#OTP: Brothers in Arms

[theoriginalladya]

The Long Walk Home - fanfiction

Title: The Long Walk Home

Summary: The fleets are assembled, the battle has been fought. Only one decision is left to be made and only Commander Caleb Shepard can make it.

Relationship: Caleb Shepard/Kaidan Alenko

Characters: Caleb Shepard, Kaidan Alenko

Tags: Destroy Ending, Endgame Choices, Angst, Angst and Feels, Blood and Injury, Canon-Typical Violence, Irish Shepard, To End a War and Save a Galaxy, Slightly Canon Divergent, Near Death Experience

Rating: M

Setting: End of the Reaper War, Citadel

Excerpt:

What’s the term Garrus uses? 

Ruthless calculus.  Sacrifice a billion lives here to save ten billion over there. 

The turians might know and accept it from birth, but it isn’t a completely foreign concept to him, not at this stage of the game. 

Still, the numbers are staggering, mind blowing.  It isn’t an easy decision. 

Shepard, I would risk non-functionality…

He winces, the familiar voice an echo in his head.  She’s there, in his mind’s eye, both as infiltration unit and ship.  She’s one and the same to him, she always will be.

A grimace, a groan, a sharply drawn breath as he struggles to move a foot forward.

He doesn’t want to disappoint her, not now, but what else can he do?

EDI, Tá brón orm…

Read Full Story Here || Read Series Here

I've had this idea for Caleb's last moments of the war for a long time. I wrote this up a while back - can't recall when, exactly - but today I was looking at it and Imagine Dragons' song Bleeding Out came on and suddenly editing happened. Be warned - you may want a box of tissues at hand. I've already gone through one.

Also note: This is a lead in to Caleb's post-war stories! I hope to start posting some of them soon!

[cherrynflowergarden]

જ⁀➴ we listen and we don't judge || matt sturniolo

sturniolo masterlist taglist

it started with an innocent suggestion. “babe, let’s try this tiktok trend,” she said, holding up her phone as she settled onto the couch.

matt raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “what trend?”

“you know, the ‘we listen and we don’t judge’ one. people tell their unhinged stories, and we just… don’t judge.”

he smirked, leaning back with his arm lazily draped around her shoulders. “you’re gonna judge them. you’re the queen of side-eye.” “i will not,” she said indignantly, though the hint of a smile gave her away. “come on, it’ll be fun!” “fine.” he adjusted his hoodie and nodded. “but if this gets outta pocket, don’t look at me like it’s my fault.”

she clicked record, grinning at the camera. “okay, so we’re doing the ‘we listen, we don’t judge’ challenge. i have a bunch of these to say. ready?”

“born ready,” he replied, though the confused glint in his eyes suggested otherwise.

she took a deep breath and said aloud “‘i used to fake passing out during pe class so i didn’t have to run laps. one time, they called an ambulance, and i had to pretend to wake up ‘confused’ just to keep the lie going.’”

he blinked at her, then let out a sharp laugh. “nah, that’s crazy. you’re telling me they had the whole ambulance rolling up, lights flashing, for fake fainting?!”

“babeeeeee! we’re not judging!” she scolded, though she was giggling too.

“i’m not judging—i’m… i’m admiring. yeah. that’s commitment. but also, imagine having to keep that up for the rest of the semester.” he mimicked a dazed expression. “‘oh no, i can’t run laps. what if i pass out again?’”

she shoved his shoulder playfully. “stop. your turn”

“okay so one time in high school this girl won’t stop asking me out, so to avoid her i pretended to be nick.” she blinked, shocked at this revealed fact. “…woah?” matt laughed at her stated and gestured her to continue.

“fine so you remember your favourite hoodie that ‘got lost’? yeah well it’s lying in my cupboard right now and i use it whenever i miss you.” she said innocently. matt gasped loudly, “you thief! but it’s kinda sweet actually.”

“moving forward, i became obsessed with your skincare products after you did my skincare once.” he confessed. she let out a huge dramatic gasp hearing this. “so this is the reason i keep running out of the products!”

“hey no judgement.”

“urg so i keep on raiding your secret chocolate sash and blame it on chris every time you ask me” before he could even react and loud “what” was heard behind the camera from the youngest brother. the video cut to next scene where matt sided eyed his girlfriend before he said the last confession of the challenge.

“i download your voicemails and listen to them when i—”

before he could finish the sentence, a flying pillow was thrown his way cutting off the inappropriate thing he was about to say.

“mattew there are children on the app” she gasped. “you said no judging” matt said, faking confusion.

“that was before you broke the rules of decency.” was the last thing the camera could capture.

view comments

user1

HELLOOO THE LAST PART????????

→ user2 RIGHT LIKE MATT EXPLAINNN🌝

user5

mama y papa

user6

user7 could be us but you playing me😔

→ user7 i'm just playing video games?

→ user6 still playing me😔

→ user7 i'm so confused babe?

yourusername

user6 n user7 are my otp😇

chrissturniolo

dada

→ yourusername ...woah?

→ chrissturniolo 😹

user13

faking fainting is insane

→ user12 so is faking identity

user4

they're so 😕😕😕😕💔💔💔💔

user8

do you need a dog i can bark WOOF WOOF

→ user9 dude?

→ user8 grETA GET OUT

mattsturniolo

🫶🫶

user3

i hate happy couples 🤗🤗🤗

an; it's 5 am rn and i had the sudden motivation to write just now :D

tags: @eirianna @thebasicbiatch @katamcauley @wxnyzie @lilmear-blog @vrlixlia @star-fuck-off @embonbon @idkversace @annawilk @r0nnsblog @weluvwbb @c1ydessturniolo @vintagebishx @maddie-bell @timmdmdm @happydiplomatshepherdspy-blog @crispycitrus @faith-f1 @escapentropy @florscons @carlossainzwho @luckylampzonkland @lewisroscoelove @mudryklover @rageshots @dontworryaboutit007 @chair-things @myangelbaby555 @sheesh1311 @f1lovely @silia1raf @blahbel668 @my-dinos-life-is-good @ssturniolo92 @lilly6110 @lou-larcher5 @arminluvrr @mxryxmfooty @gabri3la-sturns @bellsboops @f1-and-shiz @emely9274 @starstrucktyrantinfluencer @kayla-hearts4sturniolo @unx100to @strnlslut

@mattslovergirlie @sarakpalsd @sweetobservationface @shadowthesim @mattslolita @cupiidk1lls @urloveanaa @t1llysblog @meatball10 @fiowerbeds

[lordofdestructionm]

Viktor and Elsa

A secret passion?

Viktor Vasko and Elsa Bastion (formerly Arbogast) clearly share a connection. This has been clear since the Defiance flashback

This perhaps shouldn't be that much of a surprise. They are both veterans of the Great War, they have both experienced and still bear the inner scars that come with the tragedy and brutality of war and the suffering it brings.

Elsa in her capacity as a nurse, who no doubt saw all manner of mangled and broken men, and Viktor the muddy, bloody, living hell that was the front line of the trenches. It only makes sense that such people would be able to understand each other in ways others wouldn't.

Elsa has no doubt spent plenty of time treating wounded soldiers and seen the emotional anguish, and so would be able to see through that sour intimidating facade that keeps most people at arms length. While Viktor could find reassurance in the company of a kind and compasionate woman like Elsa

But many fans have found themselves wondering if there could be more to it than that.

Viktor spent some time staying at the arbogast household, and it seems in that time Elsa got to know Viktor very well, learning more about his life than even Ivy, someone that can approach Viktor much easier than most as a stand in daughter to him, and even to the extent she knows Viktor would never have agreed to let her put herself in danger

Viktor for his part may also feel more than just friendly towards her, if the face he makes when she is finally able to get through to him by phone to inform him about Ivy putting herself in danger is anything to go by.

Having been in a pit of deep despair over the memory of his far away daughter, plus the poor state of his health with compromised knees and a hole in his chest, hearing from her seems to make that normally scowling face soften

But before we all jump on that bandwagon and "Viktor x Elsa" become our new Lackadaisy otp, we have to consider the jolly British elephant in the room.

Bobby Bastion

Bobby is another war veteran and it was though their service that they met just after the war and later married.

He appears to be a very jolly and affable chap (relative to most bootleggers anyway), which may well be what drew Elsa to him in the first place. Someone who could counter her melancholy from the dark times they went through

He seems to be very aware and considerate of his wife's relative melancholy, by Elsa's own admission leaving a very lucrative funeral trade in the big city to move too a small quiet community that offered little business but gave Elsa the peace and quiet she needed (like Viktor it seems she hates "noise, noise, noise" thanks to the war).

Their involvement in bootlegging in the first place it seems was to compensate for this and provide the income to sustain this relative isolation

But despite this, perhaps their diffent mindset has become more of a barrier between them rather than something that compliments each other?

As the family illustration suggests, Bobby is relatively content and able to smell the flowers, while Elsa remains haunted. Bobby's humour also seems to have little effect on Elas's mood

Could it be that Elsa would be drawn to someone like Viktor, someone who suffers from the same trauma as her and may be more willing to admit to the pain, than a husband who despite the best of intentions is trying to just smooth over the problem? Quite possible

But even with that strong connection and bond between them, even if there is a mutual spark, does that suggest an actual affair? That's the big question here.

While arguably not handling his wife's troubles in the best way, Bobby seems to be a loving husband doing his best for his wife who he cares for deeply. Is Elsa the type of person who would cheat on her kind husband for helping in the "wrong way"?

