#i hope it is apparent that i changed those.

[flusteredfools]

Happy Valentine's Day, DCA Fans! I’m thankful for all the love and support this community has built and shared with each other; it’s honestly the best fandom space I’ve ever been in and has saved me from so much. I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day and get to spend it with someone you care deeply about, online or in person, fictional or not!  ❤ You are loved! Please enjoy this little Valentine from a very small and grateful bear.

.˚₊✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ฅʕ ꈍ ᴥ ꈍʔฅજ⁀➴ ♡ ✧₊⁺⋆☾⋆.˚₊✩₊˚.

Our Love is Written Among the Stars

[Ao3 Link]

Summary:

They know this holiday is meant to be all hearts and roses but when it comes to defining a shape to represent their love; only stars come to mind. Their Starlight, Starbright, darling little Star, shooting across their daycare with a bright smile, the countless twinkling little stars that shine in your eyes and light up the whole room when you aim that smile at them… Yes, no other shape could represent their love more perfectly than a star. 

Valentine's Day. A day of love, passion, romance, expensive or overpriced gifts and meals; a day of contemplating your relationship status, griping about the ways of the heart and emotions then consuming copious amounts of sugar to make up for it. This year though, you had a new love, a curious and impossible love, a special valentine– sorry valentines . 

Your time working at the Pizzaplex certainly wasn’t always pleasant, hardly even bearable most days, but you had bills to pay and ends to meet so you always came back; even if you were always a little more tired and miserable each time. It wasn’t until a very close call with a flight of stairs and a very upset celestial bot showed up on your shift one night that that changed. 

Apparently Moon and Sun had both had enough of your lack of self-care and decided to do something about it; and well, you were certainly a lot healthier and happier ever since. And time took all the kindness and care and nurtured it into a flourishing relationship that was even more special than your average friendship; human or not. 

Which is what led you to now, staying late overnight at the Pizzaplex on Valentine’s Day, using inventory as an excuse when the reality is you were just going to spend the night hanging out with Sun and Moon. You walk into the plex with your overstuffed large duffle bag swinging off your hip; a change of clothing and some sleepwear doing their best to cushion the gifts you planned on sharing with Sun and Moon. 

For Sun you bought the largest heart shaped box of chocolates you could find; containing over fifty pieces of chocolates you very unselfishly made the sacrificial decision to eat by yourself so you could turn the package into one of those little arts and crafts kits. It took longer than you planned and was admittedly more difficult than you thought, but the look on his face when he thinks it’s chocolate– that he can’t eat mind you– and opens it up to find a personal little stash of art supplies and a sketchbook just for him; worth it. Worth every cut and hot glue burn. 

For Moon, you had ordered a very soft round cow that was posed mid jump and an equally soft moon shaped pillow embroidered with ‘love you to the moon and back’. The pillow had a covered zipper pocket that had its own matching small fleece blanket inside, and three soft plush shaped stars that could light up as little hand held nightlights. The cow plush you sewed, with your very finest sewing stitches, onto the moon pillow by its feet–a reference to the silly rhyme he often acted out and sung to the children at naptime– to leave open and available its belly that had a bonus of a secret pocket that Moon could stash away whatever little treasures he’d like.

Sure there’s the small chance they wouldn’t like what you picked, that they’ll end up tucked away in their tower of a bedroom gathering dust and discarded glitter; but at least they would still have the experience of someone, other than their tiny superstars, giving them something for Valentines day to show they love the two AI’s. It’s the thought that counts and all that. 

You’ve finally made your way through the plex, hopping off the final step of the stairs and to the daycare doors; the mostly dark and appearing totally empty daycare. A small frown dusts your expression; worried that Sun and Moon forgot you three had a date tonight as you push open the large castle theme doors to step inside. The frown drops as you exhale a gasp. 

The daycare was mostly dark, yes, but there was a subtle glow from countless battery powered candles lining a path of red and pink construction paper petals; a path that winds and turns its way across the entirety of the daycare. Hanging from the ceiling, rafters and play structures were an astonishing amount of glittering stars; one of which hangs at the perfect height to be right in your face as you enter. 

Happy Valentine's Day Starlight! We’re awaiting at the end of the trail to start our very special totally legit inventory date! But please don’t rush; we would love for you to take a moment to admire all the stars! See you soon, Starbright!  -☾☀︎

A tiny giddy giggle parts your lips after you read the note; you wonder if they’ll let you keep this at the end of the night, you’ll frame it and hang it in your room. You step around the glittering gold hanging note and walk into another, this one with four points and silver; as it lightly spins you see something is written on the back of this one as well. 

If we had to count all the ways we love you, it would be like trying to count all the stars in the night sky. A daunting task

Another step on the trail, another shimmering star that pulls your attention; this one a deeper gold with eight pointed tips. 

 But not a pointless one; a worthwhile endeavor, it is to shower someone so dear with all our love and care.

The next is the color of tarnished silver.

Affection and joy they have shown and gifted us in spades; we only hope they too can see how lovely they are by the end.

You let go of the twinkling paper with lightly flushed cheeks and a stomach full of butterflies. Another hanging star, one of a purplish hue, twists in the air.

