#tail section passengers

[todays-xkcd]

Now that airlines have started adding wheel locks to their drink carts, less than half of flights have one accidentally fall out through the hole.

Typical Seating Chart [Explained]

Transcript Under the Cut

Typical Airliner Seating Chart [Labeled items of a plane from front to back:]

[Front of plane:] Cowcatcher

[Cockpit (2 seats):] Please only pick these seats if you're a pilot

[First Class section (22 seats):] Main stage Mosh pit Various fancy classes

[Wings (2 x 55 seats):] Some airplane companies waste this space

[Ends of wings (2 x 1 seat):] Lookout

[Propellers (2 x 1 seat):] Passenger has to pedal

[Middle of plane, just behind wings:] Hole for trash

[Left side of plane, behind wings (7 seats):] Sidecar

[Back of plane (24 seats):] Extra middle seats

[Just in front of tail (4 seats):] Bumper car seating

[Tail (1 seat):] Penthouse

[Hanging off of left side of tail (3 seats):] Extra legroom

[Tail (4 seats):] Tail gunners (Must protect plane from pursuers but earn extra miles)

[Separate, smaller plane to the right (14 seats):] Fighter escort

[dilemmaontwolegs]

It Started With A... || CarLandOscar

Summary: Whoever thought love was limited to one person was an idiot. Love had no limits and you knew that better than most when a rookie found himself carving out a third of your heart. Warnings: established relationships, fluff, angst, pining. WC: 7.5k

It started with a smile. It was stiff and polite and made you pity the rookie who was being introduced to everyone so fast he would surely forget their names. 

“It took me a few months, but you’ll figure out who is who,” you encouraged him as the welcome committee went back to work in the factory and Oscar looked for guidance on where he was meant to go next. 

“I hope so. I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name,” he admitted sheepishly. “Are you in the PR team?”

You looked down at your black skirt and white blouse and thought you probably did look like someone from PR or legal. “Contrary to belief, I am actually what people would call a PR nightmare,” you said as you held your hand out. “Y/N Y/L/N, Lando’s girlfriend.”

“It's nice to meet you. I suppose I’ll see you around here a lot then.”

You smiled ruefully and shook your head. “I’m studying at Royal Holloway but we wanted to be here for your first day so we stopped by.”

You looked around for Lando and found him returning from the cafeteria with a takeaway coffee cup in his hand. “I wondered where you went,” you teased as you happily accepted the hot drink and the kiss he placed on your cheek. 

“Figured you needed this, love. I kept you up pretty late for a school night.” Lando nudged Oscar and winked. 

The Australian’s ears turned pink and you rolled your eyes at your boyfriend's humour. “He was steaming until some ridiculous hour this morning. You’ll probably find him crashed out on a couch somewhere this afternoon while I will be struggling through lab tech.”

“You’re the smartest person I know, I don’t think you even need to go to class.” Lando tipped your chin back, giving you a deep kiss without care that his new teammate was watching the interaction. “We should go, love, don’t want to make you late again. You want to come for a ride too?”

“Shouldn’t I go inside?” Oscar asked as he looked to the double doors that led into the employee only section.

“They want us to do a few icebreaker promo vids to get to know each other so you’ll just be waiting around for me to get back anyway.”

“You should probably get used to that, he likes to keep people waiting,” you joked. 

“When have I ever kept you waiting?”

“I’m still waiting for a win.”

Lando chuckled and playfully swatted your ass. “I’m working on that. Hard.”

You cupped his cheek and ran the pad of your thumb over his pouting bottom lip. “I know you are, baby, and it’s gonna come.”

Oscar cleared his throat and jutted a thumb over his shoulder. “I can just go wait inside.”

“Nah, come on,” Lando said as he grabbed his keys from his pockets. “You should see where her classes are in case there's an emergency.”

You frowned in confusion. “An emergency?”

“Yeah, like if I’m running late.” Lando draped an arm over your shoulder and led the way to the handful of reserved parking spots near the front door. “It’s only 15 minutes down the road.”

Lando opened the passenger door to his Range Rover and you glanced at Oscar who just smiled and opened the back door. “I’m okay back here,” he said as he climbed in. You settled into your usual seat but adjusted it to give Oscar’s longer legs some extra room. 

The drive took a little longer with the tail end of rush hour traffic but it seemed to pass quickly with Lando and Oscar making small talk. You could almost feel Lando’s excitement vibrating off him when he spoke about the upcoming season while Oscar was far more reserved. You quickly understood that he was merely the quiet type, not that he wasn’t excited. 

“You should come over for dinner,” Lando said, one hand resting on your thigh while the other steered. “I’m heading back to Monaco this afternoon but I’ll be back for the weekend.”

He squeezed your leg when he caught your eyes dropping down at the reminder. “It’s only a few days, love.”

“I know, doesn’t stop me from missing you.”

Oscar tried to turn his attention to the scenery out the window, feeling intrusive in the intimate moment, but Lando caught his eyes as they glanced over you. “Oscar could keep you company. Maybe you could show him around Surrey?”

Oscar’s eyes widened as if he had been caught red handed and his cheeks flamed again. “I, uh, sure, I mean, you’re probably busy studying though.”

“I can make time. I actually get through it a lot quicker without this distraction in the house. Who would have thought?”

Lando gasped, “Me, a distraction?”

“Mhmm, you always need attention, baby. But that’s okay, I still love you.”

“Good to know.” Lando dropped a lopsided grin and winked before pulling up to the front of the Science Block. “I love you too, and don’t forget Carlos is picking you up this afternoon.” 

You leaned across the gearbox and kissed Lando farewell before turning to Oscar. “It was really lovely to meet you.”

“You too. Should I get your phone number?”

“Asking for my girlfriend’s number in front of me,” Lando scoffed. “Mate, that’s fucking rude.”

You slapped Lando’s arm and he burst out laughing. “You should have seen your face. Classic.”

You smiled apologetically to the Aussie. “I’ll put it in your phone,” you offered as you held out your hand for the device. You quickly entered the number and hit the green icon until your phone rang in your pocket before taking a selfie and adding it to the contact. “There, now you’ll remember who the name belongs to.”

“Thanks,” he chuckled, taking the phone back. “I would’ve just put ‘Lando’s Missus’.”

“I like that, you can still update it,” Lando chuckled. “It’s a good title.”

“One I’m still waiting for,” you said as you waved your empty ring finger. The movement drew your attention to the watch on your wrist and you swore as you saw class was about to begin. “Bye, baby, have a safe flight.”

You bundled up your bag but when you reached for the door it was already opening and you gave Oscar a quick hug as you stepped out. “Bye, Osc.”

Half the students had disappeared into the halls and you speed walked up to the heritage building where you would spend the first half of your day.

Lando watched you walk away while Oscar took the front seat. “You’ve done something right,” he commented as he put the SUV in reverse, “it took me two weeks to get a nickname.”

A dark blue Ferrari was surrounded by dozens of students when you left your last class and you cradled your textbooks tighter, prepared to bustle your way in. Carlos had been keeping an eye out and was quick to spot you leaving the building. He moved assertively through the crowd and met you at the edge of the circle so he could use his body to shield you. 

“Nice and inconspicuous,” you teased him when you were safely deposited into the passenger seat.

“Sorry, hermosa, the flight was delayed. I didn’t have time to go home and switch cars.” He drove slowly as the last of the fans moved aside and tried to peer through the tinted glass. “How was school?”

“I didn’t fall asleep, so there’s that,” you said with a yawn and felt Carlos’ hand close around yours as you closed your eyes. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too.” Carlos lifted your hand to his lips and kissed your knuckles before resting them on his lap. “Lando said you made a new friend.”

You smiled and opened your eyes to see Carlos glancing across the car as he sped along the highway home. “You two are the worst gossips. Oscar’s nice. I think they will get along well as teammates.”

“Better than me?”

“No one could beat you and Lando as teammates, baby, that was pure magic.” You rubbed soothingly along his thigh to reassure him. “I don’t know if he will get more vocal as he gets comfortable but I get the feeling Oscar is just a quiet person. He’s very different from Lando, and you and Daniel, which could be a good thing.”

Carlos chuckled to himself. “It sounds like you have spent a lot of time thinking about him.”

“There may have been moments,” you admitted. “But there was someone I thought about a lot more.”

A wicked grin grew and Carlos’s hand drew yours higher up his leg as he turned onto the narrow lane that led to the private property Lando had bought. Set halfway between the McLaren factory and your university, it was the idyllic spot to live and Carlos could fly in from the Ferrari HQ in Maranello whenever he had free time, or, when Lando didn’t want to leave you on your own. 

“And who exactly did you think about?” Carlos asked as the front gates opened. “Was he handsome?”

“Very, very handsome, with dark hair and a sexy accent. And he’s so fucking fit, I could break my teeth on his abs,” you hummed happily as the car pulled into one of the few spaces left in the large garage. “I could go on and on about him. Charles is just-”

“Cha-“ Carlos’ foot fell heavy on the brake and the car jutted to a sharp stop. “Charles!”

Your giggle filled the empty car as Carlos ran around the front and opened your door. The world tipped over as he grabbed you out of the seat and tossed you over his shoulder, swatting your ass as he marched you into the house. 

“I’m sorry, I was joking,” you spluttered between laughing and gasping as he spanked you again. “I was thinking about you, doing something surprisingly similar to this actually, just less clothes.”

The world spun again as he tossed you on the bed and caged you beneath his body, his bottom lip pushed out in a pout. “You hurt my feelings, mi amor.”

You wrapped your legs around his waist and combed a hand through his thick dark hair that had grown in the week he had been gone. “Then let me make it better.”  

It started with a text, asking if you had any recommendations for the local takeaways. It was Oscar’s cheat day and you were feeling like you could use a little pick me up of greasy food so you offered to show him your favourite spot. Carlos had been called away a day earlier than planned so you had the whole house to yourself and its grand size always seemed scary on your own. 

The buzzer from the gates sounded and you hit the remote button to open it after, swearing as you realised you lost track of time. Open textbooks covered the kitchen table and highlighters were strewn amongst them as you tried to colour code the notes you had made on post-its. It was a mess, but it was too late to clean up as Oscar knocked on the front door.

“I promise I didn’t forget you were coming, I just thought I had time to finish my homework first,” you said as you opened the door and waved him in. You looked down at the grey sweatpants that came from Carlos’ drawer and the hoodie that came from Lando’s, not quite what you had planned to wear into town. “Obviously, I thought wrong. Make yourself comfortable, I’ll just get changed real quick.”

“You don’t have to get dressed up,” he said as he took his shoes off and closed the door behind him. “I’d rather you be comfortable.”

You smiled at the sincerity and gave him a quick hug, inhaling the musky cologne that clung to his shirt. “You’re sweet, Osc, but you’re a rookie and it shows.”

He frowned as you pulled away and started to head to the stairs for the second floor where the bedrooms were. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

You paused at the bottom step and looked over your shoulder. “You’ll see in an hour.”

The chicken shop had been almost empty when you entered before the dinner rush but there was a crowd growing outside. You were used to having cameras pointed your way after publicly dating Lando for over two years, but Oscar had only shot to fame in the last month when his infamous tweet aired on Drive to Survive. He hadn’t been known outside of the smaller F2 circle but now he was a household name. 

“I see what you mean,” he said as he did his best to ignore the people knocking on the glass. 

“You get used to it, eventually.” You popped a hot chip in your mouth and chewed it while you watched him, a small frown tugging his brows together. “The trick is deciding early on what your position is.”

“What position?”

“With the fans, the paparazzi, all of it.” You glanced at the window and waved. “When we started dating, Lando tried to protect me from them and hide our relationship but they were like sharks after blood. We found we had more privacy if we acknowledged them, then they just moved on.”

You didn’t try hiding with Carlos so no one ever dug too deep into it. Everyone just assumed you were close friends given how close Lando and him were too. It was easier for everyone to believe you were just friends.

