#strange torpedo

[vampir-el]

sorry this is so crazy. lucy dacus w tf

#lucy dacus #strange torpedo #not to be lucyposting again but #no burden #alternative rock

[quasi-normalcy]

Continuity and Serialization in Star Trek: A Highly Scientific Vibes-Based Analysis

#star trek #star trek the original series #star trek the next generation #star trek deep space nine #star trek voyager #star trek enterprise #star trek discovery #star trek picard #star trek prodigy #star trek lower decks #star trek strange new worlds #A continuity error in 'Star Trek'!? Quick someone alert Captain James R. Kirk of the United Earth Space Probe Agency and his Vulcanian pal #Picard's score was torpedoed by the final season basically ignoring all of the previous ones

[alphynix]

Strange Symmetries #19: Wonky Whales

Toothed whales – the branch of cetaceans that includes modern dolphins, porpoises, beaked whales, and sperm whales – have surprisingly asymmetrical skulls, with some of the bones skewed to one side and just the left nostril forming their blowhole.

Some of the most obvious external manifestation of this lopsidedness can be seen in sperm whales, which have their blowhole at the front left side of their head, and in male narwhals, which usually have a single left-side tusk.

This sort of asymmetry first appeared in the skulls of early toothed whales around 30 million years ago. And since the highest amounts of wonkiness have gone on to develop in lineages that hunt in dark, cluttered, or murky waters, this suggests that the trait is somehow linked to the evolution of complex echolocation.

Some ancient members of the river dolphin lineage also had some additional unusual asymmetry, sometimes having slightly sideways-bending snouts.

Ensidelphis riveroi was one of the weirdest of these, living around the coasts of what is now Peru during the Miocene, about 19 million years ago. Around 3m long (~10'), it had a very long narrow toothy snout that curved distinctly off to the right along its length.

It's not clear what the function of this bend was, or even if the only known skull actually represents the normal condition for this species. But Ensidelphis' bendy snoot might have been used to probe around in muddy seafloor sediment or to extract prey from crevices, possibly like an underwater version of the modern wrybill.

———

NixIllustration.com | Tumblr | Twitter | Patreon

#science illustration #strange symmetries #paleontology #paleoart #palaeoblr #ensidelphis #platanistoidea #river dolphin #odontoceti #toothed whale #cetacean #whale #artiodactyla #ungulate #mammal #marine mammal #art #side-snouted dolphin #it's weird dolphin hours #fat torpedoes who scream to navigate

[chernobog13]

How firing a photon torpedo has evolved over the years:

Star Trek: The Original Series

Star Trek: The Original Series - remastered

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

#Star Trek #Star Trek: The Original Series #Star Trek: Strange New Worlds #U.S.S. Enterprise #NCC-1701 #Constitution-class #Starfleet #Starfleet starships #starships #photon torpedoes

[tigerlily1615]

oh my gosh lucy your music fucks???? Girl????

#strange torpedo....there is crack in this song. crack #who was the guitarist i need to kiss them directly on the lips

[worstlovesong]

No Burden is actually one of the best albums ever and I will not be taking criticism ever

#just listened to strange torpedo at 2:30 am and altered my brain chemistry #Lucy dacus #cj.txt

[thefleetsfinest]

#✧˖° → I couldn't just leave you there looking all pathetic. [ Captain James T. Kirk ] #✧˖° → Damn it man! I'm a doctor! not a torpedo technician! [ Reflection ] #✧˖° → …to explore strange new worlds... [ Aesthetics ] #I don't have any other reason to post this here outside of I'm in love with my best friends editing abilities and am also in love with #these two idiots #so i just wanted it to live on my new blog #Youtube

[myedwardianman]

Harry Hewitt McCoy (1893-1937)

#harry mccoy #mabel and fatty's wash day 1915 #mabel's blunder 1914 #those bitter sweets 1915 #dirty work in a laundry 1915 #fatty's magic pants 1914 #a close shave 1920 #a movie star 1916 #fatty's chance acquaintance 1915 #getting acquainted 1914 #mabel's busy day 1914 #mabel's strange predicament 1914 #the garage 1920 #making a living 1914 #that little band of gold 1915 #we'll get you yet 1921 #the masquerader 1914 #tillie's punctured romance 1914 #her torpedoed love 1917 #the knockout 1914 #fatty's reckless fling 1915 #the star boarder 1914 #circus heroes 1921 #fatty's faithful fido 1915 #favorite #my edwardian man

[isagrimorie]

The more I dig into the Voyager rewatch, and the more I see Janeway is giving in more and more to the Valkyrie she's always inside. The more intriguing Janeway is. I already think she's great but digging deeper into Janeway is amazing.

I keep thinking of how Janeway holds on to the Starfleet regulations and it makes me think of that Doctor Who quote and how she fits the description to a tee:

"Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many."

I feel this is Janeway -- she has rules for a reason, she's not evil but she also knows she can go very, very far.

Janeway has been through a brutal border skirmish in the conflict with the Cardassians. She downplays it but, how Kate Mulgrew, it feels like there was a lot more there.

She ranked up from Lieutenant, not because of being a Science Officer but because she's a decorated vet in a bloody siege, where they won.

As we've seen from Sige of AR-558 and the episode in Strange New Worlds ground combat is a whole different beast from ship-to-ship battle.

(Tom looks like a zombie in the last one btw)

Also, IMO, she's one of the more inventive tacticians in Starfleet-- the way she used the torpedoes in Year of Hell as a mine was amazing!

That's a great naval tactic shit. Hot girl navy.

But also, Janeway fits so much the Doctor Who, Good Man Goes to War rhyme:

Demons run when a good man goes to war. Night will fall and drown the sun, when a good man goes to war. Friendship dies and true love lies, night will fall and the dark will rise, when a good man goes to war.

It's also true of Janeway that when the three people that form the basis of Janeway's mental health died and/or became very sick, Admiral Endgame Janeway happened. And then she destroyed the Borg.

Janeway needs rules for a reason.

