#john kreese x beloved

[terrence-silver]

poly john and terry who acts like kids by triggering each other’s ptsd because of a argument then both seeking beloved’s comfort.

Something tells me Terry Silver and John Kreese don't believe in triggers.

What? These guys right here?

Yeah, no.

Part of me feels they don't even necessarily believe in PTSD in the classical sense either, even though they both clearly have it in abundance; that they (especially John) might very well think it's a bunch of weakling wimp snowflake New Age nonsense people made up to justify their own weaknesses, hang ups and inadequacies and that 'back in the day' people pulled themselves up by the bootstraps. That people pulling themselves up by the bootstraps is what provided the backbone of this great, big country. Bootstraps are what make a soldier a soldier. That a real warrior doesn't complain even if something hurts. That a real man doesn't, in fact. Does pain even exist? Not in this dojo, it doesn't! Make no mistake, Terry Silver believes in this to the very core of his being just as much as John Kreese does, seeing as how they're both people born somewhere in the midcentury and have a midcentury mentality embedded into the very fiber of their beings, so if they're here 'triggering each other's PTSD' from their own point of view, it could be just them hazing each other and shooting the breeze for old times sake. Boys will be boys. They see no fault in it. It's harmless from where they're standing. (Although, God help anyone from beyond of their sphere who tries doing the same to either of them; the vengeance will be swift and fierce. It could be done over something as miniscule as someone merely looking at either of them the wrong way even though they might have done much worse to each other. They can. Others cannot.) They see it as bonding. All of these things are bonding to them. They might be outright laughing and cackling like hyenas while they're doing it and anyone looking in from an outside perspective might just see two men ---- two old friends ---- hanging out, having an awfully good time. And they are. They truly are. They are very much like rumbunctious, happy, hyper kids.

That's the thing about trauma; often times, you don't even know you have it.

Often times, you might even get angry if someone suggests you do.

Hey, for all Terry's concerned, especially in the 80's, he returned from Vietnam trauma-free! He left that crap behind! That crap don't affect him! He only ever references war as hell when it's time to play pretense and deliberately garner sympathy from Mr. Miyagi and Daniel, almost like he's parodying the notion of war being hell and he's only the verge of bursting into laughter the whole time. Might as well be a joke to him, because it is a joke to him. He believes himself above it, in ways. He's untouchable! There's ego there. He's a businessman, a Billionaire, entrepreneurial, charming and perfectly well adjusted and I figure it's only until he actually went to therapy decades later that it was the first time in his life he's actually heard from someone else's mouth that he isn't doing okay and never was doing okay. It just never crossed his mind before that he was anything but an immaculate diamond.

For all John's concerned, on the other hand? Someone merely suggesting there's something the matter with him might downright earn you a death stare at best, because it harkens back to all the times someone referenced his mentally unwell mother as a negative and every time he's heard someone calling veterans unstable in the years since returning from Vietnam --- every time John scoffed at the notion as the stupidest and probably most offensively pathetic thing he's ever heard in his whole goddamn life. What did you just say to him? You implying he's sick in the head or something? That he's damaged? Him!? That he doesn't know his own mind inside out better than anyone else? If anything, he's tougher than most people out there! Stronger! Smarter. He's a survivor! You're an idiot and you don't know what you're taking about and you should go back to Pansyville at Cry me a river street where you belong.

You whiny primadonna, you.

Meaning that by the time they come to their shared beloved for comfort, they merely see it as them doing what all men are supposed to do; what all men do in general --- return to their loved one to be with them. They don't see it as them being weak and needing to be 'helped' in any sort of way, even though they do. They don't see themselves as triggered or unstable. In pain. Upset. Sad. That grip of fingers they have around beloved? Why, it's always been that firm and needy. They don't need a life raft. What makes you think that? They had a fantastic day and they laughed like crazy. In fact, they might be laughing still, eyes all shimmery and shiny with mirth, all while embracing beloved collectively, unsure why they'd think something as silly and as untrue as them being raw about something.

[terrence-silver]

terry and john with a beloved they've known since they were fresh out the war. the 80s roll along and beloved is met with two people they can hardly recognise and they hate what they've become. how would terry and john react? what would they do if beloved tried to leave?

---

John Kreese?

John would understand and fully predict this, because I think he's a man with the type of mindset where he believes that serving in a war sets him apart from other people by default. He feels he's meant to be a lone wolf due to it. That there will be people who hate him for being a veteran and that they're idiots and sniveling weaklings for doing so. Flat out. That's the price you pay for defending your country; you can't ever go back to what you used to be and you shouldn't be able to go back. That fighting in Vietnam is an unique sort of lifelong brotherhood --- the type of thing you had to be there for in order to comprehend it and that he'll never exactly be one with the civilians ever again because of it; maybe for the better. That it was inevitable he'd change the minute he hopped unto that army bus. He knew what he signed up for. He doesn't shrink that responsibility.

He feels superior, in a sense, yet he's a cynical realist in other ways.

