#and you will absolutely not learn a single thing about golf. I promise

[animebackgroundmusic]

“BIRDIE WING -Main Title-” by: Kotaro Nakagawa from: BIRDIE WING -Golf Girls’ Story-

[come-on-shitty-boys]

Haikyuu But They Don’t Play Volleyball (Pretty Setter Squad)

Notes: I am once again telling you that I know nothing about sports.  

*Read that Captain version here! (oikawa was included in the captain thread)*

Sugawara Koushi: Diving

He’s beauty. He’s grace. How could he not be a diver?

I’m sorry but just imagine him coming up from a dive, his hair clinging to his forehead, just smiling that pretty smile of his as he swims back to the edge of the pool?

Catch me simping.

TEAMMOMTEAMMOMTEAMMOM!

Sugawara is brings a whole ass cooler of snacks and drinks to every meet for all of his teammates.

Probably leads in stretches?  His positive energy gets everyone super hyped for the competition.  I promise you’ve never heard anyone count to ten with more enthusiasm.

He’s there on the sidelines to watch every single dive during the meet, shouting words of encouragement as they approach the platform, and then cheering loudly after the completed dive.

But, also?  C H A O T I C at practices.  Like he knows when it’s time to actually practice, but if something has the team down?  He’ll do some stupid move, shouting some TikTok reference on his way down.

Sugawara is really good at twisting dives? Like?? Really good at them.

If you come to his meets to watch him?  Precious bean smiles so much, likely giving you a thumbs up and a toothy grin before he steps up to the edge of the springboard.  

You’ll try to give him a hug once he’s out of the water, but he’ll likely just laugh and object, saying that he’ll get your clothes all wet.

But, he will sit down in his chair and let you dry his hair with his towel.  Watch him melt into your touch once you're done and just running your fingers through his silver strands, getting any tangles out.

He always offers you his jacket, because he’s an absolute gentleman.  But, he inevitably ends up getting cold, and will cuddle you in his lap to steal your body heat, putting his towel down over his legs so you don’t get your pants all wet.

Kageyama Tobio: Basketball

He plays point guard, because much like the setter in volleyball, the point guard controls the team’s offense.  It’s the most specialized position, again, just like the setter.

Three point K I N G!

Drains them left and right with expert precision.

He plays so rough oml and it’s not even on purpose!  Someone could guard him too much and he’s pissed even though that’s literally the point of basketball??? Catch him throwing so many elbows.

Kageyama practices dribbling non-stop.  If he’s not in during practice, he’s on the side lines doing ball-handling drills.

He could be the best ball-handler on the team and he’s still working to improve himself and learn from some of the point guards from the opposing teams.

He will have no idea that you’re even at his games, because he’s so in the zone, but if you come up to him afterwards as he walks out of the locker room?

Insert soft Tobio smile here ;-;

He’ll ask you if you enjoyed the game, probably talking about how one of the other players had a really clean jump shot, asking you to rebound for him so he can try that.

Please tell him no.  He’s on an adrenaline high and needs to go get some rest.

Kageyama will probably con you into it, no matter how much you object. He’d be shooting baskets, asking for your input every now and then as if you have any idea what you’re meant to be looking for.

You definitely walked up to him after a game in a t-shirt that had his name on it and this boy just got so flustered, because he will never be over the fact that you, of all people, wanted to date him.

But, he would tell you that you looked nice, just like he always does.  Kageyama would never outright say it, but the fact that you get all dressed up for his games makes his heart do backflips 🥺

Kozume Kenma: Track

Right? Crazy, I know, but hear me out.  He does high jump or maybe pole vault.  Something that doesn’t require too much physical exertion.

Sitting outside in the sun at track meets for hours on end is by no means his favorite thing to do, but he’s one of the first events, so if the meet is at Nekoma, he can just dip for a little while and go play his games at a cafe that has air conditioning or something.  Don’t tell his coach though because they’re technically not meant to leave??

During practices, you will likely find him lying on the mats, playing a game on his phone, not even caring if his coach comes over.  The others are doing the same thing, so why does it matter?

He can get really meticulous though, especially right before postseason.  He’d get in this trance where he’s constantly working on his approaches, making sure they feel just right before he even thinks about jumping.  

Kenma hates when you come watch him.  It throws him off, so if you do plan on coming to a meet, please don’t say anything ;-; 

Honestly, he probably wouldn’t even tell you when he has meets, just so he doesn’t run the risk of you watching him.  

Assuming you do find out his schedule, it’s probably best if you come after his events?  It would put him more at ease knowing that there wasn’t even the slightest possibility that you had watched him.

He’ll sit on the bleachers with you though, munching on some snacks that you brought, making quiet conversation while he plays his games.

Kenma will always tell you that he doesn’t care if you come or not, but deep down, he enjoys the time he gets to spend with you while he’s waiting for results he absolutely will make sure that you leave if he makes it to the final round though

Akaashi Keiji: Golf

GOLF BRAT this is a joke don’t kill me pls

I’m talking like he grew up playing golf with his dad, but because he’s played so long, he’s super good.  

He shoots in the high-30s on nine holes and probably gets really annoyed with himself if he gets in the mid-40s

You’ll see him on the driving range right after the match, practicing until he’s content if he ever does worse than he expected.

He only uses Callaway golf balls and probably has a really unique ball mark.

His golf clubs?  Custom fit.  He’s not a snob, I swear.  He just takes it really seriously, because Akaashi knows that he’s good and could get some really incredible scholarships.  He wants to be able to perform to the best of his ability and if that means spending a lot on a nice set of golf clubs that will last him for a long time, then he’ll do it.

Akaashi carries his clubs.  He doesn’t understand the need for those push carts?  Sure the clubs are kind of heavy, but it’s not that bad.

Definitely refused to wear a glove for a long time, but eventually the blisters and calluses got so bad that he had to cave.  

Putting KING.  Can and will sink a 15’ putt without batting an eyelash.  He doesn’t have a lot of power in his drives, but his short game is impeccable. 

He’s always really flattered when you show up to his matches.  They’re boring to watch, and he knows that, especially if you don’t play golf or have any interest in the sport.  

But, the fact that you’re willing to walk with him around the course, asking him questions about the rules of the game, or even just helping him find his ball?  It brings that gentle Akaashi smile to his face. 

Akaashi in a polo akaashi in a polo akaashi in a motherfucking polo

Some weekends he’ll take you out to the course with him, let you borrow a set of his old clubs if you don’t have a set of your own, and you two will play a round of golf together

You give up after hitting the ball in the lake four times in row and just settle for driving the golf cart and providing him with emotional support.

Atsumu Miya: Tennis

Just imagine that wide ass smile of his when he scores a point

Wait i’m already soft i-

Anyway.  The intention was to get Osamu to play too and they would be this really incredible duo for doubles

But Osamu physically could not put up with Atsumu’s shit.  Like, in volleyball there are other people on the court to interact with, but in doubles tennis? It’s just atsumu

Osamu literally lasted one practice.

But, we’re not here to talk about him.

Atsumu doesn’t have a lot of power, so he has to come up with other ways to score.  He mainly relies on well-aimed receives or drop shots

He hates the uniforms and he looks terrible in them.  I’m so sorry Atsumu stans, but it’s just a fact.  Those really light, almost white, khakis and the maroon polo?  Boy looks so dumb and he knows it.  Add the dumbass headband his coach makes him wear to keep his hair from his eyes?  Fashion crises.

It’s for this reason that he really doesn’t want you at his matches.  Because he knows that you’re going to take stupid pictures of him and use them as blackmail.  You come anyway and yes.  You take a million pictures of your boyfriend looking like a hot mess in his uniform.

If he catches you taking pictures in between sets?  He’s going to steal your phone the minute he’s done so he can delete them all

“153 pictures?! What the hell, Princess. . .”

“Sorry, ‘mu.  You just look so dumb in your uniform.”

He likes to drag you out to the courts on weekends to play doubles with friends or he’ll ask you to play singles with him. He always says that he’ll go easy on you, but three volleys in and he’s slipped into the zone and he’s playing for real.

Atsumu has absolutely smacked your ass with his racket and feigned innocence when you whirl around to stare at him in shock.  He probably starts lecturing the nearest person on how they should treat someone like that, especially his princess.

Smack his arm and shut him up, please.

I promise he looks a lot better when the two of you go play than when he actually has a match.  Some nice athletic shorts and a black t-shirt or hoodie, maybe a baseball cap to keep his hair out of his face?  Yeah.  He looks hella cute.

[blameitonmyjuuse]

For @austonandersen who wanted quarantined Freddie and Auston.

--

Though Freddie would never admit it, the NHL’s pausing of the season was not a wholly unwelcome idea. It was horrible, yeah, and incredibly frustrating because the Leafs were still solidly in the playoffs and slowly coming back out of their downward spiral, but.

But. 

It’s not that Freddie was exhausted, per se, but being the starting goaltender for a team who seemed to constantly hover on the edge between absolute greatness and the absolute laughing stock of the NHL could sometimes take its toll. Game after game, night after night-- sometimes Freddie did wish for a break in between wishing for better defense and a Cup.

For just a single night to pause, relax on the couch, and not think of an impending match where it would either be a win and he’d have to push himself harder and harder to get to the next one, or a loss and it would be him against the entire Leafs fan base.

He did, however, wish that a global pandemic wasn’t the cause of this break.

Nevertheless, the lack of people on the afternoon streets while Freddie rounded the final corner to his apartment, sweat creating a tacky sort of stick on his back as his final few moments jogging faded into deep breathing, was not the worst thing in the world. 

The Doorman tipped a professional greeting as Freddie made his way to the elevator, taking mouthfuls of water in and switching his AirPods into their protective case. 

The ride was short; short enough that Freddie was still half reading a Danish news article about new cases when he stepped out, and traced his way down to his apartment, and opened the door. 

He took a step beyond the doorway, half a second to read the sentence, træffe beskyttelsesforanstaltninger for at bremse spredningen---

And then stumbled. 

Damnit.

Freddie sighed and glanced down at the pair of black and white Nikes about three sizes too small and 90% too flashy to be his own in the middle of the doorway. They were no doubt toed off without a thought, even though their owners most certainly knew that Freddie would be coming in from his afternoon jog and wouldn’t be able to miss them.

He stared balefully at the shoes and stepped over them, passing the shoe rack a couple steps further inside the hallway, where two other similar pairs had been forgotten over time.

Freddie toed off his own shoes, took another sip of water and peeked around the hallway. No sign, so that meant the owner of these ridiculous shoes had ventured deeper down the hall and into the master bedroom. 

Sure enough, as Freddie passed through the entrance to his bedroom, shucking off a sweat-soaked tank top to the dirty clothes hamper, he noticed steam billowing from the master bath’s doorway.

“Matty?” Freddie called, as though the visitor would be anyone else. 

There was a pause and the shower water turned off. A few seconds passed and Freddie used the brief moment of silence to open his dresser to pull out a pair of black boxers. 

Then the bathroom door opened and a dark head peeked out, “Yeah?”

Freddie didn’t answer, just took in the sight as Auston emerged fully, hair slick and white towel tied haphazardly across his waist. Auston dragged a smaller towel through his hair, “What’s up?”

Freddie tossed him the black boxers, “How many times have I asked that you put your shoes on the rack?”

Auston grinned and ran the towel through his hair again, flexing his biceps. Freddie, of course, was drawn to the movement, to the way the muscle clenched and relaxed, before flicking cool his eyes back to Auston’s flushed face. Auston shrugged, “See, I meant to do that, but the promise of your shower was too much.”

Freddie didn’t buy it. When not focused on hockey, Auston’s main goal seemed to be driving Freddie insane. Insane, in several varying ways that both pissed Freddie off and made something burning hot burrow in his chest.

“You mean-- the identical shower to yours downstairs, in your own apartment?”

Auston shrugged again and scratched at the cut of his hip, where tiny rivulets of water were pooling and absorbing into the towel. “My apartment is missing things.”

“Hm,” Freddie murmured before shifting by Auston, taking care to pass close enough that he could feel the heat of the shower on Auston’s skin and smell his own shampoo and body wash on him, but not quite close enough to touch him. He shut the bathroom door behind him and pulled his jogging pants and underwear off. 

Showering was a quick, perfunctory affair. Freddie didn't let his thoughts linger or stray-- especially not to the boy no doubt making himself comfortable on the couch. If he did, he'd be in there for hours and Auston, who might just be the most impatient boy in the world, would certainly have something to say about it.

Sure enough, when Freddie was dressed in soft grey sweatpants, socks, and nothing else, Auston was lounging across the couch, face buried in his phone and thumbs moving rapidly across the screen.

