#but the lucas without impulse control would turn it into a game

[ellenchain]

Another Hitman question: the target is a tech billionaire who does cruel trophy hunts secretely but pretends to be an animal lover to get connections to animal organizations. They're in a zoo, preparing for an event. How does the Hitman fam take them out?

Interesting questions! ❤️

They're a terrible person, so ethically it is absolutely justifiable that they're fed to the lions.

And I think that's how 47 would do it. Just push them over the enclosure and tada - job done. The person just fell. Happens all the time. It's fast, efficient and most likely silent assassin.

Diana would probably pretend to be an employee of the zoo, make some secret deal with the target just to guide them to a deserted area and then kill them (via 47).

Olivia might hack their computer beforehand and post all those awful pictures online so that the event has to be cancelled and the target ends up out of a job. I don't think Olivia would kill them. She seems too tame for that.

Daddy Lucas handles that instead. He would probably kidnap the target, abandon them naked somewhere in the woods and stand behind them with a hunting rifle. ‘Run’ is the last thing the target hears before they try to run away from Lucas, but oh well. We know what happens next. Lucas likes to hunt down bad people and make them realise what they have done wrong. (reminds me a bit of 47 in Absolution, where he does almost the same thing in the desert; cruelty probably runs in the blood of both men).

The childish side of me naturally wants the target to fall into the otter enclosure and something really bad happens. but the worst thing that would probably happen is that they get a lot of rocks thrown at their head

What do yo think??

And would they all go visit the other animals after they murdered them? I don't think everyone would like the zoo (especially not Olivia)... but who knows?!

[were-all-just-stories]

Drunk Wonderland Squad on a Night Out Headcanons

idk this is weirdly specific but they won't leave me alone till I've written them out

(just gonna put this here- mentions of underage drinking, if you don't like that. x)

Peter — everyone thinks he's the guy you'd want to stick with (on account of him being such a mom friend in general day-to-day life) but he literally cannot hold his alcohol and after one/two drinks, you've literally lost him the entire night. He'll dance with everyone, ending & staying with Jason and will whisper musical theatre references back & forth with Ivy the entire evening. Gets incredibly giggly and is lowkey an amazing dancer, even when drunk. He loves a vodka and coke and can usually be found drinking one - Ivy introduced him to this. He's the first one to pass out (usually on the way home) but almost never gets hangovers which makes the entire squad super confused & jealous. Jason basically follows him round the entire night bc he's lowkey kind of worried and has to make sure he's alright. He gets extremely clingy (especially to Jason but also to everyone) and goes around offering everyone a hug (while Jason's following, acting all exasperated bc he wants to dance with him but lowkey loving it.)

Tanya — the person you'd actually want to stick with on a night out. Life of the party and will always make sure you're having a good time. She keeps everyone well stocked with alcohol and makes everyone join in dancing - even Matt. Can hold her alcohol much better than Peter but gets awful hangovers the following day. Really, really loves peach vodka - Peter is the only other person who'll drink it with her. She gets very loud when drunk and will start belting out off-key ABBA songs, Lucas will join in bc that's my girlfriend. She and Lucas have a tradition ever since they started dating of dancing together whenever an ABBA song comes on, anywhere, Lucas has almost broken a leg in an attempt to find Tanya when he's heard the music start.

Matt — lowkey kind of a buzzkill. Turns into your literal mother in Peter's absence (but, like, your strict, paranoid mother not the caring mom-friend) and is constantly checking the time/the people around him/where his friends are. Gets super paranoid that he'll lose his wallet or keys or phone and is constantly checking. Lucas always steals the keys to freak him out. He (Matt) spends the entire evening keeping a tally on who is where and is def the one you want to be with at the end of the night because he will get you home safe. Acts almost like a teacher counting the children: does head counts and is all "meet at the van at half twelve. If you're late, we'll leave without you." Of course, Lucas is always purposely half an hour late or something and bc Matt's not actually going to leave him behind, the rest of them just collectively watch Matt lose his mind as Lucas saunters over at one o clock. Doesn't drink too much at parties/raves so is the designated driver and prefers getting drunk in the comfort of St. Cecelia's where he doesn't have to worry.

Nadia — lowkey scarily good at holding her alcohol. It's really hard to realise she's drunk and she'll often sit calmly to the side, watching the carnage her friends unleash. Gets super intense when actually drunk - tho bc she's quite intense anyway, it can be hard to notice. Will often tag-team with Lucas to steal something of Matt's. She and Lucas have an escalating bet to steal something bigger/more noticeable each time. Once, she accidentally punctured the church van's tire while trying to steal it and they had to hike back instead. Only she and Lucas know what really happened. She and Ivy get really competitive whilst playing drinking games and often have to be stopped, otherwise they'll carry on drinking bc no way are they loosing to the other. At the end of the night, she is usually found sitting at the side bitching to Peter, who is half asleep and nodding along like he'll remember it in the morning.

Jason — similarly to his sister, he can hold his alcohol pretty well, contrary to popular opinion, which is that he's a complete lightweight because the first time he ever got drunk was on two beers and he threw up on Tanya's shoes. But he's evolved since then. Likes going to parties/clubs with dark lights so he can dance with Peter - he lowkey likes drunk Peter who can't stop hanging off him. He likes to play drinking games with Tanya, though Lucas has been banned from joining in ever since he attempted to shave his own eyebrows off when he lost. Lucas and Jason often end up daring each other to do increasingly ridiculous things, tho Jason is better at cutting things off when it gets too intense. Jason's love language is definitely touch and this is even more apparent when he's drunk. Like him and Peter literally cannot stop holding hands - luckily for him, it's dark so nobody can really see and, if they do, it's just played off as a buddy system to stop the other getting lost. Watching Peter sleep in the van on the way home makes him super sleepy so it's all he can do to help Peter inside and into bed before he's asleep too. Often gets really bad hangovers so Peter will bring him breakfast and they'll eat together in bed, maybe make some excuse for missing church so they can stay there longer.

Ivy — signature drink is a vodka & cranberry and it's always the first drink she gets. Usually ends up in the bathroom vomiting at some point bc she loves to mix alcohol with different outcomes - with varying results. She invented her own cocktail when extremely drunk one night which consists of vodka, lemonade, tomato juice, and raspberries. It is absolutely disgusting and nobody else but Lucas (who got such a bad hangover when he tried it, he thought he saw God) will go anywhere near it but she will attempt to convince everyone every time. Giggles a lot when drunk and often gets super emotional. Once cried because Peter spilled his drink on the floor. She gets really loud and is def the one person you'd find on top of a table dancing - Peter would be cheering her on from the floor. The best at placating Matt (even before he started liking her) and persuading him to stay an extra hour or so at the party so the rest of the squad always send her in to convince him. Often wears heels when they go out and is scarily good at keeping her balance in them even while drunk.

Lucas — off the rails. You go out on a night with him and you could wake up with no shoes in Quebec in someone's swimming pool with no memory of what happened. He will literally try any drink you offer him and is always up for dares - to the point where Matt has to intervene bc he's straight up about to jump in the lake with a plastic bag on his head. Extremely fun and you'll def have a good time with him but, if not restrained, the good time could end with a visit to the police station. Has no impulse/self control when drunk and loves to wind Matt up by stealing keys/something that'll freak him out. Will always show up late to their prearranged meeting time to go home and will pretend he's serious about wanting to drive them home to wind Matt up even more. Gets awful hangovers and, if they have class/church the next day, can usually be found either in bed or sitting in class/church with sunglasses and a hoodie pulled right over his head. Last one to fall asleep, he could probably keep going all night.

General —

* The squad usually have one night out a week/two weeks depending on what's going on/where it is

* They can't use church van often as it'll get noticeable so seven times out of ten they'll go somewhere in walking distance or else Lucas will somehow know these lowkey kinda sketch ppl who'll give them a lift (Matt will be freaking out the entire time)

* they'll usually spend Friday nights out somewhere and then Saturday in the common room/someone's dorm/the grounds if it's warm enough

* Peter and Jason attend about 85% of these nights and will plead homework or illness at least once a month so they can spend the night together instead

* Nadia attends about 60% of these and is less likely to go when Peter and Jason don't go but Lucas always tries to persuade her so they can annoy Matt & play drinking games

* Ivy, Lucas, and Tanya literally always go, Matt tags along most times with them bc 'someone's got to make sure they get home'

* Once or twice, Matt has stayed behind and gone to pick Lucas, Tanya, and Ivy up at one instead

* Nadia and Matt sometimes hang out when the others go - they watch scary movies together in the common room - Nadia keeps picking increasingly scarier/gorier ones to see how long it'll take Matt to ask to turn it off but he hasn't cracked yet

Super long post so apologies for that lol, again, feel free to add on/let me know what you think!

[heath-ur]

00Q Kinktober - Day 1

Prompt List ; Ao3

Pairing: Bond x Q Prompt: Thigh Riding Warnings: Smut, No Beta

There is some cannon-breaking hand-waving: Alec never betrays Britain or Bond in GoldenEye. This is set sometime before Skyfall but Q is already Quartermaster. M (the only M that matters) is alive. 

Q is aware of what everyone says about Bond. 007. He is a womanizer, flirt, love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of man. Despite how much he appears to be a gentleman. Q supposes the appearance of one didn’t in any way exclude the behaviors of the other. 

It’s what everyone didn’t say that leads to Q being wrong-footed when faced with the man for the first time as his Quartermaster. 

Due to M’s paranoia, she insisted that every Double-Oh first meeting happened in her office. This is how Q finds himself sitting in the only comfortable visitors chair as he reads over the post-op mission brief on his tablet. Bond walks in without even knocking on the doorframe. Q adds rude to the personality list.

“007, meet Q. Q, 007”. M speaks first as Bond prowls closer. His gaze sharpens as he inspects Q with an intensity that would have been uncomfortable; if Q hadn’t just met 002 for the first time hours prior. 

Q looks up from his tablet to catch the stare head-on and uncrosses his legs to stand. “007. Welcome home. R reported that Positano went well, aside from the owner-operated kiosks De Lucas’ men plowed into. Well done.” Q extends the hand without technology for a handshake. 

Bond returns it briskly enough, his eyes crinkling at the corners like he’s sharing a secret joke. “You can call me Bond. James Bond.” He might have been expecting a birth name in answer. Q doesn’’t give it, even as Bond’s fingers slip oh-so-innocently across Q’s wrist before he lets the handshake fall. Well then. That is new information. Q blinks as he retracts his hand. 

M missed the incident and continues the introduction. “Major Boothroyd has decided after decades of service that he has had enough of you Double-Ohs and took his much-deserved retirement. Q has 12 years of service and has led countless missions over the years. His security and remote retrieval is impeccable.”

Bond smoothly puts a hand in his pocket as he shifts his bodyweight just-so. Contrapposto. “Oh? So you will be the one whispering sweet nothings in my ear?” He asks cheekily in Q’s direction.

Q keeps from rolling his eyes. It isn’t professional. “I believe you have mistaken me for one of your marks, 007. When I ask for you to do something, it won’t be a whisper.” 

Bond barks a laugh at the response.

M cuts her eyes up sharply but in the end refrains from saying anything further besides, “Introductions are over, you both may leave.”

Bond and Q both head for the door and past Moneypenny’s unoccupied desk. The walk past the first branch-off is companionably silent. 

Steps in front of the second, Q speaks up, “If any of my tech survived the mission, I could be relieving you of it now and save you the trip to Q branch.” 

