#and minnesota only plays them 4

[the-physicality]

when will the toronto L return from war?

[sierrale8ne]

40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS CHAPTER SIX

thought i’d be lying if i said ‘i didn’t want you to myself.’ when you look me in my eyes and, tell me that it’s mine, i…

pairing wnba!paige bueckers x singer!oc

taglist @thaatdigitaldiary @ohbueckers @xxloveralways14 @patscorner @wbbgetsmewetter @rosemariiaa @tndaqlifwy @makethemhoesmad @authentic-girl03

warnings infidelity, some sexual content

kalena speakss 🪽! this is easily my favorite chapter so far (for reasons that will become obvious towards the end) don’t expect another back to back update bc it’s not happening 😭 maybe thursday or friday at the earliest, i still have priorities!

June 2025 — Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California 

“Paige, your shot wasn’t falling tonight like we are used to seeing from you. What was different tonight for you than either nights?”

It’s this that I’m not quite yet used to. The post lost pressers. It was different in college, where the team had way more wins for every one loss, but right now we’re at .500 and each time a loss follows a win and they ask me the same variation of the same question I get irritated.

But I’m media trained, which means I just answer the question no matter how dumb I feel it is. The real answer is that I played like shit tonight, forcing shots and getting into my head. Instead, I’m forced to say:

“We’re playing a team that has the reigning defensive player of the year and was just in the finals. It was gonna be a dog fight, for us to get settled against a defense like that, and they simply out performed us.” I look down at the stat sheet in front of me, I had 5 turnovers to my 4 assists, and I fucking hate turning the ball over. 

“Kayla McBride is a dog, she guarded me well tonight, forced me into some bad shots and got a few turnovers from me. But I gotta take all that and learn from it, it’s still too early in the season to stress out over things that are fixable.”

I'm the only one sitting at the podium tonight, Rickea and Dearica doing theirs together and Zia who had just gone before me. I knew what the gist of the questions would be, turnovers, defense, and the most gruesome: injuries.

“We saw you roll your ankle pretty bad tonight. Even though you finished the game, can you tell us a bit about the seriousness of it?” It’s a different reporter now, one that I recognize from our win the other night.

I shake my head. My ankle was fine up until he just mentioned it. Now, it stung bad. I had some extra tape around it, it was only sore, while I was sitting but walking and running full speed on the court made that shit hurt like no other. 

“It’s not serious.” I reply honestly. “We got two days off before the next game at home so I’m not worried. I’m gonna treat it like any other tweak and just follow what the trainers got for me, and hopefully we have a better night against Minnesota on Friday.”

It seems like that is a sufficient answer for the rest of the reporters in the room when I hear that wonderful “no more questions.” I stand up gingerly from my seat. They don’t miss my slight limp, but after a few steps the pain shakes off and it just feels uncomfortable. 

When I get back to the locker room it’s damn near empty except for Cameron and Rae. I give them both curt nods before heading over to my locker.

They don’t speak to me, which I’m silently grateful for because I might snap at them unintentionally. Losing is one thing, playing like dog shit is another, but my ankle really put the nail in the coffin.

I attempt to clean up my locker a bit, making life a little bit easier for the ladies who’re gonna come in and clean up when we leave. I throw my jersey and shorts in the growing pile of towels and warm ups and all other gear before reaching for my phone in the bag. 

just saw the injury on tv, pray it’s not too bad ❤️‍🩹

That’s the second most recent text in my phone, from about an hour ago from Maraye. It just briefly brings a smile to my face that I can’t even fight. It’s crazy to me that even when I’m at my grumpiest she finds a way to make me forget about it all.

I scroll through the rest of my notifications before tapping on her contact. I see that she texted me multiple times tonight throughout different parts of the game.

don’t fuck up my parlay tonight. jk good luck fav! 7:09pm

OKAY BLOCKKK GET UP THEN 7:20pm

omg the cross over??? don’t do her like that p 😮‍💨  8:03pm

I laugh fights through my lips, she told me in Atlanta she would start live texting me during games, I didn’t think she was serious. Nevertheless, I find it adorable. Maraye, throughout the busyness that is her schedule, turned on my game and watched the whole thing, keeping me posted on all her thoughts throughout the night.

I’m so beyond saving.

My thumb scrolls back down to the bottom of the thread. I can’t deny the way my heartbeat quickens in my chest at the choice of heart emoji. It’s not quite a red heart, but it’s enough to let me know she cares. I can’t believe that I’m sitting here like I’m in high school again, psycho analyzing her texts and gushing over them until my face is red.

“You headin’ out?” I look up and Cam is getting ready to leave. She’s going to be fully cleared to play this week, probably not playing with us until right before All-star. I’m excited for her, and I can tell that she is too because it’s practically beaming off of her.

I nod. “Yeah, inna minute. I’ll catch you in the morning.” Cameron takes that answer and walks out alongside Rae. I grab my back shortly after them, getting up and leaving the locker room. The arena is quiet, so is the parking garage as I make my way out there. The chirp of my car alerts me to it. I drop my bag in the trunk before sitting down in my seat.

The cushion practically eats me alive, I haven’t been this physically exhausted in months. 

Then I’m reminded that Maraye and I’d thread is still open on my phone. When I glance at the time I realize it’s not that late, I know that if I go home, I’ll just fall into the rabbit hole of watching film all night.

Instead I reach for the phone heavy in my sweatpants pocket. My thumbs begin typing away before sending Maraye a text back.

Nah it’s not all that bad 

You busy? Or can I slide?

I make sure my phone is connected to the speakers. When He’s Not There by Kehlani plays through the car while I get settled. Following that, I place my phone on its spot on the center console. It isn’t until Maraye’s name flashes on my carplay screen that I finally pull out of the parking garage.

yes please, come see meee

—

Paige sits comfortably to my left on my couch. Her leg propped on my coffee table with a bag of ice resting on her swollen ankle. 

It’s her first time at my apartment, but even then she navigates the place like she’s been here countless of times. It feels so similar to our friendship, just comfortable. 

Her arm is draped over my shoulder as I nestle into her side. When she first came over, I sat on the other side of the couch, so far away from her you would think we were fighting. And then she started talking, pulling me closer with her words until I sat right next to her. My body is leaning into her warmth.

An NBA finals game plays on the TV. Knicks versus the Thunder, it’s in the last few minutes of overtime, a high intensity game that Paige swore she couldn’t miss a second of.

“He’s so fine.” I chirp jokingly, Shai Gilgeous Alexander is on the screen, about to shoot game tying free throws.

Paige pulls her arm off of me, looking down at me incredulously before reaching for my remote. She lowers the volume on the TV, reducing Mike Breen’s commentating to a whisper.

“Who, Shai?”

“Yeah. You don’t think so?” I ask, looking up at her with a grin.

“I’m like a raging homosexual, but if you like it I love it?”

I laugh at that, pushing her hair away from my view. It cascades down her shoulders in soft bright strands that tickle my face. 

“You can never just laugh at my jokes.”

“Your jokes aren’t funny.” Paige says. The face she makes reacts to her own statement like it’s obvious, when we both know I could make her laugh until she cried if I wanted to. “And Shai isn’t your type.”

I move from my spot next to her, jumping up and turning my attention to her face, while hers are stuck to the game. The way she is seated briefly makes me forget my train of thought. Her legs are spread comfortably and she leans back on the couch with her arms against the back of the couch. She looks like a fuckboy, and in any other scenario I would make fun of her for it, but the TV glow shines on her face just right and her cologne in my nose nearly makes me go blind.

I cross my arms over my chest. “What’s my type then, Paige?”

A commercial cuts on and Paige finally draws her eyes away from the screen. “What, Julian’s lightskin ass wasn’t the giveaway?” She laughs at her own joke, it’s stupid, but I love that laugh. So uniquely her. “Or y’want me to say you like six foot blonde girls.”

I roll my eyes, and when my vision clears up again, Paige is grinning at me.

“C’mon it was funny!”

“I don’t like women, idiot.”

“You like me.”

“I do not. I don’t even know why I let you hang out around me.” My body turns and my back hits the couch with a soft thud. Just to annoy her I sit further away from her body.

“Yeah okay, ma. You keep tellin’ yourself that.” Paige’s voice is low, a deep and raspy tone that I have never heard from her before. With Julian that had always been a given— he’s a man with a deep voice, that’s obvious. But when I hear it from Paige, I don’t know. It’s different.

My body just barely reacts to the pet name, but it’s there. The glob of saliva that pushes down my dry throat. And my legs just slightly press together. Paige reaches for the pocket of my striped shorts, tugging me back to my original spot in the curve of her body. 

“You’ve really never done anything with a girl before?”

“Paige—”

“No, not to be annoying. I’m just wondering.” She shrugs. Her hand reaches over to flick the bag of ice off her ankle and brings her leg down to my carpet. She looks down at me slowly, a lick of her lips and scan of my face lets me know she’s listening, waiting for my response.

I return her gaze. “Yes, I’ve really never done anything with a girl before.”

“Why? We’re much better. Better than whatever Julian is doing for you, I can tell you that much.” Paige’s voice is smug, teasing almost. I don’t know if she’s trying to rile me up between my legs or in my heart so I defend Julian. Either way it’s working, my heartbeat quickening in my chest.

“You seem sure about that.”

She nods. “I am. I think you forget how often you complain to me about that guy.” She says with a laugh.

The game in front of us is dying down, a three point lead for the Knicks with 40 seconds left in overtime, Oklahoma just now calling a timeout. I know she’s into the game, way more than me, but still she looks at me with an intensity that makes it feel like we’re the only two things in the world.

“Doesn’t mean a girl could do it better.”

Her eyes darted from my eyes to my lips, I’m expecting them to move. To look back at my eyes or even at the TV but she doesn’t. Just me.

“Y’believe that?” Paige asks me.

“Uh huh.” 

I’m going to lose. Whatever is going on with Paige and I, what has been going on for the last few weeks. The banter, the tension, the constant touching, it’s all a fight. Her and I are going back and forth like a fucking tennis match and she’s about to win. She’s about to make me lose whatever is left of my composure and grab the collar of her Hopkins High School t-shirt and kiss her until there’s no more breath in my lungs.

“Yeah? Ion know, can’t knock it till you try it.” She says, leaning into me for all of 5 milliseconds before sitting back in her seat and looking at the screen. The volume raises on my TV the cheers and commentary bouncing off the walls of my home.

Paige has left me frozen. Stuck there, in the exact position that she left me in. My eyes staring into the side of her perfect skin, burning holes there if I had the capability. I need her. My thighs are damn near glued together to keep me from dripping down my couch. 

I adjust my position some, sitting uncomfortably on my heels but with the way Paige is manspreading, it gives me just enough to be an inch taller than her. She looks at me, eyes trailing from my thighs past my covered stomach and chest, suddenly I’m hyper aware of how close my tits are from falling out of my Skims top.

