#shippy board

[reigningm4x]

Lando snitching about Max "overtaking" after the end of the race because Max was congratulating him and George??????????

[drunkenworgen]

Wakes up, does this, fights my way out of Asphodel (fuck you, Lernie), falls back asleep.

Doctor Heathcliff Dracone

-and-

Virginia “Gin” Sylver Ash

“I will not have you without the darkness that hides within you. I will not let you have me without the madness that makes me. If our demons cannot dance, neither can we.” - Nikita Gill

( @wraheathcliff )

(Alternate.)

[bapydemonprincess]

Indeed, one who has a lot of influence as a German noble and can be helped when dealing with the Queen's German enemies.. perhaps? 👀

[cowardlybean]

You mentioned in one of your tags you write fics. What are you writing? I love writing fics, but feel like I never have anyone online to talk to about it.

Yeah I’ve got a couple I’ve been chipping away at!! My art usually takes priority though (psst here’s my AO3)

Lemme toss a few excerpts out there for fun :3

Multi-Chapter fic where I force Ritsu and Reigen to get along

Rubble crumbled away from the zone of the impact, dust settling to the floor. Reigen limply slid down the pillar before his back peeled away from the stone, and he fell face first onto the ground. Ritsu winced at the dull thud he made.

Guilt clenched in Ritsu’s chest as he approached the still man. He sank down on his knees to assess the damage, coughing at the re-disturbed dust that settled on Reigen’s back. Nothing looked broken– on the surface, at least– but Ritsu knew he’d have to call an ambulance. And his brother, probably– though he made a mental note to leave out the part where it was his fault Shige’s shishou was hurt.

“Reigen,” he tested, tapping the con-man’s head lightly. “Enough with the dramatics, get up already.” Reigen didn’t move, or make any sort of confirmation that he was awake. Not a groan, not a twitch, nothing. Ritsu cursed under his breath, because of course Reigen just had to be knocked out cold. He was the adult here, he should be fine. Reigen was always fine.

I’m the biggest sucker for hurt/comfort oneshots

With what Reigen had seen, had experienced, he can only hope that his heartbeat where Mob lays his head upon Reigen’ chest, and the gentle rub on the kid’s back are welcome solace. That wail, he’d come quickly to recognize, was so painfully young. Hell, Mob was so painfully young. Too young to hold the weight of such powerful psychic abilities, too young to bear witness to horrors far beyond what Reigen had seen in movies at that age, too young to…

Reigen swallowed thickly, as though the thought would go down with it. As if beckoned by his train of thought, Mob shuffled in his master's embrace. He realized shortly, that his hand had fallen still, faintly shaking in its position upon Mob's back. 

Mob tilted his head, ear pressed firmly against Reigen’s heart— his tears had left a damp spot in Reigen’s suit, but he didn't mind. Reigen sighs from deep in his lungs, the weight of his student welcome against his chest— truly, it was no wonder why some people loved weighted blankets.

And because I always have to have a million projects to jump around from, there’s also a visual novel I’ve been planning here and there (most of these are on hold bc of other projects though lmao)

[slightlyunconventional]

why am i tempted to write a k/az fic but with a/lina...... like i think they'd be silly together yk i reckon they'd have a cool dynamic and i also love her IM TEMPTED OKAY but i have no idea what scenario

[kaleidoscope-story]

betty & james

When you are young, they assume you know nothing, but I knew you

kaleidoscope masterpost

[benjaycaptain]

long weekend means marathoning exu: calamity

because you have an extra day to recover from the devastation

(✿◠‿◠)

[ravensroleplays]

Soooo...Snatcher might have ended up catching romantic feelings for someone again...

[becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys]

In response to the Mile High Job post, I hate that Parker implies that poor flight attendant slept her way to a promotion/better shift. Her day is super weird but her cat is fine and her life is saved. That rumor, however, might stick and that didn't really feel like Leverage to me.

Agreed!

