History Characters / MassEffectTaliZorah

* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: After secretly falling in love with a male Shepard during the first game Tali is stunned if Shepard returns her feelings in the sequel, having hid her feelings after assuming that he would not want to see past her helmet and see her for her.

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: She's overjoyed when Shepard starts making advances towards her, but later tries to back out, [[HeroicSelfDeprecation believing herself to be undeserving of Shepard's affection]] and fearing that he'll be hurt by their relationship.

* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: Tali is stunned if Male Shepard commits to a romantic relationship with her. Shepard won Tali's heart in the first game, but she hid her feelings, assuming that he would not want to see past her helmet and see her for her.

-->'''Tali:''' I gave up my father for my people. I gave up my freedom for an admiral position I didn’t want. [[HeartwarmingMoments I'm not giving up you.]]

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: She's overjoyed when Shepard starts making advances towards her, but tries to back out when they next meet, [[HeroicSelfDeprecation believing herself to be undeserving of Shepard's affection]] and fearing that he'll be hurt by their relationship.

** She also doesn't hold it against you if you break up with her in favor of your ''[=ME1=]'' love interest, saying earnestly that she hopes you two are happy together. She has a similar reaction in ''[=ME2=]'' if you pursue the romance course with her but back out at the last minute, calmly accepting the rejection and saying that there are no hard feelings.

** The Shadow Broker Dossiers further show that, after being authorized for Project Haestrom (shortly before the [=ME2=]'s beginning), she installed several apps. These include videos dealing with loss, but eventually lead to apps on human mating rituals, Immuno-Boosters (for [[DoubleEntendre professionals]]) and several [[ADateWithRosiePalms Nerve Stims]].

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[TearJerker She's overjoyed when Shepard starts making advances towards her, but tries to back out when they next meet, believing herself to be undeserving of Shepard's affection and fearing that he'll be hurt by their relationship.]]
-->'''Tali:''' You deserve to... be happy with someone. [[HeroicSelfDeprecation I can't do that.]] No matter how much I... I could get sick, jeopardize the mission.

** [[spoiler: Due to laziness on Bioware and EA's part, the picture is actually an edited version of a stock photo from Getty Images. Link: http://gamerant.com/mass-effect-3-tali-spoiler-unmasked-image-benk-137322/]]

A quarian machinist who specializes in technology or resources valuable to the Migrant Fleet. After finding information on her pilgrimage incriminating Saren, Tali is double-crossed during a meeting. She is rescued by Shepard, whom she joins out of gratitude and to help bring down Saren. She goes onto become one of Shepard's closest friends, [[UndyingLoyalty being one of only three people to be a party member in all three games]]. In ''Mass Effect 2'', she becomes a romance option for a male Shepard.

A quarian machinist who specializes in technology or resources valuable to the quarian Migrant Fleet. After finding information on her pilgrimage incriminating Saren, Tali is double-crossed during a meeting. She meets Shepard, who rescues her in exchange for the information. She remains joins out of gratitude and to help bring down Saren. She goes onto become one of Shepard's closest friends, [[UndyingLoyalty being one of only three people to be a party member in all three games]]. In ''Mass Effect 2'', she becomes a romance option for a male Shepard.

A quarian machinist who specializes in technology or resources valuable to the quarian Migrant Fleet. While on her pilgrimage, she finds information incriminating Saren. She attempts to trade the information for protection, but is double-crossed. Tali is rescued by Shepard, whom she joins out of gratitude and to help bring down Saren. She becomes one of Shepard's closest friends, [[UndyingLoyalty being one of three people to be a party member in all three games]]. In ''Mass Effect 2'', she becomes a romance option for a male Shepard.

