#but the canoe is a rarepair

[bluedalahorse]

All I’m saying is I am wishing someone other than me will write saraugust for kinktober (but also I wish this hypothetical imaginary person is writing something 100% catered to my personal taste.)

And now I will go back to work on my deadline… so everything hurts less…

[cocoa-rococo]

so i know some people ship iggy and hariet together, and i get it, they're similar, it's a cute ship, but consider instead: they're vitriolic exes who are not over each other in the slightest.

they hate each other's guts and would blow the other up with zero thoughts, context, or regrets. both of them find this unfortunately hot.

[katwriteswitcherthings]

Fandom: The Witcher (The Witcher 3 specifically)

Relationship: Prince Adrien/Kiyan

Rating: M

Additional Tags: AU - Modern Witchers, Light Angst, Fluff, Slice of Life, Museums, Established Relationship, Getting Together, Assholes in Love, Murder Husbands, Implied/Referenced Character Death, Mentioned Past Torture, Soft Prince Adrien (The Witcher), Soft Kiyan (The Witcher), Vampire Prince Adrien

Summary:

Adrien loves to walk through art galleries and museums. Kiyan follows him loyally; his ever-present bodyguard. Adrien has a surprise for his most loyal companion.

A/N: Prompt #17 fill for @reverseprompts and The Witcher Flash Fic Challenge #61.

This tried so hard to become smut, but alas, I ran out of time. I found this post after I had already written this, so it doesn't quite work for Adrien to be wearing (I don't think those shoes would click on hardwood floors), but I want him to be wearing it so badly and I thought you should know.

[danmei-confessions]

I just want to give lots of appreciation and extra kudos to super rarepair authors. Like a handful of fics of a super niche ship, especially crossover ships (checked out the LXC/SY tag on ao3 out of curiosity, 3 fics all by the same author, amazing. Those two authors that wrote NHS/YQY, you guys are incredible. I honestly didn’t think there would be any).

Y’all rarepair authors really became the change you wanted to see in the world. Canoeing is tough work, and you guys deserve more acknowledgement for that!

.

[lady-hibiscus]

rebanding shipping

so we all know shipping = two characters paired romantically, their names mashed together in some unholy amalgamation the tumblr fans will forever immortalize in a war cry

well i give you: QPR shipping CANOEING (not my idea source here) queerplatonic canoes where the characters are not blended together and puked but instead categorized into their most iconic symbol and lovingly combined. example: radiorose (beautiful) not "rosastor" (sounds like a disease)

there's more. for shipping no one with characters (asexual, minor, etc) NIXXING. this is not "loser is single", this is "i ship loser with no one, making them the ultimate winner". character name + the word nix or simply inserting x into their names "i nix alastor" "i ship xlastor"

finally, rarepairs, ie pairs for background characters or characters that barely interact, 99% non canon. you can probably do the shipping thing of horrendously twisting them together, or... make it a verb! "i ship" -> "i repair fashionspear" (also implies that you're fixing canon by shipping the real ship"

[cheesybadgers]

Narcos Fic: Old Habits Die Hard (Chap. 24)

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16, Chapter 17, Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20, Chapter 21, Chapter 22, Chapter 23

Read on AO3

Masterlist

Pairing: Javier Peña x Horacio Carrillo

Words: 3,440

Summary: It's been 15 years since Horacio and Javier brought down Gacha in Tolú, and now they're back where their story began.

Warnings: 18+ ONLY. Brief allusions to period-typical prejudices/politics/legislation, very brief sexual references, smoking, swearing, all the fluff.

Notes: Well....I feel like I should post this with a fanfare or something (just imagine there's one playing), but oh boy, oh man, oh god. I did it. I flipping did it 😭 It's only taken 36 months, copious amounts of blood, sweat and tears, a deranged amount of research, the last shred of my sanity, and probably a fair amount of back/neck pain from sitting at my laptop for too long to get here. But hey, if I don't write a self-indulgent novel-length fix-it fic for a criminally underrated rarepair from a defunct TV show, WHO WILL, I ASK THEE? 😂

I can't fully explain the journey this fic has taken me and my writing on, or the deep love I have in my heart for this ship and the OHDH universe that has lived constantly in my head these last few years. Even when I'm not actively writing, so many things remind me of these two everywhere I go. They got me through the darkest days of the pandemic and somehow became my comfort ship, despite er, certain canon events we don't talk about in this house.

Anyway, I think you've all heard quite enough from me for the time being. So, I will just say thank you so, so, so much to anyone who has read, commented, kudosed, reblogged, liked, sent me messages, made me things, suggested music recs, generally been incredibly supportive and kind ❤️

And thank you to anyone who may stumble across this fic in future. Please never be afraid to leave a comment, even if you're reading several years down the line, I will always love to hear from people about this story.

There will also be some moodboards and playlists posted on my Tumblr at some point (and *maybe* some new - much shorter lol - fics eventually) once I've caught my breath back a bit.

For the final time (unless I randomly think of anything I've forgotten, which is more than likely lol), I’ve also added to my OHDH trivia post to cover this chapter if anyone is interested.

