The Glowing Chest Soulmates Meme

[dreamlocket]

the glowing chest soulmates meme


It's easier to understand metaphors when they're not metaphors. The human brain just prefers concrete information. Luckily for you, you live in a world where there's one less abstract; for as long as you can remember, you've known about the glow. The "glow" is exactly what it sounds like - it's a glowing in your chest, emanating from your heart, that you receive when you meet the one. Your soulmate. Your actual, indisputable soulmate.

The glow doesn't always automatically happen when you meet that person. Sometimes, there's a delay. Sometimes, you've known them for years before it kicks in. When it happens, though, you'll know. You can't simply ignore your ribcage lighting up.

Other than that, the glow isn't harmful, per se, at least not physically. Psychologically, it can be pretty taxing, because there's virtually no chance of escaping fate. You will end up with the person you glow for. It's a given. Sure, you can try to defy it. You won't explode or anything. You will, however, begin to feel a sense of incompleteness that comes from trying to stay away, and fighting the growing - and glowing - feelings of fondness and the desire to be with them and to protect them.

How to Play

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How to Play

at first sight ♡ The traditional glow. Of course, this can make first meetings awkward.
friends ♡ You've known each other for a while, then one day, you both light up.
exactly who you wanted ♡ Yes! Jackpot! They're totally the person you've always dreamed of being with.
hate ♡ ...are you serious? They're your bully! Your rival! Your enemy! There has to be something wrong here.
forbidden ♡ You're glowing for somebody totally wrong, whether it's wrong by law - a relation or age difference - or some other manner.
distaste ♡ You view this whole process with a critical eye. Doesn't mean your exempt.
with someone else ♡ You thought you found the one and were just waiting for the glow to show, but then, you started up with another person.
inopportune time ♡ Nobody likes their big speech ruined by a glowing heart.
unfortunate implications ♡ These sorts of memes rarely explore how creepy the idea of soulmates intrinsically is. What if you end up with someone you are ultimately incompatible with? What if you're miserable?
doing something big ♡ They just saved you from certain death! Rescued you from captors! Loaned you five bucks! And how do you repay them except by starting off their glow.
fighting it ♡ Nope. Nope. Not going to happen. You won't give in. You'll be the first in history to shake it off.
giving in ♡ ...you were saying? Might as well get together.
first time ♡ The obligatory sex option. Sex is like sealing the deal, and some report their whole bodies lighting up.
ANYTHING ELSE?

Comments

[theycallmetodd]

"John Sheppard, are you saying I wore you out?" He flashes a grin even as he slowly withdraws, moving to lay down on the sand beside his lover, stretching out.

"But I quite agree. This is exploring I am looking forward to." And considering the start they have had? Oh yes, this will be something to enjoy.

[ltcolonel]

John stretches his body out luxuriating in the comfortable ache in his body. "Yes," he says instantly, and sounds pretty damn pleased about it. He chuckles, "I've got a reason to work on my stamina."

His eyes shut and he wriggles down a little into the sand. "Can you imagine how different the galaxy would be if every Wraith had a human soul mate."

[theycallmetodd]

Keeping his head propped up in one hand, Todd lets his gaze wander over the human stretched out before him, catching on little details, like grains of sand clinging to damp skin. "That would take quite the imagination," he says, stroking his fingers up in a light caress from John's naval to his sternum, still finding the texture of body hair under his fingers to be strange; unfamiliar, but hardly unpleasant.

He can imagine it, though, and it isn't a train of thought that he needs to follow far to see what a tragedy that would be. Because of the undeniable fact that humans are prey and Wraith predators. There is no other food source that can sustain them. This, what has happened and is happening between John and him, is madness. A dream that can so quickly and easily turn into a nightmare. By all rules, this should not have happened.

But, the old wraith has been known to break the rules when he needs to and when it suits him. John and him will simply have to make up their own rules.

[ltcolonel]

John cracks his eyes open just enough to watch what Todd is doing. The tender movements are fascinating to him, the movements are slow, controlled. It's different to when he's seen Todd at work in a laboratory, it's more relaxed. More...intimate and it was hypnotic to watch. 'You're in trouble John,' he thinks for the hundredth time today. 'It's getting harder to see the predator.'

"I like being an anomaly," he confesses. He likes to break the trends and walk down his own path. "In the grand scheme of things, it's more interesting." He reaches up to get some of the sand out of the Todd's hair. "Though it would make things easier if there were a few other wraith who had a human lover."

[theycallmetodd]

This is so very different than anything both John and Todd has seen of the other. The Wraith is relaxed; no shoulders pulled up and haunched, tense and on edge. And John isn't the the same alert military commander that Todd had been used to seeing.

Todd has told John more than once, that there are many things about Wraith that the human doesn't know. But now the thought comes to him, that maybe the difference and distance between Wraith and human are smaller than either of them could think.

