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loveyourownsmiilee · 1 year

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Resource for Important Buck & Eddie Episodes:

Hello friends! Tis I, back with another compilation. This time I was asked by a lovely follower if there was a list of important Buddie episodes, so I decided to make one because I’m not sure if there are. I also had another follower ask me if I could highlight pro Buddie writers & directors, which I’ve also done. Blue is pro Buddie writers & red is pro Buddie directors. When I say “Pro Buddie”, I just mean that some of their directions can be seen as them angling the romantic route. Again these are all just my own opinions based off what we’ve seen come to play on the show. It just helps you distinguish who can be seen as writing these guys a little bit more than platonic, and who doesn’t. Because this is very lengthy, I have included it all under the cut. I hope you guys enjoy!!

•2.01-“Under Pressure” written by Tim Minear & Brad Falchuk // Directed by Gwyneth Horder-Payton

Need I say more??? Eddie introduced through Buck’s eyes WHILE HE IS PUTTING ON A SHIRT. They have some heated words in the gym while they’re trying to get a rise out of each other. The episode ends with Eddie complimenting Buck and him blushing like a little boy with a crush. SO CUTE! The start of their partnership.

• 2.02-“7.1” // Written by Zachary Reiter // Directed by Bradley Buecker

Eddie is hesitant to tell Buck he has a son for some reason (totally not because he’s worried about what this new crush may think) and to his surprise, Buck is completely delighted. He spends the whole episode comforting Eddie about the safety of his son. Buck literally imprinted on the Diaz boys in this episode.

• 2.03-“Help Is Not Coming” // Written by Zachary Reiter & Tim Minear // Directed by Bradley Buecker

Buck and Eddie working seamlessly during the quake. The most important part of this episode is Buck taking Eddie to pick up his son. It’s so wholesome and the whole moment in which he’s watching Eddie and Christopher reunite is heartwarming. Literally the beginning of the Buckley-Diaz family trio we all know and love.

• 2.04-“Stuck” // Written by John J Gray // Directed by Sarah Boyd

Eddie is struggling with child care because his Abuela ends up in the hospital after watching Chris. What does Buck do?!?! He tells Bobby ahead of time that they’ll be bringing Chris to the fire station. That little cute moment of Chris sliding down the pole with Buck and Eddie helping is so precious. Then he introduces Eddie to Carla because he wanted to help him. Like are you kidding me?!?!! I love this episode so much, especially when you consider how flirty they were throughout it.

• 2.10-“Merry Ex-Mas” // Written by Christopher Monfette // Directed by Brad Buecker

So much goodness in this episode! We get a glimpse of jealous Buck when he finds out Shannon is back and *gasp* is sleeping with her estranged husband. We have that cute Buckley-Diaz family moment with the Christmas elf mistaking them as a family and Buck being all adorable and not correcting her. We get Eddie offering up his marital problems as if he has to explain himself to Buck lol. Sooo much goodness in this episode.

• 2.13-“Fight or Flight” // Written by Kristen Reidel // Directed by Millicent Shelton

I’m only including this for the sole purpose of when Buck was in hospital jail and distraught because his sister was missing, they had Eddie be the one to come in and talk to him. This was like the first real time we saw Eddie be Buck’s person for any and all times he’s needed someone to lean on. I love their moment together in the hospital.

• 2.18-"This Life We Choose" // Written by Tim Minear // Directed by Brad Buecker

Not a hugely important Buddie episode but like Eddie just lost his wife and then has to witness his partner stuck under a whole firetruck. He looked like he wanted to cry so bad. And the fact that a trained medic who could have helped them lift the truck off Buck, sat there and held Buck's hand, providing him comfort was just everything. Don't even talk about how when Bobby comes back and they're all talking about how everything is back to normal, Eddie looks sad when he says, "Almost." THEN THE FIRST EVER BUDDIE HUG!! Buck was in so much pain, still recovering but he could NOT miss Eddie's little ceremony and it was just so freakin sweet I cannot.

• 3.01-"Kids Today" // Written by Kristen Reidel // Directed by Jennifer Lynch

THE INTIMATE BUDDIE HUG!!! Chris making Buck a card while Eddie watches fondly. Then Eddie takes Christopher to Buck’s house to help him get out of his depressive funk. Peak wholesome Buck and Chris scenes that eventually lead to one of the best story arcs of the show!!

• 3.02-"Sink of Swim" // Written by Juan Carlos Coto (JCC) // Directed by Brad Buecker

Buck and Christopher in the aftermath of the tsunami. Eddie thinking they’re ok the entire time. Buck acting like a whole ass parent and jumping into the water to search for Chris. Ahhh I love this episode!!

• 3.03-"The Searchers" // Written by David Fury // Directed by Chad Lowe

Buck searching for Christopher the entire episode. Him crying while trying to tell Eddie he lost Chris. Eddie’s lone tear at the thought of his son being gone. The Christopher and Eddie reunion while Buck crashes. THE ENDING WHERE THEY COME HOME TO BUCK!! “Buck, there’s nobody in this world I trust with my son more, than you.” 🥺

• 3.05-"Rage" // Written by Lyndsey Beaulieu // Directed by Jann Turner

All I’m saying is divorce at the grocery store. “No but he filed a stupid lawsuit and now I can’t even talk to you because of it. You know how much Christopher misses you?! How could you, you’re not around.” LITERALLY HOW IS THIS REAL?!?

• 3.06-"Monsters" // Written by Christopher Monfette // Directed by Tina Mabry

The make up after the divorce. I loved this so much. Their little hug in the end where Buck just wanted to hold onto him a little longer but Eddie was in so much pain.

• 3.09-"Fallout" // Written by JCC // Directed by Marcus Stokes

THE KITCHEN SCENE™️

• 3.10-"Christmas Spirit" // Written by Andrew Meyers // Directed by Alonso Alvarez-Barreda

So many Buckley-Diaz family feels with this one. Buck making gingerbread houses with the boys while Eddie looks in like a lovesick fool. Buck helping his boys be together for Christmas!! Then, them opening presents with their son 🥹

• 3.11-"Seize The Day" // Written by Lyndsey Beaulieu // Directed by Sarah Boyd

“This is Eddie’s house. I’m not really a guest.” NO he’s not because he lives there, duh. I mean who even?!? They’re so married it’s not even funny.

• 3.12-"Fools" // Written by Andrew Meyers // Directed by David Grossman

Buck helping Eddie think of new ways in which Christopher can enjoy the things he wants to. The little family skateboarding scene in the end 🥹

• 3.15-"Eddie Begins" // Written by Robert M. Williams, Jr. & Christopher Monfette // Directed by Robert M. Williams, Jr.

This episode is literal gold. Just everything about it is so wonderfully done. What platonic best friend wouldn’t dig through 30 feet of wet earth while screaming at the top of their lungs for their best friend who’s been buried?!?! Totally platonic behavior right there 👀

• 3.18-"What's Next?" // Written by JCC & Kristen Reidel // Directed by Jennifer Lynch

Buck being a concerned parent over sending Christopher to camp!! I love the little glimpses we get of them coparenting. Jealous Eddie my absolute beloved. No seriously, just an hour of Eddie being so petty and jealous while worrying over his dumb partner. Then, the party after where they take cute pictures and enjoy themselves!!

