#bradley carbone

[trickphotography2]

Wanna Dance with Somebody

When his girlfriend of three months ditches a night at the Hard Deck after a rough day, Bradley knows just what to do to cheer her up.

Word Count: 1.8K

---------------------------------------------------------

Off work yet?

Not yet. I have so much left to do in this last hour and a half.

Okay. Let me know when you’re on the way, and I’ll have your drink waiting.

Bradley glanced at his phone again to see if there was any update, only to see his last message left on read two hours later. Excusing himself from the pool table, he stepped out onto the patio of the Hard Deck. 

You answered on the third ring. “Hey,” you said, exhaustion coloring your voice. 

“Hey babe, just wanted to check where you were.” There was silence for a long moment before you sighed.

“Would…would you mind if I skipped out tonight? It’s been a shit day, and I’m exhausted.” 

“Yeah,” he frowned. “Everything okay?”

“Just a lot. I still have about an hour of work before I can log off for the night. And some of the shit is going to be Monday’s problem.” 

“Anything I can do?”

“No. As much as I appreciate it, no.” He could hear the smile in your tired voice. “Have a drink for me, tell everyone I said hi, and text me when you get home?” 

“Will do, babe. Lo…lock up, alright?”

“Always do,” you replied, confused by his strange request. “Night.”

“Night.” 

An hour and a half later, you shut down your computer and stowed it in your work bag, shoving that into the back of your closet. After changing into a pair of sweatpants and pulling on the wearable cat blanket that fell to your knees - Bradley had gotten it in a White Elephant Christmas exchange and shoved it into his closet, quickly giving it to you when you spied it the first time he made you dinner at his house and loved it - you shuffled toward the kitchen. Lunch had been a quick affair - a bag of chips and a mug of tea - since it had been a busy day. It was a busy week, to be honest. This time of year was always a shit show: people came out of the woodwork asking for help, projects that you pushed off were due, and new work started to pile up. It wasn’t until 3:00PM that you’d finished the stuff from yesterday and switched to today’s tasks. 

You zoned out while watching the microwave heat up leftover pizza from the weekend and contemplated stress crying in the shower. A quick, cathartic cry would be a good kick-off to the weekend, but that would also require the effort of actually getting into the shower. Eating seemed like a monumental task, so showering would be even worse. 

Beeping interrupted your musing, and you quickly silenced the microwave. The pizza was only lukewarm, but you ate it anyway. An open bottle of wine caught your eye when you refilled your water bottle, and you retrieved a wine glass from the cabinet. Thankfully, it was still carbonated after you’d shoved it onto the door shelf and jammed the stopper against the upper shelf. Pouring yourself a healthy measure, you retreated to the couch, tugging the blanket hood over your head. 

With the lights off, you grabbed your phone and mindlessly scrolled social media while lying on the couch. A few videos made you chuckle, and you sent them to your friends. The sun had long set, but you had no motivation to turn on any of the lights in your home. 

“Hey.”

“Fuck!” You shouted, jolting upright and sloshing the wine balanced beside you. The overhead living room light flicked on to reveal a smirking Bradley standing in the doorway. 

“You alright?” He asked, trying to school his expression as you wiped wine from your hoodie, blinking at the sudden brightness. 

“What are you doing here?” You demanded, glaring up at him. His mustache twitched as though he was trying not to grin - he had never seen you in “full gremlin mode,” as you called these nights, in the three months you’d been dating. 

“Just coming to check on you and bring you this,” Bradley said, holding up a bottle of your favorite wine. Your eyes darted between it and his face, feeling your anger fade. 

“Babe,” you groaned, setting your wine glass on the floor and pulling the hood down to cover your face as tears pricked your eyes. “You didn’t need to do that.” The carpet muffled his footsteps as he neared. Still, you heard the soft ‘thunk’ of the bottle and the metallic clanking of the spare key given to him to check your apartment when you went out of town for a conference hitting the coffee table before he gently pushed the fabric from your eyes. 

“Bad day or long one?”

“A bit of both,” you shrugged. “This week’s been…” He nodded, thinking about what you’d shared over the last few days. Glancing at your wine glass, he grabbed the bottle by the neck and removed the foil.

“Sounds like you need something to make you feel better, baby.”

“Sex?” Throwing his head back laughing, Bradley twisted the wire cage keeping the cork in place.

“We can get to that. I was thinking about something else, though.” A loud ‘pop’ sounded as he pulled the cork from the bottle, retrieved your glass from the floor, and filled it before handing it back to you. Once the bottle was back on the table, he pulled out his phone and connected it to your Bluetooth speakers. “Ready?”

“For what?” You asked, cocking an eyebrow.

The speaker started to play a familiar tune, followed by clapping. Bradley held out a hand to you, hips beginning to sway.  “Clock strikes upon the hour,” he crooned with Whitney Houston, “and the sun begins to fade.” 

Tossing your head back into the couch arm, you groaned as he sang along to I Wanna Dance with Somebody. When you didn’t take his hand, he playfully rolled his eyes, plucked his aviators from the pocket of his Hawaiian shirt, and put them to the tip of his nose. His tongue poked out of the corner of his mouth as he attempted to moonwalk on the carpet, hands closing around the unbuttoned sides of his shirt. 

His hips swung, fingers snapping while he danced and spun across your living room, fist raised to sing into an invisible microphone. Biting your lip against laughing, you watched him shake his ass while sliding the shirt down his arms, glancing over his shoulder at you in a pantomime of strip tease. While Bradley wasn’t the best dancer, he was certainly enthusiastic. Once free from his shirt, he tossed it at you, moving around your living room and singing loudly. “Oh, I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody!” He wiggled an eyebrow at you, which was what made you crack. 

Laughing, you reached behind your head to turn on the floor lamp before pushing to your feet and going to turn off the overhead light. In the dim lighting, you watched him hold out a hand for you. 

As soon as your finger slid over his, he tugged, lifting his arm to spin you under it and then back again. His hand on your waist was a gentle pressure, muffled by the thick fabric, and you couldn’t help the laugh that burst out of you as he held you tightly and shimmied, crouching and hiding his grimace when his knees popped. On his way back up, his belt buckle caught on the fabric of your hoodie, tugging it upward. 

Bradley towered over you, smiling as he serenaded and swayed in a rhythm too slow for the song. “I been in love and lost my senses, spinning through the town,” he crooned. You felt butterflies in your stomach at the sincerity shining in his eyes at those words. 

“Sooner or later, the fever ends, and I wind up feeling down,” you joined in. “I need a man who'll take the chance on a love that burns hot enough to last. So when the night falls, my lonely heart calls - ”

Grinning, Bradley twirled you, tugging so you fell into him when the chorus picked up. His lips grazed your forehead, mustache tickling your temple as he rasped, “Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me.” 

Heart in your throat, you forced yourself to keep smiling as you danced. He was just singing the lyrics. Three months was too early to drop the ‘L’ word. When you pulled away, he caught your hands and spun you, crossing his arms over your front as your back pressed against his chest. His hold was a loose cage you had no desire to escape.

The song played as you swayed, head tipped back to rest on Bradley’s shoulder. The oversized hoodie, combined with the heat Bradley always threw, was getting to be overwhelming, but nothing could have made you move at that moment. 

His hand lifted to gently stroke your jaw, light pressure encouraging your chin up so he could kiss you. The song faded, but you barely paid attention as he licked into your mouth. Your hand lifted to trace the scars on his cheek before cupping around the back of his neck, fingers curling hair that was getting tiptoeing the edge of being out of regulation. 

There was a brief silence as the song ended before his playlist continued. “I need love, love, ooh, to ease my mind. And I need to find time, someone to call mine. My Mama said, ‘You can’t hurry love. No, you’ll just have to wait,” Phil Collins sang. Bradley chuckled against your lips. 

“What’s so funny, Lieutenant Bradshaw?” you asked, attempting to turn in his hold, but his tight grip stopped you. 

“Nothin’,” he replied, nipping your lower lip. “How’d you feel about grabbing your wine and hitting the shower, honey?” 

“I could go for shower wine.” 

The only crying you did in the shower was when Bradley went to his knees, your leg over his shoulder as he took you apart with his fingers and tongue. His eyes were soft as he washed your hair, taking the time to massage the tension from your neck and shoulders. His lips crashed into yours as you stroked his cock, feeling his hot spend against your stomach until he backed you under the shower spray to clean you off.

Later, he tucked you into bed and curled up behind you, drawing lazy circles on your stomach. The repetitive motion, coupled with his soft breathing, was lulling you into a trance. You hovered there, in that liminal space between awake and sleep. 

Bradley’s fingers paused, and he whispered your name. You felt the soft press of his lips against your shoulder, countering the gentle scratch of his mustache when you didn’t respond. “Love you, honey,” he whispered against your skin so softly you were sure you dreamt it.

“Love,” you mumbled, feeling Bradley’s arm tighten around you as you slipped over the edge into slumber.

Three months was too early to say you loved someone. 

But it wasn’t too early to dream it. 

---------------------------------------------------------

Author's Note: Started thinking about this fic after a rough day at work and then it got lost in my drafts folder. Needed a bit of a pick-me-up recently, so I revisited this fic. Thanks for reading!

If you would like to be added to my tag list, please fill out this form.