Bond’s expression alone tells Q the answer. Without M’s presence, Q gives into the impulse to roll his eyes like a teenager. “I’ll bid you farewell here, then. Please do give Minnie my regards.” Minnie is Q’s favorite Medical Branch nurse; brutally efficient and without any false cheer. She’s the nurse Doctor Reed sets upon the Double Ohs. 

“Do you even know how to get to Q-branch from here? You won’t get lost, will you?” Bond asks with faux concern. Q can’t decide if Bond is attempting to belittle Q’s age or his intellect. Either way, Bond is purposefully trying to get a rise out of his new handler - a test run.  

“How very paternal of you.” Q quips back. “Will you ask me to hold your hand while you lead me to my desk like a good little boy?”

Bond’s carefree smile turns wolfish at the same time Q realizes the fatal omittance from all of the reports he’d been given: They all called Bond a womanizer. But that didn’t exclude him from being a maneater. Without a by-your-leave, Bond confidently takes hold of Q’s hand and leads him down the hall. 

They end up in an abandoned office - good luck for the poor sod that had the place before, as it feels noticeably warmer than the hall outside. They must be near a furnace. 

Q very carefully puts his tablet aside on the empty desk, head cocked and gaze flicking over Bond’s body language. Receptive, but that didn’t exclude deceptive. “I would claim ignorance over why you have led me here, but ignorance isn’t in my nature. I suppose the next question is what you hope to accomplish, besides orgasms, of course.” 

“Of course,” Bond murmurs as he prowls closer, purposefully licking his lips so he can smirk as he notices Q’s eyes dilating wide. Well, two can play at that game.

Q leans coyly on the far wall, one foot against the wall cocking his knee at an enticing angle, pushing his pelvis out before companionably crossing his arms. “Well? Let me start, shall I? M is aware of my orientation and actively encourages me to pursue like-minded MI6 employees as opposed to those outside of the organization. None of my… personal exploits… will be held against my professional record. So this,” Q flicks a loosely pointed finger between himself and Bond, “will be reported. By me. She’ll be thrilled that I’m following protocol.” 

That actually has Bond pausing a few steps away from Q, his eyes jerking up from where they had been assessing Q’s hips. “Seriously?” 

“Seriously,” Q responds. “Oh, I’m sure she will disapprove and scold you in her office like a naghty schoolboy for not keeping it in your pants - again. I, however,  am but following her orders. Besides, if pressed to keep only one of us, she would choose to keep me. . .” Q rolls his body to push himself off the wall to take the last few steps into Bond’s space, maintaining eye-contact with that ice-blue stare; smirking. “Between the two of us, I’ve proven to be the more dangerous in bed, you see.”

His smirk is kissed off his face as Bond presses forward those last few inches. Q gladly gives him control; he knew it would be worth the submission and is quickly proven correct. There is nothing exploratory about it; deep and wet with an expert tongue licking a pattern across the roof of his mouth. Oh, that tongue would feel marvelous against his cock. 

Q groans and takes Bond’s lapels in his hands, not-so-gently pulling Bond back with him until he meets the wall. At the same time that his back meets the wall, he presses his hips into Bond’s; a testing, rhythmic roll. The kiss is released in order to breathe, teeth scraping against Q’s bottom lip. Hooded eyes meet. 

Q takes control of this next one, deceivingly light kitten licks until Bond opens up are followed by a sharp nip to Bond’s upper lip. Bond makes a surprised noise deep in his throat that just makes Q hotter. He’s pressed more tightly against the wall and the thigh that slips between his legs is a welcome progression of events. 

The initiative is rewarded. Q’s hands travel - one up to clasp lightly at Bond’s nape to bring him that much closer; the other slipping down Bond’s chest and stomach, pulling Bonds shirt out of his trousers just enough so skin can meet skin as Q’s hand continues around until it reaches the small of Bond’s back. Q starts working a rhythm that brings his awakening dick into rolling contact with Bond’s thigh and pelvic crease. No matter the layer of clothing between them, it was still a pressure that promised delicious release. Bond’s own erection ruts against Q’s hip bone with controlled violence.

Q tests a hypothesis by scratching lightly at Bond’s back and is answered with a growl as Bond breaks the kiss and begins walking his lips and teeth down Q’s neck. Perfect. Of course he was bloody perfect. Q’s breath and  hips hitch in sync as Bond gets to that spot behind his ear. Q’s exterior leg leaves the ground altogether so he can press even more of himself against the agent that keeps him locked against the wall. Bond uses the wall to stabilize his knee, angling his hip just right so that the engaged muscles of his thighs feel divine against Q’s perineum.  

Q moans, pleased, and tries to tangle his hand into Bond’s hair. Bond only tsks before taking the hand within his own to press it against the wall near their heads. Q moans, this one approvingly, and ruts harder. His other hand presses itself further up Bond’s back, closer to his shoulder blades. 

The both of them are rubbing against each other enthusiastically enough that Q feels the exact moment the head of his cock slips past both his pants and his slacks to peek out and pressing against Bond’s bare skin, slick and hot. (It should say something about his acquired eating habits that he’s lost enough weight for his trousers to be so loose.) Q can only moan like a wanton whore as he tries to press closer. 

Bond resists, trying to step back, “Wait a moment. Let me.” He tries to slip a hand between them to undo his bespoke trousers - to set them at the same level of indecency. Q won’t have it. He has no choice but to use his trapped thigh and his own weight to hook and twist. In seconds, he has Bond pressed against the wall so that he can continue his ride. (Later, he will be proud that he didn’t even have to set his other foot down. His training with 004 was finally paying off.) RIght now, he is just focused on hitting… that… spot… right… there.

“I guess I did forget to tell you,” Q gasps into Bond’s shoulder, his free hand clawing into Bond’s bare side as he keeps rutting against Bond’s pelvic crease and abs, particularly enjoying the dip of his naval. He stretches his neck to bite gently above Bond’s collar and further still to whisper in his ear. “You're not coming unless it's in your pants. You haven’t gotten your test results since your latest romp in Italy.” 

Bond snarls and grips Q’s still- captured hand hard enough to bruise. Check, Q thinks before Q bites again in reproof. The hand that latches onto his nape to give him a shake makes him throw back his head a moment later to hiss, “Yess…” 

Bond’s lips tackle his own once more, licking and biting. His frustration is evident in every movement, but he doesn’t try removing his trousers again. That deserves another reward.

“Come on, 007. Put your back into it,” Q orders and jerks his hips.

Bond actually laughs before reversing their positions, twisting Q into the wall much harder than Q had moments before, head cushioned only by the hand at his nape. Q traps the keen in his throat, but by the unholy light in Bond’s eyes, it didn’t go unheard. Q’s other hand is taken in Bond’s grip and pressed just as harshly against the wall. Eyes keep contact as Bond presses his whole body close, a sinuous twist of both his thigh and stomach making his abs slide just right against the underside of Q’s cock. Checkmate, Q smirks through his nearly- silent orgasm, white-hot and exhilarating.    

When he comes back to himself, he is still pressed into the wall, a combination of aftershocks and Bond’s unfulfilled desire keeping their hips at a jerking, listless rhythm. At some point, Bond had let go of his hands to lean his elbows more firmly into the wall to increase the friction. Q’s come is cooling unpleasantly where he had released against Bond’s stomach, but Q didn’t complain. He merely scooted his hip bone in a more optimal position and took a handful each of Bond’s arse, making sure his nails could be felt against the fabric as he pressed back against Bond’s erection. 

“Oh, that was absolutely lovely.” He didn’t have to try hard to emphasize the admiration and satisfaction in his voice. “Will you come for me? Please? Oh, please?” He injects just a hint of whine, wiggling in place and pulling Bonds head back just enough to see his expression as he came - eyes closed, jaw clenched, holding down a grunt in his throat. Just Lovely. 

He closes his eyes to better take in the weight of Bond against him, the scent of sex, the thrum of his blood in his veins. God, he had needed that. 

Once they get their breath back, Q is the first to begin pulling away by shuffling sideways across the wall. Bond shifts his weight slightly to the side, allowing the movement but not moving himself. Q tucks his slightly-sticky cock back into his pants and trousers and rubs his stained fingertips against Bond’s shirt-tails without shame. Bond scoffs in amusement. 

“I admit, I still don’t see how this makes you more dangerous than me in bed.”

“You still haven’t seen me in bed,” Q quips while he straightens first his cardigan, then his not-nearly distressed enough curls. Bond’s chuckle rolls through the room and Q doesn’t bother repressing his satisfied shiver. Next time, Q promises himself, his curls would be getting more attention. But that is for later. 

Q checks his watch before he steps up close to Bond one last time, his long fingers slipping across one of Bond’s slack wrists in a mirroring pattern from earlier that day. They share eye-contact and the laugh-lines around Bond’s eyes crease. “It was a pleasure meeting you today, 007. Please debrief with Medical before you go home.” He means the pun, and Bond’s huff confirms that it wasn’t missed. Q smirks but turns away to collect his tablet. “My subordinates require my attention before 002’s next check-in.” He gives one last wave behind himself before opening the door without a further by-your-leave. 

It’s not running away. It’s a strategic retreat. Q knows he won this round. So why does he have the sinking feeling that he’s only started a war? 

[meetthemidwest]

About Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio playing video game, I have to know what they said during the subspace emissary gameplay. May we hear about what happened? Please and thank you, you fabulous person

This took so long and I’m so sorry but finals week happened and I had to study for apush! There are spoilers, but the game came out in 2008 so I’m not too concerned. I still put it under the cut just in case someone didn’t want it spoiled. I really hope tumblr doesn’t cut this, there’s a lot here.

Subspace Emissary is a two player story mode in Smash Bros Brawl, and since there are three of them, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio take turns. Indiana and Ohio play the first level.

Indiana: You know what? I kind of relate to Kirby.Kentucky: Please explain what the hell that means.Indiana: He inhales food and killed god.Ohio: Oh please, you haven’t killed god yet.Kentucky: Yet? YET??

After the whole fight with Mario and Kirby, there’s a part where the Halberd flies over the stadium and drops a bunch of shadow bugs.

Ohio: Those things look like the mold that was growing in my basement last year.Indiana: Glowing and purple?Kentucky: Delicious.Ohio: What the actual fuck Kentucky?Kentucky: No, you don’t understand, nature is delicious.Indiana: Oh really? I’ll be right back.She comes back in five minutes later with an armful of plants from Ohio’s backyard.Kentucky: *picks up a leaf* There’s a spider on this one.Indiana: Eat it.Ohio: DON’T EAT IT!Kentucky: Aw, it fell.Ohio: *jumps from his chair to the table* Fucking kill it already!Indiana promptly throws it at him and he screams like a girl. The video cuts there. It comes back to Indiana and Ohio arguing over who to save in the first boss battle.

Indiana: Zelda’s twenty times better than Peach you dumbass!Ohio: Peach is the original Nintendo princess! You respect the originals or I’ll put you in the goddamn dirt!Kentucky: You just got a game over.Indiana: No one asked for your input Bill Monroe!Kentucky: How the hell do you know who that is?The video devolves into screaming. It cuts to Kentucky and Ohio playing while Indiana eats a pot of Kraft macaroni and cheese. They’ve saved Peach and moved on.

