#Though I did also see two pilots in uniform | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

translatemunson · 5 months ago

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file 002 — brand new bar, same old problems

chapter two of death defying acts

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cw: MDNI thank you, fem!reader, afab!reader, no descriptions of reader (i'm really trying to keep my descriptions of her and her background to a minimum so i can be inclusive to all people, but let me know if i can improve), no use of y/n, reader has a call sign (i had to pick one, it makes sense for the story), innacuracies about the navy, topgun and army (i did my best guys), this takes places after the events of the movie, yes don't kill me but reader has a fling with another aviator won't say who, implied smut.

If surviving Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell and the Dagger Squad would be required for you to be sent overseas, you were not sure there was gonna be a lot of you left to fit in a plane seat.

In just two days and one quick chat with Maverick, you had to recognize there was no easy task in front of you. Maverick didn’t show any enthusiasm in your work or questions on that quick meeting, which was somewhat discouraging. You had been spending your morning reviewing previous logs of all of the fighter pilots, your afternoons watching them live on radar, taking notes of their data, style and skills, your evenings analyzing all of your notes and coming up with plans for the simulation.

You were in bed way past your normal schedule on Saturday morning. Your belongings would definitely sit on boxes for another week or two if you didn’t do anything regarding it. You had the essentials out — uniforms, underwear, laptop, hygiene products, and a picture of you with your parents —, but that was it. Even your kitchen was getting appliances as you started to need them.

You grabbed a clean change of clothes, your bag and headed out to do groceries and get your mind out of work. There were a lot of things to get done before you were back to base on Monday: firstly you needed some real food in your fridge, including new tea blends and pasta for when you’re too tired to cook anything that takes longer than 20 minutes. Then you had to pick up more pills for your headache. Maybe some flowers for your living room would make the place livable — and also push you to unpack a few boxes with your books and portraits.

Also you had to call your parents and brief them on your first days. Well, maybe that was easier said than done: while you couldn’t share much details about what you were doing, you knew they were ready to pull some interrogation tactics or whatever to get all the intel. Your father was the one helping you with the moving — because he was free in between flight classes —, but your mom was the one texting people to know why now they wanted to transfer you to San Diego.

Once the call sign Maverick was brought to the table, your father did all he could to get you another opening somewhere else. And as soon as you got the bigger picture of why you were being moved to work with Maverick and his team, the puzzle made sense. Even though they were successful on their mission, they had one more challenge ahead, and there was no margin for errors or close calls for this one — you were gonna receive more information about it after the first few weeks.

Maverick and the Dagger Squad were definitely a lot to deal with. Excellent pilots, an amazing sense of a team — maybe almost being killed does this to a group —, but you could see some flaws slipping through the cracks of their personalities. Maverick still hated authority and being told to follow orders. Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin — not Bagman, unfortunately — could be a team player only if that benefited him, otherwise his wingman was the first to go down during training. Natasha ‘Phoenix’ Trace was an excellent pilot, and Robert ‘Bob’ Floyd as her WSO was a great combo, but if paired with someone else, it was a hit or miss — you asked to change pairings on Friday morning, just to check if there was margin for new combos. Reuben ‘Payback’ Fitch and his WSO, Mickey ‘Fanboy’ Garcia, were also a great combo, but they needed a strong flight leader to shine and succeed. Javy ‘Coyote’ Machado was a good pilot, but only on good days — and that was something you couldn’t risk on a mission. And Bradshaw was living for his call sign Rooster, even though he had amazing decision making skills, he was always waiting for the last second to make a move. And that, in the field, meant death.

And those were just a few observations you could get from a few hours in front of the radars and live data from their training exercises.

You went through your shopping list in no time, stopping for headache meds and some flowers just after you got lunch. Back at your one bedroom apartment, you, once again, found an excuse to avoid a Facetime call with your parents, but you made sure to text them some pictures of your progress — and thank your dad for finding a good place for you to stay, a 20 minutes drive from the base, and also in a walking distance of the Golden Hill Park.

Clothes on drawers and hangers, cutlery in the right places, uniforms in the washer, books in the shelves. You were slowly bringing together the sense of home to San Diego. Your last few weeks in Nevada were crazy: you were back from one deployment in the Pacific just to be called for another quick job in Alaska. Thankfully your dad had a few weeks off to go to Nevada and help you pack, driving all your stuff three days before your arrival and saying he would take care of housing. All you had to do was sign a few papers, pack the stuff you could send ahead and get ready for a quick stop up north.

The sun was setting when you realized you were almost done with things. Maybe you should let some for Sunday, so you could also keep your mind off of work. You got up from your bedroom floor, took a long shower and checked your messages.

On Friday, you were able to catch up with Bob over lunch, asking him about his journey after training. You also got close to Phoenix, kinda relieved she was just as nice as you remembered. You got their numbers, they got yours, and that’s how you end up with an invite to join them at a bar called Hard Deck in an hour. If you were gonna be around for at least ten weeks, you might as well do something else besides working.

So you went through your clothes, searching for a black top, some jeans and a jacket for when it got chiller from the autumn air. Just some casual clothes to share a few beers and a few more stories. Still getting used to San Diego streets and skyline, you drove like you weren’t in no rush to get to the bar, appreciating the change of scenery from the desert to the beachside.

You parked outside the Hard Deck just a few minutes late. For a Saturday evening, the place was pretty packed, and you could see some clients were proud to walk around in their work khakis — something you avoided as much as you could. After all, you were just a few minutes away from the station. Texting Bob back to ask him if they were already there, you didn’t even hit send before you were able to pick your new colleagues amidst the crowd.

Nat was holding a pool cue on the side of her body, explaining something to Mickey and Bob. Hangman and Coyote were trying to impress some ladies on the darts board — and you were very sorry for those two poor souls, if they knew everything you’ve been hearing while on duty. You stopped by the bar, getting yourself some bar soda and starting a tab.

“You’re sure I can’t fix you anything else?” The lady behind the bar asked you.

“I’m good for now.” And then you turned to your colleagues and thought better, “Do you happen to remember what they’re getting?” You pointed to them.

“Sure thing, they’re just having beers. Are you friends with the Daggers?”

“Not exactly,” you watched her grab six bottles, serve some ice in the bucket and hand it to you. “I was relocated here to work with them. I know Bob and Phoenix from previous training, but that’s about it.”

“Oh, so you’re part of Maverick’s team?” She definitely knew them, not just because they would be spending their down time on Hard Deck.

“I’m part of the Intelligence Team working with them.” It didn’t get easier every time you talked about it. “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

“It’s Penny, honey. Well, let me know once you decide to try something else.”

“Thank you, Penny.”

You took the drinks with you to the high top table just on the side of their pool table. Your upbeat spirit died down as soon as you realized Bradshaw was there. After being lectured about Maverick and Goose, Bradley’s father, you weren’t looking forward to tolerating him outside of work. His short temper and slow decision making was something that got on your nerves easily. But you should’ve expected this, since he’s a long time friend with Nat.

“Look who’s out of that desk, guys.” And unfortunately, Hangman was the one to announce your presence. “I thought you were the type to wear your uniform everywhere since you’re a goody-two-shoes, Hyde.”

“Unlike you, Seresin, I have a life and personality outside of base.” You pointed to his khakis. “And don’t worry, I’m not writing down your lack of hobbies, outside women and pissing others off of course. I could already tell that based on your flight maneuvers.”

“Looking forward to reading the file you’re writing about me.” He reached for a beer, and you rolled your eyes. “Thanks, honey.”

“I’ll be surprised if you can actually read,” you bit back. “But I’m not here to work. And these beers are a peace offering. I’m not the enemy.”

“So you just like to point out our weaknesses for fun.” Mickey approached you, but you could tell it was more of a lighthearted comment than a critique. “Thanks, Hyde.”

“Thank me next week when you ace the mission simulation.”

You passed them their beers. There was only one left, but since Bradley was more concerned with his pool game than a beer, you moved the bucket aside and turned to Bob, asking “Is this every Navy favorite place to go?”

“Kinda. It’s close to base, and the service is nice and fairly priced.” Bob looked at his water. “How long have you been here?”

“I arrived this week. My father helped me move, but I had zero time to wander around.” But who’s fault was that? Definitely yours. “They are a tough crowd, I fear.”

“Don’t worry, they eventually warm up to strangers,” he explained. “We’re still fresh from last mission, and fresh blood always disturbs a little of a group’s balance.”

“I guess I would know that if I worked closely with fighter pilots,” you confessed. “Most of my missions consist of assisting with data and probabilities when tracing plans and assessing risks. Sometimes I don’t even know who is receiving my reports.”

“But you’ve been training with pilots, right?”

“No real missions, just simulations, mostly with graduates from Top Gun back in Fallon.” This job could be the perfect blend of what you’re good at and your passion, but even though you had extensive training with Air missions, you were stuck with assessing risks for admirals and captains to take charge. “It’s my first real chance to be on a mission where I’m able to build a relationship with the people I’m working with, not just being briefed on the mission and its goals.”

“I see. Yeah, I believe you’re gonna do a great job, not just because I know you, but because there’s still room for improvement and you’re gonna be the key for it.” Bob tried to cheer you up, and even though you wanted to believe his words, the first few days were tough on you.

“Thanks, Bob. But I’ve meant it when I said I’m not here to work,” you laughed, leaving the pressure of your relocation for another time.

“So you better start sharpening your pool skills, Hyde.” Natasha passed you her pool cue and smiled. “Do you even play it?”

“Who do you think I am, Phoenix?” You gasped, as if her words were the biggest betrayal you ever faced. “It’s been a minute since I last played, tho.”

“It’s ok, you don’t need to be good at everything you do, you know.” She joked. “Ok, cutthroat rules. You, me and Rooster.”

She reseted the table as she explained how it was going to work: she was protecting balls 1 to 5, you were in charge with 6 to 10, Rooster had 11 to 15 to himself. The goal was to pocket any opponent's balls while protecting yours. If a foul occurred, the other players had the right to place a ball back at the table.

Natasha breaks, and one of hers was pocketed right away. On her shot, she aimed for the 7-ball, but it lacked strength to send your ball to the pocket. You took a look at the table, spotting a chance to pocket the 12-ball. You walked to the other side, passing just inches away from Bradshaw, and sending his ball to the pocket. He looked unimpressed when you checked for his reaction. You tried to get one of Nat ball’s, but you picked the wrong angle.

Bradshaw fixed his sunglasses on the neck of shirt, assessed the table and went for the 8-ball. Everyone was tied on losses. He sent the 1 straight to the pocket. His third shot scratched the 6-ball and moved it to a dangerous spot, and you held your breath.

“Don’t worry, I’m on your side,” Natasha aimed for the 15-ball and sent it straight to the corner pocket. But it was still a risky position for your 6-ball, and you watched when she pocketed that one as well. “I mean, I took one of his first, which makes us even, right?”

“That’s not what I’ve learned on Math 101, but ok.” You shook your head. “What are you gonna do next?”

“I’m gonna,” she elongated her words, “maybe this one,” she pointed to the 5-ball, “or a small challenge with the 14.” She positioned herself, and missed the latter for a lot. “Your shot, Hyde.”

You sent the 14-ball straight into the pocket, then missed your shot. Bradley took the 3-ball out, followed by the 10, and missed the 7. Nat got the 9-ball, then missed. You tunnel vision on the 13, in the middle of the table, with a huge chance of error. The white ball hit all the wrong corners and you miss it. And it got the white one on the perfect spot to send your last ball to the pocket.

“It was nice playing with you, fellas.” You turned over your cue and crossed your arms, destiny sealed since Bradshaw was a way better player than you. You watched the 7-ball disappear inside the pocket.

“Wait, Hyde, someone could get a foul, and you can come back,” Nat tried to pull you back to the table.

“I’m good with my loss, don’t worry. I’m not leaving, just wanna get something from the bar.” You took the now empty bucket — did Bradshaw get his beer or someone stole it? — to the bar and returned it to Penny.

“How is it going?” She smiled and motioned her head to the group.

“Could be worse. Can I have a tequila shot?”

“Sure, honey.” Penny checked something under the bar. “Is house tequila ok?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. Can you get me one water and two more beers as well?”

“Coming right up.”

You took your phone of your pocket, and checked your messages: you were setting the family group chat aside for tomorrow morning; Lisa, your roommate from Fallon, was sharing updates on the gossip you were missing — not even three days and they didn’t failed to surprise you — while in San Diego; Ashton, still unaware of your transference, was asking if you were free. Yeah, things would never change.

“Here.” She laid your order on the counter. “I know you’re an Officer, but do you happen to have a call sign?”

“It’s more common to hear people calling me by it than my own name,” you shared, and she laughed. “It’s Hyde, a character from a gothic novel.”

“Oh, I believe I’ve read this book in high school.” She pressed her lips together and stared at you, like she was trying to put the pieces together. “Do you need some lime and salt for the shot?”

“No, not really.” Maybe not a smart idea since you’re driving, but that was the Hyde in you: nice face, good manners, but short tempered and always down to some trouble. “Thanks, Penny.”

You balanced your shot and the water in one hand, held the two beers in the other and moved carefully between the crowd to your friends. Back to the pool table, you watched Rooster send Nat’s last ball to the pocket.

“Oh no! And I thought you were each other's lucky charm,” you pointed out between her and Bob. You sat by her WSO’s side and passed him a water. “Or do you want a beer?”

