#and othes but this captured me. i...

[dancingindreamlight]

Things that seize your soul and won't let go unless you rip them out, taking part of your soul with it--these are things that without which, you would be less yourself. You don't take them on because they're fun; they take you on. They appear, divert you from your comfortable life. They are complex-- they can be fun, more often interesting, exciting, points of happiness, deep stress and sorrow to where you can't sleep and begin to lose your sanity... entangled to the point you have to step back, but shouldn't stop, even if people tell you to stop, because these are things you were meant for, even if they end up burning you up from the inside

[hauntingblue]

making a collection

making another collection with a threatening aura

[petrichal]

obligatory "Oda thank you for sharing this world with us" post

[sharlsworld]

⋆⭒˚.⋆ my best friends brother - 𝐂𝐋𝟏𝟔 ✴︎

（ 𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 ）𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗅𝖾𝖼𝗅𝖾𝗋𝖼 𝗑 𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗁𝗎𝗋𝗌 𝖻𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋

（ 𝗌𝗎𝗆𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗒 ）𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗁𝗎𝗋𝗌 𝖼𝗁𝗂𝗅𝖽𝗁𝗈𝗈𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗍𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝖼𝗋𝗎𝗌𝗁 𝗈𝗇 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗅𝖾𝗌 𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗅𝗂𝗍𝗍𝗅𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗇𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗎𝗉 𝗁𝖾𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝖾𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗂𝗋𝖽 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖺𝖼𝗁 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗇𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝖾𝗌 𝗁𝖾𝗋

✫ i imagined her to be 22 idk sorry i love a good age gap also my first charles smau!!

🝮

yn

liked by pierregasly and 1,175,903 others

yn “let’s go for a ride on the boat it’ll be fun”

charles_leclerc Did you or did you not have fun?

⤷ yn you almost flung me off the boat when you had to swerve out of the way of the rock

⤷ charles_leclerc And I apologized for making you bite your tongue on accident bug can we please move past that?

⤷ yn you broke my hairbrush trying to detangle my hair

⤷ charles_leclerc And I ordered you a new hairbrush bug can we please move past that as well?

⤷ sharls_lerklerk charles calling her bug is something very dear to me

arthur_leclerc “It’s not gonna be like last time guys I’ve learned from my mistakes”

⤷ jade_dishtinguinn poor arthur got water boarded for the second this month 😭

⤷ user1634445581 i would never let my bf have a girl best friend

⤷ yn I literally introduced them??

lorenzotl Charles trying to recreate the titanic

⤷ yn always needs the attention on him 🙄 (i’ll give him attention)

♥︎ by charles_leclerc

estiebestie charles finally acknowledging y/n’s crush on him will always be my favorite thing

charles_leclerc Face card never declines

⤷ yn omg u slut 🙂‍↕️

forzacharles why is charles trying to recreate the jack and rose scene with y/n??

⤷ yn my exact thoughts like we just gon keep playing eye tag or you gonna holla at ur boy? 😤

⤷ arthur_leclerc dis gur

alex_albon wait your like kinda giving mermaid turned human vibes??

⤷ lilymhe no I see your vision

lando the money i would pay to see that boat ride

⤷ charles_leclerc You wanna go for a boat ride??? 😄 No one wants to go with me anymore…not even y/n it’s lowkey making me depressed

⤷ lando um no i kinda hope to live to see my next birthday or whatever

⤷ yn you’re such a copy cat you wanna be different so bad but you’ll never be different

⤷ lando ???

⤷ yn don’t ??? me fattie you know you hella wrong for what you did

🝮

charles_leclerc

liked by lewishamilton and 3,972,124 others

charles_leclerc I am hopelessly in love

arthur_leclerc am I tweaking

leclerc_pascale We know son ❤️

francisca.cgomes i thought you were gay for max and carlos? like aren’t you guys a throuple or something

⤷ charles_leclerc that’s common knowledge i fear

charles_leclerc NONONO I TOOK A NAP AND SHE TOOK MY PHONE

⤷ yn HAHAHAHAH

⤷ arthur_leclerc Did you send charles this picture so you could post it 😭

⤷ yn no he already had it in his camera roll

⤷ lordperceval 😦?? i need to see more

charles_leclerc IT WASNT ME GUYS I DIDNT POST THIS

charles_leclerc I AM NOT IN A THROUPLE WITH CARLOS OR MAX GUYS PLEASE BELIEVE ME

danielricciardo Damn bro that is a beautiful picture it really captures her essence

maxverstappen1 Why don’t you capture my damn essence like this?

lorenzotl How did she even get into your phone?

⤷ charles_leclerc She deleted my face from it in like 2021 and added hers

⤷ lorenzotl Why didn’t you delete it?

⤷ charles_leclerc I don’t know how

⤷ lorenzotl Why didn’t you look it up?

⤷ charles_leclerc This conversation is over

⤷ arthur_leclerc So you’ve been manually typing in your password for 4 years cause you don’t wanna delete her Face ID from your phone?

⤷ charles_leclerc This conversation is over

francolapinto raw, next question

⤷ yn 😨😰😥😏

⤷ charles_leclerc No

arthur_leclerc Guys I think I swallowed to much ocean water my stomach hurts

⤷ oscarpiastri google said you have 3 days idk

🝮

yn

liked by charles_leclerc and 1,213,856 others

yn scheming how to make my best friends brother fall madly in love with me

francisca.cgomes y/n searching up “love spells” on tik tok

arthur_leclerc y/n is probably doing some weird dance around a bunch of candles in the shape of a heart with charles leclerc edits playing on her tv and ipad rn

⤷ yn are you fucking watching me through my windows or something damn

charlotte2304 She just ordered a bag of rose quartz guys

hoeforsainzzz charles wants her so bad he’s just trying to play hard to get fr

⤷ yn bro wants to play the long game 🙂‍↕️

♥︎ by charles_leclerc

lecult_4lyfe y/n is the most loyal person ever

alex_albon Omg let me help I’ll show you stuff I did to get lily to date me

⤷ lilymhe ???

⤷ alex_albon Girl I’m a mastermind

sharls.eclair we know she ain’t lying either

oscarpiastri I wish I knew all the lore on this crush

⤷ georgerussell63 Omg I’ll make a PowerPoint

⤷ lando great you’ve brought out powerpoint george thanks a lot oscar. thanks a lot.

🝮

charles_leclerc

liked by carlossainz55 and 2,621,904 others

charles_leclerc training camp, part 2. 😘

yn no lube, no protection, all night, all day, from the kitchen floor to the toilet seat, from the dining table to the bedroom, from the bathroom sink to the shower, from the front porch to the balcony, vertically, horizontally, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic, while I gasp for air, scream and see the light, missionary, cowgirl, reverse cowgirl, doggy, backwards, sideways, upside down, on the floor, on the bed, on the couch, on a chair, being held against the wall, outside, in a train, on a plane, in the car, on a motorcycle, the the bed of a truck, on a trampoline, in a bounce house, in the pool, bent over, in the basement, against the window, have the most toe curling, back arching, leg shaking, dick throbbing, fist clenching, ear ringing, mouth drooling, ass clenching, nose sniffling, eye watering, eye rolling, hip thrusting, earthquaking, sheet gripping, knuckles cracking, jaw dropping, hair pulling, teeth jitterbug, mind boggling, soul snatching, overstimulating, vile, sloppy, moan inducing, heart wrenching, spine tingling, back breaking, atrocious, gushy, creamy, beastly, lip biting, gravity defying, nail biting, sweaty, feet kicking, mind blowing, body shivering, orgasmic, bone breaking, world ending, black hole creating, universe destroying, devious, scrumptious, amazing, delightful, delectable, unbelievable, body numbing, bark worthy, can't walk, head nodding, soul evaporating, volcano erupting, sweat rolling, voice cracking, trembling, sheets soaked, hair drenched, flabbergasting, lip locking, skin peeling, eyelash removing, eye widening, pussy popping, nail scratching, back cuts, spectacular, brain cell desolving, hair ripping, show stopping, magnificent, unique, extraordinary, slendid, phenomenal, mouth foaming, heavenly, awakening, devils tango ever bro could cause a nuclear bomb inside me and I'd still ride.

⤷ charles_leclerc i meannn….

⤷ yn you want me so bad

⤷ charles_leclerc i meannnnnn……

⤷ yn OMG HE WANTS ME SO BAD GUYS

arthur_leclerc I can’t believe i just read that

maxverstappen1 Oh my fuck I feel like I just got assaulted or something

lando i need to bathe myself in bleach

lewishamilton Wow that was freaky even for me

oscarpiastri I’m gonna call my mom and tell her I love her

🝮

yn

liked by lando and 2,237,713 others

yn guess who

charles_leclerc Wait

charles_leclerc What the fuck

charles_leclerc Are you serious

charles_leclerc Is this real

charles_leclerc Did you get hacked?

charles_leclerc Who is that

charles_leclerc Bug who is that

charles_leclerc Please stop bug

charles_leclerc Is this is a joke?

charles_leclerc STOP IS THIS REAL ARE YOU SERIOUS IS THIS AN ACTUAL DATE???????

charles_leclerc SOMEBODY ANSWER ME PLEASE

charles_leclerc WHY ARE YOU CHEATING ON ME

charles_leclerc BUG PLEASE I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA GET MARRIED PLEASE

charles_leclerc I KNOW IVE PLAYED HARD TO GET BUT I’VE LIKED YOU SINCE YOU WERE LIKE 18 AND I KNOW THATS WEIRD CAUSE I WAS 24 BUT I COULDNT HELP IT YOU CANT FIGHT LOVE

charles_leclerc BUG PLEASE IVE LITERALLY HAD YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING HIDDEN IN MY FUCKING SOCK DRAWER FOR A YEAR PLEASE

charles_leclerc PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE YOU WERE ALWAYS GONNA BE MY WIFE

charles_leclerc AH FUCK IM GONNA DIE ALONE

charles_leclerc oh my gosh i missed my chance didn’t i?

charles_leclerc i waited to long

charles_leclerc Didn’t even get to hit that

⤷ arthur_leclerc Oh my gosh charles you sicko you’re a fuckin perv 😂😂🫵🏽

⤷ charles_leclerc shut up arthur now’s not the time

charles_leclerc Who is it I’ll kill him

charles_leclerc It’s the haircut isn’t it??? I told maman she cut it to short

charles_leclerc OHHH MY SHAYLA

charles_leclerc please bug i was gonna marry you i swear so bad i literally had it all planned out

charles_leclerc YOURE MY END AND MY BEGINNING EVEN WHEN I LOSE IM WINNING CAUSE I GIVE YOU AALLLLLLLL OF ME TO YOU

charles_leclerc I always thought Ferrari would be the reason I ended myself but it’s this

⤷ yn nooo don’t kill yourself your so sexy aha

⤷ charles_leclerc OH SO NOW YOU GOT JOKES? ARE YOU OR ARE YOU NOT CHEATING ON ME WITH SOME UGLY ASS SKANK?

⤷ lando who tf are you calling a ugly ass skank?

⤷ charles_leclerc YOU WENT A DATE WITH LANDO FUCKING NORRIS???

⤷ lando girl there ain’t no one in the world that can resist this fine ass honey mhmmmm

⤷ charles_leclerc ok gay ass go kiss on carlos or something fucking slut

⤷ yn oh my gosh charles i’ve never seen this side of you 🙂‍↕️

⤷ charles_leclerc are you or are you not cheating on me with lando fucking norris?

⤷ yn daddy chill

⤷ yn it was all apart of my plan you made it to easy

⤷ yn i’ve never seen you cuss so much

lando we just seen charles leclerc crashing out over his little brothers best friend guys this is a historical moment for us chayn shippers

⤷ arthur_leclerc This is gonna be taught in history classes in the future bro trust

charles_leclerc What the fuck I was just manipulated into confessing my crush on my little brothers best friend to the entire world

alex_albon chayn shippers rise

⤷ lando risen ☝️

⤷ georgerussell63 risen ☝️

⤷ danielricciardo risen ☝️

⤷ liamlawson30 risen ☝️

⤷ charles_leclerc This is exactly who I thought would be apart this club fucking losers

⤷ lando this is how you treat loyal fans? i’m not showing the edits we made now

⤷ charles_leclerc Show it to me pleaseeee send it to me Rachel 😔

⤷ lando why is charles leclerc lowkey turning into a pathetic little bitch boy?

⤷ charles_leclerc What the fuck did I do to you?

⤷ lando you called me a fucking ugly ass skank

⤷ charles_leclerc bruh it was a joke it was just in the heat of the moment

⤷ lando i don’t want to hear your excuses 🙄🤚

🝮

yn

liked by zendaya and 3,916,447 others

yn i’m a mastermind

francolapinto tears in my latina eyes

⤷ francolapinto oh shit wait

arthur_leclerc my favorite panther

⤷ yn 🐆🐆 (i know it’s a cheetah shut up)

francisca.cgomes i know that’s right

lilymhe I’m proud, truly

carlossainz55 Peter…how are you doing that

leclerc_pascale My prayers have been answered

pierregasly Great get married now

⤷ yn let’s have a double wedding

⤷ francisca.cgomes omg lets do it

charles_leclerc bugs school of manifestation

⤷ yn a masterclass

♥︎ by charles_leclerc

danielricciardo This is in fact a love story

alex_albon younger me is probably so shook rn

⤷ lando 21 year old me is flabbergasted rn

maxverstappen1 Damn what spells are you using

⤷ yn you’ll never know 🤫🤫

lorenzotl I’ve never seen him look so free

⤷ yn this was kinda poetic lowk

oscarpiastri I can see the future

carlossainz55 Dreams do come true ig

lewishamilton damn girl teach me your ways

sharls_lerklerk what’s 4 + 4??

estiebestie i need to know what that damn dance looked liked cause wtf

🝮

charles_leclerc

liked by tomholland2013 and 4,455,813 others

charles_leclerc she bamboozled me

yn omg you want me so bad

⤷ charles_leclerc I do want you so bad

⤷ yn my pants were JUST on i swear

♥�� by charles_leclerc

yn 7 year old me is bouncing off walls rn

♥︎ by charles_leclerc

lando you’re welcome i was part of that plan

⤷ charles_leclerc ugly ass skank

arthur_leclerc seriously just get married you already admitted to having the ring

⤷ charles_leclerc Yeah I can’t believe I just told the whole world that

⤷ lando cause you were being pathetic you bitch

⤷ georgerussell63 Omg loving this beef let’s keep this energy in the new season ❤️

⤷ f1 Let’s not ❤️

alex_albon Cute or whateva

carlossainz55 This calls for celebration! Let’s party like there’s no tomorrow

⤷ yn damn how are things at williams?