We adore your smile; we treasure your laugh. We love how you always greet everyone, even on days you don’t want to greet yourself. The way you puff up your cheeks when eating. Or scrunch your nose in thought. How gently you hold our hand. The soft way you whisper to avoid waking anyone up at naptime. How you hum songs to yourself while cleaning. That silly dance you do up and down the stairs when you think no one is watching. 

You’re not even more than fifteen steps into the daycare now and your face is burning and heart racing wildly. You glance around the daycare again; the innumerable hanging stars still softly glowing in the faint candle light on your path. 

Your mind starts wondering how long must it have taken them both to make them all, let alone hang them all up in time after closing, but most importantly, your mind simply can’t get over that each glittering crafted star seems to really contain something they love about you; your heart overflowing with each new step you take, your soul slowly taking in just how much you are loved.

[thatguyjam]

Highschool Sweethearts - Carlos Sainz Jr.

Highschool Sweethearts Masterlist <3

Carlos Sainz jr x Catalan Speaking!Reader

Warnings, miscommunication (light? It isn't too frustrating)(I think)

You had lived in Barcelona your whole life, all of Primary school and the beginning of secondary school, before your parents one day, out of nowhere, got up and moved to Madrid. You weren't happy, of course. You'd had plans with your friends for University and your future; all centered in Barcelona. Not Madrid. But you still went along. Madrid was very different. They spoke differently, you were further from the beach, and much further from your friends. You decided there was nothing good about Madrid. Nothing except the cute boy named Carlos, of course, who was one of the only welcoming people in your classes. He defended your accent, letting you speak Catalan to him, making himself learn, not you change, he showed you around the city, showing you where the good restaurants were, and how to get to the good sights. He was your only real friend here.

Every weekend, Carlos was at the track. He had invited you many times, with hope in his pretty large brown eyes, but you never managed. You were still getting settled in, unpacking with your family, meeting new people. But one day, months after he had begun asking, you caved. A cold winter morning you arrived at the track in a large red jacket with a hot chocolate for you, and the coffee that you had seen Carlos order at least 10 times for him in each of your hands. Waiting where Carlos had instructed you, you looked around the track. There were many other highschoolers there, working with pit crews and engineers on their cars. You knew you were very out of your depth, even without your accent anyone could tell you didn't belong. You were tempted to just head home and tell Carlos you were sick before a booming voice called out your name.

"Y/N! It's good to see you!"

Whipping around, you saw Carlos Sainz Sr. walking quickly towards you, a bright smile on his face despite the weather. Carlos had told you many stories about his dad but you were yet to meet him, and all of a sudden, you were meeting him at a track.

"OH! Mr. Sainz, It's nice to meet you too," you say, fumbling with the drinks to try and shake his hand.

He simply laughs you off, before patting you back and leading you too his son's garage. "No, no, don't worry, you're family now. My son's boyfriend doesn't need to worry about shaking my hand of course"

His statement shocks you silent as he continues talking about the race that was being held that day, your thoughts race faster than the cars you pass and before you know it you're standing in front of your apparent boyfriend (not like you were complaining), Carlos.

You stood frozen in front of him while he stared at you oddly, before taking the coffee,

"-Y/N? Y/N are you ok?"

"Um, yeah, sure. Carlos, I have a question though."

"Sure! Is it about the track? I love the Madrid track, it is very nice to race on I think and-"

"No, no, I just wanted to ask why your dad called me your boyfriend? Since when are we dating?"

Carlos fell silent for a second, looking a but hurt and confused, before asking "What do you mean? We have been dating for almost a month now? We have been on multiple dates, no?"

"I mean, I think that would be lovely, you are very kind, and funny, and hot, but when were we on dates? And it isn't like we've kissed or anything? And we definitely didn't talk about it. I would re remember that."

"When I took you to the cafes, and the restaurants, and we went on a hike together and swimming in a lake? Are those not dates? And I didn't want to rush you into anything, so I was waiting for you to kiss me, and it hasn't been so long that it would be strange, and maybe we didn't talk about it, but I guess I thought we both just knew, I'm sorry, I should have talked to you about it."

"You say you were waiting for me to kiss you?"

"Yes, why?"

Taking the chance, yougrab his coffee and put it down with you hot cocoa on the closest table before pulling him into a kiss. What you's secretly been hoping for for all these months finally coming true, even if it took a bit of miscommunication. Pulling away, you look lovingly into his deep brown eyes,

"Next time, just tell me when we get engaged, yeah?"

And, lost in your eyes, Carlos breathed out a little, yes.

Needless to say, he also came home with a first place trophy that weekend and some hickeys

Banner credits @enchanthings-a

Taglist: (comment or DM to be added)

@koalapastries @justaf1girl

[writing-for-marvel]

I AM SCREAMING. Greek mythology elements in a valentines fic Janie you are a fucking genius and I’m about to devour this!!!

And there’s just something extremely unsatisfying about leaving a story unread, isn’t there? Especially if it is a tale I helped set in motion. 

God this is such a clever way to start a story and you can guarantee I won’t be leaving this fic unread

They hold each other by the waist as they breathe in air rich with the mingling aromas of freshly baked focaccia and the briny sea, and anyone who looks upon them will know they are in love. 

