#100 off 37 Balls

[thommi-tomate]

Since we are in the middle of the season and I love numbers and statistics, here is some data on the boys' performance 🙌🏼

-data only includes players who have played more than 300 minutes

-I deliberately did not include C*man

---------------------------

Goalies

Manu Peretz

1592 minutes played 431 minutes played

20 saves 8 saves

84.62%(11/13)succesful run outs 100%(3/3) succesful runouts

11 saves from inside the box 3 saves from inside the box

88.27% passing accuracy 72.22% passing accuracy

59.16% long balls accuracy 30.65% long balls accuracy

100% aerial duels accuracy 50% aerial duels accuracy

60% ground duels accuracy 50% ground duels accuracy

100% dribble accuracy. ----

9 clearances 3 clearances

-----------------------------------------------------------

Defense (top 3 of every aspect)

More goal contributions:

Phonzie: 1 goal 3 assists

Upa & Min-Jae: 2 goals each

Rapha : 1 goal 1 assist

Sacha: 1 assist

More clearances:

Min-Jae: 66 and 1 off line

Upa: 47

Phonzie: 19

More blocked shots:

Min-Jae: 11

Upa: 9

Phonzie: 4

More interceptions:

Upa: 39

Min-Jae: 36

Phonzie: 16

More tackles:

Min-Jae: 37 and 2 as last man

Upa: 37 and 1 as last man

Phonzie: 34 and 2 as last man

Fewer times dribbled:

Rapha: 2

Sacha: 2

Phonzie: 9

Fewer compromising errors:

Rapha: 1 error led to shot

Phonzie: 2 errors led to shot

Upa: 1 error led to goal

More precision in ground duels:

Sacha: 60%

Phonzie: 58.93%

Min-Jae: 54.43%

More precision in aerial duels:

Min-Jae: 66.97%

Sacha: 66.67%

Phonzie: 60%

Less ball loss:

Sacha: 39

Upa: 153

Min-Jae: 170

Fewer faults committed:

Rapha: 4

Sacha: 5

Phonzie: 11

More faults received:

Phonzie: 31

Upa: 8

Sacha: 6

More precision in passes:

Upa: 93.98%

Sacha: 93.33%

Min-Jae: 88.36%

More key passes:

Phonzie: 34

Rapha: 29

Upa: 8

More precision in crosses:

Upa: 42.86%

Rapha: 13.64%

Phonzie: 13.04%

More precision in long balls:

Sacha: 83.33%

Rapha: 68.42%

Upa: 68.22%

Fewer big chances missed:

Rapha: 0

Sacha: 0

Min-Jae: 1

More big chances created:

Rapha: 7

Upa: 2

Sacha: 1

More precision in dribble:

Upa & Min-Jae: 66.67%

Phonzie: 51.52%

Rapha & Sacha: 50%

More penalties won:

Sacha: 1

Phonzie: 1

[shungieshrieks]

I'm so into Beastie ball that I decided to make up my own beastie lol - based off of my dogs irl! More below:

Beastie: Faellon

Trait: Monarch: Unable to use Support, Volley, or Defensive plays, but raises Body, Spirit, and Mind Def by 50% -or- Shy: DEF bonus at the net and POW bonus at the back row

Stats: Body Pow: 25 Spirit Pow: 100 Mind Pow: 65

Body Def: 60 Spirit Def: 85 Mind Def: 60 Total: 395

Moveset: Lvl 1: Beginner Effort Lvl 1: Call Out Lvl 10: Pepshot Lvl 15: Rally Lvl 21: Bang Lvl 27: Raw Fury Lvl 31: Battle Cry Lvl 37: Quick Tag Lvl 40: Calming Aura Lvl 45: Dramatic Exit Lvl 51: Bring the Heat

With Friendship: Torch Pass Deep Breath Quick Set Tough Front Prepared Attack Build Steal Relentless Shield Contest

[foxes-that-run]

The lovebirds! Harry & Taylor’s night of romance ..down the pub

Daily Mirror - 13 Dec 2012 BY CLEMMIE MOODIE

Harry and Taylor pop down the pub for a Swifty.. then feed the birds together on beauty spot trip.

THAT Harry Styles is certainly getting all lovey-dovey with his new girlfriend. The One Direction Romeo took American superstar Taylor Swift to meet his mum after treating her to a meal at his local village pub on Tuesday night.

And yesterday they fed doves and swans together on a visit to a Lake District beauty spot.

Harry pulled out all the stops to impress multi Grammy award-winner Taylor on her visit.

After treating her to a slap-up meal at The Rising Sun in Derbyshire’s Peak District, the pair made their way home to his mum Anne – via Tesco.

At the supermarket, 18-yearold Harry splashed out £3.89 on a tub of VO5 hair styling wax while Taylor wandered down the aisles looking at the vegetables.

Last night pub manager Sarah Walker revealed the celebrity couple met up with Harry’s sister, Gemma, and her boyfriend at their local in Hope Valley.

Pub regular Gemma strolled in at 7.30pm just before Harry and Taylor arrived in his Range Rover Sport. After ordering a round of soft drinks, they sat in the window, next to the crackling log fire.

'Taylor said she loved being in Britain .. she’s a real honey' CAROL WALKER

The showbiz pair polished off a Yorkshire pudding and onion gravy starter, followed by roast turkey with all the trimmings for Harry and a whole lemon sole for his size-eight girlfriend.

Shunning the champagne, they stuck to non-alcoholic J2Os all evening. Taylor, who is 23 today, told pub-goers she was looking forward to the couple’s trip to Windermere in the Lake District and celebrating her birthday.

But it seems they will spend Christmas an ocean apart as Taylor revealed plans to fly home to Nashville to spend the festive season with her family.

Sarah, 37, said: “Taylor said she was loving being in Britain and she also seemed to like being in the country.

“And she was excited about her birthday and about flying home for Christmas. She said she didn’t mind the cold, but it will be a lot warmer in Nashville. They were both lovely and she’s a honey.”

After posing for pics and signing diners’ menus, Harry and Taylor settled the bill – which came in at just over £100 along with a handsome tip.

Yesterday, the tactile couple, who have now been dating for a month, enjoyed an afternoon feeding the swans and doves on Lake Windermere.

One swan even pecked at the brand- new £ 995 Burberry handbag Taylor was carrying – a birthday gift from her new beau – as the country singer gamely batted the creature away.

Giggling as they then fed the birds in the town centre, they were also spotted outside the Pandora jewellery shop by store manager Claire Dibbs.

Claire, 24, told the Mirror: “I was hyperventilating – I just never expected to see them.

“Taylor introduced herself – she was really lovely. She said they were just here for the day and I think they were there with his parents. She had a lot of bags from Beatrix Potter World. I saw some cuddly toys poking out of the top of the bag.

“They’d done a lot of shopping. Taylor said she loved the area and said it was really pretty.” Harry and Taylor first met in America i n April when Harry was on tour with One Direction.

After going on a couple of ‘secret dates’, they reportedly split up after the heartthrob was spotted kissing American model Emma Ostilly in New Zealand. But they were spotted dating in New York’s Central Park recently.

The date came hours before One Direction’s sell-out gig in front of 20,000 fans at the Madison Square Garden. The loved-up singers gazed into each others eyes, stopping to chat to some kids and to watch the sea lions at the zoo.

And last week the rumours they were an item were confirmed when she flew him in her private jet from New York to London to attend the Jingle Bell Ball at London’s O2 arena.

Harry ditched the rest of his bandmates to spend a few hours with her on the flight, while the others flew back to the UK on a domestic flight.

[oneknightstand-if]

So a 60 year reign + 15 years old when he pulled the sword in the stone = 75 years old grandpa. The next generation after Arthur (Mordred, Lancelot, Gawain* etc) would be 15-25 years younger than him.

So Lancelot and Arthur are different generations? How old are some of the other characters in comparison? Like Guinevere, Morgana, Morgause, Elaine of Corbenic, Galahad, etc.

Yes, it usually gets ignored in modern reinterpretations (except for things like First Knight) but Lancelot is part of Mordred's generation (who was of course young enough to be Arthur's kid in many versions).

Arthur had been aligned with King Ban (Lancelot's father) for many years with them fighting off the the rebelling kings, Saxons & co, King Rience etc before Benoic fell and Lancelot gets yoinked as a baby by the Lady of the Lake (Ninianne in OKS).

I've got a detailed timeline for major events (reigns of rulers, famous battles & invasions, deaths of major players) but I haven't bothered to nail down the exact birth dates of the Camelot characters since that's not really something that's going to come up.

It's more important what generation they belong to than anything else.

Mordred - 15 years younger than Arthur born the same year that he pulled the Sword in the Stone (460 AD - yes, it's plot relevant)

Guinevere - She was betrothed to Arthur as a kid (to secure Leodegrance's troops against the Saxons/rebelling kings/all the clusterfucks at the start of Arthur's reign) so she straddles the line between Arthur & Lancelot's generations. 10-ish years younger than Arthur.

Morgana - She's a fae, so she's old as balls. There are stories where she had a kid with Julius Caesar (who lived 100 BC – 44 BC) to give you an idea how long she's been around.

Morgause - A couple years older than Arthur. Of all the kids of Gorlois & Igraine (Morgause, Elaine, Cador), she's the only one old enough to even remember her biological father. Would've been around 18-20-ish when she met 15-year old Arthur.

Elaine of Corbenic - About five years younger than Lancelot, so that'd be around 25-30 years younger than Arthur.

Galahad - Two generations removed from Arthur. He'd be 37-45 years younger... depending where I end up putting the conclusion of the Grail Quest (sometime between 500-510 AD).

[bardandbear]

Okay, so I know it's a popular fandom analysis that Mystra met Gale when he was very young ie a teen, and I've been seeing posts conflating his meeting Elminster at 8 as being directed by Mystra / related to her 'watching him'. This... just doesn't align with established FR lore however.

Context:

BG3 is set in 1492 DR.

Elminster has known Mystra for over a thousand years (he is old as balls). She made him her chosen in 240 DR when he was a 'young adult' (28 yrs).

Mystra (the goddess) has had a number of 'incarnations': Gale mentioned one of them associated with Karsus's Folly and the fall of Netheril, however in 1385 DR Cyric allegedly murdered her, setting off the Spellplague which mostly dissipated about a decade after. Mystra did not reappear until 1479 DR where she contacted Elminster to help restore her power from a weakened state, also asking him to find her new Chosen. She was not made 'whole' again until ~1487.

Based on the above, the longest Gale could have known Mystra would be 12-13 years, and given I think it's unlikely that he's canonically 21, it seems to reason that Elminster meeting him at 8 and offering to mentor him was not at the behest of Mystra. It seems more likely that he trained under Elminster / went to Blackstaff Academy and graduated before ever meeting her, and it was his existing connection to Elminster that recommended him to her when she reappeared in 1479.

Depending on how old you think he is, I think it would seem more likely that he met her between the ages of 20-25 which is still young (making him 32-37 in game), though I suppose as young as 18 could be possible if he's 30. But there's almost no way imo that she met / watched / picked out / whatever you want to call it Gale as an 8 yr old kid based on his appearance / general history. Let me repeat, Mystra was out of action for almost 100 years prior to 1479, ie 13 years ago.

Another possibility is that Larian just isn't adhering super closely to FR lore, and/or they've got their dates mixed up because modern FR lore feels like it should be spread out over decades, not basically a single decade. The Second Sundering was 1482-1487. It's actually nuts.

[livinglifebehindthemask]

Lessons in Soulbonding

Pairing: Malec

Rating: E

Artist: @gintoki976

Beta: @quickbright

Word Count: 12k

This fic was created for the ​ Mini Bang 2023 presented by the @malecdiscordserver

Prologue

How does one go from being a single middle-aged, well not quite but might as well be, literature professor to being the soulmate of a model turned nightclub owner. It sounds like the plot of some movie Alec would look at the poster and then turn away from. That was fantasy, he lived in the real world, but now fantasy had become reality.

It had been exactly two days since he’d met Magnus Bane. Magnus was gorgeous, witty, playful, and young. Really young in comparison to Alec who was pushing 37. Magnus hadn’t even had a quarter life crisis yet. They were barely a decade apart. It was only a twelve year difference, but twelve years seemed like an insurmountable number. 

So far the only thing they had in common, besides being soulmates, was their love for trash reality tv. Magnus was a night owl who loved to party at his new club in Brooklyn. Alec was a morning bird that preferred to spend his evenings at home with his two cats, Church and Raz. Okay, they did have one other thing in common, cats. Magnus had a lovely little fluff ball he called Chairman Meow for whom he liked to throw parties. And Alec thought he was a crazy cat parent.

Alec leaned back at his desk in the small office. He couldn’t even focus, not that he needed to try that hard. Spring semester had just finished and summer was not far off, but it gave him a sense of normalcy. His old boring life when all he cared about were his cats and which book to read next.

His new soulmate was breathtakingly beautiful. He lit up the room when he entered. He was young and carefree, everything Alec wasn’t. Alec was too old, too jaded, and too set in his ways.

