#((and then continue to ship the love square in canon. I don't get it.))

[sirdindjarin]

The Concession - Din Djarin x f!Reader

gif from @rebeljyn 's gifset here

Din Djarin falls in love. Whoops.

The Savior / The Concession / The Choice (END)

AO3 Link

TAGS: S2 Din Djarin, "Who Did This to You?", P in V, Unprotected Sex w/o consequences because who likes those, m!Masturbation, Fluff, Pining, touch-starved!Din, helmet-less!Din, soft!Din, protective!Din, Grogu bein a sweet shit.

WARNINGS: Star Wars cursing/slang which I know annoys some people lmao, abusive shopkeepers.

A/N: "Shit" is Star Wars canon (thank you, Andor); Din is a groaner (Chapter 5 of TBOBF); & Din is a bit of a poet (thanks pledge to Bo-Katan in Chapter 23); I have cited my sources LOL.

"No," the Mandalorian snaps. "No droids." 

A gloved hand flies to his holster and the rusty pit droids screech to a halt, beeping nervously.

Leaning against the frame of the Razor Crest, at the top of the boarding ramp, you roll your eyes at Din Djarin's back. His distaste for droids had been made clear to you the first time he'd stopped for parts.

Those droids had been considerably less polite about Din’s preference, and he had taken too much pleasure in enforcing it.

"Listen, buddy, they're my refueling dr-"

"Then I'll take my business elsewhere."

The attendant sighs loudly, glaring at the Mandalorian. The skinny, maroon male with a fin-shaped head rises from his chair behind his workshop desk. He walks toward a shaking pit droid and grabs the refueler.

"It'll cost you extra," the attendant's eye-stalks narrow at the bounty hunter.

Din comes to an agreement with the disgruntled worker, sullenly agreeing to a slightly higher rate.

As the Mandalorian keeps watch over his ship, your footsteps clang down the steep ramp, and you sidle up to him, saying, "We need some things. Ration packs are gone. And - don't tell him -" your voice drops to a conspiratorial whisper, "But I think Grogu deserves a treat." 

"He would agree with you.” Din’s elbow brushes your shoulder, and he realizes he’d leaned closer as you spoke.

You continue, “And you need something to relax.” 

At that, Din’s helmet turns. “I do not.” 

“You’re even more impatient than usual. You’re on an anti-droid campaign; the last time we stopped, you threatened to yank out one’s navigator circuits just for bumping your foot.” You look up at him, raising a teasing eyebrow. 

The Mandalorian goes as still as one of those droids he had deactivated. His intimidating, T-shaped slit brands into your vision. Behind it, you know he’s boring holes into your face. 

“Alright. Nothing for you, then.”

Your shoulders drop when you turn away from him, almost relieved to be out from underneath his piercing, hidden gaze. 

The Mandalorian had paid you a few days before, and this was your first real opportunity to spend your own money. You can’t stop smiling, even as you place the kid in his white pod and stuff your pocket with your credits. Grogu is as excited as you are - giggling in his quiet way.

As you pass the statue of Din Djarin, he extends a closed fist. Obediently, you hold out your hand. The tan-hide fingers of his gloves open and credits fall, clinking. You look up questioningly at him.

“For the food. Your wages are not meant to be spent on communal necessities.”

 Your lips curve into a lopsided, sweet smile that Din immediately commits to memory, and you nod.

Turning to Grogu, his fuzzy ears perked and eyes wide, you ask, “Ready, kid?”

***

The marketplace is huge. Stretching the length of the entire square, it’s busy for a planet this remote, but the size increases the options. 

Grogu floats along beside you, and you keep one hand on the lip of the pod, just to be safe. The responsibility of the kid is the greatest charge you’ve ever been given, in more ways than one. Grogu often holds your hand or squeaks to get your attention to point at something glowing or stinky or flashing. His outright affection is a lamp to your lonely heart. 

After visiting several vendors, you’ve resupplied what was necessary (with credits left over), and now you move on to something for Grogu. You’d be buying that with your own wages. Din could say whatever he liked, but what else do you have to spend your money on except the cute baby?

You walk past a booth advertising repair supplies, but when you realize it’s for clothing repair, something clicks in your brain. Grogu’s ears flop forward with your sudden stop. Your eyes run over the objects, and you select some, a smile splitting your face. You hope he will be pleased.

Several minutes later, Grogu makes a bah! sound, pointing at a live amphibian display. You’re pretty sure it’s a pet vendor, but the look on the kid’s face tells you he won’t take no for an answer. And maybe you should parent him - tell him no - but that’s Din’s job, not yours. 

“Hi. How much for the frog eggs?” You politely ask the vendor, digging in your pocket for credits.

The bug-eyed lady tells you in a language you don’t speak, but she holds up three short tentacles on her hand. She pushes six eggs toward you, which you gratefully take and set in Grogu’s pod. 

When you try to hand her the credits, she’s pushed out of the way by someone behind her. A man with a smushed nose yells in the same language the lady had spoken, and points away, clearly telling her to leave. 

You watch warily, and once the woman has gone, the man turns to you. 

“My apologies. The price is one credit per egg,” he simpers at you. 

Disliking the hike in price, you move to return half of the eggs, but he protests, “Once the item has left my possession, they must be paid for.” 

“But I can give them back to you,” you assert. “I’m not paying that much for frog eggs.” 

His smushed nose twitches up like a feral Loth-wolf, “Yes, you are.”

"I'm not." You set three eggs back on the counter. 

The man seizes your wrists, holding you in place. The crowded market is loud, but your indignant cry and the vendor's screamed accusation of theft cause several people to stop and watch. 

You try to twist out of his hold, but his scaly skin tears at yours. The snarling vendor suddenly ceases making noise, and he releases your wrists to clutch at his throat. Shocked, your head snaps to the child.

Grogu has one little, three-fingered hand raised and curled. 

“No!” You gasp, slamming the button on Grogu’s pod to close it. Far, far too many eyes watch. 

The vendor, choking and sputtering, recovers quickly and lunges at you across the table. His hands grip your upper arms, but you wrench out of his hold. Hoping to draw all attention to yourself, you punch the vendor with all your might. The vendor stumbles.

“Never seen someone pretend to choke over three credits,” your lie is an incredibly lame one, but you hope it’s enough for passersby.

He clutches his jaw; his spat insult is garbled, and he begins to inch around the long table, trying to get a better shot at you.

You turn and walk away with as even a pace as you can manage. Running would make his accusation true. The crowd swallows the two of you up well, and you lengthen your stride.

 But the vendor is regaining his volume. Nervously, you check over your shoulder. You jolt when Grogu’s pod bumps into your hip, then zooms away.

“No,” you yell again, grasping for the white vessel, but it comes to a hovering stop in front of a tall, silver man.

“Thank the Maker,” you sigh with relief. “We have to go.”

Din immediately notices the red ring of heat around your wrists and along your knuckles. He strides toward you. The closer he gets, the safer you feel - his protective aura slowly engulfing you.  

Din grabs your forearm and examines your wrist. There’s a raw quality to your skin where the man’s abrasive hands had clamped down and twisted. After a moment, his face locks onto yours.

“Show me who did this."

Cold, calm, his words are a promise.

Confused by his reaction, and still so used to answering when asked a direct question, you wince over your shoulder. Din finally seems to hear the vendor shouting in the distance as he searches the crowd for a ‘thief’ and her ‘dangerous pet’. Din abruptly straightens and steps past you.

Running after him, you reach for his gloved hand, fingers sliding home. “Din, please; we need to go.” 

The familiar contact makes him stop and turn to look at you. He says nothing, so you use the opportunity to explain.

“The ki- I made a scene, and it would be best if everyone forgot about it. A Mandalorian publicly roughing up the very same shopkeeper would give them more reason to gossip.” 

Din Djarin frowns the longer you speak. He knows you’re right. The kid is far more important than his sudden anger. He nods curtly.

The man’s vicious insults about your likely occupation and parentage echo down the street and make Din’s lip curl. But for the sake of the child, he manages to turn back toward the Razor Crest. It’s only when he passes Grogu’s stationary pod that he realizes he’s still holding your hand, fingers loosely intertwined. 

He gently flexes his hand, letting go.

____________________________________

As the Razor Crest speeds away from the planet, you smile. Vacuous and bone-chillingly cold, space is the worst. For most of your life, the inhospitable conditions had been worsened by your constant transport in the dark hold of some Creator-forsaken vessel.

But the cabin of the Mandalorian’s ship is warm and full of life, occupied by the kid's excited babbling and your semi-nervous laughter.

The kid waves his stubby arms in the Mandalorian’s lap as the Razor Crest dips and rises through a relatively calm asteroid field. Expertly maneuvering the expanse, Din Djarin has little motivation to do so except the smiles on his passengers’ faces. If you ask, he’ll tell you it’s a shortcut to the next system, which is only mostly untrue.

It’s been three months since Din collected the bounty on your former master. During that time, the Mandalorian had found one of the kid’s kind. A Jedi who could’ve taken Grogu, she declined the task. She told the bounty hunter of a place, a Seeing Stone, where Grogu could reach out for a Jedi master himself. 

Though a week has passed since learning of the Stone, Din had yet to bring Grogu to it, instead taking a couple of jobs. The stoic Mandalorian won’t admit, especially to himself, that he’s reluctant to let the child go. 

Reaching a lull in the slow-moving asteroids, Din draws the thruster back to stationary level, then looks down, his helmet nearly touching his breastplate, at the child still waving his short arms. Din turns his silver face to you questioningly.

Before he can speak, you joke, "I don’t want to learn to fly out here, if that's what you're about to ask.”

He shrugs with acceptance. Your eyebrows pinch in surprise, wondering if he’s playing along or serious.

“Okay, kid. We're done here,” he tenderly lifts Grogu and passes him to you. 

Grogu makes a protesting sound and hides one of his hands inside his robe.

“Big, mean Mandalorian is no fun,” you mutter to the child teasingly. Grogu coos in agreement.

Din shakes his head and swivels back to the control panel, flipping switches and entering data. The kid catches your attention, triumphantly showcasing a small metal sphere from his robe. You press your lips together and wink, silently promising you won’t tell. 

The Mandalorian’s gloved fingers run over his ship’s control panel like he’s conducting the Coruscant Orchestra, and then, suddenly, his right hand freezes in mid-air as he reaches for the thruster. 

“Grogu,” Din growls, spinning in his chair.

You laugh openly, “He’s a toddler, Din. You can’t close your eyes for a second.”

The Mandalorian rises, his bulk taking up the entirety of the cabin. He gently wrestles the ball from Grogu's fingers.

Long, soft ears droop, and massive, black eyes turn glassy. 

“Oh, look what you've done,” you croon, looking up at Din with an expression mirroring the kid’s.

Though he doesn't move, you can somehow see when Din’s annoyance is overruled by something stronger. Then the Mandalorian’s wide shoulders slowly rise and fall, a long-suffering sigh leaving his body.

“You are both menaces,” the Mandalorian accuses. He extends his hand, palm upward, “Grogu. Take it.” 

You hold your breath, allowing the child to focus on using his power. Grogu closes his eyes. The metal ball wiggles in the concave of Din’s large palm, then zooms to Grogu’s tiny hand.

Din makes a fist in excitement, “Great job, kid.”

Beaming at the Mandalorian, even more enthralled with him than the magic child in your lap, you wish you could see his proud smile.

Noticing your expression, Din's chin swivels to the side, clearly questioning. 

"Nothing. It's just that - it’s good to see you like this.” You shrug, trying to minimize your staring. “I know you’ve been stressed.”

The silent moment draws out as he assesses your observation. Still standing, the Mandalorian’s right hand hesitantly rises to whisper across the left side of your jaw. The gloved softness of his thumb caresses your cheekbone for an instant and a lifetime.

Din drops his hand like it weighs as much as a rancor. He turns around and sits back in his pilot's chair. Silver armor reflects the red and yellow lights around the cabin as he finishes his navigational procedures. 

Cheeks aflame, you duck your face down into the kid. 

___________________________________

“‘Occasional repairs,’’' you quote at the Mandalorian. “Every karking week there’s a new hole in this poor ship.” 