If he had an old beloved friend or sweetheart that doesn't recognize him or even like him years after he's returned home, the surprise isn't that big for him and chances are, if he avoided them, he avoided them, partially, on purpose, believing there isn't that much point maintaining contact in spite of his feelings precisely because he's so changed and the disconnect, in his opinion, would be far too great and beloved should go and form circles and make a life with those more similar to themselves. To each their own. This doll ain't a Cobra. Shouldn't be hanging around Cobras. He might even bluntly tell them this if they press him on reasons why he's been so callous and if they prove to be relentless, he'll intentionally gaslight them to make them seem like the irrational one. He ain't above tactically insulting them to hurt their feelings enough to get them to leave. Anything to get them away from himself. They hate what he's become? For their own sake, they should distance themselves.

But, it's not himself John worries about. It's probably Terry.

Terry who wouldn't understand that beloved might not like what he's become.

Why?

Because Terry feels and knows he's much improved.

He's stronger, faster, better, smarter and richer than ever before!

And because, oh --- Terry's changed after the war. Like, genuinely changed. You could fairly easily recognize a post-war John and a pre-war John if you put them side by side, but Terry after Vietnam and before it are literally two different people and John Kreese might just warn beloved off precisely for this reason too, among a line up of many others, because he understands why Terry's the way Terry is, but beloved wouldn't. John knows why Terry's mannerisms are so changed. Why he adopted new speech patterns. What's the story behind that ponytail. He knows it all. Having been Terry's Captain in Vietnam, he might feel, in a weird way, responsible for him. To beloved, it all might seem scary, baffling, confusing, bizarre and something out of a horror story. Furthermore, John also knows that Terry isn't likely to let beloved go if their paths ever cross again, and chances are, he's never forgotten them either and has actively looked for them --- a search that doesn't last long at all, with his tenacity, connections and wealth at play. Once he finds them though, of course he's baffled beloved doesn't like what he's become. Unlike John, of course it takes him by surprise they want to run. Of course he's almost offended that they don't want to immediately move in with him, go for drinks, a vacation, and a dip in the jacuzzi to reminisce about the good, old days. But, no matter. Somehow, even beloved's distaste gets Terry going. In an odd way, it rouses him. He likes it. They've always belonged to him and John. Everything about them did. Their virtues. Their flaws. Every their hatred.

Now that the war is long since over?

Terry figures it's time to collect what was always theirs.

And by god, does John ever get dragged into it by a very vehement and stubborn Terry and starts, at first, begrudgingly participating in the hunt, initially, to make sure Terry doesn't go too far with you and that you don't get hurt, but eventually, him playing the sidelined referee and spectator Terry is 'putting up a show for' is a short lived thrill and he more than willingly begins relishing in hunting you down just as much as Terry does.

Turns out, there's no escaping these two.

Whoops.

[terrence-silver]

Could you write literally anything you want about John Kreese and his beloved, there just is not enough John writes in the world and I know you’re the best person to do it

---

John has had funerals before.

Few people could say they've died multiple times.

Yes, one could technically say he was declared KIA in 'Nam, or at least, that a part of him was --- maybe his boyish weakness, his hopes, dreams, even though he wasn't fan of sappy sentiments of the kind. Another occasion, when he and Terry pretended he died to trick the Larusso primaballerina into letting down his guard for shits-and-giggles while, in truth, John was on Tahiti time sunbathing his ass the whole time. Those were the good old days --- the recollection alone made him chuckle even decades down the line. He could even say he died in the thirty something years he was away after the tournament loss of '85, his second championship flop, season back to back, having him retreat and lay low, breaking contact with everyone and everything --- with society at large --- even Terry himself who he was certain kept an eye on him regardless, licking his wounds and recuperating because John simply didn't believe the world had much use for him if he wasn't winning something. Not now and not ever. He didn't wanna be in a world where he was losing everything, his life unraveling by the seams and him being forced to watch, unable to stop it, so he'd rather not participate at all.

And he didn't.

In the thirty years of his absence he still had enough leftover cash to buy himself a funeral plot and erect an actual grave once the years started creeping in on him. If third time wasn't the charm, the fourth one would be. Eventually, he would have no use to pretend anymore because everyone eventually dies if they wait that crap out long enough. Cpt. John Kreese, the simple concrete plaque said as per his request. No bullshit. No fancy epitaphs. None of that nonsense. He wasn't out here to convince anyone he was something he was not. Just his military rank, name, surname, date of birth to be joined by a date of death. Never wanted to rest beside Betsy down in Pasadena. Didn't figure he deserved to. Didn't figure it was right anymore. Not now that he had you. You had the mutually solemn tendency to come out here with him and visit the still empty grave site. Set down the occasional flower and just watch, like you were mourning an actual person buried down there with him and then, you'd leave, in tow. He wanted to bury the idea of second chances down there too eons ago, it seemed; cover it with a thick, coated layer of muddy soil and call it a day, but here you were, springing free from the casket he intended to put the thought of a second love into and you unexpectedly sprung free, strolling the pavements of the empty cemetery sidewalk with him. Ironic how it quelled John's desire to die at all.

Maybe he didn't have to. Maybe he already died all the sufficient times he needed to.

Maybe a man can fill a certain quota.

-"You alright, John?"- You ask, catching him deep in his thoughts, interlocking his arms with yours as you quietly waddled forward, under the sun. You knew his life story. You knew why he erected this grave for himself. You didn't bullshit him and he didn't bullshit you. He rather enjoyed that. But, no, he didn't think he'd let himself go to waste just yet. -"Yeah."- He trails off, nodding and smiling, sliding on his shades. Perhaps a part of him didn't want you read in his eyes just how content he was. -"Yeah, I am."- He raises his eyes to look up at you, eyes concealed with a veneer of black. -"I think we should go get some drinks, doll. Treats on me, of course."- What a line, Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca be damned, he concludes, self-congratulatory, imagining himself in black and white. From a graveyard to hitting the bar with a beaut. He feels twenty fuck five next to you again, and he figures, he's had his funerals before. Few people could say they've died multiple times, sure.

