And honestly... it's kinda beginning to feel like they were right to think that.
If I have to read another post that's like "oh yeah it's too bad but..." and then says some bullshit about trusting the process, or Jacob, or how good Justice Smith is. Or worse, act like just because there are a bunch of racist shitheads in this fandom we shouldn't be allowed to be angry. Like let me say it again for the people in the back: HE COULD BE BLACK AND FAT. And that would be beautiful. Yes of course I'm sure the season will be great, yes of course Jacob did good work last season, yes of course Justice Smith is fantastic, but he's skinny and I don't think this show is so far above reproach that we shouldn't call them on that.
I'm interested to see what Jacob has to say, what his spin will be.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
in which murderbot is a very normal terracotta soldier and ART the dragon spirit of a chinese junk who dwells in the ship's keel. they meet in the ming dynasty perhaps, when ppl are sailing places extra willy-nilly.
*Nüwa is the mother goddess in chinese mythology, known for creating humanity from yellow clay and repairing the sky.
thank you @mutualrapport for hosting the event! original prompt below.
[drawn for the prompt: an AU of ART and MB's first meeting and conversation - e.g. another look at their first meeting from a fantasy, historical, or (non-canon) sci-fi lens! Any perspective is fine. The only constraint is that it cannot be set in the canon universe. Any visibly non-canon AU- fantasy, human, historical, etc. - anything goes!]
Because it was confusing in the novel and somehow more confusing in the drama, this is what happened in Pursuit of Jade (spoilers, obviously):
Wei Yan was in love with a childhood friend and was supposed to marry her. She suddenly married into the palace as a consort (Novel: this was because her cousin, the empress, was losing power to another consort so they sent her a cousin to help). He never had an affair with her, but this is the only woman he ever loved.
Wei Yan and his brother-in-law, Xie Zheng's father, were friends with the crown prince. The crown prince already had a son, Qi Min, and because of this the line of succession goes Crown Prince - Qi Min - go back up the tree for other sons of the emperor. However, the emperor has been favouring another prince recently and he can always switch crown princes. So Wei Yan, when drunk, says, "Why not just replace the emperor?" This is treason, so bad idea.
Because of this threat, the former emperor frames Wei Yan. He drugs Wei Yan with an aphrodisiac first. It seems like Wei Yan slept with a maid instead of his One True Love, but the emperor still pretends the consort is pregnant. The emperor starts interrogating the consort.
Wei Yan and Xie Zheng's father are supposed to defend a city from another attacking nation. General Xie is already there with the crown prince, Wei Yan is bringing food/reinforcements. Wei Yan hears about what is happening with the consort and turns back, but he gives Fan Changyu's father, Wei Qilin, the tiger tally so that the troops and food will still arrive.
The Sui family claims the tally is fake. The city falls, General Xie dies along with the crown prince, all the blame is pinned on Wei Qilin. Back at the capital, Wei Yan realizes this is all a plot to kill/impeach him. The consort lets herself die in a fire in an attempt to save Wei Yan. Wei Yan goes scorched earth and kills everyone, deposes the emperor, and installs a puppet baby emperor, Qi Sheng.
In the chaos, the crown princess, afraid that Wei Yan will kill her son too, sets the palace on fire and burns Qi Min's face and then hides him in the Sui family. The real Sui kid is dead.
At this point, Wei Yan's #1 priority, besides having All the Power, is keeping the consort free from blame. So he lets all the blame fall on Wei Qilin, who fakes his death and takes the identity of the dead Fan son. Wei Yan's sister, Xie Zheng's mom, realizes that she knows too much, so to save Xie Zheng, she commits suicide. Now she's not a threat and she hopes Wei Yan will keep her son alive (he does).
Wei Yan marries his already-pregnant wife and claims Wei Xuan as his own, but he's not his child and he prefers his nephew, Xie Zheng (though this preference doesn't mean he's nice at all. In the novel he lets Wei Xuan torment Xie Zheng pretty severely, probably to "toughen him up" or whatever, we see this in a flashback in the drama.)
Everything is basically chill for 17 years.
Xie Zheng takes back the city his father lost and kills all the citizens of the other country within it. This is 1:1 revenge, it's what the other country did to them, but that is why his reputation is so bad and why he's surprised that Fan Changyu praises him at his fake funeral.
The Sui family wants to rebel, and Qi Min, hidden within them, wants to use their rebellion to claim the throne for himself. The Li family also wants this so they can finally get rid of Wei Yan. The Sui family leak information to Xie Zheng in an attempt to drive a wedge between the two of them.
Xie Zheng starts to investigate the truth. Now this is where the drama was so strange and blamed Wei Xuan for the assassination attempt. It was Wei Yan in the novel. Let's just pretend he did it in the drama too because that makes more sense. Wei Yan is so desperate to keep his secret that he tries to kill his own nephew to bury the truth.
