#not open but you can pester him through the askbox

[goddesstrolls]

“i’m just straight fucked, huh.”

[musical-shit-show]

could have danced all night

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x Reader Inspiration: Prompts #2 (“apparently all our friends have a bet going that we end up together.”) #14 (“when i’m not with you, it’s almost like…i can’t breathe.”) and #41 (“i may or may not have left some…marks.”) Warnings: sexual references, kissing, meddling siblings, fluffy fluff Word Count: 3,733 Author’s Note: This is my first request! Big shout out to @acmbooksandfilm​ for sending this in, I had a lot of fun writing it. Also, apologies on it taking a bit to get out, writing has gotten difficult as my real adult job has slowly turned my brain to mush. But, if you would still like to send in a request, feel free! My DMs and Askbox is always open, even though it may take a little longer to complete requests. And as always, check out my Masterlist, About Me page, and Prompt Lists. Thanks for all the love on my other one shots and enjoy!

“Colin, enough,” Benedict huffed as he threw on his shiny black tailcoat, “Surely you have better things to do than pester me about my love life.” Anthony, Benedict, and Colin often crossed paths when getting ready for the numerous events of the season, and now the younger Bridgerton brother was doing everything to get on his elder sibling’s last nerve.

“I’m merely pointing out the obvious, Benedict,” Colin said smugly, straightening his cravat as he looked at himself in the mirror. He couldn’t help but flash a mischievous smile at his reflection, “Practically everyone in the ton knows about you two, what’s the harm in proposing?”

“What on God’s green earth are you two talking about?” Anthony strode into the room, closing the door in the likely event that Colin said something inappropriate and scandalized one of their younger sisters or, heaven forbid, their mother.

Benedict couldn’t help but flush. Yes, he was close enough with his brothers to discuss all matters surrounding women, but it felt wrong for him to talk about you. Especially when your relationship wasn’t meant to be any sort of relationship whatsoever.

It had started out innocently enough; you had been close with his younger sister Eloise and Penelope Featherington for years, acting as surrogate older sister on account of you being several years older than them. You were also friendly with Daphne and Simon Bassett, and often had tea with the pair when they weren’t off performing their duties as the Duke and Duchess of Hastings.

In truth, you knew Benedict the least out of the Bridgertons who had or were close to coming of age, and was shocked when he requested to have his name written on your dance card at the first ball of the season. When it came time to dance, you had expected Benedict to act shy at first; but after some coaxing from you, he won you over almost instantly with his wit and humor.

He only asked to dance with you once more at that particular event, not wanting to be improper. However, it was clear from the way the two of you looked at each other that there was a spark.

“No one,” Benedict said, almost too quickly, “Our brother is just sticking his nose into affairs that aren’t his own, as usual.” Anthony rolled his eyes, thoroughly unamused by his younger siblings’ bickering. The three of them strode down the stairs of their home and seized a carriage so that the conversation could continue in private.

“So…” Colin drawled, “It is an affair, then?”

“You know that’s not what I meant at all.”

“A slip of the tongue, perhaps? You know, brother, you must choose your words more carefully—"

“Mark my words, Colin Bridgerton; I will kill you in this very carriage if—”

“Will the two of you, please,” Anthony huffed, feeling a migraine coming on, “Benedict, is this about who I think it is about…?” Colin nodded fervently, but Benedict remained stone-faced. He hated keeping things from his family, especially his brothers. But he couldn’t risk tarnishing your name, not after what had transpired between you two.

It wasn’t meant to happen. When Benedict had snuck off one night to another one of Sir Granville’s soirées, he was shocked to see you there, wearing a tightly-laced corset, undergarments, and practically nothing else. As soon as you saw him, your eyes widened to the size of your mother’s best teacup saucers. Without thinking, you grabbed him and pulled him into the nearest empty room.

“Benedict, wha—what are you doing here?!” he remembered you asking him, utterly flustered. His eyes drifted to the sheer robe draped over your shoulders, the fabric floating gently with your every movement.

“I could very well ask you the same question!” he attempted to whisper, now distracted by how your corset pushed up your bosom considerably, “How do you even know about these, um, parties?” For a moment, you hesitated, unsure of what to say as Benedict’s pale blue eyes bore into yours.

You sighed, resigning to come clean, “Genevieve—Madame Delacroix—she told me about them. I confided in her about my father’s money troubles,” you felt the tears start to well up, but could not bear to cry in front of Benedict in the state you found yourself in, “I barely have any money for a dowry to find a suitable husband, and Genevieve and Sir Granville are familiar so…I work when I can and just make the guests feel comfortable—you know, offer them drinks, tobacco, the like—but I provide nothing more than hospitality.”

You felt that you needed to make that distinction to Benedict. Though you suspected that any chance with him was gone now that he had discovered your secret, you wanted to at least maintain part of your reputation, “Granville is generous enough and I could not be more grateful,” you continued, pulling the nearly translucent robe tightly around your body, “And these parties are so secretive that I thought, perhaps, I could scrounge enough money together before the end of the season before I was discovered. Clearly not.”

You couldn’t help but laugh dryly, but Benedict stared at you, his expression earnest, “You need not worry about that,” he breathed, “I won’t tell a soul.” You absentmindedly bit your bottom lip, chewing nervously on a bit of broken skin. Could he really be trusted? Yes, you had crossed paths over the last few weeks, exchanging pleasantries and the occasional flirtatious glance, but would Benedict be able to keep your secret?

“Thank you, Mr. Bridgerton,” you replied coyly, deciding that you didn’t have a choice in the matter, “Perhaps I will be able to repay you one day.” A sly smile spread across Benedict’s face, his eyes flickering to the locked door. Though the party was continuing on the other side, you two had remained virtually undisturbed.

Feeling bold, he traced his fingers over your collarbone, instantly sending a chill down your spine, “Perhaps…you could repay me now?” he posited, trying his best not to sound like a complete and utter rake, “Only if you wish to, of course.” Despite your best efforts, you could feel a palpable spark that had been building between the two of you over the past few weeks. And you had grown tired of restraining your impulses any longer.

Gently, you placed a soft kiss on his lips. Your eyes fluttered shut and Benedict cupped your face with his hand, his grip surprisingly tender. His free arm wrapped around your body smoothly, pulling you flush against him. You frantically thought through the consequences of someone discovering you with a Bridgerton, but you were too preoccupied with removing Benedict’s clothing to pay much mind…

“Benedict!” Anthony snapped his younger brother out of his reverie as the carriage slowed to a stop, “Would you get your head out of the clouds and tell me what’s going on?” Benedict stared at him, utterly panic stricken. He had kept your secret for nearly a month now, and during that time the two of you had gotten even closer, both in the eyes of the ton and after nightfall in your bedchamber.

Benedict’s mind almost drifted to the night he had shared with you only hours before, but focused on the task at hand, “You needn’t worry your pretty little head, brother,” he said coolly, “I have it all under control.” Anthony looked as if he were going to be sick, and Colin smiled with devilish glee. The three brothers clamored out of the carriage and made their way into the bustling ballroom, more of their family trailing close behind.

Benedict could hear Eloise whine as Lady Bridgerton attempted to smooth down her hair, and he felt a small pang of guilt for not coming to his sister’s aid against their mother’s incessant prodding. But now, he had more pressing matters at hand; namely, what in the hell he was going to say to you now that his brothers were onto him.

He spotted you from across the hall, his heart fluttering with every step he took in your direction. He noticed that you were wearing an intricately laced shawl that was tied tightly across your chest, completely covering your collarbone and much of your breast. Benedict felt himself frown slightly, then immediately scold himself for being improper at a society function; surely, you need not show your bosom to the entire ton in order to draw the eye of him and a number of other suitors.

You were conversing with Penelope and Lady Featherington when he finally approached you, eyes wide with fear, “Hello,” he said politely, giving a slight nod to Penelope and her mother, “Is there a spot open for my name on your card?” You quirked an eyebrow, giving him a smirk as you removed the card from your wrist.

“Why of course, Mr. Bridgerton,” you replied in an equally cordial manner. Heaven forbid Portia Featherington get a whiff of your affair; you’d be certain your name would be splashed across Lady Whistledown’s pamphlet before you’d wake the next morning, “In fact, you are the first gentleman to ask, so you may have the first dance. If you are not otherwise engaged, that is.” He shook his head and his eyes gleamed as he returned your card to your delicately gloved hand.

Despite his anxiety being astronomically high, Benedict was delighted that he was able to dance with you so early in the evening. He always thought of you as a fluid dancer, light on your feet as the two of you would glide across the ballroom. He often found himself not being able to take his eyes off you, the lively music and judgmental crowd fading away the moment he embraced you.

More importantly, he wanted to speak to you about the precarious situation you found yourselves in. It was only a matter of time until either Anthony or Colin pried the truth out of him, and he wouldn’t let the news spread across all of London society, besmirching your good name. He cared about you too much to allow such a wretched thing to happen.  

A few moments later, all of the couples were signaled that the first dance was to begin. Benedict shot a glance to Colin, who had been talking Anthony’s ear off since they arrived. Now, the two of them were staring him down, whispering like schoolboys. He refrained from scoffing and instead took your hand gently, pulling you into his tall frame as the music began.

You instantly noticed the nervous and almost pained expression splashed across Benedict’s face, and you furrowed your brow in worry. However, you decided your best course of action was to try and alleviate the tension he must’ve been feeling, “I see you haven’t taken a liking to my shawl,” you remarked, a sly smile dancing on your lips, “I will have to tell my sister she has dreadful taste.”

Benedict ripped his eyes from his brothers’ stares and produced a small chuckle at your teasing. He realized he’d much rather converse with you than worry about what Anthony and Colin were up to, “No, it’s uh—it is, quite lovely,” he countered, lowering his voice, “Though I would prefer to see more of you, of course.” You raised an eyebrow, impressed by his boldness.

