#speirsgrant

[lewis-winters]

i’d die to hear your thoughts on Speirs/Grant and their love language (or dynamic in general). i saw an anon ask about them a while ago and couldn’t stop thinking about it: one of the only times the audience truly sees Speirs act with compassion, with mercy, and with remorse is when Grant is shot, is it not?

what’re your thoughts on their relationship? the hand-holding moment and otherwise?

I'll answer these under the cut.

First of all: I don't mind at all! I rarely have NOTPs, tbh. Being a multishipper is fun. It just might take me a little longer because I need time to Think about them.

Honestly, I never gave these two too much consideration-- I don't write Ron a lot. So I had to do the equivalent of sitting down in the Thinking Chair ala-Blue's Clues to figure this out. For like... two months HAHAHA. I'm sorry it took too long. Life happened.

Second of all: I think Speirs acts with compassion, mercy, and remorse a lot of times in the series, it's just highlighted the most with the replacement in ep10 for two reasons, the first being: the reason why we think he doesn't act with compassion, mercy, or remorse in the first half of the series is because we don't see him outside of the glimpses Easy company gets or the stories they exchange. But after episode 7, he's suddenly with us all the time, and we see that his advice to Blithe was more of a... miscommunication, in a way.

Act with no compassion, no mercy, and no remorse toward the people you want to protect your men from. That's reason two. He's protecting his men from this replacement-- except, Grant is going to live. Ah, a conundrum.

Out of everyone in that room, Ron is the only one who knows that Chuck is actually going to live. So now I think his internal struggle isn't so much as "oh I should act with no compassion, mercy, or remorse-- but easy company has ~changed~ me." In my opinion, his internal struggle in this moment is: "ah, if I shoot him, that's not me protecting my men, that's me taking revenge." Which isn't in his moral code.

Ron acts with no compassion, no mercy, and no remorse, yes, but there's a certain level-headedness to him that keeps him in line. Sure, he's prone to bouts of petty anger sometimes (see: More and his photo album), but he never lets that get in the way of his judgement (see: More didn't back down, but neither did he do so in a disrespectful way and Ron recognized that, therefore he conceded his own defeat and didn't punish More). He does what is necessary in the moment and never takes it beyond that.

And I think that's where the core of SpeirsGrant lies.

Chuck's shooting drives him to the point of wanting to take revenge. He enters that room, gun drawn, with all the intention of shooting this motherfucker in the face. The only thing that stops him, I think, is everybody else in that room. They move away. And tho, cinematically, it never shows him acknowledging that they've moved away, I think that catches his attention and rattles him back to the present enough to assess whether or not he's doing the right thing.

The damage is done but has been remedied to the best of their abilities. Chuck is going to make it. Why the hell is he wasting his time on this lowlife?

The answer, of course, is: because it's Chuck.

He hurt Chuck and Chuck is important enough to Ron to want to go against his own moral code in order to avenge him.

That's why I think their relationship might flourish more after the war than during. It isn't that Ron is clueless about his own feelings, I just think it took him a bit longer to figure it out because 1) it was such a slow burn, and; 2) so much has been going on, he hasn't had time to figure it out for himself. It took one catastrophic situation for him to have that Oh moment. He loves Chuck. Or at least feels strongly enough about him that his first instinct was to throw all his cultivated composure out the window and nearly kill a man for him.

Anyway, I think Ron would be an excellent caretaker.

I mean, I've touched on this before, but Chuck hates acts of service. He hates having people take care of him because he's had it in his head that he is the caretaker. He's the strong one. And god knows those types make the worst patients. That's the only time he loses patience and gets angry, I think.

Ron has infinite patience, though. He's actually pretty slow to anger-- mostly because he understands it. He understands emotion quite well, actually, and it's why I think he can regulate it and control them so easily. He understands that Chuck is struggling to adjust and, really, it isn't Ron or Ron's care he's losing patience over, it's himself. He's frustrated that he can't do things that, just over a year ago, he'd been able to do with ease. Ron sees that and is careful to acknowledge it, but is also careful in making sure that he never enables it. Ron is gentle, but he's also unerring.

