#But open relationship and/or polycule is nice to think about too-

[babacontainsmultitudes]

Also... Post-canon lovesong... If you even care... "Is Sparrow still with Rebecca?" that part is a choose your own adventure babeeey~

[the-mcyt-crackships-brackets]

You know it, We know it, in the end there can only be one, and it is hereby decreted that the newest and only crackship ever is...

JOELBEANS!

Yeah, we could have seen this one coming from an overworld a way, but its win still hits us like a car, or a comet maybe! But who else could match his freak but himself, be honest. that man is the only being capable to have an homoerotic relationship between himself, and himself (editing), even the creators agree, look at guess the build, they made fanart of joelbeans there! In a thousand words or in just one, this ship could have just been called "egomania" and we'd all still get it, joel's head is so big, of course he'd want to have some of it!

But, what are winners without runner-ups?

IN SECOND PLACE WE SEE...

THE PANTHEON QPR!

Hell yeah! i cannot express how i personally am so happy it got this far, while the idea itself wasn't mine, i did change it with the help of the other admins. what is better but a platonic polycule between 10 gods from 10 different servers? Joelbeans apparently. So some presentations are probably needed, and the pantheon is always open to new deifications! In first, standing at her 10 feet tall, it's lizzie, the godess of the ocean herself; At her right lay in all her ratjesty folly, spreading life across worlds in the form of her folly trees; Next up is saint pearl, santa perla, godess of moon and the light it brings; Of course, even the darkest places can see light, and that's something kristin, the godess of death, can tell you a lot about; After this line-up, you could be led to think all gods are mature and wise, and here come joel, ruler of stratos and god of thunder, it is said that when his cheeks clap, lighting strikes... Well, to a slightly serious note, even if the wisdom is still far, here is lifestealowner, the fading, discreet god of warriors and fighters, who leads armies in battle, no matter the side. We talked about the saint pearl, godess of the moon, so what about bdubs, god of the sun and the day, bringing his light to the world every time he sleeps. After the more *benevolent* gods, time to get to the more controversial ones, Jschlatt, god of hubris, making sure every icarus will see their downfall, so if the deal ever seems to good to be true, it probably is, never sign a contract with a god, never take Jschlatt's apple. Next is Grian, the watcher, God of fate, more of a silent observer than anything, watching the strings of life twists and pull. And finaly, on the more active side, and less mature one too, is evbo, the god of parkour and all things challenging, because what is life without a little competition?

Well well well, that sure is a nice selection we got here, but does it hold up to previous winners?

Sligthly more from the admins:

Admin 1 here, still loyal to this dumb idea since the start, and it actually costed me more than anything... how many of my own crations have rebelled and are now living rent-free in my mind? only i can know, but at least i can inflict the same on you lot!

I'll never regret this blog, firstly because every time it's so fun and filled with great ideas, but also because i met a bunch of peoples through here, the obvious like other admins and admins on other blogs (looking at you @mcyt-builds-contest, can't wait for the fic ;D), but also the regulars, (looking at you fwhilza analyst, i'm manifesting them on the realm smp so hard rn)

All in all, it's been fun, and i'll see you all next time for season 4! but before we get to that, let's get some sponsors! if you have any blog you want boosted that is even slightly related/inspired by this one, let us know!

Admin 2 here! you may know me as the one who reblog stuff sometimes and is always way too late, you may also know me as the one who stole the account of a previous admin and is still using it!

Contrarly to admin 1, i ain't a big tumblr user, more of a tumblr lurker, so this whole brackets got really out of hands really quickly for me, it's already stressful to run a blog for fans when it gets kinda big, but it's even worst when a bunch of CCs start to interact with it, but alas, i discovered so many niche creators through the very non-neuronormative rant about our crackships (i'm one of y'all i can make this joke lul) and i can only say, man i love mcytblr

Admin 3 here! i'm the newest one so sorry if i don't have much to add, i'm trying my best😁! I still don't know how i got here, i wasn't even a big minecrafter and somehow got myself in this mess (/aff❤️) i won't make this a long block of text and will instead simply say:

I love you all 🫶���� and remember to stay silly ✌️kekw

Also to keep you all entertained while we wait, we're bringing back bingo!

send us an ask with a crackship and you'll get the opinion of a random admin about it!

[anonymousbeefriendfanfics]

Felix x Rime x MC Polycule Domestic Headcannons

Fandom: Last Legacy (Fictif/Nix Hydra/Dorian) Characters: Felix, Rime, Gender neutral MC Prompt: hcs ab how would domestic life be for Felix and Rime and MC polycule Requested by: @mossmosis Warnings: Brief stabbing mention (Rime is in this, so-)

Last Legacy content, in this day and age?! It's more likely than you think! I've gotten a bit distracted with other fandoms, but I've been meaning to return to my beloved Fictif fandoms. I suppose now's the time!

Also, thank the dice gods for bringing you this particular treat! I had motivation to write, but no idea what to do, so I rolled some dice and this was the result!

Requests are open, as always, so if you'd like to see more, send me an ask!

For starters, there is no shortage of sarcasm and snarky commentary in this relationship. It's practically one of your love languages at this point! Rime and Felix are both prone to making smart remarks, and when they're both in the mood for banter, things can get mildly out of hand... you've had to calm Anisa down after she witnessed one such moment, assuring her that the two of them were not, in fact, in a terrible mood and taking it out on each other. You've come to enjoy their banter, regardless whether you join in or simply sit back and watch the show.

Both of them enjoy teasing you and each other, though there are some stylistic differences. Felix tends to be a little softer and kinder with his teasing - don't get me wrong, there's often a little bite behind his words, that cute little smirk and playful sparkle in his eyes that makes your heart flutter. He teases you about lighter subjects, and though he often speaks without thinking, he never means any harm by it.

Rime, on the other hand, doesn't hold back in the slightest. It's not that he means to hurt your feelings, he isn't doing it out of malice - he simply doesn't know when to back off sometimes. If you call him on it, he'll scoff and roll his eyes, likely making some little comment about you not being able to take a joke - but he won't tease you about that again, and he'll do something nice for you in the near future as an unspoken apology.

Speaking of gifts, both of them will absolutely shower you and each other with small gifts for absolutely no reason. Felix is prone to bringing something home for you both anytime he visits the market - it's very rare that he forgets, though sometimes he'll return empty-handed and visibly frustrated that he couldn't find anything suitable. He sometimes gifts you and Rime jewelry, and has surprisingly impeccable taste, always giving you something you'll love. Books are another of his frequent gifts, of course - you can expect any new books to go missing shortly afterwards as he borrows them to read them himself before quietly returning them a few days later. You've also received a few trinkets that match his gothic mage aesthetic, too, because it wouldn't be Felix if he didn't share his love of vaguely creepy things with you!

Rime tends to focus less on physical gifts and more on actions. He spends time with you both, learns about your interests, stabs your enemies, and does small things to help you out. He prefers to be a little more subtle with his affections, almost pretending like he doesn't care, when in reality he cares very much. It's not that he's hiding it, he just... isn't very open with his emotions yet. When he does bring you gifts, though, it's usually something pretty simple, like some random trinket he saw and thought of one or both of you. I could also see him taking up woodcarving as a hobby to help him relax and unwind, so you'll occasionally find a new gift from him sitting on your desk, carved from wood or, sometimes, from his shed antlers. He likes bringing you food, too, and memorizes both of your tastes and favorite treats so he can choose the best treats.

Getting all three of you in bed at the same time can be difficult, but when it is achieved, you have a delightful time cuddling with each other. On the somewhat rare occasion that you all turn in together, you take turns being the one in the middle unless one of you has had a particularly bad day and needs double the snuggles. Most of the time, though, whoever goes to bed first ends up in the middle, with the other two crawling in wherever there's space when they're finally tired enough to get some sleep.

Mornings are always interesting, too. You or Rime are always up first - it's almost never Felix. Whoever is up first starts making the coffee and/or tea, and you try to take turns making breakfast. Rime might complain if you miss your turn, but you know he doesn't really mean it. He won't admit it easily, but he actually enjoys cooking, especially for his partners. Once breakfast is ready and one of you drags Felix out of bed, you all sit down for a nice meal together. Depending on how busy you three are, sometimes breakfast is the only meal you can all have together, so you make the most of it!

When you do have time off from your busy schedules, you almost always spend it together. Most of the time you're in the study/library at Fathom, doing more casual research projects together or reading books in a comfortable silence. Sometimes, though, you go out to get some fresh air and a change of scenery! Wandering around Porriman markets is often a good way to spend an afternoon, sampling various treats and buying interesting things for one another.

Something else you three often do together is stargazing. Felix obviously loves it, especially when he gets to share it with his loves, and though Rime might comment that it's boring just to be a bit of a brat, once he gets comfortable he'll become far more relaxed. Often times these nights consist of you and Rime gazing quietly at the stars, listening contentedly to Felix's soft voice as he rambles on and on about them. He'll inevitably get a bit flustered when he realizes just how long he's been talking, but it's nothing a few kisses can't fix~

Honestly this entire relationship would just be so soft and so chaotic at the same time. You all love each other so much and care deeply for one another, but there's rarely a dull moment!

[borathae]

Stardust

" Taehyung, who is gazing at the endless galaxies in Jungkook’s deep brown eyes, answers him in whispers. “I love the stars as well.” Jungkook, unaware that Taehyung didn’t speak of nature's stars but those of his, looks up at Taehyung."

Pairing: Vampire!Jungkook x Vampire!Taehyung

Genre: established relationship!AU, polyamory!AU, Slice of Life Fluff

Warnings: Tae tries so hard and it's reciprocated!, they're actually so in love :(, idk man this entire polycule just hits so hard whenever i write for them, a cute date, and Tae being an excited bean, and Kook being a cutie, goodness this is so cute and romantic :(

Wordcount: 2.7k

a/n: i cry into my pillow each night. i love this family so much :(

Taehyung and the others have returned from The Plains two days ago. Life at the estate didn’t change during the days they spent far away in the other realm. The plants still grew, the rooms were still homely and the sun still felt the same on the skin. Jimin was already at home again after going on a trip with Hoseok where they visited Seokjin and Emma in Gordes. The entire family had dinner together on the first night reunited. Conversation was amazing and laughter was great.

But this story is neither about the wonderful dinner nor the reunion. This story is about Taehyung and his unbearable desire to see Jungkook. 

It has been five hours since he last saw him in the home gym and Taehyung is going mad without him. Such intense feelings are still unbelievably unfamiliar to him. Truly, Taehyung isn’t used to being so needy for a person. Not in a sexual way, but an emotional way. All Taehyung craves is to hear Jungkook’s laugh, to experience his scent, to gaze at his face and feel his hug. He also craves every story Jungkook could possibly tell and needs every single word this man could ever utter. Oh, he craves this man so very much.

The door to Jungkook’s wing is unlocked and Taehyung sees it as his consent to go in. He takes off his shoes by the door, using the audible cues as his guidance. He has music playing and judging by the pungent scent of paint in the air, he is repainting walls. 

It was very easy to return to his real self after coming home from The Plains. Being human was fun and a new experience, but Taehyung must admit that he prefers to be a vampire. He enjoys his heightened senses and how invincible his body is again. The only thing he misses is his pulse and how real his body warmth felt. It was so utterly exciting to feel both of these things rise whenever Taehyung found himself close to Jungkook.

