#Both Teams To Score - Long List betting

[originalaccountname]

I was reading through that long collab about how Chuuya’s core characteristics are his loyalty and sense of reciprocity (for good or ill, allies or enemies), and it made me realize something.

One of the reasons why I think SKK works is because not only are they equals and trust each other, but when it comes to the important things, they don’t keep a score.

They’ll bring up an old bet from 7 years ago, they’ll reiterate the same insults over and over, they’ll nitpick each other’s tastes and habits, but when it comes down to it, they don’t hesitate to help the other. They know each other, trust each other, in a sense — even after everything — they are loyal to each other.

Because they’re partners.

And they’ve saved each other, helped each other so many times that even if they tried to keep track of who did what or who owed what, there would be way too many to make sense of it all.

They’re partners, they don’t need to.

They simply do what they must for each other without a care of what they might have to do for the other to make up for it. Because they know that the other is there for them no matter what.

… Except when it comes to bets. Then who owes what and what is owed matters very, very much. But that’s another case entirely.

had to sit down and process this for a minute before I got too emotional asjkkdjhgfj

They DO have a sort of transactional dynamic but in very specific ways. It's dumb bets for which they'll endlessly argue who the winner was and stupid revenge plans. Chuuya made a list of 190 ways of getting revenge on Dazai if/when he pulls something. His usual give and take definitely is there.

They also both are more likely to react than to act, making decisions according to what the people around them are doing instead of making a move of their own (Chuuya and his debts/revenges, Dazai and his plans), but they'll purposefully poke at each other to try to one-up or diminish the other; they will throw insults back and forth unprompted just because they're in the same vicinity. It's not unique to their dynamic, Dazai will cause problems on purpose at the ADA too, it's how he entertains himself lol, but it's fun that it's mutual and that Chuuya is just as likely to start an argument because he wants to win sjhdfgjfdh

And yet, when in a pinch, when it really counts, no one is keeping count. It's no longer an exchange of favours, it's them working as a team! And I think that Dazai always only suggesting the use of Corruption and not asking for it is a big player in that balance. Dazai who is responsible for the plan, and to make sure they win. He will let Chuuya know it's their best solution, that there is either no other way or that any other way is really dangerous and possibly futile, but he never directly tells him to use it. He isn't asking, and therefore it's Chuuya's decision. It's a team effort, it's their partnership, it's a mutual trust that they will do what they must and what is best.

[blackstarmylove]

Hi! I was wondering if you have some tips for getting a much higher score in bsts.

Despite playing it after 2 months of release, I still have trouble with the score, berely getting 2 mil. I know player level is a part of it for skill activation, and even if I try different skill combinations it doesn't work.

So what skill combinations/cards would you recommend? (I am lvl 138, I know it's bad for someone who played it for 3.5 years)

Hi! There is not one set of skills or group of cards that will help in all songs. Let me break this down a little more.

---

Increasing player level

As you said, increasing the level for both skill activation and higher points is important. There is an auto-rehearsal option, so whenever you have time, auto-rehearse to increase your level. This is one of the biggest contributors to high scores. There are also items you can use to increase your level quicker, so if you have dias to spare, buy the items before rehearsing.

There are gauge-up cards that can help with skill activation at specified times. This is especially useful for players who are not at higher levels and if they want to activate the bomb skill at a specific time in the song.

Skill combination/cards:

This depends on the song and what type of notes it has. Every song will have different skill combinations, even if the team stays the same. You have to pay attention to the notes - for example, if the song has long notes, you want to activate lane skills. The best I can do is give a list of which skills are good for which songs:

Short/Single notes - lane up, combo up, color steal, perfect lock, bomb

Long notes - lane up, color steal, perfect lock, long notes

There are cards that are great for each skill, so to name a few:

Bomb: Sotestsu 5* initial, Gui 4* stage, Sin 5* initial

Lane up: Kei 4* staff, Kei 5* new, Ran 5* initial, Ginsei 5* initial, Rindou 5* initial, Akira 5* initial, Yoshino 4* staff initial, Ginsei 4* staff initial, Mokuren 4* staff initial, Zakuro 5* Borderline.

Long notes: Kasumi 5* initial, Menou 5* initial, Kei 4* savory day, Rico 4* onsen, Qu 5* initial

Color steal: Takami 4* off day, Qu 4* off day

Perfect lock: Kei 4* Fragile Lake, Ginsei 5* new - Be careful of some of the cards here because they are team-specified (ex: Ginsei's card is only for Team K members)

Combo up: Mokuren 5* W initial, Kongou 4* staff, Taiga 5* initial

⭐ Don't use 5* cards unless you have bloomed them to at least level 3 (4 being max). Sometimes bloomed 4* cards have better skills!

----

TLDR: Higher levels and better cards will help you get a good score. The bloomed 5* gatcha and event gatcha cards are some of the best cards, so if you want to make progress and can spend, that's your best bet. Please spend responsibly!

[dr-spencer-reids-queen]

Lo-Fi: Part One

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~1.9k

Warnings: canon violence, canon language, canon talk of death, methods of kill

Author’s Note: I do not own anything from Criminal Minds. All credit goes to their respective owners. If there is any warnings that exceed the normal death/kills from the show, I will list them. If you’ve seen the show, then it’s the same level of angst unless otherwise stated

"The man visited by ecstasies and visions, who takes dreams for realities is an enthusiast; the man who supports his madness with murder is a fanatic." - Voltaire

Once again, insomnia has taken over yours and Spencer's life. In order to pass the time, you and Spencer have set up the apartment to resemble that of a mini-golf course. You had those plastic golf clubs that you and Spencer got at a toy store one time, so you use those as putters while you use ping pong balls as your golf ball.

Spencer isn't good at golf, but it's very funny to see him try to play. You're not good either, but it's fun to play with an equally bad person. This is what you meant when you said you love living with Spencer--you neve know what kind of evening you'll have with him.

Late at night, ideas ran high, and it was either play mini golf or bowling, and you feel this is the better choice if you don't want to break anything.

"Okay, you need to make at least one shot before the sun comes up," you giggle.

Spencer readies his putter with a focused look on his face.

"I don't need to hear it. You've barely gotten one in."

"And that's one more than you. You're falling behind," you tease.

"I can do this."

"I'll tell you what, if you make this shot in, I'll give you a kiss. If you make this shot in two moves, I'll give you a kiss with tongue. If you make it in one shot, I'll take you to bed," you grin.

He makes it in two.

You pull him closer by his waist and plant your lips on his, kissing him slowly and tenderly. His lips are always so soft despite him constantly biting them. He forgets all about the game as your tongue slithers into his mouth, but the night isn't over yet.

You two play all night long, and by the time you need to get ready for work, it's three to two. All night long, and you've managed to score three points. You're tired, but you'd trade sleep if you get to have another night like that with Spencer again.

Spencer stays by his desk when you two get to work, and you practically skip to JJ's office. Ever since you found out she is pregnant, you've been trying to take care of her, and to give her whatever she needs.

"Hey, it's just me," you knock and enter. You close the door behind you so you can talk freely about her pregnancy. "How is the baby? How are you doing?"

You sit down at her desk and lean back to be more comfortable.

"We're both doing great. I just got off the phone with Will. He's coming down here to help pick out a crib. Will's thrilled about it."

"I'm so happy for you," you gush. "We better set aside a weekend to go shopping for those little baby clothes that are just so cute."

"I look forward to it."

"You better. I'm going to make a great aunt."

"An aunt, huh?" she chuckles.

"You bet your ass. If not godparent title, then definitely aunt title. I'm going to spoil that kid rotten. No one knows, right?"

"No, it's still early. I'm going to wait a bit before telling everyone."

"Okay," you shrug.

Hotch knocks on the door, and you know to shut up about this.

"JJ, can you get the team together? We have a case."

"Nothing's come across my desk."

"This one came directly to me."

Hotch looks serious about this, so that means the baby talk will have to be on the back burner for now. You and JJ gather the team to find Hotch inside the briefing room watching a CCTV video of a man getting shot in the back of his head.

"Don't get comfortable. There'll be time to debrief on the plane."

"Where are we going?" Spencer asks.

"New York."

"Five shootings in two weeks. It's about time we got the call," Rossi comments.

"I want to take Garcia with us. Hopefully, they'll give us access to their surveillance systems. We really don't have time to talk. Let's get going."

This must be serious if Hotch doesn't at least give you a clue as to what is going on here. Everyone, including Penelope, head to the jet. She rarely gets to fly in this thing, so she's mesmerized about it all.

"How come I only get to travel with you guys like once every two years?"

"Trust me, mama, it can get old," Derek chuckles and takes her carry on to put in the top compartment.

"Oh, right, like the way that spa treatments in five-star hotels can get old."

"Remember the time we got on board, and they hadn't chilled the rosé?" you smirk.

"I almost quit the BAU that day," Derek plays along.

"Okay, you know what? You guys can joke all you want because I am never leaving this plane."

Once everyone is settled in, the serious stuff takes over.

"What do we know?" you ask.

"All the killings are mid-day with a single gunshot to the head with a .22."

"Any witnesses?"

"No."

"A .22-caliber pistol is only one hundred and fifty-two decibels. New York streets and subways are routinely well over one hundred. It could be people aren't even registering the gunshot until the unsub is already leaving the scene."

"They sound like Mob hits," Derek guesses.

"Except none of them have ties to organized crime. None of them have any connection with each other, either."

"How about communication with the police? Has the unsub tried to make contact?" you ask.

"Surveillance cameras have captured videos of three of the murders. This is the latest."

It's grainy, but the unsub walks behind a person and shoots him in the back of the head before walking off as if nothing happened. It's as if he just passed him by without a thought. It's so grainy, you can't get a clear view on who the unsub is.

"That's the best video they can get?"

"They're all the same. He wears a hood and keeps his head down."

"You know, there are videos on Youtube with better quality than this. You'd think New York would invest in better cameras," you comment. "This guy's bold. He works in crowded areas and in broad daylight."

"Are they completely random?"

"It seems that way."

"It's the Son of Sam all over again," Spencer sighs.

"What do we know about the victims?"

"They were each killed in a completely different neighborhood. Hell's Kitchen, Murray Hill, Lower East Side, Chinatown, and East Harlem."

"This doesn't make any sense. There's no common victimology, no sexual component, no robbery, and no geographical connection. Do the police have any leads?"

"No. He kills roughly every two days. The press is having a field day, and it sounds like the mood on the street's getting pretty edgy. We're working closely with the NYPD and their task force about this. Kate Joyner heads up the New York field office. She's running point on the case, and called me directly. Kate is starting to butt heads with the lead detectives and wants a fresh set of eyes."

"Kate Joyner, I know her. She's British, right?" Derek asks.

"Well, dual citizenship. Her father's British and her mother's American. She was a big deal at Scotland Yard before coming to the bureau."

"I heard she can be a little bit of a pain in the ass," you chuckle.

"I didn't think so," Hotch shrugs. "We liaised when she was still at Scotland Yard. I think we're lucky to have her."

It takes an hour to get from Quantico to New York City where the NYPD is waiting for your arrival. You walk into the FBI building located in New York, and immediately feel the tension between coworkers. Kate sees the team enter, and she greets Hotch with a wide smile.

"Is it just me, or does she look exactly like Hayley?" you mutter to your team.

She does resemble Hotch's ex-wife, and it makes you wonder if Hotch sees in her what he saw in Hayley.

"Kate," Hotch smiles. "This is my team. Kate Joyner, This is David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau, Penelope Garcia, Derek Morgan, Y/N, and Spencer Reid."

"Thanks for being here. Anything that you need, just tell me. Please don't stand on protocol," she says in her posh British accent.

"What can you tell us about the city's surveillance system?" Penelope asks.

"It's run by the NYPD. It's still in the infant stages. It's been rather controversial. American privacy laws, but they've had some success."

"I'll have complete access?"

"Of course. They're already expecting you. Shelly?"

One of the officers escorts Penelope into the bat cave where all the surveillance cameras are located.

"I'd like to get a map of the borough. I want to do a comprehensive geographical profile of the area in order to ascertain the unsub's mental map before it's clouded by our own linkage blindness," Spencer says.

"I see you brought your own computer."

Next to Spencer are two detectives who decide to join in on the conversation. One is short, a bit overweight, and has blond hair. He isn't too happy with Kate--you can feel the resentment he has towards her. The taller one is more slim, has a full head of brown hair, and is just happy that there are more people working on this. Still, he seems tired.

"Detectives Brustin and Cooper. I'll let you do the introductions," Kate says.

The shorter one is Brustin and the taller one is Cooper."

"Did you catch the first shooting?" you ask.

"They've all been in different precincts. It wasn't until the third murder that anyone even made the connection," Cooper answers.

"I guess this is where we play nice and ask you what you need," Brustin grumbles.

"I'll let you all figure out what that is. I just ask that you run everything back through me. It's been my experience that having one butt on the line is enough."

"Yes, ma'am," Brustin says passive-aggressively.

"Can I have a word with you in private?" Kate asks Hotch, leading him away from the group and into her office.

"They liaised when she was at Scotland Yard," you smirk and look at Penelope.

"Of course," JJ chuckles.

Cooper and Brustin break apart and do their own thing on opposite sides of the precinct, and you and Spencer approach Detective Cooper. Emily is standing nearby, and she seems interested in this little group.

"What's your partner's problem?" Spencer asks outright.

"Well, by the fourth murder, the FBI was brought in. Good. We can use all the help we can get. All of a sudden, she's taking meetings with the mayor, and calling in you all without us knowing anything about it."

"We're only here to help," you say. "Think of us as a resource."

"Okay, profile me," he smirks. "What am I thinking?"

Spencer raises his eyebrows and looks at you, and you can feel a twinge of jealousy come from him.

"Based solely on your energy and the confidence you radiate when you asked me to profile you, you're charming and arrogant even if you don't mean to be. The faint tan mark around your ring finger suggests you're married, yet you take it off when you get to work. That tells me that you like flirting with women, but you won't actually do anything because you love your wife.

"Now, Dr. Reid is my boyfriend, so there's no use in flirting with me. You might have more luck with Agent Prentiss. She's single. Did I do good?"

"Duly noted," Cooper nods and looks at Spencer.

He quickly leaves you two to talk to Emily, and you pull Spencer in close.

"I love you, you know that?"

"I do," you grin and peck his lips.

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[laocommunity]

Score Big with Our Expert Predictions and Insane Odds for San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas MLS Clash on May 27!

Score Big with Our Expert Predictions and Insane Odds for San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas MLS Clash on May 27! Score Big with Our Expert Predictions and Insane Odds for San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas MLS Clash on May 27! Article Outline Article I. Introduction As the MLS season heats up, fans and bettors alike are eagerly anticipating the upcoming showdown between the San Jose Earthquakes and FC Dallas on May 27. With both teams boasting top-tier talent and a burning desire to secure a win, this match is sure to offer up plenty of excitement and drama. In this article, we'll dive deep into the odds and predictions for this highly-anticipated clash, giving you all the insights you need to make informed betting decisions. II. Team Overviews San Jose Earthquakes Led by head coach Matias Almeyda, the San Jose Earthquakes have been a formidable force to be reckoned with in the MLS as of late. With a strong squad featuring talents such as Chris Wondolowski and Magnus Eriksson, the Earthquakes have been able to consistently challenge even the toughest opponents. FC Dallas On the other side of the pitch, FC Dallas has been making waves in the MLS with their tactical prowess and skilled lineup. Coached by Luchi Gonzalez, this team boasts an impressive roster including the likes of Ryan Hollingshead and Andres Ricuarte, both of whom have proven to be key players in recent matches. III. Recent Form and Performance San Jose Earthquakes The San Jose Earthquakes have been on a hot streak as of late, winning three out of their last five matches. With a strong focus on teamwork and communication, this group has been able to successfully execute their game plans and make swift strides up the MLS ranks. FC Dallas FC Dallas has also been performing quite well recently, winning four out of their last five matches. With a solid defensive lineup and a strong offensive presence, this team has been able to secure key victories and cement their place as one of the most formidable squads in the league. IV. Head-to-Head Record San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas Looking at the head-to-head record between these two teams, it's a fairly even match-up. Over the course of their last five matches, they've each won two games, with one ending in a draw. This makes for an exciting and unpredictable showdown on May 27. V. Betting Odds and Predictions Betting Odds As of this writing, the odds for this match are quite close, with both teams sitting at around +150 to win. This indicates that the experts are expecting a very tight game with lots of potential for upsets and surprises. Predictions Based on recent form and overall team performance, it's tough to say which team will come out on top in this clash. The San Jose Earthquakes have been playing very well lately, but FC Dallas has been a consistently strong presence all season long. Ultimately, we predict a close match with a final score of 1-1, though anything could happen in this exciting showdown. VI. Conclusion In conclusion, the upcoming San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match on May 27 is sure to be a must-see event for all soccer fans and bettors alike. With both teams bringing their best players and tactics to the field, this is shaping up to be a very unpredictable and exciting game. Make sure to keep a close eye on the odds and predictions leading up to this match, and betting safely and responsibly. VII. Frequently Asked Questions 1. What time is the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? The match is scheduled to take place on May 27, though the exact start time may vary depending on your location and time zone. 2. Where can I watch the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? The match will be broadcast on various sports channels depending on your location, so check your local listings to find out where to watch. 3. Can I bet on the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? Yes, you can place bets on this match through a variety of sports betting platforms and sites. Just be sure to bet responsibly and within your means. 4. Who are the key players to watch in the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? For the San Jose Earthquakes, keep an eye on talents such as Chris Wondolowski and Magnus Eriksson. On FC Dallas, players like Ryan Hollingshead and Andres Ricuarte will likely be key in securing a win. 5. What are the odds for the San Jose Earthquakes vs FC Dallas match? As of this writing, the odds are approximately +150 for both teams to win, indicating a very close and unpredictable game. #SPORT Read the full article

[chartkalyan]

Tips And Tricks To Play Kalyan Chart Like A Pro Player

Kalyan Chart is the most popular Indian game among the punters. The players always want to win big in this game and that's why we are here to share some tips and tricks that can help you win Kalyan Chart result more often.

