#39 years later and they're still around

[omg-hellgirl]

In 1985, Mick Jagger responded to a question regarding the end of The Rolling Stones: "I think they've still got a long way to go."

[nostalgiacountdown]

Onodera Ritsu no Baai No.39 Summary

Hi there! This chapter released last year on December 27th! I’ve wanted to do this style of post for quite a few magazine issues, but this is the first time I’m getting around to actually doing it. I encourage you to buy Emerald magazine, which Sekaiichi Hatsukoi releases in three times a year, as well as the volume releases when possible. Summary below!

The chapter begins with Ritsu leaving Takano’s apartment the morning after the events of the last chapter, promising to come back after he’s showered and gotten dressed at his own apartment to eat breakfast with Takano.

The whole time that Ritsu is on his own in his apartment he’s having an internal monologue about his now boyfriend that keeps switching between sweet and hilarious.

While he’s in the shower, he reflects on recent events and eventually he looks at himself in the mirror, thinking back to the previous night when he sees himself covered in hickies from the neck down. (Oddly enough, these are gone by the end of the chapter despite it being the evening of the same day.) He thinks about how good the sex was the night before and how he could feel Takano’s excitement through his body. Thinking about it makes him all fuzzy and happy.

When he exits the shower, he asks himself if he and Takano are really dating now, and he concludes that their relationship has upgraded from their weird sex friend status to proper lovers. But thinking about the word “lover” gets him all hung up on the concept of dating in general. What do lovers do? How is he supposed to act from now on? He thinks back to Ch.18 when Takano said that he just wanted to be lovey-dovey/flirt with him all the time. Ritsu still doesn’t understand that line of thought months later, so being Ritsu, he sits down on the couch once he’s dressed and pulls out his phone to look up what “lovey-dovey”/flirting/whatever really means.

“Commuting together? Eating together? …Huh? We already do that, don’t we? No, no, there has to be something more to it. Giving each other presents? Going on dates? Going on overnight trips together? Sex? …Were we already dating??”

Other than the out-of-whack order in which things played out, Ritsu is realizing that they have a fairly normal relationship. He doesn’t know where to start or how to act though now that the label they're putting on it has changed.

As he sits there continuing to spiral, Hatori sends him a text. Chiaki finished his manuscript a couple of days before his extended deadline and he wants Ritsu to come in early to help him check it because it’s suspicious that it’s supposedly done. He gives up on breakfast with Takano (not bothering to actually contact Takano to say what he’s doing before he’s left the building, instead waiting to do so until he’s already out of there, bad Ritsu 😭) and heads into work.

As expected, there’s issues with the manuscript. It’s missing multiple pages. Hatori is apologetic for having Ritsu come in ahead of him to check something that wasn’t even complete, but Ritsu assures him that it’s fine. Next Kisa comes in, and then right after him is Takano, who gives a look to Ritsu that conveys that he’s not thrilled about how their day started. Although from the outside he’s acting pretty normal, Ritsu can tell that Takano is unhappy with him, only talking to him for necessary work tasks. Ritsu is still ruminating on the concept of being lovers and how he still doesn’t get it, trying to tell himself that this couldn’t be helped because they’re towards the end of the editing cycle and things are busy.

Later during the work day, Ritsu leaves his desk to go grab a drink from one of the vending machines. While by the elevator, he overhears people from other departments talking about Kurusu (the girl who confessed to Takano last chapter) and how she had come to work with bloodshot eyes as if she’d been crying. She was playing it off as hay fever, but the people gossiping could tell she was lying. Ritsu listens in until the elevator he’s waiting for arrives, and he thinks to himself how because Takano loves him and accepted his confession that she’ll never be able to be with Takano. The whole thing makes him feel awkward, but he couldn’t give up on Takano.

The next page cuts to the vending machine, and right as Ritsu goes to choose his drink, Takano swoops in and presses the button for him. Ritsu scolds him, asking him just how many times he’s going to do something like this. (I only remember him doing it on screen once in No.5) Takano still doesn’t say anything to him though, just handing him the bottle that fell from the vending machine. Ritsu starts to worry that Takano is really upset with him. He wishes that Takano would just tell him with words what was wrong, that he wouldn’t understand unless he told him. (Callback to No.21)

His thoughts shift to how it was bad of him to do what he did this morning, but just then what appears to be a high school couple in uniform walk past the front windows of the office. Ritsu can’t help but notice how natural the two of them look holding hands and smiling. (Callback to 4.5) At some point he starting thinking that things would change if they were dating, but he’s wondering if he set his expectations too high.

Cut to the end of the workday, and Takano approaches Ritsu as he exits the office building, calling out to him. Ritsu is stiff at first, bowing and telling Takano he did good today and that he’d be leaving now, but Takano just said they’d be walking home together. Ritsu is surprised, but doesn’t fight it, even agreeing when Takano asks if they can walk awhile longer today to the second nearest station instead.

There’s a shot of them surrounded by the sounds the accompany a passing train that’s reminiscent of the flashback at the end of No.27. Ritsu thinks things are awkward until Takano finally speaks up. He says something along the lines of how he doesn’t really know how to go about this whole lovey-dovey thing. Ritsu is shocked, but admits he’s in the same boat. Takano thinks it’s funny and remarks they really haven’t made any progress in terms of relationship experience in the past decade. Ritsu objects to this, saying that he’s heard from certain sources that Takano had many partners during their time apart. Takano clarifies that even if that was the case, he hadn’t had the desire to flirt/be lovey-dovey with any of those past partners. He’d only ever felt that kind of urge when it came to Ritsu. As he keeps talking, Ritsu finds himself realizing that they really (finally lol) are on the same page when it comes to their relationship.

Takano then demands that Ritsu give him some lovey-dovey scenarios as the shoujo manga editor that he is and he begrudgingly obliges. He talks about how they could commute to work together, how they could eat meals together, and how they could go on dates together. When Takano asks where they should go on dates, Ritsu lists all sorts of things: traveling, shopping, going to the movies, zoos, aquariums, amusement parks, museums, and yes, even the library. (He seems hesitant to mention it when he adds that last one.) But at the end of his list, Ritsu admits that it doesn’t really matter where they go, so long as it’s together. (Callback to something Takano said to him in No.14) Takano smiles when he says that, saying that they should absolutely do all of those things.

Right as they finish this leg of their walk, they arrive at a familiar shrine. It’s the same shrine that Takano cut through back in March on Ritsu’s birthday in No.13 to accompany him home when he was too drunk to get home on his own. He had always wanted to come here together when Ritsu was sober. Recalling the day, he says to himself that the cherry blossoms were beautiful. (The panel under those words is a younger version of themselves, Oda following closely behind Saga in their high school uniforms.)

This conversation leads to Ritsu bringing up Takano’s birthday, and he’s embarrassed about the gift that he gave him back then. The pinky promise they make happens right after the birthday mention, so it seems related to celebrating both of their birthdays properly from now on since they’re dating so long as work doesn’t interfere. The pinky promise turns into holding hands, and then it cuts to them still holding hands, having arrived at the front doors of their apartments.

Takano asks which apartment they should go into, but he ends up wanting to go to Ritsu’s so he can use the spare key he has for it now. (This is the first time we’ve seen him use a key of his own to get into Ritsu’s apartment. It seems he really did receive one between No.35 and 36 when he was staying at Ritsu’s apartment temporarily, although it was never directly shown.) A lot of emphasis is put on this scene, with a racing heartbeat sound effect playing throughout until Takano finally unlocks Ritsu’s front door. He tugs Ritsu in behind him and immediately starts kissing him and working on removing his clothes.

The next page cuts to them in the bathroom naked together. They’re sitting on the ledge of Ritsu’s bathtub touching each other. They’re kissing, Takano is playing with Ritsu’s nipples, and Ritsu is rubbing both of their dicks together with his hands.

Takano decides to pull away, kneeling on the floor in front of the tub to give Ritsu a blowjob. Ritsu was close already and it didn’t take long at all for him to cum. Takano says that it’s Ritsu’s turn now, and they swap places, Ritsu now kneeling on the floor in front of Takano.

Ritsu starts giving Takano a blowjob, but there’s a lot more going on here lol. Takano is tweaking each of Ritsu’s nipples and also using his feet to give him a foot job. (I’m not sure how he’s balancing, it’s weird lol) It’s going well enough until Ritsu looks up at Takano with his mouth still full and both his hands around Takano’s dick, saying a weirdly muffled version of Takano-san that comes out more like “Taka…no-hya…” because his mouth is pretty busy.

Ritsu calling his name so erotically combined with sight of his with half-lidded eyes, blush all over his face, and his mouth somewhat open with his tongue covered in pre-cum seems to be too much for Takano, because right after he’s cumming like crazy. Ritsu can’t pull back fast enough, and Takano’s cum is shot all over his face, hair, neck, chin, and chest. Calling back to the time Ritsu gave Takano a facial in No.24, Ritsu says that they’re even now, following that up by asking if it felt good.

Takano says that it did, because how else would he have cum like that? Ritsu is happy, fist pumping and says something along the lines of “I did it…I’m so glad…” (This is the first time we’ve seen Ritsu fully get Takano off with a blowjob on screen before. His blowjob training arc is coming to an end 10 real life years later lol.)

The sight of Ritsu being so happy that he was able to make him feel good gives Takano cuteness aggression and he blushes a bit. He swears and grabs Ritsu off of the floor and drags him onto his feet, kissing him. Moments later he pulls them backwards until they’re falling into the bathtub together. He gives Ritsu the option to stop now, or go all the way. Ritsu says that he’s unfair, and they continue having sex, now in the tub. Ritsu is on Takano’s lap, but I’m not really sure who’s doing most of the movement. I feel like it could be argued that he’s riding Takano here, but there’s not many pages to clarify that. 😂

On the last page of the sex scene, Takano says he loves Ritsu twice, the second time receiving a “…me too...” in response. 💖

On the very last page of the chapter, they’re cuddled up together in the bathtub, still talking about the concept of lovey-dovey. In a callback to No.19, Takano says that it’s a difficult concept. But Takano basically says that it’s okay since it’s only their first day together, and they have time to figure things out together now that they're dating. 😇

The End ✌️

Sekaiichi Hatsukoi’s next chapter will be released at the end of April, the contents of the chapter unconfirmed at the moment! Takano and Ritsu are on the next magazine issue’s front cover, but that unfortunately doesn’t confirm anything yet lol. Stay tuned for more info. 💖

[c-schroed]

Why Not Watch Some Movies Set in 2025?

Another new year has just begun, and I love to start it with a look back to how some people years ago envisioned this specific year to be (just like last year). So, I'll share with you my list of movies set in the year of 2025, based on this gorgeous Wikipedia list.

Of course, some of the movies listed there don't provide much of a vision, because they're set just a few years in the future. So, I'll focus on movies that are at least ten years old, reducing my Get Ready For '25 watchlist to 11 entries. Future me will edit this post, adding a quick review to each film after I've watched it. So, let's have a look at the movies, after the cut.

Endgame (Original title: Bronx Lotta Finale). The oldest entry in the list comes from 1983, and it shows us a run-of-the-mill post-apocalyptic New York. Seemingly, some nuclear war has happened (around 1990, as a clever Wikipedia writer deduces based on the technology shown in the film), leaving a wasteland filled with scavengers and telepathic mutants. Oh, and hunters and gladiators who fight to death for a TV show called Endgame. A Boy And His Dog meets The Running Man, as it seems. One could start worse, I guess, though the writer/director worked under a pseudonym for this, which I admit is not the best of omens. PS: I usually look at places like Youtube and Dailymotion if someone uploaded some of the older flicks, and on this lil quest I among others found a German dubbed version with Hungarian voice-over of this originally Italian flick. So if you happen to understand Hungarian (I don't), have fun with this truly pan-european edition! Wow. I admit that this flick was a better start than I anticipated. It's still not great, but the first third is very entertaining, with some nicely choreographed fights. Very wrestling-esque, very sweet. However, then all of a sudden the whole gladiator fight TV show stuff ends, and instead we get some "Bring these guys to this place" plot instead. Entertaining The Running Man ripoff becomes less entertaining Mad Max 2 ripoff. 5 out of 10 points. Oh, and I solved the riddle of the director's pseudonym: He usually made smut films, so I guess he did not want to confuse his smut film fans by putting his smut film persona into the credits of this relatively non-smut production.

Future Hunters. A movie from 1986, and yet another post-apocalyptic world. Some rebel group search for the Spear of Destiny, which allows them to travel back in time. So, I'm afraid most of the film will not happen in 2025, but 39 years earlier, where the Spear has to be reunited with its shaft (the Shaft of Destiny, I guess?) to break its curse. Or so. Raiders of the Lost Ark seems to meet Terminator, here. And we even have Robert Patrick in one of his first leading roles, five years before becoming a real Terminator. I am indeed disappointed by how little a role the year 2025 plays. The Guy From The Future even dies within the first ten minutes, and afterwards it's The Adventures of I-Wanna-Be-an-Anthropologist-One-Day And Her Boyfriend Who Will Later Play The T-1000. Poor female protagonist hardly passes the Sexy Lamp Test – The plot needs her exactly one (1) time, and this is in fact the number an actual lamp is needed for the plot, too! I admit, though, that the final third of this wild ride is a bit entertaining. Still, a movie that makes you rethink your new year's traditions. 3 out of 10 points.

