DPP: Blind Spot

[winegums.livejournal.com]

Hello, everyone (I hope those of you who have Thanksgiving/holidays to celebrate will have a lovely time of it), and welcome to this week's DPP!

Today's topic of discussion is one of the gaping holes in the story of our pilots, i.e. a long stretch of time (and what looks like some possibly significant relationship development with loads of eyefrakking thrown in) which canon tells us NOTHING about. Specifically, the gap between this:



and this:








which ultimately resulted in this:



Despite the MASSIVE potential for UST and generally lovely pilotshipping fodder of those four months, I've always thought it sucked that this period gets practically no attention from us (self included).

So give it a thought today, and tell us what you think was going on in pilotland during that time! (and write us some fic too **hint hint**, all that eyefrakking, sneaky touching, lovely friendship and pilotiness shouldn't be wasted by us the same way canon wasted it!)

Comments

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Hee! I almost always cringe when fans praise the NC period for it's rich fodder for fic. Not so for the K/L people. I've read very little K/L fic set on NC (well, except for the one I'm writing. Heh.). It's the one arc where the only thing pilots seem to do is pretend and maybe be miserable behind the scenes. Writing fic for this period generally means keeping them apart until the very end when the cylons come. I do enjoy the switcheroo fics where Lee is on NC with the cylons come and he has to deal with Kara. That said, those fics do tend to be rather dark and angsty, which on some days is just perfect.

My AU-prone brain is off elsewhere, but I'd love to read some NC-Arc fix its, or fill_in_the_blanks! :D

[winegums.livejournal.com]

Oh, post-UB flashback time is of course of no interest to me as a pilotshipper, for the exact reasons you stated. They're miserable and staying apart, and I don't like that at all.

But between LDYB and UB (pre-marriages, anyway), which is the period I'm talking about up there, there is much potential goodness. And I want those blanks filled in!

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

Ah, sorry. I didn't really get that! Whoops! I would like to see fic about that, too. :D

[onlyariana.livejournal.com]

I hear you, because it's like suddenly the UST that's been there since before the mini has been dialed up ridiculously. WHY? And why are they both so so ready to put it all on the table? Why is Lee so confident that he could upset her apple cart whenever he feels like it when he's been so unsure before? Is it just drunken bravado? Are they both just thinking that this could be their last chance?

Between LDYB & the groundbreaking they're on different ships. How much do they even see each other? Maybe absence made their hearts grow fonder? Or maybe they did see each other. Maybe Lee has weekly meetings with the Admiral and he and Kara have a standing "date" to see each other when he comes over. Nothing romantic but time they set aside for each other without any pretense. Working out, eating a meal, sharing a drink, just hanging out. Just something that could help them both realize that they enjoy each other and even when circumstances change making an effort to be together is worthwhile.

[winegums.livejournal.com]

And when I say I don't really like fic about the time between their marriages and the Cylons, I mean stuff set in canon. AUs are of course another kettle of fish entirely.

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

In the space between Sam's arrival and the Ground Breaking on New Caprica, I've always thought that Lee and Kara probably didn't see very much of each other.

So this is my speculation... Kara pushes Lee away by making out with Sam in the bunk room and at some point, likely fairly quickly moves to the planet with Sam. Lee stays on the Pegasus and focuses on his relationship with Dee. In part because he's avoiding Kara in part because it doesn't seem like Lee would have a need to hang out on NC so why risk running into Kara and Sam.

On the planet, Kara and Sam are fine but maybe not prefect. Lee and Dee are stable. Marriage starts looking like the next inevitable step. So when Kara and Lee see each other at the ground breaking, they haven't seen each other in however many months, they're feeling a bit disillusioned and stuck in their relationships and, well, they've missed each other.

Which leads to sex and fear and running away.

[winegums.livejournal.com]

That could work....but at the time of the groundbreaking, Kara was still in the military (and still Galactica's CAG, since PapAdama hadn't yet let anyone quit).

I would so have loved webisodes covering those 4 months *sigh*

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

I have always thought that Kara had already mustered out, but I still imagine that she's spending as much time on the planet with Sam as she can and not seeing Lee. I don't think either of Kara or Lee would be so unabashed in their flirting in public if they'd been in proximity to each other recently.