“There some’ you wanna tell me, angel?” She asks. I hate the way that nickname makes me feel. She’s the only one that calls me that, the only one who makes me feel so small with just a single word. “Or you jus’ gonna keep lookin’ at me?”

The words just barely die in the air before I’m leaning into her, pressing my lips to hers. 

It starts off soft, so soft. Her body hesitates, like she knows better than to kiss me back but she does so anyway, tilting her head further and deepening the kiss. Paige hums against me, her arms still pressed against the back of the couch as if she has to avoid touching me. As if the second her hands touch my body then it’s game over. 

She bites my bottom lip, making me moan against her. I further into the kiss, cupping her cheek and then it really is game over. Paige reaches for my hips, lifting my body onto her lap and settling my thighs on the outside of hers.

Her tongue is entering my mouth, warm and tasting like candy. They’re clashing, messy and sticky and so damn hot. Now that I’ve gotten a taste of her I’m not sure I want to give it up. 

Paige roams my body with fervor. Trailing just a bit further to grab at my ass, kneading it in her large and veiny hands. I pull back from her breathlessly. Her hair is messy, lips so swollen and pink. It leaves me soaked as a response.

“This is doin’ so much damage. Y’know that?” She asks. Her hand travel back up my body to the back of my neck. I know it’s wrong, but still I let her pull me back into her. 

“Mmm, Ion wanna— stop.” I speak against her lips, letting her kiss me as she pleases. Grope me as she pleases. Talk to me as nasty as she wants to. I miss it, the feeling of being so vulgar with another person. Paige is on a different level and I want so much more. More of her, more than anyone has ever given me but for whatever reason I know that she can.

My phone starts ringing. I try to pull back to answer it but she pulls me right back, navigating my mouth with her tongue.

“Don’t.” She mumbles.

“I gotta.” I tell her pulling back with such force that I’m almost falling off the couch. I need to. Because if I don’t stop, I’m gonna let her see me in my most vulnerable state and even I know how wrong that would be. 

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, swiping to answer the call before I can even see who it is.

“Hello?” My voice is wheezy, and I’m huffing and puffing into the speaker.

“Hey, baby. You home?” 

It’s Julian. Of course it is. Of course God would let this man call me in the middle of making out with Paige just to make me feel guilty. Like the asshole I so obviously am right now.

“N— yeah. Yeah, but I’m busy. Sorry.” I stutter. “Paige is over right now.” I tell him honestly. But still, my breath hitches at my mention of her name. She rubs my thighs while I speak, looking at me like I’m a piece of meat. 

Her hand travels to her mouth, holding up one finger to her lips with a snide glare. I reach to slap her hand away, barely listening to what Julian says to me on the other line. 

Blah blah blah I miss you blah blah blah needa start hanging out with me blah blah less Paige. It’s gibberish. And I don't care.

“Yeah, okay. Goodnight Ju.” I tell him, bothered by his continued talking and wanting to occupy myself with something else. Namely, the pink lips in front of me that look so fucking pretty and the gorgeous face just inches away from mine.

I toss my phone on the couch after Julian responds and hangs up.

“You fuckin’ like me.”

“And don’t.” Just when I’m about to hop off of her lap, the TV blares loudly.

“Bang! Bang! Shai Gilgeous-Alexander takes us into double overtime!” Mike Breen’s cheers echo into my ears. Paige looks past me, obviously upset that she missed the shot.

“Damn. He’s good and fine?”

“Dont get fucked up, Raye.”

[thankyouforthememoriesworld]

Games PB5 and AF35 played together in but also their injuries to really put in perspective how little they have truly played.

I bolded the games I thought were their best together and realized they never have played their best together truly. Like the one time Azzi was healthy and going off, Paige was recovering from knee injuries. Between the two of them, they probably had one healthy leg in those 17 games.

For rewatch purposes: https://www.youtube.com/@mjl2434

2021-2022

Paige coming back from right ankle surgery after being NPOY as a freshman.

Azzi came in with a foot injury from the World Cup after winning her third gold medal and it never really healed the entire season. She said later it was all about pain management but she was never really free. It really affected her movement and shooting.

11/14/2021 Arkansas: PB scored 34 at 78.9% and AF scored 7 at 42.9%

11/20/2021 Minnesota: PB scored 8 at 42.9% and AF scored 5 at 33.3%

11/21/2021 South Florida: PB scored 21 at 50% and AF scored 18 at 60% (the presser after is iconic haha)

11/22/2021 South Carolina: PB scored 19 at 42.1%. AF only played 10 minutes and didn't score.

12/1/21 - Azzi suffered a foot injury forced her out of the lineup for 11 games.

12/7/21 - Paige injured her left knee - tibial plateau fracture against Notre Dame and it kept her out of 19 games.

During that time while PB was on the bench (and all her fun reactions), Azzi played three games that I absolutely love rewatching and rank in her top 10: 2/6/22 Tennessee (her first start); 2/9/22 Villanova (note that UConn ended up losing this but I honestly rank this one of her best performances ever); 2/13/22 Marquette.

2/25/2022 St. John's (NY): PB scored 8 at 80% and AF scored 19 at 77.8% (there was so much joy because PB was back and this has a great presser afterwards)

2/27/2022 Providence: PB scored 2 FT but still made a big impact in limited time and AF scored 14 at 62.5%

3/5/2022 Georgetown: PB scored 16 at 66.7% and AF scored 11 at 30.8%

3/6/2022 Marquette: PB scored 2 at 25% and AF scored 4 at 11.1%

3/7/2022 Villanova: PB scored 2 at 25% but didn't play much in this game and AF scored 9 at 80%

3/19/2022 Mercer: PB scored 12 at 71.4% and AF scored 9 at 75%. Statistically great game for both but also early round of March Madness where they play like 20 minutes. So I suppose you can watch it for feels.

3/21/2022 UCF: PB scored 9 at 44.4% and AF scored 16 at 30.8%

3/26/2022 Indiana: PB scored 15 at 41.2% and AF scored 13 at 27.3%

3/28/2022 NC State: PB scored 27 at 66.7% and AF scored 19 at 43.8% --- AF helped get it to OT before PB finally took off. Probably their best game together but I don't know if their best overlapped completely during that game.

4/1/2022 Stanford: PB scored 14 at 53.8% and AF scored 8 at 25%. This game was not fun from what I can remember. I don't think I enjoyed it at all.

4/3/2022 South Carolina: PB scored 14 at 46.2% and AF scored 3 and 33.3% ---- Azzi had the stomach flu and only played 16 minutes. Between this and Dorka getting injured against NC State, I don't think this team really recovered.

2022-2023

Paige tore her left knee ACL on August 1, 2022.

After having a NPOY level November 2022, Azzi injured her knee on December 4, 2022 against Notre Dame  and was out of 9 games. She made her return in January 2023, only to reinjure the same knee on Jan. 15 and miss an additional 13 games. She never really recovered that level she had during November 2022.

I highly recommend watching the games in that month of November 2022 if you want to see Azzi Fudd play lights out basketball. And truthfully, I don't even think that was half her full potential. She was warming up to it in the first month of basketball.

2023-2024

11/8/2023 Dayton: PB scored 8 at 33.3% and AF scored 13 at 33.3%

11/12/2023 NC State: PB scored 27 at 61.1% and AF scored 9 at 30.8%

Azzi tore her ACL and meniscal tear in her right knee - second ACL tear for her. I actually think Azzi never really recovered her knee from the previous season and in the same way Paige came back too soon, Azzi did as well.

So now as we approach 2024-25, may the basketball gods bless us with potentially the best backcourt duo in the nation, because truthfully, we have never actually seen it at the college level. One thing I know is Azzi is a second half assassin (like statistically speaking). Looking forward to that the most. - 🔎

It was really interesting and a great read, but depressing af 💔.

We deserve to see them play for a full season, and more importantly, THEY deserve to play together for a complete season.

[fruitcoops]

If I Make It to the Morning

Prompt B3: "Surprise Visit" to continue PWHL Lions for Day 4 of @oknutzy-week-2024. I cannot get enough of them, thank you @lumosinlove for making such brilliant characters and letting us play with them like paper dolls.

They were just so goddamn cute.

Finn bit down on her spoon, holding it between her teeth with her arms crossed over her chest until she felt like she could breathe without shrieking. Leo had woken for a few seconds, only to close her eyes and sink back into sleep easier than Finn had ever seen. Logan, who used to jerk awake at the faintest click of the front door, snored softly as if the whole city wasn’t waking outside.

They were so cute, and it was such a goddamn problem.

Logan was…god, Logan just was. She was, in her way, and Finn had never been able to get over it, not even after a year without so much as a stray meme on Instagram even though she knew Logan opened every single one of her private stories. Finn hadn’t expected the surprise visit to her apartment—had thought Logan would be long gone, celebrating this insane dream come true with her new teammates. But Logan had come, Logan had stayed, Logan had allowed hugs she melted into and for Finn to take her to a restaurant where she laughed like nothing had changed.

Twenty-four hours passed. Logan got an Uber to the airport, Finn went to bed, and in the morning there was Leo. Bright and golden in overalls that made her look eight feet tall. A thin teal ribbon adorned her ponytail in a floppy bow that Finn wanted, desperately, to pull until it unraveled.

I’m Finn, Finn O’Hara. She had had to remind herself of her own last name. Come on in, your bedroom’s down the hall.

The books that had filled Leo’s duffel now sat snug on their IKEA bookshelves, tucked in with Finn’s like they were meant to be there. Her pots and pans were perfectly organized in the cabinets behind Finn’s head so she could reach them with ease. When Finn took a deep, fortifying breath, Leo’s magnolia room spray lingered in the air around her.

It was all so new and yet it felt so old, in the way an heirloom blanket was just the right softness and just the right length from years of comfort. The blanket Finn had bought to make this place feel a little more like home covered the expanse of Leo’s legs on one side of the couch and crept all the way up to Logan’s chest on the other. It was a fuzzy green thing; twenty dollars from Target, hardly something to be passed down. Finn wanted to hold it forever.

It was new and old and precious, and Finn could have absolutely none of it, so she bit her spoon and crossed her arms and waited for the coffeepot to finish hissing so she had an excuse to wake them up. Which happened to be the last thing she wanted.

It would be so convenient for Logan to miss her flight back to Minnesota. Maybe the storm had flooded a drain on their street. Maybe a tree had fallen somewhere between here and the hotel for the rest of her team. Maybe Finn could curl up in the armchair beside them and—whoops! Oh no! Overslept! Far too late to rush out, now, better if Logan just stayed a little longer in a place where she felt so right.

Leo’s Mardi Gras shirt fit her better than most of Finn’s clothes ever had.

