#Ted lasso spin-off idea

[andiover]

Please let the spin-off be a Bend It Like Beckham crossover where Jess Bhamra comes back from her kickass pro career to coach AFC Richmond Women’s side.

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

thinking about tipsy trent/tedependent again (after seeing some of my old posts here and here) and like, i've got two different fics where they hook-up while drunk but i'm Still Thinking About It. specifically i am thinking about trent, tipsy and instantly thrilled to see ted (trent, aloof and cold and standoffish journalist, upon seeing ted lasso while even slightly tipsy: [immediately turning into the human embodiment of ":D!!!!"] TED!!!) and being just drunk enough to start flirting. terribly. luckily for him ted finds it to be incredibly endearing (and if part of him is secretly, guiltily a little flattered that trent is just so pleased to see him, let alone that trent wants him so earnestly--well that's fine) and. god. should they be having irresponsible tipsy sex while trent's still a journalist? absolutely not. is it even likely in canon? no. do i care? also no, BAM, fate aligns just right where trent's drunk enough to actually flirt with ted, ted's drunk enough to flirt back, and this somehow ends up with one of them in the other's bed and there's sloppy making out which turns into clumsy giggly drunk sex which turns into sleepy cuddling which turns into waking up the next morning like Oh Fuck.

[nameless-jamie]

The Handshake

A Jamie Tartt Short Story/Imagine

Masterlist

Pairing: Jamie Tartt x fem!personal assistant reader

Y/N had survived a lot of ridiculous things in her job as Jamie Tartt’s personal assistant.

She had talked him out of buying a yacht named The Tartt Attack despite him having exactly zero experience with boats. She had convinced the club’s PR team that Jamie calling Erling Haaland “just a bit alright” in an interview wasn’t meant to be an insult. She had even—on one particularly insane occasion—stood outside a bakery at six in the morning just to make sure Jamie got the exact croissant he wanted before training.

But this?

This secret handshake nonsense?

This was next level.

It had started off harmless. A silly, one-off thing. A joke between them that should’ve been forgotten within a day.

The first time it happened, they were standing outside the training room, waiting for the team meeting to start. Jamie had just cracked some dumb joke about Dani’s obsession with animals, and Y/N, in a rare moment of ridiculousness, held up a hand for a high-five.

But Jamie, being Jamie, had to make it extra. He added an unnecessary spin, pointed finger guns at her, and then snapped his fingers like he was finishing off a magic trick.

It was one of those stupid, fleeting things that should’ve died after the first time they did it.

Except Jamie was Jamie, which meant once he decided something was fun, it became an everyday event.

And Y/N—who was supposed to be the responsible one—was absolutely, completely gone for him and had learned the routine religiously.

So of course she went along with it. And just like that, the handshake was born.

Now, it was a thing.

Every morning when Jamie strolled into Nelson Road, Y/N was already waiting by the entrance, coffee in one hand, the other raised expectantly.

Jamie, grinning like an idiot, would immediately launch into the routine.

High-five. Spin. Finger guns. Snap.

It didn’t matter that it was completely ridiculous. It didn’t matter that people stared. It didn’t even matter that Roy had, on multiple occasions, looked like he wanted to strangle them both.

What mattered was that they had it down to a science.

And every time Roy groaned like he wanted to throw himself into oncoming traffic, it only made it better.

“Oi,” Roy grumbled one morning as he watched them go through the whole thing for the third time that day. “What the fuck is that?”

“Our secret handshake,” Jamie said proudly, like a kid showing off a macaroni craft.

Roy’s eye twitched. “Why the fuck do you need a secret handshake?”

Jamie just shrugged. “’Cause we’re cool.”

Y/N, completely straight-faced, added, “And you’re just jealous.”

Roy made a noise that could only be described as a growl.

Ted, who had walked in just in time to witness the entire ordeal, put his hands on his hips. “You know, I had a handshake like that back in my coaching days at Wichita State. Only it involved a lot more lasso motions and a yee-haw at the end.”

Jamie looked at Y/N like she had just personally betrayed him. “We shoulda added a yee-haw.”

Y/N gave him an exaggerated look of consideration. “Hmm. Maybe next season.”

Jamie pouted.

Ted chuckled at their antics, loving their whole dynamic. “You two got that whole routine down, huh?”

Jamie beamed. “Best handshake in the Prem.”

“Wouldn’t be surprised if you two start trendin’,” Ted mused.

Jamie turned to Y/N, his face lighting up. “Oh, we have to go viral.”

Y/N sighed, already knowing she’d be the one handling whatever PR disaster came out of this. “Jamie, we are not—”

“We have to,” Jamie insisted, practically vibrating with excitement. “I’m gonna do it in a match.”

Y/N pinched the bridge of her nose. “Jamie.”

Roy groaned. “I fucking hate this.”

Which, naturally, only made Jamie want to do it more.

And it was too late. The idea was planted.

And Jamie Tartt, once he got an idea, was unstoppable.

It happened in the next game against West Ham.

Jamie had just pulled off a beautiful assist to Dani. Instead of celebrating with his teammates, he sprinted toward the sidelines—straight toward Y/N who stood next to Will, the kitman.

Before she could even react, he held up a hand.

Y/N didn’t even hesitate.

High-five. Spin. Finger guns. Snap.

It was so perfectly executed, so stupidly dramatic, that the whole stadium actually went silent for a second.

Then, chaos.

The commentators were laughing. The West Ham players looked confused. Roy, watching from the dugout, looked like he was about to spontaneously combust. The team just cheered them on.

The clip went viral everywhere.

— @footyboyafc: nah bc WHAT is Jamie Tartt doing mid-match 💀💀💀 — @afcrichmondfanclub: petition for EVERY Richmond player to learn this handshake 👏👏👏 — @spicytartt: idc idc idc I know what this means I know what this means THEY’RE IN LOVE YOUR HONOR —

By the time the game ended, Y/N couldn’t even open her phone without seeing some over-the-top edit of their handshake set to unnecessarily romantic music.

Jamie, of course, loved it.

“They think we’re in love Jamie,” Y/N told him later, holding up her phone with an exaggerated glare.

Jamie smirked. “Yeah? Can’t blame ‘em.”

She rolled her eyes, fighting back a smile. “You’re impossible.”

“Nah,” Jamie said, nudging her shoulder. “Just cool.”

Y/N snorted. “Right. That’s definitely what people think.”

Jamie grinned. “Jealous ‘cause we’re cool, mate.”

[illiterateaffairs]

behind the scenes chapter three | friends with professional benefits

masterlist | prev | next

pairing: jamie tartt x actress!reader (ted lasso)

rating: T

word count: 3,410

summary: you and jamie get to know each other. let the games begin.

a/n: this is coming out later than i had planned but i hope it was worth the wait! going to be less busy this coming weekend so hope to share more soon and get a lot of chapters in the queue for you all <3

Five days. It had been five days since you and Jamie agreed on your plan to fake date in front of the entire world. And although you didn’t regret the idea - yet - you’d still had enough time to overthink and suddenly become very nervous about things going wrong. 

You hadn’t seen Jamie since your conversation in the café, but you had various text exchanges throughout the week. At some point Jamie had asked you what your contact name was for him.

what do you mean? it's your name. jamie.

just jamie?

what else would it be?

you’ve gotta add emojis luv if someone sees your phone it's gotta look like i’m ur boyfriend. mine says ur name with like 5 hearts

That’s when you realized you needed to be more thorough than you thought. 

Which is precisely why Jamie was coming over to your flat today. Sure you’d known you needed to get together sooner or later to talk through the plan as a whole, but today you were armed with a checklist of things to cover. 

You’d also talked things over with Margot earlier in the week. And Harry. But that conversation had been a lot more cut and dry. He was over the moon you were doing this, and sent you an email with own list of requirements. It basically started and ended with: be a couple in PUBLIC. 