The thing with Leverage is that it's a show from the late 2000s; it feels contemporary, but actually it is a bit dated. And, like all shows, it had some problematic elements, which get a bit more Obviously Problematic as time goes by (I am just waiting for someone to write a lengthy call-out post in 5 years' time and for the Discourse to start.) For example, Tumblr loves to declare that Leverage has a "canon" throuple, but if anyone read that and then watched the show they would be profoundly disappointed - while it's a fantastic ship with a great many shippy instances, Elliot has a lot of onscreen No Homo moments, and frequently is shown sleeping with random women (I personally read him as aromantic). Similarly, there are two big relationships in that show: Nate/Sophie, and Parker/Hardison. And we all wax lyrical about the brilliance of Parker/Hardison and how healthy it is, and for good reason; but we gloss over how unbearably "I hate my wife/father I cannot click the book" Boomer humour Nate/Sophie is.

(He literally calls her a shrew in one episode. She throws a tantrum and sulks if he doesn't remember the exact details of how/where they met. She's stereotypically 'romantic' and he's stereotypically 'cynical' and she has to Save Him From Himself, and he self-deprecatingly says he should just know when to stop arguing because she's always right. Like... it is a grubby and uncomfortable dynamic; but, it's also aimed at a different segment of the audience that is older than me, and that's okay, actually. It just means I don't much care for the ship myself.)

Anyway, this is one other such instance. Clearly someone in the writers' room thought that was a funny joke, and not enough people disagreed, and so in it went. What's nice is that Sandi McCree, who plays the other flight attendant that stays on the plane, actually kind of saves that joke for me with her performance. When Parker first boards and declares that her co-worker is not coming in, McCree looks disgruntled at the sudden change to her staff list when she wasn't informed; she's annoyed at management. Then Parker makes the sleeping-with-pilots comment, and McCree looks disgusted and furious -

An expression she then pulls at Parker every time she sees her for the rest of the episode, even when Parker is technically not doing anything particularly weird. It's not necessarily intentional on McCree's part (Parker IS very weird in this episode, so it very much can be a response to that), but to me it means you can read it as "This woman is absolutely furious at the lateral sexism of this white girl because We Love And Support Each Other On This Plane." So, for me, between that and the aforementioned revelations of the day (the plane was brought down by the domestic terrorists of a Fortune 500 company, but saved by... a few unexplained Official People who snuck aboard??? And the other flight attendant was made to miss the plane after all under mysterious circumstances and was not promoted??? What???), I don't think Sandi McCree's character wouldn't put those pieces together.

[puttersmile]

Allister's Job

Can't think of a more interesting title, but here is some more headcanon. Eventually Allister finds steady work at Bobby's place, the Bear & Biscuits. So Picky's nagging does pay off! I think working at a bar would work well for his personality (or my guess on his personality). I think he'd be into people watching.

I wanted to write a one shot for it but somehow it turned into a weird 2nd person fic that isn't even shippy or romantic. Not sure how I feel about it but I'll post it anyway instead of deleting it like it probably should be.

Laid Back Worker

You step into Bear & Biscuits, the cozy bakery turned bar where the aroma of freshly baked goods mingles with the faint tang of cider and spirits. The place feels like a warm hug on a cold night, the kind of spot that makes you want to linger. A few regulars are seated at the tables, chatting and laughing softly, but the bar area is empty. 

You slide onto one of the stools, the firm surface is comforting  after a long day on your feet. The sound of the door closing behind you barely registers as you glance at the drink menu scrawled in cheerful chalk on a hanging board. 

The holiday specials catch your eye—mulled wine, spiced rum, hot chocolate, and something called the “Bear’s Winter Hug.” But there’s no bartender in sight. You wait for a moment, scanning the room. The low hum of conversation fills the background, but the bar itself is oddly quiet.

All you hear are the muffled shuffle of feet, accompanied by the sound of clinking glasses. Just as you consider calling out, a sharp voice cuts through the room. 

“Allister! Quit daydreaming and get to work already!” 

A tall, green gator shuffles out from the back, his posture is low, his eyes half-lidded. He scratches his head as he ambles over to the bar, his slouch making him seem even more laid-back than usual.

“Oh. Hey.  Think I recognize you. You’re one of Picky’s other friends, right?” He gives you a lazy grin, leaning against the counter.  “Didn’t notice you walk in... Guess you’re in the right place for a drink, huh?”

He grabs a towel and starts wiping the already-clean bar top, a halfhearted effort that makes you smirk. You ask what he recommends.

