#Fire & Flight is about personal journeys okay and I just hope y'all go on a journey too...and also that you enjoy my story🤣

[bcofl0ve]

I hope you have fun in England Mollie! If you don’t mind me asking, why do you think it was MOTA that got you in the most out of all the recent Austin releases? I like what you’ve posted in the past about how it varies a lot across the fandom. It was Dune for me and I’m counting down to Dune Messiah now even though Feyd won’t be in it because the franchise got me hooked. Especially Chani 😭

this is so kind, thank you! i dont think ill believe its really happening until my feet are on england ground- my flight stuff getting to amsterdam for study abroad was a dumpster fire mess and i'm extra paranoid now lmao. but i have high hopes it'll all be okay!

also ooo that's a good question. gonna bullet point the reasons briefly and then elaborate under a read more line for people that wanna hear me yap more.

it being based off of real people i could research rabbit hole. i know bikeriders is too- but there's so little information abt them whereas with mota it was a whole new world opened up to me.

it giving me an opportunity to revisit a fandom hobby i used to really love- m/m fanfic writing <3 i'm gen surprised i never got into the hbo war fandom sooner, but i'm really happy there now.

i love ensemble cast pieces where there's lots of characters and actors to love (this is why i liked the bikeriders, even though i didnt get as attached). esp love big group dynamics between Guys That Love Each Other which mota did exceedingly well to me.

funny story- even though i was into buck x bucky from the jump- i think i was actually one of the first 3 posts in the tag, it took me until my second watch through to get as attached as i did and i did nottt love it as a whole the way i do now on my first watch. now on the other side of like 20 rewatches i understand why they chose to handle gale going down the way they did. but when i was watching it for the first time i was watching it for austin and i was sooo irked. rosie was my least fav character my first watch bc i was so bitter about him "replacing gale" and now he's in my top 3. funny how that works!

the second time i watched it all the way through, since i knew what to expect austin screen time wise i could reallly watch it for the story as a whole. and that's when i fell in love <3 with everyone <3 like i literally just wrote a 12k+ words fic shipping demarco and dogulass who have like ten minutes of screentime each, douglass i think a little less than that lmao they're all my blorbos now <3

i just. really love the show. i love how much the boys care for each other in spite of all the horrible shit they're going through. i love the development of the bucks relationship, i love croz's journey as a character, i love nash and helen and how horrible douglass is with women and the planes, and curt's bond to the bucks and kenny and his lil beanie and rosie humming jazz music mid flight and COCOLA!!!! i love every aspect of this show. it just. clicks for me.

speaking to my second bullet point way up there i also love all the creativity in the fandom being shown in all the `new stories~ people have built for these characters. i really missed being in a Third Person Fanfic fandom, writing m/m fic (and heck f/m too since i write for ev and helen, and my m/f OC couple) and doing the world building that writing AUs requires. so being back in the pilot seat (haha) in that regard has been fun. and brought me so many new fandom friends <3 y'all that are interested pls come hang out anytime on @bcolfanfic

but all that said i'm so glad dune clicked for you the way mota did for me! even though the franchise isn't "my thing" i'll prob end up watching dune messiah as well. and def understand the chani adoration. she's a fantastic character and zendaya plays her so well. i can't imagine any other actress in that role.

[world-of-fire-and-flight]

Check out one of my favorite quotes from FIRE & FLIGHT from ch. 8: Water from the Falls🌟 FIRE & FLIGHT is releasing in just a few short weeks on 7/19!

“Since we got here, I’ve been thinking: is it worth it?” His voice shook as he continued, “What if it isn’t what I hoped it would be? What if I’m better off without it?”

Nyla chuckled under her breath. “I’ve been wondering the same things. I think that that’s normal. My father used to wonder if the Falls gave you what you needed instead of what you wanted.” She paused, lost in the memories of bedtime stories from a lifetime ago. She shook them away and continued, “That’s terrifying, especially when what you ‘need’ just might be…” She trailed off.

