#I actually don’t really like pina

[onlyhereforthestories]

Chica Medica - Part 5 (Alexia Putellas x Reader)

So its been a while (sorry!) You won't have to wait long for the final few parts of this I am half way through the next part. Thank you all who have stuck with me, this was one of the first things I wrote and I feel a little emotional that it is finally coming to an end. Anyway enough ramble enjoy part 5!

You had gone through your whole wardrobe by this point, and you still couldn’t find the right thing to wear. All your clothes were spread around your room in various states of crinkled from the constant changing you had been doing. Nothing was working together or, or you were not feeling confident in others.

You checked you phone to see you had exactly 23 minutes before Leila and Mapi were due to collect you, so you knew you needed to get a move on. Deciding the only way you were actually going to put anything on over the underwear you currently resided in was with some help, you dialled the number of the only person who could sort you out.

Ona picked up on the second ring, “Hola Hermana, what can I do for you?” her smile and voice had the wave of calm you needed right now to stop your mind from its current running all over the place.

“I need help. I have Christmas drinks with the Barca girls tonight and I don’t know what to wear, I have tried my whole wardrobe on and nothing is right. I need you to just tell me what to wear.” Ona could hear the frustration in your voice.

“I’m guessing you are only this stressed about what you look like because of a certain midfielder, you never care about what you look. I’ve literally been to the club with you in joggers before.” You rolled your eyes at the woman before giving her a pointed look through your phone. Now wasn’t the time for memories or teasing you about the fact that you were hyperaware of the brunette that would in fact see you in the clothes you picked tonight.

“Ona please.” You pulled out the puppy eyes and the bottom lip, both of which you knew would get Ona helping you in a couple seconds flat.

“Oh, you really want my help you’ve pulled out the big guns. Okay show me what I’m working with. Ooooo actually do you still have that black silk shirt? The one you wore to you knows party?” you knew exactly what shirt she meant, it was the only item you had not actually tried on tonight, you’d just chucked it to the side.

“I do yes. Is that not like bad luck or something to wear?” Could you really wear a shirt your ex loved on you so much to a party you were so worried about looking good for because of the new person you had feelings for.

“She didn’t buy it for you I did, and you look really, really hot in it so if you want Alexia to drool over you, I would definitely say wear it.” You found it in the pile of clothes and picked out some beige slacks with the help of Ona, you chatted with the Manchester United player while you got ready and only said goodbye when you heard the doorbell ring.

Getting to the hired club was fun, Mapi and Leila had both complimented your outfit and made comments about who you were trying to impress much to your annoyance. The best thing was they both promised to protect or help you if you needed it, something that you almost chocked up on thanking them for. You were very lucky to have such amazing friends around you.

When the three of you got in you could tell it was going to be a fun night, Pina came running over to you all with Patri hot on her heels both had beers in both hands, and you were all passed one. Apparently, a drink had to be drunk as soon as you got in to be allowed to join the big group at the table.

Not one to back down from any challenge, you smirked at the two younger women who gave you the drink as you held the beer up in a semi cheers to them and downed it in a very easy and quick time. When you wiped your upper lip, you couldn’t help but laugh at the look on Claudia’s face. The younger woman’s jaw was on the floor so to say, and she had a slight spark of awe in her eyes.

What you didn’t know was that Alexia had walked in with Jenni just as you raised your beer so got to watch you smoothly chug it. An action from you that she found very hot indeed and even voiced that accidently out loud which put her on the receiving end of a slap to the back of the head from her best friend.

Righting herself and sending a quick but not really meant sorry to the older woman, Alexia walked just behind the little group surrounding you to the table where she was greeted with her own drink to see off as quickly as she could. She took a lot longer and struggled a lot more than you did to do it.

As the night went on the drinks flowed more and more, you had had your fair share but had stopped once the pleasant buzz had fully kicked in. You really didn’t like the feeling of losing your senses anymore, so you knew when to switch to sodas. Alexia had noticed you do this and chose to do the same thing in order to hopefully talk with you when her confidence wasn’t on the floor.

Confidence or not her opportunity came when Leila dragged the people on your table up and to the dance floor and you waved them away, stating you needed to watch and see what moves they were doing before you could join in. An excuse for sure but Alexia wasn’t going to complain.

Taking a breath to calm her already racing heart she grabbed her drink and walked towards you. “Mind if I join you?”

“I was wondering how long it would take you to come over here once they left. You pleasantly surprised me with a little under a minute.” You faced her with a giggle, which turned into a full on laugh when you saw her cheeks heat up. “I am only messing with you, of course you can sit. In fact, I would really like it if you did.” It was your turn to blush now, the alcohol you had consumed earlier obviously making your lips a little looser then they would normally be.

“I haven’t got a chance to tell you how stunning you look. That shirt is incredible.” Alexia wasn’t hiding her obvious attraction to the outfit you were wearing, in fact you could see it swimming in her gaze.

“You look incredible yourself, I do have to admit that open back dress on you will always get to me.” You were again saying a lot, more than you ever had in fact. Your inner thoughts of tracing the tattoos on her back came to mind and you had to shake your head to clear your mind of that briefly.

You did manage to catch her ducking her head at what you said, and it boosted your confidence a little bit. Deciding that you needed another actual drink now that this situation was clearly happening you decided you were not going to do it alone. “Do you want to get a drink with me?”

“I’d love nothing else. Lead the way, but drinks are on me.” Alexia was standing next to where you were sitting in the booth with her hand held out to you, a hopeful look in her eyes. A hopefully look that turned into full blown joy the second you placed your hand in hers and made to stand up.

Alexia was quick to drag you with her to the bar where she got you both a shot and a normal drinking drink. Those were drunk at the bar, the both of you enjoying the time away from the bulk of the group and slightly further away from the music so you didn’t have to shout so much to hear one another.

Alexia had just downed the last of her drink while making direct eye contact with you, taking the obvious hint she was giving you, you downed the last bit of your own. As you put the glass down on the bar you found a hand placed on the small of your back and your body gently pulled in the direction Ale was moving. You ended up on the dance floor with the rest of the girls, you split of slightly from the woman that was always on your mind so you could join the girls that dragged you here.

You danced with them all for an unknown amount of time, you were having the best time, and it didn’t matter who you were with. Alexia would slide up behind you every so often and get you dancing with her before she let you go back to either Mapi or Leila depending on who was requesting your presence.

As the night progressed and you consumed your final drink, you cut yourself off as you knew this was your limit. You knew that if you drank anymore it would go from a fun slightly heavy night to a messy night. Apparently, Alexia was in agreement because about 30 minutes after that final drink she was heading towards the bar to get water, something that you were planning on doing too.

“Did you get water?” You didn’t realise how much you were pressed up to the woman, but she did. Alexia could feel the curve of you pressed up against her and it was sending her head spinning more than alcohol every could. She took a second to compose herself before glancing over her shoulder and answering you.

“Si.” You smiled before requesting that she made that two. With a water in each of her hands she nudged your shoulder to get you moving back in the direction of the booth you were in earlier.

As you and Alexia returned to the booth, drinks in hand, the atmosphere between you was charged with unspoken words and lingering glances. The club was still buzzing with energy. Laughter and music filled the air, but here in your little corner, everything seemed quieter, more intimate.

You settled in next to Alexia, close enough that your knees brushed under the table. It sent a spark through you, but you focused on your water, taking a long sip to calm the nerves that had been building all night.

"Did you enjoy the dancing?" Alexia asked, her voice just loud enough for you to hear over the music. She leaned in slightly, her breath warm against your ear, and you tried not to let it affect you too much.

"Yeah," you replied, looking at her with a playful smirk. "Especially when you kept sneaking up behind me."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn’t break eye contact. "I thought you liked that."

You raised an eyebrow. "I didn’t say I didn’t." The tension between you hung in the air like a charged wire, sparking every time you exchanged a glance or a touch.

For a while, you talked casually; about the team, about the night, both of you skirting around the real conversation neither of you seemed ready to have. But the underlying feeling of something more was undeniable, every small gesture, every laugh shared, seemed to pull you closer.

After a bit of quiet, you glanced over at the dance floor where Leila and Mapi were making a scene with some questionable dance moves. You shook your head, laughing softly. "I don’t know how they manage to be so ridiculous and so fun at the same time."

Alexia grinned. "That’s Mapi and Leila for you. But it looks like they’re having a good time. I think this was really needed for them." You always admired how much the woman cared for her teammates, it was one of the many things that made her such a wonderful captain.

You nodded in agreement but felt the weight of her gaze on you, the air between you growing heavier. The rest of the room faded into the background, and suddenly, sitting so close to her, the only thing you could focus on was the warmth radiating from her body and how easily her presence made your heart race.

Without thinking, you stood up, needing a moment to collect yourself. "I’m going to the bathroom," you said, your voice steadier than you felt. "I’ll be right back."

Alexia watched you go, her eyes following you as you made your way through the crowd. The moment you disappeared into the hallway leading to the bathrooms, she stood up, almost on instinct, and followed. She caught up with you just as you reached the door to the bathroom.

"Hey," she called softly, causing you to turn around. Her gaze was intense, her brown eyes darker under the dim club lights. "Wait a second."

You stopped, heart pounding in your chest. "What is it?"

For a moment, Alexia just looked at you, like she was weighing her next words, but instead of speaking, she closed the distance between you. The hallway was dimly lit, the noise from the club muffled, and the two of you stood close, the space between you shrinking with every passing second.

Her hand brushed yours, a light touch that sent a shiver up your spine. "I—" she began, but whatever words she’d been about to say faded into silence. Instead, she leaned in slowly, giving you a moment to pull away if you wanted to, but you didn’t. You couldn’t not with her.

Your heart raced as her lips met yours, the kiss slow and deliberate. It wasn’t the rushed, drunken kiss from before; this one was different. It was tender, purposeful, and full of the tension that had been building between you all night. This kiss was meant, you could feel it in the way you both eased into it and melted into one another.

You kissed her back, your hands instinctively moving to her waist, pulling her closer. The world around you disappeared, leaving just the feel of her lips against yours, soft but insistent, like she had been waiting for this moment just as much as you had.

When you finally pulled away, both of you were breathless, your foreheads resting against each other.

"I... I’ve been wanting to do that all night," Alexia admitted softly, her thumb brushing over your hand, still entwined with hers. You got slightly lost in the feeling of her warm breath running over your lips as she was still so close to you.

You let out a soft laugh, your heart still pounding in your chest. "I’m glad you did."

Before you could say more, you heard familiar voices approaching from the direction of the club. You glanced at Alexia, the tension still palpable between you.

"We should get back before they notice we’re both gone," you said, though a part of you wasn’t ready for this moment to end. A part of you knew that if you could you would stand here like this with Alexia for as long as she would allow.

Alexia nodded, but her fingers lingered on your hand for a second longer before letting go. "Right. Yes."

Just as you both started to head back to the booth, Leila and Mapi came around the corner, clearly on a mission to find you. "There you are!" Leila exclaimed with a mischievous grin. "We were wondering where our chica medica disappeared to."

Mapi’s eyes flicked between you and Alexia, a knowing smile spreading across her face. "Ohhhh, what did we miss?"

You laughed, trying to play it cool. "Nothing much. Just needed a break from all your terrible dancing."

Leila gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "Excuse me, my moves are iconic."

Alexia chuckled beside you, but you could still feel the tension simmering beneath the surface. You weren’t sure if Mapi and Leila could sense it, but you knew you couldn’t stay here much longer without risking more teasing or worse, revealing too much.

"I think I’m going to head home," you said suddenly, glancing at Alexia for a brief second before turning to your friends. "It’s been a long day."

Leila and Mapi exchanged a glance but didn’t push. "We’ll come with you," Leila offered, her tone softer now. "It’s getting late anyway."

"Yeah," Mapi added, clearly sensing there was more going on but choosing not to dig, for now at least. "Let’s get out of here."

As you all made your way out of the club, Alexia stayed close to you, her arm brushing against yours every so often. You didn’t speak much, but the kiss still lingered in the air between you, full of possibility and unanswered questions.

And though you weren’t quite sure what would happen next, for now, you were content knowing that something had shifted between you and Alexia, something that felt too real to ignore.

The final whistle echoed through the stadium, marking the end of the last game before Christmas. The team had secured a comfortable win, and the energy in the locker room was buzzing with excitement. You smiled, watching the others as they celebrated, but your mind was already elsewhere, on the gift you’d been planning for Alexia.

Tomorrow was Christmas Eve, and you both had flights to catch you were heading home to your family, and Alexia was off to Dubai for a much-deserved break as well as the award ceremony she had to attend. Despite the unspoken tension between you, the connection had only grown deeper, especially after that night at the club. But there were still so many things left unsaid, and you wanted to give her something so that she knows you are thinking of her over the break.

The present you had picked wasn’t overly sentimental, but it was personal. Something that could remind her of your time together while not being overly obvious to anyone outside of the two of you. You had chosen a silver necklace with a pendant that had a small wave on it, echoing the tattoo she had on her arm. To you, the wave symbolized something constant and unyielding just like the ocean, always in motion but forever steady. It was your way of telling her that, no matter what storms or calm seas lay ahead, you would be there, quietly supporting her, just as the ocean never stops flowing. You remembered a conversation you had shared about her tattoo and how it made you feel, how it reminded you that even when things are chaotic, some things, like your care for her, would always remain steady.

Attached to the box that held the necklace was a simple note with "Open on Christmas" written across the top in your neat handwriting. You didn’t dare give it to her directly, it wasn’t a grand gesture, but the idea of watching her reaction made your stomach flutter nervously.

As the team headed for the showers, you saw your chance. While everyone was distracted, you slipped over to Alexia’s bag. Glancing around to make sure no one noticed, you carefully placed the small box deep inside, just under her change of clothes. The note, tucked on top of the box, would be the first thing she’d see when she unpacked the bag later.

Your heart raced a little as you zipped her bag back up, the nerves making your hands slightly shaky. You weren’t sure what Alexia would think, but you hoped she’d at the very least like the necklace, even if she didn’t appreciate the meaning.

