#lee hi holo

[puirell]

[euforia-subversiva]

LeeHi, mi reina 🤍🩵💚

[crazyfanofmasskpopculture]

[audiophiliacfan]

[Verse 1] 홀로 있는 게 가만히 있는 게 어려운 일인가요 홀로 있어도 같이 있어도 외로운 건 같아요 One day it will stop [Verse 2] 말하는 대로 생각한 대로 되는 것 아닌가요 햇빛을 쬐고 숨 쉬어 봐도 쉽지는 않네요 One day it will stop [Chorus] And I'm gonna stop cryin' Stop feelin' Stop thinkin' 'bout you my babe 이제 그만 울 거야 나올 거야 나를 더 아껴줄 거야 And I'm gonna stop [Verse 3] 쟤보다 내가 나보다 쟤가 나은 게 중요한가요 수많은 날을 괴로워하다 이제 좀 알겠어요 [Verse 4] 가만히 앉아 걱정하기엔 난 너무 소중해요 들여다봐요 맘속의 민낯 그대로 괜찮아요 It's gotta stop [Chorus] And I'm gonna stop cryin' Stop feelin' Stop thinkin' 'bout you my babe 이제 그만 울 거야 나올 거야 나를 더 아껴줄 거야 And I'm gonna stop And I'm gonna stop [Verse 1] 홀로 있는 게 가만히 있는 게 어려운 일인가요 홀로 있어도 같이 있어도 외로운 건 같아요 One day it will stop

[schrodingers-hoarding-problem]

oh holo & breathe by lee hi you are the only ones who understand me

[lafoget]

visual guide to main supergirls

If your supergirl appears in comics from 1962 to 1985 (plus many happy returns arc in 2003) wears a classic costume or these variations, and uses a brown wig in her civilian disguise, then she is kara zor-el/linda lee danvers

she dies during CoIE AND DOESN'T EXIST IN THE NEW UNIVERSE UNTIL MAY 2004, in the 90s superfam hang out with other supergirls

If your supergirl appears in comics from sept 1988 to sept 1996 (plus convergence supergirl in 2015), wears a classic suit and most often has heavy curls and sometimes turns into a pink blob of goo, then it's matrix/mae kent. she was created by lex from another universe and on the new earth ma and pa kent accepted her as their own daughter

and mae is kon's first supergirl

yes also she dated handsome lex but he was pretending to be his own son so we don't judge her too much for that lol

if your supergirl appears in comics from sept 1996 to nov 2000 and has a classic costume, but also fiery wings sometimes, she's called an earth-born angel and in her civilian form she is a foot shorter and brown-haired with a bob, then this is a fusion (yeah like in steven universe) matrix and linda danvers ORDINARY HUMAN GIRL

if your supergirl appears in comics from dec 2000 to may 2003, wears a suit with a white top, blue skirt AND a blonde wig, and in her civilian appearance is a short-haired brunette, then it’s just linda danvers, matrix separates from her and later finds a new host

linda goes back in time for some time and marries silver age's clark, yes, that's ok, they are not related in any way the day when twitter learns that it's linda and stops being hysterical about incest will be the happiest day of my life

if your supergirl appears briefly in fifteen issues in 2003, wears a black swimsuit and has short black hair, then it's cir-el/mia kent, the pseudo-daughter of clark and lois created by brainiac 12 in the future

if your supergirl has been appearing in comics since may 2004 and wears these costume variants (and sometimes holo-glasses with disguise from 2016 to 2020), then this is kara zor-el again, kara lang until 2011, kara danvers from 2016

[vlance]

♪Heart to Heart♪

Part Two

I’m right now frantically cleaning my recording studio because I forgot to clean it. Quickly putting away files and putting things in their places like putting guitars back up on the wall, putting away files and music sheets. As I was cleaning I hear a knock on the door.

“Coming!” I yell and while walking to the door I trip over the all the boxes of files and sheets. I get up again and open the door and try and act as cool as possible and lean on the door frame. Smooth real smooth I thought sarcastically.

“Are you okay did you fall” Yunjin asks me while chaewon just giggles.

“Uh no…..okay yeah maybe it’s just I forgot to clean my recording studio because we been practicing all week so I kinda tried to clean it very quickly today” I chuckled nervously admitting that I did fall and then open the door to let them in. “I’m sorry if it’s messy it won’t be like this next time” I blush slightly from embarrassment.

“It’s okay don’t worry Yunjin isn’t any better” Me and Chaewon both laugh and Yunjin just pushes her lightly.

“That’s not true”

“Yes it is”

“No it isn’t” They both argue and I just sit there looking at them with a smile on my face and laughing. They both stoped arguing and sat down on my couch.

“So what are you guys thinking for the special stage dance, singing, rap, a mixture” I asked and sat down on my chair and got on my computer.

“Well me and Chaewon are more on the vocal side and I know you’re lead vocal and sub rapper so I was thinking something more that incorporates our vocals” Yunjin explains to me and I just nod my head and keep scrolling through songs.

“Okay then do you guys wanna sing a ballad or we wanna incorporate dancing” I asked and turned to look at them.

“Well I think we should sing a ballad maybe something where Yunjin can play the guitar” Charwon suggested and looked at both of us.

“Yeah that sounds like a really good idea” I nodded and went on my phone to search for songs.

“You play guitar Y/N” Chaewon asked me. I looked up from my phone and nodded.

“Yeah I do I play both electric and acoustic but I also play piano” I smiled and looked at them

“That’s really cool then we should both play guitar together” Yunjin suggested and Chaewon nodded along with her.

“Yeah I think it would be nice to hear you both play guitar and sing” Chaewon clapped her hands together and nodded.

“Okay then let’s look for songs and if we find something that doesn’t really incorporate guitars we can do an acoustic version of the song and I’ll mix some other beats and instruments into it” They both nodded when I looked up at them.

“Any suggestions” I asked.

“Downpour I.O.I or You, Cloud, Rain by Heize” Chaewon suggested I nodded.

“Those are some good songs anything else” I asked.

“Holo or Only by Lee Hi or maybe even through the night by IU” Yunjin gave her input.

“Oh I love IU but….how about an English song” I looked at them and they both looked at each other.

“My English isn’t great but I would love to try one I know a couple songs I like” Chaewon said sheepishly.

“Then if Yunjin agrees we can do a song in English” I looked over at the said girl expectantly.

She gave me a nod “Yeah I would love too and Chaewon if you aren’t confident in your English we can always practice me and you” Yunjin looked over to her group member and gave her a pat on her shoulder.

“Yeah and I’ll gladly help you too” I gave her a reassuring smile.

“Thank you” She smiled at me and bowed slightly.

“Uhh how about Nobody by mitski” I turned to them and asked.

“Maybe” Yunjin says and I nodded and went back to looking.“Die for you by the weeknd” Charwon questions.

“God Aeri unnie listens to him too much I got tired of that song” I gave her an apologetic look.

“No it’s okay I know what you mean Yunjin plays certain songs so much I can’t stand it” Chaewon laughs slightly and Yunjin glares at her playfully.

“I like what I like okay…leave me alone” She laughs lightly and I laugh with her.

“Slow dancing in the dark by Joji” I suggest and look at them.

“I love Joji” Yunjin smiles at me.

“I think that would be a little too hard for me” Chaewon blushes nervously and looks away.

“That’s okay don’t worry…..how about an acoustic version of Heart to Heart by Mac Demarco” I suggest again and look at them.

“I could mix everything and stuff” I looked at them hopefully because we been here for a while just trying to pick a song.

“Yeah I like that song and an acoustic version would be perfect what do you think Chaewon” She looks at her member.

“Yeah you showed me that song not that long ago I enjoyed it, I think it’s perfect for us too” Chaewon nodded and I turned around and slightly cheered I could hear them laughing slightly.

“Perfect…then how about we get started on line distribution and I order us some coffee” I suggested to them and they both nodded. I ordered the coffee and while waiting we started to talk a little.

“You’re Japanese night Y/N” Chaewon asked.

“Yeah I am Yuta from nct is my brother actually” I said and they both nodded

.“How is it like being in the same company as your brother” Yunjin asked me and leaned back on the couch.

“It’s fun and kinda hectic but fun we get together with some of the other Japanese artists in SM and go out to eat Japanese barbecue together sometimes” I smiled remembering the times me, Yuta, and Giselle all went out together.

“That sounds like a lot of fun but I bet he can get kinda annoying” Yunjin laughs when my expression turns kinda annoyed.

“Oh definitely he always comes bothers me when I’m in the studio” I said and groan at the multiple times he’s bothered me “I’m surprised he hasn’t came today” They both laughed at my annoyed expression.

“How long have you been playing Guitar” Chaewon looks at me expectantly.

“For about ten years now I think” I nodded and smiled.

“What about you guys how were promotions for Unforgiven I remember seeing you while promoting Spicy” I asked them and leaned back in my chair.

“It was a lot of fun we got to see Eunchae mcing” Chaewon says excitedly.

“Yeah it was also fun to see Fearnots” Yunjin nods and smiles widely.

“I bet I always love seeing my’s when we preform I also love seeing the comments they leave on our TikToks or all the funny edits and videos they make of us it’s really funny to watch”

“Yeah they are so creative” Chaewon laughs. We continued to talk and our coffee arives and we talked more. We also got to discuss on who gets what in the song and when was the next time they could come to the company. While talking with them I get a text from Jimin asking to meet up with the Aespa members for dinner.

