#been thinking about nichole lately...

[shroomerr]

Been thinking about some Nichole headcanons...

Nichole listens to R&B, Lofi, J-Pop and K-Pop. I've been listening to Emotional Oranges and imagining her listening to that so that's been fun

Nichole's favorite games are Baldur's Gate 3, the old Dragon Age games, and Stardew Valley, among some others.

Bigggg anime nerd and collects merch like figurines, posters, cards, etc. It was hardcore when she was a teen but its died down a bit as she's gotten older. She's still crazy for it, though.

Her gaming room is one of those super decked out with a whole custom PC setup that you'd see on pinterest, along with her collection lining the shelves behind her + her board game collection.

Huge cosplay nerd. She goes all out whenever she goes out to conventions, and often ends up winning or being a runner up at cosplay contests.

[reasonsforhope]

"In the 1750s, an Italian farmer digging a well stumbled upon a lavish villa in the ruins of Herculaneum. Inside was a sprawling library with hundreds of scrolls, untouched since Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 C.E. Some of them were still neatly tucked away on the shelves.

This staggering discovery was the only complete library from antiquity ever found. But when 18th-century scholars tried to unroll the charred papyrus, the scrolls crumbled to pieces. They became resigned to the fact that the text hidden inside wouldn’t be revealed during their lifetimes.

In recent years, however, researchers realized that they were living in the generation that would finally solve the puzzle. Using artificial intelligence, they’ve developed methods to peer inside the Herculaneum scrolls without damaging them, revealing short passages of ancient text.

This month, researchers announced a new breakthrough. While analyzing a scroll known as PHerc. 172, they determined its title: On Vices. Based on other works, they think the full title is On Vices and Their Opposite Virtues and in Whom They Are and About What.

“We are thrilled to share that the written title of this scroll has been recovered from deep inside its carbonized folds of papyrus,” the Vesuvius Challenge, which is leading efforts to decipher the scrolls, says in a statement. “This is the first time the title of a still-rolled Herculaneum scroll has ever been recovered noninvasively.”

On Vices was written by Philodemus, a Greek philosopher who lived in Herculaneum more than a century before Vesuvius’ eruption. Born around 110 B.C.E., Philodemus studied at a school in Athens founded several centuries earlier by the influential philosopher Epicurus, who believed in achieving happiness by pursuing certain specific forms of pleasure.

“This will be a great opportunity to learn more about Philodemus’ ethical views and to get a better view of the On Vices as a whole,” Michael McOsker, a papyrologist at University College London who is working with the Vesuvius Challenge, tells CNN’s Catherine Nicholls.

When it launched in 2023, the Vesuvius Challenge offered more than $1 million in prize money to citizen scientists around the world who could use A.I. to help decipher scans of the Herculaneum scrolls. 

Spearheaded by Brent Seales, a computer scientist at the University of Kentucky, the team scanned several of the scrolls and uploaded the data for anyone to use. To earn the prize money, participants competed to be the first to reach a series of milestones.

Reading the papyrus involves solving several difficult problems. After the rolled-up scrolls are scanned, their many layers need to be separated out and flattened into two-dimensional segments. At that point, the carbon-based ink usually isn’t visible in the scans, so machine-learning models are necessary to identify the inked sections.

In late 2023, a computer science student revealed the first word on an unopened scroll: “porphyras,” an ancient Greek term for “purple.” Months later, participants worked out 2,000 characters of text, which discussed pleasures such as music and food.

But PHerc. 172 is different from these earlier scrolls. When researchers scanned it last summer, they realized that some of the ink was visible in the images. They aren’t sure why this scroll is so much more legible, though they hypothesize it’s because the ink contains a denser contaminant such as lead, according to the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Libraries, which houses the scroll.

In early May, the Vesuvius Challenge announced that contestants Marcel Roth and Micha Nowak, computer scientists at Germany’s University of Würzburg, would receive $60,000 for deciphering the title. Sean Johnson, a researcher with the Vesuvius Challenge, had independently identified the title around the same time.

Researchers are anticipating many more breakthroughs on the horizon. In the past three months alone, they’ve already scanned dozens of new scrolls.

“The pace is ramping up very quickly,” McOsker tells the Guardian’s Ian Sample. “All of the technological progress that’s been made on this has been in the last three to five years—and on the timescales of classicists, that’s unbelievable.”"

-via Smithsonian, May 16, 2025

[vampiricalxdata]

“This could be a trap to get you and Nichole.”

“No, not him.”

“You’re lying to yourself.”

It’s the 2nd episode of season 6. After a seemingly impossible reunion between mother and daughter, this line stings like a slap in the face.

It’s inflammatory. It’s accusatory.

It’s also loaded as fuck.

And it stands on the back of everything the audience has seen and learned.

Holly: The Activist. The Mother.

(In that order.)

In season 2, we get to learn a bit more about Holly. We know she’s a doctor and a feminist. We know it was her connections that help Luke and June nearly escape. Now, though, we get to know what kind of mother she was.

Baggage (2x03) starts with June in the Boston Globe. She’s trying to understand Gilead, how it came to be. She remembers her mom taking her to a Take Back the Night rally and it’s an admission of admiration. For her strength and bravery and passion.

But then it’s followed by her voicing to Nick the shame she feels leaving Hannah behind. He tells her it’ll be better for everyone. (And at this point Serena is reaching her peak cruelty so he might be right.) But June rebuts. “Better never means better for everyone.” Thanks for that one Fred. And all he can do is hold her. Because they both know there is no right answer. There’s just taking the next step forward.

So June spends the rest of her escape trying to find a way to be okay with it by reflecting on her relationship with Holly. Which, evidentially, is a complicated one.

June struggles to meet the expectations of her mother. Holly fails to see the value in her daughter.

It’s not without love, though. And by the end, June recalls a happy memory. Driving with Holly down an open road, bare feet on the dashboard, Gwen Stefani playing in the background. It’s silly and happy and free.

But it does begin a reoccurring pattern for the pair. Because despite the love, they’re at constant odds.

Holly’s unimpressed by June’s publishing job. She disapproves of June’s marriage to Luke. Admonishes her for having Hannah baptized.

And we never really see June defend herself against the criticisms. Not in the kitchen, when she masks her hurt over Holly’s opinions of her job and future marriage. Not in the church, where she chooses to shush her mom rather than state her reasons for doing it.

Holly frames the choices as frivolous and passive.

“It’s time to get out in the street and fight, not play house.”

It’s an unfair assessment that ironically disregards June’s agency. But it’s also not made lightly.

And later, while talking to Moira in the red center, June concedes to Holly.

“You were right,” Moria says.

“So was she,” June admits.

It’s as close to a compromise as these two ever really get. It becomes a spark in June’s transformation.

And by the time she gets to Alaska, June’s no longer the woman she was. She’s not the woman who “played house.” She’s not the woman being led blindly from point A to point G, like in Baggage.

June’s a legend in her own right. She’s saved kids and marthas. She’s survived Serena and Fred; torture and bombs. She’s pissed off Gilead so much so that they’re sending assassins to Canada. And she has, not one, but two commanders in her pocket— Lawrence and Nick.

But Holly doesn’t know any of that. She doesn’t know how her daughter changed.

“You’re not a spy. You’re not a soldier.”

“You don’t really know what I’ve done mom.”

And that’s the moment Holly learns about Nick.

Not “Mom I’ve been psychologically tortured within an inch of my life when they made me and all the other handmaids think we were getting executed.” Not “Mom I was waterboarded.” Not “Mom, I organized getting 80+ kids out.” Not “Mom, I’m the reason those letters made it outand Nick helped.”

Because it’s too late for explanations. Their base dynamic already reared its ugly head:

The critical mother; The daughter who won’t stand up for her choices.

“Drivers are eyes.”

Yes, thanks for that information. This is definitely news. June stays silent.

“And now he’s a commander.”

June is receiving the full weight of what this implies.

“This could he a trap to get you and Nichole.”

That gets a reaction.

“No,” she laughs.

Because the idea of Nick trying to trap them? Insane. Unbelievable. The literal antithesis of everything Nick has done. I don’t even know that Bizarro World!Nick would pull that.

But instead of saying that, she’s bound to the same cyclical pattern she and Holly always end up at.

With a slight change, because this time she reverse Uno cards Holly.

“You have to show up and fight.”

“I was wrong…All you can do is survive and protect the people that you love.”

“All you can do is survive and protect the people that you love.”

Sound familiar?

The fight devolves quickly after that.

You’re fucking a n*zi.

You abandoned me.

Words meant to wound. Statements that beg for context.

Is he a fascist? Or was he just trying to survive and protect the ones he loves?

Did she abandon June? Or did she think she was leading by example?

Questions that ultimately go unanswered even at their resolution. Because June and Holly don’t bend to the other’s perspective. Because Holly doesn’t trust her daughter to make informed decisions. And June doesn’t trust her mother to hear her when she talks.

Instead, they return to territory they’re familiar with.

“No mother is ever completely a child’s idea of what a mother should be. And I suppose it works the other way round as well.” -Baggage, 2x03

Only this time, despite the struggle to accept the other’s POV (old habits die hard), they find common ground in baby Holly’s safety.

And for them, that’s enough.

For now, that’s enough.

“Raise your daughter to be a feminist. She spends all her time needing to be rescued by men.”

It’s worth noting: This is the first time June is ever confronted about Nick.

Luke would rather not bring him up at all, except when necessary for Hannah. Tuello seems to have fairly positive opinions on him, if at least an understanding of the moral ambiguity that goes with the role. And if Moira has reservations we certainly never hear it.

Up until now she’s toed a line with Nick & Luke, letting her geographic location make the choice for her. When she’s in Gileadand no man’s land, she’s with Nick. In Canada, she’s with Luke.

But season 4 ends with a definitive blurring of that line via the location of a literal one: No man’s land. An area that goes on to serve as the back drop for a number of trysts (Fred’s death) and collusions (Noah’s birth).

So, what does that mean for June?

As the series comes to a close, she stands at the precipice of her role as both revolutionary and leader.

And as all of these threads of the story come to a head in New Bethlehem, there’s a glaring problem; a defining choice she has yet to make.

A choice that at first glance appears to be purely romanticnot that there’s anything wrong if it was. A choice rooted in self actualization.

She’s not just picking a partner, she’s choosing the person she wants to be.

Luke & June: A leader. His right hand.

With Luke, she has a tendency to defer to him. To be more passive. It’s a role they’re both used to.

So when they’re reunited, they clash.

And while Luke is more or less who he was, June is far from the woman he knew.

This June is filled with so much unadulterated rage that she is sincerely incapable of containing it.

She’s strategic and fierce, and sometimes cruel. And try as she might to find her way back, Gilead is always there. Taunting her and twisting the knife.

And even when they find new ground, even when Serena gets to Luke and they march off into no man’s land, he’s still trying to lead June.

They dance and sing in the abandoned bowling alley, despite her protest. When they get caught by dollar store Fred, there’s no strategizing how to get out. And rather than listen to June about how to act, he ignores her.

Then when he decides to join Mayday, it’s not hand in hand with June.

“It’s my turn to fight for Hannah.”

Not, let’s do it together. Not, we’re partners in this.

Luke is angry. He intends to be a leader. He intends to be impressive and useful.

It’s admirable.

But he’s as naive as he was the day Zoe stopped him in season 1. And June —the new June— doesn’t soften blows. She tells him he doesn’t know what he’s getting into. Just like Zoe did.

And this dynamic only serves to pull them apart.

Because for June and Luke, the relationship they had has fossilized. Their connecting factor is Hannah. And as important as it is, it can’t save them when they’ve become so different.

If they can’t move forward together, what is it they gain from preservation?

Nick & June: A partnership. A team.

Which brings us to Nick.

The fascist commander of Gilead.

The soldier prodigy who couldn’t keep a job.

The emotional mess who couldn’t get through a temp agency interview without it getting physical but was even tempered enough to be a key player in the destruction of one country and construction of another.

The driver so astute and so important to the cause he wasn’t issued a woman in the three years Gilead existed.

A man so dedicated to Gilead he risked his life to get his girlfriend and baby out (2x) because he knows it’s not a good place?

A man who lives in so much grey you’d think it was a DesiLu production. *cue crickets*

In truth, the fog surrounding Nick is speculation buried in inflammatory language. So, instead we focus on what we know.

Ironically, what we know about Nick can be summed up in a single line spoken by the same woman who called him a n*zi.

“All you can do is survive and protect the people that you love.”

Because that’s what Nick does.

He did it when he fell prey to the Sons of Jacob to support his dad and brother. He did it when he went to Mayday to get June out. Twice.

And not for nothing, but when June showed up at that plane in Baggage, another driver showed up, too. Another driver who was an obvious stand in for Nick. A driver who was shot and dragged out from the plane just before they captured June.

Point to Nick, because he doesn’t just protect the people he loves, he survives while doing it. And June, is the exact same in that regard.

Whatever compromises she has to make, whatever parts of herself she has to sacrifice, is worthwhile if it means getting a step closer to Hannah.

Whatever it takes.

And Nick accepts that. Even if it means trying to free her from Gilead prison. Because his role with her was always clear. He doesn’t lie to her, doesn’t tell her what to do or how to act (except when advising her on how to be safe). He never admonishes her for leaving baby Holly with Emily. And when she pushes back at him at the Boston Globe, he gives her his gun. But he doesn’t stop her.

Because he never stops her.

Because Nick knows exactly who June is. And he may not know what crazy shit she’ll pull next but he knows she will. And he accepts it because he accepts her.

And in exchange, June has offered him purpose. A family. A reason. “More than this bullshit life.” And what a motivator it’s been.

Because as a team, June and Nick strengthen each other. Even apart, their influence is palpable.

It took Tuello 2 minutes in a room with Nick and unconscious June to see it. It took Lawrence even less.

Because together, they’re partners.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

It’s been twenty years since my Microsoft DRM talk

On THURSDAY (June 20) I'm live onstage in LOS ANGELES for a recording of the GO FACT YOURSELF podcast. On FRIDAY (June 21) I'm doing an ONLINE READING for the LOCUS AWARDS at 16hPT. On SATURDAY (June 22) I'll be in OAKLAND, CA for a panel and a keynote at the LOCUS AWARDS.

This week on my podcast,This week on my podcast, I read my June 17, 2004 Microsoft Research speech about DRM, a talk that went viral two decades ago, and reassess its legacy:

https://craphound.com/msftdrm.txt

It's been 20 years (and one day) since I gave that talk. It wasn't my first talk like that, but at the time, it was the most successful talk I'd ever given. I was still learning how to deliver a talk at the time, tinkering with different prose and delivery styles (to my eye, there's a lot of Bruce Sterling in that one, something that's still true today).

I learned to give talks by attending sf conventions and watching keynotes and panel presentations and taking mental notes. I was especially impressed with the oratory style of Harlan Ellison, whom I heard speak on numerous occasions, and by Judith Merril, who was a wonderful mentor to me and many other writers:

https://locusmag.com/2021/09/cory-doctorow-breaking-in/

I was also influenced by the speakers I'd heard at the many political rallies I'd attended and helped organize; from the speakers at the annual Labour Day parade to the anti-nuclear proliferation and pro-abortion rights marches I was very involved with. I also have vivid memories of the speeches that Helen Caldicott gave in Toronto when I was growing up, where I volunteered as an usher:

https://www.helencaldicott.com/

When I helped found a dotcom startup in the late 1990s, my partners and I decided that I'd do the onstage talking; we paid for a couple hours of speaker training from an expensive consultant in San Francisco. The only thing I remember from that session was the advice to look into the audience as much as possible, rather than reading from notes with my head down. Good advice, but kinda obvious.

The impetus for that training was my onstage presentation at the first O'Reilly P2P conference in 2001. I don't quite remember what I said there, but I remember that it made an impression on Tim O'Reilly, which meant a lot to me then (and now):

https://www.oreilly.com/pub/pr/844

I don't remember who invited me to give the talk at Microsoft Research that day, but I think it was probably Marc Smith, who was researching social media at the time by data-mining Usenet archives to understand social graphs. I think I timed the gig so that I could kill three birds with one stone: in addition to that talk, I attended (and maybe spoke at?) that year's Computers, Freedom and Privacy conference, and attended an early preview of the soon-to-launch Sci Fi Museum (now the Museum of Pop Culture). I got to meet Nichelle Nichols (and promptly embarrassed myself by getting tongue-tied and telling her how much I loved the vocals she did on her recording of the Star Wars theme, something I'm still hot around the ears over, though she was a pro and gently corrected me, "I think you mean Star *Trek"):

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=4IiJUQSsxNw&list=OLAK5uy_lHUn58fbpceC3PrK2Xu9smBNBjR_-mAHQ

But the start of that trip was the talk at Microsoft Research; I'd been on the Microsoft campus before. That startup I did? Microsoft tried to buy us, which prompted our asshole VCs to cram the founders and steal our equity, which created so much acrimony that the Microsoft deal fell through. I was pretty bitter at the time, but in retrospect, I really dodged a bullet – for one thing, the deal involved my going to work for Microsoft as a DRM evangelist. I mean, talk about the road not taken!

This was my first time back at Microsoft as an EFF employee. There was some pre-show meet-and-greet-type stuff, and then I was shown into a packed conference room where I gave my talk and had a lively (and generally friendly) Q&A. MSR was – and is – the woolier side of Microsoft, where all kinds of interesting people did all kinds of great research.

Indeed, almost every Microsoft employee I've ever met was a good and talented person doing the best work they could. The fact that Microsoft produces such a consistent stream of garbage products and crooked business practices is an important testament to the way that a rotten organization can be so much less than the sum of its parts.

I'm a fully paid up subscriber to Ronald Coase's "Theory of the Firm" (not so much his other views):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_the_firm

Coase says the reason institutions exist is to enable people to work together with lowered "coordination costs." In other words, if you and I are going to knit a sweater together, we're going to need to figure out how to make sure that we're not both making the left sleeve. Creating an institution – the Mafia, the Catholic Church, Microsoft, a company, a co-op, a committee that puts on a regional science fiction con – is all about minimizing those costs.

