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fae-fucker · 10 months

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Nexus: Chapter 1-3

It's time for the thrilling conclusion to Sasha Alsberg's and Lindsay Cummings literary diarrhea. Described by the illustrious Sarah J Maas (whose taste we can surely trust) as a "whirlwind, out-of-this-galaxy adventure," the queen of fae jizz has once again put egg on our collective faces and told blatant lies to uphold false narratives.

It's apparently been two years since I last left Andi to die as the new General of Arcardius. Nor was the evil queen, and Valen was the perpetual victim turned evil guy at the last moment. Dex was there, and so was Andi's crew. Dex rescued Andi and the general, but the general died after giving Andi his title for reasons as uninteresting as they are pointless.

I won't be recapping the whole thing, just read the last parts of the previous snark to get caught up. Or the whole thing, if you want xoxo

Chapter 1: Dex

Dextro Arez had never truly believed that the Godstars were tangible beings. They were soul-felt, a comforting presence inside your heart, an idea that filled your mind as if soldered on with iron and fire. Always nearby, yet as far away as the stars in the night sky.

Hoo boy. Shinsay are so very good at one-sentence K.O.s They bypass my armor and do direct psychic damage.

Dex is sitting by Andi's busted-ass body. She's been out for a week, and he's all angsty about how she has to wake up because she's the general now and is the only one who can save them all. He's then overtaken by a telegraphed wave of memories, flashing conveniently back to the climax of the first book, so we're all caught up on what's happened.

BUT THEN! Andi wakes up! And she's all angry about how Dex saved her but left HER GIRLS behind, and she gets up and tries to go and save them immediately despite having an open and gaping chest wound that starts bleeding the moment she gets up. She's so so angry you guys. And also really badass for how she wants to save her crew, whom she loves so much that she'd die for them. It's very cool and tragic and sad and uuh. Anyway.

She stabs him with a syringe full of a pain medication called "soduum" which, I mean, yeah. Soduum indeed.

The first chapter of Nexus ends like this,

“I’m sorry, Dex,” Andi said, her voice like a funeral dirge as his head hit the floor. “There is no me without them.” When she left the med bay, she was no longer Androma Racella. The Bloody Baroness stepped into the halls of the Marauder, a captain who would tear apart the skies to rescue her crew.

I do love the childlike sincerity of Shinsay being so enamored with the bad-mouth-feel name of their main character, and her shitty little title, that they keep repeating both. I also hate the way the title is deeply unoriginal while also being completely meaningless, indicating that Shinsay just chose words that sounded cool to them without thought or effort. There's a certain unearned smugness in repeating the full name and title every time Andi does anything they think is cool, because guys? You didn't do anything, but you're expecting goosebumps every time? Cmon now.

I read my own snark recently in preparation for reading Nexus (cuz there's no way I'm gonna read Zenith again lol) and I'm surprised that I never deconstructed the title of "Bloody Baroness," because it's so bad. So I'll do that now, because there's nothing else cool happening.

First of all, what does baroness mean in this world? The title existing implies the existence of peerage. Adhira has a queen, so that sort of fits, but Andi is from Arcardius, which is noted to be the most militaristic planet, ruled by a general instead of a king. So who gave her the title? Why is it baroness specifically? Does Andi hold land? Where did the title of baroness come from? Who started it and why? What did she do to earn it? We never really find out what Andi did during her criminal years, so her having a wacky title would have given us a clue as to what kind of pirate she is. Instead, we get baroness because it sounds fancy to Shinsay and is alliterative with "bloody," I guess?

As for "bloody", well, it speaks for itself, doesn't it? It's a fine enough descriptor for a space pirate, but the fact that it's followed up by "baroness" makes it sound too small for the title it's describing. The alliteration was also a mistake, IMO. It just sounds childish. Combine all this with the fact that "bloody" is something a mildly annoyed British person might say before a real curse word, it's just a bit silly.

Compare to two examples that kind of work, on the opposite ends of the spectrum that Andi occupies. We have Star Lord, from Guardians of the Galaxy. I haven't read the comics, but the title works for the guy because it's both ambiguous (in the first movie, nobody knows who he is or what he's done, because it's not a lot) and grandiose (because he's full of himself). It is a cool name, but it's clearly something an unimaginative egotist might come up with, name himself the lord of stars because they're in space, so ruling stars means he's a big deal. Nobody's calling him lord unless he convinces them first. It works because it builds his character.

Then we have The Blood Countess, one of the epithets given to Elizabeth Bathory, a real-life historical figure who was said to have killed women and girls in order to bathe in their blood and remain young forever. Notice the similarities to the Bloody Baroness. Except Bathory was given this moniker because she 1) was an actual countess and 2) killed people and had a fascination with their blood. Obviously this is a real-life person, but the title works because hey, she did do that shit, at least according to the people who gave her that name. She's a countess that likes blood? Blood Countess!

What did Andi do? Everyone calls her the Bloody Baroness, but we don't know why, and she clearly didn't give herself the name, though she embraces it because ...? She likes it, I guess. She likes to be called bloody because she loves violence, and to be associated with nobility, despite supposedly hating the upper class after they stabbed her in the back.

Y'all see what I mean?

We don't know where the title came from, so we don't get an insight into her past, and we don't know how she feels about it, aside from stuff we can assume that turns out to be contradictory anyway.

But hey, it sounds cool, right? Right? RIGHT?!

Chapter 2: Andi

Anyway, because she's got a huge hole in her chest that's gushing blood, Andi can barely get herself into the captain's seat, but she's so so so so determined to save HER GIRLS, you guys. Can you feel the female solidarity simply seeping off the page? Totally not undermined by the fact that the three girls are basically lamps who only exist to be Andi's motivation and have no character of their own in this book, essentially objectifying them in this supposedly feminist narrative.

The navigation holoscreen began to flicker before her eyes, highlighted by the swirling, shimmering clouds outside the varillium walls of the ship. The dense fog of color obscured Andi’s view of the stars, and the sight of it sent a shiver of dread down her spine. “Memory?” she asked breathlessly. The soothing female voice of the Marauder ’s control system came to life around her. “How may I assist you, Captain?” “Where exactly are we?” There was a long pause before Memory responded. “The navigation system is currently off-line. I am unable to determine our precise location at this time.” Andi stared at the dancing whorls of pink and gold mist, a sudden suspicion dawning. “Memory, what was the destination of the last hyperspace jump?” “The last coordinates entered were for a location just outside the Xintra Nebula.” Andi’s hands began to shake with rage. Her ship was inside a damned nebula. A massive pocket of space filled with gases and debris that rendered the Marauder’s tracking and navigation systems utterly useless. A place only the most skilled pilots could hope to fly through without losing their way.

A-heem heem. So, as a child, my obsession wasn't with dinosaurs, or Egypt, or animals. Mine was space. And though I couldn't tell you anything that you probably don't already know, I will say that uuh, nebulas? Do not work like that. Nebulas aren't, like, clouds or mist here on earth, they're MASSIVE. And yes, while they are filled with gases, it's not like water turning to mist, so the amount of gas molecules stretched across hundreds of light-years would make existing inside a nebula perfectly fine. The gases wouldn't even be visible to the naked eye. Like, you wouldn't be obscured by clouds or mist, and certainly not enough to scramble any science-fiction navigational tools in a world that's mastered space travel.

Also, while we're on the topic of Shinsay not knowing shit from fuck, can I say something else? Here's the map of the galaxy:

First of all, what are rogue systems? I don't know if they've ever been mentioned and I don't remember if they ever will be, so why even put them on the map? Second of all: you mean to tell me that none of these people name the stars in their star system? That they're all just "the sun" like we do here on Earth? Huh? What? Why? Third: so several of the aliens come from the same star systems? Most of these planets have been mentioned as habitable. Andi and Breck come from the same star system. How is that plausible in any sense of the word?

Third of all, what the fuck is this?

HOW IS THAT A FUCKING ASTEROID BELT? Like I don't expect authors to understand how gravity works in space, (even though it's pretty basic that these rocks would definitely be in orbit around the sun, much like the planets are) but didn't the word belt clue you in on how they look? Do you have no curiosity at all, or are you so overconfident that you can't even bother to look things up?

Also, I get that this is stylized, but this map feels really small. Combined with how Shinsay don't seem to understand how big space actually is, or how unlikely it is that so many planets and satellites in a system are not only habitable but inhabited, it leads to the whole thing feeling underwhelming, not like the great swashbuckling space opera they were clearly going for. Everything's just squished together, and the whole plot revolves around a handful of planets.

Anywhomst, Lon comes in (Lira's brother who's somehow a "universal donor") and reasons with Andi. They head back to wake up Dex, which is surprisingly easy, given that almost no time has passed and they don't even give him anything to cancel out the drug.

Dex and Lon catch Andi up on what went down once she got her ass beat by a skinny guy with a knife. Valen is Nor's half brother and their mom had fucked up space magic that mind-controlled General Cyprian back in the day. Now they're mind-controlling people into worshiping Nor, including Andi's crew. It's very dramatic but also stuff we already knew, so.

Andi squeezed Dex’s hand and nodded decisively. “So we find a way to free their minds and come up with a plan to get them out.” “And then?” Lon asked. Andi allowed an icy smile to spread across her face. “And then the Bloody Baroness will go hunting.”

Cool. This is the second time in a row that we're ending a chapter with the promise of Andi aka the Bloody Baroness doing something cool, and yet she never does. And guess what! She never will.

Spoilers.

Chapter 3: Valen

The chapter title loudly proclaims that this is three weeks later, so I'm assuming that's on top of the week Andi's been out. So like it's a month after the attack. Keep this in mind.

Valen sits in a garden in his old home and angsts about how this planet used to be his prison because his family hated him, except his half-sister Kalee, who was an angel who could do no wrong. But now thankfully he has another sister who is totally cool and awesome and gave him a new identity, as a Solis with compulsion powers.

With every moment that passed, with every new soldier that set out across Mirabel to spread the Zenith virus, more minds were added to Valen’s nexus of connections. At first, he’d felt the exact moment when each silver bullet hit its target. The bullets contained a serum that Nor’s two-headed scientist, Aclisia, had perfected back on Xen Ptera. She’d somehow replicated strands of Valen’s DNA and used them to create a virus that forever linked the minds of its victims to his own, leaving them vulnerable to his compulsions.

His DNA? They're blasting people with Valen's DNA in order to make them part of his semi-hivemind? This is like if I spit in someone's mouth and they started being able to see my OCs in their mind's eye. It doesn't make any sense, and would've worked better if it was just random space-magic, but sure, whatever, it's DNA now. I just don't understand how it works in-person, then? Because it clearly does, since that's how Klaren used it, and she didn't put her DNA into the people she controlled. It was rather the opposite, really. Bazinga etc.

Like, ok, making a virus out of his DNA is fine, but then why would that infection allow him to take control over them? Look at how it "works" in his mind:

Over time, he discovered a way to quiet the minds, to lock them away in their very own realm, so that when a new mind was added, it was simply background noise. He’d strengthened the mental boundaries around that realm, building walls around those other minds, until they were contained in an impenetrable fortress that rivaled the obsidinite prison he’d once been trapped in on Lunamere. And then, finally, there was silence. Now he need only hear the minds when he pleased. And with the help of the Zenith virus, Valen could reach them from anywhere in the galaxy. He compelled them to serve Nor, their true queen—no matter the cost.

So it's a fucking BBC Sherlock mind palace. Very clearly not science-based, so why the bullshit with making a virus? Guess it sounds more scienc-y.