With Margot, she’d repeatedly asked if you were sure about the whole thing. You’d told her over and over again that, yes, you had never been more sure of anything in your life. Though by the fourth reassurance, you weren’t sure how convincing you sounded. 

Either way, you were committed to this and dammit if you weren’t going to see this through. This was just another role you had to play. It’s what you did best.

From your spot on your coach, you nearly fall off of it when there’s a knock on your door. 

Jamie.

Its go time. 

You put your laptop down on the coffee table and jog over to the front door. Pulling it open, you’re actually surprised to see Jamie standing on your doorstep holding a bouquet of flowers. 

You squint, “Are those for me?”

Jamie scoffs, “No, they’re for your elderly neighbor I just passed. I’m hoping you can introduce me.” You roll your eyes but give him a smile, “Of course they’re for you. We have to make this look convincing right?”

“Jamie, there’s nobody else here.”

“Okay, but what about paparazzi? One could be lurking about and catching me visiting your flat would be the perfect kickstart to this whole thing.”

You chuckle, “I doubt there’s any photographers around here.” Still you look around behind him, and after seeing no one, you pull him into your apartment and shut the door.

“Still, you know Google Earth. Always taking pics,” Jamie jokes, laughing to himself as he steps further into your living room.

You stop in your place before you follow him, “Did you just quote Parks and Rec?”

Jamie spins around, “You understood that reference?” 

You laugh in disbelief, “Of course. It's one of my favorite shows.”

“Same,” he smiles, “Used to watch it with my Mum all the time in high school.”

“I love that,” you smile back, closing the gap between the two of you so you can take the flowers from his hands, “These are pretty by the way. Let me go put them in a vase but feel free to make yourself at home.”

You’re quick to fill up a vase in your kitchen, leaving the flowers on the counter, but are surprised to return to Jamie still standing in the middle of your living room, looking around.

“This place doesn’t seem very you,” he comments as you return, plopping down on the couch.

“How would you know? You just met me,” you ask teasingly.

“Well, that’s the point of today isn’t it,” Jamie teases back, joining you on the couch, “Still, it seems very posh and you seem a lot more chill.”

You nod, “Well, I’m just renting this place while I’m here so not much of it is mine. I’m thinking about decorating it a bit to make it more homey.”

“Well if you need any recommendations for places to look, I know some stores that have cool shit.”

“I may have to take you up on that.”

You lean forward and grab your laptop again. You glance over the excel sheet you had open and try to figure out where to start.

“What you lookin’ at over there?” Jamie asks curiously, trying to peak over.

“I want a way to keep track of all the things we need to figure out like our cover story and just things we need to know about each other,” You explain, turning your computer towards him.

His eyes widen at the very detailed and colored coded document you had laid out. “Wow, that’s…intense.”

You chuckle, “Yeah, I may be a creative but I am very Type A. I also don’t want to fuck this up so I think it would nice to have a place to keep track of everything. I can email this to you if you want? Or ooh! I can upload it to Google Drive so we can both edit it.”

Jamie shakes his head, but there’s a small smile on his face, “Sure. Where should we start, Boss?”

“Well, I feel like the most obvious thing we need to cover is how did we meet? How did we get together?”

Jamie’s thoughtful for a second before shrugging, “I feel like we could use how we actually met, you know? It’s realistic because it's actually real. And keeps it simple. We ran into each other and got coffee, or hot chocolate, as some may prefer.”

“Nice, you remember my preferred beverage,” you smile as you start typing in the doc, “Who asked who out? Did we do it that day?”

“You asked to exchange numbers, but I reached out a couple days later. Maybe we went on our first date last weekend?”

You nod thoughtfully, “That works.”

“It would’ve had to have been Friday, though,” he adds, “I had a match Saturday afternoon and told Keeley about seeing someone that night.”

You bite the inside of your cheek, “I filmed late on Friday night.”

Jamie shrugs, “I could’ve waited up for you. Got drinks at a bar?”

Your lips quirk up at the thoughtfulness - even though it was made up.

“Okay,” you continue filling out your spreadsheet, “I have a list of things that one might normally know about a significant other, but since our “relationship” is so new, I think we only need to cover what you would on a first date.”

Jamie’s eyebrows furrow, “Like…what?”

You glance up at him, “What? Jamie Tartt’s never been on a date before?”

He laughs awkwardly, “I’ve obviously been on dates. But we didn’t really do a lot of talking.”

You roll your eyes, “Oh lovely. Alrighty, then, let's just focus on what normal people do the first time they’re getting to know someone.”

“Fine,” Jamie sighs, “Hit me.”

“What’s your…favorite color?”

“Seriously?”

“What?” you laugh, “It's a completely normal question.”

“Yeah, for five year-olds,” he frowns, crossing his arms.

“Come on, you’re seriously going to sit here and tell me you don’t have a favorite color?”

“I dunno,” he shakes his head looking around, “Maybe, blue?”

“Blue? Come on, that’s such a boy answer,” you mock.

“Well, I am a boy if you haven’t noticed,” Jamie throws back defensively, “Its my favorite color your asking, is it not?”

You bite your lip to keep from laughing, amused by how seriously he’s taking this, “It is. Why blue then?”

He shrugs, “Dunno. It’s one of Richmond’s colors. Was a Man City color, which is the team I used to play for and my hometown team. I remember my mum wearing it a lot growing up.”

A genuine smile starts to form on your face as you listen to him ramble. It was the second time he’d brought up his mom. “Are you and your mom really close?”

He turns to you, a little taken back, “You ask about parents on a first date?”

You shrug one shoulder, “If it's going well.”

Jamie has to turn back away from you so he doesn’t do something stupid like blush. He decides to focus on answering your question. “We are. She’s sort of like...my rock, I guess? She’s actually the one who got me into football.”

You nod, listening intently, “And your dad?”

You notice Jamie tense slightly, but he turns back to you with a half smile, “Our relationship’s a bit complicated. Maybe that’s more of a story for a fifth date or something.”

You give him a kind smile, “That’s fair.” And then you turn back to your laptop screen.

“What about you?” Jamie asks after a beat.

You look up with raised eyebrows, “Me? My favorite color is yellow.”

Jamie chuckles, “Noted. But no, I meant, what's your relationship with your parents like?”

“Oh!” you chuckle lightly with him, “My mom is the best. Feels like she might get along with yours; she’s the reason I’m an actor.” Jamie’s smile grows, “She did literally everything in the world to support me even though she was a single mother. I never knew my dad though. He left my mom before I was born so he’s never been around.”

“Oh, that sucks, I’m sorry,” Jamie says softly.

“It’s fine. I don’t know him. And from the brief things my mom has said, its probably for the best. And honestly it's okay. Mom’s been more than enough on her own.”

Jamie nods, the smile back on his face. “Okay, anything else you got on that list besides colors and parents?”

“Oh, I have plenty,” you chuckle, “But feel free to ask me anything of your own?”

“Hmm,” Jamie thinks for a second, “What's your favorite flower?”

You look up, amused, “My favorite flower?”

“Yeah. You know that way I can be more specific next time I get you some,”

You once again have to bite back a smile, “Uh, I would say daisies are my favorite flower.” Jamie nods, committing the information to memory, “What about you?”

“Me?” you nod and Jamie doesn’t even hesitate, “I think lilies are nice.”

“Lillies are nice,” you agree, typing it into the doc.

That’s how you spend the next hour or so, asking one another trivia about each other and inputting it into the doc for ease of studying later. You learn about each others childhood pets and the careers you wanted when you were five. You learn each other's favorite foods, stores, bands, as well as the little things you hated. You learned more about his teammates, particularly those closest to him like Sam, Isaac, Colin and Dani. In turn you told him about how Margot was more like a sister to you even if she was technically your employee, as well as your childhood next door neighbor Katie who was still your best friend today.

You only realize you’d been talking for so long when your stomach lets out a growl, and Jamie doesn’t even pretend to courteously not hear it when he lets out a belly laugh. 

