#reply.stop

Oh my, Anon.

You know what they say, more than six seconds of eye contact means either murder or sexual attraction.

Ron does have those killer eyes. Just a look from him is usually enough to get his point across, the point being “fuck off or I’ll fuck you up”. It’s not an empty threat either, not even when he can’t put the sorry bastard at gun point.

The thing is, Lip is not afraid of Ron. He can’t be intimidated. What’s Ron going to do? He won’t hurt him of course, and if he has something to say he should just come out and say it. Really, the whole staring business is just prolonging whatever is bothering him, and Lip knows that they both know they are going to just have a civil discussion about whatever is bothering him in the end, and in his opinion they could just skip the threat displays and the tantrum and just solve the problem.

Buuut, Lip is a bit petty. No one can tell me he is not. If Ron wants to stare, then let’s stare. Lip likes Ron’s eyes anyway, and he’s so adorable when he’s all mad and provocative at him.

Oh I love that scene. I should do an indepth read of it too.

Lip just isn’t intimated at all.

I think Speirs sort or braces against being gawked at, rejected and regarded with horror (also maybe it’s remorse?), and that’s why he gives the story about Tertius and how it’s really just how war is and always has been and that gossip is dumb anyway.

But Lip wasn’t even thinking about that, he was counting the dead and analyzing the state of the company, the wonderfully competent First Sergeant that he is, and Speirs' defensive posturing is amusing to him. He’s amused. Endeared, even.

Again, please everyone read Arwen’s fic A Thousand kisses!

This whole headcanon is based on the scene in the Breaking Point where Ron drops some (fake) Roman history on Lip and reveals that his entire mentality in war is based on Roman warrior ethos. (Or, well, that’s at least how he’s rationalized his own emotions and stress to himself and handles them with romanticism and tradition, but that’s a topic for another essay.)

Ron definitely has read some classics and knows poetry. He has an approximate “hey, fun fact...” level of knowledge of many things. I think his baby is classical military history. He’s read up on ancient Greek and Roman traditions and lives and breathes for the romance between men and probably prefers Romans due to their organization and the strives they made in warfare.

That said, he definitely is the romantic one. He is! It’s just hard to notice at first because he doesn’t look or really even seem like it. But he is very passionate and he experiences love as this big extraordinary connection between souls, and finding someone who’s both a brother in arms and a lover is his number one fantasy from his teenage years.

Ron loves drama, but in a good way. He experiences feelings very strongly and he values them. Love is passionate, rare, a deeper connection, meant to be, a destiny.

He values devotion and sacrifice.

He writes love letters.

He loves vows, ceremonies, codes of honour and morality and mementos like rings, gifts, tattoos etc.

He reads poetry and lets it resonate.

He thinks that dying together is one of the most romantic things there is. He more or less secretly believes that he and his true love will die at the same time, if not in battle then when they are really old, mere days apart of each other.

Lip is more practical. He thinks love is acceptance, understanding, commitment, warmth and home. He loves stability and safety. To him love is really getting to know someone and being known in return, and building a bond where you both can be just as you are and thrive together. Love is something you make happen when you get the chance and find space for it.

Thank you very much!

Imo it would be very easy to just write off good characters as one note, but Winters is a good soldier. A frontline soldier. He bore arms. So it wasn't such a jump to write this AU version of him.

Ron has an aura like a slasher villain before he puts the mask on.

And when they talk, Ron keeps bringing up these really strange points about Lip that everyone kind of starts to correct before they realize Ron is the significant other who knows him the best.

Like they are at a forth of July barbecue party and Ron is like “oh just let Carwood mind the grill, he has all the experience needed there, so if anything or anyone were to catch fire, he’s got it.”

Just casual conversation with him is so weird too.

“I don’t really care about the Oscars, but I did take Carwood to see Shape of Water. He thought it was relatable.”

“He’s a real ride-or-die husband, I’m so lucky. Every time I have a problem, he’s there for me with a shovel and the bleach.”

“You know how husbands are, so sweet at home but outside always prepared to fight if necessary.”

“You know many peoples in the ancient world believed the truest love exists between warriors, who are willing to kill and die for each other. I just feel so lucky I have that with Carwood.” 

