#a fun side affect of my language barrier is that despite having an american accent- if I encounter a word I don't know how to pronounce

[jesncin]

How do you pronounce Constantine?

Constan-tine (like wine)

Or constan-teen

Constan teenager, the second one! (As I heard in the movies)

If I were to pronounce Constantine's name with the power of my inner Javanese accent, it would be:

CHON-STAHN-TEE-NEH

pak chonstanteeneh sihir bule itu loh yg mabuk terus

[valkyrie-night-103]

I know you've shown it to me before but could you please provide your followers with a bit of information about the esports au? Also, I love you loads!

Love you too, babe <3

I’ve actually developed the esports au a little more, I hope y’all enjoy! My tag for this AU is #a word from our sponsors

And now, a word from our sponsors

Kenny Omega is a young Canadian upstart in the world of esports, and after winning a large amateur tournament when nobody knew who he was, he quickly gains a sizeable following of diehard fans. In a matter of weeks, he becomes one of the most interesting free agents in competitive gaming, receiving multiple contract offers from some big name teams.

Despite this, all Kenny wants is a match against Kota Ibushi, a shining young member of Dramatic Dream Team, a relatively small Japanese Esport team all about fun and enjoying gaming.

Kota accepts and DDT make the arrangements, and Kenny flies over to have the match. It’s intense, but Kenny loses the best of three. Kota offers his hand to shake and Kenny hugs him.

Kota hugs back emphatically (much to Kenny’s relief) and whispers “good game” which are pretty much the only English words he knows that aren’t profanities. He pats Kenny’s back in a way that he hopes is friendly and not too over-familiar. Kenny sniffles through a strongly accented expression of gratitude— or maybe it’s a congratulations, he’s not sure. But if Kota’s shoulder is a little wet where Kenny rested his head? Well, that’s nobody’s business but his.

DDT brings Kenny back for another match, highly impressed by his showing and notoriety. This time, it’s a doubles match with Kenny and Kota on opposite sides. Kenny’s team wins by the skin of their teeth in a fantastic finish that is so wonderfully executed that it makes Kota smile even as he loses. Kenny offers his teammate a high-five, but he’s too busy talking shit, so Kota intercepts with a high-five of his own. It makes Kenny laugh, and he interlocks their hands before pulling him in for the kind of one-armed bro-hug men do when they don’t know how to communicate affection.

Backstage, he makes sure to get Kota’s Facebook so they can see what the other is up to. And his phone number, so they can keep in touch. And his address, so they can mail each other location-exclusive Pokémon cards.

He barely puts his phone down for the next few weeks, and spends far too many nights staying up late to keep talking with Kota. Every time the message notification lights up his screen, he smiles, even though he knows it’ll probably be another google-translated message that neither of them understand. They quickly find their way around the language barrier, communicating through memes, nerdy references, and stupid selfies.

Kenny is invited to headline a big event in a match against Kota, the first in a best-of-seven to establish their rivalry— but they independently request the opportunity to team with the other. DDT are reluctant, but eventually cave.

It’s a massive success, drawing insane viewership and a clear victory.

Kenny is asked to join DDT full time— and so, he uproots his entire North American life to move to Japan and play in an actual team for the first time. The pay isn’t great, but he’s actually living off his hobby. That’s more than he could say a month ago.

Kenny and Kota quickly become the best young duo in the whole team, though their methods are a little unorthodox. They quickly become best friends, almost from the moment they saw each other. They become inseparable to the point where they start sharing rooms to cut costs when travelling for tournaments.

Eventually there is a booking mixup that results in them sharing a double bed, and when they wake up they realise that they must have moved in their sleep, because they find themselves spooning.

Things are a little bit awkward, but they get on with it as normal. Even so, it’s made something clearer to Kenny- he has a crush on Kota Ibushi. Equally obvious to him, is that he doesn’t want to ruin what he has, leaving him with the delicate balancing act that is being in love with your best friend.