Everyone wanted to be soul bonded. There were movies and romance novels that described the joy and passion of finding your soulmate, to be bound to them for the rest of your life. While soulbonding had been around for centuries, only a small fraction of the population ever found their soulmate. Around puberty the initials of their soulmate would appear on their skin, usually where their soulmate would first touch them.

When Alec was fourteen he woke up one morning to find the initials MB on his right shoulder. Teenage Alec had been excited at the prospect of meeting his soulmate. He had imagined what the man would look like. Would he be tall, dark, and handsome? Would he have a childlike wonder in his eyes? What color of hair or eyes would he have? He had spent so much time fantasizing about his future that he nearly forgot the statistics. Only 1 out of 100 individuals would find their soulmate. Not to mention the small number of soulmates that didn’t get along. It was rare, but it still happened.

Being a closeted gay teen in a small Midwest town didn't help either. No one in his small town had those initials, which was fine with him. He had grown up in that bigoted town and wanted out as soon as he could manage it. That was why he applied to colleges in all the big cities. New York, Chicago, LA, and even Cincinnati. He just knew his soulmate would be out there waiting for him. 

When he finally got to college, the first year had been a race to find his soulmate. Not many people had only two names. Some even had multiple middle names, while Alec’s soulmate had just a first and last name. He finally found two men his freshman year with an M first name and B last name, but it turned out Michael was straight and Mathias had two middle names. Subsequent years were a bust. 

Berkeley didn’t provide him with his soulmate but he was sure moving across the country for his master's program in NYC would. Again he looked throughout the campus only to come up short. There had been a couple more candidates but were either bonded or soulmates with different initials. 

In the time he had been looking for his soulmate his best friend found his soulmate, a fiery redheaded artist that Alec had hated on the spot. It took nearly six months before he could admit, only in his mind, that Clary was good for Jace. Nowadays they are much closer. Even his little sister had found her soulmate in a little nerd of a kid.

As the years went on Alec slowly stopped caring. Now he was edging 40. He dressed like the typical professor with his tweed jackets, plain button up shirts, and camel colored sweaters. He even wore horn-rimmed glasses. Alec had been a literature professor at NYU for the past six years ever since he’d finished his PhD.  

He had given up on finding his soulmate and was content with being a lovable uncle to his three nieces and two nephews and the godfather to his best friend's two kids. While he thought he was truly finished with this soulmate nonsense he didn't take into account that fate had other plans OR that his life was just about to begin. 

Chapter One

Two days prior…

It had been a long and grueling semester. Another class of students had graduated and come the fall they would have another group coming in. Usually Alec would take a small staycation at home for two weeks before summer classes, hanging out with his two cats. He would drink his wine and marathon the Real Housewives of New York. It would be a time to catch up on sleep and just relax. So when one of his colleagues had asked him if he wanted to go and get a few drinks he uncharacteristically said yes. 

Now, Alec was a bit…well, a lot of an introvert. He preferred staying at home with his cats or going to his sister's place in Chelsea to visit his family. So it surprised even Alec that he had agreed to go to one the newest and hippest clubs in Brooklyn. One of his colleagues knew the owner so they would be VIP. Everything about the idea should have sent him running home, but something made him <i>want</i> to go. Like a moth to flame. 

The only problem was that he didn't have a thing to wear to a hip club or any club for that matter. He had a decent pair of jeans and black loafers, but it was the shirt that was causing him the most problems. Clothes were not his forte. He had been wearing the same type of clothes for nearly a decade, only trading them out for new ones when holes appeared. But he couldn’t wear one of his sweaters as it would be too hot in the club. He did have a polo shirt that someone had given him for his birthday the year before, but it made him look like a frat brother circa 2008. His button ups were also less than spectacular. Dear lord, he would have to do what he never wanted to do. Call Izzy. 

Isabelle Lightwood had been the middle and only girl of the Lightwood clan. She was about 17 months younger than Alec. It had been just them for nearly ten years before the last son, Max, had been born. She had been scouted at an early age for modeling and spent ten years in the industry before pivoting to being a fashion editor for some of the best magazines. She knew her way around a store or two. Desperate times call for desperate measures. 

She answered on the second ring with a cheery voice. "Hey big bro."

"Hey Izzy. How are you?" She sighed.

"Dealing with a moody preteen who thinks her uncool parents are trying to ruin her life." Izzy had married Simon Lewis when they were both only 20. 

Simon's small band had been playing at an event when they locked eyes on each other. Izzy had always wondered who belonged to the SLL on her left forearm. When their eyes met across the dancefloor they had started walking toward each other. The way Izzy described it was as if she was only half a person until she met Simon. While walking over to talk to her, Simon had tripped over some of the cords to his amplifier and wound up falling face first into Izzy. She had caught his forearm as he touched her forearm and his head bumped her stomach. And that was that.

Simon's band had never really gotten that big and when Izzy got pregnant with their first child, Lizzie, the aforementioned preteen, he had settled down into a 9-5 job that he had absolutely hated.

"Sounds like fun. All I have to worry about is if Raz is going to steal Church’s food when he’s not looking."

"If only I could have stuck with cats and not kids." She chuckled. "But enough about me. How are you doing, big bro? It’s been a while. School out for summer yet?"

"Actually, yes. Just ended today. I have a few more papers to grade, but pretty much done…that is kinda why I was calling…I got invited to a party at a club." There was silence before Izzy spoke.

"Remember that teal shirt I got you for Christmas like four years ago? Wear that." Alec didn't even ask how she knew what he was going to ask because it was Izzy. She knew everything. "And either some black slacks or black jeans."

"I have a pair of dark blue jeans I never wear."

"Black would be better, but that will do. Also, Alec, try to have fun for once in your life. You never know what could happen when you try." She was right, but Alec had never tried.

=-=-=-=-

He showed up at the club, Pandemonium, at around ten p.m.. His colleague, Lydia, had told him that the club didn't get really busy until about midnight or one a.m. so they would start out when the club opened and end just before midnight. Alec decided that he would arrive at ten and leave by eleven. 

The outside of the building was not spectacular. Just a brick face with a neon sign that read Pandemonium with devil horns flashing once in a while over the E. The bouncer let him in after he said he was with a group of professors. Once inside he could tell that what money was not spent on the outside had been used on the inside. 

Along the walls were tables and plush couches. A few people were already hanging out there. Off to one side was a bar with two bartenders making a few drinks. They were very hot men in tight white shirts with muscles you could see through the fabric. Three girls that looked like they might barely be able to enter the club were seated near them giggling to each other. Alec remembered being smitten with hot guys. But each relationship had ended before it had even begun. 

Across from the bar on the opposite side of the room was the VIP session. It was made up of three stories of tables and equally plush couches. Alec wondered who would choose white for the couches. Didn’t that stain easily? 

On the main floor of the VIP section he could see John Monteverde, Lydia's husband and professor of Chemistry. Alec liked both John and Lydia. Lydia was a professor of psychology and while psychology and literature were not in the same field being from a small college you got to know everyone, and she was also his neighbor, being right next door to his office. Off to the side he saw Ragnor Fell, the Head of the History department and the man that knew the owner of the club. One look at the older man, alright he was probably only ten years older than Alec, and he wouldn’t strike you as a man that liked clubs or anyone that ran them.  

Walking over to them, through the sparsely populated dance floor, Alec couldn’t help but feel like he was being watched. It was an odd feeling, like hair standing up on the back of his neck. Alec tried to shake it off. It was probably just some of the other patrons of the club looking at him. He didn’t exactly belong here anyway.

Chapter Two

Magnus never arrived at his club before midnight. Why wait around for the fun to begin? He would just lounge at home, maybe get the party started with a couple drinks before dressing to kill. But tonight was different. He felt different. His skin felt tight around his bones. He felt jumpy and any attempt to relax made him instantly jump back up. Maybe it was because he had just recently broken up with his on-and-off girlfriend of seven years. 

Camille Belcourt was as pretty as she was cruel. They had met when Magnus was just 17. Both of them had been modeling in the same fashion show. At 20 Camille had seemed so mature but looks can be deceiving. Magnus always seemed to find himself going back to her but not now. His new club had just opened up the month prior and, being only 24 himself, he intended to forget about Camille and move on. Still that didn't explain why he arrived just as the club was opening up.

When he entered he felt like something was…not right. Walking around he checked everything just to make sure. The music started up without a hitch and the first customers arrived. The bar was fully stocked and he even had a drink with his bartenders. 

Ragnor and his group of roughly 50 professors would be coming in soon to celebrate the end of the semester. Maybe that was why he felt off? Ragnor was not one for clubbing, but when one of his colleagues had asked where they could have a party he knew who to call. Magnus would do anything for Ragnor. The man was the reason why Magnus was able to leave his poor town in Indonesia. Ragnor was like the father Magnus never had. Still, older people out celebrating at such an early hour, it was…cute. He might feel pity for them but he still cheered them on. 

After checking everything twice, again, he couldn't find the problem. Drinks were plenty, music was great, bathrooms were stocked with condoms and small sachets of lubricant. His money was locked up tight and he had balanced the books the day before, so why did he feel on edge? 

By ten he had moved up to his office to look over the security cameras. Still nothing. Maybe he was just tired, he had been working a lot lately. He needed another drink and maybe some company. Looking out over the whole of the dance floor from his one way mirror he noticed a single, dark haired man walk in. The dark haired man was tall and lithe, at least from this far. The lights danced across the shirt and Magnus instantly recognized style and brand. A little out of date but still beautiful. The man stopped and looked around. He looked like a fish out of water. Probably being pulled out by friends that wanted to make him have fun and he was right— the man headed for the table of professors. Ah, an educated man. 

Magnus found himself rubbing the skin just under his watch where the initials of his soulmate resided. Magnus was a romantic but he was also a pragmatist. If he went looking for his soulmate he might never meet them. Better to enjoy life and then when your soulmate comes around you wouldn't have any fomo. Still he found himself forgetting the letters more often than not. This had been the first time he had thought of them since the night he broke up with Camille.

Pushing the band up he looked at the tiny letters. His soulmate must have the worst handwriting in the world. The letters looked like chicken scratch but they were still endearing to him. AGL. How many times had young little Magnus stared at those letters before he covered them up? How many times had he wished his soulmate would take him away from his horrible life? How many times did he wish for his soulmate to appear just to push it away and live life?

But why did he think of them now? He looked back up to see that tall, dark, and brainy had made his way to the professors’ table and the people there were welcoming him, though he still had a stiff posture. Yup, he didn't want to be here at all. Maybe Magnus could help that. He still needed to see Ragnor, and maybe he could double check that this teacher was not his soulmate. Magnus chuckled to himself. Yeah, a professor and a hedonist, what worse pairing could there be?

~*~*~*~*~*~

Magnus danced down the stairs to the beat of the music. It was still early so only a few people were on the dance floor. The party didn’t really get started until midnight when the floor would be packed with writhing bodies all looking for release. Magnus had joined them a couple times, but with the club still being so new he had to make sure the ship was running smoothly. Maybe after he started to make a decent profit he would join in the merriment more often.

The lights danced across his face as he walked towards the group of professors. One of his waitstaff was just finishing up bringing them their drinks. From his position now he could not see the fish out of water, but Magnus knew he was still there. Probably nursing a drink for a while before he would inevitably excuse himself to run back home. Introverts were so cute, Magnus thought as he rolled his eyes.

“And here is our mysterious benefactor.” Magnus picked up Ragnor’s posh voice instantly. He remembered so well when the Englishman had walked into the tiny little one room schoolhouse in the remote countryside to teach a small group of Indonesian children English. That has been over twenty years ago and yet the man had still not aged, he had always looked old.

“Ragnor, darling.” Magnus said, putting his arms around the man. He still smelled like tobacco and old books. It reminded him of a simpler time. “I am so glad you are here, you and all of your lovely friends.” He was sure that not all of the people there were friends, but a friend of a friend was just as good. 

“And how are you, my dear boy.” Ragnor was just a few inches taller than Magnus so Magnus had to look up into those emerald green eyes. 

“I am good, Paman. Now why don’t you introduce me to your friends.” He knew this would annoy his friend, but Ragnor did it anyway. Mostly history, english, and psychology professors in the group. There were a couple science teachers and one math teacher. All brainiacs.

Magnus had been good at school, but it was not where he wanted to land. He loved fashion and makeup and expressing oneself through their appearance. Ragnor had not been happy when Magnus had told him. In fact that man had been furious. After everything he had done for Magnus. But after he calmed down they had talked and Ragnor accepted Magnus' decision. 

Magnus was great with names, faces not so much. Sometimes it was hard putting a name with a face that didn't have some special feature. Most of these professors were dressed nicely but not like his usual clientele. 

"This is Lydia Branwell. She is part of the psychology department." Lydia was sitting with the tall, dark, and handsome man from before, well across the booth table and next to another man. Magnus leaned in to shake her hand. He had to place his other hand on a chair to balance himself, but misjudged where it was and ended up touching tall-dark-and-handsome’s shoulder. A light shock went through his body, like static shock, but all over. Before Magnus could remove his hand the man was twisting and grabbing his wrist. The pad of tall-dark-and-handsome's thumb pressed into Magnus’ inner wrist. If the shock before had been a little odd this touch was like coming home.