Taglist: @shanimallina87; @roosterforme

[fuzzkaizer]

Mason FX - Love Bender 1.5 Custom

Build info: Q1 - Newmarket CV700 Q2 - Texas Instruments CV7354 Input Caps - Mallory / MKT Output Cap - Russian paper-in-oil Fuzz Cap - Phillips Resistors - Allen Bradley / Carbon Comp Pots - Alpha 20mm/16mm Footswitch - Love My Switches Enclosure - Custom

cred: instagram.com/masonfx.pedals

[milesdickpic]

His Little Girl | Bradley Bradshaw x Reader P.83

Click here to see the master list

Hi, my loves! We are back with another chapter!!! I really need to catch up with writing. I have been so busy 🤪 Brb gonna watch Top Gun for some Motivation! I love you all so much! 💕 Happy reading and enjoy! ❤️

A/n: You and Bradley have something important to ask of Phoenix, Hangman, and Austin, What will it be? Bradley returns to work for the first time in uniform since the accident. 🫣😳

Word Count: 3.2k

Warnings: cursing, crying, anxiousness, some sadness, but so much happiness and love 🥰

Please don't take my work, I will find you. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bradley’s POV

Austin and Phoenix came in through the front door with bags of groceries. Leia was in the backyard running around with Gunner. Hangman and I were sitting on the couch with the boys. Hangman was hunched over Little Bradley on the couch while he was laying in his lap. He was playing peek-a-boo with him. Even though baby boy had no idea what was going on. I’m pretty sure his eyes were closed 98% of the time Bagman was playing with him. 

“Sup guys,” Austin called over and nodded his head at Hangman and me as he placed some grocery bags onto the counter. 

I nodded and waved back over to him. “What’s up, Aus. Phoenix my girl, my favorite wing-woman. Thank you for doing y/n and I a solid this morning and cleaning up for us.” She came over and grabbed my hand and placed a kiss on my knuckles. 

“Anything for y/n and the boys, Bradshaw.” She winked and leaned over the couch to look at Luke passed out on my lap. She cooed over him. “Oooooh look at the little man sleep. Is that Luke or Bradley?” 

I chuckled. “Luke.”

Hangman interjected. “Bradley boy has a new and cool gift from his mama and daddy.” He picked up little Bradley and handed him off to Phoenix. 

“Huh.” Phoenix raised her brows and nodded. “What is your new and cool gift Bradley boy?” She said in a baby voice as she grabbed him and covered his chubby cheeks in kisses. 

“Hazel. Eyes.” Hangman smiled and looked back at Phoenix.

Phoenix raised her brow and readjusted Brad against her chest. She looked over at me and was looking for approval. “Hazel eyes??”

I nodded. “He’s got some dreamy hazel eyes. The perfect combination of mine and y/n’s eyes.”

Her eyes went wide as she carefully held baby Brad in her hands. Austin joined and looked at him in Phoenix’s hands. He opened his eyes and his eyes were glistening at them both. They were mesmerized by his piercing hazel eyes. 

“Oh, man. Look at those.” Austin chuckled and rubbed his index knuckle against Brad’s cheek. “Those are beautiful.” 

“There is a new secret weapon in town and it is this little man.” Phoenix was smiling at baby Brad in her hands. “Look out world. Luke and Bradley are going to steal your girls.”

I laughed and shook my head. “He is the only one with Hazel eyes. Luke has green eyes like Leia and me.” 

Austin and Phoenix both looked at me shocked. “So then you’re gonna be able to tell them apart forever?” Austin chuckled.

“And you won’t have to like call the hospital and beg one day for their original fingerprints to try and tell them apart when they’re 13 because you are having second thoughts about possibly mixing them up when they were 6 months old?” She raised her brows.

I started to laugh. “God, that would have been a fun and great story one day if that were the case. But, we, unfortunately.” I rolled my eyes. “Won’t get the chance to mix them up because they have that difference.” 

Hangman shrugged his shoulders. “I still think we are going to mix you, Leia, Little B, and Luke up because you are all carbon copies.”

I rolled my eyes and stood up as I brought Luke to my chest. “On that note.” I handed a sleeping Luke to Austin. “Would you all watch my kids for a second? Leia is out back with Gunner playing. I need to go check on my wife. Make sure she’s okay.” 

Austin and Phoenix took a seat on the couch with the boys and Hangman headed out back with Leia and Gunner. 

I ran up the stairs and opened the door quietly to see the bed fixed and empty. 

“Sweetheart? You in the bathroom?” I entered the room and closed the door behind me. 

You came out from the closet with your hair wrapped up in a towel and one of my shirts on. “God, I haven’t fit into one of your shirts like this since before I was pregnant with the boys.” You giggled and came over to me and placed a kiss on my lips.

I smiled and wrapped my arms around you. “Sleep good, baby?”

You nodded and smiled up at me. “I did. Thank you so much, Bradley. I really needed that.”

I kissed you again and rubbed your back. “Anything for you, sweetheart. I knew you needed some rest. You did so much last night and these last 9 almost 10 months. I owed it to you.”

You hummed and laid on my chest. “Where are the kiddos?”

I laid my head on top of yours and embraced you tightly. “They are all downstairs. Being taken good care of.” You nodded and looked up at me. 

“I’m going to finish getting ready. I’ll meet you downstairs in 20. We have our big news to share with the three adults downstairs.” You raised your brows and turned around to continue to get ready.

“Oooo. You are right. The godparents.” I smiled and placed one more kiss on your cheek as I gripped your hips. “See you downstairs in a bit, mama.” 

———-

I rejoined the future godparents and the kids downstairs. Leia had just come back in from the backyard with Gunner. Hangman was washing her hands in the kitchen. Gunner was wedged in between Austin and Phoenix trying to smell the boys. 

I sat in one of the single sofas across from the couch and watched Phoenix, Hangman’s, and Austin’s interactions with the kids. I smiled seeing how much they cared for them. I knew you and I were making a great choice in choosing them to be there for our kids for the rest of their lives. I looked down and started to think about when we would go back to San Diego and everyone else would get to meet the boys and see Leia again. Man… I couldn’t wait. You and I were the luckiest people in the world to have everyone we had in our lives. 

Hangman made his way over with Leia. He sat next to Austin on the couch with Leia in his lap. She leaned over carefully as she watched her little brothers sleep. She softly started to rub Luke’s head. 

You finally made your way down and greeted everyone. 

“Hey Good afternoon, Mrs. Bradshaw!” Hangman laughed and he grabbed your hand. 

You made your way over and kissed all three kids on their heads. 

“Hey, mama. How did you sleep?” Phoenix reached her hand out for yours and interlocked your fingers with hers. 

You smiled and let out a relaxing sigh. “I slept great. Thank you all so much for taking care of the kiddos to let me sleep in a little bit.” 

Austin grabbed your other hand and placed a little kiss on it. “Anything for the hardworking mama!” 

You giggled and looked over at me. I gestured for you to come and sit on my lap. You made your way over and sat with me. I wrapped my arms around your waist and you cleared your throat. 

“Sooooo.” You smiled at all of them before looking at me.

They all looked at each other confused. 

I peeked my head around your body and smiled. “We have a surprise for you all.”

They all furrowed their brows at you and me. Leia popped up from Jake’s lap startling Gunner. “Are we having more babies!?”

Austin, Phoenix, and Hangman looked at Leia with wide eyes and then shared the same look with us. You started to laugh and so did I.

“God. Y’all move quickly. Didn’t waste any time.” Hangman pursed his lips together and shook his head at us. He looked disgusted. The whales.

You shook your head and leaned back against me. “Definitely no more babies.”

“For now.” I smiled. You rolled your eyes at me and looked back to the group.

“Bradley and I wanted to ask the three of you.” You looked at Jake and smiled. “And Sarah.” He smiled back at you. “If you would do Bradley and me the honor of being the boy’s godparents.” You bit your lip nervously as you waited for their answers. 

They were all stunned and were lost for words. 

Phoenix looked down at baby Brad sleeping in her arms. She bit her lip as it quivered. She looked back up at you and me as she wiped her tears. “I would love that more than anything.” She placed kisses on baby boy's cheeks as she held him close. 

Austin smiled and was holding back his tears. “Are you serious?”

Hangman was just staring into space in the boy’s direction. You broke down, “I’m dead serious… What do you all think?” I held you close and waited for all of them to reply. 

“YES!” Phoenix nodded in excitement as she embraced baby Brad to her chest. Austin smiled at you and me with tearful eyes.

“I would be honored to be a godfather of one of these little guys.” He wiped the inner corner of his eyes.

Hangman was still silent. I looked over at him and leaned forward against your back. “Bagman?” I raised my brow at him and smirked. He looked up at me with his lips pushed together. “What do you say, wingman?”

He opened his mouth slightly about to say something and then looked down. He licked his lips and pushed them back together. Leia patted the top of his head. “Uncle Jakey?”

Hangman looked back up at Leia and smiled. He looked back over at you and me. “I would love to. Thank you.” He bit his lower lip and looked down. “Thank you for this. Seriously.”

I chuckled. “I wouldn’t and they wouldn’t be here without you.” He looked up at me quickly and started to cry slightly. I gave him a reassuring smile. “Thank you, Seresin.”

He smiled at me and looked back over at the boys. You wiped your tears, “So it’s settled. Of course, after you ask Sarah, Jake.” 

Hangman smiled back at you and nodded. “I know she would love to. So which lucky man do I get?” He chuckled.

You looked back at me and nodded. I cleared my throat. “Our little Luke.”

Phoenix gasped and placed her hand over her mouth. “Aus, that means we have little Braddie boy.” She poked his nose and hugged him. “But I will and always will be here for both of you boys.”

Austin and Hangman nodded. “I agree.” They both said in unison. 