“Water’s fine, thanks,” he offered you some nuts, and you gladly took a few.

“Here, a consolation prize for you.” You slid a beer for Nat as soon as she joined the table. You looked over her shoulder, seeing Bradshaw walking to the piano. “Is he always like that?”

You looked over your shoulder to Bradshaw. He carried a lot of resemblances to his parents — you could tell after hours looking through your parents’ photos, and seeing Goose and Carole in a few, with a kid Bradley closer. This was way before you were transferred to San Diego or decided to join the Navy.

You thought Bradshaw was just like you, until your father told you what happened to him. Father died after a failed ejection, his mom died of cancer, Maverick pulled his papers and set him back. You felt sorry about it, but if he was raised by Pete Mitchell after all of that, you were expecting to meet the younger version of the captain.

“Give him some time, Rooster is not much of a fan of changes,” she explained.

“As long as this doesn’t interfere with my job, I’m ok with not being friends with everyone.” You drank the tequila shot without making an ugly face, and quickly moved to your beer.

“Do you happen to know anything about our next mission?” Nat asked.

“I’m afraid I’m just as in the dark as you,” you shook your shoulders. “I know about the uranium mission though, which was pretty dangerous. I would’ve done a thing or two differently.”

“What exactly?”

“I mean, they could’ve timed the missiles to hit a few SAMs as you were leaving the valley, and make your way out of there smoother.” They were already flying a dangerous zone on less powerful planes, and exposed the hell of their jets, so not having at least a few bombs to help out was a little dumb.

“You’re kinda right,” Bob threw another nut inside his mouth. “Do you think they considered it?”

“Nah, I bet 20 bucks Admiral Simpson was looking for an opportunity to get rid of Maverick.” You took a sip of your beer.

“That’s cruel. But hey, if you have the chance to make our mission less dangerous, you have my approval.” Nat smiled.

“I’ll remember that.”

“Hey, have you always been part of Intelligence?”

You and Bob shared a look. “No, I joined the Navy after graduating from college. My parents are from the Navy, and they gave me the chance to choose. So education, then enlisting. My records say I graduated from Flight School because I completed the training successfully, but I got in an accident during the last week. Then, because of my college degree, they gave me a spot as part of the Intelligence, and I liked it there.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for your accident. I bet you miss being in the sky sometimes.”

“Thanks, Nat. My dad is a flight instructor nowadays, and everytime we’re in the same base, he finds a way to let me fly for a few minutes.”

“So you’ve been keeping your flight skills in check? Why don’t you apply to Top Gun?” Bob inquired.

“I really don’t see myself doing what you guys do on a daily basis,” another sip, waiting for them to be convinced. You were way past that Top Gun chance now, anyway.

“A pretty thing like you fits better as a Top Gun pilot's wife,” Hangman came up to the table, a beer in hand.

“I rather crawl naked over hot tarmac than date an aviator, Bagman.” Maybe if the aviator wasn’t part of your team, but just maybe. “You guys are just trouble. Can’t keep your missiles in your pants, and flee as soon as possible.”

“You’re funny, Hyde,” he pointed his beer’s neck at you.

“Don’t let it fool you, Hangman, they don’t call her Hyde for nothing,” Bob warned him.

“Don’t have a lot of Jekyll going on, hun?”

“Oh god, you’re insufferable,” Nat exited the table as fast as she could.

“No wonder those girls left you hanging on the darts,” it was kinda undeniable that there was some tension in the air.

“If you’d excuse me, I think it’s the perfect time to call my girlfriend.” And Bobby was smart to take his cue to leave you two alone. He motioned to his phone, and you noticed the picture on the wallpaper: the WSO with his arms around a beautiful girl. But she didn’t look like anyone you’ve seen around at base so far.

“Needs babysitting, Bob?” Hangman teased.

“Should I remind you who fell for the feral koalas story, Seresin?” Bob biting back? That was a first for you.

You looked between the two men, intrigued.

“Go talk about pandas or whatever, Floyd.” Jake waved his hand.

“See you later, Hyde.” Bob walks to the external deck, phone in his ear.

“What did he mean with feral koalas?” You inquired.

“His lady is Australian, and one time she told us about how koalas got a disease and were attacking people, and she sounded very scared.”

“And you believed it?”

“I mean, there was a lady in distress!”

“Jeez, we should legally change your call sign to Himbo.”

“Him-what?”

You laughed and stared at Jake, “I’m dead serious about not dating aviators, tho.”

“Who said anything about dating?”

One thing led to another. Coyote left the bar with a girl on his side, Hangman was left without a ride. You offered to drive him there, since it was on your way home, but you were none the wiser after a tough week and a few tequila shots.

When the sun started to peak over the waves, you were far away from Jake’s bed and still very much sure of your promise. You were in San Diego with one goal and one goal only: earn that promotion. And nothing or anyone was stepping into your way.

a/n: hello aviators! first of all, thank you SO MUCH for the support on the first chapter. yes, i wrote what i wrote and i don't regret it (hyde hooking up with hangman, but it was mostly implied so don't worry, it's almost like it didn't happened haha). also even tho we know who the daggers are, hyde is still getting to know them, i couldn't pass on a hard deck introduction scene (top gun: maverick movie style!). well, let me know what you guys think about this chapter, don't forget to reblog, vote and comment! see ya soon!

#bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #bradley bradshaw x reader #top gun maverick fanfic #top gun maverick series #bradley bradshaw fluff #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #bradley brawshaw x female!reader #bradley brawshaw x you #bradley brawshaw x y/n #bradley bradshaw imagine #top gun rooster #rooster x reader

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swifty-fox · 9 months ago

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so would anyone care for a Kfak-Compliant Brady one shot?

Telling Major John Egan to jump is the first and last time Johnny Brady gives an order to a superior officer. It’s automatic, not-thought out. A knee-jerk reflex; if I don’t make sure this man gets off my ship he’s not leaving.

He can’t go without him. The idea of facing Buck Cleven in a prison camp or in the afterlife however many hours, days, years from now and telling him he let his man die is unfeasible. It’s not how the rules work. Buck and Bucky make it, that’s the big rule. So if he breaks the little rules, ordering Major Egan to jump, taking him up in his fort even though he’s not supposed to be here, then he rationalizes it that way.

It’s quiet up in the sky, the sound of burning screeching metal snatched away in seconds by momentum and gravity. He’s alone for the first time in years, and it’s a disconcerting panicked feeling as he floats helpless in blue, blue heavens. When he hits the ground, rolling his ankle and gouging a furrow in thick peat mud and without his Major, he realizes just because he made John Egan jump doesn’t mean he’s saved his life. It’s automatic, standing and testing his ankle on the strange moss-covered ground that pitched and wobbled like the deck of a ship with every shift of his weight. Sinks his teeth into his wrist until blood bubbles to muffle his cry when his ankle barely accepts his weight. Bundles his parachute and stuffs it in the mud so the white color doesn’t give him away and rips his insignias from his uniform.

It’s the best he can do.

It’s not more than two hours before he’s captured, gun to the back of his head and harsh German voices telling him to kneel. Mud that’s also blood coating his face and burning with a rage so hard he shakes. It could be the cold, sunk down to his bones with damp and unfamiliarity. Soil that wasn’t his by birthright, you don’t belong here soldier boy. This isn’t your gravedirt. It could be cold and grief and fear, but he chooses to name it as rage and grits his teeth as he limps on his bum ankles and tells the interrogator his name rank and number and recites his mother's recipe for soda bread when anything else tries to come up.

Has Major Egan or Major Cleven come through? Did you pick up a man named Bernard Demarco?

They threaten to kill him. He’s reliably sure it’s a bluff, because there’s rules to all of this. They try to woo him and he knows that’s a bluff because you don’t make soldiers with kindness. He has his rules, he has his orders. He says nothing and wishes they would hit him so he could hit back. Wishes they would turn the blood he tastes on his teeth real so it feels less like terror.

They don’t. Everyone follows routine.

A RAF pilot binds his ankle on the train ride to the rest of his war, it rains and he cups his hands through the slats of the train to wash his face clean of peat-mud. Chill settles over them all at night, damp and horrible and he doesn’t sleep a wink, too aware of being surrounded by men who didn’t belong to him until David Solomon and Crank’s heads pop up from down the other end of the cart and the three of them fall together in a hushed pile of who made it who did they see who went down. Did you see John Egan? Did you see Bucky I got him out but I lost him in the clouds.

He wonders if maybe God snatched Bucky right from his parachute harness.

He gives Solly his crucifix, feels mildly sick when it’s pulled from his slack fingers and almost snatches it back until Crank takes in the look on his face and presses his rosary into Brady’s empty palm.

“Here. It’s my sister’s anyway, she’d rather it be on the neck of someone who uses it.”

“Thank you,” it’s unfamiliar against his chest, warm from Crank’s body heat and a different shape. But it’s got fifty-nine beads like all the rest and he counts them one by one with frozen fingers and recites the five decades in his head until he falls asleep on Crank’s shoulder.

He’s never been a good sleeper, even before he started dropping bombs. Now and then he rouses enough that he feels the phantom of his grandmother's fingers in his hair, gnarled from years of hard work and soft in their caress, brushing filthy strands off his forehead. It’s her spare crucifix around Solly’s neck. He thinks she would forgive him. He thinks she would find it a noble decision.

#john brady #kingdom for a kiss #swiftywrites #hes uh not very normal

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cwritesforfun · 1 year ago

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(Top Gun Maverick) Bob Floyd x Fem!Reader: I Like You

Inspired by the scene in which Bob is introduced lol ;) ***I do not own the lines from the scene - they're in italics and bold. I also do not own the Top Gun Maverick characters*** Y/N = Your Name & Your Call Sign is Lightstrike

Masterlist

Bob's POV

I've been eating my peanuts sitting here watching everyone talk. They talked to me and Hangman called me a stealth pilot. He did say it was a joke though. I don't get it. I saw this really pretty girl in uniform walk in and she went to the bar earlier. I wonder who she is.

I hear, "Hey, is anyone sitting here?" I turn to see the pretty girl standing there holding a beer in one hand and a basket of fries in the other. I shake my head and she sits down before asking, "What do they call you?" I answer, "Bob." She asks, "No, your call sign?" I answer, "Uh...Bob." She asks, "Bob Floyd? You're my new backseater? From Lemoore?" She is who I'm going to be working with. Oh boy, I'm not going to last long at all. I reply, "Looks like it. Yeah." She replies, "Very nice to meet you, Bob. My name is Y/N and my call sign is Lightstrike." I ask, "How did you get that call sign?" She answers, "My first Captain said it was because I fly super fast and can strike at any distance. Some of the boys say it's because I'm super light and I can hit any target. So either way, I can strike." I reply, "Well, it's super cool. It's way better than mine." She replies, "Then you should turn the negative connotation of baby on board into a positive one. For example, babies like to explore, so maybe so do you. I don't know. I'm just going to stick to my drink." I laugh and say, "It's okay. I've accepted it... do you know any of the others?" She answers, "I do, yeah. Phoenix is one of the only females I get along with. I grew up with Rooster. Hangman calls me his little sister. The others are cool too." He replies, "Oh cool. You grew up with Rooster?" She answers, "He's my twin. Can't you tell?" I cough on my peanuts and I hear, "Bob? Are you treating my sister right?" I see Rooster standing there in front of me. I do see the family resemblance now.

Y/N's POV

You look between Rooster and Bob. You think Bob had no idea that you were related to Rooster/Bradley. It's funny. You thought everyone knew. To be fair, you were the quieter one. People forgot about you until you outshined them... then they remembered... THE NORTH REMEMBERS!!! Haha Game of Thrones reference anyone?

Bob says, "I just found out you two were related." Rooster laughs and says, "Surprise! We're twins!" Bob laughs and his smile is so cute. Oh, it is over if I think someone I work with is cute... oh boy... You hear, "How are my favorite twins?" You sarcastically reply, "Funny I thought your favorite twins were Ellie and Ella from last summer? I remember you vividly telling us about your experience with twins and how it was the best you've ever had." Hangman gasps and says, "I'm shocked and proud you remember. How dare you bring up an ex of mine?" Rooster replies, "Technically exes in this case." Hangman replies, "Not you too, Rooster. Damn it, I hate you two. I'm going to get another round." You reply, "Ok, but let's not repeat last year on August 1?" Hangman flips you off before he leaves. Rooster says, "God I hate that he is on this assignment too. If I lose my temper, it's because of him. I'm calling it now." Bob replies, "He doesn't seem that bad." Rooster replies, "Just wait... I think I need another drink now that I'm thinking about this." He walks off and you say, "Rooster is just very negative sometimes. Hangman is overly confident in his abilities, but he is good at what he does. It angers Rooster and they're fierce rivals." Bob replies, "I understand."

Phoenix slings her arms around your shoulder and says, "Hi, please join my team for pool. I know we'll win if you're on my team. Please please please." You laugh and say, "Sure, Phoenix. I'll join. Bob, can you watch my drink and my food?" He nods and smiles.