Feelings of love, comfort, and safety ran over him. Home.

Chapter Three 

Alec hadn't meant to grab the man’s wrist. He didn’t touch others freely, but the small shock from just a hand on his shoulder made him think something was wrong. Of course this man wouldn’t try to hurt him here, in front of everyone, but Alec acted before his brain could process. Which was very unusual for him. They stood there staring at each other for the longest time. Everything else seemed to vanish. His co-workers sounded like they were miles away. 

He felt warmth envelop him from head to toe. It was like curling up in a thick blanket on a cold winter's night. It was like coming home to peace and security. It was like…oh fuck. 

Alec’s brain had finally started to work again. This was not good. Not good at all. Alec let go of the other man's wrist like it had burned him. He had given up on ever experiencing this moment a long time ago, yet every instinct told him that he needed this man more than he needed air to breathe. This man was the answer to all his lonely nights. But Alec was rational and rational thought told him he needed to get the hell out of there. ASAP.

He stood up and pushed past the man, noting the smell of sandalwood, musk, and bourbon. It was the most intoxicating scent he had ever smelled. It made him want to go back, stick his nose into the other man’s neck, and just breathe him in. But Alec’s body had already made up its mind. He was hurrying out as fast as his feet could carry him. 

It took Magnus exactly three seconds before he was running after the man. The first touch had been like getting hit by static electricity, but when tall-dark-and-handsome had touched his skin the feelings had only intensified. 

Yes, he had always wanted to meet his soulmate, everyone did. He just didn’t know it was going to be here, in a club and that his soulmate would be a tall, dark, and smart man. When the man got up and brushed past him Magnus was still reeling. This moment had finally happened. Then his mind kicked itself into high gear. He was not letting his soulmate get away. Not when they were this close.

Alec had almost reached the back entrance to the club. The orange-red light of the exit sign had been the first thing he’d seen when he darted out of the booth. He had to get home. He needed to get home. 

His whole body was buzzing with something just under the skin. His breath was coming in heavy pants, sweat ran down the back of his neck, and his skin felt too tight. As Alec reached to punch the door open, a hand on his shoulder had him reeling around. 

They were staring at each other once again. The air was thick with the smell of sandalwood and Alec felt his knees want to buckle. This man was unbelievably gorgeous even in the red light of the exit sign. Alec found his eyes drifting down to those perfectly plump and shiny lips. It had been a while since he’d had a date, let alone a kiss. He had been fine with it at the time. Content with his life, but now…

Suddenly Alec was grabbing the man by his lapels and pulling him in for a kiss. He tasted…cherry? No, strawberry. The man was wearing lip gloss of some kind. But even as Alec had the thought, all other thoughts left as the other man’s tongue slid against his. Alec was falling in love.

Magnus had not been expecting a kiss, but hell, he didn’t mind. He had read somewhere that the meeting of two souls could create an intense reaction and this was truly intense. Tall-dark-and-handsome had pulled him in for a kiss. There was a scrape of stubble across his cheek and he found himself hoping for stubble burn. A reminder that this was not a dream.

Magnus pushed the man back against the door, intensifying the kiss and running his hand through short dark locks. His pulse was racing, sending every ounce of blood straight to his groin. If only they were not in a small hallway that led to the back exit. Okay, he was going to let that joke slide by.

Magnus' leg slid between the other man’s thighs and he felt an echoing bulge. Tall-dark-and-handsome was just as turned on as he was. With that last thought Magnus’ brain shut down and focused only on kissing and getting his soulmate off.

The kiss was almost all consuming. Alec had never felt like this before. It was all so fast and so very much unlike him. The man, well, his soulmate pressed against him and Alec could feel the hint of a bulge. Then suddenly there was a rush of cool air and Alec was falling. For a minute he thought his legs had finally given out, but no. He was falling backwards. 

A hand gripped his wrist while the other gripped his hand. It kept him from falling head first onto the cold alleyway. He was able to get his feet under him and get back inside the club.

They were both panting when the door finally closed behind them. Now that they were not pawing at each other Alec felt…very uncomfortable. He had just kissed a man he had just met and STILL didn't know the name of! And to make matters worse he had nearly fallen because of all that kissing.

"Uh…thanks for…catching me." Even in his awkwardness Alec was still a gentleman with good manners.

"Not at all. I couldn't let my soulmate get hurt. Name's Magnus, by the way." The raven haired man stuck out his hand to shake as if they had not just been making out like teenagers in the back of a parked car.

Alec slowly put his hand out to shake Magnus'. Magnus of course, his name had been said but Alec had only been half listening. 

Soulmate. The word finally made it from his ears to his brain. Oh shit he had just been making out with his soulmate and fuck his soulmate was so young. What was he? Twenty, maybe twenty-two if he was lucky. They had an over ten years age difference. How the fuck could they be soulmates?

"Uh…tall-dark-and-handsome, you alright?" Wait what? Did the ma- Magnus just call him tall, dark, and handsome? 

A flush crossed Alec’s face as he answered. "Iii-I'm Alec." Great now he was a stuttering teenager. 

Now that they had quit clawing at each other they could hear the music that pounded in the background. Where did they go from here?

“Let’s go up to my office.” Magnus said, stepping back and unlocking a door to their right. Where had that come from? Magnus was already through it when Alec finally followed.

Chapter Four

The door led to a set of stairs which they used to get up to Magnus' office. Alec was glad not to have to see his colleagues again. He didn’t know how to explain what sent him running from the table. They would probably figure it out sooner or later. Preferably later and not with Alec around. 

The man in front of him asked if he wanted a drink or a seat, but Alec was still trying to wrap his head around this whole…situation. 

“I hope you don’t mind if I have one.” Magnus walked over to a small bar cart and started to make a drink. The golden eyed man knew they had to take this slow, but he was too giddy. He finally had his soulmate, a breathtakingly gorgeous man with the beginnings of gray at the temples of his dark brown hair. Magnus licked his lips hoping to taste the man. Alec. Short for Alexander? Maybe.

Turning back to Alec, Magnus smiled slightly. The man looked like a lost puppy. Magnus would give anything to go and push the man down on the couch and kiss every last inch of his body. Okay, calm down. You didn’t know him an hour ago and now you are ready to climb him like a jungle gym.

“How old are you?” This was the first time Alec was asking any questions. It might seem odd but Magnus understood. 

“Twenty-four. And you?” Magnus popped his hip to the side, looking sultry, but tall-dark-and-handsome was not even noticing it. Pity.

“Thirty-six.” Alec was not going to mention that he would be thirty-seven in September. God, twelve years. Alec ran his hand over his face as he tried to process. For years he had been trying to find his soulmate only for the man to be two years younger than his little brother.

“Alexander?” Alec’s head shot up at the name. No one but his parents ever called him that. He had been Alec for as long as he could remember. 

“Alec.” 

“Okay, Alec. Are you sure you don’t want to take a seat?” The man before him was being nice and Alec should try to be just as cordial.

“No. I’m fine.” So much for being cordial.

“Alright.” Magnus moved to sit on the arm of the couch and took a drink. “Well I am sure you have a lot of thoughts going through that pretty little brain of yours. I know I do.” Magnus smirked behind his drink. “I never knew my soulmate would be a professor. Kind of exciting really. I liked school but never saw myself going into academia. I know Ragnor was sad I didn’t, but why hide all this.” Magnus motioned to himself with his arms. “In tweed jackets, camel colored cardigans, and turtlenecks. Still I am excited that we’ve finally met. Ooo, I need your phone.” 

Getting up from his perch and setting his glass down he walked up to Alec and held out his hand expectantly. It took Alec a moment to understand what Magnus wanted before he slowly pulled his phone out of his pocket. Magnus grabbed it and put his number in tall-dark-and-handsome’s phone then shot himself a text.  

“There we go.” Magnus handed the phone back to Alec.

Alec looked back at his phone as he finally processed what Magnus had said. Shouldn’t he be more upset that this kid just called his wardrobe dull? Not that he was wrong. Alec knew his style was old fashioned but it suited him. His soulmate, he was probably never going to get over calling this man his soulmate, was dressed in what Alec could only describe as club clothes. A navy blazer, that now Alec could look more closely at, he realized there was no shirt underneath. Oh God! Magnus was practically naked. Oh God! He sounded like his father.

“I knew there had to be a reason.” Alec finally noticed that Magnus was talking. “And here he is.” Magnus said, grabbing his drink back up and winking at Alec. “My soulmate. Wow, I didn’t think I would meet you this soon, but better sooner than later.” Magnus turned his back and walked over the window where he could see the rest of the club starting to fill up. 

“I was standing here when I saw you walk in. I could tell you were handsome, but I didn’t know this was the beginning of forever.” Forever, dear lord. Any plans that Alec had about his future were moot. “Now we will need to tell our families, naturally. A bonding ceremony will take a bit to plan, but it will be the talk of the town.” Magnus' voice was low as if he was speaking to himself. “We can do it right here! Where we met.”

Magnus was planning out their bonding ceremony as if both of them had agreed to this. Alec hadn’t agreed to being Magnus' soulmate, let alone having a bonding ceremony. Magnus sounded like he had been planning this since he was child. But hadn’t Alec done the exact same thing? Didn’t he have scores of notebooks filled out with what he wanted included in his bonding ceremony? All he had ever wanted was to meet the man that MB belonged to. Now he had and he was not ready.

“I can’t do a honeymoon for another couple months. Opening up this club has taken most of my time.” Magnus still had his back to Alec, oblivious to his soulmate’s full blown panic attack.

“I…I can’t. I have to go.” Alec said, before zeroing in on the door to the office. Flinging it open he barely remembered flying down the stairs and out the same back door he had wanted to take not an hour ago. Thankfully, this time, Magnus didn’t follow him.

Chapter Five

Alec awoke to the sound of a text. He was still too tired to get up so he just stuck his hand out of the covers to see who it was. It was probably Izzy, wondering how his night had gone. Boy was she in for a shock. Blinking a few times he read the name and almost dropped the phone.

Magnus 🌶💋: Morning, darling. Sleep well?

Lord did he really put that as his contact name? Alec sat up and checked and sure enough a pepper and a kiss emoji. Maybe he was lucky the younger man didn't put an eggplant emoji.

Magnus 🌶💋: Darling?

Alec put his phone on silent and rolled over in bed. He still couldn't come to grips with his own reality. Just yesterday he was ready for a regular, boring old summer and now… now he had a soulmate a decade his junior. Maybe that was why he never found him. Magnus was so much younger. All those years spent trying to find his soulmate while the man was running around on a playground somewhere.

Alec turned back over and looked at his phone again. There was another text asking if he was alright, something that warmed his heart, but his brain was not having it. He is 24! He is a child! You teach others his age! It was not like Magnus was in high school or anything like that. 

He must have been thinking for a while because the phone lit up with a call. Magnus 🌶💋. Panic welled up in his chest and he quickly put the phone upside down back on his side table. He couldn’t deal with this right now. He was not supposed to have a soulmate. He was supposed to be single for the rest of his days. That was the plan and now some hot, sexy, beautiful…. 

“Dear God.” He groaned and fell back onto his pillow. Magnus was everything Alec was not. Pulling the covers up over his face he felt like being a petulant child and staying in bed. He wanted to go back to sleep and wake up back in his reality, not in this soap opera. That lasted all of about 20 minutes before Raz started clawing at the door wanting food. Leaving his phone in the bedroom he went and fed his cats. 

Church had been given to Alec by a neighbor when he had to move out of state several years ago. He was an eight year old Himalayan mix with beige fluff.  Raz, on the other hand, was a gray tabby and only two years old. She was so spunky and playful while Church was a grumpy old man in cat form. As he watched his cats he suddenly felt lonely. 

He had not felt like this since college while he tried to find his soulmate. Now that he had one his body chemistry was changing. Soulmates were drawn to each other. They needed physical closeness to truly feel at home. Running his hand over his beard he scratched his head. Was he being an asshole while he ignored his soulmate? Surely Magnus was feeling the same way, but the problem was Magnus had their lives all planned out. Alec had given up.

After he fed the cats and got a cup of coffee he went back to his bedroom. Flipping the phone over he saw several more texts and two more calls. Sighing he opened the messages and typed in, I am alright. I just need time. I will call you later. But even as he sent the message he didn’t know when later would be. 

Sipping his coffee he scrolled through instagram not really seeing what was posted, just needing something mundane to do. Something to get his mind off of the present. Somehow, he still was not sure how or why he did it but he found himself on Pandemonium’s insta. In the bio it said owner Magnus Bane @purrfectlymagnus. He clicked on it before he could stop himself. The account was not private, which he was glad for. Maybe? 

Alec scrolled through the pictures. There were several of Magnus with a white fluffy cat who he called Chairman Meow. There was even one with the cat behind a huge cake that said Happy 5th Birthday, Chairman. The cat looked like it would rather be sleeping. Alec looked over at his cats. Church had run off to probably sleep off his breakfast while Raz was licking both of the bowls clean.

