#( but also this is an official appreciation post for bai )
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crosshairlovebot · 1 year ago
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building feelings / tech x gn!reader
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pairing: tech x gn!reader (no y/n)
description: tech teaches you how to fix something on the marauder, and you've always admired him and his intellect.
word count: 1,819
warnings: none. tech is a sweetheart.
two fics in several days?!?! what?!? this is ANOTHER request from another lovely twitter mutual who asked for tech teaching the reader how to fix something on the marauder! i have never written for tech before but i had?? so much fun?? i loved writing his dialogue so much. i loved writing HIM. i hope you enjoy it!
disclaimer: i don't know anything about mechanics, let alone mechanics in the star wars universe. but i tried my best!
also posted this on ao3. feedback is welcomed, reblogs are appreciated.
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Your feet echoed as you came down the Marauder’s gangplank. Currently situated in a Tatooine landing bay, Clone Force 99 had made a quick stop between missions for repairs after being damaged in a firefight as they left nearby Christophsis. While the other members of the squad had been ordered by Hunter to gather and replenish their supplies from whatever vendors they could find, you and Tech had been ordered to stay with the ship. You, as their official GAR liaison and medic, and unofficial cheerleader, took stock of medical supplies and caught up on filling reports as Tech tinkered with the hull.
But having finished all your tasks, and the boys still weren’t back yet, you ventured out of the stuffy and slightly odorous Marauder, and out into the Tatooine sun that bathed the landing bay.
You heard the spark of a welding tool and the clattering of rummaging through the toolbox before you saw him. Rounding the corner, you found Tech with his back to you as he faced the open belly of the Marauder. His tall lean frame reached up to tighten a valve, and you watched his body strain with the movement, and you imagined his face was screwed up, an intense furrow on his brow and his jaw clenched. You felt your face heat up.
You would be lying if your heart didn’t flutter a little around Tech. There was something so endearing about his eagerness to share his knowledge, and his conviction in whatever he did. He was kind, even if he wasn’t actively trying to be. He excelled at anything he did, and most of all, he was a good brother. He cared so much about them, but in ways you had to look for. Modifying the ship so it performed the best it could, ensuring their safety when flying. Volunteering for the first watch and staying up extra late working on a project so they could get extra sleep. Researching anything they came across, so everyone was informed and no one got hurt. And more recently, enhancing Echo’s cybernetics so they were comfortable for him, and caused less strain and increased efficiency for his cerebral interface.
You knew that to Tech, these things were just things he did. But once you noticed, it wasn’t hard to see the care and love behind them.  
“Hey, Tech,” you called out to him as you approached.
Tech turned around and met your gaze. He greeted you with your name.
“How’s it going?” you asked.
“Quite well. Though more systems were damaged than the initial diagnostic detected, everything is fixable. I have even increased the efficiency of the power flux stabilisers, so there is less strain on hyperdrive priming and more output for faster ignition.”
You smiled at him and moved to sit on a crate. You only partially understood what he was saying. “That’s good to hear.”
Tech nodded and resumed his work. You watched him, fascinated. His aptitude for engineering of any kind was admirable. Though you weren’t techno-illiterate – you could work a datapad and fly a ship, you knew nothing about mechanics beyond recognising the names of things. Tech always knew exactly what parts were what and how to use them, which tool to take to them. You could stitch up wounds, but this was different. He could build things – pull together seemingly complicated and unrelated components to make something tangible and operational.
“How can you remember what part is what? And how to fix it?” you asked after a stretch of silence.
Tech stopped and looked at you. “My genetic enhancements are increased intellect and aptitude for technology.”
“I know, but how do you remember it all? How do you have space for it up there?” You tapped your temple with a curious smile.
You could see gears turning in his head as his hands stilled. “I’m not sure I understand the question…I just simply do.”
Tech put down the Harris wrench in the box and met your gaze, which must’ve been furrowed pensively at his vagueness because then he picked up a calibrator and continued talking as he turned back to the ship.
“Though increased neuron capacity and information processing factor into my abilities, I still had to learn; to form a basis of knowledge that could be built upon as my understanding of concepts grew. I wasn’t born knowing the schematics of a T1 Hyperdrive and how to wire its various transmitters.”
You tittered but listened as he turned back and placed the calibrator away.
“However, we all have our aptitudes. The same way you know all the ways a body works, and how to fix them – I know all the ways machines work, and how to fix them.”
You smiled at his words. “I suppose you’re right.”
He twirled a tool between his fingers. “I often am.”
You grinned, meeting his honey-eye gaze behind his goggles. Tech’s mouth turned up at the corners slightly before turning away again, the open hull engulfing him as he rewired something. He suddenly stopped, head lifting up and turning to you with a thoughtful look.
“What?” you frowned in concern.
“Come here.”
Your frown deepened and you pushed yourself off the crate, moving closer to him. He guided you closer with a hand to the small of your back, and you brushed up against him as he maneuvered you to stand in front of him. Your face flushed and you were very glad he couldn’t see it.
“These are the wires to the power couplings that syphon power from the auxiliary engines to the main thrusters,” he told you, his gloved fingers running along the four coloured wires in front of you slowly.
You look up at him slightly confused before nodding. “Okay?”
Tech pointed and ran the tip of his finger over one of the wires. “See how one is slightly more charred than the others?”
You swallowed and nodded.
“That wire has short-circuited, causing lag when the Marauder accelerates because three wires are doing the job of four. What do you think will happen to the other wires if we don’t fix the short?”
You looked back at him, frown increasing. “I thought you knew all about this?”
Tech raised an amused brow at you. “I do. I am teaching you.”
“Oh!” Your cheeks flamed and butterflies swooped in your stomach. Embarrassed and nervous, you cleared your throat to answer his question. “Um, well I suppose if the other wires are being overworked, then they’ll short out too?”
“That is correct,” he nodded. “If wires transmit more power than their capacity, then not only can they short, but they can also degrade the ship’s performance.”
“Well, we can’t have that,” you joked lightly.
“No, we can’t. So, you’re going to help me rewire this one.”
Tech stepped away to grab a new wire from the case next to the toolbox, and your heart sped up, hands tingling with nervous energy.
“Are you sure? What if I do something wrong?”
Tech pushed his goggles up his nose. “You won’t. I’m an excellent teacher.”
And he was. He guided you through the process clearly, showing you the parts and the tools before he watched you use a micro-welder to fix the shorted wire.
“Keep it steady,” he said, placing a hand on yours, helping you move it across the ends of the wire. Your heartbeat quickened and your face heated up. His slender and dexterous hand engulfed yours, and you could feel the grooves of his white plastoid armour against your shoulder as his body brushed against you. If you leaned back, your back would meet his chest, and those dexterous hands of his might even steady you with a hold of your hips. You pushed the thoughts from your mind, doing everything you could to focus on the tool in your hand and not how close he was, and how easy it would be to get even closer.
“There,” Tech declared, removing his hand from yours. “That should do it.”
You cradled the tool to your chest, tightening your grip on it as he took a step back. You simultaneously felt cold and hot all over as you watched Tech grab his datapad, pressing a few buttons before hovering it over the length of the wire. “The diagnostic report shows that the wire is functional.”
You blinked in surprise. “I did it?”
“Of course, you did,” Tech adjusted his goggles. “With my excellent instruction and your intellect, changing a shorted wire is quite simple.”
Your chest tightened. “You think I’m smart?”
Tech paused for a moment before he started tapping the screen again. “You’re a proficient medic, that takes high levels of understanding.”
Your face stretched into a grin, warmth pooling in your stomach as your grip on the tool loosened. “You think I’m smart.”
Tech looked up at you before the corner of his mouth lifted impishly. “Well, perhaps not as smart as me.”
“I don’t think anyone is as smart as you, Tech,” you gave a lilted laugh, placing the micro-welder in the box with the other tools, feeling light inside. Tech’s smile was sort of everything…and to earn one was a privilege.
To be a witness to Tech in his most honest, comfortable form was not something experienced by many people outside of his brothers, and now, you too. You looked at him now, so engrossed in whatever the screen was telling him, and felt your heart swell and fall for him just a little more. You wanted to know why he decided to show you how to fix a shorted wire, but you didn’t want to ruin this moment by revealing feelings that may not be returned. So instead, you settled for:
“Thanks for showing me how to do that.”
His eyes slid to you before nodding and returning his gaze to the screen. “It is a useful skill to have. I’m happy to teach you whatever else you’d like to know.”
You took in a breath. Teaching you this was just another small thing to Tech, but it still showed how much he cared, just like everything else he did. “I’d like that,” you told him after a moment, your heart beating fast, even though you were sure he was just offering to be nice.
Tech’s hand stilled over his datapad before he fully looked up at you, a wrinkle in his brow that softened at your hopeful expression. Tech smiled again, his eyes shining behind those yellow-tinted goggles. And maybe it was just the Tatooine heat, but you could’ve sworn you saw the tips of his ears go pink before he adjusted his goggles and turned back to the Marauder, letting the mechanics envelop him again.
“The landing array needs recalibrating,” he said as he tugged on a part. “Shall I show you how to do that?”
You smiled at him. “Yes, please.”
thank you for reading! i have more requests to get through so i'll likely get through those in a couple of weeks!'
