#cee (propsect)

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Hello!! I'm very curious about two of them, the two firsts of your list actually: Lattice and Don't Turn Around? … if you don'tmind me asking for two of them! 👀

Hi Angie!! Of course I don't mind you asking about two of them! I'm happy that you're intrigued!!

Both of these are actually responses to a prompt list that I posted a few nights ago, and since they're the only ones I got, they're going to be longer than quick drabbles.

Lattice corresponds with your request for "ruffling the other's hair" + Ezra, and I decided that it's going to take place in the Point of No Return universe, featuring Ezra and Cee. (and cats.) I'm going back and forth between Lattice and Trellis as the title, but a hint? They're working on a surprise for Clara. ;)

Don't Turn Around corresponds to the request I got from @something-tofightfor for "hugging the other from behind" + PATS which is going to fit into the Long Con universe that I started for that character. This one is going to be a very vulnerable moment for that pair of grifters, lemme tell ya.

[the-blind-assassin-12]

Look at this! Look at them! This is everything! 🥲🥰

Cee and Ellie would get along so well. Just two girls who’ve Seen Some Shit with their respective adoptive dads, trading music and books and just hanging out and being teenagers together. That makes me so happy to think about!!

And Joel and Ezra… well I’m not sure they’d get along as well, but I think they’d just be happy to see Cee and Ellie smiling ☺️

This is adorable and amazing and I love it with my whole heart.

Finished fanart 🎶 :D

[the-blind-assassin-12]

The entire Root Pearl universe has a permanent home in my heart, and every time you add a new piece of it, that home gets bigger and warmer and more full.

I love when you skip ahead to give us little peeks at the future in your stories. It’s always nice to know that even if things might get tough at times, there is so much good on the other side of it. These characters deserve to be as happy as they are here, and it makes me smile real big to know that they’re getting this chance at that.

The idea of going away on a trip like this one with Ezra sounds almost too good to be true - even to him. But not because it isn’t possible or because he doesn’t want to, it’s because he’s afraid of stealing the spotlight that should rightfully be on Reader. Since things have picked back up with his music career (yay!!) and he’s very much back in the public eye again, he’s worried about how that might take away from this trip and that is some spot on Ezra characterization if I ever saw it because it’s him being selfless in that he’d rather forgo a trip that he wants to be on than go and have it be all about him. The biggest parallel to that trait in this series is still the way he put himself in more danger to protect Cee in the crash. This is just a smaller, less dangerous (please no more danger for them😫) example of how protective and self-sacrificing he is.

And Cee. Cee! Your Cee is perfect. She’s so insightful and mature and observant and she’s not ever going to sugarcoat anything when it comes to Ezra. She’s going to tell him what he needs to hear even and especially when he doesn’t want to hear it, and I love that that’s exactly how she handles things here. (Also I hope she enjoys having the place to herself while they’re away.)

EZRA AND READER ARE SO IN LOVE AND ITS BEAUTIFUL. They way they touch and kiss and the way they know each other’s expressions and the way he thinks about her… it just makes me turn into a pile of goo. Reader having already thought about anything that might make him nervous about the trip is so consistent with the way you e written her so far- always thinking ahead, always considering g Ezra’s needs and feelings before making decisions. She’s also such a selfless person and maybe that’s why they work so damn well together. They’re just Good. So Good together and for each other and with each other and I hope they have the most amazing time on this trip. I hope they make the most incredible memories and take the most incredible pictures.

Thank you for writing this and making that place in my heart bigger and brighter and more full. 🤍

ezra + vacation?

I'm so sorry that this took so long, anon ... but here we go with Ezra getting ready for a vacation.

This is another glimpse into the future for Root Pearl Ezra, and I hope you enjoy it. (Because I sure as heck enjoyed writing it)

*Also, please note that this is a scheduled post - I could very well be laying in bed right now mourning like a Victorian woman that's lost her husband to consumption; fingers crossed that isn't the case*

WC: 1.7k

“When’s the last time you went on an actual vacation, Ezra?” She sits on the edge of his bed, legs crossed at the ankle. “And I don’t mean one of those trips you took to write an album, I mean an actual trip for relaxation?” 