Sometimes what you needed wasn't something you were ready to face.

Or worse, sometimes what you needed was your undoing.

[jeanna-nottaylor-swift]

Hey boys and girls I wrote a fanfic like 4 years ago from a dying if not dead fandom and I haven’t proofread it since. So good luck

Part 1.) Dead Center

I Can't Fight Without You.

Worlds gone to shit, and yet it's not impossible to find love.

It started with a meeting on the roof. A hotel that's burning from the inside out. Four people of unique personalities run up to the roof top of a hotel hoping for an evacuation to be there. Just as they reach the top, a helicopter flies away.

"Hey! Get back here! GET BACK HERE- aw he ain't comin' back." A plump man exclaims, slightly out of breath.

"Looks like they're heading to the evac station in the mall, downtown." A younger boy spoke in a Southern accent suggesting he's from here, or any nearby cities.

"Grab a weapon, I can promise we'll need them." A darker woman stated grabbing an axe on a nearby table closest to the door they entered.

Everyone grabbed a weapon of some sort and a first aid kit: strapping it to their backs, and heading back down the stairs.

"Through this door." The plump man commanded.

On the eighth floor of that hotel was what appeared to be a conference room. Inside was a map and a white board stating the locations of CEDA's evacuation centers and escape routes.

The young hillbilly advised heading to New Orleans, so with that game plan in mind; those four survivors started out on their journey.

The group had to go in and out of rooms to avoid the flames spreading. They had little to no problems as they walked along the outside edges of the building.

A scream was heard and a weird noise was made through a door with a hole in it. The youngest man was pulled towards the door with a wet rope around it: a tongue.

"Ah! It's got me- shit!"

The quiet man, who hasn't spoken since the helicopter left, ran and swung his crowbar at the ugly infected different from the rest and it let go of the young southerner.

"What the hell is that thing?" The quiet man in the suit coughed due to the gross smoke the infected left behind. The zombie was extremely tall covered in large swellings of some sort on its face.

The dark woman spoke up "Smoker."

After everyone was set, they proceeded down another flight of stairs. The group finally found a working elevator and proceeded inside, going to the first floor.

"Holy shit! This is some kind of nightmare. Goddamn Zombie Apocalypse and shit. Shit, shit, shit. What in the hell are we going to do?" The young man panicked.

"Settle down, son. We're gunna be okay. What's your name?" The pudgy man consoles him.

"Ellis. My names Ellis."

"Hey, names Rochelle, you?" The dark woman smiled at the pudgy man in a coach's uniform.

"You guys can just call me Coach." Said the large man whom had started to take charge.

"Names Nick. But don't worry about learning it, 'cause I ain't sticking around long."

"Let's stay together for a little while at least, okay Nick?" Coach asked politely.

The elevator came to a stop, and smoke was filling the enclosed elevator, having to be forced open. Once open, fire was everywhere, and quickly spreading too. They ran to the kitchen and headed around the fire, armed with guns, taking out any zombies that stood in their way. Once the group came to the lobby, they stopped. A low harsh growl was coming from the left. All were puzzled. Rochelle being the first to speak, she whispered, "Shh! C'mon. Let's run.", and she ran toward a heavy red metal door. Something jumped at her; it was fast and dark. As it jumped it made a high pitched screech. Taking a closer look it was scrappy with a dark hoodie, covered in blood.

"Must be another special zombie." Ellis called back as he ran toward Rochelle, shooting the bazaar infected.

The others followed and shot at it.

"Ro!" Coach yelled as the jumper just barely missed her. It barked once it was dead.

"Woah. That things disgusting." She gasped.

"Hunter..." Nick looked down, and trotted into the room.

The group closed the heavy red door and blocked it off with a few chairs and a table.

Ellis sat on the counter setting his gun down.