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banner art by @vimse
taglist: @starrylothcat @sinfulsalutations @moodymisty @nahoney22 @seriowan @thrawns-babygirl @freesia-writes @bobaprint @nobody-expects-the-inquisitorius @crosshairsnose @wreckerswife @leavingkamino @jesseeka @thegalaxys-edge @snarky-mans-gf @mylifeisactuallyamess @cloned-eyes @chopperbase @wenalena @bluebird-dreams @pb-jellybeans @a-streakofblue @rexamongthestars @r2d2staser @theawkwardartist12
please let me know if you'd like to be removed/added
i'm gonna make a taglist form one of these days trust
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thenewrises · 11 months ago
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more tidbits! (18+ MDNI)
what do i do while i sit here with pre-tattoo anxiety (i’m excited i promise i just hate needles)? make another post about my other thoughts i’ve had during the week tee hee. this is mostly just my inner monologue to get the brain going, so don’t take everything too seriously.
also even though it was only small attention, i’m glad people enjoyed my first post! i appreciate it and if you haven’t read that post, you can find it here! i talk about ren’s name, backstory, and the playlist associations! :)
The official 14DWY blog is @14dayswithyou
1. Picture!
discussing a picture saint posted a year and a half ago, there are some little points in it i was curious about, but mainly one:
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- it’s not V or El as mentioned by saint, but they have light colored hair
- could be kiara mostly due to hair color but ehhhh unlikely
- could be jae-hyun but his natural hair color looks to be black so depends on the timing of the photo (also he is so suspicious to me dog)
- ren has some kind of big vendetta against said person due to all the x’s on the face
- i don’t think ren’s sister has blonde hair but also a possibility????
- might be someone we haven’t met yet! or don’t know about!
and if anyone was curious about the binary code:
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“hey angel. what are you doing? why are you typing this?”
(ren. when i catch you ren…)
2. The other killer!
as mentioned, there are two killers in Corland Bay! and i have a fewwwww ideas about them from context clues and characterizations.
- possibly leon, seems to be confirmed he has some… yandere tendencies…
- jae-hyun could work as a possible accomplice, idk jae-hyun has grown mad fishy to me in my little searches
- MAYBE conan through blackmail due to association with mobs BUT idk enough about him and it seems unlikely but not off the table
3. Food for thought!
- is it possible that olivia knows ren outside of his haruka persona? in day 3, i got to see her say “your boyfriend ‘Ren’” which made me tilt my head a bit. does she know him somehow? it seems she could because she knows his childhood friend river. idk was an interesting tidbit i saw
- also have we ever considered wondering about ren’s last name? i’m only a little curious but i can’t remember if taylor took ichika’s last name or not but he could have!
me on day 7/8 going through ren’s house and STEALING HIS SS CARD
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cloneficgiftexchange · 11 months ago
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If you missed some of the amazing stories written for this event, here is a list of them!! They are organized by character and are in alphabetical order by title. You can also access a collection of those who posted their work on AO3 HERE! It's still open in case anyone ends up posting there in the future!
If you liked a story, consider reblogging it! Reblogs are a great way to show appreciation for an author’s work. Reblogs to signal boost this list are greatly appreciated as well.
NSFW fics are strictly 18+ and are marked as such. 
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It's Officially Christmas by @dragonrider9905
Keep You Safe by @secondratefiction
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First Life Day by @ghostofskywalker
Snow Drift by @clone-anon
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Life Day on Daiyu by @goblininawig
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A Perfect (Life) Day by @literallyjustanerd
Deep Space Delicacies by @ghostofskywalker
No One Should Be Alone On Life Day by @starrylothcat
Still Hanging The Mistletoe For You by @anxiouspineapple99
Sugar, Spice, and Everything Nice by @melliejellybellybean
Wrapped Up In You by @multi-fan-dom-madness
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All I Want For Christmas by @masterjedilenawrites
Come Away With Me by @imarvelatthestars
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Hold You Tonight (Stay Close) by @ladysongmaster
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Secret Santa by @flyiingsly
The Clonetrooper by @sunshinesdaydream
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Blumfruit & Cheer by @diviluscorner
fatal dis|at|traction (NSFW) by @221bshrlocked
I Wish All Readers A Very Hunter Life Day (NSFW) by @dystopicjumpsuit
Sewing Lessons by @intricatechaosofyou
Winter Adventures by @wizardofrozz
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Carol of the Cookies by @captainpains
First Winter Date by @loving-the-cambridges
Getting Caught In The Wrapping Paper by @pinkiemme
To Keep The Shivers At Bay by @ghostofskywalker
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Comfort by @cc--2224
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Candy Cane Cupid by @toomanybandstocare
I'll Take Care of You by @isaidonyourknees
The Cabin by @rinwritesfics
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pynkhues · 17 days ago
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Hi, I'm a little shy to ask/reblog on main, but your last post on Louis and Lestat's sexual dynamic was really interesting and I appreciated the deep dive! I get similar vibes from them, but couldn't articulate it. This is meant in friendly conversation with the last asker, their question was very thoughtful and lead to me questioning my own assumptions:
It always surprises me that strict Top Lestat/Bottom Louis is a common interpretation, because I thought Louis and Lestat being vers was pretty heavily implied in both the show and official social media? Not only because of all the stuff you mentioned, which is more subtle and interpretive, but because I feel the show does quite a lot to imply sexual dynamics between characters. For instance, I thought the line in the show, "you can be on top", literal or not for that particular night, was there to imply....yk, Louis being on top sometimes (though, I suppose it could also be interpreted as Lestat offering Louis a more "masculine" role *at first* so as not to force something on him he wasn't comfortable with). In addition, there was that silly little "bottom of the coffin" thing in AMC lestarter pack :)). 
If anything, I see the show taking pains to imply Louis tops, but never the other way around -- idk if this is on purpose to counter assumptions of Lestat topping. But because Top Lestat is such a common fan interpretation, I'm starting to question if I'm reading too much into the examples above...
Anyway, I know it doesn't necessarily come down to getting a "real answer" to this single question, and it can be more about just discussing the different possibilities and vibes! But I do find it interesting and relevant to their dynamic as a whole -- especially what you said about "push and pull". Thanks for holding up the Bottom Lestat fort with your beautifully written fics!
(x)
Hi! I'm glad it was interesting, anon, and I agree in that I tend to see a lot of moments in the show overall as indicative of Lestat and Louis having a versatile sexual dynamic, and well, dynamic over all, actually, given the balance of power actually shifts a lot between them broadly.
This is going to sound like a sidetrack, but please bear with me, haha, but I do think there's a lot to be said too in how Louis tells his story, which I mentioned in another ask this morning, namely that he's prone to minimising and sanitising his own choices and actions. We see that of course most notably in Lestat's retelling both of Claudia's turning, which Louis admitted to Daniel was closer to the truth than his own version, and the fight that led up to Lestat dropping him / Lestat's act of abusive violence, but we see it all over the place - again, Louis implying he was keeping his sexual urges at bay in 1.01 only to reveal he'd fucked Jonah years earlier in 1.03 and Louis' memory of choosing Claudia freely instead of hurting her and saving Lestat in 1.07 both being pretty big ones.
This isn't to say Louis' a liar - I don't think he is - but memory is a funny creature, and it's normal to want to put yourself in a more flattering light or to push accountability onto others in order to protect yourself from the consequences of your own actions.
In a lot of ways, it makes me think of Lestat saying that it was Louis who said come to me to him instead of the other way around, and I found it so interesting that the post-ep interviews seemed to acknowledge there was a truth to that. I won't be able to find it now, haha, but Sam and Jacob both have said that they talked about it a lot and that they came to the fact that the come to me was coming in both directions and indicative of a sort of mutual yearning and desire for one another.
That's fascinating to me, but also I think is a great reminder that Louis does tend to draw himself in his relationship with Lestat as someone who was being seduced and pulled in, whereas a lot of the visual language of the show itself actually demonstrated that it was mutual. Gosh, just look at the invention of Dreamstat, Louis attacking Claudia for trying to burn Lestat, even earlier - Louis dressing Lestat, bringing Lestat to his home, Louis taking Lestat in his lover's bed in order to drag him home. It's not to say Lestat doesn't do it too - he does - but the point is that it's a lot more mutual than Louis' initially willing to acknowledge or articulate, and I think that a lot of the fandom still tends to take Louis' word as the pursued instead of also the pursuer, the hunted instead of also the hunter, as gospel when the show's telling us in other ways that its not.
And yeah, I do think that can impact the way people view their sexual dynamic, where Louis' passive / a 'housewife' to a husband / someone who receives instead of being someone who's active / a husband to a husband / someone who gives and takes in equal measure. Louis' not in Lestat's crosshairs, they're in each other's, and just personally, that's why I like them
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i-am-church-the-cat · 1 year ago
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just wanted u to know i appreciate the logan list and i am tuned in for updates
Thank you! For that, here’s some additions i made after i posted:
Addition to #69, Key Phrases: “Oh hell yeah” and “I think you’re a little lost here, chief”
88. Loves waffles but they are not his favorite dessert
89. Very patriotic (oh hell yeah)
90. Is the first American point scorer in f1 in 30 years, and the first to score on home soil since 1989
91. Went to see the Nets in NYC
92. Has only been to NYC once in his life and it was this October, 2023
Edit 11/2/23 08:32: Has been to NYC before but his first “official” time was April 2023 (before Miami) and he also went in October 2023 before COTA
93. Has a custom Miami Dolphins jersey with his last name on the back
94. Rumored to know all the lyrics to “Ice Ice Baby”
Also, update on whether or not he supports the Florida Lighting, I messed up. Florida’s NHL teams are the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning, of which Logan supports the Panthers and has gone to see at least 1 game with his friend Kyle Kirkwood.
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mysticstars02 · 5 months ago
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KW: The Seven Warring States (RAW)
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(They can be called 7 Great Warlords of the Warring States which sounds a bit more epic haha)
Oh boy, these guys have alot of content that is worth archiving meaning that I have worked so hard to get all of those stories and bios as I can :^)
Anyway, the list will provide the following content these guys have: Bios, Special Stories which you unlock by completing challenges, and Story Cutscenes
(When I meant cutscenes well...what I did may be a bit strange for everyone BUT hey. I have a pretty old device with KW installed sooo it may not be capable of recording stuff, so y'know what that means: classic screenshot time! :^>) then again this is all i could do for this amazin game
Before I forget, I managed to find 3 or 5 recorded videos of them including the intro(s)!! That really saves me time!!! (sooo thx <3)
Introductions & Prologue
(best intro bc that one scene is only thing they made another official art poses, also i'm mad that the two dragos are not there for some reason despite making their 1st appearances???)
