#Phoenix the firebird. Origin of Phoenix downs

[cactusprisms]

I love plotting out worldbuilding! Which is why I keep giving myself such big jobs. Current question is how a family of magic users keeps themselves hidden for 2000 odd years while still using their magic to cleanse the magical plague and keeping their family archives/history remembered? The answer is that the town they live in loves them a lot. They love their magic weirdoes who go to incredible lengths to keep them and others safe! Yes the town is more or less built around the weirdoes houses and their magic cave system archive but also they’re just good, if weird people.

[monin1ca]

Hey Monica!

I thought of a concept idea for you to try writing on.

What if Neon, Phoenix, Sage, and Yoru (Separately) who has a crush on their fellow agent, [Reader] [Gender Neutral] [Romantic] and one day [Reader] accidentally left their laptop open and alone in the lounge area while they need to do something like a task from Brimstone. Then the person of interest walks in and “unintentionally” sees a love confession written in a document as it seems [Reader] was rehearsing to profess their love for the intended recipient (a.k.a. The person of interest).

Basically, [Reader] accidentally left their confession open in the public and their crush saw it. How would this play out?

Also, I love your formatting style for your writing.

Word count: 1.1k 

Warnings: Nothing! Fluff, implied relationships, mentions of porn (neon’s part, but no actual depictions), snooping?, google translated jp

Sypnosis: “H-how much of that did you read?...” You stutter out, the anticipation killing you. “All of it….” You felt like you wanted to blackout on the spot. “But hey? Aren’t you gonna ask me what I thought of it?”

Neon

Neon wasn’t a snooper; she held herself in high regard. She knew she was better than this but couldn’t stop looking. Neon originally was here to tell you Brimstone wanted your help on a plan. 

“Hey, Y/N. The old man wants your help on a plan for a mission.” You practically jumped from your seat when you heard the duelist's voice, “Oh! I-i almost forgot about that,” You hurriedly left your laptop and ran for it to the commander’s room. ‘It’s just a peak, best case scenario, and it's something normal, orrr it could be porn.’ Neon felt like she was committing a cardinal sin as she braced herself while slowly opening the screen. Neon opened her eyes to see messy long paragraphs with many grammar mistakes. She smiles and chuckles softly, her face burning up at your words. “You never fail to make me smile and gusto kita (I like you).” 

“What’re you doing?”

Neon looked up from her place, coming face to face with your flustered features. You immediately shuts the laptop and snatch it away. “H-how much of that did you read?...” You stutter out, the anticipation killing you. “All of it….” You felt like you wanted to blackout on the spot. “But hey? Aren’t you gonna ask me what I thought of it?” You slowly nod as you prepare for your rejection. “Y’know, if you like me, you could’ve just told me to my face,” She says, holding your jowls, forcing you to look up at her. “Kasi gusto kita ren. (Because I like you too).” Your eyes lit up in excitement; Neon could practically see the sparkles in your eyes. 

Phoenix

Phoenix had no shame whatsoever; as soon as you left for Brimstone’s room. He had already snooped through the google doc. 

“Ay yo! Brimmy told me to tell you to run over some of his plans for next week's mission!” “O-oh!”  You squeaked out and ran over to the room, leaving your laptop wide open for him to see.  Phoenix doesn’t read long things, but when he sees it is a love letter for him, he drops everything and reads it. “Your presence sets me on fire in such a good way. I’m on top of the world with you, Phoenix.” The firebird was bewildered; how could someone be so passionate about him? He knew he was a great guy but took it to heart since it was coming from you.

“Hey- WOAH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!”

Phoenix was too engrossed in reading your love letter; he couldn’t hear you making your way back. Trying to play it cool, he slams the laptop down and places his chin on his palm, acting like he didn’t read the google doc. “H-hey Y-y/n… Wassup? How was the meeting?!” The male tried to play off the topic; your face deadpanned as you already knew he went through the google doc. “Woah!-”  Phoenix squeals as he crawls backward when you try to approach. You slowly moved your laptop and sat down, feeling so discouraged. You couldn't present the letter better, and you didn’t feel ready yet to confess your feelings. Noticing your gloomy mood, he moves closer and lays his head on your lap. “If it makes it any better, I like you too….”

Sage

Sage didn't mean to do it, but she’s glad she did.

“Y/N, the commander told me to remind you that you have a meeting with him in 5 minutes.” “Oh my, thank you for telling me!” She smiles sweetly as you pass by; Sage glances at your laptop, which is left wide open. The healer shrugs and takes a small peak, ‘perhaps it’s a mission report? I’m sure I can help.’ she thinks. Slowly, she skims the google doc. Her heart stutters, not ready for the confession. “You are like a rock, helping and supporting everyone else; if you like me too, I can be your rock.” She melts at your kind words, reflecting on her life up until now; she’d been only relying on herself and only now learning to lean on others for help. Sage felt that more substantial towards you; you were like her lifeline.

“Sage, thank you for reminding meE!”

Springing up from the couch, she immediately spews many apologies, begging for your forgiveness. The healer could only look at the floor, not daring to look up from her place. The silence was almost deafening; she couldn’t lose you to her horrible mistake! After all, she just found out her crush liked her back. Gathering up her courage, she shakily grabs your wrists and whispers her following few words yet- It sounded so loud, too, at the moment. “Y/N- I like you too, so if you’d still like to, I’d want you to be my rock.”

Yoru

Unlike the first two, the man was shaken up; after reading, he just ran away, pretending he didn't see it. But days and days passed by, and your unintentional confession got to his head. 

“Oi, nerd.” He calls out; you immediately look up and lower your laptop’s screen. “Mhm?” “The old man’s looking for you; he said you had a meeting or something.” “O-oh, yeah… Be right back!”  You squeaked, rushing over to the commander's office. Yoru was curious about what was on your laptop, ‘A ‘Lil peak wouldn’t hurt, right?’ Squatting down to read the device, he almost falls from the shock. His trembling hand gripping his heart, he hated confrontation. Gunfight type of confrontation, sure, but anything related to feelings? No way. He flees from the scene, praying he could just push this all to the back of his head. 

But as the days flew by, your unintentional confession finally got to him. He grumbles as the rift walker walks over to your room. The knocking and pleasantries went by, a simple “So, what did you want to talk about?” Had Yoru’s heart in his throat, “I saw it.” The male mumbles; not used to seeing Yoru like this; you inquired once more. “You saw what?” “Your confession letter.” You go stiff, ‘WHAT? WHEN?’  You think long and hard before you realize. ‘Ah…’ The duelist’s sullen look and sudden confrontation made you think you would be rejected. “Listen Ryo-” “ 私もあなたが好き (I like you).” Astonished, you saw enough romance animes to know what he said. Smiling softly, “English, please?” You hummed; seeing the male so flustered and shy was just too much of an opportunity to pass up.

Author’s note: HEY,,,,, I WAS BUSY STUDYING FOR MIDTERMS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SQUEEZE THIS REQUEST IN!

[averagewriter-inthedark]

The Rockstar, Her Husband, & Their Dagger Ducklings 🐥🎸 | TGM Imagine

Takes place after the events of TGM

TGM Masterlist

Read ‘It’s A Long Way To The Top’ first before this!

Characters & Pairings: Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell x 80s Rockstar!reader (romantic), Bradley Bradshaw x reader (mother/son-type relationship), Dagger Squad (platonic) Hondo (platonic)

Content Warnings: fluff, profanity, mentions or past drug use & alcohol, 80s references, found family troupe | female!reader (she/her) | wc: 5.3k

Premise: everyone loves a found family story. The one tells the what it looks like when you put a married couple, in which the husband is the Navy’s most famous pilot and the wife is the most iconic front-woman in rock n roll history, with their sorta adopted adult children that are the Navy’s best of the best pilots. Join Maverick, his rockstar wife, and the dagger ducklings on just some of their rock and rollin’ adventures.

Requested 📨: yes/no

Note: As soon as I finished IALWTTT I immediately started thinning about doing a little mini blurb about Mav, his rockstar wife, and the dagger squad as they become a little family. Plus I thought of how they would be if they were at the Rock n Roll HOF induction 😉 hope y’all like this and let me know what you think! -Bee 🐝

—————————————

There is only one word that could describe best what it’s like when a 60 and 58 year old couple decide to unofficially adopt seven 30+ year olds as their surrogate children…..It’s madness.

Well it’s madness about 80% of the time just because they’re basically teenagers in adult bodies whenever they get together. For example, Mav and Y/n really got a taste of what it was like when the daggers were in the same room just the night after the concert when they invited them over for Saturday dinner. The barbecue was going, drinks were passed around, music was on full blast and things were calm…..until it was time to sit down at the table.

“That is not how I got my callsign, Seresin!” Nat chucked a celery stick at the blonde. The conversation of call signs came into play about thirty minutes into the meal with Jake taking it upon himself to tell the stories he personally witnessed or heard from others. He had just got done explaining that Phoenix got black out drunk in flight school, threw up all over the dorms but managed to clean it all up, and then woke up in time the next day for training.

“That’s what I heard, Trace,” he defends with hands raised, laughing as the others try not to receive the wrath of the firebird.

“And who was your source?”

Jake doesn’t hesitate to throw him under the bus, “Rooster.”

“Dude!” The pilot shouts, causing Y/n to do an expression of, ‘nooooo.’

Nat threw a celery at him, “What the hell, Bradshaw, that’s not what happened.” Rooster sends a glare to Jake, before facing Nat with a look of plea, “forgive me, Nat. But that’s what I remembered happening.” Her reaction is one that reads, ‘are you serious?’

“You were just as wasted as I was! How the hell did you manage to remember that?”

“So you did black out and showed up in time for training?” Fanboy asks with slight awe. There was no way in hell he’d be about to do that. If it were him, he’d likely still be in bed and get chewed out for missing.

“Look,” she sighs, “the event itself happened, yes,” she ignores the sounds of ‘damn, Phee,’ ‘I knew it was true,’ the glare they receive causes them to shut up. “But I already had Phoenix as my callsign. That isn’t what gave me it, but people were just like, ‘no wonder they say you rise from the ashes.’ So, you can forget about that being the origin cause it wasn’t.”

Murmurs sound and then Y/n politely asks, “How did you get the name then, hon?” This time Nat blushes and tells the truth, “I used to be obsessed with the X-Men comics as a kid. And well….Jean Grey was my favorite character so I dressed up as her Phoenix form almost every Halloween for five years. Word got around and the rest was history.”

The rest of the night was full of laughs, games, and conversation.

“I am open about the fact I did…dabble in the white powder during my late teens-early twenties,” Y/n nodded when the question about her past drug use arose. The information was public that she and other band members smoked weed early in their careers and experimented with harder substances. In an interview with the Rolling Stone magazine shortly after the band went on hiatus Y/n confirmed the last time she used drugs was in 1988.

“Unfortunately it was common in the 80s—especially in the industry, I mean the amount of people you met who did it was longer than Santa’s list. When you have young, vulnerable kids who are new to the scene and having to migrate the spotlight like we did things tend to happen,” she waves a hand to emphasize her point. “But I only did it in social settings. It was only a few times really and the last time I did a line I swear I saw God. When I tell you it was like witnessing the Big Bang in real time—I-I immediately cut it off after that. It was so bad—never again.”

At one point Jake asked, “tell us your top five favorite moments in your entire career.”

“Oh God,” she laughed, turning to Mav who had the same expression. “Only five? That’s gonna need time to think but……” she starts counting off with her fingers, “in no particular order: the Super Bowl, duh. The first ever MTV Video Music Awards—you just had to be there. Smoking a blunt with Snoop Dogg after the 2001 Grammys,” she paused when they all hollard with cheers. “Performing with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr,” Bob made an audible sound like it was the coolest thing he’d ever heard. “And…..oh gosh there’s so many more—SNL, winning the Oscar, making out with Matt Dillion after The Outsiders premiere,” Mav rolled his eyes at that knowing she was teasing him. Of course he knew she’d been with Hollywood heartthrobs before they met, men and women alike. Mav wasn’t insecure or anything. They’d been together for so long he had nothing to be insecure for. It was just that he had met Matt Dillion in the 90s…..and could tell the actor still had lust for his woman.

Y/n couldn’t help but tease him knowing Pete was obviously jealous the night she introduced the two at a party they attended. It was just a friendly encounter with Y/n having her eyes for the pilot, disregarding the affectionate gaze from her former fling. “He won’t stop staring at you,” Pete pouted when he caught Matt’s eyes for a fourth time, once again checking his girlfriend out. Chuckling, Y/n made herself comfortable in Pete’s lap, pulling him closer so they barely had space as she went in to kiss him after saying, “Let him stare, baby. He had a chance and he missed it. Now he’s in the past and you’re my present and future.”

Yeah, Matt left the party shortly after that display.

Y/n kissed blushing Pete’s cheek and took a moment to think, “But I gotta include the first time we played at The Garden. I think that’s the moment when I really felt like I was a rockstar.”

The dogs were having a grand time with all the attention they were getting. Goose spent most of the time on Bradley’s lap, with Y/n scolding the man for feeding the pup some of the plain chicken wing meat. Plans were arranged for the upcoming months which included Mickey and Jake’s birthdays, Halloween and of course, Y/n’s HOF induction. The daggers were under the impression only Mav and possibly Rooster would get to go in person to the event, so they worked on meeting up to watch the live feed together.

Little did they know their resident rockstar was already conspiring.

Speaking of Halloween, the party was a night to remember when the holiday arrived. It had already been established that Mav and Y/n knew how to throw a party. Mickey and Jake’s birthday were just two examples in which the dagger squad, the band, and their close friends were thankful Y/n’s closest neighbors were quite the walk away. Halloween, however, was where the couple got to shine.

Not only were they best dressed as Jack Skeleton & Sally, with their dogs all dressed up as bats, but their entire home looked straight out The Nightmare Before Christmas. The front lawn was like a graveyard, with a giant inflatable pumpkin. Inside was spectacular with the sunken living room transformed into a dancefloor. One could expect the daggers were trying not to lose their mind with the amount of stars they met. Duran Duran was there, which was expected since the two bands had been friends since the 80s but also because of the induction in just a few short weeks.

Robert Downey Jr. was in attendance with his family—Fanboy pretty much shit his pants when he realized who Y/n was introducing him too. The Marvel junkie in him was going crazy. “Hey, buddy, nice to meet ya. Any friend of the Mitchell’s is a friend of mine,” Robert shook his hand, the pilot’s mouth a gape causing Y/n to chuckle and pat his back, “I think we broke the poor boy, Robert.”

Nat found herself having a drink with Carrie Ann Moss from the Matrix, who she was dressed as her iconic character. “Nice outfit,” the actress complimented with a genuine smile. Nat didn’t know how she managed to find the words to speak, but somehow said, “t-thank you. Wow um—it’s an honor.” Before she knew it the two women were talking with Carrie Ann telling her all the behind the scenes info of her most renowned sci-fi trilogy.

Fucking Serena and Venus Williams was there. Coyote just about had a heart attack and texted his mother right after meeting them saying, “You’ll never believe who I just met, ma.” He then proceeds to send the selfie they took to his family group chat. They were losing their minds just as he was.

Payback’s fan girl moment came when he ended up being challenged in a dance off with the one and only Janet Jackson. What made it better…he was dressed as Michael Jackson from his Thriller music video. It’s probably what had the singer challenge him when the song ‘Scream’ she did with brother came on. The costume Janet had involved a mask, so the man didn’t even know who he was dancing with until the song came to an end.

“Does he know that’s Janet?” Y/n came up to her husband, grinning at the sight. Mav shook his head, “I don’t think he does.” When the mask revealed the face hidden behind, Reuben forgot what the hell was even happening around him. “Holy shit,” was all he could say, grinning wide as she approached with a nod of respect, “You got moves, kid.”

Jake came up and slapped him on the back, “That was fucking awesome!” Payback was still in disbelief, exhaling with awe, “I just dance battled Janet Jackson…. while dressed as Micheal Jackson, to the song Scream by Micheal and Janet Jackson…I’ve won at life.”