These two would be the end of her.

A little milk, please. No sugar. Thanks, Harz.

Mixing the milk with the sugar first makes it taste better. Ouais, it’s…science, or something.

Finn poured hers black, gripping the ceramic sides tight enough to hurt. These feelings were too much. Her heart was too much. She watched them sleep on her couch like a creep and wished on every glow-in-the-dark star she had socked away her nightstand as a surprise for Leo that they could have this every day. It was a selfish wish. She ached for it.

“Rouge?”

God. “Yeah?” Finn answered, hoarse.

Logan mumbled something sleepy and low, stretching over the arm of the couch until her back cracked. “When time?”

“ ‘Bout eight.” Finn cleared her throat and took a sip of coffee. “I was going to get you up soon. Figured we’d drop you off at nine, nine-thirty.”

“Mmm.” Logan blinked at her a few times, slow and foggy with the morning, before squinting around the room. Her vibrant gaze hesitated on Leo. “Fell asleep during the show.”

“Me, too,” Finn said quietly. “Guess we were all tired.”

Logan hummed again. Leo slumbered on. The hall clock ticked down the seconds until Logan would return to her team, to Minnesota, to texts every other day.

None of them made any attempt to move.

[grantmentis]

Women’s Hockey News Round Up 6/16-7/1

Everything here is official only, and try to list the most relevant transactions globally but may miss something, so always feel free to add! Since a lot of people who follow this blog are North American/most familiar with the PWHL, i put less context there than I may for other leagues

Extended indicates they did not change teams. buckle in this one is long as hell

PWHL (North America)

RETIRMENTS: Becca Gilmore (OTT) and Erica Howe (TOR) announce their retirements

PWHL Ottawa signings: - Alexa Vasko (PWHL Toronto) for one year -Logan Agners (Quinnipiac, undrafted) for one year -Rebecca Leslie (PWHL Toronto) for one year -Anna Meixner (Brynäs) for one year -Shiann Darkangelo (extended) for one year,

PWHL Toronto signings: -Daryll Watts (PWHL Ottawa) for two years -Emma Woods (PWHL New York) for two years -Raygan Kirk ( Ohio state) for two years -Izzy Daniel (Cornell) for two years -Megan Carter (Northeastern) for two years -Julia Gosling (st Lawrence) for two years -Hannah Miller (extension) for one year -Allie Munroe (extension) for two years

PWHL Boston signings: -Lexie Adzija (extended) for one year -Hannah Brandt (extended) for two years -Emily brown (extended) for two years -Sidney Morin (extended) for one year -Sophie Shirley (extended) for two years

PWHL Montreal: -Mikyla Grant Mentis (extended) for one year -Cayla Barnes (Ohio State) for three years -Elaine Chuli (extended) for one year -Mariah Keopple (extended) for one year -Amanda Boulier (extended) for one year

PWHL New York Signings: -Abbey levy (extended) two years

PWHL Minnesota signings: -Liz schepers (extended) for one year -Denisa Křižová (extended) for two years -Michela Cava (extended) for one year -Klára Hymlárová (st cloud) for two years -britta Curl (Wisconsin) for one year,

Josh Sciba joins PWHL New York as assistant coach. He has experience as Union College's head coach of their women's program as well as with the USWNT as an assistant coach

SDHL (Sweden)

The league has announced they will have goal cameras in place next season!

Finnish national team defender Sini Karjalainen joins Skellefteå AIK after playing with Brynäs last season

18 year old Swedish defender Thea Liodden signs with Linköping HC from AIK

Clarkson University forward Darcie Lappan signs with MoDo hockey

Providence College captain Rachel Weiss signs with HV71

16 year old Ebba Westerlind, who has shown very strong success in Sweden's youth programs, signs with Frölunda HC

Ann-Frédérique Guay, who played 4 years at Norwich University on the D3 level before transferring to UMaine and having a successful final year, has joined Linköping HC

American forward Naomi Rogge, who was successful last season with SDE, has joined Linköping HC

SDHL veteran Emmy Alasalmi joins Linköping HC

Lily George of University of New Brunswick joins Leksands

Dominique Kremer, most recently with PWHL Minnesota, has signed with SDE

Jakob Löf joins Brynäs as an assistnt coach. He previously coached the programs u16 team

Swedish National Team forward Michelle Löwenhielm extends with SDE for another year

Naisten Liiga (Finland)

Rising Finnish national team star Emma Ekoluoma changes teams from Kärpät to Ilves

Norweigan national team defender Iben Tillman will join the league and HPK specifically after a strong performance at the D1A World Championship

24 year old finnish forward Anni Montonen returns to Kiekko-Espoo after spending a season in the SDHL. She previously played for Kiekko-Espoo from 2019-2023 and was one of their top producers

Susanna Viitala, who played for TPS last year and was just under a point per game, joins Kiekko-Espoo

Julia Kuusisto get a one year extension in Ilves after a season where she took a big step forward and played with the u18 national team

defender Nelly Andersson will be back with HIFK after playing 23 games with them last year for the first time and getting experience with both the u18 and senior team

Defender Ilona Palin who spent time with the team last year as well a the u18 Finnish team, will return to HIFK for another year as well

SWHL / Postfinance Women League (Switzerland)

HC Davos ladies make four big signings -Swiss national team defender Alessia Baechler who played with ZSC Lions Frauen last year -Renee lendi who also played with ZSC and their B league affiliate -American/Canadian defender Lucie Tenenbaum. This is particularly interesting because Tenenbaum played prep school with Bishop Kearney last year and is committed to Minnesota State for the year following next season, so cool to see her develop in Switzerland for the year in between -Italian national team forward Aurora Abatangelo who was with Ladies Team Lugano last year

EWHL (Central/Eastern Europe + others)

The rebranded KSV Neuberg Highlanders also add five new players -Bishop University graduate and defender Marie-Camille Théorêt -Slovenian national team forward and EWHL Veteran/consistent top forward Sara Confidenti -Slovakian forward and EWHL top scorer Nikola Rumanova -American forward and SUNY-Oswego graduate Kensie Malone -American forward and Franklin Pierce University graduate Claire Casey

[btr-rewatch]

Big Time Rush Season 1, Episode 18: “Big Time Concert” (Part 3)

Highlights: 3/4 of Big Time Rush move on with their lives.

In my previous post, we'd just left off at the scene where Hawk and his assistant have made the decision to target James in their big "take down Rocque Records once and for all" plan.

Over at Rocque Records, Kelly informs Gustavo that since Griffin spent $2 million on the band, it'll take that same amount to get them back.

This scene brings back such memories of a younger me being so intrigued by Kelly's necklace because it looks like big pieces of Orbit chewing gum.

I just. I want to chew on that necklace, ok?

Kelly thinks she's figured out a way they can get that kind of money, and Gustavo is thrilled...until Kelly tells him he's got to sell his mansion.

Meanwhile, everyone is settling back in at the Knight house (minus James, who's out riding his tiny bike around and brooding). I like the touch of having the wall of family pictures that contain actual photos of the actors—I spot a handful of Kendall's headshots that I recognize. I especially like that there's the same photo twice.

Rather than seeing it as a funny mistake on the part of the set designer, I choose to believe either

Mama Knight likes that picture so much that she had to include it in two different frames

Or, alternatively, someone (maybe Katie or Carlos) decided at some point to pull a prank where they slowly start replacing every photo on the wall with that one single picture and see how long it takes before anyone notices.

Kendall asks Logan to go over where they are currently in their "Rebuild our Minnesota dreams schedule," and can I just say that the guys (minus James) have slipped back into their lives as nobodies in Minnesota seamlessly? Like, I know it was James's dream, and the whole reason they went was because Kendall's offer made it so James could have that shot at stardom, and Kendall never really wanted to be in a boyband, but still. They had so many opportunities in that short time, experienced so much, made friends, established romantic relationships, and saw how amazing that life can be. You'd think they'd all be mourning at least a little. Unless they're just in a different type of denial than James was.

Although, I suppose their response can make sense when you look at their individual personalities. Logan's pragmatic, so I'm sure it could have been easy for him to brush off their brief taste of stardom with self-assurances that it wasn't a sturdy, logical career to pursue anyway, and failure was much more likely than success in the long run.

Carlos is such a carefree, go-with-the-flow, high-on-life guy that he can find happiness anywhere. He rolls with the punches and just looks to the next exciting thing (ie. becoming a radioactive superhero. Love that for you, Los)

Kendall is a little trickier because he does kind of have an obsessive personality, and he's just as determined about things as James. I'm almost surprised he doesn't take the end of the band, his chance with Jo, and so on harder. But then there's the part of me that says there are other things at play that overpower whatever sadness Kendall might have, such as him seeing it as a chance to finally relax for a bit. He'd been working so hard to hold everything together in L.A., churning out pep talks and dealing with Gustavo and constant shenanigans. He can take a breath now. Also! While I don't think Kendall has necessarily had a difficult life overall (it's clear he's had a good, loving upbringing, has a nice house, etc) I don't think his life has been easy. He watched his parent's marriage fall apart when he was super young; his dad walked out, his mom has had to work her butt off to support him and Katie, and Kendall also has a job (I think the only one of the boys who does) to help bring in extra money. That kid knows that sometimes life throws you a curveball, and you've got to hold your head up and just keep going. No time for a pity party or wallowing in "what ifs."

So yeah, anyway...tangent over. My favorite part of this little scene is the look Kendall gives to Logan after he reads the first item off their list.

Look at him. There's so much love in that look. He's so proud of Logan going after his dreams. I love Kendall, and I love their friendship, and I love this stupid show.

And I need to briefly get off topic here solely to mention how much I've always liked Logan's accent. Love the way he says words. He turns the short "e" sound into short "i" in so many things. "Ten" becomes "tin," and "Kendall" becomes "Kindall." I also have a distinct memory of one episode where he manages to turn the two-syllable word "ruin" into the single-syllable word "roon." Always got a kick out of that.

With all this sidetracking, it is going to take me FOREVER to get through this episode. I am barely twenty minutes in.

After Super Carlos bursts into the room and announces they're going to start righting the wrongs they left behind when they moved to L.A., the guys go to apologize to Mrs. Magicowski. They promised to shovel her walkway if she let them use her car to get to the audition, then they ditched her and went to be a band, lol. I love Mrs. Magicowski; she's such a sweet old woman. I want to know more about the relationship the boys have with her. I imagine they took good care of her prior to leaving—checking in on her, shoveling, raking leaves, bringing her meals—and in return, she was like a grandma to all of them.

They look ridiculous, btw.

I mean, Kendall I can excuse, but Logan and Carlos look like they've just rung a doorbell and are waiting for candy on Halloween. Bunch of weirdos.

