A lot of random stuff...

…sambucky 🤭

So, what did I get out of this experience compared to other fics of mine? Shirley's very different from other protagonists I've written; she's been married, she's got kids. I enjoyed writing somebody with more of these adult experiences and concerns. She also has a very different approach to sexuality and gender compared to some of my blorbos, but I found that surprisingly easy to work with.

I've still got no clue how I'd write from Jeff's POV, but I had fun writing about him and not just when it came to describing his tits. Jeff it is my solemn pledge to you that you will experience nipple play in every fic I write you in (unless it's Hanahaki and you're too busy administering CPR).

I also rarely write pure romance over so many words. I've had plenty of ideas for fics that were romances (ask me about my Xicheng high school Frog AU or my Qingya coworkers BDSM AU) but I just generally find I don't quite have the interest to get them written. I feel like romance is a rambling rose: it can in fact be the main feature of a story, but it needs a plot-trellis to grow up. So when I'm new to a fandom I usually start off with a few romantic and/or smutty oneshots, THEN end up thwacking out a long fic for my favourite ship that also has some kind of adventure plot. But the JeffShirley is a romance from beginning to end, with a romance plot. Maybe because I deadass did not expect it to be anything like this length. I thought we were talking beefy oneshot. Maybe because the other fandoms I'm talking about are adventure fandoms, whereas Community (high-concept episodes not withstanding) is mostly focussed on interpersonal drama, so I'm just sticking to the source material?

Anyway!

Canon version here

Headcanon: Tommy used to have a crush on Chimney and they might even have kissed once.

1. They drop everything to help eachother, even if it means risking their own lives

Chimney saved Tommy's life and didn't care that he was risking his own in the process and ever since then, whenever Chimney has asked him for help, Tommy has said yes. He will help whenever Chimney asks, even if it means risking his own life.

2. Their body language

The bar scene:

There was plenty of space on that bench, and yet Chimney sat closer to Tommy, when Bobby arrived Chimney got even closer to Tommy saying they needed to "make space for Cap", but Bobby was sitting on a separate chair so him moving wouldn't have changed anything, but he still got closer to Tommy.

Like for real, there was so much space Chimney:

And this was even before Bobby arrived😭

The apology scene:

Tommy confessed to Chimney that his favorite movie was Love Actually. A super macho man, like Tommy could have lied and made up a fake favorite movie but he confided in him.

Not only that, but he hugged Chimney after that, and how did he hug him??? By putting his hand in a way his thumb would brush Chimney's nape.

And then they kept shaking hands after the hug,

and Tommy touched Chimney's shoulder which according to Buddie shippers is a romantic gesture.

After the hug, Tommy kept looking at Chimney

3. They get eachother, cheer eachother up and make eachother laugh

The bar scene:

This is Chimney's face when Tommy said that Fight Club line:

Was the joke even that funny Chimney? Was it?? I don't think so.

The medal ceremony:

During the Medal Ceremony we see Tommy being closed off when Buck starts talking about his old Captain, he's very tense, and who's the person who manages to bring a smile to his face? Chimney, when he said the line about Gerrard only being dead in their hearts.

Was it a one-sided crush from Tommy's side? Maybe. Maybe not.

Exhibit A: Chimney's reaction to meeting the Bachelor in the crossover episode.

One Bi character on the show doesn't mean there can't be another one, and Chimney being married to Maddie doesn't mean that he's not Bi.