Well, at least we have something in common. One thing they had in common. Alec didn’t party or go to the most exclusive restaurants. He kept scrolling until he found a Throwback Thursday post. Magnus had his arms around a dark skinned woman; they were both in high fashion outfits that made absolutely not sense to Alec. The caption read: “To the time when @imblue_catarina and I were in the same show. She was better than me, though. Just don’t tell her that.” Below one the comments was from the woman in the picture calling Magnus a liar. Alec clicked on her name, but her account was private. 

Going back to Magnus he looked through more photos. Ones of Magnus with friends or his cat. A few posts about trashy reality tv shows, the very same ones that Alec liked to watch just to have background noise. Still they didn’t have much else in common. Setting his phone down he sipped his coffee and looked out the window. 

They liked cats and the same tv shows. But in everything else they were complete opposites and twelve years apart. Of the posts he had looked at was one of Magnus celebrating his 24th birthday at a strip club. Magnus was wild and free. Alec was boring and conventional.

Sitting back in his chair Alec didn’t know what to do, but he knew he had to do something. He was an adult and while he had given up on a soulmate or even just a partner he had to do something about this for Magnus. The kid didn’t deserve to be left on read.

Chapter 6

Alec leaned back at his desk in the small office at his university. He couldn’t even focus, not that he needed to try that hard. Spring semester had just finished and summer was not far off. He had thought that coming to work, and going on as he normally would, would help him decide what to do with Magnus, but surprise, it didn’t. There was still a small stack of papers that needed to be graded and entered. He had only one more day before all grades were due but his mind was not in it and he refused to just give them a pass.

There was a knock at his door. Slowly opening it Lydia stuck her head in. She had tried to call Alec but, like he was doing with Magnus, he ignored her. 

“Hey. I am glad to see you got home safely. Ragnor told me not to worry.” Oh god now he had to face the shame of having run out on the party. What did everyone say about him after he left? Alec was always so stoic yet he went running out of the club like a ghost was after him. And they didn’t know he’d found his soulmate. They would probably all be happy for him.

“Yeah.” Was all he could muster to say to her. 

“Are you…alright?” She stepped a bit more into the room but stayed in the doorway. 

“Yes and no. It’s a long story.”

“Well I am here if you need me. Well if you need me later. I was just grabbing my tablet from the office. Forgot it on Friday.” 

“Maybe I will take you up on that offer after I know what I am doing.” Lydia just smiled at him and bid him good day. After the door closed Alec groaned and rolled his eyes at himself. He could have been more civil, but it seemed like that emotion had left him for someone else. 

“What the fuck do I do?” Leaning over his desk and hand in his hair, probably making it stick out at all angles. He needed to talk through his emotions and fears, but to do so, for a very private man, was incredibly tough. 

Alec was silent for what seemed like hours, his mind both racing and freezing. He was not used to being out of control, to have his life messed with. Finally he buckled down and did what he knew needed to be done.

-=-=-=-=-

<3 Alec <3: Is there somewhere we can meet that is both public and private?

The moment Magnus' phone lit up with those words he was jumping up and screaming yes, arm fist pumping the air. Quickly he typed out the directions to a small coffee/ice cream stand in Central Park. Once he received Alec’s confirmation he went running from the living room to his closet to pick out his outfit.

Ever since Alec had left the club on Friday night Magnus had felt like a part of him was missing. He didn’t feel whole or even comfortable in his skin. He was able to brush it off until he had tried texting Alec. When tall-dark-and-handsome didn’t answer, that was when the panic set in. 

He had worried that maybe Alec had never made it home. What if…Alec already had a boyfriend or even a girlfriend? Was Alec bisexual like himself, gay, straight, or even still in the closet? It was not unheard of for one soulmate to choose their partner from before over a newly met soulmate. Granted Magnus had not given Alec much time to talk. He couldn’t even remember everything he’d said since he was riding the highest of highs but he was sure that whatever he said had scared his soulmate off.

It had been a tense half an hour before he got the text saying Alec was fine but needed time. Magnus had relaxed at those words. He needed time. Duh. Alec had just met his soulmate and he needed time. While Magnus could understand that, it didn’t make the time apart any easier.

He had waited all day for Alec to text or call, hoping it wouldn't take too long, but as the minutes turned into hours he had to accept the fact that Alec needed even more time. So he tried to fill his time with trash tv but seemed to gravitate to the sad romantic movies instead. He cried his eyes out to the Notebook and A Walk to Remember before he finally fell asleep from pure exhaustion. 

It didn’t help that Ragnor wanted to know what had happened. He was Magnus’ closest thing to a father but Magnus pushed him away. Old feelings of abandonment surfaced. He thought he was over and done with those feelings. He thought he had left his time at the orphanage long behind him when he went to England. But it seemed he was not over his past. 

He remembered when he had first met Ragnor and how happy he’d been that someone cared, even a little, for the odd boy with honey brown eyes. Ragnor didn’t care that Magnus’ father had been a foreigner that got his mom pregnant then ran away. Magnus was known as the bastard that killed his mother, but Ragnor didn’t see it that way. When his mother had died in childbirth her family had taken Magnus to the orphanage. He was at least happy they had done that instead of killing him. 

While life in England had been fun and exciting he never really had anything that was solely his. When he chose to become a model and travel around the world he thought that would be the something he was missing. Then Camille happened and again he thought that was the something he was missing. But it wasn’t. He was missing his soulmate, his other half.

Magnus finally decided on a casual purple top and dark skinny jeans. He threw on his Chucks, grabbed his leather jacket, keys, and wallet before heading out the door. Of course he told Chairman he would be back, but the cat probably didn’t even hear him. Down in the parking garage he put on his helmet and revved his bike. Since he had not really fixed his hair he would wear the protection.

Chapter 7

Alec was waiting by the cart with an ice tea in his hand. It was too warm for coffee but he didn’t feel like ice cream. Looking at his watch he wondered how much longer Magnus would be. Really it had only been half an hour since he got the text telling him he would see the man in about half an hour. 

Everything in Alec screamed to leave and hide at home, but that was not fair to Magnus. He deserved to know why Alec had run and why he was not sure this would work out. If Alec could give him anything he would give him that.

Taking another sip he finally saw Magnus, leather jacket and hair pushed back from his face. He looked…younger with no makeup on. God, why did he have to be so young.

“Hey, Alec.” Magnus smiled at him, but didn’t come in for a hug or even a handshake like he was waiting for Alec to initiate it first.

“Hey. How are you doing?” Alec was never good at small talk.

“Good. Let me get something and then we can talk.” Magnus ended up getting a cone with strawberry and vanilla swirl on top. 

They walked for a bit just trying to get used to each other's company. It was like a balm to frazzled nerves. Odd but kind of nice. 

“I am sorry.” Alec said after Magnus was halfway done with his ice cream. “For running out on you the other night.”

“No worries. I understand. I was talking too much.” Magnus tried to shrug it off, but had remembered what he had been talking about when Alec suddenly said he had to go and left. He had been talking about their future. Stupid really, but when you have grown up imaging your life differently you tend to dream about your soulmate. But in the dreams his soulmate had been just as happy. “I am sorry about what I said. I understand it was all too much and I am sure your partner was not happy when they heard.”

“Partner? What partner?”

“Boyfriend or girlfriend. Or are you mar…” At that moment Alec had let out a sharp laugh that made some ducks honk and move farther away from the two of them on the pond.

“Sorry, no. I don’t have a boyfriend and I’ve never had a girlfriend. I am…I’m gay.” Relief flooded Magnus' body. “I didn’t run from you because of a partner…I ran because…” Alec sighed. “You were not in the plans.” 

“Plans?” Magnus asked and Alec motioned them to a bench. He quickly finished his cone, which was not the best idea, and had a bit of a brain freeze. Thankfully Alec waited until Magnus was not in so much pain before he continued.

“I’m thirty-six, Magnus. I have been looking for my soulmate for a long time.” Alec said, looking into his drink as if he was replaying his past over again. “After I finished my PHD and still had not found him I decided that I was done waiting. It hurt too much to keep searching and failing to find my soulmate. So I gave up. I made myself believe I was fine with no partner and being the brainy uncle to my brother and sister’s kids. I got a second cat and was like, this is it. This is me.” Alec paused. Magnus wanted to say something. He had been waiting and looking too, not for as long, but he had never given up that his soulmate was out there and they would meet one day. 

“Then Friday…every carefully laid plan I had made for my life just crumbled. I didn’t know how to move forward. I finally had the soulmate I had always wanted, yet at the same time, I had told myself for years that I didn’t want a soulmate. That…I didn’t deserve a soulmate.”

“Didn’t deserve a soulmate? Just because you could not find me?” Magnus asked. It made sense, they were twelve years apart. While Alec was in college running around trying to find his soulmate Magnus was still in Indonesia. When Alec was finishing his schooling Magnus had just started his modeling career. But it still didn’t help the words from hurting. Magnus felt a burn in the back of his eyes. “Do you still not want a soulmate?”

“I don’t know, Magnus. I could not find you and now that I have given up you are here. I am a mixture of emotions. I don’t know anything anymore. I wanted to run, but you deserve better than that.” Finally Alec looked up and their eyes met. Wow how had he never noticed those beautiful golden eyes. They were unlike any color he had ever seen before. “Your eyes…” Magnus looked away, trying to make sure that not one single tear fell. “They're beautiful.”

Okay what?! Magnus’ head whipped back around. “What?” That was not something he was expecting Alec to say.

“Well, they are. I just didn’t notice until now.” Magnus felt his cheeks heat up a bit.

“Thanks.” After that they were silent for a bit. They watched as people came and went. A couple of little boys with their dad, begging him to play catch. A mother and her stroller. A young couple holding hands.

“I was born in Jakarta, Indonesia.” Magnus started. “My father was long gone by then. They said he was a foreigner. My mother died in childbirth with me and her family didn’t want the disgrace of a bastard child so they gave me over to an orphanage.”

“I’m sorry.” Magnus shrugged. 

“I never knew my family so I feel no attachment.”

“But you were a child. No one should be made to feel like that.” Magnus looked back at Alec. It felt good to have someone other than Ragnor know the tale. “My parents and I were never very close.” Alec said. “They were a midwest power couple that liked the prestige of being a perfect family. I haven’t talked to my dad since I came out when I was 23 and after I graduated with my degree. He wanted to disown me but my mom stopped him. My mom and I do not have the best of relationships but I know she is trying. We have been in contact more since they divorced.” Wow they both had screwed up families.

“I don’t remember how old I was, but I do remember when I first met Ragnor Fell. It was late April and he came to teach the children of the orphanage English. I took to him and he took to me. It was a couple more years before he became my guardian and took me to England, where he was teaching at the time. I call him  Paman which means Uncle. He never formally adopted me, just sponsored me so I could go to school in England.” Sometimes Magnus wished he had but it didn’t make Ragnor any less special to him.

“But he is like your father.” Alec said and Magnus nodded. 

“He is all I have.” They were quiet again for a moment before Alec spoke.

“I don’t…I don’t know how to be a good boyfriend. I have not dated since I was 29. I don’t know if I can be what you need me to be.”

“How do you know? We barely know each other.” Magnus protested. “If you want to give us a chance, I would be very happy. But don’t discount us because we are different. Haven’t you heard? Opposites attract.” Alec chuckled at that. “Give us a chance.”

“Okay.” Alec nodded. “I will.”

Chapter 8

Their first official date was set for the following Wednesday. They had texted back and forth since Sunday. Alec finished up his work and then spent the next couple days worrying. It had been ages since he had gone out on a date. He was not even sure he remembered how to date. Martin had been his last shot at something meaningful, but they were just not meant to be. 

Martin had been a dance instructor and two years Alec’s junior. He had the correct initials, Martin Barns, but the initials on Martin’s waist were not Alec’s. Still they tried to make it work, because they were both lonely. As looks went Martin was not exactly GQ man of the year, but neither was Alec. He had sandy brown hair, crooked teeth and a thin frame. Martin was more carefree than Alec, but it seemed like a perfect balance, at least at first. As time went on Martin wanted more and more of Alec’s time until Alec felt smothered. They broke up not two months after becoming a couple. 

After that Alec had wiped his hands of the whole idea of partners and soulmates. If he couldn’t find his soulmate, then he didn’t need one. It was also around that time that Max got married and had his first kid. Alexis was the spitting image of her dad and the happiest baby. Alec took a semester off of school to visit Max and his family in Chicago. That change had helped him to solidify his position. He would be content with what his life was.

But now he’d found his soulmate and while he couldn’t change overnight, he did want to try and make this work. Magnus deserved that much, they both did. Still he was on edge as he got out of the taxi in front of a nice restaurant. It was not one that required a coat and tie but that didn’t seem to be his soulmate’s type of place either. 

Walking in he told the hostess that he was meeting someone and gave Magnus’ name. The woman nodded and showed him the way to the table, telling him his friend was already there. That was a surprise. Alec was well over ten minutes early and Magnus was already here?

As a man from another table sat down Alec could finally see Magnus. The man was drop dead gorgeous. His black hair was styled to perfection atop his head. He wore a magenta shirt with a black sequined jacket over it. When their eyes met Alec felt a jolt go through his body, much like their first connection.