No, wait, you know what? This is exactly how they looked on Halloween night as kids, I guarantee it. Carlos as a superhero, Logan as a doctor, Kendall as a hockey player, and James like a rockstar. Speaking of James, what's he up to?

Oh.

Shake it off, Jamesy.

Also, the tiny bike still is very funny, but @day-dreams22, I'm pretty sure you're right that it's a BMX bike. After he gets hit, there's a shot where you can see the words "goose" on the bike, which means it's likely a Mongoose-brand BMX trick/stunt bike. And look at that hop off the curb. James Diamond, secret BMX stunt rider CONFIRMED.

Ok, you know what? I was aiming for 4 posts total for this episode, but it looks like it'll end up being 5 because I'm rambling so much during these. Hope no one minds having to split it into so many parts, but I worry if they're too long, they'll be difficult to read and get through. Anyway, I'm having a lot of fun being able to just go on about whatever, haha.

And James getting hit by a car seems like a fitting place to leave this episode. Hope he survives <3

[floridagirlboy]

go check out @nevgovhater's marching band headcanons. done with that? ok. good. time for orchestra headcanons.

gov is the conductor. i need not say anything else.

1. ALABAMA — second violin. just strikes me as the type. he doesn't like to sit in the front or back, he prefers middle of the section.

2. ALASKA — double bass. specifically 2nd chair. he has the skill to be principal bassist but he has zero interest in being a section leader.

3. ARIZONA — cello. not sure why. i think they started out as a violinist, decided it wasn't for them, and then switched over to cello. they sit in the second row. 3rd or 4th chair.

4. ARKANSAS — first violin. in the back. got put into this class on accident and just hasn't switched out. used to be a second violin but switched sections later on. his old sectionmates haven't forgiven him.

5. CALIFORNIA — started out playing the viola. could not get along with them (they play around too much for his taste). accidentally broke his shoulder rest and that was the crucible for him switching to cello. he's a cellist.

6. COLORADO — viola, middle of the section. half-asleep at most rehearsals. people outside of the viola section forget he's there. always has an unreasonable amount of pencils on his person, all his section borrows them. only time he is not stoned is at a concert.

7. CONNECTICUT — concertmaster/principal first violinist/first chair. the kind of guy who slowly turns and stares at you after a song during rehearsal if you fucked up a chord really bad. will get onto his sectionmates for not bringing their stuff and say something like "next time i'm just not letting you borrow it" but he always does. he's a provider to his section. he cares about them a lot. same with the rest of the orchestra. just wants everyone to do their best. also he has tiny erasers on him to chuck at florida when he won't pay attention.

8. DELAWARE — second violinist, second chair. not sure why. just is.

9. FLORIDA — ...principal violist. he is the bane of gov's existence. main guy who drove california out of the viola section by being too silly but keeps begging him to come back. he has referred to this incident as the "viola section divorce", much to california's irritation, but he's started playing into the joke as well. he's a really good player but cannot focus to save his life. takes the most incomprehensible sheet music notes you've ever seen. you can't read half the notes on his sheet music because he wrote over them in the process of marking it. really good teacher to his section outside of the joking around way too much.

10. GEORGIA — second viola, has been florida's stand partner throughout all of orchestra. one of three people who can decipher florida's music (the other two being florida and louisiana; louisiana isn't even in their section, but florida taught him viola for funsies). dozes off immediately after rehearsal ends, but not during it.

11. HAWAI'I — first violin, second chair. chats with delaware sometimes since they sit next to each other. the only person she trusts to borrow her tuner, rosin, or cloth is alaska (and, lately, rhode island).

12. IDAHO — second violin.

13. ILLINOIS — first violin. i think he plays cello at home though.

14. INDIANA — cello.

15. IOWA — ..cello. maybe.

16. KANSAS — second violin or cello.

17. KENTUCKY — second violin or viola.

18. LOUISIANA — viola, second chair. florida's stand partner. he holds onto everything except the sheet music (which is surprisingly the only thing florida does not lose). actually joined orchestra because florida kept pestering him to. he got really good really quick because he has prior music experience.

19. MAINE — back of the bass section.

20. MARYLAND — clarinet

21. MASSACHUSETTS — first violin.

22. MICHIGAN — second violin.

23. MINNESOTA — first violin.

24. MISSISSIPPI — viola or second violin.

25. MISSOURI — viola.

26. MONTANA — second violin.

27. NEBRASKA — cello.

28. NEVADA — cello or first violin.

29. NEW HAMPSHIRE — cello.

30. NEW JERSEY — second violin.

31. NEW MEXICO — viola.

32. NEW YORK — cellist. wishes he was a violinist or violist sometimes but you'd have to waterboard that information out of him because he makes fun of the upper strings all the time.

33. NORTH CAROLINA — second violin. used to be a viola but switched over because his brother kept pissing him off.

34. NORTH DAKOTA — first violin. also switched sections to escape his sibling (former second violinist).

35. OHIO — viola.

36. OKLAHOMA — viola.

37. OREGON — first violin.

38. PENNSYLVANIA — first violin.

39. RHODE ISLAND — principal bassist. first chair because alaska doesn't wanna be there. he is so much fucking smaller than his bass that it's outright comedic. he sits on the stool to play and his feet don't even come close to the ground. perfectly capable of carrying his bass strength-wise but the size of it makes it a bitch, so alaska helps him. sometimes hawai'i if alaska is busy.

40. SOUTH CAROLINA — viola.

41. SOUTH DAKOTA — second violin.

42. TENNESSEE — first violin.

43. TEXAS — second violin. picked up the violin and he is not a fan but he's been with it so long he just doesn't know how to switch instruments. wishes he was a cellist. stares longingly at the cello section. he is allergic to shifting.

44. UTAH — first violin.

45. VERMONT — second violin.

46. VIRGINIA — first violin.

47. WASHINGTON — first violin.

48. WEST VIRGINIA — viola.

49. WISCONSIN — first violin.

50. WYOMING — bass.

[chirpingfromthebox]

The Frost's Post-game Press Session from 1/26/2025 - BOS at MIN

The Minnesota Frost's post-game press session from their home game against the Boston Fleet on Jan. 26th, 2025.

At the table were forward Katy Knoll, head coach Ken Klee, and forward Taylor Heise.

A transcription is under the break.

[along with some asides and a few pics and some assorted reference.]

[Video begins]

Reporter:

Taylor, even though it’s early in the season it seemed like this game took on some added importance based on how things have been going with you guys lately. Did you kind of have that sense of urgency as a team?

TAYLOR HEISE:

I think even for the past three games we have had that. I kinda said it out there, we’re not playing bad. No part of the last three games have been bad. We have battled, we’re really good d-zone wise, getting shots off. I think today we just were in the right spots offensively. We’ve kind of been working in practice of shifting around, being in the right areas for people. And then defensively, Nic [Nicole Hensley] stopped almost everything she needed to and we played well. So I just think today, you could feel that we had that energy, but I'm hoping that we continue to bring that every single game.

Reporter:

Was that connection with you and [Michela] Cava for your couple of goals, I know that you play with different partners on your line, but it seemed like the connection you guys had today was pretty good. Obviously with the shots you were able to hit.

TAYLOR HEISE:

Yeah, she is an unreal player and I think- we always call her the sleeper pick. But I don’t know how you can be a sleeper when she’s won countless championships, she’s been MVP like 3 or 4 times. And I’ve been in that spot where you’re making all those plays, and sometimes you don’t feel like you’re doing enough. And for her? She’s doing more than enough. I think she’s making the plays. She’s winning her wall battles. And I think, just, that confidence. It comes and goes, I get it, I’ve been there. But she’s unreal and I think you’re gonna keep seeing the best out of her continuing here coming up.

Reporter:

What were the conversations like around how important it was to win this game and get out of that little rut?

KEN KLEE:

Well I think it was, you know, it was key for us just to get a couple- a few days to practice. I mean, we- this month we haven’t been able to string together like two straight days of practice without travel almost the entire month. So I think this week we really- you know, we had a great intentional day. We did a lot of individual stuff on the first day. Then we did a lot of team stuff the second day. And then yesterday we worked on special teams. So it was good. It was nice to be able to have some regular practice where we get everybody on the same page, everyone pulling in the same direction. Everyone’s trying, it’s not for a lack of effort or lack of—like Taylor said—that we’ve been playing horrible. The other day we only gave up 7 scoring chances against. But we only got 8 ourselves so we, you know, gotta figure out ways to crank those numbers up a bit. But today we were obviously clicking.

Reporter:

You guys were able to tie for first place with the win, but of course you’re- played three more games than they have at this point. And so is that important from that standpoint too?

[Taylor turns to look at the others at the table during this question then turns her head from the microphone and can be heard quietly scoffing a little.]

[ID: A screenshot of the three Frost members sitting at the interview table with microphones in front of them. Katy Knoll is giving a bit of side eye and looking like someone whose friend just said something batshit but is trying not to say anything about it, Ken Klee looks as if he's trying to ponder if this question is really happening right now, and Taylor Heise has her head turned from the microphone as if she is trying her darnedest to suppress her worst instincts. /. End ID]

KEN KLEE:

Yeah we’re just trying to get points. We’re not really paying attention to the standings. Somebody asked me about it before the game. Like, we know it’s gonna come down to the last five games of the year. We’re gonna have to get points to get into the playoffs. Because that’s the way- the league is so tight right now. You look at 1 to 6? Everything’s tight. If one team has a good week and another team has a bad week? It can quickly get close. So, I mean, we know we gotta get points. As many points as we can throughout the season. Because we know we’re gonna have bumps. And we know we’re gonna have good things and bad things. So we just don’t want to be stuck at the end of the year, like, 'okay now we gotta make up a bunch of points,' because that’s tough.

Reporter:

Katy [Knoll], Sophie [Jaques] made kind of a good play on your goal. But to see your reaction was kind of fun too. [Klee and Heise look over at Knoll and smile. Knoll smiles wide.] You getting that one in there and then kind of raising both of your arms up in celebration. How did you feel after that? Was it kinda just sort of, you know, relief? Or what were you feeling in that moment?

[Video description: In the Fleet's zone Sophie Jaques is taking the puck up the left side, a Fleet player attempts to intercept her but she's able to protect the puck and pass it across to Knoll, and Knoll knocks it in for the goal. As soon as it hits the back of thenet she does a little jump for joy. She put her hands in the air as her teammates surround and hug her. Then she skates back to her bench with her arms raised in celebration, wearing a massive smile the entire time. /. End VD]

KATY KNOLL:

Yeah, I’d say it was a bit of relief. I feel like it was kind of, I’ve been doing the right things the last couple of games, as we all have. And just kind of either hit a post or miss the net a little bit. So to finally put that one in the back of the net was very exciting as you could tell from my reaction. [she laughs.] But obviously a great play by Soph, I actually, I thought it may have been offsides for a sec there, but she kept it in and obviously made a great play across. So happy to contribute to the team’s win. And like Heise said, everyone was rolling today and it felt really good to be able to contribute.

