#coe pilot

[lilulicious]

It's my birthday and I'll post if I want to...

So, yes, I'm 58 today, still playing video games, crushing on fictional characters, and writing fan fiction. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you're too old, too young, or too anything to do whatever it is that makes you happy.

I'm a functional human being who copes with chronic physical illness (atrial fibrillation/diabetes and I survived a pulmonary embolism in 2014), mental illness (anxiety/depression), have spent 28 years in civil service, I'm president of my labor union (unpaid), and I volunteer in local progressive politics to try to make the world better, for all the good that's done.

That being said, I find joy in playing games, posting screenshots, and writing stories. Everyone needs an outlet, and creative outlets are the most stimulating of all, I find. I can't wait to retire, I have so much planned. You should see my unplayed game backlog on Steam.

Check out Saturn! I built that ship, btw.

Lilu loves getting Cora to ask Sam awkward questions.

Trying to avoid too many spoilers because it's still early, but Terran Armada has been a lot of fun!

Quiet moments on the ship's bridge while cruising in the Free Lanes make the entire concept worth it.

I hope other Starfield fans are enjoying the updated material as much as I have been this week. I'm getting back to work on Chapter 25 (!) of Coe-Pilot. I'm looking forward to eventually working some of the new material into my writing. You can find the work here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65405170/chapters/168315394

Thanks for indulging me today, and have an awesome week ahead!

[lilulicious]

Today on Twitter for hashtag Galacticat Tuesday, the Starfield virtual photography theme was create a A24 style movie poster using photo mode images. I also used the photo mode frames and the free version of Canva for fonts.

I made three posters: horror (Hangry-licious), espionage (Coe-Conspirator), and romance (Des Ringards Amoureux).

See you at Tribeca, then I’m going for the Golden Globes with these titles! 😜😂

cc: @a-cosmic-elf

[lilulicious]

May 2026 Drabble Challenge

Day 27 - Fantasy (Fantasize) Fandom: Starfield (Video Game) Pairing: Sam Coe/Lilu McLovin (OC) Lilu McLovin (OC): female, age 28, Latina, 5'9", 170lbs, curvy/fit, light/med brown complexion, red hair, American clothing size 12. Former U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class, sniper, time traveler to the Starfield. Word Count: 100 Warnings: implied homicidal ideation Summary: Lilu fantasizes about would have beens, should have beens, and what could still be, with a little nudge by her. This is a post chapter drabble for Coe-Pilot Chapter 26: Where the (Broken) Heart Is prior to the publishing of Chapter 27: Blackhearted. READ IT ON AO3 or CONTINUE READING BELOW

Never Have I Ever

I fantasize about a lot of things. If Norm had never died and I stayed on Old Earth with him; our ranch and our horses, maybe kids. If I’d never gotten on that ill-fated chopper. I fantasize about going back home, finding John, my rescuer, giving it a go.

I fantasize about me and Sam and Cora living out our lives. I fantasize about Lillian being gone forever. Exes like her, they cling. I’ve seen it before. It really took “‘til death do us part.’” I wouldn’t mind that for her. I never said I was a good person. Never.

cc: @a-cosmic-elf

[lilulicious]

May 2026 Drabble Challenge

Day 22 - Baker (Baking) Fandom: Starfield (Video Game) Pairing: Sam Coe/Lilu McLovin (OC) Sam Coe: age approx 35, male, white, 5'10", 180lbs, med. build, light brown hair/short beard, blue eyes, fine features, Freestar Collective, legacy family, former Freestar Ranger turned explorer for Constellation, father to Cora Coe, aged 12. Word Count: 100 Warnings: None Summary: Sam has big plans for himself and Lilu once he reassures Cora that all is well with Lillian. He just has to keep Lilu on board. This is a concurrent/post-chapter drabble for Coe-Pilot Chapter 26: Where the (Broken) Heart Is. READ IT ON AO3 or CONTINUE READING BELOW

Forging a Family

I’m writing plans in this little notebook for me and Lilu once we get past this hurdle (checking on Lillian for Cora) on top of the other hurdle (Lilu leaving me).

Funny story, I tried to get Lilu to watch an Old Earth movie called “The Notebook” and she turned me down. She said she hated movies like that. I was sure that would be a winner with the ladies. Oh, well. Maybe not enough gun fights.