I’m obsessed already!!

Stories end, my dear, but love never does. It lingers, do you know that? 

Janie are you trying to kill me?????

It settles back into the earth, floats into the sky, clings to the stars—sparkles almost like fairy dust in the sunlight. 

If you ever need a reminder of how beautiful a writer you are please look no further than this very line. Like what the fuck how can you just casually include this like it isn’t the most gorgeous sentence ever written??

Shall I tell you about the first time I ever had to bring about an ending? 

Umm excuse me ending????? You best not be playing with my heart Janie

And Bucky swore it was like he’d been shot through the heart, but instead of doubling over in pain, he couldn’t resist the smile that tugged at his lips. His shoulders lifted as he breathed in, like he was inhaling fresh air for the very first time. 

Bucky had absolutely no choice but to say it back, because of course he did, and you smiled at him brighter than the sun. He decided right then and there that he would gladly blind himself in your light. 

Screaming. Dying. Throwing up. If someone doesn’t feel this way when they look at me I don’t want it

But unfortunately, heartache always began with apparent joy. 

Don’t. You. Dare.

I knew immediately that Zeus was angry. The sky momentarily brightened with a flash of lightning, a clap of thunder boomed loud enough to make even Barnes flinch. 

It could only mean one thing: I had just made a mistake of cosmic proportions. 

Holy fuck Janie how does your brain come up with this brilliance???

One side of the Earth was under a torrential rainstorm, and the other side was being ravaged by wildfires. Conflicts were breaking out in areas of longtime peace, and humanity was beginning to lose faith in itself. 

The fact that Bucky and readers love is doing this to the universe is insane in the best way

James Barnes never actively tries to cheat death, he just does somehow. 

Tying this into the story is actually ingenious

“So… she doesn’t actually love me, is what you’re saying?” Barnes glanced up at me, brows drawn together in displeasure and confusion, still digesting what I’d just told him. 

Stop it… not my baby boi please he deserves all the love in the world, not thinking anyone loving him is a mistake

“It does not change the fact that you… well, I’m sorry, but you are not James’s soulmate.” It was written in your destinies to remain apart, and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

I’m sobbing 😭😭😭😭

Even now, after so many years apart, and even during those years apart, Steve and James love fiercely. It was simply not in their nature to do otherwise, and the strike of my arrow would ultimately not change very much. 

My stucky babies will love each other in every universe it’s true

“I… sweetheart, please.” His forehead fell against yours. “I don’t want anyone else.” 

“It’s okay, Buck, because I love you,” you tried to smile, to be strong, but it twisted and mangled into something less sweet and more crushing. “I don’t care what happens after this, I will always love you. Okay?” 

You are destroying my heart here Janie! I hope you realise how cruel you’re being to little innocent me 💔💔💔

I did what I had to do, despite how much I hated it. I reached forward and grasped the nock of that blasted arrow, and pulled it free. It disintegrated in my hands, dissipating like the light of an extinguishing star. 

PLEASE MAKE THIS HURT STOP

“You were right.” 

Three small words never sounded so sweet!!!!

Bucky speaking Italian???? Could he get any hotter????

Because sometimes, mistakes are good. Sometimes, mistakes are the perfect beginning. And sometimes, perfectly, they turn out not to be mistakes at all. 

After all, didn’t I already tell you? 

My dears, I never miss. 

ABSOLUTE FUCKING PERFECTION!!! My dear Janie you never miss! Every single story of yours is incredible and I will never get over how fucking brilliant your big brain is 💜💜💜💜💜

PS I just saw your authors note - just know that I LOVE this story (and all your other stories) and I forbid you from hating anything your creative and clever mind comes up with 😌

constellations of vital phenomena.

PAIRING — bucky barnes x f!reader

CONTENTS — one-shot; fluff; mild angst; greek mythology elements (i took so many liberties with this so pls don’t come at me with your notes ☝🏻🤓 okay?); first-person narration/told from Eros’s pov; kind of a valentine’s day special but also not really? idk.

SUMMARY — For the first time ever, Eros’s arrow strikes the wrong target. And now, the god of love is faced with the task of unravelling the newly formed bond between Bucky Barnes and a woman the Fates have decided is not his soulmate—and yet.

W/C — ~3.7k

✩ masterlist ✩ library blog

I like to check up on you all every now and then. It’s how I learn, and there is still much to know about you mortals, even after all this time. 

And there’s just something extremely unsatisfying about leaving a story unread, isn’t there? Especially if it is a tale I helped set in motion. 

Cinque Terre is a lovely chaos of patterns and vivid colours, and under the azure sky with a cup of gelato in hand, I adjust my hat and pretend to be preoccupied with the sight of the sparkling sea, smiling to myself as I observe a pair of lovers standing nearby. 

The cheeky little things are supposed to be wrapping up a work trip, but before they leave this little slice of Mediterranean paradise, they pretend for a moment that they’re on a romantic getaway. 

They hold each other by the waist as they breathe in air rich with the mingling aromas of freshly baked focaccia and the briny sea, and anyone who looks upon them will know they are in love. 