“Sorry if I’m late.” Even though it wasn’t even 7 o’clock yet.

“Fashionably late.” Magnus purred and Alec felt like melting into a pile of goo at his feet. Magnus’ voice did things to him. “But I suppose I was fashionably early.”

They opened the menus and looked through the selection. Alec wasn’t sure what he wanted, aside from Magnus. He felt his face flush at the thought and buried his face in the menu until the waiter came to take their drink orders. Alec was not one for alcohol, not since his junior year in undergrad. You can only drink so much tequila before everything you’d ingested for the past week would come spilling out. 

Magnus ordered red wine and Alec joined him in that. They sat in relative silence while their drinks were being poured. Only after their food orders had been taken did Alec try to break the ice. 

“Is fish your favorite?” He asked, since Magnus had ordered the salmon. 

“Not really. I mean, I do like fish, but I would say my favorite food is rather mundane.” Magnus chuckled. “I love fruit, especially mangos and blueberries.”

“Oh? I love blueberry pie and crumble, but I have never been too fond of the fruit on its own.”

“It can be an acquired taste.”

“I prefer strawberries myself.”

“Chocolate covered strawberries?” Magnus’ little wink made Alec feel hot all over. He had this sudden urge to reach over the table to pull Magnus in for a never ending kiss.

“Yyyeah. Them, too.” Alec stuttered. Another smile across Magnus’ face let him know that Magnus knew just how much he was affecting Alec.

“I tried to go vegetarian once.” Magnus said, thankfully changing the subject before Alec made a fool of himself. “But I like fish and steak too much. So I just cut down on it when I can.”

“I love steak, chicken, and pork.” Magnus scrunched his nose up at the last one. “You don’t like pork?”

“Not really. When I lived in Indonesia the home next to mine had pigs and they got into everything and they smelled.”

“Ah, I see.” Alec nodded. “So no pork, what about chicken?”

“It’s fine.”

“But also not your favorite?” Magnus nodded. They talked a bit more about their food choices and had even moved into music when their food arrived.

“I am not going to say I don’t like them, but…their music is not my taste.” Magnus comments on Alec’s favorite group, The Nephilims.

“What do you mean?!” Alec asked with a smile. “They are the best alternative rock group to come out of Brooklyn in ages.”

“Yes, but a lot of their songs are…sad and lonely.” Oh. Yeah, they were. 

“So you stay away from them or any alternative rock?”

“I like upbeat parties, techno, trap, and dance mixes. And some kpop. It’s my secret obsession, but you didn’t hear that from me.” They both chuckled. Finally they were getting comfortable with each other. Finally they were making progress.

-=-=-=-=-=-

After dinner, and a brief argument about who was going to pay, they stood outside the restaurant watching the cars go by. Now that they had become somewhat comfortable with each other Alec found himself gravitating closer to Magnus.

Turning his face toward Alec, Magnus asked if he would like to come over and share a drink. The tension seemed to get worse after Magnus asked.

“I don’t know…if it’s a good idea.” The sad look that briefly passed over Magnus’ face made Alec want to take the words back.

“I understand. It’s no-” Magnus didn’t even get to finish his sentence as Alec pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss. What had been simmering at dinner was igniting.

Magnus thread his hands through Alec's hair, not caring that they were in the middle of the sidewalk. His soulmate was kissing him and he never wanted to stop. Unfortunately, they did have to stop kissing so they didn’t die of asphyxiation.

“I…I don’t know where…” Alec was stuttering again.

“I shall ask you again, want to come back to my place?” Finally Alec agreed.

Chapter 9

They barely made it into Magnus’ apartment before they were pulling clothes off each other. The taxi ride home had been excruciatingly long. Keeping his hands to himself had been hard but somehow Alec did.

They almost tripped over someone’s shoes and they both laughed. 

“Bedroom or couch?” Magnus asked. They hadn’t been able to talk about what exactly they would be doing. All they knew was it involved less clothes and more touching.

“I…I haven't been intimate with anyone for a long time.” Alec found himself admitting, feeling ashamed. Magnus pressed his finger to Alec’s lips. 

“Don’t be embarrassed. I don’t mind taking the lead, but I need to know what your boundaries are.”

“Stand here and talk out the details?” Magnus laughed a hearty laugh.

“Neither do I but I prefer clear guidelines.” Alec bit his lip, not sure how far to take this, but knowing he needed something more than just kisses.

“Maybe not all the way.” God he sounded like a teenager about to lose his virginity on prom night.

“Alright. Are you okay with condoms? We probably should get tested.”

“Yeah. But can we do something before my dick decides to settle down?”

“You are only in your thirties. You are fine, but I will gladly help you.” Magnus pushed Alec back against the wall and knelt down. He pulled out his wallet and produced a condom.

“Expecting something?” Alec asked with a blush. 

“More like prepared.” Magnus tore the wrapper and pulled the condom out. He placed it on the tip of Alec’s dick and with one quick motion used his mouth to roll it all the way down.

“FUCK!” Bubbled out of Alec’s mouth. Magnus just pulled back to the tip before going back in. The pace he set was both too much and not enough. Alec felt like he was on the edge from the moment Magnus’ mouth had engulfed his dick. 

“Magnus, fuck… please!” What was he pleading for? More? Faster? Alec’s fingers slid into Magnus’ raven hair, pulling the strands from the perfect coif and pushing it out of place. His hips started to move on their own even as he tried to hold back. He didn’t want to hurt Magnus, but he did love the feeling of hitting the back of the man’s throat. 

“Magnus…” He panted, letting his eyes close as Magnus’ hands ran up his thighs to his ass and pulled him forward. Fuck, did his soulmate want him to fuck his throat? His hips seemed to understand and snapped forward hard, causing Magnus to moan around him. It wasn’t long before the thrusts and Magnus’ own vibrations over his dick were too much and he fell over, coming inside Magnus’ mouth.

Magnus pulled off, panting, and leaning against Alec’s thigh for a moment before he was able to gather himself enough to stand up and help Alec with the condom.

“When I said…maybe not all the way…” Alec was panting trying to stand on shaking legs. “I might have spoken too soon.” Magnus chuckled.

“One step at a time, big boy.”

They ended up sticking to their agreement not to go all the way. While they both wanted to, it wasn’t the right time. Instead Magnus took Alec back to his bedroom and showed him his collection of “toys”. Magnus even put a few to good use as he fucked himself while Alec watched. 

If Magnus had been breathtaking at dinner, he was something else now. Alec’s gaze ran over Magnus’ body as he pushed a purple toy in and out of himself. Magnus’ back was arched and his neck stretched to show off his throat. What did Alec do to deserve such a god?

Once Alec was hard again Magnus switched from a dildo to a vibrator. He still needed something inside him as they kissed and pressed their bodies closer. Their cocks rubbed against each other smearing precome all over their stomachs. 

The morning after was devoid of any awkwardness. It was as if everything had shifted into place. They were completely comfortable around each other. That, in and of itself, was magical. They moved in sync as they made breakfast; snuggled on the couch, trading kisses and stories. 

Unfortunately, before too long, Alec had to leave. He had two fur babies that would not be happy they had to wait until nearly noon for food. 

“You could bring them over here. So they don’t get lonely.” Magnus said as Alec had put on his clothes from the day before.

“Are you sure your cat won’t mind?” Alec countered.

“Well…he will have to get used to them sometime, right?” They hadn’t talked about the next steps in their relationship, but they were both pretty sure that they would be moving in together sooner rather than later.

“Maybe a play date?” Alec suggested.

“Tomorrow?” Magnus asked hopefully.

“Tomorrow.” Alec agreed.

Epilogue - Three months later

Magnus growled as his liner skipped, again. Alec walked over to him, passing the bed where a kitten pile had developed on Magnus’ discarded clothes. Alec knew Magnus was nervous. This was the first time he was going to meet his soulmate’s family. It would be nerve wracking for anyone.

“You look stunning.” Alec said, leaning down to kiss Magnus’ cheek. 

“One side is thicker than the other.”

“Magnus, relax. Everything is going to be just fine. Izzy is very excited to meet you, having heard of you from the modeling world.” Alec tried to pump his soulmate up.

Magnus met Alec’s eyes in the mirror. “What if they don’t want me in the family?” It hit Alec like a ton of bricks. Magnus had already been shunned from his biological family and now here was another chance at rejection. 

Alec knelt down next to Magnus. “They won’t. My siblings are much more open minded than my parents. Izzy knew I was gay before I even told her. Max wanted to cut all ties with our father when he tried to disown me. They will love you, because I love you, but also because you are loveable.” Magnus smiled as his eyes watered. “The only one we have to worry about is my mother. I don’t think she will be cruel, but she can be stone faced. But if she doesn’t accept you, then I won’t accept her.”

-=-=-=-=-

“Alec!” Izzy nearly threw herself at her big brother as she opened the door. Alec caught her in his arms and Magnus just stood in awe. They could pass for twins. They were both tall and thin with dark hair. Her eyes turned to Magnus and she let go of her brother. “And you must be Magnus.” 

“Yes.” They shook hands as two little kids peered out. 

“Uncle Alec!” The cousins say in unison. Alexis had a head of curly dark hair while her cousin, Luke, had short brown hair. They were the only cousins close enough in age. Alexis was four years younger than Izzy and Simon’s middle daughter, Abby. But Luke and Alexis were only a year apart.

“Lexi, Luke.” Alec said, scooping the two little ones up into his arms. “I want you to meet someone.” Suddenly all eyes were on him and Magnus had not even gotten in the door. “This is my soulmate, Magnus.” 

“Hi.” Alexis waved at him, but being five and more inquisitive Luke asked. 

“Soulmate? Like mommy and daddy?”

“That is right dear.” Izzy said, taking her song from Alec’s arms and motioning them in. “Uncle Alec now as a soulmate.”

“Uncle Magnus?” Luke asked, looking from his mom to his uncle. 

“If that is alright with Magnus.” Alec sat Alexis down and looked at Magnus. Uncle wow that was quick. 

“Yeah. I would like that.” Magnus nodded. 

“Uncle Mans.” Little four year old tried saying. Magnus smiled.

Luke took Magnus by the hand and introduced him to the rest of the family. First off was his two older sisters that were on the couch not inches apart but on their phones.

“Abby, Lizzie. Uncle Magnus.” Luke introduced Magnus, with Alec stepping in to tell the nine and eleven year old, respectively, that Magnus was his soulmate. Abby was shy, like her father and only smiled, but Lizzie was the clone of her mother.

“Nice fit. Armani?”

“Yes.” Magnus nodded looking down at his dusty green jacket. 

“Last fall’s collection, correct?” 

“Yes. You know your styles well.”

“Thanks. Mom takes me to work with her a lot.”

“Soon enough she will know more clothes then I will.” Izzy commented. “But I am still so proud of my little fashionista.”

“Mom.” The preteen whined and hid behind her phone. 

Next was Max and his wife, Erica. Max was nearly the same height as Alec, but had a mess of curls much like his daughter. A family of giants.

“Max, good to see you.” The brothers hugged and then Alec leaned down to gently side hug Erica as she was holding the youngest member of the Lightwood clan, two year old Peter. 

“It's good to see you too, Alec.” Erica tilted her head at Magnus and sighed. Taking something out of her pocket she gave it to her husband. “You win.”

“You win?” Alec asked, echoing Magnus’ own thoughts. Had they made a bet about them? Or about him? Magnus suddenly felt very uncomfortable. 

“Your brother bet me that your soulmate would be shorter than you. I said he would be the same height or taller.” Alec laughed and that broke any tension Magnus had felt. His soulmate pulled Magnus closer to him.

“He is shorter by maybe an inch or two.” Magnus made a show of laying his head on Alec’s shoulder. 

“Yes, but what I lack in height I make up for in style.”

The last person on the list to meet was Maryse Lightwood, the matriarch of the family. After Max had left home there was nothing else holding the family together. Robert had been cheating on her for years and Maryse had just looked the other way. Once the divorce was final Maryse moved closer to her youngest child. She had enjoyed being a grandmother more than she had being a mother. There were no external pressures, just love.

“Mother. I want you to meet Magnus, my soulmate.” Alec said, one arm around Magnus’ back. Alec was not sure what his mother would do. They didn’t talk that often and only for short amounts of time. She was trying, he knew that.

“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Lightwood.” Magnus held out his hand like he had for Max and his wife and waited. It didn’t exactly take that long for Maryse to react, but to the soulmates it was an eternity.

Maryse sat her glass of wine down on a side table and leaned in, putting her arms around Magnus and hugged him tight, much to Alec’s shock. 

“Thank you for making my son happy.” She whispered into Magnus' ear. Pulling back she had a bright smile on her face. “And welcome to the family.”

“Mom! Can you help me wrangle the kids?” Izzy called out to her mom. The younger ones were underfoot while the older ones were on their phones. 

“If you will excuse me.” She grabbed her glass and headed for the kitchen. “Now, who is getting into trouble in here?”

Alec’s mouth was still slightly agape, his mind not comprehending what had just happened. “I think Mom might have had too much wine.”