Oscar turned to the glass window and forced a smile before waving to the children. Cameras flashed as the fans got the face shots they wanted and then they dispersed back about their day, with the exception of a few stragglers. “Huh. Are you sure you’re not in PR?”

“I’m sure,” you said with a smirk. You weren’t joking when you said you were a PR nightmare - if the world found out about the unorthodox relationship between you, Lando and Carlos it would be. “I have just been through it all before so I can be your personal guide.”

“Thank you.”

You pushed the leftover plate of fries his way knowing he was probably like every other driver who had the ability to consume three times their weight in carbs on a cheat day. “You can thank me with another dinner date, it beats going cross-eyed studying.”

“I’m not sure your boyfriend would appreciate that,” he said as he dragged the plate of fries closer and finished the last of them.

“Lando appreciated what makes me happy, and he’s secure enough to trust what we have isn’t going anywhere.” 

The idea was foreign to him and you could see the doubt he had about it, but he settled instead for a polite, “That must be nice.”

“Your PR team is going to love you,” you chuckled as you grabbed your wallet to pay. “A driver who actually keeps his thoughts to himself, that’s a rarity.”

Oscar’s long legs quickly overtook you and he had some cash out ready. “I invited you,” he said with a stern look that caught you by surprise. “I’m paying.”

Raising your hands in defeat, you smirked and slipped your wallet back into your handbag. “Yes, sir.”

You watched his eyes linger on your lips before he shook his head of the wayward thought and led the way out of the store. “So what do you usually do when Lando is in Monaco?”

“Carlos usually comes and keeps me company, or I just study. Not exactly the epitome of excitement but it’s my last year and then I’ll go to Monaco too.”

Oscar quietly accepted the knowledge without questioning it, though you could see them swirling in his eyes. He wanted to know about Carlos but he was too polite to ask, or maybe he knew it wasn’t something you could answer. “Well, you have my number so if you get sick of studying you can always call me.”

"You can call me too, Osc.”

Term break arrived with as much turbulence as the plane you took to Austria. On one hand you were excited to be able to travel to a few races but on the other you nervously awaited two assessment results and continuously checked your phone for updates until Carlos locked it in the hotel safe. “You can get it back when you promise to relax.” 

“I won’t relax until I know what I got,” you argued but between him and Lando they distracted you well enough, for a while at least.

“We need to get going,” Lando reluctantly said as he climbed out of bed and tried to restore some control over his mussed hair. “You can have your phone back, but just so we can contact you, not so that you can worry about your damn exams.”

Carlos laughed as he unlocked the safe that also had your passports and valuables stored. “I’m sure she will listen to you,” he said as he handed the phone over and saw the unread text messages from Oscar light up the screen. “Though maybe she won’t have time to check her emails now.”

The two managed to shower in a matter of seconds before they reappeared and sorted through the pile of clothes on the floor, tossing red one way and papaya the other. 

“Is Oscar on his way?” Lando asked when he was dressed and ready to go to the track. 

“He’s already there,” you replied, barely looking up from the messages that were coming in rapidfire succession except to kiss Lando goodbye. “And he said you’re going to be late again if you don’t hurry up.”

“I was on time yesterday,” Lando grumbled, pulling his shoes on as he hopped to the door. “I just looked late because I was the last to arrive.”

“Better than coming too soon,” Carlos joked as he leant down to give you a kiss too. “See you later, mi amor.”

You arrived at the track just before the driver’s parade began, when everyone was too busy making their way to the grandstands so the paddock was much easier to navigate. The results had been posted and a smile had been plastered on your face since seeing the grade, but you wanted to tell Lando and Carlos in person. 

“Hey, you’re actually here.” The aussie twang greeted your ears before you turned and found Oscar opening his door opposite Lando’s. “I was starting to believe you were a figment of my imagination.”

Oscar opened his arms and you stepped into the hug you were pretty sure you had trained him into expecting every time you met. He was already in his fireproof skins and they hugged every inch of his torso so you could feel the muscle that lay beneath. 

“I got in last night,” you said as you brushed a hand through his soft hair and giggled when it flopped back over his forehead. “How has your week been?”

“I’m pretty sure you know almost everything that’s happened.” Referring to the hundreds of texts that were religiously exchanged. 

“It’s not the same without seeing your face, I can’t tell if you’re lying or not.”

He tucked your head back into his collar and held you a little tighter. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

“You would if you thought it was protecting me.”

He didn’t have a response for that, at least not before Lando’s door opened and he leaned against the panel with an amused look on his face. 

“Are we celebrating or commiserating, love?”

You had completely forgotten why you had come to the building and a bright smile lit up your face as you bounced on the balls of your feet. “A+, baby.”

“Knew you could do it!” Lando wrapped his arms around you and, incidentally, Oscar too. “Fuck the diet, we are going out tonight.”

You looked up at Oscar. “You’ll come too right?”

“Of course he’s coming,” Lando answered with a wink. “Gotta thank the guy that looks after my girl when I’m away. She would never get her nose out of a book if you didn’t take her out.”

You had quickly learned that it didn’t take much to make Oscar blush and Lando loved to make it happen. 

“It’s no problem,” Oscar murmured as he scratched his heated neck. 

Oscar understood more than anyone why there were always rumours about Carlos. Every time pictures were snapped of you and the Spaniard, or all three of you, the gossip began anew. After spending quite a bit of time with you over the last six months he had his own fair share of rumours but he knew nothing had happened with you. It was hard not to gravitate closer to you or to hug you at any given chance - there was a magnetism he couldn’t explain and he didn’t want to fight it. 

“You saved me from total starvation on numerous occasions,” you praised, rising on your toes to kiss his pink cheek. “My hero.”

Oscar’s face grew another shade deeper and he tried to change his racing thoughts to something other than the feel of your lips. It was impossible, he was too far gone and was helpless to his own feelings that wanted more than you could offer. He couldn’t even look at Lando after the betrayal he had just imagined doing. That was his teammate and you were his boyfriend.

“I’m going to head to the garage,” he choked as he took a step back and grabbed his balaclava from his room. He could feel your eyes in him as he left and when he reached the end of the corridor he turned with a frown as he realised he had missed something. “Congratulations on the grade, you deserve it after the effort you put in.”

Those eyes he had come to love in the last six months softened and you smiled. “Thank you, Osc. Good luck out there.”

It started with a kiss. While Lando and Carlos were celebrating the points they had earned, you were keeping Oscar’s glass full as he stewed in his mind over what he could have done better. You could almost see the calculations running through his head as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass and it was like he couldn’t even hear the music in the nightclub. 

“If you don’t drink that I will, and you don’t want to see what happens to me when I have whisky,” you warned him. 

He looked at the glass and sighed, putting it down. “I think I should just call it a night. You should go have fun with them.” You followed his sight to Carlos and Lando jumping with the crowd, Lando’s mouth moving with the words and Carlos’ arm draped over his shoulder.

“They can keep each other company, I want to be here with you.” You took his glass and lifted it to your lips. “Last warning…” The liquor burned down your throat and you rushed to take a gulp of your fruity cocktail to wash away the taste before a shiver rolled down your spine. “Oh god, how can you drink that?”

You poured another glass from the bottle on the table and held it out until he took it with a small laugh. “It’s meant to be sipped, not shot,” he clarified before drinking a small amount.

The whisky hit your stomach and you felt warmth spread across your skin. The bar menu suddenly became a necessity and you fanned your face with the cardboard as the flush reached your hairline. “We should dance.”

“I, I’m not a good dancer,” he said, looking concerned at the idea.

“No one is good at dancing,” you pointed out, the crowd basically just jumping to the beat or moving side to side. “Just follow my lead.”

He accepted your hand and you grinned triumphantly as you towed him to the dancefloor before turning and stepping closer to his body. Your hands came to rest on his chest and you swayed your hips to the beat before realising he really did need to be led because his hands were still limp at his sides. 

“You can touch me,” you teased as you grabbed his hands and put them on your hips. “Just relax and feel the rhythm.”

Oscar’s fingers flexed when he felt you start moving again, your body brushing against his, and he released a shuddering breath when you turned in his arms and tipped your head back on his shoulder to look up at him. 

“You okay?” you asked as you watched his blue eyes darken in the laser lights.

“You’re beautiful.”

You turned to face him with one of those smiles of pure joy that always made his day better and he forgot about his poor race result. He could hardly breathe when your hands roamed his body, climbing the thick column of his neck to rest on his racing pulse. He was pretty sure he was going to pass out when you rose on your tiptoes, eyes closed and lips pursed to give him one of those sweet kisses on his cheek.

Someone knocked into him and he turned to growl a warning but then your lips were there, pressed to his lips and he lost the words. Time slowed to the space between one heartbeat and the next as he savoured the sweet taste of your drink, unable to stop himself from taking a little more. 

You had kissed his cheek enough times to memorise the feel of them and knew it was not what you were kissing. A soft gasp slipped past when his tongue parted your lips and your fingers found themselves tangled in his hair, tugging him closer as your body yearned for more.

“Uh-oh, someone’s had a bit of frisky whisky,” Lando purred in your ear.

Oscar startled back and wiped his lips that were the same shade as your lipstick. “Fuck, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, it was an accident. Someone pushed me,” he stammered as he looked around but had no idea who had barged into him when there were hundreds of people in the club.

“Relax, mate,” Lando said with a laugh, clapping him on the shoulder. You cozied into Lando’s arm and tried to process what had happened while your lips tingled from the kiss and your heart fluttered. “It’s the whisky.”

You wanted to tell him the whisky hadn’t kicked in yet but kept quiet as Oscar exhaled in relief. Hiding your face in the crook of Lando’s neck, you screwed your eyes shut and pushed away the image that told you he had regretted the kiss. The knowledge settled in your gut that twisted and turned and you gripped Lando’s shirt harder at the rejection. 

“Can we go?” you begged quietly. “Please?” 

Lando kissed your forehead and nodded. “Okay, love, let me just tell Carlos.”

Your hands were left empty as Lando darted back into the melee to find Carlos who would probably stay until the club shut down. For the first time since meeting him you felt awkward in Oscar’s presence knowing you had made him uncomfortable. You didn’t know what to say and it was clear he didn’t either as he buried his hands in the pockets of his jeans. 

“I’m sorry,” you mouthed as you took a step away, hoping the crowd would swallow you whole.

When you woke the next morning for a moment you could pretend it was some strange dream, or nightmare, until Lando blinked his sleep eyes open and pulled you into his arms. “Good morning, beautiful.” The timbre of his voice when he was just waking could always bring a smile to your face but your lips merely wobbled and he sat up concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“I fucked up, with Oscar.”

“Baby, it was just a kiss and you were both drunk, I’m sure he’s probably already forgotten about it.”

The thought that he could forget something that to you was so profound only compounded the ache in your chest. You didn’t want him to forget, you didn’t want him to regret, and you voiced as much to Lando as you cried in his arms.

“Sweetheart,” Lando murmured softly as he wiped away your tears. “I think this is a conversation we should have with Carlos.”

“It doesn’t matter,” you grumbled, tearing yourself from his embrace. “It wouldn’t work out anyway.”

Lando got up and followed you to the bathroom as you turned the shower onto the hottest setting. “Why wouldn’t it work?”

“You and Carlos are best friends, and while you are always close to your teammates I know he doesn’t have the same interest in Oscar.” You stepped under the cascade and welcomed the burning heat that rained down. “I don’t want to lose what we have by wanting more.”

You didn’t hear Lando leave as the steam fogged up the glass and you let your head fall against the cold tile wall. He left you to your thoughts and gave you the space needed to reconcile your feelings to the past.

It started with a phone call. The urge had woken you from a deep sleep and you couldn’t shake the need to reach for your phone and dial the number you knew by heart. It had been a good weekend for the McLaren team with double podiums both in the Sprint and Grand Prix. The two third place caps were hung on the post of the bed as testament to the productive weekend but Lando had gone to bed deflated. 

Oscar had won his maiden race before him. A rookie had done what he had waited years for, what he still waited for. 