Futuresport. This one is from 1998, and it was made directly for TV. The eponymous sport of the year 2025 is a mix of basketball, baseball and hockey that uses hoverboards and rollerblades, and it is used as a less lethal alternative for gang warfare. Specifically, this sport shall be used to decide who will rule over the Hawaiian Islands. When looking at this synopsis, I can't stop thinking about one of my favourite movies, the 1975 sci-fi classic Rollerball. Rollerball is set in the year of 2018, so maybe I can spin me some head canon that has Futuresport developing from Rollerball. We'll see. Nevermind that head canon dream of mine, this has nothing in common with Rollerball. It's quite entertaining, though, I'll give it that. Of the 2025 visions so far, this one is the first to show a bit of imagination, with Borg camera operators and President Chelsea. Nice. And even a Beyond Belief moment. I liked movies for less. 6 out of 10 points.

Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision. A 2003 direct-to-video sequel to the Jean-Claude Van Damme flick of 1994. Timecop part one was set in 2004, and 21 years later, in the sequel, some guy is sent to Berlin of the past. To kill Hitler. Oh my. This could be quite the ride. I think I watched part one when I was young, but I can't remember much. So maybe this year is a good opportunity for a rewatch of this Van Damme flick - though I don't think it will be needed to understand part 2. The double feature DVD box is cheap to get, so we'll see.

Negadon, the Monster from Mars. A 2005 animated kaiju short film from Japan, wherein a mars mission brings some monster back to earth. Which of course has to be fought with some huge robot. Sounds okay, and we're talking about 25 minutes to spend. So why not.

Repo Men. A 2010 film that shows us a 2025 where bio-mechanical organs are rented to people in need. If they can't afford the organs any more, well, the repossession is quite bloody. So basically it's 2008's Repo! The Genetical Opera, but without the cool singing. I watched this movie when it was in cinemas, and it was okayish. So, time for a rewatch.

Zebraman 2: Attack on Zebra City. Some Japanese superhero flick from 2010, of course it's a sequel to a film called Zebraman, from 2004, wherein a teacher starts to fight crime in the costume of his childhood TV hero. The sequel is set 15 years after part one (so yes, Zebraman 2 is produced in the year that Zebraman 1 is set in), and Tokyo is renamed to Zebra City and now has a "Zebra Time", a daily period of five minutes where all crime is legal, but presumed criminals will be attacked by the "Zebra Police". This could be hilarious, The Purge on speed (before the first part of The Purge even existed!), but I'll keep my expectations low. And I'll try to watch part one first, because Zebraman 2 seems to use a lot of its characters.

Pacific Rim. A 2013 instant classic. In 2025, giant kaijus must be fought with giant mechas (just as in Negadon; see above). Gosh, I love this one, but spouse hasn't seen it yet. And is highly sceptical. But when if not this year should one give this a try, right?

Hot Tub Time Machine 2. Four guys are sent ten years into the future by the eponymous bathing device, to find someone who tried to kill one of them. I absolutely did not like the first part, so I really feel tempted to skip this.

Mountains May Depart. A 2015 Chinese drama spanning a time from 1999 to 2025. The synopsis is full of love-triangles and family drama, so I don't suspect much of a vision of the future. Plus, it seems to be rather hard to get, so maybe I'll skip this one, too.

Ten Years. Also from 2015, this movie from Hong Kong speculates about what the semi-autonomous Hong Kong will be in ten years from then, with human rights and freedoms gradually diminishing as the influence of the Chinese government increases. I'm very curious about this one!

[leandra-kinard]

The Tommy timeline is making me insane

We know the 911 writers are REALLY crap about timelines. I mean, just within the Eddie Begins episode there are several dates that just don't add up. I love those writers, but they can't even count to 10, lol.

Tommy was never supposed to come back, so him being in his late 20s-ish in 2005 when Chim joins the 118 was of no consequence, but now that Tommy is back, that makes it really difficult to say how old he really is.

Some people have speculated that he's 45, but I find that too old. Lou was born in Nov 1984, which makes him 39 currently. I could see Tommy being 1-2 years older than that AT MOST.

So let's say Tommy was born in early 1983 and go from there.

He would have started school at 6.5 and finished HS at 18 years old in 2001. Which means he could have joined the army that year and started training to be a helicopter pilot.

There's a program called "From Street to Seat", also sometimes called "High school to Flight School", so that is a possibility. Training would have been around 2 - 2.5 years until he'd achieved the rank of Warranty Officer and be a fully trained helicopter pilot in late 2003. After that, you have to enlist for TEN years at minimum to repay them getting you through flight school.

At that point, the US had entered the war in Afghanistan and just started the one in Iraq.

Tommy could have been stationed anywhere in the US, or been deployed to one of those countries, or at first, as a still very young officer, been deployed to an allied country like Germany. In the early 2000s, there were many bases in Germany where US soldiers were stationed, only serving short missions in Afghanistan or Iraq. So that's an option if we don't want him to be permanently stationed inside a war zone.

Now, how did young Tommy leave the army early so he ended up being a firefighter just two years later?

Well, there's always medical discharge, but if it was for any injury, him already being a member of the team (and by the looks of it no longer a probie) in 2005 is a bit tight. He'd have to recover from his injury, then apply, then be accepted, do the basic training at the academy (18 weeks) and his probie year... so yeah, that's really a very tight timeline.

Another option would have been Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Back then, army members could not be actively asked if they're gay and therefore fired for it, but if they voluntarily disclosed/confirmed it, they would be kicked out.

If he was lucky (and probably the version I'm going for in my fic), and had a very lenient superior officer, he might be offered medical discharge for depression. Usually, that can get you out of the army pretty quickly.

So, to recap:

Born between Jan/June 1983

Finished high school summer 2001, joined the army

Finished flight school in fall 2003, was deployed somewhere or in service in the US

Found out/discharged in early 2004

Started LAFD academy in summer/fall 2004

Started his probie year end of 2004

Just finished it when Chimney joined in (should be late) 2005, at now 22 years old.

Still an incredibly tight timeline, and I wish Chim joining had been more like 2007 or so, but alas. It works.

You are welcome.

And I need to lie down. God I hate inconsistent timelines, lol.

Oh and I just looked it up, and apparently you're only a probie for 6 months at the LAFD, so I guess that makes it a little easier.

I mean, if you shift things around a little, you could even make him only 40 now, born in summer 1983 instead of early. Maybe he was initially gifted and able to enroll in school at just barely 6 years old.

[hippiegoth97]

Into the Fire: An Eddie Munson x Reader Story Pt. 40

Collage by me :)

Master List

Part 39

Tag List: @keikoraven @ar-jupiter @alcielo1438 @cairro-xx @stolen-in-moonlight

@micheledawn1975 @janiejenn @rafeyscurtainbangs @melodymunson @spacedoutdaydreamer

@veemoon @sariahs-stuff @feral-pumpkin-energy @comeonatmebruh @munsoneightysixx

@morgthemagpie @josephquinnsfreckles @jenniquinn @songbirdmunson @cometzombie

@spookybabey @daggerdaggerkitten @nina6708 @sanctumdemunson @yourdailymemedelivery

@person-005 @slowandsteddie @gri959 @elegantkoalapaper @letitgoandletlive

@loserboysandlithium @costellation-hunter @leelei1980 @h-ness1944 @pretendthisnameisclever

@ohmeg @stalactitekilla @hellfirenacht @birdysaturne @oneforthemunny

@prettyboyeddiemunson @eddievanmunson @msgexymunson @rattkween86 @violetpixiedust

@bimbobaggins69 @angel-munson @eldermayfield @munsonsbtch @bimbogorewhore

@mediocredreams @bloodibambiidoll @taintedcigs @ali-r3n @emxxblog @losingmygrasponreality

Content Warning 18+ Only, Minors DNI: swearing, mentions of smut, light crying, angsty memories, brief mentions of abuse, piles and piles of fluff

Word Count: 8.2k

divider by @strangergraphics

Part 40: A Marshmallow World

The weeks leading up to Christmas Eve are nothing short of bustling. The holiday season is always quite the whirlwind, between shopping for gifts and trying to fit as many festive activities into one month as possible. Luckily, you've already gotten through first semester finals, on break until the new year. Work, on the other hand, has been unexpectedly demanding. With National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation released on the first of the month, the theater has been packed for every single showing. Add on the annual It's a Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street screenings, and neither you, nor the rest of the Hawk staff, have had a moment to breathe.

You've never seen anything like it, not even during summer blockbusters. Because of this, it's all hands on deck almost every single day. The popcorn never goes stale, sodas run out left and right, there's a constant need to restock candy and cups and the like. And the lines. Lines and lines of people with no visible end in sight. You can't help wondering where they're all coming from, Hawkins surely can't have this many people in it. You suppose you could be drawing in the denizens of the surrounding rural towns, or various loved-ones come to visit. Or, the movie is just that good, enough to convince people to come see it over and over. By the time you usher the last showing out the door every night, you and your team are left frazzled, sweaty, and exhausted. And then you clean up and do it all over again the next day.

Despite the absolute insanity work has been putting you through these last few weeks, you and Eddie have still managed to make time for each other. The holiday season is your favorite time of year. The sparkling snow, the cheery music, the magic that lingers in the air. Eddie, knowing this of course, has done everything in his power to make this year as wonderful as all the rest, if not more.

Early on in the month, Eddie insists that you both go pick out a tree and some pretty ornaments and string lights to make your apartment more festive. You opt for a plastic tree, as they're easier to move around and store later on. Sure, the scent of pine from the real thing is amazing, but actual trees are a lot more work than one would think. They need constant watering, and the needles get everywhere, which you just know Arwen would make quick work of eating and then regurgitating onto the carpet.

Saturday, December 2nd, 1989

"How's that look, baby? Is it full enough?" Eddie asks as he unfolds the last couple branches on his half of the tree. He hopes his work is to your liking, the flocked green plastic is starting to make his hands itch. You'd just brought it and the accompaniments home a couple hours ago, practically bouncing with excitement in your van seat on the way. The second you both carried the big box through the door, you wanted to set it up. And what kind of man would Eddie be to deny you?

You take a glance at his efforts from your side of the tree, and give him a satisfied nod. "It looks great. Time for the lights!" You clap your hands together, hopping up and down as you go to retrieve the boxes of twinkle lights from the coffee table. You hum along to the festive song on the radio as you move, fully caught up in the spirit of the season.

"You really love Christmas, huh?" Eddie says with a chuckle, finding your childlike glee extremely adorable. It's been a while since you've been this excited. That's not to say you've been unhappy, or anything. But he's just glad to see you overcome with joy, cherishing every passing second like a precious gift.

"I really do, Eds." You sigh blissfully, turning to him with boxes in hand. "It's just so...perfect. Ya know?" You say, smiling so bright as his hands meet your hips.

"Well, I can't say holidays have ever been all that fun at the Munson household, sweetheart. I mean, Wayne always did his best, but it was never like this." Eddie shrugs, not wanting to sour your ecstatic mood. He's never been all that big on holidays, they usually turned out to be a huge disappointment when he was still with his parents. Halloween was okay, he could cobble together a costume and escape the house for a few hours to get some free candy. The only candy he'd have all year. But there weren't any turkey dinners, or presents under the tree, or even a tree at all. He'd be the one kid at school who got nothing for Christmas, not even something lame like socks. He considered himself lucky if he wasn't gifted a beating.

But Wayne changed all that. His uncle couldn't give him the world, but he did what he could. Chinese take-out and one present for each of them was more than enough. Eddie always made whatever gift he gave to Wayne, per his uncle's request. A clay ashtray here, a painted mug there, lots of drawings and handmade cards, too. And in return, Wayne worked his ass off all year to get his nephew something he really, really wanted.

One year he'll always find the most special, was when Wayne gifted him his first guitar. It was an acoustic. The perfect thing to get him started. And Eddie practiced on that thing until his fingers blistered and bled. Day in and day out, perfecting chords and simple songs like "Hot Cross Buns", until Wayne got him a Beatles songbook the next year. Eddie still has that guitar to this day, it sits in a closet in your apartment, with the words 'this machine slays dragons' painted around the body. He's shown it to you before, giving you a brief history behind it. It's long since out of tune, but he can't ever bear to part with it.

"But, I think this year, it will be perfect. Because I'm with you." Eddie says lovingly, pulling himself out of his brief contemplation of the past. With you, he has a real chance to have the kind of Christmas he's always dreamed of. He brings you in closer, the boxes of lights pressed between his chest and your own. You both lean in for a kiss, your mouths meeting in the middle. Content sounds escape you, his tongue slipping past your lips for a moment. "Let's get those lights up, hm?" He smiles as you break away, his forehead resting against yours.

"Yeah." You nod excitedly, practically squealing with delight as you go back to the tree. You nearly rip the boxes of lights open, pulling the bundles out and dropping the cardboard onto the floor. Arwen comes padding over at the sound, curiously poking her head inside one of the boxes. She then shoves herself inside, only fitting half-way. The cat rolls onto her back, her front paws batting playfully at the clear plastic window. "Aw, looks like someone's found a new toy." You giggle.

"She's so amused by the simplest things." Eddie chuckles, shaking his head. He knew cats love balls of string and chasing mice, but watching Arwen pounce into paper grocery bags or use empty boxes as hiding places is an interesting phenomenon in his eyes.

You work together unraveling the strings of lights, then wrapping them around the circumference of the tree. Eddie plugs them into the wall once they're in place, twinkles of white, blue, red, and green blinking on in unison. The thin, cylindrical bulbs create a cozy glow from the corner of the room, warming your heart as the season slowly comes alive inside your home. Eddie retrieves the packs of ornaments from their shopping bags, bringing them over so you can dress the tree branches together. You're sticking to the classics, red and green baubles, and festive shapes like snowmen and candy canes.