On Xen Ptera, they’d shared a life together—two years spent honing Valen’s powers. And all the while, his heartless father never came looking for him. Valen had once cared about pleasing the general, but now he knew that hope had been futile. Foolish, and utterly pointless. His father had never been capable of loving him, of feeling pride in his son.

Well, you were his rape-baby. Like I hate to remind you but you were very much unwanted and unplanned and made from a forced union. I get that that's not Valen's fault, and the general shouldn't have taken it out on him, but with how much this book and the first demonizes the general and idolizes (or at least affords complexity to) Klaren, this comes off as kind of uncomfortable. You'll see how Shinsay just conviniently always forget that Klaren was an actual rapist. I guess it doesn't count if it's a woman raping men. Yes, multiple.

Valen talks to Nor through their mind link or whatever, which makes him feel better. He's avoiding Darai (Nor's evil advisor/uncle figure), because the old geezer gives him bad vibes.

As he's sitting there, his gaze drifts to a massive floating thing in the distance:

Nexus. The monstrous satellite had become Nor’s new obsession in the wake of their takeover during the Ucatoria Ball. Engineers, scientists and workers had been laboring around the clock these past few weeks, perfecting every angle and plane of the device that would amplify Valen’s compulsion ability, sending his message to every corner of the galaxy.

Ayoo, title drop! But also, what? How does that work? How are you gonna blast Valen's DNA virus through space and expect it to not only survive the process, but also reach across the galaxy? *Tim Allen AUEGH grunt*

Anyway, Nor is apparently preparing for a public announcement or some shit, and Valen thinks about the Unaffected attacks.

Yes. Time for another Nondescript Proper Noun. Get a load of this:

It was something Valen had feared from the beginning, after he’d learned that some wouldn’t be affected by his compulsion. Their numbers were slim, if Aclisia’s extensive testing of the Zenith virus was anything to judge by. For every hundred that fell to Valen’s compulsion, bowing to Nor despite their original feelings toward her, only one resisted. So despite his unease, he’d never truly thought they’d be able to fight back. But barely a week into Nor’s reign, a group of Unaffecteds had banded together and destroyed the military barracks on Tenebris that housed many of the newest recruits to the cause. Valen had felt the moment those minds beneath his compulsion had died. As if they were matches snuffed out. There one moment, gone the next. It happened again, mere days later, on Adhira. A small but organized group of Unaffecteds had emerged from the jungle sector of the terraformed planet and struck down the communication towers. Nor’s video feed, which was on a constant loop across the galaxy, had been cut off for half a day’s time.

First of all, is this some English speaker thing that I'm not getting? Some nuance I'm missing? Why the hell are they called "Unaffecteds" instead of just "Unaffected"? "A group of Unaffected" works just as fine and doesn't sound as awkward, no? Especially since Valen called them Unaffected previously. Am I wrong? Feel free to correct me but I think that this is just unecessary and weird. And yeah, it's not very original. It's giving Divergent but many years too late.

Second of all, one in a hundred in a galaxy is still a lot of people. However, probably not enough to form a resistance movement that fast and that organized in a manner of weeks. Especially considering that there's a visual difference between those that are affected and those that aren't (as we'll see later), and that most people aren't combatants, most Unaffected/s would be found out pretty quickly. I'm calling bullshit on this one.

Third, why is Nor wasting time on making videos for a galaxy that's already entirely brainwashed by her? This implies that the attack was a calculated effort to weaken her power, but aside from sending her a message, it doesn't really affect anything, does it? Are we meant to believe she's just very self-absorbed? That hasn't really been her characterization up until this point.

The Unaffecteds would fall eventually, when they ran out of steam. When they realized that the galaxy was beyond saving.

Nitpick, but for a guy who's spent an entire chapter wanking about how great and amazing his sister is, it's a very weird word choice to say that his enemies would be "saving" the galaxy from her. Is he devoted to her and her cause, or is he a mustache-twirling villain aware of his own actions? Cuz it really seems like you're going for the former.

But hey, what's one sentence in a book, right? It's not like stories are made up of words and that you should be aware of the choices you're making while writing them or anything.

Sometimes, Valen could scarcely believe what they had already accomplished; how quickly the galaxy had fallen beneath their joined hands. Having a scientist of Aclisia’s caliber on their side had been vital to their success in that regard. It had been her idea to send out the orbs full of tainted rain as soon as they’d seized control of Arcardius. A war does not always require soldiers, she’d said, showing Nor and Valen how the weapon would work. Thousands of silver droplets falling from the skies across the galaxy, unleashing the Zenith virus upon all nearby.

Hi, sorry, hi. WHAT. So you're telling me Aclisia has already figured out a way to poison the rain of the entire planet? So ... why the fuck are we bothering with the Nexus satellite? Why don't you just poison the rain on every planet? Given that Adhirans have "universal donors" and all of these different aliens are able to live in each other's atmospheres and eat each other's food, you could just poison each planet's water supply and wait until the virus infected everyone. Yes, that would leave starships and space stations, but given that we barely have mentions of those, and assuming that they still need to stop at planets to refuel and gather supplies, you'll still reach them eventually.

It's funny how Shinsay feel the need to lampshade and excuse how quickly their spaghetti plot happened by using a bunch of other extremely suspect science fiction that would've been a huge deal in any other writer's hand, but through doing that, they undermine their main plot instead. I love it. It's like the reading equivalent of one of an Escher painting. You have to untangle the layers and once you do, you still don't fucking understand anything.

Anyway, Valen falls asleep thinking about how they're totally gonna win, and doesn't notice how his nose bleeds ominously. Because the toll it takes on him to control an entire galaxy of sentient minds is, uuh, literally killing him btw. Spoilers, I guess. For the obvious.

I honestly think that Shinsay have no concept of how huge space is. I know it's hard to comprehend for most people, but y'all are writers, supposedly. Just no imagination in there at all, huh?

It would've been cool to explore how being connected to a literal galaxy full of sentient minds would probably kill you immediately due to the sheer volume of them, like a semi-eldritch hivemind tearing your brain to shreds, but instead Valen just kinda fizzles out physically like a fart in the wind, while his compulsion remains boring and organized and his mind entirely clear and his own the entire time.

Anyway, sorry for the small amount of chapters covered in this first part, I just had to go off on a billion tangents <3

#eff reads: nexus #rape mention

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undead-potatoes · 8 months

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So! Tell me about Aurora! Did they have a life before the Urge came calling? How has their journey been through the game? Are they romancing anybody or do they have any other significant bonds?

I hope you don't mind, but I decided to split this into two posts. You asked about her journey through the game, and suddenly I had written 1400 words that didn't fit with the rest. So uuh yeah, here's the first and the last question at least!

I'm still a little unsure about her life before the Urge. There's the few "canon" things we're given through bits of dialogue (like murdering their parents as a child), but I honestly don't tend to get too caught up in canon if I want to do something different.

She had a lot of nightmares as a child (thanks dad), and it made her a very skittish and nervous child. In combination with minor Urges which made her say and sometimes do off-putting shit, I imagine she wasn't exactly a social butterfly. Like once she probably bit someone when the Urge overtook her, but bc they were baby urges and she was like 6-years-old it didn't really do much but alienate her.

But I think she was otherwise a good kid, doing her best and loved by her adoptive parents, even if they probably worried about her a lot.

I kinda like the idea of her being slightly older, someone who briefly escaped her heritage due to Bhaal's death before he returned in full, and the Urge became too strong to ignore. To have the Urge hovering around in the background her entire life, but always being able to repress it, until she suddenly couldn't.

Idk there's just something to the tragedy of being so close to escaping your predestined fate, when in reality it was always going to end like that, on way or another. You never truly escaped anything, you simply just delayed the inevitable.

She could still have murdered her family, still living with her adoptive parents and possible siblings, or maybe she had her own family by then. Either way, Bhaal would have wanted them out of the way.

The Urge building and building, sending her flip-flopping between moments of bloodlust and lucidity filled with fear, until the Urge took her away completely.

(Would the Urge even work like that for any of this? Who cares, just gonna do as Larian does, my city now).

TL;DR: I don't even know, it's still stewing in there.

- - -

Though I've watched like every Durge related video on YouTube, I haven't actually played very far in Aurora's playthrough, mostly bc I'm waiting for Larian to stop breaking the game with every new patch 🙈

Meaning I haven't actually had a lot of time with her interacting with the companions and gotten a good feel for where they're at.

Wyll and Shadowheart are possible candidates for some at least surface level boding. Like Wyll's whole "self sacrifice for the good of others" thing, and with Shadowheart they both have been brainwashed and forced into cruelty in service of an evil god.

And Karlach bc I love her and I said so.

Maybe some more interesting dynamics will pop up once I really get in there with her 🤔 (Larian fix your shit already, I want to plaaay)

There's also Jay who's already wrangling every other companion and their problems, so I'm sure he'll have some fingers in her pies too eventually (it's what he does, after all).

The only solid relationship to have formed in my head as of yet is her romance, and bc I'm as original as a pair of earbuds from AliExpress, she eventually starts a thing with Astarion.

He initially sees her as an easy target, a shy and possibly meek person quite literally removed from the others at camp (a deliberate choice on her part), but it doesn't go quite as he had planned.

I've written a whole post about it that's hanging out in my drafts, but tl;dr: he tries to bite her, but she wakes and angrily sends him away. She later comes to him one night, panicked after the Murder At Camp™, and he (begrudgingly) agrees to help her with the body. This begins this weird partnership where they keep each other's secret, and she lets him drink from her as thanks for helping her.

Their relationship is a bit rocky at first, like they don't hate each other or anything, but there's a fair share of bickering and such. She can be a bit blunt, and is too impatient and exhausted from the urge to deal with his very obvious mind games, tiredly telling him "stop trying to seduce me, you already have what you came for".

When he offers to sleep with her at the party, she thinks "why not". They're already putting each other at risk, so might as well have some fun with it. He might have tried to bed her sooner if she hadn't been so blunt and unapproachable, but it did also give him some time to rethink his strategy. Based on finds with the freecam during his party sex scene, he has set up a lil spot on a blanket, with wine and maybe some food, in an attempt to seem more genuine, which admittedly she does find a little cute.

Ultimately it's all the bits in between, the quiet moments after feeding or sex that gives them an excuse to talk, and they realize they enjoy each other's company a lot more than they first thought. She vibes with him a lot more when he's being genuine, something she sees more of when he's fed and generally less guarded.

She've kept her distance from the others bc of the urge, in fear of either harming someone, or being discovered through the tadpoles somehow. It puts her on edge constantly, but Astarion already knows, and she knows he doesn't judge her for it, so she's more at ease too.

Aurora can become ride or die pretty fast, especially in combination with other intense personality traits (hello devotion), and I think maybe Astarion picks up on that and thinks he can use that to his advantage. At least until he too accidentally catches feelings and becomes pretty ride or die himself lmao. Great job idiot.

Which is also when her more self sacrificing nature goes from something that could be to his advantage, to something that actively upsets him. Stop it! Stop sacrificing yourself for others who probably don't even deserve it! Stop putting yourself in situations that could take you away from me for no good reason.

They're note super lovey-dovey either. Like sure there's romance and tenderness there, but there's also some clash of personalities ("stop being an asshole" "stop trying to be such a bloody hero"). Nothing too bad but there's definitively something for them to work on.

This became the Aurora and Astarion post, sorry about that (not really). I hope to have some better answers to these in the future, my brain is still cooking (unfortunately it's a slowcooker).

