Find the Word - Manuscript Search Tag
Tagged by @corpocyborg--Thank you so much! This is great timing too because I've been feeling the itch to get back to writing fic again.
Words to search: trust, accident, rule, suspect, understand
#1 - Trust
From an unpublished WIP that was an excuse to write a drunk Goro
“--Please, meet me on Jig-Jig Street. I will explain there.”
“Jig-Jig Street? What the hell–”
Goro disconnected the call and Valerie blinked before rubbing her tired face.
“So in addition to being top-tier ‘Saka scum, he’s a desperate, pathetic pervert.” Johnny lit a phantom cigarette. Valerie wished she could slap it out of his mouth. “You sure know how to pick ‘em, V.”
“You’re one to talk.” She shuffled over to the pair of clean-enough sweatpants draped over the couch.
“You’re not actually going to meet this guy right now, are you?”
“What does it look like?” Valerie asked as she tied the drawstring into a bow under her waist.
“Why are you really helpin’ him, huh? Because you’re so fucked in the head that you actually trust he’s our best shot at fixin’ this shit?” Johnny flicked the cigarette butt onto her floor. “Or because you like how he looks at you with those pretty brown eyes?”
“I don’t know, Johnny.” Valerie pulled a black sweatshirt with a faded Arasaka logo over her blue hair and then reached for the bottle of omega-blockers on the end table. She dropped two pills into her palm and took a swig of room-temperature NiCola. “Maybe both.”
#2 - Accident
From my unpublished and probably perpetually unfinished long fic WIP
Goro set his now empty glass down on the table and rubbed his face. He knew it was unwise to indulge in these thoughts. Even in the unlikely event that she, a clever, compassionate, beautiful woman reciprocated any of the ill-advised feelings that had been stewing inside him for the past few weeks, they were not feelings either of them could act on.
If all went to plan, Goro would return to Tokyo with Hanako-sama, where he would, under the best of circumstances, be reassigned, perhaps put back in the special forces. Valerie would have the Relic removed and resume her life in Night City as a reputable solo, living her corporate-free life.
And if the plan went belly-up.…
It was best to not consider that possibility.
He reached for his phone and tapped the display, accidentally activating the front-facing camera. Goro scowled at the unflattering reflection of himself and thumbed the icon he thought would take him to the home screen. Instead, the photo gallery launched.
Most of the pictures were practical in nature, a means of recording notable locations and suspicious vehicles, but he had indulged in a snapshot of the hairless cat that visited them during their stakeout. Goro decided he wanted to take a closer look at their feline visitor when he saw it was not the only subject he had caught on the rooftop: next to that photo was a blurry image of Valerie, dazzling in the golden light of the early evening sunset, smiling up at something as she pet the cat.
He realized from the angle of the picture that the something she was smiling at would have been him.
#3 - Rule
I couldn't find this one! I am doing this at work and don't have access to all my WIPs, but it wasn't in any of my Google docs or AO3 publishes. I'm sure it's somewhere in my Scrivener files, though.
#4 - Suspect
Also from my unpublished and probably perpetually unfinished long fic WIP
"How’d you end up with this hunk of junk anyway?" Valerie asked as she buckled her seat belt.
"I purchased it from a reputable dealership," Goro answered dryly.
Valerie rolled her eyes but laughed. She then conducted a rudimentary inspection of the vehicle, opening and closing the empty glove compartment before her, then fiddling with the equally uninteresting sun visor. Finding nothing of interest in front of her, Valerie turned in her seat to inspect the back of the van. It was also empty save for his small bag of personal effects.
Agitated by her senseless curiosity, Goro was about to ask her what Valerie was looking for when she spoke first.
"Are you sleeping in here?"
Her tone was gentle, unexpectedly extinguishing his irritation with her relentless prying.
"Is this another inquiry into my well-being?" He asked instead.
"I've slept in my car in the city. It's not particularly safe." She gave him a small smile. "Even for people like you."
Goro regarded her from the corner of his eyes. He recalled their conversation two nights ago, when he had suspected her interest in his welfare was self-serving. His paranoia had offended her so he apologized, but he was incredulous by nature and knowing the particulars of her career history did little to truly lessen his suspicion. The few classified reports Goro had been able to obtain from the Night City counter-intelligence database repeatedly praised her high interpersonal skills as key assets during operations–It was clear her disarming personality could be as much a threat as the pistol she kept strapped to her thigh.
"I will be fine," he finally said.
#5 - Understand
From Homecoming, a post-Mikoshi smut-with-feelings one-shot
"You'll have to teach me how to make some of these dishes. I never really had much opportunity, or reason, really, to cook before."
The thought of sharing such a moment with Valerie made his whole body tremble with impatience. Even just doing unscrupulous merc assignments together, it was quickly apparent they had a natural rhythm and rapport as partners. Goro suddenly found himself eager to seize on that harmony, not for their often violent duties, but to create something beautiful with Valerie. To nourish another passion he had been denied for two years.
"I will," he promised softly as he met her by the window.
Valerie tilted her head and skimmed her hand down his chest before slipping her arm around his waist. Goro swallowed, feeling a strange combination of self-satisfaction and humility as she studied him.
"I think there's still some part of me that's convinced this is some elaborate hallucination," Valerie whispered. Her free hand reached for his face, and Goro closed his eyes, allowing himself the indulgence of resting his cheek against her palm.
"I believe I understand the feeling," he said, meeting her gaze.
Lightly, tentatively, Goro brushed her cheek with his thumb. She inhaled and stiffened, and he almost retracted his hand, but Valerie pressed her lips to his in an unwavering embrace. Her skin tingled under his touch, and he felt the heavy sigh she breathed in through her nose. Goro was silently adamant that she dictate their pace, but every time one of those shuddering gasps ravaged her body, they chipped away at his resolve.
Valerie graciously deepened the kiss, moving both of her hands to the back of his neck as she moaned against his mouth. Galvanized by her fervor but still wary of her acute sensitivity, Goro brought his hands to her waist, fingers almost hovering over the black t-shirt.
"You can touch me, you know," Valerie murmured against his lips, lightly nudging the tip of her nose against his.
Aaannd I'm gonna be awful and not tag anyone because I honestly have not been in the fanfic side of fandom much this year and I have no idea who's working on stuff these days. Feel free to take these search words and carry it on, though!
