#i have a commander deck with this pair as the commaders

[cherrycola27]

Nevermore

Paring: Rooster x OC Commader Skylar "Raven" Blackwood

Warnings: Language, drinking, Mentions of violence, Allusions to Smut. Minors DNI 18+

Part 2: Once upon a midnight dreary

A sickly silence fell upon the room after Raven had finished introducing herself. She scanned her eyes across the group and found Rooster's face. His expression was stonewall and stalwart, but she could just catch the glimpse of angst in his eyes. He was hurt, angry, betrayed.

"Well" Maverick cleared his throat breaking the silence. "If there is nothing else to say, you are dismissed. I want everyone on the tarmac ready to go in 30." He stated the 12 aviators quietly gathered their belongings and left their seats to head to the locker rooms. Maverick and Raven stayed behind.

"Well, that could have gone better." Raven finally said. "Rooster definitely hates me now."

"Why is that Commander?" Pete asked her, having no idea of their relationship.

"Bradley and I went to flight school together... and we dated. After graduation orders took us to different parts of the world. Last night I ran into him at the Hard Deck as well as the other members of you squadron, and well, I lied to them about who I was and why I was here." Raven confessed.

"I see." Maverick countered. "Well, if it makes you feel any better Raven, a few months ago he hated me too, but we are better now. If there is one thing I know about Rooster is that no matter how upset he is with anyone, deep down, he wants to forgive them.

"Hopefully you're right Commodore Mitchell." She nodded her head. "Please, call me Maverick, Mav, or even Pete... Commodore is just... to formal." He told her.

"Yes Sir, well, shall go fly?" She asked turning to leave.

Maverick stood there a moment more as he watched her walk away. Raven had the same air about her that Charlie did back when Maverick had first met her. Professional, no nonsense, poised. She was disciplined and unwavering... everything he wasn't.

"Greetings Avaitors, this is your Commader speaking. Commodore Mitchell briefed me about your flying abilities and your dogfighting skills. I have to say I am impressed, but there is still a lot for everyone to learn. This mission requires more active combat and dogfighting than most of you have seen, so, working in teams you are going to try and shoot me down." Raven told everyone through the coms system.

"Commader." Payback spoke up "Yes Payback?" She asked. "Last time we were in this situation we had a little bet with Maverick... first to get shot down does 200 push-ups... care to wager that?" He asked with a chuckle.

"Make it 250 and you're on." Raven replied without missing a beat. "Deal" Fanboy answered for the group while everyone else let out a collective groan.

"Okay then, Finch, Garcia, time to put your money where your mouth is." Raven challenged them before engaging the pair who were flanked by Coyote.

Maverick stayed on the tarmac listening and watching where he came to a harsh realization.

Skylar may have acted like Charlie on the ground, but she flew like him. She was precise, agile, and daring. He watched as one by one she shot down the teams, never wavering. She acted and reacted, not thinking, just doing, she was in total control of herself... almost emotionless.

He listened in as she provided feedback to all of the pilots:

"You're too slow"

"Level out your wings, too loose on the turn"

"Trust your wingman, they are there for a reason"

"Reaction time is everything"

"Listen to your WSO, it's their job to know what's the radar"

"Communicate people or you are dead!"

Soon the last pair was about to go up in the air against her... Rooster and Hangman. Everyone else had been shot down and were sore from push-ups as they waited in the briefing room licking their wounds.

"Alright Rooster, you read to do this?" Hangman asked as they cruised. "Keep your head level don't let your feelings get in the way man." Jake reminded him.

"Yeah Bagman I know, control myself" Rooster huffed out. He couldn't hide the distain in his voice. He was clearly upset with Raven for lying to him. The girl he knew back in flight school never would have, which he never would have thought Skylar, his Skylar would be the pilot she is today.

"Alright Raven where are you?" Rooster called out.

"Right here Roosie? Did you miss me?" She asked dropping down from above them and turning inverted.

"Geez Raven, that's a very Maverick move right there... any relation?" Hangman joked. Maverick winced at the the comment.

