Let's talk costuming significance! Because there's some really interesting stuff going on! So Zheng Yi Sao drops the soup bitch mask when she buys the Roman puzzle box full of indigo, correctly identifying it as extremely valuable. And there's a LOT going on there - because indigo dye has a long history of being a hot comodity, even being referred to as "blue gold", but along with that, especially at the height of Spanish colonization, that was of course heavily tied up in slave labor. And I think it's curious that, in a show that has been quite careful about depictions of and references to slavery, and unequivocally condemning and punishing those who endorse or practice it (think the British officers who called Olu a slave and got a knife through the hand, or the French Party Boat where the hoity toity people were either left to the fire or jumping overboard while Abshir and the other POC make a safe escape in a treasure-loaded skiff with a bright-looking future on the horizon) that Zheng buys the Revenge Crew as an ancillary purchase along with the indigo (I want to make it clear that I am in no way suggesting that this is in any way comparable to the horrors of the institution of chattle slavery. However, it IS strange that she is is framed so sympathetically, to the point that she is presented as a viable romantic possibility for actual ray of sunshine Olu, while at the same time using the labor of the Revenge Crew without any mention of any compensation other than a bedroll on the deck and some really good soup...). BUT! ALSO! I think it's notable that every one of her subordinates are attired head-to-toe in indigo-dyed fabric. Like, that is SUCH an ostentatious display of wealth on her part. She is SO successful that she can afford to "waste" blue gold on her peons. And that is just FASCINATING.

And just another, completely unrelated costume note - How Hornighost's clothes were actually a HUGE clue as to Ed being in limbo (not purgatory, writers. Purgatory is a different thing). So here's his "favorite shirt":

I'm particularly interested in the great big ring just behind his right elbow with all the ropes hanging from it. That is sailcloth, my v. dears, the large-gauge grommets being the places where the sails could be rigged to the yardarms. And "burial at sea" wasn't just a matter of pitching a corpse overboard - first the body was sewn into a weighted shroud - usually sailcloth. Couple that with the way the dangling ropes are giving strong Marley-weighed-down-in-the-chains-of-vice-he-forged-in-his-miserly-life, and the shroud-like cape thrown around his shoulders, and you've got a brilliant costume that is shouting "THIS iS A DEAD GUY".

This is my reluctant fandom rivalry story. It’s long. Please bear with me. 

A couple years ago I got into a major (read: very active) fandom. I wrote a few fics, then began what would become my longest WIP to date. That WIP generated a lot of interest, and as the smut escalated, I started getting more engagement with a fic than ever before – especially after posting a scene in which the characters finally hook up, in a very kinky and unexpected way. While working on this story I was following the work of other writers, and at one point a certain author who is pretty prolific and well-established in the fandom posted a finale to a work that they hadn’t updated in a long time. 

Seeing as how this work featured an uncommon ship dynamic for the pairing I write for – which my WIP also featured – I was interested to read this particular work. Then, when I got to their newly-added finale, I was astonished: it featured a scene that very closely paralleled the hook-up smut scene that I had just posted about a week or so prior, to a startling degree of similarity. So here were two characters in a very specific relationship dynamic—ages differing from canon—who were hooking up in the exact same way as my characters (also of this age/dynamic), down to the very same environment and scene context – the same uncommon blocking; same uncommon smut scenario – in a way that I’d thought was highly original when I wrote it (I haven’t seen anything like it before or since), and posted very close behind when mine was posted! The author even went out of their way to say that they’d actually written that scene “months ago,” and were only just getting around to finally posting it… /: *suspicious eyes*

You can see where I’m going with this. 

While not exactly plagiarism per se, that author received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from their many followers, while my chapter received a comparably modest response (though still very positive by my own standards, being so new to the fandom). I also worry that a good number of shared readers had encountered the other [popular] story, first, then caught up with mine after, only to wonder if I had copied the other author (unless they bothered to go into “chapter index�� -> “full page index” to confirm publication dates, it would’ve looked like mine came after once I posted the next chapter). 

I decided not to confront them about it, though. There was no way I could prove that it wasn’t “parallel thinking,” even if it would make for a very odd coincidence. The wording was not the same, but it was structured very closely to what I’d written, including certain spicy details. I didn’t want to stir up drama in a new fandom, especially with such a popular author, lest I inadvertently alienate myself. 

But here’s the thing: I decided to just be flattered that my work had "inspired" theirs, and I tried to get past any lingering resentment by befriending them. Left kudos and the occasional nice comment on their work. Followed them on tumblr. Liked/RB’d their posts. But they steadfastly ignored me completely, for reasons I can only guess at. We have many common mutuals and they never like/reblog even my most popular posts (though these must cross their dash), though they will promote similar posts by anyone else. 