Allister glances over his shoulder at the shelves lined with bottles, barely bothering to focus. 

“Well, if you want my professional opinion—which I’m guessing you do—I’d go with the Winter Hug. Ms. Bearhug says it’s ‘hearty and festive,’ which I think just means it’s got enough kick to keep you warm all night.” He smirks.

“But if you’re not feeling adventurous, we’ve got plenty of plain ol’ whiskey. Your call.” The laid-back charm is hard to resist, and you laugh as you make your choice.

As Allister begins to mix your drink with a casual ease, you glance around the room.  So is this place a bakery? And a bar? Not exactly a usual combo.

Allister snorts, pausing mid-pour. “Oh, it’s all Ms. Bearhug's brainchild. She inherited this place from her family. It used to just be a bakery, but she wanted to mix things up—literally. She figured drinks would bring in the evening crowd, and honestly? She wasn’t wrong.” He shrugs, his grin widening. 

“Though between you and me, I think she just likes bossing me around.” 

He finishes the drink and slides it over to you with an impressive spin.  “And before you ask—yes, I do all the drink stuff, and she handles the baking. Not a bad setup, really. I get to stay out of the kitchen, and she doesn’t yell at me as much.” 

Just then, the door to the back swings open again, and Bobby Bearhug steps into view. Her red fur is dusted with flour, and she looks every bit the part of a baker who’s been up since dawn. Despite her exhaustion, there’s a sharpness in her eyes that makes it clear she’s paying attention to everything. 

“Allister, if you’re going to waste time, at least make sure our guest has everything they need. Are you good over here?” she asks, looking at you with a warm yet slightly pensive smile.  You nod, Allister is doing a great job.  Bobby raises an eyebrow at him, clearly skeptical. 

“Well, that’s good to know. Let me know if he starts slacking.” Allister chuckles, unbothered. “Slacking? Me? Never.”

As the night goes on, the bar fills with a soft buzz of conversation and laughter. Allister tells you stories about some of the more eccentric regulars, his jokes making even the boring parts of life sound entertaining. Bobby pops in and out, delivering trays of her famous bear claw pastries and checking on everyone, her presence adding a warmth to the room that goes beyond the fire crackling in the corner. 

At one point, Allister leans back against the counter, eyeing the dwindling crowd. “You know,” he says, “Bobby acts like she’s all business, but this place? It’s her heart. She loves seeing people come together here. I think she loves it more than sleep.”

Bobby overhears and smacks him lightly with a towel as she passes. “Stop telling critters my secrets, Allister. And refill their drink while you’re at it!”

As Bobby returns to the kitchen, Allister grins with a casual shrug. “See what I have to deal with?”

[ivys-garden]

It's been a day now, here's my thoughts/predictions on the Wild Life teams

The Sub One Club (Grian, Skizz, Mumbo) - these idiots were easily the most fun team this session with their antics. Skizz is saying he wants to be mean again, which, considering how that went in last life probably won't end well for him. I'm excited to see where this goes.

The Drama Club (Impulse, Cleo, Scott, Pearl) - oh, the fanfic writers bloody love this one, don't they? Three Gs was one of my favourite teams, and I'm an Impulse fan, so this is fun for me. Expect Impulse to at least get top three this season. Pearl and Scott are definitely killing themselves in the final session.

The Fast And The Furious (Gem, Joel) - like Scott said, either a really scary team or a shakesperian comedy in waiting. If Gem can stop Joel from charging into a mess he made headfirst, then both of them have a pretty good chance at winning. Hopefully, Joel's tradition of hating Scott for no reason prevents an alliance from forming, or else the server is doomed.

The Blind Trio (Bdubbs, Etho, Tango) - it's bet minus skizz! Expect a joke about that next session. Either this team will be a soap opera or skit show. Who knows. One of these fools will die to their own stupidity.

Swol Patrol (Ren, Martyn) - Ren is back and has already teamed up with Martyn because, of course, he has. Expect most of the angsty moments to come from these fools. Most of the shippy ones, too. Martyn will kill Ren at least once, for old times' sake.

The Bam Gang (Jimmy, Lizzie, Scar) - these idiots are so dead! Maybe, I do have some faith in Jimmy not being first out... maybe like third. Scar was also pretty scary last season so maybe they do have a shot. Murder theme park is a pretty fun goal.