On the other side of the wing, busy soldering panels together, the Mandalorian's head snaps up. Unmoving, his expressionless mask simply stares at you. You bite your lip to prevent a grin and continue replacing bolts.

The beskar helmet remains for a while longer, hiding Din’s thoughts. He imagines what you’d look like if he put you on your knees and made you pay for your jokes. If he wiped that pretty smirk off your face. He feels a stirring in his flight suit, so he wrenches his mind away. 

The act the two of you committed in that field has not been repeated. His dedication to his helmet - to his creed - is paramount. And you tempt him too much. 

For the second time in the past year, Din has accidentally grown attached to someone - first the kid and now you. But with you, it’s a danger of a different kind.

Din had hoped that he just needed to get it out of his system. Get you out of his system. He had won that mock fight in the field, but he had yielded to his desire for you. 

Instead of feeling sated, Din feels hungrier as the days go by. Useless information, such as the number of sonic showers you've taken, clogs his mind. He would be ashamed of his counting, but he's too battle-weary to care. He does not count how many times he's taken advantage of the privacy of his bunk, remembering your eager face, your receptive body underneath him. 

All that armor wasn't worth a damn thing.

It’s easier for you. As inexperienced as Din but with your self-esteem already in the sarlacc pit, it wasn’t a stretch to imagine he'd had his fill of you and… well, that was that. Though you dream of it nearly every night, waking up to the strange feeling of both gaining and losing something.

Of course, the Mandalorian still needed you to care for the kid or help him replace several wing panels when he inevitably damaged them, as you were currently doing. 

At dusk, white trees sway behind you in the biting wind. This planet is rather cold, and Grogu, asleep inside the Razor Crest, doesn’t join you for the lovely, young Gornt dinner that Din had hunted. The two of you butcher it in silence and place it on the makeshift spit.

You then plop onto a log and snuggle down into your clothes, shivering. Though the items Din had given you months earlier are sturdy and warm, some of the chill of the night manages to seep through. You cross your arms, rubbing them.

Din vanishes from the other side of the fire - the smoky, dark air impenetrable. Squinting, you try to spot his reflective armor, but it works against you in this instance, easily blending him into the flickering, dim light.

A heavy material suddenly falls onto your shoulders, and you jump.

"Oh!" 

The Mandalorian stands directly behind you, the thick cloak he was trying to give you still partially in his hand. 

"I was focused on trying to see you through the smoke. I didn't think you'd be there." You clutch the brown garment tight around you and softly smile up at him, "Thank you."

Din nods, the clinking sound of metal audible as he returns to his log across the firelight. Your mouth gapes for a moment when you realize that the material around your shoulders is his torn cape.

"Do you not get cold?"

"I do." 

"Why not wear one yourself then?" You lift part of the cloak in indication.

"Mandalorians are taught to withstand uncomfortable circumstances. As a foundling, I frequently exercised in far less temperate weather." 

"A foundling?" You query, your eyebrow raising.

The Mandalorian leans back and shifts his legs apart to better distribute his weight.

"My youth was upended by war. When my village was destroyed, I was found by a Mandalorian."

"The name is quite literal, then?" 

"My people are quite literal," Din crosses his arms and his commanding presence is distracting.

He looks so big sitting on the log, his legs open, back straight, and arms folded. 

"We have similar beginnings," you swallow, trying to ignore the burning inside that has nothing to do with the fire.

"I was a little more fortunate in who found me," Din states. He leans forward to finally adjust the rod holding your dinner.

You lose your gaze in the flaming light, remembering.  

“I still can’t believe how much things have changed,” you murmur. 

Din Djarin can’t either. He has a life-altering decision to make, and a child to let go of, and both thoughts weigh on him like a karking Mudhorn. Din sighs internally at his unintended choice of simile.

Your eyes stray upward to the navy sky, breathing deeply. The frigid air burns your lungs, but you only draw more in, relishing your freedom to do so.

"You did not deserve that life," Din’s rough, mechanical voice answers over the sound of the crackling fire. 

You frown, "No one does." 

Running with the Mandalorian was a great way to stay ahead of the slavers. Paid employment, constant movement, and no one besides Din knowing your name - it was too good to be true.

Dropping your head from the sky, you level the Mandalorian with the most heartfelt gaze you can manage, "Thank you. I would've never had the courage to run without you."

Unable to see his reaction, you feel the distance most acutely. It isn't just flame and metal that divides you.

"I-" Din starts, but you cut him off.

"But mostly it's thanks to Grogu," you grin, trying to lighten the mood.

The helmet bobs as though he's amused, then Din sighs dramatically. 

"I need to separate you two."

"I love him," you giggle, remembering a moment a few days earlier when he had picked up a very dignified, sentient species of frog and tried to eat it. "He is such an agent of chaos." You laugh into your cloak-covered hand. 

Grateful that you can't see the fervent emotion glimmering in his brown eyes, Din studies you. Your fond smile is lit by the glowing fire and the cold winds blow redness into your cheeks and nose. You’re secure in his cloak, and it makes his chest ache.

"Shit," he breathes. The hiss through his modulator doesn't pick up the word well, to his relief. 

It's not a surprise if you do truly love the kid. He is adorable and you've been with him every waking moment for three months, but the word you've just introduced is jarring to Din.

Talking about Grogu brings the dangers you all face to the forefront of your mind. Your smile falls.

"Will you continue to teach me to fight?" You don't immediately register the sudden rigidity of Din's posture, so you press on, "It’s upsetting to me that I'm better with a blaster than with the skills I was taught and trained in by my family." 

The Mandalorian is relieved. You've given him an excuse to say no.

"I cannot teach you the methods of your people." 

“That’s alright; anything would be appreciated.” 

Din shifts his thigh on the log, agitated, and you struggle to fill the silence, “You don’t have to, of course.”

Then, as the silence lengthens, and you watch his helmet glint as he looks away, you realize what he must be so uncomfortable about. 

“Oh. I am not asking we repeat that. I’m sorry,” you raise a hand to chest height as if you’re trying to physically defend yourself from the awkwardness. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean-”

“I know.” 

“I- Din, really I only meant the…” you grimace and clamp your lips together, unable to bear the tension. Standing, you insist, “I swear to you, I never expected more.”

Forgetting to return his cape, you unconsciously hold it closer as you retreat into the Razor Crest. 

The Mandalorian does not watch you walk away. His conflicted eyes remain trained on the crackling fire. Sparring with you brings every heart tug, every little attraction he has to you to the surface, and that's too frustrating to manage while IMPs track him and he deals with letting go of Grogu. 

But Din knows he really should continue to teach you. It’s in your best interest, as well as Grogu’s. His hangup is entirely selfish, and Din is not a selfish man. 

***

Hours later, when the sun has started to rise once more on this short-cycle planet, the Mandalorian finds his brown cape hung on the door to the refresher. He jerks it off its resting place, and goes to tuck it back around himself, when he notices that something is wrong.

Frozen, the Mandalorian stares at the brown, rough material in his hand. There are no holes in it anymore, only stitches. 

_________________________________________

Combined with the sound of intentionally-loud footsteps, Din places Grogu - who had jumped between the two of you all night - on the edge of your cot, allowing the child to wake you up. Din strides to his weapons cache.

You yawn, then snicker at Grogu’s delighted face as he babbles what must be his version of Good Morning. 

“Morning, kid.” You pet his ear and he begins to purr.

“You should stop babying him,” the Mandalorian doesn’t look at you as he searches among the weapons.

“Why? He’s a baby.” 

Din shuts the doors to his stash. “He is fifty years old."

“He's what?” 

Din shrugs and inclines his head in humor. You stare incredulously at the middle-aged child who rotates his little head between you and his father. 

“His species is unknown, but they age differently than we do.” 

“Uh, yeah. Fifty?” 

Din’s modulator makes a rasping sound. It could’ve been a small laugh, but you’re not sure. 

“Is fifty so terrible?”

Something in Din’s voice makes you look up at him. He casually leans against the hull. 

Unsure if you should have the gumption to even ask, you stutter, “A-are you also fifty?” 

The beskar mask does not move as the man behind it debates his reply. He decides on honesty.

“No,” Din states. He clasps one hand over the other in front of him, adding, “But I will reach that number in less than a decade.” 

You make a small, accepting gesture as you had subconsciously placed him around his early forties anyway. In any case, it doesn’t matter to you. He is the Mandalorian who (somewhat inadvertently at first, you’ll admit) saved you. Even without that gratitude, you would feel an attraction to him. He was strong and kind and protective. Ruthless, sure, but only when necessary.

Din pushes off the wall, “You didn’t ask why I woke you.” 

“Oh.” It hadn’t occurred to you, so used to being woken up - far more rudely or violently - each morning for the prior two decades. “Alright, why did you wake me?”

He reaches behind his back, unhooking an item, and holds out the fighting stick he had used in that skirmish between the two of you. 

“I will teach you what I can.” 

***

Din Djarin is careful not to touch you, even through his gloves. He doesn’t trust himself anymore. Instead, he instructs you in tactics. After clocking your strategy in less than three moves, Din is worried about your future opponents doing the same. 

“You dislike giving ground, but there will be times you’ll have to. It’s how you will outmaneuver them,” the Mandalorian stands, hands folded, his knee cocked, as he speaks. 

“How do you know that?” You ask in response to his first statement. 

Din clenches his jaw at the memory so very close to other memories, and answers you in a contained voice, “You were not subtle.” 

You smile, abashed. “See, that is why I asked you. I’m far too inexperienced.”

Din closes his eyes in frustration.

You continue nervously, thinking about how hesitant he had been to agree to this, “My master took me to many fights, and you’re the best I’ve ever seen. I value your opinion.”

Din is used to compliments. Those whom he returned quarries to often praised him for his work. But your praise is one he actually wants, and something throbs in his chest. Then he grows irritated with his rampant, immature yearning for you. 

Din speaks harshly, “This is for the protection of the child. You are his guardian when I am not nearby.”

Locked onto that T-shaped, black slit, your eyes flicker a little at his callous, impatient pronouncement, but you nod. 

“Of course. For the kid.”

__________________________________

Unhappy to be removed from where he had curled up on his father’s pilot seat, Grogu had insisted upon sleeping in the cockpit with his little metal ball. You had assured the Mandalorian that you didn’t mind staying in the passenger chair for the night. The cushions were comfortable enough, and it made the child happy. 

An hour after Grogu had begun purring in his sleep, you’re brought to consciousness by a deeper, labored sound. Bolting to your feet, worried about the Mandalorian below, you descend the ladder. 

The door to the Mandalorian’s bunk had not fully closed, apparently jamming on some loose junk part that Grogu must’ve picked up. There is no light on in the enclosed space, so you cannot see him. But you can hear the way he mutters your name once, rough and agitated. You can hear the sound of material jerking and his rasping, vocoded grunts. 

Your throat tightens and your breathing stops. Eyes wide, you slowly back up, terrified for him to find you in this way. A molten weight in your stomach wants you to push open the door and take care of him, but after the manner in which he spoke to you the entire afternoon, and the obvious way he tries to forget about that day in the field, you can’t. You can’t even fathom why he would be uttering your name. It’s too confusing.

Dazed, you return to the cockpit and try to block him out. Sleep does not come to save you for far too long, and when it does, it provides you no escape from the Mandalorian.

__________________________________

Din’s tortured use of your name had kept you awake far into the night. When you groggily open your eyes the next morning, you know you won’t be able to let this go. You must talk to him. Bravery is a muscle you’re trying to flex anyway, so you might as well try it on the scariest thing you can think of: an angry Din Djarin. 

While Grogu plays with a ship part you pretend to have never seen, one Din had pried out of the receiving slot of his bunk door this morning, you and he traipse down the boarding ramp, intending to save the rest of the Gornt meat for traveling. 

Absolutely guessing at how you’ll begin this conversation, you decide you’ll just hope for the best. 

“I- I heard you last night.” It’s barely more than a whisper.

The Mandalorian stops dead in his tracks and you stumble, trying not to run into him. He turns on you, a solid wall of muscle and metal, but says nothing. You swallow and force what shred of courage you have to the front. 

“I heard you say my name. You don’t have to do that alone. I can help you,” your final words are almost inaudible.

