#“oh we have a word for that thing! it's a queerplatonic relationship!”

[roguetelepaths]

This kiraodo fic... I'm going to tag it as queerplatonic just for visibility but honestly doing that feels so fucking wrong. Because what it actually is, is Odo approaching the connection they share in a uniquely Changeling way (through the pre-Dominion concept of pairbonds, a concept that exists exclusively in my and a few other people's heads) and Kira approaching it in a uniquely Bajoran way (relationship anarchy as a deeply held cultural value which was demonized and suppressed during the occupation) and using terms for their dynamic that neither of them would use to describe it just Feels Weird™ to me, ya dig?

[randomthings299]

Can we talk about Elementary for a moment? Because this show is so fucking amazing I can’t. The premise is questionable, to say the least. „We’re gonna make a Sherlock Holmes adaption. But what if John is a woman called Joan and what if she is American? Oh and the whole thing is set in New York.“

Best start for a horrible American washed gender swap romance adaption but nothing could be further from the truth. Usually when the gender of a character is changed from canon it is to push some strange heteronormative romance sub plot but NO not Elementary.

The PLATONIC relationship between Joan and Sherlock is so amazingly done. It is the best portrayal of a QPR (queerplatonic relationship) I have ever seen in media. And even if we don’t take qprs into account we see a rich, deep, trusting friendship full of so much love. Elementary had the guts to use the word love in a platonic way, something other Sherlock Holmes adaptions (I’m looking at you BBC) never dared to do. And this in a show where Holmes and Watson are opposite genders, so the association with romance is done even quicker. Meanwhile, we watch Watson struggle with traditional dating and amatonormativity until she finally finds happiness in her platonic partnership with Sherlock and later as a single mum.

Elementary is also the only adaption I’ve seen that really explores Holmes's addiction. Usually, even in ACD canon, his drug addiction is treated as some personality quirk. An annoying habit but nothing more. But that is not how addiction works. Especially not with hard drugs like morphine and cocaine if we look at Canon or heroin in case of BBC and Elementary. Elementary puts great focus on Sherlock's long, presumably lifelong struggle with addiction and the great strength and effort it takes for him to stay clean. It emphasizes his need for a stable support system and doesn’t downplay addiction like a lot of Sherlock Holmes adaptions do. This is amazing.

Another great thing is the casualness of how queer people are incorporated into the story. They are just there. Their queerness isn’t the focus of their story, it is just part of who they are. Mrs. Hutson is trans but the focus is on the many influential men she has had affairs with. Victims are queer. Suspects are queer. Police are queer. Queer people just exist in this show without making it a big deal.

Even tho it isn't a perfect ACD Holmes adaption especially if we look at Sherlock's character I love this show so much.

[catras-breakup-song]

i’m not gonna lie… i’m lost here. is this supposed to be an 4nt1/cr1t1c4l post? if so, i genuinely don’t understand the point being made.

is it that playful banter is a bad thing? is it that being too hands-on violates unspoken boundaries? the message is so unclear to my autistic ass…

oh, wait, OP provided tags:

so aside from the fact that they are absolutely not sisters by default, least of all canonically (even if you do interpret them that way somehow), nor was it ever intended by nate stevenson, i’m still having trouble figuring out how this is problematic.

in which ways is lighthearted touch totally contradictory to passionate kissing/caressing? why can’t partners who are dating do both, especially in different cultural environments such as the horde where intimacy is discouraged and friendly sparring with familiar peers is a safe expression? if it’s so different, what are we as the audience supposed to interpret from their style of physical affection by the final season? side note, but aren’t we supposed to consider the latest version of anything in general as the most accurate?

now i have a question lol, did you take this moment literally at her word, and all the other times she repeated it?

also, my friend just pointed out that this is the classic homophobic talking point of "they seem to just be very good friends! they were roommates!" lmao. i've never agreed with accusing anyone who cr1t1c1z3s catradora of lesbophobia, which i'm not doing necessarily, because that's simply not how it works, however i found this funny and partially true so i'm keeping it in.

the lip bite was included unintentionally 👀

anyway, as i’ve discussed on this blog before, i’m very arospec and it’s inseparably intwined with my identity itself; i also project that onto catra. something we often bring up in that community, is romance-favorability (as its own spectrum of range all the way to blatant repulsion btw) — which is a personal preference that’s defined as exactly as it sounds like and occasionally revolves around fictional depiction as separate from one's own reality — and arguably more importantly, amatonormativity — which is an arbitrary set of rules for romantic expectations set up by an alloromantic society. this is typically thought of as common denial of the idea that someone could actually want to separate themself from needing a life partner in marriage, but can very much be applied to an annoying list of what draws the line between romantic & platonic relationships. that line is very individualistic and is to be decided on such a level only, and it doesn’t even get into what queerplatonic means, a concept saved for another day!

my point is, the OP seems to be trying to claim that catradora objectively cannot be read as romantic because their dynamic growing up & early-on in the story doesn’t perfectly meet socially-constructed standards of what that should look like. i say we need to eradicate those standards altogether! it’s up to catradora to decide what they are, if anything specific at all, not us as the audience — assuming they could’ve had the words at their disposal to knowingly describe it. going back to my earlier paragraph above about how limited they were in the fright zone, i’ll borrow a quote from a comment i made on one of my recent reblogged posts (which is a great meta on how their mutual desire was uh... definitely not platonic):

"Catra and Adora’s desire for one another is shown in a variety of ways, mostly indirect. There are a lot of glances - until season 5, not the kind of open leering at one another that we’d seen between other characters. Mostly it’s fairly playful - wiggled or cocked eyebrows, glances at each other while smirking, that kind of thing, or really intense and somewhat angry glares when they’re fighting."

it's really bothering me that i can't recall where i read this from before, but someone analyzed before how, growing up, catra & adora didn't have a good sense of how to label their relationship with accurate terminology despite being subconsciously aware that they, whether they knew the other reciprocated or not, loved each other "like that." unfortunately, they couldn't further explore it because such love & affection was seen as a punishable weakness in the horde, so they resorted to the only safe option they seemed to have, which was subtle body language and play-fighting as [testudoaubrei-blog] described above.

also, since this screenshot is included in that post... i would be amused to read an explanation of how THIS LOOK from catra is "platonic with a capital P", because i'm not even sure if it's up for debate to be quite honest with you:

ESPECIALLY with the "i always have!" line (which 4nt1s like to doubt, but i don't care, it's official!):

[platonically-loving-alastor]

Aroace Alastor

Hoo boy here we go- This one might make some people mad at me, so I'll preface by saying I do not want to start a fight and as long as you respect my business, I'll respect yours. But let's get this over with-

First off, I genuinely don't understand how some people can see the Ace-In-The-Hole quote and still believe that Alastor is only intended to be asexual and not also aromantic. Yes, the term Rosie used for purpose of the pun was 'ace', but can we look at the context of that moment before jumping to conclusions?

Rosie, motioning to Charlie: "Oh, who's this you brought with you? Come now, Alastor, she's much too young for you! Oh, I'm just kidding. I know you're an ace in the hole!"

Her original statement implies nothing sexual, only that he's involved in a relationship with Charlie, and she follows it up with why she knows that couldn't be because he's an 'ace in the hole'. I don't think you have to read too far between the lines to see that.

I would also like to say that when Vivienne has spoken about his orientation before, I recall her saying that she didn't want to confirm him being aromantic so that she wouldn't 'ruin anyone's fun', which I just feel like is an odd thing to say if she wasn't already explicitly picturing him as aroace. If she thought he had romantic attraction, why wouldn't she just say that? What fun would that ruin? I also feel like keeping things like this ambiguous just to appease the shippers is a little weird, but I digress-

And to those of you who I know are saying "But aromantic people can be in relationships too!!" *deep inhale* yeah I know. I'm not gonna pretend you're not right about that, but there are also aroace people who have exactly 0 interest in romance or sex at all. This is the part of the post that really is based on how I interpret certain moments, but to me he is absolutely one of those people. I don't really know where people get any vibes of him being interested in that stuff. I have never once looked at him and thought "Yeah I could see him in a romantic relationship with *insert character here*". Even aside from attraction in general, since that's what we'd be talking about at this point anyway, he just seems like the kind of guy who'd rather work and live independently instead of relying on anyone, whether practically or emotionally (which is also probably part of the reason he never joined the Vees, but that's another topic entirely). Hell, I'm pretty sure he's in heavy denial about even developing any kind of care or friendship with the people at the hotel (ie. the episode 8 scene with him and Niffty).

The only ships I see him involved in with people he doesn't hate (so ignoring RadioApple, RadioHusk, and StaticRadio. But to be real, maybe the fact all his main ships are enemies to lovers coded says something about the whole situation, but that's just me-) are Charlastor - which I will not even try to discuss here, people aren't gonna like this post as it is - and RadioRose. Rosie and him would at least be fair, if it weren't for one thing (which is also personal opinion on my end), and I don't know exactly how to word it. I'm tempted to say she has wingwoman vibes? But she knows he's aro, so that's not the right word, but there's vibes of like, she probably did act as a wingwoman before she realized that about him or something.. There's also something about her joking around like "Oh this is the girl? You have a girlfriend and I'm only now meeting her?" is almost giving motherly behavior. Idk man they're just besties to me, I could see them in a QPR though (not that they'd probably label it that way, considering the word queerplatonic is likely just complete gibberish to Alastor lmao).

So to summarize: It feels incredibly likely, if not practically canon, that Alastor was written with aromanticism in mind, even if Vivienne refuses to explicitly state it. Subtext and not-that-subtle implications can say just as much about a character as word of God, especially when that God has explicitly told us why she won't confirm or deny this information. Do I think any of this will stop people from shipping him romantically with literally any other character? No ofc it won't, and that's okay, that's just what fandoms do. I do think there's something to say for the fact the one aroace (or even at the very least asexual) character gets constantly shipped with everyone else in the cast, but this post is long enough I think. The only point of posting this is that I wanted to get information out there in one post to say "Hey, let's look a little bit past the surface for a second before saying there's no proof of him being aromantic"

Anyway, thanks for reading, I hope you at least took something away from this

[the-laughing-lunatic]

Mediscout cute headcanons!!!

(Omg yea I love these guys so much, def one of my main ships. I also rlly like their dynamic in emesis blue but y’know, not very cute. I have a lot of thoughts about these guys so I accidentally made this really long— word count: 1714. Thx for requesting! :3)

Medic x Scout headcanons!

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── 

☆Platonic☆

Scout’s definitely scared of Medic at first 

I mean, when your coworker mentions plans about putting a baboon uterus inside you you’re gonna be a little on edge

Avoids checkups for so long Medic has to find him and drag Scout himself to the medbay

“Sheiße, you are acting like a little child right now, it is not such a big deal Herr Scout. I am simply going to check a few things.”

“Well I’m sorry if I ain’t too thrilled to have some psycho puttin’ needles or animal parts or whatever in me.”

Medic groaned. “I just need to check your temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure. Now can you please shut your mouth and let me work?”

While he took Scout’s heart rate, both annoyed, Archimedes flew to Scout’s shoulder and nuzzled into the man’s neck

After the checkup Medic sighed and ushered his dove over. “Him? Really Archimedes?” 

The dove cooed. “Well then, I trust your judgement, I suppose I’ll try to be nicer to him.”

After that he did try to be kinder to Scout, staying around him more, listening to what he’s saying at dinner, looking through his room to learn more about him—

That’s not how Scout interpreted it though, and one day when Medic was trailing a little too close to him again he just snapped “Will you fuckin’ cut it out!?”

“Cut what out?”

“This- this weird stalkerish thing you’re doing. What, you makin’ fun of me? You gonna take my organs in the middle of the night? What do you want?”

“Oh. I was trying to be nicer to you. I could stop if you want.”

“If you wanna be nice you could try talkin’ to me for once.”

