#if you worked out what's going on i'm giving you a platonic smooch

[gingerel]

Prompto doesn’t really like beer — he’s ever only drunk it once before and that was with sweet enough company to mask the bitter taste. It’s even worse now, too old to really think about, the label on the bottle barely orange anymore, though the brand’s signature sun is still apparent.

Not just worse company this time, but no company at all. The past few years they made sure to be together but maybe that’s harder than this. Maybe Ignis and Gladio are together without him.

Prompto shakes his head, dragging his nail over the edge of the label. He spoke to Ignis just this morning — there’s no way. He needs to stop letting himself thinking this way.

A fire burns warmly before him, embers glowing in the murky gloom of a world always at night. The end of August but the weather’s been the same for six years now — a world so different from six years ago but each day feels like the same now, over and over again with no end in sight.

Twenty-seven.

What would they be doing for Noct’s twenty-seventh birthday if things were different?

Sleeping, probably, if Noct had his way. A late start, a morning game with maybe something gross for breakfast. Definitely a nap after. Noct always said that his favourite time to sleep is when he’s supposed to be awake.

Except — there’s no way of knowing what Noctis would be like today if he hadn’t disappeared. No way to know what he’ll be like if — when, when, when — he returns.

Prompto will love him. Wholeheartedly with no qualifiers, unconditional and eternal no matter what may or may not come. That’s never going to change, has been a thing since he was eighteen years old — maybe earlier, except he never said it aloud. It’s an almost desperate kind of devotion, sometimes, with no means for outlet while Noct is gone. Everything Prompto wants to say or do burns and festers in his chest until he’s sick and heavy with the pain of missing him.

They only shared one of Noct’s birthdays as a couple, right after Prompto started sleeping over — again. There had been a temporary halt to sleepovers while they got their footing in the new tilt to their relationship. They shared bedrooms and even beds when they were friends, keeping an awkward arm’s width between them and pretending to be asleep as they stared at opposite walls.

On Noctis’ twentieth birthday, Prompto wiggled out of Noct’s octopus grip to heat up an ungodly number of pop tarts, all fanned out on a plate and delivered to Noctis with a glass of the cheap, mostly artificial orange juice he preferred.

Prompto kind of hates pop tarts, but he’d give anything to eat one now — to share one during this night.

With a sigh, Prompto pours some of the beer onto the smooth stone at his side. It’s mostly gone flat by now, but it still manages to fizz slightly as it hits the ground.

“Happy birthday, Noct,” Prompto says into the quiet air.

[slocumjoe]

danse's romance route has some potholes

so, this post woke me from my slumber, have a ramble

This has always been a weird point for me, but I never got around to really figuring out what it was exactly until just now. I think all of the romantic candidates have out-of-place flirting, at least here and there, but Danse consistently has dialogue options to flirt with him at exactly the wrong fuckin time. The odd thing about Danse is that, most of the time, the normal Good/Yes answer is more romantic or sincerely affectionate than the flirt.

So, the Flirts.

The only Flirt that works is when he talks about his fear of losing people, and Sole says, "I care too much about you to do that to you." It's the first Flirt, and he responds by saying you've given him "something to think about." I've gone on about how Danse has never truly felt cared for. Sole's voice acting also sells this Flirt by being somewhat timid, unsure of saying this, but wanting him to know.

Danse's talks go Kreig > Cutler > Haylen > Help Im A Robot. The first time you can flirt with him is in the Cutler chat, where the "I care about you" line comes up. It's not out of left field from the conversation. It's affectionate, it doesn't overstep, but it pushes the line and makes Danse consider "oh shit, there's a lil something something going on here."

The "Would you hold me?" line is much less subtle.

Danse talks about how he doubts himself after Cambridge and Sole's reference to him hugging Haylen makes it seem like they've just been waiting for him to shut up to use that line on him. It's out of place, it circles back to a topic we've moved on from, and it's so overt it sucker-punches everyone involved, including the player. It's blunt.

The other options of "I'm here whenever you need me" or "I'm glad you feel better" are less flirtatious, but they imply more direct concern and care for Danse. Both lines are about Danse, and Sole being there for him. The actual Flirt is what Danse can do for Sole. This is such a weird nitpick, I know, but it comes off not as romantic, but more like Sole is trying to hook up with him. That would work with someone like Hancock, or maybe Piper, but Danse's romance involves more subtlety and slow-burn elements. It's too forward.

So, in his final talk...

It's literally "Kitten I'll be honest, Daddy's about to kill himself" "haha no don't kill yourself you're soooo sexy"

It comes right after he's having a lot of emotions about his reason for living. This is not the time to put the responsibility of a relationship on someone. Again, this is a flaw of the 4 Affinity Talks system. If you're just going for a platonic relationship with Danse, his talks work great, but his character arc is unfinished anyway. They have to shoehorn romance in there, and it doesn't have the room to develop naturally. It's why Sole has to explicitly say "Would you hold me ;>".

The strangest part is that his neutral/Friendly dialogue options are more affectionate and relationship-building. Again, the other options in the Haylen talk comfort Danse and reassure him.

Honestly, I think the best option, for all romancable companions, is within arms reach. You know how, if you don't romance someone, they'll bring up their last talk again and give you a barn door of an opening to broach the subject of a relationship again? Just. Do that/ It's literally what I did when I romanced Danse; don't romance him as soon as possible. Let it marinate.

The second chance to romance him goes the exact same way, eyebrows to space and all. It just takes place after Danse confesses how close he feels to you and trusts you and not RIGHT AFTER BLIND BETRAYAL.

It's easy to fix the pacing just by not going for the smooch ASAP, but the flirting is awkward. It's worth noting that the line before the Haylen flirt "It's comforting to know that I can speak to you as more than just your commanding officer" has it's own Flirting tag on it. Danse flirts with Sole here, canonically.

A cheap and easy rewrite is Sole echoing the sentiment with something like, "It's comforting to know that you're more than my commanding officer." This leaves room for interpretation. What else is Danse? Sole has an idea, but leaves Danse to wonder about it. It also confirms to Danse "yes, we have a personal bond and this isn't just a work thing."

I think the core of Danse's romance is this dude realizing that he's loved and cared for, truly. Cait has a similar arc, but hers has different complications and contexts than Danse. Danse needs a slow-burn romance full of soft moments and instances of Sole reminding him of his own humanity, even long before the synth thing.

It's worth noting that the "i care too much about you" line is still kinda overshadowed by the "But I wanna be a mutant" joke. That joke makes him laugh, he jokes back without missing a beat, and it's a cute little bonding moment between him and Sole. Romance isn't just overt flirting, it's the little things that make you think the other person is special. How many people do you think can make Danse laugh? Especially about becoming a Super Mutant, right after being told about Cutler? Danse thinks Sole is funny. He thinks it's a cute little joke. He's charmed.

Then Sole sucker-punches him with an explicit ask of physical contact and emotional exploration and the moment is lost. For the Halyen talk, you could have an option where Sole asks, teasingly, if this is going on the report, and Danse laughs and contemplates what Maxson would think. Maybe he even comments about how rumors spread on the Prydwen, implying that he knows there is something between you two for people to gossip about. This would later tie in to The Reveal, where Maxson says the same thing.

[moonchild-in-blue]

Hey, remember that time II kissed Vessel's arm? Okay byyeeeee :D

Well HELLO GOOD MORNING TO YOU TOO

(yes i did see this before i went to bed but i was wayyy too eepie to reply)

I hope you know this has just set the mood for my entire day so. I'm gonna be extra yearning and soft and whiny 👍 Sorry about that guys, I'm a pathetic wet cat of a person 😞

He could've hugged him. He could've high fived. He could've done that guy thing where they slap each other's butts and it's totally platonic and wholesome and hilarious.

AND YET. Mr. Daddy Twofoot (cmon guys, catch up on the name) KISSED??? HIS ARM??? On the sensitive soft part too?????

Like. Okay. Yeah yeah, the boyfriends, etc etc. But let me be actually serious for a second here.

(hello this turned out to be way longer and sappy than i intended so)

Do you see how effortless that was? He didn't hesitate for a second. How often do you see two guys (who I'm assuming are straight) be this affectionate with each other? A kiss on the inner arm is *such* a tender, intimate gesture, regardless of gender/sexuality - a type of action that is not usually expected between straight men.

And I don't know, I find it incredibly endearing and important to see that, as much as they do all that funny sexy stuff for the fans (and for themselves too - they seem to have so so much fun), these type of actions seem to be a part of their regular off-stage interactions. You can feel how genuinely good friends they all are.

And in the case of Vessel and ii, the founders of Sleep Token and the major force behind it all - how surreal and incredible it must be for them to get to experience all of this together. To see their hard work paying off. To stand proudly in front of literal thousands of people side by side with your best friend??? HELLO???

It's such a small thing, but I carries so much weight ya know? Like yeah dude, I love you and I'm proud of you, and you did a wonderful job. Isn't it SO touching???

I just LOVE to see it. Men who are vulnerable and affectionate around each other, who are comfortable in it, who shows us that yes, platonic friendships and pda are beautiful and important and in no way make you any less of a men. Which is something a LOT of dudebros in the metal scene would benefit in knowing.

I just. I don't know bro. Vessel x ii interactions mean the whole word to me. I was just talking with someone a few days ago of just how far Vessel has come in his music journey, and even within Sleep Token, the difference between One days and now is. Nothing short of astronomical. It feels almost miraculous, yet it is anything bUT, because we know how much effort V and ii put into making the music we so love. And of course iii, although not part of the creation process, has been with them from the beginning as well.

Can you imagine how overwhelmingly awesome and scary it must be for them?? And what are the odds of after a few years of changes, they somehow found the perfect person to complete them? SO MUCH SO, that you can see just how close iii and iv are BY THEIR MIRRORING ATTIRES?? HELLOOOOO ???? SOULMATES FR FR

Aaaa I feel like I'm going off on a huge tangent, and I am stopping now before I bring up the German Rituals and Wembley. December was a wild month omg I have not recovered yet.

I just!!! My heart!!! I love them. Vessel PLEASE I have been begging on my hands and knees, PLEASE PLEASE give your drummer a smooch omg he deserves it poor guy has the twinkliest prettiest eyes ever how can you NOT 🥺✨💙

Anyways. Yes, I do remember. Good gif 🙂👍

[lollytea]

i don't know what it is about Hunter's "Cool. Happy to help." that makes me go crazy but it does. it being such a simple and kinda dorky response to Willow's shy but sincere thank you and "You mean a lot to me too." (which also makes me crazy), Zeno's delivery making it have like seven different layers of emotion because he can't help himself apparently, the fact it plays over them holding pinkies and bumping hands, the fact we know he's on the verge of tears while saying it. i am UNWELL

CAN I TALK ABOUT IT??

It is heavily implied that this little moment, while ambiguous, is intended to be a massive shift in their relationship. Like it's veered from them being platonic while nursing mutual crushes into something with deliberate romantic intent from both sides. I don't think they would be comfortable saying they're dating just yet but....they're not not dating, y'know? Like something has undeniably changed in a very permanent way. It's certainly new to them but they're both aware of it. They're both aware that this is something beyond friendship right now.

(I been saying this since the episode leaked, when I only had the scene itself to go off. But considering the crew is finally allowed to share their huntlow art, Zeno is allowed to open his mouth and Dana rted art of them captioned "they're canon now <3" that's as good a confirmation as any. If I remember right, Dana was also pretty tight lipped about explicitly romantic lumity, but was free to post about it after Hooty's Door aired. Yknow. When they officially became an item.)

That scene is literally the two of them establishing this relationship development between each other. The dialogue is kinda vague but bleedingly sincere though the interaction is also aided by nonverbal signals. So like. No wonder Hunter sounds Like That. We are watching him get a girlfriend before our very eyes.

Now I KNOW "You mean a lot to me too." is supposed to be romantic because why else would Hunter be so overwhelmed that he tears up? There is no way in Hell Willow Park never expressed her platonic appreciation for Hunter before. That's her FRIEND!! She wouldn't just not tell him that she cares about him. So this....this is different. She's saying something completely different here and Hunter picks up on it. He may have been a little unsure if he was overthinking it, but it seems like the linked fingers really cement the reality for him. Willow is saying she has feelings for him.