Kentucky: Hey, it’s Pit from Kid Icarus on the NES!Indiana: Fucking nerd!Ohio: Nice redesign.Kentucky: Yeah, well, if we aren’t going to get Geno, it’s nice that an obscure Nintendo game is getting some love.Ohio: *looks directly into the camera* Localize Mother 3 you cowards.Kentucky: PLAYER TWO CAN TELEPORT HELL YES YOU’RE CARRYING THE TEAM OHIO!

Indiana: DOnkEy KoNG!Kentucky: Did Diddy Kong always have guns or is that a new thing?Ohio, drinking tea in the background: Neither of you have ever played Donkey Kong Country and it shows.Kentucky: Oh god, Danky Kang just sacrificed himself for his son!Indiana: Wish that was the relationship I had with Quebec but he just calls me his bastard daughter and I call him my asshole father.Kentucky: Oof.

Ohio: Oh shit, Indi, get your xylophone, we’ve got a pokemon!Indiana: *starts playing the original pokemon battle theme on the xylophone while Kentucky fights Rayquaza but dies because he’s laughing too hard.*

Indiana: That feeling when you’re kidnapped by a small primate in a baseball cap.Ohio: No, that can happen. Have you ever been to the zoo?Kentucky: Are you okay?Ohio: *voice crack* no.

*Lucas and Porky appear*Ohio, ripping the controller out of Kentucky’s hands: YOU LEAVE MY BABY ALONE YOU CAPITALIST FUCK!Indiana: Oh shit, he’s crying!Kentucky: And I’m the nerd?Indiana: Shut up nerd, Mother 3 was hard on him.

*Ness appears*Indiana: SNES is just a word scramble of Ness.Kentucky: Mother 3 confirmed?Ohio: NOOO NESS JUST GOT FUCKING KILLED BY WARIO!Indiana: Weak.

*Pokemon Trainer appears*Kentucky: ASH KETCHUM???Indiana: You’re so stupid. It’s Red, obviously.Ohio: Red and Ash Ketchum’s secret love child.Indiana: *Gets up* I quit.

*Battlefield Fortress*Ohio: You know what this looks like?Kentucky: Oh god please no.Indiana: *pulls out Kentucky’s xylophone* Ready when you are.Kentucky: Indiana, if you value our friendship, please don’t do this.Indiana: We’re not friends though.*Marth is introduced. Indiana starts playing Together We Ride on the xylophone. Ohio joins in on a green plastic kazoo. Kentucky slams his face into the table and gets a nosebleed.*

Indiana: Hey it’s Spanish Batman from Kirby Right Back At Ya!Ohio: Never say those words in front of me again.

*Ike appears*Kentucky: Please don’t-Indiana and Ohio: *Playing the recruitment theme With Us on their instruments.*Kentucky: *looks into the camera like Jim on The Office*

Kentucky: Luigi is my spirit animal because he’s a coward with a heart of gold, like me.Indiana: You’re a coward, but I know you had your heart surgically removed in 1847 so don’t even try that bullshit with me.Ohio: He had a heart before 1847? Damn. See, I relate more to King Dedede because he’s a king and his relationship with Kirby reminds me of Michigan and I.Indiana: Yeah, that sounds about right.Ohio: I don’t like the implications there.

*Link appears*Indiana, shoving Ohio and Kentucky out of the way and wearing a Legend of Zelda hoodie: Move bitches, it’s my time to shine.Ohio: Oh thank god Yoshi’s here because I’m not playing as Link. Kentucky, doing a scarily accurate impression of Yoshi: YOSHI!Indiana: What the FUCK Kentucky???Kentucky, coughing: If I do that for too long I lose my voice.Indiana: Then don’t do it!

*There are some enemies that I distinctly remember in this part that scared the hell out of me, and they’re called Puppits.*Ohio: Oh god, oh fuck, what are these things?Indiana: Kill it!Ohio: *dies* SHIT!Kentucky, eating gummy bears out of a paper bag: Why are y’all so bad at this? It’s just an enemy.Indiana: *throws her controller at Kentucky and hits him in the forehead.*

*The cutscene with the box*Indiana: Snake? SNAKE?? SNAAAAAAAAAAKE!!!!Kentucky: SPOILERS!

*Zero-Suit Samus*Indiana: I wish that were me.Ohio: Why? She’s not that much prettier than you.Indiana: Space guns.Kentucky: Of course.Indiana: Also I think a lot of girls would be into me if I had that ass.Ohio: There it is.

*Pikachu*Ohio: Did you guys know that this is how we powered the first rocket to the moon?Kentucky: Electricity rat.Indiana: Thomas Edison used Pikachu to power America, your history books have been lying to you.Ohio: We’re going to get killed by the government, aren’t we?Kentucky: Yeah, but not for this.

*The battle against Subspace Peach*Indiana: Mario’s going to be so pissed.Kentucky: Yeah, but Yoshi’s Mario’s lifelong friend, so surely everything will be a-okay!*Mario battle ensues*Ohio: Love blinds all.Indiana: Stop trying to sound wise, I literally watched you burn your tongue on your coffee and throw it into a wall.Ohio: You know what Indiana? Fuck you.

Indiana: Kirby Kirby Kirby that’s the name you should know!Kentucky: Kirby Kirby Kirby he’s the star of the show!*Both look at Ohio*Ohio, obviously disappointed in life: He’s more than you think, he’s got maximum pink.Indiana and Kentucky: Kirby Kirby Kirby’s the one!

Indiana: Ew it’s Ganondorf.Kentucky: Wait, I thought he was a pig?Ohio: Well Kentucky, people can be pigs without looking like them, like New York.Kentucky: No, wasn’t he literally a pig?Indiana: That was Ganon.Kentucky: They’re… they’re the same thing?

*Wario battle*Ohio: IS LUCAS DOING THE ARTHUR MEME?Indiana: HOLY SHIT HE IS!Kentucky: MOTHER 3 CONFIRMED!*they all start screaming incoherently. The video cuts to them actually fighting Wario. Ohio is Lucas, Kentucky is the Pokemon Trainer.*Ohio: My boy Lucas has seen some shit.Kentucky: Your boy Kentucky has also seen some shit, how about a little love over here?Ohio: No.Kentucky: Thanks.

*Bowser’s army attacks the castle Dedede is in.*Indiana: Oh my goodness he’s Dedede-dead!Ohio: I’m going to sew your lips together while you sleep.

*Bowser gets away with Peach’s trophy*Kentucky: This is so sad, Indiana play Ave Maria.Indiana: *plays Ave Maria on the kazoo*

Kentucky: I love how Ike, the youngest and most impulsive, jumps right off a cliff while both Marth and Meta Knight reach out to stop him.Ohio: Me with my bastard siblings.Indiana: Let me guess, Wisconsin’s Ike, Michigan’s Meta Knight, and you’re Marth?Ohio: No, because I don’t join them in their bullshit.Indiana: Oh? Then what do you call the time the three of you tied Illinois to a tree and left him there for a week?Ohio: It’s called knocking the wealthy down a few pegs.Kentucky: Guys, this was an appreciation of Fire Emblem characters and nothing more.

*Diddy Kong trophy*Indiana: PeRSonALLy I PrEFer ThE AiR!Kentucky: OH! GRAB THE FAN! *they proceed to get the giant Subspace Diddy Kong to 500% and launch him off the screen.*Ohio: The monkey’s kidnapping a bird.Indiana: I saw that happen in Florida once.

*Ridley battle*Kentucky: HE’S TOO BIG FOR SMASH BROS!*Kentucky then plays the Ridley theme on the xylophone while Ohio attempts to crawl out a window and Indiana screams*

*Olimar and Captain Falcon*Kentucky in the background playing Pikmin music on the xylophone: Isn’t this nice? Pikmin was one of the best games I ever played.*West Virginia kicks down the door and plays the F-Zero theme on an electric guitar*Kentucky: Get the hell out!West Virginia: While y’all were sitting in here playing video games I got arrested for tax fraud and broke out on my own.Indiana: Amateur. What’s your point kid?West Virginia: Get on my level. Get hobbies for god’s sake. You’re going to be killed one day, you gotta live in the moment.Ohio: I die when I decide, you little rat faced bastard. There’s a cupcake in the fridge, take it and get out.West Virginia: Alright, I’m going to elope with Mothman, see y’all later.

Indiana: DOnkEy KoNG!!!!Kentucky: Aw heck, I died.

*Ice Climbers*Ohio: That jumping noise definitely isn’t going to get annoying in the next few minutes.Kentucky: *slowly mutes the tv*Indiana: You guys are really dumb sometimes. You know that, right?

*the two groups meet up*Indiana: The gang’s all here!Ohio: If you play as Link again I’m going to suffocate you on camera.Indiana: With what?Kentucky: His Ohio State mascot body pillow.Indiana: What the fuck.Ohio: You’re next, Kentucky.

*Snake*Kentucky: Sometimes I just want to hide in a box while my problems run around without me.Indiana: Shame problems are like Lucario and can see right through your hiding place.Ohio: Guys, I dropped a hot pocket into the hole in the wall and I can’t get it out.

*Sheik and Peach*Indiana: I’m getting some strong Peach loves her strong girlfriend vibes from this.Kentucky: I’d love my strong girlfriend too if I had one.Ohio: No living organism would put up with you for more than a week.Indiana: YO PEACH IS SUCH A BADASS!Ohio: SEE???Indiana: Zelda’s still better though.Kentucky: Fox McCloud’s going down.Indiana: Do a barrel roll!Ohio: Shit, I want tea.Kentucky: Then make some!Ohio: Okay! Jeez, don’t yell at me.

Indiana: Where did Mr. Game and Watch even come from?Ohio: Hell.Kentucky: Actually, there’s a series of handheld games-Indiana: Shut up nerd!

*Subspace bomb factory*Indiana: American weapons storage.*the entire factory blows up*Kentucky:… American weapons storage.Ohio: It’s us when we try to get together for holidays.

Ohio: Kirby rides in on a fucking dragon to save the day!Indiana: Sakurai showing clear favoritism for his children.Kentucky: Virginia made West a pepperoni roll once and when I asked for one she told me that I could starve.Ohio: GUYS IT WASN’T MASTER HAND IT’S THIS ASSHOLE OLD MAN LOOKING GUY AND BOWSER’S DEAD STOP HAVING FEELINGS AND GET YOUR HEADS IN THE GAME!

*Everyone dies*Indiana: I want butterfly wings that kill people.Kentucky: Evolve and grow them.Indiana: Good idea.Ohio: LUCAS NOOOOOOO!