He thinks for a few seconds, the man’s back to her. “I’m unsure, Birdie.” Cee watches as he grabs for another shirt on a hanger, pulling it free with one hand and then tossing it behind him. Though it lands partially on the mattress, she reaches for it before it can slide to the floor, the smile on her face knowing.

“That means you need one, then.” Absently, she begins to fold the shirt - a thin, well-worn one that she’s seen him wear on tour. “Are you excited?” 

He tosses another shirt - that one a button up that has been modified to accommodate the loss of his arm - and she catches it in one hand. “I am, Cee.” Turning to face her, Ezra nods. “But not just about the location.” She understands what he’s saying, the girl wrinkling her nose and laughing in reply. “What?” 

“Follow up question. When’s the last time you went on a vacation with someone?” The man places his hand on his hip, eyes narrowed. “Hmm?”

“You know the answer to that.” His voice is quiet and she sees the look in his eyes then - excitement mixed with a little bit of fear, the muscles in his jaw twitching as he waits for her to respond. “What if -”

“Ezra, she invited you.” Cee stands, talking the few steps over to him and reaching out to squeeze his arm, her small hand resting on his bicep. “What are you worried about?” 

There’s another pause and then Ezra shrugs, wetting his lips with one slow drag of his tongue. 

Cee knows that there’s plenty he isn’t saying, and even more that he’ll never say. But she also knows that if she can get him to open up - even a little - it will help. “I’m worried that me being there will be a distraction.” 

That isn’t what she’s expecting, and at his admission, Cee’s eyes widen. I didn’t even think of that. “Explain, please.” Cee steps back, tilting her head to look up. “Ezra?” 

“This isn’t just a vacation for her. It’s work. And this isn’t just any opening, little bird. There’s going to be press there. News crews. People documenting every single thing that happens on the property, and -”

“And you’re worried that if they get you on camera, it will … blow up.” He nods, his expression serious. “Are… are you worried because you don’t want people to see you there with her? Or are you -”

“No.” He shakes his head, the man’s teeth gritted. “But I don’t want my presence to overshadow any of the work she does while she’s there. She was invited by name, I’m just a plus one.” That must be different for you. Cee steps back, crossing her arms over her chest. “It would be different if the benefit show didn’t happen so recently, but everyone’s talking about the band again.” 

“Those assholes with the cameras have been outside in the parking lot more.” She sighs, agreeing. “You aren’t wrong about that.” that gets a smile out of him, but it’s short-lived, the man shaking his head sadly. “Have you told her this? That you’re worried?” 

“No. I don’t want to bother her with it. She’s already got enough to handle.” Cee chews on her lip, thinking. He’s not going to like this. 

“Ezra … I’m the wrong person to talk about this with. I think …” Stepping back, she lowers her arms and continues to stare at him. “You need to tell her before you get on that transport next week.” 

— 

Cee was right, and Ezra knew it, but that didn’t make the conversation any easier to think about. 

When you’d invited him to come along on one of your assignments - attending the off-planet opening of a new luxury resort at the request of your agency’s second largest client - he’d been thrilled. 

It wasn’t only because it meant that you wanted him to go somewhere with you for an extended period of time. It was because even after what had happened during and after the benefit show, your opinion of him hadn’t changed. 

But the longer he thought about it - and the longer the attention remained on him and what would come next for Ezra and The Fringe, the more he worried that his presence at the resort would become a distraction. Either because I need something from her, or … because someone will release pictures and make it all about me and - 

“Ezra?” Your voice cut through his thoughts, the man glancing up from where he laid on the bed as you entered the room. “You alright? You look like you’re thinking hard about something.” His eyes followed you as you crossed the room, the hem of a t shirt skimming the tops of your thighs and your hair and skin still damp from from the shower you’d just taken. 

“Thinking of you.” He arched a brow, clearing his throat. “And how much I cannot wait for you to get in bed with me.” You rolled your eyes but were smiling, the man pulling the blanket back so that you could slide beneath it and against his side. 