———-

Your POV

It has been a couple of weeks since the boys were born, you and Bradley were starting to adjust to their daily routine. On the days that Bradley was gone for physical therapy, you had Austin to lean on for some help. 

~~~~

You came home from your check up appointment with the doctor. Bradley was off today and watched the kids while you were out. When you came home you were thrown off with a surprise. Bradley was carrying both of the boys in his arms with Leia clinging onto his back dancing around the kitchen to I Was Made For Lovin’ You by Kiss. 

Him and Leia were singing to the boys as he was dancing around. “I was made for lovin’ you babies! You were made for lovin’ me! And I can’t get enough of you babies!”

You gasped as you put your purse on the counter. “Bradley and Leia Rey Bradshaw.” They both looked at you with wide eyes as they stopped singing mid-sentence and stopped dancing. 

“Uh Oh, daddy.” Leia hopped off of Bradley’s back and smiled at you awkwardly. “hi momma.”

You started to laugh as you walked over and kissed her head. “Leia Rey.” You squinted your eyes and walked over to Bradley. He was cradling the boys in his arms and standing completely still. “Bradley Nicolas Bradshaw.” You clicked your tongue against the roof of your mouth, “What do we have here?” You laughed and shook your head as you grabbed Luke from Bradley’s arms. 

“Hello, sweetheart.” Bradley already knew you were going to scold him. 

“Bradley. You are still recovering and you have all three kids clinging to you.” You kissed Luke on his forehead making him smile. 

“Sweetheart.” Bradley cleared his throat, “I am fine. I promise.”

You raised your brows and squinted your eyes at him. “I know you are, but I need you to be extra careful. Especially if you want to fly again, babe.”

Bradley smiled and chuckled. “Baby. That is why we are dancing.” 

You raised one brow and look up at him as you placed another kiss on Luke’s head. Leia came over and wrapped her arms around you. “Momma. Daddy got cleared to fly.” She said in a little whisper.

You gasped and held Luke’s head to your chest as you covered his ear. “BRADLEY!” Your mouth was in a wide smile and you started to bounce up and down. “REALLY!?”

He started to laugh as he nodded his head. “OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD. OH MY GOD!” 

You bit your lip and smiled at him. “YESSSS!”

He shook his head as he was laughing. He grabbed Luke from your grasp and cradled him next to baby Bradley. “I start ground training tomorrow. Gonna start going through the exercises to get me ready for flying again.” 

You put your hands over your mouth, “YES FINALLY!” You jumped around with Leia, “well crank up the music! We are celebrating again!” 

————-

Bradley’s POV  

It was my first official day back at work. I woke up at 0400, so that I could feed the boys and then get ready. They were both fast asleep. I went to the mini fridge in the corner of the room that we had set up. I grabbed two bottles of your milk and placed them in the mini micro above the fridge to nuke it. As they warmed up I grabbed little Brad from his bassinet. I bounced him in my arms gave him kisses. I laid him on my empty side of the bed as I went and grabbed Luke from his bassinet. After I laid them down together, I went and grabbed the bottles. I checked the temperature for both before placing them into their mouths. 

I got on my knees on the floor by the edge of the bed as I held both bottles to the boys’ mouths. “You boys are getting so big. It’s ridiculous. Please stop growing. Daddy wants you boys to stay babies forever.” I let out a little chuckle, “Before I know it, you boys are gonna wanna go flying with Papa Mav. Just like your big sister Leia.” 

I watched them with tears in my eyes as they finished their bottles. I picked them both up and placed them on my chest as I sat against the headboard of the bed. I began to burp them, burping was an understatement. They both belch like grown men. After their burping, I changed their diapers and placed them back into their bassinets. I kissed each of them as they fell back to sleep. 

“Daddy loves you so much, boys.” 

I started to get ready for work.

~~~~

After cleaning up, I put on my whites and opted for the short sleeve shirt. I grabbed my hat and held it between my arm and waist. I went and placed a kiss on your head. “I’m leaving now, baby. I’ll see you tonight. I love you.”

You opened your eyes and smiled. “I’ll miss you, Brad. Have a good day and be safe please. I love you so much.” You reached your arms up and gave me a hug. 

“The boys are fed and changed. So get some sleep, babe.” I moved your hair from your face and gave you another kiss. “Bye, baby. I love you.”

You waved bye to me as I left the room. I went and gave our sleeping Leia a kiss. Then met with Phoenix and Hangman downstairs. 

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?” Hangman had a smirk on his face while he sipped his coffee. “Looking good, Rooster.” He held his mug up to me and winked. 

“Seresin. Good morning.” I chuckled as Phoenix handed me a mug.

“Are you ready for today, Bradshaw?” She smiled as she sipped her coffee. 

I sighed and sipped my coffee, “More than ready. I’ve been waiting for this moment for nearly 6 months. I hope I can get back in the pit before we are sent back to San Diego.” 

Hangman nodded his head. “Well, you have plenty of time to get into the pit. I have confidence you’ll get in there, but if you can’t, you always have more time in San Diego. Take your time and don’t rush it. Take it day by day, Rooster. We are all here for you.” 

“Thanks you guys. I definitely will get a feel for it today. See how it goes from here. But today is day one.” 

They both patted me on the back and we all put our mugs away. “Well then, let’s go and start day one.”

————-

Your POV 

It was your first full day of watching the boys and Leia solo without Bradley. Thankfully you had Austin who was helping occasionally, but you ultimately wanted to try on your own. It went smoothly, a couple of blowouts from Luke, but nothing out of the normal. You looked over at the clock and it was 4:30. 

Austin was making dinner with Leia, as you laid the boys down for their nap. “They should all be home soon, huh darlin?” Austin asked as he munched on a carrot. 

You nodded and wrapped your arms around Leia. “Yup! Give them another 30 and they’ll be here.” You laid on Leia’s shoulder. “Thank you for helping with your brothers today, babe. You helped mommy so much.” You kissed her cheek over and over again as she stirred dinner and giggled. 

“You’re welcome momma. I love helping with my brothers!” 