Rooster, as usual, was the life of the party. A lot of the guests he already had the privilege of meeting years before. So one could imagine how stunned his friends were to see him nonchalantly shooting pool with fucking Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters. “You’ve gotten better since the last time we played,” the guitarist chuckled when Rooster hit the winning shot.

“Ain’t no better place to become pro than in a Navy officer bar.”

“Guess you’ll have to teach me a thing or two now, kid.”

Beach days were reserved for dogfight football. Ever since that first time playing it the pilots couldn’t play it any other way. Hondo or Y/n would be ref and there would be times where the band would come out with their kids so they had more players.

“Ready….set…” Y/n blows the whistle and the balls are tossed to their respective quarterback. The speaker blasting music would muffle out due to the shouts and cheers, Y/n squealing when Mav would lift her over his shoulder whenever he scored. “Pete Mitchell put me down!” A slap to his jean clad ass would result in her being tossed in the water. “Hey! Oh you little—,” the pilot was yanked down, falling into the upcoming wave to the sound of his wife’s laughter.

Sometimes the dogs would join in on the fun at the private beach. It always ended with Rooster, Mav, and Coyote chasing after Goose and Ice, the mutts stealing the balls in the middle of the game. Sweet Bella was always on her best behavior, cuddling with the younger kids who opted out of playing. “Goose, get back here!” “Ice, now is not the time!”

Four days before the induction ceremony, Y/n gathers her ducklings to the home for their monthly barbecue. “Gather ‘round, ducklings,” she taps a spoon to her wine glass. “Gather ‘round.”

“The Queen has something to say,” Rooster adds when they take too long to circle the table, resulting in Y/n to lightly smack his shoulder in a motherly way. He feigns hurt, mumbling, “rude.”

The rockstar calls the attention back to her, “It has come to my attention that you all have made plans to watch the live feed of Saturday’s ceremony. Well, I have some news I’d like to share….” She gestures for Pete, who brings over a literal silver tray with eight black and red envelopes neatly lined up. Each envelope had the pilots callsign in silver sparkly lettering.

“Was this your idea?” she muses at the silver tray, Pete and Rooster grinning like children who were presenting an art project.

“We thought it was fitting.”

“You two,” she sighs though there is amusement in her tone. “When I call your name please retrieve your present. But don’t open it till I say so.”

“What did you do?” Nat accuses when she’s the first to receive the envelope. Lightweight in her hands, she examines it closely while the others get theirs, but does not open it like instructed. Hondo is the last to get his, taking his place back between Javy and Mickey.

“Consider this your holiday present from Mav and I,” Y/n leans into her husband when his arm goes around her. “We both split the costs—though I insisted it all be on me since It was my idea,” she looks at him with a knowing look.

He just kisses her temple, “You know I wouldn’t have let you when you already do so much, honey,” Pete looks at his pilots, “But we hope you all like it and accept the offer.”

“If this is what I think it is,” Jake starts to say, catching onto what the couple were implying. Y/n’s little indication of the ceremony is what really had him suspect. “Then I’m going to scream.”

Nat quickly catches on, gasping, “I swear to God, y’all better not have.”

“Better not have what?” Bob innocently looks at the couple, who were both grinning wide. Y/n couldn’t take it any longer and allowed them to open the envelopes. Sure enough Jake screamed, but it was more of a dramatic one. With him were Mickey, Javy, Payback and even Bob was shouting. Nat immediately embraced Y/n in a hug while Hondo did the same to Mav. Before long the entire group was in a big dogpile with the pups getting in on the hype.

“You guys are unbelievable!” Nat shouted amongst the chaos, double checking the papers to see they were in fact what they were. It was a ticket to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony taking place that Saturday at the Microsoft Theater “Wh-what!? How!?”

“I’ve had them ready since July,” Y/n told her, laughing at Nat’s jaw dropped expression.

“Thank you so so much!” Nat hugs her again after the guys express their words of gratitude, “I don’t think we can thank you enough—I mean you’ve already done so much for us. Now this!? Honestly I don’t know how we’ll make it up to you.”

“Don’t think about that,” Y/n assured, moving to the side when a play fight broke out between Mav, Rooster, and Jake with the dogs. “It makes me happy to do these things and that we get to share them together. You guys are our family now. Not just mine and Pete’s, but also the Romantics. And I would want nothing more than my whole family to be in attendance Saturday night.”

“It would be our honor,” Nat squeezes her hand, still in disbelief that she got to call the woman a friend and was privileged to experience things she never thought she could. When Saturday came Nat had to pinch herself. Sitting in the stands of Microsoft Theater with her best friends, dressed in a sparkly pantsuit and in absolute awe.

The squad was close to the stage but in the stands since the floor was where all the tables were. From their position, they could see Y/n and Pete with the Romantics and their managers. Front tables were basically reserved for the inductees. The year's inductee lineup was insane. Absolute icons: Duran Duran, Pat Benatar, Dolly Parton, Eurythmics, Lionel Richie, Eminem, Carly Simon, Judas Priest, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Sylvia Robinson, Jimmy Lovine, Elizabeth Cotten, and Allen Grubman.

Those who had passed were to be honored by singers and the inductees present would perform. One by one the inductees were honored. Personal friends, fans, or colleagues gave speeches for the artist/group they were inducting. Dr. Dre inducted Eminem, Robert Downey Jr for Duran Duran. In between performances took place with the crowd on their feet and singing along to iconic songs that defined a generation.

Hearing Dolly Parton live was a moment they’d never forget. So many things could be crossed off their bucket list, including seeing Dolly Parton. Together they shouted the lyrics to ‘Sweet Dreams’ by Eurythmics at the top of their lungs, the guys rapping along with Eminem. Nat felt like a teenager again singing along to Pat Benatar’s ‘Love Is A Battlefield,’ & ‘Heartbreaker’. They rocked out to Judas Priest, Duran Duran, and Loionel Richie. Everyone was having a blast and then the moment they were all waiting for came.

To induct Y/n and The Romantics, the crowd screamed in joy when Ryan Reynolds approached the podium. At the table the band were in a heep of laughter already. It was fitting having the movie star induct them considering their songs were featured in the Deadpool movies and they made a cameo in Deadpool 2. Ryan was not only a big fan of the group but had become their friend.

“Hello, hello, greetings and salutations fellow rock n rollers,” he starts, the audience roaring around. Payback brought his thumbs up to whistle. “It’s an honor and privilege to be here tonight with you all, and it’s a mega blessing to be inducting this next group,” his attention lands on the Romantics, the cheers getting louder, “which is safe to say has been long overdue.”

“Damn right!” Rooster shouts, which actually catches Ryan’s attention, the movie star pointing in his direction with a curt nod.

“Now if you’re a child of the 70s like me and had your teenage years in the decade known for religious cults and a substance sharing the name with a popular soft drink,” he pauses at the laughter that rings out, coughing lightly before continuing, “then you should know who Y/n and The Romantics are.” Microsoft Theater rumbled with the reaction of the crowd. “If you don’t,” Ryan shrugs, “then you must be living under a fucking rock.”

The camera pans to the band, Y/n with a hand over her mouth covering the massive grin she had beneath. Her bandmates were just as joyous as they watched Ryan give his speech. “At just the ripe age of fourteen, these young cats hit the streets of Atlanta and sang tunes for all ears to hear. It was 1978. The Camp David Peace Accords was signed, the first IVF baby was born, NASA unveiled their first group of women astronauts, and Japanese explorer Naomi Uemura became the first to reach the North Pole. For a bunch of freshmen in high school, their lives changed when their rendition of ‘Cry Baby’ by Janis Joplin was heard by the right person passing by.” Ryan pauses once more to let the audience cheer, at the table Pete takes Y/n’s hand in his, giving it a loving squeeze.

“Though they released their first single on New Year’s Day of 1979, the new decade emerged with a new spice to rock music. It skyrocketed these kids to stardom with their unique sound and a frontwoman with a voice that sounded like an angel rebelled from God to become a rockstar,” Y/n smiled shyly when the camera panned to her, blowing a kiss before it went to her friends. “They were every rock n roll hater’s worst nightmare. With their leather and glitter, Y/n’s iconic split dye hair and swooning every person they met, the launch of MTV in 1981 made Y/n and The Romantics overnight sensations…. and the celebrity crushes of every young Hollywood heartthrob,” Ryan smirks, nodding with the hollars of the audience.

“The way people are when it comes to securing Taylor Swift and Beyoncé tickets, was the same for us trying to see The Romantics live back in the day. You can best believe seeing grown men and women cry when they were unable to get seats for the farewell tour. I think I even witnessed a fight break out in the ticket line.”

“Oh my God,” Y/n giggled, hiding her face in her hands. Glancing at her friends they had the same reaction: flustered.

“By 2002 The Romantics had sold over 150 million records worldwide and accumulated so many awards I can’t even list them all in this speech. I’ll just name a few: an Oscar for Best Original Song,” whistles and hollars sounded at his pause between each award, “twelve Grammy awards. Over a dozen in MTV Moonmen. Billboard’s Artist of the Year. The AMA Icon Award. Ranked number 15 on the Rolling Stone list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time—cited as the greatest influence on rock music of the 20th century.”

Ryan adjusted his posture, “I can confidently say that when the news broke of their hiatus, hearts shattered across the planet—including mine,” he faked a voice crack, causing the audience to chuckle. “It felt like my parents were getting divorced—s-sorry,” he wiped away a fake tear, Y/n leaning over her chair in a heep of giggles. “It was an emotional time for me and fellow Romantics.”

“But though they were no longer releasing music their spotlight never dimmed. The members ventured out in other projects and started families. Fans might have recognized keyboardist Ronnie Jensen as Detective Josie Adams on Law & Order,” the camera panned to Ronnie, the woman throwing up a rock n roll gesture with her hand to the cheers. “If you look at the writing credits on some of the 2000s best hits for modern pop rock artists and groups, you may find the daughter of rock n roll's name at the top.” This time the camera went back to Y/n’s smiling face, the rockstar giving a nonchalant shrug.

“Oh and let’s not forget that if you watch any superhero or action movie you’ll hear ‘Thunderstruck’ on the soundtrack.” That had the crowd go wild. “And if you listen to ‘Highway to Hell’ while diving…nine times out of ten you will be pulled over for reckless speeding. Believe me, I would know.” Danny and Evan were capping their hands by how hard they were laughing, wiping away tears that brimmed in their eyes.

“Around this time two years ago we were at the height of a global pandemic. The world was shut down and there was little to hope for in those hard times. But one random day I found myself shitting my pants when the first thing I saw on twitter was The Romantics trending worldwide. I thought one of them had died honestly and was too scared to look as a panic attack arose until my lovely wife Blake slapped me and said, ‘they're getting the band back together you fool—stop crying and get it together.’ I then proceeded to faint for a different reason.” Ryan caught Y/n’s eye and he broke out into a laugh, forgetting what he was about to say next. “I-I fuck I’m sorry.” The audience laughed with him.

“T-their comeback album ‘In Rock We Trust,’ hit the the top of the Billboard hot 100 within minutes of release—going platinum in just a week. Their debut single, the title track, remained number one on iTunes for eight weeks straight and every radio station lost their minds. It’s no surprise they took home the Grammy once again for ‘Best Rock Album’ and ‘Record of The Year.’ And now 43 years after the release of their first single, they have finally earned their spot in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame.”

As the audience screamed the lights dimmed on the stage so the video montage could play for all eyes in the theater. Those viewing at home would get a full screen picture of the video while those in attendance all shot their eyes to the Jumbotron. Down below, stage crew motioned for The Romantics to get ready for their performance that would happen once the video was over. Y/n kissed Pete, the man telling her good luck as the band did the same to their loved ones before they all followed the stage crew to their positions.

The video montage consisted of clips starting from the Romantics first starting out at just 14 and 15 years of age all the way to present day. Watching them go from shy kids to rockstars selling out stadiums and racking up award after award. Some clips were of their music videos, others were celebrities gushing over the band, including Cameron Diaz and Ralph Macchio. “I love them so much,” a young Cindy Crawford said, blushing when she added, “I just wanna party with them and have a good time.”

“They are the band of our generation,” praised Molly Ringwald on the red carpet of the 1988 VMAs. “Seeing them perform tonight is gonna be the highlight of my life.”

Their songs played over the video showing a montage of the band's most iconic performances. One of which was the 1992 Billboard Music Awards where it was raining outside and they still performed. Y/n was completely soaked with her makeup smearing down her cheeks and hair in disarray, not to mention she was wearing a white tank top with no bra and leather pants. It made headlines with people and the media trying to degrade the rockstar. A clip with Diane Sawyer trying to humiliate Y/n played, showing the woman smirk as she shrugged and said, “why were your eyes there the whole time, Diane? Did I make you look at my chest? No, you and everyone else did that on your own.” The clip immediately cut to the Super Bowl Halftime show, regarded as one of the best performances of all time.

When the video ended, the spotlight shined back on Ryan and the cheers grew louder, “It is my honor to induct your Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2022 members, ladies and gentleman gave it up for Y/n and The Romantics!!” Evan’s opening riff sent the crowd wild, everyone on the floor to their feet and the daggers whistling against the noise. Strutting up to the front of the stage, Y/n brought the microphone up to her lips and sang her heart, “Hey yeeeeahhhh, are you ready?” She smiled and winked at Pete.

“We be a guitar band. We play across the land. Shootin’ out tonight, gonna keep you up alright.”

”You hear the guitar sound, playin’ nice and loud. Rock you to your knees, gonna make your destiny.”

“In rock we trust, it’s rock or bust,” she belts the chorus, the audience singing with her. It was their first single back as a band, one that dominated the radio for weeks on end. The theater echoed with the final line of the chorus, “In rock n roll we trust, it’s rock or bust!”

After the song ended they immediately went into the opening of ‘Highway to Hell,’ which had the entire theater in a frenzy. “Livin’ easy, lovin’ free. Season ticket on a one way ride. Askin’ nothin’, leave me be. Takin’ everythin’ in my stride.” Pink was head banging, so was LL Cool J. Duran Duran were dancing with Y/n pointing at them before going over to the side of the stage where her ducklings were going crazy. “Don’t need reason. Don’t need rhyme. Ain’t nothin’ that I’d rather do. Goin’ down, party time. My friends are gonna be there too,” she shook her shoulders with each pound of Danny’s drums.

“I’m on the highway to hell!” Everyone screamed/sang. “On the highway to hell,” Y/n shook her head side to side. “Highway to hell.” Rooster whistled on the last line, “I’m on the highway to hell.”

“Y/n, you’re an icon!” Jake shouted, cupping his mouth with his hands. She must’ve heard him cause she laughed into the second verse.

The rest of the ceremony the energy was off the charts. The Romantics shared the stage with Duran Duran, singing their 1988 collab which had jaws drop and in absolute hysteria. All the inductees gathered at the end of the ceremony, all now official members of the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame. It was truly a sight to behold.

The holidays passed with more celebrations. Before long the band were releasing more songs and an album at the end of the summer. By 2024 they were back on tour and this time the daggers would attend shows without telling Y/n to surprise her. They had really become a family in just the two years they’d known each other.

“Oh this is a great song,” Jake practically moaned at the opening chord of Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone. He and the daggers were on the floor of the Staples Center, Y/n had spotted them not too long into the show and forgot her own lyrics cause she was so excited, “My ducklings are here! Ooh this next song is dedicated to them.”

Pulling on some aviator sunglasses to go with her camo pants and combat boots, Y/n shrugged on her husband's bomber jacket, “Revvin’ up your engine. Listen to her howlin’ roar,” she pointed a finger and drifted from side to side, “Metal under tension. Beggin’ you to touch and go.”

“Highway to the Danger Zone. Ride into the Danger Zone.” She shimmied her shoulders, “C’mon let me hear you!”

“Headin’ into twilight. Spreadin’ out her wings tonight. She got you jumpin’ off the deck. And shovin’ into overdrive. Sing it!”

