#╰ ☆ against all odds ╱ verse ╱ post endgame

[snowinabottlearchived]

𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 @masterstrange 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛   ╱  𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙽 𝚄𝙿 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚁𝙰𝙳𝙸𝙾  -  𝙾𝙺  𝙶𝙾

 ❛   turn   up   the   radio  ,   turn   off   the   lights  .   i   want   it   loud   as   hell  ,   i   want   the   walls   to   melt  ,   cause   ive   got   to   LOSE   MYSELF   tonight  .   nothings   gonna   stop   us   now  .  ❜  

[firelxdykatara]

So I was at work thinking about Zutara (as you do) and my mind drifted to a kat@@ng argument I tend to see a lot of. About how Aang would be so sad if Katara never returned his feelings and therefore Zutara 100% //can't// be endgame which... a) homeboy is literally 12 and would get over it, and b) BUT WHAT ABOUT KATARA THO. But it got me thinking. Is there even any evidence in canon that Air Nomads believed in wholesale monogamy or marriage? I mean, Aang never knew his parents (1/2)

(2/2) -and Aang was raised communally by the Air Nomad monks and nuns. So like, why would being with Katara (specifically JUST Katara) //forever// be something he'd hyper focus on so badly? Also, Aang is shown wanting to adhere pretty strictly to Air Nomadic teachings but in this instance he gets a pass? It just boggles me tbh. Anyway, your meta and responses are just plain amazing and would love to hear your thoughts on this.

I’ve actually talked a lot about Aang’s willful disregard for his people’s culture and customs when it clashes with something he wants, but I think most of these discussions have happened in private server spaces and I haven’t actually spoken much about it here, so let’s remedy that!

You are absolutely right--Aang’s lifelong monogamous relationship and Katara being his ‘forever girl’ clash with literally everything we actually know about Air Nomad culture. And it’s actually kind of frustrating, because this would have been an excellent chance for some worldbuilding--speak about how the Air Nomads did not hold with typical family structures, that monogamy simply wasn’t done because they practiced detachment and while that doesn’t mean they couldn’t love one another (Gyatso loved Aang a great deal, for example) it means they most likely would not have practiced relationship exclusivity.

Honestly, it would have been really cool to see a culture where monogamy was not the norm, and we get hints of it--Aang never knew his parents, and he wouldn’t have been discovered as the Avatar until years after his birth (I believe they do the toy test when the kids are toddlers or older), which means he was likely removed to the Air Temple shortly after being born. His parents most likely lived at separate temples--nuns had their own, as the temples were separated by gender--and its not a stretch to believe they didn’t have any sort of monogamous relationship. One theory I’ve seen proposted is that the AN practiced something like a yearly or bi-yearly fertility festival, where adults from the temples came together in celebration--of life, of love, of their people, of the element they breathed that informed every aspect of their lives--and I’m not suggesting wild orgies, but that many would pair off, have their own smaller celebrations, and return to the group, and this is where most pregnancies would happen.

That is, of course, pure speculation, but it would be a lot more in keeping with what we do know of the AIr Nomads than Aang deciding, at the ripe old age of twelve, that he’d found his ‘forever girl’ and he would be with her, and only her, for the rest of his life, no matter what.

It’s also very... odd, though, that Aang would even come up with this idea on his own. It’s not like there are tons of examples, as the gaang travel the world, of aggressively heterosexual couples pairing off and spending Forever together, because, well, they’re in the middle of a war and everyone has more important things to think about. And Aang’s crush, while cute and seeming more like puppy-love than anything else book 1 and most of book 2 (he literally imprinted on the first girl he saw when he hatched from the iceberg ok), becomes almost disturbingly possessive in book 3, and it really comes out of nowhere. When did Aang decide, without ever once asking, that Katara must return his feelings? And why? Because, as established, it makes absolutely no sense given what (admittedly little) we know about his own culture and how he was raised.

I realize that the Doyalist explanation is that Bryke are, themselves, aggressively heterosexual, and had decided from the jump that they wanted Aang to Get the Girl in the end, and so were determined to Make It Happen even when, given the story and how the characters had developed, it no longer made any narrative sense. (And yet they never thought to make Katara’s feelings a focus when trying to force Kataang to happen. Odd, that. Or maybe not so odd, considering their treatment of Katara in LoK. But I’m stopping myself here cause that’s a whole other rant.) But the Watsonian one paints a very unpleasant picture, especially given Aang’s actions towards Katara in book 3--during EIP in particular.

And it’s funny how Aang’s complete and total disregard for his people’s beliefs and culture, when it would deny him something he wants, is never mentioned in those ‘but Aang couldn’t kill Ozai, it goes against his culture’ posts. If Aang had demonstrated any willingness to uphold his people’s beliefs before this--like, say, following through on letting go of his attachment to Katara and understanding that if she didn’t feel the same way he did, he was not entitled to her affections and would be able to move on--then I’d be much more inclined to give those arguments credit.

As it is, however, the only reason I agree that Aang shouldn’t have had to kill Ozai is because he was just a child, and he should have been able to preserve the innocence of childhood as long as possible--but I still dislike the way his battle with Ozai ended, because he had disregarded his people’s beliefs over the entire book, he had done nothing to regain the Avatar State except get slammed against a pointy rock, and energybending was handed to him on a silver platter by a lionturtle who literally came out of nowhere to give it to him.

Not only that, but the discussion about what he would do once he actually faced the Firelord came much too late--the subject wasn’t even broached until The Southern Raiders, and thus Aang’s insistence that he can’t possibly take a life seems to come out of left field because a) he never felt any guilt over the lives he took while in the Avatar State at the end of book 1 (and this isn’t to say he was at fault for what Koizilla did while he was fused with it, but he has felt guilt over his actions in the Avatar State that were just as uncontrolled before this, and you’re telling me that he wouldn’t have seen any of that as blood on his hands? that if he killed Katara, or Sokka, or Toph, in one of those rages, he’d have just shrugged his shoulders and blamed it on the Avatar State? no), and b) there was absolutely no discussion of this before the eclipse, leaving one to wonder what, exactly, Aang was planning to do in that eight minute window where Ozai would be powerless. I don’t think it was a dance-off in the cards, that’s all I’m saying.

I’m sorry, I got incredibly off-topic. but the bottom line (TL;DR:) is: I absolutely agree with you. And it’s suspect, from both a character arc and a worldbuilding perspective, that Aang is only committed to his people’s beliefs and his culture in the one instance where he might have been asked to do something he didn’t want to, but not at all when following his own culture might have meant losing something he wanted. This not only paints him as incredibly selfish (something that is hard to dispute when looking at his behavior in book 3, though I would point out that if his arc actually followed a natural progression from books 1 and 2 he would have grown up rather than... that), but puts his culture in an incredibly simplistic light. We never get any deeper insight into what his people believed or how they lived, because Aang latches onto the first girl he sees and is determined to make her his ‘forever girl’, and there’s never any talk of how he was raised or what his people actually believed.

And even when he meets the Guru--someone much more well-versed in Air Nomad culture than Aang is, because Aang went into the ice at twelve years old and never had an opportunity to understand his culture--he almost immediately disregards what the Guru told him when it conflicts with his own desires. Sure, he says ‘I’m sorry, Katara’ when letting her go at the end of the finale (although....why he’s apologizing to her, when he’s had no indication she has feelings for him, and he certainly never asked, is beyond me), but come book 3 he’s right back to wanting to have her, and assuming he will just because he kisses her--without preamble, without any discussion of feelings, without even asking if she wants to be kissed--and flies off before the invasion.

Any way you slice it, it really doesn’t make sense, unless they wanted Aang to come across as selfish and pigheaded throughout the entirety of book 3. But I suspect that isn’t actually the image they wanted to project, and it makes me really sad when I think of what his arc could have been if it weren’t for Bryke’s insistence that he get the girl at the end of the story.

[epicstuckyficrecs]

Weekly Recap | March 30-April 5

Out of self-isolation, woop woop! Also a first for me, there’s a podifc on the recap for the first time!

Complete

💙 [Podfic] If They Haven't Learned Your Name by quietnight/ @quietnighty​ (Post-WS | Podfic lenght: >10h | Not Rated): aka Steve and Bucky's Global Honeymoon Revenge World Tour.

in the heat of the moment by Deisderium/ @deisderium​ (ABO, Pre-TFA | 9K | Explicit): In which Steve presents very late as an omega. Bucky isn't supposed to go see him, but when has he ever done what he was supposed to do where Steve is concerned? (Part 1 of would smell as sweet)

💙 good on my own (needed me) by mcwho (Modern AU | 12K | Explicit): There are some mistakes that could be made by anybody. Anybody. Bucky taught high school pretty much his whole life, and that was fine, those were kids, and he knew all of them anyway, which meant there was very little chance of him accidentally fucking any of his students during an impulsive post-marital-breakdown Grindr hook-up. Which is exactly what he had done with Steve.or: bucky has not let steve rogers fuck him since his sophomore year (Part 1 of himbo-verse)

cheffing and sabotage by mcwho (Modern AU | 3K | Explicit): "So,” Steve says conversationally. “That’s a yes on the olive oil. For lube purposes.” Part 2 of himbo-verse

Brooklyn by togina/ @toli-a​ (Post-WS | 8,7K | Teen): "Captain America, what's your stance on gay marriage?" Everyone knows that, by now. Everyone but Bucky.

Poise and Rationality (Have Nothing to Do with Steve Rogers) by romanticalgirl (Canon-verse | 1K | Teen): Steve does something stupid.

💙 bullet in a gun (but in the end, my time will come) by voxofthevoid/ @voxofthevoid​ (Post-Endgame, Canon-divergent | 25K | Explicit): Post-Thanos, Bucky Barnes has happily settled into a life of peace and pining. That’s when alternate versions of the best friend he’s secretly in love with start showing up.

💙 Two Colors, White and Gold by Carelica (Canon-Divergent | 36K | Explicit): He’s here, he’s alive. His hand is on a tree.

Never go to bed alone when you have a library card by relenafanel/ @relenafanel​ (Library AU | 5K | Teen): Tall, blond hottie (in a sweater) was back, staring at the wall of new and popular titles with a thoughtful expression on his face. He came in every Tuesday night like clockwork, read through the summaries on the back of a handful of books with his profile turned just enough towards the front entrance that Bucky could see the slope of his nose and take joy in watching those arm muscles minutely flex as he shifted the book in his grasp.

💙 Like it’s the Only Thing I’ll Ever Do by howdoyousleep/ @howdoyousleep3​ (ABO AU | 39K | Explicit): When Steve opens the door, Bucky feels like he’s been living in clouds for the past few days, maybe even his entire life. Steve is life, Steve is happiness, Steve is the sun. He has such a visceral reaction to seeing the Alpha that he feels his knees go weak, feels his body draw tight towards the other man, pulled in. Or big Alpha Steve moves into sweet little Omega Bucky’s apartment building and a roller-coaster build of a romance ensues.

lay all your love on me by chilibabie07 (Canon | 1,4K | Mature): Bucky wakes up to an empty bed and goes to look for Steve so he can be cuddled.

WIP

Baby, you could be the death of me by SinpaiCasanova (Werewolf Steve, ABO AU | 1/2 | 3K | Explicit): It’s strange for him to consider that fate or the universe–whatever is driving this compulsion, really–needs Bucky here for some reason or another, but he’s passed by these woods at least a thousand times before on his way into town, and each time his eyes drifted toward the trees, his heart would give a restless tug against his ribs like an excited dog on a leash. Eventually, the call became too much for him to ignore, and so here he is, surrendering himself to the woods and praying like hell that he doesn’t end up in the belly of a beast by daylight.

The Mnemosyne Project by onymousann (Post-WS | 11K | 4/? | Explicit): Someone’s trying to talk to the Winter Soldier. Steve intends to find out who. (Part 2 of ocean eyes)

💙 How to Fuck With (and Feed) Your Soulmate by BlueSimplicity/ @bluesimplicity73​ (Soulmate AU, Shrunkyclunks | 11/? | 65K | Explicit): It’s called the Grey Space; a patch of skin marking you as blessed and the first sign you have a soulmate. Steve Rogers didn’t have one when he crashed into the ice. But he did when he woke up in the future. The second sign is the Sense, a sharing of one the senses to help soulmates find each other. Steve’s Sense, taste, is rare, but he loves a challenge and a soulmate is a gift from the Fates. Except instead of a blessing, it’s a curse, since his soulmate is a dick. Bucky Barnes loves food and a homecooked meal is something he cherishes. When his Grey Space starts to itch, Bucky can’t help his excitement, since the Sense he and his soulmate share is taste. But not for long. Whoever he’s bound to has the blandest diet in the world, ignoring all Bucky’s messages. After weeks of putting up with tasteless food, Bucky decides to strike back.