• 4.03-"Future Tense" // Written by Andrew Meyers // Directed by Marita Grabiak

The entire Buckley-Diaz family scene at the Diaz residence?!? Buck and Eddie acting like coparents while Chris is his adorable self. One of the first episodes in which you really see their coparenting dynamic and it’s wonderful.

• 4.04-"9-1-1, What's Your Grievance?" // Written by Nadia Abass-Madden // Directed by Brenna Malloy

Eddie being the one there for Buck when he’s dealing with the aftermath of the horrible family dinner with his parents. The entire scene where Eddie is comforting him at the station gym and looking at Buck with such fondness will never not be old.

• 4.05-"Buck Begins" // Written by JCC // Directed by Jann Turner

Literally love Eddie in this episode. I know people say he was barely in it, but he was in it in such a profound way. Him reassuring Buck he’s not defective and that it’s not his fault he couldn’t save his brother. Being the first one to grab the line and help Buck save the guy. The whole “No, I know you did”. AHHH SUCH A FOND FOOL IN LOVE!!

• 4.08-"Breaking Point" // Written by Bob Goodman // Directed by David Grossman

Once again, coparenting at its finest. Christopher calling an actual Uber to run away from his dad, to his other dad!!!! Screamingggg!!! And Eddie immediately asking Buck for help when he can’t find him 🥺

• 4.12-"Treasure Hunt" // Written by Bob Goodman // Directed by David Grossman

Some good, peak jealous Eddie in this one. I love how he used his pretty face into convincing Buck to let him team up with him and the reporter. He was also jealous and we love when Eddie’s jealous.

• 4.13-"Suspicion" // Written by Lyndsey Beaulieu & Andrew Meyers // Directed by Brenna Malloy

This will forever be one of my all time favorite, and most iconic Buddie episodes. The shooting scene™️ I can go on and on about the brilliance of this scene. I mean choices were made and I love every single one of them.

• 4.14-"Survivors" // Written by Kristen Reidel // Directed by Robert M. Williams, Jr.

Buck telling Chris about his father!! Buck breaking down in front of Chris!!! Buck staying and watching after Chris!!! Eddie waking up and asking for Buck!!!! THE WILL REVEAL!!! “Because, Evan”!!!! SO MUCH GOODNESS!!!

• 5.01-"Panic" // Written by Tim Minear & JCC // Directed by Brad Buecker

I’m including this because it’s very important to Buddie’s progression. We have them heavily staring at each other like they wanna jump each others bones in the station. Then Eddie has an actual panic attack because of the idea of a ready made family with his girlfriend. Then Buck being a concerned partner and inquiring why Eddie was in the hospital!!! So much goodness.

• 5.02-"Desperate Times" // Written by Lyndsey Beaulieu & Andrew Meyers // Directed by Brad Buecker

Buck basically telling Eddie to break up with his girlfriend by using himself as a metaphor. Mhmmm sure. And then the whole Buck and Chris hug is so precious to me!! I just love it so much.

• 5.03-"Desperate Measure" // Written by Kristen Reidel // Directed by Ben Hernandez Bray

Eddie literally telling Buck he’s gonna go break up with Ana will never not be iconic. And then him telling Ana to go home just makes it more iconic.

• 5.04-"Home and Away" // Written by Bob Goodman // Directed by Brenna Malloy

Eddie being the one who was there for Buck, again, when he needed someone, is everything especially considering Buck had a whole ass girlfriend at this time. Eddie confirming that he knows Buck by telling him he’s the guy who likes to fix things is such married behavior. And the whole “Ice goes on the eye bud” AHHH so much affection in those words.

• 5.06-"Brawl in Cell Block 9-1-1" // Written by Andrew Meyers // Directed by Paula Hunziker

Buck and Eddie literally taken hostage together!!!! The captor immediately going after their Achilles heel and threatening their son. Buck becoming a protective papa bear and getting hit with the back of the gun!! Pretty boy and the kid!!! Buck screaming and running after Eddie because he thought he got shot again!! Brilliance. Andrew always has our back!!

• 5.10-"Wrapped in Red" // Written by Lyndsey Beaulieu & Nadia Abass-Madden // Directed by Brenna Malloy

Eddie struggling with Christopher’s behavior and once again confiding in Buck. Because Buck is his person and he tells him everything, especially when it comes to Chris. Then the ending where Eddie tells them he’s leaving and Buck looks heartbroken!!! Oh the angst.

• 5.11-"Outside Looking In" // Written by Bob Goodman // Directed by Shauna Duggins

The Buckley Diaz family dinner in which Eddie may or may not have positioned his husband’s girlfriend’s food lol. He was so petty I can’t. The kitchen conversation between the two of them where Buck tells Eddie he doesn’t have to pretend with him. Don’t even get me started about the ending scene where Eddie comes, sees Buck and immediately smiles because he’s happy. But then leaves because he doesn’t want to damper Buck’s happiness.

• 5.13-"Fear-o-Phobia" // Written by Andrew Meyers & JCC // Directed by Marcus Stokes

Literally BUCK BROKE DOWN THE DOOR TO GET TO EDDIE!! Because Christopher called him instead of 911 and Buck immediately dropped what he was doing and ran to his boys. I will never get over Eddie allowing Buck to see him at his most vulnerable because that really is a sign of pure unconditional love and trust.

• 5.14-"Dumb Luck" // Written by Taylor Wong // Directed by John J Gray

Buck being Christopher’s and Eddie’s backbone through Eddie’s recovery with his ptsd!!! Coloring with Christopher while Eddie’s at therapy is such a dad thing. The whole “I misunderstood the assignment” thing with his drawn heart. Ahhhh chewing glass. Then the equine therapy family outing. Like they’re a whole ass family.

• 5.16-"May Day" // Written & Directed by JCC

Just Buck and Eddie being partners again as if no time has passed. Eddie seamlessly working beside Buck like he’s meant to be there. Them helping save Bobby is just everything and more. And the scene where Buck chose to stand by Eddie’s side while his girlfriend and the woman he cheated on her with have a talk. Not suspicious or weird at all.

• 5.18-"Starting Over" // Written & Directed by Kristen Reidel

Buck helping Eddie fix up the holes in his walls because he’s the guy who likes to fix things. Eddie helping him out in return with his relationship troubles because at the end of the day, those two always have each others back.

• 6.01-"Let The Games Begin" // Written by Andrew Meyers // Directed by Jann Turner

THE BUCKLEY DIAZ FAMILY DINNER SCENE!!! THE COUCH THEORY!!! SO MUCH FORESHADOWING!! I love this episode so much!!

