#this is where finn and i are at now

[tangents-within-tangents]

Hot take:

Crosshair does not have the Imperial disillusionment and redemption arc of The Bad Batch

Emerie does.

Crosshair has an arc for sure yes but it's not that.

I was thinking about this scene:

and how it got right what this scene kinda didn't:

(It was so close but then bad writing decided to undercut the moment with a joke rip)

And I think it's really interesting that these characters who were more or less raised into the Empire/First Order and chose to leave it are all directly asked why.

But take a look at Crosshair's answers in comparison:

Different context for the asking, yes, but still, compare that to clones like Howzer, Cody, Slip and Cade who left or turned against the Empire because they knew what the Empire is doing is wrong and they weren't just going to blindly follow orders:

Crosshair - Loyalty, Purpose, and Survival

Crosshair didn't choose to join the Empire (though the show isn't very clear or consistent about how much control the inhibitor chips have) but he did, for whatever reason, choose to stay. By the end of S1 we know his chip has been removed and as he definitively says "This is who I am." There were likely still other influences on his decision, but listen to how he talks about the Empire in the S1 finale:

Hunter: Crosshair, I've seen what the Empire is doing. Occupying planets and silencing anyone who stands against them. You know it's not right. Crosshair: You still don’t see the bigger picture, but you will. Hunter: Can't you see they're using you?

Crosshair: We’re not like the regs, we never have been. We’re superior. The Empire can’t protect the galaxy without strength, this is what we were made for. Think of all we could do, together!

Crosshair: You all are meant for more than drifting through the galaxy. It’s time to stop running. Join the Empire, and you will have purpose again.

Hunter: They destroyed an entire city! Crosshair: They did what needed to be done. Kamino, regs, the Republic, that time is over. The Empire will control the entire galaxy, and I am going to be a part of it. Hunter: Don't fool yourself. All you'll ever be to them is a number.

He undeniably knows what the Empire is doing, but he does not care. In fact it sure sounds like he actually supports it and finds self-meaning in it. Hunter spends those episodes trying to convince him it's wrong, he doesn't change his mind. In the end they offer him an out and he doesn't take it.

Wrecker: You coming with us? Crosshair: None of this changes anything. Hunter: You offered us a chance, Crosshair. This is yours. Crosshair: I made my decision.

The next we see Crosshair in "The Solitary Clone" (S2:E3) he follows orders and shoots the Desix governor, right after Cody heartbreakingly tries to do what's right and find a peaceful solution.

Cody: Tell me something, Crosshair. This new Empire, are we making the galaxy better? Crosshair: We’re soldiers, we do what needs to be done. Cody: You know what makes us different from battle droids? We make our own decisions, our own choices. And we have to live with them too.

After this (glorious!) conversation, Crosshair stays. Maybe this began to seed some doubts, but he actually smiles a few scenes later when Rampart assigns him another mission. It seems like for him it truly is as he said in S1:E1 (chip not enhanced yet but still influencing him enough for his brothers to notice he's acting strange):

Crosshair: Republic, Empire... what's the difference.

Crosshair: Orders are orders.

This unethical mission that finally pushed Cody over the edge does not change Crosshair's mind about the Empire, at least not enough for him to take action.

But what does?

Mayday: And here we are, the survivors. Combat troopers stuck babysitting cargo shipments. Crosshair: Mission’s a mission. Mayday: Yeah, I used to say the same thing.

Mayday: After all the clones have done, all we’ve sacrificed. We’re good soldiers, we followed orders. And for what?

This mission has nothing to do with how the fascist Empire treats the galaxy, it's about how they treat their soldiers. It's about how Mayday loyally fought and served his whole life and Lieutenant Nolan let him die

Lt Nolan: He served his purpose as a soldier of the Empire. Crosshair: You could have saved him! Lt Nolan: Perhaps you didn’t hear me, he is expendable, as are you.

Crosshair thought he could find purpose within the Empire, and Nolan shows him exactly what that will be.

