#and ive seen people who look EXACTLY like the ref i would love to have

[unexpectedbrickattack]

get normaled, idiot

[erodasfishtacos]

Could you do a blurb of mlb!Harry and y/n doing an interview with a magazine and they talk about how they met, how he decided he wanted to play baseball professionally, being a father and mother and winning the championship

thought this was a cute idea

okay! ive gotten a ton of requests. im going to do it in an article format.

It’s for Times Magazine - he’s over the cover - with the title - A Legend Among Us.

Tom is the interviewer

—

Harry had welcomed me up to his house for the interview. A beautiful sprawling mansion nestled in the woods near a lake in New York - right outside the city where he played.

As soon as I walked in, the house was warm and felt like a well-lived in house. The baseball player had apologized for the small littering of dump trucks, barbies, and blocks that were left behind.

We sat down outside on the patio, it was cool, and Harry was dressed in a Yankees hoodie and Nike shorts - sponsored by them of course.

Harry was actually Nike’s biggest money making sponsor due to his merchandise and memorabilia with the company.

I could tell Harry was relaxed, a carefree smile on his face opposed to the scowl he had when he was on the mound.

There were toys scattered on their pristine green grass, a massive pool, jungle gym, and sandpit - a child’s dream.

Harry cracked a joke that the landscapers hate cutting their grass because of all the toys in the way.

Tom: Mr. Styles - a pleasure to sit down with you. I’m a bit starstruck if I’m honest.

Harry: [laughs] it’s no problem. Thanks for agreeing to come up here.

Tom: It’s a beautiful piece of property.

Harry: Yeah, I love it. My wife picked this house out and she has way better taste than me. She did good.

Tom: Let’s talk about her. How long have you been together?

A soft look appears on Styles face as soon as he starts speaking about her.

Harry: We’ve been together ten years, married for eight now - just celebrated our anniversary a month ago.

Tom: That’s impressive, especially for a sport man like yourself.

I realize that what I had said hadn’t sat right with the baseball player. His tone comes back much sharper with me.

Harry: I don’t need to be rewarded or praised because I’ve stayed loyal to my wife. Just because of my job doesn’t make me a scumbag.

Tom: I apologize. It’s just that you constantly have beautiful women chasing after you.

Harry: Okay? Have you seen the woman I’m married to? She’s fucking gorgeous. There’s a reason we have four kids, can’t keep my hands off her.

Tom: Four kids - three boys and a girl, right? Tell us their names and ages, maybe something about them, if you would.

Harry: Our oldest is Easton, he is six and a half, and is definitely is a little leader. He doesn’t take shit from anyone and bosses all his siblings around. He’s the most like me.

Tom: Is that good or bad?

Harry: [laughs] If you ask me, I’d say good. If you ask my wife, she would say no.

Tom: Then Cash?

Harry: Yeah, he’s four. He’s the comedian. He is such a free spirit, easy-going, and always being silly. He craves attention and always gets it.

Tom: He sounds like a good time.

Harry: He is. Then Ezra who is two and just a sweetheart. He’s sensitive, very caring, but also nervous like none of my other kids are.

Tom: Does that make it harder for you?

Harry: Not at all. I’m just really protective of him.

Tom: That doesn’t surprise me.

Harry: Then we have Briar. Our little girl, she’s about three months old right now. We’re still getting to know her but she is a carbon copy of her mama.

Tom: Interesting. All your boys look exactly like you.

Harry: It was amazing to see those boys come out looking like me. I am man enough to admit I sobbed when I saw how gorgeous she was like her mother.

Tom: Wrapped around your finger, huh?

Harry: Just like her mama. Completely whipped for them.

Tom: What’s the secret that you’re hiding for such a happy marriage?

Harry appears thoughtful for a moment, reaching to take a swig of his protein drink as I take the opportunity to sip the expensive tasting sparkling water he’d offered me.

Harry: She is always making me work for it. In the best way possible. I mean I’m constantly chasing after her. She still plays hard to get like she did before we started dating.

Tom: I think most people would assume it was the other way around.

Harry: YN is the best fucking wife. I mean incredible, honestly. She’s the best mama to our babies. It would be impossible for me to not being head of heels for her.

Tom: What’s it like being a father?

Harry: [laughs] It’s the best. I thought baseball was the best job out there but it isn’t. I love being a dad. I would have a full baseball team if the missus would let me.

Tom: I mean baseball is a pretty good gig, right? You are the highest-paid player in history. You have also broken a massive amount of records that people thought were impossible to beat.

Harry: [his smile becomes a bit cocky as he shrugs] As much as it will make people mad, it comes easy to me but I also work hard because I want to set a good example for my children.

*interview continues about baseball for a bit*

In the middle of a question about his favorite teams growing up, we are interrupted by their patio door opening and a child who looks exactly like Harry toddles over.

It had to be Ezra as Harry had told me the other two were at school. The two-year-old had obviously escaped his mother’s grasp as she is hurriedly rushing out after him.

YN apologizes with a exasperated laugh, a fresh baby tucked in a sling around her chest. Ezra gives me a unsure look before he’s crawling up his father until he’s settled in his lap.

Harry forgets the question, distracted as he helps his son get comfortable in his arms, and a hand coming to rub the boys back.

He is assuring his wife that Ezra is okay, motioning them over to give her a kiss before doing the same to his daughter’s forehead.

Harry: It’s about nap time for this one. [Harry nods down to his son who’s nuzzling into his chest]

I was hoping to get more from the baseball player but as soon as Ezra requests that his dad takes him for a nap - Harry is soothing and agreeing with his son.

He is soft with his son, voice turning into a hum that is vastly different from the rough rasp on the field as he curses out refs.

It was overall a great experience, to get a look into the life of Harry Styles. I was walked out with Harry toting a sleepy toddler on his hip.

I got in my car, observing the Porsche, Escalade, Range Rover, and Lamborghini truck that is a reminder of just how rich this man was.

And I can’t say I’ll ever forget interviewing the most talented sport player that we will ever see in our time and much more time to come.

[floralkittygambler]

RadioDust is the Healthiest Toxic Ship for Angel so far

@honesthazbinarchives​ Briefly. I’d like to go into this more in the future BUT these are the main points I said I’d do. Heh ‘stay tuned’ for why HuskerDust is toxic [haaaa funny fuckin reference n shit like Viv herself aint overdone it]. Yer dont even wanna know the lack of enthusiasm in tryna do a playful ‘cringetopia’ joke - wasnt as fun as anticipated. Anyfuckinways, the shit. Before we begin, disclaimers n whatnot, no hate intended, dni if you’re a bit of a knobhead [either stan or extreme anti], an all that nonsense. I dont own the characters no shit.  In this I’ll discuss how RadioDust aka SpiDEER (thats right, yer stuck w my shit humour now) is both the healthiest ship for Angel we’ve seen so far but still rather toxic. Idc if you hate me for it but dont fuckin waste yer time telling me. Great. I dont care. Yer fuckin hard n whatnot for harassin strangers online. Big dick energy to you. This will be slightly messy, my apologies, it’s a quick summary of many points.