It takes about an hour to have every branch covered, and ensure no two ornaments next to each other are the same. You're very picky about their distribution, Eddie finds. You can't help it, the tree looks uneven somehow if all the same shape or color are on one side. But he's patient, following your numerous corrections of 'no, put that one there', and 'this one here, Eds'. You've done this far more times than he has, so he trusts your judgment on the subject. When you're all finished, with a few ornaments left over, it's time to place the star on top.

"You wanna put the star on, love?" Eddie asks, holding the red and gold star your way.

"No, I think you should." You reply simply, gently pushing his hands back towards himself.

"Really?" He asks, surprised you want him to have the honor.

"Hell yeah! It's your first tree, right? I've put the star on for, like, twenty-one years straight. It's only fair you get to do it this year." You say sweetly, moving one of the dining chairs next to the tree. You pat the seat, ushering him over to step up onto it. "All yours, baby." You smile, eager to see him finish this out.

"Sweet." He grins, coming over to stand on the chair. He wobbles slightly at the height.

You hold it steady so he doesn't fall, gazing up at him. "Just make sure it's on straight." You encourage him. Eddie raises his hands up, holding the star. He brings it down atop the very tallest branch, lacing it through the loop inside and bending it to secure the star. He moves it around to make it perfectly straight, his tongue sticking out as he fiddles with it. He eventually lets it go, making sure it's not crooked and will hold the weight. "That's perfect, Eddie." You praise, holding your hand out to help him back down. He takes hold of it, rejoining you on the ground a second later. You move the chair out of the way, allowing you both to see the dressed tree in all its glory. "Look what we did, baby. Isn't it pretty?" You say contently as he stands behind you, wrapping his arms around you to keep your body close. You lean back into him, admiring your hard work.

"It's beautiful." Eddie replies in agreement, squeezing you a little in his hold. The dark green of the tree has provided the perfect canvas for the colorful dressings. The lights reflect off the ornaments, casting shimmers on the branches, wall, and floor. And the star on top gleams like a beacon of hope. It looks just like the trees he's seen in the movies or store windows, but it's a thousand times better in real life, in his own home. He doesn't think he's ever seen anything so gorgeous before. Except you, of course. "Should I make some hot cocoa, sweetheart?" Eddie asks softly, leaning his head down to press a warm kiss to your throat.

"Mmm, that sounds perfect." You melt in his grasp, savoring the way his lips feel on your sweet-spot.

"Whipped cream?" He asks again, another kiss traveling lower.

"Yes, please." You let out a sigh, tilting your head to the side.

"Cinnamon on top?" He continues, pressing his lips on you one last time, right where your skin ends and your sweater begins.

"Uh-huh." You answer lowly, suddenly feeling very warm.

"You got it, babydoll." Eddie smirks against your skin, pulling away from you entirely to prepare the hot chocolate.

"Fuck me." You mutter once he's out of earshot, completely weak in the knees. You weren't expecting him to pull out that move, but it's got you very revved up regardless.

Eddie just barely hears you and chuckles to himself in the kitchen, assuming you're still standing exactly where he left you. All hot and bothered, rose-flushed cheeks and panties quickly becoming soaked. He's sure you're thinking him quite the tease right now. But he has every intention of keeping the promise his kisses have made. You'll cuddle up together on the couch, share your innocent beverage. And then, he'll fuck your needy little brains out.

And he does. Eddie brings the mugs over from the kitchen, finding you waiting for him on the sofa. You stay sitting up, hoping to control your desires. That is, until his large hands find their way to your shoulders. They rub and squeeze your muscles, working out the knots you'd racked up from the stress of the season. It takes no time at all for you to become pliable in his hands, eyes falling closed as little moans and groans leave your lips. Your head falls back to rest on his shoulder as he massages you. He knows damn well that his magic fingers are your greatest weakness.

Eddie smirks at how fucked-out you are already, practically drooling onto his shirt because it just feels so good. It's not long after that the cocoa is left to go cold, and your clothes are nothing but litter on the floor. You find yourselves screwing six ways from Sunday, hands, mouths, and various interlocking parts working feverishly to get you both off. The sweet scents of artificial pine and chocolate surround you, mingling with the primal stench of sex and sweat. The energy switches from rough and hard, to soft and tender, and back again numerous times. By the end of it all, you're out of breath and exhausted after what feels like well-spent hours. And Arwen is still playing around in her new box.

Wednesday, December 13th, 1989

About a week and a half later, you manage to convince Eddie to go ice skating with you on Lover's Lake. He was apprehensive at first, given his rather clumsy nature. He's worried about falling on his ass and looking stupid. But with your assurance that it happens to everyone, he agrees to go with you.

You hop out of the passenger side of the van once Eddie's pulled up to the lake. There's a good twenty people skating around the ice, mostly couples and a family or two. A small heated hut to rent skates and buy hot beverages sits a few yards away, run by volunteers, usually from the middle and high school. It appears Mr. Clarke 一Dustin's old science teacher一 is manning it today, looking rather cozy behind the counter.

"Hurry up, Eds!" You call to your love excitedly, leaning against the van as you wait for him to join you. You're all bundled up in your matching blue coat, hat, gloves, and scarf. Underneath is your festive sweater, and a knee-length red skirt paired with thick knitted white leggings covers your lower half, cozy black boots on your feet.

"Relax, Y/N. The ice will still be there in a minute." Eddie huffs, coming around from the driver's side. He's layered up, too, per your insistence. A red beanie covers his head, his long tresses falling down from the bottom. His scarf and mittens are the same color, a nice contrast to his black puffer jacket. His jeans are thankfully thicker and without holes today, as well. You'd hate for him to catch cold out here, and he won't have any fun if he's shivering the whole time.

"There's no need to be cranky, love. We're gonna have fun." You tut at him, pulling your hands from your pockets and placing them on Eddie's shoulders. He softens at your touch, though he's still pretty on edge. This is all so new for him, skating...on ice. Sounds kinda dangerous, if he's being honest. "Still nervous?" You ask, noticing the worry in his eyes.

"Yeah." Eddie admits, rolling his eyes. He's well aware that he's being a total weenie right now, afraid of a little fall. Or the blade of his skate somehow cutting you, or the ice falling through beneath his feet. Or一

"Eddie, it's gonna be fine. I swear. No blade accidents, no thin ice, no concussions. Okay?" You say reassuringly, raising your hands to cup his reddened cheeks. "I'm gonna be with you the whole time. You don't have to worry, I'm a pro." You smile, somewhat cockily. Your confidence makes him crack one too.

"Is that so? You know how to do jumps, and spins, and stuff?" Eddie asks, teasing as there's no way you're that advanced.

"Well, no. But I've mastered the basic technique, and I can skate backwards. And that's all you really need to know." You reply matter-of-factly.

"Oh, so...not really a pro, then?" Eddie presses with a chuckle, earning a playful smack across his chest.

"Whatever!" You scoff, officially done wasting time. "You're just stalling, let's go!" You pull Eddie along towards the booth, snow crunching underfoot as you go. You reach the counter, the heat from inside the hut radiating out towards you. "Hey there, Mr. Clarke! You warm enough in there?" You politely greet the man, met with his kind smile.

"Oh, you bet!" Mr. Clarke chuckles. "What size do you need, Ms. Henderson?" He asks. You give him your size, and Eddie's. Clarke retrieves the pairs of skates, exchanging them for a couple bucks. "Well, you two have fun out there. The ice is perfect today!"

"We will. Thanks, Mr. Clarke!" You say, leaving the booth to find an empty bench to sit down and change your shoes.

"Real close with the science teacher, huh?" Eddie asks, taking off his left shoe.

"Nah, not really. I know him from when I used to pick Dustin up from A.V. Club. Why? Are you jealous?" You joke.

"No way. He's not your type." He shakes his head, sure of his own statement.

"I dunno, he does have a pretty sweet mustache..." You play up your 'attraction' to the older man, biting your lip in an exaggerated manner as you gaze back towards the booth.

"Oh, please! You hate it when I'm even a little too scruffy! I doubt you'd enjoy kissing that caterpillar on his face." Eddie retorts, getting a little too serious now.

"Who said I'd be kissing it?" You ask, implying you'd be riding it instead. Eddie just stares at you a moment, suddenly unsure if you're playing around or not. "Oh my god, I'm kidding!" You burst out laughing at his dumbfounded expression, putting your hand over his to get your point across. "Eddie, he's old enough to be my dad!" This makes Eddie laugh, thankful that you were indeed joking.

"Sorry, you're right." Eddie sighs once the laughter dies down. "Maybe I do get a little jealous sometimes." He rolls his eyes at himself, feeling rather childish about it.

"I know." You say, before continuing. "But it's sweet. And you don't go overboard with it. You know, 'asserting your dominance' or whatever. And it's kinda hot, too..." You can't help the mischievous smile that grows on your lips.

"Really?" Eddie asks, as if this is breaking news to him.

"Well, yeah. When other guys check me out, you'll hold me a little tighter, and kiss me a little harder. I love it when you do that. It makes me feel sexy, and desired, and loved." You explain, a light blush spreading on your cheeks.

"Wow, I..." He scoffs, unable to believe it. Over nine months together, and he never knew you found his mildly possessive nature so attractive before. He never really thought you noticed, given how touchy he is with you. "...I didn't know that." He finishes with a grin, glad that you're still able to surprise each other after all this time.

"Well, now you do. Let's get these skates on, hm?" You say with a giggle.

"Sure thing, angel." Eddie replies, pulling his skates onto his feet. You help him lace them up nice and tight, making sure he won't trip. You've long since had your own secured and ready to go.

"Okay, I'm gonna help you up now." You say, holding out your hands to himself as you stand in the snow on your own skates. "Take my hands, and slowly stand up."

"'Kay." Eddie replies, puffing his cheeks as he exhales. He grabs hold of your hands, carefully using your weight to stand up. His ass leaves the seat of the bench, his legs slowly straightening until he's at his typical couple of inches above you. He stumbles slightly, almost falling over. "Shit." He gasps, about to panic. But you steady him, not letting go for anything.

"Just relax, baby. You've got this." You encourage him as he wobbles, his ankles threatening to give out from under him. "Plant your feet. I don't want you to twist an ankle." You instruct.

"Okay, okay." He murmurs, trying his hardest to maintain balance. He forces himself to calm down, putting his weight on each foot. The teetering stops, and he lets out a sigh of relief.

"There ya go. Nice job, Eds. Now for the hard part."

"That wasn't the hard part?" Eddie's eyes widen, unsure if he can really go through with this.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Just stay still." You shake your head dismissively, letting go of one of his hands so you can stand beside him and lead him to the ice. "Just carefully walk towards the lake, and stop a couple feet before the edge." He gives you a silent nod, far too focused on not falling over to speak. You continue to walk him through this, taking baby steps toward the frozen surface. You stop once you're at the end of the bank, taking both of Eddie's hands again. "Okay, this next part is gonna be a little tricky. But just follow my lead. Okay?" You say kindly, finding Eddie's frightened eyes.

"Let's do it." Eddie nods again, eager to keep going before he gives up altogether. So far, he absolutely hates this. But he hopes that once he figures it out, he can actually have some fun with you.

"Alright. I'm gonna walk back onto the ice. One step at a time." You say as you look behind you. You bring your left foot back, and Eddie's right follows your path, stopping on the edge of the snow. The blade of your skate meets the ice, only sliding the slightest bit. Eddie flinches at the sudden movement. "It's okay, Eds. Other foot now." Your right foot meets the other, his left following suit. You take a moment to let Eddie breathe, he's been holding your hands extremely tight during this part. "Ready for your turn now?" You ask.

"Yeah." He forces a smile, failing to hold in his pathetic whimper of fear.

"Okay, left foot first." You tell him. You watch as he raises it, apprehensively bringing it back down on the slick surface. It slips forward suddenly, almost sending him lunging forward with a fearful yelp. But you stop him, holding him tight. "It's okay. Straighten out." You give him a nod, you know he can do this. He stands upright, his foot sliding back to where he initially placed it. "Good. Other foot now."

"Shit." He mutters, immediately regretting bringing his right foot forward and onto the ice. It lands much smoother than the left, and he's miraculously still standing.

"You did it, baby." You giggle in delight, happy that you've successfully got Eddie on the lake. "Wanna try moving around now?" You ask, biting your lip excitedly.

"I'd love to, sweetheart. But I don't think I can." Eddie replies, feeling completely stuck in place. He's afraid to move a single muscle, worried it'll send him flying.

"That's alright. I can pull you around for a while first. If you want." You offer with a casual shrug. You weren't too dissimilar to Eddie your first time on the ice. It's scary, not having your own two feet planted firmly on the ground. He's no doubt feeling like his legs have turned to stone, frozen in fear.

"Okay." He nods again. As terrified as he is, he trusts you. You know how to do all this, you can help him get used to it.

"Alright, you'd better hang on tight, then." You get yourself ready, pointing the toes of your feet together. You then begin a slow backstroke, pushing your foot back and out to move the two of you in that direction. It takes a few strokes to build a steady speed, given you have to pull Eddie's weight along with you. But soon enough, you're making a smooth trip around the lake. You keep looking behind you to keep from running into anyone, but you make sure to check in on Eddie as you move. "Havin' fun now, love?" You ask, noticing some of his fear has melted away.

"Y-yeah. It's pretty nice." Eddie smiles genuinely, meeting your eyes. He's still scared shirtless of falling over, but he's also over the moon. The gentle speed you're pulling him along at feels really nice. Just gliding around, almost weightless.

