#i feel that buckaroo

[nonbinarynightcrawler]

Steeples my fingers

Hyperfixation this morning has me doing an EXTREMELY deep dive on Chuck Tingle for what I want to be a video essay and...

I may try to reach out to him personally to see if he'd be willing to answer a couple questions once I've got a good chunk of my script finished. He seems at least friendly enough to turn me down if he doesn't trust a rando on the internet so I won't be stuck in "DM Read" limbo

[theswedishpajas]

Based on my favorite gif lately

[darriness]

Omg but what if Buck’s parents have somehow been told about Buck/Tommy before the wedding, like Maddie prepped them beforehand (at Buck’s okay) so they wouldn’t act like idiots, and they’re ’trying’ now so when they see Buck and Eddie, Buck’s dad goes up to Eddie and extends his hand and goes ‘You must be Tommy’ and they mistake Eddie for Buck’s date.

WHAT IF

[steelthroat]

I am pretty responsible when it comes to money... someone could also use the word "stingy"

However:

Snacks

Little stupid but actually useful gadgets that ALSO look cool/nice

Museums/art related stuff

Make me act... unwisely

[checkthebox]

i am the #1 Falin fan

[falst]

blanket/cloak made of Actual Wool cooking me alive 10/10

[1800duckhotline]

i remember talkin abt this with a friend a bit ago but damn i wish bg3 made the camp actually feel a little alive. at least during some events or after some big mission/quest is finished or something. like i want to see wyll and gale cooking mama together or jaheira enjoying wine with shadowheart and karlach and lae'zel gym buddies moments or what have you. just make them look like im not the only one making them talk to each other PLEASE

[konfizry]

crossposting this from discord that way i have it somewhere

Alright so like the two theories right. Test tube Shionne VS Normal Infancy Shionne. 

(what it boils down to is, were the thorns dormant in the Imeris bloodline, allowing shionne to have come from an actual family and home, or were the helganquil growing Imeris girls in labs because thorns make it impossible for a baby child to be taken care of through normal means. More or less)

I truly wonder if the game leans one way or another? Like honestly, since no reference is made to Shionne’s family, I guess it isn’t that much of a stretch to think she was made in a lab, and never made to even meet the people/person that were her parents. 

Naori *is* said to have been returned to her family in the aftermath of the the channeling ceremony, though, right? Which leads me to think she really did just go on to make at least one baby and Naori’s line of daughters and granddaughters and so on lived relatively normal (by Renan standards) lives with the thorns dormant within them. What I fail to understand is why Naori did not pass down the knowledge of that sealed astral spirit crumb. Or you know what maybe she did, but one of the daughters broke the chain because…. Idk, many things could have happened. 

(oh also i am going off the assumption that all babies, or at least every first born that descended Naori’s line was afab, i think it makes it easier but maybe that’s not the case).

Also, also, if we think back to the way Shionne worded it. “They called it treatment, but in truth they were just using me as a guinea pig for their research”. This gives me the impression that she started out “normal”, until a problem was identified (the thorns), which necessitated changes (“treatment”, spending more and more time in a special facility away from her home, etc). Like, if Shionne and her like her whole genealogy for 300 years had always solely lived in labs, i feel like the “treatment” justification would not be needed. That would just be how life is. Your kind lives in this lab, period.  (or perhaps, a different justification would be provided, imo).  So like my headcanon is that her thorns (very conveniently) started manifesting when she was 3 or 4. Which kinda coincidates with when you start forging memories (shionnes says she’s had her thorns for as long as she can remember) and it’s also a time when it miiight be technically possible to keep a child fed and alive without necessarily having to touch them directely (DO NOT ATTEMPT) 

I think I prefer the idea of Shionne originally coming from an actual home with a family and not a lab is… well it just makes her more special and intense, lmao? The utter loneliness that comes with being the ostracized family fuck-up, the cruelty and violence of institutionalization, the distress and confusion of a body that *won’t behave*, and she’s the only one who shoulders it all. There is no mother who has been through it before to look towards or even think about, no family of hers has ever lived in that lab. It’s just her, alone and scared. Idk, I think I just love it more. The gradual abandonment of Shionne by her family is an idea I am interested in. Although, a friend on discord presented the idea that maybe she was sold to the lab, which is also worth considering imo! My idea was that, in the end, it became apparent to Shionne’s family that leaving her in that lab for good was just, convenient. Shionne is an embarrassment to them. Out of sight, out of mind, let’s move on. I don’t know which one is grimmer.  Also, another thing, it might not hold much weight but, Shionne views herself as a Renan. Which to me implies that whe was not in an envirronment that was completely hermetic to the rest of Renan society. idk, to me it feeds into my headcanon that she was not born and raised in a lab but rather still had some ties to the outside world, albeit very strained ones