Speaking of Jungkook, Taehyung finds him in his living room. Well, his living room to be. Jungkook is still in the midst of renovating the room. Taehyung knocks on the opened door. He was incorrect about the walls. Jungkook is actually painting the ceiling. He chose a dark blue to contrast with the white walls. 

Jungkook lowers the paint roller, studying Taehyung.

“Hello”, Taehyung says, waving his hand shyly.

“Hey there.”

“The, uhm, the ceiling is already looking very good.”

“Yeah, right? It’s coming along nicely. I’m really liking the colour.”

“Yes, it is a very beautiful colour.”

“At first I was worried that it would be too dark, but I like it now.”

“Indeed, it fits the room very well.”

Jungkook sinks the roller into new paint and spreads it on the ceiling. He thinks that Taehyung merely came here to chat, unaware that the vampire wants to ask him for a date. Taehyung doesn’t take it to heart, watching the younger vampire with a fluttering stomach. Now that he is in front of him, Taehyung forgot every single word he ever learned.

Jungkook manages to cover quite a lot before Taehyung finally feels courageous enough to ask.

“Jungkook, may I ask you something?”

“Hm? Yeah, sure. What’s up?” Jungkook says, placing the roller aside and climbing off the ladder to hurry to Taehyung. 

“You, uhm, you have paint on your face.”

“I do? Crap.” Jungkook wipes his face blindly. “It’s the position. It’s getting everywhere.” 

Taehyung takes the cloth from Jungkook’s overalls and licks a corner of it to wipe his face with it.

“May I?”

“Yeah.”

Jungkook lets him with bated breath, eyes racing over his features. He misses how much his heart raced in The Plains. Now it stays still eventhough Jungkook doesn’t feel calm. He feels giddy. Really, really giddy. Like a person who can’t believe that their crush likes them back.

“There. Now you are clean”, Taehyung finishes the job, stuffing the cloth back into Jungkook’s pocket.

“Thank you, chèri.”

Their eyes meet briefly. Jungkook grins. Taehyung flusters.

“How did that sound?”

“Nice”, Taehyung whispers and tugs Jungkook’s into a kiss by his hips.

“Mhm”, Jungkook lets out, keeping his hands away from Taehyung in order not to get him dirty.

The kiss breaks because Jungkook broke it, chuckling fondly as he does.

“Nice, it feels so nice”, Taehyung murmurs, snuggling into the crook of Jungkook’s neck.

“I’m dirty, you know.”

“I don’t care.”

“You’ll care when I accidentally put paint on your expensive shirt.”

Taehyung laughs with Jungkook, fingers playing with his belt loops mindlessly. 

“What’s up? You wanted to ask me something.”

“Ah yes! Do you perhaps want to come to my wing later? I want to show you my atelier.”

“Uh, atelier tour. Yeah, I’d like that. Am I gonna see your star painting then?”

“Yes, it will be the first thing I will show you.”

“Neat. Is it okay for you if I finish the ceiling first? I don’t want it to get patchy.”

“Of course, take your time. I shall wait for you in my wing. Please take your time.”

“I’ll be quick. Promise”, Jungkook says and turns to return to his task. 

Taehyung leaves his wing as well, bursting in giddy excitement. He will be able to show Jungkook his stars ceiling and his secret room. Jungkook will be the second person after you to know of the room’s existence (Taehyung isn’t aware that Yoongi knows the room as well after he once found you sulking in it a long time ago).

“Taehyung?”

Taehyung is in the atelier, doing the last finishing touches, when Jungkook calls out for him. The older vampire hurries outside, speeding up when his eyes fall upon Jungkook waiting by the front door. He dressed up, body hued in blue jeans and a red button up. Taehyung feels his stomach flutter. He is so beautiful.

“Look at you. You are so handsome”, he gushes, greeting Jungkook by taking both his hands and kissing his knuckles.

“You’re handsome too”, Jungkook says, gazing at him fondly. 

Taehyung straightens up, touching Jungkook’s waist. Truly, he cannot keep his hands to himself.

“Please, come in. I am so happy that you are finally here.”

“Sorry it took me a while. I had to shower and everything”, Jungkook excuses himself as he slips out of his house shoes. 

All of you mostly wear house shoes when you hurry around the estate, but take them off once you are in each other’s wings. It is cleaner this way and less cold on the feet.

“No worries, I told you to take your time and I meant it. I prepared wine and chocolate. I hope you like them.”

“I love wine and chocolate.”

They intertwine their hands as they wander to Taehyung’s atelier. Jungkook has already been in Taehyung’s wing before, having spent his time in his bedroom and bathroom, so he is familiar with the artful hallways the older vampire curated over the centuries.

“I am very happy to hear that. I find wine and chocolate to be a wonderful combination.”

“Yeah, right.” 

They reach the atelier. Taehyung stops and turns to take both of Jungkook’s hands.

“Do you trust me?”

“I do.”

“Close your eyes.”

Jungkook follows with a giggle, squeezing Taehyung’s hands in excited anticipation.

Taehyung leans in and steals a kiss, eliciting another giggle from Jungkook. Only once the kiss was stolen and Jungkook properly charmed, does Taehyung finally lead him inside. 

“Keep them closed.”

“I am.”

Taehyung places Jungkook in the middle of his atelier, right underneath the moon and endless stars. He lets go of his hands and steps aside.

“Open them.”

Jungkook opens his eyes, gasping in delighted surprise.

“Wow, it’s beautiful here”, he says softly, looking around the room. The artful murals, the countless canvases, the scattered art supplies and well-preserved antiques. The love Taehyung has for this room and which he also poured into his art in this room is felt greatly by Jungkook. 

“This is the most beautiful studio ever. I love it so much” he gushes, “is the stars painting one of those paintings?” he asks and steps closer to the huge canvases Taehyung keeps leaned against the wall.

“Look up”, Taehyung tells him, almost bursting in excitement.

Jungkook lifts his head. His face falls, his eyes widen.

“Holy fuck.”

Taehyung giggles and cackles, bouncing on the spot as his face contorts into the brightest smile.

“Woah. Yo, holy shit. Wow.”

Taehyung grabs Jungkook’s arm, shaking it in excitement. The latter looks at him, unable to hide his true bafflement.

“This is blowing my mind. This is the most beautiful ceiling I have ever seen.”

“I, I painted it myself.”

“You did what?!”

Taehyung steps closer, shaking Jungkook’s arm harder. He might burst in giddiness.

“I painted it. I spent three years of my life watching the sky and painting what I saw.”

“Holy fuck, Tae. This is the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen. Wow”, Jungkook says, looking up at the ceiling again to take in the beauty of it, “wow…”

“I had hoped that you would like it.”

“I love it. It’s seriously baffling to me. You painted that, like, holy fuck.”

Taehyung giggles and cuddles Jungkook from the side.

“You make me so giddy.”

Jungkook chuckles, wrapping his arm around him. He cranes his neck to kiss the crown of Taehyung’s head.

“You’re cute and fucking talented. Wow, I can’t stop staring. Wow.”

“Do you want to know how I was able to watch the sky?”

“Of course. Did you go outside on the balcony?” 

“No, better.”

“Better?” 

Taehyung tugs Jungkook with him by his hands.

“Follow me. I want to show you something very special. It is my place of tranquillity. Only ___ knows of it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Really.”

“Wow Tae, seriously this room is amazing. Did you paint the murals too?”

“I did.”

“Damn Tae, just wow.”

Jungkook has to exclaim yet another round of “wow”s, when Taehyung shows him the entrance to his secret room. He follows him with even more exclaims of wonder on his lips, meeting his crescendo when he finally stands in the octagon shaped library. Taehyung, bursting in giddiness, lies him down on the mattress and tells him to keep his eyes on the ceiling. Then he hurries to the lever, opening it with his eyes not once leaving Jungkook’s face. He wants to take in his first reaction.

“Wow!” Jungkook gasps and then becomes silent as the view steals his words. All he can do is stare and gaze in wonder as the ceiling moves aside to make space for the endless night sky.

Taehyung hurries to him, lying down beside him. He cuddles into him in a way which still allows him to look at his face.

“What are you thinking?”

“This is so beautiful”, Jungkook whispers, tearing up, “I love the stars so much.”

Taehyung, who is gazing at the endless galaxies in Jungkook’s deep brown eyes, answers him in whispers.

“I love the stars as well.”

Jungkook, unaware that Taehyung didn’t speak of nature’s stars but those of his’, looks up at Taehyung.

“I can’t believe that I lived here all these months without knowing that this room exists.”

“I keep it well hidden. I find great healing in this room and only people most special to me get to know of its existence.”

Jungkook blinks away tears, “thank you so much for trusting me.”

Taehyung kisses his lips. Softly and with love.

“I will always trust you”, he whispers, caressing his cheek slowly.

Jungkook flusters, lowering his eyes shyly. He might still be far away from perfect control, but at least with Taehyung, he can experience gentle love already. Jungkook feels at peace in his presence. And uncontrollably giddy. He lifts his eyes again so he could look at the face which makes his stomach flutter so very much. Jungkook thinks that he is even more beautiful with the stars as his backdrop.

“Do you want to see something else? And then we can finally enjoy the wine and chocolate under the stars”, Taehyung asks with sparkling eyes.

“Of course, show me”, Jungkook whispers. 

“Follow me”, Taehyung drags Jungkook to one of the shelves.

“Is it by the books?” the younger follows with a fond smile.

“Indeed, yes indeed. I have books you could enjoy. I, I gathered them here for you”, Taehyung says and takes out a big heap of books, putting them on the floor. 

He and Jungkook sit down cross legged and while Taehyung stares at him in anticipation, Jungkook takes one of the books. 

“Really?” he gasps, eyes lighting up and racing over the other books as well, “all of these books are about the stars and the universe and, and astronomy!”

“Indeed. Yes, indeed”, Taehyung giggles, bouncing on the spot, “do you know any of them already?”

“No. I don’t know any of them yet. Oh my god, this one! I wanted to read this for so long, but I could never find it anywhere!”

“It is first edition. I knew the author and they gave me a copy when it was first released.”

“Wow, oh wow this is so cool, wow”, Jungkook wipes his eyes quickly, giggling, “I can’t believe I’m holding these books.”

“You can have them.”

“What?” 

Their eyes meet. Jungkook has widened his eyes so immensely that they appear almost round. 

“You can have them. I want to give them to you.”

“But. No. No, I can’t take them. They’re yours and they’re expensive and, and valuable.”

“And I want them to be yours”, Taehyung assures him, “they would catch dust up here with me. Knowing that they could find a worthy home with you, would mean so much more to me.”

“I can’t take them, no.”

“Yes, you can. They are yours. Truly.”

“But-”

“No buts. I insist”, Taehyung shoves them closer to Jungkook, “they are yours.”

“Are you really sure?”

“I am. So very sure.”

“Oh god. Thank you”, Jungkook falls around Taehyung’s neck, “thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Taehyung smiles, hugging him as tightly as possible. The sweet scent of true happiness radiates off of Jungkook. His squeaky giggles are yet another indicator of the immense happiness Taehyung makes him feel.

“Thank you so much. Thank you so, so much.”

“I’m so happy to know that they found a new home. They will be well taken care of.”

