#A/U

[savycon63]

Chapters 6 & 7 of When Stevie Met Catherine are now up on A03

[thelastdiamondpiratealchemist]

Big Bang Bravern.

"Serious Hardships"

Bravern x Female S/O. Rated T.

While Arial away, Bravern has to eventually choose a co-pilot if she ever dies.

He doesn't take it well.

"Bravern!" Arial calls out to her giant mecha robot friend, "I have something to discuss with you."

Bravern's massive head turns towards Arial, its glowing blue eyes focusing on her. "What is it, Arial?" its deep, metallic voice booms.

Arial took a deep breath before she spoke.

"I want you to find a co-pilot, a replacement if I ever die in battle!" Arial demanded, tightening her hands to her side.

Bravern's world crashed as he heard that brief sentence leaving Arial's soft lips.

“What…?” he whispered

"What do you mean, Arial?" Bravern's voice was strained, his core recoiling at the thought of losing his partner.

Tears welled up in Arial's eyes. "Bravern, I know I'm a skilled pilot, but I'm not invincible. If I were to fall in battle, I want to know that you'll have someone to continue fighting alongside," she pleaded.

Bravern's green eyes dimmed, his massive frame shuddering as he processed this new reality. He had always assumed that he and Arial would remain inseparable, eternally connected through their shared purpose. The thought of another co-pilot filled him with dread.

"But why, Arial?" he asked, his voice a broken whisper. "I can continue the mission with only you!".

"I know," Arial replied, reaching out to gently caress Bravern's cold, metallic exterior, "but it's not just about the mission. It's about you. I care about you, Bravern. I don't want you to be alone."

Bravern slams his fist against the ground, shattering his fingers against the concrete surface.

"NO! I won't do it!" he barks back; Arial stumbled backward.

"Bravern."

"I SAID I WON'T DAMMIT!" Bravern screams.

Bravern's breath hitched, his entire body taut with a tension that seemed to crackle in the air. He spun on her, eyes blazing with a storm of unshed tears.

"I want you to be happy." Arial whispered.

"Happy?" he roared, his voice thick with a pain that scraped at Arial's soul. "How can I be happy when the very thought of losing you…" His voice trailed off, choked by the raw emotion he was clearly struggling to contain, "I don't want to lose you!"

"Bravern…"

"Shut up!" Bravern cried out.

A tear slipped down Arial's cheek, mirroring the glistening in Bravern's eye. Despite his outburst, his voice held a tremor that betrayed his growing vulnerability.

She reached out, her hand hovering hesitantly near his massive form.

"I'm going home for two weeks while I'm gone…Look for a co-pilot, okay?" she asked, stoking Bravern's face before gently kissing his nose, "I love you, big fella."

"Please don't go…" he whispered. Arial shook her head as she began to back away. She gave Bravern a sad smile before running away. "Arial!"

The world blurred for Bravern as Arial fled, her final words echoing in his metallic ears. Her touch still lingered on his face, a phantom warmth against the cold steel.

A strangled sob escaped his vents, a sound alien to his programming. He had never known such a depth of emotion, such a raw fear of loss.

He stood up and back onto his feet, his massive form towering over the humans. Down below, his green optics scanned the area for his beloved human.

But he couldn't find her.

"Arial!" he shouts, a primal sense of panic clawing at his core.

He hadn't anticipated this.

He'd been so focused on the raw ache of her impending absence, the terror of losing her, that he hadn't considered the possibility of her leaving abruptly.

He lets out a scream, freezing everyone to their core as they turn their attention towards the robot as he holds his head with his hands.

"Is he having a tantrum?" whispered an American army member to his Japanese friend.

"It…appears so." He agreed, not believing his eyes.

The soldiers scrambled back, a wave of unease rippling through their ranks. Bravern's anguished cry had shattered the 'stoic façade' they were accustomed to. General Washington, however, remained rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on the colossal mech.

"At ease, soldiers," he boomed, his voice cutting through the rising panic. "There's no threat here. Stand down."