I don’t ship LuzToye so in my speirton verses Luz (if he’s in the know about them in the first place) remains forever baffled without really a point of reference, and the inclusion of other pairs is very case by case thing as well. (Winnix features most often, because I can’t bear to separate them.)

You do raise the point though that the air borne are special trained elite soldiers. Even the ones who are rays of sunshine like Shifty and Skip are also really tough guys who are loud and proud about it.

And still, Speirs stands out, and it definitely is not necessarily a good thing (even though he himself thinks his reputation so). He’s unsettling, unpredictable, and ruthless. He is known to cross lines others wouldn’t, and while Winters inspires trust and affection, Speirs puts fear and pragmaticism forward. But in the end, while he’s definitely willing to deal with problems with his own by any means necessary, he is regarded as a good leader worth respect and loyalty, and even if crazy, he is followed into combat and his plans trusted.

I think the biggest thing that weirds even the other soldiers out is how someone could like Speirs, like, in person. For his personality. Sure, under his command things get done, but who is really friendly with him? Who likes him?

Speirs has layers. He is very professional and one of those people who just doesn’t do casual friendliness or social situations. He has one intensity and that puts a lot of people off. To Lipton though, he shows his inner, more private layers. His respect, his personal thoughts, his hobbies, his philosophy, his smile.

Yes, Lipton is nice and proper, but he’s also strong and fearless, an equal match to Speirs, who likes people who don’t gossip or fuss about him and who look him in the eye.

I am so very fascinated with varying points of view. Lipton definitely sees very different sides or Speirs that the others, but also thinks and interprets the things everyone sees in his own way. 

Ah, I see someone read ‘Blood Hound’ and liked it.

Yeah, I actually didn’t have that much in mind when I wrote that fic. Mostly I wanted to give some impressions and give Dog company its own dynamic. I’m so sure they love to make dog-related saying and slogans and puns and mock Easy for being, well, ‘easy’.

Also I think it’s fun to consider that Speirs has buddies who have been with him for two years and know the not-killed-anyone-yet!Ron. I imagine that’s an interesting spin, although they also get to witness him actually becoming the one who kills people.

Lieutenant Kelly is very handsome in a delicate sort of way, and in the army out of the grace of some very understanding recruiter who looked at the crossed “no” after the question of “are you a homosexual?” and decided to believe that.

When Speirs first saw him, he thought he would wash out. He was wrong.

Kelly has a steely exterior. He used to get a lot of mockery about looking feminine, but he is remarkably determined and earned the respect of other men by never covering or giving up. His mental strength was what impressed Speirs first.

Kelly wasn’t as strong as most guys at the beginning of the training, but he is remarkably calm and focused. He doesn’t get frustrated and handles stress very well.

Speirs clocked Kelly right away, but it didn’t take Kelly long to clock him either.

They sort of existed in the same class of OCS without really getting to know each other, until running into each other at a bar with a certain reputation.

They still didn’t talk much then, but were aware of each other for sure.

They became friends when they became platoon leaders in Dog company. They work well together and appreciate each other for their steadfastness and cool head.

There was some sexual tension between them for a while when they were getting friendly. They flirted some on leave, but nothing more.

Speirs is Kelly’s type only looks-wise, but Kelly is not Speirs’ type.

Speirs is too guarded and when provoked too aggressive for Kelly to care to deal with. He likes guys who are laid back, self-assured and strong.

Speirs likes masculine-looking guys who are calm, independent and sweet. Kelly isn’t his type looks-wise, but he lacks the softness that Speirs likes too.

They talked about it, the tension cleared with that, and they settled on a friendship and subtly watch each other’s backs.

They have a similar sense of humour.

Kelly has multiple dog-themed nicknames for other officers in the company.

And it had to be difficult because I think Matt could be described as cute right after handsome. He doesn't have a terrifying face by default. Or maybe he does. Idk. All I can think about is that bit in video diaries when him and Ron got in trouble at the airport and he honest to god looked like a lost puppy.

I agree! It’s a very good role, especially considering that Matt is nothing like Speirs, and his usual roles are nothing like it either. He’s on Gossip Girl, for example.

He’s done some horror, and in my opinion he should use that range he has and exercise those feverishly focused and cold eyes of his more. He has a way of being uncannily calm and stare unblinkingly, which is great.