Alright. Firstly, out of the entire male cast Angel interacts with over all platforms, Al is given a fair bit of mercy in terms of sexual advances. In fact, a swift ‘no’ and Angel doesn’t do it again - unlike most of the other cast [pent’s is covert, husks is overt]. One thing I like is that Angel himself admits to their chemistry (claiming that whilst he thinks Al’s a prick, he thinks Al dislikes him which saddens him as he’d at least like to be friends as he feels they have good chemistry - according to the VA via Hunicast’s 1yr anniversary), there’s no further efforts to jump on his dick but a clear curiosity/interest in what Al can do.  Lets go to the basics, both are of similar age [allegedly in their 30s, though Ive heard Al may be up to mid 40s] as well as created near the same-ISH time (as in, Viv’s oldest characters, at least for HH). Likewise, Viv admitted to knowing fuck all on either of their eras (and to make that public wasn’t really a wise choice BUUUT if you felt the need, it’s better worded with interest “Right now I’m working towards educating myself more on their time periods to improve their portrayals” <-- crucial if yer want that ‘realism’). Because of their real-world ages, Viv confesses they’re her favourites (even if you didnt know, she makes it pretty clear). It could be a nice ‘homage’ to their impact in her life but not too relevant otherwise. It could fulfil the need for self indulgence that she’s unhealthily leaking into the canon - which will ultimately make the series shit. No sugarcoating there.  As for their ages, a relationship can work whether the gap is large or small HOWEVER there are many ethics and conflicts to each. And being an adult into kids is always fucked up. With that being said, studies have shown that closer ages often work better due to the often similarities in mindset, maturity and life goals (older folks are more likely to want to settle, younger often have more ambitions), likewise there tends to be an unbalanced power-dynamic if the ages are too far, which can lead to various types of abuse. Dont get me wrong, being with someone much older (AS LONG AS NONE OF YALL ARE KIDS) very much CAN work - but rarely. There’s much more hardwork needed as well as being in the right mindset for both, otherwise it’s bad. More on that in HD. Long story short, both are closer in age meaning both are more ‘relatable’ to one another. There’s common grounds, even in the eras there’s some higher understanding of one another. Notice how Vaggie and Charlie are similar in age? (Even though Charlie is far older, her appearance and mentality for her race is on par with Vaggie’s, making it far more likely to work out positively) One of the most prominent out of all of this however is their actual interests. So listing; Both like action/chaos/having fun (often at the expense of others), both love cooking and can be food snobs in their own right, both have sadistic AND masochistic tendencies, Al likes performance and theatre whilst Angel loves *to* perform, on that last point Angel was very intrigued and enjoyed Al’s song number/performance naturally, both really enjoy pranks and both enjoy liquor (neither show an actual addiction, but rather an interest in social drinking - no dependencies on it). Again, close eras mean both have a higher probability of understanding the other and their lifestyles better. Both are high on appearance and love themselves, implying self confident mindset (healthy BUT the narcissism isnt) yet enough consideration for how they are viewed. On the parent system, one adores his mama whilst the other hates his pops.  Now Ive gone on about how they’re similar. But similarities ALONE is not enough. If it was, then fandom’s would be a lil more harmonious~ A HEALTHY relationship needs compatibility, POSITIVE conversation flow, common grounds, trust, openness and understanding. Even then, some people click and some just dont. It’s like how you can just hate someone for no reason. It just IS. Common grounds and similarity is scientifically proven to be attractive to someone - be it good or BAD. People are drawn to those like their parents in some way usually, likewise we look for people similar to ourselves (from our interests, to humour, beliefs, goals, etc). Science itself states that ‘opposites attract’ solemnly applies in the real world successfully. Though similiarity plays a large role, there has to be some differences too - that person is STILL an individual separate to yourself. Too similar and it’s boring. Too similar and you’ll do everything together without some ‘you’ time. Both Vaggie and Charlie have similar interests/hobbies in dance and music, yet still have enough differences to be identifiable when together. Vaggie is more grounded than Charlie. Charlie gives some optimism and fun to Vaggie. Remember, a partner does NOT complete you - that’s a toxic mindset when taken too seriously, You complete YOURSELF. Whether you have someone or not, you must feel complete in yourself as to not slip into toxic dependency on a lover - to become them, a shadow of them or feel like you’ve lost your identity without them. Sounds harsh but it’s true. Chaggie compliments each other without a dependency. You stand alone yet uplift one another. You don’t always agree but in the end you always have each other’s backs. Love is often butchered in a toxic light in the media.  So taking that into consideration, how does spideer work? Well, here’s some examples of good, bad and neutral: - Angel loves animals, Al fears/dislikes dogs. Perhaps Angel could assist him in overcoming this? - Al hates being touched, Angel dislikes being squeezed. Maybe this could help them reach an understanding... Or cause a rift? - Angel was the only one to break Al’s composure, either Angel is the *key* to delving further into Al’s more raw self... Or just another obVOXious pest? (yeah, I said it-) - Neither respect other’s boundaries, meaning both may fuel the other to be overly disrespectful in this area. Not good. - Angel is a sarky/sarcastic fuck, Al loves dry humour. Both seek amusement and chaos. In relationships one needs to see how conversation flows and in the hunicasts, both keep up some good as well as toxic banter. Both could roast the fuck out of an opponent however. - Al is acro/ace, Angel is hypersexual (appears like a sex addict - now I say this as his book has a crossed out ‘fun stuff’ with ‘work shit’ written on it. He’s always fixed on sex from his job to his humour), this could either aid Angel ease up on the sex stuff OR make him overly push it onto Al causing major rifts and discomfort (aces can have sex, ref to ace posts that real asexuals put to understand more but no one wants to be forced into sex is the point here). And we’ve already discussed their lack of respect for boundaries. The positive is that maybe this will make Angel understand how Val is rubbing off on his own behaviour towards men [again, more on that in the HD post]. - Both similar yet different in a way that does suit their compatibility chances but that doesnt mean they will click, it just improves the odds. - Both have similar enemies in Val and Vox, they’re on common terms. Likewise, Al is against the ‘sexual deviance’ of hell meaning he may be oddly supportive and protective of Angel in terms of Val. I dont even think his sadism will override this either. - Al dislikes modern tech, Angel seems to use it as his job requires it. A nice little menial difference. - Only ONE is an addict. Take it from an expert, you NEVER put two addicts together. They’re very vulnerable and prone to slipping deeper into their addictions as well as depending on each other too much that they essentially become very clingy, suffocating and toxic to each other. Seen it in action, it’s ugly.  - Both could have a lot of fun and calm moments with each other. - He isn’t immediately smitten with Al but immediately shows a natural interest in Al’s powers and performance, embracing it openly. Leads for a good friendship turned lovers plot. - In Viv’s patreon, she confirmed Angel loves confident guys [sounds exactly like Al] We need to think about where both are mentally. What benefits would a relationship give both? How would they be good and bad for each other? For Al, aside from his outdated views and being a fucking murderer and narcissist, he actually seems in a good mindspace for a relationship IF he opted to be in one. Angel however has a very immature mindset, likewise is in a phase of life where hes bed hopping. IF he were to be in a relationship, I’d say he needs a male equivalent of Cherri - someone with a similar mindset yet some differences, willing to have fun and in touch with their younger side, down to cuddle, open to share and receive love as well as not afraid to publicly be affectionate with him, someone who sees him as more than just for sex, someone fun, someone who’ll let him embrace his cutesy side publicly without shame - Cherri is younger so maybe someone who’s his age or slightly younger perhaps? I think Angel’s not retirement home ready to settle and needs someone on his level that can cuddle and chill as well as feels free and youthful enough to go wild with him. In one sense, he’s got a teen girl sorta mindset (dont put him with a teen though, it’s fuckin weird-). He needs someone positive and raw, someone to let him be himself as well as someone comfortable to be themselves around him. He has a habit of latching onto unobtainable men (in psychology, this is self sabotaging subconsciously): Travis the client, Val a pimp, Husk (emotionally unavailable and needs HEAVY self work - interestingly far more than Angel - plus he’s still onto his last relationship and an addict to gambling and alcohol), Pent who’s the enemy he was currently fighting (inappropriate timing), Alastor who’s not interested in another but his own needs [selfish, VERY bad for a relationship]. Subconsciously he’s self sabotaging on purpose. There’s many psychology books as well as sources online for this, if you’re interested. Either way, Angel is drawn to men either like his father [who dislike him, shun him, or are otherwise cold, abusive or just blatantly dislike or otherwise dont care about him] or anyone with money to fuel his drug addiction/’debt’ to Val. Going with any of these men isn’t a good idea.  Preferably, Angel needs someone who he doesnt immediately crush and obsess over. Someone who he doesnt sexually harass or assault. Someone he can build a connection with quickly that can bud into romance (think how Chaggie started as a friendship which clicked immediately). Maybe even someone he doesn’t expect to fall for but does so anyways. It would be more realistic as Viv wants as well as more healthy. That for once he isnt sex or money craved instantly, thus doesnt sexually harass/assault and is given a proper chance to develop and grow a friendship and love. Someone who isnt an addict.  Someone with an on-par mindset where they click. Someone open to love. For any chance of a good relationship, Angel needs to be with anyone BUT who we’ve already seen. There’s too much toxicity that’ll be swept under the rug and justified otherwise. Too much shit to fuel homophobes in terms of gay stereotypes. Even though Ive focused a fair bit on Angel, it’s NOT just about Angel. That’s something fans forget. Some he depends on or someone who depends on him in the long term wont last and will be very dangerous to both.  Just because you suffer, you dont then deserve to be rewarded with ‘something nice’. You dont get to have everything youve ever wanted. Giving him any of these blokes [minus Val] gives him a pass. Gives him what he wants. I get Viv loves him but life doesnt work that way. True lasting growth comes from learning that. Acceptance and growth. You dont get everything you want and sometimes thats a GOOD thing. He’s not a spoilt kid who gets everything he asks for, he’s YOUR creation. If you really wanted what your creations deserve then you need to research and be realistic with it. Because hes starting to feel like a shitty Gary-Stu at this rate. I live with an ‘Angel Dust’ like person. It used to feel like life gave her everything and most times it did. Everyone loved her and she could get away with murder if she wanted to. But now she’s had to struggle and grow, let go of some ‘wants’ because they werent good for her and she’s becoming better for it. She has a long way but she’s more humble for it now [still got self confidence but it’s less narcissism now, which is more healthy for her]. Also, they make the word anal lol

