darling, you're the one i want, and paper rings and picture frames and dirty dreams

I’m currently re-watching Parks & Rec for the first time and I think my favorite thing about Michael Schur’s shows are the incredible friendship foundations that he builds in each of the 4 big show-defining ships. Jim/Pam. Benslie. Peraltiago. Cheleanor. Each ship is built on a strong, mutually supportive partnership and honestly, it’s why they’re all #relationshipgoals.

am I late to the party? 16 & 28 from the OTP meme for our favorite merc and his ladylove :)

Not late at all! 💜 thank you for asking!

Mac x Ivy

16. Who wants to stay in bed just a little longer?

Mac. 100% Mac. The guy is not a morning person, that combined with his habit of taking first watch means he never wants to just get up and go in the morning. He’s even worse if they’re in a settlement and don’t actually have to go anywhere. He just wants to stay tucked up warm in bed. Mornings are made for snoozing and snuggling. If he can wrangle breakfast in bed, well that’s even better. Ivy is a definite morning person, and this is only reinforced by her usually taking the second watch so she’s awake for the sunrise, and boy does she love to watch the sunrise. Winter is definitely the best lie-in time for them, because Mac can persuade Ivy that the sun won’t be up until later and she should just stay in bed where it’s warm. She can be persuaded.

28. What do they do when they’re away from each other?

Other than worrying about each other (they know the kind of shit they get into if unsupervised), if they’re apart for just a couple of days Mac will indulge in all the grim pre-war preserved food that Ivy won’t touch with a barge pole, and that generally doesn’t agree with him but he likes it too much to forgo. He’ll do a lot of shooting practice. He’s a passable cook, not as good as Ivy but would really like to be able to treat her at some point, so he practices cooking, begrudgingly asking Codsworth for pointers (since metal husband is truly the best chef in sanctuary). As laid back and cocky as he seems about his skills, he’s pretty obsessive with staying top of his game - not just for bragging rights (although those are a bonus), he just doesn’t want to ever get caught off guard.

Ivy takes advantage of the time to put more time into bigger art projects - she’s working on turning the vault-tec billboard into a wildflower mural. As much as Mac enjoys watching her do art, he does get bored after a while if he’s not being entertained. She can also make sneaky presents for him, like the comics she did of his ‘adventures’ that she made for Duncan. She also puts in sparring practice time with Cait, she’s a no-nonsense teacher but she’s damn good, and Ivy is terrible in melee so she desperately needs Cait’s expertise.

The only particularly protracted amount of time they spent apart was when MacCready went back to the Capital Wasteland with the cure for Duncan. They were both insufferable, miserable and pining. But that’s what happens when you don’t use your grown-up words and admit your feelings before one of you leaves potentially forever.

OTP question meme link

30-DAY TV SHOW CHALLENGE: DAY 21

Day 21 – Favourite ship

From 2014 to early 2017, my OTP was the (Tenth) Doctor and Rose Tyler. I love them as much as ever. Give me ALL the Thirteen x Rose art/gifsets/fic. But as I rewatched Parks and Recreation I realized that the real OTP was one with explicit romance, extremely relatable characters, and a happy ending.

I’ve already talked about Leslie Knope and Ben Wyatt in this meme, specifically about the place of “The Trial of Leslie Knope” in the arc of their romance. In short, Ben and Leslie both start out married to their jobs, but by the time of TTOLK, they’re both willing to put their careers on the line for love of each other. Ben is the one who ultimately—willingly—steps down from him job, the second of many sacrifices my all-time favorite male character makes for his soulmate. The first is at the end of season 3, when he breaks up with her so that she can run for city council, presenting her with a campaign button. In later seasons, he turns down the opportunity to work on a gubernatorial campaign in Florida so that he can stay in Indiana and marry Leslie. He refuses to let Leslie apologize for objecting to the Pie-Mary tradition and sexism in politics. (“You can say whatever you want. I couldn’t care less about the political consequences.”) When he and Leslie both get offers to run for governor, he lets her do it. He injures his nerdy little hand punching a guy who called Leslie a bitch. He does it all without bitterness because she is far more important to him than anything else. “This whole time, I was just wandering around, everywhere, just looking for you.” Leslie, being the main character, doesn’t sacrifice as much, but she risks her career to be with Ben, she is willing to compromise her pride for his congressional campaign, she defends him in front of his mean and resentful hometown. She also never lacks gratitude for his incredible kindness and selflessness. “The things that you have done for me, to help me, support me, surprise me, to make me happy, go above and beyond what any person deserves. You're all I need.”