• 6.10-"In A Flash" // Written by JCC // Directed by Brad Buecker

No thoughts, just Buck getting struck by lightning and Eddie screaming his name 5 times, while running up the ladder to get to him. Let’s also remember that Eddie had also been thrown off the ladder but didn’t hesitate to go after his partner and then tried to PULL HIM UP TO HIM 🥺 Also Eddie calling Buck a cowboy before the lightning hit is so funny because the man was flirting!!!

• 6.11-"In Another Life" // Written by Lyndsey Beaulieu // Directed by Joaquín Sedillo & Jann Turner

Eddie being the one to eventually get Buck’s heart to start again is some soulmate type shit. The iconic “DO MORE” while the doctors are wheeling Buck into the operating room. Let’s not forget Eddie grieving like an actual widow with his all black attire, grown facial hair and the tears. Then smuggling Christopher in to see his other parent and not being able to look at Buck is heartbreaking. His immediate happiness and awkward flirting once Buck is back is typical Eddie being a gay disaster but we love him.

• 6.12-"Recovery" // Written by Andrew Meyers // Directed by John J Gray

Buck going to his safe place which happens to be Eddie’s house to escape all his guests!!! Falling asleep immediately once he gets settled in on Eddie’s COUCH!!! Then the talk about the shooting and Buck being so honest with only Eddie. I mean come onnn.

• 6.13-"Mixed Feelings" // Written by Stacey Rose // Directed by Jihane Mrad Balaa

The Buckley Diaz family scene where they’re helping Chris with his homework is soooo sweet. And the fucking sexy poker date game, whatever you wanna call it. They looked so hot and what for huh?!? Eddie looked like he wanted to jump Buck’s bones the entire night. And then finally the ending scene with Buck and Chris being a literal father and son while they baked cookies!! I mean it’s all there in front of us.

These are the episodes we have aired so far. But I will include the remaining episodes of season 6 with the writers and directors and let you all decide for yourself whether or not those episodes will be good for us in terms of Buddie!

• 6.15-“Death and Taxes” // Written by Taylor Wong // Directed by Greg Sirota

• 6.16-“Lost and Found” // Written by Lyndsey Beaulieu // Directed by Brenna Malloy

• 6.17-“Love Is In The Air” // Written & Directed by JCC

• 6.18-“Pay It Forward” // Written by Andrew Meyers & Nicole Barraza Keim // Directed by Brad Buecker

#buddie #evan buckley #eddie diaz #christopher diaz #911 on fox #911 meta #buddie meta #buddie resources #911 resources #911 episode guide #i’m back with another deep dive #will I ever learn?!? no #I wanted to include a gif for every episode BUT TUMBLR DID NOT ALLOW ME #also I hope I didn’t forget any episodes but these I feel like are the most pivotal #long post

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burnthatbridge · 6 months

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still not sure what inspired the software update {made using this template by @jessource}

#buck buckley #evan buckley #911 #911 fox #911 abc #911 edit #taylor swift #the eras tour #taylor swift eras #cw: flashing #myedit #i cannot look at this anymore #please excuse how wiggly 6b buck is #i am but a photoshop noob and i did not have the skill (or patience) to cut him out better #i have tried to go for important things/pivotal moments for each season/era but more on the positive side #though i was very very tempted to just do all the bad things #in my obsessed with templates era #found this cool one and really wanted to use it #i cannot overstate how excited i was when i realised that there are 10 eras and if you split the As from the Bs 911 has 10 parts of seasons

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mischievousjunior · 4 months

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#Meh Draws #Fox #Robot #Furry #Alex #Pivot #2023 #Last art of the year #OC

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pillowfriendly · 10 months

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"Quite so, quite so! But what about this? What if we attempt to render you a rich gift, and you refuse it?" Dr. Talos leaned toward her as he said this, and it struck me that his face was not only that of a fox (a comparison that was perhaps too easy to make because of his bristling reddish eyebrows and sharp nose suggested it at once) but that of a stuffed fox. I have heard those who dig for their livelihood say there is no land anywhere in which they can trench without turning up shards of the past. No matter where the spade turns the soil, it uncovers broken pavements and corroding metal; and scholars write that the kind of sand that artists call polychrome (because flecks of every color are mixed in with its whiteness) is actually not sand at all, but the glass of the past, now pounded to powder by aeons of tumbling in the clamorous sea. If there are layers of reality beneath the reality we see, even as there are layers of history beneath the ground we walk upon, then in one of those more profound realities, Dr. Talos's face was a fox's mask on a wall, and I marveled to see it turn and bend now toward the woman, achieving by those motions, which made expression and thought appear to play across it with the shadows of the nose and brows, an amazing and realistic appearance of vivacity. "Would you refuse it?" he asked again, and I shook myself as though waking.

#book of the new sun #LIKE HELLO??? the rhythm. the euphony.#the way the fox metaphor starts and then pivots into worldbuilding detail that dovetails back in to expand on the fox #it draws you in and you also wake from it with the narrator at the end #ITS SO BEAUTIFUL I AM CHEWING ON IT

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moazhao · 2 years

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PIVOTING: IF SHE COULD SEE US NOW Maggie Q, Eliza Coupe, Ginnifer Goodwin

#my sweet summer children #tvedit #pivoting #pivotingedit #maggie q #maggieqedit #eliza coupe #elizacoupeedit #ginnifer goodwin #ginnifergoodwinedit #comedyedit #userbbelcher #fox #character inspo #muse inspo #moa.

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on-it · 1 year

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#mtb #hawes #iron goat #arizona #pivot cycles #mach6 #fox mtb

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ladycharles · 2 months

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I put out a new chill, dreamy instrumental, inspired by ancient mythology, Sappho of Lesbos, and the swirling emotions of limerance and fear when new love calls.

This is from a play called Nuit for which I am composing a soundtrack, a really cool combon of hilarious skits and breathtaking dance choreo. This is written for a dance between two Lesbian characters, a pivotal and tender moment where they realize their unspoken longing. Hope some of you can see it in Montreal this summer, seeing it with my partial soundtrack in the fall was one of my proudest musical moments 🎵🎶🎶

I know this isn't really a single, but I was excited to share and maybe it can be the soundtrack to your little moments. For fans of Air, Daft Punk, Wendy Carlos, Bowie, UNKLE, Foxes in Fiction, Brian Eno, Kate Bush, Locate S1, and more 💖💖💖

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finest-bikes · 2 years

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Schön bis ins letzte Detail. Die Decals der Fox Gabel in gleichem Lack des Rahmens. Pivot Firebird 2022. #mtb #pivot #fox #foxracing #mtblove #trail #bikes #finestbike #finestbikes #starnberg #werbung (at Finest Bikes) https://www.instagram.com/p/CefuUX9OVac/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#mtb #pivot #fox #foxracing #mtblove #trail #bikes #finestbike #finestbikes #starnberg #werbung

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meirimerens · 1 year

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i had warned you. patho equestrian au image dump with elusive lore.

all competition outfits were made to be FEI guidelines-compliant (except for the Yulia's Hunter, which is not regulated by the FEI, which complies to the standards of Hunter/Equitation competitions regulatory bodies i could find), and if they're not it's not on purpose and will ask you to pretend they are.