"Hey, y'all. Not to worry you, but I reckon we leave in an hour or so. Buildin's still on fire."

They all nodded.

Coach kept watch at the exit door, shooting a few zombies that came towards the door. Rochelle organized the pile of different ammunition for different guns.

Nick; Nick just looked at Ellis. Not sure what to make of the hillbilly in the yellow 'Bull Shifters' tee-shirt. Ellis didn't seem to notice. He was busy deciding what gun he wanted.

Ellis knew who and what he was. He had come to terms with it, but decided that he keep that to himself, it's caused enough trouble.

The group packed up and left the safe room.

"There's a gun store a few blocks over." Ellis nodded and trotted ahead, taking the lead.

"Guess living here has payed off!" Nick scoffed.

"Son, I don't like your attitude." Coach scolded. Nick just rolled his eyes and jogged up ahead of him.

Passing a big truck and a tent and about five port-a-potties. A low rumble shook the ground and a roar came from down the street.

"What in the hell is that?" Ellis screamed as the giant infected with barbaric arms came running at them. "Will guns even work on that thing?" he yelled as he started to shoot at it.

Rochelle yelled as she shot it from behind, "Just keep shooting!"

The thing had targeted Nick and swung at him. Ellis tackled Nick out of the way just at the giant fell to its knees, if Ellis hadn't step in, Nick would've been crushed.

"Get off me!" Nick yelled.

Ellis did as he was told and just kept walking down the street, slightly embarrassed by what had just happened.

Nick grabbed an ax off the wall of the room they had entered.

"A freakin' axe!" He smiled a toothy yet wicked grin. Examining the weapon with both hands.

The group headed down a flight of stairs and out a side door. To a small set of stairs and there was a big truck. Ellis crouched and sniped a few zombies down the street.

A horrendous laughter echoed as a small peach zombie, no taller than four feet tall, came jogging down the street towards the survivors. Once it launched it's self, Ellis had ducked and it caught Rochelle, rocking her around: riding her like a horse.

"Ooh! Get this thing off my back!" She squirmed as the boys kept missing the target.

"Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!" She begged!

Nick finally took aim and shot it square in the face having it topple over. Ellis wasn't surprised Nick was good with a gun.

The group walked down the street, and had to hop over a guard rail to proceed to the other road.

"Over the dumpster." Nick commanded.

They all moved in silence through a building and up and over a small bridge that descended to a truck. Taking out a few zombies here and there. Every now and again Ellis would sneak a peek at Nicks face. He was a handsome man. Straight as an arrow...

Ellis sighed despite himself.

"The gun stores just up ahead." Ellis took the lead.

"It'd be good to have some real weapons." Nick smiled. Ellis sheepishly felt proud of himself, for reasons meant only for him. Nothing big, just the little things; little personal goals.

Everyone grabbed desired guns as Nick makes another comment, "Im not legally allowed to own a gun... Hope everyone's okay with that."

It made Ellis chuckle, just a little. They upgraded their weapons with laser sights and went to the exit door, which was locked. Nick pressed the intercom button, an a loud mans voice chimed through the store.

"Hoo! Hello there! I've barricaded myself on the roof with ample provisions, but in my haste, I forgot cola. So here is my proposition: If you go find me some cola at yonder food store, I'll clear a path to the mall for you."

"So let me get this straight: we get you your shit and you'll help us get to the mall, right? Okay, you screw us, and I will kill you with your own gun." Nick threatened.

The door swung open and the team ran out to the food store across the street. Three of the members: Coach, Rochelle, and Nick stayed outside the doors fighting the horde running towards the alarming doors. Ellis had grabbed the cola and ran out of the store. Nick ran after him to protect him while he carried the cola back to Whitaker.

An ugly zombie who looks like someone straight out of red neck city, with no chin but an extended mouth, came running out of the doors and spit at the boys.