“I believe you saw plenty last night, Mr. Bridgerton,” you posited, weaponizing his own name against him, “In fact, I suppose you could blame yourself for my more…conservative attire, wouldn’t you agree?”

Benedict couldn’t help but flush, but cleared his throat to attempt to keep up with your rather scandalous banter, “Yes, well…I suppose…” he stuttered, “I may or may not have left some…marks.” He spun you, watching as your dress moved gracefully around your body and fluttered behind you as you gripped his arm once more.

You searched the panicked expression on his face. Surely, he only knew you were teasing, so why did he look like he was on the brink of sickness? “Benedict, why are you acting so strange?” you asked, attempting to keep the mood light while searching for information, “You’re not falling in love with me, are you?”

Benedict swallowed, attempting to maintain his composure. Besides the looming threat of every affluent family in Mayfair uncovering your secret, he was also painfully aware of how nervous you had been making him over the past weeks. The way your smile lit up every room, the way your eyes sparkled playfully, the way your laugh made his heart do a somersault.

“It’s just as well,” you continued, not waiting for him to answer your rhetorical question, “I overheard Colin and Pen whispering earlier, and Simon and Daphne as well. Apparently, all our friends have a bet going that we end up together.” He sighed, a little relieved that you had caught onto his family’s shenanigans before he worried you unnecessarily. He couldn’t help but appreciate your perceptive nature.

“Believe me, Colin and Daphne may be my siblings, but they are not my friends right now,” he joked nervously, only half-kidding, “And Anthony is on dangerously thin ice. It appears my family can’t help but get involved in matters that do not concern them.” You giggled, causing Benedict’s heart to swell. He was growing more infatuated with you by the second.

“I wish my family cared half as much as yours does,” you say, a twinge of sadness in your voice, “They are all so wonderful, and I’m sure they are just being protective.” Benedict nodded, heartened by the kindness and understanding you were showing to his siblings. You already got along quite well with Eloise and Daphne, and you were always courteous to his mother while still being able to hold your own when conversing with Anthony or Colin.

As the dance came to an end, Benedict had begun to realize his affection for you. Not just physically; yes, your first encounter at Sir Granville’s had brought you two together faster than he had ever expected. It was reckless, intimate, and completely wonderful, but getting to know you, without dozens of uppity members of high society leering at your every move, was more valuable than any nights you had spent together.

And he decided in that moment, as your hand released from his and you both bowed respectfully, that he could not bear to spend one more day without you by his side. But he could not profess his love in front of God and everyone, least of all his family; he quickly surmised that he must wait until a moment presented itself.

You were quickly whisked away by your mother, unable to even say a proper thank you and goodbye. But as your eyes met his blue ones, you couldn’t help but notice how they were sparkling in the candlelight, and you felt a twinge of melancholy. You cared for Benedict, but feared it was only a matter of time before your affair ended and he was married to another disgustingly wealthy aristocrat. You gave him a fleeting smile before getting dragged to the other side of the ballroom.

As you turned away from him, Benedict felt two hands grasping each of his arms, one hand belonging to each of his meddling brothers, “I knew it!” Colin whisper-yelled as he and Anthony pulled their love-struck sibling into a secluded corner of the lavish hall, “You know, you really aren’t fooling anyone, Ben.”

“How do you mean?” Benedict asked nervously in one last ditch effort to conceal the truth. He shouldn’t have bothered; his brothers had seen how smitten he was with you, and soon the entire ton would be abuzz with salacious gossip if he did not make his move that very evening.

“Benedict,” Anthony chided sternly, clapping him on the shoulder, “Please, do not deny it any longer. You’re clearly bewitched.” The eldest Bridgerton child could not help but smirk; it was almost entertaining to see his usually guarded brother so obviously in love.

Benedict sighed, defeated, “Alright,” he whispered, his face flush with embarrassment, “I apologize for thinking I could ever keep a secret from you two.” Colin smirked proudly, feeling as if he were London’s greatest detective, “I’ll tell you everything if you want, but for the love of Christ, it cannot be here.” He gestured to the room, which was growing more crowded with preening mamas, hunting for the slightest whiff of a scandal.

While Benedict and his brothers searched for a private room for him to regale your escapades, your night flew by, and hours later you found yourself chatting with Daphne and Simon on the gorgeously decorated outdoor terrace. The night was perfectly temperate, and although the noise had died down significantly as many guests had departed for the evening, your head was still swimming in thought. Specifically, you were overwhelmed by the thought of Benedict.

He was quite kind to you, and a very smart, charming gentleman, but you felt your heart lurch as you recalled the intimate nights you had shared over the last few weeks. Men of Benedict’s status would not wed a tainted woman, no matter how much you wished he would. It was only a matter of time before Lady Whistledown revealed your transgressions, and you would be marked as an undesirable to the entire upper echelon of society.

You shuddered at the thought. “Chilly, dear?” Daphne asked sweetly, noticing the unsettled look on your face, “I would think you’d be more protected from the elements with that beautiful shawl on.” Your heart jumped to your throat before you could cover for yourself; Benedict had appeared on the terrace, looking absolutely petrified. Simon and Daphne exchanged glances.

“Darling,” Simon said, turning to his wife, “It is quite crisp out here, don’t you think? Perhaps we should—”

“Go inside to warm up?” Daphne finished his sentence, that unmistakably mischievous glint in her eye that all Bridgerton children possessed, “Why yes, I think that is a fantastic idea, Simon.” She hooked her arm under her husband’s, and the two of them bid you and Benedict adieu, much to your dismay. You were certain he had been found out by his family and was here to end your affair before word reached the rest of the ton.

Still, you managed to smile politely. Simon was right, there was a slight chill that pervaded the terrace, mostly due to the lack of company that had populated the space only hours before, “Hello, Benedict,” you mutter, shifting your weight from one heeled foot to the other, “Will you be departing soon or—?”

“Erm, yes,” he answered a bit too quickly, and you raised an eyebrow. His strange behavior all night was another indicator that ending things was clearly as difficult for him to initiate as it would be for you to accept, “But first, I, well, I need to tell you something. Something I probably should have told you weeks ago.”

You felt a lump in your throat almost instantaneously. ‘Here it comes,’ you thought, more distressed than you hoped you would be. Benedict took your gloved hand, rubbing circles on the back of your hand with his thumb. If it were not slightly improper, you would almost find it comforting; his touch always seemed to soothe you, ever since your first night together.

“I never expected to…for us to become so close in such a short period of time,” he began, wondering at what point in this silly speech he would make a royal ass out of himself. Though he had gained a little brotherly insight from Anthony and Colin, he still felt as though he could vomit at any second, “And, well, truth be told, I have enjoyed every moment we have spent together.”

You smiled, pleased by his kind words, “Truthfully, I have felt the same,” you remarked, “But it’s quite alright, Ben, I understand—”

“You do?” he cut you off again, a bead of sweat forming on his brow, “Am I really so obvious about my affection for you?” You stared at him, confused. Was this not him ending whatever…relationship the two of you shared? Now you felt like the fool.

“Affection?” you repeated, your mouth twitching, “I thought you did not want to see me anymore.” Benedict’s eyes widened, and he couldn’t help but laugh dryly. You had mistaken his jittery behavior as a bad omen, when that could not be further from reality.

He shook his head, and you felt the pace of your heartbeat quicken, “My dear, I think there’s been a slight misunderstanding,” he joked, clearing his throat, “I know that our relationship has been a secret for some time, but I cannot hide how I feel for you any longer. You are kind, and witty, and strong, and incredibly adventurous, and when our dance came to an end earlier this evening, I…I felt like there was a part of me missing as soon as you left. I…when I’m not with you, it’s almost like…I can’t breathe.”

Your breath hitched in the back of your throat, taken aback by his doting and earnest words. “And it would be my honor,” he smiled, his gaze intense and impassioned, “If I could ask for your hand.” Your eyes sparkled back at his, and you nodded silently, attempting to conceal a squeal of girlish glee. You two were still, unfortunately, in public.

“Yes,” you exhaled, feeling foolish from your assumptions about Benedict only minutes before, “I would be equally honored to be your wife, Benedict Bridgerton.” You snuck him a quick kiss on his cheek, causing him to flush for what was probably the hundredth time that night, “I see our friends were right after all, weren’t they?”

“Yes, yes they were, and I doubt I will ever hear the end of it from Anthony and Colin,” Benedict mused, smiling sweetly as the corners of his eyes crinkled happily, “I’ll see to a proper visit first thing tomorrow morning, I promise.” He studied you, doing all he could to absorb the joyous look etched upon your radiant face. You smirked, turning in the direction of your family’s carriage.

“I shall hold you to that,” you said, pulling him towards the exit, “But don’t think this night is over, Mr. Bridgerton. I’m not done with you quite yet.”

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I hope you enjoyed reading! As always I would love to hear any comments or feedback! Like/comment/reblog, all that good stuff :)

[fireandspiceland]

Can you give us random headcanons about Japan x Romania? Like your thoughts on the ship

Hmm my thoughts on the ship.. tbh I never thought of it before someone mentioned magic trio x Japan and then later Romania x Japan 👀 I’ve always been more focused on Norway and England when it comes to the magic trio simply because there isn’t that much canon content for Romania and I haven’t been in this fandom long enough to get any deeper than Romania x Bulgaria (fell in love with that ship through a twitter au on instagram they are so much fun!!)

Anyways I think now I like Romania x Japan but due to the drabbles and ideas that popped up in my askbox I’m mostly into it when Japan is trans (gotta love that for him <3)

As for headcanons I don’t have many original thoughts but Romania being a horny menace who keeps pestering a hard working japan who is equally horny but a lot better at keeping it in his pants has to be one of my fav things for them!