“Leave me alone, it actually is almost dinner time, dude,” you defend, even though you find yourself laughing along with him.

“Fair point,” he amends when he catches his breath, “Do you want to order in?”

You don’t even protest the idea of prolonging your time together, thoroughly enjoying getting to know him, “Sure. I can order a pizza.”

You start searching local pizza places into Google, when you remember another item of business you had on your list. 

“Ooh, that packet on the coffee table is for you.” you nod in the direction of said stack of papers.

Jamie sits up, intrigued by the mysterious document, and picks it up. He squints at the weird legalese, “Is this…a contract?” You nod, “What, you don’t trust me or something?”

“No, it's not that, it's just standard,” you shrug, “It's more or less just to appease my publicist and the like.” Jamie still looks unsure, so you sit up and start flipping pages of the document for him, “Looks, its no big deal. I already signed it myself. It just states we can’t tell anyone about this. Besides, the NDA expires in 5 years anyway. So by that time, I’ll have an Oscar and you’ll be a washed up football player, and no one will believe you if you said anything.”

Jamie huffs, “I want to be offended by that, but you called it football so I’ll accept it.”

You smirk, “See, I’m a fast learner.” Then you settle back into your spot on the couch and carry on ordering pizza. 

Jamie looks over the packet again, before siding it was no use tonight, “You mind if I look this over and get it back to you in a few days?”

You nod, “Of course.”

“And your publicist knows? I mean obviously. And assuming Margot knows? Have you told anyone else?” he asks.

“Nope, that’s all,” You answer, “I get it if you want someone to confide in, but I figure the tighter we keep the circle, the better, right?” Jamie nods, “I mean have you told your publicist or professional team?”

Jamie laughs humorlessly, “My publicist is my ex, Keeley.”

You once again look up at him with your mouth agape, “Nooo, how does that happen?”

Jamie shakes his head, “Not intentionally. She took over the club’s PR before I came back to the team and I guess I never thought to find someone else. We became friends, genuine friends, but then everything got tangled up again a few months ago. And yeah. Here we are.”

You look at him for a few seconds before you let out a deep breath, “Well, that all sounds fun. A real incestuous family you got going on over there at AFC Richmond huh?”

Jamie can’t help but laugh along with you, “Yeah, look what you’re marrying into.”

You chuckle, but weirdly you feel your stomach flip at his phrasing. You brush right past it in order to collect his pizza preferences. As you finalize submitting the order, Jamie starts over analyzing your apartment again. This time he’s a bit more nosy and pulls open some of the coffee table drawers. He gasps when he pulls open the second one.

“No way. Please tell me this is yours and it didn’t just come with the place.”

When you look up, he’s holding up a Mario Kart game cover. 

You scoff, “Of course that’s mine.” 

“I haven’t played this in ages,” Jamie says, studying the back cover. 

Another smile plays at your lips. You nod at the TV in front of you, “I can hook up my Switch if you want. It’s been a while since I’ve played with someone other than myself.”

Jamie looks up at you, an excited grin forming on his face. “You’re fucking on.”

And so you spend the next hour competing against Jamie in various Mario Kart races. You play as Toad, naturally. Jamie plays as Princess Peach which makes you laugh. In between rounds, you munch on pizza and breadsticks. You also manage to get to know each other more, and set up ground rules for your charade even as you trash talk one another.

“I feel like the most important is PDA,” you state, somehow managing to focus on not falling off rainbow road while also talking strategy.

“Well, we’ve obviously got to do some of it,” Jamie comments, cursing as he gets hit with a shell, “It would look weird if we didn’t sometimes.”

“Sure, but we’ve gotta have some boundaries. We can’t just be kissing each other willy-nilly.”

Jamie chuckles, “Well, yeah, consent is key.”

Your lips quirk, “I’m completely fine with small things like hugs and hand holding whenever it seems fit.”

“Okay, cool, yeah,” Jamie nods, “And if you’re fine with it, kisses on the cheek are pretty innocent.”

“Yeah,” you nod, swerving to avoid a banana, “But actual kissing…”

Neither of you know how to finish that sentence. However, your race comes to an end. This time you get away with first place, Jamie in second, which you’d be switching between throughout the evening. Without gameplay to distract you, you have to make a decision.

“Maybe we just take it as it comes?” you suggest slowly, “I mean, couples kiss right? So if it feels right in the moment, it's not a big deal for a peck here and there?”

“Yeah,” Jamie agrees, “And if there’s ever a time we need to make a show of it, we check in with each other. Either beforehand, or if its in the moment, we give each other a signal.”

“A signal?”

“Yeah, like we blink twice or something.”

You nod, “Blink twice. Okay. And if we’re ever uncomfortable with something, we just have to communicate with each other, right?”

“Right.” Jamie nods. After a beat, he extends his hand, “Looks like we’re doing this.”

You chuckle, but shake his hand none the less, “We’re doing this.”

You exchange smiles. Now that the sun has gone down, Jamie decides its probably time to head out for the night, feeling like you’d accomplished a lot over the course of the evening.

As you walk him to your door, you ask one last question, “There was actually one more thing I wanted to ask. If you’re free Thursday night, do you want to come to an event with me? Isabel Mercer’s new movie is premiering, and since she’s dating my costar the whole cast is going. Figure it might be a good place to make a public debut?”

Jamie smirks, “A movie premiere? You should have started with that.”

You snort, “Yeah, well, I had to make sure this mock-date went well first.”

“I’d say it went very well, wouldn’t you?” Jamie smiles, “I think we’ve got this shit in the bag.”

You laugh, “So I guess that means you’re in?”

Jamie does a half bow, “I would be honored.”  

“Good, because I hate going to these things. I need someone to suffer through it with me.”

Jamie fake-pouts, “Don’t try to make this sound less fun for me.”

You shake your head, and you make your voice really high as you reply, “Don’t worry, it’ll be great!”

Jamie tsks, “You’re gonna have to be better than that when we’re trying to convince the whole world we’re madly in love.”

“Yeah, yeah, get out of here,” You tease, opening your front door and gently shoving him towards it.

Jamie turns to you with a smile, “Good night, girlfriend.”

You resist the urge to roll your eyes and give him a smile of your own, “Good night, boyfriend.”

Before you can process what he’s doing, he’s leaning in to press a quick kiss to your cheek. Before he completely pulls away, he whispers in your ear, “Google Earth.” He gives you once last smirk before jogging down the steps. 

You shake your head as you lock up. This was certainly going to be an experience these next three months. 

You flop back down on your couch to review your notes from the evening. After reading through for a few minutes, you remember you hadn’t checked your phone the entire time he was there. Aside from a couple emails and a text from your mom, you didn’t have much since it was a Saturday. However, you also have 2 texts from Margot. The first you had missed from earlier this afternoon, which was a link to tweet from an updates account about you. The tweet contained pictures of Jamie arriving at your flat earlier that day. The second had been sent minutes ago, including a tweet from the same account, this time with pictures of Jamie leaving literally ten minutes ago.

The devil works hard, but paparazzi and stans work harder.

You also realize that Jamie had been right. That smug bastard.

You couldn’t be too annoyed though. The comments under the tweets, even the most recent, were filled with people surprised yet supportive of your coupling. A few even conceding that you did look cute in a relationship. You smile to yourself as you scroll through.