You walk up to see you're up against Fanboy and Hangman. Hangman exclaims, "Lightstrike and Phoenix... you'll be tough to beat, but I think we can. Right, Fanboy?" Fanboy replies, "I think we can too." You exclaim, "Phoenix, we're going to crush the boys. Right?" Phoenix replies, "H**l yeah!" Phoenix and Fanboy do rock paper scissors to see who will start... unfortunately Fanboy starts... this could be bad. Hangman is good and given the chance to start, he can usually put at least 16 points on the board. Oh boy:( Sure enough, he does. Phoenix goes and ties up the game. Whew:/ ... You and Phoenix end up winning by 4 points. The boys ask for a rematch, but you accept only if they buy you both a round of drinks. They agree and they win round two. Bob chimes in occasionally with funny remarks and you're glad he doesn't seem as quiet as before. He's cute when he's happy.

SKIP TO TRAINING...

You're doing 100 push-ups, see a shadow, see Hangman, and sigh. You ask, "What's up, Hangman? I'm guessing you don't have to do 100 push-ups." He answers, "No I don't, sucker. But anyway, I wanted to talk to you." You reply, "Well, I'm kind of stuck here, so go ahead. Talk away." He laughs and says, "You have no idea how good that sounds. Well you see there's this girl that I really like and I'm trying my best to be on good behavior around her, but she thinks I'm a douche still. I want her to know that I want to go on a date with her and I was wondering how I should ask her out. I was hoping you have ideas on what girls like." You ask, "What are some things she's mentioned before that she likes?" He answers, "She always is drinking Corona and she wears these little charm bracelets every week to the bar. It's really cute how she has things she likes and she's loyal to them." You reply, "God, you're such a sucker for her. Listen, buy her a pack of Corona and a charm bracelet. There's a cute boutique on Main Street called Auntie May's Boutique and they have all kinds of bracelets. Just look around and pick one. When you give them to her, be upfront with her about your feelings for her and she'll be more willing to say yes." You hit 100, stand, and ask, "Why did you come to me for advice? You know my love life is pretty barren." He answers, "I trust you not to make fun of me, and come on girl, we both know Bob likes you. Do you like him?" You answer, "Even if I did like him, why would I date a coworker? It could ruin the mission." He replies, "But you don't know until you try. I don't think Bob is the type for a quickie or a fling. He has seemed all in for you since day one. When we were at the bar, you first arrived and I caught him watching you. He was blushing when I asked him about it. I'm not saying he's the one, but I'm saying, you should go for it." You nod and reply, "I might. Thanks for listening. Bradley will give me h**l if I tell him that I like Bob or if I tell him anything dating-related." He replies, "Yeah well he's your brother who needs to know that you can make your own decisions and live your own life. Screw him not literally but you get what I'm saying." You laugh.

Meanwhile ... Bob's POV

I find Rooster sitting on a bench and ask, "Hey man, mind if I sit?" Rooster answers, "Of course dude. I don't care." I sit down and stare out at the planes in front of me. Wow, I never sit here. I didn't realize how the planes looked from over here. I hear, "Dude? Bob? Hello." I turn to see Rooster looking at me and he asks, "Penny for your thoughts?" I answer, "I uh ... I really like a girl and I'm scared to ask her out." He asks, "Is the girl my sister? You can be honest if it is. I don't mind." I nod and answer, "Yeah, she's just perfect." He laughs and replies, "I wouldn't say that, but she's pretty cool. Look dude, I know you're into her. I see it all over your face whenever she's around. If you like her, I would just be honest and say it. The worst that could happen is she rejects you and you move on or you never ask her out and never know what could've happened with her. Wait for us to be at the Hard Deck this weekend and buy her a drink then tell her. I think she likes you too, but she doesn't talk to me about boys." I laugh.

The Hard Deck ... Y/N's POV

You just arrived at the Hard Deck because Rooster was supposed to drive you and he bailed. He's probably inside, but he didn't drive you, which is weird.

You see Bob waiting outside on his phone, so you walk up and ask, "Hey, is everything okay?" He asks, "Why wouldn't it be?" You answer, "You are outside and on your phone. I just assumed you were dealing with something serious out here." He replies, "No uh ... nothing serious. I was playing a word game as I waited for you. I wanted to see you and ask if I could buy you a drink." You reply, "Sure Bob, I would love that. Let's head in."

You both head inside and to the bar. Bob gets you both a beer then he leads you to a table away from your friends. You start sipping your drink and you notice him start fidgeting. You reach over, put your hands on his, and say, "Hey Bob, what's up?" He exclaims, "I uh... I bought you a drink because I like you. I think you're perfect despite what your brother says and I want to take you out on a date." You reply, "Despite what my brother says? I'm going to bring that up to him later... But wait you like me? I like you too. I was planning on telling you soon, but I didn't know how. Hangman told me to just go for his style, and I did not like that sound." He laughs and replies, "I don't like the sound of that either. So uh we like each other, that's good. Are you sure?" You answer, "Yeah I am. I've liked you since I met you. You're a really great guy, why wouldn't I be sure I like you?" He replies, "There's just other guys here that you could pick." You squeeze his hands in yours, kiss the back of his, and say, "I choose you, Bob. I really like you. I don't like the other guys the way that I like you. You're the only one I want to kiss and date." He smiles and says, "That's good... Um... Sorry if I seemed quiet when we first met, I was intimidated by how pretty you are." You reply, "That's okay, babe. I thought it was cute. You open up a lot more when we fly together, which was fun to discover." He replies, "That's because we're flying and I can't avoid or risk anything in the air." You reply, "Noted. Ask you important things in the air." He laughs and says, "No, don't. I don't want to mess us up." You laugh. 1 month later...

You've been on dates with Bob whenever you're both free. It's been great. You both have lots of fun together and he's been opening up to you more. You've been opening up with him too. He is really cute all the time and you try not to get flustered by it. Your time together flying has gotten more synchronized now that you both understand each other more. It's cool to see how the more you understand each other, the easier it is to interpret how each other will fly that day. The guys are constantly bugging the two of you for beating them at drills, which are not competitions ... they are literally just drills. The boys love to pester you both about your dating life too... they always try to ask questions that make you both blush so much. Rooster is supportive of you two but changes the topic every time someone tries to talk about your sex life. He always yells, "That's my sister!"

#top gun imagines #top gun imagine #top gun fanfiction #top gun movie #top gun maverick #bob floyd x female reader #top gun bob #robert bob floyd #bob floyd x reader #bob floyd

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commenter2 · 1 year ago

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The Show Must Go On episode review (Hazbin Hotel S1 finale)

The finale of season 1 of Hazbin Hotel. MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW! Also long post warning

Did the title of the episode strangely remind anyone else of the failed videogame “Showdown Bandit”? Anyone?

Charlie wishing her mom was there. Likely foreshadowing her appearing near the end.

Charlie really likes a man in uniform. Maybe take some notes on that Vaggie XD.

Looks like we got a glimpse at how Niffy sees the world, which is apparently similar to Randy Cunningham when as the Ninja.

Again CHARLE=PURITY

I’m not liking how Pentious said that quote about living and dying.

During Al’s speech, you can see Charlie realizing that Pen likes Cherri and being happy for him. Charlie is Pen X Cherri shipper confirmed XD

Could Al be really starting to care about the others?

Angel X Husk and Pen X Cherri fanservice, Charlie liking the last one XD

Oh now Cherri is interested in Pen.

COME ON, KISS YOU TWO! YES!!!

Gross, Adam’s personality is rubbing off on Lute. Even Adam is getting uncomfortable with it and considering its Adam that’s saying something.

The Heaven Bucks things sounds really fake, mostly cause I feel like money doesn’t exist/is necessary for Heaven.

WHAT THE HECK ARE THOSE OUTFITS CHARLIE AND VAGGIE ARE WEARING!?! And why am I getting She-Ra/RWBY vibes from them? Also Charlie is wearing her crown, cute.

I’m intrigued by Charlie’s shield cause I was kind of expecting to see Charlie use her pitchfork along with it, but the shield is still a nice bit of symbolism for how she wants to protect people and not harm anyone…that much. It also shows that she and Vaggie are a great team/couple as Charlie is the defense while Vaggie is the offense.

My fellow DEATH BATTLE fans (which is hopefully a lot of you) get ready to analyze Charlie’s powers, skills, and feats in this fight!

Al’s shield being another feat of how powerful Alastor is, though I wonder if his recent deal with Charlie helped with it?

Aww come one Niffty finally has a chance to go all psycho and all we see is her just stabbing corpses!

While Charlie’s crown is black on the outside, its gold on the inside/other side. Not only do I think this is a Dante’s Inferno reference (it reminds me of the hypocrites’ part but reversed) it also symbolizes how even though she is the daughter of the Devil, Charlie is still a good person.

Alastor’s using shadow jutsu!

OK I DID NOT SEE AL’S VOICE CHANGING after his cane got destroyed. At least this explains how those times I noticed his voiced changed in previous episodes.

Valentino was really saddened when Vox said seeing Alastor about to die was better then sex XD. It’s also funny cause there is a similar line in Netflix’s Castlevania series, which I could definitely see fans making parodies of soon.

Wait WTF is going on now with his voice? Ugh.

That’s our Charlie, even when in a war she is still apologizing. Also her glitter is WAY more effective than Dale Gribble’s pocket sand XD

Also if you slow down the scene enough, you can see that Charlie’s shield damaged and dented the angelic spear, meaning its likely made of something stronger then the angelic steel mentioned by Carmilla in “Hello Rosie”

Charlie shooting fireworks from her fingertips, a nice example of her powers AND a callback to the pilot.

NO NOT THE EGGBOIS! Luckily Angel finally used his secret set of arms to save one of them, we even get to hear his theme song.

And Pen X Cherri fans REJOICED! Also again showing how shallow Cherri can be.

Aww this can’t be goWHAT THE FUCK! I couldn’t even finish writing this sentence because of how fast Pen’s death was! I mean it was implied he was going to die but I thought it be more dramatic than that! Can the Helluva Boss writers at least do this for when they finally kill Striker, or have it happen in my episode idea where Moxxie and his father in law do it?

OOO ITS TIME FOR CHALIE’S DEMON FORM. And in a Sailor Moon kind of way too.

WAIT THAT’S IT? It’s just her regular horns and a tail. The writers really need to amp up these “full demon” forms of the characters as this, Ozzie’s, and Mammon’s forms have been really disappointing to me especially when compared to Stolas and even Helsa’s odd form from the pilot. I hope that this is some kind of semi form or one of many transformations of Charlie’s, and her REAL demon form is something more monstrous but it results in her losing control.

I do like Razzle and Dazzle being dragons, as I did recall them having such a power but this is better than what I was thinking they’d transform into.

DAZZLE NO! At least he died protecting Charlie.

VAGGIE VS. LUTE ROUND 2 (ding ding sound effect from episode)

(Adam slaps Charlie) Again we need fanart of Lucifer and Lilith kicking Adam’s ass.

So a part of me likes that Vaggie spared Lute cause it shows she is better than the so called “angel”, but a part of me knows this is going to bite back later on.

Lute riping her own arm off just proves the previous statement. Still I wonder what a cyborg angel will be like.

You can control fire and shoot fireworks from your fingers, you these things to make Adam let go of you Charlie!

SO Adam is wearing a mask, like I brought up before. I wonder what he looks like under it.

I’m not mad at Lucifer coming in late, cause he likely couldn’t as he probably realized it would just lead to more problems involving Heaven, but again he shows that he is the best dad so far in the series by coming in to save Charlie. Take notes Stolas!

Huh, Adam looks pretty normal looking, even looks a bit like Lute. I was expecting something really ugly under the mask like a pale complexion, sweat, and an unshaven face especially since he has worm that the entire time we have seen him.

OH HO now were getting that Adam ass kicking. Too bad that line from Lucifer kind of ruined it. I mean I can kind of see it being on brand with his goofy personality but still.

Again no one is saying Lilith’s name here. Also I know Lucifer is likely joking about him and Eve being together and just referencing the apple, but I really want to hear Lucifer say he’s only been with Lilith for all his life, then took a break after the divorce.

“NOT THE HOTEL”, is what I would be saying if the trading cards weren’t released early. Still devastating to see.

Like when Adam was choking her, Charlie had the means to save herself there as she is confirmed to have wings. Maybe their waiting for a special occasion to use them.

(Charlie transforms) What was that? At least this confirms that Charlie can transform and confirm that hoove/foot idea I brought up in the last review. I wonder if this is some kind of power from her mother?

Okay Lucifer’s demon form is pretty good. This does make me wonder what that shadow thing of his form the pilot is, if that is still canon. Hopefully it is and it confirms that Charlie can have multiple demon forms.

Holy crap they killed Adam off and Death by Niffy no less! I mean I wanted Adam and Lute to get out of the picture so someone better could take the role of angelic antagonist, but I never thought they would just kill Adam off. At least Vaggie is really happy about this, and I don’t blame her XD. It’s nice to see her smile like this.

Again we see that Lucifer has restraint, which is still interesting.

Lute took his halo. I sense some trouble coming from this. Fingers crossed that it involves how Heaven is okay with Adam being gone, and Lute becoming the thing she hates to destroy Hell AND the “traitors” of Heaven.