[[center: [- [[Characters/MassEffect Main Character Index]] | [[Characters/MassEffectCommanderShepard Commander Shepard]] | [[Characters/MassEffect1PartyMembers Party 1 Members]] | [[Characters/MassEffectKaidanAlenko Kaidan Alenko]] | [[Characters/MassEffectAshleyWilliams Ashley Williams]] | [[Characters/MassEffectGarrusVakarian Garrus Vakarian]] | [[Characters/MassEffectLiaraTSoni Liara T'Soni]] | '''Tali'Zorah''' | [[Characters/MassEffectUrdnotWrex Urdnot Wrex]] | [[Characters/MassEffect1Antagonists Mass Effect 1 Antagonists]] | [[Characters/MassEffect1Npcs Mass Effect 1 NPCs]] | [[Characters/MassEffect2EarlyPartyMembers Early Party 2 Members]] | [[Characters/MassEffect2LatePartyMembers Late Party 2 Members]] | [[Characters/MassEffect2SecretPartyMembers Mass Effect 2 Secret Party Members]] | [[MassEffect2AntagonistsAndNpcs/MainAntagonists Mass Effect 2 Main Antagonists]] | [[MassEffect2AntagonistsAndNpcs/SecondaryAntagonists Mass Effect 2 Secondary Antagonists]] | [[MassEffect2AntagonistsAndNpcs/NormandyCrew Normandy Crew]] | [[MassEffect2AntagonistsAndNpcs/CouncilSpace Mass Effect 2 Council Space NPCs]] |[[MassEffect2AntagonistsAndNpcs/NonCouncilSpace Mass Effect 2 Non Council Space NPCs]] | [[Characters/MassEffect3PartyMembers Party 3 Members]] |[[Characters/MassEffect3AntagonistsAndNpcs Mass Effect 3 Antagonists and NPCs]] | [[Characters/MassEffect3MultiplayerCharacters Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Characters]] | [[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaPathfinderRyder Pathfinder Ryder]] | [[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaPartyMembers Party Andromeda Members]] | [[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaCrewOfTheTempest Crew of the Tempest]] |[[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaTheAndromedaInitiative The Andromeda Initiative]] | [[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaTheKett The Kett]] |[[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaTheAngara The Angara]] | [[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaOtherCharacters Andromeda Other Characters]] | [[Characters/MassEffectAndromedaMultiplayerCharacters Multiplayer Characters]]]]-]

A quarian machinist who specializes in technology and is traveling on her pilgrimage to find technology or resources valuable to the quarian Migrant Fleet. Joins Shepard's team for protection when she finds information incriminating Saren, and remains both out of gratitude and to help bring down Saren. She is a party member in all three games, as well as a romance option in [=ME2=] for a male Shepard.

** This trait is also a major part of her RomanceSidequest; at the start of it, she feels as if she's being unprofessional and selfish just for considering it. In the second game, she initially tries to back out of the relationship, even apologizing for bringing up the idea, due to a combination of IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy and concern that it could negatively affect her duties on the mission. In the third game, she tells Shepard right at the start of the Rannoch arc that she probably won't come back on the Normandy after the quarian-geth war is over, despite how much she wants to, because "My people need me". The emotional climax of her whole romance arc across both games comes at the end of the Rannoch arc, when she finally gains enough confidence in herself and her relationship to pursue it fully. After that, she and Shepard get along splendidly.

* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: Her reaction if Male Shepard expresses interest in a romantic relationship. Shepard stole Tali's heart in the first game, but she assumed that he would not want to see past her helmet and see her for her.

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[TearJerker She's overjoyed when Shepard starts making advances towards her, but tries to back out when they next meet because she believes that he'll be hurt by their relationship.]]

* WasItReallyWorthIt: [[spoiler: If the quarians reclaim Rannoch violently rather than by making peace with the geth in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', she wonders if it was really worth exterminating a potential ally and personally killing a friend]].

* {{Foil}}: She and Liara have character traits that play off one another. In the original game, Liara was cast as the {{Adorkable}} [[TheCutie Cutie]] who loved Shepard and practically worshipped the ground they walked on. But, after she took a DarkerAndEdgier path in the second game, all of those traits fell to Tali. Further, they are both extremely smart and capable women, but extreme opposites in gameplay. Liara is a powerful SquishyWizard with exceptional biotic abilities. Tali is a GadgeteerGenius specced entirely toward Tech. Even their firearms contrast: Liara wields a pistol used at a safe distance, while Tali is outfitted with a CloseRangeShotgun, meaning that even having both in the squad at once means the team is prepared for every conceivable obstacle.

