#and I liked them both with their recent spouses but they lacked the wow factor (ironically for kyle it was lyra's sister lillian)

[melien]

Been a bit quiet (aside from story posts that I occasionally draft) but I've been archiving a lot of old stuff including my OG Fletcher legacy to have easy access to it in the docs (and maybe get some inspiration/thoughts for the characters who are still relevant in my verse by seeing how their original development went) and damn one of my main takeaways was that I absolutely slept on Kyle and Lyra as a couple. Now that I have a special soft spot for couples that are best friends first I see their beauty and I love them both separately and together😭

[thepropertylovers]

Feature Friday with Chip & Alexx Pons

Happy Friday! This week's FF is a married couple who are actively serving in the United States Air Force, and stationed in San Antonio. Alex and Chip Pons share their inspiring story of what it's like being an openly gay, married couple in the military, what they're doing to help normalize the stigma around that, and their unconventional yet totally charming wedding. Read on to see what we mean...

Where are you from? Alexx is originally from California and Chip is from Michigan.

Where do you live? We currently live in San Antonio, Texas

Instagram handle: @chip_pons  @alexx_pons

Age: Alexx is 30 and Chip is 28

On an unforgettable trip together: We were both given the opportunity to support the Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program and Department of Defense team during the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. Something about that trip, despite our workload, was wonderful. It might have had something to do with the amazing people we met or the area we stayed in (this little village in the gay district near downtown)… it was just a wonderful trip and one of the only where the military sent us as a couple to do what we love as a team – that is when we are at our best!

On knowing they're "the one": We met through the process of joining the Air Force; fate brought us together at the same base in New Mexico. Alexx was actually Chip's instructor for a week-long military course and it was there that we realized we have the same job as photojournalists. Chip walked away from that initial meeting swearing he was going to marry Alexx… 

On quiet, intimate proposals: Our proposals were very true to who we are as a couple; intimate, private and meaningful. I proposed to Chip first over a quiet night at home, and Chip proposed several weeks later while we were in the kitchen preparing dinner. To others, these moments might seem to be lacking a "wow" factor, but for us, they are some of our most cherished memories!

On making the most of a hard situation: We actually didn't have a wedding! To keep a very long and dramatic story short, we found ourselves in the middle of some very stressful and borderline homophobic professional trouble. As a same-sex, dual military couple who happened to be co-workers, there were some professional obstacles that we had to overcome in order to have our happy ending. 

We were essentially punished by leadership for having what was termed an "unprofessional relationship," and were eventually ordered to not speak to one another. So, over a lunch break on Tuesday, Sept. 15, we drove down to the Curry County court house in uniform and swore to spend the rest of our lives fighting for one another. 

Getting married was the only option to save our careers at the time which we had both worked so hard to build, but it also the key to our happiness and nearly three years later it is still the easiest and greatest decision we ever made! 

On coming out: Alexx came out in his early 20s. His family was and still is very loving and supportive. In fact, they were the ones who sat him down and initiated the “coming out” conversation out of concern for his mental wellbeing. From that moment, Alexx felt fully comfortable being his authentic self, and his family has been so supportive of our marriage and welcomed me to the family with open arms! 

Chip on the other hand is a bit of a late bloomer. In all honesty, I am the first man Chip ever dated or connected with emotionally. While he had a great relationship with his family, his fear of their disapproval kept him from living an honest life. When we met, Chip's world was turned upside down! For the first time, he was experiencing love, trust and self-acceptance. Before Chip had the chance to come out, a coworker we were stationed with felt the need to let Chip's family know he was involved with me and from there, it all blew up (personally and professionally) for us. But with me by his side, Chip took a leap of faith and chose love over the life he knew and the relationships he had. For nearly four years, Chip's relationship with his family was non-existent, but recently, those relationships have started rebuilding themselves.  

On being openly gay in the military: We have our ups and downs just like everyone else. Constantly having to convince people we aren't brothers is hilarious and "correcting" people when they ask about our wives can be somewhat annoying, but for the most part active-duty members are very accepting. Those around us do a great job of making us feel supported and just like everyone else. We've found that having a good sense of humor goes a long way especially when dealing with people who may be awkward but have good intentions! Most military bases even celebrate Pride Month now, which is slightly unnecessary, but appreciated at least from an educational standpoint (when done correctly). 