You take him all the way around the perimeter of the lake, casually passing by other couples, and parents with kids. By the time you're near your bench again, you think he's ready to try skating on his own. "Alright, time to try it for yourself." You say, dropping one of his hands and going to his side again.

"Y/N...I dunno if I can." Eddie whimpers, biting his lip nervously.

"You didn't know if you could make it to the ice, either. But you did. You can do this. I'll still be holding your hand. If you go down, so do I." You reassure him again, stroking his arm with your free hand. The touch draws his eyes to yours again, and he finds your loving expression beaming at him.

"Alright. Fine." He sighs, mentally cursing you for using basic logic and reason.

"Okay. So, you gotta bend your knees a little. Like this." You demonstrate, waiting for Eddie to copy you. He does, and you keep going. "Okay. Then, you're gonna put your feet together, and sweep out to move yourself forward. Like this." You show him one stroke, pushing your left foot out and bringing it back in. It moves you a little bit ahead of him, but his eyes watch every second of it studiously. "Try it."

"And this is where it all goes to shit." Eddie jokes dryly, before mimicking your action almost perfectly. He's standing right beside you again, a stunned look on his face at how easy that was. "That's it?" He asks, almost annoyed.

"Yep. That's it. Wanna keep going?" You ask, finding his surprise so damn adorable.

"You bet your ass I do!" He laughs cockily, ready to get this shit going. For real this time.

"Let's stop wasting time, then!" You say excitedly, squeezing his hand. You both sweep your feet in sync this time, propelling yourselves forward. Eddie still holds tightly onto you, his free arm extended out to maintain his balance. But you're both smiling, and giggling, and having a really great time.

"Thanks for being patient with me, princess." Eddie says sweetly, gazing at you with nearly heart-shaped pupils.

"I'll always be patient with you, Eds. It's not very hard to be." You reply with a smile. "Besides, everyone's scared their first time on the ice."

"Oh, yeah? Even a pro like you?" He teases.

"Yep. Granted, I was like, five at the time." You laugh, remembering the very first time you'd come to Lover's Lake in the wintertime. Dad had brought you, a 'Daddy-daughter day', he called it. He'd laced up your skates for you, and held your hands just like you've done for Eddie today. You fell at least ten times in the first hour, and you almost gave up altogether. But Dad insisted you keep trying, offering to buy you a nice warm apple cider from the hut if you made it one whole lap without falling over. So you did just that. You landed on your ass again and again, having to start over. But you didn't give up, and Dad beamed with pride once you'd finally pulled it off. You were extremely sore and bruised the next day, but you didn't even care. The sweet, cinnamony taste of cider made it all worth the Epsom salt bath and numerous doses of children's aspirin.

From then on, the trip to the lake became an annual tradition for you two. Dad took you for seven years, each one better than the last. Just the two of you, able to bond and be happy together. Even when your parents were fighting, this frozen lake was a place completely free from that. At least for a couple of hours. During these special outings, you were transformed into 'Daddy's Little Ice Princess'. He'd twirl you around, and lift you up in the air while you pulled some form of graceful ballet pose. You'd hold hands while doing endless gliding laps, sharing cider on the bench to warm yourselves back up. It was your favorite activity of the entire season, and you looked forward to it all year round.

After Dad skipped town, though...skating became a solitary, somewhat sad affair. Dustin's never had any interest, and Mom has the balance of an elephant standing on a bowling ball. So you'd make the trip to the lake alone, silently circling the lake with tears in your eyes. It was probably what started you on the path to being so overly independent. The person who showed you how to do this magical, wonderful thing was gone. And to avoid running the risk of that ever happening again, you started doing everything you possibly could all by yourself. You couldn't rely on anyone. Not without the fear that, one day, they would abandon you, too. Not Mom, not Dustin. Nobody. All you had that was for sure, was yourself. Until Eddie came into your life.

"Aw, I bet you were so cute back then. All pink mittens and pigtails." Eddie teases again, nudging you out of your thoughts with his elbow.

"Oh, you have no idea." You chuckle, wiping away a stray tear when he's not looking. Though you could just blame it on the cold air getting to you if he saw.

"Bet you were still just as bossy, too." He smirks, glancing at you again.

"Maybe." You mutter, hating to admit that he's right. But what can you say? You've always been ambitious and driven.

"I don't mind. It's one of my favorite things about you." Eddie says softly, rubbing your hand with his thumb.

"I'm glad you think so, Eds." You giggle, trying to resist the urge to sniffle.

"Something wrong, angel?" Eddie asks, noticing your eyes are looking a little watery. Sure, it could just be the winter air. But they weren't like that a minute ago, and you've made quite a few laps around the lake now.

"No. It's nothing." You say shortly, shaking your head. Eddie doesn't let it go, holding your gaze, and you sigh. "This is something I used to do with my dad." You explain calmly, no onslaught of tears waiting to fall. For once. "And after he left, I've always done this on my own. And it's..." You pause and shrug, grasping for the words. You look deep into his loving eyes, and miraculously manage to find them. "It's just nice to have someone to share it with again." You smile, the warmth of Eddie's love radiating within your heart.

"And I'm more than happy to be that someone, sweetheart." He replies, leaning over to give you a gentle kiss. His lips meet yours, cold as ice for a moment, before warming up again. As your mouths are connected in this loving moment, however, Eddie's right foot makes contact with a raised bump in the ice. This sends him tumbling down on his back, which unfortunately brings you down with him. You both shriek in surprise, your feet snatching themselves from under you. Your stomachs drop, and the wind is knocked out of your lungs as you hit the surface of the lake.

"Fuck." You grunt breathlessly, fighting to bring air back into your chest.

"Sorry...my fault." Eddie gasps out his apology, turning his head to look at you. "You okay?" He feels awful for being the reason you both totally ate it. But he couldn't help it, your beautiful lips needed kissing.

"I'm fine, it could've been worse." You reply, slowly regaining the ability to breathe. Eddie starts laughing, taking you by surprise. You raise an eyebrow, curious what that's about. "What's so funny?"

"I'm j一" He tries to answer through his cackling. "I'm just picturing how we must've looked going down!" He gets the words out, his face going red as his voice goes all squeaky. His infectious laughter spreads to you, leaving the both of you a howling mess on the ice. The visual of you sharing a romantic moment, only to fall on your asses a moment later is quite hilarious to you. And now here you are, flat on your backs, laughing up a storm as the other skaters glide past you with worrisome eyes.

"Okay..." You take a deep breath once you calm down. "I think we've had enough for one day. Let's give the skates back, and get some apple cider to go. How's that sound?" You ask, getting onto your knees so you can stand back up.

"That sounds perfect, babydoll." Eddie agrees, following your lead once again to get the hell out of here.

The remaining days leading up to the 24th are swirled in mystery for the two of you. You do your Christmas shopping separately from one another, you go with Mom and Dustin, and Eddie tags along with Steve and Robin. You've agreed to get each other one big gift, and a few smaller ones like clothes or books. You have absolutely no clue what your special present from Eddie is going to be, but he's been spending a lot of time after work...someplace. He claims he's helping Wayne fix up a few things at the trailer, but you don't buy that for a second. You're dying to know what he's up to, it must be pretty amazing if he's spending this much time on it.

As for you, you knew exactly what you had to get for Eddie. There's a gorgeous, and pricey guitar he's had his eye on for months. A B.C. Rich Mockingbird. Apparently, it's pretty popular among a few famous guitarists, and Eddie's eyes lit up the second he saw it in the local music store. There were a few colors to choose from, but only one seemed to capture his true attention. Slick, black as motor oil, with a sleek and dynamic shape. You're not even one to know all that much about instruments, but this guitar is sexy as hell. And if it's what your love desires, then he shall have it wrapped up and waiting for him underneath the tree this year.

Sunday, December 24th, 1989

You roll over in bed on the morning of Christmas Eve, your arm absent-mindedly searching for Eddie beside you. When your palm meets empty sheets, you perk your head up to look around the room. Daylight barely peeks through the drawn blinds on the bedroom window, casting the room in a dim gray hue. "Eddie?" You call out sleepily, thinking he maybe just went to the bathroom. But when you look over, the door is closed, which is never the case if he's coming back to bed. It seems he's gotten up before you, which isn't typical of him at all. Early bird getting the worm, Eddie is not. You're guessing he wanted to let you sleep in, perhaps while he prepares his 'surprise'.

Quiet footsteps descend down the hall towards you, and the door opens. "Hey, sweetheart. What's up?" Eddie asks as he comes into the room.

"Nothing. I just woke up, and I didn't know where you were." You answer, rubbing the sleep from your eyes.

"I've just been getting your special present ready, baby. Let's have some cereal, and then I'll show you what it is." He replies, excited to give you your gift.

"Okay." You nod, and hop out of bed to go with him to the kitchen. Arwen is munching away at her own breakfast, her face buried in the bowl. She may be smart, but she isn't exactly one for manners. Eddie pours the bowls of cereal, Frosted Flakes for you, and Honeycomb for himself. He brings them over to the table, sitting down beside you. His right hand goes for his spoon, while the other rubs your thigh.

"You sleep okay, babydoll?" He asks, bringing a bite to his mouth.

"Yeah, think I could tell you were missing before I woke up, though." You answer, remembering how cold the bed felt without him in it.

"Sorry about that. I didn't want to leave you in bed all alone. But I promise, it'll be worth it." He gives your flesh a loving squeeze, flashing his charming smile.

"I'm sure it will be, Eds. And I'm looking forward to giving you your present, too." You giggle, digging into your breakfast. You continue to eat in comfortable silence, Eddie's hand still stroking your thigh as you do. You love having him touch you in some way as much as possible. It doesn't matter which way he does it, or if it leads to something more. Just the feeling of some part of him against you, it's comforting.

Once you're finished, Eddie insists you get dressed and come outside to the parking lot with him. You find this a bit strange, but you also noticed he hasn't put anything else under the tree with the other gifts. You do as he says, with him practically yanking you out the door to go downstairs once you're ready. You reach the ground floor, and he doesn't stop for a second. He pushes the door open, leading you outside into the cold morning. He keeps going until you reach the parking lot. And you finally see it. A bright blue 1979 Datsun 280ZX, parked right beside Eddie's van with a massive red bow on top of it.

"Eddie, you didn't!" You squeal excitedly. You've been wanting a car of your own for so long. You'd even dragged him along to a dealership months ago to look at used ones, but nothing was quite within your price range. This exact model had your eyes lighting up, and your mind cursing your lack of funds. Cars aren't really an area of interest for you, but you could tell just by looking at it that the Datsun is one sweet ride. But this passing fascination was so long ago, you didn't think he'd remember. And you sure as shit didn't expect him to buy it for you.

"I did. She's all yours, sweetheart." Eddie beams, dangling the keys in front of you. You snatch them excitedly, cradling them in your own hands.

"How the hell did you afford this?" You question, hoping he didn't steal it or something.

"Let's just say I'll be paying it off until I'm forty." Eddie chuckles, finding the look of pure joy on your face worth every last penny. He considers himself lucky that he convinced the dealer to knock off a few hundred bucks. The car may be in almost pristine condition, but it's also a decade old. And Wayne may have taught him a trick or two when it comes to haggling.

"You're the best boyfriend in the world! You know that, right?" You ask happily, putting your hands on his chest. His arms wrap around you out of instinct, pulling you closer.

"I only know that it's what you deserve, princess." He replies, giving you a gentle peck on the lips. "C'mon, let's take a quick drive." He suggests with a grin, patting your butt to usher you towards your new ride.

"Fuck yeah! Gotta christen the seats!" You cackle, leaving his side to get into the driver's side. The interior is a dark blue suede-like material, soft and comfortable. Perfect for the one thing that's on your mind right now.

"Someone's gonna end up on the naughty list." Eddie laughs, carefully taking the massive bow off the roof. He tosses it in the back, sliding into the passenger seat. It's an odd feeling for him, not being the one driving. Sure, you've driven the van a couple of times. Or driven him in Claudia's car. But this is different, because this badass blue machine is yours. Truly yours.

"I'll gladly be on a thousand naughty lists, if it means I get to properly thank you for this bitchin' present." You say seriously, turning the key in the ignition. The car roars to life, and you're speeding off before Eddie can get another word in. The only destination you have in mind, is the woods.

After you return home from your little 'drive', it's time for Eddie to receive his present. He carelessly sheds his coat and plops down on the couch, still rather dazed from how crazy you went on him earlier. You've always been, in his words, insatiable. But you were seriously something else once you put the Datsun in park and climbed on top of him in the passenger seat. It took every ounce of willpower not to cum in the first couple minutes, with all the insane shit you were doing to him.

"It's your turn now, love." You say sweetly, still riding the intense high you'd managed to reach no more than twenty minutes ago. You bring the gift over to him, large and heavy in your hands. You set it across his lap, and take a seat next to him on the sofa.

"Think I already had a turn in the car, baby." Eddie jokes. He glances down at the long, massive thing you've presented him with. What the hell could it be?

"Mmm, you sure did." You purr, leaning over to nibble his earlobe.

"Angel..." He groans at the contact, his spent cock twitching in his jeans.

"Go on. Open it." You say lowly, your hand coming up to rest on his shoulder.

"Don't have to tell me twice." He chuckles lightly. He tears away the pretty wrapping paper, revealing a cardboard box. He pulls the top open, and his jaw drops. "No fuckin' way." He gasps, finding himself face to face with the B.C. Rich Mockingbird. Just when he thought he'd won at gift-giving this year, you go and buy the guitar he's been borderline lusting over for fuck knows how long.

