#hobbs and shaw preference

[kraniumet]

kill bill but exponentially stupider

[captainpetebradshaw]

I know I'm so so late but I still wanted to write something about the shows that I enjoyed last year. And while I think most people know that I watch a lot of tv and reblog a lot about the tv shows I enjoy, I think some of them deserve a special shoutout. So, in no particular order...

I don't think I've ever seen a show like Beef. The way its central premise gets escalated every episode and the way these characters are all just so human really stayed with me. It was a show I could not binge. Every episode had to sit with me for a while. I kind of had to brace myself for whatever was coming next. And I am happy to hear that even though it will get a second season that I never ever wanted, it's going to be about different characters and I can live with that.

I think what I liked about The Great was the way it balanced all the almost absurdist humor and a cast of mostly horrible people that didn't know any better and how Catherine went through an evolution that made her able to handle these people. And even though it was cancelled I stand by my opinion that it ended on a perfect note.

I assume if I had watched The Last of Us it would be in its place but to me Fallout was the tv show that proved that a successful adaption of a video game was possible. I have a kind of fraught relationship to video game adaptations since I see them as unnecessary most of the time but for games that I don't intend on playing (like Fallout) I can really appreciate them getting the hang of those.

Even though Loki is a great show I probably always held fast on my opinion that WandaVision was the best show among the MCU show tie-ins. And I am happy that Agatha All Along was a worthy successor. I wouldn't put it above WandaVision but it's clearly in the top three at this point and if it was just about episode seven I'd have to strongly reconsider. One of the strongest single episodes in tv history maybe??? Certainly left an impression.

And I don't wanna forget one of my favorite non-scripted shows. I started my journey into the world of Dimension 20 in the late summer of 2023 so there was and still is a lot to catch up on but when I saw the Trailer to Never Stop Blowing Up it really felt like they made this for me specifically. I love 80s action movies and I love 80s music and I love ridiculous fun (Hobbs & Shaw anyone??). And then finding out they are going to use a homebrew version of Kids on Bikes made it even better (as someone who has always prefered it over the classic DnD seasons of D20). And it so delivered, I was looking forward to it every week.

Finally a nod to season 4 of The Boys. I think if we hadn't known that this was gonne be the penultimate season I wouldn't have judged it so favorably because it can feel like a lot of going backwards instead of forwards as to not escalate the stakes beyond reason. As I said before I do enjoy my fair share of ridulousness and on that The Boys always delivers. So even if some storylines lack some consequences in their writing I will always be entertained by the insanity of the week and the acting prowess of Karl Urban and Antony Starr. (Man, I really should rewatch Banshee).

Honorable mentions to Jet Lag: The Game. There's never been anything that gets its hooks into my friends as easily as these three travel boys. And last but not least it was a wild ride basically speedrunning Chenford The Rookie and if I had a time machine I would give myself the 6 season slow burn experience but alas...

[findroleplay]

hi! 21+ rper searching for 18+ writer searching for the following rare / toxic ships. most of these ships are dead dove themed, so please be aware of this. bolded char is who i’d write:

yennefer of vengerberg x tissaia de vries (the witcher)

cirilla of cintra x emhyr (the witcher)

jj x aaron hotchner (criminal minds)

jj x emily prentiss

alicia clark x victor strand (fear the walking dead)

beth greene x daryl dixon (the walking dead)

tris prior x jeanine matthews (divergent)

katniss everdeen x alma coin (hunger games)

bella swan x aro volturi (twilight)

abigail hobbs x will graham (hannibal)

emma swan x regina mills (ouat)

hermione granger x severus snape hermione x lucius malfoy (harry potter)

sam winchester x chuck shurley (supernatural)

sam winchester x dean winchester

sabrina spellman x lucifer (chilling adventures of sabrina)

sabrina spellman x chuck shurley

female oc x albert shaw (the black phone)

clara oswald x 10/12/13th doctor (doctor who)

padme obidala x obi-wan kenobi (star wars)

harley quinn x batfleck (dc)

wanda maximoff x stephen strange (marvel)

kate bishop x clint barton

peter parker x quentin beck

natasha romanoff x bruce banner

carol danvers x yon-rogg

irene adler (megan fox fc) x sherlock holmes

female oc x john watson (bbc sherlock)

daenerys targaryen x jorah mormont (got)

sansa stark x brienne of tarth

daenerys targaryen x thranduil/or elrond (got x lotr crossover)

alison cameron/female oc x dr. house/dr. wilson (house md)

i have more but this is getting long lol. i don’t do doubles. i love smut but am looking for smut with plot and a bit of angst. i prefer to write bratty / power bottoms. i’m a novella writer (around 3-5 paras at a min.) and a slow replier, sometimes i get 3-5 replies a week, sometimes 1 or none for a few days, i'm looking for someone who is patient as i am very chill with reply pace.

will ask for a writing sample as well as i want to make sure i’m finding the right partners. pls like this and i’ll reach out ❤️

-

[borninwinter81]

About me

I thought I should make a pinned post which is slightly more in depth than my bio concerning general interests as I seem to have gained a few followers, and in case any of them have a wish to know!  This is not definitive and will likely get added to over time when I have the thought “how could I possibly have forgotten X”.

Music:          Devin Townsend/Strapping Young Lad/Casualties of Cool Ulver Alcest Agalloch Gojira Cattle Decapitation It’s a safe bet that I’ll probably enjoy anything which could be labelled post-punk or goth, particularly if it originates in the 80s or 90s. Ditto for 90s metal (reminds me of my teen years!) Most classic rock from the 70s or 80s (my parents brought me up on this) Industrial and aggrotech. Classical music, including opera 1950s and 60s rock and roll Many genres of extreme metal, like black metal, death metal, funeral doom, goregrind etc.

Recently a friend has been getting into Black Metal having never listened to it before, and it's been causing me to rediscover my love of that genre as well as find a few new artists that I've never heard before 😁

Authors:  Edgar Allan Poe (also fits under poets) Terry Pratchett Neil Gaiman Stephen King Joe Hill JRR Tolkien Robin Hobb Brian Lumley Clive Barker Way too many more to count – I read A LOT

Poets: William Blake (see my Good Omens/Blake posts here and here) Samuel Taylor Coleridge John Milton Christina Rosetti Walt Whitman

Shakespeare plays (having a literature degree, I feel like I should know more Shakespeare, nonetheless the ones I am familiar with I absolutely love): Hamlet (loved it since the Mel Gibson version, and I have seen many since!) Macbeth Richard II (not only because of David Tennant, but also Fiona Shaw, hers was the first version I saw of it). A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Movies:  12 Monkeys Bladerunner Subspecies movie series Nightbreed (Cabal Cut for preference!) Dredd (2012) Only Lovers Left Alive Pan’s Labyrinth (honestly anything by Del Toro really, but this one especially!) Donnie Darko Franklyn The Green Mile Dark City One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Schindler's List Mad Max: Fury Road (the others too, but this is my favourite) Again, loads more than I’m not listing, I love movies

TV Shows: Good Omens The Sandman Star Trek (all versions, but particularly TNG and DS9) Farscape Blake's 7 Classic Dr Who (I do like the new stuff, but pre-Eccleston will always be my favourite, it's probably a nostalgia thing) Spartacus Black Sails Sharpe Robin of Sherwood

General interests:            Charity shops/thrift store shopping Sewing Crochet General DIY/crafting as the mood takes me, particularly customising items that I buy at charity shops Pencil sketching (relearning to do this, I used to be pretty good when in school!) Tattoos/piercings

[dear-indies]

hiii cat!! 🫶🏼 can I please ask for some fc suggestions that would work best in a heist setting (preferably female and aged between 21-40) please? thank you so much for your amazing fc suggestions and for helping out the rpc and spreading helpful important information 🍉

Dichen Lachman (1982) Nepalese Tibetan / White - Altered Carbon.

Li Jun Li (1983) Chinese - Wu Assassins.

Jessica Lucas (1985) Black Canadian / White - Gotham.

Alba Flores (1986) Romani and Spanish - is a lesbian - Money Heist - has spoken up for Palestine!

Javicia Leslie (1987) African-American - is bisexual - Batwoman.

Maya Erskine (1987) Japanese / Unspecified - Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Meng'er Zhang (1987) Chinese - Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings.

Lashana Lynch (1987) Afro Jamaican - No Time to Die.

Han Hyo-joo (1987) Korean - Believer 2.

Vanessa Kirby (1988) - Hobbs & Shaw, Mission: Impossible - Fallout.

Anna Diop (1988) Senegalese - Titans.

Nafessa Williams (1989) African-American - Black Lightning.

Hannah John-Kamen (1989) Nigerian / White - The Stranger.

Úrsula Corberó (1989) - Money Heist.

JuJu Chan (1989) Hongkonger - Wu Assassins.

Lee Joo-bin (1989) Korean - Money Heist Korea.

Nathalie Emmanuel (1989) English, Saint Lucian, Dominican - Fast and Furious.

Damaris Lewis (1990) African-American - Titans.

Rosaline Elbay (1990) Egyptian - Kaleidoscope - has spoken up for Palestine!

Kiki Layne (1991) African-American - The Old Guard.

Jessica Henwick (1992) Chinese Singaporean / White - The Matrix Resurrections.

Hari Nef (1992) Ashkenazi Jewish - is a trans woman - Assassination Nation - has spoken up for Palestine!

Sasha Luss (1992) - Anna.

Olivia Liang (1993) Chinese - Kung Fu.

Luciane Buchanan (1993) Tongan and White - The Night Agent.

Hande Erçel (1993) Turkish - Halka - is on Bisan's blocklist but I think it's a mistake because she's been vocally pro Palestinian but please let me know otherwise!

Jodie Comer (1993) - Killing Eve.

Lim Ji-yeon (1994) Korean - Money Heist Korea.

Han So-hee (1994) Korean - My Name.

Jeon Jong-seo (1994) Korean - Money Heist Korea.

Tati Gabrielle (1996) African-American / Korean - Uncharted.

Sisi Stringer (1997) African Australian and White - Vampire Academy - has spoken up for Palestine!

Hope this helps!

[krueger4eva]

“Scream (2022)” RP sentence starters

“Would you like to play a game, [insert name]?”

“Time to introduce him to Hobbs and Shaw.”

“But [insert name], promise me. No matter what you hear or what you see on the news, don't come here.”

“Rule #1: never trust the love interest…”

“It always, ALWAYS, goes back to the original!”

“Are you telling me that I’m caught in the middle of fan-f*cking-fiction?!”

“I prefer animated films and musicals.”

“You are a lot of things, [insert name], but you are NOT a coward.”

“…You didn't choose where you came from, or who you came from. I don't blame you for that. I blame you for leaving me too.”

“Well, you know, I-I'm not entirely sure you're not the... killer.”

“That was a test, and you failed. You never go off on your own when there's a masked killer around.”

“But let that be a lesson. Don't trust anyone.”

“Are you afraid of me, [insert name]? You think I did something to your brother, huh?”

“Welcome to Act Three.”

“Thank God, you're okay!…. Because I really, really wanted to be the one to kill you.”

“Because nobody takes the true fans seriously, not really. They just laugh at us, and why? Because we love something? We're just a fucking joke to them!”

“Let me guess, the movies made you do it?”

“Please, it's not my fault! I'm just a dumb kid, I just wanted to be a part of something!”

“Time to pass the torch!”