“Hello?”

You had assumed the call would go to voicemail after ringing for so long so you weren’t prepared to hear Oscar’s sleepy voice in your ear.

“Hey, sorry to wake you.”

“It’s okay, is everything alright?”

You swallowed and shook your head before remembering he couldn’t see. “I just wanted to say congratulations, I thought you would still be out celebrating.”

“There’s no one to go celebrating with,” he said so quietly you wondered if it was even meant to be said out loud. 

“I’m sorry.” You weren’t sure what for exactly but you felt the need to say it anyway. It was about the only thing you had said to him in weeks. “I should let you get back to sleep.”

“It’s, uh, it’s good to hear your voice,” he admitted and you a little bit of the weight on your shoulders eased as you realised whatever you had wasn’t completely ruined.

“You too, Osc. Good night.”

“Night.”

It was naive to think that one phone call could repair the divide that had chasmed between you because when you returned home for your last semester you still felt his absence everywhere. There were no daily text messages, or invitations to dinner, no sudden appearances as you left class. He was a memory that haunted you and it was always worse when both Lando and Carlos were away.

Four Months Later

It started with a bouquet. The small card was almost lost in the overflowing explosion of blossoms that left a sweet scent in the air but when you flipped it over your heart skipped a beat. Congratulations, OP x 

You were still smiling just as brightly an hour later when you arrived at the graduation ceremony to receive your Honours degree. You had kept the bouquet with you and inhaled the fresh scent as you waited for your name to be called. A loud cheer erupted from the rows where Lando, Carlos, your friends and family sat but it was the lonely cheer at the back of the hall that caught your attention. 

Unfortunately it may have been a hopeful hallucination as you didn’t see him again after that or at the celebration Lando threw for you at home.

“Pack your bags, baby, it’s time for Monaco!” Lando engulfed you in a hug and spun you around so your ceremonial robes billowed out and you clutched your cap to keep it from flying off. “I’m so selfish, I can’t wait to wake up to you every fucking day.”

Another set of arms tugged you away and you fell into Carlos’ embrace. “I’m so proud of you, hermosa.”

You were practically a marionette the way you were passed from one person to the next until finally the bottles of champagne ran dry and the party came to an end. You collapsed onto your bed with a giddy laugh that the long journey was finally over and you toed your heels off, letting them fall to the floor. 

“You can’t sleep in your dress, amor,” Carlos chuckled as he walked into the room with Lando after locking the house up. 

“Then you will have to undress me,” you teased with a beckoning finger that faltered when you saw Lando had the bouquet in a vase that he had found downstairs and he placed it on the bedside drawers beside your phone. “I saw him.”

“I know,” Lando said as he straightened the card among the roses. “I invited him.”

“Thank you.”

The next bouquet was one that you sent to him on his birthday. He barely kept the flowers alive for a week but he did keep the card that was attached. The two little xx’s you signed off with were almost faded from how often he traced his thumb over them before slipping it back into his wallet. He was no longer a rookie but he found this season harder to bear without your companionship and he wished he could somehow fix what he broke.

The problem was that he couldn’t settle for just your friendship anymore so he had to keep his distance instead. He had tasted your lips and nothing less could sate the addiction that had festered in the absence of another hit.

Miami was torturous for Oscar. The car was running great and his qualifying was great, but after five rounds of racing he was still stunned every time he watched you enter the paddock. At least in China the weather was horrible so you were bundled up in Lando’s hoodie but Miami, Miami was hot. Monaco had been influential in your fashion and the dress you wore was worthy of the runways in Paris. 

Stacks of passes hung around your neck and fell into your cleavage as you entered the grid and joined Lando where he was talking to Carlos. Oscar watched with envy as you hugged them both and kissed their cheek with well wishes for the race while he failed to hear what his race engineer was explaining. He was distracted by the fact you had seen him, and smiled. It was small and shy, but it was a smile nonetheless and one of his own growing as you waved your fingers and disappeared back into the garage.

One hundred and ten races he kept you waiting, but finally Lando won his maiden race and there was nothing that could bring him down. He had not stopped smiling, or dancing, or talking since winning and he wasn’t even sure if any of it made sense. The hours were a whirlwind of alcohol and noise until it all turned black and Carlos had to help you get him into bed.

Lando was fast asleep with his mouth open and snoring, which heavily down to the copious amounts of alcohol he had consumed at the after party. He didn’t even stir as you slipped out of the bed and left the room to answer the call that lit up your phone. 

“Hey.” You kept your voice low even though you knew nothing short of a fire alarm would wake your boyfriend.

“Hey.” You could hear the smile in that word and your own lips curled up in response. “I’m sorry if I woke you, I just needed to hear your voice.”

You navigated your way through the dark hotel suite to the balcony and opened the door just wide enough to fit through before closing it. The humidity was instant and the satin nightgown clung to your warm skin as you hung up the phone. “You didn’t wake me.”

Oscar was so close you could almost touch him, but the balcony one room over was just too far away. He even looked down the gap to see the fifteen storey high plunge and you could see his brows burrow together like he was calculating his chances of making the leap across. 

“Don’t you dare,” you warned him. “I didn’t come out here to see you fall to your death.”

His knuckles turned white as he gripped the railing and he sighed in defeat. A smirk soon tugged at his lips and he brushed his hair back over his ear as he eyed the sheer slip you wore. “But you did come out here to see me.”

You crossed your arms over your chest, aware of how thin the material was and all it bared. “I wanted to check how you were.”

Oscar’s lips pursed at the reminder of his poor race result. 

“Could have done without your boyfriend’s boyfriend crashing into me.”

He didn’t know how close to the truth he was with that statement and you wondered if he knew about the relationship that Lando and Carlos had or if he was just playing on an old fan rumour. You wondered how shocked he would be if he knew that Carlos was passed out on the other side of Lando right now. 

“It is a part of racing,” you reminded him. “There’s always a risk battling it out.”

Oscar dropped his head with a little laugh. “It’s a good thing I didn’t call you for sympathy or I would be disappointed.”

“Why did you call me?” 

You knew why.

“I told you, I wanted to hear your voice.”

“Osc,” you sighed, your hands falling to your side, and he lifted his head to look at you, his blue eyes so similar to his teammates.

“I’m not an idiot,” he said as he let go of the rail he leaned on and rose to his full height. “I know you love him.”

“I do,” you confirmed with a small nod, unable to look in his direction as you turned your focus to the view of the ocean instead. 

You didn’t hear him move until his feet landed quietly on the concrete behind you and you spun around to face him. A small shocked gasp escaped your lips when his palm glided over the satin at your waist and pulled you closer to his body. Your hands found their own space on his chest and he froze as he waited for you to push him away, but your fingers curled into the white shirt he wore.

“I know you love him,” he whispered, his lips brushing the shell of your ear. “But I think you might love me too.”

“You have ignored me for months.” It wasn’t a denial and he caught the admission of those missing words.

“I can never ignore you, and now I know I can’t even keep my distance from you.” He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against yours as his large hands cradled your face. “I need you, Y/N.”

“You don’t know what you are asking for,” you whispered as you fought the urge to tell him just how much you needed him too. 

“I’m asking for a chance to show you how perfect we are for each other.” He pulled back to see tears shimmering in your eyes and he sighed. “I shouldn’t have called. I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”

“Wait-”

“No, you don‘t have to say anything. I shouldn’t have put you in that position. I don't want you to cheat on Lando.” He kept backing away but you followed with each step until his back was pressed to the railing. 

“Lando isn’t the problem,” you promised as you reached for his face and cradled his sharp jawline. “Remember when I said I was a PR nightmare?”

Oscar nodded as his brows furrowed together. 

“I’m trusting you with a secret no one else knows.” His confusion grew as you took his hand and led him inside the suite. You pressed a finger to your lips as you reached the bedroom door and nudged it wider so he could see what was inside. In the dim light it was hard to make out what he was looking at but then everything came into focus like the Ferrari shirt on the floor and the CS55 cap on the nightstand. 

Oscar’s jaw slackened as he recognised the two bodies spread across the sheets and he eyed the empty space that you had filled. A thousand questions muddled in his head and he swallowed them down until you had closed the door again. His hand slipped out of yours as you walked back to the balcony and you wondered if that was the last time you would ever hold it.

“No one can know, please,” you whispered as you hugged yourself and stared at the moonlight on the waves. 

“Help me to understand what I just saw. Are the rumours true then?”

You laughed and turned to face him, crossing your legs and you leant against the rail. “They're not wrong,” you admitted with an evasive shrug. “They love each other and have a relationship, but it’s not the same relationship that I have with them.”

“You’re not exactly helping me to understand this,” he muttered, dragging a hand down his face as he sat heavily on the outdoor settee. 

You had never needed to explain it before, the addition of Carlos to yours and Lando’s relationship had naturally fallen into place and been accepted without having to understand why you all felt the way you did or how it was going to work. But now you were going to try.

“I met Lando first and what we had was instant, he was funny and sweet and kind. Then he introduced me to Carlos who was so charismatic it was impossible not to love him too. It didn’t mean I loved Lando any less so he supported me having a relationship with Carlos too.” 

“Okay.” He nodded like it made some sense and it gave you a slither of hope. “But what about them?”

You watched Oscar’s eyes linger on the skin bared by the satin and they darkened when you uncrossed your legs to step closer. He sat up straighter as you approached and his legs opened for you to step between and he did nothing to stop you when you took a seat on his lap. 

“You want to know if it's a package deal?” you teased, toying with the strands of his dirty blonde hair. “You want to know if you can have me, but at what price?”

His throat bounced with a deep swallow and his tongue wet his dry lips before he could speak again. “Is it?”

You thought about teasing him more but you settled for the truth. “No, like I said, they don’t have that sort of relationship. Yes, we may sleep in the same bed more often than not and on occasion they share me, but that is as far as they go. That is where the rumours are wrong.”

“Share you as in…”

“Threesome, Oscar,” you confirmed with a laugh as his cheeks turned pink. Seeing that colour again reminded you of the kiss and you shifted on his lap to straddle his hips. “I can’t stop thinking about you. It feels like a part of me has been missing for months.”

His hands slid up your back and pulled you closer. “I know what you mean.” 

His lips were so close you could feel their warmth and they begged you to close the distance, but you couldn’t just yet. “I want you, Osc, and you’re right, I do love you.”

You could see the sadness in his eyes as he asked, “But?”

“But I don’t know how this works when you and Carlos are battling each other every week.”

“I know things sound heated on the radio but that is just on the track,” he promised, his thumbs drawing soothing circles over your spine. “I have no problem with Carlos, I swear.”

Carlos had said the same thing but you weren’t sure if they were just trying to placate you. Only time would tell.

“It’s not just my heart that will break if this doesn’t work,” you whispered as your eyes fluttered shut and you surrendered yourself to him.

“Then we will just have to make this work.”

[moonlightsylph]

Emergency Commissions

tl;dr, I was in a car accident. I need help to get it back on the road if possible as my insurance isn't going to cover it. I don't know the total cost yet, will update once I do, but I'm going to set a starting goal as of now. Longer explanation and details below the read-more

This will be a Pay-as-you-Want through Ko-fi

kofi: https://ko-fi.com/moonlightsylph

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Basics

This is the starting point, where you pick the level of what you want. From sketch (basic blocking out and concept, typically will be done in traditional pencil) to full (shading and rendering)

Sketch- pay-as-you-want (done traditionally, in pencil, before scanned/photographed to be resized and uploaded. Can also be done as digital line if preferred) Lines- pay-as-you-want (Digitally, Unless specified. If traditional, it will be done in ink. It will be scanned/photographed before resizing) Flats- pay-as-you-want (Digitally, Unless specified. If traditional, we can discuss materials wanted. It will be scanned/photographed before resizing) Full- pay-as-you-want (Digitally, Unless specified. If traditional, we can discuss materials wanted. It will be scanned/photographed before resizing)

Examples

Traditional Only: Flairs. This will be done in gold and/or silver pen to add flourishes

eaxmples:

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Background

Backround options. Simple (for me is either a solid background or a gradient. I pick the colours for this one unless you have requests.) to Basic detail (being in a room, set-dressing for the character, ect) to Complex (fighting scene, detailed background like cityscapes or nature scenes. Here you have more control on what exactly you want, instead of a generalized idea. I will complete this to the best of my ability)

Simple background- free Basic detail- pay-as-you-want Complex scenes- pay-as-you-want

Example:

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Style

Here is where we get a little creative. I've toyed with different styles and challenges. For limited pallets, you can provide me with a colour pallet you want to see me transform into your character, or I can generate a few for you to pick from.

