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violetfoxsketches · 11 months

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🖊🖊🖊 >:3

You want 3 shorts, you will get 3 shorts >;3c General tw for blood, body horror; these are shorts about Javier's turning

🖊 Hellbent

“Would you get off my back?! I don’t wanna hear it, man!”

Javier snarled at the figure in the passenger seat of his danube blue ‘65 Impala. He’d agreed to drive Lucas home from work, not to another lecture about Riles. As they pulled to a red light, Lucas gawked as Javier propped a cigarette between his lips and flicked a lighter.

“I thought you said you quit last year.” Lucas drawled, “Where are you even gittin’ the money for those? You couldn’t even pay yer half of rent last month.” “Seriously, dude what are you, my ma?” Javier growled in response, “Wouldn't need ‘em if you’d stop stressin’ me out so much with all the lecturin’.”

“I wouldn’t have to lecture yer ass if you’d just break up with yer crazy chick.” Lucas spat in response, “You don't drag yer ass in til dawn half the time, you stopped goin' to Mass, you miss work, and now yer smokin' again? It’s like I don’t even know you anymore, man. Whatever she's doin' wit'chu you ain't right. You need to git rid of her.”

“Lucas, I’m warnin’ you…”

The car fell into silence as the light turned green. The fuck did Lucas know about Riles anyways? He’d hated her ever since he met her. Javier took a long drag and let his breath fill the car with smoke as he eyed Lucas in the passenger seat, almost daring the man to say one more thing about Riles. Lucas glared right back. Then, without warning, he snatched the cig right out of Javier’s mouth, cranked down the window and flicked it out of the car.

“What the fu—?”

“—Stop bein’ a dick and I’ll stop treatin’ you like one.” Lucas cut in.

“If anyone’s bein’ the dick, it’s you!” Javier bellowed, “What the fuck is your problem with Riles? The real one, not the bullshit you keep makin’ up about her.”

“I ain’t makin’ up shit, Javi. I went with my gut and made some calls at work. There ain’t no Riley Reid from Tampa that matches her in the books. She’s lyin’ through her teeth, and yer eatin’ it up!”

“Yeah sure. You’re stalkin’ her records, but she’s the crazy one! Do you even hear yourself, man? Maybe you're the one that's changed.” Lucas went quiet. Javier scoffed.

“She told me you were gonna try and use some bullshit story to scare me away from her.” Javier’s voice grew cold, “Can’t you just go be happy with your fiance and leave me the fuck alone already?” “...I gave her til the end of the month to git the hell outta dodge before I call the feds.” Lucas responded, tone equally as icy, “I can’t let her ruin yer life with whatever scam she’s pullin’.”

Tires screeched on pavement as Javier swerved to a stop.

“You WHAT?!” Javier practically roared, “...Nah. Get out of the fuckin’ car.”

Lucas gave Javier a hard look, but it went ignored as Javier jerked the keys out of the ignition and stepped out in a rage. He rounded the front of the Impala and yanked the passenger door open. “I said, get out of the fuckin’ car, Lucas!” Javier yelled, “Or I’ll make you get out.”

“You can’t make me do shit, Javi.”

That was it. Javier reached in, grabbed a handful of Lucas’ blazer, and tugged him right out of his seat. He didn’t care if it was Lucas, he was gonna feed the jerk his own teeth for threatening Riles. Javier drew his fist back and swung, but Lucas banked to the right and before Javier knew what happened, Javier’s back slammed against the hood of the Impala and Lucas had an iron grip on Javier’s jacket collar. Stunned by the impact, Javier flinched and closed his eyes for a punch that never came.

“Believe it or not, I’m doin' this because I care about you, pendejo.” Lucas huffed, still holding Javier in place by two fistfuls of jacket.

“...liar.” Javier managed, “You just can’t stand the idea that I’m not the sorry little queer that needs your protection anymore. God forbid I find a woman to be happy with. What; did you think I’d never get over you?”

The grip loosened. Lucas looked down at Javier as if those words had been a switchblade to the chest. Good. Javier took the chance to shove Lucas away and got back on his feet.

“Up yours, Lucas. You can fuckin’ walk home.” Javier spat as he fixed the jacket’s popped collar, “You’re not makin’ me late to my date.” Javier slammed the passenger door shut, slid into the driver’s seat, and flipped Lucas the bird before revving the engine and peeling out, leaving the other man to choke on exhaust in the rear view mirror.

🖊 Love Me Dead

Javier felt like he was on fire. His ears were ringing, the smell of something foul assaulted his nose, he could taste an entire ashtray on his dry tongue. His fingers stung as he groped blindly along… dusty concrete?

Bleary brown eyes finally cracked open to take in his surroundings. Blood. It was all over him, old, dry, flakey blood. It was the only thing on him, he soon came to realize.

Okay, focus. Try and remember what happened…

He’d been furious when he got home. Packed a backpack for everything he’d need overnight and tossed it in the trunk of his Impala before going to meet with Riles. She’d cooed and smoothed his ruffled feathers, she’d made him forget his anger, but things got fuzzy from there.

To Javier’s surprise, his sight was the only one of his senses that wasn’t overwhelming him. He was in a basement, or at least, what once was a basement. It looked like a tornado had blown through the place. What had happened down here...?

The world around him was moving too quickly. He crashed into a wooden banister, and splintered it. He went headlong into a stack of old boxes and scattered their contents. He remembered the headache that was denting some kind of pipe. Then there was the door. Clawing and clawing at impossible speed with his bare hands like a trapped animal. Desperate. Screaming. Starving.

Javier rounded what was left of the banister up to the basement door. Deep scratch marks, highlighted with more old blood. His blood, he finally realized. In his frenzy, he’d worn his fingertips down to blood and bone. What kind of drug had he been on last ni— OhhhhHolyMotherOfGod there was a hole in his chest.