Play at the right time

Selecting the right time is important. It's better to play during the day than at night, and it's also better to play on weekdays rather than weekends or holidays.

If you can, avoid playing during festivals or other special occasions when everyone will be off work and want to play games themselves!

Try to find a place where there are lots of people around. It doesn't matter if they're playing games themselves or not, as long as you can see that there are a lot of people around who might want to play with you.

When you're trying to find people to play games with, it's always better to start with people who are already playing a game. This is because they're more likely to be willing and able to play another one with you.

Play on the trend

The trend is the main factor that you need to focus on. It's what you should be looking at, and it's also the most important thing to consider when placing your bets. If you play on the trend, there will be no problem for you in winning money from this game!

You should also try to understand the different kinds of bets that you can place. You can either bet on the straight-up winner, or you can bet on the total number of points scored by each team during their game. Both are good options, but we recommend that you stick on the straight-up winner. This is because you'll get more value from your money when it comes to winning.

Select the right number

Select the number that is in a strong position. The numbers that are on top of the chart are more likely to be drawn, so avoid them if you want to win big.

The second thing you need to consider is how long it has been played for. If you pick a number that has been played multiple times recently, then your chances of winning will be much lower than if you select one from the bottom half of our list where most people have yet to play their cards yet (or perhaps even know about them).

Play for small wins first

When you are just starting out, it is best to start with a small amount and play for small wins first. This will help you build your confidence and get used to the game better. Once you have mastered this level of play, then move on to higher stakes where there are more chances of winning bigger amounts!

Kalyan chart is a great way to make money.

Kalyan Chart result is a great way to make money. It may not be as easy as it seems, but if you're willing to put in the time and effort, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to make some extra cash from Kalyan charts!

Conclusion

I hope you found this article helpful and learned something new about the game. It's always good to have some tricks up your sleeve and make sure you're not getting burned out by others who have been playing a lot longer than you have.

Source :- Tips And Tricks To Play Kalyan Chart Like A Pro Player

[icemankazansky]

Hoo boy. Okay.

I was going to ignore this commentary, but they reblogged directly from me and addressed my additions, so I feel like this has been brought into my house, and it is calling for my attention.

Wish granted.

Behind a cut for the benefit of everyone's dashboards.

@finelytaylored responded in the tags, and here they are in their entirety except I cut off generic tags like "top gun maverick" at the end. The highlighting is my addition, because I'm going to be talking about several different arguments made here, and I thought it would be easier for everyone if I did that.

Arguments #1 and #2 (light blue): #1. Hangman is not "chasing big promotions" (because) #2. Hangman is like a young Maverick.

First, I'm (continuing) to leave Iceman out of this, because he's not relevant to this argument, and he deserves better. I did not say Hangman was chasing big promotions. I said that Hangman's "main motive [is] advancing his career." I agree that I worded that vaguely, but it intentional, because I didn't want to be as direct as saying, "All Hangman wants is to win." And that is my true take: All Hangman wants is to win. He wants to be team leader, he wants to get the shot, he want to get the top score. And, unlike setting your sights on four stars (which is a long term goal), all the examples I just listed are short term goals. He may not see the big picture; I don't know. I don't think the film gives us enough information to know whether it's true or not.

As for #2: Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Hangman believes he is like a young Maverick. Then a) Why is he so disrespectful of and aggressive to Maverick? and b) Why doesn't he think that Maverick can help Rooster, but that he (Hangman) can? If they're analogous, certainly it should work both ways? A = A, so A+B = A+B, etc.

There's a larger argument about whether Hangman is like a young Maverick, but this is not the time or place.

Argument #3 (yellow): The actions that Hangman takes that result in a physical altercation with Rooster and involve insulting his CO and refusing several direct orders from said CO (in front of the entire squadron) are comparable to Maverick ignoring a direct order from an SO (Admiral Cain) and taking Darkstar to Mach 10 for the benefit of the personnel of the Stella Tenebris project.

Let's think about the things these incidents have in common:

The Actor (Maverick/Hangman) ignores a direct order from a superior officer.

The Actor understands that this is insubordination, and that their actions could negatively impact their career.

Let's talk about the things that don't agree: scale and motive.

Scale: What Maverick does is a large act in all ways. The danger to himself (physically and socially/financially/etc) is large. The stakes either way (whether Maverick does take Darkstar for her last ride, or if he does not) are large. The number of people directly involved—Maverick, Cain, and every person on Stella Tenebris—is large. Comparatively, Hangman's actions are small. He strikes with a few words. There are really only three people directly involved: Hangman, Rooster, and Maverick. The stakes are small.

Motive: Maverick's motive is to salvage Stella Tenebris and help the careers of everyone who has worked on the science, technology, and practical realities of Darkstar. By proving that Darkstar's science was sound, that this breakthrough science worked, that the team met their goal, and by giving data for the last flight, Maverick not only justifies the project and its participants, but he gives them a platform from which they can further their study and their careers. Hangman's immediate motive is to "push [Rooster's] buttons."

Maverick bet high. He risked his career and his life to help his colleagues. Hangman took a stupid gamble for a cruel reason. (the tags disagree with me, but I'm going to address that in the next section.)

Arguments #4 and #5 (pink): #4. The reason Hangman brought up Goose's death (which resulted in the physical altercation in the classroom) was for Rooster's benefit, to help Rooster discover his "full potential ..." #5. Because if Rooster does not reach his full potential, he is unlikely to survive the mission.

There is just no evidence in the text to support this. There's plenty to suggest otherwise:

Hangman's demeanor during the incident: Smiling (almost the entire time), relaxed (he begins the scene leaning back against his chair, not even sitting upright; when the squadron is breaking up the fight, he describes himself as, "I'm cool, I'm cool."), cocksure. And as he leaves after the fight has been broken up, he gets within inches of Rooster's face.

Hangman's words during the incident: (to Rooster) "You really don't get it. On this mission, a man flies like Maverick here, or a man does not come back.... We're going into combat, son."

Hangman's words after the fight is broken up: (to Maverick about Rooster) "He's not cut out for this mission.... You know it. You know I'm right."

Hangman's stated intent re: the mission overall previous to this: "Who's going to be team leader? And which one of you has what it takes to follow me?"

Not only is, "Hangman pushes Rooster's buttons until he breaks is for Rooster's benefit" a radical interpretation of the text, but to me it reads uncomfortably close to the "I hurt you to help you, because I know better and because I love you" defense.

And then there's Argument #5: Not only is what Hangman does for Rooster's benefit, but if Hangman does not do this, Rooster will not survive the mission. Not only is there no evidence for this, either, but it's wildly disrespectful to Rooster and everyone else involved in this mission. They're all there because they are the best of the best; they are accomplished pilots who have been hand chosen because they are the best candidates for this incredibly difficult mission. It also imbues Hangman with an enormous amount of power that nothing in the narrative suggests he wields.

I mean, sure. All of this could be true. Maybe Hangman isn't really a Navy pilot at all; maybe he's an angel or a scientist from the future sent to earth in human form to help Rooster fulfill his destiny, It's a Wonderful Life or Quantum Leap style. Any of these things could be possible, but in order to make any of these ideas fit the narrative, we have to make so many suppositions with absolutely no evidence from canon that it's really AU territory.

Argument #6 (green): Hangman is acting in a way that is different from how he normally acts.

There is also no evidence in the text to support this. We only see Hangman during this mission—from arriving after receiving his orders to the deck of the aircraft carrier just minutes after the mission is complete—and his behavior is fairly consistent the entire time. This could be true, but there is absolutely no way for us to know.

Argument #7 (purple): This one is mine: Hangman knowingly acts in a way that is against Maverick's orders and with reckless disregard for the people around him because he knows best.

Everything that I have highlighted in purple suggests a truth that contradicts every other argument. Maverick can't get the results Hangman wants, so Hangman will ignore orders and the chain of command to achieve them himself. He isn't worried about the consequences of his actions, possibly because he's too stressed by the mission. Not only is this contrary to all previous arguments speaking of Hangman as bravely and selflessly working for the benefit of others at the expense of himself, it is a dangerous idea. In the first movie, this idea that the military is a team sport and people die if you're not playing for the team is the subject of every argument Ice and Maverick have, and it's the lesson that Maverick has to learn to keep flying. And it's what the narrative of TGM would have us believe is Hangman's Achilles heel.

But it's that last idea that is the scariest. If Hangman cannot see the consequences of his actions because of the stress he's under, he is dangerous in his current role. People who work in high stress situations are specifically trained to stay clear-headed and alert in periods of high stress. It's not easy. It's work, and it's not something everyone can do. It requires compartmentalization and self-discipline. If you cannot keep your head when everything around you is going to hell, then you cannot work in a place where that happens. People who cannot learn how to stay focused and under control in high stress occupations do not stay in those occupations, because if they do, they risk not only their lives, but the lives of everyone working with them.

One gripe I have about TGM is how they treat Maverick’s rank as Captain.

They treat him like an Army Captain - Which is just above 1st Lieutenant, and below Major. They’re a higher ranking officer but not THAT big of a deal.

Navy Captains, on the other hand, are the army equivalent of a Colonel. The are JUST below Admiral. They literally command boats by themselves. That is their job. Take that in. MAVERICK COMMANDED A WHOLE ASS CARRIER.

(And what little bitch ass snitch of a Lieutenant Commander reported Maverick’s antics to the Admirals and how badly do you think they got their ass handed to them?)

Also, the median pay for a Navy Captain is 70-100k, with free healthcare and an absolute fire retirement plan. I get they wanted to show Maverick at his lowest at the beginning of the film, but what the FUCK is he spending all that money on where he can’t afford a few hundred dollars in beers? Especially when he spent the better part of his career on deployment.

Something fun to think about tho is how much more this would’ve effected Hangman & Coyote’s horror at the fact they threw him out the bar. This wasn’t just upsetting their teacher or CO or superior officer. No. Maverick could literally OBLITERATE THEIR WHOLE FUCK DAMN CAREER. Or at least make their lives a living hell for just about a whole decade if he’s feeling petty.

I get the movie is for people who don’t know anything about the Navy. But as someone who comes from a long line of veterans & sailors, as well as a military fiction enthusiast, I just really needed to talk about it.

[richardthurman544]

How To Make Money Betting On Soccer Even If You Don't Know How

How To Make Money Betting On Soccer Even If You Don't Know How Soccer is one of the world's most popular sports, with billions of fans across the globe. And for those who love betting on soccer matches, there's plenty of money to be made. Even if you don't know a thing about soccer or betting, you can still make some money by following these simple tips. In this article, we'll teach you how to make money betting on soccer matches even if you don't know how. https://www.betfame.com/today-soccer-tips.html

What is soccer? Soccer, or football as it is more commonly known, is a sport that has been around for centuries. It is played on a rectangular field with teams of 11 players and is divided into two halves. The object of the game is to score goals by kicking the ball into the opposing team's goal. Soccer can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and there are leagues for both adults and children. If you're interested in betting on soccer, here are five tips to help you get started: 1.amiliarize yourself with the different types of bets available on soccer matches: straight bets, handicap bets, outright bets, and multi-bet options; 2.research each matchup before placing any bets so that you are making informed decisions; 3.establish some basic rules of soccer betting such as how long each half lasts and whether penalties count as goals; 4.be familiar with the different soccer betting markets in order to make informed decisions about which bet to place; 5.remember that match outcomes can change quickly, so always stay up-to-date on current events by following sports news websites or apps. How to bet on soccer If you're looking to make some easy money betting on soccer, there are a few things you can do. The first thing is to figure out which matches will be most competitive. You can do this by using betting odds provided by websites or bookmakers. Additionally, you can check match prediction websites to get an idea of who will win. Another way to make money betting on soccer is to bet on match outcomes. This is done by placing bets on whether the home team or the away team will score a particular goal or result in a given match. You can also place bets on half time and full time results. You can also bet on specific players during each match. This involves wagering on how many goals a certain player will score and/or assists for that match. Finally, you can bet on how many yellow cards a player will receive during the match. Types of soccer bets There are a few different types of soccer bets you can make to help increase your chances of winning. The first is simply betting on the outcome of the game. You can place a bet on whether your team will win, draw, or lose, and whether the other team will score or not. Another popular type of bet is wagering on goals. This involves predicting how many goals each team will score in a particular match. You can also make predictions about individual players, such as which player will score the next goal. You can also make bets based on how the game will be played. For example, you might bet on who will have more possession of the ball or who will make more accurate passes. Soccer betting tips If you're one of the many soccer fans who enjoy betting on matches, but don't have a lot of experience with it, now is the time to start learning. Here are some tips for betting on soccer: -Find a site that offers good odds and has customer support available if you need it. -Make a list of teams you want to bet on, and research their stats carefully before placing any bets. -Be aware of money management when betting on soccer matches – if you lose your initial stake, don't let it drive you crazy and start gambling more recklessly, instead try to stick to smaller stakes until you regain your confidence. Soccer odds If you're not familiar with soccer betting, now is a great time to learn. Soccer odds are one of the easiest ways to make money betting on the sport. There are a few things you need to know before getting started. The first thing you need to do is find an online sportsbook that will offer soccer odds. They will likely have different ranges for different leagues and tournaments, so it's important to research which bets offer the best value.

[starryhyuck]

limit. (m)

pairing: gryffindor!mark x reader

words: 3.4k+

summary: with gryffindor on a continuous losing streak, you have no choice but to push your quidditch player boyfriend to his breaking point.

genre: smut

warnings: public sex, overstimulation, squirting, oral sex, degradation, daddy kink, face slapping

“If you keep pushing him, he’ll snap.”

“That’s what I’m hoping for.”

You observe Mark across the Great Hall, fingers clenched tightly around his spoon. The other Gryffindor seated beside him are eyeing him warily, afraid the resident happy Head Boy was slowly losing his mind.

This, of course, is partly due to you.

You’ve refused to give Mark an orgasm until Gryffindor wins a Quidditch match, which has effectively been very hard since the team has been on a losing streak. You and Mark aren’t animals, per se, but the two of you fucked regularly and the fact that he hasn’t gotten the chance to touch you in weeks is taking a toll on him.

Lucas swings an arm around his shoulder and whispers something to him, but Mark’s eyes are locked in on you. You could almost feel the magic radiating off of his form. You smile deviously, arm reaching to wrap around Donghyuck’s, who gladly accepts your touch. Luckily, Donghyuck enjoys pushing Mark’s buttons almost as much as you do.

Donghyuck’s in the middle of feeding you a bite of his chicken when all of the glasses in the Great Hall shatter. A jumbled murmur of shrieks and gasps of surprise echo at the performance of wandless magic. Students whip their heads around, frantically trying to find the source of the fiasco. You already know who the culprit is, watching as Mark stomps out of the Great Hall, fists clenched tightly.

—

Donghyuck snickers beside you.

“You’re really asking for it. Wearing Slytherin gear and sitting with the snakes? He’s going to ruin you.”