But this also gives me an idea for them actually :D Romania being afraid he’s forcing Japan into sex because it’s mostly him starting things and yeah japan goes along with it and REALLY doesn’t seem to mind at all.. but still.. 😔 so Romania tries to keep it together and to give japan more room but now japan is thinking he did something wrong because Romania stopped pushing him onto the bed or against a wall or grinding up against him.. [a little angst and stuff happens] but what’s important is that once he can’t take it anymore 👀 japan decides to act on it and that night Romania thinks he’s invited for a study date but when he opens the door to Japan’s room he finds him butt naked kneeling on the bed all wet and ready but still shyly asking if Romania still finds him attractive.

I think it goes without mentioning that FUCK YES he does and they both have a lot of pent up energy to release that night ✨😘

[himbo-buckley]

Sex, Intimacy and Buddie (better known as I have a lot of feelings about this show, some of which are related to the before mentioned topics) - Part 5

Hej alla,

hur cool att du är här! Vad kul!

(Kay, that’s it, all the Swedish I remember from two semesters of not really studying, so it’s probably also wrong, uups?)

(Still passed though.)

You guys! We made it! And please, do not imagine this read to you in a happy voice. I am sobbing. I already miss it!

(Also, if you do imagine how I might sound please consider due to several unforseeable circumstances of student exchanges in my youth I have a very weird mixture of British and American English, which basically translates to sounding like either of those doing a bad impression of the other accent - or you know, Australian.)

I’m really having a hard time finishing this meta because I loved doing it so much and I loved talking to all of ya’ll so much. This is a sad moment. (HEY, what if ya’ll came and visited my askbox and I get to discuss random stuff with you!)

Just a fair warning now, somewhere hidden in the middle: this thing is fucking long! We are talking longer than Season 2, so be warned!

Anyways, in case someone is new:

part 1 - part 2 - part 3 - part 4

And some general info:

This meta was supposed to be a lot shorter and only talk about how both Buck and Eddie use sex to distract their respective partners from whatever topic they actually wanted to talk about but since I decided to rewatch the show to make sure I don’t miss any such scenes, it has exploded a bit and taken on more topics

I should also mention that I am a Buddie shipper and while I tried, you will find several references and arguments for the ship in this Meta, not all of which necessarily call for a romantic pairing but just: These two are deeply connected and you cannot look at one without discussing the other and they are each other’s strongest emotional connection.

I should also preface this by saying that the whole of the 118 has some obvious intimacy / commitment issues except Bobby (which is sort of surprising) but *John Mulaney voice* we don’t have time to unpack all of that!

On another note I cuss a little in this Meta because my parents let me listen to TicTacToe as a small child and after that it never stuck that cussing is wrong so, uhm, parental supervision is advised or something

This Meta has FIVE parts. Season 1 and 2 make up one part each, while Season 3, due to something pesky called feelings and the fact that I can’t shut up, has been split in three parts: Part 3 aka Season 3A, which spans 3.01 - 3.10, Part 4 which spans 3.11 - 3.17 and this part which is officially only one episode - but still manages to be just as long. Yay! (Sorry.)

And now for the last time for now: part 5 (also called „You’re a godless, half-witted himbo, Evan Buckley, and I wish I loved you less so I could talk about it more“)

Episode 3.18:

My oh my, this episode.

I loved it but I also … didn’t.

It was way too much and at times felt a little rushed and the pacing was just weird.

I mean I loved the party but did we really need 5 min of it? Did we really need Josh’s storyline and Michael’s so randomly in the middle of the episode? Could we have gotten a longer apology scene? Why the weird phone call?

Let’s talks about all of that! (It’s why you clicked read more, right?)

Ya’ll, I gotta be honest, I am from Europe and I regularly go to places via train and while it’s better than a bus, I can’t see anyone falling in love with that! I am just gonna assume Abby did not go by train in Germany. Or Austria. Or Italy. Listen, I like trains just fine but man, do they not look like what we see here!

But also, as someone who has watched Community, the train lady saying „This isn’t Subway“ in an Episode where the human embodiment of Subway acts is very very funny to me.

I feel like I don’t have to point out how significant the cut from Abby saying „They stopped waiting for me a long time ago“ to Buck and Eddie discussing Chris is. Everyone has talked about it by now. But yes, it registered, as did the fact that Abby is dating a single father - while Buck is apparently basically dating a single father. But, you know, that probably means nothing! *chugs a whole bottle of wine*

The co-parenting was very cute and honestly I feel for Christopher and Carla and the firefam is Buddie does happen because they will try to out-protect each other and it will be glorious and also Chris might never get to leave the nest ever. That poor boy.

Sidenote: We as a fandom have not talked enough about Eddie’s reaction to Bobby yodelling and I think that’s very tragic of us. Because his reaction is the best, all: „Is he - should I - no, you know what, fuck it, Eddie, ignore this, that’s too much, you can not unpack all of this, just move on. Brush it off!“

Just watch his face ya’ll, it’s great! (He will be talking to Frank about this, I know it.)

Sidenote: Also Eddie in 3.15 / 3.15. / 3.17 / 3.18 > any other Eddie, and no, I do not take criticism. That boy has always been fine but the military hair cut or what ever is doing things to me as do his happy eyes and the smiles - my god, the smiles!

It does seem significant though the way the show focused so heavily on Buck’s reaction and - as it had been the case since „Eddie Begins“ - we basically don’t see Eddie without Buck and that’s weird. That feels pointed and important, the fact that after realising, who his family is, Eddie basically never leaves Buck’s side if they are at work.

Also the way Chimney and Bobby look at each other in between, yeah, again, making fun of Christopher’s dads! Like, even if you don’t read this as Buddie, you cannot not read this scene as somewhat confirming the „Buck is Christopher’s other parent“-thing. And I know I answered an ask on Tuesday(?) where I said he wasn’t really but yeah, he is getting there. The whole season spent a lot of time focusing on Buck’s relationship with Christopher and even if it isn’t about Buddie, I still think it will cause trouble in Season 4 if Eddie begins dating again, specifically Chris’ teacher.

I also need to talk about Eddie and control, because like I said in part 4 Eddie needs to learn to let go of Christopher a little which is what we see here happening, specifically through the lens of making Buck even more overprotective than Eddie to really cement the fact in all our minds that Eddie is trying to let his son have some freedom. I am so proud of him, you guys! He just signed up for the worst two weeks of his life, he will be dying on the inside out of concern and Buck will pester him every two seconds about whether or not Chris is fine. This is why these three haven’t been to Disneyland, ya’ll! Eddie wouldn’t be able to handle it without murdering either Buck or himself. I’m sorry.

And speaking of how the episode is cut:

One thing I love about 911 is the way it always makes me consider new character pairings and connections I myself would have never thought of, in the context of this episode: Athena, Josh - and Eddie.

And look, the Athena and Josh thing is daunting enough but you can probably still catch my train of thought, because both are recent victims of assault and the episode shows them dealing with trauma and confronting their attacker, even though in Athena’s case it was just theoretical. But now you’re probably wondering, okay, why Eddie?

Well, for starters, what the episode made me realise, whether on purpose on not through cutting from scene to scene is how many similarities there are between Eddie and Athena, both of them always trying to be in control, both of them more prone to violence / more okay with violence than the others, both soft underneath, both with a tendency to let anger take over, both considered to be extremely capable, both with an intense need for control, both straight talker.

And now I will obviously not pretend that letting your child go to sleep away camp for two weeks is similar too confronting your assailant who beat you up, but still: facing fears and letting go of control vs. finding different ways to regain control is the theme for these three in the episode (or this Season in Eddie’s case) and I like it.

I really like what they did with Athena in general in this episode, because, while I don’t think we will see her as a civilian in Season 4, I am confident they will address her trauma and PTSD - especially if they only do a short time jump of say three months and not jump all the way to January / February which is when it might air if we’re lucky.

And I do think the comparison between her and Josh is very nicely done as both characters did the whole brushing it off / moving forward / I am not fazed by any of it thing, as we as viewers clearly saw what utter bullshit this was.

Which of course connects nicely to Mr. „Brush it off and move on“ who has spent a whole season learning to not just move on but to talk about it. A lesson he might have learned? At least that’s what the episode made me think, from the way he came to Buck / the firefam to talk about Christopher and camp to the way he so clearly tried to get Buck to open up about Abby. Jup, that is some motherforking growth right there!

I also wanna say hi to Brooke Shields and say I hope we see her again, cause her character seemed interesting!

And I do appreciate Athena herself addressing the fact that she messed up a little by not calling for back-up right away. This is not meant in a victim blaming way, I just think Athena is very used to handling everything on her own and not asking for help and it is interesting to see how that changes, now that it has backfired on her once.

And now we are getting into the Abby of it all and if anyone reading this is anti Buddie or severely pro Abby this is the moment to either leave or scroll down some more, because ya’ll I won’t really hold back!

(I think.)

I wanna begin by saying, uhm, Abigail, honey? Can you not read what is written on Eddie’s and everyone else’s helmets? Yes, he is from the 118, it literally says so on like every article of clothing he is wearing, omg!

(Writers, do better, that made an already unlikeable character seem downright stupid.)

Now it is very interesting, that the first person we see Abby interact with directly from the main cast (I’m counting the phone call with Maddie as indirectly) is Eddie who doesn’t know who Abby is but who is close enough to Buck to know the second he sees her who she is. The episode spends just as much time focusing on his reaction to Abby as 3.15 did on Buck’s reaction and tbh that feels … fairly non platonic. Of course we can always go back to „Stuck“ and remember what Hen said about Tatiana but still. That was one scene, here we have several scenes highlighting Eddie’s reaction to Abby and just, what do you want me to do with this, Tim?