Austin patted her head and smiled at you. “Best sister ever.” You and him laughed as they continued dinner. 

~~~~

Bradley, Phoenix, and Jake finally made it home. They all came in laughing. Austin went over to greet them as you and Leia finished setting the table. You could hear Austin shushing everyone as they came into the dinning area. The boys were still asleep for their nap. 

“Where are my boys?” Bradley whispered as he came over and gave you and Leia a kiss on the head. 

“They’re asleep in their bassinets.” You looked over in their direction. Their bassinets were set up by the couches. 

Bradley went and washed his hands before he made his way over to the boys. Phoenix and Jake followed behind. They all went to give the boys kisses as they slept. Phoenix and Jake came over to the table to start eating with Leia and Austin. 

You walked over to Bradley and laid your head against his shoulder. “Look at ‘‘em sleep, Brad.”

You smiled as you caressed baby Brad's cheek. 

“They’re perfect. Just like you and Leia Rey.” He gave both of them kisses before he turned to you and smiled. “Thank you for this life baby. I wouldn’t be here without you.” 

You smiled and he held your face in his hands. “Thank you for coming back and loving me like we never parted. I love you, always.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Besties, I suck at proofreading, please let me know if I left any *Hazes* in there. It was gonna be a nickname for Baby Brad but I changed my mind LOL. Buuuut AAAHHH! Godparents! The boys are so lucky to have them all in their lives 🥰 I'll see you all in the next chapter! 💕

The boys' godparents are in the comments 🥰

[arcane-vagabond]

The kids trying to take care of daddy when he's sick <- please, please, please, i'm begging you - this with dhtn!jake!!!

Alright, let's goooooooooo

Jake was dying, he was sure of it. He couldn't breath and his skin felt both hot and cold at the same time. His head was pounding and every muscle in his body ached.

Yeah, he was dying.

At least he would die the happiest man alive.

You had woken up that morning to the sound of you husband coughing, his body jerking the bed.

"Jakey?" You had grumbled groggily, rolling over to look at him. He had given you an apologetic smile that looked more like a grimace as he plopped his head back against the pillow.

"I'm sorry, sweet girl," he rasped. "Did I wake you?"

You ignored his question, sitting up to get a proper look at him. A light sheen of sweat covered his skin, and when you rested your hand on his forehead, you hummed in concern.

"Sweetheart, you're burning up," you cooed, running your hands through his hair. He hummed at the pleasant feel, his eyes closing as he relaxed into your touch.

"Gotta get up and get started on the chores," he mumbled, moving to stand. You pushed him back down, eyeing him sternly.

"You'll do no such thing," you chided. "You're to stay in bed for the rest of the day, do you understand?"

"Mmm," he smirked, "I like it when you get bossy."

"I mean it, Jake."

"I hear you, darlin'," he sighed, already falling back asleep. "Won' be movin' a muscle."

He wasn't sure how long he slept, but you were no where to be seen in the large room. He wasn't even sure what had roused him from his slumber until he felt a tickle by his nose. He pried his eyes open to see a pair of identical green ones gazing back at him. He jerked slightly in surprise before relaxing back with a small smile.

"Ellie," he hummed, looking at the little girl. "Does your mama know you're in here?"

She gave him a mischievous smile, shaking her head slightly to indicate that, no. You did not know your two year old was in the room waking up her daddy.

Eleanor was the only daughter out of all of your children, and she was your carbon copy save for the green eyes that Jake had passed along to all of your children. Jake still laments that none of them inherited yours.

"What are you doin' in here, sweetheart?" he croaked at her, wincing at the spike of pain in his throat. Ellie looked up at him sweetly, pulling a tiny, blue forget-me-not out from around her back. Jake's heart melted at the sight.

"Is that for me, baby girl?" He asked her, and she nodded, arm outstretched for him to grab it. He did so gently, giving her a wide smile.

"Flowers make me feel better," she said with her little lisp. "I wan' daddy to feel better too."

"I don't want you to get sick though, sweet pea," he cooed at her just as a set of footsteps came racing down the hall.

"Ellie! Mama said-"

The pair looked at the door to see the oldest child at five years old, Elias, standing in the doorway.

"Daddy! You're awake!"

"Yeah, buddy," Jake chuckled. "I'm awake.

"Daddy, you don't have to worry about the chores today!" His son beamed at him, joining Ellie by the bed.

"And why's that?"

"'Cause Uncle Bradley came by with Auntie Birdie and showed me how to do everything! I fed the goats and milked the cows all by myself!"

"Look at you!" Jake grinned, reaching out to ruffle his son's blond hair. "I'm so proud of you, little man."

Elias puffed out his chest in pride just as you walked through the door with a tray. You scowled at your children when you saw them by the bed.

"Elias Emmanuel and Eleanor Ruth, what did I tell you about disturbing daddy today?"

Jake looked over at his kids and shot them a playful wink. "I'd skedaddle if I were you two."

The siblings giggled before racing past you and out of the room. You gave an exasperated sigh along with an eye roll before walking over to sit at the edge of the bed. Jake scooted up so that he was sitting against the headboard. You placed the tray in front of him before checking his temperature once more, frowning.

"You're fever hasn't broken yet," you murmured, looking at him as he began to sip on the broth you had brought him.

"You doin' okay downstairs by yourself with the baby and the hellions?" He asked you, furrowing his brow in worry. You smiled softly at him, brushing his sweaty locks out of his face.

"Bradley and Birdie are still here with Simon and Cora. I think Birdie is using Noah to try and convince Bradley to have another one," you joked. Jake snorted.

"Like he needs convincing," he muttered. You sighed, giving him an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry the kids woke you," you murmured. He shook his head.

"You kiddin' me?" He grinned. "I love when my kids take care of me almost as much as I love when their mama does."

[thegigilwriter]

02 | “Danger & Star, Rooster & Angel” — Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw x Female Mitchell OC

Summary: 26-year-old Lucy Asa Mitchell did not know what was in store for her when she first bumped into Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw. After an instant mutual connection followed by a sweet whirlwind romance that swept both their feet, Lucy found herself being immersed deeper into Bradley’s world of the Navy, F-14s, and deployments. What she didn’t expect was finding was the answer to an elusive part of her past — the identity of her long-lost father.

Masterlist

Keywords/Warnings: Romance, Inaccuracies of the Navy and Marine Biology, Implied religious theme

02 | Halo-Halos by the Beach 🍧

Monday May 29, 2023

Lucy

Grasping at the pebbled edge, Lucy lifted herself from the water and laid down with her feet still submerged. Her eyes drifted far above the glass ceiling of the arena, the sky looked like a pot of ink spilling into various hues of blue and purple. She breathed as slowly as she could, her chest rising steadily and falling at the same pace.

Only 25 laps, Lucy. Thatʼs it. Thatʼs what the doctor said.

Resisting the strong urge to throw herself into the water once more, she rose to her feet swiftly and grabbed her towel on the bench.

She wiped the water from the mirror, steam still present in the air. Glancing towards her hair brush, she began to towel her hair dry. It fell from the sink ledge, and the clatter against the tiles was resounding in an empty shower room. Surely the steam will result in a frizzy aftermath, nevertheless, Lucy began to comb — for the sensation was simply comforting. She looked at herself in the mirror. In truth, Lucy Mitchell was average-looking. Olive skin. mahogany hair, brown eyes, and a slightly wider face than she had liked. She had two moles: one at the corner of her left eye and the other at the right corner of her lip. These were her God-given attributes. No mesmerizing irises or kissable lips. A lot of people remarked that she was a carbon copy of her mother. They did have the same features, so Lucy always wondered why her mother was far more beautiful than she.

In her mind, Bradley Bradshawʼs dimple beside his swoon-inducing smile and the velvet tone of his voice appeared. She could feel the graze of his fingertips as he first handed her the fallen tape, his bicep beneath her palm, and his warm skin as their arms brushed when they sat together in the front seat of his Bronco. Her eyes returned to her reflection. Sighing, she clasped on her small string of pearls and her cross, and placed the strap of her beige-colored tote on her shoulder. She walked to the parking lot to her dark burgundy-colored Nissan Versa, opened the driverʼs seat and hopped right in. Placing her tote in the passengerʼs seat, she then folded her hands atop the steering wheel and pressed her forehead against them.

God, even he can wear the scars on his face so good.

She looked at her dashboard.

It was 5:50 in the morning, and she was going to be late for church.

“Lord, I am not worthy to enter under your roof,ˮ she whispered. “But only say the word and I shall be healed.ˮ

There was a a pause of silence and then a shuffle of movement. From the furthest pew, Lucy watched the backs of the processors rise and line up towards the altar. Her eyes moved towards the enormous stone cross that was carved from the natural stone wall and stared at Jesusʼ face. She must have been for quite some time for another churchgoer beside her to nudge her gently against the arm. It was Tita Ramona, with her kind eyes, smile lines, milky complexion, and mourning veil with Chantilly lace and a scalloped edge.

“Itʼs time to receive him again my child,ˮ She looked at Lucy kindly.

As she walked solemnly up the aisle, she couldnʼt help but feel a sense of relief seeing many familiar faces with their heads bowed towards their clasped hands.

After walking down the aisle and receiving Him with a quiet “Amen,ˮ she returned to her seat and knelt down in prayer. She didnʼt really know what she could say or what to ask, so she remained in silence. Her gaze was drawn towards a woman in a green forest frock, and beside her, two sleepy little children in their navy-colored school uniforms. Lucy smiled as the sister leaned her head tiredly against her brotherʼs shoulder. He looked at her annoyed, but patted her head softly. She didnʼt know when she started crying — it was absurd to her— how fast the tears ran down her cheek. Beside her, Tita Ramona took her hand in hers.

“Does it ever stop?ˮ Lucy asked quietly.

“No,ˮ she replied to her after a long pause. “You just learn to live with it... and eventually, it will hurt less. Give Him your tears, now sweet child — give Him your tomorrows and be thank Him for today.ˮ

So Lucy did, and she asked for one more thing.

“Lord, if heʼs the man youʼve sent for me, let him sit with me in front of You.ˮ

She looked at the cross again. She looked at the backs of the church-goers on their knees — just like she was. She didnʼt feel so alone anymore.