Re-Read

We're All Stupid When We're Hurting by Taste_is_Sweet/ @taste-is-sweet​ (Post-WS | 8K | Teen): Bucky had completed missions while in more terrible pain. It was amazing what you could push through when the punishment for failure was so much worse. But he hadn't needed to do that for over a year now. He'd gotten used to not being in pain, remembered what it was like to be human. He knew no one would ever put him in the chair again. He knew he was safe here. He knew Tony could fix his arm without hurting him. Of course he did. But it didn't make a damn bit of difference to the terror that shook him like a dog at just the thought of sitting down and stretching his arm out for Tony to fuck with. Might as well stretch out his neck to have his throat slit. Hell, that'd be easier.

💙 we gotta let go of all of our ghosts by hitlikehammers (Post-WS | 8K | Mature): It’s just hard, really, if he’s honest: this time, more than the first, here in a new millennium, having found Bucky again against all odds, in a time where there was hope, where they could have been… Well. It’s just that it’s bad enough to come in second place to a Stark once in his lifetime. But twice might just be more than Steve can bear.

The thing that drives the wolves away by caughtinanocean/ @wintergaydar​ (Post-WS | 7,8K | Teen): The thing about Bucky these days is that, while he might be a semi-mythical assassin, he's also vulnerable—the kind of vulnerable that makes total strangers want to drape a blanket over his shoulders and take him to safety. The problem is, of course, that Bucky is already safe.

[shipping-receiving]

Jaime x Brienne Fic Recs: Master Post

LAST UPDATED: 16 August 2020

All the J/B fic recs by yours truly. I am no longer updating this post as I have been doing very little reading and reccing over the past year or so.

Just a note that these are mostly suggestions just to start readers off, it’s not meant to be a comprehensive database. I’ll occasionally add to past answers/lists but part of the fun of reading fic is discovering stories on your own! Here’s a messy AO3 search tips post that might help you out.

All my tagged recs List of asks that could use more recs

SUBSTANTIAL LISTS

Modern AU Part 1

Modern AU Part 2

Slow Burn AU

Canon!verse Endgame(-ish)

Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience

One-Shot Smut

Over 100k words

JB Fic Starter Pack

Parental!JB Part 1

Various bed-sharing scenarios

Brienne disguised as a man + genderswap

Non-modern, non-canon!verse AUs

Modern AU Part 3

AUs based on a gifset by @frucienforever

J/B Investigate!

Fics based on movies

Starter pack for someone who has only watched the show, including S8 fix-its but no modern AUs

Book!Canon master post

J/B Classics

Medium-to-long one-shots

Super soft fics

S8 fix-its

PERSONAL FAVOURITES

My go-tos

My personal list of most beautifully written canon!verse fics

IMO, fics with the Best Jaime / Best Brienne / Best Jaime x Brienne

Best 2019 canon!verse fics (as of mid-2019)

Best 2019 AUs (as of mid-2019)

JB Fav Fics

RESPONSES TO ASKS

Historical/fantasy (including canon!verse) arranged marriage AUs + Regency AUs

Parents/Adoption

Sex worker

High School

Brienne as Evenstar, Jaime goes to Tarth

Canon!verse Pregnancy

Tywin approves of Brienne

Professors

book!Jaime being jealous of Hyle Hunt

Daemons, sort of

Angst

Hogwarts

Jaime keeps his sword hand

Jaime as military strategist / Jaime & Jon

Threesome / Brienne with Jaime’s children / Non-relationship obstacles

jealous/possessive!Brienne: part 1 / part 2

Brienne & Tyrion

Phone Sex (also see comments on post)

doctor!Brienne

Pregnancy angst

Soulmates/soulmarks + more

Brienne has friends! (besides Jaime) / Brienne is BFFs with Sansa

Childhood/teenage friends

Spies? Sort of?

Pegging (also see comments on post)

FWB

Morning after

Fluff

Tending to injuries

Jaime nicknames Brienne something other than “wench”

Spending time in King’s Landing

Age difference + Brienne is still a virgin

Reincarnation

Getting back together after a break-up

Brienne dies

Drinking games/getting drunk (no S8 recs)

more jealous!Jaime (including show!canon and AUs)

Bath sex

Post-bear pit

Exploring J/C as abuse

Jaime jealous of Renly

Sparring

crack!fics

Meeting at tourneys

Jaime being upset about Brienne considering marriage for the sake of Tarth

J/B get married after the war

Jaime is jealous of Oberyn

Scenes in between fighting the Others/Night King

Time travel

Canon divergence before Season 8

Coffee shop

Jane Eyre / Jane Austen / Regency

Funny canon!verse fics

J/B travelling together

J/B choose to get married, Cersei has to deal

Jaime being needy and in love AF

Brienne isn’t a virgin when she gets with Jaime

Modern AUs where Brienne loses her virginity to Jaime

Sports

During Robert’s Rebellion

J/B’s first time around S2/3

No incest, but Cersei’s still... Cersei

Galladon is alive / insecure Jaime

Jaime thinks Brienne died but she’s alive

Jaime jealous of Tormund

non-Tyrion-friendly

Best friends to lovers

Canon!verse but J/B meet as nobles under ‘normal circumstances’

Dirty talking Jaime

UST to explicit RST (AUs)

Outside POV

Politician AU

Post-S8: Brienne moves on / Jaime has to earn her forgiveness

Fake dating

Brienne & Arya

Attending weddings as each other’s dates

J/B’s first time, show or book verse

Armour removal 1 / 2

Angsty masturbation

Jaime & Arya

Meadows of Tarth

J/B fulfil each other’s sexual fantasies

Jaime is insecure about Renly

Jaime crying

Daven Lannister

Jaime gets emotional during sex

Cersei poses a direct threat to Brienne

College AUs

Trial by combat

Cersei survives, Jaime chooses Brienne

Brienne is older than Jaime

Jaime gets to be a parent/parent figure to Myrcella and Tommen

Face-sitting part 1 / part 2

Single-chapter soulmate fics

J/B fics in Spanish

Lannister siblings grow up with two parents

Season 1!Jaime interacting with Brienne

Secret marriage + more

Drinking game

Jaime is a playboy

Tyrion marries Brienne

Everybody coming together to celebrate

Cersei walks in on J/B

Jaime doesn’t relinquish his title/serves on the small council

J/B have kids before falling in love

J/B go to the Wall

Brienne loses her hand

Cersei is supportive

Jaime gets along with Catelyn

Jaime denies his feelings + more

J/B fight side-by-side as a married couple

ghost!Jaime

Brienne gets pregnant out of wedlock but not in S8

Brienne as a lady

J/B as kids

Alternative to S4 White Book scene

Brienne holds her own with Cersei

Jaime courting Brienne

Brienne stands up for Jaime against Cersei

Jaime is brought up on Tarth

Brienne loves Jaime to the point of being self-sacrificing

Jaime kissing Brienne’s rope burns

Jaime seduces Brienne

Jaime starts out very harsh/cruel to Brienne

Modern AUs where they only sleep together after they begin a relationship

Set during the journey to Harrenhal

Pod as a pet

King/Hand/Lord!Jaime

JB act like a couple but are not

Older but still innocent/shy Brienne

Dirty talk

Demisexual!Jaime

Riverrun/tent scene AUs

Outdoor sex

Brienne giving Jaime a blowjob

Mythology AUs

Knighting scene

P&P + Regency AUs

Canon!verse but with no JC incest

Dancers AU

Brienne might be Targaryen

Divorce

JB fighting the odds as a team

Reality TV

Quiet Isle

JB meet before Season 1

Art/artist AUs + Selwyn appearing in modern AUs

Canon!verse fics where Brienne acts like a mother to Pod

Brienne has a tattoo

Brienne is friendless

Halloween

Cersei tries to ruin things

Roommate AUs +1 +2

J and B get together around S2 or 3

Tormund helps J and B get together

Verbal affirmations of love

Jaime being particularly annoying

Arranged marriage; first time happens on wedding night

Angst with a happy ending, minimum fluff

Modern AUs with book!canon elements

[theatresweetheart]

Brook’s Masterpost

Hello!

I have finally managed to get myself organized enough to compile all of my stories into one place! I put everything underneath a “Read More,” as I’m not entirely sure how long this post will get through time.

This Masterpost will be continuously updated with every story I have and will release.

I have a mix of G/t Stories and Non-g/t Stories. 

Some of my stories are In Progress, some are On Hiatus, some are Complete and some are just purely One-Shots. (Unless I get inspired by something and feel compelled to write more for that certain universe, in which that story will then be re-marked.) I will label these all accordingly! 

Enjoy!

--- G/t Stories ---

- Borrowers in the Attic - Virgil, a young borrower, is abandoned by his parents after they told him to wait for them to come back. Patton finds him in the attic and decides that it isn’t fair for him to try and survive on his own. Pairings: (Implied) Romantic/Parental Logicality, Platonic Moxiety [ Chapter 1 ]  - On hiatus -

- Welcome to Fatherhood - Roman is having trouble bonding with his boyfriend’s son. Virgil is convinced Roman is exactly like the rest of them, bound to leave him and Patton sooner or later. Pairings: Romantic/Parental Royality, Familial Moxiety, Familial Prinxiety, Platonic (endgame romantic) Analogical. [ One Shot ] [ Ask Blog ] - On hiatus -

- Nightingale - Roman is captured by a group of bandits and is used for their entertainment because of his voice. Logan hears the soft tune, the breaking voice and the shouting and he lets his curiosity of the situation get the better of him. Pairings: Platonic Logince, (Mentioned) Romantic Prinxiety [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- High Strung Hearts - Patton can’t help a sad Logan, so he recruits Virgil instead. Pairings: Platonic Analogical, Background Platonic LAMP/CALM [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Heavy Silence - Virgil refuses to speak. Logan and Roman are frustrated and Patton tries for what feels like the hundredth time. Pairings: Platonic Moxiety, Background Platonic LAMP/CALM [ Part 1 ] - In progress -

- Horror Movies and Soft Landings - Horror movies can be the bane of one’s existence, especially with an overactive imagination. Good thing Virgil drops in to ease Roman’s worries. Pairing: Platonic Prinxiety [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Thorns and Arrows - Virgil, after narrowly escaping capture by humans who believe his witchcraft is demonic, ends up getting caught by Roman instead. Pairings: Platonic Prinxiety, Brief Mentioned Logince [ Part 1 ] - In progress -

- Desperate Measures - Logan, a borrower who has been captured by humans, is stuck inside a pet shop and separated from his family. Roman makes it his mission to get Logan out and back home with the assistance his borrower accomplice, Thomas. Pairings: Romantic/Parental Logicality, Platonic Logince, Platonic TLAMP, Familial Analogical, Familial Moxiety. [ Chapter 1 ] [ Chapter 2 ] [ Chapter 3 ] [ Chapter 4 ] [ Chapter 5 ] [ Final ]  [ Epilogue ] [ Homeward Nightmares ] - Complete -

- Broken Words - Rescuing humans has never been too difficult for Roman. However, the little one currently glaring at him from its enclosure has proven to be a very different case. Pairings: Platonic Prinxiety, incredibly brief mentions of Royality/Logicality. [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Quiet Comfort - When Virgil just wants to nap, Patton is more than happy to help. Pairing: Platonic Moxiety [ One Shot ]  - Complete -

- The Idiot Jar - When Roman gets irritated enough with Remus, he puts his tiny twin into what he has proudly dubbed “The Idiot Jar.” Pairing: Creativitwins [ Part 1 ] - On hiatus -

- A Little Lovesick - Patton is a borrower that has a huge (pun intended) crush on Logan. Thing is, the human is so frustratingly oblivious to literally anything emotionally related. Pairings: Romantic Logicality [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- A Little Misunderstanding - “Good news: Logan’s shrink ray works. Bad News: Logan accidentally shrunk himself in the process. ??? News: He has been mistaken as a fellow “Borrower” by Patton, a tiny humanoid being who apparently has been living in his walls all this time.” Pairings: Platonic Logicality [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Snap-traps and Misconceptions - In a world where humans are viewed as pests, Logan is constantly asked to set traps “just in case.” However illogical he believes this to be, he is pleasantly—and completely—surprised to find that the trap actually works. Pairings: Platonic Analogical, Platonic Logince [ One Shot ] - In progress -

- Enchanted Shackles -  When Virgil, a Shifter, is wrongly imprisoned for something he didn’t do, he has to pay the consequences of another’s actions. Except for the fact that he’s sick and tired of the whole charade and is ready to do just about anything to get out. Pairings: Platonic Moxiety, Platonic Analogical [ One Shot ] - Complete - 

- Crash Landing - When a ship goes into auto-pilot and ends up hurtling towards earth, there isn’t exactly much one can do.  Pairings: Platonic Moxiety, Mentioned platonic Analogince [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Glass Jars and Rolling Thunder - A concerned veterinary student and an injured merman stuck in a jar cross paths. Things can only go up from here... Right? Pairings: Platonic Analogical [ Part 1 ] - In progress -