And Medic did

Both of them are absolute yappers, and Scout quickly got more comfortable with Medic as they talked more

He’ll never forget the first time he saw Medic laugh

Like, genuinely laugh

He’d seen Medic laugh many times before, either on the operating table or during battle but it was always just…scary

When he actually laughed Scout couldn’t help but laugh as well, because Medic’s real laugh was so different of what he had thought of him

It was warm and nice, and suddenly Medic wasn’t just this psycho ex-doctor, he was also his friend

When they go out for drinks Medic often has to carry Scout back to the base because of his incredibly low alcohol tolerance (not that it’s hard though)

Medic would teach Scout how to take care of his birds in the case he was especially busy, Scout’s their godfather now

I feel like they’d also work well in a qpr, though Medic would have to help Scout a little since he’s been comfortable with his asexuality for longer and has probably been in one before

I headcanon them as both on the ace spectrum so I’m gonna delve into that a bit

I feel like Scout is graysexual while Medic is completely sex-repulsed

Scout honestly would’ve thought he was allosexual for the rest of his life until he heard Medic talking about how being ace felt for him

And he was like “huh, I relate to some of that”

Scout definitely has a lot of questions though

“So like- what’s romantic? Cus I don’t wanna take this too far, but you’re my cucumber, or squash— whatever the word is an’ I wanna show that I care about ya.”

“It’s zucchini, Jeremy. And the point of being in a queerplatonic relationship is that we get to make our own rules for what works for us. All you have to do is ask me if you want to try something.”

“Oh, um, well then. Is it okay if I kiss your cheek, doc?”

“Yes, Jeremy, it’s very okay.”

♡

Biggest dorks ever btw

Just so you know

☆Romantic☆

Medic would fall in love (or realize it at least) over something trivial

Accidentally brushing hands, a word of praise after a battle that made Medic especially appreciated, Scout falling asleep on his shoulder at movie night, etc.

It was weird, because Scout was almost the opposite of his type, he was loud, arrogant, and less than intelligent, but he accepted Scout as the outlier

Even though Medic fell first he didn’t initiate it

Though his moral compass was less than straight when it came to advancing the field of medicine, it felt weird to be the one starting anything with a guy nearly 20 years younger than him

He even performed a brain scan on Scout just to double-check his brain was fully developed (surprisingly, it was) so he could feel less weird about his crush

For a long time he just thought of it as an enjoyable distraction, not anything that could go anywhere

Scout liked Ms. Pauling, and Medic was fine with it. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted to date Scout, he just liked the idea of a relationship, and Scout was an attractive man he could project those wants onto.

At least that’s how he reasoned it to himself

The giddy laugh Medic couldn’t help but let out every time he saw him, the way he always made sure to be gentler when he gave Scout his shots, how a Boston accent now equaled attractive in his mind (that didn’t come from Scout though, that’d be ridiculous)

With Scout though, his moment of realization was much less trivial

He was at four health a minute away from the end of the match, desperately trying to keep the blood from the bullet wound in so he wouldn’t have to go to respawn

Getting in respawn at the end of a match was miserable, because you might get stuck in there for hours after so everyone tried to avoid it at all costs

Scout’s eyes widened as he watched his health drop to three, no dispenser in sight

He closed his eyes and mentally prepared himself for sitting in the cold room for god know how long, until he saw a light above him

Holding his medigun, Medic stood above him, and the red glow surrounding him as he healed him made him almost look like an angel, his saviour

A psychotic angel, but an angel nonetheless

He felt Medic grab him by his collar (at what point did his knees go weak?) and say to him “Get up schweinhund, and fight.”

They won the match, at least that’s what Scout heard, he didn’t remember anything after Medic saved him

His entire body was on autopilot until the time he went to bed, when he had all night to think about how he was definitely attracted to guys

He definitely had a type though, regardless of gender

Glasses, dark hair, smarter and more mature than him (though that was a low bar), an itty bitty bit psychotic and have huge honkers— (jk jk jk) 

Scout starts coming to the medbay for the tiniest things now so he can see Medic more

“Medic, I got a splinter” “Medic, my elbow’s sore” “Medic, I have a major crush on you and don’t know what to do with it”

After a bit of this, Scout just gave up excuses, Medic didn’t seem to mind his company

It became routine, after dinner Scout’d follow him to the medbay and talk with him while  Medic filled out paperwork, occasionally giving a nod or short question to let Scout know he was still listening

One night though, Scout didn’t follow him back

Medic was disappointed, he had gotten rather fond of his chatter, but shrugged it off as Scout being tired

After a few minutes of paperwork, there was a knock at the door

He opened it to see a very nervous Scout holding a bouquet of roses

“H- hey doc! Um, y’know, we’ve been hangin’ out for a while, I really like you, and I hope you at least like me a little, so, uh, wanna go on a date sometime? Please?”

Medic just stands there for a solid bit before taking the flowers and smiling. “I’d love to.”

Scout takes him to a nice restaurant (that was definitely his idea and not Spy’s) and pays the bill for the both of them, which was substantial because Medic has a taste for the most expensive things on the menu

And Scout is a hella picky eater

“So like, can I have the steak, but - and stay with me here - you grind it up, grill it, cut one of the rolls in half and add the steak, along with fuckin’ ketchup, mustard, lettuce, pickles—”

“Sir, are you describing a burger to me?”

“...yeah?”

“It’s on the kids menu.”

“Oh. Sweet, then can I have that?”

After the date Medic lets Scout kiss him

They suck I hate them so much I don’t think about them all the time (lying)

Nicknames Scout calls Medic: Doc, Angel, Angelcakes, Babe

Nicknames Medic calls Scout: Hase, Schatz, Liebling, Dear

On the battlefield Scout’s constantly by Medic

“Hey Angelcakes, check this out!” “Didja see that? Didja see that?”

If they have to be separated any time Scout sees him he’ll give Medic a kiss

“Hase you’re at ten health, can you please stop trying to kiss me for a second so I can heal you?” 

“Ugh, fine.”

After he’s done Medic gives Scout a kiss. “Thank you, on your way.”

Clingy ass motherfuckers

Scout’s way more obvious with it than medic though

Medic hardly even has to do anything, they’ll just be talking and Scout’ll notice half-way in the conversation that he’s cuddled up in Medic’s arms

Scout often sits in Medic’s lap as he works, rambling on about some comic he read or whatever.

After a few months of dating Medic only sleeps in Scout’s room

It feels more homey than his, which he admittedly already slept in very little due to his unfortunate habit of passing out at his desk

Nights often consist of Scout cuddled into Medic’s chest while Medic reads aloud to the both of them

(real talk reading together is such an underrated couple activity can we talk about this—)

“ —alright, that’s the end of the chapter. Liebling, are you asleep?”

“Nah, just relaxed. Love you angel.”

“I love you too Jeremy, Goodnight.”

They are the biggest saps ever and I will stand by this until the day I die

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─── 

[silly-lil-scribbles]

Introduction post!!

freeeeee

status: so so so eepy chewing lazily on my husband

lyrics that fit the current vibe: so put the d in dirt now baby, baby, lets get you wasted and alloooonee, cuz we r aliveeee, here in death valley, but dont take love off the table yet

current chance of a response if you dm me*: 0%

* does not apply to mousie cuz its my emotional support friend. this also doesnt apply to chou usually

- My name is Finn! You can also call me scribbles, soup, or really any dumb nickname will do. it/he <3

woah look at that.. its me.. on another website!! slight flash warning for spacehey btw ^^

if you havent read this in a while, i would suggest reading again cuz i update it a lot <3

- sexuality? if the biggest faggot you knew was aro and mostly ace

- gender? fuck if i know

- I MADE A JAIL ACCOUNT SO IF IM JAILED I MIGHT BE OVER THERE ‼️ @soup-has-been-imprisoned-noooooo

- I POST ABOUT BUGS A LOT! if you dont wanna see that …. sorry? i always tag if op didnt but just proceed with caution yk

- music artists I like: mcr, arma angelus, fob, will wood, dazey and the scouts, cavetown, mother mother, nova twins, that handsome devil, noahfinnce, gum disease, sparkbird, mischief brew, be your own pet, pierce the veil, specimen, faetooth, the mechs, scene queen, scarlets remains, femtanyl, leathermouth, pansy division, the used, and slutever

- Shows/Podcasts/Other Media i enjoy! DANGER DAYSS, Malevolent, The Magnus Archives, Stranger Things, Welcome to Nightvale (though I haven’t finished it yet), the Osemanverse, Nimona, Adventure Time, Gravity Falls, ATLA, LOK, It, Hilda, Camp Here and There, Radio Rental, warrior cats, the silt verses, dead end: paranormal park, the saw franchise, the thankskilling franchise, invader zim (just now getting into it im only on s1 rn), arcane, happy tree friends, dnp but im just getting into them and im doing it in a dumb stupid way for idiots so dont try to talk to me about them or i WILL fumble the conversation. also im a big fan of horror movies so id love suggestions

- my blog is super messy so all of my art is under the tag #scribbles draws a thing and my original text posts (not the short personal ones typically, just the one i actually want people to see) are under #scribbles says shit.

- my body hates me very much (in other words im physically disabled)

- surprise, my brain also hates me very much! And yes this is also undiagnosed!

- tone tags are appreciated <3

- i post a lot! if you left an anon ask please check my #scribbles asks tag if you cant find it, sorry ‘bout that

boundaries n stuff:

- not ok with sexual or romantic comments

- platonic/joke flirting is ok if we’re moots

continued:

- i have a tmagp fic i just starting writing! If you wanna know more, posts related to that are under #electric desires have unraveled all my wires :(

- I have 4 cats and a dog, also a gecko

- i have a queerplatonic partner!! hes awesome and swaggy and writes so much. so. much writing. wow. not saying wow in a bad way im just genuinely impressed. chou if ur reading this i love you <3

- SURPRISE i have another queerplatonic partner too!!!! its super fun and cool and pathetic /vpos. my favorite excitable soggy cardboard box ilysm <3 (if ur a regular around here im sure ur familiar lol)

- i love them both so much holy shit guys aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

- im a coyotekin therian :]

- i love bugs!!!!!!!!!!! please show me bugs!!!!!!!!!!!! tag me in bug posts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- My favorite colors are hot pink, cyan, neon green, and red

- I love interacting with mutuals and getting asks! plspls send me random shit in asks im begging

- I’m creating a cartoon called Catlantis (still in progress)

- I have a love hate relationship with writing but i do it anyways so oh well

- Frogs.

other tags i use a lot are:

#soup poorly draws gay people out of obligation; my series of promised dyhard drawings.

#soup gets pathetic about friendship; me when im a sappy bitch about my friends or partners

#objectives list; save file for when i say im gonna do something so i dont forget about it

#catlantis save; hoarding info for catlantis

#insomnia induced rambles; i cant sleep and im making it your problem

#our lady of sorrows; not the song, my mcr inspired goddess i made up for my dnd character to worship

#scribbles asks; asks

#info save; good to know

#scribbles liveblogging tmagp; exactly what it sounds like

#art save; resources for doing art

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[justonemorechapternicercy]

Being a bisexual was hard as fuck on a normal day, but it was especially hard to be when you had to face with two incredibly attractive people.

Who were partners. Queerplatonic life partners, but committed partners nonetheless.

Fuck his life.

“Percy! You made it!” Rachel grinned, waving from her seat in her usual exuberance. She looked so radiant, so full of life, especially next to her partner, the literal stormcloud. They were like the Sun and the Moon next to each other, and they were beautiful. One colorful and full of life, the other, full in black and looking like a vampire prince straight out of a dark romance story.

What's more, even though he looked like the devil, according to Rachel, he was actually a complete softie.

So, Percy Jackson was fucked. He couldn't even run away because how would that look now that they noticed him?

“Uh, yeah… Hi, Rachel! Hi, Nico!” He smiled a bit awkwardly, shaking hands with Nico, and being smothered by Rachel's warm hug. “Do you need anything?” He asked, nodding towards the counter.

“No, we are good, and I also got that blue hot chocolate you adore so much!”

Percy stopped. And stared.

There, next to Nico's dark coffee, and Rachel’s tea, was his blue hot chocolate. With marshmallows. And coconut flakes.

So fucking unfair that Rachel already knew the way straight into his heart. And was anybody wondering why he would fall for somebody he knew was in a committed relationship?! He couldn’t even say he didn’t know that! Rachel was very straightforward from the first time, mentioning her soulmate in basically every sentence.

“Oh… thank you,” he mumbled, sitting down in front of them. Rachel's answering smile was so radiant, that Percy had to wonder where his sunglasses were.

“Now, I know you heard a lot about each other, but this is Percy, the teacher I was talking about. I helped him with his car, and now he is helping me with the art project in the lodge. He is so creative and fun! And this is Nico, my soulmate in the whole world. We've known each other for basically forever, our parents are in the same circles, and we bonded through mischiefs and shared trauma.”

“That sounds… fun,” he deadpanned. He was quite happy that he didn’t stay with his father if this was what rich kids had to bond about.