“HELP!” Javier’s lungs burned as he filled them with air to scream, “¡AYÚDAME! SOMEONE; ANYONE!”

He grabbed the doorknob. He twisted and pulled and pushed and rattled but it wouldn't budge. He pounded and pounded on the wood, first with his fists, then with his shoulders. Until finally he heard the sound of footsteps.

"LET ME OUT! I NEED A DOCTOR!"

The groan of a heavy object scraping the floor. The rattle of a chain. The sliding of a deadbolt. The twist of the doorknob. He came face to face with…

“...Riles?” Javier uttered. A wash of relief crashed into him, “Riles, thank God!”

She simply stood there, amusement growing on her lips and a folded pile of clothes in her arms.

“Ohh, Pobrecito~” Riley snickered, “Still reeling from that tantrum, I see. C’mon, let’s get you all cleaned up.”

“Riles, you gotta get me to a hospital before I bleed out!” Javier urged, unsure why she was so calm. Jovial, even.

“Baby… you’re not bleeding out. You’re already dead.”

“I’m… —Riles, c’mon, that’s not funny.”

“I’m serious. You’re dead. Although damn; did you come back swinging. What a display.”

Riley chuckled darkly, gazing him up and down with pride in her smile as she handed Javier what he now realized were his duds and jacket.

“Everything is going to be okay now.” she reached up to caress the side of his face. Anxiety and panic fluttered away as Javier practically melted into her touch, “You’re free, Baby.”

Javier found himself grinning right back at her. He wasn't entirely sure why. “Free, huh? Free from what?”

“Your miserable life. Your awful friends. Your pointless studies. Sharing the same fate as your father. You’re more than all of that now. You are the night personified. Beautiful. Eternal. Vicious.”

Riley drew Javier closer with her touch and cradled him against her neck. Something inside Javier stirred. A foreign instinct, demanding to be acknowledged. Or had it always been a part of him? He kissed her, gratefully. God, she was cold as Death.

“Go on; I know you must still be hungry.” Riley whispered as her fingers slid through the hair at the back of Javier’s head.

He was still hungry, and somehow he already knew what to do. He curled back his lip and bit sharply into her neck…

🖊 Teeth

He was met with the bright amber eyes he’d fallen in love with. His senses weren’t screaming, the hole in his chest was gone, and his fingertips were whole again. Thank God it was over.

“I must’ve been on a helluva trip if you stayed with me all night. You never do that.” Javier snorts out a laugh, “I don’t even remember what I took, pero I was loco en la cabeza last night. I was convinced we were both vampires. God; I think I even tried to bite you.”

“Oh there was no try, Baby; you did.” Riley smirked, “And we are. You just might be a little hazy on the details, seeing as you went so buck wild I had to stake you for a couple weeks.”

“Seriously, stop pullin’ my leg, Riles.”

Riley tilted her head and smiled at him in a way that didn’t need words: she was patronizing him. Then she flashed her teeth and Javier’s own smile dropped. His gaze darted to a mirror on the nearby vanity and in what felt like a blur, he was already there, rattling the furniture with an unintentional collision. Reflexively, he steadied the wobbly mirror before it could topple. The sight that greeted him was paler than ever, almost no color to his lips. The dusty eyes looking back at him were sunken and dull. He looked half-dead. Behind him, Riley giggled.

“Cool the jets, Babyfangs, there’s no fire.” she purred.

“Babyfangs?” Javier wrinkled his nose at her reflection.

Instinctively, he curled a lip and sure enough, four massive fangs protruded from his gums.

“...Madre de Dios…”

“Oh Baby… God didn’t have anything to do with this.”

Reality hit Javier like a speeding car and he staggered backwards. Cold arms caught him and snaked around his middle.

“I had to do it,” Riley insisted, “He was trying to take you away from me; look at how much he upset you. You’re better off without him. Without all of them. We’ll hit the road tonight and leave this miserable place in our dust. You trust me, right?”

“Yeah…” Javier found himself saying, almost automatically. Of course he trusted her. “I just need to tell Ma or she’ll worry.”

“Oh, I already took care of that. Your funeral was last week.”

Something hitched within him. Not his breath, not his pulse —he’d already come to realize both were long absent. No, this was something deeper, in the pit of his stomach. His poor Ma.

The arms tightened around him and cold flesh pressed against his back.

“You don’t live in their world anymore, Baby. It had to be done. They can’t come looking for you.”

“...How? What… what do they think happened to me?”

“Oh, you can read about it if you like.” Riley almost sang. She removed one hand to grab a newspaper clipping on the nightstand and handed it to Javier.

Fiery Crash Leaves One Dead And Rocks Nashville Suburb

Javier Andres Peña of Nashville, Tennessee was found dead on the side of Bell Road this morning by police after reports of smoke in the area. He was tragically killed in a vehicular accident on the evening of August 15th, when he lost control of his vehicle and struck a telephone pole. Evidence suggests he had been drinking and that a lit cigarette started the blaze that later consumed the vehicle. There was not enough left of the body to identify, but the plates on the burnt out shell of the 1965 Impala found at the scene matched a title in his name. His girlfriend, Riley Reid, reported he was meant to show up for a date that evening and never made it. Peña was 25 years old and is survived by his mother, Celestina Peña. The closed casket funeral will be on August 18th at 10pm at Our Lady Guadalupe Catholic Church. Wake to follow.

He almost choked. That pit in his stomach started to burn and boil. How… how could Riley do that… to his car. To whatever poor fuck she’d passed off as him. To Ma. To Lucas. Oh God Lucas. He felt sick. Angry.