Just as you finished, Mapi walked by, oblivious to what you’d just done. "Hey, you ready to head out?" she asked, a wide grin on her face.

"Yeah," you replied, forcing a calmness into your voice. "Just about."

As the rest of the team began to gather their things, you exchanged a few quick goodbyes. With the Christmas break upon you, you’d all be going your separate ways for the holidays. You lingered for a moment, watching Alexia as she packed up her own bag, a small smile playing on her lips as she laughed at something Jenni said. You wondered when she’d find the present, and a nervous excitement built in your chest. You just hoped shed find it before she left, the logical part of your brain knew she would. Alexia couldn’t not unpack and clean away her kit bag after every session, it was something she had told you at the start of your time together.

That evening Alexia did exactly as you thought she would, she was slightly distracted with thoughts of you, slightly annoyed at herself for not speaking to you before she left the grounds. As she unpacked her bag, Alexia pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on getting comfortable. She was just about to pull out her toiletries when her fingers brushed against something unexpected, something small and wrapped. Frowning, she pulled it out from the bottom of her bag, her breath catching when she saw the small box wrapped in simple paper with a note attached.

"Open on Christmas," it read in your familiar handwriting, the instructions clear.

A soft smile tugged at the corner of Alexia’s lips as she ran her thumb over the words. You had managed to sneak this into her bag without her noticing, and now, holding the gift in her hands, a warmth spread through her chest. It was thoughtful, quiet, just like you had always been when it came to her.

The next morning, Christmas Eve arrived, and the airport was packed with travellers rushing to get home or off on holiday. You were there early, having left for your flight to see your family. As you waited in line at security, you couldn’t stop thinking about the gift you’d left in Alexia’s bag. You pictured her finding it when she unpacked, seeing the note telling her to wait until Christmas to open it. You just hoped she listened to it and took it with her.

Part of you felt nervous, wondering if it was too much or maybe not enough. But you pushed the thoughts aside as your boarding group was called. You checked your phone one last time and saw a message from Mapi, teasing you about the quiet night in before you both left.

You responded with a quick laugh emoji, then turned off your phone as you headed through the gate.

Later that morning, Alexia was checking in for her flight to Dubai. She was looking forward to the break, but her mind kept drifting back to the past few weeks, and more specifically, to you. Things had felt different lately, not just because of the kiss, but because of how you seemed to understand her in a way not many people did.

She sighed softly, adjusting her carry-on bag as she walked through the airport. The team had celebrated last night, and now they were all headed in different directions. As she sat down in the waiting area for her flight, she thought back to the locker room, wondering if she’d missed her chance to say something to you before you left. But then again, you had both left so many things unsaid.

Her thoughts were interrupted by an announcement for boarding. She stood up, rolling her shoulders to relax, and joined the line for her flight. As she settled into her seat on the plane, she tucked her bag under the seat in front of her, the box with the note she discovered last night tucked neatly in a pocket inside the bag.

After a long flight from Barcelona, Alexia finally landed in Dubai, exhausted but relieved to be away from the whirlwind of the season for a few days. The city sparkled beneath the night sky as she made her way to the hotel, her thoughts wandering to the time off she would finally have to herself.

Once inside her hotel room, the silence felt both comforting and strange. The entire flight had been spent mulling over the last few weeks, her thoughts drifting to you more than she’d like to admit. She hadn’t been able to figure out where she stood with you, especially after that kiss, and the uncertainty had left her unsettled.

Her mind was also on the wrapped gift she now had put on the desk in her hotel room, she could see it from her place laying on the bed. She didn’t get you anything which wasn’t because she didn’t want to, she was just scared it wasn’t the right move. Apparently, you had the bigger balls of the two.

She got up and walked to where the gift was placed, she picked it up and re read the little note on top. Her mind involuntarily making her smile at the thought of you scribbling it. She turned it over a few times contemplating whether to open it now or not.

But it wasn’t Christmas yet, and despite the temptation to tear it open right then and there, Alexia placed the small box on the nightstand. She’d wait until midnight. It wasn’t long, and she wanted to do it properly.

As the evening passed, she showered, had a light dinner, and spent some time aimlessly scrolling through her phone. But her thoughts kept drifting back to the gift waiting for her. The curiosity of what you had chosen for her grew with each passing minute, and as the clock crept closer to midnight, the anticipation made her heart beat just a little faster.

Finally, when her phone’s clock ticked over to 12:00, Alexia got up and reached for the gift, her fingers carefully undoing the wrapping. She peeled away the paper slowly, savouring the moment, until she uncovered the small box underneath. Her breath hitched slightly as she lifted the lid, revealing a delicate silver necklace nestled inside, with a tiny, intricately engraved wave symbol on a pendant.

For a long moment, Alexia just stared at it, running her fingers gently over the pendant. The wave it was very similar to the one she forever has on her arm. She understood it immediately. The constant, steady flow of the ocean, like how you had been there for her, quietly supporting her through her physical recovery and beyond. It was personal, thoughtful, and most of all perfect.

Her eyes fell on the folded note tucked inside the box. She unfolded it carefully, her heart thudding in her chest as she read your words:

Ale,

For all the times you’ve been my steady wave, keeping me grounded even when you didn’t know it. Merry Christmas.

Y/N

Alexia’s breath caught in her throat as she read the message. She hadn’t expected to feel this much emotion over a simple gift, but the weight of your words settled deep in her chest. It wasn’t just the bracelet, it was everything. The way you had been there for her, listening to her, supporting her, even when she hadn’t been sure of her own feelings. The message was your feelings about her, but they very much reflected her own for you too.

She leaned back against the pillows, the necklace still resting in her palm as she stared at it, feeling the emotions swell up inside her. It wasn’t just a gift. It was a message, one that told her, in no uncertain terms, that you were thinking of her, that you cared. That you might well always care if she would let you.

For the first time in a long time, Alexia allowed herself to think about what might come next. You were more than just her physiotherapist. You had become someone important, someone she couldn’t stop thinking about.

As she slipped the necklace around her neck, she made a quiet promise to herself. When she returned to Barcelona, she’d talk to you. Really talk. She wasn’t going to let this connection slip away, not after everything that had happened between you.

She glanced at the clock again, the soft ticking of the seconds filling the quiet room. It was Christmas now, and despite the miles between you, Alexia felt closer to you than she had in weeks. Smiling softly, she ran her fingers over the pendant one more time before closing her eyes, your words still lingering in her mind.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas with your family had been exactly what you needed. It had been cozy, familiar, and full of the warmth you'd missed while away in Spain. You'd spent a few extra days with them, catching up on lost time and letting yourself fully relax before heading back to reality. But after a while, the pull to reconnect with old friends had you itching to get out of the house.

It was Ona, of course, who suggested you stay in England a little longer after Christmas. "Why rush back?" she had said over FaceTime, her face lighting up at the idea. "We don’t have training for another few days, and you deserve some downtime with your friends. Take it."

You’d agreed, and soon you found yourself planning a few nights out with some of your old friends from the England team. That included Leah. The tension between you and her had lessened, especially after you had decided that a proper conversation was long overdue. There were still things to be said, things you couldn’t quite walk away from until they were fully resolved.

So, it was then that you found yourself out with a mix of friends from your past clubs, including Leah, Beth, and a few others. It was a relaxed evening at a familiar bar, drinks flowing and laughter filling the air. You weren’t overly worried about how it might look, knowing that everything with Leah was firmly in the past. But the conversation needed to happen, and tonight felt like the right time.

You and Leah stepped away from the group for a moment, moving to a quieter corner where you could talk privately. The noise of the bar created a bubble of privacy around you both as you began to speak.

"I’ve been meaning to say this for a while," Leah started, her voice soft but steady. "I’m sorry for how things ended between us. I know I didn’t handle things well, and it hurt you more than I realized at the time."

You nodded, appreciating her honesty. It wasn’t easy to dig into the past, but this conversation felt necessary. "It wasn’t easy for either of us," you admitted. "But I’m glad we’re talking about it now. I think we both needed this. I think it’s time for us to both let go of the past and move on with our lives."

Leah smiled, the tension between you dissolving as the conversation continued. It was nothing more than an honest exchange, two people clearing the air. But what you didn’t know was that in the background, someone else had unknowingly captured the moment on their phone.

Beth Mead had been recording a playful story for Instagram, filming some of the team dancing and enjoying the night out. In the background, just out of focus, you and Leah were caught in a seemingly intimate conversation, standing close as you talked quietly. It was innocent, but without context, the image could easily be misinterpreted.

Thousands of miles away, in the luxury of her hotel in Dubai, Alexia scrolled through her phone after a long day. The trip had been relaxing so far, a much-needed break from the intensity of the season, but her thoughts kept drifting back to you. She hadn’t heard much from you since before Christmas, and the uncertainty of where you stood with each other was gnawing at her.

Her thumb paused over an Instagram story from Beth Mead, recognizing several familiar faces in the crowd. She smiled at the sight of you laughing with your friends, but as the story continued to play, her heart dropped. In the background of the video, you and Leah were standing together, heads close, deep in conversation. The image of the two of you, smiling and looking comfortable with each other, sent a pang of jealousy straight through her.

She stared at the screen for a long moment, her mind racing. Were you getting back together with Leah? Had she misread everything between the two of you?

Without thinking, she grabbed her phone and opened her messages, typing out a quick message to Ona.

Ale: Hey, I saw something. Is Y/N back with Leah? They were together at a bar, looked... close. Just want to know.

The message sent, and Alexia sat there, biting her lip as she waited for a reply. The logical part of her knew she shouldn’t jump to conclusions, but the image from the story kept replaying in her mind. What if you were moving on with Leah? What if she had missed her chance?

It wasn’t long before her phone buzzed with Ona’s response:

Ona: It’s not my place to say anything, Ale, but trust me it’s not what you’re thinking. Just... give her time to explain when she’s ready.

Alexia stared at the message, her heart still unsettled. Ona’s words were somewhat reassuring, but they weren’t enough to silence the nagging doubt in her mind. She didn’t want to overstep, but the thought of losing you to Leah, especially after everything you and Alexia had shared, was hard to swallow.

Back in England, you were unaware of the storm brewing. The night had ended on a positive note, with you and Leah parting on good terms, both of you agreeing that the past was where it belonged. You felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. You felt like you were finally in a place where you could move forward and you had in mind the person you wanted to do that with, hopefully.

It wasn’t until the next morning, when you checked your phone, that you noticed a missed call from Ona. Confused, you called her back immediately.

“Hey, what’s up?” you asked, leaning back against your bed, still feeling the contentment of last night’s resolution with Leah.

Ona’s voice was calm but cautious. “I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Alexia saw a video from last night of you and Leah. She asked if you were back together.”

Your stomach dropped. “What? No, we were just talking. Clearing the air.”

“I know,” Ona reassured you. “But the video doesn’t exactly show the context. You two were in the background, and I think Alexia got the wrong idea. Well actually I know she did.”

You groaned, running a hand through your hair. Of course, Alexia would see that. Of all the things to misinterpret... You could picture her in Dubai, overthinking everything, and the thought made your chest tighten.

“What should I do?” you asked, feeling the weight of the situation now settling over you.

“I didn’t tell her anything beyond that it wasn’t what she thought. But you might want to talk to her, explain things when you’re ready,” Ona suggested. "She’s over there worrying, Y/N. It’s not my business, but I can tell she’s thinking the worst, which I know isn’t fair to you. You both have baggage, and you haven’t worked this all out yet, you need to talk to each other. And properly Y/N."

You nodded, even though Ona couldn’t see you. “Yeah I know, I’m sorry I haven’t been great at doing that. I wanted to sort the Leah thing before I had that conversation with Ale but maybe I should have been a bit more open after the other night. I’ll talk to her. Thanks, Ona.”

After hanging up, you stared at your phone, a mix of emotions swirling inside you. You knew you needed to talk to Alexia, to clear up the misunderstanding. But a part of you also wondered, what did this mean for the two of you. If Alexia was bothered by you being seen with your ex that much surely that had to be a sign of something right. Before you let your head run too much with this, you got out of bed and joined you family for one of your final days before heading back to Barcelona.

Christmas Day passed quietly for Alexia, it was just her mother and sister with her in Dubai, which is all she really needed. It was a much-needed break from the whirlwind of her career, but her mind kept drifting back to you. The silver necklace with the wave pendant had become her constant companion since she found it in her bag and she hadn’t taken it off since she opened it mere minutes into Christmas Day.

She ran her fingers over the pendant absentmindedly as she prepared for the Globe Soccer Awards, where she would be picking up the Women’s Player of the Year award. It was an honour, something she had worked hard for, yet the excitement that usually accompanied such recognition felt muted by the unease sitting heavy in her chest.

Ever since she had seen that Instagram story of you and Leah, a knot of doubt had been tightening inside her. She kept replaying the image in her mind, how close you and Leah had seemed, how comfortable. It had been days since she’d seen it, but she hadn’t reached out to you. She wasn’t sure what to say. Ona’s message had reassured her slightly, but the doubt lingered. Especially as you also hadn’t reached out to her.

As she stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the elegant outfit she had chosen for the awards, Alexia glanced down at the necklace resting against her skin. The wave, a symbol you had described so thoughtfully, felt heavier now. She knew what it meant, how much care and thought had gone into your gift, but that only made the misunderstanding hurt more. If you and Leah were rekindling things, where did that leave you and her?

Later that night, under the glittering lights of the awards ceremony, Alexia was announced as the Women's Player of the Year. The room erupted in applause as she made her way to the stage, graciously accepting the award with a quiet smile. She gave a heartfelt speech, thanking her teammates, coaches, and family for their constant support, but even as she spoke, her thoughts were elsewhere, on you.

The night continued in a blur of congratulations and photographs, but Alexia’s mind remained clouded. By the time she returned to her hotel room, the weight of the day had caught up with her. Sitting on the edge of the bed, her phone buzzed with notifications, messages from friends, fans, and teammates congratulating her.