*Dedede, Ness, and Luigi**Ohio walks in dressed as King Dedede, Indiana’s dressed as Ness, and Kentucky is dressed as Luigi*Kentucky: I still think I should have done sexy Luigi, but whatever.Indiana: Ohio, say it.Ohio: I’m not going to say it, fuck off.Indiana: Say it.Ohio: No!Indiana: SAY IT.Ohio: I’m gonna clobber that there Kirby.Kentucky: That’s mama Luigi to you!Indiana: Fuck, Ness doesn’t have any funny lines. Ohio: Can we please play the game now?Indiana, clearly excited: OKEY

*Great Maze*Indiana: You’re going the wrong way!Ohio: You’re hogging the remote! Let Kentucky play!Kentucky: That’s the wrong door!*they start screeching at each other. Minnesota walks into the room about to say something, shakes his head, and leaves.*

*Tabuu fight*Kentucky: I’m vibing with this music.Ohio: Don’t try and sound young, we all know you’re old as fuck.Indiana: Ohio if you don’t stop dying I’m going to throw you out a window.Kentucky: SONIC SPEED! *proceeds to die* GOSH DARN IT!Indiana: WHY ARE YOU USING SONIC?Kentucky: HE WAS RIGHT THERE I HAD TO!*they die about twelve more times, but only one makes the final cut. At some point they beat the game*

Indiana: This was cute. I really liked the relationships in it.Ohio: Yeah, shame we’ll never get a wholesome and fulfilling story mode again, right guys?Kentucky: *plays the Smash Ultimate theme on the xylophone.*Indiana: I’ll go get my Switch.Ohio: You better.Indiana: I’ll hit you.Ohio: You’re in my house, that’s assault.*Indiana kicks Ohio out of his chair. The video cuts for the last time*

[strawori]

Unfiltered || Elu

Summary: “This is the true him and the true Eliott. This is what their relationship is about, being playful, smiling and having fun. This is them, loving and beautiful.”

Or, the one where Lucas and Eliott go on an impulsive date night.

Words: 3.2k

Eliott and Lucas had spent the day together.

Eliott had come over Saturday afternoon and had stayed the night. It was already usual for them to spend almost every moment available together so, no one even batted an eyelash when Eliott had appeared at the flat and hadn't left.

Now, it was way into Sunday's afternoon and Lucas was finally doing the homework he had been procrastinating the whole weekend. It wasn't much, thankfully, but it was still enough to make him whine while Eliott, who had already finished, laughed at him.

“This is really unfair, Eliott,” Lucas would say while writing down an answer.

“You could have already done it,” Eliott would chuckle from where he was sitting at Lucas’ desk drawing something.

Lucas tried to focus on what he should be doing, homework was important and he needed to finish it. But he could hear the music that Eliott was blasting through his earphones and Eliott humming along to it, he could hear the scrap if the pencil against the paper and the tapping of Eliott's foot against the floor. And it was distracting. He couldn't concentrate with Eliott asking for his attention without even realizing it.

So, he gave up. His homework was almost done anyway and he could just finish it quickly before going to bed - or at least that's what he told himself.

He closed his books and notebooks and put them at the end of the bed before getting up and walking up to Eliott.

Eliott startled a little when Lucas put his arms around him, but recovered quickly and turned his head to kiss Lucas’ cheek before taking his earphones off and turning back to his drawing.

Lucas stayed behind him, arms around him and his head on Eliott's shoulder while he watched him draw.

Eliott was drawing them, or the hedgehog and raccoon versions of them, in his usual comparing universes style. It warmed Lucas’ heart to see that Eliott still liked to draw the two of them and that, even after weeks, he still took what Lucas had said about parallel universes so seriously.

On the first drawing, the hedgehog was surrounded by books and had an annoyed expression on his face while the raccoon was looking at him with amusement clear in his eyes. Lucas still couldn't comprehend how Eliott managed to make the two little animals look so real and their emotions so transparent in the paper. He was so talented and Lucas would make sure to remind him of that as many times as he could because Eliott deserved all the praise.

The second drawing showed exactly what Lucas wished they would be doing right now, what they were doing in some other universe. The raccoon and the hedgehog were sitting on a windowsill, only their sides and the landscape behind the window were visible. There was a beautiful sunset in there, it illuminated the room and the two animals, making them clearer and brighter and happier.

Maybe one day soon, it would be the Lucas and the Eliott from this reality who would be living that moment. They would be the ones watching the sunset together soon enough.

Lucas’ back was starting to hurt from being in an uncomfortable position for minutes now, but he didn't care much and wouldn't leave until Eliott was finished. Watching Eliott draw was fascinating enough that it made him a little neutral to the discomfort.

Watching Eliott work was fascinating. The way he looked with critical, perfectionist eyes at what he was doing to make sure the lines and the shades were just right. The way he groaned in frustration when something looked wrong and hummed in satisfaction when it looked just right. It was all endearing and Lucas felt lucky knowing that Eliott was letting him witness all if it.

Eliott finally seemed to be satisfied with what he had drawn. He lifted the paper from the table and looked at it before smiling and putting it down again.

“It looks beautiful,” Lucas said near his ear, pressing a kiss to the skin there. “We’ll have to watch the sunset together soon.”

Eliott smiled and turned around in the spinning chair so he was face to face with Lucas. He wrapped his arms around Lucas’ waist while Lucas’ came up to twine around Eliott’s neck in a familiar, warm embrace.

“Let’s go on a date,” Eliott said suddenly.

“A date?”

Eliott noded.

“Tonight?”

“Yes.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow at the sudden idea that had hit Eliott. It was impulsive and completely unplanned and Lucas still had to finish his homework, but how could he do that and say no to Eliott and a date? He couldn’t, especially when Eliott was looking at him with an excited and hopeful expression on his face.

So, he just laughed and leaned in to kiss Eliott before nodding and turning around to get a jacket. Eliott got up from his chair too and grabbed his phone and his wallet from Lucas’ desk and his jacket from his bed, taking Lucas hand and leaving the room with him in tow.

Maybe Lucas could have tried to make less noise and silence Eliott’s excited giggles a little since they alerted Mika that they had left the room and were heading out, maybe he should have. But Lucas had never seen Eliott like this, so happy and giddy and it was so precious, he couldn’t just put a stop to it.

Mika did tease them. Relentlessly. About staying inside Lucas’ room for hours and only leaving to go on a date, adding a few sexual innuendos in the mix. Lucas knew that it was all for fun and didn’t get mad about any of it, but it would have still been nice to be able to leave the house in peace. Although, having Eliott holding his hand and smiling through all the teasing had made all of it a bit more bearable.

They were finally able to leave after almost fifteen minutes of listening to Mika. Lucas was grateful that Eliott’s argument about having a specific time to be at whatever it was that he was taking Lucas had convinced Mika to let them go that soon.

Both of them were silent while walking down the stairs and while walking in the sidewalk. Not because they didn’t have anything to talk to each other about, but because they had way too many emotions inside them and they didn’t exactly need words to express them. Not one they were holding hands and turning their heads to look at each other every five seconds, not able to help themselves. Not when they were smiling as if they had never gone on a date before. Why would they need words when everything was so plainly expressed on their faces and eyes?

Lucas feared, at one point, while he was distracted with the way the last rays of sunshine were hitting Eliott’s hair, that he was going to hit a lamp post or bump against someone. It wouldn't be the first time either. So, he had to tell himself to focus on the walk, especially since he didn’t even know where they were going.

He had already asked Eliott. Of course, he had. He hadn’t been able to control his curiosity when Eliott had looked like he had had the best impulsive idea ever. But Eliott hadn’t budged. He kept trying to keep the mystery around their date and give Lucas an enigmatic expression to convince him to stop asking questions.

And it had worked. It had stopped Lucas from asking more questions like Eliott had wanted to.  

However, that was more due to how endearing Eliott looked when he raised his eyebrows, shrugged and smiled all crinkly-eyed, than due to his attempt at mystery.

So, Lucas let Eliott keep his secret and guide him through the Paris’ streets to the unknown.

***

Eliott ended up taking him to a small, cozy restaurant for their dinner. The ambiance was amazing, the candles on the tables cast an inviting glow around the room and there was some soft music playing in the background. There weren’t many people in there, so the noise was reduced to the small chatter of conversations and the cutlery hitting the plate, a little laughter here and there.

They sat at one of the empty tables and ordered and were served fairly quickly. Throughout dinner, they just talked about whatever came to their minds and teased each other between smiles and quiet laughs. The comfortable, intimate atmosphere of the place making them feel almost as warm as being home does.

After they were done eating and had paid, Eliott put his arm around Lucas’ shoulders while Lucas put his around his waist and guided him out of the restaurant and through Paris again. This time, they walked along the Seine where the air was a little cooler and Lucas had an excuse to hug Eliott a little tighter and press even closer to his side.

Eventually, they arrived at where Eliott had been wanting to take him. It turned out to be an old movie theatre Lucas had passed by multiple times but never visited before. And, Lucas had to admit, the prospect of watching a movie and just relaxing with Eliott did seem like the best way to spend the rest of the night.

As if the universe wanted this moment to be as intimate as possible despite the public location, there weren’t many people inside, just like there hadn’t been at the restaurant. Lucas looked around for any movie posters that could indicate what movie they would be watching, but, oddly enough, he didn’t find anything except the sound of Eliott’s amused chuckles when he noticed what Lucas was doing.

“Here they never put the movie posters outside,” he explained.

“That’s stupid,” Lucas grumbled.

If he’s being honest, Lucas doesn’t really mind whatever movie they’re going to watch. He would prefer it to be a good one, of course, but, even if it turns out to be a shitty one, he won’t mind too much. He would still have spent that time with Eliott next to him and that’s what this date is about. Spending time with each other.

“Wait here while I go buy our tickets.”

“I’ll go with you,” Lucas said quickly, still playing his curious role in the little game they're acting out. “I can pay my ticket there too.”

“No, you’re not buying your ticket.”

Lucas raises an eyebrow.

“I invited you so I’m paying,” Eliott explained.

Lucas opened his mouth to protest a little, just a little because Eliott had paid for dinner too, but was stopped before he could say anything.

“Shut up, Lucas. Just let me be a good boyfriend.”

“You don’t need to buy me dinner and movie tickets to be a good boyfriend. You already are,” he winked teasingly.

“That’s so cheesy!” Eliott rolled his eyes, but the fond expression on his face betrays how much he doesn’t mind, how much he likes it because it’s Lucas saying it.

Eliott leans down to kiss Lucas quickly before smiling at him and turning around to go buy the tickets. There’s not much Lucas can do but stand there and stare at him.

Eliott has a smile on his face when he’s talking to the girl handling the tickets and he seems to be making some sort of joke because she laughs a little before giving them to him. Lucas can’t help but smile because Eliott is such a friendly, likeable and caring person, he is genuinely nice and, most of the time, Lucas can’t really believe that he’s the one dating him.

Eliott comes back then, the tickets hidden from Lucas’ eyes inside Eliott’s pockets and the same adorable, gentle smile on his face. Lucas reaches out to him and grabs the sides of his jacket wanting him close, so close, as close as possible.

“We still have around half an hour before the movie starts,” Eliott tells him, arms going around Lucas’ neck.

Lucas nods before hugging Eliott and burying his face in his sweater. He smells like home and he’s warm like the sun and Lucas couldn’t be more comfortable than right there in Eliott’s arms.

Eliott starts talking about the book he’s reading for his literature class then and how annoying one of the characters is. Lucas might not care about French literature, he might even hate it, but he does care about Eliott a lot and everything Eliott has to say sounds interesting to his ears. So, he listens to every word he says and comments when it’s appropriate, chuckles when Eliott talks passionately about a certain scene or quote.

He wouldn’t mind staying right there, hugging Eliott and listening to him talking about some book during the 30 minutes they have to wait. He would stay like that even longer without a complaint. But then he spots the photo booth in the corner and he just can’t help himself. He wants to go there and take some dorky pictures with Eliott because it’s cliché and he wants every cliché with Eliott.

He pulls back suddenly, startling Eliott and interrupting him mid-sentence. It's not like Eliott seems to mind much, anyway. Especially after Lucas points at the photo booth with a hopeful expression. Because he’s Eliott and Eliott is a romantic who has probably already daydreamed about every single cliché, romantic scenario and he wants this as much as Lucas.