- What’s in a Name? - Roman’s a fae with a soft heart. This soft heart eventually leads him into getting seen by the human child he didn’t want to be seen by. Unfortunately, while he knows leaving and never coming back is the right choice, hearing about Patton’s guardian leaves him feeling conflicted. Pairings: Platonic Royality [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Paint Water - Roman takes an accidental dip into Virgil’s paint water. Who knew a human could be so annoying about it. Pairings: Platonic Prinxiety [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Student Struggles - He knew it had been an illogical descion. And yet, he’d made the choice anyway. Pairings: Platonic Analogical [ One Shot ] - Complete -

--- Non-g/t Stories ---

- Thunderstorms and Stowaways - Logan is a dragon that has seen the horrors of humanity and refuses to allow such poisoned mindsets to infect his son. Keeping Virgil away from humans has been relatively simple—until one all but stumbles into his presence harbouring a hatchling of his own. Pairings: Platonic Logince, Familial Analogical, Familial Royality [ Part 1 ]  [ A Snowy Twilight Find ] [ Childish Innocence ] - On hiatus -

- Sick and Sleepless - Virgil gets food poisoning and Logan is quick to assist him through it. Pairings: Parental/Romantic Analogical, Familial Logicality, Brief Familial Moxiety [ One shot ] - Complete -

- Blink and You’ll Miss It - Roman has been crushing hard on his best friend but not wanting to break up the group or risk Virgil hating him, he suffers in silence. Up until Logan has had enough of it. Pairings: Romantic Prinxiety, Romantic Logicality [ One shot ] - Complete -

- Parental Prinxiety Verse -  [ Dad Against the Darkness ] Being a father is a lot of responsibility, being a new father even more so. When Virgil wakes with a nightmare in the middle of the night, Roman is right there with him. - Complete - [ Snipped Wires ]  School can be rough, especially when one’s peers already see them as the “odd one out.” It only gets worse when Virgil’s headphones get snipped. After trying to stand up for himself and instead gets painted in the wrong light, the school calls his Dad—but Roman only gets one side of the story.   - Complete - 

- Platonic Anxceit Short - Virgil struggles with his anxiety, and Deceit steps in to assist him through it. [ One Shot ]  - Complete -

- Of Stars and Royal Gardens - When the king of the Eastern Kingdom falls ill suddenly, the wedding that was supposed to unite the Eastern and Northern Kingdoms via the princes suddenly gets moved immediately.  Pairings: Romantic Prinxiety, Familial Analogical, Platonic Logince [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- A Dragon’s Prince - When Prince Virgil gets kidnapped right from the castle gardens by a dragon, he expects nothing less than never seeing the light of day again. However, this particular dragon seems to be a bit...odd. Pairing: Platonic Prinxiety [ Part 1 ] [ Part 2 ] - In progress -

- A Curse and a Promise - The Imagination can be a dangerous place. Navigating it can be difficult. It’s worse when the one person you were there with is knocked out cold. is True Loves Kiss really as true as the movies make it out to be? Pairing: Romantic Prinxiety, Background Romantic Logicality [ One Shot ] - Complete -

- Catharsis - Virgil receives letters from resentful relatives. It’s a good thing he doesn’t have to fight this battle on his own. Pairings: Romantic Prinxiety [ Part 1 ]  [ Prequel ] - Complete -

Daily Ficlet Masterpost!

[shellheadtmark2]

all cruising the dash this afternoon has done is remind me my verse list is woefully incomplete and i have plotting ims to make so here’s a quick list until i get off my ass and like.  actually update my googledoc/verse pop up:

616 / COMIC VERSES

main:  main verse for this blog.  main marvel continuity, does not include secret empire or tony stark: iron man. 616 invades mcu:  hi, welcome to the multiverse.  default verse for mcu interactions, otherwise known as 616 tony pesters the mcu crowd.  twice the tony flavor in a new fun package. superior:  superior iron man, tony still under the inversion spell and living his best(worst) hedonistic life. classic:  everything pre-1996/modern 616 as set in the appropriate timeframe.  otherwise known as tony with the mullet.  rollerskates.  nipple knobs. ai tony:  what it says on the tin.  tony’s brainprint ai as activated post civil war ii. civil war au:  tony turns mole for team cap during civil war instead of doubling down. civil war - warzones:  the what if where civil war has drawn on for six years and the country is split in two. civil war - good end:  the what if where tony and cap come together to find a peaceful solution to shra instead of war. iron man - sorcerer surpreme:  based off the 90s what if where tony becomes the sorcerer surpreme to find a way to heal stephen’s hands after causing the accident that injures them. marvel zombies:  superheroes are now zombies and have devoured everything.  now they’re starving, so it’s time to eat the multiverse.  the more they eat, the more like themselves they feel and the clearer they think.  highly triggering. ultimates:  (still rereading ults i have to do it in bite-sized pieces and you know why) it has president cap, what more do you want.  a different origin for earth’s mightiest heroes. marvel 1872:  drunkard blacksmith falls in love with sheriff.  sheriff is killed by terrible people.  blacksmith drunkard goes on revenge rampage.  other stuff happens.  avengers are born.  you’ll never look at danny boy the same way.  the cowboy au. iron man noir:  enviable 1930s wealthy adventurer goes on adventures for men’s magazine.  has a failing heart.  punches a lot of bad guys.

MCU VERSES (NOT PREFERRED / REQUIRE PLOTTING)

main:  canon divergent post-the winter soldier.  not endgame compliant.  includes director of shield and gotg verses. director of shield:  post-tws - shield revamps with tony as director.  lead up to civil war. gotg:  post-civil war tony takes off to space for a while, has adventures, hooks up with the gotg. civil war au:  tony refuses to sign and the avengers go to ground to fight a secret war against the accords.

CANON AU / AU VERSES

616 fallout 4 companion:  default has maccready and steve pulling him out of stasis after a rescue mission gone wrong before the war.  railroad heavy.  traveling handyman.  full of annoying we can do it attitude. mcu fallout 4 companion:  the arc reactor’s kept him alive and he’s been rebuilding new york bit by bit.  follows the prydwen into the commonwealth. mcu courier six:  kept in stasis in a vault until the first battle of hoover dam.  odd jobs around the mojave.  gets shot in the head in goodsprings.  the iron mailman. 616 vault resident:  fallout 76-based.  funny how tony got talked into a tour of vault 76 on the day the bombs fell, right?  almost like vault-tec knew they were coming.  responder.  fire breather. skyrim:  the last living dwemer on nirn.  tinkerer.  smartass.  loves to pester the college and calcelmo.  great for tours through dwemer ruins.  gets confused for an oversized bosmer a lot.  will let you believe it.  part of the formation of an alternative choice to the companions who seeks to do good for the sake of it.  not a typical specimen of a dwemer. eso:  breton dwemer-obsessed scholar trying to stay out of the war.  fails at that.  also a vampire! no powers:  tony’s just a mechanic living paycheck to paycheck.  all those brains and none of the opportunities.

[lexpistachio]

just jackparse - a ficrec

for my sister who requested this rec 82 years ago. special thanks for those who painstakingly linked me new fics in my askbox. you’re the real mvp!

some things first: 

divided into AU, pre-canon, canon/canon divergence, and future

word length categorized as

short fic = less than 10,000 words medium = 10,000 - 20,000 words long = 20,000 - 60,000 words novel length = 60,000 - 100,000 words

format as follows:

 title - author | rating | length | various tags | gratutious commentary by me

summary 

just ctrl+f if you wanna find by rating (e.g search for: long) or other tags (eg. smut, humor, au)

★ are personal faves 

some liberty was taken in rating fics that are not rated

might update in the future; if i missed something, i’ll be happy to read your rec!

au

the world forgetting by the world forgot by achilleees  ★ - mature | short | eternal sunshine of the spotless mind au | angst | infidelity | my god it hurts, but in such a good way

Kent pressed his fingers into his eyes until his vision swam for reasons other than the salty tears welling up in them. “Are you seriously asking me to fly across the goddamn country to hold your hand while you cut me out of your life?” me: you know what this fandom needs? me: an eternal sunshine au me: only without the happy ending

I’ve Been Closing My Eyes by perfectpro  ★ - teen | long | inception au | angst | you don't understand how much love i have for this fic. SO MUCH LVOE

Jack Zimmermann? You worked with him and Kent Parson together? What happened?” Bitty asks before he can help himself.

Everyone’s heard the stories. Parse and Zimms, taking the world of dream share by storm, trained by Dominic Cobb himself. Ten years later, no one’s heard from either in two years.

Shrugging his shoulders, Shitty tries to think of how to phrase it. “No one comes out of Limbo the same.”

lavender, rose quartz, and thyme by megancrtr - mature | medium | magical realism | magical kent au | fluff and angst | found family

Kent knew about superstitions before he made it to hockey. He knew about black cats and broken mirrors. About stepping on cracks and throwing pinches of salt over his shoulder. Kent knew about magic before he found hockey.

Let the Current Carry Us by perfectpro - mature | long | magical realism | cursed!kent au | a classic j/p sad story ™ but with magic | i'm holding out for a happier sequel tbh

Jack hums and smiles, but otherwise doesn’t respond. They sit in silence, and he bites his tongue to keep from saying anything. There is no sense disrupting this fragile peace that they have.

Here is the deal he has made with himself: Jack is forbidden, until after the curse of the seventeenth summer. Kent does not want to do anything to let the gods know how they could hurt him the worst.

why do we fall? by sparklyslug - teen | short | touch telepath! jack au | epikegster | angst

“Didja miss me?” Kent had asked / looking strong/ look good/ looking happy/I could stand here all night and all day and just look at you/ and Jack’s control had crumbled, jerked him out of step with time and out into the swirling minds of the college kids filling their house, his consciousness sent running by the brightness in his own chest.

Dog Tags by MisconductandMimosas - gen | short | military au | fluff | established relationship |  further reading to be found in the author's tag for this fic | i adore this 'verse to bits

Corporal Kenny,” Jack huffed into Kent’s ear. The arms around his waist tightened.

“Captain Jack,” Kent teased right back. “You outrank me, Zimms.”

The Daily Grind by JaneJHills -  mature | long | abandoned wip | the coffeeshop au that was foretold

It’s not that Jack wasn’t into relationships; it’s just that Jack wasn’t a relationships kind of guy.

maybe i’m falling for you by madameofmusic - teen | short | coffeeshop au | this is really cute <3 i too lament the lack of more cutesy coffeeshop aus from this ship. this one’s great tho

Jack’s normal coffee shop relocates, and he’s forced to start buying from the cat-themed coffee shop down the street, Catppuccino. It’s cheesy as hell, but the coffee’s good, and the "purrista” better. Jack doesn’t miss the old shop.

among all the millions and millions of stars by achilleees - teen | short | florist!jack | flower shop au| fluff | pining

“Shush,” Kent says. “What have you got that says, like, thanks for not judging me when I get wasted on Moscato and pass out on your couch, and also sorry about that? Hypothetically.”

“Hypothetically,” says the florist, lips quirking, “I’d recommend either white tulips or blue hyacinths.”

Even the plainest of the plain shall deign to reign (and boy, you're reigning over me) by exbex - gen | short | high school au | chubby!jack | kent pining over shy jack is cute, yes

Lardo looks at Kent with the most knowing look he’s ever seen aside from his own mother’s. “Kent,” she finally replies, “I like you Bro. So I’m going to give you the following information. Information, which, I assure you, is publicly available. Jack, who transferred in weeks ago, Oh Unobservant One, knows me through GSA. Jack is not straight. Jack likes hockey, among other things. And that is all the emotional labor that I am doing for free.”

like a queen with her king by achilleees - teen | short | genderswap | girl!jack | high school au | misunderstanding | love the followup to this, found here + here

Shitty found Kent on the porch. “Saw your girl here,” he said. “Can’t believe you actually got her to come to a party.”

“She’s not my girl,” said Kent, trying not to blush.

“She should be,” Shitty said, smiling and leaning against the railing. “Blind man could see the way you look at her, and you’re the only person she likes at school.”

Twenty Feet Back by floatingstark - mature | short | wip | daddy!jack au as in literally-a-dad-jack 

Kent is aware this is a little odd; he’s standing behind some trees on the other side of the park, pretending to stretch but actually just high-key spying on a hot dad and his kid.

i'll be your platinum by achilleees ★ - explicit | medium | sugar daddy!jack au | daddy kink | angst and fluff | this is the one daddy kink fic that made me swoon, it's the banter and the way they fall for each other slowly that takes my breath away | sorta sequels here and here | better yet, read all the entire unrelated daddykink series she wrote

Wicks took a deep breath, then let out in a rush, “So I’ve been catfishing this dude online with your pictures so he’ll buy me free stuff, only now he wants to meet in person to hand off the suit jacket I need for Ginger’s wedding tomorrow, so I need you to meet him outside the Burberry at the Copley mall tonight to pick it up for me.”