I think Chuck'll have a bit of a field day learning Ron, though. As I've said before, Chuck is adaptable when it comes to giving love languages. And with the amount Ron hovers, I think his receiving love language of quality time is rightly fulfilled. But Ron is so guarded, and also used to being the giver that receiving it foreign to him, so he isn't as quick to catch on that the things Chuck's doing (like getting him gifts, or touching him all the time, or complimenting him, or doing stuff for him) are actually Chuck trying to sus out whether or not he's into this kind of love language. It takes a lot to get Ron to show his hand of cards, too. So it's a long long game of cards. But it's ok, they have time to learn and relearn each other in peace time.

[gin-ursur]

band of brothers fic rec (ft. the pacific)

nobody asked for this is a self indulgent list because this fandom has a lot of quality works that deserve recognition:

Easy’s Omega by GGCharms 

Omega Eugene Roe is assigned to be a medic to the 506th Infantry Regiment's only all Alpha company, Easy Company. Watch as he earns his place among them, becomes pack, and (unintentionally) finds his Alpha and a family.

[unfinished / abo / baberoe / doc roe centric] 

Doc Roe is the soul omega in a company made up predominantly of alpha’s and beta’s, in a world where omega’s serving in the military is still a very new concept. And I think the study into that is really interesting, there aren’t enough good historical abo’s set during the early to mid 1900s.

letters between continents by aliaaaaaa

Shelton and Roe sharing their worries, anxieties, hopes, and dreams in a series of letters throughout the war.

[bob-pacific crossover / sledgefu / baberoe / snafroe friendship]

Really good angsty cajun boy’s writing correspondence throughout their individual war’s. The prospect of doc and snafu being either close friends or cousins is a favorite headcanon of mine.

catch it down in new orleans by starblessed

Gene’s not sure what he regrets more – inviting Babe down to Louisiana for the week while his cousin is also visiting, or saying it was fine if Babe brought his friends with him.

Merriell is the last person Gene wants in the house when his boyfriend and his friends show up. But, well, it’s not like he can kick his cousin out. It seems like the only option for Babe and his posse is just to learn to live with him.

Not if Gene can help it.

[bob-pacific crossover / sledgefu / baberoe / they’re cousins this time]

Cajun cousins do it best. Big family values down on the bayou.

Delivered as a Whisper by mytimehaspassed

They work nights, work bars and corners and alleyways and pool halls and night clubs.

[baberoe / snafroe / sledgefu / murder mystery]

A Softer War by twelve_pastels

In 1945, Edward Heffron comes home from War. In 1951, Babe punches a guy through a plate glass window, loses half his tastebuds, flees from alligators, and moves in with a doctor. All of these things are related.

[babe centric / baberoe / post-war]

Babe after the war, a really good study into veterans and PTSD. Definitely one of my favorite BoB fics ever. 

Center Stone alyseofwonderland (Esyla), Esyla

They are the same, at their centers, at their cores. Ronald Speirs has a center of stone and Eugene knows exactly what that feels like.

[speirsroe / magical realism]

Rarepair that deserves more. I think this author really captures their characters, as well as a presumed relationship dynamic.

and what you've got is magic by cptnwinters

The day Babe Heffron meets Eugene Roe, he falls through a compartment door on the Hogwarts Express straight into Eugene’s lap. It’s (unfortunately) not the only time it happens.

Or: The Hogwarts AU.

[baberoe / harry potter fusion]

Just a really sweet Hogwarts AU.

Follow My Lead by Emono

George just never thought he’d meet a Sex God at his great-grandfather’s deli.

---

“Who the fuck says ‘going steady’ anymore?”

[toyeluz / meet-cute}

Romance? In my deli?

Grass Knuckles Series by Emono 

Please just read this entire series it’s so sweet.

Old Familiar Places by ama

George's relationship with Joe Toye wasn't exactly normal, or always happy, or easy to maintain. Sometimes he thought about ending it, or cursed the G.I. bill (which he blamed in the first place), but every time he made the five-hour drive to Philadelphia for a secret tryst it just felt... worth it.

[toyeluz / post-war]

Through the Gay Days by ama *****

“When you got to a camp, you just immediately sought out the other gay guys, just for the reinforcement of knowing you were not alone.” -- Pvt. Ben Small, Army Air Corps.

Four gay men arrive at Camp Toccoa in 1942, each thinking that they are alone. They're used to being alone and used to keeping secrets. But when Gene Roe, George Luz, Ed Tipper, and Chuck Grant meet, they realize that the war has shaken everything up, and together the four friends try to make it through the worst of the war--and the best.