Bai Qi
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(Rank Sho)
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Story Cutscenes (Video ver.)
Special Stories
Qu Yuan
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(Rank Sho)
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Story Cutscenes (Video ver.)
this one is unique! In certain parts, there are 2 unique arts that feature Qu Yuan and the Koma brothers. Oddly enough how they only did Qu Yuan and not the others (bc that would be extra interesting and maybe fun lol if they keep doing mor of these type of stuffs)
Special Stories
Lord Mengchang
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(Rank Sho)
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Story Cutscenes (Video ver.)
Special Stories
Quwo
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(Rank Sho)
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Story Cutscenes (Video ver.)
Special Stories
Han Fei
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(Rank Sho)
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Story Cutscenes
Special Stories
i hope y'all prepared for this one bc the 1st time I saw his story = this spood boi deserves a hug ;v;
Lian Po & Lin Xiangru (BEST DRAGOS)
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(Rank Sho)
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Story Cutscenes
another thing that is still the best is that we get the generals (Tsuchi & Ogama) interaction askaslasfd
Special Stories
Yue Yi
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(Rank Sho)
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Story Cutscenes
Special Stories
Epilogue
Before anyone asked, what happens if you managed to get all 7 of these fellows? As a KW player who got all 7: You unlock the Epilogue...and then that's it
Yeah
That. is literally. it.
All you get was those prette and epic fellows just standing in their respective countries of ancient china :)
I...REALLY wish that completing/getting all 7 warlords will awarded you a very special illustration bc those daily challenges including the permanent ones will take...almost a month or alot of weeks to get those special stories unlocked???
I am not kidding. I don't RPG/JRPG that much but y'know those type of quests or something where it's better to do this earlier rather than waiting until post-game? YEAH IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS FOR THE WARLORDS
(In my playthrough KW experience, I think I spent a month on completing those challenges. Either they introduce Han Fei or Quwo and I just completed Bai Qi :^>)
anyhoo, i think this post should be on my top fav list bc i put alot of work hardship & dedications to this haha. Really appreciated if this post got some translations coming from you guys! ^^
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Fic tag game!
Finally getting a chance to sit down and fill this out! I've been so excited to, so thanks to @virahaus for the tag <3
How many works do you have on ao3?
I have 39 works (many of them wips... lol) and I also have two fics in the @topwan-obikin fest which I am very excited about! And posting has officially started so everyone should go and check out all the amazing fics that are coming out of it!
What's your ao3 word count?
442,495..... wow! I hadn't realized I'd written that much :O
What fandoms do you write for?
*cracks knuckles* a lot lol right now I am really into writting for Obikin (top Obi and bottom Ani), but I also write for a very large variety of other fandoms, some being Star Trek (Mckirk), Merlin (merthur), 911 (Buddie), Avengers (Stucky), Stranger Things (Steve/Eddie), Supernatural which i have a lot of fics for (Destiel), Teen Wolf (Sterek), I also write some pairings for various Kpop groups, not that I ship them outside of the group. I know that probably doesnt make sense lol, but I kind of see them inside the group as characters in a way, but then outside of the groups I am always so happy for my boys no matter what they do :D
What are your top five fics by kudos?
I'm also going to post the links here XD
Family Christmas - (Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, 9-1-1, word count 1911, kudos 540) Summary: Bucks been working with the 118 for over a year now, but they still don’t know anything about him, including who drew the beautiful pictures that now have a special place of honour in Buck’s locker.
Unwrap Me - (Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, 9-1-1, word count 3742, kudos 426) Summary: It’s the day after Christmas and Eddie’s alone in the house and bored out of his mind, so he decides to go to Buck’s apartment. What he finds there is not exactly what he was expecting, but he’s definitely not complaining.
All I Want For Christmas is You - (Evan Buckley/Eddie Diaz, 9-1-1, word count 7905, kudos 402) Summary: Eddie’s mom and ex-wife are up to no good at his Abuela’s Christmas Eve party, good thing Buck proposed he go to the party as Eddie fake date to keep them at bay.
A Magic Kingdom Love - (Dean Winchester/Castiel, Supernatural, word count 15,300, kudos 283) Summary: Dean and Cas are both working for Disney and have been cast as the very first gay princes. And at first they hate each other but it’s hard to pretend you’re in love all day for sweet, shy kids, and then not makeout under the bridge of the magic kingdom castle.
The Will of the Force - (Anakin Skywalker/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars, word count 93,820, Kudos 249) This fic is almost complete, I think it will have one more chapter! Summary: What if Obi-wan hadn't been granted permission to train Anakin in the ways of the Force? What if Qui-Gon hadn't perished during the battle with Darth Maul? How differently would things have turned out?
Do you respond to comments?
I always do! I love reading comments, they inspire me and keep me going, and I love responding back to let the readers know how much I appreciate them <3
What's the fic you write with the happiest ending?
Honestly all of my fics have a happy ending. In my original novels I'm a bit more open to having an ending thats not so happy, so when I write for fandoms I usually write happy endings. But I would say The Will of the Force will have a very happy ending, and Lost in Translation which is a Star Trek Mckirk fic will also have a happy ending even though the plot is a bit angsty.
Do you get hate on fics?
Oh, story time. So when I first started writing for fandoms, one of the first fics I wrote and posted for was Supernatural, and I was writing this very long Destiel series that involved an original character named Sara. And I was really nervous about posting, but forced myself to do it anyways, and for some reason this person decided to read the first few chapters of the first fic in the series and she destroyed it. She had deemed herself the "official fanfic.net critique" and in her bio had even gone as far as to put that it should be considered an honour to have her pick apart your fanfics. So she decided that she did not like the inclusion of my OC Sara and told me that it was completely unessesary for her to be in the story, started to demand that I re-write the fic and remove the OC, then repost it again for her to re-evaluate, and then proceeded to destroy the ret of my fic and the writing, to the point where I became very discouraged and didn't write for like two years after that. Long story short, I am now at the point where I don't care what anyone thinks of my writing. If you like it, great! Come along on the journey with me and we can enjoy it together, and if you don't like what I'm writing then that's perfectly fine too. Not every piece of writing is for everyone, but if you don't have anything nice to say then please keep it to yourself and find something you do like to read.
Anyway, rant over. lol
Do you write smut? What kind?
Yes, I definitly do lol. Most of my fics have at least one scene.
Do you write cross-overs?
Yes! I love crossovers. In my AO3 right now I have one crossover called Running with the Wolves which is a Maze runner and Teen Wolf crossover with Sterek being the main pairing.
Aside from that I have a few crossovers in my WIP's folder
Have you ever had a fic stolen?
No, and I hope to never experience it.
Have you ever had a fic translated?
No.
Have you ever cowritten a fic before?
No, but maybe one day, I am open to the idea. I'm just so busy right now, I would hate to hold someone up who's a faster writer then me.
What's your all time favourite ship?
It changes regularly lol, but right now my favourite ship is back and forth between Obikin and Woosan.
What's your WIP you like to finish, but doubt you ever will?
I have a lot of WIP's, and I hate to think that I wouldn't finish one because I have the intention to finish them all. But I guess I would say the one thats at the bottom of my list right now are probably my Avengers fics.
What are your writing strengths?
I have no idea lol But I do usually get compliments on my smut scenes and I'm oretty good at writing angst.
What are your writing weaknesses?
I always struggle with description between narratives. I have no trouble with the dialogue, but the actions that the characters are doing between the narrative is what always gets me.
Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?
I have written a few small sentences here and there in other languages. Mostly Korean, and then I have also written a bit in Elvish, Not sure if that counts but I've done it.
First fandom you wrote for?
I want to say Merlin/Merthur was the first fandom I wrote for, and Supernatural/Destiel was the first fandom I posted for... I think lol
Favourite fic you've ever written?
Oh, that's a hard one... I'm pretty fond of The Will of the Force, and I would say that outside of the Star Wars fandom I also really love Lost in Translation for the Star Trek fandom.
But I do have a few WIP's that I'm really excited for that will hopefully be coming soon. Both of them are Pirate AU's, and one of them is for Star Wars (Obikin) and the other is for Woosan (Ateez, Wooyoung/San).
This was so fun! Thanks again for the tag <3
Not sure who to tag, but anyway don't feel obligated to do it if you'd rather not!
@goingknowherewastaken @henderdads @jhoomwrites @urban-trek-thru-middle-earth
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reapersbayif · 2 years ago
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@stephschoices just helped me officially name Striker and I love his name so much now omg
her art is what led me to discover this game. I've played your other two games disenchanted and fallen lights which are botha amazing but for some reason I didn't know that you had another game! Im a big fan of larger casts so I love that you have a big cast of ros for all of your games. I love to see the dynamics within large groups of characters and your writing is honestly so amazing. 💖💖✨
Steph is a brilliant artist and beta 💯
Every time she posts her art it’s just instant heart eyes! Everyone should look at @stephschoices art, she’s done some for Reaper’s Bay and a bunch of other ifs and it’s just superior!
And I’m glad you’re here! I also love big casts in interactive fiction because I love playing all the different routes and seeing how things change.
That’s why I try and make it as customized to personality and skills as possible (example being the professions and all that). Thank you for the support, I really appreciate it!!