Kent couldn’t speak for a minute, because he was laughing too hard.

here in the present tense by achilleees ★ -  teen | short | soulmate au | bodyswap | 

Jack isn’t really sure what he was expecting when he went to sleep on August 2.

Kind of. Or maybe he just doesn’t want to admit that he genuinely thought he’d wake up in Georgia, in those checker-patterned, sunlight-limned sheets. That he’d go downstairs and hear Suzanne Bittle bustling around in the kitchen, and greet her wearing her son’s socks and his pajamas and his sweet, bashful blush.

Dynamite Boy by TomatoBird - gen | short | wreck it ralph au | glitch!jack | the concept is genius, i’d gladly read 50k more words of this

In which Jack is simultaneously a glitch, a child of champions, and an aspiring player in Hero’s Duty, and Kent is just someone he happens to meet along the way.

Alone Among the Wreck by Christabel - explicit | short | arranged marriage au | smut | surprise non-con near the end | angst

“You don’t have to trust me,” Kent said, “you just have to let me do this.”

Jack has spent many years away from his father's court. Now he must return to wed Kent Parson at last, with all those years and hurts between them. It's not pretty.

the light of all lights by decinq - mature | short | vampires au | look, it's not endgame and has open-ended j/b ugh but i feel like every ficrec should have at least one vampire au 

Jack says, “Would you rather be able to fly or have super speed.”

The corners of Kent’s mouth tug into a small smile, and he says, “Compared to you, I do have super speed.”

Jack elbows him, hard. Jack asks, “What about being able to see the future?”

end credits by Verbyna - teen | short | actors au | ambiguous ending and has background j/b | reconciliation | open-ended, but i love fics where they try to do a post-mortem of their past relationship and realize that it isn’t as final as they want it to be

Kent thinks, they’ll end the movie here.

The story, of course, goes on.

rentboy jack and his nhl star boyfriend series by achilleees - rentboy!jack | prostitution au | 

so put it on me - explicit | short | pining | smut

It will be a cold day in hell before Kent has the fortitude to say no to that pout. 

“Ugh,” he says. “It’s just a dumb fantasy, man, it doesn’t matter.”

Jack cocks his head at him. “I am in the business of fulfilling fantasies,” he says. or, eloquently summed up by a friend: "Ugh poor Kent is so in love"

all the hearts they're messing with - teen | short | angst and fluff | trade | 

As soon as Kent gets home, he pulls out a pad of paper and a pen and makes a list of his options.

1. Tell Jack you got traded. Get dumped. Cry in your cheerios.2. Hide from Jack that you were traded. Buy out (?) the Vegas media so they don’t cover the story. Bribe NHL.com Break Jack’s laptop so he can’t read NHL.com anymore. Fly back on off-days (?). Have plan fall through because plan is dumb. Get dumped. Cry in cheerios.

but on good days - teen | short | established relationship | meet the parents | angst | 

“Are you mad at me?” Kent says.

Jack meets his eyes in the mirror, gaze stormy.

“I’m just trying to get along with your parents,” says Kent. “I thought that’s why you brought me here.”

Second Chance by bittlebunny - mature | short | blind date au

“I know, I’m sorry.” Jack repeats. “It was wrong. I just didn’t know what to do, I don’t usually do that type of thing.”

“You should more often. You know you could probably get laid every night if you wanted to?”

Jack blushes and looks down into his black coffee, not quite agreeing with that sentiment.

leave this blue neighborhood. series by katarama ★ - teen, explicit | long | no bitty au | angst | non-linear narrative |  oh my god this one is so good, especially their internal monologues | it gave me MAJOR FEELINGS

This is a 16-fic series that centers around Jack and Kent and their history and their future. It follows canon, with one major difference; Bitty decided not to go to Samwell. Each fic is named after and based around a song on the Deluxe version of Troye Sivan’s album Blue Neighborhood. The first two fics are chronological, because they’re in the fic’s current time (2018) in the frame of the story. Most of the fics in the series are told through flashbacks and time jumps, though, and the stories switch back and forth between Jack and Kent’s perspectives.

pre-canon

meet you in the middle by madameofmusic - teen | short | pre-slash

Kent meets Jack Zimmermann for the first time.

In Kit We Trust by kentprsn - teen | short | fluff | getting together | first kiss | cat matchmaker au

A lot of things can happen if a cat is set loose in an ice rink; Kent never thought this would be one of them.

Or: “I may have brought my pet to the rink by accident and it may have escaped you have to help me.” AU

it’s too close for comfort by achilleees - teen | short | pre-slash | cats

“Go suck your own dick,” Parse grumbled. “I’ma find the cat.” Both pairs of shoes wandered away, and Jack was almost relieved until suddenly, without warning, the high tops came back and light flooded his sanctuary as someone crouched and lifted the hem of the tablecloth.

“Hey, you,” Parse said to either Jack or the cat, he couldn’t tell.

the bluest things on earth by blazeofglory - gen | short | drabble | pre-slash

Kent Parson isn't gay, he isn't, but there's... There's something about Jack Zimmermann.

Crossing the Line by avalonjoan - gen | short | hurt/comfort | sickfic | teenage boys being nice | pre-slash

Even though they're linemates, Jack doesn't know Kent all that well. He certainly doesn't expect the American to come look after him when he's unwell on their first roadie.

Count on It by bienenalster - gen | short | pre-slash | codependency | world juniors

Specifically, in which Jack and Kent fail at playing against each other.

Generally, in which Jack and Kent fail at being reasonable human beings. Or, the lighter side of codependency.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by bienenalster, Pax - teen | short | pre-slash maybe | mutual enabling

Jack can appreciate a good game of beer pong in someone's basement, especially when Parse is on his team, one arm around his shoulder as he tries to get Jack to miss his shot.

(Jack never really understood how Parse can just turn it off like that. If you want to win on the ice, then you should want to win all the time. Even at stupid things, like beer pong.)

(Jack has never considered the possibility that beer pong might not be the only game Parse is playing.)

but then his hands roamed by defcontwo - teen | short | first kiss

Jack’s hand pressed into the small of Parse’s back during team meetings, where no one else can see, and Parse toppling into Jack’s lap whenever he gets drunk enough that no one will blink twice at it.

A game of chicken, or a game of chance. Jack doesn’t know which one it’s going to be just yet. 

you're neck and neck or cheek to cheek by punkpadfoot - teen | short | first kiss | i'm in love with the author's style of writing, and i love the tentativeness in this fic--they're shy and hesitant; their dilemma feels true

Kent’s always been fairly affectionate, but this thing with Jack is something else entirely.

the spark in your eyes, the look on your face by oscarmild - teen | short | drabble

Jack knows that Kent is his friend- his best friend, even. But lately, it’s been starting to feel like more than just friends.

Insults for Your Lovers by SummerFrost - teen | short | inter-class | social class difference | friends to lovers

Things Jack has: Brand new yellow sneakers, an expensive truck, Kent Parson.

Things Kent has: Converse with holes in them, riding shotgun, Jack Zimmermann.

Count on It by bienenalster - gen | short | preslash | codependency | world juniors

Specifically, in which Jack and Kent fail at playing against each other.

Generally, in which Jack and Kent fail at being reasonable human beings. Or, the lighter side of codependency.

What's Better Than This? Just Guys Bein' Dudes by Bittyybee (sunlight) - mature | short | massages | first kiss | ust 

Kent's shoulders hurt. Jack gives good massages.

my youth is yours. by alicejericho - teen | short | getting together | first kiss | and read the rest of the wasting my young years. series | jack is smitten by kent’s charms oh yeah

Kent spends the beginning of his summer with hockey prodigy/best friend Jack Zimmermann because they're young and they can and Kent likes getting free things.

girls like girls by Elliotalderson - explicit | short | genderswap au | first time | girl!jack | girl!kent | smut | i need more of this stat

"I know how you get all psycho near a game, don't worry. Just uh- maybe find a healthy way to release that frustration." Kate suggested as she turned and winked at Jacq. "Y'know what I mean?"

"Not hockey?" Jacq asked confused.

"Not hockey." Kate repeated, meeting Jacqs eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

its pimms cis swap smut!! enjoy!!

A Quiet Kind of Intimacy by alpha_exodus - explicit | short | first time | smut | photography

Jack doesn't really care about having a roommate on this roadie - that is, until he heads to his room and finds out his roommate is Kent Parson.

touches my foolish heart by foxfireflamequeen - explicit | short | first time | pwp

“That,” says Kent. “Was the most uncool moment of my life.”

Jack’s still laughing, the fucker.

First by omgericzimmermann - gen | short | first times | drabble | fluff and angst

They were just kids.

They were so young that everything was a first. 

tear at the seams by defcontwo - mature | short | drabble | angsty smut

This is what Jack lives for: The second he touches down on the ice, his mind clears. For sixty minutes, he is nothing but a blank slate, a white board that fills itself up with plays and tactics, a steady hand on the stick and a heart that beats for nothing else.

hand in unlovable hand by procrastibaker - teen | short | pining | getting together | sad boys trying to figure their shit out | 

So he sits next to Jack on roadies, bumping their shoulders together amicably as Jack chews on his lip and stares out the window at the passing scenery. He leans into every casual touch - Jack’s gloved hand on his back, their skates knocking together on the bench. Seeks him out on the ice, feeling a thrill when their passes connect effortlessly; slams him into the boards after game-winning goals, their teammates piling up around them but it’s Kent’s fist clutching the back of Jack’s jersey, Kent’s voice yelling in Jack’s ear.

If Jack notices, he doesn’t say anything.

Kent still hopes.

Good Things Ahead by perfectpro - teen | short | fwb

Jack doesn't want to go to a party, but Kent's pretty sure that he can be convinced.

Mutually Assured by Verbyna - teen | short | codependency | has kent/ofc | angst

The smile on Kent’s face is all wrong. He fixes it.

we gaze up at the stars above our heads by alyssakate - teen | short | fluff (mostly)

I don’t know if we’ll ever see each other again, or when we meet our ends, but please just let me hold your hand.

There's thirty-four days of what feels like an endless summer stretched between the Memorial Cup and the NHL draft. Thirty-four days days of each other. Thirty-four days left.

four strong winds by defcontwo - teen | short | fluff with an angsty ending? (a tag that could be patented to this ship that's for sure) | i just love my teenage boys on dates and living in the moment ok

The sales pitch is irrelevant: this moment right here, sitting in the front of Kent’s piece of shit pickup truck, listening to “Party in the USA” on the radio at top volume – that’s all the convincing Jack ever needed.

Or: Kent and Jack, a carnival, and the last gasp of the 34 days.

follow my lead by mardia - explicit | short | the seduction of jack zimmermann | kent here is wily but his conviction is compelling | podfic available 

Kent likes to have his fun, likes to mess with people, but there's something about messing with Jack that's just so deeply satisfying for him. He can poke and poke and he'll get a reaction every single time. No matter what, no matter how blatant Kent gets or how he pushes it, he'll get that same wide-eyed disbelieving stare, that same red blush staining Jack's cheeks.

New things by robokittens - explicit | short | smut | pwp 

"Jack," Kent mumbles into Jack's neck. "I wanna try something."

wax/wane - explicit | short | angst | smut 

Things will come full circle for Kent – he's sure of it.

party pieces by familiar - explicit | short | smut | pwp | painplay

From the early 2008 so-bad-it's-good sex idea vault: "It’s just him and Kent and the really stupid idea that was beating his ass raw with a hockey stick." Gotta hit it with something, you know?

search the world for something else by somehowunbroken - mature | short | second person POV | angst | au

Your name is Jack Zimmermann, and you were born into hockey.

Ode to Joy by coyotesuspect - mature | short | drunk sex

December 31st, 2008. Parse has a good feeling about the new year.

mess you made by schwule - mature | short | angst

Jack’s life hasn’t been very exciting, despite what people may think. Kent might just be the most thrilling thing that’s ever happened to him.

only time is ours by thistidalwave -  mature | short | angst

 Jack always feels like he’s running. Running to catch up. Running to get ahead. Lungs burning. Legs about to give out. Falling behind, behind, behind. Coming in dead last, even when he hits the finish line before anyone else.

Leaving Me Stranded by mardia - explicit | short 

Jack’s dad and Kent really get along great. Which isn’t a surprise, they’re basically the same sort of person--outgoing, funny, always ready with a story or joke--so when Kent comes out to dinner with Jack and his family, it’s basically those two monopolizing the conversation for the entire meal.

an empty room by quietest_one - explicit | short | smut | established relationship

The Combine is a mad rush of a long weekend, painfully sober, gloriously exhausting. Kent is on the road to reaching his dreams, and he's taking Jack along for the ride. (Or, two boys exchange handjobs around the back of a gym. Whichever you prefer.)

the heart is a risky fuel to burn by idrilka - mature | fluff  and angst | established relationship 

 Montreal in summer is hot as hell, the heat sticky and clinging to the skin. (There were the thirty-four days in the summer of 2009, between winning the Memorial Cup and the NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, where things were perfect. This is one of those days.)

let me feel i'm falling safely to the ground by natscribbles - mature | short

Kent doesn't know which what ifs are more dangerous, can't tell which ones hurt the most.

