Fang & Mordecai

## Background

Fang made it clear from the start that she saw Mordecai as a father figure. For proof, one needn't look further than her calling quasi-exclusively *Big Papa*.

Mordecai's affection was harder to tease out from his generally grumpy character. Or maybe, like a seed that only sprouts after a fire, it could only reveal itself after the two started exchanging punching on a regular basis in one of the innumerable gyms MMFEC patronizes.

Below are notable, funny and/or moving Fang & Mordecai moments.

## About elections

Fang, who had a SIN that allowed her to vote, debated with Mordecai, who didn't have one and had no faith in politicians or in the electoral process in general, had an extended debate on elections on the night of the 2077 Gubernatorial election.

## The Boxing match

Mordecai purchased a gym in Renton so that he could finally have the long-delayed boxing match with Fang he had agreed to after mistakenly hurting her with a spell. After Fang won two of three rounds, Mordecai apologized and Fang wanted to hug him.

In the same episode, Mordecai advised Fang to be careful in her relationship with Cromwell because *In the end he's never going to choose you* [over the mission].

 The Power of Love

An intriguing scene started with Mordecai meeting Fang in his gym for jovial sparring while dismissing his disgruntled, unpaid employees. Fang hadn't mentioned before they were on the ring that she intended to use him as a stand-in for her personal nemesis, Grace Castillo.

Fang also asked for Mordecai's feedback on her *boy*, *Magnuson,* and specifically on *how he sticks to the mission.*

Mordecai's reply:

> *You need to follow your bliss, as they say.*
>
>

Fang then returned to the subject of following the mission, and how she was not doing it. This led to another great reply:

> *We're, you know, dysfunctionally functional in that way.*
>
>

Mordecai kept praising *Magnuson*:

> *[...]He's an upstanding fellow and I wish you all the best. I just \*sigh\* I just don't want to see you hurt. And You're still young, so yes, the only way you can really learn is through experiencing it yourself[...]*
>
>

Fang then briefly returned to the mission theme, and Mordecai evoked how

> *The Power Of Love is a curious thing* [...] *More than a feeling that's the power of love*.
>
>

Mordecai continued quoting the song, changing a lyric slightly to:

> *You don't need a cred stick to ride on this train.*
>
>

> *And it's strong and it's sudden and goddammit it's even cruel sometimes. But it might save your life. That's the power of love.*
>
>

> *All I'm saying all I'm saying is in the end, he's going to be there for his mission, not for you and you need to look after yourself. If all you do is look after him that will ruin you.[...] Go, you're young, you're... you're sexy, go be happy.*
>
>

There were a few more good punches. When Fang explained she was leaving her apartment to go leave with Cromwell, he said he was protective of her because:

> *You're the closest thing I've ever had to a... well, never mind[...]*
>
>

and refused to finish the sentence.

## Silence and Consequences

Mordecai chose to silence Fang with a spell when she threatened to derail MMFEC's quest for Yuki's aggressors. Fang was angry, and talked, repeatedly, of punching Mordecai in the face.

While they spent time together on Cromwell's small plane, waiting for the right moment to levitate to the Pacific Rim site below them, Fang evoked how her anger had changed into frustration, to which Mordecai replied, after explaining that it wasn't easy for him:

> *It means a lot to me that you forgive me... You're... You're like the daughter I never had... or wanted... or still want for the most part. But I still miss you when you're not around. I kind of hate it when you are... And I just couldn't stand it... I couldn't stand it if you didn't forgive me.*
>
>

 After that, Fang declined Mordecai's invitation to punch him in the face there and then. Instead, she gave him a membership card for the gym where she goes. It had taken finagling to overcome Mordecai's lack of SIN, and time to find a dwarf who'd grow his beard to look like him. The card came with a very nice lanyard that had sharks on it. During this conversation, Mordecai mentioned his own gym, which he could only assume was nice.
 From the plane, they heard the howls of the hellhounds which were after Cromwell. Fang, fearing for Magnuson's life, asked:

> *Big Papa, do you actually have to touch... Cromwell to make... him, I don't know...., not die?*
>
>

Mordecai:

> *I think it would take more than me touching him to make him not die. He's a very reckless troll. I don't know if you realize that.*
>
>

 Fang:

> *It's what I like about him.*
>
>

 Mordecai:

> *Well, I don't need to know that.*
>
>

1. ↑ See Ep 39.
2. ↑ See Ep 48.
3. ↑ Since Ep 44 or even before.
4. ↑ See the end of Ep 56.
5. ↑ With Tony/Cromwell suggesting that she ask Mordecai to wear Elsie's smart wig to look even more like Grace Castillo.
6. ↑ Claudia and Dan were both having fun, smiling and mimicking boxing moves.
7. ↑ Which led to an aside on a 6th World Josepho Campbell and later, to this thread on twitter.
8. ↑ This seemingly improvised speech was actually quoting from this song.
9. ↑ And Lauren started dancing.
10. ↑ Everyone was laughing by then.
11. ↑ This is where he stopped quoting the song.
12. ↑ This led to a discussion and Ma1nfram3/Cheryl stating that *You don't know how old everybody is.*
13. ↑ See Ep 57. See also Iberis and Violet.
14. ↑ See Ep 60.