Will say tho, the last time Scar started making reputation boards with his bird themed ally who made enemy's with Ren and Martyn, it didn't end well. Am I saying that we will see another 3rd life style two faction war? Im not not saying that.

Oh there's also bigb. He's probably gonna join Swol Patrol or Plus 1 Club. Probably eont move in but will pull a secret life and alternate between their and his bases. Also love that he is still committing to being an erie freak for no reason.

[thisisanerror]

Trying to get in touch with my shippy side to see if it’ll bring the serotonin back to my brain. They started making out the second that chess board was flung off the table.

[drunkenworgen]

Thane Eirstaer

-and-

Virginia “Gin” Ash

“Come love, make me better than I was. Come teach me a kinder way to say my own name.” - Andrea Gibson, from "Good Light," Lord of the Butterflies

( @thaneirstaer )

[holmsister]

The labru chess meme but like serious: why Kabru bets on Laios and wins

If you're like me (mentally ill (I can say that I'm diagnosed) about labru) you have seen several variations on this meme:

With Kabru and Laios. (To see a small collection of them, please click on the "labru chess meme" tag on this post). Would you like me to hyperanalyse this aspect of their dynamic to death and not even in a shippy manner, therefore sucking all of the fun out of the meme? Keep reading!

Spoilers for the whole manga ahead. Contains also a quantity of Winged Lion.

First of all: as noted several times, it's not that Laios is eating the pieces to win at chess, it's that he's hungry, chess pieces are available, and he thinks Kabru is a fellow chess piece eater as well. Because he offered him a chess piece. And kabru ate it. While still trying to play chess because he thinks Laios is playing chess in some novel way he wants to understand better. If you think I'm beating this metaphor to death now you haven't seen anything yet.

The thing is. Kabru's whole thing is about finding someone who can defeat the dungeon, whatever shape that takes. And Kabru knows he cannot do it. He lacks what it takes, again, whatever exactly that is. And at some point, he makes the call that Laios has that something.

What's that something? Well. He's eating the chess pieces.

In another post I have already talked about the parallels between Kabru and the Winged Lion. Without going into it again: I think that all things aside, those two have very similar types of intelligence. They're fascinated by people and finding out what motivates them. They can be manipulative and even cruel in the quest for what they believe to be the "good ending". And they both think their end can be achieved through Laios.

See, *those two* are playing chess. Have you ever played? It's a very ancient and noble game, you know, very storied.

Two opponents, Black and White, take turns moving pieces on a checkerboard according to rules that depend on the piece itself (Towers move only horizontally but of as many squares as they please, Pawns only of one square at a time and only move towards the opposite side of the board, Bishops move only diagonally, etc etc). Players can only move one piece per turn, once per turn. Two pieces cannot be in one square. When a player moves a piece in a square that is already taken by a piece of the opposing colour, the piece that was there already is "captured" and removed from the board. The rules are actually much more complicated but this is the barest bones.

I hear sometimes the win condition in chess being described as "capturing the King". That's not entirely it. The win condition in chess is putting the opposing King piece in checkmate, that is, in a position in which the King will be captured by the opposing player by the next turn no matter what moves either of them makes.

Chess matches between masters are notorious for being impossibly long. Some last YEARS. Not only that, it's possible to draw in chess - when none of the pieces on the board have legal moves left but nobody is in check. This condition is called a stalemate.

Since the pieces can move in limited ways, mathematically, it's possible to calculate a most efficient way to move them. In 1997, the AI (real AI, not the stuff that passes for AI nowadays) Deep Blue beat then chess world champion Garry Kasparov for the first time in what is considered a milestone achievement.

It's a complicated game with very set rules and almost infinite yet calculable possibilities, is what I'm getting at. It's why it's a favourite mental exercise for mathematicians and people with similar minds. It's a problem to solve in a certain number of steps according to certain rules. There's a solidity in chess reasoning - even when you're trying to guess your opponent strategy, you still know there are things they are NOT going to do. Like eating the pieces. That's why the meme is funny. I think. I've lost sight of what normal people find funny years ago.