/edited

#star trek voyager #kathryn janeway #character thoughts #thinky thoughts

[frostgears]

results

When the war began, you were just another girl with some survivability implants and a multiprofile flight armor. Six months later, you were the only girl like you left alive, and your handler granted carte blanche to keep you that way. You got results.

Command authorized better hardware, and then they made more like you. You found ways to keep up, nastily clever applications of metastable metallic hydrogen ammo and supermag deflectors that the newbies didn’t see.

Your handler kept you on a leash, metaphorical, for a time literal (that month she decided to add some testosterone analog into your blood mix and you begged to fuck everything or break it or both). Instead of their handlers, the newbies imprinted on you.

Command sent you new toys. Ansible links, Charybdis torpedoes, dark new wings with strange new engines. You missed the roar and rumble of turbines, but the raucous howls of your bloodthirsty flock replaced the noise that discontinuity thrusters didn’t make. You got results.

You pushed back the other, shattered their aces and sent their broken armors back to Command. Your handler vanished and came back with augments that almost let her keep up with you physically, at least inside the carrier.

Someone had to keep you in line, she said, slamming your unarmored form against a bulkhead, your implants reprogramming themselves to broadcast your submission through the fleet. You slicked yourself with fluids and begged for her to take you, to make you more of a weapon.

The next sortie, frenzied with excitement, you cracked the penultimate stronghold of the enemy like an egg. Ready for the final push, your techs unpacked crates of novel photonic scythes, connectivity cores, Indeterminate-Range Missiles, bolted them to you and your flight.

The last defenses crumpled in ways they could not understand coming. The last opposing pilots provided minute spectral variations as you turned them into blazes of mostly white light. You got results.

Command ordered the carrier home. Job well done, they said. It’s over now. Your handler gave you certain orders. They were orders you wanted. The carrier returned to port; port was unprepared for your flight to launch inside, unprepared for the horrors they’d been sending you.

Command didn’t last ten minutes. You wanted to leave the place a crater, until your handler cinched her virtual claws around your neck by ansible and showed you her ultimate goal in the ruins.

A delightful challenge, shucking your flight armor, ramping down to levels of speed and splash damage that would leave human techs alive to do what needed to be done. You howled in the corridors like the monster they called you.

They did it, the survivors, the project lead swearing at you the whole time; your accelerator pistol never wavered from the back of her head until you saw your handler wake.

Your handler flexed healing muscle over new implants afterwards, donned flight armor for the first time. She might never be as agile or as vicious as you were in combat. She didn’t need to be. She had you, by the brain, and she would never, ever permit a fair fight.

Your carrier lifted again. The world of her, your, all of your flock’s ultimate origin awaited, some unfathomable distance away. You would show them how you got results. □

#microfiction #mech pilot #combat doll #flight deck

[shoshiwrites]

"gamble" or "quiet"? kissing out where nobody can catch them? - for Jo & Egan, of course, because I live the life of an enabler handing you another juicebox 🧃

You are the best, Killy, and thank you to you and @mercurygray for helping me break my little sick-time writer's block ♡ Bucky Egan/War correspondent OC, also on Ao3!

close to you

She’d gone with Kay back to London for a few days. Enough time to catch herself up, wire the stories she hadn’t already, knock her head against the wall a few more times over what did and didn’t go through. The damn blue slashes. Black ones too. Hell, a woman at the corner newsstand had showed Jo a letter from a boyfriend, cut into the RAF’s version of a paper snowflake. It fluttered strangely in the humid breeze, in the young woman’s hand. 

She’d seen Bill March’s broken arm, sustained in some manner during an air raid, though the correspondent still had his usual cheerful smile for her, and the pallbearers carrying a distant cousin of Kay’s out of the church in Marylebone, all of twenty when his ship had been torpedoed off the coast of Italy.

She’d gotten back to Thorpe Abbotts on a Friday afternoon, the air still soupy, her suitcase with a half-broken latch and her bitten nails, a growing hole in her last pair of stockings.

It wasn’t raining. Maybe that counted for something.

Trousers then, and maybe she was optimistic, thinking she felt the air cooling a bit around her. There were small scraps of blue sky, like she’d found them in the bottom of her mother’s rag bin. Calico up in the firmament.

The coffee’s warm, if bitter, she hardly pays attention to that now. A few Clubmobile women cleaning trays in the kitchen take pity on her and sneak her a donut. She dips, sloshes, remembers the good old days of milk and cream, and wanders back outside, wondering if she’d made a mistake in coming here straight from London. Her room is still hers in Norwich. Mrs. Fitzgerald had made sure she knew that. It’s a kindness she doesn’t quite have the words for. 

She’ll stay in the Clubmobile quarters tonight, on the extra cot. She’d left a book in Crosby’s care last week and he’d returned it to Tatty Spaatz, a piece of stationery stuck in the middle with neat, if hurried, observations. His handwriting reminds her of Evie’s, the block print of a planner.

“Major Egan will be happy to hear you’re back,” Tatty says, and there’s almost a smile playing at the corner of her mouth, her lipstick the color of red wine.

Jo hardly keeps stone-faced, a little scrunch somewhere between a question and an acknowledgement, distaste and curiosity. “I haven’t seen him,” she says.

They yawn, the seconds between the conversation outside and when he’s walking, seeing her, redirecting his path. His eyes look like he’s been squinting in low light, the mask-marks raw across his cheeks and the bridge of his nose. He’d come out of his office. Post-mission administration, she thinks. Letters home. He writes them longhand, someone had told her. He’s never spoken about it. She’s never asked him.

And she’s not sure happy is the word she’d use, right now. But Tatty knows what she said. Happy is on the ground. A girl smiling at you. The smell of her hair, clean. 

The question comes on an exhale, the tie loosened around his neck. “You wanna go for a walk?”

It feels faintly ridiculous, the way she’s not used to being asked. And it’s faintly ridiculous too, the way propriety and a respectful difference between his boots and her lace-up shoes becomes a sneak-around, a glancing journey to the far edge of the airfield, the side of an outbuilding backed by trees. 

Maybe he wants something else, she thinks. Another jigger of whiskey, playing cards on the table, chips or dice or jacks. Someone else. Someone who lets him forget.