Now for something even more controversial. I like to think that the Helganquil didn’t even know that a part of Rena’s spirit was stuck in the Imeris bloodline. And I’m aware that it probably doesn’t fit too well with what’s established in game. Butttt listen I like it better that way ergbergzjirtge. But here’s the thing, like I said, they really did return Naori to whence she came, like they really wen “yknow what that was some bullshit fuck the maiden bye bye never call us again”. Listen, they wanted to nothing to do with those Imeris women. Was the great spirit of Rena embarrassed? That is so moe of it. 

ANYWAY. So right, there’s that (but ofc you could argue that just because naori was sent home doesnt mean they werent keeping tabs on her but i am ignoring that). Also, when recollecting her life in the lab, Shionne remembers “the face they’d make whenever they accidentally touched her”. And idk, it’s shown to be a pretty significant part of her trauma, people reeling away in pain, that i think maybe it’s happened a lot. And. What this tells me is that the researchers at whatever facility Shionne was sent to had no idea what they were doing.

 I am someone who leans towards the idea that the Helganquil’s control and surveillance of the Renan population was on the more subtle end of the spectrum. Like it’d get real coercive with the hypnosis and nanomachines or whatever when they really needed something done but for the most part the manipulation is less heavy-handed, in my opinion. I want to believe that the facility Shionne was sent to was not under direct Helganquil control. I want the Renans who experimented on her and abused her to have done it while having as much free will and consciousness as is possible. Because that cruelty is possible without alien mind-control. I think they were just curious Renans, who had no idea how to deal with a person with thorns but were absolutely fascinated and yet profoundly disturbed by her condition, so treating her as subhuman was just the most natural thing to do. 

[helianskies]

finished our work week with our usual pow-wow of 'here's what our focuses were and what we've achieved' and bearing in mind i wasnt in on tuesday when these focuses are set and never committed myself to a task, ive managed to leave work feeling shit for not doing something i was meant to do. because apparently we admins were going to focus on chasing up information by phone since it's the school break and no calls have been made this week. well. if i had known that was what someone wanted me to do that's what i would have done. but instead, i was busy correcting other people's mistakes, fixing my own mistakes, juggling email queries, emailing people for info in between my usual tasks because i can't always make a phone call because that takes time away from my daily checks, checking data reports, being trained on new systems, liaising with another team to help them sort out interviews, and so on. and guess who was at work during that tuesday meeting and clearly said 'oh yeah we'll carry on with email failure chasing' and didn't make a single call this week. i dont care if he is part time. he still works 3 days. i have been fixing HIS little errors. HIS 'i didnt listen during our training a month ago and am not following procedure' moments. it's been a really shit week. i was not making calls yesterday because i was in such a foul mood and couldnt snap out of it and did not want to come across as rude on the phone, and they all know that - i made that quite clear. but i feel thrown under the bus. i've now set aside 2 hours on monday to do all the calls that we should have done in the last few days. we'll see if it's just me making them. and we'll see if my managers still think ive still 'disappointed' them. fuck.

[drchucktingle]

the curve

somehow ive found myself in a position where folks come to chuck in times of strife for encouragement. lets get the big part of this conversation out of the way LOVE IS STILL REAL and that is the thing to remember. that north star remains. today there is more to talk about though

existence pushes towards love community and freedom, because CREATION is what we were built to do and creation thrives with these things as fuel. IT GETS BETTER. LOVE IS REAL. however this change comes in up and down waves. its not a straight line and should not be expected to be

some of these waves are short and small, and some of the slopes are years or decades long. there is no mincing words here, we are entering a massive downward wave. the implications are huge and it is okay to mourn that. FEEL THOSE FEELINGS. it is an important part of the ride

the most telling sign post on our slope is this: tromp won the popular vote (or likely will when the votes are done). we can talk POLITICAL STRATEGY all day about electoral college or who should court the center or the left and on and on but ultimately THIS is the real story