Just as well, few people could say they loved multiple times too.

John Kreese was certainly the exception to every rule ever made.

[terrence-silver]

I don't know why but I keep having this though, it may not be up your ally but it definitely tickles me.

I keep imagining this scenario.

Kreese is in a relationship with his lover, Terry is married. Both of the women get along quite well together, maybe they spend time together going out when Terry isn't taking up his wife's time. Maybe they hang out and go shopping, talk about their lovers and so on. And at some point they end up talking about kids, especially babies. They both melt at the idea of having babies.

The idea that they both end up getting pregnant around the same time, and decide to invite the other over with the guys. Only for one of them to put out a box or something and it’s got like “We are so happy to me you godmother & godfather!” Inside of it with baby clothes. And everyone is just like silent.

“Wait your pregnant?”

“Yep”

“Well that kinda ruined my surprise then.”

“Huh?”

“I wanted to surprise you and John with that fact me and Terry are pregnant.”

Then they end up finding out their only a week apart on due dates.

Would be funny if the wives thought they're actually surprising Terry and John, but unbeknownst to them, Terry has been masterminding the whole baby-fever ordeal from day one and I'll be damned if he wouldn't be the type of person to have him and John respectively creampying, for lack of a better word, their significant others at the same calculated, coordinated time purely so he'd tie John to himself in yet another elaborate way the minute it becomes blatantly obvious between the two men that they're trying for offspring; this time around, by ensuring their kids are born around a closely attached date with some tall tale about brotherhood and crowning their lifelong friendship by transferring their legacy into the next generation. Naturally, added bonus is that Terry gets to perv on John's sex life all while keeping John firmly appraised of his own to the point the two wives, Terry and John might as well be having regular foursomes while in the process of conceiving and later on as well, if we're honest. Nothing like friendly swingers. Terry fucking beloved while he's on the phone with John, purely to ensure they're both hard at work and achieving the same results and getting off by the idea too? Entirely believable.

Marking their friendship by being the godparents to each other's kids?

More like, ritualistically syncing everything they ever do.

[terrence-silver]

oooh how about “I’m a man, I would know!” and “They were basically undressing you with their eyes.” for poly! John and Terry?

Sometimes, there's such a thing as an outfit being too flattering.

Terry never wanted to fire his stylists for being too good at their job.

But, hey --- first time for everything.

Johnny was never a fan of these events anyway, even though he looked more ravishing in a tuxedo than any of these Beverly Hills bigshots in tailored suits with a stick in their asses, but this time around, Terry finds him brooding more so than usually. He knows the reason. You're the reason, of course. You and your delectable dress on an otherwise mundane gathering they had to soldier through, is all. Terry was brooding too, silent, from the balcony. Actually, quietly enraged fit the bill better as he signalled for one of the servers to usher you upstairs lest Terry go down personally. If he went down personally it would be a scene. He needed to stay in control. The owner of General Motors was sizing up your derrière, clinging to the outline of your dress and you didn't even realize. Your posterior practically sparkled in the clinging tight gown riddled with sequins, inviting attention like moth to a flame. Was, literally speaking, impossible not to look at. You didn't have eyes on your back unfortunately, so you couldn't see the onslaught of stares lingering and following your every move in that bit of snake skin called a dress you put on. You're embarrassed and shocked when he tells you, in the company of a surly John who seemed like he was pondering of scaling the wall and showing himself out. Resourceful, impatient John. You shake your head. How would he know, you inquire. How would he know it wasn't an accidentally wandering gaze.

There was no such thing as an accident, in his experience.

-“I’m a man, I would know!”-

Terry shoots back, seething, pointing his finger into the crowd downstairs.

He doesn't really care who hears the altercation.

They're lucky he doesn't have the whole venue evicted.

-“They were basically undressing you with their eyes.”-

John interjects, gruff, looking off into the distance, leaning unto the balcony fence, tie undone, sleeves rolled up, champagne glass in his hands, slightly disheveled, effortlessly every bit a man --- statuesque and build beneath his suit --- he didn't realize he too was being eyed up the whole evening even though he stubbornly kept to himself and Terry didn't like that either. Didn't enjoy his beloveds leered at. Well, maybe he enjoyed it a little, gleefully --- a way to flaunt what is his and nobody being able to do a damn thing about it. The residents of West Hollywood and The Hills knew he was with two people, for lack of a better word. That Terry Silver famously, or rather infamously, had two close, intimate paramours he was very, very, very territorial of. It was common knowledge, even though it was often relegated to a hush-hush piece of high profile gossip. it was common knowledge State-side too. Terry didn't care. Terry was power. Terry could do whatever the fuck he wanted. He was the maker of social conventions. He employs said attitude by leaving the event prematurely and not sticking around for the aperitif. Nothing for him here, he concludes. Packing beloved one and beloved two into the limo promptly and entirely post-haste, Johnny under the weather, you, draped into the mercifully oversized overcoat of Terry's blazer to hide your body as he orders the chauffeur to drive back home.