⤷ alex_albon excuse me i’ll have you know that he was chugging down coffee and munching on all the food did they not feed him at ferrari?

⤷ f1 Let’s not ❤️

alex_albon So as president of chayn club I will be accepting a check for my undying support over the years

⤷ georgerussell63 and i as vice president

⤷ lando and i as the founder

⤷ danielricciardo and i as secretary

⤷ liamlawson30 and i as treasurer

⤷ charles_leclerc I hope your hungry…for nothing

⤷ lando girl you thought you ate that 😒 i want our checks by the end of the week or i’m never sending you our edits

⤷ charles_leclerc be expecting mail in the next few days ❤️

[majestyeverlasting]

Hello! If you are willing I would like to request a Frankie morales x reader oneshot? 🙃🙃 im obsessed with Frankie x wife reader lately and I was thinking maybe you could write somethin where the reader is pregnant and having cramps / contractions while Frankie is out with his friends and calls him all freaked out but even though it’s just false labour he still rushes home anyway?🥰🥰

(I love your writing btw I hope you accept this request thank you <3)

𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐚𝐲 | 𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬

Pairing Frankie Morales x Female Reader

Summary A night of laughter, love, and quiet devotion reminds you and Frankie how much your world has grown—especially with your baby on the way.

A/N Thank you so much for this request and your patience, anon! This is my first time writing for Frankie, so let me know what you guys think. 

⠂⠁⠈⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂

Across the living room, the evening news drones so low, the TV might as well not be on at all. Ten minutes ago, Frankie left you alone on the couch to go get ready for a night out. You’d looked up from your book long enough to catch the wink he shot you before disappearing up the staircase.

As easy as it would be for him to stay in, you insisted he go out and enjoy himself. The two of you had finally settled into your new home. Soon enough, the guys were starting to rib him about falling off the face of the earth.

He's getting better at striking a balance these days. 

“Alright, hermosa,” he announces as he descends the stairs. “Here’s what I’m working with...” 

Frankie walks back into the living room in dark-wash jeans and a sage button down. As you set your book aside, he offers a goofy spin in a lighthearted mockery of what you oftentimes do. You try to restrain your smile, but it shines through anyways. Frankie grins like he’s won a prize, teeth glinting along with the sparkle in his dark eyes.

Everyone said he was trouble when you first met. It didn’t take long to realize they meant the intoxicating kind that disarms a room, draws people in, makes them feel seen. The kind you’d never recover from losing if you let slip away. 

A year ago, he got down on one knee and asked you for forever. That was the moment you realized that, in turn, you were the trouble he couldn’t bear to lose.  

Before you have the chance to stand, he stalks over to you and leans down to capture your lips in a brief, tender kiss. 

You smile when he pulls away to stand back up to his full height, all six feet and broad shoulders. Looking up at him from your seated position feels a little funny, but you can't bring yourself to mind. If for no other reason than the gentle way he pinches your upturned chin between his thumb and forefinger.

“Have fun,” you murmur as you blink up at him. 

“I will.”

“And be safe.”  

“Yes ma’am.” Frankie’s touch falls away, and you stand to wrap your arms around his neck.

You tuck your nose into his shirt as his strong arms encircle your waist. He smooths a large hand up your back before stilling at the nape of your neck to deliver a firm but gentle squeeze. As he starts to pull away, you slip your fingers into his hair to scratch his scalp with your nails. It’s been a while since his last haircut, and now the dark strands curl beneath his ears. 

Frankie hums a low note of satisfaction. “Not fair.” 

“Completely fair,” you lilt.

He chuckles and pulls back enough to meet your gaze. His eyes are soft as he says, “Should be back in a couple hours.” 

“I’ll wait up.”

"You don't have to," he says.

"Don't I always?"

He thinks back over the times he's gone out without you, and yeah. You always do.

•••

It's quiet when he arrives back home. 

He kicks his boots off at the door and notices a pink sticky note on the wall above the key holder. There's a smiley face and heart drawn on it along with "welcome back!!!" Frankie feels himself smiling as he plucks it off the wall and saunters further into the house. 

In the living room, one lamp remains on so he can navigate his way through the otherwise dark space. You've folded the throw blanket. Fluffed and arranged the pillows like you do every night before bed. It’s the little things like that, little signs of life, that he’ll never tire of coming back home to. 

When Frankie finally enters the bedroom, he sees your smile in the warm, dim lamplight. You're kneeling on the bed wearing the cutesy black pajama set he likes on you. A breathy chuckle escapes him as he takes you in before his eyes find yours. 

He plays off the warmth in his cheeks by holding up the sticky note you had left for him. 

You tilt your head with innocent, furrowed brows. “Where’d that come from?” 

“Beats me," he plays along as you slide off the bed. 

He sets the note on the dresser so he can rest his hands on your waist when you approach. The scent of vanilla evades his senses in the gentlest way. 

“Did you have fun?” It’s a genuine question, but his mind goes fuzzy when you smooth your hands from his stomach up to his pecs. 

With a distracted nod, his thumbs slip beneath your satin tank top to brush your skin. All he can think about is the gentleness of your touch. The way you begin to toy with the button at the top of his shirt without actually unbuttoning it. 

“But not too much fun, right?” you ask. “You’re not too tired, are you?” 

You finally pop the first button undone, then the next one, then the next. Revealing more and more of the dusting of hair across his tanned chest. 

Rather than answering, he scoops you over his shoulder as you squeak his name. 

- 

Eight Months Later

It’s been a while since Frankie laughed this hard. When he’s finally on the verge of catching his breath, Santiago picks up from where Will left off in the story, and that pleasant side ache returns. If he weren't too busy swiping the tear from his eye, he reckons he’d see every head in the bar turned to gawk at the four cackling hyenas. A live country rock band plays as their soundtrack.

Luckily, that isn’t the case. Like them, everybody is lost in their own little worlds. With their own inside jokes and old stories that endure no matter how many times they're told. 

“And that’s what your ass gets for trying to show off,” Will concludes. It earns him a prompt elbow to the side from his younger brother, whose cheeks are either flushed from the whiskey or embarrassment. 

It had been the story about Benny getting told off by a group of older women during a group trip to Panama. Not in English, but in Spanish. The icing on the cake was that they had been pausing every few words so Santiago could translate for them in real time. 

As their amusement begins to settle, they look around at each other and shake their heads. It’s been too long since they’ve gotten together like this. Frankie takes a small swig from his beer and lets his head rest against the wall behind him. 

Under the dim lights, with drinks on the table, and surrounded by strangers, it feels as though no time has passed at all.  

Benny’s eyes rove over to the recreation room, where people shoot pool and throw darts. 

“I don’t know about y’all, but I’m ready to kick some ass in a game of 501,” he says. 

William folds his hands on the table. “We puttin' money up?”

“Hell yeah, we are,” Benny scoffs and pulls a face. “I’m leaving here with something.” 

“Twenty-five each and the winning team splits the pot?” Santiago proposes. “I call Fish on my team.” He gives Frankie's shoulder a squeeze.

Benny drums a beat on the table. “Let’s do it.” 

They’re in the middle of scooting past other patrons when Frankie’s phone begins buzzing in his pocket. He doesn’t expect to see a picture of your face light up the screen. Santiago is the only one in the group who notices. 

“Gotta take this,” Frankie tells him, and answers the call as he turns away. 

“Hang on one second, honey, I’m getting someplace quiet.” 

To make it to the front of the establishment, he shuffles between a small sea of tables filled with people with loose smiles and glowy faces. He holds the door open for a group of young ladies filing inside, which earns him a series of chirpy thank-yous. The giddy energy of the night fades once he’s outside, as if it was all stuffed within the walls of Dave's Bar and Grill. With the patio being around back, only a few people stand smoking out front. 

The air is warm. A couple of the parking lot lights flicker. Frankie heads toward one of the benches as he says, “Alright, sweetheart, I’m here.”

A heavy breath is the first thing that greets him from the other end of the line. 

“Frankie,” your voice is shaky, and his brow furrows as he takes a seat. 

“Talk to me,” he coaxes, his voice even softer. 

“I’m cramping pretty bad right now.” You take another deep breath. “I think it’s the Braxton Hicks the nurse was telling us about. They’re finally happening.” 

He stands from the bench and begins pacing along the curb. “You sure they're the false ones?” he asks. “You know you’re body better than anybody else…” 

“I’m ninety-nine percent sure.” Another sharp ache pulses low in your stomach, and makes you bite back a small whine. 

Frankie releases his lower lip from between his teeth as guilt tugs at his chest. “Go lay down, okay?” he says as he fishes his truck keys out of his pocket. “Or run yourself a bath if you can manage. Nurse said that’s supposed to help.” 

Shuffling arises on your end. “Okay,” you murmur.

“I’m on my way.” 

Tonight, you can’t muster the willpower to tell him to stay out with his friends. Ever since you hit the thirty-four-week mark, you’ve been hyper-aware of every pang, flutter, and gurgle. Even if you were the one feeling the heat, it was easier to walk through the flames with him. 

“Drive safe, okay?” you say. “Go the speed limit.” 

“I’m always safe.” It’s a white lie, but he was getting much better. Especially now that he was about to have two people looking forward to him arriving home in one piece at the end of the day. 

Life is a delicate, fragile, remarkable thing. It’s a fact that solidified all the more the first time you showed him a black-and-white ultrasound and pointed out your little girl. 

“I’ll be there soon,” he promises. 

Santiago steps outside as he's hanging up, immediately scoping out Frankie. 

“Everything alright, man?” He searches Frankie’s gaze. He’s always analyzing and piecing together. People, places, things. Frankie doesn’t have to say anything. “Your wife and baby okay?” 

Frankie nods, but there’s worry etched across his face. “Gonna head home to be on the safe side.”  

“I’ll let the guys know.” Santiago pulls Frankie into a hug and gives him a few pats on the back. “It was good seeing you tonight.” 

“Likewise.”

“Guess it’ll have to be a playdate next time,” Santiago teases. 

Frankie cracks a smile. 

•••

With the bathroom door cracked, you can hear the familiar shuffling of Frankie entering the house. His keys clink into the bowl shortly before the steps begin to creak under his weight. One purposeful footstep after the next, until he’s filling the doorway with a hand on his hip. But you sit in the bathtub with your eyes closed and your head tipped back. The subtle scent of lavender fills the humid air. You’re only visible from your collarbones up, and your pregnant stomach rises above the bubbly water. 

Rather than speaking, he stands there and takes you in with those soft, dark eyes. You’re beautiful where you lay. His gaze is palpable, and opening your eyes to meet it solidifies for him that you’re okay. It's a silent assurance. These moments when you don't need words have only grown in number. Every trace of worry that once existed has dwindled away.

As he takes a small step inside, he tosses his baseball cap onto the sink counter and runs a hand through his hair. Tension melts from his shoulders in real time. Makes him look even taller where he stands.  

“Hey,” he breathes.

“Hi,” you say, then note, "Your shoes."

The teasing undertone to your words makes him chuckle. At himself, at the fact that he’d rushed home, despite your warning, with a head full of clamoring thoughts. Thoughts of arriving to you in labor and having to deliver his own child. Or packing you into his truck and needing to pull over and do the very same. There was no middle ground.

He’d dedicated years of his life to working under the most intense pressure, but it was his pregnant wife who’d finally thrown that composure off course.  

Yet here you were pointing out the fact that he had tracked his shoes upstairs.

Frankie crouches to untie his boots before kicking them off his feet. He stumbles in the process and has to brace himself on the sink. The smile already budding on your face blooms into a fuller one when he huffs and peeks over at you. When you straighten up, the water sloshes and reveals more of you chest. 

A long sigh escapes him as he sits alongside the tub and stretches his long legs out in front of him. That’s when a laugh bubbles up your throat. Despite his best efforts to retrain his own amusement, he can’t help but join in. The two of you sit there laughing in a mix of relief and acceptance of the fact that your worlds have only just begun to change. 

A comfortable silence soon settles in the space between you. Frankie gets an almost wistful look about him as he stares straight ahead. 

“What are you thinking about?” you ask after a while. 

He rests his arm on the side of the tub. “Us,” he answers. “Being parents.”  

There’s an understated sense of anticipation in his tone that he still hasn’t been able to put into words. A small hint of apprehension lingers too, but the type that propels as opposed to paralyzes. 

You hum as you run a wet hand over your glistening stomach. 

“I love you,” he continues softly. “I love her.”

He reaches out to splay his large hand over your stomach. You smile as he continues talking, “Love that I get to do this with you.” 

Fondness swells in your chest all the more. Like a third lung set on sustaining you too. 

“I’d kiss you right now, but I don’t know how,” you admit. 