Plus Bobby not only shows no sign of concern about Viktor staying with them and being around his wife, but, (despite his brother in laws interuption) mentions that he was very grateful for Viktor's help and actually saw him as almost "part of the family"

Is this a case of "ignorance is bliss"? Does he simply blindly trust his wife so much that the possibility doesn't even occur to him, or does he know her well enough to be certain that infidelity is something she simply would not do?

But this is all speculation at this point. What do you think?

Is poor Bobby blind to what happened under his own roof? Is it a matter of two people feeling an attraction but tragically unable to act on it due to circumstances? Or is it just an innocent matter of two wounded souls with shells and screams still ringing in their ears recognizing the scars on each other and offering some understanding?

Thanks to @ursiday whose Viktor and Elsa art got my over analysing brain juices flowing again ;)

[userautumn]

#something something instead of being her replacement abby is the one who mentored maddie when she started working at dispatch.#they became friends outside of work which is how maddie and tommy meet. long after abby leaves los angeles maddie and tommy remain friends#maddie is there when tommy comes out. tommy is there when maddie gets kidnapped#(and personally gives howie his endorsement. he's a good guy and he thinks he's perfect for maddie)#but somehow his path doesn't really cross with buck until after everything with doug. maddie's in the hospital and tommys lingering outside#her room and sees this kid sitting on the hospital floor. he's shaking and crying and doesn't look like he's aware of either of those thing#he's all bloodied up and tommy *aches*. so he goes over and sits next to him. doesn't say anything. just sits and offers support to this#person who is technically a stranger but who *feels* familiar#and buck holds it together for five seconds more before he's leaning toward tommy and sobbing on his shoulder.#it's one of those intimate moments with strangers that are supposed to happen and then become a memory.#neither of them are supposed to see the other again and they don't think they will because they don't exchange names or anything.#but then there's a welcome home party for maddie and chimney at bobby and athena's house and tommy sees him across the room#and it's like magnets pulling them together. they're inseparable for the rest of their lives after that#tv: 911#otp: eye of the storm

can we please have more of this?????? i am on my hands and knees. i am begging. even if it's just bullet points. it's soooooooooooooo.

you asked so nicely, i will give you anything. <3

so. as i was saying. tommy sees buck across the room, and he doesn't... really know how to react. that memory of him, of them, sitting together feels like something precious. it's something he holds in the palms of his hands and looks at during nights when he's feeling fragile and alone and he doesn't really understand why. or. well. he kind of does. no one has ever... needed him for things like that. no one's ever really needed him at all, but no one's ever sought him out for comfort. no one's ever thought he was made of gentle things, that he could be a comforting presence.

so seeing this kid across the room feels... disarming. it also, irrationally, feels unfair. because tommy was so caught up in his feelings about the memory that he almost forgot it's a memory he shares with someone else.

someone who, apparently, can just show up in his life whenever they want.

he ducks away before the kid can see him. they're outside on the patio. he touches maddie's arm - gently, because he can't shake the sight of her in a hospital bed - and nods toward the house where the kid is still visible through the glass doors.

"who is that?"

her brow furrows. she follows his line of sight and the way her face breaks open into the softest, most loving smile tells him everything he needs to know.

"that's your brother," he says before she can.

"yeah." she turns toward him. "wait, have i never introduced you guys before?" tommy's eyes widen as she waves a hand. "buck, come here."

"oh." tommy is panicking. "oh, we don't... we don't really have to do that."

"hush, it's fine."

and that's all she's able to say before buck appears at her side. tommy clocks the moment he recognizes him. it happens the minute buck lays eyes on him. his face turns this beautiful shade of pink that has tommy's heart practically wrenching in his chest. he swallows, his hand tightening around his soda can.

"tommy, this is my little brother. buck, this is tommy." she looks between them. "it's kind of weird how you guys have never met before."

and all tommy can think of is the weight of this kid against his side. the smell of his cologne twining with the copper stench of blood. the protective arm tommy had curled around his shoulders as if daring the world to try to pop the bubble they'd built around themselves.

"yeah." tommy's laugh is thin, brittle. "weird."

buck recovers first and far faster than tommy himself. he holds out a hand. "evan."

tommy shakes his. "tommy."

maddie raises an eyebrow but before she can ask, her attention is being called away by someone or something else. evan nods his head toward the house, and tommy follows. it's quiet inside, everyone except the kids crammed out onto the cement and grass.

here in the kitchen, alone, it kind of feels like their bubble has made a return. it makes the atmosphere far too close, far too intimate for someone tommy's only shared a combined total of fifteen minutes with.

his breath catches in his chest when evan looks at him.

"so," evan says.

"so."

evan ducks his head. oh, he's shy. without the barrier of maddie's kidnapping looming over them, evan is awkward, and so damn sweet he could rot right through tommy's teeth. his heart twists again.

"yeah, so, listen, about the other day..."

"we don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to." evan looks up, eyes wide and surprised. did he think tommy was going to make him? "i mean it. we can just forget about it if you want."

"no. i-i mean, i don't... want. i mean." evan huffs in a way that's supposed to be a laugh but falls flat and circles around to uncomfortable, unsure. "it's - my captain, bobby, he's... he wasn't answering his phone that day. and he's... he's more than just my captain, he's like... he's kind of like my dad, i guess. and he wasn't answering his phone. eddie wasn't answering his phone. my sister almost died -" his tongue trips over the word even now "- and i... i needed somebody. and you were there." he looks up at tommy and meets his gaze head-on, and it's at that moment that tommy learns that evan is, was, and always will be braver than he will ever be. "so, thank you."

tommy's soda can has gone warm in his hand. he knocks back the rest of it, if only for want of something to do, and sets the empty can on the counter.

evan watches him throughout the entire thing.

"i don't - i mean - it was nothing. i was just... doing what anyone else would do."

evan turns his head, a little half-shake like it's an argument he wants to have but won't. together, they look out toward the patio. howie sits beside maddie, his arm thrown over her shoulder, her hand on his thigh. they treat each other so gently, like they're both fragile things that deserve to be cradled. it's beautiful. tommy wants that one day.

when he turns, evan is already looking at him.

evan nudges his shoulder with his knuckle. "well, thanks, is all i wanted to say."

tommy shakes his head before the words are even finished leaving his mouth. "you don't ever have to thank me for that." it scares him how much he means it. "but, thank you for..." for letting me hold you, for letting me take care of you, even if just for a moment. thank you for letting me be the type of person i've always tried to be. tommy clears his throat. "just thank you."

evan's mouth turns up into a tiny little smile. he changes his voice to mimic tommy's and says, "you don't ever have to thank me for that."

tommy laughs. oh this one's sweeter than pure sugar, isn't he?

they look back out over the party for only a moment before bobby peeks his head in.

"cake time," he says before he disappears back outside.

cake time it is, then.

tommy gestures for evan to go ahead of him and, halfway to the backdoor, evan turns to make sure he's still following him. how silly. of course tommy's still following him. he's starting to think that this is becoming a recurring theme in his life. evan will march somewhere, and tommy will follow close behind. he winks and gives him a small smile, one that evan returns before he turns around again.

the cake is half-chocolate, half-vanilla, quite literally split in two because maddie and howie are the same in all the ways that matter and vastly different in all the ways that don't. evan hovers at his back and takes a paper plate when tommy offers it. they stick to each other's sides like saran wrap until the evening blends from dusk to nightfall, barely speaking to one another but never straying far from each other's orbits.

it's the damndest thing. years later, tommy still won't be able to explain it. when asked, the only word he comes up with is magnetism, something fundamental and cosmic that always, always pulled them back to each other.

they're the last to leave at the end of the night.

tommy watches from the driveway while evan hugs bobby and his wife goodbye, and then they're alone. it's not awkward, it can't possibly be when they've shared so much yet so little. but it feels... weighted. warm. heavy and scary, like holding a ten pound weight while balancing at the edge of a cliff. one wrong move, and you fall, and fall, and fall...

evan leans against the side of his jeep and faces him. "well."

"well."

"it's getting late, i guess i better leave."

"i guess so."

neither of them move. in both of their hands are tupperware full of cake and enough food that tommy won't have to cook for at least two days. having his hands full is not conducive for what he wants to do. what he wants to do is lean in, breathe evan's air, drag his nose along the line of his neck, and jaw. press his lips to evan's to see if they really are as soft as they look. but. well. he can't kiss someone he's just met.

can he?

"listen." tommy finds his mouth moving without his own permission. "i work down at harbor. you should come by sometime, i would love to show you around."

evan's eyes brighten. "really?"

"yeah. maybe i can even take you up in the air."

"i - yeah. yes, that sounds awesome, i -" he softens. "i would love that."

tommy swallows. his heart hammers in his chest. he clears his throat. "so, ah. it's a... it's a date then?"

evan's cheeks flush that lovely pink again.

"yeah. yeah, i - i guess it is."

a beat passes. tommy really does have to go. his hands are cramping from holding his goodies and he's got work in the morning. but before he can say as much and take his leave, evan swoops in. he presses a quick, barely there kiss to his cheek and then steps back. his eyes are wide, like he's surprised by himself, but he looks giddy. mischievous. precious.

he nods his head back toward his jeep. "okay. i'm going to go now."

tommy nods. his face is on fire. "okay."