She turned the keys to her apartment and let herself in. She placed her tote on the hatstand, her shoes into the wooden compartment, the fresh pandesal on her countertop, and turned the kettle on. As the water boiled, Lucy lay down on her grape-colored couch. She lay sideways facing the TV console, her most recent creation, which also served as a home to two two-year-old tortoises. Lucy slid off of the couch, hung her fingers in holes of the mesh cover, and peered at them. The foreground was covered in random ceramic tiles that Lucy had found at Goodwill. The coco coir and topsoil hybrid substrate was speckled with succulents, interestingly shaped rocks, and pieces of Mopani wood. At one corner was a painted clay plant pot tipped on its side where the tortoises could take refuge, and in another was a shallow terracotta dish plate filled with water that Lucy made in one pottery class. Two heating lamps were installed on either side of the enclosure.

“Hello Tip and Toe,ˮ she smiled at them. Toe stared at her with a mundane expression (assuming tortoises can have expressions) as he worked on some lettuce, and Tip emerged from the water basin to greet her. Lucy took the mister from the top of the console, opened the hatch on the side, and began to spray the interior. She laughed as the tortoises closed their eyes, as if savoring the cool water.

With that, she proceeded to water the hanging plants as well: her succulent Mother of Thousands, her Hindu Rope plant, her various Spider plants, and her Garden String of Hearts. By the window sill — her tomatoes, kalamansis, chives, various herbs, and her ferns. After tending to her green children, she approached every one of her Walstad shrimp and snail bowls — six of them to be exact, that were all over the apartment.

When she was quite finished, she took the kettle and poured herself some hot water for her hot chocolate. Sitting on the couch with the paper bag of pandesal, she turned the TV on . She tore a piece of the bread in her hands and dipped into her drink.

“Give him a date for when Maryʼs out of mourning,ˮ The Countess Dowager, Lady Grantham said from the screen. “No one wants to kiss a girl in black.”

Lucyʼs gaze lingered towards her bookshelf and the lonesome guitar on its stand beside it. She sighed and looked at the clock above. It was already nearly noon.

Bradley stood against the Bronco, hand in his pocket, and another on his phone. It was 1:50 in the afternoon and Bradley was waiting for Lucy. He had already saved the location of their first date on his phone. So he went ahead and opened his photo gallery for the screenshot of the address when to his surprise, there were shots from yesterdayʼs events. Perhaps it was Nat who had taken them when Bradley had to go to the washroom when they were at that Shake Shack. There were wacky selfies of Nat and an annoyed Sam, and the last two pictures were of Lucy who seemed to be engaged in a conversation with the latter. Her eyes were shining and her smile was wide in both of them.

Bradley stared at the photo for a while until the creak of the gate in front of him caught his attention, and there, was Lucy in the flesh. She was wearing a green, delicate, cap-sleeved top and an off-white bohemian long skirt with sandals. She had removed nearly all the accessories she had don on when they first met, save for her string of small pearls and little cross on her neck. Her hair was in a half-up, with curly locks framing her face.

“I see that you are consistent with your sense of style, Lieutenant,ˮ Lucy chuckled. Yes, to her, Hawaiian-print shirts were corny and should only be worn on cruises. But that with a pair of denim pants, a fitted tank top, and a pair of aviators on Bradley Bradshaw? He was the exception.

“What can I say?ˮ Bradley smirked. “I gotta maintain standards.ˮ “And you, Lucy Mitchell...ˮ he drawled.

Lucy raised a single brow in amusement as he drew closer to her.

“Are beautiful.ˮ

“W-Well—“ She blushed profusely. “Iʼd say have pretty good standards too, Lieutenant.ˮ

“Without a doubt,ˮ Bradley was smiling at her pink cheeks, and offered his hand to her. Lucy was the smallest woman Bradley took on out for a date and he couldnʼt help but let out a few chuckles as he helped her up into the Bronco. It was endearing, and he couldnʼt help but like the way her smooth and dainty hands felt against his big and rough palms.

“I think Iʼm too short to ride this one Lieutenant,ˮ Lucy joked. “Youʼre fun-sized!ˮ Bradley laughed.

After loading in the Bronco, Bradley set the location on his phone and turned on the radio.

“Welcome to our first official date, Lucy Mitchell.ˮ He said as they pulled into the street.

“Glad to be on board,ˮ Lucy played along.

“So—“ Bradley began.

“Oh my goodness!ˮ Lucy exclaimed, as she reached her hand for the radio dial. “I love this!ˮ

“You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain,ˮ Lucy sang, her eyes closed, and her hands poised as if she was holding onto some drumsticks, following the beat with zest. “To much love drives a man insane!ˮ

Lucy averted her gaze towards him.

“You broke my will, but a thrill.ˮ

She did a cute little head bang before singing aloud:

“Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!ˮ

For the entirety of the song, Bradley didnʼt speak — not because of Lucyʼs avid iteration of Jerry Lee Jewisʼ Great Balls of Fire — but from genuine shock, from the fact that she knew every word and part of it. If the universe was sending Bradley a sign that he should marry someone, it couldnʼt have been more obvious than Lucy Mitchell head-banging to the piano solo and dancing jerkily in the front seat of his Bronco.

They arrived at Sitaʼs some minutes later. Bradley had to duck under the threshold and go down some steps to enter the quaint little shop on Newport Avenue. The eclectic vicinity was illuminated with pale-yellow fairy lights and the walls were one giant, vibrant mural. There was bamboo furniture placed casually around the venue, as well thriving ornamental plants. Bradley and Lucy approached the counter, where a rotund and cheery middle-aged woman was wiping it down. She had a hibuscus flower in her dark coils with olive skin, and deep-set eyes.

“Hey!ˮ She boomed, reaching over the counter to embrace Lucy. “I havenʼt seen you for so long!ˮ

“Hello Bonnie,ˮ Lucy smiled. “Howʼs the new terrier?ˮ

“Heʼs delightful!ˮ Bonnie beamed. “Me and Marcus are seriously considering taking him in!ˮ

“Thatʼs great!ˮ

“Now, now—“ Bonnie looked over Lucyʼs shoulder. “Whoʼs your new friend?ˮ

“Bradley, Bradley Bradshaw,ˮ he shook Carolʼs hand.

“Nice to meet you, Bradley,ˮ she smiled. “Do you work with, Lucy?ˮ

“Not at all,ˮ Bradley replied. “Iʼm dating Lucy.ˮ

Bonnie turned to Lucy, absolutely gobsmacked. Lucy glared at Bradley with playfully as he held up is hands with a chuckle, as if to express his innocence.

“Lucy Mitchell!ˮ She gasped. “Itʼs about time!ˮ

“Just get us the two specials, please Bonnie.ˮ Lucy blushed.

“Alright, alright I wonʼt tease now!ˮ She laughed. “Now you two have fun, Iʼll have your order out in a minute.ˮ

“Thank you,ˮ Lucy breathed as she took a beeper from the counter and lead Bradley towards their seats.

“She seems like the life of party,ˮ Bradley remarked as they sat down.

“Bon is like the sun,ˮ Lucy said as she set down the beeper and tucked her purse against her side. “She attracts nearly everything that comes into orbit.ˮ

“So quite like you?ˮ He smiled.

“You flatter me Lieutenant,ˮ Lucy laughed. “But I am not a sun person.ˮ

“Then what would you say you are?ˮ

Lucy fell quiet in thought.

“I would say Iʼm the poet who admires them,ˮ Lucy replied.

“Wouldnʼt you rather be the flower or stars?ˮ Bradley wondered.

“These are all beautiful things. But what good is beauty if there is no one to receive it or if there are no words to venerate it — to immortalize it?ˮ

“Maybe beauty isnʼt important if itʼs temporary,ˮ Bradley replied. “Thereʼs something more intangible about the sun �� more than its aurora borealis and rainbows. It makes plants grow and the seasons change.ˮ

Lucy gazed at him considerably.

“I meant what I said earlier. Youʼre a beautiful woman Lucy Mitchell, and itʼs more than skin-deep,ˮ Bradley gazed into her sweet caramel-colored eyes. “So imagine my surprise when I thought I heard Bon say that youʼve never been on a date before.ˮ

Just then, the beeper resounded noisily. Bradley gently pried the device from her fingertips as he knelt in front of her.

“Iʼll get it, Angel.ˮ

Lucy was blushing profusely now. Her heart was beating thunderously against her warm chest. This specimen of a man. This good-looking, smooth-talking Casanova had no right to be this impressive — especially for her official first date. Somehow, it infuriated her. But when he flashes that priceless smile, all rage simply evaporates and all is well.

Bradley returns with two, big fancy plastic bowls of cold dessert, grin large as he approached their table.

“Okay— maybe this is my first date,ˮ Lucy admitted. “But you are certainly not the first man to ask me on one.ˮ

“Glad Iʼm up to your standards Angel,ˮ Bradley winked. “I do have a proposition Iʼd like to run through you, if you donʼt mind?ˮ

“Go on.ˮ

“I appreciated how you were so direct with me yesterday, so I figued Iʼd return the favor. How about this? You can ask me any 10 questions youʼd like about anything.ˮ

“And in return?ˮ Lucy raised a brow.

“I can ask you any 10 questions I like.ˮ “What if I donʼt answer a question?ˮ

“Then you have to give me something else,ˮ Bradley smirked. “A meal, a performance, a kiss...ˮ

“Nice try,ˮ she chuckled. “But Iʼd like to take you up on that anyway, Lieutenant.ˮ

“Okay, but before we start what — is this?ˮ He gestured towards the dessert.

“Itʼs halo-halo,ˮ Lucy grinned at his amusement, picking up the cup and savoring a lick of the purple yam ice cream on top. “Itʼs shaved ice and ice cream and sweet beans and jello and evaporated milk and egg custard and rice krispies. Itʼs the most chaotically delicious dessert to ever exist.ˮ

“You...ˮ Bradley chuckled. “Have a way with words. Alright, how do we eat this?ˮ “Itʼs in the name,ˮ Lucy smiled. “You mix-mix!ˮ

Bradley watched her lips grow wide as she relished the satisfying crunch of the ice against every beat of her spoon.

They drove up the coast, blaring the radio and singing along, and stopped for some fries at a nearby McDonaldʼs. Bradley parked the Bronco and helped Lucy down before they slipped off their footwear and strolled on the warm sand by the cool water edge. They treaded the peaceful landscape side-by-side in a comfortable silence.

“Mmmh,ˮ Lucy sighed. “Fries and halo-halo and the beach.ˮ

“I think Iʼve underestimated how fun first dates can be,ˮ she remarked.

“No,ˮ Bradley shook his head. “Youʼre just lucky that your first oneʼs with me.ˮ

“How lucky I am indeed,ˮ Lucy laughed.

Bradley turned to her.

“Alright, hereʼs my first question.ˮ

“Fire away.ˮ

“Where did you grow up?ˮ

Bradley stared as Lucy licked her lips.

“Before I moved to Oregon in middle-school, I grew up in this... beautiful little place called El Nido. Itʼs in an island called Palawan, a part of the Philippines.“

“I think one of my buddies went there for the summer,ˮ Bradley spoke. “Was this buddy of yours into scuba-diving?ˮ

“I think he is,ˮ Bradley nodded.

“El Nido tends to attract their kind. Itʼs really no wonder why I became a marine biologist.ˮ

“How about you? Where did you grow up, Lieutenant?ˮ “Just Virginia,ˮ he replied.

“Iʼve always wanted to visit. Thereʼs Mount Vermont, Monticello, so many natural parks...ˮ

“Maybe we can take a road trip someday?ˮ

“I like the idea of that,ˮ Lucy smiled.

“So Sam told me the other day that your team studied whales in particular...ˮ Lucy hummed in confirmation, as she popped a fry into her mouth.

“Out of every living thing in the sea, why whales?ˮ

“It wasnʼt really in my plans to study whales. When I first came to Umi, I was working in reef conservation. We basically traveled, built artificial reefs, grew corals, and did some education promotion stuff— I loved it. One day, my team and Dr. Agnesʼ — my boss now— boarded on the same boat on our way to Florida. On one of our free days, we all hung out in a baby Manatee reservation. I guess... she was intrigued with the way the calfs were following me around and clinging to me. Before I knew it, she was having me sign my transfer papers over to her team and handling the whale interactions.ˮ