“Right?” Nico snorted. “It is nice to meet you. Rach’s told me so much about you, it feels like I already know you.”

Percy blushed. The words seemed innocent enough, but the way Nico said them, and that look in his eyes…

Percy was a disaster of a bisexual.

“Hi, me too. I mean, you too. I mean, it is nice to meet you, and I know so much about you too!” Percy rambled. Taking a sip of his hot chocolate, he let out a satisfied sigh. Coconut and white chocolate was the best combination!

He opened his eyes he didn’t even realize he closed, and blushed again, being at the crossfire of two pairs of blazing eyes.

He must have been imagining things, mustn’t he? There was no way-

No. There was no way. Rachel and Nico were way too close to each other; it was obvious to see the easy connection between the two of them. They shared inside jokes and complained about people Percy didn’t know anything about and they made each other laugh. Rachel with her sunny disposition and Nico with his sarcastic remarks was a surprisingly perfect combination. They tried to involve Percy, but… he still felt like an outsider. 

“Oooh, Percy! Nico and I were talking about what we are doing on Christmas. We have this silly tradition of watching cheesy holiday movies together, while we complain about how much better it could be if we were the ones writing them. They would be a lot queerer, that’s for sure,” Rachel giggled. “Anyway, you’ll join us, right?”

“Uh… I’m not sure if I can do it,” he said. Rachel and even Nico looked disappointed, but they nodded.

Throughout the morning, Percy watched Nico and Rachel share mischievous smiles, finish each other’s sentences as if they were one mind in two bodies, and being completely in sync. It left Percy feeling a pang of jealousy. Trying to hide it, he forced a smile, but it was hard to see the girl he’d been crushing on, and the guy who left him breathless, be the perfect partners.

As they drank the last drops of their beverages, he just wanted to leave. They were nice, they were cute, and they were leaving him so overwhelmed.

“So, I will show Nico around before we go back to the lodge. Will you join us?”

The words tumble out of Percy’s mouth before he could stop himself. “Thanks, but I’ve got some stuff to do. I’ll meet you at the lodge later, okay?” He hesitated for a moment, then said, “It was nice to meet you! I’ll… uh… I’ll go now. To do… things. Important things.”

Rachel and Nico shared an unreadable look, but they nodded. He couldn’t stop the feeling that he must have missed something significant, something that he couldn’t understand because he wasn’t part of them. He was an outsider.

That hurt more than he had any right to feel.

As he stepped out of the coffee shop, he felt like he left something important behind. But he had to leave; he didn't want to see how the girl who he'd been crushing on since the moment she helped him with his car, be so lovey-dovey with her cute boyfriend.

He always had a tiny thing for curly hair. And they had curly hair squared.

–

“Wait! There’s an ice rink?” Nico exclaimed.

“Of course, we have,” Percy grinned. It was always the best time of the year when they opened the rink in the middle of the town square. He loved every type of water sport - and he considered most winter sports as water sports. Ice and snow were, after all, just cold water.

“Let’s go then! What are we waiting for?!”

Nico was so excited, Percy didn’t realize he could be so enthusiastic about something like ice skating. He looked like the devil himself in his black dresses and dark looks; it was absolutely adorable when he looked like a little kid in a candy store.

“You will come with us, right? Please, come with us!”

One touch of Nico, and Percy was too weak to say no. He sighed, but said, “Okay.”

The answering grin was more than enough to balance the heartache.

He led them to the town square, which was transformed into a winter wonderland, decorated with twinkling lights and festive ornaments. The sweet smell of mulled wine felt intoxicating, but not as intoxicating as the closeness of Rachel and Nico was.

Bundled up in scarves, hats, and mittens, they looked like two fallen angels.

The two men dragged Rachel behind them, gliding onto the ice, hand in hand. They laughed at Rachel’s fumblings, and the girl cheered for the two competing men who did more and more elaborate moves on the ice. 

It was a great time. 

As they skated, the initial awkwardness faded completely, and the joy of having two people he liked took over. Rachel and Nico included Percy effortlessly, sharing stories about each other - like the fact that Nico used to be a professional ice skater before he had to take over his father’s law firm -, and getting to know each other better.

Rachel was already fun to spend time with, but with Nico, they were an unstoppable force. Their banters were hilarious and sometimes Percy was afraid they would melt the ice with the way they roasted each other.

“Watch this,” Nico grinned, and spun and twirled on the ice, like the Ice Prince he was.

“He really is something, isn’t he?” Rachel smiled softly. Percy mirrored her.

“He really is.”

As Nico skated back to them, he winked at Percy, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. “Come, let’s leave the loser behind, and show me your moves.” He grabbed Percy’s hand, who joined the other man. They moved as if their movements were choreographed, their ice dance was a surprise show for the other skaters.

As they glided gracefully, Nico pulled Percy into a spin, their laughter echoing in the rink. Percy felt like he could fly; he was so gone on them. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The playful atmosphere shifted, and the connection Percy felt the moment their eyes met on that fateful day in the coffee shop, deepened. He was tempted, but…

He leaned away, breaking the moment.

It wasn’t fair to Rachel.

–

“Tonight has been amazing, hasn’t it?” Percy wondered. The first time he met with Nico, he’d been afraid, rejected, and feeling like an outsider. But after some days, getting to know Nico, and Rachel-and-Nico, spending time with them was as easy as breathing. Their time together was magical and fun, and everything he’d ever wished for. He wasn’t sure if it was only him who felt the connection, but even if the romantic tone was just in his head, their friendship meant so much to him.

Rachel, curled in his lap, nodded. “Yes.”

Nico, leaning against him on the other side, hummed affirmatively. Percy felt like he belonged between them, squished from both sides. The initial pain about Rachel’s and Nico’s relationship faded, replaced by the realization that they really wanted to spend time with them. They included him, they sought out him individually and together as well, and they constantly touched him.

Their bond was genuine.

“Thanks for convincing me to join you. The whole week was so much fun, I don’t remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much.” He took a sip of his eggnog and sighed contently.

“Thank you for indulging us. You made this Christmas into the best Christmas ever. Spending time here… I thought it was going to be a nightmare. I never wanted to be in a small town, especially not during the holiday, without Nico, trying to promote the lodge, but you made everything so much better. Thank you.” Rachel’s words made his insides melt. He was glad he wasn’t the only one who thought this holiday was magical.

Nico moved, and he partly laid on Percy. “Coming here was the best decision I’ve ever made. Thank you for being you.”

They chatted for a while, watching those cheesy Christmas movies they mentioned before. The movies were like copies of each other, even the actors were mostly the same - but commenting on them, wondering how they would change things, made the whole experience amazing.

As they watched one movie that was particularly similar to their own experiences, except for the partner who came wasn’t keen on getting to know the small-town guy, Nico grinned mischievously, making Percy’s inside quiver.

“Uh-huh. I don’t like that look,” he joked.

“What? I’m completely innocent,” Nico batted his eyelashes. “I was just thinking about how much better our story is.”

Rachel nudged Nico with a teasing smile. “I agree, it is so much better!”

Nico sat up, facing Percy with a more serious expression. “I wanted to tell you something.”

“Uh… What is it?” Percy asked uncertainly, unsure if it was going to go as he wished, or if he read the room wrong.

“I think you are the most captivating person I’ve ever met.” Percy blushed but didn’t break their eye contact.

“And I think you are the most confusing one,” he mumbled.

“In a good way, I hope,” Nico grinned.

“The best way,” Percy nodded.

Not letting to derail the conversation, Nico took a deep breath. His expression turned more sincere, eyes conveying nothing but the truth. “There’s something else I wanted to say. I’ve been trying to find the right moment, and… well. We work well together, aren’t we? We are having fun and it feels like we’ve known each other for years. I know we just met three weeks ago… But spending time with you, made me realize how much I like you. I like you, Percy. More than just a friend, differently than I like Rachel, my literal platonic life partner. I’ve been crushing on you, and I hope that it is not one-sided.”

The room fell silent for a moment as Percy processed what the hell had happened. He pinched himself, afraid that he was dreaming, but…

It was real.

“I… I hope I didn’t make things awkward,” Nico mumbled nervously. “I just wanted to be honest with you.”

“No, I… I feel the same. I like you too, Nico.” Percy hesitated, but in for a penny, in for a pound, he turned towards Rachel. “And I like you, too. You two are the best thing that ever happened to me. I had a crush on you ever since we met, and after meeting with Nico, I couldn’t help but fall for him too.”

Rachel beamed. “I like you too!”

They giggled, the relief in the room was almost palpable.

Percy turned to Nico, whose eyes were full of promises. Leaning in, with a gentle touch, Nico captured Percy’s lips in a tender kiss. The world faded around them, his whole universe was concentrated in the two people he was intertwined with. Breaking their kiss, they breathed in each other.

Before he could react, Rachel was already there, leaning in, kissing him sweetly, feather-softly. He never expected this to happen with him in real life, but… It was better than anything he’d ever imagined. The two of them… They were everything to him.

As they pulled away, Rachel looked into Percy’s eyes, her gaze filled with affection.

“Merry Christmas, guys,” Percy said.

“Merry Christmas, Percy,” they replied, smiling more brightly than any of the Christmas lights could ever measure up to.

“Well,” Rachel laughed, breaking the tension with her lighthearted tone. “This is quite the plot twist!”

“I told you our story was way better!” Nico huffed jokingly.

“That you did,” Percy grinned, pressing a quick kiss on Nico’s lips. Now that he could do it, he had the suspicion that he’d never wanted to stop kissing him, kissing them.

And, if they played their cards right, he’d never have to.

[akenya]

Rizzoli and Isles is actually a show about a Queerplatonic Relationship.

Okay hear me out.

So, I always have shipped Rizzles. There are many MANY ways in which these are queer coded characters with a heavy romantic subtext, that a lot of the time honestly bleeds into the maintext. A lot of the actions and dialogue that we would typically interpret as romantic, especially between a hetero pairing, certainly works for this show. 

But I did a re-watch of the show recently, and while I still ship them romantically, I actually think what is being portrayed between them is something else. They are DEFINITELY more than friends; I mean they are life partners in every sense of the word. But the kind of dynamic that is CANONICALLY portrayed between Maura and Jane, is in fact, a Queerplatonic Relationship.

So here’s a working definition of the term for those who aren’t familiar with it: 

Queerplatonic relationships and queerplatonic partnerships are committed intimate relationships which are not romantic in nature. They may differ from usual close friendships by having more explicit commitment, validation, status, structure, and norms, similar to a conventional romantic relationship

I have actually experienced something like this, (and yes I’m going to get a bit anecdotally personal here; I’ll try not to be too long winded, but it’s relevant, I promise lol): 

I had an (unspoken) kind of relationship like this with my best friend in my early/mid 20s. We have been best friends since I was 11, but something definitely shifted when we became adults, and I have to say, I ended up, quite unexpectedly, being deeply in love with my best friend...platonically. I didn’t want to date her. I didn’t want to sleep with her. But, I was totally devoted to her and we were each other’s person for years. We were each other’s assumed plus one for everything, we regularly did dinner dates, we gave each other super sentimental cards and specialized gifts on birthdays, we also regularly did domestic shit together like grocery shopping, errands, chores, house projects; you name it, we had it/did it. I mean we were even each other’s phone background for a while lmao. We never lived together, but we had keys to each other’s places. 

Now a lot of this shit can happen and does happen in standard friendships (maybe not the phone background thing; that was super gay ngl hahaha), but the thing that made this different was the level of assumed partnership going on between us. And the...energy. We would stare deeply into each other’s eyes. We had that magnetic kind of magic with each other, like no matter where the other is in the room, we find our way back to each other. And people literally perceived us as a couple. Hell, my other friends teased us about it. 

Any of this sound familiar?

Oh and I DO find her to be attractive and even sexy. And we flirted (still do lolol) a LOT. 

But I didn’t ever really.....actually want to have sex with her. Not that I would’ve even necessarily been opposed to it, because we were so close, but it just, wasn’t ever a desire for me.

This was interesting to experience, because I do identify as a lesbian, I have been romantically attracted to people, sexually attracted to people, and the two, as society expects, do usually go hand in hand for me. But with her, I honestly could’ve seen forever; like being exactly as we were, as life partners, I could’ve even seen myself raising kids with her, and I would have been TOTALLY, GENUINELY content with it, ‘cause my relationship with her filled me up in a way nothing else has. This was confusing as all hell to me for a long time, because I didn’t have a name for this until recently when I learned about the concept of Queerplatonic Relationships which again supersede friendship and often are life partnerships, but aren’t inherently romantic or sexual, even though they are quite deep. I actually think QPRs speak to that “limitless” “otherwise undefinable” kind of relationship dynamic. 