Back home where he could have you two all to himself.

[terrence-silver]

Could you write something about John and Terry convincing their shared partner to get a tattoo that matched theirs somewhere on his/her body?

-"Now we match! Perfect!"-

Terry's in high spirits, practically jumping when the needle and the ink are taken away, the artwork clean, covered in protective band aid at the nape of your neck, right below your hairline. Discreetly visible. Tasteful, as it were. The discussion of where you could actually place the tattoo was long and arduous and the suggestions ranged anywhere from the inside of your thigh, your ass cheek and on your tailbone, but John personally talked Terry out of convincing you to accept any of those, in a sour mood, sounding displeased. Sounds like one of those tramp stamps, he said, bluntly. C'mon, Johnny, holy shit, it’s the 70's! Be modern! John wasn't having it, of course. Yeah, it'll stay there forever. I don't so, Twig. He'd retort, utilizing a nickname. That's the whole point, Johnny! Terry would whine. But, soon enough, tattooing your derrière or lower back was out of the question. Ever so blunt still, John snorts, arms crossed at the finalized work, joking, bright eyed. -"You look like a sailor. Popeye."- He smiles, lips lop-sided and pleased, appearing proud of the end result. -"Oh, man, Johnny, c'mon!"- Terry appears scandalized at the remark, taking offense instead of you, crouching beside the tattoo bed, rubbing your forearm soothingly, his other hand on your back. Even when practically squatting, Terry was still tall enough to tower over you and by the looks of him, he was still growing. He was 6'3 in 1972 and by 1973 and 1974 he might easily be 6'5. He could easily be a professional athlete if he wasn't making plans of running the family business.

-"I can't see. Does it look good?"-

You ask, tapping the bandage on your neck. Terry says something about you always looking good. Flatterer. Charmer. You'd never guess Terry was such a sweet-talker, shy and a bit fidgety as he was. Turns out, he had an immense way with words, to the point he'd often make you stammer and leave you without able to form a sentence, as was the case now, while you were adjusting in your seat. -"It's inflamed. Don't touch it."- John tsks, shaking his head, reaching forward to remove your fingers from the newly minted, freshly dried ink on your skin, reprimanding slightly. They've gotten their own ink a couple of months back, at this same parlour. Their own were far bigger then yours. Almost gaudy. Showy. Very dramatic and impossible to miss. They didn't seem to mind. Quite the contrary. They appeared particularly proud. Flaunting the art wherever they went. Flaunting Cobra Kai. -"Yeah, I’m afraid you're gonna get infected and you'll die..."- John jabs sarcastically, overreacting on purpose to tease you, holding his arms up in fake theatrics as he scoots down and sits down beside you to clasp your hand. Twig interjects, whispering, his eyes shimmering with a fierce thought. Their sense of comedy was occasionally odd, but you've gotten used to it. -"And then we'll have to set the tattoo parlour on fire."- He adds with a toothy, wolfish grin and your mouth is agape, hushing him, so the owner wouldn't hear the exchange. Sometimes, though --- sometimes you couldn't tell if they were joking or not.

-"You guys are something!"-

You groan, feeling sore, eyes darting once Terry holds up a mirror.

Positioned strategically next to looking glass on the wall behind you.

You spot the reddening patch of a small, inky cobra on your skin.

-"You look so cute, muffinpie!"- Terry exclaims happily, his cheeks practically puff up and pink as he diligently and dutifully props up the mirror so you can take a good look at the piece of handiwork. John's face beams up at Terry's endearment, down casting his glance, brows furrowed and busy with a thought. He was the more serious one, for sure. He was the reason why you didn't land with a snake tattoo on your bathing suit area. The idea made you laugh. You had to laugh that this is something they genuinely argued over. -"You'll always have something to remember us by now."- He speaks up in the midst of Terry's enthusiasm and admiration of the baby viper on your neck, grimly, John's mouth pressed into a hard line, his arms like a protective shield around his own torso as he maintains them crossed as per habit. They once told you were the first actual friend they've made after coming back from Vietnam. They only had each other for the longest time, grieving over everyone they mutually lost, both overseas and at home. Forming connections was difficult. Often disastrous. More hassle than it was truly worth. It is as if the world inadvertently changed while they were away, transforming past the point of all recognition, and the people along with it. But you? You were someone they wanted to stay close with, they explained. Stay attached to. You keep me grounded and you keep Twig sane. You squeeze his hand back re-assuringly, all while holding Terry's. -"As if I needed a tattoo to remember you two by, John."-

[terrence-silver]

what’re some creepy things terry and john would say to beloved?