“They will, oh god”, Jungkook sits back on his heels, beaming at Taehyung with glassy eyes, “you have no idea how much I dreamed of having more astronomy books. I, I only have a few and, and they are either very modern or really ruined already. I, I read all of them so many times already and, and now I have new things to go through, oh god. I want to cry, oh god”, Jungkook hides his face in his hands and sobs a little.

“Goodness, don’t cry”, Taehyung gasps, rubbing his arms soothingly.

“I’m just feeling overwhelmed. I appreciate this so much. How did you know I would like all of this?”

“I truly hoped that you would. You told me about your love for astronomy and so I wished for all of this to be of your liking.”

“It is. All of it. Oh god”, Jungkook sobs softly. He is being seen and therefore loved. If this is what dating a man feels like, Jungkook is so glad that he can finally experience it. It feels so good to be treated so well.

“Are these happy tears? I cannot tell anymore.”

Jungkook nods his head, “I’m happy.”

“Yes? Oh, mon amour I’m happy to know”, Taehyung gushes, dropping his hands to Jungkook’s thighs. 

Jungkook lowers his hands to hold Taehyung’s, smiling at him even if he sniffles. 

“I’m so happy. I’m so, so happy.”

Taehyung smiles, feeling incredibly warm in his chest.

“This means more to me than you might think. All I want is your happiness, my north star.”

“Oh god”, Jungkook giggles, falling around Taehyung’s neck again, “oh god, Tae. I love you.”

“I love you too, mon bel amour.”

[beanghostprincess]

Follow up of the Marco And Shanks Feuding Over Buggy -

Once things resolve, the captains are somehow the WORST instigators. Roger, once he realized Marco was flirting with his Baby Bug, is caught between "well, kid has good taste" and "Oh I Gotta Kill A Child".

Whitebeard makes frequent comments about daughter in laws and it sends EVERYONE reeling, especially Buggy. He thinks it's hilarious, and it mostly joking ((but a little serious)).

Maybe it's the multishipper in me, maybe it's the polyamory projection, but eventually Shanks and Buggy have The Conversation about being captains of the own crews, of being each other's most definitely, of being married ((they are 13-15 when The End Is Nigh for Roger, and I can see Buggy having a sudden realization that Captain that Dad is dying. She and Shanks speedrun being married so he can do it. They're minors so it isn't official, but they get/make rings, set it up and have Captain officiate it so they're "married". It's the closest they'll get to the real deal and both need their dad there for this.)).

Shanks and Buggy establish an open relationship. They can be with and pursue others, but communication is key and they need to just keep each other relatively in the loop.

Buggy jokingly asks if Marco is still a sore subject, and Shanks shoots her a grin. "If you stay mine, you can be with whoever you like. Just promise me you will make sure he treats you the way you deserve, princess."

The next time Marco crosses either, it's Shanks. And he asks "hey featherhead, still crushing on clowns?"

"And if I am?"

"Here's her denden number - be nice, be polite, don't hurt her or I'll roast you for dinner, chicken boy :))"

"What"

"Byyyyeeeee~"

"No wait what-yoi-?"

Buggy goes on to assemble the world's weirdest, most unexpected polycule. A Yonko husband, a Yonko's division commander boyfriend, two warlords, a Marine, maybe a Revolutionary, just... wild ass polycule.

((Bonus, once she settles in the East for a bit, Zeff takes one look at her and goes "Oh boy now I have a niece. Damn it all." He threatens to shovel talk anyone who dates his weird clown niece but they rarely stop by the East, so he's got the conversations scripted in his head. When Mihawk shows up, he is READY.))

Buggy also has a bunch of evil exes bc she's a catch but she doesn't always clock red flags. It's mostly fine, but if any attempt retaliation, usually she's oblivious, either bc her crew goes full Protect Mom Mode or bc her current partners... take out the trash, as it were :))

Once Luffy realizes Buggy is basically his step mom is all sorts of ways, the Strawhat Protection System is enacted full throttle. She is oblivious. It's hilarious. Buggy has Scary Dog Privileges and doesn't even realize.

Whitebeard still calls her daughter-in-law. Roger is screaming crying throwing up in the afterlife. Rayleigh flips between "Oh my baby girl can handle herself ahe's so strong" and "Nobody Is Good Enough For My Daughter". Crocus hoards all newspapers that so much as mention her or Shanks.

Just. Silly funny polycule shenanigans.

Buggy just has a whole ass harem of boys pining over her and she goes through life thinking they're normal about her but they're not. They're literally obsessed with her. She only loves Shanks and is fond of Crocodile and Mihawk (ends up falling for them eventually, y'know) and the people she has been with have always been just kind of there? She doesn't forget them but she doesn't really care about them either. IT girl, girlboss behavior for once even if she's still a failgirl. But they always remember her. She's not easy to forget. Everybody that loves her is so protective of her too and she wonders why she never gets bothered by anybody?? She believes it's because she's now important and scary and yadda yadda but it's just because people have to go through Rayleigh, the strawhats, Shanks, and Cross Guild to get to her. So, you know, she's protected.

This is just amazing, btw. I also think they have an open relationship. And Marco being extremely confused when Shanks gives him Buggy's number is just hilarious, help. He's having a moment there wondering if it's a trap or something. I think Buggy would have the time of her life, and although Shanks also sleeps with other people, his heart will always be with Buggy. Like- He's the clingiest most annoying husband in the world. He's so proud of calling Buggy his wife. He's just there cheering for her, knowing that no matter how many people she's with, she'll go back to him!! The trust they could've had in each other if things would've gone well,,,,,, Going insane.

[fictionfolk-safehaven]

We prefer your Techno and Ranboo to not read this ask, as it could cause discomfort ^^' /very-lh

So we found this blog all love that there's some beings who are more open-minded about sensitive stuff, so we wanted to share our experiences!

We usually pretty strict (in the best words) about forming fictives because of 1) online bias around them and their sources and 2) we're anxious about source-trauma as we don't know how to deal with them nicely yet.

But when we read a fanfic about Technoblade and Ranboo, who are turned out to be romantic, and even more, partners in that fic and made us make the "surprised pikachu" face because we never learned to read AO3 tags lmao. But the fic was so fire, it was so well-written we instantly got both of them into our system.

In one hand it's worrying because if anyone hears about them, we're toast. We are aware of this and so they are. But in other hand it's nice because they're happy to be together in our system where none of us judge them from who they are or the fact that they're mates. They already experienced a lot from the beginning and ending up here with us was the best outcome for them.

At first we thought of separate them from their sources, but it wouldn't be the best for their sake so instead we leave them to ourselves, let them live their happily-ever-after in our system without judgement.

-enderlin couple

Post Author: Kokichi

CW's: implicit mention of death if you have context for it.

So... I'm fucking giggling at this, actually, anon. I appreciate your concern for our Techno and Ranboo very much! However! Guess who's in a relationship in-source in our canon too? Yup. Techno and Ranboo. Actually, they're part of a pretty big polycule in-source. They haven't worked out how that translates to our system yet, as our Techno struggles with that sort of thing because of the content creator sharing a name and voice with his source character, and that whole situation.

Techno and Phil are.... Well, technically they're in an "undefined" relationship right now. But I bring it up because that's less because it's not romantic, and more because "dating" or "married" doesn't describe whatever the hell they are well enough and they feel like the labels they've seen just don't cut it. I have permission to use them as an example of our own system having a romantic relationship that'd be considered problematic for similar reasons. And frankly, while our Techno and Ranboo would never fucking say it, they might as well be together. /half-joke (I got permission to say that dw lol. I only bully them when it's fun for everyone involved.)

We totally feel you on the "oh fuck, if anyone hears about this we're toast." Ranboo is a frequent fronter, it seems, so he's very relevant to us. Neither of them separated from their source at all- none of our fictives have, really. We have a blog that's a lot more serious than our plural blogs, and we hide our sources there for a reason. We hope, someday, to be a genuine voice within the plural community- though we're not sure what form that will really take. This blog- this post even- is the sort of thing that people put in callout posts. We're sort of just waiting for the day someone tells us we got put in the system cringe reddit. A lot of people internalize this idea that it's all secretly voluntary (with the layer underneath it being "you're all secretly one person, therefore you choose who forms and how they feel about each other") and... lol no. Voluntary formation is valid, it's just not how our collective works. I think that, ultimately, is where the hatred of problematic fictives comes from. The idea that somehow, it's a identity (or relationship) we've chosen.

Oh, also, we don't know how to deal with source trauma either. Our current solution has been "uhhhHHHHH maybe it'll go away if I don't look at it too much" dw. Sometimes that shit's hard to navigate, and we have yet to find exactly how that will work for our system. You're definitely not alone in that!

And, as a final note: You calling them "mates" had our Techno suddenly having an existential crisis (/silly /j) in the background because "Oh. OH. Oh no that term feels right. Huh. Maybe that's why I don't like the idea of having a boyfriend/husband/wife/whatever. Alterhumanity go brrrrr-" so thanks for that! /silly /gen This post is a huge ramble, but I thought it was very fun and silly that we happen to have such a similar situation with even fictives from the same source. That's fucking wild, I'm convinced there's no such thing as a unique experience. I wish you and your system well!

[pumpkinpartynoelle]

official catti post

recent events with our noelle have got me thinking, this is kinda just a late night ramble but whatever its a deltarune theory technically so im putting on on noelle's blog

since a lot of what seems to endear canon noelle to susie is the mystery and sense of danger, if they ever did end up in a steady relationship, just the two of them, i genuinely think noelle would be the first to fall out of love once she realises shes put this poor dragon girl up on a pedestal that she, and realistically, no one, could safely live up to, and the end result is at best underwhelming

i think it could potentially work as part of a polycule including kris and myself, might be stable then, but if noelle is relying on just susie, who she has this obsession with and has placed so much importance on, to meet all her needs in a relationship, i dont think its gonna happen, plus i feel like kris and i would give her more of that mystery and scare factor long term that susie wouldnt be able to once they get to know each other better, scary seems to be more of susie's mask than anything and in a real healthy relationship that mask wouldnt show as much

i dont think theyd end up disliking each other or anything, or at least susie wouldn't dislike noelle, but i cant help but think if noelle actually ended up with susie shed be feeling great for a little while and then quickly end up sliding into disappointment until one of them broke it off

especially since i worry shes latched so heavily onto susie because she doesnt feel like she can have an open and honest relationship with her mother, she doesnt have her sister, and her dad is just one guy and potentially soon to be no guys, so shes pinning all her hopes on "yes susie will fix me" even though that aint happenin

what this girl needs is a more solid and diverse support network other just me sometimes, and maybe jockington, i.e. the exact opposite of the weird route

i guess berdly is kinda there but the nature of their relationship is partially transactional whether either of them like that or not. and with her dad its almost the same, like yeah rudy genuinely cares about her, but also he's her dad, that's supposed to be a given, so it arguably counts for less, and given how much everyone is obviously still hurt by the loss of dess, noelle might see it as more forced than it actually is. it could be argued that noelle has no one in her life who's truly there for her unconditionally, or at least that she has grounds to believe that

our noelle is still pretty susie-obsessed, but it's nice to see her develop a lot more interests the longer she stays active, like making her deltarune theories. i hope getting our discord account hacked wont have put too much of a long term damper on things, girl needs to be able to chill

[thamaris]

Made an SI for my fave boys - nice to finally have a character associated with this name for the first time in like 15 years

Name: Thamaris (goes by Tham) Age: Mid 20's Height: 5'0 Pronouns: They/Them - Will answer to anything tho. Species: Human Devil Fruit: None

General Story: Spent most of their life learning to shoot from very long range to support their gang (led by Heat) without their weak ass getting obliterated. When Kid unified the four town gangs they were a part of that. Joined the Kid Pirates when they formed.