[darkarfs]

This is gonna make so many horrible people unhappy. EVERY Takeover has had at least one match-of-the-year candidate on it. Some of the most emotional moments in that brand have come from cards that even aren't quite as good. I even considered not doing this list, because, by all accounts, NXT Takeover: Tampa isn't even going ahead. But then I thought, fuck it, let's celebrate, taken all together, for my taste, the best wrestling product in the history of mankind. It's not just moves; it's emotional investment, sharply-focused, character-based storytelling, intricately-performed spectactle from the greatest physical specimens ever to lace their boots. It FINALLY legitimized Western women's wrestling in the mainstream (Michelle McCool, Trish, Molly, Mickie, Jazz, Victoria, you all were stunning performers in your own right, but you and your kind were, until NXT, only given 3 minutes: the longest women's match IN HISTORY, until 'Mania 32, was Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James at Wrestlemania 22, and it got 9 minutes.), it's got some of the greatest tag wrestling ever seen on ANY brand, it's created the longest-drawn storytelling ever, it's the best of the indies, the best of the WWE, wrapped up in a sequence of shows that were epic without being FIVE FUCKING HOURS LONG.

Where do I even start...?

Honorable mention: Takeover: R Evolution (I have to, because I've only got 10) Sami Zayn spends over a year, clawing and sweating and tearing walls down, just to get to the top of the mountain in NXT. He has the opportunity to cheat, but does it his OWN way, as beautiful, unique babyface Sami Zayn...before being no-scoped by his best friend, who debuted THAT NIGHT. The undercard isn't as strong, so I can't officially include it, but this payoff, this triumph, and this tragedy represents everything the first era of NXT was, and kickstarted it, truly, onto its first golden era. So, properly, then...

10. Takeover: Rival If you leave this list feeling like the title reigns, and thus, ERAS, of Zayn/Owens are a little under-represented by it, I completely understand. After all, so much good came from that time. American Alpha soldifying themselves as the dominant tag team, the Iron-Woman match between Sasha and Bayley, Becky Lynch putting all the pieces together, Enzo and Cass actually being GOOD...it was, still, at its heart, a developmental brand at that time. It had indie megastars, yes, but it also had the likes of Bull Dempsey. And that's not a dig at Bull Dempsey, it's just that those early Takeovers were an eclectic mix of skill levels, which is what NXT was at that time. It was a place to showcase these people. That said, some of these cards were truly *fantastic.* Case in point: Takeover: Rival. Not only was the undercard completely stacked (Hideo Itami vs. Tyler Breeze over-delivered; we had the first and still SOMEHOW ONLY Fatal 4-Way match between the Four Horsewomen; and Finn Balor vs. Neville was a solid match of the year candidate), but the main event was the first step in one of the most storied rivalries in the history of wrestling: Zayn vs. Owens. The video package is one of the best NXT ever did, and the match...was a masterpiece of simple-but unexpected booking. Zayn mistimes a leap to the outside, hits his head, and Owens responds by powerbombing him over...and over...and over again, until the ref stops the match. Zayn loses nothing, because he was never pinned, Owens is made to look even MORE the loathsome monster, and Zayn's title reign ends after just a month, without the champion nor the championship devalued in any way. It showed that NXT knew, even then, how to reward fans for their emotional investment.

9. Takeover: Portland Right now, NXT feels like it's approaching the very end of a special time in its life. Like it's on the verge of hitting critical mass. One of either Gargano or Ciampa probably leaving the company after the next Takeover, and the reign of the Undisputed Era seems to be crumbling, too. In yesteryear, this would indicate a raft of very important call-ups, neccessitating a shift in the roster and a period of calm centered around more patient character-building. NXT's existence now as a third brand throws that formula into uncertainty, but it definitely feels like they're ramping up to a finale, because goddamn, this is NXT almost at a point of self-parody. Every match is so. MUCH. Lee/Dijakovic is the pinnacle of HOT wrestling (and Lee, will you marry me?) Bianca Belair breaks out as an actual superstar...just as Charlotte decides to visit and to ruin everything, which is just dreadful timing. Gargano/Balor being everything we need it to be, and also Balor pinning Gargano with his fucking dick. And the Broserweights being VERY DUMB...but also VERY, VERY GOOD. The only thing that lets this card down...and this is obviously subjective...is that NXT has almost come TOO FAR, now, in its delivery on its main events, in that every kickout starts to beggar belief. On the level of Triple H/Undertaker at Wrestlemania 28, in that I still love it, but...hoo, it can be exhausting. Depends on how much Ring of Honor you like in your gumbo, I guess, but it feels like everyone on the roster is racing toward Tampa to explode, like a wrestling Crisis on Infinite Earths, and then MAYBE...things can calm down. Just a hair. Y'know, if Tampa even...still happens.

8. Takeover: Philadelphia If there's one man that's become synonymous with NXT, it's Johnny fucking Wrestling. You know, what would happen if a meerkat put on muscle mass and became the best set-piece wrestler this side of Daniel Bryan. We knew since he started his tag team with Tommaso Ciampa that he was an exceptional wrestler, but it wasn't until Philadelphia, and his INSANE match with Andrade "Cien" Almas, that we saw him as truly the industry's next star. It was the first Takeover match to go over 30 minutes (Sasha/Bayley at Respect went EXACTLY 30, don't @ me), it was the first NXT match to get 5 stars from Dave Meltzer (if that matters to you), and it set a new bar for Takeover main events. And while the undercard doesn't live up to it, it's still loaded with excellent matches. A.O.P. vs. the Undisputed Era is something special. Shayna Baszler makes her Takeover debut, and while she's nowhere near her prime, it cemented her immediately. Velveteen Dream and Kassius Ohno have a very fun match, and Aleister Black and Adam Cole have a ludcriously stupid no-holds-barred match, featuring two men doing with chairs what no one ought to do with chairs. But as good as all of that is, it's really a one match show, but what a match, and Ciampa ending it by being an utter bastard yet again.