“Highway to the Danger Zone. I’ll take you right into the Danger Zone.”

At the end of the song Y/n took the jacket off and threw it back over the railing to Pete, the man catching it in his hands, “Thanks for letting me borrow that, baby.”

That night of the show was just a few days before Y/n’s 60th birthday. She couldn’t help but awe when Pete and the squad came out with the band's families, their managers and crew with a small cake and balloons to sing ‘Happy Birthday.’

“You guys,” she wiped a tear away after blowing out the candles. Kissing Pete on the lips, she welcomed his hug and heard him say into her ear over the noise, “Happy birthday, baby. I love you so much—more than my P-51.” She threw her head back as she laughed, kissing him again before saying, “I find that hard to believe, Maverick,” she teased, kissing his cheek, “But thank you for this. You’re everything a woman could ask for.”

“Happy birthday, Y/n!” Rooster blows into the noise maker, placing a party hat on her head. The squad swarm around the couple, the confetti blasting into the crowd.

The moment felt like a full circle. Just two years prior Pete’s 60th birthday brought them all together. Now here they were celebrating her 60th, on stage with her friends, family, and fans. She really had it all.

But not to worry. There were sure going to be more memories and adventures of the rockstar, her husband, and their dagger ducklings.

………………..

TGM Tag list: @avaleineandafryingpan @caitsymichelle13 @poppyalice2001 @cutelittlepotatofry @luckyladycreator2 @americaarse @elenavampire21 @back-tooo-black @phoenixssugarbaby @gizmodear

[tacobellabeanburrito]

So. Um. Sharkboy and Lavagirl Ace Attorney Au anyone?

(Sorry for shitty art, sketched it very quickly) More stuff below.

So. Meet Demonboy and Firebird lmao.

Originally, I wanted to keep them as Sharkboy and Lavagirl but I dunno, I liked making my own versions based on their own characteristics. So, we get Demonboy and Firebird. Originally I thought of making Miles Vampireboy.

There’s tons of way to put their characters. Putting Phoenix as Sharkboy because blue and spikey. Putting Miles as Lavagirl because red. But then there’s also the whole deal with Sharkboy’s father? So uh, Demonboy it is.

Trucy of course is Max. I don’t know who’s gonna be Linus… Cody maybe? Like Cody Hackins? He’s a little shit. Could be Pearl, but she’d never do that. Now that I think about it there’s not very many kids in AA. Maybe I could age Apollo down a bit. Or maybe Apollo and Klavier are taking care of Trucy? Like the parents in S&L? Yes. Yessss. Perfect.

Mr. Electric? Manfred? NO. NO. Hmmmm. Kristoph? NO. No. Ummm. Gant? No, Kristoph Mr. Electric. Is he electric anymore? Mr. Lawyer? Mr. Nail Polish? But it’s based on his last name. Mr. Gavin…….. DAWG IDK YET.

Ooooo, Mr. Hat as Tobor!!! Perfect. So adorable. And Trucy’s going on about how she likes her imagination and magic just like Max but Apollo and Klavier aren’t having any of that. Well, Apollo isn’t at least.

Idk who’s gonna be the Ice Princess yet.

Oh, also. AO3 down.

If anyone has any ideas feel free to comment and stuff. I got no idea what I’m doing with this. It just seems fun.

[quills-oc-blog]

FINALLY finished the combat form redesigns of roswell, prada, and roxanne! info down below!!! ↓

THE FIREBIRD — Roswell Mirrano

roswell is a phoenix, and his undead form reflects the flow of the fire in the fabrics of his clothing. i wanted darker colors for the clothing because the wings(and somewhat the hair) really are the star of the show here. his design is based heavily in themes of east asian mythology, and as an added detail(that i'm mentioning here so nobody yells at me), i made his kimono-like collar crossed right-over-left instead of vice versa, since. y'know. he is dead.

the most fun part of roswell as the firebird to me is that the firebird's instincts directly conflict with the type of character roswell is established to be. while roswell prides himself on being gentle, kindhearted, and patient, the firebird is a mindless, violent vessel of bloodlust. in order to be any sense of effective in combat, he needs someone that he loves and trusts to direct him, since it's difficult to think in that form. perhaps it's what makes him and prada such a good team.

roswell keeps his weapon in this form quite basic, as most combat prowess lies in his sharp claws and talons, and the fire that encapsulates his wings. however, he does also occasionally use a staff often seen in the japanese combat sport of kendo.

THE LICH QUEEN — Prada Emery

prada has been undead the longest of the three, and possesses great control over her abilities. she's the only character to be capable of using some of her abilities while disguised(while the other two have to enter their undead forms to use their abilities).

liches are beings that thrive around rules. the most common practice for a lich to gain power and strength is by collecting souls via contracts. a contract signed in lich blood is physically binding, in that it renders both parties physically incapable of breaking the terms themselves. as such, many liches quickly become well-versed in the design of loopholes to better retain the souls they collect- if a contract is broken(which it can only be by external means), the recipient has their soul returned to them, and the lich loses the power they have gained from said soul.

prada, having gained her contracts through the record label she owns, possesses great power and hundreds of souls, leading her weapon- a scythe with a handle of bone- to become quite large indeed.

her design, particularly the corset of bone, takes inspiration from common depictions of liches in media- a decrepit skeletal monstrosity desperately clinging to life. the shackles are a callback to a previous iteration of her weapon, which were two giant magic chains she would dual wield as whips.

THE SENTINEL — Roxanne Mirrano

surprisingly enough, roxanne was the first character i drew for this. granted that the previous iteration of ice sprite roxanne was just 'roxanne but physically made of ice', i felt she desperately needed something more interesting going on- and this is what i ended up with!

i wanted to go for a more military-like vibe, playing into the uniform rigidity of ice as an idea throughout the design. roxanne, despite being undead the least amount of time, is incredibly strong. she could very well be using underhanded tactics to gain power(and who would put it past her?), but it may also simply be her own convictions.

i did worry about whether making her hair longer would take away from her design- one of roxanne's most iconic traits is her signature short hair, but in the end i'm really glad i took the risk. it really does feel like a leveled up version of roxanne, doesn't it? her weapon took a bit to settle on, she was originally just a magic user, but with the militant look came the idea of a lance- giving her the sense of a medieval knight, just for all the wrong reasons. in my opinion, it fits her very well.

[starstruckspinning]

Ya know, maybe I should’ve done some sort of intro thing before? Idk

So first off, sorry guys but I’m not telling you my name or anything even remotely similar. Stranger danger and allat. But I CAN tell you all of my blogs and my stories!!!

(Btw you can prob just call me whatever you want, unless I ask you not to use a certain name or whatever)

Main: appleofstrife

Music (originally songwriting, but now it’s more of a Fall Out Boy fan page, I won’t be apologizing): let-me-lyric

Writing (ok this one’s obvious): starstruckspinning

Pride (aroace and aspec adjacent stuff mostly): Aegonautical

Those are all the relevant ones, but if more pop up I’ll just add them later.

SO! The reason we’re really here! The WRITING part!!! I love writing, it’s my passion, but legit I’ve only been able to function as a Greek mythology writer so far, so if that’s not your jam we might have to part ways 😔.

I technically have an ffn account, a Wattpad account (we don’t talk about that), and an ao3 account, but the ao3 one is the only one that matters. My username is 0TheGuillotineQueen0 but I’ll also add the link to my profile after my actual works.

Alright time to get into it! Links to the stories and quick summaries. This will probably be edited later as I delve further into fanfiction or just writing in general!

Fanfiction:

[Golden] Clouds With Gray Lining: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55796554

Percy Jackson fanfiction, female Percy time travel AU. Description as follows:

““You know,” Percy speaks suddenly, “I never got to finish my last quest.”

Percy and her mentor discuss the general concept of time and pop culture from years in the future. Well, Percy does. Circe is confused.”

The Rule of Immortals: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55890544/chapters/141920503

In the same universe as the last one. Angsty 5+1 things:

“Demigods should know, better than any mortal, what the gods are like. Though they may masquerade as human more often than not, there are certain things to know about them. Rules, in a sense. And Perseus Jackson is not through with learning all of them.

Also known as: 5 times that Percy learned an unspoken rule about the gods, and 1 time she already knew it.”

Original Work:

God(dess)-Core: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43664197/chapters/109796443

Discontinued story about feminism and Greek goddesses in a modern world:

“Hera is done being scared of storms.

Gaia is sick of sleeping in solitude.

Nyx is, was, decently happy.

Amphitrite doesn’t get it.

Aphrodite is just trying to talk.

Eris is fighting to stay alive, while surrounded by immortals.

When feminism strikes the world, Zeus would rather strike it down. Hera is not a fan of this sentiment. In a way, Gaia is.”

Branching Trees: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44191366/chapters/111125767

Series of character studies about the primordials, and their relationships with themselves and one another:

”They were born from Chaos.”

Branching Trees: Of The Earth: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48584197/chapters/122550472

The sequel to Branching Trees, idk. It doesn’t even need a description. NEXT!

Phoenix: Razing Sun: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52817872/chapters/133595092

Oh my gosh, OH MY GOSH, it’s my BABY!!!! This story might be my pride and joy of all time, though I suppose none of you have experienced For Power yet. Perhaps one day.

ANYWAYS, I think this is the start of my real descent into studies on immortality and just all that. I hope if you choose to read any of my stories that you choose this one or A Face In The Clay. Or Branching Trees because I put so much time into her. I’m ngl, literally any positive interaction with my original work actually makes my day, if not my month, because I put so much love into everything. No hate if ur just here to read fanfic tho, it’s not like I didn’t try with RoI. It’s not the same though, try as I might.

So uh. Description time?:

““I hunger for death and I cry out for life,” crooned the firebird, mournfully.

“Both of these shall be your eternity, if only you keep a likeness of me in your flames,” said the sun, but his smile hid something darker that day.

**************

He made her a goddess, and the people made her a queen. But they were perfectly willing to make her a martyr in half the time.”

Misery Is Blind (she is the furthest thing from it): https://archiveofourown.org/works/56225953

A character study of Eris (and her relationship with Hemera) that I wrote for the Greek Mythos project here on Tumblr. I shall not be tagging them here so that they don’t have to read all this, but you should ABSOLUTELY join if you like to write Greek myths!:

“Strife, Chaos, Misery. Cruelty. It is targeted. Eris is not blind, and she does not intend to pretend that she is.

Featuring Eris’ response to the infamous wedding, and the one person who is there for her.”

A Face In the Clay: https://archiveofourown.org/works/56128798/chapters/142574152

I want you to meet my third, but never least favorite, baby. Well. All my stories are my babies, but some have a more special place in my heart, on account of the extra time I have to put into them. If nothing else, I’m about to update this one so maybe that’s an incentive if you try it and you like it?:

“Aphrodite comes in the dead of night. It does not help.

Or maybe it does. Maybe it changes something, in the smallest way.

Perhaps, if luck holds out, the butterfly shall beat her wings once more. Perhaps another life can be saved, in a very different way.”

So. Um. That’s all eight of my stories so far. Other than the completed one(s) and the one that I said is discontinued, these are all technically still open for me to add to them. Please check them out, or come chat with me on my other blogs!

Also, lowkey if you have a Greek myth retelling or simply story idea that you don’t wanna write yourself, you can let me know and maybe I can try to figure something out for you?

Congrats if you read this far, I love you very much, promise 🩷🩷🩷

[the-firebird69]

1969 Pontiac Firebird Ram Air IV 4-Speed Muscle Car Of The Week Video #146

and his was is a 1969 and were made early and very early to meet demand.  and his was number one.  and there were 85 made we have some want tehm all and at teh end of the show. macs want them all.  and thie was made early..but finalized on his birth day. and that early.  and out the door. July ten 1968 says it. he read it and said no thats too dumb. and they laughed and saw it.  and it is powerful but was a huge lblock ram air to offset it keep it cool and the size for cool.  long idstance. yes. tons will see why.  and we see it. they want him to go by and or through Phoenix and to see.  and find ours.  and a greay area black leather top and patent. nad they saw it and it was originally blue yes. baby blue.

Hera 

Zues wow and he says theat and yeh me Hera

and this is it the Firebird the true story. and six to nine.  and it a year ahead. always only a year. then no and yeh they planned it but we did too. fought over it. now he is jonesing for it too h arsh here. needs it. soon no feel great. but ok rest and good healed. and more code to it a lot more. it did have the three speed automatic. and they wont use it no not at this time. mayble later. and restore it to its original non luster they say we wont let them no.  it was dangerous andon purpsoe to nab the Ent they think dave did that night. and e ws nearby. and had a truck.now we see it ok baby blue watgon adn almsot hit him.  so we play this no theydo. and that was Hera yes. torment her he is ok. she nods ok and me. they heat up and we see it and get them.  tons more no. are small but tons go to it are real small.  and hit them all yes.

and colorado plates. and it is the muscle car and corvette nationals and a place and they do have contests but restore old cars and this one was done well. not to original specs and you cans eei t on the door but no not done on purpose. and the threespeed too slow and then off to the west they say no off to florida need it now.  and to hit the east. and macs and psuedo empire.  macs are out west but allover. and smatterings. now this is rough ok they say.  it isi in illinois. rosemont.  and it says rose mountain.  and it means that.  and garth went sees it and horror and his nephewe. goes at them is hit stopped a lot. sees it wow. badass. and him no out of te way. and pushes. and works. now he is amazed. and in awe but hates both. sees it they areholding them and wow.  if nt we would be gone and true.  thinks on it he hates us slow they suck. helps our son and after this.  and soon after batman begins.  and seal he garth sings it.  and better mom says. and good.  and what mont there. and ok i look sloping..nd ok trump mb and oh no. 

we laugh ok uses his grandaddys hardware the screen in space and they say put that away the cgloves so he uses his power runs it lol hahaha they laugh.  claims its a program practices and good they say nono not good.

they plan to ram it to them there and he a grey area. and they see it and head black and ok they go there.  

Thor Freya

https://youtu.be/AMD2TwRvuoU?si=w6qy5HiijnXV0HOK

this is my song. happens after the event im sure of it. see it coming.  and i say it  this boy he is my nephew or my boy. and he is ours. and he says this. its a kiss from a rose laid upon the grave and by macs. and i saw it....and now too. and wow i feel it.  sadness.  and i went to justin said i want to help and he said sit down and do what track him stop him and good. and we shall. together. an work on makeing a peace,, and it is jim morrison not jim morrison the second.  and we see it.  are related not.  it is diet. and yes. now we seek him. but this is rich. the town and the car. and the towns name and where it is.  so i looked.  and it says it Rosemont. and the town is a grave.  and we need the car. i get questioned about operation phoenix and it is on they say we hear it and him and what.  the figure in the sun.  i read the code there again and again. did not believe it.  and said it. it is like  a kiss.  the car. and then thought they say it to him somehow.  a kiss or peck on the cheek..not even and true ligtht.  and oh a send off after ours...and how. it happened. lost them and control no they were beaten up and into it. and the this they stil lhad tons.  did not use it and the needed stuff.  and it hit me.  this is about woring poor without work.  blamed them and the did it a bit did not activte their plan no.  and poor took it.  and it is a Atlanta rose.  and it all made sense.  they lost and these left too...and before their friends and confidants...so we started working and they said it these aare here and we do it. now to them need this out e need to see who is there

Garth

we find it too now

trump

ustoo now

bja

Olympus

us too

mac

and us bill will

and more lsit to lfollow we meet  all

[hellonoblesky]

The more I look back at the series that really struck a chord with me as a child, like very deeply hit me at my core and that I read over and over again because I was actually CAPTIVATED by them are all books that stuff in it that like.