Over a year later, I’ve continued to follow this author’s work, keeping an eye out for other “coincidences” (though it’d be very ballsy of them to "borrow" from me again, since my work is more widely read now). Meanwhile, I have risen in popularity, myself, and while still not as popular as that author, I’m very proud of my own contributions to the fandom, and feel that my writing is a lot stronger than theirs. So I really shouldn’t let it get to me, but seeing them around all the time, being praised for their mid-level works and interacting with so many of my mutuals (while giving me the cold shoulder) still rankles me. Recently they even posted something about showing common courtesy by not stealing others' work in fandom, etc. that really rubbed me the wrong way. I stewed over it for way longer than is healthy. 

Any advice on how to navigate this one?

I want to enjoy my time in this fandom, but their ubiquitous, icy presence and my own lingering paranoia casts a pall over my experience.

This is one of those situations where you either need to confront them directly and let the chips fall where they may or you need to block them on every platform you share and pretend they don't exist.

You can't seem to get past what happened in the past, but you're also not talking it out with them. That means that you're stuck where you are until something changes. That thing is either messaging them directly or removing them from view.

Do not write a callout post. From what you've outlined here, you have a suspicion with no solid facts one way or the other. Writing a public post will just create fandom drama and having been tangentially involved in that before, do. not. recommend.

Personally, I think you need to evict them from your mind because they've been living there rent free for too long. But that's just my opinion. What do the rest of you think?

You can also find this ask mirrored over on Dreamwidth.

When I saw the crossover with these pensioners, I couldn't think of anything else. I need more content with them..... Here is my modest contribution to these fandoms:

The cursed memes are coming next, I warned you.

I didn't want to post it, but my friends talked me into it. I think about them too much and I feel bad. 

sorry for the dirty sketches!😖 this is my modest contribution to the fandom💪🤧

in the last few days, i have been rotating the big austrian lad in my head relentlessly and, even though i may change my mind about some of these, or have mutually exclusive headcanons cohexist in different renditions of him, i feel like he is starting to take more deifinite shape in my mind. therefore, i want to write a list of my interpretation and share it, both for personal reference, since i'm juggling two different fics, and as modest contribution to fandom. i'll try to keep things coherent, but...

in spite of the misleading banner, which portrays a silly, cartoonish version of tentakönig i had a lot of fun doodling specially to embellish this post, the following is about human!könig, military contractor. that is just to give an idea of how much he has been bouncing in my skull as if my brain were a trampoline.

♛ he is between forty-two and forty-five years of age;

♛ his untreated social anxiety only increased during his military recruitment and gradually exacerbated into full-on PTSD during his career as contractor; he is afflicted by dissociative episodes, panic attacks and night terrors, as a consequence, which he keeps hidden at any and all cost and manages covertly, sometimes through questionable means;

♛ he is very quiet, pensive and observant. as such, he loathes using more words than he needs to and uses as little as he can, trying to avoid long conversations and small talk alike;

♛ his mask is the only remnant of his pre-military life. he clings to it as a reminder of his own humanity, of the person he used, for good or ill, to be and as acknowledgement of how far he has come from the scrawny, fearful lad he was, even when sometimes, he wishes he would have made different choices;

♛ under his mask, the features on his face are slightly uneven, such as one of his ears, which hangs at a slightly different angle than the other and his left cheekbone, still crooked from a past injury that healed poorly. he also has some deeper disfigurement, the scars of which still remain, less and less visible as time passes, and his lips are ruined. these are the consequence of both maltreatment and bullying during his childhood and adolescence, from both callous peers and neglectful parents, and of injuries incurred on the job. ironically, the worst are not from his military career, however. as such, he barely ever removes his mask, chiefly when alone or on leave.

♛ his hair is light in colour, kept cropped very short as it tends to grow quickly and get matted under his mask and helmet, but beyond the slightly receding hairline typical of men his age, he is nowhere near starting to bald; ♛ his eyes are grey. not blue, nor black. grey. sometimes lighter, sometimes darker, sometimes glittery and glassy, but always grey, according to his state and the light conditions;

♛ even though he is barely average in attractiveness and the presence of keloidal scar tissue, which often ranges from being off-putting to instilling repulsion in others, he is noticeable in size. some would find the mass of packed, rounded muscles in more than 2m rather interesting. however, given that very fact, he probably has or will soon start experiencing heart issues as he ages. realistically, he will probably die younger than his peers, in spite of being in top shape;

♛ his approach is practical and detached: if he's on a rescue mission, that's what he will focus on; what happens afterwards is none of his business, as long as his job is done and he gets recognition remuneration for it. if, on the other hand, civilians or competitors are a liability, he will not hesitate to take care of the situation in the most expedient way, the way that will not impair the status of his mission;