I even check on the stories I know are doomed. Fret not, my human friend. Stories end, my dear, but love never does. It lingers, do you know that? 

Maybe you decide to keep it, perhaps you feel stronger that way, looking back on a tale cut short and choosing to carry it with you. 

Maybe you end up letting it go, maybe—though beautiful while it lasted—it’s holding you back from an even brighter future. It remains regardless. It settles back into the earth, floats into the sky, clings to the stars—sparkles almost like fairy dust in the sunlight. 

Shall I tell you about the first time I ever had to bring about an ending? 

It all began with that oblivious couple standing right over there, still holding each other as the beating heart of the Italian Riviera works its subtle magic on them. 

You and Bucky turn to each other and share a smile, sharing a tender kiss under the creamy orange light of the rapidly setting sun. 

It all began with a mistake, you see, because I never miss. 

It was a harsh lesson to learn, that even us gods aren’t infallible, but sometimes, mistakes are good. 

That’s what I like very much about you mortals. 

“I love you, Bucky.” 

The words were released upon a single shaky breath, as though you’d been holding them back for aeons. You stared up at him with watery eyes, looking both relieved of some immense burden and terrified at the same time. 

“I always have,” you admitted almost sheepishly, hopefully. 

And Bucky swore it was like he’d been shot through the heart, but instead of doubling over in pain, he couldn’t resist the smile that tugged at his lips. His shoulders lifted as he breathed in, like he was inhaling fresh air for the very first time. 

His cheeks were tinged pink in the chilly late winter air, but he didn’t even so much as shiver. In fact, he was warm right down to the tips of his fingers. 

Bucky had absolutely no choice but to say it back, because of course he did, and you smiled at him brighter than the sun. He decided right then and there that he would gladly blind himself in your light. 

His heart stuttered when you rushed forward to wrap your arms around him, and it didn’t take very long at all for his lips to find their way to yours. 

But unfortunately, heartache always began with apparent joy. 

Because something shifted in the atmosphere. A hush seemed to fall over New York as the first nearly frozen raindrop splashed onto the sidewalk. Another followed, then another, and then another, until the silence was soon filled with the staccato beat of impending rain. 

You and Bucky didn’t seem to care, however, still holding each other in a tight embrace, exchanging warm breaths and whispering love against touching lips. 

I, on the other hand, cast a wary glance up at the darkening heavens. A sense of urgency unfurled within me as the once-clear sky morphed into a brooding tapestry of greys and blacks, transforming the city streets into a mosaic of shimmering puddles. 

At first glance, it might have seemed like an ordinary downpour to anyone but the most discerning eye, but to me? 

I knew immediately that Zeus was angry. The sky momentarily brightened with a flash of lightning, a clap of thunder boomed loud enough to make even Barnes flinch. 

It could only mean one thing: I had just made a mistake of cosmic proportions. 

The nock of my arrow was still inexplicably sticking out of your chest (well, don’t worry, no one else could see it… wouldn’t that be morbid?), even though that arrow was most certainly not meant for you. 

But as Bucky cradled your face in his hands, touching his nose to yours, making you laugh despite being drenched in freezing rain, I found a stillness. A momentary peace. 

Because how could a love like that, so palpable to anyone with a heart and a soul, possibly be a mistake? 

“No, Eros,” Clotho murmured with finality when I arrived back in Olympus in a frenzy, not even looking up from her distaff and spindle. Her two sisters, Lachesis and Atropos, cackled amongst each other, completely unashamed that the subject of their mockery—spoiler alert, it was me—was still well within earshot. 

“You didn’t even take a moment to consider it!” I complained, but of course they wouldn’t. 

They already believed me to be an immature and naive god in comparison, and this proposal of mine—and the fact that my arrow was currently burrowed into the heart of the wrong person—only proved them right in their eyes. 

“Measures such as the one you’re suggesting—” Atropos, the eldest of the Fates, cut in. Her youngest sister was now once again far too busy with her life’s work, weaving the countless threads of life and death to pay any more attention to my concerns. “—must only be taken in the most dire of circumstances.” 

“The balance of the cosmos has already been upset, what circumstances could possibly be more dire?” I demanded.  

One side of the Earth was under a torrential rainstorm, and the other side was being ravaged by wildfires. Conflicts were breaking out in areas of longtime peace, and humanity was beginning to lose faith in itself. 

I wanted to scoff, to roll my eyes so hard they might as well have fallen right out of my skull, even as Atropos waved her abhorred shears so manically in my face. 

In reality, I knew their refusal was because the Fates were considered above us all as enforcers of the universe’s will. Who would dare be arrogant enough to question their judgment? Not even Zeus himself. 

“You already know all this, Eros,” Lachesis, the middle sister, whacked me on the head with one end of her measuring rod, making me flinch before she batted away Atropos’s menacing hand. “You are embarking on a fool’s errand. Once the Moirai have decided, you cannot change our minds.” 

“I see the business of love has made you soft, boy,” Atropos sneered, putting down her scissors and looping a thread of life around one of her bony witch-like fingers. She toyed and tugged at it carelessly, despite the small noise of dissent from a concentrating Clotho, as though it wasn’t the literal lifeline of an actual living, breathing creature. 

