Harbour: SaundErin

Not gonna lie, these two are my OTP..  xD 

Erin is so good for Saunders, and they just... ugh they are just such a good match! Like, you know sometimes there are fictional characters or even real life people you kind of want to just stay single because you care about them so much that you feel nobody is good enough for them, lol... such a parental thing to feel... until this one person comes along who makes them so happy and is so good for them that you just ... lol you're not even mad, quite the contrary it makes you feel like you want to protect their relationship at all costs because holy shit they are so good for each other? But then you know that's not for you to decide and you shouldn't intervene so you just sit there in the far back with your fingers crossed? lol idk, but so often I feel super protective of my characters, and sometimes it sucks to let the story live its own life cause you just want everybody to be happy and sort of wish you could just rewrite their lives to super happy and blissful ones because that's what you feel they deserve, you know? As a storyteller, you know all about where they've been, who they are, what happened to make them what and who they are, and while you can predict where that might take them you will end up feeling like you have absolutely no say in the matter because when you start deciding stuff for them a part of them fades and the whole story feels ... off. So you learn to trust your characters, present obstacles and give them the freedom to choose their own paths, and then just follow them along. You're making the maze, but you can't decide how they navigate through it or how they reach the end, you're merely presenting the maze to them and taking notes on what happens next.

But in moments where things go bad, you often wish you could just... fix everything. But in doing so, you would rob them of their freedom, so as a storyteller you might feel like a parent but at the same time not be allowed to even be close to acting like one. You are merely there to examine and take notes, no matter how invested you get in your beloved  characters' lives...

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why me make A.U.s... Alternative Universes xD

So while I have my fingers crossed for Saunders and Erin and I have the entire SPiKE story written down and put together, my characters might still surprise me along the way and end up changing things. So I always make sure to leave room for flexibility. I personally feel that makes for a more organic story, especially when making a long series like this is.

Therefore I choose to label this ship a Harbor one ;)  I want these two to be together, but that is ultimately not my decision to make. 

Does this make sense?

Anyhow.. here's a scene I sketched out with Saunders and Erin, hypothetically in the earliest stage of them deciding to date after all these years apart, and their first time ever being intimate with one another like this.

But Saunders has a lot of baggage and worries a lot, especially about one particularily sensitive topic.

(sorry if the text is hard to read, I hope zooming in helps)

The thing Saunders struggles with here is far more common AND NORMAL than most people think. It is also very difficult for guys to talk about, because of the immense pressure they feel on having to preform a certain way. It has nothing to do with masculinity, does not mean a lack of it at all, this is purely psychological and can be solved with patience, communication and most importantly: trust. Some guys may feel nervous because they've received nasty comments from unkind partners in their past. Again, this is very common and can be a tough issue for them to deal with. Words leave scars, so be careful with how you use them. Use your words wisely and kindly, because words are powerful and can be used either to destroy or repair.

And yes, girls definitely have problems of their own with being nervous and or uncertain and it should be talked about as well. We girls can be far too meek.  If you re nervous or not ready, want to take it slow etc, say so. If the person you are with does not respect that, then you deserve better. Yes really. If your insecurity tells you that you don't deserve to be treated better, then your insecurity is an asshole and you can tell it to go to hell <3 

Guys, girls, both or neither, regardless of gender or sexuality; do not let others treat you like shit and do not treat others like shit either.

Sexual intimacy is all about consent and mutual trust, and the best sex happens when you both trust each other and feel safe with each other. It is also of course perfectly fine to not want to have sex at all or even feel sexual attraction. Aces are not a myth <3  And people have different drives. Bottom line is, communicate, respect each other, know and respect your own boundaries as well as theirs.

....I just felt this was important to talk about. 

And no I am not saying everyone has had or should have sex. Not at all. You do you <3 I'm just saying that mutual respect, consent and empathy should be an essential part of the decision on whether or not you do it. Don't pressure anyone and don't shame anyone. Guilt tripping equals pressuring someone. It falls in under coercion, which falls in under non-consensual. Pay close attention to non verbal language; if you see any sign of reluctancy or discontent, stop, ask for an update on how the other person is doing. It is always a good idea to check on how your partner is doing, as well as yourself. Consent can change. Foreplay doesn't mean you have to go any further. You can stop at any time.

Again, I feel this is important to address, because these are crucial things that could have saved so many people from so many uncomfortable experiences. Yeah it's hella awkward to talk about, but important nevertheless, you know? 

there lol rant's over xD  I just want you all to be safe <3