"okay. i - bye."

tommy's face softens into a smile. "bye, evan."

he steps back while evan wrestles with his car keys. evan all but tosses his goodies into the passenger seat and then waves goodbye. tommy watches as he backs out of the driveway, watches as evan waves again before he pulls off. and then tommy's left in the still silence of a los angeles night, a feeling in his gut like something is pulling, tugging, drawing him toward the brake lights at the end of the street.

something like magnetism, isn't it?

[hhnguyen]

life of a traitor

I’m really sorry if this one seemed a bit messy, because I was trying to convey the feelings from multiple POV’s at the same time instead of just one. ps. i will drown in the Lo’ak x Tsireya ship. My OTP for life. 

♢ Pairing: Dad!Jake Sully x Oldest daughter!Reader, Lo’ak x Tsireya, Dad!Jake Sully x Lo’ak

♢ Word count: 4k 

♢ Genre: angst, family comfort - Warnings: cursing, Jake being a bad dad for once but we still love him 

⌲ Description: “You have shamed this family.” Words hurt and they sting. Yet you make sure your dad gets to feel that very pain in the wake of Lo’ak’s return. 

M A S T E R L I S T

“The Sully boy has been found!”

“The oldest is with him! They’re both back!”

You were holding your breath, you realized, as the village got closer. The lit-up lanterns that seemed like mere specks of stars in the night from a distance not long ago now seemingly looming over you with intimidation for what was to come. Both of you were perched on the backs of the Metkayina warrior's mounts that had spotted the two swimming back into the reefs after sending the tulkun off. 

And with Atanzaw flying above your heads, shining in the dark with his bioluminescent marks, it was an easy spotting as an uproar had started. 

Your brother reached the dock first, thanking the one who helped as you followed up shortly after doing the same. 

As if as one, both yours and Lo’ak’s gaze locked onto Ao’nung standing at the very front beside his parents. He was silent, though you didn’t know if that was due to the aftermath of his scolding or guilt for nearly killing your brother.

For his sake, it better had been the latter. 

You merely stood back as Lo’ak was ready to pounce on the boy himself until your dad quickly intervened with raised hands of peace, and you could not stop the disappointed roll of your eyes. 

“Hey…” Jake was trying to make eye contact with him, but sensing how his youngest son was too busy death glaring at the Olo’eyktan’s heir it was a futile try. “Let’s have a look at you.”

“He’s fine, he’s fine. Just a few scratches,” your dad declared, obviously nervous and trying to appear calm. 

“Define fine,” you muttered, not bothering to be too discreet and catching both the eyes of Tonowari and Jake. 

Your mother was next, as she threw herself down on the lower ledge and grabbed Lo’ak by his shoulders, nails probably digging in uncomfortably for a short moment. There was clear distress for her child on her face, but also the aggravation of him getting into trouble again. A very familiar combination when it came to your baby brother, admittedly. 

You still made sure to be closer to him as you stepped up, shoulders just barely brushing your dad’s arm in passing and hovering a mere few inches behind. A silent shield to be used if needed. 

“I pray for the strength that I will not rip the eyeballs out of my youngest son!” She growled with a frustrated grab at his face - Lo’ak did nothing but lean away, face stone cold in all the chaos. 

His indifference was worrying you as you reached out to subtly hook your little pinky around his own. An action that only the two of you and Kiri could do with your extra fingers. His body didn’t reveal anything besides the slight twitch at the touch, but he didn’t pull away, and you took it as a good sign. 

For now. 

“No. My son knows better than to take him outside of the reef,” Tonowari pushed Ao’nung down to his knees by the back of his neck, a sight that gave you immense satisfaction as your lips curled up into a small smirk. “The blame is his.”

Your father was trying his best to de-escalate the situation, you knew that. And although you had a lot to say, things were going smoothly at this point, so they were held back. 

“Okay, let’s go,” Jake accepted it, urging Lo’ak to get a move on and you started to follow until the next words made you freeze in shock. 

“No. This is not Ao’nung’s fault. This was my idea.”

What the fuck was he doing?

Stupid, stupid boy!

Your heart was starting to pump, the disbelief at that flat-out lie from Lo’ak not making it any better. And you made sure to voice it. 

“Lo’ak!” Your hiss was hardly low in volume, or gentle in its approach. It was a harsh, aggressive sound that made several people look as you grabbed your youngest brother’s arm and pulled him to you. “What do you think you’re doing?!” 

You were pretty sure your nails were digging into his skin much more painfully than your mom’s did. 

But as the idiot that he was, he wrenched away from you and continued on as if you hadn’t spoken. “Ao’nung tried to talk me out of it. Really.”

Lie, lie, lies!

The word thundered in your head as you pinched your eyes shut with a rigid sigh. Your parents had so clearly lost their patience as your dad went up first, your mom grabbing Lo’ak either in anger or confusion. “Lo’ak!”

You weren’t sure of anything, to be honest. 

“I’m sorry,” he finally finished. 

“Come on,” Jake’s voice was sternly laced with exhaustion as you both followed him.  “I got this one.”

How many times hadn’t you heard that sentence? 

There was a tense moment of silence as your family walked away, but Tuk was absent you noticed. Which was a good thing in itself, supposedly. She didn’t need to see this ugly side of your family so young - there were certain moments for learning, whereas others would just create minimal trauma. Just like now. 

“Dad, you told me to make friends with these kids, that was what I was trying to do-”

“I don’t want to hear it.” 

You cautiously straightened up at the apparent held-back anger and glanced at your mom, hoping she might help to diffuse the situation. But her glare was still firmly settled on Lo’ak, as you licked your lips anxiously. 

This situation was not reached its peak yet, the comprehension of the current mood washing over you. 

“Dad…”

“You brought shame to this family.”

It felt like the air had been sucked out of your lungs and stones beings violently shoved in their stead, eyes widening at the horrible words your dad…no, Jake Sully just blatantly said to your brother. 

Because this was not the dad that you knew. 

How could he? 

Saying such words when Lo’ak was already struggling with himself. 

Couldn’t they see that? 

It was so clear, your confusion nearly befuddled you enough, but not quite.

Because your anger was there. Simmering, boiling - ready to erupt at any moment - because this wasn’t fair.

Your baby brother was being so strong. 

Oh, how his expression squeezed your heart almost painfully. The way his shoulders just only drooped before straightening back up and fists clenching as his cold mask slipped back over the hurt that had been there only for a single second. 

“Can I go now?”

Don’t go. Please, don’t go. 

“Any more trouble I’ll tie a knot in your tail, you read me?”

Stop.

“Yes sir.”

Just fucking stop.  

With a flick of his eyes, your dad dismissed Lo’ak like he was one of his soldiers, and as you tried to reach out for him, your baby brother ignored you with a visible lean away. 

An action that hurt you more than you realized until now. 

“Where were you?” Your mom spoke for the first time, turning to Neteyam. 

Someone that had nothing to do with this whole fiasco. 

“Yeah, what happened to keep an eye on your brother?” 

You spoke before he could. “Where were you?”

Both of your parents turned to look, identical frowns on their faces as they stared you down at your tone. But you would not budge at their intimidation. 

“Excuse me?”

“How could you?” 

“Y/N this is not the time for one of your tirades again.”

The disbelieving laugh that you let out was so out of character that even Kiri’s eyes widened warily. 

Your sister was someone who often silently observed those around you. And she knew that at this point there was no going back. You were clearly losing it. 

“Y/N…” Your mom noticed the same, sensing the seams of your sensibility started to fray at the edges as you and Jake were locked in a stare-down. 

You grinned widely, all teeth on show as your arms spread to the side. “You know what? Thank you for suggesting that dad! I would love to actually!”

Tirades were your favorite part time after all. 

His eyes narrowed dangerously, a finger hovering in the air as Jake hissed in a breath before muttering out harshly - his eyes flickering to the curious audience gathering at your volume. “Watch yourself, young lady.” 

“Why?” Your reply was all but spat out. “Are you embarrassed? Ashamed perhaps?”

“Y/N, you do not speak to your father like that!” Your mom’s voice snapped up, gaze hard with a hint of surprise which you assumed was due to your attitude. 

Admittedly a side that you had never shown before. Or at least managed to hold back in tense moments. 

“Why the hell not?!” your words were met by the gasps of Kiri and Neteyam at the audacity, but they were easily ignored as you whirled to look at your father. 

He had his lips peeled back in a mid-snarl, his animalistic side coming out to warn you of the hierarchy in this family.

“You always speak to us like that! Whenever your emotions are too much to handle and you lash out at us. You say it’s our fault all disguised under your excuse of being a worried parent!”

“Lo’ak is fourteen, dad!” Making sure you had his attention you stepped closer. “Four-teen. He’s fourteen and already thinks he’s a fucking failure - and do you wanna know why that is?” there was no pause in your words as you threw them at his face. “Because of you.”

“You do not get to talk to me this way, Y/N,” Jake was clenching his jaw to the point he was sure his teeth would shatter. “I am your father-”

“-what father tells their child they’re ashamed of them?” You offered him a bitter smile. “The one I know sure as hell doesn’t.”

“Your brother made his choice. These are the consequences that follow-” your dad was having a hard time holding back with the way his voice raised mid-sentence before forcefully stopping himself and releasing a breath. “-that follow along with his actions. I am trying to teach him a lesson.”

“Did you ask him?”

“What?”

“Did. You. Ask. Him?”

Jake sighed in frustration, his hands coming up to grasp at empty air. “What are you talking about?” 

