#Saxton hosts a party for the mercs and is crushed when they don't show up

[marionmorse]

Ughh the gosh darn- how do I- how do I describe this?

While Helmet Party is my #1 always and forever, I ADOREE Zhanna/Soldier to no end. In another of a series of TF2 sitcom-esque plots, picture Heavy coming home for a short visit, maybe looking forward to a quiet holiday with his loving, warm family. Then he walks in and it's. Soldier there, Zhanna's fiance. (Also - how did Soldier beat him there? Heavy not only left earlier, but also took the quickest possible plane and boat trip he could? This puzzles him.)

And it's just - just a series of Misha trying to be at peace, while Jane introduces hardcore AMERICAN-SPIRITED traditions (maybe it's at Christmas time?) and the sisters fall in love with the energy, the wackiness all, leaving Misha just kinda... there, a little alone.

By the end he comes to accept that things have changed in a very - again, sitcomy - way. He still gets time with family, particularly with his mother, just differently than expected.

As for placement in the TF timeline, it's IMPOSSIBLE considering Solly and Zhanna meet up in the post-game comics and it's implied that Heavy is on vacation from the Gravel Wars but shh, shhhhh, uhhh... Ao3 tag: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence and bam! That covers that.

Another Christmas - specific plot revolves around Scout and Pyro visiting Scout's family in Boston. (Pyro is there not only because the two are BEST BUDS, but also because Pyro doesn't really have a place to go for the holidays)

Queue Jeremy introducing his friend to his many brothers, and THEIR many kids, all in this crowded Boston home. There's wackiness to that.

Most importantly, SPY is there? My favorite way to characterize Spy's fatherhood is that he's always known and has been a bit protective for that reason, but let's say he only realizes it AS SCOUT WALKS IN! (Again, gotta smooth out the timeline with that one.) Jeremy is absolutely oblivious as Spy is out of uniform, obviously, but PYRO is the one to immediately recognize the Frenchman and they make just the most... Bewildered eye contact. While Jeremy bumbles around all: "So, tough guy, think you're good enough for ma?"

Think of Scout and Spy coming up with elaborate backstories to keep cover about their mercenary work, with Spy in particular digging in for the humor of it. Of course, the fluffy Christmas bits - Pyro's new friends, Scout's Ma getting to see her little guy again. It's cute. Very... you know... Sitcomy.

(Also, picture an alternative where Jeremy DOES recognize Spy - and they dance around in the whole elaborate backstory thing while having a side of pissed-off arguing when they can, keeping it all under wraps when any family is around. They both dig deep into the other's 'careers' while around folks just to show each other how mad they are.)

I'll keep the last one short and sweet - reaffirming my headcanon in which Engie has like... 14 nieces and nephews, with parents, grandparents, and their families on a beautiful piece of land in Bee Cave. Like Pyro, Medic doesn't have any thing particular in mind for the holidays, so he tags along with his buddy to Texas. He's a bumbling little German guy thrust into a very Texan culture-heavy scenario, all the eccentric extroversion, the COOKING, the amount of PEOPLE, but also... Seeing Engie as a family man, seeing him unwind and be more human than ever. A.M. coffee watching the sunrise type stuff. It's kinda sweet.

By night, of course, the Science Party shenanigans ensue with Engie showing off his now rather dilapidated workshop elsewhere on the ranch. His father's and grandfather's work, old prototypes, nerd bonding. That type of stuff.

[self-ships-ahoy]

My commentary in blue.

I posted 1,219 times in 2022

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The crew ^

I tagged 1,211 of my posts in 2022

Only 1% of my posts had no tags

#tfqueue - 152 posts

#➕ herr doktor - 142 posts - Some things never change.

#;others' ships - 132 posts

#;imagines - 101 posts

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#💫 man of the stars - 54 posts - Sigma got 54 posts since I f/o'd him this year!

Longest Tag: 131 characters

#but recent developments show that there's a bunch of similarities between another past f/o and someone whom i'm considering adding:

Unfortunately I didn't f/o either of them (Optimus only becoming a crush f/o) 😅

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Medic's young daughter quickly becomes intrigued by her father's work, as soon as she's able to look over the table. It becomes a common occurrence for her to watch him conduct his research, occasionally asking questions and learning more about biology and medicine. Medic is hoping this is a sign that she'll follow in his footsteps, but is happy enough that he has his daughter's company.

Close-ups and microscope reference under cut:

See the full post

47 notes - Posted June 28, 2022

#4

Beach Episode!! I just had to take the excuse to draw Tech and Medic in vintage swimwear lol. Look at them, don't they make a cute couple?

Ref and tracing notes under the cut:

I very lightly traced the poses for size, but only used small parts of the woman's outline before adjusting the sketch for Tech's body shape. I also traced an angled shot of Medic's head, but that was edited as well.

54 notes - Posted July 8, 2022

#3

Day 2: Formal

Another one for @dontneedadispenser's V-Day event. I almost didn't post it, but a few friends of mine made me feel better about it. Please accept my humble contribution. u///u 👉👈

This is my personal cliché scenario of going to a ball/gala, but I did also see Saxton Hale host these kinds of parties, so you could say this stuff is canon. Maybe one of them was nominated for a merc award and was invited to bring a few friends. And with the help of an anonymous "fairy godmerc", Technician was able to attend a fancy event for the first time in her life. Needless to say she took her secret admirer's breath away - just like she hoped she would.

66 notes - Posted February 9, 2022

#2

On this day last year, RED Medic and Technician tied the knot! What better way to celebrate than to make a picture based on the TF2 achievement color palette challenge! It's quite an achievement for sure, and perhaps one that more TF2 OC ships will get in the future.

Confetti source

68 notes - Posted August 17, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

When I say that the sound of my f/o's voice helped my mind and body settle down from overstimulation anxiety, I know the self ship community will understand.

178 notes - Posted January 14, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

The first 4 of my top posts are my techmedic art and I couldn't be happier with that fact. I'm also happy with the number 1 post cuz it was written with Medic in mind, and I'm glad other people can relate to what I experienced with him.

This was another great ship year with him and my other f/os, and with all my amazing friends here. Here's to more self shipping love and happiness next year!