“Ahh I think imma have to go I’m gonna eat dinner with my members” I said and got up from my chair. I then get another text from Aeri saying I should invite them to dinner cause she wants to talk to Yunjin. “Are you friends with Giselle Yunjin” I asked her.

“Oh yeah we been friends for a bit” She confirms that they in fact both friends. That little rat never said anything to me.

“I see…would you both wanna join us for dinner” I asked hopefully.

“Yeah sure we have nothing to do and I’m hungry” Chaewon answered and Yunjin nodded.

“Okay then let’s go” I lead them both out of the room and we go down to get my manager to drive us there.

-note-another part in Heart to Heart finished and I really do hope you guys like this part. I’m enjoying and having a lot of fun writing it. I also wanted to thank you guys for liking Heart to Heart I didn’t expect this many people to read it.

[a-moth-to-the-light]

Most-Listened of May 2024

[last month]

May 2024 was finals + road trip home from uni + getting settled in at home for the summer, so the songs on this month's list were the soundtrack to a really busy time for me. (Because of that, I'm extra grateful to them for helping me power through it all!) I didn't have the brainspace to be properly excited about any new releases (except Repion's at the end of the month), so a lot of the songs here kind of snuck up on me. Surprisingly, I'd still say I enjoyed May's releases more than April's, though!

1. Not Like Us -- Kendrick Lamar

The Drake-Kendrick beef finally graced my YouTube recommended at the beginning of May, just in time for "Not Like Us" to save me from the Inevitable Finals Gloom. The beat was what hooked me at first (so string instrument!! so texture!!), but there are SO MANY good lines here--more than enough to keep me excited about this song, even after I massively overplayed it in just a few days of finals. (I'm a 'leave songs on repeat for hours as I float in and out of The Work Vortex' kind of guy, you know?)

2. Candy Store -- from the 2014 Heathers soundtrack

No complicated reason here: the vocal performances are just breathtaking, so I haven't been able to get this song off my mind for the past two weeks. Shoutout to @embraceofday for introducing me to this one! (That was a couple of years ago, I think, but somehow it came back to me recently, and I've been more obsessed than ever!)

3. Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl -- yeule

I've been getting ads for I Saw the TV Glow all month, and they worked on me--sort of? I still have no plans to see the movie, but this song from the trailer has taken my listening by storm. Lyzette G on YouTube mentioned yeule last year (I am SO jealous of their taste in music), so I'm proud to say I like a yeule song now! This is peak 'driving home on the highway at night and your heart is all sparkles because she said she'll text you later', which is one of my favorite kinds of music, actually. (Yes, this is oddly specific. But it's also like A General Feeling, you know?) It's eerily inhuman but also full of longing; it keeps a consistent, hazy atmosphere while still including a few moments of emotional punch--it's great!!

4. Down Swinging -- Holly Humberstone

Saxophone solo!!!!!!! That actually isn't my favorite part of this song, though--the way Holly Humberstone sings "watch me keep my cool tonight" at the end of every chorus is full of just SO many emotions--shame, determination, acceptance, longing--I find it captivating (really, every lyric in this chorus is a gem). I love songs like this (see also: Betty Who's "You Can Cry Tomorrow" and Lee Hi's "HOLO"), songs that aren't about being over something bad but are just about being within something bad and getting by anyway. Being stuck, and knowing you're stuck, and being okay regardless? Sometimes, I just need to know that's possible, and "Down Swinging" makes it feel more real than ever.

5. I'm the Ocean -- Neil Young

My dad and I ran across this on our (twelve-hour) drive home from my university, while we were listening through this playlist. My dad is a huge Neil Young fan, while I'm just meh about him--"I'm the Ocean" caught my attention from first listen, though, and I've been revisiting it daily since then. (Funny enough, my dad doesn't care for this one.) I love its haziness, how it walks the line between hopelessness and rage and how you're never exactly sure how to feel about the speaker, or about the song itself. I love singing "I'm the ocean / I'm a giant undertow". (Like, that is a captivating lyric. So powerful, so simple yet so layered with meaning?) I love the crunchy TV-static guitar!!!

6. From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come) [Live at Malieveld...] -- Bruce Springsteen

Spotify keeps notifying me whenever Springsteen releases a new compilation album (they know me too well...)--and he just keeps releasing them. I'm not sure I needed all these albums, but I'm glad to get this gem, at least! This one has a super-singable chorus, and the fiddle solo is SUCH a high.

7. Turn it up -- PinkPantheress

Not particularly exciting, but super fun! It's a solid serotonin jam to go on a playlist with all the early Twice title tracks.

8. No Biggie -- Itzy

SO CUTE SO CUTE I LOVE IT. With "None of My Business" + this one, I've been so glad to see how well the post-NewJeans world suits Itzy. My main problem with a lot of their music, especially title tracks, is that the songs strain their vocals in ways that end up sounding unpleasant to me--a chilled-out song like this one reminds me just how listenable Itzy's music can be!

9. Rollercoaster - MTV Unplugged -- Bleachers

I think Spotify suggested this one to me. I am THE Bleachers girlie, but I'd never heard this specific version of "Rollercoaster" and oh my GOD does it make me emotional. If you've ever cried to "Someone to You" by Banners, I think you already understand what this one makes me feel.

10. The Ghost of Tom Joad (feat. Tom Morello) - Live in Anaheim, CA -- Bruce Springsteen

My #1 song from my #1 artist!! (Sorry, "Badlands". Your top spot was beautiful while it lasted, and we've had so many good times, but I just... I don't think you're the one for me anymore...) I did an essay about Springsteen for one of my finals, believe it or not, and I talked about this song in particular, so that explains the sudden spike in listens--though it's constantly in my rotation regardless.

11. Wave - Ollounder's Bold Dynamics Mix -- Ateez

It's a time-honored tradition, now: trashy club remixes are my THING during finals. This one stuck with me all month, though, because it's actually kind of compelling--I find it fun, even when I'm not speedrunning a final paper. "Wave" is just a really sweet song already, and I think this remix adds a variety of sounds that make it not just pleasant, but also super captivating.

12. Lookalike -- Conan Gray

No comment...

13. Set Me Free (Lindgren Remix) -- Twice

Re: trashy club remixes for finals. This is so trash, I can't even argue that it's worth listening to at any time other than finals season. (The synth riffs in the prechorus are kind of awesome, actually, but the vocals sound like you're listening to them through a tin can telephone.) It was a great hype song while I studied, though.

14. Maybe -- (G)I-DLE

My second-favorite G-IDLE song ever (though I have no idea how I'll make room for "Eyes Roll" and "Revenge" in an updated top ten) is never not welcome on my most-listened list, but I have no idea why this is here. Maybe I left it on repeat while working on a paper? It has the right kind of beat drop to give me the same kick of adrenaline as my trashy club remixes do--though in terms of how much I admire it, "Maybe" is on a whole different level!

15. BOA -- Megan Thee Stallion

This is a wildly addictive song. The Gwen Stefani sample is such a good hook, but it's used so sparingly that I'm left hanging on Megan's every word, waiting for it to appear again. The deep bass makes the song feel full, though--by the end, I'm left wanting more without feeling like the listening experience was actually incomplete. My favorite line is definitely the Birkenstocks one; I still smile every time I hear it! I'm so excited for the album :)

Five-Star Songs (& Albums!) This Month

BOA -- Megan Thee Stallion

Lime -- Soojin

With just a few twists on a sweet, summery formula, "Lime" manages to stand out from the pack of cheery dance songs coming out at this time of year. The orchestral intro is so exciting, and the weirdly gritty vocal production (I still have no idea why anyone would consider that on a song like this--this album has some truly baffling production choices amid all the fantastic ones) unexpectedly grew on me. This song does sweet-and-sour so well!!

[Speaking of baffling production choices: "Drop Top" from this same album is a very nice listen, but what the hell is happening in the bridge... It would totally be a five-star song for me if not for that screechy violin (?) note in the dance break. Like. Why. Why would you just repeat the same ear-piercing note. The whole time. Have you considered a riff? Or making it just a TAD BIT quieter? Or just... a lower note? Anyway. Also, the ENTIRE title track, "Mona Lisa", is a baffling production choice. Just. The whole thing.]

Not Like Us -- Kendrick Lamar

Summer Daze -- Soojin

I like "Lime" a lot more than this one, but I can't help but admire "Summer Daze" too! I'm so in love with how it's a pop b-side just feels so authentically indie-rock? Like, "Más Lejos" by Atalhos was one of my favorite songs of the summer last year, and that's an actual indie-rock song--and it feels like everyone who had a hand in "Summer Daze" understood exactly why people enjoy that type of song & decided to write a love letter to the genre. This track would fit right in with anyone's wistful k-indie playlist!