characters that are not depicted in this imageset i either do not see as pivotal or even accessory to this AU OR i just didn't want to draw them because i'd like to. do something else with my life eventually. as it were.

this au takes place exactly where it takes place. typically western/american sporting disciplines such as barrel racing, calf roping, rodeo, [...] are not included in this au because these disciplines are not widely exported outside of its north-american birthplace, go figure, as they are historically anchored in the cattle herding and ranching traditions of vaqueros and cowboys on the great northern american plains, and depend of a historical, political, anthropological and geographical context that was not replicated in europe or asia (because we have our own things). Exception is made for Yulia's Hunter/Equitation competition, as Hunter/Equitation is a sporting discipline itself based on westen european (typically british) upper-class horseback fox-hunting traditions, so it's a "what goes around comes around" type of deal. also isn't she dapper lol.

a horse's height is measured at the withers, which is the ridge between their shoulder blades, appearing as a bump between their neck and back, just behind which the saddle is put, so if a horse's height appears "small" for a big animal, it's because the length of the neck is not counted in that height.

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tomorrowusa · 16 days

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Donald Trump wants voters to forget that he killed Roe v. Wade. Don't let people forget what he did.

Trump’s fundamental disinterest in the truth value of his words is the only context that matters for his comments on abortion Monday morning. In a direct-to-camera statement on Truth Social, the former president told his audience that he does not support a national ban on abortion. “My view is now that we have abortion where everybody wanted it from a legal standpoint,” Trump said. “The states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state.” [ ... ] Compared with the mounting push from anti-abortion activists to ban the procedure nationwide, however, Trump’s stance is designed to look almost moderate. And if you were born yesterday, you could even say that Trump was beginning his pivot to the center, to blur the difference on abortion between himself and other Republicans. [ ... ] The truth of the matter is that given a second term in office, Trump and his allies will do everything in their power to ban abortion nationwide, with or without a Republican majority in Congress. Recall that in his 2016 campaign, Trump said that there had to be “some form” of punishment for women who had abortions. Later, as president, he backed a House bill that would have banned abortion after 20 weeks. Anti-abortion strategists have not been shy about their plan to use the 1873 Comstock Act, an anti-obscenity law, as legal authority for executive actions to limit abortions throughout the country, in blue states as well as red ones. [ ... ] We already know what he wants, what he’ll do and what he’ll sign. Trump landed a major blow against legal abortion during his first term. If given a second, he will land another.

In his own words, Trump brags about killing Roe v. Wade to an adoring Fox News audience this year.

youtube

#donald trump #trump killed roe v. wade #maga #republicans #abortion #us supreme court #trump scotus appointments #reproductive freedom #a woman's right to choose #comstock act #dobbs v. jackson women's health organization #anti-abortion fanatics #jamelle bouie #election 2024 #vote blue no matter who #Youtube

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myymi · 2 months

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lost world angst, anyone?

Sonic wasn't sure what he expected to happen to Tails after he got stuck in that trap and taken away before he could save him.

But his money certainly wasn't on the kit being half-roboticized.

He wanted to puke at the sight of his brother. (Which is an idea he wasn't too entirely fond of at the moment. Amy had made him a really nice breakfast this morning and it sits better in his stomach than on his shoes.)

He wanted to say he didn't even recognize the kid, but that'd be a lie. He'd always know when he was looking into his little brother's eyes, no matter if they're drained of life or artificial.

He could imagine the screams the fox probably let out as his body was torn into, flesh and blood being forcibly replaced by steel and oil.

Eggman had gloated about the process once years ago and it still haunted the hedgehog. To think Tails, his kid, fell victim to it..

He was going to rip those stupid zetis into shreds.

“What did you do to him.” Sonic demanded, even though he knew the answer. He just needed them to say it.

He needed them to admit they tortured a barely seven year old child.

“Calm down.” Zavok waved off the obvious anger radiating from the hedgehog, not at all worried about his opponent. “We simply gave him a few upgrades. Isn't he so much better?”

Better?

Better?!

How could anyone think that was better?

Sonic's face fell into a harsh glare, his royal blue quills shifting a few shades darker as he stared right into Zavok’s stupid, purple eyes.

“I'm going to fucking kill you.” He growled, angrily baring his fangs. He wasn't the biggest fan of swearing, especially not around Tails, but he'd let it slide this time.

“You'll have to deal with your little tagalong first.” The zeti stayed nonchalant as he gestured to the half-robot fox and, oh Chaos, his eye was so dull. There was no life in him.

Sonic didn't say anything in response to that, so Zavok decided to begin the fight with a simple command, “Tails, kill that worthless creature.”

The fox-robot listened to the command, lifting up its arm that now had a cannon attached to the end of it. The reality of the situation only fully kicked in when it started charging, a small purple energy or quickly growing in size.

“Oh, buddy.” Sonic knew he could fight Tails. Even if it wasn't him anymore, he couldn't hurt his brother. He promised him, “I'm so sorry, kid. I should've been faster.” He apologized, raising his paws in surrender to show the other he wouldn't fight.

Even if the fox was about to kill him, he was going to accept it. He deserved it after failing to keep the kid out of the zetis’ hands.

He braced himself for the inevitable impact of the orb once it looked like it was finished growing. It wouldn't be long before it shot, and Sonic would've left Mobius as a failure of big brother.

But then the light in Tails’ eye resparked.

With a wink, the kit quickly pivoted on his heel and dropped to crouch on his knee. He did his best to prop up the cannon as he aimed it right at Zavok’s head, “Never!” He shouted, pulling the trigger.

The blast ended up striking Zavok right in the center of his chest, the force sending him flying a few feet backwards.

Sonic could do nothing but stand and gape at his little brother. He didn't understand what happened, it all went by too fast—isn't that the craziest thing? Too fast for Sonic to keep up.

“Hold it, fuzzball.” Zeena said, stepping up as she pointed a remote at the fox and pressed a button. “You're still ours. Now do as you're told so we can end this. I need to fix my nail polish and you're delaying it with your wanna-be hero stunt.”

Tails yelped and grabbed his head with the paw that hadn't been turned into a weapon. His organic eye closed tightly in obvious pain as the other flashed between blue and red.

Sonic knew he should do something, but it felt like his feet were glued in place. No matter how much he begged, his body wouldn't move.

“No!” Tails cried out, shaking his head before just barely opening his eye. The first thing he saw was the arm cannon, which reminded him of a program he added in last minute as a backup plan.

Sonic was going to be so mad at him for this.

He didn't give his brain a chance to bail on the plan in fear of upsetting his big brother. He spun his tails as quickly as he could, doing his best to ignore how one of them felt like pure metal and flew straight into the center of the zetis.

He didn't stop flying until he landed on top of Zomom, looping his legs around the orange zeti’s neck as much as could as he pressed a hidden button on the cannon.

As the three second timer kicked off, the fox looked up to find his brother. He sent him a smile, quickly mouthing ‘I'm sorry.’ before his vision was full of white, then almost immediately fading to black.