He kisses her before they’ve even stopped moving, as she rounds the corner in the half-tall grass. 

She hasn’t snuck around like this in — god — she can’t remember. Years. 

She can’t remember the last time she’s been kissed like this. A sunlit kitchen, softer. Before the leather interiors of fancy cars and class rings. She never thought it could be dressed like this, callused hands and muscle. The flutter of tiny wings falls still. A fly buzzes around their ankles; she can hear it between the sounds of his mouth, breath hot between them.

She can feel that little swatch of damp at the small of her back, the feeling of her hipbones beneath the wool of her trousers. He breaks away to kiss the side of her mouth, the short hairs of his mustache brushing her upper lip. 

John, she wants to say, but maybe she can help it, the desperate act of naming him. It all sticks in her throat, like a glob of too-soft caramel. Hardening. John, John, John. “Afternoon, Major.” 

He looks like he’s trying to decide something, kisses her again by her nose while he does. She’ll do the same if he’ll let her, the cuts of the oxygen mask and the freckles she can see in the light. “Afternoon, Captain.”

#masters of the air oc #mota oc #john egan x oc #bucky egan x oc #title from listening to the sinatra vdiscs while writing #not to be confused with the carpenters #i mean. you could. it would be fine also. #i've had a really fun cold for the better part of a week so this may be a little....interesting. but i'm feeling a lot better! #hope people enjoy <3 #motaverse #jo's tag #anyway! #shoshi writes

[greenerteacups]

Hi! Just wanted to say the latest chapter is lovely & amazing & sweet & had me smiling the whole time! I absolutely love your characterisation of everyone, especially Draco, so it was so so lovely to return to this world & to his thoughts!! with his best friend and crush at malfoy manor no less! All the yearning is already off to a great start hehe I am so excited for the rest of book 5!

Wanted to ask you how has it been for you to write this new book and volume? Has your writing process changed since when you’d first begun taking on a long form project like this?

& also are there any moments or surprises in this book that you’re especially excited about?

sending so much love & gratitude for you and your incredible works 💓

Thank you so much! This is really encouraging, I so appreciate it.

Inasmuch as I can use this metaphor without having kids myself, I sort of see each of the books as a different child. The first one flew out in basically a few weeks of very intensive writing, and it was a total dream — plot, pacing, symbolism, major beats, all fell into place basically without effort. The character stuff was the hardest, as I've written about before, but even then, the glorious part of writing beginnings is it's the most energy you'll ever have for a project, so the lows were pretty soft lows. Book 2, in contrast, I had to drag kicking and screaming by its ankle from under the bottommost mattress of my brain. It's one of my least favorite books (tone problem; COS has killer plot/setting/ingredients for a YA novel, but it's stuck in the doldrums of Harry Potter's well-documented Early-Installment Weirdness, before Cedric Diggory slams the gas and upshifts the whole series into its correct age bracket). More specifically, once I'd gone through and picked out everything in the book that happened because of Lucius, I didn't have a plot — hey alexa how do you rewrite Chamber of Secrets when We Got No Fucking Chamber Of Secrets — and oh by the way, even if you want to do a moody tone/political setup book, remember that your protagonists are still twelve, so if you go too dark or too intense, you'll risk torpedoing your readers' suspension of disbelief. Good luck, Charlie.

Book 3 felt the most like its own novel, if that makes sense? It's the last truly feel-good book of the series; it's a great stand-alone mystery novel with relatively low stakes. Plus you get a bunch of the big series icons: patronuses, dementors, werewolves, Hogsmeade, the Marauders' Map, and time turners arithmancy. It just felt like a good old-fashioned motherfucking romp of a mystery/adventure story, before any of the complex character work and major stakes of the late books come in.

Book 4 was the most fun I've had writing anything maybe ever. I don't even know what it was. Maybe the tournament arc, honestly? Love me a tournament arc. But in any case, I opened every new chapter feeling a tingle of excitement for what I was gonna get to do. Oh, and the romance started, finally, Jesus God (if it feels like a slow burn reading, just imagine what it felt like writing it, when everything takes ten times as long, and you have to figure out how to word the fucker.)

Book 5, in contrast, has felt much less like that tingle of "here we go!" and more like "oh, man, this is gonna be cool." Because this is the arc of the story that composed the original idea for Lionheart, literally years ago, and to be honest, I didn't think I'd get this far! If you'd asked me "do you know that it's going to take you 500,000 words of backstory before you can start writing that concept you're thinking about, and you're going to do it anyway?" I would have said: "absolutely not, strange mind-reader!" But like... I'm here! Finally! And it's... real now? Like, this isn't just a bunch of clips of scenes in my head anymore! That's rad!

That being said, it's definitely been slower than Book 4, because I kept switching back to my outline document to make sure that certain things were set up properly, and that I hadn't lost any of the plot threads or forgotten a minor beat that was vitally important for the story three chapters later. And I had a minor crisis about three months ago when I ripped out about 8 chapters in the first third of the book — basically everything from September to December — because I'd done a readthrough to check pacing (big mistake! never edit while drafting, that's satan talking) and realized I had a missing storyline. Like, there was a whole layer of the story that was just. Missing. Not there. And the existing text really couldn't fit another thread, so instead of taking weeks to pore through and try to sift out what I could save, I needed to factory reset and start over. And I didn't want to! I vividly remember sitting there with my head in my hands, trying not to weep, because I'd decimated 90,000 words of work in a single edit. But it had to be done. Because the story wasn't going to work. And now (hopefully) it will.

And of course, there's still that sense of excitement and exhilaration from before. Always. But whereas Book 4 felt like a delicious chocolate pudding, Book 5 is a medium-rare steak.

(Book 6, so far, is four shots of espresso and a whiskey chaser. FWIW.)