Entre todas lo arreglamos (album) -- Repion

Yeah, fuck it--I added Repion to the stanlist this month! After this EP, how could I not? The pre-release "El día no me da" had my heart already--it was so similar to their last album, though, that I found it a tad bit boring. But as an opener for a song like "Viernes", "El día no me da" reaches its full potential; it functions so perfectly that my qualms completely disappear. "El día no me da" builds up the energy to this delightful high, and then "Viernes" is the rollercoaster ride back down, full of twists and turns--I love the experimentation with rhythm, which continues in "Qué hay de ti?". It adds such a nice edge to the album; even though this release retains the things that drew me to Repion in the first place--strong vocals and incessant energy--it feels anything but boilerplate. This EP has only one flaw, and it's the kazoo-sounding thing that shows up in "Vienen de pasárselo bien". Maybe it's a perfectly lovely instrument in other contexts, but I think it just sounds silly here, and I really would rather just appreciate their (always delightful) harmonies in peace. Those harmonies do save the song for me, though! To be fair, this album only has four songs--putting it in the albums category is kind of a stretch--but these four songs are packed with enough interesting ideas to make this the fullest EP I've heard in forever. (Plus, Repion gets extra-credit points for releasing my album of the year--a full-length one, too--last year.) I'm not sure if this EP will turn out to be a smaller part of an upcoming album, but I really hope so--I love this sound for them!

[kazoosandfannypacks]

summary: 

 "Of all the mindless, idiotic, pointless, senseless, half-brained, dim-witted, bone-headed, just downright stupid things that Ezra had done in the last seven years since Sabine met him, this one was the biggest one.

 It would've been okay if he'd just not told her how he felt. She didn't mind the mixed signals when he even told her it was okay with him if she went out with Tarik. 

 But then, for whatever reason, Ezra had somehow convinced himself it was a good idea to show up at the restaurant with arm candy of his own— one of the catty Togruta sisters who was more than excited for a "front row seat to the Rebellion's second favorite 'will they/won't they.'"

 Sabine's own date had been stupid enough to let them make it a double date— and that stupidity combined with Ezra's own was a recipe for disaster."

and the argument that follows in its aftermath.

word count: 1.6K

a/n: my mom's been rewatching the jonas brothers tv show, and the first season is one of my silly little comfort shows, so i've enjoyed joining her for it when i can. a couple weeks ago while watching an episode, i heard the dialogue "what about a guy NOT asking a girl out because he likes her, huh? have you EVER stopped to consider that?" "that makes LITERALLY NO SENSE!" and i couldn't help but think of sabezra, so decided to make a oneshot based on this episode. most of the initial dialogue and actions is pulled from the show directly, but everything past sabine's "i see your point," is kazzy original material because the rest didn't give enough closure for a oneshot.

takes place post canon in an au where ezra did not get purrgiled. shoutout to @kanerallels, as always, for betaing! also, huge shoutout to @jessicas-pi for letting me borrow a couple of her ocs! you can read more about them in her absolute masterpiece of a story, commit to the bit!

taglist:@laughingphoenixleader  @accidental-spice @kanerallels @piraterefrigerator @jedi-nurse @dootchster @lucasbridger  @redroverrider @light-umbra @commander-tech {if you’d like to be added to or removed from my Sabezra taglist, let me know!}

also on ao3!

We Gotta Work This Out

 Of all the mindless, idiotic, pointless, senseless, half-brained, dim-witted, bone-headed, just downright stupid things that Ezra had done in the last seven years since Sabine met him, this one was the biggest one.

 "If he didn't want me to go out with Tarik, he could've just said something, instead of butting into my social life like that," Sabine thought, fists clenched as she paced around The Ghost, "and if he wanted to be part of my social life, he should just say it."

 The past few months, Ezra had let hints of his feelings for her drop on more than one occasion, and she hadn't exactly been subtle about how she felt either. And yet, Ezra hadn't asked her out yet, and Tarik had, so of course, she'd said yes. She couldn't wait around forever just for Ezra to not say anything at all.

 It would've been okay if he'd just not told her how he felt. She didn't mind the mixed signals when he even told her it was okay with him if she went out with Tarik. 

 But then, for whatever reason, Ezra had somehow convinced himself it was a good idea to show up at the restaurant with arm candy of his own— one of the catty Togruta sisters who was more than excited for a "front row seat to the Rebellion's second favorite 'will they/won't they.'"

 Sabine's own date had been stupid enough to let them make it a double date— and that stupidity combined with Ezra's own was a recipe for disaster.

 Predictably, the romantic evening had fallen apart like a cheap ration bar. It started small, with a few clever and cutting remarks between Sabine and Ezra, but it ended with what would've been a not-so-friendly sparring match, if Am-Lee hadn't defused by asking them to pause so the holo of the moment she took for her gossip chain didn't turn out blurry. But instead of giving Ezra the butt-whooping he deserved, Sabine then took the high ground and told Tarik to take her home immediately.

 Unfortunately for both of them, home for Sabine didn't actually get her any further from Ezra, and as soon as he'd dropped off his date and returned to The Ghost, Sabine was waiting for him, arms crossed, not even having taken the time to change out of the dress she'd worn for her date.

 "What's up?" Ezra shrugged, using a casual saunter to hide how steamed up he still was.

 "'What's up?'" Sabine scoffed, "like you don't know 'what's up?' I don't understand how you could be so conceited, and selfish, and just thoughtless."

 "Yeah?" Ezra responded in kind, as though well prepared for her harsh words, "well, you are stuck-up, pretentious, and totally gorgeous."

 No insult he could've said would've thrown her off more than that last word.

 "Gorgeous?" Sabine asked.

 "What?" Ezra scowled.

 "You just said I was gorgeous," Sabine shook her head.

 "I meant adorable," Ezra poorly tried to cover, "so adorable you make me sick!"

 "I'm sorry," Sabine said, but by the end of her comment she was almost yelling, generations of Mandalorian rage flowing through her, "but if I'm so 'sickeningly adorable,' then why'd you come to the restaurant tonight?"

 Ezra changed the subject, his tone revealing that he was not a fan of that question.

 "Well, why did you go out with Tarik?"

 "Because he asked me!" Sabine was really yelling now, almost wondering why she'd fallen for someone dumb enough to even ask a question like that. "Isn't that how it works, Ezra? A guy asks out a girl because he likes her?"

 "Because if that's how it works," Sabine thought, fist clenched, "then it's quite clear how Ezra feels about me."

 "What about a guy not asking out a girl because he likes her, huh?" Ezra retorted, as if it were the most obvious and logical comeback in the galaxy and not a strong contender for dumbest thing he'd ever said. "Have you ever thought about that?"

 He walked past her, but she wasn't about to let him leave her before she figured out what his comment was even supposed to mean. She turned around and found he had stopped and turned back as well, and was looking at her.

 "What?" she asked, blood still boiling, wondering if she'd get clarification or just further confirmation of his stupidity.

 "I don't wanna risk everything you and me don't have together!" Ezra snapped.

 "That makes absolutely no sense!" Sabine snapped back.

 "Yeah? Well sometimes things don't make sense!"

 She tried to argue, but in the heat of the argument, she hadn't noticed the sudden heat of him putting his hand on her neck and pulling her close to him. Before she knew what was happening, their lips made their first meeting, and somehow, it was a beautiful one.

 Sabine wasn't sure how to respond to this— holy kriff, it was a kiss, he was kissing her— to this kiss. Her instincts told her to punch him in the gut, but her heart said to pull him closer, because she'd been waiting a long time for this.

 But she didn't have a chance to do either before he pulled away, and she breathed out in response a heavy, "oh."

 Because as upset as she was at Ezra, he'd just absolutely floored her. As much as she couldn't stand him right now, she'd really enjoyed that. As much as she wanted to claim she never wanted to see him again, she knew what she really wanted was to kiss him again.

 Ezra was right. Sometimes things just don't make sense.

 "I see your point," she nodded, looking away from him, still trying to process what had just happened, and not needing Ezra's stupid pretty face clouding her judgment.

 His kiss was reckless and impulsive and thoughtless and, once again, in true Ezra fashion, a downright stupid thing to do. Was this his idea of telling her how he felt? Or just a cheap attempt at shutting her up?

 Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his lips parted in some breathless, awestruck smile, then noticed that his eyes rested on her.

 "Why did you do that?" Sabine asked.

 "I don't know," Ezra shook his head.

 "You do," Sabine turned back to him.

 "You're right," Ezra nodded, slowly, "and I think you know too."

 Sabine bit her lip and nodded, then shook her head. After all the stupid things he'd done that day, he owed her, at the very least, the explanation they both knew was true.

 "I need to hear you say it," she said.

 She read the fear in his eyes. He had no way of knowing for sure she felt the same way. He could be risking seven years of friendship on an emotional whim— though, with everything that had already happened that day, it would be hard either way to salvage any semblance of the friendship they'd once had.

 He opened his mouth as though to speak, then closed it and shook his head.

 "That's what I thought," Sabine thought, shaking her head, turning away from him, walking away from him, "if he can't tell me how he really feels..."

 "I'm in love with you."

 Sabine stopped dead in her tracks. Had Ezra really just said what she thought he said?

 She turned halfway around, then turned her head a little further to face him, then shook her head in disbelief.

 "What?" she asked.

 "I love you," Ezra said, breathing heavily with fear, "that's why I did— all of that. I love you."

 Sabine smiled, then bit her lip, then took a couple steps closer to him.

 "You really mean that?" she asked.

 "Yeah," Ezra said, and his tone and the look in his eyes turned a casual word into a wholehearted declaration of love.

 Sabine stepped closer to him, and from the look in his eyes, she knew he had no idea how she'd respond.

