#Round 1 Match 34

[macgyver2016-bracket]

Season 2, Episode 15: Murdoc + Handcuffs

MacGyver and Jack get Murdoc in custody but are trailed by Murdoc's mentor.

Season 3, Episode 16: Lidar + Rogues + Duty

The Phoenix Foundation must recover the body of a pilot whose plane crashed while testing an experimental laser mapping system that Mac designed; Riley tries to identify the hacker who tricked a SWAT team into arresting her and Elwood.

[dreamperson-poll]

match #34

Walmart Prince dreamed by @bobvelsebishot

The prince of Walmart! (Prince is gender neutral, they're actually covered in tentacles and eyeballs.)

bigbeard the giant dreamed by @hellishboots

a pioneer-esque character on a magical island. so loved by everyone that they named the island after him. "bigbeard island". all i remember abt him is that he has super dark brown hair and a vaguely pioneer-themed outfit. built like a bear (gay). also, needless to say, he has a big ol beard

[alonetimelover]

So High School - part 1

pairing: tennis player!reader x Lando Norris

fc: Iga Świątek (+ some other tennis players, but mostly Iga)

summary: Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris attend one of the YN YSN's tennis match, shocking the fans. From the first sight, Lando is in love and it's like he forgot how to be. Some F1 drivers try to help him get the girl just as much as his team.

warnings: swearing

F1 masterlist

🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾🏎️🎾

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ln4op81updates

liked by ynupdates, norizzfan and 8 201 others

ln4op81updates Lando and Oscar were seen entering the Court Philippe Chatrier to attend the second round match of Roland Garros.

view all 839 comments

landogirly look at my man 🥵

norizzfan can't believe that one twitter acc manifesting it

oscarfan33 Lily is also with them!!!

⤷ pastryoscar YES! and she's wearing the cutest t-shirt with yn's face on it

⤷ oscarfan99 she must be a huge fan, she looks so happy to be there

landofan82 not lando third wheeling oscar and lily 💀

formula1fan66 who's playing?

⤷ ynsmybestie YN YSN and Naomi Osaka!!!

⤷ fornula1fan88 women's match?

⤷ ynsmybestie grand slam champions match*

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landonorris and yourinstagram added to their IG stories!

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landonorris

liked by oscarpiastri, danielricciardo and 1 903 392 others

landonorris running after balls with a racket (is quite fun)

view all 34 499 comments

landogirly hot hot hot hot

landogirly no one is looking at your pink shirt sir

landogirly wait, did he used yn's twitter bio as a caption??????

⤷ ynsmybestie yes he did

⤷ norizzfan oh no lando

oscarpiastri You couldn't wait five minutes?

⤷ landonorris it will work, you just wait and see

danielricciardo it was going to be bad but you actually made it worse. how?????

carlossainz55 You listened to me! Good job, cabrón

ynsmymama is it your way to repair the damage you did with THAT tweet?

⤷ ynsmymama because you've just made it worse my man

landofan85 that is the funniest thing i've seen on the internet so far today, thank you

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landonorrisupdates

liked by landogirly, landofan75 and 17 939 others

landonorrisupdates Lando is at the fourth round match of Roland Garros today. As you may suspect - YN YSN is playing!

view all 139 comments

landofan99 this man found a girl he likes and he won't leave her alone

⤷ landofan22 maybe he just likes watching the sport?

⤷ hater99 then he would attend men playing, nothing entertaining about two girls running slow and barely hitting the ball

⤷ ynsmymama look at you crying because a woman is slaying in what she does best

⤷ ynsfan73 and she's better than some of your favourite male players hater99

landowdc watch yn get 2 bagels and see what happens with lando (hearteyes) and haters (they're gonna cry)

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YouTube McLaren: Lando and Oscar give you a tour through our team hub! Watch now!

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rolandgarros

liked by landonorris, yourinstagram and 289 493 others

rolandgarros YN YSN QUEEN OF P4RIS! WTA No. 1 just won her 4th Roland Garros title and 5th Grand Slam in total!

view all 2 854 comments

ynsupdates YAAAAS! THAT'S MOTHER

ynsmymama SHE DID IT, SHE DID IT FAST AND SHE DID IT FLAWLESSLY

ysmybestie nobody is doing it like her, NOBODY

landogirly YN YSN YOU ROCK MY WORLD

landofan65 do we think lando woke up early to watch her play?