You roll your eyes, brushing off his comment and adjusting the green tie wrapped around your neck. You briefly lock eyes with your irate boyfriend, who is currently on the Quidditch pitch, waiting for the match to begin. You smile and wave at him innocently, only to receive the nastiest look in return.

Donghyuck laughs again at the exchange. “I’ve never seen Mark look like that. Are you sure you’re ready for the consequences?”

You grin as the game begins, the cheering sounds from the Slytherin stands almost drowning out your voice.

“He needs a little push. Gryffindor has lost three games in a row already.”

You prove Donghyuck right a hour into the game. Mark has been scoring goal after goal since the match started. Slytherin’s Keeper tries to block every single throw, but Mark is clearly on a mission, showing no mercy to the Slytherin house. He almost looks like he would Avada someone on the spot just to win.

Every time he scores, he makes a point to look straight at you before zooming off. You smirk to yourself, already feeling your panties dampen at the sight. One part of you is slightly afraid of what Mark will do to you once Gryffindor wins. The other part of you is unabashedly excited.

The Slytherins around you groan and complain as Mark continuously scores. Donghyuck is enjoying the show, knowing you’re truly in for it later after seeing the murderous look painted on Mark’s face.

The game ends after two hours, with the Gryffindor Seeker securing the Snitch and winning the match. The sea of red erupts in a roar of applause and cheers, while the Slytherins grumble and curse their luck. It was the first loss of the season for the Slytherins, and they could all thank your boyfriend for that.

Usually, when Mark wins a game, you would wait outside the locker rooms and congratulate him with a kiss. This time, you want to make him work for it a little more.

Donghyuck chuckles when he sees you turn the opposite direction of the locker rooms.

“You’re in for it now.”

—

You’re laughing at something Doyeon’s telling you when you feel the abrupt tug on your arm. You hiss at the contact, ready to hex whoever it is. Realization seeps within you when you see the look of fury on Mark’s face as he tugs you away from your friends.

“I’ll see you guys later!” You call out, already feeling the slick of your wetness coating your thighs.

“Okay! Great game, Mark!”

The Gryffindor boy doesn’t even thank them, pulling open the door to the empty Potions classroom and shoving you inside. You put on your innocent persona.

“That wasn’t very nice. I was having an interesting conversation with Doyeon, if you must know.”

“On the desk. Now.”

The anger laced in his tone has your body vibrating. You decide to push him even further, frowning and clutching your books tighter to your chest. You still have Donghyuck’s Slytherin scarf wrapped around you, which Mark is heavily glaring at.

“I don’t even get a please? Where are your manners, Mark?”

You gasp when he steps forward, fingers bunching around the locks of your hair and pulling. Hard.

“You think this is so funny, don’t you? Watching me fall apart, breaking all the glasses in the Great Hall and receiving detention for it? How about wanting to injure someone on the field just so we could win? Just so I can come back to you, fuck you so hard your tight cunt stretches out.” His fingers grip the fabric of your skirt and he growls. You swear you can feel your juices start running down the inside of your thigh with how wet you are. “And what about this? This stupid fucking little skirt. You think you could get away with that too?”

You placed a charm on your clothing early this morning, making your button-up shirt just a little tighter around your chest and your skirt a little shorter than normal. You smile and try to raise your chin as much as possible, struggling as Mark continues to pull your hair.

“Daddy likes it? I did it just for you. Just so Daddy could win today.”

Mark’s eyes are the darkest they have ever been, and you try not to glance down at his trousers, which are probably straining from his growing erection. You only play the Daddy card once or twice, mainly because once it’s out in the open, Mark fucks you until you can’t feel your legs. And most days, you would prefer not to limp from class to class.

Another gasp rips out of your throat when he discards your clothing with the flick of his wand. He casts a silencing charm on the room, and you know you’re done for.

He leaves you in your undergarments, and today, you have chosen to wear a nice lacy number in Slytherin green. The sight makes him hiss in frustration, and it isn’t long before he slams you down on a nearby desk. You whimper at the contact, but Mark hardly cares about your well-being at this point.

He snickers at the sight of your ruined underwear, snapping the garter you’re wearing against your skin as you yelp.

“Look at you. Greedy little slut. Who got you this wet?”

“D-Donghyuck,” you manage to say, gathering enough courage.

The answer earns you a slap across the face and you cry at the pain.

“Wrong answer. Try again.”

“Y-You, Daddy. Just y-you.”

He hums in contentment. You shudder when you feel a finger run up and down your slit. “I’m going to make the rules very clear today. You’ll do your best to obey them, or else I’ll use your body how I please without letting you cum. Understood?” At your timid nod, he continues. “I’m going to fuck your tight little cunt raw. I’m going to cum as much as I like, and make you cum as much as I like. If I hear any protests, I’ll add an extra orgasm to the list. I don’t care if you’ve reached your limit. I don’t care if you can’t handle any more. I’ll do whatever I like, and there will be no arguments about it.”

You chew on your bottom lip. Mark has never fucked you raw before — you both always use Muggle condoms or contraceptive charms.

“But, Mark-“

He slaps your clothed slit and you gasp loudly. “That’s another orgasm added to the list. Do you want another one? We’re already at five.”

Your eyes widen. You’ve never been able to take more than three orgasms from him without passing out. You immediately shake your head, sealing your lips tight.

“Good. Bend over.”

You scramble to follow his orders, shakily positioning yourself over the desk. Another flick of his wand and you’re completely naked. You whimper at the vulnerability, wondering if he also cast locking charms on the doors too. Anyone could walk in and see you bent over like this.

Mark usually likes to see your face when he fucks you so you’ve never really tried this position with him. Goosebumps rise on your skin when you feel his hands exploring your backside.

“Wish everyone could see you like this for me. Bent over during dinner while I fuck you into the table. They always tease me about you. Gryffindor Head Boy could never satisfy his partner. They think I’m such a goody-two-shoes.” You almost scream when a finger unexpectedly pushes into you. “I wonder what everyone would think now — having you bent over the Potions desk like this, eager to be fucked like a little whore. Waiting for my cock to split you apart, isn’t that right?”

“Y-Yes, Daddy,” you garble.

He adds another finger, the squelch of your wetness causing you to grow even warmer. He thrusts his fingers inside of you, skillfully digging them into the spot you love.

“Do you know how many times I’ve thought about your cunt? Ever since you made that ridiculous bet with me, I knew I was done for. I had to excuse myself so many times from class just to rub one out in the bathroom. Seeing you in this cute little skirt, so eager to earn House Points, so willing to please the professor. I imagined how tight your pussy would feel when I wrapped a hand around myself, how many of those sweet moans I could bring out of you.”

When he pushes a third finger in, you shriek as you cum without warning. You were probably moaning without any sense, writhing on top of the desk as Mark fingers you through your orgasm. He drank up every single one of your sounds, gazing down at you with a feral look in his eyes.

Even as your orgasm subsides, Mark doesn’t stop fucking you. You almost request for him to give you a break, but you know it’ll just earn you another orgasm.

He watches you, waiting for you to beg for him to stop. He smiles when you obey, continuing to thrash and whine as his digits pump into you.

“So pretty, perfect for me. You’re always so tight, it’s not fair to me, you know? I could fuck you every single day and you would still need to be stretched out regardless.” He leans over your frame, mouth beginning to press open mouthed kisses at your throat. The sensation has you jolting, his fingers grinding down to rub at your clit. “But you would like that, wouldn’t you? So hungry for my cock.”

This was true — you couldn’t seem to get enough of Mark on a daily basis. Even if you didn’t fuck every single day, you always had the urge to get on your knees for him and suck his cock. It calmed you in a way. Before exams, Mark would pull you into a nearby alcove and let you suck him off until your worries disappeared.

You could feel your high approaching again. “P-P-Please,” you stutter, gasping and pushing yourself further down his fingers. “Please, Daddy.”

At the sound of your begging, Mark sinks to his ground. He jerks your body until you’re halfway off the desk, pushing your thighs apart so he can see you fully. He takes a moment to marvel at how pretty you are before licking a stripe up your cunt. You groan, fingers tangling into his hair, which is still slightly damp from his after-game shower.

He hums against your folds, exploring them with his tongue. Mark could eat you out for days and remain unbothered by the outside world. There have been multiple times where you’ve woken up to his head in between your legs as he snuck into your dormitory room early in the morning to get a taste of you. There’s also been a few occasions when he would convince you to sneak out while he runs patrol in the hallways, just so he could prop you against a wall and eat you out until you cry.

Your eyes flutter closed as you revel in the feeling of Mark’s mouth on your cunt. He’s groaning with you, hands cupping your thighs and bringing you closer to him. His nose continuously nudges your clit as he licks you, slurping on the remnants of your orgasm.

It doesn’t register for a few seconds that he’s still talking to you.

“This is mine. My cunt for fucking. I’m the only one who’s allowed to see you like this, understand? The only one who gets to make you cum.”

He is, indeed. You topple headfirst into your second orgasm, juices spilling into Mark’s waiting mouth. He cleans you up as your body attempts to recover. You’re lucky he remembered to place a silencing charm, your voice almost giving out with the amount of screams you’ve emitted. He decides to spare you this time, rising from the ground and licking his lips.

“Tastes so good.” He smirks down at you, watching as your chest rises and falls from heavy panting. You feel like you’ve run a marathon, but he looks like he’s only just started. His fingers brush stray hairs away from your face. “Poor baby. All fucked out already? I haven’t even given you my cock yet.”

You blink deliriously in response and he laughs. His fingers dig into your hips once more as he adjusts you on your back again.

“How about you answer a question for me? If you answer correctly, I’ll give you my cock. If you fail, I’ll add another orgasm to the list.” You blink again in response, brain fuzzy. He grins. “Why don’t you tell me what a bad girl you’ve been these past few weeks?”

He slaps the inside of your thigh to jolt you out of your reverie. “I-I was a b-bad girl, Daddy.”

“Hm? And why’s that?”

“I ignored y-you,” you whisper as his hand cups your breast, tweaking your nipple between his fingers. “I cheered for S-Slytherin when I-I should have b-been c-c-cheering for Gryffindor.”

Your breath grows more shaky as Mark’s other hand inches towards your entrance again.

“And?”

“And I f-f-flirted with D-Donghyuck when I’m o-only s-s-supposed to have e-eyes for y-you, Daddy.”

“And?”

“And I charmed m-my clothes t-to tempt you.”

“Because?”

“Because I’m a whore.”

He smiles in contentment. “That’s right.”

Instead of pushing his fingers inside of you, you’re taken aback when the tip of his cock sinks into you. You moan loudly, not even noticing he had taken off his trousers.

“Fuck,” he curses, watching himself push into you. “Such a tight little cunt. Only for Daddy’s eyes, right?”

“Y-Yes, Daddy.”

His fingers find their way to your throat, curling and gripping your windpipe. You gasp and hear his sinister chuckle.

“There’s my little whore. Back in her place.”

He almost pushes you off the desk with the force of his thrusts. You have another small orgasm when Mark fully bottoms out, and he laughs when he realizes.

“Already? Looks like you’ve been just as desperate as me, baby.”

You’ve never taken more than three orgasms before. Since Hogwarts was a big school with many prying eyes, it was hard to get alone time with Mark like this. You often had to face the judgmental glares from the portraits whenever Mark fingered you behind one of the tapestries. Now that he has you all to himself, however, he intends to make the most out of it.

You’re pushing on the border of exhaustion, watching as your boyfriend continues to furiously push into you. He moves his hand from your throat to your cheek, slapping you once more to wake you up.

“Have to stay awake, baby. We still have two more to go.”

You mumble incoherently in response, past the point of comprehension. Once the tip of his cock rubs against your sweet spot, you cry out in pleasure. He grunts, angling himself so that he keeps hitting that spot inside of you. Over and over.

“M-Mark, I-“

“I know. Let me feel you, baby. Want to feel your cunt cum all over Daddy’s cock.”

You can’t begin to explain the tightening feeling in your stomach. You feel like you’re flying up to your peak at an unsteady rate. It almost feels like you need to use the bathroom, but before you can warn Mark, you fall apart.

You think you black out for a bit. You blink dazedly, body twitching and nervously moving on top of the desk. You get the strength to lift your head and check on Mark. His cock has slipped out of you, his gaze locked on your pussy.

“M-Mark?” You ask softly.

“Fuck, baby. You just squirted all over me.”

You gasp. You’ve never been able to squirt before and you eye the mess you’ve made all over Mark’s chest. He grunts, fingers pumping up and down his cock.

“Fuck fuck fuck. How can you be so perfect?”

And then he’s pushing back into you. You scream loudly, still trying to recover from such an intense orgasm. You realize that you’ve started crying, tears spilling down your cheeks.

“Perfect girl for me,” he hisses, hand returning to paw at your breast. “Cunt is so so sweet. Can never get enough of you. Just give me one more, baby. One more.”

You want to tell him you can’t, you’ve reached your limit and can’t push it any farther. You squeal when he pinches your clit.

“Daddy, please-“

“Daddy wants another, baby. One more for me.”

His thumb circles your clit while his cock pistons in and out of you. When he finds your sweet spot again, he doesn’t rest. He’s on a mission to get you to orgasm again, the same expression painted on his face from the Quidditch game just a hour ago. He’s determined to see you fall apart, filth spewing from his mouth.

“I wish I could take you like this every time. Push you up in the hallways, fuck you until you’re a sobbing mess for me. Having everyone watch while I make you squirt, showing them I can fuck you better than anyone else can. I bet they would all be jealous. They could never have you falling apart for them, begging for them to fill you up with their seed.”

It dawns on you that Mark still hasn’t cast a contraceptive charm of any kind. He seems to be on the same wavelength as you, digging his heels to the floor and thrusting harder at the thought of cumming inside you. The lewd sound of your wetness fills the room, along with his grunts and your whimpers from oversensitivity.

“I want to fuck you everywhere before we leave this place. Want you to ride me in the middle of the Quidditch pitch for everyone to see. Want all the Gryffindors to watch as their Head Boy plows into his girlfriend in the common room. Want you to bounce on my cock during every meal. Fuck, I want you so badly, baby.”

When you squirt this time, you’re coherent enough to watch it happen. Drops of your slick pour out of you, gushing onto Mark’s cock and the floor. The sound of his thighs slapping against yours only grows louder and wetter with your orgasm.

Mark hisses. “Want my cum, baby?”

“Yes, Daddy,” you echo back to him, barely staying awake.

He groans when he reaches his high, pushing deep inside of you to empty his load. He cums more than you expected, but you suppose he’s been holding it in for weeks. He finally finishes a minute later, collapsing on top of you. He subconsciously places kisses on your neck.

“Never act up like that again. I don’t think I have the stamina to do another round.”

You giggle, about to respond when the booming voice of your Potions professor echoes throughout the room.

“Mark Lee! What on earth do you children think you’re doing? Fifty points from Gryffindor!”

[astaroth1357]

request: an MC thats very good w playing games or like,,, is proficiently skilled in all game categories or smrhn

alsp hi xander i love ur writing

and can i giv u a kith? if so: mwah 😚

Well I hate to tell ya, sweetie, but I’m not Xander. I’m Jazzy. Hello! I can see why you’d want something written by Xander, though. He’s mad talented (better at this than I am quite frankly) and he’s on the list of people I wish I could write as well as. I guess we can both take a moment to be sad that I’m not Xander… *sigh*... to be Xander… 😔

Oh well, I am who I am and I don’t begrudge that fact. Meanwhile, I’ve wanted to do more shout-outs so everybody go read @sevendeadlymorons! If you’re not… I mean… why not? He’s more than worth your time. In the meantime, I hope I can entertain you despite my not-Xanderness.

Brothers React to an MC Who’s Good at Games and Stuff 

Lucifer

Honestly couldn’t care less about the MC’s game proficiency in most cases. So they’re good at games? Good for them, he’s sure they’re happy.

But when they’re playing against him on the other hand…

Well, Lucifer may or may not be skilled at whatever game you set him on (he’s a very quick learner so never underestimate him), but he’s whole new levels of competitive when he wants to be. ESPECIALLY if he already thinks he’s hot shit at something.

Video games? Not his forte. Table top games? One word for you: Chess.

Lucifer believes that he can and will whip pretty much anyone’s ass in chess. That includes Satan, Solomon, Levi, and even Diavolo. He is at grandmaster level.

So imagine his shock, no, his disdain to have lost a game of chess to the MC… The moment they said "Checkmate" he stared at the board in front of them for a solid five minutes trying to work out where he went wrong…

And he wasn’t having that.

He and the MC now have regular chess matches in which he wins some and loses some so the tally stays pretty evenly tied. Really it’s all good fun... (but if they think he’s going to let them go home when he’s on a losing count, they’re Dead. Wrong. He’ll drag them back to down just to play chess with him until the score is right again. He DOES NOT lose, you hear? 🤨).

Mammon

Guess who’s found his gambling buddy?? 

No, really. He and the MC can make a KILLING at a Poker or Blackjack table! He’s never seen anyone better at poker than they are!! They have nerves of steel and give nothing away, so he’s lost more than a few hands to them before...

Even past the casinos, they’re perfect for making bets on! He once arranged a Devil Cart competition between the MC and Levi and took bets around RAD for who’d win...

Naturally, everybody assumed the Devildom’s resident Super-Otaku would win hands down, but the MC had this insane last minute save with a blue shell and pulled ahead in the last lap!!

He was like, the only person that bet on the MC and he got soooo much money that MC found HIM crying and hugging a bag of Grimm after the match…

Any time they win a game that gets him money, he’ll treat them like royalty for the next week. Man knows not to bite the hand that feeds him!... and creditors at bay... 😬

It may get slightly annoying that Mammon won't stop telling them about gaming competitions where they can get him more prize money, but hey, at least he's supportive, I guess.

Leviathan

Oh they are either his best friend or mortal enemy… Sometimes both in the same day.

Our boy hates losing, can't stand it any better than Lucifer, you KNOW the second he knows there's someone out there who even has a chance of beating him, he gets serious. This is not a "friendly rivalry," MC.

When they’re playing any game against each other, he'll call them by their gamertag/online persona to keep himself focused (yes, even if they’re playing Monopoly). They can't be his MC right now, they gotta be the person he's going to beat...

He's NOT opposed to dirty tactics to win, either. Saying things that will get them mad or flustered mid-match? Check. Using his tail to distract or tease them? Check. Just being a general nuisance/annoyance in game for the hell of it? Guilty as charged!

He's both a sore winner AND a sore loser, so unfortunately MC, you really can't win here... He'll be obnoxious regardless of the outcome.

However… when they’re on the same team, it's really something special. They don't just destroy the competition, they bulldoze over them like an armored tank barreling through rush hour traffic!

These two are legends in the online gaming community and have even started a streaming channel on the side. Sometimes your worst enemies also make the best allies... Who knew? 🤷‍♀️

Satan

Is surprisingly impressed by their gaming prowess. Are they just supremely skilled or incredibly lucky, you think…?

That being said, he's not the biggest gaming man on the planet so he's not too competitive with them one way or the other.

When Satan plays a video game, he usually goes for story-based, single-person experiences anyway so it's not like he could compete with them even if he wanted to.

That being said, they do share an informal challenge of sorts when it comes to puzzle/detective games (a not so guilty pleasure of his). He likes to try and beat the levels first, so when they start playing a new one they'll both compare time spent and scores.

He even enjoys playing those Devildom-style AR murder mystery games with them! It’s pretty cute to watch Satan get into it, he dips into his inner Levi and cosplays as some of his favorite TV drama detectives for the occasion and insists they dress as his co-star (best just go along with him. It’s not a bad time, even if they have to carry around an old tobacco pipe for a few hours).

Asmodeus

Good at games? That sounds dangerously like they're another Levi… 🙄 What about party games? Oh oh, or drinking games??

Actually scratch that. How about ANY game while drunk? That sounds pretty fun doesn’t it??

Like Drunk Truth or Dare!! Oh that's a favorite of his… 🤭

To be fair to the MC, the booze does diminish their skills somewhat (because that's kind of what it does in general) but not by all that much… It's pretty impressive.

He once challenged them to a game of Drunk Twister figuring that they'd be too unsteady to actually win for once, but no. If anything, the alcohol must have numbed the stretching pains because they bent over him like a pretzel!

Not that he was complaining or anything… 😏

He likes to take the MC to parties where he knows a game or two will be played just to show off to the crowd and brag that they’re HIS lovely, talented human! You go, MC, beat that competition to a pulp! 😌

Beelzebub

Sports count as games too, right? Well, they aren't half bad at those either.

Beel found it surprising that he found a human who could actually keep up with him. His brothers rarely want to play practice games with him anyway so it’s pretty exciting to have a sports partner at home!

He likes to ask the MC to help him train with practice matches or to go over certain moves or maneuvers he’s having trouble with. It’s not uncommon for the brothers to come home and find the two of them tossing a ball around in the front yard or something.

And the both of them on the same team? Forget it. It takes the dream team of Lucifer and Mammon (who aren’t just arguing with each other for once) to even come close to a challenge for them.

He also enjoys playing the occasional video game with them, though he treats it a lot like playing with Levi and just assumes he’ll never win unless he gets lucky - which does happen from time to time.

He doesn’t mind losing that much as long as he’s having fun, and if nothing else he can always win against them in an eating contest… He’s got those on lockdown. Come at’em MC, he’ll pack away an entire fridge before you’re done with your first plate. Try him.

Belphegor

So Belphie enjoys a good game or two - video-based or otherwise - it comes with the lazy-bastard territory. He may not be as skilled as Levi, but he can hold his own in some genres.

But he’s given up on beating the MC looong ago.

Do you know how much practice it would take? How many hours that he would have to use?? The hours where he could be napping instead???  Yeah, no thanks. They can continue to be the reigning Super Smash Devils champion for all he cares.

Buuuut even he has to admit, it’s pretty relaxing to watch the MC play something in the background... There’s a certain sort of satisfaction to watching someone who’s good at a game just play it straight through.

If they’re set up in Levi’s room or the Common area then Belphie may come over, set his pillow up on the floor, and watch them play. He may even throw in a comment or two like, “You missed a health pack,” or “Better save now,” but other than that he likes to just let them do their thing.

The MC has had many an all-nighter with Belphie spectating until about 4am or so. Then he’s dead to the world and they have to work out how to get his not-exactly-light demon ass onto a couch…

Or they can just leave him faceplanted and snoring on the floor. Up to them, really cause he did it to himself. 🤷‍♀️

[gatefleet]

Sparring Sessions

Stargate: Atlantis; Ronon Dex, Teal'c, John Sheppard.

Word Count: 374

(T)W: Fighting (Sparring), Bet taking

Request: No

A/N: Sutoritaimu Archive

Atlantis rarely had horrendous weather conditions, when it did it was rare that anyone could even stand on the balconies.  Training exercises tended to be indoors, which meant that your work was placed in temporary hold until conditions were better to proceed.  You decided, since it was a crappy weather day, to head to the sparring gym and work on your self-defence (after all, you never knew when you were going to be attacked while on expedition.   Especially when you were part of a team which involved McKay and Ronon.  Neither had very good “people skills” and tended to be the reason for your team to be in trouble with local and the wraith.

When you arrived at the training room, you were surprised by the sounds of kendo sticks which were echoing around the room and the surrounding corridors.  When you looked in you were not surprised to see Ronon already there, but you did not expect to see Teal’c in Atlantis, never mind in the sparring room with Ronon.  It looked like both were out to outdo the other, and neither looked as though they were tiring or going to give up soon.  You watched them “duel” for a while, then decided that it was better to try and break up the mini war than allow it to continue any more.

When Major Sheppard arrived at the training room, you expected him to intervene and break up the two men.  He didn’t.  What he did do, however, was ask how long they had been at it and what the score was.  You responded with a firm “no clue” to both of his questions.

It wasn’t long before a crowd gathered, it took even less time for Sheppard to become a “bookie”.  Soon the training room looked as though walls didn’t exist there were that many people gathered to watch the two men fight.  You had no idea just how many people were on Atlantis until that moment.  When Lt. Carter showed up, Major Sheppard was quick to pretend he had not been taking bets on who would win or how much longer Ronon or Teal’c would last and was quick to try and appear to break up the boys and the crowd.

GIF Credit: @samantha-carter-is-my-muse

Tag list: @make-me-imagine

[bechloeislegit]

On The Record With...Beca Mitchell

Journalist!Chloe/Famous!Beca AU. This fic is based on a prompt from Tumblr User 143bc. A/N: The full prompt will be noted at the end.

Cynthia-Rose “CR” Adams, Editor, and Founder of On The Record With magazine smiled as she made her way to her office.

On The Record With was CR’s baby; her pride and joy. After getting her degree in journalism, she bounced around writing various articles for different magazines and news publications. She had always dreamed of publishing her own magazine.

When CR asked her then-girlfriend Denise to marry her, they both asked their families if they could use their wedding money to fulfill CR’s dream and start the magazine. The family was okay with it, so CR and Denise went to the Court House and got married.

Not long after the wedding, CR found her groove and was able to rent office space, and On The Record With was off and running.

CR scored major subscribers when she managed to get an interview with Rihanna. After that interview was published, CR had more subscriptions and followers, as well as more money coming in, so she started hiring additional reporters to help with the ever-increasing workload.

Five years later, On The Record With was doing well and had become very popular with the LGBTQ community. CR was out and proud, and did not allow anyone to be outed in her magazine; although that did not stop some big names from using her magazine to come out. She was very proud of that fact.

CR entered the reception area of her office, stopping in front of her Assistant’s desk.

“Morning, boss,” Benji said, holding out the mail.

“Good morning, Benji,” CR said, taking the mail. “Would you ask Chloe, Stacie, Aubrey, and Ashley, to meet in the conference room at 9:30? Tell them to bring everything they have so we can discuss ideas for our special Pride Month issue.”

“On it,” Benji responded as he started typing an email to the team.

CR looked through the mail as she walked into her office. Once inside she tossed the mail on her desk and removed her leather jacket, hanging it on her chair. She sat at her desk, booted up her laptop, and spent the next twenty minutes going through her emails.

“Boss?” Benji’s voice came through the intercom. “Everyone's in the conference room and ready for you.”

CR pressed the intercom button and replied, “Tell them I’ll be there in five minutes.”

“Will do,” Benji said.

~~ On The Record With…Beca Mitchell ~~

CR slipped into the conference room unnoticed and remained by the door. She stood and listened to the group discussing who would get the cover of the special Pride Month issue.

“When you hear what I have lined up,” Stacie said, “you’ll all bow down to my greatness.”

“I don’t think so,” Chloe said. “I may be the newbie, but I wouldn’t bet money on your getting the cover. I have-. “ Chloe stopped and shook her head. “No, I’m not telling you what I have lined up yet. You’ll have to wait and see. And don’t be jealous when I get the cover.”

The room went quiet when they noticed CR standing by the door, looking around the room.

“Oh, hey, CR,” Ashley said. “We didn’t hear you come in.”

“That’s okay,” CR said, walking over to the table and taking a seat. “I got to hear what sounded like some good things that will be happening with our special issue. I want to hear everyone’s ideas, but let’s do it a little more orderly, shall we?”

“Of course, CR,” Aubrey said. “I suggest we start to your left and go around the room. Does that work for you?”

“Sounds like a reasonable plan,” CR said as she looked to her left. “Ashley looks like you're up first. What do you have?”

“I, um, I was thinking we could do a Pride Month daily game plan,” Ashley said. “Put in various events around the country and add a brief description for each one. Things like who will be attending, times for the parades or musical events, that sort of thing. And, maybe add a dos and don’ts list for first-timers.”

“I like that,” Chloe said, smiling at Ashley.

“I do, too,” CR said. “Put together a list of the big events and we can fill in with some smaller venue ideas with other things to see and do in each city. If we hype up the smaller venues I think people will be more likely to attend. With our ideas, people can plan a great time, but not break the bank.”

“Got it,” Ashley said, making a note in her notebook.

“Stacie,” CR said, looking past Ashley. “You’re next.”

“Okay,” Stacie said, smirking at everyone. “I have spoken with Kristen Stewart’s people and she is going to give me an interview to talk about her wedding to Dylan Meyer.”

“Seriously?” Aubrey asked. “That’s big.”

“I know,” Stacie said smugly. “I’m sure it’s cover-worthy, don’t you agree, CR?”

“I won’t commit the cover to anyone until I’ve heard everyone’s ideas,” CR said, chuckling at Stacie.

“Ever the diplomat,” Aubrey said, smiling at CR. “I know I don’t have anything that big to add…”

“I have an interview with Beca Mitchell this afternoon!” Chloe interrupted with a squeal.

Everyone went quiet and their mouths dropped open. Chloe blushed slightly as all eyes were suddenly on her.

“Sorry,” Chloe said sheepishly. “I’m just so excited I couldn’t hold it in any longer.”

“I don’t believe it,” Stacie said.

“Why would I lie?” Chloe asked. “It could be easily disproved.”

“Because Beca Mitchell does not do interviews,” Stacie said. “She barely answers questions when she walks the red carpet at events. So, forgive me if I think you’re full of shit.”

“Rude,” Chloe said with a squinty glare at Stacie.

“That’s enough, Stacie,” CR said. “Chloe, tell us more about this. How did you score an interview with the one person that does not do interviews?”

“Well,” Chloe said. “I know someone who is friends with her. I told them about our special issue and how it would be exciting if I could get an interview with THE Beca Mitchell. They asked and she said yes. Simple as that.”

“Simple as that, she says,” Ashley muttered.

“What’s your friend’s name?” Stacie asked. “The one who got you the interview.”

“I cannot and will not reveal my source,” Chloe said, looking down at the table.

“That’s okay,” CR said, glaring at Stacie. “We don’t need to know that. This is amazing. I’ve been trying to get her to talk to me for the magazine, but she always puts me off or outright says no.” CR shook her head with a smile. “I can’t believe a rookie reporter on my magazine managed to get the one interview I’ve been dying to get.”

Chloe wasn’t sure what to make of CR’s comment.

“I’m sorry?” Chloe said hesitantly.

“Don’t be,” CR said, smiling proudly. “It’s still an exclusive for this magazine, so I’m happy.”

“That’s good,” Chloe said, sounding relieved.

“Do you have a list of questions you are planning to ask?” CR asked.

“I was given a list of things that she would not talk about,” Chloe said, handing her notebook to CR. “So, I based my questions on avoiding those topics.”

“Wow,” CR said, looking through Chloe’s notes. “It doesn’t look like there’s much she won’t talk about.”

CR handed the notebook back to Chloe.

“I know,” Chloe said, taking the notebook. “And, um, I, uh, think she may want to come out in your magazine.”

“What?!” Stacie yelled, sitting straight in her chair. “She’s never made any comments about her sexuality. It’s just all speculation on her fans’ part. Do you really think you can get her to talk?”

“I’m fairly certain that I will get the story of the decade,” Chloe said, feeling more confident.

“If you actually pull this off,” CR said. “The cover is yours.”

Chloe squealed and clapped her hands; Stacie crossed her arms over her chest and pouted.

“I also want you to get a photo of Mitchell for the cover,” CR said. “This will be one of the most important interviews we’ve ever had, Chloe. Please don’t screw it up.”

“No problem,” Chloe said. “And, thank you for having enough confidence in me to give me the cover.”

“I still can’t believe you got an interview with Beca Mitchell,” Stacie said, smiling as she shook her head.

Chloe just smiled back at her.

“Aubrey, did you want to pitch an idea?” CR asked.

“I don’t have anything that even comes close to what Chloe or Stacie have,” Aubrey said. “I’ll work on finding some filler articles for the issue.”

“That’s a good idea,” CR said, standing. “Let’s get back to work.”

~~ On The Record With…Beca Mitchell ~~

A couple of hours later, Chloe, Stacie, and Aubrey decided to walk to a nearby diner for lunch.

“Stacie, I’m sorry I trumped your Kristen Stewart interview,” Chloe said, as they sat across the table from each other. She couldn’t help but smile as she added, “And got the cover.”

“Don’t be, you deserve it,” Stacie said. “I hope you know I was just yanking your chain in the meeting. I’m really happy that you are getting the cover. You’ve been working hard since you started. Plus, an interview with Beca Mitchell will be a great bonus for the magazine, which in turn will mean bonuses for all of us.”

“It really is a coup getting an interview with THE Beca Mitchell,” Aubrey said. “I mean, look at you, only two months on the job and your story will be the biggest one for the magazine to date.”

“Brey’s right,” Stacie said. “And, seriously, who do you know that knows Beca Mitchell?”

“I really can’t tell you,” Chloe said, tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ear. She looked around the diner. “Where is our waitress so we can order? I don’t have much time; my interview with Beca is at two.”

~~ On The Record With…Beca Mitchell ~~

After the interview was over, Chloe went rushing back to the office and sat at her computer. She pulled out her mini-tape recorder, plugged in the earbuds, and started typing. She wanted to get everything down so she could get home early.

Chloe continued to work on the article at home and handed it to CR the next morning. CR was quite pleased with it.

The following month everyone was excited about the special issue that was being put together. CR had already done a mock-up of the layout and Chloe was proud of the photo she got of Beca for the cover.

In the interview, Beca Mitchell had admitted she was gay and everyone was on pins and needles keeping that information to themselves. No one wanted the bombshell news to get out before the magazine went to print.

They were just a week away from the release of the special issue and Chloe was working on her next article. It wasn’t cover-worthy, but she was happy with the information she had gathered.

It was a quiet Monday afternoon and everyone was working at their desks. Chloe was so into what she was working on that she didn’t notice that someone was standing in front of her desk. She looked up when Benji cleared his throat.

“What’s up, Benji?” Chloe asked.

“CR wants to see you in her office,” Benji said. “Now.”

“Oh,” Chloe said, standing to follow Benji.

“Go on in,” Benji said, waving toward the door to CR’s office.

Chloe tapped lightly on the door and entered CR’s office. CR looked up at her.

“You wanted to see me?” Chloe said.

“Come on in,” CR said. “And close the door.”

Chloe closed the door and took the seat across from CR.

“Is everything okay?” Chloe asked.

“Everything is good,” CR responded. “So, is there something you want to tell me? And, don’t worry, it won’t leave this office.”

“What do you mean?” Chloe asked.

“I got a message from Beca Mitchell’s people,” CR said. “They sent a photo and a note asking that it be included in your article.”

“Oh, um, hmm,” Chloe said, her cheeks pink. “What do they want to, um, add?”

“Apparently, Beca Mitchell just got engaged,” CR said, looking down at a photo.

“Oh,” Chloe said.

CR held the photo out to Chloe, saying, “I think you might recognize the woman with her.”

“I can explain,” Chloe said, looking at the photo. “We’ve been together for three years. And, we are really good at sneaking around so no one would catch us together. She actually proposed to me two nights ago. I’m sorry I haven’t said anything before now, but Beca said she wanted to tell her PR people before we told our friends and family. I, uh-”

“Chloe, it’s okay,” CR said, holding up her hand to stop Chloe from rambling any further. “All that was explained in the note. Congratulations, by the way.”

“Thank you,” Chloe said, smiling. “I’m still shaking from the excitement of it all.”

“Everyone here is going to find out soon,” CR said. “Do you want to get out in front of it and tell them yourself? I can get everyone together in less than ten minutes.”

“Can we schedule something for tomorrow?” Chloe asked. “I really am still in a bit of shock over it. Beca and I hadn’t really talked about it and now. . .”

“That’s fine,” CR said. “I’ll call a staff meeting for ten tomorrow. You can tell them then. Is that okay?”

“That’s perfect,” Chloe said. “Thank you so much for understanding.”

“No worries,” CR said. “We still have the exclusive and the Pride issue will be our biggest seller to date, so it’s all good.”

Later that evening, Chloe walked into Beca’s house.

“Babe? Are you here?”

“In the kitchen,” Beca called out.

Chloe entered the kitchen to find Beca putting something in the oven. She sat at the counter and Beca walked over and kissed her.

“You’re early,” Beca said. “Dinner won’t be ready for an hour.”

“That’s okay,” Chloe said, wrapping her arms around Beca’s waist and holding her loosely. “I had a meeting with CR today. Why didn’t you tell me you were going to send her the info about being engaged? I wasn’t sure what to tell her when she hit me with the news.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” Beca said. “I’m just so excited that you said yes. I mean, I came out in your article and I wanted to make sure that everyone knew I was in a committed relationship. And you can’t get any more committed than getting married.”

“I love you,” Chloe said, leaning up to kiss Beca.

“You know your life is about to get very, very hectic,” Beca said. “The paps and fans are going to be all over you once your name is attached to mine.”

“I know,” Chloe said. “And I don’t care. I love you and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Same,” Beca said. “So, we should probably tell our folks about the engagement before the magazine hits the stands.”

“Can we do that tomorrow night?” Chloe asked. “CR is calling a staff meeting tomorrow at ten so I can tell everyone at work about us and the engagement. I know they’ll keep it to themselves until after the magazine comes out.”

“That sounds reasonable,” Beca said.

Beca took Chloe’s hands and held them in hers. “So, I’m thinking once the article is published, you should move in here. I want to go to bed with you every night and wake up to you every morning.”

“I absolutely approve of that idea,” Chloe said, smiling into another kiss.

“Good,” Beca said, pulling away from Chloe. “I’m going to make a salad to go with dinner.”

~~ On The Record With…Beca Mitchell ~~

The next morning, Chloe was nervous. She had rehearsed a speech in her head and was ready for almost anything the team would throw at her about her relationship with Beca.

“Staff meeting at ten today,” Benji told everyone as he walked through the office.

“I wonder what that’s about,” Stacie said.

“I don’t know,” Ashley said. “But it must be important if CR’s calling a staff meeting.”

“I bet it has to do with the special pride issue,” Aubrey said. “We’re going to be inundated with calls and such once the news that Beca Mitchell is gay gets out.”

Chloe didn’t say anything and continued working.

An hour later, the group started moving toward the conference room. Chloe sat nervously chewing her bottom lip.

“You coming, Chloe?” Aubrey asked, causing Chloe to look up. “The meeting starts in five minutes.”

“Oh, right,” Chloe said, grabbing her notebook and jumping up to join Aubrey.

“Are you okay?” Aubrey asked as they walked together.

“What? Oh, yeah, I’m fine,” Chloe said. “Just nervous about the whole Beca Mitchell thing.”

“You did a great job,” Aubrey said. “I wouldn’t worry too much about it.”

The two women walked into the conference room and took a seat.

Benji was just about to enter the room when he heard someone walking down the hall toward him. He looked over and his eyes widened when he saw Beca Mitchell carrying a bunch of roses. He closed the door and walked toward Beca.

“Miss Mitchell?” Benji said. “How may I help you?”

“I need to see Chloe Beale,” Beca said.

“Um, she’s in a staff meeting,” Benji said, looking at the roses.

“May I join her?” Beca asked, smiling. “I’m here to provide moral support for her.”

Benji furrowed his brow and looked at Beca.

“Let me just ask my boss if it’s okay,” Benji said.

“That’s fine,” Beca responded. “I’ll just wait here.”

Benji nodded and slipped into the conference room. He hurried over to CR.

“Beca Mitchell is here and wants to join the meeting,” Benji whispered in her ear.

“Give me five minutes and then bring her in,” CR said, looking around the room.

“You got it, boss,” Benji said and stepped back outside the room. He looked at Beca and said, “CR asked if you could wait five minutes, and then we can go in.”

“Okay,” Beca said.

Meanwhile, CR got everyone’s attention.

“I’ve called this meeting because we have been given some new information regarding Beca Mitchell,” CR said, looking at Chloe. “Chloe, the room is yours.”

Chloe stood and looked around at everyone. She only saw curious faces looking back at her.

“Um, so,” Chloe said and cleared her throat. “CR received word yesterday that Beca Mitchell got engaged.”

The girls gave a collective gasp.

“Do we know who she’s engaged to?” Stacie asked.

“Yes,” Chloe said.

Before she could continue the door opened and Benji entered with Beca. Chloe smiled as soon as she saw Beca and the roses.

“Hey, babe,” Beca said, walking over and handing Chloe the roses.

Chloe gave Beca a quick kiss as all heads looked from Beca to Chloe and back again.

“I can’t believe you’re here,” Chloe said.

“Oh, my God,” Aubrey said. “Chloe, you’re engaged to Beca Mitchell?”

“Seriously?” Stacie sat dumbfounded, looking at Chloe. “You’re engaged to Beca Mitchell?”

“Yes, it’s me,” Chloe said, giggling softly and holding up her left hand to show her ring.

“How long have you two been together?” Ashley asked.

“Three years,” Beca and Chloe responded.

“Congratulations, Chloe!” Aubrey exclaimed. “You, too, Beca.”

“Thank you,” Beca and Chloe responded, then laughed.

Chloe introduced everyone to Beca and the couple spent the next twenty minutes fielding questions about their relationship and engagement.

“Okay, everyone,” CR said, getting their attention. “It goes without saying that this information does not leave this room. Beca and Chloe will have enough to deal with once it becomes public knowledge. So, let’s let them have some time to prepare for what is about to come down on them, okay?”

Everyone agreed and Beca thanked them.

“That’s it then,” CR said. “Let’s get back to work.”

Everyone started leaving and congratulated Chloe and Beca as they left. Beca moved to leave and Chloe grabbed her into another deeper kiss.

“Thanks for the moral support,” Chloe whispered as the kiss ended.

“Anytime,” Beca murmured, pulling Chloe into another kiss.

The two broke apart when they heard CR clearing her throat.

“Oh,” Beca said, blushing. “Sorry.”

“No worries,” CR said. “I just wanted to thank you for coming in today and coming out in my magazine. It’s going to be a big seller.”

“It really was all Chloe’s idea,” Beca said. “I mean except the part where I announce our engagement.”

“Well, thank you both,” CR said as she turned to leave. She stopped and turned back to the couple with a smile. “Promise me something?”

“What?” Beca asked.

“Promise you’ll let us have the exclusive when you have your first child.”

Beca laughed and nodded. “Only as long as Chloe gets to write it.”

“I’m okay with that,” CR said.

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

Full prompt from Tumblr User 143bc: AU where Chloe is a reporter assigned to do a story about Beca Mitchell for a special Pride Month article. This was originally submitted as a Christmas prompt; I really liked the idea but I didn’t have time to get to it.

A/N: I was going to hold this until June and post it for Pride Month, but apparently patience is not one of my virtues. I hope you enjoyed it.

[emf005]

Knock On Wood

Oliver Wood x Reader

Warnings: The Puns are real, fighting, fluff... (Let me know if I missed anything!)

Please Like and follow and let me know what you think!

What a lovely day to bother the Gryffindor quidditch captain, Oliver Wood. You swung your legs off Fred’s lap and ruffled George’s hair as you went to your dorm.

“Where are you off to?” George asked, tossing the pranking ball at you. You caught it and tossed it right back before it could release the gas from inside that smelt like a dead skunk bathed in vomit, a smell of your own invention you were proud to say.

“I overheard that Ollie was going down to the pitch for some extra practice. Think I need some work on my,” you flipped your hair dramatically. “Chasing.” The two scoffed at your horrible pun, considering you were the best Chaser in all of Hogwarts. Both figuratively and metaphorically. You ran up stairs and grabbed your gloves, threw on your riding boots and grabbed your broom. Everything you owned was pretty worn out, you were muggle born and your family wasn’t exactly the richest. Actually you were poorer than the Weasleys', and there were only four of you!

They looked back up at you as you jumped the last four stairs and walked out of the room to go bug the keeper. You loved bugging Wood. His name was meant for puns. It's just perfect! I mean, Oliver, obviously a good nickname for him was Ollie, which he pretended to hate. And then Wood. There were so many there. And then he was a Keeper. Like, he just made it too easy for you!

“Ollie!” You called happily from the bottom of the pitch. He glanced down and you could hear his eye roll. You flew up and met the Keeper in the air. “What a surprise meeting you up here, hun!” He rolled his eyes and turned his broom around so you wouldn't see the blush on his cheeks from the nickname you had given him. Well, one of the many nicknames you had given him.

“What do you want, Y/L/N. I’m practicing here.” You frowned and leaned forward on your broom.

“Maybe I wanted to practice with you, Ollie. I’m hurt you want me to leave so soon. I got all dressed up just to see you.” He glanced at your attire.

“Honored. You should really get new riding gloves and boots,” he mentioned.

“Yeah, they’re on my list right next to a cyclops.” He rolled his eyes at your sarcasm. “Come on Wood, I bet I can get a few past you,” you grinned, sitting back up on your broom.

“Ha! You wish, Y/L/N!”

“Scared?”

“Never.”

“Then Wood you go get the ball and we can have a go at it!” He groaned at you pun.

“Stop it.

“Stop what? I just told you to go get the ball,” he flew down and started to walk away from you.

“You know what!” You smirked. He showed back up a few minutes later as you were speeding around the pitch. He watched you go in awe at how fast you were flying. How perfect your form was. And how good you looked doing it.

Stop it. He told himself as he called up to you. He tossed up the Quaffle and you zoomed over catching it in one fluid motion, going so fast you nearly knocked him off his feet.

“Lets go, Ollie!” You shouted down to him, tossing it up in the air and catching it. “I gotta beat you by four!” He mounted his broom and flew up to you.

“Why? What's at four.”

“Fred, George, and I have some… business to attend to.”

“Which hallway do I have to avoid this time?” He sighed, making his way to the posts.

“There's no fun in that, Olive oil! You might stop people like you did last time,” you pouted.

“Did you just call me Olive oil?”

“Your name is Oliver, did you not expect me to make an olive pun?”

“I was hoping.”

“I guess you could say you were-”

“Don’t do it.”

“Knocking on Wood.” You smiled.

“I hate you.”

“Nah. You love me,” you blew him a kiss making his cheeks heat.

The game was close the whole time, but you ended up winning by one point. Though, he did not accept his defeat.

“That wasn’t fair!”

“Just because you were too busy laughing at my joke, Ollie, doesn’t mean it wasn’t fair. You always tell me to be more focused. Maybe you should follow your own advice instead of gazing longingly at me,” you joked as the two of you headed to the locker room.

“I don’t gaze longingly,” he rolled his eyes.

“Yeah ya do, mate,” George said, coming over and putting an arm around your shoulders.

“Only at her though,” Fred clarified, doing the same thing on the other side of you. You laughed at the two trouble makers.

“I’m just flawless, he can’t help it. Right, Ollie?” You joked, but he just stalked off to the showers frustrated. You frowned and creased your eyebrows. You didn't take it too far, did you? “Did I say something offensive?”

“No.” they said together, smirks on their faces.

“Hey, Ollie!” You yelled to Oliver, running towards him in your Gryffindor uniform. It was the Slytherin v.s. Gryffindor match today, and you were ready to kick some serpent ass. Oliver just nodded to you and kept walking. You frowned and stopped watching him go. What was that? Fred and George came up behind you.

“What was that about?” George asked. You shook your head and looked after the boy you longed to talk to. It was a well known fact amongst the three of you that you liked him. They had tried to get you to tell him on multiple occasions, but every time you went to say something, a pun just came out because of your nerves.

Harry came over to the three of you and looked past you to see Wood walking away with his shoulders a bit slumped.

“He’s been like that all day.” Harry said, shaking his head. “Don't know what's gotten into him. Maybe throw him a pun or two today, Y/N. Looks like he needs one.” Harry left you three to stare after Wood as he made his way to where the majority of the team was, ready to walk out and begin the game against the Serpents’ house.

Brutal. That was the only way to describe how they played. Well, that was also how your team played. The rivalry between the houses fueling the urge to win. Skill increased, adrenaline flooded through everyone on the pitch. Rooms zoomed through the air, the wind combined with the cheers and boos from the crowd was deafening.

It was brilliant.

Y/N zoomed through the air perfectly, avoiding everyone as she threw the Quaffel into the top goal post. Gryffindor cheered and she smiled, flying her broom around in victory as the Slytherin’s booed her. Y/N watched the Quaffle get tossed around by a few Slytherin’s and zoomed over to them. As it was tossed in the air she intersected it and flew around towards the Slytherin side again, scoring yet another goal. The Slytherins sneered at you and, unbeknownst to you, had a plan up their sleeves.

The Quaffle was tossed to you again and then you were being chased, but this wasn't your normal chase. You had two Slytherin players in front and back and two on your sides.

You swore to yourself as they got closer. Suddenly they all just dispersed. You were far up in the clouds at this point and it was hard to see. You began to speed back down when something hit you in the head, knocking you off your broom.

You fell. You heard screaming, but you didn’t know if it was you or someone else. You felt yourself slow down but you were still going fast, the Quaffle still tightly in your grasp as you hit the ground. Everything went black.

Wood watched the Slytherin team surround you and take you up into the clouds. What were they planning? The team dispersed and flew back into view, but you weren’t anywhere to be seen. Then he saw your figure falling. His heart stopped. Dumbledore cast a spell to slow you down but you were still going too fast.

“Y/N!” him and the twins cried in unison, flying down to meet you on the ground. Your body bounced and you were out cold. The rest of the quidditch game was canceled and everyone made their way out onto the field to see what happened, Madam Hooch in front of them all. The three boys stared down at you unmoving body thinking that the fall killed you. The Slytherin’s walked off the field, not caring anymore. They had won. But that wasn’t the reason Oliver Wood’s blood was boiling. They had hurt you and that was not ok. Ever.

Madam Hooch took you to the hospital wing and Fred and George were about to follow when they noticed Oliver heading towards the Slytherin shower area with his fists clenched. They followed.

“Oi!” The boys clad in green turned around at his voice. “Was that really necessary? She could’ve died!” Marcus Flint scoffed.

“Not our problem.” Wood clenched his jaw.

“It is your problem.”

“Why, pissed off we hurt your mudblood girlfriend? Can’t even buy herself proper riding-” Flint didn't get to finish his statement thanks to Wood’s fist in his face. He stumbled back and Fred and George grabbed Wood’s arms pulling him away form the fight.

“Say that again. I fucking dare you!”

“Wood, shut up mate!” Fred hissed, struggling to pull him away.

“Lets go right now! I’ll fucking take you all down. Right here right now! Lets go!”

“Wood!” George hissed. “No. If you won’t come with us for your own sake, at least do it for her sake.” Wood growled, making the twins lean back. He just growled. They had never seen him get so defensive over something. So protective.

“Yeah! Go running to your mudblood girlfriend, Ollie.” The three froze. The twins dropped Wood’s arms and in three seconds he was on top of the Slytherin’s beating the lot of them to a pulp. They looked at each other and slowly backed away.

Wood could take care of himself. That much had always been clear. But this… This was just horrifying.

You started to stir a bit, everything in your body aching, you head pounding. You felt sticky, but not your normal sweaty sticky. You groaned and opened your eyes. The lights of the infirmary blinded you a bit.

“Y/N?” The twins? Your eyes adjusted and you saw two redheads staring at you from above. It all came back to you and your blood boiled. “How do you feel?”

“Can I please have a knife?”

“First off, no.”

“Second off, why?”

“I am going to stab each and everyone of those Slytherin pricks so they bleed and hurt and beg me for mercy.” You groaned.

“She’s up?” Your head snapped up at Wood’s voice, but you couldn't see him.

“Yeah.”

“But she’s in a killing mood again.” The twins patted your leg, silently telling you they’d be back later. Oliver came and sat by you, you turned your head so you could see him.

“You look good.” you smirked sarcastically.

“Yeah well, you don't look picture perfect either.” You cringed mockingly.

“That hurt Ollie. Almost as much as these broken bones.”

“You're lucky you're not dead.”

“I mean, there's still time for that. So…” you stabbed his shoulder three time with your fist. “Knock on wood.” He let out a laugh and you smiled.

“You laughed.” He looked at you.

“Yeah. Why do you sound so surprised?”

“Because you never laugh. Why do you think I always try? Who knew falling off my broom would get you to laugh.” “Yeah, well. Don’t go doing that again. You gave me quite the scare.” You laughed, cringing at the way you felt your ribs shift. He looked panicked. “What happened? Do I need to get Madam Pomfrey?”

“Relax, Ollie. It was just my ribs shifting. Nothing to over react about. So, what did happen to that pretty face of your? You look like a woodpecker attacked you.”

“You really can’t turn the puns off can you?”

“I just got to get Olive them out.”

“Wow. That's pathetic.”

“You never answered my question. Are you alright?”

“I just had a row with the Slytherin team. They called you a few… unsavory words.”

“Pour mudblood?” You asked without breaking. His eyes widened, surprised to hear you say the slur. You shrugged. “Yeah. They say that a lot.”

“And you’re just fine with that?”

“Well, I mean. No. But, what am I going to do about it? Take on all of Slytherin house?”

“I did.”

“Which was incredibly stupid. Why would you even do that?”

“Because they insulted you!”

“Ollie, why does that matter? I’m no one important!”

“Yes you are!”

“Really? To who?”

“The twins! The team! To me!” You fell silent and he heard what he said. He was about to cover it up.

“I’m important to you?” He swallowed.

“Yeah. Always have been.” He grabbed your hand and squeezed it. “Always will be. Y/N." He started to gain more confidence. "I have been in love with you since our first year when you made a Woody woodpecker joke at my expense. Whoever that is.” You laughed, remembering the cartoon.

“Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“Because I was scared.”

“I scare the Oliver Wood? That's an accomplishment.”

“I’m trying to confess my feelings here!”

“If you just kiss me, I think I’ll get the hint!”

“Fine!”

“Fine!” He grabbed your face and, as gently as his adrenalin allowed him, brought it to his, putting his lips on yours, finally. You two would have continued to make out if not for a clearing of someone’s throat. Oliver disconnected your lips and looked back to see Madam Pomfrey.

“Miss. Y/L/N needs her rest, Mr. Wood. I am well aware of you two strained and prolonged crushes and am glad to see you two have finally stopped acting like buffoons and gotten to it already. But she has just fallen from an extraordinary height so it is appreciated if you would keep it to a minimum until she is well enough to at least walk.” She turned on her heels and walked out. You started to laugh and Oliver placed a kiss on your cheek.

“When you finally get out of here, I’ll make sure you won’t be able to,” he whispered into your ear. He pulled back with a smirk on his face and you gaped at him.

“Ollie!” You laughed. “Didn’t know you had that side to you.”

“Lots of things you don’t know, love.” he kissed your head. “Get some rest.” You smiled, your eyes already closing.

“M’kay, Ollie.” You were on the verge of sleep when you muttered out a question. “Hey, Ollie?”

“Yes, love?”

“You’ll still kiss me when I wake up, right?” He chuckled.

“I don't think I can stop now.” You smiled, sleepily.

“Good. I don't want you to.” You fell asleep and he watched you for a moment.

“Neither do I.”

Let me know what you guys think! I love feed back!

[angelic-jeonghan1004]

Enhypen reacting to you cheating in a game to win

More enha timeeee I've got more stuff in the works for them so soon I'll make a masterlist! Doing a mixture of both video games and arcade games in this. If it's not obvious to tell from my past fics I love me some video games I'm now super into Genshin atm!! Heeseung is absurdly long btw sorry about that he's the only one I actually had an idea for from a random tropes list on Wattpad the rest I wrote the prompt games and ideas for sitting through a school lecture

Pairing: Enhypen x reader

Genre: fluff, crack

Warning: swearing!

Gif credits to rightful owner ✨

Heeseung

Thinking of a way to spend time with your boyfriend and have a fun date

You went to play laser tag, there's no physical harm in laser tag

Problem here is you're both competitive

And deciding against being on the same team

Decided to go being on opposite team

Whoever lost has to buy lunch

So going into the game in the black out neon room full of obstacles you both had one thing on your mind

"I'm going to win" was the one thought racing through both of your heads (spoiler alert you won in the end)

Protecting your chestplate for your life in fear of someone shooting you

The game got very heated but you thought strategically

You didn't try to find him (that was his goal to find you, but by his height yells or cheers of success eliminating a player you knew where he was 99% of the time) you actually avoided him

You went to get out all of his teammates

It wasn't hard you where in it to win it

You realized there's no way it's not just you and Heeseung now

An idea came to mind

Yelling to him you said

"Heeseung I have an idea to make this fun for us , meet me at the middle since I don't want to yell"

You both made your way to the middle very cautious of eachother but he was very curious of the challenge

Quickly you explained that you two should go on opposite ends of the laser tag maze but each step you take you have to do one shot no matter what

Due to your limited amo this intrigued Heeseung

How he could strategically move his lanky body around the maze without loosing tok much amo

He agreed

And you leaned in for a kiss before "putting the plan to action"

He quickly accepted the kiss closing his eyes taking in the moment before having to head to the opposite corner

That was until he heard the "Defeated" noise come from his chest plate as you shot him in the chest neon red lights covering the what used to be blue chestplate

You giggled as you broke the kiss

"UNFAIR" Heeseung yelled

"We can talk about it over lunch" you said putting your hand in his

You explained your true strategy to him at lunch and how you made that plan up just so he wouldn't kill you on spot

He peas so pouty

Just ate his food and sulked

"You owe me a fist game and next time let's try that challenge I was excited baby"

He'd say with just 🥺 eyes

Pls win this boy some sort of gift he deserves a pick me up

Jay

You guys where having a great time having an in home date

Then you disrespected man's gaming skills

Oh all hell broke loose into a heated argument

"I totally bet I could beat you in Tekken"

"Oh you fucking wish"

"Who do you main"

"Roger" (Roger is a Kangaroo)

"What the fuck are you doing? Representing Jake's home? That character takes no skill to beat people as"

"Yeah well who do you main"

"Is that even a question? Alisa Bosconovitch. A cyborg robot lady with fucking jet legs and chainsaw arms you can't tell me that's not cool"

"You're telling me I'M the one that plays someone that takes no skill to play as?"

You both knew there was only one way to settle this

Jay got out Playstation and everything for it and put it as a 5 match game

Settling yourselves into the game you both where doing actually really well

Way too well actually it was 2 to 2 so whoever won this round one the game

Your anxiety got too high

You where not gonna let this dude win

He'd be too cocky for his own good holding it over you

Quickly you had an idea as you saw his health was only 50% of the way nearing death and your ultra power and held up enough exp

"BABY IS THAT A SPIDER" you yelled looking at the ground near his leg

Causing him to roll away from his spot fearing a spider near his leg loosing focus

That's when you charged at his character

You could see the soul leave his body

When he saw the pink and magenta hair move speedy across the screen straight to his sweet little kangaroo in boxing gloves and a neck tie

"K.O" filling the screen you knew his yell was coming before he even did it

"AAAAAAAAA"

"WAS THERE EVEN A SPIDER"

"No baby I just had to through you off your rthym"

Man he was HURT

"I can't tell if that was foul or not. I'm going to talk with Niki on if what you did was fair or not"

"Babe it's not that deep-"

"No No No you owe me a rematch, kiss and patience as I consult with Niki"

Jake

Gosh this sweet boy

You two where playing dead by daylight on switches laying on opposite sides of the couch so you couldn't see eachothers screen

And you just kept scaring Jake coming up out of no where behind him

"Baby please just kill me you don't have to run up behind me" he was so scared please(〒﹏〒)

He was giving you puppy dog eyes that quickly went to fear as he shrieked from you running up behind him as he tried to start the car for the 18478282 time

You realized he was actually almost done fixing the car due to his pears so you went on a killing spree it was just you, Jake and some girl who was searching for fuel that you couldn't find

Getting back to Jake you realized he actually started the car and was ready to drive it and win the game

You hid behind a tree so he wouldn't see you

So in that moment you said "Jake can you toss the blanket I'm really cold"

Jake is too much if a gentle men he did so immedietly with a smile on his face you felt a little bad for what you where doing ngl

You took this chance and killed Jake's character

He knows that's how the game works that you you still could've done that without

But boy still yelled that it was unfair

Another boy who would just pout

Beware next round he's not going to be nice and will play the murderer

Sunghoon

Who knew a game of thumb war would get so aggressive

You where just waiting for the time to pass for a cafe to open up since you guys where too early before opening

The glares you shot eachother where unreal

Neither of you wanted to loose and both where confident in winning

But one thing was tempting you

The sign flipping over to open on the front door

So in that quick moment you felt really bad

But you stepped on his toe as you lifted your arms down and quickly put your thumb over his

"12345678910 I WIN"

"NO YOU DIDNT THAT WAS TOTALLY CHEATING"

He was so upset omg

The glare on his face

You know the look like just 😐 but definitely angry

But he couldn't hide the smile on his face when you leaned in to kiss his cheek

"I needed the game to end the cafes open now baby,,,"

He went blank for a second confused then

"OH SHIT YOU'RE RIGHT WE WHERE IN LINE FOR THE CAFE LETS GET IN"

A smile filled his face and he moved your hands to be in an actual hand holding way as you too went in

But don't get me wrong

This boy getting a rematch

And if you playing dirty he'll play dirty too

But for now he'll be fine having this cafe date of coffee/tea and pastries with you

Sunoo

Rthym games aren't a competition

But you guys made it one-

Who could get a higher score??

Originally a joke gone TOO far

Since here you are playing one song from Superstar Woollim, Superstar SM and Superstar JYP

Just 3 main and random superstar rthym games

Each thing was going alright then you got to Woollim

You both played the same songs but each got to choose a song

Woollim you knew The Eye was hard so you chose it and had him go first

He was doing surprisingly well though

Too well🤔

But suddenly Jungwon entered the room

You knew what to do

Make that boy jealous

"Hi bubs! How are you?" You said looking up to Jungwon

Jungwon was very polite asked you how you where

And Sunoo was not having it

He's fine with you being friends with all of enha

He encourages it!

But bubs is a pet name that's for him and him only😔😔

This caused his attention to tare away for a second

Suddenly in the blink of an eye his heart dropped as the "missed" noise came through the phone

The yELL

He was so mad

Once the song was done he immedietly went

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"Sort of"

And then you just did your turn and this boy gasped and look at you likeヽ༼⁰o⁰；༽ノ

He would be pettyyyyy

He'd be so mad

Pouting and glaring at you

Just completely done

You'd have to go in with a LOT of cuddles and affection

But he'd still not budge for a while

You got a better score than him so you won

But he will hold this over you whenever he wants something he'll be like

"remember when you cheated in a game we where playing by making me jealous? That was a little too much don't you think? Now grab me one of the ice cream bars from the freezer"

Jungwon

Wonnie this precious boy

Ppuyo ppuyo Tetris is not a game to play with others

It ruins relationships, friendships, family bonds (from personal experience as someone who got grilled on their Tetris skills while playing 1v1 while my friend was also doing terrible)

He got it since the characters looked cute

And Tetris is fun!

So why not??

You guys started playing it on the switch and everything was fine at first

Then it started getting faster

Wonnie chose the annoying little wizard guy that just yells every 5 seconds

It was driving you both up a wall ngl

So you where like how do I cheat in Tetris,,,

You realized you where gonna get a 5 in 1 move so it was gonna fuck up his play real hard

But if he realizes that's your move he can make one just as strong if he puts his brain to realize what spots he has open and he's good at coming back from riskfull moments

So you digged deep in your brain to think of something quick

It hit you then

"Wonnie did I ever tell you who my Enhypen bias was"

His face just sort scrunched and he was like ¯\_ಠ_ಠ_/¯ I thought it was me? Moment

"wouldn't it be me? I never thought to ask"

"Oh okay" legit you had gone in with the 5 in 1 move and he hadn't looked at the silver blocks that quickly started to fill his screen he wanted to know

"nonono who is it?" Turned to you he didn't even see the mess that was on his screen

Until he heard the god for saken wizard just yell in defeat

"wait no that's unfair you can't drop something like that on me while we where in a 1v1 match"

His eyes he would just ಠ︵ಠ

Boy so sad :((

He lost the game and now he doesn't know if you bias him or not

If you do bias him you'd just tell him and he'd be like you stressed me out for noThing??

If you didn't bias him he'd be fine with it but he'd need a little moment of confirmation

Idk give this boy some kisses you stressing him out

Niki

Intense DDR fight let's go

This boy don't go down without a fight

Neither do you

But as the levels kept going and the energy got more and more intense

You know it was very likely Niki could win

That boy is dancing prodigy type of guy

So he be doing these steps while also the hand work of the dance itself just to flex

Done with the cute boys snarky behavior

You did the one thing that would throw him of his rthym

Pretend to get hurt

You crouched in a way and made it seem like your knee was in pain but you where still doing the steps

Niki was gonna look over to you to be snarky and witty

But you looked in pain and this giant baby got panicked

"nononono baby are you okay? If you're in pain don't worsen your injury we can stop playing, what about your knee hurts?" He was panicking and you immedietly felt so bad

He stopped moving and so his score got worse and worse

You felt so bad you pretended to just act it out a lil more

"no don't worry Riki it's okay I'll be fine"

"don't say that you're in pain you could worsen your condition, let's find out what happened maybe you just buckled your knee? I've done that, be more careful please"

He legit went over to your board and tried to just stop your movements and left a kiss on your forehead

The song would end and your score would be higher but you would never do that as a cheat again

You didn't even have the courage to tell Riki after

He continued to be just so sweet and caring throughout the date

Would probably even text you afterwards like "Im sorry you injured your knee a little but I'm glad afterwards you felt better and I had a lot of fun :))"

Pls you better keep that all in till the day you die or tell him it's up to you but don't mess with this pore boy again like that pls(〒﹏〒)

[butgilinsky]

Oh man it’s so hard to choose from that list. Can I have some fluffy Matthew tkachuk? Like maybe he sees his girlfriend holding a baby and realizes how much he wants to have one with her or something like that? Feel free to elaborate on this your writing is amazinggggg💕

you can(: 

a/n: shelb, close your eyes, chucky + babies = spiral content. also, this isn’t proofread bc i’m me and i’m lazy ty for your consideration 

he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with you the second he met you. he felt the stars align, every last piece of every puzzle completing itself right in front of him. he wasn’t sure how he survived all this time without you, and he was sure that he wouldn’t be able to breathe without you at this point. matthew wasn’t sure about most things, but he was sure about you. he was sure that he was made for you, and you for him.

he met you on the streets of calgary, running straight into as he was late to getting to the rink, and was in a hurry. he did stop though once he realized that he’d almost knocked a beautiful girl off of her feet unintentionally and helped you pick up the papers he made you drop. he apologized profusely, assuring you that he’s usually more attentive than that, to which you hummed and questioned the sincerity behind his statement.

that’s when he knew you were something else. you saw through his bullshit within seconds, and you continued to do so for three years afterwards. now you’re his girlfriend, patiently waiting for him to ask you to be more than that. neither of you were in a rush, but you had no doubts about matthew, and you knew he didn’t have any about you.

seeing you at his games wasn’t anything knew, but that didn’t make it any less special every time you smiled at him from behind the glass, eyes filled with pure admiration for the boy dressed in red.

when the flames won the series against the oilers, you were ecstatic. you were jumping out of your seat, cheeks hot from the adrenaline pumping through your veins. you were happy the oilers lost, happy to see matthew celebrating with his teammates and best friends right in front of your eyes.

while waiting for matthew to change and shower, along with his media run he was doomed to have after scoring two goals in the third period, you were busying yourself with a woman you’d met halfway through the second. she had two kids that you adored within seconds of meeting them, both girls at the ripe age of 1 and 4.

the 1 year old, loving to be held, made grabby hands at you until you slotted her onto your hip and allowed her to toy with the fabric of your jersey. you were immersed in the two young girls, not even noticing the team had started to filter out of the locker room behind you.

matthew’s eyes landed on you with ease, being able to pick you out of any crowd. he didn’t know the woman you were standing with, nor did he know the baby you had tied up in your arms, but that didn’t matter. his chest ached at the sight of you, a painful reminder of the fact that this baby wasn’t yours, despite the uncontrollable grin you had on your lips.

he wanted a future with you, wanted to call you his wife and have as many kids as you’d give him. he wanted everything with you, and the way you juggled the baby in your arms and the girl at your feet so easily was just another thing that had matthew realizing that he did everything right by keeping you in his life.

the girl at your feet gave him away when he slowly approached the four of you, eyes wide and pointing at him while letting out a loud gasp. the 19 on her back matched yours, though her pony tails bouncing in her excitement beat you out by a long shot.

“mommy look it’s chucky!” the girl clapped a hand over her mouth, excitement pouring out of her as you turned over your shoulder and smiled at your approaching boyfriend.

“who? me?” matthew pointed at himself, jokingly looking over both of his shoulders to look for someone else the girl would’ve been referring to. the girl’s loud laugh was enough to have matthew considering his joke a success, and he dropped down to her height before greeting you. “what’s your name princess?”

“flo.” matthew smiled softly, telling her that she had a pretty name, but her pigtails were even prettier.

“i like your jersey. it looks good on you.” the girl giggled, her smile never leaving her face for even a second. “i bet it’d look better with a signature though.”

the girl gasped loudly, nodding enthusiastically and turning around to give matthew access to her jersey. her mom looked upon the two of them fondly, still confused as to how all of this was happening until he stood from his place on the floor and offered you a kiss on the forehead.

“now it all makes sense.” the woman beside you said softly, a soft smile on her lips as she watched you lean into matthew’s touch.

when the woman was finally able to pull her daughters out of the bubble they created with matthew, you were able to turn into your boyfriend’s arms, smiles wide and cheesy as you stared at each other happily.

“you look good with a baby on your hip, you know?” you let out a soft laugh, expecting this to be another matthew tkachuk line he famously used to have you swooning.

“yeah, you think you can handle babies with your busy schedule, all star?” his smile widened, teeth on show for everyone to see.

“i think that you’re the only one i would want to handle babies with.” he watched your eyes glaze over, a look of pure admiration and sheer joy in your eyes. he loved you whole heartedly, and he couldn’t believe it took him three years to suggest putting a baby in you.

“don’t you think there are a few steps we should take before adding a baby or two to the mix?” he shrugged, his smile never faltering while his hands pulled you further into his chest.

“we can take more than one step at a time.” you pushed on his chest lightly, pulling back far enough to look up at him with a curious look that teetered disbelief and shock.

“matthew tkachuk are you serious?”

“dead.” he kissed your forehead again, this time letting his lips linger for a little longer than they had previously. “let’s get hitched and have all the babies we can fit into our house.”

“we don’t have a house, matty.”

“add it to the list, then.” his smile was goofy, and so was he, but you wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. you loved matthew tkachuk, and you were going to spend the rest of your life with him.

[writtenonreceipts]

rowaelin the only single person in the friend group?

AN:Enjoy!

The Singles Club Isn’t Always Lonely

As Rowan entered the local bar, he shook rain from his coat and hair.  For the past two days it had seemed like constant cloud coverage lingered and that meant rain.  Not that Rowan particularly minded the rain.  It just grew tiresome.  He had yet to find a reason to fully rejoice in it.

He waved to Brullo, the bartender, and headed back to the usual table where he and his friends usually took over.  Indeed, Vaughan and Connall were seated drinks in hand and in deep conversation about something.  Gavriel and Fenrys were shooting darts—Gav wiping Fenrys’ ass with the score.  Though Fenrys was always more in it for the social aspect than the competitive nature.

“Well, look who finally showed up,” Connall called when he looked up to see Rowan crossing the bar towards them. 

Shooting his friend a vulgar gesture, Rowan took a seat in one of the stool and drew a freshly opened beer towards him.

“I should ask you all the same question,” Rowan grunted.  He took a swig of beer and sighed.  “Between wives and girlfriends, I thought you’d all bail on meeting up.”

“Hell, no!” Fenrys shot a wild dart and came to sling an arm over Rowan’s shoulder. “Tradition.  As Asterin so lovingly reminds me, I need to spend more time with you losers.  I think it’s just so she can go to the shooting range with Manon and Elide, but you know.”

“Nehemia says that I’m hovering,” Connall said.  “As if I can hover.  She’s seven months pregnant, I should be allowed to be concerned.”

“You’ve texted six times in the last half hour, man,” Vaughan said.  He pointed meaningfully to his friend's phone.

Connall scowled. “Concerned.”

“Hovering,” Rowan said.  He took another drin.

“You have to let her live her life still, Con,” Gavriel said.  He plucked the round of darts from the board and turned back to his friends. “When Endara was pregnant with Aedion she and Evalin would go on week long spa getaways.”

Connall looked absolutely horrified. “But—”

“No,” Gavriel insisted.  “Space and foot rubs.”

“That contradicts itself,” Connall muttered.

“Just saying,” Gavriel said.

Sometimes, Rowan found it hard to believe that Gavriel had a son their same age.  Sometimes, Rowan found it hard to believe that Gavriel was as old as he was.  Of course, he would never say it to the man’s face.  Because getting his ass kicked was not on his list of things to do.

“This is why Rolfe and I communicate,” Vaughan said.  He grabbed Connall’s phone before he could check it for a nonexistent text.

“You and boyfriend have a very strange definition of communication,” Fenrys said. “You also need to lock your front door.”

“You need to knock,” Vaughan said unapologetically.

Rowan rolled his eyes at his friend's antics. “Where’s Salvaterre?  Why am I on the chopping block.”

“Because he texted,” Vaughan said emphatically, “that he would be late.”

“Elide had an important meeting at work and he wanted to take her out for ice cream after,” Fenrys grumbled. “They’re almost as disgusting as Conn and Mia.”

“See,” Rowan finally spoke up, “this is why I am remaining single.”

The group groaned, throwing peanut husks at him while telling him to grow up.  Rowan simply laughed.  It was a conversation they’d all tried to have with him.  Get a girlfriend Rowan.  Go out on more dates Rowan.  You work too much Rowan.

He knew they were just giving him a hard time.  For the most part.  But he also couldn’t help but let the words dig into his skin.

They’d miraculously been through a lot together.  Despite the age differences between them all, something had drawn them together with a love of history, hand-to-hand combat, and drunken nights of poker.

“Hey, assholes!” Lorcan entered the bar and exchanged a few words with Brullo before coming to the table.

“‘Bout time, man,” Connall called.  He kicked a stool out for the other man.

“I was supporting my girlfriend,” Lorcan said, “shouldn’t you be with your wife?”

“Shouldn’t you be asking Elide to marry you?” Connall shot back.

Lorcan launched into a coughing fit just as he took a drink of beer. “What?”

“It’s been two months and all we’ve heard from you is how great this girl is.  Coming from you that’s practically a wedding announcement,” Rowan added, grinning fiendishly when Lorcan’s face heated

“Yeah, you know, speaking of relationships, I haven’t seen you taking anyone out lately,” Lorcan groused.

Before Rowan could either shoot Lorcan the finger or snark back to him, Brullo arrived with another round of beer.

The rest of the night passed in easy conversation punctuated Fenrys’ claims that at the next poker night he would win every hand.  Granted he was on his third beer as he said this.

It was just like any other night.  And yet by the time midnight rolled around, he listened as his friends claimed necessity to return to domesticity.

Nehemia had cravings.  Elide, Manon, and Asterin were drunk and needed a ride.  Rolfe threatened to watch Bridgerton alone.  And Endara claimed Gavriel had left her kitchen a mess.  

Life as it should be was chaos.  And while Rowan knew he wouldn’t have it any other way, as he paid off the tab with Brullo—consequence of a lost bet—he found himself facing a night of pouring rain and a semi-drunk Connall to haul around.

#

When Aelin Galathynius swore a life of solitude, it was for a good reason.  She’d recently adopted a dog after all and Fleetfoot needed her undivided attention.  

Now, five years later, she regretted nothing.  Especially when Fleetfoot was such an excellent snuggling companion.

While her apartment was small, and admittedly shabby, it was home.  Had been since she’d moved out of last foster home five years ago.  Almost every single one of her friends had lived with her in that time.  From Manon deeming it for your own good so you don’t end up murdered in this hellish part of town, to Elide claiming that I have no idea how to live by myself, you have to help me.

The apartment had known many people.  Had known fights and tears.  Had known emotional breakdowns and dance parties.  

And yet, as Aelin came home from work on a glorious Friday evening, it felt empty.  Even with Fleetfoot eagerly dancing around her feet.  Even as she hooked on the leash and took a brisk walk around the block with Fleetfoot bounding along joyfully.  Even when she returned home and turned her music on while she made dinner.

Empty.

Only the pouring rain outside gave any indication of the outside world.

Aelin turned her music up louder.

Perhaps it would have been so bad if Elide were here with her.  Or Nehemia.  Any of her friends.  But it was date night and she knew just how much her friends had been missing their boys.  

Elide worked so much and she’d recently started dating Lorcan Salvaterre they barely saw each other.  Nehemia was having a baby with the love of her life.  And then even though she and Asterin weren’t the closest, Aelin did miss her drinking buddy.  And Yrene was so busy with her internship that all she had time for was her new marriage.

Aelin couldn’t have been happier for her friends, truly.  They were all living their best lives.  And so was Aelin.

She’d graduated with her degree in history, specializing in warfare and weaponry.  Now she was teaching part-time at a community college and part of a research team that was working an archeology dig out in Wendlyn.  Everything she’d wanted.  Everything she’d worked so hard to get.

Life was good.  Or so she kept telling herself.

“You really need to start locking your door!”

Aelin turned from the mess of spaghetti she was trying to make to find Elide, Asterin, and Manon entering her apartment.  She held a spatula out threateningly.

“You can't just barge into people’s apartments,” Aelin said.

“We can if the door’s unlocked,” Manon replied.  She wasted no time in kicking off her shoes and tossing her jacket onto Aelin’s couch. “Please tell me you have wine.”

“What’d Dorian do now?” Aelin asked as Manon easily went to the kitchen and found the bottle of wine.  Not the cheap stuff.

“Nothing,” Manon grumbled.

Asterin barked out a laugh.  “He brought up meeting his parents.”

“And moving in together,” Elide added.

Manon brandished the corkscrew threateningly. “Don’t make me use this.”

Chuckling, Aelin turned the burners of her stove off. “It’s Dorian.  You can tell him no to both things and he’ll get it.”

Manon grunted and began chugging her very full glass of wine.

“Lorcan mentioned moving in together,” Elide said. Wine spurted from Manon’s nose and Elide rolled his eyes. “Eventually.  He didn’t actually ask just one of those brief passing comments.”

“You know, I still don’t like him,” Aelin said.  She dished up a few bowls of pasta and started handing them out.

“Please the two of you are practically besties,” Elide said.  She gave Aelin a wink before settling in a chair at the small dining room table.

“Speaking of besties,” Asterin added, “Fenrys just sent me a text.  They are getting wasted at the bar.”

“Is Gav with them?” Elide asked through a mouthful of pasta.

“Yeah, thank the Goddess,” Asterin said.  “I don’t want to pick his drunk ass up.”

Manon made an approving sound and poured herself another glass of wine. “Because we are getting ourselves drunk.”

Aelin debated taking the wine away from Manon already, but shrugged.  She needed a distraction from everything else.  Before sitting down, she grabbed a bottle of whiskey she kept in case of emergencies and few glasses.  It was girl’s night, why not?

“You do know you’re going to have to talk to Dorian, eventually right?” Aelin asked, pouring out whiskey.

“Shush,” Manon said. “Talking is overrated.  We’ll just have sex and get over it.”

Aelin made a face. “I’d rather not think of you and one of my best friends in that way.”

“It’s sex!” Manon shouted. “C’mon, Aelin.  I know it can’t have been that long since you slept with someone.” 

Aelin rolled her eyes.  She most certainly should have taken the wine away.  Wine drunk Manon was a whole different animal than whiskey drunk Manon.

“Ohh,” Elide said, already pushing back her half-eaten bowl of pasta for the whiskey. “I might know of someone.  Actually, Lorcan knows him.”

“No!” Aelin shouted at the same time Asterin screeched, “yes!”

“He’s very attractive,” Elide said with a knowing nod.

“And works out, a ton,” Asterin added. “He and Fen are training for a marathon.”

Aelin didn’t know whether to be impressed or horrified.  She worked out and believed in a healthy lifestyle.  But she also believed in chocolate.  And cake.

Even as her friends slid side-glances her direction, Aelin ignored them.  They’d been hounding her to date more.  Ever since Sam had broken up with her when she wouldn’t move across the country with him and the mess with Chaol...Aelin hadn’t been in a serious relationship.  And she was fine.  Did she miss casual dates? Yes.  Someone she could talk to about everything and anything?  Yes.  Did she miss sex?  Absolutely.

On the last item she could rectify that easily.  Just swing by the nearest club, but Aelin had always craved connection more than casualties.  

She knocked back her shot of whiskey and nabbed the bottle from Manon who was well on her way to drunk.

Elide laughed at Aelin’s diversion from talking and got up to turn Aelin’s stereo up.

“You’ve gotta find a way to support Fleetfoot,” the petite brunette said, “being a single mom is hard.”

“Screw you!” Aelin growled.

“Pretty sure Lorcan’s already taking care of that,” Asterin said.

“No!” Manon and Aelin shouted together.

Cackling madly, Elide downed her whiskey and began dancing.  It didn’t take long before all four girls were drunk and dancing madly to the music.  And Aelin was able to forget everything else about the day and little comments her friends had made.

It wasn’t until after midnight that Lorcan and Fenrys showed up to take the other girl’s home.  Fenry, a bit tipsy himself.

“Baby!” Elide squealed when she threw open the door.

Had Aelin been a touch more wasted she would have missed the soft smile that flitted across Lorcan’s face as his girlfriend flung herself at him.  Aelin might not have understood where the hell that relationship had come from but she was slowly starting to accept it.

“Be safe,” Aelin demanded as she ushered her drunk friends out the door, Lorcan assuring her he had only drank one beer over an hour ago.

“Get a Tinder!” Asterin hollered as Aelin closed the door.