7. Takeover: Brooklyn I Does the first Brooklyn Takeover feature Canadian Destroyers, 18 kick-outs and "fight forever" chants? It does not. Does it create moments of wrestling happiness that are rarely, if ever, replicated? It sure does. Firstly, Blue Pants appears and helps the Vaudevillains defeat Blake and Murphy. Seems quaint to look back on it, but it made everyone SO goddamn HAPPY that night. If you're forgetting, Leva Bates (that wrestling librarian in AEW right now) was once a comedy jobber in NXT, who wore Blue Pants. Adorable. Ignore what happened on the main roster (which is something you'll probably have to do with a lot of these shows, I imagine), but the Vaudevillains were once incredibly over (I promise!), and their win was one of several beam-inducing moments from this stellar night. Samoa Joe destroyed Baron Corbin at the height of his game, Apollo Crews debuted brilliantly (again, ignore what happens next!) and Balor and Owens' ladder match was also fantastic. Also, what's Jushin Thunder Liger doing here?? Wrestling like he's in his early 30s, that's goddamn what!! But of course, the reason we're all here is Sasha Banks vs. Bayley, and...there's still something in my eye. Anytime people want to rag on NXT for being "predictable," remind them that giving the people a moment they've genuinely prayed for...is a good thing. Bayley besting Sasha Banks at her prime just made us all...so happy. All of us. Everyone. When that curtain call took place, it was so earned. The narrative of women's wrestling dominated most of 2015, and this moment, this match, was the apex of that narrative.

6. Takeover: Chicago I And speaking of feelings...hello, Ciampa, you godless fuck. And so begins maybe the actual greatest rivalry in all of NXT. It is truly an odyessy, with twists, turns, injuries, betrayals, wounds torn open, and this is the nexus point. Well, the seeds had already sort of been planted, because Triple H knows what he's doing. Ciampa almost ALMOST turns on Gargano after their terrific match in the Cruiserweight Classic, only for the team to die another day...and what a death it was. After a great ladder match, the two stand atop the ramp, and you think "will it happen?" And the absolute bastards show you the copyright logo, just to make you think the show ends there, because it always does, seconds after that happens. You unclench, you breathe out, relax...Ciampa whispers "this is MY moment" and then...It is a perfectly engineered bait-and-switch, and exactly as vicious as it needs to be. Pats on the back, all 'round. This moment alone makes this a worthwhile Takeover, but there's also a hell of an undercard. The women's triple-threat (Ruby Riott vs. Asuka vs. Nikki Cross) is stellar, Bobby Roode and Hideo Itami have their respective best Takeover matches ever, and then there was Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne. An absolute show-stealer of a match, a star-making performance for both men (especially Dunne), it cemented the career of several men, and was a fully-formed GREAT show, as opposed to a good show in service to a storyline.

5. Takeover: Brooklyn IV Gargano and Ciampa's battle of brotherhood, betrayal and brainwashing was supposed to blow off at Takeover: New York, but because God hates necks, Tomato Champion was out of action, making this the final singles encounter to date, until Tampa (again, IF it even happens). This is the weakest of their 3 excellent encounters (which still makes it better than any match over SummerSlam weekend), but it also features Johnny Stupid running into a speaker, because his dumb ass can't seem to quit Ciampa. It's one of the greatest long-form feuds for a reason, mirroring Bret and Owen from 1993 into 1994, with all the repeated imagery, the callbacks, the nuances, the psychological cruelty. The street fight at Chicago II is MAYBE better, but this undercard, for me, is a lot stronger. It featured the Undisputed Era vs. Moustache Mountain, aka the Brothers Shithead vs. the Proud Circus Bear and His Beautiful Son. Velveteen Dream vs. EC3 was the closest NXT got to WWE-style storytelling and was still brilliant (remember when EC3 wrestled?), and HEY, wouldn't you know it, Kairi Sane was once a character with dimensions, as evidenced by an amazing match with Shayna Bazsler. But what makes this undercard truly stellar is Adam Cole vs. Ricochet. It is so nice to see Ricochet used well, etc., but I will still never stop pissing myself at Cole nailing him square in the jaw with a superkick WHILE HE'S MID-MOONSAULT UPSIDE-DOWN SWEET JESUS. Sometimes...sometimes...things fall exactly into place.

4. Takeover: WarGames (2018) The WarGames Takeovers are just so silly. It's a silly shoebox, filled with huge, silly men who only barely know why they're killing each other. It's as close as we ever get to WWE's now-terminal problem of "set aside whatever feuds you have right now, because it's Stipulation Month!" (see: Hell In a Cell, most Money In the Bank shows, though Elimination Chamber largely sidesteps this). The other Shoebox Takeovers are really good, no doubt, but this one stands head-and-shoulders above the rest. But there is not a bad match on this card. Kassius Ohno rides Matt Riddle's knee all the way to heaven; NXT shows why 2-out-of-3-falls is fast becoming its signature stipulation with the excellent blowoff between Sane/Baszler; Sexy Mindgames Prince had a star-making match against Tommaso Ciampa, showing why he may be the best overall character in NXT right now, and sweet lord, Aleister Black vs. Johnny Wrestling. It somehow showed that Gargano was JUST AS, if NOT MORE engaging as a dirtbag than as a good guy. And those Black Masses are presents just for me, a guy who tends to like more community theater in his wrestling than flips ("I ABSOLVE YOU...OF ALL YOUR SINS!"). And then we get to the Shoebox, and gosh it's silly! The Viking Experience, Ricochet and Pete Dunne take on the Undisputed Era, and...its a fucking LOT. 45 minutes of spots and smashing, with just a sprinkling of story, with Fish locking Dunne in his cage so he can't participate in the match. Since this seems to be what this match is designed for...let's rattle off some spots! Ricochet, jumping from one ring to the other! That amazing face-off that recreates the Captain America: Civil War poster! Perhaps the beefiest Tower of Doom in all of wrestling! And then Ricochet proving just how amazing he is...with the double moonsault off the top of the cage. What a stupid thing to do in an amazing, amazing show.

3. Takeover: Dallas I get it; a lot of people might not rank this Takeover quite so high. But it might be my actual personal favorite...? Overall...? More than any other Takeover, this show feels the most like it's filled with living, breathing superheroes. Many NXT stars are seen as just indie guys whose only gimmick is "I'm a very good wrestler," making them almost anti-WWE at the core. But NXT doesn't get enough credit for being, at its core, the best aspects of WWE. The showmanship, the things that elevate mere wrestlers to things like monsters, gods, and demons. I will always like my NXT WWE-style: the best wrestling cut with the most theater, the most camp. And Dallas is that concept, writ large. Baron Corbin coming out with lil' skulls on his shoulders. American Alpha finally becoming Super Saiyan Nerds. Asuka killing our hero, because Bayley is a person, and Asuka is a goddess who can perform brain surgery with her feet. Finn Balor coming out and going actual Texas Chainsaw Massacre on Samoa Joe. It's excellent wrestling, near-mythic visuals...and then we get to Nakamura/Zayn. The most special moment of a very special night. It is, from nearly every perspective, perfect. The hype of the crowd, salivating with anticipation. That moment when Nakamura appears in silhouette, and that violin note slides like a knife across steel, to reveal the man who set New Japan aflame. Sami Zayn getting the best possible swan song in a promotion built almost entirely on HIS back. The end of his era. That bit where they just KEEP PUNCHING ONE ANOTHER. I know it's not a perfect show (Balor/Joe stops for 3 minutes to address a cut on Joe's forehead, stalling its momentum; that Corbin/Ares match isn't as good as it could be) but that all means nothing. It's a sentimental choice, and I'd make it #1 if I could.