“And I see the business of death has inevitably made you more ghoul than goddess,” I snapped back, beyond indignant, momentarily forgetting that my mission was to convince the sisters, not anger them. Atropos did snarl at me in response, but she ultimately did not refute my statement. 

Because Hades, despite being the ruler of the dead, remained one of a kind. Despite the fact that he rarely ever saw the sun, surrounded by all that death and anguish, he remained ethereal and compassionate.

You humans sometimes think the devil of him, but you have been very misinformed. Most of his wrath is exclusively reserved for those who try to cheat death, and that’s where the difference lies. 

James Barnes never actively tries to cheat death, he just does somehow. 

Many times, the underworld scrambled to prepare for his arrival. Finally! they'd exclaim, the Furies rubbing their hands together in barely contained glee, satisfied that even the infamous Winter Soldier couldn’t outrun his destiny for that much longer. 

And so many times, Hades seemed almost bothered, maybe even content despite the chorus of disappointment that sounded around him, as the human known as Barnes once again prevailed. 

Once again, he lived—despite all the odds.  

I firmly believe that’s why the Fates loathed him so, and refused to even entertain my request; this mere mortal was always managing to twist up their carefully laid plans, taking their interpretation of nature’s law and throwing it back into their faces, proving them wrong time and time again. 

It seemed, however, that was precisely the way it was supposed to be. The sisters would watch as the stars realigned themselves, the state of the cosmos resetting, and they would just sigh and… start over. 

I’d never seen anything quite like it in all my years, and even though the Fates still treat me like a child, by your standards I have been around too many to count. 

But that’s why it was all the more frustrating to me that they wouldn’t simply… do it all again. They had already been wrong about his destiny so many times, what is one more? 

“You were given three fine choices, Eros,” Clotho clicked her tongue in displeasure at my reluctance, her brows furrowing when her threads began to knot together. She put down her spindle, trying to unravel them but to no avail. She could not weave any further. “Fix your foolish mistake. And make haste before your trepidation upsets the cosmos, and Zeus, any further.” 

Fine choices. As if that was at all adequate when it came to matters of the heart. Still, I turned away to leave them, to follow their orders as woven, silently fuming and resentful. 

If they were willing and able to rewrite one’s life and death with but a flick of their wrists because it was “meant to be”, then why not love? 

It loomed just as large, if you asked me, if not larger than all else. And just as life and death were inevitabilities for all creatures, divine or mortal, so am I. 

So is love. 

Despite his almost celebrity status back on Mount Olympus, up close and personal James Barnes seemed… quite ordinary. Just like every other mortal, he had two eyes, a nose, and a mouth. Nothing extraordinary there. 

I suppose the crop of short brown hair and the days old stubble growing along a sharp jaw did something for him, and those insanely blue eyes certainly weren’t terrible to look at— 

“So… she doesn’t actually love me, is what you’re saying?” Barnes glanced up at me, brows drawn together in displeasure and confusion, still digesting what I’d just told him. 

The woman he loved—a tenacious and adorably stubborn colleague turned confidante turned into something so much more—was accidentally made to fall in love. 

Unfortunately for him, while his love for you was true, you were never prophesied to love him back. 

“Well…” I faltered, suddenly realizing how harsh it all sounded, especially with you sitting right next to him in the dim light of his Brooklyn apartment. 

Listen, despite how I was treated back in Olympus, I’d been doing this a very long time. I’d learned, for the most part, that despite the resilience of you mortals, the lot of you still prefer to be spoken to with the utmost delicacy and consideration. 

It was why I decided to tell you both before pulling the arrow out of your chest and taking back the love you’d so passionately professed to him just days earlier. 

I thought it would have been kinder this way. 

But as I considered the look of undisguised anguish on both your faces, I came to the inevitable conclusion that I still had much to learn. 

“That is not true,” you protested, grasping at Bucky’s hand and tugging at his arm so he’d look at you. Your eyes were full of pleading, and he didn’t pull away although his fingers remained slack next to yours. “I loved you way before he came around! I just never had the courage to say anything.” 

Despite the very devastating nature of the situation, I couldn’t help asking. “Are you two not at all surprised by my existence?” 

“I’m a hundred and seven years old,” Bucky grumbled, as if that figure was somehow impressive. “I’ve seen more than my fair share of stranger things.”

“And you’re not the first god we’ve ever met,” you offered carefully. 

Preposterous, I wanted to scoff. As if Thor could ever compare. Instead, I said, “You may be right. My arrows, as powerful as they are, cannot create something that isn’t already there.” 

Love cannot be manifested; it cannot be borne out of absolutely nothing. It is borne out of two hearts beating as one, something of a higher power that I cannot adequately explain even as the god of love. 

“Then—” you began hopefully, but I put up a reluctant hand to silence you. 

“It does not change the fact that you… well, I’m sorry, but you are not James’s soulmate.” It was written in your destinies to remain apart, and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

To this day, that felt very wrong to say. I wholeheartedly believed my arrow was precisely where it was supposed to be, but the Fates didn’t respect me let alone trust me. How could I, a brash and comparatively inexperienced young god, possibly know better than nature itself? 