“Baby… this was for your own good.” she whispered, “You love me, don’t you…?”

“Yeah…” Javier nodded tersely. The arms wrapped tightly around him once more. Guilt suddenly overwhelmed him.

“You trust me, don’t you…?”

“... Yeah.” What was he upset about again? He couldn't remember.

“You want to be with me forever, don’t you…?”

“Of course, Riles. Siempre.” He couldn’t have been more sure of anything in the world.

She turned Javier to face her and stood to meet him. Cradling him close to her neck again and tracing fingers through his hair.

“You’ll feel better once you’ve eaten, Baby. I promise.”

#vampire the masquerade #vtm oc #ask game #Toreador #sayonaramidnight #Javier Peña #Riley Reid #tw blood #tw body horror #yes I like naming my shorts after songs from a character's playlist #especially since Javier's Toreador obsession is music #closeted 80's Tennessee bisexual dumpster fire of a man that he is

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nanlanmoarchived · 7 months

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hear me out:

we should write Jess and your muse in a scene like the photoshoot montage in 13 Going on 30, specifically the scene when Jenna and Matt are at the Winter Wonderland shoot and he uses Jenna to show the models how to slow dance but then maybe he doesn't go back to work and they slow dance alongside the models (or whoever it is they were showing how to dance) for a song and then they pull back and both of them are blushing a little and there's that knot in both their stomachs because they don't want to pull apart and everyone's kind of like 👀

#pls #tennessee whiskey came on my playlist #and jess made grabby hands at fluffy slow dancing #; wishlist

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kuiperoid · 18 days

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youtube

They say that a man is made out of mud. A poor man's made out of muscle and blood.

#Tennessee Ernie Ford #Sixteen Tons #Merle Travis #apparently he originally wrote it #16 Tons #working class #class struggle #classism #aporophobia #Naden playlist #Youtube

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tendrflesh · 4 months

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tag drop

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the-midwest-wind · 9 months

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#spotify #friday inspiration #playlist #trama session #friday music #music inspiration #vinyl #vinylcollection #guarapuava #country #tennessee #rodeo #southern #americana #country road

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colemonroe · 1 year

Audio

I wonder if those whispering pines ever told our secrets, 'Cause if I have one too many I'll tell you mine. A story of how the first cut is the deepest, And how some old flames just don't fade with time.

We were bottle rockets in a summer love, Shooting for the stars, we were blowing up. Moonlight kisses in a Chevrolet bed, All over my heart, over my head. You were my half pack hider, I was your glove box lighter. If I tell you I knew what I was doing, I'm a liar, I was trying to play it cool with a girl on fire.

@ccassie

#( playlist. )#( inspo. )#( cole & cassie; smooth as tennessee whiskey. )

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smashedsoup · 2 years

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#country music #country music playlist 2022 #country music 2022 #new country music songs 2022 #dollywood #country artist #classic country #tennessee #viral #isolated vocals #vocals only #dolly parton #country music 2021 #country music playlist 2021 #new country music songs 2021

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ushys · 9 months

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⸻ miles morales as your boyfriend (earth 1610)

a/n: omfg the chokehold this gif has on me- anyway you guys do not understand how much love i have for this sweet boy 🥹 deserves the world idc idc.

- fluff, no nsfw bc he is a minor, afab reader (lmk if you guys want gn, male)

MILES LOVES drawing you. you’re perfect in his eyes and he could draw only you for all of eternity and he wouldn’t complain at all. everything about you was beautiful to him and he made sure he captured every beautiful detail you have on to his drawings.

MILES is the type to send you cute (your favorite animal) videos on tiktok because he knows how much you love em and all he wants to do is to make you happy.

WILL introduce you to his family and is happy when he finds out how easily you and his parents got along. you got along with his mom so well that sometimes you’d visit their house and mostly talk ‘chisme’ with her the entire time (he gets jealous-)

AFTER an argument, he stops by your window and drops you off flowers with a little cute note apologizing. he doesn’t know if you would want to see him at that moment so he gives you time to cool off and give you some space. he replies immediately if you were to call or text him ready to talk again due to how much he hates wasting time not talking to you.

HE likes showing you off to anyone. his friends? yes. his family? yes. strangers on the street? yes. he can’t help it if he’s madly in love.

WHEN he revealed to you that he was spider-man, he was scared that you were going to be mad at him for keeping this a secret from him for a very long time. he thought that you were going to think that he didn’t “trust” you but when you were actually ecstatic finding out instead of upset, his worries all vanished as he smiled and hugged you.

WILL have a whole playlist dedicated to you. he likes to listen to that playlist when you aren’t with him, yk so he could daydream.

IS completely oblivious when you’re jealous. if you catch him talking to another girl who is clearly into him, you’d be upset in which miles would ask you about but you would just mumble “it’s nothing”. hearing this, miles thinks back to the entire morning wondering if he did something to make you upset. when you finally tell him, he quickly reassures you and says “i don’t feel anything towards any other girl who isn’t you. i love you and only you ma.”

IF it’s late at night and you can’t fall asleep, miles would come over with his spider-man suit on and picks you up, and swings to different buildings. then, you guys would land on a rooftop with a clear and beautiful view of the city at night and by the edge you guys would sit down, while miles pulls you in close to him, head on his shoulder, admiring the sight of the skyline. “it’s so pretty” you say. “not as pretty as you cariño”

MILES used to think that pet names were lowk cringey, but when he started dating you, everything changed. now, he calls you “mi amor” “baby” “my love” “cariño” “preciosa” “babe”

HE can not flirt if he wanted to flirt on purpose. he gets awkward and shy like 🫣🫣 this one time before you guys started dating, he wanted to make a move on you by saying “hey y/n, a-are you fr-from tennessee? cause you’re the 1 f-for me- wait no that’s not right, wait what was it again? i u-uh never mind.” and he scurried off before you could even say anything. “the fuck-“

WHEN you guys go on the train, he would pull out his airpods and give you one of them while you guys listen to one of his playlists (ahem the playlist he made for you but shh you don’t know that.)