Sooo - and I promise I’m wrapping my story up - when my bff met her current boyfriend, which is her first super serious adult relationship, I didn’t quite experience jealousy, I mean I always envisioned a romantic partnership for her, and I still want that for me! Buuuut...my feelings were complicated because it’s like...I had to mourn what I lost, as our dynamic inherently changed, and the fact that I wasn’t her person anymore. Weird thing to process indeed. Also *ahem* SOUND FAMILIAR?

Without getting too carried away here (oh who am I kidding, I already have 😂) for comparison’s sake, I actually went through a crazy ass heartbreak with someone, also while I was in my mid 20s; someone to whom I WAS romantically, sexually, spiritually, connected and attracted. I mean I was IN LOVE with this woman and she broke my heart by not fully reciprocating my feelings and not wanting to be with me. I thought I was gonna die when we stopped talking. Hell, it’s been years and I still think about her. 

But if you were to ask me who the true love. of. my. life. has been so far...I’d pick my best friend! 

The funny thing is I think a LOT of women end up in these kinds of dynamics, ESPECIALLY queer women, maybe even more so queer women who form super close relationships to “straight” women (gotta put str8 in quotes ‘cause...this shit is inherently queer even though it’s not romantic/sexual). You all know what I’m talking about; You’d do anything for each other, there’s chemistry, connection, and care, yet it doesn’t quite fit into any box you try to give it. People read you as a couple. You know this about yourselves, and you just...accept it. Because what you have is actually beyond any label. You know?

Anyway, I think there’s actually something cool and radical about this and I know that queer people want and deserve romantic and sexual representation, but I think this IS an accurate kind of representation that happens all the time that isn’t appropriately covered or discussed in media.

In hindsight, I think that’s what really hooked me on R&I. I mean, I started watching ‘cause I thought they were lesbians, and I kept watching ‘cause I thought it would be canon! And yeah, I still think about what could’ve been with them: fanfiction is good for that. But why do I still watch the actual show? Well...I LIVED it. 

Now: do I think that Maura and Jane often tip the scales a lil’ TOOOOO far in the explicitly gay direction on this show? Oh hell yes! Do I think you can interpret them as two people who are madly in love, romantically, with each other, yet are too scared to do anything about it? Oh hell yes! Like I said I do ship Rizzles. BUT, if I’m honest about what is FULLY, CANONICALLY being portrayed, no subtext, ALL maintext: It’s 10000% a QPR. 

So no: Maura Isles and Jane Rizzoli are certainly not JUST friends. They aren’t just colleagues, although their work relationship is just as powerful and awe inspiring as their personal one. They aren’t really like sisters, although they can quarrel like siblings at times. They aren’t truly romantic, although they are essentially life partners. They aren’t in a sexual relationship with each other; not that it couldn’t go there, but I also see how it wouldn’t need to go there, and how that doesn’t diminish the bond at all. They have something that I recognize -and something I think perhaps many of us recognize too- something beyond definition, because at the core of it they are true-blue soulmates who share a kind of unconditional love that is rarely found in ANY kind of relationship. If there is a definition that comes close to summing this kind of thing up: Queerplatonic Relationship is the answer!

Idk just felt like sharing this. Thanks for reading 🤓

[heretherebedork]

I love starting with this shot. Through a fishtank, watching them as they can't even look at each other, watching Asuka stare at Shu who stares at the fish and knowing that they share love and share a want for more and wondering if they can manage to finally say the words they share or if they're still trapped in their own fears and their own minds.

I do appreciate that Asuka speaks first because we know how much he's been hurting and how confused he is by everything going on. And he asks before Shu has even turned to look at him, he asks staring at the back of his head and desperate. They're both desperate but they both struggle so much expressing themselves.

Finally

Communication has finally opened! Thank you, Shu. Thank you. He finally says what he saw and he listens after. I really do love that the doubt is easily dispelled.

I love this tiny confused boy so much y'all. Asuka went out of his way to help a friend and never thought that helping her would be the thing that ended up hurting him. And yet here we are, here we are and he is aching.

And this is why I love Shu so much as well. Shu wants the explanation. He wants to know. He wants to understand. He's afraid of understanding, yes, but he needs to know.

I also love how he just can't sit still. But this is also about how Shu and Asuka need each other to work on their communication. They struggle alone but, together, they can do this.

(We know the explanation and we know it makes perfect sense and we know it's true but Asuka didn't know the problem and Shu didn't know what was happening and this finally opened up space between them that has been empty for a long time.)

Asuka has never even contemplated that idea that Shu could really, actually love him. He's never considered that an option. The idea of Shu being jealous never crossed his mind. Why would it? Shu has never expressed love in a way that Asuka would recognize. He's always the one to push that Asuka said he would be happy at his side, to pull away from affection, to push their own space and that Asuka needs to earn any chance to even just do something with him.

Asuka had accepted this queerplatonic relationship as a replacement for the romantic one he desired and he is suddenly faced with the idea that maybe, maybe, he could have what he's always wanted.

Shu, darling, we all love you and we understand but Asuka has loved you for a very, very long time.

Asuka so excited by the idea that Shu was actually thinking about him, actually jealous of anything, that he forgets to explain what he was doing in his eagerness to chase down Shu and get an answer is just... perfect.

Asuka acts without thinking. He leaps in, feet first, and he acts the moment he can and when he can and when he gets excited nothing else matters. He is the embodiment of puppy energy.

Shu, finding out the truth: Oh, I was worried about that? What was I worried about again?

Everyone but Shu knew this. Literally. Every single person knew this. And, honestly, Asuka has confessed to Shu several times but it's understandable because Shu experiencing jealousy for the first time and realizing his own love for Asuka absolutely blindsided him. It took him out entirely and left him mostly unthinking.

But this is also just the sweetest little confession. I love how earnest Asuka is and how much he cares about Shu and how much love he just wants to pour into him given a chance. Asuka wants to love Shu even without love in return and to be able to love him with a chance at something in return? More than he ever dreamed.

I really, really love that Shu believes Asuka. I love that this miscommunication is easily solved and that all it takes is a question and the truth and there's no fight or disbelieve. It's as simple as telling the truth and being understood.

Shu is so unused to the idea of loving someone, of the concept itself, and yet here he is. Falling in love. And realizing that what Asuka feels for him makes him happy. And Asuka just melts for him.

A hug! An actual hug! Oh, it's good. Shu might ask him to stop but he also stops trying to push him away quickly enough. I love that for them. They're discovering what it means to love each other and what it means to share love with each other. This is their journey. It isn't about coming out or about exploring the societal pressures. It's about coming to terms with changing your own views of love and what it means to you and what it means in a relationship and discovering what love is.

Asuka has loved Shu for a long time but Shu is just discovering that he can love romantically and that's what their relationship is about. It's about changing and discovering that you can change and realizing that love can mean many different things but also realizing how important it is to share when you discover it.

[the-s1lly-corner]

ADMIN I GOT A JUICY. JUICY IDEA.

Remember the Slenderman ask. Welp. I want him as a stuffed animal now.

Reader is mostly the same, exept forrr... lets say they have children. And pets. It's up to your interpritation how they got em i trust you.

And lets say they're close. Real close. Like "you weren't home today so i came in and watered your plants" close. Domestic closeness. Talking so much they can sometimes predict what the other will be doing/saying right now.

Reader is very affectionate but obv respects slendy so they just turn to actions and words to show him they care(although it can be a little hard for them to truly know what they're feeling and how to express emotions sometimes).

So, one day Slendys brother(not that one through.) comes for a casual chit-chat. "So how are things with you and reader? Plan to move together any time soon?" "No, why would we do that?" "Oh well i just throught with the nature of your relationship it would ve the next step, naturally.. you've been together for so long!" "..we're not together romantically, if that's what you're implying." "...you're literally raising kids together what do you mean." "....w.wbhjat."

Cue panik. He goes to talk to reader and they're like. Oh shidt. It do be not so just friendly.

Can be just queerplatonic or romantic, both are cute i think:3

Slenderman x slender-being!reader !

genuinely dont know what all to title this post since its so specific so i recommend for anyone reading this who isnt the silly requester to read through the request ueueue rolls around, im gonna get silly!

honestly i dont think slenderman would know much about romance and marriage. like he knows what they are but he doesnt know... everything about it. especially if its in terms of human stuff, with the rings and all that. you know? mostly because he doesnt exactly leave his woods and the number of people/creatures he actually properly interacts with and forms bonds with is very rare and so far, none were romantic...

and yet here he is, tending to your home in his woods that youve made for yourself, while youre away doing god knows what... it would be a shame if the plants in your home dried, or dust started to settle... or worse someone wandering into it when they arent allowed inside... though, thats even assuming they even manage to get that far into the woods given how possess of the area slenderman is

since he doesnt really have a basis to... base your relationship around, it doesnt take until someone else pointing out the dynamic to him. namely, the creatures he calls brothers

are they actually related in admins au? were they just created by zalgo at the same time? do they have the same genetics? honestly admin hasnt decided yet but they still view each other as siblings!

that aside, slenderman would definitely be in some form of denial. him? this man eating monster who mostly lives in solitude? the same one who has never felt the embrace of another person (/j but now that i think about it....)

THAT slenderman?

hell i dont even think its proper denial because he thinks he cant have those feelings.. not i think its denial because this really cant be what it is, right?

this leads to him doing what he does best; silently following someone.. usually in order to spook them out of the woods or to... hunt... but this time, hes simply observing you, trying to figure out if you're in the same boat at him

but you're just so vastly different from him in nature and personality that its hard to pinpoint your thoughts... sure he can read minds; i think most slender beiings can do that; but i dont think they can do it on other slender beings you know

doesnt approach you about it though, so youre going to be the one to ask him what the hell hes doing... again due to limited contact with others hes not the best at expressing his feelings or thoughts outwardly, hell even inwardly its weird for him but thats aside the point

i think im going to leave the ending open on what becomes of your relationship; but i think given how the reader is, they invite him into their home to talk things out with him. are you surprised that he has a possible crush on you? ....only a little since again, this is THE slenderman we're talking about... less that he may have feelings for you, but more so that you just thought he was on the aromantic spectrum

and thats no diss to my fellow aros; honestly i can easily see slenderman being greyromantic or demiromantic :3 ... maybe more so demiromantic, me thinks

rolls around

the ideas are not ideaing i apologize

[bluejaysandblackbats]

Lost Boys

Fandom: DC Comics, Batfam, Superfam

Summary: After Jonathan Lane Kent wipes himself from existence by canceling his own timeline, he finds himself stuck in the afterlife where he meets Jason Todd. He still wonders about the life un-lived on Earth, and how his parents would've felt about him.

Jason Todd, who is making the most of being dead, struggles with the reality of what he's left behind. He has one wish and one wish only: to send his family one final message.

Chapters: 12/?