Actually I think those 4 months would have been really tedious, lots of setting up infrastructure and debates over whether or not the military presence should be lessened, and not particularly interesting to watch. *blush*

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what I think, too. Although I agree with wineguns that Kara hadn't quit the military yet.

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

So when Kara and Lee see each other at the ground breaking, they haven't seen each other in however many months, they're feeling a bit disillusioned and stuck in their relationships and, well, they've missed each other.

Yeah, I agree. I always thought that the sudden shift from their hesitant flirtations on Galactica to them un-apologetically and openly eye frakking each other within an inch of their sanity at the groundbreaking must've been borne out of an extended separation. And once they finally saw each other again (for more than maybe formal military meetings or in passing) it was impossible to suppress the urges anymore.

That's how I always saw it anyways.

Buzzing the Beast 1/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[useyourlove.livejournal.com]

The claxon's were blaring all through CIC and everyone scrambled to their posts.

"Report!" Lee barked.

"Proximity alert! Sir, one of Galactica's Vipers is on a collision course."

"What?" He hustled over to the DRADIS station, sure that the ensign had read it wrong. A little Viper dot was zipping its way across the screen.

"Mr. Hoshi! Patch me through to that Viper."

He had the worst feeling about this.

"You're connected, sir."

He picked up the handset, paused briefly for a moment, eyes closed and collecting himself. Everyone was watching--there was little else they could do. When he put the phone to his ear a maniacal cackle filled his ears and he knew he was right.

"Starbuck, this is Pegasus actual. What are you doing, Kara?"

She laughed that resounding bell of a laugh that always made his chest feel like someone had hollowed it out with a spoon.

On DRADIS, the Viper still barrelled towards them. Sirens blared, lights flared, but Lee was already coming down off the adrenaline of battle. His hand shook on the table. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

"Starbuck! Report."

A warning bell was bleeping. From the second they heard him say her name, the equipment was more scared of the situation than anyone in CIC. This was just a joke--a little hazing between the two of them. The fact that the rest of them were involved was obviously irrelevant to anybody.

The reports merged--Pegasus and the Viper becoming one on the DRADIS screen. If the warning systems could have, it was clear they would have gone into cardiac arrest.

"STARBUCK!"

Everything suddenly quieted. She had veered away at the last second, the tiny reverberations from her jets echoing through the hull into CIC.

"Viper has cleared Pegasus. That was damn close, sir."

A crackle rang in his ear. "You awake in their, Apollo?"

He clutched at the handset.

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

"Just keeping you on your toes, sir." He could hear the smile in her voice and he couldn't decide if it pissed him off or made him want to giggle. He went for pissed off. That was easier. "How'm I doin'?"

"You are one step away from hack."

"Nothin' new then." The joy in her voice made him want to deck her. And kiss her. He pushed all of that down before he found his voice again.

"Do you have any idea how close you came--"

"Afraid I'm gonna break your toy?" She punctuated it with another one of her ringing gleeful little laughs. He couldn't help it--his face broke into a smile.

"Aren't you on CAP?"

"Aren't I?"

"Is there any particular reason you're buzzing my Battlestar instead of running perimeter?"

Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[useyourlove.livejournal.com]

The comm was full of fuzzy silence for a moment.

"I... we miss you out here, Apollo."

He was stunned for a moment.

"Starbuck," he said finally. "What was that last? There's some kind of interference on this channel."

Hoshi looked up, slightly surprised, and began fiddling with the dials on his station. Lee tried to calm him, but was caught by her voice.

"I miss you," she said, small and barely audible over the static.

"Come again, Starbuck?"

Nothing.

"Starbuck, repeat that last."

"I SAID I MISS YOU OUT HERE!" and it blasted through the whole of CIC. Hoshi looked a cross between ashamed and smug. Which was when Lee realized that everyone had been straining to hear the conversation from the beginning. All of their faces... he felt like the bottom had dropped out of his stomach. Heat blossomed across his face and he knew he must be turning beet red.

"Copy that, Starbuck," he said finally. He took a deep breath, his face softening. "I miss you, too."