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unforth · 2 years ago
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I posted 1,378 times in 2022
363 posts created (26%)
1,015 posts reblogged (74%)
Blogs I reblogged the most:
@unforth
@subtlybrilliant
@ltleflrt
@foxofninetales
@fangrui
I tagged 1,376 of my posts in 2022
#art - 435 posts
#unforth rambles - 374 posts
#spn - 122 posts
#tgcf - 104 posts
#cql - 87 posts
#meme - 84 posts
#dmbj - 82 posts
#random - 81 posts
#destiel - 70 posts
#svsss - 57 posts
Longest Tag: 132 characters
#dear tumblr thank you for treating me like a fucking adult and letting me call bullshit and swear like the new york city native i am
My Top Posts in 2022:
#5
My five year old just said "don't they know lava is good? It makes new islands" while watching Moana and with a single sentence completely changed how I see a movie I've watched about a billion times.
450 notes - Posted February 10, 2022
#4
Every time I see a "Wei Wuxian isn't morally gray!" post I kinda want to interpret it as "He's morally black!" Because the alternative is to believe that so fucking many of you read "Wei Wuxian forced Wen Chao to self-cannibalize his legs" and went "this is a morally white action because I like Wei Wuxian and I don't like Wen Chao and also Wen Chao was mean first" and like literally drive me to despair that I share a fandom with so many people who think that's completely okay because Wen Chao was a bad guy so any level of harm to him is justifiable.
589 notes - Posted June 18, 2022
#3
Heyo Danmei Fans and Twitter Refugees!
Do you love danmei? Do you love fanart?
WELL HAVE I GOT THE SIDEBLOGS FOR YOU!
Hi, I'm unforth, and I also love danmei and fanart, and I wanted to just make a huge gorgeous pile of art and roll around in it so I've made and run for years eight, yes eight, side blogs of danmei art, all with the kind of organization and searchability that twitter can only dream of.
So, if you want to flood your dash with fanart (or if you're an artist and want a little assist getting more eyes on your work now that you're posting here - you can DM me or @/me), why not consider giving a follow to...
Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation/The Untamed: @mdzsartreblogs
Tian Guan Ci Fu/Heaven Official's Blessing/Eternal Faith: @tgcfartreblogs
Ren Zha Fanpai Zijiu Xitong/Scum Villain's Self-Saving System/Scumbag System: @svsssartreblogs
Erha he Ta de Bai Mao Shizun/The Husky and His White Cat Shizun/Hao Yi Xing and Yuwu/Stains of Filth: @erhaartreblogs
Daomu Biji/The Graverobber's Chronicles/The Lost Tomb/Too Many Other Names to List: @dmbjartreblogs
Zhenhun/Guardian: @zhenhunartreblogs
Tian Ya Ke/Faraway Wanderers/Word of Honor and Qiye/Lord Seventh: @tykartreblogs
Literally Everything Else I Can Find (especially works by Meng Xi Shi, works by Priest, manhua on Bilibili, books by Fei Tian Ye Xiang, books by Please Don't Laugh (so yes, baihe too!), and so much more): @cnovelartreblogs
All blogs run on a queue; I post at a "the queue will last for 7 days" rate that changes more-or-less every day and varies from 30 to 40 posts a day (mdzsartreblogs) down to 1 to 2 posts a day (zhenhunreblogs) and everything in between.
Note that these spaces are all ship and let ship, don't like don't interact, and pro-kink. (I won't reblog everything, but I do reblog almost everything, and even if I'm personally too uncomfortable with something to reblog it - I SUPPORT YOU.) I tag extensively - you can check the pinned post on each blog for currently used trigger warnings (they're consistent across all the blogs) and many of the other tags I use for characters, ships, etc., and I strongly encourage you to use the tags to find That Rare Thing You Love, and also to blacklist anything that's not your thing. Antis kindly fuck off challenge.
Welcome to Tumblr (or welcome back, as the case may be), don't be a stranger, like and reblog works to support artists, and have fun!
(help signal boosting much appreciated. <3 )
668 notes - Posted November 7, 2022
#2
Saw a pic that reminded me of my favorite head-canon-i-forget-isnt-canon for TGCF.
Hua Cheng chose the San Lang form because that's how he wishes he looked when he first met Xie Lian. Like, Xie Lian is 17, a prince, an amazing martial artist, dressed in the finest robes in the kingdom of Xianle which specifically esteems luxe stuff. And fucking Hua Cheng has to meet him as a ratty little bandaged boy who just fell off a building. Way to fuck up the meet cute huh?
So when he gets a second third fourth look ive lost count okay chance to meet his idol he's had 800 years to imagine how he wishes it could have gone. And he ends up having two competing fantasies:
Fantasy 1: the suave mysterious stranger who sweeps Xie Lian off his feet and leaves him wanting more.
Fantasy 2: the sweet good-looking boy next door, about the same age, knowledgeable enough to impress this prince who's strengths are physical and social.
And Hua Cheng, being the extra ghost king he is, decides - ¿porque no los dos? - and enacts BOTH those fantasies.
(Something something not all eggs in one basket?)
And that's why San Lang Looks Like That.
905 notes - Posted August 14, 2022
My #1 post of 2022
Sometimes I think this is the darkest timeline and then I see the New York Times literally sharing Goncharov fanart
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(art is credited to Elena Asofsky, no idea what their Tumblr name is, sorry. Article is here.)
...and I realize that the timeline can always get darker. (but it will never be as dark as the end of Goncharov, wtf was up with that?)
3,224 notes - Posted November 23, 2022
Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →
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steamishot · 7 months ago
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relief
since my last blog post, i'm less crazy and feel much more relieved. today, matt went back to work and i have the apartment to myself again. i realize it's been a lot and finally i have the space to process everything. last week, matt received an offer for baldwin park as well, so we spent a couple of days going through the pros and cons of each location/hospital. ultimately, we decided to go with south bay.
i decided to stop looking at online posts about working for kaiser because it doesn't help. the internet can't always be trusted and no one would disclose exactly which site they work for anyway. matt officially told the recruiter his decision last thursday, and now we're waiting for the contract. pasadena (a slim chance) should be getting back to us this week too.
painting: going to the acrylic painting class inspired me to start painting at home. i got an easel and am working on a brooklyn landscape painting.
yoga: i cut down on my classpass costs since i found out about community classes (which are basically free to reserve on classpass). the two yoga studios closeby that i like both offer this.
wheel throwing: i went to the new studio this past sunday, and enjoyed it! the class was double the size of my previous one, and is mostly white gals (minus teacher and another student who are brown). it was a mixed levels class, so some students were pulling really nice cylinders and vases. this studio is much more spacious than the other one. though i like the aesthetics of the pieces from the other studio more (they're traditionally japanese), i appreciate that this studio has a larger space and allows more shelf space for students. the last studio was almost discouraging throwing large things and keeping too many items (now i realize its because they have limited shelf space).
switzerland: as a last hurrah on the east coast, we decided to book an 8 day trip to switzerland for late aug through labor day. this will be our first non-covid trip that is also NOT sandwiched between 80+ hour work weeks for matt. it will be during the gap between jobs so he'll truly be off work/rested. and we're leaving on a monday so i have the weekend to also detach from work. i'm for sure leaving my work laptop behind. this is the first time in a looong time where i feel we aren't rushed or trying to cram in a lot of things.
nice things:
the small park next to our apartment that was being worked on since covid has finally opened up. it's great to be able to walk through it and see its completion
my aunt and cousin from tx will be visiting late july, for a short 3 day trip!
i realized i was lowkey panicking for the last 6-8 months, worried that us coming back to LA was impossible, and felt i had to choose between my relationship and giving up my life in LA. i think my body had gotten used to this state of anxiety, so i have to actively remind myself that it's okay now
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this-is-not-a-slow-burn · 13 days ago
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This post from the artist, written in 2013, has some very good points.
It’s been many years since I published this, my first poster, in 1965. That’s when my friend Richard Fahrner and I would listen to the depressing news about the escalating ‘Viet Nam War’ while on our way to work at Contact Printing in San Francisco. We didn’t like to hear how our America was getting ever deeper into the deadly quagmire of far off Viet Nam’s civil war. One morning while driving to work I suddenly visualized a jarring poster idea – our flag superimposed with a nazi-style swastika. So shocking it was instantly instructive! Richard was enthused too so after some more discussion among other friends as well I then went on to create this intentionally disturbing self published poster. When I first laid it out and took it to West Coast Lithograph to have it printed; I showed it first to Ivor Powell, the jocular, quick witted English pressman – a man who enjoyed sharing his opinions. When he looked at my design his usual smile faded fast and he said something like this: ‘Wow - Wes you’d better add something else - like maybe “Are We Next?” – or most people just won’t get it!’ My original design contained only the words “Be Aware. However it didn’t take long for me to realize that Ivor had made a very important point. So after those words were added to the artwork I had several hundred posters printed. I then distributed and sold many of them to appreciative Bay Area folks. Back in 1965 when the official U. S. commitment was to further expand the American military role in the ‘police action’ of South Viet Nam I felt it was an important question – and had to be asked. I’m glad I did something to significantly express my shock and anguish as an American about such an obviously erroneous and costly ethical ‘mistake’ as was the Viet Nam War. Today however we have been attacked by ultra-cunning and ruthless terrorists and in response to that horribly destructive day our government was forced to suddenly power up our national security agencies like never before. However, the ‘facts’ about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that were so widely believed, have now been wholly discredited for all to see. Because of that ‘mistake’ we too rapidly invaded Iraq without thoroughly working out both a military plan and the fuller use of the many normal diplomatic protocols which are so useful in less stressful times such as was done prior to the Gulf War. Such haste has also raised ‘constitutional issues’ about “rights” here at home. Because more practical protocols as well as United Nations involvement were employed and respected by the first President Bush – we gathered a whole spectrum of willing allies who come to our aid in freeing Kuwait using multinational forces. Consequently, due in large part to ‘haste makes waste’ we are now deeply involved in the wasteful horrors of another costly ‘mistake’ - the current Iraq War. However, despite not yet knowing fully just how this all could have happened – we are at war inside Iraq. The Iraq situation is different from Viet Nam and we should strive to leave in grace and avoid the ‘dropping everything and running.’ It seems to me that since we don’t know just how all ‘this difficulty’ came about - the question “Are We Next?” still applies. And, as it relates to continuing the grand open and fair ideals plus continuing on in the hopes and practices of our Democratic Republic – this notable admonition continues for all Americans as well - “Be Aware!”