[snafroe / tipper x lieb / toyeluz / speirsgrant / queer history]

Okay ladies and gents this is it. This fic is up there as one of the best I’ve had the blessing to read. This story is such a fantastic study into queer history, specifically pertaining to queer culture in the military that would go on to become the very foundations for the LGBTQA+ community as a whole. This author simply has an incredible grasp of queer history please read and support everything by ama.

they don’t know about the up all nights (they don’t know I’ve waited all my life) by PotofCoffee

Johnny and Bull throughout the war, in a slow meandering dance you might just call love.

[bull x martin / Period-Typical Homophobia]

Boy’s in love trying to figure themselves out.

By Small and Small by luxover

Babe wants to keep talking with Gene, but he doesn’t really know what to say. He feels like, in the past, he never would’ve shut up, but now, since Julian, he’s just got nothing. Maybe that’s grieving; Bill says that’s grieving, anyway, but Bill uses the term like a Band-Aid to put over every aspect of Babe that has changed.

Or: The one where Gene is in med school and Babe's messed up over Julian.

[baberoe / modern au / hurt-comfort]

Random The Pacific mentions just because:

My Sweet Summer by Emono

Eugene hears from his good friend George Luz about a charity farm he wants to do a story about. Feeling restless in Mobile, Eugene travels to Currahee to investigate the town and see if there's a story worth pursuing. There he finds people he'd never think he'd meet. A bright and bubbly ranch owner, his gruff business partner, a charming server, a modern (but happily married, damn it) witch, and a Lousiana boy who seems to have an eye for him.

Eugene lets himself enjoy the adventure and succumb to the sweet spell of Currahee.

[sledgefu / farm life]

Southern belle sledge meets farm boi snafu.

Where to Begin by ama

In the summer of 1946, Leckie travels down to Alabama for Sid’s wedding. Once there, he rekindles a friendship with Eugene Sledge. They’re both a little lost, a little broken, a little heartsick; it might not seem like the best basis for a relationship, but to their surprise they find themselves stumbling towards one anyway.

[leckie x sledge / post-war]

Rarepair, I know, but please give this one a chance cause it’s incredibly good. Two gay boys finding each other in 1940s america.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That’s all folks, I might do another in a few months tho.

[goldenapollos]

Hi! I love your headcannons, they’re absolutely adorable and make me smile. If you have time could you do some winnix and/ or speirsgrant ones? Whichever ones you like!

hello! thank you so much, you’ve made my day!!

i hope you don’t mind that i’ve done winnix headcanons, i’m not too familiar with speirsgrant aha.

we all know that dick is literally the dad friend to everyone. but lew was equally as caring, he just showed it in different ways.

some of these included: making sure dick drank enough water throughout the day (he would always forget unless lew reminded him), going to bed at a reasonable hour and to put himself above others sometimes because he was just as important as everyone else.

although dick didn’t drink, he found it a little entertaining when nix would get completely shitfaced and ramble to anyone who would listen about how much he loved his boyfriend and how thoughtful and kind he was.

after nights out with the easy boys, dick would often be the one to call everyone a cab home and make sure nix was in bed and not asleep on their kitchen floor.

dick sometimes mumbled things in his sleep. one night nix swore he heard him say something about how pretty he thought he was, but he kept that little secret to himself.

when the two of them finally announced their engagement to the boys, they were beyond excited. perconte & luz got so hype they almost threw nix out the window (don’t ask, it’s a long story. they picked him up, he was near a window, you get the rest).

honestly, nix is a bit of a mess but he’s dick’s mess and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

[basilone]

Ahh, I am so happy you love it, very glad to hear that @lyselkatzfandomluvs !! ❤ Also, thank you so so SO much for that lovely edit!! I appreciate it 🥰😍❤

Hello ^^ May I request for the kiss prompt: 47. A kiss paired with a tight hug, knocking the breath out of the person being hugged? Platonic Smokey and Lip (+ death glare from a certain officer, maybe?😆) if that inspires you. Thank you ❤

Hi @lyselkatz, sorry that this took me a bit! I had to figure out how to go about this one -- threw me for a bit of a loop, haha! -- but I think I finally have it figured? I’m placing it entirely from Speirs’s perspective here (that’s the certain officer you had in mind, no?) and am positioning it at Haguenau with the caveat that Smokey’s injuries turned out okay a hell of a lot sooner than they actually did. I hope you’ll like this take, even when Speirs’s death glare is born from a different place than the one I think you might’ve intended..