As for the Random Blorbo, this is a fun challenge I wish to do where I build you a new character. You can give me a few details you want seen, otherwise its completely up in the air what you get.

Lineless- pay-as-you-want Limited pallets- pay-as-you-want Chibi- pay-as-you-want Random blorbo machine- pay-as-you-want [comes with two-three head shots and one full body]

Examples:

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Fun Stuff

For this section, you can have custom borders done for your personal use. Be it for framing a picture you like, to spruce up your page or blog, or to frame up a personal project you have going (example: making your own tcg, tarot card, ect)

As for the cards, this is where I create a card featuring one of your characters each. Like a tcg or a tarot, or whichever you want to see.

Ref sheets are pretty straight forward. I'll provide two-three headshots + full body + interesting facts you want included. This also included, if you wish it, personal items said character may have to showcase.

Custom borders- pay-as-you-want Cards- pay-as-you-want Ref sheets- pay-as-you-want

Avatars: pay-as-you-want

Examples:

Hello,

I know this is out of the blue, but when things happen they don't give you a forewarning.

I was involved in a car accident yesterday. Fresh with a new N, only had my car for a week to myself, I found myself hydroplaning into a traffic control post and side-swiping a car in the process.

Thankfully, they got off with cosmetic damage and a cracked tail-light as i avoided rear-ending them.

Myself, however, ended up with a banged bumper, a passenger mirror nearly beheaded and a crack radiator. Lucky, considering what could have happened, but still terrifying.

It was after this i learned that my insurance wouldn't cover the collision, meaning I'd have to cover everything out of pocket. Money I don't really have at the moment. Not with the other debts I've been steadily paying off.

I don't know the grand total yet, I'm still waiting for my car to be released so I can take it to a body shop. But from how expensive cars can be, with some insight from those around me, I can make a good guess at a "starting" amount. I'll update the total once I know though.

But I'm now asking for help. I don't expect anything for free, I will be making things in exchange. I've wanted to open commissions for a while, its just sad that what made me finally pull the trigger is when I'm in trouble. I'll link my kofi, the prices will be set to pay-as-you-want. I'll work out details for what people want, and I'll have a list of things I don't think I can do.

But I appreciate that you took the time to read this. Any help will be greatly appreciated and even if you can't, please share. If you just want to donate and not get a work in exchange, just say so in the notes. (that said, you might end up with a doodle anyways as thank you <3)

[skimmingmilk]

Count on Me Like a Countdown (7, 6, 5...)

Summary:

Even though it was quiet and there were no eyes of judgement bearing down on him, his chest still tightened. Like a constrictive band was trying to squeeze all the air from his lungs. Tails tried breathing deeply, to fill his chest with each calculated, carefully timed breath, but the pressure remained. He pressed his forehead into his knees and drew himself into a small ball for comfort, curling up as tight as a hedgehog. "I'm counting on you, Tails." What a mistake that had been. - On the shuttle home from the Space Colony ARK, Tails reflects on what went wrong and what could've gone worse. Apparently he still had a long way to go before he could consider himself a hero.

A/N: SA2 is my all-time favorite Sonic game, and I've always wanted to write little embellished scenes for it, so I'm happy I got the chance with this! I hope you enjoy it!

Count on Me Like a Countdown (7, 6, 5...)

"Since this shuttle was designed by my grandfather, I believe I'm the most qualified out of all of us to fly us home in one piece," Eggman announced the moment they all set foot in the cockpit of one of the ARK's transport shuttles. "Not to mention I'm the only one with an actual pilot's license."

"Normally I'd fight you on that, but after Tails crashed us into an asteroid, I'm more inclined to agree with you." Knuckles shot Tails a look that had both his tails tucking in close. 

Rouge, on the other hand, sidled up to the fox kit and ruffled the fur between his ears playfully. "So you're who I've got to thank for delivering those extra shards of the Master Emerald to me." She winked as he ducked out from under her hand, ears flat.

"That you gave back to me, remember?" Knuckles hurried to remind her.

"Just gotta ruin a girl's good mood, don't you?"

"First rule aboard this shuttle is that everyone under four feet shuts up and stays out of my way," Eggman grumbled.

Tails took the opportunity to slink away from them, poking his head out of the cockpit to peer into the passenger section of the shuttle. He scanned the room until he found Sonic, sitting apart from everyone. With his chin propped up in one hand, he stared out the window of the shuttle, the dull sheen of his green eyes still visible in his faint reflection. He wasn't tuned into the conversation at all; his gaze both fixed and unfocused on their planet and its stars in the distance. 

He'd been quiet ever since they left the space colony, though it went relatively unnoticed with Eggman and Rouge joining them. Their antagonistic banter with Knuckles filled up the space where silence might have settled if it was only the four of them. Fascinating how being six made such a difference. 

Especially when they should've been seven.

And when they could have very easily been five. 

[Continue at AO3]

[sonic-takeover]

so uh... shadow are you SURE. youre okay?? having such a large amount of energy coursing through your body with out inhibitors probably is not comfortable...

-🍽️, also im excited to see where this date goes... & i hope my son is okay!! & sage, im glad shes with a friend right now:33

I'm fine. *He sighs, still sitting down while Amy and Tails run around getting supplies. He looks tired. He rubs his face with his good hand* Sorry, Amy. Tails.

No, you're okay! We've almost got everything, uh.. only thing is the food and the petals.

We can take the Tornado to go collect flowers!

Ooh, yeah! Shadow, you wanna go?

Uh... Sure. *He slowly pushes himself to his feet, feeling as if those 50 years in the cryochamber had actually aged him. He ignores his weakness and walks with the other two to the Tornado* You take the passenger seat, Amy. I'll stand.

... No, you should take the seat. You had a rough day, and-

You're the lady. Sit.

SHADOW.

......

*She crosses her arms*

.... Fine. Whatever. *He climbs into the passenger seat behind Tails, glaring at Amy as she climbs onto the back of the plane, holding on tight as they take off*

*Sage is learning to bake cookies with Cream and her parents. Vanilla giggles as Vector comes up behind her and reaches around to steal some cookie dough. She lightly pats his hand, swatting him away* Vector, stop~! Get your own, we're using that!

Can't help it, Vani, your cookin's hot a holda me~ *he hugs her from behind, making her laugh*

*Sage is watching them with big curious eyes. She has flower clips in her hair. She looks over at Cream, whispering* Why are they acting like that?

Like what? *Cream looks over at them. While she's not looking, Cheese steals some cookie dough from her section*

They're laughing and holding one another. They are scolding each other, but... They do not seem unhappy. Why?

Oh! Because they're in love!

..Love...?

Yeah! Isn't it so cute? My mama smiles a lot more now that she's with my new papa.

Hm.. *Sage looks back up as Vanilla and Vector kiss. Why don't her parents act like that?*

[dronebiscuitbat]

Oil is Thicker the Blood (Part 60)

All she could see was the blurry grey of the bunker walls, her arms and legs moving without her input in a four limbed gallop across the floor of the bunker, all attempts to stop herself lead to such agonizing pain that she'd had to give up the fight for control.

Her tail cracked like a whip behind her, extending her spines as it looked around behind her and ahead of her. It was still early… people were still in their homes asleep, or getting ready to go to work.

Drool pooled out of her mouth as she stopped for a moment, the solver symbol across the whole of her visor, her audio receptors tuned to catch the smallest noise a drone could make.

Need food, can't stop, need food.

Disjointed thoughts entered her head while her consciousness took a back seat, only being able to watch from behind her visor as her body lept up into the ventilation system like a cat into a tree.

She sniffed, picking up the scent of dust that caused her to sneeze before shaking her head, she moved through the vents quickly, until she was able to hear a noise.

“And like… he was being so stupid I just had to tell him!” It was Lizzy’s voice, muffled slightly by how high up she was, and she growled softly before another voice graced her ears.

“I dunno Liz, Thad was just trying to be helpful… in his own dumb way.” It was V, and Uzi peered down from the vents with her head cocked.

Lizzy was laying on the bed, V was behind her, braiding her long hair, her tail coiled around Lizzy’s leg. Uzi sniffed.

Oil and old parchment, that was V. Marked as a packmate in her systems. The accompanied scent of cherries and coolant had to be Lizzy… also marked as a packmate, affiliated as V's mate. She huffed and moved on.

It was strange, being a passenger in your own body, even stranger was registering thoughts that didn't seem to come from her, she wasn't even aware of a ‘packmate’ system until her… body? solver possessed self? went through and checked it.

There were definitely thought processes happening though, a method. Not just a feral, all consuming killing spree.

More voices…

“Sorry… I'm not interested.”

“Aww come on…”

“No. Chloe.”

Thad, that was a voice she recognized, checking through her system again, she was half-surprised to find he was listed as a packmate as well. But the other one… the other one definitely wasn't.

“You assaulted one of my freinds, I'm not going with you to a party.” Thad's voice was firm and slightly irritated, a scent of fresh grass and machine grease hit her, yup… definitely Thad, he even had to smell athletic.

“Ugh. Fine… you're no fun.”

“Not sure we have the same definition of fun.” He replied harshly, they were right outside Thad's apartment, peering down out of the vent, he had a backpack slung over his shoulder, clearly about to head to school.

Chloe just scoffed and began to walk away, throwing her head back in a classic, mean girl fashion, Thad just rolled his eyes and started to walk in another direction, grumbling something about “not getting enough sleep for this.”

Uzi crept through the vents, following Chloe as she walked through the halls, she had school too though… so where was she going?

Her body didn't seem to care though, [Target Found] displayed on her screen and she gave a manic grin as she stalked her prey, waiting for the perfect moment…

Finally, she stopped in a section of poorly lit bunker, leaning on a section of wall while looking down at her phone, tapping away.

And that's when she dropped from the ceiling, landing silently to the left of her, in the darkest area of the hall, Chloe didn't even look up, just continued to look down at her phone.

Then, in the next second, with a flick of her tail. Chloe was pinned to the wall by a dozen sharp spines, a screech leaving her as the phone tumbled out of her hands and she was slammed into the steel wall with a resounding bang.

Her breath picked up as she looked at her attacker, a tail coming up to wrap around her wrists and trap her arms above her head, Uzi's breath was hot, coming out in puffs of steam that brushed Chloe's face, her mouth open and saliva dripping off her glistening fangs and onto the floor.

“Oh shit-oh shit! Uzi?! Fuck- I, I'll leave N alone! Is that what this is about?” She thrashed a bit, the spines digging her clothing into the wall, but she was completely trapped.

“L-let me go!” Uzi grew closer, a twisted smile on her face as a long, grey tongue exited her mouth, Chloe's eyes went hollow at she caught a good look at her open maw, gulping.

Within, Uzi was cackling, of all the drones to get in her way when she wasn't in control, it was this bitch. Part of her didn't even really feel bad about it either… another part didn't actually want to kill her, but if it had to be anyone…

Her maw went in closer to her neck, causing her chosen victim to squirm in fear, she was so close now, another swift movement and-

Something big and heavy grabbed her from behind, causing an animalistic yelp to escape her as she was pulled off her prey. She growled and kicked as Chloe ripped herself off the wall and got away. She whipped around, ready to sink her teeth into whoever had interrupted her hunt.

She came face to face with gold.