As Yochai Benkler pointed out in 2002, the coolest and most transformative thing about the internet is that it let us do more complex collective work with smaller and less structured institutions:

https://www.benkler.org/CoasesPenguin.PDF

That was the initial prompt for my novel Walkaway, which asked, "What if we could build luxury hotels and even space programs with the kind of (relatively) lightweight institutional overheads associated with Wikipedia and the Linux kernel?"

https://crookedtimber.org/2017/05/10/coases-spectre/

So the structure of institutions is really important. At the same time, I'm skeptical of the idea that there are "good companies" and "bad companies." Small businesses, family businesses, and other firms that aren't exposed to the finance sector can reflect their leaders' personalities, but it's a huge mistake to ascribe personalities to the companies themselves.

That's how you get foolish ideas like "Apple is a good company because they embrace paid service and Google is a bad company because they make money from surveillance." Apple will spy on you, too, if they can:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

Disney and Fox weren't Romeo and Juliet, star-crossed lovers making goo-goo eyes at each other across the table at MPA meetings. They were two giant public companies, and any differences between them were irrelevancies and marketing myths:

https://locusmag.com/2021/07/cory-doctorow-tech-monopolies-and-the-insufficient-necessity-of-interoperability/

I think senior management's personalities do matter (see, for example, the destruction of Boeing after it was colonized by sociopaths from McDonnell Douglas), but the influence of those personalities is much less important than the constraints that competition and regulation impose on companies. In other words, an asshole can run a company that delivers good products at fair prices under ethical conditions – provided that failing to do so will cost more in lost business and fines than they stand to make by cheating:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/24/record-scratch/#autoenshittification

Microsoft is a company founded and run by colossal assholes. Bill Gates is a monster and he surrounded himself with monsters, and they hired monsters to fill out the courts of their corporate palaces:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/14/patch-tuesday/#fool-me-twice-we-dont-get-fooled-again

To the extent that good things come out of Microsoft – some of its games products, the odd piece of hardware, important papers from MSR – it's in spite of the leadership; it's the result of constraints imposed by competition and regulation – and that's why Microsoft pursued such an aggressive program of extinguishing its competitors and capturing its regulators.

In retrospect, I think one of my goals in that talk was to convince those people doing good work for a rotten institution to go elsewhere and do other things. Certainly, that's one of the goals I pursue in the talks I give today. At the time, some of Microsoft's highest-profile technologists were publicly resigning over the company's war on free/open source software, so it wasn't an unrealistic goal:

https://web.archive.org/web/20030214215639/http://synthesist.net/writing/onleavingms.html

What I did not expect what that publishing the talk on my site and blogging it on Boing Boing would spark a wave of public interest that would get its message in front of several orders of magnitude more people than I spoke to at Microsoft that day. Partly, that was because I released the talk into the public domain, using the brand-new Creative Commons Public Domain Declaration (which was later replaced with the CC0 mark, due to legal issues withBu its drafting):

https://web.archive.org/web/20100223035835/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/publicdomain/

Some mix of the content of the speech, the spirit of the moment, and the novelty of that wide open license sparked a ton of interest. Jason Kottke recorded an audio version that Andy Baio hosted:

https://kottke.org/04/06/cory-drm-talk

My brutalist ASCII transcript was quickly converted to beautiful HTML by Matt Haughey and Anil Dash:

https://web.archive.org/web/20040622235333/http://www.dashes.com/anil/stuff/doctorow-drm-ms.html

For people who needed a hardcopy, there was Patrick Berry's printer-friendly stylesheet:

https://patandkat.com/pat/weblog/mirror/cory-drm/doctorow-drm-ms.html

Multiple people recorded (and sold!) audio versions, and then there were all the fan translations, into Danish, French, Finnish, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese (both EU and Brazilian), Spanish and Swedish. I stayed in touch with some of those translators, and they helped me translate the position papers I wrote for UN WIPO meetings. Those papers were so effective that ratfuckers from the copyright lobby started to steal them and hide them in the UN toilets (!):

https://web.archive.org/web/20041119132831/https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/002117.php

Re-reading the speech for my podcast on Sunday, I expected to be struck by the anachronisms in it, and there were a few of those to be sure. But far more clear was the common thread running from this talk to other talks I gave that took on a significant life of their own, like my 2011 "War On General Purpose Computing" talk for CCC:

https://memex.craphound.com/2012/01/10/lockdown-the-coming-war-on-general-purpose-computing/

And my work on Adversarial Interoperability:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interoperability

And my most recent work, on enshittification:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/27/an-audacious-plan-to-halt-the-internets-enshittification-and-throw-it-into-reverse/

In other words, I've been saying the same thing – in different ways – for more than 20 years. That could be depressing, but I actually found it uplifting. Two decades ago, I was radicalized by a fear that the internet would be seized by corporations and governments and transformed into a system of surveillance and control. I found my way into a job at EFF, where I worked with colleagues across multiple disciplines – coders, lawyers and activists – to fight this force.

At the time, this was a fringe cause. Most of the traditional activists I'd come up with in the feminist, antiwar, antiracist, environmental and labour movement viewed digital rights as a distraction and dismissed its partisans as sad, self-obsessed nerds who mistook fights over the management of Star Trek message boards for civil rights struggles:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/04/small-change-malcolm-gladwell

I thought I was right then, and I think history has borne me out. The point of waging these fights – both in the wide public sphere and within political movements – is to get people activated before it's too late. Every day that goes by is a day when the internet becomes more inhospitable to political organizing for a better world – more surveillant, more controlling. I believed then – and believe today – that the internet isn't more important that the other fights I waged as a young activist, but I think that the internet is fundamental to those fights.

Saving the planet, smashing patriarchy, overthrowing tyranny and freeing labor are all fights that will be coordinated – Coase style – on the internet. Without a free, fair and open internet, those fights are infinitely harder to win.

The project of getting people to understand, care about, and fight for digital rights is a marathon, not a sprint. When I joined EFF, it was already 12 years old. There were six people in the org then (I was the seventh). Today, there's more than a hundred of us, and we're stretched so thin! The 30+ year old idea that internet policy will intersect with every part of every fight has been utterly vindicated.

Back in 2004, I asked Microsoft why they were willing to fight the US government to the death over antitrust enforcement, but were such wimps when confronted with the entertainment industry's demands for DRM. 20 years later, I think I know the answer: Microsoft understood that DRM would let them usurp the relationship between creative workers, entertainment industry companies, and audiences. Their perfect instincts for seeking out and capitalizing on opportunities to seize monopoly power drove them to make deliberately defective products, in the belief that their market power would let them cram those products down our throats:

https://memex.craphound.com/2004/01/27/protect-your-investment-buy-open/

Here's a link to the podcast episode:

https://craphound.com/news/2024/06/16/my-2004-microsoft-drm-talk/

And here's direct link to the MP3 (hosting courtesy of the Internet Archive; they'll host your stuff for free forever):

https://archive.org/download/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_470/Cory_Doctorow_Podcast_470_-_My_2004_Microsoft_DRM_Talk.mp3

And here's the RSS feed for my podcast:

https://feeds.feedburner.com/doctorow_podcast

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/18/greetings-fellow-pirates/#arrrrrrrrrr

[ihaznoclue]

I RAN HERE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BC I NEED TO REQUEST READER KICKING ASS I NEED READER TO GET THEIR GAME UP I NEED READER TO FINALLY STAND UP!!!!! THE READER EVOLUTION!!!!! so basiclly 🥺 im gonna request the fan favorites lycaon, ellen, anby,Billy, I think nicole is one them.... being saved from a thereal by the reader🔥🔥🔥🔥

Also I hope you have a nice day if all your fans are dead then I am no longer alive bro I think about the stories/Headcanon you make all dayyyyy I LOVE THEM SO MUCH and you as well hehe

ILYSM! I SWEAR TO GOD YOU ARE LITERALLY THE CUTEST! T^T TYSM -v- THIS REQUEST IS BADASS >o< I'm going to try my very best just for you <3

Pairings -> Von Lycaon, Ellen Joe, Anby Demara, Billy Kid, Nichole Demara x Reader

Warnings -> None maybe some swearing

Note -> Just Reader being a badass as they save the one and true love, princess in distress and the love of their life from an Ethereal

Genre -> Fluff

Von Lycaon

Okay it basically all started when you guys were in the Ballet Twins, Victoria housekeeping making sure everything is in touch but then met other strangers that was from the cunning hares

You noticed some sense of tension when the bangboo was picking up a recoding player or a music device as the bangboo said

Then a Ballet Ethereal appeared as Ellen and Corin went to attack, it was time to fight

You were so ready to kick these Ethereals asses, they were quite annoying as they always seem to love to scartch their pointed legs on the metal ground below them as they danced

You were fighting along side with your work friends as well as your boyfriend Lycaon, you have been together for a while before you both started working as a butler and a maid.

Lycaon was your boss and boyfriend which made it more exciting for you, since Lycaon would give you raises and some compliments toward you which always makes you blush in happiness

Now here you were fighting a long side with your love, it seems that the Ethereal was only targeting Lycaon as it started to spin its way to him, it looked like he didn't reacted quickly enough

You on the other hand, took your weapon and shielded Lycaon's body behind yours as you were sent flying to a wall that was a couple feet away from where you just were

"Y/n!" Lycaon's voiced called out as he sprinted to you to check if you were okay while the girls handled the Ethereal

"Are you okay My love?" He asked, checking to see if you had any Injuries

It has seemed that your forehead started to bleed but you laughed "Fuck yeah I'm okay, I protected you and that's all that matters to me" You proudly said

Lycaon just sighed as he patted your head, helping you up

"Let's finish this fight and then I'll treat your wounds, Also Language Young Lady"

"I'm perfectly fine Babe~" You flirted

That was totally worth it

Ellen Joe (this is not with an Ethereal)

Another scenario when you two were in the Ballet Twin fighting the Ethereal, but after finishing off the Ethereal went as it scattered away by bowing

Ellen didn't realize the flying bombs that was heading her way, she turned only a second to late

But instead of the bombs crashing into her, you charged your way to protect her as your sword sliced each bomb making the bombs go off

Ellen was in shocked but also impressed

She got quite lucky to have you since you were very skilled with your sword and you also protected the master Proxy and your girlfriend

Looks you have done a lot today, protecting everyone you love and cherished the most

Ellen seemed to have grumbled on how she didn't noticed but instantly thank you as she kissed your cheek in return of favor

You smiled as you spoke "Did you get hurt?" Ellen shook her head

"All thank to you, But are you hurt?"

"Nope, No cuts or bruises" You smiled

Ellen rolled her eyes and she chuckled "Okay smartass"

You laughed, At least you protected Ellen in all way possible but now you had to handle the people who sent those bombs toward your girlfriend

You snapped you head towards the direction the bombs were coming from as you saw people scattering away in fear

"Bingo"

Anby Demara

It was the time when you and the team went to get a important item for Nicole called the strong box, you guys went all the way to only get into a hollow

You were separated form the other but you were with Anby, which was fine since you two were close as in "dating"

Anby was the one who confessed which was surprising for you but you accepted her confession as you both started dating for quite a well

Now you two were in a hollow together, trying to find the other which I mean Billy and Nicole

After a while, Billy was found and went to find Nicole with you guys, finally you all were all together again

You guys were now in front of the strong box but was disturbed by something, you heard a noise that sounded like a Ethereal

You turned around to see an Ethereal sneaking up on Anby so you went in protective mode as you went to Anby to push her away as you took the hit instead as you went flying a couple feet away

"Name!" Your name was called out by Anby as she went up to you

"I'm fine, I'm fine" You smiled

Anby sighed as she helped you up

Looks like you guys have to fight a powerful Ethereal

But at least you were together

Billy Kid

Okay now this is a tough one, you and Billy have been together for a WHILE since you and him were obsessed with Starlight Knight so you guys met on one of those meeting things for the movie

Now you guys were together in a hollow, trying to find the other members of the cunning hares, Nicole and Anby

Billy kept his eyes open just in case for any Ethereal that might come charging at you and him, but for you were like a eagle, looking out for anything valuable or any threats that might come your way

You wanted to protective Billy and you knew he wanted to protect you, that's why you loved him, he was silly and goofy as well as amazing guy to hangout with

You and him would go on arcade dates and play snake duel at godfinger

It was always fun

You thought of those memories but stopped as you heard a noise that sounded like groaning and grumbling

An Ethereal

You turned around to see nothing but then turned to Billy to warn him but instantly noticed an Ethereal behind him, you went into fight mode as you ran up to the Ethereal

Billy thought you were going for a hug but instead

You wrapped your arms around Billy as you sliced through the head of the Ethereal making it go limp as it feel to the ground

You huffed through your nose

No-one hurts Billy, not even you

"Oh, so you weren't going for a hug." Billy whined

You chuckled as you hugged him "I protected you dummy"

"My hero"

Nicole Demara

This girl got you and her in a sticky situation, you guys were in a hollow for god knows how long all because of a box that she liked to call it the strong box

You guys were chased by a gang and sudden went into a hollow that wasn't far from the building you guys fell out of just because a helicopter shot at you guys for not caring who was in the building

But it looks like you were with your girlfriend which was good so you could keep a eye out for her

"Ugh, I never thought this would happen now we are stuck down here and the others are gone" She complained

You felt worried about Nicole, so you comforted her and said that you guys should keep going to find the others so she agreed

You kept your guard open and you knew there was a lot of Ethereal creatures in this hollow you guys were currently in

You kept your weapon in your hand just in case

After a few moments you heard many noises from your left side that was until a Ethereal attacked both of you

Looks like you two had to fight

During the fight, Nicole wanted to see if you were okay but didn't notice the Ethereal launching at her so you ran to her

You caught her with your arm as you hit the Ethereal in the blackhole looking head making it fall to the ground

You looked to Nicole to see if she was okay, but all you could see was Nicole's red face

You noticed the position you guys were in, as you had a arm aroudn her waist as your other had you weapon that was in the air, Nichole's body was leaning on your arm as she was caught just in time before she hit the ground

"You okay?" You asked, Nicole nodded as she hummed a yes

You smiled and chuckled a little

"Guess You fell for me~" You flirted as she pushed your face away as she started to whined about how close you guys were

"Okay, you're too close!" Nichole shouted

"Hun, We are literally dating"

"That's not the point!"

I finished this later than expected

-A<3

[starkspondwater]

Dude I absolutely fucking LOVED the Jimmy fic you write him so well LIKE anyways chat could you write a smutshot for him maybe?/nf

-🐣 anon

Ahh!!! Thank you!! I overthink things a lot so I always worry about how the characters sound and if things come out the way I want them to, so that makes me feel a ton better!

I also most certainly can write something smutty for our Jimmy boy 😏😏😏 I get worried writing smut because part of me always thinks I don't write it well, but I told myself so long as I had fun writing it doesn't matter! And believe me this was very fun to write!

Summary: Despite having such a long week Jimmy still drags you to his friend's house for late night hang, but maybe with a few hints you can turn it around in your favor (SMUT)

Caught in the Act - Jimmy Valmer x Reader

Rolling your hips you took pride in the way Jimmy's eyes fell back. His fluffy brown hair was a mess, locks falling every which way from how you ran your fingers through it not 5 minutes earlier, something you knew that man loved.

Voices slightly rose to the room you two occupied, casual conversations unintelligible through the walls. It had been a long week, work shifts keeping you so busy you had almost no time for your own thoughts, much less a 15 minute meal break. When Jimmy suggested going to Clyde’s for a small kick back you just about told him no as you beelined for the couch, a nap calling your name- if only he didn't use his charm to his advantage.

Jimmy had a face that made it difficult to deny him anything with sweet, sincere eyes and a button nose. Coupled with his ability to make you laugh even through the hardest days, you found him very attractive, and thankfully he thought the same of you.

“Well, swee-sweetcheeks, if you take a nap before the party I guess w-we'll be bringing the ‘snore-dourves!’” as you giggled, giving him a peck on the cheek he shot out a quick, “what a terrific audience.”

“Give me 20 minutes and I'll be ready,” you had told him with a happy sigh, succumbing to the fact that tonight you were going out. At least you had Jimmy, and that you could work into your favor.

Clyde always insisted his get-togethers were going to be “absolutely wild” but continued to invite the same people each time, which meant it went the same each time. Tolkien sat on the couch lazily watching some game Tweek and Craig had been playing, mindlessly scrolling through his phone. Wendy and Nichole were somewhere in the kitchen chatting as they snacked and drank while Clyde messed around with an aux cord in the corner. 

It was always a treat to see Jimmy with his friends, seeing the familiar camaraderie that only came from years of closeness and trust. It was a bond you grew to appreciate for your boyfriend as you knew he didn't get to see them as often as he'd like. 

Once the two of you separated to talk to others, you put your plan into action.

Jimmy could read a room like a damn picture book. It was a skill that helped immensely with his comedy, being able to analyze a crowd and figure out just the right way to twist his wording of a joke to have them crying in laughter. 

He definitely knew how to read you as well.

He knew when your eyes were on him, the pleasant sensation of prickles on his neck making him glance back at you. He knew what it meant when you kept bringing attention to your mouth, fingers innocently resting on plump lips like you didn’t know what it did to him. He figured out what you were playing at when he saw the way your thighs squeezed together as you bent forward to grab a beer from the fridge. Getting up he made some light excuse to need the bathroom and gripped your arm as he walked past, beer and conversation long forgotten. 

On the other end of the house sat the master bedroom, empty for the weekend with the Donovans out of town. Kicking open the door Jimmy led you inside, and before you could get a word in he was dragging you down onto the bed.

“You really couldn't w-w-wait til we got back home?” With a grin and a twinkle in his eyes he watched your face bloom. “I knew I was hot but je-jesus Christ, babe.”

“Well what can I say, I needed something to unwind after this week.”

“I can certainly help with that,” his grin turned feral as he yanked up your shirt, hands greedily kneading as he took to your lips. 

Jimmy always approached sex like this, with a ferocity that was almost primal. Feeling desired was one thing but he made it seem like you were the essence he needed to live. It was exciting and fun, two things you had realized you missed in previous relationships.