47. A kiss paired with a tight hug, knocking the breath out of the person being hugged?

Inheriting a whole company in the middle of enemy territory is not preferable at all.

Ron Speirs counts himself lucky that he has an ear for names, even when the accompanying faces take a little more time to become familiar. He’s good at retaining information – who does what, who has which skills, who gets along with who – and better at putting it to use. He has to snap his fingers once or twice before he remembers that Liebgott is the skinnier, mouthier, volatile one of the current Liebgott-Webster-Sisk fusion. He almost gives George Luz a conniption when he remembers the man’s name at the first try, but hovers a little too close to the man’s ear as he says it. He cannot separate Heffron from Malarkey in his brain, but he spots one of them following Doc Roe around and decides that a man who can smile like that in the middle of a town like Haguenau certainly must be nicknamed Babe.

He knows his men, or attempts to know them. It’s why he is currently glaring daggers at his new lieutenant, Lipton, who is being hugged so tightly that Ron almost worries the man’s still-frail lungs won’t be able to take the pressure. He can’t help the glare that turns even fiercer when there is a loud exclamation of joy, interspersed with coughing, after which whatever intricate greeting ritual Lipton engages in is sealed with a firm kiss on the cheek of a man Ron decidedly does not know.

It’s the not-knowing that gets to him. He knows the men around him well enough to know their names. Even knows their nicknames, like Babe, that he tries desperately to forget as soon as he hears them. He has learned the sound of their footsteps, the different notes of their laughter and muffled tears, the cadence and accents within their voices. He can pick some of them out in the middle of a crowd while blindfolded, he knows, and they could probably do the same with him. A company’s trust is built on that.

Ron doesn’t have reason to trust this stranger, even when Lipton’s familiarity with him seems to create a joyous reunion. He stands in the doorway and glowers as the man’s unfamiliar voice rasps out words – not as bad, legs are fine, Doc helped – and the man’s hands don’t leave Lipton’s still-feverish brow. There’s an energy within the room that tells Ron he is the stranger, here. He is the one who does not belong, who is the foreigner locked in a company that used to fear him and perhaps still does, who is not part of them and perhaps never will be.

“Well, there’s a surprise. Smokey’s back, huh?”

“Smokey?” he asks, not needing to turn to know the source of the voice behind him. Chuck Grant’s familiar lilt washes over him and steadies him on his feet. “Help your poor captain out, sergeant?”

“Nothin’ poor about you, sir.” He can practically hear the quick grin before the man begins to supply the information Ron needs. “Walter Gordon. Nicknamed Smokey for his tobacco-chewing ways that began all the way back in Toccoa. Good shot, great with words, not so big on night marches. He got shot in the woods at Bastogne. Doc thought he was paralyzed, at first.”

“Guess he isn’t,” says Ron, relaxing just a little as he slowly categorizes the man who is now gesturing animatedly at George Luz and the small Italian whose name he can never recall at the first try. “Good shot, you say? That’ll be useful.”

“Sure. Anything else you need, sir?”

He glances over his shoulder. “Yeah. I need you to go over the plans for tomorrow with me.” He tears himself loose from the room that contains an Easy Company he isn’t allowed to touch just yet. Gently nudges the man who prevents the space around him from becoming a chasm. “They’re moving us off the line, but Nixon caught something about us being moved deeper into Germany. I’m not comfortable leaving it to chance.”

“A names check?”

“Yeah.” Ron shakes his head. “Add this.. Gordon.. to the roster, will you? He might as well make himself at home even more than he already did just now.”

“Sure thing, captain.” Chuck Grant’s laughter is utterly fearless. Ron commits it to memory the same way he does everything else. Savors it a moment, so rare as it is to hear something so genuine in a war. “Want me to question Tab about what Nixon said, too? He might’ve heard something more about it from Winters.”

Ron snaps his fingers. “Good idea. Do it.”

“Yes, sir.”

[basilone]

I have a really pressing question here before I publish the next chapter of TLBD tonight:

Are we gonna call this GrantSpeirs, SpeirsGrant, or something else entirely? Input required because I have just realized I am not gonna call it Chuck Grant x Ron Speirs for the rest of my long shipper life..?