The TV was off, like it had been since the PGA announced that golf had been suspended for the time being. Freddie frowned at the thought, but leaned over to swipe the remote from the coffee table. When he glanced back at Auston, Auston’s eyes were on Freddie. He wordlessly curled his legs up to his chest, and when Freddie sat down, taking up the space where Matty’s feet had been, Auston spread out again and rested his calves on Freddie’s lap.

Freddie traced a line down Auston’s shin in thanks and turned the TV to the NHL channel. 

They sat in silence for a few minutes; Auston texting and then pausing and texting again, and Freddie mindlessly drawing patterns on the warm skin of Auston’s legs while watching highlights between a Stars and Predators game from last month. 

Auston shifted and poked Freddie’s abs softly with his toe. “Mitchy wants to know where I am.”

“Does he want to come over?”

“He can’t. We’re self-quarantining, remember? Players aren’t supposed to be around each other.”

“Oh yes,” Freddie said with a pointed glance to the distinct lack of six feet between them, “Self- quarantining.”

But Auston’s attention was back on his phone. Freddie allowed it for a few more minutes, but as Auston’s eyebrow furrows like they do when he begins to start stressing about something hockey related, he sat up and snagged the IPhone from Auston’s hand.

“Dude,” Auston groaned half-heartedly, briefly trying to grab it back before giving up and laying back. He looked up at Freddie from under his eyelashes and the thing is--

The thing is, Freddie loves it when he does that. For a kid who had an entire dynasty thrust upon him, for a kid who’s had to grow up in one of the harshest spotlights in their sport, when he’s looking up at him like that, Freddie is reminded that Matts is still just a good-hearted kid. It reminds him that the quarantine isn’t all bad because it has given him quiet times where he and Matty can just be. 

He must be doing that intense creeper stare that Auston bitches about, because Auston was nudging him again, “What?”

Freddie wanted to tell him all of that, but he doesn’t think he has the words in either English or Danish to try and get what he meant across. So he shrugged, “You’ll see him soon. All of them.”

“I’m just bored. I want to play hockey.” Auston threw his head back on the pillow his head was cushioned on, “That’s all I want to do right now.”

The inflection Auston uses, the slight undercurrent of whine, well, Freddie has never pretended that it didn’t do things to him. 

It always had; even when Auston was a fresh faced nineteen year old who was just learning how much he could push before Freddie would react. 

And Auston knew it, whether he used it meaningfully or not. 

Freddie tilted his head and added some tone in his voice, “That’s all you want to do?”

Auston picked his head up slowly, “Well I mean-- not all I want to do. I- I mean, I can think of other things I’d be fine doing.”

Freddie let the fingers grazing against Auston’s shin drift higher, smiling slightly when Auston automatically opened his legs, “No, if you want to play hockey, we could play Xbox hockey.”

“Hm,” Auston hummed, lips quirked up at the ends as he pretended to be deep in thought. When he grew tired of waiting, he sat up, and Freddie had no problem using his larger frame to haul Auston up completely, until he could resettle in Freddie’s lap, either leg sprawled adjacent to Freddie’s thighs, “I actually think I just got a better offer.” 

He did love the sound of that. Nevertheless, Freddie let his hands splay over the stretched cotton of Auston’s boxers. When Auston smiled wider and let his eyes flicker closed, eyes draped loosely around Freddie’s neck, Freddie lifted his right palm and brought it down hard.

Auston’s eyes opened wide at the pop.

Freddie lifted Auston off and climbed to his feet. He made his way around the couch and started towards his bedroom without a look back, “If you had picked up your shoes, you wouldn’t have to wait.”

Freddie privately smiled when he heard Auston curse and stumble over himself to put his shoes on the rack. 

[bunkershotgolf]

Funny How Things Work Out

By ED TRAVIS

Those of us who play golf for the fun of it sometimes wish we could use our Visa card to fix our game not to mention filling in any gaps due to a deficit of talent.

Rather than beating balls on the range or spending hours on the putting green it would be a lot easier to “buy a game.” Just stop in the local golf shop and pick up the latest and greatest carbon-titanium-steel-graphite driver or plumber’s neck-mini-mallet-blade putter. The only problem then becomes keeping the secret from the brother-in-law so Saturday’s $10 Nassau would be a sure thing.

Ideally, our clubs should help rather than hurt our chances of scoring somewhere near our potential. Unfortunately, as with a lot of things, the real-world intervenes and it’s not just the time constraints of our busy lives that clearly puts the task of evaluating clubs in the “unsuited for the uninitiated” category. There is also the feeling one may need a PhD to figure out all the esoteric and often mysterious differences in clubs which assuredly shoves the solution way beyond those of us in the deskbound office brigade.

Let me tell you a story to prove the point.

Living in Florida where 75 million annually vacation provides lots of opportunity to golf with a cross section of fellow strugglers and one afternoon the starter matched me up with a typical husband and wife escaping from the bleakness of a Midwestern winter.

Both were experienced players and the wife, back into the game after a hiatus to raise a couple of kids, teed it up regularly with a group of “girls” at the club back home. Her husband, the quintessential mid-level executive weekend warrior, had a pronounced left to right ball flight which probably meant his favorite courses were not ones with trees lining the left side of the fairway. They were nice people and enjoyable companions for the few hours it takes for this maddening game.

While waiting on the par-3 third hole husband noted my bag had clubs from seven different manufacturers and asked, “What’s that all about?”

The simple explanation was seven manufacturers because the company who made the longest-straightest driver for my swing did not have an iron model that produced the best distance and control. Similar computerized shot analysis sessions put two other wedge brands, a fifth company’s fairway wood and a sixth’s hybrid in my bag. The choice of putter, from still another manufacturer, had been the computer’s second selection since the first choice was distinctly unappealing; in fact if you can picture an ungainly lump on the end of a shaft you would have the idea. Given my decades of playing and writing about the game the importance of custom clubs was beyond question as was the need to reevaluate specifications every couple of years.

The critical point is as we age our swing changes, especially the speed we can generate, and that necessitates changes in our clubs. In my case I now walk right past the “tips” heading for two tees forward and depending on how the body is feeling on any given day, maybe three. This isn’t a complaint simply a realistic assessment by a someone who can no longer play at the level to which he was accustom.

Getting back to our friends and the husband’s question, he told me that back home only a few of his buddies had been through a fitting (most likely the ones worried about that $10 brother-in-law Nassau) but he readily understood the idea of carrying clubs to help not hurt his game.

He even agreed the fee paid to a professional clubfitter makes sense when viewed as a modest investment in your future enjoyment of the game and the question of finding a professional clubfitter was answered by a quick smartphone consultation. There was one less than 10 miles from his home.

At the end of the round we exchanged business cards and promised to stay in touch, but in my mind I’d let a week or so go by and then send an email prompting him about a club fitting appointment.

The temptation was also there to mention how much more his wife would enjoy playing with him if he didn’t offer advice and tips after each swing but then having travelled that particular road myself I figured he could learn to navigate the potholes himself.

Interestingly, while husband was off in the palmettos attempting a recovery from another boomerang-shaped drive, his wife she asked if a fitting would make sense for her. Though we had played only a few holes it was apparent with her basic swing and better than average short game she had the potential to score much lower. After surveying her bag, it was obvious a fitting would help.

Out of curiosity I inquired where she had gotten the stiff shafted irons and steel headed driver, but the reply did not surprise me. When she started playing again husband came home with this bunch of beauties and a, “Here honey, play with these.” He must have gotten a heck of a deal but at least the bag and headcovers were a matching mauve.

This is important. Do not let a friend dictate or even gently steer you toward something they like. The corollary of course is trying your buddy’s new driver and absolutely striping it one time does not mean you’ve found the answer to the maiden’s prayer. Do not stop on the way home to get one just like it ‘cause chances are that one driver swing was the golf gremlins messin’ with you.

Also be cautious of being fit by someone who sells a single brand or a limited number of brands. The truth is even the most knowledgeable best-intentioned fitter can only fit you to the driver or irons for which he has samples. You will never get the chance to try the perfect club if it is not in the shop.

But getting back to the story, a couple of weeks later the husband sent an email saying he had been to the fitting and how surprised he was the club specs had changed starting with a swing weight. Rather than the graphite shafted ultra-lights he had been playing his new clubs were a heavier D-3 swing weight and the driver had a strong draw bias to help straighten out his slice.

His excitement was evident. Another Florida visit had been planned but the timing coincided with the PGA Merchandise Show, so I missed seeing him however a few days after the Show another email arrived.

This one was from the wife, and she was over the moon, writing she had been fitted for clubs as well and also made the trip south. Both of them were happy with the “instant” improvement—hitting the ball farther and straighter. Best of all, she confided, there’s no doubt in her mind she can take her husband on in a $10 Nassau straight up.

Funny how things work out.

[manuelmueller]

pls... do ALL OF IT FOR NUELE

oof fam ooof (jk i LOVE THEM) (i crossed out a few that i had no idea how to answer or wasn’t bothered but OTHER THAN THAT) (yes all those 300 word questions kinda became a short fic you can read on ao3 here)

–––––– I tried to put this under a cut but it kept fucking up so HERE I GUESS

1. What are things they both find funny?

Little things. Weird tweets from their teammates. Leon stumbling over his shoelaces. The way Sven gets exasperated with them so quickly. A leaf blowing straight into someone’s face. Everything can make them giggle, pretty much, cause they make each other gleeful, giggly, bubbling AHHHHHH

2. If they could each describe each other in one sentence, what would it be? “Nikki is … he’s my person.” – “Alex made me realize that love can be wonderful, and kind, and fulfilling, and everything, and I love him.”

3. If they complimented each other, what would they say? Alex would talk about Nikki’s wide smile, his enthusiasm and his unbroken optimism despite going through some shit, his kinda heart and his sunshine personality. Nikki would mention Alex’ resilience, the way how he rises above the shit people talk about him and how he came out being a great person still. Also, the way his chuckles sound in the morning and the way his hair looks like spun copper in sunlight and the freckles on his cheeks and shoulders.

4. What would be their ship name? NÜLE we did a great job pairing up two of the very few dudes who have an ü in their last name huh

5. What activities do they enjoy together? Football (duh), watching dumb TV shows they can laugh at together. Cuddling on the couch. Cooking. Accompanying the other on his respective hobby and whining about how silly it is (Alex goes fishing, Nikki plays golf) but yet loving every second they get to spend with their s/o doing what they love. Also actually another couple they’re friends with kinda drags them hiking sometimes and they actually kinda like it, too.

6. What is/are their love language(s)? Actually probably it’s Quality Time for them both tbh (you could change my mind, tho)

7. Write a ~300 word love scene for them.

READ HERE

8. What were their first impressions of each other? ‘Yeah he’s a talented goalie, I wouldn’t mind to play in his defense .... oh shit is he smiling? He’s smiling. Oh fuck he’s so cute, I’m so gay, help. heLP’ – ‘Süle? Oh yeah, I’ve heard a lot about him. I mean, how could I have not? It’s in my job description to know about the best defenders. Can’t believe it took us so long to meet in person, tho. Nikki it is, okay. Wow, I’m .... is that a spark that I’m feeling? Sure, great idea, develop a crush on your first day on a new team, well done. Is it a crush? (a month later) yep, definitely a crush’

9. Have they made each other cry? with HAPPINESS, yeah

10. Write a ~300 word argument scene for them.

READ HERE

11. What causes them to fight? Genuinely can’t picture them fighting, but probably more like jokingly arguing about chores like who should take out the trash. Also football can cause a strain too, I mean, sometimes they lose games and either of them or both are partially to blame and while they’d never blame each other even if it’s true, the unspoken dissatisfaction hovering in the air between them can cause things to be quite awkward for a few hours and one night.

12. Do they have differing political opinions?

13. Name something they would never do for the other person. Lose any kind of game – as athletes they’re quite competitive, even when it comes to board games and the like. Tho they’re not above conceding when it’s obvious they loose.