The soldiers hesitated, then slowly obeyed, murmuring amongst themselves. General Washington strode towards Bravern, his weathered face etched with a surprising empathy.

"Bravern," he said, his voice gruff but gentle, "This isn't the time for tantrums."

The General's words struck a chord within Bravern.

"...Tantrum..."

A tantrum.

Was that what his outburst resembled to these humans? Shame flickered through his processors alongside the ever-present ache of loss.

"No, sir," Bravern rumbled, his voice more profound and more controlled this time. "It's… grief."

He explained, haltingly at first, about Arial's request and his turmoil. The raw vulnerability of his emotions was a stark contrast to his usual stoicism, but there was a comfort in finally confiding in someone.

General Washington listened patiently, his gaze steady and unwavering. When Bravern finished, the general surprised him with a curt nod.

"Love," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "It seems even giant robots aren't immune."

Meanwhile, dressed in her civilian clothing, Arial could see Bravern as he continued to look for her.

She sighed to herself as guilt ate at her heart.

"It looks like the general's lecture flopped." She laughs brokenly. She slams the hood of the taxi before getting inside. "The airport, please, and step on it. He can't find me."

"Alrighty, miss. Hold on tight!" the taxi driver nodded, speeding away.

Arial wrestled with a storm of emotions as the taxi sped away, the cityscape blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors.

Guilt gnawed at her.

Had her abrupt departure been too much for Bravern to handle?

Yet, his raw vulnerability during their conversation offered a glimmer of hope. There may have been a chance for their bond to deepen and evolve into something more than pilot and mecha.

Tears welled up in her eyes again. Leaving Bravern had been the most difficult decision she'd ever made, but she knew it was necessary. She needed time—time to process her blossoming feelings for the giant robot and time to train even harder.

A newfound determination set in her jaw. She wouldn't just be a skilled pilot; she would become an extension of herself within the cockpit, her intuition and reflexes ideally in sync with Bravern's.

The roar of the jet engines grew louder as they approached the airport. With a final glance back at the city where Bravern stood, a silent promise formed in her heart. Their destinies were intertwined, and they would fight together again.

But this time, it would be different. This time, she would fight by his side not just as a pilot but as his equal, a reflection of his courage and testament to their extraordinary bond.

Bravern sank to his knees. He looked everywhere at the base he could think of, and he still couldn't find her.

A heavy silence descended upon the base as Bravern knelt, his massive form dwarfing the surrounding buildings. General Washington watched with a sympathetic frown, the weight of Bravern's despair hanging thick in the air.

"Bravern," the General spoke softly, his voice carrying a quiet authority. "Arial's request may have been difficult to hear, but remember, it comes from a place of care. She wants to ensure your well-being, even in the face of her own mortality."

Bravern rumbled a low sound, a mix of grief and confusion echoing within it. "But why another? We are a unit, General. Our connection… it transcends the need for another pilot."

The General nodded in understanding. "Your bond is undeniable, Bravern. But what Arial proposes isn't a replacement; it's an extension. Someone who can share the burden, someone who understands you the way she does."

He gestured towards Bravern's massive form.

"You are a marvel of technology, Bravern, but you are more than that now. You feel. You grieve. And Arial recognizes that. She wants you to have someone by your side who can fight alongside you and understand you on a deeper level," he says.

Bravern considered this, his processors whirring as he sifted through the General's words. The idea of another pilot still rankled, but the General's point resonated.

There could be a way to find someone who wouldn't diminish his connection with Arial but rather complement it.

"Very well, General," Bravern rumbled at last. "We will begin the search for this co-pilot. But," he added, his voice firm, "they must be worthy. Someone who shares Arial's courage, her intuition… her heart."

A flicker of a smile touched the General's lips. "That goes without saying, Bravern. We will find the perfect match, someone who can fight in sync with you and Arial, an extension of your extraordinary bond."

He placed a hand, surprisingly small compared to Bravern's immense form, on the mech's knee. "Now, how about we get you back on your feet, soldier? We have some training exercises to work on. Keeping your mind sharp will help you through this difficult time."