Characters: Jonathan Lane Kent (Laney), Jason Todd, Catherine Todd, Boston Brand, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, John Constantine, Raven, Talia al Ghul, Ra's al Ghul, Dick Grayson, Tim Drake

Relationships: Platonic JayLaney

Additional Tags: Angst, Platonic Relationships, Magical Jason Todd, Resurrected Jason Todd, Queerplatonic Relationships, Canon Divergent AU, POV Multiple

Chapter Twelve: You're Gonna Go Far, Kid (Jason's POV)

It took Bruce the better half of thirty minutes to stop staring at me. We sat at the table, and Bruce kept opening his mouth to ask questions, but nothing ever came out. "Talia?" Bruce asked. "Sort of. I came back on my own, but the dip in the pit healed what the hospitals couldn't," I tapped my head. "Bruce? Why is he still alive?" I asked as calmly as I could manage. Bruce looked me in my eyes. "Oh, Jason, don't you think I wanted—." Bruce stopped, and it was like he saw something change in me. "Losing you changed me... You were my world. Jason, you are my son." "Did you ever blame me?" I asked. Bruce shook his head sympathetically. He was so warm and gentle in his words following that. "Of course not," Bruce whispered, "You never did anything wrong. You were just a child... I should never have left you." "Bruce, this isn't what I originally planned... I planned on hurting you in any way that I could, but my friend thought that would be a bad idea. I want to allow you to understand me," I replied. "Jason, can you settle in first before-. How'd you get back home?" Bruce asked. Laney poked his head through the door, and I tensed up. "Jason, I know you're mad at me, but—." "Bruce, I can see ghosts. Now, excuse me while I talk to this one," I paused, "Lane, can this wait?" "Jason, I don't want to hurt you. I just wanted to say I was sorry, and if you want me to go, I'll go," Laney whispered. I didn't want him to go. I was mad at him, but the last thing I wanted to do was be without him. He touched my hand, and I laced my fingers with his. "Lane, don't go... I don't want you to go. I promise after this, I'll do whatever I can to help you," I swore to him. Laney embraced me. "You can go upstairs and look around my room if you want. It's the second room on the left." Laney nodded and pressed a kiss to my cheek before leaving me alone with Bruce. I touched my cheek and smiled. How could I stay mad at him? I went back to talking to Bruce, and I met eyes with Alfred. "Hey, Alfie," I whispered. He made his way over, and he embraced me. I held onto him, and once I let go, he insisted on making me something to eat. I kept the conversation light for the next hour until Dick came in. He took over the conversation, and I went upstairs to my old room. Laney wafted around the room like a soft summer breeze. "Lane, what are you doing?" I laughed. He came back down to the ground, and I lay down on my bed. "Jason... This is where you used to dream," Laney whispered. I patted the bed next to me and shook my head. Laney lay by my side. "This wasn't where I dreamed. This is where my dreams came true," I answered gently. "Laney, what did you dream about when you were a kid?" "World domination and the death of all metahumans," Laney stared up at the ceiling. I turned toward him, and I could see that he was serious. "I don't know what I'd dream about now... Maybe I'd have nightmares. Jason, I don't think there's anything wrong with killing. I've seen the people you've killed and what you've done to them... Jason, you haven't done anything wrong yet." "Yet?" I asked. "Jason, you can't kill out of hatred. Promise me that," Laney whispered. I rubbed my eyes. "I promise..." I fell asleep, and when I woke up, Laney was right next to me. "Bruce came in here twice. He even pulled the blankets over you," Laney whispered, "Jason—." Bruce poked his head in the door and asked if I wanted to have dinner. I nodded. Laney followed me downstairs, and Dick scarfed down asparagus. I downed a glass of milk and ate my potatoes first. Alfred made me the same size plate he would've given me when I was fifteen. I made myself a second helping, and I noticed Bruce staring at me again. "Bruce? I'm gonna spend a few days up here and go back to see Constantine—."

"Bad idea," Bruce replied with his mouth half-full. "I'd go with Raven or Zatanna if you need help in the magic department," Dick added, "What are you planning on doing?" "I can't say yet," I whispered as I looked at Laney. I went back to the kitchen and poured myself another glass of milk. "Jason, what do you need magic help for?" Laney asked. I pinched his cheek. "Jason." "Promise you won't get mad or laugh or get your hopes up or anything like that?" I asked as I put the milk back in the fridge and turned my back. Laney promised. "That green book has a bunch of spells in it, and last night in the hotel, I tried one... On you." "Why? Jason, can you turn around?" Laney asked as he touched my arm. "I wanted you to have a life of your own without me if you want that... Or at least the option to go and live. I found this spell in that book, and it was supposed to give you your physical body back," I confessed. "I know it sounds dumb—." "Jason, I feel so bad for how I treated you today... I mean, even if it did work, I wouldn't leave you. That's not what I want... I just want a chance to go home," Laney whispered. Bruce came out to meet me. "Is your friend here?" he asked. I nodded. "I'd let you talk to him, but I just ate—." "It happened one time!" Laney defended himself, and I laughed. After dinner, I waited for nightfall and went down to the cave. I knew Bruce would be there. I stared at trophy cases before coming face-to-face with my uniform. "Robin. Second of his name, one of a kind," I read out loud. Bruce turned to look at me and frowned. "You alone?" Bruce asked. I nodded. Laney was off taking a tour of the house. He was restless. "There's something I need to tell you, Bruce," I whispered. "I want you to hear me when I talk to you." Bruce took a deep breath and nodded. "C'mere. Come sit," Bruce whispered. I sat down next to him, and he turned to look at me. "Since I've come back, I've killed people," I confessed. I expected Bruce to blow up, but he didn't. He sat completely still, looking at me. "Bruce?" "Are you going to keep killing?" Bruce asked. I nodded. "And you want to kill him?" "I want to level with you. If you let me kill him, I won't kill anyone else. If not him, then it's every and any sadistic unredeemable freak I can get my hands on," I whispered. "Jason, please... Look at me," Bruce whispered, "I want to say no in general... Jason, I want—." "To save my soul? Right... Bruce, this doesn't have to be personal, and I would not be killing willy nilly. I'd make sure they were real degenerates," I whispered, "This is business, Bruce. I want to be your son, and I want you to be my father, but you've gotta accept things for how they are. I'm not a little boy anymore." "I know you're not a little boy anymore," Bruce whispered, "But I can't make this decision for you. I'll allow you to do what you see fit, but only because I hope you'll come back home someday... If you want this to be separate from our relationship, I don't want to see or hear about it. You understand?" I nodded. "Okay," I whispered, "Can I still stay the next couple of days?" "This is your home, Jason," Bruce whispered. I took a deep breath and shook my head. I moved to get up and I stopped myself. "Bruce?" I whispered. "Yeah?" Bruce asked. "I love you, but I hope you're not going soft in your old age," I joked. Bruce smiled and we embraced. It felt like I could finally breathe again. I had my father back.

[critter-rarepair-reccs]

Hey friends, happy Wednesday! Today we are highlighting our dearly beloved Voice of the Tempest, Keyleth! We have six fics featuring various rarepairs including her! As always, you can find them below the cut and if you check any of them out, I encourage you to leave kudoes and comments to spread the rarepair love 💕

tell me what you need (oh, you look so free) by ladyofrosefire (5,348 words, Explicit) Pairing: Zahra Hydris/Keyleth (Zahraleth) Warnings: CNC scene where the negotiation occurs largely off screen.

Keyleth goes to Zahra with a request—to be taken out of her head, down, and apart. And to not have to say what she wants.

Reccer Says: It has both excellent characterization and understandable choreography where no one suddenly grows a third hand.

Can You Squeeze Us in Somewhere? by Star_Joy (828 words, General) Pairings: Shaun Gilmore/Keyleth/Vax'ildan (Vaxlethmore), Queerplatonic Shaun Gilmore/Keyleth Warnings: None

Vax and Keyleth get back to Emon after an adventure and are utterly exhausted. Luckily, they have Gilmore to turn to for rest.

Reccer Says: It’s sooooo cute. Just lovely fluffy goodness. Also very fun to see Gilmore and Keyleth as queerplatonic partners within this ot3!!

Let It Build by wtgw (5,946 words, Explicit) Pairing: Keyleth/Grog Strongjaw (Grogleth) Warnings: Mild Blood, Under-negotiated Kink

Grog helps Keyleth manage her anger issues. Friendly violence and violent sex ensues — it’s not romantic, it’s just helping a friend out!

Reccer Says: It was surprisingly emotional and sweet, and the descriptions of how angry Keyleth was were almost scary! also aromantic4demisexual friend sex!

i'll be there for you by romeoandjulietyouwish (1,357 words, General) Pairings: Queerplatonic Shaun Gilmore/Keyleth, Shaun Gilmore/Keyleth/Vax'ildan (Vaxlethmore) Warnings: None

While out one night, someone starts following Keyleth. She takes refuge at Gilmore’s. Cuddling and comfort ensue.

Reccer Says: While it’s not tagged as such, Shaun and Kiki are really the focus here and they’re so sweet. Shaun’s so full of love, I adore him. Also the three of them all together at the end is very cute 🥰

Broken; Unbidden; Unearthed: Love in the Limelight by marleybone (7,036 words, Mature) Pairing: Keyleth/Vex'ahlia (Vexleth) Warnings: Allusions to a past abusive relationship

Vex is an actress, Keyleth is a model. Vex sees her at a runaway show one night, is infatuated, and things spiral out from there.

Reccer Says: okay LISTEN, Keyleth hasn’t really technically shown up yet and it’s been a minute since an update but what’s there is So Good regardless. The depth of worldbuilding in the three chapters up is so good and the banter between Vex and the supporting cast is amazing. Also it being a memoir from Vex’s POV, written by Tary, about her and Keyleth’s love story? Genius, I’m obsessed and desperately craving more.

steady your breath, honey, lower your spear by friendly_ficus (6,020 words, Teen) Pairing: Keyleth/Grog Strongjaw (Grogleth) Warnings: Grief/Mourning

Keyleth isn't coping well in the aftermath of the fight against Vecna--and losing Vax. She's angry and eager to pick fights wherever she can, regardless of if she gets hurt doing it. When Grog realizes this, he offers to fight with her himself. Neither of them expected any feelings to grow from it, until, of course, they did.

Reccer Says: An exceptionally characterized and written piece, it's stuck with me even years after first reading it. It approaches the Keyleth/Grog relationship with such believability and tenderness, not to mention dealing with Keyleth's grief and the complex process of having feeling for someone after loss. An all around fantastic piece.

Thank you for joining us this week’s recc list! All the love to everyone who submitted a fic 💕 All enclosed recommendations were submitted by the community via our submissions form, which you can find here. All fic information is as it was provided by the reccer, so it may not be accurate to the author’s intent or the precise contents of the fic itself. Please assume good intent from all parties 💕

Submissions for next week’s list are already open! We’ll be featuring Polyamorous Ships. If you have any you’d like to highlight, you can send them in here. The week after that, the theme is Enemies to Lovers and the weeks after that we’re taking recommendations for Miscommunication fics and Works in Progress! Submissions for all of these themes are currently open.

If you want more rarepair fic, check out @cr-summer-wildflowers and their event collections on ao3! If you want some friendship after all this romance, take a look at @critter-genfic-events and their recc lists! And if you’re interested in everyone’s favorite wizards, you can’t go wrong with the lists at @aeor-is-for-reccing !

Thanks all and have a lovely day/night/timezone! 💕

[newpathwrites]

This is a very weird, comical little drabble for A Marriage of Convenience universe based on a very sweet closing scene from a movie I just watched. All you need to know is Din and his partner have a physically intimate, non-sexual, queerplatonic relationship.

Read on AO3

________________________________________

The man walked up behind her in the kitchen, hands sliding slowly around her waist to rest lightly on her abdomen in an act of familiar intimacy. Her head tipped back to look at his face, lips curving into a fond smile before meeting his in a chaste kiss. She turned in his arms to face him before pressing her mouth again to his, smiling against his lips as a soft chuckle left his throat and the cameras panned away…

A soft sigh escaped your lips. Romance wasn’t your thing, personally, but imagining others enjoying intimate moments in this way was one of your life’s guiltiest pleasures, second only to the smutty romance novels you hid underneath your side of the bed. You wondered casually if Din knew about your secret indulgences. If so, he’d spared you the embarrassment of ever bringing it up out loud…

You were wrenched away from your alcohol-softened musings as the credits began to roll by Boba’s gentle teasing. Oh, right… you were still in the cantina, having been temporarily distracted by the holodrama playing on the small screen behind the bar.

“You’re looking pretty dreamy there, burc’ya. Is your riduur not satisfying your romantic needs?” He smirked in Din’s direction. “Mando, show the lady some love tonight. The holodrama that’s got her so mesmerized can be your guide.”

To your surprise, Din huffed out a dry laugh. “No, thank you. I’d rather keep all of my limbs intact.”

Every head at the table turned to look at him in mild shock. They’d never heard this man speak a single sarcastic word about you.

Wow. There were already so many layers of misunderstanding here, you weren’t even sure where to start.

Boba was non-plussed. “What? You don’t think she’d like a bit of hugging and kissing in the kitchen?”

“Not in the kitchen…” Din deadpanned, as if this statement explained itself.

“Ah!” Boba raised his glass. “That’s for the bedroom, am I right? Man after my own heart…”

“Exactly,” Din responded matter-of-factly.

“Din!” you hissed, heat rushing to your face. You were terribly embarrassed. You turned to address the table. “It’s not… he means that literally…”

The man was missing every subtle cue you were throwing his way thanks to the alcohol in his system and continued on, “And I would never do that without asking first…”

Dank farrik. You really weren’t planning on explaining your unconventional relationship structure to half the cantina tonight, but now everyone was looking at you, expecting more information about this odd arrangement you two must having going on would be forthcoming.