No one was going to rewrite fate just on my word alone. 

And Clotho was right; she had offered three fine choices. I had an absolute spread of not one, not two, but three potential soulmates for Bucky to choose from. 

The first, I must admit, they got off to a rocky start. But between you and me, the most fun love stories do. The barbs exchanged between Samuel Wilson and James Barnes were always sharp, but the underlying tones of affection were always there. Sam is everything Bucky deserves in a future, a symbol of hope in more ways than one. 

The second could be an achingly beautiful story. Love finds its way back to two people who thought it had abandoned them; sorrow gives way to light, and that light illuminates something that’s lain dormant for years. The colour red, something Natasha Romanoff had always associated with misery and guilt, can then mean something new. 

And for the third and most obvious, love was already so intricately woven into their destinies, it was impossible to separate them. Remember when I said love lingers? Even now, after so many years apart, and even during those years apart, Steve and James love fiercely. It was simply not in their nature to do otherwise, and the strike of my arrow would ultimately not change very much. 

I could pick any one of them and it would not matter. All of them made perfect sense. In every single case, I knew he would end up happy. 

And yet. How terrible was it that said happiness was destined to come at a cost? 

“What will happen if you remove it?” Bucky asked, finally closing his fingers around yours. You moved to lean your head on his shoulder, closing your eyes to hide the shimmer of tears. 

“Removing it could mean any number of things,” I told him honestly, and it wasn’t exactly anything that had ever happened before. I had no past experience to draw from. “But I do know what it wouldn’t mean. It wouldn’t mean she never loved you at all.” 

I did not want to do it, especially not when I saw you steel yourself against the pain, but the balance of the universe was at stake. You might not have called yourself an Avenger, but you were every bit one of Earth’s mightiest heroes as you prepared to shatter your own dreams to save a world that would never know of your sacrifice. 

“It’s okay,” you whispered, seemingly unaware that your tears had made it past your lashes and began trailing down your cheeks. You turned and grasped the sides of his face, looking him right in the eye. “Even if I’m not your soulmate, even if we don’t end up together, I will be so happy for you.” 

“I… sweetheart, please.” His forehead fell against yours. “I don’t want anyone else.” 

“It’s okay, Buck, because I love you,” you tried to smile, to be strong, but it twisted and mangled into something less sweet and more crushing. “I don’t care what happens after this, I will always love you. Okay?” 

“Please…” He pleaded again, voice so small yet thick with emotion I had to look away. “I love you too. So damn much. I can’t—” 

“Okay?” You stressed, thumbs gently caressing the apples of his cheeks. “Tell me you understand.” 

“I just found you. I can’t lose you now.” 

“You will never lose me.” You pressed a kiss to his forehead, and Barnes didn’t seem to care he had an audience as he wept into your shoulder. 

I did what I had to do, despite how much I hated it. I reached forward and grasped the nock of that blasted arrow, and pulled it free. It disintegrated in my hands, dissipating like the light of an extinguishing star. 

The two of you held each other tight, and I could not bear to watch any further as I left you to finish your goodbyes. I returned to Olympus utterly dejected, my own grief as plain as day. 

After days of moping, Aphrodite halfheartedly tried to reassure me that things would work out; all I had to do was try again with a new arrow meant for the right person this time. 

“Hurry up already,” she said when she’d finally had enough, shaking her head with a dismissive wave of her hand. “The cosmos needs rebalancing, like, yesterday.” 

But she did not understand. I grieve for all true love lost, no matter how short-lived or star-crossed. 

And when I’d finally finished licking my wounds, I was about to embark for Earth once more, prepared to enact Clotho’s prophecy and nature’s will, my quiver secured over my shoulder. 

Until I was summoned. The Fates were calling for me, and it was the youngest of the Moirai who greeted me when I arrived. Her expression was grim and her shoulders squared in what I believed was preparation for another round of criticism. 

Lachesis and Atropos were lounging in their own chaises, refusing to make eye contact and mumbling angrily under their breaths. Clotho beckoned me closer to her loom, her strings now neat and free from their tangles, and I peered down at the thread of fate I had supposedly severed just days earlier. 

“I don’t understand,” I told her, staring incredulously at what I recognized to be your thread of life. It was now tightly woven together with Barnes’s. 

I put down my quiver, and almost immediately, the storm clouds over the planet cleared, the rumbling at the centre of the earth stopped, and the tension in the heavens finally began to abate. 

Clotho sighed, suspicions confirmed, the words coming out reluctantly through a tightly clenched jaw. “You were right.” 

It took a moment to sink in. 

The event that upset the universe wasn’t that my arrow had struck you by supposed mistake, or that you had declared a love for James Barnes that was never supposed to be returned. 

It was that we were about to chose the wrong soulmate after all, despite how perfect they’d all appeared on paper—er, thread. 

I laughed, I rejoiced, I celebrated. Even Atropos ended up cracking a smile in the end. 

“Well, what do you know?” She said, joining me as we watched Clotho weave the rest of your story.

Despite the lack of an arrow, love—as always—remained. 

Earth is stained in pretty hues of pink and red today. Normally, I find the whole display a little much. 