His turning point is accompanied with this powerful visual of the ice vulture, a symbol (and threat) of death, and also set up within the episode a symbol of survival:

Mayday: Vicious creatures, but you have to admire ‘em. They find a way to survive.

This critical moment (that gives me chills, oof this episode is a masterpiece!) comes right after Nolan calls him expendable and directly threatens him:

Lt Nolan: And if you speak to me again with such disrespect I'll see to it you meet a similar fate, clone.

then Crosshair sees the vulture's shadow and turns to Mayday's dead body (ahh visual storytelling my beloved) then makes his decision:

Crosshair turns against the Empire not because he believes Hunter was right about this:

Hunter: I've seen what the Empire is doing ... You know it's not right.

but because he was right about this:

Hunter: All you'll ever be to them is a number.

Redemption (both in fiction and irl in my humble opinion) comes with making amends and reparations (which is why death 'redemptions' bother me so much but that's a rant for another time). Unlike Emerie, Crosshair never explicitly denounces the Empire or his own actions within it. He never says anything to specifically show if and how his views have changed from what he said on Kamino. He makes amends with his family (sending the warning message, helping Omega escape, making up with Hunter) but that's about it. The most we get in terms of acknowledgement is this:

Crosshair: I thought I knew what I was getting into with the Empire. I thought I was being a good soldier. Hunter: Nobody really understood what was happening back then. Crosshair: I’ve... done things. I’ve made mistakes. Hunter: I have regrets too, Crosshair. All we can do is keep trying to be better, and who knows there just might be hope for us yet.

Which is nice and all but it's more about them making up as brothers so it's way too excusing tbh ("no one knew what was happening back then" ummm? "The Empire will control the entire galaxy, and I am going to be a part of it" remember? And even if at first Crosshair was being controlled by the chip, the fact that he chose to stay after it was removed* means he condones and is therefore still accountable for those actions).

There's also a bit of self-destructive guilt:

Crosshair: Omega, don't risk anything for me. I belong in here.

Crosshair: Omega needs you both. So I’m doing this alone, it’s what I deserve. Hunter: Don’t even think about plan 99, Crosshair. Omega needs all of us.

(which thank you Hunter for pushing back on the death redemption bs and oh look is that a wrap up for the purpose thing?)

But there's no action taken on his part to make up for what he's done or to stand against the Empire (aside from the bare minimum of help with Tantiss, only after it became personally relevant, which like yeah he had trauma to deal with but still).

While I do think the implications/follow-up of Crosshair's turn should have been handled better in S3 (like rip Howzer! he deserved an apology, but that's a rant for another time), I don't necessarily** think this arc is a bad writing choice. It's just saying different things than we expect:

Maybe Crosshair's story is not about standing up against an unjust system, like we see with many other characters (who deserved more screen time but that's a rant for another timeeee). Maybe his story is about how even those who are loyal to the Empire, who actually believe in it, still suffer under and within it's rule. Not to garner sympathy, but to show that there is no winning.

Crosshair has another 'so what changed' convo in S3:E14 with Rampart, in which they draw parallels to each other:

Rampart: You used to believe good soldiers followed orders. Crosshair: Depends on who's giving them. The Empire betrayed us both. Rampart: And you think you can fight them? That's not you. You're like me, loyal to no one but yourself. Crosshair: I've changed.

(note how he says who's giving the orders, not what the orders are)

"Loyal to no one but yourself" describes Rampart much more than Crosshair, since we often saw Crosshair pride himself as a loyal soldier of the Empire whereas we saw Rampart abuse power to be self-serving within the Empire (like when he killed Wilco to save face). But they were both betrayed either way. Vice Admiral Rampart, snively Imperial opportunist through-and-through, shouts "I was following orders!" as he is arrested for the Empire's purposes. (Edit: and where Crosshair rejected the Empire and found new purpose fighting for his family, Rampart was still self-serving in the finale. He still tries to gain power for himself and he gets his comeuppance).

Even Hemlock, the final boss immoral Imperial scientist, who has to be benefiting the most from this system, echoes the expendability idea:

Hemlock: What I am working on is beyond your understanding. Something so vital to the Empire it makes me indispensable.