“Tails!” Sonic screamed right before the explosion hit, knowing that silent apology couldn't have been a good sign.

The force of the bomb knocked him back a bit, but he was back on his feet in a second and running to where he last saw his brother.

One of the zetis, the depressed one, was entirely missing from the group. But, other than that, the rest of them were all knocked unconscious.

“Tails?” Sonic's voice choked on tears as he slid beside the kit’s body. The bomb had destroyed some of the metal, revealing that most of it was just show.

Tails hadn't been roboticized.

He swallowed past the lump in his throat as he gently cradled his baby brother, shoving away the haunting bits of metal.

He knew this entire encounter was going to haunt his dreams for a while.

He didn't dwell on that matter though. Tails was far more important. He needed to get him away from these monsters.

So he ran.

He wasn't sure where he was running to exactly, but anywhere away from the zetis was a good place to be.

By chance or maybe an unknowingly conscious effort, Sonic had made it to where they had parked the Tornado. She hadn't moved a muscle, her red paint still glistening in the sun as she soaked in the heat.

Feeling calmer from just the plane's presence, the hedgehog carefully climbed into the cockpit and settled into the seat.

Tails was still cradled to his chest, his grip on the fox tightening as he found a comfortable enough spot.

He didn't know what to do. They didn't really have the supplies to treat whatever happened to the kid.

He was just gonna have to wait it out. Figure out how Tails was feeling when he woke up and then go from there.

The hedgehog curled around the younger boy as much as he could when he felt his eyelids growing heavy. He nuzzled the fox's fur, making sure to lay extra attention to the sections that had been covered by metal. He planted a small kiss above the eye that had been seemingly replaced by an artificial one.

They would be fine if he took a quick nap. He'd wake up if something attacked them, and the Tornado’s keys were already in the ignition. It'd be okay.

Chaos, he prayed Tails would also be okay when he woke up.

He didn't like his slow heartbeat or his weak pulse.

#tails may or may not be okay #idk i haven't decided #really badly written cause i rushed it sorry #i got excited :/#miles tails prower #sonic the hedgehog #sth #tails the fox #sonic #unbreakable bond #dynamic duo #sonic lost world #zavok the zeti #zeena the zeti #zeti #major character injury

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sneezemonster15 · 1 month

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It's crazy how popular Naruto is. Like damn, every comment section of every video/reel has someone with a Naruto user name. And Naruto gifs in the comment section hahaha. If it's a dog with its owner video, Kiba gifs. If it's a snake video, Orochimaru gifs. All garbage videos have Sakura gifs. Every single crow video I have checked out, and I love crows so I have seen a lot, has Itachi dissolving into crows and disappearing gif lol. All the running videos have the Naruto run gif. If it's a video about someone getting yeeted, Pain sending Hinata flying gifs. If it's a fox video, Kurama gifs. All shark videos have Kisame gifs. All emo type videos/songs/fashion videos have either Sasuke or Pain gifs in their comment sections. All ramen videos have Naruto slurping ramen gifs. All wholesome teacher student videos have Naruto and Jiraiya gifs in their comment sections, and people upvote them with the intensity of me slathering butter on my toast. It's PERSONAL.

I am sure I am missing a lot. But over the years, I have seen Naruto to be more popular than any other anime. How could it be more evident? You will find Naruto fans posting Naruto shit in videos that seemingly have nothing to do with any of it but they will find a connection AND get upvoted lol. Like yes, I see One piece characters, I see Dragonball a lot because it's naturally so meme worthy lol, I see Pokemon, Gintama, Sailor Moon, but Naruto surpasses everyone in terms of visibility. It surpasses every class, religion, region, caste, and demographics.

I nerd out freely on a lot of subjects online which covers a lot of ground, and I can tell you Naruto fans are all invasive, they spread faster than mould in the rainy season. I am now beginning to see JJK fans but they are mostly in comment sections of thirst trap type videos, not very widely traveled. Hehehe. And one can see why, Gege has facilitated it with such aplomb after all. But it just doesn't compare to Naruto in terms of visibility of fans.

Naruto fans would post the dumbest shit with so much confidence, it's adorable. No it really is, it shows their conviction in Naruto. This is what it inspires. Unflinching, iron clad loyalty even in the face of ridicule and potential discrimination. Hahaha. This show has something for everyone. You can relate deeply with one or the other character, you root for them and you cry for them. You rage and you laugh and sometimes you get so annoyed , you throw your slipper at the tv screen. You go absolutely insane and willingly remain insane with pride in your face. Like the hot red glowing passion. I would do a lot of things before starting an argument with an Itachi fanboy on Insta.

I could always pivot this whole thing to bring it back to my punchline - Do you still think something like this be accidental?

But this post isn't about that. It's really about appreciating what Kishi has given us. Again, as an adjunct I can also lament about how its legacy is being superlatively clusterfucked by Boruto, especially after its recent developments (the fuck was that about Himawari radiating Kurama's chakra, wtactualf??), but again, this post isn't about that.

Behold Naruto. It's not a show, it's a litmus test. If this show didn't fuck you up a little bit, it's because you have had it easy. There's a reason why there are so many Naruto fans in the world and why they don't give a fuck anymore.

Cue Evil Laughter.

#this post might seem a little hyperbolic and maybe it is #but its not that far from the truth #naruto #naruto fandom #kishimoto #i love you kishimoto even though i have enough reason to hate you as well #you know what you did...

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sonicexelle-junkary · 1 year

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Bitter Blood [A HungryHero.EXE fanfic]

“I can't wait to gut you out.”

(CW: descriptions of blood, gore, violence, bad language, and death)

A day used to feel short. Days that, even if it were cloudy and dull, would feel as cheery and sunny as always. Short days. Hours that felt like seconds. Today those hours felt agonizing. The cloudy sky was cold. The air, suffocating. Even a minute now felt like weeks. These emerald hills, this world, it didnt feel the same anymore. Not without him.

Why…. Why was he there? Why was he right there? Right there in the line of fire! He didn’t need to be here! Why was he there? Was it because of him? Because hes a canibal? Maybe he thought that he needed to help protect his image and thats why he came. Oh god. No. No it could’nt have been his fault! No! No No its not his fault! Its not his fault! Its- .... Shadow... Its Shadow’s fault. Its all his fucking fault!

That god damn dark and brooding prick! He couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He had to say something. Had to open his fucking mouth! He made him doubt. Doubt everything that he had thought about him. Made him think that he wasnt the best older brother hes ever had. But, Tails was always independent, even if at times he had to rely on his friends. It was expected, he was a kid. But out of everything, everything that that little fox had went through... It wasn't him, he wasn't thinking clearly, that fucking mutant made him confused. Whatever he said to him, it didn't matter, he implanted that stupid little thought in his head! And now he's gone... Because of him.

“.... I think its time to pay ol’ dark and handsome a visit”

———————

A black hedgehog stood atop one of the many loops of green hills. The naturally generated loops ironically always seemed just the slightest bit unnatural. Even so, they made great viewpoints when sat atop their grassy caps. Shadow, of course, knew this, he would always take advantage of their beautiful viewpoints when he wasn’t in the cities. It, accompanied by the quietness of the stripped fields and checkered soil, waved a calmness over the hedgehog. He wished Maria could see this place the most...