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1965, Wes Wilson
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kingjain · 9 months ago
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Related : https://kingjain.tumblr.com/post/720159724087214080/simple-strong-volleyball-crosc-shoe-clogs-birthday
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deathfavor · 2 years ago
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some misc headcanons that were on their on small posts on my previous blog
1.ling wen highly appreciates a hand massage every now and then. esp when they get cramped from all the writing , just taking it and helping work out the knots and stretch her hands. will you have to pry the brush from her ? yes. will she protest ? yes. but its worth it and she does like / appreciate it.
2. ling wen has a particular distaste for phoenixes based on her initial ascension as a middle court official. too many gods claimed she was like a phoenix , blessed with luck because jing wen had taken her from prison and personally brought her up to the heavens and that she should feel honored. she loathes that phrase and that comparison. she wasn’t lucky with her essay , she was skilled in writing and knew how to write to what the people wanted at the time. she worked hard and learned because she put in that effort when all jing wen did was try to treat her like an object. the only exceptions to this are ( unsurprisingly ) pei ming or shi wudu if they gifted something with a phoenix on it. from them , she would accept it being genuine and not mind it. but anyone else ? it will instantly make her displeased.
3. ling wen can’t dance. she never learned how , not as a mortal and not since ascending. she’s never participated in any dances and absolutely refuses to do so because she’s plenty aware of the fact she’ll just be too stiff the whole time. there are many things she can do , but dancing of any kind is not one of them.
4. The drunker ling wen gets , the more some of her old xuli accent starts to manifest. even in her normal speech there’s some traces on certain words , though most people don’t notice. but when she’s drunk it really shows. also an easy way to know how drunk she is. granted for most people they wouldn’t be able to recognize it given the long time since its fall but certain people could. 
5. Ling Wen isn’t particularly skilled in any combat or weaponry. but out of weaponry , she has used a dao sword the most often , including when she ultimately dismembered and killed bai jing. she’s no master or even professional , but she has used it on occasion. in her male form or any disguise she dons that has a weapon , that is the type of sword that she carries with her.
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annisthree · 2 years ago
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Chapter VII: Lean on me
previous chapter // masterlist // next chapter
Pairing: Cassian Andor x Original Female Character
Word Count: ~6k
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Explicit language, explicit sexual content, canon typical violence, alcohol consumption
Chapter summary: The journey back from Coruscant is much more exciting than anyone expected. Back on Yavin IV, a new crewmember officially joins their squad.
A/N: Yeah, so I changed my mind; it's not gonna be a separate fic. I have no idea what I'm doing. Somebody stop me.
Cross-posted on AO3 (same username).
The caf was stale and bitter, but it filled her with a pleasant wave of warmth. In fact, it warmed Marla up enough that she could consider taking off her jacket - but it was so cosy, even with a gaping hole at the side. More importantly, though, there was still a hint of Cassian beneath the stench of smoke. She hated how comforting that made her feel.
Melshi and Marla were both sitting in the ship's common room, but he was busy typing up what he'd learnt from the Imperial database (a cheeky move from Cassian's side, she thought - once Melshi hands in his writing assignment, Cassian's mission report would be more than halfway done before he even started). So she had no choice but to inspect the dirty kitchenette floor in silence.
Her own mission report, if anyone tasked her with writing one, would probably look something like this: the cantina was a dump, but whatever Cassian ordered for her made up for the questionable aesthetics of the place; the safehouse was also a dump, but at least the beds were less single than she was used to, which - what do you know - ended up coming in handy; they got to taste some of Coruscanti culture in the form of being randomly attacked on the street; her brain froze for long enough for her to come to the conclusion that middle of the fight is a perfect moment to make out with Cassian; she got to operate a repulsor crane (probably would have been more fun if she wasn't being shot at); and it turned out that the new guy wasn't that bad.
She briefly considered stealing Cassian's datapad to replace his boring report with her own version. She was sure Draven (or whoever was reading these - if anyone) would have appreciated the comedic value. Or, if not, it would at least be fun to watch them read her disquisition on how Cassian's lips tasted in the middle of a battle.
Marla smiled at the thought and finished her caf in one long sip. Maker, but he did have the most amazing lips, didn't he?
Kriffing hell. It seemed like she was becoming more and more comfortable with thinking about Cassian in that way. Half a year ago, catching herself fantasising about his lips would have made her throw herself out of the airlock - and yet, here she was, staring at the closed door of the captain's quarters, spiralling deeper and deeper into the territory she should steer clear from.
'Gonna go to the cargo bay, check out that droid Cassian is working on.' Yes, excellent idea, you go. 
Her mind's reaction was way too enthusiastic for her liking. She had nothing against the new guy. But he was an obstacle on her way to the captain's quarters... should she decide to check up on Cassian. Which she definitely shouldn't.
'Down the stairs, then down the ladder. Maybe don't activate him yet, though. I'm not sure how far Cassian has gotten.'
Melshi nodded and disappeared below deck, and Marla's inexplicable enthusiasm was replaced by a very understandable, very real and very familiar fear.
Now she really had no reason to stay where she was. It was, in the end, her ship. She could go wherever she pleased.
She slipped out of Cassian's jacket in a matter of seconds, and the sudden blast of chilly air against her bare skin was the final straw.
It was no big deal; they would just be blowing off some steam after a stressful mission. Surely she wasn't the first person in the Rebellion to sleep with her captain.
No big deal.
  *
  There was a knock on Cassian's door, crescendoing from a quiet tap into a loud, impatient bang. He didn't have to open the door to know who it was; between Marla and Melshi, only one seemed able to make the simple act of knocking into something this chaotic.
So, he wasn't surprised seeing Marla on his doorstep - but what he couldn't guess was the reason for her visit. Not that she was particularly good at hiding her feelings - on the contrary, they were all painted on her face, all five thousand of them, and that was a bit too much for him to process into one logical explanation.
'Can I help you?'
Instead of answering, she walked past him and went into his room. Right, then. Not in the mood for explanations. Fair enough.
The door closed with a mechanical swoosh. Cassian leaned against it, hooking his thumbs in his belt and patiently waiting for some clues as to the reason for Marla's visit.
He had some ideas. Some of them he liked more than others, but he decided to wait with further judgement until more information was available. He was a patient man. And she could never stay quiet for long.
Standing in the centre of the room, Marla was now fidgeting with the edge of her white shirt. She avoided eye contact, instead focusing on the wall a few steps to his right.
'Would you believe me if I said that Melshi was occupying the refresher below deck?'
Don't get your hopes up.
'Well, now I definitely--'
He was planning to finish that sentence, he really was, but then a couple of things happened.
First, Marla scanned the room, still visibly avoiding looking at Cassian. Then, she made her way to the refresher, leaving the door ajar as she entered.
And then she nonchalantly took her shirt off, letting it fall to the ground.
Consequently, Cassian's mind became temporarily vacant. He forgot not only what he wanted to say, but seemingly also most of his Basic.
Meanwhile, Marla proceeded to unbutton and take off her trousers, throwing them carelessly on the floor.
Oh, okay.
He had no idea how he managed to keep still. In his mind, he was already all over her, his lips claiming the soft skin on her neck, and then the rest of her body, slowly, methodically, tenderly...
They stayed like that for what seemed to have been an eternity: Marla, in nothing but underwear, traces of goosebumps slowly appearing on her arms and legs; and Cassian, painfully aware of the surprised look on his face, along with the rest of his bodily reactions.
'I thought we could save some power if we showered together,' she mumbled, unconvinced.
Oh, that classic line he had used so many times before. But it didn't matter. Somehow, in this scenario, it sounded like the most eloquent thing Cassian had ever heard.
He let out a long, heavy sigh, tilted his head back, and watched Marla through half-lidded eyes as she began taking off her sports bra. She started out slowly, carefully maintaining eye contact - only to get stuck halfway through her head, desperately fighting to wiggle herself out.
'Stupid fucking thing.'
He briefly considered letting her struggle, just to enjoy how hard she was trying to pretend she had everything under control. However, his merciful side won and stifling a laugh, he crossed the room to offer his assistance. Somewhere along the way, he'd lost his own shirt. He didn't even register taking it off.
'Thanks,' she muttered, face redder than the molten seas of Mustafar. He didn't know what he wanted more: to hug her and kiss her on the forehead until she relaxed, or to allow himself to lose whatever self-control he had left, pin her to the wall and let his hands reclaim all those places he'd been yearning to touch again.
Luckily, he didn't have to choose. Marla decided for them both, closing the already minimal distance between them and reaching down to unbutton his trousers.
'But I really do wanna take a shower, okay?' she whispered breathily, an undertone of nervousness still clearly audible. 'We're both really disgusting.'
He gave a short, quiet chuckle and motioned towards the sonic shower. 'After you.'
The shower definitely wasn't designed with two people in mind, but right now, Cassian was almost grateful for the lack of space.
He had enough clarity of mind to turn the shower on before he finally pulled Marla as close as he could, as if to make sure there wasn't a single spot on their bodies left untouched. It felt like they were burning and melting into one singular entity.
And then she kissed him, impatiently, fiercely, weaving her fingers into his hair, and he kissed her back, and he wished that kiss could tell her all those things he didn't know how to describe or name. He wished it could tell the story of fear and comfort, of guilt and absolution, of finding purpose in the most unlikely place.
He hoped one day he would be able to put all those things into words. For now, though, a kiss had to suffice.