It was no surprise to you how good he was at distracting you. Through kisses and nips, it wasn't until your pants were around your ankles and his hand dropped into your panties did you realize how things had progressed. 

“This w-w-wet already? Bit of a dirty girl tonight,” he already had one finger inside, making you gasp. Fingers grasped his shirt, wrinkling the fabric as you felt the rumble of a chuckle through his chest. As he continued to pump his fingers, having added another digit after a second or two, Jimmy observed your face fondly.

Part of the reason he was like this was simply because of you. You responded to him in ways that drove him fucking crazy and he found it addicting. With a subtle squeeze of your ass or fingers lightly grazing under your top, you would lean into him in want, those eyes of yours telling him things that weren't exactly appropriate for the public.

And he fucking loved it.

With your hands in his hair he felt his mind falter. The way those fingers played along his scalp and tugged at the strands felt so incredibly good he was sure he could cream his pants from that alone. Not that he'd admit it to you, but he nearly had done so a few times on occasion. Tonight, however, he wanted so much more than that.

Jimmy got his pants and briefs off quick, knocking over the arm braces he set aside in his haste. He gave a sheepish smile as you laughed, and for a split second you could see him as a rambunctious boy, playing hard and fast with his friends regardless of what scrapes and bumps they'd receive. 

Whenever that happened you felt your heart swell. He truly was a phenomenal man, part of you only wished you had met him much earlier in life.

In an instant that image was gone and in its place was a man with longing in his eyes, hands gentle at your sides. He had started to position himself over you when you enacted the next part of your little scheme. Flipping him over you heard him grunt as his back hit the bed.

“F-feeling a little feisty tonight, are we?” His voice might have had that usual hint of humor in it, but those half lidded eyes revealed more to you. 

Deftly removing your panties, you proceeded to sit yourself down on his groin, cock situated between your folds. Jimmy looked down as you rocked, slick juices coating his member in a way that looked completely sinful. His eyes were hungry watching your hips move.

“It's not like you to t-take your time, horndog.”

“I think you're talking about you there, Jimmy,” you chuckled, laying palms flat onto his clothed chest. You continued grinding, enjoying the feel of his slick head hitting your clit each time you rocked forward. 

You could hear Jimmy's breathing start to stutter, and with that you decided to take a bit of pity on your little boyfriend. Reaching down you positioned him at your entrance, feeling his hands grip your thighs as you slowly sat back.

You felt yourself stretch deliciously with every inch, your eyelids fluttering closed at the fullness. Once you had gotten all of him inside you sat still, relishing the feeling.

You could feel his cock twitch, his fingers starting to imprint themselves upon the soft flesh of your legs as they dug in. Jimmy wanted to say, his lips opening and closing in an attempt to form the words, but they only caught in his throat. With a cheeky smile, you started moving at an agonizing pace, the man underneath you nearly sighing in relief. 

Despite how you wanted to drag this out, you started to move faster and harder, the wanton need for more of that feeling greater than anything else. Throwing your head back, you adjusted the angle, leaning backwards. Jimmy's hand automatically came up to your breasts, your shirt still bunched up above them. 

Jimmy was unabashedly loud, his moans no longer breathy and stifled. Part of you knew you should make him quiet down, but hearing just how good you made him feel caused you to clench around him, increasing his volume in turn.

With legs aching you couldn’t help but slow, focusing on grinding down with your orgasm just on the cusp. With hands moving to the fat of your ass, you felt Jimmy begin to move you, bouncing you onto him.

“Getting tired already?” Is voice was rough as you felt him start to thrust his hips to meet you, the light plap-plap-plap of skin reaching your ears, “makes me think you w-wanted to be used like a f-fucking toy.”

When he talked to you like that you felt yourself go dumb. You knew he wasn't actually talking down to you, or being mean, but the use of those words when he was fucking you like this was enough to push you over the edge.

Feeling you start to shake Jimmy picked up his pace, thrusting harder and harder into you as his hands held firm on your ass. It was almost too much and he knew it, your keening filling the bedroom.

Jimmy didn't even stop when the door banged open.

“Oh my god, man!” Clyde cried out, his voice exasperated, “can't you do that at your own home? My goddamn eyes…” The door slammed closed and you could faintly hear the sound of laughter down the hall as Clyde complained.

That broke it, Jimmy halting his motions as the two of you giggled and tittered. I guess you were right about Jimmy being so loud.

“Well,” you started as you both calmed down, “…we should continue this at home…” 

You started to move yourself off of him when he reached forward, bringing you down until you were flush against his chest.

“Don't think I didn't know w-what the hell you were doing, Y/N,” you felt him smile into your hair, a soft kiss pressed into your locks, “or are you not gonna f-finish what you started?”

With a slight buck of his hips, you were going at it once more, Jimmy somehow getting even louder to the displeasure of one brunette downstairs.

[tryandbehappy]

okay so since we’re already talking about beauty and the beast — let’s actually think about what usually happens next.

if we take that story literally, the beast doesn’t do anything dramatic to “win her back” after she leaves.

he just lets her go.and that’s enough.

because once she’s away from him, she realizes she can’t lose him. she loves him. and he has a good heart.

she goes back and saves him when he already thinks it’s too late. when he’s already fucking dying

she saves him just by loving him.

so now the question is — will nick do something big and dramatic? or has he already done everything he could?

because honestly? he kinda has ??

he already offered to run away. he risked everything.

he saved her and nichole, he helped with hannah,

he loved her at her darkest, respected her

he listened when she told him not to follow. he stayed soft. he stayed human.

and now he’s in this terrible situation not because he gave up, but because he tried. and honestly, it’s deeply unfair.

he did everything he could in the moment, and still ended up being blamed.

so the real question is does he need to prove anything to anyone?

this isn’t about his reputation or what other people think. this is about june and nick.

and she already knows who he is.

so maybe she’ll be the one to come back this time?

maybe she’ll realize from a distance that he was never the monster. that he was always trying.

and maybe that’s what will give him the strength to keep going and break free. or maybe he’ll do something small, quiet, that changes things again.

or big and dramatic? but at the end of the day, i honestly think he shouldn’t have to prove anything.

this is their story, not anyone else’s.

and she already knows the truth.

idk it kind of feels like if he does something big now, it would be just to prove to everyone that he’s a good guy

but like… that would be weird? nick has never been the loud hero.

i can’t picture him suddenly trying to be one just so people will clap for him. so yeah. anyways I have no idea where it’s going except that they are endgame 100000000000000000%

what do you guys think?

[camillecrellin]

Heyy, I see you write for orange is the new black<3! I was wondering if you could do headcanons on what it would be like if Nicky Nichols would have an age gap relationship (like maybe 5 years?) and she is overly protective of reader? Like fem pronouns maybe? Thank you so much I'd love that <3 it's totally your decision tho if you don't want to that's completely ok!

Nicky Nichols in an Age Gap Relationship Headcannons

Word Count: 392

Warnings: Mentions of hooking up, age gaps (5 years), prison, cuts, bleeding.

A/N: Thanks for requesting! Sorry it's taken so long, I've been really busy and got in a wirters block. Hopefully this is good! <333

You first came to prison when you were in your early 20s.

A minor crime you thought, but it ended up being a long-ish sentence.

You wanted to keep to yourself, but the resident prison lesbian, Nicky, had just broken it up with Lorna and was looking for a rebound.

Nicky didn't think anything at first when she started flirting with you. You were just a hook up.

But after hooking up, something clicked within Nicky, and she became yours.

At first when Nicky realised the age gap, she felt warry.

5 years wasn't much, but it was still something.

Sometimes talking about an event that happened or a tv show that was on when she was younger would have you looking at him weird.

Other times her references didn't land, or you'd bring up something that she had no idea existed. But that was just being in prison for 2 years prior.

But for most things, the age difference didn’t matter. It just made Nicky protective of you.

It wasn't long until Nicky became infamous in the prison for being almost too protective of you.

When you got your work assignments and bunks, Nicky pulled some strings with Luscheck and Caputo to make sure you ended up in both her bunk and electrical. Surprisingly, it works.

Nicky was nervous to introduce you to Red, but Red ended up loving you slightly more than Nicky giving the Nichols warnings not to "fuck up this relationship."

Nicky always leaves a space for you at mealtimes, and if you so much as 5 minutes late she is looking all over the prison for you.

One day in electrical you ended up cutting your finger slightly on metal. This made Nicky go mental at Lusheck claiming that he should have been watching over what you were doing.

"It's fine, Nick." You tried to reason, it was a small cut, but it hurt light hell.

"No, it's not, you're bleeding!"

Nicky ended up taking you to Gloria that day, given that she can do some "voodoo magic shit" to help heal your cut.

All round, Nicky wants to make you make sure your loved and appreciated in the world. She will constantly give affection to you, marking her territory so that no other girl tries to. And it works.

She all yours, and your all hers.

[otp-after-dark]

“You give faith to the people you love. But the people who really deserve it are the ones who come through even when you don’t love them enough.”

(Veronica Mars, but honestly, it might as well be about Nick Blaine.)

I'm knee deep in a Veronica Mars rewatch and this voiceover from Veronica hit me hard. It feels like it was written for Nick and June.

Because if there’s one person who’s consistently come through for June, no matter how little faith she’s shown in him lately, it’s Nick Blaine.

June gave her faith to Luke. She gave it to Moira. She even gave it to Lawrence, believing that maybe he’d do the right thing, that maybe he was the ally she needed.

But Nick? Nick has always been the man standing in the shadows, bleeding for her without being asked. Showing up even when it cost him everything. Making impossible choices and living with the fallout, even when she couldn’t say the words back.

June has always said she loves Nick. She said it in Season 2 when she finally whispered it after holding Holly/Nichole. She said it again in Season 4 when she couldn’t look at him without breaking. And she confirmed it again in Season 6.

But she’s never really given him her faith — not in the way he’s given it to her. Because faith isn’t just saying “I love you.” Faith is believing in someone’s intentions even when it gets dark. Faith is knowing who someone is, even when the world wants to paint them as something else. Faith is trusting that the man who’s saved you a thousand times isn’t the monster everyone else says he is.

And Nick has done that for June over and over. Even when she chose Luke. Even when she lied. Even when she walked away.

“The people who really deserve it are the ones who come through even when you don’t love them enough.”

This is what kills me about the current arc. Because right now, Nick is still coming through for June. He’s still making impossible choices to keep her safe. He’s still playing the role of the dutiful Gilead Commander to protect Holly/ Nichole. He’s still holding onto that fantasy of a life in Paris, even though June keeps telling him it’s impossible.

And what does he get for it? Accusations. Condemnation. A moral litmus test he was never going to pass because June’s the only one who ever got to walk away.

But that’s what makes Nick Nick. He keeps showing up, even when she doesn’t believe in him. He keeps bleeding, even when she calls him a monster. He keeps loving her, even when she’s already gone.

Nick Blaine has been that person for June since the beginning. And right now? He’s still that man. Because despite everything — the accusations, the betrayal, the moral judgment — he’s still standing there, waiting. Not because he thinks she’ll choose him. Not because he thinks she’ll finally see him. But because he’s the one who always comes through, even when she doesn’t love him enough to believe he will.

[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

She's Theirs: Secret Love Song

Title: Secret Love Song

Summary: Nick meets Phoenix for the first time and is invited to the Hard Deck to have drinks with the dagger squad.

Word Count: 12,409

Warnings: flirting, cuddling, light drinking, oral m!receiving, p in v, double penetration, praise kink, sir kink, dirty talk, slight dom Jake, slight dom Bradley

Tags: smut

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter five. The smut part of the chapter is an 11 out of 10 on the hot scale so you have been warned! I feel like I might need a hot meter going forward so y'all know just how raunchy a chapter is! Also if you'd like to be tagged in future chapters let me know!

"Captain Mitchell, do you have a moment?"

Nick paused as she noticed her father speaking with a woman about her age, her dark brown hair pulled into a tight bun.

He smiled brightly. "Hey, kiddo, what’s up?"

"I can come back if you want—"

"No, it’s okay. Stay. I’d like you to meet someone." Pete gestured toward the woman. "This is Natasha. Natasha, this is my daughter, Nick."

"Nichole," Nick said, extending her hand while studying Natasha with casual intensity. "But everyone calls me Nick."

Natasha shook her hand firmly, her brown eyes widening slightly in recognition. "Mitchell’s daughter. I should have made the connection." Her tone carried the crisp precision of someone accustomed to briefing rooms. "Natasha Trace—but most people call me Phoenix. Your father speaks highly of your engineering work."

"Does he now?" Nick smirked, casting a glance at Pete. "That’s new."

Pete crossed his arms, his flight jacket creaking slightly. "I always give credit where it’s due."

"Phoenix is one of our top instructors," he continued, using her callsign with a level of respect Nick rarely heard him extend to others. "Just set a new course record on the canyon run."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."

Phoenix shrugged with practiced modesty. "Your father’s course is designed to push limits. I just found the edge."

Nick took a moment to assess Phoenix further—not with admiration, but rather with analytical curiosity. She stood balanced, grounded, every movement economical and intentional. It was the stance of someone who thrived under pressure.

"The edge is where things get interesting," Nick mused, leaning against Pete’s desk. "Though I usually find myself a little past it."

Pete snorted. "Like father, like daughter."

"God help us all," Nick quipped.

An awkward silence settled for a brief moment before Phoenix turned her attention back to Nick.

"A bunch of us are heading to the Hard Deck for drinks. You’re welcome to join."

"I don’t think—" Pete began, but Nick cut him off.

"Actually, that sounds perfect. I could use a drink after the day I’ve had." She flashed a signature Mitchell smile—the one that always seemed to get her what she wanted.

Phoenix remained neutral, but something flickered in her expression. "Nineteen hundred hours. Don’t be late."

"I’m never late for a good time," Nick replied, the challenge evident in her tone.

Phoenix smiled slightly. "I like you. I think you’ll fit right in with the rest of the team."

"Can’t wait."

As Phoenix excused herself with a crisp nod, Nick couldn’t help but track the way she left—controlled, precise, completely self-assured. There was an effortless confidence in the way she carried herself, like someone who knew exactly how much space she took up and how to use it. It reminded Nick of the way seasoned pilots walked onto the tarmac—focused, intentional, always in command. She wondered if people studied her the same way when she left a room.

Pete cleared his throat. "So what brings you by, kiddo?"

"Finally got around to calling Mom back—so she’ll stop bugging you now. My boxes should arrive tomorrow."

"Took you long enough," Pete muttered, sliding a folder across his desk. "She called me twice this week."

"I was busy setting up some new lab equipment," Nick protested, leaning against the desk’s edge. "Besides, since when do you two talk more than once a year?"

"Since our daughter took a contract job at my base without telling either of us until the last minute," Pete said, his tone measured but his jaw tight.

Nick exhaled. "I told you both as soon as it was confirmed. And it’s not like I’m some teenager. I’m thirty-two with my own career."

"A career that’s now intertwined with mine," Pete pointed out. "You know how things can get around here."

Nick rolled her eyes. "Dad, I’m a civilian contractor working on propulsion systems. I’m not exactly a rogue pilot stirring up drama."

"And I’m one of the commanding officers responsible for maintaining the integrity of this program." Pete’s voice carried that familiar edge—the one that intimidated cadets and several of her past boyfriends but had never quite worked on her. "The last thing I need is people thinking my daughter is getting special treatment."

"Or for your daughter to embarrass the great Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell?" Nick shot back, her green eyes flashing. "Relax. I’ll be on my best behavior."

Pete’s stance softened slightly. "That’s what worries me. Your ‘best behavior’ usually involves breaking something expensive."

Nick grinned despite herself. "Only when it leads to making something better." She pushed off the desk. "Anyway, I’m here for the engines, not to crash your planes."

"Just try not to set anything on fire this time." Pete smirked.

"That was one time, and it was already broken when I got there."

Pete chuckled. "Well, don’t let me keep you from making new friends at the Hard Deck."

Nick nodded. "I’ll let you know what Mom ended up sending me."

She gave him a parting glance before heading out to change for the night.

The Hard Deck was already humming with energy when Nick pushed through the door at precisely 1905 hours—early enough to seem eager, late enough to make an entrance.

Most of the people she'd be meeting tonight knew her dad, and she wanted to make a good impression. She wanted them to like her for her, not because they felt obligated to.

As she rounded the bar, she spotted Phoenix heading toward her.

"Hey, you made it! I'd love for you to meet the gang—we're in the back playing pool."

"Okay. Lead the way."

She followed Phoenix to the pool table, where a man in a pale green Hawaiian shirt stood, looking familiar.

"Nick, I'd like you to meet my good friend Rooster."

Time seemed to falter as he turned, his eyes locking onto hers the instant he moved. The laughter and music of the bar faded into a distant hum, the motion of others reduced to a blur at the edges of her vision.

Her breath caught in her chest, pulse quickening as the world tilted slightly off-axis. The air between them felt heavier, charged with an unspoken tension only they could understand. In that moment, it was just the two of them—an invisible thread tightening, pulling them into a silent reckoning.

Bradley, Jake, and her had agreed to keep what they were doing hidden. But not once had they discussed what they would do if faced with something like this.

Rooster's eyes widened in recognition, his pool cue freezing mid-chalk. For a split second, Nick saw panic flicker across his face before he masked it with a casual smile.

"Bradley Bradshaw," he said, extending his hand as if they were meeting for the first time. His palm was warm against hers, fingers squeezing slightly—a silent message. "Heard a lot about you."

"All bad, I hope," Nick replied smoothly, falling into the charade with practiced ease. The whole exchange lasted seconds but felt like minutes, her mind racing through implications.

Phoenix glanced between them. "You two know each other?"

"I only know her by reputation," Rooster said quickly. "She was mentioned in one of my briefings."

"Just by reputation," Nick echoed, picking up the cue from Bradley seamlessly. Her heart hammered, but her voice remained steady. "Though I'm starting to think my reputation precedes me a little too much around here."

Phoenix's gaze lingered between them, sharp and assessing. For a moment, Nick worried she'd picked up on the tension crackling in the air.

"Well, Maverick's daughter working on base is big news," Phoenix finally said with a shrug. "Hard to keep secrets in a place like this."