"Yes. Fuckin'. Way. Merry Christmas, my love." You plant a kiss on his cheek, ecstatic to see him left speechless.

His hands apprehensively reach for the neck of the guitar, as if it's the most fragile thing in the world. He carefully pulls the instrument out of its box, turning it so the body can rest in his lap and he can get a real feel for it. It's all shiny and new, not a single fingerprint or scratch to be seen. And it's absolute heaven in his hands. "This is amazing, Y/N. Easily the best present I've ever gotten." Eddie says after a good couple minutes of silently inspecting every inch of the Mockingbird. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome, Eds. You deserve it, and so much more." You exchange another kiss, trying your damnedest not to deepen it. You're expected at your mother's soon, and there's no time for another detour. "Alright, we'd better get ready to go."

"Do we have to?" He whines, giving you puppy eyes and pouting his lower lip. He's dying to test out his new guitar, get her tuned just right and hear her sing. 

"Yes we do, Eds. Mom's expecting us. You can play with your new toy later." You reply, refusing to give in to his charms.

"Okay." He sighs, putting the Mockingbird back in its box for safe keeping. He'd hate for Arwen to get curious and chew on the strings, or scratch the slick paint job.

"It's only for a couple of hours. You'll survive." You giggle at his sulking, getting up to put your coat and shoes on again. "I'll drive." You say as you're both about to leave the apartment for the second time today.

"Whatever you want, babydoll." Eddie's mood lightens again at recalling how happy his gift has made you. The guitar can wait, it's not like it's gonna disappear into thin air. He follows you back down the hall with gifts in hand, descending the stairs and out the door to the lot. You both hop into the Datsun, and head on your way to Claudia's house.

"Merry Christmas, you two!" Mom says cheerfully as you come inside, dressed in her Frosty the Snowman sweater. She's worn it every year for as long as you can remember.

"Merry Christmas, Mom." You reply.

"Merry Christmas, Claudia." Eddie says.

"Oh, who's car is that?" Mom asks when she says the Datsun sitting in the driveway.

"It's mine. Eddie bought it for me." You answer excitedly, flashing her the keys.

"Well, that's great, sugarpuff! I know you've wanted a car for a while now." Mom chuckles, remembering the few times you begged her to buy you a junker back in high school.

"Sweet ride. How'd you swing that, Eddie?" Dustin asks, approaching you both at the doorway.

"Dusty, it's not polite to ask things like that." Mom chides him.

"It's fine, Claudia. I'm sure Y/N thought I stole the car when she first saw it." Eddie teases, nudging you with his elbow. "I got a pretty good deal, though. Wayne taught me how to bargain." He adds with a shrug as he takes off his coat to reveal a festive sweater of his own. You have the same one on, a red and green knitted thing with patterns of snowflakes and reindeer on it.

"What the hell is that?" Dustin snorts at the sight, trying to hold back his laughter. Eddie has never worn anything remotely Christmas-y in all the years he's known him.

"What?" Eddie quirks an eyebrow, wondering what Dustin's deal is. Following the boy's eyes, he looks down at his sweater. He looks back at the young man, glaring now. "One word, to anyone, and you won't see another Christmas." He threatens, hoping Dustin will have the good sense to keep quiet, and not tell a single soul about it. He has a bad-boy reputation to uphold, after all. Though he will admit he really likes the sweater. It’s warm, and comfortable. And you picked it out.

"Not a peep. Besides, you guys look...cute." Dustin says nervously, knowing a threat from his former dungeon master is not one to be taken lightly.

"Thank you, Dustin. I thought so, too." You giggle, taking Eddie's hand in yours. "Although, I think the sweater looks better on you, baby."

"Okay, dinner's almost ready. Oh, and you can put the presents under the tree, Y/N." Mom says, having left the room to check on the Cornish hens currently roasting in the oven.

"Sure thing, Mom." You reply, letting go of Eddie's hand to put the gifts down.

"Hey, um, Claudia? Can we talk for a minute?" Eddie asks abruptly, taking the three of you by surprise. You look over at him from your crouch beside the Christmas tree, finding him fidgeting with his fingers, suddenly nervous about something.

"Sure. We can talk in my room." Mom answers, gesturing for Eddie to follow her down the hallway. You and Dustin share an odd look once they leave the room.

"What's that about?" Dustin asks, but you honestly have no idea.

"Beats me. He hasn't mentioned anything that he'd need to talk to Mom about." You shrug, placing the gifts you brought with the others.

"Do you think it's about Wayne? That maybe he's sick or something?" Dustin keeps the questions coming, which are only setting alarm bells off in your head.

"No. He would've told me about that. But, he has been over at the trailer a lot lately. That's what he said, anyway. 'Helping Wayne fix stuff', or something." You reply, wondering what the hell is going on. Eddie's given you no indication that anything is wrong, nor has Wayne in the few times you've seen him lately. You suppose they could keep something serious amongst themselves, but why would they? It's not making any sense.

"Weird." Dustin says.

"Yeah." You murmur, your mind going to all sorts of unpleasant places. What if Wayne's PTSD has gotten worse? Or if he has cancer? What if Eddie has been lying to you, and he's seeing someone else? You really don't want to think about these things, but you can't help where your mind wanders off to.

It feels like an eternity until Mom and Eddie finally come out of her room. Once they do, you notice their eyes are teary, but not in a sad way. They're wearing mile-long smiles on their faces, and Mom gives Eddie a joyful hug in the middle of the hallway. And it finally clicks. What they discussed isn't anything remotely bad at all. No, you realize now that what Eddie wanted from your mother was her blessing.

To be continued...

[whineandcheese24]

how old is tommy

everybody's been confused about tommy's age, so I thought I'd put out my theory.

lou is 39 years old so it would make sense for tommy to be around that age. if tommy had joined the lafd right out of high school he could have been there for two years by the time chim joined in 2005 and he'd be 39.

but then we come to the problem of him being in the army. even if he had joined right out of high school, pilots have to complete a year of training, and are then required to serve for 10 years, meaning if he had completed his service, he would have to be 29 by the time he joined the lafd. assuming he wasn't a probie at the same time as chim, and he would have had to be 30 in 2005, making him almost 50 now, which doesn't feel quite right

but the key phrase in that last part is "if he completed his service". though we don't know his exact orientation, we do know tommy isn't straight, and he would have been serving in the army during dadt. if someone found out about his sexuality, he could have been discharged before his mandated service was completed.

there are a lot of assumptions and non-exact amounts here, so I haven't really cleared anything up, but personally, I like to think he's 42. he joined the army right out of high school, did his one year of training and 2 years of service before getting discharged, took a year to get his bearings/join the fire academy, and was at the 118 for about a year when chim joined, making him 23 in 2005, and 42 now. why? I'll explain

even though you legally become an adult at 18, you're still not really a fully formed person yet. if tommy was 18 when he joined the army, even if he already knew he was queer, his time in the army would have been instrumental to how he views himself and his identity, just in terms of growing up and being an adult. if he was already out and proud, the army would have broken his confidence down, and if he never accepted himself, they would have just reinforced whatever self-loathing he had. plus if he didn't even know, finding out you're gay when it could lose you your job is traumatizing. having tommy join the army fresh out of high school, and then get discharged 3 years later gives him enough time to have the training necessary to still be a pilot 20 years later, and enough time to really have been broken down by the system, while still not being too old when he joins the lafd

i don't know what the policy is for telling people why you got discharged, but if tommy could have kept it a secret at the lafd, he probs would have. obviously the writers probably weren't planning this when they introduced him, but having him not only be closeted queer, but also have him be fired for being queer adds a really interesting layer to his character and his interactions with chim and hen in the begins episodes.

and as for why have him be 42 instead of say, 41 or 43? because Abby was 42. someone pointed out that tommy and abby parallel each other in how they're both people who have helped/are helping buck better understand who he is and what he wants for himself in terms of a romantic relationship. having him be 42 makes that connection

[pooks]

right, back to the Straw Hat Ichiji AU and onto part 2

meeting Red Leg Zeff

Ichiji and Sanji has been on the restaurant ship, The Orbit, for two years now. Sanji is a chore boy in the galley while Ichiji is a cabin boy, working on deck. everyone knows they're brothers and since they are born on the same day, everyone says they're twins and Ichiji never bothers to correct them. after all, he wants to leave Germa behind in the past and never look back.

Ichiji is the one who does the talking for him and Sanji. that's how they got to stay onboard and work.

then the Cook Pirates attacks. Ichiji spends less time on talking and more on fighting. he holds up pretty well against the pirates (thanks to his genetic modifications) until Red Leg Zeff defeats him.

Sanji is the next one and he gets beaten around, but that doesn't stop him from proclaiming his dream about the All Blue. all the Cook Pirates laughs at him except Zeff and Ichiji is frustrated. he yells at the pirates to stop laughing and then, he yells at Sanji for "whining" about the All Blue again while they're in a life or death situation. very much "can't you read the room, stupid brother?"

the storm happens and Zeff, Ichiji and Sanji is on the rock island. alone. Zeff hands them a sack with food and without a beat, Sanji instantly complains that Zeff got a bigger sack than them. Zeff yells at him and Ichiji takes the sack and grabs Sanji's hand, dragging him away and telling him to save his energy because they need to look out for a ship.

it takes longer for Ichiji starve than Sanji because he had the fortune of his genetic modification and unlike Sanji, who was already a little malnourished from his six months in prison, he was well-fed regularly. Ichiji notices this detail from the start and collects morning dew every morning. he eats less on purpose, making sure that Sanji gets more than him.

they run out of food after 25 days. Ichiji saw only one ship and it passed without seeing them, no matter how much he yelled and waved. Ichiji is starting to feel weak, for the first time in his life, and he's slowly starving to death.

Sanji is crazy from starvation and tries to take food from Zeff, only to reveal there were only treasure in his sack and he never had any food. Ichiji connects the dots and realizes that Zeff sacrificed his food for them and his leg to survive.

Ichiji is shaken to his core and is instantly reminded of his mother's sacrifice, being told by Reiju what Sora did to save their humanity and slowly died. and now, he witnesses a pirate, who seems to hate them, do the same for them.

day 39 and Ichiji's muscles has gone weak, he's struggling to stand up and is very dizzy from the lack of food.

on the 52nd day, Ichiji's body is starting to give up. he can no longer stand up to collect morning dew. but he's stubborn and can still sit up. he always gives the dew for Sanji, keeping his starvation on bay

day 67 and Ichiji can no longer move. his body has become so weak that he can't even sit up. but he can still. so he talks to Sanji about anything and everything, like he's done since they got here. getting to know his little brother more, talking about the All Blue, he points out the star constellations at nights. anything that won't make Sanji think about food.

on the 79th day, Ichiji becomes very ill. he drifts in and out of consciousness. whenever he's awake, he hallucinates about his mother. he cries and begs for Sanji's forgiveness, for being a monster and promises to repent.

(he doesn't know this until some years later, but Zeff took care of him when he was ill and nearly dying.)

Zeff, Ichiji and Sanji are finally saved by a passing ship on the 85th day. at this point, Ichiji's life is hanging on a thin thread. as doctors tells Zeff during their recovery that one more day and Ichiji would've succumbed to death.

it took them a long time to recover, but Zeff and Sanji recovered before Ichiji, who was ill a little longer.

Baratie

one everyone had recovered to full health, Zeff spent his remaining loot to build and open the Baratie, a ship restaurant, with Ichiji and Sanji. yes, he has all but officially adopted these two as his adoptive sons.

for the next nine years, Ichiji lives happily with Zeff at the Baratie. he learns to cook, of course but it isn't his passion and he has a better talent in writing and counting. Zeff takes note of that, so Ichiji helps out with their finances, negotiates with their supplies and works as the only waiter (since most waiters packs and leaves frequently).

Ichiji shares room with Sanji and endures Sanji's nagging about the All Blue. some nights are too quiet and Ichiji sits on the rooftop of the Baratie, stargazing. Zeff joins him sometimes and they talk a lot.

he's a little closer to Zeff in some ways and Sanji is closer to Zeff in other ways. Ichiji knows that he won't have the "bond of cooks" like Sanji and Zeff has, but he knows that doesn't mean that he means less to Zeff.

in this AU, Zeff knows about Vinsmoke and Germa because Ichiji told him in confidence. Sanji doesn't know that Zeff knows and they want to keep it that way. both Ichiji and Zeff vowed to never speak or even think about it again.

Sanji starts smoking at 15 and Ichiji doesn't like it. he doesn't buy the whole "a real man smokes" thing and finds it ridiculous. Ichiji is also mildly annoyed by Sanji getting heart eyes for every single girl within their radius. for him, a costumer is a costumer, no matter the gender.

Ichiji forgets Germa, Judge and Vinsmoke in less than two years. as far as he's concerned, Zeff, Sanji and the Baratie cooks are his new family.

for the nine years they grow up at the Baratie, Ichiji becomes Sanji's older brother in a true sense. he holds Sanji when he cries or has a nightmare, he feeds him soup and reads stories when Sanji's sick. he lets Sanji brush his long hair (Ichiji let it grow past his shoulders) because it reminds him when Sora used to do it.

Zeff teaches Ichiji to fight with his legs, but also how to use guns. at 18 years, Ichiji draws faster than his own shadow and he never misses a shot.

there's also the recurring joke among the cooks that Ichiji is the "alpha twin". naturally, everyone assumes they're twins and Ichiji never bothers to correct them because they "have no other family" than each other. the revelation that Sanji is born 20 minutes after Ichiji adds to the joke.