The Mandalorian provides food, shelter, and companionship. Ignorant to any kind of normal relationship, friendly or greater, you want to show your gratitude. And if that was how you could help him, all the better.

Your inner self, the one that’s been unthawing since the day your master was frozen in carbonite, wants Din in a far more genuine manner. You want him. His compassion and honor, his fatherly love for Grogu, his non-pitying care for you, and his primal confidence have you in danger of becoming a hopeless devotee.

“Help me,” he reiterates, his tone worryingly neutral.

“Passage for assistance,” you try to ease the tension slightly with another old quote of his. “I can still assist you. It’s repayment for your aid.”

Even as you say it, you feel the depth of the lie. You want Din for yourself.

He’s silent. At his side, the fingers on his right hand fidget. The broad bounty hunter leans over you. As he tilts his head, the cold sun glints off his armor. 

Din’s voice is as sharp as his vibroblade but twice as lethal, “You are no longer a slave - do not make me say that again. This is not a business transaction.” 

Not a business transaction? While technically a rejection, his clarification makes you dizzy. Your breath comes out shakily, fogging in the chill air. 

“Okay. What if that’s not my real reason for asking?”

That does it. Stunned, the Mandalorian might as well be a statue made of beskar. Din had found it easy to believe you allowed him to touch you because you felt in his debt, and he hated it. Made him feel as slimy as a Hutt.

“Tell me.” 

Din watches your facial expressions run the gamut and he knows that whatever you’re about to say is the truth. 

“I care about you.” Will you ever stop whispering? “For you, not just what you’ve done for me,” your second greatest act of bravery this morning is touching his cold chestplate. You swallow as you look up into that blank face. 

Din doesn't move. Doesn't think he can move, but then his body responds before his mind does. Soft leather brushes your cheekbones as he takes your face in his large hands. He tilts his cold helmet to your forehead, and you instinctively close your eyes, sighing in relief. This was not what you were expecting when you followed him out here.

You can't hear the first thing he says, but it sounds like dank farrik. You laugh quietly in his hands.

"You are a menace,” he mutters a little louder, the modulator somehow enhancing the timbre of his voice. “You and the kid.”

Grinning, you open your eyes as he lifts his helmet from your skin. “Don’t bring him into this,” you joke. 

Din’s thumb ghosts across your lips and you shiver. The Mandalorian is calm. This is inevitable now. He need not fight himself any longer. He grasps your wrist and brings it upward. Gently guiding your fingers underneath the edge of his helmet, Din presses them to his lips.

Utterly shocked at this new gift, you gasp. A scratchy cloth wraps around the bottom of his chin, but above it, his soft, scruffy facial hair and plump lips make your skin tingle. Nerves jumble in your lower stomach. He presses another kiss before slowly lowering your hand.

You tell him disbelievingly, "I thought there was no way -” 

“What you thought was wrong.” 

Your heat signature rises at the sincerity in his voice. Din tilts his head, watching your reaction to him. He lets his covered fingers drift over your lips again, then he drags them down the column of your throat and past your exposed collarbone, enjoying your whimper. Your pupils are dilated.

“You want me now, don’t you?” He asks, his voice hoarse. 

You nod, whispering past your suddenly dry mouth, “Yes.” 

The Mandalorian crouches for a split second, hefting you into his arms with no effort. Your legs automatically wrap around his middle, arms around his neck. His hands clasp underneath your thighs as he strides up the loading ramp as though every second he delayed was one wasted. 

Din lays you out on his bunk and hits the button for the door without looking at it. He does not turn on the light. In the tiny, black room, you can hear him divesting himself of his flight suit and armor. It makes your heart throw itself against your chest. You sit up and struggle out of your own clothes, wanting nothing between you and him.

“Will I ever get to kiss you?” You ask timidly.

Din answers you immediately. His rough palms bracket your face, then he reverently pushes his lips into yours. His facial hair brushes against your skin and you weakly moan into his mouth, parting your lips for more. The Mandalorian groans, as well, enraptured by this new sensation. 

Din wraps a muscled arm around your waist, crushing you to him in the small space. His warm, broad chest forces yours to mold around him. Your hands gently drag along his torso, mapping him. He shudders underneath your fingers.

His lips break like waves around yours. You could be floating above the bed and it would feel no different. He kisses you like it’s what he needs to survive; his occasional noises of desperation stake your heart and dampen your thighs.

“Need to touch you everywhere,” Din’s real, untampered voice knots your stomach. 

“You can do whatever you want,” you breathlessly repeat the unspoken affirmation you’d given him the first time. 

He chuckles, and you shiver again, drunk with lust. Din lowers you back onto the hard bed, settling over you.

His hot mouth surprises the sensitive skin of your breast. Din moans, involuntarily you think, as he tastes you there, gently pulling and sucking. You jerk, pressing up into him with a cry. Who knew that could feel so good?

His big hands flow down your sides, pressing into you, exploring, and you get a burst of understanding. This man is starved.

Your hands comb into his hair, and while you wonder what its color is, you’re choked up to find that it’s soft and wavy. Din groans loudly when your fingers rub on his scalp. He seems invigorated by it as he growls and returns to your lips with a fever. His tongue demands you allow him inside, but there is no resistance on your end. 

Suddenly, Din breaks the kiss with a wet pop of his lips. He vanishes from above you, but then two large hands slide up your thighs. He pushes them apart and your breath hitches. 

“You trust me?” The Mandalorian knows the answer, he just wants to hear it.

Nodding dumbly in the dark, you realize he can’t see you and squeak, “Yes.”

He shifts down and presses a row of kisses up your inner thigh. His nose brushes your coarse hair, and your breathing breaks a second time. 

Din flattens his tongue and licks the spot he already knows you like. You jolt and his arms wrest around your thighs, holding you in place for him. You whimper as he buries his face in your folds, shocking your system. Your hands return to his hair, and his chest swells as he quickly shoves you toward your end. His nose continually nudges your bundle of nerves and each time it feels like you’re hurtling through hyperspace.

Your back arches when he traps your clit between his lips, and he responds with another obscene noise. This time, the vibration of his deep voice rips your orgasm from your marrow. Crying out his name, you quake, chest heaving through the waves of euphoria. 

Too overwhelmed by all his options, Din moves back to your mouth, breathing heavily himself, “Incredible.” 

He licks into you again, his hand cradling your face to allow him deeper. Taking advantage of his position, you wrap your legs around his trim waist, pulling him down. His hips cant toward you, and you feel his length fall onto your abdomen. You hadn’t forgotten how big he was, but the heft of it makes your body tremble. 

The Mandalorian could be a patient man, but this would never be one of those moments. Din fists himself, rubbing once along your soaked seam. He pushes forward, steadily feeding his cock into your tight, forgiving heat. Din grunts several times, overstimulated. 

“You don’t know what you’ve done, mesh’la,” he gruffly murmurs, his naked voice still so shocking to hear.

You have no idea what he means, and you file it away for later study. Solely focused on how he feels halfway inside you, you clutch at the back of his thick thighs, encouraging him. But then he snaps his hips, driving himself to the hilt.

“Din, oh,” you sharply gasp. 

He grinds his pubic bone into your mound, stimulating you; his chin tilts up, proud, when you shudder. The Mandalorian grabs one of your hands and brings it to where he’s joined with you.

“You feel that?” Din’s voice is weighty, meaningful.

“Mhm,” you sigh, your fingers leaving his hand to explore his dark curls. He’s right. The deviant way his thick member disappears inside you is intoxicating.

He languidly draws himself out, letting you experience every ridge and vein, pulsing with your filthy sounds. He re-enters you just as intentionally, and when he’s given you everything, he leans down and drags you into a kiss. A kiss that means something to him. His tongue surges through your mouth in a single stroke before his full lips pull on yours, one hand gripping the back of your neck.

He lets you go, trailing his mouth down your throat, obsessed with the taste and the feel of you on his skin.

Din returns to your lips, his forearms framing your head. His fingers twist in your hair, and he begins to pump faster. His length strokes along a spot that makes your eyes flutter in the pitch blackness. Your nails carefully rake at his toned back, drawing a strangled moan from him as he shoves himself inside again and again. Losing a measure of self-control, he thrusts hard, placing a palm on the back wall for stability. 

Your hands finally, finally, reach up for his face, expecting at any moment that he’ll stop you. His lips are parted as he pants in exertion, his facial hair fluttering with his breath. Din’s cheekbones are round and high; his nose is angular and fitting. 

“I knew you were handsome,” you praise, the words fluctuating in cadence with his pounding strokes. “Wouldn’t have mattered.”

He scoffs, barely conscious of what you’re saying. His forehead drops to yours again, and he can’t believe the life he’d known had unraveled so drastically. In under a year, Din had gained a child and this. 

“Turn over,” he orders.

Of course, you obey without hesitation.

His calloused fingers slide around your hips, pulling them upward. With your chest still pressed into the bunk, you moan when he slowly re-inserts himself. He nearly chokes when your body draws him in; the angle and drenched grip of you makes him shake his head in disbelief. 

“You okay?” He rumbles. 

Your chin scrapes on the metal bed as you nod, “Please move.” 

He clasps an arm around your middle, hunching forward. His scruff and lips tickle the top of your spine as he begins to rut into you. It’s already too much - Din grunting, his chest hair scratching your upper back, his muscled arms holding you in place as he fills you over and over. You begin to clench around him again, crying out harshly in a rush of pleasure. Your legs shake, giving out underneath you.

The Mandalorian’s large hand splays across your breast, and he pulls you backward onto your knees alone, welding you to his perspiring chest. As his length plunges up into you, his lips brush your ear. He’s whispering something, but you can't understand the words.

Then, Din exhales with a groan and rolls several long, pulsing strokes, burying his come as deep as he can with a final, gravel-filled grunt.

***

In the dark, there’s only the sound of two people fighting for breath. Din has leaned against the cool wall; he tugs you to him. You sit somewhat beside him, your legs tangled together. Your head rests on his heaving shoulder, and every now and then, you feel the press of his lips in your hair. He laughs once, quietly.

“What is it?” 

“Your life is not the only one that has changed.” 

Blinking rapidly, your heart glows with warmth. Yours had changed the most. This Mandalorian had come into your non-existence and given you everything. Courage, freedom, responsibility, love. 

“I know you like to fight, but this is one I’ll win,” you laugh softly. 

___________________________________

Tagging:

@morks-watermelon

#the mandalorian #the mandalorian fanfic #din djarin fanfic #pedro pascal #the mandalorian fanfiction #din djarin #din djarin fanfiction #my writing #din djarin x you #din djarin x reader #the mandalorian x you #the mandalorian x reader #my fics #personal #grogu

[coffeebanana]

i just watched ep 11 and 12 and i don't know how to feel about ladynoir not being romantic anymore...

im going to miss it so much, it's been that way since the first episode ever, (and it's my fav ship) and now that adrinette is getting stronger and it seems like it's going to stay that way more and more (i haven't seen any other eps past 12 btw, that's just me thinking)

*my* personal taste to develop the lovesquare was through ladynoir, then shifting slowly into adrinette by revealing the identities and then the amazing phase of post reveal pre relationship

but that's just what i think and you can disagree with me, i just wanted to talk about it to someone haha

You're definitely not the only one who feels that way, anon, and it's so valid to be disappointed. I hope you can still find a way to enjoy the show, because I know it sucks when you're really invested in something and it doesn't turn out the way you expected💜 Personally I didn't really have a preference as to what side got together/was developed more pre-reveal. I guess I still don't, but I think the way they set up Adrinette (because yes, it definitely seems like they're going that way, and I haven't seen past ep 12 either) felt rushed? Like I loved Elation, but if they were going to flip the square shouldn't they have given Marinette more than two seconds to process her feelings for Chat after shutting it down? Oh my God I wanted to see more of the way she acted in Passion and the beginning of Elation. I want to see Chat being hella confused because akjdbkjb that was so good. And I want more conflicted Ladrien--Adrien realizing maybe his feelings aren't as gone as he thought they were!

If I could have chosen anything though...I wanted PRPR too, anon. I love the chaos, the pining, the silly goofiness of them being so married but unable to admit it.

But I'm not holding it against the show much. I think for the most part they've done a really good job at making this season more continuous instead of episodic, but I was never expecting perfection. I love this show, quirks and all (not saying I don't have complaints, but...big picture).