I mean, the meeting scene literally goes like this:

Eddie *talking to Abby* > cut to Buck, coming closer > Buck: „Abby?“ > cut to both Abby and *Eddie* > Abby: „Buck?“ while the camera is still on her and Eddie > cut to just Eddie’s face having a realisation > cut to Buck

That is some very extreme focus if we’re being honest.

Also her panic reminds everyone of Buck in 3.15, right? The way she is screaming, disregarding her own safety, all desperate to get to her fiancé. Yeah.

I like how Eddie lets them talk and then steps in when he realises Buck is too shocked and only then rushes off, nearly touching Buck. Too be honest I didn’t realise his hand didn’t make contact until I saw some gifs of the scene.

Also the way Oliver plays this scene? The whole scene is so painful and I love it a lot, his whole delivery is so very painful, from the way he says „We’ll find him.“ to the „Um, what’s his name?“ to the „No. Oh. Don’t worry about it.“ because you can actually see him go through all the emotions from devastation to being so very pissed off and then locking that shit down!

Listen, I know it was teased that Buck had to grapple between being a professional and his personal feelings and I think this episode is him being a professional, because this is Buck and Buck cares so for Buck being a professional means risking his life for some guy on the train, regardless of his promise and who he is engaged to.  

Sidenote: This episode really brought home why Eddie is a firefighter and not a paramedic, because his bedside manner is shit. „This is gonna hurt a little“. Way to downplay, dude!

Also, while I do love the idea of Buck getting to be Captain one day, I think this episode shows why he won’t be. Because even when he is being professional and having great ideas Buck still cares too much and is unable to make the hard decisions. Compare it to Eddie, who, yes, does say „If we have to choose“, but also is willing to make the choice. Because sometimes you have to. (And now I’m crying a little and oh my, this is why I do not work in any job that has me make such decisions because I could not imagine living with myself if I did.)

I do think however Buck did good, from the way he talked to Sam being his usual self and all.

I’m also such a fan of smart Buck and him standing up for himself with Bobby because he doesn’t get to do this often enough and because it is important for him as a character to learn to trust his own judgement and not depend so much on Bobby’s approval. So yay, my baby is growing up!

(Also, obviously Bobby’s worry was also about Buck and not just Athena, we’ve had half a season of Bobby doing the most to „protect“ Buck, mostly against his will, so I really like that Buck got to do the rescue his way in the end, because it shows growth on both sides.)

Now, Eddie and his dramatic reaction in this scene, first of all:

I wanna take a moment to remember the fact that Edmundo Diaz, my main man, my love, my absolute ray of grey sunshine, apparently lacks any kind of self-awareness - or he would stop acting all high and mighty around Buck because the second Buck is out of view he like, drops any pre-tense of having critical thinking skills or something akin to self-preservation and does the next thing that enters his bird brain no matter the consequences. So a moment of silence for Hen, Chimney and Bobby and all they had to go through in the 6/7 months between Buck getting crushed by a ladder truck and coming back to work, because Buck? They can at least make fun of. Or tell him: yo, bro, you being stupid!

You can’t do that with Eddie - because when Eddie does stupid he gone nearly die but like in a heroic way where he still ends up saving himself and you have to be impressed. Urgh, the nerve!

So, you know what, how about, Mr. Edmundo Diaz, you do not judge Buck for wanting to save people and risk his own life UNTIL WE HAVE FORGOTTEN ABOUT YOU CUTTING THAT MOTHERFORKING ROPE? Got me? Thanks. (I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed, dude.)

(But then again EVERY MOTHERFORKING CHARACTER ON THIS DAMN SHOW SUFFERS FROM CRAZY STUPID DISEASE and no, I do not take any criticism.)

Also I loved Eddie’s dialog and how clearly the whole thing about the promise slipped out if the way his hands closed are anything to go by (or was he imagining punching some sense either into himself or Buck because in both cases: Call Frank, Eddie!). Anyway the way he just left, like, „I can not deal with ya’ll’s stupidity, I am leaving!“ has me shook! That is the top tear entertainment I expect from my favourite show and I love them for it!

I do love how both Buck and Eddie are in protector mode in this episode, Buck with Sam and Abby and Eddie with Buck, especially because if we’re being honest, which we are (this is a safe space ya’ll), Eddie is the one being far more unprofessional! For his standards, of course.

But this is the closest Eddie has come to showing some form of violence since 3a viewed chronologically (because 3.15 happened mostly in the past) yet Buck is just being is usual too caring self. It’s telling and it’s interesting and I’m just gonna say one thing:

„No one is good when it’s personal.“ - because for Buck with Sam it isn’t really personal (though that won’t hit him until later) but for Eddie it kinda is because he is worried about Buck. (And now I did spell it out! But, oh well, I did say we were gonna do some Buddie right around here!)

Sidenote: what exactly was the meaning / reason of that phone call between Abby and her stepdaughter? We already knew Sam had children and from the was she was looking outside they could have had her just see Buck and step out of the tent to watch the rescue, so why do it this way I ask? Why this incredibly unnecessary phone call that felt so very awkward?

Also I am not gonna talk about that scene right now, because I get mad every single time!

So I will just leave a link to what I’ve said about this scene so far here *and* give you the notes I took on this scene:

ALWAYS READY TO DIE

godless heathen of a man he makes me so angry i hate him i hate this show I wanna leave

EVAN BUCKLEY LOOKS GOD IN THE EYES AND SAYS NAH BRO NOT TODAY

(It’s not like his suicidal tendencies are relevant to this meta anyways because like I said a few paragraphs ago: The whole firefam has them! )

Also, for the first time ever: here is a picture I took while watching the show because what are these two extras doing? Why are they touching like that? Who are they and will we see them again? Does my brain get easily distracted by completely unrelated things?

Anyways, the way Buck answers Sam „She’s down there waiting for you.“ when he asks for Abby and his „Good to meet you Sam.“ really brings home how none of his behaviour was about Abby and all about Buck being Buck. (And now I am angry at him again, urgh, THE NERVE! Selfless fucking himbo!)

I really liked that Sam knew who Buck was and that they got to have this little interaction where he probably reevaluated the whole night because that boy just risked his life for him, the guy marrying his ex-girlfriend, and has spent the whole night being so very nice to him and talking to him. Not gonna lie, Buck is a good guy through and through and Sam probably feels like shit now.

Also Eddie coming to stand in front of Buck - I know some people think it was out of protectiveness, which got me thinking:

Tbh at first I was convinced it was a camera angle thing? Because if Eddie stood behind Buck we wouldn’t really see him. Then I thought, so why choose this angle to film it? Obviously the set had to be built a certain way so was there no other way to do it? Also why was it even important, that we saw Eddie arrive like that, couldn’t they have just changed the angle after Abby was gone to get Eddie in the frame? Why was it important that we knew that Eddie was there and 1) was putting himself physically between Abby and Buck meaning 2) that when Abby leaves with her single father, Buck is left with his single father? Why does an episode that is supposed to give Buck closure focus so much on the reactions of his non romantic partner?

(Because tbh, even if they needed to find ways to use Ryan Guzman in this Episode without adding too many scenes, they could have done it with less focus on Abby. I say this as a Buddie shipper who does recognise how important the connection Buck and Eddie have as friends is: storyline wise Bobby would have made more sense in most of these scenes and Eddie could have been used in a different way.)

I’ll leave this scene with the very nice visual of Buck running back to the traincrash and Eddie following him. These two. Like magnets.

And a quick topic change, because I do wanna talk about Michael and Doctor Hale as well in this meta, one because I found them very cute and two because I’ve now talked to a few people about Ana and Eddie and while we by now know she will probably be in Season 4, I feel like we need to compare Michael and Doctor Hale vs Eddie and Ana. Because there is such a difference in the way these love interests where introduced.

Now, of course we need to realise that Eddie and Michael are fairly different characters and Michael has way less relationship related baggage than Eddie has which is why he goes after what he wants way faster (also, carpe diem, he just found out he won’t die). Also of course, there is no moral component to address in Michael dating some doctor vs. Eddie dating his son’s teacher, but still:

Michael and Dr. Hale had one scene together and it wasn’t even overly flirty and yet, we knew where it was heading, we felt the chemistry and everyone ended the episode saying: I ship it, more of that - which they did give us, just *one* episode later. They had some awkward moments, yet the show never left a single doubt in your mind where this is heading.

Now look at Eddie and Ana:

Sidenote: I do wanna say be kind to the character and no hate, especially not to the actress! Yes, she needs to be flashed out more; no, what we saw so far does not make me ship them; no, I do not mind if they dated a little.

First of all we learned more about Doctor Hale in the two short scenes than we did about Ana in four scenes. That seems deliberate.

Second, while we do realise Eddie thinks Ana is attractive from the get go she repeatedly shuts him down by pointedly saying „Mr. Diaz“.

Third, every scene between them - and I mean every single scene - is connected to Buck in some way:

In „Fools“ we cut from Buck saying he likes being single to Eddie doing parent-teacher conference and yes, meeting some other teachers first but also Ana, showing us that while Buck is fine with being single - Eddie might not be. Also, Carla’s „blue eyes“ line which is a little clown-y, so take it with a grain of salt that it could connect us to Buck

Then of course her next scene is Eddie getting in her face about Christopher being hurt. Later in the episode we see Buck reference this on a call, meaning either Carla or Eddie told Buck about it (I am leaning a little toward Carla making fun of Eddie in front of Buck and Eddie then having to come clean about all of it, because I cannot wrap my head about the idea of Eddie telling Buck about having a crush, I’m sorry.)