Without hesitating, Frankie shifts so he’s able to steady your chin and press his lips to yours. You lift a hand to rest the tips of your fingers against his scruffy cheek. Frankie hums when you ghost your tongue along his lower lip, only to pull away like you have something to say. Before you can speak, he presses back in for one more soft peck, then touches his forehead to yours. 

You feel yourself smiling. “What I was trying to say,” you start, but Frankie kisses you again because you’re right there, and because he can.

Butterflies erupt all throughout your stomach. 

“Go ahead,” he finally coaxes with a small smile, lips brushing yours. “What were you gonna say, hermosa?” There’s a gruff, honeyed quality to his voice that you’re certain is intentional. 

“That I love you too,” you whisper. 

-

Thanks for reading! Likes, comments, and reblogs are always appreciated. I promise I see them all! 

FRANKIE MASTERLIST 

ALL MASTERLISTS

[delusional-day-dreamer]

Reflections - e.e

‣ emily engstler x reader

‣ wc: 2958

‣‣ synopsis: emily had no choice but to bail on your planned day together, so you decide to get a little revenge, leaving your reflection as the only thing on her mind all day.

‣‣‣ a/n: sorry this took SO LONG to release, i was a little nervous to write smut for the first time so hopefully this isn't too bad! i'm still working on more fics and hopefully i can still follow my plan to release one a day!

You adjusted the position of your body in front of the mirror, lifting Emily's shirt to reveal just a sliver of your boobs as you posed for your selfie in your lacy thong. You weren't posing for a social media post or anything of the sort, you were just trying to torture your poor girlfriend a little bit.

The two of you had planned a day-long date today, as she wasn't supposed to go in for practice or any sort of team events, but her coaches had changed their mind, calling the team early in the morning for mid-day practice, followed by a workout session, ice baths and checkups with their athletic trainer, and a film session to end their packed day.

Unfortunately for you, the text had come in during an early morning makeout session, causing Emily to leave the comfort of your bed to eat breakfast, get ready, and head out for her long day. Leaving you a needy, pleading mess for her in the process. You knew the change in plans wasn't her fault, nor was it in her control.

You were just seeking revenge for the fact that she chose to leave you orgasmless before heading out, promising to finish what the two of you had started later in the evening.

Grinning as you finally got the perfect shot, you sent off a text to Emily, containing both the selfie and a short text that read, can't wait for you to get back Em. Now, all you had to do was wait for her response, which you knew wouldn't come until a little later, when she finally got the chance to check her phone during a water break.

To your delight, Emily's response came in sooner than you had expected, not even ten minutes after you had sent the text, your phone pinged with a new text. you better find a way to wait, don't you dare touch yourself without me.

You knew that was one of Emily's "rules", if she wasn't away for a game, your pleasure was hers and hers only. And usually, that was always enough for you, as you had no need to get yourself off either by hand or with any of the toys hidden in your shared closet, Emily was always there to take care of you. But today, you found yourself struggling to hold off on relieving the deep ache that had settled in your core.

You swear you did everything in attempt to pass by the time that Emily was gone. You ate breakfast, dusted nearly every surface in your apartment, wiped down every mirror, scrubbed down the bathrooms, ate lunch, cooked dinner for you two to enjoy later, took an everything shower, and finally settled down in on your bed to watch t.v. around four in the afternoon, knowing Emily would be home before six.

Just as your eyes began to shut, drifting off into a light sleep, you heard the front door open as Emily entered the apartment, dropping the keys in the little ceramic bowl you had bought for the apartment and taking off her shoes, walking towards your bedroom.

You shot up in bed, eager for Emily to walk through the door so you could capture her in your grasp and lure her into bed, finally able to relieve the throbbing between your legs. She greeted you as she entered the room, dropping her practice bag over by the laundry hamper before making her way to you, not that you were paying attention.

You leaned in and grabbed the back of her neck, smashing your lips onto hers the second she was close enough. She climbed onto the bed with you, laying her body over yours as you continued to make out, her tongue intertwined with yours as her hands moved up and down, from kneading your braless tits to squeezing your waist, the two of you just couldn't get enough of each other.

You whined as she pulled away from your kiss, she chuckled before ducking her head down to kiss across your jaw to your ear, "missed me that much baby?" She questioned smugly as she moved her lips under your ear, alternating between sharply nipping at your skin, open mouthed kisses, and soothing licks over the trail of reddish-purple marks she left behind.

"Please Em, don't tease. Been waiting for you all day," you begged, arching your chest into her, hoping she would get the hint. She popped her lips off your neck with a smirk, gazing at your needy expression before moving her hands to pull her t-shirt off your body, uncovering your perky nipples, begging for her touch.

Her lips began a trail of kisses, licking, biting, and sucking her way down from the base of your neck to your chest, leaving hickeys at the very tops of your breast before finally latching her mouth onto your right nipple, her hand coming up to twist and tug at the other.

Your hands flew to her ponytail, gripping it as you moaned at her teasing, urging her head to continue its descent down to where you needed her the most. Thankfully, she continued to kiss down your abdomen, stopping at the edge of your lace thong to nip at the fat of your hips. She continued to tease you, leaving hickeys around the perimeter of your inner thighs as you whimpered the arousal continuing to pool within your panties, yet Emily purposely avoided your throbbing pussy.

“God Em, please I can’t take it anymore, need you so bad,” you propped yourself up on your elbows to look down at her as you pleaded, your mind far too hazy to feel embarrassed of how desperate you sounded. She propped herself, perching herself to the perfect position in between your thighs as she finally ran her fingers up and down your lace-covered slit, feeling the wetness that had begun to soak through.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this baby,” she hummed, “Wanna try something different with you, that okay?” She asked as she pulled your thong down, a strand of your slick sticking to the fabric. "You're this wet for me and I haven't even touched you yet baby," Emily rose to lean back on her knees, moving her hands to rest upon your thighs.

“Please Em, do anything, I just need you,” you whispered back, sitting up as you watched her rise from the bed, walking over to the floor length mirror you had taken the picture in. She picked it up and adjusted it so that it leaned against the wall in front of your bed, such that you were now gazing at your own naked reflection.

Your attention, however, was quickly drawn back to Emily, who had now stripped her t-shirt and sweatpants off her body, leaving her in just a plain black sports bra and a matching pair of boxers. She walked back over to the bed, settling against the headboard and planting her feet flat on the bed to take a seat behind you.

"Come here baby," she requested, and with such a low, sultry tone, how could you resist for even a second? You quickly turned onto your hands and knees, crawling up the expanse of your California king bed to kneel in between her thighs, capturing her lips once again.

You took the chance to tease Emily back a bit, taking control of the kiss by biting and dragging out her bottom lip before slipping your tongue back into her mouth, moaning eagerly into her as your hands tugged at the straps of her sports bra.

She didn't allow you to continue for long, grabbing your waist and manhandling your back into her front before you could take off her bra. She traced her hands down your body, grabbing the back of your thighs to rest them over her bent legs, spreading you open in front of the mirror.

"You see how wrecked you are for me?" She mumbled into your ear, you watched as her tattooed hands kneaded at your hickey covered tits, pinching and tugging at your nipples once again. "Mhm," you nodded, biting your bottom lip to hold back the moans threatening to spill from your lips.

Emily, however, wouldn't accept that as an answer. She grabbed your jaw firmly with her right hand, using her thumb to pull your lip out in between your teeth. "None of that tonight ma, I wanna hear you properly, whether your answering me," she spoke softly, beginning to suck hickeys into the unmarked side of your neck, "swearing," she flicked her tongue out to soothe a particularly rough area, the skin already turning purple, "or moaning my name, begging me for more," she whispered into your ear.

Your brain turned to mush at her words, which meant you didn't notice how her left hand dropped from massaging your breast to reach your cunt as she was whispering filthy things into your ear, turning you on even more. A borderline pornographic moan tore from the back of your through as Emily finally pressed her middle and ring fingers onto your clit, rubbing small circles at first.

You threw your head back against her shoulder as your body arched against her, desperate moans spilling from your lips as your hips moved upwards to search for more friction in her touch. Her right hand wrapped around your waist, holding down your bottom half before she quickly lifted her fingers from rubbing circles on your clit to lightly slapping it, not nearly hard enough to hurt, but the pressure was enough for your head to shoot up at the sparks it sent through your core.

"I want you to watch yourself in the mirror, you stop looking and I stop touching you, okay baby?" Emily insisted, her fingers only moving down from your clit to trace your folds after you agreed, dragging her fingers to collect the arousal dripping from your entrance back up to your clit, this time adding more pressure onto your clit.

Your body squirmed in her hold, your mouth emitting a near constant stream of desperate whines, begging Emily for more. "C'mon ma, tell me what you want from me," she murmured, her breath warm against the bruised skin of your neck. "Fuck me, please Emily, need you to fuck me so bad I," your words were cut off by a guttural moan leaving your mouth as she plunged two fingers into your sopping heat, the prolonged foreplay had made you so wet she slipped in without any discomfort.

Your eyes fluttered, as your body melted into hers, illegible pleas, swears, and cries of ecstasy continuously fell from your lips, all the while maintaining eye contact with Emily through the mirror. Her fingers increasing their speed as she plunged a third into you, continuing to pump in and out of you, curling into you with such precision you preened her grasp, rolling your hips forward to meet her thrusts. In the process, the heel of her palm brushed against your clit, causing you to writhe in her arms, all the while Emily ducked her head down to suck at your sweet spot.

Her name fell from your lips repeatedly, the coil in your abdomen was so close to snapping, you could almost taste how close your orgasm was. Sensing this from how tight your cunt was squeezing her fingers, she moves her unoccupied hand up to your nipples, roughly tugging at them while she moved her lips up to whisper filth into your ear.

"Just like that baby... see how pretty you look while taking my fingers, my dirty little slut getting off on being finger fucked in front of a mirror, thought about fucking you like this all day... such a good girl for me," her continuous praise and encouragements, combined with the sensation of her playing with your tits, her fingers curling so deep inside of you, and her palm providing friction to your clit was all too much for you to withstand any longer.

Your moans turned into near screams as you finally came, your orgasm hitting you full-force as your legs shook on top of Emily's, full body shudders coursing through you as Emily continued to fuck into you at the same pace, insistent on having you ride out the full extent of your orgasm.

As your orgasm finally began to subside, your body going limp against hers, Emily slowed the pace of her fingers until they stilled within you. To distract you from the emptiness she knew you felt as she withdrew her fingers from your soaking cunt, she peppered kisses along the side of your face and placed a few gentle pecks on you lips accompanied with soft praises as you tuned to face her.

She brought her fingers up to your lips, shoving them into your mouth so you could clean off your own slick, humming as she felt your tongue swirling around her fingers. After popping your mouth off her fingers, you removed your legs from on top of hers, twisting your body around in her grip to face her as your hands reached upwards to cup her face, pulling her mouth down to yours in a searing kiss, all the while your knee pressed into her core.

You were acutely aware of the fact that you hadn't even touched Emily yet, and as stubborn as she was, you could feel the throbbing of her pussy against your knee, and you would be damned if you didn't get her off after the earth-shattering orgasm she gave you.

Your lips continue to move roughly against hers, attempting to establish dominance and only separating when you tugged her sports bra over head. Your lips met the soft skin of her neck, peppering gentle kisses as you knew you couldn't leave hickeys on such a visible area just two days before her next game.

You continued placing kisses to her chest, circling her nipple with your tongue as right hand reached down to cup her warm cunt through her boxers, forcing an airy moan from her. You were able to feel through the fabric how aroused she had gotten from making you cum.

You paused your ministrations to retract your hands from her body, moving to grab at the waistband of her boxers, the only material still separating the two of you. You looked up at her glazed over eyes, nonverbally checking for her consent. Emily's past relationships and hookups always had the same dynamic, she gave a lot more than she received, if they even made an effort to reciprocate her pleasure.

With you, that was never the case. You were just as concerned with Emily's satisfaction as she was yours, despite her having the more dominant personality, you almost never allowed her to leave without at least one orgasm.

With her approval and the slight lift of her hips, you discarded her underwear, laying down on your stomach and spreading open her thighs to be eye-level with her glistening cunt. "All this just from watching my reflection Em?" You teased, your breath warm against her inner thighs as you sucked and nipped at the skin closest to her center, knowing no one would be able to see the bruises left there.

"Yeah baby, it's all for you," she breathed our, grabbing your tousled hair into a makeshift ponytail, using it to guide you closer to her sopping pussy. Even now, she still Deciding she had waited long enough, you dove your tongue into her, licking a long stripe from her entrance up to her throbbing clit, causing her to throw her head back into the headboard as she moaned deeply.

"Right there ma, just like that," she encouraged as you devoured her, running your tongue through her folds to lap at her leaking arousal like a woman starved. You gather her wetness to move up and press your tongue flat against her clit, sucking and lapping at her bud. "Oh fuck baby, doing so good for me," her hips moving up to meet your mouth.

She groaned loudly as you began to hum against her clit, holding her hips tighter as moved down to her entrance again, dipping your tongue to curl into her as your nose moved against her clit, her orgasm quickly approaching from the friction you provided. You moved back up to her clit, knowing just what she needed to be pushed over the edge.

You latched onto her nub, sucking and slightly grazing her with your teeth, humming and pressing into her as she came with a throaty moan, pushing your head deeper into her to draw out as much of her orgasm as possible.

You continued to suck at her for a few moments after, slowly reducing your touch to a few soft kitten licks as her body went limp against the headboard, relaxing fully as you detached your lips from her, rubbing your hands up and down her thighs.

Her thumb wiped the slick that covered your lips and dripped down your chin, grinning at your wrecked state. “Worth the wait ma?” Her smug but somehow genuine demeanor took in the blissed out expression on your face, exhausted from your previous activities.

