#yes they’re romantic partners in their first life yes they’re platonic soulmates as guardians. they have the range idc

[syncopation53]

I know I talk (a lot) about fireteam buckaroos being so edgy and loners who don’t like working together and kai and caoilinn have taken over my brain with their whole Thing but an aspect about the buckaroos I don’t talk about very much is the relationship between devon and kelli which is sort of the one genuinely positive thing the team has going for them and the first thing I came up with when making more ocs that aren’t connected to the phoenixes, just for fun

They’re inseparable from each other, from the simple fact of living in the same time and place in their first lives to finding each other and ensuring their dual survival against raiders and thieves and kidnappers and maulers that tear something away from each of them and yet they grit their teeth and keep living anyways, how trusting the other to watch their backs becomes effortless and second nature, to traveling through hostile lands as mortals alone but together in their dream of reaching a safe haven of a city full of people and brimming with life, to fulfilling that dream together until the very end, until death claimed them both at once, side by side, until they were resurrected again, and found each other again, and stayed together again, and fought side by side again, and live within each other again

“Every atom of me and every atom of you” “I will look for you in every lifetime” “whatever our souls are made of his and mine are the same” “I think we deserve a soft epilogue my love” “I’ll take care of you / it’s rotten work / not to me not if it’s you” etc etc etc

[starkjoy]

Let's talk Episode 5x02.

Buck and Eddie's heart-to-heart confirmed two of our suspicions: first, Ana caused his panic attacks, not the shooting.

Second, Eddie's definitely not in love with Ana.

On its own, that sounds innocent enough—they've dated for months, yes, but Eddie's suffered tremendously in love and life, so progressing slowly is understandable. That's enough to warrant a breakup itself, so why would the writers add fuel to the fire with panic attacks?

Mom, wife, or both, the mere mention of Ana becoming a permanent fixture in Eddie's family induces a life-threatening visceral response. This isn't just a case of incompatibility, or not being ready to move on. It's a physical, mental, and emotional crisis.

More analysis under the cut:

As many have speculated, there may be more to unpack beyond Eddie's excuse that he's "not ready" for a "ready-made family." So playing house with Ana causes him to panic, but co-parenting with Buck doesn't? Literally choosing Buck to be Christopher's legal guardian in the event of his own death didn't? Not even a little bit? The juxtaposition between Eddie's uncomfortable interactions with Ana and joy when seeing Buck with Chris or talking about Buck and Chris at the zoo makes us wonder: is Eddie not ready for a "ready-made family"...or has he already made one with someone else?

If he's aware of the latter, whether consciously or not, the implications of Buck being the person he wants in his life permanently is enough to warrant panic given Eddie's background.

In that same vein, the "stick with it" line felt particularly telling—I can't help but wonder if he stuck with Shannon, too. He was so young when they met, then their relationship became complicated so quickly...and ultimately cut too short. Perhaps he "stuck with" her despite the chaos because it was easier than confronting his own feelings or sexuality. As others have mentioned, "stick with it" implicitly evokes subtext around compulsory heterosexuality, being in the closet, repression, etc. Whether the writers intended for anything beyond Eddie's textual answer remains to be seen, however.

Now let's move on to Buck.

Maybe we can chalk this up to Oliver's acting choices, but Buck's frustrated—angry, even—emotional response to Eddie's admission surprised me. He's genuinely upset that Eddie would force feelings instead of breaking things off now, even directly comparing himself to Ana because he too has loved someone who didn't reciprocate his feelings (presumably he's referencing Abby, questionably Ali as well). The writers' choice in having Buck compare his own love struggles to Eddie's here naturally drums up questions about his current relationship.

I find it ...interesting that Taylor and Buck's one scene (so far) has already implied there's trouble in paradise. Yet again, Buck seems more invested in his relationship than his partner does. No shade to Taylor or those who ship her with Buck, but why would the writers want the pair's first scene post-canonization to be Taylor choosing work over Buck? Even in a lighthearted scene? If the writers' intent wasn't getting the audience to question whether Buck's latest romantic endeavor will work out, then I'm not sure what they were doing in that scene.

Now, let's remember how the show reintroduced Ana and Taylor as love interests last season. Ana was first, then Taylor after a time jump in the latter half of the season, during which Ana and Eddie were already seeing each other. I remember fans speculating that Buck dipped his feet back in the dating pool not only because he was healing but also because Eddie had made the first step toward moving on. However you want to interpret Buck's choices, shipper goggles on or off, by the end of last season both Eddie and Buck entered two separate, seemingly healthy relationships. Two happily ever afters, two happy families.