Shit. This was going to work. 

a/n: can’t wait to hear what you guys think!!! :))))))

taglist: @respondingtoshowerthoughts-blog​ @royalestrellas​ @loveslide​ @torpedo-belly​ @skewedcherries​ @littlemisssunshine192​ @hopefulromances​ @breakmyheartlater​ @ohpuckyeah​ @alipap3​ @meg-ro​ @rexorangecouny​ @pythagothug​ @bonesbonesetc​ @xxenia14​ @rockchickrebel​ @thatonedogwithablog​ @percysaidnever​ @msjb2002​ @loveforaugust​ @dicgohargreeves​ @whimsical-roasting​ @gcidrvsh @lightninginab0ttle it wouldn’t let me tag the last couple of you, but i will keep trying <3

[wanderingaldecaldo]

2025 Writing Resolutions

I'm not usually one for resolutions but I've been kicking around the idea of having some writing goals after the post I shared last week, and came up with a few that are feasible:

Finish the first draft for one (or both!) of the stories I started last year in new-to-me fandoms

Edit and post the Presidential PWP

Finish the DA:I Blackwall fic that's been 95% complete for years

Daily 15min sprint

Some personal musings about writing (and reading) and WIPs under the cut.

Last fall I lost my Cyberpunk hyperfixation but, after three years of nonstop Val and Mitch (and Rosalind) through VP and modding, it's been a boon to my writing, and once more I'm reminded why I love hate one of my oldest hobbies. I really wish I could reassure my younger self that actually, no, I'll never run out of things to write.

Over my tumblr break, I rewatched the whole Daniel Craig Bond series, all because I really wanted to watch Skyfall, my fave of the entire franchise. Something new happened this time around as I watched the films — Judi Dench and Daniel Craig's chemistry gripped me by the throat and wouldn't let go.

I'm not generally one to visit AO3 (or ff.net back in the day) after consuming a piece of media; I could list out the ones that have on two hands, and still have several fingers left over, even with including the new ones mentioned here.

This time, I was lucky to have found a ship with a backlog of fics to work through. For weeks I read fics, and rewatched their scenes ad nauseam, ever thankful I'd bought the 4-disc set and wasn't reliant having the correct streaming service. Eventually inspiration struck and I started what I thought would be a oneshot. But where there's a WIP there's always more ideas lurking around the corner, and suddenly the oneshot developed into two chapters, with the second spinning quickly into a third.

Over the course of a two-week head cold that knocked out all writing aspirations, I binged all of Ted Lasso and became enamored with the characters and themes, but especially the relationship between Ted and Rebecca. As I watched, I didn't know the status of the show; in fact I had assumed season 4 was in the works. :sad trombone: No slow burn for me. After I finished it, I wanted to rewatch it immediately but decided not to; I wanted to sit with it first, to let it digest. I really didn't think I'd reach the AO3 stage — usually it's like the proverbial bolt of lightning that strikes quickly — but this time, appropriately, it was the friends-to-lovers trope that I adore.

Again, I was lucky to find a veritable treasure trove of fics. I wasn't the only one who wanted more of those two, and again, I found myself inspired with an idea that was two lines of dialog and half a scene held together with spit and twine, and since then it's spaghettied into —yes, you guessed it — three chapters.

Neither of them are anywhere close to being shitty first drafts; they're hand-scratched pages written over consecutive nights where I wrote seven sentences, or maybe seven words or even paragraphs, before nodding off over the notebook. The 00M fic has 2k words transcribed, and that's just the first half of the first chapter, while the rest is mostly vibes and smut, and now there's a fourth chapter, because of course there is. The tedbecca has less than a quarter of that, but it's at least all transcribed now.

Enter Cyberpunk 2.2 and remaking Val and falling in love with this stupid kleptopunk streetrat all over again. Glory shared a "what AO3 tag are you" quiz and I got "only one bed" and said it was ironic since I'd never written one, and she jokingly (???) challenged me to change that. Welp, friends, my brain couldn't stop poking at that and now I have an idea for a new fic featuring fan fave "only one bed" trope, and also a fix-it, another first. Usually I am content to leave canon as is and play within the margins and behind-the-scenes of what we're given, though maybe I will add my own touch to scenes; but I always felt that Driss's death was cheap and easy to avoid. Maybe if we'd been given an actual RPG with real choices, it could have been, but that's a topic for a different rant.

And with the reignited love for Cyberpunk, plus the desire to mark things off my to-do list, I opened the Presidential PWP tonight when I was going through my folders, and my god, it happened — I'd forgotten it! I read a few paragraphs and decided I need to save the reread for another night when I can read it uninterrupted and take fresh notes on it. Probably should recruit a beta, too.

Another very long standing to-do is the Blackwall fic. I started it in maybe 2015, and worked on it off-and-on for a couple of years alongside a ME Shakarian/Shaeed love triangle (don't at me), trading off between them as the hyperfixations switched back and forth. The Blackwall fic is a true oneshot and has been waiting on an ending for for 6+ years now. It's literally 95% done, and I fucking adore it so much, and just need to Write It, and get that draft out the door (and maybe to a beta? idk, we'll see).

So that gets to the last resolution — this is the one that I know I'll fail in that I won't do it daily; I will miss days. But it's an aspirational goal, and I know firsthand how beneficial writing daily is, even if I only get a few words out of it. It still gets the ol' compost bin in my brain going in the background, churning all those ideas and thoughts into more WIPs.

I've also been thinking about the why. Writing is one of my oldest hobbies, following reading and video games. Returning to the Cyberpunk setting runs the risk of me picking up VP and modding again, newer hobbies that offer faster and more immediate feedback from other fans; hobbies that I know will cut into both my desire to write and my free time. By writing out my... writing resolutions, it will be easier to remember my priorities for the year.

Rat asked about our writing accomplishments in 2024. I answered that I wrote four new characters in two new-to-me fandoms, and that I let myself move from projects as did my interest without guilt. Now, it feels freeing to have four fandoms and a dozen stories to choose between when I want to write, but I will say the color-coded notebooks are getting hard to keep track of.

[oh-surprise-its-me]

Roy/Jamie fic idea: Instead of hate, what if when Jamie first comes to Richmond it is love at first sight between him and Roy. Like Jamie's always loved Roy since he was a kid and is starstruck at finally meeting his fav while Roy has to battle to keep up his gruff and grouchiness when all he wants to do is gawk at the gorgeous new striker who walked through the door and immediately looked at him like he's hung the fucking moon. How differently would things have played out if Roy took Jamie under his wing, Jamie stopped being so much of a prick because he wanted to be a good teammate and please Roy too, and then when Ted Lasso himself arrives, Jaime and the boys soak up his positive ethos quicker and start winning?

AWWW I LOVE THIS

(Also are you a mind reader I was literally thinking about this last night)

Roy knows he needs to stop looking at Jamie.

He hasn’t had a problem with keeping his eyes to himself for years. Why is this kid any different. But the way Jamie is practically bouncing in place with energy, his eyes, his ass. Roy normally hates when new players say they loved watching him growing up but Jamie? Jamie saying it made Roy feel special.

They are the only two in the locker room at the end of the day, Roy has been debating this for the last 15 minutes but fuck it. He taps Jamie’s shoulder, “wanna come over and eat? I’ll cook. Give you some advice.”

Jamie blinks at him for a second like he can’t believe Roy is real. “Uh yeah sure mate that would be incredible.”

Roy nods. He takes Jamie’s phone from his hand, he typed in his house number into Jamie’s map app. “Come over whenever, I’m going straight there.”

Jamie nods. “Yeah fab I’ll be there.”

—————

It’s been about six weeks of the them getting to know Lasso, Roy’s gotta say he’s impressed. Jamie works like magic under him, even dropped a bit of the prick attitude.

They still have dinner together almost every night. Roy every once and a while asks if Jamie has been on any dates. He selfishly hopes he hasn’t because that means he’ll be Roy’s more nights.

Jamie doesn’t really seem to date. Roy figures he’ll drop the fact he’s bisexual tonight just to see how Jamie reacts.

•

Jamie is sitting on Roy Kent’s kitchen counter. Fuck if 17 year old Jamie could see him now he’d be crying.

Okay lie.

He’d be asking to blow Roy under the dining room table they eat at some nights. But that doesn’t matter because Roy is straight and Jamie just needs to adjust his love for Roy to a more platonic intentions.