Her next scene is Eddie coming to apologise to her and she gives her speech about limitations - which we can of course connect to Buck and Eddie talking about Christopher and his limitations before that and then afterwards going skateboarding with them. (It does feel a little deliberate.)

And then of course we have „Eddie Begins“ and you guys, they could have very very easily have either Carla or Buck make a joke about Mrs. Flores and Eddie’s crush in the firehouse scene, but they didn’t! And then we do get to see her at the end where she has one whole line and Eddie barely looks at her and you know what happens? They have a child ask the same question Buck asked at the beginning, making us think of Buck. Like, it would have been enough to establish Eddie doesn’t feel like a hero if the question was asked only once - twice in the span of 45 minutes constitutes a callback, meaning we are supposed to think of the other scene and that means thinking about the other person that asked, which was Buck

And yes, once Season 4 premieres and we get Eddie and Ana in this epic romance because Tim Minear wants to be the next Rick Berman, I will go back to this meta and beat my own ass. Or something.

(Listen, her returning in Season 4 does not mean endgame or the end of Buddie, it just means Eddie might get a love interest. Tbh I actually think it could get us closer to Buddie and you know what, I’m just gonna link all my Ana Flores posts here here and here now so you can read all the other stuff I, alongside some other people, said on this topic, if you’re interested because none of this has a point right now.)

Now, let’s get into the meat of things and talk about *that* scene:

Was it a good apology? No.

Did Buck deserve better? Fuck yes.

Did he get closure? Yes.

Is the way that scene was done actually perfect? I mean, ya’ll, yes? A little?

Listen, this scene was always about closure and that’s what Buck got here and that’s what Buck needed.

Buck, who in Season 1 had described Abby as the perfect woman, needed it to go down like this so he could realise she wasn’t and he could finally let her go. And that’s what it was about!

Obviously looking at Abby’s character this episode does not make her look good, like not at all and I’d be very surprised if we ever saw her again. But looking at it from Buck’s point of view it was exactly what he needed. (Not what he deserved, but yeah, if this show was about what Buck deserved it would be a whole lot different and Buddie would be canon by now.)

One thing I really loved about the scene was the way it was filmed, with LA in front of us, Abby and Buck with their backs to the camera and us only ever seeing them in profile, because it was a  private moment and this sort of made you feel like you were intruding. Like you were listening in on a conversation and I liked that a lot.

Also I think her speech about losing herself through helping people is very interesting because it contrasts her to Buck. Buck found himself in helping others and lost himself when he was no longer allowed to do that and I think that is what she means when she says she would have lost herself with him again. Because Buck is selfless and he is so selfless he inspires others to be the same, except Abby isn’t but being with Buck she would need to be and that is a problem.

Look, if you’ve followed this blog at all or maybe just read part one of the meta you have probably guessed by now that I don’t like Abby. I found her character boring. I thought she overstepped all the time. I got so mad at her for the way she treated Buck in Season 1!

Because in 1.06 she *actually* complains about him being too thoughtful and scared of messing up while calling him a *toy boy*. The truth is, after 1.05 and their first meeting, Abby no longer takes him seriously. She hardly ever takes his feelings into consideration. The relationship, from Valentines Day onward becomes all about what she wants and what she needs and our Buck is the selfless idiot who gives her his all.

I mean, she never even talked to Buck about wanting to leave, just presented him with her decision and then lived her life and never thought about him again.

And like, I think she is wrong if she thinks she’d have lost herself with him again, because Buck was what showed her that she lost herself in the first place. He helped her on the path of self-aquaintance (I guess? I’m lacking the word here), but she is right if she means the relationship wouldn’t have worked.

Because one of them would have lost themselves, though I do think it would have been Buck and not Abby. After all, Buck was the one who gave everything up from the get go and yes, Abby helped trigger him finding himself alongside Bobby and the job and she did help him stay on that path in the beginning - but in the end it was never about her at all. It was about him and him alone and the amazing person he had always been.

And I think that is what Buck realises in the scene. Despite Abby ghosting him, he still looked at her through rose coloured glasses and with fondness, but here, he realises, oh, Abby isn’t perfect. Abby isn’t like the woman I made her out to be. Abby never really cared about me. And as much as that probably hurt, this is what Buck needed to let go of her!

He needed to see that Abby wasn’t the perfect woman so he could let her go - and find himself the perfect person, someone who reciprocates and doesn’t just take. (Am I crying?)

(And look, I am not saying he already found someone like that, someone who proved in this episode how much they care about Buck and his feelings and making sure he comes home every night to his family - I’m saying he found someone who is working on being that person!)

Let’s talk about Eddie and Abby for a second, again, okay?

(Bro, how did I just get to that topic? So random! *laughs in Buddie*)

When I watched the episode my second time to take notes, I wrote one that said ‚Abby and Eddie parallels / lawsuit‘ - and I gotta be honest I barely remember what I meant. But I did still produce some thoughts (just not sure if that was where I was going with the note, so if anyone has some other ideas, please share):

You know how Abby talks about losing herself when she is with Buck? Well, I know someone who lost themselves just this season because he wasn’t with Buck! (Jup, we’re back with the lawsuit, ya’ll really thought I wouldn’t bring this up? You guys! More than 20000 words and you still don’t know me!)

It’s a very nice parallel to have Abby talking about losing herself with Buck when we saw Eddie losing himself without Buck. Because while I think Eddie himself is a selfless person just like Buck, similar to how Buck needed Abby in Season 1 as a catalyst of change so to speak, Buck was the catalyst of change for Eddie.

I talked a lot in the other parts about Eddie having problems with voicing his needs and feelings - and now please once again look at his relationship with Buck. Because here he has been doing this, not from the get go of course, Eddie didn’t take one look at Buck and his whole life was turned upside down (that was Buck looking at Eddie), but I think Buck steamrolling through Eddie’s life helped Eddie find himself. Buck, from the get go, is a calm centre for Eddie, an anchor, even after he reconnects with Shannon. Buck is who he turns to in a crisis, who he trusts with his son, with having his back.

And I think in both cases - Abby and Buck as well as Eddie and Buck - the relationship is brought to the next level through Buck’s selflessness and willingness to help. But while Abby just takes it and doesn’t really see it as the gift it is and never fully lets Buck in, Eddie does the opposite. Eddie, whether knowing or unknowing, makes himself exactly what Buck needs: someone who puts trust in him, who treats him like an equal, who opens his home and his family to him. And he also tries (and this is a big thing considering who we’re talking about right now) to be there for Buck, to be his anchor just like Buck is his - which obviously works with mixed results, because one person, no matter how hard they try can never fix the problems of someone else alone. Believe me. I’ve tried.

And wow, did that get deep and fast! Damn ya’ll and I haven’t had a drop of alcohol in like 5 days. This show really gives me all the feels!

Now, to keep me and maybe ya’ll from crying I’m gonna change the subject and talk about something else, also known as the rest of the episode:

To go back to the start of the episode, Buddie really had some extreme couple / family vibes going on, especially with Christopher in the mix. It’s telling that they included a scene of Buck and Christopher specifically and it was to remind us once again that these two have a strong bond.
I won’t go all: Buddie confirmed, this is were we are heading, ya’ll! Because as you must have realised by now I am fairly cautious when it comes to this and am always fighting to keep my own clownery at bay, but I do have to say so far nothing in this show and Season 3B specifically has read as a red flag for me, disapproving the possibility or making me feel queerbaited. Now, maybe I am just very off in my intuition and they will change gear in Season 4, but well, right now I have some hope!
I also loved the scene of Christopher going to camp and the card which reminded me of 3.01 and also, Eddie looks so good here! And he came so far, letting his son go to camp and all!

Of course I would have loved to see Buck there as well, but one, that would have been a Buddie confirmed and we’re not quite there yet and I’m glad cause right now they aren’t fully ready (in show terms, fanfiction is something different), and two this proves what I said about Buck and Christopher being connected and him having parental / fatherly feelings toward the boy but like, not being his actual father yet! Buck loves Chris and Chris loves Buck and obviously he is part of the Diaz family - but he also isn’t.

(Also: I went to something like camp when I was 11 and you think both my parents brought me? Nah, son, they didn’t. My dad brought me while my mom made breakfast.)

Now, some sidenotes to round it all off:

Karen is a gift and I really hope we see more of her because omg, I wanna be her friend, I wanna be her wife, I wanna learn about life from her! She is awesome and I will never fully forgive Hen for cheating on her, like girly, Eva isn’t even close to Karen on any level?

And speaking of Hen, I love the subplot of Chim coming to terms with her potentially leaving and deciding to help her because he was who she really needed on her side - not anyone else. I’d write a meta on their relationship but tbh it’s so consistent and unproblematic, I really don’t know what to write except: goals about 10000 times. Which isn’t that different to me finding new ways to write THE CONNECTION, if we’re being honest but oh well! Now it’s too late to stop that!

I loved Athena getting spooked by Bobby showing up behind her when she was getting a drink - talk about this show finally addressing the trauma these characters go through! And it only took, oh well, about 35 episodes. Let’s hope that is the energy they bring into Season 4.

Now the apology scene with Bobby, I do hate how Buck is once again the one apologising and especially since it’s with Bobby but I do think it was a nice scene and a great callback to 3.01. Also this episode showed a lot of growth in Bobby and Buck’s relationship. Because after 3a was all about Bobby projecting onto Buck and making decisions for him based on what he thought was the right thing, this episode not only had Buck standing up to Bobby in a healthy and adult way (no lawsuit this time!) but also Bobby giving in and letting Buck make the decision even if he disagreed. That is some motherforking growth right here and Babe, I hope you are not to disappointed with me, but if they keep Bobby like this I might actually begin to see his appeal to people (still need him to suffer the consequences of his actions, though).