I would give anything, ANYTHING, for Zeno or Dana or Eden or SOMEBODY to explain what the exact voice direction was for "Cool. Happy to help." was because I'm obsessed with it. It's like!!!!! Holy fuck!!!!! He's trying to mentally catch up with what's happening here but his brain hardly works and he's all emotionally mushed up. He's giddy, he's breathless, his stupid little galdorstone is trying to punch a hole through his chest. He wants to burst out laughing because of how absurd this all is. He wants to break down into hysterical tears. He's pretty sure he's gonna explode. Also she's TOUCHING him. Very subtly but he's crippingly aware of it. The feeble body heat seeping from her little finger seems like enough to spread through his whole body. It's burning his face, his ears, the back of his neck.

You can feel Hunter trying to hold himself together with every syllable. The fact that he's like "Cool..." after Willow tells him she loves him like???? ASGDBFJNK. Man would get smooched and be like "Alright. Thanks." Because he wouldn't know what else to say. Like he's clearly trying to play it casual. Like this is all no big deal. Because this is Willow and he wants to be cool. But the way his voice cracks, like he'd probably squeak if he wasn't working so hard to control his tone, the noticeable shakiness, it's all so possessed by an explosive burst of nervous excitement.

It really reminds me of when Luz asked out Amity, she was like "Yes!!" And Luz just awkwardly responded with "Okay..." smiling stupidly, with an obvious vocal tremble because she was ecstatic and terrified at the same time.

"Happy to help," is a lot softer and less uneven, but he's still obviously losing his mind. That's when he bumps his own hand against Willow's. If I'm being honest, I think his mouth went on autopilot by this stage. It just seems like the kind of thing you say when you're completely fucking blanking. He is 99% focused on the fact that they are kinda holding hands right now and trying to gather his bearings, he'll just fucking say whatever.

But MAN. Its so funny. It's so good. Willow expressing her feelings to Hunter and him vocally responding in the lamest way possible, while sending a far more romantic signal with body language. It's SO them.

[imdoingaokay]

R!DAI Companions + Advisors with an Inquisitor that wants a baby (and/or is pregnant)

Hey guys, I'm alive. This is something I've had for a while, and it's also the longest post I've made. So... yeah. Sorry I don't post all that much, I promise I'm trying.

Anyways, enjoy this self-indulgent fluff piece that I've been working on.

This had every companion, romanced except for Cole, Leliana, and Vivienne (so that means you get romanced Varric in this, you're welcome.)

HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD! And slight NSFW, nothing too bad, just Bull being sex-positive.

TOKOPHOBIA WARNING

It started innocently enough, the Inquisitor would wander around Skyhold, visiting their friends and lover, just to check in (or give their lover a smooch.) Then a squeal of delight was heard, probably by everyone from Undercroft to the Rookery, that came from the Inquisitor. What they were squealing and cooing about? A baby. A chubby, chortling baby a pilgrim had brought to Skyhold that the Inquisitor had practically stumbled into. The Inquisitor was so enamored with the child, that they ended up spending the rest of the day wandering around Skyhold with the little one.

Then it got worse.

Parents, unable to resist the temptation of the Inquisitor offering to take their little ones for a stroll while they got some well-deserved rest, happily gave the Inquisitor their children. The children that did get babysat by the Inquisitor had far more fun than expected, walking along the battlements, eating a meal or two curated by the Inquisitor, and even being told stories of their exploits. The children of Skyhold grew to adore the Inquisitor, and the Inquisitor adored them in turn.

Soon enough, The Inquisitor became often sidetracked while on missions (more so than usual.) They would stop in their tracks to hold up a trinket or a flower and smile to themselves, telling their companions how they intended to give whatever they held to a specific child. By the time the mission was over, the Inquisitor had lined their pockets with various items to give to the children. 

All of this led to the Inquisitor’s friends and/or lover asking “why?” To which the Inquisitor looked them dead in the eye and shrugged.

“I want a baby of my own.”

Blackwall/Thom Rainier: 

Platonic: Blackwall shrugs, he gets it. The kids are cute. And it’s far more healthy for the Inquisitor to spend time taking care of other people’s children rather than go out and just… have one. 

Not like he wouldn’t mind, Uncle Rainier sounds like a nice title, right? Hopefully, The Inquisitor wants a hand-carved cradle when they have their child.

Romanced: He goes “Uh… is that… something you… want to do… now?” Rainer never truly saw himself settling down officially. He didn’t think he truly deserved that. But the idea of having a few kids? With the woman he loves? Top-tier fantasy in his book. And now with his true identity out of the way, he feels a little better about his future. Especially with his lover.

He needs to hear his lover say “not right now” because he would be more than happy to give his Inquisitor a few kids, and he wouldn’t have the mental strength to say no if they asked. 

Now if his lover does, by some chance, get pregnant. He’s over the moon. He fights harder, and faster, always eager to end Corypheus and retire. He’s such a sappy guy too, always wanting to stay as close as possible to his lover. So one should expect him to personally request that he be sent out all the time with The Inquisitor. That man has a nursery ready to go by the time The Inquisitor’s ready to give birth. He carves a cradle, high chairs, and everything the baby could need. He’s willing to build a palace with his two bare hands for his family.

Cassandra: 

Platonic: She gets it. Kids are super cute, why not have a few? If she didn’t become a seeker, she knows she would have a few of her own, whether she wanted to or not. But hopefully, the Inquisitor isn’t planning on having any now. Like… now, now. Because the Inquisition still needs them, she still needs them.

If The Inquisitor ends up pregnant or their partner ends up pregnant, she gets furious. She chews them out a little, claiming how immature they are for bringing a child into the world when the world is in so much turmoil. 

She calms later, especially when the child is born, recognizing the love The Inquisitor and their partner show for the child. She doesn’t apologize, as she’s still pissed, but she does adore the child.

Romanced: “Oh.” She says before her face goes completely red. She’ll have to pull them aside and talk about their future together. She’s honestly flattered when the Inquisitor claims they want to have children with her. She’d be a liar if she said she didn’t want kids of her own, especially with the Inquisitor, but the both of them ought to know that they can’t… not yet… anyways. But once all the rifts are closed and they have some more time for themselves, then… then, yeah. Yeah, she would like that.

Maker, help her if she ends up pregnant, she’ll be extremely stressed, for both her and her lover’s sake. One should expect her to refuse to go out on missions until the baby is born, and expect her to be furious when her lover goes too.

Cole: He understands, mainly because he read the Inquisitor’s mind, but he understands deeper than that. He thinks the Inquisitor would be an excellent parent, especially with how they treat him (if high affinity.) He holds a great deal of respect for them, and he knows that their heart is full of a very fluffy, wholesome type of love. One that Cole is more than happy to reciprocate. 

If the Inquisitor does end up having children, Cole is a very willing babysitter, as he doesn’t sleep and he’s able to tell what exactly a baby wants.

Cullen Rutherford: 

Platonic: Cullen furrows his brow before his gaze softens. He understands, he does. The thought of a little house, a family dog, and the sounds of little feet pittering against the floorboards, it’s nice. But that life is… unachievable, especially for a man like him. A man who is so busy, who has no right to live such a dreamy life. But The Inquisitor? They deserve that. They truly do.

He doesn’t need to ask if they mean right then and there, he knows what they mean and that they don’t intend on bringing in a child just yet.

“You would be wonderful.” He says, placing a comforting hand on their shoulder

If the Inquisitor ever ends up pregnant, Cullen won’t be able to stay very calm at all. He encourages the Inquisitor to stay behind in Skyhold but gives up when the Inquisitor becomes stubborn. He eventually has to turn to Leliana or Cassandra for help.

Romanced: It’s a simple desire, to have children. And Cullen’s had it every once in a while, like when he was in Kirkwall and saw a small child toddle towards another templar. He watched his colleague’s wife follow after the child, about to scold the babe for interrupting their father in the middle of work. The templar, instead, scooped the child up in his arms and showered the child’s pudgy face in kisses. That domestic bliss was something Cullen found himself longing for. But he was too busy, life was too busy. And then The Chantry exploded, and he was in The Inquisition… he couldn’t think about that. Not until he met his Inquisitor. Now he imagines what life will be like after the pair are finished. If The Inquisitor has already affirmed that they aren’t leaving him, Cullen’s willing to have a family with The Inquisitor, as long as the two are finished with Corypheus first.

But if life finds a way… he’s happy and nervous. He begs his lover to stay behind in Skyhold, terrified of the billion things that could go wrong. Of course, rifts must be closed, so, against his better judgment, he lets her go.

His dreams get progressively worse when she’s away, it was always like that… but the dreams are worse when she’s pregnant. It gets to a point where he goes weeks without sleep, aside from the occasional nap that he gets jolted up from. The second his lover is back, Cullen whisks her away from the War Room and ushers her back to her quarters, where he has a healer check on her and the baby. Once he is certain she is fine, and the sun has gone down, Cullen lays down next to his lover and passes out into a dreamless slumber.

Dorian Pavus: 

Platonic: “Oh that is hilarious.” He laughs before his smile falls, “Wait you’re serious?”

He listens to his friend, but worriedly reminds them how dangerous it is to bring a child into the world, especially with the Inquisitor in such a highly scrutinized role.

If the Inquisitor assures him that they don’t plan on having kids just yet, he’s relieved, but secretly disappointed. He does like babies… when they’re not puking or pooping.

Now if the Inquisitor is planning on having a child or is already pregnant, he’s ecstatic. He’s all over that and can’t wait until the baby comes. The man buys cribs, toys, parenting books, and much more. Don’t be surprised if he gets a “world’s best uncle” wine glass or something.

Romanced: He jokes, “We could just adopt, I’m sure there are plenty of little Tevinter babies that need two insanely beautiful fathers.”

Now, he is joking, but he’s secretly terrified. But not because he’s worried he’ll be a lousy father or anything, he knows he’ll be different from his father. But, the thought of having kids is something he always knew he was going to do. And then everything happened with his father and his Amatus, and now he feels like… he has a choice? He can say no. He can say yes. He can adopt, or have a surrogate. He doesn’t have to fit into the status quo anymore.

But what if something happens? What if something goes wrong? What if he isn’t able to provide for his child the way they deserve?

It takes some talking down from his Amatus for him to truly relax. The two will need to speak about what they both plan future-wise. And while Dorian may not follow the same ideals as most of Tevinter, he still plans on putting a ring on it before they have kids. After all, they have to have some decorum. But, he also wants to get married because he does love his Amatus and marriage just makes things feel more official.

Iron Bull: 

Platonic: He likes kids, so he gets it, too. He may not outright encourage it, but he assures the Inquisitor how great of a parent they’ll be. Now, if the Inquisitor does end up pregnant, he’s overjoyed… on their behalf… not, like, because he wants to be called an uncle or something… (he wants to be called “uncle” very badly)

He makes the kid an honorary member of the Chargers and attempts to make the little one a onesie that has an embroidered “Bull’s Chargers” lettering on the front.

It takes him all of the pregnancy, but once the baby is born the child has a lovely little onesie that looks incredible. He won’t admit it, but that embroidery took way too long than anyone expected.

Romanced: “We can make that work.” He smiles. Honestly, he assumes that The Inquisitor might have some sort of kink. He’s more than happy to oblige. If the Inquisitor doesn’t clarify what they desire, claiming that they want a baby, Bull watches them closer. He notices small things that make him draw his conclusions. The way his lover holds a small child, how they speak to them, and how sad they look when they have to hand over the child to their parents at the end of the day. He will bring it up in the next few days, and eventually ask them if they want to be parents together, once everything is handled. He wouldn’t mind a kid or two, if his kadan wants it, Bull knows his kadan would be one hell of a parent.

Maker help him if The Inquisitor ends up pregnant, he’s so happy he can’t bother himself by being nervous. Just kidding, he’s super nervous. The Qun doesn’t have fathers, how the hell is he supposed to be there for his kid when he has no idea what kids need?

He needs constant reassurance and ends up going to Krem for advice on taking care of children. Krem had siblings, so he should know… right?

He has his game face on by the time The Inquisitor has the baby, Bull read every single book on childbirth, so he’s basically an expert. He’s all about that counter pressure and breathing techniques, so much so that the midwives are impressed themselves.

Josephine Montilyet: 

Platonic: She sighs, one of those dreamy sighs, “Oh I completely understand, well… a little bit. I’m sure having children is much different from having siblings, so I’m certain it’s better.” 

She knows the Inquisitor isn’t going just to waltz off and get pregnant or get someone else pregnant. But she does clarify if they want a child right then and there. If they say that they intend to have a child as soon as possible, she may faint.