But this time, Fennec intervened. Initially, you were thankful - of all those in attendance, she was the only one fully aware of the nature of your marriage. But, unfortunately, her words were not helpful.

“Hold on.” She raised a hand, looking to Din. “You’ve been together for a decade at this point, and you still ask permission just to kiss her?”

Din, inebriated you were starting to realize, put on his most serious voice. “Of course I do. That’s respect.”

“Okay.” You slapped your hands down on the table, frustrated and mortified, to get everyone’s attention. “It’s none of your business… but if you all must know, we have an intimate relationship that is not romantic and not sexual and is limited to our non-working hours which so happen to coincide with bedtime... and we like to communicate…” You looked around the table, daring anyone to question further. “Alright?” You probably looked like a wild woman at this point.

“What’s the point, then - if there’s no sex?” Boba interjected, lacking inhibitions and totally unthreatened by your demeanor. “It’s like foreplay with no follow-through…”

Din was still with it enough to be righteously offended by Boba’s mocking tone and couldn’t stop himself from replying with complete earnestness.

“It’s nice for the senses,” he slurred, shaking his head as if this was the most obvious statement in the galaxy as his visor turned to you expectantly. “Right, Cyar’ika?”

You melted right there.

These were the same words you’d used the day you’d kissed Din intimately for the first time all those years ago, words meant to assure him that he was allowed to enjoy feeling close to you without any other implications hanging over it. These words were the harbingers to the intimate, loving relationship you now enjoyed together - the beginning of the most beautiful and uniquely satisfying era of your life.

You smiled back at him, forgetting again your surroundings, and pressed your forehead against the cold metal of his helmet.

“That’s right, Din. And you know what?” You pulled back to meet his eyes behind the visor. “Feel free to kiss me in the kitchen any time you want.”

[sneakerdoodle]

personally (and obviously my personal opinion holds no authority, and i am aware that this is controversial) i always felt like for all the meaning aspec and arospec people found in Aziraphale and Crowley's unorthodox bond and relationship development, the way Neil Gaiman talked about it outside of the text was always demeaning to all sides of audience, from those who saw a lot of value in reading it as a queer/gay love story to those who read it as queerplatonic. the whole thing with "oh they hold hands at ONE point but you wouldn't see it. can you find it?? ;))))" and "oh its a love story but we cant have them TOUCH, that would ruin the TENSION!" (even past the climactic resolution apparently) did seem kind of. queerbait-y, without necessarily any awareness of a queerplatonic relationship as a possibility

and it always seemed like whatever their relationship was, romantic or not, what made everyone care about it was the specificity of it; how the tension was abt who they are as people, and how every little development of it made sense, without falling into predictability or simplicity or general hollow drama

and season 2 completely turns it all on its head with how its INCREDIBLY EXPLICIT WITH ROMANTIC CODING from the first 5 minutes but. in that loses any and all like. genuine meaningful content... and the off characterization makes it a drama of Circumstance rather than the drama of circumstance + personality + timing etc etc etc. circumstance is well familiar but the characterization does not make any sense at all and that sucks when we're supposed to care about the interaction of their Personhoods! what we end up with is. a collection of disjointed moments of explicit romantic tropes that don't come together in a narrative.... and now it's not just potentially-romantic but! amatonormative i believe! with how we're supposed to care about what happens just BECAUSE it's romantic not because of their actual relationship and the meaning of it

and it's. so bizzare seeing the gomens criticizm going from routinely using the word "queerbait" (however controversial that has always been) to instead invoking "fanservice". we cannot win fjsbfksjfkshfks. NONE of us can win.... what happened

[last-flight-of-fancy]

Four times Scions assume the nature of Hallima's relationships, and one time they are completely wrong.

Wol: Hallima, Au Ra he/they. Occasional vague references to other WoL's

Timeline: ARR to vaguely mid-EW. Explicit spoilers for ShB and Dark Knight HW quests.

rating: T (swearing, references to sex)

Pairings run the gamut from traditionally romantic to found family to queerplatonic to friends with benefits, inlcuding but not limited to:

WoL/Aymeric, Aymeric/Estinian, WoL/G'raha, WoL/Leofard (physical only), WoL/Estinian (estinian insists its companionably physical only but lbr he's Attached)

To say the entrance of what remained of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn into Ishgard had been a cold and miserable affair would be nothing short of an impressive understatement. Still reeling from the loss of their friends and on the run, even once they start to get their feet under them, ending the Dragonsong War and earning the respect of much of Ishgard’s historically xenophobic population, they generally had greater things on their minds than something as petty as romantic entanglements.

It was a missed opportunity of unfortunate timing, looking back. Haurchefaunt could not have been more obvious in his intent, but the recipient of them simply did not have the attention to spare for them. Something which Haurchefaunt seemed to understand at least, even if that does not quite soften the sting of grief and lost potential. All present were aware of them though, even if there wasn’t space to act on it, and it is generally quietly agreed upon to let such matters lie for a time.

Which is why Alphinaud is rendered entirely at a loss for words when Emmanellain takes him aside to inquire after exactly that.

“I beg your pardon?” He has to make sure he’s heard right.

“Our dear old boy has made quite a name for himself you know, it would be passing strange if no one at all has made any advances on him.” Emmanellain nods with confidence, as if this makes perfect sense. Perhaps to him it does. “And as House de Fortemps leading gossip monger t’would be remiss of me not get my news direct from the source. Or direct adjacent to it at least.”

“I rather think we have more important things to worry about, don’t you?” Alphinaud holds himself steady, despite desperately wishing there were a nearby window he could throw himself out of.

“Not at all!” Emmanellain says cheerfully. “The dalliances of the nobility have ever been the subject of much gossip and scrutiny, t’would not be an exaggeration to say it is an entire realm of politics within itself! And our dear mutual friend most certainly counts after all he has accomplished.”

Something niggles at the base of Alphinaud’s ear, and he’s learned to listen to his instincts in matters such as these.

“How much gil do you have riding on the answer?” He asks. Emmanellain ducks his head slightly at having been caught out, but barrels on despite the flush dusting his eartips.

“That’s of no matter, old boy, truly. Even if I did not I would be curious as a dear friend!” Emmanellain pauses then, lowering his voice. “There are rather more nasty rumours attached to those one’s too, of course.”

“Is that a threat?” Alphinaud glares, posture tensing sharply with the implication. He hadn’t expected such a thing from the youngest Fortemps son, but then he hadn’t expected it from the Crystal Braves either.

“What?” Emmanellain blinks, surprised. “No, not at all. I merely wished to hear the truth from the chocobo’s mouth. Second-hand. Mostly because our dear Warrior of Light is surprisingly difficult to get a hold of.”

This is not Alphinaud’s experience, who hardly has to utter a word before Hallima would be there ready to offer advice or support. He rather suspects this is on purpose.

“Fine.” Alphinaud heaves a heavy sigh. “What rumours?”

“Oh a great many, but most recent are some sightings of him in the Brume. It’s all a touch confused, but there’s something about other dragon men and a lovers quarrel.”

“Well there definitely wasn’t a lovers quarrel.” Alphinaud snorts. Such a thing would require a lover, first of all. “But he has been spending a lot of time in the Brume and Forgotten Knight, that much is true. I believe he has taken up a mentor in knighthood there.”

“Oh?” Emmanellain seems delighted by this. “Perhaps this does explain some of the rumours, and the rest are simply exaggerations for a salacious crowd. Is he truly taking up sword and shield like Haurchefaunt?”

Emmanellain seems so hopeful at the prospect of the Warrior following in his departed half-brother’s footsteps that Alphinaud hesitates to answer.

“I do not know for certain. I know only that he has taken up the sword and meets with his mentor whenever he has a spare moment.”

“I see, I see.” Emmanellain nods solemnly. “Perhaps that is where the tales of lover’s quarrels arise then. T’would not be the first nor the last coupling that sprung from the heightened passions of battle and the tight bond between mentor and disciple.”

“I sincerely doubt it.”

-

The truth was this.

Meeting Sidurgu is…. strange. Amongst other things.

Past the obvious fact that they share a heritage and beyond the fact that Hallima is resolutely ignoring that first fact for his own peace of mind, there is something about Sid that feels familiar in a way he can’t quite pinpoint.

Sid is rough and blunt and not always quick to catch on, but who cares deeply at heart beneath all the carefully crafted spikes and scales of his past. Rielle is small and quiet and still learning to unearth the firebrand wit and bullheaded stubbornness that her past tried so hard to bury. She reminds Hallima of Minfillia, were Minfillia an elezen girl of barely twelve summers and a parental unit who does not deserve a title so kind as ‘mother’.

But Sid reminds him of… someone. No one. He’s not sure.

It’s not Haurchefaunt. In fact Sidurgu couldn’t be more different from Haurchefaunt if he tried.

Maybe that’s it.

(It won't be for months yet that Hallima will meet another Auri adventurer, and weeks after that before they find their way to the Azim Steppe. Both of these things will bring answers and questions more in equal measure)

It’s obvious when they first meet that Sid and Rielle are both still grieving their lost friend, a friend that Hallima’s subconscious had stolen and appropriated in a way that thoroughly blurred the line between where Hallima began and Fray ended. Esteem slumbers now, curled deep within the Abyss unless needed, but to deny his existence is to deny simple reality. Many would have found that reality difficult to grapple with, but thankfully Sid is no stranger to the unorthodox ways the powers of a Dark Knight can manifest, and bears him no grudge for it.

Perhaps that’s why, despite Sidurgu by all rights being everything Hallima tends to gravitate to in a partner aesthetically- tall, elegantly beautiful, undeniably masculine- nothing ever quite arises between them. Perhaps he simply feels like he’s trodden upon Fray’s grave enough already.

Which in the end suits all of them just fine. Hallima doesn’t need that sort of attachment to swing by the Forgotten Knight just to share a drink and talk, or to be pulled outside by Rielle in order to engage in an impromptu snowball fight. They are brothers in arms, in the truest, purest sense of the phrase, united in the darkness of the Abyss.

Pain brought them together, and love makes them return.

-

(“Did you see the way he reacted?” Rielle asks, after Hallima has left and it is just her and Sid left in the Forgotten Knight.

“To what?” Sid glances at her, curious.

“Your story about the Orl.”

“What about it?”

“I’m not sure exactly… Almost like he was remembering it. Do you think something similar happened to him?”

Sid hums to himself, almost a growl in his throat, but not quite so menacing. It’s possible, no one seems to know much of the vaunted Warrior of Light’s past after all.

But there are certain things that… The warrior’s purely Gridanian accent, his obvious lack of knowledge for their shared history, the age wear on his scales that any Au Ra would have long since put a traditional balm on… Sid himself has lost much and more of his cultural identity since the family of his birth was torn so brutally from him, but he retains what scraps he can. Hallima on the other hand seems to know almost nothing. It wasn’t far fetched at all to think another tribe fleeing the Steppe may have met a fate similar to his own.

“Maybe…” Rielle bites her lip, unsure if she should continue. “Maybe you’re not the last Orl.”

“Don’t be stupid.” Sid snorts. “He’s not Xaela.”

But even to him the excuse is weak. He remembers there being at least two Raen amongst the Orl, either married or adopted into the family in the course of their escape from the Empire. There may have been more, but the memories are too fuzzy and distant now to be sure.

He does remember the day a new babe had been born into the family, though mostly for how he couldn’t ride in the cart that day and the next as a result, and his feet had hurt terribly by the end of it. His father had carried him when he could, but at ten summers Sid was quickly getting too big for such extended exertion, and could only do so for short periods.

He remembers sneaking into the cart in the dead of night to stick his tongue out at the sleeping babe and mother, childishly upset at being put out and wanting to vent his frustration. Both had slept on entirely unaware of him, and he’d left feeling foolish but calmed. He doesn’t remember what either of them looked like, shrouded by memory and darkness.

“I guess it must’ve just been that Echo that people talk about then.” Rielle says, and Sid doubts she’s completely bought his deflection but she lets him have it anyway.)

-

It was no secret amongst the Scions that Aymeric was courting the Warrior of Light, or at the very least attempting to. If the many letters and gifts did not give it away, then Alphinaud’s tales of the utterly besotted looks that Aymeric would give said Warrior certainly would.

The question was not whether Aymeric was attempting to court the Au Ra. It was whether his affections were reciprocated.

“Hallima is a bit… inscrutable in these matters.” Alphinaud admits as the group sits around a table in the Rising Stones.