IF you don’t do graffiti art, miles will take you to one of his secret locations and teach you how to draw certain things and praises you for trying your best. once you get better at it, you guys start going to his secret location more often and you guys just spend hours spray painting.

LOVES LOVES LOVES cuddling with you. literally one of his favorite things to do with you. he loves just having you in his arms knowing you are safe and sound with him. your soft and warm skin making him wanting to fall asleep because of how comforting it feels to just have you there with him. what he loves the most is having your arms around him holding him close while his head lays on your chest, listening in to your heartbeat knowing you really are there with him and that you are his and he is yours.

TAKES random and silly pictures of you just to send them later to you after you guys hung out and texts you saying “this one is my favorite.”

HAS a picture of you on his lock screen and his home screen.

that’s all for today, im tired and imma go and day dream about this boy :p

#across the spiderverse #spider man: across the spider verse #miles morales #miles spiderverse #miles spiderman #miles morales x you #miles morales x y/n #miles morales x reader #miles x you #miles x y/n #miles x reader #earth 1610 miles x you #earth 1610 miles x reader #earth 1610 miles morales x reader #earth 1610 miles fluff #earth 1610 miles morales x you #nah imma do my own thing

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nexthlive · 5 months

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Welcome to Nexth City Country Music #2 at the Nexth Bluebird Lounge, Nashville On November 22. Dress in denim, use Event Code: Bluebird. DJ Laurinda sets the vibe, and an outstanding lineup, including Ziv Moran, Claire Kelly, and Joy Hanna. Immerse in the Nexth Bluebird Lounge Experience, where cocktails blend with soul-stirring melodies. Join us for an immersive journey celebrating Nashville's essence. Don't miss this musical night.

#NexthCountryMusic2 #music #radio #playlist #DJ #DJLaurinda #Laurinda #COUNTRYMUSIC #Nashville #Tennessee #INXA #nexth #nexthcity #wave #party #remix

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eminems-skittles · 5 months

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🏃‍♀️ - for the writing game :)

drop an emoji and character in my ask box and i’ll write a blurb based off whatever song comes up on my playlist

song: tennessee orange by megan moroney

pairing: lando norris x leclerc!reader

a/n: my french is a mix of 2 years of high school french, duolingo, and google translate so it may not be the best!

tagging: @jackhues

orange

“when are you going to tell your brothers?” lando asked quietly as he pressed soft kisses to the column of your neck. he had snuck into your room after everyone had stopped caring about his whereabouts.

“soon, baby,” you promised, your hand going to tangle in his hair.

“when’s soon? wanna see you in orange not red on sunday,” he huffed, his lips coming up to kiss the shell of your ear.

“lando, if i tell them before the race, charles may just drive his car straight into yours and i don’t want to go visit you in the hospital,” you groaned, kind of pushing him off of you. he looked at you and shook his head.

“it just feels like you don’t want to tell them,” he admitted.

“i want to tell them so bad, lan, i just don’t want you to be on the receiving end of any of their anger or anything,” you sighed, bringing a hand up to his face. he turned and kissed the palm of your hand. “what if i told maman instead? tell her now and then charles and them later okay?”

“okay,” lando agreed, a smile taking over his features. “thank you, love.”

the brit leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to your forehead, pulling you close to him.

the next morning, you decided to go to breakfast with pascale. nerves shot through you as you figured out what you were going to say to her. you knew she wouldn’t have as big of a problem with it as your brothers but her reaction still had you worried.

“what is it?” your mother asked after you had been spaced out for several minutes.

“maman,” you started. “i’ve got some news.”

“quoi?” what? she asked, her eyes scanning your face.

“i’ve met somebody,” you trailed off, looking to her face for a reaction. she nodded, silently telling you to continue. “he’s got blue eyes. he opens the door and he won’t make me cry. he treats me so good, maman.”

“ma fille, qui est-ce?” my daughter, who is it? pascale asked, her hand coming across to the table to hold yours.

you huffed before answering, “lando. but don’t tell charles yet! he’d lose his mind if he knew. but i’m going to be wearing mclaren orange at the grand prix.”

“c’est marveilleux, y/n!” that’s wonderful! pascale said, smiling brightly at you. “when are you telling tes frères?” your brothers

“soon.” you promised. “real soon.”

“bien, bien,” good, good she pauses before saying, “mclaren orange…charles may not like that.”

“je sais, maman. je sais,” i know, mom. i know. you said laughing. “i’m scared for lando.”

pascale laughed at that. “moi aussi, y/n. but he’ll be okay. charles is going to be happy for you.”

#cassie’s masterlist #masterlist #{ cassie’s writing games}#writing #lando norris x reader #lando norris #lando x reader #formula one blurb #formula one x reader #{ lando norris }#{ formula one }#100 #200

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hapinesbuterfiy · 1 month

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. ｡𖦹°‧ 🎀𓂃࣪˖ 🎧 જ⁀➴

rafe cameron x fangirl!reader - the playlist ♡ ⁺‧₊˚

wildest dreams- taylor swift

woman - harry styles

bad for business - sabrina carpenter

blue velvet - lana del rey

ordinary things - ariana grande

baby - madison beer

no body, no crime - taylor swift

tennessee orange - megan moroney

kiwi - harry styles

call it what you want - taylor swift

yayo - lana del rey

get him back! - olivia rodrigo

nasty - ariana grande

#💌#rafe cameron #♡ rosie writes ! ୨🎀୧ #rafe cameron prompt #fangirl!reader #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron imagine #rafe cameron playlist #rafe cameron fluff #rafe cameron x you #outer banks #music #fangirl #harry styles #lana del rey #ariana grande #taylor swift #olivia rodrigo

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hellavile · 1 year

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EREN YEAGER. ☆

eren’s visual. eren’s playlist. eren’s aesthetic.