No matter how much support we feel, there will always be toxic individuals who thrive on spewing hate. Chip wrote a Pride Month commentary once about serving as a dual military, same-sex couple and when it was published, the overwhelming hate on social media (from civilians and active-duty members) was almost impossible to ignore. But we reminded ourselves why we joined the Air Force: to serve our country and its citizens; so that everyone has the right to express their opinions, no matter what those might be!  

On normalizing same-sex marriages within the military: Coming out and accepting that you are gay is usually a life-altering experience. Doing so while adhering to military customs and courtesies, regulations and the day-to-day stress of military life takes that experience to a whole new level. While being a member of the LGBT+ community is a pivotal part of who we are, there is so much more to us than that. We are husbands, sons, brothers, friends... and professionally, we are Airmen. We try to promote a lifestyle that praises ALL aspects of what makes someone who they are as a whole instead of just focusing on one aspect. 

For us, it's all about redefining what people in the military perceive normal to be. From us attending official military functions together and being seen supporting one another professionally, to holding hands in the grocery store (in Texas I might add) and enjoying a night out with friends, we try to show that life goes on when you come out. People have very different versions of what "being gay" looks like and for us, having a life that you are proud of and genuinely happy to be living is the only thing that matters. 

On being each other's wingman: Working together has been the biggest blessing for our relationship. Before we were a couple, we were teammates and best friends. That friendship and professional comradery laid the strongest foundation we could have asked for. 

The Air Force is built upon this idea of never leaving your wingman behind. Well, from day one we were wingmen and that notion of teamwork and support has absolutely transferred onto our marriage. Working so closely with your spouse during the formative years of your relationship not only allows you to spend more time together, but it unifies you in a way that is hard to put in words. Personally, we know that the other will always have our back, but there is a great sense of relief knowing that throughout the day, you have someone who is in your corner unconditionally and pushes you to be the best version of yourself! 

And on that note, where some often feel some sort of competition between themselves and their spouse for success, that could not be further from the truth with us. We are one unit; we share success and downfalls – and when one falters, the other is there to quickly pick them up and keep moving in one direction again. There are just as few words for someone who would move heaven and earth to see you become your best self – even as a cost to themselves… it leaves you speechless and feeling genuinely loved! 

We have been blessed to travel together and work side-by-side, and there is nothing more rewarding than getting to do what you love with who you love more than anything. Separation and distance is a huge obstacle military couple’s face, and we have been fortunate throughout our careers to have not been apart too long from one another. But during those moments away for training or individual obligations, we take that time to take a look at the beautiful life we have built and appreciate all that we have – if anything, it is those brief moments apart that makes us a stronger, more resilient couple!

On the joys of a simple date night: For us, date night is all about relaxation. There is nothing better than putting on a movie or one of our favorite shows after eating a delicious home-cooked meal (Alexx is a MASTER in the kitchen). Add some wine, continuous laughter, a loving massage, and we have everything we could ever need! 

On the one thing they love most about each other: First, we have to admit that we are very much still DEEP in the newlywed stage of our marriage and we've vowed to never leave it, so our level of obsession with one another is pretty extreme. 

Chip: I adore so many things about the man that Alexx is and has become, but I love Alexx's passion the most. Alexx is protective and loyal and warm and everything Alexx does, he does out of love for me. It's overwhelming and exhilarating and a once in a lifetime feeling that I will never get used to but never take for granted. He throws himself 100% into every aspect of our life together. Our marriage, his job, our future...I am blown away at how completely immersed this man can be in so many things at once and he does it all with a smile on his face. Before we were married, Alexx told me that he aspires to "do the most good, for the most amount of people," and I am constantly in awe at how he has embodied that expression. He is the epitome of selflessness, unconditional love and unwavering support and the immensity of his love knows no limit. I am TRULY the luckiest man on the planet for tricking him into loving me!