"Possibly," he agrees, bowing his head under John's touch, making reaching a bit easier. "Though a mere few might only serve to bring an issue to light, but not help to further acceptance." If this was found out, even if other relationships between Wraith and humans were known, Todd is well aware that he would be an outcast. Or - perhaps more likely - quickly killed and disposed of.

[ltcolonel]

The Wraith have a very pessimistic view of life. John believes there is always a chance, no matter how slim it is, that things will turn out well. Back home, people change, and evolve, they accept people who are different to them. It wasn't that long ago that a black person and a white person could sit side by side on a bus.

Okay that was weird mental image - Wraith on buses.

John casually shifts his hand to next clump of hair, it's kinda relaxing, this easy closeness and nakedness. "It could further acceptance in a few centuries," he said quite cheerfully. "But don't worry, I am not in a hurry to stand on some podium and announce us. I really am a private guy. I don't want people trying to understand how this works, especially when it's going to take us awhile to work that out for ourselves."

[theycallmetodd]

But you won't be alive in a few centuries. The words are right at the tip of Todd's tongue, but he bites them back before he has a chance to say them. He will have to grieve in due time. To do so before then would be to waste previous time.

"Then this secluded place should be fitting as our safe haven. Where we can have the time to learn that." Away from questions and judgements. Perhaps it will feel like stolen time, and perhaps they will want something more. But for now, it is a start.

[ltcolonel]

John isn't even sure that he will make it to old age (unless of course a Wraith feeds on him, again). He's a soldier, and he tends to get himself into a fair bit of trouble. It least he won't maudlin over it, he prefers to live in the present, and maybe, just maybe, some of that will rub off on Todd.

"I like it," John admits. It might not be enough, even the thought of leaving Todd later, is like the pain of a bullet tearing through him. "Atlantis isn't in imminent danger for once, and I've got a lifetime for holidays built up, so I should be able to use a few of them this month. How about you?"

[theycallmetodd]

"It's difficult to make any cohesive plans in advance much of the time, what with rivaling hives and other sources of unrest, such as your own fair city." He adds that last part with a flash of sharp teeth, a tone of humor in his voice.

"But I will be sure to create reasons to cover for my absence, as often as possible." He has the command, yes, but not for long if he keeps leaving the hive in orbit to go off alone. Not even Bonewhite would stand for that for long. Perhaps especially not Bonewhite. "I assure you, John, that we will not be apart for longer than is necessary."

[ltcolonel]

That goes both ways, annoyingly. John's luck wasn't that great, and he'd probably get home and find that Todd's Hive have attacked in their absence. Hopefully that hasn't happened. "We need to establish some code, or a secure channel, that gives away neither of our locations. Just to leave dates that we are free, or say something has come up." Otherwise they would be forever missing each other. It is risky, but as long as they don't over use it, no one should bother to check it out.

"I'm going to stick with the story that I've met someone on a different planet, otherwise I am always going to have a team to get rid of." He smiles. "Time apart can't hurt as much, now that I am not trying to pretend that you don't exist."

[theycallmetodd]

There is a low, rumbling chuckle, mildly amused. "I would guess that you didn't have more luck with that than I had." Ignoring it and trying to keep himself occupied and distracted really hadn't worked.

"That it is a matter of me having met someone hasn't been something I have been able to hide. Obviously." Not with that glow being strong enough to even creep over his collar and being annoyingly visible in the gloom on the Hive. It had earned him a few comments. "But for the matter of who, that I shall continue to keep them in the dark about."

[ltcolonel]

"That depends," John says with a quirk of grin. "Did you dream about me?" He had thought about Todd every spare second, and got angry when anyone mentioned Todd. Or got angry when anyone suggested he should flirt with a scientist. Or started to hallucinating Todd being in the room. But he's not ready to open up about that.

"I take it, they think you've fallen for a Wraith who can't or won't leave their Queen?"

[theycallmetodd]

"That is one possibility, yes, and perhaps the most convenient excuse. Alternatively, a new Queen." There is the barest hint of a strained tone in Todd's voice at that last part. The idea does bring up memories, though not ones he's willing to dwell on at the moment.

Instead he bares his teeth in a grin. "Another Blade who will not abandon his post and his duties. That is not a lie at all."

[ltcolonel]

John notices the strain, so Todd remains loyal to his old Queen. It sounds like he always will, and he does wonder if part of the Wraith sees their bond as a betrayal to her.

But all he says is, "Yup, that's me, I'm married to the job. Do Blades often do the dirty with each other?" There are a lot of guys and only one girl on a Hive.

[theycallmetodd]

"...the dirty?" The old wraith snorts, shaking his head. "Sometimes I truly wonder about how humans value things." Did they truly see sexual encounters as something dirty?