Terry: -"My good friend over here wants you and I'm gonna get you for him. It only just works out in your favour that I want you too. My, my, aren't you lucky, huh?"-

John: -"A word of advice, doll. I've known Terry for much longer than you have and lemme tell you; he can have quite the temper. Might not seem like he does, but you wouldn't believe the things he's capable of. I wouldn't step on his toes if I were you."-

Terry: -"Johnny had a little girlfriend before Vietnam. He told me. She kapowed right into a tree. Died. In Pasadena. I would never allow myself to die in Pasadena of all places. But, water under the bridge --- you're gonna make him real happy for me, aren't you? We're going to make him real happy. Together."-

John: -"Did he ever regale you with the story behind his ponytail? Oh, he did? Well, then he must've also told you that's not all he adopted. There's really four of us in this whole thing. You, me, him and someone else. Ever slept in a bed full of ghosts?"-

Terry: -"Freedom? Yeah, right! Even when we're not together you should still remember who you belong to! Five years!? Ten years from now!? When either me or him come to collect you, it'll be because we're collecting something that's ours and if you're a good little robot, you'll just accept that and say 'Yes, thank you'."-

John: -"You don't want me telling Terry, do you? He's not as forgiving, I'm afraid."-

Terry: -"Of course, Johnny's in jail. That doesn't mean he's any less ours for it. Now, you're going to be good, ring up that number like I told you, ask him how he's doing, how he's settled in and if he needs anything. Understood?"-

John: -"Yeah, sure, Terry's a bit of a...ladies man. A bit of a confirmed bachelor, as we called it back in the days. But, I don't think he'll be letting you go. You know how Cobras are with their mate?"-

Terry: -"Tell the Captain you love him. (In a feigned, mocking baby voice) "I love you Captain. I love you!" Again. I can't hear you. Again! I said again!"-

John: -"I protected Terry all my life. When he was not much different from a scared, snot-nosed kid with thin, branch legs, I still protected him. I'd take a bullet for him. So, if you think you can just break his heart without there being any consequences for it, well then, you've a big storm coming, kiddo. Yeah, that's a threat. Lets pretend it's a warning."-

Terry: -"How do you like the wine? Faugeres Rouge. From 1982. Forty years old. Can you believe it? There's blood in it. Oh, no, don't look at me like that. Its just mine and Johnny's. Drink it."-

[terrence-silver]

Okay so that’s why with poly terry and john and beloved we resort back to the 80s 😭 bc in modern times terry and John have just ruined each other so bad……(John coming back to Terry after all those years, Terry sending John to prison…etc etc) sooooooo in the 80s all three of them are happy and in love and successful ❤️

Or, or, or, alternatively, we ignore the highly OOC canon altogether because it sucks in general and nobody has anything useful to gain from it anyway and they can be happy as a polyamorous trouple always, even in their old age.

[terrence-silver]

Beloved giving birth Terry and John’s baby that they’ll raise together? The baby is crying as the doctor lays the little soul on beloved’s chest. It would be such a beautiful moment 🥹💕

It would be.

And in a Polyamorous setting, Terry would see this child as the crown of his and John's friendship and shared history, incarnated through an offspring in beloved's womb. Not that a crown is needed because they're already connected in so many elaborate ways. Maybe this like a brilliant jewel in a pre-existing coronet of excessive memories and a history already made, rather --- it is no less cared for because of it, though. It is inherently precious. I did say before, they would, I see, agree on just having beloved at the same time so they'd never really know who the actual father is. Terry insists on not wanting to know, so it would strengthen their brotherhood and bond through solidarity, but Terry is also most likely to be subtly duplicitous and go behind John's and beloved's back to check and do a covert paternity test with a collected sample because he cannot help knowing a piece of information nobody else has --- he cannot just leave things entirely up to chance, even though he personally suggested it. I figure John swiftly realizes what Terry did and lets him have it nonetheless, feeling he'd almost be happier if the child was Terry's, seeing how excited and manic Terry is with the prospect of this.

Regardless, Terry's name is on the birth certificate, adamantly.

He has substantially more resources than anyone else.

John's old fashioned and practical in the regard that he feels that the baby absolutely must have either of them on the registry (supposing he knows what it is like being fatherless himself and supposing he knows he doesn't want that to happen here, in this case) and if Terry has a talent for anything, then it is lavishing what is his, so really, who's better and more apt for the task? --- with an added 50% chance it actually being biologically Terry's? No matter, the two of them are at the hospital and the doctor delivering the baby in whatever high end private hospital Terry buys out for the occasion simply assumes one of them is the father and the other, maybe beloved's brother? Relative? Cousin? Nothing out of the ordinary. The doctor asks for a father's signature and both John and Terry reach forward. Terry might just outright declare the truth, wanting to shock and take in thrill in it. The doctor suppresses the urge to glare and just sighs on the spot. This is LA. He's seen a lot in his time, especially from these rich types and the strangeness of their lives. Meanwhile, beloved? Beloved's blissed out and taken care of.

Terry's busy explaining all the variations of the name Terryjohn to them.

John assures just one of those two names alone is good enough.

Terry insists on both.

[terrence-silver]

how does terry, john’s and beloved’s polyamory come to be?

I can legitimately see Terry just taking it upon himself to befriend and approach beloved first and foremost, upping his charm and making the suggestion when it is most opportune and when the chance is highest it will be met with a positive reaction: -"Me and my good, good friend want to..."-

I think Terry doesn't doubt John's sex-appeal (in fact, Terry views John Kreese like he placed the stars on the sky just by default), but he also doesn't doubt his own; far from. In fact Terry's aware John's rough around the edges in certain ways and needs that extra push Terry's providing. John's not a classic, suave playboy type, is what I mean. He is a tad bit stuck in his own ways. He isn't as slick and charmante as Terry is. Terry has the capability of doing all the work where that initial allure is concerned and he does, reporting every bit of progress back to John alongside every reaction, every word beloved said, every expression, everything --- it would be his absolute pleasure. He comes off so mellow, inviting and oddly soft that beloved can smoothly be eased into being with both of them because it feels safe and good, which is exactly the effect Terry wants to go for. There's no doubt in mind some tactical posturing comes into play so beloved would feel as lulled and lured in as possible and Terry adapts his methods depending of beloved's personality. Only when Terry does all the handiwork does John come in. Terry views this like a mission and favour done for his Captain. Target acquired and Terry goes in for the conquest and all his Captain needs to do is reap the rewards with him, yes. All John has to do is point it someone and Terry’s on a quest to acquire that someone or something for him and for himself as well. Terry never wants John to fret. Terry just wants him and John to play together. Terry's in control here. Terry’s the go-getter and the agent of John’s (and his own) will.