#Sunny Answers #mightymizora #ty for asking!#OC: Aurora Dawnbringer #BG3 Spoilers #BG3 Dark Urge Spoilers #this has been sitting p much finished in my drafts for 3 days I just forgot to publish it 🙈#anyways sorry this took me like a week to reply to my attention span is non-existent after covid (yaaay)#now I just gotta get the middle part finished and posted lmao #also to anyone who read all of this; your hand in marriage please

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annepsilvaauthor · 1 year

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Fighter Weapons — Chapter 11

Pairing(s): Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x OC (Claire Mitchell) / Jake "Hangman" Seresin x Natasha "Phoenix" Trace

Summary: An untold story. A series that shows what happened during the Top Gun of our beloved pilots of Top Gun: Maverick.

Warnings: Subtle sexual innuendos, brief language, alcohol consumption, angst, smut, fluffy.

Word Count: 7.154

The darlings who don't want to miss any updates ↪️ @missathlete31 @togetherisawonderfulplacetobe @switch3rr @na0my @aprilwithapricots @goldenloverschild @rightwhereiwantyou @jackiequick @oliviah-25 @bellyliveslife @anerdquemoraaolado @callsign-barbell @struggling-with-space

SAN DIEGO BEACH, CA

The moon was already up, so bright and full in the huge black sheet that covered the sky. The breeze was cold, but not in an uncomfortable way, just a relief for skin accustomed to the sun's rays. Bradley stuffed the keys to his Bronco into the front pocket of his pale blue jeans and charged toward The Hard Deck.

As it was almost midnight, the room was full of naval officers and fighter pilots. Some were in uniform, despite having been released from formalities on the day off, and others in civilian clothes. The sailors and marines in uniform were surrounded by women who either laughed exaggeratedly or were astonished at the incredible stories they told. Bradley didn't judge that situation, since those men came there to relieve the tension of the job and the women knew very well what they did and what was expected of them.

He watched some Top Gun pilots at the back of the bar around the pool table. Some sat on the black stools while chatting heartily, others watched the beach outside through the windows and the rest played a game with a few bottles of beer as a toast.

Bradley walked towards the counter and was greeted with a smile by Penny.

“I had the piano fixed. All the strings are tight now.” she informed with an implicit request.

"Any music in particular?" He returned the smile.

“Hmm.” She looked up at the railing filled with miniature planes. “She's got a way.”

“Ow! Billy Joel at midnight? Bold.”

"You try to be worth the melancholy." She pointed at him with her index finger and a warning expression.

“Perhaps I need to vent my melancholy.” he confessed in a sigh and soon realized what he had done. Penny was looking at him intently and he cleared his throat. “The usual, please.”

Penny smiled the tiniest bit and turned back to her inventory. Bradley turned his gaze toward the pool table, where a lively game was in progress. Phoenix competed against Hangman. Judging by Hangman's frowning expression, he was losing. Phoenix didn't hesitate to celebrate each point, teasing him.

Phoenix wore her heavy boots, light blue jeans and a beige silk tank top, exposing her freshly tanned skin and bikini line. Bradley raised an eyebrow at the sight. Not that it was ugly, but he had another idea about Phoenix's dress. He figured she would never show any skin around her co-workers. He knew how inconvenient some men could be, just as she must know very well. However, seeing her so at ease around them left him surprised, not to say suspicious.

"Looks like someone's distracted." Phoenix taunted with a conspiratorial smile.

“I'm thinking about what I'm going to ask you when I win.” Hangman smiled victoriously.

"How about never having the displeasure of looking at that face of yours again?"

She kept her smile and the surrounding pilots let out "uuh" and "ooh". Hangman held back his smile as well and twirled the toothpick with his tongue.

“So you've already accepted that you lost.”

“If that's my prize, I can let you win.”

Hangman shook his head and walked over to Phoenix, whispering in her ear. Bradley watched the way she let him close. He lightly touched her waist with one hand and the chest covered by a brown leather jacket was almost glued to hers. Phoenix was an attractive woman and one of the few in the Navy, and Bradley knew that both of these factors made officers want to have fun with her. He himself had seen countless cases like this and Top Gun was no exception.

Bradley noticed the way they looked at her and some were more intrusive and tried to touch her, but Phoenix always shooed them away, always gave them a firm answer or slapped their hand. What she didn't do at that moment. Was Phoenix so drunk as to allow Hangman, the worst of them all, to approach like that in front of everyone? She was his friend. He couldn't let her fall into the wrong hands.

So Bradley took his beer from Penny and headed to the back of the bar. He walked over to Phoenix and draped an arm over her shoulders, earning a surprised look from her.

"Is this game going to take a long time?" he asked with a genuine smile on his face.

“Look what we have here. Bradley Bradshaw in a hurry.” Hangman insulted leaning on the table and staring at him steadily. “Will we have this change in the sky too?”

“Phoenix has put up with you too long.” He lifted his chin and ignored his teasing. “Besides, if I remember correctly, you're a lone wolf. You can play alone.”

Hangman kept the smug smile on his thin lips, but his gaze was sharp. Bradley pulled Phoenix lightly to get out of there, but she got away from him. He raised an eyebrow.

“I never leave a competition half done.” She exchanged glances between the two men. “When I win this match, I'll keep you company.”

"But Phoenix…”

“You heard the lady.” Hangman emphasized with amusement running across his face.

Bradley obeyed her friend's wishes and leaned against a column, waiting for the game to end. However, Hangman seemed to prolong that match as long as he could. He spent several minutes thinking about his next shot, as well as drinking nearly an entire bottle of beer between shots and choosing the ball with an uncharacteristic calmness.

The other pilots could think that Hangman was immersed in the match, analyzing everything carefully so as not to lose. But that wasn't what Bradley was looking at. Hangman teased him about the delay, getting revenge for the times Bradley had made him wait in heaven.

Bradley also noted the closeness between Storm and Coyote. They were oblivious to all that movement and seemed to be eating each other with their eyes, talking in the corner of the bar. What more surprises would he have that night?

“Getting blue already, cowboy. You're always losing to me.” Phoenix teased after winning the match.

"Always time for one more." He invited and offered her a beer. She accepted the bottle without a second thought.

“You're right. There is always time for you to lose.” She took a sip with a mocking smile on her face. “Guys, the cowboy is free now. Take it easy on him.”

“Do not do it. You will be slaughtered.”

"Um, how did you do to me?" She mocked.

The surrounding riders declared victory for Phoenix in those arguments and she approached Bradley with a smile and chest heaving. She was really enjoying herself there. He threw her a suspicious expression as he sipped his beer.

“Why that face?”

“It's my face.”

“Serious? Are you going to lie now?” She patted his shoulder. “What there was?”

“Many things.”

Bradley sighed and detached himself from the column, nodding for her to follow. He guided her to the darts and handed her a few. Phoenix smiled at yet another challenge, but was wary of what he wanted to talk about or was hiding.

"Where have you been all day?" Phoenix asked breaking the long silence that followed.

“Around. I needed to think.” he replied vaguely and threw a dart at the board.

“You've been training.” She praised and threw a dart too, hitting the red target. “But not enough.”

He smiled as he took another sip of his only beer of the night. Phoenix was becoming more and more competitive and, although he didn't appreciate that trait, he couldn't bring himself to dislike her friend. That was an intrinsic characteristic of her and made her who she was. Without that, Phoenix wouldn't be his dearest friend.

He noticed the tan mark again and asked:

“And you? Where have you been all day?”

He saw her straighten her back slightly and run a hand over her bare shoulder. She threw another dart and vibrated as it hit the target once more. Her gaze fled to the pool table, where Hangman was watching her with a proud smile. Phoenix turned the black orbs on Bradley and replied by swallowing a sigh:

“On the beach.”

“I can see it.” He pointed with his eyes at her shoulders.

“Bradshaw, Bradshaw.” She approached him with a playful smile and rested a hand on the wall behind him. In front of them, Hangman missed a shot and swore loudly.

“You're acting weird today. Why don't you go do what you do best?”

“You know, I think everyone here thinks I'm an employee to entertain you.” he complained, but his eyes smiled. “I have a right to relax in silence, you know?”

Phoenix widened her smile and took a step forward.

“You're acting weird today too.” He pressed himself against the wall behind him, for she was really close.

Storm and Coyote walked past them hugging and laughing at something extremely funny as they headed to the ladies' room. Both.

“What's going on with everyone?” he asked in frustration.

“A lot can happen on a day off.” she explained with a wink. He noticed that her gaze had slipped behind him and he was even more puzzled. "Perhaps your music will put everything back together."

“God, so I need to play urgently!”

Phoenix laughed out loud at his despair and walked away. Bradley walked over to the piano and sat down. He played with a few keys and soon attracted attention to himself. He started playing Jerry Lee Lewis and Ray Charles to liven up the night. Phoenix danced beside the piano with determination, plucking Storm from Coyote's arms and leading her along for some love songs.

After a while, Phoenix needed to renew her drink and walked over to Penny's counter. Behind her, Rooster started playing She's Got A Way.

"She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her

She she's got a way of pleasin'

I don't know why it is

But there doesn't have to be a reason anyway"

However, before she could ask, a voice sounded behind her:

“Two shots of Pincer, Penny, dear.”

"What's the reason for something so strong, Bagman?" she taunted turning around and propping her elbows on the counter.

"She's got a smile that heals me

I don't know why it is

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way of talking

Don't know why it is

But it lifts me up when we are walking anywhere"

"I need this to get through all this singing." His voice was low, almost tired, but his eyes were wide awake. "Does he really have to do this every night?"

"And do you really need to be a complainer? Relax and enjoy the music. Everyone is enjoying it.”

"I prefer country music." He shrugged and picked up both glasses, handing one to her.

They both downed the vodka in one gulp, hitting the glass back on the counter at the same time. The liquid went burning down their throats, but none dared grimace or look away. Finally, Phoenix raised her chin defiantly and Hangman smiled proudly.

"She comes to me when I'm feelin' down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me and I get turned around

She's got a way of showin'

How I make her feel

And I find the strength to keep on goin'

She's got a light around her

And everywhere she goes

A million dreams of love surround her everywhere"

"Ask for a song." she said after a few seconds of tasting the drink.

"No thanks. My country demands respect."

"Respect?" She put a hand on her hip and it was his turn to lean on the counter. “You're making this up. You are jealous."

"Jealous? From who?"

"Rooster."

"The drink was too strong for you." He grimaced and pointed at the piano. "Why would I be jealous of that out of tune?"

"That 'out of tune' stole all the attention from you." she taunted with a mocking smile. “And you hate it."

"I see you already know me well." His smile turned mischievous.

“You are not a difficult man to read."

Hangman looked away from her, staring into the distance without a specific point and Phoenix knew he wasn't interested in the bar's decor. She sighed and remembered something.

"I must return this to you." She took his cell phone out of her pocket and held it out.

He looked at the device without remembering that she still had it and looked at it with a certain contempt. Finally, he took out his cell phone and put it away. Hangman remained silent for a while and Phoenix decided to leave him alone with her thoughts. She had already chased away too many dark clouds in his gaze that day.

"She comes to me when I'm feelin' down

Inspires me without a sound

She touches me

I get turned around"

However, a large, warm hand engulfed hers before she was gone. Phoenix turned her gaze over his to find those emeralds shimmering in tenderness and she couldn't help but smile. A genuine smile.