I don't know the words for it exactly but when Zita the Space Girl fell into another world to save her best friend and selflessly threw herself forward to save people even if it wasn't HER doing the saving, she still wanted to help no matter what. And she DID help. Even as she was hunted down and put in prison, even as she thought she'd never see the friend she originally came to this world to save again, and when she got overwhelmed by the attention she RAN AWAY because of course she did!! SHE WAS A KID!! And she KNEW she was just the figurehead because of her charisma, it was Randy and Mouse and Piper and One and Madrigal, everyone, all of her friends/family she'd made along the way. She's special to them all because she never gives up hope and she brought them together so they'd be able to do the things they did and she REALLY WAS STILL JUST A KID!!!!

Or like everything about Emily in Amulet, and how she's angry and impulsive and she IS a firebird she IS a phoenix she falls into ashes and burns and falls into ashes and burns and her story starts with loss, and she keeps losing, but she digs her nails in to hold onto every win she can. How her first interaction with Trellis is him trying to kill her under the control of i-forget-it's-name but you know the little creature thingy if you know you KNOW ok but they end up allies in the end and HES REACHING OUT TO SAVE HER??? And how Emily deals with too much power put on her shoulders at a young age and being the eldest daughter in an already scarred family thrown into another WORLD just parallel to ours??? HELLO?? How she deals with such betrayal from Max, how she has such close encounters with things that control time and space and monsterous things that kill and control and. and and she's so Stable and Strong but at the same time she is so defined by her burning rage-determination.

Or just everything about BONE?? GOD. The war. The closeness of the valley, the weaving evils of the rat creatures and the Locust. THE DRAGONS?? THE DRAGON QUEEN????? The way in the end it's greed and hell and chaos that started that war and how Thorn was given this. this destiny sort of thing AND IT HAS BENE MUCH LONGER SICNE I READ BONE THAN IT HAS SINCEI READ AMULET OR ZITA BUT GOD. HER STORY AND ROSE'S STORY STICK WITH ME SOOO MUCH. ROSE ANDD BRIAR ALONE?? THE WAY LUCIUS ENDS UP DYING AT THE END AND HES WHO THEY FOUGHT OVER BEFOER OH MJY GGOD. AND BARTLEBY?? BEINGA LITERALL CREATURE AND OTHERED BUT HE'S JSUT SOOME LIL GUY HES JSUT A GUY IOH M YDGOD. Also the LOCUST being the symbol i am. sorry . I jsut. OUGH. GOD. DEVOURERER OF LIFE the LOCUST. The GREED of a SWARM the DEVASTATION that bLOCKED OUT SKYS I could talk about Locusts as living destruction for EVER AND EVER AND the CYCLE of REBIRTH AND GROWING AND., AND SAUFDHSGJSDZGKHGDGHJKHDS

Also calvin and hobbes. If you know you KNOW.

[breaddaerb]

Of all the Valorant relationships, which couples try to be sneaky/hide the relationship and which are showing off their squeeze?

[ bread reports ]

✎↷: hello my lovely bee <33 yes, i’m going to stick with my main/favorite pairs for this and no i can’t be stopped! this is a bread reports cause i want to keep valorant headcannons itself focused on the agents as a whole, and this post is more personal!

here are the pairs: nanobite (killjoy and viper), firebird (sova and phoenix), reyge (reyna and sage), and junglestorm (jett and skye)!

nanobite

killjoy doesn’t keep her mouth shut. she goes on tangents about obscure things and various concepts she’s noticed, and as someone who gravitates more towards affection and physical contact, it’s completely natural for her to reach out to viper. their closeness isn’t described or noticeable by touch, but the way that killjoy looks to gravitate around the scientist, floating behind her and checking in on her. killjoy is animated in a humorous contentness, constantly moving her hands or doing something while she talks, and often it would be centered around viper and the way the woman acts around her.

for them, there is no reason to hide their relationship. they won’t outwardly come out with it, but as viper will beckon killjoy to her in the middle of the mess hall, it’s clear that there’s something going on despite their silence. killjoy can only be sneaky with things if they’re illegal, and her love for the smaller serpentine woman is not illegal, thankfully! however, as much as viper would enjoy to indulge her maus, she has her own limits that the engineer has come to respect. it isn’t like some back and forth, and more of a mutual understanding of what they will and won’t do.

privacy is also important to them. should a moment be too heated and warm, the toxicologist will likely drag killjoy away by the collar to tend to her elsewhere and settle unspoken needs. omen had sat around to witness this once, his eyes curious when the corners of sabine’s ears turned a flushed red when killjoy mentioned something particularly crude. how could he not give that his attention— it was a new thing for viper to expose herself beyond the boundary, even with a long-term companion like omen.

at then, killjoy squeaked a pathetic cry and gave omen a hasty wave of her hand as viper dragged her away by the wrist. this is a new memory, a new side, omen notices. he will keep it.

firebird

phoenix doesn’t need anyone else’s validation, so the whole idea of admitting to the whole protocol that he’d been snoozing with a pretty blonde russian man for a few months into his contract felt unholy. none of the others should be into his man, whether or not he stakes down a boundary for others to see and stay far away from, but it’s just a thought, okay!? sova thinks it’s cute in the way phoenix flutters and spits lame excuses whenever he subconsciously grabs for sova’s hand or arm while they’re in public, but for the sake of his partner’s dignity, he doesn’t say anything about it.

word spreads about their relationship quickly. jett, as the wingman, has to take pride in at least one of her mighty works in the last few months! she’s worked hard in getting these dense fools together, goddamnit, so let her take some credit! the younger half of the agents are tittering about it not even a full week in, and sova and phoenix became unfortunately aware of this by astra’s whooping cries and raze’s cheers and hollers when they entered a room together. they weren’t even holding hands.

it doesn’t take long for the rest of the protocol to catch on either, and sova swears he caught brimstone giving him an approving nod as he passed by after a mission with phoenix. it’s always a relief when the agents learn to take breaks and get what they can out of life while they still have the choice to, and by all means, the older american is a proud supporter of his two prideful agents. they grow up so quickly... and if sova could keep an eye on Phoenix for brimstone, there’d be a whole platter taken off of his table. two birds with one stone!

reyge

sage isn’t a trophy wife, and she refuses to call her that. but reyna is absolutely shameless in the way she possesses sage and treats her, fingers digging into the side of sage’s hip here or her lips lingering against her neck when the healer is taking part in an activity as mundane as sitting. her forwardness helped the monk into becoming more realistic with her feelings towards the mexican, though it didn’t excuse the conflicting between a serious environment and reyna’s overwhelming shade of want.

again, they don’t need to say anything to know it. reyna does, technically, but it’s only when someone gets too close to sage for her liking. the vampire will happily snap her jaws at them if it means keeping sage all for herself, to which the chinese monk would sigh and remind reyna of her unhealthy practice yet again. it’s a work in progress between getting reyna to listen to her, but when the time calls for it, sage and reyna both know that the vampire will do well to obey to sage when the healer wisely exercises her authority over the group.

reyna flexes sage off. “i can’t come,” she purred to viper, having a distantly loving look on her face as she leaned against the palm of her hand. “i have a date planned with the little dove today, and you know i can’t keep her waiting.” “last time i checked, reyna, your ‘little dove’ is a monk who exercises patience on the daily just by dealing with you. go do your laundry now, thank you.” it’s not effective when most of the agents have nowhere near a crush on the woman who hardly smiles outside of the strained and professional ones, but reyna has to say what’s hers stays hers.

their relationship is especially obvious when sage and reyna were sparring together, neither holding back from practicing their various techniques and martial arts. what they were caught in was an intricate dance, one that was intense enough to where those who wanted in originally backed out for something better to do with their time. the pair stayed in the gym until late in the night, to which they had only just decided to take a proper break. god, the things that passionate crime-fighting non-existent love making does to people...

[amandagaelic]

Chapters: 6/6 Fandom: MacGyver (TV 2016) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Angus MacGyver (MacGyver TV 2016), Jack Dalton (MacGyver TV 2016), Matilda "Matty" Webber Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Brotherhood, Mission Fic, Friendship, Abandonment Issues, Hurt Angus Macgyver (Macgyver 2016), Hurt Jack Dalton (MacGyver TV 2016), Amnesia, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Mind Control, Mind Control Aftermath & Recovery, Original Character(s), questionable science, Nightmares Series: Part 5 of The Ambassador Series Summary:

Summary: Set during S2. To help Matty repay a favor to the CIA, Jack and Mac head to Russia, but are taken captive during the op and things go downhill from there. An experimental drug, a case of amnesia, and the unexpected return of an old friend become a recipe for pain as Jack fights to save Mac—from both the Russian mob and his own damaged memories.

Disclaimer/Warning: Nothing you recognize is mine. Including the odd movie and/or TV show line. I like to work in quotes now and again. Plus, I let them swear a bunch more than they do in the show. And I tend to write long chapters, so if you choose to read…settle in.

@lord-owlsnake, thanks for asking for this one. Sorry it took me so long.

 ** “From the time I met you two,” Gray said, his voice suspiciously tight, “I thought it was fitting you worked for something called the Phoenix Foundation. I’ve seen you burn bright, climbing up from ashes more than once. You are the Phoenix, kid. The firebird.”

“I hope so,” Mac breathed, pocketing the knife, and plucking at the paperclips. “’cause I’m real tired of burning down.”

[ahgaseda]

phoenix | two

I’ll be the phoenix, leave it to me, we be flying, spread your wings behind your back, they call us phoenix, ride or die, ride or die...

summary : the clock is ticking as you recount your passionate affair with Jackson, the most wanted man in Shanghai, to the people trying desperately to catch him, but no one - including you - knows if he will risk his life to save yours.

warnings : strong profanity, explicit dialogue, mentions of blood and violence, references to drug and alcohol use, graphic sexual content, self-destructive themes, potentially triggering elements involving kidnapping, arson, etc.

miniseries chapters : one / two / three / four / five / six / seven

Hour seven of captivity had come and gone. Leaning against the cold wall, you peered through the small slit of a window at the rain steadily pouring, streaming down the glass. Arms folded tightly across your chest, you heaved a sigh.

As much as you resisted, your mind drifted to Jackson. Where was he? Was he thinking of a plan to help you escape? Or was he cutting his losses and going underground?

You fell into memory after memory, trying to put the pieces together. Of only one thing you were assured - your feelings for Jackson were very real. They were all-encompassing.

Love, you told yourself with a shake of your head. Just admit it. You’re in love with him, but that doesn’t mean he’s in love with you.

Being with Jackson came with many risks and you blindly accepted them all. You were an addict in love with your high, desperate for a fix whenever you could take one. You ignored the danger, ignored how vulnerable you made yourself to be with him.

Now, you were paying for it.

Jinyoung twirled the pen between his fingers, eyes on your back. Thus far, you had been quite forthcoming and that made him suspicious. It implied you were steering his attention. There was a chance you were feeding him only what you wanted him to know or what you had been instructed to divulge.

He would have to press you, see if he could make you slip up. There was something he needed to know. He needed you to think your value was minimal, though it was anything but. His presence in this damned tiny box was two-fold like a double-edged sword.

“When did he show you his fire?”

You could catch the faintest glimpse of your own reflection in the glass. After a pause, where you pondered whether or not to answer, you replied, “Our first night together.”

“Romantic,” Jinyoung retorted dryly.

“Honest,” you countered, eyes narrowing.

Jackson had always been honest. It was part of the fabric that made him who he was. And yet another trait that made you reckless with abandon in your feelings for him.

“You are a hopelessly genuine person in a horribly fake world,” you once told him.

That night, he had shown you every part of him, down to each corner of his soul, and his fire had been no exception. You had taken him inside you, let him have you in every way possible. Never had you been so intimate, more than any other man that came before him.

Something was different - the gravity between you and Jackson.

You had been on your back with Jackson buried between your legs when his irises turned redder than the fires of Hell itself. You lay there enraptured, wondering if you had just given yourself to the Devil incarnate.

Jackson had seen the awe on your face and the glistening in your eyes, relieved to see no sign of terror or even horror. And he rewarded you by moving deep within you again, smoother than silk. You moaned his name for all to hear and arched your body to meet him.

You didn’t question the crimson of his eyes then. Not when he brought you to ecstasy over and over. You cried out no man’s name the way you did Jackson’s and by how intensely he made love to you, he knew that too.

The night was endless. He licked and sucked every inch of you, especially at the apex of your thighs. You raked your nails through his hair as he unraveled you yet again with his mouth, kneading your hips in his broad hands.

Between rounds, you kissed up his spine, tracing your fingers over the Phoenix inked in his back. The firebird stared back at you, undaunted in its flames, and you marveled the intricacy of its wings and the fierceness of its eyes.

Then, the moment you recovered some of your energy, Jackson was on you again, impaling you on his hard length and making the headboard slam loudly against the wall.

For a night you were tangled with him in every sense of the word. When you slipped out from under the sheets to catch your breath, he dragged you back under. He was insatiable, unquenchable, and your body sang for him and obeyed his every command.

But morning came and the haze of lust was pushed away by clarity. You inevitably had to confront who - or what - the man was that had taken you to bed.

You sat in the window of the hotel suite and looked out at the city of Paris in its early morning glory, clad only in a sheet wrapped snugly around your torso. The sun shone warmly across your skin and you basked in the light of dawn. Every inch of you ached, but it was a soreness you would long for when it faded.

Jackson fastened his pants and came behind you, hands gliding across your hips. His breath was hot on your neck, his lips tickling your ear. His voice was low and tender when he asked, “Will you tell me what’s on your mind?”

You shook your head in reluctance.

“I need to know,” he insisted, wrapping his arms around your waist like a snare. “Are you afraid of me now?”

The only fear was his. You could hear it in his words. He was scared you would leave him.

Jackson clambered onto the windowsill to join you, molding himself to your back. You watched his legs stretch on the outside of yours. His arms were taut around you. He wanted no space between you and him.

“Baby…,” he started again. Your silence was killing him.

“What are you?” you asked quietly. “Is it magic? How can you…”

“I…,” Jackson sighed in defeat. “I can’t tell you.”

You lowered your head. That was exactly what you had expected him to say.

“I’m not a hero,” he whispered darkly, lips gracing the top of your shoulder, desperate for a taste of your skin again.

With a roll of your eyes, you grumbled, “I was never looking for a hero, Jackson.”

Jackson cupped your jaw, turning your head until you had no choice but to meet his eyes. “I will never hurt you,” he vowed firmly.

“I know that.”

Jackson leaned his forehead against yours and asked, “Then, for now, can that be enough?”

Of course, it could. You knew you were head over heels, even though you had yet to voice it. The night of passion only solidified your feelings for him.

You reached for his hand on your waist and brought it forward, running your fingers over his knuckles, tracing the lines of his palm. You met his eyes again and whispered, “Show me.”

Jackson didn’t hesitate to let fire gather in his hand. You gazed into the flames, watching them flicker as they never strayed from his palm. You could feel the heat on your skin.

“One day, tell me,” you said, lingering your attention on the bold red of his irises.

Jackson nodded and nuzzled your cheek before burying his face in the crook of your neck. “One day, I’ll have to.”

Jinyoung watched you from his seat, eyes drifting to your hand where you spun the ring on your finger as you recounted the memory. Jackson had shown you his fire, but told you nothing of its origin. Jinyoung was vaguely impressed and caught off guard. Jackson wasn’t known for his restraint.

Returning from your reverie, you finally ambled away from the window, taking the seat across from Jinyoung again. You felt emotional, longing for Jackson in the pit of your chest.

We can’t end this way, you thought to yourself sadly.

You stiffened, deciding to deflect. Having the spotlight on you so intently was beginning to burn. Glancing at the notes Jinyoung had scribbled on his pad, you spoke levelly, “Tell me about yourself, Jinyoung.”

Jinyoung stopped mid-word in his writing and looked up at you through hair falling in his eyes. His voice came out rough, laden with skepticism. “And why would you want to know anything about me?”

You scoffed, feeling your request was perfectly reasonable. “I’m telling you the most intimate parts of my life,” you explained, perturbed. “I know what you’re after and I’m trying to be a good little captive. Indulge me.”

Jinyoung stayed gruff and droned, “I have a role to play. Same as you.”