Tham's rifle is named Harp after a song by Stiff Little Fingers (vid at the bottom)

thinking about tham and heat, since they were in his gang, and it makes sense that they're a thing to me? like they are ride or die forever, they're each others safe haven, and were their first everything and its just turned the v. punk into this big pile of polyamory (and i love that for them) heat and tham never defined what they were because there was no need to, but once the crew was formed and heat really got to know wire, he was like 'shit' but they talked it out and they decided since they're pirates who can take what they want; if heat wants to be with wire as well he should be! tham and wire aren't into each other that way, and its chill. then at some point tham kid and killer form their polycule too (with kid and killer already in a well established relationship) idk i guess if any crew was gonna be a big open queer poly ship it'd be theirs (bc its punk as fuck to go against gender/relationship norms) i just dont see them giving a shit about who or what they are - they got way more important things to do also i love the juxtaposition of this ruthless murder crew being so full of love

[ihave3verything]

Some more ideas about the Nihil-Imperative-Mama's Polycule hc. Anyone else can also grab onto this idea, of course, and make their own HCs too, I am just here to get the ideas and stuff flowing :) More may come, and my inbox is open to any questions and stuff, but remember: my HCs are NOT the law here, and it's all up to yourself if you wanna use them, branch off of them, or just use the inspo/motivation to make your own!

—Initially started because Imperative (or Imp, for short, a nickname by Nihili) had a girlfriend already in the clergy, but they both agreed to be an open-relationship (as one tend to do in an unholy church in this story). And said girlfriend is one of the mothers of either Primo, Secondo, or Terzo.

— Nihil absolutely was in awe at them welcoming him in, and exhausted himself in winning his second new-gf's love like he did/does for Imp.

— Two more women were brought in, I don't know how or when, this is open real-estate for anyone else who wants to use this idea. Even if I do ever do think of an idea, this is always open to being used.

— There were others besides the mamas who were in the poly, but many left or one reason or another, or were just one-off partners brought in for a good night (either with them all or just for one). It's a wholly queer group, Ghouls included.

— Nihil's Scooby van was like a sanctuary for them all, a small second home, and nice and cozy. Many night hitting the bong, getting Taco Bell, and just dog-piling together for movie nights and relaxing were held there. It's a legendary van that still is talked about in stories at the the ministry, a "You Had To Fucken Be There" sort of things.

— Nihil, as we know, cheated on Imp, and here in the polycule HC, he then cheated on the group as a whole. How? I think it can be plain as he got with someone else who was not agreed on and or even known of by the rest of the group — at some point they either became a closed committed poly, or agreed to still be open but tell the others that there would be some dicking going down or introduced to a possible new addition. In all, they were blindsided by Nihil being stupid horny and high off the power/fame of the band.

— The woman we see in the music video was said Unknown he cheated with, but she didn't even know he was already in some sort of relationship (probably just wanted a one-night stand). I want her to be an innocent and Imp hates her, but also consoles her for being put in this mess.

— Imp leaves the polycule because, yeah, she's pregnant and so she's hurt the most in the group, and doesn't want to make it worst for any of the others. They all want her to stay, and are so distraught when she leaves without any proper goodbyes (maybe just a small goodbye that doesn't make it seem like she's going to leave them, like a day or so before she does after the Music Video).

— from there the Polycule feels the loss and slowly split apart after each son is born. This is more open real-estate for everyone to think about :) I myself think as one by one each end up pregnant, purposefully too, being some of the first heralded as Prime-Movers for Nihil, they may have stayed awhile, but then wanted to move on from the church for one reason or another (to either really quit it, or just to move to another location away from Nihil, and they either took their son with them or reluctantly let them stay with Nihili).

— Primo being there and having (reluctantly at first) taken upon himself to care for his brothers, was helpful for the mothers, because they could trust the mature eldest. If Secondo or Terzo were staying with Nihil, the mothers were given some relief that Primo was there.

— Each mother loved every son, they could have been "It Takes A Village" had Nihil not fucked up the relationship, which leads to the poly breaking apart slowly. But the mothers (if alive) stay in contact if they can, and Primo, Secondo, and Terzo each others' mothers, always talk nice and sweet things about them. Its still the "It Takes A Village" vibe, even if they weren't physically all together.

[rjschoicesstuff]

2, 27, 35, 59 for the poly asks for Rippy Gabe Cas

Thank uuu!!

Link to the ask game

Answers under the cut

2. Did the relationship start polyamorous, or was it a monogamous relationship that eventually opened?

Cas and Gabe were in a mono relationship back when they were human (+ a bit as vampires). This somehow feels relevant LOL. This is just specific 2 my version btw @ ppl who never read ID lol 💀.

When it's made Official they're in a vee relationship, but also before that there's definitely already Stuff going on obviously, with Cas DEFINITELY not being open to it and Gabriela also preferring to keep it between them (tho definitely is more like Ripley is free to choose and I would be okay as long as I fit in that picture). I think right before Gabriela went feral and almost kills Ripley they were very close to making it official between them, I think. 2 bad for Gabe That happens and Ripley actually starts looking at Cas differently and he becomes an Option.

27. Of the members who live together, do they all sleep in one bed too? All separate bedrooms? Something in-between?

Right Now none of them live together, Cas and Gabe live with fake families (as do all teen vampires who are currently in school) and Ripley stays at the Nexus until she gets a GRIP lol. I think her bed there is definitely too small for it but Cas still sleeps over a lot. Partly because it's easier to skip school when there's no one to get pissed when you don't get up in the morning. I feel like sometimes she's just like pls no n makes him sleep in her beanbag instead, or they both stay up all night.

Once Ripley moves back in with her mom Cas and Gabe will be staying over there a lot but Ripley's bed there definitely doesn't fit 3 people so one of them always has to go on a mattress on the floor next to her bed.

Im not sure about the future yet but I do like the idea of Gabriela going to university in a big city on a leyline with an allied coven and Cas and Ripley following her and Ripley going to trade school + working part time, while Cas actually gets a job too (everyone is surprised) so they can afford an apartment/a studio, while Gabriela stays in the dorms at her university. And she'd stay with Cas and Ripley often because their bed is big enough for the 3 of them. And otherwise Cas and Ripley just share the bed when Gabe stays at her dorm.

I think after that they'd NOT want to live with parents, real or fake, again, at least for this life. So they'd hire an apartment in Crimson Beech. I think they'd all sleep together but they'd have a guest room where people can retreat to if needed, it def isn't big enough for all of them to have their own room. + also with how vampire sleep works (I hc that they do sleep but they don't really need it, like it serves more to give the brain a break than for rest) some days someone just skips sleeping anyway.

35. Were any of the members raised in a polyamorous family?

None of them were. I think Ripley got the closest experience to it with her mom's friends helping a lot in raising her to the point where it felt like having many parental figures, but in the end her mom was her only parent + never dated anymore at all after her last girlfriend passed away (a few years before Ripley was born).

59. How does the polycule celebrate birthdays?

Not in any super special ways, like the other two will generally buy presents separately + beforehand they tend to decide on if the birthday person wants to plan the day or have the others surprise them with something. + they spoil the bday person all day ofc lol. I think for Cas and Gabe it's all pretty new because I think neither of them really celebrated their birthdays the past decades aside from Gabe with her human friends the past few years. I think a lot of vampires don't but I can see them keeping it up because it's just nice for everyone to have Their Day.

[maxdreavus]

Falling Away With You | Ch. 47

Sebastian x F!Reader and M. Rasmodius x F!Reader

Rating: Mature/Explicit

Chapter Summary: You tell a few people about your polycule and get some Spirit's Eve preparations out of the way.

Author’s Note: N/A

Table of Contents + Work Summary

Check it out on ao3!

Prev | Next

“So you’re just, like, banging them both?” 

“Pfft–” I choke on my hot cocoa, which is totally too sugary for me to be drinking with such a sore throat, but Leah insisted I have some.

When I told her I was sick and bored (and stressed by how much Magnus and Seb have been coddling me for the past two days, to be honest,) she shot right over with some homemade shortbread cookies and hot chocolate. 

Being much wiser than Seb, as he’s starting to feel a bit under the weather too, Leah arrived with face masks – one for herself, with a forest green gingham pattern, and one for me, a mustard yellow with some autumn leaves speckled around it – at my request. She’s also been keeping her distance. She’s situated at the table, which has some art supplies sprawled around it amidst the cookies, and I’m sitting pretzel-style on my bed, all wrapped in comfy clothes and blankets. 

I came clean about my relationship with the two goobers. She’s a close enough friend now that I think I can trust her not to judge – and based on the enthusiasm behind her response, I don’t think she is judging me in the slightest.

This does make it a little harder to imagine how it’ll go once I eventually come clean to Sam, Abby… everyone else, really. Can’t fathom everyone having a positive reaction to it. But it’s super appreciated, of course.

I confirm, “Yeah, I am.” Still laughing, I clear my throat, then add, “Not at the same time, though…?” Drawing out that last word, I tilt my head and squint up at the ceiling, wondering if our situation the other day counts as a threesome. “Well, technically, not at the same time.”

“Damn, alright Aphrodite!” Curling into a fetal position in her chair, Leah complains, “Ugh… I’m not desirable enough to even get one girlfriend and you have two boyfriends.”

I frown, taking another sip of my drink before raising my mask back over my face. “You totally could, Lee, people just suck. Yoba knows I got lucky.”

“You want another partner, then?” she jests back.

Thankful that my mask hides my blush, and unsure if I should interpret that as a joke or not, I chuckle, softly walking around the subject. “God, two people is already a lot to wrap my brain around.”

“Especially those two,” she adds. 

During her few attempts to become a spellcaster (which failed quite fucking horribly, actually, there isn’t a single arcane bone in this poor woman’s body…) in the week or so after Seb and I were greeted by her in Magnus’ tower, she kinda got the gist of Seb and Magnus’ silly natures.

It was an odd group for sure, but a fun dynamic nonetheless. And honestly, it’s been nice to have a friend to talk to about magic other than people who do it themselves.

“I’m surprised Camilla hasn’t tried to throw herself into our weird little polycule,” I think out loud. 

“Is that the hot witch lady you guys work with?” I nod. “I wonder if she’d want me.” As Leah says this, a dreamy expression falls over her face. She doesn’t even know what Camilla looks like! I wonder what she’s imagining in the woman’s stead. 

“She’s terrifying,” I point out. “Super fucking hot, but like…” I finish my sentence with a shake of my head and shoulders. Shimmying out the jitters. “Here, lemme draw her for you,” I offer, placing my cup beside the bed and making grabby hands at the sketchbook near my friend. She tosses a pencil and the book over one by one.

“You think she and Magnus have…?”

I look up as I open to an empty page, and Leah wiggles her eyebrows at me. Not as flawless as Seb and Robin’s signature moves, but still a solid eight out of ten wiggle, I’ll say. She pulls down her mask to take another sip of her hot chocolate.

“Because I mean,” she pulls her mask up, “as freaky as he is… god. He’s sexy, babe.”

A cough-laugh comes out of me. Once I can breathe better, I respond, “Are you not a lesbian?!”

