#(AKA As soon as Shane can actually THINK Again)

[mymelodyisme]

How old is farmer mys? Where does she like to hang out the most? Can u tell me more abt her?

(Elliotts-pocket-crab aka farmer barbie)

Farmer Mys is 24 years old!

If she’s not zooming back and forth across town like an oddball, you can find her sitting at the lake in the forest. She likes to dip her feet in the water. You can probably equally find her at the saloon siting in a booth sipping away at a lemonade and writing in her journal

By looking at her you wouldn’t think she’s anything more than a happy little turnado, but she’s actually kind of lonely, not that anyone but Shane would know.

She’s super chatty, very friendly, and perhaps a tad too loving. She has a hard time saying no to anyone and often runs herself ragged getting whatever it was that they wanted. When she’s frustrated or sad she’ll curl up in her house and stay alone. She doesn’t like it when people are near her when she’s upset. The only person whose really seen her at her saddest was Shane. You might occasionally find her mad though when she’s near the mines. She’ll be grumbling to herself and complaining when something is working out.

She’s got this obnoxious laugh, you can hear her very clearly among the crowd. Whether that’s a good thing or not depends on whose listening. She pulls a lot of shenanigans in town too. She’s definitely orchestrated a few new town events (the pizza festival, Mr. Pelican Town, the Flower Dance Petal Fall). She’s also the reason Gus made a limit on the jukebox (well she and Shane).

Oh and she keeps Lewis’s gold statue right next to the telephone outside. There’s a table there for guests ♥️

She’s also kind of dumb!! She doesn’t always think before she does something. She has, on more than one occasion, blocked her entrance to the animal buildings on the farm. Someone has definitely caught her sobbing and crying out “I’M SORRY MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE CHICKENS! I’LL HAVE YOU FREE AGAIN SOON.” She forgets to build her fence doors and sometimes she’ll leave them open and the animals will run free. Those are the days she just sits in the grass and sighs as if all of life’s burdens have caught up to her. Most of her decorative plants are fake because she can’t be bothered to water them everyday despite being a farmer LOL

She’s so grateful for sprinklers.

She gives things away too often. If she finds out you like something that’s she’s growing she’ll come by with a whole basket filled with them. She has a whole bag of peppers in her back pack for Shane, because she wanted to be his friend and she knew he would only talk to her if she gave him food lol in fact she has a whole section in her greenhouse for Shane’s peppers ♥️

She’s always gushing about him actually. Be it to herself, stuffed animals, her parents. She thinks about him a lot.

Overall, Mys just wants to be loved and to love. And if being useful to everyone is what will earn her love, then call her when you need a hand.

[wetookanoath]

NINA THOSE HEADCANONS!!! KILLED ME!!!! What other headcanons do you have of when Ryan wakes up in the present time? Does his family still lives? Or Shane's?

[Captain America Ryan / Winter Soldier Shane AU]

I sure do, actually lol 

Ryan wakes up to a world he doesn’t know but remembers some parts of it that have survived, like the fact that their families are still in LA. From Shane’s direct family, there’s no survivors since both, Shane and Scott went MIA and none had children…

But from his side of the family, Jake survived the war, got married and had children. His brother is no longer around, but his wife, his children and grandchildren are. And Ryan doesn’t know how to approache them.

To his surprise, they approache him by visiting in Washington when he gets assigned an apartment and steady job with missions.

His in-law and youngest daughter comes to see him one afternoon a few days before Thanksgiving. He recognizes them right away because of pictures and god, it’s so awkward.

Eventually, she tells him they would like him to come meet the family because they all grow older hearing about him and they legally “represent” him after he went into the ice.

He goes for Thanksgiving. To his parents’ old house that is now bigger, whiter and brighter than he remembers. He mees his extended family and holds in his feelings when he sees they have pictures of Shane included between the family pictures in the living room.

When it’s time to have dinner, he can’t hold it anymore when he sees, like his mama used to do, they put in the middle of the table a little box with pictures of his parents, Jake, his in-law parents and “uncle Shane” in it because “it’s family dinner time”. This is the first year they don’t have to put uncle Ryan’s picture.

He is Disappointed But Not Surprised at how Shane being LGBT is debated and taken a rumor or a disrespectful joke between people, let alone him being LGBT. Things become worse when he is told to stay quiet about it “for the time being”.

Like the original Cap in the movie, he visits the exibition about him and the War in the museum in secret and spends long minutes looking at recordings and pictures of the people that is gone.

He eventually learns about what happened to Helen and the Commandos, later gets to actually meet members of their families as he learns to use celphones and e-mails. Ryan also gets to know them when going to events and so.

Funny enough, he becomes close to Helen’s family as she’s still alive and visits her often.

He is happy to know the families are close to each other and hasn’t stopped being friends in years.

When he meets his new team mates, things go as well as you can imagine. Eventually, he settles up and becomes fast friends with the Black Widow, Sara, who at some point a year later, will trust him enough to tell him a few things about what she has gone trough, and he will be able to open up with someone who gets it.

They become a strong unit and work great together, which makes them go on missions more often. They share beds and rooms, and soon he is hearing about the man that trained her and how she wishes she remembered more of him, and could have done something to save him when she escaped.

She starts going with him to family reunions. Sara doesn’t have a family, so it’s kinda weird for her at the beginning and Ryan shuts up about how he notices she is, in fact, excited about it. 

More often than not, she mentiones to him how Shane looks so familiar to her. “You may have seen him in history books”, “Yes, but he is just… closer. Familiar.” “Uh.”

When he can’t sleep, he reads a lot of stupid shit on the internet. Not even “useful” stuff, just… everything he can get his hands on. He loves conspiracy theories, sue him. And he loves to read what kids say about him, the commandos, Helen and Shane.

Once he finds a forum with a thread of people talking about how much it means to them that, apparently, Sgt. Madej was LGBT. It makes him cry because kids like them still suffer so many years later.

When he finds fanfiction, he tries his best not to touch him. He ends up reading a few, then promises he won’t again. Because it hurts.

He enjoys fanart, though.

After he meets Eli (Falcon), he gets that social media everyone was praying he would get. Eli helps him with it and Ryan is already a fast learner so he becomes a little addicted to Twitter and then instagram.

He outs himself by accident when liking stuff on instagram and twitter. In spite of what he was told, to say he is just an ally, he decides ‘fuck it’ and says the truth: he is bisexual. Deal with it.

Eugene, aka Iron Man, can’t shut up about it and starts to invite him more often to things.

There’s a disaster in the world. He doesn’t give a fuck, and starts getting tired of how much they tell him to hold it together and behave.

As time passes, he starts putting attention at the conversations his likes on twitter causes. Because he RTs art and all, sometimes it includes “ship art” of him and Shane, and people wonder aloud about their relationship.

He thinks of telling the truth, that he loved Shane and was sure Shane loved him that way back but never got to tell him or act of his feelings. But then, his superiors already hate him and maybe it’s not really his place to talk about it, about Shane.

Eli and Sara think that since there is no one else to have a word about it, he could just say the truth.

He was going to, when he met the Winder Soldier.

[hella-slow-writer]

Fic update

Okay, i finally have time and motivation to continue working on 3 of my most important fics. It’s too gay to be fucked 3, Garrett/Andrew PWP (yes pwp cuz im nasty), and a big multi-chapter YT FGO AU that no one cares about lmao.

It’s gonna get fucked 3 is 70% done, still fixing some last part of the chapter before i send it back to my friends to be beta-ed. 

Garrett/Andrew PWP is sadly still 20% WIP, mainly because lack of... motivation. Hopefully Shane’s new series contains more Garrett/Andrew interactions to boost my motivation to continue it lmao.

YT FGO AU still... 10%. I still haven’t decided if i want to make it some slice-of-life genre where its about the YT Servants interacting with each other or more serious story with heavy plot (kinda like a fusion between FGO’s Lostbelt+Singularity arcs). Although i already have a long list of Youtubers who i will use in the fics (all bbs boys will be featured ofc). More talk about this AU under Read More.

Okay, now yall know. I just want to give a little bit of update since i keep gaining more and more followers and i dont want to give an impression of this blog being abandoned. Wish me luck and thanks for still sticking around waiting for my not-so-good writings lol.

Oh, hey! If you read this, oh god do you actually care or show interest in this AU???? Hit me up boi and lemme know so i wouldnt be so depressed thinking no one would read this shitty AU lmao.

Current list of Servants who would appear in the first arc/chapter is: Vanoss, Laurenzside, and Moo Snuckel. I think maybe those three will be like FGO’s Mashu, who will stick around until the end of time lmao. Other than those three, there’s Ohmwrecker, Gloomgames, Kubz Scouts, Cartoonz, and Garrett Watts who also played major part in the first arc/chapter. I will also possibly adding Andrew Siwicki and Jacksepticeye, although i still haven’t deciding what their role going to be.

Oh yeah, Daithi de Nogla and Mini Ladd will also appear. Although they are not Servants like the other, their role is going to be a normal human who manages Chaldea (kinda like Romani Archaman and Da Vinci lmao).

Below is kinda like in-game stats of the 8 servants featured first. I do this so i will remember what skill and class they have, and also because creating a stats of them is really fun lmao. I wont show what their NP gonna be though, because it’s a secret winkwink

Vanoss aka Bat Owl, Evan Rarity: SSR Saber Cost: 16 ATK: 1.841/11,755 HP: 1,695/11,554 Grail ATK: 13,112 Grail HP: 12,768 Attribute: Earth Growth Curve: Linear Star Absorption: 86 Star Generation: 10 % NP Charge ATK: 0.82% NP Charge DEF: 4% Death Rate: 19.4% Alignments: Neutral・Good Gender: Male Commands Cards: QQABB (Quick: 2 Hits, Arts: 2 Hits, Buster: 1 Hit, Extra: 4 Hits) Skills:  - Charisma C Increase party's ATK for 3 turns. - Disengage A Remove own debuffs. Recovers own HP. - Superhero Strength A Charges NP gauge. Increases own NP strength. Noble Phantasm: ??? 

Moo aka Moo Snuckel, Brock, Early Bird Rarity: SR Rider Cost: 12 ATK: 1,259/8,084 HP: 1,573/11,160 Grail ATK: 10,325 Grail HP: 13,882 Attribute: Earth Growth Curve: S Star Absorption: 195 Star Generation: 8% NP Charge ATK: 1.4% NP Charge DEF: 5% Death Rate: 26.90% Alignments: Neutral・Good Gender: Male Commands Cards: QQABB (Quick: 2 Hits. Arts: 1 Hit, Buster: 1 Hit, Extra: 3 Hits) Skills: - Feather Illusion C+ Chance to stun one enemy. Reduces NP strength.   - Sharpening A+ Increases own Buster and Quick performances for 3 turns. - Superhero Strength B Charges own NP gauge. Increases own NP strength. Noble Phantasm:  ???

Lauren aka Laurenzside, Protector of Universe, Cosmic Deity Rarity: R Caster Cost: 7 ATK: 1,128/7,215 HP: 1,236/8,600 Grail ATK: 8,657 Grail HP: 11,055 Attribute: Sky Growth Curve: S Star Absorption: 84 Star Generation: 11% NP Charge ATK: 1.80% NP Charge DEF: 5% Death Rate: 38.7% Alignments: Neutral・Good Gender: Female Commands Cards: QAAAB (Quick: 3 Hits, Arts: 2 Hits, Buster: 1 Hit, Extra: 3 Hits) Skills: - Cosmic Blessing A Grants one ally's invicibility for 1 turn. Charges their NP gauge. - Clairvoyance (Demi-God) Increases own Critical star drop rate. - Lunar Light B Recovers party's HP. Remove own Debuffs. Noble Phantasm: ???

Kassie aka Gloom Rarity: R Alter Ego Cost: 7 ATK: 1,177/7,113 HP: 1,650/9,421 Grail ATK: 9,818 Grail HP: 12,812 Attribute: Man Growth Curve: S Star Absorption: 100 Star Generation: 10% NP Charge ATK: 0.43% NP Charge DEF: 4% Death Rate: 36.4% Alignments: True・Neutral Gender: Female Commands Cards: QQAAB (Quick: 2 Hits, Arts: 1 Hit, Buster: 2 Hits, Extra: 4 Hits)  Skills: - Samantha Increases own Buster performances for 3 turns. Chances to inflict Charm on [Male] enemy. Cancel other skill's effects.  - Hannah Increases own Quick performances for 3 turns. Gains critical stars generation every turn for 3 turns. Cancel other skill's effects. - Vera Increases own Arts performances for 3 turns. Recover own NP every turn for 3 turns. Cancel other skill's effects.  Noble Phantasm: ???

Jay aka Kubz Scouts Rarity: R Assassin Cost: 7 ATK: 1,288/7,062 HP: 1,571/8,662 Grail ATK: 9,633 Grail HP: 11,990 Attribute: Man  Growth Curve: Reverse S Star Absorption: 102 Star Generation: 20.4% NP Charge ATK: 0.24% NP Charge DEF: 4.12% Death Rate: 28.7% Alignments: Chaotic・Good Gender: Male Commands Cards: QQQAB (Quick: 4 Hits, Arts: 2 Hits, Buster: 1 Hit, Extra: 3 Hits) Skills: - Planning B+ Increases own critical star generation rate for 3 turns. - Threaten C+ Chance to reduce enemy's NP by 1 Reduces ATK for 3 turns. - Presence Detection C Chances to removes their Evasion buffs. Grants self Evasion for 1 turn.

Ohm aka Ryan, Ohmwrecker, The Red Demon Right-Hand Rarity: R Saber Cost: 7 ATK: 1,232/8,012 HP: 1,388/8,063 Grail ATK: 10,455 Grail HP: 12,550 Attribute: Earth Growth Curve: S Star Absorption: 90 Star Generation: 10.5% NP Charge ATK: 1.33% NP Charge DEF: 3.12 % Death Rate: 30.2% Alignments: Neutral・Good Gender: Male Commands Cards: QAABB (Quick: 3 Hits, Arts: 3 Hits, Buster: 1 Hit, Extra: 4 Hits) Skills: - Battle Continuation A Grants self Guts status for 1 time, 5 turns. - Proof of Friendship C Chance to reduces one enemy's NP gauge by 1. Chance to inflicts Stun for 1 turn. - Teamwork C Increases party's Arts performance for 1 turn. Increases party's NP Strength for 1 turn. Noble Phantasm: ???

