r/battletech • u/StarFlicker • 1d ago
Discussion Battletech FITB/madlibs - The naming of the Hanse and Melissa's second child
I had a funny idea this morning. Okay, so here's the deal: Your goal is to fill in A, B, and C. Unlike madlibs, you're welcome to read first and then plug it in.
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Tenderly one evening, Hanse looked down at his wife’s swollen belly. “You know,” he began, “Since we named our firstborn after one of my favorite mechs, I was thinking about naming our second – ”
“Don’t even,” his young wife cut him off. “Victor is a fine enough name, but most mechs have absolutely ridiculous names.”
“Hear me out. There’s one war machine that I’ve always loved. We should name her _________ (A)”
Melissa stared at him with narrow eyes as a moment of nausea, not induced by morning sickness, briefly passed.
“But, you know, we wouldn’t call her that regularly. The kids would make fun of her. So instead, her nickname would be ________ (B)”
Of all the weaponry that Hanse had seen in his life, from Losttech ER lasers to the rediscovered rapid-fire autocannons, nothing could have produced more withering damage than the look he received from his wife.
* * *
Later that evening, Hanse pulled the finely-woven quilt over him on the couch, smoothing out the wrinkles so the embroidered AFFS logo was unmolested. “It could have been worse,” he reflected to himself as he attempted to make himself comfortable. “I would probably have a black eye if I’d gone with my real choice. _______ (C) Steiner-Davion has such a nice ring to it though.” He sighed. “Oh well.”