“I am, but I can make exceptions! ‘Labels are for soup cans,’ or whatever we used to say back in, like, the 2010’s.” 

After crossing one leg over the other, Leah pulls down her mask again just to smirk at me, winking simultaneously. I cover my face with my hands, nervously giggling into them.

“Good lord,” I mumble to myself. She laughs, and as my view raises, she’s covering her face with the fabric again. I take that as my cue to go on with my attempt to capture Camilla’s beauty. “And to answer your question, she’s tried. He’s not into it, though.” I shrug. “I think his hatred outweighs any desire that coulda been there.”

“He’s so sweet that it’s almost funny to imagine him disliking someone.”

“I always think the same thing!” I laugh, swiping away a few eraser shavings before tacking on, “It’s a secret pleasure of mine, seeing him all riled up like that.”

Through some of her own chuckling, Lee asks me, “Doesn’t he just wanna go apeshit?” 

“I’d like to imagine that someday he will. He’ll just, like… give up and deck her in the face or something. I dunno.”

“Maybe a good ol’ slap-and-kiss for good measure.” I love how she said that as if it's a thing.

“I’m just picturing… ok,” I pause drawing again to talk with my hands, “You know that one reaction image of Toad and Yoshi making out completely sloppy-style?”

“PFFT,” Leah nods, snorting. “What, them fighting then kissing?”

I shake my head and elaborate, “In one corner of my brain it’s them,” I hold up my left hand to the side, “and in the other you’re there too, and kinda just…” I hold up my right, and then bring the two hands in front of me, almost like I’m making them kiss, but at a weird angle. “...latched into the middle of them.”

“Like a leech.” 

“A horny one, apparently.” 

I resume my drawing. Leah adds, “A sex leech.”

“Sex Leech…” I echo. “That would be a great band name.”

“Oh! Leah and the Sex Leeches.”

“Would be mood music, for sure.”

A short silence passes after Leah’s responsive laughter dies down. I make a few additions to the quick, small doodle in my lap, then tilt my head as I observe it, tapping the eraser against the page. 

Something’s missing… Oh! I whisper the word to myself as I think it, flipping the instrument around to add her signature artificial beauty mark.

“Here,” I gesture my supplies in Leah’s direction. She readies herself as I toss over the pencil first, then the book. “Doesn’t do her justice, but I tried.”

Leah puts down the pencil before situating the sketchbook rightside up, and I snag my drink, holding it in both hands to absorb some more warmth. I’m not chilly by any means, between all these blankets, Seb’s huge sweatshirt, and the fireplace blastin’ to my right. But I’ll be damned if I don’t try my hardest to sweat out this fever.

Leah’s eyes widen, then she tilts her head to the ceiling and groans. I laugh while she exclaims, “Are you freaking kidding me? I need her!”

“No!” I point at Leah like she’s a naughty puppy or something, and only supporting the gesture, she slinks in on herself a little. I’d like to imagine she’s pouting beneath the mask. “I don’t know what it is about her specifically, but the vibes are horrendous.”

“I suppose if your part– well,” she corrects herself, “ one of your partners isn’t a fan, that’s probably a sign to steer clear.”

I tap my head knowingly. I can see a grin in her eyes before she turns her attention to the book again, staring longingly at the page. 

“So does she have any weird colors about her too, or is that just a Magnus sort of deal?” 

I shake my head. “White skin – a smidge paler than yours, maybe – and the same hair and eye colors as Haley pretty much.” I pause to cough into my arm, then mention, “She does have pointy ears, though. Can’t tell if it’s plastic surgery or if she has some Elven heritage like Magnus does.”

Grabbing the colored pencils, Leah adds some vibrance to my sketch. “They have surgery for that?”

“Yeah, I follow this dude who does it. Lives somewhere outside of Ferngill, though.” I finish off my cocoa before placing down the mug and twisting my torso to pop my back. “I’ve always wanted to go do it myself, but the recovery period outweighs my desire for cute pointy ears.” 

“Your ears are very cute as they are,” Leah compliments cheerfully. 

Caught off guard a little, I cover my face again. She isn’t looking, it’s just more of a self-soothing sorta deal at this point.

“Thanks,” I all but squeak out. Leah glares at me playfully. She’s caught onto the tic too, god damnit. “Grew ‘em myself.”

Lee places down the pencil she’d been using and stares down at the page. “Maybe if I show up at Magnus’ place someday,” she suggests, “I’ll just so happen to run into her, and then… you know…” As Leah trails off, she fucking holds up her middle- and pointer-fingers on each hand and slots them together oh my god.

“Leah!” 

“Sorry!”

“We really need to get you laid.” 

“I really need to get laid, yeah…”

______________

Seb and I both recovered from our illness with enough time to do some last-minute Spirit’s Eve shopping. He’s going to pass on going to Krobus’ sewer party thing — wants to make sure he has enough time to get his work done before going to the town festival — so he’s able to wear whatever he wants. I, on the other hand, am specifically searching for something extra creature-like.

Magnus warned me that shadow people tend to get a little quirky around humans, with Krobus being one of the very few outliers. I’ve gotta disguise myself real good if I want to avoid conflict. Something that’ll help me blend in with shadow people, at least disguising me as some kind of elemental, while also being acceptable for the main event… hm.

Gonna be kinda hard to find something like that at Party City.

“What about this?” Seb mutters, inspecting a cheaply manufactured vampire outfit. 

I purse my lips and tilt my head, trying to figure out a way to salvage this. Because sweet Yoba above, Seb would make a sexy vampire. 

“What if we just get you a cape, fangs, and maybe some pointy ears, and then try to closet-cosplay the rest?” 

“Hmm.” Still turning the package around in his hands, Seb contemplates his options. “I mean, on one hand, I can get corny with it.” He gestures at the costume in his hand. “Commit to the bit, y’know?” 

I nod. A fair point, indeed!

“On the other,” he continues, head tilting a little to the left, “I could try some Astarion Ancunín-type shit and get kinda slutty with it.”

I nod again. Both wonderful options. Secretly rooting for the second, but whichever makes him happy will make me happy. 

“Oh! Y’know what would work?”

“Hm?”

“If we get your ears pierced before Spirit’s Eve, you can wear those red earrings we got in Calico. Would make a sick bloody effect. Sorta.”

“Oooh, you’re onto something, kid. Just gotta check what material they are, make sure they’re safe for a new hole and all that.”

“I’ll give you a new hole...” I mumble.

“Is that a promise?”

“It’s a threat.”

“A sexy threat.” Seb waggles his brows before returning his vision to the costume he’s holding.

While Seb weighs out his options, I stray a little further down the aisle. “Oh my god.” I practically tear the costume off its hanger and jog over to Seb, holding it out in front of me. “Scratch that. Why be a vampire when you can be motherfucking Wumbus?!”  

Seb chuckles, taking the costume from me. He puts on his best nasally, nerdy voice to say, “Um, actually,” then points at the title of the costume on its packaging, and informs me, “it’s a Big Green Wumbo.” Shifting back to his normal speaking voice as I snort-laugh at his beautiful performance, Seb also notes, “But also, no way. Sam would lose his shit if I showed up as Wumbus. That’s his thing.”

“Technically not Wumbus!” I point out, poking his forehead through his thick fringe. He headbutts it out of the way. I take the costume back, wondering aloud, “God, how do they come up with these names? What even is a ‘wumbo?’”

“Dunno. It’s charming in its own way, though.”

I nod in agreement, then shuffle back to where I found the Big Green Wumbo to place it back on the rack it came from. “Wouldn’t feel like shopping for costumes at a Party City or whatever without the vast array of totally legit characters to choose from.” I turn to look at the row behind me, then pick out a knockoff Katniss Everdeen costume. “Oh wow, I sure do wish I could go as this Braided Archer Girl!”

Scrunching his nose and grinning, Seb walks over to me, tucking the vampire costume under his arm. “This wha—“ He sees the one I’m holding and laughs. “So powerful.”

“So fierce!”

“A force to be reckoned with in the, uh… what’s a good alternative to–”

I chime in, cutting him off, my brows furrowed with determination, “Hungry Fortnight.”

“Nah, dude, Fortnight’s too much of a brand at this point.”

“Ah, true…” I continue to stare at the costume. Oh, wait. “The Famine Games?” I suggest, looking up and to my right to see him. I shrug. “The Hungry Games is probably already taken.”

“The Famine Games it is, then. Great work, champ.” Seb holds out a first for me to bump. Instead of punching it back, I high-five it. Makes a dull smacking noise. Sounds less epic than I was hoping it would.

We spend a few more minutes giggling like a bunch of losers over all the goofy costume names in this aisle before moving onto the next. Some honorable mentions: Speedy Blue Rodent (Sonic), Lightning Rabbit (Pikachu), Ruler of the Countryside (Prairie King), and a couple’s costume of Dolly and Jake Skeleton (Sally and Jack Skellington).

Sighing, I look at the new options. Mostly lady-adjacent costumes over here, and they’re mostly labeled with that “one-size-fits-all” bullshit. Even if I were to fit into any of those, I wouldn’t want some lame fatphobe profiting off of it as a result.

I groan. “I wonder what the chances are that I'll be able to find something here.”

Pulling me closer by the waist, Seb suggests, “We could try other stores if we need to.” 

I lean into him. “I wonder what the chances are I’d be able to pull off being a fully-fledged elf… like some Magnus-looking elf, y’know?”

“Might be harder, but maybe his shrine could help.”

“Oh hell yeah!” I look up at Seb, my eyes and smile wide. “I didn’t even think to try using that thing, it always seemed like too foreign of a concept. Hopefully he’ll let me.” Knowing damn well I don’t have enough mana to make a long distance call, if you will, I opt to wait until later to ask Magnus about this. 

I’ve gotta get home a phone. 

“Who’s Magnus?” 

Seb and I nearly jump out of our skin, “OH MY GOD!” and “WHAT THE FUCK!” being shouted respectively. We simultaneously whip our heads around.

Again, speaking at the same time, “Mom?!” and “Robin?!” are exclaimed by the two of us. She evilly chuckles a little. 

I hold my right palm up to my chest and rest my forehead against Seb’s left arm. “What are you doing here?” he asks.

“Wanted to surprise your father with a matching costume.” I turn my head to her, still smooshing my temple against Seb. Before my emotional support human can interject, Robin adds, “Yoba knows he won’t want to wear it, but it doesn’t mean I can’t force him.” She’s still got a mischievous smirk on her. 

“Good luck with that,” Seb scoffs.

“So. Who’s Magnus and what’s this something about a shrine?” his mom prods.

Oh god damnit.

Seb and I look at each other.

“Think it’s time to tell her?” I whisper. I’m horrified. I try to hide it.

“I fucking guess so.” 

“Tell me what?” If the woman wasn’t giggling about her own dickheaded nosiness over there, this would be a lot more intimidating. 

“Uh…” I mutter. 

Shit, who am I kidding? It’s still intimidating.

“Straight to the point, yeah?” Seb asks. 

“I guess..?”

In the next breath, I’m saying “Our partner,” while Seb is saying “Her partner,” and gesturing at me. We both look at each other, both sets of brows furrowed.

“My partner?” I suggest, while he counters, “Our partner.”

“This is hopeless,” I whine.

I look at Robin. Her head is tilted and her eyebrows are raised in confusion, her slightly chapped lips slightly parted. I latch onto Seb’s arm and hide my face from her. My anxiousness about the situation takes over. I can practically hear my pulse. 