14. What would be a dealbreaker? Sharing the other’s secrets to someone the other doesn’t trust enough, and also not liking pets (luckily they do)

15. What are traits they dislike in one another? Nikki gets a bit reckless sometimes. Drinking too much, doing vaguely dangerous things cause he’s excited and hyped with his friends (why the heck would you climb on that shed when it’s too high to jump down and you don’t have a ladder?? you already have bad knees, Nikki!) and Alex Worries, ok? Alex on the other hand can get quite broody and taciturn when he’s not okay, not sharing what bothers him even when Nikki asks. Nikki just wants to help, but being stubborn is a goalkeeper thing

16. If they broke up, what would be their opinions of each other?

17. What senses (sights, smells, feelings, etc). remind them of each other? Nikki thinks of Alex on windy but bright spring days, and whenever he smells his shower gel. Alex’ rumbling laugh causes the butterflies on his stomach to flutter their wings, and his bare hands when he just pulls his glove on seem to be made to be settled on Nikki’s arms, his shoulder, his waist. Nikki to Alex is a freshly cut pitch, petrichor raising from the streets in summer, warm coca cola from a bottle left outside and forgotten. He’s a sunrise, a smile flashed over the shoulder, a laugh shared with Leon, Jo, Serge, Thomas …

18. What would be their love motto?

19. If they could each write a single line in their marriage vows, what would they be? “Alex, you taught me everything I know about love. You taught to forgive, to move on and I found a forever home in you.” – “I feel the sun rise every time I hear your laugh, bean, I feel born anew every time I reach for your hand and you take it. I would still be adrift without it.”

20. What is a promise they have made to each other? That they will never let get football between them. No jealousy if one is called up for the NT and one isn’t. If they ever played for rival clubs, they wouldn’t let it get between them. If something happens during a game, it in the end won’t be a factor in their private life. It’s hard sometimes, cause they’re only human, but a vow to try and to resolve things is the best they can do, and they always do

21. How have they changed each other for the better/for the worse? They’re each other’s first boyfriend – Nikki especially has been disappointed/rejected when confessing his feelings before, so he’s really a bit reluctant when opening up to Alex, and Alex does everything he can to make him open up more again on that level and succeeds at it too. Nikki is just a constant sunshine in Alex’ life, who after announcing his transfer didn’t have the easiest time, so it’s really great to have someone who makes him remember the light-heartedness life can have when you spend it with the right people. And well, they both grow quite chatty around each other, and have been shushed by quite a few people who just want to sleep on the bus ride … (from here)

22. If their lives were what was originally intended at birth, would they have still fallen in love? Who can even tell? Who knows if they were both supposed to end up at Bayern. Who knows if they wouldn’t have had someone else from the beginning. When they were born, neither of their families probably expected to have a son-in-law instead of a daughter in law. But they’re happy with the life they got. Happy they got each other. Cause they won’t have it any other way anymore

23. Write a ~300 scene between them with no dialogue, only body language.

READ HERE

24. What is something they have each had to forgive the other for? Again, football, when either of them fucks up during a get. pride is a difficult thing to best, sometimes, but they’re learning

25. What moves do they know work on the other? Alex knows exactly how to let his voice dip, knows how to touch Nikki’s waist to make him know, knows what to say and when only uses his voice with deliberation. Nikki is a bit more thoughtless in his approach, often just communicating his appeal unbeknownst to him, because Alex loves him most in those moments when he’s just free, simply himself, laughing and smiling and so beautiful. He doesn’t need to do anything, really, tho if he does, a look is enough.

26. What are their favorite parts about physical affection/sex? Literally just being close and warm and at home and ofc the thrill of sharing that all not with a stranger you barely know but with someone who knows you inside and out :3 (pun fully intended, in this case)

27. Do they have any kinks/fetishes that they share? Nikki is really into Alex’ voice. Like really into it. That deep yet soft voice always makes his spine tingle and his stomach hop and other …. areas interested, as well :3c He also likes Alex’ back especially when it arches so delicately Alex really like Nikki’s tattoos, he’s absolutely fascinated by them and sometimes maybe even wishes Nikki had a few more – tho that’s not a kink really, is it. But they just complete the perfect package that is his boyfriend :’3 But no, in general they keep it pretty vanilla for now, just getting comfortable with each other, learning each other, studying with eyes, hands, lips

28. Write a ~300 fantasy one of them has about the other.

READ HERE

29. What are each of their signature foreplay moves? Alex whispers hushed words into Nikki’s neck, kisses his jawline, lets his hands ran up and down Nikki’s side, skilled, gentle yet insistent and talking of what’s yet to come, teasing and nipping before finally reaching down, creating the contact that Nikki wanted for so long. Nikki lets his hands simply rest on Alex’ hips, his shoulders, his heck, warm and familiar and hot and hotter with every second as he steals kiss after kiss before sliding down, sitting before him, leaning in …

30. Write a short exchange of dirty talk between them. “Alex?” “Bean?” “You look so good. Do you have any idea how good you look?” laughs “Bean, you’re drunk” frowns “Ok, maybe a little. But I love you, you know? I wanna lick you all over.” blushes a bit “Nikki, everyone’s looking.” “Nah, they’re all busy drinking. Dancing. Probably fucking in the storage closet, in some cases” he giggles. they both know who he’s talking about. he puts his chin on Alex’ shoulder “Wanna get out of here?” “Now?” “Hmm.” he kisses his neck, licks gently behind his ear “no one will care. please. let me.” “Yeah? Well, bean, then who am I to deny you” THIS SUCKS!!!

31. What do they love to do after sex? They often just lay there face to face, noses almost touching, eyes almost falling close as they exchange light, playful pecks, hands entwined, legs a tangled mess. It’s all really cute and mushy but they wouldn’t have it any other way – also! laughing!! There’s a lot of cheerful, content giggling especially in the afterglow as they are still entangled in the sleepiness and the amazing feeling of just being together. (from here)

32. Do they enjoy morning or night sex? They both quickly wake up in the morning, ready to face the day, but yet … there’s nothing better than half-sleepy morning sex, smiling and tasting the fresh air and each other’s morning breath because of the familiarity, the comfort of gazing upon each other drenched in the first sunlight, not hidden away by shadows. This is real. This is them.

[nadiafm]

( camila morrone, cisfemale ) hey ! have you seen NADIA PEREZ around ? they work as a ICE SKATING INSTRUCTOR at big bear resort, but they must be off their shift by now. well, if you do see them can you let me know ? they’re 21 years old & they’ve been working here for 11 MONTHS. they tend to be +AMOROUS & +CONVIVIAL, but can also be -LICENTIOUS & -WARY. the other employees have labeled them THE ROMANTIC. thanks a lot ! gold hoops , floral mini dresses , pink lipgloss , overly dramatic eyeshadow , freckles specked across your nose , mascara running down your cheeks , tequila shots chased with salt and lime , lana del rey blasting in your headphones , mirror selfies , golden hour , glitter and rhinestones , blue raspberry dum dums , piled up books you keep forgetting to read.

hey y’all !! i’m so excited for this wow. i’m sam, i’m 22, and i live in pst !! i’m a sucker for cooking shows and dogs and candles. but more importantly...this is my freaking baby nadia, an absolute idiot with a heart of gold ! i already know this intro is going to be too long but bare with me i will include a tldr at the bottom i promise. also hmu on discord to plot ! capricornmom#1278

here is nadia’s pinterest & here is her playlist

aesthetics : gold hoops , floral mini dresses , pink lipgloss , overly dramatic eyeshadow , freckles specked across your nose , mascara running down your cheeks , tequila shots chased with salt and lime , lana del rey blasting in your headphones , mirror selfies , golden hour , glitter and rhinestones , blue raspberry dum dums , piled up books you keep forgetting to read

character parallels : jackie burkhart ( that 70′s show ) rachel green ( friends ) , cassie howard ( euphoria ) , brooke davis ( one tree hill ) , bianca stratford ( 10 things i hate about you ) , april ( palo alto ) , erica vandross ( flower ) , gigi & triple a ( booksmart ) , snooki ( jersey shore ) , jessica day ( new girl )

full name : nadia paloma perez

birthday : july 23, 1998

zodiac : cancer sun , pisces moon , pisces rising . god help this emotional ass girl

nationality : american 

religion : roman catholic

sexual & romantic orientation : bisexual , biromantic

hometown : aventura , florida ( 20 minutes outside of miami )

languages spoken : english ( fluent ) , spanish ( fluent ) , french ( still learning , takes it in school , somewhat conversational )

likes : candy ( sour punch straws , lollipops ) , watching soccer games ( messi stan till she dies ) , rex orange county , writing , magazines , making empanadas with her abuela , romantic comedies ( her fav is how to lose a guy in 10 days ) , tequila sodas , sex , lana del rey , chipotle burritos , iced chai lattes with almond milk from starbucks , gossip girl , craft beer , margaret atwood

dislikes : quinoa , nuts in things like salad or cookies , star wars , watching golf , oatmeal , church , screamo music , california ( a grudge ) , spoiled rich kids , condescending business majors , quentin tarantino ( and his avid fans )

BACKGROUND

Born and raised in South Florida, a little aways from Miami ! Her mother, Paloma, was an Adventura native while her father, Santiago, was an immigrant from Argentina. Her parents met in college when Paloma was studying abroad in Argentina. They fell in love, rather quickly, and the rest was history. They had planned on moving back to America together, but Santiago’s visa was denied. So, after only four months of knowing each other and 2.5 months of dating, they got married. 

Turns out sometimes you should know your partner better before getting married !! shocker right. It wasn’t so bad at first, though. They were young and in love and their honeymoon phase seemed to last forever, until it didn’t. 

By the time Nadia was born, they’d already begun to realize each other’s faults and flaws. Santiago was a good looking guy, and with his thick Argentine accent, he tended to come off as overly friendly and at times overtly flirty. Paloma was jealous and needy. It never seemed to mesh well when she thought her husband was flirting with every other mom in the neighborhood. 

So, for the majority of Nadia’s childhood, all she remembered from her parent’s marriage was them fighting. She had a close relationship with the both of them, though, and she was particularly close with her father. He was her biggest supporter !! Always hyping her up. He was the one signing her up for sports like soccer (they’re a huge soccer family, the only time her parents weren’t fighting was during Argentina games), gymnastics, dance, and ice skating. Her favorite was soccer, and her for most of her adolescent years, her dad coached her team. They formed a really close bond because of it. 

The marriage was sort of non exinsistant at this point, but in some sort of last attempt to salvage any love they might have had for each other, Santiago and Paloma had a baby. It was more Paloma’s idea than anything. Santiago, at that point, was only sticking around for Paloma. She was seven when her little sister was born, Caterina, and Nadia absolutely adored her. They may have been seven years a part, but they were the best of friends. 

When Nadia was twelve, she woke up with a note on her bed side table. It was from her father, and it read: “Nads, I’m so sorry I couldn’t say goodbye to your face. I wish I was stronger. I am so proud of you and I promise I will be in touch. Te amo. Papa” He hadn’t left anybody else a note, and not even a word to her mother. As close as she was to her mother and sister, she couldn’t help but blame them for her father leaving. Still, she was pretty certain she’d hear from him soon. That he’d come back once he cleared his head. Only, he didn’t. 

Word spread pretty fast around school about what had happened. Suddenly, Nadia was a charity case. PTA moms were coming up to her and offering to bring her lunch or dinner, if she needed it. She was the girl who’s dad left them high and dry. It didn’t help that on top of that, her body was going through changes much more rapidly than any of her friends. She already had gotten her period, and by the time she was in seventh grade she was wearing a D cup bra. So in addition to the sudden spotlight as the girl without a dad, boys started treating her differently. Boys that had never talked to her previously suddenly wanted to be her friend. In eighth grade, Hayden Walker rolled up a small piece of paper and shot it like a basketball into her cleavage. He high-fived his friends after and thanked her for the backboard.  

So middle school was rough. And while Nadia had had one or two boyfriends during that time, she’d never gone past kissing them. That’s not how the rumors went, though. That was the part that hurt the most. The things people said, especially the things girls said about her. Girls she thought were her friends. 

At the end of eighth grade, during the summer before high school, she got a text from her dad. The first one in 2 years! She’d idolized him her whole life, so obviously she was ready to forgive him as soon as she heard from him. He told her he was living in California and Nadia was like, I’m sold! Let’s go! Only her mother was like...are you fucking insane you are not going to California to visit that man. Long story short, she found a cheap cross country bus ticket and essentially ran away from home to see her dad! He was shocked she had come at all, despite his text message leading her to believe he wanted to see her. Apparently it was more of a courtesy text, a text so he could let go of the guilt of leaving an entire family behind. Because in the two years he’d been gone, he managed to start a new one. He had a new wife, and two newborn twins. 

Nadia was pretty furious, but she stayed the summer anyways. She had full intentions of starting high school in California and not going home to Florida. Things were tense at her father’s, though. Her “step mother” obviously didn’t like having her around, and though her bond with her father was slowly rekindling, there was still a sort of distance between them. But they were trying to make it work, at the very least. 