Cartoonz aka Luke, The Red Demon Rarity: SR Rider Cost: 12 ATK:  1,612/9,447 HP: 1,673/11,076 Grail ATK:  11,018 Grail HP: 12,667 Attribute: Earth Growth Curve: Semi S Star Absorption: 165 Star Generation: 10% NP Charge ATK: 1.18% NP Charge DEF: 2.77 % Death Rate: 30.2% Alignments: True・Neutral  Gender: Male Commands Cards: QAABB (Quick: 4 Hits, Arts: 1 Hits, Buster: 1 Hit, Extra: 6 Hits) Skills: - Pirate’s Honor B+ Increases own attack for 3 turns. Grants self Guts status for 1 time. (Revives with 1 HP.) Reduces own debuff resistance by 50% for 3 turns. [Demerit] - Voyager of the Storm A Increases party's NP damage for 1 turn. Increases party's attack for 1 turn. - Demon of the Sea EX Increases own Buster performances. Increases critical strength for 3 turns. Gains self-Invisibility for 1 attack. Reduces own defense [Demerit] Noble Phantasm: ???

Garrett aka Accused Wizard, Eternal Mage, King of Badger Rarity: R Caster Cost: 7 ATK: 1,312/7,556 HP: 1,752/8,272 Grail ATK: 10,126 Grail HP: 10,885 Attribute: Man Growth Curve: S Star Absorption: 48 Star Generation: 11.4% NP Charge ATK: 1.43% NP Charge DEF: 3% Death Rate: 36.2% Alignments: Chaotic・Good Gender: Male Commands Cards: QAAAB (Quick: 2 Hit, Arts: 3 Hit, Buster: 1 Hit, Extra: 5 Hits) Skills: - Jokester B+ Chance to reduce one enemy's NP gauge by 1. Charges own NP gauge. - Immortality (False) Gains self-Guts status for 1 time, 3 turns. - Spellcraft A+  Increases own Arts performance for 3 turns.  Noble Phantasm: ???

Okay, there you go. Some of the stats are from FGO’s servants lol and if it looks too OP for you fgo players, dont sweat it. The stats doesnt really matter in the story so lol.

Those are the characters that will appear on the first arc minus Nogla and Mini. Since i haven’t really decided to put Andrew and Jack, i won’t show their stats here but their class will be Lancer (or Caster, haven’t really decided it either) and Saber, respectively 

P.S: There will be ships, it won’t be the focus of the story if i use the heavy/more serious plot but there will be :P

Again, thank you for your attention and hopefully i can finish all this soon enough.

[bugontherug]

Rickyl Fic Recs

One Step Backward Taken by cranperryjuice

The wind carries with it the smell of wet fabric and rotting flesh. Nowadays Rick can almost ignore it, along with the distant rattling of chain-link fences, if he leans close enough into his work that his eyes and nose fill with the bright greens and browns of young leaves and tilled earth. (Set in the prison, after the season 3 finale.)

Comments:

The characterization was on point and the development of the relationship felt natural and could’ve happened on the show if they went that route and if they showed the in between days

Without lying by JamesJohnEye

His father laughs, ‘since when do you listen to Daryl?’ Carl looks at him coldly. ‘The prison?’

Comments:

Cute story and I loved how Carl interacts with Daryl

AUs:

 Southern Discomfort: Cursed by KatyTheInspiredWorkaholic

(Part 1 of 3)

When Rick is 8, he visits his family out in the middle of nowhere Georgia and gets lost in the woods. He stumbles upon something he isn’t supposed to see, and is saved by another little boy that gets him home safely.

AKA: the story where Daryl continuously keeps Rick from getting killed as they grow up, Rick is a nosy little shit who doesn't know boundaries, and Daryl's family practices a bastardized version of Folklore Hoodoo and New Orleans Haitian Vodou.

The Dixon Family and their associates use this practice to prosper their bootlegging business, but their rituals are corrupt and their actions anger the spirits they communicate with. The forest and town become cursed, and the horrible things the townspeople do in their every day lives makes everything worse. No one discovers the damning combination until it's too late.

Comments:

I can’t tell you how much I love this series! Part 2 is WIP but guys READ THIS! The characterization is amazing, the world building is phenomenal, the voodoo elements are super well written, and this story has stuck with me since I’ve read it a week ago! I want to read it again and I am not usually a person who re-reads stories so that tells you how good this is!

Shadows Where I Stand by skarlatha

After the events of "This Sorrowful Life," Rick wakes up in the hospital with the name of the man he can't live without forgotten on his lips and a doctor telling him that the last two years have been a dream. He then begins the long, arduous process of readjusting to life in the real world, but he can't get the image of the beautiful archer out of his head and soon signs start to appear that the dream may actually be real. Could Rick actually find his hunter? Could they actually have a shot at a happy ending? And will Rick finally be able to tell Daryl that he is the love of his life?

Comments:

I loved the supernatural/mystic element of this story and how the author dealt with Rick and his maybe crazy maybe not actions and how the people around him reacted to him

Ride by Riastarstruck

Waking to a world he doesn’t remember Rick Grimes finds himself trying to slot into the life of the man he used to be. As he attempts to relearn who he is and his place in the world, he leaves the safe familiarity of his home and family to travel the road and learn this new world.

On the road, he meets drifter Daryl Dixon a man who is running from his own past. Together they carve out a place for themselves on the roadways of Georgia.

Comments:

What I really like about this fic was how the author built Rick and Daryl’s relationship almost fully through their actions. It was subtle and even though it was the main focus of the story, it didn’t feel like it, which I found refreshing

A Thousand Shards of Glass by TWDObsessive

Midnight Quarry frontman Rick Grimes is not happy that his ex-band is still under contract for one final tour. Rick and Shane can barely stand the sight of each other, and the close quarters of the tour bus just make the tensions spike even more.  Luckily for Rick, there's a free seat available with one of the roadies.  All he has to do is get through this damn tour, then he’s done.

Comments:

I liked getting both POVs and watching Rick and Daryl find each other even when both have been burned by love

The Wild Runs in Me by Bennyhatter           

Daryl has always thought of the Wild blood in him as a curse.

Comments:

So this is a werewolf AU and I’m always a little skeptical of stories with A/B/O, but this one was well written and I enjoyed reading it. I did not read the sequel so I have no comment on that   

At the End of the Day by TWDObsessive

Rick catches Lori in bed with Shane. He immediately moves in with his openly gay, best friend from pool league, Daryl Dixon. While Rick tries to get through the impending and eventual divorce, Daryl carries on with his compulsive-dating, going from one guy to the next because none of them are quite right.

Both are determined to never settle down again. Little do they know, they are slowly starting to settle down with each other.

Comments:

What I liked about this one was that Daryl was written as being experienced in the relationship field, which he usually isn’t so it was a nice change of pace

Lost and Found by TWDObsessive

I remember that first day at summer camp like it was yesterday. It was a profound moment in my life even though I was a mere eight years old. It was where I met Daryl in the woods. My parents were concerned that entire school year afterwards, thinking I had an unhealthy imaginary friend. Took me to shrinks and everything.

But just ‘cause the camp counselors said there was no Daryl that didn't mean there was no Daryl. He was there. He watched us from the woods all day alone until a baseball went into the brush and I went after it and found him. He became my best friend. He became everything.

Comments:

This was a cute coming of age story if you want something fluffy

[hillbillyhippiemusicreview]

POST #11 - Festival of the Red 2019

Y’all, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, about 50 miles east of the Horse Capital of the Word, is what I often refer to as “my favorite place on earth.” The Red River Gorge National Geological Area. The Red River Gorge is known for many things worldwide. Native American Artifacts, Petroglyphs, and Moonshiners made this place a hotbed among researches in years passed. The Red, as it is referred to by many who call it home or frequent the area, is also a Mecca for outdoor activities. Activities such as Rock Climbing, Hiking, Backpacking, Camping, Kayaking and now Music Festivals make the Red an outdoorsman’s (and outdoorswoman’s) destination.

Yeah, y’all heard me. Soon enough the Red will be known for what I believe is one of the best music festivals in Kentucky. And y’all, with the musical talent in Kentucky, that’s saying something. This year Chase and Miranda Fallen put on the 2nd Annual Festival of the Red! The festival was a stacked 3 day event with good country music and some rock that snuck their way to be headliners. And before I catch any grief, if y’all don’t think Justin Wells and the band are a rock band, just ask him.

While Festival of the Red was primarily Kentucky artists (and rightfully so, I mean Kentucky is known for horses, bourbon, basketball and music, if you disagree you’re wrong), the Fallen’s were able to sneak some talent in from all over the country. Our good friends from the Midwest, Chris Stewart and Chad Vaughn were there, along with a our favorite Alabama boy Ritch Henderson. It’s always good to see these fellas along with General Jim and his better half Victoria from The Honky-Tonk Hotel. If y’all aren’t familiar with them, check em out and give em a follow. They do some amazing things to help the small time artists that are trying to make it in this crazy business.

The lineup in no particular order was as follows: Ed Hughes, Spooky Fox, The Handshake Deals, Waylon Nelson, Jinx Machine, Aaron Boyd, Jeremey Short, TA Clay and the Soulminers, Donovan Howard, Ritch Henderson (with special guest MarDe Brooks), Jen Richardson, Luna & The Mountain Jets, Chris & Jen Shouse, Chad Vaughn, Chris Stewart (aka King of Algeria), Charles Wesley Godwin, Eric Bolander & These Assholes, Laid Back Country Picker, Josh Nolan, Sean Whiting and the Handsome Bastards, Chelsea Nolan, Justin Wells, Don Rogers, The Local Honeys, Ethan Wayne, Tyler Smith, Seth Ferguson, and finally John Clay. Y’all, if you don’t think that is an absolutely incredible lineup then your moonshine is gonna make you go blind, your beer is hot, and your bourbon ain’t from Kentucky.

While we got there to setup camp on Thursday (in what felt like the Sahara), the music didn’t start until Friday. At 2pm on Friday Mr. Ed Hughes broke the stage in and kicked things off. This was a simple set with Ed playing and singing while sitting on a stool. Honestly, because it was the first set on a Friday, the crowd was a little scarce , but it was pretty cool just to see him give it his all anyways. Y’all, Ed is one hell of a guitar picker and is pure country when he sings.

After Ed, a new act that I hadn’t seen before graced the tie dye stage with his presence. Spooky Fox came out and just filled the holler with energy. He had one of the best stage presence acts I have ever seen. Jumpin up and down, head bangin, jumpin off the the stage and shreddin guitar. He was one of my wife’s favorite acts of the night. Not to mention he is a great and personable guy. Y’all check out ol Spooky Fox on which ever fancy device you listen to your music these days. He is an electrifying entertainer and will not disappoint in a live performance!

After Spooky Fox, The Handshake Deals took the stage. Y’all, honestly I’m not sure there is an instrument that these fellas (and lady) can’t play. Acoustic and electric guitar, drums, stand up bass, mandolin, accordion, vocals. Y’all they switched every song and absolutely killed it. If you have a stand up bass and play real countryish music I’m an instant fan. I think they have an album coming out soon and I can’t wait to review it!

When The Handshake Deals finished their set, another Eastern Kentuckian Waylon Nelson took the stage. First off, I only got to talk to ol Waylon for a few minutes, but I’m pretty sure that is his real name. Waylon Nelson. Hot damn, it just sounds cool. I mean Willie, Waylon and Jesse Colter were all pretty tight together, so having your name as Waylon Nelson, you were born to play country music. So Waylon, if you are out there, start marketing yourself more, work at it a little more and play some country music. I’m pretty sure that’s what you were born to do. But, back to the review...Waylon’s type of music is really chill. As soon as he started singing, I looked over at my wife and said “now this is some whisky drinkin music.” It’s tranquil and relaxing with great lyrics. When y’all get a chance, check out his music page and give “Colorado High” a listen! I also wouldn’t do this bit justice if i didn’t mention who he had on stage with him. The lovely Kris Preston played with Waylon and y’all she is talented. She can sing and play multiple instruments, including the mandolin and the banjo. Yes, the freaking banjo. If you can do that on stage, you are talented and can put on a good show. I always say that you never see super young people play the banjo, because it takes a lifetime to master. Kris however, is young and killed it. She’s definitely a great musician!

After Waylon, a lineup change gave the Alabama boy Ritch Henderson a chance to play 2 sets. Y’all, I saw Ritch at Tumbleweed, I’ve got his EP and I’ve gotten to know the guy well. He served our country in the Marines and he is a heck of a guy. When it comes to his singing and songwriting, he is next to none. If y’all dig a down home fella that has a passion for music and is giving it literally everything he has, then listen to Ritch Henderson. “The Story So Far,” “We All Fall Sometimes,” and “Lonesome, All I’ll Ever Be” are masterpieces that can stand up to the likes of Jason Isbell, Arlo McKinley and so on.

Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen circumstances, my night ended there. I’m disappointed that I didn’t get to see the other sets, especially Aaron Boyd and Jeremy Short, but hey in the words of the late great John R. Cash, “I guess things just happen that way.”

Saturday came early with a 9am set from Livingston Kentucky’s Donovan Howard. Y’all, as unfortunate as it is, someone has to start the day off and Donovan pulled that straw. There were “maybe” 20 people out there watching, which is a shame, because Donovan is stone cold country. The guy was reppin’ a “Death Before Pop Country” shirt and playing a vintage guitar. It was acoustic set with just him singing and it was a great way to start the morning. The fella has a traditional sound and will throw a little new age flare in there every once in awhile. Donovan writes about things he knows and he does it well.

When the big hand struck 10am, Ritch Henderson got another chance to grace us with his presence. Unfortunately Ritch’s voice wasn’t allowing him to sing a lot. I blamed it on the eastern Kentucky allergies. Ritch however, told us that the real reason is because he played back to back shows and sang for an ungodly amount of time in 3 different venues over just a few days. So, Ritch sang one song before giving the Stage to MarDe Brooks. MarDe is another Bama boy who I had recently met and y’all he’s talented. MarDe is one of those fellas that helps to “make country music sad again” and he likes to write songs about whisky. Sad country music and whisky, the fella has my vote. MarDe Brooks 2020. Y’all, MarDe also covered “Hurricane” (no not the Luke Combs one...) and freaking knocked it over the hills. I’ve been debating recently if I liked The Band of Heathens’ version or Shane Smith and the Saints’ version better. I was having trouble deciding and then this guy threw his hat into the ring and I’m at a stalemate. MarDe, if you are reading this, RECORD HURRICANE AND RELEASE IT!