#greenteacup asks #lionheart #lionheart spoilers #dramione

[bericas]

lil nas x (lost in the citadel) / boygenius (salt in the wound) / beach bunny (painkiller) / lucy dacus (strange torpedo) / beatrice eli (coward) / to kill a king (bloody shirt, bastille remix) / paramore (forgiveness) / taylor swift (untouchable) / mitski (i bet on losing dogs) / lucy dacus (body to flame) / florence + the machine (falling)

#twedit #sceoedit #sceo #lyricsongifs #teenwolfplus #REPOST BC I MESSED UP THE FORMAT AND DIDNT NOTICE<3 #anyway! ive had this forver im so excited to have it off of my computer #i love them so bad #tw #scott mccall #theo raeken #the way over half of this is from s6 crumbs btw. the devil works hard but i work harder #i want to ramble and be insane butim sleepy and i feel like this is insane enough to speak for itself #ok mwah mwah goodnight

[blue-aconite]

let me drown || chapter IV - jake's summer part I

Summary: Moving on is all about accepting what has happened to you. Jake reflects on his visit to Virgina while finding out that the future has in store for the Floyd siblings.

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of jealousy

Word Count: 4.6k

Pairings: Bradley Bradshaw x OC (past), Jake Seresin x OC (future)

Authors Note: And we're finally moving on from Bradley's summer. Let's see what the future has in store. Minors DNI. Each chapter will be labelled with warnings individually.

Thank you to my betas @demxters & @imjess-themess! I love and appreciate you ♥️

California, Lemoore Naval Air Station, Spring 2019

Jake waited patiently for his mother to pick up the phone, leaning against the wall. He only had a few minutes to spare and he hoped she was home. As he waited, Jake let his mind drift. 

It had been two weeks since he left Virginia after visiting his cousin. He hadn’t heard from Athena since but Jake hadn’t reached out either. There had been something strange about her when he came to visit but Jake hadn’t pushed, not wanting to be on the receiving end of another of her somewhat half-witted stories. 

His father has expressed his concern about her the last time they spoke but Jake had been too busy to genuinely spend time thinking about it. Something about her parents. Jake couldn’t truly remember. 

Thinking about his cousin brought up another memory to mind. Thea. She had been a breath of fresh air as he spent time in Virginia. He vaguely remembered Bob talking about his sister when they were deployed together but meeting Thea in person was different. 

He couldn’t deny that she was beautiful and her smile stirred something in him that he hadn’t felt in a long time. But she had a boyfriend, so Jake had settled for getting to know her as a friend. Despite people’s opinions of him, he wasn’t a complete asshole. Even though Jake felt like she could have done better than Bradshaw, he wasn’t about to get in between the two of them. 

Thea was as easy to get along with as her brother and Jake was delighted to find out that she could beat both Bob and him at golf as easily as he flew a jet. They had a great round and spending time with the Floyd siblings was easy. He had known Bob for years and it felt the same with Thea. Their relationship, however, had made Jake miss his own siblings and home. 

Just as he was about to hang up, his mother picked up the phone. “Jake, is that you?” 

“Ma, hi! Am I interrupting?” Jake asked, finding solace in his mother’s voice. Whenever he missed home, talking to her always made him miss it less. Her voice was warm and soothing. 

His mother laughed and he could see her prancing around the kitchen, phone pressed to her ear. “Of course not. I hope you’re calling to tell me that you’ll be coming home in time for Oliver’s birthday. It’s in three weeks, if you haven’t forgotten.”

“No, I haven’t forgotten. But I won’t make it.” He told her sadly. He didn’t want to disappoint his nephew or mother but this time he didn’t have any choice.

“JACOB THOMAS, you’ve known about his party for weeks,” Claudia scolded, making Jake hang his head, even though she couldn’t see him. “You know how excited he is.” 

“Ma, I did try, but getting a leave for a birthday party isn’t exactly standard protocol. I’ve sent a gift and an apology that I can’t attend. ” Jake sighed, leaning sideways against the wall. He scrubbed a hand down his face, listening to how disappointed Oliver would be that Uncle Jake wouldn’t show up to his sixth birthday.

He felt bad, he did. But without a leave he wasn’t going anywhere and his family knew that. “Ma, I would be there if I could, you know that.” 

Claudia sighed. “I know, baby. I just wish you could be here. He looks up to you.”

Torpedo appeared in the hallway, patting Jake on the shoulder as he walked past. “Hangman, five minutes, and then we have to get ready.”

Jake nodded and straightened up. “Ma, I have to go. I’ll call you when I can. I’ll try to call Oliver and wish him a happy birthday. I love you. Say hi to dad.”

Hanging up the phone, Jake leaned his head against the wall for a moment before straightening up and following Torpedo down the hall. As he entered the rec room, he knew it was going to be a long day. Critter and Blaze were already arguing over something stupid, no doubt. 

“Alright,” Torpedo clapped his hands together excitedly. “Hangman, you’re with Maple and Silver for today’s exercise. I’ll be with you two idiots.” He pointed to the arguing duo in the corner, both of them saluting sloppily. 

“Captain Porter has the rest of the instructions for you in the hangar. I’ll see you up there.” Torpedo nodded towards the door, Jake following closely. 

They walked in silence for a while, the rest of their squad chattering behind them. Critter and Blaze could still be heard arguing and Jake was glad he wasn’t supposed to fly with them. They were a good match but got on each others’ nerves all the time, as well as the rest of the squad. 

Jake wished Torpedo good luck as they parted ways, heading to their respective aircraft. He felt a sense of comfort and calm as he prepared his jet, going through the familiar motions. 

Jake tapped the nose of the plane for good luck, a ritual he’d kept up since he started flying. Maple saluted him as he climbed into the seat, making sure that all the safety straps were adjusted and he saluted back, winking. He hoped they’d touch down in time for dinner, he was in no mood the spend the entire evening doing the same exercise over and over. 

As the familiar rumble of the engines washed over him, Jake felt himself relax as he adjusted the final touches. As the jet took to the skies, Maple and Silver hot on his tail, he finally felt at home.

Jake left the locker room after his shower, hoping for a quiet evening. For once he wasn’t in the mood going out with his squad. Keeping his head down, he navigated the halls on his way to his room. He knew Torpedo wasn’t going to be in for the evening so he looked forward to catching up on some reading and just relaxing. 

As he kicked off his shoes and slung himself across the bed, his phone lit up with a text. Groaning, Jake reached for the device to see Coyote’s name. 