"She's got a smile that heals me

I don't know why it is

But I have to laugh when she reveals me

She's got a way about her

I don't know what it is

But I know that I can't live without her anyway"

Maybe the vodka really was too strong that night, because Phoenix felt her chest burn and rise and fall without stopping. She could really be getting drunk because she wanted to get closer. She wanted to smell the coconut again, the grip of his hands on her body, the warmth of her embrace.

However, she managed to break free from the trance by taking care of what she wanted. This was beyond what she had ever wanted or needed from anyone. It was too intimate, too daring, too dangerous. It was obvious that she would never allow Hangman to touch her like that again. She was just involved in the situation, but she had her principles and wills under control. Phoenix wouldn't be controlled by feelings or anyone else.

Then, she slowly disentangled her fingers from his and walked away without looking back. She was right. It was just a fun day next to each other. Just it. She shouldn't want more. She couldn't want more. But why did her body feel numb as she walked away from him?

Bradley kept playing and singing, and for a few hours he forgot what he had done, what he had felt in that elevator. With her. But as the night wore on and the chosen songs took a romantic turn, he remembered the feel of her in his arms, the softness of her skin, the way she melted on his lips and the taste of her kiss.

For a few seconds, it felt like heaven. He and she giving in to repressed desires and feelings. However, having the moment broken by Hangman, they returned to the harsh and painful reality of their past and Maverick's shadow looming over them. Claire politely walked away from him and disappeared, leaving only her lavender scent engraved in Bradley's body and mind.

He looked for her around the hangar that day. He called her cell phone many times. And, with infamous courage, Bradley knocked on her door. He wanted to talk, he needed to clarify everything even if he himself didn't understand what was going on. But he needed answers. However, no one answered. She was running from him again. He lowered his gaze and drove his Bronco around town with no particular direction. It happened again. Again, a thrust from him carried her away. Following instincts definitely didn't work for him.

When the requests took a turn he couldn't stand anymore, Bradley decided to leave the piano to boos and "oohs". He bowed in thanks for their attention and walked away with a sigh, something that wasn't lost on Phoenix. He sat on a stool next to the darts and his friend followed, sitting beside him.

“Okay, what's going on?" Phoenix asked bluntly.

Bradley smiled the tiniest bit at her directness and crossed his arms. There was a lot to think about, a lot to say, but nothing concrete. He didn't even know what was going on.

"It is complicated." he finally confessed.

"Excellent. I've never had anything easy in my life. I know how "complicated" works."

“I don't think it can be resolved like that."

“You're doubting my ability." She feigned indignation and reached for his knee, stroking it. “If we don't solve it, talking about it helps."

"It's a long story."

“We have all night." She smiled gently at the confusion on his face. "You can trust me."

Bradley hadn't known Phoenix for very long, a week wasn't enough to trust someone, especially with an issue like the one that had been gnawing at him for years. But, not everything happens according to logic. From day one, Bradley felt that he could trust Phoenix. He watched the way she protected Storm, how she defended and cared for her. He also noticed that, as much as the pilots were too bold or had a big tongue, Phoenix was never afraid to face them nor did she fail to extend her hand to any of them who needed help. She was strong, determined, and sensitive enough to see beyond the wall. He knew he could trust her.

However, before he confessed the reason for his anguish, a huge body stopped in front of them. Hangman had his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, his chest puffing out under his plaid shirt, his face showing impatience.

“You have to pick one, Bradshaw. You can't have them all." he muttered with the cynical smile.

Bradley sighed heavily and scratched his forehead, shaking his head. Phoenix noticed his friend's exhaustion and decided to intervene:

“Not a good time, Bagman."

“It's been a good two hours." He should stop fooling you and go after who he really wants.

“Nothing to be fooled about."

"OK I understand. I was wrong in thinking that the old Bradshaw had changed. When the decisive moment comes, he backs off, doesn't he?"

"What you want after all? Shouldn't you be having fun far away from us?"

“Oh, I will." Hagman looked directly at Bradley. "But first I wanted to make sure he was going to keep having you as a step."

"You have no right to talk about me like that!" Phoenix was starting to change.

“Don't get carried away, Phoenix. That's what he wants." Bradley answered calmly.

Phoenix tried to stay calm by taking deep breaths. He would not take her peace away.

"Serious? Are you going to let him control you again?"

"As long as it's not you." she replied coldly.

Hangman laughed humorlessly and shook his head.

“I thought you were different." he commented with some hurt and Phoenix felt the weight. He wasn't just referring to Rooster, but to her earlier abandonment.

“I thought the same about you." She lifted her chin in defiance, but deep inside her heart stirred. “Looks like it wasn't the Rooster who was fooling me after all. You will always be an asshole."

Phoenix said those words with such force that even Bradley felt the impact. He noticed her hard expression and swallowed hard. She was defending him tooth and nail like the good friend she was, but… he sensed something else, something deeper burning between the two of them and he became alert.

Hangman glared at her, but her eyes showed hurt and disappointment. Finally, he nodded and walked away from them, heading for the exit. Bradley noticed Phoenix's gaze drop and stray for a few moments. He could almost feel the confusion inside her, a confusion similar to his own.

"Thanks." he thanked with a small smile. "You're a good friend."

She continued away in her thoughts for a while until she raised her black eyes to his. They were filled with anguish, confusion and fear, emotions he never thought he could see in Phoenix. She was like a strong wall every day, pushing herself to the limit in every assignment and class. To him, Phoenix looked like a superhero. Until that moment.

He returned the favor by giving her a hug and offering to drop her off. But Phoenix refused saying that she should take care of Storm. She still didn't fully trust Coyote. Bradley nodded and walked away from her slowly trying to make sure she was going to be okay. Phoenix lifted her chin in a smile and it eased his heart. She would be fine, she always would be.

[***]

Phoenix fidgeted on her bed frantically, her mind filled with thoughts of that day. His hurt look wouldn't let her, as well as the anger that he was so arrogant. But her biggest anger was at herself for imagining that he could change. He showed he didn't and she felt like a clown. She was even crazier for thinking about it. Why should he be any different? Would they ever become friends? There was no reason for them to get close again. Not after what he's done. Phoenix could take all the name-calling in the world, but she would never have her friends messed with. It was her own law.

She decided to get up to chase away the thoughts. She watched Storm sleep peacefully on the bed next to her and sighed. They still haven't had a chance to talk about what's going on between Storm and Coyote, but it won't be long. Her friend wasn't going to run away from that conversation.

Phoenix left the room wearing only her makeshift pajamas, gray sweat shorts, and a black T-shirt emblazoned with GO LATINS! in gold. She tied her hair in a loose bun as she walked around the hangar facility without fear of being seen, as at that hour no one was awake.

She entered the break room and made her way to the scullery to pour herself a glass of water. The environment was dark, being illuminated only by the lights of the airstrip and of the fighters outside that crossed through the glass of the windows. Phoenix took the glass and left the pantry, sitting on a stool at the counter and turned on the small radio. She listened to the tower communicating with the pilots and vice versa, the adrenaline, the commands, the sound between cuts. That served to calm her down, change the focus of her thoughts to what they really should be in those days. The work. Anything beyond that was drama and totally expendable.

However, she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder and her body tensed. Her heart raced like the engines of her fighter jet. She swallowed hard. It couldn't be him, not then. It was late, she felt vulnerable and he couldn't see that. Never. Phoenix knew she wasn't strong enough to shoo him away again. She didn't know if she could be tough again and meet that sad gaze. She wanted to be a stone, unbreakable, impenetrable. But she wasn't. And it pissed her off.

She turned and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Rooster's figure in front of her. He was still wearing his clothes from earlier, but his pockmarked face indicated that he had tried to sleep but just couldn't.

"I scared you?" he asked with a worried expression.

She shook her head and reached for the glass of water, hoping he wouldn't notice her shaking hand. She turned off the radio.

"Fell out of bed?" she joked as she recovered.

"Almost that." He sat on the bench next to her. " I can't sleep."

"Is that still bothering you?"

"Yes a lot." He ruffled his hair with one hand. "I feel like I'm going to freak out at any moment."

“Please let me know when this happens so I can film it and use it against you in the future." She teased him with a gentle smile, hoping to change his mood, but she didn't get more than a glimmer of a smile. "Talk to me."

She watched him close his eyes for a few seconds in pain and continued to smooth his hair with his fingers. Whatever it was, it was disturbing him to the core, and Phoenix was touched. Then, he confessed as if his words burned his tongue:

“I kissed Claire."

Phoenix took a few seconds to absorb the information. Finally, she asked without understanding:

"What? Did you...kissed...did you kiss our instructor? That's it?"

“She's not just an instructor for me." He opened his eyes, but he was still unable to look at her. "We've known each other pretty much our whole lives. We were raised almost like brothers."

“Brothers don't kiss, Rooster."

"I know. I never saw her like this... I mean, when I was young, yes, but not later." He sighed heavily and scratched his forehead. “I felt something different for her…I think I still do…and maybe she does too."

Phoenix took a few more seconds to digest that very intriguing information. It was shocking. It was wrong. It was worthy of punishment. He could be dropped from the program for insubordination. This was really serious. But Phoenix knew it wasn't those factors that bothered her friend. Rooster was unsure of his feelings and her reciprocity.

It was ironic that that drama landed right in her hands, a staunch drama fugitive. But she needed to say something. Her friend needed a light, and even though she wasn't the most romantic person in the world or spoke any love language, Phoenix struggled to say,

“Tell her everything. If you feel something, she deserves to know. Maybe that's the push she needs to reveal everything too."

"I can't." He met her eyes for the first time. They were wet and wasted.

"Why not? It is clearly eating you up."

“We…have a painful past. We are bound by a sad story and it will never go away."

“It doesn't have to go away. You just have to deal with it... your way."

“I really wish it were that simple." He shook his head, wiping a tear away. "We try. For years. It always comes back... it always torments us."

“You'll never be happy if you're stuck in the past. Even apart."

She watched another tear trickle down his cheek and hurried to gently wipe it away. Rooster didn't move, didn't even blink. He lost himself in thought again and she didn't force him. Rooster needed a break.

“I don't think our destiny was ever to be together." he confessed sadly.

Then she leaned towards him and hugged him. He took two seconds to get over the gesture and settled into her arms, having his broad back stroked by her. They remained like that for a while, in silence. Phoenix knew it wouldn't be easy for him or Claire to get past whatever was haunting the present, but as long as she was around she would always support her newest and dearest friend. Rooster was a good man and deserved to be happy.

As she hugged him, she became aware of another figure wandering around the room. He was barefoot, wearing blue cotton pants and a gray T-shirt with NAVY written in the center. His hair was free of all that gel he used to use, kind of messy. She could barely see his face, but the emeralds were still shining, less but still shining.

Her heart started beating so hard that she felt dizzy. She felt her body react to his presence in a way she didn't know. Her hands shook, her mouth watered, a burning burned in her chest, and her crotch tingled a few times.

Suddenly, Rooster slowly ended the hug and looked at her with a question mark on his face.

“You're burning up, Phoenix." He touched the skin on her arms. "Are you getting a fever?"

She noticed that it really was hot and she didn't know what to answer. But luckily she didn't have to, because Rooster noticed Hangman's presence and asked him:

"Why are you here?"

“Oh, I'm not here. It's just a beautiful mirage. The lovebirds can continue to lick each other."

Hangman said this in a serious tone and no smile on his lips. Not even a cynic. Phoenix was surprised by that. It was only then that she noticed his belongings. Hangman spread a white cloth over the couch and propped a pillow on its arm. His beige uniform and flight suit were neatly folded on the coffee table, as were his sheets and a book. Phoenix tried to read the title, but the poor light wouldn't allow it. Was he a reader? Information she'd never thought likely.