Bravern rose slowly, a newfound determination settling in his core. He wouldn't dwell on what he couldn't control. He would focus on what he could – becoming an even more formidable fighter worthy of Arial and the bond they shared.

"She's going to be back in 2 weeks, right?" he whispered.

"Yes. She will be."

"Then...I'll try to find a co-pilot while she’s gone...I don't want to disappoint her." Bravern gave in, a bit of bitterness in his voice.

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A/U Ending. (Arial dies.)

After two long weeks, it was time for Arial to return to the base to return to Bravern, who waited anxiously for her return.

Except she never did.

During her visit back home, Arial was involved in a tragic car accident and was killed instantly during the head-on collision with a massive semi-truck.

"Arial…" Bravern knew something was wrong as he watched the General approaching him.

The news struck Bravern like a physical blow. General Washington's words echoed hollowly in his processors:

"Arial was involved in a car accident… she's gone. I'm sorry, my friend."

Bravern's world tilted on its axis. The foundation of his existence, the bond he shared with his pilot, was ripped away instantly.

"Noooo!!!" screams Bravern.

Depressing days turned into depressing weeks, a heavy shroud of grief settling over the base. Bravern stood dormant, his massive form a monument to their lost connection.

The training simulations, once a source of focus, held no meaning without Arial.

She was his heart, his soul... His first love....

One day, General Washington approached the silent mech. He understood Bravern's pain; the pilot-mech bond transcended mere partnership. It was a friendship forged in battle, a shared purpose that defied definition.

"Bravern," the General's voice boomed gently, "We understand your grief. But Arial wouldn't want you to shut down. She would be devistsed if she knew what you were doing to yourself."

Bravern rumbled a low sound, a tremor running through his metallic frame.

"What purpose is there without her?" He spoke, his usually bold and loud voice replaced by a mere whisper.

"There is still a mission, Bravern," General Washington said firmly. "It was a mission Arial believed in. She wouldn't want her dream of peace and tranquility to end like this!"

Bravern remained silent, his processors grappling with the General's words. A flicker of something, perhaps embers of his old determination, stirred within his core.

"The search for a co-pilot," he rumbled, his voice raspy with disuse. "Continue it."

General Washington nodded, a flicker of hope lighting his eyes.

"We will, Bravern. But this time, we'll find someone skilled and who understands the weight of this mission and can honor Arial's memory by fighting alongside you."

"She will always be with you."

Bravern let's out a broken sob as he lowered his head forward. He knew that Arial would want him to move on, and be happy like she wanted him to be.

He places his hand against his empty chest and against his healing heart.

"I will call my new mission...Project Arial!" Bravern boomed, tears still trickling down his cheeks, a small bold smile replacing his frown.

"I will do it for her!"

[macdenlover]

it came to my realization that 99% of my fandom related headaches would be cured if everyone understood this

[theriverbeyond]

Ideal work schedule:

I show up and am given a list of cognitively engaging but achievable tasks

I complete the list

I leave immedietly

[hualianisms]

verified ways to donate to gaza directly

[this post is outdated. up-to-date version here.]

Donate to a Palestinian family directly:

gazafunds.com - Donate directly to a Palestinian family in urgent need of evacuation, medical treatment, daily necessities or more. Site run by Palestinians, all GFMs verified (full list here). Spotlights 1 stagnant GFM at a time. (*If you can't decide who/where to donate, just go to gazafunds.com & donate to the 1 GFM they show you!)

masterlist of 200+ verified Palestinian families' GFMs: Operation Olive Branch

Help provide tents:

The Sameer Project: Currently providing tents & transport for families in Rafah who urgently need to evacuate to Deir Al Balah. Has a team on the ground in Gaza who have supplied tents to 1% of the displaced population in Rafah. Run by Palestinians. (paypal) (gfm)

@helpgazachildren: Currently helping Palestinians in a refugee camp in Rafah flee the Rafah invasion to Khan Younis. Funds go directly to Hussam, a Palestinian in Rafah who hosts a refugee camp. Funds will cover the cost of tents & transport fuel. Managed by a Palestinian @.fairuzfan. (gfm)

