#a friends Smuggler

[redbean-nom]

fascinated by the implied fennec-ventress-phee friend group in tbb. even more interesting (funny) when you add boba in there during the tbobf era.

[antiqua-lugar]

sorry that fandom poll got to me and aside from being eternally sad that me:a will not get a sequel, i will never be over how great the reyes vidal romance is.

like he and ryder met once for a mission but that one conversation where they talk Kadara politics and flirt hard apparently was enough to go Yes, I Met The One, everyone around them is going "oh gods no" and it fucking works. they go through all the most dramatic movie plot twists - the evil ex! the date that actually was a heist! kiss as a distraction! local smuggler with a heart of gold is actually the secret leader of a whole planet - and then they settle in the most chill, comfy long distance relationship because the pathfinder and the charlatan are the only people who understand each other as being people and leaders and completely unhinged people. reyes is like "from now on I want to be honest with you" and ryder is like "when you gotta lie you gotta lie" and then they just carry on like that. reyes has known ryder for like a few months at best but love is real so he immediately writes ryder down as the charlatan's consort and everyone on kadara just has to live with it.

like it's not even a "I can fix him" kind of romance, all companions are like "Are you sure?" and Ryder is like "Yeah? He's fine". and he is

[rttnpnkpmpkn]

I can be your angle 👼or deevil 😈

[hakugin0]

"Is this defeat? Will you lose 'money' or 'pride'?"

Ikasama⇔Casino inspired Wren and PC(Ines). God I swear I'm so normal about them I swear I did not pick up my pen initially as soon as I heard that I did not you have no proof I- I'll get back to this later because I'm so unwell about them.

[celartzee]

When the ship's about to be crushed by a Star Destroyer; but they're not quite there yet.

[black-cat-babe]

I don't know what's funnier: Thrawn losing to a half baked jedi and some space whales or Ezra and Thrawn finally making it to the Ascendancy only to find Thrawn collects little human friends like pokemon cards

[mightymizora]

People compare Gortash to Elon Musk but kids I would be so surprised if Escobar wasn’t wholesale on the Gort mood board

[inkyquince]

Yeah yeah helping people undress blah blah BUT

Helping Leighton do up his cufflinks, your tongue sticking out a bit and he just watches you with a smirk. Every time after sex, he just puts the little fiddly bits of metal in the palm of your hand so you can help him with them. In your uniform, the headmaster just watches you before taking over, zipping up garments but taking your tie. Slowly but methodically knotting the fabric, telling you to stop fidgeting as he finally finishes up, before tugging you forward but the knot, nipping your bottom lip in a slow kiss.

Bailey on the phone with one of his contacts that called him during sex, with you quietly getting dressed, cum dribbling down your sides, but just pausing after tugging on your shirt, leaving it unbuttoned. Instead you kneel down, properly tugging up your caretaker's slacks, tucking his cock back into his boxers, zipping them before tightening his belt. Buttoning up his shirt while he gets into the details of selling one of his orphans. Rerolling up his dress shirt sleeves up to his elbows. Even putting his rings back on his fingers. Bailey just watches you through half lidded eyes, up until you leave, holding your own jeans, still in one of his stolen shirts.

Darryl blushing as you both do each others shirts up, rumpled from the dancing the two of you did all night. Just in your underwear and shirts, getting dressed enough to answer the knocking at the door for the delivery he ordered in. Trotting to the front door, with you clinging to the small of his shirt, practically hiding behind him as he stutters, aware of his bare legs as he fumbles with the food. Later, you help him with his bracelet, the pulse in his wrist picking up as you delicately clip it on.

After the game, Wren prefers you to stay in his room than go right away. It allows you to admire him in the morning, nude since he made you sleep in his own pajamas, which was just sweatpants anyway. He grinned at your bare chest before snuggling against you, soft cock twitching with interest. Wren loves to watch you hunt for your clothes but today he sits up and makes you sit in his lap, humming softly. He loops a fine chain necklace around your throat, lifted from the neck of a lady at the riding school. He fiddles with the clasp, cursing softly before finally clipping it together. Running his finger along the nape your neck before kissing it and releasing you to finally get dressed.

[stone-stars]

songs in c3e57: cold hard truths (timestamps from the ad-free version. does not include the generic combat music. "a wizard's tournament" is the recap song.)