Nick nearly choked on the irony. If only Phoenix knew about the secrets she was keeping—with the man standing right in front of her.

"Let me introduce you to everyone else," Phoenix continued, leading Nick toward the pool table where four other pilots were gathered. "This is Hangman, Coyote, Fanboy, and Payback."

Jake’s eyes locked onto hers, his pool cue pausing mid-stroke. The cocky smile that seemed permanently etched on his face faltered for just a fraction of a second before shifting into something more deliberate, more calculated.

He hadn't expected her to be here. And judging by her expression, she hadn’t expected him either.

"Well, well," he drawled, straightening to his full height. "The Mitchell legacy continues." He extended his hand with theatrical flourish. "Jake Seresin. They call me Hangman."

Nick took his hand, feeling the slight pressure of his fingers—another silent signal passing between them. "Charmed, I'm sure," she replied, matching his tone perfectly. "Though I have to ask about the callsign. Something to do with your execution style?"

The group laughed, and Jake’s eyes flashed with appreciation for her quick recovery.

"Something like that," he replied, twirling his pool cue. "I leave 'em hanging."

Coyote, Fanboy, and Payback introduced themselves in a blur of handshakes and call sign explanations that Nick barely registered. Her mind was too busy calculating angles, like she was in one of the flight simulators her father always wanted her to try—except this time, the danger was crashing into a social disaster rather than a mountainside.

"So, Mitchell's daughter," Hangman said, leaning against the pool table with studied nonchalance. "You're the engineering genius I keep hearing about. Here to fix our birds or clip our wings?"

"Depends on how good you are at flying," Nick shot back, accepting a beer from Phoenix. She took a long sip, grateful for the distraction. "I’m just here to make sure your engines can keep up with your egos—whether or not *you* can is another story."

The group erupted in laughter and a chorus of amused reactions, Coyote slapping Hangman on the shoulder.

"She got you there, Hangman," Coyote chortled.

Jake's smile remained fixed, but Nick could see the heat in his eyes—that familiar intensity that usually preceded him pinning her against the nearest wall when they were alone. The thought sent a flush of warmth across her skin, completely unrelated to the crowded bar.

"I assure you," Jake said, voice dropping just slightly, "my equipment has never had any performance issues."

Rooster coughed into his beer, and Nick bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

"Let's play," Phoenix announced, racking the balls. "Nick, you want in on this game? Girls against boys?"

"Absolutely," Nick replied, relieved for the shift in focus. "Fair warning, though—I grew up in bars like this."

"Perfect," Phoenix said with a wink, handing her a cue.

"Then I guess it's Rooster and me against you two," Jake said, surprising everyone.

"Hangman and Rooster teaming up?" Phoenix raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Fanboy. "That's a first."

"What can I say?" Jake shrugged, his eyes never leaving Nick's face. "I'm feeling... cooperative tonight."

Nick took the pool cue from Phoenix, testing its weight with practiced ease. "Don't worry, we'll still crush them."

As Phoenix racked the balls, Nick felt the unmistakable weight of both Jake and Bradley's gazes on her. This was dangerous territory—all three of them together in public, pretending they were strangers while carrying the heat of shared secrets. One wrong move, one lingering glance held too long, and everything they'd carefully hidden could unravel.

"Ladies break," Phoenix announced, stepping back from the table.

Nick leaned over to line up her shot, acutely aware of both men watching her. She positioned herself over the cue ball, exhaling slowly to steady her hands.

As she bent forward, she caught Jake’s eyes tracking the curve of her body, his familiar hungry look making her grip tighten on the cue. Across the table, Bradley was focused on his beer bottle, though the tension in his jaw betrayed him.

She struck the ball with perfect precision, sending the rack exploding across the table. Two striped balls dropped neatly into corner pockets.

"Beginner’s luck," Jake drawled, but his eyes were dark with something that had nothing to do with pool.

"Oh, honey," Nick smiled sweetly, circling the table to line up her next shot. "There’s nothing beginner about me."

Phoenix laughed, raising her beer in appreciation. "I think I'm going to like having you around, Mitchell."

When Jake thought no one was looking, he walked over to Bradley and casually turned to him, speaking in a low voice only he could hear.

"Did she tell you she was coming here tonight?"

Bradley kept his eyes locked on the game, his voice barely audible. "No. Did she tell you?"

"Obviously not," Jake muttered, taking a swig of his beer. "This complicates things."

Nick sank another ball, high-fiving Phoenix as she circled back around the table. She passed close enough to the men that her shoulder brushed Bradley's arm—a touch that could be dismissed as accidental but sent electricity through all three of them.

"Your shot, gentlemen," she announced, stepping back with a satisfied smirk.

Jake moved forward, his swagger more pronounced than usual. "Watch and learn, ladies." He lined up his shot, muscles flexing beneath his fitted t-shirt as he leaned over the table.

Nick found herself staring at the familiar curve of his back, remembering how those muscles felt under her fingers just two nights ago. When she glanced up, she caught Phoenix watching her with sharp, curious eyes.

"Impressive form, isn't it?" Phoenix commented, her tone casual but her gaze piercing.

Nick took another sip of her beer to hide her flush. "I've seen better."

Jake sank his shot with effortless precision, then straightened with that infuriating smirk. "Have you now?"

"Don't encourage him," Phoenix groaned. "His ego barely fits in the cockpit as it is."

The game continued, tension building with each exchange. Nick found herself performing a delicate balancing act—acting just friendly enough with Jake and Bradley to seem normal, but not so familiar that anyone would suspect. Every casual brush of hands as they passed pool cues, every loaded glance when others weren't looking, felt like playing with fire.

"So, Nick," Phoenix said as she lined up her shot, "what made you decide to take a contract at your dad's base? If you're anything like him, it seems like having two Mitchells on base is asking for trouble."

Nick shrugged, leaning against the wall. "The project was too good to pass up. Besides," she added with a wry smile, "trouble has never been something I've tried to avoid."

"I'll drink to that," Jake said, raising his glass in her direction. Their eyes met for a fraction too long before Nick deliberately looked away.

Bradley cleared his throat. "Your dad must be thrilled to have you around."

She smiled. "I wouldn't say thrilled," Nick replied, circling the table to line up her next shot. "More like cautiously optimistic that I won't blow up his base."

"You make a habit of blowing things up?" Phoenix asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nick bent over the table, focusing on the cue ball. "Only when necessary." She struck with precision, sinking another striped ball. "I prefer to think of it as aggressive problem-solving."

Jake snorted. "That sounds familiar. Isn't that what they wrote in your file after the Taiwan exercise, Rooster?"

Bradley shot him a warning look, which Nick caught from the corner of her eye. The tension between them was palpable—a silent conversation happening beneath the banter.

"Corner pocket," Nick called, deliberately changing the subject. She missed the shot by millimeters and straightened with a grimace. "Damn," she muttered, stepping back from the table.

"My turn," Bradley said, moving forward with measured steps. As he passed Nick, his arm brushed against hers—a touch that sent a jolt through her system.

"Careful," she said, voice pitched low. "Don't scratch."

His eyes met hers briefly. "I never do."

The double meaning hung between them like smoke—unspoken but suffocating in its intensity. Bradley leaned over the table, his form precise and controlled as he lined up his shot. Nick found herself watching the way his fingers gripped the cue—the same fingers that had mapped every inch of her body just days ago.

When he sank two balls in one shot, Phoenix whistled appreciatively. "Nice one, Rooster."

Jake clapped him on the shoulder, his hand lingering just a second too long for two men who barely tolerated each other.

"Look at you two, actually working together," Phoenix remarked, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Hell must be freezing over."

"We have our moments," Jake replied, his trademark smirk firmly in place. He leaned against the wall, beer bottle dangling from his fingers. "Right, Bradshaw?"

Bradley nodded curtly, already focusing on his next shot. "I hate to admit it, but we do."

Nick bit her lip to suppress a laugh. She knew exactly how well these two could work together when properly motivated. The memory of them moving in perfect synchronicity around her apartment last weekend flashed through her mind—Jake's commanding presence balanced by Bradley's meticulous attention to detail, both focused entirely on her.

"Your shot, Hangman," Bradley said, stepping back from the table after sinking another ball.

As Jake moved forward, he lowered his voice so only Nick could hear him. "We need to talk, darlin’."

"Later," Nick murmured, pretending to study the table as Jake lined up his shot.

The muscles in his forearms flexed as he drew back the cue, and Nick found herself transfixed by the familiar sight. When Jake glanced up and caught her staring, the corner of his mouth twitched in that knowing way that always made her pulse quicken.

"Eight ball, corner pocket," he called, executing the shot with flawless precision. The black ball rolled smoothly into the designated pocket, and Jake straightened with a triumphant grin. "Game."

Phoenix groaned. "Dammit. I hate losing to Hangman. His victory laps last for days."

"Weeks, actually," Jake corrected, setting his cue against the wall. "But I'll try to be humble about it."

"That'll be a first," Bradley muttered, though there was no malice in his words.

Nick found herself in a surreal situation—playing pool with two men she'd been intimately involved with for weeks, pretending they were strangers, while simultaneously trying to build a genuine connection with Phoenix, who seemed incredibly perceptive.

Fanboy, leaning against a beam, cleared his throat. "I need another beer and some food. Anyone else?"

Payback nodded. "I could eat."

Coyote agreed.

"Beer and wings it is. Nick, you want anything?" Phoenix asked.

"Another beer would be great, thanks."

"I'll be back with your drink then," Phoenix offered, following Fanboy toward the bar.

The moment they were out of earshot, Nick stepped closer to Jake and Bradley, her voice barely above a whisper. "What the hell are we doing?"

"Playing it cool," Jake replied, his casual posture at odds with the intensity in his eyes. "Like three people who definitely aren't sleeping together."

Bradley ran a hand through his short hair, his expression tense. "This is exactly why we need to keep things quiet. If anyone starts putting pieces together…" His gaze flickered toward Phoenix, lingering slightly. "She’s sharp. I caught her watching us earlier—maybe nothing, but we can’t afford slip-ups."

Nick’s stomach twisted. She hadn’t noticed Phoenix watching them, but Bradley was more observant than most.

"She doesn’t know anything," Nick insisted, though she wasn’t entirely convinced. "But we need a plan. We can't just avoid each other on base or anytime we're out in public."

"We don’t," Jake said, leaning against the pool table with his arms crossed. "We establish a baseline now. Three people who just met, maybe become friends. Nothing suspicious about that."

"I really wish you told us you were coming here tonight," Bradley admitted.

"I could say the same thing. Jake’s text said you had plans with 'the boys' tonight."

"Yeah, the boys—as in our squadron. Who you're now drinking with." Jake ran a hand through his hair, a rare tell of his agitation. "This is exactly what we agreed to avoid."

Nick didn’t like the tension radiating from them. It wasn’t fair. Her being here wasn’t planned—if Phoenix hadn’t invited her, they wouldn’t be dealing with this.

"You're mad at me, and I don’t want either of you mad at me. I didn’t plan this. Honest."

Bradley's expression softened instantly. "We're not mad," he said, voice dropping lower. "Just caught off guard."

"Speak for yourself," Jake muttered, though the tension in his shoulders eased when he met Nick's eyes. "Fine. Not mad. But this is complicated enough without surprise public appearances."

"I know," Nick sighed, glancing toward the bar to make sure Phoenix wasn’t returning yet. "She invited me when she was in my dad’s office. How was I supposed to know this was your regular hangout?"

"It’s the only bar within twenty miles of the base," Jake pointed out, his lips curving into a reluctant smirk. "Where did you think we spent our nights when we weren’t with you?"

Nick rolled her eyes. "I don’t know. Figured you had secret pilot things to do. Ironing your flight suits or polishing your ego."

Bradley laughed. "We save that for Sunday nights."

"We just need to communicate better in the future," Jake said. "And if we stick to my plan, we should be fine."

"I feel bad putting you both in this position," Nick admitted. "But my dad would lose it if he found out. And I don’t think it would go over well with everyone else. What we’re doing isn’t exactly socially acceptable. They wouldn’t understand."

Jake’s expression darkened as he moved imperceptibly closer. "I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks is acceptable," he whispered, his voice carrying that dangerous edge that always sent shivers down her spine. "But I do care about your position at the base—and Rooster's career."

Bradley nodded, his eyes scanning the room to ensure they weren’t being watched. "We all agreed to these terms. It’s just... uncharted territory having you here tonight."

Nick had seen commercials for a TV show about a polyamorous family—the husband had four wives, living openly on national television. If he could do that, why couldn't she be the same way with Bradley and Jake?

"I just wish we didn’t have to keep this a secret."

"California may be progressive, darlin’, but it’s not that progressive. Neither is the Navy," Jake said.

"I know," Nick sighed, looking between them. Her voice dropped even lower. "It’s just... I hate pretending I don’t know how your voice sounds first thing in the morning, or the way Bradley hums when he makes coffee."

Jake’s eyes darkened, his gaze possessive. "Trust me, I’m not thrilled about watching other men check you out and not being able to do a damn thing about it."

"Heads up," Bradley muttered suddenly, his posture shifting into casual indifference as Phoenix approached with drinks.

"One beer," Phoenix announced, handing the bottle to Nick. "The guys are ordering food if you're hungry."

"Thanks," Nick smiled, taking a deliberate step away from both men. "So what’s the next game? I want a chance to redeem myself."

Phoenix glanced between them, her expression unreadable. "Actually, Fanboy suggested we switch to darts. Apparently, he's sick of watching Hangman gloat."

"Darts it is," Nick agreed quickly, grateful for the change. She needed physical distance from both men before she did something reckless—like reach for Bradley’s hand or brush against Jake’s chest the way she would if they were alone.

As they moved toward the dartboard, Phoenix fell into step beside Nick.

"So," Phoenix said casually, "how are you finding Top Gun so far? Must be strange working where your dad is basically a legend."

Nick smiled, taking a sip of her beer. "It's definitely... interesting. The shadow's pretty big, but I'm used to carving my own path."

"I can respect that," Phoenix nodded. "Though between us, your dad's one of the more likable superior officers on base."

"I'll be sure to tell him you said that," Nick teased, watching as Jake set up the dartboard with Bradley hovering nearby. "Though I doubt he'd believe anyone described him as 'likable.'"

Phoenix laughed, the sound genuine and warm. "Fair point. 'Terrifying but fair' might be more accurate."

As they approached the dartboard, Jake twirled a dart between his fingers with casual precision. "Ladies first?" he offered, his eyes lingering on Nick just a second too long.

"Such a gentleman," Nick remarked dryly, accepting a set of darts from Bradley. Their fingers brushed during the exchange, and that familiar spark of electricity raced up her arm.

"Don't let the manners fool you," Bradley said, his voice carrying the dry tone she'd come to adore. "He's only offering because he thinks you'll lose."

"I'll take my chances," Nick replied, stepping up to the line. She weighed the dart in her hand, feeling the familiar balance of it. With a fluid motion, she sent it sailing straight into the bullseye.

Phoenix let out a low whistle. "Damn, Mitchell. You've been holding out on us."

"My dad taught me to throw darts when I was eight," Nick shrugged, twirling her second dart between her fingers. "He said it was about precision under pressure—and a little bit of 'don’t think, just do.'"

"Sounds like Maverick," Bradley commented, his eyes watching her with that quiet intensity that always made her feel exposed.

Jake leaned against the wall, beer bottle dangling from his fingers. "Let's see if you can do it again, darlin'."

The endearment slipped out so naturally that Nick almost didn't catch it. But Bradley's slight stiffening and Phoenix's quick glance between them made Nick's heart skip a beat.

"Watch me," she replied smoothly, turning back to the board. She threw her second dart, landing it right next to the first. "And don’t call me 'darlin.' We just met, remember?"

The last part was delivered with a pointed look that Jake answered with a lazy smile.

"My mistake," he drawled. "I call all pretty women 'darlin.' Bad habit."

Phoenix rolled her eyes. "Hangman flirts with anything that moves. Don't take it personally."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Nick said, throwing her final dart. It struck just outside the bullseye. "Damn."

"Still impressive," Bradley offered, stepping up to take his turn.

As the game progressed, Nick found herself settling into an unexpected rhythm. With each round of darts, each drink, the initial panic of their collision of worlds began to ease. They'd established a believable dynamic—Nick the newcomer, Bradley the reserved professional, Jake the shameless flirt. To anyone watching, they were just squadron mates showing the boss's daughter a good time.

"Another round?" Phoenix asked as she collected the darts after soundly beating Fanboy.

"I should probably call it a night," Nick said, checking her watch. "Early meeting tomorrow with the propulsion team."

Jake stretched casually. "Yeah, I should head out too. Early test flight."

Bradley's eyes flicked between them, a flash of understanding in his gaze. "Same here."

Phoenix cocked her head slightly. "We finally get rid of Hangman, and you two want to go?"

Nick laughed. "Well, when you put it like that... but seriously, I do have to go. I promise we can do this again sometime."

"Alright, alright," Phoenix conceded, holding up her hands. "I know when I'm beaten. But I'm holding you to that promise, Mitchell. Next time, we're doing tequila shots."

Nick grinned. "You're on."

The group dispersed with casual goodbyes, each of them careful to maintain appropriate distance. Nick shrugged into her leather jacket, deliberately taking her time as Bradley and Jake headed for separate exits.

"It was nice meeting you all," she called out, waving to the remaining pilots. "See you around base."

The cool night air hit her face as she stepped outside, a welcome relief from the stuffy bar. She walked toward her Jeep Wrangler parked at the far end of the lot, keys jingling in her hand. Footsteps behind her made her slow down.

"Nice performance in there," Jake's voice came low and smooth from behind. "You almost had me believing we were strangers."

Nick turned to find both Jake and Bradley approaching, maintaining careful distance between them as they crossed the dimly lit parking lot. Her pulse quickened at the sight of them—Jake with his confident swagger, Bradley with his measured stride.

"I could say the same for you two," she replied, leaning against her Jeep. "Though 'darlin'' was pushing it, Hangman."

Jake's smile was unapologetic as he stopped just close enough to be teasing, but far enough to look casual to any onlookers. "Slipped out. You know what you do to me."