“Enjoy that torch..”

“Stop! Fucking up! My! Ending!”

“Am I gonna be okay?”

Everyone, feel free to reblog this page as much as you want!

[xoteajays]

hey! i’ve been getting into the fast and the furious franchise (i love it!) and i was wondering if i could get some fun facts abt your ocs? thank you! (and no need to worry about spoilers!)

oh i have been waiting to talk about these four!! i have a lot to say but i’ll keep to just some shorter facts for now to not make this super longer.

starting with leah, since she’s the oldest and most developed:

leah prefers motorbikes to cars, but when it does come to cars, she’s favourable towards chevys and ford mustangs.

her car colour theme is light blue and sometimes darker purple. same goes for her bikes. she hates red cars; orange is fine though because it's han's colour.

she speaks three languages: english, spanish, and japanese. she learnt spanish in school and then kept on with it after graduating; she learnt japanese since it was always part of her and han’s plan.

leah has a lot of small tattoos and wears a lot of rings. she probably has the most hairstyle changes of every character in f&f across the series.

she likes knives more than guns and carries at least three on her at all times. one of which was used to stab shaw in f8 before she's dragged off by hobbs. she and shaw still don’t get along even after han comes back.

she, rome, and tej are an iconic trio; those boys are her bros. she and dom kind of butt heads often, especially after han’s ‘death’ and especially-especially at the end of f8 when shaw’s at the fam dinner.

han helps ground her, so when he’s gone she’s kind of left hanging with this anger and pain she can’t really express properly. you’d think dom could relate to her in this instance, given his past with letty and fenix; instead it kind of pushes them apart because shaw never ends up dead despite promises. f7+f8 is very hard on leah.

angelo:

angel and ramsey have been besties for years. they worked on god’s eye together. it was ramsey’s baby, but angelo was there to help out.

angelo is more the ‘people person’ than ramsey and has more connections in both the hacking world and the racing world.

his hacker tag is 4ngel0. he was accused of it being ‘not really creative’ but argues back that ramsey’s just using her actual name.

since rome and angelo don’t actually make anything official between them until like the end of f8, angelo does hook-up with little nobody. just once. they still flirt a lil afterwards, but it’s clear between them that it’s just a joke, mainly to tease roman.

i was going to make letty and angel siblings, but the actors’ ethnicities didn’t line up so i scrapped that. they still have big sibling energy though and were neighbours as kids.

angelo is not much of a driver. he grew up in the environment of it with the torettos and letty, but he always had more interest in computers and tech. he and jesse got along really well before angel left town.

santiago:

santiago is a doctor. it’s how he met dante in the first place.

he wasn’t born in rio, but went there to work in his mid-late 20s. he was pretty sad to leave his family since he has 2 younger sisters and a younger brother he loves. he's kept in contact with them, but hasn’t seen them physically in years since being caught up in dante’s business.

santi is one of very few people who isn’t afraid of dante. he was in the beginning, but it’s been a decade, he’s gotten used to dante’s antics.

dante calls santiago ‘lucky’, short for ‘lucky charm’ since santi saved his life back in 2011 (f5).

santi and aimes don't like each other but pretend to get along for dante's sake. they're very short with each other and santi calls aimes 'amy', and aimes makes a lot of 'saint' comments about santiago.

santi is actually a pretty decent driver. not a racer by any means, but he's still pretty good behind the wheel. he's also not afraid to use a gun when needed.

he doesn’t necessarily agree with what dante’s doing, but he can’t really do anything to stop him. once dante has a plan in mind, it's hard to sway him so santi's just staying out of it.

the santi x dante romance is very …. beauty and the beast. it’s a lil on the ‘problematic’ side, but hey there’s gotta be conflict for an interesting story and it’s not real. also dante is ……… dante, obviously nothing is going to be easy with him.

yara:

spreading my ‘cipher is a lesbian’ agenda. evil lesbians get to do crimes actually.

yara used to work for ‘the agency’ under mr nobody. she was on a team with a few other agents, including aimes. she got along with most of the team except for aimes. she'd only briefly met mr nobody and worked closer with his daughter, tess.

she and tess dated briefly for a few months before breaking it off.

it was aimes’ call to abandon her in favour of finishing a mission. it’s going to come back around to bite him in the ass when cipher and the crew turn up and yara kicks aimes’ ass. or just shoots him. she doesn’t care about the fam vs dante nonsense actually.

not that she’d ever openly admit it, but she thinks letty is very hot.

she’s an excellent shot and has a favour for rifles. a lot of the guns on cipher’s jet are actually yara’s.

yara knows nothing about hacking. cipher goes on-and-on and yara just nods.

yara and connor were pretty decent friends; though yara wasn’t quick to trust after being betrayed by her last team. they used to have shooting competitions for fun. it’s a sore spot for yara that cipher went to dom to warn him about dante since dom killed connor and yara's not over it.

yara was the only half-decent one to elena while she was captive, but yara really doesn't like babies that much. she does think it was unfortunate that elena was killed, but hey, 'dom knew the risks'.

[snwlkr]

Fast & Furious - DomBri - The tale of the brave blacksmith

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Fast & Furious (Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences (Rated for Violence) Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Words: 10,963 Relationships: Brian O'Conner/Dominic Toretto Characters: Dominic Toretto, Letty Ortiz, Roman Pearce, Brian O'Conner, Mia Toretto, Elena Neves, Luke Hobbs, Jesse (Fast and the Furious), Owen Shaw (Fast and the Furious), Vegh (Fast and the Furious) Additional Tags: Alternative Universe - Greek Mythology, Action/Adventure, Fights, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Devotion, Happy Ending, Angst, Developing Relationship, more like Feelings Revealed, Action, Bits of Action, Adventure, Conspiracy, Treason, light Violence, Rated For Violence

Summary:

Brian (Apollo) falls into an unnatural deep sleep, preventing him from riding his chariot, and as a result, the sun doesn’t rise, causing fear among both gods and mortals. A riddle is provided as a clue to wake him, and Dom (Hephaestus), Letty (Athena), and Roman (Poseidon) are determined to solve it. Dom has always been deeply in love with Brian and is ready to face anything to wake him up, whether it’s a Minotaur or his own emotional struggles and self-doubt.

:::

Dom awoke to the first light of dawn filtering through the windows. After enjoying a good cup of strong wine—especially since his dear friend Vince made the best wine in all of Olympus and the mortal realm—he headed to his forge. He stoked the fires and prepared his tools for the tasks ahead, and soon the sounds of clanging metal and crackling fire filled the space.

This morning, he had several broken items to repair, brought to him by both gods and mortals, along with a large number of new weapons to craft. Luke had sensed that a conflict was brewing; Owen was acting increasingly suspicious, often seen by Jesse lurking near dangerous areas or talking to Luke's enemies, and Luke didn’t believe in coincidences.

But that wasn’t Dom’s concern. While he didn’t want Olympus to be at war, the looming threat—whether real or imagined—sparked his creativity, inspiring him to dream up new weapons that could surpass his previous creations. Forging was a pleasure for Dom; he often lost track of time, absorbed in the rhythmic sound of hammering metal and the satisfying glow of molten ore.

After a few hours of work, Dom took a break and stepped outside to check on his garden, which he tended with care. His sister Mia, the goddess of production and harvest, often helped him, and Dom suspected her touch was what made his garden so beautiful. This little patch of greenery provided a peaceful retreat from the noise of his work, especially as the warmth of the sun always brought him comfort.

Although he preferred the solitude of his workshop, Dom would occasionally join his fellow gods for a midday meal on Olympus. He wasn’t much of a talker—often a bit grumpy and rough around the edges—but he cherished these moments, enjoying the stories and laughter that surrounded him. He felt a deep loyalty to those he loved, and people often described him as benevolent and hardworking, always ready to lend a hand to those in need.

Jesse, on the other hand, was a troublemaker. He loved to play pranks and often found himself in hot water, only to hide behind Dom when things got out of hand. It was amusing, considering everyone knew Jesse could fly away faster than light. He would steal Brian’s lyre and Roman’s trident, turning them into maracas and a fork, much to their dismay.

Jesse’s latest trick involved turning Brian’s lyre into a wretched instrument that produced nothing but absurd, out-of-tune sounds instead of beautiful melodies. Meanwhile, Roman’s trident, instead of summoning waves, created colorful bubbles that floated through the air.

Roman often retaliated with pranks of his own. While Brian’s good-natured disposition made him less inclined to joke around, he and Roman were best friends, and Roman had a talent for persuasion. Last time, they modified Jesse's shoes so that, once he put them on, he’d teleport to random places—including the middle of the ocean. Dom didn’t dare tell Jesse, but they all had a good laugh when he returned to Olympus completely drenched.

Another time, Jesse came back covered in flowers, the ones stuck to his shoes preventing him from flying, and he was pleading for help. With a flick of his hand, Brian made the sticky mess disappear, unable to hide his laughter and sparkling eyes.

Though Dom always tried to keep things calm and ensure Jesse got away with his antics, he secretly loved watching Brian and Roman’s playful mischief. Brian had the most beautiful voice Dom had ever heard, and his laughter was a melody that resonated in Dom’s heart, bringing him joy and peace, in stark contrast to his own raucous cackle.

Brian often retreated to a serene lake or sat beneath a fruitful tree near Mia’s fields, where he would meditate or write poetry. He was always surrounded by birds that flocked to him whenever he began to sing, bringing light to everything around him.

In contrast, Dom often felt gloomy, covered in forged dust, scales, and metal shavings, with his skin smudged by soot, while Brian enjoyed fragrant baths, his chiton always a pure white, and his golden skin and hair radiant.

But make no mistake—Dom loved his work and took pride in it. Yet every time he looked at Brian, he felt as though a whole world separated them.

Dom wished he could join in on Brian's joyful activities, but he knew that dancing, singing, and hunting weren’t his strengths, so he often stayed away as a silent observer, feeling unworthy to even ask for a moment of Brian's time.

What he loved most was when Brian asked him to create a new instrument or bow. For a long time, Brian had only used those offered by mortals, but he began coming to Dom more and more, appreciating the artistry and beauty of Dom’s creations. They were not just tools of war but true works of art, infused with Dom’s heart and soul.

Brian would approach Dom with his curious eyes shining and say softly, almost shyly, "Would you have some free time to create another instrument for me?"

"Of course, what do you want it to look and sound like?" Dom would ask.

Brian would shake his head, his blond hair catching the firelight from the forge and illuminating the space even more than Dom had ever seen—each time a little brighter, even if that seemed impossible. "You built all my previous ones, and they've always been amazing. I trust you.”

Dom always feared disappointing Brian someday—he never worked harder than when Brian asked him to create something completely new. But Brian always looked enchanted by Dom’s work, thanking him with a warm smile that melted Dom’s heart faster than his forge could.

Brian’s days were filled with driving his dazzling golden chariot across the sky to guide the sun, answering the questions of mortals, visiting the Oracle, and offering insights to those seeking wisdom. His free time was filled with songs and music.

Dom cherished watching Brian brighten the sky with his chariot and his very presence.

  :::

  One day, the sun didn’t rise. Dom watched the night stretch on, the minutes ticking away. Brian was never late; he brought light to Olympus and to the Earth. Mortals and immortals alike relied on the rhythm of the sun, which now stubbornly refused to rise.