‘Serial Destination N; Mate, Packmate, Leader.’ came up in her systems and her body immediately retracted her claws and snapped her mouth shut, it whimpered, curling in on itself.

“It's okay, it's okay… here.” He pushed something in her direction, and a breif sniff reveled it was an entire roll of pure titanium, her body lept for it, taking a huge chunk out of it and purring softly.

N stroked her back in the middle of the hallway as she took more bites of it, tearing into it like some wild dog, he moved more things in her direction, a brick of silicone, and a ball of rubber.

As she ate, the solver symbol flickered out and replaced with her purple eyelights, though she didn't stop eating… she was too hungry for that.

She didn't know where N had gotten these, and she didn't know how he knew this was what she needed, but as she put the last peice of rubber in her mouth she sighed, the hunger satiated for the first time since it had started

She looked up at N after there wasn't a speck of raw material left, processing what the hell just happened.

She'd lost control… again. And this time she had nearly killed someone. Sure, it was Chloe, but it could have easily been someone else.

“N…” She started, but he stopped her by scooping her up and placing a kiss on the side of her head.

“Don't… you're okay. You didn't kill anyone, and I can go get more if you get hungry again.” He nuzzled her cheek and she found herself too tired to argue, a mixture of her bodies physical activity and the sudden intake of material.

“I'll take us home. And I think we need to do another scan, I have… a theory.”

“You have a theory? Did we switch places?” She teased, unable to help herself, he hummed, smiling slightly.

“I do have moments.”

When they got back to the apartment, N laid her on the bed gently, and Uzi was beginning to get used to being carried around…

N cleared the data on the scanner and held it over her midsection, letting it re-map the area over several minutes, and with it, what he was looking for.

The small ball of mass that had been there before was now slightly larger, and now the shape of a bean. The scanner was able to pick up what it was made of.

Silicone and rubber, trace amounts of titanium. There was a forth substance marked with a ‘???’, but that was less important. He gave Uzi a wary smile as he showed her the image.

“I think… that's why you're so hungry.”

[axicallian]

Starstruck [Ninjago x Male Reader]- The Day of the Great Devourer

Previous chapter

M/n painfully watched as his sensei was consumed by the creature they had tried so hard to contain. He knew Sensei Wu would not let himself be killed by the Great Devourer, so he had no choice but to abandon his master to help the ninja. Nya quickly took off in her Samurai mech to start up the flying ship. The giant snake roared into the air, turning it head toward the colorful ninja. "Maybe if we stand perfectly still..." Jay breathed, trying to suppress his panic.

"Run!" M/n yelled as he sprinted toward his comrades and pushed them into a panicked escape. The Devourer pursued the ninja as they made a bee-line for the Bounty.

"Wait! Wait for me!" the Lightning Ninja exclaimed from behind as he caught up to the group.

The ninja and M/n threw themselves onto the deck and through the bridge door. Zane, Kai, Cole, and M/n landed in a pile and Jay rolled by with far more speed. The group untangled themselves as the Nindroid and dragon met each others' eyes with growing concern.

Jay jumped to his feet and pointed to the screen which displayed the giant serpent, "Uh, hate to tell you this, but objects in the mirror are closer than they appear."

"Working on it," Nya called back with frustration laced in her voice, "Blasters on full."

The flying ship dragged itself off the sand and soared through the air.

"Woo-hoo!" Kai cheered as he watched the Devourer shrink in the window, believing they had escaped, "Take that, you stupid snake!"

Suddenly the giant serpent shot itself out of the sand, intercepting the Bounty. Nya made a hard right to avoid the snake's open jaws which threw all the passengers around the bridge. Zane and M/n held each other (purely for balance purposes *wink wink*) as they watched the Great Devourer pursue the ship.

"Uh, I think it heard you," Jay whined.

"Nya, we gotta go faster. That thing is gaining on us," Kai observed, standing on buckets to see out the high window.

"We're going as fast as we can," Nya panicked at the wheel.

M/n pointed ahead to a section of land with rocks protruding from the sand, "Try to make it to Scattered Canyon," he advised.

"Probability of us making it that far is less than 8 percent," the Ice Ninja worried.

"Not helping, Zane!" M/n yelled as he watched from the bridge door.

"It's coming in for another attack!" Cole warned "Port side!"

Nya jerked the wheel to avoid the Great Devourer's hungry maw. Everyone clung to the ship to prevent themselves from being thrown across the floor.

Lloyd's high-pitched voice called out "We're losing speed! We'll drop to the ground pretty soon."

"Throw everything overboard!" Nya's command was met with a resounding 'what?!' from all of her teammates. She elaborated, "We need to lose some weight!"

"Port side!" Lloyd announced just in time for the serpent to consume a portion of their right engine.

Everyone began throwing things overboard while trying to keep their balance on the swaying ship. M/n rushed into a room finding Wu's teapot that he used daily. He wouldn't give that possession up. He grabbed his satchel and began packing it full of necessities in the event that they lost the Bounty. The dragon gently placed his master's beloved porcelain pot in the bag. He reemerged on deck just in time to watch the snake grow from consuming the ninjas' discarded items.

"The more it consumes, the bigger it gets," the Earth Ninja observed, "Don't throw anything else overboard!"

"We made it to Scattered Canyons," Nya's voice echoed through the ship, "Hold on!" She maneuvered the ship around vertical rocks in an attempt to get the Great Devourer off their tail. Kai made his way toward the front of the ship which M/n held onto the rail and watched the serpent disappear.

"Ah, we lost him," Cole said, relieved from inside the bridge, but it was too soon to relax. The snake shot itself out of the sand and managed to take out an entire engine. Alarms began blaring as Nya panicked, "Abandon ship!"

The Lightning Ninja was sent flying out the window onto the deck. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Jay got up and harnessed his golden weapon to safely jump off the Bounty. The Nindroid gently ran his hand along the ship's well-crafted wood, "Goodbye, old friend." Zane followed his teammates off the plummeting vehicle. Likewise, M/n ripped the bandages from his mostly-healed wing and launched himself off the edge. He flew over to meet his comrades who looked somberly at the ship they had grown to call their home.

The Great Devourer emerged near the abandoned Bounty with a powerful roar. The ninja retreated on their vehicles, Zane giving M/n a hand up onto his motorcycle. They traveled a short distance to a rock with an overhang that would protect them from the serpent. The vehicles morphed back into weapons as they turned to mournfully watch the enormous snake consume their beloved ship in a single bite.

"No!" everyone called, everyone but M/n. He hated this damn snake. It took everything from him. His Sensei and parental figure. His new home. His comrades' hope. He was going to end this snake if it was the last thing he did.

The dragon was forced out of his thoughts as the ninja sat on the sand, panting from the adrenaline. "Oh, that was too intense. All that action makes you so thirsty," Kai complained as he took his mask off. M/n opened his satchel, thankful for his foresight, and handed the Fire Ninja a bottle of water with a sad smile. The hothead met his beautiful eyes with a flushed face, mumbling a small 'thanks'.

The Nindroid arose after only a moment's rest, "There's no time to rest. We need to warn people before it becomes bigger."

"Bigger? Bigger!?" Jay jumped up and began yelling rashly, "That thing in one big bite crushed our entire ship!" The hyper blue ninja began pacing, thinking of alternatives to defeating the serpent. "We need to save as many as we can. Uh, uh, we'll find some kind of refuge, somewhere safe to hide. Ooh, the Serpentine Tombs. Yeah, they're underground. Sure, we'll be without sunlight for months, but they're perfect."

"And what? Just give up?" Cole argues.

"You know as well as I do, we have no chance at stopping that thing!" Jay exclaimed angrily.

"Please stop fighting," M/n pleaded with unprocessed frustration and upset.

Kai separated the bickering teammates, "Is this what Sensei Wu would've wanted? Us fighting? Running and hiding? Giving up?"

"But he's not here anymore.." Lloyd reminded everyone, causing a mournful air of silence.

"But his teachings live on," the Master of Fire encouraged as he walked up to the sitting dragon, offering him a hand. He heaved M/n onto his feet as they shared a small smile. Kai continued with determination and vigor, "Sensei once told me it's not the size of a ninja in a fight, it's the size of the fight in the ninja. All this training, all of these battles we've had with skeletons and Serpentine. We've persevered through so much, we can't just give up now. A ninja never admits defeat. A ninja always picks himself up when he is down. Which is exactly what Sensei Wu would want us to do right now."

Zane questions monotonously, "But how do we destroy a snake of that magnitude?"

"Yeah, it's not like we have an extra Sacred Flute lying around to charm it. Or wait, haha, how about one of our awesome Dragons? Oh, I forgot. They took off and left us high and dry with some weird hybrid instead," Jay complained with theatrical voices and gestures as M/n shot him an offended look at the off-handed comment. "Or, hey, what about our Golden Weapons? Which will do nothing against a snake that size! Heh, oh, we are so hooped," Cole and Kai raised an eyebrow at the blue ninja's antics as he dramatically sank to the ground.

M/n sighed at the hyperactive Lightning Master before begrudgingly agreeing with him, "Jay's right. We need a weapon bigger than the Golden Weapons."

"Or an idea that's even bigger!" the hothead suddenly exclaimed with excitement, "Ha! Jay, you're a genius! You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Probably not," Jay replied, now almost posing on the ground, laying with one hand holding up his head and the other resting sassily on his hip, "but go ahead."

Instead of explaining, the Master of Fire ran off into the desert calling back to his comrades, "There's no time. I'll fill you guys in on the way!"

"Where are we going?" M/n asked as he used his wings to catch up to Kai.

"You'll see."

~

After riding on their vehicles for a while, Lloyd getting the privilege of being carried by the dragon as he flew, they arrived at Ed and Edna's junkyard. M/n took in his strange surroundings, mainly the mass amounts of tires, before grouping up with the ninja and Nya.

"Good idea, Kai. If the Devourer likes to consume, this place is a full-on buffet," Cole complimented.

Jay approached the trailer and gave the door a knock, "Looks like my parents are gone."

"His parents?" M/n wondered aloud to the other ninja.

"This is Jay's parent's junkyard and also his home," Zane clarified.

M/n only nodded, recognizing Jay's embarrassment of his home as he rejoined the group.

The red ninja laid out a blueprint that he had found in the various papers strewn in M/n's bag.

"It's so awesome!" Jay smiled, bouncing on his toes.

"Zane, you still have a recording of the Sacred Flute in your memory bank?" Kai inquired as Lloyd struggled to see the complicated design through the group gathered around the car hood that the blueprint was laid on. M/n gently grabbed the green-clad boy and let him into the semicircle to give him a clear view.

"The flute might've been destroyed earlier, but I have its exact tone recorded and ready for playback," the Nindroid replied and proudly played a demonstration of the sound.

"Good. And there should be enough spare parts around here to build this whopper," Kai planned with a smile, "But we're gonna need to create our biggest Tornado of Creation yet. This is gonna be dangerous and we can't have anyone around." M/n had heard of the Tornado of Creation from Wu and was surprised that the ninja had already mastered it.

Ironically the mailman, ringing his bike bell, pulled up to the junkyard as the Fire Master finished his sentence. "Ugh. What's he doing here?" Cole groaned as the Lightning and Fire Ninja go to meet the postal worker. "Aah! You ninja are always sneaking around, giving people heart attacks. You're too quiet," the old man complained while dismounting his bike and grabbing Ed and Edna's mail. Kai ordered him to leave for his own safety, "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. But you need to get out of here, now." The stubborn postman continued delivering the mail, "Uh, well, now, I too have a job to do, and that's delivering the mail, which I plan to do." Jay simply took the mail in place of his parents and shooed the worker away, "Look, dude, my parents aren't even here. You really should be on your way."

Getting tired of the old man, M/n used his 'talking to adults voice', "Sorry sir, we're actually busy trying to build something out of salvaged parts and I'm sure you also have more mail to deliver," he suggested with a smile and polite bow.