Ichiji knows that Zeff loves them the same, but he always teases Sanji and says "Zeff likes me best" which makes Sanji angrily yell at him.

at their 18th birthday, they have a big celebration at the Baratie with Zeff and the cooks because the boys are now properly men. Ichiji drinks until he gets drunk as a skunk. Ichiji feels floaty and happy and he start singing.

it's not pretty North Blue songs Sora used to sing, tho. nope, it's old pirate shanties he was taught by the other cooks and they are dirty. the moment when Ichiji starts a fourth round of his own shanty about a cute boy who once thanked him for the meal, Patty and Carne starts dragging him off. Drunk-Ichiji is so offended at their "lack of artistic appreciation" and starts to fight. Zeff kicks him straight to bed.

next day, Ichiji has a hell of a hangover and hates everything and everyone and he isn't shy to say it either. Zeff responds by kicking him into the water (don't worry, Ichiji is excellent at swimming) and he isn't allowed up on deck until he has swum some laps and is semi-sober and rational again.

Sanji is just snickering at the whole thing, as if he didn't faint after his third glass, like the lightweight he is.

now we reach he Baratie Arc of East Blue Saga

they're both 19 now. both Ichiji and Sanji doesn't want to leave for their dreams because they feel indebted to Zeff and intends to stay at the Baratie until they die of old age.

Ichiji looks just like Sanji, except his hair covers his left eye (and hiding the scar on his eye) while Sanji's hair covers his right eye. Ichiji's hair is longer and tied in a small ponytail. he also wears glasses (he got bad eyesight after a horrible fever, post-starving) and his hair has gone dark red (compared to his vibrantly red hair in Germa-era)

he usually dresses in a black waistcoat, white shirt and black trousers. he also has a small, black apron where he keeps notepad for taking orders.

and then, a random cannonball crashes into the Baratie and the Straw Hats is here now.

(read part 1 here)

(end. part 2)

[fleabagsjoy]

Ok so i just binge-watched Oniisama E (Dear Brother) and i have.... thoughts. And feelings.

(SPOILERS AHEAD!)

Not super eloquent ones, I don't have any type of degree or formal education on writing or media analysis, i'm just word vomiting what i think and feel without any sources or facts to back it up so i hope that's okay. And i feel like i should preface with the fact that i didn't actually watch the last four episodes because i dreaded having to sit through Kaoru and Mariko ending up with men idgaf about, and instead read a summary of those last four episodes on Wikipedia.

With that being said, i absolutely loved this anime, i had already watched Revolutionary Girl Utena and everyone who enjoyed that one was talking about this anime so i figured I'd give it a try too and i don't regret it at all. The characters, the setting, the ANIMATION, the main plot and subplots (some of which i enjoyed more than others), i enjoyed it all.

I don't want to point out the obvious about the ending, we all know. But i was prepared, went in with the mindset of completely ignoring eps 36-39, specially the "Real Love is Heterosexual Love" speech that it pulls in the last couple episodes, so i'm not that upset by it. I will say that putting "you will only know what true love is when you find a man for yourself" is some twisted, sexist and lesbophobic stuff to put in an anime where Nanako, Rei and Mariko canonically fall in love with girls and whoever came up with that will not be seeing the pearly gates of heaven. And if that wasn't enough, they had to make the girls end up with men because uuhhh i guess they have to! But anyways, i still read the summary of what happened in those last four episodes.

I read a review from 3 years ago by medivhtirisfal that mentioned this and i'm so glad i'm not the only one but this really reminds me of a series of books that i used to collect when i was younger about an all girls boarding school and all types of adventures and mischief they got up to (the St. Clare's series) and i guess part of me always craved more of that. Oniisama E scratched that itch i suppose, i'll always crave all female casts and to see interactions and relationships that form between them, all types of relationships really: sisterhood, platonic, romantic, sexual, healthy, toxic, simple, complex... women stories matter! And i love when they're the center and backbone of the plot.

Now back to the actual anime. I haven't read the manga yet, don't think i will for a while even though i do like the mangakas artstyle from the few panels i've seen. But like i mentioned, Oniisama E reminds me of those books i used to collect, it's a string of events that happen during the first school year at an all-girls academy of our main character Misonoo Nanako.

It was very satisfying to see Nanako be a bit more submissive when everything and everyone was new to her vs. becoming more confident in her decisions and standing up for herself and others she cares about later on. She was always very caring for others, but i do feel like she let herself be shoved around in the first few episodes so seeing her stand up for Rei against Fukiko and quit the Sorority because of her loyalty not just to Mariko, but to herself and her values, made her one of my favorite characters. Also who can't relate to falling in love with Rei... Asaka Rei was undoubtedly one of the reasons that got me to watch the anime.

I gotta prepare myself before i write a paragraph for her because wow... too much to unpack. I can't elaborate better than some other Asaka Rei understanders about the intricacies of witnessing her own mother take her life in front of her daughter, after telling her to protect and take care of Fumiko, and how that pressure of committing to her mother's final wish lead to Rei's confusion of feelings for her own sister, devoting her everything to her, even her life. I suspect never dealing with the loss of her mother properly is what lead to Rei's severe depression and inability to understand all types love and bonds that she could have with other people, seeing Fukiko as her beginning and end from that moment.

Needless to say that, as much as i wanted her to realize this and free herself from this torment so she could deal with her trauma properly, she had to do it by herself so she could gain some sense of self and build an identity outside of someone she worshiped for so long and SPECIALLY before getting into a relationship with anyone (r.i.p. nanakorei). She's the most tragic character in this story to me, all of this started at a very young age and she had no way to get out of it and when she got close to that, the plot decided to say NOPE. NO CHANCES OF A HAPPY ENDING FOR YOU. Bottom line is: she desperately needed therapy. Veeery early on.

I have to follow up with Ichinomiya Fukiko, a really toxic and abusive teenage girl with too much power over the other girls at school, she lives in a bubble built for incredibly rich people (as do many of the other characters), leader of the Sorority (an academy "elite club"). One of the best things about shoujo ai like this is that all female characters are so fleshed out and have so much to give to the viewers and Fukiko is no exception. I will say that i fail to see a character that has so much (negative) impact on most of the other main characters as she was very often abusing/taking advantage of/humiliating others.

It's definitely because of her upbringing but she always bottled up her feelings to keep up a façade of composure, with Nanako's constant defiance, after confronting her feelings for Henmi and her relationship with Rei, as well as after the abolition of the Sorority, we gradually got to see different sides of her. She's... complicated. Not an evil mastermind or anything, her attempts of sabotage seemed very desperate adn half-hearted, but she could still be very cruel and take advantage even of people she claimed to love. Still, Fukiko was one of the main driving forces of the story and i can always appreciate a character like that.

Of course that leads me to Orihara Kaoru! She is probably one of the most consistent characters in the anime, loyal, determined and resolute, very sure of where she stands, oh my god... i'd crush on her so hard too if i was one of the girls at the academy. I loved the relationship she had with Rei, the soulmateism was off the charts, they had an incredibly intimate bond that no one could replicate and, besides Nanako, i felt for her the most when Rei passed away. I'm pretty sure her having to face the past between her and Henmi was also a big part of her character but again, i really don't wanna witness how that ends so i'm not gonna elaborate too much on what happens in the last four episodes, which is unfortunate because i'm sure a lot of her own development as a character happens in those but whatever...

I didn't expect this when i started Oniisama e but Shinobu Mariko is my favorite character!! It took a while for her to grow on me but i love her a lot. Mariko is mostly known for the misandrist lines (which... real) and i appreciate that she never really changed that (until #those episodes but i won't consider them strictly canon for my sake), but she had such a great story arc with facing her loneliness and facing the problems she had with her parents. I'm no psychologist but BPD is heavily implied and from what i've seen by other fans with BPD, a lot of symptoms were shown throughout the anime, which i appreciate since Mariko wasn't villainized and was instead shown as someone with her own issues with boundaries and relationships at first but that she could manage and balance in a healthier way later on... it's not something you can easily see in anime, specially not from this time. I was really happy when Mariko, Nanako and Tomoko became a great friend trio who could rely on each other halfway through, another testament to her character development.

Tomoko was one of my favs as well! A lot of other characters were very interesting and had important moments in main characters arc like Misaki and Henmi. It's been a while since i've seen an older shoujo but the animation and editing was fascinating to me, very gorgeous, over the top sometimes but we need that! What happened to that! Anyways it's very beautiful, i appreciate it. The intro song will stick with me too and the damn Academy bell... Very melodramatic, but very fun, it's a hit for me!

I'm still grieving Rei so i can't really face anything that happened in eps 33-35. We're past making the lesbians suffer, NANAKO AND REI DESERVED THEIR DATE ON THE BEACH!!

I fear i will be upset by that for the time being but hey, that's what fanfiction is for.

[petoskeystones]

Happy (late) birthday Rickie!! Coincidentally I've been listening to your 19 and 91 playlists all day (I know nothing about hockey but they're really good) (and compelling...) (If you ever want to tell someone all about 19 and 91 I'm here 👀) <3

thank you for the birthday wishes bird!! you have no idea what you've just unleashed upon the dash, though. 19 and 91... everyone sit down for the abridged, but still way too long, version of the story of steve yzerman and sergei fedorov.

in 1983 the detroit red wings, formerly the greatest american hockey team of all time and the pride of the city, were very bad. they were called the dead wings. they had no money and no prospects and they were frightened. they had just been purchased, however, by a fellow named mike ilitch, who you may know as the founder and ceo of little caesars pizza, and he had hired a new general manager named jim devellano, and they wanted to turn things around. in that summer of 1983, with the fourth overall pick in the nhl draft, ilitch and devellano wanted to take pat lafontaine, a hometown boy and one of the best prospects of the year. but lafontaine went third, to the new york islanders, and they settled for a kid named steve yzerman instead.

in 1983, steve yzerman made the roster out of training camp. he scored 39 goals. he was the youngest nhl all-star ever. he finished second in voting for best rookie of the year. within two years, 20-year-old steve yzerman was the youngest captain in the history of the detroit red wings, with his coach stating that he practically had "the red wings crest tattooed on his chest". by the end of his career he would be one of the most beloved athletes in the history of detroit sports.

his legacy is for later though. in the 1980s we were still losing. so that wasn't great. by 1989, we hadn't seen the playoffs in over a decade, and jim devellano was in the hot seat, and so he decided to do something insane, which was use up one of his 1989 draft picks on a russian named sergei fedorov.

to try to put this into some context: in 1989 there was one single russian player in all of the nhl, alexander moligny, who had defected from the soviet union that year in order to play. soviet hockey was inextricably linked with the military during the cold war, with players for thee cska moscow team being considered army officers. they spent 11 months of the year playing hockey away from their families. they absolutely demolished the united states and canada at their own sport. jim devellano used his fourth-round draft pick on a soviet military asset that he would likely never get to see play in detroit.

why the hell did he do that? well, he had talked to steve yzerman beforehand, because steve had played against the soviet team in the hockey world championship.

and so they drafted sergei fedorov, and in the same draft, vladimir konstantinov, and everyone thought jim devellano was crazy for it. it took until june of 1990 for sergei fedorov to defect from the soviet union and fly, from the goodwill games in portland, to detroit, where they set him up in the wings' vice president jim lites' house in the suburbs and went about the business of teaching him english. why did he defect? well, other than the fact that he badly wanted to play nhl hockey, they gave him several things: a corvette, and $10,000, and an apartment on the river, and the same contract as steve yzerman. it was the last thing that eventually got sergei on the plane.

and so they had the second russian in the national hockey league, wearing number 91, chosen for being the inverse of steve's 19.

from 1990-1997 we acquired four more russian players (konstantinov, kozlov, larionov and fetisov), and the russian five unit revolutionized the hockey world. this not hyperbole, they are five of the most important players in hockey history, and sergei was arguably the most well-known of them. while steve was generally a quiet leader and not a particularly flashy player, sergei was a media darling and one of the most exciting players in the league. he's particularly well-known for his trademark white nike skates and all-star fastest skater record, but i also think about his love of sports cars, his fashion sense, the commercials, and his genuine love for being a detroit red wing, to start.

sergei became steve's alternate captain, although assistant captain might be more apt. when steve began to have knee problems, he would be put on a unit with sergei, who he would trust to carry the puck from end to end for him.

sergei, meanwhile, understood his job in detroit as making steve's job easier. “i could tell stevie was worried about a lot of things. i wasn’t sure what exactly i had to do. But i knew i had to help him as much as i can on the ice.”

the detroit red wings made the playoffs from 1990-2015, 13 of those years with steve and sergei. they won the stanley cup three times together, in 1997, 1998, and 2002. to call them the best hockey team of the 90s-00s is correct.

but good times come to an end. in 2003, sergei's contract with the red wings was up. he had previously had contract issues in 1998, forcing the ilitches to match a $38 million deal with the carolina hurricanes; in 2003, he signed a contract with the anaheim ducks that was worth $10 million less than what detroit was offering him. did he owe detroit, for everything they had done for him? the ilitches and devellano think so. detroit thought so, and booed him when he returned to play against his former team. he went back to russia in 2009, three years after steve retired as the longest-serving captain of any north american sports team in history— a very apt 19-season record that has never been broken. steve briefly worked for the tampa bay lightning; around that time, sergei's marriage ended, and he only asked for their florida beach house in the divorce.

anyways, it's 2024 now. the red wings have gone eight years without seeing the playoffs. steve yzerman's number was retired in 2007, and since 2019, he has served as the team's general manager. it has been a decade since sergei fedorov was in detroit, for his hockey hall of fame induction ceremony; the ilitch family and jim devellano will not retire sergei's jersey with steve's, but nobody has worn 91 since he left, and several players have actually changed their jersey numbers from 91 upon coming to play here. when asked his thoughts about retiring number 91, it took steve eleven seconds to come up with a response.

the red wings are the second-worst team in our conference right now. we need a new coach. there has never been a russian coach in the nhl. sergei is, as of this summer, retired from coaching in russia where he won two championships with his former team; he still spends summers in detroit.

sergei is over it. steve is over it. the only people who still think about 2003 are jim devellano and mike ilitch's widow marian. retire 91 and let him come home!