But wait’ll she sees what I’m baking up in my notebook. If she’ll just have some faith in me. Lillian’s a touchy subject.

cc: @a-cosmic-elf

[lilulicious]

May 2026 Drabble Challenge

Day 21 - Friend Fandom: Starfield (Video Game) Pairing: Sam Coe/Lilu McLovin (OC) Lilu McLovin (OC): female, age 28, Latina, 5'9", 170lbs, curvy/fit, light/med brown complexion, red hair, American clothing size 12. Former U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class, sniper, time traveler to the Starfield. Word Count: 100 Warnings: Strong language, jealousy, insecurity Summary: Lilu feels as if she's a victim of bait and switch and that Sam intended to deceive her. This is a concurrent/post chapter drabble for Coe-Pilot Chapter 26: Where the (Broken) Heart Is. READ IT ON AO3 or CONTINUE READING BELOW

No Benefit of the Doubt

No good deed goes unpunished. I invited Sam back to my apartment and now look at what’s happened. Somehow I’m stuck checking on his wife. Ex-wife. What the fuck ever. This is such bullshit. One minute we’re kissing on my balcony sofa, next minute Cora’s raising the alarm over what sounds to me like absolutely nothing, but now it’s a five-alarm fire. Smells like lies to me.

Why am I going anyway? To prove that I’m more than a friend with benefits? To stake my claim? The sheer terror that if I don’t, Lillian’ll steal him away from me? That.

cc: @a-cosmic-elf

[lilulicious]

May 2026 Drabble Challenge

Day 20 - Paper Fandom: Starfield (Video Game) Pairing: Sam Coe/Lilu McLovin (OC) Sam Coe: age approx 35, male, white, 5'10", 180lbs, med. build, light brown hair/short beard, blue eyes, fine features, Freestar Collective, legacy family, former Freestar Ranger turned explorer for Constellation, father to Cora Coe, aged 12. Word Count: 100 Warnings: None Summary: Sam recognizes he has something precious in his hands and he missed all the signs that led to the breakdown of his relationship with Lilu. He knows he has to get it right this time. This is a concurrent/post-chapter drabble for Coe-Pilot Chapter 26: Where the (Broken) Heart Is. READ IT ON AO3 or CONTINUE READING BELOW

Ctrl-Alt-Delete

Back in her apartment, holding her in my arms, the feel of her warmth, the taste of her lips, I don’t dare risk losing this again. She’s mine. I have to hold onto her, come what may.

Seeing the word “Goodbye” scribbled so haphazardly on that scrap of paper… it had the power to stop my heart. It wasn’t just one action that led to that moment, it was the cumulative effect of tone-deafness. Ignoring everything she told me, every cautionary tale about herself.

She’s given me her “instruction manual.” It's up to me to learn how to use it.

cc: @a-cosmic-elf

[lilulicious]

I am excited to report that, last night, I was elected the first female President of my labor union in its 65 year history after serving for a decade as Vice-President.

It is, perhaps, unfortunate that the past-President felt forced out to the point where he didn’t even run for a regular term, and also that the guy who sleeps through most of our meetings thought that he deserved to be President instead of me. Why, I’m not sure, it couldn’t be because I’m a woman or multiracial or younger than him or irreverent or any of those things. I mean, it’s a public sector labor union, since when have union leaders ever been brash?

But anyway, I got the 67% threshold and here I stand before you, a union president completely on volunteer time (I get a $75/mo stipend for gas, data usage, and incidentals) who still has to hold a regular day job as a civil servant - my union represents myself as well as my peers.

So to my 1’s of fanfic readers, it may slow me up a bit until I find balance with the workload. I also volunteer in local blue-state politics and as an ally at lgbtqia/pride events, so it’s going to be a busy time here at Casa de la Lilu.

[lilulicious]

You know how it can be in Starfield with a follower/NPC. Even with a mod like "Better Follower Behavior", followers don't always behave better. You move your Captain next to them and they jump backwards six feet like you've tried to give them the cooties.

But every now and again, you have them walk through a door or ship's hatch, and they'll turn and look at each other. You'd best believe I hit that photo mode button like lightning, maybe I'll leave their expressions as is, maybe I'll give them an emote. But I hate to waste a golden opportunity.