They briefly broke the kiss to catch a breath, and for a moment, her exhales became his inhales, and the air tasted like caf and anticipation.
'Good thing we passed on those pickled eggs,' he whispered, and she laughed and rested her forehead on his, and he felt like the happiest man in the galaxy.
He rarely allowed himself to feel that way. It wasn't smart, it wasn't strategic, and he had a very strong suspicion it would inevitably lead to getting really, really hurt. Or dead, killed by his naivety and selfishness, and by his brain's increasingly frequent tendency to get distracted in the least desirable circumstances.
But he needed this. After years of convincing himself that he was fine, he really fucking needed this.
He would have been perfectly happy staying like that forever, with her breath on his jaw and her heartbeat against his skin. But he also wanted more, and her eyes told him she did, too.
And so he continued staring into her eyes as his hands slowly began travelling down from her neck, tracing the line of her collarbones, and then lower, finally reaching her chest.
He could feel her shiver ever so slightly - and if he thought the smile she'd been giving him before was criminally disarming, then the bliss that painted on her face at that moment, as he continued tracing the soft skin around her nipples - that look on her face was simply cruel. Stars, how did she do all those things to him? How could it be so damn easy to have him wrapped around her finger?
Once Cassian was sure the sight was forever imprinted in his memory, he slowly moved to kiss Marla's neck. She tilted her head back and sighed quietly, and that was all the encouragement he needed to keep going, lower, and then lower, until his lips replaced his hands, and she almost jumped up at the contact.
'Good?' he chuckled, purposefully letting the air tickle the now-damp skin of her nipples, and she mumbled something in reply, incoherently enough for him to count it as a confirmation.
She gasped as his lips came in contact with her skin again, and this time it was her turn to let out a small laugh, and then he felt her chest vibrate as she finally managed to force her voice to cooperate.
'Come on, Keef, I-- I don't have all-- all day.'
He stopped immediately and straightened up, giving her the most disapproving look he could muster - which probably wasn't very disapproving at all, seeing how he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from forming a smile. The only reaction he managed to get from her was a chuckle.
But the chuckle quickly turned into a surprised sigh when he suddenly pushed her back against the shower wall.
'You're mean,' he commented with a grin, before turning his attention back to her neck. God, he loved that spot. It was so soft, and it somehow always smelled wonderfully inviting, even when she was fresh out of a fight, sweaty, dirty, and so ridiculously and cruelly arousing. 'I'm not sure I want to continue spending time with someone who makes fun of me,' he whispered into her neck, his fingers slowly working their way down until they reached their destination at the apex of her thighs, and she inhaled so sharply he automatically retreated.
'No, no, no, no, please-- please don't stop now.' She grabbed his hand and placed it back where it had been, and it was so bloody hot and yet so bloody precious to see her this desperate for him that he began wondering how much self-restraint he had left.
Meanwhile, Marla sighed again and gently shifted her hips forward, pushing into his hand as he continued exploring her, reading each quiet moan and each tensing of her muscles.
'Look at me.' He had to see her face, had to see the gentle movement of her parted lips as she desperately gasped for air, and that divine spark she had in her eye, and those beautiful lines that formed between her eyebrows as she shut her eyes tight when he slipped one of his fingers inside her.
His other hand went to her chin to gently tilt it in his direction, just so that he wouldn't miss any of it, and her eyes were suddenly so big and so full of everything he loved about her that he almost forgot what he was doing.
But he didn't forget. He didn't stop. Soon, her panting began quickening, and he could feel that air on his lips, and it was warm, and fast, and sweet. 
It was fascinating, reading all those signals and reacting to what her body was telling him. And, although Cassian Andor may have had his flaws, he sure as hell knew how to listen.
And so he listened, and he replied with his own wordless ode, and his hands and eyes and lips accompanied him, and he could see she heard him, too, and her body was responding more and more decidedly, boldly, uncontrollably, and then finally he felt every single muscle in her body tense, and then she squeezed her eyes shut and yanked her head forward, pushing it into the base of his neck, and whimpering quiet prayers into his skin, and it was all he ever wanted to hear for the rest of his life.
It felt like forever before she started breathing again and pulled away from him ever so slightly. He could feel her legs shake as she grabbed onto his chest to steady herself and gave him that beautiful blissful look again.
He was happy, so fucking happy he felt he would never need anything again. At one point, he realised he almost stopped breathing too, and stars, he felt everything, all of it, all at once, and it was so fucking beautiful he could barely stand it.
'How about we find someplace more comfortable?' Marla's voice sounded more precious than ever, with that barely noticeable tremble and softness she normally never allowed herself to show.
And so, of course, he did what she asked him. He was long past the point of being able not to.
And it didn't matter that Melshi would probably hear them (and proceed to make fun of them for the rest of their lives); it didn't matter that Cassian was slowly losing control of this weird thing that was happening between the two of them; it didn't matter that Marla would most likely be gone as soon as this was over.
He had her now. And he knew he'd be thinking about that moment for a long time.
  *
  'Captain...? Captain, are you all right?'
Was he? Hard to tell. He definitely didn't use to get distracted mid-conversation. He was always focused, attentive, and perceptive - he had to be, or he wouldn't have lasted more than a week doing what he did. And yet here he was now, caught red-handed, staring at the vast jungle outside the landing pad on Yavin IV, completely ignoring the poor Twi'lek mechanic who had the unfortunate task of briefing him on the results of the assessment of K2SO.
It was a standard procedure, and Cassian usually didn't have problems following these - but somehow, at that particular moment, it was the most tedious and tiring conversation he could imagine, to the point of being almost physically painful.
'Yes. I apologise. Long flight.' Lie. 
'I understand,' the mechanic certainly tried to look like he understood, bless his heart, although they both knew the flight from Coruscant wasn't really long at all. Just long enough to catch a breath after the fight and finish reprogramming his droid. And take a shower, a really long and exciting shower, and then proceed to get sweaty again.
'Thank you, chief,' Damn, what was his name? Neec? Naac? 'Please, go on.'
'As I was saying, the assessment is overall positive, but there are some little tweaks I'd recommend to ensure the droid is a bit more... cooperative,' the Twi'lek paused for a moment, powering up his datapad. 'I have him scheduled for updating his behavioural parameters, reinstalling the logic module, and adding a new hardware package. He will also be fitted with a class five restraining--'
'Thank you, that won't be necessary.'
'Excuse me?' the mechanic gave him a surprised look from behind the datapad.
'I appreciate your analysis, chief, and I will make sure to keep an eye on him. But I would prefer to keep his programming as close to the original as possible. Minus, you know, the bit that made him Imperial. He needs to act like a security droid if he is ever to be useful for undercover missions.'
'I see,' the mechanic slowly replied, giving Cassian a long, careful look, before tapping something on his datapad. 'It'll just be the restraining bolt, then.'
'That won't be necessary, either.'
'But captain--'
'Thank you, chief,' Cassian repeated, a bit more decidedly this time.
'But what if--'
'As I said, I'll keep a close eye on him.'
There was a mixture of apprehension and frustration on the Twi'lek's face, and Cassian felt a brief pang of remorse for making the poor guy's life more difficult.
'Very well. But I will have to make a note of the fact that you have rejected my recommendation,' he looked up at Cassian again as if hoping that would change his mind. It did not. The Twi'lek sighed quietly and shook his head. 'You can pick him up from storage C at your earliest convenience.'
'Absolutely, chief. Thank you for your time.'
The men exchanged polite nods, and Cassian walked away, leaving behind the poor mechanic and the warmth of the sunlight that was such a pleasant change from the darkness and murkiness of Coruscant.
He wasn't yet entirely sure how he felt about the droid. It certainly made sense from the practical point of view - he would blend in perfectly during undercover missions, and the knowledge of Imperial protocol (although some of it had to be wiped out) could potentially be a significant asset. But, even though it's been a couple of years (four? five? he tried not to count), there was still a B2-shaped hole in Cassian's heart, and it felt a bit strange - a bit too much like betrayal - to just replace him like that.
But Bee was out of the picture. Even if he managed to track him down, the poor old droid wouldn't be of much use in his current circumstances. And having him around, as good as it would probably feel, could also bring back some memories he wasn't quite ready to face.
That didn't make him feel any less like a traitor, but he couldn't let that cloud his judgement. Maker knows there were way too many things distracting him as it was.
Storage C was a vast warehouse in one of the underground levels of the base. There didn't seem to be any specific organisational system in place, but somehow, the warehouse workers were able to tell him exactly where to look. The only thing left was to go to the back of the room and find K2 among all the other droids that were waiting there. Which was a fairly simple task, considering Kay was twice as tall as most of them.
'Okay, buddy,' Cassian mumbled, his hand reaching out to brush against the cold metal. 'Let's get you started and see if I made the right choice.'
  *
  Meanwhile, Marla's first steps after they landed on the base led her towards the Drunken Bantha. The adrenaline of the mission, the unexpected fight, and the eventful journey back - all of that left her in dire need of a drink. Or five.
Each time she visited the cantina, there was a new addition to the erratic decor of the place. People brought back all kinds of junk from different off-world missions, which then ended up displayed somewhere on the counter, hung on the wall, or - only occasionally - serving an actual functional purpose. Thus, what started as a couple of crates with alcohol and a couple of more bins for people to sit on, very quickly became a loud, colourful assortment of trinkets and mismatched furniture.
It had a certain cosiness to it, though. The multitude of strange objects meant that whatever part of the galaxy you came from, you could always find something that reminded you of home.
They didn't have a bartender, of course - the place was still technically unsanctioned - so the bar was tended to by whoever felt like doing so. Which, at that particular moment, was a four-armed Besalisk who had definitely already had his fair share of whatever he was serving.