“Well worth Em, should mess with you more often if this is what happens,” you beamed, only half joking. “Yea right, try that again and I won’t be so nice next time, I could barely make a single shot at practice,” she grumbled, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on your lips, crawling off the bed to grab a washcloth from your joint bathroom. Your reflection had truly served you well today.

[nomie-11]

Liam Mairi x Reader - The Artist and his Muse

masterlist!

Never once did Liam have the desire to learn how to draw, or learn how to paint, but as he whittled her dragon into another blank piece of wood, he was beginning to understand. He had no clue how to carve a mini figurine of her and her beautiful face, so he would need to learn how to draw. 

The idea had struck him like a bolt of Violet’s lightning—a restless itch that wouldn’t fade no matter how many times he told himself it was impossible or unreasonable. He was Liam Mairi, a warrior, soldier, protector, he had no business picking up a pencil to sketch her delicate lines or smoothing the curves of her figure with tender care. It was already somewhat unreasonable that he spent nearly all of his free time carving small figures of dragons. But when he glances at her, Y/n, laughing softly as her dragon swished his tail protectively behind her, he realized no battlefield could ever compare to the challenging art of capturing her essence. 

The unfinished wooden carving sat in his hands, its shape rough and unrefined, and he really couldn’t even tell that it was supposed to be a human, let alone Y/n. It wasn’t enough. The wood was too rigid to hold her warmth, her fire, her unmistakable spirit. He needed to bring her to life on paper before he could even think about turning that vision into something real. 

So that evening, after drills, Liam approached Violet. 

“I really, really need your help,” He pleaded as they walked towards the dining hall. “I need you to ask Jesinia to get me a book on how to draw from the archives. Please Violet.”

She snorted, suppressing a giggle as they grabbed their trays of food and sat down at their normal table. 

“I’ll see what I can do,” she replied lightly, waving to Rhiannon and Y/n, who sat talking animatedly over something. “We’ll figure it out tomorrow during archive duty before breakfast.” 

“Thank you so much,” He sighed, taking his seat next to Violet and across from Y/n. “You’re a lifesaver.” 

“Why is Violet a lifesaver?” Y/n asked, tilting her head curiously. 

“No reason!” He replied, just a touch too quickly, hiding his red ears behind his hands in a way too obvious manner. 

—————————————-

Over the next week, Liam carried the drawing book everywhere he went, his new codex of sorts, tucked between his journals and Xaden’s training regimens. The first sketches were more than rough, messy lines that bore no real resemblance to Y/n or anything remotely human. He tore out the worst of them in frustration, crumpling the paper into tight balls that littered the floor of his quarters. But he persisted, staying up late in the quiet glow of candlelight, pencil in hand, practicing strokes, shading, and proportions as if his life depended on it. 

It was her smile that always tripped him up. How could something so effortless on her part feel so impossible to replicate? When she smiled, it was never just her lips; it was the way her eyes crinkled at the corners, the way her nose scrunched slightly when she laughed, the warmth it brought to her entire face. He could picture it so vividly in his mind that it hurt to see the flat, lifeless doodles staring back at him. 

Still, he refused to give up. He filled the pages of the makeshift sketchbook Xaden had scrapped up for him, painstakingly sketching her in every moment of silence they had. The way she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear while reading; the intensity in her gaze when she strategized during training; the rare softness of her expression when her large blue dragon nudged her shoulder, her hand resting gently on his scales. 

He began stealing glances whenever he could, noting the curve of her jawline or the way the sunlight caught the strands in her hair, a mesmerizing mix of highlights he couldn’t quite replicate. 

“Are you drawing her again?” Violet teased one afternoon, leaning over his shoulder as they sat by the edge of the sparring grounds, Y/n and Rhiannon going at each other just in front of them. He quickly closed the sketchbook, shooting her a warning glare. 

“Shut up,” he mumbled, his ears turning a bright crimson. 

“She’s going to figure it out eventually, you know,” Violet grinned, nudging him playfully. “You’re not exactly subtle.” 

Liam groaned, burying his face in his hands. “I just… I can’t get it right. She’s—she’s so—”

”Complicated?” Violet offered with a smirk. 

“Perfect,” he corrected softly, almost too low for Violet to hear. 

Later that week, as they gathered in the common area to relax after a long day, Y/n sat down beside him, close enough that her shoulder brushed his. Liam’s heart hammered against his ribs, and he clutched the sketchbook tighter, praying she wouldn’t notice it. 

“What’s that?” She asked, her tone curious, eyes flicking to the edge of the leather cover sticking out from under his arm. 

“Nothing!” He replied quickly. A little too quickly. 

Her eyebrows rose, a playful grin tugging at her lips. “Oh, it’s definitely something. Let me see.” 

Before he could react, she reached over, snatching the sketchbook from his hands with an ease that came from years of training together. 

“Y/n, wait!” Liam practically lunged after her, but it was too late. She flipped the book open, her eyes scanning the page in silence. 

At first, she didn’t speak, her expression unreadable. She turned page after page—her laughing, her dragon mid-flight, her leaning against a tree in a rare quiet moment. Some sketches were crude, others more refined, and some heartbreakingly detailed, especially the ones of her smiling. 

“You… you drew all these?” she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“I—uh—yeah.” He scratched the back of his neck, feeling like his heart might give out. “I know they’re not great, but—” 

“Are you kidding?” she interrupted, looking up at him with wide eyes, “These are… Liam, they’re beautiful.”

“You think so?” he asked, his voice hesitant, vulnerable in a way he rarely allowed himself to be. 

She nodded, her gaze softening as she held the sketchbook closer to her chest. “But… Why me?” 

The question hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. 

Liam swallowed hard, his hands fidgeting in his lap as his ears turned a bright red. “Because… because you’re everything, Y/n. You’re fierce and kind and smart… and gods, you're just you. And I guess I wanted to try and hold onto that somehow. To show you what I see.” 

Her cheeks flushed, and for a moment, the ever-confident Y/n seemed at a loss for words. “Liam, I… I don’t even know what to say.” 

“You don’t have to say anything,” he added quickly, his voice shaky. “Just… don’t laugh, okay?” 

“Laugh?” she said, a smile tugging at her lips. “Why would I laugh? No one’s ever done anything like this for me before.” 

He couldn’t quite meet her eyes, the vulnerability in his chest almost too much to bear. The air between them felt charged, her fingers still clutching the sketchbook close to her heart as if tethering him in place. His mind screamed at him to say more, to do something, but for once, the fearless Liam Mairi felt fear clamp down hard, rooting him in place. He wanted so badly to close the gap between them, to taste the words that lingered on her lips, but he couldn’t move. 

And then she did. 

Her hand reached out, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, and before he could process what was happening, she tugged him down, her lips meeting his in a rush of warmth and fire. It was soft at first, tentative, like testing the waters, but when he didn’t pull away, she leaned in deeper, her other hand dropping the sketchbook to the floor as it rested on the curve of his jaw. 

Liam’s breath hitched, his heart pounding against his ribs like a war drum as he surrendered to her touch, kissing her back harder than before. His hands hovered for a moment before settling gently on her waist, like he was afraid she might slip away if he held on too tightly. 

When they finally pulled apart, her face was flushed, and her eyes sparkled with something he couldn’t quite name. 

“Well,” she said, a teasing smile curling her lips. “That’s one way to say thank you.” 

Liam let out a breathless laugh, his hand lifting to rub the back of his neck. “I—uh—yeah, I guess it is.” 

She grinned, leaning in close, her voice dropping to a whisper. “And for the record, I think you captured me perfectly, Liam.” 

And with that, she kissed him again, and this time, he didn’t hesitate to kiss her back.

-------

If you enjoyed this one shot, please check out my other series!

Taglist: @awkardnerd , @hannraumari , @minjix , @glaciuswduo , @wolfbc97 , @heeseungthel0ml , @acourtofsmutandstarlight , @kylaisra

[judesmoonbeauty]

This is the 95k bonus story for the event. Fan translation only. Accuracy not 100%. Please expect grammatical errors. Creative liberties are taken. Cybird owns everything. Re-blogs are appreciated, but please do not post my translation elsewhere, claim them as your own, or use them without my permission. Thank you for your support! ���.

There once was an organization called Amour.

After a couple swore their love to each other and were married, they were given poisoned wine to drink at the end of the ceremony, which killed them.

The insane idea of making the couple’s love eternal through death had caught the eye of Crown.

Amour was then brought to an end, or at least it should have been.

Dazzling stained glass, a white dress, a white veil—

And there was Jude standing next to me in a tuxedo.

It’s a familiar scene, but it’s certainly not a real wedding.

(Never thought I’d have two weddings with Jude for a mission…..)

As I tightened my arm around him, Jude looked at me for a moment, but quickly returned his gaze to the front.

Our mission is to conduct an undercover investigation of Tiamo, a place that emerged from the remnants of Amour.

The goal is to retrieve evidence of their numerous crimes, and then condemn them.

Minister: Do you solemnly swear to cherish one another, and love each other in sickness and in health?

Shortened from 'Tiamo Minister' to 'Minister'.

Startled by the minister’s question, I looked up.

The plan was to confront the minister, who is the head of Tiamo, about the crimes it’s committed, but Jude simply looked straight ahead in silence.

Kate: Uh….Jude?

When I tugged on his arm as if to say “Isn’t this it,” he finally spoke.

Jude: For us, we’ll curse each other till we die.

Amethyst eyes turn to me, and meet mine through the veil.

Jude: I’m ready fer that, how ‘bout you Kate?

It’s so him to not say something like, “I swear.”

But I'm so happy that my eyes well up with tears, even though I know it's a sham wedding.

(I’m probably more happy about this, than simply agreeing to vows.)

Cursing each other until we die, is the same as saying we’ll live together our entire lives, so I respond while fighting back tears.

Kate: …..Yes. I swear to curse you until I die!

Jude: Huh?

Kate: Ah—

(Shoot, I messed up!)

Whatever emotions I felt earlier have vanished, and I feel so embarrassed I’m about to cry.

(Why did I fumble at such a crucial part…!)

I told myself repeatedly that it was okay, that this wasn't the real thing, and it was just a fake wedding.

Minister: Now, seal your oath with a kiss.

The veil was lifted and my eyes met with Jude's.

He looked down at me, smiling faintly.

I close my eyes, waiting for his lips to fall, but—

Kate: Mngh…

For some reason, my nose was being pinched instead.

Kate: What are you doing?

Jude: Yer makin’ all kinda faces. It’s so amusin’ that I wanted to watch it a bit more, but time t’stop.

His focus then turned to the assembled staff.

Jude: Whose wantin’ to sneak a peek at my princess’s kissin’ face? I’ll charge all you scum fees.

The employees gathered inside the church began to grow agitated.

Jude released my nose and stepped forward to shield me.

Jude: Ever heard of Amour? It’s a group that murders people by making ’em drink somethin’ they say’ll make their love last forever.

The air in the room changes instantly.

Jude: Looks like yer the offshoot o’ that group. Where’s the missin’ people, didja kill ‘em off?

As he spoke in an inflammatory tone, the gentle countenance of the minister turns stern and his voice raises.

Minister: Just who are you both?!

When they all pointed their weapons at him, Jude’s smile twists.

Jude: Ya gotta choice. Either get captured or get killed. Which one ya want?

A brawl breaks out in the church and Jude fights back the staff.

Although he was outnumbered, he held onto my waist and fought back effortlessly.

Punches and kicks were thrown around as he laughed over and over.

However, he used his ability on the weakened staff, putting them to sleep one after the other—

Jude: This’ll work.

He picks up a nearby candlestick and hurls it at the minister.

Jude: Why’re you tryna scamper off.

Minister: KEUGH……

The candlestick pierces his heart, and bright red blood spreads across the floor.

He kills the minister with a single blow and snorts derisively, but the door opens and armed staff pour in.

(It’s never ending.)

Just as I started feeling impatient…

Jude: Ellis, handle it.

Suddenly, Ellis dropped down from above and blew the staff away.

Kate: Ellis?!

Ellis: Sorry for startling you. Actually, Jude told me to send some people to the lab, so I was standing by.

Ellis: Kate, your dress is lovely. It really becomes you.

Kate: Aw, why thank you ver—Kyaah!

While I was looking at the both of them, Jude suddenly lifted me up and carried me on his shoulder.

Jude: Quit talkin’ ’n get to work, we’re leavin’.

Ellis: Mm, got it.

Kate: H-Hey, Jude?!

While Ellis was busy taking down the staff, Jude carried me out of the ceremony hall with me not knowing what was going on.

[Transitions to Jude’s room]

Kate: I didn’t realize Ellis was there….

When we returned to his room, I was lowered onto the bed, and I removed the veil.

Jude: Only called him there to pick up the people bein’ sent to the lab.

Jude: It’s a pain dealin’ with a buncha small fry like that, so it worked out.

He let out a heavy sigh and sat at the edge of the bed.

(Oh, so that’s why he put the staff to sleep and said I didn’t need to do anything…)

Usually he would have tortured them to the end, and enjoyed watching their faces warp in pain.

But if he wanted to send them to the lab, then it makes sense he’d use his ability.

(So I guess the mission’s all wrapped up.)

The minister who held the most power was condemned, the staff who attacked us were taken down, and some were sent to the lab.

All that remains is to report it’s crimes, which will be handed over to the police, and then Tiamo will be no more.

My strength gave out and I fell backward on the bed, then Jude looked down at me.

Jude: It’s the second time I’ve seen ya in a dress, white suits ya too.

Kate: What?

I was so elated at the sudden words that I tried to sit up, but he stopped me with his hand.

Jude: Well, ain’t no way a villain’s woman’s pure white.

Leaning over me, his lips draw closer.