And the platonic ladynoir talking about their gf/bf is so cute to me. They are best friends at the end of the day, no matter what. Even if the development moving forwards isn't romantic, they've still come so far from where they were last season! They trust each other! Marinette is learning to trust her friends more and to be open and honest and that is SO BIG for her! For ladynoir! And when they realize who's on the other side of the mask, they're going to be so so so happy!

(Also, as a final aside: in a fanfic sense...I think post-Elation is a great point for canon-divergent fics if people want to explore other sides of the square. And honestly I think there's even an argument for post-perfection ladynoir being realistic, though it likely won't happen in canon. Marinette's feelings for Chat and Adrien's for Ladybug are definitely still hanging around somewhere.)

Thanks for the ask, anon!! 💜

#ask response #anonymous #miraculous ladybug #ml s5 #ml spoilers #ml deflagration #deflagration spoilers #ml perfection #perfection spoilers

[youngeditor1999]

Ship bingo: Josh and Stefon

So because this is an NFL RPF ship...!!

Blue means HELL YEAH, FOR FUCKING SURE, LET'S GOOOOOO BAYBEEE!!!!!!!! 🥳🌟💯🔥💞

Some explanations though:

--"Aesthetically it's GREAT" because they are polar opposites of each other personality wise, but they still manage to be phenomenal together!! To further give you a more illustrative idea of what exactly I mean, in the gfl Discord, we like to compare Josh to a golden retriever and Stef to a black cat. 🖤💛🐈‍⬛🐶

Also in terms of aesthetics, I love seeing Stef be super into clothes/fashion and then Josh is usually out there in hella casual team apparel most of the time 😅

So even though their aesthetics don't match, they don't have to, as they perfectly complement each other as they are!!!

In fact, them not matching while also perfectly complimenting each other is the aesthetic!!!!!!

--"I want to kiss them" simply because they are both cuties ☺️💓 Just a little peck is all I want!! They very much deserve to be majorly loved on, but they can hopefully do that for each other 🤩😉💞

--"They make me unwell", "relationship goals"...I always think about how they talk about each other to the press, especially when the other one isn't there!! They are always hyping each other up and aren't afraid to defend the other while also being so positive in general when speaking about each another!!

Also, Stef was quoted as saying that he wants to get Christmas pictures with Josh 🥺🥹🤧💚🎄📸

And another thing he said is that he can see himself growing old with Josh!!!

Both of these things are big reasons why these two squares apply to how I feel about them. 💙🩵

Meanwhile, here is what red ones mean:

1). "I really need this to be canon"--as "canon" as RPF can get, which to me means that they would actually come out together (and maybe even kiss!!), but of course I know that they don't owe us anything and that their own, private business is just that!!

At the same time, I do think that it would be cool and valid if they did ever decide to formally/officially announce their romantic partnership 🥰

2). "I like it in theory", "I'm open to it"--A lot of RPF is simply ✨theories✨ and ✨vibes✨ so even though Josh and Stef are super obvious all of the time with what they say about each other and also in regards to how they act when around one another, they are still just a theoretical ship overall.

That being said, most ships are theoretical, even the fictional ones that end up being canon fr FR, so yeah--I am (super!!) open to them and am definitely willing to continue to watch their relationship play out!!!

3). "I'd die for them"--because of the things that they say to one another and how they always act!!!!!!! They are so in love with each other that I'm like YEAH, but at the same time, my trifecta of Tom, Rob, and Julian will always be the ultimate "I will go DOWN with this ship" to me.

**********

In conclusion, I truly love Josh and Stefon so much 🥺🥹🤧💗

They were meant to meet and be on the same team together and I have a strong feeling that they are gonna be together for long time, even after they retire and become Hall of Famers!!! ❤️❣️♥️

Thanks for asking about them, anon!!! 😊🌟💯🔥💞

#asks #ask box #anon #asked and answered #NFL asks #ship bingo #ship games #ask games #NFL RPF #Josh Allen #Stefon Diggs #Josh/Stefon #Stefon/Josh #A classic QB x WR1 relationship <3 #sweethearts #babes #love

[ramen8008]

----MIRACULOUS NEWS----

After the recent episode feligami fanfics and fanart have increased by 24% and felinette fanfics have had a major drop as they have decreaseed by 27%.

Moving on from that we have a MASSIVE increase in fanart and fanfics of the whole love square as supporters of certain ships have been through so much in the pass 2 seasons such as Marichat and especially ladynoir (what the heck happen I won't ever be able to get over it) as it was suspected by most that season 4 will include mostly ladynoir which turns out false so now people's only comfort from how their favorite ships were destroyed are from fanart, comic and fanfics.

There has also been a huge increase in adrinette content as it is obvious that since they are official and the only thing of comfort we can get from the canon show people are holding in to it as the only small yet significant source of reassurance they receive from the show.

Also people hatred for Lila has come back as the character made a reappearance in the shows and her continuation of being a lying bit-

We will be ending today's news as we always do by reminding all of you that Natalie is the only girl boss that matters and wishing death in both Lila and Gabriel.

Also that we Stan both Plagg and Luka. You guys feel our pain and we Stan you.

-----MIRACULOUS NEWS ENDS-------

P.s. this is all a joke don't take it seriously

#miraculous news #miraculous #chat noir #ladybug #mlb #marinette #adrien #ladybug and chat noir #chat #ladynoir #ship #adrinette #marichat #funny #joke #season 4 #mlb season 5 spoilers #mlb season 5 #ml season 5 #mlb season 4

[unknown-lifeform]

I have been having plenty of thoughts regarding this matter as of late and so here it is, a whole post

Cloud Strife: an Aromantic Reading

...and now you're all going to tell me, "don't you have hundreds of thousands of words of fanfiction about Cloud Strife being in love with various men?" which, yes, I do, I would say I am fairly invested in making Cloud kiss dudes. But, for starters, I'm not the kind of person who always has a single fixed headcanon about a character's sexuality. An interpretation of Cloud as gay is to me just as valid as one where he's aromantic. Second, aromanticism is a spectrum, and a greyromantic or demiromantic Cloud would be both aromantic and very much capable of being in love romantically with someone.

Lastly, and most crucial, I am aromantic, therefore, literally any media analysis I do is technically an aromantic reading even when it doesn't talk about aromanticism. And I today want to discuss why I believe it makes perfect sense for Cloud to be aromantic, and what parts of his character make him compelling from the aromantic point of view.

Note: this post is very, very long. Like way too long. Also it assumes a general familiarity with both FF7 and the concept of aromanticism. And because this is an analysis it also includes me discussing why I believe that certain relationships between Cloud and other characters which are often seen as romantic do not in fact have to be romantic at all. You have been warned.

The dating mechanics

Let's start with getting this out of the way.

The game allows you to go on a date with one of four characters, depending on your choices: Aerith, Tifa, Yuffie, or Barret. Aerith and Tifa have the highest base probabilities of being Cloud's partner. Yuffie's base chances are much lower, not to mention that she is an optional character that not everyone even obtains. Barret has the lowest base probability of them all, and I would say it's fairly hard to have him as the partner unless specifically trying to get him.

Because most people will end up on the date with Aerith and Tifa, given the highest chances of it. After all, Aerith and Tifa are also often presented as Cloud's "canon" love interests, and every day we thank Squenix for all the shipwars they brought upon us.

Before I continue, let me state that I do not care what you, person reading this, ship. I'm sure everyone here is partial to different ships. We all have different interpretations of the characters. This is my personal opinion and analysis, not some kind of shipping manifesto, and I fully realize that some people will disagree with what I say.

With that out of the way, let me just say that I've always found the romantic chemistry built between Cloud and either Aerith or Tifa to be fairly lukewarm. Which is understandable, because Square Enix wants to sell both options as potential ships. They have always presented both Clerith and Cloti as potential relationships in the Compilation, and leaning too hard into one side would risk taking away the potential for the other relationship to occur. Allowing the player to pick their favorite girl has been an integral feature since day one, and now they have to commit.

For example, I'm considering the date scenes with either girl. Note that I will base myself on the English version of the game, not the original Japanese, meaning I could very well missing some nuance present in the original version.

If the date happens with Aerith, she will be the one to show up, propose it, and then basically drag Cloud out of the room, who for his part seemed more confused than anything else. Some shenanigans happen, and then the two ride a gondola, where Aerith tells Cloud that he reminds her of Zack (albeit never using his name) but she has now realized Cloud is very different from him. She then tells Cloud she wants to meet the "real" Cloud, either meaning she wants to get to know him better or that she has realized something strange is up with him.

At the end of the date, she asks Cloud if he doesn't like being with her. Cloud's dialogue options are "No, I don't" or "That's not it". At this point Aerith says to go on more rides next time they come here, and we cut to Cait Sith being shady and the plot moves on.

This entire date is overall... pretty one sided. Cloud didn't want to go at first, and mostly plays along. His dialogue options seem to suggest that at best, he likes being with Aerith, but something of this situation was making him uncomfortable.

Tifa also essentially pushes Cloud out of his room for her date, but never uses the word "date", rather asking Cloud to hang out, which fits with her personality being in general less outgoing than Aerith. In fact, later in their gondola scene, Tifa decides to tell Cloud something, and states Aerith would probably be able to be more open about it. Tifa proceeds saying that it's hard being old friends, that timing is everything, and from her words one can imagine she wanted to confess to him.

Just then the ride ends, and when Cloud asks Tifa what she was about to say, she says it was nothing, leaving Cloud confused.

This date also seems pretty one sided, with Tifa appearing interested in Cloud and Cloud being pretty clueless about it. He even agrees with Tifa that being old friends is hard, but doesn't seem to catch on that she is interested in him.

Overall, as an aromantic person, let me say I relate to Cloud so much in both instances. I have also completely missed other people's interests in me, despite it being kind of obvious in hindsight. And if someone took me on a date, I would be very uncomfortable. Note that Cloud's apparent unease is only apparent in Aerith's date, the only one that was openly stated to be a date, while with Tifa he was simply told they were spending time together. Of course his uneasiness with Aerith may also be because of her strange words regarding to wanting to know the "real Cloud", but it's just as possible to interpret his line to be about the date itself.

And if someone wants to tell me that it should be obvious Tifa wanted it to be a date... It isn't. We, the audience, can guess she might have a crush on Cloud, but Cloud clearly didn't pick up on it. A girl asking a boy to spend some time with her doesn't always mean that she's interested in him, unless we want to pull the "men and women can't be just friends" card.

I've also taken a look at the various dialogues which in game allow you to determine which character you will go on a date with. The majority of these just amount to being kind to one person or prioritizing them over the others, but not in ways which are openly romantic. There is one dialogue where Aerith asks if Tifa is Cloud's girlfriend and he can confirm or deny, and another where Marlene asks if Aerith likes Cloud and he can say he doesn't know or that he hopes so. Both of these dialogues allow the player to make Cloud act uninterested.

Now, Yuffie and Barret aren't usually seen as Cloud's potential canon love interests. Yuffie's date features Yuffie giving Cloud a kiss on his cheek, which she is immediately embarrassed about and Cloud basically ignores that it even happened. Barret's date is the least romantic, given, well, I guess Square Enix didn't dare make it gay. Paradoxically it's also the one Cloud seems to have the most agency in, because he was the one to suggest they take the romantic gondola ride, which Barret wasn't a fan of. But in the end, it's awkward more than anything else.

Aerith & Tifa: relationship with Cloud

Given the girls are seen as the potential love interests, I'm gonna now focus on them specifically.

Again. I'm not trying to prove or disprove your favorite ship. I don't care. I'm doing my own analysis here.

Tifa is the one Cloud has known the longest. Their relationship is actually kind of weird thinking about it. They always call each other old friends, but they weren't that close in childhood, what with Tifa's father keeping Cloud away from her.

While Tifa's feelings on Cloud can be discussed, Cloud's relationship with and view of Tifa doesn't have to romantic at all. Remember, she is the only survivor of Cloud's hometown, basically the only real connection to his past Cloud has, that's in itself a very powerful bond to share with someone. Tifa is the only person alive who remembers Nibelheim, and the only one who can truly understand what Sephiroth's rampage was like. It makes sense for Cloud to be drawn to her, protective too. Plus, Tifa was also the one who found Cloud while he was still in a confused state, there might have been a certain level of imprinting there.