"What are you doing?" it was her turn to ask.

“Come on… you're smart. You'll find out soon enough." he mocked, still without a smile.

“You can't sleep here. It's forbidden." Rooster recalled attentively.

"Excellent. The forbidden is always better." He sat on the couch. "You know that very well, don't you, Rooster?"

Rooster shook his head in an expression that almost said "I'm too tired for this" and got to his feet. Phoenix accompanied him into the action, but her eyes were still locked on the new member of the room. Rooster was right. Everyone was freaking out that day.

"I don't want to be here when they find you."

“Fine for me. I like to be alone."

Rooster rolled his eyes and took Phoenix's arm to guide them out of there, but she didn't budge. He raised an eyebrow and she whispered that she would be gone in a few moments. Rooster looked at her suspiciously, but decided to obey. As much as he wanted to protect her, Phoenix knew how to take care of herself. She watched her friend leave the room and close the door.

Phoenix glanced back at the figure stripping her of sanity and caught him looking back. Emeralds roamed every inch of her, taking too long on her bare legs and she felt her skin burn again. The air conditioning in that room needed a good repair.

"Aren't you going to run after him again?" he commented leaning against the sofa and extending his muscular arms over the top of the backrest.

Phoenix had to concentrate very hard not to bite her bottom lip. Arrg! She hated the fact that he was so hot.

"I wasn't the one who ran away." she snapped, remembering his sudden departure from the bar.

Hangman moved his lips.

"I had some unfinished business."

"At two in the morning? Sure."

He looked away from hers and Phoenix walked over to him standing next to the coffee table. The close-up view was even more breathtaking with the veins in high relief and hair jumping from the chest. Phoenix felt her breasts react and she crossed her arms. Damned day not to wear a bra!

“That was ridiculous." she complained with a feline look.

“I was just protecting you." he confessed in a barely audible voice.

"No, you were being possessive! There is a big difference."

“How can I be possessive over someone who isn't mine?"

"Exactly. You don't have that right."

They exchanged hard looks for a while, seeing the anger and anguish and hurt in every blink. They shouldn't feel that mountain of feelings. They had known each other for just a week. They weren't friends, not even close. They were rivals in everything. So why did all that stuff suddenly appear?

“Well, if you're done, you can leave. I'm an asshole who needs sleep."

She noted the emphasis he placed on "asshole" and sighed heavily. Maybe she overreacted, maybe she crossed the line, maybe she was using Rooster's defense as an excuse to push him away. The hurt in his eyes was almost palpable. And that shouldn't bother her, after all he wasn't there to make friends nor did she want his friendship. She didn't need to redeem herself or explain her actions. So she took a different turn in the conversation.

"One more question." She sat on the end of the coffee table and got his full attention. "Why are you sleeping here?"

"Why the curiosity? Are you worried about me by any chance?" he asked with some bluntness.

"Just making sure you haven't gone completely insane."

“Too late for that, Phoenix."

Phoenix. No Trace or my angel. Just her codename. Something impartial, professional and distant. No smirks or smug smiles. She should be grateful that he finally obeyed her and stopped the flirting and the nicknames and the goofy smile. He looked like a completely different person now. And that started to get really annoying. She had to catch a glimpse of Bagman or the world wouldn't be orbiting her.

Then, she held a hand out in front of him. He looked at her with an expression that said "who's freaking out right now?" Phoenix rolled her eyes and insisted on the gesture. He lifted her hand and it engulfed hers, warm and firm. Her body felt his presence again and she swallowed hard.

She wrapped his hand around hers, leaving only her thumbs exposed, and began to move. She beat him two, three times and was already thinking that her strategy wasn't going to work until Hangman joined the game and beat her four, five, six times, crushing her little thumb. But she didn't care. The smug smile was back, as was the ferocity in his gaze. How she hated it. But it was infinitely better than not seeing him like this.

"Stop it." he asked in a low, husky voice.

"With what?"

“Be affectionate with me. It makes me want to kiss you."

That phrase reverberated through every cell in her body, sending a warm shiver down her lower abdomen. But she wouldn't let him see how affected she was. Phoenix lifted her chin in defiance.

"Is that supposed to make me scared or horny?Because it didn't work in either case."

“Oh really?" His tone was mischievous, which irritated her.

“Yes, I don't feel anything, Bagman. And I will never feel."

"It's a challenge?" She didn't answer and he widened his smile. "I'll take that as a yes."

She watched as he sat down on the edge of the upholstery and tilted his face towards hers in such a swift movement, her eyes widened. This didn't go unnoticed by him as he smirked smugly. Phoenix furrowed her brow, shooting him a death glare. Why did she have to bring him back?

Hangman got even closer to her face, setting those bright emeralds in her eyes. They crackled, danced in desire and tenderness. A combination she wasn't sure she was safe with. So Hangman started his work. He placed warm kisses on her chin, tracing a path down her length. His touch was soft, light and extremely warm. She felt like she was on a beach sinking her feet into the sand after a whole day in the blazing sun.

He kissed down her throat as calmly as if he had all night for that. He dragged his lips down the curve of her neck, using his hot tongue and teeth to mark her. Phoenix shuddered at that, felt goosebumps all over her body and more twinges between her legs, which made her rub against each other. She felt his smile on her skin.

"Not yet, my angel?"

"No." She shook her head and didn't risk saying more than that, because she didn't trust her voice.

Hangman traced a nibbling path down the back of her neck, up to her ear, and stopped. She felt the quick, hot breath there, teasing, playing with her senses and little awareness. His scent intoxicated her too. That scent of coconut with aftershave and a splash of vodka was driving her crazy.

“You smell so good, my angel." he whispered and another shiver hit her.

“I use the same soap as you. Fightertown standard."

He chuckled excitedly and touched it there with the tip of his tongue, dragging it slowly across its length and Phoenix couldn't hold back a gasp. Hearing that, Hangman quickly turned his face in front of her and smiled. That annoying smug smile was back.

“My work is done. I won."

“No, you didn't win. I did nothing." She lied, for she would never admit that she craved his touch.

"Hmmmm..." he sighed in her face, making a point of prolonging the sound. Phoenix forced her legs together again. "You are stealing. Again."

"I'm not! Arrg...you are insufferable, Bagman."

He laughed, a good, loud laugh, which pissed her off even more. One day she would break all those perfect teeth of his.

"Stop laughing, idiot! There's nothing funny here."

“Of course there is. You really hate losing. And even more admitting that you lost... and that you're attracted to me. He leaned back against the sofa, resting his arms on the back.

"You've completely gone mad! I already made sure of that."

“It's not such a hard thing to admit, my angel. Many women feel the same way." He was giving her a mocking smile, but his eyes were burning with desire. "Ask me to kiss you and I will."

It was her turn to laugh, but without humor.

“The day that happens I will no longer be called Natasha Trace."

"Hmm. So it's better to start choosing another name."

Phoenix was shaking all over and she couldn't tell if it was due to anger or desire. Maybe both. Hangman managed to get her serious in many ways. She needed to get out of here or she could end the night with her hands at his throat or under those sheets. The tension between them only grew and she knew nothing good could come of two highly attractive people in a darkened room, alone, wearing nothing but pajamas at three-thirty in the morning. Then she stood up and replied:

“You already know how I feel about asking."

Phoenix turned on her heels and took a step away from him. But when she took another step, a strong, warm hand gripped her arm and stopped her. The same hand slid up to her face and brought her back so close to him that she could feel every muscle in her abdomen, chest and legs. His eyes, even in the dim light, burned and his brow creased as if in pain. His quick, hot breathing warmed her face like a peaceful day at the beach.

Phoenix remained motionless. She was trapped in that gaze. In that touch. In the heat of his body. She knew she should pull away, she should shoo him away like she would any man who surrounded her like that without permission. She once slapped one for a lot less. So why was Hangman any different? Why was her body screaming to get even closer to him? They should hate each other. But their bodies looked so good together...

“Still so proud."

Then he kissed her. A hard, desperate kiss as if he had to have her for himself, as if he was dying to memorize the feel of her lips against his. The taste of him was driving her crazy. He was pure heat and desire and vodka and she wanted more. Phoenix pulled him closer by the shirt straps with force, making them very thin and probably showing his shoulders.

He was kissing her as if he already knew every part of her mouth. He was kissing her confidently, without shyness or that awkward adjustment of a first kiss. He seemed to have imagined this moment so many times, in so many different ways, that when they finally touched, it was as if they had already kissed a hundred times.

Phoenix couldn't say how or at what moment, but she realized it too late when he had already lifted her off the floor and carried her to the couch, holding her on his lap. Her mind was a complete blank, not a single thought would pass through it if it weren't for him. She was no longer on the sand, not even on the shore. Phoenix was fully immersed in the salty waters of desire. And the coconut scent of him said it.

His hands roamed her body, curious and strong, caressing her shoulders, her back, her ribs, her bare legs and her bottom. Phoenix moaned softly as he held her there and Hangman intensified the kiss, letting out a few gasps of air that burned her skin. And she tasted him. She tasted his mouth, his neck, the square line of his jaw. She teased the soft blond strands into a needy kiss, as if she had never kissed anyone and never would. She felt her own brow furrow from the strength and desperation that surged there, and feared. She was losing control of herself, she was drowning in him, giving herself away in a way she didn't remember if she ever had. And it was very dangerous.

So, she used all the strength she had left to pry her lips away from them.

"Hangman..." she asked in a hoarse whisper.

"Oh, no…no…" he pleaded between more long, hot kisses.

"We need...to stop..."

"No..." He repeated that word as if he had forgotten all the others he had learned in his entire life.

Phoenix watched his rapid breathing, heavy eyes, and swollen, red lips. His hair was a mess, as were his clothes, and she couldn't help but gasp. It was a vision of the gods. Her whole body was crying out for her to stay there, end that night in his arms and forget about everything. But she couldn't. She couldn't forget, couldn't let herself be taken in by him...she couldn't let him in.

"Need to go."

And she didn't expect a response from him, not even a goodnight. Phoenix broke free of his body and practically ran away, back to her room closing the door and leaning against it. She was safe. Safe. There she would not drown. She could breathe again.

Phoenix ran a hand through her tousled hair and lay back, trying to breathe in and out normally again.

"Natty?" She heard a growl beside her.

"I am here." She tried to control her voice but failed.

"Did you go for a run?"

She buried her face in her hands and smiled slightly.

"Almost that. Go back to sleep...we'll have an intense day in a while."

Intense in every way. She felt that that day would not be the only one that would be turned upside down.

#top gun maverick #monica barbaro #glen powell #jake seresin #natasha trace #hangman x phoenix #top gun phoenix #hangman #hannix #hannix drabble #miles teller #bradley bradshaw x oc #bradley rooster bradshaw #claire mitchell

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pupstim · 1 year

Text

my head has been bereft of most danny phantom things other then the most insane crossovers. So I'll just dump them here.