She opened Instagram, scrolling through the flood of posts from the ceremony. As she crafted her own post, thanking everyone for their support, she hesitated. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, and almost instinctively, she glanced down at the wave pendant resting against her chest. Without thinking too much, she typed a line from your note into part of the caption.

And finally Merry Christmas. Sometimes in life you need your wave to keep you steady, even when you don’t realise it.

It was a subtle nod to you, one that no one else would pick up on, but she knew you would.

Alexia posted the picture: a candid shot of her holding the award, smiling at the camera with her necklace peeking just slightly into view. That along with the end of the caption she hoped would be enough to show you what the gift and you meant to her. Well at least until the conversation could be had, if you wanted it still after the Christmas break.

Back in England, you scrolled through Instagram while waiting for your flight back to Spain. It had been a whirlwind few days, catching up with friends, clearing the air with Leah and now, you were finally heading back home. As you mindlessly flicked through your feed, Alexia’s post popped up.

You stopped, your breath catching in your throat as you read the caption. It was your words, changed slightly, but still the meaning you had written in the note attached to the necklace. The same words that carried all the meaning behind your gift, now reflected back at you in a public post for the world to see.

Your heart raced as you stared at the screen, wondering what this meant. Did Alexia understand the depth of your message? Did she feel the same way? Or was this her way of saying goodbye before you’d even had a chance to explain?

Without thinking, you opened your messages and hesitated before typing a quick text to Ona.

Did Alexia say anything to you about that post?

Ona responded almost immediately, as if she had been waiting for you to reach out.

She didn’t mention it to me, but I know she’s been thinking about you. You should talk to her.

Your fingers hovered over your phone as you debated what to do next. The conversation with Leah had cleared the air, but now you were left with a different kind of uncertainty, one that involved Alexia and the feelings that had grown between you. And whether you were really ready for that again.

Taking a deep breath, you opened a new message to Alexia, your heart pounding as you typed.

Hey, I saw your post. I think we should talk when you get back.

The next few days passed slowly as Alexia remained in Dubai, the distance between you both growing heavier with every passing moment. The wave pendant rested against her chest, a constant reminder of you. And as Christmas turned into the new year, the tension between you both, fuelled by misunderstandings, unspoken feelings and lack of communication, remained unresolved, waiting for the moment when you could finally have the conversation that had been building for so long.

[wosoragebaiter69]

BEACH!

barça femeni x teen!reader

request: here

A/N: i have cricket training today :( and my family decided to act like we were in an episode of the kardashians yesterday

TW: Coarse Language

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

Today was going to be a fun day, the team were going to the beach for a couple days. Because… well why not? I’ve always loved the beach so when I was asked if I wanted to come, there is no other answer other than yes.

I look out to the white sandy beach, it’s so inviting and immediately run over with my stuff. Alexia, Marta and Irene do most of the carrying but some of the older girls carry some things as well. Not me though.

I place my items on the ground and take the time to actually look around. We’re in a cove, it’s pretty secluded, there’s a beach house we’re staying in for the next few days and it’s pretty big considering we all have to stay in it. We agreed that us younger girls could go straight to the beach while the older girls do all the other boring stuff.

Jana jumps on my back and I stumble forward into the ground beneath me.

“Janaaaa” I whine.

“Whattt.” She mocks me.

“This place is GORGEOUS.” She remarks looking around at the cliffs, crystal clear water and slight rainforest.

“I know right, so many fun things to do. What first?” I ask, her eyes light up.

“We should swim and find any cool areas that we can hide away from overbearing people.” She smirks.

“That’s a great idea, let’s go!” I run into the water, feeling the cool liquid against the heat of summer I felt before. I dive in when just deep enough, Jana is behind me. Patri and Pina are chasing each other on the shore as Bruna and Salma film them.

I swim to the edge of the cove where the cliffs are and after some swimming I come across a cave system.

“Jana! Look, a cave!” She swims over and looks at the small cave, it’s enough to fit a couple people and has a little beach, just out of sight from the main shore.

“Woah, we could have like a campfire here at night.”

“You think Alexia would let us leave? No chance Jana.” She sighs.

“There’s a thing called sneaking out and we both know she goes to sleep at like 10pm.” I stare at her with a blank expression.

“Ok, let’s go back now. I saw JetSkis and want to ride one. We probably need ‘adult supervision’ though.” She nods her head and we make our way back to shore.

- - - - -

“Where were you two?” Ingrid says as Jana and I walk up and out of the water.

“Swimming.” I say, she looks disappointed.

“Maybe stay where we can see you so Alexia doesn’t freak out. You’re lucky she’s keeping occupied with her own stuff.” She shakes her head.

“Sorry Ingrid.” Jana says but the Norwegian just smiles.

“It’s ok, I just don’t want to feel the wrath of Alexia come down on me or anyone.” I nod in understanding then Mapi walks out of the house in her own bikini. I notice Ingrid’s gaze on her.

“You guys make me sick.” I make a gagging noise and turn away.

“You will learn one day nena.” Mapi wraps her arm around me.

“I hope not. Anyways, could we go on one of those JetSkis? Pleaseeee.” I ask and she immediately agrees.

“Yayy, vamosss!” Jana goes to speak with Bruna as Mapi and I walk over to where the 2 water mobiles are parked.

“Ok so am I driving or are you?” She asks.

“Could I?” She nods.

“I’ll teach you, get on and let’s do this thing.” She instructs me to get on and turn the JetSki on. She then says to initially take it slow because going to fast straight away will make the vehicle unstable. I do as told and slowly get faster.

“This is fun!” I say, as waves crash over the top of us.

“You’ve got it nena! Now you can go a little faster if you leave this cove, are you ok with that?” I eagerly nod my head and speed up to where there’s more water and less land.

We drive pretty fast as we crash into different waves and water splashes all over us, it’s really such a euphoric experience.

As the fuel starts running low, Mapi guides me back to where we are needed, the sun has started to set by now and everyone is chilling either in the water, on the beach or on the beach house patio.

We make our way up the shore and I’m exhausted, people are very right when they say JetSkiing is tiring. I plonk on the ground next to Keira and place my head against her shoulder.

“Bit tired are ya?” She says laughing slightly.

“Damn JetSkis man, so tiring.” I grumble.

“Well, I heard dinner will be soon. Not sure who’s making it since we’re all here but who knows.” She pats my leg and Lucy walks over.

“Hey kid, wanna play volleyball? We don’t have enough players on our team and I have selected you.” Suddenly feeling a burst of energy, I nod and follow her.

On our team is Salma, Ona, Lucy, Frido and I. On the other side is Patri, Claudia, Jana, Esmee and Cata. Bruna has made herself the referee.

“Lucy I’m not sure why you chose me because I’ve never played volleyball in my life.”

“Doesn’t your school offer it?” She questions.

“Just because my school offers it does not mean I do it. It clashes with tennis season!” Even though I play football, tennis has also been a big part of my life and I still play competitively.

“Well kid, use that hand eye coordination with your arms and you’ll be right.” I nod and get ready.

It’s a pretty nice game, it’s close but our team is winning, everything is going smoothly until Cata hits a ball too hard and heads straight for my nose. I fall back.

“Ow.” I whimper and feel liquid run down my face.

“Shit!” Lucy whispers.

“You alright kid? Move your hand away from your nose.” I nod half-heartedly and remove my hands.

“Oof, Alexia’s gonna freak!” As her name is said, she magically appears out of nowhere and leans down narrowing her eyes.

“Come on, you’re not playing anymore.” I open my mouth to argue but she shuts it down.

“Bye guys! By losers!” I shout to the other team who look slightly off-put.

Alexia takes me inside making sure I’ve got all the sand off before. She leads me to a bathroom and gets a first aid kit.

“Not broken but I will ice it for now. Ok?” I nod, knowing not to mess or argue with her.

After she wipes my face and clears the area, she takes a small ice pack and places it against my nose, taping it down.

“No more volleyball for today, come sit with me and the others and we can talk about anything you like. I think dinner is ready anyways.” I smile.

“Ok, thanks Ale.”

“Anytime.” She kisses my forehead. “Ready to go?” She takes my hand and we go out where food is set on the table and the others have came back from where they were.

The dinner is chaotic, nothing unusual for the girls. It’s a homely feeling to be here with each one of them. Mapi nudges me gently and slides over a small glass of wine.

“Drink. I say it’s a great day to get you to try it, have some fun nena. I spoke to Ale and she’s fine because it’s under supervision even if you and I both know it isn’t your first.” I blush and nod taking it.

“Thanks Maps.” She nods patting my back and I take a sip. It doesn’t taste bad. Mapi smirks and cheers go down the table.

This team and life is everything one could ask for.

[peachyjeonss]

SUNKISSIN’ | J.JK

© peachyjeonss 2023. Do not repost and modify unless permitted to  

Pairing: Tattoo artist!Jungkook x Lifeguard!Reader    

Genre: strangers to enemies, enemies to lovers, Smut

Warnings: Reader has a belly piercing, mentions of getting high, Jk and reader have nose piercings, size kink, slight daddy kink, Jk is pretty dominant even when it’s not sexual, unprotected sex (wrap before you tap pls), readers kind of a bitch at first, Jk is also kind of a dick at first, clueless reader at times, Jk gets jealous, jk eats her out, reader gets jk off, ass slapping, reader gets bent over the kitchen counter, reader’s kind of a spoiled brat, brat-taming, choking, tummy bulge, praise, degradation, cum eating, brat tamer jk, dirty talk, slight exhibition, Jk is kind of an aggressive person (not in a toxic way obv), 

Rating: M

Synopsis: Summer has begun and so has your job as a lifeguard at the Stillwells Country Club  — Which means; sunny weather, blue pools and cute bathing suits! You’re looking forward to it; just another normal summer working with friends, but your summer takes a turn when you see his sweet eyes and intimidating stature at the staff car wash.

A/N: This is my first posttt, here’s the teaser!

His sunglasses lean on the tip of his nose as he looks up at the sky, breathing out.

“This is the most relaxed I’ve seen you in a minute.” Yoongi laughs, sitting next to him as he lathers sunscreen on his pale arms.

“Yeah, surprisingly work hasn’t come to my mind yet.” Jungkook admits, letting out a breathless chuckle as he kicks his feet in the water.

Yoongi hums, “Me neither, and I’m not even a sun person.”

“That’s what the rich life does to you, I guess.” Nari giggles, swimming to them.

Taehyung follows suit, pushing his falling sunglasses back up his nose. “Yeah, I’m about to order a pina-colada just ‘cause.”

“Don’t abuse the free membership either.” Jungkook warns, looking back down at his friend. “It was nice of her to do this for us.”

“Yeah, Aya’s always been pretty sweet.” Taehyung agrees, “She has her spoiled moments though, can't take the rich out of the girl completely.”

Nari smiles, “She’s better than me, I wouldn’t even interact with you peasants if I had country club money.”

“Yeah, that’s why you’re not rich.” Yoongi teases, “You’d be horrible.”

“I suppose.” Nari shrugs, looking around before her mouth falls into an O, “This resort even has good-looking lifeguards...”

Jungkook cocks a brow at her, last time he remembers the lifeguard was some scrawny dude with a permanent scowl. Looking up, Jungkook sits up quickly, pushing his sunglasses over his head at the familiar figure he sees switching seats with the old lifeguard. 

“Isn’t that the girl you checked out the other day?” Yoongi asks, his eyes raking over your body shamelessly, making Jungkook shove him gently.

“Yeah, it is.” Jungkook smirks, watching as you offer some kids a cute smile, telling them to watch their step as they run. Even in the basic red swimsuit the lifeguards were required to wear you still somehow managed to look like sin. “She’s friends with Aya, right?”

“Yeah, they're actually really close.” Taehyung says in a forgetful manner, too preoccupied in doggy paddling around his friends. “Been friends since middle school.”

“Shit, so they're like sisters then.” Nari corrects, “Middle school to college is cool, they saw each other get out of the awkward stage.”

“If she even had one.” Jungkook laughs, still eyeing you.

“They say the prettiest girls have the most awkward phases.” Nari shrugs, “I mean, look at me, gorgeous and my awkward stage was horrendous.”

“Yeah, sure.” Yoongi laughs, wincing when Nari pinches his leg.

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[yanderederee]

OMG! I was getting a slurpee from 7/11 and it made me wonder what slurpee flavor or flavors do you think each of the Tokyo Revengers boys would bring you as a treat?

This has been sitting in my askbox for like 9 months I’m so sorry

there are also endless Slurpee flavors???? I literally only ever have gotten Cherry my whole life? Sorry for the random flavor choices, these are the only ones im familiar with

Thank you for interacting this is a very cute ask!

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✦

Cherry - A true classic! These characters aren’t much for trying new things. If they like it, no need to try anything else, right? It may also be just because the other flavors sound weird too, or are broken. Cherry is a tried and true, always up and running delightful treat.

— Mikey, Kazutora, Rindou, Izana

Blue Raspberry - Also pretty tame in what flavor they will actually try. ‘Slushies only come in two genders, red and blue, and I’m blue damnit!’ - kind of vibe about it. Very fun characters though, confident in what they do and don’t like.

— Draken, Baji, Smiley, Inui, Wakasa, Senju

Mountain Dew - um. It’s easy to like, it’s easy to love. It’s a good flavor, and no one can really deny it. But when is this flavor ever available, what with the machine always busted? When they can get their hands on it, it’s like they’ve never had a slushee before. They go nuts. Crazies, but cuties.

— Chifuyu, Peh, Kakucho, Shinichiro

Cola - It just satisfies a part of you that desires a treat, but don’t really want to commit to drinking a cola-soda. After all, they can be overly syrupy, and bad for your health. Making this a great alternative!

— Takemitchi, Pah, Naoto, Benkei

Pina-Colada - A delight! These characters have probably circle through what flavors they normally get pretty often. Never getting two of the same flavor in consecutive trips, this is a good pick for a hot summer day.