TAYLOR HEISE:

They couldn’t have challenged the offsides either, so, regardless-

[everyone laughs]

KATY KNOLL:

[laughing] I love it.

Reporter:

As a coach you like to see your team respond after the other team scores-

KEN KLEE:

Yeah, no question. I mean, they were good. I would say especially our blue line with Katy centering, Brooke and Boots [Brooke McQuigge and Claire Butorac] they were buzzing. The other lines were buzzing too, but I just thought they had a lot of jump. They were helping to create momentum not only for themselves but other lines. And we know that that’s how the game works. We need to stack shifts together and that way when teams- when we do get fresh players on the ice we can show off our skills. And obviously Taylor made some great shots which was awesome. So good to see.

Reporter:

Taylor, what’s been behind the shift of you taking some more shots yourself instead of going for assists?

[ID: A series of three screenshots from the session depicting a series of connected moments. The first shows Heise giving a very sarcastic face. The next shows Klee starting to jokingly mime patting Heise on the back. The last shows how this caused Knoll to crack up laughing. /. End of ID]

TAYLOR HEISE:

Yeah. Um. [Sarcastically] It’s a great question. Coach is telling me to shoot. Players telling me to shoot.

KEN KLEE:

Dad telling you to shoot.

TAYLOR HEISE:

Yeah. My dad does too. [She puts her hand over face and rubs it a little.] Um. I would just say, I’m always going to try to make the right play if it’s there. I love making the right play, whether that’s a pass or a shot. I just think today I was on the receiving end of some passes where typically I’m the one making them. So I think today was making sure I’m a force to be reckoned with every time I’m out there. Like, I want to be the best player on the ice every game. But also I need to be doing the right things defensively and offensively. So it’s the focus of getting shots on net, but quality. I’m never really gonna be one to just throw a puck on net. But I just think today there was open spots and people found me and just get shots on net, it creates opportunity.

Reporter:

Taylor, what does it mean to you be EA’s Forward of the Year?

[For reference: EA's NHL 25 video game held a fan vote to select the top hockey players in different positions. I think technically Heise wasn't the "forward of the year," but instead one of the three forwards selected for their PWHL "Team of the Year" along with Natalie Spooner and Marie-Philip Poulin. -CftB]

TAYLOR HEISE:

Yeah, it’s been cool. The skates that they send us are always really fun. They end up somewhere in my basement. Really, really, just, an honor to be a part of it. But also there’s so many amazing players that could be on that. It’s only six players out of the entire P-dub, so it’s up- it’s anyone’s game. I think it’s a fan vote, so honestly it’s- Thank you to my fans out there. But honestly just, like I said, anyone can be there. But it’s an honor. And it’s something that shows that my hard work’s not going unnoticed.

[Also for reference: If I'm remembering my Heise lore correctly, I think she's said in previous interviews that she has a finished basement at her house and that's where she keeps her trophies. So she's saying thatshe'll keep it somewhere with her trophies, not that she'll just shove it into the dark humidity of basement storage. -CftB ]

Reporter:

You guys are approaching kind of the first half, as far as number of games played. What’s gone well in the first half for your team? And then kind of looking ahead to the second half, what are you guys still hoping to work on as a team and accomplish? That sort of thing.

TAYLOR HEISE:

I think bounce back. In this league we’re, obviously, I don’t think we have any back-to-back games, but, like we play Tuesday. Tomorrow we need to bounce back. We need to be feeling good. Do what you need to do at practice. I think we’re doing a good job of- we also have a lot of veterans. If you know what you gotta do in practice, we don’t need to go out there and blow anyone’s head off. Like I think we do a good job of finding and feeling out what it takes to be good. And what it takes to be at your best. Whether that be doing extra rehab, doing extra treatment. I think our team is very professional in that sense. And coaches understand that. Everyone does what they need to do. I also think the bounce back factor it, after a loss you gotta come out and play hard. Every game in this league is hard and it’s- you’re not gonna come out and have an oopsie-daisy game where you get to do whatever you want.

And in the future I think, continuing to follow up shifts. I think we do a good job of, you know, there’s one line does something really well, sometimes we have a bit of a taper off and then we kind of come back. I think we as a group will be looking for to continuing those shifts. Whether that be one person changes, get a new fresh person out there just so we can change consistently.

And then continuing to get shots off on the powerplay. Being really good PK-wise. I thought today was really good. So that’s a lot of things. But I think we’re gonna do a good job of continuing those.

Reporter:

Ken, kind of same for you? First half versus second half? You know, what have you liked? What are you still hoping to-

KEN KLEE:

[points at Heise] I agree with her.

[the room laughs]

No, yeah, no, it’s good. We know it’s a tough year. It’s tough. It’s trying to find our chemistry. Find our jam. We know there’s gonna be ebbs and flows to the game. But again, I agree with her. Stacking shifts together. Making sure that we’re not a one-trick kind of pony. Like we can score on the powerplay, we have good PK, we have to be able to have all our lines contribute on different nights and we know it. For me it’s- that’s how we were successful last year: our depth and finding different ways to win games. And we gotta continue to work on that.

Reporter:

I would think it’s important too getting Nicole [Hensley] back in the groove a little bit.

KEN KLEE:

Yes, I thought she was outstanding today. I thought it was her best game of the year. And it’s great to see. She’s kind of been close. And for me, just to get over the hump there where she didn’t have a soft goal today, she just mentally is sharpening up. And she’s been really good in practice to be honest with you. I watch practice every day. I’m watching close on all the players, but obviously you notice it with the goalies a lot. So just her overall confidence level has been ramping up since her last injury and now hopefully that just continues. Because we definitely want to have both as 1A and 1B. It doesn’t matter who’s in the net. We know we’re good to go.

Reporter:

Any updates on when we might see Dominique [Petrie], Grace [Zumwinkle], [Natalie] Buchbinder?

KEN KLEE:

I think they’re probably going to be after the break. For both of them. But obviously that’s kind of- they’re trying. They’re trying to get back and we’re trying to bring them back, but also make sure they’re healthy when it is time for them to step back into our locker room- I mean, into our lineup.

Reporter [to the room]:

You guys good?

KEN KLEE:

Good?

TAYLOR HEISE:

Awesome.

Reporter:

Katy's gotta watch the Bill's game. We gotta get her out of here.

[she makes a face and laughs.]

KEN KLEE:

There you go.

KATY KNOLL:

[quietly] Go Bills.

[end of video]

As a final reference note: Katy Knoll was born in New York and went to a prep-school in Buffalo, NY before going to college at Northeastern. The Buffalo Bills NFL team had a game this day. So the reporter is just making a little joke about her hometown team. And judging from her reaction she isn't a huge football follower.

I was originally going to end this with a collection of pics of all the things random things Heise is doing in here when other people are answering questions (relatable), but I think I've reached the limit of non-text content in this post already, so feel free to look for it yourself if you watch it.

[cuttergauthier]

Saviour

Hughes Female reader x Matthew Knies

Warning: creep, alcohol, cursing, fluff Matt

word count: 1.5k

Sorry I have a problem i love using the Hughes sister AU!

Also send in more request, please be specific, I’ve been busy lately but i’ll try and get to them as soon as I can🤍

let me know what you guys think🤍

I moved to Minnesota for my freshman year of university. I committed here to play on the women’s hockey team. It’s now November and I do miss my family a lot, I can’t wait for when Luke plays Minnesota so I can see him, same for when we go to Michigan to play there. I knew it was going to be hard since I only know one person in Minnesota and that’s Matt Boldy since he’s friends with my brothers, but he plays in the NHL, so I won’t be seeing him a lot.

My parent’s thought it would be better for me if I got an apartment on campus instead of living in a dorm since they would have a place to stay when they come and visit. I like it thought, I have more privacy here than I would have had if I was in a door. since I have two brothers who already play in the NHL, my face had been in the media and some people only want to try and be friends with me because of them.

Today was Saturday and we have a game at 2:00 p.m. we are playing against Wisconsin. It’s now 12:00 p.m. so I was on my way to the arena. I was wearing black leather pants with a black turtleneck and a maroon blazer. Walking in the arena I saw Olivia, she’s our goalie, she’s also a senior.

“Hey Y/n, you ready for the game?” she asked smiling.

“You know it!” I said chuckling.

“We’ve got this” she said

“Hell yeah we do” I said making her laugh.

We made our way to our locker room and got ready for warm ups and the game.

Thankfully the game went really well and we won 4-1, I got a goal and 2 assist.

There was a party tonight after the men’s game. I think some of the seniors on the men’s team were throwing it. A few girl on my team decided to go so I thought I would to. After the game I made my way home since I usually facetime my mom after every game.

Once I got home I went and took a shower and got dressed into some sweatpants and my Minnesota hoodie. I made my way to my kitchen so I could make myself some food I’m starving. I thought I would make myself some chicken and rice. Before I started cooking I put my phone against the counter and facetimed my mom.

“Hey sweetie” she answered smiling.

“Hey mom”

“What are you up to?”

“Making some chicken and rice, I’m starving” I said making her laugh.

“Of course, you had an amazing game today, I loved the goal” she said smiling.

“Thank you mom, are you going to drive to Luke’s game tonight?” I asked

“Yes, your dad and I thought we drive down”

I nodded.

“If you go down to see him after the game, give him a hug for me” I say smiling. I miss my brother.

“I will, he’s counting the days until he gets to see you” she said smiling

“So am I, same for Jack and Quinn I can’t wait for them to play in Minnesota”

“are you still coming home for Christmas?” she asked

“Yes, we have a week off for Christmas, so I’ll be coming home”

“Good”

My mom and I continued talking and when I ate my food.

Once I was done eating, my mom and I said goodbye. It was around 7:30 p.m. and my brother’s game was starting so I turned it on, they were playing against Ohio State, I might as well watch his game while I get ready for the party. Thankfully Olivia was going to be coming over any minute so we could get ready and pregame together. Since she was a senior, she took me under her wing when I first got here, she’s in the same apartment building as me, so I we always hang out together.

After I turned my brothers game on there was a knock on the door so I went to open it.

“Hey Liv” I said smiling when I saw her on the other side.

“Hey girl” she said coming in.

“Let’s get ready for this party” she said smirking at me, making me chuckle.

“Yes, I need a few drinks tonight.” I said, making her laugh.

“Don’t worry girl I got you covered” she said handing me a case of whiteclaw, since I’m underage I couldn’t buy alcohol, so thankfully she bought me some.

“Thank you!” I said smiling.