You smelled like his body wash, and even though he was still worried, Ezra closed his eyes and inhaled, his arm tightening around you as yours wound around his torso. “You don’t always have to be so charming. You know that, right? You’ve already got my attention.”

“I do know.” Kissing the top of your head, Ezra let his breath out slowly. “But there’s something that I need to tell you.” He expected you to pull away quickly, looking up at him with accusation in your eyes. 

But you didn’t. Instead, you backed away and laid your head on the pillow so that you could face him, your hand still on his side. “What’s going on, Ezra?” 

“Cee and I … talked the other night. About our trip.” He felt your sharp inhale but you stayed quiet, waiting. “I think that inviting me might have … been a bad idea.” 

“Why?” Your hand moved, stroking slowly over his skin, and Ezra briefly closed his eyes at the feeling of your gentle touch. “Do you not want to go?”

“I do. I want to go. But I’m afraid that people will focus more on me being … me than on -”

“Hey.” You interrupted him, moving your hand away from his side and pressing your finger to his lips. “Stop. There’s nothing to worry about.” Leaning in, you dragged your finger downward, the pad of it catching on his lower one. “I thought about that already.”

“What?” He frowned. “You thought about it?”

“Yes.” You pressed a kiss to his lips, letting it linger. Like she always does. “I did.” You kissed him again, that one much shorter, and then sighed as you settled back against the pillows. “It’s the preview week, so the only people that’ll be there are the invitees and their guests, along with limited press access.” 

“What  does that mean?” You smiled, reaching up again and running your fingers through his hair, your thumb stroking slowly over the blonde patch at his temple. “You’re trying to distract me.”

“No, I’m not.” Grinning, you lowered your hand to his shoulder, pushing it backwards so that he ended up on his back. What is she doing? You moved quickly then, sitting up and hooking one leg over his before settling atop his thighs, the smile still on your face. “This is a distraction. That was just -” 

He pushed the bottom of your shirt up, the man’s hand gliding over your hip and then higher as you flattened both of your hands on his chest, fingers splayed. “You’re not fighting fair.”

“We’re not fighting, Ezra. I just wanted to make sure I had your attention.” You do. You have. Ever since … ever since you reached out to Cee. “Now. You’re worried that because the asshole reporters and photographers have decided that you’re fair game again, they’ll take pictures of you on vacation if they know you’re there, right?” 

“I am.” He cleared his throat, nodding. “And I don’t want it to be something that you worry about while you’re trying to work.” 

“Well, lucky for you, that’s impossible. Neither of us have to worry.” Curling your fingers, you dragged your nails down a few inches, his breath catching in his throat. How is it impossible? “The guest list for the opening is small. Under 200 people for the entire week, not including the marketing team the resort hired to do photos and video and stuff.” Shifting your weight, you scooted forward, glancing down and back up as Ezra’s hips rose to meet your body. “And - oh -  none of the people on the list are ones that you’ll have to worry about, because this is the soft opening. The celebrities will be there a few weeks after we will, right before the official opening.” 

That sounds too good to be true. He watched as you fought to keep control, breath leaving your lips in a hum. “Kevva, are you serious?” He groaned then, his hold on you tightening with another tiny shift of your hips. 

“Mmmhmm. Obviously, there’s nothing we can do about anyone that might see you while we’re doing the off-resort excursions, or if we go into the city. But Ezra, if we stay on the property for the majority of the time?” Leaning down, you stared into his eyes, bracing your hands on his upper chest once more. “The only person that’s going to be taking pictures of you is me.” 

He laughed then, the sound filling the bedroom. Of course she thought about it. It was joined by yours only a few seconds later, your head ducking down again so that you could kiss him a third time. 

“That is something I look forward to.” Mumbling the words against your lips, Ezra’s hand slid up your spine and stopped between your shoulder blades, urging you to stay close. “Very much.” 

There was more to talk about - more that the two of you would need to discuss before the trip actually happened. But we have plenty of time. He parted his lips against yours and then bit down gently on your lower one, the man nodding his head when you groaned. Kevva, I love the sound of that. 

—