The divine gong echoed through Olympus, signaling a meeting called by Luke. Anxiety coursed through Dom’s veins. Such gatherings often heralded good or bad news, but today, the reason was painfully clear.

He hurried up the mountain, his sister Mia joining him, her worried expression mirroring his own. By the time they entered the main sanctuary, chaos reigned. Roman was accusing everyone around him, Letty was rallying troops for war, while Luke tried to calm the gods. Owen remained quieter but was ready to back up Letty and leave in an instant. Vegh sulked, lamenting how the absence of sunlight would affect her skin.

Dom couldn’t see Brian—no surprise there—nor his sister Elena. Vince called out to him, beckoning him over. “Brian isn’t waking up. Elena is at his side, but even Luke’s interventions haven’t roused him. It can’t be natural causes. Roman is blaming all of us, one by one…”

Roman turned sharply at the mention of his name. “It’ll be your turn next, Dom. You made an instrument for Brian recently—who’s to say you didn’t enchant it to create this illness?”

Dom blinked in disbelief. “Why would I do that?” Nothing could make Dom want to dim the light that shone so brightly in his heart. He would fight the entire pantheon of Olympus to keep Brian’s light alive.

Roman slumped, his shoulders hunched, eyes hollow. “I don’t know, unknown reasons…” he said, his voice pained. “I’m sorry. I feel so powerless. Brian is my best friend, and I need to do something, but I don’t know what…”

Roman buried his face in his hands. They had to find a solution.

Owen rolled his eyes. “All we need to do is ask Helios to step in until we figure this out.”

Even Dom knew that wasn’t feasible.

“You know very well it’s impossible, you were there when the oath was made,” Luke replied. “As long as the divine oath is in effect, not even I can cancel it. Only Brian can drive the chariot. Only his death would break the oath.”

“So it’s not impossible; don’t overuse dramatic words, Luke,” Owen replied, making Dom shiver at the thought.

The gods could be cruel, and Owen’s expression told him nothing good lay ahead. The gods might be patient for a while, but if no cure was found... Dom worried that someone with malicious intent might see this as the perfect opportunity to act. Without the sun, life would falter—vegetation, animals, the entire rhythm of existence would be disrupted, threatening the balance that the gods had created. And the gods showed no mercy in maintaining that balance.

Jesse, who had been quiet since Dom arrived but had likely shouldered most of Roman’s anxiety, finally spoke up. “We’ll just have to question everyone. There must have been witnesses. He was fine yesterday…”

“Who saw him last?” Mia asked, fully aware that if the culprit was among them, they wouldn’t come forward voluntarily. However, if they weren’t, any information could be helpful.

The meeting dragged on for hours, and when Dom finally stepped outside, darkness enveloped him. He spotted Jesse taking off, likely to gather information from immortals, mortals, or demigods. Dom made his way to Brian’s sanctuary, usually so welcoming, now shrouded in darkness that felt so out of place for Brian.

The rooms were lit by tiny electrical flying bubbles crafted by Luke, the same ones that were everywhere on Olympus right now. He knocked gently on the bedroom door, and Elena’s faint voice called him inside.

She was slumped on the bed, her back to the window, while Brian lay there, motionless, with his eyes closed. He looked peacefully asleep, the white sheets rising and falling over him. Dom approached quietly. He didn’t want to disrupt the moment, but he couldn’t help gently touching Brian’s cheek, fearful of encountering a cold, lifeless body, even though he knew he was breathing.

The skin under his fingers was warm, and tension eased from Dom’s body. His heart resumed its normal rhythm, and he exhaled as if he had just resurfaced after being underwater.

Elena said nothing, holding Brian’s hand tightly in hers. After a moment of silence in the dim room, she turned her distressed gaze to Dom.

She opened her free hand toward him. “I found this in his palm. I wanted to bring it as a clue, but I couldn’t bear to leave him alone.” She handed him a piece of paper, which Dom took and read aloud:

“When shadows fall and daylight fades, Seek the treasure where doubt invades. A hero's courage must rise from the deep, Awakening the one from his silent sleep.”

"A riddle, really?" Dom said. "I'm terrible at this. We’ve got to show Letty." The first line made sense, but the rest? A treasure hidden somewhere? Courage to fight? But against what?

Elena nodded gently. "Please do. And be careful. I can’t leave his side; he’d be so unhappy in this darkness...”

Dom felt a flicker of proudness at her trust in him to deliver the only clue they had, but that candor could be dangerous in the wrong hands. "Elena, you should do it yourself. How do you know I’m not part of this? You shouldn’t trust any of us. Not me, not even Letty.”

A sad but confident smile spread across Elena's face. "Dom... I may not trust the others, but I would entrust my brother’s life to you without a second thought. He always trusted you, and I might know more about how you feel than you think. You’re a kind and loyal man.”

Before Dom could respond, she rested her forehead on Brian’s hand, and he watched as silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

Part of him panicked—these feelings were never meant to be expressed, never to be acknowledged. They belonged only in his heart, the deep emotions of a man consumed by the wonderful light that was Brian. Just his presence could fill Dom with joy, and when he played melodies that resonated deep within him, as if he could read Dom’s very thoughts, Dom felt understood, whether the lyrics were hopeful or desperate.

Dom was destined to admire from afar, offering his devotion to the god who was worth all of Olympus and more.

But Dom’s feelings didn’t matter—Brian was asleep, and Dom would do anything to wake him up again.

  :::

  Letty held the paper in her hands, with Mia studying it closely behind her, accompanied by Roman. "‘Seek the treasure where doubt invades…’" Mia began. "Could it refer to the Island of Circe? It's known for enchanting sailors and making them forget their true selves. Maybe there are a series of riddles to solve there?”

Roman looked uncertain. "What about the Labyrinth of Minos? We’re talking about doubts and hidden treasures. It could be literal—finding the center of the maze where the Minotaur holds the key to Brian’s remedy.”

"That’s a great idea," Letty chimed in. "There’s also the Cave of the Nymphs, which deals with hidden truths. I’ve heard that no one ever really escapes, but supposedly, if your heart is pure enough, they’ll give you answers.”

“The keyword is: no one ever really escapes,” Roman repeated.

But Mia was more confident. "There must be people who’ve come back to tell the tale, right? So there’s hope.”

"There are hidden treasures in so many places…" Dom interjected, having joined their discussion. He had no intention of staying on Mount Olympus without taking action. "Where do we start?”

Roman cracked his fingers. "The Minotaur. Those Nymphs scare me, and so do the Sirens near Circe’s island. At least with the Minotaur, we can fight.”

Dom nodded—he preferred battling something physical. Sirens and Nymphs manipulated the mind, which felt far more dangerous.

Letty turned to Dom. "Did you finish that last suit of armor I asked for? It’s time to pay our friend the Minotaur a visit.”

Luke wanted to devise a thoughtful plan, but time was running out. The absence of sunlight in the mortal realm was causing widespread panic. Half a day had already passed, and nearly everyone had started praying to the gods, specifically for Brian. Dom knew that humans felt Brian’s absence acutely; it was pitch dark, and they were used to sensing the presence of the god they worshipped. Brian’s kindness and benevolence had always been revered, especially in times of doubt.

Jesse and Vince had been sent down to Earth to lift the spirits of mortals, accompanied by dozens of other gods. But nothing could soothe humanity when they couldn’t see the sun rise, and their prayers seemed unanswered. Mia also descended to Earth, pouring her heart into saving crops and production, desperately trying to compensate for the absence of sunlight they so needed to survive.

Luke had warned Han that, despite their best efforts, some humans would succumb to fear, which could lead to dire consequences. Luke agreed to let Dom go with Roman and Letty as scouts after reading the scripted message himself. He entrusted Letty with a vial containing one of his lightning bolts.

A few hours later, they set off toward the Labyrinth of Minos. They departed at night, but without any solutions, night and cold would be their new reality.

  :::

  The complex maze lay hidden beneath the palace in Crete. As they approached the entrance, the air thickened with foreboding.

"This Labyrinth is a trickster; it will play with our minds and lead us astray if we're not vigilant," Letty warned.

Dom adjusted his hammer, feeling its reassuring weight in his back. Impatience bubbled inside him—he was desperate to save Brian. But Letty was right; if they got lost in the Labyrinth, he’d never be able to rescue him or feel the heat in his heart that ignited whenever Brian looked his way.

Roman, ever the adventurer, grinned. "Let’s see what this Labyrinth has to offer! I fear no beast!”

Barely minutes after entering, the walls and corridors began to shift and change, creating an ever-altering landscape. The strategy of sticking to one side was going to be tricky if they hoped to reach the center before time ran out. Thankfully, their plan involved Roman leaving behind water droplets that wouldn’t evaporate or fade. With the ability to sense vibrations, Roman could track every droplet he had deposited, effectively creating a map of the maze in water as they moved. They could visualize the maze as a flowing image in his hand, allowing them to know where they stood.

Dom created three tiny lanterns that illuminated their path. Unlike Roman, he couldn't manipulate fire freely or navigate by echo location, but he could keep those flames burning without oxygen—at least until his own last breath. Shadows danced in the flickering light, and eerie sounds echoed through the corridors, heightening their sense of unease.

They encountered a few pitfalls; Letty had managed to break her fall with her shield the first time they came across one. Since then, Dom made it a point to check each new slab carefully. When they stumbled upon a room that was just a gaping hole, Roman quickly iced a path for them to cross.

They avoided darts and other projectiles, and Dom felt grateful to have Letty and Roman by his side. Without them, he wasn’t sure he would have made it this far. They arrived at another intersection, which felt like the hundredth one already, but Dom could see Roman’s water plan, and they were actually moving toward their goal.

"Okay, we're going right," Letty's voice boomed. Dom reflexively turned right, but then heard Letty call out again. "Dom, come back! It wasn't me!”

When Dom turned back, a wall blocked his path. He caught a glimpse of Roman making a gesture just before he saw a bubble forming next to him, something Roman would surely use to spot him. As he began to hear noises behind him, he turned around. Shadows seemed to be escaping from the walls, becoming tangible. As long as Dom kept his light by his side, they couldn't reach him. He realized he couldn't hear Letty and Roman anymore, and Dom swore at his own stupidity.

  :::

  Roman and Letty searched for any signs to open again the wall Dom had passed through.

“Damn, we clearly weren’t careful enough,” Letty cursed under her breath.

Roman glanced at his plan. “I can see him. We’ll keep going until we find a way to reach him. I don’t know what’s inside these walls, but it doesn’t look good.”

The eerie sounds of gears and metal echoed around them, making little sense in this dark place.

“Over here,” Letty whispered. Roman followed quietly, listening for any telltale clanking or whirring.

They entered a room filled with metal and debris, and suddenly, an avalanche of rubble rumbled ahead of them. A creature had sensed their presence. Its bulbous form emerged from the wreckage—a chaotic amalgamation of swords, hammers, shields, armor, and a whole host of forging tools, all stitched together with frayed wiring and mesh.

The enormous mechanical beast loomed in the center, towering over them.

“Is this a revisit of Talos?” Roman joked nervously.

The iron colossus didn’t give them time to think. It lowered its mechanical arm, composed of several blades rotating around a central axis. The wide sweep of its arm seemed powered by some divine force, capable of reducing anything in its path to scrap. Letty stepped back quickly, while Roman threw himself to the ground.

“Letty—” Roman began shouting, but Letty knew him well and knew he was about to tell her to run away.