This is the game Kabru and the Winged Lion are both in. They are both positioned to move in checkmate (conquering the dungeon/escaping the dungeon), but they have both reached a point in which they cannot move further on their own power. They're in stalemate and they know it. They both need Laios to move them out of the stalemate.

The difference is what they choose to do.

The Winged Lion treats Laios as another check piece. An important one for sure (the Queen, even. That's a chess joke AND a gay joke). But a piece he can manipulate, that moves around in predictable ways.

Kabru, however, has spent enough time chewing on chess pieces to realise thats not where Laios' potential really lies. What he does is step aside and leave the board to Laios. He says "OK, dude. Eat the damn pieces if you must. I trust you know what you're doing."

You see. There's no rule in chess about eating the pieces. I think. Maybe they added one. But still. Most people when teaching someone to play chess would not think to add "and don't eat the pieces!" There at the end because they will assume that goes without saying. It's an unspoken rule that when you are playing a game involving pieces on a board, the pieces are not for eating.

Laios, our beloved autism knight, needs his rules spoken. Otherwise he's just gonna do whatever comes to mind. And that's what he has that Kabru lacks, and what leads him to outsmarting the Winged Lion. Because he does not think in terms of rules and limits. He does not try to guess what's the catch. He does not go after the King.

When Laios figures out what the primary motivation of the Winged Lion is (wanting to eat wishes), he does not wonder about his wider plan. He stops and thinks. That makes human wishes sound so tasty, he thinks, that a creature so powerful can give up on its life of perfect bliss and immortality on another dimension to taste them. I wonder if I could eat them too. I wonder if I could eat away the Lion's desire to eat desires - I could kill two birds with one stone!

He doesn't know or care what the aim of the game is according to the rules. *His* aim now is to eat the Winged Lion's desire. Because it would solve things, because he wants to know how it tastes like, who knows, who cares. The point is: what's the fastest way to get at his aim?

Well. The Lion promises to turn him into his ideal monster... the same one he wrote about in his book. Maybe he can add a line about the monster being able to eat desires. That would work, right?

It's such a stupidly simple plan that almost has no right to work. Neither Kabru nor the WL think about it. Because of a variety of reasons, but most importantly, because *that's not in the rules*. The rules are: Laios makes a wish, the WL realises that wish, in exchange he gets Laios' body. Laios' wish: to be turned into his ultimate monster that he wrote about in his book. It goes without saying that he can't just go ahead and add whatever to the book description. Right?

Kabru would not have thought to add a line in the book in a MILLION years. The WL does not think to check if Laios added any strange condition. It's like using one wish of the genie to wish for infinite wishes - I mean yeah nobody SAID you couldnt do that but it's obvious right? It's basically cheating... Who does that? ...what's this? Laios, what are you eating? Spit the King out!

Ps: in Italian, the word for "capture" on a chessboard and the word for "eating" are one and the same.

[comfortlesshurt]

Skyler's 2025 January VLD Fic Recs

Boys, I did not read a lot this month, but I still have a couple recs under the cut! As always, sorted by least to most hits, so show the top ones some love ;_;

Letters to Lance by AsterikaMay: in progress! Klance! I usually won't touch a journal-format fic, but ughhhhh, Asterika is teaching me to let go of my prejudice against them. this isn't finished yet, but i got to read the first chapter this month and had a good time, can't wait to see the rest!

Fan the Flames by Nuri (SpicyIsopods): small oneshot! gen! makes me a little sad to see a fic from 2017 with so few hits... you're allowed to like longer, shippy content obviously but man... hurts my gen heart when these ones go ignored! quick little pre-canon, post-kerb keith angst that immediately gave me ideas for my own pre-canon longfic, so i owe it lots of love

starlight by AsterikaMay: Klance oneshot! little AU moment with some miscommunication. getting together fic. it is adorable

Common Denominator by SilenceIsGolden15: oneshot! Keith-focused gen fic! broganes, some emotional angst. do I really have to sell you on a SilenceIsGolden fic? they are THE gen keith author to me. if you read gen fic and aren't already subscribed to them, i don't even know what you're doing with your life... they have another current wip i already KNOW i'll be reccing as soon as it's done

i'm only overthinking when i'm close to you by langst: Klance oneshot! I was so lucky to get to help beta this a little bit and UGH, when I tell you el spawns beautiful stuff even in the very first draft? i'm jealous actually. this is an early seasons getting together fic with cute flirting and the team finding out and teasing them a little

let me in if i break by existwound: Klance oneshot! another one I was lucky to get to help beta >:D Keith whump, getting together, post-canon.... so many of my favorite things in one fic

You were dreaming by iybms: EXPLICIT Klance oneshot! man, okay, i'm realizing I was really into getting together fics this month, but uh.... here's another one!