♛ this strong preference for detachment and pragmatism is not to say that he does not take pride in his skills, even though his job is nothing more than a means towards an end, or, well, more than one. namely, a paycheque to live comfortably and never fear poverty or food insecurity again; isolation from people or controlled interactions with predictable scripts, when necessary; the rules that apply, which are different from those of society at large, in which he always struggled and still struggles to fit in;

♛ when engaging the enemy, he is not reckless, but he is beastly and brutal. he displays a sort of controlled berserk mode. he has no particular respect for life and under those specific circumstances, allows himself to delight in carnage. he otherwise appears in control of himself, even though he spends as much time as he can alone, so others only know him so much;

♛ he is not beyond torture, even the disfiguring, excruciating kind, the kind that carries long-lasting, when not permanent effects on body and spirit alike. however, he merely sees it as a means towards an end. he is not the type to waste time threatening and warning: he thinks practical demonstrations are more eloquent that any word. as such, his methods tend more towards the crude, than the sophisticated, but they are equally effective in half the time;

♛ when on leave, he lives frugally and anonymously, barely leaving his abode unless necessary; he lives below his means as a matter of habit, a consequence of his childhood poverty, even when he could afford much, much more;

♛ his modest flat is a pigsty and he likes to leave it like that to break out of the stifling rules and expectations of his job. this is also reflected on his shabby sense of fashion: better to be a practical slob than an elegant buffoon who wastes his hard-earned money on impractical peacocking attires;

♛ whilst true that his height, build and scars attract stares in public, he has become very adept at shutting such rudeness down with one of his strategic, whithering looks. out of combat, he is just some bloke and that is all he cares to be until he is called back from leave;

♛ he compartmentalises a lot his civilian persona from his military persona and, even within his military persona, there are more subdivisions to be found (coold-headed, reserved, collected and calculating vs murderous, bloody and savage in conflict.) to be clear, he is not ashamed of what he does for a living, but his profession also requires a lot of discretion on his part, which makes the compartmentalising already so natural to him an external necessity;

♛ he's a smoker and a drinker: as long as he still performs well on the field, he has no interest in denying himself the scant pleasures only vice can offer;

tentakönig rolled and bounced all the way down here to say: "if you do not wish to find out what i'm like sexually and romantically, do yourself a favour and do not read below. proceed at leisure, otherwise."

🗡 perhaps not every single time, but more often than not, he cries when he comes;

🗡 i get submissive vibes, with a dash of unpredictability. for now, let's say that, with his lovers, occasional and less so, he knows how to be both rough and rash or gentle and devoted. sometimes, even within the same session, all depending on mood and circumstances.

🗡 i'm toying with the idea of him having a specific type of mummy kink, the kind expressed by seeking the gentle, comforting touch of a willing-enough woman who he will address as mummy, in german, only to end up weeping on her tits as he greedily sucks on them... i may have already begun writing a fic along this lines... >.> i did and more are coming. this is both a promise and a threat.

🗡 when he gets desperate and/or fuckdrunk during his sexual encounters, he starts muttering nonsense in austrian german, incapable of focussing his brain enough to maintain some coherency; it's very endearing to see him lose control like that. if the sex in question is happening with a very lucky woman (lucky according to whom?!) who he trusts enough to be that vulnerable, besides giving in to his native tongue, he will probably also cry, as mentioned above;

🗡 when on leave, he occasionally pays for sex when he can't (or won't bother to) find anything on his own, or when he has something particular in mind and prefers to put himself in the hands of a professional;

🗡 even though he does not consider himself queer, when mercenary sex isn't in the cards, he frequents local gay clubs. as a tall, athletic, middle-aged and moderately hairy man, it is hardly challenging for him to find a willing man to fuck in the face or the arse, even though he never reciprocates;

🗡 though more or less settled in his reality full of idiosyncrasies and resigned to it, he occasionally allows himself to wander off his established path to seek companionship outside of the above-mentioned methods. he knows he could hardly stand a regular life with wife, children, pets and a less dangerous job. yet, there is a part of him still curious, which would like to discover whether he could get what everyone else allegedly seems to want, what he feels he should want but is not sure he actually does. as such, he occasionally tries and manages to establish a relationship in between deployments, but it often collapses or remains in the early stages. the older he gets, the harder he finds to make them happen, especially when he is very much not everyone's cup of tea;

🗡 nevertheless, i believe he would appreciate to know what it's like to see himself through the eyes of someone genuinely infatuated with him and not see them recoil in disgust or reflect back the image of the mindless killing machine with little depth left he considers himself to have become;

may add more in future. apologies for any potential mistake: it's very late and i don't have time to reread everything. thanks for reading.