And Lucas will give him all of the romantic, cliché scenarios he dreamt about before if he can.

They go to the photo booth hand in hand with their hearts light on their chest and eager smiles on their faces. Lucas couldn’t help but think that this is his life now, going on dates with the boy he loves and doing dorky, cliché stuff with him. He couldn’t ask for anything better, to be finally able to have this and be this happy is everything to him.

The space inside the photo booth is a little too small for the both of them, but they make it work without complaining much. It’s not like they have any reason to complain, the small space gives them the perfect excuse to sit closer. Lucas ends up on Eliott’s lap with Eliott’s arms around him pressing his back against Eliott's chest. They're as close as possible because even the smallest of spaces is too much if it’s between them.

At first, they’re not sure how to make the booth work. None of them had ever used one before and this one is old fashioned and that makes it harder.

Lucas leans a bit forward to see where he can press, Eliott’s hands holding his hips a little tighter to prevent him from falling from his lap.

Eliott tries to see what Lucas is doing from over his shoulder and is in the middle of giving a suggestion when the sudden light that indicates a picture had been taken interrupts him.

They had been both caught off guard and Lucas isn’t sure what expressions had been on their faces when the picture was taken. He doesn’t care though. And Eliott feels the same if the startled laugh that he releases and the way he leans into Lucas’ shoulder to look at him happily is any indication.

The second picture comes then. When they’re smiling and staring at each other, amusement and fondness in their faces.

Lucas wouldn’t trade them for any pictures with planned poses or for any photo shoot. They look much better in this natural way.

And then Lucas pulls one of his silly faces and somehow manages to convince Eliott to join him in his ridiculous expression. Eliott bites his jacket and holds Lucas’ hand and the picture is taken.

Lucas was never more sure that unfiltered, pure and genuine pictures are the best one.

This is the true him and the true Eliott. This is what their relationship is about, being playful, smiling and having fun. This is them, loving and beautiful.

He isn’t sure how the last picture turns out, too busy thinking about Eliott and how happy he finally is, but he’s sure there’s some overly dramatic, stupid expression on his face since he kept trying to make Eliott laugh as much as possible.

They’re still laughing when they exit the photo booth and they still have five minutes before the movie starts.

Lucas grabs the four pictures and can’t keep the smile off his face when he sees how good they look. It warms his heart and makes him so happy, so proud of them, so proud of himself.

There’s only one copy of the pictures, but they don’t mind. Lucas gives Eliott the first two, the ones that look slightly more serious and romantic, because he’s Eliott and Lucas knows how into that he is and how much that matches his personality. He would rather have the sillier, funnier ones anyway because they’re more him and more what he wants to be reminded of every day.

He can’t help but contemplate how perfect he and Eliott seem to be for each other. How well they complete one another even in small things like these.

He grabs his phone and opens Instagram to post them online without even thinking much about it and sees Eliott doing the same.

Seeing himself featured in Eliott’s world never fails to make his heart kick into fast-paced drumming. It warms him all over and he feels the need to hug Eliott closer.

So he does.

Gets on his tippy toes so he can see his phone over Eliott’s shoulder and feels Eliott look over his and type away on his phone too.

“Lucas,” he says near his ear. “It’s 21h21.”

And the time feels special for some reason, it feels important and meaningful so he adds it to the description before tagging Eliott and posting it.

He locks his phone and just keeps on hugging Eliott without a care in the world. He doesn't let go until people start getting inside to watch the movie and, even then, he just switches his hold to Eliott's hand.

A few weeks ago, Lucas might not have wanted to shout from the rooftops that he was gay or in a relationship with a guy.  He’s still not shouting it per se. But now he can hold Eliott’s hand while they walk down the street, he can hug and kiss Eliott in public and it feels like heaven.

He might not have wanted to spread the knowledge of this particular part of himself and his life before. But that changed and Lucas is proud of himself for it.

Now, Lucas has Eliott, his Eliott, his boyfriend, and they’re on the perfect, impulsive Sunday night date and Lucas would be damned if he doesn't let the world know how in love he truly is.

[themikewheelers]

Wrong Number

So this fic is a Modern AU Mileven fic, where the characters are living in modern time!

So when are you going to tell her?

Mike stared down at the message from Lucas, the buzz from his phone snapping him away from his previous activities.

He was sitting on his couch in the basement, El right beside him and Lucas by the D&D table across the room. The three were watching Will and Dustin play each other on Mario Kart, but Mike wasn’t good at staying focused, especially with El laughing and smiling right next to him.

Of course his eyes gradually turned towards her, he couldn’t help it. El was the light of the room for him, everything seemed to revolve around her. It was like gravity how his attention always seemed to navigate her way.

That was until he heard the buzz from beside him and the vibration against his leg, snapping him out of his Eleven-induced daze. His eyebrows furrowed at the text before he typed out his response.

What do you mean?

His phone was silent for a moment before he heard the familiar ring. Mike snatched his phone up from beside him, but nearly choked at what he saw.

When are you going to tell El you love her?

Mike coughed furiously, the spit in the back of his throat strangling him. He stared up at the smirking Lucas across the room, shaking his head as fast as he could and praying his blush wasn’t noticeable, even though he was cherry red.

He frantically typed out another message to him, refusing to let Lucas believe such a lie! El was his friend! He didn’t love her! At least, Mike thought he didn’t. Yeah, he stared at her a lot and thought she was possibly a human incarnation of the sun itself, but that didn’t mean he loved��her.

I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Mike tried to will his blush away until he heard his phone ring with a response.

I’m sure. When are you telling her?

Deciding to ignore the message, Mike rolled his eyes and averted his attention to the game. Dustin was winning, but Will was barely behind him, it was still anyone’s game.

Mike

Mike

Mike

After several annoying buzzes in a row, Mike looked down at his phone and groaned. He was about to respond when he got a message from El.

Why is Lucas looking at you like that?

He contemplated making up some lie or excuse to explain it, but decided against so.

It’s nothing. He’s just trying to bother me about something.

El didn’t question him any further, and Mike looked up to scowl at Lucas across the room, trying to communicate with his face to shut up and stop it. Lucas grinned in response, loving how wound up Mike got when teased, which only seemed to annoy Mike more.

Rolling his eyes and with his heart thumping wildly in his chest, he typed out a message and slammed send.

Just because I’m in love with El doesn’t mean I have to tell her, okay?! Just drop it!

He looked back up to see Lucas’s reaction to the message. He waited one moment, then another, but Lucas never looked down at his phone. Then, the noise like a bomb going off in his ears, Mike heard the phone next to him give off a taunting buzz.

Fear washed over his bones, trailing through his veins. He didn’t even need to check his phone, he could feel in his heart exactly what had happened. But he couldn’t help himself, Mike looked down at his screen, dreading to confirm his suspicions.

He had forgotten to click out of the conversation with El.

He had just sent that text to Eleven.

He just told Eleven he loved her.

The world stopped around Mike, nothing mattered anymore. He didn’t notice Will winning the game, or the cheers from El and Lucas, all he could focus on was his heart pounding strong enough to crack one of his ribs, to escape his chest and run away to hide somewhere where he’d never have to face the humiliation.

Luckily El hadn’t checked her phone, she was too distracted watching the game. Mike still had a chance to save himself.

“Hey El.” Mike jumped up from the couch, talking louder and higher than normal, “Why don’t you play Lucas next?”

He turned to Lucas, giving him the most pleading look he could muster and hoping Lucas could see in his eyes how he was begging for him to follow along.

Lucas stood up with a grin, and Mike let out a silent sigh of relief, “Sure. Come on El, I bet I could beat you.”

El grinned and nodded her head, then walked over to take the controller from Will. This was Mike’s chance.

As soon as she turned her back away from him, Mike lunged towards her phone from the other side of the couch. Luckily she didn’t have a password, so he was able to access it easily. He found the messages app and deleted his accidental declaration, his relief letting out a weak laugh as he did. He could almost feel the stress leaving his body, he was in the clear.

“Hey Mike why don’t you-”

And the stress came back. His entire body tensed as El and Lucas turned to face him, catching him red-handed and clutching her phone.

“Is that my phone?” El asked him, and the guilt sunk in deeper. She wasn’t accusing him of anything, just asking from curiosity. How could he lie to a girl like that?

“Is it? Oh yeah, I guess it is.” Mike attempted to muster a weak laugh to hide his guilt, “I thought it was mine.”

He put her phone back down on the couch, and reached to pick up his own. El watched him for a moment, her eyebrows raised slightly, but decided not to press him on it, turning back to her game.

Filled with guilt for lying and taking her phone, and complete humiliation for being caught, Mike couldn’t bear to watch the game. He buried himself in his phone, scrolling through every app he had to make him feel like he was anywhere else.

Eventually the game ended and El returned to her seat on the couch. Mike pretended not to notice her watching him, keeping his eyes glued to his screen so they wouldn’t budge and look to meet hers.

She looked away, and for a moment Mike thought he was in the clear, until he got a notification of a message from El.

Why were you on my phone Mike?

No, he couldn’t run from it. He couldn’t run from her. His phone vibrated and she continued.

Friends don’t lie.

Now he was really screwed. He already had a hard enough time keeping anything from her, but when she said that Mike knew he didn’t have a choice. He took a deep breath before typing back.

I sent you a message that was meant for Lucas and I didn’t want you to see it so I deleted it from your phone. I’m sorry.

Minutes went by without a response. Mike went from tapping his foot and fingers to his entire body fidgeting around nervously. Dustin asked him if he wanted to verse him in a game and he yelled out, “No!” then instantly felt guilty for snapping like that. His entire mind was racing. Why wasn’t she responding? Why wasn’t she responding? Why wasn’t she-

His phone buzzed and Mike practically snapped his neck going to check it.

It’s okay.

A second went by and another text came through.

What did the message say?

Mike’s head bolted back up and he turned to El, his eyes pleading and his face desperate. She stared back for a moment, her expression softening before she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear, “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want.”

“Thank you,” He gulped, hoping she truly understood his gratitude.

She didn’t respond, instead averting her eyes and looking in the opposite direction towards the game Will and Lucas were playing. It was then that Mike realized the way her smile had sunk, and her eyes didn’t seem to light up as they had before.

Was she upset? Mike didn’t consider that possibility. He thought she might be angry with him for deleting the message, but even that he figured would be out of character for her. He never considered the fact that in El’s perspective, he was just keeping some secret from her.

Mike and El didn’t keep secrets. That was their thing. Mike always told her the truth and didn’t hide anything from her, at least, for the most part he didn’t. He couldn’t help the fact that he was hiding his feelings from her, because how could he be honest about something like that?

El thought he was sharing some secret with Lucas and keeping it from her. Mike’s eyes widened with the realization, the guilt from before came back, only ten thousand times worse. It hit his veins like a tsunami, flooding his body in waves of heart-wrenching regret.

No wonder El wasn’t mad at him, instead it was worse. Mike could handle it if she was angry, he could apologize and make it up to her and beg for forgiveness, but he didn’t know how to handle the overwhelming sadness and disappointment and self-disgust that came from the fact that the girl he loved was hurt, and it was all thanks to him.

He was in a corner. He couldn’t tell El his feelings, but he couldn’t not tell her. If the choice was between hurting El or humiliating himself, he’d do whatever it took to make sure she knew he wasn’t keeping any secrets from her.