[littlesparklight]

The timeline I've constructed for my Greek myth fic 'verse has been a gradual process (and labour. so, so much labour sobs), and I wish I'd realized earlier I could use Herakles' age of death to help guide how many years I'd at the least need to put in between his birth and when Perseus kills Medusa. As it was I've had to move things earlier than Herakles' birth back by several decades at least once!

You'd think Herakles' Labours would be useful as a guideline, which they are. Sort of. Because the thing is, as fantastically ordered and neatly laid-out as the Labours and the other events afterwards are (sort of) laid out in the Bibliotheke (which is so helpful in general), I quickly had to just discard not just the order of the Labours but the idea that they happen in twelve years consecutively.

Mostly (but not only) because of the last one, with Kerberos. It needs to coincide with Theseus and Pirithous' attempt at kidnapping Persephone, which happens right after Pirithous has helped Theseus kidnap Helen - and Helen is conventionally between 9-12 years old when this happens. (Later I also realized that Odysseus needed to be somewhere between 16-20 years old when he got the bow from Iphthius right before Herakles murders him, which, fortunately, by happenstance my timeline as it was at that point could accommodate without changing any ages or moving any events!)

What's actually been really helpful as a guideline is the journey of the Argo (but even that isn't without problems (': ) and the events around it.

Given who all are most often considered a participant in the journey, it was obvious I needed to put the Calydonian boar hunt after it - specifically Akastos always being alive and on the journey, and still only a prince, therefore Peleus accidentally killing his father in law (during the hunt) and coming to Iolkos to be purified by Akastos and the mess that happens because of this cannot have happened yet.

So you have a neat connection of events, presumably in very short order after each other; the journey, the funeral games of Pelias, the hunt, Peleus going to Iolkos (and losing his wife); Peleus and Thetis' wedding. I put these within a collective two year span, of which the journey takes up most of one year.

I completely ignored that the goddesses always seem to go to Paris immediately after the wedding. It makes just as much sense, and worked better for character and timeline and age reasons, that Zeus would drag the whole thing out. Plus with the Dioskouroi as part of the journey they'd been to be teens at least.

I early on settled on a rather simple way to chop things up; the journey of the Argo is ~15 years before the start of the war (because of Achilles' age at the first muster), and Herakles' attack on Troy ended up being 39 years before the war. I think I originally had it be 30 years before but pushed it up.

I reaaallyy quickly decided I'd go with what other myths as well as the vase painting suggests when it comes to the Dioskouroi; that they're older than Helen (and Klytaimnestra). It makes more sense, so they've ended up being nine years older than Helen.

I had to fight a lot with both the myths and my timeline to try to figure out where to put Tyndareos' exile/Hippokoon usurping him.

You could probably put it much earlier than I did (especially if you're ignoring that Herakles' attacking Sparta is part of his post-Labours wars/events), since all that you need is that the Labour to fetch Geryones cattle has happened. One of the reasons given for the attack on Sparta is that Sparta/Hippokoon helped Pylos when Herakles attacked it to avenge himself of Neleus and his sons attempting to steal the cattle.

If you put it earlier, then all the kids are presumably born in Sparta (though I do know I've read a source that imply the Doskouroi were actually born during the exile...). I put Hippokoon's usurpation rather late, in conjunction with Helen and Klytaimnestra's births, so they're actually born in Pleuron (where I put exiled Tyndareos and his family). The whole family comes back to Sparta/Lakedaimon in my timeline only shortly before Helen is kidnapped by Theseus, when she's ten.

And Agamemnon and Menelaus come to Sparta for a year a couple years later, first spending time in Sikyon and then Calydon (to match up with that Aegisthos kills Atreus when he's "grown to manhood". But I've actually cheated a little and he's like... fourteen or something, but I couldn't have this happen later.

so basically: 1231 BC - The judgement, Paris goes to Sparta. He's twenty, Helen twenty four, Menelaos thirty. (In 1235 BC, the Epigoni attack Thebes, ten years after the Seven did so.) Seven years before the judgement, in 1238 BC, Helen and Menelaos marry; she's seventeen. Menelaos and Agamemnon are exiled from Mycenae between 1244-1240 BC; they spend the first couple years in Sikyon and Kalydon, until Tyndareos, sympathetic to their plight (and probably having had their character vouched for by Oeneus, since, uh, Helen's abduction by Theseus was just the year before they were exiled), offers to help them. They spend a year (between 1241-1240) in Sparta; at the end Tyndareos lends military aid to retake Mycenae and Agamemnon marries Klytaimnestra. In 1245 BC, the Seven attack Thebes early in the year and, too several campaigns of Herakles means Tyndareos can take control of Lakedaimon again. Later in the year, Helen (10) is kidnapped by Theseus and Pirithous, they then attempt to kidnap Persephone and are imprisoned. Peleus and Thetis marry the year before that, in 1246 BC, right at the start of the year; I liked the idea that he attempted for a couple months to woo her before the wrestling happens (and it also means a little time to perhaps grieve his wife committing suicide), so the mess with Akastos, the Calydonian boar hunt, and the funeral games of Pelias all happen in 1247 BC. Thus, the journey of the Argonauts are during 1248 BC, with the Dioskouroi 16 years old. At this point they're obviously still living in Pleuron, and have been for several years, as Hippokoon usurped him in 1255 BC, when they were 9.

I partially chose Pleuron because well, it'd make rather sense for Tyndareos to take refuge with his father in law, and because there is actually quite a lot of connection between Ikarios and a section of Akarnania (west of Aetolia, where Pleuron is). Which I decided to lean into, so that when Tyndareos goes back to Lakedaimon, Ikarios and his family stays, having been given land of their own in Akarnania.

[cowgurrrl]

this isn't a request or anything but I just wanted to say that: no matter how delusional I sound, rockstar!joel and actress!reader are real to me! 😭😭 listen, they're so SO entertaining and i just love them lots so THANK YOU for giving us content of them!! 💜💜 (also rockstar!joel is SOOOO attractive, both him and reader. power couple fr)

(i did have one quick question lol. ik it was mentioned somewhere before but what is the age difference between joel and reader, how old were they both when they met? ANDDDDD.....have they garnered any criticism from that despite being adults? lol)

THEY ARE REAL TO ME TOO SO THIS MAKES MY HEART SO HAPPY 🥹🥹🥹 this was really just such a silly idea at the beginning but it’s very quickly become one of my faves so thank you for loving it as much as I do and TELLING me how much you love it!! They’re truly such a comfort to write and to see people find that same comfort in them is such a privilege I just ugh 😭😭

But to answer your question about the age gap, there is a blink and you miss it discussion of it in I’m Still Standing where Carolina asks how old reader was when she met Joel and she says (and I made this vague for readers to input their own birthdays) “I was… Gosh, I think I was twenty-eight or twenty-nine. Somewhere around there. We met when Ryan and I were filming Hyde… Joel was either thirty-nine or forty when we met. Or, maybe he was forty because we met in the fall, and his birthday is in September.”

I kinda played around with the time frame and I don’t really have a set year in which this all takes place so it’s not a perfect timeline to present day/canon age but it’s fiction for a reason lol!! The timeline in my head is they meet when she’s like ~28/29 and he’s ~39/40 and they’re together for about nineish months (bringing us to spring/summer of the next year when reader would be ~28/29/30 (depending on your birthday) and Joel would be ~39/40) when she goes to Ireland for fifteen months so that would make it like late summer/early fall of the second year when they get back together (r: ~30/31, j: ~41-42) They’re together for like two more years (r: ~32/33, j: ~43/44) before getting engaged and have a year long engagement before getting married (r: ~33/34,j: ~44/45) and then have their first child Sammy two years later on May 15th (either right before or right after Ellie’s birthday and two months before Sarah’s) making reader ~35/36 and Joel ~46/47 when Ellie and Sarah are 20 and 24, respectively. By the time their family is complete with the arrival of the twins four years later reader is ~39/40, Joel is ~50/51, Ellie is ~24, and Sarah is ~28 and Sarah’s first child, Isaac, is ~2!

That’s a lot of math and numbers I just threw at you but the general idea is that they’re 11-12 years apart. I see them maybe getting some criticism from fans but I don’t think it’d be anything as intense as these other celebrity couples with 20-40 year age gaps between them and their partners!! I hope that answered your question and gave you a general timeline of the relationship even though I don’t think that’s what you asked for lol!!

[mermaidsirennikita]

any age gap romances you can recommend? bonus points if they're historicals.

Sure!

Historicals:

After Dark with the Duke by Julie Anne Long--He's 42 and about to become a grandfather, she's 25. He's a stuff duke, she's an uptight opera singer, he has to make up for being mean to her by teaching her Italian and gets VERY hot and bothered when she's all "what's this mean because men are always saying it to me" and it's like "fuck me" lol.

What I Did for A Duke by Julie Anne Long--He's 39, she's 20, he attempts to seduce and ruin her as revenge against her brother, who fucked his fiancee.

My Dirty Duke by Joanna Shupe--She's 18-20, he's 43 and her dad's best friend and she wants him

Olivia and The Masked Duke (dad's friend, brat/brat tamer), Fiona and The Enigmatic Earl (marriage of convenience, they're both vigilantes), and Glory and The Master of Shadows (mentor/mentee with strong "teach me" vibes) by Grace Callaway all have 10-12 year age gaps. The Duke Who Knew Too Much has a similar mild age gap as well, I think.

The Arrow by Monica McCarty has a 10-12 year age gap and is a guardian/ward romance.

Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale has a 10-year gape; she's 17 and he's 27 because this is a medieval published in 2004, lol.

Joss and The Countess by S.M. LaViolette has a heroine who's 39 and a 28 year old heroine. Also servant/mistress of the house.

Meet Me in Monte Carlo by Cate C. Wells is technically a historical lol... Set in the 80s... It's a stern husband/wife who deserves better book with a 12 year gap.

In Which Matilda Halifax Learns the Value of Restraint by Alexandra Vasti has a 10-12 year gap, I think.

Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt has a 10-12 year age gap between a street rat girl and duke guy

Contemporary Age Gaps:

Mafia Mistress and Mafia Darling by Mila Finelli--Franke and Fausto.... are 18 and 38.... OH WELL. In his defense, he brought her over to Italy to marry his son. Shit just happened! Major books for the daddy kink crowd; she does call him paparino, because she looked it up on her phone, and he does do a full *GOES COMPLETELY STILL* when she springs it on him lol.

Mafia Madman by Mila Finelli--Enzo is 38 and Gia is 20. She does have self-acknowledged daddy kink, but they're much more on the good girlification side of things. "Make me your good girl" will live forever in my heart.

Mafia Virgin: Emma is 20 and Giacomo is I think... 36? PROGRESS!

It Seemed Like A Good Idea at The Time by Kylie Scott--Hero is 40, heroine is 25, but she attempted to seduce him when she turned 18 and her dad, his BFF, caught them. He actually wasn't going to sleep with her, so it made him really mad and now they're reunited 7 years later at her dad's wedding.

Act Your Age by Eve Dangerfield--Local 25 year old accidentally sucks her boss's dick (it was dark!) and finds someone she can unleash her daddy kink with. Casually!

Praise by Sara Cate--But of course! Heroine is early 20s, I think the hero is 20 years older. He's her ex boyfriend's dad, and she discovers she has a praise kink... with him.

Mercy by Sara Cate--Oh how the turn tables when the above hero's female bestie (34) begins domming his son (22).

Highest Bidder by Sara Cate--Another daddy kink heavy book, the hero is early 50s and the heroine is early 20s lol.

Sinner by Sierra Simone--Sean is a bad boy who ends up entangled with his best friend's little sister, because she wants to have sex with someone before she becomes A NUN. He's mid to late thirties, she's early twenties.

Salt in the Wound by Sierra Simone--Mark and Isolde are set up in an arranged engagement, but must fake that it's real for the members of his sex club. Naturally. I think the age gap is around 14ish years.

[withering-sunflower-dust]

Okay do I wann share some concepts for the actor au! But for mainly the actor as of like age names and stuff like that!

Giving them ages and official names!!