But to end on a great note:

Buck is doing okay and - most importantly - MADNEY BABY!!! You guys, we knew it was coming from the promos and all but I cried! I cried so hard! I am so happy for them! These two soft characters and their amazing, open, caring, trusting, adult relationship deserves all the luck in their fictional universe!

Whew, you guys! We’ve done it! And it’s longer than Season 2 (I’m sorry, are ya’ll surprised? This episode was a lot!)

I feel like I should write some form of conclusion to this whole meta and yet my words elude me. Here are the few I have for you though:

This meta began with the idea that neither Buck nor Eddie really knew how to be emotionally intimate with a person and instead used sex as a substitute. This is no longer true for either character.

Buck has learned through his relationship with Abby, that he can be both physically and emotionally intimate with a person and he has proven how this is still true in his reaction to Taylor and his relationship with Ali, what little we saw of it. Furthermore Season 3B specifically showed that Buck, while still afraid to open up to people, is trying. I do think Season 4 is heading toward some kind of romance for him and while I am praying to several deities I do not believe in and the universe itself that it is Eddie, I am not sure. I hope so. But never the less, my shipping aside, Buck has grown tremendously in the course of 3 Seasons and I am so impressed both with his character and the way the show has so realistically done it. I love him. Even more than Buddie I hope we get to see him truly happy in Season 4, happy and settled and learning what life actually holds for him because that kid could rule the world if he wanted to.
Now, Eddie: It’s funny, when I began this meta I felt more connected to Buck, I didn’t really see myself in Eddie, I barely had a grasp on his character at times. Now? Now he is my favourite, I love his greyness, his goodness despite his faults, the way he always struggles with himself to do better, to be better because it doesn’t come naturally to him, because it has been taught to him to do the opposite. And that is so impressive. I love the growth we saw in him, the evolution, the fight to be a better man than his own role-models and I love especially how all of this was motivated by and for his son. He truly loves him more than life itself and I am so impressed with 911 subverting something that feels like a very female storyline by giving it to a man.

But of course Eddie isn’t done yet and Eddie still struggles with intimacy and opening up but he is getting there. Through Frank and Buck and for Christopher he is fighting and he is getting there and I love that for him and about him! He deserves to be happy in Season 4 just like Buck, but mostly he deserves to be at peace with himself!

And I already talked at length about Ana and their potential and linked what I thought didn’t fit in here, so I will not bore you by repeating myself and just say: wait. Wait and see. Maybe the show will surprise us. Maybe it won’t. Maybe corona will kill us all before we have a chance to see Season 4. Maybe we are in the Matrix and the blue pill is a metaphor for being trans. Life is strange!

Also on a more personal note I wanna say thank you to everyone who has read and liked and reblogged and commented. I love all of you. Your support and trust in what I am saying has meant a lot and will mean just as much in the future and I do hope I get to do this again in like a year once they return!

(Also, not to sound needy but another reminder to please reblog and comment? Because I *am* actually writing this because I really wanna talk about the show and my feelings and your thoughts and you know, that can only happen if ya’ll do some reblogging)

(Or come to my ask if you are more comfortable being even more anonymous, I don’t judge - I NEVER ask question any other way!)

In diesem Sinne: hamma wieder was gelernt, recht herzlichen Dank für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit und auf Wiedersehen!

Also, of course, the tagging:

@chimbuckleys​ @angelcamael​ @greyhello​ @the-family-we-choose-118​ @ipleiade​ @sevensoulmates​

[sockori]

How do you think Sasori truly feels about his partnership with Deidara? And what are mainly the differences for him in the partnership between Orochimaru and Deidara?

This has been rotting in my askbox for awhile now, and I apologize. I have not been able to touch questions during my time on mobile, but I’m here on PC to tend to them. Anyhow, I have quite a serious feeling that this question depends on if I ship them or not- as I know some would want to call this partnership romantic. Thus, for all open interpretations, I’m going to make my shippers remain gleeful by keeping descriptions rather vague, hahah.

 At first, of course, Sasori is rather irritated to being assigned this loud-mouthed, cocky blonde with plenty of snarky remarks and mouths to throw them with- behavior typical for a juvenile thrown into an organization full of hateful adults, but Deidara has his own ways of standing out from these ‘freaks of nature’. That is, the art of an explosion; transience of glimmering glory his puppet partner finds to be a huge joke, their aesthetic contrasts leading to plenty of fiery art debates that their fellow co-workers find quite annoying. Sasori, definitely, is not taking a liking to wasting his breath all the time on this pestering brat, and would much rather be working in his own solitude without the constant chatter of unsettled arson, or the shrill shriek of the occasional pyrotechnics test. He finds nothing but immaturity in young Deidara, and deems his reckless behavior to be the sure death of him- and the scorpion waits for it- just as he does for his poisoned victims.

Time passes and villages crumble- the years catch up and Deidara at last matures— much to everyone’s joy. Well, at least, he attempts to; the blonde will never truly lose shining pride, desire for fire, or screwing up everything with newbie Hidan, but is, however, taking matters quite seriously nowadays- much to Sasori’s internal surprise. Even through his ‘thick skull’, as arachnid calls it, the fellow artist seemed to understand the nature of an Akatsuki member, and attempted to become it as best he could as adolescence slowly wore off (this ‘nature of a member’ the blonde would describe to childish Tobi later on). Still pestering, still keeping him waiting, with all of his remarks still intact, but simmered down, and showing intelligence the redhead supposed he had locked inside for quite awhile. Alas, Sasori is quite thankful for his partner’s gained experience. He reasoned that a smug, lounging blonde is much more tolerable then a smaller termite who screams nihilism at the waking world. Remains to find his reasons for art dense, obviously, as that will never change- but the discourse becomes few and far between.

As what red scorpion thinks of the ‘growth spurts of Deidara’ draws to a close, here is an overall view. Sasori thinks of his partnership with Deidara to be an infestation plagued upon him by the Akatsuki, frequently vexed, and willing to eliminate the boastful arsonist whenever he was given the chance to. However, overtime, I think our murderous redhead would begin to see the value in their prickly partnership as it continues, especially with Deidara maturing and beginning to find value in other Akatsuki members, including his puppet co-worker. As unhelpful as the blonde’s comments can be to Sasori, sometimes there is youth and humaneness in them that his past can recognize. It is thoughtful and welcoming, even, such as a simple greeting, asking if he needs anything, or wondering where his splintery friend might be hiding. In other words, being treated as a comrade. It is a sign of regard Sasori is unused to, and finds it perplexing- and, strangely, comforting.

❝ I treat you with nothing but disrespect- and here you are, a spark in the light, rays unfettered by my stings. What is this confidence that you hold so dearly, that makes even the toughest roads in life mundane to your impulsive mind?❞  

(It’s called remaining optimistic, Sasori.)

Sock’s rambling will end here, hahah, but I will propose an idea of sorts for ones reading to think on. Perhaps, this liveliness and social spirit makes our redhead weary because it reminds him of Komushi? A loving friend, long ago, seemingly faded from memory- now seemingly reanimated, taunting Sasori with the flesh and blood he had chose to forget.        

 Who knows? Thank you, Anon, for this question!

[jericholeader]

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Credit to iamshardae & thehollowedartists for same images found here.

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I understand that this and the other sections can be long, but I appreciate it so very much. I will always to return the favor.

Do not god-mod. Do not take control of my Markus.

Do not meta-game. Information about Markus is not to be common knowledge. Do not mention any event in my Markus' life or detail about my Markus that your character did not personally witness or was not told by my character/could not look up/see on the news.

Do not break the fourth wall. All the events in my Markud' life actually happened to him, so your character cannot have seen him in a video game nor is there any actor that looks like him.

You can phyiscally and mentally touch my Markus (with process sync, memory probe etc.) without notifying me first, but I'd prefer a quick heads up

I would like to know its coming and be able to discuss it with you before hand.

Shipping & NSFW:

I would love to ship depending on the chemistry. Bear in mind though, I like to ship only after plotting or character chemistry, and that is not my end goal with rping Markus. I see Markus as focused more on relationships by far, and less on romance. I'm not comfortable with same-sex ships, though platonic stuff and bro-ships are amazing.

I will not rp smut or any other sexual behaviours; however, darker themes, violence, torture, drunkness, and other such topics might be mentioned and found here. Any potentially triggering material will be tagged with tw: trigger here. If you have a particular trigger, or there is a chance a trigger might come up in a thread, message me and I will either tag the trigger or refrain from mentioning it in our rp.

Interactions & Threads:

Ask memes and starter calls are a great way to begin interaction with my Markus and are open to everyone!

IM me to plot or shoot me an ask. You can also @ me. I'm pretty flexible! I do have a skype and a discord, and if we've talked a bit we can definitely rp on either of those as well.

If you approach me for a thread/roleplay, I ask that you have, at least, a semblance of an idea or plot that might plausibly occur between your character and my character. I do have the right to refuse an idea or roleplay request, but it is not likely I will, or if I do, I will be polite, as I do always appreciate it when people want to rp with Nate. I just want it to be clear that I am not an idea vendor.

I enjoy plot and story driven threads and conversations. I have a preference toward paras and conversational threads. To give an idea of what I mean by those terms, paras would be about three-five paragraphs, while conversation threads would average about one. I use icons and gif icons in nearly all non-para interactions, and it doesn't matter to me if you use icons/gifs/gif icons. I'm always open to plotting. Conversations without a plot are perfectly acceptable though!

I would prefer partners to have mostly proper grammar, but I do not mind, in any way, rping with not native English speakers.

Due to busyness and real life, I may lose inspiration for, forget about, or drop threads. If you have been waiting 3-5 days, please drop me a message or gently poke me.