He typed out another message, taking a deep breath as he went. His finger hovered over the send button, was he really about to do this? Was he sure this was the right decision? It could go horribly wrong, it could blow up in his face in thousands of ways, and he had no idea how El would react.

But still, he’d rather it backfire on him in the worst possible ways if it meant he didn’t have to look over and see El, feeling hurt and ignored, for another moment. Mike attempted to slap some confidence into himself, and slammed his finger down on the send button before any of his impulse control came through.

I was telling Lucas that I love you.

[captainswanfanfic]

Words Just Can’t Do Them Justice....

Here, my favourite multi-chaptered Captain Swan Fanfics.... They’re classics, so you’ve probably all read them, but I think re-living these two special characters is something we’re going to need soon.... 

Alternate Universe - Modern

Read All About It by Kymbersmith90 - Using Twitter to ask an actual princess on a date may not have been Killian's best idea... until it was.Part 1 of Royal Realities  

http://archiveofourown.org/works/7924948/chapters/18110287

Warm Nights & Firelight  by Oubliette14 - When in the wake of a messy breakup Emma makes the impulsive decision to return home to her parent's ranch in the Rockies, she certainly doesn't expect to find a strange Irish guy living in what was once her apartment over the garage, and she definitely doesn't imagine that the home she couldn't wait to be rid of five long years ago would be the very place her heart begins to heal. 

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11025589/1/Warm-Nights-Firelight

To Make Your Heart Race by fergus80 - Killian “Hook” Jones is NASCAR’s bad boy, who is forced to do some community service to clean up his act. Emma Swan is the counselor at the local Children’s shelter who is done with men and relationships after her latest in a long stream of nightmares.  http://archiveofourown.org/works/5619112/chapters/12944908

Poem Without Words by totheendoftheworldortime79 - Looking to make some extra money, college senior Emma Swan takes a post as a model for Professor Killian Jones’ art class. Sparks fly on both sides. Will they give into temptation?

http://archiveofourown.org/works/3973093/chapters/8914423

Heart By Heart by totheendoftheworldortime79 - Emma Nolan, rich, famous, heiress to Nolan Tech, frustrated by her life, unable to get anyone to take her seriously as a businesswoman, flees to her New York life for Hawaii. A chance meeting with grad student-turned-mechanic Killian Jones might change her life forever. If she lets it https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10924345/1/Heart-by-Heart

The Lost Boys by niniadepapa - He's the charming, out of control frontman of one of the most successful bands in the world. She's a hard-working rising actress. Sometimes it's hard to find out what's real and what's make-believe when fame's in the game. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8975354/1/The-Lost-Boys

Walking In A Straight Line by msgenevieve447 - It's one of the oldest stories in the book. Two old friends have a few too many drinks, two old friends share a kiss. Happens all the time, right? But what happens when only one of them actually remembers it? (Captain Swan AU, with a side order of Snowing, mention of Emma/Walsh) https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10957085/1/Walking-in-a-Straight-Line 

The Trouble With Faking It by nowforruin - Killian Jones is one drunken mistake from never setting foot on a movie set again. Enter Emma Swan, the woman his manager has paid to pretend to date him and clean up his image. It seems straightforward enough...but there's always trouble with faking it. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11228500/1/The-Trouble-with-Faking-It

Wedded Bliss and Asterisks by EmilyBea - Emma Swan is an enemy of love who just happens to be an up and coming wedding dress designer. She's convinced that true love is nowhere in her future but then she meets Killian Jones, whose magazine is covering the opening of her new boutique. Suddenly Emma finds herself drawing up new plans for her life, ones that seem to all be leading towards her own form of wedded bliss. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12295382/1/Wedded-Bliss-and-Asterisks

Search and Rescue by onceuponajollyroger - When Killian Jones, a rescue swimmer for the US Coast Guard, pulled Emma Swan from the unforgiving sea he had no idea she would end up rescuing him right back. [Captain Swan Modern AU] https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11255395/1/Search-and-Rescue

World Unknown by colormyheartred - Emma signs up to be a test subject for a "guaranteed true love match". The kicker is that she can't see her match until their wedding day. The moment she sees him for the first time, she knows she's doomed. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11824108/1/World-Unknown - Read the Sequels too! 

With This Ring by kissmelikeapirate - This was just about the dumbest idea she had ever heard. Marry a guy she barely knew? But sometimes desperate people do crazy things. And crazy things can sometimes be the best things you ever do...  https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11286660/1/With-This-Ring

Headlights Fading by EvilIsntBorn337 - When Emma Swan's car breaks down outside of a small town in Maine, she finds herself stuck at the local garage, but as the repairs take longer and longer to complete, she has to decide if, in the end, she wants to leave the town at all. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11251326/1/Headlights-Fading 

With Affection by PhiraLovesLoki - Emma Swan isn't a middle schooler. So why is she receiving notes from a secret admirer? She's also definitely not a romantic person. So why is she writing back? Modern!AU Captain Swan, with side orders of Snowing and Frankenwolf https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11045549/1/With-Affection

Music of The Heart by InMyEyes2014 - Granny Lucas loves to be both chef and matchmaker for the town of Storybrooke. When she sets her skills on Liam and Killian Jones, she is sure she has found the perfect matches with Elsa and Emma. While some participants are willing and others reluctant, Granny and her cohorts are determined to make each a match made in heaven or at least in lasagna. http://archiveofourown.org/works/6215764/chapters/14240920

Alternate Universe - With a Touch of Canon 

Remember When by Emilee Amethyst - "I will find you. I will always find you." Says the Charming Family motto. But does it still apply when two centuries separate you from the one you love? Captain Swan story slight universe alterations. Picks up at season 2's "The Doctor" where Emma already knows Hook from their past, but he has "no bloody clue" whom she is.  https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12079881/1/Remember-When

Across Time And Space by Annaelle - Seventeen year old Emma Swan unwittingly and accidentally falls through a mysterious portal that lands her in the middle of the ocean, only to be saved by a young, dashing lieutenant, and to be brought aboard the Jewel of The Realm. Will she be able to find her home? And if she does... Will she still want to go? Lieutenant Duckling/Captain Swan. AU. Canon elements. - https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9864377/1/Across-Time-And-Space

Until The Fog Lifts by ArtjuiceRP - Cursed!Killian AU: Emma Swan has more than enough to deal with. For one, her son believes the entire town of Storybrooke is cursed. She definitely doesn’t have time for the mysterious pawnbroker, Killian Jones, even if Henry insists that he’s the prince she’s meant to be with.  http://archiveofourown.org/works/3448121/chapters/7561955

Canon Universe (At One Point or Another) 

Unbreakable by xHookedonKillianx - What if Hook was able to go with Emma and Henry when they left to escape Pan’s curse? With no memory of each other or Storybrooke, Emma and Killian meet in New York as complete strangers, both with broken pasts, and both with clean slates for their future. 

http://archiveofourown.org/works/6818248/chapters/15563941

Smooth Sailing (With A Chance Of Definite Passion) by sandra70 - picks up right at the end of season 3... and tries to answer the question "Where is the relationship going?" (without obstacles like Elsa and Marian; but others might appear) The rating has officially changed to an "M" now... https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10640638/1/Smooth-Sailing-With-A-Chance-Of-Definite-Passion

Chinese Food and A Movie by Ltb16 - In an interview after S3, Adam said something about Hook and Emma getting Chinese and watching a movie and this was born.  https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10347266/1/Chinese-Food-and-a-Movie 

Everyday I Write The Book by msgenevieve447 - "I'm in the book now." To say that a lot has happened tonight is something of an understatement, but Emma is determined to make it all fit together on the same page. (Post-322.) https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10385057/1/Every-Day-I-Write-The-Book 

Separate Lives by lenfaz - Set after 3x20 "Kansas". After saving the town one more time, Emma decided to return to New York, leaving her past behind. Three years later, she realizes that might be not have been the best decision. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11010202/1/Separate-Lives

[actsoflancaster-blog]

“The Game, the Brain and the Scary Truth” -by Joseph H. Lucas PsyD

 Aaron Hernandez Had Severe C.T.E. When He Died at Age 27

The Game, the Brain and the Scary Truth

- by Joseph H. Lucas PsyD

 For many football players across the country Mini Camp or summer practice will soon begin for “Pop Warner” through College and even the National Football League (NFL).  Though many parents, coaches, athletic trainers and team physicians will be focused on ensuring players safety from heat exhaustion.

 The most publicised and perhaps most important aspects of the game, “Player Safety” will be put to the test.  The terms “Player Safety” and “Heads Up Football,” mean brain safety.  Through the promotion “correct” tackling technique which is not leading and tackling with the crown of one’s helmet and the teaching of “better tackling techniques,” such as tackling with your “head up looking straight ahead at your target,” safer football’s goal is for players to sustain fewer concussions and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI).  

 We now know the dangers of head injuries in sports and any of life’s arenas can have immediate and life-altering effects.  For instance, Twice concussion syndrome (sustaining a significant concussion, before the sequela or adverse neurological and neuropsychological symptoms for the initial concussion have abated) can lead to death and/or permanent brain damage.  The latest brain research and cadaver brain studies indicate that multiple concussions and MTBI can lead to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), an inorganic and devastating brain “disease” that ultimately leads to death.

Many parents across the country may be considering or even acting upon not allowing their children to participate in football due to the inherent dangers that the game presents to their children’s brains.  Our brains control every organ and process in our body; from our heart rate, blood pressure to thoughts and emotions, even creativity, it is not surprising that parents may balk when signing the consent or permission to play form.

 Perhaps the sport that has arisen to “America’s New Pastime,” but increased awareness of the dangers that lurk inside each and every game, and the lack of evidence to support the fact that tackling with “heads up” is reducing any or immediate or long-term term brain damages, would make this parent get “writer's cramp” when it would come to sign the parental consent form to play football.  You may ask why would an ex-high school cornerback and quarterback make such a blasphemous statement?  Then, I direct you to read the disturbing and sobering article regarding Aaron Hernandez, who at just 27  years old was posthumously diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).  The Ex-New England Patriot and All-Pro Football Player died of a suicide inside the walls of a prison and it is not doubted in my mind that his murderous behavior turned suicidal; both most definitely due to playing football and sustaining multiple concussions and MTBI.”  So read on and hold on for the ride and I warn you, you made need a box of tissues.

 “BOSTON — The brain arrived in April, delivered to the basement of the hospital without ceremony, like all the others. There were a few differences with this one — not because it was more important, but because it was more notorious.

It went to the lab outside the city, instead of the one in Boston, where most of the examinations are performed these days, because it was less likely to attract attention that way. Instead of being carried in through the service entrance, it was ushered in secretly through the underground tunnel system. The brain was given a pseudonym, and only three people knew how to identify it.Other than that, the brain came alone and disconnected from its past, unattached to its celebrity. The sordid details of the man’s rise and fall, the speculation over what went wrong, the debate over justice — all that was left behind for others to assess.

It was just a brain, not large or small, not deformed or extraordinary in appearance, an oblong and gelatinous coil weighing 1,573 grams, or about three and a half pounds, just carved from the skull of a 27-year-old man. The coroner took special care, and it arrived hours later in near-perfect condition.

“They handled everything beautifully,” the neuropathologist said.

The laboratory was a 30-minute drive from the prison where the man hanged himself a night or two earlier. His name was familiar to the scientists, just as he was to people throughout New England and many around the country. Now his brain was about 30 miles north of where the man had most recently worked, in Foxborough, Mass.