“Stop talking and come up with a plan!” she urged, waving her arms to draw the colossus’ attention.

Just then, she dodged a blow from the creature’s other arm, shaped like a billhook. Swinging her sword, she aimed to cut through it, but the blade got stuck in the iron and she was forced to let go to avoid another strike. She ducked behind a stone column, which crumbled under the weight of the giant’s fist.

“Maybe we can catch its hook?” Letty suggested. “If it gets stuck in a wall, I can hit its head!”

Roman studied the giant, trying to find a weak point. “If it doesn’t have a brain, I’m not sure aiming for its head will help. It looks like it’s made of iron and copper. Letty! Do you still have that lightning bolt?”

The giant turned its attention to Roman, moving with surprising agility. It pivoted and swept its leg, sending Roman crashing against the wall.

Breathless and dazed, he quickly looked up as Letty called his name. The colossus was advancing toward him.

“Hey, ugly! Over here! I want my sword back!” Letty taunted, throwing debris from the broken column at the creature to draw its attention. The beast turned slowly, seemingly stalking its prey.

“Letty, we can jam its joints and electrocute it!” Roman shouted.

As the creature closed in on Letty, it prepared to strike with its rotating hand. She raised her shield to block the blow, which held firm against the impact. Dom’s craftsmanship never failed.

But she wasn’t prepared for the follow-up with the billhook, which she barely avoided. As the billhook lodged in the stone, Letty saw water gushing over the creature’s surface. It reeled back, fizzing and jerking as corrosion set in. Seizing the moment, she unlocked her sword and retrieved it.

Roman rushed toward her. The colossus’s sword arm was immobilized, but its second arm still flailed awkwardly, aiming for Roman.

“Hurry!” he yelled, dodging another strike that shattered a nearby column. The creature yanked its arm from the ground, breaking its own billhook, while Roman continued to spray water at it.

Letty took the lightning vial. “Get clear!” she shouted.

With all her strength, she threw it. Sparks flew as voltage surged through the guardian's body. Its circuits convulsed in a chaotic meltdown, limbs seizing up before it finally collapsed in a smoking heap.

The room fell silent as Roman and Letty caught their breath.

“That definitely wasn’t a Minotaur,” Roman quipped, eyeing the wreckage before them.

  :::

  Dom decided to move forward. Shadows hovered around him, and when he swung his hammer violently in their direction, they evaporated without a sound, whispering unsettling things in his ears. It felt as though they were probing his mind. He quickened his pace, hearing the more distinct voices of Letty and Roman searching for him, but he wasn't fooled. He didn’t know if it was really them, and he refused to rush headlong into danger again.

The shadows changed their strategy. Now, it wasn’t just Letty and Roman's voices he heard; it was Elena’s, Brian’s—words reminding him of his past failures and everything that was wrong with him.

“Why should I love you when I can have anyone? Are you out of your mind? I inspire mortals and gods alike. You’re just a grumpy craftsman, lost in your own inadequacies and fears. You’re right to feel inadequate—because you are. You don’t even deserve my attention, yet you crave more time with me?” Brian’s voice echoed, monstrous and identical, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

He heard a wicked laugh that didn’t belong to the sweet Elena Dom knew. “I want to save my brother, but you? You don’t stand a chance with him. Your love is a burden to him and everyone else!”

Mia’s voice joined in, cruel and mocking. “You’re not a hero, Dom. You’re just an ugly tragic figure, forever searching for something you can never grasp. You’re pitiful.”

Dom felt the weight of their words pressing down on him. He closed his eyes tightly, knowing they were just illusions, but the hurt was real. He was a quiet man, grumpy and unable to communicate warmly, while Brian radiated joy and kindness, helping lost souls with his music.

“You’re unworthy of me, unloved and alone. You are a god, but destined to remain in darkness—a ghost of your own making. You know what you could do for all of us? Stay here. Stay in this labyrinth forever. I don’t ever want to see your miserable face again. You’re pathetic. I hate you,” Brian's voice came again, and it cut even deeper because Dom loved him so much.

Mia continued, “Why do you strive when you know you will never be enough? You’re invisible. Nobody cares about you. You’re just a tool, just like those you create. Weak and useless, replaceable.”

“Shut up!” Dom cried, kneeling on the ground with his hands on his head. What if it was true? No. Shut up. But deep down, he felt the truth in their words.

Tears filled his eyes, but he had to keep going; he was stronger than this. Maybe he was useless, and maybe he’d never deserve more than a few seconds of Brian’s attention. Maybe he’d spend eternity at his forge, unable to bask in Brian’s radiance every day—but it was better than depriving the world of that light. Brian might not have time for him, but Dom knew how much Brian loved mortals, how he listened to their prayers, guiding them with all his might.

Dom remembered how Brian would give him the biggest smile whenever he caught Dom looking at him. That was the real Brian, not this twisted mockery. Dom had to stay focused.

“Stop dreaming, accept your miserable life as a failure. You’re just a blacksmith, violent and thoughtless, incapable of appreciating poetry and the beauty of words. You make me laugh—you’re ridiculous.”

That wasn’t Brian. Just his voice.

“Turn off that light. Join us, where you belong, in the darkness. You don’t deserve the light, and you know it, deep down. Stay with us,” Elena's voice urged.

Dom felt himself drawn to the shadows, engulfed by their presence, when he heard Brian’s voice again, but with a different tone this time. “Turn off the light. Join me. We’ll be together forever here, within these walls. You want to be with me forever, right, Dominic? So take my hand. I love you. Come with me.”

Dom’s vision was blurry, but he could see the hand reaching out, certain it was Brian’s. He recognized it, and as he looked up, surrounded by Brian's familiar scent, he saw the radiant smile and those sparkling eyes, reflecting all the warmth and liveliness inside him. Oh, how he longed to take that hand and never let go of it.

Letty's voice called to him again, and Dom felt a hand on his shoulder. He was sprawled on the ground and instinctively pushed away the hand that had just touched him. She’d made Brian disappear—Brian!

“Bri—” Dom blinked again. He was still in the labyrinth, Letty standing next to him with Roman. The shadows hissed around them, trying to scare off the newcomers. Dom realized that the only thing keeping him safe was the light of his little lantern—the very light the shadows wanted him to extinguish. If he had taken Brian’s hand, he would have given everything up, consumed by shadows and forever trapped in the labyrinth.

Where Brian wasn’t.

So far from his light.

Letty began slashing at the shadows around her, but like before, they wouldn’t disappear.

Dom quickly got to his feet, feeling wobbly but determined. “We need to get out of this room! These creatures are messing with our minds—”

He felt Letty and Roman grab him, and they started to run. Roman conjured a wall of water against the concrete, muffling the whispers of the shadows.

If only Dom had more powers. Maybe then he could prove himself worthy of Brian. But the shadows were right.

Once they were away from the shadows, they paused to catch their breath.

“You okay, Dom?” Letty asked in a gentle, soothing voice. Roman was busy adjusting his tunic, giving Dom a moment to collect himself. Dom could feel his cheeks sticking together from sweat and tears; he must look so pitiful.

“Yeah, I’m fine... You found me quickly.”

Roman grinned, clearly proud of himself. “Nothing beats my echo-location skills! You should have seen us take on that iron giant!”

Deep down, Dom would have traded everything to fight an iron giant instead of facing those shadows. The echoes of Brian's voice still haunted him, making it hard to breathe, his heart tight as if it had been crushed.

Letty placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I don’t know what you experienced, but I’ve heard the shadows take visitors and they never return. I’m glad you’re still with us, Dom.”

Roman’s proud demeanor faded as he nudged Dom’s arm. “Don’t listen to those shadows. Whatever they said is just lies. You weren’t thinking of abandoning us, were you? What would we do without you?”

Roman knew that despite all their bravado, he himself couldn’t ignore what the shadows had whispered to him, even if it was just for a few seconds. Hearing their words had been enough to shake him. Preying on people’s weaknesses was a cruel tactic.

Dom’s smile was tinged with sadness. “But I feel so powerless. What can I do that others can’t?”

Letty reached for his hand. “Dom, the truth is that we’re all powerless in our own ways, and that’s why we’re united. We’re all replaceable, but being replaceable doesn’t mean we have to be replaced. I know you would never give up on Brian. Your persistence and hard work are praised by mortals. They pray for us for different reasons. They pray for me to help them find their mental and moral footing, they pray for Roman to guide them when they’re lost at sea or seeking safe passage, they pray for Brian to provide reassurance and a sense of belonging and comfort, and they pray for you to help them take another step forward when life feels overwhelming. We’d miss you and mourn you—that’s what truly matters. Do you really think Jesse wouldn’t grieve for you? And what about Vince? Do you want him to drown in his sorrows? Because he would, you know.”

Dom grimaced. He, Jesse and Vince had a special bond. He knew the others would miss him, and even Brian would feel sad about his absence.

Roman smiled, picking up on Dom’s thoughts. “You know, Brian loved the last instrument you made for him. He was composing a song to thank you. I bet he hasn’t finished it yet, so let’s get him back on his feet—you deserve your song, don’t you think?”

Dom’s heart raced, and a shiver ran through him. A song? For him?

Roman continued, “He can be shy despite his friendly demeanor. He was worried that a song might bore you. It took him a while to gather the courage to ask you to create an instrument for him the first time, you know? He thought making them would make you feel like it’s a waste of your time.”

Dom looked at him, almost in disbelief. “Nothing he does would ever bore me or be a waste of my time,” he blurted out.

Letty chuckled softly. “So even Brian has his fears. See, Dom, we all have doubts. I do too sometimes. What matters is not letting those doubts control us. It takes courage to face our fears, don’t you think?”

“Speaking of courage, how about we go take on that Minotaur? You ready, Dom?”

Dom nodded, feeling a surge of determination. No matter the obstacles, he was ready to conquer them. He didn’t care it was hopeless with Brian. He would love him fiercely and do whatever it took to make him open his eyes and light up the world again with his devotion.

  :::

  Finally, they reached the heart of the Labyrinth, where the Minotaur lurked—a monstrous blend of man and beast, its eyes blazing with primal rage. Its roar echoed through the chamber, shaking the ground beneath them.

"Stand together," Letty commanded, raising her shield.

The Minotaur charged, and Roman swiftly raised his arms, conjuring a massive wall of ice for protection. But the creature's horns pierced right through it.

"It’s not working!" Roman shouted in frustration.

Letty deflected a sharp blow from the Minotaur with her shield. She pressed it against the creature's arm, trying to hold it down so she could climb its limb and strike its face with her blade. But the Minotaur swung its other hand at her, causing Letty to lose her balance. She managed to slice off a few fingers from the hand that tried to smash her. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she rushed toward the nearest foot of the creature, but it sent her flying with a powerful kick.

The creature charged at Roman, who quickly created a thick wall of ice, an idea forming in his mind. He exchanged glances with Dom and then conjured an ice staircase. When the creature crashed into the ice wall, it seemed momentarily dazed.

Seeing an opening, Dom climbed the stairs and launched himself at the Minotaur's head, aiming to strike with his hammer. The creature swung its head, forcing Dom to block the blow with his weapon. He was thrown backward, landing beside Roman.

Roman summoned water once more, swirling it around him to form thick vines, hoping to entangle the Minotaur's legs and make it fall. But the creature shattered them effortlessly.