to me it signals a TRUE cultural shift. likely conservatives will have presidency, senate, house, and supreme court. WHAT A GIANT SLOPE. HOLD THE HECK ON because we will be riding it for a while, deep into the pit of the void. hold your buds tight, prove love at the local level

but heres the thing, MASSIVE waves have happened before. theyll happen again. mind numbing slopes into the abyss and great soaring leaps into the sky. in fact the inertia almost ALWAYS causes them to happen right after each other. hippies or punks back in the day, buckaroos now

politically we were trapped in a basically fifty fifty trot for a long time, but it was not always like this (just look at old election maps what the heck). to be honest, tromps map looks like one of those old maps right now. and DANG did COUNTER MOVEMENTS blooms from those times

in other words, THERE WILL BE A COUNTER CULTURE MOVEMENT THAT WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE IN OUR LIFETIMES. you are now a rebel for the resistance and the wave that will swing back towards love will awe us in ways we cannot even imagine yet.

but for now, feel those feelings, mourn, prove love, stay safe. do not let the hope i am espousing feel like a distraction from the very real, even deadly consequences of the terrible pit we are plummeting into. it is a horrible day, and FUTURE HOPE does not diminish that, BUT

get ready because that counter culture wave is coming and YOU are a part of it. if you want to shout HECK OFF DEVILS then shout it LOUD, if you want to cry then cry HARD, if you want to love then love with your WHOLE HEART. thats the start of the movement that we dont know yet

when that movement takes shape we will feel the inertia of the curve and it may make us sick from the rollercoaster turn, and that pressure will be uncomfortable and scary, but THEN buckaroo, we will soar, and ill be so dang glad to be holding on tight with you when we do

[frillyheathen]

I love how Stardew Valley stops you from giving you from giving people more than two gifts a week, because I like to think that it's the Farmer's weird sense of social etiquette talking.

Wanna give Jodi a single small egg then walk away without saying a word? Go head. Feel like reaching into your pocket, pulling out a fistful of tree sap, and slapping it in Lewis's hands? Be my guest. Entering without knocking? That's a must. But giving them more than two gifts a week? Hold your horses, buckaroo, do you want people to think you're some kind of weirdo? Wait until it's their birthday or you're married before you start engaging in freakish behavior like that.

[darriness]

911 Fic: Outnumbered

Buck and kids - need i say more? It was an idea that wouldn't leave my head. I played a little bit with the canon timeline to make this work.

~ 800 words

__________________________

Buck’s day off goes from 0-60 mph so fast he’s not exactly sure how it happens. Well, that’s not true. He intellectually knows how it happens. But…he’s still confused.

It starts with him offering to hang out with Chris for the day. Eddie decided to take an extra shift and Buck never says no to hanging out with his best boy. He has plans for them to play video games, eat too much pizza and ice cream, and prank call Eddie as often as they can get away with.

…and then Maddie calls.

“Josh is way too many people short today.” She says in a panic and Buck can hear from the noise on her end that she’s in the car, “Chimney’s in Sacramento for that conference and I’ve got no one to watch Jee…”

She trails off and Buck laughs, “Just come drop her off.”

It may not have been the day he planned, but hanging with his best boy AND his best girl is hardly a hardship. Maddie barely gets out her ‘thank you’ as she kisses him on the cheek after handing him the baby and the diaper bag and then she’s out the door.

Buck turns to his niece, who is putting her hands on his cheeks and giggling, and smiles, “You ready for a fun day with your uncle and your cousin?”

…and then Hen calls.

“Maddie tells me you have Jee?” She says without saying hello.

“Hi to you too.” He says as he watches Chris attempt to teach Jee patty cake.

“Yeah. Hi. Look, Jee and Nia were supposed to have a playdate today because Karen and I are going to a spa.” She explains.

“Uhhhh…” Buck says.

“I would owe you so much if you’d watch Nia for us.” She says when he continues to hesitate.

“Can’t you…reschedule?” He asks. It’s not that he doesn’t want to see Nia, she’s adorable, but having two kids under the age of two in the apartment? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.

“They won’t let us reschedule. We’d be losing out so much.” Hen answers, “Please Buck.”

Buck really needs to learn how to say ‘no’. Especially when Hen drops Nia off and Denny (who they had been planning on dropping off with another family friend) sees that Christopher is also at the apartment.

A round of puppy dog eyes later (Denny to Hen and Hen to Buck) means that Buck now has two nine-year-olds and two 18-month-olds in his apartment. He’s severely outnumbered.