I Love You, He Thinks by blithelybonny - teen | short 

It's the night before the draft, and Kent knows that this is probably the end.

my versailles at night by thistidalwave - teen | short | au | first kiss

But now—now it’s the quiet of the early morning, they just won the Memorial Cup, and Jack doesn’t want to let this moment pass him by.

where we went by speedboat - mature | short | dysfunctional relationship

Once in the car, Kent does three things: he googles "valium+vodka"; he shakes Jack awake; and he takes a napkin and wipes the tears away from Jack's face.

or: Parse was the one who found Jack during his overdose.

or: In Defense of Kent Parson.

34 days by thistidalwave - explicit | short | fluff and angst 

There were the 34 days in the summer of 2009, between winning the Memorial Cup and the NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, where things were perfect. Who wouldn’t want that back?

it's the stars that score by perfectpro - mature | medium | angst 

It’s a week until the NHL draft. A week until he stops competing with Kent and starts competing against him. A week until he finds out if his dad’s name carries more weight than Kent’s skill does, and Jack sometimes has a hard time breathing when he starts thinking about it.

It’s why he tries not to think about it.

Three Words, Repeated by Freudianity - explicit | short | fluff with an angsty ending 

5+1 Five times Jack told Kent he loved him, and one time he didn't.

to you he is a room by punkpadfoot - teen | short | angst | kent pov to the story followed by the next in this list 

He’s happy now—the weather is warm and the grass is soft and there’s still a pleasant buzz in his head. Jack is close enough to touch. Right now, summer’s end feels distant, less of a looming presence and more of an exit they’ve yet to reach.

to them he is a mirror by misandrywitch - teen | short | angst | jack pov to the story which precedes this in this list

All Jack knows is that after this summer, everything is going to be different.

larger than life by Verbyna - teen | short | also helpfully tagged as: the making of Kent "Victory" Parson“

Everything feels like the end of the world when it happens. No one can see the future, so it’s hard to believe it exists.”

Kent’s dad wasn’t always right, but he was right about that.

if you are looking for the demons that play well with your own by storiesfromtheden - gen | short | angst

Kent spent years counting the things that were not right.

Like A Missing Limb series by thatallone - teen | short | angst | suicide attempt 

Without You

 Prompt: "You need to wake up because I can’t do this without you.”

[delete] 

Kent typed out a lot of texts to Jack in the summer of 2009. He never worked up the nerve to send any of them.

physical or otherwise by jedusaur (podfic - audio only) - explicit | audio length: 3:33 mins | this is short and packs quite a punch; please give it a listen!

"Listen to me, Jack. I am not going first in the draft because of your shitty impulse control."

city without seasons by thepalebluedot - teen | short | angst 

It’s hard to measure time in a city you don’t believe in.

Kent after the draft.

Countdown by SummerFrost - mature | short | drabble | angst 

 Kent Parson spends three years of birthdays asking for Jack Zimmermann. Jack gives what he can; sometimes it's enough.

what might have been lost - mature | short | angst | ransom and holster reads fic au | 5+ 1

five times jack and kent loved each other (and one time they couldn't)

So if you don't mind, I'll walk that line by alyssakate - teen | short | au | 

Kent and Jack play each other at World Juniors in 2008 and then again in 2009.

A story about winning, losing and coming to terms with what really matters.

no sign of land by perichareia - gen | short | unrequited love | angst | 2nd Person POV

i love him.

you’re seventeen years old and the words echo in your head like the aftershock of a heavy check into the glass. for a long moment, your world stops.

dodging bullets with your broken heart by perfectpro - gen | short | angst | mostly jack-centric, but i feel like it's in-character with how jack compartmentalizes his life, which explains a lot about the tension with Kent refusing to be boxed and be forgotten

Kent belongs back in Juniors. Kent belongs at Rimouski, and on the bus traveling to roadies, and on the ice with Oceanic. Kent does not belong on the front porch of the Haus.

the boy you used to be by quietest_one - teen | short | outsider pov | ofc pov | only brief j/p | angsty ending

Five scenes between Ashley Parson and her brilliant, miserable, wonderful big brother. Or: Kent Parson, growing up.

Role Models by MisconductandMimosas - gen | medium | au | read the rest of the series here 

Jack and Kent both missed the draft, albeit for completely different reasons

-or-

“For your ThrowBack Thursday of the week, we sat down with two of the NHL’s finest, Trotsy of the Aces and McLeed of the Rangers to talk their record-breaking Memorial Cup win as well as former juniors star and Zimmermann liney- Kent-“ Holster looked at the magazine article and blinked- “Parson,” he said at a lower volume. “Kent Parson? I forgot about that guy. How did they even find him?”

history begins to be blue and brown eyes by decinq - teen | short | angsty ending, with j/b 

 There are articles upon articles about their on-ice chemistry, the way they move around each other like the well-oiled grooves of an impeccable machine.

welcome to the second reel by idrilka - teen | short | angst 

They win at home. It goes all the way to game six, and then they win in their own home arena after it goes to double overtime, and Kent gets to lift thirty-four pounds of silver into the air.

(In the aftermath of the Aces' first Stanley Cup Championship title, Kent goes to Samwell on his Cup day.)

This is What Happy Looks Like by VerityR ★ - teen | short | angst | i just like the author’s writing of it

It’s been years. Six of them. Kent Parson is not still in love with Jack Zimmermann. But it’s not like he’s in love with anybody else. So when, in his dreams, he stumbles upon something approaching happiness, maybe the figure is vaguely Jack-shaped. Jack-adjacent. But that’s not the same thing as love.

canon/canon divergent

past the last exit by misandrywitch ★ - teen | medium | the prose on this one blows me away

Jack wonders when Kent started asking so many questions that he doesn't have the answers to. It felt so much easier when neither of them asked any at all.

Shut the God Damn Door by jedusaur - mature | short | au | angst maybe? short but poignant

What if Jack went first overall, as planned, and took his addiction with him to Vegas?

go ahead and move along by originally ★ - teen | short | groundhog day au | angst | this one's witty and angsty and hopeful in perfect proportions | epikegster

"Leave, Parse," Jack says. Again.

Or: Kent finds himself stuck in a time loop.

i thought of you and where you'd gone by runphoebe - mature | short | angst with a hopeful ending | has k/omc | love the fics like this that don't view jack with rose colored glasses

When Kent’s name gets called first, he smiles, and when he slips the jersey over his head, he smiles, and when he realizes he’s going to be in Vegas, Las fucking Vegas, he smiles so hard his cheeks ache. Just because Jack’s a huge fucking fuck up who can’t handle being number one doesn’t mean Kent’s going to cry about it.

In which Kent doesn't even bother trying to get over Jack because he knows it's a huge waste of his time.

you're writing your tragedy by forochel - teen | short | angst | podfic available Year 2, Comic 9, Parse - Part III, from Kent's perspective. | epikegster

I basically took 'Kent "Baby One More Time" Parson' and ran with it.

you're familiar like my mirror years ago by nighimpossible - explicit | short | accidental voyeurism | epikegster

Kent and Jack get reacquainted at the Epikegster.

Alternatively: Bitty hears something he shouldn't have.

New Start by SalazarTipton - teen | short | morning after | fluff | post-epikegster

The morning after falling into bed together during Epikegster, Jack wakes up in Kent’s arms.

To Hell With Why by angelsaves - explicit | short | j/p/omc threesome | smut | my alternative excerpt/summary: id have a 3some w/u, Parse texts him after a while. Thanks, Jack replies

Jack has been over Parse for ages. (At least, that's what he tells himself.) In which there is bad-idea sex, accidental voyeurism, an invitation (or two) to a threesome, an actual threesome, and 0% "being over each other" by volume.

the epikegster remix series by defcontwo

you can take this heart - teen | short | epikegster | reconciliation

"So, what the hell was that, then?"

Or: a way that Epikegster could have gone differently.

and don't let go - teen | short | post-epikegster | fluff

"Did you miss me at all?"

Or: what happens when a pair of dumbasses use their words a little better.

down the backs of tabletops by defcontwo - teen | short | has mentions of k/omc and past j/b 

Breakups are a kind of private war, Jack guesses.

varied my velocities by punkpadfoot ★ - teen | short | tentative friendship | tears were shed in the reading of this fic

This should feel like a victory. This shouldn't feel like tiptoeing around broken glass.

This Time (I'm Telling You, I'm Telling You) by sparklyslug - mature | short | angst | established relationship

He and Zimms, they’re pretty good at breakups, historically. They’re pretty good at what comes after the breakup, anyway.

fated to pretend by nighimpossible - teen | short | humor | only j/p if you squint but it's goddamn hilarious with a side of ransom and holster

5 Jack/Kent fics that Ransom and Holster dramatically reenact for the Haus + the truth.

Not Quite Too Late by loveandallthat - explicit | short | au | reconciliation | ahhhh this is nice

Jack accidentally confesses on live television that he had a young love that ended badly. It’s possible that this isn’t quite as bad as he thinks it is.

Seven-Year Itch by Idday ★ - teen | medium | fake/pretend relationship | married au | angst with a happy ending

“I’m sorry,” Georgia says slowly, like she thinks she misheard him. “You said you’re… married?”

Amanda raises her eyebrows and taps something onto her keyboard. “That’s good to know, Mr. Zimmermann, but I’m sure you know that many of our players are married.”

“Right, but this is… different.” Jack says.

“Jack,” Georgia says, “Why did you never mention this before? Do I know your wife?”

“I’m sure you do,” Jack says carefully, “Only… it’s not a wife. It’s Kent Parson.” ... (So what if they’re not pretending to be married. They’re still pretending to be happily married.)

the nearer your destination by achilleees - teen | short | angst | open-ended 

“Parse fought Averin because he was talking shit about you,” Max said bluntly. “And you being here is not going to put him in a better emotional state.”

neutral zone stickhandling by achilleees - explicit | short | injury recovery | humor (hallelujiah) 

The splint around Kent’s leg is a feat of engineering, a hulking behemoth of black plastic and Velcro, but the crutches are sleek and slim. an alternate take on the March of Jack’s senior year.

Push/Pull by thistidalwave, Verbyna - teen | short | soul bond au | break up |  I’m gonna miss him for the rest of my life" stayed with me | why do all the soulbond fics in this pairing all end tragically? Who holds the stars up in the sky? Is true love just once in a lifetime? 

He looks at Kent and feels nothing, if nothing feels like a shattered rib cage, all the protection around his heart gone. Kent is right in front of him, his hair falling into his face and his hands clenched in the sheets, but if Jack closes his eyes, Kent could be anywhere.

(or, Jack and Kent can’t keep their bond if they both want to play in the NHL.)

bang the doldrums by Verbyna -  explicit | short | has j/b | au but almost canon in my head how jack aggressively minimizes kent's importance in his pre-samwell years lol

Kent Parson is not Jack's friend. He’s a fucking fever.

heart between your teeth by schwule - mature | long | angst | has j/b and p/b | angst | POV rotates and has passage of time. has little gut-punching lines like: "He feels the most real when he's with Jack. But Jack escapes reality every chance he gets."

Maybe Jack's not the only one who's scared.

as good as the day I met you by blazeofglory ★ - teen | medium | slow burn | friends to lovers | coming out | getting back together | fluff and angst | gosh the social media banter in between parts are icing on the cake

Kent and Jack come out together. Not together together, though, no matter how much Kent wishes that were true.

Alternately titled: "the jackparse get back together fic."

didn't ask for you by Mizzy ★ - mature | long | reconciliation | humor | apologies | getting back together | friends to lovers | slow burn | jack gets traded to vegas au | podfic available

Kent Parson has well over ninety-nine problems. He has a chronic potty mouth, a sneaking suspicion he may be an actual idiot, a narcissistically-named cat with gas issues, too many sisters... the list goes on.

Kent Parson has more than ninety-nine problems and Jack Zimmermann — freshly, resentfully and recently traded to the Las Vegas Aces — is definitely one of them.

you know i held on too much by unveils - explicit | short | fluff | smut | yay all the way for happy smut 

It takes a minute for the pieces to work together in Jack’s brain, but when he catches Kent’s Britney phone case out of the corner of his eye, heat blooms in his chest to match the spread of red across his cheeks, embarrassment and something else entirely. He doesn’t duck his head, but it’s a near thing, under Kent’s crooked grin. “Really? You think now is a good time to be taking pictures?”

Two swipes and a press of Kent’s thumb has his camera app sliding open to the picture he took. Jack cranes his neck to see, but Kent presses the phone into his hand, slides his hands around Jack’s neck. “Dude, yeah. You make me look good, Zimms.” -- or: the one where jack and kent have fun with camera phones!

my honey i know by achilleees - teen | short | possessiveness | jealousy | reconciliation 

After that, it happened more often than he would ever have wanted to admit. It was almost too easy; girls were always after Kent, but Kent spent too much of his time looking at Jack to notice.