Bradley glanced around the parking lot, ensuring they were alone. "We need to be more careful. Phoenix was watching you both."

"Phoenix watches everyone," Jake dismissed.

Nick shifted her weight, exhaling. "Now that the night's over—where to next? My place or…?"

"My place," Jake said decisively, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that always sent heat pooling in Nick's belly. "It's furthest from base. Less chance of anyone spotting us."

Bradley nodded in agreement. "I'll follow in my car. We should take separate routes."

Nick sighed. "You two are being paranoid," though she knew they were right. "But fine—separate cars, staggered departures."

Jake stepped closer, his eyes dark with intent. "Twenty minutes. And Nick?" His voice lowered to a whisper. "Make sure to wear that leather jacket. I want to see you in that tonight... and nothing else."

A shiver ran down her spine. "Demanding tonight, aren't we?"

"You have no idea," he murmured, then stepped back to a respectable distance as a group of pilots exited the bar.

Bradley's eyes met hers, that steady intensity in his gaze speaking volumes. "Twenty minutes," he repeated, softer than Jake but no less commanding. "Drive safe."

Nick nodded, sliding into her Jeep. As she started the engine, she watched through her rearview mirror as both men returned to their respective vehicles, maintaining the careful charade they'd established.

The drive to Jake's place felt interminable. Nick kept checking her mirrors—partly from the paranoia Bradley had instilled, partly from the mounting anticipation. By the time she pulled up to Jake’s apartment on the outskirts of town, her knuckles were white against the steering wheel.

She parked in her usual spot and walked up the darkened path toward Jake’s building, noticing Bradley’s car already parked a few spaces away.

Pressing the elevator button, she barely had time to register the hum of machinery before the doors slid open. The ride to the second floor was brief, and when she reached Jake’s apartment, she didn’t bother knocking—just let herself in.

The apartment was dimly lit, music playing softly from hidden speakers. Nick shrugged off her jacket, then remembered Jake’s command and slipped it back on.

"Twenty-two minutes," Jake’s voice came from the kitchen doorway. He leaned against the frame, shirt unbuttoned, glass of whiskey in hand. "You’re late."

"Traffic," she lied, knowing full well he’d see through it. She enjoyed pushing his buttons almost as much as she enjoyed what happened afterward.

Bradley emerged from the living room, his expression more measured than Jake’s but no less intense. He’d already removed his shoes and rolled up his sleeves—the small rituals that signaled his transition from Lieutenant Bradley Bradshaw to simply Bradley, hers and Jake’s.

"You almost blew our cover tonight."

"Rooster’s right, darlin'. I wish we could’ve gotten a warning."

Nick tossed her keys onto the side table with a sigh. "I already explained—I didn’t know you’d be there. Phoenix invited me right in front of my dad. What was I supposed to say? 'Sorry, can’t come because I’m secretly sleeping with two of your pilots?'"

Jake set his whiskey down and crossed the room in three long strides, his fingers tracing the edge of her leather jacket, sending shivers across her skin.

"I’m not mad that you came," he said, voice dropping to that dangerous register that made her knees weak. "I’m mad that I had to sit there for two hours watching you without being able to touch you."

Bradley approached from the other side, his movements more deliberate than Jake’s predatory stalking. "We need a better system," he said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind Nick’s ear.

Jake ignored Bradley’s comment and circled her slowly, every step deliberate. "You’re wearing the jacket. Good girl."

The praise sent a familiar shiver down her spine. "I follow orders when they’re worth following."

"And mine are?" Jake asked, coming to a stop behind her. His breath hot against her neck. One hand came to rest possessively on her hip while the other pushed her hair aside, exposing the sensitive skin below her ear.

"Sometimes," Nick whispered, her pulse quickening as his lips brushed against her pulse point. "When you ask nicely."

Bradley moved closer, his steady presence a counterpoint to Jake's barely restrained intensity. "And when he doesn't ask nicely?" His voice was quiet but carried that underlying authority that always made her breath catch.

"Then I make him work for it," she replied.

Jake's laugh was low and dangerous against her skin. "Is that what you think happens, darlin'?" His grip tightened slightly on her hip. "You were the one squirming in that bar, trying not to look at me every time I bent over the pool table. If anyone will be working for it, it will be you.”

Nick leaned back against Jake’s chest, her eyes locked with Bradley’s. "Maybe I just enjoy keeping you both on your toes," she murmured, savoring the way Jake’s breath hitched against her neck. "Having two Top Gun pilots at my command has its perks."

"Is that what you think this is?" Jake whispered, his teeth grazing her earlobe. "You in command?"

Bradley stepped closer, his hand coming up to trace the line of her jaw. The tenderness in his touch contrasted with the intensity in his eyes.”

"Is that what you think this is?" Jake whispered, his teeth grazing her earlobe. "You in command?"

Bradley stepped closer, his hand coming up to trace the line of her jaw. The tenderness in his touch contrasted with the intensity in his eyes. "I think we need to remind her who's really in charge here."

Nick's pulse quickened. This was the dance they'd perfected over weeks—Bradley's methodical approach balancing Jake's raw intensity, both of them working in perfect harmony despite their differences.

Jakes hand slid beneath her jacket, disappointed to find cotton fabric over her skin at her waist. "I thought I told you I wanted you in nothing but this jacket?"

Bradleys’s eyes darkened as he watched Jake's hands on her. That was something Nick had discovered early in their arrangement—Bradley enjoyed watching almost as much as participating. The thought of being caught between them, the focus of both their attention after hours of pretending indifference, made her dizzy with anticipation.

"You did," Nick admitted, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper. "But I figured I'd make you work for it. After all, you both left me hanging at the bar with nothing but meaningful glances and 'accidental' touches."

Jake's hand tightened on her waist, his other hand coming up to grip her chin, turning her face toward him. "Defiant as always," he murmured, his lips hovering just above hers. "That's going to cost you."

“Oh no.” She feigned concern. “Whatever will the big bad Lieutenant Seresin do to me?”

Jake's eyes narrowed, that predatory gleam intensifying. "Bradley, what do you think? Should we show her exactly what happens when she decides to be difficult?"

Bradley moved closer, his steady presence now radiating heat as he stood before her. "I think," he said deliberately, each word measured, "that someone needs to learn the consequences of teasing two pilots all night."

Nick felt her breath catch. This was the Bradley few people ever saw—the one who shed his careful control in private, revealing the intensity he kept leashed during daylight hours.

"And if I don't want to learn?" she challenged, even as her body betrayed her with a slight shiver.

Jake's laugh was low and dangerous against her ear. "That's not how this works, darlin'. Not tonight."

In one fluid motion, he spun her around, so she was facing him.

“Undress. Now.”

Nick's heart raced at Jake's command, his tone leaving no room for argument. The air between them practically crackled with tension.

"Yes, sir," she replied with the honorific, her voice deliberately provocative as she held his gaze. She reached for the hem of her shirt with deliberate slowness, dragging it upward inch by inch, revealing her flat stomach and the black lace of her bra.

Bradley moved to Jake's side, their shoulders almost touching as they watched her.

"Faster," Bradley said quietly, the command all the more powerful for its softness.

Nick complied, shedding her jacket and pulling her shirt over her head and letting it drop to the floor. Her jeans followed, sliding down her long legs until she stood before them in nothing but black lingerie and her black boots.

Jake walked over to where his flight jacket was and picked it up. “Put this on. I want to see how you look in it.”

Nick raised an eyebrow but took the flight jacket from Jake's outstretched hand. The leather was warm and heavy, smelling of aviation fuel and Jake's cologne. She slipped it on, the oversized jacket hanging off her shoulders, sleeves extending past her fingertips.

"How do I look Sir?" she asked, striking a mock pose.

Jake's eyes darkened as he circled her, drinking in the sight of her nearly naked body draped in his squadron jacket. "Like you belong to us," he murmured.

Bradley stepped closer, his fingers tracing the squadron patch on the sleeve. "Like our secret," he added, voice low and intimate.

Nick felt a thrilling shiver at their possessive tones. "Is that what I am? Your secret?"

"Our everything," Bradley corrected, his hand sliding beneath the jacket to trace her spine.

Jake moved in front of her, eyes blazing with barely contained desire. "And right now, our everything is going to do exactly what she's told." His voice dropped to that commanding tone that never failed to make her pulse race. "On your knees."

Nick held his gaze for a moment, that familiar battle of wills that always heightened the tension between them. Then, slowly, deliberately, she sank to her knees, the oversized flight jacket pooling around her.

Bradley moved behind her, his hands gentle but firm as they gathered her hair away from her face. "Good girl," he murmured, the praise sending warmth through her veins.

Jake unbuckled his belt, the sound of leather sliding through loops impossibly loud in the quiet apartment. "You've been thinking about this all night, haven't you?" he asked, his voice rough with desire. "Us taking you home and having our way with you?”

She nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

"Open," Jake commanded, his thumb brushing her bottom lip.

Nick obeyed, her eyes locked on his as Jake slid his thumb into her mouth. She sucked gently, a preview of what was to come. Behind her, Bradley's hands slid under the flight jacket, unclasping her bra with practiced ease.

"I've been thinking about this since you walked into that bar," Jake murmured, withdrawing his thumb and replacing it with two fingers. "Watching you pretend you didn't know exactly how I taste."

Bradley pressed against her back, his lips finding the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. "How we both taste," he corrected, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her.

Nick moaned around Jake's fingers, the dual sensation of Bradley's mouth on her neck and Jake's fingers between her lips sending heat coursing through her body. She felt owned.

Jake withdrew his fingers slowly, trailing wetness across her bottom lip. "Look at you," he murmured, voice thick with desire. "So eager for us already."

Behind her, Bradley's hands slid around to cup her breasts, now freed from her bra. His touch was methodical but gentle, thumbs circling her nipples with practiced precision. "Tell us what you want, Nick," he whispered against her ear, his breath hot against her skin.

"Both of you," she answered without hesitation, her voice husky with need. "I want both of you."

Jake unbuttoned his jeans, pushing them down along with his boxers. "More specific, darlin'. Tell us exactly what you want."

Nick's eyes darkened as she looked up at him. "I want to taste you while Bradley watches. I want him to see exactly what I can do to you."

A low growl escaped Jake's throat as his hand tangled in her hair. "Then show him," he commanded, guiding her forward.

Nick didn't hesitate, wrapping her lips around him with practiced skill. She heard Bradley's sharp intake of breath behind her, felt his hands tighten on her breasts. This was the dynamic they'd perfected—Jake commanding, Bradley observing, both of them worshipping her body in their own distinct ways.

Jake's head fell back, eyes closing briefly as Nick took him deeper. "Fuck," he breathed, his grip tightening in her hair. "She's so good at this, Rooster."

Bradley's hands slid down her body, tracing the curve of her spine beneath the oversized flight jacket. "I know," he murmured, voice thick with desire. His fingers dipped beneath the lace of her panties, finding her already wet and wanting. "So responsive."

Nick moaned around Jake, the vibration making him curse under his breath. The sensation of Bradley's fingers exploring her while she pleasured Jake was overwhelming—the perfect balance of giving and receiving that characterized their relationship.

"That's it, darlin'," Jake encouraged, his voice strained as he watched her take him deeper. "Show Bradley exactly what that pretty mouth can do."

Bradley slid one finger inside her, then another, his movements languidly slow. "I need to feel that pretty mouth on me." He whispered against her ear, his free hand working open his belt. "Need you to share that mouth of yours."

Nick pulled back from Jake, her lips glistening and swollen. "Yes sir," she breathed, turning her head toward Bradley while continuing to stroke Jake with her hand.

Bradley had unbuckled his belt and freed himself, his eyes dark with desire as he guided himself to her waiting mouth. Nick took him eagerly, moaning as Bradley's fingers continued their rhythmic exploration between her legs.

"Fuck," Bradley groaned, his usual restraint slipping as Nick worked her magic. "The way she looks right now, Jake..."

"I know," Jake replied, his voice rough as he watched Nick pleasuring Bradley. "Wearing my jacket, on her knees for us both." He moved to kneel beside her, his hand replacing Bradley's between her legs. "Our beautiful little secret," he whispered against her ear.

Nick was lost in sensation—Bradley's steady rhythm, Jake's skilled fingers, the weight of the flight jacket against her body. She paused her ministrations on Bradley, focusing on the pleasure she was receiving from Jake.

Bradley tutted, his hand gently but firmly guiding her mouth back to him. "Did I say you could stop?" His voice carried that quiet authority that always made her shiver.

Nick resumed her attention to Bradley, her eyes fluttering closed as Jake's fingers worked their magic. The dual sensation was overwhelming—giving pleasure while receiving it, caught between two men who knew her body as well as they knew their own aircraft.

"Look at me," Bradley commanded softly.

Nick's eyes opened, locking with his intense gaze. The connection was electric, intimate in a way that transcended the physical act.

"That's it," he murmured, his free hand caressing her face with surprising tenderness. "Perfect."

Jake's fingers increased their pace, and Nick moaned around Bradley, the vibration making him curse under his breath. This was what they'd been craving all night—this connection, this intimacy.

Without warning, Jake withdrew his touch from her aching core and rose to stand beside Bradley. The two pilots towered over her, their bodies silhouetted against the dim light of the apartment. Nick whimpered at the loss of contact, her body thrumming with need.

“I'm feeling left out darling and you don't want me to feel left out do you you?”

Nick released Bradley with a wet pop, turning her attention back to Jake. "Never," she purred, reaching for him. "I want you both to feel... appreciated."

Jake's smirk was predatory as he tangled his fingers in her hair, guiding her back to him. "Then show me."

She took him eagerly, hollowing her cheeks as her hand continued to stroke Bradley. The taste of both men mingled on her tongue, a heady reminder of the unique arrangement they shared. No one at that bar tonight could imagine this—the boss's daughter on her knees wearing a flight jacket, pleasuring two of Top Gun's finest pilots.

Bradley's controlled façade began to crack as he watched Jake receiving the same attention he'd just enjoyed. His breathing grew heavier, muscles tensing beneath his skin. "Enough," he finally said, voice strained. "I want more."

He pulled Nichole’s head up by her hair and positioned his cock in front of her mouth. She eyed both men's hard cocks unable to decide if she could continue giving Jake pleasure with her mouth or Bradley.

Nick's eyes darted between them, a wicked smile playing at her lips despite her compromised position. "I can't decide," she teased, her voice husky with desire. "You're both so... demanding."

Jake's hand tightened in her hair, his eyes darkening with that dangerous intensity she craved. "Who said you get to decide?" His voice dropped to that commanding tone that always made her pulse quicken. "Open wider."

She complied, parting her lips as both men moved closer. Bradley's hand joined Jake's in her hair, steadying her as they positioned themselves at either corner of her mouth.

"Take us both," Bradley commanded quietly, the rare directive from him making her core clench with anticipation.

Nick opened as wide as she could, accepting both their tips into her mouth simultaneously. The sensation was overwhelming—stretching her lips to their limit, the taste of both men mingling on her tongue as she softly gagged. The sound turning both men on.

Jake groaned at the sight of her, so thoroughly possessed. "Look at you," he breathed, voice thick with desire. "Taking both of us like you were made for it."

Bradley's usual restraint was slipping, his breath coming in short pants as Nick's tongue worked between them. "So perfect," he murmured, his fingers gentle against her scalp despite the intensity of the moment.

Nick hummed in satisfaction, the vibration making both men curse simultaneously. She loved this—being the center of their attention, the focal point where their usual competition transformed into cooperation. Her hands reached up to stroke what her mouth couldn't accommodate, working in tandem to pleasure them both.

Her own arousal dripped from her folds. She couldn't help herself and brought her fingers to her clit, applying small circles to her sensitive bud.

“Did Bradley or I say you could touch yourself?”

Nick immediately withdrew her hand, a small whimper escaping her as she looked up at Jake with pleading eyes.

"No, sir," she managed to say as they pulled back slightly, allowing her to speak.

"That's what I thought," Jake said, his voice rough with desire and authority. "You don't come until we say so. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," she whispered, her body aching with need.

Bradley's hand traced along her jaw, his touch gentler than Jake's but no less commanding. "You'll get what you need," he promised, his voice low and steady. "But first, you'll take care of us."

Nick nodded eagerly, leaning forward to take them both again. The flight jacket slipped off one shoulder as she worked, the leather cool against her overheated skin. The sight of her—on her knees, wearing nothing but Jake's flight jacket and her black panties—was almost too much for both men.

"Fuck," Jake groaned, his control slipping. "I can't—"

"Me neither," Bradley admitted, his usually measured voice strained.

Jake pulled back first, his hand replacing Nick's as he stroked himself. "Stand up," he commanded, his voice rough with need.

Nick rose to her feet on shaky legs, the oversized flight jacket hanging off her frame. Before she could catch her breath, Jake picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. She let out an involuntary giggle at the way he easily handled her.

Jake carried her to the bedroom with Bradley following close behind, his eyes never leaving the curve of her body beneath the jacket. The room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of the bedside lamp.

"Put me down, Hangman," Nick demanded, though there was laughter in her voice as she playfully smacked his back.

"Not a chance, darlin'," Jake replied, depositing her on the bed with surprising gentleness. He stood over her, eyes dark with desire as he took in the sight of her sprawled across his sheets, flight jacket open to reveal her nearly naked body. "Look at her, Rooster. Wearing my jacket, in my bed." He cooed. "But these need to go," Jake growled, hooking his fingers into her black lace panties and sliding them down her legs in one smooth motion. He tossed them aside, leaving her in nothing but his flight jacket.

Bradley approached the bed more slowly, removing his shirt as he moved. The planes of his chest were illuminated by the dim bedroom light, highlighting the taut muscles that Nick had traced with her fingertips countless times.

"How do you want her?" Bradley asked Jake, his voice low and thick with desire as he shed the last of his clothing.

Jake's eyes never left Nick's body as he unbuttoned his shirt, letting it fall to the floor. "On her back first," he decided, kneeling on the bed beside her. "I want to watch her face when you make her come."