Then there's CX-2, also set up as a parallel/foil to Crosshair (fight me), who in the end is discarded as no more than a weapon, a tool that served it's purpose, showing us what would have become of Crosshair if he had stayed.

There is no winning in the Empire. Loyalty is not rewarded, it "doesn't go both ways." Everyone has to fight for their value. Even high ranking individuals** who for a time benefit from the injustice, in the end are just pawns to be used up and cast aside at a whim for the Emperor's gain. Even people who are motivated by self-interest alone cannot survive within this system, the only viable option in this galaxy is to fight the Empire and dismantle that system. (unless you conveniently find a magically safe island to hide away on but that's a rAnT fOr AnOtHeR tImE)

Which brings us back to...

Emerie - Cooperation, Compassion, and Choice

(Okay this post has already gotten away from me but I still want to talk about her to show the contrasts.)

Emerie may not have been given a lot of screen time to really flesh out her development, but there is a lot that is pretty clearly implied with her:

Crosshair: They’ll never turn her [Omega] over. Hemlock: They don’t have a choice. She is a clone, and therefore Imperial property. *Camera cuts to an angle more centered on Emerie’s face*

Crosshair: Give me your access card! Emerie: It won’t get you outside!

Emerie: I tried to warn him what would happen if he did not cooperate with the Doctor.

Emerie: Prisoner? Omega, you are no such thing. It will take time to adjust, but you will acclimate. It is far safer in here than out there.

Emerie: You should go back to your room. Crosshair: You mean her cell?

Emerie: Why children? Hemlock: Children are easier to attain and more agreeable to the subjugations. They are unaware of why they are here and what they possess.

Emerie: They're children. Like I was... Was your plan to discard them too? Nala Se: The Empire will keep them in order to control them.

We don't know a lot about Emerie's background, but it's clear that she had a lot less choice than Crosshair and less opportunity or ability to leave. Unlike Crosshair, we never directly hear Emerie's views of the Empire (and she was most likely 'taken under Hemlock's wing' before the Empire even came to power), but lets look at how she talks about the Tantiss:

"Remain calm. Cooperate and you might survive."

"Don't make this worse, Crosshair! There is no escape!"

"All of us serve a purpose here."

"The Doctor will inform me, if it's necessary."

"It's best not to ask questions."

"Escape is not possible, Omega. This is for your own good."

She honestly does the best she can within the system she is also trapped in. She tries to help Crosshair, Omega, and the vault kids in the only way she knows how (warns Crosshair about the hounds and security, tries to protect Omega from Hemlock, tells Scorch his "actions were extreme" with Jax, insists on overseeing Bayrn's retrieval, double checks his m-count (to give him an out), and tries to find out where he came from). When she gives Omega, and later Eva, the doll, I think it shows just how little she really is able to do here (and it's kinda heartbreaking imo).

The framing of this shot especially (after Jax's escape attempt) visually shows how Emerie herself is trapped/imprisoned:

Despite the fact that very little of this is Emerie's fault, she has very little power and she is doing all she can, the narrative does not excuse her role in the Empire:

Nala Se: What will you do, Emerie? Emerie: There is nothing I can do. I don't have that kind of power. Nala Se: Don't you?

Emerie: I- I was doing my job. Echo: Yeah, I’ve heard that before. You’re a clone. How can you be part of this?

These fighting-the-Bystander-Effect conversations parallel these exchanges:

Hunter: We made a choice, and so did you. Crosshair: Soldiers follow orders. Hunter: Blind allegiance makes you a pawn.

Crosshair: We’re soldiers, we do what needs to be done. Cody: You know what makes us different from battle droids? We make our own decisions, our own choices. And we have to live with them too.

which did not change Crosshair's mind. And honestly, all respect to Echo's disappointed mom glare™ but I think it's clear Emerie had already made her decision, she just needed help to actually be able to do anything about it. When she stopped Echo, with her voice wavering on the verge of tears (ahhh v good voice acting), she clearly had no intention of turning him in. She's on her own in the Empire's most secure facility with very little resources, if she had tried anything on her own she most likely would have failed and been killed

Omega: Emerie, you don't have to do this. Emerie: (sigh) I’m sorry, but I do.

but as soon as she is enabled by an ally, she immediately turns around to help: giving information and getting Echo through security, helping the kids escape, and giving Omega the tablet that allows them to free the other clone prisoners.