For example, Kent texted him from chemistry one day. Hey lara and aly wanted 2 know if we wanted 2 go thrifting w them after school 2day. No, was all Jack texted back.

Kk, Kent replied, and they didn’t go thrifting with Lara and Aly after school that day.

we could be made for this by stereosymbiosis - explicit | short | pwp

Kent lifts his head and peers up at Jack. “Hey, Zimms, what kind of soap do you use?”

“I’m not sure this is entirely relevant, Parse,” Jack breathes out. Kent looks at the expanse of skin stretched before him, Jack’s muscles taut and twitching, the fucking perfect rise of Jack’s ass, Jack’s legs spread just so and his knees pressed into the mattress for leverage, and yeah. That can probably wait.

Jersey Memories by SalazarTipton - teen | short | reminiscing | hopeful ending

When Jack goes home to Montreal for break and just wants to get his assignments finished, but his parents keep giving him chores. When his mom sends him to look through his old jerseys, he gets lost in some old memories.

take me back to when we started by madameofmusic - teen | short | reminiscing | reconciliation

Kent gets a package in the mail from Jack six months after Jack signs with the Falconers.

let me down gently by perfectpro - teen | short | pining | reminiscing | unrequited love | jack is infuriating, goodbye

They’re never going to be the same carefree best friends that they once were, and Kent’s getting around to accepting that. Things are good, now, but they’re not the same, and that’s okay. He’s getting used to it.

They’re better than they’ve been in years, and that’s really all that he can hope for, but sometimes Kent remembers all the texts he sent at 2 am and all the responses he never got.

Better the Second Time by loveandallthat - teen | short | au | reconciliation

He gets Jack’s text, “you don’t have to,” thirty seconds before he gets a direct email from Jack’s agent.

Of course he has to.

Or, Jack has a public event before he goes into the NHL, and Jack’s agent insists that it won’t be good publicity unless Kent is also there.

the heaviest of burdens by thekissofbees - mature | short | angsty pining 

Kent sleeps with his phone resting on his pillow, the volume cranked up as high as it will go and the vibrate on. He’s stretched the cord of the charger out so that it will reach his bed, and the coating of the wire is beginning to fray and peel off at the top.

(Or: Kent waits for Jack to call.)

Like Slow Motion by apatientwolf - teen | short | reminiscing | angsty pining 

//There in the bathroom I try not to fall apart and the sinking feeling starts as I say hopelessly "he said he'd be here"// OR Taylor Swift's discography is the soundtrack of Kent Parson's life.

The one where it's July 4th 2015 in upstate New York.

Getting Some Rest by SalazarTipton - gen | short | established relationship | fluff

There’s a box under Jack’s desk. When he works on a paper, he’ll kick his feet up on it. Everybody that comes in doesn’t notice it. If they did, it just looks like some miscellaneous box of whatever. Nothing special. They wouldn’t think anything of it. No one knows that battered, footprint covered cardboard box is Jack’s lifeline. On his hardest days and in the surreal, dark hours when his insomnia hits, he opens it up and is able to breathe.

I thought it less like a lake by runphoebe - explicit | short | established relationship | emotional hurt/comfort | smut | author writes some of the best porn in fics i've ever read

Kent likes the difference between their bodies. He likes being shorter than Jack because he can curl comfortably under the weight of Jack’s arm across his shoulders when they stand next to each other, and he likes that Jack’s body on top of his is enough to hold him down and keep him there if Jack doesn’t want him to move. He likes that Jack has big, strong hands and big, thick fingers.

The Aces get knocked out of the playoffs and Kent Parson is having feelings about it. Jack Zimmermann is having feelings about him.

keep your lights on by ladyalysv - explicit | short | rebound sex | au | unapologetically elf-centric jack 

At least with Parse, it's hard to fuck things up more. (2016)

when you were there by defcontwo - mature | short | angsty angst 

Jack plays the Aces for the first time, and two things happen at once: Jack, nervous and fumbling all the way through the warm up, right down to puck drop when he catches sight of that familiar blonde hair and something in him just settles, winds up playing the most beautiful hockey of his season to date.

And Kent ignores him completely.

Redux series by Idday ★ - established relationship | domesticity | fluff | au | the thing with future-ish jackparse fluff aus is that their issues (e.g. kent's insecurities, or jack's  daddy issues) remain to be dealt with and don't vanish by the virtue of love ipso facto, and that's why they're so goddamn satisfying

Like We Were - teen | short | first times (again) | getting back together | friends to lovers

Jack thinks there should be a word for this, for when you fall in love with the same person a second time.

no one has me (like you do) - teen | short | summers and holidays

“Kenny,” Jack says again. “You went golfing for me. That’s how I know it’s real.”

my heart, it came to life - mature | short | family planning??

“Kenny,” Jack says, and falls into the deck chair where Kent is laying out, absorbed in whatever’s on his phone screen. It could be an email from his agent, or it could be a cat video. It’s hard to tell.

The chair is much too small for two fully grown hockey players, but they make it work. Kent drops his phone, but he’s wearing sunglasses, his face hard to read. Jack pulls them down gently until Kent’s squinting up at him, eyes adjusting to the bright afternoon.

“Do you want kids?” Jack asks him.

something about the way you love me (finally feels like home) - teen | short | pseudo-proposal

He loves Jack likes this and loves that he can make him like this—warm and open and laughing with their friends. It makes him stupidly proud, like he has his own personal Jack Zimmermann. He has to share his boyfriend with the rest of the world, sure, but they only get the hockey robot version. Kent gets this Jack, the real Jack, all to himself.

future

The More Things Change by bienenalster - teen | short | winter classic au | getting together | friends to lovers | plays on nostalgia but coming from a place where they've grown up, and ready to try again. just plain adorable

“For one player on the Aces, this game represents the return of youth in another, special way. In just three weeks, Kent Parson, captain of the Las Vegas Aces, will not only be returning to the east coast winter of his childhood, but he will have the rare opportunity of being out on the same pond as his former friend and rival, Jack Zimmermann. The opportunity to play a game outdoors may remind them of their childhood, but from sharing a special bond as young teammates to struggling against each other for victory, this game also shows how much has changed with time.“

Kent texted Jack: “fucking epix”.

Dad Hugs by MisconductandMimosas - gen | short | more kent & bad bob tbh but i’ll take more of this rn | fluff

In the summer of 2019, Kent attends Bob Zimmermann’s private Hockey Hall of Fame Induction party

Love Over Need by loveandallthat - mature | short | relapse | reconcilation | has j/b and breakup |  angst with a happy ending | helloo this author is great at scenes when jack and parse are having a throwdown and fixing their shit 

Because Jack is an addict, and some addicts relapse.

Endgame Jack/Kent. I cannot stress this enough.

In Due Time by loveandallthat - teen | short | reconciliation 

Jack’s been in the NHL for several years now. The Falconers rose to glory and fell again, just like the Aces. Jack gets on a plane to Vegas.

Behind Closed Doors by loveandallthat - explicit | short | reconciliation | friends to lovers | getting together 

It’s just a tabloid. Nobody’s going to believe it anyway; it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. Jack can tell himself any one of these things a thousand times and he’s never going to believe them.

Confirmed: Kent Parson Las Vegas Aces’ First Choice All Along It doesn’t even help that the last line is, “When asked for comment, Kent Parson said, ‘Who even cares anymore?’”

17 Again by daeguarchives - teen | short | friends to lovers | angst

“I can’t believe I actually thought I was in love with you, once.”

17 was a bad time for both of them, they both know that. Except now Kent's kidding himself into thinking he can move on and Jack's kidding himself into thinking he has moved on and for some reason, 17 seems a much better time than now.

new jersey is for lovers series by defcontwo, sparkyplugs  ★ | it's soft and sweet and sometimes, that's enough

Ready to Walk a Path That's New - teen | short | curtainfic | fluff

They’ll always have things to apologize to each other for. But these days, they’re trying to focus on what they have to thank each other for.

These days, that’s a much longer list.

There's a place for you and me - mature | short | proposal | fluff

“I don’t know, I just, uh. It wasn’t there. He’s not the kind of guy I could see myself ending up with, I guess.”

Jack laughs, warm and close, the standard pre-chirp Zimmermann coming in at the edges. “And what kind of guy would that be?”

Kent swallows hard, and thinks, You. Fuck me, it’s always going to be you. Or: the slow and steady steps to a happily ever after.

the way that you flip your hair by achilleees - teen | short | established relationship | praise kink | emotional hurt/comfort | unfff

“And my running observation is that Parse can’t take a compliment from you without blowing it off. Could be a coincidence, but no evidence to the contrary since I started paying attention,” Ransom said.

“What?” Jack said, right as Kent walked back in the room.

the river twice by Verbyna - teen | short | addiction relapse | angst | hopeful ending at least

Going to Vegas seemed like the only option.

player judged most valuable by achilleees - teen | short 

prompt: future fic, jack’s been in the nhl a few years, ignoring parse when they play the aces. he can’t ignore him the night of the nhl awards, not when he looks this good, not when he fucking thanks jack in his hart acceptance speech.

i really really really really really really like you by achilleees ★ - teen | short | insecurity | established relationship | jack reassuring kent is my forever jam

“Hey,” Jack said. “My parents love you, alright? They have never not loved you. This is going to be fine.”

“Condescension negates cookie privileges,” Kent said, and shut the door in his face.

some nebulous universe called domesticity series by alwaysbuddy ★ -  established relationship | fluff | humor

keep your hands on me - explicit | short | sex dream | feminization | dirty talk af

“Not a girl then?”

“It was, yeah,” Jack admits, throat feeling a little tight, “you were the girl.

”in search of our lost time - explicit | short | hurt/comfort | bathtub sex

Jack rests a hand lightly on the porcelain, skimming forward to catch one of Kent’s wrists, where it’s dangling off the edge of the tub. Kent immediately turns his hand over, and wraps two fingers around Jack’s own wrist loosely, tugging in a way that says, why aren’t you in here with me yet, huh?

Maybe I'm Not Too Young to be a Cowboy by bsmog - teen | medium | retirement | injury

Kent is 34 years old. He's won everything there is to win in the world of hockey (just not this year, let's not talk about it, okay?), but ever since an injury took Jack out of hockey altogether, there's something missing on the ice. What the hell is the offseason for if not to find out what that is?

If only anything was ever that easy where Jack Zimmermann was concerned.

Wait So Long by perfectpro - gen | short | fluff | wedding and marriage | domesticity

Let it never be said that Kent Parson doesn’t work for what he wants. Trembling, Kent gets off his knee, but he doesn’t close the ring box. “I don’t want to win another Cup alone. I don’t want to win another Cup without you,” he explains, and it’s a confession if it’s anything. He doesn’t know how to make it not true.

Gordie Meow by madameofmusic - teen | short | fluff | established relationship | humor

Kent’s cats are allergic to Jack. This isn’t even the most ridiculous thing Jack’s had to deal with.

Kent “No Chill” Parson by MisconductandMimosas - gen | short | humor | all-star weekend au | established relationship, if you read this first 

“Be on my team for the All-Star game,” Kent said suddenly.

Jack chuckled, “They haven’t even announced next year’s format yet. It could be by division this year. Even if it’s not, they could make us opposing captains.”