 Which meant he didn't see it coming at all when she reached for his neck, pulled him closer, and planted her lips back on his. She placed her other hand on his shoulder, and as soon as Ezra realized what was happening, his hands were on her sides. 

 It was the kind of kiss that made all the years of waiting for it totally worth it. She heard him sigh, and felt his lips curve into a smile, and hers did the same, and it was the best kriffing moment of her life.

 They didn't pull their lips away from each other until all of that frustration and rage and anger had sunk away, leaving in their place just a carefree joy at each other's mere presence. Even still, his hands didn't leave her sides, and hers didn't leave his shoulder— though now her other hand had slid up to his face, her thumb now softly stroking the scars on his cheek.

 "Now, why did you do that?" Ezra asked, a playful look in his eyes and a smitten smile on his lips.

 "I think you know why," Sabine whispered, biting her lip to keep from smiling too much.

 "I need to hear you say it," Ezra smiled, and he teasingly brushed his nose against hers.

 She sighed, almost like a laugh, and looked deep into his eyes.

 "Because I love you too," she whispered.

 He smiled shyly, letting go of one hand's grip on her side so he could cradle the back of her neck instead.

 She closed her eyes and actually giggled a little, then pressed her forehead lovingly against his.

 Maybe he was still downright stupid sometimes— but hey, she was too. Maybe she still had a lot to learn about how love works— but hey, he did too.

 And now they could work it out together.

[l0nesome-dreams]

I just realized I’ve never posted any of my writing before! I’m pretty new to writing fics/stories, so don’t expect anything phenomenal (I’m definitely better at drawing). The only reason I ever really write is for background and lore purposes, hence why you never see me writing 😂. Here’s a little WIP of a fic I’m writing based on this drawing. (Please excuse my grammar and what not I haven’t checked this yet lol)

Description: WIP of a fanfic I’m writing

Pairing: Captain Voorpret(OC) x Commander Lee Ruusaar(OC)

Word count: 1282

Warnings: just some kissin and maybe suggestive talk

Tag: @whiskygoldwings

enjoy?

It was too early in the morning when General Taleed called the troops in for a mission brief. It was all so sudden, Lee shot up from her bed blindly searching for her glasses, slamming her hand into her desk in the process. She groaned in frustration, shaking her hand to ease the pain as she finally found her glasses. Now less blind, she scrambled into the refresher to quickly make herself presentable before practically ripping open her locker to remove her clothes. She discarded her sleeping shirt, one of Voorpret’s old shirts he’d left behind one night, haphazardly shoving her legs into her leggings. She frantically searched for a proper top half but opted to give up on the search because it had been 5 minutes already since the call. By the time she was out of her quarters she had her sleep shirt on again and was pulling her hair back out of her face, her rubber band between her teeth. She staggered into the meeting room, everyone turning to look at her. Valkyrie elbowed Voorpret who turned to look at Lee, nearly choking when he realized she was wearing his old shirt.

“Ah, Commander, thank you for joining us this morning,” Taleed said before turning to the rest of the men in the room, “Sorry to wake you all so early, but we’ve been called to attend a gala that may be compromised by the Separatists.” 

He rearranged the holo map to present a outlining of a large building. Many floors and rooms were visible which all circled around what looked to be a dinning hall and ball room.

“The senator of the planet has expressed the concerns of their king and queen of the possible attack. We are to be there as support in case of emergency. Lee and I will be going undercover to try to figure out if there is a Separatist presence there within the gala before we do anything drastic. Captain and some of you boys will be acting as guards. The senator has already informed the normal guards of the planet that you all will be taking over for the night. Do not engage any suspects unless either the commander or I say so.” He explained, making gestures here and there to the table before him.

“Sir, who can we be keeping an eye out for?” Voorpret asked, his voice growly from sleep.

“We’ve got a few faces,” Taleed projected a few holograms of a variety of what looked like to be Separatist officers, “however nothing is set in stone yet. There could be more than just this handful.” He looked a bit wary of the situation.

“We’ll be sure to let you know if we notice anything suspicious that you or the commander didn’t see.” Voorpret reassured.

“Alright, we’ll be heading out at 0630 hours, so be ready in the hangar by then.” Taleed said.

The men left the room heading off to prepare, leaving only Taleed, Lee, and Voorpret.

“Lee I know you don’t appreciate undercover missions, but this one isn’t as bad compared to the others you’ve had to step in on I promise. Just dress nicely, but don’t stand out too much.” The togruta said, smiling at his daughter enthusiastically.

“I wasn’t too concerned buir.” Lee said, returning his smile, though hers was less so enthusiastic. 

“Good, good. I will see you both shortly.” Taleed bowed and existed the room, the door sliding shut behind him.

Voorpret sighed heavily.

“Mesh’la is this my shirt?” Voorpret asked, reaching forward and taking the hem of it in his fingers.

“It is in fact your old shirt. I was rushing to get out of my quarters this morning because I wasn’t expecting the general to call a mission briefing at 0400 hours.” Lee grumbled.

“I’m just messing with you cyare.” Voorpret chucked, pulling Lee against his chest softly.

She wrapped her arms around him, she appreciated the fact he wasn’t in his armor, but  just in his blacks. She inhaled the familiar scents of GAR issued soap, slight musk, and a scent that was purely Voorpret. 

“Mesh’la did you not sleep well?” He said after a moment, his arms still securely wrapped around the smaller form of his love. 

“Mhm.” She mumbled against his chest, snuggling in closer.

“Ah, I see. I’m sorry mesh’la. I was going to come lay with you for a little while, but then the general called the meeting.” He rubbed soothing circles on her back, placing a lingering kiss to the top of her head inhaling her scent ever so slightly.

She didn’t answer, but pulled away reluctantly. 

“Don’t worry about it love, I don’t think anyone was expecting the meeting.” She said, yawning. 

Voorpret grinned down at her when she yawned.

“You look so cute when you yawn,” Voorpret cooed and his grin widened when Lee glared up at him, “my little loth cat.” He placed a soft kiss to her nose before releasing her.

“You know I hate when you call me that.” Lee said, walking back over to the holo map.

Voorpret chuckled.

“Mesh’la you will forever be like a loth cat, you will never change my mind.” He stated, coming up to stand behind Lee, wrapping his arms around her waist while resting his head on her shoulder.

“Where do you get the energy this early in the morning?” Lee sighs, zooming in on the doors that lead into the main room of the building.

“You of course,” The captain says, kissing Lee’s neck, “if you weren’t around I’d be just as tired as you are right now.” He muses.

“Well I’m glad you’re in a good mood this morning, but I haven’t had my caf, and I’m not about to deal with all of your brothers without it,” she turned in his hold to face him now, “plus you’re being an active distraction.” 

Voorpret smirked, mischief glinting in brown eyes. 

“Oh mesh’la I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m barely being a distraction.” He leaned into her face, his lips only inches from hers, “But I can turn that around real quick.” He adds suggestively.

Lee deadpans and puts her hand over his mouth, pushing his face away. 

“Again. Distraction.” She grumbles.

Voorpret doesn’t let this slide. He scoops her up, setting her down on the table, and resting his hands on either side of her. 

“You know you can’t resist all of this.” Voorpret says, wiggling his eyebrows while slotting himself between Lee’s legs to emphasize his point. 

Lee flushed deep red looking down at Voorpret’s chest, avoiding eye contact. 

“Have I ever told you how pretty you look when you’re wearing my clothes?” Voorpret asks, taking Lee’s chin gently between his thumb and forefinger to draw her attention back to him.

“So you’ve said.” Lee says quietly, looking at his face now.

Voorpret grins at her before leaning in to place a soft kiss on her lips. They sit there a moment before the briefing door slides open abruptly.

“Oh force! Sorry!” Valkyrie chuckles, covering his eyes with his hand before peering through his fingers, “I thought you’d wait a bit longer V. You can’t just have se-“ He started before Voorpret interrupted him abruptly.

“Valkyrie, what in kriffs name are you doing back in here?” Voorpret hissed, still slotted between Lee’s legs, looming over her. 

“Forgot my helmet,” Valkyrie stated picking up his bucket from the chair he’d been sitting in, “I’ll leave you two love birds to it, just for force sake don’t be too loud.” 

Before either Lee or Voorpret could make a remark Valkyrie was out the door just as quickly as he’d come in.

[whatgaviiformes]

Fic: Untitled 1/?

This is going to be a one-shot, but since Ao3 is down, I figured why not offer what I have so far as a teaser. This'll then be posted in parts.

Summary: Sally knows when something is off with her boys. A growing up Tracy fic.

New POV for me :D ~*~

The oven was smoking again.

Why it always seemed to do that - and only for her - escaped her.

She was a doctor and a pilot, dammit, not a cook. Though, she’d never admit she struggled her way through a recipe. Sally Ruth Tracy was, if nothing else, persistent. What Grant used to always call “stubborn”. But her husband had always said it with a wry grin that told her he was more amused than anything else. The stubborn recognized their own, in Sally’s opinion. Her Jeff had inherited that trait. So had Scottybird. The perseverance, she knew, would service him well in university.

As she fished around Jeff’s kitchen for the potholders, she smiled at the memory of her late husband, one that she both kept close to her heart, and yet saw in her children and grandchildren every day. When she opened the oven, a black cloud escaped, and Sally waved a hand over back and forth across her face to clear it. Her glasses had fogged over from the heat, but once she could safely retrieve the cookie sheet, the char of the cinnamon rolls she had been trying to make for breakfast made themselves known.