Magnus just smiled, keeping what she had said a little secret to himself for now. He had been welcomed into the Lightwood family by every single member. It was like a dream come true. 

[grimaussiewitch]

100 warlock patron pack ideas: part 4

31: One of your parents is a dragon, the other parent is a bard, your sibling is a draconic-bloodline sorcerer and you popped out normal. Therefore, your dragon parent forced you to sign a contract with another much powerful dragon so you could be “useful” God! Parents can be so strict and controlling with their children’s futures these days.

32: As a child you use to get lost a lot. But luckily you would follow wisps back home. As you grew, this became a pattern. Feeling lost in life? Wonder around the forest and follow the trail of wisps. In the end, they granted you a bit of their power. A warlock pact was made.

33: You are a green eyed monster. A very jealous and selfish person. Everyone in your family can do magic. Whether they are druids, sorcerers or bards, it doesn’t matter because you can’t cast spells. Everyday they use their powers to help others or to perform, you couldn’t take it anymore. A deal was made. Your family deemed it a miracle that you can cast spells and cantrips. How long can you keep this up before they find out about your disgusting little lie? And how does your patron feel about this arrangement as well? Are they leaning into your jealous or not?

34: Your best friend or lover was tragically killed. Your grief sent you down a dark path. A litch finds you in your trying times. Desperate, you sell your sell to them in exchange for your loved one to come back to life. You’re now a warlock for this litch. Everything should be back to normal, right? Well, the person you brought back is a bit, different. They’re all there! Flesh and bones! But they don’t seem right. Their personality is a bit, stranger. Too big of a grin, too sharp of a laugh, eyes both glazed and fixated. What have you done.

35: We’ve all heard some adventurer sleeping with a dragon or a fiend or whatever. What about a genie? Pop out as a gensai with a corresponding genie parent that also doubles as your patron.

36: You and your sibling are very, very competitive rivals. You both have to one up each other. They can paint a flower? Well you can paint a person. You can juggle three balls? Your sibling can juggle six balls. It has gotten to the point you both contracted patrons just to say who’s better. The patron is either the same dude, two opposing or two random guys who don’t know what family drama they just got dragged into. They are very scared.

37: “Get a real job” your parents tell you. What do you meaning working under a devil as a warlock doesn’t count!? It took you forever to contact this dude and you’re getting payed above minimum!

38: You’re family kept saying “it’s just a phase” in regards to your gothic/ punk/alternative lifestyle. To prove a point, you impulsively sold your sold to a devil. You didn’t think this through did you?

39: You are a scientist who loves researching the fey wild. You want to know the science behind this madness! You get all giddy like a child doing research, experimenting and discovering. You bump into a fey of sorts. They have never seen such strange ‘robes’ and glassware before. As for you. It’s either your first time talking to a fey or your first long conversation. To continue your expanding knowledge, the fey offers you a deal. They explain the fey world as long as you explain other realms or the one you reside. You gain some warlock abilities and sent off your merry way.

40: You use to be dead. Like, super dead. But your patron needed a body to control. In comes you. You’re a floppy mess but you were the best they could get. Try to not get replaced bestie!

[elysia-nsimp]

Hi I have some silly TWST oc x Pokemon stuff I threw together a few days ago

So here’s the deal (I will make a potion that will turn you GAY got that? GA— /ref)

Every oc has a team of six Pokémon, can be from any generation, and each oc is allowed ONE legendary, mythical or ultra-beast (I didn’t end up needing this for the most part, but it is a rule I gave myself! I didn’t want to make their teams SUPER overpowered, but some of them would fit rlly well with those high status Pokemon so I allowed one per team)

All Pokemon in the team have to be around the same level, or at least close in level, so they function like gym leaders, elite four members, or champions do. They can’t pull a fast one on you by having mostly lvl 20 Pokemon and then pulling out a lvl 100 Pokemon. They also have to have REALISTIC teams.

Other than that, I gave myself free reign to do whatever with their teams.

Let’s start off with The Girlboss Herself, Comet! (These were thrown together in the middle of the night so please excuse the quality)

Lily (Sylveon) ♀

Lvl 37

Holding: nothing

Bite

Swift

Draining Kiss

Disarming Voice

Freya (Gardevior) ♀

Lvl 36

Holding: nothing

Double Team

Psybeam

Dazzling Gleam

Life Dew

Lunie (Lunatone)

Lvl 34

Holding: Leftovers

Moonblast

Moonlight

Phychic

Rock Throw

Meloetta

Lvl 35

Holding: Bright Powder

Sing

Shadow Ball

Swords Dance

Close Combat

Fleur (Floette) ♀

Lvl 35

Holding: Eviolite

Petal Blizzard

Wish

Giga Drain

Dazzling Gleam

Callista (Hatterene) ♀

Lvl 36

Holding: nothing

Psycho Cut

Healing Pulse

Dazzling Gleam

Dark Pulse

——

Most of Comet's Pokemon evolve via love and companionship, or are strongly tied to their trainers via love. Hatterene and Gardevoir, for example, are both extremely empathetic Pokemon. Gardevior's Pokedex entry suggests it will create a small black hole in order to protect its trainer, while Hatterene is incredibly sensitive to emotion and may lash out if the emotions around it are too strong.

Floette is famous for being the cause of war in Pokemon X and Y, while also being a little flower fairy (which has the same energy as Comet just being a sweet little space nerd but also being PRINCESS OF HELL in some AUs), while Meloetta is famous for its music that brings peace around it (correlated to her unique magic).

Lunatone is the odd one out here, but it's because Lunatone is a Hoenn Pokemon (my fav region) and a space-themed Pokemon.

Most of her Pokémon have at least one healing most, and otherwise mostly have damaging moves. Comet is a healer, so that much makes sense, but she uses a lot of damaging move rather than setup due to her impulsivity and habit of reacting emotionally, rather than logically.

I’m gonna reblog this post with the other ones, just going on character at a time lol

[pct-zindabad]

Pakistan’s Babar Azam in T20I

When Babar Azam takes the field on Friday, 14 April for the match against New Zealand, he will become the third Pakistan player to feature in 100 Men's T20Is

Shoaib Malik (123) and Mohammad Hafeez (119) are the two other Pakistan players to reach this milestone in men's T20Is.

The level-headed Pakistan captain is well known for his flamboyant batting style and along with Mohammad Rizwan forms an intimidating opening pair in T20Is.

As we celebrate his 100 T20Is, let's have a look at some of Babar's top innings in the format.

122 off 59 v South Africa, Centurion, 2021 — Babar and Rizwan are a force to reckon with. While Rizwan plays the role of an aggressor more often, there have been times when Babar has blown away the opposition with his explosive shots. The third T20I against South Africa in 2021 was one such example.

Chasing a formidable 204, Babar took the lead almost right from the start. After taking a couple of overs to adjust, he started pummelling the bowlers all over the park. His 50 came in just 27 balls and he accelerated after that with aplomb. He ended up with 122 off just 59 deliveries but unfortunately was dismissed with Pakistan needing just 7 to win, nevertheless having brought his side to the brink of victory. Pakistan then chased the total with two overs to spare. It was also Babar's first century in the format.

110* off 66 v England, Karachi, 2022 — Babar's second T20I century was no less impressive and this time it came at home. After losing the first T20I, Pakistan needed to hit back. England batted first and scored 199/5. Chasing another 200 score was not going to be easy but both Babar and Rizwan were in a different mood altogether. Babar, in particular, led the charge, smashing 110* off just 66 deliveries as Pakistan registered a 10-wicket victory over England. It was Babar who hit the winning runs, an inside-out four through covers celebrating a dominating win.

97* off 58 v West Indies, Karachi, 2018 — Babar's first Karachi masterclass came in 2018, four years before his hundred; an almost century innings against West Indies at home. Batting first, Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman early, who had opened the innings with Babar. The 24-year-old Babar Azam had only hit three fifty-plus scores in his career then and came close to scaling three figures when he took on the Windies bowling attack single-handedly. Pairing with Hussain Talat at No.3, Babar hit 13 fours and a six on his way to 97* off 58 deliveries. Pakistan put up a huge total of 205/3 and defended it easily with their strong bowling attack.

79* off 53 v New Zealand, Christchurch, 2022 — Babar's 79* was not in an high-scoring encounter but a low-scoring chase against New Zealand's celebrated bowling attack in their own backyard. The Pakistan bowlers had done their job keeping the Black Caps down to 147/8 in their 20 overs. But the hosts were not going down without a fight. They removed Rizwan early and crippled Pakistan further with a second wicket, leaving them at 37/2 in the sixth over. But Babar kept going. He rebuilt the Pakistan innings, first patiently stabilizing them, then pouncing on the bad balls to put them away. He formed crucial partnerships with the middle order and though New Zealand got a couple of more wickets, they had no answer to Babar. The Pakistan captain remained not out as the visitors claimed a six-wicket victory in the 19th over.

68* off 52 v India, Dubai, 2021 — The famous ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021 match. While there were many heroes in the game, Babar's contribution to it cannot be forgotten. After India were restricted to 151/7, Pakistan went all out with the bat to bamboozle the Indian bowlers. Rizwan was sensational and Babar played the perfect fiddle for him. Both batters complemented each other and pummelled the Indian attack without any rest. Babar hit the winning runs helping Pakistan to their first victory over India in the history of the tournament.

[ellezem]

1. Hope

2. prefer not to answer :) (minor)

3. August 15th

4. Leo

5. Yellow or purple idk

6. 12

7. 4 (2 cats 2 dogs used to have a frog)

8. The U.S. (too specific)

9. 5’1

10. 7-8

11. A lot lmao

12. I got an award for being a fat pig

13. I act and sing and draw

14. Idk I like to think I’m empathetic

15. Stand by me by Ben E. King or any David Bowie, Black Sabbath, or Metallica

16. But I’m a Cheerleader or Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

17. I don’t really have one, I just fall in love?

18. Probably not

19. Nope and my extended family can suck it up

20. I’m not sure, i say I’m agnostic so I’m kinda open to everything

21. Yes but my brain blocks out traumatic memories

22. Not that I can remember

23. I went to the tommyinnit “how to be a millionaire tour” (I didn’t meet him but it’s the closest thing I’ve got)

24. Showers, I don’t like sitting in water

25. I’m not wearing socks but the socks I was wearing earlier didn’t match. One was white with a rainbow and one was fnaf

26. Locally and I’ve been in the news but I’ve never been famous

27. Yeah I just want to be remembered

28. Depends on my mood but literally everything (as long at they’re not problematic)

29. No

30. 4 but a LOT of stuffies and blankets and my cat

31. Side/sprawl/ball

32. 3 bath, 3 bed, living, kitchen, garage, basement.

33. Nothing or half a muffin

34. No

35. Nerf archery lmao

36. Vanilla

37. Slut or whore

38. 20 hrs

39. Skin picking/eczema scars, sh, scraped knees.

40. Yeah

41. No

42. No

43. Yeah

44. Not too strong but it’s kinda a mix of a bunch of things

45. English/British

46. Infp-a

47. My bubbline jacket or my rainbow platforms

48. Yeah

49. Weird question but innie

50. Right

51. Yes

52. Popcorn or cherries

53. Pizzelles

54. Depression room (messy)

55. That’s so real or I’m gonna kms

56. Ya’ll

57. 30-45 mins

58. Not really

59. Bite, I don’t like keeping things in my mouth

60. Yes, it’s creepy

61. Yes I’m a theatre kid

62. I would say I’m pretty okay

63. That I’ll be forgotten or unlovable

64. I don’t mean to be but I think I am

65. Literally any marvel movie <3

66. Idc but I have short

67. I know where each one goes but I can’t name them off the top of my head

68. Writing or reading (as long as I’m writing/reading about something I like)

69. I’m a loud introvert

70. No

71. Everything

72. I used to be but I’ve stopped caring for my saftey

73.I’m afraid to but I will sometimes

74. Yes, literally everywhere

75. No, I’m not like that

76. I guess

77. 👀

78. I’ve taking unprescribed and random pills but no, not unless I’m in pain and someone gave me something.

79. Real? Or straight agenda? Because straight agenda me liked this guy cody I think was his name but real was this girl Dolly

80. Regular Ears but I want more

81. Yes

82. Like 38 characters per minute

83. Mile in 14 mins (I hate running)

84. REALLY dark brown (I’ve dyed it a million times)

85. Same as hair

86. I have a low acidic tolerance meaning my mouth swells when I eat pineapple and kiwi (I do it anyways no one can stop me)

