no_takebacks | Author Challenge Round 2: Cult Classics

Most of these authors have been active in the Kara / Lee fandom for almost as many years as the “Old Hollywood” writers, but I’ve categorized them as “Cult Classics” for their powerful, influential “voice” in fanon. They are some of the authors you MUST read when you arrive in the K / L sphere and their particular “snapshots” of Lee and Kara have become a sort of requisite “fanon” experience for new shippers.

Take a little time to enjoy these AMAZING snippets of fic... then go on to guess, argue, and figure out who wrote WHAT.

Authors:
taragel
shah_of_blah
coffeesuperhero
olaf47

Selection E:

Kara knows no peace like the serenity she finds in the cool comfort of her cockpit, in those moments when her entire existence is nothing but pitch, power, roll and thrust. She feels closer to the gods when she's in the air than she ever does on the ground, but then, she feels more like herself when she's flying, when she's speeding above ground, always in motion, never still, always a thing of action. When she cannot fly, she fights, throwing punches at the bag like this is her last best hope for salvation, no prayers or petitions more powerful than those she makes with her fists.

Selection F:

I, Leland Joseph Adama, do now avow and affirm…

When he was a little boy, Lee learned the full list of Colonial Presidents, dating all the way back to Foundation. He stood up in front of the class and recited every single name in order. His teacher nodded, put a check next to his name, and waved him back to his seat. Good job, Lee. Next.

Zak, four years old, was going to be a lion when he grew up. Or a pilot, depending on the day of the week. Or sometimes a pyramid superstar.

Lee always clammed up when teachers and relatives asked him what he wanted to be, if he wanted to be a brave Colonel like his father.

...That I take the office of President of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol without any moral reservation or mental evasion.

Whatever he would have said then, it wasn’t this.

It wasn’t standing on Colonial One, his right hand in the air. It wasn’t his father’s indomitable presence at his side.

He remembered a scene much like this one, three long years ago. A priest, a vow, a steady hand in the air. Standing just behind her then, Lee had marveled at her poise, at the way Laura Roslin’s hand did not shake for all the tremor in her voice. Now, he can only hope nobody will notice.

Selection G:

You’re more of a poet than anyone ever gave you credit for, ’Buck.

There’s poetry in the quirk of your eyebrows and the lines of your palms.

You’re a tragic poem, a tragic beginning and a tragic end, but you managed to teach the worlds some things while you were here. You taught us to keep going, and that’s the only reason we can, now that you’re gone.

I’ve never been in love with you, but I think I’ve always loved you. And I think you’re probably rolling your eyes at that line, even if it’s true. You probably never realized what you were to people: to me, to Lee, to Sam. The Old Man. Hell, even Kat and Racetrack were mad for you. Hera still talks about you, pretends that since your names rhyme it means she was named after you.

Don’t go getting all sentimental, though. You should be glad you’re gone; you’d hate it down here. There’s no flying and not enough booze for your tastes, now that Chief’s headed north. Lee’s off exploring the wilderness, though I think he might have stuck around if you did. As it is, life consists of building houses and other necessities: a school, a tiny building of a hospital, a church. I spend my free time with my girls; we’re the perfect little family. I’m sure you’d think I’ve become incredibly boring, but you should give it a chance, Kara.

I don’t know where you are or what heaven’s like, but if you ever get a chance to settle down, do it. Stop running away. People love you more than you know, and you’re Kara Frakking Thrace—you’re good at anything you put your mind to.

Hope you’re keeping up your reputation and taking all the dead’s possessions in triad winnings.

Selection H:

Lee woke up the morning after the Tylium mission to the unmistakable cackling of one Kara Thrace. He groaned, hangover making his temples throb, and pulled back the curtain.

“What’s so funny?”

She looked up from the copy of the Daily Fleet broadsheet in her hands. “They wrote a piece on the mission last night. Someone’s got quite a fan, Captain Apollo.” Kara positively purred the nickname, smirking to beat the band right after and Lee scrubbed a hand over his face thinking it was far too early to be dealing with this. He hoisted himself up and circled the table, bending to read over her shoulder.

“What’s it say?”

“Ew!” Kara face twisted in disgust, and she bumped her shoulder against his. “Morning breath!”

He raised an eyebrow and swiveled his head, then leaned closer, lips hovering an inch from hers. Close enough to blast her. Close enough to kiss her too. If he wanted to. Which he didn’t. Of course. “You have a problem with my hygiene?”

Bright unflinching eyes held his gaze for a few charged seconds then Kara shrugged and turned back to the paper. Lee smiled and mentally scored himself a point.

Kara read aloud, “ 'The dashing and ruggedly handsome Captain Apollo remained remarkably cool under pressure, saving the day thanks to an ingenious split-second decision.' ”

“And what’s wrong with that?” he asked, pleased by the description and vaguely offended by Kara’s mockery.

“They need better sources,” she shoved the paper aside, grinning. “Clearly, they didn’t hear about how our ‘dashing’ CAG was so jittery on his joystick he scorched a streak a mile wide in the deck when he brought his bird in.”

That was true. The nerves hadn’t really blown off until he’d gotten the canopy open and could jolt down the ladder onto solid ground again. He picked up the paper and skimmed the article. “Well I bet you had no problem with this part: 'Commander Adama also credited the mission’s success to the Fleet’s flight instructor and top gun, Lieutenant Kara “Starbuck” Thrace, whose out-of-the-box strategizing designed the risky plan of attack. The dynamic officer wisely opted out of flying the mission due to a previous injury and calmly stood sentry in the Galactica command center.' ”

She preened a little. “Yeah, that bit was okay.”

“Wisely opted out? Like you actually had a choice in the matter.” He snorted and leveled a gaze at her. “And calm? I heard they’re still scrubbing your sweaty handprints off the plotting board.”
She frowned and stuck out her tongue, but Lee just grinned.

“Anyway, so what? So the civilians need their big damn heroes to believe in. We know the truth.”

“The truth?’ Kara narrowed her eyes skeptically.

“The truth of the matter is,” he slung an arm around her shoulders, “that underneath our boldly confident facades, we’re just a pair of emotional frakwits.” He nodded solemnly at her and was rewarded by a huff of laughter. Lee smiled. “I did like that dashing and ruggedly handsome part though.”

Kara just rolled her eyes and shook her head, reaching over to tap his chest. “Go brush your teeth, Captain Apollo.”