You were annoyed that he wouldn’t give an inch, despite how cooperative you had been. “And why do you have such a hard on for my man?”

Jinyoung took your remark in stride and answered coolly, “I’ve been assigned to him for many years. It’s my job to know what he does, when and where he does it.”

You leaned back in your chair and folded your arms in defiance. “Then, why do you need me to find him? Shouldn’t you have some idea by now?”

Jinyoung almost ran out of patience. He met your eyes and glared back.

I need you to draw him out. I need to see just how far he’s willing to go to have you. We need to know if you’re a problem or a threat.

At his silence, you nodded in realization. “I’m the bait.”

“Perhaps,” said Jinyoung with a shrug. “We don’t know yet if you’re the queen or just another one of his many pawns.”

That stung, but you did well in hiding it.

Jinyoung sensed you were wounded and leapt at the opportunity to play on your hesitation. He set down his pen, laced his fingers together, and questioned, “What if I told you what he is?”

“I know what he is,” you replied without missing a beat.

Jinyoung snorted, disdainful. “You don’t even know the half of it.”

You were quick to smart, “I know he’s an animal in the bedroom and a gentleman everywhere else. Beyond that, I don’t give a shit.”

Bristling, Jinyoung snapped, “Do you really think you’re going to be rewarded for this level of blind loyalty?”

You said nothing. His raised voice unnerved you.

Jinyoung pressed, “He knows you’re in here and he has done nothing to get you out.”

Your lip quivered and your response was weak, lacking conviction, “He’s biding his time.”

Jinyoung softened his tone, negotiating, “If you start telling me how I can find him - how I can catch him - I can make sure you have full immunity. You can walk away from this.”

You shook your head and answered truthfully, “I don’t know where to find him. He made sure I never knew.”

Jinyoung clenched his fists, calming his irritation. It did him no favors in losing his patience with you, but he was on a deadline. He felt a vibration in his lap and peeked down at his phone, opening a new text that read, He called it off.

Having lost his attention and quite fed up with being interrogated, you rose and moved back to the window. You had tried to play along as Jackson had taught you, but you were running low on energy and denial. You could feel yourself shutting down, doubt trickling inside you like the raindrops streaming down the window.

Jinyoung rubbed a finger across his lips and lingered his gaze on your figure. He could see what Jackson saw in you. You carried fire of a different kind, but you could match his fervor. Maybe Jackson had finally found someone to live in the flames and chaos at his side.

Perhaps you weren’t the pawn after all.

Your mind drifted again. Thoughts of Jackson were all that could console you.

Jackson stared vacantly into the distance. You giggled and combed your fingers through his hair, trying to make the strands lay flat from their current disheveled positions.

“I can’t believe you talked me into that,” he groaned, face pale.

You giggled. “I thought you said you were an adrenaline junkie?”

“That was before I…,” Jackson trailed, puffing out his cheeks like he may empty his stomach at any moment. “Rode that evil thing.”

The rollercoaster had certainly given your brave and tough boyfriend a run for his money. You had never heard such a high-pitched wail leave his mouth like that before. It went without saying you spent the entire time laughing at his misfortune.

“You did well,” you crooned, smoothing down the last patch of hair sticking upright.

Jackson grabbed the glass of water before the waitress could set it down on the table before him and retorted, “I did it because you said you would show me your boobs.”

You chortled, leaning against his arm, and teased, “Like you haven’t seen them a million times already.”

Jackson clocked a glance at your cleavage and murmured, “I like the twins a lot.”

You laughed again. “You know, you’re the first significant other that hasn’t made me cover them up when we’re out in public.”

“My ego and self-esteem aren’t that fickle.”

You snuggled up closer to him and purred in his ear, “That’s because you’re an alpha male.”

Jackson swept an arm around you, tucking you even closer to him, and whispered, “Am I?”

You grinned.

The waitress appeared with plates in hand, breaking the spell.

The sight of Jackson grubbing always put a smile on your face. He devoured his burger and you struggled to keep up. It was a full time job wiping his lips and chin with a napkin.

It went without saying you enjoyed fancy Jackson with his candlelit dinners and well-tailored suits, but messy Jackson just stoked your fire differently.

“Jacks, this is so delicious,” you hummed, going in for another bite.

“It’s fucking holy is what it is,” he growled back.

“Mm,” was all you could manage as you stuffed your face.

Now it was Jackson’s turn to take a pause and watch you. Everything you did was attractive to him. It almost made him insane. He licked his lips and flirted, “I love a girl that knows how to eat.”

You wiggled your eyebrows, dunking a curly fry in cheese sauce and plopping it into your mouth. “I love a boy that knows how to talk,” you replied devilishly.

He cocked a brow. “Oh, yeah?”

You smirked.

Jackson draped his arm over the back of your chair, fingers coming to brush up and down your bare arm. He slipped a digit in the strap of your bikini top and let it snap back on your skin. “Don’t bother drying off too much, baby. You’re gonna be wet for hours.”

You batted your lashes, peering up at him coyly. “Come on, Daddy. Don’t you know by now? I stay wet for you.”

Jackson rumbled in his throat, tucking his face against your neck and pressing a kiss or two beneath your ear. “It’s been a long day,” he mused, having thoroughly enjoyed his time with you at the water park. “You sure you can handle me tearing that ass up at the hotel tonight?”

You reached across and grabbed his thigh, making sure he felt the bite of your fingernails, and spoke under your breath, “Bold of you to assume I can wait that long.”

Jackson pulled back, eyes widening and a grin tugging at his lips. “I’m crazy about you. You know that?”

You nuzzled his nose with your own and said, “Kiss me then.”

Jackson never shied away from public displays of affection. And he never did it to assert his territory. He just couldn’t stop kissing you day or night.

Blinking rapidly, you turned from the window and looked at Jinyoung, noticing his eyes had been on you. Your brow furrowed. His gaze was intrusive, like he could read your thoughts, and you bristled. The memories were yours to keep. Some were not meant to be shared.

Something sent shivers up your spine and your chest filled with heat. Stepping back to the table, your words were sharp, “You think I’m a fool.”

Jinyoung deadpanned, “Very much so.”

You lowered into the chair and asked delicately, “Have you ever been in love, Jinyoung?”

Jinyoung narrowed his eyes. The notion alone disgusted him. “I have not.”

You pressed, “Not even once?”

Jinyoung shook his head.

You whispered, almost more so to yourself, “It makes a fool out of all of us.”

Jinyoung believed that. He had seen it firsthand and refused to suffer the same fate. “To the point you would let the world burn for him?”

“Who cares?” you replied with a shrug, trying to appear passive. “The world is already on fire. Haven’t you noticed?”

“Rather selfish of you,” said Jinyoung, condescending. “To put you and your lover above everyone else.”

A fleeting glimpse of a memory flashed across your mind. Of you in Jackson’s lap as you poured over a novel. His hand danced aimlessly across your naked thigh while you read.

“All the gods, all the heavens, all the hells, are within you,” you read aloud.

Jackson opened his eyes, lifting his head from the back of the couch. “I like that,” he murmured, kissing your brow.

“It means we made it all. We created heaven and hell. It’s all a figment of our imagination,” you continued, turning the page.

Jackson watched you in wonder, the concentration on your face. He didn’t have the heart to tell you otherwise and settled for a parting kiss on your cheek before leaning his head back and closing his eyes once more.

The memory and Jinyoung’s words collided and you felt another shiver up your back. “Is Jackson meant to burn the world?”

Jinyoung swallowed, having inadvertently put himself in a precarious position. “You think too highly of him,” he sneered.

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Pride cometh before the fall,” Jinyoung taunted.

You shook your head and sighed, “I have no pride.”

“Everyone has pride,” Jinyoung said, almost in scolding. “Did you know it’s the sin God hates more than all the others?”

Your brow stitched. He sounded amused. God had never been much of a factor in your life, but you were an avid reader and offered a rebuttal, “You’re wrong. The deepest, lowest circle of Hell is reserved for betrayal.”

Jinyoung leaned back in his chair, smirking for a reason unbeknownst to you. “And you’ll never betray him, will you?”

“Never.”

Jinyoung cocked his head. “Even if he leaves you in here to die?”

“I’m not afraid of dying.”

“What are you afraid of?”

You stared into his face, searching for reason. Would this man ever understand what you and Jackson had?

“Lies,” you finally admitted.

“I’m surprised he chose you,” Jinyoung chuckled. “You seem nearly as defiant as he is. I’m assuming there were plenty of clashes in the relationship?”

“Nothing we couldn’t handle,” you answered in a small voice.

Jackson followed you swiftly from the kitchen to the bedroom, his cheeks were blazing red.

“You knew I had a career when you met me,” you spat, shuddering at the realization you were having your first big fight with Jackson.

“I’m not asking you to give up your career,” he snapped back, reprimanding. “I just expect you to be where you said you would be when you said you would be there!”

You threw up your hands and groaned, “I didn’t do it on purpose!”

Jackson barely let you finish the sentence before he rounded on you. “Are you sure about that? Because you were very punctual up until we started sleeping together.”

“Fuck you, Jackson,” you shouted at him, vitriolic. “You don’t own me!”

Though you stomped back into the living room, trying desperately to avoid him, Jackson was hot on your heels, yelling, “You think I don’t notice how you’re distancing yourself from me? You’re waiting for the other shoe to drop when they’re both still on my fucking feet!”

Deflecting was what you did best, but he was too fiery, too unafraid to call you out. And he could see right through you.

You barked, “I’m late a couple times and that means I’m trying to sabotage the relationship?”

Jackson folded his arms and glared at you venomously. “I said it and you didn’t deny it.”

You shook with wrath, balling your hands into fists. “Take that manipulative bullshit and shove it up your ass! I should have known this would happen.”

Jackson gawked, though the expression of shock quickly devolved into seething rage. “Should have known?” he echoed back at you.

You wavered where you stood.

Jackson loosened his tie before ripping it from his collar entirely and roared, “You think you’re the only one with a temper, huh?”

“Yell at me,” you screamed, planting your feet. “See if I give a shit!"

“I have been nothing but good to you,” said Jackson, leveling a pointed finger at your face. “I still want you just as much as I did when I met you. You’re the one getting cold feet!”

Adrenaline was finally taking its toll. Tears were burning behind your eyes. “Oh my god, fine! Is that what you want to hear? I’m scared to death of how I feel about you. I’m head over fucking heels!”

Jackson calmed only a little when he pressed, “And what? You’ve decided that this relationship is one-sided?”

A tear escaped and rolled down your cheek. You quickly wiped away the evidence with a rough hand and cried, “You’re too good to be true.”

With that, you turned tail and ran, scurrying toward the front door of his apartment.

Jackson watched you go, still etching your words into his mind forever, and called after you, “Where are you going?”

“I’m not crying in front of you, Jackson,” you yelled at the top of your lungs, slamming the door behind you.

Jackson stood there, rooted in place. He closed his eyes and tilted his head back, inhaling a deep, steadying breath.

You couldn’t make it down the hall. You felt like an idiot. Never had you been in so deep and it scared you shitless. Leaning back against the wall just outside his door, you sank to the floor and wrapped your arms around your knees, crying behind them.

Only a moment later, the door opened and Jackson charged out, giving chase. He slid to a stop and sighed heavily at the sight of you.

You didn’t bother to look at him and you weren’t the least surprised when he slipped his arms under yours and hoisted you up. In one all too easy swoop, he lifted you into the air and popped your legs around his waist.

It was your body’s natural reflex to lock your ankles behind his back, to overlap your hands behind his shoulders and to rest your cheek against his neck, hiding your face.

In the bedroom, Jackson leaned his head against yours and whispered, “I’m gonna silence these doubts the best way I know how.”

Jackson unzipped your jacket and stripped you down to your underwear, but before you could register the cold on your bare skin, he pulled one of his white t-shirts over your head.

You whimpered when he pushed you on the bed. The mattress bounced slightly beneath you. On your stomach, you gripped the blanket in your hands and listened to the rapid thumping of your racing heart as he crawled over you.

Jackson pushed the shirt up, just enough to expose your ass, and made room for himself between your legs. He draped himself over you, combing your hair with his fingers until he could press his lips to your neck.

“And I’m gonna break these walls down, brick by fucking brick,” he whispered in your ear.

You lifted your head and your mouth parted wide with a moan when he penetrated you slowly.

“You’re mine,” Jackson growled, biting down on your shoulder.

You turned to Jinyoung and frowned, unshed tears welling in your eyes. In that moment, you realized you were nothing more than a prisoner - someone who had no rights and potentially no chance of salvation.

“If you let me go,” you began softly, almost pleading. “You would follow me right to him. Wouldn’t you?”

Jinyoung’s reply was blunt, cold. “You’re more valuable in here.”

You bit your lip, staving off the tears with every ounce of your strength. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye,” you spoke under your breath.

Jinyoung looked up from the file abruptly, surprised. “Are you leaving him?”

You looked away, staring into nothing, and said, “He’s leaving me.”

“You know that?”

You bobbed your head and muttered, “When I found out loving him was… dangerous, I didn’t stop. I didn’t leave when I had the chance. I decided that he was worth it. I’m culpable in this.”

Jinyoung felt he finally had you on the ropes and came in for the kill. He approached you and you instinctively pressed your back against the wall. His close proximity was unwelcome, intimidating.

“What if I told you he’s planning something big? Something that will set off a chain reaction that could change life as we know it,” Jinyoung began, hushed like he spoke a deadly secret.

“Don’t tell him that,” you grumbled. “He’s arrogant enough as it is.”

Jinyoung’s eyes flickered, incredulous. “Have you always been this cynical?”

There wasn't enough time to explain it to him. “You don’t understand. And you never will.”

Jinyoung braced his hand on the wall beside your head and taunted, “Try me.”

You exhaled loudly and confessed, “All my foolish feelings aside, he taught me how to live again. I had decided my life was no longer worth living and he changed my mind.”

Jinyoung knew he couldn’t argue with that. Jackson had given you something to fight for and that was a powerful thing. After a pause, he sneered, “If I tell you what he really is, you may not feel that way.”

You shrugged, appearing nonchalant, but you knew Jinyoung was pulling at a thread, one that could unravel your seams. You stayed brave and replied, “I only know what he made me feel. What you say will never change that.”

“He’s not human.”

Those words echoed in your mind, like a scream ricocheting off the walls of your metal cell. You stared into Jinyoung’s eyes, trying to understand what was lingering in his gaze, what he had to gain from dismantling you entirely.

“I know that,” you finally revealed.

It wasn’t a hard conclusion to come to, frankly speaking. Jackson’s eyes could turn from lustrous brown to scorching crimson. Fire could appear in his hands. He could vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Of course, he wasn’t human. He was an entity. Beyond that, you knew nothing else.

Jinyoung frowned, his brow stitching. This was a problem.

You breathed easier when he finally moved away from you and watched him give you a glance over before returning to his seat.

Jinyoung scribbled on his notepad and pulled out his phone. Without looking up, he asked blithely, “What if I let you call him?”

The offer made your heart spin in your chest. Hope bubbled up in the well of your body. The mere thought of hearing Jackson’s voice was enough to bring warmth back to your cheeks. But you quickly lowered your voice to a growl and spat, “Why - so you can try to get a trace?”

Jinyoung sent off a text unbeknownst to you and replied, “I want to know if your feelings are one-sided.”

Seated at a table, alone and shrouded in the dark, Jackson felt a vibration in his pocket. He opened his phone and the four words glared at him, setting his body aflame.

She knows too much.

Faster than he thought possible, Jackson leapt to his feet and flipped the table over. It tumbled to the ground, glasses splintering into thousands of shards across the floor.

Meanwhile, the two agents returned to the room under Jinyoung’s watchful gaze. They ushered you back to the table and fastened your cuffs once again to the bolt in the center. All the while, you scowled at Jinyoung.

Jinyoung held your phone in his hand, swiping to Jackson’s number and dialing without a second thought. He was careful of the cables attached to the nearby computer.