2. Takeover: New Orleans I went around and around in my head, and this one and #1 kept jockeying for position in my brain. But these top two Takeovers are literally note-perfect, from ship to shore, soup to nuts, top to tails. So if this is YOUR favorite? (Honestly, maybe 1 person I know who loves wrestling as much as I do will even see this mess). I'm here for you, and I understand. But this show has TWO 5-star matches from the Wrestling Observer, and I don't ever agree with that. In this case, I agree with BOTH, in the North American Championship ladder match, and the first (and so far, BEST) match in the Gargano/Ciampa feud. Everything. Is. Amazing. Shayna Bazsler became Women's Champion after BEAST-MODING her SHOULDER back INTO IT'S SOCKET to show that, YES, she gets pro-wrestling. Roderick Strong shocked the world (and the System) by joining the Undisputed Era and becoming the final Chaos Emerald needed to make that stable Super Sonic. Aleister Black took the championship from Andrade "Cien" Almas and SMILED, I fucking SAW IT! And it all depends on what you want from your wrestling, but Gargs/Tamps might actually be the best main event in Takeover history, at least from a storytelling standpoint. The crutch, the neckbrace. Each man going back to their DIY roots (the tag team - they didn't build another ring when that one broke), and then sitting side-by-side, like they did at the Cruiserweight Classic. Brothers. Completely spent. Destroyed. No one but each other. And then Ciampa shits any chance at redemption up the goddamn wall, cementing his own destruction. Every. Bit. Counts.

and #1...

Takeover: New York For a whole bunch of other wrestling fans, this has the greatest main event in Takeover history. But first, let's take a minute to appreciate how lucky we are, or were, that NXT exists. It justfies the existence of WWE, artistically, almost by itself. If this one's only slightly worse than New Orleans, it is argued, it's that the North American title ladder match was TOO good, and hurt every other match on the card. It has been argued. Not by me, but this one is somehow the most perfectly paced, perfectly sized wrestling card, on its own, ever. Every match, through alchemy or magic, manages to enthrall the crowd equally, and completely. The Viking Raiders vs. Grumpy Smaller Undertaker and the Human Pinball was off the hook incredible, and that warm "thank you" feeling has translated, currently to a man trapped in a room and a man trapped in Vince McMahon's scorn for smaller wrestlers, respectively. Matt Riddle and Velveteen Dream put on an absolute fantasy match, pitting the best of MMA vs. the best of WWE-style theatricality, and adds to the complete, demented character-world of this brand, and the fact that Dream WINS against one of the hottest new prospects is so deserved, and shows that he can, and will, shine forever brighter. Then AAAAGH WALTER vs. Pete Dunne! WALTER LAYS into poor Dunne, his chops alone having you believe that after the match, he's going to run into the arena's parking lot to FIGHT THE CARS. Then Shirai vs. Baszler vs. Sane vs. Belair and goddammit how do I even expound on that without crashing thesarus.com? And then Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole wrestled for. 40. MINUTES. With Gargano as the defacto heel because it was allegedly Cole's time. And by the match's end, he had the crowd more behind him than maybe they ever had been before. Is it a bit much? Yes. Too many kickouts? Probably. But it stands as the apex of Johnny Wrestling's journey. After everything had been taken from him: DIY, his health, his sanity, even his chance at revenge...the only thing he has left is the NXT Championship. And in that moment, he is invincible, he is more than enough.

What a show. What a host of shows.

Thanks for reading, everyone.

[hazyheel]

NJPW Best of the Super Juniors 2019 Day 7

This is one of our long tournament days, with 10 tournment matches on the card. The first match was TAKA Michinoku vs. Taiji Ishimori, and they went at it with vicious submission holds and strikes. Taka did his best to work over Ishimori’s injured neck. This was a really quick match, over in just a few minutes. Taka went for the Michinoku Driver, and Ishimori countered with a DDT and then a Bloody cross for the win. Ishimori: 8, Taka: 0.

Grade: B+. As far as short matches go, this was really really fun. The holds looked brutal, it was a frantic pace, and Ishimori proved just how good he was. Even from behind, all he needs was that one move. Ishimori is really leading the rest of the block at this point, just as would be expected.

Next up, Ren Narita vs. Bandido. First time on the tour that Narita isn’t curtain jerking, so good for him. Bandido kept things hard hitting and fast paced, which played well into Narita’s strength based offense. Once again, Narita hit the overhead belly to belly, but couldn’t bridge, so even with a quick cover, Bandido could fight out. At one point, Narita tried for another one over the ropes, but Bandido was able to block. On the apron, Narita was able to hit another release belly to belly on the apron and went for a suicide dive, but Bandido caught him and nailed a powerbomb on the apron, and Narita barely escaped the count out. After that Belly to belly on the apron, Narita wrestled at a quick pace, with several rollups, but Bandido fought back with the go to sleep and a 21 plex for the win. Bandido: 4, Narita: 0.

Grade: B+. Another really good match. This was Narita’s best performance so far, and all because he picked up the pace a little bit. Really good stuff, and happy to see that Bandido is finally picking up some wins. Really good match.

Right into Titan vs. Jonathan Gresham. Gresham quickly decided to go for the arm here, but Titan proved to be quite the technician as well. At one point, they had their legs tangled up, and they were both standing on their heads and slapping each other. Titan seemed to have an advantage when it came to striking, while the two seemed mostly even in terms of technical wrestling. However, Gresham continued to work over the arm, always coming back to that as his baseline. The two continuously traded rollups, and Gresham finally locked in an octopus, even traping the arm so that Titan couldn’t get to the ropes. Titan tried to drop to the mat to get Gresham off of him, but Gresham kept the hold in and actually locked it in deeper for the submission victory. Gresham: 4, Titan: 2. 

Grade: B+. Things have been really good tonight. A very good technical match here, showing that Gresham, despite some setbacks, is still in this tournament. He is still dangerous, and can submit people very well. Gresham is an underdog in the tournament, and he gets that across very well. Titan continues to deliver, and I hope that he picks up some points himself.

Into a Roppongi 3k battle, Rocky Romero vs. YOH. A match that I was really looking forward to, I always love the battles in the stables. Rocky’s mind games didn’t seem to work much on Yoh, who has trained alongside Rocky for far too long. The two continued to dodge each other’s moves in a quick paced beginning. At one point, Rocky blocked a dragon screw leg whip right into an armbar, which started the targeting of the arm that we have seen for so long. Yoh countered by targeting the already injured leg of Rocky. He was able to lock in a calf crusher, but Rocky countered it into a cross armbreaker for a submission sequence. Another thing that struck me about the match was that Rocky seemed to know every way to get out of a dragon suplex, so Yoh had to rely on his leg work. And that is exactly what he did for the win, picking the leg after Rocky tried forever clotheslines and locking in the Calf Crusher for the win. Yoh: 4, Rocky: 2.

Grade: B. A good match, with a lot of exciting spots. They destroyed each other with chops and strikes, and the limb work was as exciting as always. I really liked how the fact that they know how to counter the other’s finishers, and constantly reversed out of it. It made Yoh look for another avenue, and he did with the calf crusher. Given that this was his second usage of that finisher, along with his match against Ospreay, we may see a new finisher in the tag matches. 