. .sticky. .

. .all mine. .

. .smitten. .

. .luv this shit. .

. .yours. .

. .pizza boy. .

. . sketch. .

. .sketch remastered. .

. .sapiosexual. .

. .dirty. .

. .shortcake. .

. .titan!eren. .

. .any last words. .

. .sour. .

. .halloween night w eren. .

. .don’t pull out. .

. .constant bullshit. .

. .don't be mean. .

. .crush. .

REINER BRAUN ☆

. .spread ‘em. .

. .tennessee whiskey. .

. .stripper!reiner thirst. .

. .football player!reiner. .

ARMIN ARLERT ☆

. .so anxious. .

JEAN KIRSTEIN ☆

. .under the influence. .

. .take you down. .

. .play with me. .

LEVI ACKERMAN ☆

. .birthday boy. .

YMIR ☆

. . lost in london. .

PORCO GALLIARD ☆

. .provide. .

. .porco the pussay feaster. .

#☆. masterlist

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nolita-fairytale · 1 year

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call sign: tennessee whiskey | rooster x fem!reader & hangman x phoenix | chapter one

summary: phoenix has always wanted to set up her two best friends in the navy -- ones that have, for whatever reason, still never crossed paths. that's all about to change when you get called back to TOPGUN for a special mission.

warnings: enemies to lovers, slow burn, eventual smut, swearing, mentions of death, strong possibility of military inaccuracies, second person pov, no use of y/n,

wc: 4.2k

a/n: not me having the audacity to take a crack at a top gun: maverick fic. this is what happens when i watch tgm 7x in one week. a fic is born. and in my defense, this cast has so much damn chemistry how could i not?! this is a oneshot idea that turned into a series that's turned into a series and a sequel? oops. 10/10 recommend listening to the song tennessee whiskey by chris stapleton.

masterlist | the playlist | chapter two

She’s shocked but she knows better than to be surprised.

At least that’s what Phoenix reminds herself as she watches the heated interaction between Rooster and Hangman at the pool table. It can’t have been more than five minutes since Rooster’s arrival for the two of them to get into it. And the way he looked at her just a moment ago? With his smug, annoyingly handsome, overconfident face right before taking another dig at Rooster?

She hates it.

And she hates that it made her feel something.

She can’t put her finger on it: disgust, unadulterated rage, whatever the hell else would make you want to kiss and kill someone at the same time.

She exchanges unamused glances with Rooster once again, shaking her head in the beyond cocky fighter pilot.

“Well, he sure hasn’t changed,” she scoffs, watching as Hangman makes his way back to the jukebox to select another song.

“Nope. Sure hasn’t,” Rooster agrees with dismay.

“Check it out. More badges,” Payback says, turning his attention to the way of the new arrivals. “That’s Harvard, Yale, Omaha… shit that’s Fritz.”

“What kind of mission is this?” Fanboy asks, taking note as the best of the best continue to arrive at the Hard Deck tonight.

As Phoenix asks the question everyone is wondering – who the hell the US Navy plans to teach the top 1% of fighter pilots – she notices Rooster’s disappeared from the conversation around the pool table. It doesn’t take long before someone’s cut the power to the jukebox causing a collective groan to ring out within the four walls of the Hard Deck.

A smile creeps across Phoenix’s face as she knows exactly where Rooster’s gone. The sound of a few riffs on the piano being played catch her attention, and she excuses herself from the pool table. She joins her good friend she met at flight school, in all of his Hawaiin shirt-clad glory.

“You missed me, Trace?” Rooster says, stealing a glance from the side of his old friend.

“Not even a little bit,” she teases him in return.

But Rooster understands.

What she means is ‘yes I have,’ and ‘you could’ve called.’

The commotion of Maverick being thrown out of the bar interrupts their brief reunion, and while Phoenix watches, Rooster occupies himself with the task at hand. His large aviators that cover his eyes make it easier to ignore the fact that the closest thing he’d ever had to a father figure had been called back to North Island too. His long fingers run over the keys of the barely-in-tune piano of the Hard Deck, unwilling to acknowledge the presence of the man. Instead, he charges forward, noticing how easy it is to slip into the familiar rhythm of being back at TOPGUN.

Outside of the bar, Jake’s having a little too much fun throwing the old aviator overboard with Payback and Coyote. As he heads back inside, he doesn’t join Payback and Fanboy at the piano with the rest of them, instead choosing to head to the bar for another round of beers. He leans back against the bar, watching as the whole bar seems wrapped in singing along to Rooster’s personal anthem. Hangman takes another swig of his beer amused by the sight.

He’s not sure why he’s so hesitant to join in on the fun but he doesn’t move – can’t let Rooster have this one. Hangman lets his gaze linger on Phoenix from a distance as she dances (in his opinion) a little too closely for his liking to Rooster.

He’ll never admit it, but he’s always been entranced by the woman he met at TOPGUN all those years ago at his graduation. She was a part of the incoming class, the one right behind his, and he’s not sure how, in the same damn khaki uniform as everyone else, she’s always looked this good.

Her eyes light up as someone or something across the room catches her attention, and she’s practically jumping up, sprinting across the Hard Deck and into the arms of another naval aviator.

And for the first time tonight, a genuine smile spreads across his lips.

He wondered when you’d show.