She’s stressed if the Inquisitor or their partner ends up with a child, and gently encourages the pair to get maybe married. Less of a reputation sting that way. If they refuse, she mentally prepares herself for questions from nobles and a few Orlesian nobles who were interested in The Inquisitor themselves.

Romanced: She smiles, “I would… like that.” She says. She’s come from a big family, Josephine would be a liar if she said she didn't want to have a big family of their own. But then she proceeds to clarify “not right now.”

“I do think about children, but you and I both know what a terrible idea it would be to bring them into their lives now." She also clarifies that she intends to cross a few relationship milestones too.

Leliana: A decade younger, Leliana would’ve been right next to The Inquisitor, cooing over the children they affectionately spoke so much about. But Leliana was older… and admittedly more cynical now. It didn’t help that Leliana was now a spymaster in the Inquisition.

“I… understand, but do try to resist any temptation that points you towards… having any children at the moment.” She says plainly.

Maker helps Leliana if The Inquisitor has children with their partner. She’ll end up frustratingly baby-proofing the entirety of Skyhold.

She’s happy when she finally meets the baby, and she can’t help but soften for a little while as she gazes down at the newborn. Her faith somehow returns and any doubts she had over the Maker disappear, as if there was no Maker, how could something so perfect exist? At least, she thinks that until someone looks at her, then she’s all business again.

Sera: 

Platonic: Not interested, or at least, the statement doesn’t faze her. Why would such a badass want little kids? Snotty… annoying… chubby cheeked… super cute- okay, she gets it.

She tells her friend they would probably be a good parent, but would also totally not believe the Inquisitor if they were pregnant or got their partner pregnant. It would only be until she saw The Inquisitor or their partner’s bump that she would accept that maybe they were having a baby.

She loves the kid like a sibling and often offers to make cookies for the baby, not realizing that the baby cannot have solid food for the first few months. She counts down the days when she can goof around with the kid on her own, whenever that might be.

Romanced: Laughs for a while, only to pause when she sees the serious look on her lover’s face. 

“You’re serious? You want…” She thinks for a moment before laughing again, “Yeah… I’d want that too! We’d be great mums!” She giggles.

She’s super on board, and would be the “fun mom.” This means The Inquisitor would be the one that would have to discipline the children. But aside from that, Sera’s all over having kids.

Solas: 

Platonic: High approval Solas would approve, he would nod and tell The Inquisitor that they would be an excellent parent, that they have the wisdom and patience that would be fit for a parent. He advises them to wait, first, as having a child while Corypheus is still at large is a terrible idea.

Low approval, he kind of just nods. He tells them that they should wait if they intend to have a child, as it’s a bad idea. He doesn’t do much else, no encouragement, just a simple shrug, and sigh. He doesn’t care.

Regardless of approval, if the Inquisitor or their partner ends up pregnant, and Solas is still there, he sort of freaks out. His main concern is the mark and its effect on the child, but once that’s ruled out, he still feels guilty. Hopefully, he leaves before the child is born. Because he cracks when he sees them for the first time. Does he really have it in him to end the world when someone as pure and untouched as that child exists? 

It takes some deliberation, but he does. And he leaves, praying he never meets the child ever again.

Romanced: He pauses, were they… serious?

Solas can’t help himself but imagine a life with his vhenan, away from responsibilities, with a few children surrounding the pair. He’d be a liar if that lovely thought didn’t cross his mind when he would steal gazes at his vhenan, but… that’s all it was… right? A thought.

He claims that his vhenan would be an excellent parent, but also ensures that he doesn’t want children, not before Corypheus is defeated. But maybe it’s an accident. He breaks his rule of not sleeping with Lavellan under false pretenses. Once his vhenan is pregnant, his actions depend on The Inquisitor’s dialogue choices. If The Inquisitor were to drink from the Well of Sorrows and then affirm Solas’ choice of fixing the past, he would leave. Not without incredible pain, but he leaves. But if by some chance, by some sliver of a chance, Lavellan says the right things, Solas stays. He hates himself for it, so he promises himself he’ll stay until the birth. Then he looks at his child and weeps. Like if he was platonic, Solas is thrown into turmoil, how could he destroy the world of a child? His child? So he resolves to stay and give up on his mission.

On another note, if he leaves, and Lavellan sees him in Trespasser, he’s more willing to take his vhenan and his child with him.

Varric Tethras: 

Platonic: Varric laughs, “Now that would be a twist… The great Inquisitor, changing diapers in between closing rifts and demon fights.” He smiles to himself. 

As a dwarf, their fertility is comparatively lower than the other races, and honestly, he never thought of himself as a parent, at least, not until he met and started parenting Cole. Of course, he doubts he’ll ever have his own family, Bianca and he, it would never work out. But he can understand the desire. 

He laughs so hard he cries if The Inquisitor or their partner ends up with a kid, like, hunched over, can’t breathe laughing. 

He’s nervous for The Inquisitor, though, he knows how hard it is to be a parent, but having a kid while they’re so… important? It’s a recipe for disaster.

Might end up writing the kid out of the story if The Inquisitor requests, maybe The Inquisitor doesn’t want anyone knowing they potentially had a child out of wedlock.

Romanced: Varric doesn’t laugh, he just smiles. He hadn’t started thinking about having a family until he and The Inquistor started going out officially. He nods, 

“I’d like that too.” He says, and the pair might find themselves discussing their future more often. Names for future children, where they’d live, does the Inqusitor want a dog?

He reminds his lover that Dwarves aren’t known for their fertility, but reminds his lover that “they can still try” and winks at his lover. 

Varric is so caught up in the feeling of being loved so freely, that he sometimes forgets that there’s an evil, red-lyrium magister that wants to rip his lover apart piece by piece. It get’s him nervous, but he’s confident in their shared abilities. And damnit, he loves The Inquisitor, he’s not giving up on them.

He’s speechless if his lover comes up to him and confesses that they’re pregnant, like… actually speechless. He opens his mouth to say something before closing it. Then he just smiles and throws his arms around his lover and says that he loves them. He’s happy to be a dad… he’s happy to have a family, he’s happy to have something he never thought would be his.

Vivienne: She doesn’t laugh, at all. She’s kind of pissed.

“You aren’t planning on bringing in a child now? Not here, right?” She has to clarify.

She thinks the Inquisitor and their partner will be wonderful parents, but they shouldn’t have kids right then. They need to wait. 

If the Inquisitor ends up pregnant/getting someone else pregnant, she scolds them fairly harshly, not to be mean or anything, she’s just upset with how “careless” they could be. If the Inquisitor tells her off or, Maker forbid, starts crying, she’ll feel bad. She doesn’t apologize, however, she knows that having a child while the world is still basically in peril and you’re the main person preventing utter chaos is one of the worst things you can do. 

However, the second the child comes into the world, she’s all over them. She isn’t obvious and wouldn’t be caught dead with the kid on her own, but she can’t help but smile when she sees them all swaddled or when they look so chubby she just wants to eat them up. Only when she sees what a wonderful parent the Inquisitor is, she apologizes for being harsh. She does it in her way, so the Inquisitor shouldn’t expect an “I’m sorry” or anything, but they will get some sort of comment on how she may or may not have been wrong to judge them. Regardless, the Inquisitor better take what they can get.

[leiflitter]

The Quotable Catton

Aka: More Felixisms from You're Almost Home!

“Now, Lu, are we going to add Childish Gambino to the little list for the DJ? I know he's Farleigh's pal or whatever, but fucking hell it's awful when all the Alexanders try to rap.”

Chapter 36

“You're not allowed to leave my side tonight, okay? Unless you want to- but you don't want to, right? If you have to piss I’ll cover my eyes, I promise, or I can wait outside the door... And you are so fucking cute with my kids, Oliver, they love you so much and I love you and them and-”

Chapter 38

“Go on, then... This should be our song, Ollie, you do make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world- but that's silly. I want us to have a song, Ollie. Can we have a song? What song was playing when we kissed on the stairs? It can't be I love It, that's Harry's Girl Party song, we can't steal that.”

Chapter 39

“Right. Firstly- we’re going back and fixing things, yeah? So that's another thing to clear off, while we're on a roll. Secondly- fucking hell, Ollie, you can't just hide from your parents forever. What are we going to tell our future dog? You can't see your grandparents on Ollie's side because they don't know that he's into fellas? Which goes into point the third. You can't hide me from them either. Not just because I'm an absolute catch, Olls, but because I refuse to sneak around once we've gotten this whole mess sorted out.” 

Chapter 40

“He's five foot eight, actually."

Chapter 41

“It's been good to have him back. Someone who'll tell me off for being a prick and actually make sure I pay attention- he's a professor for a reason, you know…" [...] "Plus he sucks cock like a bloody professional. So, y'know, I'm probably going to try to move him in once Lu's out of the way.”

Chapter 42

“Oh, calm down, Farls- you can give me a smooch too if you're feeling left out." [...] "Come on, totally platonic- please, Doctor Start, help a fellow out? You aren't scared of Ollie germs, are you?”

Chapter 43

“I, er, voted Green last time.” [...] “What? The lady running for MP popped round and she was lovely. And I like recycling.”

Chapter 44

“What the fuck is a Grindr? Like... an angle grinder?” 

Chapter 45

[umbracirrus]

Friday kiss tag game

I think I'll retcon this to Saturday smooches because I'm posting this on a Saturday though hehe

Rules: post a smooch between your OCs for Friday. It can be as light as a peck or as intense as a makeout. It can be romantic or platonic or familial. As long as a smooch takes place it’s free reign!

Thank you for the tag @throughtrialbyfire! Not going to tag anyone to do this at this point, though if anyone wishes to say that I have feel free!

I've been looking for an excuse to do some more writing for a little oneshot I'm working on where Elyse and Balgruuf slip out to the Bannered Mare one night, and this kind of managed to work it's way into the plot of that! So there will likely be an expanded version of this at some point soon.

The time period has been left ambiguous, so it could be at a point before they end up together or after hehe :3

“You paid for our drinks, the least that I can do is pay for something to eat,” Elyse hummed as she rose from her seat, the wood creaking on the floor as she gave him a quick smile and reached for her coinpurse. “Just give me one minute.”

Balgruuf was about to tell her that it wasn’t necessary in the slightest, that the entire reason that he had invited her out was to thank her for all that she had done and give them both some time to wind down away from Dragonsreach, but it seemed that her mind was set. She did, admittedly, look much happier and cheerful than she had been in a long time as she leaned over the bar and started chatting to Hulda, a sparkle in her eyes that he hadn’t seen since the day that he had learned of her defeating Alduin that had long since been dulled by the ongoing war.

He knew that they had both been facing difficulties from all fronts because of all that was currently going on, but he had been embroiled in politics and Skyrim’s turmoil since he was a lad– she was just one person, thrust into the spotlight of a land she had only heard of second-hand through her parents, having to learn how things worked through being thrown in at the deep end a few years ago. He… almost felt pity for her. The only reason that he didn’t was because she was working and had worked so hard to overcome the barriers before her, and continued to do so. He was proud of her, not sad for her. And he was glad that he could see her and trust her as one of his closest and dearest friends and confidants.

The sound of her voice getting louder in the distance caught his attention and drew his mind from his thoughts, just to catch sight of her now talking to Saadia and Carlotta as she waited for Hulda, who both seemed to look amused at her reaction to something. The corner of his lips turned up at the sight, watching as she batted at Carlotta’s arm with a pout across her face.

A plate which looked as though it bore some sort of dessert was then placed in front of her, and Elyse looked all too happy to quickly pick it up and return to the table in order to get away from them. When she sat down, it was with a loud, exaggerated sigh as she placed the plate down. Now that she had returned, it was clear that she had ordered a crostata, though it didn’t look like the usual ones he would often see served – the fruit filling looked to be a lot more… vibrant than he was used to seeing. “There wasn’t much available, I’m afraid. You don’t mind sharing some of this with me, do you?”

“Not at all, though as you were the one who paid for it, you have your portion first,” he nodded, now folding his arms over and nodding towards the two other women who had now gone off to whatever it was they had been previously doing. “Though dare I ask what was happening there?”

Rolling her eyes as she picked up a knife to cut herself a portion, she shook her head. “They were just teasing me, that’s all. I don’t come here at night as often as I used to, not since I moved to Dragonsreach,” she explained, sounding as though she was omitting some little details.

As she ate a forkful of her dessert, she suddenly froze up beside him, her eyes growing wide in surprise. He worried for a moment that the crostata had been poisoned, especially given how unusual it looked, but felt relief when she went back for more with an elated expression on her face.