Back into the A Block, Dragon Lee took on Tiger Mask IV. Juice Robinson mentioned that these two are actually friends behind the scene, which was confirmed with a pre match handshake. Lee tried to keep the speed up, but Tiger Mask knew from his experience that he didn’t have to keep up, so he simply stayed stationary and used some power moves and strikes. Tiger Mask also showed a high flying side tonight, hitting two big crossbodies, one of them to the floor. Tiger Mask hit his classic tombstone into a tiger driver, but Lee kicked out right at the last second. Tiger Mask was able to lock in a sleeper, although he quickly transitioned into a guillotine armbar. Lee got to the ropes and fought back into it, turning it into a striking match, nailing Tiger Mask with two knees to the face and Desnucadora for the win. Lee: 6, Tiger Mask: 4.

Grade: B-. Good match. I liked seeing Tiger Mask showing his experience, because that really is his greatest asset in this tournament. Lee once again showed that he is able to deliver in hard striking contests, although he struggles when it comes to mat wrestling. An interesting dynamic going into his match with Takagi tomorrow. 

Then we had BUSHI vs. DOUKI. Battle of Luchadores. Douki attacked before the match, and Bushi fell for it for some reason, despite using that same trick himself. However, he quickly fought back with a rana and a suicide rana. He then took off the rest of his nice ring gear, whipped Douki with his belt, and choked him with his shirt. A lot of this match took place on the outside, with Douki beating Bushi all around Korakuen Hall. Douki locked in his tecktie choke, and nearly got disqualified, but he released just in time, only to then push the ref over. After Bushi got control of the match, it was all over. Bushi was able to hit a codebreaker, followed by the MX for the win. Bushi: 2, Douki: 2.

Grade: C. A meh match here. I thought it would be interesting if we had a weapons base brawl on the outside, but that stuff ended about halfway through the match. Otherwise, they just kinda did their signature moves and Bushi won. The stuff in between was kinda boring, except for the brawling. I really like that. Also, Bushi is on the board.

Next up was SHO vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru. Kanemaru was working over Sho’s cauliflowered ear, and then brought him into the crowd for a brawl. Sho was more that happy to oblige for a fight in the crowd, and the two fought with suplexes and slams onto the concrete. After the suplex on the concrete, Sho was barely going to make it into the ring, but Kanemaru shoved a young lion into him (Kanemaru didn’t get back in the ring.) and then hopped in at 19, winning by countout. Kanemaru: 2, Sho: 2.

Grade: C+. A pretty basic, quick match with a fun and creative finish. I always like how New Japan treats countouts as a legitimate win, and this was evidence of that. This makes sense for Kanemaru’s character, and was actually kinda heartbreaking to see Sho being so upset. He slid in right at the end, and it was sad to see. I didn’t think I would be so invested in Sho, but I really am.

And then we had Taguchi vs. Robbie Eagles. The two started with some mat wrestling, switching from fast counters to slow escapes. Of course, Eagles went for both the ass and the leg. That was an interesting dynamic for the match, where both wanted to work the other’s leg. At one point, Taguchi countered the double knees in the corner with a blue thunder bomb in a cool looking spot. He was actually able to hit the three amigos in this match for a near fall. However, he took too long charging up his Bumboye, allowing for Eagles to dropkick him in the ass. In an awesome spot, Eagles countered the Dodon with a rollup into the Ron Miller Special, an awesome looking counter, although Taguchi did make it to the ropes. Taguchi showed him that he could also counter a finisher into a submission, dodging the 450 and grabbing the ankle. Eagles then countered that with a turbo backpack for just a near fall. Taguchi was able to hit the Dodon, but Eagles then kicked out. Both guys were baffled that the other kicked out of their finisher, but Eagles recovered quicker. Taguchi went for the Dodon again, but Eagles forced Taguchi to the ground, and pinned him with a combination that I don’t know the name of. Eagles: 6, Taguchi: 6.

Grade: B+. I thought this was really good. They seemed to be very evenly matched throughout the fight, with Taguchi having a slight advantage on the mat and Eagles having the slight advantage in striking. Both guys are very impressive in their counters, and they weren’t acting too silly. In the end, it was a really close match that either man could win, it was just Eagles this time. I’d like to see who would win the next match.

In the main event of Block A, Shingo Takagi took on Marty Scurll. Commentators added an extra dimension to the match by saying that, while Takagi may be a heavyweight right now (a conspiracy theory that they often peddle), Scurll has regularly pinned heavyweights in Ring of Honor. So Scurll is being given a lot of credit here. Scurll was going just about as fast as he could to overwhelm the much stronger Takagi. Scurll went for the arm in this match, both softening Takagi up for his chicken wing, as well as neutralizing the power.  The two absolutely lit each other up in the corner with really fast chops and punches, but Marty put a stop to it with a tornado DDT. However, Scurll made a bit of a mistake trying to challenge Takagi to a strength contest, and he quickly went back to his tricky style, with his superkick to the shin and going for the fingers. Shingo beat the absolute crap out of Scurll with several forearms, but as Takagi went for the pumping bomber, Brody King tripped him on the outside. While the ref was yelling at King, Scurll nailed Takagi with an umbrella in the face, followed by a lariat, but for a near fall. Scurll then pushed Takagi into the ref, allowing King to run in for a sidewalk slam, again for a near fall. One more time, Scurll ducked a clothesline that hit the ref, but this time Takagi was able to fight off King, ducking a lariat so that it would hit Scurll, and then nailing King with a pumping bomber. In the end, Takagi was able to get the win, after hitting the Shinigami, a pumping bomber and a last of the dragons. Takagi: 8, Scurll: 4.

Grade: A-. Every match, Takagi seems to have the advantage less and less. This match was really really close, the closest we have ever seen it. Even before Scurll started to cheat, he had Takagi on the ropes. However, even with several dirty tricks, Takagi pulled off the win, and he did it in awesome fashion. Scurll deserves some credit too, really selling how important this match was for him. He pulled all of his best shots, but Takagi just wouldn’t stay down. Really good stuff, Takagi seems unstoppable at this point.

And the actual main event of the night, Will Ospreay vs. El Phantasmo. Not often to do I agree with the champion not main eventing, but I get why this is the main event. Right at the bell, Ospreay destroyed Phantasmo with a shotgun dropkick, and throwing him into the crowd right away, and throwing a chair right at his face. Phantasmo tried to run, so Ospreay destroyed him with a huge suicide dive. This was all in the first minute. Ospreay really hates Phantasmo. So, the only thing that Phantasmo could do was target the neck, and he did just that. Phantasmo ran into the crowd, so Ospreay followed him and beat his ass. Phantasmo had to get the advantage by throwing him into a concrete wall, following it up with a moonsault off of an arch type thing.  He then threw Ospreay down the stairs, and misted him with a fan’s drink. Back in the ring, they beat the crap out forearms and chops. Phantasmo continuously had the advantage using misdirections and outmaneuvering Ospreay, really trying just about every trick in the book. Ospreay still fought back with all of his offense, getting his hard hits in whenever he could, and countering using his signatures. At one point, Ospreay nailed Phantasmo with a flipping DDT. Ospreay then hit about 8 cheeky nandos, and hit a sort of electric chair slam for a near fall. Phantasmo then ducked the hidden blade and went for a low blow, so Ospreay lit him the hell up with kicks back and forth to the face, trying to finish with an Os Cutter, but Phantasmo dumped him over the top. Phantasmo nailed Ospreay with a piledriver on the apron. When Ospreay got back in the ring, Phantasmo hit a huge splash to the back for a near fall. Phantasmo went for a rainmaker, but Ospreay flipped around the arm, and hit about the hugest powerbomb I’ve ever seen for a near fall. When thee ref refused to count to 3, Phantasmo pushed him. Red Shoes then pushed him back, and Phantasmo tried to punch him. Red Shoes ducked and pushed him into a spanish fly from Ospreay, followed by a shooting star for a near fall. Ospreay tried for the stormbreaker, but Phantasmo kicked Red Shoes, and then fought out of the move to hit a low blow for a near fall. Phantasmo was then able to hit greetings from chasewood park to get the win, and we finally have a single frontrunner for Block B. Phantasmo: 8, Ospreay: 6.