When Ritch and MarDe finished up their set, Ed Hughes took the stage again, but this time he was accompanied by Jen Richardson. I’ve already talked to y’all about Ed, but y’all Jen can sing! She’s extremely talented and her voice is like that of yesteryear women singers. She can stand with Trisha and the best of em! A cool little moment was when Jen and Ed had some “special guests” on the stage to sing Ed’s son’s favorite tune. Y’all can catch a glimpse of that below:

After Ed and Jen were finished filling the holler with good country music, another great Kentucky band took the stage. Luna & the Mountain Jets laid out a great set full of mountain music. I tell y’all, Dave and Teresa Prince put together one heck of a band and can jam out like no other. Y’all just ask ol Timmy Tyler Childers and Kid Rock if you don’t believe me. And if y’all don’t know what I’m talking about somewhere on the internet is a video of Tyler, Teresa, Dave and some other great musicians singing with a smiling Kid Rock runnin around filming it. Without me getting too long winded, I’ll just tell y’all to check them out when you get the chance, you can thank me later!

After Luna & The Mountain Jets, the heat got to me and I had to take a little break in the AC. So, I’ll talk about the sets I caught and then I’ve got a special surprise for y’all. With that being said, the next 2 sets I did see were Chad Vaughn and Chris Stewart. For those of y’all that aren’t familiar with these two, they are from the Midwest. If I remember correctly, both from KC, just from different states...Yeah KC works that way. It’s weird. Actually I think there are 2 Kansas City’s, but whatever, we are hear to talk about music, not geography. Anyways, despite attending 2 years of Tumbleweed right in their backyard, this was the first time I was able to catch a live set of either. Chad went on first and y’all I was impressed. Chad isn’t a hard core honky-tonk type musician. In the words of the lady standing by me, Chad is a technical singer. He hits all of those notes perfectly and knocks it out of the park every time. He is also a great song writer! You combine a mellow and technical voice with a great song writing ability and you’ve got one heck of an artist right there. But y’all Chad doesn’t stop there. He is also one heck of a picker. I’ve only been playing guitar for a few months and I’ve been bad at practicing. But seeing Chad Vaughn, Ed Hughes, Josh Nolan, Dave Prince, Donovan Howard and Jermey Short out there, y’all i was inspired again! Y’all look this fella up on the YouTube and follow his music page.

Chris took the stage right after Chad and y’all, Chris is another fella making country music sad again. Now, I know I say that a lot, but its true. I’d be willin to bet that this guy can play more sad songs than David Allan Coe. While Chris doesn’t move around and put on a show, he doesn’t need to. His voice and song writing fills the presence of the stage. He draws you in to listen to his songs and to feel the emotion! It’s also worth mentioning that he has what may be the best beard in the business. And apparently there are rumors of him becoming a leader in Algeria or something? Y’all check him out before he head overseas, or wherever the heck Algeria is!

The next set that I caught was Laid Back Country Picker. If y’all ain’t sure who ol Laid Back is, then crawl out from under your rock and give him a google. Laid Back is actually Dave Prince as the frontman, with Teresa Prince, as Honey. Y’all this set was awesome! Laid Back just about couldn’t keep Honey contained as she was so excited to perform at Festival of the Red. Laid Back may also be one of the best guitar players I have ever seen and can put on quite the show. His crowd engagement, stage presence, antics, song writing and vocals are Kentucky gold. If you’re from Eastern Kentucky like myself, Magoffin County Cadillac is sure to make you chuckle and remind you of times when you would drop from 70 to 55 in about 0.3 seconds. Y’all just do me a favor and check our ol Laid Back Country Picker. You might even be able to catch him on the party line now and then.

After Laid Back, the next set that I watched was Josh Nolan. But, as I hinted at previously, I’ve got a surprise for ya on this one. I collaborated with a “contributing writer”, yeah that sounds fancy. Anyways, her coverage of Josh was top notch, so I’ll just post her notes on him in just a minute.

I capped my “official” night off with Chelsea Nolan followed by Justin Wells. Chelsea took the stage about dark and led us down a rockin’ path to end the night. Chelsea played some off of her album and some new ones. With live versions of “Rock Bottom,” “Bootlegger,” and “Yard Sale Yolanda,” Chelsea kept us entertained! When she writes songs, she tells stories from experiences. Just like any great song writer, especially from Kentucky, that is what makes her special. When you have Chelsea’s powerful and energetic voice on stage with Josh Nolan, John Clay, AND Jeremey Short, you know you’re in for a treat. Her set was nothing short of flawless. From her down home humble attitude, her story telling, vocals, instruments, y’all it was a good time. If I had to guess, it was also special for Chelsea to play in front of a hometown crowd and get a response like that. Her and the band gave it their all, and you could tell!

My “official” night ended with the headliner; another Kentucky product in Justin Wells. While up until now, Festival of the Red was stone cold country, somehow when Justin and the fellas took the stage, a rock band was suddenly headlining a country music festival in the middle of the Eastern Kentucky Mountains! After coming off of a hiatus to rest up his vocal chords from a scary situation, Justin ended the night with a bang! Along with some hits off of his previous album, Justin played a couple of new ones in “Ruby” and “Temporary Blues” This fella is another song writer that writes about experiences and what he knows. Justin’s lyrics tell a story and put you in the right in the middle of a scene. Justin’s passion shows through in his lyrics and in his performance. If y’all don’t believe me, just take a look at thie picture below. If that ain’t a passionate performance then I don’t know what is. Especially for a guy that recently had his vocal chords on the verge of hemorrhaging! I can’t stress enough how much y’all need to catch Justin. I mean heck, I’ve seen him 3 times this year. I also cannot wait for his new record “The United State” to come out. All I know is what Justin told the crowd. It will come out when it comes out.

Y’all unfortunately I had “responsibilities” back in the city and didn’t catch any other sets. It was nothing against any artist, because everyone there was extremely talented! However, I do have a write up from our new contributing writer, Amy Fletcher! Amy knows her way around the music scene and I am honored to have her write with me. And, shameless plug, her daughter Hannah Fletcher is also an artist so y’all be sure to look her up! Anyways, I’ll quit ramblin’ and let y’all hear what Amy had to say about a few of the sets that I didn’t catch:

Charles Wesley Godwin. This guy put on an amazing set. His music is a wonderful representation of Appalachia. His voice resonates a beautiful vibrato with lyrics so simple and well put together. His song "Coal Country" strikes a sympathetic nerve with his description of the struggle of the fading world of the coal miner.

There aren't enough adjectives to describe Josh Nolan. His newly released Album, "Kind Heart To Follow" is one that cannot be missed. Not only is Josh a lyrical genius, he is an arrangement genius. He was joined onstage by a band who worked together like a well-oiled machine. His song, "East Kentucky Skyline" allows an opportunity for listeners to put themselves in a relatable situation of the colors peeking over the trees during the sunset. One can tell that Josh disappears in his mind during his performance, giving so much emotion it's as if one can reach out and feel it. This album is a must on the playlist.

Sean Whiting.....there are no words. Joined on stage by Laid Back Country Picker, Sean put on a performance that cannot he forgotten. His talent of raw southern rock-and-roll put him in a special class. His lead guitarist (I can't remember his name) made his guitar speak. For 20 years old that person was something special. Sean celebrated his birthday Saturday but the audience were the ones who walked away with the prize. His performance was one to stick with you.

The only show I caught Sunday was John Clay. John and his guitar is all that was needed. His audience consisted of about 6 people as his set was the last of the day. The rain had set in and drove many home earlier in the day. John has an uncanny ability to tell a story through his music and put the audience in the specific location. He finished out Festival of the Red and those who rode out the weather were given the treat of witnessing his performance.

Earlier, I kept saying my “official set” and other mysterious things. That was because I stuck around until a little after 2am on Saturday Night/Sunday Morning for a Song Swap around the campfire. Ritch Henderson, Chad Vaughn, Chris Stewart, Jermey Short, Sean Whiting, Josh Nolan, MarDe Brooks, and Hannah Fletcher stood around a campfire with 25 or so people and just played guitar, sang and just had a good ol time. There were a ton of originals mixed in along with Outfit, Can’t Ya See, In Color, Mama Tried, Queen of My Double Wide Trailer, Seven Spanish Angels, Ring of Fire, and a slew of other great tunes. Ya’ll it was a crazy surreal time as it was my first campfire song swap surrounded by that kind of talent. There was even a freaking tetradactyl screeching occasionally! Yeah, you read that right. Weird things happen in the mountains at night. If you don’t believe me ask Amy and Hannah. They will back me up on that!

Alright y’all, that’s my write up on Festival of the Red. Make sure to check out the photo album on the facebook page! Share and give us a like so others can discover the greatness that is Festival of the Red and these artists that deserve WAY more recognition than they get!

A special thanks to Chase and Miranda Fallen for putting on a great festival and letting me cover it. To Amy for teaming up with me and writing part of this! And to my wife, Lauren, for taking notes, editing this post, and enduring the heat with me! Until next time...

-Cheers, N.

*This is an independent review. The Hillbilly Hippie Music Review was not compensated for this review.

*The opinions expressed are solely that of the author(s).

*The artwork shown is not ours, nor do we claim it in any way. Rights belong to Festival of te Red.

[angelthefirst1]

Down the Rabbit hole level 1 part 5

But back to Rick and Morgan

 The next scene that they share plays into part 4 and just how Beth’s cure arc will play out. We have Rick waking up in this house Morgan has taken him to, and it’s practically the same thing (take 2 of the hospital which is interesting because many don’t realize Rick woke up from being unconscious 2 separate times from 2 different incidents in episode 1, once in the hospital and once somewhere else (the house Morgan takes him too)

He opens his eyes from being unconscious and looks up at the ceiling not knowing where he is, just like Beth will have a take two awakening when she wakes from her gunshot wound as opposed to the first time she wakes in Grady.

Morgan has put Rick in a bed and tied him to it while tending to him, once Rick wakes the camera shows the very first instance of a baseball bat which Dwain is holding on guard, off to the side of Rick’s bed (Beth will wake in 5.10 and not long after Negan will appear, the bat is also on a loop, it appears with Jimmy and Beth S2, Beth and Daryl S4, Glenn and Rick S5 plus Negan obviously, I’m sure there are many other times too but these ones come to mind right now).

Morgan goes on and says “I changed your bandage it was pretty rank, what was it the wound?”  Rick “gunshot” Morgan “what else? Anything?”  Rick “gunshot isn’t enough?” Morgan “look I ask and you answer, its common courtesy right, did you get bit?” Rick “bit?” Morgan “Bit, chewed, scratched anything like that?” Rick “no I got shot, just shot as far as I know” Morgan then goes to touch Rick on the forehead and Rick pulls away not sure what he is doing, Morgan asks him to just let him touch his forehead, he does and turns to Dwain and says “feels cool enough, the fever would have killed you by now” Rick “I don’t think I have one” Morgan “it would be hard to miss” Morgan then proceeds to cut the ties he has put on Rick.

Let’s stop and look at what is unseen here as opposed to what is seen like Father G said in 509. We know that Rick just got shot and hit in the head by Dwain with a shovel (that’s what causes him to pass out the second time), but reading between the lines here, they have set Beth up to get bit and shot (but don’t worry we know it doesn’t kill her because these events happen prior (outside the funeral home) to her getting shot in Grady, if you go back through every season you will find episodes and loops that tell Beth’s missing story just with other characters you just have to link it all together.

To help explain this I’m going to jump to S2E01 for a bit

In S2E01 the group have just given up on the CDC AKA Grady and are headed to Fort Benning (aka a loop of Noah’s family in Richmond after Grady, which doesn’t work out).They are on the same HWY 18

   Part way there the HWY is blocked with cars and they slow down and start weaving through the cars, its then the RV breaks down (note that here Andrea and Dale AKA Beth and Daryl are traveling in the RV and this is just after they leave CDC/Grady so what happens to both Sofia and Andrea (Sofia being one of the main zombie girl representations and Andrea a smaller loop of her too) in this episode will fill in lots of blanks about Beth’s missing story, the RV breaks down on the HWY the same one we saw in season 7 also, when Rick and Michonne close line the herd in the car's.

It just so happens THAT spoiling sight has just posted pictures of listed S8 potential filming locations that have do not mow signs up and this same hwy is going to be filmed at very shortly, they also have pictures of a gas station that will be filmed at which is very similar to the first scene we went through with the little zombie girl, and Carl and Rick were spotted filming there.

Gas station

Things that make me go bahhhhhh hahahahahahahaha because we all know how they have treated Beth fans and TD and they are going to get a major law of averages loop around to bite them in the rear very soon.

Back to the HWY in S2E01

Keep in mind the RV has the numbers 9866 on it (future seasons after S2 the RV’s will be in) and it has a big W on the side (level 2 if the rabbit hole)

So the radiator hose breaks and the group is in need of water, they stop and start looking around, Lori says this is a grave yard Just as Rick looks at Andrea. (Who is another smaller loop of the Zombie Girl)

Andrea never goes far from the RV while everyone else except Dale, and Glenn stay to fix the RV, Dale has 2 screwdrivers one red and one yellow screwdriver, he gives the yellow one (life) to Glenn and asks him to fix the broken radiator hose he also gives him the same bandana that is on a loop of its own, last time we saw the bandana it was on the bad guy that shot Rick S1, he was killed so the bandana season one was in a death cycle now it’s helping Glenn learn how to fix the RV (burial) Season 3 Daryl uses it to cover his mouth to stop him from getting the flu(life), just so you can see even items are on this loop.

The screwdrivers are very important too and we will come back to them as they will come into play again possibly with Beth being left in a vehicle and helping her survive a walker attack.

So Daryl is looking for petrol with T-Dog and then walks off, the next scene shows Carol looking in the boot of a car, she has picks up a red top and is looking at it fondly, Daryl then walks past in the background, this scene is literally the same as when Beth picks up her Yellow polo in the golf club

then

VS

And

  Her and Carol are like Mother Daughter equal opposites here (which is interesting as Sofia was her daughter and Beth is a loop of Sofia), go watch the way Carol looks at the top and listen to the music, it’s the same scene different character, different place, different loop with Daryl walking past. The difference... Carol has the Red (Death top, but Carol doesn’t put it on so it’s not about her dying. But she is not the representation of the number 4 gas pump with the yellow gas can, or the 3rd Sherriff, note Carol and Beth loop in so many different scenes there are many instances where they do the same things, they have used Carol as a ghost representation of Beth while she has been gone to give us clues) But it's Beth that is the 3rd representation of the Zombie Girl and also the 3rd sheriff (both her getting bit and putting on the sheriff's hat happened in S4 and she will be the 1st one to survive a walker bite, completing the car numbers. So she gets the yellow (life/gas can and top)

Next scene Andrea is holding her stomach and seems like she is not feeling well she goes back into the RV while Dale is on top keeping watch.

Next scene Shane finds a truck with water (just like when Rick found water in the hospital and when it rains in 510 and some of the group are happy while those devastated by loss are not, Maggie, Daryl and Sasha) well in this scene Glenn and Shane are happy: Shane even says while letting water fall on him “it’s like being baptized man” while Dale (Daryl) looks on without a smile.