After a few moments though, she hummed and got another forkful as she turned to face him. “Here, try some,” she eagerly smiled, holding out the utensil for him, though not actually allowing him to take hold of it… she wanted to feed it to him herself. He would indulge her if it kept her as happy as she had been so far that night. “Tell me what you think of it after.”

And… he could certainly understand why she liked the taste. The fruit was sweet, hardly tart, and paired well with the buttery pastry. It was, however, a taste which he could not pinpoint, it was something unfamiliar. “It is delicious, Elyse, but what is it? I don’t believe that I have tried any fruit which tastes quite like this before, though does somewhat remind me of snowberries…”

“Strawberries, Balgruuf! Don’t tell me that you have never had a strawberry before?” Her mouth was agape with surprise, before a quiet chuckle escaped from her. “Then again, I rarely see strawberries in Skyrim, so perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised… I don’t think that the climate is right for them to grow. They are everywhere in Cyrodiil, and they are by far one of my favourite things to eat. So much so, my father and I planted a bush of them in our garden in Chorrol to grow them, and it was so exciting whenever the first berry would ripen each year.” A fondness crept into her expression as she placed the fork down. “It’s been years since I’ve tasted one… I almost felt obliged to buy the crostata from the second that Hulda mentioned what it was and that it was all she had left. I don't even know how or when she even managed to get hold of some!”

After a few more moments of what he could only presume was her silently reminiscing, she went back to eating her potion of the dessert. At the point that she had eaten half, she placed her fork down and nudged the plate towards him. He quickly caught sight of the fact that there was the slightest bit of berry juice which had spilled from her mouth, and he went to let her know.

“Elyse, you have got a little something-” he whispered, reaching out for her face and taking hold of her cheek with the intention of wiping it away with his thumb. It took him a few moments to actually carry out that action though, as he very quickly got distracted at the way in which she was watching him so closely, and that her lips had parted just slightly through surprise at that simple little gesture. It was a lot more intimate a moment than he had intended, and he had to clear his throat before he continued. “-on your- your face…”

It suddenly felt very warm.

“Is it gone, or is there any more? On my lips, perhaps?” There was a slight teasing tone to her voice as she caught him staring, and he was certain that she had moved closer to him as she asked her question. There was hardly any distance between their seats at that point.

Two could play at that game though.

“Hm… It looks as though there could be. Allow me to help with clearing it off…” He leaned in, and gently pressed their lips together. The taste of the crostata lingered across her skin, the strawberry sweetness mingling with the honeyed mead they had drank earlier. One of her hands reached out for his own, the one which was presently unoccupied and resting upon the table, her skin radiating with warmth.

After a few moments, their lips parted, though their noses were still touching with how close they were to one another. Elyse almost sounded breathless.

It was… The kiss had been everything, in spite of its brevity. Something that he would not mind indulging in more often… if she were of a like mind too.

The sound of a throat being cleared beside the table made them both freeze before quickly parting from one another, and Elyse’s face had very quickly turned redder than the filling of their dessert. Staring down at them both, with irritation across her features, arms folded, and foot tapping on the floor, was Irileth.

“And what, exactly, do the two of you think that you are doing here?”

[bluecoolr]

Best part about dms is I get to make you write Nathan as a character, ooo~

Anyway I'm formally requesting an info dump on Nathan please n thankies because I need him for... ya know. Sin.

Don't wanna be ooc for my silly goofy ideas

For you, Plant? Of course.

(Hope you feel better soon catboy 😚 am platonically smooching you)

Nathan Aaron Todd

Info Dump

Fair warning, there's hardly any structure to this. I literally dumped it all.

From Nathan meaning "God has given"/"gift of God" and Aaron meaning "mountain of strength". In the Bible, Aaron was the brother of Moses and helped make a false god for the people to worship. 👀

Two years younger than Darrell, born on the coldest day of January in the Todd farmhouse

He's very close with Susannah and Darrell. Although, he doesn't like how pushy Sussy (she hates that name) gets.

He and Darrell are inseparable and are each other's best friends.

Growing up, they shared a room. At first, they shared a bed. Most nights they lost sleep over talking about the most mundane things. They would pretend to be asleep when their mother or father came to check on them.

In a house like theirs, you learned to memorize footsteps.

When they got too big to share (Nathan tended to hog the bed and their parents didn't approve of spooning), they were given separate beds. When Darrell went through puberty, he was moved to his own room and his bed was given to Judah.

Nathan hated being separated and hated being saddled with Judah. Judah was too nosy, too loud, and demanding. He sucked up too much to their parents.

He loves the outdoors. Tends to go around barefoot. Has a green thumb.

Granted, he's always a tad bit dirty.

Pastor Todd and his wife had a tendency to spot a child's talent and build their future around it: Nathan's was farmwork.

He was taught how to farm, to raise crops, to tend livestock, hunt, track, trap, and - most importantly - butcher.

Has no qualms about ending a life. Butchering gives him a rush, a high.

He's not squeamish at all about blood. In fact, he likes to have it on his hands; likes to know he's taken the life force of something.

Pretty decent singer. He, Darrell, and Susannah sang together for church. He sings softly while he works.

Would have loved to draw, but found he's better with woodwork. He made silly little toys for himself and other kids. His favorite was a little wooden rifle.

He's the most cheerful out of the Todd children. He's quick with a joke and is very affectionate.

Basically if you put pre-war Tristan from Legends of the Fall, Hareton Earnshaw from Wuthering Heights, and Thomas Hewitt from Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning in a blender, you'd get Nathan.

Charming, overworked, loyal to his family, and ruthless

You know that quote "Suffering can be religious if you do it right."? That's his schtick.

Speaking of kids, he loves them. The town kids see him as the cool older brother they always wanted.

He and Darrell look extremely alike. You'd mistake them for twins if it weren't for the difference in hair and eye color; Nathan's eyes are a cold blue (sometimes described like a shark's) (I suppose they mean that in the emotionless predatory haze sort of way but they could also be saying Nathan looks like he's dumb as bricks.)

I mean if that ain't Nathan after a night of drinking idk what that is.

Would have followed Darrell to the ends of the earth.

Never felt like he was second to him or overshadowed - well until Nex came around.

Man's strong as an ox. His physique betrays him.

Notorious fornicator

Women love him, cattle fear him, the men want him dead.

Darrell never punishes him however. Like I said you can't get away with anything in Zak unless you're Nathan.

Like Darrell he will fuck when the opportunity arises.

Might have caught feelings for a certain someone ehem ehem

I want to make more content of him, he's just ridiculously interesting.

I can't think of anything else rn but that's what I got for this country fool. Give me follow up questions and I'd gladly oblige 😌😌

[nellie-elizabeth]

Grey's Anatomy: Let's Talk About Sex (19x03)

Grey's likes doing its special episodes, and honestly even when they're heavy-handed I still think they're kind of interesting and often quite effective. Let's dive in!

Cons:

I am... extremely torn about Zola being super gifted. It feels like the more interesting conflict for Meredith's personal life would be if Zola was struggling with a learning disability, falling behind in school, and Meredith could have the chance to be the kind of mother she never had, and encourage and nourish her daughter even if she's not going to be "extraordinary" by normal societal definitions. I'm willing to see where this goes, but it feels a little silly to me. Especially as a convenient follow-up to Zola having panic attacks. Turns out they're happening because Zola is a super genius. Okay then. (Also, this plot thread includes Nick, the most Boring Character Ever to Live, so I'm automatically a little biased against it.)

I'm going to have a lot of nice things to say about the main plot with the sex education thing, but I do want to note a few elements I didn't 100% love... for one, the dancing video at the end, and the cheesy thing where Bailey talks about needing to speak the kids' language... I can see how that seemed like a good idea in the writing of the script, and I liked the goofy energy of the dancing, but I wish we had had a moment of self-awareness that trying to plan something to go viral isn't actually how any of this works. Maybe something about Bailey's idea will charm the youths and a TikTok trend will pop off. Or maybe it will be mocked mercilessly. Or maybe it'll fizzle and die entirely. I don't think you can actually predict these things.

Another element that I wish had been explored with a big more nuance... Meredith's voiceover is about how sex can be healing, sex can be medicine. But that there are different benefits, and that sometimes sex without the proper intimacy and connection doesn't work the same way. I wish this idea had been pushed one step further, talking about the fact that non-sexual intimacy can also be therapeutic in various ways. I wish that Link giving Jo a foot-rub hadn't turned into an erogenous zone thing. For several reasons: I don't like the Link/Jo romance potential, but also in general I wish we could have included a purely platonic intimacy example within the sex montage at the end of the episode.

Also, cannot state this enough: Nick is boring and when he and Meredith were smooching I was literally yawning.

Pros:

Overall, I really liked the new baby residents teaching sex ed to high schoolers. This plot thread was honestly charming and funny and gave us more time with the new characters. I like the way the residents taught the high schoolers about sexual pleasure but also kept the safe sex thing front of mind, suggesting masturbation as a good way to avoid getting pregnant, warning against the pull-out method as being effective. We also got to spend some time with Addison, which is always a lovely treat! We have one young girl who discovers that she's pregnant and decides on a medical abortion. Another girl who has a cyst that is causing her extreme abdominal distress. Issues of health that Grey's would like you to know should remain personal between a patient and their physician, thank you very much!

I liked the way Addison spoke about feeling invisible, and afraid, and angry, about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the way she sees the impact every day in her work. It's important to keep this in mind. It's a societal evil, what is happening in this country right now. It affects everyone, even people who have never been and will never be pregnant.

As a small note I appreciated that the residents used inclusive language, talking about women, or just any person with a vagina. It's a small thing but normalizing it is so important.

Teddy and Owen get a token mention in the "pros" section this week because at least hopefully now that they've had sex to release some tension, they can stop being so gosh dang annoying on my screen every week. Get a grip, you two.

Also featured in the sex montage you've got Amelia and Kai, Kai having turned up as a surprise to see Amelia! I loved seeing their happy reunion, although I am wondering if we're going to pick back up on that drama about Kai not ever wanting kids, and Amelia's identity as a mother. We also see a couple of our newbies, Blue and Jules, hooking up. This could be a fun energy to keep our eyes on.

Probably the most moving part of the episode comes from Simone and Lucas. Simone's grandmother, who has severe dementia, comes wondering into the hospital looking for her daughter, who she believes is about to give birth. Simone tries to remind her grandmother that her daughter is dead, but that only upsets the poor woman. Meredith intervenes and tells Simone that the most humane thing to do is to live in her grandmother's reality with her, something Simone isn't sure she can do. This experience really bonds Simone and Lucas, who both know each other's secrets now. Just as Lucas knows about Simone's rough home situation, Simone knows that Lucas is a secret Shepherd.

Finally, we've got Bailey coming back to work! She wants to take a different approach this time, not taking her chief job back but instead blending attending tasks with teaching. I'm excited she's returning, and hopefully she can finally achieve some of that ideal work-life balance she so deserves.

So that's that. I had fun with this episode, I loved the energy of the sex ed stuff, and I'm still feeling really excited about the potential of these new characters!

8/10

[104thsquadfam]

✵ -- Levi, Jean, Erwin, and Mike (😉)

Send ✵ and my muse will answer the following

-Undercut because LONG, you have been warned.

Their first impression of your muse:

"What did I think of Kayce when I first met him? The same thing I think of when I see any new person, nothing. I couldn't careless what he did or how he did it, I just sat back and watched for awhile."

Current impression:   

" He's a man I consider a brother...so what do you think my current impression of him is now?"

Are they attracted to your muse?:  

".....no. I just finished saying how I think of him as a brother and you ask that? What the hell do you take me for?"

Something they find frightening about your muse:

" His willingness to throw himself into danger without any regard for his own safety is what frightens me the most....the bastard is gonna get himself killed one of these days if he isn't careful."

Something they find adorable about your muse:  

" Thats none of your business. But I'd say the way he pouts sometimes when things don't go his way is adorable....that's all you get out of me."

Would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  

" Yes. Without a doubt I would do what I can to ensure Kayce's survival"

Would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  

" Would I spend time with Kayce? Yes. Would I go out on a date with him? No."

One word my muse would use to describe yours:  

"Stubborn."

Would my muse slap yours if they could?: 

" Believe me if Kayce does require a good slap I will be sure to give it to him...so far he hasn't needed one."

Would my muse hug/kiss yours?:

" If he really needs it sure, I can give him a hug."