“Oops.”

Salvageable? Unlikely, not this time. Not only had the bread crusted into char but something unknown had melted into a disastrous scar across the tray.

Sally opened a window to let in the fresh air and let the smoke clear, though unfortunately, the chaos of a school morning didn’t stop over burnt rolls. As the fog escaped, hurricane Tracy entered, seemingly unaffected by the smell in the kitchen. Scott was a month into his second semester, and Jeff was chatting future plans with his good friends Lee and Val. Even without them Sally felt fully capable of taking care of a herd of boys, even better equipped in some ways.

Alan, the youngest shuffled in first, which was always the way – the younger kids started school later than the older kids, even though the older kids needed to make sure they got a full night’s sleep. Alan wasn’t an early bird, per se, but in the mornings he was eager to jump right in where he left off in his games the night before. Alan gave her a toothless smile where Gordon had accidentally tumbled into the youngest’s baby teeth the other day, and Sally gave him permission to play on his holo-pad for half an hour only.

When Sally was younger she played Candy Crush. Games had come a long way since then, and Alan’s favorite was a VR resurgence of math blaster. A bit more advanced for his age, but the dear was a chip off his older brother’s shoulder, and he’d be following in John’s footsteps soon enough.

Speak of the devil, John eased in next, silent but impossible to miss behind the messy ginger of his unbrushed locks. He brushed by her as she scraped the mess of breakfast into the trashcan, wishing her dreary good morning. Every morning was too early for her John, being the absolute night owl he was. Probably up until 2 AM again. John pushed his glasses up to the center of his nose as he investigated the refrigerator for the cream cheese and selected the jug of apple juice beside it.  With his help, Sally was able to get some bagels in the toaster oven for the kids, while she started on their bagged lunches for the day.

Gordon and Virgil entered together, the older practically nudging the pre-teen into the kitchen while his squiddy limbs wiggled back towards the bedrooms in rebellion.

“Found him reciting the beginning of Treasure Island to his beta fish,” Virgil told her. “Sorry for being late.” No doubt teaching the fish about his namesake, as Gordon had named him Hawkins after the protagonist. If he didn’t succeed at his goal of being an Olympic medalist, Gordon was well on his way to growing up to be a pirate. He was just as obsessed with sea stories and ocean legends as Jim.

At least he’d read it, she thought, and she said as much.

“It was the Muppet version.”

Ah, well, she’d learned about the Odyssey from that literature dog tv show back in the day.

Alan giggled, not really sure what he was laughing about, but he saw the amused expression on Virgil’s face and the indignant one on his partner in crime, and figured it was an appropriate reaction for Gordon being the topic of a joke.

Virgil pulled up the calendar on his phone. “Grandma, I’ve got practice for the spring musical until 6:00, Alan’s got scouts after school, and Gordon’s got Coach 5:30-7.”

“I can walk Alan over to scouts,” John offered, not looking up from his book. His remote college classes both kept him busy and made him more flexible to help out when needed. Lectures were recorded, reading could be done any time, and the important part of his courses were the dissertation due dates and finals.

“That means it’s just you and me this afternoon, kid,” Sally said, squeezing Gordon’s shoulders lightly. It only lasted a second, but she thought she saw his smile falter at the reminder of his swimming lesson. She may not be able to cook well for her family, but she knew how to recognize when shadows grasped their hearts.

She wouldn’t stand for it, determined to find out by the end of the day just what was troubling the ray of sunshine.

[julieterbang]

LEE HI - HOLO Official Music Video (ENG)

[elvenbeard]

Spinning

Cyberpunk 2077 Fanfic Summary: V and Kerry try to figure out if they're living the real "mayor candidate of Night City" lifestyle. After the tension of the last days, weeks, and months though, some well-needed stress relief is in order, too. (Post-Sun-Ending, mostly canon-compliant, Chapter 5/?, 4818 words, Kerry Eurodyne/V, rated E for eggplant-emoji) - author's notes at the end!

>> Previous Chapter >> Read from the Beginning

“Um, I’m really not sure if this is safe!” Lee called down to them over his shoulder, clinging to the narrow ladder with all his might. His shiny blue-and-gold-striped blazer fluttered like a weathervane, while his perfectly styled bright-blue pompadour sat on his head like a helmet… only that it wouldn’t prevent his skull from cracking should he fall.

“Just keep goin’, dammit, you’re almost there!” Kerry annoyedly gestured him to hurry. Lee swallowed audibly, then looked back up towards the roof of the penthouse and continued at an agonizingly slow pace.

“Should’ve let me go, he’s gonna piss himself any moment now,” V muttered as he watched the scene play out, standing by Kerry’s side.

“Abso-fuckin’-lutely not,” Kerry shook his head vehemently, arms crossed, “You’re not climbin’ anywhere anytime soon.”

V sighed. He would have managed somehow, for sure, but Kerry had already refused to let him search for any signs of Blue-Eye’s tech inside the penthouse. He had been banished to the sofa, then the bed, doomed to rest himself and take it slow, only giving directions and pointing Kerry to places that could have been bugged or otherwise tempered with in the way he’d seen it done it in the mayor's apartment. They really had been thorough, and Kerry was taking this as seriously as V. But still, he didn’t know if he should be relieved or not, having found nothing suspicious yet. At the Peralez’ place there’d been that communications system on the rooftop, and since Kerry simply didn’t want to climb up and V couldn’t, it was now up to Kerry’s manager to make himself useful. V had been hesitant about getting Lee involved, but on the other hand he would simply do what Kerry told him without asking questions.

“I did it!” Lee yelled from the rooftop ecstatically, straightening up with his hands on his hips, “Wow, the view from up here is something…”

“You don’t have to yell for fuck’s sake, we can hear you over the holo!” Kerry rolled his eyes and took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. After a short pause he turned to V with his voice much calmer again, his expression softer.

“Any second thoughts?”

“The painkillers they gave me are pretty good,” V shrugged, “Doubt this is gonna make it worse by much. And I don’t trust that he knows what he’s supposed to be lookin’ for on his own.”

The biggest downside of this plan really, but admittedly, V didn’t have a better idea at the given time either. And he sure as hell wouldn’t be able to wind down without being at least somewhat certain they weren’t being monitored here.

“Alright,” Kerry sighed, then raised a finger at V, almost like a scolding parent, and much to V’s amusement, “But you stop if it gets too much. I just gotta give him a call and we’ll send him back up again anytime. Okay?”

“Promise,” V smiled at Kerry, who finally relaxed his shoulders a bit and then fully uncrossed his arms to take V’s hand.

“Uh, I’m ready whenever!” Lee yelled, double thumbs up, and Kerry groaned, muting himself of the holocall.

“Fuck, dunno where he gets the energy from…”

“Drugs?” V shrugged.

“Whatever he’s takin’, I want some.”

V chuckled, regretting it immediately at the sharp pain shooting through his chest – dulled from the meds, but not gone. Then he focused his scanner on Lee and hacked into his optics, unmuting himself at the same time to be able to direct him around.

“Oh, wow, that was weird,” Lee gasped as V’s vision glitched and he found himself on top of the penthouse too now, looking down at himself and Kerry, while still feeling Kerry’s touch giving him stability. He’d never get used to this.

“Alright, turn around,” V said, “Gimme a walkaround of the whole rooftop area, so I get an overview of the layout.”

Lee nodded.

“And don’t… do that. Don’t move your head around too much.”

“Oh, understood!”

Then Lee did as he was told, slowly walking around the roof and following V’s instructions to a T. He had decent Kiroshis, but still not the software and modifications that V was used to, so it took him a couple of minutes to just adjust to that as well, on top of looking through another person’s eyes. It was frustrating that he couldn’t scan some of the tech installed on the roof in the way he wanted to, had to manually instruct Lee to do this or that, look closer at certain panels, follow wires, or open up compartments that shouldn’t normally be opened by people who didn’t know what they were doing. Lee’s constant babbling and whining didn’t help.

“You still good?” Kerry asked after about ten minutes of intensive search, “You’re… swaying a bit.”

“Lemme take another quick look at the AC unit,” V said, but that sentence alone cost him a lot of strength, words coming out only somewhat slurred.

“Vince, don’t overdo it. You promised.”

Kerry’s voice was stern and simultaneously so full of worry, V could downright see his face before him.

“Okay. You’re right… sorry.”

He disconnected from Lee’s optics, and it was good that Kerry was still holding his hand, otherwise he might have just keeled over.

“Woah, shit!” Kerry gasped and V clung to him, stumbling slightly, falling into his arms more or less.

“I’m good, I’m good,” V caught his breath, but he was glad to be able to lean against Kerry for support, “Gimme a minute, my head’s spinning a little.”

“Told you not to overdo it,” Kerry muttered and helped him sit down on one of the nearby deck chairs. After a few deep breaths the dizziness already started to fade again. V grinned at Kerry, and it made his frown slowly melt and change into a soft smile as well.

“Can… can I come down again now?” Lee asked and Kerry and V both sighed deeply, paused to look at the other, then started laughing.

“Yeah, move your ass back down,” Kerry said and sat down next to V on the chair, ending the holocall.

“Love workin’ with amateurs,” V said, and Kerry scoffed.