Wei Yan, fearing the truth will finally get out, tries to kill the entire Wei/Fan family, as they are the last real witnesses. This is why assassins come for Fan Changyu. General He, who has been in very sneaky contact with the Wei/Fan family, receives the Letter of Evidence and they commit suicide in front of him to save their two daughters.
And I think that explains everything. So the Biggest Bad was the former emperor, who tried to frame Wei Yan. Wei Yan still sucks because he killed many, many people to keep his secret. Wei Qilin, Fan Changyu's father, was innocent. The Li & Sui families are guilty of attempted rebellion. Qi Min was the true heir to the throne.
In the little extra scene at the end: Wei Yan gets to try again, he marries his one true love and everything turns out better. In this version, Fan Changyu and Xie Zheng are jokingly betrothed from birth and end up together as before. I think the point of this extra was actually for the author to assure us that even if Xie Zheng had a happy childhood, he'd still be weird and intense.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Heated Rivalry Open Relationship AU chapters (updated 11 July)
If you want updates when there is a new chapter, click on the three dots in the upper right and select “Follow this post”!
A few weeks ago @perlukafarinn posted "I love an AU where Ilya seduces Shane away from an asshole boyfriend and I really want one where the boyfriend suggests opening the relationship and that's how Shane and Ilya first start fucking." And lo, the #OpenRelationshipAU was born, and lots of people have been getting very excited about the chapters @perlukafarinn has been posting.
This finding document covers JUST the story. (There are now more than 40 posts in the tag and a lot of it is discussion.) I'm putting in a logline and a quote from each post.
The Idea/Outline Post
Snippet:
Boyfriend is out and Shane is not (for obvious reasons) and while this doesn’t necessarily make for an unhealthy relationship Boyfriend is, as established, an asshole. He’s not shy about reminding Shane of how lucky he is that he puts up with the secrecy and how impossible it would be for Shane to find someone else in his situation.
They’ve also been together since they were teenagers so Boyfriend is the only guy Shane has ever been with and the only one who knows Shane is gay, which also means that Shane has no one to talk to about any misgivings he might have about the relationship.
The story is the same as in canon from Ilya’s perspective until the CCM commercial when he hits on Shane in the shower and Shane, visibly into Ilya and fighting with himself internally, tells him he can’t because he has a boyfriend. Then he panics about what he just told Ilya but Ilya promises not to tell anyone - they have the same secret, after all. Sure he’s disappointed but he can always find other people to fuck (that hollow feeling in his chest feels like a lot more than just disappointment but Ilya ignores that).
After the cut: chapter by chapter, both in posting order and in timeline order. I'll update this as the story continues.
Posting Order
All-Stars 2011
It’s Ilya’s turn to roll his eyes. Enough of this beating around the bush, he decides. “So you are still with…?”
He lets the sentence hang between them unfinished. Hollander will catch on quickly; their last off-ice conversation about his secret boyfriend is still fresh in Ilya’s memory despite the months that have passed. He has no doubt this is even more true for Hollander.
2007: Shane meets Brian at a party
Shane’s never been to a college party before but some of his older teammates on his U18 team insisted he come along. They want to teach him how to loosen up, and Shane’s not sure if they mean it as a favor or if they want to see him embarrass himself.
The party is loud and uncomfortable, and everyone keeps insisting that Shane drink. Brian finds him there, alone in the crowd, lost and a little bit miserable, teammates scattered around in the wind.
2012: Ilya takes Shane back to his place for a chat after a Boston/Montreal game
“Cheer the fuck up,” Ilya calls, grinning when Hollander startles at his voice. “You should be used to losing to me by now.”
“Which one of us won the Calder, again?” Hollander asks, pocketing his phone.
Ilya’s grin widens. He thinks he must be one of the only people in the world who knows what a bitch Shane Hollander can be. What a privilege.
2012: Ilya tells Sveta about "Jane" and "her" shitty boyfriend
It was her third short-lived relationship of the year. Sveta suffers from an unfortunate combination of high standards and terrible taste in men. It makes Ilya think of Hollander, who has the same trash taste but none of Sveta’s good judgment.
Maybe Ilya could use her advice.
2013: Shane visits Ilya's place again after a game that Svetlana attended
It gets to a point where they’re texting almost daily. It’s almost like they’re friends, which is what gives Ilya the courage to suggest they hang out after a game again.
Hollander accepts. They play video games and talk shit, and it’s fun, even though it’s not what Ilya’s been chasing Hollander for since they did that CCM commercial. At one point Ilya brings up Hollander’s boyfriend, only to get roundly shut down, and well. Message received.
2014: Brian tells Shane he wants to open up the relationship
Shane is determined for tonight to go well. He got food delivered from Brian’s favorite restaurant and picked up a bottle of his favorite wine to pair it with. He even busted out the candles. He’s not the best boyfriend, he knows, but he can at least show Brian that he’s trying.