⤷ norizzfan no doubt

landonorris congratulations yourinstagram!

⤷ yourinstagram thank you, Lando!

⤷ landogirly girllll, he won't be able to race today

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yourinstagram added to her IG stories!

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BBC Radio One interview: Lando Norris about his first win, biggest crush and why he would like to kiss and merry YN YSN.

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formula1gossip

liked by landogirly, landofan40 and 25 292 others

formula1gossip YN YSN and Lando Norris attended the same sponsor party hosted by Lego! Do we think Lando finally got the time to talk to his crush?

view all 903 comments

landogirly praying to all the gods for lando not to embarrass himself

ynsupdates hyperventilating...

landofan45 look at them and say they do not complement each other, i dare you

mclaren yn ysn the woman that you are <3

⤷ landogirly man, your driver is right next to yn

⤷ mclaren who?

⤷ landogirly you know what? understandable.

landoscarfan77 oscarpiastri yn's taking your place

⤷ mclaren we would never!

ynsmymama crying shaking throwing up

ynsmybestie they look too good to be true

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mclaren added to their IG stories!

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part 2 in the making

[norrizzandpia]

Soo

Smut survey

On each question you can answer Oscar or Lando. You can choose both of them if you want obvi. And of course leave brief comment why do you think so

1. Who do you think can do several rounds at one night?

2. Who is more vocal in bed? Like moaning, grunting and complimenting

3. Who is better at giving oral?

4. Who is lasting longer at one round?

5. Who is showing more intimacy? Like kissing, looking into eyes while sex

6. Who is better at missionary?

7. Who is better at doggy?

8. Who is better when you're riding them?

9. Who is more likely suggest to make a sex-tape?

10. Who is more likely suggest you to invite his friend to spice up things?

11. Whom you would wake up with blowjob?

12. Who is more gentle during sex?

13. Who likes to give marks? (Hikeys)

14. Who likes to receive marks? (Scratched back and ass)

15. Who is more fun to have sex with? (Like sex with actual laugh)

16. Who is more likely suggest semi-public sex? (Like in WC at party)

17. Who is more into praising?

18. Who has longer dick?

19. Who has more thicker dick?

20. Who is more likely send nudes to you?

21. Who is more likely to cum early at your first sex?

22. Who is more dominant?

23. Who can fuck while standing?

24. Who is more like to cum at blowjob?

25. Who is more likely to give multiple orgasms?

26. Who is more likely do angry or post-fight sex?

27. Who is more into spanking and hair pulling? (Receiving)

28. Who prefer to cum inside?

29. Who is more trimmed and who has more pubic hair?

30. Who is most likely to cum in the same time with you?

31. Who has best hair to play with while making out?

32. Who has best lips to kiss?

33. Who has best broad shoulders?

34. Who has best strong back to scratch while sex?

35. Who has best (strong, veiny) arms? Biceps and triceps

36. Who has best pecs/chest with nipples to kiss?

37. Who has best abs to lick?

38. Who has best happy trail?

39. Who has best ass to squeeze?

40. Who has best tights to sit on?

41. Who is more into shower sex?

42. Who is more into morning sex?

43. Who is more into quickies?

44. Who is more into slow passionate sex?

45. Who is more into fingering?

46. Who is more into handjob (receiving)?

47. Who is more into cumming on you (back or stomach or etc)?

48. Who has vocal kink? (Likes to hear your pantings, moans and screams)

49. Who has praising kink? (Likes to hear compliments)

50. Who has is more into boobs, into ass, into pussy

51. Who wears boxers and who boxer briefs?

52. Who is more likely to be best lover?

Me at midnight in my room thinking through each of these questions bc im insane:

1. Lando fs. I think this one was a no brainer for me particularly because I feel like he has a lot of energy and just gives off the vibes of having better stamina

2. I think grunting and moaning would be more lando but compliments and whimpers would be more Oscar. I feel like this one is self explanatory idk like their personalities just match up with it.