“Did you even bother to ask your son whose fault this really was?” you weren’t interested in hearing his answer. “Do you even know your son? Because I do, and do you wanna know why again? Because I damn well pay attention!”

The laugh coming out of your dad made chills appear on your skin, but you were already far too deep in to turn back. Things were already fucked up, then why not cross the line a little more. 

“Okay then, you little smartass. Are you telling me I don’t care about my own kid?”

He thought he had you there.

 “Caring and knowing are two very different things.” This time you were the one who had him. Shutting down his own retort. 

“You say you love us. You say you care for us. But also that we worry you, and that we disappoint you. Fine - that’s fine dad. But you don’t get to say that we have shamed you.”

For once during this entire duration, you hesitated. 

Your next words were waiting on the tip of your tongue, heavy and loaded - something you didn’t want to say, but a part of you needed to let them out. To let your dad, or even Jake Sully, the former marine soldier hear them to his face from someone close to him.

To feel the same stabbing pain that Lo’ak most certainly did earlier. 

Your aggressive protectiveness came victorious. 

So you let them loose. 

“You don’t get to say that; because we’re not the ones who betrayed an entire race to be where we are.”

Jake stumbled back in shock as if those very words had shot him right in the chest and he couldn’t stop them. Stop the truth that they were covered in. 

It was like a pin dropped in the heavy silence that followed between the loose circle your family stood in. Your mother for the first time in her life since giving birth to you hissed in protectiveness over her mate - at her own daughter - your brother sprung to your side and twisted you away with a snarl of your name, in warning, not scolding. Whereas Kiri remained still, eerie gaze never leaving you.

However, you weren’t done. 

“Hurts doesn’t it?” your voice croaked as Jake’s eyes slowly raised to meet yours. “Words.”

You left without saying anything else.

+

Warm. Gentle. Comforting and so loving.

Tsireya’s hold on his hands was always a welcoming feeling. 

Her touch seemed to ground him more than he sometimes realized. A feeling that was unfamiliar to him mostly, and one that always reminded him of you. 

But right now, with the two of them sitting on a boulder on the edge of a patchy space of grass and gazing out into the star covered night together, it was a touch that calmed the stabbing hurt from earlier and made the night all more bearable. 

Lo’ak had no idea how many hours that passed since the chaos that had ensued after returning with you. His hearing basically stopped working after his dad’s true feelings had slapped him in the face with their words - that stung more than an actual slap would have. 

He would have rather taken that slap. 

“Are you okay?” Tsireya’s voice was soft and light, so sweet in its tone that he couldn’t even stop the small smile on his face after the tumultuous day. 

“I will be,” he admitted honestly. He would always be somewhat okay after a few days, that was the truth. 

The real question was if he would ever heal from it. That one he wasn’t so sure about. 

Lo’ak might not have been mistreated or even abused by his family. A minimum that was expected for a happy life. Because in a certain perspective, he was fortunate in the life that he did have. 

Two caring, protective parents. 

Four loving siblings. 

A grandmother for Tsahik. 

And a home. Kind off. 

Then why didn’t he feel fortunate?

“You can always rely on me, you know that right?” 

Eywa. How beautiful her large eyes looked staring up at him from her place, where her head was previously leaned on his shoulder. 

They were sparkling, he swore. The aquamarine color of them stood out even more in the darkness surrounding them. The bioluminescent lights of nature surrounding them made her all the more ethereal in his gaze.

So large and so loving and caring in the way they always looked at him. 

And not for the first time, Lo’ak found his own gaze wavering - flickering down lower on her face and to her lips, which were adorably pulled down in a slightly concerned pout for him. 

They might be young, just fourteen-year-old kids still growing. But he wasn’t stupid or ignorant at his age. He was well versed in romantic feelings and commitment to your partners, and how to cherish each other if the right one ever did appear. 

And his dad made good on his promise to teach them all about teenage hormones and urges, and how to control them in a respectful manner. To know when it was too early to start exploring what he wanted or not. 

Lo’ak wanted to kiss her. He knew that. It wasn’t a secret. 

But it was too early. And in the aftermath of his falling out with his parents, it seemed too…raw. 

He didn’t want to use someone he was growing to care more for each day as a way of making himself feel better. 

And Tsireya deserved better, being the kindhearted person she was. And he wasn’t quite there to give it to her yet. 

But one day, he hoped he would be. 

“Thank you,” was all he managed to say in reply offering a small tug of his lips as she stared at him for a moment longer before turning away, the clear tell of redness on the tip of her ears as she realized their proximity for the first time. 

He didn’t see a reason to tease her about it, not wanting to break the serenity that they were currently in. It was somewhat possible to block everything that happened. 

He did say somewhat. 

The rustling of bushes becoming louder made both of them straighten up and turn back, only to see Jake coming closer in a slow yet determined stride. 

Lo’ak felt his heart starting to beat faster, a sudden change from the steady calm it had managed to find in the last couple of hours. 

The reality was catching up to him again at the appearance of his father. 

Tsireya turned to look at him with her concerned wide eyes again, he didn’t manage to answer her before his dad had reached them - but Lo’ak didn’t expect to notice the nervous fiddle of his hands as Jake stopped only a few feet away. 

“Hey kids-” his pause was out of character. “Do you mind if I speak to my son a bit, Tsireya?”

As if Lo’ak couldn’t fall for the girl more than he already did. Because instead of letting the presence of his father and Toruk Makto completely intimidate her, she turned to him first; Silently asking if he wanted her to leave. 

Jake seemed to be surprised himself, although pleasantly so. He has been so used to everyone outside of his family doing most things at his beck and call, both as a clan leader and war hero. He had clearly underestimated the relationship between the two young teens in front of him. 

Tsireya stood to leave quickly at the assuring nod of Lo’ak, before parting with a polite smile in Jake’s direction and going back to the village with one last look over her shoulder. 

There was a moment of complete stillness before Jake came and sat down on the space previously occupied next to Lo’ak. The boy didn’t even bother to acknowledge his father, simply staring out at the lapping water, shoulders hunched over. 

His two braids on the side of his face felt like the only shield to cover him as he let them hang, avoiding eye contact firmly. 

Jake let out a heavy sigh, having already expected the cold behavior of his youngest son. 

He didn’t blame him either. 

He had acted like a grade-A asshole, with the biggest A to exist in the universe. And towards his own child too. 

Jake Sully has never claimed parenthood to be easy in any way. It was a hard, taxing journey that he obviously was still trying to learn from. It was a road that never stopped no matter how old his kids got. He would always be a father, but he’s admittedly been a shit one as of late. 

And that wasn’t only according to you. 

Your words had hurt. Like a damn punch to his face. Or ten. 

That was true - Neytiri knew it too. And that made him think and regret. If those words stung him as they did, how much had he hurt his own kid by saying something he didn’t even mean?

Not really at least. 

Jake had been angry at the moment. Pissed off, to be honest. But it was also the overwhelming worry of his kid’s disappearance that made him act out. But it was no excuse for anything he had said.

You were still avoiding him. Well, ignoring is more like it. Which was even worse. Besides your siblings, you were actively shutting out the presence of both him and Neytiri despite their tries in the last few hours to speak. 

Kiri was the one to voice out your thoughts. “She won’t speak unless Lo’ak forgives you first.”

Was it strange that Jake was still proud of you? You owned the same pride he did as a young marine and his first moments on Pandora. 

An unyielding pride that often got him in trouble. 

But for you, it was a pride that protected your siblings even against your own parents. 

“You know, sometimes I think you deserve a better dad.”

Lo’ak didn’t reply, but the shift in his body assured Jake that he was paying attention. 

“I never wanted kids. Never even thought of having them until I met your mother. The world was already shitty enough as it was, so I didn’t see a point in bringing new life into it. And after my injury, that thought cemented.”

“Well, I’m sorry for ending up being your kid,” his low mutter was an inner thought not ever planning to see the light of day. Especially in front of the man himself. But he couldn’t stop himself. 

Jake let out a shuddering breath, finally realizing how deep this…trauma his youngest son was experiencing. And you had been right again; it was all his fault. 

“No, no Lo’ak,” moving closer, his son didn’t resist as he gently grabbed the back of his nape to push their foreheads together. 

Despite his bitter words, his body still relaxed at the comforting feeling. Because it was obvious - even after everything, he still loved his dad. Still craved the comforts of his protective touches, and his overpowering hugs that were rare but much needed whenever offered. 

“I’m sorry, son,” Jake whispered, eyes clenched shut and voice wavering with tears. “I have not been the father you needed since the war started, I know that now. I will try to improve, and I can’t promise I won’t fuck up further in the coming days, but I will never not love you.”

“Dad…”

Lo’ak wanted to cry. 

And in the protective embrace of his dad, he did. He let those long held tears flow loose, dripping down his cheeks and starting to obscure his vision as his breath started to heave at the force of it all. 

“What I said wasn’t true. I am proud of the man you’re starting to grow into, and you have never shamed this family. I am the one who should be ashamed, never you.” 

“I-I am sorry-”

“Stop saying sorry,” Jake demanded pulling his son closer. “Your sister was right. My burdens should not fall on your shoulders. You’re still young and deserve to be a child, not a soldier. So I am sorry.”

Pressing his lips against the crown on his youngest boy’s head, Jake only held him as his silent tears turned into soft sobs. All the pain and hurt that he had bottled up because of him, finally being lifted off his young shoulders that should have never been born them to begin with. 