— Emma, Mitsuya, Hakkai (always just gets what Mitsuya gets), Yuzuha, Ran, Ryusei

Peach - perhaps the least sought after flavor. It’s usually okay, if perhaps not very flavorful. But that’s the appeal, not too heavy on one flavor, light and delightful. Nothing against it, but they don’t think too much about getting this flavor.

— Sanzu, Angry, Hina, Kokonoi

[rafedaddy01]

Coconuts

Series Masterlist

She smelled like coconuts, thanks to her signature shampoo, but that’s not what drew Rafe in..

She was seated at the country club bar, sipping on a pina colada. Rafe sat in the booth a few feet back with topper and kelce. “So you coming tonight Rafe?” Topper asked his friend. “What?” Rafe was clearly distracted, the root of his distraction? Her. He didn’t know her name or who she was, but he wanted too. “The party man, are you coming?” Kelce asked giving topper a look. “Oh yeah, whatever bro” Rafe scoffed.

He never enjoyed the parties, it was always an excuse to escape reality, do drugs, and hook up with random girls. But tonight might be different, she might be there.

“Yo top, whose that chick over there” Rafe nodded his head in her direction. “Oh that’s y/n. She’s fairly new here. Friends with Sarah or something” Rafes heart nearly leaped out of his chest. She knew his sister?

“Is the kook king whipped?” Kelce teased his friend. Rafe gave him a look that quickly shut him up.

“She coming tonight?” Rafe continued his interrogation. “I mean if you really want her there I guess I can ask Sarah to invite her” topper said. “No! That’s okay. I don’t need my bitch ass sister up in my business” Rafe knew that Sarah would not approve of him trying to hook up with one of her friends, she would claim that he would just corrupt her. But would it be a shame if he did? Maybe he didn’t want to just corrupt her, there was something about her. Something Rafe was drawn too.

Time jump to the party

Rafe sat on the couch, another bimbo in his lap. His hand on her waist as the group around him snorted coke, drank their beers and engaged in convo. Through the crowd he spotted her, he almost jumped out of his seat. He couldn’t believe she was actually here. Sure he had some hope she’d show up but it was small. “Guys let’s play a game!” The annoying girl on Rafes lap squeaked out. A small group gathered in the living room and people took seats and to Rafes surprise she was one of those people. She took a seat right across from him. He couldn’t help staring at her, the curves of her body, the soft features on her face, the innocent gleam in her eyes, oh how badly he wanted to strip her of that. Her eyes met his for a second and he quickly looked away, changing his demeanor to seem more relaxed and nonchalant.

“How about never have I ever?” A girl from the crowd suggested. Everybody agreed and the game begun, every so often Rafes eyes falling to her, the tight skirt she wore rising up every time she moved. Just barely exposing her pink panties, god this was painfully hard for him.

“Never have I ever been walked in on during sex”

A few people drank, implying that they have done it. Rafe watched as she took a sip of her drink, his eyebrow shooting up in surprise. She seemed so innocent.

“Never have I ever been arrested”

She took another sip, Rafes eyes still on her..

“Never have I ever been nude in public”

Another sip. Who was this girl? She seemed so innocent and yet this game is opening a new side of her. Maybe she wasn’t as innocent as Rafe had judged her to be.

The game went on for a few more rounds, once it finished she got up and headed to the kitchen to fix herself another drink. Rafe watched her moves intently, deciding that this was his chance. He pushed the girl off his lap and followed in her footsteps.

“Your new here” she jumped a bit at his voice. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare ya. Just saw you standing here alone. Thought I’d introduce myself, Rafe” he outstretched his hand. She took it happily and smiled up at him. “Y/n” her voice was soft and kind, not like the girls here who were always so high pitched and squeaky, laced with bitchiness. “Pretty name for a pretty girl” he winked as her face flushed red, clearly not used to being complemented. “Thank you” she brought the red solo cup up to her plump rosey lips and took a sip of her drink.

Rafe was so nervous, he normally wasn’t like this when it came to girls, what was she doing to him?

“So..” he clicked his tongue “are you? New here?” He couldn’t think of anything else to say, his mind going blank as her eyes looked into his, turning his brain to mush. “Yeah. I just moved here. Have made like one friend and she invited me out tonight. However, she ditched me as soon as she found her boyfriend” she laughed to herself. “Yeah Sarah can be a slut like that” Rafe rolled his eyes not realizing what he just said.

“Hey howd you know her name?” She gave him a confused look as she waited for a response. “Oh-uh-I- Sarah’s my sister” he babbled. “Hmm, still doesn’t explain how you knew she was my only friend” still giving him a confused look and awaiting a response. “Fine” he sighed “I’ve been asking around about you” he admitted. “Oh really?” She giggled.

What Rafe didn’t know was that she knew exactly who he was. She was warned about him, specifically by Sarah.

The two looked up at each other. A moment of awkward silence shared between them before they both tried speaking up “so-“ “I-“ both of them laughing at the situation.

“What made you ask around about me?” She asked. “You caught my eye” he came in closer, resting his hand on the counter behind her. Trapping her between him. She looked down, smiling. “Hey don’t hide that pretty smile from me, I’ve been wanting to see it up close all night” he lifted her face up by placing a finger under her chin. Her big eyes staring into his. His eyes darted between hers and her lips.

He leaned in, lips centimeters apart, “Rafe! Where did you go?” An annoying voice coming from the living room. Rafe rolled his eyes as the girl who was previously in his lap walked into the kitchen. He turned around to tell her to fuck off, but when he turned back around to continue with his girl she was gone..

Part 2

[magicfootballstuff]

Just Friends (claudia pina x reader)

Summary: After your cousin set you up on a blind date with her teammate, you’re too stubborn to give Alexia the satisfaction of knowing her matchmaking was a success, but it’s harder than you thought to keep your blossoming romance with Claudia a secret.

Can be read as a sequel to Blind Date - shouldn’t be necessary to read that one first but it does provide a bit of context.

———

“So how was it?” Alexia asks.

You should have known that your cousin’s invitation to meet her for coffee two days after your blind date with her teammate was just an excuse to be nosy and find out how it went. Still, you decide to play dumb.

“How was what?” you ask, as you sip from your coffee.

“Don’t be an idiot, you know what I’m asking,” Alexia scolds you with an eye roll. “How was your date with Pina?”

“It was nice. She was … nice.”

It was way more than nice. Part of you wants to gush about how well the date went, about the kiss and the fact you haven’t stopped thinking about Claudia ever since and how you can’t wait for the second date, but you’ll save that for your friends rather than your over-invested cousin.

“Nice enough for a second date?” Alexia asks, raising her eyebrows in hope.

“It wasn’t that kind of vibe. We got on well once we got past the awkwardness of being on a blind date, but we both agreed it felt more like friends.”

“Damn, I was sure that you two would hit it off. Never mind, now that I’ve opened your eyes to the wonderful world of dating women, there are so many options…”

“Alexia,” you warn her. “I’m an adult. I can date on my own. Do you know how embarrassing it was to have to admit to Claudia that my cousin is interfering in my love life?”

Alexia grins and counters, “Equally as embarrassing as Pina having to admit that her teammate was interfering in hers?”

“Yeah, about that… don’t ever set me up with one of your teammates again. You might like that kind of drama, but footballers aren’t it for me.”

“How about musicians? I think I know a girl who…”

“Alexia!”

———

Your second date with Claudia is a cute afternoon coffee date. Her busy football schedule and your university deadlines mean you don’t have much time, but after the success of the first date you agree to meet again a few days later just before Claudia has to go away for a Champions League game.

“Did you get interrogated by Alexia too?” Claudia asks, as you sit on the terrace outside the coffee shop waiting for the waitress to bring over your drinks.

“Yup,” you confirm with an eye roll. “I think she’s disappointed it didn’t work out between us.”

“Didn’t it?” Claudia asks, with a smirk.

“You know what I mean,” you grin back at her. “Anyway, she’s already trying to set me up on another date.”

“Really?” Claudia’s eyebrows shoot up. “Anyone I’d know.”

“Well, I’ve warned her against setting me up with footballers,” you reply. “Been there, done that.”

“Ouch,” Claudia says, clutching her chest dramatically as if pretending you’ve wounded her heart. “You were a lot more charming on the first date.” 

“Anyway, I’ve told her not to bother setting me up with anyone else either. Not that Alexia needs to know, but I’ve already got my eye on someone.”

“Oh yeah, what’s she like?” Claudia grins at you. “Should I be jealous?”

“She’s stunning,” you tell Claudia. “Quite funny, got these really nice eyes, a really pretty smile. And she’s not a bad kisser either.”

“Well I think you should date her then,” Claudia shrugs, as the waitress brings over your coffees and sets them down on the table between you.

“So do I,” you agree, with a smile.

———

What you didn’t consider is that by keeping your continued dates with Claudia a secret from Alexia, she would keep trying to find you the perfect girlfriend. 

It’s been four official dates with Claudia now and it’s going well. Far from being jealous of Alexia’s determined matchmaking, it’s actually a big source of amusement between you. There’s a bit of a thrill to keeping this to yourselves, the excitement of your first ever romance magnified by the secrecy, like you and Claudia are living in your own little bubble as you get to know each other. And it’s going so well that you’re starting to catch real feelings for her, so you know the bubble will have to pop sooner or later, but the longer you can keep this away from Alexia’s scrutiny, the better.

Which means Alexia still thinks you’re single and perfect for her matchmaking experiments.

You don’t know if Claudia was just more resilient in telling Alexia to stop or if your cousin has just reserved the special ‘family only’ wingman approach for you, but it seems to be just you on the receiving end of Alexia’s plans. Since the first date with you, Claudia seems to have escaped unscathed, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t find endless amusement in hearing you complain about Alexia’s latest plot.

Tonight, your cousin has brought you to a gay bar. Alexia has a week off from football matches and has decided that you’re not fully out of the closet until you’ve experienced Barcelona’s gay scene. Plus, as you expected, she thinks it’s another opportunity to find you a girl.

You’re perfectly happy with the girl you’re already seeing. The girl you’re currently texting to fill her in on your latest predicament.

You Alexia’s brought me to a gay bar

You glance over at your cousin, who is currently talking to a group of three girls close to the bar, and try to guess which one she’s going to send in your direction. Probably all three, one after the other, as you politely explain to them each in turn that you’re not actually looking for anybody and even if you were, you’d approach them yourself instead of asking Alexia to do the hard work for you.

Luckily, Claudia responds to your message almost immediately.

Claudia Still trying to set you up?

You Desperately. What are you doing tonight?

Claudia Night in with a couple of the girls. Wish I was with you instead

You let yourself imagine that scenario, mentally banishing Alexia from this bar and replacing her with Claudia. Though this is your first experience of a gay bar, you’d much rather be enjoying it with her than your cousin. You like the idea of being glued to Claudia’s side all night, holding her hand in yours, dancing with her, kissing her, so that all the other girls here tonight know there’s no point hitting on you anyway because you’re already taken.

Maybe one day in the future, if things get serious enough between you that you decide to come clean to Alexia, you can enjoy nights like those with Claudia.

But for now, you’ll have to settle for Alexia and her determined matchmaking.

You quickly text Claudia back.

You You wish you were in a gay bar watching Alexia try to set me up? Weirdo…

Claudia Can I come over later?

You You seem pretty confident Alexia’s not going to find me a girl tonight

You put your phone away as Alexia returns to you, thankfully alone, and fills you in on the latest gossip.

“So the one in the middle, the one in pink, is called Nadia and she’s single,” Alexia says, having to raise her voice to be heard over the music. “Plus she thinks you’re cute. You should talk to her.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that you’re still trying to set me up with someone?” you ask, hoping to deflect Alexia’s attention away from her mission. “Like, what if one of these girls you introduce me to ends up being a serial killer and you send me home with her. How are you going to live with yourself if my mutilated body shows up in two weeks time? How will you show your face at family Christmas this year?”

“You’re such a little weirdo,” Alexia says, draping an arm around your shoulders and pressing a feather-light kiss to your temple. “You know, that’s why I thought you and Pina would be a perfect match. She’s weird too.”

“We do get on well,” you admit to Alexia, adding, “As friends.”

You manage to wriggle free from Alexia’s embrace and at the mention of Claudia, take your phone out again, angling your phone away from Alexia as you read the latest message.

Claudia I think you’ve got your eye on somebody else 😉

You glance up at Alexia again, who is already scanning the room for her next target. You don’t know how much more of this you can put up with before you crack and confess what’s been going on between you and Claudia.

You Give me thirty minutes then I’ll make my excuses

———

It’s starting to feel dangerously like an actual relationship.

Claudia invites you to watch her next home game and it’s easy to accept. You go with your aunt and your other cousin Alba and everyone thinks you’re there to support Alexia, but when Claudia nets a stunner of a goal in the second half, you cheer much louder for her than you do for either of the two goals that Alexia scores.

At full time, you make your way down to the side of the pitch and wait patiently as Claudia signs a few shirts for fans, before she finally gives you her full attention.

“Congratulations,” you tell her, your chest bursting with pride. “That was some goal you scored.”

“Helps to have my number one fan in the crowd,” Claudia quips back.

“Oh really? Where is she?”

You look around, pretending to scan the crowd, until Claudia slaps your arm.

“Idiot,” she scolds you. “Thank you for coming today. It means a lot.”

You sat with your family to watch the game, wearing an old jersey with Alexia’s name on the back, but the two of you know that you probably wouldn’t have come to the game if Claudia hadn’t asked you to be here. She’s the one you came to see.

You’re prevented from being able to express any of this, however, by Alexia’s appearance at Claudia’s side.

“Hey, lovebirds,” Alexia greets you teasingly, draping an arm around Claudia’s shoulders. “You’re not corrupting my baby cousin, are you Pina?”

“I told you, we’re just friends,” you say to Alexia.

She raises her eyebrows and says, “If you say so…”

“As if I’d want to date a Putellas anyway,” Claudia scoffs.

“You’d never be so lucky,” you tease her right back.

“Okay, I’m gonna leave you two to flirt,” Alexia says, giving you a deliberate look. “Are you coming round for dinner at Mami’s tonight?”