* {{Foil}}: Developes quite a subtle form with Liara over the course of the series
** They are both extremely smart and capable women, though not in the same way. Tali is a GadgeteerGenius relying on her technical skills both in and outside of combat, whereas Liara is a straight up GeniusBruiser, who in addiction to powerful biotic powers possesses an impressive, multi-purpose intellect, although falls quite a bit short in "social skills" department.
** They were both raised largely by a single parent, who later disgraced themselves and lead to a horrible situation arising. Benezia, however, did so under Sovereign's influence and had no choice in the matter. Liara doesn't hold anything against her after finding out the truth and possibly gets to reunite with her mother one last time. Tali, on the other hand, never got that chance and never fully forgives her father for his actions.
** Due to their heritage, both Liara and Tali had a great deal of expectations placed upon them since childhood. Despite not truly wanting to, Tali either lives up to those by taking Rannoch back or dies trying. Liara, on the other hand, doesn't even try to lead her species and chooses to pursue a carrier in science, and later information brokering instead. Funnily enough, both end up helping the galaxy out big time despite taking different paths.
** Liara amasses large influence by delving into criminal world and usurping the title of the Shadow Broker for herself. Tali also gets to occupy a position of power, but by openly leading her people rather than by shadowy means.

* Foil: Developes quite a subtle form with Liara over the course of the series

* MusclesAreMeaningless: She's thin and lightly built, but surprisingly strong. She can use [[{{BFG}} very heavy shotguns]] like the Crusader without any trouble, which are on par in terms of weight and recoil with anti-materiel rifles. She also manages to [[TakeMyHand easily pull the very heavily armored and armed, potentially 150+ kg male Shepard to safety]] on the Geth Dreadnought, as well as potentially on the Collector Base and at the climax of the Citadel DLC. For an idea of how hard that is, [[http://www.discovery.com/tv-shows/mythbusters/videos/dangling-damsel/ when the Mythbusters tested it]] they discovered that an average man struggled a lot to pull up someone about a third of Shepard's potential weight in that scenario. It's implied at a few points that quarians are stronger than humans of the same weight, so that might explain it.

* BattleCouple: With Shepard if romanced.

'''Tali:''' I know... well, not that I know by I... I didn't mean it like that. It's a.... um, wow! It's really hot in here!

A quarian machinist who specializes in technology and is traveling on her pilgrimage to find technology or resources valuable to the quarian Migrant Fleet. Joins Shepard's team for protection when she finds information incriminating Saren, and remains both out of gratitude and to help bring down Saren. She is a party member in all three games, as well as a romance option in [=ME2=].

** Particularly when you romance her.
--->'''Shepard:''' I trust you too, Tali, but you don't have to prove anything to me.\\
'''Tali:''' I know... well, no, not that I know... it's just that... well... it's not normally like this... I mean, wow... when did it get so hot in here?

** Is done in reverse as well when she saves Shepard in the third game -- that is, [[spoiler: if you side with the quarians in their conflict with the geth]]. Also happens on the Geth Dreadnought, where Tali saves Shepard from falling to his/her death when the elevator is damaged by a rocket.

-->'''Shepard:''' ''[tenderly]'' I need you to make it out of here alive, Tali. ''[strokes her head]'' Go back to Rannoch... build yourself a home

'''Tali''': [[RunningGag Did you really fall through the fish tank?]]\\

* WhatWouldXDo:
** Not as much as Garrus, but she tries, to the point of trying to emulate Shepard's [[NiceJobBreakingItHero nice job with the mining laser]] back on Therum with demolition charges. We'll just assume she forgot about how that kind of blew up in Shepard's face when s/he tried it... but hey, [[GoneHorriblyRight it still got Shepard what s/he wanted]].
** Another example: When trying to help a fellow quarian on Illium who sold herself into indentured servitude to pay off stock market debts, Tali will follow Shepard's lead if you try to charm/intimidate a Synthetic Insights rep into buying her contract, offering increased business with the Migrant Fleet if you use Charm, or threatening to park said Migrant Fleet on top of the Synthetic Insights headquarters if you use Intimidate.
*** In 3, she'll state flat-out that [[spoiler: the only reason she took the Admiral position]] was because she thought Shepard would do the same thing in her position.

* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Her feelings for Male Shep. Kelly, Kasumi, Liara, and Javik can all comment on it. Liara, in ''Lair of the Shadow Broker'', suggests she knew about Tali's feelings as early as the first game. Kaidan and Ashley's complete lack of surprise when they hear Shepard and Tali dropping innuendos at each other during a mission suggest they did too. For comparison, newcomers James and Javik (who are just meeting Tali) will instead express confusion when they start flirting, and have to have to be told about their relationship by EDI.

* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: Her reaction if Shepard expresses interest in a romantic relationship. Tali had actually been in love with Shepard since the first game, but assumed that he would never see past her helmet and see her for her.
--> '''Tali:''' I've watched you for so long. And yet I never thought you'd ever see past... ''[gestures at her helmet]'' this.

---> '''Kasumi:''' Tali is so cute. You're all she talks about, in that rainbows-and-butterflies kind of way. She loves you, Shepard. Be good to her.

* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: [[TearJerker She initially refuses Shepard's advances because she believes that he'll be hurt by their relationship.]]
-->'''Tali:''' You deserve to be... happy with someone. [[HeroicSelfDeprecation I can't do that.]] No matter how much I... I could get sick, jeopardize the mission.

* PairTheSpares: If your Male Shepard does not romance Tali in Mass Effect 3, she will end up with Garrus.

* BestFriend: By the end of the trilogy, she and Garrus have stood by Shepard through ''everything''. At the end, Shepard can acknowledge both of as his/her most trusted allies.

** The Shadow Broker Dossiers further show that, after being authorized for Project Haestrom (shortly before the ME2's beginning), she installed several apps. These include videos dealing with loss, but eventually lead to apps on human mating rituals, Immuno-Boosters (for [[DoubleEntendre professionals]]) and several [[ADateWithRosiePalms Nerve Stims]].

* ShootTheDog: [[spoiler: If you can't broker peace between the quarians and the geth, then you must choose one of the two. If you choose the quarians, then Legion will knock Shepard down, strangle him/her, and hold him/her over the edge of a cliff. Tali then stabs it. In Legion's final moments, Tali tells it that she's sorry and that it does have a soul; if it's the Geth VI she tells him that "Legion would have understood" (she is mistaken)]].

** Not as much as Garrus, but she tries, to the point of trying to emulate Shepard's [[NiceJobBreakingItHero nice job with the mining laser]] back on Therum with demolition charges. We'll just assume she forgot about how that kind of blew up in Shepard's face when s/he tried it... but hey, it still got Shepard what s/he wanted.

'''Shepard:''' That;s a ''straw'', Tali.\\

-->'''Ken:''' ''[to Gabby]'' Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful bucket.. The whole suit is lovely, quite snug in all the right places...\\

-->'''Shepard:''' Sure thing... Ms. Vas Normandy.

* NobleBigot: Reconstructed. As selfless and heroic as Tali is, she ''hates'' synthetic lifeforms -- and she's one of the more ''open-minded'' quarians. This is based on the uncomfortable fact that her people were driven off their home planet and nearly annihilated by their own created AI race, and the geth later [[spoiler:kill her father as well]]. As the games go on, however, she is forced to confront the uncomfortable reality that while the quarians have good reasons to hate the geth, a lot of their suffering is of their own making, and meeting with [[spoiler:Legion]] especially forces her to reexamine her JustAMachine attitude towards the geth, especially during her Loyalty Mission, where she gets a glimpse at how far her father was willing to go in the name of getting her back to the homeworld. Eventually, thanks to CharacterDevelopment, she becomes in favour of peace with the geth. [[spoiler: The player's choices can make her be more friendly to Legion, sparking a friendly NotSoDifferent situation in the third game to resolve the whole quarian/geth conflict. Doing so factors in to the potential for reconciliation between the geth and quarians]].