Chapter 24: Suerte (Epilogue)

Early evening rays painted the pastel horizon, their last act of the day transforming the shimmering ocean into an inky palate of fuchsia, violet and saffron, the golden sands at the shore still warm to the touch hours past dusk.

Come the weekend, Colombians would travel far and wide to descend on the many beaches, bars and restaurants that dotted the waterfront. Or if they were feeling adventurous, they would birdwatch, dive off the Islas de San Bernardo, or canoe amongst the mangroves.

But it was mid-week and mid-December – when most locals were at work and school or preparing for Christmas. So, for now, Horacio and Javier had the place to themselves.

There was the added bonus of the coastline turning into a dense forest of palm trees just along from their beach house, civilisation a mile or so away on either side of them, so even at peak times, they remained secluded. It had become a daily ritual to luxuriate in the peace and quiet; a pre-dinner swim with no trunks required followed by entwined limbs and sand in their hair as the sun went down.

Today was no exception, the gentle lapping of the waves around them and their shallow breaths the only sounds to be heard, the taste of salt and scent of sun lotion heavy in the air and on their skin as Horacio rocked into Javier, slow and deep, their chests and foreheads drawn together.

It was almost dark when Javier switched on the shower taps, cascading soothing jets over his head, neck and shoulders. As he soaked his hair, the lights from inside the beach house sprung to life, illuminating the outdoor bathroom with an ambient glow. It was a feature of the premium accommodation they had splashed out on, a rare treat away for a special occasion.

The outside space was a mix of wood, tiles and natural stone for the walls and floors, encased by tall plants and trees for extra privacy. A double shower stood on a platform at the end of a walkway, with a large hot tub branching off in the other direction. On their first night here, they had opted for the tub, surrounding it with candles as a belated ode to Día de las Velitas, lost in each other beneath the bubbles and the stars.

A sturdy embrace enveloped Javier from behind, a position they had found themselves in every morning by the shore before breakfast, looking out to a tranquil sea and a kaleidoscopic sky. The day jobs kept them both on their feet and in good shape, although there was more softness around their stomachs, and Javier was stockier than in his younger years. But his upper body was even broader with muscle now.

He was no gym fiend, but he had accompanied Horacio in some of his strengthening training, wanting to keep his stamina up as much as possible. Not just for the obvious but because he was sometimes required to carry the heavier supplies at work and didn’t want to be shown up in front of his largely youthful team.

It was a welcome development to Horacio, whatever the reason. Not that he ever had any complaints before, but watching Javier blossom as he aged was a wonder to behold. Not to mention, there was more of him to enjoy now.

As for Horacio, aside from the sloping curve of his midriff, he was sheer jaguar strength. Not only in the noticeable places, but his core muscles were in peak condition, the daily horse riding improving his posture and taking him back to the drill commands of his cadet years. His skin was more weathered, and his days of being meticulously cleanly shaven at all times were long gone. But Javier assured him – a lot – the ruggedness was part of the appeal.

Javier wasn’t one to talk either, stubble being a more regular feature alongside his moustache nowadays. But that was mainly due to lack of time in his busy schedule rather than preference, so it wasn’t unheard of for Horacio to do the honours for him. For some reason, Horacio delicately scraping a razor blade across his jaw from the comfort of his lap was far more appealing to Javier than doing it himself in front of the bathroom mirror.

Their hair contained more grey patches, especially around the temples, which was easier to hide when they grew it longer. That wasn’t practical during the sweltering heat of a Texan summer, so they kept it shorter in the hotter months. But in the winter, they could run their fingers through choppy waves and coils of curls to their hearts’ content. And luckily for them, their anniversary fell in December.

“Can you believe it’s been 15 years to the day?” Horacio asked, scattering kisses across Javier’s back.

“This doesn’t even feel like the same fucking place, to be honest.”

“Tell me about it.”

Horacio let out a huff as flashbacks of leading his men on a fleet of raiding crafts towards Gacha’s hideout collided with memories from merely days ago of him and Javier island hopping in a hire boat along the same waters. They had taken a platter of fresh seafood and fruit, exploring the remotest beaches and lagoons, where their only company was the local wildlife.

He could still remember the sensation of the blood at his temple as he lay disorientated on the sand in the aftermath of the explosion, a stark contrast to dozing together under the shade of a palm tree or reading aloud to each other the words of Lorca, Gaitán Durán, Arbeláez, Neruda, Paz, Castellanos and Mistral.

“Although, I did notice signs for the barracks towards Coveñas when we were driving here,” Horacio added with a nostalgic smirk.

“Oh yeah? You didn’t want another night there for old times’ sake?” Javier tilted his head until he found Horacio’s lips with his teeth.

Horacio hummed and put up no resistance, his wet hands sailing with ease down Javier’s body, finding purchase at his hip bones. “It was tempting. But I figured you’d want to make the most of this before Christmas.”

“Damn right.”

They took turns massaging shampoo into each other’s scalps, lathering the suds through thick spirals, tenderly pulling at strands until they purred, thoroughly indulging in the sensation whilst they had the chance. And then they did it all again, rinsing off the soap, floating away on the meditative pressure of the faucet and their fingers.