MLH Awards 2014 part 1
Ilya spent the past week trying not to read into it but right now, he can’t remember why. Obviously, Hollander came to his senses and dumped his loser boyfriend, and he’s finally going to take Ilya up on his offer to fuck. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
Maybe Ilya is a little bit blinded by his winner’s high. But he’s also right, he knows it. Tonight is for getting everything he’s ever wanted, a feast to keep him sated through the lean summer weeks in Russia.
MLH Awards 2014 part 2
He’s never even admitted it to himself, how badly he’s wanted Ilya Rozanov, in a way he didn’t know he could want men who weren’t his boyfriend. The words slip easily from his tongue now, the shame that’s always accompanied that want a distant memory.
2007/2009/2012: Shane's first overnight with Brian, as well as Shane POV on how he is hiding it from his parents
Shane nods, guilt simmering in his gut at how easily Mom believes him. It’s because he’s never given her reason to doubt, never gotten in the kind of trouble other guys on the team and in his grade get into on a regular basis.
At least ask me some follow-up questions, Shane wants to shout, but he doesn’t. Obviously. He doesn’t actually want to be caught in a lie.
2014: Ilya POV: Shane and Ilya hook up after games
“Oh.” Hollander’s expression twists, lips tugging in a frown. “No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t tell me about other people, either. I don’t wanna know.”
“Sound healthy,” Ilya says dryly.
“Fuck you. Don’t you need to have been in a relationship to know what a healthy one looks like?”
Ilya resists the urge to tell Hollander that his relationship is so dysfunctional, a blind dog could see it. He doesn’t feel like being thrown out of bed just yet.
2014: Shane freaks out the morning after MLH awards; Shane and Brian several months after Brian opens the relationship
He thinks about telling Brian about Rozanov, but he’s not sure what the rules are. Brian hasn’t told him about anyone he’s fucked or is thinking about fucking. Maybe Shane should wait for him to bring it up. Brian hates it when he pesters him for constant clarification, and Shane doesn’t want to ruin his good mood. Better to just follow his lead and work through the rest of it on his own.
Besides, if Brian doesn’t know about Rozanov, he can’t tell Shane not to sleep with him again. Shane can’t pretend that’s not a little bit of a factor.
2015: Ilya and Shane at All-Stars (Ilya POV)
It makes Ilya want to claw his skin off a little bit, thinking about how long it's been since he last saw Shane Hollander naked. Knowing that in his absence, Hollander's boyfriend has been fucking him regularly, erasing the memory of Ilya's touch and replacing it with his own.
2015: Ilya and Shane at All-Stars (Shane POV)
It's difficult enough to turn Rozanov down for anything before they're in bed. Once they're actually naked, Shane has discovered there's pretty much nothing he doesn't want Rozanov to do to him.
2015: Hanging with Hayden
Hayden doesn't look convinced, but he doesn't push. It's one of the things that make him so easy to be friends with. He'll ask after Shane, try to set him up on dates, but he never pushes after the first no.
Sometimes Shane wishes he would, a little bit. It's not like he could tell Hayden anything, but if Hayden pushed, if he made Shane talk, it would at least release some of the pressure. It wouldn't be worth the fallout but it would at least be some kind of relief.
2015: Seeing Ilya After All-Stars
Shane doesn't think he's alone in feeling that something has changed. Rozanov doesn't mouth off during the face off like usual but he smiles when Shane meets his eyes, small and private. Shane finds himself smiling back, despite the conflicting feelings in his chest. It's impossible not to, with the way Rozanov is looking at him.
2015: continuation of previous scene, Ilya POV
His eyes flicker over Brian, curious and disdainful. He's handsome, Ilya supposes, or he would be to a person who knew less about his ugly personality. Tall and fit, his dark hair carefully styled and his face clean shaven. He's wearing a tailored suit, tie loosened around his neck. The way he's standing, it's clear he's using every bit of the tiny height advantage he has to tower over Shane.
Ilya hates him.
2015: continuation of previous scene, Shane POV
"I told you to find a guy to hook up with, not a second boyfriend!" Brian snaps, finally looking up. "Since last June, Shane? Why the fuck did you think that was okay?"
Shane flushes, stomach clenching tightly. He feels guilty and angry in equal measures, and above all confused about what he should be feeling. Brian has something of a point - if Shane really wasn't doing anything wrong, why would he be feeling like he just got caught?
2015: Ilya goes to NYC specifically to hook up with Shane
In hindsight, bragging to Shane's boyfriend about how he planned to steal him away right as Ilya was about to go three months without seeing him off the ice was maybe not the smartest move.
2015: Playoffs
This is probably why he feels so annoyed when he comes home and Brian is already there, sitting on the couch and waiting for Shane. For the second time this week.