Then came the end of the summer. Nadia had made a few friends around the neighborhood, and was invited to an end of summer kickback with a bunch of high schoolers. Naturally, she lied about her age at the party. She was 14, but told everyone she was 16, and everyone seemed to overlook her baby face thanks to her ass and tits. At the end of the night, a boy drove her home, and the two ended up hooking up in the car. Apparently she had misjudged how much her father actually cared, because he’d waited up for her to come home, and after seeing car headlights out front, he’d stormed outside to find her in the car with a high school boy, half naked. After allowing her to gather her bearings, he essentially humiliated her right there on the front lawn, screaming about how irresponsible she was amongst other things. The majority of the conversation has since been blacked out from her mind, but she’ll never forget the look on her dad’s face when he said, “you’re nothing, you’re just like your mother, and i don’t want you anywhere near my family.”  whew !! ya girl was hurt.  

So, obviously, she was back on the way to mom’s ! Honestly at that point her mom wasn’t even mad at her for leaving she was just thankful she was back. 

GODDD okay this is getting long so I need to wrap this up. I haven’t even gotten to personality KJSHG Okay let’s wrap up high school in one bullet point. Basically she sub consciously searched for every man’s approval because she lacked the approval she needed from her father! This meant lots of boyfriends and never saying no. In her four years of high school, she was maybe single for a total of like ... seven months. not seven consecutive months lmao, 7 months in between relationships. 

one of those boys was connor perch, her first official boyfriend freshman year ! they were really sweet n young and nadia really thought she was in love. but then she gave him a blowjob and this mf recorded it ! and nadia found out after the fact, asked him to delete it, he said it was just for himself to look at, only to find out he’d sent it to his friends a few days later. so that basically set the precedent for how she’d be treated the next four years of high school ! she tried to act like it didn’t bother her but dang. high schoolers can be very mean !

oh my god i seriously have to wrap up okay this will be quick. basically when she was a senior in high school she went on a ski trip to big bear and met a boy named ethan, who she like fell in love with so fast like literally a week give it a rest girl. he was from Colorado but when she left they kept in touch and basically talked every day for the rest of the school year and throughout the summer. She’d decided to apply to Boulder University to be closer to him because this time it really felt like the real thing ! SURPRISE AGAIN ! She got to school and found out he had a girlfriend. She was really mf heartbroken over that. But did she learn her lesson? No. Does she still fall in love with anyone who looks in her direction? Yes. 

Okay and lastly she has been working all sorts of jobs throughout college because her mom is helping her pay for tuition and rent so she’s gotta cover spending money ! She ended up getting a job at Big Bear Resort during her last winter break as an ice skating instructor because she used to do ice skating back in the day. Now she works at Big Bear during her school breaks and on some weekends ! 

TLDR/Tidbits

Hopeless romantic with major daddy issues

Will overanalyze every interaction she has with anyone because she thinks they might like her

EXTREMELY GULLIBLE 

Probably will have a crush if you are even remotely nice to her 

Really dumb but means well. Literally no common sense. Complete bimbo

Cries A LOT. Complete crybaby. Happy or sad she’s probably crying

Heart of gold!! She really always means well even when she fucks up so bad I SWEAR her heart was in the right place 

Can outdrink anyone. She would drink a 6ft5in, 200 pound man under the table any day

Tequila is her choice of drink, but vodka is for her #sadgirlhours

Obsessed with Rosalía, Lana Del Rey, & Rex Orange County. And also 2010 bangers. Anything she can shake her ass to !

She pretty much used to exclusively wear mini dresses because when she realized everyone was just gonna sexualize her anyway, she was like FUCK IT, i’ll show my ass n titties n legs. Except it’s fucking like negative degrees in Colorado so she can’t do that ! Bummer. (she’ll still probably find ways to wear mini dresses)

Obsessed with makeup!! She loves doing adventurous things with eyeshadows and lipsticks  like ok euphoria 

Kinda crazy. Major crackhead vibes especially when she’s drunk! She loves going out, she’ll go out on a Tuesday, she just likes to have fun ok and dance on tables and make out with cute people

She’ll have a one night stand but just know for HER she’ll probably get attached. I’m so sorry it won’t last that long but she’ll pine for at least a week

ok that is all i’m so sorry for this shit show of an intro but here is a messy list of wc !

[hookaroo]

Vocivore, Ltd. (18 of ?)

A OUAT WINTER WHUMP FIC

Also on FFN and AO3 (ListerofTardis)

Tagging @ouatwinterwhump, @killian-whump, @sancocnutclub, @killianjonesownsmyheart1, and @courtorderedcake <3

***THE MOST WONDERFUL COVER ART BY @cocohook38 HERE!!!!!******

****ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!!Chapter 12 animation and art that will absolutely astound you!!! THANK YOU MY WONDERFUL COCONUT FRIEND!!!!!!!!!!*************

Present (Friday)...   

Detective Jones climbed out of his car, grimacing as he pressed a hand to the bandage on his chest. A deep ache accompanied each movement and prevented full breaths, his twisted knee protested every single step, and Alice would have been exasperated beyond measure to find out he’d gotten up so soon. But Jones couldn’t remain still. Especially now that he’d encountered his double and seen the hopeless look in his eyes. He’d been there. Almost didn’t come out the other side. And he wasn’t going to let a small amount of pain keep him sidelined; not when his friends were so desperate for help.

Jones gingerly adjusted his grip on the file folder he held, then slowly ascended the stairs. He hadn't told Emma he was coming, but he figured she would probably appreciate the company, even unannounced. Besides, operating his phone with sore arms was more trouble than it was worth.

Though he didn’t want to admit it to himself, a small part of him also yearned for an explanation of the sheriff’s strange behavior recently, and a surprise visit meant she would have less time for preparation of any kind. Damn it, sometimes he hated the instincts that were leaning toward suspicion now. He wished he could take things at face value for once. 

Nearing the door, the detective paused. He thought he’d heard laughter, a child’s voice. Inside the house? But the sound did not repeat. He pressed the doorbell and stepped back to wait.

It took a while for a response; long enough that Jones considered ringing again. But then Emma called out,

“Coming.”

The thud of footsteps, a creak of boards beneath her feet, and then she was pulling the door open.

“Killian.”

She sounded startled, almost… guilty. Wearing casual clothes and a messy ponytail, she clearly wasn’t planning on going out anytime soon. Jones nodded a greeting.

“Sorry to drop in unannounced.” He flashed a polite smile, trying to project sympathy and support. “I thought we could look over the photos again, maybe come up with another solution, one we haven’t thought of…?”

“Uh…” Emma’s face showed a trace of reluctance, then cleared. “Yeah, that would be great. Help me feel like I was doing something.” She opened the door wider, but before moving aside, she raked him with an assessing glare. “Sure you’re up to it?”

“Aye, of course.”

Emma rolled her eyes at him; her husband had obviously demonstrated their shared brand of stubbornness and impatience with recovery time, and she knew not to believe a word. But she allowed him entrance.

Jones made for the dining room table. “Sorry we weren’t able to catch up with Killian.”

A pang of... something... crossed her expression. “Yeah. I thought for sure he would have collapsed somewhere near the hospital; didn’t even begin to imagine he’d steal my car. Guess the monster’s brainwashing is too irresistible.”

“So it would seem.” Jones tossed the packet of files on the table and then wheezed into a seat, unable to hide a grimace.

“Need water? Or an ice pack?”

Jones shook his head and motioned for her to join him, which she obeyed with only slight hesitation. She looked remarkably chipper, thought Jones. Still stressed, of course. But the dark shadows under her eyes had lessened, and she met his gaze with an alert expression. The detective decided to indulge his curiosity, asking,

“Were you on the phone when I came?”

Guilt. Definitely fleeting guilt on her face. Jones couldn’t fathom what it was she had to feel guilty about. She quickly hid it, waving her hand vaguely.

“Musta been the TV. I turned it off just before answering the door.” She reached for the files and started pulling out photographs, maps, and witness statements. Jones simply watched her, lost in contemplation. Finally, Emma noticed and looked up at him. “What?”

“You tell me,” shrugged Jones.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He tilted his head, still studying her body language. Familiar with the tactic, she stared back brazenly, expression blank. Finally Jones sighed and then winced.

“I’m sorry, Emma, but… I get the feeling there’s something you’re hiding.”

She was back in careful control now, the new and familiar façade of desolation firmly in place. “Why the hell would I do something like that?”

Carefully, Jones replied,

“I can think of a few reasons. Emma… are you being coerced?”

Emma’s silence gave him nothing. He continued.

“Hope. Do you know something; did Killian tell--”

“Really?” she snapped. “You think that, if I knew anything to help Hope, I would hide it?”

For several heartbeats, Jones felt chagrined. How could he think such a thing? Of course she wouldn’t. He understood the desperation, and the utter relief of having allies, and how could he think that she would somehow reject that?

And yet…

She fit the part. Said all the right things, acted as one would expect. But Jones could not deny a nagging sense of discord. Something that didn’t quite fit, that struck him as odd. And now that he thought about it, he could trace the feeling back to the beginning.

Implanted or not, his detective instincts would not let him ignore it.

“I’m only trying to help.” He leaned closer, imploring her to respond. “You know me; you can trust me. Even if it’s just confirmation that the monster has her, we can work with that. It’s something, which is a hell of a lot better than we’ve had all month. Please, love. Please tell me what you know.”

“I don’t know anything, okay?!” Her tone was icy, and she looked to be on the verge of dragging him out by the ear. “Could we please just get to work on this?”

Jones sat quietly, allowing his frustration to simmer and then drain away. He watched Emma as she flipped through the scouting photos, but she acted as if she wasn't really seeing them. His eyes fell on the shell hanging from a cord around her neck: pearly pink on the inside, mottled brown and ivory striping along its smooth exterior, and about the size of a golf ball.

“Lovely necklace.”

Emma immediately reached up to clasp the shell in hand, as if attempting to hide it. “Yeah. Thanks.”

“Fairly new, isn’t it?”

She shrugged. “I’ve had it awhile, actually.”

“Have you? Funny; I don’t recall ever seeing it before all of this started. And now… if I’m not mistaken, you haven’t taken it off since Hope’s disappearance. Why is that?”

Emma glowered at him. “She... Hope ‘gave’ it to me. It helps me feel close to her.” She swiped at her eyes. “Is that what you wanna hear?”

The detective watched her, working his jaw slowly and praying that he wasn’t burning bridges here. It sounded quite plausible, and there was real emotion behind her words. It may be that she was telling the truth… but maybe not quite the whole truth. Jones drew a painful breath.

“I believe you. I do. But I have to tell you, I became fairly close to Ariel in my quest to free Alice, and so I’ve learned to recognize mermaid magic when I see it. And I’ll be damned if that isn’t a miniature shell phone you have there.”

The small flicker of surprise did not go unnoticed, and it was more than enough confirmation for him. Emma continued to grip the necklace but set down the pictures and leaned back in her chair. Jones gave her a quick, humorless smile, asking,

“Who’s on the other end?”

Emma shot him an annoyed scowl, obviously concocting more clever half-truths and evasive statements. But then she paused, sighed, and rubbed her eyes, and it was as if her whole body wilted in surrender. Jones waited patiently, not giving her an easy out. Finally, she said,

“Dammit, Killian; we should have known you would…” She trailed off, then huffed a rueful laugh. He raised his uninjured eyebrow. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a hell of a detective?”

Jones’ only response was a modest little smile, and Emma sobered.

“You can’t tell. Promise me you won’t tell them.”

Uneasy, Jones shook his head. “Tell who?”

“Everyone. Anyone. You have to swear to keep this between you and me.”

“Emma, I can’t--”

“Swear it,” she hissed, so vehemently that he straightened in surprise. With a sigh, knowing he would likely regret the vow, he nevertheless yielded.

“Okay. All right. You have my word.”

A beat of silence. Then another. Emma seemed to be struggling with phrasing. Finally:

“Hope’s not missing. She’s fine. She’s safe.”

Jones blinked at her. The usual resulting pain in his swollen cheekbone was briefly muted by startled disbelief. “She’s… I’m sorry, I don’t…”

With a watery smile--peace in the knowledge of her daughter’s safety, with maybe a hint of solace in the unburdening of her soul--Emma confirmed,

“She’s fine. Has been all along. The kidnapping thing… we made it all up.” She winced then, looking sheepish. “Sorry.”

Equal measures of relief, confusion, and anger were beginning to color his shock. Jones started to cross his arms, then thought better of it. Instead, he fidgeted with the new gouge in his mechanical hand. A million questions jumbled his mind, but he gave voice to the one addressing his foremost concern.

“Then where the bloody hell is she?”

“With Belle. We met up with them in a separate realm that’s not part of the United Realms; she’s probably a whole lot safer there than we are, with this frickin’ monster situation here. Time runs much slower there, so it’s only been, like, ten hours for them, and you were right about the shell phone: I’ve been keeping in touch with her as much as I can. I was just talking to her when you came.”

