coming down from the fight realizing that she has both Shepard and Feron back... she definitely needed that comfort and stability from Shepard.

Another thing I noticed when leaving the base, one of the other big differences is as Shepard is walking away, Liara whispers (mostly to herself, Shepard is too far to properly hear her) "Thank you, Shepard. For everything." And the music that plays at this point changes to the same one that starts when Benezia dies in ME1. I don't think it actually means anything, since some music pieces are used repeatedly for different moments (i.e. the music that plays when Jenkins dies is the same as when you're intimate w/ Sha'ira the consort). But what I find interesting is that the romanced version doesn't have this! Neither the "thank you shepard" or the music change. 🤔

Coming back to the base, at the end of talking to Liara, Shepard will say something like "It was nice talking with you, Liara. Let me know if you need anything." And Liara will say what she needs right now is a friend, and that maybe she can come to the Normandy for drinks so that she's not cooped up in the base. Of course you can be a dick tell her no, or you can say "sure, let's go right now" or select the later option, in which Shepard will say "Sounds good. Next time I come down, it's a date." (omg so cute??)

I picked "right now" and it's the same as romanced version, where they smile after each other (AGHHHH)!

Their time in the cabin is still similar to the romanced version, with a few dialogue differences and obvs lack of romantic charge/intimacy - there's still this openness they have with each other, and clear affection as seen with the captures above, and heard with their dialogue. I also want to note that the tags were given to Liara from Hackett, with instruction to give to Shepard. Just wanted to point that out, since... certain parts of the fandom tend to not mention it. 🫣

Anyway, they hug (AGAIN!!) and Shepard sits on her bed and watches Liara exit, and says "Come back soon." her voice with a hint of... not loss, but like, already missing Liara? If that makes sense. In romanced version, she walks Liara to the elevator, they hug and as Liara leaves, Shepard says "Come back soon, Liara." with a clear tone of yearning.

Ahhh while it's a little difficult not romancing her, I am very much appreciating seeing this side of their relationship. I have a feeling ME3 is gonna mess me up though... can't wait! lmao

"we need more complex female characters" you couldn't even handle her

Me when I see a picture of ✨The Character™✨:

MASS EFFECT 2: LEGENDARY EDITION (2021) dev. Bioware

It’s been half a year since I drew a portrait art for my favorite character - commander Shepard . Then I could not translate all the ideas because of lack of experience, but now the situation has changed significantly, so I did a remastering of the old work. The new commander Shepard version 2.0.

"I was only mostly dead. Try finding that on government paperwork."

Today I am starting what I'm calling my "Liara Friendship Playthrough", in which I play the Mass Effect trilogy but don't romance anyone, not even Liara, so I can experience what her and Shepard's friendship is like (because in all 7 of my playthroughs, I romanced Liara every time). I'm so down bad for Liara that I will purposefully "friendzone" myself to see more Liara content 😭 Wish me luck y'all 🫡

I am legit struggling to hit the "I just want to be friends." option.... god this is gonna be TORTURE. I've been sitting here for 15mins already.

I AM ATTRACTED TO YOU, LIARA. I LOVE YOU ACTUALLY!! but aghhh i want to experience your friendship! 😩

I'm pretty sure this is the only time I reject her like this.... so after this, it should be easy from then on, right? ...... right? 🥺

I DID IT - i got through ME1 without romancing Liara. The hardest part is over... or is it? UGH i hated rejecting her 😭 But! I was closest with her, talked to her the most, etc.

It was cool to hear new dialogue with her, too! I will say though, it did feel a bit emptier without a romance imo. Now onto ME2!

So even though I didn't speak at all to Kaidan in ME1, except for the obligatory story stuff, he's the one that shows up when the Normandy is being attacked. 🤔

I'm honestly shocked by this for a couple reasons. One of them being: I've seen people swear up and down that Liara is "forced" onto them, so I was full-on expecting her to show up here (though i'm sure if you play femshep and Kaidan died, she would show up). I also expected more of her being "forced" onto me during ME1, which also didn't happen. I find this... interesting... I'll just leave it at that. lmao But yeah basically I'm pretty sure it's coded for Kaidan to appear since I'm playing femShep. Ashley (if alive) would appear if i were playing broShep.

Anyway, looking forward to seeing Liara on Illium later and seeing what the non-romanced exchange is like!

OH MY GOD????

THEY HUG! And the way Liara exhales and says Shepard's name as they embrace... it was the sound of absolute relief. Relief that Shepard is right in front of her, and then getting to hold her, knowing it's really her (referencing when Liara says "I knew it was really you the first time I touched you again." when reassuring Shepard in ME3 about her possibly being an AI who thinks they're Commander Shepard). And knowing that Liara, while relieved to see Shepard, is also feeling a large amount of guilt for giving her to Cerberus and fear that Shepard might hate her... AGHH ... I almost prefer this over the kiss they have if romanced. Almost. Romanced should have both c'mon But this is really nice! I've watched it 20 times now lmao

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