I’m still mix on Katie Killjoy being voiced by Brandon. It is making me wonder if Katie was always going to be like this or if they’re altering her to be more like Brandon’s female characters like Bryce. I mean I always though Katie would have a role where she just keeps spreading bad things about Charlie’s hotel, even making things up/ hire others to cause trouble for Charlie so the news can keep reporting on her. Heck she is even thanking them which I never saw pilot Katie never doing through she could be doing it to save face on livestream television. It’s still a funny idea and it has even remined me that there was a time in animation where shows had reoccurring characters whose main thing about them was being obvious references to other fictional or even real characters like Total Drama had characters such as Harold being a Napoleon Dynamite parody and Anne Maria referencing Snooki, Dr. Orpheus from the Venture Bros. was a cheap Dr. Strange knockoff (but still really funny), and there is one character in Atop the 4th Wall that I won’t spoil here cause it’s that crazy, so check it out for yourselves when you can.

Another cameo of Baxter and ARACKNISS!

I also wonder if the Exterminations will be put to a halt here as pointed out in the sliding text on the news channel. It would be interesting to see if Hell really does have an overpopulation problem, and what that would look like.

I’m surprised the V’s aren’t reacting to this more, more so with Vox but it’s likely that he saw the fight with Adam and Alastor and now has a plan on destroying Alastor. That would be cool to see in the next season.

THANK GOD FAT NUGGETS SURIVED! I think VIvzie would have had a riot on her hands if she allowed him to die.

Lucifer said the episode title!

So it looks like Alastor DID care for the others, but now he is dedicated to getting his freedom back from what I still think could be the Lilith imposter who will also be an upcoming deadly force/threat

KeeKee has a Keyblade form!

Yeah Vox and Val are definitely going to use this news for personal gain. The real question is if Velvette will aid them, as her recording them say all this feels like she will try and go out on her own, dragging her allies down in the process. Fitting given her song from “Scrambled Eggs”.

Nice song, great that both Sir Pentious AND Dazzle got memorials, and the new hotel looks amazing as it has a little bit of symbolism from all the others like Husk’s casino vibe and Angel’s career.

PEN IS IN HEAVEN! Emily is loving it while Sera looks confused and scared, BOTH cause she has never saw this happen before or knows that this will kick off some serious consequences like a version of the Armageddon prediction. This is great as now even if the recent fan theory of Emily becoming a fallen angel happens, Charlie now has another ally in Heaven to help spread her redemption plan on that side of things, great for what I can see happening in the next season.

Oh hey everyone its “Lilith”. Yeah I still believe in the “Imposter Lilith” theory that I’ve been talking about lately, and the sunglasses bit adds to it since it is hiding her eyes, like how her face was covered in “Dad Beat Dad”. Plus there have been many times in stories where sunglasses were used to hide something in fiction. Also in the past, we’ve gotten info on her saying how she would like to fight against Heaven, so its odd that she would want sanctuary in it unless she has plans that involve her being there. The biggest clue would have to be that the real Lilith would likely have cheered when she heard Adam was dead. I did talk about how the Imposter could likely want to destroy everything, so for all we know she is pretending to be Lilith who wanted sanctuary in Heaven (if they even know she is there) which is all just a ruse to get info on how to destroy Heaven to fulfill her life’s work and if anything ever happens, the Imposter can rely on her servant Lute and the Exorcist to aid her.

I will admit that it COULD be the real Lilith. I did make a recent post on my Tumblr going over how I think Lilith actually recruited the Imposter to help her take down Heaven a peg a long item ago, but she eventually realized the Imposter had bigger plans that involved destroying everything in existence and Lilith has since been trying to stop the Imposter. At one point things could have gotten so bad to a point that she had to hide in Heaven (again if they even know she is there) until she thought of a plan to stop it like having Lute work for her (again maybe Al works for the Imposter) and similar to what I have in my “Season 1 is a test for Charlie” Lilith knew Adam wasn’t up for the task of defending everyone from the Imposter, so she had to install Lute as leader of the Exorcist so there would be at least a small capable army to fight against the Imposter/upcoming threat if things got bad. However now that Charlie’s redemption plan is getting more support and is proven to be true, Lilith could be scared that the Imposter could go after her and Lucifer next, so I think next season she will try and convince Charlie to stop her goals until they have a plan of stopping the Imposter. Maybe since she made a deal with Lute, she has no choice but to stop Charlie or risk losing the one chance they have at saving everything from the Imposter…until she learns that her daughter was able to make an army to stop the Exorcist which could lead to Lilith changing her mind and maybe think that Heaven and Hell should work together to stop the Imposter/big threat. Even then there could be consequences as we don’t know what exactly happens if a deal with a demon is ever broken. Would said demon die or would the natural of the forces of the universe go crazy until something happens? For any non Percy Jackson fans and those that don’t care about spoilers for it, look up “Trials of Apollo” and “River Styx” to get an understanding of what I mean by broken deals.

That was a GREAT episode AND a great finale for the first season of Hazbin Hotel.

We got tons of action, drama, suspense, fanservice, and mystery just like how I like my shows. The finale was really good cause its on track for what I’ve been saying I would like to see Charlie go through when it comes to the next step of trying to convince the people of Heaven and Hell her redemption plan is a good thing in general for the afterlife.

The only minor problems I have with it is that they didn’t utilize Niffty as much as I thought they would in the battle.

When it comes to the season as a whole it was great, with episode 4 being the worst as we all knew those events were coming but thanks to Helluva Boss it was made less serious to me.

I also agree with other fans that biggest problem the season had was that there should have been more episodes. I mean people know how popular Hazbin Hotel AND Helluva Boss is so it’s a bit odd that they didn’t get more then 8 episodes, especially since they aren’t the usual hour long episodes that are everywhere. Not to mention how half the season came out all at once here on Amazon Prime.

Apparently this is a big problem with Amazon Prime shows in general, BUT luckily given how well received the whole season has been (wordplay pun not intended), I’m hopeful that this will convince the people at A24 and Prime to give Vivzie and the HH cast more funding to make MORE episodes for next season, like maybe 14 this time. Sure this could delay the release of season 2, which is apparently already being made, but I bet I’m not alone when I say I’d be okay with such a delay if it means more Hazbin Hotel.

Hopefully next season though there are less trailers and clips released, another reason why there should be more episodes to help dimmish such things, AND if there is another early release on A24 it should just be like 2 days before the season comes on Amazon Prime and NOT a whole week.

I’m also calling it now that the season 2 episode premiere of Hazbin Hotel will start with a news segment with Katie Killjoy and Tom Trench recapping some of the events of last season and telling us what has happened to both the characters and Hell/Heaven since the finale. I also predict that Lilith, whether the real one or the Imposter posing as her, will appear at the end of said episode starting off that season’s main story.

I definitely want to hear your thoughts on not only this episode, but also on the entire season so don’t be shy. What do you think/hope will happen in season 2? What kind of episodes or stories would you like to see in the next season? What theories do you have?

LET ME HEAR IT!!!

#hazbin hotel #vivziepop #hazbin hotel charlie #hazbin hotel vaggie #hazbin hotel angel dust #hazbin hotel niffty #hazbin hotel sir pentious #hazbin hotel lute #hazbin hotel adam #hazbin hotel lucifer #hazbin hotel lilith #hazbin hotel spoilers

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handspunyarns · 9 months ago

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You Were Marked: Days Twenty-Seven to Twenty-Nine (Din, Part II).

pairing: din djarin x *reverse age-gap* *plus-size* fem!O/C

word count: 7.4K

chapter summary: Din returns to Unmanarall to search for Marathel.

warnings:  angst, medical emergency, animal death, mention of physical illness / blood / violence / murder / suicide / rape / child rape / child sexual abuse / child death / object rape, English and Mando’a cursing

***Please feel free to comment, kvetch, or otherwise speak your mind about my work. ***

You Were Marked: Masterlist

You Were Marked: <- Previous Chapter

Din had the sudden sensation that a TIE fighter crash-landed on his chest, and he lurched upward towards what he believed was the excessively rude pilot who apparently couldn’t land worth a damn, uttering a gurgling rebuke as he grabbed his blaster.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA!” yelled the pilot.

“I’ll blast you both apart!” shouted Din, leaning on his elbow and alternating his blaster between the two men who hovered over him, his brain misfiring in every direction.

One of the men, wearing a light blue uniform, looked at the spent hypos in his hand and muttered, “Holy shit, I can’t believe that worked.”

Din’s heart pounded painfully in his chest, and he groaned. “What happened? Where am I? Who are you? Are we enemies? Where’s Marathel?” demanded Din of the man wearing an X-wing uniform.

The X-wing pilot held up his hands, and said, “Okay … Let me take those one at a time. You had … a cardiac-type … episode. We gave you a series of hypos for that. We didn’t expect you to react so quickly, though.” The pilot took a breath. “You’re on your ship. When you didn’t answer our hails following your distress call, we tractored your ship on board the Luisitz.” Din stared at the pilot. The pilot continued, “Yeah, it’s a dumb name for a ship.”

Din lowered his blaster, not because he felt safer, but because he couldn’t hold his arm up anymore. He was also too weak to keep himself up on his elbow, so he lay back down on the floor. The pilot visibly relaxed, and the man in blue — who was apparently a medic — held a scanner over Din’s chest.

The pilot continued, “That there is Corpsman Ka’nab.” The medic waved. Din nodded slightly in response. “I’m Captain Carson Teva.”

Din grunted. “My name is …”

“Din Djarin. Guild Bounty Hunter, Mandalorian. Yeah, we scanned you. Got your chip.” Teva pulled out his holopad. “Going back to your original questions, I can safely say I sure as hell don’t want to be your enemy. And as far as where is Marathel … I can’t say, because I don’t know who Marathel is. Is Marathel your cat?”

“My what?”

“Your cat, or whatever pet you have on board. Look, you said you were the only one on board, but we scanned your ship as we tractored it in…” — Din groaned inwardly — “… and there’s obviously a second, small, life-form aboard, but it’s in a shielded portion of the ship.” Din remained silent. “Hey, if I could have a pet in my X-wing, I would. So what is it?”

“A … pet, yes.” Sorry, kid. “Not Marathel. She’s …”

“That her?” Teva pointed at the console, and Din looked up to see that his holopad was now projecting the image Cobb had sent. Din nodded, and grunted in the affirmative. “Pretty. Heading out to see her, Djarin?”

“Something like that. Am I done, now? May I go?”

The medic said, “If you can sit up on your own, now, I’m done with you.” Din slowly pushed himself up and shifted so he could lean against the console. He looked down at himself and saw that the medic had pulled off his pauldrons and cuirass, and had sliced his flight jacket and his underthermal open to get at his bare chest, which had several adhesive sensors stuck to it. Din looked at the medic. “Hey, I only know not to remove a Mandalorian’s helmet. That, I did not do. You can take off those stickers yourself, and chuck them out. Captain, I’ll send you my report.”

“Was it a heart attack?” asked Din.

The medic frowned. “No … not as such.”

“Not as such?”

“Well, your blood pressure went to zero and your heart rate was spiking at 200. But the scans showed no heart damage whatsoever. Then you had some sort of seizure, like maybe you shot a clot through your heart into your brain, but nothing showed on neurological scans. So the only idea I had was to hypo you with what I would use on someone who was having a heart attack and a neurological seizure.” Din turned his head to look at Teva, who shrugged and continued tapping on his holopad. Din returned his gaze to the medic. “Hey, it worked. And I removed that bacta bandage you were wearing, you obviously didn’t need it.”

Din looked down at his chest again, looking for the bite mark … which was gone. Not just healed, but gone, as if he’d never been bitten at all. “What the …” Din looked up at the medic. “What did you do?”

The medic and Teva exchanged glances. “I … removed a bandage. If you had a wound under there, it’s obviously healed now.” The medic tossed his equipment into his bag. “I think I’m done here. Safe travels, sir. May the Force be with you.” The medic left.

“This is the way,” muttered Din as he looked again where the bite wound had been, looking for a pale scar, anything that would prove that Marathel had bitten him. “It’s like … it never happened.”

“Are you sure you were wounded, Djarin?” asked Teva, leaning in to look closer at Din’s chest.

Din looked up at Teva, then hurriedly closed his thermal shirt and flight jacket over his bare skin. The helmet was the most important part, but bare skin in general was still … difficult. Even in a medical emergency. “Would you believe that I had a human bite there?”

Teva went back to his holopad and chuckled. “This Marathel of yours gave you a what-for, did she? Or was it … your pet?”

“My … pet … is not human.”

“Djarin …”

“Mando is fine,” snapped Din.

“… Mando, look, I don’t care. I only care about weirdness on my patrol, and you brought me weirdness. For the second time, I’m pretty sure. You’re one long way from Nevarro. And from Maldo Kreis.”

“So are you, Captain.”

Teva chuckled again. “I said it first.”

Din looked up at the holo of Marathel. It occurred to him that he’d only seen her looking like this for seven days. Seven days. He’d known her almost three times as long in her injured state. It felt almost unfair. Which Marathel did I fall in love with? Was it the Marathel with the clear skin and the bright eyes, who called him Bounty Hunter and baked him bread? Or was it the Marathel who almost died in his arms and had nearly lost all her blood twice?

Whichever Marathel it was, she had given him his first kiss with a woman. And had broken his heart over and over and over. And had gotten him the closest to not only removing his helmet, but to leaving his Creed altogether.

Teva noticed Din staring at the holo. “Tell me about her.”

“It’s complicated.”

Teva nodded. “It always is. Believe me, I understand.”