One crossover is with my other hyperfixation minecraft. I want Technus to be an absolute minecraft nerd, he plays it on the side all the time, and then one day he decides he and danny need to have some bonding time and so he just teleports the both of them into minecraft. Danny's never played any other game other than Doomed so he doesn't know what the fuck is going on. He's just suddenly in this cubed world, he needs to punch blocks, everything is a cube? He can fit so much shit into his pockets! ((also sorely tempted to make it into a speedrun situation, just because i think that'd be so funny too)). Either way he needs to now do the minecraft thing but since he knows nothing about minecraft he's just confused about everything. Shenanigans, he runs into a cave and has a run in with multiple creepers, skeletons, enderman and the like. Technus is peacefully mining diamonds and strip mining, already having a full set of diamond armor and Danny is trying to figure out how to get iron. Or he just embraces the wanderlust of minecraft, and just goes off on an adventure. Tbh i think that'd be the most fun for him. He make's tiny houses he only stays in for a day and just continues exploring. With how short Minecraft days are (about 20 minutes) he can spend a lot longer in minecraft just traveling than what's passing for outside the minecraft world. A full 24 hours is about 72 minecraft days and a lot can happen then. I'm rambling and this probably doesn't make much sense but i got so many ideas and they're just little things like not a full story but like Technus showing Danny around, Danny going off to wonder on his own, looking around in amazement at the square world. Finding desert and jungle temples, fighting mobs off, growing crops, making redstone contraptions. Yea it'd be fun.

uuh this went on long enough i might make a part 2 sometime of the other idea i had haha

#i like mooshing my favorite things together

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corysmiles · 3 years

Note

Sup! I'm back from Barcelona! Hope you're doing well!

Remember that sbi rust prompt you gave me a month or 2 ago? It is done (not readproff tho so there may be some mistakes) anyway enjoy my grand return!

Edit: did you know 250 paragraphs is the limit lenght to an ask? On an unrelated note I will have to cut this into multiple parts so enjoy this first chapter!

-----

"Whaaat the-"

Wilbur took a step back, mouth agape and watched the figure inside of the dome. A human, identical in the looks, if not for the size of it.

When he went to explore the looming monument that rose from near his house, he expected food or scientific papers, perhaps some gas masks and equipment, not a... giant.

Weren't those things a myth?? Just a silly fictional creature to scare children away, not... not real and THERE, sleeping right in front of him??

The thing was curled up on himself, unable to fit in the 30ft wide sphere if going to its full lenght.

Wilbur was trapped in the walls of flesh.

And to his dismay, he was just in time to witness the creature wake up.

Lazily, they opened their eyes, squinting. They looked at their surroundings, the roof, the walls, the floor.

And the man was able to pinpoint the exact moment their eyes landed on him.

They gasped softly, almost mute. Their eyes widened, and they stood here, studying the punny intrudor for a too long moment. Only after, they spoke, barely above a whisper.

"Uhm... hello."

Wilbur expected the giant to speak, seeing how akin to a human he was, but he didn't expect such a young voice to be held by the.... boy?

"Hey." Wilbur waved, hand as shaking and hesitant as his voice.

"... What's your name?" They spoke.

Wilbur gulped, more on instinct. "Uuh, Wilbur. Who are you? What are you doing here?" He pointed.

They nodded in a hum before looking at the floor below, eyes a bit blurry.

"I...my name is Tommy. And uh... this is where I sleep."

The stare the human kept on the boy was intense, full of disbelief and curiosity. It was uncomfortable.

He shifted a bit. And Wilbur's eyes darted towards the small movements. Ah, right. Humans were hyperaware.

"It's been a while since I met someone around here."

"Yeah, I can imagine that... ever since the nuclear incident, it's been quite the task to find someone." Wilbur explained. What did this being knew exactly?

"Oh... I see." He lowered his head, before letting it rest on the floor, and holy shit he was even bigger than he thought.

He swallowed the lump back down his throat, and sat legs crossed.

The giant, which looked like a teenager now that he got to see his face up close, kept looking at him, expression almost bored.

Then, without much a warning, he lifted his hand and moved it towards the human, who instantly scrumbled away as fast as he could.

"wowowwoowowo- what-"

The hand froze, and when he looked at Tommy, the expression was sad, almost hurt.

Silence filled the room for a minute.

"Sorry" the giant apologized. "I must be quite scary, huh?"

Without much thinking, wilbur nodded. "Um, yeah"

"It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you." He reassured, his voice pathetic. "Can I come closer?"

Wilbur looked at the hand, then at the teen. He took a deep breath before nodding, earning a pleased smile from the blond.

More careful, a hand thrice his size came to him, fingers slowly wrapping themselves around the human. He tensed, unwilling to move an inch despite his mind begging him to get out of here.

He closed his eyes in anticipation, but after a minute of stillness, he felt a rough pressure on his head, ruffling his hairs.

"Wha- what are you doing?" He asked, refusing to open his eyes yet.

Before he got an answer, the mass, which he recognized as a thumb, moved from playing with the hair to caress his skin as gently as possible.

With much hesitation, the human opened his eyes and met the face of the teen, who beared an expression of pure shock and wonder.

As the thumb rubbed against his cheek, he inhaled, shivered.

"You're so small... so fragile..."

His face was washed with a wave of sadness, while Wilbur drew his hand closer to the gun hidden in his jacket.

"How do you feel, wilbur? Do you feel fragile?" His voice was as sad as unreadable.

And at the moment, Wilbur did feel as powerless as a bug stuck in a web. A tall, wide web. Not that he would tell Tommy.

"... Is that a threat?" He asked instead.

"No, I'm just curious." A sort of melancholy couldn't leave the giant's face. "If I were to threaten someone, it would be because they acted like a bitch. You're not a bitch as far as I know."

The curse took Wilbur off guard, and he found himself giggling at the vocabulary. The blong smiled as well.

Then, the thumb moved from the face and slowly descended to cover his chest (entirely)

And....

It felt... like a hug?

How long has it been since Wilbur has been hugged.

The gesture was confusing.

"... why?" He voiced.

"I don't know. I know people like hugs. Makes them feel safe."

He eyed the fingers around him before focusing, wary, on the face.

"What are you planning to do to me?"

"Huh?!" He raised eyebrow and his hands left Wilbur's surrounding in a too quick motion, gesturing in defense. "Nothing!! I just want you to be comfortable. Been a while since I talked to anyone." Without the giant controling his volume, Wilbur had to cover his ear at the sudden booming sound.

He nodded nontheless, still unsure, and the silence drawn out.

"...why did you want to explore the dome?"

For some reason, the echoing voice was quite soothing to the human's ears, now that it was bearable. He took a few steps and put his hand on the part of the dome not blocked by an enormous mass. His finger carressed the copper walls until he was sat.

"I wanted to explore. I don't live very far, and this structure intrigued me. I expected to find some researches, not.... uh..."

Tommy smiled and understood the man without him having to finish. "Yeah. I'm not really something to be expected."

He nodded. "And you've been here for a while?"

"Not so much." The giant responded, "I usually travel from place to place trying to survive, pretty much like everyone else."

"I see..."

"I can try and look out for any paper or stuff if you want, so next time you come, I can hand them over."

Wilbur paused. The idea of returning to the giant made him frown, but the blond did seem to hold no grudges against him.

".... Maybe." He landed on.

And visibly, the teen was elated at the news, his grin growing to his ear and his hands joining in a clap. (As gentle as he could to not make the small man deaf.)

"Welp." He got up, before he got a sugar overdose from seeing that excitment. "I think I'm gonna head back."

"Do you want me to help you get back home?" The other proposed, enthusiast.

"No."

It was quiet for a moment, silence only disturbed by the giant shifting position. It was... unusual. But the enormous teen didn't seem hostile, and if Wilbur could get himself such an ally, he wouldn't take it down.

And so he returned home.

---

2 days later, he returned.

He was surprised as well, but curiosity guided his steps much more than his fears ever since the giant teen revealed himself a potential ally.

He inhaled deeply before climbing the stairs, his feet landing on the metalic ground.

The smile on the teenager's face when he turned around and met the tiny man was as heartwarming as nervewracking.

"YOU'RE BACK!!!" He cheered, and already the human had to cover his ears, the joyous scream deafening. He realized his mistake pretty soon though as he covered his mouth and mumbled, much quieter "Sorry. Hi Wilbur."

"Hello, Tommy." He replied, cautiously removing his hands from his ear. "How have you been?" He started. Usual politeness shouldn't be too awkward.

It took all the self control of the blond to keep his voice quiet enough when he said "I've been fine, thank you." The energy bubbling from him only made Wilbur chuckle.

"Good, good." Wilbur took a few steps towards the blond (or rather his face, since the teen was kind of all around the room) "You seem happy to see me."

Tommy nodded way too quickly and strongly as he confirmed. "Yep! I-" he pained keeping his voice low "-I wasn't sure if you'd really come back. I'm very very very glad you didn't lie. Especially since I have..... THIS!!"

He didn't even bother whispering as his hand came to view, previously hidden behind his back, and coming towards Wilbur in a fist at a racing pace. The brunette couldn't help but flinch back.

Tommy stopped mid-way, realizing his carelessness once more. He whispered an apology and the hand came, much slower this time. (Almost comically slow, but Wilbur wouldn't really complain)

Then, when only at about 6ft away from the man, the hand opened, revealing several piles of papers.

Wilbur's eyes widened. He looked at the blond, confused.

"You said you wanted to look for researches and stuff, sooo I tried finding some. And you were right! There are papers everywhere in here!"

Wilbur looked at the floor which he now realized was almost white from sheets, as well as the several seemingly blank pages stuck on the giant's body, and nodded, repressing a chuckle.

"Yep. Everywhere."

Tommy held back a laugh as well, and Wilbur tried visualizing how this.... god knows how tall being could try opening drawers with his nails barely thin enough to hold the handler, and reading papers the size of a pins on his hands, all while trying to manœuver his body so he wasn't blocking the rest of the building.

He would lie if he said the thought wasn't amusing.

He went for the paper, and without much thinking hopped onto the hand, since the papers were mostly at the center of his palm.

He grabbed a few and sat down, begining reading when he felt a shaky inhale. He looked up to meet the amused eyes of the blond.

"... Seat's comfortable?" He teased, as playful as baffled.

Wilbur frowned, then looked below him and his eyes widened as he registered. He shot straight up.

"Oh-oh oh I'm so sorry- I- I sincerely apologize I-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence as he covered his ears, a wheezed laugh echoing through the entire thing and sending Wilbur shaking from the vibrations.

He found himself laughing as well, barely able to keep up his balance as he stepped out of the hand, a good chunk of paper held between his chest and arms.

The laughs finally died down, the blond disforming his face with his hand trying hard to muffle the sounds. He looked back at the human with what could only be described as adoration. The hand left his face and he chuckled still as he talked.

"Ahh, don't worry about it. I expected you to just take the papers and go, but this? This was funny. Definitely the first time someone sits on my hand like that."

"I-... is it a bad thing?" Wilbur asked, taking slow steps backward while he kept a smile. The last thing he wanted was to upset a giant he was trapped with. Sure, the kid was nice, even though overwhelming, but a wrong gesture could change that first part pretty quickly.

"Nah, I don't mind. If the floor is too cold for your liking, you can sit here."

Wilbur sighed in relief and gave the blond a smile. "Alright. Thanks."

He still chose to sat on the floor, and started reading again. His intuition was right, there was tons of information in here.

He read in silence, only disturbed every once in a while when Tommy asked what was in the sheets. Wilbur explained as easily as possible and kept the details for himself. Tommy was satisfied with the answer he was given, though, so that wasn't a problem.

He was only a quarter through the first pile of paper when he felt something approaching. He froze when a mass, probably a finger, found itself on top of Wilbur's head.

There was a beat of silence when neither moved, and the finger ruffled ever so slightly his hair.

It was a bit awkward, but it wasn't uncomfortable, so he didn't protest.

A soft voice pierced through the silence.