Where Crosshair's turn is accompanied by the symbolic imagery of the ice vulture, Emerie's is the removal of her (literally rose-tinted!) glasses:

Symbolizing how she has shed her previous views/indoctrination that altered her perception of the Empire and blinded her to it's wrongs. It's disillusionment.

Emerie's story shows us that even those who are raised and indoctrinated into this system can, should, and will escape (with needed help). Even those who did not choose to be apart of the Empire and are not making the decisions still have the responsibility and ability to act on what they know is right.

Emerie, whose name means 'Home strength' 'Brave' and 'Powerful', and "reflects the importance of leadership and authority in the workplace".***

While Emerie is only in one more scene after her turn, so the wrap up is a bit rushed, she still very simply does what Crosshair does not:

Emerie: Because I was wrong about this place. And I'm trying to do the right thing.

Echo: I’m sure Senator Chuchi would find what you have to say very helpful for our cause. Emerie: I have a lot to make up for. I’d like to help out however I can.

She admits wrong, takes accountability, commits to making amends, and leaves with Echo to go take on the Empire (which hopefully we will get to actually see more of some day).

So, in short, she's showing us how redemption is done right!

---

Notes:

*Whether this writing choice was good/logical/in-character or not is another discussion entirely, but I'm going off of what we were given, what the show is presenting in the canon text and (reasonably inferred/intentional) subtext. Crosshair is pretty multifaceted and I could only touch on so much here. There's a lot of ways to interpret his character/choices, but I tried to avoid the realm of speculation or fanon explanations (even if they sometimes make more sense lol).

**History and political theory are not my area of expertise at all, so I have NO idea how well this aligns with real-world fascism stuff and therefore what implications this storytelling choice could have. I think the message of like 'if you think you could survive or gain power by doing what the Empire/fascist system wants you are wrong' could be good (like how everyone is actually harmed by the patriarchy type of a thing), but I hesitate bc maybe there are those who would benefit, since it's a hierarchal system, right? If anyone more knowledgeable than me has incite to share, by all means

Either way, I do think it works in-story and in-universe though. It's just in the execution. The main problem (even from a strictly theme/character arc stand point) is the lacking follow-up/consequences for Crosshair in S3. Like you gave your character accountability by removing the chip and I think that's great setup for an arc but you gotta follow through with that and actually hold him accountable!

***I'm always curious when clones have 'normal' names, like why did they chose the name Emerie of all things? So I looked it up. Idk how reliable sources are for name meanings so take it with a grain of salt but it's still fun. Fits pretty well, and clones names have definitely had significant meanings in the past (like how Rex and Jesse both mean 'king') so I'm pretty sure it was intentional.

Anyway, thanks for coming to my tedtalk

[laurrelise]

finally started reading sunrise on the reaping and here are my thoughts so far :))

oh my GOD oh my god what the HELL oh my FUCKING GOD my GOD holy SHIT what the HELL i was not PREPARED i am in devastation i will never be ok again don’t talk to me i am in pain

[liquidstar]

btw i updated ran's design <3

[myswimmingpewl]

Here are some of my thoughts about why whizzer is given a name in In Trousers, a lovely little ramble

So there's the obvious reason, that whizzer is just very important to Marvin. He doesn't view his "wife" or "sweetheart" on the same level to him and therefore, whizzer has a name while the others lack an identity and are simply defined through their relationship to Marvin. (even miss Goldberg who technically is given a name, we only get her last name so still a lack of identity and the "miss" still defines her through who she is to Marvin, teacher, rather than actually her as a person.) I mean whizzer even has a last name, while our selfish (sorry Marvin) narrator doesn't even give us his last name. It's clear that whizzer is given a name to amplify his importance to Marvin.