…and then Denny calls Harry.

Buck’s not sure what is worse - having to stop Nia and Jee from using permanent marker on his kitchen cabinets or having to stop three tween boys from daring each other to see who can jump off the highest stair going up to Buck’s loft (he has no interest in earning the Ms. Flores treatment if he allows Christopher to get hurt on his watch).

He loses track of time and the amount of food he doles out. He actually runs out of food and has to offer Harry two crackers and a single slice of bologna when the boy says he’s hungry later in the afternoon.

If he makes it through this day…it will be a miracle.

– – –

Chris opens the door when Eddie knocks.

“Uhhhhh hey buddy.” Eddie says in confusion, reaching for his son’s backpack and slinging it over his own shoulder, “Where’s Buck? You shouldn’t be answering the door by yourself.”

“I saw on Buck’s phone that you were here.” Chris explains, “So I knew it was you.”

Eddie nods, “But where’s Buck?”

Chris shuffles backwards and nods his head toward Buck’s living room. Eddie enters the apartment and peaks around the stairs. What he sees makes his heart clench.

Buck’s fast asleep on his couch sitting up but slouched down so his head is on the back of the couch and his feet are on his coffee table. He’s got a fast asleep Jee-Yun on his chest and she has a fist balling up his shirt at his chest.

“It was a busy day.” Chris says, having made his way to his father’s side.

Eddie smiles softly, taking Chris’s backpack off his shoulder, “What do you say we make some dinner for the three of us and let Buck and Jee rest for a while?”

“I don’t think there’s any food left.” Chris says.

Eddie chuckles in disbelief, scrunching his eyebrows for a moment, “I’m really going to need to hear about this day.” He says, “In that case, why don’t we order pizza?”

Chris smiles, “Sounds safer than you cooking anyway.”

Eddie gets a mock offended look on his face before ruffling Chris’ hair and pulling out his phone to call the pizza place. He’ll let Buck and Jee nap until the food gets here.

[stars-in-a-jam-jar]

It just feels so safe to him. It feels so safe to be sequestered and small and hidden the way these shards of Kristen's goddess are. Held by someone who loves her, who saved her, who believes in her, who holds her gently and understands her like no one else. He's drawn by his doubts about his life and his religion and his parents, all things that he believes he belongs to, not that belong to him. The idea that Kristen's goddess belongs to her, but she also belongs to her goddess. A mutual belonging. Something he has never felt before.

The STRESS!!!!! THE STRESS OF NOT BELONGING TO YOURSELF!!!!!!! He's been taking Stress Tokens and you KNOW IT!! He's becoming more and more stressed and strained, and seeing the shards of Cassandra with his sister fills him with this very base, instinctual form of comfort, of relief. It's divinity within his reach, if he only allows himself to ask the question. If he only says 'Maybe I can belong to myself first and my family/church second.' He's never been allowed to ask any questions about himself except 'How do I serve better?' 'How do I be a good kid?' OF COURSE HE'S A FUCKING PALADIN WITH THAT MINDSET!

But in this moment, he's not thinking about serving those above him. He's not thinking of Being Good. He's not thinking of what his parents might do or say, or the fact that he lied to them about the gold, or whatever feeling attempting to proselytize to his party incites in him. He's just thinking 'What is that? Can I touch it? Can I see it? Can I be closer to it?'

I'm crying I'm fucking crying

so much happened this episode that was important on a grand scale but the most important thing for me was bucky applebees reaching out to touch the shards of cassandra; bucky, who clearly still loves and looks up to his big sister in spite of the things i’m sure he’s heard his parents say about her, who asks her questions because he cares about the answer, not because he’s trying to get something out of her, who is facing minor conflict with his party because he’s trying to convert them to helio (just like kristen did with hers freshman year), paladin of helio, reaches out to touch the shards of the goddess of doubt, mystery, and the night as though drawn to them, only stopped by his father’s hand

[yumenosakiacademy]

would tumblr label me as a bot if i suddenly went from 100+ to 0 followers of my own volition manually. i kno i can block a ton of blogs in quick succesion w/o it paying me much mind, but i feel like this a different ballpark. unknown, tho.

[navybrat817]

Sunrises and Sunsets

Pairing: Ranch Hand!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Summary: Bucky wants to watch a sunrise with you.

Word Count: Over 2k

Warnings: Fluff, reflecting, tooth rotting sweetness, a bit of sass, slight feels (it's me), Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?).