Leslie and Ben are that rare breed of fictional couple that is nearly free from drama. They have a fight early on, in “The Treaty,” during their politically motivated breakup, and once married they have a couple squabbles, but after they decide in “Smallest Park” to “say ‘screw it’ and do this thing for real,” their relationship is never put in jeopardy. I’m not saying that shows, even optimistic comedies, should never put their major couples through drama, like what happens with Pam and Jim in season 9 of The Office. I’m just saying that Leslie and Ben are a breath of fresh air in a TV landscape where, at least in my experience, when two major characters commit to being a Thing, you can bet that they will come near to losing each other before the show is over. Parks and Rec involves Leslie and Ben, individually and as a unit, in interesting plotlines that don’t revolve around marital woes. Whatever these characters go through, they go through it together and never fail to support each other.

They also have so much fun together! They get off on political roleplay. They write Tolkien-themed pen pal letters. They go to Paris and put a lock with their names on it on that bridge. They have lunch in front of the wildflower mural. They eat mac and cheese pizza. They dress up at the characters from the Princess Bride for Halloween—and get drunk and nearly get matching tattoos. They know each other’s interests and prepare the perfect customized anniversary gifts. They make each other smile so much. You couldn’t ask for a better relationship. In short, I love them and I like them.

How about 24 and 28? :)

Thank you so much for asking! 💜

Mac x Ivy

24. Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear during inappropriate times?

They have both been guilty of this in their time, but the usual suspect is MacCready. Ivy is very easily flustered by him, and it’s almost impossible to hide her blushes, which makes it even more of a fun challenge for Mac. If he can sidle up behind her during some kind of BoS or Minutemen meeting (anything he doesn’t deem to be important), he will take the opportunity to whisper in her ear. And if he can manage to plant a sneaky kiss on her neck, well then he knows he’s won, because she is going to be bright pink and have jelly for brains and not be able to take in another word. But if you get a few drinks in her, she can completely turn the tables. Maybe it’s the surprise of her using his tricks against him, or maybe it’s the smirk when she does it, but she can get him blushing all the way to the tips of his ears. The one place this game is never played is Railroad HQ. Deacon has the hearing of a bat, and unless you want your cheeky bald best friend smirking while he tells you that ‘a mutfruit a day keeps the doctor away’, and you want the ground to open up and swallow you, well, you just don’t talk about these things in HQ.

28. What do they do when they’re away from each other?

Other than worrying about each other (they know the kind of shit they get into if unsupervised), if they’re apart for just a couple of days Mac will indulge in all the grim pre-war preserved food that Ivy won’t touch with a barge pole, and that generally doesn’t agree with him but he likes it too much to forgo. He’ll do a lot of shooting practice. He’s a passable cook, not as good as Ivy but would really like to be able to treat her at some point, so he practices cooking, begrudgingly asking Codsworth for pointers (since metal husband is truly the best chef in sanctuary). As laid back and cocky as he seems about his skills, he’s pretty obsessive with staying top of his game - not just for bragging rights (although those are a bonus), he just doesn’t want to ever get caught off guard.

Ivy takes advantage of the time to put more time into bigger art projects - she’s working on turning the vault-tec billboard into a wildflower mural. As much as Mac enjoys watching her do art, he does get bored after a while if he’s not being entertained. She can also make sneaky presents for him, like the comics she did of his ‘adventures’ that she made for Duncan. She also puts in sparring practice time with Cait, she’s a no-nonsense teacher but she’s damn good, and Ivy is terrible in melee so she desperately needs Cait’s expertise.

The only particularly protracted amount of time they spent apart was when MacCready went back to the Capital Wasteland with the cure for Duncan. They were both insufferable, miserable and pining. But that’s what happens when you don’t use your grown-up words and admit your feelings before one of you leaves potentially forever.

OTP question link

"do you know that wildflower mural up on the second floor?"

I'M FIENENELEDEFDFHSFJDTYOT