Nick's breath caught at his words, her body already responding to the command in his voice. Jake slid behind her on the bed, propping himself against the headboard and pulling her back against his chest. The flight jacket still open completely, leaving her exposed to Bradley's hungry gaze.

"Spread your legs for him," Jake whispered against her ear, his hands sliding up to cup her breasts. "Show him how much you want him."

Nick complied without hesitation, parting her thighs as Bradley moved between them.

Bradley moved between her parted thighs with deliberate slowness, his eyes never leaving hers. Unlike Jake's predatory intensity, Bradley's approach was almost reverent—each touch calculated for maximum effect.

"You've been so good for us," he murmured, his hands sliding up her inner thighs. "Taking everything we've given you."

Behind her, Jake's fingers teased her nipples to stiff peaks, his lips tracing a hot path along her neck. "But you haven't been entirely good, have you?" he whispered, teeth grazing her earlobe. "Teasing us at the bar, touching yourself without permission..."

Nick's head fell back against Jake's shoulder, a soft moan escaping her lips as Bradley's thumbs traced circles dangerously close to where she needed him most. "I'm sorry, sir," she breathed, though the smile playing on her lips said otherwise.

Bradley's lips quirked into a rare smile as his eyes met Jake's over her shoulder. "I don't think she's sorry at all," he observed, his fingers finally—finally—brushing against her slick folds.

"Not even a little bit," Jake agreed, one hand leaving her breast to tangle in her hair, turning her face toward his. "Are you, darlin'?"

"No," Nick admitted breathlessly, her hips instinctively arching toward Bradley's teasing touch. "But I can pretend if that's what you want."

Jake laughed, the sound vibrating through her back. "Always so defiant." He captured her mouth in a bruising kiss, swallowing her gasp as Bradley chose that moment to slide two fingers inside her.

The dual sensation—Jake's demanding kiss and Bradley's precise ministrations—was overwhelming. Nick moaned into Jake's mouth, her body arching between them as Bradley's fingers curled inside her, finding that perfect spot with practiced ease.

"She's so wet," Bradley murmured, his voice thick with desire as he watched her respond to his touch. "Has been since we got here."

Jake broke the kiss, his hand still tangled in her hair as he held her gaze. "Were you this wet at the bar, thinking about what we'd do to you later?" His free hand returned to her breast, pinching her nipple just hard enough to make her gasp.

"Yes Sir," Nick admitted, her voice catching as Bradley's thumb found her clit, circling it with deliberate pressure. "Every time you bent over the pool table... every time Bradley's arm brushed against mine..."

"I knew it," Jake growled, his grip tightening possessively in her hair. "Standing there in that bar, pretending to be strangers while you were soaked for us both."

Bradley's pace increased, his fingers working her with ruthless precision as his thumb continued its relentless circles against her clit. Nick's breath came in short gasps, her body caught between them—Jake's solid warmth at her back, Bradley's intense focus between her thighs. The flight jacket clung to her sweat-dampened skin, the leather creaking softly with each movement.

"Please," she whispered, her hips rocking against Bradley's hand. "I need—"

"What do you need?" Bradley asked, his voice deceptively calm despite the heat in his eyes. "Tell us."

"I need to come," Nick begged, all pretense of defiance gone now, replaced by raw need. "Please let me come."

Jake's lips curved against her neck. "What did we say about addressing us?”

"I need to come, sir," Nick corrected herself immediately, her voice breaking as Bradley curled his fingers inside her. "Please, sirs. Please let me come."

Jake's eyes met Bradley's over her shoulder, a silent communication passing between them. Bradley nodded almost imperceptibly, his fingers maintaining their relentless rhythm.

"Since you asked so nicely," Jake murmured against her ear. "Come for us, darlin'. Show us how good we make you feel."

The permission was all she needed. Nick's body tensed between them, her back arching off Jake's chest as waves of pleasure crashed through her. Bradley maintained his perfect rhythm, drawing out her orgasm as Jake held her firmly against him, whispering praise against her skin.

"That's it, so beautiful," Jake murmured, his free hand splayed across her stomach to feel the tremors running through her. "Let go for us."

Nick cried out, her body shuddering between them as Bradley worked her through her release. Her fingers clutched at Jake's thigh behind her, nails digging into his skin as she rode out the intense pleasure.

As her breathing began to steady, Bradley withdrew his fingers slowly, his eyes locked on her flushed face. "Good girl," he praised, his voice thick with need. "But we're not done with you yet."

Jake shifted beneath her, his arousal evident against her back. "Not even close," he growled, his hands sliding beneath the flight jacket to grip her waist. "Turn around. I want you on top."

Nick complied on shaky legs, the jacket sliding completely off both shoulders this time as she straddled Jake. He quickly shed his T-shirt, the last remnant of clothing he had on.

His hands immediately gripped her hips, positioning her over him with possessive certainty.

"Take me," he commanded, his eyes dark with desire as he looked up at her.

Nick sank down onto him slowly, a gasping moan escaping her lips as she took him fully inside. The flight jacket hung open around her, framing her body as she began to move.

"That's it," Jake encouraged, his fingers digging into her hips. "Show Rooster how well you ride."

Bradley moved behind her, his hands sliding beneath the jacket to caress her back. She felt him press against her, his chest warm against her spine as his lips found her shoulder.

"So beautiful," he murmured, one hand reaching around to cup her breast as she rode Jake with increasing intensity. “Bet you want both of us to fill you up, don't you?”

Nick whimpered at Bradley's words, her pace faltering slightly as Jake thrust up to meet her. "Yes," she breathed, her head falling back against Bradley's shoulder. "God, yes. Both of you."

Bradley's hand slid from her breast, down her stomach, finding where she and Jake were joined. His fingers circled her sensitive bud, making her gasp and clench around Jake.

"Fuck," Jake groaned, his grip tightening on her hips. "She gets so tight when you touch her like that."

Bradley continued his ministrations, his other hand reaching for the bedside drawer where they kept supplies. Nick heard the familiar sound of a cap opening, then felt Bradley's slick fingers tracing patterns down her spine, circling lower with deliberate intent.

"Relax for me," Bradley murmured against her ear as one finger pressed gently against her entrance to prepare her for his cock.

Nick moaned as Bradley's finger breached her, the dual sensation of being filled by Jake while Bradley prepared her setting her nerve endings on fire. She leaned forward, bracing her hands on Jake's chest.

"That's it," Bradley encouraged, adding a second finger as Jake slowed his thrusts to allow her to adjust. "Just breathe."

"I need you both," Nick gasped, her body trembling with anticipation. The forbidden nature of their arrangement, the secrecy they maintained, the taboo of what they were doing—it all heightened every sensation, made every touch electric.

Jake reached up, pushing the jacket off her shoulders completely so he could see all of her. His eyes were dark with possession as he watched her face.

"You're going to get us both, Darlin', don't worry," Jake murmured, his voice strained with the effort of holding back. "Just like you want."

Bradley withdrew his fingers slowly, positioning himself behind her. Nick felt the blunt pressure of him against her prepared entrance, her breath catching in anticipation. He entered her with exquisite care, each inch a deliberate conquest as Jake remained perfectly still beneath her.

"Breathe," Bradley reminded her, his voice a soothing counterpoint to the intense stretch of accommodating them both. His hands splayed across her lower back, steadying her as she adjusted to the overwhelming fullness.

"Oh god," Nick gasped, her body trembling between them. The sensation of both men inside her, filling her completely, was overwhelming in the best possible way. Nothing in her life had ever felt as intense, as consuming as these moments when they claimed her simultaneously.

"You okay?" Jake asked, his voice strained but concerned as he studied her face.

Nick nodded, unable to form words as her body adjusted to the dual invasion. The fullness was exquisite—Jake's thickness stretching her from below while Bradley's careful entry from behind completed her in ways she'd never imagined possible before these two men had entered her life.

"Our girl," Bradley murmured, pressing a kiss to her shoulder blade.

"Your girl," she happily hummed.

Slowly, Bradley began to move, setting a careful rhythm that Jake matched from below. The synchronization between them was flawless—like their flying formations, Nick thought hazily, each man responding to the other's cues without a word spoken between them.

"Look at you," Jake growled, his eyes locked on her face as pleasure overtook her features. "Taking both of us so perfectly."

Nick could only moan in response, her body trembling between them as they established a rhythm that drove her steadily toward another peak. Bradley's hands gripped her hips with careful strength, while Jake's fingers dug into her thighs, both men anchoring her between them.

"Does anyone at that bar have any idea what you're really like?" Jake continued, his voice rough with exertion. "What the boss's daughter really does in her spare time?"

The forbidden nature of their arrangement sent another wave of pleasure coursing through Nick's body. "No," she gasped, her head falling forward as Bradley hit a particularly sensitive spot. "Only you two know... only you..."

"And that's how it's going to stay," Bradley growled, the rare display of possessiveness making her clench around both men. "Our beautiful secret."

Their pace increased, the careful rhythm giving way to more urgent thrusts as all three of them approached the edge. Nick's second orgasm was building rapidly, her nerves singing with each perfectly synchronized movement.

"I'm close," she warned, her voice breaking as Jake's thumb found her clit, circling with practiced precision.

"Not yet," Jake commanded, his thumb stilling against her clit. "Together. We come together."

Nick whimpered, hovering on the edge as both men controlled their pace with military precision. Bradley's chest pressed against her back, his breath hot against her neck as he whispered encouragements in her ear.

"Just a little longer," he murmured, his voice strained but steady. "You're doing so well."

Jake's eyes never left her face, drinking in every flicker of pleasure that crossed her features. His hand tangled in her hair, pulling her down for a bruising kiss that Bradley used as an opportunity to increase his pace.

"Now," Jake finally growled against her lips, his control fracturing as he felt Bradley's rhythm falter. "Come for us now, darlin'."

His thumb resumed its circles against her sensitive bud, and Nick shattered between them, her cry deafening.

Her cry was muffled against Jake's mouth as her body convulsed with pleasure. The intensity of her orgasm triggered both men simultaneously—Jake cursing against her lips while Bradley's forehead pressed between her shoulder blades, his usual restraint completely abandoned as he pulsed inside her.

For several moments, the only sound in the room was their ragged breathing as they remained locked together, bodies slick with sweat and trembling with aftershocks.

Bradley was the first to move, carefully withdrawing and pressing a tender kiss to her spine before disappearing into the bathroom. Jake's arms wrapped around Nick, cradling her against his chest as she collapsed onto him, completely spent.

"You okay?" he murmured, brushing damp hair from her forehead with uncharacteristic gentleness.

Nick nodded against his chest, too exhausted for words. The intensity of being with both of them always left her in this state—utterly satisfied yet somehow vulnerable, stripped of her usual defenses.

Bradley returned with a warm washcloth, his movements gentle as he cleaned her. This was their ritual—Jake holding her while Bradley took care of the practical aftermath, each man expressing his care in ways that suited his nature.

"That was..." Nick finally managed, her voice hoarse.

"Incredible," Bradley supplied, climbing back onto the bed beside them.

"Worth almost blowing our cover," Jake added with a smirk, his hand lazily tracing patterns along her spine.

Nick laughed softly, the sound muffled against Jake's chest. "I still can't believe Phoenix invited me to your hangout spot. What are the odds?"

"Pretty high, considering it’s the only bar for miles," Bradley pointed out, stretching beside her. His hand found hers, fingers interlacing with casual intimacy. "We’ll need to be more careful moving forward."

Nick sighed, shifting to lie between them. "I know. But part of me wonders if we could just... tell people. Not everyone, but maybe—"

"No," Jake interrupted, his tone unusually serious. "Your dad would try to have us grounded faster than you can say 'career-ending mistake.'"

"He’s right," Bradley agreed, his thumb tracing circles on her palm. "The Navy isn’t exactly built for this kind of relationship dynamic. And your father..."

"Would lose his mind," Jake finished. "Probably file a transfer request so fast our heads would spin."

Nick groaned, burying her face against Jake’s chest. "I know. I just hate sneaking around. I’m really happy with you both, and I just want to shout it from the rooftops. I want everyone to see how happy I am, how happy you both make me, and how you're both all mine."

Bradley propped himself up on one elbow, studying her face. "This isn’t forever," he said quietly. "It’s just until we figure out where this is going—how serious it really is—and the best way to handle it."

Jake nodded, his fingers tangling in her hair. "Exactly. Once we know, we can decide how to move forward. Together."

Nick bit her lip, guilt flashing across her features. "I’m sorry. I should’ve found a way to decline when Phoenix invited me."

"No," Bradley said firmly. "You couldn’t have without raising suspicion. We just need to be better prepared for next time."

Jake nodded, his tactical mind already working through scenarios. "We need a system. A heads-up when one of us might run into the other unexpectedly."

Nick sighed, pressing a kiss to Bradley’s chest before turning to face Jake. "I just wish we didn’t have to be so careful. It feels like we’re doing something wrong."

"We’re not," Jake assured her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with surprising tenderness. "But the Navy has rules, and your father has expectations, and none of those account for... this."

Bradley’s hand traced lazy circles on her back. "And when people find out..." He paused, eyes meeting Jake’s over Nick’s head. "There will be talk. About all of us."

Nick closed her eyes, letting herself be enveloped in their warmth. "I can handle talk. I’ve been handling talk my whole life—about my dad, about being a woman in engineering, about everything. What I can’t handle is pretending like you both don’t mean anything to me."

Jake’s usual cockiness softened into something more genuine. "For now, we just need to be smart about this. No more surprises."

Nick looked between them—these two men who couldn’t be more different yet somehow fit seamlessly into her life. "I can do that. For both of you, I can do that."

"Good, because I think I can speak for Bradley when I say we’d like to see if this can one day be more permanent."

Bradley nodded in agreement.

Nick’s heart skipped at the word *permanent.* It wasn’t something they discussed often—the future beyond their current arrangement. Especially since their relationship was only a few weeks old. "You both mean that?"

"I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t," Jake replied, his usual bravado tempered by rare vulnerability. "I don’t share well, darlin’. The fact that I’m willing to share you with Bradley should tell you everything you need to know about how serious I am."

Bradley chuckled. "That might be the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard you say, Hangman."

Nick laughed too, snuggling into Jake as she did.

"Oh, so you find that funny?" Jake teased. "How about this—do you find *this* funny?" His fingers darted to her sides.

Nick squealed, squirming between them as Jake found her most ticklish spots. "Stop!" she gasped between laughs, trying unsuccessfully to escape his grasp. "Bradley, help me!"

Bradley’s lips curved into a rare mischievous smile. "I think I’ll help him instead," he decided, his fingers joining Jake’s assault on her ribs.

"Traitor!" Nick shrieked, her laughter filling the bedroom as she writhed helplessly between them.Her naked body vulnerable to their merciless tickling.

Jake pinned her wrists above her head with one hand while continuing his assault with the other. "Still think I'm funny, darlin'?" Jake asked, his eyes dancing with amusement as Nick gasped for breath.

"Yes!" she managed between fits of laughter. "The funniest-looking pilot at Top Gun!"

Jake's eyes widened in mock outrage. "Oh, that's it." He redoubled his efforts, finding the spot beneath her ribs that always made her shriek when tickled.

Bradley laughed, a rare full-throated sound as he watched them wrestle. After enjoying the spectacle for a moment, he caught Jake’s wrist. "Enough—she can't breathe."

Jake relented, though the predatory gleam remained in his eyes as Nick gasped for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "Lucky for you, Rooster’s feeling merciful," he told her, releasing her wrists.

"My hero," Nick panted, curling into Bradley’s side and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. Her hair was a wild tangle around her flushed face, her eyes bright with laughter.

Jake stretched out beside them, his hand resting possessively on Nick’s hip. "Don’t get too comfortable with him. I’m still mad about that 'funniest-looking pilot' comment."

Nick grinned, peering at him over Bradley’s chest. "What are you going to do about it, Hangman?"

"I’ll think of something," Jake promised, his eyes darkening with playful threat. "When you least expect it."

Bradley’s arm tightened around Nick protectively, though his lips quirked in amusement. "You’ll have to get through me first."

"As if that would be difficult," Jake scoffed, though there was no real heat in his words. His hand slid up from Nick’s hip, tracing lazy patterns along her back. "I’ve shot you down in simulations, what—seventeen times now?"

"Sixteen," Bradley corrected automatically. "And I’ve returned the favor fourteen times."

Nick laughed, the sound muffled against Bradley’s chest. "My heroes, comparing kill counts while lying in bed."

"Occupational hazard," Jake shrugged, leaning over to press a surprisingly gentle kiss to her shoulder. "Dating two fighter pilots."

The casual use of the word 'dating' made something warm unfurl in Nick’s chest. It wasn’t a term they used often—their relationship defied conventional labels. Usually, they spoke in terms of arrangements, agreements, stolen moments. Dating sounded almost... normal.

Bradley must have caught the expression on her face, because his eyes softened as he traced her cheek with his fingertips. "That’s what this is, isn’t it?" he asked quietly. "The three of us dating?"

"Is that what we’re calling it now?" Nick asked, a vulnerability in her voice she rarely allowed herself to show. "Dating?"

Jake propped himself up on one elbow, his usual cocky demeanor giving way to something more serious. "Call it whatever you want, darlin'. Dating, relationship, arrangement—it doesn’t change what it is."

"And what is it?" she pressed, looking between them both.

"It’s us," Bradley said simply, his thumb tracing her lower lip. "The three of us, figuring it out together."

Jake nodded, his hand finding hers and squeezing gently. "What he said. Though I’d add that it’s us dating you, and you dating us."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "That’s your definition? You two aren’t dating each other?"

Jake and Bradley exchanged a look over her head—one of those silent communications they'd perfected both in the cockpit and in life.

"I wouldn’t say that," Bradley said carefully, his fingers still tracing patterns on her skin. "It’s more complicated."

"Complicated how?" Nick pressed, curiosity piqued by their sudden hesitation.

Jake sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "We don’t exactly... function without you as the center," he admitted. "You’re the bridge."

"The catalyst," Bradley added, his analytical mind finding the precise term. "Without you, we’d probably still be at each other’s throats."

Nick considered this, a small smile playing at her lips. "So I’m like the buffer zone between two warring nations?"