[warlordgab]

Analysis: Romance in One Piece

Note: I’ll be posting condensed versions of this analysis in other sites

A) Relevance of plot and characterization AKA Unbiased Readers Vs. Delusional Shippers “Who lives on illusions dies from disappointment” – An old Puerto Rican saying Most of us know One Piece is a very popular manga. Its high quality and popularity depend on several factors, among them we could name memorable and likable characters along a deep, compelling, fun and action-packed story. The One Piece many know and love wouldn’t exist without the balance between these factors When talking to at least 3 different One Piece fans, each of them non-shippers who analyzed the manga they all enjoy, I found interesting and pretty sound perspectives of the One Piece story and its nature. All of them value characters, story, development, consistency, and logic; something I can totally relate to But I also found a pattern; these 3 guys shared one single outlook on the very same subject: shipping. Regardless of their expectations, all of them expressed distaste for shippers’ general mindset and “odd” viewpoint: One of them called shippers out for ignoring characterization and very clear and direct statements made in the manga. His attention was centered on a Luffy pairing and how it contradicts his own character. Oda once explained that he writes Luffy as someone pretty straightforward when it comes to expressing his thoughts and feelings, and this non-shipper said with brutal honesty that for the discussed ship to happen we would need to disregard and/or discard the very core of Luffy’s character. Meaning Oda would need to stop being consistent and faithful to his own story and characters The next one explained how shippers tend to turn a characters’ relationship into a sappy teen love fantasy that doesn’t match One Piece at all. His analysis also exposed how integrating this kind of underdeveloped “love” into the story would severely damage One Piece originality, ruin the series and needless to say destroy the likable dynamics between several characters as well as their own development. This fantasy, this so-called “love”, is what the vast majority of shippers support and defend. The same kind of “love” most non-shippers, fans, and critics dread The third non-shipper gave me a more detailed explanation: this is even more rough than the other two as he describes that the common shipper mentality of “he/she likes her/him so they should be together” can “only be likened to that of elementary schoolers”. And how shippers take every little meaningless detail and blow it out of proportion with no regard for context, legitimate bonding or the canon story! But we can’t put all the blame on shippers. Many manga authors seem to have no idea how to write a character-driven series or complex character relationships. In fact, mainstream shonen writers have their fair share of guilt into promoting this common shipping mindset by being notoriously bad at writing romance. Which results in underveloped premises that leave your average fan skeptical, and your average critic disappointed at a poor portrayal of emotional bonding and a severe lack of cohesive narrative in the "romantic love" department This is the reason why many fans, critics and non-shippers hold the shippers’ perspective in a very low regard. Just like the third non-shipper states: “The blushing, longing stares, corny ass lines etc. That kind of poorly portrayed romance is the kind of thing dreaded by the average fan because it reduces the quality of One Piece to the level of such poorly written series” So an author needs to build a relationship the same way one person would construct a building: stablishing a strong foundation on companionship, respect, trust, signifcant moments, and emotional bonding. All of this must come before reaching the status of “romantic interest". In relation to this subject, there’s a trope called “First Girl Wins”, a portion of its description truly fits this criteria: “From a [extradiegetic] point of view, the Law of Conservation of Detail suggests introducing the Love Interest early. An early introduction allows you to get the audience interested in her and rooting for her, gives you space for Character Development, and gives her relationship with her (eventual) partner the most time to develop organically. And with all that said, it's such a common device that in all likelihood, it sometimes gets played for its own sake.” – tvtropes.org, 2017 Notice this isn’t a cliché, this is a literary device to enhance the story. Pairing up two characters without meaningful moments, emotional build-up and development, is the equivalent to lazy writing. Having such elements firmly stablished for two characters and then deciding to go for a different “route”, pretty much wasting a well-developed relationship for the sake of a “weaker” premise, would be the equivalent to bad writing Is Oda, the man who’s willing to die for One Piece, a lazy writer? Of course not! Is he, a man who planned the ending years ago and is still sticking to said ending, a bad writer? Being number 1 in Japan and having such a loyal fanbase all around the world prove he’s not! Do shippers want Oda to be a lazy/bad writer? Facts already answered this question as many (although not all) fans value their own fantasies and delusions over the manga canon and/or the author’s take on the characters and their relationships Many (but not all) shippers now have a war. Not only against rival ships but mainly against One Piece story and consistent development. Yet as the old saying goes, those who live on delusions will have to eventually face reality and disappointment, because Oda is not a lazy/bad writer like some people here would want him to be

B) Romance Dawn AKA The not so secret origins of One Piece “If we don't know where we are going, it can be helpful to know where we come from” – Jostein Gaarder When debating posible outcomes, fans rarely look back at the time when One Piecewas a still a work in progress. Taking a look at Romance Dawn V.1 and Romance Dawn V.2 helps us to see there are constants present in all versions of these Works that made it into what would later become the most popular manga in Japan But before discussing those constants I would like to clarify the meaning of the word: “Romance”. There are people who doesn’t really grasp the concept of “Romance” both One Piece and Oda work with. Luckily the first two non-shippers I meantioned shed some light on this subject: Romance: "A mysterious or fascinating quality or appeal, as of something adventurous, heroic, or strangely beautiful" "A long fictitious tale of heroes and extraordinary or mysterious events, usually set in a distant time or place" "A narrative in verse or prose, written in a vernacular language in the Middle Ages, dealing with strange and exciting adventures of chivalrous heroes" – thefreedictionary.com, 2016 "A prose narrative treating imaginary characters involved in events remote in time or place and usually heroic, adventurous, or mysterious" –  Merriam Webster, 2016 Romantic: "Marked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized" "Having an inclination for romance: responsive to the appeal of what is idealized, heroic, or adventurous" –  Merriam Webster, 2016 These definitions match pretty well One Piece and Oda outlook on this concept. Even Oda lampshaped this by giving his own translation to the title: 冒険の夜明け (“Bōken no Yoake”, “Dawn of the Adventure”) So Oda’s “romance” covers a wide variety of themes: Adventure, heroism, mystery, virtue, idealism… we can find comedy and tragedy, happiness and sadness. And among the virtues and the idealism we find companionship and love. As the second non-shipper I mentioned explained One Piece is pretty much like an “Adventure novel”, which is why we’ll find in One Piece many of the tropes commonly used in those books Among those tropes, we find a couple of constants in all versions of “Romance Dawn”

The golden-hearted protagonist and the “First Girl” who doubles as a female lead. Think about this "what if" scenario: If things would’ve played different back then and One Piece never went beyond “Romance Dawn V.1”. If that story were to be elaborated futher, which two characters would had shared the most moments to become endgame? The answer is pretty simple: The golden-hearted protagonist and the female lead! But when debating, the weight of the argument depends on edvidence so we need to rely on what we can confirm. And we confirm this, what’s the constant in Luffy’s story in all versions of Romance Dawn? a Nami-like character

This becomes even more interesting when we discover that at an interview at “Manga no Chikara” and others, Nami was supposed to be the first one to join Luffy but her debut was postponed by Oda’s editor at that time. Edvidence of this being a last minute decision remains on the first color cover:

Yet as the second non-shipper noted: “her role as secondary protagonist was not altered” for “Nami shares with Luffy the largest character development in the entire series”. And as explained here we already know how the trope goes when someone seeks to write a natural growth for an emotional connection between two characters 

In fact, the relevance of Nami to Luffy’s story is implied in what Oda himself said about Strong World: “I really wanted to make a ‘hero saves the heroine’ story (ヒロインを助けるヒーローを描きたい the japanese sentence). [....]. You might think otherwise, but I had no intention of bringing in someone new to fill that [heroine] role. So when I had to think about whom to use for it amongst the straw hats of course that meant Nami”

In Oda’s mind, Luffy is the hero and Nami is the heorine! We can tell that the hero and the heroine are meant to be the driving forces of the series, and therefore putting them together makes the most sense from a storytelling perspective

C) LuffyxNami AKA LuNa/LuNami “Logical consequences are the scarecrows of fools and the beacons of wise men” – Thomas Huxley

Many shippers tend to ignore and disregard the importance of staying faithful to the canon story, and the author’s take on the characters and their relationships

To makes matters worst some of them even deem as illogical any argument solidly based on these factors. While considering stuff like lines, frogs, sweat, fire, nonexistent sexual tension, assumption of sexuality, and even assumptions of pregnancy, as legitimate proofs of a plausible outcome! In fact they even value comparisons to other series with a different tone, themes, and characters over anything that the One Piece author conveys through his work There’s even people who goes as far as editing the wiki as if that would change the story to match their preferred pairing! But in order to reach a conclusion that remains true to One Piece and its nature we have to rely on the very same foundation that was already described several times: mutual trust/respect, faith on one another, significant moments, stress in their relationship and emotional development. If the story doesn’t let you build your premises on these elements, the conclusion you’ll reach will obviously be flawed and stray away from what One Piece really is So here I’m not only defending the premise I strongly support; I’m defending the very same story and build-up that contributes to this bond’s natural growth: As explained before there’s nothing explicitly romantic about major interactions. But given we’re dealing with a good and dilligent writer, what we’ll get to see is how big to small moments stablish an emotional connection between two characters, and how that becomes the base for a even greater growth First we have the themes of trust and faith: At first Nami doesn’t trust Luffy very much, out of her clear distate for pirates, until witnessing how far was Luffy willing to go to selflessly help others. Even then Nami treated their relationship as a mere business and later betrayed the crew Still Luffy always trusted Nami to the point of putting blind faith in her. Even when given reasons not to do so. One remarkable example is when Luffy was informed by someone trustworthy (Johnny) that Nami apparently “killed” to Usopp, and Luffy not only kept holding onto his blind faith in Nami but he also threatened Johnny for saying such things about her

This becomes something remarkable when we take into consideration that Zoro quickly gave up on Nami and later tried to attack her without even a second thought! While Usopp just wanted  the Merry back…

And it would later become even more impressive in the Whiskey Peak Arc when Luffy came to doubt Zoro because of the words of wounded man he didn't even know, and even doubted Robin during Water 7 until Nami told him and the crew the truth behind Robin's desertion:

But what else makes this situation with Nami any different from others we see in the manga? Some might point to the saga where rescuing Robin was the primary objective; but in Robin's case Luffy knew her life was in danger for Robin was planning to die for the crew, and he got the resolve to save her only after learning the truth. Others might point to the current arc, but he saw right through Sanji's act and got desperate to rescue him only after hearing his life is in danger. Here, Nami’s life wasn't in danger as far as Luffy knew. And he constantly try to reach out to her despite her harsh attitude and the fact he knew next to nothing about her past and her current circumstances. It was only when he saw her cry he got enough motivation to beat Arlong, and it was only when he got a small glimpse of what she went through that he lost it! How does Nami respond to this? Initially she wanted to get Luffy out of her villaje and her life. While Nami indeed grew fond of Luffy and the others she wasn't willing to bond with any of them; she held on her distrust of others. But that changed when she finally hitted her lowest point, when she finally lost all hope. Then it comes Nami's first major development as character: she realized she needed to rely on someone else, she realized Luffy was her only hope Nami decided to rely on him. The following scene marks the first time of many when Nami relied on Luffy to a emotional level. And the first of two times when Luffy entrusted his treasure to her in a touching gesture to provide comfort and hope:

From the very beginning the emotional build-up between Luffy and Nami was a key factor for one of the most meaningful and memorable moments in One Piece. The moment when Luffy becomes Nami’s “emotional anchor” The effect Luffy had on her character was also quite powerful as we could see during the 2nd pass of the hat: back then at Skypiea arc Nami could still panic at dreadful situations: 

But as soon as Luffy gave her his treasure, the panic stopped and when he was later removed from the battle field, Nami was capable of drawing enough courage from Luffy to face the big bad from that arc:

Not to mention Luffy’s final move against Enel was combined effort of the two as well as an impressive display of mutual trust/faith We can continue to appreciate their development even futher as the story goes on. As someone already pointed out, Nami during Water 7 displayed an impressive resolve and determination, but as soon as she got the chance to explain Luffy their situation she opened her heart to express how she felt, her anguish and her distress. When Luffy reassures her that he will save Robin, she doesn’t cry anymore until she reunites with Robin Their bonding is even futher explored in the only One Piece movie fully written by Oda: Strong World. As this is the author’s take on their relationship is still a valid argument to support Luffy/Nami development: We already considered how impressive Luffy’s blind faith in Nami can be. So after listening to most of Nami's recorded message, Luffy gets enraged! Why?

Well, after all that time Luffy relied on his navigator without ever doubting her. He was likely expecting all his trust and faith in Nami to be reciprocated Turns out Nami does return that feeling! And why can we say that? Remember the movie's ending: Nami finds out everyone in the crew got her hidden "save me" at the end of her message... everyone but Luffy. Then when Luffy is about to play the recorded proof of Nami's unwavering faith in him, what does she do? She tries to get rid of the "edvidence" out of embarrassment 

It’s easy to see then why Nami seeked out Luffy for hope and comfort during Zou. And how she did something similar to what happened in Water 7: she opened up to Luffy

I said it before, since Luffy is Nami’s “emotional anchor”, it makes sense for her to keep strengthening her bond with Luffy. And given Luffy needs a guide to new adventures and someone “mature” enough to sometimes keep him in line, it makes sense for Luffy to grow closer to Nami She once summed it up pretty well: "He always talks big, but when it comes down to it, he knows nothing about the sea! He's severely lacking in the 'sense of danger' area! And he always overdoes it...if I left him alone, he'd die. And he's stupid, so I have to take care of him. That's why I'm gonna help him!" - Nami, chapter 596 Still, none of this is explicitly romantic in the traditional sense of the word. But just like someone who’s constructing a building, we start dealing with the foundations to then proceed to make a solid structure: a well-written relationship that enhances the story As someone once reviewed, Luffy and Nami dynamic doesn’t need to change for them to become endgame for they already have anything they need to finish that “building”. And that’s what’s being a potent pairing means: having everything to your favor for further development and growth. Luffy and Nami definitively have the major moments and the emotional bonding while remaining consistent to the One Piece canon to be considered a Potent Pairing

Bonus:

It's interesting we find other interaction that proves how comfortable is Nami around Luffy: 

She doesn't mind having Luffy around her, what she really minds is Luffy wanting to go to dangerous places But why is this relevant? In Thriller Bark we had a clear showing of how she reacts to pervs trying to accomplish what Luffy did here. She electrocutes them. We can confirm she haven't changed in this regard because at the end of Fishman Island arc Nami electrocutes a perv for trying to peek at her while she was taking a bath Another interesting detail about Nami's attitude toward Luffy is a change we see in WCI. Of course, we have the remarkable faith and trust Nami puts on Luffy by even boasting how him being the future Pirate King ensures their victory over Cracker's ability.