He’s swinging his legs when Roy drops the biggest bomb of all times. He’d asked Jamie if he’d dated recently. No. The answer is always no. Why date when he could be here with Roy. He returns the question to be kind, but prays to a god he doesn’t believe in that the answer is no.

“No no dates since a failed date with a guy two months ago.”

Jamie slams his foot into the cabinet. Shit.

“You’re gay??” Roy freezes. He spins and looks at Jamie, “no bisexual. Problem?”

Jamie can’t shake his head fast enough, “no god no I mean same, me too, I’m. Uh. Bi. First time I’ve actually said that out loud. To someone it actually could effect.”

Oh goddamn it Jamie you really fucked it. Your goddamn big mouth wouldn’t shut up.

Roy clicks off the stove, he sets down the whisk with such care that the whirl of emotions Jamie sees when he turns is shocking.

Roy steps over in between Jamie’s legs, shit.

He slowly places his hands on Jamie’s thighs, “tell me if I’m wrong but I think we both want to kiss each other.”

Jamie frantically nods, he reaches and holds Roy’s face.

They kiss.

Once Jamie needs to breathe again he pulls away, shit. He loves Roy. “Shit I might love you.”

Jamie goes bright red. Cool great fabulous this was nice. Time for him to go die of embarrassment.

“Think I might love you too Jamie.”

Scratch the dying he’s about to become a fucking God. “Seriously?” Roy kisses Jamie’s collarbone, “yeah. Guess love at first sight does happen.”

“Shit Roy you are literally never getting rid of me now.” Roy laughs, he leans in and kisses Jamie again. “Wouldn’t want to get rid of you anyways.”

(They move in together in two months) ((and are extremely but healthfully co dependent))

[itsalinh]

I saw many posts saying they hate this ep and the show now, but here I’m like…. I love every bit of this ep??

I want to squeeze everything in this one post, but that’ll be a lot, a lot a lot. So this one first, I’m gonna showering my love to the locker room discussion scene and the Jamie Keeley scene.

Locker room discussion

This! This is the exact reaction we can get from a bunch of men when they found out about women’s videos being leaked. Some will have dirty thoughts with it (Colin - I know he’ll never do it, but in generally speaking, yes, men does that); some will feel once those photos/videos been sent to them, meaning that they belong to them so they don’t have to delete at all; some lay blame on women for recording/taking those content; others feel completely fine with it, the ones to condemn are those leaking; some just let their exes delete those themselves. We are not colours, we are not white or grey or black, we are just flawed human. And flawed human makes mistakes. No one is completetly “white” nor “black”, and this show has demonstrated it quite clearly and has not tried to conceal it from the beginning. We have shitty thoughts, we do shitty stuffs all the time. So I don’t think any characters got ooc-ed in this scene.

I know it is not morally right for anyone to use others’ private stuffs for entertainment without their permission, whether it’s for a joke or not. Colin said shitty thing. He straightforwardly stated that he did not want to delete it, though he has a point saying others leaking are to blame. But in the end, it’s scary to think someone still has your private stuffs in their possesion. Colin did shitty thing too.

But you know. People can change for the better, and that’s why we’re watching Ted Lasso. Isaac, Jamie, Sam they all have a right reaction to this kind of situation, so they were helping their friends think right and do right too. Everybody, sad or not (Richard baby I’m proud of you), willingly deleted their exes stuffs off their phones. In the end of the day, that’s what important. Even Colin, the one who openly opposed to that idea, also found a small place for himself to deal with it.

Some said Isaac honoured people’s privacy, only seconds later he snapped Colin’s phone himself. Isaac was pretty clear with Colin’s reactions, Colin even didn’t stay with the whole team for the mass deletion, he just walked away without specifying any reasons. Also, he said fuck off to him with pretty serious expression, why so agressive man, Isaac might think. Isaac had to do what he thought was right at the moment: took away Colin’s phone and deleted everything himself.

I’m gonna detour a little bit right here. The whole scene got on my nerves. I screamed out loud, and my head could not stop spinning for the next 10 minutes. Omfg would you look at Colin’s face right there. First it was horrified, then it was distressed, later was worried, anxious and finally was defeated. Colin would never want Isaac to find out this way. He tried his fucking life to conceal and played it cool under this supreme toxic football environment, he was not ready for this kind of confrontation, especially from his bestest friend. Isaac used to have homophobic comments, what if he felt the same towards Colin? That fierceful side-eye, that shocked impression, killed pretty much Colin from the inside. But luckily, Isaac’s face neutrolised, he nodded in empathy, he knew what was Colin going through just now. Still, this new information was too much to handle at the moment. He did need some time for himself, for Colin as well. For the next episode, I still think Isaac would going through his acceptance phase, he thought he knew Colin but it turns out he knew nothing. By the end of Ep 9, he would realise how much Colin had to suffer all these years, and he would fucking murder anyone who dares to disrespect Colin and he would cherish his friend even more. I’m not that worried about the situation between Colin and Isaac, what terrifies me is “Roy is asked to so a press conference”. What…? Would it be about Colin??? If it would, I’m going die and and cry endlessly from my grave.

OK back from my detour. I literally finished the whole episode first, after that I replayed this locker room scene, and it makes me love Phil’s acting even more. Jamie first reaction towards the leaking thing was pretty unbothered. Don’t get me wrong, he was still awared of how bad the situation was, it’s just it was not his fault so he did not feel guilty. When Sam mentioned Keeley also got involved, Jamie froze right at the moment. He startled as fuck and was spaced out for a bit. He kept rubbing his bum bag and reconnecting all those dots in his head. Was the source from him? Was he the reason Keeley got all the criticsm? He did not know for sure, but he did not feel good about this either.

And that led to…

The Jamie and Keeley hug

This damn hug sums up very well their relationship. The last time we saw Jamie and Keeley interacted (I think) was at Rebecca’s dad funeral. He pretty fucked up at that point, tho actually I understand his motive, he just wanted to let things out without holding in anymore. He didn’t have a chance to really talk about his feelings for Keeley with Keeley. OK I love you, but I respect your relationship with your current boyfriend, and now I have the gut to say it, I’m happy to move on. He coming to Keeley’s to say sorry is the most Jamie thing ever. He’s now accountable, responsible and care so much for others. Maybe nobody will ever know, and nobody will ever blame Jamie, but he himself will. Him saying It’s my fault broke me into pieces, like TWICE in a span of one episode. He needs Keeley to know he worried about her and he felt guilty, he should have done better so none of these would have happened. Idk guys… I love him sm I might cry.

After a rough evening with Jack - the girlfriend who should have understood better, Keeley was tired. Everybody said sorry, but they disappointed her more after that. Jamie came with another sorry, and she might have predicted what was going to happen next. But she would never anticipated a sincere apology from him. A little bit clumsy, a little bit bum bum from her ex, her friend. She went on for a hug and my heart melted. Might be my favourite part of the episode with so much understanding, so much loving and heartwarming affection from both of them.

We might never see them together as a couple anymore (otherwise I would hate their ending very much), but more of a understanding and trusting friendship. Keeley already moved on, and Jamie also moved on would be the best for them ig.

And that, folks, is the end of my first wheezing part. The second part about Rebecca/Keeley, Rebecca/Ted, Ted/Michelle/Dr. Jacob, Ted/Henry/Beard, Nate/Rupert, Roy/Keeley and Jack/Keeley will be posted later cuz I need more time lol. I love this show sm (and I will keep repeating this on and on), they deserve everything.

Buh-bye!

[saywhatjessie]

Muppets on Ice

Hey what's up I'm doing a writing advent calendar lol. Just writing for whatever fandom or pairing feels right at the moment Using this list. Day 1: Ice Skating. Fandom: Ted Lasso - Pairing: RoyJamieKeeley 1.5k [Ao3]

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Roy said, elbows on his knees as he watched Jamie tie Phoebe’s ice skates. “We’re in the middle of the season. If you fuck yourself out on the ice we’re fucked.”