“We could always see if Alejandra has more spa freebies if it gets too much, though,” Javier suggested through the haze of steam now cocooning them.

“I like your thinking.”

It had been a while since they last used such tickets, their previous visits not dissimilar to how their current vacation was playing out. But despite the chaos that would no doubt ensue, they were looking forward to catching up with Horacio’s side of the family. Between expanding businesses in Texas and Manizales and the oldest half of the brood living and working elsewhere now with the twins staying at home studying, they didn’t get to meet up as much as they would have liked.

However, Elena visited Laredo several times, swapping life stories and recipes with Chucho and joining Horacio and Javier in San Antonio one spring for the Fiesta. Her last holiday outside of Colombia had been before Alejandra and Horacio were born, so she was determined to take advantage of having family abroad before age finally caught up with her. There had even been discussions of a trip to Madrid if Horacio and Javier could arrange cover at work the following year.

“Pops is flying out on the 20th, right?”

“Yes. Marco and Raúl are covering the ranch and animals until your father’s back on the 28th. And Jorge is covering the farm until we’re home from Miami in the New Year.”

No one was keen to leave Luna, Sol and Leo, who had long since retired from ranch duties, but between work and Christmas commitments, Connie taking a full-time job in a different hospital, now Olivia was a teenager going on 30, and the earlier-than-expected arrival of Felipe’s and Juana’s second child – Óscar, a little brother to Claudia – New Year was the only time everyone’s schedules matched up.

These days, Luna, whose main residence was the cottage now, Sol and Leo spent most of their time nestled on furniture or looking for treats in the kitchen whenever food was prepared. However, Luna would sometimes still ride in the back of Horacio’s truck and keep him company in the lower fields.

Kira and Fuego had become old pros, showing their younger siblings, Cielo and Tierra, the ropes, not as replacements to the trio but as a new team with their own quirks and personalities. Thankfully, the dogs and Coco had taken well to the pair of barn cats, Churro and Tamale, who patrolled the outbuildings and dealt with any rodent intruders.

Meanwhile, Chucho showed few signs of slowing down, except one summer when he twisted an ankle, and even that was hard work to get him to rest. But he had been happy to step back from some of his more physically demanding responsibilities in recent years, trusting that the ranch and farm were in capable hands. With their expansion plans a resounding success – plus some new ones up their sleeves – he had become more involved in the business side of the operation alongside Miguel.

And, of course, he was always happy to offer Horacio advice whenever needed. But for the most part, he left him to it since Félix’s retirement, preferring to arrange for the guesthouses to be refurbished or to deliver fresh batches of cooking to aid workers and exhausted arrivals alike on the frontline of the border.

“Bet Jorge was as thrilled about that arrangement as my team.”

“Well, we can always delegate to our deputies whenever necessary. One of the perks of being promoted.”

It had taken Horacio five years under Félix’s watchful eye – and decades of experience – to be granted the title of farm manager. Then, Félix had retired the previous year, satisfied he had picked the right man as his successor and Jorge as deputy.

Horacio still had plenty to learn and likely always would with the constant conveyor belt of change to farming methods and technology that landed on his desk each month. However, there was a sense of familiarity with certain parts of the job, like the meetings, the paperwork, and the budget constraints. Except, this time, it all came without the funerals, the upper echelons of the CNP breathing down his neck, and the crushing weight of a country’s future on his shoulders.

“And a holiday on the Caribbean coast was necessary, was it?” Now that Javier’s hair was free from sand and shampoo, he turned to face Horacio, their lips almost touching.

Horacio nodded sagely and closed the gap. “A critical business need.”

------------------------------------------------------

Once dried off, they lay in a hammock in matching white towel robes under the thatched porch of their beach house with a perfect view of the sea, moon and stars.

“So, you like it here?” Horacio asked after a comfortable silence.

“It’s beautiful. I’m glad we came back – to see it how it’s meant to be.”

“Me too. Although, I fear violence will always be a parasite latched onto Colombia. Just when you think it’s gone from one place, it rears its head again in another. Or even the same place twice if you’re unlucky.”

Horacio remembered the stories he had heard from Trujillo in the last couple of years – particularly about Operation Orion. Officially, the incursion on Comuna 13 had been a success by the Colombian military against the likes of FARC. Unofficially, however, there were rumours of a leaked CIA report, disappeared individuals, and collusion between an Army General and none other than Don Berna’s subordinate. It was hard to keep faith that Medellín would ever be free from its past when history had such a predictable habit of repeating itself.

“I know. It feels like one step forward and two steps back in the States, too. Terrorism might be the new bogeyman, but re-branding to ICE and throwing a shitload of money at the DHS hasn’t stopped the drugs and the people finding their way over the border.”

Javier had heard directly from Steve about the shift in his job role since 9/11. Overnight, Steve’s whole department was removed from their current caseloads and signed up for every counter-terrorism and narco-terrorism course under the sun. It was now customary for DEA agents to be redeployed to the FBI as intelligence analysts if resources required. And if their eyes and ears were pulled away from the drug traffickers, it didn’t take a genius to figure out the consequences.