Dale looks at Shane with this same expression and then turns away

(at this point Beth will be unconscious and in the broken down “RV” as Andrea is the only one inside at this point, it won’t be an actual RV that Beth is put in as the S5 number is not included on the RV numbers and that is when this all took place for Beth, but whatever vehicle they get after Grady, my guess is it will be blue for burial).

Its then the walker herd start arriving Rick and Dale notice them first and get everyone under cars, everyone is told about and aware of the walkers except Andrea (who as Beth will be in the broken down vehicle after they leave Grady) on her own while everyone else leaves and hides elsewhere to get away from the walkers. Dale (Daryl) is the one that stays closets (on the roof of the RV) to her but still doesn’t bother to tell her through the roof skylight of the RV that there are walkers and the only reason they did this when Dale could have easily spoken to Andrea though the skylight was because as Beth she will still be unconscious and Daryl will still think she’s dead.

Andrea finally notices the herd walking past and gets on the floor of the RV but the door to the RV is open and a walker starts to come in, she crawls into the bathroom and closes the door, she is also wearing blue in this scene (burial), she takes her gun but it is in pieces as she was cleaning it and hadn’t put it back together yet. The walker comes to the folding door of the bathroom and she drops a piece of the gun and it makes a noise on the floor alerting the walker she is in there, it starts pushing on the door and Andrea is trapped without any weapon, Dale who is still on the roof of the RV hears her struggling to keep the walker out and (finally) looks down the skylight he pulls out the red screwdriver from his pocket and throws it to her through the skylight

 She kills the walker with it but it takes a few goes, the way she attacks the walker is a loop of how Beth kills the walker with the wine bottle in Still.

And

   The next scene tells us a few more interesting things about what will happen to Beth.

T-Dog gets his right arm cut open really bad,

(Which BTW is a loop of Amy S1 who got bit in a similar spot to where Beth’s bandage was but on the opposite side so for Amy and also Tyrese the left arm injury = Death. But Beth and T-dog right arm injury =Life.

(Amy also got given a mermaid necklace for her birthday by Andrea, the sad part is she died on her birthday and Andrea never got to give it to her, but placed it on her dead body, knowing the loops I'm thinking that Maggie will do something similar for Beth, Amy and her bite are a big clue as to Beth’s bite add to that the mermaid/beach symbolism linking to an Oceanside representation reunion loop)

Back to T-Dog and Daryl

A walker is coming up to T-Dog, and Daryl comes to the rescue. Guess what Daryl kills it with? A screwdriver!

It’s very possible that a screwdriver the group (possibly Daryl) will be using to try and fix the broken down vehicle, most likely a red screwdriver (death) that won’t be successful in fixing the vehicle that they leave Beth in, this screwdriver will be left in the car with Beth and she will use it to kill a walker that comes at her just like Andrea.

That’s the only thing she will have as they took her knife.

The next scene shows that Daryl hides under dead walkers as the herd passes.

 Part six will switch to Sofia and how her story will tell Beth's missing Story. Thanks for reading team defiance I will be back with part 6 soon.

[fakingitfanfiction]

Just For Me: Chapter 44

A/N:  I swear on… something…. I’m going to finish this.  Almost there.

Previous Chapters

Amy doesn’t understand.

Not that that’s anything new, it’s not like it’s the first time (or second time or third time or fourth time or the you get the fucking idea time) someone could say that about her cause, let’s face it, there’s a lot Amy doesn’t understand.

The list - and it’s not a Karma list, but it damn near could be - is long and varied. There’s the appeal of kale, why anyone would willingly listen to reggae, and how on Earth anyone could think blondes have more fun (like, seriously, has anyone checked her life circa all of fucking high school?) And then there’s math. As in all of it. As in everything beyond addition and subtraction and even, sometimes, those and it’s not like she hasn’t tried to learn it or even had help with it.

Lauren spent the better part of two years in high school going over the quadratic equation and the Pythagorean theorem (as in over and over and fucking over) and the only thing Amy ever really understood - and still understands - is that a-squared plus b-squared equals her needing a fucking drink-squared.

“I have a calculator,” Amy said - also over and over and fucking over - ignoring Lauren’s rolling eyes and protestations about broadening horizons and well rounded education and critical fucking thinking. “A calculator and a cell phone. A fucking smart phone, and both of them can do math a thousand and one times faster than old Pythagoras ever even dreamed of,” Amy said, and that was the point at which Lauren almost always gave up.

Not that Amy was done.

“And, more importantly,” she said, always punctuating this part with a wagging finger, “if I had a dime for every time I have ever needed or will ever need to find the length of the third side of a triangle, do you know what I’d have?”

Lauren never answered. She’d learned the math on that one, the law of diminishing returns.

“I’d have zero fucking dimes,” Amy said. “That’s what I’d have.”

Clearly, Amy did understand the basics of currency.

So there’s math, obviously, and kale and reggae. But there’s more personal stuff too. Like, for instance, Amy doesn’t understand - like at all - how the whole Karma and Lucy thing happened.

“Karma was faking,” she says to Lauren or Shane or sometimes Reagan, but only when she’s drunk or exhausted or looking for a fight and no, that has nothing to do with how fantastic (like even more than usual) makeup sex with Reagan is. “She was faking and now she's kissing and just how the hell does that happen and no, I’m not jealous, I’m just confused, cause Karma's kissing and it’s my sister and stop giving me that look, I’m just trying to understand.”

And you can so add in why everyone (read: especially Reagan) thinks Amy ought to let that particular sleeping dog just fucking lie to the top of the list of things that Ms. Raudenfeld just doesn’t understand.

(Even if she really does. Like really really.) (But it's Karma. And Lucy. And seriously, W the absolute F?)

More? You need more?

Oh, there's more.

Amy doesn’t get - like at all - why Lauren is so pissed at Theo for choosing to go to a good school (at least he's going and not just staying and no, she’s never said that out loud and if you think she might, well, where the fuck have you been for the last two years?) She doesn’t have the first damn clue how Bruce puts up with her mother’s continued fixation on everything Jack does.

Or why Jack does anything.

She is utterly - like 100% times infinity (and beyond) - bewildered by the sheer physics of her girlfriend’s eyebrows. There hasn’t been one moment since the first moment when she’s understood even a little of why Reagan is with her. And, more than all the rest, Amy doesn’t understand how anyone could have ever cheated on Reagan.

“I get the literal how,” she told Lauren once - one of the many many many times Lauren wondered if being real sisters was worth it (she always decided yes, but still…) - “like I understand the mechanics of it, but seriously? The desire, the want to. I just don’t get it.”

What she does get?

She’s incredibly grateful that someone (hi Shelby) (you bitch) was that stupid.

So, yeah, there’s a lot of things Amy doesn’t understand and now, right fucking now, you can add a tiny velvet box, held out in front of her - daring her, calling to her, a fucking Siren song of temptation she’s barely resisting - to that list.

Also: how Reagan could think that now (right fucking now, as noted) is a good time to propose given, you know, that they just got back from visiting Amy’s soon to be new home. The one that’s 511.9 miles away (she can use Google Maps, too) and, really, that’s more like a world and, last time Amy checked, that world wasn’t going to be including Reagan.

Stupid world. Stupid fucking waste of a world.

“No.” Reagan says and Amy nods, even though it’s not a question. “No,” Reagan says, again, and it's still not a question but Amy nods again anyway which, to her, seems at least slightly counterintuitive (at best) and fucking rude (at worst), like she’s not just saying no.

She's hammering it. She’s driving that no nail right between those perfect brows with every fucking nod, but she can’t stop.

She’s a motherfucking bobblehead.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” Amy says, finally finding a word that isn’t ‘no’. And it really is the truth, she does want to. If there’s anything Amy does understand, it’s the very simple - and yet massively complicated - idea that she wants, more than anything, to spend the rest of her life with Reagan.

Just, you know, not right now.

Reagan arches a brow (fucking physics) and Amy does her best not to get distracted. “I do,” she says and no, the irony of that phrase is not lost on her. “I just… I mean… I didn't…”

She sighs and drops her eyes, but not far enough that she misses Reagan taking a step back, just one, crossing her arms over her chest, the tiny box (Goddamn Pandora, that’s what that shit is) disappearing from view.

“No,” Reagan says, mulling the word over, rolling it round and round, letting it sink and soak in.

“Reagan, baby -”

And if there’s one other thing Amy understands, it’s that that - fucking baby? - was just about the worst thing she could have said, and if she didn’t understand it?

Allow Reagan to explain.

“Baby?” Amy tips her head back and curses the fucking stars for letting her speak. “So now this is a 'baby’ moment?”

Baby moments (aka a lesson in the Amy Raudenfeld Handbook for Dumbasses):

Reagan, baby, it doesn’t bother me that Karma’s kissing my sister.

Reagan, baby, of course your ass is still bangin in those sweatpants.

Reagan, baby, I know you wanted to go away this weekend but Karma…

Reagan, baby…

Amy watches as that one brow goes from cocked and loaded to full on ready for space launch and she backpedals furiously, even if she doesn’t actually, you know, move. “Let me explain,” she says (pleads.) “Please?”

Reagan says nothing and Amy knows that’s as close to permission as she’s gonna get.

“It’s not that I don’t want to,” she says again and Amy knows that every word out of her mouth is a tiny little shovel that just keeps digging and digging and digging. “I do. I so do. But, I just didn't… see it coming.”

Ain’t that the fucking truth.

(and for once, with Amy, it might actually be the whole truth)

“There was no warning,” she says and there wasn’t. There wasn’t a warning, there wasn’t a hint or a moment when even the thought of it - marriage - crossing Reagan’s mind crossed Amy’s at all. There were no funny looks from Lauren, there wasn’t a single attempt at subtle probing from Karma (or, you know, not so subtle, cause, well, Karma) and there was just no way Reagan had been planning this and at least one of them didn’t know. “And you’ve just been so distant,” Amy adds and yup, she still sucks at math, and oh, look, the first ever pair of fully orbital eyebrows.

“I’ve been…” Reagan takes another step back and turns, facing off to the side, looking out over the view they’ve shared so many nights. “Distant,” she mutters but Amy notes that, as annoyed as she sounds?

She’s not disagreeing.

“You have,” Amy says, pushing her luck, yes. But really, what does she have to lose at this point? “And it’s not like I’ve been doing much to fix it,” she says quietly. “We’ve both been ignoring the gorilla in the room so long, we never even noticed the wall it was putting up between us.”

“Elephant,” Reagan says, not even needing to look to see the confused look crossing Amy’s face. “It’s the elephant in the room. It’s bigger than a gorilla and less mobile, so it just kinda sits there taking up space and… and it’s a figure of fucking speech so… just never mind.”

Elephants. Gorillas. Fucking monkeys, that’s all they are. Monkeys playing around and keeping secrets and not talking about the things that actually matter.

“Honestly?” Amy says. “I would’ve been less surprised by a break up.”

And oh, why does she ever fucking speak.

But, again, it should be noted that Reagan doesn’t say a word in argument. And Amy does note. Oh, how she fucking notes.

“It’s crossed your mind,” she says, “hasn’t it? Ending this before I lea… before I go to school.”

Reagan stares at the ground, the box squeezed tight in her hand. “Leave,” she whispers. “The word you were looking for, the one you couldn't say? It’s 'leave’. Before you leave.”

Apparently they’re not ignoring the elephant anymore. They’re fucking riding it.

“Reagan, you know that’s not what I’m doing,” Amy says. She takes one hesitant step towards her girlfriend, who doesn’t even so much as move. “I’m not leaving. I’m going to college. Yes, it’s another state and it’s far away and it won’t be easy but…”

Amy trails off, no fucking idea where she’s going with this, but she can’t help remembering that, historically, the trail off has never been their friend.

“But it’s what you have to do,” Reagan says. “It’s your dream and I want it for you.” She chuckles and shakes her head. “Sometimes, I think I want it for you more than you do.”

“Rea… ” Amy closes the distance, her arms snaking around Reagan and she lets out a breath she didn’t know she was holding as she feels the older girl sink into her embrace. “I love you,” she whispers. “You… you’re my everything. And I know you think this is the way to keep that, to make sure college and distance doesn’t ruin it… ruin us. But marriage? I mean someday, maybe -”

Reagan’s head snaps up and she swivels in Amy’s grasp. “Wait… what?

"I said you’re my everything and I know what you’re trying to do and why, but -”

Amy’s arms fall to her side as Reagan takes a step back, holding up a hand to shush her. “No,” she says (irony) (again). “Not that part. The other part.” She watches as Amy goes over it in her head, slowly retracing her words. But, as usual, impatience wins out. “Marriage,” Reagan says. “You said marriage.”

“Well, yeah,” Amy says with a small nod toward the box. “That’s what I was trying to say. We can’t get married or even engaged. Not now. Not for this.” She shakes her head. “That’s why I was so surprised. I didn’t even know you were thinking about it.”

“Well,” Reagan says, reaching out and taking Amy’s hand, dropping the box into it. “That’s probably because I wasn’t.”

Seven Years and One Month Ago

The room is small. Like teeny small. Teeny tiny, smaller than her apartment small. Like small enough that Amy’s room back home might laugh at it (and swallow it), like small enough to make the 'size doesn’t matter’ joke die on Reagan’s tongue.

It would just be unnecessarily cruel.

Reagan’s not sure - cause she’s never actually seen it - but she suspects that even the Spawn’s nursery might be bigger than this.

(The Spawn = the baby = a name most definitely not on the list = exactly what Reagan’s going to call it - in her head - until they come up with a name.)

(And by 'they’ she 100% means Karma and by 'until’ she 110% means always. Like forever.)

She’s gotta think, even if she can’t be sure - not Spawn sure - that the nursery is bigger than this, again, not that she’s seen it. And yes, that’s been mentioned (once or twice) (usually by Karma) (and by 'usually’ she means… you fucking know what she means, we’ve been doing this shit long enough, no?) but it does bear repeating. You see, Reagan’s the only one who hasn’t seen it.

And it should be noted that that isn’t hyperbole or exaggeration, not in the slightest. This isn’t one of those 'only one’s’ like 'oh, you’re the only one who’s never seen that movie’ - like Amy and Princess Bride, once upon a time - when there’s literally thousands of other people who have never actually seen it.

Reagan really is the only one.

Karma’s seen it, which is to be expected since it’s in her house. Not that that’s weird at all, nope not one single tiny bit. Shane’s seen it too, but - again - kinda expected since lately he basically lives with the Ashcrofts and no, that’s not weird either.

(It is.) (It's weird.) (So fucking weird.) (So weird that even Liam has commented on it, going as far as to outright ask Shane if he’d gone straight - Karmasexual, that was his term and Amy almost fucking died on the spot - and yeah, Shane might have brushed it off and laughed at the very thought, but…)

(He might have laughed just a bit too hard.)