"No sir Hangman, but then again I never knew who my father was, maybe we can talk about my daddy issues while you do your push-ups" Raven shot back.

Pete's eyes went wide at her comment. She didn't know her father. Charlie never told her who he was, which meant she didn't know that there was a very his chance that she was Maverick's daughter.

"Did I just strike a never there Rave?" Hangman taunted her.

"No Bagman you didn't, I'm fully aware of my daddy issues thank you very much. Only think I know is my mother told me was that he was a Top Gun pilot... apparently really good but a big ego, I decided to become better than him." Raven seethed back, the first hit of emotion coming through her voice.

"Well let's see how good you are then sweets... Rooster, do some of that pilot shit" Hangman called out as Rooster spun around out from under Raven in an attempt to throw her off and get missle lock.

"Really? Positioning for a cobra maneuver? That's child's play boys." Raven said before taking a deep dive and then immediately pulling up shooting in between them. Hangman and Rooster broke off in opposite direction, exactly what Raven wanted to happen.

She went after Hangman first Rooster used that to his advantage to come after her.

"Come on Rooster drop down off the perch!" Hangman angerly called out as Rooster went back to his old ways of over thinking.

"Yeah Rooster, take the shot" Raven taunted him.

But he was too late, Raven climbed quickly and by the time Rooster dropped down he accidentally locked in on Hangman while Raven spun behind him and took him out.

When all the jets were back on the ground Hangman jumped out of his plane angry. "What the fuck was that man!" He yelled at Rooster slamming his helmet down.

"I don't know I.... I just over thought it! Rooster defended throwing his hands up.

"And that's why you're both dead. You thought. You can't think up there. You have to do. You think up there and are as good as dead." Raven stated to them before walking away.

"Damn she sounds just like Mav. Even walks like him and flys like him too." Hangman stated. "Wouldn't it be something if she was Mitchell's kid" Jake laughed.

"I think Mav would have told me he had a kid." Rooster stated back. "Not if he didn't know. She said she didn't know her dad... what if her mom never told him either. She said her mom used to work for Top Gun, and she was born in '87 what year did Mav and your dad go through... '86?" Jake continued.

"It's not possible... Maverick may have been stupid probably still is, but I don't think he would have been dumb enough to sleep with an instructor." Rooster hesitated.

"He was stupid enough to bang an admiral's daughter... more than once, you really think an instructor was off limits?" Jake's asked before heading in to the locker rooms.

Rooster stood there on the tarmac, gears spinning on his head.

He thought back to flight school. He had met Charlie when she came once for family day. She gushed about his parents and how she couldn't believe little Bradley who sat on piano tops and wore cowboy hats had grown up.

She spoke fondly of his mother when she had come out to visit his father during his time at Top Gun and how much his death had hurt her.

However he didn't notice it then, but now he recalls how she became visibly uncomfortable when he spoke about Maverick, to the point of where she changed the topic completely... almost as if she didn't want Skylar to know about him.

Now he knew why. "Mav, you sly son of a bitch" Rooster muttered before taking off to find his God father.

He saw Maverick walking in the halls towards his office.

"Maverick, Mav....Pete... Commodore Mitchell!" He called out finally getting him to stop.

"Yes Lieutenant Comander Bradshaw, is there something I can do for you?" Maverick asked with an irritated tone.

"I need to speak to you... privately" Rooster whispered. Maverick wordlessly opened the door to his office and the men stepped in.

"Listen Bradley, Commader Blackwood already informed me of your... history... I don't care that you two slept together just as long as you keep it professional here and in the sky. Can't have you two getting killed on my watch." Pete told him.

"You mean keep it professional just like you did with her mother?" Rooster challenged. "Excuse me?" Maverick whipped around from his place at the window.

"You and her mother were a couple back in '86 weren't you?" Rooster asked. "You know I met Charlie back in flight school when she came for family day. She talked about my parents and how she had met me when I was younger. And I wondered how she would have, but then I remembered something mom told me when I was about 15 and wondered why you had never settled down. She said back years ago the only woman she had ever seen you truly love broke your heart when you were in Top Gun. That was Charlotte Blackwood wasn't it?" Rooster continued.