Home is Where the Hearth is - 8:20

Secret Basement - 10:30

Left is Left and Right is Center - 12:28

Soul Coins/Deal with a Devil - 17:37

Secret Basement - 19:29

Spearmint & Tea Leaves - 21:24 and 25:05

A Fairy Remembers - 31:12

Haunting Visages - 33:11

Unknown Tome - 38:50

Corrupted - 41:51

The Pact - 43:19

Escape from Smuggler's Bounty - 45:37

Puzzled - 1:01:19

Bronzebeard Baddies - 1:03:45

Corrupted - 1:09:22

The Prodigal Sister - 1:11:25

Bronzebeard Baddies - 1:19:15

A Fairy Remembers - 1:21:29

Spearmint & Tea Leaves - 1:23:26, 1:24:52, and 1:25:51

A Friend for Life - 1:28:11

Unknown Tome - 1:31:40

context for each song + notes under the cut!

Home is Where the Hearth is - 8:20 - Callie playing a countercharm as they enter the next part of the caverns

Secret Basement - 10:30 - Discussing the next challenge being solo

Left is Left and Right is Center - 12:28 - Sol gives Callie back some spell slots w/ ki

Soul Coins/Deal with a Devil - 17:37 - Discussing where to send the serpents

Secret Basement - 19:29 - Listening for what door to go down

Spearmint & Tea Leaves - 21:24 and 25:05 - Callie entering her challenge / Callie and the memory of her mother

A Fairy Remembers - 31:12 - The board game table rises up

Haunting Visages - 33:11 - Sol sees the images/visions of Swag

Unknown Tome - 38:50 - Black smoke appears and the Swags attack

Corrupted - 41:51 - Gowan admits he's made a deal with Alexandrite

The Pact - 43:19 - Calder trying to persuade Gowan

Escape from Smuggler's Bounty - 45:37 - Gowan proposes settling it through wrestling

Puzzled - 1:01:19 - Oliana explains the game

Bronzebeard Baddies - 1:03:45 - Oliana and Callie playing chess

Corrupted - 1:09:22 - Alexandrite!Swag is revealed after being defeated

The Prodigal Sister - 1:11:25 - Swag says goodbye

Bronzebeard Baddies - 1:19:15 - Oliana and Callie playing chess

A Fairy Remembers - 1:21:29 - Callie wins

Spearmint & Tea Leaves - 1:23:26, 1:24:52, and 1:25:51 - Oliana's last advice to Callie

A Friend for Life - 1:28:11 - Duck team reunites on the bridge

Unknown Tome - 1:31:40 - Black smoke appears and the giants defrost

New songs: "Spearmint & Tea Leaves" and "Home is Where the Hearth is" Unlisted in the credits: "Puzzled" and "The Prodigal Sister"

[timothylawrence]

Sometimes you gotta take lives to save lives.

[cryo-lily]

Theron [Looks up from a datapad toward RE-M1]: Hey Rem, Have you seen Issie? I have a report she needs to see.

RE-M1 [Happy beeps]: I think so! Last I saw this way.

[Theron gets led down a mostly abandoned hallway, RE-M1 stops near a specific door]

Theron [Pauses briefly and squints suspiciously at the muffled un-identifiable sounds beyond the door before knocking]: Uh... Is?

[Loud crashing & scrambling noises followed by a loud thud before the door slides open as Isadola steps out from a dark room]

Isadola [Out of breath, clearly disheveled. Hair down, mask loosely put on & crooked, no gloves or bracers, jacket with only one sleeve on, tube top pulled dangerously low, missing belt & only one boot on, lipstick markings trailing down her neck & beyond]: THERON! uh... Hi... What’s up? [Pauses to catch breath] Did something happen? Wait... Did Taskar piss off Hylo again or something?

Theron [Grimaces as he takes a step back]: Something like that... Listen it can probably wait...

Isadola: No, what is it? I can-

[Isadola gets pulled back in to the room by an unseen force swiftly before the door slams shuts and locks]

Theron [Turns back toward the small scout droid now emitting laughter like beeps as he begins to walk away]: You knew they were in there didn’t you?

RE-M1 [Indignant beeps]: I did not, how dare you even assume such?

Theron [Looking at the small droid now riding on his shoulder]: You’re a terrible liar for a supposedly sentient droid.