They expected a normal brain because of the man’s age.

“I didn’t equate his behavior with the disease,” the neuropathologist said. “I just thought that’s who he was.”

On the table, the brain appeared healthy. The meninges, the layers of translucent membranes that coat and protect the brain, still enveloped it. The brain had a healthy sheen.

The brain was sliced into sheaths, maybe a half-inch at a time, starting at the front. That was where the first inkling came that this was not just another 27-year-old brain. Even to the naked eye, the cross sections had substantial gaps in the tissues — fluid-filled ventricles that expanded as the brain tissue itself shrank. A cross section of a healthy 27-year-old brain looks robust, fleshy. This one was hollowed by boomerang-shaped caverns.

“The reason the skull grows is to make room for the growing brain,” the neuropathologist explained. “Everything is packed really tightly. Nature doesn’t leave any gaps.”

The septum pellucidum, a small membrane between the two halves of the brain, was atrophied to the point that it looked withered and fragile, even perforated. When the neuropathologist later went to look for others in a similar condition, the youngest comparable example was a 46-year-old boxer.

The fornix, a C-shaped bundle of nerves, was similarly deteriorated, stripped of its relative heft. The hippocampus, too. Even some of the most famously diseased brains that the neuropathologist had explored, from men who had died decades later, did not have such obvious signs of destruction when examined by the naked eye.

But only under a microscope could the disease be diagnosed with certainty. Wafer-like tissues were immunostained, using antibodies designed to discolor a specific protein — in this case, tau, which clumps and spreads, killing brain cells. That is where the full scope of the damage was apparent.

Tau, stained brown, appeared like bursts of fireworks in the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls decision making, impulse and inhibition. The neuropathologist could see it spreading through the brain. It was in the amygdala, the part of the brain that regulates emotions like fear and anxiety, and the temporal lobe. She spotted “a perfect demonstration” of lesions around the tiny blood vessels, a telltale sign. She found previous microhemorrhages and astrocytic scarring around the ventricles.

She declared the case Stage 3 on her own scale of severity, which goes from 1 to 4. It was the most damage she had seen in anyone that age. Among the hundreds of other brains she had examined and graded, the median age of a Stage 3 brain from \his profession was 67. Now she had one that was only 27.

What made the brain extraordinary, for the purpose of science, was not just the extent of the damage, but its singular cause. Most brains with that kind of damage have sustained a lifetime of other problems, too, from strokes to other diseases, like Alzheimer’s. Their samples are muddled, and not everything found can be connected to one particular disease.

This one looked as if it had been lifted from the pages of a textbook devoted to just one disease.

“It’s rare for us to get a brain of a person this young in such good shape,” the neuropathologist said. “It is a classic case. And it tells us a lot about the disease.”

The brain is no longer a brain, in function or form, because it has been sliced into pieces. Those pieces have been numbered, archived and stored. Scientists still study it, probably will for years, because it is such a perfect, fascinating specimen.

The neuropathologist and her closest associates kept this all to themselves for months, though, until the man’s family agreed to let the results go public. In September, the news came out and the headlines returned, but the neuropathologist did no interviews. She released only a short statement confirming the results of the examination.

“I didn’t want to contribute to the sensationalism,” she said.

But science cannot advance without the cumulative power of research, which was why she was in a university ballroom on Thursday, in front of more than 150 neurologists, pathologists and other scientists.She stood in the dark and put a PowerPoint presentation on the screen, several dozen slides of images showing an immensely atrophied young brain, the mind of a former star in his field who was also a convicted murderer. “He had beautiful pathology, if you can call it beautiful,” the neuropathologist had said earlier.  The particulars of the damage that the neuropathologist detailed — the tangled tau proteins, the battered frontal cortex, the shrunken tissues and the enlarged ventricles — have long become familiar to those paying attention to brain science. They are the things that threaten the long-term future of the industry in which the man worked.This is where his job faces the most scrutiny — under the microscope in darkened labs and in the scientific presentations at academic conferences.

“It’s scientifically interesting,” the neuropathologist said. “To me, it’s a fascinating brain.”

Retrieved 11/14/2017 from: https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/11/09/sports/aaron-hernandez-brain-cte.html?smid=tw-share&referer=

[nobuckingway]

We both really enjoyed our first lesson with Christa Dillion from Blackhill Eventing, so much so that we got her out for a second! Lessons where you get pushed and challenged to the best of your ability are definitely the kind of lessons that we need at the minute. We both feel we need something or someone to push us forward. 

Have a read below about what we tackled in our lesson along with a short Q&A with Christa herself.

The 3 Exercises We Tackled

Exercise #1 – Related Distance Canter Poles

Our first exercise was a basic set of 2 canter poles with a distance of four strides in between. Trying to maintain a steady forward rhythm & focus on a good approach to the first pole was key in hitting this exercise correctly. 

Exercise #2 – Bounce Poles

To begin with,  this exercise was set up with 5 bounce/canter poles. As we progressed through  (after a lot of time spent putting poles back in place by Christa!) the 5 canter poles became 4 with a cross pole jump put in place of the 5th pole at the end. Talk about challenging!

Exercise #3 – Double with Trot Poles and Bounce Poles

Finishing up the lesson Christa set up a small grid. This consisted of an approach of 3 trot poles into a cross pole, two bounce ground poles then into an upright, which then progressed into a spread. Both horses surprisingly rode this exercise spot on each time. I think all the pole work above definitely helped set them up for it.

How Did Coco & Dante Get On? 

Orla & Coco

My focus for this lesson was getting Coco to stop tanking me into fences. She has started rushing into fences and then dropping at the last second causing her to jump like a donkey. So the exercises Christa set out were perfect! 

My first issue however was Coco’s irritating spooking in her least favourite corner of the arena. Trying to get her to concentrate was difficult but after a while I decided I just needed to ignore it and try to get on with things. 

After a quick warm up we started over the related distance canter poles. Well..you’d swear I had put a 1.20 spread in front of her the way she bombed at it. When she did this my focus had to be on correcting her but not letting the correction kill all of her impulsion. That is something I need to find the balance with. Coco’s a very eager jumper who tends to do a few leaps before jumps so I sometimes struggle to control that energy without killing it and having to build it back up again. The way to do this was to compress the canter by half halting while also applying leg to keep your impulsion. Needless to say I was quite nackered by the end of this lesson!

Funnily enough she took to the other two exercises extremely well. She was quite consistent with the bounce poles and our only issue with the grid was that she kept trying to pop into canter over the trot poles so I needed to contain her energy and not let it explode too soon. At the end of the grid was the scary corner so we had a few silly moments down there when we put all three exercises together but thankfully it wasn’t anything that stopped her from jumping (which has been the case before)!

All in all I was delighted with how well Coco did. I feel like our confidence is improving so the plan is to gradually start increasing the height of fences at home and getting ourselves out to do some schooling in new environments. 

Darielle & Dante

For this lesson I went in not really expecting much from Dante. I have found in the past that if I do it all tends to flip & go backwards. 

Working on Dante accepting the contact more from my leg up into my hand is still a major issue we are tackling, some days he’s fantastic, soft & subtle then some days hes a stubborn mule. He is a horse that likes to be in control of his own self, and when I step in and interfere or try get him to listen to me he kicks up a fuss… this at times is frustrating, but it is something I am dealing with & learning to correct myself, all whilst still trying to ignore his ratty behaviour. 

As we progressed into the lesson, Getting Dante to listen to my leg aids became quite difficult that in turn with trying to half halt him, he blatantly just ignored me & continued to try do what he wanted to do, blasting forward at times or not wanting to move forward at all.  This sounds dreadful, but picture an octopus trying to run… this is Dante…but he is a massive horse that still doesn’t know how much body he actually has, and to be fair to him he has come a very long way with managing it to the best of his ability & mine! 

The most beneficial exercise to us were the canter poles into the cross pole. There were a few moments where I had to pull him out of his approach as he’d cock the jaw and try run off with control, there were moments that I had to circle to get a good balanced canter on our approach. There were some good moments in there too, dont get me wrong but most of our work consisted of compressing his canter & keeping a firm leg on him all whilst trying to keep a flowing moving canter. 

It was god dam difficult let me tell you, but we got there in the end! 

We had some great positive moments in our lesson too, his approach to fences was a lot more relaxed, he waited and listened to me more than he did in our previous lesson, so over all great progress is being made & I am quite content with that & delighted!

Moving forward a LOT more work is needed in his canter, within the different paces pushing him forward and out of his comfort zone, getting him moving rather than letting him stick to the same consistant pace, but hey, perfection takes time!! 

Q&A with Christa Dillon of Blackhill Eventing

How did you get into coaching, tell us about yourself?

Answer: I am a 37 year old farmer’s wife and mother of one small, flame haired and feral four year old boy. I am a professional lorry driver in my spare time, and I am staunchly proud of my Artic license!  I competed in eventing until 2012, when a lack of horses forced a change of direction into producing youngsters. I adore showjumping, especially the training-we are so lucky in Ireland to be able to learn with some truly exceptional riders and coaches, enabling us to produce confident, well educated young horses capable of good success in any sport.  During the winter, I gave a friend a hand with her horse. To my great surprise, my advice actually worked. I generally always know what to do when I’m in the saddle, but watching from the ground is a whole other ball game. My friend is extremely persuasive, and she encouraged/demanded that I took out insurance to teach. The same friend then twice over arranged training clinics for me, and thanks to her I now have a good client base. I really enjoy helping others, and I’m very grateful to those who have helped to make coaching a reality.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Answer: ‘Hot horses are always lazy’, from Paul O’Shea. It can be taken literally, but it’s more to make you remember that if a horse is throwing a ton of attitude at you to avoid actually working, there is pretty well always a reason. It’s up to you to figure the reason out! Also, ‘The best place for four year old horses is often the field’, from Trevor Breen. This has proven to be true a million times over for me

What’s your favourite part about producing horses?

Answer: Oh everything! Learning about who they are, how they need to be ridden, what they find easy and difficult. It’s so satisfying when they suddenly understand something, or make a big jump forward in their training. To quote Piggy French, ‘I’m just addicted to working with horses’. 

Do Coco or Dante remind you of any horses you’ve owned or worked with in the past?

Answer: Coco reminds me a lot of my own 4 yr old mare-both very willing and absolute workaholics, supremely intelligent and genuine, but both with their own boundaries of acceptance-find the key, and you have the horse of a lifetime. Dante reminds me-in looks at least-of a very cool KWPN gelding I had a few years ago called Vector M2S. He went on to jump 1m40 in Ireland, before being sold to Italy. I am in contact with his owner which makes me so happy as I adored the horse. He is stabled at Luca Maria Moneta’s yard, near Lake Como.

What tips would you give to anyone producing a young horse to keep their confidence levels up?

Answer: Be patient. Find the most experienced person you can, and learn as much as you can. A young horse needs a wide foundation of education to maintain confidence throughout his training, so work hard to put that in place. Never rush or overface a young horse, praise him always-especially if he’s struggling with something-and never be afraid to take a step back or take a break. Avoid the pressure of age classes and the ‘your horse should be doing X Y Z at 4,5,6’ brigade. Train each horse as an individual, at a pace that best suits him.

Finally, in your opinion what types of exercises should we be doing with both horses to keep progressing forward? 