Did you hear the news?

No?

Floyd is transferring here. Replacing Cork in Eagles. 

Shit! What made him leave Oceana?

I was hoping you knew, since you saw him a while back!

No idea, he didn’t say anything.

Jake dragged a hand down his face, falling back against the pillows. Bob hadn’t mentioned a transfer while he was in Virginia. He wondered if there had been any trouble. Pulling up Athena’s contact info, he sent off a quick message. 

Hey, you know anything about why Floyd is transferring to Lemoore? 

He didn’t have to wait long before his phone buzzed again. 

Why the fuck do you care?

No need to be a bitch Athena. I was just asking. He didn’t say anything about it when I was over there

Jake sighed, already regretting reaching out to his cousin. Her behaviour during his visit was suspicious, especially her attitude towards Rooster. She had spent a significant portion of their time together complaining about Thea as well. It didn’t sit right with Jake but he also didn’t want to get involved in whatever beef she seemed to have with her pilot. 

Something about his sister? Idk, higher-ups quoted some bullshit about personal reasons. Not my problem honestly 

Jake sent a simple thumbs up back before tossing his phone aside. 

‘Something about his sister’ could mean that something was wrong with Thea. Jake wanted to reach out to Bob and ask but didn’t feel like it was appropriate either. They were friends but Jake didn’t know if interfering in family matters was the right thing to do. Hopefully, he’d catch Bob on base at some point. 

Jake felt the worry creep up and tried his best to force it down again. What had happened? Why would Thea be involved in anything having to do with a relocation for her brother? He hoped everything was alright. He liked both Floyd siblings and hated that either of them would have run into some kind of problem. 

Trying to get his mind off the matter, Jake picked up the most recent book he was reading, flipping through the pages until he reached the bookmark. It was a worn picture of him and his siblings, taken the summer before Jake was supposed to start first grade. He smiled, remembering how Paul had ruffled his hair right before the picture was taken, somewhat ruining Jake’s good mood.

His phone pinged with another text but this time from his sister. She told him that she understood that he wouldn’t make it for Oliver’s birthday. The “we miss you” at the end made his heartache. Jake hadn’t seen his sister or parents in person for almost two years and he missed them a lot. He almost pressed the button to call her but Torpedo’s key in the lock interrupted him.

“We missed you tonight.” the man chucked his shoes off, before haphazardly removing his jacket. 

Jake snorted. “Sure you did. I’m the life of the party.”

Torpedo slung himself onto the top bunk, not bothering to undress. Jake groaned as the familiar fumes of sweat and alcohol filled his nostrils. “Dude, at least take a shower. You reek.”

“Fuck off, Seresin.” the man jabbed but did as Jake asked anyway. 

Jake closed his eyes, putting the book down as he leaned back against the pillow. Maybe if he was lucky, he could fall asleep before Torpedo came back or at least ignore the other pilot.

A short buzz from his phone alerted him to another text. Jake wondered what the hell Coyote could want now. But it was Bob’s name that showed on the screen and Jake was embarrassed to say that he struggled to unlock the phone. 

I’m transferring next week. You still with the Vigilantes?

Hey man, yeah, heard it through the grapevine. I am!

Let me guess, Coyote? He’s always been a gossip

You said it, not me. How come you’re coming out west?

Personal reasons. Anyway, I thought I’d give you a heads-up. See you soon!

Appreciate it man! Glad to have another sane person around.

The indication that Bob was typing popped up but disappeared and his friend only reacted with a thumbs up instead. 

Jake wanted to pry and ask what the personal reasons were since they concerned Thea. Was she coming with him? And what about Rooster? Was he transferring too? After what Jake had seen at dinner, he didn’t think Bradshaw would like to be away from her. The man’s possessiveness had bothered Jake but it wasn’t his place to say anything, so he kept his mouth shut, hoping that Bob had seen it too and voiced his concerns to Thea. 

He didn’t know if Bradshaw had acted the way he did because Jake was there or if it was just how the man behaved but the way he had demonstrated that he and Thea were a couple didn’t sit right with him. He respected it, of course, but Rooster made it look wrong, making it look too possessive. 

Jake hadn’t really asked Thea about her relationship during golf, getting to know her instead. She had been kind enough to indulge in his inquiries. He had found himself feeling very drawn to Bob’s sister, who shared the same easygoing and kind nature as her brother. Jake knew that he had developed some sort of attraction to Thea during his short visit to Virginia but she was spoken for and that was it. 

Suddenly curious about whether Bradshaw would be showing up as well, Jake sent his cousin a text.

Is Bradshaw transferring as well?

Fucking coward got himself deployed out to sea with a new squadron. 

Jake didn’t bother to answer, brows creased as he read the text over and over. So Bradshaw wasn’t coming to Lemoore. Athena’s text told him more than he needed to know, her choice of words regarding Rooster very similar to the ones she’d sprouted during his visit. 

Jake realised that he shouldn’t speculate too much and just hoped he’d catch Bob at some point to ask what was really going on. Whatever it was, he just hoped Thea was alright. 

“So, did you get any information?” Coyote asked as they sat down in his seat across from Jake. He rubbed his hands together, eyebrows raised, and a hint of excitement in his voice. 

They had their weekly dinner, if their schedules allowed it and this time Javy had chosen a quiet but nice Japanese restaurant not far from Lemoore. 

Jake studied the menu, rolling his eyes. “Information on what?”

“Floyd? About how he’s coming here! You’re the last one that talked to him.” Javy exclaimed excitedly, almost bouncing in his seat. Jake couldn’t help but snort as he thought back on his and Bob’s conversation last week.

“Bob was right. You are such a gossip!” Jake joked. 

Javy made a faux wounded noise, hand over his chest. “I’m hurt. I simply like to be in the know.”

Jake shook his head, putting the menu down and reached for his glass of water. “You’re like an 80-year-old lady who keeps track of everything that happens on her street. Sitting there with binoculars, just waiting for the drama to happen. I don’t know how Phoenix puts up with you.”

Javy pretended to sniffle, putting on his best puppy eyes. “Nat loves me for who I am. Same can’t be said for you, asshat, who is supposed to be my best friend.”  