They've never spent time together during playoffs before and Brian has never pushed for it. He may not like hockey but he understands Shane's dedication to it.
Shane knows things are different between them this year - especially after the confrontation with Rozanov - but he still thought Brian got it. Their relationship exists in a world apart from hockey and during playoffs, Shane needs to stay in the world where he's Shane Hollander, Captain of the Montreal Metros. Any distractions, even nice ones, are not acceptable.
2015 playoffs: final game
Shane's not dwelling on it, though. His mind feels razor sharp. A kind of calm descended over him in their first game against the Drillers that has yet to lift. He knows what he has to do to win, and knows he's capable of it, too. Knows his team is capable.
The night before the last game, Brian calls.
2008-2014: Brian POV
Not that the first time is all that great but, you know. It's the first time. It's gonna get better. And it's already intoxicating, the way Shane gets afterwards, loose and pliant in his arms and looking at Brian with so much adoration in his eyes. No one has ever looked at Brian that way before, like he's someone who's easy to love.
MLH Awards 2015 Part 1: Ilya POV
A whole year they've been doing this, and what has changed? Shane is still with his useless boyfriend. Cracks have started to form in the foundation of their relationship but Ilya isn't sure what more he could be doing to encourage their growth. A part of him still can't believe it didn't end the moment Brian caught them together.
If Ilya only had more opportunities to see Shane - but such thinking is especially useless now, when he's about to head to Russia in just a couple of days.
He'll have to make today count.
MHL Awards Ceremony 2015: Shane POV
Brian is here. Not in this room but in this city, possibly even this hotel. Shane doesn't know. He didn't actually call him back after Rozanov hung up on him and he hasn't replied to any of his texts or calls since. He just... he needs to get this ceremony over with before the inevitable fight.
Because Brian is probably mad and Shane. Shane is furious.
MLH Awards 2015 part 3: Ilya POV
It makes Ilya want to punch something. This should have been a happy night, the cherry on top of Shane's achievements this season, and Shane couldn't even enjoy it because his fucking useless, piece of shit boyfriend didn't think he was getting enough attention.
Probably Ilya didn't make it better with his stunt earlier.
He needs to make sure Shane is okay, because he doubts fucking Brian is gonna do it.
MHL Awards 2015 part 4: Ilya POV
But he stays put, allowing the group to approach him. He even manages a neutral expression before he turns around, slipping it on like a mask.
It promptly falls, because in the middle of the group of men in pastel polo shirts and khaki shorts, face twisted like he's sucking on a lemon, is fucking Brian.
Montreal, June 2015
Ilya couldn't really want him. Certainly not enough to sound as devastated as he did when Shane asked him to leave. That couldn't possibly be how it happened.
Except it is, and now Shane has to decide what to do about it.
If he hasn't already fucked everything up.
In-Universe Timeline Order
2007: Shane meets Brian at a party
Shane’s never been to a college party before but some of his older teammates on his U18 team insisted he come along. They want to teach him how to loosen up, and Shane’s not sure if they mean it as a favor or if they want to see him embarrass himself.
The party is loud and uncomfortable, and everyone keeps insisting that Shane drink. Brian finds him there, alone in the crowd, lost and a little bit miserable, teammates scattered around in the wind.
2007/2009/2012: Shane's first overnight with Brian, as well as Shane POV on how he is hiding it from his parents
Shane nods, guilt simmering in his gut at how easily Mom believes him. It’s because he’s never given her reason to doubt, never gotten in the kind of trouble other guys on the team and in his grade get into on a regular basis.
At least ask me some follow-up questions, Shane wants to shout, but he doesn’t. Obviously. He doesn’t actually want to be caught in a lie.
2008-2014: Brian POV
Not that the first time is all that great but, you know. It's the first time. It's gonna get better. And it's already intoxicating, the way Shane gets afterwards, loose and pliant in his arms and looking at Brian with so much adoration in his eyes. No one has ever looked at Brian that way before, like he's someone who's easy to love.
All-Stars 2011
It’s Ilya’s turn to roll his eyes. Enough of this beating around the bush, he decides. “So you are still with…?”
He lets the sentence hang between them unfinished. Hollander will catch on quickly; their last off-ice conversation about his secret boyfriend is still fresh in Ilya’s memory despite the months that have passed. He has no doubt this is even more true for Hollander.
2012: Ilya takes Shane back to his place for a chat after a Boston/Montreal game
“Cheer the fuck up,” Ilya calls, grinning when Hollander startles at his voice. “You should be used to losing to me by now.”
“Which one of us won the Calder, again?” Hollander asks, pocketing his phone.
Ilya’s grin widens. He thinks he must be one of the only people in the world who knows what a bitch Shane Hollander can be. What a privilege.
2012: Ilya tells Sveta about "Jane" and "her" shitty boyfriend
It was her third short-lived relationship of the year. Sveta suffers from an unfortunate combination of high standards and terrible taste in men. It makes Ilya think of Hollander, who has the same trash taste but none of Sveta’s good judgment.