So, Karma and Shane have seen it but they live with it. And Liam’s seen it cause, well, duh, and Lauren’s seen it (which means Theo has seen it) because, well, Lauren.

Cause Lauren and cause her weird bond with Karma and yeah, Lolo was still Reagan’s BFF but this thing with her and Karma… it's…

Weird.

What’s weirder?

Farrah’s seen it.

Farrah.

And Amy’s seen it because Farrah’s seen it.

“Molly asked me to come see the nursery,” Farrah said out of the blue, one Wednesday and Reagan remembers it was a Wednesday because Wednesday’s are spaghetti night and the kitchen already smelled of Bruce’s special sauce - a phrase Reagan never thought she would ever utter or like - and Amy was already trying to sneak a taste out of the pot.

“What?” Amy said, spoon dripping red sauce onto the stovetop and God, could she ever eat anything without dripping something?

(Obviously, the answer is 'not if she’s doing it right and you so need to get your mind out of the gutter.)

(Not that Reagan wasn’t thinking the same exact thing.)

Farrah took the spoon from her daughter before Amy splattered the floor - again - and dropped it in the sink. “She asked me to come check out the nursery. She said she wants another mother’s opinion and, apparently, the other PFLAG moms don’t have my… taste.” Amy rolled her eyes and Reagan chuckled, both of them knowing exactly how Molly had hooked Farrah.

With her? Flattery really will get you everywhere.

“It would be impolite for me not to go,” Farrah said, lightly slapping Amy’s hand as she tried to filch a piece of garlic bread from the loaf by the sink. “And I am not going alone.”

It was simple, Farrah said, trying to convince her daughter to accompany her. A five minute visit, she promised. In and out, no harm, no foul, quick like bunny rabbits, done in a flash…

“Fuck it,” she muttered under her breath, running clean out of cliches. “Either you go with me, or there’s no camping trip for you and Reagan next weekend.”

Reagan could see the wheels spinning in her girlfriend’s head as she remembered camping, which, really, was remembering the table and the bed and, oh, that spot on the rocks down by the lake where those two teenage boys stumbled upon them and finished off puberty in about ten seconds flat.

Which was three seconds longer than it took Reagan to finish off Amy once they realized they had an audience, but that was neither here nor there, because what was here was Amy’s intense desire to not go there - she hadn’t been in Karma’s house in months and that had been weird, at first, but now it was more… comfortable - but Farrah was holding all the cards.

So, yeah, Amy went. And then Bruce went because… well… Reagan’s never been sure why but she’s got ideas (mind, gutter, you get that idea, right?) and then Jack - fucking Jack - went too (and oh, to have been a fly on the window for that five minute car ride) because of the whole mentor-slash-father figure-slash-sure, he can be a dad to fucking Liam thing and where Jack went (and where Karma was) then so went Lucy and so, yeah.

Only one.

Sometimes - usually when she’s trying not to think about it, which is like all the times - Reagan thinks that’s pretty much the sum total of what’s going to happen to her. The only one. The only one not moving on, the only one not moving up. The only one not growing and not changing, the only one not trying.

The only one left.

(And not just left behind, though, yeah, that’s the biggest bit of it all.)

So, she’s never seen the nursery and she doesn’t think she ever will, but she’s gotta think it’s bigger than this… room. If that’s what you want to call it. Reagan can think of other words.

Hole. Closet. Dent in the fabric of space and time. Tiny little hidey hole. Cupboard under the fucking stairs and nobody’s sending a 'Surprise! You’re a wizard!’ note here.

Oh. And one more.

Hell.

(That last one, obviously, has less to do with size and more to do with location, as in it's not Austin, and kinda everything to do with the way Karma and Molly are already softly whispering about where she and Amy can put their stuff and how cozy it will be and oh, yeah, cozy with the girl she was once in love with, cozy like no room to move or think or breathe, gonna be on top of each other… yup…)

(Hell.)

Farrah leans against the door - like there’s anywhere else she could stand - and surveys the room with a quick (very quick) (like Barry fucking Allen wouldn’t be able to keep up quick) sweep of her eyes.

“It's… homey,” she says, her lips pressed in a tight smile and yes, Reagan can add 'homey’ to her ever expanding list of synonyms for 'ridiculously fucking tiny’. And yes - again - she’s totally noticing the way Farrah can’t quite look at her, like her sorta-mom knows exactly what’s going on inside her head. She probably does.

Farrah is a lot of things. Dumb ain’t fucking one of them. But knowing what Reagan’s thinking and being able to convince her that she’s wrong are two very different things and, realistically, there’s not much chance Farrah could pull it off.

Still… it might be nice if someone tried.

“It has character,” Molly says - another synonym for the list - running a hand over the not too rusted metal bed frame of the bottom bunk. “Or it will, once the girls get through with it.”

Reagan tunes out as Molly starts in with a list of things the girls can do - at least she knows now where Karma gets that particular habit - especially when that list starts with taking the bunks apart and putting the beds side by side like a fucking sleepover.

Karma’s standing at the other end of the beds and she, at least, has the courtesy to blanche at that idea and she shoots Reagan a quick look, one the older girl thinks is supposed to say 'I’m sorry’ and 'that's not gonna happen’ and, yeah, it’s not like Reagan’s really worried about that.

Much.

“It’s a room,” Karma says, steering her mother off the discussion of the beds and where to put them and how they’ll be sleeping in them - cause, yeah, sleeping is the concern - and back to more practical matters. “Dorm rooms aren’t meant to be palaces,” she says, forgetting (or trying to) the fucking suite Lauren’s got at Yale. “Besides, we’ll be busy in the city and on campus and doing… you know… college things. We’ll probably only stagger back in here for sleep and a shower.”

Her eyebrow arches of its own accord, Reagan fucking swears.

“Showers,” Karma corrects, almost (but not quite) immediately. “Plural. One for me. One for her. Totally separate and not at all at the same time and yeah… so… ”

Reagan shuts her eyes as a hush falls over the world - or at least this tiny (so fucking tiny) little corner of New Orleans. She tries to ignore it, to not let it steer her into thinking about how silent her actual world is about to go.

And she remembers a time when she was so much better at trying.

It’s Karma who breaks the silence - and oh, that’s a shock - the desperation to salvage this trip before it… well… before it becomes everything they’ve all been expecting it to since pretty much the moment they left Austin, echoing in the pitch of her voice, cracking out almost an octave too high. “So,” she creaks, pausing to cough and reset. “Maybe… we should go check out the rest of campus? I’m sure Amy’s ready to sample the cafeteria, right Aimes?”

Eight eyes turns as one to look at Amy, who hasn’t said a word or even moved - like, not even an inch - from her spot by the window since the moment they all dogpiled into the room. And none of them, except maybe Molly (who’s still murmuring about the fucking beds) are surprised by what they see.

Reagan gets it first, of course, the moment she catches Amy’s eyes. She's so not surprised, not by the look - she expected it - but maybe a little by how much it still manages to break her heart, all her expectations be damned.

She sees it first and then it’s Farrah, only a half a heartbeat in front of Karma and it's her - of all fucking people - who reaches out, one hand brushing gently against the back of Reagan’s arm and it’s supposed to be comforting, it’s supposed to be a signal, a 'hey I’m still here’ and a 'it’s gonna be fine’. 'It’s just a look’ and 'there’s nothing to worry about’.

But, really? All it is a sign. A fucking neon blinking billboard in the night, screaming that that is utter bullshit, because there's everything to worry about. Because that look? That one Amy’s casting out the window - the one actually sort of big part of the room, overlooking campus with the flickering and blinking lights of the city in the distance - that look isn't just anything.

It's everything. That look speaks volumes, even if it only says two words.

I’m home.

(Technically, that's three, but who the fuck is really counting?)

For the first time she can ever remember, Reagan looks away from Amy. She has to, she has to drop her eyes as if she’s been staring too long into the sun and oh fuck no, she is not going to cry, not here, not now, not in front of… well… any of them. She’s not. She won’t.

She already is.

It’s Karma, again - and fuck all, when did she get a clue? - who bails her out. “Come on,” she says, crossing the room and tugging Amy by the arm towards the open door. “Greasy college food awaits,” she says, ushering her best friend and Molly and Farrah out into the hall, glancing back one last time at Reagan, staying behind to collect herself.

Alone.

Oh, like that’s going to help.

But then, like not even a minute later, it’s Karma - again - coming back through the door, a half crumpled paper in her hand, as she strides across the room (it’s like two baby steps, that’s all it takes) and shoving it into Reagan’s chest.

“You’re an idiot.”

Reagan blinks back the tears, her hand coming up to take the paper, crumpled as it is, noting, barely, a bunch of those little tear off tabs at the bottom. “What?”

“An idiot,” Karma repeats and they both remember a time when she wouldn’t have dared to say something like that to Reagan - it was right after the time when that sort of thing was all Karma could say to her - and there’s a look in her eyes that Reagan doesn’t quite recognize.

Right up until she does and it clicks where she’s seen it before. The night of the party. Right before Karma kissed Amy and it’s been so long since she even thought of that, but now it comes rushing back, water crashing over the levee, and oh… this… whatever it is, it really isn’t going to go well.

Color her fucking surprised.

“You think this is her new world,” Karma says. Her hands are on her hips and she’s trying to seem all determined and tough, but that look in her eyes dispels that right fucking quick. It’s a look of sad resignation, of knowing what she has to do, but really not expecting it to amount to fuck all in the long run. “You think she’s coming here and it’s all going to be new and different and exciting and it is. But you think… you think she’s going to find something here.”

Something. Someone. All the somethings, all the someones.

Reagan sags down onto the bottom bunk, the paper still clutched in her hand. “You saw her, Karma,” she says. “She’s not going to find something here. She already has.”

There isn’t much Karma can say in argument. They both saw it. There’s no arguing with the truth. But when the hell has even the cold hand of the truth slapping her right across the cheek ever stopped Karma?

“You’re right,” she says and yeah, that’s making Reagan feel just a metric shit-ton better, like seriously, go for a career in counseling, Karms. “Amy has found something here. A chance to be something other than her.”

Reagan wants to ask - she wants to fucking scream - just what the hell is wrong with just being her? Amy. Shrimps.

Hers.

“Can you imagine, Reagan?” Karma asks. “A chance to be something other than the girl Jack left and the girl Farrah basically tried to replace. Something beyond the once fake lesbian and the 'my’ in Karmy.”

Or the 'my’ in Reamy. Same difference, right?

“And don’t you even go there,” Karma snaps - she’s legit pissed and Reagan didn’t see that coming - staring down at the older girl still slumped on the bed. “Don’t go substituting Reamy for Karmy in your head, because we both fucking know it’s not the same. It never was.”

Damn. When Karma goes for insight, she goes hard.

“This is everything Amy’s dreamed of since she was seven,” Karma says and Reagan doesn’t have to ask why that age, she can still see that fucking photo on the living room wall as clear as day in her head. “But see, here’s the thing, Reagan,” she says, squatting down to force herself into Reagan’s vision. “Those dreams we have when we’re little?” Karma drops her head with a slow, sad shake. “Sometimes, we get stuck in them and we can’t see past them and we can’t understand that… when we grow up, those dreams should too.”

Yeah… not so sure they’re talking about Amy anymore. At least not only Amy.

“She gets that, you know,” Karma says, smiling, but barely. “Amy’s dreams… they grew. Bigger than getting out of Austin, bigger than college, bigger…” She shakes her head again, the 'than me’ left unsaid. “She understands that.” Karma stands and walks to the window, looking out at the city. It’s everything they talked about since they were little, everything two tiny girls once thought meant… everything.

But everything tiny must grow. And everything that grows…

“It changes,” Karma says softly, focused on a light in the far distance, a blinking speck just under the horizon. “Time changes and people change and priorities…” She leans against the glass, close enough to blur her own reflection and yeah, that seems just about right. “What was it you called this?” she asks. “Amy’s whole new world?”

Reagan nods. “It is,” she says. “A whole world of possibilities.” She doesn’t know how else to put it, to make it obvious that it isn’t the people she’s worried about, it isn’t the thought of Amy falling in love with someone else that scares her.

It’s the thought of Amy falling into life. Without her.

“It’s a world of chances, Karma,” Reagan says. “So many chances for her, just like you said.”

It's almost funny and Karma almost laughs. This, of all the times, is finally the time Reagan chooses to listen to her. “Yeah,” she says without turning around. “A world. But that’s just it. It's a world… not her world.” Karma turns from the window, staring at Reagan, and the older girl can see her heart - and it’s not quite breaking, but it’s not quite all in one piece, either - right there in her eyes.

Sometimes… usually when she least expects it and always when it seems most capable of absolutely wrecking her - Reagan understands perfectly why Amy’s never let Karma go.

“This is all wonderful and great and so many chances and it’s going to be an incredible time for her,” Karma says. “But you’re her world, Reagan. You have been since the moment she met you.”

“Karma -”

“No,” Karma says, cutting her off. “You’re not going to tell me different because… well… you’re just not. It’s the truth and we both know it.” And they do, even if one of them never wanted to believe it and the other one… can’t. “She would drop this,” Karma says. “She would walk away from school, give up on here, move back to Austin… Amy would throw it all away for you. All you’d have to do is say the word.”

Reagan doesn’t offer up an 'I never would’. Why bother? No one goes around telling everyone that the Earth is round or water is wet.

What is understood? Doesn’t really need to be discussed.

Karma steps back softly toward the bed, reaching down to tap the crumpled paper in Reagan’s hand. “Amy would give up everything for you,” she says. “She already did.”

I choose you. I choose us.

Reagan glances down at the paper, at the tabs at the bottom, the phone number printed on them in neat twelve point font. At the words, just beneath Karma’s finger, still brushing the paper.

“Maybe, Reagan,” Karma says. “It’s time you returned the favor.”

Amy doesn’t understand.

Yes, we’ve been here before. Recently, even. Some things… well… they just don’t really ever change.

But, apparently, some things - and some people - well… they do.

The box - now open and resting in the palm of Amy’s hand - doesn’t hold the ring that Amy was both expecting and fearing. She’s relieved, really she is, but there’s just the slightest rustling of something else starting to shiver inside her. It’s not disappointment, it can’t be that, cause let’s face it, even for Amy, that would just make no sense.

She said 'no’, after all. Why would she be disappointed?

(Why, indeed?) (But that’s a question - and an answer - for another time.)

(Like a few years later, right on this spot.) (But we’re getting ahead of ourselves and we wouldn’t want that.)