“Two pounds, Uncle Roy!” Phoebe said brightly.

“Yeah, Uncle Roy,” Jamie said, just as brightly, helping Phoebe to her tottering feet. “You’re worrying too much. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”

“And you’ll be fine,” Keeley said, bouncing over to Roy. She held up a pair of large men’s skates. “Let’s get you booted up, Royo!”

“No,” Roy said, glaring at their three smiling faces. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“But Uncle Roy,” Phoebe whined. “It’s a family skate. We can’t do it without you .”

“Come on, Grandad,” Jamie said, the word too soft now to be an insult. “You ain’t too old to do one lap.”

“s’not gonna be one lap,” Roy argued. “The three of you and your stupid fucking puppy eyes are gonna make me do a hundred laps.”

The three of them and their stupid fucking puppy eyes gazed at him pleadingly.

“No!” Roy said again. “Fuck you all.”

“Roy, come on,” Keeley said, gently chastising. She sat on the bench next to him. “I know you’re scared with your knee but the doctor said some light exercise is good for it.”

Jamie plopped down on his other side, letting his weight crash into Roy. “Ice skating’s way lighter than training me, innit.” He put his arm around Roy’s waist and jostled him a little. “Come on, lad, I ain’t gonna let you fall.”

And then Phoebe jumped up on Roy’s lap, heedless of the fucking knife shoes she was wearing. “ Please Uncle Roy? It can be one of my Hanukkah presents.”

“You know I already got you all your Hanukkah presents, you little gremlin.”

She giggled but threw her arms around his neck and leaned her chin against his chest, looking up at him angelically.

Roy groaned. “You’re all fucking menaces.”

They all cheered, Jamie popping up to grab Phoebe and spin her around.

“Oi! Watch the skates!” Roy shouted. “There’s fucking people!”

Keeley leaned in and placed a hard kiss on his cheek. “My big brave man.”

“Yeah yeah, fuck off,” Roy grumbled, but turned to give her a proper kiss.

She indulged him for a moment, bringing up a hand to cup his chin, before pushing him away. “Right, well I am gonna get little miss Phoebe warmed up on the ice and Jamie is going to help you put your skates on.”

“I don’t need help,” Roy protested, automatically.

“I know, babe.” She patted his knee before getting gracefully to her feet. “Come on, Phoebe, let’s go show these boys how it’s done.”

Phoebe clamored down from Jamie’s arms and reached for Keeley’s hand, pulling her toward the entrance to the rink, leaving Roy to watch after them and sulk.

That is until Jamie plopped down on the ground in front of him and held out his hands. “Right then, lad, give us your foot.”

“I don’t need help,” Roy protested again, keeping his feet firmly on the ground. It’s not that he wanted to put the skates on himself but he would have liked the option.

Jamie rolled his eyes. “Like you wouldn’t have barked at me to help you anyway. Don’t be grumpy because Keeley did it first.”

Roy growled and Jamie stuck his tongue out at him.

Jamie clapped him on the calf, encouragingly. “Come on, mate, I’m already down here.”

Roy sighed, lifting his foot and dropping it in Jamie’s lap.

Jamie grinned, tapping Roy twice on the ankle in praise, before unlacing his boots.

It’s not that they hadn’t done this before. Roy knew Jamie liked to do this kind of stuff for him: liked to take care of him in these simple ways. And it had been hard for Roy at first but now he was happy to let Jamie do it.

It was just here, in public, in front of all these people. It felt far too intimate to let the old woman from down the road see.

That and he really fucking didn’t want to ice skate.

Jamie had already finished taking his first boot off, lining it up neatly next to Phoebe’s boots and his own trainers that were far too impractical for the weather.

“There’s a lad,” Jamie grinned up at him. “You ever been skatin’? You put these on before?”

Roy grunted. “When I was a kid. Before Sunderland. With grandad.”

Jamie’s grin softened. “Ah, well, that’s special, innit?”

Roy snorted. “Yeah, we were both shit. Both city boys at heart, grandad had never been skating either. We didn’t make it two times around the rink before we were packing it in. Grandad bought us hot chocolate.”

“Does that mean you’re buying us hot chocolate?” Jamie asked, smirking.

“Fuck off,” Roy said, smiling back. “Probably.”

Jamie laughed, grabbing Roy’s leg and shoving it unceremoniously into the skate. “Well these are hockey skates, anyway. Probably different from the skates you had as a kid. So you’d have to relearn how to skate in ‘em anyway.”

“Fucking lovely,” Roy said, his teeth clenching turning his smile into a grimace. “I love being bad at shit.”

“S’not like it happens often,” Jamie offered. “Learned to ride a bike quickly enough. How many things are you actually bad at?”

Roy shrugged. “Emotional vulnerability?”

Jamie laughed again, a louder more startled sound. “Fair that. But you’re getting better.” He finished lacing Roy’s skate and tied it off, kissing Roy’s shin above the skate before putting it on the ground. “There we go. Other foot, please.”

Roy grumbled as he placed his other foot in Jamie’s hands but still reached down to affectionately ruffle Jamie’s hair.

“Ay,” Jamie said, knocking his hand away with mock fury. “You know how long this took to do this morning.”

“Yeah, and I was gonna mess it up later anyway,” Roy smirked.

Jamie huffed. “Horny old man. Just because you’re not young and beautiful anymore don’t mean you can sabotage the rest of us.”

“Listen, you’re on your knees in front of me. Fucking up your hair’s like a reflex or something.”

“That is not how you usually fuck up my hair when I’m on my knees.”

Roy waved his hand, “Alright, alright, not in front of the kids.”

“You started it!”

“What are you, five?” Roy wiggled his foot still in Jamie’s hands. “Do my other boot.”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “You’re ridiculous,” he grumbled, but untied Roy’s boot.

This time when Jamie finished tying the skate, he kissed Roy’s knee, rubbing his cheek against it affectionately like he was giving it a pep talk to behave.

Roy snorted softly, but reached down to cup Jamie’s face anyway.

They couldn’t really do more than that out in public, but Roy didn’t think Jamie minded too much. Yeah, Roy had gotten to kiss Keeley, but Jamie had just spent at least five minutes getting to fuss over Roy and touch all over his legs. Roy knew which one Jamie would pick if given the option.

“All right, get up you muppet,” he patted Jamie on the cheek before taking his hand back. “Help grandad to the ice, yeah?”

Jamie grinned, popping to his feet so fast it was like he had springs. Even on skates Jamie was sturdy, hard to tip over. Roy figured he’d probably done a lot of skating as a kid up north in Manchester. He’d have to ask Georgie if she had pictures.

Jamie pulled Roy carefully off the bench, letting Roy figure out his balance on the two thin blades.

“This is terrible,” Roy decided, immediately.

“We ain’t even at the hard part yet!” Jamie protested. “Come on, babe, I ain’t gonna let you fall.

Jamie was true to his word. When they got to the ice, Roy slipped and felt like he might go down but Jamie caught him in both arms and kept him upright. They were still inching away from the entrance when Keeley and Phoebe caught up with them.

Roy had vetoed any instagram posts or TikToks or whatever else Jamie or Keeley might want to post about today because he did not want any photographs or videos of what he was sure was going to be an embarrassing day out for him.

But they were quite the sight, with Keeley skating backwards holding onto his hands, Phoebe behind him pushing his legs, and Jamie at his side, holding most of his weight by his waist.

Several fans and other spectators got pictures. They even shared a video on Sky Sports.

But they looked like a family, just like Phoebe had said. So Roy didn’t really mind.

[of-apollo]

Hi:) I'm jumping in for a Ted Lasso ship request if that's fine? I also hope this isn't too much?