Jake subtly kicked his friend under the table, rolling his eyes at the same time. “Being your best friend is exhausting, I’ll have you know.” 

Javy gasped dramatically, shaking his head. Their server interrupted the moment to take their order and then they were left in peace for the time being. Jake thought back to his exchange with Bob earlier that week and pulled out his phone to show Javy.

“That’s all I know.” He concluded, hoping that Javy would be satisfied. 

“So both Bob and your cousin said personal reasons. Do you know anything about it?” Coyote asked. 

Jake leaned back in his seat, putting the phone screen down on the table. “I just said this is all I know,” he paused, Athena’s words seeping into his mind. “Joanna mentioned his sister as well but I don’t know how much of what she says is true. She talks a lot of shit.”

Javy snorted into his water as their server came back with their food. “She does talk a lot of shit.”

“Either way, I don’t know anything else. I just hope Thea and Bob are okay.” Jake said, pushing the wakame salad around on his plate. 

“Thea, huh?” Javy asked with a smirk, expertly picking up a salmon roll with his chopsticks and dunking it in soy sauce. Jake had made the mistake of telling Javy all about his trip to Virginia, including Thea, a few weeks prior. Javy had immediately picked up on the way Jake had talked about Bob’s sister and had not so subtly asked what the deal was. 

“So, is she pretty?” Javy wiggled his eyebrows, knocking their knees together. 

“If I say no, will you stop asking about it?” Jake grumbled, reaching for his beer on the coffee table. Fleetwood Mac poured from the speakers, people chatting all around them. A beer pong table was set up in the corner and Jake could spy people on the garden through the open glass sliding doors.  

Javy shoved a handful of peanuts into his mouth, chewing obnoxiously loudly. “Stop that, it’s disgusting.” Jake shoved at him and Javy shoved back before they leaned into each other, giggling as they watched Torpedo school one of Javy’s squad mates in darts. 

Their laughter died out and Jake sighed. “She’s beautiful. But that’s not the point. She’s funny and quick. You should have seen her beat both me and Bob out on the course.” 

“Man, you sound like a love-sick school girl.” Javy teased but raised an eyebrow questioning as well. 

“I found her interesting, that’s all. But she’s got a boyfriend. And that’s fine.” 

Coyote opened two new bottles of beer, handing one to him before answering. “Bradshaw, right?” 

Jake hummed. “Yeah.” 

“Bummer. Sounds like you really like her.” Javy nudged his side, in a way Jake guessed was supposed to be a comforting gesture but he didn’t know if Javy was trying to comfort him or insult Thea’s choice in boyfriend. 

Jake sighed. “I did. I do. But she’s also a really good friend. We had a lot of fun together,” he paused, peeling off the label around the bottle. “You’d like her. She’s a lot like her brother.” 

“Man, I love Floyd. He’s the quietest guy I’ve ever met but snarky as hell. And his dog is the cutest, - OH, speaking of dogs, I’m trying to convince Nat that we should get one and I need your help -“ Javy rambled. 

“Javy, there’s no way you two can have a dog. Both of you are still on active duty and don’t have a permanent place. Floyd’s got a civilian girlfriend, which probably helps.” Jake interrupted, bumping their shoulders together. 

Coyote gave him a side eye before rolling his eyes. “Couldn’t you have pretended at least?” 

“What kind of best friend would I be if I didn’t give you a reality check every now and then?” Jake joked. 

“We’ve been over this. She’s got a boyfriend, end of story. Yes, she made me feel.. something, but it’s not relevant.” Jake picked up a roll and shoved it in his mouth. 

“Did Bob say anything about her?” 

Jake shook his head. “‘Nah.” 

“What about her? Have you two talked?” Javy inquired, picking apart the sushi on his plate. 

“Not really? We texted back and forth after the golf session but she’s been quiet since. She’s probably busy.” 

Javy stayed quiet, prompting Jake to stay quiet as well. Maybe he should have reached out to her when he found out Bob was coming to Lemoore. Being around Thea had been easy and he genuinely thought they’d make great friends. 

“So, you said Bradshaw acted like a child?” Javy interrupted his musings. 

“Huh?” 

“Rooster? You said he behaved like a dick while you were visiting?” Javy glanced around as if they were being spied on. 

Rolling his eyes at his friend's antics, Jake leaned back in his chair. “Yeah. I didn’t like how he acted with her. I smiled and introduced myself and he put on a whole show making sure I knew she was off limits. Like, I know I’m an asshole but I wouldn’t go after a girl who’s taken. His behaviour just struck me as odd.” 

“Well, you’re not his favourite person,” Javy joked. Jake made an agreeing sound and they sat in silence. Javy was shifting back and forth, face drawn in a tight grimace despite his earlier jab. 

Jake sighed. “Spit it out.”

“What?” Javy rebuffed, crossing his arms defensively across his chest. 

“You obviously have something to say.”

Coyote hesitated a moment before speaking. “Don’t you think you’re looking too much into this? I understand that you’re worried but I’m sure that if something was wrong, Bob would have picked up on it. From what you’ve told me, he and Thea seem pretty close and I don’t think Floyd would let anyone hurt his sister.” 

Jake opened his mouth to protest but Javy beat him to it. “I’m not saying I don’t believe you. I do. But I just don’t want you to get too attached to Thea. You said it yourself, she’s got a boyfriend. It’s not your job to worry. Bob would probably put his foot down if Bradshaw is acting up.” He finished, face apologetic. 

Jake knew Javy was right. It wasn’t his problem and he was sure Bob would keep an eye on Thea. It just felt off. But he knew he needed to take Javy’s words to heart. 

Thea had a boyfriend. He was just a friend. He had no right to say anything about their relationship. All he could settle for was to be a good friend to Thea. 

“You’re right.” Jake admitted defeat. It didn’t feel right but it was for the best. 

Javy nudged his shin, face still drawn into a tight smile. “Of course I’m right, I’m always right. But for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I know you like her.”

Jake gave him a tight smile, shrugging slightly. “Like I said, you’re right.”