Din considered the Dahls and a lifetime of torture starting with being sired by a murderous pervert. He sighed and said, “No, Captain, I don’t think you do.” He looked back at Teva, who was still tapping on his holopad. “Aren’t you done, yet?”

“Not even close. I would have fewer reports to process if you’d died. But then, I would have never known that lovely woman’s name,” he said, pointing at the holo. “And I’d also have to be responsible for your … ‘cat’.

Din went back to looking at Marathel’s holo. “Captain, let me ask you something. Say … say someone found a planet where women and girls … little girls … have been generationally tortured in the most reprehensible ways. Just how many need to suffer, or die, before the New Republic does something?”

“Is it a Republic or Empire-era planet?”

“Dank ferrik,” grunted Din. “Are you taking the piss?”

“I wish I were, Mando. So which is it?”

“It’s neither. The settlement is the only site of civilization on the entire planet. Everywhere else is … inhabited only by animals. But there might be artifacts from other planets within this settlement. And let’s say that one of those artifacts was … Old Republic.”

Teva frowned at Din. “Where is this planet?”

“I’m only speaking hypothetically, Captain.”

“How many hypothetical generations are we talking about?”

“Possibly two thousand Basic years.”

“Kriff.” Teva pinched the bridge of his nose. “Little girls. How young?”

Din swallowed. “Her first memories.”

Teva’s eyes flicked up to Marathel’s holo, then he harrumphed. “Have you ever heard that there’s always three ways to do things in the military? There’s the official way, the right way, and then there’s the way that us grunts take care of things.” He did some final taps on his holopad, then stood up. “It sounds like you know about the official answer to your query.”

“Primitive culture … blah blah blah.”

“Blah blah blah, indeed. Now, the way that a grunt — like myself — would take care of this … l would search for any artifacts on this hypothetical planet that give a clue where these hypothetical people might have come from, originally. That might be enough for some … hearsay … to get in the right ear, for the right thing to happen.” Teva sighed, and shook his head before he held out his hand to help Din up from the floor. “My report is good enough for government work. Let me see what I can do to speed up your release.”

Din nodded. “Thank you, Captain.”

“You’re welcome, Mando. May the Force be with you.” Teva stepped on the ladder out of the cockpit. “Don’t forget to get your pet out of the hold. And, uh … keep me updated on this hypothetical planet of yours.”

Shortly after that, the Razor Crest launched and exited the landing tunnel of the Luisitz, Din thinking to himself that it was indeed a ridiculous name for a ship. He set the coordinates back to Unmanarall, and throttled into hyperspace.

Once they were set on their way, Din dropped out of the cockpit and pulled the access panel open. “Kid? You can come out now.” He heard Grogu chattering, and then the boy jumped out of the access panel and into Din’s arms, bawling. Din was still unsteady after experiencing whatever it was that had happened to him, and he sat down hard on the floor, hugging Grogu. “It’s okay, kid. I’m okay. Everything’s okay. We’re going to get Mama back. We’re on our way to Mama.”

“Mamaaaaaaa…” wailed the tearful Grogu, and Din would have rather cut off his arm than to see Grogu cry. “Bah daws! Bah daws!”

“Bad Dahls, you got that right, buddy. We’re gonna show those bad Dahls a thing or two.”

Grogu stared at Din with his tearful eyes, runny nose, and trembling lip. After a couple of hitches, the child quietly asked, “Patu … Mama?”

Din sighed, and found a cloth to wipe Grogu’s nose. “Blow,” said Din, and Grogu complied. “Ad’ika … I wish I knew what to tell you about Patu Mama. The first thing to do is to go back and find Mama. We’re on our way back now. We don’t know what we’re going to find when we go back, so we need to be ready for anything. It’s time to be Mandalorians. This is the way.” Grogu made a bleat in the affirmative, but still looked incredibly sad.

With the time skips his mind had taken, Din figured they had a day or so to get back to Unmanarall. He stripped off his sliced jacket and thermal shirt and inspected the damage. He had some needle skills, but he didn’t think even Marathel could fix this. Din noticed that this jacket was one that Marathel had embroidered the Mudhorn signet, so he ripped off the embroidered pocket and deposited it into the bin with his other keepsakes. Getting full in there, he thought. He rolled up the cut shirt and jacket and shoved them down the back of his clothing bin, still loath to toss out something Marathel had held in her hands, despite his confusion regarding his feelings for her. He grabbed a clean thermal shirt and gathered it in his hands to pull over his head when his eye caught the yarn bracelet he’d bought. He’d originally intended to give it to Marathel. Now, he decided he’d wear it until it fell off, or until he and Marathel figured out just what the shab there was between them … if anything.

One thing at a time. For now.

Din redressed and collected all his armor. He cleaned and polished every surface and every crevasse of every piece of armor, saying each Mando’a incantation out loud. He did this not only for his own benefit, but also for Grogu’s, for it was high time the boy started learning these things. Din used one of the new felted wool cloths Marathel had made, and perhaps he was biased, but he thought the handmade cloth was far superior to anything he could have purchased for the task.

That chore completed, Din then moved on to his weapons. He’d been far too distracted recently, and he hadn’t been maintaining his weapons cache as he should have. Ni ceta, Manda’lor. He dismantled each weapon in his armory, cleaning, polishing, and calibrating each part to working perfection. He even tinkered a bit with his antique bolt blaster and vibro-blade, both inherited from his buir. Both weapons had been handed down in buir’s family for several generations.

When Din was a boy and still relatively new under buir’s care, buir had taken him out to the canyon the covert used as a shooting range, and let him fire the old bolt blaster. It was the first time Din had handled a weapon, and the recoil landed him right on his ass. Once buir stopped laughing, he began weapons training with Din. Buir had been the most patient of teachers, and it was his calm and positive reinforcement that Din always tried to emulate as he passed on the Mandalorian traditions to Grogu.

By the time the chores were completed, there were only a few hours to go until the Crest reached Unmanarall. Din made bone broth for both himself and Grogu, and they split a ration bar. Din decided that they both could use a nap, to be fresh for whatever awaited them when they returned to Marathel’s planet. Din put his feet up on the console, and Grogu curled up against him, murmuring Mama before he dozed off.

Din projected Marathel’s image again —the one that Cobb sent — and he stared at it for a while. Din worked out what she had been doing at the time this image was captured. Marathel was making bread at the palace while all the others watched and did their best to convince her to not return to Unmanarall. He was the only one not there. She had revealed to him her sad life, and he had rejected her because of it. But he’d always known, deep in his heart, the depth of her lifelong suffering, who her father was, but he wouldn’t admit it to himself. He’d been such an unmitigated asshole to her. All she’d wanted was kindness. He’d granted her some kindness, but not enough. Only enough to suit him. Only enough so that he could remain comfortably within his Creed.

Din absently put his hand over the bite mark — scratch that — where the bite mark used to be. Okay, why did the bite mark burn like I’d been dipped in lava, sending me into a ‘cardiac episode’ … and then disappear?

The bite mark burned on the second night of the Dahl’s mating, and then in the Hold, when Marathel told him to be still. Actually, any time she told him to be still. Din had believed that she controlled him through the bite mark, which … might be only partially true. She had told him to be still in order to make him remove his weapons, so that she could sacrifice herself. To make him take her back, and to leave her behind, in essence, to sacrifice herself again. And she made him be still to prove to him she was nothing more than a … body to be used for his pleasure.

The other times the bite had burned, he’d attacked her, brutalized her, frightened her, both awake and in his dreams. But in all those times, she never told him to be still … instead, she begged him to let her go.

But if she controlled me, why would she beg me to let her go? She could have just told me to do that! And once I’d taken her back, then why would the bite still burn? Why did I forget her? And why don’t I … love her anymore, for kriff’s sake!

Did I have a not-a-heart-attack and lose a scar because … Marathel is now …?

Din flat-out refused to complete that thought. He refused to believe it even if he did. So, instead, he decided to follow his buir’s advice: take a nap; things will be clearer when you wake up. It wasn’t until he was an adult that he realized what buir was actually saying: kid, shut the fuck up for a while; I need to rest my eyes. Din gently patted Grogu’s back and watched the little green boy sleep until Din dozed off himself.

Din woke up to the hyperspace alarm going off. We’re here. We’re back, Marathel. You told me to leave you here and not come back, but I’m not one for following orders. And I’m thinking about ignoring your request to not take revenge on that Hold. Especially if you broke the promise you made to me and leapt off that cliff after all.

Din dropped the Crest out of hyperspace above the planet, and his thoughts about the best way to reduce the Hold to rubble were suddenly stopped. He had entered orbit just above the Hold coordinates, and the atmosphere above that point was a cloud of grey smoke. The shab? Din looked down at Grogu, who looked back up at him, asking, “Mama?”

“Looks like Mama’s been busy, kid. Hold on.”

Din circled the Crest into the atmosphere and landed where he had the first time he’d been here. It was pointless to prevent Grogu from going with him; the boy was in his floating pram and waiting by the ramp door before Din could get out of his chair. As they made their way to the Hold gate, Din could smell something distinctly chemical in the air. He associated it with hot springs and geysers, which confused him as he did not recall this odor here before. They came out of the woods to see the large wooden gate leaning against the stone pilaster, and part of the stone wall collapsed. But these sights didn’t confuse Din as much as what he didn’t see, and that was the Round Building.

As Din stepped through the gateway, he could now see the where the Round Building had been was now a smoldering ring of rubble, blown from the center out. Dank ferrik; Marathel didn’t mess around. As he came forward, he heard a couple of shrieks and noticed some women scattering at the sight of him. One came forward, braver than the others. The blonde woman wore a light green gown that was torn and dirty … a Duke, thought Din. “You ... You came back.” She held what looked like a fireplace poker in front of her. “Stay back, metal man. You brought her back; are you here to finish us off?”

“I wish you no harm, madam, I am only looking for Marathel.”

To Din’s surprise, another nearby woman, this one with the curly black hair of a Captain, spat on the ground. “The Belwhyn bitch wrought this destruction. She and her demon creatures have killed us all.” This woman wandered off, wringing her hands and muttering.

Din returned his attention to the woman in green, asking, “Did she mean the Dahls?”

The blonde woman nodded, and lowered her poker. “They came in after her … we knew she’d gone into the Round Building, looking to kill the Elders. The building began to burn. The men were running out. But she’d left the gate open, and all the Dahls ran in, running straight to the men trying to escape the fire, and killed them all. Men were going back inside, preferring to burn than to face the wrath of the Dahls. The Dahls ripped them limb from limb. Then ... they went after the children ...” The young woman sobbed. “The children. The babies. Gone. The children ran to us for protection. The Dahls snatched them from us, and killed them too.” The woman continued to cry.

“All the children?”

“Just the boys.”

Din looked at the destruction around him. Bodies — parts of bodies — were still everywhere. Women wept, holding the corpses of infants. One, he saw, no longer had a head; but the woman cooed to it as if it were still living. Two other women were gathering remains of men to put into another pyre. A little girl, hardly larger than Grogu, helped the two women, carrying smaller human parts: a hand, something that looked like a child’s leg. Other females merely sat on the ground, rocking, their faces blank slates of horror. Grogu whimpered in his pram.

“So it’s true.”

Din startled; he had been focusing on the destruction around him. “I beg your pardon?”

The blonde woman pointed at Grogu. “Olba said you had a child with you. She only saw it from a distance. She said it was sweet. And green. And Marathel loved it.” She sniffled. “My boys are dead.”

Din reached out to the woman in green and she recoiled from his hand, brandishing the poker again. “Please, good lady, can you tell me what happened to the Round Building?”

The woman spread her arms wide. “Big boom.”

“Why did that happen?”

“Marathel.” The woman looked at his visor again. “You’re the one that brought her to the Hold. You took her away, and the marchwyl. I was whipped, because I wouldn’t tell them it was Hylma who stole the marchwyl, even though I was glad it was gone. But the others ...” The woman’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Others told. Then the Elders killed Olba and Hylma and Tymfy and Lorica. They’d brought her out, they’d taken the marchwyl, and she still had the Dilimgau. The Elders do not suffer thievery, but… I’m glad the Dilimgau is also gone.”

Din wasn’t sure whether this woman was going to remain relatively calm or not. So far, she’d been very helpful, but she was also using the same flat, unemotional tone of voice that Marathel used when she catalogued the terrible things the men did to her. This woman seemed to be unafraid of him as well as Grogu, and she didn’t seem to want to use that poker on him, and he wanted to keep it that way. “Marathel is not here now?”

The woman scrubbed her nose with the back of her hand. “She left and took the Dahls with her.” Din was relieved to hear that at least Marathel left here under her own steam. Then Grogu quietly whimpered Mama, which startled the woman. “That thing can speak? It can say mama?” She dropped the poker and sat down on the ground, weeping. “I’m not a mama anymore.”

Din knelt in front of her, not wanting to get closer. “I am so sorry.” He let her cry for a few moments before he asked, “Madam, may I look through the debris?”

The woman looked at him in confusion, as if she’d never been spoken to with deference before, which was most likely the case. “Why?”

“I want to help you. I can tell people to come and help you.”

The woman frowned at him. “Come from where?”

Din pointed skyward. “From up there. You saw my flying metal box? There are others out there, many others, and I think your people came from somewhere else, long ago. I need to find some evidence of where your people might have come from.”