Reverse Psychology by tempestbreak: EXPLICIT complete Klance multichapter! NOT FOR YOU if you're uncomfy with one-sided Sheith, but Klance is the endgame here. little post-canon friends to FWBs situation

and bonus rec! Grin and Bear It by loadingboy! zack's a friend so maybe i'm biased but UGH, the little bit i've had a chance to read so far is LOVELY, so i'm gonna go ahead and pre-recommend this bad boy. check the warnings for yourself before committing if you aren't fully on board with the range of things i typically rec! i hear this one is closer to the angstier end of what i like

[swimmingwolf59]

A collection of my spones fics! My personal favorites are bold and brash blue!

Series

Between Worlds. Spones raise Joanna on board the Enterprise. 10 fics. Ongoing.

After the Fire. Spones get-together centered around the original series movies. 2 fics. Complete.

Doubt and Trust. Mirrorverse spones - first fic is a tos s1 rewrite in mirrorverse. 2 fics. Ongoing.

Family. Old married spones and their relationships with Sarek and Amanda. 2 fics. Complete.

Canon Compliant

If the Stars Looked Down. Ace!Spock chronicles. Complete.

The Houseboat. Spones go on shore leave together. Written for summer of spones 2021. Complete.

Lines Around Your Thoughts. 5+1 McCoy loves Spock's art <3 Complete.

The Logical Thing to Do. Spones retelling of the DS9 episode "Change of Heart". Complete.

Every Stitch. McCoy knits Spock a sweater. Written for 12dos 2021. Complete.

The Importance of Keeping Your Vulcan Awake During Sehlat Hibernation Season. Old married spones and their pet sehlat. Written for 12dos 2021. Complete.

Held Together. McCoy proposes to Spock when he's half-asleep. Written for summer of spones 2022. Complete.

More Than Adequate. Trans!Spock gets a massage from McCoy after binding too much. Written for summer of spones 2022. Complete.

Just a Pinch of Salt. Spones get into a dumb argument while making breakfast. Complete.

Traditions of Intimacy. 5+1 spones making a meal for each other. Complete.

First Impressions. Spones through canon but ALSO mainly 5+1 McCoy meets Sarek :DDD Complete.

In One Piece. Spock notices that McCoy has a rather peculiar post-transport habit. Written for spones day 2024. Complete.

Compatible. Six times McCoy and Spock have to postpone their dinner date due to an argument. Written for the spones zine "We Go Together" vol. 1 issue 2. Complete.

AUs

Spock 'n' Roll. Rockstar!Spock. Complete.

This Mysterious World. Pokemon AU! Also a series lol. 3 fics. Complete.

Take Me Out. Baseball AU - M rating. Written for summer of spones 2022. Complete.

Peach Melody. Stardew Valley AU. Written for summer of spones 2022. Complete.

Entangled. First contact AU. Written for the spones zine "We Go Together" vol. 1 issue 1. Complete.

Not Safe for Vulcans

Surgeon's Hands. Spock gets a taste of them surgeon's hands. Complete.

Bones. Post the tholian web, if you catch my drift ;) Complete.

Behind the Mask. Matchmaker Chekov convinces Spock to go to a masquerade party. Complete.

QPR

Whatever Gets You Through the Night. Post man trap + QPR mckirk. Complete.

Not Explicitly Shippy

Of Gods and Ghosts. Missing scene at the end of the Final Frontier. Spock and McCoy talk about loss. Written for 12dos 2021. Complete.

Weight of the Universe. Two scenes post some disastrous weddings. Written for summer of spones 2022. Complete.

AOS

Reciprocal Averaging. Sarek uses statistics to figure out Spock's most suitable mate. You'll never guess who it is. Complete.