"But to answer your question, it is far from uncommon. Naturally, all strive to gain the favor of a Queen. Being included in the zenana and being given the chance to sire children, or to even be named consort, there is no higher honor. But, this is only granted to very few. It is then perfectly natural that Blades and Clevermen alike turn to each other."

[ltcolonel]

John laughs, "We don't take everything deadly seriously." He won't joke around about his own sex life, or about specific people but when he was generalising? Hell yes. He's got a joker's appearance to keep up. A voice whispers in his head - Todd is no longer someone he needs to keep up appearances with. "There are a few things I value very deeply."

The answer spurs a dozen more questions in his head like - how many children does Todd have? Is he going to be a step father? "I like that there is no taboo about it and that I am not going to drag your reputation through the mud."

[theycallmetodd]

His reputation would no doubt be damaged if this came out. Or, perhaps it was simply a question of when. A Wraith and a human, the predator falling for his prey. Oh yes, he would be the subject of a great deal of jokes. But he could tolerate that.

"Why would there be a taboo about it? Is there one where you come from?" He won't generalize and say amongst humans. The human cultures around the galaxy are varied, even if they are the same species.

[ltcolonel]

"There is a great deal of it," John admits, "Especially in the military. There is the worry, that if two guys fall for each other, they will be more concerned for their lover than they will the rest of the squad in the battle field." He rolls his eyes. "It's stupid, just as the rest of the taboo is. The regilgous teaching, that is thousands of years old, talks about men and women getting together, not men and men, or women and women. People use that to justify their hatred of guys or girls being together."

"It's stupid." He digs his fingers into the sand and leave's human claw marks behind.

[theycallmetodd]

Todd seems utterly confused by this bit of information. Perhaps not the first part, that he can sort of understand, that personal emotions could take precedent over the interests of the whole. However... "But you have females as well and males, not only in leadership positions but also as common soldiers, do you not? Should that not be the same cause for concern?"

As for religious teachings condemning relationships between those of the same gender? That goes beyond confusing and illogical. He simply cannot wrap his brain around why that would be despised.

[ltcolonel]

How on earth was he going to explain this one? "Proportionally there a lot more males and females. If a relationship is discovered between people who work closely, the woman is pretty much forced out of the military. There isn't an equal footing between genders, among humans, the women are much weaker."

That last bit is said with the flatest tone, there is nothing weak about the women he's served with. The military is pretty much two centuries behind with its views on genders and sex.

[theycallmetodd]

The women are much weaker? Physically smaller, yes, perhaps. The same is true for wraith. But that doesn't make them weaker. "Then the females I have seen in Atlantis must be giants among your women." He remembers She Who Carries Many Things, the one they call Carter. Short, yes. Slight, yes. But very, very far from weak.

HE scoffs, teeth bared in a brief smile as he lays a hand over John's chest; a gesture he knows would have been very threatening before but shouldn't be now. "YOu are truly a strange people, John Sheppard."

[ltcolonel]

"They are," John says with pride. It's been an honour to serve with and under Elizabeth and Carter. "They are giants among men too." Comparing them to Woosley, is like comparing night and day. Poor Woosley, he's very out of his comfort zone each time that he comes to Atlantis.

"We are weirder than you know," he says. His skin tingles where Todd touches him, and it is a good feeling, it's possessive, and he's really starting to like it. He smirks up at Todd. "You haven't seen a fraction of the sports we love to play."

[theycallmetodd]

The corners of his lips twitches up in something like a smile when he notes the tone in John's voice, and not for the first time he's struck by the thought that perhaps the human and him aren't so different as either of them might think.

The warmth under his palm does make his hunger stir, like a slight ache in anticipation. It's a simple physical reaction, but he's no mere youngling who would feel compelled to act on it. And, far overshadowing the hunger, is that John isn't only allowing this touch but is actually enjoying it, despite the fact that this hand in this exact place has caused him a great deal of pain in the past. Complete trust. "Do tell," he simply invites in reply, letting his hand stay right where it is.

[ltcolonel]

That's John for you, once he's given his trust, he gives it as close to completely as he can, until that person tries to kill or torture him. Plus, he's pretty sure that Todd would feel pretty bad about hurting him unnecessarily, now that they are bound.

As he talks, it's possible that he's relaxing even further under the touch. "Okay, so there is a whole game that revolves around kicking a ball between two posts. Actually, there are a lot of games involving balls and posts, or running around in circles to see who is the fastest."

[theycallmetodd]

Odds are that he's not going to take a genuine interest in any sport the humans play, at least not anytime soon. Not to say that wraith doesn't have their own competitive games, so he does understand the idea. But he hasn't had much time for such things for a very long time, and he'll hardly get a chance to engage in the sports John talks about.

However, learning about them, about things John are enthusiastic about, there is a point to that. And, if nothing else, just having him there, relaxed and talking, that has its own value. "Races of various kinds does seem universal enough. We have them as well."