Alexx: And for me, it is Chip’s heart – he has the biggest one, sometimes to a fault. He really does not have a bad bone in his body. We are talking about a man who sees the good in everyone, which translates into the most unique and intense type of love I never imagined was real. He does not do anger or even mild irritation… Chip’s go-to when things get remotely tense is affection – I mean tight, take-your-breath away hugs and kisses. It is this incredible propensity for love that he possess which lets me know how deeply loved I am, and without question that he will be an incredible father to our children (someday).

[crashingheavens]

@corabloom13​ asked:

Finally a Kukaku/Shiba clan blog! Do u think in Canon that when kukaku said she knows both kisuke and yoruichi it's cuz kukaku was kisukes ex but managed to stay friends with him and yoruichi

Ooh boy, alright. 

Deep breaths lads and lasses, you’re in for a long ride...

Now, I’ve had a very similar discussion with both @midnightactual​ and @uraharashouten​ about either parties association with Kukaku in the recent past as well so...

For this question, I’ll just be going under the assumption that what you’re referring to is this panel in particular:

Since Kukaku never really outright says that she ‘knows them’, let alone how she knows them. The story, as it is told, only leads us to assume that the three are friends or were at some point.  

The whole mini-arc leading up to Kukaku is much more telling then we’re first led to believe too, since, the first mention we ever even get of Kukaku is Yoruichi asking some locals if they know where they are currently. We get the sense that Kukaku and family move around alot but are usually always in Western Rukongai. Then the reveal itself, outside the fact that Kukaku was a *gasp* woman! (wow! what a twist! *Insert other sarcastic remarks here*) is chock full of interesting little bits and bobs that Ducky ( @midnightactual​ ) goes very in detail about here and here 

Now, one super important detail to note here is that Kukaku refers to Yoruichi by just that. Her first name, she only ever addresses them as Yoruichi too, whereas in later panels, she refers to Kisuke by his last name, Urahara, rather than his first. The fact that Yoruichi does the same, is indicative of a close relationship, or closer than what Kukaku has with Kisuke at this point. So, despite not having seen one another for over a century, We’re already led to believe that these two still consider themselves very close friends. And that’s... really all we ever get. 

In canon, there is no “on-screen” moment between Kukaku and Kisuke and, we rarely get to see Kukaku at all outside this initial set-up to invade the Seireitei and like, a few pages in the TYBW. We’re told some things happen off-screen, but we never get to witness it and see how Kukaku interacts with Kisuke. Hell, I don’t think we’ve gotten an actual interaction between them in the non-canonical end of things either. If Kukaku’s involved, she’s only ever seen with Yoruichi, and usually only comes to events because of Yoruichi.

So, the short answer would be no, I don’t think that Kukaku was ever in a romantic relationship with Kisuke. She likely only knew him and befriended him through and because of her friendship Yoruichi and somewhat maintained that friendship to present day, albeit more strained?

The long answer is much more complicated because, to be quite honest, I’d even argue Kukaku’s never been in any romantic relationship and I’ll be putting all those points below.

Aside from Kubo’s complete lack of foresight to... you know, think about giving any of his characters (outside of Ichigo) a family, wives/husbands, kids, (what Captains do you know that are currently married? Do any Captains have kids? What about Lieutenants, do any of them have kids, spouses? We didn’t even know Yoruichi had a brother till the last quarter of TYBW)  Kukaku’s just never struck me as a dating person. She seems more than content just being with herself. 

There are other contributing factors you’d have to consider to in order for her to have dated before too, namely, availability of potential partners, seemingly losing contact with one or both of your few friends, raising her kid brother, having to deal with the loss of her older brother and his wife, dealing with their Uncle abandoning his post, going MIA and assumed dead, and the whole fiasco effectively acting as the ‘last straw’ that caused the Shiba to lose their status as a ‘Great Noble’... and we don’t even know what’s going on or what happened to Kukaku and Ganju’s parents, if they’re still alive, dead, what happened to her arm, so on and so forth. The Shiba’s have not had it easy this last century.

