#ot3 posting

[the-woman-upstairs]

Benji always stays, Ilsa always leaves, and neither of them get to be with Ethan the way they want to.

[starburr]

To put into perspective my messy timeline of how they all got together, I'm just gonna lay out my headcanons for how the Underdogs all sorta fell for one another. Obviously this timeline starts around the movie. Alberto fell first for Luca and while he might have chalked it up to just a crush in his head, it was definitely there slowly forming through their codependency throughout the film. Coming to a head when those feelings of jealousy and his fear of abandonment get in the way, but they eventually reconcile as we see the film go along, eventually culminating in the goodbye at the train station scene. Must have been so hard for him to see Luca off, at least he's got company there while he pursues an education.

Speaking of, Giulia and Luca have been getting to know each other better in Genova as schoolmates. Lessons are more fun together after all. Alberto's been writing to Luca (think post- Ciao Alberto) often, a favorite routine when he's not busy so its going well for the most part. He can't wait to meet him again. The other seafolk is in bliss, he's got friends and something to do. So much more than his previous job of herding goatfish. Giulia doesn't dare squash his excitement for new things, it's cute in a way. He's learning so much with her like he did with Alberto first going to Portorosso! Uh oh, he might have a crush on her. It's not even in the comphet way he just genuinely starts catching feelings for her, its certainly less defined and not as impactful as how he felt realizing Alberto loved him but its steadily growing. Giulia also misses Alberto. A small epiphany in her mind gestates, that maybe he misses them too. She's equal parts guilty and relieved that it looks like they left him behind even if its far from the truth. Guilty, for obvious reasons. And relief, because she somehow knows he would not want anyone else to come back but her and Luca. The heart can only be kept lonely for so long, and once they reunite with Alberto during summer, a group hug is all it takes for Luca to panic internally. Maybe he panics on how to express himself. The two notice him being so quiet and reserved. Giulia offering that maybe he's tired, so the two decide to try and surprise him with a gift or a hangout maybe. Giggles fly through their conversation as they dream up how to cheer up Luca. Maybe a larger serving of gelatto, or perhaps a bigger Vespa so the three of them can all ride together. He definitely wants to be with them, they just don't anticipate to what degree. And so summer flies by with them hanging out, playing, sharing stories, experiencing the coasts. Maybe even swimming out with Giulia after the two seafolk don't want her missing out, venturing into somewhat deeper waters as they zip and zag around her. She feels safe and at home with them despite the depth. It's not long after that Giulia tests the waters to see if she is not reading them wrong, sort of a "Caro" here and there, "ragazzi" enunciated with a more flirty tone. She keeps wading in and out of endearing terms to make sure she's got them, and sure enough they snag on the line. Not that its direct. She just happens to notice their cheeks flush more often at the mention, their hands that are already grasping for one another seem to want to reach out to her too. The thought makes her heart explode with a beautiful intensity. She didn't care that the thoughts weren't normal, maybe she did love them both. There's a bit of denial when Alberto one day asks Luca "Hey, uhm so you like Giulia, I think?" The younger seafolk fires back with a "What, Alberto? Are you hearing yourself? No no, I definitely don't..." Although all thats met with is a deadpan stare, causing Luca to pedal back to admittance. But Alberto isn't jealous somehow, if anything he finds it comforting they both do. Maybe one day they'd tell her. He barely notices Luca trying to gently sneak his hand closer to his own, the stars dotting the night sky as numerous as his distracted thoughts. For now, he's just happy to be around one of the loves in his heart, the first one. A shooting star passes overhead. Its stellar shine prompts Luca to make a quiet wish, his heart swelling.

The frequent trips back and forth throughout the years are fun, but Alberto always misses them dearly. It's not a normal ache, that much he can tell. Its a desperate clawing, the way he'd watch the heavens above with them for so many nights. Like they all searched for the answer of what they had, together. It was like every constellation and dot was seared into their souls, naming them without so much a second glance. It almost offended him they looked to the heavens despite it being right here with them. How could they know so many beautiful things without realizing they themselves were masterpieces? At least in Alberto's eyes they were, and he didn't dare take his eyes off them. A part of him found it strange his affections were for both of them. Never envy, always adoration. Maybe he was scared they'd be together without him, like the rest of the couples he'd see strolling around town. Maybe he'd want to walk with both of them, hand in hand without being judged. Maybe he'd want to whisper so many sweet everythings into their ears. Regardless, the beautiful sight warmed his scales. He would blush furiously, yet quietly. He didn't dare let them know about his feelings. Well, yet... Maybe he would if only he knew they were feeling the same. As they lie beneath the night sky, the moon hangs its pale glow over Portorosso. Now that's amore.

[chibigaia-art]

kiibo learning about human affection and gives surprise kisses to miu and kokichi 👉👈

Help this made me download pics art just so I could make this real quick

[the-woman-upstairs]

[the-woman-upstairs]

I really do need to compose a much longer, detailed post about the parallels between Benji and Ilsa but am currently vibrating at the sudden realization of how Rogue Nation establishes early on how both are trapped, surveilled, and demeaned within the organizations they’re working for- Ilsa with The Syndicate and Benji with the CIA. Neither of them want to be in that position, with those groups, but have little choice since they’re fundamentally alone with virtually no support.

Until of course, Ethan offers them each a way out.

[the-woman-upstairs]

I can’t sit around thinking about the Mission Impossible films for too long cause I’ll inevitably start connecting dots that make my brain explode. Like how Rogue Nation ends with Benji and Ilsa trapped by Lane, needing Ethan to come rescue them, but Fallout ends with them relying on each other to defeat Lane and save themselves since Ethan can’t be there for them.

[the-woman-upstairs]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

The Benji/Ilsa/Ethan fic I wrote for the Rare Pair Exchange. It’s mostly a Ilsa character study and angsty beyond belief because these three make me sad.

[the-woman-upstairs]

Rogue Nation: