#But god he loves Talen. he just wanted the best for him. he was just too selfish to give him that though
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I’m being cursed by Talen thoughts. If only bc. Damn imagine being a teenage boy who, like most hormonal teens, CRAVES intimacy (this is my way of saying horny without being murdered for saying a 17 year old experiences sexual attraction.) and that’s largely your gimmick; that you want a girlfriend and it just so happens the girls you like are Not Very Good People. Yeah and then turns out your dad decides to try and kill you instead of selling you out to the gangs he’s in debt to?
#I thimking abt he abd Whilate’s relationship. like gah damn#Whilate is 100% to blame for how Talen acts. Being a cheating womanizer who pushes the idea that when girls reject Talen they’re#‘playing hard to get’. and generally pushing a lot of misogynistic ideals onto his son#and like. Whilate is literally like the only person Talen has a close relationship with to begin with#(his only other friend at the start is another teenage boy who doesn’t belong to me who is also delulu like him.)#All the other adults in his life don’t really care. bc his mom left and his teachers are cordial but don’t take much interest in him#Whilate has always been Talen’s example so ofc he idolizes him and internalizes his sexist mannerisms (ie being p creepy w/ female peers)#Talen isn’t an extremist in his actions but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t making girls uncomfortable. he didn’t take no for an answer#he just wasn’t like. aggressive with it. no one was scared of rejecting him they just hated his annoying bitchass#and Whilate encouraged it! He encouraged Talen being creepy with his female peers and trying to fight ‘competition’#The only reason Talen gains any other positive adult figures in his life is bc Guo knows his dad sucks and starts talking to him#But. while Whilate does suck. and he does try to kill Talen. he loves him. he adores his son#Hes not a good man he’s not a good father he spends all their money and shifted his son into a creep#But god he loves Talen. he just wanted the best for him. he was just too selfish to give him that though#So... like... him trying to kill Talen was a twisted act of love.#He knew that one of his employers may try to take Talen from him if he didn’t straight up sell him out. he could’ve never seen his son again#And he didn’t want Talen living the life he lived by any means. And since he had no other allies. He decided the best course of action#In order to ‘save’ his son from a life of misery... was to kill him. Take him out peacefully. Make sure no one can exploit him#It’s sick and fucked up but he genuinely believed at least in his weak mental state that this was the only way to help Talen#And he deeply regrets trying such a thing. Obviously. now his son is traumatized#and Talen who absolutely loved his dad and just wanted their life to get better. Is traumatized for life baby!!!#At least he got a girlfriend and a mom though 😼😼😼😼😼
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Blessed with his favor
Prior notes: Let’s do this again folks. Let that criminal be thankful I’m not deciding their fate. Also that outfit where he got his titty out got me acting like a fool 😩🤌. (I’m sorry I raw dogged it again, I’ll fix it)
Pairing: Rain(MK11) x Worshipper! Afab reader
Warnings ‼️: NSFW, can we even say god complex if he’s a god?, praising (as a treat), blowjob, creampie, cockwarming (that’s his treat)
No one needs Rain to be their ally, but they don’t need him to be their enemy either. Lord Raiden surely doesn’t need Rain pestering him or risking harm to Earthrealm.
You’ve been a disciple of Raiden’s for quite a while. You helped out with Liu Kang and Kung Lao all the time. One of your roles was to be a messenger of sorts. And right now that will be your sole role for a while. because you will be giving the Prince of Edenia gifts. Luckily, you have some craft hands with a creative mind. So thinking and making a gift for him won’t be the hard part. It’s the delivery part that scares you. As much as he didn’t want to do this to you he found it might be the best course of action.
So you got to work. The first gift? A ring. A ring with an amethyst gem in the middle. Gained straight from a geode. Hopefully the prince will love it.
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Rain was already moody. Upset with the lack of worshippers, upset with the lack of allies, upset with Kitana for not freeing Edenia. The palace was tense as everyone would occasionally hear Rain grumble as he sat on his watery throne. Only one guard was brave enough to approach Rain as they had something important to tell him. They quickly informed him that he had a guest and they have something special for him. Immediately the grumbling stopped and his head slightly perked up.
“Is that so? Who is this person that has a gift for me?” He asked the poor guard.
“I believe they said they were someone close to the Protector of Earthrealm. They said they had a gift for you as a way of showing peace.” The guard just wanted to be done already.
Rain contemplated letting this person in. An Earthrealmer wanting to make peace? He almost didn’t want to entertain the idea. But the sound of a gift just for him did entice him to accept them in. He alerted the guard to let the person in quickly.
And there you were, strolling in with a small box in your hand. Your steps were careful, too afraid to move fast in front of the guards. The sight of Rain almost made you turn back around. Maybe cause he was a demigod. Maybe it was his muscles that scared you. Maybe it was his outfit that showed half his chest area. You didn’t wanna get caught staring so your eyes shifted everywhere but there.
You made your way to Rain. Just one look into his eyes and you were petrified to mess up. You went down on one knee before him and had your head lowered. You were looking down at the floor before speaking.
“I have a gift for you, your highness. An act of worship. I’ve made this gift with my own hands, just for you.” You swallowed hard when you finished talking.
“Well I never would have expected someone from Earthrealm to actually come and worship the prince. A wise choice, even from someone who seems close to Raiden.” His voice sounded like honey to you, almost tempting you to look up at him. “Open the box, earthrealmer. I want to see this gift.”
You did just that. You opened the box. At first it revealed what seemed to be a rock. Rain almost believed this was a joke that would end up getting you killed. You quickly flipped open the rock only to show it was a geode. The same geode you used to make the amethyst ring. There the ring was in the middle. If only you could have seen Rain’s face when you showed him the true gift. There was a sparkle in his eyes and he could feel his heart beat quicken a little. It was gorgeous.
“My my, what a lovely ring. And you said you made this yourself?” He asked as he took the ring out and placed it on his ring finger.
“Y-yes, I did. It’s a talent of mine. And I found the gem to be just right for you. Perfect for a prince.” You are saying the right words to him.
He just admired the ring and how it fitted him perfecting. The beautiful purple gem shined in the light and the gold band matched well with his other rings. No one has ever been so thoughtful, so creative with their offering to him. He had such a smug smirk on his face before looking down at you again.
“Excellent craftsmanship, earthrealmer. You have pleased me. I would have never expected that from someone like you.” He said it so condescendingly but you had to bite your tongue.
“Thank you, your highness. I’m grateful to please a man like you.” You said before looking up and seeing that smug smirk on his face growing larger.
You got back on your feet and handed Rain the geode case. You started to walk away before hearing Rain call out to you one more time.
“Oh and earthrealmer, I do wish for you return soon. I’d love to see what else you can do.” All you could do was nod before getting out of there like a bat out of hell.
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You did well to make the prince happy. Rain was more than delighted to have a worshipper who used her own hands to create gifts for him. It’s what he felt he deserves as the Son of Argus. He was in love with the feelings and the gifts. You did your best to balance your life while also having the time to make Rain gifts to bring to him each week. Whenever a guard or servant came to him he anticipated hearing that you just arrived. If it wasn’t that he quickly grew disappointed before acting as if all was fine. More and more you gave, necklaces, more rings, a box to keep the jewelry in, beautiful stones, and geodes you would find and crack open. Each time his heart would race and his desire grew almost unbearable. Even just the sight of you made him grow hard and he had to control himself.
You were already sensing that he was getting a bit too attached with you. He was getting touchy as well. His fingers would lightly graze your hand and wrist when he took the gifts from you. He would tilt your head up to look at him as he spoke to you. Sometimes he would even place his hand at the top of your head, almost petting you at times. Each time you froze up.
Yet Lord Raiden kept sending you over and you kept making those gifts. With how happy you were making Rain there was less to worry about. Even Kitana was saying she hadn’t had any instances with Rain causing problems in Outworld. You had a lot on your shoulders and you couldn’t mess things up. You will just be careful from now on. Except Rain had different ideas.
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When you arrived back you thought you would be going straight to the throne room. But a guard guided you somewhere else. You didn’t really know where you were going but you did see a lot of guards standing near one door. They opened the door and before you could comprehend what the room was you were pushed in, hearing the door slam shut behind you. Well that was just rude.
“My favorite worshipper. I see you have another gift for me.” You heard the playfulness in his voice.
You recovered a little and started glancing around the room. It was just as luxurious as the rest of the place but the furniture inside told you all. You’re in Rain’s bedroom.
Why am I here? Why are we not in his throne room? Why is HE not in his throne room? Is he getting too comfortable with me? He’s getting too comfortable with me.
You were lost in your own thoughts you didn’t realize you were standing awkwardly in front of him. You dropped down on one knee immediately and held out the gift for him. Just like you usually do. Just like how this should go.
“Yes I do. I always have something just for you.”
“Of course you do. But I do feel bad that you are always on one knee,” There was sarcasm in his words, “It must be hard to stay steady like that. Here, let me help.”
Before you could protest or ask what he meant by that, Rain slightly kicked in front of him which cause a tiny wave to form. The wave pushed your ankle which almost made you fall on your face. That’d be embarrassing. You luckily balanced yourself without dropping the gift. But now you’re fully kneeling in front of him. Kneeling like you truly worshipped him and prayed to him. Before you could even ask him what is the meaning of this, Rain got very close to you. Too close for comfort. He took the gift from your hands and placed it somewhere else, not even looking at it. His hand lifted your chin up and held your face in place so you were forced to look at him. That look in Rain’s eyes didn’t sit right with you. He looked…hungry…desperate for something.
“I have been loving every single one of your gifts so far, earthrealmer. You do better than anyone in Edenia could ever do. There is one thing, however, that I would love to receive from you. You’ve been very obedient so I don’t think this will be an issue.” His tone slowly because more lustful.
You can’t act ignorant anymore. You knew what Rain wanted. The position tells you all. Raiden didn’t have any plan for you to escape this. You almost didn’t want to escape this. This probably would do good for everyone involved. And who else could say they sucked a god’s dick. Well, demigod.
“I guess today you will receive a different kind of worship. Hopefully this kind will make you just as happy as my gifts did.” You said in a low voice as you watched Rain’s eyes widen in delight.
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The sight of you on your knees for Rain will be something he treasures. Your pretty lips wrapped around his cock as you struggled to take it all in. His hand had a grip on your hair as he continued using your mouth. Even when you tried to place your hands on his thighs to prevent him from going too deep that did little to stop him. Though it did excite him more knowing you were struggling to take him in. Little bits of drool started slipping out as your tongue kept swirling around his tip. You have no idea how long this could last so you better give it your all.
Rain could not hold back from groaning as he lightly thrusted into your mouth. The more he did it the closer it got to the back of your throat. When you felt the tip hit the back of your throat you gagged a little before recovering. The feeling was so new to you. You were choking on it yet it felt so thrilling. Your jaw couldn’t handle this.
“Look up at me, worshipper. Look up to your god.” Rain commanded you.
And you obeyed that command. With teary eyes you looked up at him as he used you for his pleasure. And because you obeyed he truly felt like he owned you. You were his worshipper, loyal to him. The thought alone and seeing those pretty eyes sent him over the edge.
Rain’s head went back as thrusted into your mouth one more time. The tears that formed in your eyes slipped down your cheeks as you felt his cock twitch inside your mouth. His cum slipped down your throat, forcing you to swallow it all. You never knew when it would end. When it did he pulled out of your mouth to allow you to breathe. He could see how your drool covered his cock, even a string of saliva that still was connected between it and your mouth. After catching your breath you felt his hand grab your face, forcing your mouth to stay open. He looked into your mouth as if he were observing it.
“You swallowed it all, what a good worshipper.” Rain praised you surprisingly before letting you go.
You thought that would be the end of it. You pleased him, that should be all. Oh please, this is Rain we are talking about, it’s never enough for the Son of Argus. That’s why he grabbed you again and dragged you to sit on his lap. You let out a little ‘huh’ before he started speaking again.
“Don’t tell me your can’t handle anymore. There is still much to do.” He whispered as he forced your pants and underwear off.
You let out a little yelp as you tried to collect your clothes again, worried that he actually ripped them. His arm was wrapped tight around your waist as his other hand went to take your shirt off. He must do this with a lot of women cause that was too quick. Your mind couldn’t comprehend anything. Rain seemed desperate to have you. And he was desperate to look at you as he fucked you.
“Woah, woah, woah, wait, are you sure you wan-“ You got cut off when you felt his cock being pushed into your pussy, causing you to let out a little moan.
Rain gave you a few seconds to adjust to his size before thrusting into you. Those few seconds were not enough as it still felt like he would split you in half. Your hands gripped onto his shoulders as you tried to adapt to it all. Meanwhile Rain was more than pleasured. Feeling your pussy squeeze around his cock and feeling your nails dig into his shoulders drove him crazy. He started leaving kisses on your neck that soon turned to sucking. It made you shiver as you finally adjusted to his size.
You gave up on keeping quiet. The guards on the other side of the door already knew this would happen. Your heavy breathing and moans echoed in the room with the sound of skin slapping together accompanying it. All your fears and worries slipped away from you and all you could focus on was the pleasure. You payed no mind to Rain even as he started to lightly bite down on your shoulder. He was purposely trying to mark you. Hickeys on your neck and bite marks on your shoulder. The pain from it only intensified the pleasure.
“Doesn’t it feel good to worship me. Look at what I can provide you. All this…just for you.” He whispered in your ear as he shoved his cock deeper into you.
You’re seeing stars at this point. So loopy and cock drunk you just hummed in agreement. You felt that pressure building up inside you that told you were about to cum soon. Rain was just as close. So he got rough, slamming into your sweet spot over and over that it sent both of you over the edge.
You were surprised to feel Rain’s hand behind your head, pushing it down until you felt his lips against yours. His kisses were just as rough as everything else. You were thankful for it actually since it muffled all the moans that were coming from you. Your pussy milked his cock as he filled you up with his cum. You felt so full and warm inside.
You had to catch your breath again after that experience. Rain kept you on his lap and was letting you cockwarm him. It’s amazing that he was still hard after cumming twice. He actually liked holding you and enjoyed the feeling of your warm pussy surround his cock.
“That was quite wonderful, my worshipper. I must thank you again for doing this. I just know you loved it too.” He’s so arrogant but he was so right.
“By the elder gods…I can’t remember a man ever making me feel that way.” Don’t stroke his ego too hard he might explode again.
Rain chuckled at your words, his ego being boosted even more. Before he could say anything else to you there was a moment of clarity. How long have you been here? Oh dear…
You immediately got off of Rain even though your legs couldn’t fully support you. You had to lean on a nearby wall to help support you as you threw your clothes on. You felt his cum dripping down your leg which made you shiver with excitement. No time to think about that, just throw your clothes on!
“Aww, do you really have to go? I’ve been enjoying your company and we can still have more fun.” Rain said playfully as he watched you struggle to put your clothes on.
“Sorry, prince. I have to return to Earthrealm.” You excused yourself as you managed to put your clothes back on. You reached for the door handle before Rain said one more thing to you.
“I understand, my worshipper. But do remember to visit me soon again. I’d be devastated if my adorable, loyal worshipper never returned to me. If you don’t, I’ll get you myself. But that would mean a possible punishment.” Rain smirked at you, knowing he could mess with you all he wants. And of course you nodded frantically, knowing you were gonna return anyways.
And so you left his bedroom, stumbling out like you were drunk. The guards avoided you and you avoided them. Some did watch you as you leaned against the walls occasionally to make sure you wouldn’t fall. You better start thinking of an excuse as to why you were late coming back. However Lord Raiden might already understand why that is, the evidence is all over your neck and shoulders. What a day you had.
After notes: Y’ALL! I can’t believe people actually liked my work. That’s actually insane to me, thank you all. I would have popped this one out earlier but uh…it was a Sunday. I already messed up by posting on Good Friday I won’t post stuff like this on Easter Sunday. But please I hope y’all like this one I think MK11 Rain needs hella love (even if he is a little arrogant and dare I say moody). If things go well I might do more characters because my heart is open to others. And if you wanna know my AO3 account where I will probably post this over on there as well it’s GalacticFox_64. Adiós!
#mortal kombat#mortal kombat 11#mk11#mk rain#rain mk#rain mk11#rain x reader#mortal kombat x you#mortal kombat x reader#mk x you#mk x reader#mk smut#smut#rain
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Listen. Listen. I had a thought (yes a single one because Karlach and Wyll have taken over my mind completely) and I am nothing but not intend on adding more salt to open wounds.
Karlach and Wyll both grew up in Baldurs Gate. Very different parts of it, granted, but Ulder Ravengard strikes me as someone who would encourage his son to know all of the cities people, rich or poor. And we know Wyll is certainly the type of person to try and look over this stuff, to strive for being the kind and popular leader one day.
So, young Karlach and young Wyll become friends. Like, best friends. Karlach is this courageous, never-scared spitfire, a perfect balance to Wyll's demure and safe upbringing. They spend almost every day with each other, roaming the city. And as they grow older, they eventually crush on each other. It just...happens. It's a natural development but Wyll gets more and more involved in his duties and Karlach needs to break out of this hole she grew up. They never tell the other how much they actually mean to each other. And suddenly Karlach is gone, nowhere to be found and only a few weeks later Wyll makes the hardest decision of his life and just like that- poof, their lives change forever.
(Let's put a 'Read More' here because like everything I ever write, this turned out longer than I wanted it to be. Ooops, I guess.)
Now, we all know Mizora twisted things so nobody remembers the imminent attack and Wyll got sent away by his father. But what if she didn't just alter the memories of the people around Wyll but in addition, also took something from him. Zarliel already had Karlach in her claws, so, naturally, if you are a devil with the chance to add even more pain, you do. Because come on, it just cant be a coincidence that Karlach and Wyll were enslaved by the same devil. It just cant be. And that way they made sure Wyll would also never come after her. Or at least not to save her. So again, just like that - poof, no recollection of Karlach or his feelings for her. No memory of her laughter and friendship.
Which brings us to poor Karlach, recently sold by the man she trusted, cut off from all of her friends and family, left to do Zariel's bidding. Her heart gets taken, replaced with infernal iron and hot blazing heat and yet, she doesn't cave. She grinds her teeth and hangs on to the hope of survival. Of one day returning to Baldurs Gate. And she won't give up on her positivity. She can't give it up, it's all she has left. So when the war is finally over, she dares to breathe and hope to be set free...only to be told there's someone out to kill her. The Blade of Frontiers. She has no idea who that person is, just knows that he's a monster hunter. Being thrown in the same pot as devil's and lemurs stings more than any dagger she ever felt.
So she runs, hides, until she finally meets him. The Blade of Frontiers. A knife to her throat and she's frozen. Because that isn't the Blade of Frontier. That's Wyll. Same brown eyes (or at least one of them), almost the same handsome face except for the newly added scars. He's the same Wyll and yet he's not. She whispers his name and realizes the second he looks at her, talen aback and confused, that he doesn't remember. He has no idea who she is. And that hurts even more than when Zariel cut her heart out. Her closest friend, the one person she ever felt love for and here he is calling her a monster. A devil. Scum under his boots. Threatening to kill her.
She has no choice but to fight back and push him off. Run again. Hide again. And suddenly she wakes up on a weird ship and she's out of the hells. And Gods is she happy. Gods is she scared. Gods is she broken. For the first time in years the horrors of everything catches up with her. The first few nights she spends crying, curled up in fetal position, trying to figure out what to do next. Who to go to when the only person she trusted has forgotten all about her. She wants to hate him. She wants to be mad. But she can't. She still carries love for him where her heart used to be.
Wyll doesn't know why but ever since their meeting in the hells, he can't close his eyes without hearing this darned devil's voice. Not Mizora's snears and petty remarks, he's used to ignoring her by now, but Karlach's. A laugh so catching he can't help but smile in his sleep, even though he's sure he has never actually heard her laugh before. Her soft whisper of his name. His real name. Wyll Ravengard. How did she know? He hasn't been Wyll Ravengard for a long time. No one seems to know Wyll Ravengard anymore, so who is that devil woman? He keeps tossing and turning, the strangest dreams of sharing his first bottle of beer with that flaming woman, hidden on the Pier of Baldurs Gate. Leaning in with the untamable urge to- But it's all so fuzzy.
When they meet the next time, Wyll is with a group of people and Karlach has never begged for her life but she knows she doesn't want to die by his hand. It can't be. She is pretty sure this will be her last day, though. She can't take 4 people all on her own when one of them is Wyll. She can not, will not, kill Wyll. So she begs and pleads, tries to explain, tries to convince him and for some wonderous reason, the leader of their group understands her dilemma. And Wyll sees his error. He lets his blade sink. He lets her live. More than that, as soon as he realizes his mistake, he willingly pays the prize Mizora forces upon him. He turns into the very thing he hunted, turns into a devil for her just to keep her safe.
That night, the first night at camp, she cries again. Quietly. Hidden behind some rocks. It's tears of relief but also shame and guilt. Wyll is a devil because of her and if only he knew...he would never forgive himself. She will never forgive herself for the sacrifice he had to make for her. If only she knew, maybe she would have let him kill her. So she decides, with a heavy heart, if he doesn't remember then he doesn't need to be reminded. She doesn't need to add to his torment by throwing her own feelings in the mix.
All the while, Wyll knows something is up. Something is not what it seems. He notices the things that seem too convenient to be a coincidence. They both grew up in Baldurs Gate. Mizora works for Zariel, who stuck her claws into Karlach, too. She vanished just weeks before the Dragon attack. She knows his name. His full name. His real name. And the way she looks at him sometimes, so full of pain and longing...
Karlach puts on a smile, swallows her feelings and acts like the person Wyll turned into, the Blade of Frontiers, isn't the most beautiful person she has ever met, inside and outside. Like his unbreakable kindness doesn't make her heart swell. That the jokes that fall flat on the other's ears make her burst out into laughter she hasn't felt in years. The way he immediately is ride or die for her again reminds her of their time together and sometimes, she catches herself looking at him. Longingly. Remembering. Wishing for something that will never be. Staring at him during her night guard while he's slumbering peacefully.
Then there's the matter of his dreams. Surely, some of them are purely a reaction to his undeniable attraction to Karlach because good Gods, she is bold and loud and strong but also, despite the misery she was put through, she has remained soft and hopeful and a beacon of glowing positivity. She is absolutely perfect. It only took him a few nights to fall for her completely. But other dreams feel...too real to be a figment of his imagination. They feel like memories.
It doesn't come back to him until they free Mizora and she agrees to set him free in six months. That night, the memories take over his euphoric, open mind, swarming and flooding him. Defending a teenage Karlach from someone twice their size because she decided to seek a fight for fun. Running from the guards after Karlach convinced him to steal an orange from a merchants cart. Holding her hand, staring out at the endless ocean, leaning in and then fleeing like a coward. The only time bravery left him hanging. Karlach showing him her favourite places in the Baldurian slums, sharing foods of her home with him. And gods, the love for her almost bursts from him when he wakes with her name on his lips.
He looks at her then, over to where she sleeps and he can't hold it in. He crawls towards her, quietly puts his head next to hers and the only thing he can say is her name. Karlach blinks at him, surprised, then suddenly vulnerable and finally her yellow eyes flood with happiness and emotion. He puts his arms around her as soon as she smiles. He whispers her name in her ear, the same way he did when they were seventeen and it only takes her a second to notice, to recognize the difference, the sound still carved into her chest. Her infernal heart soars. She closes her eyes, leans her head against his.
And finally, after years and years of torture, she is home again. And finally, after years and years of searching, Wyll is too.
#wyllach#wyll ravengard#karlach cliffgate#baldurs gate 3#bg3#rosie rant#i am sorry not sorry for this#you are all welcome#i am here to break hearts#please i just cannot stop thinking about this#someone tell me if anyone has WRITTEN this yet? is there a fanfic like that? i need it like air
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ghfdkjghfjkhdföjkgsfäökdlghjkdfgh
.......................ANYWAY.....................
i'm totally cool about this 😎
Formula One is a dream, but beyond that, Oscar thinks a lot about usurping. Of the quiet revolution that comes with the changing of a guard. Of nineteen people, wanting a piece of the crown, clamouring at it with wavering degrees of respect, or hate. Max wears it lightly, but it’s a delicate line to walk.
okay
oscar WOULD spend his time thinking of usurping and revolutions.
max in a crown 👀👀👀
Oscar’s spent a lot of time dreaming about a different pair of eyes. He hasn’t been able to pin down the colour, exactly: blue-green like Melbourne sea glass, like the stone he picked up from the beach as a kid. Hazel flecks in his teammate’s eyes, when it gets dark. + He ignores the feeling in the vicinity of his solar plexus. The one that wishes maybe it was someone else. Curlier hair, toothier smile.
okay i see you 👀 INTERESTING.
The other men’s laughter echoes from the outside. 'None of them thought either man would actually go through with it.'
i'm sorry but has anyone in that room met oscar or max?????? they would 100% be doing this kind of shit.
Or, as sloshed as eight professional F1 drivers could get on six packs of beer, assorted bottles of soju, and Lewis’s Almave as the chaser, anyway.
lol...... i do truly wonder what it tastes like tho 😂
Oscar has heard about how drivers used to do this to christen new tracks. Or to celebrate existing ones. It sounded like the tradition was in place largely because they wanted a flimsy excuse to party, and touch each other when they weren’t allowed to anywhere else.
100%. this has happened in real life actually. i was there. i saw it.
Oscar notices that Max’s hoodie has a lion on it. “Nice merch.” Oscar says, with little preamble. Max’s eyes do not flicker. “Thanks.” “Did you design that yourself?” “I choose from a few. Don’t you have people to do that for you? The OP81 stuff.” “Yeah. I like when there are three options.” “Me too.” Oscar tries not to dwell too long on the awkwardness of making smalltalk about merch.
i love them your honor 💖 such awkwardness but with an undercurrent of 👀
also don't think i didn't notice that max knew what oscar's merch line is called. he's been paying attention.
“I don’t know. I always thought you were more interested to talk about… tyre deg. You are very–” Max runs a hand through his hair. “Single-minded.” Oscar snorts. “Remind you of anyone?” “Well. People say I’m intense. Too intense for normal, at times.” “Have you ever cared about being normal?” There’s a glint in Max’s eye, visible even in the lamp’s low light. “Can’t say I do.”
max verstappen 🤝 oscar piastri = intense fuckers who are single minded when it comes to getting what they want.
and what they want is to win. to be the best. not just better than anyone else, but the best version of themselves. what they want is to be world champion and whilst one of them has achieved that high multiple times already and one has yet to achieve it. both are still reaching for it 'cause it doesn't matter how many times you stand at the top of motorsports... it never quenches the thirst for more- more accolades, more wins, more titles.
both of these men are talked about in the same breath as the some of the greatest the sport has ever seen. and whilst max is closer to reaching the same heights as michael schumacher or lewis hamilton, i have no doubt oscar will be able to achieve the same height if you give him a good enough car.
ANYWAY back to the fic.....
The noise outside the cupboard seems to have faded. Then there is a commotion in the kitchen, the sound of six pairs of feet running towards what must be the huge window at the far end of the hall. God knows what garish scene is taking form on the Vegas skyline. Or Lewis has announced his retirement through the medium of a laser lightshow. Maybe the FIA has decided to make an oil barrel out of drones.
lol 😂
“Charles says you’re very talented. And that much is obvious. You and Lando both.” Max says. Oscar finds it rare to encounter someone just as cut and dry as he is. He’s been told he has a propensity to come off cold, as if he’s read the temperature in the room and decided it is not in his interest to acclimate to it. But why bother, when you could just say what you think? Talking to Max is a bit like that. Like looking into the mirror, and seeing fractals, of yourself. “Do you spend a lot of time talking to Charles about me and Lando?” Oscar asks. “If it interests you, we are in an open relationship.” Max says.
charles/max/oscar/lando fic when? 👀
'he’s been told he has a propensity to come off cold, as if he’s read the temperature in the room and decided it is not in his interest to acclimate to it.' LEGITIMATELY ONE OF MY FAVORITE LINES EVER. IN ANYTHING.
“It’s just a kiss, mate. Not a marriage proposal.” Max deadpans. Oscar is the one who steps closer. “Hm.” “It might be good practice for you.” “Oh, so I give off the impression that I need practice, do I?” Max’s eyebrows shoot up. “You ask many questions.” “I like definitive answers.” “But somehow your statements are always a bit of both. You’re still uncertain.”
okay but the Oscar Piastri-ness™ of that? glorious.
Oscar finds himself tiring of Vegas. It’s so easy to forget the dimensions of anything, the shape of life, when the environment is built on desert. Plastic, nothing real. + So he reaches his palm out, fingertips grazing the part of Max’s hoodie where the collar meets skin. The cotton is soft there. Not like their sweat-wicking team polos. Warm to the touch. Not synthetic. Real.
veeeeeeeery interesting to me.
Oscar likes challenges that are unexpected. And the world champion is here, and he’s interested, and that is unexpected.
I FUCKING LOVE THAT LINE. JUST TRULY- *chef's kiss*
“So, are we doing this, or are we just gonna talk…?” Oscar asks. And it wouldn’t seem possible to close the distance between them even more, but of course, Max does. He always finds the gap that shouldn’t be there. He leans right into Oscar’s space, tip of his shoe practically nudging Oscar’s legs apart to do so, and there’s no backing out now.
i have nothing to add. just a cool ass line.
And Oscar does not just know fear. He confronts it. No task too large, no beast that cannot be brought to heel. He knows the secret, you see. You get close enough to an animal’s jaw, show it gentleness, and it opens its mouth for you. Shows you its bite. What is it that we want more than anything in the world? he asks himself. Staring up at Max. At the lion. To win.
okay, just another entry into 'gonna be thinking about this section for a WHILE' right here. 'cause truly just fucking love it. the imagery???? cool as fuck.
Because when Max tugs Oscar closer, leans his face to the side and nips at Oscar’s lower lip, a hunger that Oscar hadn’t known he possessed lights up in him too. His synapses seem to say: well, he’s into it. The three time world champion’s interested in you, so you might as well show him how you drive, too. And Oscar does.
I WILL NEVER GET OVER THIS. I CAN READ IT A 1543 TIMES AND I WILL STILL NEVER GET OVER IT.
It feels transgressive. Like they’re kissing under the bleachers, like in Sex Education. Delayed adolescence, a wet dream.
okay but the sex education reference????? truly amazing. i freaking love you.
They’re roughly the same height, but Max’s body is so firm under his hands, with a heft to his waist that neither Oscar nor Lando have yet. And Oscar’s mind is careening, a little.
okay but as someone who loves max's tummy.......... #same
Oscar thinks of a bedroom. Of Charles being there, beautiful, but hunger edging into his pristine. Of Charles’s teeth, on skin. Oscar thinks of Lando, always there in his imagination too. The four of them together on the bed, Lando hovering close, watching with that heart-shaped smile, finger tipping Oscar’s chin up. Telling Oscar how lovely and good he is like this, Oscar on his hands and knees in front of them. Charles’s mouth would be soft on his skin and Lando would let Oscar touch him, finally. Touch him all the soft and hard places that he’s tried to stop himself imagining, too many times. And Max’s hands would be on his lower back, skimming his ribs, scraping the planes of Oscar’s stomach before he pushes him further down on the bed. Then they’d all laugh at how pathetic and open Oscar gets when he’s turned on, how pathetic he lets himself be. And they might even make Oscar beg, and it is– this is–
APPARENTLY ASK AND I SHALL FUCKING RECEIVE???????????????????????
this is why i like reacting to fics in real time 'cause i fucking asked for this and then i got it in this fic???????????????????
(also praise kink and humiliation kink? hot.)
Oscar licks his lips for a final time, deliberately. He’s seen how Lando looks down at his mouth when he’s done that in the past. He’s tucked that information away for safe storage, with the brimming consciousness that it could be a weapon. He isn’t immune to the online discourse, the way they joke about him being littler, or that other men enjoy how lithe he seems sometimes. He has kept those comments in the back of his mind, for purposeful use. And he uses it now.
okay i know i commented on the Oscar Piastri-ness™ of it all earlier, but fucking noticing lando going 👀 at him when he licks his lips and going full on 📝 about it is SUCH an Oscar Piastri™ thing.
(also not to bring gax into everything but... very much a george thing i think 👀 .......now i'm thinking of george/oscar and/or george/max/oscar.......interesting 🤔)
Oscar feels a bit like he’s back at school again. And the cool sixth former’s just told him he has a spot on the lunch table if he wanted. Except the sixth former is Max Verstappen. And Oscar’s pretty sure he’s just received an open invite to stick his fingers up Max’s arse, or have world championship and championship-contending fingers stuck up him too, if he wanted that.
jklfgjkldöghjgfklhsgdöfl'hjgfklöä-
no further comment.
“Wait.” Lando’s mouth falls open. “Did you actually? Oh my god. You–” “Do you want to get out of here?” Oscar asks. “Wait. Are you hungry? We could go to the diner. Someone DM’d it to me on Insta, and I didn’t open it obviously, but from the message preview it actually looked well cool. We might get spotted, but like-” Oscar turns to Lando. He hopes his gaze telegraphs exactly what he’s feeling. “Lando. I’ll go wherever you want. Just us.” Lando’s mouth slams shut. His face goes carefully neutral, like it does before he’s about to get into the car, or when engineering’s just offered a piece of interesting information that changes everything.
the entire last section was just perfection from beginning to end but this part? extra perfect.
alter ego
🔵🟠 a maxoscar fic 🍾 in which they spin the bottle (right round, right round) 🖋️ 5.5k words 🔗 read on ao3
preview:
“It’s just a kiss, mate. Not a marriage proposal.” Max deadpans. Oscar is the one who steps closer. “Hm.” “It might be good practice for you.” “Oh, so I give off the impression that I need practice, do I?” Max’s eyebrows shoot up. “You ask many questions.” “I like definitive answers.” “But somehow your statements are always a bit of both. You’re still uncertain.” Oscar crosses his arms in defiance, and mirrors Max, then. They’re so close that their shoes practically touch, so close Oscar can make out the off white of the other man’s shoelaces when he glances down and up again into Max’s curious expression. If Max liked flirtation, then two could play this game. Oscar acts like he isn’t interested in the game, but really, he’s just lacked the opportunity to practise.
(i fought tooth and nail with my brain for this one but y'know, here it is.)
thank you @maaxverstappen and @alphatinies for the readthrough <3
tags for ppl who might be interested - @landoom @nyoomfruits @kingkestrel @calebwidgast @scuderiabs
#f1#max verstappen#oscar piastri#maxoscar#fics#wiz's writings#i love this fic so much.#i will be re-reading it as soon as i get back from the store with some much needed ice cream 'cause i am actually melting.
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I’d totally love to request a shelby sister fic if you’d be down (with prompts 2 and #55 )
Fucking Idiot.
Tommy Shelby x Sister Reader
A/n thank you so much for the request!! Sorry it’s talen me ages to write it! I also made this a Tommy peice so I hope this is ok, however there’s mentions of others🖤
Prompts: 2) “I know it hurts” & 55) “Are you hurt?”
Your feet carried you as fast as they could, trying your best to catch up with your brother, Tommy who obviously wasn’t hearing you call his name.
He finally turned around as he heard your voice, looking to you with a warm smile on his face, a soft giggle escaped his lips when he saw you, hunched over, hands on your knees and out of breath.
“Alright, y/n?” he spoke, wrapping an arm around your shoulders, clearly amused by your unfit state.
“You walk so fucking fast” you said, straightening up, playfully elbowing him in the ribs as he continued to take the mick out of you.
“Alright, alright! I’m sorry!” He laughed loudly, holding his hands up in surrender.
Letting out a loud sigh as you finally caught your breath, “where’re you off to?”
“Garrison” he stated bluntly,
“Obviously” you scoffed, sharing a cheeky grin with your brother.
“You coming? I think Johns already there, the others should be coming too I think.”
“Erm... yeah alright then.”
“That’s my girl!!” He laughed loudly, ruffling your hair.
“Fuck off Tom! I get it from you lot, your a bad influence!” Desperately pushing him away, fixing your hair which fell in long, loose curls over your shoulders.
Wrapping his arm around your shoulders once again, yours resting around his waist, you rested your head against his shoulder, his resting on top of yours as you wandered through the streets of small heath, “come on then” he whisperd calmly, looking forward to a night in the garrison with his friends and family.
The gangster Tommy Shelby everyone knew didnt exsist when he was around you, his baby sister, and he didn’t care who saw. Having lost him Mum and many others throughout his life, he refused to waste time with you, or anyone for that fact.
You walked in a peaceful silence as you trailed your way to the garrison... that was until you rounded the corner of watery lane.
All you saw was the barrel of a gun... pointed streight at you.
Obviously able to process the scene faster than you, Tommy dragged you backwards, a hand across your chest pulling you down to the ground.
Your ears began to ring instantly as you searched for Tommy, your vision blury.
“Tommy! Tom, are you hurt?”
Then you looked down... a pool of blood settling where you lay. Your breath hitches in your throat, panic flowing through your veins until you were pulled out of your trance by Tommy’s voice.
“Get a fucking ambulance, now!! Y/n look at me, just keep your eyes open, darlin’” if you didn’t know him any better you’d think his voice was calm, but you knew his soft tone was only masking his fear.
The pain radiated through your body, making its way up to your head as Tommy shouted orders to his men who’d now surrounded you,
“Where did the bastard go? Go fucking find him! Where John? I need John! Or Arthur or Pol, I don’t care, just please!” His voice cracked in desperation.
“Tom, please- help me.” You voice was weak and tired, “I can’t-” you were breathless, struggling to speak. You were cut off by Isaiah practically throwing himself to the ground to come and help, applying pressure to the wound, softly talking you through the pain.
Turning his attention to you once again, his eyes now filled with tears. “It hurts, Tom”
“I know, love, I know it hurts, just keep your eyes open, keep looking at me, you’d gonna be fine, your gonna be just fine” he repeated, however he wasn’t sure if it was more to convince you, or himself.
You alowed yourself to focus on his voice. It always relaxed you when you were a child, weather he was lay in bed with you, reading you a bedtime story, or if you were lay on the sofa, with you head in his lap, listening to idle conversation between him and your other brothers.
You were once again pulled out of your trance as you heard John run and kneel next to you on the ground, taking your hand in his
“John- John I cant fucking see, I can’t breath”
“No, no, no, y/n, come on, deep breaths, eyes open” his voice faded away until all you heard was silence.
-
You woke up to bright lights, the pain in your stomach only disorienting you more until you were suddenley brough back to reality when you registered a warm hand in your own. You looked down to see Tommy, your hands clasped strongly in his, his head resting on the edge of the bed, eyes closed.
You turned to your left to see John, Arthur as Finn asleep, perched uncomfortably on random chairs. You smiled to yourself, squeezing Tommy’s hand.
His head shot up, eyes wide. “Oh my god. Thank fuck. Boys! Boys she awake”
He stood, hugging you the best he could due to how you were lay awkwardly, he placed a kiss to your hair as you breathed in his scent, your muscles relaxing and you instantly felt better.
“Hiya” you whispered
The boys followed suit, gently hugging you, that was until Finn took it abit too far, hugging you slightly too tight, drawing a small whimper from your lips.
Arthur pulling him back, slapping him round the back of the head as John proceeded to call him a “fucking idiot”. You smiled at the sight, great fun to be able to witness this again.
Lolling your head to the left, you saw Tommy’s eyes boaring into you, filled with tears, eyebrows pulled together with concern. Sending him a reassuring smile, letting him know that you really were ok, him nodding in return, mirroring your smile, letting you know he believed you.
Turning your attention back to the others, listening to An argument between John and Finn, you laughed loudly, sending yourself into a fit of coughs, wincing as a sudden burst of pain shooting up your side.
“I’ll go get a nurse” Arthur started “come on Finn” dragging him by his arm before he could argue.
“Ada’s on her way down, Pol’s just at the shop, she had to go sort out the lads and the kids, she won’t be long” John informed you,
“Hmm good” you sighed, relieved to know everyone else was safe. “Abit drastic brings nag Ada down don’t you think?” You joked
“Couldn’t keep her away”
“I’m her favourite, that’s all” a cheeky smile on your face
You all sat in a comfortable silence for a minute or too before you spoke up again,
“Who was it?”
“One of sabinis men” Tommy’s eyes were full of anger, your heart breaking at the sight, a tear slipping down your cheek.
John came to sit closer to you, wiping your tears away with his thumb before speaking,
“Anyway, he doesn’t fucking matter, he had shit shot anyway. And he’s long gone, trust me” he smirked matter of factly causing you to laugh loudly, again, wincing in pain.
“Shit, sorry love” he apologised, “don’t want to kill you with my humour after all of that, do I!?”
“Fucking idiot” Tommy joked, mocking Johns previous words.
You smiled warmly, flopping your hand out for John to take which he gladly did,
“Love you both”
“Love you” they replied in unison
However much pain you were in, it couldn’t take away from the happiness you felt with your family around you, even if they were all ‘fucking idiots’ :)
Xxx
A/n did I lose half of this mid way through? Yes. Did I cry? Yes.
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#tommy shelby x reader#john shelby imagine#john shelby x reader#tommy shelby x sister reader#john shelby x sister reader#tommy shelby fanfic#tommy shelby imagine#arthur shelby x sister reader#finn shelby#peaky blinders fluff#peaky blinders x reader#peaky blinders imagine
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🏆 Gun and a Hotel Bible 🏆 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This film will win many awards, it’s fantastic!!!Screening at regal Cinemas at LA LIVE Saturday November 9th, theater number 8, 300 seats.This is an amazing film, Character driven, Exciting, Provocative and well written, the actors portrayal of their characters is exemplary, Our reviewers are absolutely at odds with each other right now as a large group of us just watched it as a submission to Film Fest La, it provokes conversation unlike any other film submission we have seen in three years, it has us arguing, debating, cringing, agreeing, disagreeing, and many other emotions flowing in the room, Edward was speechless for a few minutes too!!!, A few of us hated it due to ideology, but loved it too due to the content creating conversations....It's a must see and we are proud to say it is a top choice from our festival staff.www.GunandaHotelBible.comGun and a Hotel BibleNOTE: The original play was titled Gun a and Motel Bible. Motel was changed to Hotel for the film.Gun And A Hotel Bible is a provocative dialogue between a man on the verge of a violent act, and a personified Hotel Bible. Spend one hour in a desperate man's life as Pete comes "face-to-face" with everything he once believed in. Gideon (being, ya know, a Bible) doesn’t get out much. Still, he has plenty to say... but Pete’s heard it all before and he's more than ready to spar with the “Word of God.” As ideas about morality, the Bible, and God fly, the clock ticks. Gideon and Pete battle and bond as they are forced to deal with their inadequacies. Can Gideon sway Pete before Pete pulls the trigger?Bradley and Daniel have been writing and performing together for the better part of a decade. They have always bonded over good stories and good story telling. In the fall of 2017, Bradley (a big Beatles fan) pitched Daniel the idea of writing a play using a Gideon’s Bible as a character – an idea he got when listening to the Beatles’ song “Rocky Raccoon.” Eight months, several drafts, and dozens of philosophical discussions later, they brought on Alicia Joy LeBlanc to help bring the story to the stage. After an award-winning run at the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Embrace Entertainment greenlit the feature adaptation of the story: Gun and a Hotel Bible. Daniel and Bradley bring their differences, doubts, and deep friendship to the fore as they slug out the question: “Why do we believe what we believe?” Follow, Like and share social media sites: Instagram: instagram.com/gunandahotelbible/ Twitter: twitter.com/GunHotelBibleWords can’t describe how invested I was in Gun and a Motel Bible. As I was walking out of the theatre and to my car, a random stranger sparked a conversation with me asking me what show I had seen. I told him what I saw and his face lit up, indicating that he saw it to. We spent the rest of our walk analyzing the show. Major props to Bradley Gosnell for not only starring in it, but also being one of writers behind it. Fantastic job!! – Jake Mouchawar“An intriguing concept smartly delivered. Basically a fractured man’s debate with his forsaken faith, as the clock ticks down to a life changing act. The taut writing crackles with emotional intelligence and, given the concept, surprisingly organic comedy. Those with some scriptural familiarity will undoubtedly nod along with the inherent contradictions that are raised and debated, while those less scripturally inclined (like myself) need not worry. The play does all the work for you. It is not interested in delivering winners and losers, or even a faith-based message per se. It simply asks you to take the journey with these two characters who are impossible not to root for. Gosnell and Floren (who are also the playwrights) display razor sharp timing and, given how familiar they must be with the material, remarkably urgent, just-now deliveries. Floren’s cheerfully overeager, Mormon-on-the-doorstep enthusiasm brings levity at first, then a forceful flaws-and-all testament of faith as the ultimate healer, then finally pleaful desperation as the proverbial clock is about to run out. As the man with a dark plan, Gosnell does the emotional heavy lifting with nuance and humanity, wisely resisting the urge to play things too wrought or twitchy. It’s a performance that allows the audience to see the decent guy he must have been, punctuated by sudden outbursts of raw anger, betrayal, and self-reflective emotional reckoning. It all happens so seamlessly, it’s easy to lose sight of the high wire act these actor / playwrights have pulled off. LaBlanc makes the most of a spare, one room set. No movement wasted. Nothing false or forced. Never too little or too much. Tech work is solid. At a brisk 50 minutes, this one act journey is the best hour I can recall spending away from the smart phone in a long time.” -Baily Walker“I saw this play twice and I hope I get the chance to see it again! First thoughts…. what brilliant writing! The play has such a simple premise, but through that premise the characters take us on a complex journey of understanding what makes and justifies a moral code. At the beginning I was quick to choose my side between the characters, but just about halfway through… I couldn’t pick a side anymore as I found myself rooting for both of them. And what beautiful performances! The chemistry between actors Bradley Gosnell and Daniel Floren really brought the story to life. Their genuine/honest performances were a rollercoaster ride. One moment I was laughing out loud and just a minute later my heart was breaking. The direction was fantastic and the energy throughout the play took the suspense that was set up in the premise even further. Seeing it a second time gave me a chance to appreciate it even more, catching small details I missed the first time around. I hope to have the chance to see Gun and a Motel Bible again, share it with some friends, and I look forward to what the collaborators of this show come up with next.” – Ashton Avila“What a treat! Witty, intelligent, and refreshingly original, without isolating the audience (a tough feat when one of the characters is a BOOK!) I was laughing out loud while wrestling with my own moral dilemmas as the characters’ confronted theirs. These two talented actors bring you into some powerful and heavy debates that leave you teetering right on the edge of reason and insanity. Congrats to director, writers, and crew… it was my favorite fringe show this year!” -Ana Zimbart“This short but engrossing play was impressive on so many levels. The quality of the script: profound ideas and thoughts presented with such clear articulation and passion; you never feel as though you’re being preached to, or hit over the head with an opposing belief. The acting: these young men so embodied their characters, I really wanted them to continue their discussion; you could feel the energy and sincerity of their respective positions, as well as their disappointment, confusion and doubt. Don’t miss this one!” – Judy Burrishttps://www.hollywoodfringe.org/projects/5063Bradley Gosnell – Writer, ActorBradley Gosnell – Writer, Actor, Producer Bradley Gosnell is an actor based in Los Angeles. He continues to cut his teeth in the theatre world, rotating between producing, writing, directing, and performing (as you do in LA). He is an establishing member of Irreverent Shakespeare Project and the sketch team Safety Patrol (YouTube/ OOB). Bradley is currently working as a private acting coach and part time theatre teacher at Oaks Christian High School.Website: https://gosnellbradley.wixsite.com/actorIMDB Page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0331528/bio…Comedy Sketch Team page: safetypatrolcomedy.comDaniel Floren – Writer, ActorDaniel Floren – Writer, Actor, Producer Daniel is an actor-writer with a taste for honesty, heart, hope, and humor. As he’s journeyed from Wisconsin to TCU to Los Angeles, he’s honed a keen sense for shaping heartfelt stories. He’s acted and written for multiple screen and stage productions from the likes of Trinity Shakespeare to Comedy Central; he’s happiest in rehearsals and pitch rooms. More than anything, he wants to encourage people through stories built with meaningful logos, pathos, ethos, and Cheerios.Drama Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeNImdJvW4IComedy Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W_oWwcGxhUContact: [email protected]: www.danielfloren.comIMDB Page: imdb.me/danielflorenAlicia Joy LaBlanc – Director Alicia Joy LeBlanc co-directed “Gun and a Hotel Bible” after directing the play version for the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival. She is a short, character actress, and writer in Los Angeles. After reading the script she jumped at the opportunity to direct it and to work with talented actors, Dan Floren and Bradley Gosnell. She was thrilled to work with director Raja Gosnell in transforming this story for the screen.IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4251331/Raja Gosnell – Director When Raja saw the play Gun and A Motel Bible at the LA Fringe Festival he was beyond impressed with the intelligent writing and emotional acting. Hearing the reactions on the sidewalk after the show, and how the play served as an impetus for deep conversations, he was convinced that story should be brought to the screen.This was an opportunity for Raja to walk along side the young imaginative minds who created the story and help them bring the project to life on film. After meetings with writers Bradley and Daniel to discuss their vision, it was clear that they would serve as producers as well as actors. Having had been trusted to bring the story to the stage, it was important that director Alicia LeBlanc be a part of the team. Her blocking, understanding of the characters and coaching of the actors were as valuable on set as in the theatre.The cast and crew consisted of some established professionals together with many young artists at the beginning of their careers, giving freely of their time and talents. The energy, support and love on the set proved vital to this independent production with a small budget. The entire film was shot in under a week so it took unselfish teamwork to pull it off. Co-Director, Alicia LaBlanc also served as script supervisor. PAs were also stand-ins. Producers served meals and hauled props. The cast and crew were small in number but big in heart!Raja Gosnell has been in the movie business for four decades. After editing blockbusters such as Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire, he transitioned into directing. Directing credits include the Smurfs films, Big Momma’s House, Never Been Kissed, and Beverly Hills Chihuahua.Chelsea Gonnering – Producer Born and raised in Southern California, Chelsea grew up surrounded by art and music thanks to her parents and older sister. Chelsea spent the first two thirds of her life as a dancer, studying and performing ballet, jazz, and contemporary. It was in college that Chelsea’s interests turned to film and television production. Chelsea moved to Los Angeles 10 years ago and began navigating the world of freelance production. Since then, Chelsea has worked on a variety of projects spanning the entertainment spectrum. From docu-reality series and variety specials to feature films and new media.Chelsea’s first few jobs were with the legendary live TV Producer and Director Don Mischer. Chelsea has worked on multiple Oscar telecasts as well as AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards, Comedy Central Roasts, and charity shows such as Red Nose Day, Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, and Seth Rogan’s Hilarity For Charity. Chelsea has worked on the independent films, Save the Date, Non-Stop to Comic-Con, In The Family, and Love Sonia.Celeste Provart – Executive Producer Celeste maintains a passion for the arts as she has her entire life. She has dedicated time to a variety of performing arts as a performer, director, choreographer, and more. In her early career, she was a casting assistant for films and television. Years later she established the theater department at Oaks Christian Middle School. In those early years, she did everything from set building to wardrobe – and always “recruited” her kids to pitch in. After all, “Many hands make for light work!” Currently, she splits her time between learning (thank you Hidden Brain, TED talks & Audibles!) writing, and family. She is always eager to attend original and creative small theatre performances in whichever city she finds herself. In these humble venues, she finds the new, creative works which inspire and engage. Producing Gun and a Hotel Bible has been a privilege.Robert Arnold – Director of Photography Director of photography Robert Arnold is an accomplished cinematographer who is equally at home working with high art, drama and VFX productions.From studio to independent productions, Arnold is admired for his skill with lighting diverse skin tones and his warm, collaborative approach to filmmaking.Most recently, Arnold has been shooting commercials, short films, documentaries and television series. In 2018-19 he operated B Cam/Steadicam on ABC’s Grown•ish, staring Yara Shahidi, for Mark Doering-Powell, ASC. Previously he operated B Cam/Steadicam for his long time friend and cinematographer Tommy Maddox on the Netflix Original Series titled “Huge in France” starring French comedian Gad Elmaleh.In 2018, Arnold lensed a spec commercial for director Monty Marsh who is a part of the Commercial Directors Diversity Program (CDDP), a joint venture between the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) and the Directors Guild of America (DGA). A member of the International Cinematographers Guild I.A.T.S.E. Local 600, Arnold’s past credits include serving as a camera operator on The Walking Dead and Chicago P.D., working alongside his mentor cinematographer Rohn Schmidt, whom he met on The Chicago Code. Arnold also worked as on films and television series, such as: La La Land, Furious 7, Scandal, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and Big Little Lies. On Big Little Lies, Arnold collaborated closely with director Jean-Marc Vallée, OC to compose the series’ beautiful frames, designing shots and occasionally lensing second unit.Having been a professional filmmaker for more than 14 years, Arnold’s passion for cinematography began with his admiration for films photographed by Matthew Libatique, ASC; Ernest Dickerson, ASC; Wally Pfister, ASC; Darius Khondji, ASC, AFC, ACS.This led him to cultivate his craft for cinematography at Columbia College Chicago where he received his Bachelors of Arts in Cinematography, as well as at the prestigious American Film Institute where he was awarded a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Cinematography. While balancing his undergraduate studies, Arnold’s ambition led to an electrician apprenticeship on Fox Searchlight’s Roll Bounce with James Muro as the cinematographer. Two years later, Arnold joined Chicago’s I.A.T.S.E. Studio Mechanics Local 476.The young cinephile would further his occupation becoming a grip/electrician on features, television series and commercials between Chicago and New Mexico. Arnold cites world renowned cinematographers John Simmons, ASC; Geary McLeod, ASC; Rohn Schmidt; Amir Mokri; Dave Perkal, ASC; and Yves Bélanger, CSC as his mentors. Arnold is based in Los Angeles, with Chicago being his hometown.Ed Smart – Composer Ed Smart is an award-winning composer for television and film, having composed themes and scores for series on Discovery, HBO, CBS, A&E, TLC, Velocity, Nickelodeon and OWN, among others. He composed the score to the Oscar-nominated documentary feature Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream, executive produced by Denzel Washington and the HBO series Arli$$. Recent projects include the television series A Haunting (Discovery) and Fantomworks (Velocity). As a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and orchestrator, Ed has worked with many award-winning artists, including Beyoncé, Jewel, Amy Grant, Jennifer Hudson, Michael W. Smith, and Kirk Franklin.Website: https://www.edsmartmusic.comKeseh Morgan – Production Designer Keseh Morgan’s love for creating spaces was cultivated through an admiration of architecture, landscape and storytelling. Production Design found her, lost in a writers room searching for a more immediate creative output. For the last 8 years, Keseh has cultivated a successful award-winning career that spans films, commercials and music videos. As a production designer, Keseh owns her creative space. Through collaboration with strong production crews her vision truly represents the character’s narrative journey. She lives and works in Pasadena, California. Her favorite dessert is butterscotch pudding and she believes that all art is created through some mischief and magic. https://pin.it/yjlxa5lsie27l7
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How To Fix The Los Angeles Valiant
Its no secret that the Valiant are experiencing some issues to start season 2 of Overwatch League. Between the bottom teams of the league they seem to have the most glaring issues. Washington Justice have a cheap roster (allegedly), Florida Mayhem are adding new players in hope of improving the team, Los Angeles Gladiators have a stacked roster full of off season additions still.
Teams like the Atlanta Reign, New York Excelsior, Florida Mayhem, Philadelphia Fusion, San Francisco Shock, and Boston Uprising have already recruit thru or promoted from there Contenders level teams. Without a lower level team to pull from the Valiant are relying on building within the team. You take bigger chances on bench players hoping that being apart of the highest level of play will help them develop into that level. And we all know how that went in season 1.
(From a cost perspective running a contenders level team just to possibly feed talent into the OWL level team is probably an easy way to lose money.)
During the off season the Valiant lost more talent than they gained.�� From coaches to players. Noah Winston, being the professional owner he is, let people leave to join the Paris Eternal. And they are already making waves in OWL. Very polite but the lost of talent was far greater than they must of expected. Because they put zero attempts in adding in new talent to fill those holes. Even if they offered to players who signed elsewhere they should of still signed lower skill players in an attempt to at least have the roster spot filled.
So in short I want to go into possible solutions to these problems. I’ll keep it simple when its just adding certain players from certain areas.
Korean Contenders Players
Most of Korean Contenders isn’t affiliated with an OWL team so the players are free agents able to sign at any time.
-Edison (GC Busan Wave) 17 yrs old
Worth to sign and hold onto Sinatraa style instead of losing the bidding war next season.
-Climax (O2 Blast) 19 yrs old
Strong DPS player.
-Order (Free Agent) 24 yrs old
Out shined Godsb during the season he played on X6 Gaming. Was easily there best player that season. Its a huge shame he isn’t on a contenders roster or OWL roster right now. Easily worth the pickup for one season.
-Delight (GC Busan Wave) 20 yrs old
Strong DPS player.
European Contenders Players
-Hqrdest (Morning Stars)
DPS player
Still playing at a high level. Playing some of his best Overwatch right now. Tons of team experience.
-Leaf (Morning Stars) 23 yrs old
DPS player
Has a slightly odd hero pool but a great player. I’ve been watching him for years since he was playing on GamersOrigin. Highly motivated to win.
-Davin (Team Gigantti) 23 yrs old
DPS palyer
Easily an OWL level player. Could step in and play right now. Experience and tons of success in Overwatch already. Would provide consistency in his role.
-Vizility (Team Gigantti) 22 yrs old
DPS player
Absolute nutter of a player. Made the move over to NA contenders before going back to EU contenders. Should already be on an OWL team. A lot of EU players are getting overlooked because of age but they were 19 and 20 when they first started making waves in the scene. People aren’t scouting well enough in OWL. There is no excuse for players like Vizility (and Asking) to not be in OWL. I don’t care if they can be hard to coach. COACH BETTER. Not everything is easy to do and wins are more importance than being comfortable on an 0-4 OWL team.
AUS Contenders Players
-Jordation (Order) 3 million years old
Support (DPSlol) player
I hate to meme on this guy so much but he is kind of known as Colourhex’s ugly step brother. Jokes aside the dude is a nasty sniper and has gobs of mechanical skill. Worth the risk.
Tons of talented players in this region and sadly the time zones make watching the games hard. Honestly though from a pure scouting perspective you should only be watching the Sydney Dropbears and whoever plays against them well.
Academy Players (buyouts yuck)
Every player listed here is going to have some stupid academy contract stuck to them and will cost extra money to get.
-Asking (Uprising Academy)
I’ve said a lot about this player since first seeing him click heads. Best sniper now in OWL by far. But for now I’m going to let his last match speak for him.
https://youtu.be/7rZiUbQxBwM?t=1871
-Gator + Hawk (ATL Academy)
Now this would come at a huge price tag. And probably be against what Moon would want. But you would instantly have more cohesive frontline. Gator and Hawk work great together but Hawk doesn’t seem to show out beyond his Dva play.
-Snillo (Fusion University)
DPS player with OWL experience.
-Logix (Montreal Rebellion aka Toronto Defiant)
Another talented DPS player with OWL experience. Has been playing at an extremely high level in contenders since leaving OWL.
-Dino (Uprising Academy)
Flex Support. Ever since he has moved up into NA contenders he has looked amazing. Should be on someones OWL roster.
-Tensa (Montreal Rebellion aka Toronto Defiant)
Main Support and one of the best leaders you can find in overwatch. Somebody you want connected to your team as a player or as staff. Should have a long career in overwatch.
-The entire Gladiators Legion roster
Jokes aside signing Water, Dalton, Luddee, Panker, or FRD wouldn’t be a bad idea. Some of the best contenders level players at there roles. Panker would already be OWL if it wasn’t for being trapped in contenders contract hell.
-Mangachu (Mayhem Academy)
Two words. Torb Hammer.
He would provide years of experience from the highest level of play. He has done everything short of playing in Apex.
-Manneten (Mayhem Academy)
Great player and like Logix he has been doing nothing but playing at his best since leaving OWL.
-Paintbrush (Mayhem Academy)
Support player. I’ve been watching him for years since he spent like a month on a team with a low level player I was watching to see if they would level up (rip LittleMenace). Great teammate.
-Gods (Second WInd) I forgot NA still has independent teams not affiliated with the OWL oops.
Flex everything
Instantly helps any team he joins by being one of the most experienced NA professionals of all time. Easily the most experienced NA pro not in OWL.
Trade Targets
Even more expensive, trading for or buying the rights to OWL players.
-Effect (Dallas Fuel)
You would have to convince both sides that the Valiant are a better situation for him. My only worry would be the dive meta with Fate, Agilities, and Effect. The game client mite crash from the high speed those 3 would play at.
-Tviq (Florida Mayhem)
As much as I hate him I think he could benefit from a change of scenery in the way players like Custa and Unkoe did last season.
-Soon (Paris Eternal)
Please come back.
-Architect (San Francisco Shock)
They have so many great OWL players that you would think you could just take one without them noticing. They would probably be more willing to trade Babybay than Architect. I would love Rascal or to take Striker. Its an embarrassment of riches to be honest.
-Diya (Shanghai Dragons)
I wouldn’t want to take him from his home team but I would love to have his talent. Great player still a pretty big star from the Chinese scene.
-Fearless (Shanghai Dragons)
Its sad whats happened to him since last season. He deserves redemption and I say let him come back up Fate on the Valiant. One of them is bound to improve because of it.
Some Random Free Agents
-Shadder2k (sad)
I would still sign him while he was hurt and helped him work thru out and have him under contract for when he’s healthy and ready to play. barely qualified at 18 yrs old when OWL first started. The most missed talent from the pro scene.
-Spirit (Twitch)
Known for 1 tricking to extremes but he would learn heroes at a higher level than your average pro would and that’s saying something.
-Jay3 (J3sus)
He’s moving on from pro OW to pro Apex but I would still take him back. One of the greatest raw talens (globally) that I ever saw play the game. I don’t think he truly understood how amazing he was.
-Brandito (why not)
Better than losing every game this season because your convinced the current roster and staff has what it takes.
JUST SIGN TALENT AND TRY TO IMPROVE. THE TEAM ISN’T GOING TO MAGICALLY GET BETTER BY LOSING EVERY GAME. The Valiant are about to become the Shanghai Dragons of season 2. Not because they’ll lose every game but because every team will play them hard not wanting to be the first team to lose to them.
Bring in new coaches. Bring in new players. MAKE AN ACADEMY TEAM. Don’t invest nothing into season 2 and expect to rewarded for it. Winning mite not matter that much to the Valiant but it will cost you fans and money in the long run.
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Review: Angel Witch (UK) - As Above, So Below (2012)
Presentation
Angel Witch is widely regarded as one of the biggest bands that are credited for building up Nwobhm-genre (or movement, what ever you want to call it). Nwobhm stands for "The New Wave Of British Heavy Metal", and was first discovered and named in 1979 in The Great Britain, where bands such as Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, Samson, and Saxon were recognized by having their own new authentic style by media. Geoff Barton of "Sounds" magazine was actually first person to use term Nwobhm. The sound that adapted itself from classic rock and punk rock, taking best of both worlds.
Angel Witch were one of the more epic and instrumentally more skilled bands of the Nwobhm movement, releasing their first debut album in 1980 "here Witch. Much praised epic Nwobhm opus with magical compositions, being same time doomy, melancholic, mysterious and drawing influences from 70's progressive rock. After this they came out with two more full length releases: "Screamin' n' Bleedin'" in 1985 and "Frontal Assault" in 1986. But at the time of the latter two releases Angel Witch had seemed to lose that special atmosphere that made the debut so epic, so highly praised, and so unique. The compositions got more straight forward, tad more mainstream, heavier, more standard heavy metal. They kept their "dramatic " and "melancholic" influences in their melodies, but lost complexity of it.
Review
Now it's year 2012 and Angel Witch have returned with a brand new "reunion" album called "As Above, So Below", first one in 26 years. That's a damn long time. The band has had some activity throughout the years between actual recordings though.. so I got a feeling that musical compositions have been living and forming in Kevin Heybourne's head, who's only original member left of any lineup since the 80's. Not to worry though, Heybourne has been the driving force behind the Angel Witch's wheel before. Alongside him he has recruited two newer talens without any mention worthy career in any known heavy metal bands before.
The new album comes with FANTASTIC cover-art, released by Rise Above Records, containing decent amount of tracks (eight), and running respectable 50 minutes plus. After a long break between releases you're sure to ask two questions: it's so long break that is the album half-hearted release that lacks the original power? And have they sticked with either of the former styles or modernized their sound? Well I got good news for you. The very basis of this album, the body of it, is of a right sort. First of all this is not half-hearted release.. Heybourne is in a good shape as a writer, guitarist, and singer. No signs of tiredness. Secondly a great thing is that this album is rooted perhaps the most to their sound from times of the "self titled debut album"! Well it's a mixture of that and some of the "Screamin' n' Bleedin'" era in my opinion. It hangs there in between but is definitely closer to the debut by sound and compositions.
The reason to this may well be that Angel Witch have used several old compositions here to re-record old songs. In fact "Dead Sea Scrolls" and "Witching Hour" are from around 1983-1984 originally, a time between the debut and it's sequel, while "Into The Dark" and "Guillotine" (which was later used in "Frontal Assault" under different name: "Rendezvous With the Blade") date from times before aforementioned. Rest of the tracks are new. This at least supports the album's sound rooted to early 80's times of the band.
So song compositions sound like mixture of selt titled debut and the second album. How about the general sound of album? The sound itself is very damn good! The rhythm guitars are sort of a very slightly muddy, deep and still sort of crisp with very light distortion. They're sort of a "doomy" which is cool. While lead guitars themselves are crisp, clean, and very audible. Bass is sort of a dry, fuzzy, not stealing the show but can be heard well and adds doomy atmosphere. Soaring lead guitar melodies combined with doomy rhythm guitars takes you on a trip to late 70's / early 80's for sure. And in addition to comparison to earlier Angel Witch, the band also sounds like Witchfinder General with their "Death Penalty" album - sound wise. They did not overproduce the album which gives it natural born raw power and roughness to their beautiful compositions. I should also mention that drumwork is very nice. The drummer focuses to complexity perhaps more than "straight forward thundering", but his use of the hi-hats and cymbals as "fills" sounds great! It Brings Iain Finlay (ex-Running Wild) from "Death or Glory" album to my mind. Heybourne's gloomy middle pitched clean vocals are still strong as before. While he may not be the most original vocalist around, with not having those high pitched piercing screams, or cool rough bluesy edge on his voice, he knows how to sing Nwobhm style stuff with emotion.
This albums has it's share of those progressive rock elements that were there in early Angel Witch compositions. It lives in songs like "Into The Dark", which is a mind trip itself. It's one of the best songs in the album. It starts as laid back progressive/doomy track mixing mellow melodies with melancholic and mysterious ones, while lead guitars build labyrinth-like patterns taking listener to a journey to the other side, and then ending with aggression and speed. Another my favorite would be melancholic and epic "Dead Sea Scrolls" with crisp Nwobhm style rhythm riffage at it's finest, and soaring lead guitars crying on top of that. "Brainwashed" would be third favorite to mention with that gruesome and eerie lead guitar prelude, leading into even old era Megadeth-like rhythm guitar lines, while chorus is definitely as Angel Witch as it gets and the track features some nice progressive-like shredding parts. On the other hand "Gebura" could be straight off the Screamin' n' Bleedin' album, and "Guillotine" sounds like Frontal Assault-material, where it was later on used.
Lyrics are sort of a poetic, riddling, mysterious and epic on other songs, while there's certainly that more philosophical and meaningful side the lyrics too like in "Brainwashed":
"Maybe the story's true for believers A victim's story of deception A god alone, and we start with soldiers, a simple man A lie to be made for the power of control
To scare them for the guilt Wash yourself, start with their blood To wear the symbol to what made the pain To what made the death
Look into your own eyes Your reflection shows you' re brainwashed Restrain yourself inside Stop yourself from being brainwashed"
Lyrics as well as those that makes us think - sort of lyrics that makes us recognize things in ourselves and around us - are always cool.
Summary
The downsides of this albums are not many. Dramatic, melancholic, and gloomy atmosphere - with those eerie moments - that I love in old Angel Witch records is to be found in "As Above, So Below" with surprisingly old school rooted sound mix that has it's rough edges, but with updated quality. While this album honors classic Angel Witch, it fails to capture quite the same greatness and atmosphere than the debut. The basics of the album are straight on the right tracks. Old school style sound and production is there, just bit perfected. Debut style progressive / doomy compositions are partly there, with some of the bit newer sounding more straight forward mid-80's material combined. In my opinion the band are at their best when wandering into progressive / doomy waters with bit more complex and unique tracks such as "Into The Dark" which guarantees to take your mind into an adventure.
Perhaps this record overall is still not quite as complex, vibrant and varying than the debut was. It feels tad watered down in comparison. Not that much, but a bit, enough to not reach classic status. It's hard to recognize the actual faults here.. perhaps "The Horla", "Upon This Cord", and "Guillotine" drag a bit. "As Above, So Below" lacks perhaps a bit of a "finesse" although it has several great songs. Compositions just fail to match the debut - but they're good nevertheless! It's nice to see this album honor the band's original roots and sound.
I'd say that Angel Witch runs here with energy level on 7.5/10 and material is perhaps about the same, some great, some decently good, but the overall presentation of album - this album sounding perhaps as close to the early 80's as possible - deserves 9/10. It's greatness will grow slowly on you. As Above, So Below is very welcomed comeback that leaves you wanting more.. perhaps next time they manage to crank out eight quality songs that are even more epic! Recommended bargain for anyone loving heavy metal from early 70's to the 80's - but even more essential to the Nwobhm fanatics and fans of the band.
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When to Cheer for An Opposing Player
When Chase Utley heads to the plate during what may be his final series at Citizens Bank Park this week, I hope Phillies fans give him a lengthy standing ovation, then proceed to boo the ever-living shit out of him.
I think that’s always been the blueprint for beloved former athletes. We show our respect for what those players did in Philadelphia, then shift gears to remind them that they’re now wearing the wrong colors and playing for the wrong team. The stakes are higher as two first-place clubs meet on the diamond, and the meaning is amplified since Utley is retiring at the end of the season, so I’d expect heightened senses and louder volume tonight.
Chase is a competitor, so I can see him as a guy who would appreciate and understand that kind of treatment. After all, he saw it on display for many years, enjoying the wonderful home field advantage that Phillies fans provided at CBP and oftentimes also at Nationals Park and Citi Field. The savvy fan respects the past while understanding the present.
So I think Utley’s situation is very cut and dry.
I’m more interested to see how Manny Machado is received tonight, a guy who was the subject of incessant Philly trade rumors, but ended up in Los Angeles instead.
For starters, it’s not like Machado chose to go to the Dodgers over the Phillies. Here’s a player on an expiring contract that the Orioles shipped out to the highest bidder for the best crop of prospects they could get. The Phils get another crack at Machado in the winter, so I think booing him tonight serves absolutely no purpose whatsoever.
But I don’t know if cheering for him is necessary, either. What message does cheering send? We like you? We want you to come here? That feels a little forced and fake to me. I’d think you just treat him with indifference.
If anything, I think the reaction to Utley is more relevant to the Machado situation than anything involving Manny himself. That thought goes something like this:
Phillies fans go crazy for one of their all-time greats
Machado sees that and appreciates that
he says to himself, “hmm these fans are great, maybe I do want to come play here next season..”
Far fetched? I don’t think so. Of course, I don’t know much about Machado as a player or person, so maybe he already has his mind made up as to where he wants to play next year. Maybe he wants to play for the Yankees or maybe the Dodgers make a run at the World Series and he feels like signing a long-term deal with Los Angeles is his best bet to win a ring.
Either way, I think you can impress Machado by filling the stadium, showing a lot of love for Utley, and illustrating what the atmosphere can be like at Citizens Bank Park when Phillies fans are locked in, selling out the venue, and getting behind their first-place team.
Those situations seem rather straight-forward compared to what happened at Talen Energy Stadium this past Saturday, when a sold out arena was packed with Zlatan Ibrahimovic fans who didn’t give two shits about the Union but showed up in their PSG and Manchester United jerseys to cheer for an opposing player instead:
Never mind the guy with the New York Giants bucket hat and Temple long sleeve combination, I’m focused on the three jabronies who popped up on the broadcast after Ibra scored the Galaxy’s game-winner.
And look, I understand the Union are utterly mediocre and have done nothing to deserve the support of the casual Philadelphia fan, but something just really bothers me about the local who shows up to cheer for the opposing team or a specific player from that team. It was ATROCIOUS watching the Sixers play the Warriors at home this season, as the arena was 20% filled with Steph Curry “fans” who I’m pretty sure have never been to California. It was just as bad when the Lakers were in town and Kobe jerseys were all over the place and LaVar Ball was walking around outside of the locker rooms yelling and laughing and just running his big fat mouth in general.
To that end, I’ve always agreed with the parochial Philly sports idea that if you grow up here, you pull for your local teams. It’s just about staying true to your roots and remembering where you’re from. The Dallas Cowboy fan who grew up in Maple Shade simply has no geographic or cultural connection to North Texas. It’s the same with the Duke fan from Fleetwood who went to Penn State Berks.
It’s a bit different in soccer, where a lot of people enjoy foreign leagues and foreign players and might not give a shit about MLS. The guys in the photo above probably never got to see Zlatan play in Europe, so here they are cheering for him in Philly. That’s nice, and I get it, but it’s the same thing I wrote above. I’m 99% sure these guys have zero cultural or geographic connection to PSG or Ajax or AC Milan. Here they are then, disrespecting the Union fans sitting around them by showing up in Euro jerseys to support a single player from the opposing team.
The most sane comment I saw on Twitter regarding this stadium-wide embarrassment came from a guy named Andrew, who explained how he and his brother handled the conflict of being Philly sports fans who also supported Steven Gerrard and Liverpool:
“There was never a question of who to root for.”
Jesus Christ, this makes too much sense.
God forbid you could just hold on to your Steph jerseys and then seek him out for an autograph after the game.
If you grew up in Montana or your dad knows Nate Newton personally, or if you were part a transient military family, then I understand that the things that define fandom for you might be different. I can understand how you might end up a Seahawks, Cowboys, or Dolphins fan. I’m not sitting here trying to be the one-man sports tribunal, judging whether or not your fandom is legitimate.
But I can speak for this region, and for all of the rudimentary “four for four” nonsense that gets spewed around here, Philly does know a poser when it sees one. They were all over the place at Talen on Saturday. I hope none are at Citizens Bank Park tonight and I hope some of the “lifelong” Warrior and Laker and Cowboy fans leave their shit at home the next time those teams are in town.
Thanks for understanding.
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Your Monday Morning Roundup
The Flyers held their own… for about five periods… before everything came crashing down in game six.
Let’s start with Friday. With Michal Neuvirth in goal and Sean Couturier back after a one-game absence, the Flyers squeaked past the Penguins 4-2 thanks to a game-winning goal by Coots.
Game 6 was expected to be a treat for fans and it gave them some hope that the Flyers could force a Game 7, even though it was expected the Pens would win.
At first, the Flyers came out strong, as they have in nearly every other playoff game. But this time, they actually scored from their early pressures, thanks in part to Couturier. But Michal Neuvirth couldn’t find his Game 5 form and gave up seven goals on 28 shots as the Penguins took the series with an 8-5 win.
Pittsburgh got themselves two goals in under a minute in the first to take a 2-1 lead before Andrew MacDonald (!) tied the game late in the first. As he did in the opening period, Coots scored early to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead and more momentum on a spectacular goal:
Sean Couturier, likely playing hurt, with a filthy move to give the Flyers the lead pic.twitter.com/pO13Nwcz0S
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 22, 2018
Scott Laughton extended the lead to 4-2. For some time, there was the thought that maybe the Flyers would force a Game 7.
But that’s where Jake Guentzel enters the picture. Just over a minute later, he assisted on Patric Hornqvist’s goal to cut the lead to one before scoring the first of four straight goals with 54 seconds left in the second. Pittsburgh took the lead again thanks to Guentzel 30 seconds into the final frame before he scored goals at 12:48 and 12:58 into the third. His hat-trick goal may have killed any chance for a Flyers comeback, especially since the refs missed an obvious trip on Coots by Kris Letang:
Letang trips Couturier, no call, and Guentzel scores. pic.twitter.com/RYodiRG5aT
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) April 22, 2018
There’s no reason why that shouldn’t have been called. It pretty much signaled the end for this team, even though Coots did get a hat-trick late in the game.
Five of the six games in the series were won by the away team, with Game 1 being the only game won by the home team. Five of the six were blowouts, with Game 5 being the only outlier.
After the game, Couturier revealed he played with a torn MCL, which takes about four weeks to recover from. After fighting back tears at the end of the game, Ivan Provorov told reporters “As long as my arm was attached, I was playing.”
The season is over, and I think the loss showed what the face of the Flyers looks like – a 25-year-old center who had a breakout season and is a Selke Trophy finalist and a 21-year-old defenseman who should be a Norris Trophy nominee in the very near future.
The pressure is on for Dave Hakstol to use his rookies in a much larger role. The same for Ron Hextall to make this team better via trades, the NHL Draft, and free agency. There’s a lot of people, myself included, that have been very frustrated with the direction, or lack thereof, that the organization has taken. This team has been very inconsistent, and almost didn’t make the playoffs with a very hot Florida team right behind them. Let’s hope some moves excite this fanbase going into next September’s training camp.
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After The Worst of Philadelphia went well, we now have The Not Worst of Philadelphia!
Moving on to a team that’s actually doing well in the playoffs, the Sixers! After a Game 3 win against a chippy Heat team that got their payback for late layups, the Sixers were sloppy in Game 4 with 26 turnovers, 25 of them in the first three quarters.
But they won. This team is now winning games they shouldn’t be, and that’s a huge step in the right direction. JJ Redick had 24 points, but Ben Simmons recorded the team’s first postseason triple-double since Charles Barkley in 1991 with 17 points, 10 assists, and 13 rebounds. He also became the first rookie since Magic to record a triple-double in the playoffs. And some people think he’s not the Rookie of the Year. Lol.
Game 5 is Tuesday night at 8 PM. There’s gonna be excitement in the Wells Fargo Center once again for a winning team.
The Phillies are…good? Not like lucky good, like actually good?
After Jake Arrieta took the first game of a four-game series against the Pirates Thursday night, the Phils took a 2-1 win Friday night thanks to an Odubel Herrera triple in the eighth. They followed that up with a 6-2 win Saturday thanks to another outstanding performance by Aaron Nola and Rhys Hoskins hitting a three-run homer.
Then on Sunday, Aaron Altherr, who’s hitting .157, came up clutch. Entering the game in the seventh, he got three hits, including the game-winning RBI in the 11th for a 3-2 win:
sWWWWeep#RingTheBell | #BeBold pic.twitter.com/zyksPYGEmy
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 22, 2018
A four-game sweep. Good pitching from players other than Aaron Nola, especially from Nick Pivetta. A 9-1 record at home, the best since the 1964 season at Connie Mack Stadium. A 14-7 overall record, which is…A HALF GAME OUT OF FIRST IN THE NL EAST! Is Gabe Kapler good at this?!?
Probably a little early to think that they could make the playoffs, but there’s definitely some hope.
“We’re having a lot of fun. Keeping it light, we laugh in the dugout. I hope you guys are seeing that. A lot of smiles and a lot of laughter, and after the games, we’re having a great time in [the clubhouse]. We take it seriously and we prepare like animals, but we also enjoy each others’ company and we’re laughing a lot.”
The team is off today. They’ll start a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow night.
Nick Foles got a reworked contract Friday afternoon. It’s pretty much him getting a bonus for winning the Super Bowl, as he should get. There’s also an option for 2019 and other playing incentive bonuses, if Carson Wentz isn’t ready to play or gets hurt again.
Another player got a restructured contract. Right guard Brandon Brooks:
Source: the Eagles created $6.37M in cap space by reworking the deal of Pro Bowl G Brandon Brooks. He converted base salary into bonuses, dropping his cap number to $4.768M for this year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 23, 2018
Brooks pretty much confirmed the restructured deal. Because he wanted to give more money to Foles for winning the Super Bowl:
If your wondering about the restructure I get 4 mill now 4mill by sept 1 with a couple hundred thousand over the season. The reason I did it was bc the FUCKIN SB MVP DESERVED MORE MONEY @NickFoles . Love you bro #WhateverItTakes
— Brandon Brooks (@bbrooks_79) April 23, 2018
God I love this team.
As for the NFL Draft on Thursday, the team could be trading down.
32. PHILADELPHIA—CONNOR WILLIAMS, G-T, TEXAS
But I think the Eagles are much more likely to deal this pick; I just don’t know to whom. They’re seeking a trade—that I can tell you. Philadelphia has no pick in round two or three, and the Eagles don’t pick till the end of round four. So as of now, they go from 33 to 129 without a pick. That’s why they’ll be trying to deal all night Thursday. If they stick … The Eagles have a 35-year-old left tackle, Jason Peters, coming off major injury, and starting guards (Stefan Wisniewski and Brandon Brooks) who will be 29 this season. Connor’s the perfect pick for them, in the unlikely event they stick.
Before Thursday night, enjoy the team’s self-produced 2017 yearbook documentary.
Another match, another loss for the Union. They fell to FC Dallas 2-0 Saturday night to fall to 1-3-2 on the season. They’ll host D.C. United Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium.
In other sports news, let’s take a look at the NBA and NHL playoffs:
Game 4s for Houston-Minnesota and Oklahoma City-Utah are tonight on TNT.
The two remaining Eastern Conference Game sixes are tonight as well.
Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea had the first no-hitter of the 2018 season.
Brandon Belt had a 21 pitch at-bat. It lasted 12 minutes and 45 seconds.
Brandon Belt set the MLB record with a 21-pitch at-bat that lasted nearly 13 minutes.
We got it down to 50 seconds for you. pic.twitter.com/hwfb6S1qzM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 22, 2018
Look at Jay Feely as a nice dad celebrating her daughter going to prom with her boyfriend and he’s got a gun:
Wishing my beautiful daughter and her date a great time at prom #BadBoys pic.twitter.com/T5JRZQYq9e
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) April 22, 2018
He later apologized.
In the news, the search for the Waffle House shooter in Nashville continues. But James Shaw Jr. is a hero for stopping the rampage.
Southwest Airlines is cancelling 40 flights a day after last week’s accident.
EDM DJ Avicii and actor Verne Troyer both died over the weekend.
Your Monday Morning Roundup published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/
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Your Monday Morning Roundup
The Flyers held their own… for about five periods… before everything came crashing down in game six.
Let’s start with Friday. With Michal Neuvirth in goal and Sean Couturier back after a one-game absence, the Flyers squeaked past the Penguins 4-2 thanks to a game-winning goal by Coots.
Game 6 was expected to be a treat for fans and it gave them some hope that the Flyers could force a Game 7, even though it was expected the Pens would win.
At first, the Flyers came out strong, as they have in nearly every other playoff game. But this time, they actually scored from their early pressures, thanks in part to Couturier. But Michal Neuvirth couldn’t find his Game 5 form and gave up seven goals on 28 shots as the Penguins took the series with an 8-5 win.
Pittsburgh got themselves two goals in under a minute in the first to take a 2-1 lead before Andrew MacDonald (!) tied the game late in the first. As he did in the opening period, Coots scored early to give the Flyers a 3-2 lead and more momentum on a spectacular goal:
Sean Couturier, likely playing hurt, with a filthy move to give the Flyers the lead pic.twitter.com/pO13Nwcz0S
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) April 22, 2018
Scott Laughton extended the lead to 4-2. For some time, there was the thought that maybe the Flyers would force a Game 7.
But that’s where Jake Guentzel enters the picture. Just over a minute later, he assisted on Patric Hornqvist’s goal to cut the lead to one before scoring the first of four straight goals with 54 seconds left in the second. Pittsburgh took the lead again thanks to Guentzel 30 seconds into the final frame before he scored goals at 12:48 and 12:58 into the third. His hat-trick goal may have killed any chance for a Flyers comeback, especially since the refs missed an obvious trip on Coots by Kris Letang:
Letang trips Couturier, no call, and Guentzel scores. pic.twitter.com/RYodiRG5aT
— Sons of Penn (@SonsofPenn) April 22, 2018
There’s no reason why that shouldn’t have been called. It pretty much signaled the end for this team, even though Coots did get a hat-trick late in the game.
Five of the six games in the series were won by the away team, with Game 1 being the only game won by the home team. Five of the six were blowouts, with Game 5 being the only outlier.
After the game, Couturier revealed he played with a torn MCL, which takes about four weeks to recover from. After fighting back tears at the end of the game, Ivan Provorov told reporters “As long as my arm was attached, I was playing.”
The season is over, and I think the loss showed what the face of the Flyers looks like – a 25-year-old center who had a breakout season and is a Selke Trophy finalist and a 21-year-old defenseman who should be a Norris Trophy nominee in the very near future.
The pressure is on for Dave Hakstol to use his rookies in a much larger role. The same for Ron Hextall to make this team better via trades, the NHL Draft, and free agency. There’s a lot of people, myself included, that have been very frustrated with the direction, or lack thereof, that the organization has taken. This team has been very inconsistent, and almost didn’t make the playoffs with a very hot Florida team right behind them. Let’s hope some moves excite this fanbase going into next September’s training camp.
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The Roundup:
Check out the latest Crossing Broadcast to start your day. For you soccer fans, we also have a new Crossing Broad FC ready to go.
After The Worst of Philadelphia went well, we now have The Not Worst of Philadelphia!
Moving on to a team that’s actually doing well in the playoffs, the Sixers! After a Game 3 win against a chippy Heat team that got their payback for late layups, the Sixers were sloppy in Game 4 with 26 turnovers, 25 of them in the first three quarters.
But they won. This team is now winning games they shouldn’t be, and that’s a huge step in the right direction. JJ Redick had 24 points, but Ben Simmons recorded the team’s first postseason triple-double since Charles Barkley in 1991 with 17 points, 10 assists, and 13 rebounds. He also became the first rookie since Magic to record a triple-double in the playoffs. And some people think he’s not the Rookie of the Year. Lol.
Game 5 is Tuesday night at 8 PM. There’s gonna be excitement in the Wells Fargo Center once again for a winning team.
The Phillies are…good? Not like lucky good, like actually good?
After Jake Arrieta took the first game of a four-game series against the Pirates Thursday night, the Phils took a 2-1 win Friday night thanks to an Odubel Herrera triple in the eighth. They followed that up with a 6-2 win Saturday thanks to another outstanding performance by Aaron Nola and Rhys Hoskins hitting a three-run homer.
Then on Sunday, Aaron Altherr, who’s hitting .157, came up clutch. Entering the game in the seventh, he got three hits, including the game-winning RBI in the 11th for a 3-2 win:
sWWWWeep#RingTheBell | #BeBold pic.twitter.com/zyksPYGEmy
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 22, 2018
A four-game sweep. Good pitching from players other than Aaron Nola, especially from Nick Pivetta. A 9-1 record at home, the best since the 1964 season at Connie Mack Stadium. A 14-7 overall record, which is…A HALF GAME OUT OF FIRST IN THE NL EAST! Is Gabe Kapler good at this?!?
Probably a little early to think that they could make the playoffs, but there’s definitely some hope.
“We’re having a lot of fun. Keeping it light, we laugh in the dugout. I hope you guys are seeing that. A lot of smiles and a lot of laughter, and after the games, we’re having a great time in [the clubhouse]. We take it seriously and we prepare like animals, but we also enjoy each others’ company and we’re laughing a lot.”
The team is off today. They’ll start a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks tomorrow night.
Nick Foles got a reworked contract Friday afternoon. It’s pretty much him getting a bonus for winning the Super Bowl, as he should get. There’s also an option for 2019 and other playing incentive bonuses, if Carson Wentz isn’t ready to play or gets hurt again.
Another player got a restructured contract. Right guard Brandon Brooks:
Source: the Eagles created $6.37M in cap space by reworking the deal of Pro Bowl G Brandon Brooks. He converted base salary into bonuses, dropping his cap number to $4.768M for this year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 23, 2018
Brooks pretty much confirmed the restructured deal. Because he wanted to give more money to Foles for winning the Super Bowl:
If your wondering about the restructure I get 4 mill now 4mill by sept 1 with a couple hundred thousand over the season. The reason I did it was bc the FUCKIN SB MVP DESERVED MORE MONEY @NickFoles . Love you bro #WhateverItTakes
— Brandon Brooks (@bbrooks_79) April 23, 2018
God I love this team.
As for the NFL Draft on Thursday, the team could be trading down.
32. PHILADELPHIA—CONNOR WILLIAMS, G-T, TEXAS
But I think the Eagles are much more likely to deal this pick; I just don’t know to whom. They’re seeking a trade—that I can tell you. Philadelphia has no pick in round two or three, and the Eagles don’t pick till the end of round four. So as of now, they go from 33 to 129 without a pick. That’s why they’ll be trying to deal all night Thursday. If they stick … The Eagles have a 35-year-old left tackle, Jason Peters, coming off major injury, and starting guards (Stefan Wisniewski and Brandon Brooks) who will be 29 this season. Connor’s the perfect pick for them, in the unlikely event they stick.
Before Thursday night, enjoy the team’s self-produced 2017 yearbook documentary.
Another match, another loss for the Union. They fell to FC Dallas 2-0 Saturday night to fall to 1-3-2 on the season. They’ll host D.C. United Saturday at Talen Energy Stadium.
In other sports news, let’s take a look at the NBA and NHL playoffs:
Game 4s for Houston-Minnesota and Oklahoma City-Utah are tonight on TNT.
The two remaining Eastern Conference Game sixes are tonight as well.
Oakland A’s pitcher Sean Manaea had the first no-hitter of the 2018 season.
Brandon Belt had a 21 pitch at-bat. It lasted 12 minutes and 45 seconds.
Brandon Belt set the MLB record with a 21-pitch at-bat that lasted nearly 13 minutes.
We got it down to 50 seconds for you. pic.twitter.com/hwfb6S1qzM
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 22, 2018
Look at Jay Feely as a nice dad celebrating her daughter going to prom with her boyfriend and he’s got a gun:
Wishing my beautiful daughter and her date a great time at prom #BadBoys pic.twitter.com/T5JRZQYq9e
— Jay Feely (@jayfeely) April 22, 2018
He later apologized.
In the news, the search for the Waffle House shooter in Nashville continues. But James Shaw Jr. is a hero for stopping the rampage.
Southwest Airlines is cancelling 40 flights a day after last week’s accident.
EDM DJ Avicii and actor Verne Troyer both died over the weekend.
Your Monday Morning Roundup published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/
0 notes