Four months later and the fairytale's already fallen apart.

Perhaps Buck's knee-jerk frustration not only stems from his past wounds with Abby, but also because he's sensing he's veering down a familiar path with Taylor. He's angry less so because Eddie said he'd "stick it out" with Ana, but more so because he's always the person people "stick it out" with. Shipper goggles on, maybe he's angry at himself for jumping into another relationship that isn't working when he only reentered the dating pool because of Eddie...whether that be out of jealousy, fear of being left behind, or repressing his confusing feelings.

Eddie's on a clear path to renewed singlehood, and Buck's storyline already leaves room for a similar journey. It's too early to tell, especially with how the writers have dealt with Buddie in the past, but if the show really wanted to quash the ship...why all of this? Will the beginnings of their respective relationships mirror their ends, with Eddie breaking up with Ana in the first half of the season, then Buck in the latter?

The question of the night remains: why break up the couples they just built and write off the characters they just reintroduced if they have no intention of pursuing Buddie romantically?

Maybe they'll push a platonic soulmate narrative where Buck and Eddie raise Chris together and are a family unit, but as bros—but that seems a bit ridiculous after knocking out both of their girlfriends, especially if they're trying to avoid claims of queerbaiting. You never know when there's a general audience to appease as well, though.

Based on what I've seen tonight, however, we may have a genuine chance. At least more of a chance then I thought last season.

[dearlydean]

These are some thoughts I’ve had relating to the finale. This will include my thoughts on Sam & Dean, multishipping, and a possible found-family coda after the end. These are all personal; I don’t speak for anyone else! If you ship something else that’s fine!

Do I ship Sam and Dean? Yes and no. As has been theorized since season 5, to me they’re soulmates. That means they’re more than brothers, more than best friends, more than partners. They are soulmates. (I read a cute fic equating it to the Star Trek term “T'hy'la” which is a Vulcan word meaning friend, brother, or lover, which seems to fit.) To me, their bond is the most important thing for them. It doesn’t have to be sexual (I’m panace and usually just glance through/skim most smut scenes regardless of pairing). It doesn’t necessarily have to be romantic (I’m fine either way as long as it’s consensual between them). As long as their bond is the strongest, I’m fine either way. So, I ship their bond in any way.

It’s also important to note, even though they’re soulmates, they still had to make choices pointing to each other in our canon universe. We’ve seen alternate universes in the show; sometimes they’re not close (like in the Djinn dream 2x20), sometimes they become close (Wesson & Smith 4x17). So their bond means more to me in the main universe, as it’s been shown that it doesn’t always happen that way.

As I mentioned, as long as their bond is the strongest thing (platonic/romantic/whatever), I’m fine with other pairings. I’m a multishipper by heart; I just want my fave characters to be loved. Dean and Cassie? Great; first woman he told about their secret. Dean and Lisa? Great; he had a nice time with her and Ben. Dean and other people? Great. Dean and Benny? Amazing! This one is my soft spot; Benny was so gone on Dean. Sam and Jess? Great; first Sam ship we see. Sam and Castiel? After they both get to better terms with each other it’s p sweet. Sam and others? Great. Castiel and Meg? Amazing! So adorable; both were what each other needed and were so soft, the whole unicorn and Clarence.

(I’m a be real honest, I have this thing against possible ‘abuse’ of authority/possible consent issues in any way (so I don’t read sex worker aus or a/b/o aus unless they’re subversive/take the gray consent into account). Also, I was raised culturally religious, though I’ve been distant for a long time. These two things impact my feelings on d*stiel. I see Castiel as Dean’s guardian angel. I love them as friends and brothers! However, I cannot get into shipping them. But I do ship sastiel (sweet) and megstiel (adorable!).)

The finale (found family). I love that it focused on Sam and Dean. I’m fine either way that Sam had a life after Dean (the wife and kid), since it also showed that they never forgot each other. A way to incorporate others, would be if, after Sam arrives, he gets into Baby with Dean again. They drive up the road and meet with the others. We could see Bobby (and his friends/partners), Castiel and Meg, Jack could visit with Miracle the dog. Dean could be just with Sam (or my fave Benny!, or with someone else). Prior to this episode, I would’ve wanted Sam with Dean (in whatever way) and/or Jess. But since he got married, he could introduce his wife to the rest of them, and that could be when we finally get a closer view of her — we meet her as team free will (and Mary and John) meet her; at the same time because it goes along with the whole ‘fandom as family’ and ‘found family’ team free will had.