“Will you ever forgive your old man of his faults?” His dad asked after several minutes he finished crying, his deep voice hoarse with nerves. 

Lo’ak had no idea how long his meltdown lasted, only letting out everything in the presence of his dad without restraint until he had no more tears left. It could have been five minutes or ten. Who knew at this point? 

“You’re my dad…” he had whispered in return. “I will always forgive you.”

There was a thankful smile on Jake’s face, wrinkles crinkling in the corners of his wet eyes. “Then you’re a far better person than I have ever been. Thank you.”

He swallowed, and for the first time in a while, his next words had never been more genuine than at this moment. 

“I love you, dad.”

There was a firm, warm squeeze around his body at hearing that. 

“God, I love you too, kiddo. So much you don’t even know.”

Maybe he’d been mistaken after all. 

Lo’ak doubted this would be the end of their turmoils because life came with them. It was just how it was; parents get angry at their kids, siblings get angry at each other and vice versa. 

It was expected, but at least from now on he would be assured of his parents’ love for him, and their presence would be constant and there whenever he would need them despite their own faults as people.

Updates will unfortunately be a bit slow moving forward. My 3rd semester has started and I’ve started to prepare for my MA thesis + 4 classes, so my days are packed 🥲

taglist:

@nao-cchi @eywas-heir @ssc7514 @spicycloudsalad @calums-betch @httpjiikook @ricecakeslove @fanboyluvr @iwaslikeblah   @the-wandering-pan-ace @avatarloversblog @eternallyvenus @enchantinggoateefox @arianapntn @heydemonsitsme @slyvixen1029​ @promiseofeywa @love13tter @directioner5life @bambisposts-blogs @melllinaa  @sugarmummystuff6 @lovekeeho @marit332 @hai-kbai @missroro @lola2004sworld @kage-yaa​

[respectthepetty]

The seventh episode of Perfect 10 Liners made me realize that every Green Guy will wear the green -river- shirt in a Director New series, so I can recognize they are a Green Guy.

Or at the very least, Director New will use the backpacks to guide me to their color.

But, luckily, in Perfect 10 Liners, he has offered me shirts to reinforce the colors, so I instantly know that Yotha is a Black Brooder who is always two seconds away from fighting his own brother in front of the entire school and God.

His brother is a light Blue Boy who Wine can't tell when he is flirting or just being his usual self, and Arm is a Yellow Yal.

His boyfriend is a Red Rascal.

And it's clear that Arm loves Arc even if he hasn't said it because Arm wears Arc's color, which could be because he is wearing Arc's clothing since he didn't have his own when spending the night.

But they have been wearing each other's colors!

So to have a mysterious Black Brooder come along to shake Arc's confidence was a great way to get them moving along to solidify their feelings.

And I know Tongfah is a Black Brooder because the backpack told me so. (Sidenote: A Yellow Yal and a Black Brooder are my OTP. I want this so badly that it's making me sick even thinking of the potential of this pair)

The backpacks always tell me colors.

So Arc tries to change his color and be someone he isn't because he thinks that's what Arm wants.

But not just anyone can be a Black Brooder. It takes a specific guy.

Ask Yotha.

And Arc is no Black Brooder. He is a Red Rascal all the way.

And he is in love with this beautiful but cautious idiot.

So he has to lean into his redness and be assertive. He has to spell it out for Arm that he wants to be more than just a mentor.

And whoever decided to put that highlighter on Book's face deserves a raise because when Arm finally decided to go for it, that kiss was visually pleasing from all angles.

Someone give me Force and Book in A Midsummer Night's Dream IMMEDIATELY!

*sign of the cross* Amen

And for my final sidenote, as Arm and Arc's portion wraps up, I don't need confirmation that Warm and Cop are a couple.

They are canon to me!

While Arc was having an entire crisis, these two were showering together and sharing soap, so I don't need the story to confirm what I know is true in my heart.

Because unlike Arm, I can read colors, and I know that they signal the love is real, so the simple fact is that Cop is a Purple Person.

Who just happens to be wearing a shirt that goes from blue to purple next week.

And since Warm is the Blue Boy whose phone case goes from blue to purple to pink, my heart already knows they are in love.

But it'd be super nice if the show decided to let them kiss a little. *sign of the cross* Amen

[yarafic]

Imagine 》  being in love with Jeremy but he's not in love with you

I've  been friends with Jeremy Gilbert since we were in Kindergarten. As the years past, I grew feelings for him, but  what a idiotic mistake I've made.

But I had to learn and deal with the pain that I felt whenever I saw him with Vicki and Anna. The only people that knows about my feelings for Jeremy are Stefan and Matt, I'm very greatful they never said a word to no one. 

~~~

"Come on, y/n, tell me whose the guy your in love."Caroline kept pestering.

"Care, I don't want to say so please stop pestering me." I said annoyed.

"Y/n, we're best friends and best friends tell eachother everything. I've told you all my secrets, please tell me. And its not fair that you told Matt and Stefan " She said with her puppy eyes.

"Urh, fine but I swear if you tell anybody, I'll  fucking kill you got it."

"Yes got it . "

" It's Jeremy." I blurted out.

"Oh my god, no way Elena ' s baby brother." She said giggly.

"Can you shut up?" I asked her.

"Your secret is safe with me." She said.

" What secret?" Elena snd Bonnie questioned

"Uhhhmmm.....it's nothing important...right Caroline."

"Really isn't, it's just an issue that she have."

"What type of issue?"Bonnie raised a brow.

I  began to panic and I turn to look at Caroline who is also panicking with me.

" Y/n has a crush on Stefan."Caroline blurted out quickly.

I gave her a "What the Fuck " look.

"Really, why didn't  you say anything."Elena said.

"What did you wanted her to say, "Oh Elena, I'm have a crush on your ex. I hope you don't mind."Bonnie said.

"Do you guys think I'll get mad if she asked Stefan out?" Elena asked.

No one said a word, as my prayers were answered Jeremy came to my rescue.

"You guys won't mind if I take y/n, right." He grab a hold of my wrist amd yank me out of my seat without an answer he took me out of The Grill.

"Hey, what's going on?" I questioned.

"I just wanted to ask you a question." He says while sitting on a bench not that far from The Grill.

"What is it?" Hoping that he was going to say the words that I always want to hear come out of his mouth.

"What do you think about Bonnie? " He asked.

"What do you mean I think about Bonnie. You have to be more specific on me, as a sister, best friend, or a lover." I said the last part quietly but loud enough for him to hear.

" As my girlfriend."he says.

"I think you guys would be amazing couple. My new OTP." I said with a fake smile.

"Really, you think so."

"I know so, Jer."I said while patting his back.

"Thank you for being my best friend."He says as he wraps his arms around my waist.

A pang of pain and jealously rush through my body, yet again I have to get use to it.

[olderthannetfic]

Who wants to play a quick round of my favourite game, "IS IT INCEST?"

Let's ask the studio audience and everyone watching at home - which of these two relationships sound like incest? Is it:

1) An immortal being watches his sister die in his arms. His dead sister is then brought back to life as a human, and gets to live out a normal human life. She has children, and grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, etc. The current main character of the story is one of these great-great-great grandchildren. The current main character (the dead-but-revived sister's direct descendant) then gets SUPER romantically involved with the immortal brother who watched said sister die in his arms. And also gets super romantically involved with all the dead sister's other immortal brothers, effectively dating/fucking all of their great-great uncles.

OR!

2) The group of immortal beings are all referred to as brothers, all consider each other to be brothers, are called brothers by everyone in the story, all live together as brothers, all act like typical brothers, etc. Only they aren't *technically* blood related the way that humans are related, since they are immortal creatures. However, there's PLENTY of canon interactions where one brother is openly hitting on their other brothers, one brother wanting to fuck their other brothers, and so on. Which obviously invites lots of fan shipping. But they aren't technically related by blood!

Which do YOU think is considered incestuous by the fandom? The answer might shock you!

--

The one that gets in the way of my OTP, duh!

[alwayswriting101]

Can you recommend some Florelia fanfics please?

So this is actually a terrible question to ask me because I think all Florelia fics are amazing just by the nature of having my OTP 😅.

But here are my general recommendations:

Literally anything and everything by @florelia12. All of her work is fantastic x1000, But Moonlight & Monsters has literally changed my life. I love this fic (and all her fics) soooo much. She is also a (obviously) a massive Florelia stan. AO3 page

The Florelia chapters in Winx Club One Shots by SeaEmerald (chapters 2, 5, and 6). Oh my God is their writing incredible. Very highly recommend all of their fics, if you're interested in other couples/fandoms.

A Natural Fit: Soulmates AU. Also anything by QueenofHufflepuff. I love their writing style to the point where it's inspired my own fics!) They also go under Matrices and Vectors on ffn.

All the Petals Fall by @lynpheas. I swear to God this fic made me quit writing because like what point is there in writing when a fic this good exists 😭😭😭. Also recommend all of @lynpheas works but not all of them are Florelia. AO3 page

Black Sky by SilverSongstress. I cannot emphasize how epic this story is. There's lots of Florelia conflict (that doesn't really get resolved by the end (at least to my memory)) and I was okay with that! There are some issues re: formatting but it's truly a very strong story.

Lunar Rainbow and Under the Cherry Blossoms by Roxy Fan 4 Ever. Literally love these fics so much. So romantic!

The Neighbor by libra986. Now I actually don't remember shit from fuck from this fic, but I remember being OBESSED with it...do with that what you will...

High Temperatures . I like this one.

Six Years, This one is just so nostalgic for me, I think it was one of the OG Florelia fics 😭. I can't tell you how much it PAINS me the sequel is unfinished.

I Promise, Courage from the Heart, Save Me, My Turn to Save You, and Remember Me by Lill2350. Again very nostalgic fics! I think they have a few more Florelia fics as well.

Living a Dream. Very Cute fic.

Chastity Slightly NSFW so don't open if you're at work or underage. But I thought this was a really cute/romantic fic.

Style by KinkyWings. I think this fic is really, really cute. The author has other fics based on more...untraditional pairings (and fics that are definitely NSFW), but I really like this one.

Waned Worries. Why did this person orphan this account 😭? Really good oneshot.

Kamilia has written a bunch of Florelia stories, too many to list and many of them NSFW in one way or another, but check them out if you'd like!

Flora's Christmas. Just a cute Christmas Time Oneshot

As an aside: here are some fics that I tend to really enjoy that focus on Flora or (mostly) Helia as individuals and not as a couple.

Retired, Falling, and The Moonlight Project by @redemptionarcsucker. Their characterizations of Helia are unmatched. And their writing is impeccable! AO3 page

Also @floralovebot has really great Flora/Helia/Florelia headcanons/characterizations on their page.

A Conversation Between... Literally, love this fic with every beat of my heart since I read it years ago. This fic actually focuses mostly on Stormy but Flora has a lot of characterization through her.

The Meaning of the Color Black and Inspired by Kikurukina Bal Des'cagel. Fantastic Helia centric stories by a fantastic author. They have also written on other pairings.

Names. A random, unromantic one shot but I really like the concept.

Never Have I Ever and A Specialist's Journey by QueenofHufflepuff. I've already raved about them in the rec above. Really amazing work. The former is Flora based and the latter mostly Helia based (from what I can remember).

The Shimmering Sunflowers. I am a big fan of fics where Flora is a big sister to Miele.

And finally, I always recommend The Great Witch Rebellion, Brothers at Arms, Band of Brothers, and Bonds of Brotherhood by tearsinrain These fics are focused on the group as a whole and are basically rewrites of the main storyline, but these fics are fantastic. I would bind them into a book if I could. The characterization of Helia (who unfortunately is not really featured in Brothers at Arms), is amazing. And the Florelia scenes that are available are really amazing.

I am a big, big fan of Florelia. If I could fit every fic featuring them onto this ask, I would, but unfortunately, I can't! But if anyone has any additional recommendations please feel free to add! I'm sure there are some stories/authors whom I loved but might have missed, but this is a very general list.

[valsnonsense]

It's them the boys my love's the lights if my life the yees to my haws my oTP-

I can't even begin to explain why I love them for me they just WORK-

John has been alone for so long, stewing in his regrets and failures as an older brother. He needs a gentle figure in his life to assure him that he matters and that he deserves love because despite all the mistakes he's made he's working to change

Trollex doesn't have much screen time, but he strikes me as a kind, gentle, and loving. He's open to the inclusion of other genres of Trolls, and strives to be a better King because of it.

In my personal headcanons, Trollex doesn't have a good relationship with his family because of how willing he is to let other Trolls in their kingdom. So he's lived most of his life trying to apease someone who was never gonna give him a chance, unless he went back to their old ways.

But when he meets John, someone who is unabashedly himself, he falls hard. And John falls right back, falling into the arms of this gentle giant who's more than willing to tell him how much he's loved over and over again.

These two are cheesy as hell and can often be found with their foreheads pressed together, whispering sweet nothings to one another.

They found each other late in life, but by god they're gonna make the most of it.

I could go on for hours about these two and frankly I already have so imma cut it off here and just say these two are without a doubt my OTP and I can't stop thinking about them-

[theoriginalladya]

WIP Whenever

I haven't had much going on with any of my boys of late as my brain has been hijacked by a couple of original fic ideas, but I went to sleep last night with the following snippet in mind and I managed to get it down on a page more or less how I imagined it. Proof that Caleb and Kaidan are still kicking around inside my head, despite work, Real Life, and original fic ideas! <3

Setting: 2168/9-ish, post Reaper War, on their honeymoon, Santorini, Greece, Earth