The fact that she’s had to raise her younger brother Ganju, from a very young age apparently, is probably a very large leading factor since raising a kid, let alone your sibling, doesn’t exactly leave you with much free time. For a little while, she probably had a lot of help coming from Kaien and Miyako but, with their unfortunate passing I can’t imagine her being super eager to date anyone.   

And, sure, she has Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko living with her but she’s not going to foist all responsibility of Ganju’s upbringing onto them. That just doesn’t seem like her and it sure as hell doesn’t jive with the whole ~~Family~~ vibe the Shiba’s as a whole seem to give off.

The second leading factor would, of course, be a lacking of available and potential suitors, especially after the Shiba’s status drop. Back in the day, Kukaku was probably considered as much a Princess as Yoruichi was. She comes from a very high ranking family, 1 of 4 (5?), so marrying any ol’ dude will simply not cut it and living out in the Rukongai...let’s just say there’s never really a line of suitors waiting at the door (Not that Shiroganehiko and Koganehiko would even let anyone).

A potential suitor would have to possess at least three things:

High status/class - Not a Great Noble since that would mean merging two clans into one and creating a whole ass new slew of problems, but someone of prestige and wealth, regardless of how the Shiba very clearly do not need more wealth.

Power - Either as strong as, or stronger than Kukaku herself. For political show and practicality. I also just can’t see Kukaku dating, let alone marrying someone she can curb stomp into their next life. And we have no clue how strong Kukaku actually is. All we really get is a hint from CFYOW when Harribel and Nel get scared of her and remark that she’s hella strong.

Political good-standing - Marrying someone everyone hates isn’t going to land you a whole lot of points. Especially if you’re clan is already on thin ice, or, no ice.

Could she just ignore all that and date some rando from the Rukongai? I mean, sure, it’s not impossible but that’s... a little problematic in itself. Souls strong enough to become Shinigami don’t usually stick around the Rukongai, they head to Seireitei to hone their abilities, gain a slightly higher quality of life, and hopefully get stronger to live even longer lives. 

The people that stay in the Rukongai aren’t strong enough to actually stay. They pass on. That’s... like the whole point of Soul Society’s structuring. You have the stagnant pool of Souls (Seireitei), and you have the ones constantly moving, cycling. If anything, that’d be more heartache and, really, more heartache is one of last things Kukaku needs. 

Shingami aging is the wonkiest thing in the whole series. Kukaku doesn’t know how long she’ll live, it could be a few more centuries, it could be a millennium. Aside from the fact that being centuries old and dating some soul that’s 35 would be kinda super weird in the whole grand scheme of things, she’d still severally outlive her partners.

Imagine average life expectancy of a soul in Rukongai is similar to current day life spans. So, roughly somewhere around 60-80 years old, now subtract a couple of decades since they need to be age appropriate, and time to mourn them, and that basically makes for a new partner every 40-60 years if she’s lucky. If Kukaku’s living for another 300-500 years she’d have a minimum of 7-8 partners by the end. The number of suitably age-appropriate partners dwindles too because you know, she’s aging too, albeit much slower.

If she just went around dating random souls and would-be Shinigami, she could be burying more of them than what she could count on her hand(s) by the end of her lifetime. 

So, where and how does this all fit in with Kisuke? Yeah, I bet you thought I was going off the rails BUT IT ALL PERTAINS! 

Kisuke is notably a powerful individual, might have some unknown prestige, and was a Captain for a while so he’d certainly fit the bill by TBTP but, the only thing he had going for him prior to TBTP was being powerful and of some unknown prestige. By the end of TBTP, he’s exiled with the Visored and Tessai. 

Additionally, Kaien was alive during all this and being the oldest son, he would’ve been the one to focus on marriage as a potential household head. That doesn’t mean the previous guidelines wouldn’t still apply to Kukaku just as they would to Kaien, it just means the pressure to marry would be less on her for a while. 

So, once the Noble status drops what would be keeping her from dating Kisuke? Aside from him being exiled and in a different realm at the time? Nothing really i guess? @uraharashouten​ has made the joke that Kukaku and him were/are married and I do enjoy toying with the idea that the two just got married one day for the fun of it, cause why not? But, not because they had actual deep romantic feelings for one another.