 RE-M1 [More indignant beeps]: Don’t be such a sourpuss... Well If you’re feeling lonely I can holo your partn-

Theron [Pinches the bridge of his nose]: Please don’t... They are- You’re the worst you know that?

RE-M1: [More beep like laughter]

[gregor-samsung]

" There are those who say that a native will not speak to a white man. Error. No man will speak to his master; but to a wanderer and a friend, to him who does not come to teach or to rule, to him who asks for nothing and accepts all things, words are spoken by the camp-fires, in the shared solitude of the sea, in riverside villages, in resting-places surrounded by forests—words are spoken that take no account of race or colour. One heart speaks—another one listens; and the earth, the sea, the sky, the passing wind and the stirring leaf, hear also the futile tale of the burden of life. "

Joseph Conrad, Karain: A Memory, tale written February–April 1897; published November 1897 in Blackwood's Magazine and collected in Tales of Unrest, 1898.

[tiredassmage]

smokescreens & signal flares

Oh lawd it is finally here. The Nar Shadaa disaster night that has been kickin’ my ass the last week is finally done, lol. Featuring @commander-krios‘s lovely Dash to my disaster Leo, lol, and a blink and you’ll miss it name-drop to @jbnonsensework‘s Rees for the lulz, lol.

What started off as a silly little piece spawned from oc dating asks just wondering what would happen if we set Leo and Tyr loose in the same cantina turned into... one of the longer pieces I’ve written in a while and a bit of an emotional heavy-hitter of a character study. Send help. x,D

Leo hits the Nar Shadaa cantinas between jobs looking for a quick distraction from feelings he’s been trying to avoid naming for far longer than he’d ever like to admit. An off-duty Cipher happens to take notice.

Rating: M for sexual themes // Caution warnings for alcohol use and a brief exploration of homophobia - external and internalized.

“Y’know…” The smuggler’s voice slurs as he props a shoulder back into the seat, swirling the remnants of his drink in his glass. “I’ve heard interestin’ things about… this antiques dealer.” Leo hiccups and nods across the cantina again.

Tyr tips back his shot carefully before he follows the smuggler’s indication, lip twitching briefly at the burn. This would not be his choice, but it went a fair ways to explain how thoroughly in his cups his company was.

Leo bites at his lip. “Whatch’ya think, Cap’n?”

Tyr’s eyes briefly dip to his watch before they narrow slightly.

Instead of an answer, he paints a friendly smile across his lips and claps the smuggler’s shoulder. “I think…” You’ve had plenty enough. And if he went home with almost anyone else in this cantina, he’d end up cold in a gutter somewhere.

Not that this was his problem to worry about, exactly, but… He was off-duty at the moment - as much as a Cipher could be - and that idealistic streak Keeper had given him a mildly concerned frown about earlier seemed to be catching up with him a bit more than usual.

He tugs lightly at the captain’s jacket and lets his gaze drop as Leo’s eyes settle back on him. “Maybe we should get out of here.”

Leo huffs. “Wha’s a matter, flyboy?” He slams his cup a bit heavily against the table. Tyr’s thankful it’s practically empty. “Havin’ trouble keepin’ up?”

Tyr lets out a chuckle as he shakes his head and brushes a hand under Leo’s jaw. The smuggler almost instantly caves to the gentle caress, leaning forward eagerly. There’s something flickering in his dark blue eyes that the agent could’ve recognized just about anywhere: an unfulfilled longing begging desperately for fulfillment, even if only in distraction.

Still, Tyr leans in a bit closer, letting Leo’s eyes wander down his jaw to partially parted lips. “I dunno, Captain… You still haven’t rated your company.”

Leo’s teeth dig subtly at his lower lip again. “How uh… rude of me, huh..?” he says.

Tyr plays at hesitating, letting the smuggler’s gaze roam for a few moments longer. “I could think of a few ways you could make that up to me.” His thumb brushes against Leo’s ear and he tangles a few fingers into his loosened dark locks.

Leo doesn’t resist when Tyr finally presses a kiss to his lips. In fact, the smuggler surrenders almost surprisingly easily. His faint whimper isn’t entirely drowned out for Tyr by the cantina music as his fingers dig around Tyr’s shoulders, needily pulling him closer.