The blonde woman looked around her in despair. “We are beyond help. We are all dead. No more men means no more babies. Some women have killed themselves already.” She began weeping once more, and dropped her poker on the ground.

Din muttered apologies again, but moved away from the blonde woman as quickly as he could towards the wreckage of the Round Building. Grogu stuck close and remained quiet, seemingly affected by everything around him. Din leaned over and touched his head to Grogu’s. “I know, kid. Some very bad things happened here. But no one will hurt you. I promise.” Grogu looked dubious.

Din peered down into the hole left by the apparent explosion. The chemical smell here was much stronger, and burned Din’s nose. Grogu began coughing, so Din closed the pram lid, and sealed his helmet. The smell was familiar, somehow, but he couldn’t quite place it. He carefully stepped down into the crater, sliding down what must have been a large door. There seemed to be a lot more metallic debris in the crater than he anticipated. He’d figured this building had been constructed of stone and wood, which it was, but it appeared that there was a large metal component.

The blast had obviously disintegrated the stone, and the wood had burned away, but the interior layer of the Round Building had been sheet metal that broke apart in panels, curling against the intense heat that had occurred from the fire. He moved towards the center of the crater, balancing carefully on the rubble. He turned in a circle, finally realizing that this building was not engineered in a circle, but was built around a metal cylinder. Din pulled out his holopad and began taking stills.

There is no way these people made a metal cylinder this large. They don’t have the means to make sheet metal like this.

Din moved towards a section that was still fairly intact and attached to other pieces. Riveted together.

It’s a ship. This was a ship.

Din nearly pumped his fist in the air. He had been right, after all. He got closer to what was undoubtedly part of a fuselage when some markings caught his eye. Bending down, he wiped some soot off the wall and saw what was unmistakably Aurebesh lettering. He could only make out a couple of letters, however.

Din then looked down to his feet, and he could see a sublevel below him. He picked his way to an area he could access, and dropped down. The flat surface he landed on shifted under his feet, and the section began to fall further into the hole, so he fired his jetpack so he would not fall with it. As he lifted into the air, he noticed some of the women shrieking and running again at the sight of him flying. Din sighed, remembering how jumpy Marathel had been when she first saw him and Grogu. He took a few holo stills from this vantage point, as it showed the fuselage/building well. A panel had fallen inward, and from here he could now see lettering on it, in both Aurebesh and an old script he did not recognize, but the inscription was obviously the name board of this ship:

DRESO LLONG’WYR SYSTEM LEW’EL

Lew’el. They came from the Lew’el system! There was also a string of numbers, and Din was unsure if it was the old style dating system, or the ship’s registration, but in any case, it was old.

Din then noticed several round objects behind the building, near the uprooted tree, the tree Marathel had nearly fallen out of. He touched back down to the ground, picking up one of the round objects, recognizing it immediately as a lid for a chemical storage barrel. There were quite a few of them on this side of the wreckage, making Din think that the blast was more directional than just up. As he dropped the lid, he noticed that his glove was coated with a blue-grey dust. What the … Mist? He looked over the area around him, and realized that this whole side of the building was covered with Mist dust. Why in Frith were they …

“Are you a machine?”

Din had not been expecting to hear a voice, and he whirled around to see a small girl standing behind him. She was a sweet-looking child, with long brown hair that was seriously in need of a good brushing. She also had large, dark brown eyes and a face full of dirt. Her dark green tunic and skirt were stained and torn, and her bare feet were utterly filthy. If he’d been running around this dirty at her age, his mother would have had a conniption and hosed him off in the front garden. His buir, meanwhile, would have simply drop-kicked him into the river. “No, child, I am a person.”

“Why are you made of metal?”

Remembering that Marathel didn’t understand the concept of religion, he said, “My people wear armor and a helmet. Those are the rules my people live by.”

Seemingly satisfied with this explanation, the little girl said, “Belwhyn Marathel did all this.” Din nodded. “The Elders made her a Belwhyn because she fucked you, and she was only supposed to be fucked by the Bishop.” Din could not reply, as he was stunned by these words coming from this little girl. She didn’t seem to mind, as she went on without prompting. “I was there when they made her a Belwhyn. She screamed as they all fucked her. The Captain kicked the Dilimgau into her cunt.”

“… What?”

“She came back and killed them all. The Bishop is over there,” the little girl said, pointing. “I was supposed to be the Hunter’s Whyn, but he’s dead now. I was branded and everything. See?” The child lifted up her skirt to show Din, and she was naked under her skirt. He turned away as she exposed herself to him.

“Lower your skirt, child,” Din muttered.

“But I don’t have an Elder anymore. Are you going to be my Elder?”

“No.”

The girl dropped her skirt and began to cry. “But … I’m supposed to suck your cock now, aren’t I?”

Din backed up from her. “No. No! Go back to the women, child. Just … get away from me.” The girl ran away, crying at being rejected by him, leaving Din feeling both repulsed and saddened. Mostly repulsed. It made him think of Marathel’s brand, made him think of her as a child just like the little Hunter girl. No wonder Marathel was so damaged in her mind. And hearing that the Captain had … His hands curled into fists, and he wished the Captain was still alive so he could kill him. Din considered burning down the rest of the Hold and killing the remaining survivors as a mercy to them. He took a deep, shuddering breath, knowing that he could not do that. Perhaps these women could be rehabilitated ... Perhaps their minds could be repaired ...

Perhaps I could just give up my Creed and join a traveling underwater circus!

Din lined up several barrel lids and took holos. He believed he had enough. Now he needed to find Marathel. He walked around the fallen tree and back out to where the women still milled around. He didn’t see the little girl, and he was thankful for that. Din approached Grogu’s pram, still closed, and he gently maneuvered it away from the fallen Round Building. “Kid? Are you okay in there?” He heard some shuffling inside. “Knock once for yes and twice for no. Are you doing okay in there?” There was a light, single tap from within. “Okay, buddy, just stay in there a little longer, alright?” Another tap.

Din looked over the yard again. Nearby was a dead body that was oddly enough, still intact. He went over and looked down at the corpse of the Bishop. His eyes were gone, and his mouth was open and full of blood. There were multiple stab wounds all over his body, a couple right in his crotch. Too good for you, you son of a bitch. Rapist. Child rapist. You carved a gash down a beautiful woman’s face. You destroyed her before she was even born. You broke her mind so much she dreamed I was you! And I wish you could come back to life so I could kill you myself, you … “MOTHERFUCKER HU’TUUN!” growled Din as he drew both blasters and alternated firing shots into the corpse, over and over. Din holstered his blasters, reared back, and kicked the corpse in the groin. He then raised his helmet enough to spit in the corpse’s eye socket before stepping back and setting it on fire with his flame thrower.

Finished now, Din turned, placed his hand on Grogu’s pram, and walked them both out of the Hold gate, not looking back at the women and girls who stood staring at him. “C’mon, kid, let’s go find your Mama.”

Din decided to return to Marathel’s hut on the Crest. On a normal hunt, he’d leave his ship where it was and walk. He liked having the time to settle his thoughts, make a plan, and creep up on his mark quietly. Right now, however, he felt the need to hurry. Although Marathel walked out of the Hold, he wasn’t sure how long ago she did that, which direction she was going, or what state she was in when she left. The rest of the women were still shell-shocked by the explosion and the Dahl’s attack, but they didn’t go on a rampage like Marathel had, fighting off and killing however many men.

Din and Grogu went back to the Crest, lifted off, and touched back down in the grassy field just outside Marathel’s yard. From here he could not see anything too out of the ordinary, but as he and Grogu approached, he could see that the brown panels Marathel had hung were no longer there. Then he saw her bag lying on the ground where she’d dropped it. Hoping she may be still in the hut, Din hurried forward but stopped short at the four rounded piles of flowers.

Four. The four women who brought her out.

“Stay here, Grogu,” muttered Din. He went up to the steps. There was a burned-out torch — Marathel must have intended to burn the hut down — a whetstone, and bloodied footprints. He looked up to the ridge pole to see the four ropes the women had been hanged from. He did not wish to unwrap the women to see what they had suffered. More of Marathel’s footprints went through the large blood spill under the four shroud-wrapped bodies. Din could smell the decay of flesh, and flies buzzed everywhere.

Olba, Tymfy, Lorica, Hylma. I am so sorry. Ni ceta. Thank you for being good women to Marathel. Thank you, Olba, for mothering Marathel the best you could.

Din took a step back and chanted the Mando’a prayer for the dead, something he hadn’t spoken since the death of his buir. He believed these women were fully deserving of this honor, and that Manda’lor would accept their souls for their sacrifice. This completed, Din stepped up into the hut. He decided that there were certain items that he needed to collect before he left this place. He rummaged around until he found what he wanted as well as a bag to carry the items in.

Din stood in the center of the hut and looked around one last time, feeling as if he were seeing ghosts of lifetimes past: Marathel cooking at the fire, Marathel playing with Grogu, Marathel in his arms. He took one last look at the post near the corner. Her leaning post. He closed his eyes, took a breath, and walked down the steps to the yard. Once there, he turned, aimed his flame thrower, and set the hut ablaze.

Din stood for a few minutes, watching the hut burn. The roof thatching went up like a rocket, and soon it collapsed, leaving just a burning shell of posts. Now, he was finished here. As he and Grogu returned to the Crest, Din snagged Marathel’s bag, hoping that she would need it back.

Din flew the Crest low, searching for life signs on the scanner and wondering where she would go. How far could she get? Din assumed she was injured in some way; Marathel was not a trained warrior and had probably been running on adrenaline. He felt fairly sure that she was heading for the cliff, but he had no idea where this particular cliff was. It was within running distance from her hut, he knew that. Grogu stood on the console, peering through the view screen as Din followed the coastline, searching for this cliff of hers.

The scanner began beeping. Din looked at the monitor to see a large convergence of life signs coming up ahead of them. As they got closer, the sensor picked up one single additional weak life sign. Din steered the Crest in from the high ledge, fifty or so meters above the crashing waves. The ledge was a mostly a grassy field with the foliage growing right up to the edge of the cliff. There was a large, flat boulder some ways away from the edge. Din was thinking he could see a couple of small objects on the boulder, when Grogu suddenly shouted “Mama!”

Din immediately brought down the Crest, and was out of his chair before the ship had fully settled, and practically leapt through the ramp door. He ran to the boulder, where he saw a cracked wooden cup, the remains of a spear, and a bloody handprint. Din immediately panicked, thinking, damn you, Marathel, you promised me you wouldn’t kill yourself! You promised me that you would live out the rest of your days on this fucking rock! I promised I wouldn’t take any revenge, and I promised that I would leave you behind. Well, I broke both of those promises and you’ve broken yours. We are just a fucking pair, aren’t we?

Din flicked the heat sensor on his helmet, and detected a life sign a few meters away. He ran over as fast as he could, sliding to a stop next to the crumpled form of Marathel. She lay in a heap, not far from the dead body of Rodanthe. Marathel’s arms were twisted beneath her as she half-curled into a fetal position. Under her hips was a pool of thick, half-dried blood. No, not again, thought Din as he leaned over her, touching her exposed and sunburned cheek with his gloved finger. Her eyelids flickered, and Din whispered, “Oh, ma’mwsh ha’laa.” He couldn’t tell where she was injured or where the blood pool had come from, but she wasn’t dead, oh, thank you, thank you, she’s not dead.

Din carefully turned her over, realizing that her collarbone was broken and her shoulder was dislocated. She had a gash on the side of her head, with maggots in the wound. She was terribly sunburned where her skin was exposed. How long had she been out here? But before he could fully assess any of her injuries, he heard Grogu cry out, “Patu! Bah Daws!”

Din straightened up, seeing Grogu standing on the flat boulder, pointing at the tree line at the edge of the grassy field. He looked at the tree line, and the heat sensor on his helmet showed many signatures, many living creatures, and they were coming straight for him. Din ran forward, brandishing his blaster as hundreds of Dahls charged. He skidded to a halt, firing at several Dahls, killing them, causing the creatures to trip over each other, but still they came. Din holstered his blaster and fired his flame thrower, but he’d been fire-happy recently and he could only swing the flame once along the front line of the Dahls before he ran out of fuel. It did, however, bring them to a stop, and they stood their ground, chattering their keh-keh noises at him, clawing at the dirt.

Din screamed at the Dahls, “Get away from her, you fuckers! You leave her alone! You’ve taken her entire life away! Get out of her head, get out of my head, and leave us both alone!” He grabbed both blasters, shot several more times at the feet of the closest ones, and the pack began to move backwards. “That’s right, you back the fuck up and LET HER GO!”

Unfortunately, this infuriated the Dahls, and they charged forward at Din once more. He lifted his blasters again, intending to strafe the front line for as long as his blasters held out, when the Dahls simply stopped, as if they were crashing into an invisible barrier. Yelping in pain, the Dahls clawed at the air, at each other, confused. Din was just as confused as the Dahls, and he looked back over his shoulder to see Grogu holding out his little hands, holding back the Dahls with the Force. Din returned his attention to the Dahls, who were backing up once more, now fearful of the metal man and the little green creature.

“Go away from here! Get out of her head and leave her alone. You’ve had her for thirty years! You’re done with her now. She doesn’t want you anymore. You let her SUFFER! You NEVER loved her! NOW LET US GO!”