“Wow,ˮ Bradley chuckled. “Are you some secret baby Manatee whisperer, or something? I promise I wonʼt tell.ˮ

“Careful Lieutenant,ˮ Lucy teased. “I might just count that as your third question.ˮ

“How kind of you not to,ˮ Bradley teased back. “Look, you may not be some whisperer and you yourself may not know— but youʼre kinda easy to be with, Angel. And over the years Iʼve learned that animals are one of the best judges of character.ˮ

Lucy gazed at him considerably.

“Thank you Lieutenant,ˮ she said softly. “But I think Iʼd prefer being part of a team of scientists for my abilities as a researcher, over my qualities as a person, donʼt you?ˮ

“Sure,ˮ Bradley replied. “But youʼd be surprised how there are more smart asses out there than people who choose to be kind — and look at our world. Itʼs still a shitty place.ˮ

“Perhaps thatʼs one of the reasons why I switched over to whales,ˮ Lucy mused. “You see so many ugly and hopeless things in conservation and you feel so helpless when you can‘t do anything to fix them.ˮ

“Thereʼs many things in this world you and I can never fix, Angel. The least we could do is live the lives we want to lead.ˮ

“Did you lead the life you want to lead so far?ˮ Lucy asked. “Why did you want to become a pilot? Those are two separate questions by the way. I have seven left...ˮ

Bradley chuckled.

“Flying multimillion aircrafts and landing them on boats is cool and all, but I became an aviator because of my dad. He was a really great pilot and a great guy, and Iʼve always looked up to him. I wanted to live my life like he did.ˮ

“Was?ˮ

“He died when I was two,ˮ Bradley sighed. “He broke his neck when he was trying to eject. His call sign was Goose and just like you — he loved Jerry Lewisʼ Great Balls of Fire.ˮ

“He had impeccable taste,ˮ Lucy spoke. “He should be proud though… he gave the world a decent pilot and a girl an amazing first date.ˮ

Bradley laughed.

They sat on the beach together, their half-finished dessert cups buried partly in the dunes. Sand clung to their skins and the richly-colored glow of the setting Californian sun came upon them as their amount of allotted questions slowly dwindled to none.

“You know,ˮ Bradley drawled. “I technically didnʼt answer one of your questions.ˮ

“How honest of you, Lieutenant,ˮ Lucy remarked.

“I havenʼt led the life I wanted to live,ˮ Bradley gazed at her, her sweet-colored eyes drawing him to her. A stray hair fell on her check and he tucked it behind her ear.

“Not yet, at least.ˮ

“Since I didnʼt answer that when you asked me, I guess it means I owe you one huh?ˮ

Lucy was far too preoccupied with his handsome visage — the indents left by the scars on his face, the sincerity in his eyes that her melt with every stare, the shape of his lips, the trembling locks of his charmingly curled hair, and his oh-so suave mustache.

“How ‘bout another date, Angel?ˮ

I’m so excited! Looks like their first date went amazing✨ Their next date is a little more inventive, and I’m hopeful that I can emphasize a more intimate aspect of Bradley’s character while as much as possible remaining true to his canon. You can read 03 | A Hike and a Dance here!

[pertinax--loculos]

Books Read in 2024 (so far)

(Looking at my Goodreads, where I've been keeping track of this, I apparently only started keeping track in March? But I guess that's fair, there's a chance I didn't read anything before that. So let's go with that. ^_^)

The Foxhole Court, Nora Sakavic

The Raven King, Nora Sakavic

The King's Men, Nora Sakavic

-> These kicked off my reading binge for the year. Also, how have I never read them before? Because my god. Instant favourites. Don't talk to me.

Like Real People Do, E.L. Massey

-> My attempt to recapture the All for the Game vibes. It failed. The book was okay, though.

John Dies at the End, Jason Pargin

This Book is Full of Spiders: Seriously, Dude, Don't Touch It, Jason Pargin

What The Hell Did I Just Read, Jason Pargin

If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe, Jason Pargin

Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits, Jason Pargin

Zoey Punches the Future in the Dick, Jason Pargin

Zoey is Too Drunk for This Dystopia, Jason Pargin

-> Some of these are technically rereads; JDatE, Spiders, and the first Zoey book. Regardless, Pargin is an insta-buy for me.

Leech, Hiron Ennes

-> Tumblr recommendation off a random post. Very good.

American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis

-> I enjoyed this. If you can say that about this book. Taking it as what it is, I thought it was very well done.

Dead Girls Don't Say Sorry, Alex Ritany

-> Go check out @aritany if you haven't already! Wonderful human, incredible writer, new book coming out soon!

Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One, Jack Townsend

-> Trying to recapture some of Pargin's bizarre humour. Pretty similar, and I did enjoy it, but I was starting to move away from that vibe, and to be honest this just wasn't as good as Pargin.

Maze-Born Trouble, Ginn Hale

-> My only complaint with this book is it was too fucking short. 😠 Astonishing worldbuilding and a very rich story for what amounts to a novella. Love.

Altered Carbon, Richard K. Morgan

-> Following on from the scifi of Pargin's Zoey series and Maze-Born Trouble. This was good. I doubt I'll read more in the series because from the blurbs they're quite disparate, but holy hell the world that was built was incredible.

Mystic River, Dennis Lehane

-> Complicated reason why I read this that actually has to do with OOC. Also technically a reread, from a while ago. Love Lehane, though, and this as a standalone is very good. Has some examples of omniscient POV that I would almost classify as head-hopping that actually works, and as a thriller, so an interesting read for a writer as well.

Educated, Tara Westover

-> The beginning of my brief nonfiction binge.

I'm Glad My Mom Died, Jenette McCurdy

-> Because, obviously.

Eggshell Skull, Bri Lee

-> Highly HIGHLY recommended. Some heavy stuff regarding sex offences and the legal system, and quite centred in Australia, but a brilliant nonfiction read.

The Sunshine Court, Nora Sakavic

The Foxhole Court, Nora Sakavic

The Raven King, Nora Sakavic

The King's Men, Nora Sakavic

-> Why yes, I did see that The Sunshine Court had been released and immediately read it, then immediately reread All for the Game, because what the fuck else was I gonna do? Not reread it? C'mon.

Icebreaker, A.L. Graziadei

-> Note the author there, cuz I know there's another book by the same title. This one was excellent. Still not the AftG vibes I was seeking, but closest I've found reading something immediately after finishing that series.

The Ministry of Time, Kaliane Bradley

-> I know everyone's talking about it. Read it anyway.

Summer Sons, Lee Mandelo

-> currently reading. Currently loving.

...and that's 27 so far this year -- 23 if you don't count rereading books I read for the first time this year. 0.o Still, not a bad effort!

If you'd like more info or just wanna chat about any of this books, feel free to hit me up. Also if you've got this far without being intimidated by my awful formatting choices, congrats! And thankyou. ^_^

[diabolus1exmachina]

BAE Vantare V12 (1 of 10). 

British Automotive Engineering (BAE) is currently working on a new Bond-style sports car in Essex, Great Britain. Of course, it will be a grand tourer with a V12 under the hood. To avoid having to start on a blank sheet of paper, the BAE team led by actor and TV presenter Bradley Walsh looked around intensively and finally selected a good existing base. This comes from the Aston Martin DB9, which rolled off the production line at Gaydon between 2004 and 2016. By using base cars that have already been approved, it is possible to concentrate on other things that have to be developed. Only the roof and windows remain from the original body. All other body parts are given a new look in the style of classic sports cars, such as those driven by Sean Connery as James Bond 007. State-of-the-art hybrid materials such as carbon fiber composite are used for this purpose.

An the end, the newly created vehicle goes by the name of Vantare and is limited to just ten units. All upcoming owners will be able to configure their respective cars completely freely. In addition to colors for the paint and interior, this also includes mechanical upgrades that provide more power. Without these modifications, the six-liter V12 with automatic transmission already ensures that the Vantare accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and on to a topspeed in excess of 180 mph. Leather upholstery is available in a choice of smooth or suede and in modern or classic colors. There are also polished aluminium elements and hand-finished exposed carbon trim. Standard equipment also includes an advanced infotainment system with nine-inch touchscreen display, navigation system, DAB radio as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

[felixcloud6288]

Fullmetal Alchemist Chapter 97

Hohenheim demonstrates that Ed was right all along when it came to the souls in the Philosopher's Stone. They may no longer have bodies, but they still have emotions and feelings and they can be communicated with.

Father reveals its true form saying it has evolved just like humans do. It likely just figured out how to make a larger container is all.

The middle lady was having lunch with Maria Ross when Ross was arrested in chapter 34.

I guess it just goes to show how thoroughly Central HQ was under Father's control if the President's office was vulnerable to snipers. No one would be allowed to get in Bradley's way and anyone who tried would be swiftly taken care of. The Fuhrer had no need to fear an assassination at his own headquarters.

It makes perfect sense there would be a smaller door by the gate. Why would you want to open a big giant gate for anything except vehicle traffic?

Look at how smug the tank operator is as he drives right past the Central troops.

We get our first full shot of Central HQ. I want to point out how this image doesn't really line up to the two shots when Greed looked out at the plaza in chapters 56 and 63.

Primarily, what we've seen up to this point implied there was only the main building and the President's estate.

No one should be surprised that Wrath survived the train bombing, but imagine if Arakawa actually did kill one of the most dangerous Homunculi in such an anti-climactic way.

What are those swords of his made of and how are they forged? They've cut through tank treads and Buccaneer's carbon-based automail without damage.

The only times he's ever broken a sword are when Lanfan partially parried one with her iron(?) kunai and when Wrath sliced at Greed's hardened skin.

Wrath referred to Falman by name. So I guess he made sure to know the names and faces of all Roy's subordinates.

Behold the face of true bravery (genuine).

This now means that Breda is the only member of Roy's crew who has never faced a Homunculus in battle.

I can think of two reasons why Greed is there. Either he was actively looking for a way to get underground and then decided to head for the gate when he heard Bradley had returned, or he was killing time and amusing himself by watching the fighting going on.

back

[bradsthorn]

WONDER OF YOU | B.B. X FEMALE OC

Chapter 1: The Wonder of You

Summary: Nicolette 'Wildcard' Mitchell was shocked to get called back to North Island. Her track record was not exactly clean and most certainly not one that most would celebrate. Then she sees Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw again. Maybe it won't be all bad.

Warnings: Mentions of death, alcohol, Flashbacks to Top Gun 86, Broken Family dynamics

Word Count: 2.6K

Author Note: Hey y'all this fic is my baby and I'm excited to share this with y'all. This is cross-listed on AO3!

previous chapter | masterlist | next chapter