Maybe Ilya could use her advice.
2013: Shane visits Ilya's place again after a game that Svetlana attended
It gets to a point where they’re texting almost daily. It’s almost like they’re friends, which is what gives Ilya the courage to suggest they hang out after a game again.
Hollander accepts. They play video games and talk shit, and it’s fun, even though it’s not what Ilya’s been chasing Hollander for since they did that CCM commercial. At one point Ilya brings up Hollander’s boyfriend, only to get roundly shut down, and well. Message received.
2014: Brian tells Shane he wants to open up the relationship
Shane is determined for tonight to go well. He got food delivered from Brian’s favorite restaurant and picked up a bottle of his favorite wine to pair it with. He even busted out the candles. He’s not the best boyfriend, he knows, but he can at least show Brian that he’s trying.
MLH Awards 2014 part 1
Ilya spent the past week trying not to read into it but right now, he can’t remember why. Obviously, Hollander came to his senses and dumped his loser boyfriend, and he’s finally going to take Ilya up on his offer to fuck. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
Maybe Ilya is a little bit blinded by his winner’s high. But he’s also right, he knows it. Tonight is for getting everything he’s ever wanted, a feast to keep him sated through the lean summer weeks in Russia.
MLH Awards 2014 part 2
He’s never even admitted it to himself, how badly he’s wanted Ilya Rozanov, in a way he didn’t know he could want men who weren’t his boyfriend. The words slip easily from his tongue now, the shame that’s always accompanied that want a distant memory.
2014: Ilya POV: Shane and Ilya hook up after games
“Oh.” Hollander’s expression twists, lips tugging in a frown. “No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t tell me about other people, either. I don’t wanna know.”
“Sound healthy,” Ilya says dryly.
“Fuck you. Don’t you need to have been in a relationship to know what a healthy one looks like?”
Ilya resists the urge to tell Hollander that his relationship is so dysfunctional, a blind dog could see it. He doesn’t feel like being thrown out of bed just yet.
2014: Shane freaks out the morning after MLH awards; Shane and Brian several months after Brian opens the relationship
He thinks about telling Brian about Rozanov, but he’s not sure what the rules are. Brian hasn’t told him about anyone he’s fucked or is thinking about fucking. Maybe Shane should wait for him to bring it up. Brian hates it when he pesters him for constant clarification, and Shane doesn’t want to ruin his good mood. Better to just follow his lead and work through the rest of it on his own.
Besides, if Brian doesn’t know about Rozanov, he can’t tell Shane not to sleep with him again. Shane can’t pretend that’s not a little bit of a factor.
2015: Ilya and Shane at All Stars (Ilya POV)
It makes Ilya want to claw his skin off a little bit, thinking about how long it's been since he last saw Shane Hollander naked. Knowing that in his absence, Hollander's boyfriend has been fucking him regularly, erasing the memory of Ilya's touch and replacing it with his own.
2015: Ilya and Shane at All Stars (Shane POV)
It’s difficult enough to turn Rozanov down for anything before they're in bed. Once they're actually naked, Shane has discovered there's pretty much nothing he doesn't want Rozanov to do to him.
2015: Hanging with Hayden
Hayden doesn't look convinced, but he doesn't push. It's one of the things that make him so easy to be friends with. He'll ask after Shane, try to set him up on dates, but he never pushes after the first no.
Sometimes Shane wishes he would, a little bit. It's not like he could tell Hayden anything, but if Hayden pushed, if he made Shane talk, it would at least release some of the pressure. It wouldn't be worth the fallout but it would at least be some kind of relief.
2015: Seeing Ilya After All-Stars
Shane doesn't think he's alone in feeling that something has changed. Rozanov doesn't mouth off during the face off like usual but he smiles when Shane meets his eyes, small and private. Shane finds himself smiling back, despite the conflicting feelings in his chest. It's impossible not to, with the way Rozanov is looking at him.
2015: continuation of previous scene, Ilya POV
His eyes flicker over Brian, curious and disdainful. He's handsome, Ilya supposes, or he would be to a person who knew less about his ugly personality. Tall and fit, his dark hair carefully styled and his face clean shaven. He's wearing a tailored suit, tie loosened around his neck. The way he's standing, it's clear he's using every bit of the tiny height advantage he has to tower over Shane.
Ilya hates him.
2015: Continuation of previous scene, Shane POV
"I told you to find a guy to hook up with, not a second boyfriend!" Brian snaps, finally looking up. "Since last June, Shane? Why the fuck did you think that was okay?"
Shane flushes, stomach clenching tightly. He feels guilty and angry in equal measures, and above all confused about what he should be feeling. Brian has something of a point - if Shane really wasn't doing anything wrong, why would he be feeling like he just got caught?