And just like that, she was left to an empty apartment.

#

When Rowan got into the business of researching ancient warfare and artifacts of war, he’d known it would give him hell in the future.  Not that he would regret it of course, but for the past five years he’d dealt with questioning papers, developing thesis, tossing out said thesis, and trying to appear that he knew what he was doing.

It was a miracle if he could accomplish that last item.

By the time he made it home from work, he was exhausted.  The text from Elide--how she’d gotten his number Rowan had no idea--declaring a night out didn’t help any.  But it had been a few weeks since he and his friend--all his friends had gotten together.

So he dragged his sorry hide into a shower and down to Brullo’s bar.

And just like always he was the last to arrive.

“Whitethorn!” Vaughan called out.

Rowan raised his hand in recognition before getting a drink from Brullo.

Already, his friends had their drinks and their girls--and in Vaughan’s case, boy.  Nothing about the night seemed far from normal.  Even if Rowan wasn’t as familiar with Asterin or Rolfe, being around this group of people always put him at ease.

“You look like hell, Rowan,” Nehemia said with a sympathetic smile.  She wore a simple gray dress that showed off her growing bump, her black hair twisted in thick braids.

Rowan offered a returning smile. “It was a hellish day.”

Connall thrust a beer into his hands. “Here’s to make it better.  Although my lovely wife has already graced you with her presence, so consider yourself lucky.”

Rolling his eyes, Rowan shoved his friend away. “How much have you had to drink?”

“Too much,” Loran supplied.  As usual he was seated in the corner of their table, nursing a beer.

“Where’s Elide?” Rowan asked. “Seeing as she’s the one who made me come.”

Lorcan gestured out to the dance floor.  The dance floor.  Since when did Brullo let anyone start dancing?  Not in the past five years that Rowan and his friends had come.  Unless one of them or another patron got too drunk.

But there was some song with a deep, thrumming beat reverberated through the bar.  Someone must have bribed Brullo to put it on.  Likely the fiends who were dancing like they had no care in the world.

Fenrys and Asterin were practically glued together and were less dancing and more making out.  Nearby Gavriel and Endara were mostly laughing while tripping over their feet to keep with the beat of the song.  What caught Rowan’s attention however was Elide.

Or rather her dance partner.

The woman was tall, lean, and had the frame of a fighter.  She moved so easily to the music that Rowan was focused on her more than the song.  Her blond hair hung well past her shoulders in golden waves matching her gold dress perfectly.  But perhaps what was so striking was the carefree smile she wore.  The way she laughed and leaned into Elide as the song changed to a sultrier chord.  But neither woman seemed to notice, or care.

Until the blonde looked up and the low lights emitting from the dance floor set a low fire to her eyes and dug into him, holding him in place.  And his breath caught.

Elide broke the spell that had settled over him.

“Rowan!” She yelled and waved frantically for him to join the dancing.

“No,” Rowan called back firmly.  The last time he had decided to go dancing with Elide he had ended up shirtless, hungover, and in a car halfway to Mexico.  

Elide pouted at him before crooking her finger to her boyfriend.  Lorcan was already up and out of his seat making his way toward her.  It was still strange to Rowan to see the brute of a man soften for anyone.

Shaking his head, Rowan returned to the bar to get another drink.

“Can I get something as well, Brullo?” The airy confidence of the woman, snagged Rowan’s attention and he turned to see the Elide’s former dance partner standing beside him.

From this angle, Rowan was better able to see that spark of gold and blue in her eyes, a splash of freckles on her nose.  She was beautiful.

“You must be Rowan,” she said with a single brow raised.

He nodded and accepted a beer from Brullo. “I am, but I don’t seem to know you.”

Her mouth pulled up on one side. “Aelin.  Elide and I grew up together.  Figured since I never see her anymore, I had to come see what this place is all about.”

“Elide dragged you out here, didn’t she?” Rowan asked.

“She is terrifying when she wants to be,” Aelin agreed.  She offered him a full grin in that instant and Rowan knew that if possible, he would try and make her smile like that again. “And she offered to pay my tab.”

“Meaning Lorcan will be paying your tab,” Rowan said.

“He does have his uses, other than being a brute.” Aelin laughed at that and took the drink Brullo offered her.  She turned her gaze on him, those eyes so full of light. “I suppose I should get used to him though.  Elide seems to like him.”

She wasn’t wrong Rowan realized.  “Anyone that can get Lorcan to actually get out and dance is a miracle worker.”

“Except, she didn’t get you out there dancing,” Aelin said.  She let out a soft laugh leaning closer to him.

And there it was, something different.  And perhaps Rowan wouldn’t identify it for a long time.  Wouldn’t really know what it was.  But there was something about Aelin that drew him in.  He’d known her for all of ten minutes, didn’t even know her last name, and here he was completely ensnared.

“I don’t dance,” Rowan said.

Aelin cackled. “Not yet anyway.”

She knocked back the rest of her drink and grabbed Rowan’s arm pulling him to the dancefloor.

Perhaps if they’d been paying closer attention, they would have noticed the high-five Asterin and Elide exchanged.  Or the passing of bills between Vaughan, Connall, and Gavriel.  There was a great deal they didn’t notice.

Not how the rain stopped pouring outside.  Not how the emptiness of the night was overcome by more than music and alcohol.  It was a silent shift.  A careful one.  One that would become more than alright with them.

#

as always thanks for reading!

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[13uswntimagines]

Uh Oh Spaghettios (Uswnt x Swift!Reader)

Request- Y/n Get's hurt in a game, Taylor Comes to the hospital to take care of her and the fans find out about Y/n.

Hey dudes, this is part 2 of a one shot series I have labeled A Swift Life that will follow the characters in this universe. I’ll list the other parts down below. I still haven’t decided if it’s going to be a purely Emily/reader endgame or a Soran/Reader endgame. If you have any requests or suggestions, please feel free to hit me up. I hope that you enjoy!

Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

The smile that etched its way across your face when the ball found the back of the net for the 4th time was blinding. You sent the Australian bench a wink as you copied their own star forward’s signature backflip, being engulfed by your teammate the moment your feet were back on the pitch. The ref blew the whistle signaling that the first half was over, and you laughed as your team ruffled your hair during your walk back to the locker room. You were proving to be a problem like no other for the Australian team, and the dangerous looks crossing the defender's faces showed that they may not have the answer for how to shut you down.

Emily’s arm wrapped around you as you neared the tunnel, your cheeks flushed as she leaned in and placed a light kiss on your cheek.

“4 goals in 20 minutes, you would think the defenders went on break.” She joked, pulling you tighter to you. Your smile got impossibly wider.

“Well, not everyone can be as good as stopping me as you are.” You laughed, ducking your head as she kissed your cheek. You had really opened up to the team since you had finally told them about your family. You had become touchier with everyone, especially a blond-haired defender. You weren’t always good at voicing your thoughts, but the team was finding that you were much better at expressing yourself through body language and touch. Plus it helped that you were a secrete cuddle bug.

“Yeah kid, what’s gotten into you today? You’re like on fire,” Lindsey asked as she wrapped her arm around you from the other side.

“Taylor said that she was going to watch the game.” You shrugged, causing both women to laugh.

“She’s here?” Emily asked trying to untangle herself from you., her eyes frantically searching the stands for your older sister.

“She’s in New York, but she cleared her schedule enough to catch the game.” You said quietly, grabbing Emily’s arm and pulling it back around you. You understood that Taylor was busy, and it made you feel warm inside that she always did her best to watch your games. She had almost flown out to watch this game live, but you had insisted that she didn’t need to. It wasn’t like the game mattered in the long run, and you didn’t feel right pulling her from her own responsibilities when the stakes weren’t that high.

“She’s still worried about the fans?” Lindsey asked, pulling you from your thoughts.

“Hm, something like that. I think she just wants them to know me for my footie skills and for her name.” You mumbled. It wasn’t that you guys were hiding from the fans. You just hadn’t explicitly admitted that you were related. You were barely on social media as it was, so your public interactions were limited. Taylor was also trying to protect you. She knew that you were shy, and when the fans finally put two and two together, they would be more all over you than they already were.

“I’m surprised that they haven’t connected all the dots yet.” Lindsey snorted. If any fandom on the planet was going to figure it out, it was them.

“Yeah, they’re like the world's greatest detectives” Emily smirked, and you rolled your eyes. Sure they were good, but considering that half of the fandom was still ignoring the fact that the subject of her songs wasn’t brit boy, you weren’t really worried about them realizing that you were a major part of her narrative too.

“They’re not Batman,” You grumbled, mumbling a thank you to Alex when she held the locker room door open for the three of you. She nodded your way, a smirk set on her lips.

“No, you’re superman, flying around and scoring goals,” She said as you passed her, and you frowned.

“Does that make Emily her Lois Lane?” Alex asked, causing the entire room to burst into laughter, and your cheeks flushed.

“In her dream” Emily snorted, untangling herself from you and pushing you away lightly. You averted your eyes from Lindsey’s I’m sorry eyes and stared pointily at the floor. You missed the glares your teammates were sending towards the blond defender. It wasn’t a secret to them that you had a thing for Saucy Sonny.  They had bets going for who was going to make the first move and how long it was going to take for the two you to stop being oblivious.

“That’s enough ladies, we need to go over some things before the next half,” Jill interjected, before beginning to talk strategy. You knew that she was way out of your league, but hearing and seeing her disgust with the very idea of giving you a chance still hurt. You spent your halftime half-way listening to Jill drone on and on about positions and getting behind the defenders, while the other half of you was trying not to stare at Emily who was pointedly not looking your way.

Your thoughts were spiraling by the time you made it back onto the field, the playful atmosphere that you had stepped off the pitch with completely gone. You were distracted by the swirling idea that Emily would never want you in the way you so clearly wanted her. That you had been so stupid to even hope that she would give you the chance to prove that you could be a worthy partner.

From the time you were little, you had been told that it only takes a second of distraction for everything to go wrong. But here you were, waiting for Christen to take a corner kick, watching the way Emily was bouncing on her toes, rather than paying attention to the defender who was marking you. You didn’t see the ball flying in your direction, or the opposing defender that was leaping into the air to meet it. One moment you were looking at Emily and the next all you saw was black.

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

Alex had had a perfect view of the collision from the bench. She saw your eyes following a certain blond defender and not the ball. She had seen the opposing defender leap into the air, her leg catching you in the side of the head. She had watched you fall to the floor, and Kelley rushing to your side. Emily had flipped her lid the moment she saw your unmoving form on the turf, screaming at the defender who had hurt you and earning herself a yellow card.

Alex was at your side the second the trainers had carried your unconscious body off the field and loaded you into the ambulance. She had held your hand all the way into the hospital, only letting go when the doctors wouldn’t let her into the back with you because while she was your team mom, you didn’t share any blood relations. She had been regulated to the waiting room, where the team had joined her after their victory over Australia.

“Does anyone know why there are about a million camera’s out in front of the hospital?”

“I think that would be our fault,” Taylor said, rushing into the waiting room, her blond girlfriend skidding to a halt not far behind her. Alex felt her shoulders relax at Taylor’s voice.

“Thank fuck you’re here. They won’t tell us anything because we’re not “family”” She

“Not family my ass, you guys spend more time with her than anyone else” Taylor spat, finally taking in the exhausted faces of your teammates, her eyes lingering on Lindsey and Emily’s red-rimmed eyes and tear-stained cheeks. She wasn’t thrilled that you were going for someone (or multiple someones?), so much older than you, her protective instincts wanting her to make sure that you didn’t get taken advantage of. But on the other hand, they clearly cared for you deeply.

“That’s what I said, but it’s the policy or whatever” Kelley grumbled, pulling Taylor’s attention away from where Emily and Lindsey were curled together in the corner of the waiting room, both being comforted by Sam, Tobin, and Christen.

“Let’s go find the doctor babe,” Karlie said quietly, running a hand up Taylor’s back. Taylor sighed. There would be time to grill the two women who you may or may not be crushing on later. For now, your health was her first priority.

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

The first thing you noticed was the incredibly annoying beeping coming from somewhere in the room. It was probably your roommate's alarm again. You couldn’t remember what time you had gone to bed last night, but all you wanted to do was sleep a little more and the annoying beep was preventing you from doing that. Why you had been paired to room with Becky for this camp, you didn’t understand. She was a total morning person while you loved to stay in bed all day.

“Turn it off.” You groaned, your eyelids fluttering. God the sun was bright this morning.

“No can-do kiddo,” The voice beside you chuckled, startling you. That wasn’t Becky’s voice or anyone from the team.

“Tay?” You asked groggily, attempting to turn your head to survey the room, but realizing that that was a terrible idea as a wave of nausea hit you. “Whoa”.

“Stay still babe,” Another voice said from beside Taylor, a hand resting on your chin to prevent you from wiggling around.

“Yeah, I’m here, so is Karlie,” Taylor whispered quietly, hovering over your face so you could see her. You winced, moving Karlie’s hand and trying to sit up on your own again. Alex (who was on your other side) and Taylor immediately jumped in to help you.

“What happened?” You asked, wincing as the pounding in your head increased for a moment as you settled back against the pillows.

“You scared the shit out of us” Kelley grumbled from beside Alex. A small smile etched its way across your face at the sight of the 4 women who were more like parents than siblings sitting by your side. The 4 women who always supported you, and only wanted you to be yourself.

“You got hit in the head really hard. Try not to move around too much. ok?” Taylor said, running a soothing hand through your hair. You pouted. If there was one thing that you hated more than anything else it was being forced to remain still.

“You probably have a concussion kiddo,” Alex added, grabbing your hand and running her thumb over the back of your knuckles.

“No not that. Did we win?” You asked anxiously. The last thing that you remembered was being ahead, and if the team had lost because you got hurt, you didn’t know what you would do. It would probably mean that your USWNT career was over.

“Of course that’s what you’re worried about,” Kelley sighed exasperatedly. You were going to have to learn that there were more important things in life than winning and losing. It was a little scary how much of your identity you based on your abilities on the pitch.

“Well did we?” You insisted, causing the women to chuckle again, Alex nodded and began to rub soothing circles on your shoulder again.

“I’ll find the game for you, just give me a second,” Karlie added, grabbing the remote control and beginning to flick through the channels to find the replay of the game.

“I’m going to go tell Em and Linds that you’re awake,” Kelley said after a few moments, rubbing your leg as she stood up and moved towards the door.

“They’re still here?” You asked, your eyes widening and your cheeks turning red.

“Trust me, kid, they’re not leaving until you do,” Kelley threw over her shoulder as she exited the room. The room was quiet for a few moments, the only sound being the soft murmur of the television. Karlie had changed the channel to the Sportscenter. You relaxed back into the bed, content to watch the commentators break down the game. Your breath caught in your throat as they played the collision again. It wasn’t watching the accident that made you freeze, but instead the photos of a very upset looking Taylor rushing into the hospital. You never wanted to scare or her them, and knowing that you did was really hard. You weren’t upset that the fans had figured it out, frankly, you were surprised that it hadn’t happened earlier.

“So I guess we should tell the fans that I’m not dead,” You mumbled after a few minutes, slowly turning to look at Taylor.

“You’re ok with them knowing?” She asked hesitantly, running the hand that was carding through your hair down your cheek in a soothing motion. You sighed into her touch. She wasn’t your mother, but she had always been nurturing towards you. She was the one who held you after a nightmare or a game that didn’t go the way you wanted it to. Your mom was a firm believer in tough love, sometimes too tough. She wanted the best for you, Austin and Taylor. That meant pushing you to your limits and expecting you to live up to the things your siblings had done. You knew your mother loved you, but Taylor was the one who filled the nurturing role for you.

“I’m not ashamed to be your sister Tay.” You whispered back, and she nodded. She never assumed you were. She knew her fans could be a little… much, and she had just wanted to protect you. Now you would be under an even brighter spotlight than you had been before.

“I never thought you were. I just wanted to make sure you were ready first.” She said back, placing a kiss on your temple. You hummed back, your eyelids fluttering. The fans were like a wave. You could watch from a distance and pretend you knew what you were getting into, but in all honesty, there was no way to prepare for them. You would have had to jump in sooner or later, at least now your teammates could post the videos of them annoying you with her songs online now.

“You know that this means that I get to talk about how awesome you are now right?” Taylor said with a chuckle, and you groaned. Taylor never wanted you to feel like you were in her shadow, and now that the fans knew she was related to you, she was going to take every opportunity to show them just how amazing you were. The fans were about to find out how big of a Y/n Swift stan she was.