"How about I land my bird for engine trouble?"

"If by 'engine trouble' you mean you want to cool your jets in the Pegasus brig, you go right ahead."

Her laugh rang clear through CIC and got the rest of the crew laughing with her.

"Don't you have anything to do?" he shouted over the sound.

"Oh, frak me, am I on overhead?"

"Uh, copy that, Starbuck. We read you loud and clear," his own voice cracked trying not to laugh.

The line was silent for a long time.

"HI, PEGASUS!"

Lee held up the comm and raised his hands to let them all answer.

"HI, STARBUCK!"

She laughed that laugh of hers.

"Pegasus actual, this is Starbuck out. To go do her job. Running a boring-ass CAP."

"Copy, Starbuck. Apollo out."

For the whole shift, his eye kept straying to the DRADIS screen and his lips kept curving just at the corner. Then he'd look down quickly, catching himself. But for the rest of the day, Commander Adama had a smile on his face.

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[kdbleu.livejournal.com]

"Copy that, Starbuck," he said finally. He took a deep breath, his face softening. "I miss you, too."

"How about I land my bird for engine trouble?"

"If by 'engine trouble' you mean you want to cool your jets in the Pegasus brig, you go right ahead."

I can just hear this exchange between them. Perfect!

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

Oh Em Gee! This! Most adorable little fic ever! I want to hug it. You have their voices down perfectly. <3 <3 <3 <3

I love everyone overhearing their sweet banter and confessions. Squeee!

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[damao2010.livejournal.com]

Oh, soooooo lovely!!!!!
That'd be them on their best days!

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[winegums.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ this, SO MUCH - I'm grinning like a loon even as I type :)

Really, this is lovely - you've got their banter down so perfectly, and I have so much love for Hoshi rigging the comms and everyone hearing the pilotlove ♥♥♥♥♥.

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[winegums.livejournal.com]

And on a second read, I really love Kara acting like a big kid here - you really do have both our pilots spot-on. **hugs this fic**

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[embolalia.livejournal.com]

Yay! I love that he doesn't tell her she's on speaker! You've got me smiling too :)

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[callmeonetrack.livejournal.com]

"HI, PEGASUS!"

Ha! Adorable. As was the exchanged I Miss Yous. I like that Lee says it back even though the whole crew is listening. V. cute.

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[kballgetlost.livejournal.com]

This is so perfect and adorable!!! Very them....and I'm gonna consider it canon now, lol.

Re: Buzzing the Beast 2/2 (a bit of mostly ridiculous fluff)

[scifishipper.livejournal.com]

HA! THIS IS FUCKING AWESOME! YOU MADE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD AND GRIN SO WIDE.

*CLAPS EXCITEDLY* BRAVO!!

[wicked-sassy.livejournal.com]

Heeeeee. This is great--just a bit of hazing and teasing back and forth. I can totally picture it!

[useyourlove.livejournal.com]

:-D Nothing better to shake loose a stuffy Commander than his crazy ex-CAG.

Mustering Out, PG13

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

"So," He began, trying to sound easy, certain he was failing. "My dad says you're mustering out, going planet side for good."

Her head snapped up from the papers she was pouring over, arranging flight schedules, resupply runs, transfer requests. She obviously didn't think he'd heard yet.

"Uh..." she fumbled, "yeah well, the paperwork hasn't gone through yet, but The Old Man said he was gonna approve it." When he didn't meet her eye, she continued hesitantly. "I was gonna tell you."

He kept his eyes averted as he pretended to sift through the piles of paperwork, nodding tightly. Feigning indifference to her words.

She pushed, "Ya know, I just wanted to be sure first..." Her voice shook and she cursed herself. Clearing her throat, she tried to explain, "Before I started telling everyone."

He struggled to catch his breath, to maintain his nonchalant mask as he felt his insides scooped out from within. "So I'm 'everyone' now, huh?"

She crumpled slightly at the dig. "No..." Frak, she couldn't do this. "Lee, I wanted to tell you..."

He cut her off mid-sentence, his manner quickly switching from hurt to cold and brusque. "When?"