87. It’s helpful to but I usually forget so sometimes I’ll just write down something in my notes

88. My mom teaches permanent hair removal (electrolysis) and has been doing it since she was 16. My dad works for her.

89. No I’m the youngest in my grade and it sucks

90. The world, the U.S., bigots, abuse, attention seeking

91. Nope that’s why I go by my middle name (my first name is pretty it’s just not ME)

92. Yes but I don’t want kids. I like zeffir, Asher, David.

93. I wouldn’t care, I don’t want kids.

94. Volume, fake confidence, talking.

95. People, stage fright, crowds, vomit, bugs.

96. My mom like the name Elizabeth but didn’t like the nickname Lizzie so she went with the Italian alternative.

97. 🤷🤷🤷

98. Didn’t you ask this question?

99. Grey

100. I paint murals on my walls but underneath it’s white.

Get To Know Me Uncomfortably Well

PLEASE DON’T LET THIS FLOP AHHHH

1. What is you middle name? 2. How old are you? 3. When is your birthday? 4. What is your zodiac sign? 5. What is your favorite color? 6. What’s your lucky number? 7. Do you have any pets? 8. Where are you from? 9. How tall are you? 10. What shoe size are you? 11. How many pairs of shoes do you own? 12. What was your last dream about? 13. What talents do you have? 14. Are you psychic in any way? 15. Favorite song? 16. Favorite movie? 17. Who would be your ideal partner? 18. Do you want children? 19. Do you want a church wedding? 20. Are you religious? 21. Have you ever been to the hospital? 22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law? 23. Have you ever met any celebrities? 24. Baths or showers? 25. What color socks are you wearing? 26. Have you ever been famous? 27. Would you like to be a big celebrity? 28. What type of music do you like? 29. Have you ever been skinny dipping? 30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 31. What position do you usually sleep in? 32. How big is your house? 33. What do you typically have for breakfast? 34. Have you ever fired a gun? 35. Have you ever tried archery? 36. Favorite clean word? 37. Favorite swear word? 38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep? 39. Do you have any scars? 40. Have you ever had a secret admirer? 41. Are you a good liar? 42. Are you a good judge of character? 43. Can you do any other accents other than your own? 44. Do you have a strong accent? 45. What is your favorite accent? 46. What is your personality type? 47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing? 48. Can you curl your tongue? 49. Are you an innie or an outie? 50. Left or right handed? 51. Are you scared of spiders? 52. Favorite food? 53. Favorite foreign food? 54. Are you a clean or messy person? 55. Most used phrased? 56. Most used word? 57. How long does it take for you to get ready? 58. Do you have much of an ego? 59. Do you suck or bite lollipops? 60. Do you talk to yourself? 61. Do you sing to yourself? 62. Are you a good singer? 63. Biggest Fear? 64. Are you a gossip? 65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen? 66. Do you like long or short hair? 67. Can you name all 50 states of America? 68. Favorite school subject? 69. Extrovert or Introvert? 70. Have you ever been scuba diving? 71. What makes you nervous? 72. Are you scared of the dark? 73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes? 74. Are you ticklish? 75. Have you ever started a rumor? 76. Have you ever been in a position of authority? 77. Have you ever drank underage? 78. Have you ever done drugs? 79. Who was your first real crush? 80. How many piercings do you have? 81. Can you roll your Rs?“ 82. How fast can you type? 83. How fast can you run? 84. What color is your hair? 85. What color is your eyes? 86. What are you allergic to? 87. Do you keep a journal? 88. What do your parents do? 89. Do you like your age? 90. What makes you angry? 91. Do you like your own name? 92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they? 93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child? 94. What are you strengths? 95. What are your weaknesses? 96. How did you get your name? 97. Were your ancestors royalty? 98. Do you have any scars? 99. Color of your bedspread? 100. Color of your room?

[littleharpethcrossfit]

Saturday, 8 February, 2025

At 9:30 we had temps in the mid 60's and cloudy but no chance of rain.

Warmup #1

Armando started us off with his selection of mobility exercises.

Warmup #2

100 Partner Med-Ball Sit-Ups

Strength

Deadlifts.....10 / 5 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1

The first 2 sets are warmups. Then build to a 1 Rep Max.

Nathan=415 Bernie=375 Robert/Warren G=355 Armando=335 Shane=290 Smoothie=245 Warren A=230 Britt=210 Angel=195 Elisa/Cheri=155 Shannon=135 Dana/Linda/Alicia and others=no posting Coach=present

WOD

All With 2 Dumb-Bells.....(50/35/20)

5 Rounds

15 Lunge Steps

12 Deadlifts

9 Hang Power Cleans

6 Push Press

THEN

Run 800 / Row-Ski 1000 / Bike 2000m

All On The Clock

WG=11:31 Nathan=11:56 Robert*=12:31 Elisa*=12:48 Angel=13:33 Armando=14:30 Bernie*=14:37 Smoothie=16:15 Cheri=16:59 Dana**=17:02 Shannon=18:00 Shane**=19:49 Britt/Warren A/Alicia/Linda=no posting Coach=present.

Extra Credit

Alternating Dumb-Bell Curls..........10 / 10 X 5

I forgot to put this on the white board.

Notes:

Well, I hope you enjoyed the balmy weather today. Overnight, a cold front will arrive bringing rain. By our 1 PM start time Sunday the rain should be gone, leaving us with a temp in the low to mid 40's. That's a big difference.

Sunday at 1 PM.

[bongaboi]

Michigan: 2024 ReliaQuest Bowl Champions

TAMPA, Fla. -- — A year removed from winning the national championship, Michigan finished its first season under Sherrone Moore with a victory setting the tone for a bright future.

Moore replaced Jim Harbaugh after the former Wolverines coach left for the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers last winter. He called Tuesday's 19-13 victory over Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl a total team effort that bodes well for the Wolverines moving forward.

“We’ve got a great culture and great kids,” Moore said. "No one person wins a game … no two people. It’s always going to be a team sport.”

Michigan's defense sacked Jalen Milroe five times and forced three turnovers by the Alabama quarterback. ReliaQuest Bowl MVP Jordan Marshall rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries to help the Wolverines dominate time of possession.

Dominic Zvada kicked four field goals and Davis Warren threw a first-half touchdown pass to Fredrick Moore as Michigan (8-5) finished the season on a three-game winning streak that included back-to-back upsets of rival Ohio State and Alabama.

“We were 5-5 and then we won some games, but it’s not the standard,” Marshall said. "We’re going to be better than this next year.”

Alabama's season ended with a loss to Michigan for the second year in a row. The Wolverines and the Crimson Tide (9-4, No. 11 CFP) met in a College Football Playoff semifinal at last season's Rose Bowl, with Michigan winning on the way to capturing the national championship.

Tuesday's loss ended Alabama's string of 16 consecutive seasons with double-digit wins. Kalen DeBoer inherited the streak from seven-time national championship-winning coach Nick Saban, who retired after last season.

“Every time you’re in the locker room and you have something like this, it’s disappointing. But I think there’s a lot of things that you take from it,” DeBoer said, reflecting on his first season with the Crimson Tide.

“So to me, it’s a success if we move forward and we take advantage of the lessons (learned this season), even though we don’t want to learn those lessons sometimes, because they’re hard,” DeBoer added. "We’re going to learn from those lessons, move forward and be better next year because of it.”

Milroe shrugged off a disastrous first quarter that was played almost exclusively in Alabama territory during heavy rain that sent many in the crowd at Raymond James Stadium scurrying for cover. The Crimson Tide had a chance to win it in the closing minutes but turned the ball over on downs after driving to the Michigan 15.

Milroe lost two fumbles and threw an interception on three of Alabama's first four drives. The fourth possession ended badly, too, with Milroe being sacked for an 11-yard loss at the Crimson Tide 44 on fourth-and-4.

Michigan, however, was able to turn the blunders into only 16 points — Warren's TD pass to Moore and field goals of 45, 30 and 21 yards for a 16-0 lead.

Milroe cut into Alabama's deficit with a 25-yard TD pass to Robbie Ouzts, then ran for 41 yards and threw to Germie Bernard for 40 on back-to-back plays to set up Graham Nicholson's 24-yard field goal just before halftime.

Michigan defense made the narrow halftime lead stand until Zvada's 37-yard field goal put the Wolverines up 19-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Alabama countered with Nicholson's 51-yarder to make it a one score game again with 4:38 to go.

Milroe finished 16 of 32 passing for 192 yards, one TD and an interception.

Warren was 9 of 12 for 73 yards without an interception before limping off the field after being sacked early in the third quarter. Alex Orji finished up at quarterback for the Wolverines.

Takeaways

Michigan pressured Milroe all day long, and the Crimson Tide never fully recovered from the quarterback's early mistakes.

Up next

Michigan: Opens next season on Aug. 30 at home vs. New Mexico following a highly anticipated competition for the starting quarterback job. The nation's No. 1 high school recruit, Bryce Underwood, practiced with the Wolverines for the ReliaQuest Bowl and was on the sideline Tuesday as an early enrollee. The competition also will include Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene.

Alabama: The Crimson Tide opens their second season under DeBoer on the road on Aug. 30 at Florida State. One question heading into the offseason is who will take the first snap at quarterback. Milroe hasn't said if he'll enter the NFL draft or return to school.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] India players after taking wickets of New Zealand in the first ODI (PC: BCCI Women/X) India Women secured a 59-run win over New Zealand Women in the first game of the three-match ODI series in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The bowlers were the stars for the home team, successfully defending a total of 227. Several Indian batters got off to good starts but failed to score big. However, the bowlers, especially Radha Yadav, restricted New Zealand’s batters with her variations and prevented them from scoring freely. Fans were eager to see how Harmanpreet Kaur would lead the team after the disappointment of the recent Women’s T20 World Cup in UAE. However, at the toss, Smriti Mandhana stepped in as stand-in captain, revealing that Harmanpreet missed the game due to a niggle. Mandhana won the toss and chose to bat first, introducing debutants Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor. For New Zealand, Jess Kerr and Molly Penfold led the pace attack, as Lea Tahuhu was rested. Mandhana’s struggles continued as she was dismissed for just five runs. Yastika Bhatia, at No. 3, added 37 runs, while Shafali Verma scored a quick 33 off 22 balls. Shafali looked set for a big score but was dismissed by Eden Carson in the seventh over. Carson, known for her Powerplay wickets in the recent World Cup, continued her form by taking Shafali’s wicket. Several Indian batters got starts but could not convert them into big scores. Yastika (37 off 43), Jemimah Rodrigues (35 off 36), Tejal (42 off 64) and Deepti Sharma (41 off 51) all contributed, but India struggled to build a large partnership. The only notable stand was a 61-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Jemimah and Tejal. For New Zealand, Amelia Kerr took four wickets for 42 runs in nine overs, while her sister Jess Kerr grabbed three wickets. Carson took two and Suzie Bates claimed one wicket. For the Latest Sports News: Click Here India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI (PC: BCCI Women/X) India were bowled out for 227 runs in 44.3 overs. Amelia’s googlies troubled Tejal initially, but she grew more confident as her innings progressed. Despite not batting the full 50 overs, India’s total seemed challenging. India’s bowlers then put on a fine display. Saima took her first international wicket, dismissing Suzie Bates for just one run. Lauren Down, batting at No. 3 instead of Amelia, scored 26 runs, while Georgia Plimmer made 25. Brooke Halliday top-scored with 39, and Maddy Green chipped in with 31. However, like India, New Zealand’s batters failed to convert their starts into significant partnerships. Sophie Devine was run out in a unique fashion for just two runs, with Deepti throwing the ball to Yastika, who whipped off the bails. The batter was unaware that she had her leg just on the outer part of the line. Amelia, batting at No. 9, remained unbeaten on 25 off 23 balls, but her running between the wickets suggested she was still not 100 per cent. Radha shone with the ball, taking three wickets for 35 runs in 8.4 overs. She bowled with excellent control, varying her pace and flight to suit the Ahmedabad pitch. India bowled New Zealand out for 168 in 40.4 overs, claiming a dominant 59-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second match is on October 27 in Ahmedabad. Also Read: India vs New Zealand, Women’s ODI Series: Stern test for Harmanpreet or Amelia’s dominance to continue? The post India’s bowlers shine in 59-run win over New Zealand in first ODI appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[lordofryoshimacoast]

Answering in a reblog because I feel like answering it in a reblog

1. Filraen is willing to lie about his scars and missing arm, the lie is getting more and more absurd as it goes on.

2. Friendly strictly defines anyone who lets him follow them relentlessly whether they like it or not.

3. Not often at all, although sometimes he tries to open up. Not often but sometimes because he's #emo.

4. He used to dance, lost confidence in himself and gave up.

5. Yes he can, it's more so to gain pity. He thinks about anyone mildly insulting him.

6. His favorite thing to recommend is long essays about horses, he has 47 books exclusively about horses and will lend them out if you absolutely pinky swear you won't ruin a single thing.

7. twink. Call him a twink. He'll know.

8. He hardly uses it at all.

9. He prefers to give others tough love, although he prefers to receive gentle love as long as it isn't overbearing.

10. Did you know horses aren't strictly carnivores? They will eat birds, bugs, and eggs!

11. Ask him how many times he's been hit in the face with a metal bar (89)

12. Anything slightly sexual, he's a middle schooler who'll laugh at the word balls.

13. He fakes smiles when he needs to manipulate others, he often doesn't smile unless he's taunting someone or again trying to appear charismatic.

14. Smother it with his hand.

15. He's often more outgoing when his public image is at stake, often over exaggerating his arrogance to appear happier. He's usually more calm when he's alone.