Jackson answered on the second ring, speaking through gritted teeth, “To whom am I speaking?”

“Jackson,” you started, chest clenching.

He paused. “Hi, baby.”

You looked between the phone and Jinyoung, and said, “There’s a man here. He’s going to tell me what you are.”

Another pause. This one much longer than the last. Jackson swallowed the lump in his throat and finally told you, “Don’t believe him.”

Your eyes burned. “Am I…,” you hesitated, voice trembling. “Ever going to see you again?”

Jackson could hear the longing, the sadness. He imagined your big, beautiful eyes staring up at him when he held you in his arms. He had taken you for granted and now there was a hole where his heart used to be.

“If not again in this life, then definitely in the next.”

Your lips tugged in the faintest of smiles, comforted. Another memory of Jackson flashed in your mind, a time when he said something similar and you knew he hadn’t given up.

The expression on Jinyoung’s face flipped on a dime. He pulled the phone away, before you could say another word, and jeered, “Hello, Jackson.”

“Jinyoung…,” Jackson started, fire racing up his spine.

“I got you,” Jinyoung laughed, hanging up.

You rose abruptly, jarring the chair beneath you and making your chains rattle. “You bastard!”

“I hope this has all been worth it,” said Jinyoung, gathering his things.

You wanted to dive across the table and claw his eyes out. Anger was filling you from the soles of your feet to the crown of your head, and at any minute you were bound to explode.

“I will never help you hurt him.”

“Too late,” Jinyoung whispered darkly.

You overflowed and resorted to threatening, “I will kill you if you touch him.”

Jinyoung turned to you slowly, not taking the threat in kind. His eyes bore into yours and the single light overhead began to flicker. Suddenly, he reached out and grasped you by the jaw, forcing you to lean toward him over the table.

“Careful,” he whispered with vehemence. “That mouth is going to get you into trouble.”

Fear tickled across your skin. And in that moment, something told you Jinyoung was not what he seemed.

He kept you in his grasp for a few more seconds, simply to assert his dominance, and then released you. You staggered, regaining your balance and bracing both hands on the table to steady yourself.

Jinyoung exited the only door, slamming it shut behind him.

You were left alone with your rage.

Hands shaking, you yanked at the cuffs still anchoring you to the table. No matter how much you pulled, even with every bit of your body weight, the table was nailed to the floor and didn’t budge.

But even if you broke out of your binds, there was only a locked door and a narrow window to freedom.

“Let me out of here,” you screamed at the top of your lungs.

“Put her on lockdown,” Jinyoung told the guard, your shouts muffled by the thick walls. “No one in or out, but me. We can’t let him get her back.”

“Understood, sir.”

“Good,” said Jinyoung, striding away and putting the phone to his lips. “We play our cards right and our boy will be back on track.”

“This damned mortal girl,” replied the man on the other line. “I don’t know what kind of magic is between her thighs, but she bought the world a little more time with it.”

Jinyoung chuckled at that.

“I shifted his focus,” added the caller, at ease. “He’s looking for me now. Do your worst.”

“With pleasure,” Jinyoung retorted, hanging up the phone and sauntering down the hallway.

Jackson stared down at his phone, reading the text from an unknown number over and over again.

You made me do this.

Jackson had lost yet another battle. Though the war was still to be won. He knew the odds were not stacking in his favor, but subverting expectations was his specialty.

He had exposed his own fatal flaw - you. But as much as Jackson wanted you back in his arms, he knew you were safe. He had to keep them convinced you were more valuable alive. They wouldn’t harm a hair on your head, not whilst they needed something from you.

At least, that was what Jackson told himself.

They wanted him angry. They wanted his bloodlust to consume and destroy. It was his purpose and he had abandoned it. You tempered him. Your voice was saccharine, like aloe smoothed on a burn.

The seed was planted. Jackson could be steered by any chain around your neck. It was a risky move, what he had done. By making them think you were leverage, you were safe for the moment, but the time would come when they would try to use you against him for the same reason.

Jackson knew if he made one wrong move he would lose you forever.

“He’s here,” said the driver, making his boss jolt.

“Finally,” Jackson groaned, slipping out of the backseat of his tinted SUV.

A figure approached from the other side of the alley, clad in a loose hoodie and even baggier pants. The two constant rivals, but occasional allies exchanged terse greetings.

“Jaebeom.”

“Jackson.”

Jackson went straight to the point, seething with impatience. It helped mask his fear. “Where is he?”

Jaebeom formed his lips into a hard line and replied, “I don’t know.” The answer was sincere. Jaebeom wasn’t invested enough to lie.

“He’s involved in this,” Jackson pressed, voice lowering like he didn’t want to risk being overheard. “There’s no doubt in my mind.”

Jaebeom did not seem the least bothered or concerned or even interested. In fact, his face was devoid of any expression. “Involved in what?”

“They took something from me,” Jackson confessed, regretting it immediately. He knew exactly the reaction he would get.

Something danced in Jaebeom’s eyes then. He quickly chided, “If they took her, it’s only because you made her worth something of value to you. That was your mistake.”

Jackson clenched his jaw. His suspicions mounted. If Jaebeom knew about you, then someone close must have told him.

Hands in his pockets, Jaebeom ambled closer, shaking his head in combination amusement and disappointment. “You are so predictable,” he reproached. “I should have bet money that you would be the one to screw up our entire plan because you got distracted by a piece of ass.”

“What can I say?” Jackson replied with a shrug, cloaking his wrath. “I am true to my name.”

“And I’m true to mine,” Jaebeom hissed, unflinching as lighting cracked overhead with his warning. “Don’t fuck this up.”

“Jaebeom, please,” Jackson stammered, changing his tactic. “You are the closest thing we have to a leader in this hell on earth. You are the only one that can make him stop.”

Jaebeom turned to leave and said, “You drew the line in the sand. You should have known it would be lonely on the other side.”

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[moonlightreal]

The Fairy Animals: folklore roundup!

Season seven brought us a new cast of cute mascot characters: the fairy animals!  These are creatures that live in Magix, unlike season four’s “fairy pets” that Flora created by bringing a bunch of plushies to life. Most of the fairy animals are combination creatures, maybe inspired by Airbender’s turtleducks.  The deerbeetle, pandabat, and rabdor (rabbit/condor?) and swerret (swan ferret?) are all minor fairy animals.  

The Winx’s fairy animals though, are based on folklore.  And strangely enough some of the folklore that Rainbow was inspired by was… American lumberjack tales!  Which is kind of amazing to me.  They’re over there in Italy and instead of going for your basic unicorn/dragon/griffin/pegasus and instead of just creating original creatures, someone at Rainbow looked up obscure folklore from a totally different time period and continent and decided to go with it.  Weird, but cool.  So let’s hit the books and see what lore we can find on these creatures!

Lumberjack folklore creatures are not exactly cryptids; I don’t think people have sightings of cactus cats and squonks.  I get the impression that they’re more like campfire stories, something to tell the newcomers about to scare them and make them more careful, and also to laugh at what you can get the noob to believe!

Aisha’s fairy animal Squonk is called a cry-cry, he’s an ancient creature from dinosaur times and his magic is to cry so much he can create a tidal wave and wash everybody away.  

In folklore “squonk” is the species of creature, and they’re a tragic breed.  The few drawings I’ve seen look warthog-ish but one of my books says squonks are flightless birds.  The main feature of the species, though, is ugliness.  Squonks have warty flaps of skin, ugly yellow teeth, and clumsy legs.  And the creature is smart enough to know it’s ugly and be terribly self-conscious.  Day and night squonks weep because they’re so ashamed of their looks.  A squonk that is seen by any living thing will cry so hard that it literally dissolves in tears, leaving nothing but a tragic puddle to mark its passing.  

Flora’s fairy animal is a magiwolf named Amarok.  Magiwolves seem to be a native species on Lynphea.

Wolves are legendary in every land that has wolves, but usually in a negative context.  In modern times we know that wolves are an important part of nature and their hunting keeps prey populations healthy, but back in the day when wolves were coming for the sheep you needed to make your living it was a different story.  The Amarok is a creature from Inuit myth, a ghostly wolf that will chase down anyone who goes outside at night.

Musa’s fairy animal Critty is a quillcat the gang picks up in medieval times on earth.  Critty was inspired by the cowboy legend of the cactus cat, and it is a wild legend.

Cactus cats are cats that have cactus spines instead of fur, branching tails, and blades on its forelegs.  Unlike normal cats which are obligate carnivores, cactus cats eat only cactus sap which they get by cutting into cacti with their arm-blades.  But cactus sap ferments so if a cactus cat returns to the same cactus a second time it may get drunk on the fermented sap.  And cactus cats are mean drunks!  A drunk cactus cat will rampage around the desert attacking everyone it meets with its spiky tail.

Stella’s animal Shiny is called a “shinygreed” and since Shiny shows up in Kalshara’s cave we don’t know what their native habitat might be.

Shiny can only have been inspired by the phoenix legend, which began in ancient Greece and Egypt.  I swear I remember reading that phoenixes eat jewels, as Shiny does in the show, but I can’t find the reference now.  One of my books says the Russian firebird drops pearls from its mouth when it sings, but that’s the closest reference.

Flitter is a techsquirrel from the distant past of Zenith.  He’s named after the flitterick, a creature from lumberjack folklore. Flittericks are flying squirrels that can fly at any sped and have very hard heads.  If a flitterick beans you in the head at high speed you’re in trouble.  So wear your helmet, kids!

And Bloom just gets a unicorn.  There’s enough unicorn lore out there I’ll only mention two weird things about Elas.  First, his weird weird butting in on Bloom and Sky’s date, demanding to know if Sky is good enough for Bloom.  In the lore unicorns only befriend virgins, but since virginity is kinda just a social construct every writer has to decide what their unicorns mean by virgin and why they care.  Did Rainbow’s writers decide that their unicorns just want to make sure their bonded people make good romantic choices?  Second… why is Elas’ name Elas?  What does his name mean?  I hit the books, I came up empty.  The only possibility I can think of is that he’s named after the elasmotherium, an extinct shaggy rhino with one horn.

[mrs-takami-keigo]

Baked Lovin’

Parings Hawks X Quinn (OC) 

Rating: EXPLICT! 18+

Warnings: Recriational drug use, fingering, oral sex

Description: Quinn never thought that Hawks meeting her old college friends would end up with him being as high as a fucking kite off of a few bites of an edible. Quirkless AU

Word count: 4.6K 

Taglist: @katsukikitten​, @honeytama​, @prismaroyal​, @hawks-senseis​, @tui-lah​

Notes: This is my fourth tile off of my BINGO sheet for the @bnhabookclub​ event! The tile prompt for this was High Sex and honestly this was freaking fun to write and use my OC Quinn for more than my SERIES she’s in. 

At first, she was hesitant, her friends were on the wild side when they all got together. It was like they were all twenty or twenty one again, partying before an exam, and never getting a hangover.

“I don’t know Hawks. I’m not sure they are your kind of crowd.” Quinn said to him two weeks before the gathering. They were at home in their shared apartment, her and Hawks just having finished a hard day of work. Their schedules were perfect, Quinn worked as an executive for her uncle’s clothing brand called Todoroki Threads. While Hawks was the model and co-owner for Hotwing's, an alternative clothing brand made by her cousin and him.

When her uncle found out she was dating the ‘enemy’ he was livid but Quinn knew how to handle her uncle. Over time he gave up trying to break them up, seeing how she wasn’t letting go of her beloved boyfriend.

“I want to know the people that were around you during your roaring twenties.” Hawks crept up behind her as she prepared their dinner. His large hands ran down her sides, stopping when he reached her hips.

“Hmmm if you were to meet that Quinn, she would eat you alive little dove.” She pushed her plump ass against his sweatpants clad lower half, feeling his semi-hard cock brush against her.

Hawks let out a low groan as he nuzzled his face into the side of her neck, tentatively giving it a lick.

“I’m sure she would, firebird.” His grip on her hips tightened as he ground himself against her. “Why don’t you show me, baby?” He growled against her ear. And just like that dinner was put on hold while she had to show him just what she was capable of.

After continuous begging and just being plain out annoying, Quinn gave in and allowed Hawks to come with her and she was slowly regretting it. Having him in the states let alone in New York City was a mistake. He wanted to go to every tourist attraction, eat at every food cart he could find and on more than one occasion he got lost when he decided to venture off on his own.

“Hey, are you sure you still want to do this?” Quinn asked from the bathroom as she finished putting the last touches of her makeup on. Fluffing up her curly hair, she took a good look in the mirror.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Well hello there beautiful.” Hawks walked into the large penthouse bathroom, leaning against the sink as he eyed his girlfriend. No matter how many times he saw her dressed up, she looked like a fucking goddess in his eyes.

The way her tight high waisted jeans hugged her thick thighs, showing off every curve perfectly. Her hot pink bustier pushed her full breasts up, the color emphasized how beautiful her golden sun-kissed skin looked. She wore her hot pink wedges that matched her top, her manicured toes peeked out from the tip of the shoe. A simple look of a winged liner and glossed lips only enhanced her natural beauty.

“What? You’ve been staring at me for like five minutes and it's creeping me out.” Quinn walked up to him. She was only about two inches shorter than him, but whenever she wore heels of any kind Quinn would end up being an inch or so taller than him.

“Just thinking about how fucking perfect you are.” Hawks lazily wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her in. “How the hell did I get a woman like yourself to fall for a bastard like me?”

Quinn let her hands run up his chest to the back of his neck, where she played with the soft short hairs on the nape of it. “Because I have a thing for arrogant bastards who are gorgeous and have some good dick.”

“You do love it when I dick you down don’t you?” Hawks brought his face closer to the woman in his arms, the tip of his nose brushing against hers. His breath was mingling with hers as he spoke, those golden eyes she fell in love with were filled with desire. “Maybe we have time for a little demonstration.”

“I don’t think so dove, not when I’ve spent so long to get ready.” She gave him a quick peck on the lips, stepping out of his embrace and into the bedroom. “We have to leave now and get a cab. Everyone should be at Chris’ place soon.” Looking back at the bathroom door, Quinn got a full look at her boyfriend.

People would think that Hawks was a fashion-forward kind of man, seeing as how he was a model and had a clothing brand. But in fact, it was the exact opposite, Hawks was a simple dresser. Like tonight he wore a white slim fit v-neck t-shirt, a silver pillar chain hung from his neck. Black jeans with frayed holes on his knees and black vans that had red wings painted on the sides of them. Thick silver rings were on some of his long fingers, and a red braided yarn bracelet that was accompanied by some random black metal bracelets. It may have been simple but god was he sexy.

Hawks walked up behind her as she put on her golden hooped earrings in the mirror of the bedroom. Moving her thick burgundy and black curly hair to one side he kissed her shoulder.

“We’ll just have to have a full-on ride test when we get back.” Hawks locked eyes with her through the reflective object, her hazel ones were just as dark and full of lust as his.

“You better remember that promise baby boy.” Her voice was low, sending shivers down his spine. Hawks opened his mouth slightly on the junction of her neck and shoulder, biting it. That was his way of letting her know she was gonna get fucked tonight.

When the two finally made it to Quinn’s friend Chris’ house everyone was already there. Music was pumping through the large apartment, drinks in everyone's hands, and friends catching up with each other.

Quinn and Hawks were at the bar getting their drinks when she felt her body be lifted from the ground and spun around.

“If it isn’t Q!” Just hearing the voice Quinn knew exactly who it was.

“Mocha! Still as loud as ever!!” She giggled as he kept spinning her around while her confused and amused boyfriend watched.

Gently putting Quinn down Mocha pulled her in for a bear hug. “It’s been too long.”

“It really has, Mocha, it really has.” She heard Hawks cough behind her. “Oh Mocha, this is my boyfriend Keigo, but he goes by Hawks. Hawks this is Mocha, one of the best people to ever grace this earth.”