His thick fur shot up, a feeling of dread overwhelmed his body. He was not alone. Something was coming for him. His eyes darted around the area, his ears scanning the area for any noticable sound. His own breath and heartbeat felll silent to his ears. All that was around him was the sound of the wind and.... The dark hedgehog moved to the side just enough for a blurry blue streak to whizz by, barely grazing his nose. It created a sizable crater in the ground once it landed. The force it must've had to create that would have killed him almost instantly if they had collided.

Shadow watched as a blue hedgehog lifted itself from the rubble, coming out with no more than a few scratches and missaligned quills. It was Sonic. The hedgehog’s green eyes starred daggers into his own. A silver object glistened from him through the dust of the crater, A weapon. He waisted no time, Shadow dashed away, over the green hills, as fast as his air shoes could take him. He had no issue with matching or even surpassing Sonic’s speed at times, but something about that stare, how much velocity he needed to hite the ground with that much force…

Shadow ducked as the blue hedgehog came from his path with the intent to kill, narrowly missing his skin. He was in front of him? How was that possible? How fast was this hedgehog? Shadow watched as Sonic skidded and pivoted on a dime, using his momentum to come right towards him. He was always more skilled at his pacing than he was. A wobbly misstep threw Shadow off ballance, and sent the two hedgehogs crashing into each other, sent spinning and tumbling down the barred hills. At the bottom, the black hedgehog kicked the blue killer off forcefully, throwing him to the ground a few feet ahead. The two were quick to hop to their feet and back into battle. Shadow took a fighting stance.

“Enough! Stop this, Sonic!” Shadow shouted “Nothing good will come out of anything that you are trying to do!”

“Yeah, that’s where your wrong, Shadow” Sonic said “something good will come out of this… for me!” The hedgehog pulled out the decently sized blade he had kept hidden. He stared at Shadow, holding it with the intent to kill

“You plan to kill me? Have you forgotten who I am?” Shadow raised his fists at the blue hedgehog before him, he barred his sharp fangs “I AM the Ultimate Lifeform! I was built to be an ultimate weapon, but chose to protect others instead! I AM made of love! I AM the true hero of mobius! And I am not afraid to kill you to protect the world i voued fifty years ago, Sonic the Hedgehog!”

Admittedly Sonic was hurt by shadows comment, but it didn’t break him. He rolled his eyes “yeah, but i think it’s gonna be a lot harder without this thing” he outheald a green gem that glistened the same colour as his eyes. It was a chaos emerald.

Shadow patted his sides “what? How did you-!”

“You see, here’s the thing Shad. Of the whole time we’ve known eachother, i want you to know… I was holding back!”

Instantly the speedy hedgehog was gone, and just as quickly Shadow’s guard was up. If Sonic really wanted to kill him, he needed to be close. It didn’t seem like he was using chaos control, if he was then he could pick up on his chaos signature. Given enough foccus and it would be easy to track him. No, He could just faintly hear his footsteps, smell that sickly sweet iron smell that accompanied him. He was fast, faster than anything shadow had witnessed. he seemed as fast as super sonic. But he hasnt used the chaos emeralds. Has he really been holding back this whole-

A knife held sloppily, but with enough force could kill, grazed Shadows cheek as he narrowly doged another one of the blue hedgehogs attacks. “He’s to fast!” Shadow panicked eternally. He barely dodged another quick strike from the blade, it grazed off a few hairs of his fur. “I need chaos control if I can get a chance to-“

Shadow was spun like a corkscrew in the air and slammed hard into the grassy ground with a deafening thud. His ears rang from the force, he could have sworn he had a cuncussion. The blade plunged into his side and dragged across his stomach. A loud and horrid scream came out of him as Sonics eyes carefully watched the blade glide across his dark body, now stained with his green blood. He tried to move his foot up to push the hedgehog away, but it was quickly slammed back down to the ground with enough force that it should’ve broken it.

“FUCK!” Shadow yelped at his injuries. He bared his teeth and cursed at Sonic. “You’re fucking derranged-!”

Sonic grabbed him by his chin and brought him close to his own face “AND YOU’RE A FUCKING MURDERER!” He screamed.

“I didn’t do anything!”

“THEN WHY IS MY BROTHER DEAD, SHADOW? EXPLAIN THAT!”

“I-it was his choice! He could have left at any time! He could have not been there at all! But he came and he stayed because HE WANTED TO STOP YOU!”

A blade pierced through shadows hand. “DONT TALK TO ME LIKE YOU KNOW HOW HE IS! YOU WERENT THE ONE TO RAISE HIM!”

“AND YOU DO? YOU JUST CANT ADMIT THAT HE WOULD EVER BETRAY YOU-“ shadow screamed again, the knife turned in his palm.

“I’VE BEEN WITH HIM HIS WHOLE LIFE! SINCE HE WAS THREE GOD DAMN YEARS OLD! I HAVE BEEN THERE EVERY TIME HES NEEDED ME! I HAVE DONE MORE FOR HIM THAN YOU COULD EVER DO!” Sonics grip tightened on shadows face. His sharp fangs barred, all to the back hedgehog. “AND YOU! YOU JUST COULDNT KEEP YOUR STUPID PRETTY FACE QUIET LIKE USUAL, YOU HAD TO SAY SOMETHING! HAD TO MAKE HIM DOUBT ME!”

Shadow whimpered. He glowered at the cannibal “And so what if I did? None of this would have happened if you had just learned some self control! All of it... It’s all your fau- AUGH!”

Sonic plunged the knife into shadows shoulder, digging it in all the way to the handle “WHO WAS THE ONE WHO IMPLANTED THAT THOUGHT OF DOUBT IN HIM? WHO WAS THE ONE WHO USED CHAOS SPEAR? WHO WAS THE ONE WHO CAUSED THAT SCAFFOLDING TO FALL OVER? TELL ME SHADOW! TELL ME!”

Shadow shut his eyes and inhaled. The throbbing pain in his hand, his foot, his shoulder, his stomach, it all made him want to throw up. He shook as he glared at Sonic. “He was there because of you…”

—————-

The cannibal on top of him stared, stared directly into his eyes. His expression looked almost deprived of any emotion, but he was furrious. furrious and oh, so hungry. He craved for this black hegdehog since the day they met again in that cave. The blade slowly pulled out of the hedgehogs shoulder, dropping to his side. He leaned in close, close enough for Shadow to see his enlarged pupils and smell that scent that was sickenly sweet and iron-like from those who were his last meal.

“I can’t wait to gut you out.” The words came out of him were bone chillingly calm. Not even a cent of attitude or emotion that usually accompanied his tone. He was calm, those words were calm, but they were drenched in crazed anger.