~~~

A mug in each hand, Caleb slips out onto the back patio and pads his way barefoot across the space.  Even now, and despite still recovering from his injuries, he manages to keep silent, and though he isn’t looking at Caleb, a smile of welcome slides across Kaidan’s face. 

Caleb laughs to himself. There are some benefits to having biotics, after all.

As he nears, Kaidan inhales deeply and sets aside the pad of paper and pencil he’d been using, but not before Caleb catches a glimpse of lines and shape.  Another smile, this time his own, as he recognizes the scene beginning to form on the page; a lone figure (himself) staring intently at some ancient Greek ruins. 

Kaidan’s brow rises.  “Something amusing you, mo shearc?”

Shivering in appreciation, Caleb hands over one of the mugs. Mo shearc.  Caleb knows Kaidan loves him – he shows it all the time and in so many ways – but hearing him say it and in Irish no less… 

Caleb’s smile broadens into a full-fledged grin.  “Let’s just call it art appreciation, mo ghrá, and leave it at that.”

Kaidan's laughter - deep and rumbly and warm - fills the air around them as he shifts on the chaise lounge to make room. Caleb straddles the chair to sit behind him.  “You didn’t have to stop, you know.”

Kaidan huffs softly as he takes a sip of his coffee.  The smile that spreads across his lips assures Caleb he got it just the way Kaidan likes it, and that's a relief.  This isn't like back in their Alliance days together, sharing a quick cup of liquid tar to keep awake during a watch shift or to help ground themselves after a rough mission. This...is something more meaningful, more important.

After so much of his life spent actively avoiding the kind of closeness that leads to long-term relationships, Caleb is still learning how to express himself through little things like this. 

Kaidan exchanges his mug for the pencil and pad, leaning back against Caleb’s chest to keep them close.  “Didn’t want to mess it up,” he replies as he flips back open to the page he'd been working on.

The cream colored page is a mass of lines and shapes, just hints of features starting to clarify. Hints of shadow to define the blocks of stone and a few seemingly stray lines barely darkening the paper that are blades of grass. With one arm wrapped around Kaidan's waist, Caleb rests his chin on his husband's shoulder and watches the magic unfold.

He still remembers the day, purely by accident, that he discovered Kaidan's talent for capturing the world around him. The shock at not only realizing Kaidan had kept it such a secret from even his closest friends, but that he was so skilled. Amazement. Astonishment. Utter delight. In those early years after they first met, Caleb had thought of Kaidan's biotics as 'magic' - space magic, Kaidan had joked - but his ability to take a scene and use precise strokes of a pencil to make it real, well, that was magic in its own right.

As he watches now, their visit to the ancient Greek ruins earlier that afternoon takes shape right before Caleb's eyes. Down to the squirrel scampering along the stone rubble. He can almost hear it chittering in his ear...

With a soft sigh, Caleb squeezes just enough to share the emotion, yet careful not to jar Kaidan's arm. “You never cease to amaze me, mo ghrá.”

Kaidan snorts, but his grin returns. “Isn’t that my line?”

“Not tonight.”  Caleb brushes his lips along the side of Kaidan’s neck. "Tonight it's my turn."

[wraith-caller]

rogier and d twins for ask thing :)

someone asking ME about the d twins and rogier?? as if haha like i talk about them sometimes or something?? ha hahahah

Rogier

favorite thing about them His emotional issues and how they result in this weird kind of duplicity. Yes he's a polite fella, but you're never going to get at much with him besides his academic interests.

least favorite thing about them That he can't die by my blade #sicko

favorite line gotta be the dreambrew line, specifically when offered to him post-blight. I feel like it encapsulates and summarizes him perfectly. Bitter and a bit proud, rejecting attempts at empathy and reading them as insulting instead, but then quickly realizing he's getting a little too 'real'. so he immediately covers it up and reverts back to being polite and gracious.

brOTP Him and Eleonora I think. Their stories just have too much in common for me to not want them to hang out and get shitfaced together.

OTP Rogier/his own demise (or maybe Rogier/Darian, who knows??)

nOTP I dunno if I have one. I don't like Rogier/Devin in romantic terms, but if its vicious hatefucking I'll take it.

random headcanon i'll die before i give up the HC that his family is utterly fucked up and the source of him developing his emotional detachment + his people pleasing ways + the cocktail of misery his set describes him having.

unpopular opinion he's absolutely manipulating the tarnished into helping him. it's often read as him being your genuine friend and growing to trust you, but i feel like everything we know about him would indicate otherwise. he's a good liar, holds others at arms' length, and never talks about himself, only his mission and research. his heaping praise on the PC is less about genuine feelings of kinship and more about him buttering us up to keep us helping him. this is not to say he secretly hates us or something. but he's also not the most emotionally healthy person, and i think it'd take a lot more digging before he'd ever make a deeper connection with someone, certainly more time than the tarnished spends with him. he's not just a 'you have to have this many xp points to unlock my tragic backstory' he's a 'you need those xp points to unlock anything from me that isnt a polite smile and a gracious compliment to keep everything running smoothly'.

song i associate with them

Tongues & Teeth by the Crane Wives Distrust by Aibhe Reddy Wolves of the Revolution by The Arcadian Wild Claude's Girl by Marika Hackman

favorite picture of them

im not here to deny any allegations made against me.