Snapping, hissing, the Dahls continued their retreat as Grogu released the Force barrier and sat down in exhaustion. Din kept his stance, brandishing both blasters, firing a warning shot at the feet of any Dahls that attempted a forward move. Eventually, the Dahls disappeared back into the tree line, but Din held his ground until the creatures were out of range of his visor’s sensors.

Din slowly backed up himself, scanning the tree line for any sudden movement, until he was back within range of Marathel. Holstering his blasters, he turned to Grogu, sitting on the boulder. “You okay, kid?” Grogu bleated weakly. “You did good, buddy, I’m proud of you.” Din went to one knee beside Rodanthe, hoping that at least this one last Dahl had been true to Marathel. He stroked the animal’s head, wondering if his cardiac episode had occurred at the time of her death. If so, then what was the reason for him to lose his love for Marathel?

Not having any answers, Din decided that the best course of action was to care for the still-living woman. He carefully lifted Marathel from the ground and carried her to the boulder where Grogu sat. “Hey kid, grab that cup and spear, would you?” asked Din, figuring that if Marathel meant them as a suicide note, they were important to her. Grogu did as his Patu asked, and looked up wearily at Din. Din nodded his head at the ship and said, “Going my way, pal? Hop on. Mama won’t mind, I don’t think.”

Grogu leapt into Marathel’s lap, whimpering Mama, curling against her. Din carried them both into the Razor Crest, closing the ramp behind him. The Dahls moved forward again to the tree line, and watched as the small ship lifted off the ground, and winked away into the sky, leaving Unmanarall for what Din hoped was the final time.

Day Twenty-Nine point Five ->

#din djarin fanfiction #the mandalorian angst #mando angst #din djarin angst #star wars fanfiction #starwarsficnetwork #reverse age gap #pedrostories #pedro pascal character #mando x female oc #mando x plus size oc #mando x reverse age gap oc

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worldrusher · 4 months ago

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Heyyy i just kind of randomly found your blog and i would love to hear about your star trek oc(s).

1. What do they look like? What’s their preferred clothing style?

2. Are they in Starfleet? If yes, what’s their role? What was their life like before joining Starfleet? Why did they join?

3. Where do they come from? What’s their relationship with their family? With their s/o (if they have one)? With their friends and colleagues?

4. What’s their best/worst childhood memory?

5. What’s their favourite animal?

6. Put any other fun facts you want here!

Have a nice day!

💙💙

never let an author answer basic questions they'll write five times more than needed

They all really just prefer their uniforms becasuse they're convenient and also Required (aka I'm a bit too lazy to think about that because they're usually on their respective Starships). They all have specific faceclaims, too ... which are kind of embarrassing to write down instead of show, but this is Tumblr. So.

Strelik, TOS - Jared Padalecki (with Vulcan modification), circa GiImore GirIs

Dr. Novac, TOS - Robert Sean Leonard, around the 80s-90s

Strelik, AOS - See above

Feliks Kovalyov, AOS - Jensen Ackles, around the 90s? Pre-SPN. When he has more blonde in his hair.

Nuka Salvatici, TNG - Um...uh.. . Noah Hugbox. Sorry

They're all in Starfleet!!! :D

Strelik, TOS - Navigator/Pilot [Gold Shirt]; Lieutenant Commander [two cuff stripes]. Whatever life/education on Vulcan is like pre-Science Academy (since he skipped out on that). Joined because he didn't see himself in Science and he wanted to be in space.

Dr. Novac, TOS - Doctor [Blue Shirt]; Lieutenant junior grade [one cuff stripe] (idc if it may not exist in TOS it does now). Went to Rutgers New Jersey Medical School to become a doctor before Starfleet Academy. Joined because it was always his dream to save lives in space and expand his knowledge beyond Earth illnesses and injuries.

Strelik, AOS - Engineer [Red Shirt]; Lieutenant [one cuff stripe]. Same origin/motives as above.

Feliks Kovalyov, AOS - Security [Red Shirt]; Lieutenant [one cuff stripe]. Had a shit childhood and educated himself most of the time (and did a damn good job!). Joined to escape his "home" and wanted to be in security so he could protect others.

Nuka Salvatici, TNG - Security [Yellow Shirt]; Lieutenant Commander [two gold pips, one black pip]. Worked as security on Rivet City, but didn't see much action. Joined because it was that or surviving the Capital Wasteland without any assistance or gear.

Strelik, TOS - Vulcan. Strained, but repaired over time. Deeply loving and trusting. Respects and cares for his friends/colleagues, even if he doesn't show it.

Dr. Novac, TOS - New Jersey, USA. Loves them a ton, and they're so proud of him. Sooo loving and sweet and gentle. Tries to be friends with as many colleagues as possible, because it's easier to work with people you like.

Strelik, AOS - Vulcan. Strained, but never repaired. Same relationship/colleague/friend feelings as above, even if he's dating different people; he shows this care a bit more often, though.

Feliks Kovalyov, AOS - Rural Mojave Desert, USA; Russian-American. Hates his parents (mutual feeling). Loves Pavel SO SO MUCH; there is so much affection nd care in their relationship it's insane. He's protective over the crew, beyond it being a job requirement; he will put his friends and crew before himself in pretty much every scenario.

Nuka Salvatici, TNG - Rivet City, Capital Wasteland (New Earth. He's Fallouan.). Never knew his parents. Doesn't have any romantic relationships currently. He's a little new at making actual friends, so he can be a little awkward and cold, but he really does care for any friends he's made and sees them almost as family; same with his coworkers, with that innate protective urge of any security officer.

Strelik, TOS - Best: i don't know how Vulcan schools work, but...being the best in his class one year and having internalized pride for it // Worst: accidentally showcasing too much emotion in front of an acquaintance and losing said acquaintance from his life

Dr. Novac, TOS - Best: his dad becoming a doctor and motivating (not forcing) him to be one as well // Worst: his grandpa's death from an illness that could have been cured; the doctors overlooked it :/

Strelik, AOS - honestly...same as TOS

Feliks Kovalyov, AOS - Best: learning about Starfleet and being recommended for it by a teacher // Worst: most of his childhood, honestly

Nuka Salvatici, TNG - Best: learning how to shoot a rifle for the first time // Worst: shooting himself in the foot and nearly having to amputate it

Strelik, TOS - Sehlat

Dr. Novac, TOS - Red fox

Strelik, AOS - Vulcan water-beetle

Feliks Kovalyov, AOS - Brown bear

Nuka Salvatici, TNG - Dog

Strelik, TOS - Joins the same time as Chekov; wouldn't be shown on screen until s2e2

Dr. Novac, TOS - Had to fight through so many different motion sickness cures before allowing himself into space

Strelik, AOS - In a relationship with Spirk; showed affection for Spock first

Feliks Kovalyov, AOS - Has a (really cheesy and cringe because I can do what I want) mainly Green Day cover band with Sulu and Chekov

Nuka Salvatici, TNG - Fallouans all have one mutation per person, and his is telepathy (he stifles it often)

#i sound crazy when i talk about nuka #i swear to you theres reasoning behind him beind almost a fallout oc #star trek #star trek oc #strelik son of suhur son of sirrul #dr. shaun novac #feliks d. kovalyov #nuka salvatici #star trek aos #star trek tos #star trek tng

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longbobmckenzie · 2 years ago

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Hellooo! There are so few Roberto fans around. I was wondering if you had any HC’s about his home life, like what he’s like as a boyfriend? What he’s like if they’re long distance? What kind of car he drives and things like that? Love our beautiful portugese man 🥺

Hello, sweet anon!!! Thank you for the ask, our beautiful Portuguese man deserves some lovin' 🥺🥰

Fusebox only gives us random facts, so it's up to us to fill in the details...

Roberto Headcanons

Home life

So, we know based on the date and how much Roberto talked about his family that he's very family-oriented and close to his parents, grandparents, and siblings. I think he probably lived at home for a while simply because he didn't see the need to officially move out while he was in school, and because as a pilot, he's often away anyway. But he did eventually move to his own place, but not too far from his parents. Probably with a cousin or two as a roommate, tbh. He still goes home all the time though because that's where his loved ones are.

We also know he can cook, so he's not just going home out of necessity. He's absolutely a mama's boy (and avó's boy), but he helps out in the kitchen because there'd be hell to pay if he didn't!

He's also the only boy with two older sisters. Despite being the youngest (and he was absolutely teased in every way growing up), he's fiercely protective of them.

As a boyfriend

Roberto has dated extensively, but he's ready to settle down and he knows what he's looking for in a partner. He's also ready to learn from past mistakes (and there have been a few).

Roberto is basically Prince Charming. He's attentive, romantic, and will do whatever he can to make his partner feel loved and appreciated. I think his love languages include quality time (especially receiving) and gift giving (how he shows love to others). He's outdoorsy, so he'd love a girlfriend who's willing to do some of his favourite activities with him, and he'll absolutely return the favour - romcom night? Roberto is there. He'll be the guy who buys opening weekend Barbie tickets for him and his girl before Oppenheimer, just saying. Will cook a romantic candlelight dinner. In his own words, he wants the person he's into to feel like his entire world.

He's just as attentive as a lover. He's sensuous. His girl comes first, literally. But he'll very much enjoy the process, teasing her to distraction and edging her until she's begging him to let her come. He's not a dom, not really, but if he's in the right mood, he'll take all the control. We also know he's into costumes and roleplay (no wonder he has a job with a sexy uniform). You might expect his favourite to be pilot/flight attendant or passenger, but that hits a bit too close to home. Plus, you know he's been there, done that 😏But he'll indulge his girl if that's what she wants to do.

Long distance relationships

He hates it. Absolutely hates it. He thrives on being around his people, and he wants his partner there with him. He's already away from home a lot, so not being able to come home to his partner being home for him sucks.

That said, he's on Love Island knowing that a long-distance relationship is a possibility. And he's willing to relocate for the right person, even if it means being long distance for a while before that happens to make sure it's right. He'll be facetiming his girl from hotel rooms all over the world - it's the first thing he does when he checks in - and begging her to travel with him. He's absolutely paying for her tickets, too. Trying to plan his flights so he can see her or take her with him for a mini-vacation. Flying her to Portugal when she's able to get away from her own work/family so she can be there when he's home.

Ultimately, he values experiencing life with his partner. So if his partner isn't around, well... things get difficult.

What he drives

I debated this one. I think he'd like something sporty, but not too flashy. But at the same time, he needs something practical because a) he's not always home to drive, and b) he likes to do sports and go to the beach, and he's not gonna risk getting sand in his nice car all the time.

So, he drives a Seat Leon Cupra. It's a hatchback, so it's practical enough for his outdoors activities. It's got a nice body, but isn't too flashy. It's a fun drive, and it's a good daily driver. Someday he'll get something flashier (possibly an Alfa Romeo Giulia), especially once he's worked his way up and has a bigger salary, but for now, this'll do.

---

This is long so I'll leave it at that, but I'm always happy to chat about our charming boy! Thanks again for asking!

#longbob answers asks #longbob headcanons #litg roberto #litg s6

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noxstrages · 1 year ago

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If it's not too much to ask, could we know a little more about your bug guy? Their design is sooooooo cool, I absolutely adore it! :D

auUaHGhHGhGh MAN I DID NOT EXPECT SOMEONE TO ASK ABOUT HIM SO SOON GHGHHG THANK YOU AHHH I DONT KNOW WHERE TO START

He's from a collaborative RP group I'm in! He's based off a coconut rhinocerous beetle and his outfit is based off WWI/II Pilot Uniforms. His ethnicity is filipino/malay, even though the world he's from isn't really parallel to ours exactly (Whole different continents, mythos, history).

If you ask him what his name is, he'd reply with "Knocks" or "The Wanderer", but this is because he doesn't know his real name. He was Vincent Marcus Catacutan, so you'll see me tag pieces with him as Vincent or Knocks, but they're the same character in two very different stages of his life.

Vincent is pre-[REDACTED] and is a bit of a bitch, but really smart, head of weapons research and development for his country. I typically draw him with long hair, but you can easily tell it's him by his horns/antennae/eyes, which are all brown/black, or a usually dour or maniacal expression.

Knocks doesn't know anything about all that though. He just knows he has an affinity for building machines and making potions, and that he was in a war. He's very jovial and friendly, making silly jokes and naming things weird things, but there's definitely a mean streak to him and he doesn't take social cues very well. That being said, he's undyingly (or, dyingly) loyal, which he shares with Vincent, and he has a big heart and boobs (also like Vincent, but he'd never admit it). Even though they're the same character, they're so different from each other in a lot of ways that he occupies two different spots in my mind. Maybe I can explore this some more if y'all/you're interested :>

Here's a portion of the page I posted earlier with colors, as thanks for reading all that if you did! I'm sorry for rambling, it's hard for me to summarize things, though I'm always eager to answer questions!