Their first impression of your muse:

" My first impression of Kayce? I thought he was a nice enough guy, seemed like he really cared about those around him and wasn't to overbearing."

Current impression: 

" My impression of him is still the same, except sprinkle in a little bit of goofy attitude in there now that I got to know him a bit better."  

Are they attracted to your muse?:  

" Kayce is a good looking guy but no, I'm not attracted to him."

Something they find frightening about your muse:

" Kayce isn't one to blow up over just anything....but when he does get mad boy can he get scary."

Something they find adorable about your muse:  

" Mmm, I don't really know what to say...adorable is for like...animals, kids and babies....I don't think I've ever really found another guy past my age 'adorable'. Unless you're Eren and you're adorably stupid."

Would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  

" Of course I would, we're like brothers! Thats a stupid question, who just leaves their brother to die? If I can save him by sacrificing myself I will."

Would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  

" I mean sure we can go on a night out, go drinking and just spend time with one another. Catch up with each other and share our side of the story from an expedition with one another."

One word my muse would use to describe yours:  

" Reliable, you can always count on Kayce to have your back on the field."

Would my muse slap yours if they could?: 

" I mean...it's not like I want to but if it's for a good reason yeah...yeah I'll slap him."

Would my muse hug/kiss yours?:

" Hug, I'll give Kayce a hug anytime...not sure you'll find me smooching on him though so get your mind out of the gutter I told you he's like a brother to me and he's older than me."

Their first impression of your muse:

" My first impression of him? Well...the first time I met he seemed like a hard working soldier, someone you could rely on. The boy got the job done and that's all that mattered."

Current impression:   

" When I last spoke to Kayce he approached me privately in my office and showed me an old journal belonging to his mother, at first I believed it to simply be something correlating to the titans....however when he spoke he claimed to be my son. I read his mothers journal and listened to him...however I am ashamed to say that I have no recollection of ever meeting his mother nor have I ever been aware that he was my son. I am unsure what to say to him...."

Are they attracted to your muse?:  

" Attracted? No I can't say I have any sexual or romantic feelings towards him, it would be a bit strange considering he could be my son....aside from that I do not have the time to simply mingle with others. Is he a strapping young man who will eventually find someone for himself? I am certain he will I've no doubt of that."

Something they find frightening about your muse:

" Like Levi and Mike he is very capable of handling himself on the fields, one could say he is humanities third strongest. But that remains to be seen."

Something they find adorable about your muse:  

" Adorable? Hm....Well...that is difficult to say, many of my scouts are quite adorable. I suppose if I had to pick something I would choose how close he is with Levi and Jean, it's nice to see them get along so well...considering it's not so simple to get on Levi's more pleasant side."

Would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  

" Yes, I would not hesitate to give my life to protect my scouts and that includes Kayce."

Would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  

" No. But perhaps we can share a few drinks."

One word my muse would use to describe yours:  

"Mysterious."

Would my muse slap yours if they could?: 

"....I would never lay my hands on my own scouts in such a manner."

Would my muse hug/kiss yours?:

" I don't think he'd want a hug from me given I have not been in his life when he needed me. However if there is no one around, and if he is alright with it I will gladly embrace him and comfort him where I can."

Their first impression of your muse:

" He smelled fine and did his job with little to no complaints."

Current impression:   

" He smells fine, he does his job and is very capable of getting things done reliably....he hangs around that cadet Jean and Levi....something about being oath brothers I don't get it but I don't judge."

Are they attracted to your muse?:  

"Hm...not really your business is it?"

Something they find frightening about your muse:

" He doesn't really scare me, what? Should I be? He hasn't really given me a reason to be scared of him."

Something they find adorable about your muse:  

" What do I find adorable....about Kayce? That's for me to know and for you to never find out. Real shame you can't read my mind I'm sure you're dying to know what it is."

Would my muse sacrifice themselves for yours?:  

" Of course, I'd sacrifice myself for any of my comrades only picking one is a bit of a prick move. What do you take me for? An MP?"

Would my muse go on a date with yours?  platonic/romantic:  

" Sure, I'll go on a date with Kayce why not. I'm very open minded."

One word my muse would use to describe yours:  

" Interesting....he's a very interesting guy."

Would my muse slap yours if they could?: 

" Sure, if the situation called for it I would slap them. Course I'm not gonna slap the guy if he just insults me, I don't really care about insults they rub off me."

Would my muse hug/kiss yours?:

"Maybe, maybe not. It all depends. You're awfully nosy about who I like and who I kiss...hmmm, jealous?"

[soupbabe]

Stardust Crusaders w a Chubby s/o!

Gender neutral reader babey!! Also added Iggy (platonic) to replace Old Joseph because the most I got was sugar daddy Joseph. He has that Speedwagon Foundation money, that's it.

Also this really do be showing who my favorites are out of them skdndkkd

~ Jotaro Kujo ~

He doesn't care what you look like, but that doesn't stop him from checking you out occasionally. You look different compared to a lot of students he's seen at his school and he highkey low-key likes what he's seeing

Looks just aren't that important to Jotaro in my opinion, he knows what it feels like to be given unwanted attention or people only wanting him just for his looks and nothing else. Why would he act the same way to you?

That being said, if you are in a relationship with him he's surprisingly sweet.

When y'all are alone he likes to give you little complements while you're cuddled up beside him or on top of him, playing with his hair.

Not the biggest on pda because he knows that the rest of the group *cough cough* Joseph and Polnareff *cough cough* would tease him to hell and back, but sometimes Star Platinum would be sneaky and give you surprise hugs from the back while he rubs his cheek against your chubby ones

It never fails to make you let out a little chuckle and you kiss him on the cheek to show appreciation to both Joot and Star <3

I fully believe that his favorite part of your body are your big arms. Like they're so soft omg and when the group can rest for a bit he likes to rest his head on them and silently enjoy how soft they are

You like to tease him about how soft he can be and you'll get one out of three reactions: Him pulling his hat down to hide a flustered Jotaro, a playful (but still scaring looking) glare, or a flick to the forehead

~ Noriaki Kakyoin ~

I feel like he wouldn't be too shy about his attraction to you, complimenting you at random times but it wouldn't be overbearing. It's mostly just to see how cute your face looks when your face heats up and you try to quicky push away the flustered feelings

How couldn't he not find you attractive? I like to think that he's a huge art nerd and your figure reminds him of those people in paintings who radiated beauty and gracefulness

Uh yea doesn't matter if you literally go feral in fighting, that's all that comes to his mind when he sees you sjsnsjsk

Somewhat shy when it comes to pda, but he is touched starved so he'll always link his slim fingers with your soft and chubby ones while you guys travel

Loves to lay his head on your fluffy stomach, twirl his lil hair noodle and he'll fall asleep within 5 minutes

This is a very good thing to exploit when he's up late playing on his Game Boy that sneaked in while preparing for the trip to Egypt

Just fuckin uh y a n k him into cuddle time and he'd probably won't complain too much. You're warm and it's very nice.

His favorite body part is your thick thighs, he likes to lay between them while he plays his game. You're his favorite gaming chair technically.

Eh don't worry though he gives lil celebratory kisses to them everytime he wins a game

~ Jean-Pierre Polnareff ~

Absolutely adores plus sized bodies! There's more to love and hold onto, you know?

Your biggest supporter, supplier of confidence, and the booster of your ego

"Oh Mon cheri/Ma Cherie! You look so amazing in those new clothes! Your curves look wonderful as always!~"

He's beefy as all hell and he will lift you up. Literally doesn't matter how heavy you think you are you are getting treated like royalty

Squeezes your soft frame like a teddy bear sometimes.

Enjoys pda, but like it's mostly having his arm around your squishy waist and if you aren't comfortable with it he'll respect it 1000%!

Will absolutely show you off to anyone and everyone! He almost got decked by Star once for annoying Jotaro because he kept going on and on about you and you just laughed at it

Enjoys having you lay on top of him, ngl it's like his own weighted blanket and you get to be able to bury your face in his big bara tiddies

He likes to touch you a lot and enjoys holding you close at night. I just think it's because he wants to double check to see if you're actually real. He's lost a lot of loved ones and has been learning to cherish them more before they're gone and having you here with him and staying for as long as you have makes him fear that he'll lose you for a tiny bit so he takes any opportunity to get to be with you.

I think he'd just admire your stretch marks! It makes you unique and he loves the way you laugh when he places lil smooches all over them

~ Muhammad Avdol~

Absolute sweetheart the love I have for this man is immeasurable ajdjsksjsn he's so gentle with you it doesn't matter how you look he would love you regardless your size

He seems like a man who is proud of his knowledge and appreciation of other cultures, his favorite thing is to feed you his favorite foods, watching your eyes light up while he tells you interesting facts about how they make it and where it comes from

Really not one to go wild on pda, hand holding or draping an arm around you around you to keep you close is what he's comfortable with

He seems like he'd know how to bake omg he'd absolutely lose it if you baked with him because he can just sneak up behind you, wrap his arms around your tummy, while just acting like the close proximity between your faces isn't making your face show visible signs of your mind going 'y/n.exe has stopped working'

His robe is absolutely huge on you and it's your favorite blanket when the group has to sleep in the desert.

I can imagine it smelling so nice like what comes to mind is white sage?? Anyways, his coat is definitely a comfort item you wear on those days where you do feel a bit insecure. It's big, soft, and smells like the man that brings you the most comfort.

His chickens adore you so much!! Literally they would have to or else Muhammad would not be in a relationship with you lmao, he believes they have good judgement and they're like his kids.

They love to be by your side and they love to be in your lap, you're just so soft it's like heaven to them

Yea his favorite body part is your plush tummy! He just finds it cute and it's his favorite thing to either rest his head on or grab onto while cuddling! If you wear a crop top (or shirtless if you're a masc person and crop tops aren't your thing :) ) and his face just burns up omg you're so handsome/beautiful how did he ever get so lucky

~Iggy (Platonic. Of course.)~

(IM SO SORRY BUT I'M LAUGHING AT THIS PICTURE SO MUCHS SKSHSKNSKSKS)

You're his owner, the only one who can pet and dote on him like the little feral baby he is <3

He lets you take a piece of his coffee gum and occasionally steals treats for the both of you to share sometimes

Although the majority of it goes to Iggy because it's all covered in dog drool

When it's car ride time he loves to lay in your lap or sometimes he forces has you carry him around because he enjoys being able to relax in your big arms

If people start staring at you inappropriately, including any of the Crusaders, expect them to get barked and growled at

If anyone decides to make rude comments surrounding your weight, enemy or not, they're getting their hair ripped out and their left shoe shit in <3

You make sure to buy him extra gum and call him a good boy

He's like your furry little bodyguard, if anyone does or talks some shit, they're going to get hit

[becausethathappens]

Will you please write a super angsty fic where Link is freaking out because he thinks the wedding vows he has written aren't good enough and Rhett helps him go over them and make corrections and says they're perfect but also, just says the vows he would say for Link if it was them like it should've been because he's heartbroken and Link can tell but their hands are tied and they don't know what to do so they soldier on without saying a word, but wordlessly communicating lifelong love and misery and everything, maybe comfort as well?

i'm really really sad and i can't shake it off and i really want some good angst and hurt/comfort and i really love you, maura, you're awesome

I don't do unhappy endings, anon. I'm confident you don't either. In fiction or otherwise. So, pardon this if it’s not what you expected.

Please enjoy? This was done a little hastily to share it with you (and I should be writing other things per usual) but I've had a rough week and I want to hopefully make someone smile. (I have way angstier stuff in the drafts and I will be sure to get those out eventually, too.) You’ll feel better soon.  🤞  Thank you! 💞

-———————-

now or forever

4k - Rhett writes Link vows.

If you were my boy, Blue

I’d bathe you in honeys (sp?)

I’d sing write you a love song

I’d shoot you a star**

If you were my boy, Blue

There ain’t nothing in this life I wouldn’t give

From my heart, to my toes, to my fingers, my nose (**)

Whatever it takes just to watch you live 

continue to ‘ ’ grow with you like a vine ‘round a rose 

If you were my boy, Bue

I wouldn’t want you all for myself

There’s no star bright enough to match your lightin’

In sickness, blue, so certainly while we have health

Hand in hand, no longer fightin’

What’s destiny (**)

You and & me

If you were my boy, Blue

I'd marry you

&

Thank God for Rhett. Giving him, delivering him, blessing him with Rhett.

Link is in the middle of a spiral (what he’ll later recognize as a panic attack) when Rhett arrives, the eve of his wedding. Bailing him out of this with pen, paper, and a smile.

Link has always been good at improv.

Though Rhett tended to find the words to start. These were his own vows and Link has been putting time to sit and start them off for weeks. Now that he has to, he’s dumbfounded, despite being deeply in love.

Amidst all the planning and chaos, writing his vows was such a given that Link left it as priority sixty-seven on a list of many more.

Unfortunately, even as busy as they’ve been, that list was shredded with the “who gifted what” tracking sheet (both literally, accidentally, and figuratively) back around the bridal shower and it’s been anarchy ever since.

So he thanks God for Rhett, who’s here, to stop another needless disaster from happening.

That same generous God, however, watches him plagued with thoughts of utter devotion at Rhett’s willingness to drop everything on a weeknight and rush over to help Link find his words.

His lyrics, really, is what Link has in mind. Since they used to write songs together and this felt much the same. He’s been floundering all night and now that Rhett’s here, he knows he’ll at least get what he needs done. Even if it’s not all he wants, right now.

That same God seeks judgment on his every decision or flinch against His will, for any reason, to spite him.

For this reason.

He wants to smush Rhett’s face and kiss him. Deeply. He doesn’t.

Even if there were sometime in the past that he could get away with a platonic smooch, now he can’t. He simply could not prevent that from escalating.

So, he merely tightens his grip on the wrinkled scrap paper in his hand and scrunches his eyes.

“Why can’t it be you up there…” Link bemoans, loudly, in his frustration.

Rhett’s eyes widen, in horror, and Link slams his other hand at his mouth, rolling his eyes. “Not like - I mean - why can’t you go say my lines for me. You’re so much better at this kinda thing.”

“Let me read what you’ve got,” Rhett says.

After some review, Rhett sighs, not unkindly and sits down next to Link. “Let’s just talk through what you’re trying to say because, yeah, this reads like liturgy.”

“Ain’t is supposed to? It’s in a chapel!”

“What do you like about her?” Rhett asks, ignoring his nitpicking. “Christy?” Rhett stares at him, waiting, too upset for Link to chastise but clearly wanting to.

“She’s patient,” Link says, reminded by the similar. Rhett folds over the book to an open page and clicks the pen in his hand, writing that down. “A-And she’s kind. Like considerate, ‘specially with babies and little animals. Sh-She does this thing where she immediately drops to their eye-level to make sure they don’t feel unheard or seen. Probably ‘cause she’s always been so tall…”

Rhett’s still writing.

“Then when I’m sick, she forces me to rest. You know I hate that,” Link says, voice rising a little, at the memory. “But you know I need that. You won’t be the last to make me stop and smell the roses or take a break, once in a while.”

“Her hair, write, her hair - the way it looks in the sunshine. Like warm caramel with flecks of gold. She’s a vision, an angel. Especially when she’s wearing all white, like,” Link says, pausing to point to Rhett’s undershirt and pale grey sweats. “Makes blondes look ethereal-like, always has.”

“Oh, and her voice. Sometimes, the way her accent catches, well, you know she don’t like to sing like us, never has, but when she says certain things, asks a question the right way - it’s music. The way it harmonizes with my answer, reminds me of singing, reminds me of us.”

Rhett keeps writing, quiet, and focused.

After a short time, Link can’t stop and wants to crane over to see what he’s come up with. Rhett hands it over after crossing a final “t” somewhere on the page.

“Those’re good, Link, but I think you need to keep closer to what I wrote, leave out the stuff about me.”

“Stuff about you?” Link asks, having spoken in a stream-of-conscious style, Link forgets most of what he even said

Rhett looks away, shakes his head.

Distracted by the desire to read the rest, Link abandons the lingering questions he has about Rhett’s suggestion and response.

“These are great, man, thanks,” Links says, pushing a soft hand into Rhett’s side.

His eyes scan to the bottom where Rhett’s added a few lines about the journey, the marriage, all the ceremonial aspects of the day for him to close with, but then something more.

Something about him.

Rhett catches him catch it and looks further away. “I know Christy pretty well, too, y’know. Y’all are just alike, in that way. She might need some back-up vows, to have and hold.”

Link reads them.

“You know, just in case.”

Link looks up and tries to laugh.

He doesn’t laugh.

He goes back to reading them.

Rhett shifts uncomfortably, touches the back of his neck, and shuts his eyes.

“Rhett, these ’re…”

“I know, bo, you can forget ‘em,” Rhett excuses, still not meeting Link’s gaze. “You want me to… I can rewrite the others on a different - I can turn the page and write ‘em there so you can just…”

“Hey, hey,” Link interrupts him, mad at Rhett putting down his best friend, and eager to explain his actual thoughts. “Rhett, these are perfect. These are… I’m sad I can’t say anything as nice in return to you.”

Rhett finally looks up to acknowledge that and their gaze heats and lingers.

“Not that I…” Link stutters to clarify. “Y-You’d have to be a - if that’s something that was gonna - you know - if that was gonna work…”

His mind does it’s usual jump to a visual for the worst case scenario depicting the implication he stumbled across. Him out eight grand on the wedding. Not to mention a wife, a family, a future, a faith -

a friend -

Link gulps, pushing that back away, pushing them both forward, in his estimation.

It’s too much to bear to think about for another second. When he glances at Rhett, he can’t get a read on his face what he thinks about it, and that’s scary enough for him to want to abandon the concept altogether.

“Christy’s gonna love them.”

It’s enough, saying his fiancée's name, to ground him again. Enough to make it okay for him to grab Rhett’s palm and squeeze it in thanks, between them.

Rhett’s made his choice to give up on film school.

Link’s made his choice to give up on whatever schoolboy obsession he has with monopolizing all of Rhett’s days and nights. 

He’ll stick to the days or every other weekend, however they can still fit time together, is fine by him. This ceremony, tomorrow, feels as much about his graduation from friend to husband, and all that that entails.

They’re adults.

They both know there’s a lot of sacrifices to be made and this feels like the first time he’s really acknowledging how hard they’re going to be to make. He hopes they’ll still see each other.

He hopes their kids will get along.

He has a lot of hopes.

All of them involve Rhett.

There’s a lot he should write down for when Rhett finds his own bride to wed.

Link notices, suddenly, that Rhett is crying. The same part of him that's nearly broken the headwind of these conflicting emotions turns back to comfort him.

“Hey, don’t cry,” Link soothes, realizing he’s also still holding Rhett’s hand.

“‘M sorry,” Rhett intones, the words bubble up and out of him simultaneously, sounding like water draining in a filled sink. “And the night before your wedding, good Heavens.”

“Hey, I’ve been crying all week,” Link says, waving a hand at the stress that planning a wedding has kept put on him. “Nothing I haven’t seen in the mirror.”

Rhett laughs, rubbing a thumb over his own thigh in a way that brushes upwards against the place Link’s clasping his hand. Link nearly pulls his hand back, thinking Rhett’s trying to get him to sense his want for space, but when he meets his eye it’s clear he’d like nothing less.

“I think I’m just -” Rhett starts to say, trailing off. The light from the lamp on the far coffee table is the only thing on in the room. Link drops his gaze a few inches to try and see more of Rhett’s downturned eyes as he hems and haws. He squeezes their hands together, again, this time clasping it more firmly, still pressing Rhett’s large palm down from above. “I think I’m just a li’l jealous, is all.”

It’s the quietest admission he’s heard from Rhett since he told him he failed their chemistry mid-term in eleventh grade.

Link is also so lost at the innocence of the admission that he can only think of follow-up questions. “Of me?”

Rhett looks at him for a long, long minute and finally, when Link’s gaze remains confused for the whole length of the pause, he shakes his head, no.

Then he waits. 

He waits for Link to realize what he means.

But he’s still waiting when Link, oblivious, moves onward trying to comfort Rhett, instead of understanding him fully.

The tension in the room is palpable as Link talks, but only to Rhett, it seems. Only Rhett pictures air bags being deployed in a car safety video as metal hits cinder block. Only Rhett moves his hand, though it’s all it takes to dislodge them from each other completely.

“I know you’re gonna make an amazing husband some day.” Link is saying.

Rhett’s hand aches where cool air now surrounds it.

“I know your wife is gonna get to hear you say such wonderful things about her.”

Rhett wipes his hand of the misunderstanding on the cotton of his pants.

“I know she’s gonna say the same kind of things about you, when it’s your turn up there.”

Rhett mourns the idea that this would ever be requited.

“I know she’s gonna love you, just as much as I do, so she’ll have plenty to say.”

Rhett looks away, wiping the last of his tears from his eyes. 

 “I’ll make sure she has plenty of ideas where to start.”

Rhett pats Link’s leg, in camaraderie, and nods.

And that’s it. They shoot the shit, they make a plan to meet up at a donut place for the groomsmen’s breakfast to thank them for their help, before the ceremony, and they’ll talk things through if Link’s feeling jittery still. Then Rhett’s gone.

It’s not until the next day at eleven on the dot (everyone has an agenda to follow and every moment is accounted for) that Link understands Rhett’s pain.

His mother straightens his tie and flattens the edges of his suit. “You’ll wanna know I heard Christy looks like an angel in her dress, from the girls upstairs.”

“Those actual angels you been talkin’ to, Sue?” Rhett jokes, where he’s twisting his cummerbund around every so often, bored.

“Very funny, honey,” Sue ribs back. “From the cousins, Beth and Hailee Sue. Remember they’re friends with the hairstylist you got to do the curls for Christy’s hair, today? She was over last night getting Christy ready for bed with how to wash and dry it a special kind of way. They were there, too.”

Link starts to tune her out, since there’s a lot on his mind, but then she says more.

“She says the hairstylist was talking about how jealous she was of Christy, all night, getting to marry you,” Sue relays.

“Oh, mama, please,” Link dismisses. The compliments he’s been getting have felt faker than the toupee on his uncle Bruce. That girl has never even met him. “I’m the only person here people should be jealous of, who would be jealous of Christy,” he says, trailing off, muttering his reasoning as he did. “Marrying a trainwreck like me.”

Link looks up in the mirror where some of his friends continue to mingle in various states of undress. Rhett is already dressed, however, and staring straight at Link like he’s been caught with a hand in a cookie jar.

Link’s about to ask what’s wrong when he remembers his words. Then looks again over the planes of Rhett’s face.

Last night’s words slam back into his mind and Link’s mouth drops open.

The church organ belts out an opening flurry of notes before Canon in D begins playing loudly through the sound system built into the rafters above them. Link looks up to see one of the church staff at the door instructing them to join the bridal party to line-up.

Link’s mom dashes off to where she’s paired with her nephew, Link’s favorite cousin, to be escorted down the aisle.

Rhett sees Link’s face rushing through a wash of emotions from a distance, he nods to the staffer in silent understanding that he’ll handle it, and then they’re alone.

He walks up to Link and takes his hand. He squeezes it.

“Hey, you gotta go. We gotta go. It’s showtime,” Rhett insists.

Link looks around like a bomb went off, since in some ways it did, and he doesn’t know what to do.

Rhett seems to pick up on that. He squeezes Link’s hand again.

“I’ll get over it, Link, it’s okay,” Rhett whispers, on the verge of desperation.

That confirmation is enough to fully shatter Link.

Only for a moment. 

The music continues and Rhett keeps his hand hold.

They are adults. They are in love. They have to marry. 

None of these things can be helped.

“I’m gonna be so jealous of Her, too,” Link whispers back. He squeezes Rhett’s hand one last time, as they part.

They leave.

They walk straight.

They part again.

Until later.

They move houses and cities and states.

They move mountains, inside and out.

They move together.

Much later.

They join again.

They run crooked.

They return.

To one another.

Link has spent years worrying a ring that means too much to too few people.

In the beginning, when he cries himself to sleep at what he thinks has been the mistake of a lifetime, it’s His talisman. It reminds him of the expectations upon this life he’s made.

As the years pass, however, the adherence to the bogeymen of their childhood’s rules wears thin. It starts to strictly represent love and patience.

Sacrifice.

It begins to feel like a burden. A representation of what’s been lost, not what’s been found.

He contemplates taking it off, but believes that to be a betrayal of all that it stands for to the people he stands for. 

Then, one day, (surely mid-spin) he hears Rhett tell a story about wanting to change his ring.

He watches the silver twirl as Rhett explains.

He believes he was rushed into a certain type of marriage and a certain type of life by a certain type of person.