Meanwhile, in Texas, if anything, people only took graver risks in the wake of a beefed-up Border Patrol. Javier had spent a lot of the past year helping to set up new aid teams in Arizona and New Mexico, the inhospitable conditions of the desert not enough of a deterrent to stop families trying their luck or handing over their life savings to coyotes who didn’t care whether they made it across alive.

“But small things can add up to change. Bit by bit,” Javier added. “And at least they can’t arrest us for fucking in our own home anymore.”

“True. Not that the law stopped us before...” Horacio nuzzled against Javier’s neck before making a move to get up.

They may have joked in the here and now, but it wasn’t a change they took for granted. In fact, Luz and Carla had even persuaded Javier to attend a protest or two and pay bond and legal fees for those who had been arrested. After all, he’d had plenty of experience exchanging money for people’s freedom.

When news of the Supreme Court decision spread, it was another weight off their backs and one less reason to look over their shoulders, a chance to permanently put to bed memories of being spied on during such unguarded sacred moments. It was the final line to be drawn under those dark years, not to erase them because that was impossible. But it was, at least, closure.

Their cigarette was almost done, and Horacio had left the opened pack on the kitchen counter. Once retrieved, he took out another and leaned into Javier across the hammock, pressing the tip of his unlit cigarette against the lit one until it sparked.

“But you’re right,” Horacio continued, holding Javier’s gaze between exhaling a plume of smoke. He balanced on the edge of the hammock, just enough to stop it tipping sideways. “Things can change. But only if we want them to.” He perched their new cigarette between his lips as he reached into the pocket of his robe.

Their first cigarette was little more than a stub, so Javier stooped down to the ashtray on the floor to extinguish it. Once he sat up again, a small cubed box was presented into his spare hand.

Javier stared at the black box and blew out remnants of smoke, eyeing Horacio with an unreadable expression, an unspoken question and answer lingering between them and the mist of tobacco.

He prised open the box to reveal a ring of plain silver. Or, so he thought at first glance. But as he raised it towards the moon, the iridescent light caught on the inner band to reveal an inscription.

Suerte que encontré a mi media naranja.

(Lucky that I found my soulmate.)

“Fuck, Horacio…” Javier’s voice was strained, and his words came out as little more than a whisper. He held the ring between his thumb and forefinger, letting the ethereal reflection from above capture each word.

Horacio watched every shift in Javier’s face with bated breath and a dry throat, his limbs lead and weightless all at once.

“The world’s changing around us,” Horacio said at last; swallowing his nerves and summoning his courage. “But no matter what the law or courts say in any state or country, this can mean whatever we want it to mean.”

Javier’s jaw worked back and forth, his teeth clamping down on the inside of his cheeks. But it was no use, and he let out a trembling scoff, an attempt to distract from the shining pupils he finally confronted Horacio with.

And then a broad smile crept across Javier’s features, his palm connecting with Horacio’s cheek before he plucked the cigarette from his fingers and took a drag. “Pass me my jeans.”

It took Horacio a moment to process Javier’s request. Of all the responses he had prepared for – the good and the bad – that hadn’t been on his list, funnily enough. With narrowed eyes and pursed lips, he complied and fetched the jeans that had been flung over a sun lounger when they stripped off to swim earlier. Apparently, regardless of how humid the climate in Tolú became, denim remained a reliable staple of Javier’s wardrobe.

“Check my left pocket.”

Whatever Javier was up to, Horacio was torn between intrigue and irritation at Javier’s temerity to issue orders despite leaving him hanging. But he did as he was told, and in an instant, everything made sense.

“I can always take it back if you’d prefer…”

But Horacio was already opening the near-identical box, and any teasing faded to white noise as he came face-to-face with the gold equivalent of his own proposal.

“Hold it up to the light.”

The night sky was brighter now, making it easier for the inscription to be revealed.

Mi amor, mi vida, mi hogar, mi vaquero. Siempre tuyo.

(My love, my life, my home, my cowboy. Yours always.)

It was Javier’s turn to observe, and it didn’t take long for Horacio to raise a brow in his direction, shooting him a look of feigned exasperation that only came with the territory of a relationship as enduring as theirs.

“What?” Javier said with disingenuous innocence and a vulpine smile.

It was a contagious kind of smile, one that reminded Horacio they were equals in this and that he shouldn’t have been surprised Javier had the same idea.

“I take it my mother showed you her ring?”

“On my first visit to Manizales. It was beautiful. And so’s this.”

“As is this.”

“I like to think I put my own spin on it.”

“You did.”

They sat side-by-side on the hammock, legs facing towards each other with the rings held in their outstretched hands.

Javier’s thumb slid across Horacio’s left palm, tracing patterns over new callouses born from hard labour rather than war. He circled his wrist, waiting for the familiar rhythm but finding a beat that was, unsurprisingly, drumming quicker than usual.

After subduing with his touch, Javier retrieved the gold band, gliding it carefully onto Horacio’s ring finger, easing it over the knuckle until it rested snugly at the base.