Also. We know Cloud didn't have friends in Nibelheim, that he didn't get along with other children. Tifa was the only one who was kind to him. That's another reason for him to be drawn to her.

So we have Cloud, who has a thousand reasons to be attached to Tifa, and all of them in addition to the fact that, you know, they're friends. Because, they are friends. Cloud's affection towards Tifa can be well explained by friendship and all the baggage that comes with their past, without having to drag romance in.

Someone may point to Advent Children, where Cloud and Tifa live together (at least, when Cloud isn't off being sad and emotionally repressed somewhere). That does seem like a couples thing. Furthermore, in the One the Way to a Smile side novel, Tifa basically explicitly says she loves Cloud (not words on Cloud's feelings tho). This doesn't however take away from the potential for an aromantic Cloud, and in fact makes my aromantic brain go brrrr with excitement.

Living together isn't exclusively something romantic partners do. Friends can do it as well, especially in circumstances where it's more convenient to do so, and for Cloud it would be better to room with Tifa than to find another place in Edge.

But also... found family. God, how I love found family, and in my experience it is in general a trope beloved my a lot of people in the aromantic community. Cloud and Tifa are raising two children, an orphan whose feelings towards them are unclear, and a girl whose father is not romantically involved with either Cloud or Tifa, this is in itself a very strange situation, and it doesn't become more "normal" if we assume those two are a romantic couple.

I personally adore the idea of two people who are not romantically in love taking care of children, becoming a family because of their own choice. Being platonic friends, or queerplatonic partners too. Because Cloud and Tifa are never stated to be officially a couple, they are a perfect example of a situation to which the queerplatonic label may apply. And in fact the idea of a queerplatonic Cloti is in my opinion spectacular. The devotion, the history, the complicated connection which cannot be explained as romantic but isn't close to friendship either? That's the kind of non-romantic partnership I want to see in media.

Let's look at Aerith now. The early relationship between her and Cloud was mostly driven by her, with Cloud kind of going along with her antics. Aerith is a whirlwind, and he is basically swept up by her. Given Aerith's bluntness and personality, I wouldn't be surprised if she were able to get almost anyone to follow her around the way Cloud did. And yes, she was flirty with him from time to time, but again this is her side of things, not Cloud's.

Their time together was unfortunately cut short by Aerith's death, and Cloud's reaction to it was heartbreaking. Her death scene is justly known as iconic, and it leaves me baffled that I have seen in the past Cloud's reaction to it being treated as "proof" he had romantic feelings for her. She was his friend, and she was murdered in front of him, while he was busy fighting against Sephiroth's mind control. Cloud's devastation is understandable, and in itself isn't enough to be connected to romantic feelings, unless someone want to try and convince me friends don't grieve for friends.

Aerith's presence continues to haunt the game - literally. She determines the ultimate victory from the Lifestream, and continues to act as a spirit even in Advent Children. In On the Way to a Smile she also says she loves Cloud, quite like Tifa does. Again, Square Enix cannot push too far in one direction without evening out the playing field.

Cloud, for his part, is drowning in guilt about her death by Advent Children. The same guilt he has for Zack's death. Now, his pain about both seems to be of the same magnitude, and we can't grab the grief itself as proof that he had romantic feelings for one of them without saying he must have also had them for the other. And I doubt Square Enix wanted us to think Zakkura is canon either.

All in all, Cloud's approach towards both girls can be read as platonic or romantic depending on your personal interpretation. Nothing ever says he was never in love with them, but nothing directly says he was either. His devotion can be seen as non-romantic in either case. These characters are in the end people who have gone through terrible things together, and it's reasonable to think their bond will be powerful regardless of its nature.

Devotion in FF7

It's common in fandom circles to hear the sentence "those two can't be friends, they are too devoted to each other to be friends". This is a wretched sentence. The idea that romantic love is far deeper and more powerful than any platonic friendship derives from amatonormativity, and it has plenty of issues which basically boil down to it's fucking wrong.

Romantic love is different than platonic love. That doesn't mean it's always stronger or better. Depending on the circumstances, it can be fully justified to put a partner above a friend. If an individual person feels that their romantic partner will always be their most important person, that is their prerogative, but people can love their friends just as much as they love a partner.

Insisting that only romantic love can push people to go to certain lengths for others honestly make me extremely perplexed. Don't get me wrong, everyone works in different ways, and I have no doubts that for some people romantic feelings will be more intense than platonic ones, but it's definitely not every single person in the world. The devaluation of platonic connection is something I have a lot of feelings about, and it's probably better if I move on with the analysis.

FF7 has plenty of instances of depictions of devotion between characters that we aren't supposed to see as romantic partners. Zack's love for Cloud comes to mind, he went above and beyond what anyone else would have done for another person, giving his life to protect a best friend after having spent months dragging Cloud around despite his coma.

And then... Barret spends his life raising the daughter of his best friend, and when Dyne dies Barret is broken by it. Cait Sith may be just one robot among many, but he also appears to have some degree of intelligence, and the first Cait Sith's last words make it clear he didn't want to be destroyed, but still did so for his friends. Zack in Crisis Core did everything he could to save Angeal. The Turks in Before Crisis put each other above everything else, even if they should in theory be a bunch of cold hearted assassins.

This is a whole other analysis, but FF7 is to me a game that fundamentally talks about people caring for each other or for an ideal. The positive characters, who care about the world and their friends, are placed in opposition to Shinra, full of people that care for nothing if not themselves, and to Sephiroth and Jenova, willing to sacrifice a whole planet just for their own sake.

Saying "Cloud treats X character in a certain way, therefore he must be in love with them, a friend would never" does to me an enormous disservice to both the game and to how strong real life friendships can be.

In short, none of what Cloud does has to be connected to romance to make sense. Doesn't he say so himself in Advent Children? There's nothing that he doesn't cherish. He's not fighting for X specific person because of romantic love, he literally tells us that everything is on the same level for him.

Because of this Cloud is so appealing as an aromantic character. He never claims to love something more than other, he fights in the same way to protect his best friends or the whole planet. Someone who never falls in love, and yet loves with such apparent intensity. It's not a kind of character that every aromantic person in the world can relate to, but he's still so compelling.

Remake scenes

Remake has given us plenty of new scenes concerning Cloud and romance. Mainly, approximately every character in the game flirting with him, from Aerith and Tifa to Jessie to whatever the fuck was going on with Roche to Sephiroth asking to be hugged (look I know embrace me is meant to be metaphorical but come on).

And every time, Cloud looks... quite uncomfortable. At least most of the time. To be fair at various points of the game he looks to be more at ease in ambiguous situations when it comes to Aerith and Tifa, who are both the main romance options and also the people Cloud knows the best. For the most part Cloud tends to brush off people who act flirty with him, even trying to get out of Jessie's hug that one time.

Again, it could be just his general tough guy persona, which is even more evident in Remake than it was in the OG, but it might also be that he genuinely disliked being approached in romantic ways.

When it comes to Aerith and Tifa, there are much more potentially romantic scenes with both, and many of them also do look more ambiguous. Remake is a much larger game than the OG, with a lot of additional content, it's obvious that Square Enix would add more scenes that build the relationship between various characters. Possibly also because it's easier to build tension between realistic models than it is between polygon people. Plus, with the success FF7 has enjoyed, and Clerith and Cloti both having plenty of fans, Square Enix might have decided to lean heavier into that side of things to please the fanbase.

My general impression of many scenes being more ambiguous than strictly romantic stands, because once again, Square Enix cannot validate either ship too much, and even if they keep the dating mechanics I doubt they will make any route "too canon".

That being said. I do agree that some of these scenes lean more towards being romantic than some scenes in the original game. Some are situational - like Cloud physically protecting both Tifa and Aerith from bad falls - but there's also plenty of additional dialogues implying Cloud may have feelings for one or the other. I still don't feel they are enough to say "Cloud 100% has romantic feelings for this girl", but I can admit they can be taken as a stronger indication than some of the OG scenes.

Now... So far I've always spoken of Cloud in terms of the no romance, no romantic feelings ever, kind of romance repulsed flavor of aromantic. However, as I said at the start of the post, aromanticism is an umbrella. It includes things like greyromanticism, demiromanticism, and in general identities where one may on rare and specific occasions develop romantic feelings for someone. And there are people who may be both grey/demi/any identity that implies occasionally feeling romance, and simultaneously be romance repulsed and unsure of what to do when they do have a crush on someone.

Tifa and Aerith are both people Cloud has very strong emotional connections with, regardless of the nature of said connection. He and Tifa have known each other a long time, and he becomes very attached to Aerith very fast. He is objectively annoyed by a lot of people flirting with him, and while he warms up to the two girls he still acts awkward and unsure around them. One could very easily make a case for a romance repulsed demiromantic Cloud, for example.

Considering also how many people say Remake!Cloud and OG!Cloud have different personalities - not getting into this argument now, I'm just saying that it is a common interpretation - one could also say that Remake!Cloud and OG!Cloud have different flavors of aromanticism. It's also a possible interpretation.

In conclusion

Can any of the things I have discussed so far be taken as definite proof that Cloud is aromantic? Not really. It's all up to interpretation, and my interpretation is heavily informed by my own orientation.

However, it's also not any less acceptable than any analysis speculating what Cloud's actual orientation is. Unless Square Enix decides to make Cloud officially state what he identifies as, every option is a possible option. Overall, as an aromantic person I find that many of Cloud's actions are very relatable, and that it doesn't feel at all like a stretch to consider him motivated always by non-romantic feelings of affection.

Anyways I want more aromantic Cloud in my life, and if you are thinking something along the lines of "hey, you're a writer, you know you can just write it yourself?" I want you to know that yes you are right about that but also I am allowed to wish that things would just spontaneously manifest in my life without me putting in any effort to make them happen ok

#ff7 #ffvii #final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7 #cloud strife #aro tag #aromantic #congrats to anyone getting to the end of this post #i am clearly unable of keeping things at a reasonable length

[skyler10fic]

that's why i love fall: Ch. 3

Summary: Carol is a park ranger in a growing mountain town. Daisy is a cybersecurity city girl in town for a job interview at the town’s biotech lab. Under the autumn leaves, fate brings them together (aided by Daisy’s parents, Phil and Melinda). As sweet as a PSL and with as much plot as apple pie.

Notes: This one is pretty canon-free. Basically original fic but with the personalities, names, and faces of my ships.

Read on A03

This is chapter 3/4, so subscribe on Ao3 to make sure you don't miss the end!

----------------------

The next morning, Carol met Daisy at the diner with to-go coffees, and they walked around the town square, going in and out of businesses. The antique shop held the most fun, with funny hats to try on, weird nostalgic knick-knacks that provoked stories of childhood, and a bag that was just Daisy’s style, which led to a long conversation with the shopkeeper about the bag’s eccentric previous owner. 

On a longer stretch between notable landmarks, Carol brushed her hand against Daisy’s. Daisy returned the gesture, and Carol took it as permission to hold her hand. Daisy smiled when she did, but otherwise continued on as if they walked through town hand in hand every day. 

They took silly pictures together by some tall abstract “modern art” sculptures that Carol wasn’t sure how to explain, and Carol noticed Daisy specifically took selfies of the two of them, not just alone, though Carol took a few good ones of Daisy farther away with the full sculpture. When Carol showed her the photos, Daisy tried to self-deprecate, but Carol insisted she was perfect. This earned Carol a fast but sweet kiss on the cheek. Carol thought about kissing her fully, right there in public, but decided to wait for a more romantic moment than a sidewalk with cars whizzing by. 

It didn’t escape her, though, the way Daisy took her hand when they walked this time. Carol allowed herself to acknowledge maybe Daisy wasn’t just a kind, flirty, charismatic person. Maybe she was falling for Carol just as Carol was falling for her. But the problem was Daisy didn’t have the job yet. She kept this fact in her mind like a life preserver ring in the ocean. Flirting and imagining possibilities in the dreamy autumn of her hometown was one thing, but if Daisy didn’t get the job, if her move didn’t happen, it would break both of their hearts. 