Jake laughed. "Kind of. Basically, what we’re saying, darlin', is we’re not romantically interested in each other. We’re only interested in you. And since you don’t want just one of us, you want both—then that’s what you’re getting."

Nick smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest. "So what you’re saying is, I’m stuck with both of you."

"Afraid so," Jake confirmed, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Package deal."

Bradley’s fingers continued their gentle exploration of her skin, tracing invisible patterns across her shoulder. "Is that going to be a problem?"

"No," Nick answered without hesitation, snuggling deeper between them. "It’s perfect, actually. You balance each other out."

Jake snorted. "That’s a diplomatic way of saying he’s boring and I’m—"

"Exhausting," Bradley finished for him, though there was no malice in his tone.

Nick laughed, the sound vibrating through all three of them. "I was going to say that Bradley’s steadiness complements Jake’s intensity. Together, you’re exactly what I need."

Jake’s expression softened in a way few people ever witnessed. "And you’re exactly what we need."

Bradley nodded in agreement, his arm tightening around her waist. "Exactly."

A comfortable silence settled over them, the only sound their synchronized breathing in the dim bedroom. Nick felt herself drifting toward sleep, cocooned between their warm bodies.

"So," Jake murmured after a while, his voice tinged with tenderness. "I know it’s late, but would you like me to run you a hot bath?"

Nick’s eyes fluttered open. "As tempting as that sounds, I’d much rather have you two hold me. But if you’re offering to do things for me, I do have a favor to ask."

"Sure. What is it?" Bradley asked.

"My mom said she was going to ship a bunch of my things to me, and they’re supposed to arrive tomorrow. Would you guys be willing to help me get them into the apartment and unpack everything?"

"Only if you make it worth our while," Jake replied with a playful smirk, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her skin.

Bradley nodded, his hand finding hers and giving a gentle squeeze. "I have a morning flight, but I'm free after 1400."

"Perfect," Nick murmured, settling back between them. "Jake?"

"I'll make it work," he promised, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. "Though if your dad finds out and calls asking why two of his pilots are helping his daughter move boxes..."

"I’ll tell him I’m paying you in beer and pizza like a normal person," Nick replied, her eyes already growing heavy with sleep. "Not... other forms of compensation."

Bradley chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest. "Probably for the best. I don’t think your father would appreciate knowing the full terms of our arrangement."

"Definitely not," Jake agreed, his voice growing drowsy. "I like my head attached to my body."

Nick smiled, her exhaustion tugging at her senses. "He’d have to catch you first."

"And I am the best pilot on base," Jake murmured smugly.

"Second best," Bradley corrected automatically.

Nick laughed softly between them. "Here we go again."

Jake opened his mouth to argue but instead pressed a kiss to Nick’s temple. "We can settle this tomorrow. Sleep now."

"Yes, sir," she whispered teasingly, already half-asleep.

As she drifted off, cocooned between their warmth, Nick couldn’t help the smile that slowly appeared on her face.

Taglist

@meg626

@lunatygerqueen

@og-baby-ob14

Previous chapter Next chapter

[syrenki]

(if you are still wishing for asks, how about:) orchid, azalea, and tigerlily?)

i don't know how i missed this, i'm so sorry!!! but thank you for the ask:) i'm a couple days late, again i apologise, but here goes:

orchid — when you're being extremely quiet, what are you typically thinking of?

it's nothing good to be honest, if i'm being extremely quiet i'm either thinking of terrible things or else thinking of nothing but in a terrible way. anyone who keeps their finger on the pulse and addresses me when this happens is a lifesaver, i don't like being left in that silence of mine unchecked and alone for too long. it grows teeth.

azalea — what is the most recent song you listened to? how do you feel about it?

how to fight by eartheater, i've seen her live and couldn't be thankful enough. i love how gentle her voice is, but not in a tender-gentle way but rather far-too-spent-to-be-loud way. and the instrumental is so lush and incohesive. someone told me this song is about me, we lost touch quickly after, i've been big on goodbyes but this doesn't read like an epilogue to me, if i survive this summer this will be one of my favourite songs after. wet as a newborn, little horns, little hooves, sure feet, uncut wings, uncut wings, uncut wings.

tigerlily— do you have any favorite quotes from any movies, tv shows, books, or poetry? (or from people in real life)

christ, there are honestly so many? i'm not even sure where to start, half the time i don't write them down or anything, i just kind of swallow and digest them and they grow to be part of my body, of my internal vocabulary, and it's impossible to tell what i really thought and what i just heard some years ago and has now resurfaced out of the murky swirls. okay, so these aren't by far my all time favourites because i can't remember them at all at a moment's notice, but here are some random ones i like a lot that are currently popping into my head:

hello, my dear, here's a confession. i will love you the whole winter, and winters here are eternal. - grafitti in russian

god will forgive her the deeds of the heart and serve her raspberry ice cream - oczy tej małej, agnieszka osiecka (roughly translated by me rn, she's a polish poet)

god is not going to be able to put my sorry ass back together once i'm done with my great work - tumblr post by @dogheadhermitsshed

the trouble with you humans is that you are so concerned with staying afloat. go ahead, be gouged open by love. gulp that saltwater, sink beneath the waves. you’re not a boat, you can go under and come up again, with those big old lungs of yours, those hard kicking legs. - on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the titanic, we reconsider the buoyancy of the human heart, laura lamb brown-lavolie

purity is not of this world. but every 25 years or so, there is a glimmer. a flash. - (?)

every wave is tidal - king's crossing, elliott smith

i am an insane woman for whom houses wink and open their bellies. significance stares at me from everywhere, like a gigantic underlying ghostliness. significance emerges out of dank alleys and sombre faces, leans out of the windows of strange houses. i am constantly reconstructing a pattern of something forever lost and which i cannot forget. i catch the odors of the past on street corners and i am aware of the men who will be born tomorrow. behind windows there are enemies or worshippers. never neutrality or passivity. always intention and premeditation. even stones have for me druidical expressions. - (?), anaïs nin (my ebook broke and now i can't find where this is from!!!)

(also while we're on her topic:) reality doesn't impress me. i only believe in intoxication, in ecstasy, and when ordinary life shackles me, i escape, one way or another. no more walls. - the diary of anaïs nin, 1932-1934, anaïs nin

i'll be the gun and i'll be the one who points it to the sky - nichole, flower face

i believe that truth has only one face: that of a violent contradiction. - the deadman, georges bataille

laika's still up there. not her body, sure, but her soul is. i saw it through my telescope one night when i was looking for aliens. she was sniffing for table scraps under saturn's ring. she chases comets and bites down on satellites. i saw her napping by neptune, she was kicking her feet. passing through the oort cloud is like the stroke of a hand on her fur. eyes like marbles and four little paws like flames. she bobs through jupiter's moons like cold moscow streets. up there the stars are a great big field. and look, she's running so fast. god damn, look at her go. - tumblr post by @hellforever

not often, but now and again there's a moment when the heart cries aloud: yes, i am willing to be that wild darkness, that long, blue body of light. - whelks, mary oliver

no live organism can continue for long to exist sanely under conditions of absolute reality; even larks and katydids are supposed, by some, to dream. - the haunting of hill house, shirley jackson (basic, i know, sorry, but i do love the book and this opening stirs something inside me.)

is this the glittering world i've been begging for? - manhattan is a lenape word, natalie diaz

i hope death is like being carried to your bedroom when you were a child and fell asleep on the couch during a family party. i hope you can hear the laughter from the next room - twitter post by @ petfurniture

there are more things in heaven and earth, horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy - hamlet, william shakespeare (listen. do not laugh at me. year after year these words ring more and more true.)

anyhow you had to perish hamlet you were not for life

you believed in crystal notions not in human clay

always twitching as if asleep you hunted chimeras

wolfishly you crunched the air only to vomit

you knew no human thing you did not know even how to breathe

- elegy of fortinbras, zbigniew herbert (the theme is a pure coincidence, i just happen to love this poem and i thought of it as soon as i attached the quote above)

very early in my life it was too late - the lover, marguerite duras

i don't paint dreams or nightmares, i paint my own reality - frida kahlo whenever she was called a surrealist painter

nobody's had more shots at the moon, and missed, than me - tired of singing the blues, lana del rey

there should be just one safe placein the world, i mean this world. people get hurt here. people fall down and stay down and i don’t like the way the song goes. - road music, richard siken

i'll be the gun and i'll be the one who points it to the sky - nichole, flower face

you can die now.

you can die now as

people were meant to die:

great,

victorious,

hearing the music,

being the music,

roaring,

roaring,

roaring.

- splash, charles bukowski

i sit beneath the staircase built from hair and bone and listen to the voices of the living. i like it, she says, shaking the dust from her hair, especially when they fight, and when they sing. - death comes to me again, a girl, dorianne laux

and in the same trail of thought:

when you die, you walk into the cold unknown hand in hand with a girl you met once when you were five in a hotel pool and her hand is warm. - tumblr post by @vampireghostlawyer

there are. so many. i'm so sorry. sending love.

[skepticdoe]

Felt the absolute NEED after seeing you post about epic, BUT HERES MY PROPOSAL TO YOU

Which South Park characters would you cast as each epic character (and why if you’re feeling ambitious)

HII!! sorry for the late response, life has absolutely been putting me through the wringer 😓

IVE ALREADY POSTED MY SOUTH PARK EPIC CASTING BUT IVE INTERACTED WITH A FEW OTHER EPIC FANS AND MY CASTING HAS CHANGED A BIT! :)

okay so apologies if this is messy and disorganised lmfao

Odysseus: Stan Marsh for obvious reasons

Penelope: Wendy Testaburger again for obvious reasons

Telemachus: Their child!! -> this would be an original character I guess :p

Athena: Kyle Broflovski -> angsty platonic style 😈 *rubs hands together menacingly*

Hermes: Kenny McCormick -> I dare you to come up with a better casting can you imagine Kenny singing dangerous?? We all know he’s got that Holy Moly ;)

Eurylochus: Tolkein Black -> I feel like Stan and Tolkein have this rocky relationship in general. Tolkein would be loyal to his captain but also has morals of his own.

Polites: Butters Stotch -> he’s that one comfort character that dies at the very start (does this make OdyPoli Stutters (Stan x butters) 🤔)

Posideon: Craig Tucker (Polyphemus and the sheep are like his Guinea pigs lmao 😭) -> I REALLY REALLY wanted Creek to be in this au but I cannot for the life of me fit them in anywhere. One of my very lovely mutuals and fellow spxepic fans recommended Craig as Posideon and the sheep as Guinea pigs (which is genius and I love btw) but then tweek as Polyphemus would be odd considering he’s Craig’s child. Polyphemus and his siblings are just giant Guinea pigs in this for now 😭

Calypso: Leslie Myers -> who better than her to be the manipulator and emotional torturer?

Tiresias (the prophet): Micheal (I just found out he doesn’t have a last name what) -> Tweek actually had this role first but Micheal honestly gives off emo dead prophet vibes.

Circe: Red McArthur OR Henrietta Biggle -> they both give off witchy girlboss vibes but im not sure which one of them would resort to lust for persuasion

Aeolus: Heidi Turner (?) OR Nichole Daniels -> I’m purely unsure of this because I also want to cast Heidi as Hera and Nichole would be a stand in (don’t get me wrong I love Nichole)

Zeus: Eric Cartman -> um. egotistical, sadistic maniac? Who does that sound like? I also like to make this epic au also a stick of truth au so Cartman is currently so powerful only because he currently possesses the stick.

Aphrodite: Bebe Stevens -> she was originally Circe and I still think she’d fit her pretty well too but I needed an Aphrodite and Ares stand in ship and Clybe was the only one that would fit

Ares: Clyde Donovan, for the shits and giggles 😭 -> I literally giggle every time I think of this casting because Clyde the crybaby as Ares is hilarious. He literally only got this role cause of Bebe. But they are both arrogant so in works in that way I guess??

Hephaestus: Christophe the Mole -> passionate weapon master who is all about loyalty and war? Christophe.

Apollo: Jimmy Valmer -> we HAVE to give the role of music god to our local favourite bard

Hera: I was going to cast Heidi here too because Zeus as Cartman and Heidi as Hera and her part in God Games would fit PERFECTLY

Antinous: either Damien or Trent Boyett 😕 -> I needed angry characters that want power and these two are what I’ve got

so yes!!! This is my official unofficial South Park epic casting 😋

I also have an alternative k2 au with Kyle as Odysseus instead but I guess this one is like my MAIN headcanon/casting

I would LOVE to hear your opinions and casting (along with anyone else who’s interested :>)

Thank you so much for this ask and feel free to spam my inbox whenever!! 👍🙌

(this is so goddamn long omfg)

[marjoriestotch]

Okay I love asking people, so fun. Do you have any Bebe headcanons ?

I’ve compiled some of my own (even naming her Bernadette) and just taking what we see in her bedroom. I did the same Nichole too, I’m interested to see your thoughts on her character !!! Like I swear Trey and Matt seem to be allergic to writing their female characters/hj 😔

I think you’re right, though. Trey Parker and Matt Stone seem to have an unwillingness, or at least a disconnect, when it comes to women and comedy. They struggle to imagine women in comedic scenarios that come as naturally to them when writing for their male inserts. I've been thinking lately a lot about the commentary for “Eat, Pray, Queef,” where Trey reveals that the actual underlying joke of the episode is that women couldn't possibly find queefs or farts funny. The idea of women enjoying potty humor is, to him, so ridiculous that it becomes a joke in itself. I don’t think I have to explain the inherent sexism in that, do I? And I think it's still an ongoing issue in Trey Parker’s writing: when women are deliberately highlighted again in the show, it revolves around shit.

I'm sorry for rambling about this at the start instead of answering your question, but I feel it’s relevant to what I want to say about Bebe, so please bear with me. I think Trey Parker only sees his female characters as relevant protagonists when they serve a critical or politically observational purpose. They are women - and the story is about how the world reacts to that fact. (You can definitely argue this point, especially considering how many episodes feature female celebrities solely to mock them, but again, bear with me.)

The most obvious example of this is Wendy. When is she a main character in an episode that is purely comedic or satirical? Maybe once? Bebe is another example of this. In her first major episode, “Bebe’s Boobs Destroy Society,” she isn’t delivering the comedy or is the object of the joke; she simply exists, and the humor stems from everyone else’s reaction to her existence. I think that’s worth highlighting, because it implies that when Bebe features, they are trying to say something.

To me, Bebe is an incredibly smart, charismatic, and sociable girl who’s burdened by the insecurity of how people perceive her as a beautiful blonde girl in a small American town, desired by all the boys in her class. I think that episode is a good starting point. Beyond the discussion we could have about her sexualization and objectification as a growing girl, what stands out to me is how it marks the beginning of Bebe’s deep concern over the perception of her as a person versus the objective reality. We see this again in her later appearance in “The List.”

I find it interesting that while Wendy is the student body president, Bebe shows no interest in that kind of position, even though she acts as a leader in the girl’s social society. She doesn’t care about authority or institutional power - she wants control over how she's perceived. Bebe is more concerned with the social hierarchy within her peer group and aims to be at the top of that pyramid. She wants shoes, Clyde can get her nice shoes, but dating Clyde could jeopardize her social standing because he's considered a social pariah. So, Bebe manipulates the situation to inflate his popularity just enough to maintain her own.

There’s an argument to be made that this makes her shallow - and perhaps she is, perhaps that’s part of what she struggles with. But I’d counter that if all Bebe wanted was luxury, she could’ve pursued Tolkien, who’s considered one of the cutest boys in their class. So…why Clyde? I think it’s because she actually liked him but couldn’t admit it, not even to herself. Because perfect blonde girls are supposed to like perfect boys, and Clyde is far from that. Instead of being open about it and unashamed, she tries to hide her shame.

Speaking of Clyde and her relationship with him, I think it’s safe to say that since they've presumably been together since “The List,” Bebe is actually quite monogamous, almost traditionally so. She’s clearly a romantic, and I imagine her fantasy is to marry her first boyfriend right after highschool, as so many Americana romance stories go. I’m not at all against fanon interpretations of Bebe being more promiscuous, having her experiment, explore, and be more sexually liberated. There’s room for that, especially considering her bold attraction to Kyle (with the joke being that a woman couldn’t possibly take on the role of pursuer in courtship but rather that they should be the pursued). But personally, I find it more interesting to imagine a fanon within the fanon: that Bebe is struggling with how others perceive her as a promiscuous, seductive vixen, which clashes with who she actually is: an awkward girl who's been in a long-term relationship for years.

I imagine that all these compounding internal struggles could predictably eventually overwhelm Bebe and push her to an extreme. All of her frustration bubbling over into violence. Bebe is no stranger to violence; she carries a gun! We see her snap and beat the hell out of Butters in “Worldwide Privacy Tour.” I don’t think Bebe goes around beating up anyone she disagrees with, but I do think she can be pushed to emotional extremes that others might not reach. She clearly has a fierce temper and she’s physically intimidating, which I think is a delightful contrast to her otherwise extremely feminine image.

As for what headcanons I have for Bebe…

What do we know about Bebe? One scene that comes to mind is when she's swoonfully telling Stan a way to win back Wendy's favor is to play a Peter Gabriel song. That leads me to believe Bebe loooves that kind of 80s contemporary pop; Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins (hehe), The Police, Talking Heads, Rush, Elton John, etc. She just loves fun pop music she can dance to, taking her back into a time where it was simpler and sillier.

Bebe clearly loves fashion and makeup, and I imagine it to be quite a fixation for her. She collects fashion magazines, follows beauty YouTubers and all their drama, and always begs her parents for that season’s coveted makeup collection. Her temper leads her into making anonymous accounts to argue over specific categories of fashion styles and makeup trends. She's incredibly passionate about the history and integrity of fashion.

Adding onto that, I like to imagine she loves taking Polaroids of her makeup and outfits and keeps it in a scrapbook so she could plan out her looks better. She’s very particular about her appearance, and I imagine it does upset her if she doesn't get a compliment for all her effort, though she would rationalize that she is just so effortlessly beautiful.