John comes in when the hardest part is already done.

Doesn't mean John doesn't do anything, no. If anything, John might either rein in Terry from doing too much, or too little, depending of the era and Terry listens. John's just a bit more classically gruff and strategically patient. I think he and Terry had threesomes galore before and that it never posed an issue and that John has proved himself very apt and very, very willing in that arena, but being in a polyamorous relationship is world's apart from that and John realizes that. It is actually being with a person. Once Terry actually ties all lose ends together, John shows up like someone interested in an actual courtship with beloved. Courtship. How funny that sounds. Oh, Johnny, Johnny, the 1950′s called and it wants its vocabulary back. Which he is. He's the strong, silent type with tid bits of understated, unassuming nonchalance to himself, but he brings that old timey charm to the table. He poses himself and Terry as protectors because that is the first thing he can equate care to, regardless of how twisted and dark his brand of protecting can get --- and it can get very twisted, dark and skewed. We can take care of you. We take care of our own. That's what Cobras do.

[terrence-silver]

How would yanderes Terry and John(poly) react to some lousy scumbag 'accidentally' spilling alcohol on reader during a party and makes lewd and degrading comments about her? And when reader has tears in her eyes from being humiliated, that's when you know shit's about to go down lol

Oh, but I still don't think they'd leave beloved alone enough for this to happen and I've headcanoned it before. Heck, Terry alone wouldn't. No way. A polyamorous relationship with John, Terry and beloved? Yeah, no. Doubly no. I can see Terry being a social butterfly and schmoozing people at this party, while a more standoffish John who can't muster the artificiality of high society stays behind with beloved, tucked away, somewhere private, waiting for Terry --- acting as beloved’s plus one and unofficial bodyguard, in a sense. Thing about these two, together or separate, but especially if they're in a trouple, is that their shared beloved never stays alone long enough to be exposed to abuse or much of anything else, on the flip-side. People with fully benevolent intentions can barely (or not at all) introduce themselves and talk to them, lest anything else.

[terrence-silver]

poly! john and terry both pulling their jackets off at record speed when beloved mentions she's a little cold👀

Beloved gets wrapped into two separate jackets whether they like it or not. 💕

[terrence-silver]

If beloved had gotten pregnant by John would Terry raise it as his own?

I mean, it has already been long since established that Terry would pretty much bankroll John's children even if this predicament with beloved you described up there being pregnant with John's child didn't happen, seeing as how, around this time period, Terry's very keen on the 'We share all' mentality, especially in regards of John, so he would absolutely be overly involved with John's offspring(s), whether beloved was mixed up with this or not or whether Terry is merely, let us say, an impossibly rich, self-proclaimed godfather who gives impossibly rich presents John endearingly rolls his eyes at but is pushed into accepting by a tenacious, stubborn Terry, because why on earth would children need gold diamond jewelry commissioned especially for kids, but ---

Imagine the spitefulness of old man Terry.

Yes, all the post Season 4 baggage included.

Terry's beloved is pregnant by John's child. John's, of course, in jail on trumped up charges. By Terry's hand, no less. Layers and layers of irony here. There's a whirlwind of bitterness, anger, resentment, possessiveness and revenge at hand, because sure, he was willing to share his bread and everything he has with John for old time's sake, but John betrayed him and put him down when they should've been equals in their ventures, and what's worse, gasp, he left his unborn child fatherless. Shame. Pity. Terry the Saint comes in to save the day, because, hey, finders keepers, beloved is still his and very much under his roof. Is Terry angry John knocked up someone his? Yes...and no, because this is as good a chance as any to perfectly be in control of at least a part of John Kreese, if he could not be in absolute control of the actual John Kreese. Then again, if Terry is most prone to ever tolerating and forgiving the unforgivable from anyone like this, it is John, even now. Is he pleased he can be sadistically petty as he shows up for prison visitations with a small toddler on his arm, playing the good friend and benefactor raising someone else's baby all while dropping some veiled threat in the style of -'I'll take care of Cobra Kai. Already took care of Johnny Lawrence and I'll raise champ over here too.'-

The baby John knows is his hiccups and Terry wipes its mouth with a monogrammed handkerchief (To add insult to injury. Might as well name the baby Terrence John to drill the point Terry wants to make further home.) while John practically pounds against the glass separating them, unable to handle this bizarre charade, with the prison guards there to calm him down and set him back into his seat.

-"Now, now, Captain. Temper."- Terry chides, rocking the baby.