"Dry land is such a pain," Roman grumbled. "I want to get back to the ocean and have my power at full strength...”

Dom quickly summoned chains of his own design, using them like a lasso. He managed to snag one of the Minotaur's legs, but the creature yanked the chain with its hand, sending Dom flying high into the air. He was about to hit a column, so Dom shifted position to use his feet for propulsion against it. Still gripping the chain, he pulled hard and launched himself toward the Minotaur, landing on its head. However, the creature bucked violently, making it difficult for Dom to aim as he had to cling to its fur and one of its horns to avoid falling.

Letty threw her shield like a boomerang, striking the Minotaur's knee to destabilize it. As the creature lowered its arm to hit her, she leapt onto it and managed to slice off the arm.

Meanwhile, Roman encased Dom's chains in water, manipulating them to wrap around the Minotaur's body and horns, holding tight. The creature might be able to break through his water and ice, but Dom’s chains were nearly unbreakable. Now Roman could maneuver them as he wished, trapping the creature.

He created spikes of ice aimed at the Minotaur's eyes, while Letty lunged at its head, piercing the inside of the creature’s mouth. At the same time, Dom struck a powerful blow to its skull.

As the Minotaur fell, the Labyrinth trembled, acknowledging their victory.

Panting and weary, the trio stood there. Letty scanned the area. "Is there a cure? Do you see anything—a riddle, a clue?”

But neither Roman nor Dom spotted anything. "Did we do all this for nothing?" Roman huffed. "What a day... I hope we don’t have to go see the Sphinx or anything. I can’t stand those riddles... Where do we go next?"

"The Cave of the Nymphs," Letty suggested.

Dom grimaced, recalling what Letty had said about it—a place of hidden truths and secret desires, where one must confront their feelings and insecurities.

He felt he’d already heard enough truth for one day, but he was willing to face his heartache again if it meant helping Brian.

  :::

  If Dom was counting correctly the hours, they had entered the second day without light.

Many had ventured into the Cave of the Nymphs, drawn by its beauty and the enchanting songs of its inhabitants, but few returned—if any at all. The nymphs, ethereal and captivating, had the power to charm even the strongest hearts, luring both mortals and immortals into a blissful oblivion.

As they approached the cave, the air shimmered with magic, and the melodious voices of the nymphs floated toward them like a sweet melody. The entrance was adorned with vibrant flowers, and light danced on the water's surface, inviting them inside. Birds chirped around them, and although the sun no longer shone outside, a gentle illumination filled the cave.

It was a stark contrast to the labyrinth, but no less dangerous.

Once inside, the cave revealed its true beauty—glimmering crystals, flowing water, and walls draped with lush vegetation. Dom realized the light came from the large crystals embedded in the walls, almost blinding in comparison to the pitch black outside. This place felt otherworldly.

The nymphs appeared, their beauty radiant and alluring. They danced gracefully, their laughter echoing off the walls, casting a spell of enchantment.

The scent of the flowers was intoxicating—likely endemic blooms from the island, beautiful yet potentially dangerous, much like their owners. One nymph approached Roman, taking his hand. "Stay with us, brave hero," she sang, her voice like honey. "Forget your worries. Here, you’ll find everlasting joy—no more battles, only peace.”

Another nymph moved toward Letty. "Join us in our eternal revelry! The world outside is harsh and cold. Here, you will know only bliss.”

Dom had heard tales of how nymphs could enchant just as sirens did. When a nymph approached Dom, he felt their allure but remained skeptical.

The nymph took his hand, tempting him, but Dom focused on the small pedestal in the river. If there were any clues, it would be there. He stood firm, resisting the pull of their magic. "I can’t stay, I need to find a clue.”

More nymphs gathered around him, intensifying their efforts with mesmerizing dances and sweet songs, trying to ensnare him in their spell.

Dom blinked. He had no time to waste. He turned to Letty and widened his eyes—roots and branches had ensnared her, and she was entranced by the nymphs. A little further back, he noticed the same was happening to Roman.

"What are you doing?! Free them!" he shouted, dislodging his hammer from his back, ready to break the plants imprisoning his friends.

"Wait, don’t hurt the plants!" the nymph who had tried to lure him first protested.

Dom glared at her. "Give me one good reason. I don’t have time to lose.”

The nymph looked at him, curious. The other nymphs exchanged glances, confusion flickering in their eyes. It was rare for them to encounter someone immune to their charms.

"Why are you here?" one nymph asked.

"Because someone very important to me needs my help," he replied simply. He sensed their magic probing him again, but unlike the shadows that focused on negativity, he felt only the burning flame of his love for Brian overwhelming him. It was as if his feelings were being absorbed, but not extinguished.

After a few moments, he saw the prickly vines that had ensnared Letty and Roman slowly recede.

"You are unlike any mortal or immortal we have known," one nymph said. "Your heart is unwavering, guiding you through our illusions. Such pure love is rare. We sense your doubts about worthiness, yet your feelings are as clear as this place. We hold answers for you, for this cave harbors the sorrow of unrequited love, and our purpose is to create a more peaceful realm for all. If you have already found your place of peace, we will guide you to it.”

The other nymphs stepped back, realizing their efforts were futile. Another added, "It is our duty to grant people their dreams, luring them in to make them happy; those who follow us are unsure of their feelings or lying to their heart. They can easily be swayed to stay. Whoever you love is lucky.”

Dom smiled sadly. If only love could save Brian, he wouldn’t fear for him—Dom had more than enough love to last an eternity.

The nymphs sensed his turmoil. "Take my hand.”

Dom hesitated, but the nymph's demeanor had changed. She seemed sincere, ready to offer answers.

He saw Letty and Roman slowly regaining consciousness, and he took the nymph’s hand, closing his eyes.

Thoughts of Brian flooded his mind. He heard the riddle again and felt the nymph release his hand.

"Dom, Dom? What’s happening? I feel like I was dreaming..." Letty murmured, gradually coming to her senses.

The nymph looked Dom in the eye and began to sing:

"In shadows cast, you stray from light, Wandering paths that are not right. Turn your gaze where love flows, And there, my friend, the answer shows. Beware the one who seeks the fight, And those who gather in the night.”

Dom could hear Roman grumbling about how nobody ever communicated clearly. Dom wasn’t great at it either—another reason why Brian, with his love of words and poetry, deserved someone better.

But some things were clear: they were on the wrong path. If the light and love represented Brian, the cure was at Olympus, near Brian. But who was the one seeking a fight? The person who harmed Brian? And for what reason?

Letty stepped in. "It has to be Owen. It fits with what Jesse was telling us and how Luke suspects he’s up to something behind our backs. Plus, he literally represents the fight, being the god of war."

Dom realized he had been thinking out loud, but now that Letty mentioned it, it made sense.

"Then we’d better hurry," Roman said urgently.

Dom turned back to the nymphs. "Thank you."

"You are one of us. The love that flows from you is so profound, it could sustain our hearts for millennia."

They quickly left and made their way back to Olympus.

  :::

  Once they arrived, Letty headed for Luke's sanctuary. "I’ll tell him about Owen. If it’s not him, we’ll find the real culprit—don’t worry.”

Roman, less patient, dashed off to see if he could track down Owen himself, ignoring Letty’s warning.

Dom hurried straight to Brian's sanctuary, racing up the stairs and not bothering to knock. Brian hadn’t moved an inch. Elena was asleep, her head resting on the bed, still holding Brian's hand. It felt like only a few seconds had passed—or maybe Dom had never left the room at all.

"Hey, Brian... How are you feeling? Can you hear me?" Dom said softly, trying not to wake Elena. In the silence, his voice felt like it could carry a mile.

He sat on the bed and looked at Brian. "The nymphs told me the answer is here with you. You wouldn’t be hiding another clue, would you?”

Gently, Dom caressed Brian’s face and ran his fingers through his blond hair. He kept repeating to himself the words of the nymph. Turn his gaze toward Brian? To where love flows? So from Dom? Did he have to sacrifice his life for Brian? Dom knew he would do it without hesitation.

Damn those riddles. Dom was a simple man, he needed clear instructions.

Wait, why had they gone through the labyrinth and the cave if the answer was here? What was the first riddle? Seek the treasure where doubt invades; a hero's courage must rise from the deep.

From the deep, where doubt invades– was the answer inside him? Inside his mind? Inside his heart? But what about a hero's courage?

Dom hissed, recalling what Letty had said: See, Dom, we all have doubts. What matters is not letting those doubts control us. It takes courage to face our fears. As usual, she was closer to the truth than anyone else. Did he need to confess his love to Brian?

Could he live with the thought of Brian avoiding him, never returning those feelings? The whole world watching Dom with pity forever?

Dom swallowed hard. Of course he could. Sacrificing his life felt almost too easy; perhaps the true sacrifice was having to endure the pain of living.

He leaned closer, continuing to caress Brian's soft skin.

Taking a deep breath, he gathered his courage. "I love you.”

Dom waited, feeling like he’d just announced war to Olympus. But nothing happened.

The courage to speak a truth in an almost empty place, in front of Elena, who was still asleep, and Brian, who couldn’t hear him. Talk about courage.

"Brian? Wake up. The whole world needs you. And I need you. Mortals are calling for you—for the sun to rise, for your safety. Can you hear them? Can you hear me?”

But Brian still didn’t respond. Dom pulled his face closer, and in a final burst of courage, he placed a gentle kiss on Brian's lips, pouring all his love and hope into that moment. If words weren’t working, maybe this would.

Dom pulled back and looked at Brian, who remained still. His heart clenched—maybe he had been arrogant. Perhaps this was what the solution the nymphs suggested, but they never said it was Dom's to do. What if Brian’s heart belonged to someone else, and that was who the nymphs were alluding to?

Dom knew that no one could love Brian more than he did, but perhaps that wasn’t his role to save him.

Did he now need to search Olympus for anyone who might fit the nymphs' description?

The truth was, Dom felt devastated. His love might never be enough, and he could feel tears welling up again. It had happened twice already, and if Brian didn’t wake up, there would be even more sorrow to come.

"Dominic?”

Dom opened his eyes at the sound of Brian's broken voice.

Nobody called him Dominic but Brian. Dom didn’t know why it affected him so much, but he loved how it sounded when Brian said it.

Tears fell from Dom's eyes, but this time they were from joy. Despite the dim candlelight, he saw the confusion in Brian's gaze.

No matter what the future held, Brian was awake. That was all that mattered.

Brian turned his head toward Elena, then slowly back to Dom. He pulled his arm out from under the blanket and reached for Dom, grasping the sheets near him. Dom took his hand, and they stayed there, motionless, for several seconds. Dom could feel the warmth of Brian's hand against his, sensing all the positive emotions that Brian was likely unconsciously pouring into him to reassure him. Brian could see the tears in Dom's eyes and feel the despair, even amidst the sparks of joy at seeing him awake.

Finally, Brian asked, his voice still rough from disuse, "What happened? Why are you both here?”

He could feel the calls of mortals within him, a constant hum of fear and worry.

Dom hiccupped with laughter, overwhelmed with happiness. He wanted to hug Brian but had to restrain himself. "We’re still trying to figure it out. Someone seems to have put you to sleep—”

"Vegh?”

"What?"

"Vegh brought me my tea yesterday. I don’t remember anything after that, but my senses became fuzzy really quickly," Brian explained.