I do want to rp with you all, and I never mean to forget this. Though please do not pester me repeatedly. I have a thread tracker that I try to keep up to date with threads, but sometimes things slip through.

Selectivity:

I am not mutually exclusive. I will rp with you, even if we do not follow each other. Starter calls, open starters, and askbox memes are open to mutuals and non-mutuals.

I will only roleplay with those who have a rules and an about page. Whether it is canon or OC, I'd like to know at least a little bit about your version of your character and what your guidelines are. If you do not have these, I will politely decline to rp.

I will rp with OCs, but please see the following rules about prestablished relationships.

I will not recognize pre-established relationships that are not canonical. For example, if your character is a child of mine's that is not in canon, my characters will not recognize that prestablished relationship, unless you dicuss it with me OOC first. I am more than willing to roleplay with you, and if things go well, have my character become a father/mother-figure, but they are not my characters' children, unless heavily discussed OOC first. And in Markus' case, having children is kind of... impossible anyway, so.

Verses & AUs:

This is a multi-verse blog. Events, encounters, and relationships exist by default in main-verse on Markus' verses page, but can occur in verses I have specified for him (and any we plot!). Therefore, assume any starter call or open starter is going to happen in the mainverses, unless I tag it otherwise.

In-Character Notes:

OOC =/= IC. My ideals and morals are not reflected in all of the expressions/actions/and thoughts of my Markus.

Though this does not mean my morals will not govern how I roleplay them. They will and do.

If my character hates you character, that does not mean I hate you or your character.

Markus is pretty tough. He is shown to take multiple bullets and stab wounds throughout the game in non-vital parts and still survive, but he CAN be killed, so plotting is essential.

[lordreala]

indefinite hiatus

[[ It is with a very heavy heart that I come to you all writing this... It’s no secret to any that my activity has been sporadic at best. I am officially putting this blog on indefinite hiatus.

I have been writing this fucker for over seven years. Seven years. Can you believe that? Reala is, uncontested, my longest-lived muse. He is incredibly near and dear to my heart, as are all the characters in this franchise. But, over the course of the past couple months, I’ve realized... I have no more stories left to tell with my Reala. You all are, for the most part, new to me. You never got to see him cracked open, and all the little nuances of him, and I’m sorry for that. He’s an awful, terrible, incredibly broken person, and I’ve loved every second of watching him heal, break, and heal again. I’ve loved letting him be the antagonist in other people’s stories. And after everything I’ve put him through? I think I’m at peace. So is he. He’s tired. He’s old. He’s ready to rest.

Maybe one day I’ll bring him back. Maybe one day he’ll decide he’s rested enough and come pester me to be active again. That’s why this is an indefinite hiatus instead of a full closure. You all are always welcome to send me whatever you wish through the askbox or IMs; I have no more secrets, so if there’s any questions you have about my portrayal, you are very welcome to ask. I’ll still be around; this is a sideblog, so I’ll get the alert.

Other than that, you can find me on any of my other blogs. @sunseraph is my hub blog, so you can always see the most current list there. Currently, I’m most active on my OC Cyrus @inadeepanddarkdecember but I also run an Asgore @kingfloofybuns and Gaster @neglectedspace. All these blogs are open to crossovers, and I would love to RP with you there. I have a skype and discord; you can IM me for those, and of course, there’s my public NiGHTS server, which you can join by clicking here.

The queue runs out in two weeks, after which I’ll post this again and one more link to my server, and then that will likely be the last you see of my for a while. Until then, I love you all, and I hope to see you around.

Till next time, goodbye and goodnight. ]]

[imagines-never-die]

Meet the New Mods

Introducing Mod Evie and Mod Viena, my two new assistant writers! I think they’ve got amazing writing styles and will really help this blog turn out more content. I hope you all welcome them and enjoy their work~

Mod Evie

Yo~! I don’t really know how to start this, but as you can see, the name’s Evie and I’m a moderator for this blog. I’ve been playing Overwatch since the beginning and am deep into the lore. It’s the first FPS I’ve ever played (that counts), by the way.

My mains in competitive are D.Va and Mercy, though my favorite character lore-wise is definitely Genji. I would marry him in a heartbeat. I also ship Genji with a couple other of the male characters (mainly McCree), but other then that I’m not much of a shipper.

Other things about me? I live alone in an apartment, own a cat and stay inside most of the time. I draw and write, watch YouTube and play games (that is, Overwatch) in my pastime. I pretty much have no life, to put it simply. But that just means I’ll have all the time in the world for all of you.

Mod Viena

I'm mod Viena! My favorite ships are pretty much any with Hanzo in them (McHanzo, Reinzo, Reapzo, etc), I main Hanzo and Sombra in-game, and my favorite characters are Hanzo, McCree, Junkrat, Reaper, Zenyatta, and Mei! When I'm not reading or writing fanfic, I'm hanging out in other Discord servers or taking a nap, haha!

Mod Viena is currently on her spring break, so she won’t start work here until the 20th of March. In the meantime, Mod Evie and I will be opening the askbox shortly to begin our new collaborative effort! Also, I decided to post their request test responses under the cut so you get to see their amazing writing style ^^

Mod Evie

“Could I get some headcanons please? Junkrat, Reaper, and Sombra with how they would react/what would they do when their s/o takes a potentially lethal bullet for them and is now bleeding out everywhere? Thx!”

Answer:

Junkrat:

When he first saw that his s/o’d been shot, he wouldn’t process it very well

He would have a mix of different emotions, ranging from anger to sadness to disbelief

A very lively personality, he wouldn’t be able to stop talking, trying to figure out ways to convince both himself and his s/o that everything would be alright

He would pester the staff taking care of his s/o, not angrily, but with continuous questions of what was happening, what they could do and crazy ways that they could try to make his s/o better again

Would be in denial of the severity of the situation as he tried to make sense of things, pacing back and forth in any room he was in (it’d be his s/o’s most of the time, if possible)

Sombra:

Would shout her s/o’s name when she saw them get shot instead of her, perhaps cursing under her breath

She would grab her s/o and move them to cover, then call over a medic right away

Once they got out of the battlefield, she’d look up everything concerning her s/o’s condition and make sure the doctors were doing their job right, confirming every step of what they were doing in a firm tone

She would restlessly sit by her s/o’s bed and put on a brave face, assuring them that everything was being taken care of properly and that they would be fine

Though she’d be worried to no end (even if she wouldn’t show it to her s/o), she’d truly appreciate the loyalty of her lover

If any mistakes were to happen, she would shout at the medical staff for hours to come, half of it in angry Spanish

Reaper:

He would be shocked when his s/o took a bullet in his place

Would probably freeze in place when he saw them drop to the ground and only come back to his senses when a field medic got there

Filled with rage, he’d go after the person who had shot his s/o and give them a painful death on that battlefield

He would go to his s/o’s room as soon as the doctors let him, but would be almost completely quiet the whole time he was in there

He couldn’t comprehend why his lover would take a bullet for him, and would sit by the window or the side of the room trying to contemplate it

Would be filled with depressing thoughts of the possibility of the only happiness in his life dying from their wounds, especially since it was to protect him

He would only turn to his s/o if they showed clear signs of needing him closer

             “Scenario with Symmetra, Widowmaker, and McCree where they have a day off but they look outside and it’s raining and they’re like ‘oh well, guess we’re stuck inside’ but then they see their s/o go dashing out the front door in rain boots and an umbrella as they dance out in the puddles shouting for them to come join them. What would they do?”

Answer:

Symmetra:

It was rare for the both of them to have a day off from work, and Satya had planned out everything they would do that day. The weather report had promised a lot of sun, so they would be going to an outdoor play, then have lunch at a cafe near the theater. Later in the evening, they’d even agreed to take a walk on the beach.

Only, as soon as they woke up, early in the morning like Satya preferred it, a thick coat of clouds could be seen covering the whole sky. She and her s/o decided to brush it off though, since the weather report had clearly stated they wouldn’t have anything to worry about later that day. Of course, their beliefs were proven wrong when in an hour or so it was pouring with rain.

”Ugh, there go our plans for today…” Satya sighed as she looked out the window, sipping her coffee as she did. ”When do you think it will stop?”

It was then that Satya heard their door open and close, and a confused look showed on her face.

”[Name]?” she called into the vestibule and tried to see over to the door. She caught movement in the corner of her eye and glanced out the window.

She couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw her s/o dancing in the rain, sky blue rainboots on their feet and her expensive umbrella above their head. They were smiling widely, and when they saw Satya looking out, they gestured her to join them.

After recovering from her surprise, Satya would shake her head clearly for her s/o to see. They showed an exaggerated pouty face, though it was to be expected. Satya was far too neat and organized to voluntarily dash into the rain – though she did find the fact her s/o enjoyed it unexpectedly entertaining. A subtle smile was on her face as she watched them play in the rain, sipping her coffee in their warm kitchen.

Widowmaker:

Amélie and her s/o stood just outside their open door, on the terrace, confirming that it was indeed raining. The sniper folded her arms with a neutral look, even shrugging a little as she spoke:

”Oh well, we can always watch a movie. I’ll make us a good dinner, too.” While she was busy watching the rain, she didn’t notice her s/o had retreated inside. When she turned around, however, she saw them dash out with enthusiasm, rainboots tapping against the terrace boards. She watched them open the umbrella and go farther into the rain, her eyes wide in surprise.

”Wh-what are you doing?” she asked, her accent thicker than usual. Her s/o chuckled in response.

”What does it look like, Amélie? You know I love rain!” they exclaimed. ”You should come join me.” She knew, but she didn’t know their love went this deep. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she watched her s/o do twirls under the umbrella.