Seb clears things up while I quietly panic. “So like… (y/n) and I are dating, yeah?” 

“Uh huh…” Robin agrees.

“Well, she — we’re…? Oh my god.” Seb takes a breath to compose himself.

I look up at him, face coated in a furious blush because oh my fucking god this is so embarrassing. His is too, which makes me feel a little better about it.

“She,” he settles on, “is also dating our friend Magnus. But like, we both know about it. It’s chill.”

I turn to look at Robin. She’s biting her bottom lip and there’s a slight grin curling them up. She’s still very clearly bewildered, if slightly amused too. 

I hide my face again. 

“God, ma, please say something,” Seb breathes. 

“I… wow. Do I know this Magnus person?”

Seb and I both shrug. “So, funny story…” Seb goes on.

“Uh huh.”

“You know that super suspicious-looking tower south of (y/n)’s farm, west of Marnie’s?”

“Uh huh.”

“It’s the guy who lives there.”

“Uh huh…”

“He’s a wizard.”

“Uh huh.”

“He has a shrine that can change appearances.”

“Huh.”

“It’s magic.”

“Uh huh.”

“And that’s what we were discussing.”

“Uh huh.”

“Please mom for the love of god—“

“(Y/n), you little minx!”

I squeak, my shoulders tensing up. “I’m not a hussy, I promise!” I try to assure her from behind Sebastian’s arm. I feel a hand on my head and flinch. Feels small, so I’m assuming it’s hers.

“As long as you’re both happy with this guy, I’m not judging.” 

“You’re not even questioning the wizard part?” Seb asks incredulously.

“I’ve always thought it looked like those wizard towers in movies, so no, honestly. It just makes me wonder if he’s… ya know, some kinda crusty, Gandalf-looking dude.” A short pause passes. Robin asks hushedly, “Are you into old guys, Sebby?”

“I– I’m not the one dating him!”

“Suuure you’re not.”

“And you’ve probably seen him!” Seb declares. “Absurdly tall, purple hair, wears cloaks and shit, looks like he’s sick but it’s just his skin color–”

“Oh! I’ve seen him hanging out with Linus, by his tent!”

“Yeah, him!” Seb almost sounds excited that he didn’t have to explain any further. “They’re close.”

“Oh, he’s cute! Are you sure you don’t like him like that?”

“Ma, what the fuck!”

“Not so loud, son. There’s kids… er…” There’s a pause. I’m assuming Robin’s looking around. “Somewhere in here, I’m sure.”

Hesitantly, I turn back towards Robin to interrupt them. “So you don’t think I’m a hussy?” It comes out small and meek. Just like me, right now… Seb snort-laughs and pulls his arm around my shoulders again, pressing a kiss to my scalp. 

Laughing alongside her son, Robin replies, “You’ll only be a hussy if you hurt my son.”

She meant for it to be lighthearted, and I know that, but my eyes brim with tears anyway.

“Oh! Oh no!” Robin laughs a little harder as she notices the true state I’m in. “C’mere,” she offers as she holds her free arm out for a hug. The other is carrying two costumes – looks like Morticia and Gomez Addams, or whatever other names this place gave them.

Hesitantly, I let go of Seb and wrap my arms around Robin.

This is our first hug.

This is weird.

A good kind of weird.

Is this what it’s like to have a good mom? I think to myself.

Oh no.

Oh god, no.

The tears start falling after that thought.

What is with me right now?

“I’m sorry I’m being such a big baby...” I defend myself, in an effort to not seem quite as pitiable as I’m coming off, “I don’t do good with surprises, and I really didn’t expect this to happen yet!” I doubt my save is working. Sounds too wet and pathetic.

Robin hands off the costumes to Seb and wraps her other arm around me, bending a little to let me lean into the crook of her neck. She’s not nearly as tall as Seb, at like 5’6” or so, but still tall enough that it’s necessary.

Huh. I think she uses Bearglove too. That, or something similar. “It’s really okay, hun! It’s okay!”

“Thank you…” I pull away, risking showing my snotty, tear-stained face.

Robin’s hands are on my shoulders. I can’t meet her eyes, but she gives me a friendly pat with her right hand. 

“Seriously,” Seb chimes in behind me. I turn to look at him. He looks relieved. “Thanks, mom.”

“It’s simply my job to love you unconditionally,” she decrees. “And you make him happy,” Robin directs towards me, poking my shoulder and catching my eyes, “so that means you too.”

Oh no.

Just when I thought I was almost done crying!

I bury my face in my hands. 

“Oh gosh,” she laughs. “You’re a mess, aren’t you?”

I nod. “You’re too nice to me…”

“I can be meaner if you want, but that would just be weird.”

“You’re fine how you are!” I agree.

“Are you two done here?” Robin asks.

“I think so,” Seb answers. His words come out sorta like a question, so I nod.

“Why don’t we go grab a bite from that cute diner around the corner? My treat.”

Seb brightens a little. “You sure?”

“Yeah, why not! (Y/n)?” 

“Oh! Uh… yeah, sure.” I use my sleeves to try patting my face dry. 

“Perfect! Let’s go check out first.” Robin gestures her head towards the registers, which are across the store but within eyeshot. “As much as I dislike capitalism, I’m not about to go to jail for stealing…” She holds up the costumes to read them. Does that thing older people do where they squint and hold it a little further from them. Guess it’s time for her to get some reading glasses! “Beautifully Creepy Wife and her Spooky Doting Husband…? God, seriously?”

Seb and I both laugh. “This place is the fucking worst,” he retorts. “C’mon, let’s go.”

______________

After paying for our stuff, Seb and I hop on his bike to meet his mom at the diner. Seb told me on our way over that before Demetrius and Maru were in the picture, Robin would always take him here after they bought their Spirit’s Eve costumes from that same Party City we were just at. 

It’s no wonder he looked so happy about this, that’s fucking precious!

The restaurant is cuter than I imagined it would be, with that archetypal overabundance of tiles and wavy glass windows that the best diners always seem to have. The interior looks like an 80’s and 90’s stereotype of a diner had a weird baby, in the most endearing way possible. There’s pastel pink, blue, and green accessories decorating the place, a black and white checkerboard floor, and a wooden jukebox with rainbow lights along its outer rim near the waiting area.

While Robin talks to the host about grabbing us a table, I people-watch.

A handsome middle-aged dude with jet black hair and a matching leather jacket is nursing a coffee at the counter while trying to rizz up two younger blonde women a few stools over. Seems like it’s working, too. Good for them! In the meantime, the server behind the counter is very visibly eavesdropping, pretending to keep occupied with the glass case of baked goods. He looks impressed. 

When we walk past all the booths and tables further in, I continue being a little nosy, taking note of how many old folk are here. Most of them are in groups, some of them are in pairs, and a few sit alone.

One lady with a thick white perm, deep laugh lines, and long crow’s feet, who also seems to be here alone, is loudly chatting with the waitress. They seem to know each other. Maybe that woman’s a regular here.

Once I get a little closer, my hands tingle a little bit and her gaze lands on mine. I notice her irises shift in color – from a deep emerald green to a bright, happy yellow – and my eyes widen. I can’t help but smile, which she mirrors, and we share a nod of acknowledgement before she returns her attention to the waitress.

God, magic is so cool.

Once we settle into a somewhat secluded booth towards the back – with Seb and I on one side, and Robin on the other – Seb begins to lay down some ground rules.

“Alright, so first off.” He holds up his pointer finger. “Nobody can know yet.”

“Well, duh,” Robin shrugs, takes a sip from her complementary cup of water, and then goes on, “Most of the older folk in Pelican Town barely tolerate gay people, let alone non-monogamy.”

“Perfect. Second,” Seb puts up a second finger. His middle this time. “Please don’t try to talk to him the next time you see him.”

Robin practically pouts at her son. “What?! Why not?” 

“He likes his privacy,” I chime in.

Seb nods and tacks on, “Yeah, and he’s not exactly wonderful at meeting new people, so he’d probably want a bit of a warning first.” I nod in agreement.

“Aw man. Fine, I’ll keep my distance,” Robin responds, putting down her glass and holding her palms in front of herself to surrender.

Just before Seb can continue, a waitress comes by to take our orders. We all ask for some coffee to start. Then, Robin gets some sorta huge deluxe breakfast combo thing, god damn; Seb orders a bagel, topped with cream cheese, lox, and some greens; and I get a veggie and cheese omelet with some toast on the side. It’s pretty late in the afternoon, but diner breakfast food is the best breakfast food. Glad we’re all on the same page in that sense.

Once the waitress leaves, Seb continues. “Last thing.”

“Shoot,” his mom prompts.

“Please don’t tell anyone he exists.”

“Why not?”

“Privacy again, but also because of the magic.” 

I nod, adding, “This isn’t something everyone can just… know about. It can fall into the wrong hands and whatever that way, y’know?”

“Dramatic, but reasonable.”

“Besides,” Seb adds, “we’re only safe from monsters and shit because of him. If anything were to happen because an angry mob of old farts from around town made their way over to his place, we’d all be fucked.”

“What, like, the critters in the mines?”

Seb and I shake our heads. The waitress comes back with our coffees, and once she’s gone, I continue, “They’re all over Ferngill. The ones we have down there, and plenty of way more dangerous ones.”

I grab a few sugar cubes and cream packets from near the window before offering some to Robin. Seb drinks his coffee black, that edgelord, so I don’t bother passing any to him.

While Robin and I fix up our drinks, Seb goes on, “There’s a high-proficiency wizard in most of the higher-populated parts of the country, and each of them are in charge of keeping a protective barrier around the area they’re stationed in.”

“Who stations them, themselves?”

“Kinda..?” Seb looks to me. 

I jump in, “There’s like, a whole council of spellcasters that take care of this stuff.”

“So, politics.”

“Basically,” me and Seb respond in unison. We both give each other a look feigning disgust. That’s, what, the third time we’ve said the same thing at the same time today, maybe?

“So are you two involved in it, or is that just his deal?”

Robin squints at Seb, as if to silently tell him, “I’ll be so not-mad-just-disappointed if you left me out of this.” Seb and I look at one another, then at her. 

“Oh you are, aren’t you?!”

Trying to take the load off Seb, I defend, “To be fair, I’m new to it, but yeah, kinda. I’m a mage and the council knows about me.” I sip my coffee, before shyly adding, “They might recruit me at some point, actually.”

“Wait, really?” Seb asks. I shrug. “News to me…” 

“It’s iffy, but I dunno, Magnus seems hopeful. I’m 50/50 on whether or not I wanna actually do it. Seems intimidating.”

My deflection worked, and now Robin is solely focused on me. Nice. “Wait, you do magic too?” I nod. “Can you magically give me a million bucks?” she jokes, holding out an open palm. I snort, lightly slapping it.

Just after this interaction, our food arrives. Thank god. The conversation diverts here, into some less serious stuff. The weather. Spirit’s Eve. How good the food is. How shitty the coffee is. Et cetera.

When we’re all done eating, Robin insists we all split a piece of one of those giant chocolate layer cakes they had in the pastry case. And while the three of us go ham on it, Seb looks up nearby piercing parlors to go to, considering our earlier discussion.

“Huh. I think this is the one I started stretching my ears at.” He tilts the phone towards me, absentmindedly fiddling with one of his gauges with the other hand.