Now there's another potential reason as to why whizzer is the only one given a name. (like I said miss Goldberg is technically not really given a name so I consider it that whizzer the only one). Perhaps it's a way for Marvin to distance himself from whizzer. Now, like I said, the other characters are all defined through their relationship with Marvin; "wife", "sweetheart" and "Miss Goldberg". If we apply the same rules for whizzer, he would be called 'boyfriend' or maybe 'lover'. Calling whizzer that would pretty much be accepting his sexuality which Marvin cannot really do at this point. Therefore, by actually naming whizzer, Marvin maintains that discance between them.

Whereas with "wife" and "sweetheart", Marvin not only doesn't feel the need to hide this relationship from the world, but he also wants to prove to people that he is filling those roles in his life. And he does this by consistently reminding us he's got a "wife" and "sweetheart". While, like I said, sad little In Trousers Marvin probably doesn't want to prance about with a 'boyfriend' and so tries to distance himself from that by saying "whizzer".

[fantasticalleigh]

2021 RAW baby Damian had just joined the main roster and quickly became new US Champ and then briefly (ever so briefly) teamed up with Drew to fight heel Sheamus. i think this was the first time they 'met' but i had to screenshot it bc it was so damn cute? and they were clearly sizing each other up and wary of each other before teaming up and now it's all i think about every time they have moments together these days T-T

(screencaps are atrocious bc peacock fucks with screenshots and i think i took these with my phone of my laptop screen lmao)

[pempeeeperem]

Pretty sure you still have to be flirty with him for it to work that’s what happened with me and hope it works for you

I got it! You have to play one love, date someone and get on the romance route with Finn (flirt 3 times), then on the 6th heart event when you usually get to decide about a romance, he says these lines!

I can't.... I just can't...

Not only does he proposition her while she's dating someone else - WHICH HE KNOWS ABOUT - he wants to be the side piece?

The side piece??!?!?!??!?!?!

Good lord Finn don't you have any self respect? (yes yes I know he's saying it in a teasing voice, it's just "banter" but how much of this can be "banter" if keep hitting on her??? That's not banter! Banter can be friendly!! YOU'RE FLIRTING!!!)

ARGH! It breaks my heart. I weep for him.

He likes her canonically (see the ice cream event), losing a competition about a craft he doesn't care about pushed him into depression, the fake-it-till-you-make-it-card, the non-friends he's had before, how Sylvia feels like his first proper relationship (if you date him), his reaction if you reject him on the romance path... it all makes his bravado seem so, so brittle.

It's no more than a facade. And he doesn't want sympathy so instead he's being scary, flashes his teeth and says something about eating you.

This dialogue here underlines that to me. It's definitely not just banter to him, not just joking around with a friend. If Sylvia got back on the market he would be the first to knock on her door. Pretty sure he would actually agree to be the side piece and then stew in raging inadequacy. He's diving head first into a situationship.

And the fact he mentions the ring!! Why are you saying that if you're not thinking about exactly that?! He's coming on so strong during the flirting phase and then even more so when they're dating - guys, I think he wants to fool us. I think he actually wants to get married. He wants that commitment, seal the deal and all that. Most of all he wants Sylvia, however much she is willing to give...

Man... Finn needs someone to hype him up. Yes, Sylvia is awesome, but that's an invitation for disaster. He can do better. Finn, protect your heart! Please!

[azaisya]

they will remember him as LEYENLI, patron god of the royal House of Leyelorre and their people, god of spring and new love and joy

[happi-dreams]

actually this reminds me of so many little small aus me and my sister have came up with in the past

[iluvchick3nz]

Hi!! Would you write about O'Knutzy group chat? Just little snippets of their daily conversations

I LOVE the prompts that let me tell a bunch of little stories in a larger one-shot! Have your classic Finn "King of Flirting" O'Hara, Logan "Loverboy" Tremblay, and Leo "Perpetually (Fondly) Exasperated Nutter Butter Peanut Lovernut" Knut just chatting away all day, every day. :)

Credits to @lumosinlove !!