I do think Bebe gravitates toward being Wendy's friend not only because Wendy is so outspoken, but when Wendy does speak, she's eloquent. I like to think Bebe being so concerned over her image makes her worried about what she says and when she says it, probably regretting whenever she voices her more abrasive opinions. But Wendy agrees with her more often than not, and it's reassuring to have someone on her side that can express it well. I also just think it makes it more interesting when she does feel she can be open and blunt with how she feels.

We have seen Bebe abuses drugs, both at her party and also during the cough syrup craze of the elementary school, so while I don't think Bebe drinks or smokes tobacco, maybe she likes to smoke some Tegridy/Credigree she buys off of either Tolkien or Stan to just relieve the stress of her daily life.

Speaking of Stan, I think Bebe heavily dislikes him. Besides the tenuous relationship with Wendy, her best friend, Bebe has dared Stan to do some painful shit, and is incredibly irritated with him during the egg project, and so I think it's reasonable for her to hold a small grudge against him if his relationship with Wendy continues. On this point, I think Bebe gives generally bad boy advice. She can't convince Wendy to permanently leave Stan, she was among the girls to drive Heidi to go back to Cartman out of embarassment, and, well, she is still with Clyde. Again, quite monogamous. (Kind of interesting that most of the women Parker and Stone write stay with their men out of stubbornness. Hm.)

Bebe’s father wears glasses, so I wonder if Bebe would also inherit his poor eyesight, but she refuses to wear glasses out of embarrassment.

Given that Bebe owns a gun and most of her roleplaying characters involve handheld shooting, I imagine her in total glam going down to the shooting range once in a while to also take out her frustration. I imagine her father taught her to shoot - mainly for her safety, but I imagine he wanted a boy but kept activities like going out hunting alive with Bebe nonetheless

I know that canonically Bebe grows up to be a beauty consultant, but my impression of her adult outfit was that of a flight attendant, and I just can't shake that idea. I imagine her being a stewardess that gets to travel the world and meet all kinds of people, but still tired at the end of the day and taking off her heels and earrings and laying on the couch to watch her favorite comedy talk show…

Bebe has a white cat named Thumper!! So naturally she is quite the cat person, and I imagine she was a big fan of Bambi growing up as well as the Aristocats, internally, subconsciously wanting to grow up to be a Duchess.

I guess I should say what ships I have for her like I did for Shelly, but it's honestly really just Jimbe, lol, though I do have a soft spot for Bendy, and as much as I clown on them, Clyde/Bebe isn't terrible either. But I'll always be a Jimbe girl first…

[unitchiefs-blackbirdphoenix]

What happened behind the scenes during the siren Reynolds arc?

So between late s5-early s6, AJ and Paget were both fired by CBS, which is a shitty move by on the network bc so many fans rallied and petitioned for the two to come back on the show. Allegedly, CBS fired them due to “creative reasons, budgets, etc.” especially to open the door for the spinoff, CM: Suspect Behavior, but it was honestly just misogyny that made them fire AJ and Paget. They tried to hire a “younger actress” (Rachel Nichols as Seaver) and no hate to her bc she had no say in that situation also. It made AJ and Paget angry, Paget was more vocal about it than AJ was, who was a little more insecure and doubtful about her job, as said in her most recent podcast ep on Michael Kahan’s “Funny in Failure”. Actually, both of their eps are on there and they talk about this situation on the podcast.

This also gave 17x06 (somewhat spoilers) a parallel/homage to the whole situation, where JJ expresses her anger about the misogyny and trauma that she and Emily face in their line of work, and Emily considering leaving being similar to Paget leaving the show for a while and the cast and crew being supportive and understanding of her decision.

There’s actually several instances where they talk about this time and even joke about CBS failing to get rid of them after that, even if they tried 🤭. AJ said she has been forever grateful for Paget helping her work through that roller coaster of emotions in that time, and I think it’s gotten them to become closer irl and in the show.

[austinslounge]

With all of the craziness of two simple follows on instagram I just wanna say how proud I am of Austin as an actor. He’s worked his ass off for these moments. I know people (I’ve seen comments on insta/tiktok not referring to this blog) have deemed him as pretentious because of how highly he holds himself as a person and how much depth he has but truly that’s so rare: I love seeing people be so insanely passionate about their life and be ambitious. He is absolutely crushing it and should be so damn proud of himself. And to the weirdos who are insanely deeply affected by his relationships (I don’t mean those who are curious/talking about it) but who are genuinely mentally altered by it please seek help - sincerely, a psychology student

Let’s all just be grateful we get to live in the same timeline as this kind, talented, handsome person. That’s all. Sorry for the rant.

I loved this ❤️

I'm so proud of our man too. He's worked so hard to get to where he is today, and he has also been able to still keep his head in this industry, despite some childhood adversities, constant rejection with auditions, the massive loss of his mother in his early 20s, a major breakup of a romantic relationship in his late 20s, enormous pressure with the Elvis biopic, online bullying over his "Elvis voice" for years, etc. And that's just the stuff that we know!

Despite all of that, he has still remained a lovely, down to earth, kind, level-headed, deep, and compassionate human being. 🥹

I'll be honest, I never understood the "pretentious" claims. It was to the point where I genuinely started to wonder if people even know what that word actually means lol.

Just because someone is smart, reads a lot, and thinks deeply and passionately about things, it doesn't mean that they're pretentious.

You never see or hear of Austin looking down on other people, thinking he's better than everyone, or taking himself too seriously. Even when being questioned rudely by the media in front of everyone about his Elvis voice, he still always answered kindly and patiently, without a mean bone in his body. In fact, other actors (like Dave Bautista for example) have stated how they love the fact that Austin never judged them or looked down upon them, even if they were feeling a little insecure about going from being a wrestler to being an actor. He stated how Austin showed genuine kindness and interest in him as a person, and it really touched him.

There are countless stories like this about Austin. Even Jeff Nichols could barely contain how much he loved Austin while working on set with him on "The Bikeriders".

That man was raised with religious values, and you can tell! His mother was also very kind, and you can tell that she really instilled that into him. 🥰

[misterbenzadrine]

sooo i'm cheating today, don't judge me, i couldn't choose

♡day 6: samantha larusso/tory nichols ♡

BELIEVE ME, THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE THEIR OWN DAYS AND SPOTS

but i love both of them and couldn't choose

so anyways, i'll make this short (too late)

best girls <3 like i love s1, I love miguel and robby, i obviously love hawk and demetri. but let's be fr their rivalry MADE cobra kai what it is today.

without tory, cobra kai was great but it was very alpha dudebro (and demetri, sam, and aisha were the only ones to balance that out but even then they were mostly used as plot devices for the main male characters) and admittedly having sam and tory fight over robby and miguel was so UGH and absolutely did not pass the bechdel test but it was really refreshing to give sam more of a character with a personality, hopes, motivations, fears, etc. and adding tory was quite possibly one of the best decisions bc she really rounded out the cobra kai roster and gave sam that character to play off of so they could both develop together.

also tory's friendship with aisha was EVERYTHING (i personally ship them) and having her and sam fight over aisha, i think, would've been far more interesting (which they kinda did but they wrote aisha out of the show after s2 so it really didn't go anywhere)

and in a show based on misunderstandings, their first meeting means everything to me. tory hearing about the infamous sam who dumped aisha to be rich and popular then meeting her at an actual country club like yeah, tory's gonna be a little passive aggressive but she lowkey didn't act THAT rude to sam (not blaming sam, again misunderstandings !!) and ofc sam thinks tory is a little troublemaker after she steals the vodka so YEAH she has a little bit of a problem with her hanging out with her childhood best friend. then aisha just sitting there like "oh sam this is tory ! hey tory, this is sam ! ^-^" (i love aisha)

SHES SO CUTIE IN THIS OUTFIT, this outfit is my roman empire

sam is great purely for the fact that she's grown so much and yet stayed the same throughout the show (a lot like demetri). the tiniest moments where she loses herself are more filled with self-doubt than trying to be someone she's not (i emphasize THROUGHOUT THE SHOW, obviously she had this arc before the show then came back to her true personality when she met miguel and started talking to aisha again)

like she stood up to miguel AND kyler when she felt they were doing something wrong. she defends demetri and shows so much care for robby (samrobby best friends !!). i love that we get to explore her trauma and how it affected her relationships and karate. (petition to explore more of the kids' trauma !!!) she seems to be the character that's the most in touch with her emotions and, maybe behind devon and amanda, she's the most mentally stable character of the bunch (all women, go figure) she is the character ever !! she understands the importance of balance !! she understands standing up for what's right and admitting your mistakes !! she is the true leader of miyagi-do and it's so incredibly fitting that she is the larusso legacy bc yeah ! there is quite literally no miyagi-do without her !

and one last thing, HER "WHO AM I" SCENE IN S5 IS PEAK, literally one of the best scenes in the show, okay that's all.

TORY, MY BELOVED, MY EVIL LITTLE PRINCESS. she's like so opposite sam in half of her seasons, she is the angry little villain for a bit, bless her heart.

so obviously VALID CRASHOUT. i just think a lot of her anger was obviously misdirected. like when she first met aisha, again ! sam kinda came off as one of those evil ex bffs, like someone you grew up with who suddenly thinks they're too cool for you. so since aisha was her first friend (and keep in mind how lonely and stressed tory was behind the scenes) of course she's gonna wanna defend her ! and, from tory's pov, sam was judging her for the vodka bottle but tory believed bad things are okay to do when people deserve it (like kind of implied) so stealing a bottle from a bunch of rich people who will never notice is very excusable. meanwhile sam believed bad things were never okay (then ofc after the school fight she changes her tune to get revenge on ck) but tory's a lot like that quote from Isle of Dogs, she's not a violent dog but she does bite. it's a coping mechanism. when she perceives something as a threat, she'll attack. and sam seemed to be the stereotypical snooty rich girl.

when she blames tory for her mom's lost wallet, it feels very much like a snooty rich girl assuming the worst of a poor person. like just bc she's not upper class, doesn't mean she's THAT much of a delinquent. THEN TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, the guy she likes is still hung up on this sam girl. she's aisha's and miguel's replacement for sam, always second to sam. the only place she can prove herself is in karate. so she goes all into training, she's training herself to master her fighting, take out her aggressions, protect herself, etc.

BUT THE INFAMOUS KISS. and instead of taking it up with miguel for stringing her along (which i love miguel but FUCK HIM for the way he treated tory and still hasn't really made up with her) she takes it out on the main person that's been giving her problems since she entered this whole world. the person who haunted the narrative of her social circle, the person who hurt the people she cared about, the person who they used tory to replace, the person who seemed to have a problem with her from day one, the person who kissed her BOYFRIEND bc she's still hung up on him (obvi miguel was just as guilty but this is from tory's pov). so the school fight happens, she gets probation, amanda visits her at work which snowballs into her losing her job (which she desperately needs), miguel obviously never reached out to her and was still hung up on sam, aisha moved away, johnny ditched the dojo, YEAH I'D LOWKEY CRASH OUT TOO (and to tory it all always links back to sam) (oooooh lesbian allegories you are SO PRESENT in samtory's relationship arc)

so she has her little evil moment, and i love this for her ! and this is actually incredible on kreese's part (not in a good way). like i know he has a knack for sniffing out the most vulnerable kids to manipulate but WOW he really did a number on tory. she genuinely seemed to trust him from s2 all the way until halfway through s5 (personally i think it was a mix of devon and sensei kim that snapped her out of it, and she finally stepped away from the cobra kai mess)

but she's such a mess i love her. i support women's rights AND wrongs what wrongs? she didn't do anything wrong. i don't wanna overyap about her plot stuff (too late), but her relationships with robby, sam, devon, and kreese are actually so important to me.

i've kinda already talked about sam and devon but specifically robby and her being both (not to be mean but) kinda fucked mentally lmao. and spending their lives never being someone else's priority. they're both basically latchkey kids, they had to be adults from an extremely young age and no one was ever looking out for them, and they never really felt that stable parental support that miguel and sam did, which should make them the perfect foil (if the writers stopped shoving in love triangles and whacko storylines that always favor miguel and sam).

maybe unpopular opinion?? big fan of the s4 after-prom party fight. the way samguel left arguing with each other and angry while keenry had the night of their lives and found love in each other like it's so perfect ! bc i love samguel but like i said the plot ALWAYS favors them, and they usually get their way (of course they have hardships and losses, all the kids do, but in the long run the writers always give them the most screentime, best storylines, all the wins, etc.) but tory and robby can't seem to catch a break and are always so depressed or disappointed or angry and it was really refreshing to see them have that satisfying moment where they get to make their exes jealous, beat their enemies, look hot, and just get to be normal teenagers for the night and not have to worry about expenses or responsibilities, LOVE THEM BIG FAN

okay so sorry this was mostly tory, to be fair she was one of my first fav characters.

!! headcanons !!

so uh i love samtory but i also love keenry and samguel so let's settle on ambiguously poly relationship (in which all three exist) (i'm sorry i don't ship kiaz, it feels a little too weird after they canonically became stepbros IM SORRY)

just two stepbros and their gfs who are dating each other... (just to make the vision clear, no one really knows who's dating who, none of them make it explicitly make it clear if they are or aren't dating and no one really asks out of fear of another karate war breaking out) (i'm making it weirder the more i explain huh? i'm gonna move on)

sam is unlabeled (possibly pan/queer) and tory is bisexual. also she/they queens !

SAM DEVON TORY TRIO MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME. a lot of their hangouts are with the girls (demetri, moon, yas) but they occasionally hang out just the three of them (basically the sleepover episode without johnny lmao)

speaking of the girls, sam and devon try so hard to teach tory demetri's name but she either never retains his name or has just gotten so used to calling him "the nerd" "the guy that follows hawk" "hawk's boyfriend" "the lanky one" that she doesn't feel comfortable calling him anything else (not that she interacts with him or talks about him enough for that to create a huge problem)

and on that same track, tory finds moon and yas to be a bit much (a lot), but like hawk, she doesn't talk enough for her exhaustion to be obvious, she just kinda follows the group and gets a little (secretly a lot) flustered when they compliment the way a shirt looks on her or really show her any love or attention

while tory obviously doesn't verbalize how much having friends and a support system means to her, sam and devon KNOW and are more than happy to keep providing that stability for her

(she'd never admit any of that aloud though, she'd die before willfully letting anyone know that)

amanda maintains a constant presence in tory's life to show her she's not leaving and not using her as a replacement for sam and anthony. she also shows a ton of support for her and her brother to ease the process of her mom's funeral, living arrangements, food, etc. (tory puts up a big fight in this until amanda phrases her connections as suggestions so tory feels like she did it herself and didn't need someone else to do it for her)

(we're gonna see this in pt 3 but i'm gonna hc just in case the writers decide to spite me again) amanda totally cheers on robby, sam, AND tory at the sekai taikai/all valley (queen amanda and her kids <3)

sam totally won her school's spelling bee in elementary/middle school, aisha was cheering her on the whole time

sam knew mr. miyagi just long enough to miss him when he passed and understand the affect it had on her dad. after she convinces anthony to push through miyagi-do teachings, she shares some stories and pictures with him hoping it'll show him there is a legacy in the dojo even if he never knew him (he's not as moved as she'd like but he does learn to be more sympathetic for her and daniel for yapping about the man so often)

under tory and miguel, sam's closest friends are robby and demetri, hands down. right under them is obvi moon and yas but also surprisingly hawk. anyone present for the karate wars definitely finds it odd that they get along so well but anyone who really knows both of them (namely miguel and demetri) knows they're incredibly similar

some things sam and hawk have in common: anger issues/panic attacks (though sam has a way better handle on hers than hawk), interest in chemistry, Doctor Who—specifically the tenth doctor (after demetri "forces" her to watch it), Star Wars (they both love padmé but also have a crush on han solo), and their music taste (specifically grunge rock and indie rock, sam is DEFINITELY a rock girlie). sam is so naturally nerdy, she gets along with demetri and hawk so well

sam gets TIRED a lot from ptsd episodes and having to be the kind of therapist friend (since her dad, her brother, her best friends, her boyfriend, etc. are all so unstable), so everyone sometimes tries to make her feel better in their own ways (bear with me)

demetri usually sits her down to watch something (harry potter, lord of the rings, star wars, doctor who, etc.). at the beginning of their friendship, this kind of exhausted her more, since he played stuff she wasn't familiar with and she didn't know why he thought watching a movie wouldn't count as a socially exhausting activity. but as time passed she realized that's how he used to make eli feel better after a bad day, and eli liked sitting in silence and escaping to a new world. now she's familiar with all the movies and does find comfort in just being physically close with demetri while he sits uncharacteristically quiet so she doesn't have to think too much.

robby will sit with her and try to do something low-effort (sitting by a campfire, making smores, practicing mindful breathing, sitting at a park, etc.) while making small talk/telling her stories

tory feels more than a little responsible for these moments but she tries to make sam feel better by coloring with her (she will deny it up and down) (it started when she noticed that the larussos seem to have an abundance of adult coloring books but now it feels like something that reminds her of her mom and sam)

miguel will sit with her and hug her, letting her talk about how she's feeling until she feels a little better.

moon/yas take different approaches (gentle vs tough love) but they both remind sam she needs to take time for herself before she reaches this breaking point. they sometimes offer her a joint (which she never really accepts) and close off with some in-n-out

hawk invites sam over to help build lego models. they never talk, just listen to music and build

at sam's graduation party (in which all the dojo kids are invited), aisha shows up and her and tory jump right back into their friendship

(the way all the yapping was for tory and all the hc's are for sam)

alright chat, i think that's about all i got (it's so long this is so upsetting) (i will be worse in the top 4)

final conclusion: sam and tory both deserve better, they're both so intelligent, pretty, kind, badass, and strong and they're both set up for failure. i can already feel it in my bones that i won't be satisfied with the results of the fight in pt 3 but someone has to win and i wouldn't be completely happy with either one bc they both deserve it. i also wish we'd gotten more content of them so they exist outside of their relationships with robby and miguel. LET WOMEN BE WOMEN, NOT MALE ACCESSORIES. but i will miss them dearly and i hope they're both happy in the end.