He breaks from his lips, hearing Leo gasp before he presses a kiss to his neck. Leo wraps a hand around the back of his neck and Tyr finds his opening to slip a hand inside the smuggler’s jacket. Datapad, commlink, something - aha.

Tyr’s breath is warm against his ear, “What say we take this back to your ship, Captain?”

Leo nods, so Tyr stands and pulls the smuggler up after him by the hand. Leo giggles as he sways a bit on his feet before Tyr slips an arm around his waist, hooking his thumb in the smuggler’s belt loop. Exchanging another quick kiss gives Tyr an opening to tuck the smuggler’s datapad away in his pocket to crack later. It’s easy enough to keep a smile on his lips for his subject, but his eyes carefully scan the cantina again as he leads them out, Leo’s head contentedly lolling against his shoulder.

There. The man Leo had been eyeing almost all night, still tucked into a quieter corner of the cantina. The lights are too bright and flashing to really make eye contact (probably better that way), but Tyr gets the impression that their exit isn’t entirely missed and that was all he really wanted. For once, the agent was actually counting on being noticeable

o-o-o-o-o-o

Tyr's breath catches quietly in his throat as Leo's arms wrap around him, hands snaking up his back underneath his jacket.

Shit. He hadn’t accounted for that. Rookie mistake.

Leo only breaks the kiss they'd tangled in to crook a brow at him. A lopsided smile lolls across his lips. "Say, cap'n." He nearly starts to giggle. "Is that… a vibroblade in your pocket, or…?" His features split as a snorting laugh tumbles out of him, muffled only faintly as he presses his face against Tyr’s shoulder.

Tyr pulls him flush against his chest, one hand squeezing his ass. Leo inhales sharply, tossing his head back to clear bangs from his hazy blue eyes.

Tyr catches his chin with his free hand, eyes locking together as his smile widens playfully. "What's to say I'm not a bad man?"

Another little amused snort issues from the smuggler. "All sorts of 'em here, ain't there?" Leo purrs.

Tyr takes the opportunity to spin them, pinning the smuggler against the wall with enough force it knocks a bit of the wind out of him. Leo squirms slightly, but only to get slightly more comfortable against the wall, his dark blue eyes locked fully on the way Tyr bites his lip, letting his own eyes wander as he hooks a few fingers along Leo’s waistband. "Man's gotta stay prepared in these parts. We have a problem, Captain?"

Leo only chuckles again, one hand reaching up to twist in a stray lock of his hair. "No," he muses. "I’d say that makes you a smart man."

Tyr’s smile widens again like a reward. "Good boy."

Leo whimpers as he's taken in another kiss, Tyr easily dominating again, tongue slipping past his lips. Leo grips desperately at his shoulders before he's shoving at the jacket. Tyr barely breaks their lock long enough for them to pant for breath until he's ready to slip out of his jacket.

Leo leans heavily back into the wall as Tyr steps back to toss it aside on the captain's footlocker. He's down to a simple tee and carefully slips out of the extra holster, setting aside the previously concealed blade and his pistol while they have a moment. For now, he also leaves aside Leo’s datapad, but the smuggler’s eyes are anywhere but Tyr’s hands.

He raises a brow over his shoulder. The smuggler has a rather pleasant flush to his cheeks now.  It paints a smirk across Tyr’s lips. "Like what you see, Captain?"

Leo nods wordlessly. Tyr's eyes narrow before he motions the smuggler over with a finger. "So. Where were we?"

He lets Leo chase him until the back of his legs hit the bed, then stops him with a hand against his chest.

He clicks his tongue in mild disapproval. "At least make yourself comfortable, Captain," he says quietly, working Leo out of his jacket and adding it to the pile.

And finally, they fall into bed. Leo's hands roam easily across his back under his shirt as Tyr toys with his hair. Leo shifts slightly to let him pull it free from the tie, dark strands falling in messy waves. Tyr starts to work a few knots out with his fingers before Leo brings a hand up to pull him down for another kiss that trails away from his lips and down his throat. Tyr awards him a contented sigh and closed eyes, slipping a hand underneath the captain’s shirt to idly trace fingertips over his hip.

"Dax.., was it?"

Tyr hums acknowledgment, quirking a brow as his gaze draws back to the smuggler’s.