U both r so hot and u drive me CRAY-Z

Logan smiled as the notification came up on his phone in their group chat. He leaned back into Leo’s chest and nudged his hand, which was holding a book, with his nose. “Soleil.”

“One second.” Leo finished reading whatever paragraph he was on and set the paperback aside, using his other hand to card through Logan’s hair. “Hi, honey, what’s up?”

“Regarde.”

He turned slightly in Leo’s arms and held up the phone, watching as Leo read the text, blue eyes reflecting the screen, before smiling fondly and shaking his head. He kissed the back of Logan’s head and picked his book up again. “Tell him I’ll find him even hotter if he goes to pick up eggs after his lunch with Alex.”

Logan shifted and began to type. Leo asked you to pick up eggs, please.

The reply was almost immediate. What, he doesn’t find me hot? :(

Logan grinned. Non, he does. But you’re even hotter buying eggs. He bit the inside of his cheek, considering for a second. If you get eggs, I’ll give you both a surprise when you get home. :)

Finn read the text, but didn’t type back immediately. Logan could imagine his red ears and the deep breath he was probably taking, trying to calm himself down. After a few moments, the three little dots appeared again. Tell Leo I’ll get THREE cartons of eggs, and that he looks hot while cooking, but even hotter with no shirt on. Also, I love you. <3

Logan laughed out loud. Leo pinched his side. “Quoi?”

Logan tilted his head up to kiss Leo’s jaw. “Fish says he’ll get eggs, and that you look hot with no shirt. And that he loves us.”

Leo let out an exasperated, but fond, sigh. “His brain works in mysterious ways if he finds buying eggs sexy.”

“Non, he finds you sexy. We both do, especially when you don’t have a shirt on.”

“Mm.” Leo ducked down to press a warm kiss to his neck. “Love you.”

Logan rested his head back against Leo’s shoulder. “Je t’aime.” 

***

Which bear is best?

Logan squinted at his phone again to make sure he read the message from Finn right. His chest was still heaving from post-game adrenaline, hair dripping in his face, as he opened his phone. What?

False! Black bear.

Sorry, Leo texted. He’s been watching The Office again.

Logan grinned down at the screen. You didn’t watch my game? :(

Oh we did, honey! <3

Yeah, hot stuff shortie pants, now we r waiting 4 u to call us when u get home- no clothes, plz ;)

Logan flushed, biting back a smitten grin. 45 minutes. Love you love you love you :)

LUV UUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!

Love you, sweetheart <3

Logan threw his phone down in his stall and began to strip himself of his Under Armor. 

***

Chicken or steak for dinner?

You.

Finn.

What kind of steak? What kind of chicken? This is important information, butter.

Flank steak with a marinade or rosemary lemon chicken. 

Finn looked down at where Logan was lying on his chest, eyes closed. He wasn’t asleep, though- Finn could tell by his breathing.

“Baby,” Finn whispered. He kissed Logan’s forehead. “My love.”

“Mm?” Logan hummed lowly. “Quoi?”

“Chicken or steak?”

“Quoi?”

“Leo’s at the store, and he wants to know what we want for dinner. Marinated flank steak or rosemary lemon chicken.”

Logan grunted again, stretching his legs, which were tangled with Finn’s. He nuzzled his nose closer under Finn’s neck. “Leo.”

Finn smiled into his hair. “You want Leo for dinner?”

A satisfied, happy sigh. “Ouais.”

Finn laughed and opened up their group chat again. Lo says he wants you for dinner, sunshine.

He could just imagine Leo’s sigh. You two are no help. I love you, I’ll get steak.

<3 U 2 luvr

Finn set his phone down and wrapped his arms fully around Logan’s back. “Leo’s getting steak.” He kissed Logan’s forehead. “Want me to read to you until he gets back?”

Logan nodded, letting out a content sound. “Ouais. Please.”

So Finn picked up his latest paperback from their bedside table and opened up to the next chapter.  

***

You’re so pretty. 

I want to build you a fire.

Beer tastes like shit.

Will you marry me?