“I’ve already got plans,” you answer elusively, because while you haven’t yet asked Claudia, you’re hoping she’ll want to come over and celebrate her goal with you tonight.

Alexia backs away and greets a few young fans a little further down, and you can focus all your attention on Claudia once more.

“So we’re just friends, huh?” Claudia asks in a low voice. “Do you let all your friends do the things I did to you last night?”

“Only you,” you say, cheeks flushing at the memory of having Claudia in your bed last night. “Do you want to come over and do it again tonight?”

Claudia grins.

“Like you even need to ask.”

———

Claudia spends the night at yours again, claiming you as her reward for scoring in the match, and you wake up the next morning with her arm draped around your middle and her head on your chest.

“Morning,” you mumble sleepily, pressing your lips to the top of her head as she stirs against your side.

Her arm tightens around you, fingertips squeezing your waist, and she nuzzles her face further into your chest.

“You’re a great pillow,” Claudia replies, her voice still husky with sleep. “I could get used to this.”

“Me too,” you agree, your fingertips tracing absent-minded patterns up and down Claudia’s naked back.

Moments like this, the two of you spending a lazy morning in bed together, are like a little glimpse of heaven. And to be honest, it’s these moments that make you question the decision to keep your budding relationship a secret. You could do this all the time, spend more nights together than apart, hold each other’s hands and gush about how much you like each other and cheer Claudia on at her games instead of pretending you’re there to watch Alexia, if only you stopped hiding the fact that you’re dating.

It’s been almost two months since that blind date. To be honest, you’re not really sure why you’re still keeping it from Alexia. Claudia is starting to become too important to hide.

“What if we told Alexia?” you suggest. “I mean, we’d tell everyone but she’s the reason we’re keeping this to ourselves, right?”

Claudia lifts her head, hair tousled in a really cute way, and frowns at you.

“You really want to?”

“Don’t you?”

Claudia pauses to think, then says, “I guess so.”

You’d been hoping for a little more enthusiasm, but Claudia doesn’t seem convinced.

“We don’t have to,” you quickly backtrack. “It was just a suggestion.”

“I’m not saying no,” Claudia says, her eyes going wide as she realises you’re doubting yourself. “I want to tell the whole world about us. It’s just a big step. Like you say, it’s not just telling Alexia, it’s telling everyone.”

“It’d be nice though, don’t you think? I love that this is our little secret, but wouldn’t it be great to not have to hide. I could wear your jersey to watch your games instead of Alexia’s.”

“I like the sound of that,” Claudia grins. “But that would mean … well, we haven’t really put a label on this yet, but if you’re going to wear a jersey with my name in public, that sounds pretty official, don’t you think?”

You know what Claudia is implying and this is new territory for you. You’re not sure if being able to refer to Claudia as your girlfriend is something that just happens or if you need to ask her permission first, but you agree that when you tell Alexia, you want it to be with that label.

You’re just about to open your mouth to ask Claudia if she wants to be your girlfriend, when there’s a loud hammering on the front door of your apartment.

“Shit,” you say, as Claudia rolls off you. “Stay here.”

You clamber out of bed and grab the nearest clothes you can find, a pair of sweatpants and the t-shirt that Claudia wore yesterday when she arrived at yours, before you race out of your bedroom to the front door.

You peek through the spyhole before you open the door and are immediately glad that you did because you can see Alexia standing in the hallway outside your apartment.

Rushing back towards your bedroom, you tell Claudia, who is still lounging about amongst the crumpled sheets, “It’s Alexia. Get dressed and hide.”

The banging on the door resumes, and you know you need to answer it and hope that you can somehow keep Claudia hidden away in your bedroom until you can get rid of Alexia.

Quietly closing the bedroom door behind you and trapping Claudia inside, you return to the front door and pretend to be surprised to see Alexia as you open it.

“Alexia? You woke me up.”

You rub at your eyes for dramatic effect, which goes ignored by Alexia as she doesn’t wait for an invitation and steps into your apartment. You spare a glance at your bedroom door, hoping that there’s no sign anybody is behind it.

“Do you want to come for brunch?” Alexia asks, dropping onto your couch. “You skipped out on family dinner last night, I thought we could hang out today instead.”

“What if I’ve got plans?” you ask, thinking of how you’d much rather spend the only day this week when Claudia doesn’t have training with her, especially as she has to go away later in the week for an away game.

The problem with dating your cousin’s teammate is that Claudia’s schedule is Alexia’s schedule, Claudia’s free time is Alexia’s free time.

“Do you have plans?” Alexia asks.

“Yes.”

“And what are those plans?”

“None of your business,” you retort, because you haven’t been awake long enough to come up with a good excuse. Searching the depths of your brain for an escape, the best you can think of is, “I have to study.”

“You can study later,” Alexia counters, shaking her head. “Does Pina want to join us for brunch?”

You feel all the colour drain out of your face.

“I don’t know,” you manage to choke out. “Why don’t you ask her? She’s your teammate.”

“I’m not stupid,” Alexia says, with an amused smile. “You think I haven’t noticed that you’ve been like a different person since you went on a date with her?”

“So what if I have?” you shrug, determined to keep up the lie until you can resume your conversation with Claudia from earlier and get her consent to tell Alexia. “It was a nice date. Maybe finally going out with a girl was good for my confidence.”

Alexia ignores your deflection and continues, “Then there’s the fact that Pina has turned up to training with a hickey twice in the last few weeks, and both times were the day after you’ve had mysterious evening plans you won’t tell me about.”

You’re starting to realise that there’s no way out of this, but you continue valiantly.

“What Claudia does in her own time is…”

“You know, I really thought that taking you to the gay bar last week would force the secret out of you, but you’re really committed to keeping this from me.”

You close your mouth and clamp your lips together, knowing that there’s no escape. Silence is perhaps your only option.

“I know,” Alexia continues, “why don’t we just ask Pina now if she wants to join us for brunch?” Alexia pauses, and you only have a split second to prepare yourself for what comes next, before she raises her voice and shouts through the apartment, “Pina! We’re going for brunch - do you want to come too?”

You think this might be the most humiliating moment of your life, until it’s overshadowed a few seconds later when Claudia sheepishly opens your bedroom door and peers out. She’s at least dressed, of that you’re thankful, but with you grabbing her t-shirt in your haste earlier, she’s thrown on a hoodie from your closet that both you and Alexia recognise as yours.

“She knows,” you tell Claudia, with an apologetic shrug.

“Of course I know, I’m not a fucking idiot,” Alexia says, rolling her eyes. “It’s very cute that you thought you were hiding this from me. But you’re both very into each other and it’s disgustingly obvious.”

“Is this where you warn me against hurting your cousin?” Claudia asks, stepping further into the room and coming to stand by your side.

Now that the secret is out, you reach for Claudia’s hand and give her fingers a reassuring squeeze, before dropping them again.

“No,” Alexia shakes her head. “You’re adults and I love you both. But this is where I say I told you so. I knew that setting you two up was a good idea!”

“And this is why we didn’t tell you,” you blurt out. “I know that winning is your thing but this isn’t about you winning at matchmaking, it’s about…” You pause, and turn to look at Claudia, taking a deep breath before you address her directly and continue, “It’s about how much I really like you and want to wear your jersey at matches because I want to be your girlfriend.”

“Are you asking me?” Claudia asks with a smirk, Alexia’s presence completely forgotten.

“Will you be my girlfriend?” you ask.

“Yes,” Claudia says, stepping closer and reaching for your waist with her hands as she goes in for a kiss.

A kiss that is interrupted by Alexia pretending to retch in the background.

“Okay, no,” Alexia cuts you off. “I take it all back. You’re not cute together and I definitely don’t need to watch as you defile my baby cousin, Pina.”

“It’s a good job you arrived when you did,” Pina tells Alexia, her hand dropping and finding yours as she turns to look at your cousin with a mischievous look in her eyes. “If you’d been ten or fifteen minutes later, I’d have been doing a lot more to your ‘baby cousin’ than just kissing her.”

“Claudia…” you whine, cheeks burning in shame, though a part of you is disappointed that Alexia did show up when she did if that was the wake up treat Claudia had planned for you this morning.

“Yeah, that’s too much information,” Alexia grimaces. 

“You’ve only got yourself to blame,” Claudia shrugs. “You set us up, remember?”

Alexia’s eyes rake down your bodies, from your mismatched clothes to your joined hands, and she lets out a groan.

“Yes, and I regret it every day. Now go and get dressed - in your own clothes. I’m taking you both to brunch to celebrate your relationship. Don’t make me regret that too!”

Claudia turns and starts to walk back to the bedroom but you’ve got an appetite for winding up your cousin so you pull Claudia back by your joined hands and flip Alexia off with the middle finger of the other as you dip your head and press your lips to Claudia’s in a deliberately messy kiss.

The cushion that Alexia launches at your head is more than worth it.

[nixie-writes]

@viktheviking1 here's your request! I made it a little longer than usual, it's a page long in Docs. I won't bother putting a cut, I hope you enjoy!

--

“Yeah, fuck you too!” You shouted across the room to Angel, who was laid out on a chair. “I don’t need the opinion of some whore,” you growled at him, fighting your best to hide the tears welling up in your eyes. Unfortunately Angel took notice and used it against you. 

“I can’t believe you’re actually crying! You know I’m right,” he laughed, fixing the cushion on the chair. “You’re full of shit, get used to it,” he snorted as he got comfortable in his chair. You rubbed your eyes with your hands to clear the tears, sniffing. “Get fucked,” you snapped at him before walking out of the kitchen. 

You entered the common room, feeling fresh tears building up. You were angry with yourself for crying. Angel was so ruthless with his insults and insists he’s right with his insults. You felt like you were 2 inches tall, he really made you feel like shit about yourself. Looking around the common room you couldn’t find anyone but Husk, alone, drinking a bottle of gin. You knew he wasn’t the best at comforting and would probably chastise you for crying over an insult but you needed the company, even if he was rude about it. 

You walked up to the bar and took a seat, wiping a stray tear from your face. Husk cocked an eyebrow, setting down his bottle. He walked across the bar to you and pulled over a stool to sit on. “You good kiddo?” He asked in his gruff voice. You shook your head in response, putting your arms on the bar and hiding your face in your crossed arms so he wouldn’t see you cry. 

“It’s Angel,” you muttered in a broken voice. You cursed yourself for being so obvious about having been crying. Husk snorted. “Don’t let that slut get to you, he’s mean to everyone,” Husk advised. He grabbed a wine glass and made you a virgin pina colada, passing it to you. You rose up from your position to take a sip of the fruity drink, reveling in the sweet tang. 

“How do you deal with him?” You asked Husk. He just shrugged, grabbing his gin and taking a quick swig. “Like I said, he’s mean to everyone; I don’t take his shit personally and neither should you,” he replied. You pondered on his words for a minute. “I can’t help but take it personally, he says the meanest things that hit a nerve,” you told him. Husk looked at you from under his bottle. 

“If you take every little thing personally, you’ll never stop being upset. This is Hell, you’re going to meet your fair share of assholes,” Husk reminded you. When he noticed you had finished your drink he pulled a soda from under the table and slid it to you. You cracked open the Sprite, taking a sip of the bubbly soft drink. 

“Next time he bothers you just come to me, I’ll settle it,” Husk told you. You nodded your head in response. “I appreciate you looking out for me… And being good company. I think I’ll go lay down now,” you thanked Husk and made your way to your room. You felt better, knowing Husk cared enough to defend you if Angel tried to mess with you again. 

[twunkbirthzey]

snokoplasm ramble

(i had this part in my amazingphil marathon document and this is the most basic thing that everyone probably thought about but i wanted to share bc why not)

Ever since the first time I watched this years ago I could not stop thinking about snokoplasm. First of all, it’s just so creative and whimsical and beautiful and PEAK arthouse amazingphil. But also I cannot help but do a queer reading of it. (I think Phil has so much indirect commentary about societal gender roles in his 2000’s videos. I don’t and can’t know whether that’s intentional or just subconscious of course but they ARE there and especially visible with snokoplasm and Phillippa) A lot of people did this like 10 years before me so this is NOT original at all but I wanted to yap about it.

I remember seeing tumblr posts about this back in the day of people arguing whether this is lube or not lmao, but it COULD be!!! (Could be a good addition to the pina colada gate T-T.) It could be lube bc of my thoughts on the object/element as a whole. This could be an overanalysis and I could be making shit up but hear me out.

First of all realizing you’ve run out of snokoplasm is a bit odd bc a lot of other people say it’s shower gel etc (which could be and we’ll probably never know) but when you run out of this you usually know and don’t “realize” bc you use it often. You know. And if I read the whole thing as a queer allegory it being lube just makes sense???

He goes into the store and the shopkeeper immediately assumes he’s getting the blue one. Phil then gets offended and laughs, saying “You actually think I’d use blue?” and this alludes to the fact that he’s been stereotyped by the shop helper. We do know that he was “emo” and not very “stereotypically male” in his self presentation at the time and this kind of feels like people immediately assuming that he’s gay. The helper even says “It's so obvious that you use blue snokoplasm,” furthering this idea of Phil looking a certain way. Phil’s reply to this makes me truly believe that this a queer allegory because he shows off his muscles and says “Yellow all the way,” which isn’t really the way he usually talks, and ties to his problems with masculinity during this era. Then they have an argument over whether it’s yellow or green, which I don’t think it’s a direct metaphor but feels like bisexuality and heterosexuality. Phil pushes for the “hetero” one while the shopkeep tries to push the “bisexual” one on him, sure that he is queer? Also the discussion of language over queer identities still being more relevant than ever is funny lol. Phil finally accepts the “green” one, which is a kind of mirroring of a lot of gay people using the bisexual label before they are ready to come out as gay, to hang onto the idea of straight relationships. (which I have my own thoughts on but this is not the place for it). To make the queer reading more compelling, the shopkeep then says he will definitely secretly order the blue one online, almost as if that is a shameful thing. SO IDK it does feel like an either deliberate or subconsciously presented work of struggles with queer identity and a story of being “clocked” as a closeted person to me.