Sitting behind the counter (where the hell did they get bar stools? and when did that happen?), Marla quietly sipped an unidentified beer and watched the motley assortment of Rebel soldiers share stories and jokes.
'One could think you were hiding from someone,' a familiar voice interrupted Marla's quiet contemplation. She usually wasn't one to avoid company - no, that was Cassian's thing - but somehow today she was really hoping to spend some time alone and finally think through some things she'd been putting off for way too long.
Well. Evidently, the universe was sending signals she should nurture her avoidant escapism for a bit longer. She was more than happy to comply.
'One would be terribly mistaken,' she smirked at Zafe, one hand motioning to the empty bar stool beside her. 'This is probably the most obvious place for me to be in. Arguably, more obvious than our quarters.'
'Fair enough.' He gestured at the bartender and pointed at one of the bottles. 'So. I hear you're leaving again tomorrow, huh?'
'Yup. We're following the lead on those shipments. Which means we have to cross the whole damn galaxy, all the way to the Arkanis sector.'
'Well, that should be a fun ride. Is the new guy coming along with you?'
'Why, jealous?' She gave him a wide grin. 'No. It's just Cassian and me. And the droid,' the last word was accompanied by an eye-roll.
'Romantic.'
'Hardly,' Marla put all her energy into giving him the most dramatic death stare she had in her repertoire. 'For so many reasons, the main one being that there is nothing romantic about what we're doing. And it's a mission, and we're both professionals. Plus, I did mention the droid, right?'
'That sounds like a bunch of excuses.'
'You're an asshole. Get a life.'
'Ouch. Right where it hurts.' Zafe smirked back at her.
There was a loud burst of laughter from one of the tables in the corner that saved Marla from having to reply. Instead, she turned around to ask for another beer, only to find the bartender asleep with his head resting on the counter.
As she was about to turn back around to face Zafe, a loud thump caught her attention, shortly followed by another one - and before she knew it, Zafe was already behind the bar, picking up two beer bottles from the cabinet. 'What? I have only so much patience.'
The beer tasted cheap (not like that Chandrilan whisky Cassian got her on Coruscant) and watered down (how is that even possible? it was just opened...), but, as she tipped back her head to down almost half of the bottle in one go, she decided it was good enough.
'Nervous?' Zafe's eyes flickered from Marla to her bottle.
'Always.'
'About the mission or about your new boyf--'
'Shut up. We're just-- just shut up.'
The other half of the beer tasted somehow better. Similarly, the music became magically more catchy, and the loud group of Rodians playing sabacc in the corner - slightly less aggravating.
'Another one?' Such a good person, that guy. Good and non-judgemental. Cassian would have definitely--
'Based on my analysis,' a loud, mechanical voice behind her had Marla's hands instinctively shoot towards where she usually kept her blasters, 'continued consumption could impede cognitive processing, potentially impacting the Lieutenant's ability to perform optimally during tomorrow's mission.'
'Oh, great. It's you.'
Most people on the base were already aware of Cassian's new droid - the command had to send a note to all captains to warn everyone and kindly ask them to resist the urge to turn K2 into a scrap heap. Still, the appearance of a tall, Imperial-looking killing machine strolling down the halls triggered visible unease at best and outright contempt at worst.
Marla was much more inclined towards the second reaction.
'Can you go back to bothering Cassian, please?'
'I have been informed I do not yet have the clearance to accompany Cassian during mission debriefs - a fact that I personally consider to be a waste of tactical assets. He has, however, tasked me with locating you and making sure you are, I quote, not doing anything stupid.'
Completely unfazed by the attention he was getting, K2 stopped in front of Marla, his glowing eyes seemingly scanning her. Was he scanning her?
Damn it. It was bad enough that Cassian could read people's darkest, deepest secrets within seconds of meeting them. Now he had a fucking personal investigator, too.
'How considerate of him,' she groaned, mentally coming to terms with the fact Cassian had just assigned her a babysitter.
'My analysis of your vitals indicates that you are experiencing heightened stress levels,' Oh, great, so he was scanning me. 'As a droid, I do not have personal experience with stress, but I understand that it can be detrimental to one's well-being.'
'Thank you for sharing your expertise. I am forever in your debt.'
'Might I suggest engaging in a calming activity, such as meditation or breathing exercises?' There was a loud scoff coming from behind the counter, and Marla didn't even have to look to know how delighted Zafe was at her misery. Not such a good person after all, huh? 'Alternatively, physical exercise has been shown to reduce stress levels. I can assist you in finding a suitable workout routine if you would like.'
'I am perfectly capable of finding my own workout routine, thank you very much.'
'My analysis of your fitness levels--'
'Oh, for fuck's sake. You know what? Fine. I'll work on my fitness levels. In fact, I have a perfect idea how to do that.'
'Wonderful. Will you require my assistance?'
Marla felt a wide grin splitting her face. Was it a smart idea? Probably not. But she was drunk, bored and frustrated enough to give it a try.
'Yes, I will, K2. Yes, I will.'
  *
  'Why did you do this, Marla?'
'Do what?'
'You know what. Did you really think this would be a good idea?'
Marla shrugged, her eyes slowly scanning the nearly empty mess hall, very clearly avoiding looking at Cassian. The pack of frozen mattberries she was pressing to her browbone had already begun thawing, creating a small puddle of water mixed with blood next to the table Marla was sitting on.
'Let me see,' Cassian asked, and then, not waiting for a confirmation, proceeded to remove the cold compress from her forehead. 'Ouch,' he commented, inspecting the fresh cut on her browbone, surrounded by a patch of red he knew would soon turn into a colourful bruise. 'Well. I'd say I hope it teaches you a lesson, but we both know that's not happening.'
'Give me that,' she ripped the frozen berries from his hands. 'We were just sparring. I need to make sure my melee skills are on point so that I can keep saving your sorry ass from all kinds of trouble. So. I practice.'
'With a seven-foot tall Imperial killing machine?'
'I like a challenge,' she grinned at him.
'And you couldn't have sparred with Zafe or Melshi, or, I don't know, any one of the dozens of soldiers that would gladly practice with you without rearranging your face?'
'Don't be so dramatic. It's just a bruise. And, like I've said, I like a challenge. I've sparred with Zafe like a thousand times. I have also already sparred with Melshi. He's okay, but a bit slow. Good with vibroblades, though. We're meeting in the afternoon to practice knife throwing.'
Cassian stifled a sigh, invoking instead a mental image of Marla and Melshi bonding over vibroblades. He was hoping they would settle on conventional targets instead of, say, droids. Or at least his droid.
'Besides,' Marla interrupted his vision, 'you said you reprogrammed him. I was checking how well you did.'
'And?'
'The jury's still out.'
Cassian shook his head, his attention drawn by the loud thumping sound that suddenly filled the mess hall. He knew that sound.
'Cassian--' K2's mechanical voice filled the air, his words punctuated by the sound of his metal limbs hitting the floor.
Cassian could feel his exhaustion growing with each passing second.
'I told you to stay in my quarters. You know people aren't used to seeing Imperial droids on the base.'
'General Dodonna said he has sent out a memo. And, should that not suffice, I am perfectly capable of peacefully restraining anyone who tries to attack me.'
If droids could give a side eye, Cassian was sure Kay would be giving one to Marla now. She must have thought that, too, considering the aura of hostility she immediately began emitting.
'Yes. About that. In the future, please try to refrain from fighting with my crewmates. Or with anyone on this base,' Cassian said wearily, his gaze flickering back to Marla. 'Even if they ask for it.'
'Lieutenant Reid has explicitly requested my participation in her training session. I believe her exact words were Come on, you big bucket of bolts, hit me with all you've got.'
Cassian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was tired. So, so tired.
'I hear you. Still. Don't do that again. Even if she asks.'
'Noted. Would you like to hear my assessment of the lieutenant's combat skills?'
'No,' Cassian immediately shot back, loudly enough to cover up Marla's aggressive yes. 'Keep that to yourself. In fact, please don't go around assessing people's skills. It was hard enough as it was to convince the command not to have you turned into parts.'
'But Cassian--'
'Please don't.'
'Noted,' there was a brief pause before the droid resumed, and Cassian could swear he sensed a hint of judgement in that silence. 'Then perhaps you would like a report on the state of the Blackbird?'
'My ship is in great shape, thank you very much,' Marla barked back, and Cassian wondered how many more frozen mattberry packs they had in the kitchen.
'Cassian's ship,' K2 resumed, 'is indeed in satisfactory condition. However, I ran some diagnostics, and I have a couple of suggestions--'
'Cassian, please tell him to shut up, or so help me Maker...'
'The hyperdrive coolant system is running at eighty per cent efficiency, and I recommend replacing the damaged pipes in the engine room. Additionally, I suggest recalibrating the laser cannons to improve their--'
'Thank you, Kay,' Cassian interrupted him. 'I will review your suggestions later.'
'Good. You might also be interested to know I have discovered Lieutenant Reid's biological material in your quarters, Cassian. Would you like me to have her detained for further investigation?'
Out of the corner of his eye, Cassian saw Marla bury her entire face in the packet of frozen berries. What followed was a stifled snort coming out from beneath the compress.
'That won't be necessary, Kay. Thank you.'
'But Cassian--'
'The lieutenant and I were sparring,' he interrupted again, wondering how many more but Cassian-s he could take. 'After the last mission. In my quarters.'
'I see,' there it was, that judgemental pause again. 'In that case, I have no additional remarks. I will keep you updated should my assessment change.'
'Thank you, Kay. Can you go and wait for me in my quarters?'
'Are you going to be sparring now?' The halfway-defrosted mattberries produced a loud whimper, followed by something that could have either been a burst of laughter or a pained cry. 'I could advise you on the best strategy, given my newly-obtained knowledge of the lieutenant's fighting style.'
'That-- that won't be necessary. I find my own strategy to be rather effective.'