Leo barked out a laugh at the string of messages from Logan to both him and Finn. He checked the time- 11:15. Leo smiled. Just enough time for Logan to get post-win drunk at a bar with his teammates.

Finn, who was asleep on Leo’s chest in their bed, woke with a soft noise. “Wha’s hap’ning?”

Leo set aside his book and kissed Finn’s forehead. “Lo’s drunk at a bar.”

Finn blinked up at him. “Huh?” 

“Look.” Leo showed him his phone.

A slow, sleepy grin made its way across Finn’s face. “Oh, baby.”

Not two seconds later, Leo’s phone lit up with Logan’s contact photo. It was a picture of him, sun-kissed and sitting across from Leo and Finn at a restaurant in Nice, his chin on his hand, smile and green eyes soft in the orange sunset. Leo hovered his thumb over the screen for a minute, not ready to look away, before pressing the green phone icon and clicking on the speaker phone. “Hi sweetheart.”

“Vous n'avez pas répondu à ma question!”

Finn stuck his tongue out at the phone screen, even though Logan couldn’t see him. “I don’t speak French.”

There was a huff on the other end of the line. “You didn’t answer my question.”

Leo caught Finn’s eye playfully. “Oh yeah? Remind me again, what was it?”

“You know what it was, soleil, allez.”

Finn tucked his nose under Leo’s jaw. “I thought we already answered that question. I know I did.” He looked at Leo and winked, lifting his left hand up to flash the engagement rings on his finger. “Twice.”

“Answer me again.”

Leo drew Finn closer. “Ask again.”

There was a pause, as if Logan was gathering himself, before he spoke, words slightly slurred and hushed, but soft all the same. “Will you marry me?”

Finn let out a happy sigh. “Yeah, baby. Yes.”

“Soleil?”

“Of course sweetheart.” Leo carded his fingers through Finn’s hair. They were both still staring at Logan’s contact photo. “Will you marry us?”

“Ouais. Oui, mes amours.”

“Oh good,” Leo said drily. “That’ll make the wedding we’re planning a whole lot easier if we all plan on being there.”

Logan groaned, and Leo could imagine his eye roll and flushed cheeks. “Of course we will all be there, that’s a silly question.”

“Oh, well excuse me, Your Royal Highness.”

“Hey, Lo,” Finn said. “You said something about building us a fire? Peanut’s cold.”

“I am not!”

“Uh, yeah, your hands are freezing.”

Leo glanced to where his free hand not holding the phone had found its way under Finn’s sweatshirt, resting against the skin of his lower back. His engagement ring glinted slightly in the moonlight. “Well…”

“As-tu froid, mon chou?” Logan’s voice was almost a bit sad.

Finn took Leo’s fingers in his own and pressed them to his warm mouth. Leo shook his head. “I’ll be alright, sweetheart.”

“Mm, bien. Next time I’m there, I will build you a fire.��

Leo grinned softly, ducking his nose down to rest in Finn’s hair. He didn’t think it was worth mentioning that they, in fact, did not have a fireplace. “Sounds good, honey.”

There was a rustle on the other line and some voices. “Rouge, peanut, I have to go. Percy is making me do shots.”

“I am not!”

“Ouais, he is!” Logan let out what sounded a little bit like a whine. “You have to believe me, he is.”

Finn laughed. “Oh, I believe you, baby. Good game, have fun, be safe, text us when you get home and we’ll call you in the morning.”

“Ouais, ouais, je t’aime, rouge, I love you so much, soleil, I love you, I love you both, I love you so much.” 

Finn made kissy noises at the phone. “Love you, marry you later, baby.”

“Love you!”

“I love you,” Logan sighed. Then the line cut.

Leo leaned over to plug his phone in on the nightstand, then turned back to snuggle against Finn’s body once again. “He gets very sappy when he’s drunk.”

“Mm, fuzzy.”

Leo snorted. “Who? Logan?”

“Mhm.” Finn nodded. “He described it to me once, when he was drunk in college. He used to get really touchy. Not, like, in a bad way. With me mostly, obviously.”

Leo grinned. “Obviously.”