Love is meant to be lived every single day—boldly, shamelessly, proudly—not left to be openly expressed just once a year. 

But rest assured, some of you do it right. 

“Mi scusi, quanto costa?” I hear a voice, turning my head to see you and Bucky staring right at me. I break into a wide smile, disguised as a stranger and putting on my best accent—neither of you recognize me. 

“Per la bellissima coppia? Ottanta euro,” I tell him, even though it’s well past the evening rush. Bucky grins as he hands over the notes, taking your hand and tugging you along until you’re both stepping safely into the gondola. 

“Bucky,” you scold gently, voice lowered to a whisper, but you’re smiling just as wide as he is. “We’re going to miss the extraction point—!” 

But then you’re falling into his arms as he pulls you closer by the waist, laughing when he leans down for a kiss, lips missing your cheek and landing on your nose instead. 

“Just for a little longer, sweetheart,” he implores, blue eyes earnest and impossible to resist. “Just you and me.” 

You relent, utterly helpless, and whisper, “Say something else in Italian.” 

“Ah, si?” He laughs, a sound as rare as the man himself. “Sai che ti amo?” 

You hum appreciatively, leaning against his shoulder, “I don’t think I’ll need a translator for that one.” 

I turn away as I row down the canal to give you some semblance of privacy, singing a love song towards the moon you no doubt aren’t even listening to. You’re too busy continuing to defy all expectations as you fall deeper in love to even notice, and I tilt my head up towards the sky. 

How satisfying, no? I want to laugh. The stars wink back at me mischievously, as if telling me not to push my luck. 

You share a sweet kiss under the stars, and I take a moment to bask in the rightness of it all. I must admit, I can’t help but feel a little smug. 

Because sometimes, mistakes are good. Sometimes, mistakes are the perfect beginning. And sometimes, perfectly, they turn out not to be mistakes at all. 

After all, didn’t I already tell you? 

My dears, I never miss. 

fin.

NOTES — it has been A MINUTE since i wrote for bucky and i lowkey hate how this turned out but you know what, i need to stop obsessing! even if i was very unserious about the greek mythology stuff lmao. anyway, happy valentine’s day my lovelies! i hope you are feeling loved today, because i love you 🥰💕

also, the title of this fic was inspired from a book that has nothing to do with anything lol… but go read said book by anthony marra and prepare to cry your eyes out. you’re welcome.

© 2025 by thereoncewasagirlnamedjane.

[femmefaggot]

something about being trans or whatever (said trying desperately to hide the sincerity of art)

[shakingparadigm]

I'll honestly still be mourning the ROUND 6 that we could have had. The first sketches where Ivan and Till are hugging... Ivan with his arm around Till's shoulders.... The friendly teasing...

I fully understand why they had to change it, but it's still sad to think about all that we missed out on.

[bandzboy]

it’s so insane how some of the ot6 fans are reacting to the news of seunghan coming back because i think for a while, they really thought they won. they thought he was gonna be another idol who was gonna get kicked out for doing normal human shit that for some reason, bothers them to the core. things he did PRE DEBUT were bothersome to this people.

but then, he came back. if it wasn’t for the members constantly supporting him behind the scenes and the fans who were constantly reminding sm that they cared about him and wanted him back then maybe this wouldn’t happen and it’s truly sad to think how these crazy fans who have no life almost controlled the narrative yet again.

i am glad seunghan was not another victim of this. it must have taken a lot of courage and self determination to continue despite being slandered by the media and the ot6 fans and also other kpop stans. all of this to say, that i hope another situation like this doesn’t happen again. it’s too normal in this industry to punish idols for being human but i hope this starts a shift in the right direction

[pinkreveluv6]

🤯

This is genuinely the face I made when I landed on this. Truly left me aghast.

Let’s embark.

To set about, I want to take a moment to talk about the aus your wonderful mind has chosen instead of the background this time because…well it’s quite apparent or at least I’d hope.😆

Now, as I was saying,

OF COURSE the gender bent one was necessary. We ALL know gender bent!au is a classic in the history of aus so it just HAD to be there. Including the idol!au was also a paradigmatic choice but still dainty whatsoever. I mean how could you not he’s kinda your idol in a way. The one that diverted my attention the most was the scene!mi and gyaru!sei. HOW did you even come up with such a BRILLIANT idea. This concept is beyond perfection I fear. It’s TOO magnificent to say the least.

To launch about, the genderbent!au is respectfully so harmlessly eccentric. I was cackling at its goofiness (again,said endearingly) for a while 😂

The way you just have your hands on your hips and you’re smiling as though you’re lost (perhaps you are) or you haven’t a singular clue of what’s happening is quite silly of you. Don’t get me started on Akashi and his pigtails… He would ABSOLUTELY wear his hair like this I don’t care what anyone says. It looks as though you guys are gossiping about something judging from Akashi’s pose -very befitting of his emperor persona if I may add- and that face he’s currently making (reminds me of Disgust in Inside Out). Honestly, love the outfits.It’s only natural that fem!Akashi dresses herself with her shirt tucked in her skirt and then proceeds to add the suit on top-Girlboss behaviour tbh-. I actually also dress quite similarly to this except for the fact that I don’t wear skirts.Love the hairstyles.The way you styled your short hair is actually very precious to me you look so adorbs. Akashi in a pigtail is going to be stuck on my brain for a while (not like I mind she’s so cute honestly). And love the expressions, it’s giving joy + disgust 😭 Also body TEA for you Miguel. I’m so jealous.