They sat transfixed, marvelling at the light dancing across it as Horacio’s thumb ran back and forth over the curved surface in fascination.

Horacio repeated the ritual of mapping Javier’s left hand, lacing their fingers together as a tangible reminder of their bond. Their devotion. Their vow. Their choice. Whether the law honoured it one day or not.

He picked up the silver to his gold, shimmying it along Javier’s ring finger and passing beyond the slight resistance at his knuckle. Not too much force, but firm enough for it to sink perfectly into place.

With palms connected and fingers interlocked, their foreheads met, chests rising and falling in tandem.

“Te amo tanto, Javier.”

“Yo también te amo. Tanto, Horacio. Tanto.” Javier whispered, over and over in Horacio’s ear like a prayer – their prayer – before brushing his lips above Horacio’s brow, the bridge of his nose, both cheeks and down to his mouth, creating their own sign of the cross with each kiss. A new beginning and a welcome home.

They untied their robes and collapsed onto the hammock in a tangle of limbs, silver and gold melding at their chests and hands; their past, present and future as inseparable as their hearts, bodies and souls.

With one smooth motion, Horacio pinned Javier’s arms down into the netting of the hammock, a dark, hungry gaze passing between them as cool metal fused with hot skin.

15 years and several lifetimes may have gone by. But when Horacio had the man he loved, the man who loved him, his media naranja, underneath him, only one word ran through his head. Mine.

Old habits die hard, he supposed.

[ffviirarepairweek]

FFVII Rare Pair Week 2024

Urban Dictionary defines rarepair as “A ship or pairing that not many people ship or is very rare to find fanfiction and fanart of. Typically happens within small fandoms or with minor characters.” So what’s your favourite Final Fantasy VII related rare pair? Do you have more than one? Here’s a chance to showcase them and help them move up from being rare! Not all parts of the pairing have to be from FFVII, and you don’t have to do the same pairing or group for the whole week! ** Pairings can be romantic or platonic. ** Below we have a list of prompts for this year. Feel free to be as creative with those as you want to, and take your time working on your entries, but please don’t forget to post them on the right date if you can. (But remember, no matter how late it’s better than never!)

For this event we are using a category approach. You can use the category as a theme for your prompt and the listed items suggested ideas. If none of the prompts give you any ideas, don’t worry! You can create anything you like for the week, provided it involves a rare pair! The goal of the week is to celebrate and share our rare pairs more than to just follow a list. Be it art, writing, mood boards, or even fic recs, just spread the love!

Feb. 16 | Day 1. Weather. Sunshine. Rain. Storms. The weather can create a meaningful moment, or a huge inconvenience. 

Feb. 17 | Day 2. Unexpected Challenges. How does your pairing deal with an unexpected challenge? (For example, they come back home from a trip to find the pipes have frozen and they have no running water. Is one of them using the last of the drinking water to save their dying house plants while the other is desperately melting snow to keep the humans alive?)

Feb. 18 | Day 3. Favourite Things. From favourite things about each other to favourite items of clothing stolen to wear around the house (much to the other’s chagrin), or favorite things to do for or with each other.

Feb. 19 | Day 4. Near Death Experiences. For the angst lovers, the whumpers, this could be a true near death experience. For the lighter side, it could be something much less serious but someone is clearly being dramatic for sympathy. 😀

Feb. 20 | Day 5. Free Day/Combo Day. Combo space to mix and match prompts from this year (or a previous year’s list) or go wherever your canoe takes you!

Feb. 21 | Day 6. Events. Holidays, celebrations, traditions. Whether it’s a joyful day like a birthday or one of mourning like a memorial, there are many days throughout the year that bring us together. What’s a day that’s important to your pairing, or a time that brought them together for something that isn’t part of their regular day to day?

Feb. 22 | Day 7. Stories. Stories play a big part in our lives. They inspire, they entertain, they teach. Is there a story that your characters hold dear, or that they recount often to friends (or their kids)? (Or is there a story about your rare pair that you want to recommend to others today?)

Need more inspiration? Our past prompt lists can be found below, and you’re welcome to use any of them!

2023 List | 2022 List | 2020 List | 2019 List | 2018 List

Also, mod Asylos is taking requests for things to write again this year. That’s right, you can get something written for your rare pair, and not just do all the heavy lifting yourself. Send in your requests as an ask any time now up until the end of the event week. 

Please remember to include the week’s tag (ffviirarepairweek) within the first 5 tags or else we might be unable to find your work! We will NOT accept/reblog anything containing Character/Ship Hate, so avoid including those in your entries. Also don’t repost anyone else’s work as your own! You are welcome to reblog other’s posts, but credit where credit is due. 

You can submit your works on AO3 to the event collection at https://archiveofourown.org/collections/FFVIIrarepairweek

And if you have any questions, don’t be afraid of sending in an ask.

We hope it turns out to be a fun event for everyone!