Emma seemed to realize then that she was rambling nervously, and she shut her mouth. Jones was tense as he watched her and tried not to let the sting of betrayal cloud rational thought. He forced a calming breath.

“Who else knows?”

“Me and Killian; that’s it. And it has to stay that way.”

As the detective rubbed gingerly at his jaw and mouth, striving to stifle the hurt, echoes of the past month chased themselves around his mind. The times he’d empathized with both parents, seeing himself in their haunted expressions. Every flashback to his own separation from Alice and the inevitable pain dredged by the memories. Not only that, but the very real fear he’d felt for the innocent 3-year-old. All of the sleepless nights, going through scanty leads over and over again to keep the helplessness and frustration from overwhelming him. There’d been nightmares, difficulties in concentration, even a few tears. And all of it… in response to a cruel lie?

“How?” he finally croaked. “Your family, your friends… how could you put them through this hell?”

Emma looked away, chastened but with a spark of defiance on her face. “We had to. It was our best chance to take that bastard down. Still is… I hope.”

“But… Emma, your parents… Henry... Neal. They’re all sick with worry; you can’t--”

“They have to be!” True anguish tinged her voice; it sounded as if she teetered on the verge of sobs. “The whole plan… Killian’s life depends on it!”

Jones forced slow breaths that helped to purge his heightened emotions. Hurt and anger would be of no use in this situation; he needed level-headed calm. The last exhalation whistled through his nose in a long, careful sigh as he sat back in his chair and settled into a less confrontational position.

“Okay. Why don’t you tell me the whole story, because I sure as hell don’t agree or understand, not yet. But… I want to.”

In response to his change in tone and body language, Emma relaxed a bit too, resting folded hands on the tabletop and searching them for the best place to start.

“Thank you. I get it; you have every right to be pissed. But I wouldn’t do anything differently. And… I’m only telling you all of this because… I don’t think Killian believes he’s coming back.”

[brittysaucefanfic]

Teachings of the Heart

Part 6

@shattbigbang @pastellipastels

(First)(Previous)(Next)(Last)(AO3)(Art)

“Hold the elevator!” A very familiar voice calls out behind Shiro as he steps into the school elevator. This one is for teacher’s only, so at least it isn’t a student trying to accost him again. Lately they’ve become a lot more shameless in questioning him on his love life with Mr. Holt. Shiro turns and chokes on air as he sees Matt rushing at him from across the halls.

It’s a sight to see, truly.

Matt has his shoulder length hair whipping in out of his face, a thick gold lock of hair caught in his mouth. He’s practically sprinting, which is very unlike Matt. As much as he and Matt have been working out together, Matt absolutely loathes running. As in, start running if you see him doing so, because surely nothing but the most horrendous of monsters could be chasing him. That is how much he hates running.

Shiro smiles in amusement as he holds the elevator doors open open with his free hand, the other one carrying his paperwork for the day and his workout bag. School’s out, and all that is left of the students are those with extracurriculars. Matt comes barreling towards him at top speed, with a look of horror on his face.

Shiro realizes too late that Matt is moving too fast to slow down.

They crash into one another, Matt on top of Shiro, flattening them both to the ground. Shiro lands with a thud, the breath knocked out him, then chokes as it’s knocked out of him again right after with Matt’s weight. Papers go flying around the elevator as the doors slip close, and they lay there groaning for a decent minute.

“Well,” Shiro coughs out as he looks down his chest and into Matt’s sheepish face. “Hello to you too.”

Matt blushes with a high pitched giggle, and Shiro’s heart melts. Matt’s hair is wild, a mass of tangles on top of his head that makes him look a hell of a lot like male Pidge. He’d had it in a ponytail, which is usually a look that tests every ounce of Shiro’s self control, but the hair tie is barely hanging onto his remaining tied locks. His eyes, like liquid amber, are bright with joy. A dimpled smile spreads coyly across Matt’s face as they stay like that, lying on the ground.

“You wound me Takashi. Who would I be without my dramatic flare for entrances?” Matt simpers, and Shiro chuckles, letting his head thump onto the ground.

“Probably Pidge if I’m being honest.” Shiro fires back. Matt sounds a gasp of outrage and smacks his chest lightly.

“You take that back, I am nothing like that little demon.” Matt grumbles. Shiro peeks into Matt’s face again with a raised eyebrow. They still lie prone on the floor of the elevator.

“What did she do this time?” Shiro says, remembering seeing the headband on her this afternoon at lunch before she disappeared to wherever it is she spends her free time. Matt pouted and sat up, not quite leaving Shiro on the floor, but sitting in his lap. Matt crosses his arms indignantly and doesn’t seem to notice Shiro’s new found predicament.

“She didn’t wake me up for school! I got here three hours late, then had to spend another hour getting chewed out by Allura, then,” Matt’s voice raises in volume. “I realized I left all my paperwork at home!” He ranted. Shiro sort of tunes it out since Matt is sitting in his lap, straddling his hips. Shiro feels himself start to blush, but it’s gone as the elevator jolts to a hard stop. The jolt is so strong it sends Matt back to being flat on top of Shiro’s chest.

“Uh,” Matt mumbles into his neck, and Shiro shivers with breath that washes over his heated skin. “What was that?”

They both quickly stand after that, and while Matt examines the elevator, Shiro takes the chance to calm his racing heart. This crush is starting to become a little problematic. Doesn’t help, not a single bit, that his students have no shame in trying to hook them up. God, how embarrassing would it be if his students managed what he didn’t have the nerve to do for over twenty years?

“I don’t think this box is moving anytime soon Shiro. And since most everyone is gone or handling their extracurricular supervising, we probably won’t get any response anytime soon.” Matt says, and Shiro’s heart rate spikes all over again. Stuck? In a tiny space? With Matt? For who knows how long?

God be willing, let him survive this encounter. Matt in public is hard to deal with as it is.

For the first hour things are fine. Matt keeps up a steady stream of small talk, gushing over his newest project. Something sciency with a bunch of related sciency words that Shiro doesn’t even try to translate. Shiro listens all the same, because this is Matt. He would be hard pressed not to hang onto the man’s every word.

The second hour falls much into the same category. Except it’s Shiro talking about football and his team and his brother’s way of handling practice. Matt looks just as clueless as Shiro felt when listening to him, but he still listens dutifully. He even asks questions to try and understand Shiro’s favorite game. It’s the same questions he asks every time they talk about football practice, and every single time Matt seems to forget everything he had learned.

Shiro wonders if it’s really confusion, or just Matt being Matt.

In the third hour, they spend it picking up papers and sorting them into a stack for each of them. It takes a while, because there are a lot of papers. In the last part of the third hour, they just start doing paperwork like originally planned. That’s where they both were headed when stepping into the elevator.

It's when they have nothing else to occupy themselves with that Shiro starts to panic.

His breathing gradually becomes erratIc and his heartbeat refuses to slow down. Matt keeps looking at Shiro with worry greasing his smile as he tries again and again to contact someone on the other side. Their cells get horrible service in the elevator so it isn't like they could have just called someone to let them know.

Shiro's chest keeps getting tighter with every second.

"Hey buddy," Matt says, sitting back down next to Shiro after trying again with the emergency telephone. Maybe if they had gotten stuck during the day they could have gotten their resident electrician specialist (Hunk) to get them out of here.

"It's alright Takashi. We'll get out of here soon I promise." Matt says, but Shiro can't really focus on him very well. His breaths are coming out in wheezes now. God, this is so embarrassing. He hates looking weak, even in front of his brother.

"I have an idea." Matt says a few seconds later, a smile strained on his lips. Shiro starts sweating now, his body trembling as he tries to force himself to calm down. It isn't working very well.

"Tell me about your happiest memory Takashi." Matt says, sitting just far away enough that no part of their bodies are touching. It helps a little, not feeling smothered. Matt sets his hand on the floor, fingers splayed wide. It takes a moment for Shiro to realize what he wants from him, and he sets his own hand next to Matt's. Their fingers overlap each other's, settled in the spaces between their hands.

Shiro closes his eyes and finds his happiest memory.

He tells Matt of a memory they share. It was of one of their mini golf nights. Sometimes not everyone can make it, but for this one time, everyone had shown up. Even Pidge. He talks about the argument Keith and Lance got into. It was about something stupid like who had the better score, when they both lost hard to Pidge and Matt perfect scores.

They all agreed that Pidge won though, because she performed shots that would be impossible for anyone else. After a few minutes of reminiscing with Matt his chest feels lighter and less constricting.

The elevator suddenly jolts into movement and when the doors open Shiro practically launches out. He collapses to his knees as he sucks in as much air as he possibly could. His body starts shaking and he jumps out of his skin when a hand grazes his shoulder without warning. Then suddenly Matt is in his vision, and Shiro latches onto his arms.

Perhaps if he wasn't still sucking in air like he had been drowning he could have truly appreciated just how big Matt's muscles really are.

"Hey, we're free Kashi. It's okay. I've got you. It's going to be okay." Matt starts saying to him, but even still the words are distorted in Shiro's ears. Liked he's still theoretically under water.

"Oh my god. Shiro are you alright?" Says another voice. Shiro realizes there's someone standing in front of him. Hide eyes quickly travel up thick legs and a large chest and into Hunk's worried face. Shiro immediately tries to school his face into something neutral, but he gets the feeling it doesn't work. He doesn't speak until the shaking stops, which takes a moment.

"I'm fine Hunk. I'll be fine." Shiro replies. Even he can hear how slurred and drunk he sounds. Matt murmurs something but Shiro doesn't catch it as he starts counting to Matt's heartbeat which he can feel through that wrist Shiro has a death grip on. He stands up slowly and a little bit wobbly. Matt doesn't let go and Shiro appreciates the physical support as much as he appreciates the emotional support Matt gave him in the elevator.

"Want me to take you home Takashi?" Matt asks. His voice is strangely right next to his ear and Shiro quickly realizes how close they are standing. Shiro is practically cradled in Matt's armed at this point. He wants to tell Matt no, to tell him he'll be fine on his own. But he knows better than to drive when there's still tremors in his hands.

"Please?" Shiro says and he finally looks at Matt in the face. Matt's eyes are creased at the corners in worry and they sag in exhaustion. Matt smiles though, and although Shiro's body is still reacting to the claustrophobia, his mind settles a little.

"Okay. Let's go. Thanks for letting us out Hunk." Matt says. Shiro looks at Hunk who is on the verge of tears with a look of guilt in his eyes. Shiro feels bad for upsetting him.

"Later Hunk." Shiro says. Then Matt leads him out of the school and to Matt's house for the night.

******

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[locke-writes]

On The Road

Author: locke-writes

Title: On The Road

Prompt: Road Trip x Tony Stark. For: @thefanficfaerie Picture Is Worth 1000 Words Challenge

Rating: T

Word Count: 2214

AN: Life got in the way and I’m immensely late but I finished it anyway.

Quickly grabbing a fry off of Tony's plate you took a bite before he could even make a comment. He frowned while you grinned in response, reaching to grab the salt from the end of the table. The neon lights reflected off the windows in the diner providing calm and comfort.

When Tony locked himself away in his lab you worried about him. There was no telling what caused him to disappear, hiding away, tinkering on a new project or perhaps an already existing one. The only thing that kept you calm in those situations was the fact that this particular vice wasn't all that detrimental to his health compared to others. But there was no telling if Tony was sleeping or eating without consulting Jarvis or running into him in the kitchen.

If working himself to death in the lab was Tony's way of calming down, you recognized that it still wasn't a healthy way to cope. It was up to you to provide another way.

There was always talk of traveling between you and Tony yet nothing had ever come of it. With running a business alongside saving the world there just wasn't any time. Truth be told you were afraid that there would never be any time, the list of cities, state, and countries you wished to visit sitting there on the page you had written them on, mocking you. 

Tony's retreat into the lab once more, the sound of him bickering with a wrench you had heard clattering indicating the overwhelming need for him to get away. And so you arranged it in secret. 

Typically secrets weren't a part of your relationship with Tony. Honesty was the best policy after all. But when the idea for a road trip came about you knew that Tony would object, he'd say he was fine, he'd try and have a mission arranged just to prove it to you. Whether he was fine or not Tony was never one to admit he needed help. Over time he'd gotten better about it yet he still wanted to be the person others relied on rather than the person to rely on others. 

Nick wasn't about to agree to not calling Tony for one full week but after a few threats and promising him a few favors he had agreed. Which meant that you had one full week without interruptions, one full week that Tony could relax without worrying. One full week in which you hoped Tony would be made to take a break from his worrying, at least if his mind would let him. 

There was never any true discussion about where you and Tony were about to go. A plane would have been able to take you anywhere around the world in a matter of a few hours, but you didn't want that. You wanted to keep Tony occupied, to make sure his mind was focused on something else rather than on any unfinished project. It was since decided that a road trip would be the best form of escape. 