FOLLOW UP SNOKOPLASM MENTIONS IN OLD AMAZINGPHIL VIDS

ChristmasPhil- Him thanking people for thinking the one from the previous video IS yellow… interesting… 

“You can get blue as well obviously but… you know I wouldn’t buy that ever” in a shy persona is the main nail in the coffin for me. It’s like a if you know you know thing.

Philorida- I think him having blue snokoplasm and saying he bought it for a friend furthers the whole argument further. Even if Phil didn't intend this to be an allegory at first when he made it, it definitely did gain a meaning through these extra mentions.

Life without the internet!?- He briefly mentions snokoplasm and uses the red one. Red is never clearly defined, so I think it’s kind of an extra in terms of themes, but I need to watch more to be sure. Kind of supports snokoplasm not being an intentional metaphor but a successful accidental one.

TUMBLR STUFF ABOUT SNOKOPLASM

Right after writing this I did go on tumblr to see some older posts and this green/yellow argument also made sense to me and it strengthens the argument. 

There was another link which included a video response from someone at the time and now i cant find it :(((( but what i wrote abt it was:

The video response of the girl from SO LONG AGO does make me think that we are right and this is a direct metaphor of sexuality. (“It’s nothing to be ashamed of”, “I know it would be hard to say at first”)

ALLLSO this!

[cherrysurf]

Hii !! For the event I‘d like to go with windsurfing with Matsukawa and have a classic pinacolada !! This event seems so cool I just had to join :3

hii thank you so much for participating in my event. I appreciate it a lot! i’m not super experienced with writing about matsukawa but ill do this to the best of my abilities!

Don’t forget to have an amazing time here at the evara resort…

It was the morning of your first day in buenos aires you decided to take a windsurfing class as you’ve always been quite the adventurer and open to trying new things before you went to go windsurfing you decided to hangout by the beach for awhile and order a pina colada since it seemed like that type of vibe for the day as you lay on the beach chairs you get hit on the foot by a volleyball. “Oh shit- i’m so sorry ma’am” the tall figure with dark hair says, you kinda taken aback first off by the sudden hit on your foot and second of how good the man looks. “It’s all fine no worries” you say with a smile since you truly didn’t feel like arguing especially with someone as cute as him and it didn’t really hurt “still i’m super sorry pretty ladies like you shouldn’t be getting attacked with volleyballs” he says with a chuckle “you think so? i guess i'm the exception” you say with a light hearted laugh clearly already a bit tipsy “i guess so, see you around” he says waving off smiling, and see you around he did. By the time it was time to go take the windsurfing class you catch up with the group of people and you see the same guy that was at the beach. “oh yeah nice seeing you again.” he says walking up you “nice to see you too” you respond “ya’ like windsurfing or just decided to take it” he asks “well i’m really open to new adventures so i decided it would be a cool experience” you say enthusiastically “i’m matsukawa and you?” he says “mmh i’ll tell you my name if you can pull off a super cool trick while windsurfing” you say challenging the dark haired man “how about two cool tricks and i get your name and number” he retorts “deal.” you say with a smile on your face, he actually ended up falling in the ocean but nonetheless you still gave the cute guy your name and number and now you’re heading off to dinner by the beach.

[starseungs]

the issue about the thesis was the greatest fuck in my college life tbh because first all everything was going great BEFORE the data gathering because i got 90++ grade from our prof which is really good since we did everything together and the proposal was to the highest level of success but everything went apart the moment napabayaan kami, imagine mo me and my friends did our research alone, we didn't know what to do so naghanap kami ng paraan tapos lagpas na sa expiration date defense namin so i almost failed tapos the dean didn't like it and 50-50 yung graduation ko 😭 pero thank God nagawan naman ng paraan and i still graduated with a high grade. and yes maroon school is top tier when it comes to acads, mas malaman yung majors mo compared sa minors. sadyang magkaka-problema ka lang talaga it's either with you or sa prof mo (i heard my prof is not teaching na sa maroon school and stayed sa blue school so ayon, forgot to thank him sa lahat) but yah

your majors won't be the ones who'll fuck you, the minor ones will 🤧 you will do great in college and of course magiging part ka ng dean's list!! YOUR BRAIN HELLO??? TOP TIER TOO here’s a piece of advice, your grades doesn’t matter that much i mean don’t stay sa grade na kontento ka, kunin mo yung grade na kaya mong kunin also, also make sure to have good credentials and backgrounds, the more u engage sa orgs. the better but manage your time. it’s like high school but busier, tiring, mental breaking and emotionally painful so expect a lot of paghihirap but no pressure ok? there are A LOT of times you can enjoy, 4 years of college ON CAMPUS, it will be a great experience too. kaso after grad. thats when life fucks you hard welcome to reality shit and other stuff but hey, you will be alright 🩷 been there, done that just enjoy okay?

HALA HUHU TAMA TALAGA SA MAGDDOWNHILL LAHAT PAG NAPABAYAAN KASI NAGANUN DIN AMIN KAYA MAGKAIBA YUNG DIRECTION NAMIN AT YUNG DIRECTION NA TINGIN NG RESEARCH ADVISER NAMIN NA PAPUNTA KAMI :((( pero im so happy it all worked out for us, and naitawid namin yung defense kahit na-gisa kami 🥲

and i'll take your advice to heart. actually may dalawa na din akong tinitingnan na orgs dito sa blue school d-city (yung isa is an arts and mass media focused org and from what ive seen, they make mvs, documentaries, broadcasts, etc // then the other one is the studenr government AHAHAHAHA wala lang, part din kasi ako ng studgov org sa shs) titingnan ko nalang what calls me 🤷‍♀️

hays lagi akong napapagod sa pag-aaral pero honestly parang di ko pa maimagine sarili ko magtrabaho 😭 hopefully may mahahanap ako na pays good enough kasi alam naman natin kinukulang sa job opportunities tong pinas :')))

[snowberrydream]

Käärijä @ Puoli seitsemän - talk show 26.4.2023

Here is an english translation/transcript of Käärijä’s appearance on Finnish talk show Puoli seitsemän for the enjoyment of all the non-finnish Käärijä & Eurovision fans. I have no clue how to screenrecord videos or put subtitles on them, but I can offer you a written translation :D (if someone has access to the video and can do that, feel free to use the translation if you want to, just tag me if you do, please). If there’s anything confusing or weird, comment or message me and I’ll try to clarify it 

So here it goes, enjoy!

Käärijä @ Puoli seitsemän - talk show 26.4.2023

(hosts talking about generic beginning-of-the-show-stuff, introducing Käärijä)

host1: Today we are having a party, holding onto pina coladas with both hands (handing out drinks). These are non-alcoholic, I assume it’s fine by you?

Käärijä: Absolutely. It’s probably for the better. This time.

host2: And it’s tasty! You can try both of them.

K: Is this green one also a pina colada? (tastes)

hosts: Ummmm (unsure noises) we are also curious to know (laugh) But hey, glad you could come amidst all the hustle! You’ve been all over like a … a pina colada.

K: (sipping his drinks) (chuckles at the metaphor). Exactly. Happy to be here, thank you for inviting me. And amazing that we have these [pina coladas] here. I actually haven’t really drunk these that much, so thank you for this!

H1: They’ve gotten a lot more popular lately, the sales have gotten up. Have you heard about that?

K: Well yeah, yeah I’ve been told that there has been some empty shelves.

H1: Green yarns sold-out, green fabrics sold-out, (H2: green nailpolish too), pina coladas…

K: It’s indeed quite a circus that I’ve managed to create, but well, (shrugs) why not.

H2: And this is only the beginning, isn’t it?

K: That’s what I’m a bit scared of, really (laughs). That what else will people come up with?

H2: Right now you surely don’t have time for days-off, but when you do get to relax a bit, what do you like to do?

K: I think I’ll just snuggle underneath my Formula1 -sheets, take a little nap and think about absolutely nothing, if one is really able to do that. Or watch some series or listen to some relaxing music. But probably just be in silence.

H1: Yeah, there was a couple moments before the broadcast started, like a half a minute of quiet in the studio. You had like this serene smile on your face.

K: Yeah, I was enjoying that (laughs). I mean I of course like talking with you, too. But, when you are constantly surrounded by thousands of people, at some point it just starts to feel like you need a bit of your own space. As much as we humans are pack animals [=like and need others], too much is too much.

H2: (agreeing hums) Do you know how to take that own space when you need it?

K: Not always. Though I’ve been trying to learn to say no to things. I used to be really bad at doing that, worrying that what if I’ll upset someone etc. But now I’ve been learning, also because of this [Eurovision] that sometimes it’s just …Too bad, I just can’t do that now. That I just need to take that space (moment of realization) …And yet I still don’t have it (laughs). But, on the other hand, some things you just have to get done, and then you’ll take care of those. So… Let’s just hope that everything will go smoothly.

H1: The contest itself is about two and a half weeks away, but there has already been pre-parties all over Europe, getting people into the Eurovision spirit.

H2: Yes, let’s see how it was in London about a week ago. (cue a clip of Käärijä’s performance & fan interactions from London, Cha Cha Cha playing in the background)

(back to studio, hosts and Käärijä jumping and dancing before sitting down again)

hosts: You just can’t stay still while listening to that.

K: Even I joined in too.

H2: So much for resting.

K: Yeah, there it goes again (laughs). When I could’ve just been like (slouches on the sofa) for once.

H1: It happens to everyone! It just pulls you in, it’s such a banger.

K: Yeah, it’s quite enegetic. Though I’ve also tried to not listen to it a little bit, so that it doesn’t become completely (gun to the head -gestures). But I hear it all the time anyway. Everywhere (flailing hands).

H2: So, pre-parties all over Europe. How did you feel about those?

K: Damn good, foremost. It was so amazing to see people singing along to a finnish song. Hadn’t really even imagined that something like that could happen. Met wonderful people there, such amazing personalities, and the mood was great. It really felt like a family, everyone cheering for each other and no like, any disturbances, like what could sometimes happen in an ordinary gig, you know. Really great. I’m glad I went. At first I thought that I wouldn’t go at all (H2: to Eurovision, or…?) – No, no! I meant the pre-parties (H2: Ah, yes) so that I could rest, because they can be quite …demanding. Lots of interviews, travelling, waiting around and so on… And then during Madrid trip I also got sunburnt …roasted my skin a little (laughs) Oh well, I’ll have a bit of a tan now, no burns any longer. But overall it was really good, though also tough.

H1: So you keep a professional attitude about it all? Like, ’this is work, not partying, focus on the job’?

K: Keep focus on the job, yeah. You always aim for a win. Of course you must also remember to enjoy the experience, but the attitude is still like ”See you at the Market Square [= for victory celebrations], all of Finland”. I’d feel so quilty if I’d be just drinking and partying around amid all this, I might never forgive myself.

H2: People have been fitting the victor’s mantle on you [=predicting him to win] already. And on Sweden’s Loreen, whom we saw briefly in the video clip. How do you feel about the pressure of being a fan favorite?

K: I don’t really take pressure about it. In a way. I mean of course I feel like …I have that pressure, but, I haven’t really understood it, It hasn’t quite sunk in yet, because I’m just running from one place to another all the time. I haven’t had time to be stressed about the H-hour, because there is still so much happening before that. I don’t think that quite a panic alarm moment (slamming gesture) will happen before the contest, but some level of nervousness will probably still hit me, as it did in the UMK. But the moment you get on the stage, it’s quite an easy case from there on, in the end.

H1: Right. But hey, here we are, holding on to our drinks with both hands, but you’d actually need a third one, as you have also a cup of tea there in front of you.

K: Yes, and also a cup of water on top of that.

H1: For some voice maintenance, right?

K: Yes, as you can probably hear, my voice has taken some damage [he is sounding a little hoarse occasionally] but let’s hope it’ll get better before the contest. You wouldn’t want to attend with a voice like this.

H1: Yeah, but let’s not be too worried for now, as there is still time left.

K: Luckily there is. And we’ll make some more if we have to.

H2: Right. So, you’ll leave on Sunday?

K: On Sunday, yes. You all will be here celebrating May Day, while I’ll be packing my funnel cakes and mead with me and taking off to Liverpool.

H1: The fan phenomenon has caught everyone by surprise. It’s… I assume it has surprised you, surely it has surprised all of Finland, maybe Europe too. I mean, it’s massive!

K: Right. It’s awesome. It’s kinda funny, all the things this has lead into and like, the kind of people that have sent me messages. Like, world-class artists even from abroad and so on. It’s strange how at some point nothing feels like anything anymore. I mean, when you don’t have time to enjoy it, like getting good news about one thing, because another thing is already happening right after. And then comes another thing, and another and another and another. Because every day there is something new, cool and fun happening to me at the moment. I haven’t had time… - I’ve really had no time to properly process any of what I’ve been given. I’ve just, gone somewhere to do stuff and then been off to the next place already and been like ’ok you do that I do this’ (delegating gestures) and so on. I hope that at some point I’ll get some time to think about all that has happened. Of course I’ve enjoyed this, but…maybe not in a way that people might assume? It hasn’t been just living on cloud nine all the time, for real. Even though this is what I’ve wanted, and wanted to get my music out there here in Finland, and, now it seems to be happening in Europe and elsewhere too, so yeah…

H2: Fans have been running after you and so on… Apparently there has been some extreme reactions even? Someone had…?

K: Yeah, one person fainted.

H1: Where did this happen?

K: In Madrid (H2: so they saw you?). Yes. And… They all behaved really well, like, in Finland people just take pics and whisper to each other, but there – they’ll run after you. It’s really a shocking feeling when you step out the door and everyone starts screaming and (running gesture) they are running and then we are running (laughs). But, it’s not like …If you said no to something that they asked for, they were really respectful and nice about it [despite the enthusiasm].

H2: So, someone just saw you and just, simply couldn’t handle the shock?

K: Yeeahh. Though, sometimes I can barely handle it either, when I see myself in the mirror (laughs) (hosts laughing).