“Fuckin’ tell me about it,” he said, “Should see him scuttle about the studio like a headless chicken. Wonder which of the label bosses’ dicks he’s sucked to get hired in the first place.”

“Maybe he’s someone’s nephew,” V suggested, and Kerry groaned.

“Good ol’ nepotism, even worse! Fuckin’ and suckin’ your way to the top at least involves a little bit of effort and initiative…”

Kerry let out a long, frustrated sigh, rubbing his face with both hands and pausing for a couple of seconds before turning back to V.

“Anything at all?” he asked, voice lowered, nodding in the direction of the roof. V carefully shook his head.

“Nah. Not sure if I’m relieved or not,” he said with a shrug.

“I’m relieved, for sure,” Kerry said calmly, his posture straightening again, “That’s gotta be worth somethin’, right?”

“Yeah. Yeah, it is,” V nodded, and before he knew it Kerry had his arm around him, holding him close, fingers gently rubbing a tense spot on his upper back. V looked at him, and the way the midday sunlight bounced off of the silver lines on Kerry’s cheeks, the little gold plates, refracted across his freckles, was a sight he could never get enough of. His pretty blue Kiroshis were such a stark, cold contrast to his warm skin, their intensity mesmerizing as Kerry looked him over briefly as if to make sure he was really here with him. A gentle smile curled at the corners of his mouth, the distinguished grey in his beard adding to his radiance, and V’s heart skipped a beat or two. He couldn’t resist pressing a quick kiss against the small golden implant just below Kerry’s cheekbone, much to Kerry’s amusement. Then they just sat quietly, side by side, and watched Lee shakily climb down the maintenance ladder at the backside of the penthouse. It took him even longer to get down than it had taken him to get up, and while V couldn’t hear him, he could see that he was mumbling to himself the whole time.

“Since when is his hair blue?” he asked eventually, a little scared of the answer.

“Not that long, walked in like this last week or somethin’,” Kerry said, “Why?”

V sighed with relief.

“Just a reality check, I guess.”

Another brief pause, the silence between them drowned out by the howling wind announcing a sandstorm already towering in the distance, gunshots and police sirens on the streets below, AVs breezing above their heads. It was like any other day in Night City, and this realization was strangely comforting to V. Some things would never change, no matter how hard you fought them… and that was okay. The world would keep on turning, no matter what became of him, or Kerry, or anyone else.

He looked back at Kerry, who made a frowny face at whatever Lee was doing. V held his thought to just admire the view for a moment, Kerry puzzled and annoyed at the same time, surely a hundred insults at the tip of his tongue about how much he hated the guy – although not nearly as much as Kovachek. Kerry realized he was being watched quickly, as usual.

“What?” he asked with a grin, meeting V’s gaze.

“Nothin’,” V said almost automatically. He leaned into Kerry’s embrace a little bit more.

“I really never told you about the Johnny thing? Seein’ his reflection? Because I was so sure I did…”

Kerry shook his head gently.

“No, promise. That’s definitely something I’d’ve remembered,” he said.

V began to peel at the plastic seam of his cast again. Along the edges the material was kind of rough and a tiny pointy bit stuck out that had been annoying him the whole time already, poking and scratching him. It was too short to properly pinch it, but too thick to just clip it off without a tool. He sighed.

“I’m just… Makes me wonder what else I didn’t actually tell you that I’m sure I did. Y’know…” he hesitated to even think about it.

“Hm?”

V looked up from his hands at Kerry again, eyes big and questioning, but still an encouraging smile on his lips, making V’s heart flutter. On some days he was so numb from all that had happened, but these little moments reminded him he was still able to feel something after all. If he had the guarantee that the only emotion left in his body was his love for Kerry at the end, he probably wouldn’t be so scared of the things to come.

“It’s kinda sick to even think it,” he then said quietly, keeping an eye on Lee who had finally made it to the end of the ladder, “But I was hoping we’d find something. Inside, or up there.”

Kerry frowned, but even before V said it out loud, realization began to dawn in his eyes, his shoulders slumping, his lips parting slightly, but he said nothing just yet.

“’Cause if it’s not Blue-Eyes and his people messing with my head… Maybe this is just me really beginning to lose it. My mind. Myself. Like Alt predicted,” V said quietly.

Kerry seemed to want to say something, but after struggling with words for a few moments he just resorted to moving closer, bumping their foreheads together gently. V closed his eyes, basking in the comfort of Kerry’s presence.

He hated all of this so much, and even more he hated to put Kerry through it as well. Maybe he should’ve listened to Johnny… to not give into his feelings, that is, imagining a long-term relationship with Kerry when even back then his future had looked anything but rosy. On the other hand… he didn’t want to think about in what mental state he’d be now if Kerry wasn’t by his side. Whether he’d still be around at all.

Kerry moved away just enough to be able to look at V properly again, both opening their eyes. Kerry still had his left arm around V’s shoulders, his right hand reached up to cup V’s face, and he melted into the touch. Fuck, he’d been gone for how long, two, three days? And he’d missed this closeness, their quiet intimate moments so much, where neither of them had to say anything. They just understood the other’s pain and thoughts, so well sometimes it scared V a little bit. He could see it in Kerry’s eyes, the same fear sitting deep in his chest, the same worries in the lines on his forehead, his clenched jaw, the tension in his muscles and every movement.

“One day at a time,” Kerry then quietly said, “And positive thinking.”

“Yeah,” V nodded briefly.

In the next second though, much to their annoyance, their little moment was interrupted by Lee’s silhouette blocking out the sun as he approached. He was smiling awkwardly, not sure what to do with his hands, rummaging in the pockets of his blazer. Reluctantly Kerry lowered his hand, but not without brushing his thumb across V’s lips briefly, making him shiver in a good way for once. They both turned to look at Lee who cleared his throat, voice a little shaky as he began to speak.

“Well, that went well, right? I hope? Or… or not?” he asked, looking at them expectantly for a moment, but after receiving no answer, he just continued.

“Kerry, while I’m here… did you, by any chance, have a moment to look at the info I sent you yesterday? Regarding the Crystal Palace gig?”

V didn’t have to let even the faintest noise escape his lips before Kerry turned to look at him. They came to a silent understanding within not more than a second or two, both their expressions neutral to not give too much away in front of Lee. Their eyes spoke all the words necessary. Kerry turned back to his manager.

“Skimmed through it, yeah,” he said briefly.

“Ah, great!” Lee could barely contain his excitement… or rather, he tried everything in his power to mask his nervousness somehow, V got the impression. This guy was really gonna have a hard time in the corporate media world.

“So… what do you think? I can call them back right away, set a date, discuss specifics… Oh, was anything unclear I should ask first, do you have any questions about the conditions they stated?”

Kerry stared at Lee intensely, then threw another brief glance at V.

“Gimme a couple more days to think about it. I’ll call ya, or see ya at the studio or whatever,” Kerry decided and with a waving hand motion gestured him to leave.

“Oh, um, okay, well,” Lee stammered, “Sure, we can do that! Whatever you say! I uh… I’ll find the way out myself.”

“Lee,” Kerry said in a warning tone as he was about to turn around, “Remember: you weren’t here today. You saw nothin’.”

“Ah, yes, uh, of course!” he stammered, stumbling slightly as he turned around to eagerly nod.

Both V and Kerry looked after him as he then walked off, back inside and towards the direction of the elevator.

“Think he’s maybe just a little bit scared of us?” V grinned at Kerry. That finally brought Kerry’s smile back, cheeky, with a little mischievous glint in his eyes. He saw him like this too rarely lately and couldn’t help himself but reach out with his healthy hand, stroke his cheek, run his fingers along his cyberware, through his beard. Kerry closed his eyes and leaned into V’s hand now, in return causing V’s heart to bounce around like crazy. How dared he be so gorgeous?

“Not as much of us as of gettin’ the Kovachek-treatment if he gets funny with me,” Kerry said quietly, eyes still closed, and V chuckled.

“He got a yacht?”

“No, and he wouldn’t dare get one!” Kerry laughed, then blinked up at him and bit his lip, “But the pay bump he got for signing me just bought him a brand-new Caliburn. Or so I’ve heard.”

“Ohoho, interesting, interesting…” V mused, but before he could finish the thought Kerry leaned in and captured his lips in a kiss. It was chaste almost, for Kerry’s standards at least, just the softest nibble, the faintest flick of his tongue. V’s hand slipped to the back of Kerry’s head, across velvety buzzed hair, fingers massaging encouragingly. In contrast to the almost careful, gentle movement of his lips though, Kerry’s breath was hot and needy, and when he slowly, reluctantly pulled back, his cheeks were flushed, and his eyes wandered back to V’s mouth, his neck, his chest…

“Still up for a shower?” he then asked, and V didn’t have to say a thing before Kerry got up and pulled him with him.

They left a trail of clothes on their way inside, across the living room, up the stairs, laughing and whispering and peppering kisses on exposed skin in-between. V was still slower and more unsure in his movements than he would’ve liked, too stiff to get out of his shirt on his own, struggling to open the zipper on his pants, but Kerry was more than happy to help with both. The last piece of clothing dropped just before they reached the bathroom. Kerry’s kisses became greedier, devouring almost, and V let himself be guided to the shower blindly, arms around Kerry’s shoulders, Kerry’s touch purposeful but gentle, hands trailing down V’s sides, then coming to a rest on his hips. Hot water began to rain down on them as they stumbled into the shower, and V broke their kiss just for a moment, gasping at the sudden heat and the downpour of water on his bruises.

