#frederick valentine

[ice-creamforbreakfast]

Freddie: We might have our biggest pumpkin yet! You should see this thing, it's the biggest, roundest, big, old, bloated thing you've ever seen!

Heather was having flashbacks.

[tazuransi]

heartwarming: grandfather helping his grandkids solve an extremely complex puzzle on an ancient relic (super mario bros on the gameboy)

ref image

[gio-goose]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST SPECIALEST AWESOMESAUCE OUTSTANDING WONDEROUS BOY EVER!!! SIN KISKE MY BELOBED,!!!

[hematophagys]

really like thjat one revelator illustration whjere jacko is jusr climbing all over sol... so real

[crtoonmnky]

We have 26 characters in Strive now and I think that's neat

Had to get this out before the new daredevil this week. Course not everyone fit perfectly so I had to get creative :)

[mrc3ntipede]

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

[oliverspikey]

My contribution to this meme

[steadypen]

I never posted Sol Dadguy here!

Iz burgertime

[pureanonofficial]

Happy Valentine's Day from Chess the musical! <3

[im-doing-good]

Late Valentine's fan art

I redrew it like 3 times til I was happy with the final result but here it is

[ice-creamforbreakfast]

Sufficiently calmed, Heather and Karter joined the rest of the family for breakfast. Seeing her family around the table cheered her up, but the feeling was rather shortlived.

[empresskadia]

Happy Valentine's day! I lowkey wanna write a drabble for today, but I have nothing planned out. But-

I think it would be cute to give the Spartans Valentine's Day chocolates.

John would be puzzled, like why? He doesn't understand the concept of celebrating love and affection to the world, it was just another day for him until you gave him the small box and told him "Happy Valentine's Day." John's seriously confused but accepts his partner's gift with a subtle nod, not wanting to dismiss your gesture. It wasn't until he noticed others at the base receiving similar tokens from their partners that his confusion deepened. Why were people exchanging gifts today? What made it so special?

It's Cortana who has to jump in and explain the origins and significance of Valentine's Day, how it's the idea of expressing love and appreciation, and how it's a tradition to exchange gifts on this special day with the one you love. This was so foreign to him but he tries to understand, at the very least for you.

John goes MIA for a solid hour, like you honestly can't find him and no one has seen him. So when he appears before you with a bouquet of wild roses and presents them to you, the first thing you notice are the thornless stems and John's dirty hands. It's clear he had gone out of his way to personally gather these flowers.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he says, presenting you with the wild roses. His typically stoic expression softened, John might not have fully understood the concept of Valentine's Day, but his actions spoke louder than words about his commitment to you.

Though Linda didn't fully grasp the significance of the day, she understood the origins, having overheard about it from Marines in passing. She'll blink when you offer her the chocolates, giving you a raised brow before taking them. Girl is 100% secretly excited about it, she's not going to boast or react over it but the rest of Blue team can see a bounce to her step.

This was a pleasant surprise and she honestly didn't expect her partner to go out of their way for her. Linda makes it a personal mission to find something to gift you, yes she could have Roland help her buy something, and get it to the UNSC infinity, but she also wants it to be special. Maybe she could make you something with a piece of her armor? Or find something you might like during a mission?

Poor Fred was stuck with paperwork when you happened to bound into his office with a box of chocolates. He's surprised and curious when you present him with the gift, giving you this adorable head tilt when he opens it. Did he miss something? Was today an anniversary he happened to forget? The confusion is pretty evident when he asks "What's this?"

When you explain it, it clicks that he's heard about the holiday from commanders before. Honestly, the day slips his mind, it had never really held much significance to him and he only remembers it exists every once in awhile. Despite his initial confusion, Fred's expression softens into a grateful smile as he thanks you for the chocolates.

However, his mind was already racing, searching for a way to reciprocate the gesture. While he couldn't immediately think of a suitable gift, he recalled Roland mentioning that the UNSC Infinity's Memorial Park atrium was holding a dance that evening and he could do a public event for you. The idea formed in his mind, that it was a thoughtful way to show his appreciation, and a shared experience at the dance might be a meaningful way to celebrate Valentine's Day together.

I will say when Kelly finds out about the dance being held in the Memorial Park atrium, she is on her way to find her partner. Like full-on sprinting through the ship [it took Fred a minute to realize who just blurred by his office in a rush, asking if he's seen her partner.] So before you even start searching for her to give her the chocolates, Kelly has already found you first.

She was so ready to ask about this dance thing and what was going on until you gave her that sweet smile and handed her the box. Her expression transformed from eager anticipation to surprise and then delight when she opened the chocolates. Her eyes held most of her emotion, they almost seemed like they were glittering and she smiled when you explained the reason behind the gift and the upcoming dance.

Of course, she accepted your invitation with a tease, that mischievous glint in her eyes. Unbeknownst to you, she had already set aside a gift for her partner when she learned about the holiday a week beforehand from Commander Palmer. It was a small token of her affection, carefully chosen with Roland's help to express her appreciation and love.