So, it’s not a ring, though, really, could anyone blame Amy for thinking it was? A tiny velvet box, held out to her by the love of her life (something she has never doubted) and there was such anticipation and hope dancing in said love of her life’s eyes - and oh, how long has it been since Amy’s seeing either of those in Reagan’s eyes - and it’s all happening in a spot so definitively and uniquely theirs.

Come on, that’s like something out of Proposals 101. How could Amy think it was anything else?

Well, for starters, she could have remembered this was Reagan and Reagan doesn’t do anything 101.

Or, you know, she could have just opened the box.

And found the key.

“A key?”

Never let it be said that Amy doesn’t, at least, have a firm grasp of the obvious.

“I don’t understand.”

Oh for fuck’s sake… here we go again.

“I mean, I understand,” she corrects (and she sorta does) (kinda) (maybe) (not really at fucking all). “I know what a key does and what it’s for, but… I already have a key to your place.”

Penny in the air.

“Yeah, I know that,” Reagan says, remembering quite clearly the moment she gave Amy that key. (It was a Tuesday and you know what that means.) (That it was a Tuesday.) (Not every day is a special food day, you know.) “I’m going to need that one back,” she adds, gently nudging Amy’s hand - and the box still in it - a little bit closer, urging her on, leading the horse to water, trying to teach the man to fish…

Oh, fuck the metaphors. She wants Amy to look at the tag - the tiny tag tied to the end of the key with tiny pink string that Karma gave her - like she desperately, achingly wants her to look at the tag and put two and two together and come up with four. Math even Amy can do.

“Back?”

There’s a ripple of pain trembling in Amy’s voice that Reagan didn’t expect, which isn’t much of a surprise. Truth be told, she didn’t expect any of this. It never once crossed her mind - or Karma’s or Lauren’s - that Amy might see the box and think ring and then make the jump from ring to proposal and even if she (or they) had?

Not a one of them would have thought 'no’ would be the answer.

So, yeah, this is going about as bass-ackwards as it could possibly go and see? This is what you get when you listen to an Ashcroft.

“You want your key back?” Amy asks, again and oh, shit, she’s going to cry, Reagan knows the signs and, even if she didn’t, the tears already leaking are a pretty good tip off. “But, I mean… why… ”

The trail off. Fuck all, it’s the trail off.

Amy blinks her eyes, flushing the tears and - Reagan knows - trying to gather her strength, fixing on her 'I’m not hurting and it’s all good, no worries’ face. Which looks oddly like her 'I want a doughnut’ face, but then most of Amy’s faces do.

“I mean, it’s fine, I’ve got it right here,” she says, shuffling the box into her other hand and reaching for her pocket. The key’s there, right where it always is. Amy’s lost the key to her house three times, the key to her car four times, and the key to Lauren’s journal (don’t ask, just don’t) once, but she has never not known where that key is.

She loves that key. It’s her… thing. She finds it. When she’s stressed or terrified or worried about Jack or the future or pissed (at Jack or the future) or just missing Reagan because she’s working her fourth straight late night catering shift. Amy finds it and she holds it and she runs her fingers across the teeth of it, tracing the grooves, the jagged points of the metal soothing her until whatever it is? It passes.

Reagan’s hand on her arm stills her movement, but that just sets those tears bubbling right back up. This is it, Amy thinks, this is that breakup that she wouldn’t have been surprised by. A thousand thoughts wash through her mind, tidal waves crashing against the rocks, but one cries out louder than the rest.

I can’t.

And she can’t. She thought she could. She thought - on those dark nights when even the key didn’t soothe - that if this is what Reagan was going to do, if this is what Reagan thought was best, well…

Then fuck her.

“I had a speech,” she mutters. “It was a good one. A tough one. All about how if you couldn’t just be happy for me and if you were going to let miles….” Amy shakes her head. Words. It was all just words and she's known that all along. She can’t lose Reagan. Not like this. Not like at all. She twists her arm in Reagan’s grasp, slipping their hands together, fingers lacing like they were made to do nothing else.

Fuck the speech.

“I won’t,” Amy says. “I won’t go. I’ll stay. I’ll stay here and go to UTA and I’ll live on campus, I’m sure I can find some nice girl to share a room with, one that’s not Karma, one that would never look at either of us like that.”

“Amy - ”

She hears Reagan - sort of - but talks right over her. “They’ve got a… decent… film program and sure, Karma will be a little pissed, but we’ll be fine. We’ve survived worse.”

“Amy -”

“And it doesn’t matter, anyway,” Amy says, rolling right along. “College is just… college. A lot of very well off and quite happy people never went to college, you know.” She squeezes Reagan’s hand in hers. “You didn’t go, and you’re doing just fine.”

“Amy -”

“No,” Amy says, another shake of her head, standing up firm and tall. “I’m not giving you the key, Reagan. If I give you the key then that’s it and that can’t be… that won’t be it. I just won’t let it.”

She takes a step back, trying to tug her hand free to show her resolve and all, but Reagan won’t let go. And if Amy had thought, even for a second, that there was any real chance Reagan ever would?

Well, then she just didn’t understand Reagan at all.

“Shrimps,” Reagan says, finally getting her girlfriend to pause, to slow down, to put the resist at all costs train back into neutral. “The key,” she says. “That one,” she adds, nodding towards the box. “Look at it, at the tag.”

Amy glances that way, almost afraid to let Reagan out of her sight, as if she might vanish into the ether if she looks away. Reagan lets go of her hand and Amy reaches over, plucking the key from the box, reading the tiny lettering on the tiny tag.

215 Treme Street. Unit 1C.

“Treme Street,” she says softly, the pieces settling into place “That’s like three blocks from…”

Her eyes light up and she looks from the key to Reagan and back to the key and back to Reagan.

And for once?

Amy understands.

“You’re coming? You’re coming to New Orleans with me?”

Reagan nods. “Yeah,” she says. “Recently, someone… surprisingly wise… pointed out that maybe it was my turn.”

The tears are back and it’s all Amy can do not to throw herself into Reagan’s arms right then and there. “Your turn for what?”

Reagan thinks about it for a moment, searching for the right way to put it. “My turn,” she says, smiling, “to try orbiting my world, for a change.”

Amy shakes her head, the confusion back in her eyes, but that's… well… it’s OK. Reagan understands enough for the both of them.

(Like she’d ever give Karma credit. Out loud.)

She catches Amy’s hand and pulls her close, slipping her arms around the blonde’s waist as she sinks back onto the swing. “Did you really think I’d break up with you?”

Amy shrugs and then nods and then, finally, slowly shakes her head. “Maybe for a second or two,” she says. “But I knew better.”

Reagan breathes - for what feels like the first time in forever - as Amy leans into her, her girlfriend’s lips brushing lightly across her own. “You knew, huh?” she asks and Amy nods.

“Yeah,” she says, turning and settling lightly on Reagan’s lap. “I know,” she says. “I know that wherever I am?” Amy clutches the key - her new key - in her hand, fingers already memorizing the grooves and edges. “You’re never far.”

[xpwewarchive]

XPWEW Heatwave 2018 (8-18-2018)

XPWEW 2018 Heatwave *Opening Video Package about the return of XPWEW *Flame pyro-technics *Jaques Dudley entrance with plenty pyrotechnics *Intro with Joey Styles & Shane McCoy on commentary quickly swinging it back to the fast paced opening contest of Rey & Jaques *Rey Mysterio entrance with several women wearing luchador masks *Rey Mysterio is wearing a Marvel Deadpool inspired outfit and mask M1: Jaques Dudley defeats Rey via pin fall *Gorilla Position: Rey walks behind the curtain to a round of applause by Troy Clausen thank you for being here Rey I greatly appreciate it. Jaques walks behind the curtain slowly and glares into a stare off with Troy. Troy embraces for a hug and Jaques denies his advancement. Troy explains, he wants to “bury the hatchet”. The past is the past so lets leave it together. Troy exclaims how he is a changed man and two things on this earth don’t hold grudges. that being basketballs and Troy Clausen. Troy persistently sees how Jaques is unimpressed by his apology. “Listen here, I understand why your upset with me. You proved me wrong! You proved me wrong to the whole world like..half a decade ago. I can change. I have. Jaques says “I just lived a childhood dream with a legend in this industry, Rey Mysterio. I’m on quite an adrenaline rush at the moment. I don’t wanna hear your fake apologies. I just want to be XPWEW Champion again. Troy says, I’ve already figured out the world title situation. and you know what I’ll spill the beans now. You just beat the legendary Rey Mysterio. So, I tell you what. Next week on Pyro. I’ll let you know but as of right now. You are in really good contention to be in the title chase. I think you’ll like the new title design as well. I’ll reveal it on Pyro this friday. Troy exits to the right in front of Jaques to a unique camera angle of Troy walking with the camera backward down the hallway. *Troy enters the green room of Heatwave tonight to adult film star Mia Khalifa. Who is here to promote the 2018 PornHub awards to be held in Los Angeles later this month, Troy banters back and forth acknowledging. Mia explains her interest in being the advisor to XPWEW by her interests in sports and her involvement in pro wrestling with her encounter with indie star Joey Ryan has perked her interest into getting into pro wrestling. Troy buries the lead only to politely flirt with Mia only for Chris Johnson to enter stage left on Mia Khalifa’s side of the screen. (Johnson gets a pretty big pop from the crowd) Chris Johnson talks about how he’s more aware than he ever has been before and he saw Troy talking to Jaques earlier and reminds him. “If you are already putting him! In contention for the world title, lets not forget who broke that streak of his. Troy attempts to respond quickly **Bigger Pop** until Hardcore Legend Mick Foley appears to kiss the hand of Mia Khalifa. Mick: Mia its a privilege to meet you right here! in the Los Angeles California! Troy laughs as CJ mean mugs. Troy: Chris! If you have a grievance may I introduce you to the NEW! first time ever! Leader of human resources! Mick Foley! You see Chris if you have any issue, talk to Mick. He’s here to help you. Mick: Says I’m a huge fan Chris Johnson interrupts only to gloat about how great he is and as soon as he gets going. Foley interjects to remind him I was actually talking about Mia’s work on the internet but you are pretty talented too. Johnson gets up in Mick’s face. Johnson: Mick, I know we’ve never met but as a warning to you from me. I’d suggest you watch your mouth when you speak to me or you’ll leave here quicker than you came. Johnson walks away (awkward silence between Mia,Foley & Troy Clausen) Foley: Mia I guess if I were leave quicker than I came then maybe I might not be cut out for your industry. Bang! Bang! *Sick Nick Mondo entrance with new brown gear as opposed to his classic lime green attire *Milk Man entrance wearing a really unique Chocolate version of his old uniform full with Chocolate milk liters which means Mondo is matching. *Siaka Lexoni & Ruckus entrance together with new theme music performed LIVE by Maxo Kream & Playboi Carti M2: Milk Mondo ENT vs Ruckus & Lexoni *Ruckus picks up the win for his team with a Bankroll onto Milk Man. *Siaka Lexoni celebrates with Ruckus and calls for the music to stop. Siaka starts controlling his breathing and says. I can’t believe I’m about to say this but I plan on retiring here tonight and this was my last match. I wanna thank everyone here for allowing me to perform all over the world for you for the past 10 years. Today marks my 10th year as a professional wrestler and I wanna thank Ruckus for being my best friend, my brother and thank you for everything. They both hug and hold hands up high and Siaka breaths in the admiration of the crowd by jumping the rail and greeting a farewell to the fans up close and personal in the stands as the screen fades to black *Troy Clausen walking backstage and a door opens adjacent to him. Joel Gertner comes out of the door and shakes Troy’s hand and Troy says Joel. I am granting you a position as well. You are now my assistant and mind you I’m a changed person and that role will not be a chance for me or anyone to take advantage of you. Hey by the way who else showed up. Troy: Did Future make it? Joel: Sir, he is in tour across the country Troy: You sure he couldn’t make it Joel: I’m pretty sure but Tito Santana is here *Tito Santana appears out of the door to a big smile and a good pop Troy: I was looking for Future not 6ix9ine or is that your age huh huh. You see Tito, I listen to my audience and they don’t like you. But that doesn’t mean I can’t come here. They hug. Tito: Obviously I can’t afford to be the private advisor. I’m not made of money. Troy honestly aren’t you like a BP oil tycoon? Why can’t you just pay for all this. I’m retired. I just wanted to be here for the boys. but concerning your boy Troy: ha ha did you train him well? *Curt Clausen appears to Clausen’s left and shakes Tito’s hand. Troy: proudly looks at Curt - up and down. My son! You remind me of a young me. Are you ready for your first official match as “Champagne” Curt Clausen! Curt: Dad, I’ve never been more prepared for anything in my life Troy: Go get em’ champ. I love that kid. *Chris Johnson entrance *Curt Champagne Clausen M3: Chris Johnson vs Champagne Clausen w/ manager Tito Santana *Clausen wins with a shocking roll-up finish and Johnson is beside himself and is openly frustrated *Mick Foley and Mia Khalifa backstage watching a monitor. Mia: he does look like a 70’s porn star Mick: I do wish that 70’s style did come back to main stream consciousness like a little hair you know a knock on the door: Jake Awesome, : Mick you wanted to see me Mick: Jake yes, how are you. We’ve never formally met before. So this is a big deal my son Mickey is a huge fan or yours Jake: thanks it means allot coming from you Mick: I just wanted to inform you that Troy Clausen has given me the instruction that I am going to be the special guest referee for you and Slayer tonight. I’ve actually been trying to contact him all night to no luck but I do have another person here Vince Russo appears: Mick, bro its been too long. Jake Awesome now thats what a professional wrest-a-luh is suppose to look like bro. Jake, you are a stud just like your father it’s great to meet you *Russo gets a very mixed reaction Jake: humbly shakes Russo’s hand and asks speaking of which, Why did you make my dad That 70’s guy. Bro c’mon the Aston Kutcher show was doing big numbers bro it was just business! just business! strictly business bro! Jake: smirks and laughs Mick: (interjects) I will input I did think Dude Love was a more successful hippie inspired character than that of the fat chick thriller but I’m not judging Jake: (quick laugh and walks out) *tanaka entrance *blackman entrance M3: Steve Blackman vs Masato Tanaka *Blackman wins this match with a brain buster suplex bridge pin after a very close contest. Blackman grabs the microphone and urges Tanaka to shake hands as a sign of good sportsmanship, Tanaka accepts only for Blackman to kick him in the balls in response Blackman: I don’t have the god damn patience for you or any of the scum here in LA tonight *crowd boos* Blackman: Look at all the people here tonight huh look int the front row. Well thats Mr. Red cap to the back himself. Frederick First! *camera switches to Fred Durst in the front row Blackman: smirking approaches him and does a quick interview but cuts it short bashing Durst with the microphone and then shinzo kicking him in the head only for security to separate them Blackman pleads up to the ramp with the mic in hand Blackman: security can’t stop me, Fred Durst couldn’t stop me. but I am back with purpose. I am the greatest champion in this company’s lineage runs through me and I’d like to introduce my new manger. better yet my new litigator. Will Olafuub and Eddie Edwards *Olaffub & Edwards enter and embrace Blackman *Olaffub takes the mic. This is the new wave. This is the dark web of professional wrestling. We seek the truth. We are The Truth of professional wrestling. The Lethal Weapon Steve Blackman The Human Visegrip Eddie Edwards and introducing The Luminary!!! Croyle Brodie Croyle entrance! We want all the gold and we will not rest until we have it We are the Truth Infantry. *Backstage: Jim Cornette is revealed to be famous YouTuber Brian Zane in disguise cuts a scathing promo on how the current state of professional wrestling is in the toilet. He wants to give his blessing to Leonard & Dennis McGraw. A return to the basics. A return to class and prestige. He also calls out Russo as a coward for leaving. *Pac aka Neville makes his entrance to a big ovation from the crowd. Maybe biggest of the night *Tanhashi enters to a nice pop as well M4: Tanahashi vs Pac *After a chess match match with Neville taking most of the offense the match. Neville wins with a bridge pin tiger suplex. Tanahashi clearly frustrated with himself hesitates to leave the ring but does and somberly walks up the ramp. *Romeo Roselli interview with new official xpwew interviewer Kandi Khaos INTERVIEW: Romeo politely answers the questions of his excitement looking forward with XPWEW. Romeo dressed up as iconic drag queen “Divine” most famously portrayed from the 1970’s film Pink Flamingos. Romeo has a gucci bag, inside he reveals “The Heavens Crown Championship title. A very unique title with a powder blue strap and silver plate, He reveals that starting on pyro he will gracefully defend this title every single week! The Seven Minutes In Heaven Challenge will be inaugurated next friday on the season premiere of Pyro {Romeo Roselli defends the Heavens Crown Championship each week in a 7 minute match against a mystery opponent.} *Taka Michinoku enters wearing a Will Osperay t-shirt just to shoutout his buddy over in NJPW. Big pop *Kota Ibushi enters to streamers from the side ramp like crazy. Great pop for his debut here in XPWEW 2 out of 3 falls M6: Taka Michinoku vs Kota Ibushi *Kota wins the first fall *Taka wins the second fall *Kota Ibushi wins the third fall after multiple missed M7: Leonard & Dennis McGraw accompanied by Brian Zane destroy a local talent tag team called The LA Rydas *Backstage: Slayer sitting in what appears to be a secluded janitor’s closet and Marc Snow appears and Slayer almost jumps in self defense and Marc steps in with a birthday card. I know it’s your birthday today. Slayer heistantly accepts and Marc says I’m not going to apologize for anything. I just wanna tell you I support you and I love you and I wish I would have said it sooner. Slayer actually goes in for a huge and fucking history is made as Slayer and Marc Snow hug it out and the decades of father/son abuse may have just ended right before our eyes at Heatwave *Backstage: Jake Awesome now in his ring gear passes by Mick Foley talking with Troy Clausen, Joel Gertner & Will Ollafub. Jake asks Mick for advice. Mick says well see I’ve seen enough of Slayer to know. But Jake I’m a well versed XPWEW fanatic! and I know that in big match scenarios, in big fights, sink or swim, fight or die, adapt or perish. Jake Awesome. The mammoth. is the greatest xpwew wrestler ever. Most decorated. Most successful. The best. You don’t need to ask Mick Foley for anything. Believe in you! You can conquer and good luck tonight Jake. Jake smiles and pats Mick on the back and thanks him thoroughly. Mick smiles in the distance *promo hyping the psychotic clowns. Kirby Lee and Joe Gacy. Coming soon!!!! IN RING: *Troy Clausen hits the ring with Joel Gertner and his son Curt “Champagne” Clausen. Joel has a crate filled with what appears to be plaques Troy hands a plaque to Joey Styles as the greatest commentator in XPWEW history Joey rebuttals with a “well the only one but thanks” Troy hands a plaque to Jaques Dudley for being the best person he can be He cues Jaques to enter the stage but after silence he’s like “I’ll find him, I’ll give it to him. I’ve buried the hatchet me and Jaques are cool now.” Troy gets Joel Gertner and Champagne Clausen to grab a big bag of candy “Zero” I love a zero bar! Joel throws bars of candy into the crowd and so does Troy. Troy says now that all the love is in the air. I have the esteemed honor to announce to you the official advisor to XPWEW Ladies and Gentlemen… *Glass breaks STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN appears for the first time in the XPWEW arena and he doesn’t live for from Los Angeleees as he says on his podcast Stone Cold hits all four corners buried in cheers from the crowd. He stops. Clausen again announces him. Stone Cold grabs the mic. runs down joel, then champagne then troy but he’s not here to be an “advisory” Stone Cold don’t rock with that. He’s a sheriff. Sheriff Austin. and i’m gonna make sure everything works. and i’ll be damn any of those wrestlers in the back, Troy says that curt clausen almost looks like a young stunning steve austin. Pizza delivery arrives. Austin: Pizza? Troy: Yes, pizza, do you mind getting it, you are the advisor after all Austin: Wait you want stone colds money? thats what this is about Troy: I thought this is why you sold the broken skull ranch?? Austin: (to the crowd) if you think troy clausen is only out to get my money and stab ,me in the back for his own benefit, give me a hell yeah Crowd: HELL YEAH Troy: no! no! I’m a changed man! Austin: recalls his history with jaques dudley, i know what kinda person ya are Stone Cold didn’t come here to hand over any money and stone cold ain’t here in the EX PEE DUBYA EE DUBYA to do nothing but make damn sure things are running up to make this company, a fixture of the pro wrestling world and as my first act I’d like to get started on the right foot {Austin gets up in Clausen’s face} Austin: DTA - thats a moniker I live my life by. I here now am the sheriff of that locker room and i will call the shots 50/50. Not BS. No shortcuts so I’m gonna warn you now. Don’t get under my skin, don’t ruffle my feathers, don’t test me, basically what I’m saying is don’t piss me off! Now if ya wanna see jake awesome take on the ole’ dragons layer in the main event give me a hell yeah LETS EAT SOME PIZZA Clausen smiles and cheers Gertner already has half a pizza in his mouth Austin gets a couple beers thrown at him, hands them off and then while they all drink one delivers a stone cold stunner to the pizza man *Mick Foley entrance as special guest referee *Slayer entrance *Jake Awesome entrance M9: Slayer vs Jake Awesome *Slayer wins by submission with the helm sharpshooter. {the first time jake awesome has ever lost via submission} Mick lifts Slayer’s arm in victory THE END