“Mayhap he simply has no interest in them.” Y’shtola says, paying full attention to the conversation despite initial protestations at its silliness. “Some do not, after all.”

“Minfillia was like that, wasn’t she?” Alisaie asks, and Y’shtola nods.

“Aye, oft did she tell me that she could not imagine an individual love eclipsing her love for Eorzea as a whole.”

The pang of loss stings still, but there is comfort in discussing their lost leader in this casually fond way.

“Hallima’s not though.” Thancred shakes his head, arms crossed.

“How do you know?” Alphinaud tilts his head, genuinely confused. Thancred shrugs.

“I just do. I’ve got a sense for these things.”

“For all save thineself.” Urianger says just evenly enough to give lie to the dry humour beneath. Thancred flicks his fingers at him, but the action lacks any true annoyance.

“You better not have slept with him.” Alisaie warns, pointing a finger at him like a sword. Thancred puts his hands up defensively.

“Come now, what do you take me for? He’s not my type. You know, the feminine kind.”

Alphinaud fiddles with his cup intently, while Alisaie stares flatly at Thancred, and Urianger coughs under his breath. Y’shtola hides her expression in her tea.

“What?”

“None of this tells us if Hallima is aware of Aymeric’s advances.” Alphinaud taps his fingers to his cheek thoughtfully. “It’s possible he may have interest but simply does not know the intent behind the gestures.” This is a silly use of his intellect, but it’s nice to use it for something less serious once in a while. Like having a sweet after weeks of nothing but Archon Loaf.

He doesn’t actually mind Archon Loaf all that much, at least not compared to many, but he could still enjoy the sweet all the same.

“Well, if you ask me, and you should,” Tataru speaks up as she approaches the table, arms full of a large platter replete with snacks, “I don’t know if Hal knows the more noble courting gestures, but he definitely knows the language of longing looks and lingering touches.”

“And how do YOU know that?” Alisaie says, scandal in her tone. Alphinaud raises an eyebrow at her, surprised at her reactions. Usually he was the prudish one (in her words).

“I pay attention.” Tataru winks, passing the tray up to the table for all to reach.

“Well, we know he is not of any noble house.” Alphinaud says.

“Obviously.” Alisaie snorts. “If there was a noble house full of horned dragon people anywhere on this continent I think we would know about it.”

“Indeed.” Y’shtola idly rubs a finger along the rim of her cup. “It does make one wonder how he came to be in this part of the world. His kind are not a common sight beyond the far East.”

“Forsooth,” Urianger says quietly, unheard by all aside Y’shtola when the snack platter is nudged the wrong way and clatters loudly to the floor to the dismay of all. “I believe he dost not know.”

-

The truth was this.

Hallima has had less and few opportunities to explore things like relations and relationships in his largely brief time of being properly aware of them as a concept. Which is to say this is why he entirely missed Haurchefaunt’s intent until he lay dying in his arms, by which point it was, of course, much too late.

This event did prompt Hallima to pay more attention to these things however, and thus did in fact catch on to Aymeric’s gesture’s fairly quickly, with only a few stumbling blocks in the form of how Aymeric is also simply just… Like that. Particularly with Estinian. A fact which neither of them bring up until months later when Hallima stumbles into Ishgard looking more than a little haggard and exhausted besides.

“I feel as if it’s been an age and more since we had the chance to talk.” Aymeric says as he fills a pair of cups with a wine he has been saving for just such an occasion. “Even by letter, you are a difficult man to send mail to.”

An understatement if there ever was one. Hallima snorts and takes the offered cup, drinking long and deep before relaxing back into the too-plush chair with a sigh.

“Though by your countenance I surmise that your tales of late have not been entirely joyful.”

“You could say that.” Another understatement. Hallima doesn’t really want to talk about the way the Scions appear to be dropping like flies to some mysterious malady, or how much sleep they’ve been losing worrying about Alphinaud and his self-imposed mission to Garlemald. “Tell me about Ishgard. How the changes are coming.”

“As you wish.” Aymeric nods, and so he does. It’s nothing Hallima doesn’t already know really, having seen the fruits of his labours whilst travelling through the Brume and during his visits to Sid and Rielle. They let Aymeric’s voice wash over them, soft and smooth and a balm against so many other worries.

They don’t even realize they’ve dozed off until what must be much later, still sitting in the plush chair but now with a crick in their neck and a blanket draped carefully across them. Candlelight flickers beyond closed eyelids and the sound of a quill on parchment the only noise. They are still in Aymeric’s study, and apparently the man had no issue with a sleeping Au Ra occupying his spare furniture while he worked.

They rub the crust from their eyes with a wince, trying to gauge the time but all they can really gather is that it’s dark as pitch through the windows, which tells them only that it is somewhere between dinner and breakfast.

“Ah, you’re awake.” Aymeric looks up from his parchment with a smile. “Forgive my leaving you to your rest, but I thought you might need it.”

Hallima nods, but does not elaborate. They still don’t really want to talk about it.

“Sorry about that.” They say instead, attempting and failing to smother a jaw-cracking yawn.

“No need for that. If my friend needs to recoup his rest in my study then that is what he shall receive.”

“Is that what we are?”

Hallima blames their sleep addled state for the blunt slip of the tongue, but thankfully Aymeric seems neither surprised nor offended by it.

“First and foremost, yes, of course.” He says carefully, setting his quill down to give Hallima his full attention. “But if you mean in regard to the possibility of us being something else… Well, perhaps that is a conversation long overdue.”

Perhaps it is. It doesn’t still the nervous beat of Hallima’s heart. They nod.

“First before all else I must ask you; Hallima, is a relationship something you want?”

“… I don’t know if that’s something I can give.” They admit, wincing at the necessary honesty. “Even if I weren’t always pulled hither and yon I’ve never felt the call to stay in a single place for long.”

Aymeric’s smile is soft and he shakes his head.

“Nor would I expect you to, but that isn’t what I asked, my friend.”

“I…” There are so many things, so many reasons, they bottleneck in Hallima’s throat. “I’ve never…”

“Would it help, perhaps, if I made clear what it is I would beget from such a connection?”

Hallima nods. Aymeric stands then, moving around his desk and kneeling in front of them, his expression serious but not hard.

“I would have your company when you have time to give it. The chance to lavish you with affection and gifts and whatever you should wish for that you cannot attain yourself. I wish to give you a place you may always return to, whensoever you may want or need.”

Aymeric takes a breath, but he’s clearly not finished, and Hallima waits, heartbeat pounding in their ears.

“By that token I do not require what some may consider part and parcel of such a relationship, though I would welcome most all the same. I would not tie you down like a bird within a gilded cage, either physically or emotionally, nor do I require what most would consider the… consummation part of things.”

“You can just say sex.” Hallima says, feeling a touch light headed. Aymeric gives a small chuckle.

“Indelicately, yes. I would most certainly welcome it, but only at your own comfort. Which brings me to an important… Consideration, if we were to go through with such a partnership.”

Somehow this grounds Hallima, and they start to feel steady again. They are used to things being asked of them, but more than that they need this clarity.

“Which is?”

Aymeric takes a deep breath, for the first time looking a touch nervous himself, worrying a strip of fabric between two fingers in a subtle tell that Hallima only sees because they know to look for it.

“You are aware that Estinian and I are… close, yes?”

“Yes…?” Hallima tilts their head before realization hits them with the force of stampeding chocobo’s. “Oh.”

Aymeric’s smile becomes thin in the face of Hallima’s apparent shock, and it makes Hallima wonder how many of these conversations Aymeric has had where this was the point where things turned south.

“Indeed. To put it bluntly, Estinian and I have had our arrangement for a great many years now, and I will not abide jealousy or possessiveness where he is concerned. If this is not something you believe you can do I ask that you say so now, I will judge you not for it.”

Several things click into place in Hallima’s head and heart at once.

“You’ve been scorned for this before, haven’t you?” Is out of their mouth before they can think better of it, followed quickly by a wince and, “Wait, that’s- you don’t have to answer that. Sorry.”

“’Tis a natural curiosity.” Aymeric’s chuckle is sincere at least. “Aye, I have. Not all are suited to an arrangement like this, and many simply cannot fathom splitting romantic commitment twixt multiple partners. As stated, I judge them not for their natural inclinations, only regret in their poor reaction to anything different from their own.”

They’ve seen enough of Ishgard to know how rigidly the state adheres to the familiar, both for survival and comfort. Hallima can only imagine how carefully Aymeric had to tread with something that would have so easily invited scandal at best and accusations of heresy at worst.

Hallima may not have known such a thing was even possible a bell ago, but already it feels as natural as breathing to them.

“Doesn’t seem that strange to me.”

“Full glad am I for that, then.” Aymeric’s smile loses much of its tenseness. “I take it you are not opposed..?”

“Consider me fully in favour.”

-

Aymeric doesn’t get much more work done that night.

-

All things considered Tataru Taru manages to establish a solid network of gossip and information from her seat within the Forgotten Knight with astonishing speed. Such was the talent that she had recently discovered in herself, and one she was determined to put to full use. For the good of Eorzea of course.

Being as how the bulk of her experience lay in being tender to the Scion’s collective coinpurse, it thus made sense that she grew to know who was of like inclination in the area as well. So it was that when a hyur woman took her seat next to Tataru, Tataru was not at all surprised by it.

“Stacia.” She greets, barely looking up from her mug (watered down, but alcoholic enough to keep an appearance).

“Taru.” The Red Bill Pirate greets in turn, motioning to the bartender for a drink.

“I hear you’ve picked up an adventurer to help with your recent troubles.”

Tataru expects her to play coy, make her guess, but instead Stacia grins.

“That we did. And you’ll never guess who.”

Tataru feels like she can, actually.

“The bleeding’ saviour of Ishgard himself!”

Got it in one.

“Well well, lucky for you.” Tataru means that sincerely. “I’d say your problems are all but solved now.”

“Well, not quite yet, but it’s looking a damn sight better than it was before. Not to mention the Captain has taken such a shine to him, it’s right nice to see.”

Tataru squints up the pirate skeptically.

“We are talking about Leofard, right? The incorrigible flirt?”

“Oh he’ll flirt up one side and down the other, make no mistake.” Stacia nods. “But he don’t often mean it past a little fun. Wouldn’t surprise me none if he tried to talk Hallima into joining the crew full time.”

“He’s welcome to try.” Tataru snorts, taking a sip of her watered down beverage. Stacia chuckles.

“Aye, tis clear the Warrior’s heart is elsewhere, but even still. Even just making the offer means much from Leo.”

Tataru may not know the man herself, but she can imagine it well enough. Too bad for him, she rather doubted Hallima was the sort to be swayed by a pretty face.

-

The truth was this.

Hallima could definitely be swayed by a pretty face at least once.

-

(They part ways sated and on good terms with no strings attached. A night less about passion than about the feeling of safety without the burden of unresolved emotional baggage. Hallima has a standing invitation to come back anytime.)

-

It’s not that surprising when it’s Alisaie who confronts Estinian. Nor is it surprising that she does so alone, which tells Estinian that he is about to get an earful and a half from a child who stands less than half his height.

A bizarrely common occurrence since he had joined up with the scions, all told.

That said however, he has no intention of playing into whatever her hand is, so when she stands imperiously over him with arms crossed and glaring he responds by leaning back in his chair and staring right back.

She, predictably, hates this, and it’s not long before she cracks.

“What are your intentions with Hallima?”

Estinian blinks. Of all the things for her to take him to task for, he honestly hadn’t expected that one.

“What?”

“What. Are your intentions. With Hallima.” She repeats, as if he is a particularly slow and impetuous child.

“In what regard?” He waves a hand. “As a fellow scion? As Azure Dragoon? As brothers in arms against the end of all on this star?”

“As a-“ Alisaie flushes as red as her coat. “As a. Partner. Romantically.”

“None.” He answers frankly. Alisaie glares again.

“You had better not be lying to me. We’ve all seen you coming in and out of their room at all hours.”

“I am many things but I am not a liar.” Estinian huffs. “And what I, or the Warrior of Light for that matter, do on our own time is our own business I should think.”

“It is.” Alisaie admits, though it seems to cause her great pain to do so. “I just… Want to make sure they’re treated right. We all know how they tend to put all others above themself.”

Estinian feels himself smile a touch. This much is a fact, and he more than understands the protective instinct for a loved one; there are at least two bodies buried in the snows of Coerthas of some particularly unsavoury souls who had attempted to take advantage of Aymeric’s good nature and unorthodox relationship for blackmail purposes.