Do you have any top 5 favourite Meronia creators in the fandom? Like writers and artists

Oh hi! The ask is getting more and more interesting. My favorite list will contain more writers than artists. Because first I can't write. Secondly it was the fanfictions that brought me to this ship (I didn't know Meronia was a thing when I first read the manga. I am sorry I was blind lol). In the past I was more active in fanfiction.net and deviantArt but now all of creators there are inactive so my list will be active ones from AO3 and Tumblr :3

1/ @madmeridian she has a huge library dedicated for Meronia in various different and creative AUs. I really hate their fates in the canon manga so it is nice to see them have a happy life in other AUs. The writing is soft and delicate =v= I even like her angst and pregnant fics (2 things I also dislike for my ship lol) - well... kind of bookmarked all of her works *blush* I am really looking forward to her comeback =v= 2025 eh?

2/ @empressofthewind beside from her fics (which I kind of bookmarked almost her entirely library ehem), her analyses are also exceptionally fun to read xDD (love her sense of humor) every ask is answered with deep and thoughtful long-ass essay, which shows both her respect to the fans and her love for the ship!

3/ @neallo I hold another level of respect for this creator, not only for her writing contribution for the ship, but also her effort to grow the community bigger. To me she is a silent heroin who not only does her role well but also goes beyond and supports/encourages other writers/artists/hobbyists so that they carry on with the ship and always gives off a positive and inspirational vibe. Thank you big girl. You are queen of creator <3<3<3

(I have never told her before but I secretly love all of her works where Near is submissive *cough*)

4/ @m1chael-langd0n Near is kinda OOC in their fics (which normally I also dislike for my favorite characters) but the writing is so good that I turn to like them xDDD (and even open a whole new fantasy world inside my head which has kept me entertained for several weeks now). I hope they will finish their fics some day soon <3 bless you and your daughter <3

5/ To be honest Meronia fanarts are very modest compared to my other fandoms. But thankfully I've found this artist's pivix and Tumblr accounts so I am kinda content now =v= @user-null love their style <3

Another bonus artist, whom I don't know name and can't find their original gallery, and only own 3 of their works (if you know please gimme the link. Thanks in advance) T_T but they draw girl!Near and the style is so close to the original manga. I love it so much!!! They make such a cute couple.

Thanks for the ask! Sorry for my long-ass answer lol I feel the need to express to my love and gratitude for my favorite creators xDD

A Modest Proposal

So here's the deal: the Life is Strange fandom, pretty much from its beginning, has used a very utilitarian standard for ship names: LastnameLastname, possibly cutting multi-syllables in half. For the most part, it works, but a) there are definite problems (fr'ex, any ship involving Brooke, because of Nathan), and b) it's boring. Thematic/punny ship names are much more fun, and dangit, we already have Maximum Victory out there in the wild, so the precedent is set. I therefore call upon my fellow LiS fanatics to take up the cause of more interesting ship names! And in that vein, I hereby offer my contribution: hereafter, the Victoria/Kate ship shall be known as Bully Pulpit! thanks for coming to my tedtalk, yadda yadda go Bully Pulpit

🎆Happy New Year!!!🎆

A new year begins, and on 3 January it will be a year since I posted my first post on Tumblr.

I, whose only 'fandom' activity consisted of modestly reading, commenting and posting on AO3, have discovered some wonderful artists and writers here.

Thanks to some of your fan art/screenshots, I got interested in Hogwarts Legacy before I even played it, and in particular Ominis Gaunt, who had a special place in my mind in 2023. Which wasn't in my plans, to be honest. Despite that, I feel like I got involved in HL fandom a bit too late...😅

I also feel like I've read fewer fanfics than in previous years but I've enjoyed every one of them. I hope that my comments have expressed my appreciation of your work, even if I've rarely interacted in a more personal way, because even though I like sharing with others, I'm also quite reserved by nature. (The first step is the hardest! 😅)

In addition, this year I have published around 100,000 words in total on AO3, while trying to break my cycle of imposter syndrome - with some slowing down at the end of 2023 due to personal difficulties that I don't wish to go into here. But I hope to reach the end of my Wips during 2024.💪

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to take an interest in my modest fanworks, despite my very slow publication rate. 💕Your support has been a blessing!

Thanks again to all the creators whose contributions to the fandom have brightened my days... and nights! 😅

Finally, I'd like to wish you all a happy new year in 2024, and hope happiness accompanies your every step!

Your art is out of this world. Just scrolled through most of your tumblr, admiring. Thank you for being here for the fandom, feeding us delicious morsels. 🤭

Well thank you for enjoying my modest contribution to the fandom 😌

Fuck me, I have more to say about this moment:

And it's gonna get ugly, folks, so buckle in. As important as it is to understand this scene as a moment of Character Growth for Stede? It's also key to understanding Why Shit Went Down the way it did during the negotiation of the escape plan in Act of Grace. So Stede stands up for himself and draws some boundaries. Good for him! Love to see it. And how does Ed respond to "I don't like who you are around this guy?"

And what does he say when he chooses to leave with Jack?