I smiled back and spoke before our lips met.

Kate: I’ll be the one to choose whether to wear black or white for the real thing.

He blinked at what I said, staring at me frozen for a moment.

Jude: What, ya wanna marry me?

Kate: Um……

To be honest, I’d like to someday.

However, I know how important a marriage agreement is to Jude.

So, when I hesitated to respond quickly, his brow creased deeply.

Jude: Why dont’cha say yes, got some other bloke ya wanna be with?

Kate: No, I don’t! I want to be with you, Jude.

Kate: But you- Mmn….

Our lips overlap and a slightly rough kiss steals my words.

Jude: Toldja I was ready fer it ya idiot, I ain’t thinkin’ ’bout it.

When our lips parted, Jude smiled gently in front of me—

Jude: Ya hafta take responsibility fer cursin’ me.

Our lips touch again, and our bodies sink into the bed.

When I closed my eyes, I thought I could see the curse shining on my ring finger.

[Event Master List]

Oh my Jude, your possessiveness is showing ♥

If you are 18+ years old and wish to be added to my tags list, please feel free to comment or dm me. Please specify if you want to be tagged in all translations or a specific suitor.

Tags list: @sh0jun @theimaginativelyreticent @sapphire-323 @velisle @nateko @greatwitchsongsinger @injudescoat @aeyumicore @complexivelovely @yuoi-the-magnificent @husbandosandladders @nawlink @justgiulia @vickietickie @greedyqueensfavourite @sharigax @belphiesleftpinkytoe @reimy1164 @barellorkilaam @goustmilk @aceuuuuu @yamaguchisaori @hiphiphooray4val @mika797 @spectraphobic-blog @cosmowgyral @lunaaka @rosalyne08 @8the-perfect-lie8 @voydsoul @kraiyne @midnightsrunaway @czechmatee7

[johns-prince]

“He acknowledges that the interplay of Lennon and McCartney was 'nothing short of miraculous', describing how they 'wrote with two guitars'. 'The joy of that was that I was left-handed and he was right-handed, so I was looking in a mirror and he was looking in a mirror.'”

—Paul McCartney, The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present

“I think Linda put her finger on it when she said me and John were like mirror images of each other.

"Even down to how we started writing together, facing each other, eyeball to eyeball, exactly like looking in the mirror.''”

—Paul McCartney, Uncut Magazine, July 2004 (x)

“John and Paul would sit opposite each other by the fireplace. As Paul was left-handed their guitars went the same way and each could enjoy the mirror effect of watching the other’s fingers shape the chords as if they were his own.

Paul would later call these ‘eyeball to eyeball sessions’ and he’d be treated to something few witnessed: John put his glasses on. Only rarely did they leave his pocket, even though without them he could barely see a thing. Almost in each other’s face, John and Paul quickly gained an unusual closeness, little or nothing hidden. Paul noticed that ‘John had beautiful hands.’”

— Tune In: The Beatles: All These Years, Vol. 1 by Mark Lewisohn (x)

“(…) most of the time we would sit down opposite each other with our two guitars. And because I was left-handed, when I looked at John I would see almost a mirror image of myself, I’d be playing the guitar as it were upside-down, he’d be reading me; upside-down, so we could clearly see what each other was doing, almost what you were doing yourself.”

— Paul McCartney, Many Years From Now - Barry Miles (x)

“The lights in the studio were turned off to set the mood; the sole source of illumination was a table lamp next to the wall. The two beatles, lifelong friends and collaborators, sat on high stools, facing each other, studying each other’s lips intently for phrasing. Watching them, I remember thinking that John’s and Paul’s voices were so different yet so perfectly complemented each other’s, just like their personalities and approach to music-making.”

—Here, There and Everywhere by Geoff Emerick (On the recording of She’s Leaving Home). (x)

“So I had to learn upside down. It’s funny: John learned upside down, too, because of me-because mine was the only other guitar around for him, if he broke a string or didn’t have his. That’s more unusual; left-handed guys can nearly always play a straight guitar.”

—Paul McCartney, interview w/ Tom Mulhern. (July, 1990) (x)

“On one occasion that still resonates for those involved, the Quarry Men went to a party in Ford, a village on the outskirts of Liverpool, out past the Aintree Racecourse. “John and Paul were inseparable that night, like Siamese twins,” says Charles Roberts, who met them en route on the upper deck of a cherry red Ripple bus. “It was like the rest of us didn’t exist.””

—the beatles: the biography, bob spitz (x)

“I was fortunate enough to see them together many times in the late 60’s, and have always been fascinated by what I saw/heard: they finished each other’s sentences, laughed together, just seemed totally in sync. I was a 15-year-old girl, but I did notice that about the two of them and will never forget it.”

—Lizzie Bravo, apple scruff, on John and Paul (x)

“Years later, Paul told his brother that he loved his photo of the “I Saw Her Standing There” writing session because it captured how it really was—“the Rodgers and Hammerstein of pop at work.” Writing “eyeball to eyeball” as John said, they weren’t just frontmen for a rock group; they were composers working in concert. Having already pledged to co-credit all their work, around this time they made it formal, taking equal shares in a company called Northern Songs that would control their publishing.

“Historically,” writes Mark Lewisohn in The Beatles: All These Years, “joint-songwriter agreements enumerated splits of 90:10, 85:15, 80:20, 75:25, 67:33 and every other fiddly fraction down to 50:50. But John and Paul went halves all the way, closeness and ambition shared and matched.”

Now every lick of music that either one produced (regardless of the other’s actual contribution) would be both literally and metaphorically—both legally and emotionally—co-owned.”

—Joshua Wolf Shenk, Powers of Two: Finding the Essence of Innovation in Creative Pairs (2014) (x)

“It was like a tug of war. Imagine two people pulling on a rope, smiling at each other and pulling all the time with all their might. The tension between the two of them made for the bond.”

—George Martin on Lennon/McCartney (x)

[insidekatmind]

Morning~Hwang Jun-ho

Wearning: +18,smut

Request: yes!

The warmth of Jun Ho's body gently envelops you as you sleep, snuggled in his arms. His breathing is slow and deep, the perfect rhythm to lull you into a peaceful sleep. You're pressed against him, your back pressed to his chest, the beat of his heart a silent melody that accompanies you in your dreams.

He wakes up first. He doesn't move right away, he doesn't want to wake you. He stays there, enjoying the sensation of your skin against his, the delicate scent of your hair brushing his face. With a slow and careful gesture, he slides his hand through your locks, caressing them delicately, as if he were afraid of breaking the spell of that moment.

Then he lowers his head, letting his face get lost in the hollow of your neck. He inhales slowly, his warm breath brushing your skin, sending a slight shiver down your spine. He holds you a little tighter, an instinctive gesture, as if he wanted to keep you with him a little longer, anchored to that perfect moment before the world wakes up completely.

And you, half asleep, smile slightly, feeling his presence so close, so safe. Even without words, you know that he is there, next to you, and there is no place in the world where you would rather be than in his arms.

Jun Ho's touches become more insistent: he brings his hand to the hem of your nightdress and slowly lifts it up before moving on to your breast and squeezing it.

His touch sends a jolt through your body, making you gasp softly. Jun Ho's hand explores your curves possessively, his fingers tracing the swell of your breast before squeezing gently. He leans in closer, his lips brushing against your ear as he whispers huskily, "You're so soft and warm, my love. I could hold you like this forever."

His other hand slides down to your hip, pulling you flush against him. You can feel the hard evidence of his desire pressing against your backside, a promise of the passion to come. Jun Ho's breathing grows heavier, his control slipping as he becomes consumed by his need for you. "Tell me you want this," he murmurs, his voice thick with desire.

His words send a shiver through your whole body, your need for him growing stronger with every passing second. You press your body against his, your hips moving, teasing him and silently begging for more. "I want this," you finally whisper, your voice tinged with desire and need. "I want you. I want all of you."

A low growl escapes from Jun Ho's throat, a primal sound born from deep within him. He doesn't waste any more time, his hands becoming more demanding and bolder.

Jun Ho's hands roam your body with a fierce urgency, his touch leaving trails of fire in its wake. He flips you onto your back, his eyes dark with desire as he looms over you. "You're mine," he declares possessively, his voice low and commanding. "Only mine."

He captures your lips in a searing kiss, his tongue delving into your mouth to claim you thoroughly. His hands push your nightdress up, exposing your bare skin to his hungry gaze. Jun Ho breaks the kiss to trail his lips down your neck, sucking and biting at the sensitive flesh. "I'm going to make you scream my name," he promises darkly, his hand sliding between your legs to find you wet and ready for him.

Your body arches at Jun Ho's touch, your skin burning with desire. You can feel the intensity of his need, the primal want that consumes him. "Please," you whimper, your voice trembling with need. "Please, Jun Ho."

Jun Ho's eyes flash with triumph at your plea, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Please what, my love?" he teases, his fingers circling your clit slowly, deliberately. "Tell me what you need."

He leans down, his breath hot against your ear. "Do you want me to touch you here?" His fingers slide through your folds, gathering your wetness. "Or maybe you want me inside you, filling you up completely?" He presses a finger inside you, his thumb continuing its torturous circles on your clit.

Jun Ho's other hand pinches your nipple, sending sparks of pleasurepain through your body. "I want to hear you say it," he murmurs, his voice husky with desire. "I want to hear you beg for my cock."

Jun Ho's arms tighten around you, his body spooning yours perfectly. He nuzzles into your neck, inhaling your scent deeply. "I love waking up with you like this," he murmurs, his voice still husky from sleep. His hand rests on your stomach, his fingers splaying possessively. "You're so warm and soft, it's like being wrapped in heaven."

He presses a gentle kiss to your shoulder, his lips lingering on your skin. Jun Ho's hips shift slightly, his morning arousal pressing against your backside. He groans softly, his grip on you tightening. "I want you," he whispers, his voice thick with desire. "I always want you."

Jun Ho's hand begins to move, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on your stomach. Slowly, deliberately, he slides his hand lower, his touch becoming more purposeful. "Let me make you feel good," he murmurs, his lips brushing against your ear. "I want to hear you moan my name."

His fingers find your center, stroking you gently at first, then with increasing pressure. Jun Ho's other hand moves to your breast, kneading the soft flesh and rolling your nipple between his fingers. He rocks his hips against you, his hardness sliding between your cheeks, a promise of what's to come.

"Tell me what you need, my love," Jun Ho whispers, his breath hot against your neck. "I'll give you anything, everything."

You almost cry out at the sensations coursing through your body, the pleasure so intense it's almost too much to bear. "I need you," you gasp, your words coming in broken fragments as you struggle to form coherent thoughts. "I need you, Jun Ho... please."

Jun Ho's control snaps at your words, a growl tearing from his throat. He captures your lips in a bruising kiss, his tongue dominating yours as he settles between your legs. "You're so fucking perfect," he murmurs against your mouth, his hands gripping your hips tightly.

With one powerful thrust, he sheathes himself fully inside you, stretching you deliciously. Jun Ho pauses, his forehead resting against yours, his breath coming in sharp pants. "You feel incredible," he groans, his hips starting to move in a slow, deliberate rhythm.

He pulls out almost completely before slamming back in, setting a pace that leaves you breathless. Jun Ho's lips find yours again, swallowing your moans as he drives into you relentlessly. His hands roam your body, touching and teasing, stoking the fire within you.

Jun Ho's hands roam your body, teasing and caressing every curve. He cups your breasts, his thumbs brushing over your nipples, sending jolts of pleasure through you. "So beautiful," he murmurs, his voice husky with desire. "I love seeing you like this, lost in pleasure, knowing I'm the one giving it to you."

You arch your back, pressing yourself against his touch, desperate for more. "I love when you touch me like this," you whisper, your words coming out in ragged gasps. "It feels so good, Jun Ho... so good."

Jun Ho's touch becomes more insistent, his fingers pinching and rolling your nipples as he continues his relentless pace. "You like that, don't you?" he growls, his hips snapping forward, driving into you deeper. "You like it when I play with your pretty tits while I fuck you?"

His other hand slides down your stomach, finding your clit and circling it in time with his thrusts. Jun Ho leans in, his lips brushing against your ear. "I'm going to make you come so hard, you'll forget your own name. The only thing you'll remember is who's making you feel this way me, and only me."

The intensity of his touch and his words is driving you wild, your body trembling with pleasure. "Only you, only you," you pant, your words barely a whisper. "No one else... please, Jun Ho, don't stop. I need this."

Jun Ho's eyes darken with possessiveness at your words, his grip on you tightening. "That's right, baby," he murmurs, his voice low and commanding. "Only I can make you feel this way. Only I can give you what you need."

He increases the pace of his thrusts, his hips slamming against yours with bruising force. His fingers work your clit faster, applying just the right amount of pressure to push you closer to the edge. Jun Ho's lips find yours again, swallowing your cries of pleasure as he drives you towards your climax.

"Come for me," he demands, his voice rough with his own impending release. "Come all over my cock, my love. Show me who you belong to."

Jun Ho's touch and words push you over the edge, your body convulsing with pleasure. "Jun Ho!" you cry out, your voice echoing through the room as you come undone in his arms. Waves of ecstasy wash over you, your inner walls clamping down around his cock, milking him for all he's worth.

Feeling your release, Jun Ho lets go, his own orgasm crashing through him. He buries his face in your neck, his hips jerking erratically as he fills you with his hot seed. "Fuck, yes," he groans, his voice strained. "Take it all, my love. Take everything I have to give you."

For a long moment, he stays buried inside you, his body trembling with the force of his release. Slowly, he lifts his head, his eyes finding yours.

Jun Ho's eyes are filled with a mix of satisfaction and tenderness as he gazes down at you. He brushes a sweatdampened strand of hair from your forehead, his touch gentle. "You're incredible," he murmurs, his voice soft. "Every time with you is better than the last."