“All good?” Kerry asked out of breath, pupils blown wide with desire and V wanted to just lose himself in their beckoning darkness. He didn’t reply, instead pulled Kerry back against his mouth, a little awkwardly with only one healthy hand. Their teeth clashed briefly, eliciting an amused groan from Kerry. His grip on V’s hips grew tighter, but before long his hands wandered to the small of his back, sliding across wet skin down to his butt, leaving no air between their entangled bodies. V gasped, moaned into Kerry’s kiss, at the slight pain each touch, each of their movements caused him… but also at the realization of just how hard Kerry had gotten already, just from undressing and touching, holding and kissing each other like this…

“Vince,” Kerry gasped, the rawness of his voice causing V’s skin to tingle, and when Kerry then slipped his hand between V’s legs, V’s head began to spin.

“Oh, fuck… Kerry…” he didn’t even know how he was still talking, capable of forming words, teasing fingers knowing exactly where and how to touch to drive V crazy, circling, sliding, probing, with just the right amount of pressure. Hand digging into the soft skin and flesh of Kerry’s back, V’s hips instinctively bucked into Kerry’s rhythmic movements, and Kerry adjusted his own stance to grind himself against V’s leg. They’d broken their kiss, and instead now Kerry’s tongue was trailing down V’s neck. Kissing, gently biting along the edges of his chrome, Kerry did the same V loved to do him, because he knew how raw and sensitive ‘ganic skin could be around the edges of a piece of cyberware.

V relished in all the sensations… the hot water engulfing them, washing away the sweat and badlands dust that still stuck to him, Kerry’s touch and kisses, his soft moans and heavy breathing against V’s neck, wet sounds and grunts echoing from the bathroom tiles. The impressions took over V’s thoughts completely, the blissful pain and the soft warmth of Kerry’s skin, the slight scratch and tickle of his beard, the slowly fading but still distinct scent of his cologne… His own racing heartbeat, the tingling heat pooling deep inside him as Kerry got him closer to the edge with every touch, ground against him with intense lust, pushing away all the fear and hurt and worry. Even if it was only temporarily, V embraced all logic and concern leaving his body for this.

When Kerry pulled his hand away all of a sudden, V grunted in protest. Kerry’s fingernails dug into the sides of V’s thighs, and he glanced up at him through long dark eyelashes, out of breath and lips plump and so goddamn kissable… V couldn’t restrain himself, wanted to taste and devour him, lick into his hot wet mouth, breathe his air, become one with him. Kerry moaned against V’s lips, breath shaky, voice startled almost, but once more melting against him. His hands grabbed V’s hips harder, pinning him in place against the shower wall, and his hard, hot cock slipped where his hand had been before. V groaned, whimpering a curse and Kerry’s name against his mouth, and Kerry chuckled between moans and kisses.

They clung to the other like their lifeline, grinding and gasping with pleasure against each other, Kerry picking up the pace and V meeting his every movement.

“Fuck, you feel so good, Vince,” Kerry whispered against V’s neck, raspy voice almost drowned out by the rushing water, but still enough to nearly send him over the edge right then and there.

“I love you so much,” V gasped, and Kerry moaned his name, burying his face against the crook of V’s neck as his body tensed up against him and spilled his hot, sticky release between V’s thighs. It didn’t take much more for V to come, feeling so wanted, cherished, his profession of love of all things letting Kerry climax… V’s legs were shaking, his voice hoarse as he pulled Kerry against him, riding out his orgasm for as long as he could stay on his feet before the heavenly weight of the afterglow took over and they both sank down to the shower floor. Breathing heavily, they still held on to each other reassuringly, kept lazily kissing, were happy to just exist in this moment together without words, enjoying the warmth and silence. For a couple of minutes, the world seemed to have stopped turning after all.

“I’m gonna feel that tomorrow…” V chuckled as they laid in bed in each other’s arms shortly after, hair still wet and tousled, wrapped up loosely in a big soft towel together.

“Just not in the way you wanna, probably,” Kerry grinned, but then he frowned, “Hope I wasn’t too rough.”

“You know I like it a bit rough,” V teased.

“Yeah, but still.”

Kerry’s eyes wandered to the bruises on V’s chest again. He’d really been careful about not grabbing him too roughly there, but in the heat of the moment…

“I won’t break so easily,” V said, “And I didn’t realize how much I needed that.”

Kerry’s smile returned and he inched a little closer.

“Always happy to serve,” he purred, fingertips light as feathers trailing down V’s arm, all the way to his cast-covered hand.

“Aw crap, keep forgetting about that,” he mumbled, resorting to wrap his arm around V’s waist instead of lacing their fingers like they normally would. Outside, the sandstorm was just about to hit, dulling the sun and creating a strangely soothing, cozy orange glow around them. V was close to just dozing off, Kerry had his eyes shut as well, but he managed to not slip away just yet.

“Kerry?” he asked quietly.

“Mh-hm?” Kerry hummed without opening his eyes, not just looking but also sounding half-asleep already.

“I love you, no matter what happens… no matter how this all goes down. Even if I don’t show it or can’t say it anymore,” he said, managing not more than a whisper.

Kerry’s eyes fluttered open again, glistening slightly, glowing almost in the dimmed light. He looked away for a moment, then back at V.

“I know,” he said quietly, “And I’ll love you, no matter what comes next or what you decide. I’ll be there for you.”

“Yeah… I know.”

V let out a deep breath and at least a little bit of the tension that had taken a hold of his body again faded. Kerry’s thumb circled V’s hipbone absentmindedly.

“Well… what comes next?” he then asked after a short pause, “Wanna look around the house more later, or…”

“No, I wouldn’t know where anymore,” V said slowly, “I think all we can do now is wait for Mr. B’s call, I guess. See if he keeps his promise.”

“I swear, if the guy tries to play you, or comes around the corner with even more demands…” Kerry grumbled, “I’ll guarantee for nothin’ anymore.”

“Love it when you’re getting’ all protective of me,” V chuckled, but Kerry remained serious.

“I mean it,” he said, “I dunno, but… just let me know what he does and what he wants. Let me be a part of it this time.”

V hesitated, but he also had to remind himself that Kerry was a sly dog with many connections. He was not to be underestimated, not your typical plastic idol that was more a product than a human being, that needed constant protection… at least not from others.

All of a sudden, he realized that that could be a reason weighing a lot heavier than the convenience of only having to manipulate V, not Kerry as well, by driving a wedge between them. Mr. B had continued to tell him to not let Kerry in on any details of their plans, every step of the way, even after V had repeatedly reassured him that he would not, that he never talked about sensitive client matters with outsiders, especially not while they were still in the planning phase. He had mistaken Mr. B’s requests as simple mistrust at first, then as a reminder to not to mess or disobey him and his people or face according consequences. The good old “if you don’t do this, something might happen to your loved ones” approach.

But maybe… Mr. B had actually been scared that Kerry would smell bullshit, had V let him in on all of this earlier. Kerry wasn’t dying, he wasn’t at anyone’s mercy. And he’d lived in NC long enough, played in the city’s games many times over, and recognized their patterns. V had grown up and lived in the corporate world as well but… It was always hardest to see the whole web – or the spider – when you were caught up in the middle of it. Just how Kerry hadn’t realized that Kovachek had been playing him, while V smelled the media circus from 10 miles away, V hadn’t seen through Mr. B’s schemes this clearly until he was given Kerry’s uninvolved outsider’s perspective. Only slowly he began to see the full extent of his manipulation now, and he might never have if it wasn’t for Kerry... The true irony though was that, if he was correct in his assumptions, Mr. B had played himself now by excluding Kerry from the equation so consistently. The one question remained though… was this only about getting V to do their bidding, was he really that good of an asset to them? Or was there even more to their agenda that warranted all the scheming?

“V, you okay?” Kerry asked, and V realized his thoughts had been trailing off for quite a while, “Hope Johnny’s not back now, too.”

“No, no I’m good,” V said, moving closer to give Kerry a quick kiss, “Better than I’ve been in a while.”

“Well damn, I should start marketing shower sex as the newest miracle cure…”

V laughed, flinched in pain again briefly, but continued to smile at Kerry fondly.

“I guess sometimes I just need my brains fucked out to see clearly again,” he joked.

“Good, good, write that in the pitch!” Kerry egged him on.

“Can’t see clearly anymore at your stressful corporate job? Try to… get fucked!” V said in his best commercial voice and they both burst into laughter. Their voices echoed from the gallery and filled the walls of the penthouse with desperately needed joy.

Sure, in the end, there were no such things as miracle cures. At least not without strings attached or coming at a high price. V was only too aware. And sure, once his and Kerry’s high wore off, and reality came crashing down again, things would probably start looking a lot grimmer again. But in this moment at least, V did not dread what was to come as much anymore, knowing there was no way in hell Kerry would allow him to go through it all alone again.