California.

It's nickname was the Golden State but for many years of your life you called it home. After leaving to attend college in New York many years ago, you hadn't been back since. Or at least in awhile as you came home for the holidays when you were able. 

There were many things that you missed from home, many Cali-centric places, but the main was the beach. Yes you did live on the East Coast and you could find the time to head to the beach should you choose to but it wasn't the same. You missed the sand practically burning your feet when you went on 100 degree days and the lack of tourists when you went on days where it was 60 degrees. Lower temperatures always meant that tourists would never be there but native Californians would since it would still be warm.

Tony had taken only a few minutes of convincing. He had questions, he always did but you had answers. You didn't know where you were stopping, you'd figure that out on the way calling hotels as you came close but you knew the route, knew what states and cities you were stopping in. Once he was fully satisfied by the fact that he was going to be left alone and that you hadn't talked about the trip to anyone other than Happy and Nick, he began packing. 

Two days later and you were ready to hit the road.

Washington D.C 

The first stop. There wasn't anything much to see that you hadn't seen before. It was nice wandering around though, pretending that you and Tony were tourists. With all the conversations that Tony had to attend at the capitol, with all the Senate interrogations the two of you had to attend, you'd been in D.C more often than any other city on the road trip map. 

It didn't seem to make it any less special though. In fact the knowledge that you'd only be there for the rest of the day before taking towards the road in the morning. Walking around the monuments was refreshing, getting a chance to be somebody no one cared about was refreshing. Whether or not Tony admitted it you knew he was glad that there was no one around bombarding him for autographs. You didn't know if they didn't think Tony was the real deal or if they didn't want to bother the two of you but either way you were grateful.

Nashville

You'd left DC at eight in the morning wanting to at least have some time to sleep in but leave with enough time that you wouldn't arrive to late in Tennessee. With no time to explore the city on the first day you and Tony grabbed food and hung out in the hotel room going to bed relatively early. The schedule you had created allowed for a full day in Nashville which you planned on taking full advantage of.

Whether or not it was cliche to do you allowed Tony to drag you to the major tourist sites. Admittedly going from the Grand Ole Opry to the reproduction of the Parthenon was a little odd but it fit. In some ways it allowed you to learn more about the man than you had known before. He was like a private tour guide. Aware that he was a music fanatic you'd only ever heard him listen to everything but country yet suddenly he was spouting out facts of the top of his head. Maybe he had looked them up when you were off somewhere but with Tony's brain you truly believed that he knew everything off the top of his head.

Nashville was the first place on the road trip map that you truly noticed a change in Tony. It was the first time he was becoming calm, allowing himself to relax.

Mississippi

To keep on track with the trip schedule and get Tony back to New York before Fury broke the promise and started calling you weren't able to spend too much time in Mississippi. For the most part it was used as a rest stop. A place where you could grab food that wasn't from regional drive thru's and was actually edible. A place where you could get some hours of sleep. Not excellent sleep but a few hours on a decent hotel mattress. 

For the most part you'd been doing most of the driving. Going to Mississippi was the first time Tony had offered to take the wheel, it was also the first time he began to critique the road trip you playlist that had been created. Or well, you hadn't actually created it only pulled together a few songs from other existing playlists you'd found online.

New Orleans

Having not made plans when you arrived in New Orleans you were ready to treat the city the same as the one before, as a resting place. Of course you should have known that when Tony set his feet down in New Orleans he'd have too many ideas of what to do. Tony had friends in a wide variety of places and Louisiana was no exception. 

Despite having a need to wake up early in the morning you didn't care. You didn't care about anything after you saw Tony smiling and laughing in the bar. You'd gone along for a few drinks with the friends that he knew from college. In your head it was like you had been there for it all as well, like you had existed for all the stories that had been brought up. 

It was like a switch had been flipped. Flip it one way and you had the word weary Avenger, the man that everyone thought they knew, the man that everyone knew only by news reports and magazine interviews. Flip the switch that one way and you had a man that truly believed despite every word set against it, that he had to be the only one to hold the word on his shoulders. Tony Stark was a modern day Atlas. He was punishing himself for every single wrongdoing that was out of his grasp.

And yet flip the switch the other way and here was this Tony Stark. The Tony Stark that was laughing and was acting as if his life never consisted of the stress of being a superhero. Here was a carefree Tony Stark and perhaps this was the one true carefree Tony Stark that you had known

Austin

Stepping foot into Austin was as though you were physically stepping onto the halfway mark of the map. You knew in only a few days your feet would be touching sand, you'd be in California. You'd have one moment to officially be carefree. And Tony would have days to just be. To just exist. No worries, no thoughts of a life to get back to. There was just going to be the beach and water ever else you would end up deciding to do. 

For the most part in Austin the two of you decided just to take in local shops. It was a thing not widely known about Tony Stark but he was a supporter of local businesses. Many thought that he'd recommend franchising, selling out and expanding, but that was far from the truth. Although Tony owned and partially ran Stark Industries he knew the history of the company. Every business starts off small and every business can grow to be a corporate giant if they so choose. To give those places the option of expansion though, they still have to make money as the small businesses they'll start out to be.

Scottsdale

Being in Arizona was difficult. Not because you in Scottsdale which was mainly known for its golf courses and you absolutely hated golf, but because there were only hours keeping you from California, for a beach you hadn't been to in years. Only a few hours keeping you from sharing a meaningful experience with your closest, dearest friend. 

One of the few other things Scottsdale was known for was it's abundance of spas which you and Tony took full advantage of. Driving for hours upon hours a day leaves for barely any time you walk around and stretch. It leads to feeling sore and it leads to the great want of a massage. With the two of you always working there wasn't much time you spent being indulgence. Taking care of others was what Tony felt most necessary, rather than taking care of himself. 

In the time that you had been on the road you'd seen the weight lifted off his shoulders. And now as the two of you were on separate massage table in the same room, you knew it'd be fully eradicated from him. Every amount of stress would be fully washed away. 

Huntington Beach.

California

Home.

It took six hours to get to the beach. Six hours and some minutes due to traffic but you were smiling through it all. Tony thought you were crazy to enjoy traffic but having been away from Southern California for so long it felt like him being stuck in traffic on every freeway you needed to drive down. 

Six hours.

That's how long it had taken to get from one state to the next. That's how long it had taken to get you here, a beach parking lot. You stood staring out at the sand and the water out there before you. Tony questioned why the two of you hadn't gone straight to the hotel to rest. He wasn't angry or upset, just curious but even while asking about the hotel he was grabbing the bag you had packed specifically for your arrival at the beach. 

There was no time to waste, you'd change into a bathing suit later but now you just wanted to sink your feet into the warm sand. You grinned while Tony shut the trunk of the car.

"Step 1. Grab shitty nachos from the snack bar. Step 2. Lay out towels and claim a spot. Step 3. Admit I was right." You turned back to look at Tony.

He smiled back, "I admit it. We needed this. I. I needed this"

[trentteti]

Three Lessons from Game of Thrones for LSAT Newbies

Soo … that Game of Thrones premiere last night, right? All those reunions? The part with the dragons? The scene in the crypts with the news? Bran being kind of an awkward weirdo? So much to take in, especially after the show’s been away for almost two years.

Yeah, I know there was other stuff going on this weekend. Golf, basketball, Coachella, early spring days full of fresh air and verdant fields. Also, wasn’t this the weekend you were finally going to start studying for the LSAT? Maybe you even took your first practice exam, and the results were about as ghastly as that message the Night King left last night? Yeah, if that happened, I can understand why you might feel a little guilty fixating on Game of Thrones, since you got a veritable … um … wall of LSAT materials to start studying.

It’s OK that your attentions are on the show right now. In fact, there’s a lot of wisdom about studying for the LSAT that can be gleaned from the show. Now, I’m not saying studying for the a Law School Admissions Test was what George R.R. Martin had when he created this intricate world, or what David Benioff and D.B. Weiss concentrated on when adapting that world for the screen. And I’m willing to concede that connecting the LSAT to this show is a stretch roughly the size of the Narrow Sea itself. But, you know what, I’m still thinking about last night’s episode. And, even though you’re still a little shook from that first practice exam, you’re still thinking about last night’s episode. So, we might as well try to divine some pearls of wisdom from this show, while our attentions are still on it.

So, with all that said, let’s look at three quotes from Game of Thrones, and see what they can tell us about slaying the most fearsome foe of them all: The Night King Ramsay Bolton the Great Masters of Meereen Tywin Lannister Joffrey Baratheon the LSAT.

1. “If you think this has a happy ending, you haven’t been paying attention.”

… Just kidding with this one. Studying for the LSAT can, obviously, have a happy ending. Even if you don’t get your target score, the mere fact of not having to study will feel positively mirthful. So, let’s get onto the real quotes …

1. “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”

… OK, OK, I’m still kidding. The LSAT is not a life-or-death affair, even if it may occasionally feel that way. In fact, you’ll be better off if you take some pressure off yourself. You can study for the LSAT for as long or as short a period as you’d like. You can take the LSAT as many times as you need. Law schools no longer really penalize applicants who have more than LSAT score, so a single bad score isn’t going to keep you out of law school. When you play the game of the LSAT, you win or you wait for the next exam, really.

OK, so enough of yanking your Maester’s chain, let’s finally get to real quotes …

1. “Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.”

This line, spoken by undersized and then-underestimated Tyrion Lannister and directed to protagonist Jon Snow, is all about embracing your identity as one of the “cripples, bastards, [or] broken things” Tyrion would later reference. That first practice exam may have shredded your confidence a bit, so you too may be feeling like a “broken thing.” Embrace that feeling — accept the fact that you, to borrow another quote from the show, “know nothing.” Embrace the fact you don’t have the stuff get the LSAT score you want, at least for now.

Sure, that probably sounds like weird, fatalistic, and counter-intuitive advice. But look at the second part of that quote. By recognizing the fact that you are in the early stages of your studies and don’t currently have the tools to earn your target LSAT score, you can begin to accept that you are a work in progress. And if you can accept that, you can move past the “broken” feeling you experienced after the first practice exam.

Plus, embracing the fact that you know nothing will help you in the next stage of your studies. The LSAT is a very difficult exam, and involves dealing with information in a way that doesn’t come naturally to many people. Those who embrace, early on, that they know nothing are forced to start learning all the tools and methodologies that can help them make sense out of these questions. They gradually develop the skills necessary to hit their target score. Although it involves a lot of effort, they eventually experience a huge score increase. Those who do not embrace that fact continue to use the same approach they used on the first practice exam and experience, at most, marginal improvement throughout their studies.

So embrace that you’re broken right now. Accept that you have a lot to learn. And once you’ve gained the skills necessary to do well on the exam, don’t forget how far you’ve come.

2. “Chaos isn’t a pit. Chaos is a ladder.”

Studying for the LSAT involves a good deal of chaos. In all likelihood, you’ll be getting more questions wrong than you’re used to. Again, it’s a difficult test, by design. Sometimes, just figuring out why certain answers are wrong and others are correct is going to feel chaotic.

The best LSAT students adopt the perspective of the conniving Littlefinger, the source of this quote. Every question you get wrong isn’t a pit to wallow in. It’s a an opportunity to learn … a rung on a ladder that you’ll climb on your path to enlightenment … or, a better LSAT score, at least.

For each question you get wrong, there’s a lesson. Maybe it was a little trick the answer choice pulled — like using absolute rather than relative language. This test repeats the same tricks over and over again, so learning from that mistake means you won’t make the same mistake on a future question. Or maybe the lesson is that you need some more review on certain important concepts, like diagramming or the common fallacies. Remember to treat the chaos of these questions as learning opportunities, and we can promise that you’ll experience a happier ending than [VAGUE QUASI-SPOILER AHEAD] Littlefinger did.

3. “There is only one god, and His name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: ‘Not today’.”

This quote, from a wise and puckish sword instructor, is related to the aforementioned chaos. There are going to be times when you’re ready to throw in the proverbial towel, to give up on your LSAT studies — to say, “Sure, whatever, today is good” to the God of Death when He comes for your LSAT study plan. There are certain setbacks that nearly everyone preparing for the LSAT experiences — whether that’s a demoralizingly low practice exam score at the worst time, a day in which nothing seems like it’s going right, or a concept that just doesn’t make any sense to you.

These moments are, unfortunately, all but inevitable when studying for a test this difficult. But it’s important to realize that they are just momentary setbacks, and not reasons to end your studies and lose all the progress and momentum you’ve built up to that point. Those who relent to these God of Death moments in their studies usually just end up having to study longer, since they spend so much time relearning material after they give up. Remember, any setback you experience is completely normal and can be overcome. Say “not today,” when you face these moments, and you’ll, unlike [AGAIN, A SORT OF “SPOILER” AHEAD … MAYBE] the aforementioned sword instructor, live to fight another day.