Persisting matters towards the idol!au.

Your artstyle assimilates perfectly with the background.

Even though I am as clueless as you were on the genderbent!au, I love your completely mystified face. It seems like you are just a commoner going out for a walk after running through some errands (?). Coincidentally, Akashi was having a probably free concert, a venue or something of that sort (which is why he has that mic set and those k-pop idol-like outfit). You just watch him, completely enchanted by Akashi -You have great anatomy of the human body btw-. And when your eyes collide,BOOM! Love at first sight! and then you blush

So yea that is my little story of how you ended up in that situation.

About the outfits: I just know you took inspiration from k-pop idols because I swear I’ve seen that type of outfit a million times on that industry. Akashi unsurprisingly looks SO good in it like I can’t even describe the goodness of it. And I believe the words on your shirt read "Chemical Romance". You’re not slick buddy.

Now let’s latch onto my favourite au out of the three - gyaru+scene core misei

*takes a deep breath*

YOU JUST ACTED AS AN APOTHECARY BY DRAWING THIS AU.

Holy smokes who could’ve taught gyaru Akashi. The tan is life-changing but personally the gyaru in all generality is doing it for me.

The makeup overlapped with the tan is soo pleasing to the eyes like the blush. But the eye section is on a whole other level. I relished this exceedingly. The eyeliner,the eyelashes and his eye colour just click which is darling. And the accessories are on a whole different dimension. They just made the outfit a zillion times better. From the oh-so dearie clips down to the string as a necklace to the sweetie long fingers and nails coloured in red. Oh and the clothes. Pink and brown is one of my absolute favourite colour combinations and I believe it is also quite popular within the gyaru style. So when I saw Akashi wearing it, it made me tremendously satisfied because it fits the aesthetic so much.

And you in scenecore 🥹💕

I personally think that you’d be the type of person that would absolutely ROCK this dressing style in real life. I think you should give it a try if you’d want to, you’d look absolutely terrific! It looks like you’ve also had some slight makeup done uniformly on the eye side. The eyeshadow (similar to Akashi’s) oh my god this is so historic. That isn’t even remotely as glamorous as the additional yellow striped on the side of your hair nor the piercings on your lips. Matching-in-a-way necklace with Akashi, LOVE that. That bracelet (I forgot the term) is so funky especially with black nail polish! And your outfit is truly groovy.

Fun fact: @xiiiivyxx used to have this pencil case that had the exact same character on your shirt 😂

A detail I forgot to mention is that I couldn’t help but realize that you incorporated three different art styles on each au. Don’t know if it was intentional or not but I’d love to see more of this.

So basically all of this made my girl heart pound with joy. Thank you 🙏

Remember to take care of yourself and to not overwork yourself so as to not drain yourself!🫶🏻

Ciao!

i had way too many ideas for alternative universes but these were the ones who caught my eye the most. you can't tell me fem sei wouldn't have her hair up in pigtails, especially as bokusei. some people say that she would have a tidy ponytail but just hear me out on this.

once again, backgrounds are not mine. i tried drawing a background today for the first time and it went way too badly. i'l post it tomorrow though.

anyway, that's about it! the event is by @strawbeaniie !!

🏀 | the usual best friends: @pinkreveluv6 @pigeonbksimp @japeneselunchtimerush @sweijuro @fl0ralsxgar @ilovemaiubo ♡

[unproduciblesmackdown]

another appearance by asia kate dillon as LOS via the 7th moon girl's lab short, "coding" =']

[impzone]

AGGHHHHH FINALS ARE OVER….. i was gonna post a drawing for it saying “it’s so over” because i got a B but i don’t have the energy orz

[andromedasummer]

i ended up having a like. 30 minute conversation with some of those "freedom convoy" people. was at the bus stop. they were wearing trump hats. i ended up roped into the conversation because i was so taken aback at seeing one in public i was just. staring at it. ive never felt more depressed about someone elses life and beliefs than when i talked to them.

[francesderwent]

one of the weirdest things about *waves hands vaguely in the direction of my relationship* this whole experience. is this time around? there really isn’t a Taylor Swift song that captures it for me.

[arolesbianism]

I've been playing the new cotl update and I generally like it but god do I fucking hate like all of the balance changes just let things be strong man

[yoshistory]

? Olive has the same meow for "please come pet me while i eat" and "please come here and play with me" now, which only developed after i bought her a new toy (quickly became her new favorite) which is interesting. maybe this is a general meow for "pay attention to me" now .. she no longer really meows for being pet while she eats anymore after buying this toy for them both, for some reason, which is good (that was a REALLY bad habit of hers ive been trying to wean her off of)

[drusill-a]

This Christmas my only real family are my two mongrels, my yorkie, my cat and an almost empty bottle of wine stolen from my brother's wedding gifts hidden behind my bed.

[itsalwaysdark]

IM SOOOO GROWN UP