It's a through-line. In this moment, Ed is calling back to the conversation on the beach. I don't think he is being intentionally cruel - to him, what he's saying is more of a reflection of his struggles with feelings of worthlessness - but how can Stede help but make the association; the ONE TIME he draws boundaries with Ed, Ed leaves. Not only does Ed choose to go, rather than stay and respect Stede's boundaries (which, I would argue are completely reasonable here; Don't wantonly kill innocent animals), he is aligning himself with the man that has spent the entire day tormenting Stede ("This" - Jack killing Karl - "is who I am"). Again, I'm not saying that he's being intentionally cruel; I don't think he fully understands how awful Jack has been to Stede. But, surely you can see how, from Stede's perspective, this is absolutely DEVASTATING - much more than JUST the heartbreak of the man that you had so recently made tentative plans to join your life with ("Co-Captains!") breaking up with you. But breaking up with you AND CHOOSING ONE OF THE WORST PEOPLE YOU KNOW OVER YOU.

So now we come to the Act of Grace and the scene on the beach:

No, AFTER that.

Ed proposes a plan to run away together. And Stede... doesn't say yes. In fact, his first instinct is to push back, THREE TIMES.

"But you said there was no escape."

"What about the English? They'll be all over us."

"China? That's quite far away."

Every time Ed dismisses his concerns - comes up with a reason to make the plan A Thing. Ed is clearly not going to take "no" for an answer.

And what happened the last time Stede told him no?

Ed left.

Ed broke his heart.

Ed sided with the kind of person that validates Stede's every insecurity about not being enough.

So is it any wonder that Stede gives in? And not even with enthusiastic consent. With the most tepid positive-leaning neutral responses possible.

"Yeah."

"I think so."

"Mm-hm."

(Which is to say nothing about his body language - the incredulous-bordering-on-disgusted face he makes when he talks about China, his lips pressed together when he says "Mm-hm", the way he starts the conversation leaning in toward Ed, his body twisted toward him, but quickly shifts so his body is angled straight ahead with his head awkwardly twisted to the side to look at Ed)

The seeds of tragedy were planted when Ed left Stede. Because, by doing so, he accidentally reinforced a lifetime of Stede being taught that his wants and needs are secondary to those of others, and that acceptance is conditional on compliance.

Heyy! Here is my modest contribution to the Mass Effect fandom! Here is Sam Shepard in a few doodles! Sam and a few other buddies (the best)  (first time Garrus sorry sorry) (more to come, at least I hope so)

Do you think Harry and Jeff fell out? At the Grammy's they looked so happy together but I suppose Harry could have just been happy because he won a Grammy. During The Brits Harry looked happy but in the pics after he looked mostly unhappy. There's pics of him with Jeff and Kendall and he looks unhappy. Jeff seems connected to the Kardashians. He seems connected to all of Harry's beards. Harry and Jeff always seemed so close but I haven't seen much lately that suggests that. Speaking of the Kardashians, I saw a rumor that they asked Harry to appear on their Hulu show and he refused. It might not be true but it wouldn't surprise me because Ben / Full Stop produce that show so it is likely Ben asked Harry lol.

I think it's a possibility, this is a discussion for a while now. And as much as I'd like to see Harry far away from Jeff... I'm going to be honest, Harry seemed very annoyed in several situations over the past year, but I never notice anything indicating something directly at Jeff, specifically. They do seem good friends, Harry likes him a lot and that's pretty obvious to me. And you bet he's very well connected in the industry considering who he is. (I've heard about the Kardashians rumour LOL)

I'm aware that a great part of this fandom right now likes to think about Jeff as the villain, as the one closeting Harry. And I don't think they're wrong, he is contributing to it for sure, the last few stunts happened under his management. But as someone who witnessed all the bullshit with Modest and everything during 1D, it's very hard for me to think Jeff is the one to be blamed right now. It goes so much deeper, Jeff doesn't even scratch the surface of the real problem. It doesn't mean I like him or that I think he's making good choices, because he's absolutely not. I'm FUMING with this rumour about Howard Stern, I will go personally cut Jeff's balls off if this turns out to be true.

But overall - poor choices or not - my opinion is that Full Stop operates under Sony's rules and under abusive old contracts. And it is what it is, it's not that simple. For context, here's a post where I talk about how stunts are ~necessary~ from a marketing point of view if Harry can't come out with Louis.

I do not speak english. Usually it is Erwin who has money and Levi is always very poor and I understand where the idea comes from but Erwin's dad was a primary school teacher so I would like to read something like that. Erwin not being rich

Hello Anon, don't worry, your English is just fine :)

This is something that has always puzzled me too, because Erwin is not wealthy in canon.  Certainly he didn't experience the kind of grinding poverty and deprivation that Levi suffered, but there is no suggestion that his family was wealthy or privileged. In addition, we know that the Survey Corps’ funding is always under threat, which suggests that Erwin has no personal funds at his disposal to contribute to the Corps. 