H1: The Käärijä hype is intensifying indeed. But, let’s add to that a bit more with the following clip.

(Videoclip about a family of real Käärijä superfans, where the mom had made Käärijä’s Cha Cha Cha costumes for her three sons and even the family dogs. the boys are dancing and talking about how much they like Käärijä)

H1: They are really rooting for you.

H2: Aww, such sweet boys.

K: So cool.

H2: They really got it down, dance moves and all.

K: Yeah, I’m speechless, honestly. Like, amidst all this there’s little time to pay attention to what is happening around you in the world. And then there’s kids like that… It’s truly amazing thing, thank you to them, really. All the best to them. And the parents too, truly tipping my hat to them for like, for doing all that for the kids. I remember back when I played ice hockey, it was my parents made it happen for me too, taking care of things so that I got to play. And now those boys want to be Käärijäs. Just, lots of love to the whole family. [He seemed to be quite touched about this clip. Either that or he just happens to struggle with his voice a bit right then, sounding a little quivering for a sec]  

H1: Exactly. So. Käärijä is Jere and Jere is Käärijä, is that the way it goes? Are you still just Jere for those closest to you, or is everyone calling you Käärijä by now?

K: Ahhh, well, mom is calling me Käärijä now (H2: okay). I’ve had to sometimes tell her to stop it already, or that else I’ll adopt myself into a new family to have someone who calls me Jere (laughs). Just kidding, really, she’s just proud and excited about all this. But I hear it a lot, this Käärijä stuff. It can get a little dull, because sometimes you’d just like to forget this work stuff, when you are at home etc. and talk about other things than Käärijä and Cha Cha Cha and music. Sometimes it makes me wonder like, …what have I gotten myself into?

H2: A phenomenon has been born, indeed. Well,  we asked for you to bring some pics from your home album, and you brought these two (pics of him as a kid behind a drum kit and him in his late teens wearing hospital pj’s appear on the screen). There they are… You could tell us a little about them yourself.  (H1: a little drummer boy). A little rookie instrumentalist there. A little drummer boy, yes.

K: (looking at the pic) Yeah, I’ve enjoyed banging drums since I was little. My brother played guitar and we watched some Fröbelin Palikat [a finnish kid’s music band], used kettles as drums and and, brother had this weird thingy as a guitar.  Then at some point I got my own drums, started drum lessons and eventually even taught my classmates at school how to play. My teacher assigned that task for me. But that career didn’t last, in the end. Wasn’t quite that interested in drums after all, I guess. But that’s where my sense of rhythm and all comes, surely. And anyway, where would you put those things in a small flat? Banging them in some apartment building, you’ll get evicted in a second. But, drums are still close to my heart and whenever I get the chance I do grab the sticks and see if I’m still any good at playing them.

H1: And then, how about the second pic (of him in a hospital cafeteria or some common area, sitting by a table filling lottery coupons)

K: Right, that’s an interesting one. I got sick with Colitis ulcerosa, I think that was the latin name for it. And well, I think that was taken around the time it was at it’s worst.

H2: So it’s a bowel disease?

K: Yes, my entire colon got inflamed eventually and I ended up needing an emergency operation to remove it quickly, to prevent the inflammation from spreading to other parts of the body. I was hanging by a thread, honestly. I wasn’t even going to go [to the hospital] at first, but dad forced me and dragged me in there. Packed up some The Simpsons movies and my pillow and was like ’we are going now, son’ and… yeah. Honestly the shittiest time of my life, not wishing that for anyone. But it did also make me grow a lot as a person, and I wouldn’t change anything for myself, I’m totally okay with this. I’m alive, in the situation that I’m in now, and it changed who I am. Of course I have things where to improve even now, but it took me forward at the time, regarding my values and such, I think I’m in quite a good place now. (back to describing the pic) I went to place some bets [the lottery coupons] to pass time, there wasn’t anything else to do. Friends or my brother sometimes came to watch ice hockey from TV with me while I was laying in the hospital.

H2: You are wearing hospital clothes in the pic. Did you spend long periods of time in there?

K: I was there for like two weeks at a time. Went there every now and then, had an IV drip and laid there, had some medication and such. But in the end the treatments didn’t work and had to have the surgery, remove the colon completely. So, yeah. But, it’s a thing that happened to me and one just has to learn – and I have learned – to live with it. It won’t destroy your world if a thing like that does happen, on the contrary, it can open some new doors, that’s how I try to view it. But again, wouldn’t wish that for anyone, or anything like it. Yeah. That was a tough time. Made a young guy think about stuff, how others are out there partying, going to festivals and all that, and I didn’t get to have that. It went on for about a year, and towards the end I just laid in bed. I couldn’t go anywhere because I’d be just shitting blood in my pants right away etc. I was just, bumping into doors, barely able to stay on my feet, so…

H2: And a year is a long time in a young person’s life.

K: It was, yes. I had to drop everything. All the sports I did back then. I was really into going to the gym at the time, had certain goals I wanted to achieve and was working towards them. They aren’t important any longer, guess they weren’t even back then, really, but it did hit me hard at the time, when I lost 10 kg, from that kind of body (H2: woah). I weighed 49 kg at the worst point, hemoglobin about 54, or 56.

H2: Rough numbers, truly.

K: Yeah, it wasn’t healthy at all, I was pale as a sheet. In that pic I’m actually still looking surprisingly fresh. Yeah, I was just skin and bones.

H1: And does the disease still affect your life today?

K: Well, of course in the way that I have to go to the bathroom more often, 7 or 8 times a day on average. But I’m used to it, it’s not an issue for me. I can hold it in – so, rest easy there on the other side of the camera, no need to worry that something might happen mid-performance …Well let’s knock on wood just in case – But otherwise, not really… well, I can’t eat spicy food anymore. That will surely destroy my mood and the pipes, so to speak. So there are some things, but I’ve lived with this for so long already that it’s just normal for me.

H2: Surely. Bit of a balancing act.

H1: Hey, you spoke earlier about how people want to talk a lot [about you], and we want to talk and everyone wants to talk about Eurovision, and how it would be great to speak about anything else, even about the weather. But now! Now we’ll talk about it!

H2: Yes, let’s watch the clip first, about a very fundamental question.

(a videoclip of interviewing people abouth whether winters used to be better in your childhood than they are nowadays :D Conclusion: it’s more a matter of childhood nostalgia and personal memories than anything else)

H1: Soo, Jere. Were the winters better back when you were a kid?

K: Well, yeah. Especially now that I’m thinking about all the memories connected to them. I liked snowboarding/downhill skiing [unclear which one he means] a lot back then, and i do feel that there was more snow and it came earlier, but of course my memories might be faulty and in reality we were just skidding on bare ground. But yeah, I have a feeling there used to be more snow and outdoor ice rinks and chances to build snow castles and things like that.

H2: Yeah, you must’ve been familiar with the ice rinks, since you played ice hockey for many years, right?

K: Yes, though with little success. But yeah, I did go swat the puck for a time.

H2: That looks quite proper to me (looking at pics of him in a hockey match).

K: Well, I’ve got the gear on and the puck in my control, so that helps (laughs).

H1: I gathered that you played quite many positions?

K: Yeah, I did go through them all, but none of them was my thing, in the end. But I have very fond memories from my hockey days, too. Though it was also like banging your head to a wall sometimes, too. That either wasn’t just sunshine and rainbows all the time. Very hard training at one point, and from there it swung to the other end when I was mainly just fiddling around. Like, training once a week and then playing a match. But yeah, spent a lot of time at ice halls.

H2. Yes, and speaking of halls. It was on the news today that your iconic green bolero has now been frozen and hoisted up to the ceiling of Helsinki Ice hall rink.

K: Yes, there it hangs now. Up there it went.

H2: An honorary gesture for the shirtless rager. To cheer you on.

K: Yes, my thanks for them all, too. And we’ll have a gig there at the hall in May also, so it was really cool of them to come up with such event. I guess they wanted to wish me luck and bring some joy to the people with a silly happening like that.

H1: And there’s also the positive side to it that it wont get lost from up there (chuckles).

K: Yes, it sure won’t. Unless someone finds a crane or something to get it. So I’m sure it’ll be waiting for me there.

H2: Your live performances are quite demanding physically. Do you think this (points at the hockey pic) laid the groundwork for that?

K: Yes, I’m sure of it. Like, thinking back to the time I was in hospital, I bounced back really fast and got back in good shape even though I was a total wreck after that one year. But when I got back to the gym and jogging trails I started putting weight and muscle back on quite soon. There is some, like, muscle memory to it. I can tell my sports background has it’s effect. That’s why I wish that also the youth of today would all have the chance to have hobbies. It’s not possible for everyone, but I wish it was, because it brings a lot of good, improves your health and brings new friends and so on.

H1: So then, like, most of us have only seen Cha Cha Cha from you at this point, but how are your usual gigs? How long and how physical are they typically?

K: About 45 min to an hour, around 12 or 13 songs a gig. And… yeah, they are quite a mayhem, even more than Cha Cha Cha is, some pretty fast-paced songs in there. You get to shriek and rage and run and hype the audience to your heart’s content.

H2: No wonder that your voice is a bit down, then. You aren’t holding anything back while on stage?

K: No, I think that if somebody has paid, whether it’s 5 euros or 50 euros for the ticket, I’ll give it my all every time. I don’t want the people to feel like I’m slacking off , came there to just collect some easy money, or that I’m not interested in being there. Because it is our shared experience, when the audience is there. I am not alone in there, but together with everyone, and it should be a party for all of us then.

H1: Of course. So, on Sunday you’ll be on the move, but before that a little time to rest, to spare yourself. You won’t be doing any gigs before the ESC anymore, right?

K: I won’t, no.

H1: Great. You’ll get your voice in top condition, yes?

K: Yes.

Hosts: (starting to wrap up the interview] But! BUT! Now, let’s put on some music, shall we? Just a couple little dance moves, pleeease. We can’t end this without a little Cha Cha Cha! So, good luck to you in Liverpool (K: thank you], but now, let’s head onto the dance floor (everyone running away from the sofas). Teach us some moves that everyone should know!

(chaotic Cha Cha Cha-ing ensues, until the hosts form a mini-piggytrain and Käärijä rides away from the camera view. The End.)

[judasisgayriot]

Food tag - tagged by @skatingthinandice 🥰

Eggs: scrambled eggs with some cheese, mmmm. I actually like eggs pretty much all ways though. I love eggs shout out to eggs 🥚

Steak: medium rare 👌

Milk: semi skimmed but I don’t really drink milk much or have it in things a lot

Alcohol: fruity ciders or spiced rum with a mixer. Or rhubarb gin with ginger beer. Or any fruity and preferably pink cocktail. Or a pina colada. Or limoncello. I don’t drink alcohol that much day to day but I like a wide variety of alcohol lmao

Warm drink: mocha ☕️

[magicfootballstuff]

Blind Date (claudia pina x reader)

Summary: In which you find yourself a reluctant victim of Alexia's matchmaking services. And maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.

———

Your leg bounces up and down beneath the table as you wait for your date to arrive. You don’t know anything about her except that her name is Claudia. Though Alexia has promised that you’re going to get along, you can’t calm your racing heart while you wait.

It’s not even that this is a blind date that makes you nervous, but this is pretty much your first proper date full stop since coming out. Sure, you’ve had a couple of disastrous attempts at trying to talk to girls on dating apps, but Alexia is certain that she’s found “the one” for you and after weeks of her begging you to give this mystery girl a chance, you eventually caved and agreed to the date.

You really doubt that your first ever date with a girl will end up being “the one”, but you’ve got to get off the mark at some point and in the worst case scenario, you’ll be one terrible date closer to finding the actual woman you’re supposed to spend the rest of your life with.

You glance up and see a girl being directed to your table by a waitress and know without even needing to ask that this is your date because you recognise her. You’re not a total diehard football fan but you’ve been to watch Alexia play enough times to know that the person walking towards you right now is Claudia Pina.

Of course Alexia would set you up on a blind date with a footballer. And not just any footballer, but one of her own teammates.

“Hi,” you say, pushing back your chair so you can get to your feet and greet her with a hug. “Claudia, right?”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Claudia says.

As you take your seats, you fall into silence. Your mind goes blank, completely forgetting how to start a conversation. Though you were nervous before the date, you hadn’t anticipated exactly how awkward it would be to have dinner with somebody you know nothing about, and you curse Alexia for pushing you into this.

“So, um,” you stammer, “you play football with Alexia?”

Claudia looks up from the menu in her hands and you find yourself caught in the piercing gaze of her blue eyes. 

“Yeah,” Claudia answers with a nod. “She’s always been like a big sister to me but as I’m getting older she’s started getting invested in my love life. Or lack of it.”

Claudia gives you a wry smile that immediately makes you feel more at ease.

“Don’t worry, there’s no expectation tonight,” Claudia continues. “I agreed to this date mostly to get Alexia off my back. If we have fun that’s a nice bonus.”

You relax slightly knowing that Claudia feels the same about this date.

“Ever since I came out to my cousin she’s been desperate to set me up with someone,” you explain.

“Your cousin?” Claudia frowns at you in confusion.

“Yeah, Alexia.”

Claudia’s eyes widen suddenly.

“Alexia is your cousin?”

“She really didn’t tell you anything about me, did she?” you ask, laughing in amusement.

You probably should have expected this - Alexia told you next to nothing about Claudia either, maybe knowing that you’d be more determined in your protests if you knew she was setting you up with one of her teammates. You wonder if Claudia would have felt the same way if she knew her date tonight was actually related to Alexia.

“No,” Claudia admits, shaking her head. “All she said is that you were nice and not a murderer. Which, of course, made it sound like you might be a murderer.”

Claudia’s blue eyes twinkle as she gives you a look as if asking you to confirm or deny the theory.

“Don’t worry, the only person at risk of getting murdered is Alexia,” you grin.

“What did she tell you about me?” Claudia asks.

“Not much. That she had a friend she thought I’d get on with. She said you were funny.”

“Shit,” Claudia groans. “I think she might have already oversold me to you.”