"I need to warn Letty and Luke," Dom said urgently. But as he began to rise, he paused and looked at Brian. How could he be sure that Vegh wouldn’t return to finish what she started? If she had a potion strong enough to put a god to sleep, who knew what else she was capable of? And if she was working with Owen…

Dom refused to leave Brian's side. "Can you walk?”

Brian sat up and turned to Elena. "Sister, wake up... Elena?”

Elena stirred and leaped into Brian's arms the moment she saw him awake. She turned her face to Dom, her eyes shining. "You did it! I always knew you would, Dom.”

Dom smiled, a bit caught off guard by the praise. "I wasn’t alone. Letty and Roman came with me. They saved my life; I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Alone, he would have been lost forever among the shadows of the labyrinth, becoming one of them, far from Brian.

Brian pulled away from Elena, concern etched on his face. "Where did you go? Why would you put yourself in danger like that for no reason? You're not a fighter!”

Dom could have added that to his list of faults—that he wasn't a fighter, that he wasn't good enough to protect Brian. But Brian’s worry was clear; he wasn’t scolding out of disdain but out of care. Dom smiled. "It wasn’t for no reason; it was for you.”

Brian blushed, and even in the dim light, Dom could see it. "Helios can replace me.”

Elena frowned, her expression serious. "Do you hear what you're saying? You know what it takes for Helios to replace you!”

"I don’t mind if it keeps you both safe, if it means the sun can rise," Brian insisted.

Dom could see Elena’s frustration. She likely wanted to smack some sense into her brother. But they were all in this together. Dom would gladly give his life for Brian, and he knew Elena would too. They couldn’t blame him for wanting to do the same for them.

Even Brian thought he was replaceable.

But that doesn’t mean we have to be replaced.

Dom shrugged casually. "I’ve always thought the sun shines brighter when it’s you driving the chariot, don’t you think, Elena?”

"Absolutely!" she replied, a smile breaking through. "You’re Helios’ rightful heir; no one would have it any other way.”

Brian smiled back, and even in the gloom, his warmth filled the room, lifting Dom’s spirits. It was impossible to lose hope with Brian around.

"I need to take my place again; I can’t just lie here. I can hear them calling for me. Dom, you need to tell Luke about Vegh," Brian said, trying to stand.

Elena looked confused, so Dom explained the situation, filling them both in on Owen and the nymph’s riddle. He helped Brian to his feet, but was reluctant to let go of his hands.

Brian insisted, "Things could change while we’re here. Letty and Roman must have already found Owen. Dominic, you need to join them, and I’ll take care of my own task with my sister’s help.”

Dom faced Brian, feeling a tug at his heart. His thoughts drifted from Olympus and his role to just following Brian.

Brian sensed Dom's hesitation. Normally, he would sing or play an instrument to reassure those who were doubtful, but he knew that might not resonate with Dom. It always warmed his heart to see Dom’s quiet encouragement while he sang and played, but he worried it might just be out of politeness.

Closing his eyes, Brian poured everything he felt into their connected hands—a silent prayer filled with gratitude, respect, and love. It was a bond just for them, and it was different from the one they had shared just moments before. The first had been about Brian’s ability to give; it wasn't personal, it was his power. This one was a thank you to Dom. It wasn’t forbidden, but it was mostly unheard of for a god to pray to another; it wasn’t necessary since they weren’t mortals. Brian wasn’t making a ceremonial offering either; he was simply sharing his heart.

To Dom, it was more precious than any gift. He welcomed the warmth and light and instinctively responded, sending his own feelings back through their bond. He was lost in the connection, eyes closed, until he felt a gentle kiss on his cheek.

When he opened his eyes, Brian had returned to his original position. Dom nearly complained, feeling it was unfair to have barely registered that moment, only to see it already over.

Brian chuckled. "You look so grumpy and upset. I’d worry I overstepped if I wasn't feeling everything you’re feeling right now...”

Dom’s heart skipped a beat—surely, he hadn't unintentionally poured out his undying love through the bond, had he?

"I’ll be fine, Dominic. Just go," Brian said with a knowing smile, making Dom feel vulnerable but also sparking a new confidence in him.

Dom held his hands even more tightly for a moment before letting go. "I’ll be back. Be careful.”

"You too. Vegh might not just be after me; it could be all of us," Brian warned.

Dom nodded to Elena and took off running.

  :::

  When Dom arrived at the main sanctuary, he found Owen and Luke deep in a heated debate. Letty had shared her findings, but Owen was adamant that there was no evidence to support her claims. Unsurprisingly, Vegh was right there backing him up.

"As far as we know, it was Roman who was stirring up trouble and looking for a fight—he accused all of us of being guilty," Owen insisted, his tone defensive. It was a convincing argument, but Dom firmly believed Roman would never betray Brian.

Jesse had just arrived, seemingly unfazed by the tension. "We've been watching your antics for months. You've been trying to recruit allies among the Harpies, Gorgons, and even Braga's Cyclops. I just returned from Han's realm in the Underworld, where Gisele told me you offered them a deal. You were trying to free the Titans from Tartarus—”

"It's all lies.” Owen said. “Han and Gisele have wild imaginations. I was just trying to create something spectacular for the upcoming holiday season.”

Roman rolled his eyes, clearly done with the excuses. "Don't waste your breath—Nymphs never lie.”

Owen felt the weight of everyone's gaze on him. "How can you trust creatures that bewitch and trap men? No one comes back alive. Nymphs are like Sirens; they lie effortlessly, and so are they.”

Dom stepped closer to Luke and whispered about the new developments. Luke looked exhausted, struggling to accept the idea that Owen might truly be a traitor. Dom mentioned that Brian had awakened and told him about Vegh.

Before Luke could respond, Owen and Vegh sensed the shift in the room and took defensive stances. Owen wasted no time summoning an army of fallen soldiers and monsters, and the sanctuary quickly transformed into a battleground.

Roman instinctively blocked the exit with ice, preventing any escape for Owen or Vegh. Even with his strength, Owen would need several blows to break through.

Jesse soared out of reach, using his skills as a soul guide to try to manipulate the minds of Owen’s army of the dead, turning them against Owen as best he could.

Vegh and Jesse clashed, each vying for control over Owen's army. Vegh unleashed pheromones and charm, desperately trying to regain their loyalty.

Owen grimaced. "Damn flying god." He summoned a spear, then another, throwing them with precise aim at Jesse, who dodged gracefully. Letty leaped at Owen, launching a flurry of attacks that he barely managed to parry.

Part of his focus was split, trying to maintain command over his army, and Letty seized the moment, striking him. She managed to wound his arm, but Owen quickly countered by grabbing her and throwing her against the wall. He conjured another spear, which would have pierced her if Dom hadn't deflected it with a powerful blow from his hammer.

Helping Letty to her feet, she said, "Thanks, Dom. Go take care of Vegh; I'll handle Owen.”

"Are you sure about this?" Dom asked.

Luke had been busy taking down monsters alongside Roman, but now Letty could see his furious gaze fixed on Owen.

Letty smirked, her confidence shining through her exhaustion. "Yes, I'm not alone."

Dom nodded and tried to strike at Vegh, only to realize his hammer passed right through her.

A sly laugh echoed around him. "Illusions are beautiful, aren't they, Dom? So realistic, so dangerous... so tempting.”

Dom grunted and focused on another version of Vegh. No matter how many she created, he would outpace her.

"How about this one?" she taunted sweetly.

Just before his weapon could connect, the illusion dissolved, revealing Brian standing before him. But instead of his usual bright smile, Brian looked terrified, raising his arms as if to shield himself. Dom froze, his body betraying him again.

Dom saw a rictus twist Brian’s face, an expression that didn’t belong to him. Suddenly, Dom felt a dagger pierce his side, a pain shooting through his entire body. It was a poisoned dagger, specifically designed to harm the gods themselves.

“I can become anyone’s greatest desire," Vegh sneered. "In small doses, it motivates men; in larger amounts, it drives them insane. All your fantasies are at my fingertips; I don’t even have to choose what or who I become. Hearts are nothing but open books to me.”

Dom coughed up blood. He hated seeing Brian exploited like this. It was a cruel trick that always seemed to work on Dom, and he cursed himself for being so easily manipulated. It was just another reason why he valued the tangible, the real.

He felt the poison coursing through his veins, but this was Vegh's strength inside Brian’s body. In a surge of desperation, he grabbed Brian’s arm—the one still holding the knife against Dom—and yanked it to turn him around. With his other hand, he caught Brian’s second wrist, successfully locking both arms behind him. He held them with one hand and wrapped his free arm around Brian's neck. Dom had to fight, but he couldn’t hurt him; he just couldn’t.

Again, he saw Brian’s face, contorted in fear. "You wouldn’t hurt me, right? I trust you—"

Dom’s heart raced as he closed his eyes. Maybe if he couldn’t see Brian, he would be able to land a punch on Vegh.

Vegh continued to use Brian's voice, knowing exactly how to manipulate him. But unlike the shadows that mimicked Brian from the one in Dom’s mind, this was just Vegh—and she made a mistake.

"I've always waited for you, Dom. You're the only one for me.”

With his eyes still shut, Dom kicked Brian’s knees, sending him to the ground. He then forced Brian's head down, reopening his eyes when he heard Vegh's voice again. He pressed his knee into her back.

Vegh grimaced, twisting her beautiful features into a grotesque sneer. "You were meant to die, Dom. That was the plan—vanish forever, devoured by your despair or slain in battle. I can see right through you. We knew you’d do anything to get Brian back. You’ve bottled up your feelings for so long that it made me sick just looking at you. All we needed to do was crush hope, make the world stop believing in gods, and let the crops die. Without the sun and without your weapons, the world would be lost, and we’d claim victory. We wanted to destroy this world to create a better one. Why couldn't you just die?!”

Light began to filter through the windows, almost blinding them after being in darkness for so long.

Vegh clenched her fists and screamed in rage.

Dom caught sight of Luke, Letty, and Roman overpowering Owen. The army of the dead was fading, and Jesse flew toward Dom.

Dom was drenched in sweat, vision blurring, muscles tiring. "I'll get Leon; he can heal you!”

Everything spun around him, but he saw Letty beside him. Roman had Vegh trapped with water, and Letty helped Dom up.

A few minutes later, Leon knelt beside him. Dom could see him moving, but more importantly, he could feel the sun high in the sky, its light dazzling him as he basked in its warmth. He couldn't help but smile.

"You’re always so tough, Dom. I fainted from less poison than that," came Vince's distant voice. Dom felt a wave of relief; everything felt normal again. He was grateful they wouldn’t have to face any Titans and preferred not to think about what might have happened if Han and Gisele had joined forces with Owen and Vegh.

“If they wanted to get rid of Brian, why did they give us a riddle?” Dom asked suddenly.

“When you didn’t come back, Mia went to see Circe. She learned that they made a deal with Circe—the potion could only work against a god if the balance was maintained. Putting a god into an eternal sleep is difficult; Circe could only manage it if there was a way to wake Brian up. And you’ve found it,” Luke replied with a gentle smile.

Dom wanted to scold Mia, but he’d have all the time in the world for that later.

Vince smiled. “Don’t worry, I went with her. When I found out what she was planning, I wasn’t going to let her go alone.”

“And it would have suited them just fine if all three of us ended up dead in this damn labyrinth,” Letty added, giving Roman a playful elbow that made him laugh.