[auburnfamilynews]

Auburn somehow finds itself in the midst of the biggest game of opening weekend.

I hate how far in advance you have to schedule college football games, and yet this is one of the instances in which I can actually remember when a game was scheduled as we approach kickoff. It was only four years ago that Auburn and Oregon announced the meeting in Arlington for the Kickoff Classic event, instead of the 10-15 year notice that we now get for other non-conference matchups.

When that game was scheduled, we were obviously ecstatic. Auburn was poised for a huge year (uh..) and Oregon was coming off of another national runner-up season and their first Heisman Trophy winner.

Things change, and Oregon’s not the same team as they were when we met in Glendale for the national title in January of 2011. Auburn’s different, but largely the same. We just don’t have Cam Newton, which sucks. The Ducks, however, have no longer ascribed to the speed game they did for over a decade, and they’re more of a pro-style team across the board. It feels weird, but we have plenty of information about Oregon courtesy of Adam Chimeo of Addicted to Quack.

Learn about the opening opponent below!

While we’re breaking in a new quarterback, the Ducks have one of the top potential picks in the 2020 NFL Draft in Justin Herbert. Which QB of the past does he compare to? What’s his biggest strength? What’s his biggest weakness?

That’s a good question. I actually would compare him to Oregon Legend Joey Harrington, though there are a couple huge differences between the QBs: Herbert is bigger and more athletic than Harrington, he also has a stronger and more accurate arm, but what he hasn’t yet developed is Joey “Captain Comeback” Harrington’s killer instinct.

Herbert has all the tools needed to become one of the season’s best quarterbacks, it’ll all come down to whether he can turn in clutch performances on the road (Oregon has won just 3 of their last 10 true road games) meaning he’ll need to develop a new go-to receiver as soon as possible.

One of the matchups that everyone started talking about as soon as last year ended was the Auburn defensive line against the Oregon offensive line. We may have the best front four in the land on our side, where does the Duck offensive front stand among the rest of the country?

The Ducks’ offensive line returns 153 starts, making them the most experienced O-line in the country. Not only do they return standout veterans like Shane Lemieux, Calvin Throckmorton and Jake Hanson (seniors entering their fourth year in starting roles), they also return sensational sophomore Penei Sewell. Even with all the talent and experience on this unit, Sewell proved to be the MVP after the Duck offense slumped during his midseason departure due to injury.

What should concern Duck fans is this squad’s lackluster production in the rushing department (54th nationally). If Cristobal wants to become a power-rushing offense then this team will need to produce more on the ground. I imagine the match-up between the lines will live up to the hype, the Duck faithful can only hope that the passing game is there to complete the one-two punch.

When we last met, it was hurry-up, no-huddle, speed, speed, speed on both sides. The narrative has shifted a good bit with Mario Cristobal running the show. What’s his basic philosophy on both sides of the ball? Do you think his time at Alabama will pay dividends going against Auburn?

On the offensive side of the ball Cristobal has elected to transform the Ducks into a downhill, power-running offense; a task that would seem dubious if not for his rapid success in recruiting. Even in the wreckage of Willie Taggart’s departure, Cristobal managed to land the 13th ranked class in 2018 and followed that up with the 7th ranked class in 2019, the highest in program history.

Outside of recruiting, which is really what is generating the excess hype for this Duck squad, Cristobal immediately re-established discipline both mentally and physically on the team after years of bad culture that was allowed to grow during the Mark Helfrich years.

Defense, on the other hand, is a much more complicated puzzle to solve, though the pieces individually look rather impressive. Two years after Oregon made a big splash with the hiring of Jim Leavitt as defensive coordinator, Cristobal established that this is his team by letting him go. Former Boise State DC Andy Avalos showed the Ducks just how lethally chaotic his defense can be by embarrassing them in the Vegas Bowl, Cristobal’s first game as our head coach. Expect some intriguing looks from what will most definitely be a multiple defense.

Despite a bit of a disappointing season in 2018, Auburn fans got to head into the offseason with some optimism based on the bowl blowout of Purdue. Oregon scraped by Michigan State and the offense didn’t do much. What were the initial thoughts on 2019 as we turned the page from last year?

I think I can speak for most Duck fans when I say that the Redbox Bowl, while incredibly painful to watch at the time, felt like a huge step in the right direction. A non-Rose-Bowl bowl win is nice and all, but the ultimate payoff is the extra practice time. Sure, we looked like hot garbage out there on offense for about 97% of the game, but in the end we broke our bowl losing streak and beat a team that had at least one elite side of the ball.

Also, we beat Washington and Oregon State. So good season.

5. Word from fall camp is that wide receiver is going to be a thin position due to some unfortunate injuries. How much will that affect what Oregon wants to do on offense in Arlington?

Pull up a chair and let me tell you about our injuries at receiver: Senior projected starter Brenden Schooler is out 6-8 weeks with a foot injury, standout freshman Mycah Pittman is out 6-8 weeks with a shoulder injury, and JR Waters is out due to foot surgery- all taking place in fall camp. This leaves us with a projected lineup of SR Juwan Johnson, JR Jaylon Redd and JR Johnny Johnson III; not an elite unit, but at least a good combination of experience and skill, though one more injury could be disastrous for this group.

Going into the offseason, the main goal was to find a replacement for Dillon Mitchell, by far Herbert’s favorite target and the program record holder for yards in a single-season (1,184).Progress seemed to be made with the emergence of Penn State grad transfer Juwan Johnson but it’s worth noting that one of his main flaws was drops, which is not what you want to hear coming from a unit that suffered through 52 of them last season.

Long story short, I don’t think the issues at receiver will necessarily change the strategy, however I do think it will diminish our ability to take advantage of the stacked box. Cristobal is likely to stick with what he knows is a strength, which could prove fatal if we aren’t able to establish the deep ball as a threat.

Which offensive skill players will play and have a big impact on August 31st?

Justin Herbert will be desperately searching for someone to catch the damn ball. Tight ends Jacob Breeland and Cam McCormick have been excellent in the pass game when healthy and Jaylon Redd was one of the few pass-catching bright spots outside of Dillon Mitchell last season. Duck fans will be praying that Juwan Johnson can provide a reliable outlet for Herbert.

CJ Verdell and Travis Dye will once again be the two-headed monster, the former providing the angry downhill style and the latter the straight speed. If these two can find consistent success on the ground, I think the Ducks possibly run away with this thing, though Auburn’s horrifying D-line makes that much easier said than done.

With Herbert and the offensive line taking much of the publicity, we haven’t heard as much about the Duck defense. What are they capable of doing and which names should we pay attention to?

I believe that this defense has the potential to cause a lot of chaos in a lot of backfields, thanks in large part to Andy Avalos and his brand spanking new system which is built on confusion and constant pressure. If things click quickly for this experienced front seven, Bo Nix could have a really rough debut.

Troy Dye is the cornerstone of this unit. He’s led the team in tackles for the last three seasons and is currently 121 tackles away from becoming Oregon’s all time leader in the category. Jordon Scott (AKA Fat Mac) has been an incredible nose tackle ever since his freshman year: Avalos will need to find a modified role for him now that the team will rely less on the 3-4, but Scott has the rare combination of size and speed to adjust.

The starters in the secondary will hopefully take a collective step forward with the leadership of junior cornerbacks Thomas Graham Jr. and Deommodore Lenoir. Jevon Holland is coming off of a stellar freshman campaign and will look to add to his five interceptions now that he’s locked down the starting safety position.

Then of course there’s Kayvon Thibodeaux, the nation’s no. 2 overall recruit of 2019, who will definitely see the field, most likely in the STUD position. If you really want to know a name that will seemingly pop out of nowhere, senior Bryson Young has been talked about a lot at STUD. A strong offseason and a change in scheme has put Young into the perfect position to really make a name for himself at the end of his Oregon career.

What’s Oregon’s ceiling this year? Are they a potential Playoff team? New Year’s Six? Conference champion? What are Oregon fans feeling in terms of a final record?