"If I press on your head too hard or hurt you, warn me. You're small so I don't know how much pressure I can apply on you."

"Alright." Wilbur nodded. "You're doing fine right now, I'll tell you if that changes."

The rest of the reading was done with Tommy gently playing with Wilbur's hair or tapping his back in an attempt at a 'massage' (as Tommy called it). It was distracting, but not uncomfortable. At times, even soothing.

It was almost night when Wilbur read most of the first pile. He got up with the paper he read already and looked for an empty drawer.

Fortunately, since Tommy spent 2 days scrambling to get every possible paper out, it wasn't much of a challenge. Below Tommy's angled leg was a furniture. He went and deposited it.

"That should be good." He said as he closed it. He then turned around to meet the blond. "Well, I think it's time for me to go home. I'll be back soon though, this place is VERY interesting."

He forced himself not to fake a gag at Tommy's smile. Urg. So genuine.

"Yeaaayyy" the giant stage-whispered while clapping his hands as softly and quickly as possible. "It's nice having you around. Can I do anything to help you?"

Wilbur brought a hand to his chin and thought for a moment. "If you find an empty book, you can give it to me next time. I'll bring one myself though so you don't have to tear this place upside down to find one." That made Tommy chuckle.

And so, Wilbur returned home once more.

THIS IS SO GOOD MEL OMG!!!

Pls read this it’s amazing and so well done, I love the rust server and this is so good :D

#mcyt gt community #mcyt g/t #t!wilbur #g!tommy #rust server #melissas writing #ITS SO GOOD #READ THIS NOW #THIS IS A THREAT #>:D

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rauhallinen-hauki · 3 years

Text

a semi-shitpost """review""" of the Mad Max series

despite knowing full well that Mad Max 2 is the best of the series I decided to watch the rest of the Mad Max movies, so here's a half-shitpost half-genuine mini ””””review”””” /me trowing opinions no one asked for because why not (and because on serious note, you should be critical of the media you consume.). also spoilers. If anyone ever sees this post: don't take it too seriously.

Mad Max 1: Surprisingly good writing and composition. My favourite aspects of it were Max wanting to quit his work as a cop even before his friend Goose (a cop too) is killed by Toecutter's gang, some social critique there. I also liked the atmosphere of the landscapes. It made me sad though (the plot is pretty much a lose-lose situation for all parties involved), a little too nihilistic for me. But overall it was good and enjoyable and a classic. 6/10, 6.5-7/10 if I'm feeling good.

Mad Max 2/Road Warrior: Even a summary wouldn't do this masterpiece of a film justice but to put it simply it just slaps. Surprisingly memorable characters and plot for an action movie, sexy vehicles and destructive action, beautiful composition and music and great pacing, just lots of personality and artistry (nothing compares to Humungus and his leather fetish biker gang sorry that's just a fact).There is a reason this film is so influential and pretty much birthed the post-apocalypse genre. Its just THAT good. One of these faves I never get tired of, a comforting piece of media and just one of my favourite pieces of work period. 10/10 just absolute genius. A classic a legend a masterpiece a-(ok you get the picture)

Mad Mad 3/Beyond Thunderdome: The tamest of the series, and probably the reason so many hate it. But I enjoyed it, I like the idea of all these post apocalyptic ”societies”, lots of fun action potential in the thunderdome itself too. Wholesome message at the end. A little ”off” at times but overall enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing. Solid 6/10.

Mad max 4/Fury road: Words cant describe how much I despise this one. Its not bad. Its not even bad in a so bad its good sense. Its fucking diarrhea shit sprinkled with vomit and infections. Not because its new or anything. Different doesn't equate to bad. Its just that this movie is a prime example of ”style over substance”. Its the longest of the films...and yet its like nothing actually happens in it. The dialogue made me roll my eyes and/or cringe most of the time, the action is just shit flying at the screen so there is no actual tension or investment, everything is just try-harding and stupid. Unironical shitstorm of capitalism/10

Thoughts on the franchise as a whole

Weirdest (in a good way) series of films in I've seen. Despite being a somewhat ”chronological” series each movie is its own story and has its own unique feel (regardless of it working or not), which is good. Wouldn't consider myself a mad max fan but since I've seen them all now I can and will gladly discuss the movies whit other fellow fans (and no, I'm not going to shit on you if you like like fury road despite me hating it. I'm not that kind of ”fan”). But I will say that I'm a BIG fan of mad max 2 specifically,so if anyone ever wants to chat about it with me be glad to do it. Overall i acknowledge the cultural impact of the series and i think its an ok franchise.

Some personal preferences and headcanons

-Since each of the movies is its own story (for example, you don't need to necessarily watch mad max 1 to understand mad max 2) I like to believe that you, as an spectator, can decide what really counts as the real continuity or ”official story”.

I personally like the idea that the story of Max ends after the events of Mad Max 2, and after all the gang bullshit Max's been trough he just manages to build a little cottagecore house in the middle of the wasteland and spends the rest of his life healing his numerous traumas with gardening and custom car building (iIshould write a fanfic lmao). So uuh yeah i don't consider mad max 3 and max max 4 to be ”canon”, or maybe they're canon in an alternate universe or something. This is what I believe in, but everyone who sees these films can create their own take on them and that's awesome.

-Relating to that previous idea, Max himself is a bit of a wasteland urban legend in-universe. Some mysterious wasteland hero who may or may not be real.

-Despite the series being called Mad Max, I feel like Sad Max is a more fitting name.

-Almost everyone in Mad Max 1 is a shitposter, specially the Toecutter and Goose.

-Lord Humungus is Max's direct narrative foil. Both cool, clever men with militaristic backgrounds and a fixation on vehicles and leather, who lose everything when the world goes to shit. Also they both are the only ones with guns, max has a worn shotgun while Humungus has a more elegant pistol. The key difference is that Max keeps at least some of his humanity while Humungus doesn't. Other differences are that of Humungus being more of a strategic team leader while Max is more likely to be a ”pawn” or work alone.

-Relating to the previous idea, if Max and Lord Humungus were to talk about their similar traumas and shared interest in cars i think they would bond and become really good friends. Lovers, even. Shipping potential there.

-The interceptor is a really sexy car, specially whit its rust and fat gasoline tanks in road warrior.

-Ironically enough, despite fury road being the longest and most dialogue heavy of the movies, its characters are shallower than the ones in the previous films.

-Aunty Entity got the idea to create Thunderdome while she mused about wresting. She's a fan of wrestling. I also believe she keeps some sort of karaoke night at Bartertown once in a while, she's fond of singing. Most artistic expressions, really.

-The core message of the Mad Max series (or at the very least of Mad Max 2) is about finding love and understanding and humanity in a broken world.

#commentary #writing is fun even when its a shitpostish ramble

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nachotrash · 3 years

Text

ANOTHER EDITION OF INCORRECT QUOTES

ft: @catchmewiddershins @paradise-creator @elektrosonix @lilikags @todd-the-phrog and my irl bestie

Lili: I think I'm falling for you.

Anna: Then get up.

Anna: I dare you to kiss the next person who walks into this room.

Pauline: Screw that, I’m not kissing any of you.

*Wid walks in*

Pauline: Fine, I’ll do it. Rules are rules you know.

Sara: Are you an F5 key? Because that ass is refreashing.

Wid: Are you a software update? because not right now.

Isamu: Is something burning?

Wid, leaning seductively on the counter: Just my desire for you.

Isamu: Wid, the toaster is literally on fire.

Isamu: *seductively takes off glasses*

Isamu: Wow...

Anna: *blushes* Haha... what?

Isamu: You're really fucking blurry.

Anna: Any questions?

Wid: Uh, yeah, WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?

Anna: Uh, a plan, duh...

Shiyu: Wid, chill, I know it’s weird, but Anna has a point.

Wid:

Wid: THAT WAS LITERALLY A PONY DOODLE WITH A HAT!!

Wid: I know this isn’t going to end well and I don’t care. So don’t you try and stop me, Sara!

Sara: I wasn’t stopping you. I was asking if you had a spare camera so I can record this.

Lili: I'm not that stupid!

Shiyu: Lili, you literally ate the wax from a babybel.

Lili: ANNA TOLD ME IT WAS EDIBLE!

Isamu: *visiting the squad* Hello, I just came to-

Isamu: *sees Sara shoving Shiyu into the washing machine while Anna records and Wid watches*

Isamu: *retreating* Something suddenly came up.

Shiyu: I failed my safety training course today.

Lili: Why, what happened?

Shiyu: Well one of the questions was "In case of a fire, what steps would you take?"

Lili: And?

Shiyu: Well apparently "FUCKING LARGE ONES" isn't an acceptable answer.

Lili: How would you like your coffee?

Wid: As dark and as bitter as my soul.

Lili, shouting to someone behind the counter: I need one vanilla latte with extra cream and sugar!

Wid: It’s time to turn this into a real business.

Shiyu: What do you mean? Like, carry a briefcase, and wear a tie, and pay taxes?

Anna: Wait, have you not been paying your taxes?

Sara: I handle our accounting.

(no but this is actually me)

Sara: Honestly, I am so evil. So full of darkness. I feed of the souls of the living I strike fear into-

Anna: You sleep with a teddybear.

Sara: He’s my sECOND IN COMMAND IN MY ARMY OF DARKNESS!

Lili: You are an absolute fucking dork.

Anna, singing: Yeah, but I'm your dork!

Lili: *sighs* Yeah, you're my dork.

Lili: Guys, I didn’t memorize my lines!

Isamu: Just use your lack of common sense! Everyone knows the characters in plays are dumb as fuck!

*During the play*

Pauline: Hey! You finally made it! Did you get the donuts?

Lili: W-what’re donuts?

Pauline: I am darkness. I am an power. I am your worst nightmare. I could kill a man in more ways than you can imagine. I am the night. I am fury, I am a weapon, I am-

Anna: A doll.

Isamu: A cinnamon roll.

Lili: A sweetheart.

Pauline:

Pauline: ...stop it.

Pauline: I think I just figured something out. I got to go.

Wid: Aren't you forgetting something?

Pauline: Uuh...*hesitantly kisses Wid's forehead before running out.*

Wid: No, pay your bill! Damn, who raised you?

Pauline: Why should I make my bed, when I'm just gunna unmake it to sleep in it anyways?

Anna: Why should I feed you if your just gunna die anyways?

Pauline:

Pauline: I'll go make my bed-

Lili: Yo dumbass, get over here.

Shiyu: Okay-

Anna: *gleefully runs past* I’m coming!

Shiyu, sadly: I thought... I was dumbass...

Shiyu: That shirt looks great, Sara.

Sara: Thanks.

Shiyu: But I bet it would look even better on Lili's floor.

Lili: Are you hitting on Sara... for me?

Pauline: I dare you-

Lili: Isamu is not allowed to accept dares anymore.

Pauline: Why not?

Isamu: "I have no regard for my own or others personal safety", as some would say.

Pauline: Dearly Beloved, we are here today to remember Isamu, taken from us in the prime of life; when they were crushed by a runaway semi, driven by the Incredible Hulk.

Isamu: Aww, you knew my favorite cause of death.

Lili: Why are there little handprints all over the walls?

Wid, whispering: Why are there little handprints all over the walls?

Sara, whispering: Because I have little hands.

Wid: Because they have little hands.

Anna: I’ve made a spread sheet of all the crime in Brooklyn.

Anna: There’s so much crime in New York, no one should live here.

Lili: Pros and cons of dating me.

Lili: Pros. You'll be the cute one.