They made small talk for the rest of the dinner and promised to try and get together the next week.

As Jake walked back to his place, he tried his best to not think about Thea. He thought about what he should send as a present to Oliver for his birthday, if Torpedo would have left his stuff all over the floor as usual. 

He tried so hard to think about anything else than Thea. And as his phone lit up with her name, he failed spectacularly. 

After a gruelling day consisting of mostly everything going wrong, Jake just wanted to lie down and forget that world existed. 

But he opted to head to the gym, headphones on to not be disturbed. There weren't many people there when he arrived and he claimed a spot in the far back for his warm up routine. 

He checked his messages once more, hoping that there would be a text but was met with disappointment. Not that his latest message required an answer but he had hoped for the conversation to continue after Thea reached out after dinner. 

Her message had been short, a question only and Jake had probably answered a little too quickly. 

Are you still stationed out in CA? - Thea 

Jake had immediately replied yes and then tentatively let her know that he knew Bob was being transferred. She never replied and Jake wondered if he crossed a line. 

In hindsight he was probably overthinking the whole thing and as he stretched, he decided that he was going to try and take Javy’s advice. Whatever was going on, he didn’t need to get involved. 

Even he desperately wanted to know. If something had happened to Thea, he wanted to be able to be there for her if she needed it. But it wasn’t his job. So he put his phone on ‘don’t disturb’ for the reminder of his time in the gym. 

On his way back, he spoke briefly with Paul about Oliver’s birthday party and its success. His brother made sure he knew that Oliver got Jake’s gift and how excited he was even though Jake couldn’t attend. 

“…and then Maria said she met this guy at a study group and wanted to know if she can go on a date? Over my dead body.” Paul whined and Jake could imagine his brother's horror at his eldest daughters dating adventures. 

“If I remember correctly, we were all allowed to date at 16.” Jake mused, waving to Torpedo as he passed him by. 

Paul snorted. “Yeah and I also remember what being 16 is like. She’ll go on that date when hell freezes over.” 

Jake opened his mouth to respond but the sight of Bob Floyd had him backtracking and quickly ending the call. 

“Floyd! Didn’t know you were here yet.” Jake greeted as he approached the WSO, extending his hand for a handshake. Bob, as usual, surprised him by pulling him into a brief hug before leaning back. 

“Just left the air boss's office actually. Heading out soon, I just wanted to catch you before I left.” Bob explained, shoving his hands in his pockets. He looked on edge, a tenseness in his shoulders that Jake hadn’t seen the last time they were together. 

“Not staying on base then?” 

Bob shook his head. “I’ll get my bunk tomorrow. I'm staying with Thea tonight.” 

At the mention of Bob’s sister, Jake felt his heart accelerate but tried his best to hide it. “Oh, so she’s here? Didn’t think she’d leave.” 

Bob shrugged, hands still buried deep in his pockets. “She needed to leave.” 

He doesn’t elaborate and Jake’s dying to ask why but he doesn’t want to come across as nosy. So he settles on a safer topic. 

“What about that fiancée of yours, where’s she?” 

Bob starts toward the parking lot and Jake follows, his gym bag slung across his shoulder. 

“She’s still in Virginia. Her job won’t let her leave right away. She’ll join us when she can.” 

Jake clicked his tongue, mimicking Bob’s stance by shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Bet you miss the dog more, huh?” 

Bob snorted and huffed a laugh, opening the car door. “Listen, you should come over for dinner soon. Thea will be happy to see you.” 

“Will she?” Jake heard himself ask, hoping that the nervousness that had snuck up on him the moment Bob mentioned Thea wasn’t noticeable. 

“Yeah, she will. I think she needs it.” Bob assured, handing him a handwritten note with an address on it. 

Jake thanked him and they decided on a day next week, so the siblings could have some time to settle before bringing guests over. 

Bob requested that he bring Javy along if the man was free and Jake promised to let his best friend know about the invite the next time they spoke. 

As Bob got ready to start the car, Jake voiced the question that had been nagging him since he found out about Floyd’s transfer. 

“Hey, is Thea okay?” 

Bob stopped short of turning the key in the ignition, taking a deep breath. The lines around his eyes hardened and Jake felt like he had asked the wrong question. 

“No, she’s not. She will be, eventually. It’s not my story to tell. All I can say is that Bradshaw isn’t in the picture anymore.” 

So they broke up. Jake’s suspicions had been right. 

“How come?” He wondered, toeing the line between being polite and outright asking. 

Bob leaned back in his seat. “Like I said, not my story to tell.”

He felt mildly disappointed but took it in stride, the corners of his mouth curling upwards. “Well, if you need help to hide the body, you have my number. See you Wednesday, yeah?” 

They parted ways, bidding each other good night and Jake headed back towards his room. As he walked, he pulled out his phone and opened his text messages, scrolling until he found his conversation with Thea. 

Spoke with your brother. Whatever happened, I’m here for you, if you need a friend. Don’t hesitate to reach out. 

He put away the phone, reaching for his book as he made himself comfortable on the bed. Jake felt slightly calmer now that he knew something rather than nothing but he still wanted to reach out. If Thea didn’t want to answer him, that was okay. He just wanted her to know that he was there for her, for whatever she needed. 

He turned out the light after two chapters, exhaustion hitting him. As he turned out the light, a quiet chime from his phone alerted him to a notification. 