As soon as he got the call, you’d texted him immediately asking if he’d gotten the same request for this mysterious special op. Earlier, when he’d watched Harvard and Yale roll in with Halo, your WSO he knew your arrival was almost moments away. But you’d never been the most punctual when it came to your personal life, so he wasn’t surprised that you were running behind. Jake chuckles to himself thinking about all the trouble you used to get into at the academy for not being on time. Almost got you kicked out a few times too, if he recalls correctly.

It'd been too long since he’d seen you last, now that you were stationed at Lemoore. He loved teasing you about what a Californian you’d turned into, now that you’d been out of Texas.

“Gonna start callin’ you Phoenix if you spend any more time in California, kid,” he’d teased you during your last phone call, referencing the LA native you both admired.

But Jake’s almost forgotten about how close you are with Natasha – the three of you always circling around each other, never quite in the same place at the same time. He’s definitely forgotten (or at least tried to) the time you called him a lovesick idiot after he wouldn’t shut up about a certain fighter pilot he’d met during a certain deployment.

What could he say?

His first deployment with Phoenix had left… quite the impression on him… and you knew him well enough to call him out on it.

Of course, Phoenix had wanted nothing to do with him at the time. His usual tricks – that Southern Charm and perfectly symmetrical face – only seemed to repulse her even more and he had to admit that it made him like her even more.

“Whiskey!” she practically shouts, as Jake watches the two of you embrace.

“Sorry I’m late. I would’ve come earlier if I knew there was a singalong,” you smirk, taking in the sigh of the more than jovial crowd huddled around the piano. “But once I hit LA traffic. Shit. That’s what I get for leaving for wanting to take my own damn car.”

“Oh I think he’s just getting started,” she replies, nodding towards Rooster.

Before you can say anything else, before you can take a good look at the man behind the piano, Hangman’s cut your reunion-for-two short.

“Well, well. Look what the cat dragged in,” he croons, his Texas drawl prominent in the way he says each word.

“Hangman, you son of a bitch!” you squeal, meaning the last part in the most endearing way possible.

“Hey, kid,” he greets you with the biggest smile you’ve seen all day.

You immediately wrap your arms around his neck, jumping into his arms. Jake picks you up, spinning you around before setting you back down on the ground as you laugh. Your public display of affection earns a few looks your way, and Phoenix pretends to vomit on the floor in response.

You laugh again, “You think I’d get a free pass after putting up with this one for over ten years.”

“This… is something I’ll never understand,” Natasha replies, gesturing towards the space between the two of you.

“You jealous, Phoenix?” Hangman asks, a confidence behind his words.

Nat sends a snarky look his way before answering, dryly:

“Only in your dreams, Bagman.”

“You’re right about that,” he flirts shamelessly, giving her a wink.

“Oh gross!” you say with an eye roll. You playfully punch Jake in the chest, pushing him away from you and Natasha.

“Get your own friend. Besides, Nat and I have some catching up to do and I’m in need of a drink,” you continue, earning a groan from Jake.

“What? I can’t watch?” he smirks, earning another fake vomit from Phoenix.

“No, Bagman,” you tease, using the callsign you know Nat loves to demean him with. “We’re gonna talk shit about you.”

He shoots you a look, shaking his head at your snarky remark. He knows it’s out of love – at least from you. He concedes, tipping his beer towards you as a form of ‘cheers’ before taking a few steps away.

You and Nat exchange a laugh, before linking arms and heading towards the bar.

“I don’t know how you’ve put up with him for more than five minutes,” she remarks, searching for an available bartender.

“He’s not all that bad once you get past all the bullshit. And there’s a lot of it,” you reply honestly.

“No thanks,” Phoenix dismisses, before flagging down Penny.

You watch as she orders the two of you a round of beers and you can’t help but find it funny how quick she was to dismiss Jake. It’s true: you’ve always thought the two of them were more alike than they were different. Sure, Jake made questionable decisions on the daily. But even after all of these years, he still had more heart than anyone you’d met this side of the Mississippi.

“How was your trip?” you ask Phoenix, making small talk to start.

“It was alright. Came in a few days earlier to see some family in LA first,” she answers with a shrug.

“How’s your mom?” you ask, curiously.

And Phoenix answers, filling you in that her mom is doing much better than the last time you talked, and her brother and his wife are moving back to LA. You tell her that you’re finally getting used to California, while the two of you wonder about this top secret, special mission that you’ve all been called back to TOPGUN for.

“Oh! Speaking of the best of the best. Uh… my best friend is here,” she starts with a smile on her face.

“Excuse me. I thought… I was your best friend… at least in the Navy,” you tease her.

She rolls her eyes playfully, “No, I mean. Rooster. I’ve actually been wanting to introduce the two of you for years...”

Phoenix gestures towards the man behind the piano still going at it, and you move over to get a good look at him. He’s hot. You’ll give her that. And you’re not usually into the whole mustache thing but it somehow seems to make him even more attractive. His oversized aviators are hanging off his face as he pounds away at the keys of the piano and you can’t imagine what grown adult man would wear Hawaiin shirts by choice.

And yet, everything about him you’d normally find cringe-worthy in a man, he seems to pull off.

He knows it too.

There’s a group of girls gathered around the piano that are gossiping as they watch him riff on another instrumental song.

And boy is he eating it up: the attention, the praise, he knows he has the ears of everyone at the Hard Deck tonight.

“The piano player. From flight school?” you question, curiously, as you begin to connect the dots.

“Yeah!” she answers, her eyes lighting up at your immediate recognition. “Yeah that’s where we met. Reminds me of you, actually. Just the way we both clicked instantly… and you’ve both become life-long friends.”