3. Tbh i feel like it’s Oscar who is better at oral because i feel like he just gives off more attentiveness. Lando gives off player vibes which isn’t a bad thing but i feel like he wants to get to the main event of it all quicker while Oscar gives the vibes of being a man who takes things slow

4. I was going to say Oscar for some reason but then I changed to Lando because I feel like this man has A LOT of experience with being older and sleeping with more women (i assume obvi). I just feel like lando has built that kind of stamina if you get me

5. Oscar. Immediately. Oscar. I said in 3 that i think Oscar takes things slow and that pertains here. I think he’s more romantic, like soft dom aesthetic, while Lando is rougher, more degradation maybe

6. I feel like we all know who im going to say here lol. OSCAR. He just gives off soft sex vibes i can’t explain and i feel like he would be the type of guy to be like “look in my eyes while i fuck you” or “I want to see all of you while I fuck you” like he just wants to keep the genuine connection going

7. I think Lando is better at doggy. I just think, because I think he’s rougher, he’s the type of man to want things hard and fast, which doggy can add to that vibe

8. I think they’re both really good during ridding in their own aspects. I think Oscar’s touchy, going for the boobs and stuff, but I also think Lando is putting in the work too, pushing up into her while she rides him, ya know? I think they both bring positive things to the table for this question

9. I WAS GONNA SAY LANDO BUT ALSO I FEEL LIKE OSCAR COULD DO THIS TOO?? I feel like with the racing schedule and all the traveling they do, at some point, they’ll want a video of sex because sometimes they can’t call so they need a default if phone sex isn’t a thing. I could see this for both of them, yeah.

10. I’m thinking Lando for this one. Just because Lando seems to be a bit crazier than Oscar, partying more and more sociable, so he seems to be a bit more mischievous this way

11. I’m going to say both for blowjobs in the morning because the soft of the morning coupled with Oscar’s soft moans could be so so good, but also just blowjobs at any point with Lando seems… perfect 🤭

12. Oscar is for sure more gentle I think. Just the way he treats others, i don’t know. There’s something about him fr that just screams “Doing so well for me, baby… good girl, love” YA KNOW???

13. I think Lando likes to give more marks because he seems more protective and territorial over his friends and stuff. Like this man is fiercely protective over the people he loves. He would want people to know his girlfriend was his for sure. He’d be like “Crystal clear yet?” To a man hitting on his girl at the bar and then gesture to the dark marks on her neck

14. I think both Oscar and Lando like to receive those kinds of marks. Tbh i feel like it’s just a thing for men where they like to have physical evidence of how good they are in bed, how capable they are of pleasuring their partner

15. Awww I could see this with both but more so Lando because his laugh is so infectious that it would derail the whole operation fr. Like one small, not even funny joke, could turn into a fit of giggles with this man and im sure sex just adds to that. Plus Danny Ric has even said Lando is so easy to make laugh like sex with laughs just screams lando.

16. I actually think Oscar for this tbh. Oscar is very idgaf for one, but also he just seems like he’d be able to be quiet enough and exert enough energy into making sure his girlfriend is quiet enough for it to work. He’s also just fucking smart and logical, he’d think about a place to do it before figuring out the best possible location for successful, uninterrupted sex. Like Oscar just seems capable enough to think through every possible outcome

17. I think they both are, but I think Oscar praises more. I think Lando doesn’t have anything against praising but he would rather take the degradation route (i think its the mustache idk) while Oscar is just love drunk on his naked girlfriend

18. There are some pictures of Lando I’ve seen…. That suggest he’s a bit on the thicker side rather than length so im going to go Oscar on this one.

19. Lando. THE PICTURES IVE SEEN oh lawd like ive seen some where he’s walking, playing golf and such and you can just tell this man is thick.

20. LANDO WOULD SEND AN ABS PICK WITH HIM STROKING HIS DICK IN THE FRAME TOO I KNOW IT. I cannot describe why i wholeheartedly believe this but i feel it in my bones that lando would send his girlfriend a down-angle video of his abs with his hand pumping his dick at the bottom of the frame

21. Tbh i think lando would cum earlier during the first sexual encounter like he’s just consumed and overwhelmed by all the feelings so he just cums earlier. I still think his stamina is cray and he can go for multiple rounds but i think the first time he gets with his girl, he can’t last

22. I think Lando is more dominant in the relationship as a whole. I think they are both dominant in the bedroom but I think Lando is the most dominant because he would be more protective and manly throughout every part of the relationship.

23. Have yall seen Oscar’s arms…. Tbh BOTH of these men could fuck standing up. They have the strength in their arms and legs to hold some WEIGHT. Trust me on my delusions ppl, it’s both.

24. I think they both will like idek my gut j tells me its both

25. I think they both give multiple orgasms because, as ive said, they come across really attentive so providing multiple orgasms seems on brand plus they seem like the kind of men to base how fat their egos are on how well they can make a girl cum

26. LANDO! He’s just rougher in bed i know it so makeup sex might just be his favorite thing

27. I think they would both be into giving hair pulling and spanking (maybe spanking more so Lando) but I don’t think they would be that interested in receiving it

28. I think Oscar prefers to cum inside because i think one of the things that gets him off so much is the connection and the emotional feelings and cumming inside is such an intimate thing to do… i think he’d be all over it

29. Lando’s gotta have more hair. His hair grows so goddamn fast hello. Like that’s easy. Idk about Oscar tho, im thinking trimmed?

30. I think Oscar for this one. Again, i think it’s just the intimacy of it all. I think Lando would cum after.

31. LETS TALK ABOUT IT YEAH! Lando. I would love to sink my hands in that man’s curls asap like- i love Oscar’s hair but Lando’s hair seems so soft and there is so much of it like i just know tangling your fingers in it would be satisfying

32. I think they both do tbh like they both have relatively full lips (Oscar’s are a bit on the smaller side but he’s got that upturned lip thing going on)

33. CAN WE TALK ABOUT OSCARS BUILD PLZ because i feel like I BLINKED and this man had the sexiest build i have ever seen. His shoulders are exquisite.

34. I’m thinking Lando has a stronger back, more toned, just because… the pictures ive seen… yum.

35. Ok for veiny arms it’s gotta go to Lando BUT biceps??? Oscar owns biceps. His biceps. THE VIDEO OF HIM IN THE WHITE SHIRT PLZ TELL ME YALL KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABT LIKE I NEARLY DIED

36. OOOOOO both. Lando’s pecs are so nice to look at him im so sorry that is so creepy but like his and Oscar’s pecs just look so scrumptious im so sorry god almighty

37. ….LANDO. Let’s talk about it right now. His abs are so defined and don’t get me wrong i think Oscar’s are really hot but Lando’s abs are just so toned and defined like you could lick up and down each ridge so well

38. Solely because of the fact he has thick dark hair and a lot of it, im going to say lando

39. OSCAR that man has some cake on him fr like he needs to drop the workout routine asap bc im trying to get a juicy ass like that for summer

40. I think my purpose in life was to actively seek out the Oscar thigh-riding fanfics on this app bc it’s all i ever do. If Lando wore shorts and sat down in them more often, im sure this answer would be different, but, from what ive seen, Oscar has some perfect thigh-riding thighs.

41. I think lando is such a shower sex guy BECAUSE he seems like the type to take such long showers. He just seems so into his appearance (in a good way) and wanting to be clean, come off stylish that his hygiene is up there for his priorities THEREFORE he’s no rookie when it comes to long showers so why not add sex into it?

42. Oscar seems more into morning sex because he seems to be more into the intimacy aspect. Like morning sex is so cosy and soft and romantic like this man is all three of those things

43. Lando fs he wants his girl wherever, whenever, for how ever long he can have her like he will have a quickie in the bathroom of his house while he’s on stream because he saw her wearing tight pajamas off screen

44. WE KNOW WHO IM GOING TO SAY FR it’s Oscar. No explanation.

45. I think Lando is because that man’s streams like he is always flexing and just into his arms/hands in general. He seems like he’s very much of a touchy person so he would be good with his hands i assume. Couple that with the need to please his girl, you’ve got fingering galore.

46. I feel like Oscar is into handjobs more. I just feel like lando is more the type to be like “on your knees, love… open that slutty mouth for me” and make it all dirty whereas Oscar’s mind hasn’t gotten that far yet

47. I think lando is man obsessed with cumming all over every body part of his girl. Like i just think he is so into marking her as his, he finally resorts to that small subconscious desire to cum all over her body.