"What are you getting at Rooster? Yes, I made some questionable decisions when I was younger." Maverick sighed.

"I'm not done. Skylar said she didn't know who her father was, only that he was a pilot and was in the Top Gun program. She was born in 1987... you and Dad were in Top Gun in 1986, which was the last class her mother ever worked with." Rooster pointed out.

"So, she took another job and we lost contact. What's your point Bradley?" Maverick asked getting angry.

"So, flying with her today reminded me of someone else.... you! She flies like you, walks like you, talks like you, hell she even has the same eyes as you! She told me 'not to think' when I was flying.... sound familiar?" Rooster pressed.

"Lots of people say that Rooster, not just me." Maverick defended.

"Maybe, but the way she said it, her tone... it's... it's uncanny." Rooster said.

"You're trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill, looking for things that aren't there!" Pete raised his voice. "These are all just coincidences!"

"No they aren't! And you know it. Skylar Blackwood is your daughter isn't she?!" Rooster questioned him pointing his finger at him accusingly.

Maverick took a deep breath and leaned in his desk and lowered his head.

"Yes Rooster, I think she is." Pete finally sighed out.

Just then both men jerked their heads as they head a clipboard clatter to the floor and echo in the room.

Both of there eyes grew wide as a stunned Skylar 'Raven' Blackwood stood in the door of Maverick's office. She was frozen and there was no doubt that she had obviously heard the confession that had just left the senior pilot's mouth.

Tag List: @dreamingathighaltitude @shanimallina87 @luckyladycreator2 @meggiemoomitchell @mak-32 @katieshook02 @samhapner6 @rosiahills22 @thedroneranger @itsdesiree86 @eruannaaa-blog

#top gun maverick #top gun #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster bradshaw #rooster top gun #bradley bradshaw #bradley bradshaw smut #rooster smut #rooster x oc #bradley bradshaw x oc #tgm smut #tgm fic #tgm #lt. bradley bradshaw #top gun rooster #top gun smut #top gun 2

[asketchyperson]

Hybrid Mana VS Color Identity

For the second time, I got into a long Twitter discussion in a PleasentKenobi thread about hybrid mana spells in Commander. He is a staunch advocate for an adjustment of the color identity rule, and I am on the other side believing the rule should remain as it is. The topic is more complicated than Twitter replies allow for, so I wanted to jot down my thoughts on it here.

The issue: the color identity rule in Commander does not allow a deck to include cards that have a mana cost, rules text, or color indicator that contains a color that is not present on the deck’s Commander. The color identity rule creates a deck building restriction that prevents you from just playing the best cards in Magic that synergize with your Commander, and instead forces you to remain within the limitations of colors your Commander is. The rule is as central to the format as the singleton requirement is, and is a big part of what makes Commander my favorite format. Hybrid cards conflict with this rule because they are functionally all of the colors present in their mana costs, even though they may be cast with just one of them.

As important as color identity is, the rules of Commader are not chiseled in stone. The banlist is ever changing with cards being added or removed every so often. Additionally, Wizards of the Coast can and has made cards that have forced amendments. Partner changed the minimum deck size from 99 to 98, Planewalkers that can be your Commander changed the rule that your Commander needs to be a legendary creature, and Companions created a whole new zone that allows you to run an extra card if your deck meets their conditions. While I can’t say I am a fan of these mechanics, they did not damage the format in any cataclysmic way, and it still remains the best format for players like me.

I do not believe changing the color identity rule to allow you to run hybrid mana cost cards in decks that do not contain all of the colors in the hybrid symbols would damage the format either. The way decks can be built with this change would not cause a power imbalance in any color or color pairing with the cards currently available, and ultimately, it would just give every deck a few more options. In fact, if my play group decided we wanted to amend this rule, it wouldn’t bother me enough to argue against it, the same way I’m not opposed to a 220 card Battle of Wits deck, or an Un-Commander entering my meta. However, I am opposed to changing the rule in Commander as a whole, simply for how needless it feels, and how complicated it would make the actual definition of color identity.