A/N: More Beach Fun Nonsense! Hope you lovelies enjoy. @bigtreefest requested for Ranch Hand!Bucky to either Go for a Swim (smut) or dig his Toes in the Sand (fluff - this won with my muse) with prompt #1 in bold. Not beta read and written on my phone, so any and all mistakes are my own. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

You woke up before the alarm went off thanks to Bucky. He normally did his best not to disturb your slumber if you didn't have to get up right away, unless he wanted you and you would gladly forgo sleep for that. But the soft kisses he placed along your shoulder and neck weren't rushed or needy. In the darkness you reached for his hand and felt him smile against your skin when you took it. It made you smile, too, and your heart beat faster in your chest. Waking up beside him was a gift.

“Morning,” you whispered, brushing some of the hair from his eyes when you turned to face him.

“Morning,” he whispered back, kissing the center of your forehead. “Time to get up.”

“No,” you groaned. You didn't glance at the time, but your inner alarm clock knew you had a few more minutes.

He chuckled and nipped your other shoulder hard enough to make you gasp. “Yes, Sunbeam,” he said, his tongue tracing the spot he bit. “Gonna watch the sun come up together before breakfast.”

“Why?” You asked. Today wasn't a special occasion or anniversary that you were aware of. He would have reminded you at some point or vice versa.

“Because I wanna watch the sunrise with you,” he replied, sliding a finger under your chin before you could hide your face in his chest. The room was dark, but you felt his gaze plead with you to get up. “Please?” He added for good measure.

With another groan, you gave in. “Fine,” you sighed, trying to hide your smile as you stretched under the sheets. You lucked out with Bucky when it came to small romantic moments. What other man would wake you just to watch the sunrise together? “Sun, breakfast, caffeine.”

“Turning on the light,” he warned, giving you time to cover your eyes when he leaned over to flip the lamp switch. He was thoughtful like that. “I didn't hear 'sex with my amazing boyfriend' on that list. Kinda hurts my feelings.”

You giggled and removed your hand, blinking more of the sleep from your eyes. “Sex is for after I have my caffeine.”

It was his turn to groan. “Fine,” he mocked in his best imitation of you, making you giggle again. You didn't always laugh this early in the morning and not every day began this bright, but every day was a bit lighter thanks to him. “C’mon. You can sleep later.”

“Whatever you say, Buckaroo,” you said as you sat up. You slid your feet into your slippers, your stomach fluttering because you know you didn't put them back in that spot yesterday. “Thank you,” you said, wiggling your toes.

“Can't let your feet touch the cold floor now, can I?” He winked, stretching as he stood up.

Your throat tightened. It was such a tiny gesture in the grand scheme of things, but it was the little things that mattered. They showed that he paid attention and cared. You tried to do the same for him, like cooking his favorite meals or drawing him a bath after a hard day. You hoped it was enough.

“You’re so good to me,” you said, holding your hands out so he could help you stand.

“We’re good to each other,” he said, pulling you up with ease.

The rough pads of his fingertips rubbed along your skin, a physical reminder of the work he put in day in and day out. His hands made a difference in the world and your life, his calloused touch telling hundreds of stories. Being part of his journey and creating a new story together was something out of a dream. The beauty of it was that your story wasn't over yet.

“What are you thinking about?” He asked.

“I’ll tell you when we go outside,” you replied, not wanting him to miss any of the view. “Do you need to put a shirt on?”

He pulled a hand away to pat his pocket before he smirked and pointed to his washboard abs. “These give me plenty of heat.”

Your gaze went to his torso, heat of your own spreading from your core. Working day in and day out kept him in great shape. He belonged on one of those cowboy romance novel covers. Or a calendar.

I could make a killing with a ranch hand calendar featuring all the guys.

“And for breakfast, I'll make you some humble pie. A big ol’ slice,” you teased.

“Mmm. Pie for breakfast. You do love me,” he joked.

“More than anything,” you smiled.

He leaned in and pressed a kiss to your mouth, tilting your world on its axis like always. “Love you, too.”

“You have to if you don't care about my morning breath,” you smiled.

He grabbed a couple of blankets as he led you out to the front porch, just in case there was a chill in the air. Another thoughtful gesture. Instead of taking you to the porch swing like you expected, he took you down the steps and laid out one of the blankets in the grass where you sometimes had picnics together.