"Ah shit! Burnin' goo shit!" Ellis hollered backing up into Nick and they both fell over the railing into a delivery truck, Nick hitting the truck and Ellis on top of him, back first.

The cola had dropped with them and Coach caught it, thankfully and ran it to Whitaker, killing the ugly infected first of corse.

Some kind of explosion happened and the path to the mall was cleared!

Coach took the lead and ran down the cleared path. Rochelle was quickly behind him. Ellis and Nick were still kind of hurting from their backs hitting the truck.

There was a big boom and Coach and Rochelle were covered in green snot-like substance by the time Nick and Ellis caught up. Zombies has swarmed the two, completely ignoring the two boys.

Nick helped protect Rochelle, and Ellis shot the zombies around Coach.

Once they were gone, and the goo had cleared up they kept walking towards the mall.

"Boomer.." Coach said to himself.

"Pardon?" Rochelle asked right next to him as they pasted a rescue tent.

"The name. We'll call that a Boomer."

Everyone made it into the safe room inside the mall. They all took a rest and sat down for a little bit after barricading the door they came in.

Patching himself up, Ellis restocked his first aid kit.

Nick just watched him. "Ugh, God, I hate malls!" He groaned, "If anyone sees a men's store, let me know. I've got blood on my suit."

Ellis snickered. A slight blush running over his nose.

Coach started packing up,"Let's get going. The faster we find the evac, the faster we can leave."

The group nodded in agreement, and pushed open the big red door to the mall. Zombies swarmed the survivors. Nicks aim was almost perfect. Rochelle killed a few zombies in hazmat suits. Coach and Ellis shot the remaining infected and they all proceeded around the corner and up and escalator.

"Maybe CEDA is deeper in the mall." Ellis reinsured.

"Deeper in my ass..." mumbled Nick.

"Down this escalator!" Rochelle took the lead. As she reached the bottom she was charged at and smashed into a wall, the giant one armed monster pummeled her into the hard floor

" I'm getting my ass... Beat!" She grunted.

That charging thing was stubborn, took a few shots from everyone to kill it.

"Hit it." Ellis took the final shot. Killing it. "Charger-" he smirked at his humorous tone.

Nick scoffed, "Call it whatever you want, Ace."

The team ran through a sitting area.

"I don't-- I don't like the sound of that crying." Ellis pondered aloud.

Some skinny little white woman was rocking near the set of stairs closest to the only place they can go to proceed ahead.

"Heh, sounds like my ex-wife." Nick threw a lopsided grin, and everyone ignored him. But his statement stuck Ellis, kind of offending him for reasons even he didn't know.

With everyone's lights shinning on her, the girls cries turn into growls.

"Turn your lights off!" Coach yelled in a voice above a whisper.

They tried to tip toe around her but Ellis tripped over her and disturbed her sending her into an full, all bitch mode.

Ellis tripped over a table in the food court, running away from her. Falling on his chest, he rolled over to see the woman hovering over him. She screamed and scratched at him.

Nick was right behind her and had her good and dead before she was able to make three scratches in his chest.

"Help me up!"

Nick grabbed his hand and pulled Ellis to his feet.

"Hey-" he looked into Nick's eyes and smiled,"-thanks, man!"

They all kept through and went up, yet again, another escalator.

Taking a right, they went up a door that was stacked at an angle. An employees only storage unit. Down a narrow hallway and a turn left past a vending machine. Through a large set of doors. A children's store, stuffed crocodiles and hippos everywhere. The only way out is through the window. Once it was broken the alarm would sound...

The familiar rumble was back.

"Shit shit shit!"

"TANK!"

The gigantic monster pound it's way through the glass, sounding the alarm.

"Shoot the tank!"

It targeted Coach first swung at him missing. Once it had given up on Coach, it hit Ellis, sending him flying with ease. Meanwhile zombies swarmed the survivors, along with special infected. A boomer threw up on Coach and Nick, attracting more of them. Ellis scrambled to his feet shooting at the tank. The bust from the boomer sent Rochelle in the direction of a hunter, pinning her to the floor. "Ah! Get this thing off me!"