48. Lando seems like a man who has a vocal kink. I think this goes with my idea that his ego is based on how well he can pleasure his girl so knowing, in the moment, what he’s doing is working, that would get him off too

49. I think they both do but lando more. I just think that like in the midst of his dominance, he would love to hear a small whisper from his girl as she rambles “you’re so pretty, lan… making me feel so good” but like don’t get me wrong Oscar would eat that up too, i just feel like lando would cum harder because of the small praise

50. Because I’m self-indulgent, I’m going to say lando is more into boobs as well as Oscar but i do also think lando is really into pussy and there is no reasoning behind any of that

51. I feel like lando wears the boxer briefs and Oscar wears the boxers. I just feel like landos a bit of a slut (endearing) so he’s like “let me where something skin tight” whereas Oscar is just trying to chill and be the most comfortable

52. I feel like they both are really good partners in their own aspects. Lando more of a rougher dom but prioritizes his girl still and Oscar softer as he just tries to exist in the moment with his girl

AND WE FINISHED! Lowkey lost myself in this hello like forgot that i do not know these men at all and have no basis for any of these reasonings i am so sorry lord

[the-great-bob-off2024]

Round 1, Match 34

Bob Propaganda

Buffy Summers: just look at the material!! it's her 'reinventing myself' bob. she needed a change and she went for this cute, flicked out bob and she's rocking it!!

Jenny Calendar: it's just such a good bob like let's be serious, she set the standard and raised the bar for every bob on that show - the original buffy bob. it's cute, it's tousled, it's perfect.

[undertale-ost-tournament]

ROUND 1: MATCH 15

[xenoblade-chronicles-brackets]

Submitted propaganda for Melancholia

this song goes so hard and for what? to be in random ass menus?? i’m begging y’all to look at the lyrics if nothing else. it’s just got such a chill groove for it to also turn around and start demanding the world gets its shif together. which is kinda an underlying theme of x huh? huh??

No submitted propaganda for Jump Towards the Morning Sun

[marveltournaments]

[whos-hotter-jjba]

Hottest JJBA Outfit Bracket - Round 1 Match 34

[morally-grey-girlbosses]

Propaganda under the cut.

Riza Hawkeye:

The best sniper in the Amestris military and the common sense of Team Mustang. Would be a war criminal if there was a geneva convention equivalent in Fullmetal Alchemist. Her goal is to make the things she did in the Ishval civil war illegal and face trial for them. Fights with guns in a setting with monsters and people with alchemy magic.

Granny Weatherwax:

Granny Weatherwax is a witch. Witches don't have leaders, because Granny Weatherwax never allow that sort of thing. She knows that she is the most dangerous thing in this dark forest. She is extremely good at what she does. She is kind, but not nice. She helps her community, cures people with potions and psychology, and she is an extremely practical person. She watches herself very closely to make sure she never strays from her own moral compass. There’s no harsher judge of Granny Weatherwax than Granny Weatherwax. Here are some quotes from the books: Granny’s implicit belief that everything should get out of her way extended to other witches, very tall trees and, on occasion, mountains. Granny Weatherwax was not a good loser. From her point of view, losing was something that happened to other people. Many people could say things in a cutting way. But Granny Weatherwax could listen in a cutting way. She could make something sound stupid just by hearing it. “I did start out in witchcraft to get boys, to tell you the truth.’ ‘Think I don’t know that?’ ‘What did you start out to get, Esme?’ Granny stopped, and looked up at the frosty sky and then down at the ground. ‘Dunno,’ she said at last. ‘Even, I suppose.”

[wizardbracket]

Round 1: Match 34 of 64

Why they deserve to be the ultimate wizard according to YOU:

Rin Tohsaka:

“Trained in magic from a young age and was able to hold her own for a short time against legendary heroes long enough for her to survive and enact plans, compatible host for Babylonian/Sumerian goddesses Ishtar and Ereshkigal, able to instruct others on the basics, can use magic to reinforce her body for a magic-fueled mma fight”

"technically the show is about mages but she in particular is soooo wizard. Orphan who lives in a big gothic mansion and does magic all day because it's all she cares about. She enters the wizard hunger games just to show everyone she can win."

Erin Ruunaser:

“he's an academic. he's got ALL the powers. he makes all his friends go on trips to the library. he accidentally got possessed because he thought it would be a good idea to explore the big dangerous magic storm that everyone says you shouldn't go into.”