Dante: Dante has made huge progress since I saw him a month ago. He’s a difficult horse who ultimately needs to learn to compress his frame and listen to his rider. He currently alternates between listening almost too much, or not listening at all when Darielle asks him to come to work, but I would take this as a huge positive as it shows that he’s trying so hard to work it out and very close to a more permanent and consistent way of going. Lots of canter poles so that horse and rider can work on a more consistent stride pattern. Rows of bounces can be helpful, as can gridwork with ground poles. Anything to get Dante to look at what he’s doing, and begin to learn to balance himself in a more ‘together’ canter. He’s a fabulous horse and this is a very nice, progressive partnership. 

Coco: Coco is the coolest. She’s so willing and interested in work. She’s quite consistent now in her way of going, and like Dante I see a huge improvement on how she was going a month ago. With a horse like her, I would use loads of poles in trot and canter to keep her thinking. I would give her enough to do, without pushing her too hard. I imagine that variety would suit her, so I would encourage plenty of hacking, shows, trips away schooling, a spin up the gallops, lunging etc. Make every day fun for her. Coco and Orla look like best friends hanging out together, having the craic.

Well there you have it, our lesson with Christa. We are having another lesson tomorrow so hopefully we will see even more progress with both horses and continue to grow and move forward. 

If you do want to try out the exercises we did in our lesson above, head over to our Instagram page to have a look at how we got on & how they were set up!

Darielle & Orla

NBW Meets Christa Dillon of Blackhill Eventing #schoolingexercises #riderhour #247equestrian #nobuckingway #horsebloggers #Horses #horsehour #equestrians #equestrianbloggers We both really enjoyed our first lesson with Christa Dillion from Blackhill Eventing, so much so that we got her out for a second!

[kitemist]

switched at birth season 5 episode 10 / series finale thoughts with spoilers

live reactions included.

Overall, I’m almost sobbing like the rest. Goodbye to this show I both hate and learned to love. <3

To be honest, even though I have been shitting on this show since I live reacted every episode of season 5, and some ever since I first saw it on netflix, it was in fact the first show that I bothered to binge a lot on, besides some 1 season anime, I am actually partially unprepared for this. Like, some parts have been nice actually. You got deaf representation(I am aware that it’s not the best, but it’s better than Hush), going into difficult subjects like rape, alcoholism, addiction, death, and trauma, and aside from all the romance, some drama that does in fact make sense and engages the audience into it.The writers may have no idea how deaf people actually work in real life, but the characters feel real aside from that. The camera people may have no consideration for some of the signing scenes, but they have great composition and lighting use other times. The music? Even though that’s not for the deaf audience, it is very engaging and the songs are always great choices. It’s a well made show, with lots of leaks, but it was well constructed.

My own personal experience with the deaf community, with those two sign language classes, seeing a deaf rapper(probably Sean Forbes) in person, going to a deaf convention and everyone still liked my hat and I bought a print from a deaf artist, was amazing. ASL class was instantly my favorite and I made new friends, and picked up new skills. I need to pick up again for sure, I still have the textbooks. It was very unique, and something you can never get from the hearing community. Some things you just DON’T REALIZE are extremely audio centric until you mute everything.

I’ve already been partially flooded with some spoilers thanks to the official twitter. Even though this is the finale, just like any other episode, it needs to chill. It retweets literally everything in their hashtag.

A shot of Daniel Durant? I hope you ALL are coming here. Well, not 100% everyone, but Vanessa Marano did say that a lot of other actors who weren’t working did come that shooting day, and even her sister (who sang an alternate theme song for Miraculous) came along too.

5 years ago? You’re IMMEDIATELY cutting so some things from season 1? That sure can get the flow going. 

Wow, Mom and Regina were sure bitches to each other. Regina being overly modest.

And back to the present without any other transition card.

Yeah, Mom confirms that they were bitches to each other.

This finale was directed by Lea Thompson, who is Mom. She also directed the episode where Alie came along. She is a good director, I’ll give her that. Somewhat.

So is Regina going back to Eric? Fuck.

Of course it would be the Alie pictures, because Emmett couldn’t control composition when it was himself being in front of the camera.

And Dad ruins all the fun. Such as that electric bill.

So Travis is going out again.

Yeah, that disaster which YOU thought of, and FORCE KISSED her, Travis.

Seeing this next shot of Daphne and Iris irritates me, because Daphne claims that Chris took the biggest fall for this cause, giving up the game and getting arrested. But Iris almost died and that was enough to get some big shots to move their asses. Iris gets that award. Not Cocky Chris.

Mingo continues to jump onto race to race. I still think he’s a racist. And an ass. He deserves NOTHING. Maybe you SHOULDN’T have a girlfriend. You shouldn’t have ANYTHING!

Good job coming up front about it.

And now the only conversation you two can have now is about your relationships away from each other.

It’s been what, months or something, and you still are calling her RED. God DAMMIT.

Yeah, how crazy would that be that an ATHLETIC TRAINER and a DOCTOR are going to be together, specifically you two?!

Toby has absolutely nothing aside from music. So Dad is bashing Bay for not having a backup plan for not getting into college that one time, and for not paying her bills, but lets Toby off the hook when he flies off to fuckin ICELAND and getting married, even though the first one tore him apart and the second one, although making less sense than the last one, is having difficulties since they are in the situation of taking care of a child which they have no idea how to do, and learning is hard. And not only that, Toby completely ditched college!!!

“Don’t you worry Eeyore. We’ll find your tail.” <3

Okay, Luca wants to hop onto the ride. From twitter, I know Regina just feels so inclined to tell him because she loves both of them, doesn’t she?!

“Let’s do it.” After thinking about your intense makeout session!?

“Tattooing has a long history of saying ‘screw you’ to society.” This show has never said anything truer and it’s about TATTOOS. You’d expect it to be about, i don’t know, DEAF PEOPLE?

If Bay tattoos a celebrity, then she’ll explode much like badass tattoo lady. Is that the case?

Daphne has a CART but looks to his lips the majority of this scene.

6 week paid internship. The only possibilities are Mingo and Daphne because this show.

THIS IS LITERALLY YOUR FIRST CONVERSATION, MELODY AND REGINA, THIS ENTIRE SEASON!!!

Melody is right. Which Regina isn’t doing because she’s just as if not more impulsive than her daughters.

And first time we’ve seen Melody’s boyfriend. in...forever. And he does not interpret for Regina. Or, doesn’t know to.

Yeah, thanks to neuroplasticity, you excel at all 3. Magically. Along with your magical lipreading.

You don’t like making art with other people, only OF other people. To be fair, that is in fact what photography is. Making art out of other people and other things.

Both of you are lone wolves. Emmett is...well, self-centered but not arrogant or egocentric. Bay is impulsive and can be violent. So you both have to be. But you both are magically compatible because reasons.

Yeah, you need a change. Actually, a lot of these characters can use a change. You’ve been sitting in the same city for 5 years, after all.

You’re gonna mirror this line from 4 seasons ago, from the promo. Also, 5 years ago, you were just as good at acting, Marano.

A second test...?

JOHN KNEW TOO?! THEN WHY--WHAT--WHAT THE FUCK

WHY

Yeah, you read lips TOO WELL.

Well fuck you too

Okay you have masks and it’s pretty audio centric. But you didn’t consider anything else to her face. Is mingo only going to get the job only because he can hear? He SUCKS at school, focusing, pushes his own body too much to care about anyone else’s, and he’s a horrible person!!

First conversation between Daphne and Emmett ever since..season 3? No idea. But it felt longer than just last season.

There’s the neck tattoo. And from this, I guess her disease is magically cured.

Also, how is Emmett taking pictures? You’ll have to crank your ISO so high all your photos would be a sandbox!

Is Dad purposely trying to avoid this conversation? That just confirms it.

Dad is so awkward right now trying to get around this.

And now Travis and Melody. Well, I guess her birthday doesn’t count because it turned out violent.

NATALIE!!! I MISSED YOU

Daniel Durant got kicked out because he was gay, huh?

Yeap.

Awww, season 1 moments. Gold old wilke who cared about making out more than anything else.

UM..THANKS NOELLE?

THANK YOU INDEED

You mean you WERE  in love with someone else. Luca was your boy toy until he unexpectedly came back!

Luca is bashing her for being unloyal to him, while he was lying so many damn times because reasons. Shut the fuck up Luca, no one deserves you anyway.

Hi Mom? ;v;

Yelling in her face because this is what all hearing people do when they have no idea how to deal with deaf people.

Thanks mom ;w;

This is how to be patient with someone with down syndrome huh...hmm.

Kara sort of did this to me, but not in a condescending sort of way. It was a way to quiet me down at Phoenix. Thank you, Kara.

Well, you and Mom did NOT try hard at all. Because Art thief’s big shot dad was too much for you to handle after ONE conversation.

After landing in something she finally wants to do, Travis wants to drag her along because..reasons. and it was Travis's own choice to go to china, not hers.

Well, that’s a stereotype breaker. Down syndrome people can have down syndrome caretakers. Toby’s really nice about that.

First conversation between Daphne and her mom since the racist outfit.

And John couldn’t stand it. Great. He can’t stand ANYTHING!

Yeah, women are tough. Just not you, Regina, partially. Kathryn took no shit at all, while you didn’t let anything good happen to you because you victimized yourself.

Every relationship is different, even in this show. But all of them, in this show, are crap.

What else are you expecting, Mom? You’re quite the digger.

;n; thanks dad.

Bay. What are you doing with this mirrored line.

Come with them, Daniel. It’s a much safer place.

Aw, Toby and Lily. Dorks.

Bay has grown up so much here and I am proud. ;v;

YEAH. THAT FUCKING ACT.

YEAH, FUCK THAT GUY

Will!!! ;v;

wait WHAT

okay...this was the path that grandma wanted angelo to take.

this should have happened SO LONG AGO

yup. hey, daniel. :3

WHAT? PASSING ON GALLAUDET? FOR HIM? ;W;

</3 ;n;

LUCKY YOU BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THAT SHOW WORKS.

Well, You ARE a jerk, no matter what you seem, mingo.

You two are the dumbest.

no you do not.

well. not like daphne had anyone else.

hey, what a spot to meet up at. seems so familiar.

“he was my first love.” i didn’t like this ship, but ;v;

aww, a montage.

OH FUCK THIS, REALLY

Well. Looks like you can be the first good ex’s. In the history of switched at birth. What a nice ending scene for them. See you around.

So many scrapbook pictures...

Hey dad, what do you want.

well, thanks dad.

Regina’s leaving, yup.

Is bay the most shaken up? ;w;

</3 DON’T DO THIS TO ME.

If we never met..well..i would both love it and not like it.

THANKS, PERSISTENT VANESSA MARANO, FOR ALWAYS FINDING YOUR BIRTH PARENTS.

DAD </3

I THINK THE ACTORS ARE ALL CRYING IN REAL LIFE FOR THIS? </3

SHUT UP BAY ;v;

JUST EAT ALREADY--

OKAY, THE COMET.

Let’s all go out now.

Heh. the iconic shot.

We’re all here now.

What a beautiful shot.

</3

Holy SHIT. I didn’t get all the answers I wanted, but this was enough loose ends tied up for me. What a beautiful ending. I couldn’t have asked for a better one even with these loose ends. All our characters are happy, and we can leave off with a good note. Thanks, Switched at Birth. I will and won’t miss you.

I’ll give you 9.4/10.