Lili: Cons. Holy shit, where do I begin-

Shiyu: Sometimes I drink milk straight from the container.

Pauline: The cow??

Shiyu: What?

Isamu: Pauline, W H Y?

Lili: We just ate. Why are you making pancakes?

Sara: For the dogs.

Wid: Why are your tongues purple?

Isamu, texting in the group chat: I wonder what Apple shots would look like?

Shiyu: That’s the longest worm I’ve ever seen.

Isamu: Is this your plan B?

Lili: What do you call quantums of electromagnetic radiation that don’t get along?

Sara: Hey, no, you stay out of this, this is between me and Isamu!

Anna: Truth or dare?

Isamu: How many children do you have?

Isamu, tearing up the room: Where are they?

Sara, very tired: Can I sleep in your bed?

Isamu: I failed my safety training course today.

Pauline, watching Isamu and Sara fight: Are you sure they should be fighting? What if they get hurt?

(ok but this is kinda accurate)

Isamu: Do you want some tea?

Pauline: I have an idea.

Wid: When I was a kid, Isamu told me that the paper strip that’s in the chocolate kisses were edible and I ate them with the chocolate for a year.

Pauline: What the fuck? People actually tell their crushes they like them??

Shiyu: What's wrong with you?

Wid: I intend to stay pissed at you forever.

Anna, hungover: Please tell me I'm imagining that I claimed I was king of the ducks.

Anna, holding a rock: Isamu just gave this to me and said "I feel like you deserve the moon but all I can give you is a rock".

Anna: What do you have?

Pauline: Well, well, well, if it isn’t the consequences of my actions.

Lili: Alright, listen up you little shits.

Anna: I wasn't hurt that badly. The doctor said all my bleeding was internal, that's where the blood's supposed to be!

Pauline: So are you gonna explain how the hell you crashed my car?

Sara: How stupid do you think I am?!

Pauline: Honestly, I am so evil. So full of darkness. I feed of the souls of the living I strike fear into-

Lili: I'm going the fight the next person who insults Pauline.

Lili: I currently have 7 empty notebooks and I have no idea what to put in them. Any suggestions?

Anna: I wanna die.

Shiyu: Are you sure this is safe?

Wid: My life is a little too much panic and not enough disco.

Isamu: The time to act is now.

Isamu: Shiyu won’t wake up, what do I do?

Isamu: Why doesn’t Pauline find me sexy when I bite my lip?

Wid: Anna's first detention, I'm so proud.

Pauline: She's the girl of my dreams!

(and now, an only ship edition)

Pauline: So, are you two dating now?

Anna: I didn't drink that much last night.

Anna: Did you know you remind me of all 26 letters of the alphabet?

Shiyu: Just a minute. I need to go take out the trash.

Isamu: *sees Anna and Pauline together*

Pauline: Two years ago, I married my best friend.

Anna: Well, remember when Lili made a romantic dinner for me?

Isamu: Sara, let’s go!

Anna: Let’s watch Sharkboy and Lavagirl.

Wid: Is this your plan B?

Shiyu: I would never say that my partner is a bitch and I don’t don’t like them. That’s not true… My partner is a bitch and I like them so much!

Lili: I find it very unseemly of Shiyu to start dating again. Isn't the customary period of mourning 10 years?

Shiyu: Hey, Pauline? Can I get some dating advice?

Shiyu: I still have no idea how I’m attracted to you...

Isamu: Someone take me to art museums and make out with me.

Anna: Guys, my friend here is bilingual.

Sara: Valentine’s day is just a consumerist holiday that holds no real value other than drive people insane buying heart shaped chocolates for their significant others and pos-

Anna: So... who's the big spoon and who's the little spoon?

Shiyu: Isamu kissed me!

Sara: Ooh, somebody has a crush

Lili: *sees Anna and Shiyu together*

*playing twister*

Wid: So, what is Shiyu to you?

Shiyu: Why are your tongues purple?

#incorrect nacho

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writersperpetualblock · 5 years

Text

Braids for my faves

A/N; I loved loved loveeddd this request! I myself love to braid people's hair and had the luck to braid my crush's hair once or twice. So I tried to do my best to make this cute and fluffy. Also it has been sitting on my drafts forever because I had a hard time doing Denki and mostly Dabi. Hope you enjoy this late late late treasure.

Shinsou

"Ugh, I wish I could get some sleep."

"Not until night time dude."

Shinsou's head falls on my lap as he spreads across the floor. A heavy sigh leaves his lips.

"I don't get any sleep at night either, so what's the point."

"The point isss, that maybe if you stop taking mid-day naps you'll be able to rest at nights."

Another sigh from him makes me roll my eyes. I look down to my lap only to realize that Shinsou's hair was longer, and inadvertently my hands go to it. Since he was mostly facing away from me I couldn't exactly tell his expression, but he didn't seem to care.

"Do you mind if I braid it?"

"Hmm?"

"Your hair, can I braid it?"

He turns his face minimally, looking at me from the corner of his eye and frowns. Even though he looks unsure something tells me I could get him to give in. And rubbing circles into his scalp to urge a yes out of him he finally faces up at me fully.

"Pretty pretty please?"

"If it's gonna make you stop that crap then whatever, sure."

I smack his shoulder but keep smiling at him while fetching two hair ties from my bag. With his lot of hair it would probably be messy but it was a nice way to pass our time.

I make some small talk even though Shinsou hates it, but I take to ask about his training with his new sensei. Knowing how thrilled he was about it.

Shinsou lets out a content purr every time a finger goes through his soft knots. And by the time I'm done I realize he's been asleep for a while. Opportunity I take to snap pictures of the pigtail braids I did and looked unbelievably cute on him.

I was almost sad to wake him when it was time to head back to our dorms. He is quick to stand up, slightly stretching the sleep off and rubbing his face. Seemingly forgetting the braids.

"Is this the first time someone braids your hair?" I ask looking up at him, nearly closing my eyes to the setting sun behind him. His face makes no expression but he takes a hand to his hair, touching the braids.

"You ask as if I'd ever let anybody else toy with me like that." He smirks ever so slightly and leans down for a second, helping me get up.

"Well I'm glad it is, and I'm glad I did it." I offer him a closed lips smile and pick up my bag from the ground. When I straighten back up I find that Shinsou is way closer now.

"You're cute," he says stepping closer and his cheeks grow a little red. Making me smile and look him in the eye. "too sweet to me." And with that he presses a kiss to my mouth, recieving a most eager response. When he pulls away there's a smirk on his lips.

"That's what I want you to think of me." I tease and he chuckles, cheeks flushing a little.

"Yeah right, I'll see ya tomorrow." he says and turns around. I take that chance to bite my lip and smile hugely. Unknowing that he turned to look at me over his shoulder. "You can braid my hair whenever you want if it makes you so happy."

My face flushes and I give him a wide, flustered smile. Turning around and practically running back to my dorm.

Aizawa

Shouta was always stressed. But lately he seemed to be really on edge about every little thing.

"Why is your hair in a bun?"

"Why are you pestering me about it? You're not the one who deals with it every day."

I stare at him with a frown and blink repeatedly. He'd been really bitchy lately and I couldn't place why.

Suddenly he turns to me and sighs when he sees my expression. "Sorry, it's just been really hot and it keeps getting in my way and it's all tangled and stuff."

"Do you want me to braid it?"

"Braid it?"

"Yeah, it won't get in your way but it'll stay untangled too."

He looks at me with tired eyes and moves over to the couch. Plopping down in front of me and letting out a huff.

"That sounds great, please do."

I untie the bun and spread down his hair. Kindly running my fingers through it until I'm certain it is untangled. Aizawa's shuts his eyes but I can feel his breath agaisnt my legs, and I know he is not asleep.

Strand by strand my hands work their way through Shouta's lengthy hair. The result is a very pretty french braid.

After I'm done I make him run his fingers along it, but he doesn't stand up or anything. He was seemingly calm now, so I massaged his temples a little and ultimately went to his shoulders.

"Can you do this for me, like, everyday?"

I chuckle "Whenever you need it honey."

"So exhausted" my boyfriend sighs and I look up to see him enter my room shirtless.

"So stinkyy" I reply wrinkling my nose.

"Yeah, I was doing physical with Sero" I pop my eyebrows up at his choice of words and he huffs "Stop that, physical trainiing "

"Geehe"

He rolls his eyes before leaning over my form in the bed and pressing a kiss to my cheek. "I'd much rather get physical with you" he says matter of factly and I push him away, jokingly wrinkling my nose.

"Shower, noww"

"Wash my hairr" he pleas closing the distance again and pouting at me. "Pleasee!"

"Okayy okay go, I'll get my products"

Kaminari loved my tropical fruits products, because it reminded him of me he said. But I knew he just liked the smell and how soft his hair felt afterwards.

When I entered the bathroom his clothes were on the floor and he was already in the shower. So I undressed myself and stepped in, taking my hands to Kaminari's wet chest and avoiding to get my own hair wet.

His eyes opened after a few seconds and he turned around so that I could work on his hair. As I buried my hands on his scalp he let out sweet sounds of relief.

"You ought to get a haircut soon enough." I tell him "I could braid this thing, it's pretty long babe."

"Uuh that sounds good. Braid it!" the excitement in his voice reminds of that of a small child's and I chuckle. Rinsing conditioner off of his blonde head and pulling him out of the water. Allowing him to finish washing his body before wrapping a hand towel on his head.

Once we were both done and in towels in front of the mirror I fluff his hair up with the towel like a dog, making us both laugh. He bends down just enough for me to reach his hair comfortably and I dip my hand in a small container of coconut cream.

Kaminari breaths in the smell as I spread it through his hair and I chuckle, watching his face in the reflection. I tried to do a braid that would keep his hair in place but the harder I pulled the more Kaminari complained and moved. And when I was finished there were more stray hairs than there was a braid. But he seemed content with my work, proudly asking me to snap pictures so he could upload them on social media.

"You're being a bitch."

"Just take your damn nap"

"I can't nap without you!"

"That's not my problem sweets"

"You made me codependent! Deal with it!"

"Just get in the bed!!"

"FINE"

An hour or so later I wake up, finding that Dabi was still taking a nap. His face was buried slightly below my chest, so instinctively my hand went to his hair. He'd never let me play with it whenever he is awake so I'd take my victories where I could find them.

After a few minutes navigating through my phone Dabi was still sleeping. And soon enough I got bored. Putting the phone down I puff and massage his scalp. An idea popping into my head soon enough. I start making small, stray braids in his dark hair, just for the sake of entertaining myself.

He stirred for a second, but went back to sleeping soundly in my belly. Allowing me to reach the other side of his hair. I could swear he moaned a tiny little bit as I messed with his hair.

I kept at it until his head was full of soft little braids that fell on his face and popped out against the rest of his unkept hair. He would never forgive me for doing this.

"What are you doing to me?" Dabi mumbles suddenly and I hold back a giggle.

"Nothin' love, I'm glad you're awake."

"You did something didn't you?"

"Do not accuse of things Dabi!"

"Tsk, if it's makeup I swear I'm gonna burn all of your expensive, favorite products."

I give him more giggles and he pulls himself up with his arms, still groggy from sleep. Glancing to the mirror that I kept on my nightstand he didn't see anything alarming from this distance, and sighed.

"I'll find what you did y'know?"

"You won't mind it."

"Don't be so sure sweets"

"You liiiike me, it'll be fine."

Dabi furrowed a brow and layed his head on my chest now.

"I wouldn't rely on that if I were you."

@angsty-microwave

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