I'm a generally loud and friendly person, like my laugh is obnoxious but infectious is what I've been told? I love going out and exploring, trying new things. Museums, water parks, the beach, concerts. I like just seeing what life has to offer, ya know? But I also love my quiet days in, relaxing with a warm cup of herbal tea and a book in hand or a show playing. I also love going to the mall or just shops in general. I don't necessarily buy stuff- that's a lie- but more so I get lost in my own little world, ya know? So much so that I just wander off wherever feels right without my friends noticing. I've been threatened countless times by a bell during those moments. I also love the dad jokes and puns, like it's a packaged deal. Also, spur of the moment tats and piercings and hair color/cuts? I'm getting a new tat on the Friday 13th to go with my other Friday 13th random tat I got- it's a soap bottle cause COVID started that year and she put it on there as a joke.

I have zero preference on gender and tend to find myself falling for just about anyone. Like, my taste in people isn't set. I just like people, ya know?

Oh, I'm also going for a degree in cybersecurity currently, with the goals of working in the computer forensics field. Specifically because I'd like to do something to try and protect kids on the Internet from predators, ya know? I know nothing about computers beyond the basics, but that's the challenge I've set for myself.

I ship you with Dani Rojas!

As soon as I saw loud and friendly, I had an inkling I’d be giving you Dani! He’s like a golden retriever in human form, he’d be good with someone who matches his energy and you would do so PERFECTLY.

Dani loves exploring, especially as he hasn’t always lived in London. He would drag you to any new exhibition, restaurant or whatever looks fun, and you would to the same to him. You’d definitely have a corny little scrapbook to remember everything.

Even though you both love being out and about, Dani is also down for a quiet day in. His life is hectic, and he needs to wind down, so a cup of herbal tea and a good book suits you both perfectly.

With shopping, you and Dani would definitely get lost in the mall together. He’d be glued to your side so he can spoil you with you mention liking. I can also see him loving walking around garden centres for some reason, so you’ll always get a plant or five.

Dani is 100% a puns and dad jokes lover. You teach him so many stupid ones that he uses on the team to a point where they beg you to stop. You’d definitely be the type of couple to buy each other corny joke books at Christmas.

Would LOVE your tattoos and is always trying to help you pick your next one. He’d mention an idea offhandedly and then is amazed in a few weeks time when you spontaneously get it. Definitely takes pictures of it and brags to his friends.

I think Dani would find your degree fascinating, but would be absolutely clueless on the subject himself. He tries to sit at the table with you when you study but even the sight of your textbooks and the content on your laptop makes his head spin.

[bishkebab]

When I was in the shower I was daydreaming about my ideal Ted Lasso spin-off show and naturally it would be called the Richmond Way and it would be about the women’s team that Keeley proposed to Rebecca in the final episode.

Shannon would be a major character. Maybe she would volunteer coach for a girls’ under 12 team on the weekends or whatever and as her confidence on the team built she’d suggest plays based on the wild and creative stuff she sees the kids come up with because children are unhindered by ideas of how things are supposed to be done.

Queerness could be explored from a different perspective, since women in sports are stereotyped in opposite ways from men. Full a League of Their Own/OITNB vibes (lots of diverse hilarious messy human women queering it up in a female dominated cast).

The men’s team would be referenced occasionally, of course, with appearances from the established characters, and some diamond dogs scenes (including Ted on FaceTime and Trent popping in from wherever his current project is) and some commiseration between Ted, Trent, and Higgins about fatherhood (with surprising uncle insight from Roy) could go a long way to showing Ted being comfortable and vulnerable instead of seeming to have regressed.

I want a handful of side plots with the younger kids, maybe Nora ends up involuntarily becoming the matriarch figure to the girl gang (Phoebe as the ringleader, Rebecca’s boyfriend’s daughter and the Crimmlet eagerly participating in the crimes) and we get some kid quest lines.

The Crimmlet has some kind of archenemy/rival with a hot single dad and he and Trent have a my-kid’s-enemy-is-my-enemy-to-lovers arc (sorry TedTrent you’re my OTP but it doesn’t work narratively in this case)

Canon Keeley/Jamie/Roy OR Jamie/Roy and Keeley gets a girlfriend who doesn’t suck this time (I’m good either way), Barbara ends up dating a female rugby player that she meets through some kind of women in sports event Keeley brings her to.

Overall I think the deeper themes would mainly focus on intersectionality, because in the original show the feminist themes are very white and girl-boss based and it would be good to explore how race and sexuality and class hugely affect the experience of being women in sports.

Anyway I’m not saying it would be a show that would be likely to be made but it’s the show that exists in my dreams 🤣

[trentcrimminallybeautiful]

i was talking about how i like to have s1 trent get his brains kissed out (bc he deserves it) and also how if it's ted like. the earlier in the season it is the funnier it becomes. when you're not taking it too seriously. ANYWAY. and now i'm thinking about like. okay, so, ted charms trent pretty early. obviously. he wins him over in episode three, with the interview, but i think he was already at least a little bit reluctantly charmed by his second press conference in episode two. now, i've done plenty of scenarios where they meet pre-canon/ep1 for whatever reason, and i've done plenty where they end up kissing/become closer than in canon during s1. usually during or after episode three. however i am now thinking of what would happen if they somehow met, in a relatively in private, non-professional, one-on-one (or with only their kids, no other adults?) context, etc, between episode one and two, when trent's opinion of him is at the lowest it ever gets (and honestly, probably vice versa, too). and i am just... spinning that.

because, i mean. you know ted's gonna charm him. even if he isn't trying quite as hard without the interview giving him a direct reason, he's gonna charm him. just by being his kind, goofy self, he's gonna charm him, and without the interview to give context and reason to be talking professionally--assuming they are still talking and not avoiding each other, for whatever contrived reason--it's gonna put poor trent in such a snit. liking ted personally, so much, and not knowing how to handle it because as far as he's concerned, this is still someone who is putting the team and everyone who cares about it in a bad situation, but also, even after talking to the man for a few hours, it's already hard to believe he would do that. trent catching on to the fact ted lasso is smarter than he pretends, catching on to the fact that nice and kind and positive attitude is at least mostly if not completely and utterly sincere, and all that--just a little bit earlier. not enough to really make a difference in canon but. idk man. a) assuming this is a barely canon divergent thing it's just kind of fun to imagine that happening b) however back on my s1 trent gets kissed agenda i have literally no idea what circumstances could possibly arise to make that happen however i am CACKLING at the thought.

ANYWAY, back to the point: i just think there's something kind of compelling about that. between episodes one and two, when both of them have the lowest opinion of the other they will ever have, meeting in some innocuous way and being helplessly, unwillingly charmed. ted sees That One Reporter outside the press room only he's affectionately wrestling a frog hat onto a small child, grinning at her when she boops his nose, and can't help a smile at the reminder that even the coldest, rudest people are people, capable of kindness and goofiness, and he hadn't forgotten but it's still nice to see. trent, confronted with the full blast beam of The Lasso Effect right to the face and up close and outside of the press room, away from where he feels most confident, off duty and balance, sans notebook and pen, stumbling just a little into awkwardness, the edge of rudeness that comes from dislike that's tempered by some standard of british politeness and a hint of confusion and then quickly melted away entirely into utter bewilderment and oddly endeared charm, because what. trent crimm has no idea what to think of him. ted finds he actually likes trent, quite a bit--their conversation, however odd, had been entertaining, and despite their, uh, eventful, less-than-ideal first impression, ted may or may not have a favorite journo suddenly. because that sharp-cutting no-holds-barred journo from the press room is also strangely warm, and perpetually bewildered at the smallest kindnesses, and a good dad, nevermind that ted's heart is aching interacting with little kids like that.

idk man i'm just going in circles here i'm rotating and spinning because something something each seeing a better side to the other just a teensy bit earlier and it doesn't really change that much in the long run, unless it does; something something ted has only seen trent once, at his worst, being outright hurtful, and now here they are outside of that context, and trent has only reasons to think ted's incompetent, careless, greedy, an asshole, or some combination of the four, and yet here they are, and just. idk man! something

[marvelousgeeks]

There’s plenty to appreciate in Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 12, “So Long, Farewell,” but unfortunately, the episode doesn’t honor romance as it should. For a series that brilliantly understands romantic comedies (one that’s featured some of the best scenes in TV history), this finale leaves far more to be desired and a lot dangling in front of its audience in a heartbreaking manner. The show is, and has continuously been, a love letter to humanity and the idea of found families. But romantic relationships also fall under this umbrella, and it sadly leaves too much to the imagination, with the one happy ending occurring for the show’s most toxic relationship. (Sorry, Beard and Jane, but this relationship is the polar opposite of how a romance should be.) While it effectively passes the baton with potential spin-offs and celebrates AFC Richmond, the development that presumably occurred off-screen is everything viewers should’ve seen for a more fleshed-out, thoroughly satisfying finale.