“All the way in Zuzu, huh? Would you wanna go out there?”

“I don’t see why not. Seemed like a solid crew.”

Robin raises a brow. “You’re not making those things bigger, are you?” I can’t help but giggle at her more official motherly side coming through. 

Seb shakes his head, telling her about our cheesy matching earrings, and his Spirit’s Eve plans. She feigns disgust, much like Seb and I did before, but I can see the loving glint in her eye. She really does seem to love us as a couple, it’s super cute.

Seb adds that he might get a few extra piercings while he’s at it, like a triple helix or nose stud or something. He wants more tattoos too, but figured piercings are easier to handle in bulk like this, so he’s gonna hold off on that. While he explains this, he messages the shop in question on Facebook to ask if they do walk-ins. They hastily respond that they do!

Seb clasps my shoulder. “You wanna go out there tonight?”

I wince. “I’m exhausted, dude.” The short-lived panic I endured earlier today took a toll on me. Plus, I harvested a few pumpkins this morning. Those bitches were heavy.

“No worries. I can go on my own.”

“You better drive safe,” Robin warns through a mouthful of cake, pointing her fork towards Sebby. 

“No promises.”

I mime Robin with my own fork before adding, “I’ll kill ya if you die in a freak biking or piercing accident.”

Seb chuckles, takes another bite, and then puts his fork down, proceeding to dip each of his pointer fingers into the frosting. He plops a small dollop on to my and his mom’s noses. A declaration of war... which is nullified by the waitress coming back with our check. 

I’ll get his ass next time.

[blippin]

Wanting to write a sappy soulmates!AU with my oc's but too distracted by trying to rationalize how such a thing would work irl when relationships are so naturally complicated, and not wanting to water down the very nature of complex relationships with the suspension of disbelief.

I'm using the clichéd "the first words your soulmate says to you are imprinted on your wrist at a certain age, and turn red once you meet." I thought that this would be fun and hilarious due to having a nonverbal character, and how this would change the "rules" of the universe.

But then I got to thinking, what about the aroace character that makes an appearance later on? What about poly relationships? Or messy relationships that simply can't work out because not every relationship will?

I got to thinking about how these things could play out in a universe where your lifelong partner is somehow dictated by fate. What if "soulmate" was just a colloquially used term, but really the words a signified some divine predisposition that these people would be most suited for each other, but not necessarily fated to be together forever. People would still have free will and choices to make, they wouldn't be bound to one another just because the universe said so.

Someone's "soul words" or whatever might turn red but the couple may not be suited for each other at the time the meet, they might need to grow as individuals before trying a relationship again.

If the first words of a romantic soulmate turn red, then maybe the first words of a platonic soulmate turn blue. Someone could have words on each wrist, and would have to question the idea of having multiple soulmates in a platonic or romantic sense or both. It's very fun to imagine someone in a big polycule with words all up and down their arms.

I like to think that for those whose predetermined partner has passed away, their words would fade or turn gray. Perhaps the same could be said for an unsalvageable relationship, where the universe must have obviously made a mistake, they simply cant ever rekindle old feelings, or someone's infidelity becomes the last straw.

The implications of having such information laid out in the open is a lot to think about. Imagining a young person whose soul words appear for the first time and are already grayed out. The idea of old married couples walking around while both having grayed out words. A couple where only one of them has words that turn gray, and how their partner responds to that.

I like to think that a good portion of the fated relationships work out. And for the ones that don't, there would be specialized social groups online and in person to host meetups for new relationships. Some could be solely platonic, others could be made with the intention of seeking multiple partners. Basically like modern dating services, but maybe more nuanced.

Thinking about the words themselves is interesting, because if you think about it, most people say the same things to people they meet for the first time. Most likely, 90% of the population would have some variation of "hi/hello" or "excuse me/oops sorry" or "nice to meet you/you dropped this" etc. I feel like more unique phrases would be thought of more highly, depending on what they were.

I can definitely see a teenage girl wearing a flower in her hair every day because her words say "I like your flower", when really her future wife would be complimenting her tattoo. Or the idea of boys approaching everyone they see with nonsense words in hopes that somebody has some embarrassing soul words because of them. I'm sure the one person out there with "ligma" on their wrist would be a little upset.

In the case of my story, the main character won't have any soul words because his partner doesn't speak, but that just raises infinitely more questions about online relationships, written vs spoken word, etc. and that's a whole other can of worms I dont want to open.

I just felt like rambling and sharing my thoughts on taking a hypothetical scenario too seriously. I know I'm way late to the party on this one since soulmate AUs have been done to death and I'm sure others out there have come to similar conclusions in their own works of fiction or have figured out more interesting ones. I'm just having fun with it, and we'll see if I ever get around to actually writing this into a story. But I'm interested in everyone else's thoughts on this topic, if you have any! Let me know if you've written or read something similar, and how you've rationalized your own ridiculous fantasy plots!

[alexissara]

Gundam: The Witch From Mercury - Quick Review

Gundam: The Witch From Mercury or as we'll refer to it as Gwitch has finally wrapped and I wanted to share my thoughts quickly in the quick review format [written in basically one take with just all the points I feel like bringing up]. This is a show I'd watch with my Gfs and my Metamore every single Sunday for a while now and that's given it an extra special flare. I was captured by the stunning animation, great fights and the blooming of some lesbian feelings.

This 24 episode toy commercial is among the best in the Gundam series and is probably one of my favorite anime. However, it is a flawed series that I feel was really lacking in a lot of ways likely due to executives being worried about both having a woman be the protagonist of their warm crime cartoon and to have queerness be a center of the season.

The shows 24 episode length feels too short to tell the story that was being told, while individual episodes don't ever feel like they waste time there was not enough space for things to have impact and Miorine in particular feels like she is kind of just an object for the plot whose feelings vary depending on what the writers want. She isn't given the time to cook up an arc for her so she ultimately just serves the plot as a "I don't think killing is good" character. Still her romance with Sulleta is compelling even if it's not the connection to Sulleta that is my favorite [Sulleta sapphic polycule all the way really].

The show has good background music but it is mostly the same song. The opening and EDs are all really great songs. The mech designs are mostly super cool and they are in fact, great toy commercials. While I would never put together a model kit, I would and very likely will, buy whatever video games they produce that put Sulleta in the for front. It set up an interesting world I would like to see more stories told in.

The fights are all really amazing but the end does include one fight between broths that really muddles the rest of the plot to sell one more toy and it sucks ass. Still the rest of the fights were really Immculate.

The series does kill off most it's women who can pilot a gundam which is annoying because we see men getting to live. While the show does center a Lesbian relationship the most explicit romantic desires outside of Sulleta are expressed by men about women. In general the show puts a ton of men in the spotlight and keeps them in the forefront. It feels like the show was insecure about women taking the center stage so the rest of the plot is mostly focused on men. Women do get to do plenty of things but it still feels like we could have had more women taking the stage in battles. For gundam though, it's a decent amount of women in mechs. Plus Sulleta does get to be in a mech most episodes.

The show doesn't have a kiss in it, there is no kisses between anyone but the lack of a sapphic kiss feels bad. Like you can say "yuri doesn't do kisses" but you would be old if your saying that because I do quick reviews of Yuri manga all the time here and basically everything I am reading has kisses, a lot also have explicit sapphic lust, and increasingly even using the word Lesbian. This show instead opts to say "Gay Marriage is normal" in episode 1 and then never show anyone being gay who isn't the main couple, there are ships but every single known romantic connection outside of Sulleta and Miorine is a man's feelings towards a woman or a woman's feelings towards a man. Queerness isn't even off handily mentioned by anyone else. Still it is really nice to have them be gay married at the end even if we're not seeing the wedding or a kiss we do know for sure their married, that's explicit and they have matching rings.

Still, the show does offer us a lot of really cute sapphic ships. It also offers us a really good cast of women even if I wish they got to do even more. Chuchu is maybe my favorite gundam character ever, Prospera my beloved I will stan forever my wonderful wife, Secelia  is a bitchy queen, and a lot more are also bangers.

Politically the show nods to leftist politics but it doesn't really fully commit to that as it keeps giant companies around in it's time skip and it seems there has just been some kind of "balance" stuck where captalism is fine again. Even though the government is evil we don't fight it really. I'd like to see a show in this world that takes on the Space Assembly League. I guess the takeaway is buy Gundams, I mean Revenge is bad.

Overall, I really enjoyed the show Sulleta is such an endearing main character she is charming and sweet and strong and she is for sure my favorite MC of any mech anime and in general one of the best anime main characters of all time. I think the show is a great piece of art but short of a master piece. Perhaps these are the limits of a show that is a toy commercial. Regardless, I had a great time and I don't look forward to my wallet running dry on prints from fan art of Gwitch and Super Robot War games and shit.

[firecooking]

Z Stack polycule? Explain more please

Oh my God welcome to my BRAIN ROT get ready for a ride, I'm writing this in terms of my human au but its translates to what i think about cannon too, the meat of this is going under a read more but

TL;DR: All of the Z stacks have a complicated relationship with each other and while they would take a bullet for anyone else their relationships vary wildly from deep unbreakable bonds to literally would rather see the person get shot [also implied physical content but nothing in detail beyond "it exists"]

Also I'm not including Captain Zero or Zaffre here. Zero is pretty much removed from this and his relationship with all his tugs is very complex but even at its worst I see him as a mostly parental figure towards his tugs. And Zaffre is lesbian af and I've talked about her feelings towards the others before [tho not as in depth]

ZORRAN <--> ZEBEDEE

Zorran and Zebedee have a very close and complicated relationship, even if Zorran can be pissy and annoyed with Zeb [ie, calling him a creep, picking on him for being sensitive] they have a 'warriors bond' from years of dealing with Zero [the 'bad' years], the law, and the rapidly changing harbour. Zorran understand that Zebedee is a complicated guy with a very soft heart as much as Zebedee knows Zorran is an unwavering leader with a strict moral compass and a compassion for those around him, they admire that about each other.

There relationship isn't based in physical attraction but it can go in that direction when they are bored and looking.

ZORRAN <--> ZAK

They have an incredibly close relationship, they just get each other on a deep level. They confide in one another and will always be open and honest when in need. Zorran loves Zak's brash way of moving around the world and Zak loves Zorran's drive for success and perfection. They have romantic interest in each other but don't act on it, Zorran knows Zak won't be the settled down man he wants, Zak knows Zorran wouldn't be able to keep up with his dangerous lifestyle. But that also doesn't stop them from being intimate or living in the moment.

ZORRAN <--> ZUG

Zorran and Zug get along well and work together well, but Zorran isn't so interested in spending time with someone who reminds him of a snivelling worm and Zug, while intimidated by Zorran, doesn't think Zorran is all that interesting. But they will still play cards and share a drink after work, or help each other out. Zorran takes care of his men, and Zug is loyal to those he respects. They CAN get on each other's nerves easily, and Zug's work ethic and lack of spine can irritate Zorran quickly, but there are never hard feelings.

ZORRAN <--> ZIP

Zorran doesn't often show it, but he likes Zip even if he doesn't always get results from him. Zip, like Zug, is very intimidated by Zorran but he does look up to him and wants to make him proud. The two work well together when it's one on one, Zorran has high standards but he can see that Zip is young yet, he may be an airhead forever but he's got room to learn and needs guidance. Zip understands that Zorran is doing his best to try and take care of everyone, and doesn't hold any hard feelings when Zorran gets irritable. Zip has a lot more emotional intelligence than others in the fleet, which makes him valuable to Zorran as an ally even if it's not conventional. Zip's innocence and kindness, even if not traditional Z stack behavior, isn't something Zorran would ever want him to change.