2015: Ilya goes to NYC specifically to hook up with Shane
In hindsight, bragging to Shane's boyfriend about how he planned to steal him away right as Ilya was about to go three months without seeing him off the ice was maybe not the smartest move.
2015: Playoffs
This is probably why he feels so annoyed when he comes home and Brian is already there, sitting on the couch and waiting for Shane. For the second time this week.
They've never spent time together during playoffs before and Brian has never pushed for it. He may not like hockey but he understands Shane's dedication to it.
Shane knows things are different between them this year - especially after the confrontation with Rozanov - but he still thought Brian got it. Their relationship exists in a world apart from hockey and during playoffs, Shane needs to stay in the world where he's Shane Hollander, Captain of the Montreal Metros. Any distractions, even nice ones, are not acceptable.
2015 playoffs: final game
Shane's not dwelling on it, though. His mind feels razor sharp. A kind of calm descended over him in their first game against the Drillers that has yet to lift. He knows what he has to do to win, and knows he's capable of it, too. Knows his team is capable.
The night before the last game, Brian calls.
MLH Awards 2015 Part 1 (Ilya POV)
A whole year they've been doing this, and what has changed? Shane is still with his useless boyfriend. Cracks have started to form in the foundation of their relationship but Ilya isn't sure what more he could be doing to encourage their growth. A part of him still can't believe it didn't end the moment Brian caught them together.
If Ilya only had more opportunities to see Shane - but such thinking is especially useless now, when he's about to head to Russia in just a couple of days.
He'll have to make today count.
MHL Awards Ceremony 2015: Shane POV
Brian is here. Not in this room but in this city, possibly even this hotel. Shane doesn't know. He didn't actually call him back after Rozanov hung up on him and he hasn't replied to any of his texts or calls since. He just... he needs to get this ceremony over with before the inevitable fight.
Because Brian is probably mad and Shane. Shane is furious.
MLH Awards 2015 part 3: Ilya POV
It makes Ilya want to punch something. This should have been a happy night, the cherry on top of Shane's achievements this season, and Shane couldn't even enjoy it because his fucking useless, piece of shit boyfriend didn't think he was getting enough attention.
Probably Ilya didn't make it better with his stunt earlier.
He needs to make sure Shane is okay, because he doubts fucking Brian is gonna do it.
MHL Awards 2015 part 4: Ilya POV
But he stays put, allowing the group to approach him. He even manages a neutral expression before he turns around, slipping it on like a mask.
It promptly falls, because in the middle of the group of men in pastel polo shirts and khaki shorts, face twisted like he's sucking on a lemon, is fucking Brian.
Montreal, June 2015
Ilya couldn't really want him. Certainly not enough to sound as devastated as he did when Shane asked him to leave. That couldn't possibly be how it happened.
Except it is, and now Shane has to decide what to do about it.
corn snakes can live 15-25 years in captivity if they're well cared for, and now im thinking about ilya meeting spaghetti the snake. quick search says 2hr car travel is doable for a snake so I could see shane taking it with him to the cottage and this is where ilya first meets spaghetti in my mind. crucially shane never really told ilya about spaghetti so he finds out after they fuck. (bonus points if ilya finds the frozen rodents before he sees spaghetti. "hollander what the fuck do you have frozen mice for?????")
the idea of shane having a separate small fridge in the garage where he keeps frozen mice for spaghetti, but this means when ilya asks about it in passing while shane is looking for water shoes, he's distracted and just goes, "oh, drinks and spaghetti" and ilya just ??? you have?? freezer just for pasta????? actually no this sounds like a Rule you would make yeah sure why not.
but on day three they're napping on the deck, ilya wakes first, decides to get something to eat, and remembers there is A Spaghetti Freezer, and opens it to find??? fucking frozen mice?? oh my god he is out in the wild with a canadian serial killer????
significantly, ilya is on the yuna end of the spectrum when it comes to spaghetti. he'll tough it out because he doesn't want to look like a chicken and also it's clear that shane really loves this snake (for WHAT reason, hollander. is a snake.), but he and spaghetti live in a system of mutual avoidance. ilya doesn't go in spaghetti's room. spaghetti doesn't roam from shane's person when he's out. under such conditions is peace achieved.
If Spaghetti ever touched Ilya he would immediately become ilya's one-sided best friend because Ilya has soft, warm skin that Spaghetti would LOVE to sit on. Shane takes him out to clean his massive 120-gallon bioactive enclosure and add in some more springtail isopods (they help break down leaf litter. ilya thinks they're creepy orange nightmare sprinkles) so he says "babe would you please please please hold Spaghetti? It's only for a couple minutes while I wipe down the glass." Ilya can't deny him anything, so he musters up his courage and holds out his hands.
Spaghetti is all curled up and a little stressed out, since Shane so rudely removed him from his favorite piece of bark. But hey, this is nice and warm, and oooh, wow, that's a cave! Spaghetti likes caves.