It’s a life that he’s grown to love but the ring represents a union forced by custom and not one that’s grown through devotion. 

His ring reminds him of that too often to be good for him.

Link twists his again at the admission.

So, Rhett’s thinking about replacing the ring.

Link returns home that night in a stupor. He’s sure he said one too many things to Rhett to emphasize how wild it felt to hear him talk about changing rings.

Any memories of that day, their wedding, bring up a rush of emotions that he’s never been good at sorting through.

Today’s admission makes him feel the same spur to make use of idle, betrothed hands he feels when he cleans the fridge.

He wants to clean the slate.

He finds an old DVD copy of their wedding ceremony that he paid to have converted from miniDV some years ago. Now he struggles to find a place to watch that DVD. How quickly time has flown by.

Eventually, he ends up in his son’s room - no one’s home for the remainder of the night but he and Christy - now, he’s sitting on a bean bag, squinting at the game console’s controller trying to get the joysticks to move to “play” on screen.

The ceremony bursts to life and, like it was yesterday, Link’s nerves fizzle awake.

About halfway through the video, Christy finds him like that and sits down next to him in a thwump absorbed mostly by the stuffing of the chair.

They watch themselves smile happily at each other and Christy takes his hand.

“Should I be happy or scared to find you alone watching this on a Saturday night?” she asks, wryly, squeezing his palm.

Link doesn’t know what to say. He’s caught up in Rhett’s bygone script being spoken on screen. Words about Christy and about Link that were not their own, declared loudly in front of the congregation.

“I don’t know,” Link admits, shrugging. He doesn’t. He squeezes her hand back.

“You wanna tell me what’s eating you?”

Link hesitates, but relents. He wants that clean slate, after all. “Rhett’s getting his wedding ring replaced.”

“Replaced?” Christy asks, balking.

“Replaced, yeah,” Link responds, sure he didn’t misspeak.

“With what?” she asks.

“Oh, some new one. Fancy thing, very cool, made of trees or something. Honestly he wears the other one, the slick black one more than his wedding band half the time. He says it feels like the old one? It’s the kind of ring you get in a bauble at a vending machine crank. So, he wants a new one.”

“Jeesh,” Christy says, making a face at the screen. The camera catches Rhett stealing glances at the couple, then at the crowd, beaming at all with unbridled pride.

“Wouldn’t you be mad if I did that?” Link inquires, still baffled at the idea.

“Well, no, but don’t you love your ring? Heirloom and all that,” she says.

Link cringes. “Yeah, yeah. Honestly, I do.”

“So?”

“So, I still kind of want to and I’m not sure what that means.”

They watch the screen together.

“Do you wanna stay married?” she asks, in a small voice.

“Yes,” he breathes out.

There’s a long pause.

“To me?” she asks, her voice even smaller.

“Yes,” he breathes in.

She squeezes his hand, her confidence built back up. She begs him to join her.

“And him?” Christy whispers.

They both look the screen, the lens centered on the two of them, but their gaze is mutually torn to where Rhett stands wiping a tear from his eye at Christy reciting the last of the vows that he wrote her. Wrote him. Wrote them both.

She squeezes his hand again.

“Yes,” he breathes out.

She leans her head on his shoulder.

“You should probably get another ring, then,” she jests. “We shouldn’t have to share everything.”

The slate is clean.

There’s a lot he wants to say to Rhett about it, but just as before, he’s relied on Rhett to give him the right words to say. So, instead of words, he starts wearing Rhett’s ring.

Then, a new one, when he realizes he can match him separate from the other, all told. Have something of Rhett’s, all to himself.

In his unspoken push towards something more, their hands now match along with their steps, as they walk forward.

On the last week in July, they get ice cream at the fifth place that month to mistake them for husbands, but the first one he hears Link crow an affirmative in response.

Rhett waits for him while he triple-tips the cashier (for the guess) and pays for their cones.

“Bad joke,” Rhett says, softly, but firm.

“Who’s kidding?” Link parries back, a smirk dancing it’s way across his lips.

Rhett watches him with a wistful look of disbelief.

“Link, we’re married,” Rhett warns him.

Link shrugs. “I know. I’m just waiting for you to figure that out and minding my ice cream here, all right?”

He’s got a mouthful of vanilla bean and extra cookie crumble, the next second, so his vow ends there.

Later, at home, Rhett startles Jessie awake when he fully realizes Link’s words.

He shakes her awake. He shakes them both awake.

“I’m in love with Link,” he says, like it’s a confession.

She kisses him because so is she. So are most people.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

Rhett repeats himself.

So does she.

They stare at each other under the cover of silk and moonlight.

“We’re married,” Rhett whispers, touching his hand to hers. Their rings clink, new and shiny.

“Yeah, and so are we,” she whispers back.

They fall asleep smiling.

The next day, Rhett sneaks up behind Link while he’s working and causes him to spill his cup of coffee. He gets the stink eye for only a minute because it’s the same length of time he can stand Link’s grumpy mug before he has to swoop down and kiss him on the lips.

“You figured it out,” Link says, grinning.

“I did,” Rhett chirps as he kisses Link more.

They take a car to their house. It’s filled with their love and the history of it; before, during, and after.

“What’s this?” Link asks, dazed in their post-sex glow, naked and alive.

He spots an old chord book of theirs from last time they wrote music.

“Oh,” Rhett says, bashful. “I came looking for you here this morning, hoping you slept over again, but, uh,” Rhett stalls, looks away and tries to take the songbook from Link’s hand. Link pulls it far enough he can’t reach. “You were already at the job.”

“And?” Link asks, using his spry, sinewy body as an advantage to slink away from the bed out of Rhett’s grip. He still has the book in hand.

“Those are your vows,” Rhett explains.

Link looks down and squints, confused. These aren’t the vows that Christy read at their wedding. He’s seen that video only a few months back and is sure of it.

“Our vows,” Rhett whispers, explaining further, at Link’s puzzled look.

“It’s a love song,” Link notes, marveling at the gesture. What it means to a young version of himself that once felt like they had surely cut out and mourned the possibility of this - all of this - ever happening. To have that thought coexist with the image of a nude, hulking tree trunk of a husband laid before him smiling up adoringly felt panoptic.

“So are you.”

Link begins to cry.

“Play it for me.”

Rhett wipes his cheek.

“Get my guitar.”

They sing twice more that night, always in harmony (not always in lyric), then spend the rest of their lives together doing much the same.

[swiss-cheeze]

Coming out about your relationship || Queen + Boh Rhap

———————————————————

QUEEN

———————————————————

Brian:

“Brian Brian!” an interviewer shouted to the man, Queen were in their press tour for The Works and you happened to tag along. Going under the radar wasn't easy but you have done good so far as to not bring too much attention to yourself.

“Yes?” Brian asked as he sat forward in his seat and looked to the interviewer; his arms pressed against the table in front of him as Roger blew out some smoke from his cigarette next to Brian.

“Do you have a girlfriend? A wife perhaps? We haven't heard anything about your relationships since you broke up with Chrissie.” the interviewer asked, flashes of cameras went off as Brian blushed and chuckled softly. You sat next to Brian, you both had talked about whether or not you wanted to come out about you relationship and had both agreed it would be a good idea seeing as you were finally engaged to each other, Brian smiled to you as he took your hand in his and squeezed it over your thigh. While looking at you, Brian answered the question.

“I don't have a girlfriend, I don't have a wife,” the man said, the corner of your lip cocked up already knowing what he was going to say, “but i do have a fiance, and she is the love of my life” the guitarist said, the cameras clicked and flashes went off as everyone gasped, muttered, and then continued asking and shouting questions. Brian simply smiled at you and bent forward, you closed the distance and placed your lips on his. Brian smiled into the kiss as he brought his hand up to the exposed side of your neck and covered it, pulling you in a little for a more passionate kiss.

“Well darlings im sure we would love to answer some of your questions but we are positively exhausted and want some sleep” Freddie said as he started to stand up, John and Roger followed suit as you and Brian got the memo and stood up too, large grins plastered on your face as you and the band started walking out of the room and to the car to drive you back to the hotel.

The cameras and paparazzi followed the band out and kept asking questions, you and Brian where the last to get into the car.

“Ma’am! Ma’am!” someone yelled, giving them the satisfaction you turned to the person with a large grin, “what’s your name? And how long have you and Mr May been together?” the person asked.

“(Y/n) (L/n), soon to be May.” you said, “we’ve been together for as long as we’ve known each other” and with that, you threw the video camera a wink and held up your hand with your engagement ring on it and showed the camera, “if you’re good you might be invited” you said, you threw the camera a final wink and got into the car before the door shut and the driver started driving.

You looked to Brian and gave him a large grin as Brian did the same, the flush from the adrenaline still red in his face.

John:

John wanted nothing more than to be able to hold you in public and just have a nice date out in the cinema or just a holiday somewhere. But of course with Queen hitting their biggest hits and more paperazzi than ever; privacy was a nutrition that was malnourished. So when Deaky came to you with his proposition; you were rather shocked.

“Come out?” you asked.

“I am so sick of hiding you and us from everyone and not even looking at you until we get home” John said with a breath, “please”, you nodded.

“Yeah; how did you want to do it thought?” you asked quizitivaley.

“Maybe a romantic picnic in the park? Movie date?” John said with a shrug.

“Well, just remember that we definitely won't be getting any privacy after we do this John” you said with a hand over his.

“I want this.” John said adamantly, “and I want you” he added softly. You eyes fluttered and you smiled softly before nodding.

“We haven't gone out for a picnic before” you said with a grin, “sandwiches, champagne, chocolate covered strawberries~” you thought wistfully as you got closer to John, a new fire lit in your eyes.

“Bedroom?” John asked with a grin.

“Definitely” you said softly before kissing John, the pair of you sprung up from the couch and darted to the shared bedroom; giggling like little teenagers about to lose their virginity.

---

Setting down the blanket you hopped onto the material as John brought out the sandwiches and started filling the wine glasses.

“It is a rather lovely day” you said as you viewed the sky, “beautiful clouds, nice breeze, not too hot or cold; it's perfect” you said happily as John sat down and handed you a champagne glass and setting down a few sandwiches in front of you. Clicking your glasses together for a moment as you took a sip you smiled as you started to dig into the sandwiches; thankfully made by John himself. Consisting of various meats and vegetables.

“This is beautiful John!” you exclaimed a few bites into your sandwich as you looked to the bassist who only grinned wide while eating his. Just behind John however, you could vaguley make out a very badly disguised possy of cameras and reporters. This made you grin.

“What’re you smiling at love?” John asked as you grinned.

“Paparazzi are behind you have a field day” you said with a smile as John nodded.

“Good” the bassist said with a smile, “after this did you want to give them a show?” he asked with a cheeky wink making you laugh as you shake your head.

“I’ll kiss you, but we are not having sex out here” you said with a grin and a laugh.

“Awh!” John whined, “but the grass and the blanket is so soft” John made a fake pout.

“Nope” you said popping the P with a laugh as the two of you finished your sandwiches and looked at each other.

“Ready?” you asked as you scooted closer to John.

“Let me just bask in this for a moment,” John said softly; the sun had hit just right on you, causing your skin to glow, your eyes to become gems, your smile was dazzling and everything else was just as perfect, “you're so beautiful” John whispered as he dragged his hand up your wrist, to your arm and then your neck and cheek as he leaned closer. Your breath hitched as your eyes darted down to Johns lips before connecting yours with his in a beautiful kiss; it almost felt like the first time you had kissed him.

Roger:

“Look at this!” Roger said as he slammed down the daily newspaper onto the coffee table, a large grin plastered over his face as the band and you looked onto the front page.

‘Roger Taylor of notorious rock band Queen spotted with a beautiful (h/c) haired girl in the passenger seat of his favourite car.

Turn to page 18 for more’

“Oh Rog, I’m so sorry” Brian said, the guitarist slumped back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face as you picked up the newspaper with a grin.

“What? Why the hell are you apologising for?” Roger said with his hands on his hips, the grin still on his face.

“You don't really like your relationships getting out, and now it's on the front page of every newspaper” Brian said, a sympathetic look on his face as he looked between you and Roger.

“Brian this is exactly what we wanted, we were sick of having to hide everything and having chaste kisses in public and saying we’re just friends” you said with a grin, you stood up quickly and leaped onto Roger, wrapping your arms around the drummers neck as he did the same to your waist and buried his face into your hair laughing.

“Oh, well congrats then” Brian said.