”Alright, but only if you stop spinning,” she agreed, and stepped out into the rain. Her s/o did as asked, and brought the umbrella over them both when Amélie got close enough.

The sound of the rain falling against the outer surface of the umbrella silenced everything else around them. Their warm breaths created almost invisible clouds of vapor in the cool air, and soft smiles were on their lips. They were very close to each other, the bare skin on their arms lightly touching.

It was then that Amélie decided to slowly wrap her arms around her s/o, who did the same with their free arm, the both of them effectively pulling each other into a kiss. It started out as gentle and sweet, but each time their lips touched a bit more passion was put into it. It was many seconds later that they finally pulled apart, their breaths silent. They took a moment to stare into each other’s eyes, the world even quieter now. It was like it had completely disappeared.

It was Amelié’s s/o who had made her feel again, and even to this day, they were still surprising her.

McCree:

”Well darlin’, ’t looks like we’re stayin’ inside today,” Jesse declared in his casual tone and absent-mindedly looked through his pockets. ”How ’bout you pick us a movie to watch while I smoke this cigarillo?” he added when he found the cardboard package from his back pocket.

Since it was a day off for Jesse’s s/o, they had planned on having a date in their usual restaurant and go to the movies afterward. But the way it was pouring outside, they knew it was futile to even try and go outside and still be comfortable.

”You should quit that bad habit. There are healthier alternatives,” his s/o stated with their arms crossed as Jesse made his way to the door.

”How many self-respectin’ cowboys do you see vapin’, honey?” Jesse questioned as he picked up his hat and stepped outside. His s/o didn’t bother to hide their grin.

”How many self-respecting cowboys do you see, period?” they challenged.

”Touché,” Jesse agreed as the door closed after him. His s/o shook their head and stepped into the living room, their gaze drawn to the rain. They folded their arms on the windowsill, watching the dark sky and wondering if it’d turn into a thunder storm. They remembered how they used to play in the rain as a child, how fun it used to be when they had no care in the world. That’s when they remembered they’d recently gotten a new pair of rain boots.

Jesse didn’t quite know what he was seeing when his s/o entered the front yard after him, all dressed in rain gear and jumping into the nearest puddle. He could only stare in silence as his s/o laughed, then turned around with that charming grin on their face.

”Come on, Jesse, don’t be boring! Come out here!” they insisted.

It finally registered to the cowboy, and as usual, his s/o’s grin was contagious. He stubbed out the cigarillo and threw it into the pot next to their door, then followed his lover into the rain with no hesitation.

”Didn’t know ya were a fan of this awful weather,” he spoke in surprise and wrapped an arm around his s/o’s waist. Only giggles were given to him as a response. ”As fun as you’re havin’, though, one of us is gonna catch a cold like this.”

”Ah, I see, now you’re the one giving me health advice?” his s/o replied with a smirk.

”Yeah, yeah, you got me. But let’s talk about it by the fire. What do you say, hun?”

Mod Viena

“Could I get some headcanons please? Junkrat, Reaper, and Sombra with how they would react/what would they do when their s/o takes a potentially lethal bullet for them and is now bleeding out everywhere? Thx!”

Junkrat

* He can’t believe you would do that, and for someone like him! He knows you two are together, but he hadn’t expected you to care that much! His life isn’t worth yours, you’re so stupid!

* Whoever shot you won’t live much longer. A well-placed explosive will make sure of that; he stops messing around when it comes to you.

* He’s low-key panicking, but keeping his cool.

* That was a lie. He’s visibly freaking out because he and Roadie aren’t medics, how the hell are they supposed to fix you!? What do they do!?

* He’ll probably babble in your ear to keep you conscious while he sends Roadhog off to get help.

* “Y-you’re gonna be alright, love! Yer a good sport! I won’t let ya conk out on me, ya hear? God, that was the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen, you takin’ that whallop for me, and I’ve seen my own reflection! And that red stuff’s supposed to stay in you, you know, heh…oi, d-don’t close your eyes!!”

* When help comes, he’ll threaten to blow them up if they can’t save you, and refuses to let you leave his immediate line of sight.

* When you recover, he probably won’t take you on heists with him for a while, the overprotective rat.

Reaper

* Why would you do that in the first place? You know bullets can’t kill him, he’s told you this before!

* The person that hurt you gets decimated by a round of shotgun bullets, almost excessively. Reaper wouldn’t dare let them live after such an offense.

* Reaper isn’t openly affectionate, but he can make an exception here, considering, y’know…you’re kind of bleeding to death

* Low-key panicked, very good at hiding it behind that mask of his

* He’d probably make Widowmaker or Sombra cover him while he carried you to safety

* You take priority, so he’d demand someone come help you immediately or he’d ult them

* Once you’re recovered, he gruffly tells you not to take risks for him anymore

Sombra

* This was not part of the plan!! Why did you do that!? She was just about to sabotage the shooter’s gun and take them out!!

* There’s no sense in leaving you as you are, so after she disposes of the shooter, she’d probably piggy back you as fast as she can to get someone to help.

* She’s definitely panicked - you weren’t supposed to be there! Why did you do that for her!?

* Expect to be cursed out in Spanish, both as you’re bleeding out and being patched up. She’ll really let you have it.

* When she calms down enough after you’re in recovery, expect to be cursed out in English but with less intensity.

* “Tu es mui idiota…” She’d mumble, but she recognizes a life debt when she sees it.

* She won’t tell you, but she’s thankful you tried to save her life. You’ll get a lot of kisses after this blows over.

 “Scenario with Symmetra, Widowmaker, and McCree where they have a day off but they look outside and it’s raining and they’re like ‘oh well, guess we’re stuck inside’ but then they see their s/o go dashing out the front door in rain boots and an umbrella as they dance out in the puddles shouting for them to come join them. What would they do?”

Symmetra

   “Satya, let’s go out.”

   The architech blinked confusedly at you, then glanced out the window. “In the storm?”

   “Yes,” you nodded, laughing a little. “It’s lovely outside!”

   “It is raining.”

   “I know Satya; that’s why it’s lovely! Don’t you like the rain?” You asked, rising from the couch and crossing the room. You plucked your shoes off of the shelf beside the door and began to lace them up, humming an idle tune. Satya hadn’t moved from her seat.

   “You will catch a cold,” she insisted, shaking her head. You ignored her warning and threw open the door, stepping out with a grin. “Come back inside!”

   “Come and get me,” you cried, skipping through puddles and splashing water everywhere. The rain beat down upon your skin, soaking your clothes from head to toe, and you laughed all the while. Satya wrinkled her nose, unattracted by the prospect of you tracking mud and water back inside when you were done.

   But, she noticed, you were shining. Your hair, though it was plastered to your skin, appeared to fall around your head like a river, and the water running down your arms made the flesh beneath look like glittering crystals.

   You were beautiful, Satya noted, and despite herself, she smiled.

   Minutes later, she laid towels out next to the door and tentatively stepped out into the storm. The wind blew her hair all over her face, and she was cold, but then there you were, brushing stray locks from her eyes and beaming in pride.

   “You came to get me,” you murmured. The architech brushed her thumb over your cheek.

   “Always,” she muttered, her words nearly swallowed by the storm. You heard them loud and clear, however, thanking her with a kiss.

Widowmaker

   Amelie didn’t care for the rain, but she didn’t dislike it, either. It was only irritating her today because the both of you had planned a picnic; she knew now, at least, not to trust the forecast.

   You, to her confusion, didn’t seem perplexed at all. In fact, you looked excited, turning to Amelie and grasping her hands.

   “Hey,” you said, the plea audible in your words, “maybe the picnic isn’t happening, but we can still have fun, right?”

   “Fun, how?” She asked, raising a brow. “You and I don’t always have the same idea of fun, my dear.”

   You smiled, releasing her and tugging your shoes on. Certainly you weren’t going out there, were you? Amelie watched you swing open the door, wearing nothing but a T-shirt and shorts.

   Then, you were outside, laughing and running around in the rain. The sniper watched you dance around with an incredulous expression, unsure of what to do. Were you trying to get sick? Was getting Pneumonia what you considered “fun?”

   “Amelie!” You chirped, stopping in midst of your frolicking and extending an inviting arm towards her. “Join me!”

   It was a foolish decision, she knew, and likely to get them both sick and scolded by Reaper later. Looking at your sweet face, however, smiling wide and bright, Amelie found herself stepping out into the storm and threading your fingers together.

   It wasn’t fun, not really, but it was fine as long as you kept that grin.

McCree

   “Shoot,” Jesse muttered to himself. His metal arm nudged the blinds aside so he could stare out into the heavy storm beating against the window. Sighing, he turned to deliver the news that he and you were going to have to wait it out when he noticed you weren’t in the room anymore. “Darlin’?”

   His comm beeped on the counter; it was your chime. Picking it up, he answered with a confused “hello?”

   “Babe!!” You sounded like you were in the midst of a storm, laughter leaving your lips in excited puffs of breath. “It’s raining!”

   “Yeah, I can tell,” Jesse replied, flesh hand adjusting his hat with a roll of his eyes. “Are ya’ outside?”

   “Yes! Come join me, these puddles are huge, babe!!” You cried. Jesse heard a splashing sound come through the comm, followed by your delighted squeal, and his heart soared at the sound. “C’mon, c’mon! Please!?”

   “Yer gonna catch a cold,” he argued, but it sounded weak to even his own ears. Already he was pulling his boots on and grabbing a jacket. He considered getting yours, too, but it sounded like it would be pointless by now. “My sick honeybee, slighted by mother nature.”

   “Get out here already,” you replied, the smirk evident in your voice. You both knew you’d won.

   The smile on your face when he shut off the comm and stepped out into the storm was worth it. The colds you caught afterwards were maybe a little less so.