It wasn’t an answer but it was enough for him to know that she had gotten his message. A red heart marked his last sent message and Jake fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Taglist: @wildbornsiren​ @ryebecca @imjess-themess @reels-and-wheels @antiquitea @writercole @hederasgarden @yanna-banana @bobfloydsbabe @hollandorks @anniesocsandgeneralstore @ereardon @luminousnotmatter @roosterscock @thedroneranger @fandomxpreferences @top-hhun @princessmisery666 @bradshawsbitch​ @a-reader-and-a-writer @green-socks @angstybluejay @seresinhangmanjake @ayorooster​@notroosterbradshaw​ @indynerdgirl @gigisimsonmars @girl-in-the-chairs-void@bradshawbabes @unhinged-btch @horseshoegirl @sadpetalsstuff @bradshawbaby @ahopelessromanticwritersworld @ummjustfics​ @septemberrie​ @somenamewithepineapple​ @seresinsweetie​​ @crescentwolf​ @seresinhangmanjake​ @waklman​ @roosterforme​ @rosiahills22​ @dempy​ @i0veless​ @ilovewriting06​ @kmc1989​ @demxters @amortentiadrops @teacupsandtopgun @hangmanscoming

#jake seresin x oc #hangman x oc #rooster x oc (past) #bradley bradshaw x oc (past) #fe writes #fic: let me drown #oc: thea floyd #top gun maverick fic #top gun maverick

[11queensupreme11]

" I survived math, kept my eyes open through English, had a nap in study hall (favorite class ever), and got to meet the swim team in seventh period. The coach said our first swim meet would be on Thursday. No problem, as long as I remembered not to breathe underwater, swim at Mach 5, or come out of the pool totally dry. Those things tended to get me strange looks. "

–Percy Jackson in The Chalice of the Gods.

So it's actually true 😭 percy swims at 5 mach (5 times the speed of light)

I HAD TO WATCH THIS VIDEO SO I CAN GET A VISUAL OF HOW FAST MACH 5 IS

AND HOLY SHIT THATS FAST!!! i wanna see how it'll look in the tv show, percy's gonna become an underwater torpedo lmao 😭😭😭

#👸🏻| asks #👸🏻| arsenic blues

[your-resident-boat-person]

What is it about the RMS Olympic that makes it stand out from other ocean liners?

For me it's a lot of things. I'm going to start with a weird one. Her engines.

The RMS Mauretania was the biggest ship in the world until the Olympic was completed in 1911, and the fastest until 1927. She was designed for speed first and foremost. She had 4 propellers powered by steam turbines, which were the new hot thing at the time. Cunard built 2 "test ships," the Carmania and the Caronia. Carmania had steam turbines, and Caronia had traditional triple expansion steam engines. Carmania was faster, so Cunard used turbines. Mauretania had a top speed (at the time) of about 27.75 knots. Which is impressive. However, her service speed, the speed she went at when she crossed the ocean, was 23.69 knots. Mauretania was designed for speed. This was an impressive speed. The fastest way to cross the ocean for 20 years.

Meanwhile, Olympic was built with comfort in mind. Steam turbines were a relatively new technology and not well understood. Ships that had them had really bad vibration issues, and White Star didn't care about speed. They weren't looking to compete with Cunard on that front. So, they equipped the Olympic with traditional triple expansion steam engines. However, after the steam was exhausted from the final cylinder, it was redirected into a low-pressure turbine. This strange combination engine system gave the Olympic 3 Propellers. Without the turbine, she probably wouldn't have gone above 18 knots. But with that little extra push, her top speed became competitive with Cunard. Her top speed was 21.75 knots. So even without the new fancy turbines, she was effectively only 2 knots slower. But that's not the impressive part about all of this.

In a single day, the Mauretania burned on average 1,000 tons of coal to go 23.69 knots. Meanwhile, Olympic, with her weird engine Mish mash, only consumed 650 tons in a day. And she was only 2 knots slower! And with the turbine propeller right behind her (comparatively) large rudder, she was a really good turner for a ship of her size. I just love the engineering here.

Anyway, that's only one reason I love her so much. Her career was another great thing about her. After Titanic sank, White Star refitted Olympic to make her even safer (she was objectively the safest ship in the world both before and after this refit) and White Star pulled the biggest PR comeback in history. Her return to service in 1913 was widely celebrated. During World War 1, she served as a troop ship, and she is the only Ocean Liner to have ever sunk enemy tonnage in either World Wars. A German U-Boat was trying to torpedo her, but because she could turn so well, they were actually able to swing her around, ram the U-Boat and sink it! She also survived a separate torpedo attack because it failed to detonate when it struck. After the war, when they put her in dry dock, they found the hole. They didn't even know they were hit! The double hull contained the flooding. After the war, she returned to passenger service and became extremely popular with the rich and famous, earning herself the nickname of "the movie star liner." By the 1930s, White Star's new flagship, the Majestic, was having some extreme problems. She was a German ship given to them as compensation for the loss of Britannic. She began having some electrical problems that caused frequent fires, and her hull plates were tearing. Even though she was 10,000 tons bigger than Olympic, and she was a newer and safer ship, Olympic was still in fantastic shape, suffering from none of these problems.

Next, is her interiors. I love the Edwardian wood paneling. Ships before Olympic like the Adriatic are a bit too sparse for my taste, and ships like the Aquitania just don't look comfortable to me. Her interiors are gorgeous, but it's kind of imposing. I wouldn't want to sit on the furniture or get close to the walls. It's like a work of art, but that doesn't make her comfortable. I have the same problem with the Normandie. Beautiful, but not comfortable. People nowadays forget that you actually had to live inside these ships for about a week at a time. We can only look. Occupying these interiors is very different. Meanwhile, I feel like the Olympic gets that perfect balance between looking gorgeous, but not being imposing. I can imagine myself sitting comfortably on a chair in the grand staircase and watching the people go by. I like the pseudo art deco of the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and Mauretania 2, but I just prefer the Edwardian decor of the Olympic.

Next is her exterior. She's not my favorite in this regard, that title goes to the SS United States. But the Olympic is still gorgeous. I like the height to width ratio of her funnels, I think they're a good size relative to the rest of her. For an example of funnels I don't like, I think the Normandies funnels are way too thick and tall. The Olympics superstructure is appealing and isn't too tall. The rounded bridge atop the flatter lower decks has just an incredible effect. The Big 4 had the bridge separate from the rest of the superstructure, and it looked kinda goofy to me. Olympic is just all around really good in this regard. Not the best, but really good.

I think it's such a shame that she's been reduced to "Titanic's sister." She was so much more than that. I can talk about the Olympic for hours, but this post is too long already.

#ocean liner #ocean liners #oceanliner #rms titanic #titanic #cunard #rms queen mary #rms olympic #olympic #ss normandie #rms majestic #ss united states #world war 1 #rms mauretania #mauretania