“You’re welcome, are we watching your brother’s game while we get ready?” she asked hearing the game in the background.

“Yeah if you don’t mind, there playing Ohio State” I said

“I don’t mind, let’s go get ready” she said smiling as we made our way to my room.

“Do you know what you’re wearing?” I ask her, she had brought a bad of clothes with her since she was wearing sweatpants right now.

“Black jeans and a cute maroon long sleeve v neck. What about you?” she said making me nod.

“Light blue mom jeans with a white satin long sleeve top”

“that’s going to look so good” she said smiling

“do you know what time the party is?”

“Umm, I think Em said around 10:30”

I nodded

“Perfect, we can get drunk before going” I said

“Hell yeah” she said and we both chuckled.

When we finished getting ready it was 10 p.m. the game was over and Minnesota won so we know they were definitely excited to party tonight. Liv ordered an uber, by the time we get to the hockey boys house the party would be full of people. Liv and I were already a little drunk.

…………….

Once we got to the party the house was already full of people so Liv and I made our way through to see if we could find Emma our other teammate. I continued drinking so I was feeling the alcohol.

I turned around for a few seconds and when I turned back, I lost sight of Liv. Then some guy approached me and started talking to me. I reconized him from one of my classes, he’s also a freshman his name is Corey but he was so drunk I couldn’t understand what he was saying. The guy also gave me the creeps so I just wanted to find Liv or hopping that she would find me. I really shouldn’t have lost her.

“Can you just leave me alone” I told the guy

Growing up with three older brothers who play hockey and their best friends are hockey player I don’t usually get shy around guys like this one. But back home if something like this happened my brothers always had my back and the guy would leave me alone.

I really wish I knew the guys on the hockey team here, but I don’t I’ve heard about some of them like Logan Cooley since he knows Luke, I think there’s a few others but I’m not 100 percent sure who they are. I probably should have listened when Luke told me.

“Why would I leave you alone, you’re too pretty to be left alone” he slurred smirking.

“I’d rather be alone” I spat.

He grabbed my arm tightly.

“Let go of my arm”

“Not going to happen”

“I think she told you to let her go” I heard a guy say behind me.

“Dude, this doesn’t concern you, leave us alone” Corey spat at the guy

“This is my party, so unless you want to get kicked out of here, I suggest you let her go” I guess he’s a hockey player.

“You know what, whatever she’s not worth it” Corey said releasing my arm and leaving.

I turned around and looked at the guy, he was really good looking.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” he asked me.

“Oh um, no I’ll be fine, thank you” I said with a soft smile.

“You look familiar” he said looking at me.

“Well I do go to university here” I said chuckling. He chuckled.

“I figured but I feel like I saw you before… wait you’re a Hughes right?” he said, my face turned serious. Why did he need to figure that out, now he probably just wants to now gossip about my brother.

“Did I say something wrong?” he asked after I turned serious.

“Look respectfully I don’t want someone to talk to me just because they want to know about my brothers” I scoffed.

“I don’t want to talk about your brothers, that’s how I recognized you, you were at the world juniors this summer right?”

“umm, yeah…”I said slowly, I didn’t know where he was going with this.

“I’m Matthew Knies, I was one of Luke’s teammates at the world juniors.” He said smiling softly.

“oh sorry, it’s just when people usually know about my brothers they usually want something” I said

“Don’t worry, I get it. Can I get you another drink?” he asked.

“No, umm… I think I’ve had enough for tonight, I’m going to head home.” I said.

“Okay then let me drive you home, I haven’t had a drink yet”

“You haven’t had a drink yet? This is your team party” I said chuckling.

“I was going to until I saw the guy getting to you, so I didn’t get the chance” he said smiling.

“I don’t want you to have to leave your party to drive me home, I can order an uber” I said smiling.

“Trust me Brock can handle the party, I’d rather drive you to make sure you get home same, than staying here”

“then I’ll take that drive” I said smiling.

“come on” he said leading me to the door.

We got in his car and we made our way to my apartment, thankfully it’s not far away.

The car ride was quiet, but it was a comfortable, the music was playing softly in the background.

When we got to my apartment building Matthew followed me to my door to make sure I got there safe.

Once we got to my door I turned around and smiled at Matthew.

“Thank you for saving me tonight, for driving me home and for walking me to my door” I said smiling

“It’s no problem… can I kiss you” he said and I smiled

“Yes, you can” I said smiling.

He put his hand on my cheek, leaned forward, and kissed me. I kissed him instantly, our lips moved in sync.

We pulled away both smiling like crazy.

“Do you want to come in?”

[imaginespazzi]

Happy night before the WNBA regular season starts to everybody who celebrates! I've gotten a couple of asks about trying to get into the W and which teams to support etc. etc. The best way to actually get into it, as with anything, is probably to just start watching games and seeing what team you vibe with. But I also figured I'd give y'all a ranking of my support of teams based solely on my opinion, partly based on player/playing style and partly based on vibes.

New York Liberty: Listen, I'm not actually a Liberty fan if we're honest but Breanna Stewart is my GOAT, and my favorite player of all time. Therefore where she goes, I go. Also on the Liberty, we have JJ who I adore (and has apparently locked a new level) and Betnijah Laney who is so underrated but so fucking good. If you're gonna root for the Liberty, a reminder that Sandy Brondello might have coached a team to a championship, but it doesn't mean she isn't gonna make you question her coaching at least once every game. When the Liberty are great, they're GREAT. When they're not, well...

Connecticut Sun: The closest I have to a home team and home to the most versatile player in the country, Alyssa Thomas. Can do everything, will do everything and is still so underrated. Brionna Jones is back from injury this year and I'm so excited for her and DB to be a lethal frontcourt duo. And if you're here for the Huskies, MoJeff is back home baby and I have a feeling ONO is going to take a big step this year. The issue with the Sun is they are very much always a bridesmaid, never a bride meaning they make it to the semis/finals but never win, will things change? Stay tuned!

Seattle Storm: For the longest time, because of Stewie, this was my team and I'll always have a soft-spot for them. They've gone out and made themselves into a super team of sorts with a core-4 of SDS-Jewell-Nneka-Ezi and while the pre-season hasn't quite shown that super team, I think time to gel will make them as good as ever. They also have a young core that I'm really excited to watch them develop with Nika (MY GIRL MADE IT) and Jordan Horston. Seattle's culture is one of the best in the league and while they might not win this year, if you're looking to stan for a long time, Seattle, with new team ownership member Sue Bird, is a solid choice!

Minnesota Lynx: The dynasty in rebuild. If a man hadn't ruined it, this would still be Maya Moore's team and she would be the face of the league but I digress. You know who the Lynx do have though? Napheesa. Fucking. Collier. My girl has been underrated for so much of her career, robbed of so many things (*cough* NPOY her senior year *cough*) but watch, this year or the next, Phee is gonna make the league give her her things i.e she's gonna be MVP. Also in Minny, your all-Rookie team favorites Dorka and Diamond are back and my girl AP is also in the mix. Again like Seattle, this is a team with a solid winning culture and if you wanna be here a long time, Cheryl Reeve will figure it out.

Washington Mystics: No Elena Delle-Donne and Mike Thibault is clearly tanking for Paige (mans is literally admitting it this not an assumption) so if this is your team, you'll be good soon, but probably not this year. Despite that thought, the Mystics always just kinda figure it out a little bit and I'm excited to see how Shakira Austin develops. And of course my MVLi is on the Mystics and she's gonna get a lot of playing time and I'm just very excited for her.

Phoenix Mercury: The Mercury have no business being this high on any list I know but they have DT and BG and I'm always gonna love those two. How far can a coach whose only qualification is basically being a "girl dad" take a WNBA team? Well I guess we'll find out (it's looking unlikely). Also the potential for drama on this team is always high because if you've seen the infamous picture, they have Kahleah Copper and Sophia Cunningham, what could possibly go wrong right?

LA Sparks: Before we get into now, let's get into the past because this team once upon a time had Nneka-Candace-Chelsea and fumbled all three. Just think about that. ANYWAYS moving on, Curt Miller (traitor of all time) is an interesting character, some love him, some hate him, but most can agree he's relatively a good coach. I genuinely do not know what's gonna happen but I think Rickea and Cam have the potential to become one of the best duos in the league eventually. Also Kia Nurse? Apparently in a mood to be a menace and I'm here for it.

Dallas Wings: Arike and Satou. That is it. That is all. I personally think Dallas is one good move (idk what move but it definitely wasn't a good move to trade Crystal) away from becoming a perennial championship contender. Arike and Satou is a good duo to start with but they're missing something and I can't quite put my finger on it. Either way, this is team built for offense and when they're winning, it's fun to watch, when they're not well...it's a good thing I'm not that invested. ALSO LOU IS BACK FOR THEM THIS YEAR!!

Indiana Fever: Never underestimate the Fever's ability to fuck it up. A lot of new fans are about to realize that this franchise does not know what the fuck they're doing for the most part. You hope having two generational talents in AB and CC will change that and I genuinely hope it does, because I would love to have them higher on my list. But for now, with absolutely no trust in anybody on that coaching staff, I'mma just watch it play out and hope for the best. Also shoutout Nalyssa Smith who I think is gonna get overlooked but have a great season.

Las Vegas Aces: Is it blasphemous to have the reigning champs this low? Potentially but blasphemy is also in treating a pregnant woman like shit and not putting your teammate with domestic violence charges/allegations on blast. Listen I'm not a complete hater and I do genuinely think the world of A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray. But I hate their us vs the world mentality and I'm not a huge Becky Hammon fan (that woman can coach her ass off though). Despite all of that, Vegas is still a fun team to watch and I expect them to continue to be the best team in the league.

Chicago Sky: GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE JAMES WADE. The Sky are this low for me solely because it feels like a brand new team. They've lost a lot and gained a lot and I'm so excited to see Angel and Kamilla be the twin towers. More than anything I'm very excited to see T-Spoon as their head coach. Ngl though, beyond that, nothing really moves me and the Sky as an organization, we all saw the press conference room, really, really, really don't move me.

Atlanta Dream: Honestly they just kinda dropped this low for no reason other than for some reason, I just don't really care about them? But it's also because I keep forgetting that they have Tina. Fucking. Charles on their team now, which means if I ever do this again, they'll be much higher because Tina Charles is AMAZING and I love her and she raises this ceiling of this team to something else. Also very excited to see Rhyne Howard progress along with her.

That was long for no reason really and I think it was more me ranting then anything of actual help but it's W season lovelies, prepare to potentially be sick of me! WBB IS BACK!!