Nick wiped the puke from his face and helped Ellis out with the tank.

Coach swung a bat, he picked up, at the hunter sending it flying. He picked Rochelle up to her feet and together they all knocked the tank to its knees and got rid of the zombies running into the store.

"Let's get moving, and shut off that alarm!" Nick commanded running out of the store. Ellis limped behind everyone, clearly in pain from the tanks strength.

Since Ellis being so far behind, everyone had made it to the 3rd floor Maintenance room, and Nick shut off the alarm. Ellis had been invaded by infected.

Too many.

Approximately twenty-five zombies had taken him down.

"Help!"

"Ah!"

"Shit!"

Nick ran back down the stairs and shot the circling zombies and a jockey running toward him.

"Don't worry, I'll get your ass out if this mess." Nick smiles as he pulls Ellis to his feet. "You're a mess... Stand still." Nick had pulled out his Heath kit, and started patching him up as best as he could, it was only temporary but it would do until they were safe. "C'mon. Let's go with the others."

They both jogged up the stairs and reunited with Coach and Rochelle.

"Down these stairs." Rochelle pointed out, and the others soon followed. An old storage room, or renovated room led into the CEDA evacuation center. Of course it was empty; implied that it's uninhabited by the living, the dead are everywhere.

Shooting and shooting as the four survivors run up their last escalator. A smoker, hiding in the shadows wraps it's tongue around Coach and pulled him back away from the safe room. Rochelle shot it and grimaced at the smoke left behind. Safe room. Only safe for a few. They need to leave eventually.

Coach and Rochelle fix themselves up and restock. Ellis tells a story of his buddy Keith, while Nick shuts him up.

Rochelle left the safe room first, followed by Nick, Coach, then Ellis.

They went into an elevator and started downward. There weren't too many zombies.

"Got any ideas?" Rochelle questioned, breaking the silence.

"I've got an idea. You know them posters we been seein'? Get your picture taken with Jimmy Gibbs's stock car? That means it's HERE. We just need to appropriate it, and we got ourselves an escape vehicle."

Ellis smiled at his clever idea.

"Great plan, ace. One condition, I drive." Nick elbowed the shorter boy with a teasing grin. Ellis got serious,"Only if I get killed; otherwise, you better kill me, cause I'M driving."

The doors open and everyone scattered to get gas cans. Nick and Coach ran to the third floor and threw down gas cans. Ellis ran to the second floor and did the same. Rochelle grabbed the cans and filled the car with gas.

"Thirteen should do it!"

Ellis tried his best to throw gas cans and fight the horde surrounding him.

Then the fat zombie came back, Ellis shot it and it exploded, being how close it was.

"Ah shit! I'm all gooed!"

Nick ran down to the second floor to help him out. He couldn't explain why he always ran to his aid. It just seemed natural.

Everything was cleared and a tank took it's place.

Rochelle was the first to spot it, "Shoot it! Shoot it!"

The boys ran to her rescue and shot the tank down. Ellis stayed at the first level and filled the car, Rochelle took his place throwing gas cans.

"We need five more!" Ellis called up to his team.

Nick kept getting distracted. 'Was Ellis okay by himself?' But quickly contradicted himself 'Hes a grown man, he's fine!'

"Two more should do it!"

Horde after horde. The remaining gas cans were emptied and Ellis hopped in the drivers seat. "Let's go, let's go, let's go!"

Everyone cramped in the car and Ellis sped through the glass entrance speeding to New Orleans.

Nick was in the passenger seat beside Ellis, Coach and Rochelle in the back.

Ellis lost himself in thought as the images of him and Nick fighting through the zombies. Nick was always there to help him. He hasn't known him long, but being beside him felt familiar, yet new. Dangerous, yet safe.

Ellis liked Nick.