The edge of hunger in Leo's dark blue eyes seems to have quieted, overtaken by something a bit more uncertain.

Tyr brushes his bangs carefully back out of his eyes, noting how the smuggler’s eyes flicker shut for a few moments underneath his touch. "I oughta let my crew know I'll be spending the night," he murmurs, "If… you'd like?"

"Yeah." The response comes after a moment of silence, Tyr’s fingers brushing carefully back into his hair.

Tyr nods and presses a soft kiss to his forehead. Leo's hand trails down his arm as he pulls away, catching his wrist before he stands completely.

"Dax?"

Tyr cocks his head.

"You'll be back?"

Tyr smiles faintly. "Worried I'll run off, Captain?"

Leo lets go and tosses his head, loose hair falling across his eyes and half-concealing a lopsided smile, but not before a bit more color dapples across his cheeks.

Tyr's smile widens just a touch. "And miss the opportunity to make an entrance?"

Leo toys with his hair and Tyr gives him a pat on the shoulder. "Stay put."

He stoops to collect the smuggler’s datapad on his way out. Hopefully, the captain's sense was a bit stronger sober.

o-o-o-o-o-o 

The ship is silent in the hangar without the rest of the smuggler’s crew, so Tyr only wanders as far as the couch in a nook of the ship that felt built for crew interactions. Still, he hesitates a moment, breath catching in his throat as he listens to the silence to ensure the smuggler hadn’t followed him nor that his crew had returned without warning.

Once he’s sufficiently satisfied he has enough privacy, he settles in and turns his attention to the datapad he’d lifted off the captain back at the cantina. Leo had surprisingly retained enough of a sense of direction to lead him back to the appropriate hangar where his ship was docked without Tyr having to crack it earlier for the details, but now he wants to follow up on his suspicions. Someone ought to know the man was alive and well, at least.

It only takes him a few minutes, tops. Tyr checks his contacts. It’s a relatively short list for a smuggler - or at least the ones used with any noteworthy frequency. But there’s one that’s more common than any other - someone called ‘Dash.’

Tyr checks over his shoulder again before he links the contact through his holo.

He recognizes the man that answers from the cantina, though the frown is a lot more noticeable across his handsome features this time.

“Who is this?” Then the irritable twist of his brow sharpens. “Wait-”

“Call me a concerned citizen,” Tyr interrupts with a brief wave of a hand.

“How’d you get this frequency?” Dash snaps. “I’ll give you a whole new meaning of ‘concerned’ if-”

“Cool your jets and keep your voice down.” Tyr shrugs a nonchalant shoulder, if only to keep play with the cool persona Leo was acquainted with from the cantina. Though he does check again over his shoulder, keeping an eye out for their wayward smuggler. “Ain’t nothin’ happened to our mutual friend. Just seemed a little too in his cups, is all.”

“And now you’re on his holo.” Dash snorts as his arms fold across his chest. “Forgive me if I’m not inclined to trust you.”

“Tell ya what,” Tyr says, “You don’t have to. Ship’s docked where he left it. Why don’t you bring yourself by?”

Dash huffs. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

Dash eyes him suspiciously before he heaves a sigh. “I’ll be there. Try anything? And I’ll kill you.”

“Pleasure doing business.”

Dash barely spares time for an irritated growl before the holo quiets and Tyr sets the datapad aside carefully by the holo to be rightfully found in the morning.

o-o-o-o-o-o 

When he returns to the room, Leo’s curled up with one of the pillows, a hand twining idly in a long lock of dark hair with unfocused eyes settled somewhere along the wall.

Tyr props a shoulder in the doorway and flashes a grin. “Miss me?”

Leo blinks, brought back into the present before he smiles and tosses his hair back over his shoulder. “You stayed.”

Tyr bluffs a light huff of laughter. “‘Course I did, gorgeous,” he teases as he saunters over. “Y’don’t find goods like this just anywhere, right?” He momentarily caresses Leo’s ass before he falls back into bed with him, Leo rolling onto his back to let Tyr straddle him again.

Tyr brushes his hair back from his eyes. “Hey,” he says as his features soften, “Wha’s a matter? Somethin’ on your mind?”

Leo shakes his head, but his gaze remains elusive. Tyr works fingers gently through his hair for a few more moments, carefully teasing out knots he comes across. Leo’s fingers tangle in his shirt at his sides, twisting slowly a few times until the fabric is pulled more taught across his back.