I think the headcanon that Erwin is wealthy and powerful comes primarily from his undeniable charisma, charm, intelligence, and authority. Erwin as a rich, powerful CEO, or the son of a wealthy family, are enduring staples of the fandom, however I have read a few fics that give Erwin more humble origins.  @eyebrowluv has written a lovely twitfic called Tall Blonde with One Sugar, were Erwin is an impoverished student and Levi is a wealthy surgeon, you can find the links on twitter here.  The Companion by @everythingshiny, which I mentioned in my last rec, is another good example. I’ve also tried to give Erwin more modest origins in some of my fics including HMS Maria and Loosing It / Finding It. @thefangirlingdead often gives Erwin a modestly realistic background in their fics too, Different Stars is one of my favourites.

Cast your mutuals as Easy Company >:)

Ooh, thank you Anon!! This is gonna be so fun!!

(I have a lot of mutuals so the cast list will be under the cut for the sake of convenience!)

(Also, I'm so sorry in advance if I forgot anybody!! My PTSD has really fucked up my memory so this was just off the top of my head💀)

In No Particular Order:

♥ Dick Winters ~ @iambasilgnome You are the most dedicated & on-top-of-things person I know & if anyone has the makings of our fearless leader, it'd be you! Not to mention, Dick is soooo much funnier than we give him credit for! (Was this also an excuse to write your URL? Yes, yes it was. 😆)

♥ Lewis Nixon ~ @lieutenant-speirs Snarky, self-destructive king fighting his demons & forging lifelong bonds of friendship along the way! Speaks for itself 🤌🏼

♥ Bill Guarnere~ @latibvles The chaos is unparalleled & you never fail to make everyone laugh but also, like Bill, you are extremely talented at what you do & great at bringing people together!! Also those specifically Northern vibes 🤌🏼

♥ Eugene Roe ~ @softguarnere You are the sweetest, most caring soul who is always there to lend a supportive ear & a helping hand, but you also won't hesitate to speak up when necessary!

♥ Babe Heffron ~ @mccall-muffin You are always so full of positivity & are absolutely hilarious! So full of love & loyalty, you make everyone feel like they're your best friend!

♥ Carwood Lipton ~ @holdingforgeneralhugs You are so warm & kind & such a vital part of the fandom but you consistently underestimate your own contributions!

♥ Ronald Speirs ~ @brassknucklespeirs You come off as intimidating at first but when you begin to open up, we get to see the heart of gold underneath!

♥ Don Malarkey ~ @indigo-luvers You're both talkative & sensitive, working through trauma, natural leaders who needs to take care of themself too!! It just made sense to me

♥ Skip Muck~ @bellewintersroe The natural choice as you're both exuberant, upbeat, & generous to a fault with a fantastic sense of humor!

♥ Skinny Sisk ~ @chaosklutz Dude was literally chaos incarnate & I respect that about both him & you for that 🤣🤌🏼

♥ Buck Compton ~ @hxad-ovxr-hxart You both attract friends super easily but also have a tendency to get drained bc you're a sensitive soul who cares a lot about what goes on around them!

♥ Shifty Powers ~ @aerokriegs So kindhearted & far too modest when it comes to your abilities!

♥ Smokey Gordon ~ @sleepisforcowards Both of y'all are sweet, funny, & extraordinarily creative! The vibes are immaculate tbh

♥ George Luz ~ @parajumpboots Literally so many fantastic memes cross my dash because of you, pls consider this my thank-you note 😆

♥ Harry Welsh ~ @wwhatev3r You are so kindhearted, down-to-earth & dedicated to those you care about but you're also absolutely Hilarious, primarily in a sarcastic way!

♥ David Webster ~ @vibing-away Literally so nice & I feel like you definitely have at least one (1) cool shark fact!

♥ Ralph Spina ~ @ourmiraclealigner So apparently Spina was only a Private when he became one of the medics so like you, dude had A LOT on his plate but still managed to make it all work somehow!

♥ Floyd Talbert ~ @auroralightsthesky Floyd is not only a sweetheart and super friendly but also a smut king & an animal lover so I see it!!🤌🏼

♥ Frank Perconte ~ @ax-elcfucker-blog Hilarious but also sweet, chaotic good vibes!!

♥ Johnny Martin ~ @rogue-durin-16 Literally such a cool person with a unique sense of humor! Too cool!

♥ Alton More ~ @multifandomlover01 You seem super cool & really nice but alas, I am Shy-ish & keep forgetting to introduce myself 💀

♥ Pat Christenson ~ @cody-helix02 You're both very artistically-gifted and creative; idk, I just see it!