Darian

favorite thing about them That in a land full of liars, cheats, killers, and cutthroats, he's pretty honest and straightforward. When he asks something of us, he does it on our terms, and he doesn't press us.

least favorite thing about them his haters tbh I don't know. this isn't me denying his negative traits like his devotion to the GO blinding him, because I enjoy that about him. I like my favs character flaws, they'd be boring otherwise.

favorite line am i allowed to pick all of them?? his voice is hot. maybe this one where he says "You haven't gone to see Gurranq yet? No rush, you do as you please." It's nice being shown patience lol but also joke about Gurranq starving to death is so corny, and I love him for it.

brOTP Devin feels like the obvious choice, but I'd also like to suggest Juno Hoslow or Nepheli Loux. Juno and Darian feel like that, in spite of their vastly different backgrounds, they'd have something in common being the older brother. He and Nepheli, I've honestly got no canon reason for it other than I like them together. I think they have similar dispositions with their kind of serious and stoic natures, but also a desire for justice(though its debatable whether their senses of justice would mesh completely...depends on Nepheli's perspective on the dead).

OTP Darian/Rogier, no surprises, next

nOTP Hmm hard to say. I guess Darian/Fia is hard to picture, but it doesn't make me feel like I wouldn't read it lol

random headcanon I think that, even after being accepted by the Golden Order, he and Devin are still largely ostracized by other knights and hunters, and mostly still only have each other. He still deeply values the Order for taking them, because it's a far cry from having nothing at all, and now they at least have a purpose and a place.

unpopular opinion the fact that i like him at all is apparently an unpopular opinion lol But really I guess I just don't buy that he's a callous, heartless, empty-headed fascist. I was told the other day that the "whole point" of his character was his fanaticism, and I think this is a pretty big misreading of his story, because there is way more interesting stuff to be said about him and fia specifically than 'he's a fanatic'. That is a piece of who he is, but not the entire point.

song i associate with them Dorian by Agnes Obel Before I Sleep by Marika Hackman

favorite picture of them

probably this pic elden_things took of him.

Devin

favorite thing about them his absolutely unhinged and feral behavior that runs so counter to darian's calmer, stoic demeanor. it's another expression of dualities. they share the same soul, just across two bodies, so there is this weird thing where they are at once distinct entities, but also the same. and i think the contrast in their behavior serves to illustrate that.

least favorite thing about them that we get so very little about him, and nothing of him prior to darian's death. so it is hard to judge much of his character when all we know of him is in this freshly traumatized and disoriented state.

favorite line "Ah, hello. The rotten witch is dead." It just drives me bonkers how you can HEAR the crazed grin in his voice. Very well delivered line.

brOTP It's hard to see Devin befriending much of anyone but Darian, but again, this may be because of how we don't really know what he's like before Darian's death broke him.

OTP Not sure I have one for him.

nOTP Devin/Rogier or Fia/Devin. I think he'd blame the former for Darian's death. And the latter, well lol

random headcanon He resents himself and imagines he's a kind of burden on Darian. Being he is the 'younger', he may have an irrational notion that, had he not existed, and Darian had been born alone, there'd be no curse and Darian could've had a normal life.

unpopular opinion He's not a misogynist and I think it's absurd to make such a claim based off like one minute of character interaction, and fresh off the heels of his brother's murder, no less. I think people try to make it a moral imperative for you to dislike a character rather than it just being a personal preference. Just saying 'I don't like them bc they suck and I hate them' is less a powerful argument than 'he's clearly a misogynist so you should hate him or you're bad and excusing misogyny'. It's ridiculous.

song i associate with them The Friend by Meryem Aboulouafa

favorite picture of them

i liked this action shot i was able to get of him fighting one of the gargoyles.

[the-fandom-is-now-my-life]

Over tea

Tea can either bring people together to enjoy it or start senseless fights. How interesting

Wc: ~900

Your liking of tea has always been one of the few things known about you by the public. Other than your face or name, nothing much was known.

A perfect blank page for anyone to dream about any scenario they want.

" I just know it! One of the secretaries spoke as she stirred her coffee " great sage YN and mister al-haitham MUST be an item! Totally confirmed" She blushed lightly, imagining one of the steamy book cover that she managed to buy in Inazuma

The rest of the group looks at her attentively, this is one of their common lunch talks. Paperwork, unreasonable workers, talking shit about their boss and gossip about their favorite pair

" Oh?" The golden eyes of one of the boys open wide as does his mouth, letting out a bit of food " how are you so sure even?"

" Hear this'' she leans towards the table as if she was about to tell a top secret " al-haitham was on his desk, as usual right?" The rest of the group looked at her with total attention, breaths hitched "I had to deliver a letter but when I was about to enter I saw the great sage next to al-haitham so obviously I didn't enter. I didn't want to ruin my OTP's moment-"

" You just wanted to eavesdrop but sure "

" Shush! So I stood by listening and they were really like ' oh, haitham, you should take a break from work for a moment. We could go to my office and drink some tea' all while being very touchy feely and al-haitham kinda smiles knowingly before going so I had to leave the letter in the door -"

" Ehem!" One of the matra touches her shoulder, quickly dimming the environment " care to repeat that?"

Jumping from her chair she looks wide-eyed at the matra followed by two other matras " I swear I didn't mean to eavesdrop it was only an acc-"

The blond one steps ahead crossing his arms ready to fight " that is the problem! The problem is lying blatantly about possible affairs from the great sage! Everyone knows great sage and cyno are in love

" Obviously! And you said you stood by the door? Then how would you have known they were touchy feely and if he smiled or not! Only lies!"

The oldest steps in, trying to calm the other two down, seemingly he is their senior " you two only came because you wanted to warn them about lying about a public figure. Either way, young lass, do you know how severe lying about this is?"

Grasping the fabric around her chest she stands her ground, facing against the supposed 'boss' " I might have exaggerated with the touching part but the great sage WAS inside mister Al-haitham's office and they DID offer him to drink tea at their private office".

The blond one jumps in place, an offended look on his face " even then! How would you ever think they would fall in love with such a straight faced dull man!"

Sara gasps looking at him " straight faced! That is flavorful coming from you! You mean to say Cyno, the general mahatma is more expressive than mister al-haitham! I'm so sorry but that is plainly untrue!"

" I have only seen your so beloved 'misteir il-haithim" frown! I know you low level workers don't know how hard the sages' work is they need someone reliable and comforting like Cyno!"

The other matra chimes in rising reasons why Cyno is better than al-haitham, to each of them his coworker nods, while their superior looks somewhat embarrassed " Cyno has a whole personality outside of his job! He likes card games, he is protective of his friends, reliable, funny!"

Tte oldest gives a broken smile " O-Oh well maybe that one…"

" UP FOR DISCUSSION! But either way the great sage YN always laughs at his jokes!"

" Huh?!

"As cynos unofficial big brothers we have to help him get his happiness! He only relaxes when the great sage YN is around. I will not allow you bunch to sully it with senseless rumors"

" Yeah, plus Cyno spent three weeks next to the great sage! Obviously there should be something there"

The chubby and meek girl stands up " Well most of that time was spent believing the sage was a criminal! I wouldn't date anyone who thought that of me!"

The lanky matra gets closer, visibility mad by the vein in his neck " Cyno was only doing his job!"

" And?! I don't think my trust could easily be built if his first impression of me was that of a criminal!"

Looking down the window you look at the busy streets beaming with light and sound " I'm happy everything is as calm as usual" you say softly as you lean against your lover's chest, faintly smelling the white tea from his mug and his mouth. You wonder, would his lips taste like white tea?

He nods before resting his head on your own, closing his eyes and wrapping his arms around you as if he was about to sleep with a teddy bear

No longer caring about making hypotheses, you give him a quick kiss, lingering around his face to notice any reaction. Looking carefully you see his lips turn the slightest upwards and his pale hair hiding the sprinkle in his eyes. Leaning down he gives a light kiss on your cheek

He tastes like tea, a lightly orange blossom taste lingering on the tip of your tongue. How much will the taste change if you add raspberries? Or maybe Jazmine? You will have to check then, surely your handsome lover wouldn't refuse any affection under the alibi of sharing a cup of tea

[traintrainingmontage]

Thinking about engine relationships and my headcanon regarding how their big distinction when it comes to love is familial love vs. love for others.

They have siblings/cousins and they have friends/colleagues. In the case of a pair of engines such as Skarloey and Neil (my TTTE OTP), or an engine and rolling stock like Toby and Henrietta, they'd go so far as to call themselves partners or companions, indicating a level of closeness--and desired closeness--on an emotional, mental, and physical level equivalent to that of a married couple, but such partnerships are considered a little unusual. (Despite all of our communal shipping, there's canonically at least 80 engines that work for the NWR, so there's many more engines than we usually see, not even counting all of the engines on the mainland.)

(Also, engines' physical closeness is more about the desire to have their berths next to each other and make their schedules line up. Perhaps even--gasp--touch buffers.)

Usually, when engines have stronger bonds than just "friend," they generally default to found family, where they consider themselves siblings-in-arms/sworn siblings despite not being of the same class/build/from the same workshop. (The Strike Trio usually fall into this category for me.)

Of course, within those found families, there can still be partners/companions. It's just that as a whole, engine culture emphasizes found family as the next logical step up from friend, versus human culture, which generally says that next step involves romance.