Sausage -

Age [ 28 ]

Actor [ Sammy Rose ]

Sexuality [ pan non-binary ]

Pronouns [ he/it/they ]

Bratwurst/Xornoth -

Age [ 28 ]

Actor [ Ash Rose ]

Sexuality [ Aromatic ]

Pronouns [ He/They ]

Shubble-

Age [ 19 ]

Actor [ Shelly Smith ]

Sexuality [ transfem lesbian ]

Pronouns [ she/it ]

Gem-

Age [ 26 ]

Actor [ celestia dawnnya ]

Sexuality [ Bi transfem ]

Pronouns [ she/they ]

Fwhip-

Age [ 26 ]

Name [ cris huffel ]

Sexuality [ genderfluid aroace ]

Pronouns [ he/they/it ]

Pearl -

Age [ 27 ]

Actor [ Dianna brook ]

Sexuality [ Aroace ]

Pronouns [ She/they ]

Joel-

Age [ 30 ]

Name [ Joey hellion ]

Sexuality [ Bi ]

Pronouns [ any ]

Lizzie-

Age [ 32 ]

Name [ Louise Maria ]

Sexuality [ Bi ]

Pronouns [ any ]

Scott-

Age [ 27 ]

Name [ Carson lara ]

Sexuality [ gay ]

Pronouns [ he/they ]

Oli-

Age [ 25 ]

Name [ Liam Leo ]

Sexuality [ Bi transmasc ]

Pronouns [ he/him ]

False-

Age [ 24 ]

Name [ Sahara mist ]

Sexuality [ transfem pan ]

Pronouns [ she/they ]

Pixl-

Age [ 39 ]

Name [ mark Sean ]

Sexuality [ aroace ]

Pronouns [ he/him ]

Jimmy-

Age [ 24 ]

Name [ Cole James ]

Sexuality [ pan transmasc ]

Pronouns [ he/they ]

Katherine-

Age [ 19 ]

Name [ Kathliana Abigail ]

Sexuality [ Asexual Demigirl ]

Pronouns [ she/they ]

Joey-

Age [ 25 ]

Name [ Sebastian rise ]

Sexuality [ Gay ]

Pronouns [ he/him ]

I'll most likely do sketches for them later! But here's some info/headcanon for the actors!

•Sammy was actually originally a writer for the series but then filled an empty role for the series for a bit until they found someone perfect for it but than Sammy kinda just became the perfect person for the role

•Shelly and Kath actually met at a coffee shop where Kath use to work at in highschool

•Louise and Joey actually was actually happily dating for around 10 years and actually purposed on set, the wedding episode was not planned

•Mark makes music with Sahara they're roommate's actually!

•Liam would drag Carson along for yoga sessions

•Sebastian and Sammy actually go way back to like preschool days, the two grew up in a small town and later on moving into the city together

•Sammy and Carson actually met in a very interesting way (I'll get into it in another post)

•Cris and Celestia had never met eachothers before the whole thing and yet ironically they got paired up as siblings cuz they were the only gingers in the cast

•Xornoth was actually played by sausages twin brother, so they'd put him in like a whole suit and like this thing had leg attachments because he had to look tall

•every Sunday everyone in the cast would bring something to set for everyone to eat, and the one predictable thing that will always be there is a pile of milkshake, no one knows who brings in milkshake still

•the S1 corruption was actually make out of carved foam blocks and took days to carve and paint

[surviveds]

okay. tommy posting! a masterpost of introductory hcs for my portrayal. i might expand on specific points in different posts because i have a lot of thoughts and feelings.

first and foremost: tommy is closer to 50 than 40. lou is 39 but it doesn't make sense with the canon they've provided in s7 for tommy to be the same age, because if he was, that'd mean he was ~19 in '05 during chim begins and that's just not possible with him also having served (he's clearly not a probie and it seems like he's been at the 118 for years at that point). i'm putting him at maybe 45 or 46.

i do take a lot of inspiration from what lou has had to say about him. he's an only child of shitty parents who didn't really want to be parents, and that had a profound impact on him.

his dad was a miserable man and mediocre cop who felt bad about being mediocre and took it out on his wife and son.

tommy actually did fairly well in school, hoping it'd help assist in his plan of Getting Out, but things really didn't go his way on the college front and he felt trapped, which is what led him to enlisting.

and for the most part, he operated fairly well in the military. it was good to have order. and he was already accustomed to being treated terribly - but it was a little different because at least it wasn't his dad. he did his job and kept to himself, at least for a while, until he started a 'relationship' with another soldier. it was toxic and pretty terrible, overshadowed by DADT, and it ended pretty brutally. tommy had already become pretty disillusioned to the army by the point it ended, but it was another major factor in him getting out the first chance he got.

when he was discharged, he didn't even bother going home. he went to LA, choosing it as his new city because it felt very safe due to its size. it felt like a place that'd be easy to disappear and be just another guy.

he didn't immediately jump to a career with the LAFD. he had a few months of trying to figure his shit out, contemplating if he should finally try to go to college - but it was scary to think about so he ended up dropping the idea. he went through some basic jobs before applying to LAPD impulsively. army to police felt like a natural transition, and he thought maybe it would be a way to actually 'serve' his country, because being overseas doing shitty things for people who wouldn't give him good reasons hardly felt like 'service.' and he did make it through training, got a beat - but he realized pretty quickly that being a cop also wasn't for him. he stuck with it for a few months, though, because he was terrified of feeling lost and at least it was something and he did get to help people, sometimes. because he realized he did like helping people - and when, on one shift, he assisted some firefighters in helping rescue some kids from a wrecked car, and suddenly, a lot of things clicked for him. he turned in his badge and applied to the fire department a week later.

being in the army and then a cop means he wasn't surprised by the culture at the 118. he knew how to blend in well by that point. he knew what part to play to survive. and he does feel really bad about it. he worked hard to make peace with hen and chimney, and they're two people who are incredibly important to him - hen, because she was formative in helping him understand that he can be himself, and chimney because of course he wouldn't be alive without him.

(i also want to point out that i believe he briefly had a crush on chimney. but with all of the repression going on he refused to really recognize it. it did slightly contribute to him not wanting to be around chimney at first, though.)

tommy first acknowledged to himself that he was gay just before he put in for a transfer. of course he understood he was attracted to men long before that point; he'd had secret flings - not just the one in the military - but he'd still tried to be with women. he wanted to believe he was bisexual for a long time and that he could just 'suppress one side of it', but it didn't work. when he accepted he was gay, he put in for a transfer because he felt it'd be easier to start over at a new house. it was a very tough decision, because hen and howie had become family, and he had started to form a relationship with bobby... but he knew this was what he needed to be himself. he didn't have some big announcement about his identity like hen did when he transferred, but he didn't make efforts to hide it, either.

buck is the first firefighter he's dated, though. his prior relationships post-coming out were all with civilians - a few of which, yes, originated from meeting on calls. after the third time, though, he really felt it was a bad idea to continue that pattern. for him, personally, it felt like almost like a power imbalance, and he hated constantly wondering if the guys he was seeing just felt indebted.

he kept up with the 118 even after leaving - mostly because it's hard not to, with how often they make the news, but also because he genuinely does care about a lot of the people there. he reached out to chim after the car accident and the stabbing, and to hen after her accident.

[pralinesims]

Aaron: 11/17/32

Emilio: 20/26/39

Gina: 24/25/38

Sorry! Bin so neugierig 🩵

Thank you sm!! Danke, Schatzi T_T (didn't expect you AT ALL to send me some sdfksdfhjh)

Do they have any addictions?

Well, he's really prone to getting addicted to stuff, and Aaron himself is fully aware of that fact. He used to smoke for a while, but when he realized that he got too hooked on cigarettes, he's managed to curb the habit, and being abstinent is mostly working good. Though to be fair, he pretty much replaced them with vapes.

When he was younger and his parents prohibited him from playing videogames for some days, cause he played too much and didn't focus on school, he was extremely cranky and aggressive even during that time. In current days, his strongest cravings are definitely sweets, he can't go a day without eating some kind of candy. It's the healthiest habit he's yet adopted.

How easily would they be convinced to do something that goes against their morals?

It's not really an easy task, but he'd probably have to be offered a huge sum of money (or money in general lol) to do something he dislikes or doesn't approve of.

If they could change one thing about themselves what would it be?

I think he'd most likely change his height, and would add a couple of extra centimetres.

Do they have a strong connection to their culture?

Definitely. For example, out of all his siblings, he focused the most on actually keeping up with speaking & learning spanish instead of just talking english. He also visits Cuba + his extended family at least once a year every summer, and usually stays there for around a month.

Have they met any of their heroes? Did they regret it?

Yes, and it shattered his worldview a bit. During a night while shooting one of the films he's acted on, he met one of his (former) favorite actors, and that guy was a MAJOR asshole to Emilio. Not even ignorant, but actively rude and insulting. From that point on, he's stopped watching any movies that actor was even remotely in.

Would they ever crash a wedding?

Absolutely yes to that fact! If he'd crash the event too late to witness the actual wedding of the couple, he also wouldn't mind staying just for the buffet and some drinks.

Do they have any enemies?

The worst individual she personally knows is the boss of one of her former jobs. He didn't pay her for the work she's contributed for more than half a year, and even threatened and blackmailed her if she dared to ask one time too often for compensation. Gina later had to settle things in court, and thankfully won! So, all is well for her, she got her deserved sum and closure in mind, but thinking about him still churns her stomach.

Do they have a daily/nightly routine?

Morning: Once the alarm has ringed a couple of times, she mostly gets up pretty quickly. After going to the toilet, she walks out her dog. When they're home again, usually breakfast follows. Lastly, she's getting ready in the bathroom (brushing teeth, showering, dressing, etc...), and everything after that depends on each day. Night: She has no fixed night routine, but before going to bed she likes doing yoga, or reading a book (especially thrillers!).

What are their dreams like? Do they have any recurring dreams/nightmares?

She's a heavy sleeper, and usually doesn't remember any of her dreams. Which is also quite useful for her, cause she experienced sleep paralysis 2 times in her life so far, and they're one kind of adventure that she DEFINITELY doesn't want to repeat.

[piastrinorris]

make me write!

ty for the tag @keerysquinn <3

THE RULES

Make a 24hr poll listing the titles of every WIP you want to work on. (It's fine if you only have one, still make a poll for the vote count)

Tag anyone you think might also enjoy this game (No pressure of course)

Whichever WIP title gets the most votes, write 1 sentence for every vote received.

If somehow that completes the fic or reaches the end of a chapter, move to the WIP with the second highest votes and continue where you left off on your sentence/word count. Repeat until you reach your goal.

(Optional) Share what you wrote in a new Tumblr post with a link to the poll or in a reblog!

More about each fic can be found under the cut at the bottom just in case you want to know what each one is before you vote.

tagging: @wordscomehither @corroded-hellfire @inourtownofhawkins @lunatictardis

neither steel nor torch: ralph penbury is bored. he always has been. everything that's exciting about his social life, is purely as an addendum to living with his socialite sister. he tells his sister all the time: one of these days, he'll be the sort of person people write stories about. victoria tells him that'll happen when pigs fly.

and then, while the pair are holidaying at their beachfront property, a pillage rages upon the town they're in. it's the most beautiful sight ralph's ever seen. the adventure of it all, the passion they all have. especially you, taking charge of it all. but ralph's no fool, he knows there's no way you'd take a man of high society such as himself seriously if he were to ask to come aboard. thankfully for him, ralph's always been good at not being seen.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

bsbl epilogue 2: (a follow up from this fic, to be posted on @busyralph) today, ralph penbury wakes up at 5:30am on the dot, thanks to his very handy silently vibrating alarm on his phone. not that he needs the humming beneath his pillow to wake him up. he already woke up at 2:17. and again at 3:39. and again at 3:52. and again at 4:57. you see, this is a big day for ralph.

today is the day he proposes to the love of his life.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

long time no see: years ago, when you were freshly 18, you'd had yourself a most epic whirlwind summer romance with the very cute handyman at the caravan park you were staying in. although it never ended on bad terms, university life just kept getting in the way and you and tom lost touch.

fast forward, years later, you wonder if it's a coincidence that the big business client your boss so desperately wants you to net happens to be called thomas grant. but there's no denying that face, those eyes, that spark between you.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

worth the wait: (an old wip i found that i'm kinda feeling again) you've got a real soft spot for tom, you have done since he started coming to your pub. you never wanted to say anything when you'd see how obviously his "girlfriend" was feigning happiness around him, but you hid your triumphant glee at the news of their breakup when he came to you to drown his sorrows.

and now that he's getting over her, he's starting to get a little more confident with the way he talks to you - flirts with you, even. if only you could get him to say all those things while sober.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

returning the favour: (part 2 to this) you and keys have built up quite a friendship since he made that one almost-career-ending blunder of giving you access to his personal phone number. but there's an elephant in the room, an imbalance in your dynamic, and keys knows it.

and so he gets to work on fixing that. to embody the... dirty stripper cop persona he's promised you, he needs to believe in it, he needs to become it. he just hopes you won't lose interest by then.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

man's best friend: you're starting a new jogging route, one you're hoping to take your own dog on once he's recovered from the Big Snip, when you're greeted by what looks like a stray, quickly followed by a guy who tells you he's taken her in until he can find her a good home.

the more you jog down the same route, the more you see keys and his dog, that's not his. he's just looking after her. in the same way you just go past the same places every day just to get a routine going. totally not in the hopes you'll keep running into your new favourite duo.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

dethroned: steve harrington has always commandeered the social hierarchy everywhere he goes. king of his high school, already king of college and only just starting his second year.

but chrissy cunningham won't fall for that schtick so easy. there's something beneath steve's surface. she can tell. she just needs to wear down this "king" persona of his until the real steve harrington shows his face.

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

playing truant: the only good thing about chrissy being dragged to her mother's country club's debutante lessons, is that the guys' beautillion lessons happen at the same time. that means that when she sneaks out of her lessons, she's always met by steve harrington doing the exact same.

as she and steve open up to one another, share their lives, their dreams, their fears, chrissy's certain she has a surefire way to enjoy the hellscape that the debutante ball her parents so desperately want her to attend would be. but they've got one more trick up their sleeve to keep all the cards in their hand.