Grade: A. This was really great. The hatred came across in a major way. I was surprised to see that Phantasmo got the win here, I wasn’t sure if they wanted Ospreay to lose at all, but I suppose that this would be the one to lose. They killed each other with awesome spots. And Phantasmo kept up his habit of beating better wrestlers using questionable tactics, and beating the living hell out of them when he can, whether or not it was against the rules. Match of the night right here, and this could be one of the most important matches in all of B Block.

Overall Grade: B.

Pros: Ishimori vs. Taka; Bandido vs. Narita; Titan vs Gresham; Romero vs. Yoh; Taguchi vs. Eagles; Scurll vs. Takagi; Ospreay vs. Phantasmo

Cons: Bushi vs. Douki; Sho lost; 

[shadyhouse]

i was bored so i did that fursona tag thing idk if i was supposed to get tagged in it or what but I Dont Care 

What is the name of your fursona?

Otso

Where did the name of your fursona come from?

I had NO IDEA what to name him when i first made him. I was going through name generators and coming up with random objects as names and trying to figure out if I could name him after a physical trait (those last two things i usually do with naming characters) but I was still completely stumped. I finally just.... tried to find something ~symbolic~ to name him since that's my plan B. Otso is the name of a forest guardian, who is portrayed as a bear with antlers. Since my character Otso is a bear/sheep hybrid and has horns, I figured it fit well.

What species is your fursona and why did you choose that species?

He is a bear/sheep hybrid. I chose that species because when I was making him, he was originally an Undertale OC. He was just a monster who was reminiscent of a bear but had wooly fur and horns. Over time, I was no longer interested in Undertale, but I was still really attached to Otso, so I remade him into my fursona and now consider him to be part-sheep-part-bear. I used bears as a base species because I'm kin with bears and they hold a very special place in my heart :')

What color is your fursona and why? Hair/fur/eyes/etc

He is baby blue with yellow horns and a darker yellow muzzle. He has a fluff of hair on his head thats a darker blue, and underneath his tail and his pawpads are also darker blue. He has dark blue eyes and a brown nose. I chose these colors because blue is one of my favorite colors, but honestly I came up with his color scheme sorta on-the-spot. I think it fits well, though.

What is your fursona's personality and how does this compare to your RL personality?

Otso is like a living teddy bear and loves everyone. He's great at hugs and is the best friend you will ever have. He's literally just a CareBear knockoff. I think this compares to my real life personality mainly because Otso is sorta like... My good side? My side that I try to show off the most? Who I want to be seen as most? Sure I can be edgy and I do suffer from many mental illnesses, but overall I want to be seen as people see Otso-- Someone who you know you can love and trust. A Friend(tm)

What is one item your fursona owns that is significant to you in RL?

Otso wears a bell around his neck, like a cowbell? That isn't really significant to me irl but it's Cute and it fits him

What is one thing you think you would say to your fursona if you could meet?

"You look so soft can I pet you?"

What is one thing your fursona would say to you if you could meet?

he just nods and nuzzles me and then I hug him :3c and he's the Softest Boy.......

How has your fursona changed over the years?

When I first created him, he was an Undertale OC, and I actually shipped him with Burgerpants. I drew fanart and wrote fics and everything it was embarrassing lmao..... But then he was my fursona. I've drawn 4 ref sheets for him because I cant exactly figure out what i want him to look like :/

How long have you had this fursona?

UM the first ever image I drew of him was in October 2015 so ive had him a little over a year? It'll be 2 years this year

Would you like to be more like your fursona?

Of course????? He's My Boy,

[callmessam-blog]

Not One, But Two (Part VI)

Summary: It all started on that night when you and Jay were both too drunk to remember anything. You resigned from your job and left Seoul with a secret. Now you’re back and ready to tell Jay about them, but doing so means sharing their lives and putting his career and love life on the line.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI

Jay scanned the sheet of paper, carefully taking in every word to make sense of the whole document, but no matter how much he tried to regain his focus, it was futile.

He closed the folder, placed it on top of the papers piled on his desk and threw his head back as he swirled his chair to face the window on one side of his office. Gray clouds hovered with threats of an imminent rain. The city looked anything but cheerful.

His phone vibrated on his pocket, and with muscle memory he grabbed it, unlocked the screen and read the message from one of his friends. He was asking him if he’s up for some drinks tonight.

Some other time, he texted back.

He was about to put it on his desk when his thumb pressed the message app again. Three names below the recent contact was your name. You told him that you’d be going on a grocery, with a slight indication of holding him responsible for spending, if not all, what’s little left of it.

Remembering that morning and your expression when you saw him taking out the contents of you ref, he chuckled to himself. He liked cooking, and when he anticipated what Suri and Jaeyoung would look like when they find out that he cooked for them, it motivated him to give his best. That included using the necessary and additional ingredients for his simple recipes.

I don’t mind that you cook for them, I really don’t. But my brother had just used too much last night and I need to save up, you told him, one hand planted on your hips.

If it’s the food expenses you’re worried about, I’ll buy you food, he replied as he placed a bowl of cut fruits on the table.

Nope. We talked about this. If you wanna buy something for the kids, then buy what only is necessary. But my house, my rules.

You’re so stubborn.

I’ll take that as a compliment.

Your message was sent over thirty minutes ago. If he recalled correctly, Suri and Jaeyoung were again with your brother and his wife. They received free tickets to a children’s show, with enough number to bring you along but you passed on as you had a number of chores to do. Everything, you told him on a phone call he dialled after you messaged him.

Jay closed his eyes. A week had passed since he spent the night over at your house. Nevertheless, he could still remember that moment when awoke.

Splashes of sunlight filled your bedroom, walls painted in light yellow and apple green curtains hanging on the window. It was cold, but the sunlight pricked his skin. Your back was turned on them while you adjusted the temperature of the air conditioner. Because your bed could not accommodate four people—which he only knew later when you told him—you took the sofa on the living room.

He didn’t know exactly what he felt at that moment. If he would be asked, it was nothing special at all, and maybe that’s why it puzzled him even more. How could something seemingly so insignificant affect him so much?

But it wasn’t exactly like he disliked remembering it and pondering about it over and over again. It’s just that when he came to his senses, he would find himself in a position where he had to choose between staying and learning. He had a girlfriend whom he loved and also loved him in return, to the point that she willingly supported him in getting close to his children.

He didn’t want to leave her, neither you, who stubbornly refused to ask anything from him, but accepting your children. How could he leave you alone when he kept on seeing that smile you would make when you watched him with your children? Just the thought of it made him feel like he could be more than who he was.

Three short knocks stole him away from his train of thoughts. He opened his eyes and cleared his throat. “Come in,” he said, sitting upright.

It was Hyukwoo.

“Ready to go?” Hyukwoo asked. Only his upper torso entered Jay’s office as his hand on the doorknob supported his weight.

“Where?” Jay asked back.

“Uh, lunch? It’s past one already,” Hyukwoo replied, chuckling lightly.

Jay lips formed into an ‘o’ and then he nodded. Hyukwoo closed the door, already knowing that Jay would follow him.

He took his phone from the desk and checked his back pocket if his wallet was there. In a matter of few minutes he was swallowed in his thoughts, he hadn’t realized that the rain already fell. He wondered if you were still in the grocery, but if you’re on your way home, he hoped at the very least that you brought an umbrella.

The queues in the counters were longer than usual.