"You know what? You guys are right. Wherever you guys are, trouble is always around the corner," the postal worker replied with slight malice, "I think I'll be leaving now 'cause whatever you guys are up to, I want no part of it." As the mailman rode off into the distance another figure approached, a giant one. The Great Devourer had found the junkyard.

The snake reared up and scanned the scrap as if it was a first-class meal. "Hey! It's now or never, guys! Ninja, go! Fire!" Kai exclaimed as he performed Spinjitzu. All the other ninja followed suit while Nya, Lloyd, and M/n watched from a safe distance.

"Earth!"

"Lightning!"

"Ice!"

All of the glowing elemental tornadoes formed to make a large vortex which began to drag scrap and parts into it. The Devourer looked on in interest as a vehicle emerged from the glow. Kai, Cole, and Jay piloted the vehicle dubbed the 'Ultra Sonic Raider' while the Nindroid got his own cockpit to attack the snake which grew agitated and prepared to lunge.

"Zane, now!" Kai commanded, prompting Zane to shoot concentrated sound waves at the serpent. The Devourer ducked its head to avoid the attack.

"Zane, what was that? This isn't target practice. You're supposed to hit him, not give him a haircut," Cole complained. That's one thing that M/n couldn't stand, the ninjas blaming each other. He'd have to have a talk with them later.

The Ice Ninja frustratedly replied, "May I remind you we just magically whipped up this heap of junk?"

"Well, I hope one of us created a reverse feature because.. reverse!" the hothead shouted as the snake launched toward them, jaws open.

"How's this for reverse?" Cole grinned as he pulled a lever, jerking the vehicle backward and they all let out a yell. He shot the vehicle forward and continued to dodge the snake's attacks. Zane tried to shoot the Great Devourer with the sound waves but failed again due to the serpent's movement.

"I need your help holding him in place," the Nindroid suggested as they pulled up to the serpent's side.

"How's this?" Jay cheered as he shot a grappling hook at the Devourer, "Got 'em!" Another hook dug into its skin and dragged the giant serpent to the ground, then whipping around to face it.

Kai commanded, "Before it gets away! Now, Zane! Take the shot!"

Zane jeered as he shot music waves, "Charm your way out of this!" As the snake tried to recover from being roped, it got hit with the waves right in the head which threw it backward.

"It's working!" the Master of Earth cheered.

The Great Devourer slowly lifted its head, still disoriented. Kai pointed to a mark on its forehead and yelled, "It's got a weak spot!" Cole turned back to him, asking, "What!?" Kai began restating his observation, "On its forehead. It's got a—" but he was interrupted by the snake's tail crashing down onto their vehicle. The Ice Ninja's compartment had gotten destroyed, "Zane!" the ninja and M/n yelled as the dragon rushed over.

The hybrid used his claws to grip the scrap covering his comrade and uncovered the Nindroid. The left side of their face was damaged to reveal robotic parts, "That was close," they commented.

"Are you alright?" M/n helped the white-clad ninja out of the wrecked vehicle with worried eyes. Zane felt their face flush but still replied, "Yes, I am unharmed." Seeing the dragon's relieved smile the feeling increased tenfold, making them inadvertently smile too.

"Perfect. Now that was a total failure," Jay complained.

"Not total. Did you guys notice on his forehead? It has a weak spot," the Red Ninja noted optimistically.

"Oh, great, let me make a note of that," Jay ranted sarcastically, "Giant snake has wee, itty-bitty weak spot that'll be TOTALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO GET AT BECAUSE THE THING IS TOO RIDICULOUSLY HUGE TO DO ANYTHING TO STOP IT!" He ended up yelling and dramatically gesturing while his teammates watched.

"Are you done?" M/n asked, done with the hyperactive ninja's whining and complaining.

He took a deep breath then replied "yes" to M/n's (rhetorical) question.

"Good, because things just got worse. Look," Nya pointed out the Devourer which retreated from the junkyard and was heading toward the large city in the distance.

"It's heading toward Ninjago City," Zane worried.

"That's where my parents are," Jay said, concerned.

Cole replied, "So is everybody else.."

"If it consumes the biggest city in all of Ninjago, there will be no stopping it," the hothead said with frustration.

M/n knew what he needed to do, which he hadn't done yet because he didn't want to strand the ninja without a last resort. He began taking deep breaths, feeling his form change and grow. The ninja looked back at him with confusion and his body morphed. Soon enough his transformation was complete. He towered above his comrades in his dragon form as they stared at him, slacked-jawed and in awe. M/n was bigger than any of their dragons, all of which were gone. His beautiful iridescent scales shined and beautiful fur ran down his spine. The same horns that protruded from his forehead as a human also sat atop his head as a dragon.

Lloyd was the first to break from his trance, "M/n!?"

In response the dragon gave a soft purr and gently nudged the Green Ninja with his snout. Kai walked up beside the blonde boy and put his hand on the hybrid's snout letting out a soft 'woah'. M/n gently laid down and extended a wing, offering all his teammates a ride on his back.

"Hell yeah!" Cole cheered as he leapt onto the dragon's back after snatching the M/n satchel that he left behind, "now let's go get that snake!"

The other ninja smiled and followed the Earth Ninja's example while Nya mounted her mech. They all gripped the tufts of hair as M/n started running and eventually took off into the air. Kai, Cole, and Jay whooped and cheered as they felt the wind blow through their hair and face. Lloyd held onto Zane from behind as the Nindroid looked at the dragon in awe of his beauty and power.

~

As they soared over Ninjago City people looked up and pointed to the mystical beast which was approaching the Great Devourer. The destruction-hungry serpent was ready to attack Jay's parents who couldn't get their car started but M/n landed with a thud behind it. The ninja quickly dismounted to attack the Devourer and evacuated the citizens.

M/n let out a low growl, challenging the overgrown snake. Even at the dragon's massive size, the Devourer far exceeded him. While the serpent was distracted the ninja took the opportunity to attack.

"Lightning!" Jay called out as he struck the Devourer with his nunchucks.

"Fire!" Kai exclaimed as flames spewed from his sword.

M/n quickly shot into the air and dove onto the serpent's head, holding it down but ended up getting thrown backward. While the dragon wrestled with the Devourer Cole picked up a news van and chucked it, hitting the serpent on the forehead.

"Go, ninja, go!" the news reporter cheered as the ninja gathered in a group.

The snake's claw-like tail came shooting toward the group and Zane quickly reacted by freezing it. The serpent freed its tail with a roar before being sliced by M/n's talons. When it opened its mouth to attack the dragon Nya in her mech cleverly used a lamppost to inhibit the snake's use of its massive maw.

While the serpent struggled with the metal in its jaw, M/n was able to recover and take off into the air, out of the Devourer's reach. The dragon, being able to harness elemental power within a radius, shot ice at the snake. Then he spouted flames with a powerful roar. Using lightning to electrocute the serpent M/n slammed into it head on using Earth to add force to the hit and add defense to himself.

The ninja looked on, adrenaline rushing from watching their companion harness their elemental powers, each cheering when the dragon used their power. Cole exclaimed to his team, "M/n is awesome! Do dragons get any cooler?"

The dragon had followed the Devourer to its perch on a tall building and continued to batter it with attacks. He used lightning to stun it then spewed fire at its face. After freezing its entire head and forcefully breaking the ice M/n watched as the serpent retreated and regrouped with the ninja.

"Yes! It's running away!" Kai cheered.

The hybrid no longer had sights on the Devourer so he made sure the snake wouldn't attack the ninja. He was about to land on the ground when the Devourer's bone-hard tail plunged from the ground, launching him into the air then slamming him back to earth.

All the ninja exclaimed 'no' helplessly as they rushed to check on the dragon's condition. M/n laid on his side, feeling the ninjas' hands rub his muzzle. He let out a gentle purr to reassure his friends before shakily getting back on his feet. He stood over the ninja protectively, ready to defend them from the Devourer.

"You came back!" Lloyd's voice echoed with surprise and everyone's head turned to see Lord Garmadon.

"Give me the weapons," Garmadon demanded, "I am the only one who can handle the power of all four weapons at once. It's the only thing that'll defeat the Devourer."

"Uh, I thought we were supposed to do everything in our power not to let him possess the weapons," Jay said bluntly.

Zane spoke up, being the voice of reason, "I've ran every other scenario through my servers. It appears to be the only way."

"Give me the weapons," the oni commanded again.

The Nindroid looked to Kai who was clearly worried for the city and his dragon companion, "Kai?"

"Only I can destroy it. Or be prepared to watch as M/n sacrifices his life for you all," Garmadon spoke manipulatively as he stroked the injured dragon's snout.

"Quit your yammering and just do it," the hothead replied with frustration, throwing the Lord of Darkness his golden sword, "When you have a chance to make the blow, it has a weak spot near his forehead."

All of the ninja reluctantly handed over their weapons, Jay commenting, "I don't think this needs to be said, but we're gonna need these back."

Garmadon giggled evilly as he held all of the Golden Weapons, "I'll do my part. You just make sure he stays in one spot."

"Stays in one spot? Stays in one spot!? How are we supposed to do that?" Jay worried as his teammates glanced at each other.

The ninja devised a plan to get the Devourer stuck around the buildings of Ninjago City. M/n didn't like the idea of his friends being so close to the snake but they allowed him to perch on the buildings and intervene early if necessary.

Kai approached the snake and taunted, "Come on, you overgrown worm. Take the bait. Come and get me," then ran away from the serpent, which was squeezing through buildings to pursue him. He jumped off a bridge onto a truck until he reached Cole, switching out roles.

"Nice run. Now I'll take it from here," the black-clad ninja smiled before taking his turn baiting the Devourer. He leapt over cars and escaped down a narrow alley, too narrow for the snake to continue chasing him.

When the snake tried to go over the alley it was met with the Blue Ninja. Jay taunted, "Looking for me?" then leaps across building tops until he reaches a half-constructed building. He used his discovered True Potential to meet with Zane who joked, "What took you so long?"

"Save the humor, Zane. Now's not the time," the Master of Lightning retorted.

His comment went ignored as the Nindroid cracked another joke, "Instead of a fire escape, how about an ice escape!" He motioned to a long strip of ice which they leapt onto as the Devourer came crashing through the building.

"Nice one, Zane," Jay cheered before almost sliding off the ice sheet with a yelp. The White Ninja grabbed his hands and set him back on his feet. The snake broke through a piece of their path, which Zane quickly fixed as Jay let out more noises of fear. Zane whooped as he slid on the ice, almost as if snowboarding. Soon the path came to an end and the ninja were sent flying, Jay still screaming in terror. M/n swooped in and caught Jay and Zane, the other two ninja already on his back.

"You think it's working?" Jay wondered aloud.

Kai smiled and replied, "We're about to find out."

The Great Devourer was in a loop around buildings, unable to move. The ninja cheered and felt M/n purring with joy as they landed on a rooftop housing Nya and Lloyd.

"We did it! Now, where's Garmadon?" Cole asked, not really having faith in the oni to do his part, "He's not gonna hold on for much longer."

"Look!" the blonde boy pointed out his father who wielded all of their weapons. The sky darkened as the weapons took on a purple glow. Garmadon dived from a roof toward the serpent and killed it, juices splattering everywhere. Even in the midst of the disgusting scene people cheered because the force of destruction and evil was vanquished.

"He did it," Jay smiled.

"No, we did it!" Cole cheered.

Everyone mounted the dragon once again to go greet the citizens who approached them cheering. The ninja dismounted and bathed in the praise of the people of Ninjago City. Some little children even ran up to see their heroes and their dragon companion. Ed and Edna wrapped their son in a hug, calling him their 'little ninja'. Cole turned on his heel to appreciate M/n, giving him kisses on the snout, almost forgetting M/n had a human form.

"I don't see my dad.." Lloyd noted with sadness.

"He should be around here somewhere," Kai reassured, thinking the oni couldn't just disappear.

"Your analysis is incorrect," Zane stated bluntly, "He is not here."

"Then our Golden Weapons are gone too. Well, isn't that convenient?" Cole sneered, rejoining the group.