“Why aren't we sitting in the swing?” You asked.

“I mean, we could sit in the swing and I can put my arm around you.” He sat down and spread his legs out in front of him, patting the spot between them. “But it’s easier to hold you like this and I wanna hold you when the sun comes up.”

“You’re such a sap,” you smiled, happily taking the spot between his legs. “But I like that.”

“You do know I’m only a sap for you, right?”

“I do,” you said, spreading the other blanket across your legs. “Don't worry. I won't tell anyone.”

“Too late. Everyone knows,” he smiled.

“True,” you said, tilting your head and taking the opportunity to kiss underneath his chin before you looked back at the horizon.

Exhaling, you pressed your back against Bucky’s chest and revelled in the warmth of his body as he wrapped his arms around you. He occasionally reminded you of the sun. He had fire within him and brightened your world just by being there. But to him, you were the sun.

We're each other's sun and moon.

“So, you just felt like watching a sunrise with me?” You asked.

“Just felt like it,” he agreed, holding you a bit tighter. “I’ve watched sunrises and sunsets more times than I can count, but it’s just different with you.”

“Why is that?” You asked.

“It may not make sense, but the sunrise just looks more beautiful and hopeful because I have someone to share it with. And people say sunsets are a way to reset, but I’m just thankful because it was another day I got to spend with you.” He pressed a lingering kiss to your temple as your heart swelled. “Each day is a blessing because you're in my life.”

You were on the verge of spilling tears, but managed to keep them at bay. “I feel blessed, too,” you whispered.

His chest shook as he chuckled. “I really am a sap.”

“Yeah, but you’re my sap,” you said, tracing the palm of his hand. It was a special thing to bring out that side of him. “You know how you asked me what I was thinking about earlier? I was thinking how your hands can tell so many stories. I think your wrinkles will tell stories, too.”

“My wrinkles?” He asked.

“Yeah. Each is a chapter in your story. Just like every scar,” you answered. Bucky thought every mark on your body was a thing of beauty. You wanted him to feel the same way about his. “They’ll say how you survived hard times. How you lived your life. How you loved.”

“You’re a sap, too,” he teased, catching your elbow before you could ram it into him. “Easy, I’m kidding. I think that’s a beautiful way to look at it.”

There was beauty all around you with Bucky.

“Well, the thought of getting older used to scare me, but it doesn't seem so bad because I have you. We won't have to do it alone. We’ll grow together,” you smiled, gazing at the sky that seemed to stretch on forever. “So when we're older and you have wrinkles and gray hairs, I want you to keep doing this: Wake me up for a sunrise just because you felt like it. Just because you wanted to share one more beautiful moment with me.”

“You wanna grow old with me?” He asked, his voice thicker than you expected. “And on those days, you’ll still love me? Wrinkles and all?”

“Of course, I do. And of course, I will,” you promised. You would love him no matter what. “And you’ll still love me when I grow old?”

“Forever and always,” he whispered, resting his chin on your shoulder when the sun began to rise.

Your heart raced as the hues touched the land you two shared, painting a canvas in glowing rays. He was right that the sunrise was more beautiful and hopeful because you had someone to share it with. And while you were certain there were others watching the sky, this felt like a new dawn just for the two of you.

“It really is breathtaking, isn’t it?” You smiled.

“You’re breathtaking,” he said, making your smile widen as your cheeks warmed.

“You flatter me, Buckaroo,” you said affectionately.

Bucky took a deep breath by your ear as you continued to look at the view. “Marry me, Sunbeam,” he whispered.

With wide eyes, you spun around in his arms. You didn't know it, but to him you looked like an angel with the rays growing brighter around you. “What?” You asked.

“Shit. I was supposed to ask you, not tell you. And I was supposed to have something special planned, but I keep carrying this around in case the time’s right and this just seemed right.” He swallowed before he reached into his pajama pocket and pulled out a small box. “It isn't much. Sure as hell isn't what you deserve and I'm sorry for that,” he said. You covered your mouth with a gasp when he opened it. Simple, beautiful, and a diamond that sparkled like the sun. To you, it was the most beautiful ring to ever exist. “But I love you and I want you to be my wife. I wanna grow old with you and I don't wanna tell the story of my life without you in it. I-”

“Yes!” You shouted into the morning air, knocking him on his back. You were lucky you didn’t knock the ring box out of his hand. “Yes, yes, yes! I’ll marry you!”