“Wood.. I barely got out of being grounded, just to be sent to Top Gun. It has to be some sort of cruel punishment.” The girl was huffing as she stuffed another shirt into her bag. Nicolette Mitchell a.k.a. Wildcard, lived up to both her callsign and last name in ways that made her commanding officers grimace upon seeing her assigned to them. 

“ Or it’s for something important. They don’t just call people back like that for punishment, Nic.” The older male was shaking his head as he responded. He had basically adopted the girl — she had been his favorite kid of the class of 86’s, not that he didn’t like Bradley, but there was a special place in his heart for the brunette girl. 

“Yeah, because they send Maverick to new places for important things.” Nicolette was letting a laugh fall as she heard Hollywood hush his husband.

“No, no.. Wolf is right. They sent Maverick to .. well, anywhere he’s been sent simply because he pissed off an Admiral. Not that I did.” There was a snort being heard over the phone and then an ‘ow!’ shortly after,

“Nic.. did you piss off an Admiral?” 

“Technically, yes.  But my wingman needed me, it wasn’t my fault they didn’t fill my fuel tank up all the way.” This was a common occurrence for the girl, her wingmen, and team were always first, aircraft and herself second. So be it if it got her in trouble she valued people over the jets they were in. One lesson Maverick had been able to teach her is that your teammates are not replaceable, the jets are no matter what the Navy says. 

“So.. you pulled a Maverick?” There were a few seconds of silence before the two males could hear her zipping up the bag. 

“No. I was being a good teammate. He doesn’t know what that’s like.” There was some poison in her words, and it was clear as day to the pilot and his RIO that the relationship between the girl and her father had not gotten better. 

“I.. okay, Nic. Just.. let us know when you get here, we’d like to see you, kid.” If there was one thing Hollywood knew, it was that whatever waited for the woman on North Island, he would have pieces to pick up. 

“I will. Love ya’ll.” Once the couple had responded, she was hanging up and tossed her bag into her Thunderbird. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nicolette Duke Mitchell had been accustomed to being moved around a lot, at least until she needed a stable place to be able to attend school. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, the man that was her second father; pops as she called him, was able to stay stationary for her. While Maverick was being sent to Iraq, Bosnia, and wherever else the Navy sent him, Iceman was staying at Top Gun, raising the almost carbon copy of his wingman. Thankfully, some of the rest of the 86 class was able to pitch in. Or they at least kept her busy when they’d visit. And of course, Carole. Seeing as the two had gotten so close over the short amount of time they had together while their dads were in Top Gun, Carole couldn’t possibly keep Bradley away from Nicolette. There were plenty of phone calls, where the two toddlers mirrored each other; being sat on the counter with their respective parents keeping them steady, just chatting away like they had much to talk about. But they could do it for hours and each call ended with a “bye bradbrad.” and “bye ni.” Nic visited Brad and Carole in Tennessee for plenty of weeks in the summer and Brad would visit Nic in San Diego whenever he was able. Until he was in Maverick’s custody and then he was living with her and Ice. 

Iceman had done his best to keep the girl in contact with her father. And he pulled strings whenever necessary to get Maverick home to her. But, almost like clockwork, he was pissing off whichever admiral or higher up he could and getting sent away. What originally was described to the girl as ‘the Navy just needs him right now.’ transpired into a festering grudge towards her father – one that faded each time he came home, but grew the second he left again. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The Hard Deck, something you weren’t supposed to go below. That was Navy law, and anything below the hard deck was dangerous, it could damage the aircraft. This hard deck though? Could damage a person’s wall that they had spent much of their adult life building, or cause cracks in a facade. But it also held a lot of memories from the time spent in Top Gun. Something that was cherished among those that attended, and it was the best bar to go to attempt to score a free drink. 

The brunette was shutting the door to her car, a small sigh being given as she witnessed all of the other pilots entering the bar. She knew what that meant; she wasn’t getting grounded. Just a slight possibility of being sent to her death. Which, she figured the Navy wouldn’t bat an eye at, it would achieve their goal, keep the Mitchells out of the sky and run them out of the Navy. Her digits ran through her hair for a second, checking it in her mirror when her eyes fixed on the blue Bronco parked a few spots down. Holy shit. She hadn’t seen the owner of that Bronco since two deployments ago. There was almost a hop in her step as she stepped into the loud building, an easily recognizable song on the jukebox. 

If you’re lookin’ for trouble, you came to the right place. 

She shook her head, what a song to be playing when she came in. The people at Top Gun had thought she was trouble, and any higher-up that she had would probably agree with that statement. There were three people in the bar that wouldn’t agree with it; one that she hadn’t seen yet; and that was known by the fact she was still in the bar. The second was already smiling as she noticed her, sliding a beer down to her; amazed the girl hadn’t recognized the male a few feet away. And then; 

My daddy was a green-eyed mountain jack.

“Mitchell… You’ve got to be shittin’ me.” Hangman. A man Nicolette knew well, but despised just as much. 

“Seresin.” There was a beat. Lips parted as she shook her head at him. It was clear that whatever this was, it was serious. Otherwise, there would’ve been no need for the number of patches she was seeing. Nicolette watched the male grab his beers and nod to someone behind her, the person paying for their drinks, she assumed. Then against her better judgment, she followed the blonde back to the group. Her eyes stuck on the Hawaiian shirt that she had entered the bar searching for. But, Hangman beat her to having the first word with him once he had changed the song. 

“Bradshaw, as I live and breathe.” 

“Hangman… You look… good.” 

“Well, I am good, Rooster, I’m very good. In fact, I am too good to be true.” Nic let a quiet scoff out, head shaking. She had taken a seat at a stool behind Brad, not wanting to get in the middle of it. This wasn’t her fight, at least not yet. 

“So, anybody know what this special detachment is all about?” Nic’s brows furrowed at the man who spoke. She only knew a select few of the pilots around the pool table.

“No, mission’s a mission. They don’t confront me.” His ego hadn’t changed apparently.

“What I want to know: Who’s gonna be team leader?”  Her eyes followed the pool balls that clattered together. 

“And which one of yall has what it takes to follow me?” There it was. His ego was bigger than the state he came from. 

“Hangman, the only place you’ll lead anyone is an early grave.” The woman had to take a sip of her beer to keep from chuckling loudly. Eyes meeting those of a male across the pool table, he had glasses and seemed to be the quieter one, seeing as the two on either side of him, one whom she knew; Coyote, who typically couldn’t keep his mouth shut, and the other who let a low “whoo!” out at the comment, obviously were loving this interaction. The one with the glasses was not. 

“Well, anyone who follows you is just gonna run out of fuel.” Nicolette was getting close to stepping in, 

“But that’s just you, ain’t it Rooster?” Her body inched closer to standing. 

“You’re snug on that perch, waiting for just the right moment…” And she was up, body moving quietly to stand behind the male. Hangman’s eyes trailed from the taller male to land on Nic. Almost as if his next words were for both of them, 

“That never comes.” There it was. His eyes had locked back on Brad’s after, Nic noted the small smirk that grew on Hangman’s lips. She was going to have to make herself known to Brad now. 

“Y’know Hangman, you don’t have to compensate for your lack of… well, size right now.” Head tilting, with a small smirk growing as she watched the blonde falter for a split second before his lips were moving back to his signature smirk. 

“If you wanna see how wrong you are, let me know Wildcard.” Winking at her, earning a scoff, as his attention turned back to Rooster, 

“I love this song.” And then the pair watched him walk off. Bradley’s eyes finally landed on the girl.

“Ni..” It was like he let his body relax for a second, he didn’t have to be on guard with her. He was safe with her. 

“Hey, Bradbrad…” Then arms were wrapped around her, bringing her into his chest, he didn’t know how long to hold onto her but at the moment? Time had stopped anyway so it didn’t matter. And neither could see the way the simple action between them had caused someone else’s world to stop, Maverick hadn’t seen the two of them together in years, and as he took in the Hawaiian shirt on the male’s body and arms wrapping around the female in a brightly colored red and orange shirt, it was like going back thirty years. The sight caused his heart to ache. Then Bradley’s arms were removed as he looked to the other girl who had joined them, but a hand had found its way to rest on Nicolette’s back. Maverick’s eyes burned into the pair, and for Nicolette, the fact her hair was sticking up on the back of her neck had more to do with the group of people in front of her who, while they may know her or know of her, most likely already wouldn’t want her around. Her reputation and last name — something that always held more significance than her — always preceded her.

“Well, he hasn’t changed.” Nic’s brows rose as she looked over the other girl, Natasha “Phoenix” Trace. Of course, she knew her, although there was a small negative feeling festering in her stomach as she took her in. Nicole couldn’t put into words what that feeling was, but it was prominent. 

“Nope. Sure hasn’t.” There was a small part of his accent lingering at the end of his statement, which made her lips curl up at the edges. 

“Change is a foreign concept to him.” Nicolette let the words fall, almost as if she had to prove her existence. Needed to prove something, what it was? She couldn’t tell anyone. But there was a nod given her way by Phoenix, which caused her to feel settled until more voices joined them. 

“Check it out.” The group’s eyes flickered away from the pool table to focus on the entrance, “More patches.”  Nicolette knew what that meant, that whatever was happening wouldn’t be good. 

“That’s Harvard, Yale, Ohama. Shit, that’s Fritz.” Wildcard’s green hues followed after the group and her lips pursed for a second as she scoffed, head shaking. 

“What the hell kind of mission is this?” Her brow rose at the male, Garcia was what he’d be known by until she knew his callsign, thank the US Military for name badges. 

“A suicide mission,” Nicolette mumbled, causing eyes to land on her as she mindlessly played on her phone. The other pilots around them turned to her, eyes narrowing. She didn’t think twice about what she had said, if anything she knew she was right. They don’t call back this many pilots for something any less serious than that. 

ICEDAD

ICE. 

Nic. 

You’ll never guess where I am. 

North Island?

This is why I don’t play guessing games with you

But… so is half of the goddamn navy 

That’s an exaggeration. 

Okay? And? It’s still a lot of people. 

And?

Brad is here. 

I know. 

So you knew i was here?

Got briefed on it. 

Someone else is there though. 