He rolls onto his side, pulling you with him so you're facing each other. Jun Ho wraps his arms around you, holding you close. "I love you," he says, his words a whispered promise against your lips. "I love you so much it scares me sometimes."

His thumb traces your cheekbone, his eyes searching yours. "You're my everything, you know that? My reason for being, my heart, my soul... you're mine, and I'm yours. Forever."

Your heart squeezes at his words, the sincerity in his eyes and the love in his touch overwhelming. You reach up to touch his face, your fingers tracing the strong lines of his jaw, feeling the stubble beneath your fingertips.

"I love you too," you whisper, your voice barely above a breath. "More than I ever thought possible. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, Jun Ho. My everything."

Jun Ho's eyes flutter closed at your touch, a contented sigh escaping his lips. He leans into your hand, turning his head to press a kiss to your palm. "My beautiful, perfect love," he murmurs, his voice filled with adoration. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm grateful every day that you're mine."

He pulls you closer, until there's no space left between your bodies. Jun Ho's lips find yours again, the kiss slow and deep, a silent expression of his love and devotion. When he finally pulls back, his eyes are shining with emotion. "Stay with me," he says, his voice soft but urgent. "Stay in my arms, in my bed, in my life... forever."

Your heart swells with love and joy at his words, your entire body filling with a sense of peace and contentment. You trace your fingers through his hair, feeling the soft strands between your fingers.

"I'm not going anywhere," you reassure him, your voice full of a certainty that borders on sacred. "I'm staying right here, right by your side, where I belong. You're stuck with me, Jun Ho."

[fryingpan1234567]

aaaaaanyways. pride month at Camp Half Blood?

if you remember that one post from a while ago (general hc’s about chb), I did say I would do a fully pride post eventually

so without further ado, I present to all my lovely gay demigods:

PRIDE MONTH AT CHB🗣️🗣️

SO we’ve already discussed the decorations of some of the cabins, like Percy putting rainbow hippocampi scales all over the walls, the Demeter and Persephone cabins growing colorful flowers all over their roofs, the Hecate cabin and its Sentient Gay Door

I like to think the Iris cabin is just fully blasting rainbows all the time it looks like a Minecraft beacon

they play capture the flag every June with a pride flag that has the CHB logo on it

limited edition CHB pride merch😭

Mr. D defending trans campers by driving bigots slightly insane long enough to slap themselves and then go back to normal

Y’ALL KNOW ABOUT THE PRONOUN CORRECTION AIR HORNS? THAT’S THE ENTIRE APOLLO CABIN + LEO AND PERCY

Some ignorant prick about a transmasc camper: “Oh yeah she—“

Percy: *AIR HORN* “IT’S HE, BITCH”

Ignorant prick: “Okay Jesus I’m sorry”

A different ignorant prick: *makes some dumb joke about “always being able to tell” and receives at least seven different air horns from all the Apollo campers in the vicinity*

Leo’s been following this one really irritating chick around all day because she can’t figure out one of his sibling’s genders and blasting her in the face every time she fucks up their pronouns😭😭😭

anyways yeah I like to imagine there’s a demigod pride festival somewhere, maybe in New York

or no there’s demigods everywhere I bet they have parade floats all the time in lots of cities and the Mist conceals the “fireworks” which are actually just godly light shows

Apollo rocks up to camp in a rainbow crop top and a pink drink from Starbucks just to sing Born This Way in the middle of the day and then dip again

Aphrodite blessing random queer couples with finding perfect date setups “conveniently” in their paths

all the gods physically restraining Hera when she tries to go fuck with Jason while he’s on a date w Leo

Percy and Annabeth in matching shirts that say ✨BEST BI✨ with the Best Buy price tag logo in the middle

Nico got glitterbombed on June 1st the second he stepped out of his cabin by the entire Apollo cabin (and Jason) and is still finding sparkles in his hair a week later

Aphrodite kids are walking dictionaries of all the rainbow terms, somehow, and they also all know which days in June are for which awareness or pride or whatever flag

campers who transitioned over the school year and coming back to camp a different gender and their godly parent re-claims them as their true self

Percy “I can’t believe I used to think I was straight” Jackson educating some of the younger campers on bisexuality and how, no, you don’t always know right away

Annabeth “I had a crush on Thalia and Luke at the same time and it was horrible” Chase always reassuring the nervous kids that there’s nothing wrong with being queer (and that she’ll fight any homophobic family members they may have)

actually they kind of all do that

Some little kid: “Well……. I don’t wanna tell my stepdad, he might kick me out”

Percy, remembering that his dad kept Medusa’s head after it got sent to Olympus: “Give me your address, I have an idea”

Piper will verbally eviscerate anybody she catches being even remotely homophobic. I mean she will swipe phones out of her siblings’ hands to tell off some ignorant grandmother

Jason does NOT get into physical altercations outside of sparring and literal war, but the closest he ever got was after hearing someone call Nico a slur (Percy and Leo had to physically drag him away from the other guy)

William Solace has white cowboy boots. I Will Start Sobbing On The Spot

Percy and Jason wore matching skirts for the pride festival and it was great— these 6-foot-plus brick shithouses of heroes who have single-handedly won wars aggressively waving tiny pride flags at each other and dancing to IT GIRL on the quad

Cecil and Lou Ellen made these magic rainbow smoke bombs, crawled up on the roof of the Hermes cabin, and slingshotted them into the masses Just Because™️

(Will’s hair was blue and pink for weeks)

RAINBOW WAR PAINT FOR CAPTURE THE FLAG.

Clarisse fucking kicked someone into the lake because they made fun of one of her siblings’ dyed hair

Connor thought it would be funny to leave a mini pan flag on top of Mr. D’s Diet Coke stash, mostly as a harmless joke, but the next day he noticed Mr. D had tucked it into his horrible Hawaiian shirt pocket like a handkerchief😭

watching Love, Simon in the amphitheater for movie night and half the campers had to excuse themselves early for sobbing too hard

Malcolm and Annabeth reread Red White and Royal Blue every summer. They say they’re Henry and June, Connor is Alex, and Percy is Nora

(this is confirmed when the two of them start a foot fight in the dining pavilion with a Chipotle burrito)

Leo IMing Jo and Emmie to wish them a happy pride (and tell Georgina and Waystation I said hello)

Piper and Leo getting into a HEATED debate about whether Velma Dinkley is a lesbian or not

”YOU CANNOT LOOK AT HER OVERSIZED-SWEATER-OVER-MY-PROM-DRESS ASS AND TELL ME YOU THINK SHE’S TOTALLY STRAIGHT—“

”WHAT SHE AND SHAGGY HAD WAS REAL, BEAUTY QUEEN! HOT DOG WATER AIN’T GOT NOTHIN ON NORVILLE ROGERS—“

”LEO! HER NAME IS MARCIE! AND THEY ARE EACH OTHER’S W A L L P A P E R S .”

Jason, sitting in the middle of them, now deaf in both ears: Lupa give me strength

GUYS PLEASE SEND ME SPECIFIC SHIPS OR CHARACTERS TO WRITE PRIDE HC’S FOR I WOULD LOVE TO🙏🙏🙏🙏

[axie-lot]

Only each othe

Characters: Aventurine.

Warning: Male characters, angst, sibling dynamics, purely platonic, I may have changed some characteristics of your original story, but it still has its essence, Spoiler.

Theme: Angsty

This work was originally written by me in Portuguese, and I translated it using Google Translator, so I apologize for any translation errors

Summary: Well, it's a story about two brothers, surviving with only each other's company, until something happens…

[Masterlist]

That day was terrible for little Kakavasha...

It was the day he lost his people... the day Kakavasha lost his family...

He remembers little from those days, but one of the few things he does remember was her, his dear sister. She was the one telling him to leave and not to look back...

He did as she asked, even though he was afraid of what would happen. He held his younger brother’s small hand and ran... he ran without looking back.

Little [name] was confused. He cried because he was tired, his legs aching from walking so much, and he also wanted his older sister.

But despite his younger brother’s cries, Kakavasha knew he couldn’t stop walking. He had to do what his older sister told him, so he walked and walked until he felt safe. He only felt safe when he found a small cave, where he finally allowed himself to rest. He sat on the cave floor and hugged his little brother, snuggling him against his chest until he finally fell asleep. The eldest of the brothers, seeing that [name] had finally fallen asleep, gave in to his own tears, crying silently until the morning came.

From that day on, Kakavasha had to survive on his own. Not only did he have to ensure his survival, but he also had to make sure [name] did too. He made his younger brother his priority because he was the only family left. Many times, he didn’t eat to ensure that [name] had something to eat, even though many times [name] felt bad about it. But some days were the worst, as the two brothers had nothing to eat.

Kakavasha lost count of how many times he had to comfort [name] when he missed his home, when he missed their older sister. The youngest wanted to go back, but Kakavasha had to explain that it wasn’t possible, and it hurt both of them.

How many times had his stomach ached from hunger?

But the brothers were lucky to find that cave to stay in during the cold nights.

Kakavasha was fortunate not to fall ill during this time, but [name] wasn’t so lucky. His younger brother had a high fever for days, and he became very worried about him... he spent sleepless nights just taking care of [name], afraid of losing the only family he had left, terrified that his little brother might die and leave him alone.

But by some stroke of luck, [name] managed to recover.

However, [name]’s near-death experience left a permanent scar on Kakavasha.

The two brothers lived this way for a long time. The eldest didn’t even know how they survived for so long—maybe it was just luck.

The eldest did everything he could to ensure both of their survival, being two children alone in the middle of nowhere, with only each other to rely on.

Until those days ended...

The day they were captured...

The day the true hell began...

Sold as objects...

As if they had no feelings, as if they were nothing...

Kakavasha knew that now they had an owner...

What a pathetic idea... a human owning another...

Kakavasha felt the pain when that cursed mark was branded onto his body, but what hurt even more was when he had to watch those wretched men hold [Name] down to brand him as well. The blond, older brother wanted to protect his younger sibling, but he couldn’t help him, and he felt so powerless.

As soon as they were left alone, Kakavasha went to comfort his younger brother, who was crying out in pain. Despite feeling the same pain, Kakavasha didn’t care—he only wanted to comfort his brother, to tell him that now he was with him... that he would always be with him, and that his older brother would never leave his side.

Years passed with the two living in that life, under the control of the man who called himself their “owner.” The two brothers suffered greatly at his hands, treated as if they were nothing more than possessions. This man quickly realized Kakavasha's luck and exploited it for his own benefit, always keeping the elder brother by his side to take advantage of it. This often meant [Name] was left aside, only to be remembered when it was time to punish Kakavasha for something. The man feared hurting Kakavasha and potentially losing his luck, so he never risked it. Instead, whenever he thought Kakavasha deserved punishment, he inflicted it on [Name].

Kakavasha couldn’t count how many times he had to hear [Name] scream in pain because of punishments meant for him. It hurt deeply to see his younger brother suffering on his behalf. He blamed himself, even though most of the time he had done nothing wrong, but their “owner” found fault in the smallest things, and those faults, in the man’s eyes, deserved punishment.

Because of the pain his younger brother endured, Kakavasha decided to escape. He began planning their escape so they could be free of that suffering. But, by some misstep, their “owner” found out. Enraged, the man decided to punish Kakavasha in a way he would never forget—a punishment that didn’t involve physical pain, but was far worse for Kakavasha.

To his horror, their “owner” decided to sell [Name] to another master. Kakavasha panicked when he heard this, begging and pleading with the man not to go through with it, but nothing stopped him from executing that punishment.

The last thing Kakavasha remembered was his desperate screams as his little brother was dragged away, calling out desperately for his older brother. Kakavasha couldn’t do anything. He could only stand there, holding back his tears, watching helplessly.

Now, the two brothers were alone... Separated, with no news of each other... Kakavasha had lost the only family he had left... And it was all because of that wretched man!

Years passed since the brothers were separated, and Kakavasha never heard from [Name] again. The older blond continued to suffer at the hands of that man, enduring the pain alone. But something happened that changed everything—he killed that despicable man, his owner, without remorse.

From that day on, everything changed. Instead of being condemned for his crime, he was recruited by the IPC and became one of the Ten Stonehearts. To take on this new role, he left the name Kakavasha behind. From that day forward, he was known as Aventurine.

But even though he had changed his name and become a new person, he never forgot his little brother, [Name]. He still had nightmares of his brother’s cries of pain and the day they were separated. Since Aventurine managed to improve his life, he started searching for [Name], so they could be together again, and he could give his brother a better life.

Many may say it’s impossible to find someone in the middle of an entire galaxy, but Aventurine didn’t listen to them, because he was blessed with luck...

Some time after joining the IPC, Aventurine was sent to the Planet of Festivities, also known as Penacony. During this business trip, he met the famous Astral Express crew at the reception, helping them with a scheduling issue for their newest member, whom he nicknamed Mr. Stellaron. He noticed the new member staring at his eyes, but Aventurine ignored it since he was used to such looks.

After that encounter, some time later, Aventurine broke into Trailblazer’s room for a brief conversation. However, they were interrupted by a woman with purple hair. But before Aventurine could leave, the gray-haired boy said something that made him freeze entirely, though it also filled his heart with hope...

“Your eyes... they look a lot like a friend of mine named [Name].”

[leftistfeminista]

Jane Vanini, a committed militant of the MIR (Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria), was a Brazilian revolutionary who arrived in Chile in 1971, seeking asylum from the brutal dictatorship that reigned in her homeland. Before her time in Chile, Vanini had been an active member of the A�o Libertadora Nacional (ALN), a militant group dedicated to combating Brazil's military dictatorship. Her life was marked by her unwavering dedication to the fight against oppression and her belief in a liberated, equitable society.