Then again, it’s probably because, like you, these people exhausted their foods; it just happened that you’re all here at the same time. The supermarket in the mall and its counters here were always full of people. When it was your turn, you breathed in relief. “Finally,” you mumbled to yourself, smiling as if you won the lottery.

The cashier gave you a formal smile, the ones you knew they were instructed to give to every customer, while you placed the contents of your shopping cart on the counter and she ran their bar codes, a beep coming after every item. She told you the total amount and you paid her in cash.

You pushed your cart, where your shopping bags sat, out of the supermarket and into the nearest Japanese restaurant. Since you lined behind that middle-aged couple, your stomach began to rumble, begging you to fill it in. There were more restaurants in the mall, but you had a cart to push around and you couldn’t be bothered to be so choosy when you’re starving to the point of feeling like everything was edible.

“Excuse me, but can you please make sure everything is still here after I order?” You asked the welcoming staff outside the restaurant.

“Of course, ma’am,” he said.

“Yay! Thank you!”

You ordered a bowl of ramen, one large size of iced tea and a blueberry cheesecake for desert, and then headed back outside where you chose to sit on one of the tables beside the glass wall of the restaurant.

“Hey did you hear? AOMG is here at the mall. People saw them on the second level!” A girl chatted to her friend as they passed by you.

“How about Simon D?”

“I don’t know. But Loco is there. You like him too right?”

“Yeah.”

“Huh? Oh well, as long as they don’t see me,” you thought to yourself. Your order came several minutes later, and not ten minutes had passed when you finished everything.

Only they did see you. One of them first; the rest followed.

You were pushing your cart on your way to the main doors of the mall, when you felt a hand on your shoulder. “J-Jay?” You spluttered as you turned around.

“No one else,” he said. He glanced at your cart and the brown paper bags filled with your recent groceries, and laughed before he could think about it.

“What’s so funny?” You puckered your eyebrows.

“I’m sorry. I just remembered... anyway, it’s raining. Are you going home already?”

You nodded. “I’ll take a cab. Are you sure you should be here talking to me? You could’ve called me just to remind you.”

“Why not? We’re just talking.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Have you eaten already?”

“Ramen.”

“Come on, I’ll drive you home.”

“Aren’t you with your friends?”

“I am, but how do you know? Stalking me?”

“Funny. Some of your fans wouldn’t stop talking about it, and,” you nodded your head at a direction from behind Jay and waved lightly, “they’re behind you.”

Jay turned around just as Hyukwoo and Jukyung walked up to the both of you, each with wide smiles and rather excited looks on their faces.

“H-hi!” You greeted them and gave each a quick hug. “How are you guys?”

“Wow! You’re back!” Jukyung exclaimed.

“I guess I am.”

Jukyung squinted at you and you did the same, until both of you cracked into laughter. Back then you usually did this with him. Neither of you could really remember how it started, but seeing that this had not changed the nervousness you felt slowly eased.

“How long have you been here?” Hyukwoo asked.

“Almost two months now. You look great Hyukwoo,” you said, nodding in agreement at the improvement of his style since you had last seen him in person.

“Not better than you,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “But do I really?”

“Absolutely!” You raised your thumb at him.

“Alright!” His reserved demeanour vanished as he flattened his palm on air and you clapped it.

Unbeknownst to the three of you, Jay felt strangely annoyed at the brisk interaction going on in front of him, because as far as he could remember you were not this happy when you saw him. It’s like you were a completely different person. Pursing his lips, he hung an arm over the side of your cart.

“I’d really want to talk to you more, but I have to go home,” you told them. Through the corner of your eyes you quickly glanced at Jay.

“You should drop by the office some time or give us a call when you’re free so we can catch up,” Jukyung said.

“I will,” you said.

“You’re not telling me you’re going to carry all of these up to the waiting line?” Jay asked, nodding at your shopping bags.

“Don’t be silly. They allow the carts up to that point,” you told him.

“But all by yourself.”

“That’s my plan.”

“I—we can drive you to your home.” Jay turned to Hyukwoo and Jukyung. He almost slipped there. “Right?”

They nodded.

“No, but thank you for the offer. I can do this much and a lot actually just by myself,” you said.

“Fine,” Jay muttered under his breath.

“Jay...”

“What?”

“It was nice seeing all of you again.”

Certain that they would see you off than the other way around, you waved at them and then turned to your original direction, towards the main exit door, and pushed your cart. Unlike the queue in the supermarket, this one on the waiting line for the cabs was short. A group of four office ladies in their business attires, probably heading back to their office, and then you with no one in behind.

Your phone’s message ringtone reverberated from inside your bag.

Call me if you need help, Jay texted you.

Smiling to yourself, your fingers typed in your reply.

Not today.

Jay liked to think that he was not the type to be impulsive.

Sure he had his share of doing things in the spur-of-the-moment, but most times he carefully thought of the effects of his actions. This time was both of it. For so long he had been waiting for the right timing, the perfect opportunity, to tell his friends about your children. And yesterday, when you met Jukyung and Hyukwoo, and had that familiar tone of conversation, he knew it was what he was waiting for.

Today was a typical lazy day for AOMG. After consecutive days and nights of performing, some of them, including him, were finally given a much needed rest day. His two companions yesterday were among with him plus Sunghwa, who came out of his studio after finishing a song he produced for an artist of a different crew.

Sluggishly sitting on a sofa beside Hyukwoo, he scrolled through his photos. A few steps away, leaning on the wall with a beer can on his grasp, Sunghwa spouted his overworked jokes. Usually he would seek out Kiseok as his fan because the older man laughed at them. Jay often mused that it’s probably because their sense of humor were on same levels.

“Make him stop,” Jukyung puffed, plopping on the couch across Jay. He was forced to listen to Sunghwa, because no one else would, and Jukyung pitied him. He had been cooped in his studio for too long, requesting no one disturbed him until he completed the music, and now that he’s done he just wanted to see real people.

“Unfortunately our Ssam D is feeling under the weather. He has to perform tonight though,” Jay said, looking up from the screen of his phone.

“They say laughter is the best medicine,” Sunghwa said, a corner of his lips twitching, stopping himself from smiling at his knack.

“Not today,” Jay said. A smile spread on his lips then as he remembered the same words appear on his screen from your message. He clicked a thumbnail of a photo. You were carrying Suri and holding Jaeyoung’s hand, standing beside you. Thin trees, a metre apart from each other, stood behind you and striped the gray outline of the city below. He took it during your trip.

“Is that...?” Hyukwoo asked, inching closer to Jay so he could look at the photo.

Jay nodded. He needed to remain calm.

“Are they...” His questions that took long to finish captured the attention of the other guys. They walked towards him and Jay and asked to see the photo.

“No way! Are they her children?” Jukyung gasped. “But you know I feel like I’ve seen the little boy before. I just can’t remember when.”

“Oh, so she’s married then?” Sunghwa asked, standing behind Jay.

“No, she’s not married,” Jay said.

“Eh? How do you know?” Hyukwoo asked.

“We already met before yesterday,” Jay answered. This slow progress of the conversation almost drove him insane. He both wanted to laugh and cry all because they none of them asked the right question.

“I really think that his face is familiar...” Jukyung murmured, drumming his fingers on his chin as he sat his arm on his thigh. He closed his eyes, deep in thought.

Jay sighed. “He looks like me.”

“Yeah! You’re right! He does look like you!” Jukyung exclaimed, shaking a fist in the air.

“Now that you mention it,” Sunghwa muttered. His eyes shifted from Jaeyoung’s face to Jay’s face and back and forth, studying both features.

Hyukwoo nodded evenly.

“Of course,” Jay massaged his cheeks, “I’m his father after all. They’re twins, just so you know.”