"Literally the most powerful wizard ever known (only person ever to control all seven elements) but he’s also the most pompous asshole you will ever meet and I love him dearly. Classic example of the power controlling the wizard also"

[trans-all-at-once-tournament]

Propaganda:

Bill Cipher

-No genitals, no agab

-They’re a being from another dimension, they have genders that we can’t even imagine nor comprehend

-They exist in every reality so are every gender

Starscream

-All robots are inherently trans

-Well They aren’t called CISformers

-The way they interact with Knockout in Prime gives big internalized bigotry vibes

-They do a funny scream

-Pretty much any cartoon from that era is very trans

-Often designed on a sliding scale of androgyny

-Been accidentally localized as a woman a few times due to their gnc voice

-Had a whole character arc in the IDW comics that has trans implications

[thgfanfictionlibrary]

Mature Rated Fics Masterlist (42)

Part 1-Part 34 / Part 35 / Part 36 / Part 37 / Part 38 / Part 39 / Part 40 / Part 41 

Created: March 14th, 2024

Last Checked:------

Toothbrush-chele20035 (ao3)  Summary: After a painful break-up, Katniss and Peeta find their way back to one another. Tower-HGfanonezillion (ao3)  Summary: Katniss and Peeta get drunk and make some horrible jokes (and then make love). Tread Lightly-Abagail_Snow (ao3)  Summary: Katniss Everdeen has been cooking methamphetamine with her former chem teacher, Haymitch Abernathy, until she learns that her boyfriend is set on making this profession problematic. Based on Breaking Bad. Tropes Challenge Entries-HGfanonezillion (ao3)  Summary: All three of these stories were my entries into the three rounds of The Everlark Games: Tropes Challenge. Twelveton Abbey-Alliswell (ao3)  Summary: Is April 16th of 1912, England wakes up to tragic news of Titanic proportions. Meanwhile, Lord George Everdeen, Fifth Earl of Panemshire, is left with two problems at the loss of his Heir Apparent: first, he needs to appoint a new Heir to his title, wealth and beloved estate, as soon as possible, or lose all of his family's earthly possessions; second, he needs to find an appropriate match for his eldest daughter, the Lady Katniss, who's also lost her fiancé in the maritime disaster. Humble baker, Peeta Mellark, might just be the solution to all of Lord Panemshire's problems... if only his daughter, wasn’t so determined to antagonize the young baker at every turn! Twisted-chele20035 (ao3)  Summary: Katniss is so excited, Prim finally made it medical school, on a full scholarship too. What sisters don't expect is how much it all costs. When Katniss goes looking for a part time job, it leads her to photographer, Peeta Mellark. Two of Us-Abagail_Snow (ao3)  Summary: In the early 1950’s, Peeta Mellark embarked on a road trip across America, where he picked up a hitch hiker named Katniss Everdeen. Upon This Winter Night-Authoresskika (ao3)  Summary: Three winters have passed since the Queen of Ice and Snow took Peeta from Katniss; never again will they allow anything to tear them asunder. Based on SponsorMusing's "The Shimmering Glass". Upside-Down Cake-aimmyarrowshigh (ao3)  Summary: How a boy from the Seam and the baker's daughter healed old wounds, baked bread, and found poison berries in District Twelve. Warming on the Lawn-Alliswell (ao3)  Summary: Outtakes and revisited Scenes on the Sunsets on the Grass universe, from Peeta’s POV.

[the-90s-music-colosseum]

The 90s MV Melee - round 1 match 34

Voter-submitted propaganda:

Losing My Religion -

"that’s me in the corner (sad clown noises)"

Big Me - none received

[ship-colour-scheme-showdown]

Ship Colour Scheme Showdown Round 1 Match 34

Speculation about ships is welcome, but please do not reveal the identities of ships you submitted!

[leveloneandup]

Extra Time: Two World Cup Champs Aren’t Scared of the Dutch

Holland day

So, two-time World Cup champion Christen Press, what scares you about the Netherlands, America’s second-round opponent at this 2023 World Cup? The U.S. Women’s National Team (USWNT) will face the Orange Lionesses tonight at 9 p.m. E.T. in New Zealand's capital city of Wellington.