[ashton-ryder]

👥 + Jeremiah

Send ‘👥‘ for 4 hcs about our muses relationship or about your muse @jeremiah-rose

Introducing his mother to the Roses, with them pretty much being his first new friends moving here, his mother immediately took a liking to the three of them, empathetic and honestly, pissed off at the fact of what their mother put them through. She made the effort to always ask about them when she gets on video calls with Ashton, insisting on greeting them and saying hi when she could. The eldest was one that she felt for the most, for what Jeremiah had to do to survive not just for him but his siblings and his grandparents. She overlooks the things he had to do to earn a living, like her son, knowing somewhere in there was a wonderful man that didn't have a fair shot at life. The poor boy grew up too fast. She wondered if he ever got to enjoy an ounce of childhood, occasionally reaching out to Jer, whether to himself directly or through Charlie or fussing over them when she visits in person, checking in on his wellbeing, sending fun things to do she might've spotted in New York for him, even if they might be childish. But when has he ever gotten a chance to just have childish fun? Next to Charlie, he's also another one to get invited over to Minnesota, though the offer was more often to get rejected, sometimes jokingly quoting he preferred somewhere warm for his vacations. But she just wanted to return the love that the siblings have given to Ash all this time, knowing that they deserve it more than anyone else she knew.

Ever since day one of meeting her, Charlie had this running joke of her oldest brother and Ashton. Literally explaining how he met Ashton, pulling him off the streets before a car hit him, you could see her eyes light up with amusement muttering oh my god like a meet cute. It started off as a light joke, letting her have her fun with it calling them an old married couple when they bickered, ..until it wasn't. He wasn't quite sure when it changed either but a keen eye might've been able to see the shift in Ash's and Jer's reactions to her jokes. He's mastered it better now though after years into it, a simply eye roll, forcing back the smile that would grow and letting silence deny it all because he realized anything he said would absolutely be used against him, both by Charlie and Jer, heck even JP sometimes. But with the collapse of New York, the jokes had at least calmed or ceased, bigger and more important things happening around them, and it was perhaps the break Ash needed to really sit and reflect on what was still a joke or not.

Despite Jeremiah's closeness to Sada, he's one of the few people Ash actually opens up to about his predicament with her. He knows it's playing with fire, but.. it's Jer, there was a trust Ash couldn't quite explain. Unlike with Ria, Jer at least believes him. Though often brushing it off as nothing much, she's just teasing Ash, that's all. Ash disagrees very much with that statement, on more than one or two occasions he's considered leaving New York, dropping his PhD, just leaving everything behind and disappear all to avoid this distress in his life. But he wasn't sure if he could throw back the lifeline Ruth gave him. Of all the people wrapped around Sada's finger, Jeremiah was the only one Ash felt safe with and trusted to care enough about him to dare challenge Sada on certain things. But not that he wanted Jer to get in trouble for it. Sure there's always that tinge of doubt, that it was all a sick joke from the beginning ..At the very least Jeremiah believes him, and that was enough. That was the bar Ash had with this bullshit with Sada. Little did he even know that Jeremiah was the one who fought for him between Sada deciding to try and kill him or not.

He knows he probably shouldn't, but he couldn't help it, most of the time not noticing it himself; touches that lingered a bit too long, stolen glances shared for seconds longer than it should, flirting Jeremiah does that dangerously toed the line between joking and being serious. He can sense that there something between them but he hasn't had the courage to find out and confront what that is. Ash tries to ignore those feelings over the years, half expecting that if he indulged in them for too long, it'll only be pain and heartbreak coming back and he wasn't sure if he could handle another. Because if Ash falls, he falls hard, it's easier if he grips tightly onto the railing before he lets himself do just that. This was a friendship he couldn't afford to ruin or lose ever, because at the end of the day that friendship was enough for him. At least he tells himself that. He had hoped that it was just him, maybe it was in his head, maybe no one else would notice, maybe Jeremiah was just toying with him, maybe Sada put him up to it, those were easier pills to swallow, things he can guard himself from and justify his hesitancy with, but then sometimes when they're alone, and the snark and bite in their words dissolves, and they're just two humans finding solace in each other's company, and then ..he's not so sure all over again, of what it was, what it is, and what it's not.

bonus: on the car ride back looking up to see Jer as who he was leaning against in the cramped car was the biggest relief ever seeing him alive, at that moment never noticing that way his hand silently found his, fingers interlacing and desperately holding onto them until they made it back home.

[luke-hughes43]

connor bedard!!!

hughes little sister and the first pick of the nhl 22 draft she went (you can pick) and maybe she met connor during game when they were young kids and they stayed friends and started dating when they were 16 only their family and friend know wanting to keep it private from the media. they are really excited when they are going to play each other for the first time and they haven’t see each other in a while so after the game (whoever’s is the home game) they go to one of their apartment and just spend the whole night talking catching up in perosn and cuddling up together and maybe a slight sad goodbye when one of them have to leave in the morning

oooo ok I love this!

so hughes little sister is born in like July of 04 and goes 1st to the Wild which she's excited about especially because she'll have familiar faces in brock faber and matt boldy.

I say that her and Connor met during the 2022 world juniors, a month after the draft and they like run into each other in the hotel or something and he is just blown away by her.

he starts the conversation by congratulating her on the draft. and they exchange numbers and start texting frequently. even though hughes little sister was drafted 1st overall, she decided to still go to college for at least a year at umich like Quinn and Luke.

that made her able to play in another world juniors. she made the team in 2023 just like Connor did. with texting and calling often over the last 4 months, Connor finally decided to ask her on a date during world juniors.

she said yes and they both snuck away from their teams to go on this date. the date went well and Connor asked her to be his girlfriend a few nights later after sneaking away again for a second date.

they decide to keep it just to themselves for a bit given the media attention on both of them. after a few months, they decide to tell their family and a select few closest friends.

and maybe after dev camp that summer, hughes little sister decides to sign her elc with minnesota and makes the team out of camp. and like no one outside her family or Connor's family besides like 3 or 4 people really know about her and Connor and so she struggles for the first few weeks in the league.

lots of late night phone calls between her and Connor just trying to talk each other through everything and through their struggles. they don't get to see each other until December because of their schedule but when the Blackhawks visit the wild, both of them are so excited to finally see each other.

even though the Blackhawks lost, Connor doesn't care. he just wants to see his girl. after the game, he tells his coach that he has a friend in the city and that he's gonna go visit her but will be back in time to leave the next morning and his coach is ok with it.

he immediately gets to hughes little sister's apartment as fast as he can, and they just cuddle in bed for the rest of the night. it's a very soft and fluffy night between the two just cuddling and talking about everything and anything that's happened since they last saw each other despite talking everyday. lots of soft and meaningful kisses shared between the two of them as well.

the next morning is sad because they know they have to say goodbye. it's not a forever goodbye it's more of a see you later but it's still sad because they know won't see each other for another 2 months. they stay in bed for as long as possible and delay Connor leaving for as long as possible.

Connor does eventually leave but they both feel a little better since they finally got to see other and just hold one another.

Connor totally gets chirped by the Blackhawks when they see him retuning to the hotel the next morning in his clothes from the night before and slips up a little bit to the guys about a possible girlfriend. and hughes little sister gets a text from brock faber who lives on her floor saying "why did I see Connor bedard leaving your apartment this morning?"

hughes little sister then tells Connor that the cat might be out of the bag to her team bc brock saw him this morning and Connor tells her that he slipped something to he guys so they agree to tell their teammates and that they are keeping it on the down low which they obviously respect.

both of them feel a little better about their teammates knowing since they spend so much time with them nd they don't have to sneak around as much.

[hockeylovee12]

I’m Not Looking for Approval-Luke Hughes

Chapter Three-Hockey Formal

Summary: Luke Hughes and Jade Brooks continue getting closer and Luke invites Jade to his hockey teams formal.

Warnings: Underage drinking

Luke arrived back in Michigan with the team Sunday afternoon and went straight to Jades place.

The two of them spent the rest of the day together until 10pm when he went back home.

On Monday you both had classes and then Luke went to practice.

“Hey Lukey” one of his teammates Rutger McGroarty approached him after a drill.

“Hey Rutger” Luke responds

“So I hear you’ve been sneaking around with a girl?” He continues Lukes face blushes red not doing a very good job at hiding the obvious

“who told you that?” Luke asks

“rumor going around but based on your red cheeks I’m going to assume it’s true. So are you bringing her to the formal on Saturday night?” Rutger asks.

Every year the hockey team has a formal dance type thing a few guys bring dates and last year Luke brought a friend who was in a sorority only thing is she had a boyfriend and just wanted to go for the fun of it.

Usually Luke wouldn’t mind but she ended up being a complete bitch to him and he cut all ties with her.

“I don’t know maybe” Luke responds

Rutger is about to say something when Coach calls him over.

Practice continued and afterwards they had a team meeting.

This weekend they play Minnesota at home and Minnesota is currently ranked number one in both the big 10 and the country so they have a lot riding on them this weekend.

Luke couldn’t wait for the meeting to be over so he could go get dinner with Jade. He took a quick shower then put on some jeans and a long sleeve shirt along with his Michigan jacket then he left to meet up with her at an on campus restaurant.

The food was pretty good and they talked a bit about this weekend.

Luke tells Jade how nervous he is for this weekend and Jade reassures him that he will be great and slips in that she’s excited to get watch him in person on Friday and Saturday.

Luke smiles at this and then starts getting a little nervous.

“Are you alright?” Jade asks

“ya ya I just wanted to ask you about something?” Luke says

“what’s up?” Jade says cautiously

“so on Saturday night after the game the hockey team has a formal thing it’s kinda cliché but we basically get dressed up drive somewhere and dance for a bit but I wanted to know if you’d be my date?” Luke says hoping she says yes.

“I’d love to!” Jade responds

Luke breathes a sigh of relief “thank god I was worried you’d say no” he tells her

“no of course not it’ll be fun!” She says

Luke smiles and the two of them continue their dinner and talk about different things before Luke walks her back to her apartment and heads home to his own.

The next day Luke had a super busy day and didn’t get a chance to see Jade but they texted a few times during the day and then later that day at practice Luke approached one of the media people who was in charge of the formal happening on Saturday and told them he needed an extra ticket.

She put him down as having a plus one and then he dressed out to join his team on the ice.

On Wednesday Luke went to all of his classes then meet up with Jade to grab lunch before heading to the rink.

Coach had them doing drills and conditioning all practice so when they were dismissed Luke was absolutely exhausted and went straight home to get in bed.

Thursday Luke spent most of his day at the rink practicing and getting in a few extra reps before tomorrows game.

Afterwards he got dinner with his roommates then headed to bed.

Friday he got breakfast with Jade before heading to the rink. After he got dressed in his red suit and headed to the rink with his roommates.

After warmups he headed onto the ice where he saw Jade sitting with her friends in the student section. He smiled at her which she returned the gesture. Minnesota ended up winning 5-4 in a shootout and Luke was pissed.