Thank you so much for the Ask, Anon!! 💖

An Everlasting Love

Fandom:  Ikemen Prince Pairing:    Leon Dompteur x Emma (MC)(F) Prompts:  Domestic/Family Life AU Warning:  Pregnancy

This is my contribution for the Different Universe, Same Love Content Creator Challenge hosted by @xxsycamore​ & @queengiuliettafirstlady​! Thank you both for hosting this fun event! 

“Sweet dreams, my young prince,” Emma whispered as her son’s eyelids drifted closed. “Sleep well. Your father and I will see you for breakfast in the morning.”

Gently ruffling the boy’s hair and pressing her lips to his temple for a final goodnight kiss, Emma silently glided across the carpet of her child’s private quarters. Stepping over the threshold, the proud mother cast a sentimental glance at the sleeping figure while pulling the door to a close. No sooner than when the knob clicked into place, Emma was enveloped in the earnest arms of her beloved. 

“He’s finally down for the evening, darling?” Leon purred, brushing his nose down the nape of Emma’s neck. 

A content sigh pursed through his dear queen’s lips as she nuzzled her head against his neck. Leon inhaled the rose fragrance lingering in the air from the curls of Emma’s hair he buried his face in when he tightened his embrace around her. The king’s hands descended the soft curves of the former Belle’s silhouette until they reached the swell of stomach. His palms cradled the bump that was carrying their second child that they would soon be welcoming into the world. 

“Can you blame a man for wanting to cherish some alone time with his wife before our newest bundle of joy joins our family? I love the children, but sharing you is one matter that I will eternally struggle to concede with.”

“Hmm, that sounds lovely,” Emma murmured, taking caution to steady her balance of her newfound size when twirling herself around to face Leon. “I also feel inclined to spend this eve alone with my husband.”

Throwing her arms around Leon’s neck, Emma gave him a soft tug to draw his lips to hers. Her mouth parted slightly in order to accept the sweet and sensual kisses her husband was peppering her in. His tongue danced around her own, eliciting hushed moans until a small voice interrupted their exchange.  

“Mother? Father?”

Their young son stood hunched in the doorway of his bedroom. A modest yawn slipped from his mouth as he raised a fist to rub at his drowsy eyes to  

“Mother, will you tuck me back in? I had another nightmare,” the budding prince sheepishly murmured. 

Breaking apart from her embrace with Leon, Emma shuffled over to comfort the boy. Brushing the damp bangs from his slickened forehead, she crouched down to plant a reassuring kiss on the top of his head.

 “Our poor little love,” Emma crooned, her hand clasping around his sweaty palm. “Of course mummy will tuck you back into bed. Come along now. We have a bustling day planned for tomorrow.”

“Goodnight son,” Leon murmured, nodding goodnight to his heir as he was led away by his mother. “Sleep well to ensure you get plenty of rest for your studies tomorrow.”

Leon’s gaze remained steadfast on the spot in the doorway that his pregnant wife and son retreated through. Emma’s beauty had caught his attention since the moment he first laid eyes on her. Yet, she illuminated even brighter once becoming a mother. This woman was irreplaceable to him, and the children they created together were more endearing than anything Leon’s past self could have envisioned for himself. To be a member and belong to such a loving family unit softened the exterior Leon once used to keep others at a comfortable distance. 

His family accepted him. Loved him. Made him feel safe. 

Stealthily sneaking over to the doorway of his son’s bedroom to take caution to not disturb the routine between mother and son, Leon’s lips curled into a grin when he saw that Emma had climbed into bed and instantaneously seemed to fall asleep cuddling their child. His heart surged with warmth and adoration at the precious sight of his family in the peaceful state. 

Leon couldn’t imagine life without them. It was there in this moment that as their king, husband, and father, he would vow through all eternity to cherish this bond of love that the gods had blessed upon him.

Crossing the floor of the royal prince’s chamber, Leon halted when reaching the bed and kneeled beside his slumbering family. Resting his head alongside Emma’s on the pillow, Leon reached out to intertwine their fingers together and hold her hand.

Time passed as the minutes ticked later into the evening night. Time was lost to Leon whilst he lied still, taking great care to bask in the happiness he was feeling in his heart. Leon eventually succumbed to the pleasant drowsiness conquering his alertness as he joined the rest of his family in the state of tranquility. 

i am here to ask for touching prompts 44, 14, and 3. (If they haven’t been done already) i am literally infatuated by olek and ling Yi and ur prompts r fueling my obsession with them. thank you for your service lafiametta you are carrying this fandom on your back.

So #3 ("hiding face in neck") has already been requested, but I'm happy to do a combo of #44 ("sitting on the other's lap") and #14 ("putting an arm around the other's waist"). Again, set in the New York AU, with a bit of a holiday twist! (For a visual reference and more info about Olek's gift, click here.)

One Sunday in late December, she and Olek take the elevated train and then a streetcar to his brother's apartment in Brooklyn. Besides being a Sunday, it's a religious holiday and the two of them have been invited to join Janusz and his wife at the service in their neighborhood church and then for a small, celebratory meal in their apartment afterwards.