“Hey, it wasn’t so bad in the Nymphs’ cave, actually. It’d be a nice place to rest forever,” Roman said jokingly.

  :::

  Leon worked miracles, and just a few hours after the fight, Dom was already feeling great. The scar would remain, and the pain was still there, but compared to the poison, it felt like nothing. He sat on a bench outside, soaking in the warmth and light. He’d be back at the forge soon, but he still deserved a day off.

He heard footsteps and saw Brian approaching. The chariot couldn’t take off without Brian, but it could drive itself for the rest of the day, allowing Brian to occupy his time with plenty of other tasks instead of staying up in the sky all day.

"Good thing I told you to be careful," Brian said, concern lacing his words despite the reassuring smile he tried to wear. He sat beside Dom, gently placing both his hands on Dom’s wound. Dom felt warmth radiate from him, as if Brian were breathing life into him.

Dom smiled. "It seems like I have this huge weakness that everyone knows about and takes advantage of. And here I hoped to keep it low-key...”

"So I’ve heard...”

Dom blushed. Maybe Brian hadn’t fully accessed his heart through their prayer, but if word got out that Vegh had morphed into Brian, Dom’s secret was no more. Jesse probably hadn’t been able to keep quiet.

Brian rested one hand on Dom's wound, settling comfortably against his shoulder. With Brian’s powers, the pain had completely vanished.

Dom knew he had spent part of his day answering human prayers, likely feeling overwhelmed. But here they were, enjoying a peaceful moment under the blue sky, free from troubles.

But Dom couldn’t resist asking, "I hear you’re writing a song for me?”

Dom felt Brian jump slightly, fidgeting. "Uh, it’s not finished... I feel a bit silly about it. I wasn’t planning on telling you...”

"But I’d love to hear it.”

Brian beamed with delight at him. "Really? I could write one about your bravery over the last few days; you definitely deserve it.”

Dom loved seeing that radiant smile on Brian's face, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn't worthy of it. "I never could have saved you on my own. I wouldn’t have made it through the labyrinth... I wasn’t even the main hero—”

"We can’t always shine alone, strength also blooms in unity. And as far as I know, you’re the one who woke me up. It isn’t just about defeating enemies; sometimes, it’s about finding the courage to overcome our fears.”

Dom looked down, his cheeks flushed, feeling shy that Brian knew about that too.

But he remembered the shadows and how he had almost lost to his fears. Really, he wasn’t one of those amazing heroes in all those tales.

He felt Brian’s fingers gently shift his face, and this time he was acutely aware of the lips that brushed delicately against his. Dom felt the divine light of Brian course through him, as if they were one entity, indistinguishable from each other. He wondered how he ever breathed before, and knew that this light would keep him warm forever, even in his darkest times.

The kiss lasted only a few seconds, and when Dom opened his eyes—eyes he hadn’t realized he had closed—he found himself lost in Brian’s blue gaze. No need for moving walls and corridors to feel lost; Brian’s eyes were enough, and Dom welcomed that feeling.

No need for a map or a lantern to find his way either—Dom had no intention of escaping.

“My role in this tale was to sleep. Not my proudest moment, if you ask me, but I’m glad I got to be part of it all with you,” Brian said, his voice filled with love. Dom couldn’t help but take his hand and gently kiss his fingers.

“I can’t say I was glad to see you asleep for what could be eternity, but it was definitely the strongest motivation ever given to a man, I’m sure of that. I was so scared you would never wake up… I’m sure even mortals would agree. They’ll remember the day the sun didn’t rise.”

“And they’ll remember who saved the day,” Brian said with a bright smile. “Mortals will sing for years to come the tale of the brave blacksmith.”

  :::

  THE END

[may-bonne]

Sorry I'm basically blowing up your inbox today 👉👈

I know a few of the Mrod blogs on here were femslashy. Especially when she was dating Cara. If it wasn't about them, it was about Rain and Alice or Luz and Miss San Antonio. The het stuff definitely dominated though and it was definitely Vin's fault. Part of me is now morbidly curious about that poetry

Ahhh I have a rant locked and loaded for the majority of Mrod's movies. That outfit was terrible! I HATE when writers think motherhood has to completely soften and suck the personality out of character. It's always a blouse or a cardigan I swear to god. It's not a big surprise that female characters in a series about zooming cars around get the short end of the stick but that doesn't make it any less annoying. Elena having Dom's baby instead of Letty is one of the less stupid decisions imo. I'll have to skim back through F9 again to get my thoughts all back in order brb with that full rant. Fuck Hobbs and Shaw why can't we have a true Letty and Mia focused flick!!

Yeeessshh no worries. I was born the year Girlfight came out ✌️ Talk about Frank's cock all you want

That clothing line would be a problem for my wallet I'm not sure it could handle. The interviews were generally a little painful but I must have watched most of them anyway

The nice thing about the Resident Evil series is that most of the fandom now is femslash because Alice has homoerotic tension with at least one character in every movie. There's a part in the third film where she blatantly checks out Claire Redfield's ass when she walks away and she runs across a room to pet Rain's hair to comfort her in the first one. Quality cinema

don't you dare apologize!! i'm hanging on the telephone. i never realized how much tumblr asks could resemble my preferred method of communication (long rambling emails) and i've had a hard time getting people irl to do that instead of just texting me :/

the mrod poems were written by "bryan s. coe" (who i just googled and discovered is perhaps a digital marketing strategist in detroit these days). the two i still have links to are titled "poem to a hottie on a zip line" and "euphemistic poem to a woman with sub-machine gun" and are about nikki from breed and chris from s.w.a.t. respectively. i feel this stanza from the second one needs to be shared:

while everyone takes cover and protects their body i spy around the corner and see a special weapons hottie those sure are some special "weapons," wouldn't you say kind of appropriate that s.w.a.t. ends with a t and an a!

and it goes on in that vein. extensively. i mean, come on, dude. the meter is all off!! you need to cut "and see" from the second line and "that" from the fourth. also that is a very liberal definition of "euphemistic"

i like the idea of just generally defining time in mrod movies. *guy living in a dystopian future where that's all that remains of our civilization voice* "yeah my great great grandmother was born the year girlfight came out"

personally i thought i got blue crush but that's 2002 :/

i agree that they were right not to knock letty up. the only tragic part is i think she's probably too old to play pregnant now and i would have liked to see that just as fuel for some letty/mia fantasies :(( i can't even imagine what they would have dressed her in. considering you would think mia's 75% sundress wardrobe would be pretty transferable to maternity clothes and they still put her in that ruffled yellow abomination

i kind of wish it hadn't even been dom's kid though. like wouldn't that have been more in keeping with the family-goes-beyond-blood thing? dom could have still done all that crazy crap to rescue elena and her baby. i also hate elena dying. i really did not like fate of the furious in general and it didn't have mia so what was the point anyway. i kind of recognize that objectively f9 might have been the nadir of the franchise but it gave us letty and mia's tokyo dinner date so i'll always love it

also mia going in for the hug just grinning like hey! letty! it's great to see you! and then it cuts to letty, like, closing her eyes and huffing the scent of her hair. baby this is why in my head you've been hung up on her for decades

they need to do a mia & letty spinoff and i feel like there's no way it's actually going to happen. vin's too much of an egotist he would shove himself in there to present himself as the king of feminism or something and then the movie would just be his big dumb head like always. i'm holding out hope they'll kill him in the last movie for pathos but it's probably in his contract that they aren't allowed to

last note on f9 is that i love how after all that backpatting for finally having the gals share a scene it STILL doesn't pass the bechdel test because they exclusively talk about han, brian, jacob, dom, and little brian in that order. i do like when mia says "you'll always be my sister." i hope letty got off to that furiously and guiltily in the shower and then cried

don't even get me started on how the franchise butchers mia. my whole ao3 presence is basically a 750,000-word manifesto on how badly i think they screwed her over. i'm not even asking for that much but just let her be a fucking doctor you'd think with eleven million bucks she could afford to go to med school

[filmyfact]

Hobbs & shaw 2: Everything We Know So Far

Despite being a profitable Fast & Furious spinoff, Hobbs & Shaw 2 has no official confirmation or development on a second film in the franchise. Although there haven't been any official announcements as of my latest post in January 2023, there may be negotiations underway. It is preferable to examine recent news or remarks from the studios or filmmakers for the most up-to-date information.

Whether Hobbs & Shaw will have a follow-up is unknown. Despite the popularity of the first film and rumours of a sequel, no formal confirmation has been made. Since Hobbs & Shaw 2's stars, Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham, have a lot on their plates with other projects, the future of the movie is unknown.

[chaos0pikachu]

Hey Pikachu (or do you prefer chaos?)

Unpopular BL opinions: MaxTul

Personally, I like them as far as the fmv edits are concerned. It's not so much that I don't like their shows, which I've only watched (and heard of) TWM and MOD, but that I don't understand the hype people have over them or their shows. you could say it's the same with OffGun for me. I like them as actors and as a pair and while the writing of these shows isn't special it's serviceable. I don't follow actors IRL. I don't care enough, nor is it any of my business. I got into both these shows after watching the fmvs and the comments about them being the best and the shows being amazing (it might just have to do with the time ig) but like, yeah they are good but really all they are is better than most others. If you get what I'm saying. I'd love to have seen them in something with a little more budget so I could judge better but now that Tul has retired I don't think I will.

I don't get this 'Kings of Chemistry' status they have and hold coz lbr 2022 gave us so much. And maybe my opinion of them is colored by those shows. Just a little bit.

Gimme a moment to bask in the glory of being called Pikachu (I'm good with chaos too tbh I love it all)

So the MaxTul shows I watched were Manner of Death and Together with Me. The latter I didn't finish because it was awful. Lol sorry to the fans but the show was boring and poorly made I think I only made it 2 episodes. Manner of Death had an interesting story but was so sloooooooooooow and the direction was awful and the editing was bad and the acting was hella mid. The show needed a better director, and a better budget and it woulda been a better show. The story was 100% there.

I think that's my biggest issue with Max and Tul is they're pretty mid actors to me? I think Tul is a better actor, so it woulda been cool to see him in a series against a better actor than Max (who's like, very average imo). I think they earned the Kings of Chemistry b/c during their era there was a lot of bad or mid chemistry with super chaste or outright dead fish kissing.

I'll hand it to Max and Tul, they can kiss. They def give it their all. They go for broke. But their body of work is from an era that's really rough quality wise and I think a lot of ppl forgive the lack of quality of a show b/c they specifically like the actors of said show. T

I've said before I don't vibe with a lot of GMMTV's shows b/c to be frank, they low-key suck lol they're low budget, and have sound issues, and acting issues, and lighting issues, and editing issues the list goes on and on. They purposely set a majority of them in university to cut down on costs and their stories tend to be boring (to me!!!). hey're the salt-less potato salad of BL shows imo

They rely on the audience's parasocial relationships with their "acting pairs" to carry the show like let's be real, Ohm and Nanon could star in the most basic, poorly produced university BL GMMTV's ever done and fans would still flock to it b/c they wanna see Ohm and Nanon acting together again especially as a couple.

I don't vibe with that personally, I don't give a fuck about acting pairs which is why I shall forever push Apo and Bible in a series together b/c they have amazing chemistry together and they're both solid actors. They would be dope as like rival assassins with contrasting methods who fall in love after being forced to work together (like Hobbs and Shaw but Thai and Gay)!!!