They ordered takeout from Carol’s friends’ cafe and ate lunch in the town park at a picnic table. 

Daisy was suspiciously quiet. She absently picked up a chip but put it back down again after a minute and picked up her sandwich.  

“What’s on your mind?” Carol prodded gently after a few moments of silence. 

Daisy seemed to awake from her distraction. “Oh! I’m fine.” 

Carol sent her a look of doubt but didn’t push. “Okay. We could see the library next. They have a little museum about the town’s history.”

“That sounds good.” Daisy nodded but went quiet again.   

Carol opened her chip bag wider and offered it to Daisy. “Cheeto for your thoughts?” 

“It’s just,” Daisy began before taking one, “what happens if this isn’t it? What if all of this is just a teaser of a life I won’t have?” She waved the Cheeto for emphasis. 

“One, you graduated from MIT,” Carol listed, counting points on her cheese-coated fingers. “Two, they brought you all the way out here. Three, you’re an obvious choice with family in the area. And Jemma said the interview went well from what she could tell on that side of things.” 

“Yeah, I think it did.” Daisy had stopped gesturing with the Cheeto and ate it. A good sign, from what Carol could determine. 

“But this is all so wonderful.” Daisy said it as if it posed a dilemma. 

“Failing to see the problem there,” Carol admitted.

“It’s…,” Daisy sighed. “Before I came, I didn’t really think I was going to like it, so I didn’t put as much into my application and earlier interviews as I would have. And that sucks because now I’m nervous about getting the job. I think I could really have a future here. With the lab and this town… and you.” 

“There you go again.” Carol teased, “Charming me with your powers when I’m the one trying to reassure you. How do you do that?”

Daisy laughed. “C’mon, I was promised a library tour.” 

They cleaned up their trash before continuing their plans for the day. 

Eventually, after the library and museum and sharing more of their stories prompted by the town’s history exhibits, Daisy admitted she had an addition to their plan.

“My parents are getting dinner at the Golden Arrow and said I could invite you,” Daisy rushed out. “Okay, actually, they insisted you come.” 

Carol grinned. “I’d love to.”

“I know you’ve already met, but if it’s too soon, with all of us together, or if it’d be awkward, or if you have plans…” 

Carol stopped their walking and turned to Daisy. “Hey. I’d love to.” 

“Good.” Daisy exhaled. “That’s good.” 

Carol realized they were back at the diner where they started the day. “We could go back to my place until then.”

Daisy raised an eyebrow. 

“To see it!” Carol explained. “And hang out with Jemma. Jemma will be there. You two can talk. We can all talk.” 

Daisy smiled at Carol’s verbal fumbling. “That sounds good. I’ll follow you there?” 

Carol found herself reluctant to drop Daisy’s hand but gathered her willpower and succeeded. The road home had never felt longer.

To Carol’s delight, Jemma and Daisy bonded over mutual MIT friends and music and fandoms. Jemma was able to offer some housing options from her research, and she and Carol showed Daisy around their current place. It was comically fast, but Carol hoped Daisy would feel at home enough to move into Jemma’s old room once Jemma left to live with Fitz. And Daisy just seemed to fit there—the music of her laughter in their kitchen, the sight of her relaxed on their couch wrapped in Carol’s blanket, the warmth of her beside Carol on the wood balcony looking out at the forest view with a peek of the lake to the right…  

Even if things didn’t work out romantically between them, it just felt right to have Daisy nearby as a friend. Like the sun breaking through the clouds once a grey day was done, just in time for a firey sunset. 

Daisy drove home before dinner to get ready and ride with her parents, and Carol promised to meet them at the restaurant. 

Jemma leaned against the bathroom doorframe as Carol did her hair and light makeup. 

“You really like her, don’t you?” Jemma wasn’t teasing, but she wasn’t discouraging. It sounded more like empathy. 

Carol met Jemma’s eyes in the mirror. 

“Yeah, ‘fraid so.” She smiled weakly. “There’s something about her. It’s magic. I can’t explain it.” 

Jemma observed Carol’s reflection, pausing for a moment before adding, “She looks at you the same way.”

“Yeah?” Carol surprised even herself with how young and hopeful it came out. 

“Yeah.” Jemma let out a little laugh at Carol’s puppy love. “I’m really happy for you. You deserve something good like this after so long. I hope it works out for her with the lab.” 

“Thanks.” Carol held her gaze a second more before returning to her task, all the struggles Jemma had seen Carol through passing unspoken between them, from Carol’s family issues to failed attempts at dating in the past. 

Carol did get a little nervous heading into the dinner with the Johnsons, but all went swimmingly. Melinda was kind and witty, but Phil was the more outgoing and talkative of the two by far. The rapport Daisy had with her parents tinged a little place in Carol’s heart, but they didn’t let her feel sorry for herself for a second, always explaining their inside jokes and stories until Carol was drawn in as part of the family. It was a bit like she felt returning here to Mountain Skye after being away for so long. 

Everything about this day felt like home.

#skywriting #daisy johnson #aos #agents of shield #captain marvel #carol danvers #wlw #f/f #femslash #philindaisy #jemma simmons #aos au #captain marvel au #autumn fic #fall fic #fluff

[udaberriwrites]

Polyamorous ships to get to know me, part 2

Because tumblr has a limit of images per post and dammit, I want to list more polyships! I have more polyships! Don't be a cheapskate, tumblr!!

Continuing from this post, prompted by @alpaca-clouds... this is the Trek edition! (And open tag for whoever wants to join in!)

6. ...I added it to the slash pair list, but I love this combination just as much - Kirk/Spock/McCoy (Star Trek TOS)

7. My level of shame is equal to this square's correlation to canon (none) (well, maybe a little) - Mirror!Bareil/Kira/Miles/Keiko (Deep Space Nine)

8. Not so much a ship as a tiny raft (shipping population: 1) - Rom/Leeta/Julian (Deep Space Nine)

9. Love triangle, schmove triangle - Riker/Troi/Worf/Dax (Star Trek TNG/DS9)

10. Again, no shame to be found here - Kirk/Spock/Uhura (Star Trek AOS) (not TOS, just AOS)

#tag game #thanks for the tag! #polyamory #star trek #fandom

[curetapwater]

I think Boom Sonadow is really the only Toxic Ship tm that I particularly like. Main line sonadow has its complexities and has the potential to have highs and lows and perhaps end badly but I generally prefer it to be something that doesn't necessarily "fix" either of them but is a source of encouragement for them to bring out the best versions of themselves. Same with any combination of their Camelot counterparts.

And my other favorite ships I like are just all really sweet, with varying levels of angst surrounding them. Nagihono? Teenage girl overcomes her comphet with the literal magical power of her love for her """best friend""" also they're adorable and their opposites attract dynamic works in a way where they complete each other instead of detracting. Appledash? Adorable butch4butch friends-to-lovers with a fun responsible/impulsive dynamic. MLB Love Square? Two good kids with the world on their shoulders distracting them from the ultimate dramatic irony. Harumichi? Uhhhh I have a mutual who I don't wanna spoil what their deal is but I'll just say that they get wrapped up in a lot of angst but they're in it together!!! Kunzoi? Well, they're evil but they're evil ~together~ and it's portrayed as a sympathetic quality as opposed to something to demonize them (which is really really awesome for an early 90s portrayal of canonically gay villains). Madohomu? The systems in place have tied them together yet continually rip them apart and it's so sad because they should just be allowed to protect and love each other!!!!

Meanwhile, as long as you don't tweak Boom Shadow to better align with main line Shadow, I struggle to envision this version of him being in a relationship without it ending up unhealthy just because he's so inflammatory, obsessive, and doesn't seem particularly introspective about his issues. And then in Rise of Lyric, Sonic practically says I Can Fix Him ("I wish that guy wasn't such a hard case.") Like. Sonic, honey. You're gonna make each other worse, you're gonna break up, and none of your friends are gonna know you're carrying this but Shadow is sure as hell gonna know and he's not gonna let you forget how you gave up on him in your attempt to prioritize your own well-being for once. Even heroes can't save everyone, Sonic. But at least the fight scenes will be bomb as hell. *grabs popcorn*

#insert obligatory ''toxic relationships aren't cool in real life but they can make for interesting stories'' here i guess #why is one of my most dramatic ships from the funny hedgehog show lmao #ask to tag

[lady-starbind]

A very random ramble about fiction ideas... some which might could turn into fanfics lol

As a person who enjoys writing, I've made a few fanfics and a few original pieces of writing in my time... Funny, when I first started being on the internet, I didn't really fancy myself as a writer... but now? I think it's one of my passions... or at least, writing ties into my passion of creating characters, and building worlds for them. Whether that be some fanon (like Splatoon or Pokemon, ect) or my own original work. Creating or thinking about characters/fictional worlds is something that I think about on a daily basis, whether that entails trying to create fiction, or simply enjoying a walk through the realms of my imagination lol. I have all sorts of random ideas in mind... some that could have fanfic potential, and others are just dumb thoughts ig. These random ideas that could potentially be crafted into stories/scenarios include: A dumb fic/scenario idea of how my Undertale/Deltarune sona (who's a snow woman monster), might meet North Star/Starlo from UTY... Perhaps him and his family could be selling corn to the residents of Snowdin, in which my sona would get to know him as they sell their corn there... She'd get a huge dumb crush on him, but wait for him to ask her out because she's old fashioned... Later on, she notices that he's rather happy. And when she asks him why, he ends up telling her that he and his childhood crush are finally going out. Cue my sona to making a friendly/not rude excuse to go back home and then once returning home, proceeding to cry of heartbreak... In the end, this works for the best, because my sona prolly couldn't handle the climate of the dunes lol. (she also does her best to be happy for Starlo and Ceroba lol... after she mourns her heartbreak) ....I'd like to imagine the my sona and Starlo remain as friends by the end of the fic

And of course another fic idea I have that I would love to attempt is a Side Order fic... We honestly don't know much about Splatoon 3's Side Order yet BUT I'M HOPING AGENT 4 GETS CAUGHT UP IN IT... It would make for some great angst between Cryo and Tom. (Tom is my Agent 4 lol) ....Like perhaps Tom and Nestor (my Agents 4 and 8) would be going to Inkopolis Square for old time's sake or something.... Then the events of Side Order happens. Perhaps Tom and Nestor both go missing, and with her best friend Tom gone missing, Cryo goes to Inkopolis Square to investigate, only to be caught up in the Side Order antics as well! ....I imagine she and Nestor would play the role of Agent 8, with Nestor taking on missions by Daylight, and Cryo taking on missions by Moonlight... (in my Splatoon fanon, Cryo is known as Agent Ice) ...if the Splatbands make cameos as NPCs to rescue, and those NPCs included Ikkan and Warabi, that could potentially make for some fun interactions between Cryo and Tom! (since in my fanon, both Cryo and Tom are musicians and end up at least being friends with Ikkan and Warabi) ...tbh I've gotten so attached to my oc x canon ship Cryo x Ikkan, I might just make it canon to my fanon. And seeing Diss-Pair in Side Order, would give me the chance to see if such a silly ship could be viable to my fanon lol. (if not, then it could have the event of Ikkan rejecting Cryo's feelings and heartbreak ensues for the poor Octoling) SPEAKING OF IKKYO I definitely intend to continue the oc x canon fic, seeing as it's my favorite oc x canon ship of mine.... I can't help it, I ship them so hard. ;w; So much so, I might make it canon to my main fanon. I've got rough ideas for Chapters 4 and 5, as well as Chapter 3 being mainly done, just not posted lol. Speaking of Undertale, Undertale Yellow and Ikkyo, I have another dumb fiction idea that might not be turned into fanfiction, but it's fun to think about: Like an UT AU where the monsters and humans live on the surface, and maybe there's this fair/event for monsters and humans to maybe work together, like mentors and kids who look up to them? Like Clover looking up to Starlo, since he's a rootin tootin cowboy... (ok so he's still just a dweeb farmer who enjoys LARPing as a Sheriff, but they look up to him nonetheless) And Tom (who in my UT fanon does the role of Frisk) maybe looking up to Mettaton and wishing to take the stage, albeit by playing the saxophone rather than being a famous actor/star like Mettaton. And Cryo, who looks up to Ikkan (who might could be a squid monster in this AU?) who's the bassist of the band Diss-Pair. (in this scenario Ikkyo is not shipped romantically, but purely in a wholesome, platonic manner) Also it's fun to imagine Tom and Clover being friends and chilling out like pals... It's also fun to imagine how the kids would get along with their mentors, and how they might look up to them... Especially Starlo and Clover, like maybe he could be the cool farmer/cowboy uncle they never had and they enjoy playing Wild West with him as well as maybe helping him on his farm sometimes... Looking up to the funny star monster and aspiring to be like him someday~ I dunno man... imagining fictional scenarios is just too much fun for me lol

(Also just want to point out that any dynamics between adults and minors here are STRICTLY platonic, as we do not romantically ship adults and minors here!)