He slowly raised the knife, preparing to strike one last time. Shadow needed to act now if he wanted to survive. A hit in the right place, with enough force, it will kill him. He didn’t have much chaos energy to use, and the adrenaline was waring off faster… fuck it. In a flash, the black hedgehog teleported away. Not far though, he could only make it a couple of miles. He gasped and clutched his gaping wound. Luckily the cut didn’t go to far deep, but still, he was pouring out blood. He held as tight as he could to lessen the bloodflow.

His vision was unfocused, he was becoming lightheaded from the blood loss, he needed help, but he needed to recharge his energy, and with his injuries it would take him longer than ever. Still, hes going to keep going. Shadow clutched his wound tighter as he slowly made his way across the hills that were now stained with his blood, whining as every step with his foot felt like needles shooting into his skin. Before, they could have beat eachother to a stand still, now... He looked back to see if Sonic knew where he went, chaos snap was not the best at hiding a signature. And perhaps, maybe Sonic did, as shadow saw that blue cannibal stare in his direction. or maybe at him.

“I’ll see you later, Shadow the Hedgehog” his voice echoed through the hills.

Shadow panted, a knot appeared in his throat. He gritted his teeth. “Go to hell, bastard.”

#art #fanart #fanfiction #text post #long post #sonic.exe #sonic.exe au #HungryHero.exe #sonic #shadow #blood #gore #violence #cw knife #i forgot how much i liked to write. even if im not the best at it #expect more to come

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ultrameganicolaokay · 5 months

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Outsiders #4 by Jackson Lanzing, Collin Kelly and Robert Carey. Cover by Roger Cruz. Variant covers by (2) Otto Schmidt, (3) Nikolas Draper-Ivey and (4) Kelley Jones. Out in February 2024.

"'[TITLE REDACTED]' Luke Fox assembled the Outsiders to brave the unknown. To discover the forgotten, to bring the hidden to light, and to use the truth underneath them all to find a better way forward. Little does he know the Drummer has a plan of her own — and she’s one step closer to bringing it to fruition! Something happened at the turn of the millennium that shook the universe, and in this pivotal chapter, the Outsiders head into the strange shadows of London’s underground to discover just what — or who — is at the center of this new crisis!"

#outsiders #batwoman #kate kane #batwing #luke fox #dc comics #jackson lanzing #collin kelly #robert carey #roger cruz #otto schmidt #nikolas draper-ivey #kelley jones #variant cover #comics

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randomfoggytiger · 11 months

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How Scully Taught Mulder to Hug

I've noted once before what a profound effect Scully has on Mulder's emotional journey with healing and grief (see here how One Breath transforms him and his emotional outlet); but there is a key part of that healing process that is just as important.

Fox Mulder is known for his softer side: a masculine man comfortable with feminine displays of affection and empathy. However, even though it was always his nature-- reaching out to Scully often, pulling at her necklace, smoothing her hair, engaging her eye contact-- Mulder never physically comforted someone in their distress or immense grief before Scully.

I broke down his dynamics with his mother (see here) but, in short, he was her caretaker since Samantha's disappearance: tucking her in, speaking calmly and gently to soothe her nerves, and other minute mannerisms that bled into his other human interactions. But there was always an affectionate distance.

It wasn't until Scully that he learned how to sweep a vulnerable, distressed, or grieving person into a comforting hug.

TLDR

Scully is used to exchanging physical affection with her family and friends, and she will usually reach out to Mulder first to change an aspect of their relationship: a hug, a hand grip, letting Mulder sweat over root bear, pining in Season 2, hinting at genes in Season 4, and bringing a cheese plate for recovery fun fun times in Season 5. (It's why she was so shocked in The Little Green Men, Small Potatoes, The Unnatural, and Millennium: she doesn't expect Mulder to make any moves.)

Mulder is, despite being a physically affectionate person, stunned by her abrupt hug in the Pilot, having maintained an emotional distance from others for a long, long time (even from his mother and father-- despite being his mother's emotional and even physical caretaker, the two Mulders were not volubly affectionate.)

The MOST PIVOTAL hug is the follow-up in Irresistible-- Mulder shadows Scully the whole case, but it's she who finally cracks and burrows into his coat, needing comfort. The tenderness they've both cultivated in the aftermath of Duane Barry is kicked up a notch; and there is no going back for Mulder. From now on, he will repeatedly body-shield Scully: from literal danger (in the very next episode Die Hand Die Verletzt) and from very intense fear or grief.

In fact, that part of Mulder has been blown so wide open that he swoops in to greet his father with a hug in Colony, kicking himself when he remembers that the Mulders don't hug.

The first time Mulder reaches out to hug Scully is in Paper Clip while she struggles after her sister's death. It's a full-on, no-holds-barred hug that envelops and fully comforts. This is when The Mulder Hug TM is born; and Mulder will use this for the rest of his life, finally able to comfort and cheer and grieve openly.

Because Scully, his human credential, taught him how.

Housekeeping now firmly aside:

Pictures and In-Depth Analysis Below

The First Hug

In the Pilot, Scully is terrified of malicious looking bumps on her back, knocking on Mulder's door and begging him to figure out if they are nefarious or not; and when he good-naturedly assures her they're just mosquito bites, she whirls around and clings to him.

It's demonstrated multiple times in the series to be second nature to Scully to hug her loved ones (returning her father's bear hug in Beyond the Sea, letting Maggie cling to her in Memento Mori, greeting Bill Scully in Gethsemane, etc.); but the opposite is shown for her new partner.

Mulder is shocked by her hug, frozen in his former gregarious reassurance as he processes what just happened.

Finally, Mulder's face shifts to bewilderment, snapping back his head in confusion-- he hasn't had a real hug in how long... why now?

More warmth seeps in, wonder and concern rising to the top of his conflicted emotions as he asks "You okay?" tenderly, beeping his nose into her hair.

He tries to reassure his new barnacle-to-a-hull clingy partner, awkwardly (and this makes me laugh) patting her on the shoulder as if she were a baby.

When Scully pulls back to collect herself, Mulder dazedly focuses on her, tracking her eyes and blandly noting "You're shaking."

Scully helps herself to his seat with Mulder unfazed and telling her to take her time, poking out an arm so she doesn't ram into the chair. He then sits across from her, studying this new (ab)normal specimen, trying to puzzle her out.

This leads Mulder to share his vulnerability over Samantha's abduction, a quid pro quo if you will. It's not private information since he's already categorized her as an X-File; but the revelation is not his trauma : it's his neck-on-the-chopping-block move he makes, revealing how much he knows about the upper office shenanigans and what they've been doing to stop him ("You're part of that agenda. You know that.") Scully honors this , asking for his trust.

(An aside: this is referenced later in Anasazi when Mulder screams over the phone about her betrayal: "Look, you have my files and my gun. Don't ask me for my trust.")

The Second Hug

There isn't another hug until Irresistible. Although Mulder is far from distant, he only ever goes so far with his physical affection (a hand at his partner's back while walking, sitting as close as humanly possible, dragging her away from dangerous scenarios, etc.), leaving it up to Scully to cross the lines between them (tending to him and camping out in his hotel room in Fire, "I wouldn't put myself on the line for anyone but you" in Tooms, petting his hair in Little Green Men, etc.) Mulder yearns to be closer, but he is the one drawing the lines, another self-protective measure (like talking in riddles, keeping few friends, sleeping on his couch, and running so he never has to stop.)