“I wasn't done with my proposal,” he chuckled.

“I don't care. I said ‘yes’. Now’s the part where you put the ring on my finger,” you smiled with tears in your eyes. He managed to slip the ring onto your finger with you stretched out on top of him. A perfect fit. “It’s beautiful. Don't ever apologize for giving me something so beautiful.”

The proposal was beautiful, too. It came from the heart at a time he knew was right. You couldn't ask for anything better.

I have the whole world because of you.

You swore you saw the sunrise in his eyes as he framed your face and smiled up at you. “Love you, Sunbeam.”

“Love you, too, Buckaroo,” you whispered, giggling. “And guess what?”

“What’s that?”

“I can change sex with my amazing boyfriend to fiancé,” you smiled.

“Why don’t we skip to that part? I’ll make sure you get some caffeine after,” he smirked. "Deal," you giggled again, leaning down to kiss him.

The sun continued to climb in the sky behind you as he deepened the kiss, bathing you in light as you celebrated the next chapter in your life together.

And with his ring on your finger, you knew you’d forever appreciate every sunrise and sunset even more.

Anyone else get a cavity from this sweetness? Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[alchemistc]

"Any plans for your days off, Buck?"

Buck knows his grin is a little feral, but he's kind of hoping that'll throw them off the trail. It's barely been a year, and in that time they've had three natural disasters, one copter crash, a boss intent on making Buck's life a living hell, and two almost break-ups.

It's too soon, to know for sure, except Athena and Bobby had known, and Hen and Karen had known even if they were too scared to admit it at first, and Chim and Maddie may have taken a little longer to get there but they'd known.

And Buck knows. He knows he's never felt like this about anyone before. Knows no one has ever had the ability to infuriate him and calm his fears quite like Tommy Kinard can. Knows they could have done this like they joked about six months ago and they wouldn't have regretted it.

Hen is making a face like she's trying to decide if she wants to know whatever head-tilt-cheek-bite sexual innuendo Buck's got in the barrel, because she only appreciates that about half of the time and Buck's praying she decides on no because he's a terrible fucking liar and he doesn't like keeping things from people. But it's sort of a secret, for the next 48 hours, and Buck also wants to bask in it, wants to enjoy keeping it to himself for just a little while.

"Our Buckaroo is all grown up and refusing to over share about his sex life, praise be," Chim chips in, and Buck tucks his chin to his chest and hopes his pink cheeks read as embarrassed.

His phone buzzes in his pocket, and around him lockers slam and voices drift over him. He's only got eyes for the text that just came through.

Bird's ready, suits are pressed, room is paid up. You wanna go to Adele, after? I think I know one of her people.

You know everyone, stop bragging, I'm already impressed

I'm always gonna try to impress you. You still at the station?

Yeah but not for long. I'll see you in like forty

"--right Buck?"

Buck blinks, hums, stares across at Chim.

"Please tell me you're not sexting at work right now."

"Technically, we are off the clock."

"I'll remind Clipboard Buck of that next time he shows up."

He's zipping up his bag when his phone buzzes again.

See you soon, baby.

He's pretty sure he's gonna get away with it - Hen and Chim are arguing about some reality show as they all trudge toward the open bay doors, and though he can hear their voices further back, Eddie and Bobby still seem to be deep in conversation.

Ravi comes out of left field, because of course he does, just finished inventory still clutched in his hand as he rounds the engine closest to Buck. "Hey, Buck, you and Tommy wanna catch that movie tomorrow night? I picked up a shift but I've got like twelve off in between."

Buck winces. Damn, so close. "Sorry, bud, we actually won't be in town."

Which he's realizing now is pretty uncharacteristic of the both of them, and Hen and Chim have clocked it, so he's gonna have to make a run for it, but he catches sight of raised brows and questioning expressions and he can't give them nothing.

"Tommy's taking me to Vegas, we might see Adele, okay bye!"

They absolutely let him make a break for it, let him scramble into the Jeep, let him send them all a quick wave before he peels out of his parking spot, and Buck spends the drive to Harbor viscously ignoring the steady buzzing from his phone.

---

Tommy snags the backpack from his shoulder before he's fully out the door, and tugs a belt loop to pull him close. Buck is pretty sure he'll never get over how much he likes being manhandled, just a bit.

"You wanna tell me why Chim and Hen both wished us a good flight?"

"Ravi ambushed me on my way out the door. Technically, they don't know anything about anything, except maybe Adele."