I really like that in the show Zorran has very quiet moments when on screen where he talks more casually or quippy and off cuff. In those moments he can sound very similar to Zip which makes me think he might see himself in Zip. It's just a nice thought.

ZEBEDEE <--> ZAK

These two can bicker with the best of them but at the end of the day they've been around each other for years and have grown almost as close to each other as they individually have with Zorran. Zak can get annoyed with Zebedee and pick on him because of Zeb's inner feelings and 'softness', but wouldn't want the other to change. Similarly Zeb can get frustrated with Zaks tuff guy's brash attitude and strong headedness but can't stay mad for long. They'll never turn down spending time together and they definitely can get handsy and intimate whenever. It's just casual fun to them.

ZEBEDEE <--> ZUG

Zebedee doesn't have many strong opinions about Zug, but Zug likes to talk big game about Zebedee and how the other needs to be less of a softie. However Zug has the backbone of an eau clair and Zebedee really doesn't put any merit into what Zig says. They don't make any effort to make friends with each other but also won't actively avoid each other. Mutual amicable nods and existence is the usual with these two.

ZEBEDEE <--> ZIP

ZAK <--> ZUG

These two get along on a cosmic level. They are cut from the same cloth and share a lot of the same world views. Zebedee is very repressed in how he feels nowadays, but he admires how Zip moves around his world with a smile. And Zip doesn't feel as intimidated or afraid to be himself around Zebedee. They don't inherently try and spend time together but they very rarely fight or annoy each other, and always have a great time when they do get together. They are also just fond of each other in more intimate ideals, however Zeb doesn't really think Zip is mature enough for anything yet and Zip is well aware that he is having strong feelings because any and all feelings are new to him, maybe in a few more years.

ZAK <--> ZIP

Like Zip and Zeb, these two are cut from the same cloth. They just get each other. They've been fast friends from day one and bicker and joke and play around with ease. Often times when one of them is out doing something stupid the other is right behind or actively on the scene. They don't really have a strong romantic interest in each other, but they will do anything for the other and have a strong intimate relationship. There have been times they've talked about setting down with each other from their high stakes stupidity, but it'll be at least another decade or two before they stop causing problems and decide to calm down and start something serious. And one of them will probably be dead before that happens.

Zip is utterly afraid of Zak. He tries to be nice to Zak and just be friendly but Zak makes him deeply uncomfortable. Zak cannot stand how Zip acts and relentlessly picks on Zip. Give them a few more years and Zip will probably stop caring and that'll finally be when Zak starts to respect him but for now Zak would gladly push Zip off a bridge and Zip would let Zak get stabbed in a bar fight because he didn't want to bother Zak. Nothing between these two is ever just amicable.

ZUG <--> ZIP

These two bring out the worst in each other and they both love it. Zip DANM well knows that Zug has horrible ideas because of ego and drags him along. Zug DANM well knows that Zip is too friendly and naive to not fuck up basic tasks. That does not stop these two from rolling with the punches and causing problems on purpose or 'yes and'ing each other until disaster strikes. They are the best of pals most of the time, and their bickering is mostly in good fun. They don't have any real further attractions to each other beyond being good friends, they find nothing about each other appealing besides pretty normal friend things. These two are happiest when they are going with the flow and bouncing off each other, anything more formal and it falls apart for them. When Zip gets a little more sure of himself their dynamic may change but for now they are just Bros.

[ink-flavored]

General 5 and 9; Romantic 2, 8, 11; Gender Identity 4 and 7(or 8); Intersexuality 15 for whichever OC(s) have interesting answers :)

oh boy, thank you! i'll just hit the OC Roulette, get ready for none of these to be the same person

General

5. What did they do to explore their queerness? Have they tried to explore it at all?

Jao (from TGDW) has really not thought about it. She's been busy being a healer for her village, and then literally the queen's father, and then staying on as the queen's right hand. She's been grinding too hard to worry about gay stuff.

However, spending so much time around Xinya and attending all her formal events and helping her dress has. Y'know. Opened her mind to the possibility.

9. Did it take them a long time to figure out which labels they prefer? Are they still searching for the right fit?

Priscilla (from Henry & Priscilla) is very ignorant of labels, because it's the 1930s, so the few labels she's aware of are insults, plus she runs the mob and has to make sure she's a leader respectable (read=powerful) enough to follow. She hasn't spent enough time around other queer people to know what they would call her whole gender situation. For now, she just "feels like a man sometimes" and that's that. She'd like to find a label, but you don't know what you don't know. Part of her is convinced she's the only one like this.

Romantic Orientation

2. Do they enjoy dating or prefer being single?

Asim (from my Unnamed Dream WIP) has never had the luxury of dating. Before he became the Speaker for his village, his parents were thinking about arranging a marriage for them, but they died before it could pan out and Asim ascended to his role as a wiseman/healer/problem solver for everyone in his general radius, and thus taking on any of them as a spouse would look like special treatment.

When they think about it, they might like the idea of being in a relationship or starting a family with someone, but it's not something he needs to be happy.

8. Are they polyamorous? Do they consider it an orientation or a preference?

Justice (of Pride & Justice) would definitely 100% be polyamorous, he loves love, he would be thrilled at the opportunity to have multiple romantic partners, or even to just have different types of relationships that span the gap between platonic and romantic... if Pride didn't have so many fucking problems that would immediately implode any polycule he ever tried to form or join.

For Justice, it's something he can choose. Being poly would be nice, but the way his life currently stands, he's more than happy being monogamous too.

11. How has their romantic orientation shaped their interactions with peers and family?

Yvonne (from my Horny Urban Fantasy Anthology) was so so so shy in her herd, and continued to be so so so shy once she left it. If anything, being biromantic/bisexual just made her more nervous around literally everyone she ever interacted with that she found even a little bit cute. Centaur herds are a mix of family and peer, as not all of them are all related to each other but they all live together as if they were, so she was very close to everyone she knew. This eased her shyness a little bit around people she considered closer to "family" than "romantic prospect." But as soon as she got out into the Big City, and all she had was peers, she's playing Extreme Wallflower at every social gathering.

Gender Identity

4. How do they prefer to present?

Hayden (from Dragon Raising) has long since given up trying to present to what society expects a Black man to present like. He's often on crutches, and when he's not, his MS means he wants to be wearing comfortable clothes that are easy to move in at all times. Adaptive clothes are pretty expensive, so he takes what he can get when it comes to fashion.

On a meta-level, I'd call him.... soft masc? He's not concerned with being macho, but he's not really feminine either.

7. If they’re trans, do they plan on socially transitioning? In which ways? If not, why not?

Pride (of Pride & Justice) has basically socially transitioned in all the ways he wants, and doesn't really bother trying to "pass". He uses the pronouns he likes, he uses the name he likes, he wears—well he wears whatever the fuck he wants, but in a distinctly transgender way.

Intersexuality

15. How does their intersexuality interact with their other identities?

At time of writing, my only intersex OC is a side character from Pride & Justice. One of the members of the book club Justice attends, Chris (it/its), is intersex. I don't have a whole lot about it on my blog rn, I mention it in Justice's powerpoint that I made, and I do plan on making a whole slideshow just for the book club because there's a lot of characters to cover, but for now I will drop the picrew i made for it

Ta-da! With the intersex pin, and in case you can't see that little blue one, it's the Achillean flag.

I am still in the early days of my research about intersex variations and stuff, but I do know that Chris has Late Onset Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (LOCAH). Signs of puberty appeared in childhood, way earlier than every other kid it knew, and a lot of people in its life were not kind. After basically an entire childhood of being called "it" and a "thing", Chris has embraced it instead of giving in to dehumanization. It takes a lot of joy in being immune to categorization, and "my gender is Thing" is their way of reflecting those attempted insults back at the world.

Additionally, it was very hard to connect with other straight peers in its youth, much less get romantic with them, and trying to conform to cis beauty norms made everything worse. It gave up after high school, at first out of futility, but over time learned to embrace its masculine qualities and started curating them on purpose. It had always known it was attracted to men, but in embracing its own masculinity, it found it was able to appreciate the masculine no matter what gender it was attached to. Achillean really was the perfect word for it, and to this day it appreciates the masculine from butches to bears.

Also it has frogs. It has three White's Tree Frogs named Kermit, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo. This has nothing to do with sexuality but it is very important that you know this.

[try out my 74 Question Pride Month ask game]

[no-psi-nan]

@jkgnggj I definitely ship it!! I am ringing a cowbell in the town square constantly extolling the virtues of Aikechi while the masses pointedly look the other way lmao.

I think what first got me thinking about Aikechi is that one artwork of the Psychickers polycule at the beach in black and white where Aiura kisses Akechi. I reblog it all the time and I always add it back to the queue lmao. Once I started thinking about their potential relationship, I started realizing how good it is and it all spiralled from there lol.

Basically I love everything about this ship lmao. They're both incomprehensible in different directions. They both have a strong drive to help people. They both are extremely perceptive in different ways. They're both extroverts who love gossip. They both reject the shame that society tries to force them to feel – Aiura for her rejection of traditional femininity & her sex-positivity, Akechi for his incontinence/disability and general disregard for taboo. Akechi would be a great partner to Aiura, attentive and romantic in a way she definitely hasn't experienced before (or else why would she have gone through so much effort to seek out her soul mate?). And Aiura would be a great partner to Akechi with her similar attentiveness, her greater people skills, and her powers. They would love to help people out together (especially trying to defeat death marks), they'd both enjoy trying new things together (like axe-throwing or trying out new fashion looks), and they'd both enjoy chilling and cuddling and watching YouTube poops / listening to music from around the world / parallel playing on their phones etc. They would just be such a disgustingly happy couple <3 The kind that is regularly commiting PDA crimes and are so annoying to talk to lmao. You know they're giving each other pet names and being too lovey dovey and referencing a billion inside jokes and it's just so cringe <3 I LOVE THAT FOR THEM!!!!!

All of my opinions for this ship are technically unpopular because the ship is unpopular lmao. I think one problem might be that Aiura is clearly allosexual with a high sex drive while Akechi seems pretty dang ace. I guess my unpopular opinion is that it would not be a problem in this particular case. LISTEN... In my experience, there are broadly 3 types of asexuals. Those that find sex repulsive, those that literally could not care less about sex, and those that find sex fascinating like on a conceptual level. I think that based on his noted interest in dick and general lack of shame about bodily functions, Akechi probably falls into the third category. In fact, I posit that to Akechi, sex is a game you can win, something which is both normal to want and possible to achieve. His powers of observation, natural curiosity/willingness to experiment, and patience make him ridiculously good at showing his partner(s) a great time, even though he himself is rarely interested in getting involved. It fits with his evil nice mastermind characterization to be able to "control" someone in that way, and it keeps the funniness of his character because who in the world would think MISTER PISS is actually a world-class lover?? Anyways, he can definitely satisfy Aiura, though I still generally like her to have other partners so the game remains fun for him and doesn't become tiresome. Power to the polycule, etc lmao.

Thanks for the ask, I'm SO brainrotted about them <333

[ Ask game ] <- still open for these!