You think back to your first deployment as a naval aviator. You and Phoenix were sent on a mission in Sarajevo and had become fast friends. At first, you wondered if you grew so close so quickly because you were the only women on that deployment, but you’d discovered over the years that your friendship with Nat was unique. While you’d usually expect a fast friendship to fizzle out, your relationship with Nat had only grown stronger over the years.

“Hm,” you sound in response, giving Rooster another lookover.

Nat’s other best friend.

Sure.

Nat’s hot other best friend.

“What’s with the porn ‘stache?” you ask, playfully.

She chuckles, “Long story for a different time.”

“C’mon! I’ll introduce you to everyone else,” Phoenix encourages you, grabbing your hand and practically dragging you over to the pool table with her.

“Gentleman,” she says cooly, greeting the uniform-clad men that surround the pool table.

“This is Whiskey,” she announces, introducing you. “Top of her class at TOPGUN and the only person on the planet that can get me to drink the worm at the bottom of a bottle of tequila.”

“Yo, I’ve heard about you,” Payback says, immediately recognizing your callsign.

“I could say the same about you, Payback,” you reply, and he’s surprised to see you already know his callsign. “Coyote, ‘s always a pleasure.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he nods to you.

“Wait. You two already know each other?” Payback asks, looking from you to Coyote.

“Texas,” you both answer at the same time, exchanging a smile.

“Us Texans gotta stick together. Especially at the top,” Coyote clarifies.

“I’m Fanboy. And this here is Harvard and Bob,” Fanboy says, finishing his introduction of at least the aviators engaged in the game at the time.

“It’s nice to meet you two,” you reply, looking from Fanboy to Harvard.

You notice that it seems like Rooster’s little performance has ended and the jukebox has been plugged back in. It doesn’t surprise you that Hangman’s slipped out, probably to cue up his own personal soundtrack for the night. Bob is busy lining up his pool cue, but you already know him from Lemoore. He and Fanboy continue their game, and you wonder where Halo snuck off to.

Bob shoots his shot, missing miserably with a sigh as the rest of the aviators cry out in supportive disappointment for him.

“Bob, ya really can’t do better than that, huh?” you hear the Southern drawl of Jake heading your way.

You and Phoenix exchange a look, knowing just how much Jake is going to enjoy picking on the little guy.

“Let me show you how it’s really done,” Jake smirks, snatching the pool cue out of Fanboy’s hands as he struts towards the pool table.

You decide that someone needs to humble him, and you know just how you’re going to do it.

“Easy there, Seresin,” you say, intercepting his gait. You stand your ground, right between him and the pool table, blocking his way.

Jake stops in his tracks, as you stand toe to toe with him, barely inches apart from each other in a battle of the egos. Coyote lets out a whistle and you can hear Phoenix and Bob snickering in the corner as they watch on.

“You see, I can’t let you do that because… it’s my turn, actually,” you challenge him, a rebellious look on your face. “So you’re just going to have to wait for yours.”

“Damn. You gonna let her talk to you like that, Hangman?” Coyote whistles, always amused by how willing you are to throw yourself in front of the moving bus that is Jake Seresin.

“Don’t let her fool you. Whiskey’s always been sweet on me. Ain't that right, kid?” he coos, his eyes never leaving yours.

“HA!” you hear Nat laugh loudly, as you raise your eyebrows up at Jake.

You don’t dare break eye contact. There’s no way in hell he’s winning this one.

He shoots you a look that says, ‘you really want to do this right now?’ and you shoot him a look that says, ‘you’re being a bully.’

“Bullshit. She’s got you by the balls, lieutenant,” Phoenix hollers.

“And he wouldn’t have it any other way,” you say, winking in her direction. You refocus your attention back on your best friend, pressing your lips together in a thin line “Besides, we all know that Hangman here has a soft spot for women who degrade him.”

You grab the pool cue out of his hand before bringing your opposite hand to tap him twice on the cheek, eliciting another round and whoops and hollers from the group of guys.

“Ain’t that right, Bagman?” you throw in, parroting his condescending phrase from earlier.

Jake shakes his head, knowing that you won this one as he watches you move around the pool table to set up your next shot. Bob watches on, impressed with the way you stood up to Hangman like that, especially in defense of himself.

“If nobody warned you, Bob, the ‘T’ in Texas stands for trouble,” Coyote remarks, nudging Bob as he settles in next to the WSO.

While you’re busy celebrating your win with Bob, Fanboy, and Phoenix, Rooster’s across the room, closing out his tab and grabbing his last beer of the night. He eyes you carefully. He’s never seen someone standup to Hangman like that, nor has he witnessed Hangman take it. He’s heard about you – remembered what Nat’s said over the years: that you were her other best friend, that you were one hell of a pilot, that he should stop making shitty decisions with women and just let her set the two of you up.

And after what he’s seen tonight? He’s intrigued.

You’re electric, and he’s impressed.

What he doesn’t remember is Nat ever mentioning that you knew Hangman – let alone this well. Were you and Hangman a thing? He can see a closeness between the two of you – a kind of intimacy he’s never seen Hangman have with anyone, despite the revolving door of women he seems to keep around whenever they’ve been deployed together. But it doesn’t make sense, because why the hell would Phoenix want to set him up with someone if she were Hangman’s girl?

Rooster makes his way over to the pool table after you and Hangman’s confrontation, his lips pressed to the top of the glass bottle.

Hangman’s hanging out on the edge of the group, flipping through something on his phone with his right hand and nursing a beer in his left.

He doesn’t want to sound too interested, but curiosity gets the best of him as he asks, “What was that all about?”

“What?” Jake shoots back, looking up from his smartphone.

“You and Whiskey…” Rooster says, trying not to sound too desperate for information.

But Hangman picks up on Rooster’s interest in his best friend immediately. He smirks, knowing that his relationship with you is just another thing he can use to get under Bradshaw’s skin.