Tyr stops and looks back down at him. “If you’re uncomfortable, just say the word,” he says. “You owe me nothing, Captain.”

Leo’s head shakes again. “It’s… It’s not…”

Tyr’s hands settle on either side of his head, just enough to brace himself. “Drinks catchin’ up with you, handsome?”

Leo’s nose screws up in a mild frown that pulls a faint breath of a chuckle out of Tyr. He settles beside the smuggler, resting against one arm. “D’you wanna talk?”

Leo’s frown wavers for a moment as he shuffles to face him. “Awfully uh… awfully accommodation’ for a man I picked up at a cantina.”

Tyr offers him a softer smile before he reaches out and traces a finger softly down Leo’s nose. “Troubles are a credit a piece, Captain,” he says. “Sometimes cheaper. They ain’t so easy to solve, though.”

Leo grunts, lightly smacking at his hand and making Tyr’s smile widen for a moment before he settles quietly as the captain contemplates. “I dunno…” He nuzzles a bit against the pillow, eyes dropping to follow where his hand tangles with Tyr’s shirt where it dips across his chest.

Tyr merely waits and, for that, Leo finds himself grateful. Something about it all still felt… off. This time.

This was… a habit of his, truthfully. Had been for… years. As far back as cadets? Father would’ve done the military a favor and killed him then if he’d ever found out, he was sure of it.

Still, it'd felt… a lot more harmless back then.

It was what he heard the other boys or older soldiers describe more as a home tour crush - all fireworks and bright eyes that never really covered ground before you were packing up on the next shuttle out again. He still remembered the unit daring each other to spray paint the CO’s speeder, how their cheeks had been nipped pink by the frosted air that seemed to always hug Ziost the night he'd finally said he'd do it.

There'd been the one with eyes as vibrant as the leaves after the first thaw, shaggy hair, and a contagious laugh. That first kiss still hit harder than any stim or adrenal he'd ever experimented with. But he'd been assigned to a different squad in the end and they'd lost touch during deployments.

Tonight was one of the quieter ways this ‘habit’ of his had ended for the night.

Something twisted in his chest, like it was clawing to get out, trying to make it past the way his throat seized at the idea of ever breathing a word of it aloud.

It felt a lot more like racing tonight than drowning. And no matter what he tried, the speeder wasn't ever fast enough.

Every time, no matter what regret greeted him in the mirror the next morning, how many times he'd let himself be led astray by ulterior motives behind glittering eyes and seductive smiles, a part of him always craved a return of the burning touch of the night before - how it felt so right in the moment, how it felt like… him.

Freedom. Like how captains talked about endless stars and the hyperlanes.

And it always came back, in the end. Especially when… with… Dash.

Fuck.

Tyr’s hand gently wraps around his arm, fingertips gliding over the faint trace of veins beneath his skin. Leo’s eyes sting as he watches, trying to keep control of his breathing under the intensely seeing storm gray eyes of his partner for the night.

“We don’t have to talk,” he says gently. “But you’re safe here, Leo. I promise.”

Leo buries his face against his chest before the sting in his eyes can finally overwhelm him as Tyr’s arms wrap around him, pulling him closer and brushing through his tangled hair carefully.

‘Dax’ asks him no further questions, occasionally murmuring assurances against his hair over quiet sobs muffled against his shoulder.

Tyr lays with him until he quiets, his breathing levels out. Leo’s nestled in against him, still tucked against the crook of his neck, his breath puffing warm against his skin in steady intervals. He’s finally got most of the tangles and knots worked out of his hair by the time he’s certain the man’s night has finally caught up with him.

He sighs quietly with the faintest touch of a frown across his lips. With a little luck, it’d be… a step for the wayward captain. At least it seemed the man had one good friend looking out for him.

Tyr eyes his watch again over Leo’s head. Soon, he reckons he’ll have to deal with that.

o-o-o-o-o-o 

Tyr’s eyes snap open at the subtle sense of disturbance, breath stilling silently in his lungs. The drinks at the cantina and the warmth of Leo tucked against his chest must have lulled him into the temporary sense of security.

Leo’s still asleep though. Good.