Three Lessons from Game of Thrones for LSAT Newbies was originally published on LSAT Blog

[aion-rsa]

Stewart Copeland on How The Police Found Synchronicity Under the Volcano

https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Gracie Otto’s documentary Under the Volcano tells the story of a rock star paradise which became a modern Atlantis. Air Studios Montserrat, the recording studio built by The Beatles’ producer George Martin in 1979, captured the truest sounds of the biggest musical acts of the 1980s before it succumbed to the island’s natural disasters. Custom-built in the shadow of the active Soufrière Hills volcano, AIR generated its own heat. Songs recorded at the studio burned up the charts, and reinvigorated burnt out artists.

Paul McCartney retreated to the remote musical getaway shortly after receiving the devastating news about the murder of John Lennon. Paul recorded Tug of War, one of his best post-Beatle works there, as well as Pipes of Peace. He flew in Stevie Wonder, who jammed at a local club until the early hours, for harmonic collaboration. The Rolling Stones reunited to record Steel Wheels, bringing Keith Richards together with Mick Jagger for the first time since their respective solo recordings. The Police took a different direction.

Formed in London in 1977, The Police rode the punk wave to international fame and the pressures of delivering on their musical promise. With Sting on lead vocals and bass guitar, Andy Summers on guitar, and Stewart Copeland on drums, this was not a three-chord, minimalist-mode trio. Merging rock changes, reggae-downbeats, and jazz-chord augmentations, they needed space to expand their reach.

To record Ghost in the Machine, they also wanted to be out of reach of record company suits. They went to Montserrat for the isolation, not only from the pop world, but for each individual track recorded. The studio afforded amazing separation. The band didn’t even have to be in the same room while recording at the same time. Stewart wound up playing drums in a dining room.

The Police was Copeland’s band, Sting was just in it. Much like the era’s tabloids would’ve had us believe it was Sting’s world and we just lived here. Stewart founded the band, wrote its manifesto, and is still deranging its sonic possibilities. He spoke with Den of Geek about the documentary Under the Volcano, and how The Police lost and found Synchronicity at George Martin’s AIR Studios Montserrat,

Den of Geek: I was just talking to a drummer friend who left a band we were in to play in a Police cover band. He wanted me to ask about how you approach the drums.

Stewart Copeland: Usually from behind, which sounds really weird, actually. Let me rephrase that.

Did George Martin ever actually say anything about Andy dancing on the soundboard?

Not that I ever heard. In fact, I did a concert with him many years later and it didn’t come up. In fact, I did a television interview with him, a documentary about music that he was making and it didn’t come up. By the way, no damage was done. Those things are built to withstand heavy metal bands. And Andy’s only little. He had very sure footing. Didn’t break anything. And by the way, I’ve seen that console, that exact same console. I’ve seen it at the A&M #1 studio in Los Angeles. I’ve seen it in several other studios that claim that “that is the Neve [Electronics, which made the mixing console] upon which Andy danced.”

I also watched Jools Holland’s short film on the Police at Montserrat film from ’81. I wanted to know about “underwater golfing” and all the other non-musical pastimes that were available.

Sting and Andy probably went underwater golfing a lot, but they never invited me, damn it.

Was Montserrat really the ultimate in rockstar privilege?

Yes, you could say that. Absolutely. There were a lot of rock and roll diversions that are available in Cleveland that are not available on the island. But as far as the paradisiacal environment, absolutely; and being waited on hand and foot. Great food, great situation. I think in the documentary, they mentioned how some bands kind of just hit the swimming pool deck chairs and never woke up and were half asleep. We weren’t because we tormented each other so fiercely that we were fully awake.

I know that you sent Andy Summers to ask George Martin about producing, but did he ever pop in while you were in the studio?

No. He popped over once or twice for dinner, studiously avoiding any moments that we might be working so that he wouldn’t be roped in.

I guess maybe he learned a thing or two in producing all the music that he produced. And one of the things he learned is to not get between rabid dogs who are trying to tear each other’s throats out.

Would Synchronicity have sounded any different if you weren’t at odds with each other at the time?

It’s hard to say. If we had arrived at our decision points or the forks in the road, should we do this or should we do that? You know, saxophone solo or guitar solo? Punk version or reggae version? Other stuff, you know. If we had approached these debates more congenially, would we have arrived at a different result? Probably not. And I guess we’re all happy at the end of the day. The experience of making those records was very rigorous, but at the end of the day, we all appreciate the result.

You worked with George Martin on the ’99 Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Beatles show. What was he like to work with?

Excellent. It mainly was working with his son [Giles Martin], his consiglieri, who’s also interviewed in the documentary. But working with him, he’s just a profoundly musical man. Music is what he knows, does, and he makes it very clear what’s needed, what everybody should do.

It was a strange thing. He rehearsed for three days for that show and the first day the word went out and I was the only person who showed up, me and my bass player buddy, Armand [Sabal-Lecco]. So, we learned the material. By the third day, everybody had showed up. Every guitarist in town, everybody, but I was already planted on the drums so everyone else can piss off.

But on guitar, all these session guys had every- who doesn’t know exactly the patch and the fingering of every single Beatles lick? And it was kind of interesting to hear everybody completely nail it in their different kinds of ways. And also on the drums, I was never that big a Beatles fan, but when I sort of made my own tape of the proposed songs. He sent a set list and I started playing [Sings opening of “I Want To Hold Your Hand”].

I mean, I knew it. My hands knew it. My body knew the song without my brain ever thinking about how the song goes. You just know when the chorus is coming. Yep, this is the chorus. [Sings]. But you know, it’s musical muscle memory, and don’t even get me started on the connection between memory and music.

I recently did a piece on the Concert for Bangladesh and I watched Ringo and Jim Keltner double up and play in unison. I watched the video of you and Ginger Baker playing off each other. Have you ever played in unison with another drummer and who would you like to do that with?

It’s a very strange exercise. Non-drummers seem to think it’s a good idea, and I won’t mention any names, I don’t get it. Guitarists hate to have another guitarist plugged in, God damn it, you know.

Drummers love other percussion. Bongos, shakers, tambourines, you name it, bring it on. Let’s have everybody smacking something. But two drum sets? That don’t make it sound fatter. They don’t really complement each other. My preference would be a drummer, but not in a drum set, doing something else. Like the contrast that fulfills a different function. I don’t really get the two-drummer thing.

Do you still consciously count when you’re drumming?

Yes. When learning something, I count it out, figure out what it is, but then once I’ve learned it, I don’t count it anymore. I just know it. But yes, sometimes when things are tricky and you actually need to hit a certain hit because that’s what everything else is doing. Yes. It helps to count it out. “Ah, that’s where it is. It’s the end of three,” you know? And then once you’ve got that, you don’t need to refer to the numbers anymore. That’s just to find it.

I subscribe to you on YouTube, and just this morning got an email blast about Police Deranged for Orchestra.

That is going to be a blast. That is going to be the most fun show ever. I’ve got Armand Sabal-Lecco on bass, Rusty Anderson on guitar. His day job is playing with Paul McCartney as it happens. He’s been doing that for 20 years or so. Armand from Cameroon, the Prince of Cameroon is a monster.

Moving up the hierarchy, the three singers, they’ve got three soul sisters on the mic singing the songs, but behind us is the mighty San Diego Symphony in San Diego. And when we get to Cleveland, it’s a mighty Cleveland Orchestra.

And then we’re playing in Atlanta, Buffalo, Nashville, L.A., and it’s really, it’s pretty exciting. I spent a lot of time creating the orchestral arrangements or derangements and some of the songs are quite faithful with the form, but others, I deranged.

There are two things. Why orchestra? I’m the drummer in a rock band? What am I doing in the orchestra? That’s a long story. With 20 years as the film composer, I had a forced education in orchestration. But why deranged is because back in the day I had a Super 8 camera, a film camera, and I shot all the stuff, the whole rise, and then put it in shoe boxes and forgot about it until they invented computers and hard drives and Final Cut Pro.

And I had a moment, I was busy making little movies of my children and I thought, “Wait a minute. I’ve got boxes and boxes of really cool stuff of the rollercoaster ride, the rocket ship of The Police.”

So, I dug it all out, 52 hours, and made a movie. And it was kind of the home movie from hell. But somebody persuaded me to send it to the Sundance and the Sundance was, “Whoa, bring it on over.” And they invited me to participate in the festival. Oh, darn. I had to finish it and make it.

It ends up I sold it to Showtime and it became a feature film for which I needed music, preferably Police music. However, what I learned in film in my 20 years before the masters, the hired gun, is that music must serve the picture. And if the picture takes a left, so must the music.

However, those original Police recordings didn’t take a left. They carried right on because they had some other agenda, mainly being a song. So, I had to cut the stuff up and I had to go back into the masters. But once the scalpel was out, this is fun. I got all the masters of those recordings, as well as live recordings. I found long lost guitar solos, other lyrics.

And I found that Sting’s songwriting was quite modular, so I could take the lyrics of this song, put them on the riff of that song. And I went a little batshit crazy on the whole enterprise and kind of overdid it. And when my colleagues heard, “What is Stewart doing? He’s over there taking our master tapes and cutting entirely new music?”

“Calm down guys. It’s just for the movie.” And so, they calmed down and I think they actually kind of appreciated the result at the end of the day, as long as I’m not trying to make a record and rewrite Police history. But now I am rewriting Police history. By taking those derangements, those weird arrangements where I found all these different melodies and guitar lines and put them in the orchestra, that’s what we’re doing.

About half the material is the original song, and I did make the orchestra do very cool stuff with it. But the other half are these different versions of songs, different melodies and so on. With the three women singing, I get to get all of the Sting harmonies that he did in the studio, as well as the improvisations he did on stage, and the same with Andy.

This exercise has really reminded me, in fact, even more than reminded me: it’s really woken me up to the genius of both of those two guys, the stuff they came up with. I was busy banging shit. I hardly even noticed what Andy was doing, but now I’m deep into what Andy was doing with a much higher degree of appreciation.

As you’re developing all of this for orchestration and ripping it apart, and also with the benefit of knowing how each of you developed post-Police, where do you think the band might’ve gone musically as a continuing unit?

Just the other day, pursuant to flogging the Police Deranged orchestra shows, and I’m sort of looking for images to use for posters, I came across the orchestral performance that I did in Germany, where I’m actually on the podium conducting. We did do “The Equalizer” theme and I’m conducting with a drumstick. The orchestra are all totally, you can see in the picture, they’re all leaning forward. They’re really into it, it’s a really intense thing. And I’m up there waving my stick and it’s this big ass orchestra.

I sent it to Sting a couple of days ago. And I said, “This is how we should have run The Police.” And he wrote back and he said, “So I’m second fiddle?” To which I responded, “Stingo, you will always be first fiddle.”

Also, knowing all this stuff from the inside out with the notation and all that, how do you think The Police would go forward now as a creative unit moving into new territory?

Not so much because we know what we’re doing. And my humble estimation is we got two more albums out of Sting than we deserved. So, he actually was the reason I was overcome by homicidal rage and I felt the urgent necessity of throttling him was because he would come over and say, “Hey, do this or that with the drums.” “Fuck off.” You know?

What made it so urgent was that he wasn’t wrong. He sort of does actually know how to arrange a song and arrange the band and his ideas are pretty good. That doesn’t mean I listened because I was a young prick myself and I had my own ideas, which would prevail. But he’s really good at that stuff.

We, today, if we tried to recreate that, are too independently minded and we have continued to grow in the 30 years since our last collaboration and in a different direction. And at this point in our lives, music has a different function for us. For me, it’s this. The reason I make music is for these reasons, and this is what I like to achieve with music. And for others, they have a completely different agenda of what music is for and what it’s supposed to do and how it’s supposed to be made.

It requires more patience. I’m actually more patient. I would say that for me, there is not one musical truth, because I got beat up. For 20 years, I was told exactly what emotion is required. And I had to learn to create exactly that for my boss, the director who is actually the artist. I’m just a craftsman.

So, I learned to be very malleable but also didn’t really understand how to work different emotions very specifically. Other members of the band who have never suffered under the lash of cruel employment are unrestrained, and have a strange idea that there is only one musical truth and no experience in life has ever shaken that core belief. Which means that when I’ve got to deal with that mindset, it’s unrewarding.

And by the way, I say this with love and admiration in my heart, this is not a gripe, believe me. I’m just explaining why we enjoy each other’s company over dinner and really have a deep abiding admiration and love. But just we get into the studio together and we’re not copacetic.