-'You're not well.'- Terry shakes his head, mockery veiled through concern with the gentlest tone imaginable as John squints in rage, forcibly held down by two burly, uniformed security men. As burly as they make them because this is John Kreese we're talking here. -'You need what they call, ah yes, rehabilitation.'- His eyebrows quirk up teasingly. He's well familiarized with that word by now. -'You're compulsively violent, unstable, not fit to teach children and not fit to be around any children at all, as for that matter.'- Terry looks down at the bundle of joy in his arms, smoothing its hair in comfort. Hard to tell who the mother here is. Beloved, or Terry himself. In fact, Terry takes to raising John's child sired with his own partner of all people with more zeal than anybody. If he could push it out of his own body, he would. Also for old time's sake. -'Luckily for you, I promised I'd prove my loyalty, and I am proving it, even now. Remember? For whatever you need? Always? Just never thought that would involve this. Well, water under the bridge. Life gives you lemons and you make lemonade, right?'- Terry smiles blissfully at John, separated by the thick, transparent panel. He'd raise this child, yes --- goes without question, not that John can pay child support, hilariously enough; the thought is amusing. Terry would mold this child, make the child as much himself as possible, to the point him and John will be united as one, in flesh and blood. There was catharsis in that. A perfectly gruesome and yet wholesome union. John meanwhile, isn't certain just what level of disturbed this belongs on, because Terry accepts...with an extreme sense of duty. Terry is angry and vengeful towards John, but Terry also wants to usurp everything John's and just claim everything John is and consume --- making it perfectly Me, We and Us.. John is a weakness, and Terry wants to defeat that weakness completely and utterly in ways previously unimagined by practically brainwashing this child.

Have John's child love him perfectly and nobody else.

Terry Silver won't be second best anymore.

He'll treat his second chance so well, it won't ever contemplate adoring another.

The original John Kreese had more of an attachment to someone. To Lawrence.

But John Kreese's offspring won't.

Terry will make sure of that --- now was the time to fix things.

-'Everything yours is mine, Captain.'-

Terry coos sweetly, yet nothing about those words is entirely as sweet as Terry makes it, pressing the baby sucking its finger tenderly against his chest, rocking it tenderly purely to make a spectacle and have the other visitors see the tall, well dressed stranger with a child and be in awe of him, bidding this conversation and meeting adieu, setting down the telephone handle between two booths back into its place and walking off with a smile as John practically fights the security team trying to subdue his rage. Terry laughs all the way to the parking lot.

[terrence-silver]

John and beloved (a beloved John treasures beyond measure) got into a huge argument. He goes to their bedroom to talk things over and finds she overdosed, frothing at the mouth and her eyes are rolled at the back of her head (she ends up living) What does he do in that moment, and how is it between them when she gets home from the hospital?

John lost his mother to suicide.

John lots Betsy to a car accident.

John lost Ponytail (and countless others) in Vietnam.

Suicide attempts hit him hard in loved ones which is entirely natural and to be expected in anyone, not just him, and it is really amplified due to the fact that death is a re-accuring theme in his life and the highlight of John Kreese's whole existence is loss. He lost his only known family, he lost a sweetheart from his youth, he lost friends, one could even say he lost himself, Cobra Kai and Terry after, in equal measure, losing two subsequent tournaments twice to the same Sensei and student --- in fact, John lost Cobra Kai and Terry twice in his life too. Once in the 80's when he was on the verge of bankruptcy, once in present day when Terry framed him and took control of their shared dojo, landing him in jail. How about Johnny Lawrence? John feels he lost his fierce grip over him too --- at least a couple of times. Everything John Kreese ever touched, he lost --- often, for fully justified reasons, but I digress. John also feels he and so many others lost in Vietnam, which is really the Patriotic, bygone, yet very much present fuel of all of this. So, to find beloved in any state of self-harm, overdose, sickness, neglect is an immense blow to him and he's excessively grim throughout the whole affair of hospitalization, remission and recovery, never too far from his beloved, acting out the role of a protector and a watchdog, and whatever personal suffering he feels is yes, personally his. No, he won't let that tear fall down his face and if it does, it is in the utmost intimacy where nobody sees it, because he's too damn proud to showcase it out in the open even though he does feel devastation. He maintains an immaculate composure throughout it all and his pain remains tucked away when one takes into how he goes out of his way to be silently strong for beloved seeing as how he sees this as his personal failure as much as beloved's. Why does loss follow John Kreese? Maybe if he was stronger, showed even less mercy, grew even colder, more relentless, more of a man in every sense, none of this would proceed happening.

[terrence-silver]

Do you think that John and Terry’s PTSD would ever cause one of them to unintentionally harm their beloved? How would they respond to doing such things, if they have?

Yes, for example, Terry has been shown to have dissociative tendencies in (CK, as an old man) and a wild range of mood disorders (in TKK3) specifically pointing towards pathological sadism and rage, especially when he doesn't get his own way, like for example, when he loses to Mr. Miyagi. Or outright hysteria, when he's hurting someone and liking it a bit too much. I imagine Terry would be the type who's mind goes ''blank'' for indefinite amounts of time, more so when faced with something triggering and that in moments like that, he's extremely dangerous to be around because he can and will snap. Beloved can get thrown against walls, he can engage them in a fight because in that split second, he'll see them as the ''enemy'' or rather something he must conquer, he can grab them and choke them, wide eyed and feral, cackling in their face or just staring them down, appearing as if not to even register or hear their pleading and begging, or worse yet, registering and finding he enjoys it. He can bite into them, he can draw blood and scratch and bruise and rip off their clothes and just have them, refusing to stop. The next morning he'll feel rage with himself, witness all the scars beloved's riddled with. He lost control. Losing control is unforgivable. Having a weakness? Putrid.