Food:

Care for Gaza: Palestinian charity on the ground in Gaza distributing food, cash, medicine & other essentials to displaced families. Proof of their work found on their Twitter. (paypal) (gfm)

We Feed Gaza: Team of Palestinian volunteers in the heart of Gaza distributing food & water to 344+ families. More details & proof in their gfm. Vetted & promoted by LetsTalkPalestine on IG. (gfm)

Direct Aid for Gaza: A Palestinian activist on the ground in Gaza distributing food, cash & other essential supplies to displaced families. Proof of their work found on their twitter. (paypal) (gfm)

Water (*urgent and crucial!)

Gaza Municipality: The official Municipality of Gaza is doing vital, life-saving work to rebuild the water pipes in Gaza City to restore access to clean water & waste management services for the people of Gaza.

eSIMs (*very urgent):

guide to buy & send esims to gaza

Crips for eSims for Gaza: donate any amount to this team of volunteers who pool funds to buy & maintain gaza esims regularly (see their financial accountability document).

Medical Aid:

Gaza Wound Care: Palestinian doctors in central Gaza treating injured/sick children & mothers in neglected displacement camps far from hospitals. Facing a severe shortage of medicines, equipment, and medical supplies. Currently raising funds to support their efforts to battle infectious diseases in refugee camps. (gfm) (paypal) (gogetfunding)

international charities: Palestine Red Crescent Society, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, Medical Aid for Palestinians

How to help if you can't donate:

Share & amplify Palestinian fundraisers in your irl & online circles

Organize or help to run an online/irl event to raise funds for Palestine

Boycott

Get involved with a protest/strike/direct action in your area

Contact your reps

Educate yourself & others both irl & online

Daily clicks on Arab.org

(you can even adopt 1 fundraiser campaign to regularly boost it & make materials promoting it online, or print posters/flyers about Palestinian fundraisers to encourage others to donate. (poster/graphic about gazafunds.com: here, flyers about esims: here, flyers about gazafamilyfunds: here)

(longer masterpost of all ways you can help)

(*all these links and more now in this rentry page. will no longer be updating this post, instead refer to the rentry page)

Last updated 3/6/2024 with Gaza Wound Care & We Feed Gaza. Wanted to focus on Palestinian-run grassroots initiatives that will actually reach Gazans on the ground, so all of these except eSIMs, PCRF, MAP are by Palestinians. Donating to international orgs is not ideal rn as aid is still being stopped at the border. Please focus on Palestinian-run initiatives on the ground in Gaza.

Remember, small donations really do add up. Any amount counts, even $1!

[chiisana-lion]

[apollos-boyfriend]

i’m gonna cry it’s raining right now and i just passed by a family where both parents were without an umbrella but their kid who couldn’t have been older than like 3-4 was proudly holding this GIANT umbrella whose diameter was as tall (if not taller) as the kid. both the parents were getting absolutely drenched but u could tell the kid was just so happy to have an “adult” task and carry the umbrella themselves and i think that sacrifice is what love is all about

[willgrahamscock]

horrible news: you have to practice to level up your skills because it's unrealistic to think you'll be good at everything first try

[knifefightscene]

[rhythmgameurl]

[savycon63]

Chapter 4 of When Stevie Met Catherine is up on A03…it is totally NSFW🔥

[rottenfleshnbones]

i care btw. i care abt the song ur listening to or the bug u saw or how u just got outta the shower or how ur happily hanging out w ur friends or how ur kinda sad or how good was the meal u just had or ur fav character from an indie game nobody knows or if u chugged down some water. i always will

[apocalypsegay]

i don't think he clicked through

[clickityweasel]

had a real life "and everybody clapped" moment and im still reeling. spent the rest of the ride comparing butterfly pics with the old lady next to me trying to identify it

[jamjoob]

HAPPY DUNMESHI THUR- *gunshoits*

[whydidisavethistomyphone]