M/n, now back in his human form, pat Lloyd's back, "I'm sure you'll see Gar- uh, your father again."

"I know, but that's what I'm afraid of," Lloyd admitted, M/n getting distracted by Cole's bear-hug that could be given now that he was humanoid again. He relaxed against the ravenette's large muscles, feeling tired from his transformation.

"Sensei Wu!" Zane called out, causing the group to rush to the old man excitedly.

"Ha! Would you look at that! He survived!" Jay exclaimed.

Even if M/n was exhausted he was the first the crash into Wu with a hug. The rest gathered around as the duo separated. "I can't tell you how glad I am to see you!" Wu smiled.

"It's good to have you back, uncle. But my father left and he took the Golden Weapons," Lloyd regretfully informed.

"Ah, very true. The ability of the weapon is truly great, but the ability to better oneself makes you limitless," Wu replied wisely.

"I couldn't have said it any better myself," Jay said confidently.

"We have you, sensei, that's all we need," M/n reassured with a soft smile.

"The pupils have become the masters," the old man complimented.

"Am I really gonna have to fight my father one day?" Lloyd asked with a frown.

"One day. But today we can feel good that Ninjago is saved, for tomorrow you will train for the day. Good will finally face evil and a final outcome will be decided for all of time," Wu rambled.

"Besides, you have some great teachers," M/n told Lloyd motioning to the ninja.

Next chapter

[dertaglichedan]

Delta Air Lines crashes and flips upside-down at Toronto Pearson International Airport, 3 critically injured including child

Three passengers on a Delta Air Lines flight including a child were critically injured when the plane crash-landed and flipped upside-down at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Monday.

Flight records identify the craft as Delta Flight 4819, which took off from Minneapolis about 11:47 a.m. The crash happened just before 3 p.m. Images show the mangled airliner smoldering on the snowy runway as dazed passengers scrambled out. 

The belly-up jet looked badly damaged in photos and video circulating on social media, with one wing severely crumpled and the tail section partially sheared off.

*** Where are the wings? What the???

[ljones41]

Top Favorite Episodes of "LOST" (2004-2010)

Below is a list of my favorite episodes from the award-winning ABC hit science-fiction series, "LOST". The series created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof:

TOP FAVORITE EPISODES OF "LOST" (2004-2010)

1. (2.07) "The Other 48 Days" - This episode depicted the first 48 days on the island for the Oceanic 815 Tail Section survivors and their travails with the island's inhabitants, the Others.

2. (4.12-4.14) "There's No Place Like Home" - In the season finale, the Oceanic 815 castaways deal with deal with mercenaries who had been pretending to rescue them. Later, five of the survivors and a baby, dubbed the Oceanic Six, find themselves closer to rescue after leaving the island.

3a. (5.06) "316" - Flashbacks reveal how the Oceanic Six survivors and former Others leader Ben Linus ended up back on the island after nearly three years. (TIE)

3b. (5.08) "LaFleur" - Now led by James "Sawyer" Ford following John Locke's departure the island, the remaining time traveling survivors find themselves in the 1970s, where they become members of the Dharma Initiative. (TIE)

4. "Exposé" (3.14) - Oceanic castaway Hugo "Hurley" Reyes begins to suspect that Sawyer may be involved in an island mystery surrounding two fellow survivors, Nikki Fernandez and Paolo.

5. (6.14) "The Candidate" - With Dr. Jack Shephard and Sayid Jarrah's help, the fake Locke aka the Man in Black rescues his brother Jacob's candidates from Charles Widmore's compound on Hydra Island. But the plans for leaving the island are forced to change. In the Flash Sideways Los Angeles, Jack tries to convince Locke to try an experimental surgery for his paralysis.

6. (1.11) "All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues" - Jack leads an expedition to find two castaways that had been kidnapped in the previous episode. The episode's flashbacks reveal the events that led to Jack being responsible for his father's dismissal from the hospital they worked at.

7. (4.09) "The Shape of Things to Come" - A team of mercenaries from the recently arrived freighter, the S.S. Kahana, attacks the group at the abandoned Others camp looking for the Others' former leader, Ben Linus; with his adoptive daughter Alex as a hostage. Meanwhile, the doctor from the Kahana washes ashore at the Oceanic beach camp, and Kahana passenger Dr. Daniel Faraday provides some distressing news to Jack.

8. (1.17) ". . . In Translation" - This episode featured Jin Kwon's backstory in flashbacks and the further disintegration of his marriage, when he discovers that his wife Sun Kwon had learned English behind his back.

9. (2.11) "The Hunting Party" - Michael Dawson leaves the Oceanic camp to search for his kidnapped son, Walt Lloyd. Jack, Locke and Sawyer pursue him, in order to prevent him from being taken by the Others. Flashbacks reveal the last days of Jack's marriage.

10. (3.22-3.23) "Through the Looking Glass" - Jack and the Oceanic survivors wait for fellow castaway Charlie Pace to turn off The Others' signal-jamming device, so they can contact a mysterious ship near the island. Meanwhile, other Oceanic castaways end up captured by the Others when the latter invade their camp. Flash scenes reveal a despondent Jack in the U.S.

[tomorrowusa]

It's probably not a good idea to fly anywhere near trigger-happy Russians. We remember how in 2014 pro-Putin Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 killing 298 people.

This time an Azerbaijani airliner crashed after apparently being hit by Russian air defense fire.

An Azerbaijani lawmaker said there is a "very strong" possibility that the crash of a passenger jet earlier this week was caused by Russian air-defense systems on alert for Ukrainian drone attacks. Speculation has mounted that the Azerbaijan Airlines plane, which was headed from Baku to Grozny, the capital of Russia’s Chechnya region, may have been hit by an air-defense missile before crossing the Caspian Sea and crashing near Aqtau, Kazakhstan, killing 38 passengers and crew. Lawmaker Hikmat Babaoghlu told RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service in an interview on December 27 that such an explanation is most likely "closest to the truth."

The Embraer E190 was on a regular flight from the Azerbaijani capital Baku to Grozny in Russia's Chechnya region.

Evidence points to a Pantsir-S self-propelled antiaircraft system built and operated by Russia.

White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters on December 27 that the United States has seen signs suggesting that the jet could have been hit by Russian air defense systems. U.S. experts "have seen some early indications that would certainly point to the possibility that this jet was brought down by Russian air defense systems," he said. Kirby added that Washington has “offered our assistance…should they need it" to the ongoing investigation being conducted by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Evidence, yet to be corroborated by authorities, includes footage from inside the plane before the crash, images of the hole-pocked tail section after the crash, a survivor's comments, and accounts indicating there was a suspected drone attack around the time the plane apparently tried to land in Grozny. Reuters quoted an Azerbaijani source familiar with the investigation as saying results indicated the plane was hit by a Pantsir-S air-defense system, a self-propelled antiaircraft gun and missile system designed by Russia.

Air travel site AeroXplorer reported that the plane was denied permission by Russia to land on its territory after Russians damaged the plane.

The aircraft was not allowed to land at Russian airports despite the pilots' requests for an emergency landing and was told to fly across the Caspian Sea to Aktau in Kazakhstan. The aircraft's signals were jammed on the way to Aktau. The aircraft reappeared on radar minutes before impact.

So the damaged plane had to fly across the Caspian Sea to attempt to land at Aqtau in neighboring Kazakhstan. The plane crashed before reaching the Aqtau airport.

It's a miracle that 29 people survived – no thanks to Russia which wouldn't let the damaged plane land on its territory. Because the crash took place in Kazakhstan rather than in Putin's Russia, there's less chance of a coverup in the investigation.

[mariacallous]

The Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) plane that crashed in western Kazakhstan while on its way from Baku to Grozny on Wednesday went down as a result of a Russian anti-aircraft missile, Euronews reported on Thursday, citing government sources. According to the sources, Russian air defense forces fired a surface-to-air missile at the AZAL flight amid increased drone activity in Grozny. The missile reportedly exploded near the plane, damaging its fuselage.

Euronews sources also said the damaged plane was denied permission to land at Russian airports, despite the pilots requesting an emergency landing. Subhonkul Rahimov, a passenger on the Baku-Grozny flight who was injured in the crash, told Russian state media that the Azerbaijan Airlines crew attempted to land in Grozny three times. The crew was instructed to fly over the Caspian Sea toward Aktau in western Kazakhstan, according to Euronews. The plane’s GPS navigation systems were reportedly jammed throughout the flight over the sea.

The Azerbaijani outlet Caliber.Az reported, citing “reliable government sources,” that the plane was targeted by a Russian Pantsir-S air defense system as it approached Grozny. According to the outlet, Russian electronic warfare systems “completely paralyzed the communication systems” of the Azerbaijani aircraft, causing it to disappear from radar.

The British aviation security company Osprey Flight Solutions warned its clients that the Azerbaijan Airlines flight was “likely shot down by a Russian military air-defense system,” the AP reported.

Additionally, Reuters reported that the flight “was downed by a Russian air defence system,” citing four sources in Azerbaijan with knowledge of the government’s investigation.

The Azerbaijani, Russian, and Kazakh governments have not officially commented on the reports that the AZAL plane was downed by Russian air defenses. On December 25, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated that the flight had altered its course “due to worsening weather conditions” and that the crash occurred “during landing” in Kazakhstan. “The causes of the crash are unknown to us. There are various theories, but I believe it’s too early to discuss them. The matter must be thoroughly investigated,” Aliyev said.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would refrain from “building any hypotheses” until the investigation is complete. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Senate Chairman Maulen Ashimbayev dismissed as "speculative" any attempts to "draw conclusions from photos, suggesting these are the result of certain actions, and so on."

Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who is leading the government’s commission investigating the crash, told Tengrinews that authorities are currently unable to confirm or dismiss any theories due to the ongoing investigation. During a subsequent briefing in Aktau, he reiterated that it is “impossible to rule out any theory.” Bozumbayev added that Kazakhstan does not have an official version of the events, and neither Russia nor Azerbaijan has provided one.

Shortly after the crash, videos emerged showing fragments of the plane’s tail section, which appeared to have damage consistent with that caused by anti-aircraft missile fragments.

The crash claimed the lives of citizens from three countries: Azerbaijan, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan’s Health Ministry released a list of 25 victims, including passengers and crew members aged 19 to 64. According to the Azerbaijani outlet 1news, the list only included Azerbaijani citizens. Kazakhstan’s Emergency Situations Ministry reported that six Kazakhstani nationals were among the dead, while Kazakhstani Transport Minister Marat Karabayev confirmed that seven Russians were also killed. All three Kyrgyz citizens aboard survived.

As of 3:45 p.m. Moscow time on December 26, the bodies of 10 victims had been identified: four Azerbaijanis, three Russians, and three Kazakhs, the Kazakhstani Emergency Situations Ministry told Russian state media.

On the morning of December 26, an emergency services plane transported nine Russian survivors from Aktau to Moscow. Azerbaijani citizens who were injured in the crash were being prepared for transport to Baku later that day.

The Azerbaijani authorities declared December 26 a day of mourning. A minute of silence was observed at Baku Airport, where the Azerbaijan Airlines flight had begun, and a memorial stand was set up to honor the victims. In Moscow, flowers were placed outside the Azerbaijani Embassy. The Chechen authorities pledged to assist the families of those killed and injured in the crash.

[mumblingsage]

I've talked about Amanda Ripley's disaster survival book The Unthinkable before, and it turns out there's a new edition for 2024, if that's additional incentive to check it out. Today I'm remembering her chapter about Robert Olian, a bystander who attempted to rescue the survivors of Air Florida Flight 90 after the crash in the Potomac in 1982.

Olian saw the crash, and he and a few other witnesses stood on the shore of the freezing river, tied together a makeshift lifeline of scarves and jumper cables, and he set off with it to try to reach the survivors.