[naturepointstheway]

When I end up liking and writing for a rarepair that has about 5 other people on the "ship" (more of a canoe)

[oxygenbefore1775]

i want to hear ur take on loveless marriage canon divergence routes because what comes to mind for Me are

yumihisu come with reibert to the docked marleyan ship with Only reibert's hunch from annie that her family is "important" to the wallists, hisu hates zeke because he Seems like the one at fault for porco eating ymir, drama of How will they figure out her nobility ooh ahh

the whole time skip proposal from zeke via kiyomi, as we Have discussed

i support you launching this rarepair even if it's a canoe dear mae

hi dear kat

beware, this is a sheet of text

1) This is quite inventive considering that Reiner's (and Ymir's?) initial plan for CoT to kidnap Historia anyway. But this leaves her in a compromised position as prisoner of war in Marley where she could be easily executed (I prefer Zeke to be like this lol). Plus at that point, Historia has never had her government arc — at that point in the story she's feeling like an empty shell (killing her dad has quite reformed her). Also, i don't think there would be any chance for Zeke and Historia to hit it off since Historia obvi hates Zeke and to him she's just a brat who got tagged along because Reiner has a crush on her — [my irl thought process about to ensue] — but then again, Zeke is vaguely aware that Historia ~might~ be valuable since she appears to have connections to some Reiss family (I believe at that time Zeke could only learn that Reiss were a noble house crucial to the government but nothing more). Most likely that Zeke would be more concerned about finding Eren of whose existence he learned from Reibert, and mostly ignore Historia during the first weeks the warriors spent preparing for RTS.

I haven't read the royal uprising arc in quite a while but Historia's presence wasn't really crucial to the overthrowing of the government - Erwin just did it on his own volition and additionally found out that the Reisses are the real ruling family of Paradis. At this point I'm not sure if they would make Rod the King since his presence in politics was always prominent throughout but let's assume he will so naturally the question of an heir would arise. Since Historia was carries away before she had a chance to reveal her true identity, the Survey Corps would have no idea of her royal heritage unless Rod tells them. But, admittedly, it would be hard to make the missing girl the official heir so I guess they would just leave it there. (god, i'll hope Rod would die soon to create a power vaccum for Historia to fill)

I don't want to think how Zeke found out about Historia's royal blood. He wouldn't be interested to build connections with someone who is not somehow an extension of himself (like Eren is). But maybe the matter of Historia's identity was pressed soon enough since Marleyans weren't pleased with keeping a low-rank scout instead of simply getting rid of her. Maybe it was Ymir who relayed the info about Historia to Zeke in an attempt to make her life seem valuable and thus protected, or maybe Zeke found this out by himself by raiding the nearby villages and learning of the recent coronation of some Reiss and connecting the dots. Only then would Zeke feel the tendency to guard Historia from the Marleyans, but not out of deep attachment to someone of his bloodline, but because she suddenly became an important political bargaining tool in his eyes.

Eren was still something more important than anything else to Zeke yet he lacked power or influence in Paradis to arrange a meeting with him. And it seemed that Historia would be his key to Eren (much like Sansa in asoiaf). At this point Zeke would force Historia into a position of no choice but to accept his plan. In the Marleyan camp, Zeke is the only one to stand between her and the execution so she's highly reliant on him to live, and it's not that Marleyans would be willing to let her go, not after she came to learn some intel on Marley - he has her life in his hands.

In exchange for her help establishing contact with Eren and sending a note to him, Zeke would help Historia escape the ship and thus give Paradis its Queen. Additionally, Zeke's anti-Marleyan volunteers would provide communications between the Island and the outside world should Paradis ever want to lift the iron curtain. To seal the deal — but mostly to give himself some sort of power as an outsider — they marry. (much to Reiner's chagrin, most possibly) (Atp I'm not sure if Zeke would be psycho enough to make her consume his spinal fluid to always have that leash of influence over Historia, idk)

The warriors would still lose in RTS, but that wouldn't faze Zeke too much since he's already dug his claws in the probability of future contact with Paradis idk idk

...

I quite like this canon divergence but it leaves Historia a submissive husk of a person character that is constantly compromised (at least in my rendition) since the royal uprising arc is where she gets a massive growth that is not present in this case. So the Jikuhisu dynamic is suffering greatly cuz Historia isn't able to give any pushback on Zeke's delulu.

And also there's the matter of their canonical ages which is *eugh*

2) That is something that originally came to my mind, yes. I guess it involves less dark stuff because Historia can fight for herself in this scenario. But also, in this case, the whole reason behind the marriage happening would be Zeke scheming too much and driving himself into a matrimony neither of them wanted. This way, it's more hilarious and makes the blonde man suffer more from the consequences of his own actions. They would spend the days trying to outwit each other into oblivion, with Zeke trying to see Eren and Historia reining him in yet simultaneously demanding a more high quality help from anti-marleyan volunteers in terms of modernizing Paradise or something like that — fruitless months, just like how Zeke spent them in the canon, but instead of a forest he's in a royal quarters and instead of Levi chaperoning him it's the Queen.

Yet additionally, the lack of things to do and the prior knowledge of their blood relation might compel Zeke to deign to inquire more about Historia, with initial intent to get into her head and find out the best way to sway her. But I guess their similar upbringing and trauma made Zeke realize that she has a lot of common with him. As I posited somewhere before, Zeke tends to like people who resemble him the most and this discovery must've positively predisposed him to Historia (let's be fucked up together vibes).