He met up with Jade afterwards and the two of them went back to her place.

Luke ranted about how he played and Jade reassured him he did a good job and reminded him he still has tomorrow to play better and he did.

Michigan won in overtime with a goal from Luke with one minute left of the clock.

Luke was pumped. After he took a shower he met up with Jade and the two went to her apartment to get ready for the formal.

Luke brought his stuff over early in the week and started changing into a white button down, a jacket and some slacks with air forces well Jade did her hair and makeup.

15 minutes before the two had to leave to meet up at his house for a pregame Jade began trying on dresses showing Luke all the options.

Jades first option was a short red dress with an open back that Luke thought she looked gorgeous in but she wasn’t too sure.

Jade walks back to her room and changes into a long sleeve blue dress with sparkles and shows Luke “

you look great” he tells her

“um I don’t know looks very high schoolish” She says the process goes on for about 10 more minutes

“you know we have to leave soon” Luke reminds her

“I have nothing to wear” Jade says getting frustrated

“just choose a dress you know you’ll look fabulous in whatever” Luke tells her

“I just wanna make sure I make a good impression it’s the first time I’m going to meet your team” Jade says

“hey come here they are going to love you” Luke says wrapping his arm around her.

While they haven’t made anything official the two could both see where this little friendship was going so Jade felt it was important to make a good impression on Lukes friends.

Luke and Jade talk for a few more minutes before Jade goes back into her room and changes into the first dress she tried on.

“Ok I’m ready” Jade says putting on a pair of black heels

“you look amazing” Luke says Jade blushes and says thank you then the two of them walk out of her apartment and head to the sophomores house.

A few of the freshman and his teammates dates already arrived and were taking a few shots.

Jade and Luke headed over to the kitchen and Luke took out two shot glasses examining the alcohol on the counter.

“Vodka or Tequila?” He asks

“vodka” Jade replies

Luke pours two shots and hands one to Jade cheering and then drinking placing their glasses back on the table

“who’s this?” Ethan asks walking over to Luke and Jade with a blonde wrapped around him

“This is Jade” Luke introduces

“hi it’s nice to meet you” Jade politely says holding her hand out Ethan nods but leaves her hanging before walking away

“don’t worry about him most likely he’s already drunk” Luke says.

The time was 8:47 and they had to start walking to the meet up spot at 9.

So Luke and Jade took another shot before Luke started introducing her to a few other teammates.

For the most part everyone was pretty nice she got a few dirty looks from the sophomores and their dates probably due to the fact that they weren’t too thrilled that this was the first time in two weeks Luke was bringing you around and being a little protective of their youngest friend in their class.

While talking to one of the freshman Gavin Brindley he let it slip to Jade that everyone knows Luke is clearly head over heels for her causing her to blush.

After a few more introductions the group starting the 10 minute walk to a parking lot where a bus was going to pick them up.

People starting taking some photos until the bus arrived and then Jade and Luke took a seat together. When the bus arrived at the venue Jade and Luke along with a few other teammates and their dates headed straight for the dance floor.

The two of you spent most of the night dancing and took a few photos and near the end of the night Luke leaned in and kissed Jade.

At first she was taken back but soon she started kissing back and all of the sudden the two were making out in the middle of the dance floor.

Luke and Jade heard a camera sound go off and saw a bright flash but ignored it and continued kissing.

Soon enough they were dancing again and occasionally kissing until the night ended.

Safe to say they both had a pretty good time.

[the-eldritch-it-gay]

Get to know me game!

I was tagged by @tododeku-or-bust! Thank you 💖. I will no obligation tag @omgkalyppso @cheshirepirouette @ahasiw-okitowin @razrogue & anyone who would like to join!

1. Are you named after anyone?

I have a couple names. My birthname I believe I was named after someone on my mother's side of the family, but I'm not certain. As for my actual names, if it counts, Salamatullah is a theophoric name, so it bears the name of God (Allah) :)

2. When was the last time you cried?

The other day, I was certain everyone I loved was dead and that I was about to die (I was not, no one had died. give it up for psychosis)

3. Do you have kids?

No, but I've been mistaken for being a parent since I was like 16 lmao

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

Before my health was Bad(tm), I played a lot of sports in my youth. My favorite was figure skating, though I also played hockey, basketball, volleyball, baseball, archery, etc. through various community programs. I also was a founding member of my high schools cheerleading team, before the transphobia caused me to leave it. And I did horseback riding through a special olympics kinda program.

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Sometimes. Not as often as people I know.

6. What is the first thing you notice about people?

Very little. Genuinely can't think of a specific, I'm very bad with faces and people in general 😂. I think I usually notice piercings or tattoos, maybe just because I have piercings and tattoos so I like seeing other people with em.

7. What's your eye color?

Brown!

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Man... I love both.

9. Any talents?

Talent always feels like a strong word. I suppose art is something I'm talented at. And since I've started beading people have said I'm talented with that. I'd like to think I retain some programming talent and technical writing talent from university.

10. Where were you born?

United States, in Minnesota specifically

11. What are your hobbies?

I do a lot of crafts: knitting, embroidery, sewing, beading. Like mentioned I draw, I also write. I like to read. I play video games. I like writing analysis essays about media.

12. Do you have any pets?

Yes! My old man. He's a little guy and gonna be 14. He's my beloved elderly puppy.

13. How tall are you?

5'9.5 I believe. I get measured pretty regularly since I'm always at the doctor.

14. Favorite subject in school?

In high school, math was my favorite because it was the only one I was good at. In university, linguistics was my favorite but that was quite soured by the fact that academia and linguists in general tend to be horrifically racist and classist and colonialist and I experienced countless of microaggressions every day. (be wary of any yt linguist, self-identified or otherwise)

15. Dream job?

Might seem weird but I would like to be a custodian, but only if we're talking dream where I can also dream up a custodial job that accommodates my disabilities, doesn't treat me as subhuman, and pays enough to life comfortably. I like cleaning, I like doing repetitive tasks, I like that its work that doesn't require me to talk with many people, I can just put on music and chill. It's a perfect autism job. But I don't think I could take the way (white) people treated me when I was cleaning for them.

[fishrpg]

2024-12-21: West Montana (Hex 21)

Rolling hills covered in a variety of grasses pass by from the road. Occasional walls of smoke in the distance indicate another patch of land that now hosts a wildfire. Because of the unusual nature of The Routes, in order to reach East Montana, a traveler must first cross Minnesota.

Notable Feature: Gilbert's Circle (Natural Landmark)

Gilbert's Circle is a naturally-occurring sinkhole that is rimmed with lush grasses. The mouth of the sinkhole is a perfect circle that is about 300 feet in diameter. The bottom of the sinkhole is cloaked in a shadow that no light can seem to penetrate, even while illuminated by the noontime sun. Throwing rocks into the sinkhole results in a satisfying splash sound (timing of the splash can also be used to estimate that the water in the bottom of the sinkhole starts at about 40 feet below the rim) that is hidden beneath the impenetrable darkness. Anyone who enters the darkness is immediately blinded and remains so for 4 hours or until cured; otherwise it behaves as a patch of magical darkness that can only temporarily be dispelled. No one has reached the bottom of the water at Gilbert's Circle, though there are probably many bodies of people who tried to find it stuck down there.

Service Station: Big Poppa's

Big Poppa's offers reasonably-priced fuel and snacks, though the snacks are much healthier than usual gas station fare (WHY IS THERE SO MUCH GRANOLA?). It also offers car washes, which are performed by a kid with a hose that looks to be 1d6+10 years old. The kids never speak to the customers and look vaguely afraid (moreso when customers talk to them). If the store's owner (Big Poppa himself) is asked about the kids at the car wash, he says it's just one of his kids playing pranks on travelers and trying to cause a scene.

However, this is a lie. Thankfully, it's not a lie that is designed to cover up abuse or something like that. Big Poppa operates a shelter for runaway kids (currently 1d6+2 of them, all of them living in Big Poppa's house a stone's throw from the service station). Something about The Routes draws runaways here, most of them from far outside Montana because travel distance is weird like that. The kids are sometimes scared that customers will recognize them from a missing children poster and try to have them taken back to the home that they ran away from. Despite the questionable circumstances associated with an adult having a bunch of missing kids in his custody, he legitimately wants to help kids avoid bad situations at home and he's not even entirely sure where a lot of them even came from originally because it's not like kids have ID cards. When a police car pulls up, all the kids will stay in the house or hide in the crawlspace of the service station so they don't get caught.

Items From Other Hexes

The abandoned mine that was once operated by the Herbert-Smalls company is found here. Naturally, the mine's entrance is boarded up but it is quite easy for people to gain access. Creatures from folklore called Tommyknockers can be found here, though they live in the deeper parts of the mine.

[packernet]

New Post has been published on https://www.packernet.com/blog/2024/09/09/narrowed-margins/

Narrowed margins

Now, they need to be perfect. No, not literally perfect. The Green Bay Packers margin for error evaporated with Jordan Love’s injury, so the rest of the team has a big talent gap to fill.

The Packers can’t leave 15+ points on the table in the first quarter like they did against Philly. Remarkably, they still had chances late in the 4th quarter despite blowing their best chances in the first. That won’t happen with Malik Willis, Sean Clifford or another random QB pickup.

No Love Reality

Instead of 10-penalties, they’ll need 3 or less. They had great chances after early turnovers went their way. Instead, what could have been 14, turned into 6-points. Inexplicable mental mistakes, like 12-men on the field, also took a touchdown off the board in the first half.  Now, they will play without their franchise QB, so dropped passes, dropped interceptions, blown coverages, and badly missed tackles will sink them.

Trying to win without your starting QB is a tall order for any NFL team. In fact, winning 1-2 of the next 4 is a best-case scenario. Before the Love injury, Green Bay would have been favored over their next three opponents. Instead, they’ll likely be underdogs at home versus Indy, and maybe Minnesota. The Tennessee game is probably a coin toss.

Pressure on LaFleur, Hafley, Bisaccia

Maybe the Packers get a pass for sloppy play in game one. Now, that pass is expired. Matt La Fleur needs one of his most creative game plans to minimize a limited quarterback and maximize the rest of his talent. Jeff Hafley needs to solve the uneven linebacker play, while getting his new system to dictate more and respond less. Rich Bisaccia needs penalty and error free special teams’ performances, which hasn’t been the hallmark of his tenure. Obviously, coaches can only do so much. The players will need to all play better to win without Love.

Reasons for hope

Playing three average, to less than great, teams could help. So too, could two of the games being at Lambeau. Green Bay still has a strong roster full of playmakers on offense and defense. They could surprise us in a good way. But the offense is going to be choppy and hard to watch.

They need to play a lot better than they did Friday night, because their margin for error has been eliminated for the near-term. That doesn’t mean they can’t win.