But their S2 separation and Scully's abduction followed so closely by her near death in Firewalker leaves a space for Scully's increasing vulnerability. Her anxiety and stress continue to heighten as Pfaster's case hits closer and closer home; and, by the end of that disaster, she is a wreck. When Mulder and the police rescue her from her newest kidnapping, Scully vainly tries to hold onto her control until the dam bursts, Mulder's empathetic chin-touch undoing her.

She slowly steps closer, seeking a hiding spot to fall apart in; and Mulder just as slowly scoops her up, facing the middle distance briefly to assess what this moment means for Scully (who strove to be unbreakable after her abduction) before turning his focus back to his partner.

When a cry escapes Scully, Mulder instinctively pets and cradles her head for the first time (to my knowledge), transforming from an empathetic but awkward partner to a fully-fledged comforter.

It's here when he links his ability to convey love through touch with his soothing, calming presence: by holding another person, he can wordlessly offer both. This changes everything for Mulder-- he now engulfs Scully, TLG, his family, even other victims in hugs, unlocking that side of himself that he'd never tapped into before.

Scully worms in closer, too far gone to care about preserving whatever scrap of dignity she has left; and Mulder, who gets it now, swarms her in a tighter hug-- his hand stretched to its fullest and his arms wound in a stronger grip.

Mulder then steps it up a notch: he focuses entirely on her (briefly closing his eyes), trying to empathetically collect all of Scully's pain and fear like a dreamcatcher and shield her from all the negative emotions and traumas and nightmares that will plague her. Despite the torment on his face, Mulder's assurance is measured and strong: "It's alright." Simple, but powerfully reassuring.

The very next episode, Mulder throws himself over Scully to protect her from being shot first in the Die Hand Die Verleztz shower, a first for him and one he doesn't flinch at. Of course, he has always been protective; but there is no uncertainty that sometimes lurked when he'd previously hovered around her like a nervous fly.

And this new unlocking of himself led to his aborted hug in--

Colony

When Mulder arrives at his father's, he runs up to the house and almost misses Bill Mulder in the shadows. He steps over, opening his arms for a hug... and is promptly greeted by Bill Mulder's hand.

I already have a series detailing Mulder's complicated relationships with his family (The Mulder Family In-Depth Series is found on this master list); the importance here is that Mulder is so caught up in his new mindset that he forgot the barriers that existed between himself and his father.

Two theories that don't mean anything really:

#1. Mulder had broken down a huge psychological barrier; and he naturally included his father in this change... which was promptly rejected. His face registers an "ah, of course" expression instead of shock or grief, meaning this is an established habit of his father's. Just because he's changed, Bill Mulder has not (yet. See post here.)

#2. Mulder's father has hugged Mulder before, since it's a go-to greeting from his son in this time of crisis. He was a doting father at one point, so maybe he reverts back to his warmer behavior in exteme times of celebration or trouble? Who knows.

Whatever the case may be, this is the first hug Mulder has ever initiated for comfort (not counting bro-hugs or hello-hugs)... and it was rejected. Mulder being Mulder, though, never gives up.

Paper Clip

Paper Clip is the turn of the tide.

Mulder has learned how to marry his unending empathy and true compassion with his natural way of bonding, physical touch. This is when he gives it all back to Scully, the woman who showed him the way. In a demonstration of "I owe you everything, Scully. And you owe me nothing", Mulder stoops down to listen to Scully's heartrending pain about Melissa Scully's murder, giving her as much courage and hope as he can. When Scully cracks, he leans away briefly to better balance himself-- which makes his partner grab for his hands in a panic (2nd pic)-- before scooping her up into a tight hug, allowing his human credential to cry onto his shoulder.

Scully sweeps her arm around Mulder as well (you can see her hand on Mulder's left shoulder.)

The last piece of Mulder's puzzle comes in Herrenvolk:

Herrenvolk

I've discussed this episode in depth here, but it's important to comb back through with this context in mind.

Mulder's mother is on her deathbed, and he has failed to bring back the one person who could heal her. In tatters, he stumbles through the hospital in shock, relying on Scully to get him to Tena (or Teena) Mulder's room. At her bedside, Mulder crashes. For the first time, Mulder leans into Scully, indirectly asking her for a hug. Scully reads his body language and makes the first decisive move, showing Mulder that his emotions won't be rejected. He then falls apart, sobbing into her shoulder.

The last barrier for Mulder's emotional distance has melted away; and Scully is there to give back the comfort he always gave her.

A Summary and Mini-Analysis on Future Hugs

Finally, this aspect of Mulder's emotional journey has come to a healthy completion: from now on, he and Scully give and receive hugs freely, leaning in for affection and anticipating each others' needs and varying moods.

Season 5, interestingly, is filled mostly with hugs-but-not-hugs moments-- i.e., Scully didn't hug Mulder in the woods, they cuddled for warmth; and Mulder didn't hug Scully in All Souls, they whispered with arms in the police station.

But Scully does hug Mulder after the files burn down, since he is too emotionally hewn to reciprocate. FTF is an addendum to that moment, with Mulder proving to Scully that she does, indeed, mean more to him than his life's work (she is his life.)

Sseason 6 is sparing on hugs, though filled to the brim with romantic overtones (subtle they are not); instead, it gives Mulder two kisses that are not from Scully: Triangle's spy Scully and One Son's manipulative Diana Fowley. It's not until Arcadia that the two agents full-on hug-- multiple ones at that-- which is befitting for a season that practically shoves them together while baiting the audience.

(Note: Sometime around Seasons 6-7 there are the events of Per Manum, featuring very huggy Mulder and Scully. I set this sometime before Two Fathers/One Son; but do as you wish.)

The hugs really pick up significant meaning after the episode tag-team of Milagro and The Unnatural. There is no going back now; but whatever deal they struck in those episodes (whether RST or a new understanding between them) is solidified after Mulder's spiritual experience in Amor Fati.

From then on, hugs become casual side pieces to the main affection: Millennium kisses, unabashed flirting, comfort after maternal suicides, familiar and familial habits and routines, and farewells in hallways and hellos from old friends.

The last hug (as of S8 where my X-Files journey stops) is given by Frohike embracing Mulder on his return.

Mulder arrives at Scully's apartment, glad to see his old friend; but he immediately sticks his arm out to shake hands, an unfortunate shadow of his own traumatized father Bill Mulder. Frohike, fortunately, is having NONE of it, sweeping his friend into a tight, firm hug. Mulder is delighted and touched, zinging out his first quip devoid of bitterness.

Grateful and overwhelmed, Mulder gives his friend a back pat (and many happy Mulder noises) as well, harkening back to his first awkward hug with Scully.

A fitting conclusion to Mulder's hug arc.

Thank you for reading~

Enjoy!

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