In less than three seconds Spaghetti has slithered inside Ilya's sleeve. He is standing very still. There is a snake slowly wriggling over his armpit and he is not going to scream because he is So Incredibly Manly. The snake has flickered its tongue over Ilya's chest. He can feel its tiny snake nose poking around his nipple. If this snake bites his nipple he will make Shane sleep on the couch.
The snake climbs up to Ilya's neck and settles in a squiggly-shape on his shoulder, with its head peeking out of his collar. Shane turns around to put the disinfectant bottle away and pauses.
"Awww!" he coos. "You look so cozy!"
"Yes, he is very cozy." Ilya says. His voice is a little high-pitched. "Maybe he should go back now. We interrupted his nap."
"Oh, it's fine for him to be out a little longer," Shane says. "You're warm, he likes you."
"Well, it was rude to disturb him. Probably we should let him rest." Ilya says, trying to dislodge the invader from his shirt. Fucker. It's a good shirt and now he's stretching it out trying to evict a reptile. The things he does for love.
Shane takes pity on him and scoops Spaghetti out of Ilya's collar, then drapes him over a plant and shuts the enclosure door.
"You were very brave, babe." he tells Ilya, and kisses his cheek.
"I was not scared. I am very strong, very cool hockey player. It takes more than a little animal to scare me." Ilya lies.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
A ‘Bears walk in to Ilya’s house and see him napping with Shane AU’ where Ilya somehow manages to still keep Shane’s identity a secret.
Ilya always had been a light sleeper, so no matter how lightly they stepped he was awake moments after the first shocked gasp.
Ilya knows it’s over for him. There’s no mistaking that there’s a man asleep on his chest in a clearly non-platonic cuddle. Usually Ilya would be punching the intruder, threatening violence to try and ensure they kept their mouth shut but he has quickly realised something far more important. With the way they are sleeping, Ilya on his underneath on his back and Shane on his stomach on top with his face pressed into the gap between Ilya’s neck and the couch, they can’t see his face.
He quickly pulls Shane’s hood up over his head to hide hair and rests a hand over it to gently discourage Shane from moving it should he start to wake up.
So Ilya just stares down his team and goes “you can be upset, but are going to be fucking quiet about it because if you wake my guest I’m sending all my blackmail on you to your wives, and then start fucking them to help them get over the divorce.”
So the whole “You’re fucking gay!” “No, I’m a fucking bi who is fucking a gay” conversation happens at a furious whisper, with Shane blissfully sleeping on Ilya’s chest as life implodes around him.
Shane may be a deep sleeper - and the argument in whispers - but even he starts to stir at the noise.
Ilya can’t have him moving his face into visibility now, so he just scruffs the back of his neck harshly and pressed him deeper into his shoulder.
Shane lets out a pleased (and not at all quiet) moan, and - worried that he is going to start talking - Ilya realises he needs to shut him up.
So he glares at the Bears to be quiet, while suddenly putting on the softest voice they have ever heard him use as he goes, “shhh quiet time now mоя любовь. Back to sleep.” And then shoves his fingers into Shane’s mouth.
When the Bears leave soon after, some of them have LEARNT some things about themselves. But crucially, none of them have learnt who their captain is fucking.
I believe deep in my bones that Ilya and Shane both indulge in private romantic fantasies but they're polar opposites. Ilya is daydreaming about kissing under the stars and holding hands and wearing each other's hoodies while traveling the world together. Meanwhile Shane has constructed an elaborate cohesive ongoing narrative where he single-handedly saves Ilya from certain death. In his daydreams that man is running into burning buildings, escaping tsunamis, taking down shooters, and fighting stalkers. He's walking through hurricanes, wrestling wild animals, and engaging in deadly highspeed car chases. Just the most insane intense shit you can imagine. And Ilya is lying there next to him like Yay I love cuddling my boring husband :) while Shane vividly fantasizes about Ilya calling him a smart good brave boy for saving him from psychological thriller villains. Do u see the vision. Because Shane does.
imagine spending your entire life doing exactly what your parents asked. taking every pointless brand deal wearing the clothes they tell you to wear. keeping quiet. playing the version of a son that you think they want. being exactly who they seem to want you to be. and then you get a partner and they immediately start calling him their favourite son and giving him a level of warmth and love that they never gave you. Oh and the whole time you were hiding who you actually are from them so you could be perfect? they kind of already knew you were gay and just chose to ignore it and keeping pushing you into more spaces full of homophobic (and racist) people. but you’re not their favourite. they like your boyfriend more because he’s actually sad and he’s actually suffered. not like you who has gone through Nothing. People have gone on killing sprees for less.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
going off of that one post you made, would you write something about cliff trying out guys/gay sex (and telling ilya about it)? I love the idea that he's a little bisexual
asdghgfds we all love a good bi marly <3
my prompts are now closed as I am working through my backlog, but my ask box remains open for yapping, headcanons etc. :)
-
"Why is Marleau calling you?" Shane squinted at Ilya's phone on the table. They were currently in a beautiful and very private hotel resort in Spain, enjoying the off-season and a gorgeous breakfast on their bungalow balcony. "It's the middle of the night in Boston."