Tommy's fond smile makes Buck feel all warm and tingly inside, and he basks in the glow as Tommy nudges a knee between the open bow of Buck's legs.

Tommy's expression morphs, a bit, lips dropping as he tilts his head. "You having second thoughts? We don't have to-."

"No. No second thoughts."

"Evan, I know how close you are to your family. If you want to wait, make this something you can share with them, we can hold off."

He's so goddamn charmed by this man - by how he cares, by how well he knows Buck, by a million and one tiny things that Buck gleefully hoards his knowledge of like a dragon over his caverns of treasure.

"I kinda don't want to share you, for this." It's the first time since Tommy's brought it back up that Buck's been able to express exactly why the prospect makes him so giddy, but there it is. Possessive jealous Buck rears his ugly head again, only Tommy has always been a little charmed by that. At least when Buck expressed it in a healthy way.

"The moment they know, it's gonna be a spectacle," Tommy agrees, fingers curling over Buck's side.

"Exactly. So. Take me to Vegas and wife me up before one of them shows up trying to tag along."

He expects the dramatic eye roll, and Tommy's fingers digging into his sides. He doesn't expect the ear-ringing whistle echoing through the bay door to their left, or the smirk on Lucy Donato's face when she lets her looped thumb and pointer finger drop from her lips.

"We should definitely go before any of them remembers to hit her up for more details."

"Why would she -."

"Yeah she caught a look at the manifest and snooped until she found the rings."

"So you're actually worse at keeping a secret than I am."

"They're all gonna know before we land back home."

"Hen's gonna break like thirty bylaws trying to decorate a county owned chopper."

"Evan, seriously, we can still -."

Buck only knows one sure-fire way of stopping Tommy from spiraling too much - he uses the little bit of leverage he has plastered to the open door of his Jeep to catch Tommy's lips, and the resulting pleased hum shivers down his spine. Evan takes a moment to be pleased that Tommy hadn't shaved this morning like he'd threatened, and then he's tilting his head for a better angle and losing himself in it long enough that a few more wolf-whistles make their way across the tarmac -- Wendell and York, most likely, but when Buck finally breaks the kiss to dart a look over Tommy's shoulder, everyone has made themselves scarce.

"You gonna marry me or not, Kinard?"

It's a rare thing, but sometimes, when Buck makes him a little extra wild, Tommy does this growling thing that Buck always feels down to his toes. Tommy kisses him breathless again when Buck responds to this growl with a satisfied smirk.

---

"How much you wanna bet Hen convinces you to do a vow renewal within six months."

Buck's busy nipping at a spot of flesh just above Tommy's transverse abdominis, so it takes a second for his brain to catch up with the words.

"It's gonna be Maddie, and she's gonna rope you into it before you realize what's happening."

Tommy hums, pleased, not denying it, and runs a hand through Buck's hair, palm curling over his crown. It takes Buck a moment to figure out why it doesn't feel quite as familiar as it always does, and then he's reaching for it with a hand of his own, the tips of two fingers sliding along the smooth metal surface of Tommy's ring.

The smile he shoots up from the general area of Tommy's groin is all puppy-dog grin, and he basks in the soft, warm grin Tommy sends back. Buck tracks the crinkle of Tommy's eyes like a lifeline.

"I'm gonna lord it over everyone's head that we didn't get married because of, during, or after a health scare or a natural disaster."

"You asked me two days after we made up because of a flash flood we both thought we were gonna lose each other to, but okay."

Tommy's smile is soft. The fingers that slide around his scalp to brush reverently over his birthmark are even softer. "That time doesn't count, because we didn't follow through. You thought I was joking."

He had, honestly, at first, because they'd technically still been broken up at the time and the adrenaline and the terror at nearly losing one another had still been close. It'd taken him three days and Tommy angrily re-ringing his house key back onto Buck's keychain to realize Tommy maybe hadn't actually been joking about hopping in the chopper the next time they both had 24 off.

He's glad they'd taken the extra time, though. Glad they'd had time to drive halfway across the state in search of a ring shop they could be sure they wouldn't run into anyone at, glad they'd had the time to get new suits tailored, glad he'd had time to fuss over vows he'd still cried about while he was saying them, glad they'd done it without an Elvis impersonator standing just off to the side.

"You're stuck with me now," Buck tells him, and Buck knows Tommy's delighted bark of laughter will keep him warm for years.