(aösdfjdaösfasdf thanks for reading here all the way! I don't normally write smut and was hella nervous about posting this at all, I hope this wasn't too awkward xD but I also wanna continue sharing this story, as long as at least one of you wants to continue reading it! and some fluff and happiness was necessary after 4 chapters of angst so far. also would love to hear feedback and thoughts in regard to where you think things might go on from here, cause I have stuff planned (that might all become obsolete depending on the ending Phantom Liberty adds but oh well!! for now The Sun is my canon at least XD))

>> Next Chapter

also, a little bonus for everyone who's made it this far:

This is a random corpo NPC I came across in AMM some time ago - his hair isn't exactly how I picture it, but yeah - that's what Lee looks like in my head, just fyi XD maybe I'll mod a proper appearance for him some time (picture him with the same hair color, but Rachel Casich's hairstyle instead XD and dressed a bit more fancy than this)

Poor Kerry is not amused xD so yeh, if you ever come across him somewhere in Night City, he's probably on some shady errand for Kerry and Vince again, tsk tsk xD

[alexthefly]

Just In Case

My first ever attempt at the @flashfictionfridayofficial challenge. It's a bit ropey, but it's a thing that exists, so yay progress!

Fandom: Thunderbirds/Thunderbirds Are Go

Word count: 999

Rating: teen

Warnings: Kissing, brief mentions of alcohol and poor mental health.

...

“Now boys, promise me you’ll be good for your mother. Mind your manners, do your chores - all that good stuff, okay?”

An enthusiastic chorus of “Yes Sir”s - together with Scott’s attempt at a salute - and Jeff was compelled to bend down for one last hug with his two tiny Tracys. For a moment he soaked in the smell of soap in his sons’ hair, the feeling of little arms wrapped around him, and of sticky wet kisses on his cheeks.

His heart ached.

Finally he rose again. “Alright boys,” he said, clearing his throat, “to your duties. Dismissed!”

And with that they were gone, racing past their mother on their way to whatever adventure Scotty had convinced Virgil to go on with him today.

“Stay in the yard you two,” Lucy called after them before walking over to Jeff, holding his hold-all. “I packed your father’s penknife for you,” she said, “just in case.”

Jeff took the bag and kissed her on the cheek. “You didn’t need to do that, Honey. Lee's got all the tools we could possibly need on board.”

“I know,” she replied, shrugging. “It’s just in case.”

He chuckled. 

Her favourite phrase.

“Alright then; just in case.”

*

“Promise you’ll write?” she asked as they got to the front door.

Jeff turned back, eyebrow raised.

“Write? Is this Victorian England? We have holo’s; I can just call you.”

“I know,” she said, nodding. “It’s just it’s so far, and comms can be unreliable-”

Jeff laughed. “Those same comms you want to send emails through?”

Lucy scowled up at him. “Don’t be an ass, Jeff! I just meant you’ll be so busy, and trying to match up Moon/Earth timezones and stuff, it’s easy to miss each other. I just thought… just in case… it might…”

She huffed and looked at the ground, as if the right words might be scattered down there, and he felt a fresh wave of love for his remarkable, bewildering wife, whose brain was so much quicker than her mouth; who got flummoxed and tongue-tied even as she was thinking circles around you. Trying to keep up with her was like trying to keep pace with a whirlwind. 

But god didn’t he just love trying?

His clever, clever Lucy, unfathomable and completely fascinating. 

Gently, he reached out and brushed her flushed cheek, willing her to look at him.

“It might…?” he prompted.

Brown eyes met grey. Something brief and inscrutable passed across her face, then she smiled.

“Well…” She cleared her throat. “I just thought it might be something to look back on one day, when we’re old and grey, remembering when we were parted lovers. Like those love letters you see in movies sometimes.”

“Uh-huh. And you thought I’d be ‘leading man material’, huh?” He grinned, puffing out his chest.

“Shuddup,” she grumbled, batting his arm. “Remind me again, how are you planning to fit that ego of yours inside that tiny rocket?”

“Ouch. Kick a man on his way out the door, why don’tcha?” He staggered, clutching his chest and feigning a grievous wound, eliciting giggles. 

“Oh yes, definitely got the ‘leading man’ theatrics down!”

“I’m telling Lee you called his rocket ‘tiny’, by the way.”

She gasped. “You wouldn’t dare!”

An eyebrow. “Try me.”

She went to bat him again but this time he caught her and, holding her in his arms, kissed her softly, tenderly, committing it to memory.

As they finally pulled apart, he saw the flush in her cheek was back. Not ready to completely let her go just yet, he cupped her face in his hand to admire it. He thought of the cherry blossoms in the orchard, just beginning to bud, and how the pair of them had walked together amongst them as he’d shown her the deployment papers. He’d lamented the fact he’d miss the full, floral display this year, even as he thought about what else he would miss...

“Alright Honey,” he said, holding her close, “if you write to me I promise I’ll write back. Write and tell me everything that’s going on at home. I want to hear all about what Meryl was gossiping about at the car-wash, or how much pork has gone up at the market, or exactly how much of an idiot Sheriff Buckley made of himself at the county fair.”

“You’re making fun of me,” she said, pouting.

“I promise I’m not, darlin’.” He took her face in his hands and looked her square in the eye. “I want to know everything. Tell me how Dad’s making a nuisance of himself trying to fix every fencepost around the place. How Mom won’t stop bringing you casseroles and you’re running out of places to hide ‘em.”

Lucy choked back a giggle.

“Write and tell me about every adventure and every scrape the boys get into. Let me know every single thought that goes through that beautiful mind of yours. I want to hear everything. Every moment. Don’t miss out a single thing - write it all. And one day we’ll read them together, side by side in the nursing home, surrounded by grandkids. Okay?”

“...Okay.”

-------------

All was quiet in the villa. Padding softly over to check the lock, Jeff returned to his screen and, after gathering himself together, brought up the hidden file.

The last time he’d looked at it, he’d not been in a good place. There had been whisky. It wasn’t… It was a mistake.

He was better now. His boys had pulled him through. 

Together they’d found a new purpose.

It was time.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the file. 

“Dear Jeff, how are you doing? I hope Lee isn’t driving you too mad yet. Virgil cut another tooth today…”

One last gift from his clever, clever wife, who’d known that not every love story ends in the nursing home. Who’d realised that one day one of them might need something to help remember the good times.

A contingency plan.

Just in case.

[stair-tilez]

!!

shakign you around you're going to get arguably my favorite character! Ray :D

I don't have much art of them sadly, esp since the design change :(

Ray is the definition of chaotic good, if breaking a law means she can help more people then she will not hesitate. He care's a lot about the good of the people and joining The Renegades had done a lot to help his mental and physical state. She is one of, if not the most, motivated member of The Renegades.

He's spent most if his life on the outskirts of the city, working within the black market as a well respected mechanic and well known market for his ability to forge connections to The Network and make modifications unnoticeable to Overseers. They are considered the brawns of the Renegades despite being the smartest one of the group and is in charge of keeping everyone's connections in good shape to ensure no Overhauls are sent their way. She is also the one who located Lee's Network connection thanks to his connections in the underground market. Ray's connection is their right eye, fuctioning as a holo-screen to allow her to keep easy track of everyone on the team and gives him a simple way to estimate the worth of the scrap they collect.

Also. they have a cool exfriend? situationship? yeah. with my friend tam's character named Alexine, which you should absolutely go look at shes awesome

[saltinekryze]

ahsoka ep 1x01 post-mortem

mvp of the episode for me is natasha liu bordizzo — she is a PERFECT sabine. of course she had a bomb-ass intro!! i am so excited to see her journey. (that injury at the end was a LOT though — damn how is she surviving that lmao)

speaking of sabine: i still feel strange at the idea of her being force-sensitive. you’re gonna tell me kanan and ezra never noticed?? would they have noticed and not said anything???? idk

i was so so happy to see hera :) i like mary elizabeth winstead but i wasn’t getting hera vibes in the early clips they released — but here i think she captures hera’s warmth very well!! (and in one of the close up shots i saw they did keep her lekku markings — i had thought they got rid of them, so was glad to see that particular detail!)

lothal is absolutely gorgeous in live-action and i loved that they used ryder azadi’s voice actor!! (doesn’t he also play mr. krabs) hell, we even got a jai kell appearance!! congrats on becoming senator my dude

hearing ezra’s name mentioned, seeing the separate holo he recorded for sabine… man that got me. (also i see filoni felt the need to double down on the “they’re siblings!” angle lmao. i guess he’s trying hard to make us forget about the awkward “i’m not with her with her” interaction ezra had with sabine’s dad when they first met…but i remember, dave. it also happened in season 4...)

RIP ray stevenson :( i am very interested to learn more about his character — the not-quite-jedi / not-quite-sith. fascinating that the apprentice has a padawan braid. (and also a sweet haircut. like girl who’s your hairstylist? can i get a bob like that?)

also i am always here for more nightsister lore. diana lee inosanto is a badass. love to see a filipino woman have a major role in a star wars show (and we’ll get to see manny jacinto in the acolyte too!)

it’s weird that ahsoka herself is the character i don’t have much thoughts about considering it’s her own show. they at least have fixed the headpiece so now she looks great, and closer to her rebels appearance. still, i can’t quite connect with her... live-action ahsoka is a bit of an enigma to me. honestly i just wanna see her go apeshit. i hope she gets the chance to.

almost forgot to add : THE LOTH CAT!!!!! the cat gets their own bullet point. they’re a star. we love them.

also i literally teared up seeing the purrgil drawings in the credits. i’m fine.

okay on to episode 2!!