“Well she didn’t tell me you were this pretty,” you say, feeling a surge of bravery - this is supposed to be a date, after all.

Claudia smiles at the compliment and counters, “And she didn’t tell me what a charmer you are.”

You smile to yourself. There’s plenty of time for this to go wrong, but Claudia’s warm personality and the immediate chemistry between you has already started to settle your early nerves.

———

You don’t know exactly what Alexia’s logic was behind setting you two up on a date, but what you thought was probably going to end up being an awkward dinner between two random single people that Alexia knows, ends up being a really good date. It turns out you have more to bond over than just your resentment towards Alexia for pushing you into this, and the conversation flows effortlessly as you eat.

Alexia was right, Claudia is funny, but you also get glimpses at other things that you really like about her - her passion, her goofiness, her kind heart. 

The restaurant isn’t far from the sea and once you’ve eaten dinner and agreed to split the bill between you, you decide to go for a walk along the seafront promenade that looks out over the beach. You’ve just missed the sunset, but the shades of orange and pink still spill out across the sky as night continues to fall.

“You know, this is actually my first date with a girl,” you admit to Claudia, as you walk side by side along the beachfront. 

“Really?” Claudia asks. She laughs, then says, “I don’t know if that’s good or bad for me.”

You’re having a good time, the conversation is easy, and the awkwardness has long since faded away. You’re having fun and you’re not afraid of letting Claudia know that.

“You’re setting the bar quite high.”

“My first date with a girl was a disaster,” Claudia tells you. “I was so nervous that I knocked over not one but two drinks. Then at the end, I went in for a kiss and she pushed me away. Turns out she had a boyfriend and had no idea I thought it was a date.”

You can’t help but laugh at Claudia’s misfortune.

“No way.”

“Yeah,” Claudia nods. “I only found that out after I’d paid for everything. Talk about humiliating. I didn’t go on another date for months.”

“No wonder Alexia’s having to set you up if you’re that bad at reading signals.”

“Watch it,” Claudia warns you. “I’m still a bit traumatised by it all.”

“For what it’s worth, I’m really enjoying myself tonight. Way more than I thought I would. Sure, I’m a little disappointed you haven’t spilled a drink on me yet, but apart from that I’m having a lot of fun with you.”

“Fuck,” Claudia says, stopping in her tracks.

You stop walking too and turn to look at her.

“What?” you ask.

“I really want to take you on a second date,” Claudia admits with a grimace.

“Is that … is that a bad thing?” you ask cautiously.

“It’s a terrible thing,” Claudia explains. “Do you know how insufferable Alexia will be if she finds out her matchmaking has been a success?”

With Claudia’s words, you can already imagine Alexia’s glee. She’s right - facing Alexia will be torture.

“Bold of you to assume I’d say yes to a second date,” you can’t resist teasing Claudia. “I mean, I’d be up for it, but I don’t think my boyfriend would be too happy…”

Claudia smacks your shoulder.

“You’re as annoying as your cousin,” she says, before she adds with a smirk. “Better looking though.”

She starts walking again and you fall into step beside her, your heart doing a little flip when she reaches for your hand and tangles your fingers together.

“If you keep saying stuff like that I’m going to want to kiss you,” you tell her.

“Stuff like what, that you’re annoying?” she asks, turning her head and arching an eyebrow at you.

“Yeah, just like that.”

“You’re annoying,” Claudia grins at you.

It’s probably as clear an invitation as you’re going to get. You stop walking again and step closer, waiting for some kind of signal from Claudia that she doesn’t want this, but her eyes drop to your lips and you know she does. One of your hands goes to her waist, barely grazing her jacket as you let your eyes flutter shut and dip your head to kiss her. 

Claudia responds straight away, much more confident than you in the way her hands seek out your hips to hold you close as her lips brush against yours. It feels so right, the connection you’ve made with Claudia over dinner translating immediately into physical chemistry too. 

You can hardly believe this is actually happening. You started tonight expecting the worst but here you are, on your first proper date with a girl as she kisses you against the backdrop of ocean waves and orange skies. It’s not your first kiss with a girl but it might as well be, for how right it feels compared to the ones that have come before.

After a minute that feels like forever you pull back, though only just far enough that you can look her in the eyes.

“So, is a second date still on the cards?” you dare to ask.

“Kiss me like that and you can have whatever you want.”

You don’t know if that’s an invitation to kiss Claudia again, but her lips are so addictive that you lean in for another kiss anyway, more confident the second time around as your hand slips beneath her jacket to hold her waist.

When you eventually break apart, you smile at how pretty she is in the evening light, and wonder if the slightly dazed expression on her face is mirrored on your own.

“Thank you,” you say.

“For the kiss?” 

“For a great first ever date,” you clarify.

“And the kiss though, right?” Claudia grins at you.

You slap Claudia’s arm lightly, then let your fingers trail down the soft skin of her inner forearm until you can hold her hand again, and you resume your walk along the beachfront.

“The kiss was nice too,” you hum in agreement. “Look, if Alexia asks how tonight went…”

“We had a good time but we’re just friends?” Claudia suggests, arching an eyebrow at you.

Even after one date this feels like the start of something really special. Alexia may be able to claim credit for introducing you to each other, but you want the chance to get to know Claudia without your cousin’s meddling, and if you tell her tonight has been a success then you know Alexia will continue to interfere. 

You smile across at Claudia and squeeze her fingers as you say, “It’s like you’re reading my mind.”

[banannabethchase]

In honour of the resident heterosexual: austindustin, austin shoots his shot with lance and is turned down, dustin comforts him by reassuring him that he's very pretty actually.

Out of Your System

~

Austin’s on the workout bench, arms flopped to his sides. He wants to finish the reps. He really does. But he’s heartbroken and sad and, honestly, kind of wants somebody to come up and ask him what’s wrong.

He sighs again, a little louder this time.

“Shut up,” Colten says, and he doesn’t even get a chance to move before something wet hits him in the face.

“Gross!” Austin yells, batting the towel away. “Take your sweaty filth and put it somewhere else.”

“I plan to,” Colten yells. “Get your ass up, you whiner.”

“Let me live!” Austin yells back at him. He flops back down onto the bench. Maybe he’ll fall asleep. That could count as a workout if he’s really pathetic about it, right?

He does fall asleep. He figures it out because somebody clears their throat and Austin opens his eyes.

Dustin Rhodes, out of gear but in a surprisingly well fitting tank top and shorts, is staring down at him. “Sorry to interrupt,” he says, “but are you actually using this bench?”

“Does sleeping count as cardio?”

“I think it by definition doesn’t.” Dustin reaches out a hand and pulls Austin to his feet with surprising strength. It shouldn’t be that surprising, Austin muses. But, somehow, it is. When they’re standing, they’re far from eye to eye, Austin realizes. Dustin studies him. “Are you doing alright, kid?”

“I’m not a kid,” Austin says automatically. “I’m in my twenties.”

Dustin snorts. “That’s young enough to be a kid, kid. You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“I am older,” Austin says.

And that’s when realization dawns in Dustin’s eyes. A conversation from a few years ago, from a few nonalcoholic beers ago, from a graduation party where Austin showed off his shiny new degree. “Oh,” Dustin says. “Oh, you weren’t drunk enough to forget that, were you.”

“No,” Austin says. “I didn’t actually have anything to drink that night.”

“I’m sure you did,” Dustin says. But he hasn’t let go of Austin’s hand. And that feels like something. “Didn’t you?”

Austin shakes his head. “Not a drop. That was a virgin pina colada.”

Dustin snorts.

“What?!”

“Just – nothing.”

“You can’t possibly think I’m a virgin,” Austin says, trying his best smile. “I mean, come on.”

“No, Austin,” Dustin says. “Your father’s told me about the times you had to call him to bail you out during college. I’m sure you’re not.”

“Oh, so you and Dad talked about me,” Austin says. “What, you ask him permission or something?”

Dustin’s laugh is almost nervous. “Austin, you can’t be serious.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Austin asks. “I mean, I just hit on Lance. Again.” He sighs. “Got shot down again.”

“Yeah, he’s married to a woman,” Dustin says. “How are you, like, the third person to make that mistake?”

“Third?” Austin asks. “Who else? Wait, don’t answer that. You’re trying to change the subject.” He pokes at Dustin’s chest. “I’m older. You said I had to wait until I was older.”

“I thought you’d change your mind!”

Austin blinks. “Why the hell would I change my mind?”

“Because I’m a old has been,” Dustin says, and he does look a little sad right now, a little old.

The sad isn’t great. The old, Austin has to admit, is absolutely doing it for him. “You have matches all the time that still fuck.”

Dustin blinks. “They…fuck?”

“They fuck,” Austin explains. “It means they’re good. Jeez, are you not on the internet?”

“I’m fifty something years old, Austin, of course I’m not on your internet.”

Austin beams. “Yeah, I know. Can I kiss you now?”

“Aus – you don’t want to kiss me.”

Austin rolls his eyes. “You don’t get to tell me what I do and don’t want. I want to kiss you. Do you want to kiss me?”

“Sure,” Dustin says, almost like he didn’t mean to. “I mean –”

“You said sure,” Austin says. “So, like, you do want to kiss me.”

Dustin sighs. “I shouldn’t want to kiss you.”

“Well, if you don’t want to kiss me, that’s one thing. But if you do want to want to kiss me, that’s just stupid.” Austin gets a little closer. “So, like, maybe you should kiss me. To get it out of your system or something.”

“Believe me, kid,” Dustin says, and he slides his hand to rest under Austin’s jaw. “One kiss is not gonna get it out of my system.”

Austin knows, from the quickest press of lips, that he is gone forever after this moment. Dustin is soft at first, like he’s testing it, like he’s expecting Austin to pull away. But Austin doesn’t and moves his lips. It seems to electrify something inside of Dustin, and an arm goes around Austin’s waist, pulling him in tightly. His mouth opens and Austin whimpers into it, ready to taste and feel and drown in it. Dustin’s surprisingly gentle, but it still feels like Austin is powerless to the touches.

“Okay,” Austin says, breathing heavily. “Did you get it out of your system?”

“No, Austin,” Dustin says, running a thumb along Austin’s lower lip. “No, I definitely didn’t.”

[averokage]

im bored i’m just gonna make more jd lore posts - SCARLET’S PALACE

ah scarlets palace in dancity (in danceverse eternyx, don’t question it)

the gays stay winning wtih just dance like really

so before we talk about any other performer at scarlet’s palace, first we must talk about the enby drag legend Scarlet Gold themself. (real name Samson Garnet.)

Their first appearance was in You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real).

Now there is a quote from Just dance mag on the poster outside of scarlet’s palace, there isnt a full look at it but most of it is shown.

“...Scarlet’s show ever! ...is simply the best ...mer of our time.” i assume that means performer

and you make me feel definitely lives up to that imo best 2022 song idc

and yes Scarlet/Samson is the first coach to use they/them pronouns

icon

now that we’ve learned about the owner, lets talk abt some other performers at the palace.

and we’ll start out with the new and HOT performer (figuratively and literally) Luke Cypher

now he probably has the MOST lore bc he’s the only one with a whole official tiktok to himself

so i’ll just put the whole transcript of that here

“Born from the fire goddess Derkes, he was made to set the Danceverses on fire with his hot moves. For a long time he was lost trying to find his place among the other deities in their Danceverse. That’s when he discovered the Danceverse Eternyx. He felt like he found his home among the other fiendish and friendly creatures. So,  he moved there with his relative Ann G. Lina to enjoy the endless crazy nights.”

also Derkes is actually P3 of Woman so Luke Cypher is actually the third child of another coach/other coaches in JD23

now you might be thinking

who tf is Ann G. Lina

everything

now we don’t know much about her, apart that she’s relatives with Luke Cypher

the most lore we have besides that is the twitter community manager thinks her favorite food is mac n cheese so

now we must move on to

*the retro-actively at scarlets palace performers ig*

now scarlet’s palace only started existing in jd23, but quite a few songs and coaches have been shown to be at the palace

so here’s a rundown of them

Hot Stuff takes place at Scarlet’s Palace, as shown in the name and description for the background in jd23

“Shake it at Scarlet's“

“This palace is full of queens.“

the coach from I Will Survive is seen on a poster outside of Scarlet’s Palace in Disco Inferno, with the name Johnny Zomby.

now Rita Pina is the first character at the palace that got a name, as she was called Rita during a Just Dance Class video where the performer of Drop the Mambo, Medhi Kerkouche, went through steps of performing the song

OH ALSO SPEAKING OF THAT, Drop the Mambo was originally planned to be performed by a female dancer, but the developers in charge of the routine made him the dancer instead because of the sheer energy he had while coaching

this makes Rita the first coach to be portrayed by a dancer of the opposite gender

OH ALSO she was in Sugar, dancing with the coach of Love Me Again

good for them

lets hope it goes well bc Love Me Again actually has TEN exes but thats another story

ok this is getting too long, last one

Finally we get to Boy, You Can Keep It, with the main coach Fuchsia Blue.

now fun little jd fact

Fuchsia Blue was meant to be in a music video for Todrick Hall’s Just Dance version of Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels. (thats where fuchsia got her name along with harlem, doremi, maybel, and probably some others im forgetting)

OK now i think we’re done until next lore drop or whatever

so that was all the lore in Scarlet’s Palace... i think

i might’ve missed something

anyways lets all bow down to Scarlet’s meet and greet and wish Rita and her boyfriend well (they need wishes)

[wosoluver]

We don’t talk anymore

Clàudia Pina x Reader

Childhood besties that grew apart. This is a fic about Reader appreciating the memories of the past.

While it’s not really meant to have a happy ending. If you want to do a part 2 maybe Reader joins Barcelona and they rekindle their friendship or maybe something more… 👀

Posted! I'm so sorry I forgot to reply with the fic. But here's the link -> We don't talk anymore

Honestly this made me tear up while writing it. But that's cuz I've been so sensitive lately.

Also I only feel like my writings are actually good when I'm writing angst and sad stuff.