He was only a tiny portion of the way there when he realized he had bitten off way more than he could chew. As Ripley puts it:

At that point, Olian was just halfway there. He'd been in the water for about fifteen minutes. If it took another fifteen minutes to get to them, and it would probably take more since he was exhausted now, what would he do next? If he somehow summoned the strength to carry every one of them back across the football-filed length of water, it would take yet another thirty minutes at least. Realistically, there was no way his body--or the survivors--could last another forty-five minutes in that water. He remembers staring at the tail section of the plane and noticing how smooth it was. Even if he made it out there, there might be nothing to hold on to, he thought. "I was pretty sure I was gonna die," Olian says. "But that was OK. I had an internal calm and good feeling about that. I was not going to turn my back on those folks."

As you can tell from the bits of present tense, Olian did survive--a helicopter arrived and headed for him, thinking he was one of the plane passengers. He waved it toward the actual passengers to rescue them, while his fellow bystanders-turned-rescuers hauled him back to shore by the rope that was still tied to him.

Looking back, he said his motivation was a mix of overconfidence - at the time he jumped in, he truly believed he'd be strong enough to reach the survivors and help them, underestimating the depth of the water - and insecurity: he would have felt like a coward if he hadn't tried to help. And "If rational thought had entered my head at any point, I wouldn't have done it."

He didn't take off his steel-toed boots or remove the five pounds of keys in his pockets. He just jumped in. He needed to let those people know someone was trying to save them, he said later. That was all. "They had to see someone right now. If I was ever confident of anything in my life, it was this," he says in his slow, methodical way. "Worst-case scenario, I would be totally ineffective in saving them, but at least I would give them hope."

And in the end, according to the survivors, he did. Watching a guy try to swim to you with a rope is at least something to do while you cling to the wreckage of your plane; the hope he might make it also gave them the motivation to keep clinging on and keep their heads above the freezing water. They survived long enough for the helicopter to arrive (one of the six surviving passengers, Arland D. Williams Jr., was caught on the wreckage and rather than spend time trying to work himself free, passed the rescue lines the helicopter dropped to the other five. Tragically, by the time rescuers returned to get him, he had drowned. He received a number of posthumous honors including a stretch of the repaired 14th Street bridge being named for him. Ripley gives Williams short shrift in her book and highlights examples of heroism from the other five passengers, but his Wikipedia page has links to other accounts in his honor.)

I guess some of this could be turned into an object lesson somehow. The importance of hope, observations about selflessness and heroism, the advice to, if you must attempt to swim across a frozen river, at least make sure someone's tied a cable to you so they can haul you back. Olian's always stuck with me as an example of a hero who failed in his rescue attempt and, if you were to be highly cynical, made a bit of a fool of himself - and yet he's inspiring all the same.

[whatweretheysaying]

Boeing 777

The Boeing 777, commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, is an American long-range wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The 777 is the world's largest twinjet and the most-built wide-body airliner. The jetliner was designed to bridge the gap between Boeing's other wide body airplanes, the twin-engined 767 and quad-engined 747, and to replace aging DC-10 and L-1011 trijets. Developed in consultation with eight major airlines, the 777 program was launched in October 1990, with an order from United Airlines. The prototype aircraft rolled out in April 1994, and first flew that June. The 777 entered service with the launch operator United Airlines in June 1995. Longer-range variants were launched in 2000, and first delivered in 2004.

The Triple Seven can accommodate a ten–abreast seating layout and has a typical 3-class capacity of 301 to 368 passengers, with a range of 5,240 to 8,555 nautical miles [nmi] (9,700 to 15,840 km; 6,030 to 9,840 mi). The jetliner is recognizable for its large-diameter turbofan engines, raked wingtips, six wheels on each main landing gear, fully circular fuselage cross-section, and a blade-shaped tail cone. The 777 became the first Boeing airliner to use fly-by-wire controls and to apply a carbon composite structure in the tailplanes.

The original 777 with a maximum takeoff weight of 545,000–660,000 lb (247–299 t) was produced in two fuselage lengths: the initial 777-200 was followed by the extended-range -200ER in 1997; and the 33.25 ft (10.13 m) longer 777-300 in 1998. These have since been known as 777 Classics and were powered by 77,200–98,000 lbf (343–436 kN) General Electric GE90, Pratt & Whitney PW4000, or Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engines. The extended-range 777-300ER, with a MTOW of 700,000–775,000 lb (318–352 t), entered service in 2004, the longer-range 777-200LR in 2006, and the 777F freighter in 2009. These second-generation 777 variants have extended raked wingtips and are powered exclusively by 110,000–115,300 lbf (489–513 kN) GE90 engines. In November 2013, Boeing announced the development of the third generation 777X (variants include the 777-8, 777-9, and 777-8F), featuring composite wings with folding wingtips and General Electric GE9X engines, and slated for first deliveries in 2026.

As of 2018, Emirates was the largest operator with a fleet of 163 aircraft. As of May 2025, more than 60 customers have placed orders for 2,382 777s across all variants, of which 1,757 have been delivered. This makes the 777 the best-selling wide-body airliner, while its best-selling variant is the 777-300ER with 833 delivered. The airliner initially competed with the Airbus A340 and McDonnell Douglas MD-11; since 2015, it has mainly competed with the Airbus A350. First-generation 777-200 variants are to be supplanted by Boeing's 787 Dreamliner. As of May 2024, the 777 has been involved in 31 aviation accidents and incidents, including five hull loss accidents out of eight total hull losses with 542 fatalities including 3 ground casualties.

[muzantropic]

High-speed laboratory car (SVL), 1970

An experimental self-propelled aerovagon with jet traction, which was a modified lead motor car of the ER22 electric train with a modified head section to improve aerodynamic properties and AI-25 turbojet engines installed on the roof, which were used on the Yak-40 passenger aircraft. Created at the Kalinin Carriage Works (KVZ) in 1970.

Designed for research related to the study of the behavior of the wheel-rail system in high-speed movement. Employees of the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Carriage Building (VNIIV) and the Yakovlev Design Bureau took part in the development. To reduce air resistance, fairings (head and tail) were installed on the car, and the undercar equipment and automatic coupling were also covered.

The maximum speed achieved during testing was about 250 km/h.

In 2008, the nose of the wagon with jet engines was cut off, painted and installed as a memorial stele in honor of the 110th anniversary of the Tver (former Kalinin) wagon-building plant.

[freckleshine007]

Are Planes Becoming More Dangerous? (an amateur take no one asked for)

(images of recent crashes below cut)

This is a frankly lukewarm take on the situation but I have so many thoughts about the recent aviation incidents and I need to share them. Also, if you want an actual explanation for this from someone within the industry, I would reccomend checking out Mentor Pilot's video on the situation. I should also note that I have no background in aviation aside from research in my free time. I am a history major, do not take my word for anything. However, this is my Tumblr blog and I can do whatever I want forever, actually.

Now for my opinions:

Although it's true that there has been a slight increase in fatal incidents from 2024-2025, few of them really share any similarities. A majority of the incidents contributing to this statistic come from civil aviation. There are a number of reasons why civil aviation has seen this major increase but for the average commercial flyer, it is not something that should make you nervous to board your next flight. As for the major accidents in commercial aviation over these past few months (Dec 2024-Feb 2025), I will breifly cover each here:*

*no final reports have been released for these accidents and thus, I will do my best to limit my speculations to their causes

23 December, 2024: Swiss Air Lines Flight 1885

International flight from OTP to ZRH

Airbus 220-300 (2017)

Used two Pratt and Whitney PW1524G-3 engines

Experienced an engine failure at 40,000 leading to smoke entering the cabin and an emergency landing at GRZ

Of the 79 occupants, there was one fatality of a crew member and 16 injuries due to smoke inhalation

25 December, 2024: Azerbaijan Airlines FLight 8243

International flight from GYD to GRV

Embraer 190AR (Advanced Range)

Used two General Electric CF34-10E6 engines

Hit by a Russian surface-to-air missile (or debris from a surface-to-air or different missile or weapon) while flying through Russian airspace, leading to an attempted emergency landing at SCO

Crashed on landing

Out of the 67 people on board, 38 died in the crash including both pilots and one flight attendant

All 29 survivors were injured

29 December, 2024: Jeju Air Flight 2216

International flight from BKK to MWX

Boeing 737-8AS

Used two CFM International CFM56-7B engines

Encountered a bird strike on approach to MWX and made an emergency go-around

The landing gear did not deploy on second approach, leading to a belly landing beyond the touchdown zone and eventually colliding with the approach lighting system and a concrete berm at the end of the runway

Of the 181 occupants, only two cabin crew members survived

28 January, 2025: Air Busan Flight 391

International flight from PUS to HKG

Airbus A321 (no relevant engine information)

During the flight, a fire started in the tail section of the plane (possibly caused by a portable charger or other lithium battery stored in the overhead bins)

The plane landed safely back at PUS with 7 minor injuries and no fatalities of the 176 passengers and crew

29 January, 2025: American Airlines Flight 5342

Domestic flight from ICT to DCA

Bombardier CRJ700 (configured as CRJ701ER) (no relevant engine information)

Collided with a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter on approach to DCA while over the Potomac River

All 67 passengers and crew on both aircraft were killed

6 Feburary, 2025: Bering Air Flight 445

Domestic flight from UNK to OME

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan EX

Propeller plane with one Pratt and Whitney PT6A-114A engine

Experienced a rapid loss of elevation and crashed into an ice flow in the Norton Sound

All ten passengers and crew were killed in the accident

little else is known currently about the incident

17 Feburary, 2025: Delta Connection Flight 4819

International flight from MSP to YYZ

Bombardier CRJ900 (configured as CRJ900LR)

Used two General Electric CF34-8C5 turbofan engines

Crashed and flipped over on the runway at YYZ

Right wing and T-tail seperated on impact and caught fire

All 80 passengers and crew survived with 21 injured

So what does this all mean?

As you can see, each of these incidents are incredibly different from one another and although many fear incidients like this ever since the two 737max crashes of 2019 and 2020, it is unlikely that such a structural failure will occure again. It is good to place pressure on manufacturers (Boeing, I'm looking at you) to make safety their priotity over profit, however, commercial aviation has been safer than ever. Even though 2025 started off with some horrible tragedies, the average flyer should be able to take a flight with the peace of mind that these events are still incredibly unlikely and because of these incidents, the aviation industry has become even safer. So no, actually, planes have not become more dangerous recently. Media coverage of aviation incidents has increased signifigantly since the 737max crashes and this has made the public more aware of them which in turn often creates the false illusion that aviation incidents are happening more frequently, which they aren't really. Overall, commercial aviation is a very safe industry with rigorous regulations and investigative boards that improve every day.

[airsllides]

airsLLide No. 3630: C-FTMP, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32, Air Canada, Toronto, August 31, 1989.

In 1966, Air Canada was the first airline outside the US to fly the DC-9 after taking delivery of the first of 15 DC-9-10 series aircraft. They were soon outnumbered by the larger DC-9-30 series aircraft that would globally also become the most successful of the original DC-9 variants before the MD-80 family.

Seating 92 passengers (12 in Business Class called Executive Class with AC, and 80 in Coach), the DC-9-32 was Air Canada's workhorse on domestic and North American services that didn't generate enough demand for the larger Boeing 727-200 with 132 seats (or even 144 for some aircraft in single class layout).

The DC-9 also was the aircraft of choice for the shuttle services in the city triangle Toronto - Ottawa - Montreal where they ran on an almost hourly intervall between the respective city pairs. In total, Air Canada employed 50 units of the -32, starting with initial deliveries in 1968 and retiring the type in 2002.

Worth mentioning here, by the way, is Air Canada's truely comprehensive approach at providing historical information about aircraft specifics of the past, fleet developments from the airline's origins until today etc. It can be found on a dedicated, historic section of its official website, together with current information helpful to the aviation ethusiast, such as lists linking aircraft fleet numbers (fin numbers, in AC terms) to aircraft tail numbers (registrations) and such. A big thank you here to Air Canada and the folks responsible for curating such a wealth of information!