Going on stage, by the way, playing those songs. That’s a different thing. That’s really exciting because of the emotional charge that it has on an 80,000 people stadium, well, that’s exciting. For the audience, that’s exciting. Never mind my ideas about what music is for. Who cares? Look at that audience going like that. That’s why I’m here on the planet.

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Under The Volcano is available On Demand and Digital now.

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[ninjagoat]

Supergirl 3x14 Speculation Post

As some of you may have heard, episode 14 of this current season of Supergirl will feature Academy Award Nominee Laurie Metcalf as Winn's mother, Mary, who abandoned him as a child after his father committed mass murder.

We know that she's been out on location with Ms. Benoist, possibly with Mr. Brooks and Mr. Wood. So far, it doesn't seem much like the kind of reunion we've seen in 3x03 with Maggie and her dad, or the "I'm dying and I want to make amends" type a la Iris and her mother we've seen on The Flash. The episode title, 'Schott The The Heart' is a play on the Bon Jovi classic 'You Give Love A Bad Name', and that would suggest heavy Mon-El or, indeed, Imra involvement.

Ms. Metcalf is great. She's been great for DECADES. And, as the ever-so-slightly angry people at the Winn end of the fandom will attest, Mr. Jordan brings it pretty much every single week (which is why he gets the Jeremy Jordan Award For Doing So Much With So Little time and time again). Their scenes together will be great.

This post is not about their scenes.

This post is about the *other* big scene: who does Winn confide in? Who does he tell his sob story to?

Because that's the actual story. 'Childish Things' is not the story of the Winslows Schott, but the story of Winn and Kara. Whoever gets told that backstory is the focal point of Winn's arc for the episode and - let's not kid ourselves here, because he's not likely to get another one - the season.

So let's look at the options.

Kara

Kara seems like an obvious choice. Not only does it rhyme with 'Childish Things', but Kara's been... distant from him recently, from him more than others. She's said some questionable things about their friendship. This would be a chance for her to reconnect with him, and by extension, with Kara Danvers.

Kara will absolutely tell him he needs to give Mary a chance. When she says compassion for all, she means it. But Winn might not go for it. After all, why should it be his job to forgive the woman who convinced him, intentionally or not, that he would only ever be his father's son?

Lena

It's not going to be Lena. But I really want it to be.

It would be my absolute dream for this show if Winn showed up at CatCo after the initial encounter with Mary, looking to talk to Kara or James, he can only find Lena; and, in one of her moments where she believes she's good with people (she is, but it's an individual, case-by-case basis thing), she takes him into James office, expecting much ado about nothing.

And Winn dumps *everything* on her. His mother, his father, his time in foster care, everything. And she realises she's totally out of her depth.

Yes, Winn and Lena have paralleling backstories. But Lena's experience happened largely in isolation, both from other people and from the consequences of her family's actions: Winn's dad kills six people, he lost everything; Lena's brother tries to nuke California, and her immense wealth and privilege carries on as normal.

Winn, on the other hand, went into foster care. He'll have met ten, maybe twenty other kids while he was there. He'll have heard their stories, or at least parts of them. He probably doesn't even consider his story to be *that bad*, compared to others.

This would cause Lena to rethink her own history, and her attitude toward it. It would also put an end to the endless "Am I Evil?" stories, because if Winn can make it... she's got no excuse.

She should probably tell Winn that he should stand his ground against whatever Mary wants; but, more likely, will tell him he really needs the advice of someone else, because she is nowhere near qualified to handle this.

J'onn

Most of Winn's scenes this season have involved J'onn. Winn is also has a significant functioning relationship with J'onn's father, M'yrnn (or Mr J). J'onn's story this year is basically built around 'fathers and sons'.

You can see where I'm going with this.

J'onn being a father to Winn in this scene would be the final link between everyone being Winn's friends and people he works for to actually being his family. Plus, J'onn having lost his own mother, and known the joy of being reunited with his father, he is in a unique position to offer advice.

Mon-El

Mon-El has been, hard as it will be for some to believe, Winn's most consistent friend. He has always respected Winn: promises to let Winn make his superhero suit (even though he had no intention of being a hero when he did - I'll get to that later); congratulates Winn when he learns about Lyra, and asks Winn for relationship advice when he needs it; supports Winn when Lyra gets kidnapped; and, my personal favorite, his aphorism "Hope for the best, have Winn Schott plan for the worst".

He *also* knows which of Winn's buttons to press to get him to do things he doesn't want to do, or rather, says he doesn't want to do. This is a quality you want in a good wingman.

And, of course there's his *own* issues with his parents, which gives he and Winn a shared perspective. The most likely advice he would give about Mary would be that which mirrored Winn's previous advice to him; i.e, listen to her, but tempered with his new found leadership skills, he could emphasise that Winn doesn't have to give her what she wants, and he should stand up for himself.

ALEX

Dipping into speculation on the Winn/Mary side of the episode for the moment:

- Winn's supposed to be moving into some sort of leadership role this season (this may have just been the cross-over, or that might be foreshadowing for this arc)

- Mr. Brooks's IG pic shows him, Ms. Benoist and Mr. Wood in kind of a golf-cart, in the middle of nowhere. This feels a lot like a corporate 'team-building' exercise.

- The pic of Ms. Metcalf with Ms. Benoist appears to be at the same location, and her hair/costume choices seem... very Alex.

So, a theory. A decision is made: in order to beat Reign, Supergirl and Guardian and Mon-El will have to work as a team - kind of like National City's very own Trinity - with Winn as... not Overwatch, exactly, but in a similar leadership role as Iris currently has on The Flash; and so, in order to get them all working together, J'onn sends them all off with Alex to DEO boot-camp, where they'll get training from a legendary instructor.

Everyone's excited, but Winn's nervous too. He's never done anything like this, and he's got a huge responsibility here.

And it only gets worse when he finds out the instructor is Mary.

Now, to me, this would be very cool - which is why it's pretty much guaranteed not to be what happens - but the thing about it is that this moves the focus away from 'will he forgive her?' to 'will he win her approval?', while still being part of the main story arc.

So how does Alex fit into this?

Mary is Alex's possible future; a future where she can't balance her current life as a DEO agent with that of her desired life as a mother. Alex is going to see a woman who abandoned her child at a time when he needed her most - the kind of mother she has no interest in being - and she's going to hate her breathing guts.

And then she's going to tell Winn to kick Mary's ass at whatever challenge she's thrown at him, because that woman can go to hell. He doesn't need her approval. He can do this *his* way.

Those are the most likely candidates (and Lena). Here's my thoughts on the others:

JAMES

Please no. I can't sit through James giving his patented generic-but-somehow-uniquely-unhelpful advice on a subject he can't possibly understand (given that he never seems to go home to see his own mother at all). This is a bad idea.

(It's going to happen, isn't it?)

IMRA

An interesting idea, given that Imra's supposed to be a telepath, and particularly given the vague motions toward SaturnNerd in 3x07 and 3x09. She could put his muddled thoughts into order for him, help reconcile what he's saying with what he's thinking. But she'd need to develop a personality very quickly for that to work, because she sure doesn't have one now.

BRAINIAC 5

It'd be hilarious, but no.

CAT GRANT

There's no way. There is absolutely no way that this is happening.

BUT CAN YOU IMAGINE? :-D

So, there's my thoughts. Feel free to kick my ass/leave thoughtful comments.

[lululawrence]

Hey there! I've come to your blog and tumblr in general after a long, long time, so I hope you're doing well. That being said, I'd love to know how you would describe the 1D hiatus or the past few years in the boys' context?

like to summarize the hiatus so far? good heavens. i almost envy you for not being here for all of this but at the same time i’d not wanna be anywhere else lol 

let’s do this one by one, shall we? i in no way say this is all encompassing, i’m going to miss a hell of a lot of shit, but as i said, it’s a basic summary, yeah? 

this got out of hand so i’m putting it all below a cut. lol 

let’s start with niall. he went on the lads holiday we wanted all of them to have, proper travelled the world and barely touched social media (his public accounts, anyway). he was hardly recognized, as far as we could tell, and had a great time with his friends going all around asia and seeing placed he’d never been able to explore before. he started songwriting and let us know by giving us this town. he did the jingle ball circuit that year and then in 2017 gave us slow hands and too much to ask as his singles while he toured small venues and rocked it and released his album flicker. he’s now out there ruling the world, as our irish king should, and has released on the loose most recently as he tours bigger venues on a longer tour whee! add in all the golf fun he’s been having between the modest golf stuff and the masters and such and he’s basically living the life we all deserve.

i’ll do harry next because, surprisingly, his is easier to explain than even liam’s lolll so harry went ghost. and then he showed up with no official confirmation actually on set for dunkirk, so that was when we finally learned FOR REAL that he was doing it. after dunkirk, he went ghost again and then all of a sudden in april last year we got an advert for him. sign of the times was released with info about his album and a small venue tour. it was like the hunger games trying to get tickets for that small venue tour sigh. dunkirk promo was an absolute gift, the film was amazing, and then he then put on a few small shows he announced the day of and gave the revenue to charity. lovely, right? then the small tour went off and was amazing and basically went ghost after the tour until it was time to kick off his big tour, which he’s in the middle of now. there was some super minimal stunting from his side, lots of quality promo but still on the minimalist side, and overall just kinda quiet as harry goes and is loud on the stage hehe

liam. okay liam. so 2016 was quiet and full of rumors and then he confirmed he signed a single deal, the first of any of the boys. like niall his is with UMG and not sony, so we were really excited for him. something i forgot to say for niall is his label is 100% behind him and doing AMAZING things for him promo wise. like holy mother they are perfect. niall is very much being marketed as the every day guy and he’s doing great with it. for liam they are also doing great promo, but liam’s promo is just...different. gosh i’m the worst at this i’m sorry. okay so liam signed a very public deal and then didn’t really release anything for a long time. niall released music and then louis did jho with steve, and then harry did his thing, and THEN liam released strip that down with quavo. tbh niall and liam ruled the summer radio last year with their singles, and liam’s promo was so fucking on point. he was doing interviews and shows and was just kinda everywhere, i’m still so proud. liam also did a collab with zedd and kept promising an album but the date kept getting pushed back. OH and somewhere in last year i think bear was born? i obviously keep good track of that. so add a baby that people feel about 70 different ways about in there with music stuff. then in fall of last year he released bedroom floor, and then in the winter he and rita ora did for you (is that the title? i know the song, not the title i’m sorry) as part of the 50 shades shit and liam rocked that too. he’s now also released familiar with j balvin and we still have no word about his album. lollllll so basically he’s been nonstop promo with a fair amount of music and just...no album. plus a baby and constant rumors about his relationship with whats her face. JUST GIVE US THE ALBUM AND TOUR PLS! oh and he performed for the biggest crowd, bigger than even 1d tour crowds, in dubai just a month or so ago! isn’t that awesome?

and now louis. snort. okay so there was the baby shitshow in early 2016 paired with 5 gazillion pap walks with danielle and/or the baby. lots of partying with the lads. basically he was seen constantly with nothing to sell other than the fact he is obvs very much a dad and very much straight. then in december of 2016 we got word that jay died and suddenly he was releasing a song with steve aoki. just hold on did awesome things, steve was incredible for louis during that entire time, and the promo was pretty damn good. during all of this danielle was suddenly gone and we were thrown back into elounor like it was 2012. everything went a bit quiet after jho, but we got updates he was in the studio, which fine. and then back to you with bebe happened and it was great and fun and promo was alright minus the baby stuff and he promised the album was making good progress and he thought maybe a couple more singles before releasing it hopefully by the end of the year. *stares at the camera* i have opinions on his twitter use so i’ll refrain from saying anything other than it was prolific and there but not necessarily helpful. in addition to the magazines and modeling that liam, niall, and harry all did, louis also did a couple of them and they were mostly positive. he gave us a song that wasn’t technically a single, a song he said was for the fans, just like you on national coming out day so you know there is that too. and then he released miss you. he did a shitload of promo earlier in the year when there wasn’t anything to sell yet, he did a little for bty, but then almost nothing for miss you. literally almost NOTHING. and that song got almost zero radio play. and like wth?? anyway. he’s switched managers though still with the same company, other things have changed but we haven’t seen much evidence of what it means for him but are also still waiting for his album. and tour, though he promised small venues as well so we anticipate the hunger games part 2. add in the fact the baby is still supposedly his and eleanor is still apparently there and that’s basically that.

so. there you go. the worst summary in the history of all summaries. i hope this helped? all i know is they all still love and support each other so much and imo harry and louis are still incredibly supportive and in love. and that’s what you missed on glee.