Hawks shook his hand, glad to meet such a good friend of Quinn’s. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“You did good Q, he fine as hell.” Mocha winked at Hawks, causing the shorter male to laugh.

“Hearing that coming from someone as beautiful as you are a blessing in its own.” Hawks wanted to make a good impression on Quinn’s friends, he knew how much they meant to her.

“Now that’s a man! Come y’all let's go to the balcony, the rest of the dance team is over there.” Mocha grabbed Hawks’ hand, leaving Quinn to grab the drinks as she ran after her friend and her giggling boyfriend.

“Wait so you're telling me, Quinn, like MY Quinn, used to dance?!” Hawks was sitting on the edge of his seat, Quinn had a hand over her face as her friends decided to tell him every little detail about her college life.

“Yeah, and she had a stage name.” One of her female friends said digging Quinn even further down the rabbit hole.

“Wasn’t it a bird of some sort. Oh, wait I got it, wasn’t it Phoenix?!”

“Shoot me now please.” Quinn sunk lower into the chair, trying to just disappear as Hawks looked at her.

“Yup! Everyone called her Phoenix, she even had a Fanclub on campus.” Mocha was enjoying seeing his friend like this. “Broke a lot of hearts too.”

“Oh really?” Hawks raised an eyebrow at Mocha’s statement, glancing over at Quinn. “You were breaking hearts instead of doing your studies huh?”

“Fuck off, I will not be slandered like this.” Quinn got up from her seat, grabbing her drink. “I’ll be inside talking to my real friends.” She heard the group chuckle as she stormed into the living room.

Quinn had been hanging out with some of her other friends when Chris came up to her.

“Well well, if it isn’t Ms. Phoenix.”

“Hello, Chris.” Her voice was monotonous as she took a sip of her second drink that night.

“Still the ice queen I see.”

They both stared at each other before bursting out laughing. “Ice queen, how original.” Quinn pushed him on the shoulder, the tall dark-haired man rubbed the spot she pushed.

“Damn Quinn, what do you do for a living fight crime? Why are you so strong?”

“I hate you.” Chris was her best friend in the entire world. She would kill for that man, and he would do the same for her.

“Would you really hate the man that brought you a present?” Chris reached into the backpack he had, pulling out a neatly wrapped lucky charms cereal bar.

“Is that what I think it is?” A wide grin spread across Quinn’s face as she reached for it.

“It sure is, all two hundred milligrams of it.” If there was a guilty pleasure of Quinn’s it would be weed. Back in her college days, she was what the media and police would call a pothead.

“And you brought it for me?!” She pretended to have tears in her eyes as she took the cereal bar from his hands.

“Anything for my favorite girl.” Chris smiled at his best friend while she ate half of the illegal treat. Wrapping it back up in the plastic, Quinn put it in her small purse, continuing her conversation with Chris.

The night had passed on, Hawks was introduced to more of Quinn’s friends and before she knew it people started to leave. That’s when Quinn noticed she hadn’t seen Hawks for about an hour now.

Walking up to Mocha who was helping Chris clean up she asked, “Have you guys seen Hawks? Last I saw him was when I asked for him to hold my purse while I used the bathroom.”

“I saw him sitting outside.” Mocha nodded to the balcony. Turning over her shoulder she saw Hawks lying on the lounge chair staring at the sky.

Stepping through the sliding glass doors, Quinn squatted down next to her boyfriend. “Come on baby let’s go back to the room.” She was already feeling the edible she ate from before, it was finally kicking into her system.

“Have you ever been able to feel every nerve ending in your body?” Hawks kept staring at the sky, his body still, except for his chest moving up and down.

“Huh, what are you talking about?” Quinn moved his legs over so she could share the chair with him.

“I can feel every nerve in my body, from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.” That’s when he looked at her, his golden eyes were glossed over, with a slight tint of red where the white was.

“Oh fuck!” She grabbed her purse, ripping it open. Digging around her purse she couldn’t find the other half of her edible. “Keigo, baby did you eat the cereal bar in my bag?” Her hands were pressed against the sides of his face, making him focus on her.

“I was hungry, speaking of hunger can we get something you eat? I’m starving.” He had a goofy grin on his face as he spoke to her. Quinn could only hang her head as she realized, she had gotten her boyfriend high for the first time.

“What do you think this sauce is made of? It's amazing!” Hawks shouted through the hallway of the hotel.

“Shhh! What did I tell you about being quiet?” Getting Hawks back to the room deserved to be an Olympic sport. He wanted to talk to every person he came in contact with, kept asking Quinn for kisses, and when she did he would scream “I won! I won!” to the sky. She had finally got him to quiet down when she bought him some Halal from the cart down the block.

“Oh yeah, we have to be like ninja’s.” With his white container full food in his hands, Hawks pressed himself against the wall, tiptoeing as he walked.

The two finally made it to the room, where Hawks plopped on the couch and rubbed his belly.

“That was amazing!” He kicked off his shoes, sending them flying across the room.

“Good, now I’m going to go take a shower, so behave.” She didn’t want to leave him alone to his own devices but she had to. “Keigo promise me you’ll behave.”

“You got it, baby, anything for you.” He sent her a wink before he threw his head over the back of the couch.

Sighing Quinn walked over to the bathroom, not shutting the door all the way just in case. She peeled the tight clothing off of her body unaware a pair of dark golden eyes were watching her every move.

The shower was quick, seeing as Quinn opted to not wash her hair. Walking out of the steaming bathroom, wrapped in nothing but a towel, Quinn had expected to see Hawks laid out on the bed or on the small couch passed out. But he was nowhere to be seen.

Panic started to run through her body as she thought the worst.

“Did he walk out for more food?’ Oh god, please just don’t get arrested!”

Quinn was about to go for her purse to grab her phone when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her towards a hard chest.

“Where are you going firebird?” Hawk’s growled in her ear, his tongue coming out giving the shell of her ear a soft lick. She could feel his rock hard dick pressing against her.

“Hawks what are you doing?”

Hawks didn’t answer her right away, he let his hands travel down her stomach, to where the small slit of the towel was, slipping his fingers inside. He grazed his fingers against her sunkissed golden skin, shivers ran up her spine. Hawks nuzzled his nose into her neck, exhaling gently against it.

“God you feel so good, just let me feel you.” Hawks opened the towel, letting it fall to the floor, pooling around their feet. “It’s like I can feel every single nerve in my fingertips. It’s like electricity shooting through my body.”

Quinn let her head fall back against his shoulder, the effects of the edible were still coursing through her body. She could feel every nerve as well and right now with just his touch she was ready to cum for him.

“Wait until you feel this.” She grabbed his hand, bringing it down to her wet pussy. Hawks' fingers immediately started to play with her slick folds.

“Oh fuck, your so fucking wet for me.” She could feel his lips kiss along her shoulder, his hips involuntarily bucking against her.

She reached up to cup the back of Hawks neck, her delicate fingers played with his hair. Hawks continued his slow torture on her pussy, his fingers would just slide against her, going between grazing her hardened clit and her pulsating entrance.

“Get on the bed for me, on all fours baby.” Quinn was so lost in his touch that she hadn’t heard him speak to her. Getting frustrated Hawks used his other hand to grip her jaw, forcing her to look at him. His lips brushed against hers as he growled.

“On the bed now!” Quinn could only moan in response, with the way he was making her feel right now, words failed her.

Doing as he asked Quinn climbed on the bed, hands and knees pressed against the soft white bedding, back arched and ass up and in full view for Hawks. She could hear the rustling of clothes behind her, glancing back she watched as Hawks pulled his shirt over his head. His arm muscles flexed as he started to undo his belt.

Quinn bit her bottom lip as she watched him, she always knew he was sexy and so goddamn good looking but right now, he looked like some kind of god. His messy blonde hair was sticking up everywhere, those golden eyes that kept looking over at her were still glossed over. She couldn’t help herself, reaching one of her hands under her, she started to play with herself.

“Keigo.” She moaned out his name when she slid two fingers into her wet pussy. Hawks was down to his boxers about to take them off when she called out his name, stopping his movements. His eyes darkened as he watched her slide those fingers in and out, pleasuring herself in front of him.

“AH!” Quinn looked behind her to see Hawks down on his knees, his teeth digging into her ass. Releasing his teeth, Hawks looked her in the eyes as he licked the wounded area.

“I couldn’t resist, your ass just looks good enough to eat.” He peppered kisses along her cheeks. He had each hand full of her ass, eyes closed. He was enjoying feeling her against his lips. That edible made him feel like he was on top of the fucking world, with the love of his life face down and ass up of him, he felt unstoppable.

“You better get to eatin’, baby boy.” Quinn pulled her fingers out of her soaking wet cunt, pressing the side of her face against the bed. Her hands reached around, spreading her cheeks to present herself to him.

Hawks felt his mouth water as he eyed her glistening sex. He’s eaten her out more times than he could count but never like this. Running his hands over her ass, up her back, his pink tongue came out, swiping it across her pussy. He moaned against her, her juices hitting every taste bud on his tongue.

“Fuck!” wrapping his arms around her thighs, Hawks brought his lips back to hers, lapping up all of her juices. He made work of his tongue, between flicking it over her clit and then gently sucking on it.

Quinn’s eyes rolled into the back of her head, her mouth open as soft whimpers came out of her. If there was one thing Hawks knew, it was how to use that sinful mouth of his. The way his tongue felt on her, the slurping sounds he made when he sucked on her clit. His grunts and moans against her were nothing but vibrations that made her toes curl and her thighs shake.

“Do that again Keigo.” her words came out as a moan when he stuck his tongue inside of her. Hawks loved to please her, he had a pleasure kink. He wanted to make sure she knew it was him doing this to her, making her scream his name in pure ecstasy. So if Quinn said to do it again, he was going to.

“Yes just like that, don’t fucking stop.” Her arms were stretched out across the bed, gripping at the comforter. She could feel the tightening in her lower abdomen, knowing if he kept that up she wouldn’t last much longer.

Just as she felt it building, Hawks pulled away from her. Lifting up her torso from the bed she looked under her to see Hawks turn himself over, the back of his head rested on the bed, his face directly under her pussy. Using his legs he propped up his lower half, a large hand jerking off his hard cock, his other hand playing with her folds.

“Arch that back for me.” lowering herself back to the bed like before, Quinn felt Hawks slip a finger into her entrance. “So fucking tight.” After a few pumps in and out of the wet entrance, Hawks added another finger, stretching her out.

“Bring me that pussy, baby girl.” Spreading her legs further apart, Quinn lowered her bottom half, her pussy was back on his lips. He went back to what he was doing before, sucking on her now extra sensitive clit while he fingered her.

“Oh my god please don’t stop! I’m so close.” Quinn planted her face against the soft material, biting it. Hawks stopped moving his hand that was around his cock, instead he wrapped it around her waist, holding her against him.

With two fingers inside of her, Hawks curled them up, hitting her bundle of nerves. Quinn was positive it was because of the edible she ate that it made her extra sensitive. She felt that tight bundle in her lower abdomen release itself as she came on Hawks fingers.

“Holy fuck Keigo.” Her body convulsed ever so slightly as he kept licking her clean, making sure to get every drop of her essence.

“I’m not done with you yet.” He bit her inner thigh, making sure to leave a mark in his wake. Sliding out from under her, Hawks walked over to his luggage to grab a condom. Quinn took this moment to try and catch her breath. Moving to the middle of the bed, she laid on her back with her hazel eyes closed, legs slightly spread apart. She was too fucking high for this, between the edible and the way Hawks made her see cloud nine she wasn’t sure if she could keep up.

She felt her body slipping into sleep mode when she felt hands wrapping around her ankles, pulling her to the edge of the bed.

“Don’t you dare sleep firebird, I’ve got a raging hard cock just for you.” He was kneeling on the bed, her legs over his hands while his arms locked them in place, her ass slightly off the bed. Her thick thighs were touching but she could see Hawks’ cock resting in between her slick folds, his hips rocking gently, brushing against her sensitive clit.

“The way you have me feeling right now is fucking insane.” He continued to move against her, as he watched her squirm. Soft plump lips were slightly agape as she purred for him. Her beautiful curls were fanned out around her, her baby hairs sticking to her sweaty forehead. Those breasts he loved so much moved with each grind he did against her. Hazel colored eyes staring right at him as he looked over her body.

“Fuck Quinn you look so beautiful right now.” Pulling back Hawks aligned himself with her entrance. Slowly he eased inside of her, watching as she took every inch of him.

Hawks let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, once he was fully inside of her. Her walls were constricting around him. Her small hand reached out to cup his face, her thumb brushing against his swollen lips. Closing his eyes Hawks leaned into Quinn’s touch, kissing her thumb.

“You have no idea how much I love you.” It was a whisper but Quinn heard it and she felt her heart quicken its pace.

“Move Keigo, please I need it, I need you.”

He didn’t need to be told twice, slightly pulling back he thrust his hips forward, back into her.  Quinn’s eyes rolled back into her head, as a moan slipped past her lips. Hawks thrust were slow and deep, making sure she felt all of him. But he was slowly losing and uphill battle.

Quinn knew he was sensitive because of the drug and she wanted him to cum just like she had.

“Come here.” She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, bringing him down to her. Letting go of her legs, he put them over his shoulders, bending her in half. His nose brushed against her rounded one, breaths mingling with each other, his hips never stopped moving.

“No one has made me ever feel the way you do Keigo. The feeling of your dick inside of me, my walls stretching around you is the best feeling in the world baby.” Their eyes were locked, his hips moving faster. Yes, he had a pleasure kink, but he also had a praise kink.

“That’s right baby fuck me. Make me scream out your name while I cum for you and only you!” The grip she had on his neck tightened and he moved faster and faster. The position had him going so deep inside of her, pushing against her soft bundle of nerves.

She could feel his hips stutter in their movements, he was about to cum. “That’s right Keigo Cum. I want to feel it, I’ll cum with you, just don’t fucking stop.” Moving her face to the side her lips met his in a kiss that was messy and full of tongue.

“Fuck Quinn!” Hawks broke the kiss, closing his eyes and his forehead rested against hers. The sound of skin slapping against each other and their moans filled the room. Hawks felt like he was flying through the sky, the stars were right in his reach.

Quinn felt it too as if she was flying along with him, not caring about anything but the man on top of her as he brought her to a new kind of high.

Hawks opened his eyes and he felt his heart stop. She was looking right at him, her eyes full of love and lust for him. He was sure his own mirrored hers. Mouths were opened, only shuddering breaths were coming out with each deep thrust. Quinn’s hands traveled to his back, raking her nails across his skin, leaving red marks behind. She was so close and so was Hawks, with one final thrust, they both felt that white-hot flash run through their body.

“FUCK!” They both screamed as their release hit them at the same time. Slowly they rode out their orgasm, Hawks moving slowly and Quinn’s body going limp. Pulling out of her, Hawks took off the condom, knotting the top and tossing it in the trash can.

Slowly he let down her legs, moving next to her, he placed one arm under her shoulders and another under her knees. Gently he moved her further up the bed to where the pillows were, moving the comforter so he could wrap her in it.

Once Quinn was snuggled into the bed he walked over to the light switch, turning it off. Climbing onto the mattress next to his beloved, Hawks placed an arm over her waist, his head resting on her chest. Quinn moved her free arm to rub her finger through his soft hair. Lulling him into a deep sleep. The love between them didn’t need words, they knew that they had something different, something real.

Quinn opened her eyes to the sound of a water bottle being crushed. Her mouth was dry as if full of cotton and her lower half was sore. Sitting up she saw the white containers of what looked like Halal food and Hawks clothes thrown around the room. Flashes of last night flooded her mind.

“Baby why am I so thirsty?! What was in that cereal bar?” Hawks was sitting in front of the minibar, opening his fourth bottle of water.

Quinn couldn’t help but laugh at him. “You’re so lucky I love you.”

[nessie-rp]

PHOENIX.