Tyr carefully extricates himself from the smuggler’s embrace, socked feet quietly connecting with the floor as he drops into a crouch. He snags his pistol from the footlocker and checks the thermal clip quickly. Full charge.

He throws one last glance back at Leo. The captain’s barely shuffled to curl a bit more into the pillow in his absence.

Another check of his watch. His eyes narrow slightly. Maybe. But this was also Nar Shadaa.

He tucks in against the door first, checks one way down the hall towards the crew area and the ship’s entrance, then over his shoulder towards the bridge.

It’s quiet, still easier to hear his own breathing. He counts… one set of footsteps.

Tyr moves towards the entrance.

And a hand wraps firm around his right wrist and jerks. Tyr grunts as his back slams into the opposite wall. There’s a new pistol level under his chin before most would be able to react. “Whoa, whoa now, easy,” he drawls, easing a smile across his lips as his eyes settle on their would-be intruder.

Dark brown eyes, cybernetics - the same man from the cantina. That made this easier and… slightly more complicated. The sharp draw of his brow really brings out the glare. He wouldn’t have to work himself out of a fight he’d given up an advantage on, at least. If he played this right.

Tyr raises his other hand, keeps his finger carefully off the trigger. “Drop it,” Dash growls.

“We can’t start with ‘hello?’” The barrel digs against his neck and Dash’s eyes narrow. “Easy, friend.” Tyr emphasizes his free, empty hand. “Why don’t you put that piece away?”

“You better have a damn good reason for me not to shoot you right now.”

Tyr wets his lips. “Your friend’s had a long night. Let’s keep this civil, alright?” Dash’s grip flexes around his blaster, so Tyr throws a quick nod down the hall. “Just… see for yourself, yeah? He’s asleep. Finally.”

Dash hesitates and spares a glance down the hall, but doesn’t slack his grip until he finally takes a step back. “You’re not going anywhere. Yet.”

Tyr rolls his shoulders and nods. He offers his pistol to Dash. “I will be expectin’ that back before I leave.”

Dash huffs humorlessly, but takes it. “We’ll see about that.” He points down the hall with the barrel of his own. “Move.”

Tyr keeps his hands where Dash can see them, leading down the hall to the captain’s quarters. He steps off to the side and leans a shoulder against the doorway. “See?” he says quietly with a nod into the quarters. “Just keep your voice down. I think he needed the sleep.”

Dash squints suspiciously at him a moment longer before he peers in. It doesn’t feel right to give the stranger a clean shot at his back, even supposedly disarmed, but-

A breath he hadn’t quite consciously been holding eases out of his lungs to find Leo surprisingly just as promised. Finally, he lowers his blaster and stashes it away to step in and actually confirm there’s nothing wrong. For the moment, he elects to ignore the discarded jackets, carefully settling on the edge of the bed.

Leo sighs in his sleep, brow briefly twisting in a way that makes Dash hold his breath again until the smuggler settles blissfully unaware once more in the deep throes of sleep.

Tyr clears his throat quietly from the doorway. Dash looks up to see he’s awkwardly taken a step inside, but he lingers, not wanting to infringe on the slim good graces he’s managed to earn. “So, uh… we good?”

Dash sighs. If he thought it’d actually do any good, he’d have quite a bit to say to Leo about the whole thing right about now. Foolish.

But… He frowns. “I still don’t trust you,” he says carefully. “If I find out you did anything-”

Tyr holds up both hands placatingly. “You’ll hunt me down, I’m sure,” he says. “I’m…” He frowns slightly and folds his arms across his chest again, looking over the sleeping form of the smuggler. “I’m just… glad he’s got a decent friend.”

Dash looks away and rolls his jaw. “Yeah,” he gives carefully, though the word still wavers against his best attempts. “He’s uh… He’s… a mess, but…” He draws in a breath carefully and slowly before he finally looks back over at the stranger. “I uh… suppose I owe you thanks, then.”

Tyr shakes his head. “Don’t mention it.”

Dash’s gaze settles back on the smuggler, a hint of worry still creeping across his features.

Tyr’s gaze drops to the floor for a moment. “I uh… I should… probably be going then, I guess.”

Dash blinks. “I’d consider that wise.”

Tyr nods, chewing on his lip slightly as Dash stands. Tyr pushes away from the doorway to accept the pistol Dash offers back to him. He holds on for just a moment longer when Tyr has the barrel. “Still. Do remember. I don’t know who you are or what motivated you… But it won’t matter. Understood?”