(sidenote not hating on anyone who does like a specific acting pair y'all live your life, live your truth, I support you)

Anyway Max and Tul are like, okay I think both are kinda mid actors in the two series I saw them in both of which I didn't really vibe with but they can smooch so kudos to them hope Tul enjoys retirement legit

[caitlinsnicket]

Deckard Shaw SFW alphabet

A/N: Yeah, I may be in love with the characters from this movie, but it happens. I have lots of planned fanfics (series and one shots), and I may release something else this weekend. I hope you enjoy, feel free to comment, like or reblog and make requests!

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

He is a tough man, who's always in dangerous situations, and people seem to like trying to kill him, so pda is out of question (except if he's jealous). Indoors, when both of you are safe and at ease, he snuggles, spreads sweet kisses all over your face and loves to mess with your hair. He thinks you look best with your morning face.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

He would consider you part of his family. You probably wouldn't spend much time together, but always makes it for birthdays. Of course, it wouldn't be as intimate as a relationship, but he would tell you every single one of his worries. Your friendship probably would start with casual conversations now and then, when Deckard had time to go to a coffee shop.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Shaw has probably seen a lot of things, things that sometimes don't let him sleep. Even if he is not asleep, he holds on you tight, because he likes to think you need his protection. Sometimes, when both of you were just laying on the couch, he would sneak up on you and just lay his head in your chest, hearing your heartbeat. You two switch who holds who. Most of the nights, he likes to have his arm around your waist, while you nuzzle on his neck. Other times (especially if something went wrong) you let him lay his head in your chest and keep saying sweet nothings until he falls asleep.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

You guys would probably talk about it, maybe even make some plans, but at the end of the day, he always had to move (to keep both of you safe) to another place, and you followed. The apartments were always very expensive and comfortable, but you wouldn't call it home. Secretly, Shaw is saving money for when he finally settles down with you. Now, this man can cook anything you want. Literally. You ask it, he's done it. And it's always delicious. About cleaning, he doesn't enjoy it, but he understands that you guys have to share the responsibilities of the house, so he does it anyway (with a pout, but he does it).

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

He would probably do that for the sake of your safety. Someone bad would've probably threatened you, and the thought of losing you would be too much. He would break up with you pretending he didn't care, and even if it broke your heart and his heart, he had to do it. You moving on without him and alive would be better than you dead.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

You both decided that, if one day you got married, it wouldn't be ordinarily. I mean, look at your lives. There's no time to churches or white dresses, so you guys agreed that, if a ceremony was going to happen, it would be something along the lines of Indian marriage, with only Shaw's siblings, his mother, and your relatives. Maybe one friend or two, but marriage isn't something you two dream of (though he wonders how would you look like in a white dress).

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Physically, he tends to be gentle. As his life can get very violent and he wants to be a better man now, when he's with you he tries to be as gentle as possible. Soft touches, warm hugs, and smoothies are going to happen pretty often, even though sometimes he forgets that he's trying to be more gentle, and ends up being kinda rough.

Emotionally, well, he needs help. He had a hard time expressing his feelings at the beginning of your relationship, and he still has now, though not as often. After all the messed up things that happened in his life, he has lost the capacity to control his emotions very well, so you try to help him out. Even if he's not so okay emotionally, he always gives special attention to your feelings.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

t’s not something that happens a lot, but he enjoys them. Never in public places, he prefers to do it in private, while you are working on something, or making something to eat. He comes from behind you, wraps his arms around your waist and buries his head into your neck. His hugs usually last a little bit longer than normal, because he likes to feel your heartbeat.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

It takes a while. A long while, to be more specific. He has seen people getting hurt before, and he was scared to losing you. The first time you say it, it’s before he leaves for a mission. He doesn’t have the guts to say it back in that moment, but when he comes back (after almost dieing), the first thing he does is hug you and whisper “I love you” into your hair. He doesn’t say it very often, but he demonstrates it throught actions. 

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

It depends on the person. If it’s a complete stranger, he doesn’t really bother: He trusts you with his life, and he knows that if you flirt back, it’s just a game. He waits for a while, keeping some distance, and ends up just putting a hand in the small of your back and wait for the person to realize what’s going on.

Now, if it’s someone you guys know (Luke, more specifically), he tends to be more protective. As much as he trusts you and knows that you can protect yourself, he feels the urge to get in front of you, cross his arms and get in full “alpha” mode.   

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

It depends on how he feels. He can be gentle, demanding, sweet or tough. You know everything he feels just from the touch of his lips. He usually likes to kiss the top of your head (as he’s taller than you) or your cheeks. Maybe your neck, but that’s only when things are getting hot and heavy. He likes to be kissed in his hands. For some reason, he likes when you kiss his hands. It makes him feel like more than just a killing machine. It means his hands are made for more than destruction, they also were made to protect.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Maybe one day, when he retires and there’s no one left to fight, you two may talk about having kids. Right now, none of you want to have children, but it’s not an impossible thing.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

He wakes up very early (sometimes too early for your liking), and get’s the breakfast ready for when you wake up. Other times, he lets himself enjoy the warmth of your body and wakes up to your soft kisses. You two get ready together and spend some time in silence just enjoying the company of each other.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

He usually gets home very late at night, and sometimes you try to stay awake and wait for him, but you just end up sleeping on the couch. He has to carry you to the bed, and then he snuggles into you. In nights where he sleeps with you, there’s a lot of fun involved (the fun being a nice movie or a tiring night).

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

It takes a while for him to open up entirely with you. His childhood, his past with Brixton, all the lies involving his name, it can be a little too much for him to tell once. You always get a little piece of his story each time, and he’s glad that you’re always understanding.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

The only times he raises his voice with you, there are only two reasons: One, you are in danger and you’re acting too stubborn to realize that, or two, other people made him angry and he’s putting it on you. When you guys fight, he shouts a little, but usually leaves the house for some time to clear his head. He hates to fight with you.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

He can’t remember any dates, birthdays or any other “important” things, but if you ask him what’s your favorite color, which kind of dog you had when you were a child, or what’s your favorite kind of tea, he knows it. Deckard can’t remember important things, but the smallest details about you, he saves it to the heart.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

Probably the first time he woke up by your side. There was something about your messed up hair, your puffy eyes and your sleepy voice (combined with your bareback) that made him fall in love with you. The moment when your eyes met his while the soft sunlight touched your skins, he probably had never felt happier.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Two words: Overly. Protective. He worries a lot about you, and sometimes too much for your liking. He protects you in various ways: Sending you to hidden places, under the protection of some of his friends (or his siblings), training you to fight and defend yourself, even bringing you to the missions, to protect you himself. Well, he likes to think that, when he’s vulnerable, you can protect him from himself. Also, you can be pretty badass when you feel that he’s been threatened.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

With you, he’s comfortable enough to be himself: He never feels the urge to impress you, so he doesn’t buy expensive things or spends too much time on planning dates. Though, sometimes he makes a scene: Super expensive places, clothes, and even parties. But when we are talking about everyday tasks, he hates it, but he does for your sake: He knows you work hard, and he has a responsibility.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

Lying. It’s like an addiction. It takes a lot of time to him finally stop lying to you, because it’s just a defense mechanism. Laziness. He knows he has to do housework, but he hates it. He looks at his life, and he thinks it’s worthless to do those simple things.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

He knows he’s good looking. He knows he is very, very handsome, and he likes to look good. Of course, sometimes he can feel a little down, but there’s always a mirror around to remind him that he is hot.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Yes. It feels natural to him to look to his side and see you there. He needs you to function, to concentrate and to sleep well.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

Deckard can’t dance to save his life. The only times you guys dance, it’s a slow song, barely a dance (just you two moving around each other), and he always manages to step in your foot.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Someone that pushes him into telling things about his life. Missions, secrets, his past, everything has to come naturally, and if he feels pressured even for one second, he’ll back off to his suspicious state.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

Sometimes, he snores so loudly that it wakes you up. He likes to hold you close on some occasions, to feel or hear your heartbeat. To sleep peacefully, his face needs to be close to your hair, because he likes the smell of the hair cream that you use before you sleep (he says it calms him down).

[venomfucker]

I just saw Hobbs & Shaw for the third time

And hear me out here

Trans Deckard Shaw

Would anyone be willing write a one shot or something for that

[ignorethispotatoplease]

Get to Know Meme

Tag 9 people you want to get to know better.

Tagged by: @the50sfox!!! thanks for the tag fj!!

Three ships: Altmalmar (altair malik maria asscreed), Anidala (anakin padme star wars), and uh... soapghost (soap n ghost call of duty thats where i am in life)

First ever ship: Anidala again <3 star wars the clone wars started me on that shit early and i am Still Here

Last song: Magnets ft. Lorde by Disclosure

Last movie: Fast and Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) (it was on tv ok its fun to watch)

Currently reading: Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion

Currently consuming: food? i just had cereal. media? uhhh i may have accidentally watched one too many codmw2 (2022) youtube videos and now i'm into a literal call of duty game like wtf

Currently craving: a huge metric fuckload of money preferably in way deemed morally acceptable

Tagging: : @pleasewriteusernamehere @theallknowingowl @honey-0tu @morbussydestroyermasterdobby @bluebee242 @nitewrighter @vagorsol @estel-of-the-eyrie @hydrias

[ilyom]

Do you have any favorite routes? Or routes you don't like? Ones you've been surprised that you like or don't like? I've found myself liking a lot of routes I usually wouldn't consider so I was curious about your thoughts!

Hello Anon!

Let me start with the easiest!

A route I didn't care for but ended up loving (unfortunately latest update ruined it XD) was Yuki Nakano's!

His profile picture had left me indifferent and I had matched with him for gems farming. I rolled my eyes at his conversation at first, then I got to the first date, I preferred his date sprites over his profile picture and I loved his special ability! The rest of the story was pretty good and Yuki was charming and endearing until the few last updates.

A route I was waiting with great anticipation was Reece Drake.

He looked so good on his profile picture, he was giving me "bad boy with a heart of gold" vibes. I was even hoping for him to be a counterpart to Daniel Divies and Romeo Velazquez! I still love his mystery-shrouded route but it just wasn't what I was hoping for!

I don't really hate any of the MeChat characters or routes but my least favorite routes belong to Alice Young, Wei Huang, Scott McNamara, and Emmet Best for different reasons!

Alice's route is mostly MC trying to get in her pants and sucking up to her and Alice agonizing about her competition career. I didn't relate at all XD

For Wei, their personality was unattractive and I didn't like their art and date sprites, so it put me off. It's a pity because there was some depth to them and their back story.

Scott was cute but I didn't like his date sprites and I felt that he didn't need a date but he needed a mom to teach him to make his own decisions lol

I was looking forward Emmet's route, I really liked his profile picture, but the following CGs and date sprites made him look so young, very much like a teenager, that I couldn't get into him xD and it didn't help that he looked like Ben Tennyson (and my first boyfriend and ex-fiancé) lol

As for my favorite routes/characters, there are too many 🙈

But my all-time favorites include Daniel Divies, Elijah Silva, Goro Egawa, Levi Rees, Glenn Hobbs, Arian Oly, Jack Shaw, Martin Dixon, Koby Bates, Michelle Fox (up until the update!) and Lucie Parker! I'm tempted to add more lol but I'll stop there xD

Feel free to share your favorites! I'm interested in knowing what other players think of MeChat characters 😸