16. Arguments with law enforcement, juuuuust incase he has to stand trial....again

17. His hair and any minor imperfections, like not hiding a scar enough. Usually with others it tends to be his eyes.

18. His sister, Platonic ofc. He often brags for her if she's brought up in a conversation, despite this he's slightly jealous of her.

19. Viciously mock that person until a fight starts ((he's losing, he's definitely losing))

20. ((Spef person not available)) he doesn't like authority of any kind, although he doesn't mind most of them as people. He respects most knights though, especially if they've fought in a war, despite choosing to serve a ruler.

21. Eye contact, he doesn't like it, but he'll do it out of spite for certain people he doesn't respect.

22. He's terrified of swimming, he refuses to go near most lakes unless he's on a boat.

23 He feels guilty for yelling at his sister when she was trying to help him, his sister pretends to have forgotten to lessen the guilt slightly.

24. He did. He absolutely did. That bastard stole a peanut butter cookie. Fucker.

25. Horses, he fucking loves horses. Ask him anything about horses, he knows.

26. He definitely resents that boss for the rest of his years, he'd definitely be screaming his lungs out at them for it.

27. He hasn't gotten many gifts, most of the ones he received he liked regardless.

28. He tells people he wants money, jewelery, all sorts of expensive luxuries. He really just wants someone to listen to him. //..and a horse/horse related things.//

29. Yelling, insults and threats, temper tantrums, which usually makes things worse.

30. Not really, he tends to dwell on any imperfections regardless.

31. He feels the most guilt based on the fact he lies to everyone he meets on the basis. The guilt is strongest if he actually becomes friends with them and can't keep up his act.

32. Bro is a cliche rogue, shoplifting, stealing... But if he had to commit another crime, he's vandalizing something 100%.

33. Usually with a fake sweet tone and a backhanded compliment, usually making his greeting quite overdramatic.

34. Excitement, which he tries to hide, he tries to say something cool or casual. It fails every time, as he's definitely bouncing with excitement.

35. Tripping a toddler for the crime of insulting him mildly.

36. He doesn't tend to keep a lot of people in his life if he intends to use them, it's usually a spur of the moment pity act where in the next week he'll do something to cut them off.

37. He isn't interested in romance currently. Nothing.

38. He's good at dancing, but usually can't focus if someone else is around. Another reason why he quit it.

39. He'd rather be invited even if he's uninterested, he takes not being invited as a personal insult no matter what.

40. Offended, how could they do that, especially since he oh SO GRACIOUSLY accepted it.

41. He's picked up on his friend, Blinx's phrases of shock, generally liking the way he says them. Often trying to copy them to mixed results. Filraen also picks up on minor mannerisms through books.

42. Horses, horses, horses.

43. Someone making eye contact as respect or hugs, he often takes eye contact as disrespectful, hugs he's genuinely confused by. With both he'll immediately break an act out of embarrassment

44. N/A

45. He absolutely hates anyone who'll accidentally brush up against him, Accident or not he'll argue until someone gives up.

46. He's more of a talker, although he'll listen if it interests him or if it's a friend. He'll force others to listen to his friend if he has to.

47. His aunt who I haven't actually named. Because I'm so cool.

48. His friends, he'll make it clear he's only doing it for them.

49. No.

50. He's a brat and absolutely is willing to commit violence, I hate rude people irl and don't like violence obviously.

51. Lolth/spider queen test me, usually a phrase he says when annoyed or tired.

52. He acts based on how he feels immediately, it's very hard to change his mind even with facts.

53. Blinx. Filraen thinks he's smart.

54. He'll usually fight immediately, although his second response is usually fawn. It really depends how he feels before the incident.

55. Poetry, songwriting, and swimming. He generally hates poetry with his soul, he doesn't care much about music, but can enjoy a nice song every now and then.

56. He usually runs to Blinx for comfort, and it changes based on whether or not he thinks he can hide his fear.

57. He can't write. At all. His hand eye coordination in general is really bad. He often fails at grabbing objects properly too.

58. His main hobbies include things he generally excels at rather than things he completely likes. He tends to pick up and drop things at random.

WEIRDLY SPECIFIC BUT HELPFUL CHARACTER BUILDING QUESTIONS

What’s the lie your character says most often?

How loosely or strictly do they use the word ‘friend’?

How often do they show their genuine emotions to others versus just the audience knowing?

What’s a hobby they used to have that they miss?

Can they cry on command? If so, what do they think about to make it happen?

What’s their favorite [insert anything] that they’ve never recommended to anyone before?

What would you (mun) yell in the middle of a crowd to find them? What would their best friend and/or romantic partner yell?

How loose is their use of the phrase ‘I love you’?

Do they give tough love or gentle love most often? Which do they prefer to receive?

What fact do they excitedly tell everyone about at every opportunity?

If someone was impersonating them, what would friends / family ask or do to tell the difference?

What’s something that makes them laugh every single time? Be specific!

When do they fake a smile? How often?

How do they put out a candle?

What’s the most obvious difference between their behavior at home, at work, at school, with friends, and when they’re alone?

What kinds of people do they have arguments with in their head?

What do they notice first in the mirror versus what most people first notice looking at them?

Who do they love truly, 100% unconditionally (if anyone)?

What would they do if stuck in a room with the person they’ve been avoiding?

Who do they like as a person but hate their work? Vice versa, whose work do they like but don’t like the person?

What common etiquette do they disagree with? Do they still follow it?

What simple activity that most people do / can do scares your character?

What do they feel guilty for that the other person(s) doesn’t / don’t even remember?

Did they take a cookie from the cookie jar? What kind of cookie was it?

What subject / topic do they know a lot about that’s completely useless to the direct plot?

How would they respond to being fired by a good boss?

What’s the worst gift they ever received? How did they respond?

What do they tell people they want? What do they actually want?

How do they respond when someone doesn’t believe them?

When they make a mistake and feel bad, does the guilt differ when it’s personal versus when it’s professional?

When do they feel the most guilt? How do they respond to it?

If they committed one petty crime / misdemeanor, what would it be? Why?

How do they greet someone they dislike / hate?

How do they greet someone they like / love?

What is the smallest, morally questionable choice they’ve made?

Who do they keep in their life for professional gain? Is it for malicious intent?

What’s a secret they haven’t told serious romantic partners and don’t plan to tell?

What hobby are they good at in private, but bad at in front of others? Why?

Would they rather be invited to an event to feel included or be excluded from an event if they were not genuinely wanted there?

How do they respond to a loose handshake? What goes through their head?

What phrases, pronunciations, or mannerisms did they pick up from someone / somewhere else?

If invited to a TED Talk, what topic would they present on? What would the title of their presentation be?

What do they commonly misinterpret because of their own upbringing / environment / biases? How do they respond when realizing the misunderstanding?

What language would be easiest for them to learn? Why?

What’s something unimportant / frivolous that they hate passionately?

Are they a listener or a talker? If they’re a listener, what makes them talk? If they’re a talker, what makes them listen?

Who have they forgotten about that remembers them very well?

Who would they say ‘yes’ to if invited to do something they abhorred / strongly didn’t want to do?

Would they eat something they find gross to be polite?

What belief / moral / personality trait do they stand by that you (mun) personally don’t agree with?

What’s a phrase they say a lot?

Do they act on their immediate emotions, or do they wait for the facts before acting?

Who would / do they believe without question?

What’s their instinct in a fight / flight / freeze / fawn situation?

What’s something they’re expected to enjoy based on their hobbies / profession that they actually dislike / hate?

If they’re scared, who do they want comfort from? Does this answer change depending on the type of fear?

What’s a simple daily activity / motion that they mess up often?

How many hobbies have they attempted to have over their lifetime? Is there a common theme?

[news365times]

[ad_1] India players after taking wickets of New Zealand in the first ODI (PC: BCCI Women/X) India Women secured a 59-run win over New Zealand Women in the first game of the three-match ODI series in Ahmedabad on Thursday. The bowlers were the stars for the home team, successfully defending a total of 227. Several Indian batters got off to good starts but failed to score big. However, the bowlers, especially Radha Yadav, restricted New Zealand’s batters with her variations and prevented them from scoring freely. Fans were eager to see how Harmanpreet Kaur would lead the team after the disappointment of the recent Women’s T20 World Cup in UAE. However, at the toss, Smriti Mandhana stepped in as stand-in captain, revealing that Harmanpreet missed the game due to a niggle. Mandhana won the toss and chose to bat first, introducing debutants Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor. For New Zealand, Jess Kerr and Molly Penfold led the pace attack, as Lea Tahuhu was rested. Mandhana’s struggles continued as she was dismissed for just five runs. Yastika Bhatia, at No. 3, added 37 runs, while Shafali Verma scored a quick 33 off 22 balls. Shafali looked set for a big score but was dismissed by Eden Carson in the seventh over. Carson, known for her Powerplay wickets in the recent World Cup, continued her form by taking Shafali’s wicket. Several Indian batters got starts but could not convert them into big scores. Yastika (37 off 43), Jemimah Rodrigues (35 off 36), Tejal (42 off 64) and Deepti Sharma (41 off 51) all contributed, but India struggled to build a large partnership. The only notable stand was a 61-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Jemimah and Tejal. For New Zealand, Amelia Kerr took four wickets for 42 runs in nine overs, while her sister Jess Kerr grabbed three wickets. Carson took two and Suzie Bates claimed one wicket. For the Latest Sports News: Click Here India vs New Zealand, 1st ODI (PC: BCCI Women/X) India were bowled out for 227 runs in 44.3 overs. Amelia’s googlies troubled Tejal initially, but she grew more confident as her innings progressed. Despite not batting the full 50 overs, India’s total seemed challenging. India’s bowlers then put on a fine display. Saima took her first international wicket, dismissing Suzie Bates for just one run. Lauren Down, batting at No. 3 instead of Amelia, scored 26 runs, while Georgia Plimmer made 25. Brooke Halliday top-scored with 39, and Maddy Green chipped in with 31. However, like India, New Zealand’s batters failed to convert their starts into significant partnerships. Sophie Devine was run out in a unique fashion for just two runs, with Deepti throwing the ball to Yastika, who whipped off the bails. The batter was unaware that she had her leg just on the outer part of the line. Amelia, batting at No. 9, remained unbeaten on 25 off 23 balls, but her running between the wickets suggested she was still not 100 per cent. Radha shone with the ball, taking three wickets for 35 runs in 8.4 overs. She bowled with excellent control, varying her pace and flight to suit the Ahmedabad pitch. India bowled New Zealand out for 168 in 40.4 overs, claiming a dominant 59-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The second match is on October 27 in Ahmedabad. Also Read: India vs New Zealand, Women’s ODI Series: Stern test for Harmanpreet or Amelia’s dominance to continue? The post India’s bowlers shine in 59-run win over New Zealand in first ODI appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[ridikaislamsblog]

Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera fifties power SL to series win

SL vs WI

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3rd T20I (N), Dambulla, October 17, 2024, West Indies tour of Sri Lanka

WI

162/8

SL

(18/20 ov, T:163) 166/1

Sri Lanka won by 9 wickets (with 12 balls remaining)

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WISL

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Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera fifties power SL to series win

West Indies had done well to recover from a poor start and make 162, but it wasn't nearly enough



Andrew Fidel Fernando

17-Oct-2024 • 16 hrs ago



Kusal Mendis raised a crucial fifty  •  Getty Images

Sri Lanka 166 for 1 (Kusal Mendis 68*, Kusal Perera 55*) beat West Indies 162 for 8 (Powell 37, Motie 32, Theekshana 2-19) by nine wickets

Pathum Nissanka sent Sri Lanka's chase screaming out of the blocks, before Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera put on a clinical and unbeaten 106-run stand for the second wicket. For a team that had never before beaten West Indies in a T20I series, this chase was almost too effortless to believe. Each of the top three produced sparkling innings, as the hosts galloped to the target of 163 with 12 balls remaining, in front of a packed Poya-day crowd in Dambulla.

West Indies had earlier done well to get to 162 themselves, though they largely have a late assault from Gudakesh Motie - who bludgeoned 32 off 15 - for getting to what was perhaps a higher-than-par score on a spin-friendly track.

Though Dunith Wellalage went for runs, Sri Lanka's remaining spinners kept a lid on the scoring. This too, was a key difference between the teams.

Kusal Mendis went on to register the game's highest score, with 68 not out off 50. Perera crashed 55 off 36. Nissanka had played the most aggressive innings, plundering 39 off 22.

The 2-1 result is a further sign of resurgence from Sri Lanka, in the format in which they have arguably struggled the most in the last two years. They have this year won five Test matches, and had in July beaten India in a bilateral ODI series as well. This win also sees new coach Sanath Jayasuriya's stock rise further.

Sri Lanka attack early

West Indies bolstered their spin atttack by bringing Fabian Allen into the side for this match, but Nissanka ensured Sri Lanka's batters established their dominance early. He cracked three fours off the first over, bowled by Allen, before launching seamer Alzrri Joseph for two sixes and a four next over - the runs coming all around the ground, though he did favour the square region on the offside. By the time Nissanka was bowled by a Motie slider after 5.2 overs, Sri Lanka had already sped to 60.