“Like crystal,” Tyr says. Dash releases the pistol and, for the moment, Tyr tucks it into his waistband. “Look, it’s uh… It’s not my place-”

“It’s not,” Dash warns carefully.

Tyr shakes his head. “Look, you… seem like someone he trusts,” he says. “That’s… valuable. Just…” He sighs and looks around Dash’s shoulder. “I don’t know what is or isn’t between you two,” he says quietly, “But… I think he cares about you. A lot. And you seem like one helluva friend.”

When he looks back at Dash, there’s a tension in the hard set of his jaw. Hmm.

“Take care of each other, friend. Alright?”

Dash rolls his jaw carefully before he clears his throat. “Get the fuck out of here.”

“Right.” Tyr steps past him and collects his jacket and discarded items, strapping holsters carefully back into place on his way back out of the room.

Dash, for his part, stands careful guard over Leo until the stranger pauses at the door to look over his shoulder, finding Dash’s gaze one last time.

“You should… probably stay with him tonight,” Tyr suggests. “I… said I’d stay the night. I don’t like breaking promises.”

Dash merely nods. “Not that it’s any of your concern, but… I will. Don’t worry about it.”

“Right… Thanks. I think.” Tyr pulls his jacket together a bit more over his shoulders and makes for the exit.

Dash waits for the quiet to fade to Leo’s small snores before he closes his eyes and carefully pinches the bridge of his nose.

He looks back over his shoulder and reaches out to tuck a stray lock of raven hair back behind Leo’s ear. Even that simple action was enough to get his heart racing a little harder in his chest. And he hadn’t done it nearly as much as he’d wanted to.

What a fucking mess they’d all gotten into, huh..?

[dragormir]

So I'm playing SWTOR, and the sad thing is because I'm a weird gay dude all of my toons are queer and this game is distressingly het until later expacs.

Long post under the cut, it's a wall of text, etc.

Alas, poor Saarai. He spent so long trying to get Talos Drellik to notice him, up to and including dragging him along to watch as Saarai flirted ceaselessly with Cytharat until that kiss. Talos didn't even blink. Saarai went further after that, and romanced Theron Shan, an SIS agent and obviously the worst possible choice for a Darth on the Dark Council. Talos still refused to notice him. Saarai has given up and is now happily planning how to play house with Theron in a way that will piss off the most people in the Republic, starting with Theron's parents.

Nydaki is busy friend-zoning and sibling-zoning Kailyo and Raina Temple, and lives in fear of them hitting on him again. Due to severe interpersonal relationship issues caused by his time undercover with Ardun Kothe and his merry little band of weirdos, Nydaki has lost absolutely all interest in even fake relationships. (It doesn't help that both of them make him very uncomfortable, as he is asexual and aromantic, and even his hold on gender is a bit sketchy at times. Great for work, not great for anything else.)

Jjin Ghael is happy with his best friend Risha, and will one day progress from holding hands to actual physical intimacy. She understands and is happy waiting, because a smuggler captain is the most devoted boyfriend in the galaxy, and she has actual guarantees that he will not be wandering.

Betenor is still processing the traumatic incident that left him the only survivor of identical triplets, and will not be pursuing romance. (He does like Aric Jorgan, though, even if he understands that Jorgan may not reciprocate, as they both have Subscriptions TM.)

Tash just straight up doesn't know what's going on around him, and thinks dating is like next level friendship. He is fine playing with the tooka he collects and will not be pursuing anything until someone can explain why dating is better than just being friends. (Also, yes, Tash is queer. He is demi-romantic, much like Jjin.)

Cuyan is sixteen, and spends most of his time trying to deal with a growth spurt that keeps forcing him to go back to the tailors for new kutes. Like most Mandalorians, gender is an irrelevant social construct, both culturally and linguistically, and he only uses one for business purposes. He may eventually find a relationship, but he's happy just bopping around the galaxy as a bounty hunter.

[shark-smuggler]

why should i celebrate americas birthday if america doesn't even acknowledge mine!

[jjsanguine]

Not to take a Netflix teen drama series serious but it's so funny (really sad actually) to see John B so quickly able to see the grimy reality of his father now that he's no longer backlit by the afterlife