[phantomstatistician]

Fandom: Guilty Gear

Sample Size: 351 stories

Source: AO3

[pufftheninja]

Happy Valentine’s Day! Here’s a repost of some of my favorite couples art. 💜🩷

---

My commissions are open! If you’d like to commission me, please fill out the form here. DM me if you have any questions.

[mytyldotwav]

FREEEEEEEESIAAAAAAA

Freesia is a song from Guilty Gear XRD. But it could have been released in Strive and still hit just as fucking hard. That's because it's applicable to multiple aspects of the story.

Sol Badguy is one of the most powerful characters in the GG universe. At least, he's in the top 10 (probably??). Despite that, he's a grown man who is a grief-stricken mess and has questionable direction to his life.

In my opinion, this song is best interpreted as coming from Frederick. Not Sol, the Badass god-like gear that has saved the world on several occasions. Frederick Bulsara, the man that lost everything important to him.

The start of Freesia is someone reaching out to Frederick. Because really? Frederick does a lot of brooding and self-isolation. He wouldn't reach out to someone otherwise. His head isn't in the clouds, it's in space, drifting aimlessly amongst the stars.

But everything is fine, Frederick says. There's enough air for at least 2 people where he's at, and he's alone. So everything is ok. Frederick, or more accurately, Sol, has everything he needs. He's achieved great feats normal humans only could dream of achieving. He's reached greater heights than anyone ever has, and yet? Something is still missing.

There's enough air for 2 people up there. Boundless information. Wisdom beyond that of any normal human. But there's enough air for 2 people. And he knows why, but he can't bring himself to say it.

"The whole world is kind to me"

Yes, Sol has reason to be happy. Everyone has rewarded him for saving the world. Everyone appreciates what he has done in some way, and every day brings fresh start. The world has been ushered into a new era of peace; but there's someone missing. But Frederick can't bring himself to tell anyone what it is.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry..."

It'd be ungrateful for him to imply something was missing, or that something could be wrong. Sol apologizes, but laments his cowardice.

This next portion feels more like Frederick reaching out, or at least telling someone in passing about how miserable he is:

"The world may crumble down with just one piece missing"

Now, he is (to the best of his ability) trying to be genuine and honest about how life's trials have affected him. Frederick is saying that if he can't get that one thing back, if he can't reach his goals, why continue? Without this thing he's been pursuing for DECADES, actually being obtainable, his life has no purpose. He's just a shell of a man looking for comfort in the past.

This is where the dam breaks. This is where Frederick and Sol's lives converge into one. Frederick Bulsara is Sol Badguy and vice versa. He can't pretend that his reasons for fighting and living don't come from a place of loss and pain. He's not just bounty hunting for money, not just traveling the world because he can. His emotional strength isn't there because he's fixed all of his problems. His experiences have made him physically stronger, but mentally? He's exhausted and desperate for rest. Everything he has done up to this point has been for Aria Hale. But if she's gone, everything falls apart. There is no point.

That's why the song is named Freesia. A Freesia is a flower from South Africa that is commonly seen at weddings. They typically convey deep trust, friendship, thoughtfulness and sometimes purity.

And then the line hits. You know the one.

This moment in the song is an outburst of love, both platonic and romantic. This is the moment where Sol can't hide that he's still Frederick. He's still human. And damn it, he still loves that woman-- as Aria or Jack-O.

"Here I am" is a resignation. He tried ignoring the emotions building up inside of him for so long, neglected his humanity, acted as nothing but a weapon for so long, and he is tired. The mask falls off. He is finally allowing himself to be vulnerable and honest with the world.

Sol isn't proud of it.

He shouldn't have isolated himself for so long.

He shouldn't have lied about his emotions.

He shouldn't have pushed so many kind people away.

If he had done those things, maybe there would be less blood on his hands. Maybe he would have lived a more normal life.

But he knows that's not true. Aria meant too much to him. Sol would still miss her as desperately, even if he continued down a different path.

Yes, he had reasons to feel the things he felt. But at the same time, there were also so many people willing to help him start again. and he sees it now, as clear as day. Aria had been his world for so long. But he was missing so many beautiful things because of it. Frederick had spent so much time trying to save Aria that he became single minded in his endeavor. It led him to become isolated. It kept him from living his own life and that's what Aria wanted for him so badly. She didn't want to weigh on his mind, she wanted the happy memories of them to help Frederick continue living.

So the apologies tumble out again for the last time.

Frederick was surrounded by, and floating through galaxies. Worlds of people surrounded him and yet everything was touch and go. A passing greeting. A quick handshake. Knowing glances. He had recognition, respect, power, and yet, when the fight was over? Sol would leave it all behind again and move back to Aria. But that isn't what she would have wanted.

Reading through the lyrics, I initially thought Frederick was saying that he couldn't protect or save Aria, and that was what the final line meant. But I believe that's not the whole message. Frederick wasn't able to prove himself to Aria: Sol didn't keep living on like she wanted him to. He forgot her final wishes in his grief, and for the first time, he sees that. Now, finally, Frederick is ready to fulfill them.

• ○ ● Thanks for reading! ● ○ ●

[greenswing]

I miss my wife Tails