“Spent a little time at the naval academy together, that’s all,” Hangman replies vaguely. When he’s met with silence, Jake knows that he’s got something here. He turns to his rival, scanning for a reaction on Rooster’s face.

“What? You interested?”

Instead of answering, Rooster just shakes his head, taking another swig of his beer. It doesn’t take long for Natasha to steal Rooster away so that she can introduce the two of you, her eyes glimmering with excitement and the gears turning in her head.

“Call it a rescue,” she mutters under breath as she drags him away from Hangman’s presence.

Much to Nat’s disappointment, the introduction isn’t much. Just an exchange of hellos, names and callsigns before Halo comes to find you for a catch up.

The rest of the night goes on, accompanied by Hangman’s pick of tunes, and it’s filled with old friends, catch ups, and a few more rounds of pool. It’s good to be back here. In a way it feels nostalgic, and anyone would be lying if they couldn’t admit that being selected to be a part of this mission was a huge boost for the ego. While it’s cool to have some Lemoore buddies with you, it’s good to see your old friends too – the ones you don’t get to see as often – like Jake. Like Phoenix. These are bonds forged in battle, and people you’d trust with your life.

It’s not till the end of the night that you realize that you may have had one too many, so you step out for some air. San Diego is perfect almost year round, you think, as you watch the waves crash against each other.

“You good? I saw you slip out,” you hear a voice say.

You’re surprised to find Rooster standing behind you, just outside of the entrance of the Hard Deck. You hadn’t gotten much time to meet him, despite Nat’s best efforts.

“Yeah, I just think I’ve had a little too much to drink. Wanted to get some air,” you reply with a small laugh. “Thanks though. For checking in.”

“Can’t have you gettin’ into any trouble. Nat would kill me,” he says, taking a few steps toward you.

This time, you fully turn towards him, resting your back against the railing, as he holds out a cup of water.

“Thought you might want a glass of water too.”

“You’re a good friend. At least that’s what Nat’s said about you,” you say with a smile, taking the glass of water he’s offered you.

“She said that?” he asks, only a little surprised.

You nod in response.

Rooster joins you, standing side by side, his back pressed against the railing, mirroring your body language.

There’s a long silence between the two of you as you drink your water. After a big night of friends old and new, it’s nice to have a moment of quiet too – the waves being the only sound between the two of you.

“So… you and Jake?” Rooster asks, interrupting your momentary shared silence.

“Oh!” you gasp, another laugh following.

You’re not sure if it’s the alcohol or the question that makes you feel a little warmer as you contemplate how to answer his question. Between your greeting upon arrival and your standoff at the pool table, you can imagine why Rooster would think that. You can’t blame him. The two of you get mistaken as a couple all the time, especially when you’re out and about in your civvies.

“No, there's-, there’s no me and Jake. I mean. We… met at the naval academy. He was two years ahead of me and kinda took me under his wing when he found out that I was a fellow Texan. We’ve been close friends ever since,” you clarify, trying your best to explain your uncommon friendship with Hangman.

Rooster scoffs, a blush running across his cheeks as he mutters an unconvinced yet conceding with, “Okay.”

“What? You don’t believe me,” you ask, turning your head to watch his reaction.

“No, it’s not that! I uh… I’ve just… never seen Hangman let anyone talk to him like that. I just… made some assumptions, I guess. Sorry,” he apologizes, almost embarrassed that he asked in the first place.

“No it’s okay,” you reassure him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder before crossing your arms over your chest. “In your defense, there was one kiss at school back in the day that ended promptly when I laughed him out of my dorm room.”

Rooster laughs, the idea of it completely contradictory to the playboy persona Hangman portrays to the world.

“Now that’s a story I want to hear,” he smirks.

You shake your head, “There’s not much to tell. I promise.”

“He always been this much of an ass?” Rooster asks, stealing another glance your way.

“Oh yeah. And he’s always been this fucking annoying too,” you add playfully.

He agrees and the two of you exchange glances again. You’re starting to see why Phoenix has raved about him all these years and you’ve barely had a real conversation with him.

“Then why do you put up with him?” Rooster asks again, this time a little more seriously. He’s not sure why, but he really wants to hear that you don’t have feelings for Jake.

“Because… there was a time we were both just dumb kids, y'know? Because he may be an annoying, self-centered, overconfident little shit... but he's my annoying, self-centered, overconfident little shit. And I’m stuck with him,” you admit, genuinely.

Your capacity for empathy leaves an impact on him. He’s going to be thinking about this conversation for a few days.

“Fair enough.”

“So what’s the story behind your callsign?” he asks, changing the subject.

You raise an eyebrow, “What’s the story behind yours?”

Instead of answering, he just shakes his head and you laugh, knowing he’s not going to tell you. You don’t answer either, taking another sip of the water he’s brought out for you.

“Hooooly shit,” Rooster marvels, watching as you pull of an extremely tricky maneuver in your two-seater F/A-18.

It’s you and Halo paired up with Harvard as your wingman for this round of the dogfight exercise. And while you may be impressive, you’re still no match for Maverick, as he gets you with a killshot just for trying to show off.

“You got to give it to her. That was smooth,” Fanboy admires as the rest of the aviators watch the exercise from inside the watchtower.

Jake chuckles in response. You’ve always been full of surprises and he’s always finds it amusing when someone new discovers it.

“Like Tennessee Whiskey, fellas,” he answers, his Texas drawl a love letter to your shared home state.

He shakes his head watching you fly before adding:

“Some things never change.”

read: chapter two

A/N: HI ITS ME. How're feeling up in this club and why is everyone so hot and have so much sexual tension? Anyways... should I continue this or nah??

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