'Very well. But I should warn you that the lieutenant tends to use rather... unorthodox fighting techniques. Please exercise caution when engaging with her.'
'Noted.'
'What I mean is, she does not seem to be familiar with the generally agreed combat etiquette--'
'I know what you mean.' The mattberries were no longer laughing, and Cassian was mentally prepared to step in between Marla and the droid. 'Please go and wait for me in my quarters.'
'Yes, Cassian.'
Watching the droid depart, Cassian realised he suddenly felt at least ten years older. He looked over at Marla, who was slowly reemerging from behind the cover of the frozen fruit.
'Tomorrow, eighteen hundred in the hangar bay.'
'Does the scrap heap have to be coming along?'
'Yes,' he shot her an annoyed look. 'Come on. Give him a chance.'
Marla groaned dramatically, 'I'll try. No promises, though.'
'Thank you. See you tomorrow.'
'Wait. What about that sparring session?'
Cassian snorted, stopping in his tracks to look back. She was still sitting on top of the table, half of her face red, and throwing him a mischievous grin.
Maker, give me strength.
'Can't have you too sore for tomorrow's mission.'
'I can take you,' she gave him an innocent shrug, and he had to turn away to make sure he didn't spontaneously combust into flames.
'Go to sleep, Marla. See you tomorrow.'
Cassian had no idea how he found the strength to walk away, considering in his mind he was already bending her over that damn table.
The mission. There's a mission. And it requires preparation.
'See you tomorrow,' he heard a quiet chuckle behind his back and decided it was his best chance to leave.
Maker, give me strength.
A/N: I am shamelessly excited about their upcoming mission. Can't wait to throw them into some drama.
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stormbabylore · 10 months ago
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I have oh-so-very-many thoughts about her receiving language(s). Tl;dr? She starts as Quality Time with a slow, slooooow growth toward also needing Physical Touch.
She's a soft ace baby, and I'm all about slow burns that lead to forehead touches instead of kisses. (´♡ᴗ♡`)
Now if you want to long of it, there is... a significant quantity of character infodump behind the cut.
Aeryn awakens in Eorzea as an adult with no memories beyond a painfully overwhelming sensation of loss. She has no knowledge of her past at all, let alone who might have been a part of it and what types of relationships they may have shared. The myriad feelings she begins experiencing towards others are essentially brand new to her, which is confusing enough as it is - and the sensation of loss she awakens with is both agonizing and discordant (in that she is missing something but doesn't know what that is).
With that in mind:
Both physical touch and emotional closeness with others is entirely foreign to Aeryn in a jarring way, sometimes enough to incite shock or panic. She quickly adopts a practice of holding herself at arm's length (if not further) in efforts to avoid any unexpected discomfort, and for a long time she assumes she doesn't like to be touched.
Words of affirmation are similarly uncomfortable. She neither wants nor feels deserving of the praise she receives. (She only sticks with adventuring because she doesn't know what else to do; and she secretly harbors a hope that her travels might lead her to someone who knows who she really is.) The attention for her supposed heroism feels like a slap when, in her mind, she has a very selfish motivation for her actions. Worse, the blatant praise often seems to require some form of response, which she struggles to offer with her quiet, apprehensive voice. Words of affirmation, however sincerely offered, just make her want to run away.
Acts of service make her feel she's been an imposition to others, regardless of their good intentions. She is always exceptionally grateful, but there is an underlying guilt associated with accepting such kindnesses. She reasons that if she'd been quicker, smarter, or better at her work, no one would need to exert themselves on her behalf.
Receiving gifts likewise causes her more guilt than anything. She worries that others feel they owe her and even pay beyond their means. When they offer thoughtful, handmade or expensive gifts, she laments that they'll inevitably get ruined or lost on her journeys. (That said, there are some few exceptions! She always appreciates receiving food, and she also has a few small possessions she treasures, which I might touch on in another post!)
The one love language that immediately speaks to her heart is quality time, which (especially in early ARR, when she's a blank slate) serves as proof of others' acceptance of her, regardless of her reticence. She grows quickly attached to those who recognize her reserve and avoid offering needless excess attention. Ywain is the first to provide just that: nothing but his quiet, unassuming company. What little conversation they share and gentle attention he offers is the first sense of true comfort she feels in Gridania outside Mother Miounne's watchful gaze. He does, eventually, come to offer words of affirmation, but his praise is practical and less showy in its manner. He praises her only when they're alone and with no expectation of reply - and he does not dwell on the subject. In that way, the quality time they spend together helps crack her shell and enables her to interact with him in a healthier, more balanced way that is still unique to her needs. It singles Ywain out as someone special in her mind, which is highly perplexing for her.
After officially meeting the Scions, she discovers a similar level of comfort (and confusion) with Urianger. His constancy in the common room of the Waking Sands (where she spends the majority of her free time when in Vesper Bay) is as calming to her as sitting on the boat dock with Ywain. He doesn't force small talk and respects her quiet nature; but he likewise does not ignore her presence. He acknowledges her with quiet nods and sometimes reads to her or speaks of his studies, as if they are conversing, though there is no evident expectation of reply. It's humorous, to her, that he is so verbose while she is so taciturn, and she looks forward to the ease she feels when he's near and the peaceful sound of turning pages meshed with the cadence of his voice. She takes to visiting him more and more frequently, both in the common room and up on the roof while he stargazes - and she finds comfort in his nearness. Like Ywain, Urianger's praise of her, when offered, comes privately, in small, quiet, bearable doses without any expectation of reply.
There are others, of course, whose quality time helps grow her later in her story, but Ywain and Urianger are two of the first, and certainly the two who best see and respect her preferences without her ever needing to voice them.
As Aeryn eventually begins overcoming the apprehension of letting others close, she will slowly become more tactile in her affection. The gradual need for physical touch manifests itself very innocently, at first only reaching out to touch Urianger's sleeve, or perhaps standing in closer proximity to Minfilia so she can better hear or even share her own quiet, stumbling words. Expressing her want for closeness comes even more gradually and with a great deal of awkward hesitation; and her needs will never grow beyond some few simple gestures of nearness.
As I read him (which may not necessarily mesh with the rest of the XIV fandom, based on what I've seen on Tumblr), Urianger is a near-perfect companion for her as a result of his own natural reserve and minimal desire for physical closeness. But over the natural events of the story, the two of them are able to grow with a kind of shared synchronicity to a place of more comfortable expression with both themselves and each other.
Or, to expand from above: they're soft ace babies together, and I'm so very weak to my WoLship about their sweet forehead touches.
Anyway, I might explore Aeryn's giving languages, someday, but this is already a lot.
What is your WoL's love language?
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jonfarreporter · 2 years ago
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Sonoma Valley Jazz Society Mourns the Loss of a local musician
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Members of The Sonoma Valley Jazz Society were saddened by the tragedy and untimely death of Alto Saxophone musician Andrew Speight which occurred on December 1.
Shocked at the news which travelled quickly throughout the Jazz music community of the San Francisco Bay Area, SVJS President Janis King wanted to express her condolences.
“When Andrew played here in Sonoma many people had not heard him previously but once he took the stage everyone recognized immediately that he was a stellar player.”
The exact details of his death are unclear as to why his car was stuck on the tracks. As reported by the San Jose Mercury News, The fatal collision was reported around 1:40 p.m. that Thursday near the Broadway Caltrain station in Burlingame.
A suburb along The Peninsula about 30 minutes away from San Francisco, Burlingame is where Speight lived. It wasn’t specified as to whether he was going to the City or coming back; only that his car got stuck and was struck by a southbound train and then by a northbound train.
In addition to his many performances throughout the Bay Area and elsewhere Speight was part of the faculty at San Francisco State University. He taught classes such as jazz ensemble, improvisation and jazz history. And he was a ‘Lecturer of Music.’
Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1964, he was the son of jazz pianist John Speight. Officials at SF State U noted that the younger Speight followed in his father’s footsteps by studying at the Sydney Conservatory of Music, though his preferred instrument was the alto saxophone. Sometimes referred to as a common instrument, Speight was able to make an impression early on as he was able to go on tour with Benny Carter and Nat Adderley.
He immigrated to the U.S. in 1992 to join the music faculty at Michigan State University. He moved to San Francisco in 1998. Not confined by teaching he continued performing. He was a part of the award-winning Wynton Marsalis Band and was able to perform at The Lincoln Center in New York City.
By the end of the decade he and his band the Andrew Speight Quartet, won the 1999 the Australian Recording Industry Association Music Award for ‘Best Jazz Album.’ (An “ARIA” is the land down under’s version of a Grammy Award).
“His arrangements were amazing and so were his solos,” said King.
Respected by students and faculty, Speight didn’t let the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic stop the music. As Café Stritch, founder in San Jose, Steve Borkenhagen told the SJ Mercury News. “When COVID-19 hit, Andrew stepped up and created a beautiful ‘jazz club’ in his home … and he held weekly concerts with many of the brightest lights in the jazz firmament,” “We will all miss him dearly.” Borkenhagen added.
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Pointing out how quickly and how profoundly Speight made an impact, King said in her grief, “Our Jazz Society here in Somoma received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from Andrew's concert.  The crowd loved him - When he played it was apparent to everyone that he was living his dream.   
Described by several as “a consummate professional and a gentleman,” Speight made friends wherever he went.
As King noted, “I only knew Andrew Speight for his great playing but he was also known for his teaching and friendship which was very obvious at his memorial.”
The outpouring of grief as well as appreciation for Speight’s talent and generosity were expressed on social media. Like the SVJS people many places were shocked and stunned.
 “So many students were present at the memorial,” said King. “And, a whole lot of friends. Andrew was certainly keeping Jazz alive by sharing his love of jazz with his students,” she added.
His family in a Facebook posting asked that those who knew him “Please take a moment to pray for his peace.” Andrew Speight was 58.
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