As for John? John's complicated to pinpoint for me, but I think John's personal brand of PTSD hinges more on him being stuck in his combative state of mind. He said it himself; peace is just a lull between battles. He's still at war, you see. Doesn't matter if it has been ten years, twenty, thirty or fifty, he still has that underlining state of going on a mission and winning. He's always at war with someone, be it a rivalling dojo, a rivalling local Sensei, a kid who won a tournament over his own champion --- doesn't matter. John Kreese has to be at war with someone. Something. He treats students like foot-soldiers, a Co-Sensei like a Lieutenant or equal compatriot and fellow warrior (because that's what Terry was once) and himself as a Captain. The era doesn't even matter. So, what would beloved be then? Beloved is someone he protects. Overprotects, lets say. Beloved is the war loot. Or a war prisoner, depending who you ask. And beloved will be absolutely brainwashed into accepting that, yes, this is war. There’s danger during war. So, they best listen to him. Follow his lead. Obey him. Because otherwise, well --- As for how he responds to his own PTSD? John most likely doesn’t. John does this fully aware of what he’s tactically doing.

[terrence-silver]

If Ponytail survived the war and came back home, a polyamorous Terry and John would've probably included him in their (now four-way) relationship with Beloved. What do you think?

Depends. Very, very complicated question.

Depends how Ponytail would've fit into the Cobra dynamic if he survived.

I have no way of confirming this, and while I think Terry (Twig) loved both John and Ponytail dearly (and clearly, Ponytail's death affected him for the rest of his life), he'd view both John and Ponytail was the cool kids as opposed to himself. One cool kid is good. He can venerate, admire, claim and love one cool kid and that's his Johnny. But, two? I think Terry would have an innate fear of being left behind by this pair of cool kids. John and Ponytail are shown, briefly, interacting with each other primarily, before Terry runs up and joins them --- a friend, but almost like a tid bit of an outsider. Not much. But just a bit. Like the shy green one they sort of adopted into their group. I think that when there's three of them together, after Vietnam, Terry might start fearing, guiltily, that Ponytail could just whisk away his best friend from him. Terry has a company to inherit, after all. A familial business to run. So, there is admittedly the overwhelming anxiety that John and Ponytail will become much closer friends in his absences than he and Johnny ever were, despite of John saving his life so many times and them having this bond of brotherhood and a "I'll be there for you forever and ever and ever" connection between them. What if someone threatened that? What if Ponytail did? Terry doesn't like that. Terry doesn't like that one bit. I legitimately think this paranoia, obsession, terror, envy, fear and jealousy might just go a sour route and that even if Ponytail survived Vietnam, for all of Terry's territorial tendencies, the outcome of Ponytail's fate might still be the same in his civilian life as well as the battlefield. I can see Terry killing Ponytail, not out of hate, per se --- he loves this guy, but this guy is also threatening to whisk away another friend he loves perhaps just a bit more, and in his desperation and confusion, Terry does a bad thing. Still usurps the hairstyle and the mannerisms as a way of grief and conquest. Now, Johnny can love him double. He's both himself and Ponytail. He can get twice of the affection and devotion, can't he?

Gets worse if there's a beloved involved.

You'd think it wouldn't, but it would, after a while. It is the 70's! Free love reigns --- but it is hardly that simple. Again, because John's the classically manly one. Ponytail is the charming, witty one. But, what is Terry at the time, if all slots are occupied? He can accept him being the brains to John's brawns, but he cannot accept being a fourth best in a group of four. His confidence in himself is low post-war and he'd feel like the extra third wheel. The wimpy one. The weakling. The least of a man in the bunch. The Twig, if you will. He both wants to possess all three of his darlings, John, Ponytail and beloved included, but his need to establish control over all of them is such that he both cannot execute it as effectively as he'd like just yet at this time in his life, and there's a bit too many people to control in this narrative in the first place. Ponytail is a bit too cool. He makes his Johnny laugh. He schmoozes beloved. He schmoozes Terry too, while teasing him. Must he have everything? Must he overshadow him? Terry should be the one with everything. Terry is sensitive. Volatile. A bit too raw in this era. He's a bit like a child who's realizing that the awesome, universally like kid in the group is stealing all of the spotlight. Turns out, Terry adores Ponytail, but he adores him more when he's dead and a memory. In spite of his affections, he almost does wish Ponytail never came back from Vietnam even though the though hurts and drives Terry insane. But, John's his hero. John saved his life. John fought the snake pit duel for him and in his stead. Terry swore a lifetime of loyalty to John. Beloved is theirs. How dare anyone steal the attention off of that? It is time for me to become you, Terry thinks, as he ensures Ponytail befalls a fatal accident that can easily be written off as just that --- surely, Terry's parents have enough moolah to cover up the tracks of some deceased young vet. Maybe he tragically committed suicide? The war did this to him, huh? Now, Terry can be the cool one and make Johnny and beloved laugh instead.

Beloved plays with Terry's long, tied hair the way they once did to Ponytail.

No more --- they grief together.

All's right in the world.