I'm not sure about their dynamic from Historia's side, though. From what I understand, the Queenship weighed heavily on her. Despite the opportunities her position offered, she lamented her inability to keep her promise to Ymir. Her marriage to Zeke for the sake of Paradis was yet another nail in the coffin of her hope for personal freedom, making her grieve her fate even more. Thus the initial hostility that Historia might have showcased, lying through her teeth to get Paradis better perks. But, as they came to get to know each other more, the more Historia recognized her past self in Zeke. Considering the similarities in their upbringing, with them desperately striving for their parents' love, they both got the "dead inside". Only Historia managed to find her self-worth (plus Frieda was a huge pillar of emotional support) whereas Zeke was still stuck in his self-destructive curve. [something something using chapter 66 as a flimsy shield of an excuse] Mayhaps Historia would do something about it (I don't expect her saviour complex to kick in, she's not someone who may be able to cure his 20+ year-old trauma)

Come to think of it, both of their characters are defined by the promises they made to their loved ones (Zeke's being fulfilling the euthanasia plan and Historia's being living she wouldn't regret). However, the former is being miserable through adhering to his promise, whereas the latter suffers all the same by not keeping her promise. [idk idk it's just very interesting to point out]

...

I like this version more since it has the ability to get more dark and yet more hilarious simultaneosly. Plus, this scenario gives both of them a similar size agenda to hold whereas with the first one it's the Zeke who holds more power in their dynamic.

I'm not very good when it comes to canon divergences. I don't believe I can do better than Yams in terms of thinking thru the politics these major changes should bring so there's that. I tend to live off of vibes, mostly, and the vibes these two give off are simply scrumptious

3) that's why I've been delulu about quasi medieval/fantasy au with those two. It's not much but It's about Zeke "taking a castle and holding his host there", with Historia being the lady of the castle who's obviously not chuffed with being occupied by an enemy army. That's it, that's the vibes

[tiressian]

tfw you live in rarepair hell so you could never do a "Wrapped" for your ships/fandom hahaha because it's literally just the one canoe 😂

[narutorarepaireventhub]

Naruto RarePair June 2023 Prompt List

So it’s finally here, Mod Dragon and Mod Rabbit made the prompt list this year so here it is!

You can find copies of it here, on the actual blog or on the google doc here.

June 1st: Lemonade stand

June 2nd: Yard/Garage Sale

June 3rd: Water Park

June 4th: Heat Wave

June 5th: Hiking

June 6th: Cookout

June 7th: Babysitting

June 8th: Free Day

June 9th: Demons AU

June 10th: Cruise Ship

June 11th: Bands ‎AU

June 12th: Urban Fantasy

June 13th: Car Rides

June 14th: Vampire Slayer ‎AU

June 15th: Fairgrounds

June 16th: Bounty Hunters ‎AU

June 17th: Cloud Watching

June 18th: Free Day

June 19th: Ballet ‎AU

June 20th: Bird Watching

June 21st: Kayaking or Canoeing

June 22nd: Flower Picking

June 23rd: Farmer's Market

June 24th: Fireflies at night

June 25th: Bookstore ‎AU

June 26th: Sandcastle at the beach

June 27th: Chalk Art

June 28th: Water Balloon Fight

June 29th: Fae ‎AU

June 30th: Vikings ‎AU

Alternated Prompts

Theme: Long Summer Romance

Day 1 - Down At The Beach

Day 2 - Treading the sea

Day 3 - Ice Cream Together

Day 4- Sandcastles!

Day 5- Modeling our swimsuits!

Day 6- Kite Flying

Day 7- Watermelons Are Yummy

Day 8- Free Day

Day 9- BBQ Time!

Day 10- Beach Volleyball!

Day 11- Fireworks!

Day 12- Fishing

Day 13- Vacation!

Day 14- Festivals!

Day 15- Summertime Safety Lessons

Day 16- Night at the drive-in

Day 17- Lazy Days

Day 18- Free Day

Day 19- Sailing Away!

Day 20- Mermaids!

Day 21- Catching Fireflies

Day 22- Selling lemonade

Day 23- Summer Sports!

Day 24- Picnics

Day 25- A Rare Rainfall

Day 26- A Rainbow After The Rain

Day 27- Lifeguards!

Day 28- Camping

Day 29 - Masquerade Party

Day 30- Back To School

[nocompromise-noregrets]

For the fruit ask game! 🍊, 🍈, 🫐 aaaaand 🍇

woohooooo, thank you! <3333333

🍊 Who’s a character you don’t write for that often, but keep meaning to write for more? I don't write Elrond nearly enough. I really want to, but any story he's in just sort of...slides off him like water off a duck's back, and he just stays in the background being wise and kind and quietly amused by the goings-on around him. I can't quite grasp him.