First, let’s talk about the intent of hybrid mana. Regarding this topic in Commander, Mark Rosewater tweeted: “Here's the problem. Commander's take on hybrid contradicts the design function of it. Hybrid is specifically designed to be used in monocolor decks. Companion, as an example, was designed to be used in monolcolor decks. I get it's also multicolored, but that's a byproduct.”

It’s hard to disagree with Companion, as nothing in the cards even mentions color, and they do function very efficiently as either or both colors. However, many hybrid cards do not read as though they are designed for one color.

All of the cards above can be cast with just one of the hybrid colors, but incentivize or even require the second color to actually function as the whole card. If you are not playing white and blue, Mistmeadow Witch is a vanilla 1/1 for 2 mana, but if you are using both, it’s now a powerful piece in a blink engine. Maro says the intent is that the cards are to be used in mono-colored decks, but that does not make sense when many of them only function as draft chaff filler in a mono-colored deck. These hybrid cards really only shine when both colors can be used, so playing them in a single color doesn’t really help you if you add it to your deck.

As I said before, changing the rule does not suddenly increase the power level of the format. The vast majority of hybrid cards that even make sense to play in a mono-colored deck have effects that are completely safe and sometimes just slight adjustments to cards already available in either color. Let’s crunch some numbers. There are currently 361 hybrid cards, and all are legal in Commander as long as their colors are within your General’s identity. However, when we actually look at these cards, a pretty significant chunk would not be playable period in a mono-colored decks because even though the cost is hybrid, they have both colors in their rules text or split cost. Removing these cards leaves us at 291. There are also a few like Nightsky Mimic that incentivize the use of both colors to actually gain their effect. There are also multiple vanilla creatures or creatures with a single keyword that have replacements in either color.

Removing these leaves us with 263 cards. There are more than 25,000 unique cards legal in Commander, and the desired rule change to allow these hybrid cards only really effects these 263, or 1.05%. That number is honestly higher than I expected, but even so, I don’t feel a rule change is warranted to make such a small number of cards playable in an already small selection of decks.

But for the sake of playing devil’s advocate, let’s try and adjust the rule and see what happens. Again, as it is now, the rule is as follows: the color identity rule does not allow a deck to include cards that have a mana cost, rules text, or color indicator that contains a color that is not present on the deck’s Commander. To amend this, we would need to add a clause that says: a deck may include cards with hybrid mana symbols as long as one of the colors present in the hybrid mana cost is shared with the Commander. That’s about the cleanest way I can put it, but this causes a lot of problems when we look at some of the actual cards. First, let’s look at Azorious Guildmage again. Under our new amendment, mono-white now has access to this card now right? Well…no. Azorious Guildmage contains a blue mana symbol in its rules text, which means it still doesn’t follow the rules. And this still does not address Reaper King, Spectral Procession, Beseech the Queen, Flame Javelin and Tower Above. These cards have a hybrid cost requiring just 2 colorless mana or 1 colored mana. These cards are castable in mono-colored decks and that is clearly the intent, but how do I even write the rule that lets these into decks without their color identity? What do we do with these cards?

Mono-colored decks walk a line of being so limited in power that they are pretty exclusively casual, or so busted that they are cEDH playable and don’t need any help. Because of this, the effect of this rule change would largely effect 2 groups: very casual players and newer players. It gives casual players a few extra options for deck building but does not add many (if any) effects their mono-colored deck does not already have access to. However, this does put a new burden of rule comprehension on new players who already have to figure out a pretty complicated format. For me, the juice just does not feel worth the squeeze for a rule change this complicated and yet inconsequential. Especially considering that the color identity rule as is does not leave much grey area for confusion, but changing it could.

#commander #edh #magic the gathering #hybrid #hybridmana #wotc