#Starbind's Ramblings #dumb fanfic ideas #I need to update my masterlist post lol

[mc-lukanette]

Anonymous asked:

That anon coming at you thinking you wouldn't have sources to back up your criticisms of the show has the same energy as a Karen asking to speak to the manager, not knowing the the underpaid, beleaguered employee they've been berating is the manager

pfffft.

me, flashing my nametag: ma’am, I’m going to have to ask you to leave

Anonymous asked:

Honestly the people who are honestly convinced Marinette never gets punished, Marinette never rejected Chat Noir, and that she was leading him on are seriously just watching the show with Adrien vision I don't know what to say.

Really these people go on hating Marinette for “being an obsessed Adrien stalker” but these Adrien stans are freaking obsessed with their favorite blonde boy and can only uplift Adrien by putting down Marinette. It is creeping me out!

My reply got long so I put it under a read more lol

The weird part honestly is that most of the stuff they get on her case for in terms of “stalking” is stuff that I would expect people to know of a celebrity they’re interested in in a TV show. The trend with them is usually that they can’t go anywhere without getting attention, so like--yeah.

the pictures (which disappeared in the entirety of Season 3 and only pops up in Season 4 at the writers’ convenience with no explanation) - can be taken from magazines/websites

the schedule (which got upgraded to a general non-Adrien-specific schedule in “Gamer 2.0″ anyway) - stuff I would expect to hear Adrien tell Nino at school while Marinette’s sitting behind him; if you wanna confess to a celeb or ask them out, better make sure you know when he’s free (plus, “Lies” has a camera crew literally just following Adrien around on his day),

stuff like his favorite macaron flavor - stuff I’d expect to hear from interviews

+ “stalker” is a very loaded term and I feel like calling Marinette one actually downplays the danger and cruelty of actual, real-life stalkers

other bonus/additional things:

“Copycat” - it was Alya’s idea initially to go get Adrien’s phone (and Tikki even broke into the locker without much of a fuss; Tikki’s supposed to be Marinette’s moral teacher); Marinette didn’t take it with intent, she panicked and made an impulsive decision (also, this is a narrative issue because they needed to ensure that Adrien didn’t hear the recording or else Marinette probably would’ve been rejected and could’ve moved on)

“Volpina” - required and encouraged by Tikki in order to check on the book; Marinette also wanted to reveal what she was doing in order to tell Adrien that Lila stole from him but she got increasingly angry at Lila insulting her hero self (while Adrien didn’t really say anything in defense of Ladybug, which was strange; also, semi-unrelated because it’s not brought up as an option, but Lila coming in suddenly and being adored by a bunch of students is suspicious and sounds like akuma behavior)

“Ikari Gozen” - this is more of a narrative issue I have with the episode than anything else (I’m not saying that Marinette’s in the right); Kagami was acting strangely and Alya was onboard with sabotage, and they (the writers) couldn’t find a way for Kagami to reveal that she wanted Marinette to be a friend without Marinette peeking into her phone (also, the hypocrisy of the narrative getting on Marinette’s case for invading people’s privacy while:)

Sabine lowkey threatened to look at her emails and diary in “The Bubbler”

Alya peeked into Chloe’s locker with her phone and the narrative had a very black-and-white view on it (Chloe bad, Alya good, since it took pressure from Chloe for Mr. Damocles to do anything; also, the school doesn’t have a rule about invasion of privacy???)

Chloe going into Marinette’s locker to sabotage the gift is treating by Miss Bustier as something for Marinette to just “forgive and forget,” and Chloe comes out on top in the end while Marinette apologizes to her (Chloe never apologized to Marinette herself)

Marinette was forced (narratively) to reveal what was in her private chest to a child in “Christmaster” (regardless of akumatization - that thing that was caused by Marinette doing basically what Alya did in “Stormy Weather” - Marinette’s personal things are none of Chris’ business)

The girls blatantly invade Marinette’s privacy in both “Gang of Secrets” (after lying to her that she could talk “when she was ready”) and “Backwarder”

“Oni-Chan” - Marinette’s worries about someone getting hurt because of Lila is literally what happens when Kagami gets akumatized; regardless of Marinette’s actions, her fears were valid and ended up coming true

“The Puppeteer 2″ - never would’ve happened if Alya hadn’t orchestrated a whole plan, if Tikki hadn’t tried to give Marinette “advice,” and if Adrien hadn’t tried to prank someone that he even said in “Riposte” got flustered easily

“Chat Blanc” - never would’ve happened had she not been under extreme pressure and a literal threat from her friends to not hang out with her anymore

And the gross part of all of this is that they (the fandom)’ll treat Marinette horribly for having a crush that’s so “extreme”/”awful” (which was made worse  and then get mad at her when she can’t move on/get better all on her own. Like, pardon? This crush is apparently the worst thing ever but she’s also expected to do it all on her own while her “friends” keep pushing for the ship? I would think that the worse the problem is, the more help one would need.

#((omg I don't deserve you guys)) #((thanks for the resend!)) #type: salt #((Not to mention the people who say Marinette is ''awful'' for Adrien)) #((or criticize her heavily for her crush on him)) #((and then continue to ship the love square in canon. I don't get it.))

[graaythekwami]

20 Questions: Writer's Addition

Thank you @steelblaidd for the tag! This was fun to do. :D

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

56.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

1,122,771.

3. How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

Ao3 says nine, but six of them are variations of Pokemon. xD I've written for Pokemon, Miraculous Ladybug, Fablehaven, Harry Potter, Calvin and Hobbes, and a few others on various platforms.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

1. The Investigation with 3876 kudos. 2. A Good Actor with 3070 kudos. 3. Chat Got Your Back with 2142 kudos. (I did not realize this one was this far up on the list.) 4. Shipping with 2099 kudos. 5. Cheaters with 1902 kudos.

5. Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

I do, but not as often as I would like to though.

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Probably my most recent one-shot, Blanc Lie, which is a darker fic focusing on if Chat Blanc had won.

7. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Of my completed stories, I'll go with Are You Kidding Me?.

8. Do you write crossovers? If yes, what’s the craziest thing you’ve written?

I haven't for Miraculous, but I do have ideas for a Miraculous and Pokemon crossover one day. :)

9. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

I've gotten a handful of negative comments before, but I honestly don't pay them much attention, if someone doesn't like my story that's fine, because everyone has their own taste in stories.

One comment that always has annoyed me though was on a non-Miraculous fic, where the commenter said they didn't finish the whole fic, didn't like it, and then proceeded to explain why the story was wrong because canon had said otherwise.

Why this frustrated me was because if they had actually finished reading the story, they would have seen that the "missing" element of canon was actually included, and was one of the main aspects of the entire fic!

It was several years ago, but it's funny to look back on. xD

10. Do you write smut? If so what kind?

No.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Several times, actually, both were Pokemon stories and took place several years ago. My Amourshipping story "Memories" has been stolen twice, both times just a reposting on Wattpad. Fortunately the website took them down as soon as I reported it.

The other story that was stolen was one me and my friend had written together, a PMD fic called "Team Rival". Not only was it stolen, but the person who stole it continued writing it and even brought in another author who didn't know it was stolen. It was a longer and frustrating process to get them to take it down because they kept acting like they were in the right even though they had stolen my work.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I've had a handful translated. :)

13. Have you ever co-written a fic?

Yes, but not with Miraculous. However I do have plans to collab on a Miraculous fic in the future. :)

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

The Love Square! LadyNoir being the best corner, of course.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

All currently published ML WIPs of mine I plan on finishing. As for WIPs I've started but I haven't posted there are two that stand out:

Soulmate Seer: This was an AU where only certain people can see red strings of fate, Alya being one of them. This fic would have been from her POV, and I had the world fully developed and a basic plot line planned out, but I don't know if I'll ever finish or post it.

Aladdin AU: An AU based loosely off of Disney's Aladdin, with Marinette taking on Aladdin's role and Adrien's with Jasmine's role. I had a lot of the world planned out, including how the kwamis were tied in to everything, but I haven't had motivation to work on it for a long time.

16. What’s your writing strengths?

World building and character building. Backstory, lore, all the small details... it's just so much fun! I always find myself going way in depth when planning these kinds of things out, even if it's not central to the plot, and it's a lot of fun, and I'm usually very happy with what I come up with.

17. What’s your writing weaknesses?

Pacing, and by extension, flow. I have a lot of ideas but sometimes I find myself lingering too long on one scene, or trying to put a transition where it doesn't work, or having fics turn out way longer than I thought they would be (looking at you, Withered Wings), or having parts of the plot that are rushed when I look back at them.

18. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in fic?

I like including other languages, especially when it makes the most sense for the character. Like in "Crimson and Noire" I have Master Fu's use Chinese for his transformation phrases and to activate his powers, because I imagine that's what he's been saying his entire life, and I don't think it would make sense for him to switch to French after 100+ years just to transform, especially when it isn't necessary for those around him to know what he's saying.

19. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Pokemon! :D

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

How am I suppose to only chose one???????

Overall, probably Crimson and Noire, as I put a lot of time and effort into planning it, it's going to be my longest fic ever, and it includes a lot of elements I've always wanted to use in an ML fic.

Honorable mentions would be my Waiting series, United, and Withered Wings.

-------

I'm going to tag: @celestialtitania, @agrestebug, and @knitting-fairy-marinette. :D FayBugMomoJJ!

#i got tagged #miraculous ladybug #my fics #this was fun

[suakkochibitarumarigami]

Since the event's wrapping up, I'm separating this post in two parts.

Favorite Fanfics

Hold Me By Both Hands - by @angelofthequeers - https://archiveofourown.org/works/21597859/chapters/51497815

A canon divergence fic that also doesn't radiate spite and salt while offering a nice way things could've gone differently if some events changed? YES PLEASE!

Seeing One Another - by Reyemile - https://archiveofourown.org/series/1511747

Not just a single fic, but a whole darn series, and HOOOO BOY WHAT A THRILL RIDE OF A SERIES THIS IS. A real rollercoaster of emotions that is quite well-written and hasn't declined in quality throughout it's run, definitely worth reading for anyone who has a thing for the Marigami pairing.

Porter sur toi un nouveau regard - by @algernoninwonderland - https://archiveofourown.org/works/23656432/chapters/56784184

AAAAAAAAAA-

Sorry, sorry, I think this fic set off a full-on meltdown in me. Marigami? Check. Good continuation from S3 finale? Check! Really good writing? OH SO CHECK!

Anyway, with all that out of the way, time for the

Favorite Fandom Moments

And... Honestly, I have trouble naming any specific ones.

Perhaps the times whenever new episodes get released and people are sharing screencaps, discussing their favorite moments and are just having fun discussing the then-recent episodes?

Or maybe the occasional moments of chaos and absurdity? Be it the Adrichat apocalypse, or the recent Rednana surge - this fandom just keeps finding new ways to weird me out, but it does so in a good way.

Or maybe it's how much the Love Square stuff brings the whole fandom together? Even those who don't ship the LoveSquare can't deny it's sheer power over the fandom, and it's definitely a good, positive kind of power.

Either way, this fandom certainly has no shortage of good moments to be had. Here's to more as we keep going forward!