EDITED TO ADD:

Additional nuance:

Within found families, there is often either a "dad"/"father" or "older brother", indicating the authority figure. The terms can differ depending on who's using them, too; Thomas might consider Edward as an older brother, whereas Bill & Ben might consider him a dad. Either way, within the context of their found family, it's still clear who's calling the shots.

[bunny-lou]

Tankhun, oscar winning director

I'm a little buzzed so enjoy this lovely prompt that's running around my head.

So Prapai and Phayu have had such a difficult time dating as the youngest sons in the mafia. Potential partners are scared off by their reputation, their family name, the constant danger that they're in. Or, if someone can see past all that, their fathers/uncles end up ruining it by over interrogating and invasive questions and hostile suspicion.

And Tankhun's heart just breaks. He's witnessed so many amazing love stories on television - and some even in real life! From all of his fantasy couples and OTPs to watching his brothers fall in love with two sweet boys, he simply can NOT have it that his two nephews fall in love. (Yes, two nephews, because any child of Pete's will be spoilt the minute Tankhun walks in the room.)

He just has to come up with a scheme like on television for Phayu and Prapai to have the love story Tankhun deserves to see they deserve to have. Tankhun will be just like a director - he'll write the story and cast the parts and maybe even win an oscar in the end.

First, he has to cast the story, he has to find perfect matches for his nephews. Prapai needs someone who won't let him always get what he wants, someone who has even the potential to be okay with a life as dark as they lead. Phayu needs someone outgoing to bring him out more, someone who won't cower at his overbearing personality. Arm compiles a list of young bachelors and bachelorettes (though he's not sure how the find would react to having a woman marry in) in Bangkok, ones with no connection to rival families, ones that would not be easily persuaded to betray, ones who just may be worthy of holding the hearts of his nephews.

The list is decently long, so then they start to be pickier - only ones that were cute, ones that would look good in future family photos, ones who had nice hands that could maybe carry a family ring one day. It takes a while, but Tankhun divides his time evenly between watching his dramas and creating this drama.

Second, Tankhun has to write a rough draft. He takes a few from the list that he knows wouldn't work and tries some rough ideas out. Phayu is immediately put off by the pretty girl who spills her coffee on him and Prapai doesn't look twice at their cute waitress on their monthly family dinners. There is promise in the boy who stages a minor bicycle accident in front of Phayu and the girl who stumbles into Prapai at the library. Tankhun is working out kinks as fast as he can, writing what he can with the multiple possibilities until -

Third, he has to find a location. And there are a couple of pretty boys and girls from their list that could reasonably bump into either boy - some who work at the local café down the street from Prapai's office or some who have friends who take their cars to Phayu - but there are a few students from Phayu's university who are actually on their list and it's perfect, so many options - tutors, academic rivals, study group partners, meeting at a college party - and Tankhun considers each candidate thoroughly - one girl is voted off when they see her obnoxious Instragram posts, one boy is tossed to the side when they found a history of him filing noise complaints o his neighbors. Nark.

They scour social medias, past report cards, contact very confused neighbors and employers for references until Tankhun has his perfect two. A young man for Prapai and a young man for Phayu.

Tankhun writes the cutest first meet that he can for both - Rain's car will get a flat tire at the same time Phayu will be leaving the compound to head home. Though he could wait until they meet at a university event, but that's plain and predictable and Phayu will note have a boring love story. Tankhun watches from the bushes - well, he's watching on his phone from his bedroom as Arm and Pol film it through the bushes - Phayu is far too chivalrous to not offer to help, just like Tankhun knew! He is charmingly confident and impressive as he works on the car and Tankhun can see the moment Rain is swept off his feet.

Tankhun is pulling the strings for everything - he pays an actor to mention the street race in front of Rain and Sky (because Tankun is already very protective of his future nephew in law and there will be no need for his piece of shit ex to be involved), the guards working the race are instructed to chase Rain and Sky into Phayu and Prapai. It continues on as awkwardly forcing segues with Phayu about this article he read on how to support someone with ADHD or with Prapai about how to be a safe space for people you love. Arm and Pol are there to film all the meetings Tankhun has planned out so Tankhun can keep up with his favorite romcom starring this nephews.

But it's not enough, Tankhun has to experience this first hand, so he just happens to leave a magazine open on a page advertising a car show in Phayu's room at the same time he works up the nerve to go outside the compound - it still happens, but not all the time - and Tankhun had no idea car shows could be so fun, everything is so shiny and sparkly and -

"What are you doing here?"

"Oh, my favorite nephew! I came to...buy your uncle Porsche a new bike, of course! Who is this cutie hanging off your arm?"

It's Rain, twenty years old from Korea, only child of two parents married in 1998, an architecture major with a 2.76 GPA, blood type A+, no troubles with the law besides a speeding ticket last year, speaks four languages.

But Tankhun doesn't say any of that out loud. He already approves of Rain, already loves him, and he's going to be the favorite uncle and Tankhun chokes up when he realizes he's the first member of the family to meet their newest member.

And he plans the same thing with Sky - a few weeks later to recharge from going outside - mentioning in front of Sky a new restaurant to offer egg stew (because Tankhun paid them to put it on the menu). He waltzes in as Prapai and Sky get their food and prepare to eat.

"Oh, my favorite nephew! I'm here...to try their new egg stew of course! I saw you and your friend here already ordered some, how is it, scooch over so I can sit with you, move, move."

Tankhun gives Sky his most charming smile and he's already planning Sky's outfit for their Christmas card this year. As he sits there getting to gush over Prapai and Sky, Tankhun chokes up again as he realizes he's a guest star in his favorite show now. He's been a guest star twice.

And he knows how the family can be, so Tankhun keeps orchestrating more meet ups with the rest of the family so that his two new in-laws can grow to accept their quirky family. He takes Chay out and they run into Rain at the library, he takes Pete to bump into Sky at the mall, he takes Kinn to visit Phayu at the garage while Rain is visiting, he invites Kim to find Sky at a cafe by the school because Kim has known about Rain and Sky the whole time. Little shit. Someone should talk to him about how many secrets he's keeping from the family.

I don't know where this is going because I'm a little inebriated, but like, Tankhun plotting out the PhayuRain and PraSki romance because he loves his dramas, but also because he wants to make sure his nephews fall in love with good people and ensure no one hurts them. He uses his decades of knowledge about dramas and on screen romances to create the best love story he can.

[velvet-apricots]

for the character ask: Marika!

favorite thing about them

These are all of my own personal ideas, but

the gut wrenching tragedy of her. Her village destroyed, everyone she knew dead in a horrific way. And instead of laying down and giving in, she instead steals the divinity the Hornsent sought from them. She becomes a god, and sets out to build a world of order and of kindness. Things she believes the Hornsent lack. And once she has her armies, she returns the pain a thousand fold.

And then it all starts to go horribly wrong. Her revenge is too brutal. What sort of God of Order and Kindness would do such horrible things? So she erases her crimes and she abandons her first born son, the son who killed them all for her. The son that awaits her return until his dying breath.

Not all is horrible. She has godwyn. She has Godfrey. She has her means to escape, built upon the ashes of her daughter.

And then the crucible "blesses" her with twins, adorned with horns and wings She tries to love them, but they terrify her, they remind her. She has so much hatred and fear in her heart she can not love them. She abandons them, and the only kindness she can spare is a decree that Omens of royal birth are not excised of their horns.

And then she looses Godfrey. She has a new husband. One who throws himself into the Golden Order, a world she made that becomes more and more of a cage. The gods curse their children, and her world becomes smaller and smaller. Her own hatred and fear bleeds into her order, spreading to apply to anyone who is different. And the kindness of gold she envisioned becomes only a bitter memory.

All she has is Godwyn, and then, in one horrible night, she doesn't.

least favorite thing about them

She is, beyond any doubt, a monster. She has killed countless people, she abandoned her children, and no doubt has a very unhealthy co-dependency with Godwyn. I definatly think that in the end he was her only joy and that made her refuse to let him go, smothering him.

I can not excuse her actions (jokes of womens wrongs aside)

Her fans can also be super annoying, woobifying her to extreme degrees and saying shit like "the Hornsent deserved it", as if farmers deserved to be killed when the ones who actually did harm to her sit unbothered in the tower of shadow.

favorite line

Hear me, Demigods. My children beloved. Make of thyselves that which ye desire. Be it a Lord. Be it a God. But should ye fail to become aught at all, ye will be forsaken. Amounting only to sacrifices...

brOTP

Marika and Maliketh. He's quite litterally her brother from another mother (the fingers... or is it Meytr?) I imagine they were a terrifying duo, building the foundations of her empire.

OTP

Marika x Godfrey. I fully believe he was the only man she ever loved. And he loved her, to the point that there is dialogue where he declares the desire to hold her in his arms again. They are the power couple of power couples.

nOTP

I would not say this is a notp, but i really do not care about Rennala and Marika as a couple. There is no appeal to me what so ever. I don't hate it thought, but I just would rather them be with... You know.... The people they were originally married to.

Also I don't care that much about Marika/Radagon either. Like I know they have kids, but its kinda clear in japanese dialogue that she hates his guts. I don't think he liked her either. They were just married cause the Greater Will demanded it.

random headcanon

when she is nervous she will play with her braids.

unpopular opinion

She loved Mohg and Morgott but her hatred and trauma made her a terrible mother.... In fact that goes for all of her kids.

song i associate with them

favorite picture of them