And the conversation was over once Nic heard the bell ring. Either someone else was paying for their drinks or 

“OVERBOARD! OVERBOARD! OVERBOARD!” The girl’s head tilted, phone slipping back into her pocket as she shook her head, eyes locking with Bradley’s at the piano. It was second nature for her to find her way to the instrument. She had spent so many years with the male just hanging out while he played or learned to play.

The toddler was kicking her feet in her father’s lap. Her head tilted to the side as she watched the two blonde women on the other side of her. Nicolette had very little patience in her tiny body and barely sat still - as would be expected from Maverick’s kid. Her fingers wrapped around a fry, that quickly went flying to hit the woman in a white blouse. Giggles were fast to leave tiny lips afterward, Maverick himself having to fight off a laugh. Then once Carole – who Nic adored – had smiled at her, Nic was done and trying to wiggle out of Maverick’s hold. She wanted to go sit with the guy at the piano with the colorful shirt. She liked him a whole lot, he would put her in the sky when he picked her up, and he flew her around sometimes, she loved it. Not to mention the kid on top of the piano who was her newfound best friend. Finally, her dad was heading over there with her, setting her down on the bench to stand, Nic’s hands reaching to try to grab the hat off of the piano – Goose’s hat, but one hand was grabbed by her father to twirl her – as carefully as possible, as the two men sang;

“You shake my nerves, and you rattle my brain…” 

Bradley had an arm wrapped around the woman’s waist as his fingers created the familiar tune on the piano; Nic let a soft laugh out as he glanced up at her with a mischievous twinkle in his puppy dog browns, 

“Thinkin’ ‘bout your love drives a man insane, you broke my will, oh what a thrill, goodness, gracious, GREAT BALLS OF FIRE!”  

The two were a splitting image of something Maverick had never thought he’d see again, and now watching the group of young pilots around the piano and the two on the bench, there was no way he couldn’t teach this mission. They had to come home. If not for him or the families any of them may have had, they had to come home for each other.

credit: I don't own any characters but Nicolette Mitchell, and any other OCs that may appear and their storylines. I have no affiliation with Top Gun or Top Gun: Maverick. All rights go to the rightful owners.

Tag list: @toracsanji

[grumpyoldork]

Sean's Bar is a pub in Athlone, Ireland, notable for its reputed establishment in AD 900, and claim to being the oldest extant bar in both Ireland and Europe. Other architectural and archaeological records, including the Record of Monuments and Places and the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, date the building to the 17th or 18th century.

Archaeological research, reviewed by the National Museum of Ireland, indicates that a pub may have been operating on the site for at least a millennium, with the building possibly being older. Carbon-dated material such as mud, wood and wattle, as well as the presence of tavern tokens (of an unspecified age), now on display in the National Museum of Ireland, have further supported "the legend" of the pub's age. During renovations in the 1970s, it was discovered that a back wall was partly made of wattle and wicker.

Other archaeological surveys indicate that the oldest parts of the building were constructed in or around the 17th century, with some more ancient materials perhaps having been scavenged and reused from elsewhere. The latter includes research, including by John Bradley on behalf of the Office of Public Works and published in the Monuments and Places and by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, which suggests that the building dates to c. 1725, while "possibly containing the fabric of earlier buildings".

In 2004, Guinness World Records issued a certificate to Sean's Bar as the "oldest pub in Ireland". The proprietors have claimed to possess a list of "nearly all previous owners" going back centuries, potentially to the time of Luan, after whom Athlone town is named.

[dectech]

honestly i don't feel like i earned this, because mostly i just had no idea what most of the quiz was even talking about.

what is santa con. i think i heard brennan lee mulligan mention it in a skit once. who is dave matthews. i don't like hot drinks. i don't like carbonated drinks. why would i be masturbating while taking this quiz. i've only been to one concert that i can remember, and while i had a good time, i can't recall who was playing. i regularly speed walk faster than some people jog and it makes me feel alive. i do not like coffee. i had to check if i used 2 in 1 shampoo. what has Lady Gaga been doing besides singing. isn't that what she's famous for? i am not above drinking age. what is no shave november. who is bradley cooper. i have heard the word lacrosse before and that's about all i know. what is ginham-print. what is queer eye. who is kelly clarkson. i have not done most things in life. at one point i had to (very briefly) ask myself who justin timberlake was.

rb with your straight number

[the-firebird69]

Harley-Davidson engine specifications - Google Search

"Milwaukee-Eight

This engine has eight valves in two cylinders, and is a combination of air-cooled and oil-cooled. The Milwaukee-Eight engine has the following specifications: 

Displacement: 107 cu in (1,750 cc), 114 cu in (1,870 cc), 117 cu in (1,920 cc), or 121 cu in (1,980 cc) 

Horsepower: 87 HP for the 107 cu in model 

Torque: 110 lb.-ft. for the 107 cu in model 

Torque RPM: 3,000 RPM for the 107 cu in model 

Fuel economy: 45 mpg combined city/highway"

https://www.google.com/search?q=Harley-Davidson+engine+specifications&oq=Harley-Davidson+engine+specifications&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABiABDIHCAIQABiABDIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIHCAkQABiABDIHCAoQABiABDIHCAsQABiABDIHCAwQABiABDIHCA0QABiABDIHCA4QABiABNIBCDcyNTFqMGo5qAIOsAIB&client=ms-android-cricket-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#:~:text=Milwaukee%2DEight,combined%20city/highway

This is a winner idea we love it it's for kit cars and smaller ones like the Bradley GT1 and we can offer it as an option top speed would be about 280 mph for this particular motor yeah one that's bigger and it would go about 300 mph 0 to 60 is ridiculous at about 2.8 seconds and a quarter miles really stupendously ridiculous at about 6 seconds or less. And we're going to show you which car it would be in and it would be a lighter plastic carbon fiber and the hull would be secure hey people put titanium plate in usually it's about 1/8 of an inch and it deflects all lid and armor piercing from 300 yards from a 50 caliber so really armor piercing at about 50 yards 150 ft roughly and I'tll stop it. And 50 ft it'll go through but it's going a lot slower and if you're wearing some sort of armor it usually stops it even regular Kevlar

These cars will be safe and secure and fun and fast you put the hydraulics in and hydraulics it'll be cheap maybe the same thing for the Volkswagen except we would provide a bolt up meld frame. And you would put it together.

Thor Freya

Olympus

[yuuiend]

Week 7 : Body Modification: The Cosmetic Gaze

Body modification, an enduring aspect of human culture, has long been intertwined with the desire to alter and enhance physical appearance. From ancient tattoos and piercings to modern-day cosmetic procedures and digital filters, the human body has served as a canvas for self-expression. Body modification is a global phenomenon, practiced in diverse forms and for various reasons (Barker & Barker, 2002, p. 92). Examples from around the world include nose piercings associated with Hinduism, neck elongation in Thailand and some African cultures, henna tattooing in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, tooth filing in Bali, lip piercing and earlobe stretching in parts of Africa, and both male and female circumcision in numerous regions (Larkin, 2004; Barker & Barker, 2002; Bendle, 2004). These practices reflect the cultural, religious, and social significance attached to body modification in different societies. 

One of the earliest known instances of body modification belongs to Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old mummified body discovered in the Alps. Ötzi's body bore 61 carbon pigment tattoos, possibly indicating social status or involvement in ritualistic practices (Samadelli et al., 2015). These markings reflect the deep historical roots of body modification and its significance in human identity.

The concept of body modification extends beyond mere aesthetics; it often carries deeper cultural, social, and personal meanings. In contemporary society, the term "body art" is commonly associated with artists who use their bodies as both subject and medium, producing works that challenge societal norms and explore themes of identity, gender, and vulnerability. Artists such as Marina Abramović and Chris Burden have pushed the boundaries of body art, making their physical bodies central to their creative expression (Vergine, 1974). This practice highlights the body as a site of both artistic creation and social commentary. 

Nowadays, with the increasing number of body modification practitioners, the practice has become more normalized and widely accepted. This normalization extends to various forms of modification, including tattoos, piercings, and plastic surgery. Many individuals use these methods to alter, "correct," or "perfect" certain aspects of their appearance, often viewing their bodies as canvases for creative self-expression. While a desire to enhance body image motivates some, this is not the case for everyone who engages in body modification. For many, the appeals of body modification stems from a desire for personal expression or the wish to challenge conventional beauty norms. Some embrace it as a form of fashion, using their bodies to reflect their inner selves and live authentically through their chosen aesthetics (Kang & Jones 2007). One recent study suggests that individuals who were moderately to heavily tattooed have “an increased sense of self-confidence after having pierced or tattooed their bodies” (Carroll & Anderson 2002: 628). However, there is still stigma associated with several types of body modification, including scarification, tattoos, and body piercings. The body is considered sacrosanct by some, who consider it a gift from a higher power.  In their perspective, altering the body through modification undermines its natural state and defies its intended sanctity. So what do you think about it? 

References 

2024, Researchgate.net, viewed 1 November 2024, <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Matt-Lodder/publication/282667817_Body_Art_Body_Modification_as_Artistic_Practice/links/5617ac5408aee135b3b23ef0/Bo>.

Bradley University 2016, ‘Bradley University: Body Modification & Body Image’, Bradley.edu, viewed <https://www.bradley.edu/sites/bodyproject/disability/modification/>.

Samadelli, M, Melis, M, Miccoli, M, Vigl, EE & Zink, AR 2015, ‘Complete mapping of the tattoos of the 5300-year-old Tyrolean Iceman’, Journal of Cultural Heritage, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 753–758, viewed

[scientificinquirer-blog]

Microscopic Fungi Boost Soil Carbon Storage in Newly Formed Landscapes by Melting Arctic Glaciers

Melting Arctic glaciers are in rapid recession, and microscopic organisms colonise the newly exposed landscapes. Dr. James Bradley, Honorary Reader in Arctic Biogeochemistry in the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences at Queen Mary University of London, and his team, have revealed that yeasts play an important role in soil formation in the Arctic after glaciers have melted…

[urbannunxue]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: 2 Vera Bradley Large Jazz Floral Totes with free Vera Bradley mini bag.