Outside, the air is so cold, her breath crystalizing in puffs of white, and she pulls her thin coat closer, hoping for a little extra warmth.

Inside the church it's more comfortable, and while Ling Yi does get several errant stares—and a few more blatant ones—she's glad for the peace and calm the service provides. There's some singing and praying and at times they're asked to stand or to kneel. Olek closes his eyes when he prays, his forehead pressed against his clasped hands, and she smiles to herself at how he looks, so sweet and sincere. After it's over, they trudge back to Janusz's apartment, where they sit at the wooden table and share a meal of beef and boiled potatoes. There's a cake, studded with dried fruit and a dusting of sugar, and while Ling Yi isn't much for sweets, she lets Janusz's wife serve her a full slice. Most of the conversation is in Polish, leaving her with little to contribute, although she does offer up a few things Olek has taught her. Both Janusz and Agnieszka seem appreciative of her effort, and far less distrustful than they had been when she and Olek first arrived on their doorstep.

After the meal, they exchange gifts. The ones Olek and Ling Yi give are modest, just plain handkerchiefs that he purchased second-hand and that she embroidered with either navy or rose-colored thread. Janusz and Agnieszka thank them both, and then Janusz presents them with a handsome mantel clock, its dark wooden base carved and polished to a sheen.

By the time they head back across the river, the afternoon light is thinning, the winds picking up, and Olek slips an arm around her waist, warm and heavy against the cold.

Once they're home and have had a moment to light the stove, Olek takes the clock over to the shelves of their makeshift parlor and tries to find the most appropriate place for it. Ling Yi sits at the kitchen table and slips off her boots, then tries to rub some feeling back into her toes. She becomes so preoccupied that she doesn't immediately notice as he comes to sit in the chair beside her, his hand reaching in his pocket for something that he places right in front of her.

It's small, no larger than her hand, wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine.

“For you,” he says in English, a touch sheepishly. His cheeks are flushed with pink, something she would attribute to the cold outside, but she suspects it has more to do with the gift he's put before her.

She glances at him curiously, even as her heart is growing fuller by the moment. Olek has already given her so much; why would he think she would need anything more than what she has already?

Receiving no other answer, she pulls off the twine, fingers eagerly unfolding the paper to reveal the object inside.

Ling Yi stills, her breath catching in her throat.

It's pale green, a smooth and perfectly polished circle, cool to the touch even though a part of her would swear it feels alive. She hasn't seen a jade bracelet like this in more than a year, not since the one she wore on her left wrist since she was a girl was painfully tugged off, lost and forgotten somewhere in Hong Kong with many of their other belongings.

The instructions had been specific: when Ling Yi boarded the English ship in the harbor she needed to look Japanese, with no trace of the Chinese girl she had been. The bracelet had to go.

It had been given to her by her mother years earlier, for good luck and protection, and it had grown so tight around her wrist that it was nearly impossible to remove. The outside of her hand had been mottled with bruises for several weeks afterwards, and during the long ocean journey she often found herself pressing her fingertips into them, the pain a distraction from the feelings of guilt and loss that threatened to overwhelm her.

But how would Olek know any of this? He wouldn't, of course. He probably just thought the bracelet was beautiful—which it was, admittedly—without knowing what it would mean to her. She smiles a little, thinking of how he must have secretly searched for something in the pawnshops of Chinatown, how the proprietor must have taken one look at him and immediately decided to charge double the cost of whatever he wanted to buy.

But he had found this for her. And with it, he has given something back to her, a piece of herself she thought forever gone.

It takes a moment before she realizes she is crying.

She glances over at Olek, who looks horrified. His eyes are wide, searching, as if he's trying to figure out what has gone wrong.

“No?” he asks, his voice tinged with worry, as he reaches out and lays a hand over her arm. “No good?”

Ling Yi shakes her head, smiling at him through her tears. “Good,” she tells him, repeating the word again and again as she wipes her cheeks dry. She slips the bracelet on her wrist; it slides easily, with only a hint of resistance, as if it was meant to be there.

With a painful tug in her chest, she realizes she has nothing to give him in return.

The only thing she has is herself, and her heart—for all that it's worth.

Pushing up from her chair, Ling Yi walks over and lowers herself into his lap. Without hesitation, Olek's arms circle around her waist, pulling her close, enveloping her within the warmth of his body. Her hands curl over his shoulders, catching on his shirt collar, her head coming to rest in the crook of his neck. It is so calm and peaceful here, a shelter from the coldness of the world outside.

“Dziękuję, Olek,” she whispers, using one of the words he had taught her at this very table. He makes a small, contented sound and then kisses the top of her head, as his arms curl more protectively around her.

[send me an Olek x Ling Yi kissing or touching prompt]