The phoenix, in its many forms and with its many names, is a spirit creature of which very little is known to the common person, even in supernatural spheres. Conflicting stories of their origins abound — that they are born when a falling star passes over the birth of only the purest of souls, that they existed before the earth was separated from the sea and will exist long after one reclaims the other, that the dragons breathed life into ash and from those ashes rose the first phoenix, and so on. None but the oldest phoenixes themselves know the truth of their origins, and even then it is rare that a phoenix will experience the memories of their first lives — rarer still for them to share such an intimate reminiscence.

Mythological touch points include: the Greek phoenix, Egyptian benu, East Asian fenghuang/hō-ō, Chinese Vermilion bird, Slavic firebird, Iranian huma and simurgh, Turkic konrul, Arabian anqa, the figure/iconography of Garuda in South/Southeast Asia, Chilean alicanto, Mayan Vucub-Caquix

HISTORY.

Mentions of a winged spiritual being with some mastery over life and death stretch back to 3000 BCE (see: Herodotus’ writings on Heliopolis, the then-capital of prehistoric Egypt). The ancient Egyptians even believed that the gods Atum and Re would occasionally take the form of a benu, a type of phoenix-creature.

This was not the last time a phoenix may have been worshipped as a god. Taking on an aspect of divinity allows for more influence over the moral leadership of a society, which is a phoenix’s ultimate goal.

It is said that phoenixes show themselves to mankind at important moments in history, but their reclusiveness in recent centuries has made such sightings scarce.

IN LYONESSE.

The phoenixes have no official position on the Hallowed Council, preferring to keep to themselves and work outside of politics. Their presence has been felt in Lyonesse for at least five hundred years, though it's likely they've been in and out of the city since shortly after its founding.

FACTS.

A common symbol of life, death, and rebirth, phoenixes are linked inextricably to this cycle. only under strict and often fatal conditions do they break it. They are among the most powerful, ancient, and secretive species of the supernatural world.

All phoenixes typically find a moral purpose to serve in their early lives, some kind of mission, and attempt to serve that purpose in all their subsequent lives. It is unknown whether phoenixes are compelled to choose a cause due to their nature or if their attempts to shepherd the mortal world come from a dictate of the first community of phoenixes. Many simply continue the cycle both because it has been so as long as the world can remember and as a way of coping with endless resurrection.

General characteristics of phoenixes include:

Reincarnation and pseudo-immortality.

While they are essentially the same being in each of their lives, the "mortal" lives that phoenixes live before awakenings affect their personalities, interpretations of the world, memories, and sense of purpose so they remain highly mutable beings. Phoenixes may not always take the same form in each of their incarnations. It’s common to find a phoenix that strongly resembles or evokes one of their past forms, but much more difficult for them to preserve their physical appearance exactly from life to life.

Phoenix births are extremely rare, as they can only be born from the union of two phoenixes.

Phoenixes age at a normal rate in each of their lives until the point at which their past lives reassert themselves, at which time aging slows or stops completely. They then then experience extended lifetimes of between 90 and 200 years, but remain mortal.

When phoenixes "die," their last breath is one of fire. Their mortal shells are consumed and their immortal soul, the firebird, seeks a suitable host to birth their next incarnation through a process of metempsychosis.

Absolutely adore sunlight.

Skeptical of reptilian creatures, including dragons.

Quite fond of greenery, very good at caring for plant life.

AWAKENING & AVIAN FORM.

Phoenixes reach a point in each life where their memories of their past lives resurface violently — this is the point at which phoenixes are the most vulnerable, as they experience breaks between reality and their memoryscapes and their other powers slowly reawaken. After their awakening, they have access to their avian form. These feathered creatures seem to be made of flame and plasma, though they are solid and interact as a normal living being would with the world. The fire of this form will only burn if that is the intention of the phoenix. Seeing a phoenix in their avian form can sometimes be interpreted as an omen of death.

When in this form, a phoenix leaves its human, corporeal, and mortal body behind, leaving itself vulnerable to attack as the absence of the spirit in the body would prevent them from acting to defend themselves. The bird rises from the body and can move without a tether; should the body die the avian form will not also be extinguished. This form is incredibly fast and strong, and has some control over natural energies, including heat, magic, and electricity.

ABILITIES.

ENERGY MANIPULATION. Even in their human forms, phoenixes have the power to control energy in various states, mainly through pyrokinesis, thermokinesis, and electrokinesis. Though phoenixes are not prone to using these abilities offensively, they can prove extremely powerful in a confrontation and are not to be underestimated. This ability is innate, but does not manifest until after the awakening in each life.

HEALING. Their tears have immense healing properties and are extremely sought after by magical healers. They also have innate touch-healing magicks, but the most potent healing ability comes from their tears. These healing abilities do not apply to their own injuries/ailments.

MEMORIES. Occasionally, when a phoenix encounters the same situations in different lifetimes, they'll get a very strong deja vu type feeling that may trigger flashes of that situation happening in the past and, occasionally, in the future. It is the only known instance of phoenix clairvoyance.

IMMUNITIES. Phoenixes are completely fireproof and impervious to mind-reading and glamours. They are also much more resistant to human diseases.

WEAKNESSES.

MORTALITY. A phoenix can be brought to a true death by another phoenix or if they die while submerged in water. The killing of a phoenix marks the murderer for the rest of their lives and beyond. Other deaths can come about by any means, but they will always trigger the rebirth as long as the fatal injury/sickness/etc. is persistent enough to overcome their healing abilities. Magical practitioners have tried to interfere with the life cycles of the phoenix before to catastrophic consequence.

MAGIC. They are highly susceptible to witchcraft in their humanoid forms. Phoenixes who are cursed in one life may carry the curse to their next life, depending on the strength and conditions of the curse (i.e. if the witch was trying to kill the phoenix, the curse would not continue past that first death). They have no way of knowing that they are cursed until their memories reassert themselves with the awakening.

CONTAINMENT. Their avian forms can be caged or held prisoner if confined within/with metal forged in either phoenix or dragon fire. The latter is much more common than the former, though still uncommon. If the avian form is kept away from the mortal body for too long, the mortal body will die but the creature will continue to exist, in a limbo of sorts within their reincarnation cycle until they are freed from the cage and able to seek out a new host.

DARK PHOENIXES.

Those phoenixes who fail to find a purpose, who do not make a positive change in the world, or who are more self-centered than selfless are said to have gone “dark.” Committing an act of true evil will also sully a phoenix, i.e. killing another phoenix, sexual assault, murder of an innocent, etc.

SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Burning contaminated firewood will result in atypical flame colors; similarly, the impurities in a dark phoenix's soul will be displayed in their avian forms as their coats will be striped with uncommon colors such as green, blue, and white.

Dark phoenixes undergo much harsher awakenings than their purer counterparts. Their memories are often much more intense and violent, therefore much more difficult to manage reliving. They are considerably weakened by their first few transitions into the avian form and may even be unable to access this form for a considerable amount of time after regaining their memories.

Dark phoenixes are volatile and very powerful, burning hotter than their counterparts in their avian forms. However, this means that they tend to have shorter lifespans because they “burn themselves out,” so to speak.

ORGANIZATION & SOCIETY.

Phoenixes do not tend to congregate or have any kind of species-wide organization. Due to their rarity, natural secrecy, and the unpredictable nature of their awakening, they are usually solitary.

Though they do not have a typical family structure but, on occasion, they can be mated to a member of another species and absorbed into their own group structure. If this is the case, they tend to gain more sociability and become less guarded because they have the added protection of a mate.

They strictly forbid writing down direct accounts of their lives, though there is no organization charged with enforcing this. Many suspect certain phoenixes have made this their moral duty, so as to preserve the balance, but no records of such a person/group exist, perhaps because they do their work efficiently.

INTERSPECIES RELATIONS.

Many phoenixes keep their identities secret from the world, masquerading as humans or witches. Reclusive by nature, the only species they generally mistrust are dragonkind.

Their feathers retain magical energies if removed, but it is considered bad luck to trade in phoenix feathers, no matter how powerful they can be for witches. Some groups consider them sacred. Phoenixes shed feathers naturally when in their avian form for long stretches.

To vampires, their blood tastes like ash and they smell faintly of burning carbon. However, it is a little-known fact that drinking the blood of a phoenix allows vampires to walk in the sun for a short period of time without facing any of its ill-effects.

MYTHS.

These things do not apply:

They have only an avian form. Through magic, they can access this bestial form, but they are born with human forms and the magical ability to flit between forms.

They rise from ashes. Would be cool.

Bathing in the blood of a phoenix can reverse the aging process. As yet uncomfired but likely untrue.

[kiragecko]

This is how I imagine Rachel Grey - a fractured mosaic of all her past selves, not quite stuck in time, ridiculously powerful in every facet. 

I definitely don’t have the skill to make this look like my vision, but I like how her hair turned out. The slightly long early 2000′s look on one side, shorter spikes on top, fire hair on the other side, and then her buzz cut and rattail at the bottom.

I also like how her first 2 costumes REALLY don’t mesh with the other outfits. The white leotard, white heel and thick red leg warmer on one leg; and the red skin, with pink firebird over her chest, weird dark lines on her arm, and hound tattoos on her face. Not only do the colours not match well, they were also coloured in a really different style to later costumes, so it was hard to palette match.

I chose the short top and miniskirt from her Marvel Girl days as the main outfit, covering her from neck to mid thigh on one side, because it’s the one I first got to know her in. I ended up showing an uncomfortable amount of her skin, though.

Her other leg is her original black hound costume, with her hip showing the Phoenix costume she wore around Cable for, I think, one issue? I liked it, anyways. That shoulder has her Prestige costume with the cape; that hand, and her other shoulder are spiky, Excalibur era Phoenix, surrounded by Phoenix fire. The other arm has the red jacket and fingerless gloves of her Jean Grey School days.

Finally - her face. Going clockwise, starting with the black skin and glowing triangle phoenix over one eye, down to her original hound tattoos on red skin, then the stylized “pretty” hound marks around mouth, the orange translucence of Remnant (in House of X), and the tattoo free face of Marvel Girl around the other eye. 

I think it’s cool!

PS. If anyone knows any X-Fans on Tumblr or AO3 who are into the comics from the 70s to the late 2000s, please let me know. I’m going through a Marvel phase again, but I have not developed in the same direction as the comics/fandom. I’m passionate from early Claremont up to Utopia. Then I get lost.

[thewhitehotroom]

Welcome to Comic Cover Friday where we take a look at comic covers featuring Jean Grey and examine some of the details and plot points from within the book to learn more about Jean Grey!

If you have any suggestions for Jean Grey Comic Covers that I should feature and examine please feel free to message me and I will gladly look into them!

This Week the cover I have chosen to highlight is: Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 Issue #137

Cover Title: Phoenix Must Die!

Book Title: The Fate of the Phoenix!

Cover Artists: Made by the combined talents of John Byrne, Terry Austin and Jim Novak!

The Cover: This cover and story are some what of an ending to Jean’s original story, she was one of Xavier’s first students and has evolved beyond just being a student and in this story she has to make the ultimate sacrifice. This cover puts Jean and Scott on the forefront attempting to save Jean’s own life. The environment around them is colored in more bland and muted colors while Jean and Scott both stand out in their brightly colored uniforms while also displaying their abilities at full power. I love the colors on this cover and and how powerful the image itself is.

The Comic Book: The X-Men, including the Beast, the Angel and a now back to “normal” Jean Grey find themselves teleported onto a Shi’ar starship in the midst of a massive gathering of representatives from across the Shi’ar galaxy. Empress Lilandra declares that the Phoenix must die. The X-Men are perplexed, until Lilandra explain how the Dark Phoenix (the “Chaos Bringer” according to Shi’ar legends) exterminated the D’Barian race and an imperial cruiser. Jean’s friends are horrified by the account. 

Xavier demands a duel of honor between the X-Men and the Imperial Guard for the fate of the Phoenix. After consulting this with the Kree and Skrull leaders, it is agreed to allow it. The Supreme Intelligence and R'Kill demand that their emissaries watch over the battle, however. 

The X-Men rest up for the fight. Over the course of the night, Jean has an alien tailor create a replica of her old Marvel Girl costume for her to wear. Nightcrawler and Angel practice in a training room. Wolverine meditates. Beast takes a bath and takes advantage of some of Shi’ar hospitality. Storm and Colossus each rest up for the fight. Each of them in their own way ponders the Phoenix’s actions and wrestles with whether or not they can bring themselves to defend her, given what they now know she’s has done. 

On a deck looking out into space, a similarly conflicted Cyclops broods over his lot in life and that the love of his life might be killed just when they were truly falling in love. His thoughts are interrupted when Jean arrives and shows off her costume. The two then decide to spend what could possibly be their last night together.The following morning, the X-Men all agree to fight for Jean and are teleported to the surface of the moon, into the ancient Kree “Blue Area.” Angel finds out the hard way that he cannot fly too high without breaching the protective atmosphere of the blue area.

They observe their opponents, Imperial Guard members, in the distance and the X-Men split up to divide the Imperial forces. Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Angel and Nightcrawler head off in one direction and quickly draw fire from the Guardsmen known as Starbolt.

The other group consisting of Beast, Colossus, Storm and Wolverine travels into the underground tunnels and clashes with B'nee and his partner C'cll. Guardian rips up the ground beneath them and Wolverine is knocked down a shaft but Storm breaks his fall. They land near the Watcher’s citadel, where they are attacked by Hussar and Earthquake. Wolverine is knocked into the Watcher's citadel while Storm is defeated by the two Imperials. Elsewhere, the battle rages on: Smasher tosses Angel down another shaft, prompting Nightcrawler to leap after him, leaving Cyclops and Marvel Girl alone and outnumbered. Inside the Watcher's citadel, Wolverine awakens to encounter the Watcher who curtly kicks him out of his home. Outside the citadel, Wolverine is approached by what appears to be Storm, his enhanced senses detect that it's really the Skrull Raksor. Before he can deal with the shapeshifter, however, he is blasted into unconsciousness by the Kree known as Bel-Dann. Disgusted at being saved by one of his mortal enemies, Raskor shape shifts into a bestial creature and attacks the Kree.

Meanwhile, down below, Nightcrawler finds no trace of Angel and attempts to get the drop on Manta, only to be blasted by her. Afterwards, she is shown to have already captured the Angel as well. Not far away, B'Nee incapacitates the Beast, while Gladiator goes toe-to-toe with Colossus and easily beats the X-Man into submission. Watching the battle from the Shi'ar flag ship, Xavier is upset witnessing his X-Men being beaten, and Lilandra silently mourns for her love. Only Cyclops and Marvel Girl are left. Marvel Girl uses her telekinetic powers to hide them briefly. The two agree to go out together and after a brief rest attack the remaining Imperials head on.

Observing from above, the Shi’ar sensors detect an abrupt and dramatic energy surge on the moon below. A force of pure energy strikes the ship, announcing to all that … Phoenix has returned! In desperation, Lilandra orders her forces to ensure the Phoenix’s destruction by destroying the Earth, the solar system even the entire galaxy if necessary. Professor X sends an urgent telepathic message to his X-Men to alert them to the situation.

Narration captions indicate that in their last stand together, Marvel Girl saw Cyclops get cut down, prompting her to once again become Phoenix. The firebird effect blazes all around her and the now inert bodies of her Imperial Guard foes. With no other choice, the X-Men pick themselves up and change their focus to attacking Jean, despite the pain that it brings them to do so. Wolverine performs a reverse fastball special, launching Colossus at Phoenix. He strikes a powerful blow that’s strong enough to temporarily jar her mind back to sanity. She begs her fellow X-Men to end her life but nobody can bring themselves to do it. Jean then runs into a tunnel with Scott right behind. She traps him in a telekinetic shield and tells him that there is no other choice but for the Phoenix to die. Powerless to stop anything, Cyclops watches in horror as Jean triggers one of the long-dormant Kree laser cannons into blasting her, incinerating her body. As the Phoenix dies, her final words are to scream out Scott's name. With Jean dead, Scott realizes how much he has lost that day breaks down in tears. (Synopsis courtesy of Marvel Fandom.com)