Press, who won titles in 2015 and 2019 as a forward for the U.S. but recently underwent a fourth surgery to repair the knee preventing her from playing in this World Cup, is mildly offended by this question. “As soon as you say, ‘What scares you,’ I took that as a player,” Press says. “And I’m like, ‘Nothing scares me.” Press, 34, laughs. “OK, go ahead, Tobin …"

As in Tobin Heath, who’s also on this call—and was also on the 2015 and 2019 USWNT World Cup teams (in addition to the 2011 one)—and has also won a pair of World Cup titles, in 2015 and 2019 with the USWNT. Like Press, Heath, 35, has been sidelined due to injury. So I called on the duo—who are among the founders of the lifestyle brand RE-INC, often finish each other’s sentences, and are co-hosting an excellent podcast and YouTube program during the World Cup called The RE-CAP Show—to break down the U.S.-Netherlands matchup.

Heath agrees with Press. She doesn’t find the Dutch all that frightening. “The Dutch are a good team,” says Heath. “They're not a great team in this tournament.” Heath concedes that the Dutch are the best team in the USWNT’s group, which also includes Vietnam—whom the U.S. defeated 3-0 on Friday in the World Cup opener—and Portugal. “Outside of us,” Press chimes in.

“Outside of us, yes,” says Heath.

Yes, U.S.-Netherlands is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final. But Heath cautions against reading too much into that. “There were a ton of better teams we played in 2019,” says Heath. She and Press point to games against Spain in the Round of 16, France—in France—in the quarters, and England in the semis as much tougher tests. The U.S. won those games 2-1, but shut out the Netherlands, 2-0, in the title game. “We always say our final was one of the easier games for us,” says Heath.

What’s more, the Dutch—who beat Portugal 1-0 in their World Cup opener—are down a superstar. Vivianne Miedema, the country’s all-time leading goal scorer, is missing this World Cup due to an ACL tear. “We don’t have to significantly adjust what we’re doing in order to take care of an individual player,” says Heath. “I don’t think they can do much damage to us.”

The one Netherlands player Heath mentioned in our conversation as a threat to watch—striker Lineth Beerensteyn—is now unlikely to play, because of an ankle injury she suffered against Portugal. Heath notes that the Dutch have a solid aerial presence off set pieces. And the Orange Lionesses could exploit the tendency of U.S. outside defenders Crystal Dunn and Emily Fox to play “inverted” positions—meaning they sometimes serve more as midfielders, moving into more centralized spaces on the pitch, getting involved in short passes on the attack. That strategy can leave the U.S. defense susceptible to Dutch counterattacks out wide. “You are leaving a big area to exploit,” says Heath.

Still, the former USWNT players aren’t all that worried. If anything, this is a huge opportunity for the Americans to make a statement. Germany made its mark, with a 6-0 crushing of Morocco. Brazil cast itself a real threat, with its 4-0 opening game victory over Panama. Spain beat Zambia 5-0 on Tuesday. “There’s a few teams that are like, we’re here,” says Heath. “We didn’t have that game against Vietnam. We can have that game against the Netherlands, if we want. I don’t see there being any reason why we can’t.”

~~~

Parting thought

Since they’ve played in past tournaments, I asked Heath and Press what it’s like for players at the World Cup between games. The U.S. did travel from Auckland to Wellington in the five days between its matchups against Vietnam and the Netherlands. Still, that’s plenty of downtime.

Enough to make you go stir-crazy?

“It’s almost like surrealism,” says Press. “The days are a little gray and foggy. You almost can’t remember. You’re very careful with when you look at your phone and who you even connect with. Or how much you walk. Your whole life is bubble-wrapped. Every second of the day. And then you have to go out and do this incredibly physical and risky and hard and emotionally draining thing. And then you just are bubble-wrapped again.”

“We sit around and talk and try to get a little bit of relief. It's this incredibly difficult experience to explain. You're with the only people in the world that get it. And that creates a bond with every single player I've played with in a world championship that's unlike any other. Because there's this respect. There's this knowingness. You don't even have to say anything and you know what's going on with your teammates.”

“We eat too many meals. We’re really just trying to fuel, fuel, fuel. And we talk and we laugh and we make it to the next game.”