Upon her arrival in Chile, she quickly integrated into the MIR, where she became an integral part of its revolutionary activities. She also worked as a secretary for Revista Punto Final, a publication known for its courageous opposition to fascism and its support for leftist movements. Jane's commitment to the cause made her a key figure in the Chilean resistance during a period of immense political turbulence.

On December 6, 1974, at just 29 years of age, Jane Vanini’s journey reached its tragic end. She was cornered in her home in Población Lorenzo Arenas, in Concepción, by armed forces of the Navy, who intended to capture her. True to her revolutionary ideals, Jane refused to surrender. In a fierce act of defiance, she fought back, firing at her attackers in a desperate bid to resist. Her courage was not enough to overcome the overwhelming force of her enemies. Jane fell in combat, her resistance marking her as both a symbol of unyielding bravery and the high cost of fighting for freedom.

The aftermath of her death was shrouded in the same shadow of brutality and secrecy that characterized Pinochet's dictatorship. Jane’s body was taken away to an unknown location, leaving behind a haunting silence and unanswered questions for decades. It was not until May 2005 that her mortal remains were finally located, bringing a measure of closure to those who had sought to honor her memory and her sacrifice.

Jane Vanini remains etched in the annals of revolutionary history, a woman who lived and died for her ideals. She stood as a bulwark against the tide of fascism, her life a testament to the global fight against dictatorship and oppression. Her name continues to inspire generations of activists, her courage a reminder of the sacrifices demanded by the pursuit of justice.

In eternal memory, Jane Vanini.

The Letters of Jane Vanini During her time in exile in Chile from 1971 to 1974, Jane Vanini kept in touch with her family and friends in Brazil through writing. Over this period, she wrote 37 letters, detailing the challenges she faced living in secrecy, especially as a woman in a predominantly male environment marked by political repression. In these letters, Vanini expressed her anguish, anxiety, hopes, and longing for her homeland.

In some letters sent to her nephew, she explained her desire to change Brazil's reality and its social inequalities, justifying why she was fighting against the dictatorship. At the end of one such letter, she affirmed her lifelong commitment to justice and equal rights:

"(...) One day, they called me a communist because in the newspaper A Voz do Aluno (The Voice of the Student), I complained about the rising prices of milk and meat, which many people could not afford, despite these being basic foods for good nutrition. Later, I learned what communism was and that to reach communism, a long stage called socialism was necessary. I discovered that many countries were already socialist: the Soviet Union, China, North Vietnam, Korea, and many others. Most importantly, I learned that here in Latin America, there was a country that was an example of socialism: Cuba. Cuba, like the others, achieved socialism by fighting with weapons in hand — the entire population — against the privileged minority who had everything, and the army that defended those privileged. And so, like many other comrades, I decided to fight to establish socialism in Brazil (...)."

Exile was the only way for Jane and many other Brazilians to escape oppression, being banished from their own lives to stay alive. Forced to leave her homeland, her clandestine life abroad transformed her vision of Brazil. She expressed this in a letter to her godmother (undated):

"(...) You might wonder why I am abroad if I care so much about Brazil. I'll explain: We belong to a continent generally referred to as Latin America. This entire Latin America shares the same racial origins as us Brazilians, speaks a very similar language, and shares the same roots. We suffer from the same ailments: illiteracy, hunger, premature aging, rotten teeth, and most importantly, we have the same fundamental enemy: the Yankee. It is the North Americans who exploit all our riches: oil, copper, coffee, cattle, gold, culture, fruits — everything. And the North American does not exploit us for free. Our governments pay them to exploit our mines, our workers, our culture, to take raw materials to the U.S. at dirt-cheap prices and export them back as finished products, like soluble coffee, machinery, and so on, at exorbitant prices. Meanwhile, they keep their wealth in reserve in the U.S. When we, the underdeveloped, have nothing left to offer, they will still have their own resources. Us? What do we matter, as inferior beings, half-developed monkeys, who only mimic the customs of superior peoples? I am Latin American and love equally the mestizo, the Creole, the Indian, the Black, the Asian, and the White who make up our heritage. My siblings are all Latin Americans, and for them, I am willing to give the only thing I truly own: my life. Once a person sees what I have seen and makes the decision I have made, they own nothing but the desire to change everything, no matter the cost. As a Latin American, it is the same for me to be in Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia, or any other country because every liberated country hastens the freedom of others. Every liberated territory is a front to continue fighting (...)."

Art historian Laurent Jeanpierre (2008) noted that despite constantly moving between these two worlds, Jane Vanini could not truly cross into either. She lived in a liminal space: captivated by Chile's landscape and the dream of a socialist government but deeply connected to her Brazilian roots — its food, fruits like mangoes and cashews, as described in a letter to her godmother, signed by her alter ego Ana, dated June 12, 1973:

"[...] Don’t forget my recipes. Sometimes I want to make a cake or Brazilian food, but I don’t know any recipes. The only thing I’ve learned to make (and it’s delicious) is feijoada. But it’s missing kale and flour, which don’t exist here and are unknown. I miss mangoes, cashews, and papayas, as these fruits don’t exist here. Send me a bottle of cachaça, okay? [sic] It doesn’t exist here because sugarcane doesn’t grow. We have grape and apple chicha instead, which is delicious, but it’s not the same."

By 1973, Jane had met her second husband, journalist José Tapia Carrasco, and disclosed her new romance to her family in just two lines:

"Now I want to tell you something I’ve been ‘hiding’ for a year and a half. After I separated from Sergio, I got married again. José (Pepe) and I have been living together for a year and a half. We think alike and do the same work."

Throughout her clandestine time in Chile, Jane's family was under constant surveillance in Brazil. Her sisters were forced to testify to the Operação Bandeirante (Oban), a military intelligence center, and her apartment was raided by the government. In a letter to her nephews, she raised their awareness of the censorship and repression they lived under:

"(...) As we were winning, the ease of things made us complacent. Meanwhile, the Yankees began paying people to torture revolutionaries. Many comrades could not withstand the brutal torture and talked, leading to others falling. That’s how we got to where we are now. But history does not die. One day, the people will again understand it’s time to fight, and we will fight until we win. That’s why I am far from you now... I am sentenced to five years in prison, in addition to tortures that aren’t reported in the newspapers or in my sentencing (...)."

[4ddi3addie2005]

HI HELLO I just wanted to drop by and say that your kinito fic has taken over my brain and I wanted to draw the reader design that my mind concocted whils I was readingg- For now all I can offer are these rushed sketches n' stuff but I promise if these are to your liking I WILL make more fanart of the more "existencial crisis" scenes- again, I LOVE YOUR FIC AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IF YOU UPDATE IT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(ps: This is a very basic design based on the lil yellow guy in the game- I imagine it changes after the whole customization scene but to keep being an empty vessel for othe readers to interpret it will stay as the yellow figure)

🥹🥹🥹‼️‼️‼️🤯🤯🤯🤯‼️‼️‼️ DUDE!!!

These LEGIT made my day TYSM!! I’ve had art made for my fics maybe twice before,, so this was the BEST jumpscare EVER.

If you end up making anything else I’ll def eat it up dw!!

Player looks epic. I love to see that physical fragmentation!! Them and Kinito look nice together I can tell they’re friends :)

ALSO KINITO IN THE CAP W THE BAG… HE THINKS HE’S SO CASH MONEY…

The golf club scene 😭😭😭 Lawd that was SO fun to write I’m glad you captured it. PERFECTLY btw.

Yeah I’m going to stare at these for a few days straight. Tysm this made me feel like I’m doing something right 👍👍👍 I LOVE you

[wanderersrest]

Mecha's "I'm Not Like the Other Girls" Problem

Preface: I'd like to apologize to everyone who reads this post. Normally, my posts are pretty lighthearted and informative. This one, however, is not lighthearted.

I feel it is important to talk about this topic though, as this is a problem that has been plaguing mecha shows for a long time now. It bothers me when people dismiss the things that I like *gestures at G Gundam*, so it should be of no surprise that I have strong feelings about this topic. It's pretty adjacent to the reason why I don't like the "Real vs Super Robot" dick-measuring contests that happen between fans, especially as someone whose favorite mecha show gets a lot of heat because of that stupid debate.

Part of what makes it worse is that I don't dislike these shows a whole lot. Okay, two of them I don't like a whole lot, but one is because its second season really drops the ball on things while the other is, in my opinion, a pretty mediocre show that is being propped up as the hottest thing since sliced bread by its fans.

I'm also going to be talking about gen:Lock, a show that I hate from pure pop cultural osmosis. So content warning: suicide, children getting killed, and gen:Lock, among other things.

Stop me if you've heard this one before:

"Evangelion's not like other mecha shows because it focuses on the character drama instead of the robots."

If you've ever watched any mecha show ever, you'd realize just how bizarre this line really is. There's always some variation where it'll be the favorite series of the person saying this and, when confronted, will bare their ass out for the world to see by showing that they have not watched any other mecha show. If you're lucky, they might have watched one or two other mecha shows, and chances are likely that it will be one of the other "Not Like the Other Girl" shows.

So today, for something a bit lighter in comparison to my soul-crushing Abbreviated History of Mecha, I'm going to take my turn dismantling this braindead take. Really take my turn at this dead horse, because it is something that plagues this genre of stories.

Context: Evangelion's Legacy Is Exaggerated

Thank you, cast of the hit anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. I felt brave just saying that.

Jokes aside, I feel it is important to get this out of the way now. And, to be fair, Evangelion is critically acclaimed for a reason. Eva's success did leave an impact on the rest of the industry. A whole generation of anime shows have tried to capture the same energy that Eva had, leading to the rise of the extremely nebulous sekai-kei trend. This isn't even touching on the fact that Eva is also one of the most popular mecha franchises of all time.

That being said, the problem with Eva's legacy is that people in the west exaggerated its legacy. So instead of it being an important series that builds off of the legacy of the shows it was inspired by in order to create something new and just as noteworthy as its forebears, it is now this transgressive series that brutally deconstructs mecha on top of everything mentioned prior. Evangelion became a series that was more than most mecha shows, since it really spends a lot of its time with its characters, particularly the Eva pilots and their handler. Evangelion was different because it was about the characters and not the giant robots.

...Except, that's not true.

This is Ideon Erasure

One of the shows that inspired Evangelion, Space Runaway Ideon, is about as serious as they come. It's a story about the horrors of war, and the characters have to contend with this and press on. And while it might not be as introspective as say Evangelion, the difference is what both had as inspiration: Ideon only had shows like Space Battleship Yamato, Voltes V, Zambot 3, and Mobile Suit Gundam as reference points. Evangelion has all four of those shows as well as other shows like Fang of the Sun Dougram, Super Dimension Fortress Macross, and Legend of the Galactic Heroes among other shows to reference

I'm not saying that those shows also influenced Evangelion. I'm just pointing out that, in the history of mecha, Eva has more things to be compared to. And to be fair to the people who kickstarted the "Eva's not like the other girls" mentality, the west's experience with mecha prior to Eva was either shows like Transformers, which existed largely to sell toys, or shows like Gundam Wing, where a lot of the show can be seen as "Wow, cool robot." So along comes Evangelion with its esoteric Christian imagery, brooding protagonists, and eldritch antagonists. It's really nothing anyone in the west has seen before, and so the "Not Like the Other Girls" meme is born.

And now, I'd like to go into debunking this line of thinking with a lot of the big offenders. Because it turns out that Evangelion is not the only show to get this treatment. And if you thought Eva was a bad example of "Not Being Like the Other Girls," then oh boy are these examples somehow worse.

Case Study 1 - Code Geass: Casval Lelouch of the Rebellion

Code Geass is probably the closest example to in terms of being "Not Like the Other Girls" that isn't Evagenlion itself. Like Evangelion before it, Code Geass has more of a focus on its characters than its mech action. A fair bit of screen time is spent focused on the politicking and strategizing and brainwashing (with actual, factual magic) of our main character, Lelouch Code Geass Lamperouge, with all of the shenanigans that ensue. It's a series with a unique spin on the military robot shows of old due to its inclusion of magic (namely the titular Geass) and advanced super materials like Sakuradite (based off of the mythical metal hi'hiirokane or scarletite).

The problem with Code Geass being a "Not Like the Other Girls" show is twofold:

The robots of Code Geass, here known as Knightmare Frames, play a pivotal part in the story. The Knightmare Frames are what allow Britannia to take over the world as well as they do, and a big focus on the series is just how advanced the latest Knightmare Frame, Lancelot, is compared to the other Knightmare Frames. Season 2 exacerbates this problem when the elite Knightmare Frames like Lancelot are constantly getting exponentially more upgrades throughout the season.

It's also hard not to ignore the similarities between this show and Mobile Suit Gundam (the original, not the franchise as a whole). Consider that Code Geass' main character is, for lack of a better word, a Char clone. He wears a mask and oftentimes hides his true motives, which helps when it comes time for politics. He's even got a special power that helps him with his core skills. The only thing Lelouch is lacking is the piloting skill, which is where Kallen Kouzuki comes in (and fun fact: her signature Knightmare Frame, the Guren MK II, is red).

Oh, I should also mention this here: before working on Code Geass, Goro Taniguchi worked on Gun x Sword, which is unabashedly a giant robot anime. Does this really add anything to my point? Not really. I just think it's interesting to point this out due to Gun x Sword's proximity to Code Geass in terms of release dates.

Case Study 2 - Tengen Toppa Getter Robo Gurren Lagann

Probably the single most insane version of this is when people treat Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann as being "Not Like the Other Girls."