“We should celebrate!” Freddie said with a clap, the singer soon stood up and went out of the room for a moment before coming back in with a bottle of champagne and cups; “to Roger and (Y/n)” Freddie said as he poured the cups and held his up for a toast, everyone was standing in a circle and placed their cups around with Freddies.

“To family” John said with a grin.

“To love” you said, an arm wrapped around Rogers waist and a large grin on your lips.

“To us” Brian said, everyone smiled at this.

“TO US!” the small group said together, cheered, clinked their cups and then took a mouthful. You grinned and bite your lip as you placed your cup down and turned to Roger, giving up a loving kiss.

Freddie (platonic):

“Freddie Freddie!” a journalist shouted over everyone, Freddie nodded to the woman as everyone fell silent and waited, “that girl next to you is that your girlfriend?” she asked, notepad in hand as the cameras flashed everywhere waiting for an answer. Freddie cocked a grin under his moustache as he flicked his cigarette a little to get the ash off into the tray before settling back down into his chair with his leg kicked up onto his opposite knee.

“You darlings would have a field day if I said anything about it” Freddie said with a grin as you snickered next to the singer.

“Freddie; is that your girlfriend?” someone else pressed slightly.

“What if she is?” Freddie asked as he took a drag from his cigarette before handing it to you to make a point, you smirked as you took a drag. The cameras flashed as you blew out smoke and handed the cigarette back to Freddie, “what makes you think she is?” he pressed.

“You’ve been seen together almost the same amount as you have with your band. She's always clinging onto you and flirting with you-”

“So, her being a good friend is now considered a romance?” Freddie asked snidely, “her making sure I'm okay is now romantic? Her being good friends with the rest of my friends makes her my romantic suggestion?” Freddie asked as he tapped his cigarette again.

“That's not what we see-”

“Well maybe you’re looking at it from the wrong fucking way darling!” Freddie said exagerantly, “you don't need to look at anything in a certain way!” the singer rose from his chair and started moving away, cueing you to do the same, “her name is (Y/n) fucking (L/n) and she has been my best friend since our band started” Freddie said finally before giving your cheek a large smooch, “and i wouldnt be anywhere without her” the singer finalized, you grinned and held onto Freddies hand has he guided you to the back room where the rest of the band was waiting with shit-eating grins plastered on their faces.

————————————————————

BOH RHAP CAST

————————————————————

Rami:

“Hello Rami how are we today?” the interviewer asked as he sat down in the chair opposite the actor, they shook hands and Rami smiled.

“Rather well actually” Rami spoke, “not too busy and rather quiet” the actor shrugged, “would rather spending it someplace other but it's alright,” the actor said with a laugh. The interviewer laughed as well before beginning his questions.

Time went on and the Interviewer was starting to get to his final questions.

“Now, as a final question and out of the fandoms curiosity; may we ask who this is?” the interviewer asked, a photo of you and Rami on your two year anniversary at your favourite restaurant popped up onto a screen as Rami looked at it before letting a large smile spread over his lips.

“Yes,” Rami paused as he played with his fingers, “that's my girlfriend of two and a half years,” the actor said finally. The interviewer grinned.

“Girlfriend. May i ask more?” the interviewer asked.

“Yes. We talked about coming forward about this and she said it's okay so i'm going to go ahead and do it. Her name is (Y/n) (L/n) and she is the most amazing and beautiful person I have ever met.” Rami coughed softly as he wiggled in his seat slightly, “we first met on the set of Boh Rhap, she was one of the makeup artists as well as personal assistant for me and our costume designer; Julian Day.” Rami paused as he recalled the first time he saw you, “she always brought in our coffee, me, Ben, Joe and Gwil obviously and then Julian. She’d hand out the coffee to the respective people before coming to me and doing my makeup before helping with whatever clothes I had to wear for the scenes and whatnot and even the concert scenes; she’d help me into whatever costume it may be if it was too difficult for one person.” Rami paused again, “I started falling in love with her the first time i heard her laugh, she was laughing at a joke Joe and Ben made together and the moment i heard her laugh and see her smile” Rami shook his head as his gaze turned to utmost love and admiration and appreciation, “I fell for her and i’ve been falling ever since” the actor finished. The interviewer grinned largely.

“Well, it's a little late but congrats!” the interviewer said as the camera cut and the pair stood up to leave.

Ben:

“Love, are you sure you want to do this?” Ben asked as the limousine pulled up to the curb of the red carpet.

“Yes, I am” you said with a strong head nod.

“You know the consequences” Ben said as a statement, “not much privacy, a lot of questions and interviews, and paparazzi” Ben trailed off, you nodded again.

“I promise I'm ready. I don't like having to hide ourselves let alone our relationship” you said with confidence. Ben nodded and held your hand tightly and comfortingly.

“I love you” the boy said, his eyes sparkled with a new flame.

“And i love you too lover boy” you said with a chuckle, you kissed Bens cheek and got out of the car; cameras where already flashing on the red carpet but within twenty seconds they were all onto you and Ben, and the rest of the boys filed out of the car.

“We made it” Joe said with a smile as he fixed his suit.

“The Golden Globes” Gwil said with a large grin as he helped Rami and Lucy out of the car, “next it’ll be the Oscars; i just know it” Gwil said as he looked to Rami and Joe. Interviewers started hounding for each of the boys but Rami made a coughing noise, getting the groups attention.

“I want you all to know,” Rami started as he wrapped an arm around Gwil, Gwil doing the same to Joe and so on, “we’re all in this together, we made this happen, we’ve gotten this far and we will go further” the actor said adamentally, “we’re a family; in it together until the end, and even then we go on”, everyone nodded as Joe wiped his tears with a water smile and Ben squeezed your hand tightly; Lucy gave you a side glance and smiled as she did the same with Ramis hand. “Go out there and give it your all” Rami said finally, everyone looked at each other and nodded as they all made their way onto the carpet. Group photos where first, then individual or with their guest and then just the boys; until the interviews started.

“BEN! BEN!” someone yelled as Ben started walking in the direction, you in tow behind him, “hello Ben!” the lovely woman said as she pointed the microphone to Ben.

“‘Ello” Ben said as he squeezed your hand tightly.

“Who do we have here tonight?” the lady asked with a knowing but loving smile as she pointed the microphone between the two of you.

“This is my lovely girlfriend of five years” Ben said as he looked at you with adorning love in his eyes, this made you blush and bite your lip softly; it was out, and you were proud of it.

“Girlfriend!? Well it’s a little late but congrats! How are we tonight then?” the lady asked. Ben answered most of the woman's questions but still kept the more personal questions at bay (the lady understood this and respected this which you appreciated), Joe and Rami came in for some jokes and giggles and you had never felt happier as you looked up to Ben with an adorning smile, and so much love for him.

Joe:

“Babe you ready?” Joe asked, the crowd cheered around the pair as the ‘kiss-o-cam’ came on the large screen and a young couple blushed before kissing briefly. Since Joe had gotten a lot more famous since Boh Rhap he had started being recognized more and more and since you two had been together for a few years he wanted everyone to know how much he loved you. Bringing out your phone you pointed it to the big screen and started recording just as the camera flipped over to you and Joe, the crowd came in an uproar with cheers as you turned to Joe with a smile and kissed him; the crowd somehow had gotten louder.

“Well would you look at that!” the man over the PA said, “our very own Joe Mazzello from Bohemian Rhapsody has a girlfriend!” the man said, “congrats!” and with that, the ‘kiss-o-cam’ turned back into the scoreboard and the game continued. You let out a giggle as you turned the camera around and smiled as Joe put his head on your shoulder.

“She’s my girlfriend” Joe said as he pointed to you from above with a cheesy grin, you point your finger to him too and grinned.

“He’s my dorky boyfriend” you said, Joe laughed as he kissed your cheek before turning back to the game, you shut off the recording and sent it to Joe who almost immediately took out his phone, saved the video and opened up instagram. Joe turned to you as the crowd grew silent.

“You’re sure about this?” he asked.

“I just kissed you on the ‘kiss-o-cam’, of course im sure” you said with a smile, you kissed Joes cheek as the man nodded and turned back to his phone. Joe typed a cheesy caption, ‘she doesn't like baseball but she definitely likes me’ before adding a ‘aint that right boys?’ and tagging Gwil, Ben and Allen; Joe hit post just as the crowd cheered again and the video started uploading.

“I love you you know” Joe said as he looked at you, his eyes twinkled with adoration.

“I love you too you know” you said to Joe with a grin, Joe bent down again to kiss you passionately as the video posted onto his account.

“Now let's focus on the game and worry about everything else when it gets there, yeah?” Joe asked with a smile.

“Yeah” you said as you cuddled into Joes arm, he closed the app and turned off his data and placed his phone back in his pocket; no distractions.

Gwilym:

“Darling I told you you can get anything you want” Gwil said to you with a grin as you came up to him; you where about to ask permission if you could get one of the books you have been holding before Gwil cut you off with his awaiting answer.

“Yes i know, but i still like to make sure!” you said with a pout, Gwil shook his head with a laugh as he bent down and kissed you softly.

“I know love” Gwil said softly. The flash of a camera brought you back to reality as you saw a group of three friends; all wearing Queen merch.

“A-are you two together?” one girl asked; the one holding the phone pointed towards you and Gwil. You looked to Gwil for a moment as he looked to you.

“Yes, yes we are” Gwil said, you blushed slightly and giggled as the girls whispered and gasped.

“Could we get a photo?” one asked.

“And maybe a signature?” another questioned.

“I’d be happy to but i just want to know if you’re videoing this right now” Gwil asked as he pointed to the phone the girl was holding, she blushed and nodded sadly as if she had been caught committing a crime punishable by death.

“Yeah, I-I’m sorry. I can delete it!” the girl said quickly.

“No it's alright” Gwil said just as fast, you laughed as Gwil stepped forward with you beside him, “We talked about coming forward with our relationship; guess there's no better time than the present” Gwil said with a shrug, you nodded along with him with a large smile as the boy stepped forward to the girls as they held out a phone case, notepad and one girl held out her arms.

“I told myself that if I ever got your autograph i would get it tattooed” the girl said as Gwil finally got to her, this caused Gwil to smile widely.

“It’ll be on you forever so i'll make it pretty” Gwil said, he signed the girls arms before adding a smiley face and writing ‘keep smiling!’ on her arm underneath his signature, “there” Gwil said with a grin.

“Could we get a photo?” a girl asked as she held up her phone; she was still recording. Gwil nodded.

“As long as (Y/n) can get in the photo too” Gwil said, “otherwise no photo”, the girl giggled.

“I was going to ask if she could join us anyway!” she said with a grin, this caused you to smile widely as you got in next to Gwil as his hand wrapped around your waist and then his arm went around one of the girls shoulders on the other side of him as the final one holding the phone took the photo; all of you doing different faces and poses and smiles.

“Thank you so much!” they all said as you waved them off.

“Well they were sweet” Gwil said as he grabbed his books again.

“Now we’re out in the open” you said with a grin and a nod as you grabbed your books too and started walking to the register.

Lucy:

“Darling” Lucy called out to you for a moment as you walked back into the lounge room with two glasses of wine and sat on the couch next to her.

“Yeah love? What's up?” you asked as you took a sip of your wine and curled your feet under yourself.

“I think we should post a photo together” Lucy said as she looked to you.

“Sure” you shrugged, “What photo?” you asked as you picked out your phone and started scrolling through your gallery.

“No, not like my sweet” Lucy said softly as he held down your phone to make you look at her, “like, one of us right now, particularly kissing” she said softly, she looked down to the couch slightly embarrassed as she took a gulp of her drink, “know what just. Don't worry” she smiled and quickly went back to the TV.

“What? Lucy if you want to post something like that then you can” you said quickly with a surprised laugh, “i don't mind love”.

“Are you sure?” Lucy asked, “I mean. Thats alot of hate on us, and not much privacy…”the model trailed off her sentence. You smiled softly and kissed her cheek.

“I’m sure my love” you said softly. Lucy smiled as she pulled out her phone and opened her camera, you got into a comfortable position before pressing your lips to hers and letting her take the photo. You smiled as the two of you split and Lucy went to edit the photo on her phone.

----

“Done!” the girl said a few minutes later, the model showed you the photo before posting it. You smiled as she tagged you in the caption and the photo itself.

“Love you baby girl” you said quietly as your phone lit up with the tag and the following likes and follows as Lucy turned to you.

“I love you too my sweet” the girl said before kissing you again.