Games like the 2016 Alamo Bowl versus TCU and the Stanford meltdown of last season have turned this Duck fan into a very pessimistic person. Despite that blackhole in my heart, I am still pretty high on this Oregon team. Are they a playoff team? Most definitely not. A New Year’s Six contender? I suppose if absolutely everything goes perfectly, why not. That would require either a PAC-12 championship or a close loss to playoff bound Utah/USC.

The general consensus seems to be that 9-3 would be perfectly respectable, while 8-4 would be a bit of a letdown. The homer in me has them going 9-3.

What’s keeping the coaching staff awake at night right now?

A recurring nightmare where endless, consecutive receivers drop a perfectly timed pass from Herbert and then fall to the ground clutching their knees. Occasionally Derrick Brown makes an appearance in the especially nasty nightmares.

Prediction for this game?

Unfortunately, I don’t think hometown hero Herbert will be able to avenge our loss in the 2011 National Championship game (side note: Dyer was down!). I think both teams will be able to walk away from this game with their heads held high, but ultimately I don’t think Oregon will be able to exorcise their road demons this early in the season.

Auburn 27 - Oregon 21

...

Kickoff Saturday night from Arlington. 6:30 pm CST... War Eagle!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/8/28/20832682/opponent-q-a-the-oregon-ducks

[shopggdb-blog]

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[pwrestlingxpress]

I apologize if I didn’t do this last week but here are my comments on the the Top 10 moments of the April 24th edition of RAW (aka Road to Payback 2017)  and the April 25th edition SmackDown! Live that WWE on YouTube has provided for us.  I will not comment on any moment containing Braun Strowman because I’m not a fan of him and I feel that he stills need more polishing before becoming a top star.  I have not seen him do multiple moves, also his character feels too forced and not emotional enough.  I’ll put this in better detail another time.  Anyway, here’s what I have to say about each moment starting off with RAW and ending with SmackDown! Live.  

The video above are the top 10 moments from SmackDown! Live while the video below my comments are the top 10 moments from RAW.  

RAW 10: Alexa Bliss gets slapped by the "unhinged" Sasha Banks.  Kind of shocked on that moment but who's to say that she had it coming.

RAW 9: Apollo Crews beats Curt Hawkins but I have to question Titus O'Neal's methods into trying to recruit Crews into his group.

RAW 8: This match was not really good but what happened after it has me totally speechless.  What is Emma trying to do?!

RAW 7:  Enzo gets blindside by Bullet Club members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson into which Seth Rollins and Big Cass retailated afterward.

RAW 6:  Good night, TJ as Austin Aries pins him in a tag match showing Adrian Neville just what he could do to him this Sunday in San Jose. 

RAW 5:  Said it on twitter and I'll say it again, a distraciton by Jeff Hardy causes Sheamus the match against Matt Hardy which puts all the momentum on the Hardys retaining this Sunday in San Jose at Payback. 

RAW 4:  Alexa Bliss tries to run away but she decides to do something else to Bayley.  Don't think she can beat Bayley to become RAW Women's Champion but she has send a strong message to the women's division. 

RAW 3:  Not a good night for Mike "The Miz" Mizanin.  As of matter of fact, ever since moving to RAW, The Miz has not had a good month at all.  Let us hope that May will be a lot better for the "A-Lister" and he can learn how to not let his mouth get the best of him. 

RAW 2:  We all heard that Seth Rollins had a new finisher and this past Monday Night, he finally showed it.  At first, it looked like he was going for the Pedigree but instead did his version of Kazuchika Okada's "Rainmaker" except his involves a running knee. In reality, it's actually a combination of Okada's lariat and Kenny Omega's running knee as Kenny commented about this on twitter as soon as he saw it.  He said "At least I still have my music".  Despite the crowd not really being into it, this was a great moment as Seth Rollins sheds away the remnants of his 2015 self and brings forth a version that could be suitable for New Japan Pro Wrestling, if he decides to participate in the 2017 G1 Climax since it’s apparent that Omega wants Rollins now based on his comments. But that's only if since I've never seen any WWE-contracted wrestlers go to other major promotions at all including the G1 and the fact that WWE tends to keep all of their stars under contract into which none of them are allowed to wrestle in other organizations. 

RAW 1: Like I said earlier on, I will not comment on anything about Braun Strowman because he's proven nothing to me. 

SD Live 10: Whoa! Erick Rowan goes through a table via the Kendo stick from Randy Orton

SD Live 9: American Alpha set the time for the other teams to beat and it was a good time though I wish the match was a little longer

SD Live 8: Rusev sends SmackDown! Live management an ultimatium and I have to agree with him on this because he deserves a title shot more than anyone else on the roster.  He later revealed on twitter why he wants a shot at the WWE Championship and in simple terms, he's just tired.  In my opinion, I think he feels like he's at the end of his rope now that his wife Lana is pursuing her own goals in the WWE. He feels like if he doesn't get a title shot, then who is he? What is he?  If I were Shane or Daniel, I would give him the shot because he deserves it more than anyone. 

SD Live 7: Now there will be no excuses as AJ Styles pins Baron Corbin 1-2-3 thus defeating him an a great match.  More to come from this segment later on.

SD Live 6: Look how far The Ascension has fallen and how far up Tyler Breeze has been.  Congrats to both him and Fandango on becoming the Number 1 contenders to the SmackDown! Live Tag-Team Championships.  Truly, both of them deserve this shot and it's a long time coming.  Hoping they're able to pull off a show at Backlash despite myself knowing they may not win it. 

SD Live 5: I've been learning Japanese for over 12 years now and I'm mostly understood everything Shinsuke said in which Dolph retaliated but Shinsuke was ready as the King of Strong Style struck back and nearly showed off the Show-off.  I actually laughed at that moment and so did most of the crowd. 

SD Live 4: Randy Orton sends a strong message to Bray Wyatt by finishing off his disciple, Erick Rowan in a very intense No Disqualification match. 

SD Live 3: This was a crazy one as three disgruntled women cause a fantastic Women’s Championship match to end the way it end between challenger .  I don't know if anyone even saw this but Charlotte Flair was actually crying after this happened.  For the first time in a long time, I have to feel for Charlotte because this was not how I wanted things to end.  Let's hope that she'll get another shot against Naomi and this time, let's make sure that if anyone interferes, there will be consequences. 

SD Live 2: Part two of the Number seven moment in this week's SmackDown! Live Top 10 moments and this moment was crazy as out comes Sami Zayn who knocks out Baron Corbin in which then Kevin lays waste to both Sami and AJ Styles.  I was honest last night on twitter when I said that I hate Kevin Owens.  I've hate the guy for about five years now and I still do today despite the fact that I respect what he does. Despite what he did to AJ, I'm hoping that AJ Styles beats up what's left of either Owens or Chris Jericho at Backlash in Chicago as AJ challenges the winner of the US Championship. 

SD Live 1: Another crazy moment as Jinder Mahal and The Bollywood Boyz totally assault Randy Orton.  The shocking part was that Jinder left the show with the WWE Championship when he haven't even won it yet.  Wonder how SmackDown! management is going to handle this one as Randy will now head to San Jose without his championship belt.

[yahoo-puck-daddy-blog]

Mumps, Shattenkirk and Lightning sell-off (Puck Daddy Countdown)

(In which Ryan Lambert takes a look at some of the biggest issues and stories in the NHL, and counts them down.)

7 – Crying poor

While it is, let’s say, interesting that the NHL’s revenues are expected to remain flat for what is effectively three straight years now, it’s just sad the extent to which the CHL works against its players.

Just read this whole thing. I understand hockey is a business but, like, pay the players. Literally any amount of money beyond a very small stipend. Like the minimum wage, that would be a good starting point.

But alas:

The Niagara Ice Dogs say they can’t afford to pay players min. wage. Their tax return shows the team leases 4 BMWs, inc. a $121K BMW X6 M. pic.twitter.com/xP7BPgc6D2

— Rick Westhead (@rwesthead) February 28, 2017

Wow, cool.

6 – Ottawa in ‘Going For It’ mode

Maybe it’s just me but I really don’t get why Alex Burrows is a guy you give up one of your four or five best prospects for. Burrows has 20 points in 55 games this year, and while he’s well on his way to surpassing last year’s output (22 points in 79) that’s still not very good. Even if he improves on this current pace, which I’m not counting on, the odds that he gets anywhere close to 40 points are slim.

Even beyond the low production numbers — not surprising for a guy in his age-36 season, quite frankly — this is also a guy who hurt the Canucks in possession and had a very, very marginal goals impact. So to give up a well-regarded (albeit not deal-breaking) prospect for him is a little bizarre.

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But then to also say, “And you know what, Alex, we’re gonna sign you for two more years to boot,” is just silly, right?

Are there people defending this deal on any level outside the Ottawa front office?

Now, to be fair, the extension screams, “Please take this guy in the expansion draft,” and that’s something you can say of a lot of recent signings (see also: Tootoo, Jordin; Roszival, Michal). But still, there’s a difference between exposing Roszival or Tootoo, who you don’t care about and have been in the organization for a while, and trading for then re-signing Burrows, who’s old as hell and not very good.

Let’s put it this way: If you’re even thinking of pushing in your chips soon, and you start by giving away that kind of a prospect for a guy like Alex Burrows, you’re gonna have to sign the deed to the rink over to the Avalanche if you still want Duchene or Landeskog.

And that Stalberg-for-a-third trade? Well, that’s fine I guess. Doesn’t make much difference one way or another, except to say that’s one extra third you can’t trade for something that’s actually gonna help you win a playoff round.

Stalberg and Burrows are your opening volleys here? Good luck with that.

5 – Reviewing your options

Antoine Vermette slashed an official. That can’t be understated, or said enough. This isn’t art, so we don’t have to take the artist’s intent into consideration.

No matter what he meant to do, like tap a guy on the shin or whatever other excuse, the video evidence is looks bad enough that a 10-game suspension was frankly warranted. But Vermette’s not a fan, so he’s gonna run this up the ladder as far as it’ll go in hopes of getting Wideman’d. That is, probably not really getting the suspension reduced, but recouping a little of the money he lost.

I think it’s dumb that it’s dragging on like this, but I don’t blame him. Just serve the 10 games and shut up, sure. You slashed a linesman so that’s fine. But why not try to get that cash back if Wideman, who ended an official’s career, did it?

4 – Jonathan Quick is back now

Jonathan Quick has been out so long you kinda almost forgot about it unless you watched a few Kings games and said to yourself, “Wow, they sure are playing Budaj a lot.”

This is another one of those classic Kings seasons. Muddle around in the standings, get solid enough goaltending to make up for the lack of offense, and dominate possession. Getting Quick back helps to ensure it continues, because while Budaj had been very good to this point (.917 ain’t bad at all, baby!) he’s also Peter Budaj so those wheels could fly off at any time.

And while Quick is coming off a long injury — and one to his groin, which is always a worry with a capital-A capital-G Athletic Goalie — he’s still way more likely to deliver .917 for the remainder of the season. And if he’s not, well, there’s always…

3 – The Lightning blow-up

Speaking of the Kings’ goaltending, it’s hard to see Ben Bishop heading there as anything but an insurance policy for Los Angeles (in case Quick can’t get back to his former level or, more worrying, gets hurt again). This is a pure rental. Can’t imagine the Kings will want anything to do with retaining the guy after this season unless Quick’s career is in jeopardy or something. Which, you have to figure they wouldn’t be letting him play right now if it were.

But what the Bishop contract really speaks to is the Lightning’s current and future cap constraints, and the fact that they have (wisely) given up hope that they’ll make the playoffs this season. They basically took very little back (a decent prospect, a late pick, and Budaj) for a guy they could have traded for a lot more nine months or so ago, but hey, they had every reason to think they were Cup-competitive this year. Weird stuff happened, so they aren’t. That’s life.

Then, of course, Brian Boyle got dealt to Toronto for one of the Leafs’ roughly 9 million second-round picks in the last few years, so yeah, things are a little off-kilter if it’s the Bolts selling and the Leafs buying.

Again, it’s a good call for this team to sell. They still have the talent to go on a run and maybe even do some damage in the postseason if things go their way, regardless of Bishop and Boyle being on the roster any more. And if not, maybe they sell a little more as well. They have no reason to have a full-on fire sale, but if you’re getting picks and prospects for guys you weren’t going to keep anyway, that’s just good business. Bless up.

2 – That Shattenkirk trade

Here's the new look for @shattdeuces…Big #NHLTrade pickup for the @Capitals! pic.twitter.com/if3yE4CnRk

— NHL Store NYC (@NHLstoreNYC) February 28, 2017

I’m a little surprised Kevin Shattenkirk went to the Capitals. I’m a little surprised the return was so small. I’m a little surprised no one else could come up with a better offer.

I’m not at all surprised the Capitals are pushing all-in with this roster. Because they were all-in anyway. Of course they were.

A roster with stars this old and expensive — Ovechkin’s 31 and he ain’t gonna hit 50 this year, and that’s about to become a lot more commonplace even though he’s signed for four more seasons after this at almost $9.54 million AAV — that’s also playing this well? If you’re Brian MacLellan this is maybe the last year or two you’re gonna be in a really strong position to win a Cup. You might as well give up what’s gonna be a late-first, a conditional late second, a good prospect and a career AHLer for another top-pairing defenseman (of which the Capitals now have three, which is nice) and a goalie prospect you already had before and very much liked.

Yeah it’s a pure rental, but what the hell? The time to Go For It is now. Now you just gotta hope you don’t pull the Pens in the second round again.

1 – Mumps!!!!!!

Mumps is back and this is the best joke about it anyone’s gonna come up with:

Boudreau, aka quote machine, hopes he doesn't contract the mumps: "I'm already fat enough. I don't need to get lumpy anymore." #mnwild

— Michael Russo (@Russostrib) February 28, 2017

(Not ranked this week: Shock! Amazement! Wonder!

 Shane Doan gets to say, “Man I don’t know about the direction of this team!” And no one said, “Hold on buddy, what are you talking about?”

Like, come on, man.

You play for the Coyotes, right? Have for a little while now? How is this not a thing to which you’ve become accustomed? He just signed a one-year deal this past offseason. He had to know going in this was a team that was going to tank hard. Look what they did in the offseason. Hell, look what they’ve done every offseason forever. 

The Coyotes are very wisely tanking to get actual talent on the roster. The fact that 78-year-old Radim Vrbata leads the team in scoring tells you plenty about the quality of this group. For Doan to be gobsmacked by it tells you he’s either naive or not paying attention. Either way, that’s on him, not John Chayka.

The latter’s just doing his job right. It’s a big change in the desert, I know. Competent governance? They’re not used to that.)

— 

Ryan Lambert is a Puck Daddy columnist. His email is here and his Twitter is here.

(All statistics via Corsica unless otherwise noted.)

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