An entire series could never fully satisfy every fan or critic. Perfection is subjective—it’s always been and always will be. Still, there are ample ways to deliver narratives that feel earned, even if they aren’t what people expect or want to see. Ted Lasso’s Season 3 finale indeed honors the promises from its trailer by delivering stories that aren’t what we want but, in some ways, precisely what’s necessary. The show is special, and it’ll perpetually be; because often, when a series finale gravely subverts expectations, it leaves the kind of sour taste in my mouth where I never want to revisit it. That’s not the case with Ted Lasso because, come what may, despite how broken I feel, it’s ceaselessly going to be my comfort show.

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[frances-baby-houseman]

It's been two days but I'm still mad about Ted Lasso SO

First of all, the keeley storyline is ludicrous. I hate when shows do this to characters-- have a great secondary character, make them a primary character, then try to keep growing them by spinning them off on their own journey. Keeley needs to go back to the clubhouse! BUT ON THE OTHER HAND if she's not with Roy, she ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY should not be with her boss!! The whole POINT was that keeley, a person who was a little bit famous for being a little bit famous and who had dated 23yo footballers from the time she was 19 until she was 30, was growing up. She had a mature relationship with Roy, she was really good at PR and doing great work for Richmond-- and now all they can think for her to do this year is have an affair with her boss?? They made it VERY CLEAR that they consider Jack to be her boss. DO NOT DO THAT!!! That's a really bad idea! Jodi Balfour is great and they have delightful chemistry and it's FINE to have Keeley have a relationship with a woman just NOT HER BOSS. That is NOT GROWTH!! Jodi Balfour should work for West Ham! That would be fun!!

Also it's just weird that they introduced the Colin is gay storyline and the Keeley explores her bisexual side storyline in two episodes when they have not previously acknowledged gay people. Just seems weird to me! (I know Keeley has alluded to being bi before but no one has acted on anything before these episodes. WEird!)

Ok and REBECCA. I am so mad about Rebecca. She is so smart and interesting and they have no idea what to do with her. There are interesting capable men out there who are NOT 20 year old men who work for her!!! FIND HER A MAN WHO DOESN'T WORK FOR HER! Also I guess MAYBE she wants a baby but they have never talked about that before and now they're like, well a woman in her late 40s probably wants a baby so how do we get that storyline in... I know, a PSYCHIC. That is so STUPID.

Also bring back Dr. Sharon. Ted falling apart is good but not when it exclusively consists of him doing it over video chat. Too much video chat for Ted!!

I am so mad at this show I don't even want to watch anymore. And the episodes are AN HOUR LONG!! Learn to EDIT.

[singofsolace]

There is something incredibly audacious and outright despicable to spend years refusing to either confirm or deny if there would only be three seasons of Ted Lasso, only to immediately soft-announce a spin-off…?

Are you telling me Apple forced all of the actors to be avoidant in interviews and deny the idea of a fourth season, to the point of both annoying and confounding interviewers and fans alike, only to immediately announce plans for a spin-off a week after the finale?!? What?!?

[lauranthalasah]

Things I've noticed on my rewatch of Ted Lasso 3/?

​ The clues for the Ted-Michelle-Dr. Jacob clusterfuck are there from the first episode.

In Season 1 we have the dialogue at the end of episode one where Ted tells Michelle "I'm giving you that space... Yeah, and myself, right", clearly he doesn't want that space. Later in episode five we have Ted saying "Then she and this therapist we were working with decided that the best thing to do would be to give her a little space. And so... well, I gave her 4,400 and 38 miles worth of it". Leaving wasn't Ted's idea, it was Michelle and Dr. Jacob's idea. Then in episode 7... Michelle is pressuring him to sign the divorce papers, she actually makes the lawyer reach out to Ted. She is impatient, she contacts him twice in the same day, and then she makes the lawyer inform Ted that he doesn't need to send the papers through mail, or fax them, he can just send the pictures, to expedite the process, it sounds like she is quite in a hurry to be divorced. Like, we know she is the one that falls out of love (which is okay, shit like that happens all the time), but by this episode we can start postulating the idea that Michelle might be a bit selfish and inconsiderate of Ted's feelings. Because at this point we know that Ted has done everything it was asked of him, he went away, he let her go, and he told her he would sign those papers, she just needed to wait a little.

Season 2 reinforces the weirdness of it all when Ted explains that the therapist Michelle was saying was the one that treated them as a couple. Now, I know jack shit about therapy, but I feel like this is wrong from the get go. I imagine that you need to establish trust with your therapist, how can you establish that with someone that you already must feel that knows more about you than you are comfortable sharing? Because you have to assume that your partner has shared things about you with their therapist, it's only logical, and it's okay, but I also assume that you are never expected to interact with said therapist in the wild. But then Ted has to sit in front of this person that knows things about him that he never had a hand on freely sharing. We see Ted's journey with Sharon, how hard it is for him to open up, but he never had a chance to do that with Dr. Jacob, it was already done without his consent.

Then season 3 arrives and it becomes a full cycle of shit, it makes sense in an awful way. I actually wonder if this storyline was what inspired the first episode of Shrinking, if that is not an unhinged therapist I don't know what that is! And no one will convince me that Dr. Jacob is okay, he is not! He has ISSUES. And therefore Michelle has issues because she has been caught in the middle of it. (Now THAT is the spin off I would want to watch, because I think Michelle might even be in danger here, she has been manipulated by her therapist). Anyways... the clues are there, one might like or not the storyline but I think the way it was set is quite great.

[darrys-laundry]

1, 20, 53 - any or all three for the ask game, whatever you feel like answering!

1. favorite place to write

tbh i mostly write in bed, for some reason i was ON FIRE when i was living in LA, but part of that may have been a) i was still in classes, so i had no choice but to write (i wrote a stranger things season five spec script, which, imo is basically fanfiction for my last tv writing class) and b) when i wasn’t working on the aforementioned spec script, i was writing ted lasso fic and the show was still actively airing. but yeah, all this to say, i usually write in bed, on my phone, in google docs.

20. post a snippet of a WIP you’re working on

“Babes,” Keeley says, sinking down onto the edge of the bed beside him, “it’s my job to know you lot better than you know yourselves. I mean, the amount of PR nightmares I’m prepared to tackle would keep you both awake at night.”

“...We’re a PR nightmare?” Jamie says quietly, almost crushed, and Keeley’s quick to squeeze his hand.

“No,” she backtracks, “Roy killin’ you is a PR nightmare.”

Roy hums then, intrigued, “You’ve thought about me killing him?”

“You’ve only threatened to do it a million times.” Keeley reasons.

from chapter five of there’s a magic there (in chicago)

53. what does writing mean to you?

oh god, this feels like such a loaded question. i don’t even know what writing means to me really, i just know that i can’t imagine not writing for the rest of my life? i graduated with a degree in tv writing, and i hope to do that one day once ive finished paying off school! i have some original ideas, but i got my start writing in fanfiction, right? that’s where my passions lie. i’d love to work on an adaptation, or jump into a show that’s already a couple seasons in. that’s what excites me about things like the new percy jackson show, or the potential for a ted lasso spin off.

ask me about my writing!