But the real change is when Sanji brutalizes Luffy. Nami already stated she felt guilty for what happened when Sanji got taken. But when Sanji did his "little" number on Luffy her attitude changed, she not only begged him to stop but was also promising they'll leave if he did (Luffy clearly disagreed on that)

After seeing the way Sanji treated her captain, Nami did something the could seem pretty justified because of what happened: she slapped Sanji and then sarcastically played along Sanji's "royal" act. When she goes to Luffy and finds out her captain is not relenting on his effort to get Sanji back, she gives us this little gem:

The Japanese text for Nami's dialogue reads: "Luffy!! Why?! No matter what his reasons are, after he did all that to you…" The term she used here for the line in bold conveys the idea of severe mistreatment. She was obviously mad at the way Sanji attacked and badmouthed Luffy and his dream. Ironically Luffy is the one who shows far more emotion to the prospect of getting Sanji back than Nami, she kept displaying far more concern for Luffy as the chapters went on Nami is now showing, little by little, more of an emotional attachment to Luffy. Which makes a lot of sense given what we saw in their story

[snowinabottlearchived]

𝚂𝙴𝙽𝙳 💋 𝚃𝙾 𝙺𝙸𝚂𝚂 𝙼𝚈 𝙼𝚄𝚂𝙴  ╱  𝙰𝙲𝙲𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚜𝚊𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 @bluemoontm​​ 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚎𝚍 : 💋 𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚜𝚊𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚒𝚛𝚍

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐏𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐄.  dreadful   years   of   loss   and   guilt   over  ,   a   war   won   that   seemed   impossible   to   be  .   for   once   the   mutant   felt   like   life   as   it   was   could   lead   her   down   a   path   that   had   a   happy   ending   for   them   to   offer  .   something   more   than   fighting  ,   something   more   than   running  ,   hiding  .   NO   MORE   FEAR  .   cheeks   are   rosy   as   heartfelt   kiss   is   placed   onto   while   a   grin   appeared   on   painted   lips  .   peeking   over   her   glasses  ,   woman   of   ice   could   not   withstand   the   urge   to   pick   on   one   of   her   closest   friends   in   old   fashioned   tradition  .   IT   HAD   BEEN   TOO   LONG  .   having   sam   back  ,   having   them   all   around   again   was   more   than   she   could   have   ever   wished   for  ,   more   than   had   seemed   possible   only   a   few   weeks   ago  .   ❛   i   really   don  ‘  t   want   to   disappoint   you  ,   chicken   wings  .  ❜    raising   her   hand   on   which   she   wore   VINTAGE   JEWELRY  ,   ready   to   pull   off   the   entire   beyonce   move  .   ❛   but   i   am   an    engaged   woman   now  .   someone   else   PUT   A   RING   ON   IT  .  ❜  

[snowinabottlearchived]

𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚆𝙷𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝙾𝚄𝙶𝙷𝚃 𝚆𝙰𝚁 𝚆𝙾𝚄𝙻𝙳 𝙴𝚅𝙴𝚁 𝙱𝙴 𝙾𝚅𝙴𝚁 ? 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚐𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚊 𝚓𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛 @rgerscap

[snowinabottlearchived]

𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 →  𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚊𝚞𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 @envoutnt​

𝐆𝐀𝐙𝐄  𝐅𝐈𝐗𝐄𝐒  𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐑 ,  𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 .      sitting   in   her   winter   garden  ,   two   drinks   standing   between   them   it   felt   like   but   an   illusion  ,   a   dream   to   good   to   be   true  .   WAR   WAS   OVER  ,   the   universe   safe     (    for   now    )     and   those   they   had   believed   lost   gained   back   with   mere   luck   on   their   side  .    would   they  ,   could   they   ever   truly   rest    ?   ?       ❛     what   about   you   now  ,   ellie    ?   ?    any   plans  ,   any   ideas   what   to   do   with   this   odd   peace    ?   ?    you   know  ,   you   will   always   have   a   place   here  .    ❜      

[snowinabottlearchived]

◟ 𝚅𝙴𝚁𝚈 𝚂𝙰𝙳 𝙿𝙾𝚂𝚃 𝙴𝙽𝙳𝙶𝙰𝙼𝙴 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝚁 ◝         𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚘𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚖𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚍 @rgerscap​

𝐒𝐇𝐄  𝐖𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒  𝐅𝐎𝐑  𝐀  𝐌𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 ,  𝐅𝐎𝐑  𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 ,  𝐅𝐄𝐋𝐓  𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐘 .    hope   is   but   a   small   flame   that   slowly   dies   out   with   time   passing   without   a   sign  ,   without   a   signal  .   DEEP   INSIDE   SHE   HAD   ALWAYS   KNOWN   THE   TRUTH   and   despite   heart   had   tried   to   deny   it   ever   so   long  ,   reality   would   now   win   over   childish   fantasies  .   lips   tremble   as   feet   start   to   move  ,   wind   growing   colder   with   every   step   leading   her   to   nearby   lake  .   do   not   look   back   at   their   faces  .   do   not   let   them   see   what   breaks   you  ,   what   burns   tiny   flakes   and   leaves   nothing   but   melted   dreams  .   deep   breath   taken  ,   lungs   gasping   for   air   as   doe   eyes   redden  ,   fingers   clenched   into   woolen   fabric   of   her   cardigan  .   HE   WILL   NOT   COME   BACK   FOR   YOU  .   he   will   not   return   from   where   he   belonged   to     (    it   would   be   foolish   to   only   think   about   yourself    )     .   man   out   of   time  ,   a   life   stolen   that   he   deserved   to   live  .   and   still  .   tears   are   as   icy   as   mutants   skin  ,   hand   covering   her   mouth   to   suppress  ,   to   hold   back   the   pain   trying   to   emerge  .   things   are   going   to   change  ,   a   new   era   ahead  .   BUT   WHAT   FOR   IF   IT   WAS   WITHOUT   HIM   ?   ? 

[snowinabottlearchived]

◟ 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙲𝙰𝙻𝙻 ◝ → 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 @outlawiism​ 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚚𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚕

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓  𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐒  𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ,  𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒  𝐎𝐅  𝐇𝐄𝐑  𝐋𝐈𝐏𝐒  𝐏𝐔𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃  𝐔𝐏𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 .       she   can  ‘  t   quite   remember   the   last   time   facial   expression   was   truly   beaming   of   joy  ,   with   the   knowledge   that   everything   that   could   be   done   WAS   DONE  .   war   was   over  ,   dreadful   enemy   defeated   and   friendships   rekindled   that   had   been   vanished   to   dust  .   HOW   LUCKY   THEY   WERE   TO   BE   ALIVE  ,   to   stand   next   to   those   they   loved  ,   they   had   tried   to   bring   back   for   so   many   years  .   a   dream   far   away   now   vivid   reality  ,   bright   sun   shining   above   their   heads   again  .   EVERYONE   WAS   SAVED  ,   despite   former   home   lied   in   ruins     (    something   they   would   get   through   together  ,   would   rebuild   to   its   former   glory    )     .   a   sniff   as   doe   eyes   start   to   redden  ,   emotions   on   a   constant   roller   coaster   ever   since  .        ❛     never   thought   to   see   you   again  ,   smartass .    ❜        ,   mutant   says   with   a   hint   of   melancholy   as   she   suppressed   the   urge   to   wrap   cold   arms   around   every   creature  ,   every   being   that   had   been   held   so   dearly  .       ❛     seems   like   not   even   thanos   himself   could   keep   you   from   terrorizing   earth  ,   mh   ?  ?     ❜      

[snowinabottlearchived]

𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝚍𝚘𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚊 𝚓𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝚖𝚞𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚒𝚐𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖𝚜

A  DEEP   BREATH   LEAVING   RED   LIPS ,   FINGERS   GROWING   COLD .   a   last   glimpse   granted   on   familiar   faces   before   professional   expression   was   put   upon   own   one .   this   evening   wasn  ‘  t   but   of   great   importance   for   growing   strong   together      (    again    )     ,   but   also   to   establish   what   they   had   failed   to   so   many   years .   EQUALITY .   a   solid   base   for   outcasts ,   for   those   not   protected   by   any   law .   A   CHANGE   MUST   COME .    the   odds   in   their   favor .   a   future   to   take ,   a   dream   to   finally   come   true .   A   CHANCE .   white   dress   softly   covering   her   curves ,   long   strands   of   brunette   hair   falling   down   womans   shoulders   as   hand   reached   out   to   adjust   the   microphone .   she   was   not   alone   !   !     ❛     GOOD   EVENING   LADIES   AND   GENTLEMEN ,   good   evening   to   everyone   who   is   watching .   thank   you   for   opening   your   ears   and   hearts   on   this   important   day   of   reunion ,   on   this   day   on   which   we   want   to   celebrate   life   itself .   the   last   five   years   have   been   but   a   battle   for   all   of   us ,   a   time   of   hardship   and   loss   when   humankind   was   put   on   the   edge   of   existence .   you   have   remained   strong ,   we   never   stopped   believing   and   now ,   finally   we   can   say   that   THE   STRUGGLE   IS  OVER .   the   stars   will   shine    upon   us   tonight   and   lead   the   way   into   a    bright   future   in   which   we   can   all  CO   EXIST   WITHOUT   FEAR .   to   most   of   you   it   is   well   known   that   there   are   those   among   us   who   were   born   different .   people   like   me  ,   who   have   been   called   many   things   in   the   past   besides   their   most   popular   definition .   MUTANTS .   living   a   life   as   outcasts   not   many   have   been   as   lucky   as   me .    ❜     a   short   pause ,   eyes   searching   for   blonde   locks   in   the   mass ,   before   attention   was   focused   on   the   obvious   again .     ❛     i   consider   my   life   a   gift ,   the   people   i   am   honored   to   share   it   with   more   than   i   could  have   ever   asked   for   and   still .   there   are   lost   souls   out   there   who   walk   in   the   shadows ,  hiding .   those   who   can   do   good ,   who   can   be   of   use   for   society   and   make   planet   earth   a   safer   place  as   long   as   it   needs   healing .   THANOS   IS   DEFEATED ,   but   we   shall   never   forget   it  ‘  s   costs ,   the   high   price   that   was   paid   to   see   the   sun   rise   again .   and   it   will .   it   has   to ,    no   matter   ones   origin   or   genes ,   no   matter   what   had   happened   in   the   past .   THIS   FUTURE   IS   OURS   TO   CREATE   and   while   it   is   a   fragile   one ,   we   can   accomplish   it   together .   we   have   to   face   the   truth   of   extraterrestrial   life   among   us ,   about   a   new   era   to   come ,   about   a   change   that   was  needed   so   desperately .   while   i   will   step   back    from   my   former   duties ,   my   heart   will   always   beat   for   the   avengers ,   for   the   family   that   i   chose   and   for   the   one   i   decided   to   GIVE   MY   OWN   FUTURE   TO .   in   a   few   moments   scarlett   lyssander   will   open   up   our   plans   of   a   facility   to   shelter   and   support   those   without   a   perspective ,   those   who   are   as   afraid   as   i   once   was .   there   is   a   way ,   there   is   a   place   for   everyone .   HUMANITY   HAS   GOT   A   SECOND   CHANCE ,   so   let   it   take   us   with   open   arms   and   turn   this   world   into   one   worth   living   in ,   no   matter   what   is   flowing   through   your   veins ,   no   matter   what   you   were   born   as .    ❜      

[snowinabottlearchived]

verses   tagdump  .   god  .   i  have   way   too   many  .

[snowinabottlearchived]

DEEP   BREATH   MADE ,   EYES   STARING   AT   STRANGE   REFLECTION .   expression   was    indefinite ,    a   mixture   of   worries   and   an   uneasy   feeling   painted   on   pale   face .   SHE   WAS   NOT   USED   TO   THOSE   THINGS   ANYMORE ,   soft   fabric   on   cold   skin   not   to   be   compared   with   battle   suit   protecting   her   from   any   harm .   she   felt   raw ,   thrown   back   into   a   world   that   was   afraid ,   demanded   the   truth ,   ASKED   FOR   HOPE .   where   had   time   gone    ?   ?    nervously   twisting   vintage   ring   on   her   finger ,   tips   started   to   itch   like   they   used   to   when   she   was   younger .     ❛     i   am   not   sure   about   this .    ❜     ,   she   finally   whispers   before   turning   to   her   beloved .     ❛     after   all   these   years ,   after   everything   that   happened .   wounds   need   healing ,   people   deserve   answers ,   but   what   if   it   won  ‘  t   be   enough   ?  ?    ❜  

𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐆𝐀𝐋𝐀 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐔𝐋 @rgerscap