He felt the scrape of Finn’s teeth against his neck. “At one party, the last one before I went to the draft, we were sitting really close together on our frat house’s couch. And I had my arm over his shoulders, and he just kind of- flopped on me, I don’t know. Anyway, he told me that drinking made him feel fuzzy, or some shit like that. Maybe he meant snuggly, I don’t know, because he said it in French, and it took me, like, five minutes to figure it out.”

Leo laughed, wrapping his arms more firmly around Finn’s waist. “He does tend to do that when he’s drunk.” He moved their bodies down on the bed so they could lay side by side, bodies still tangled. “I can’t believe Percy is having him do shots.”

“Percy Marshall is a very convincing man.”

Leo began to laugh again, but then their dark ceiling lit up with a notification on Leo’s phone. He rolled, Finn coming up behind his back to spoon him, and unlocked it. He felt Finn’s smile against his neck as they both read Logan’s message.

I love you so much and vodka is awful but you are not you are beautiful and I love you forever I love you <3

Leo bit his lip against a smile as Finn pressed a kiss to his neck. We love you so much, sweetheart <3

Finally, Leo set his phone face down and rolled back onto his other side to face Finn again. He kissed him softly. “I love you.”

Finn pressed his smile to Leo’s again. “Love you, nutter butter.” He kissed Leo’s forehead and drew him in closer. Leo felt his breathing even out, Finn and Logan’s love settled over him like a blanket. “Sleep tight, baby.”

[elephantshoetoo]

Doesn't this photo just perfectly sum up their whole relationship as a couple?

El - needs and relies on Mike to feel connected and worthy of love.

Mike - tolerates her existence.

[witlesswitnesstm]

Just watched some of the Broadway con panel for In Trousers, it makes me sad that William Finn thought the rewrite he made/the published version of In Trousers was a mistake, cause I really love it.

[microwavetoaster-selfships]

I'm going to scream my dad said he got me a late Christmas gift that he forgot to wrap and it's a bunch of those dumb stamps but they're Cars characters and on top of that some of them include Cars 2 characters I'm going to lose my mind. I will start buying ink pads once the sad day of these running out come. I will terrorize so many things with these I already stamped my hand with a Lightning McQueen one but. But. The icing on the cake is that they're all different colors right. But for some reason the purple ones are Holley Shiftwell(makes sense, purple car) and ROD REDLINE!?!?! And that is making me even more bonkers because a right amount or Cars 2 characters get the "we don't exist" treatment, especially Rod(which I suppose makes sense why it would be hard to market a guy that exists for a few minutes before being blown up) and so I was so happy to see him.

HOLS ON. HOLD ON. IM. SORRY. AS IM MAKING THIS POST I. I don't want to ruin this post in all caps so just read this as me shouting but as I'm writing this I'm looking at all of them and I was like "Haha, the McQueen one is the black one, I wonder who's on the red ones!" And it's Mack!! And I was like oh that's sweet. A lot of Radiator Springs characters get marketing attention(at least their stock png photos do) and Mack doesn't always as often get it so that was really nice. But then I'm like. Oh hey wait. There's like four of every color, two characters each color. Who else is on the red one...?

CHICK. CHICK. FREAKING HICKS. IS ON THE RED ONE. IM GOING TO SOVB IM IN TEARS. HE COULDNT BE MORE GREEN. Literally him being on any other color would've been fine. But they really had to stick it to him and put him on the Rusteeze McQueen red huh. Poor thing. What's worse is that there's literally a green one as well. And it's of Sarge and Fillmore. The gays outdid him at his own color. Chick really is not ever going to catch a break huh.

[inbetweencoffees]

Why exactly does someone make fun of me for handing in my english final exam but then requests to follow me on instagram now that we’ve graduated?

[achilleean]

thrifted a Mr. Tickle enamel pin and it’s now a fixture on the fanny pack I wear as part of my uniform. why am I risking being called out/asked about it? who can say. he just belongs there.

[liquidstar]

good morning :)

[m00ndrunkmonster]

someone enlighten me. what actually is closure and what retailers can i purchase it from