The tension in the room was palpable, the anger rolling off of him in waves.

She didn't want this, this distance between them. Well, she did, she needed it but not like this. Not so open, so hostile.

"Like I said," she hedged, trying to find a loophole, some way to explain her actions. She knew there wasn't one to be had. "We're not 100% sure. . ."

Again, he stopped her fumbling excuses, his voice sharper this time, "Enough alright, just tell me when, when are you and Pyramid Boy going down to play house?"

"I told you to stop calling him that!" She bit out, her own patience waning.

He shot back with a venom that surprised her. "What would you prefer I call him? Kara Thrace's personal property?"

The hazy memory of her actions on their first night back from Caprica threatened the edges of her mind, but she pushed them away. She couldn't think about that now. She'd make her choice, for better or worse, she'd decided.

Stepping into his personal space, her arms crossed stiffly, she smirked. "I hear he answers to Sam too."

He didn't respond, didn't step back, just stared her down, breathing fire. Both of them within inches of one another, the tension clearly close to snapping, in violence or lust neither was certain.

Finally, he gave in. Let the anger break and for a moment, only his pain showed through. The hitch in his voice almost broke her resolve.

"When?"

Re: Mustering Out, PG13, Pt 2

[word-vomity.livejournal.com]

Her defiant glared faltered at his plea. She swallowed thickly before responding, knowing that this couldn't end well.

"Tomorrow." She admitted, in a tiny hollow voice.

His face took on a resigned sadness that she ached to have been responsible for.

"I'm sorry." She mouthed, her throat constricted and fought the words. They came out as barely a whisper. She wasn't entirely certain whether they came out at all.

Nodding once, Lee's hand reached out towards her cheek, but he caught his mistake just as quickly and the errant arm feel back awkwardly to his side.

Steeling himself, he ventured a final desperate question, hoping against hope. "Kara, are you sure this is what you want?"

Her voice, still unable to find the right sounds, broke into a ragged sob and in a moment, she was gone. By the next morning when he went to look for her one more time, she was really & truly gone. Off to a new world, with a new man, to live a new life. His innards burned and twisted.

As the months passed he caught little pieces of information about her from his dad. Casual mentions dropped absently into conversation. Lee never asked for more than those few spare details, couldn't bring himself to. She hadn't contacted him in all those weeks, and so, taking her cue, he hadn't contacted her either. It wasn't for another couple months that he received a letter from the planet, brought back in the mail run from the last resupply mission. It was only one line and it wasn't even signed, but he knew. Scanning quickly over brief message, his heart came to life for the first time since she'd gone.

It simply read, "Commander Dipstick Sir, Been awhile. Hoping to see you at Baltar's groundbreaking. Free booze if we get there before Tigh."

He hadn't planned on attending the groundbreaking, despite his father and Dee's insistence. In fact, he'd gone out of his way to made some excuse about someone in command needing to be in the air while everyone else was away. It had passed as sensible. But in truth, he was afraid of seeing her down there; settled, happy. But those three lines changed all that and the next week, he was in a raptor with Dee at his side on his way down to the planet, eager to see her and terrified at what he might do.

She stumbled into the ribbon cutting ceremony late, sliding boldly in right beside him, her body brushing his purposely as she created a space for herself. He didn't budge to make room. Their hands brushed lightly against one another at their sides and neither pulled away. He caught her eyes flicker downward and she made a coy joke about his fly. Her mouth dripped the promise of more. He could feel her need, only intensified over the long months apart and he had been just as desperate without her. Neither seemed to be able to slip into their trademark banter today. They'd both been too long denied each other. For a moment, they caught eyes while Baltar's droned on about their beautiful future, and in that moment he knew that there was no going back after this. No holding back. No more aborted attempts. Her eyes spoke their desire just as clearly to him as if she'd said it aloud.

So he asked her again, what he'd asked her that night before she'd left him, not bothering to disguise his lust.

"When?" He rasped as she ran her tongue along her top lip distracted.

She didn't blink, though he thought he caught the slightest quirk at the corner of her mouth.

"Tonight."

They both turned back to the speech. Hope. Promise. Futures. Their fingers twined loosely together.