Y'know... Gurren Lagann. The show where the giant robots grow as large as the known universe. A show where one of the major thematic elements is a celebration of giant robot shows that's reflected in the four major story arcs representing a distillation of the four decades of giant robot shows from as early as Mazinger Z. A show where the main character draws a lot of his self worth from, among other things, how well he pilots his mini robot (a gender-swapped Noa Izumi, if you will).

Oh, and most important of all: this is also the show written by, and I'm not making this up, a man who refers to himself as Getter Robo's number one fan.

This doesn't even touch on other shows that one could argue also had a hand in influencing Gurren Lagann like Mobile Fighter G Gundam and The King of Braves, GaoGaiGar. Look me in the eye and tell me that Kamina wasn't written with characters like Domon Kasshu and Guy Shishioh in mind. Or the fact that Simon the Digger is less Ryouma Nagare and more Domon Kasshu by way of Guy Shishioh.

In the case of Gurren Lagann, though, it should also be of no surprise that this is the series brought up the least amongst the "Not Like the Other Girls" shows. A big part of this stems from, as I mentioned earlier, the fact that Gurren Lagann is a celebration of giant robots.

...What's that? Why does it sound like an axe is being sharpened in the background? No, reader, you're hearing things. I clearly don't have an axe to grind with the next show.

Case Study 3 - Armored Trooper 86: Eighty Six

Part of what I hate about the modern seasonal anime release schedule is that it's created an entire generation of anime fans who refuse to watch any series that released before 2010. This line of thinking can be pretty dangerous, and this is coming from a guy who's always saying the newer Pokemon games are generally better than the older ones. The difference is twofold:

Pokemon isn't anywhere near as old as all of anime. Like it's not even close to being that old.

This only really applies to core game mechanics in the mainline non-Legends games. It doesn't really take into account things like story elements, Pokemon rosters, or generation design differences (read as: is the game pre- or post-Physical/Special split).

I'm bringing this up because I feel like the seasonal anime format is the reason why 86: Eighty Six became a "Not Like the Other Girl" show. As someone who watches a lot of mecha shows, 86 is just...

...it's there. It exists. In my opinion, 86 doesn't really have a whole to say outside of racism is bad and look at how much Shin and company suffer because of it. Everything 86 does has been done before in some fashion by literally every military robot series that existed prior to 86's first publication in 2017. Heck, two years prior to it's publication was the first airing of Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, the then-latest entry in the Gundam franchise. And that series is all about how unfettered capitalism makes it almost impossible for the marginalized to survive without having to resort to violence.

But I think it's folly to suggest fans of 86 to go watch Iron-Blooded Orphans. Not because it's bad, which I'd argue that it's not. No, it's more because IBO is too recent. Part of the problem with the "Not Like the Other Girls" mentality is that people will limit themselves into only watching one show, oftentimes failing to see that part of what makes their favorite show so special is the fact that it is inspired by other works. For people who like 86, it would be better to recommend shows like Armored Trooper VOTOMs, Fang of the Sun Dougram (or really any military robot series directed by Ryousuke Takahashi), or even the original Gundam from 1979. But as harsh as I may be on 86, it's not the worst offender. I'd even go so far as to say that 86 is, at worst, a symptom. I think the real problem lies with the next series I'm going to talk about.

The Worst Offender - gen:Lock

If you thought I disliked 86 because of how its fans hype it up as being better and so much different than the rest of the canon, at least 86 is a pretty entertaining watch.

gen:Lock makes me turn into AM from I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream. To describe the enmity I have towards gen:Lock is not something I want to fully unload on this blog, as it is this series that really kicked the "Not Like the Other Girls" mentality into overdrive. gen:Lock was once described by one of its executive producers as being about the characters and not the robots. Which kind of spits in the face of the canon of mecha in its entirety, as the entire genre has almost never really frontlined the machines as being the main character. And when mecha stories are about the machines, the machine tends to be a character in its own right.

And if I'm being honest, part of what makes me so livid about gen:Lock is how this series basically funneled away funds from other projects at Rooster Teeth. That's what got series creator Gray Haddock fired, after all. So you can't even say that season one, which I've been told is a pretty decent season, is okay in comparison. So even if the "It's not about the mecha" line is supposed to be marketing speak, the behind-the-scenes nonsense still sullies the show. I don't even think I need to touch on the mess that is gen:Lock season 2; between the poorly animated sex scene, the sudden killing of a recently-outed queer character, and the fact that one of the main characters, and later the entire main cast, get rewarded for committing suicide... Yeah. Let's just move on before a blow a fuse.

Magic Knight Rayearth Is Actually Not Like the Other Girls

I think part of what makes all of this so absurd is that there is a series that can actually be considered "Not Like the Other Girls."

It's Magic Knight Rayearth.

A lot of what helps in this case is that Rayearth is, primarily, a magical girl series. That is not to say that Rayearth is not a mecha show though, as the Rune Gods play a pivotal role in the series. Not helping things is the fact that the Rune Gods are literally an extension of their magic knight's personalities, which is true of pretty much every giant robot ever. But, by being a magical girl series first and foremost, Rayearth approaches giant robots from a unique angle due to the world of Cephiro being similar to that of a fantasy JRPG setting where willpower determines everything. So the Rune Gods end up being real, living creatures that take the form of giant robots, as opposed to just being giant robots that exist in the setting.

Except it's still a giant robot series. Everything I just said doesn't suddenly mean that Magic Knight Rayearth is no longer a mecha show.

Conclusion

Look. I get it. These shows are great. Okay, gen:Lock isn't, but the other four are. I get it. The people who trot out this line do it because they love the series they're putting up on a pedestal. My issue comes with the putting it up on a pedestal part. It has a tendency to displace other shows that are just as worthy of praise, and in some cases maybe even better depending on the viewer, than the "Not Like the Other Girl" shows. So, to close this rant out, I'd like to suggest some shows for people whose only experience with mecha are one of the "Not Like the Other Girls" shows.

If you like...

...Neon Genesis Evangelion, you might be interested in checking out Ultraman, Mobile Suit Gundam, Space Runaway Ideon, Aura Battler Dunbine, Patlabor (either the TV or OVA timeline), or Gargantia on the Verduous Planet.

...Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion, you might be interested in checking out Mobile Suit Gundam (again), Fang of the Sun Dougram, Patlabor (the OVA timeline this time), Gun x Sword, or Psalm of Planets Eureka Seven.

...Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, you might like Mazinger Z, Getter Robo, Gunbuster, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, The King of Braves GaoGaiGar, Back Arrow, SSSS.Gridman, SSSS.Dynazenon, and Gridman Universe.

...86: Eighty Six or gen:Lock, you might like Mobile Suit Gundam (pretty much any series that isn't G or Build), Armored Trooper VOTOMs (or really anything related to Ryousuke Takahashi), Metal Armor Dragonar, Patlabor (See Evangelion above), or Full Metal Panic!.

...Magic Knight Rayearth, you might be interested in Aura Battler Dunbine, Panzer World Galient, Patlabor (the TV timeline), Mobile Fighter G Gundam (yes really), or The Vision of Escaflowne.

And thanks for reading my rant. Next time, something else!

[just-an-emily-existing]

Hey pookie, hopefully this can distract you from everything because I can only imagine the feelings you have now 🩷💕

Regarding the ships in your au, how did they realise they had feelings for their partners? And also- what is their favourite thing about their partners?

(Sending lots of (platonic) love and support, even if I’m MILES away from you rn, I’m still always just a message away) 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

I knew you’d come in clutch, tysm for this bestie. I’ll do this for me and Douglas, Oliver and Toad, Rosie and Mavis, and Thomas and Percy. But I will try and go into deeper details on every couple's origin story. Let me know if you want any othe short couple stories. But these'll be short stories lol

Happy Reading!

For me and Douglas, it started when he first saw me. He instantly fell but I didn’t, I just wanted to get on the train to Sodor. But we kept bumping into each other like at the store or just on the street and we became friends, he showed me more of the Little Western and I showed him my drawings. Word quickly got around that Douglas has a crush on the new human girl. It was Donald who ended up snitching and telling me he liked me. I was honoured to be someone's special person. I immediately told Donald to take me to him. Luckily Douglas was taking a break and laying down next to Dilly's pond. I confronted him and asked if he liked me. Of course, he was a blushing and stuttering mess but he eventually spat it out that he liked me. By this time I was really starting to like him too and we agreed to go on a few dates to see if we’d be a good match. After one summer date in July, Douglas accidentally called me his girlfriend, but I didn’t mind, I liked the new title and by the end of the night, we become official! Of course, we had to keep our relationship on the down-low cuz at the time, human and engine couples were unheard of and kinda taboo. But after being yelled at by an old angry couple, it was STH who made the announcement for me and Douglas' relationship to be accepted.

For Oliver and Toad, they met after Toad was transferred to a new engine after being in an abusive relationship with Samantha (One of my Oc’s). Like Douglas, Toad instantly fell for Oliver, but Oliver was SO oblivious. Toad would leave subtle hints that he likes him but Oliver never caught on. Once Oliver was sent for scrap, Toad, Isabel and Dulcie were sent to be transferred to another engine, but Toad wasn’t having it, he had spent years with his love and refused to accept this fate. On the night Oliver was supposed to be scrapped, Toad came up with the idea to run away to Sodor. Oliver loved it and the four of them ran that night. Unfortunately the four were captured one night and were sent to the nearest scrapyard and left on a siding to rot. It was them that Toad finally told Oliver his feelings, seeing that they were not going to make it. Oliver was taken aback but accepted his feelings, although not truly feeling the same, he felt honoured to be the someone Toad was utterly devoted to. Oliver promised to go on a real date once they got to Sodor. Toad was confused but with this newfound energy, Oliver felt determined to live, not just for himself, but for Toad, for Isabel and Dulcie, and his siblings that he lost long ago. After being rescued by Douglas and were properly fixed up. the two finally had their real date and it went wonderfully! They were able to truly express how they felt for each other and explore their new home together. It was actually Oliver who asked Toad to be his “Precious Shell” (That’s Oliver's pet name for Toad) and he happily agreed. From then on, the two became inseparable, always pulling trains together and hanging out with their friends.

For Rosie and Mavis, I like to think they met after Rosie was rejected by Thomas and was feeling really down in the dumps. She and Mavis were scheduled to work together at Brendam Docks, but Rosie just couldn’t seem to focus on her work, only Thomas and his rejection. Mavis finally asked what was wrong and Rosie explained everything. Mavis listened and gave her input when needed. She told Rosie to try and move on and focus on herself cuz it was obvious Thomas isn’t interested and Rosie deserves some self care. Rosie understood that was the best move. Of course she tried, with Mavis' help and all but she just couldn’t get over him. He was perfect in her eyes and seeing him and Percy made her all the more heartbroken. As the days turned into weeks, Rosie tried hard to take Mavis’s advice. She immersed herself in her work, hauling goods, helping friends around the island, ect. But every time she saw Thomas, her heart would race. She admired the way the sunlight glimmered off his shiny blue paint and the way he laughed. Mavis noticed Rosie’s struggle. Encouraging her to join in fun outings, she suggested they go on a scenic trip to the seaside. Rosie hesitated but finally agreed, hoping the change of scenery might distract her. They talked, laughed, and shared stories the whole day and really got a better connection with each other. Mavis had a warm energy that made Rosie feel valued. Eventually, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, turning the sky a canvas of oranges and purples, Mavis told Rosie that she was loved, not just by those around her but by everyone on the island, and she didn't need the approval Thomas to feel good about herself. Rosie felt a warmth spread through her as she gazed into Mavis’s eyes. In that moment, something shifted within her. Maybe the engine she had always been destined to be with wasn't Thomas after all. It was Mavis, right there beside her, always supportive and always caring. Weeks turned into months, and their friendship blossomed into something deeper. Rosie began to notice how Mavis made her laugh like no one else could, how they shared a powerful connection that felt electric. One evening, as they stood side by side overlooking the same beach, Rosie took a deep breath, feeling a sense of freedom wash over her. Rosie finally spoke her mind and told Mavis how she felt. Mavis was surprised and asked if she was ready for a relationship. Rosie was sure, her feelings were true and was able to move on from Thomas fully. Mavis was happy to see her love become the best version of herself and from that day forward, Rosie and Mavis became a couple. Thomas and Rosie are still good friends, and are happy to have a stable friendship.

For Thomas and Percy, whoooo boy it's a crazy one. It started off as Thomas not really liking Percy (Then, pre-trans), thinking he's a bit dull and Percy just being oblivious to his subtle dislike. But of course, they grow to become good friends after working many jobs together and just hanging out as friends. Percy starts transitioning after a few years of being on Sodor, using he/him pronouns and having Thomas' support through it all. The day Percy became fully Percy, he showed off his new male human form to Thomas before anyone else. It was a bit of a shock to him but he still thought of him as a friend and would continue to call him his best friend. But little by little, after many years, they start to fall for each other and began pining for each other. Everyone could easily tell they liked each other, especially James, the engine they'd tell their feelings for the other with until finally James had enough of their pining and wishing for them to just get together already, so he planned a surprise date for them. With a plan forming in his mind, James decided to set up a special date for Thomas and Percy. He carefully devised a strategy to get them both to Tidmouth Sheds where hopefully, the two could open up to each other. Once there, James had planned a nice picnic for the three of them, as they all had the day off and had the whole sheds to themselves. It was very awkward cuz Thomas and Percy just couldn't seem to get the ball rolling, so James finally just spilled the tea. The two were embarrassed and tried to get James to shut up, but finally see that they had nothing to fear, cuz the feeling of love was mutual. Finally Thomas and Percy opened up and told the other how they really feel. James sighed in relief that he was able to bring a satisfying end to his favorite rom-com, which was Thomas and Percy lol.