#original character #original art #oc art #nox asks #nox talks #nox art #nox ocs #(knocks)#(vincent)#WHOO SORRY DIDNT MEAN TO WRITE THAT MUCH #im a rambly little man #hes one of my ocs ever #he scratches all my itches #simultaneously evil lil meow meow and my poor little scrunkly #im glad you like his design though ;u;#he's sm fun for me to draw and i care him

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theculturedmarxist · 1 year ago

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Sorry, when you say from her experiences, you mean her being sexualized? Her piece titled “Stand Up” has a line of men drawn but a woman as the only one in the sheer military uniform. Which shows me more of that message. My initial reaction may have blinded me from the underlying/original messaging of her art

I encourage you to read her profile. Hu Ming was a member of the PLA, a librarian, and a nurse, and the impression that I get is that these pieces are reflections of her time spent in the PLA as well as the wider context of the Cultural Revolution in which it takes place. For example:

However it was one day in that library that she found a book that would change her life forever, it was an life drawing book by Michelangelo a book of human anatomy, the figures were of men, and it was the first time for the now 16year old to see the nude. She was in a mental turmoil as she was both absolutely fascinated, yet petrified, as to be found with this would be serious. However despite the danger she took the book back to her room to study and copy the drawings, so she might be able to draw the human body so well. She kept the book in her pillow, along with her underwear and bra's as it was just a convient place to keep them, though one day she discovered to her horror that both the book and her underwear were gone. Ming was in shock; she knew the consequences and wondered who it could have been. She instanting thought of the only man to have a key to her room, and she also knew that there were men around that deliberately stole women's underwear. Then one day her commander called her into his office, in a voice, that could not be mistaken, she sits down and he places the book in front of her and demands to know where she got this! "From the library" replied Ming. "Ming he said there are naked male images in this book, they are wearing no clothes! And you have copied these images as well! Why to you like this kind of material"? {This kind of book was considered pornographic at this time} Ming was very scared and started to cry, and she also started to believe that she had a problem, she thought to her self that maybe everyone was right "I'm not mentally well" but she retorted "please do not tell my parents" The commander never reported the incident, however the book was never seen again and the underwear was stolen by another person, whom Ming was sure to be her immediate boss ( an ex-pilot ) as he had one of two key's to her room. From that time on she kept her underwear inside her pillow. The cultural revolution required men and women to be homogeneous, women were not to display their femineity or to wear face cream that contained any perfume, Ming did not see shampoo until the mid 1980's , hence the womanliness of her army girls in her painting.

So you have a situation where sexuality and physical desire are suppressed, but where she's nevertheless still preyed upon by men with power over her.

The way that I interpret Stand Up is that it's from Ming's perspective. Her gaze is drawn towards the single woman in a lineup of men. She can't literally see through this woman's clothes, but she's naturally aware of what's under it. This might not even be an expression of prurient interest in the woman's body so much as an awareness of it, intensified by how outnumbered she is by the opposite sex, and in spite of the attempt at "homogenization."

In short they're works that are rich in the potential for interpretation beyond just the cheesecake they initially appear as.

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lotorsshoulderpads · 10 months ago

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Updated Allura HCs :)

Age 18 at debut

5"6

The only pilot without formal combat training

was never taught how to pilot anything before the lion

Fascinated by other cultures

Fluent in over 6 languages

Extremely book smart, just not very street smart

When she was little she called Coran "Uncle Coran"

Coincidentally, her favorite colors are pink and blue

Has a scar on her shoulder from when the Drule invaded

Discovering Earthling makeup styles was the beginning of an era for her. On Arus, makeup is usually only worn for performances, so the idea that you could... put it on, for funsies?

Now owns like a million lipsticks and all of them are the same kind of basic pink shade, bc Nanny hates letting her have fun.

She managed to convince Nanny to let her have ONE black lipstick... just for Halloween, of course, she just wants to see what this funny Earth holiday is about!

"Where did you get the awful shade of lipstick?" was a cover. Allura realized she was staring too long at Merla's lips

Merla makes her heart do funny things

Keith also makes her heart do funny things

She was very young when the Drule invaded

Loves her mother, but they were never close. Mother wasn't the maternal type

SUPER close with her dad though

Allura's mom was actually the one of royal blood. Alfor was a noble, but she was the one with the real claim to the throne

Orla is Mom's younger sister

Mom had Allura fairly young, at 22

Orla, meanwhile, was 13 when Allura was born

When Orla first heard that Allura was still alive, she rushed to see for herself, only to raise speculation among the people of Arus that Orla may have ill intent, being the next in line for the crown if something happened to Allura... The part where Allura goes into a coma and everyone thought she'd died did not help her case

Allura was DELIGHTED to learn about Earth's "flower language"

Super neat handwriting

Collects funky pens

LOVES music boxes

Ear piercings aren't big on Arus. Pidge gave her a pair of clip on ones and she fell in love

Still doesn't wear earrings much, tho. Her hair gets tangled in them

Great with animals

Pansexual

Everyone can understand the mice, they just only like to talk to Allura

Doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. Literally. Has caught fish with her bare hands

Used to get in trouble as a kid for making a mess of her clothes this way

The pink dress she wears is not only considered very casual for a royal, but also exceptionally outdated. It's just what they had laying around, since getting new, flashy dresses made wasn't exactly an option before Arus was liberated. After that, she just didn't feel the need for a whole new wardrobe

Who dared introduce her to chocolate, do you know what you've done?

Was left unsupervised with scissors once. Her hair is now shoulder length. Looked BAD tho, lance had to fix it

August birthday

Knows how to play several instruments, including the harp

Allura is not the first to wear the pink pilot uniform

Had two older siblings. Key word: had (yes I stole this from GoLion)

Enamored by fun insects

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biohazard-inevitable · 2 years ago

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New Recruit

Chronologically, this is part 16 Of The Dragon and The Fox Overwatch self insert fanfiction, though this is technically the beginning of season 2 so I will be calling it S2P1 and so forth, but…

Hello~ we’re BACK BABYYYYYYYY!!!!~~~~~ new adventures and new chaos waiting to unfold!!!!! And this is all of course @emile-hides ‘s fault, so you can thank him for the junkenstein revival of this series!!!

Oh also, link to part 1 here

“All-righty cyborgs and gentleman! This is your captain speaking!” Came the chipper, high voice from the cockpit of the shuttle that the two Shimada’s sat in, soft smiles plastered upon their faces as they indulged the whims of their pilot. “We are about to land at the Gibraltar base, the temperature is a lovely 21°C with delightful sunny weather!”

“You ready, Ibotei?” The elder asked, giving his brother’s hand a gentle, affirming squeeze.

“As I’ll ever be meeting government officals…” Zayne laughed nervously, leaning on his brother’s shoulder with a soft sigh as he looked up towards where Lena was staring back at them from the cockpit, having flicked on the autopilot landing.

“You’ll do great!” She affirmed. “I just know it! Captain Morrison really isnt that scary!”

“No kidding! That privledge went to commander Reyes.” Genji snarked. “Morrison is a big softie compared to him. Though I wonder, what exactly did you do to get a criminal record?”

“Oh you’ll both find out once we get inside! Morrison has the list!” Lena chirped innocently as the shuttle finished it’s landing sequence. “There are so many bright new faces for you to meet!”

With a quick flurry of taps along a keypad, the rear ramp of the shuttle hissed open to reveal a man in a deep navy colored uniform with short, well groomed hair as blonde as sunlight and calm, prideful eyes like the rolling waves the deepest ocean.

“Genji!” He greeted with a cheerful smile. “It’s been far too long! Glad to have you back with us, and you’re looking better than ever!”

“It’s good to see you too Jack.” Genji chuckled electronically as he approached the blonde man casually to geet his firm handshake. “It has certainly been a long time since we last met, and hopefully under better circumstances this time.”

“Well you seem perfectly healthy, so not quite a trip to Angela again, and more talkative this time!” The man- Jack- jabbed with a playful elbow nudge to the cyborg’s side before glancing over at the small man still hiding in the shadows of the shuttle’s cargo dock. “And that must be the brother you told us about? The one you’re vouching for?”

“Yes, though I wasn’t aware he had a record.” Genji chuckled softly, nodding his head in a gesture for his brother to join him. “I’m awefully curious of what such a record contains, though I have my suspicions on some things. Nonetheless, he is a good man, I know it. Besides, you were willing to take Cassidy on.”

Slowly, from the shadows Zayne walked, his gaze neevously angled at his feet as he joined his brother’s side, not sure what to make of the man before them.

“Well, Reyes technically took him on, but yes, I’m sure its no problem.” Jack chuckled before extending his hand to the youngest Shimada. “Hello, I’m commander Jack Morrison. Leader of the Overwatch.”

“I’m Zayne Shimada…” He mumbled, cautiously taking the hand offered which was returned with a firm shake. “You aren’t going to arrest me, are you?”

“Honestly? We should, if only for your mild acts of terrorism, but your brother is willing to vouch for you, and I’m willing to look past it so long as you are willing to make some agreements while we have you complete some paperwork but, we’ve had worse cases then yours as members.” Jack responded with a slight chuckle. “But its nice to finally put a face to the name! You’ll fit in just fine here, I’m sure of it.”

“If you say so.” Zayne chuckled awkwardly ad he was released from the handshake and Commander Morrison began to walk off towards the main building with a wave enticing the brothers to follow.

“So when were you gonna tell me you’re technically classified as a terrorist?” Genji jabbed as he skipped along after his brother with a shoulder bump.

“Mmmh, was hoping to wait about as long as you did in telling me you were still alive.” Zayne replied with a sly shrug and a smirk. “Possibly never.”

“Touchè.” Genji replied with an electronic hum. “How did it even happen anyways?”

“Lets just say back when I was working with Hanzo, we got into some… interesting situations and may have made friends with some Australians.”

“Australians???”

“I’m sure they’ll debreif you on my list of crimes once we actually get in there, and those who I committed crimes with.” Zayne sighed as he caught up to the Commander. “Though do know, the buildings I destroyed were corporations who had it coming.”

“The fucking WHAT-“

“Quite the brother you’ve got there Genji!” Lena snickered as she blinked over to catch up with the boys. “This year’s going to be a lively one for sure!”

~~~~~~~~~~

It was weird, walking through the halls of a military outpost freely, not having to sneak around camera blindspots, and strangest of all be escorted around like a guest by the head honcho! Zayne wasn’t sure if he liked it, though it was nice not to have to avoid guards like the plague for once.

Eventually, the group arrived at a small interrogation style office room, which wouldn’t be that strange if it werent for the enormous silverback gorilla sat at the other side of the desk, a pair of glasses sat newtly on his face and a bannana casually in hand. It felt like something almost out of a fever dream, and what happened next baffled the ninja even further.

“Genji!” The gorilla greeted with a toothy smile. “Good to see you again!”

“Ah Winston!” Genji responded cheerily without batting an eye. “Overwatch’s favorite monkey, how have you been?”

“Well- actually, and I hate to interrupt,” Zayne piped up, giving his brother a soft nudge. “Hes not a monkey, hes a Great ape. Very different groupings.”

“Okay nerd.” Genji sassed with a gentle smack to the back of his brother’s head.

“Oh I like this one.” The ape responded with a deep chuckle as he turned his attention over to Zayne before extending a hand to the young Shimada. “I’m Winston, a scientist here at the facility. I’m mostly here to hand you your paperwork and help walk you through it, though I admit I was also curious to meet the new recruit joining us! Oh and, Genji already informed me about your peanut allergy, and just know, I have a tendency to indulge in peanut butter from time to time, it goes very well with bannanas.”

“Well, thanks for the heads up.” Zayne chuckled softly. “Though, I’m still a bit amazed to be talking to well- a talking gorilla! How did that even..?”

“Well, I was born of brilliant minds and raised on the moon by humans! I could go into morefacinating details, but I’m afraid thats a subject for another time as its a terribly long explanation!” Winston laughed softly as he placed some paperwork in front of the young ninja. “Anyways, todays discussion is more about you and where you lay in regards to the team here at Overwatch, which, weclome welcome by the way! Its great to have you!”

“Thank you!” Zayne smiled softly, sitting down at the table. “I’m actually surprised how nice you guys all are! I was really expecting to be arrested almost immediately and locked away forever, at least until I called in some favors and busted out.”

“I’d have liked to see you try!” Winston chuckled. “But, no, no no. We’re quite the understanding group here, I mean, we’d need a bit of any talents we can get if we’re to take on the remnants of the omnic crisis! We cant really afford to be picky even if we wanted to!”

“Allright, well, this is going to be very boring!” Genji announced as he clapped his hands together. “I’m going to have Lena give me the rundown of your crimes if you’re alright being left with Winston?”

There was a subtle concern to his voice hidden amidst the playful tone as he rested his cybernetic hand on his brother’s shoulder, giving a hesitant squeeze to ask if he’d be alright. A squeeze that Zayne returned with a soft smile as he responded.

“I’m sure I’ll be fine, just meet back up with me in whatever place you guys call a mess hall around here?”

“Of course Ibotei, see you soon.”

It took a moment for Genji to remove his hand from his brother’s shoulder, ever the loyal shadow that had guarded the young ninja during his time at the Shambali monastary, now finally having to seperate so his brother could fill out tedious paperwork regarding many, many crimes he had comitted, though in his heart he knew he was in good hands. After all, these were the hands that had caught him when he fell from the Shimada clan entirely.

“Alright, lets begin!” Winston spoke, adjusting his glasses as Genji left the room.

Boy, were they in it for the long haul.

~~~~~~~~~~~

And just for fun, here are the crimes as follows:

Breaking an entering

Multiple speeding violations

Grand larceny

Grand theft auto

International terrorism

Murder-for hire

Conspiracy to commit murder

Vandalism