Aymeric doesn’t know of course, and Estinian is inclined to keep it that way.

He reaches out to put a hand atop Alisaie’s head gently.

“A noble cause.” He says. “And one I would likewise pledge myself to.”

Alisaie bats his hand away, trying and failing not to pout adorably at being treated like a child, but she seems mollified by his reaction at least.

“Well. Good then. Right.”

-

The truth was this.

Estinian and Hallima are assuredly not courting, though they do often commiserate on their mutual connection through Aymeric. This much was accurate.

They are also, and this Estinian entirely failed to mention to Alisaie, definitely fucking when time and energy permits.

Which isn’t that often all told, but such is the reality of being the hero’s of a star.

-

The truth is this.

Hallima has a type.

Tall, pretty, undeniably masculine.

G’raha Tia, by his own measure, fits none of these things particularly well. All things being a matter of perspective of course, he has long forced himself to be realistic where his personal hero was concerned.

Unfortunately he was not wrong to either. G’raha was masculine enough to be sure, but his is a boyish sort of charm, quite apart from the more measured and confident types he has seen Hallima drawn to time and again. The same could be said for his looks as well, G’raha considers himself to be rather middle of the road as far as aesthetic went, and while that did not bother him overmuch it did much to dampen his chances.

As for tall, well….

Every time he has to crane his head up to look the seven fulm Auri in their vibrant magenta eyes, G’raha knows he never really stood a chance.

Of course that would imply that he ever thought he had a chance before such preferences became clear, and that is nearly as laughable as said chances, but still. At a certain point it does feel a bit like the universe is laughing at his fool stubborn heart.

Not that any of this really matters of course. Even if G’raha had any plan for surviving past the hero’s return to the Source (he does not), all he truly wanted was to just.. Be there. By the Warrior’s side, adventuring and laughing and telling stories. What cruel irony of his own making it was that he cannot have even that, hidden beneath the Exarch’s mantle as he is.

But the Warrior will live. Hallima will live. And that is all that matters.

For both the star…

And for him.

-

(Hallima calls his name, and several hundred years of resigned determination crumbles like dust.)

-

The truth is actually this.

Hallima had a pretty good idea that he knew who the Exarch was from about…. week two. The only reason it took that long was because G’raha had glamoured himself quite thoroughly to hide his mi’quote traits, and obviously spent many years training himself to hide whatever other tells he could. Unfortunately for G’raha, Hallima had an uncanny ability to remember people, even amongst beast tribes that many had difficulty telling apart. It is probable that nothing short of a full fantasia transformation would have thrown them off for long, and the body dysphoria as a result of a transformation not fully wanted- as well as the rarity of the substance- just wasn’t worth it in the long run.

So yes, Hallima knew, and held their tongue about it. They didn’t know why G’raha was so intent on hiding his identity, whether to throw off some pursuer or perhaps had lost his memory or some other strange effect of Syrcus Tower, but Hallima had every intent of figuring it out before they went blabbing to all and sundry about it. Unfortunately whatever investigating they could do had to take place in between everything else, so it’s no surprise when they never really get anywhere with it.

In the end they run out of time, and as the Exarch steps forward in a blatantly fake attempt to play the villain, Hallima knows it’s now or never.

They call his name, his hood and glamours falling away, revealing his expression to them for the first time since the doors of the Crystal Tower had closed between them so very long ago.

He looks heartbroken.

Looking back, Hallima will realize this as a turning point, if a small one of many, but a significant one nonetheless. It starts to become clear just the kind of depth of emotion that G’raha harbours for them, and it’s… Intimidating. Something which almost rings absurd when it becomes clear that G’raha fully believes that he is far beneath the Warrior’s time or attention.

And yes, Hallima will be the first to admit that he has a Type. This much is most certainly true.

However, and this the perpetually self-doubting mi’quote had failed to take into account, it is not the only factor.

Did it mean that it took a bit longer for Hallima to notice said affections? Yes. Did it mean that Hallima had to spend a non-zero amount of time trying to figure out what they felt beyond pure physical inclination? Also yes. There was also the small matter of how G’raha had essentially been lying to them for months on end, and regardless of his understandable reasoning, that still stung a bit. Not enough to sour them, but it did add to the pile of complications Hallima needed to work through before their feelings could go anywhere.

All this was of course significantly stalled by the ever present threat of the Final Days and all that surrounded them, so it’s not until much, much later that Hallima finally gets to walk into Sharlyan and offer G’raha the one thing he wanted most of all.

“An adventure?” Red ears perk in surprise and excitement as Hallima talks various details with Krile. There is a long pause as he wrestles with his desire and his responsibilities, and then-

“Ohhh, go on, Raha.” Krile says with a laugh. “I can handle things here for a bit. Bring me back a good story, alright?”

Hallima finds himself grinning at the sheer, animated joy G’raha springs into with her permission, barely waiting long enough to put his books down before he’s out the door with a spring in his step and a shine in his eyes.

It’s this moment that Hallima wonders why they didn’t find him attractive before.

They wait a few days, taking the opportunity to finally spend some more low-stakes time together and get in some of that adventuring that G’raha has longed for. It’s the least he deserves after everything he’s given and sacrificed really. Hopping from place to place, solving mysteries and fighting monsters. It rings of a simpler time to both of them really.

It’s a beautiful night, the moon hanging full and bright in the sky, partial cloud cover and a lack of wind rendering the night temperate enough to make the campside fire almost unnecessary but for the kettle simmering just above the low flame.

G’raha pokes at the embers with a stick, sending a shiver of sparks into the air, a small smile on his face.

“A few more minutes, I should think.” He says.

“For your legendary hot chocolate recipe?”

“Did Lyna tell you that? Well, she may have over sold it a touch, and I am no culinarian, but I will admit that this one thing I can make to standard.”

“As long as it’s not sludge then it’s probably better than anything I could make.” Hallima says. “Seriously though, I’m sure it’ll be great, give yourself some credit.”

G’raha’s ear flicks, a pleased tell.

“I must thank you again, my friend. This trip has been nothing short of everything I had hoped for.”

“Good, I’m glad.” Hallima grins. “But we’re not done yet. We have at least another week or two before Krile will start expecting us back.”

“We had best make the most of it then.” G’raha meets Hallima’s gaze, relaxed and content in a way he rarely got to be, brilliant red hair lit to glowing in the dim firelight.

“That’s the plan.” Hallima leans back and closes his eyes, basking in the fire’s warmth and considering his next move.

And he would have to make the next move. Raha certainly wasn’t going to.

”Ah, I do believe it’s ready!” G’raha announces proudly as he lifts the kettle from its hook. Hallima waits patiently as G’raha sets about pouring the warmed milk into a pair of cups, adding a precise mix of chocolate and spices to them and stirring carefully.

“Thank you.” Hallima says when he’s offered his share, and the two sit quietly as they sip carefully on the drink.

“I was right. It’s delicious.” Hallima grins teasingly at G’raha, who tries to cover his flush with a cough, though the tilt of his ears betray him anyway.

“Very good. I wasn’t sure if it would be quite the same, as Aldgoat milk and what we used on the First is of a slightly different consistency and- ah. Anyway. I digress. I’m glad you like it.”

“Don’t stop yourself on my account.” Hallima chuckles. “I like listening to you ramble.”

“You say that now, but you’ll regret it by hour five.” G’raha warns, but his lips are turned upwards. “Even Krile tires of me after a long enough.”

“I suppose I will simply have to take a break by getting you some water. You must be parched after that long.”

“You tease, but truly there have been times where I could have kissed such a person for bringing such refreshments in the midst of a long lecture.”

“I’ll have to keep that in mind.” Hallima’s smirk does not lessen, and he rests his chin on the palm of his hand.

It takes G’raha a second to process that the intent of the tease is exactly what it sounds like, and from there he flusters adorably, ears flicking and eyes darting to and from Hallima several times in quick succession. His tail swishes wildly behind him.

“Ah, pray do not tease me so, I beg.”

“Hmm, I will try but the urge to make a dirty joke about begging is strong.”

G’raha groans and buries his face in his hands, embarrassed but not truly upset as far as Hallima can tell.

“Seriously though, G’raha.” Hallima leans forward. “I’m not blind, and even Y’shtola can see it. You’re one of the most stubbornly determined people I have ever met and that’s saying something, and yet…”

“What do you…?” G’raha lifts his head to look up at Hallima, confused. Hallima leans down until their noses are nearly touching.

“I know what you want.” He whispers. “Consider this your invitation to take it.”

G’raha stares wide-eyed up at Hallima, frozen.

“I- you-“

“Have I misread?” Hallima tilts his head just slightly, taking care not to accidentally catch G’raha with the tips of his horns with the movement. G’raha swallows audibly.

“No.” He finally finds his voice. “No, you have not. Forgive me, I did not expect…”

“Reciprocation?”

“Yes.”

“That’s my own fault, probably.” Hallima leans back again, sensing they will have to do some serious talking before getting anywhere. Fair enough. “In the First I wasn’t really… In the right mindset for that, and then the whole star was set to be wiped out and. Well. Needless to say I only just managed to spare Aymeric a visit last week, there just hasn’t been time.” And even in the brief moments there technically had been, such matters had been by necessity pushed far from the forefront of his mind.

“Speaking of Aymeric, are not you and he…?” G’raha fiddles with the bracers on his arms nervously. Hallima tilts his head again.

“You don’t know? I figured it would be common knowledge by now. To make a boring contract short and sweet, yes he knows and we are both free to bed and court who we will. Which is something you would have to be okay with.”

Hallima takes a sip of their rapidly cooling hot cocoa as he waits for G’raha to finish processing what he is being offered. It can be a lot to take in at once, he knows, but thankfully Hallima is nothing if not patient.

“You- Really?” G’raha seems to still be struggling.

“Am I really in an open relationship that you would have to be okay with being a part of if you and I were to court? Yes. Am I really open to the idea of courting you? Also Yes. Enthusiastically.”

G’raha laughs a little then, a surprised sort of sound.

“Forgive me, my friend, I have made a poor showing of myself and been nothing but tongue-tied. But if you truly do mean it-“

“And I do.”

“-Then I would accept.”

Hallima grins so hard his cheeks hurt.

“May I kiss you?”

“Please.”

-

Bonus:

“Ameliance have I mentioned lately that if you had even an shred of masculinity to you I would climb you like a tree?”

“T’would be a short climb for someone of your height, I’m afraid.” A laugh.

“Seriously though are you sure I can’t talk you into-“

“I am afraid not. Fourchenault may have his faults, but I do love him.”

“Okay but I have this mi’quote friend who would jump at the chance to court you properly. I’m just saying.”

“I shall take it under advisement.”

[morangoowada]

flower emoji...sorry I'm on desktop LMAO

HI MOOT oh I had so many thoughts of things I could ramble about I couldn't decide which one to pick OWHROHWLEHWK

WE SHOULD MAKE QUEERPLATONIC SHIPS MORE POPULAR!!! I'm tired of amatonormativity WHERE ARE THE PLATONIC STUFF WHERE!!! Like okay I guess people like romance and stuff I can't say I don't like it too but other relationships are also important, so I'm going to ramble about some dangan relationship dynamics that are not romantic and I find them adorable

FIRST, Gundham and Sonia!! I can see why people like them as a couple, but consider... THEM BEING QUEERPLATONIC... I don't talk about Gundham very often but they're actually one of my fav characters and to me they are SOOOO ACE like really!!! I like their dynamic with Sonia they're so precious to me ❤️ AHHH I should draw these two together one day so I can just show my hcs in one place

Another dynamic that I really like is Aoi and Taka, those two are besties and NO ONE can tell me otherwise the writers were a bunch of cowards for not making them interact that much because I KNOW THESE TWO WOULD BE UNSTOPPABLE AS FRIENDS!!! Same thing with Sayaka and Taka, ohhh these two would also get along SO WELL. WE WERE ROBBED!!!

This one is so obvious because I'm a Mondo fan but. Mondo and Daiya. I swear the relationship of these two is so important and emotional to me... I'm such a fan of sibling dynamics and the way these two cared so much about each other... I have no words. I wish we had more info about Daiya but considering the little info we have we can already guess he was such a good guy and cared so much about Mondo. Oh I could go on and on talking about their relationship 😭

The last one because this is getting too long but umm... KAITO, SHUICHI AND MAKI ARE ALL IN A QUEERPLATONIC RELATIONSHIP TO ME‼️