Ilya picked up his phone, frowning at it. "Maybe he is drunk," he said dryly, and tapped the accept call button, followed by the speaker button. Marleau's voice was so loud that Shane would hear, anyway. "Hello, asshole," Ilya said.
"Heeey cocksucker," Marleau replied; Shane raised his eyebrows at Ilya, who ignored him.
"Why are you calling me while I am having a romantic and very sexy vacation with my husband?" Ilya asked. "Do you miss me so much?"
"Always, brother." Marleau laughed, but even Shane could hear that it wasn't quite natural. Ilya seemed to pick up on it, too, because he asked, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, uuuuh, listen..." Shane could see Marleau's big, dumb, handsome face in his mind's eye. He was probably drunk, considering the hour. Shane took a very suspenseful sip of his orange juice, waiting to hear more. "...so, uh, you know how you always talk about how sex with guys is awesome?"
Ilya's frown deepened. "Yes, I always talk about this. How sex with my handsome and perfect husband is awesome." He gave Shane a wink, and Shane rolled his eyes at him.
"Yeah, so," Marly continued, "I thought I'd give it a try."
Shane chocked on his orange juice, but tried to stay silent as to not give himself away. Ilya gave him a wide-eyed, very intrigued grin, then reached out to pat Shane's back to keep him from choking. "Wow. You fucked a guy? Which guy?"
"Friend of a friend," Marly said, "He's this like, hot asian guy- what do you call it, a twink?"
Shane felt his eyes grow even wider. Ilya had a hand over his mouth now to keep himself from either laughing or screaming.
"-total coincidence on the asian part, dude, y'know," Marleau rambled, "But somehow we started talking about how maybe I'd like to give it the good ol' college try, so he was like let's do it. He came over, and he sucked my dick which, woah dude, you're so right, guys just know what they're doing, right?"
"Yes," Ilya confirmed, voice flat from trying to keep it together.
"-so he blows me, right?" Marleau was clearly getting into the story now, sounding fond in a strangely endearing way as he talked about this hook-up, "and it was like, holy shit, dude, and he was like, it's fine, just come, so I came in his mouth, and I thought, y'know, we'd just stop but he was like, do you still want to fuck me? So we just kinda made out for a while until I was ready to go again, and I tried sucking his dick and shit, dude it's so hard!"
Shane sat there, completely frozen. He knew, obviously, that Marly and Ilya shared sex stories much more openly than Shane ever had with any of his male friends (he did share some things with Rose, but not like this). But the level of detail was astounding.
"Did you like it?" Ilya asked, "Sucking dick?"
Shane thanked every available entity that their bungalow was very, very private.
"Um, yeah, I guess? It was interesting, I didn't not like it."
"Maybe you need to try again, a few times," Ilya suggested idly.
"Yeah, dude, for sure. So, once I was ready to go again he, like, got on top- I didn't even know two guys could do it cowgirl- or I guess, cowboy- style, it's fucking awesome, you learn something new everyday! But he said, since my dick's so big he need to kind of be in control, and so he rode me."
"Wow," Ilya intercepted.
"Yeah, it was fucking awesome, dude. Like, I've done anal before with girls but it's obviously different but just seeing him get off like that from it was so fucking nice, like I get what you said about Hollander coming on your dick being so fucking awesome-"
Shane gasped, slapping Ilya's thigh, feeling himself blush violently. Ilya grabbed his wrist and held his hand there, giving him a very unconvincingly apologetic grin.
"So, yeah, it was super fucking hot." Shane could hear the self-satisfied grin in Marleau's voice.
"Are you going to fuck him again?" Ilya asked.
"Dunno, maybe," Marly replied, a little too causal. There was a two-second pause, then he added, "So, uh... how did you figure out you were bi?"
"Marly, I think you are past this now," Ilya told him dryly. "I am taking credit for this by the way."
"You can, brother!" Marleau laughed, "You got me onto something."
"Yes." Now Ilya was the one looking self-satisfied. "Next time, you must try eating his ass."
"Woah, dude. Wait, let me write this down."
"Oh my god," Shane whispered, letting his forehead fall to the edge of their breakfast table.
"Do you think I will get better at hockey now?" Marly asked, sounding entirely too serious.
"Yes, of course," Ilya answered just as seriously, "Statistically, having gay sex makes you better at hockey. Will be good for Boston, ah? Better do it some more."
"On it, Cap," Marley replied.
Shane closed his eyes, and tried not to imagine it.