#mlpositivityweek2020 #favorite fanfics #favorite fandom moments #miraculous ladybug

[hayleysstark]

Queenie with more Merlin ramblings: out of curiosity, what ships do you like from the show, canon or otherwise? If you don't really like romantic pairs, what about friendships? (I enjoy Merlin and Arthur, both as bros and a pair, Arthur and Gwen as a couple, Gwen and Merlin friendship and the friendship of Arthur and his knights because they are just a group of brothers who love and tease each other and that is a purity that must be protected). I also like Uther paired with a punch to the face

LMAO “I like Uther paired with a punch to the face” CAN I JUST. CAN I GET IN ON THAT???? BECAUSE THAT????? IS AN ETERNAL MOOD. THE REAL TRUE PAIRING. THE ONLY ONE FOR ME. *Troye Sivan’s “OTP” starts playing in the background*

aNYWAY lmao confession time i’m not,,,,,,,,, actually a shipper??? at least not in a romantic sense. Merlin and Freya were pretty cute, really wish they’d gotten more time together, these kids deserve SOME happiness in their fucked-up lives, but ultimately, they had to get rid of Freya to allow the series to continue to its natural conclusion, so I understand why they removed her from the narrative.

I don’t,,,,,,,,,,, like Arthur/Gwen or Merlin/Arthur. at all. sgfrgfdf i mean??? Arthur/Gwen is,,,,,,,,,, fine i guess it’s just,,,,,,,,,, I don’t know they just weren’t my favorite?? just not my favorite. their relationship felt very,,,,,,,,, bland to me i guess??? like it’s only in there because it’s in the myth and it just,,,,,, does not work.  and Merlin/Arthur is,,,,,,,,,,,mmmmm,,,,,, no. I’m not trying to shit on others’ ships like 100000000% you do you my man. absolutely. just,,,,, like,,,,,, pls don’t ask me to ship them. pls. I like them as bros a LOT, like really love their friendship. just!!! personal opinion though, like I’m not trying to spread hate

fghfrgffgfdf ARTHUR AND MERLIN AND THE KNIGHTS ARE ALWAYS DOWN TO BRO IT UP IN BROTOWN AND I WILL,,,,,,, FIGHT YOU,,,,,, ON THAT,,,,,, SQUARE UP. and gwen and merlin are pRECIOUS AND MUST BE PROTECTED SHUT YOUR MOUTH. I LOVE THEM OKAY

#merlin #bbc merlin #ask #queenie #Anonymous

[patrickfinchcortes]

Could you maybe do some Sprace headcanons? Don't feel like you have to or anything, but I'd love to see it if you do!

oh sprace was my og ship and god I love em to BITS*sidenote, love your blog!-ok ok-canon era, right-race and spot first saw each other at the rally-spot kinda eyed him down like oh he cute ok ok-race was just GUSHING over the guy-“specs, specs, omg omg he’s looking at me”-“davedavedAVE omg he’s so handsome”-but they don’t talk to each other until later that night in the cellar-(think of it as in between verses in once and for all, while Kath and Jack are talking)-race walks up to him and tries to be all seductive and flirty-spot accidentally knicks himself on the press and race is immediately concerned but spot assures it’s okay-“no, it’s fine, it’s just a little bit'a blood”-they make and hold eye contact and spot is head over heels for those blue eyes-it’s quiet and it feels like everyone else disappeared-“im spot conlon”-“i know”-(the song starts up again it would work so well)-the next time they saw each other was in the morning-jack announced they won and newsies square went crazy-papers were thrown, everyone was hugging each other-race went,,,,a little overboard-he saw spot and his heart leapt-he ran to the leader of Brooklyn and wrapped his arms around his neck and his legs around his waist and kissed him. In Front Of Everyone. -(thank god no one actually saw, they were hidden in the crowd)-spot stumbled backwards and carried race with ease, and he found himself melting into the kiss-it was great in the moment but god spot was hella confused when they pulled away-race stammered, obviously really fuckin embarrassed, and struggled to explain himself-but spot found himself wanting more-he carried the boy away from the crowd, much to race's confusion, and hid in an alleyway to continue making out-after that, they saw each other everyday-race would sneak out of the lodging house at night and play cards with spot and sometimes with other brooklyn newsies, but he preferred it being him and spot alone on a roof-of course, spot would get too caught up in race's lips and they'd drop the game all together-one night, spot seemed slightly distant-race was very concerned and kept bugging spot, poking at him and kissing his cheek and stealing his hat until spot just burst, all his worries coming out at once-"I-I love ya, okay?! I love ya and I'm scared to love ya, 'cause what if you don't really love me back?! what if this is all just fun n games for you and im takin this too seriously?!"-race was silent until his eyes fluttered half closed and he climbed in his lap-"god, I love you"-let's just say spot got v e r y lucky that night*bonus-davey catches on to race's sneaking out-race ended up passing out after spot and him did their ✨thing✨-and he woke up early enough that he may make it back to the lodging house before the others woke up-oh he was so Wrong-he sprinted to the door of the lodging house, coming face to face with a very unhappy mama newsie-"so, little birdie told me you snuck out last night. and the night before that. and the night before that. etc."-race tried squeezing past davey but mama newsie ain't done-"what were ya thinking?! you could've gotten hurt, I was super worried, race!"-"i wouldn't have gotten hurt, spot would've protected me!"-"..............spot?"-oops-"s,, ,,spot conlon,,,you're sneakin out to meet spot conlon?"-davey was left in total shock and race slowly sneaked inside the lodging house, patting davey on the back and whispering, "yep."

#newsies #newsies musical #newsies the musical #newsies tour #newsies headcanons #spot conlon #racetrack higgins #sprace #laurens headcanons

[breeeliss]

Okay but, I really like the Love Square. I don't like any other ship aside from the Love Square that's the only ship I'll ever like. I don't get why me not liking other ships makes me homophobic?? I also don't ship Alyanette because I see them just as best friends and I think the show only sees them as that too. I'm never gonna ship them as a couple so I don't get why that makes people awful and homophobic. You can't just make people make ships more popular

you and a few other people have left similar questions in my inbox so i’m going to do my best to explain this. there seem to be other users who are also confused. i really recommend you read @chatchevalier  ‘s explanation here since she also spoke about this. 

first, let’s get the easy thing taken care of. the prevailing argument from most of the queer people in fandom who made posts yesterday was we want you to respect our ships. respect. that means no sending us hate, no bashing our ships, no tagging onto our fics and art and posts about how much you don’t ship our ship. don’t like? don’t engage. i think everyone can agree on that point. 

now what seems to be tripping people up is the whole “queer ships being unpopular is homophobia” sentiment that’s spreading around. i want to make this clear, this is in no way meant to shame people for their ships. i’m a multi-shipper myself and ship most if not all the ships in this fandom involving the miraculous class. what i’m trying to draw attention to is fandom trends and consistent fandom behavior. 

so, i’l use the example i showed in my screenshots on the original post going around. oftentimes, i get people who come into my inbox telling me how much they hate chlonette (chloe x marinette) because it ships a bully with their victim. now that in and of itself isn’t homophobia i think we can all agree. you’re allowed to dislike that ship for that reason. i think a lot of people react to chlolya (chloe x alya) for the same reasons. 

but let’s look at chlonath (chloe x nathanael). we arguably run into a similar problem. chloe being paired with someone she bullies. chlonath is particularly interesting because chloe and nathanael don’t interact very often (maybe a total of 10 seconds in “evillustrator”). chloe interacts with alya more, and interacts with marinette much much more. but look at the popularity of each of these ships. (i’ll be using # of ao3 stories as a proxy for this). 

Chloe Bourgeois/Alya Cesaire: 38Chloe Bourgeois/Marinette Dupain-Cheng: 90Chloe Bourgeois/Nathanael Kurtzberg: 125

despite the fact that chloe has barely interacted with nathanael and bullies him right along with the other classmates, chlonath is more popular than chlonette and chlolya. this is also a good time to point out that this is the only straight ship of the bunch. 

this happens in media a lot. you have a common trope introduced, in this case it’s a bully/bullied relationship becoming a romantic relationship. another common one off the top of my head is the friends to lovers trope. now when we see it applied to a straight pairing, we love it. adrienette friends to lovers is ridiculously popular, and it seems that the bully/bullied to lovers trope in chlonath is also compelling to people. but the moment these same tropes are attached to a queer pairing, interest plummets. which is why chlolya and chlonette are less popular despite those characters interacting more in canon, and why alyanette is always seen as “just two friends” even though they interact more than adrien and marinette do. 

and, to top it all off: i’m gonna bet my bank account that users get more hate for shipping chlonette and chlolya than they do chlonath. 

we do this unconsciously as a result of heteronormativity ingrained into us through continued exposure to societal homophobia. everyone is socialized to think that heterosexuality is preferred. it’s why there’s so much straight romance on tv, and it’s why gay people are still getting fired for their sexuality in the US. we can’t help this stuff, but if you learn to look for it, it’s easy to see. the fact that we enjoy certain tropes as they are applied to straight ships but not those same tropes as they are applied to queer ship.....is an example homophobia. internalized homophobia, implicit homophobia, subtle homophobia but homophobia nonetheless. 

if you ship chlonath but not chlonette, this doesn’t mean you’re homophobic. but when you look at macro-level trends like ship popularity in fandom, you see patterns that are anything but a coincidence. it’s no coincidence that this pattern of popularity matches up with patterns of hate. chlonette and chlolya get questioned more, people get more hate for it. chlonath doesn’t get nearly the amount. it’s very subtle, but this is the kind of implicit homophobia you see in media. 

now the solution is not to force you to like pairings you don’t like. not at all. this is just something to be aware of and something to consider when people wonder “why are queer ships getting all this hate?” queer shippers notice this because we’re hyper aware of the popularity of our ships. if you deal only in the love square it’s hard to see this, so we’re just pointing this out. 

we’re not telling you to ship our ships. we’re not asking for more popularity. we just want you to acknowledge fandom homophobia and keep people from bullying us for the queer content we produce. 

#ask #anonymous #long post #miraculous ladybug #fandom homophobia

[destieldrabblesdaily]

I need advice Shirley. the fandom seems divided after cas' death - especially the destiel side. I love Cas and the finale made me really upset. But people keep telling me not to worry, that destiel will be endgame, etc. not only do I not believe that, I don't trust the spn writers in handling cas' character at all, so I'm going to stop watching the show. How do you stay in only fanon and keep shipping? Or rise above the wank? It just seems like there's so much. Sorry to dump this all on you :(

Hii~! Aww, it’s fine, don’t worry about it! :D

Honestly, it sucks when you feel like your favorite character is treated like shit all the time, or when the writers no longer do it justice, so I completely get where you’re coming from. Fanon world is a beautiful place to avoid all of these things, so I totally understand your decision. :p 

But anyway, how do I do it? It may sound cliche but: it’ll take time. ^^” It’s not like I woke up one morning and said “YOU KNOW WHAT, I just don’t care about canon anymore, goodbye”. After I stopped actively watching the show, spoilers about things that pissed me off continued to irk me for quite some time, actually. I even had new seasons blacklisted for a while here on tumblr, to avoid it and stay happily in fanon world. 

It took me like a year (after I stopped watching), until I really reached that level of ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ whenever I came across new scenes or spoilers that normally would’ve annoyed me. 

So like I said, it might take a while, but what helped for me was blacklisting new seasons/episodes, following new blogs that were more into fanfiction than current canon (so that there would be more of that content on my dash), and tbh I’ve always been known to get more excited about headcanons and fanfic/fanart than about the show’s canon, so it wasn’t that big of a step for me when I decided to gradually ignore it. :p 

And once you reach that point, it’s also easier to ignore the wank, because you’re just not that emotionally invested in canon anymore. 

It’s like ‘oh look, someone died, again¯\_(ツ)_/¯’

‘oh look, Cas gets treated like dirt, what a shocker ¯\_(ツ)_/¯’

‘ah we’re back to square one with the unhealthy bro-dependency, what a surprise¯\_(ツ)_/¯’

Trust me, you’ll be able to let it go after a while, and then you’ll also be able to enjoy the gifs/vids of good scenes and moments in canon that are relevant to your interests (Cas being treated like family, Sam getting a dog, Dean eating pie, a Destiel scene, etc, etc), without really caring about the shitty stuff that’s also happening in the background. 

Whatever you decide, I hope this helped a little. :) Sending you lots of hugs! 

#replies for ts #fandom wank? #but not really #Anonymous