🍈 Who’s your blorbo and what are some of your favorite headcanons/ideas about them that repeatedly show up in your fics? Free pass to rant about blorbo opinions. Oh man. I love so many characters, and I don't really get the 'blorbo' thing, but someone who has been living rent-free in the back of my head for over 20 years is Legolas, and I have some very strong opinions about him - he is NOT a redneck, a hick, an idiot or any of the other things that fandom likes to joke about; he's very deep-thinking and cares very strongly about things, but he's also capable of being light-hearted and silly and whimsical. Oh, and he and Gimli are friends and that is absolutely enough, they mean the absolute world to each other but that doesn't mean they have to be shagging. The insistence of fandom on shipping them romantically these days, imnsho, takes away from the beauty of their canon friendship, as though friendship isn't considered 'enough', and I really do not like that. :D (also, you know who he does appear to have a crush on in canon if you read it in a certain way? IMRAHIL.)

🫐 What’s your favorite underrated thing in your fandom? (A ship that only you seem to write for, a character there’s almost no fics about, a trope that criminally hasn’t been written yet, etc.) omg! Legolas/Imrahil, my favourite rarepair canoe! Also Sigrid/Tauriel (and Sigrid&Tauriel), who deserve a lot more attention - to which end I am running @sigrielweek between 7 and 13 October! (the blog doesn't have anything on it yet but anyone who wants to, please feel free to give it a follow so that when I get it sorted out you'll see it!)

🍇 Is there a particular scene/episode/book/etc that you want to just write a million fics about, over and over? Which one? I always thought I'd have one fic per scenario (mostly various pairings getting together), but I seem to find myself returning to them and writing different ones, particularly Erestor/Glorfindel, I've written them getting together so many times now, and I'll be posting another one later on in Writers' Month!

heeeee, thank you so much for asking! <333333 anyone else want to send me some fruit and get some opinions? :D

[versegm]

I'm used to rarepairs with characters who have no canon interactions or who might not even exist at all in the original work so you understand I get deeply surprised whenever I start shipping something with a solid canon ground and yet still find myself basically alone on a canoe

[happygochi]

Broche, son of dbs broly and chichi, this OC and outfit design belongs to joker216 (on twitter). Broche is inspired by brioche ☺️

joker216 is another fellow artist that ships brochichi like i do! it’s a very small canoe for this rarepair, so of course I wanted to draw broche (with permission, of course). 

[queerfictionwriter]

Writing Update: November 2022

So, November was weird! I didn’t actually manage to do any of the things I had planned at the end of October, but it still ended up being a pretty damn great month, writing-wise, for me anyway—despite November historically not being a month where I get a lot of writing done. 

Total wordcount: 17, 424 (!!!)

Highlights: 

You mean aside from that gorgeous word count that was the highest monthly total for me this year??? 

Dreamt up a wickedly good idea with @piceuscelus that culminated in a series (which can be found here—it’s Witcher fandom blasphemy AU), where I wrote and posted the second fic (this one!) 

Worked on the next installment of the Eskel/Renfri series with @violaceum-vitellina-viridis (series can be found here—I know it’s a rarepair and the two of us are the only ones paddling in this canoe, but oh my god, it’s so good) 

Worked on some Patreon stuff for December and January 

Started a Laiden fic because I had an idea that munched on my grey matter 

Pivoted back around to a long-running WIP of mine, the RA AU (unposted, Steter) and finished what will probably be chapter six once it starts posting; WIP is now at 25.5k 

Finished what will be the first chapter of the Steter BDSM AU (unposted); that WIP is now at 4.4k 

Goals for December: 

Finish one of the fics I have started for @violaceum-vitellina-viridis‘s birthday and post the belated birthday gift 

Complete Jannuary’s batch of Patreon stuff 

Start and also finish the other birthday fic I have planned

[nagimayo]

[raises hand] top 10 enstars pairings go

omg this is such a good question...

polyeden and any pairings within that unit is usually my #1, there's just so MUCH for me to latch onto ugh they are so in love. adam, eve, seniors, juniors, dynamic doesn't matter i just adore them ugh

obviously my url comes into play here... i am rowing this little canoe as hard as i can but nagimayo is so real TO ME... i genuinely forget they've barely interacted bc they are probably my top ship outside of eden. they are perfect for each other in my eyes

i love a nagisa rarepair. really into him and kaoru together lately, entirely the fault of @menodorasmoon if i'm being honest. kaonagi the world. i also love ultissimo as a ship and just as a dynamic in general; wataru and nagisa absolutely have a ton of stuff in common despite the contrast in their general demeanors. i am also a big fan of him with rei, tatsumi, hell just about anyone

number five we got fuckign. tatsumayo. they are mom and dad they are husband and wife they love their children and serving cunt. idk what to tell u they're soooo gay and in love

any mika pairing, but especially shu and naru. triad, even, because that boy deserves all the love in the world and i think arashi and shu would set their differences aside for the sake of loving him together

hajibara makes me extremely soft, bogie time was one of my fav stories and those events fundamentally changed ibara's brain chemistry i am SURE of it. those boys would be so unbelievably sweet to each other it makes me sickkkk

for the last three i'll do ships that i haven't delved too deep into but enjoy watching from the outside; adosou, hiiai, and madaleo 🫶🫶🫶