#happy 79 years rws

[biggsodorcitystories]

Happy 79th Anniversary to The Railway Series!

The Railway Engines

To commemorate a successful first day on the North West Railway, the Fat Director decided to take a photograph of his three engines - sadly, the little shunter had not yet returned from his work.

Lady Elspeth "Edward" Moran-Stewart, daughter of the Earl of Cumbria, on loan from the neighbouring Furness Railway to help update and build upon the existing infrastructure as a slow reintroduction to her duties after raising her three children. Has a husband on business in the US.

Gordon Gresley - Eldest of Sir Nigel Gresley's magnificent new Express engines. Being a prototype, Gordon was acquired comparatively cheaply but was clearly an absolute steal. Rather boastful and proud, but given his status this is expected.

Henry Stanier - ...the less said about this engine, the better! That being said, he seems nice enough, if a bit quiet, and seems keen to prove himself. Seems to really enjoy the sunny weather. Might prove satisfactory in the long run.

The engines are still in their old colours - or existing, in her ladyship's case - and uniforms, but this can be resolved in good time.

[fratboybeezer]

Flyers Primer - Text Version

Presentation version here

featuring many of my personal opinions on players & some phantoms i find notable

*edit: fuck carter hart and i was very harsh on sam for no reason also there’s a lot of typos sorry

Cam Atkinson

forward (rw), #89

drafted 157th overall to CBJ in 2008

amazing instagram comment-er

on the nhl player inclusion coalition

played for torts in cbus

seems just happy to be here

basically #1 gritty fan

Sean Couturier

forward (c), #14

coots, couter, no chest

drafted 8th overall to PHI in 2011

playing this season after being on ir for like a season and a half

should have an a or c

used to live with now gm danny b

last of my fav ginger trio (him, g, and jakey)

toothless

Marc Staal

defenseman, #18

drafted 12th overall to NYR in 2005

2nd of 4 staals

homophobic, boycotted pride night with his brother eric in florida last season

career overall +/- of +50, over 1100 games played

Scott Laughton

forward (c), #21

our one and only a

laughts, laughtsy, scotty tatum

drafted 20th overall to PHI in 2012

passionate LGBTQ+ ally

always the one to put up the pride flag in front of the farg

first guests of the season were a lesbian couple celebrating their 1 year wedding anniversary

best drip on the roster (decided by me after that horrid drip night they had)

kinda reminds me of a cat idk

drinks a black, hot coffee

let atkinson wear his a for atkinson’s first game back in cbus after being traded to philly (back when we had a c and 2 a’s)

had an a with team canada at world’s

has a cat named brucey

Travis Konecny

forward (rw), #11

tk, teeks, tiki bar

drafted 24th overall to PHI in 2015

literally one of the best (if not the best) player on our roster idc argue with the wall

called a “short king” (he is 5’10, there’s shorter guys on the roster)

certified DILF!!

my mom’s fav flyer (she can only name 3 total)

once lost his shoes on the plane and therefore postponed press

pest/rat/raccoon (affectionate)

lives in penalty box yet an absolute goal scorer

his best on ice comparison is a chihuahua

best flow on the roster idc

our media rep this year!!! Slay!!

best chirps on the roster

Joel Farabee

forward (lw), #86

beezer, young beezer, bee, young beezy

drafted 14th overall to PHI in 2018

my favorite player i could go on and on about him

had neck surgery after 21-22 season and came back and played all 82 games in 22-23 season

is already becoming a leader on the team

bought a house from coots early 22 and now it’s a hub for the young guys on the team

gives off frat boy vibes in the best way

is such a teammate guy

asg shootout hater

has (at least 1) tattoo

his game day coffee order is an iced coffee with almond milk, no sweetener, on off days gets a brown sugar shaken espresso, prefers iced over hot coffee, and never met a coffee he didn’t like

grew up liking the flyers & phillies and really wanted to be drafted to philly

“i thank my lucky stars” -bee when talking about getting drafted to philly

claimed in a tk mic’d up that he was dropping a mixtape and never dropped it :(

silliest guy on instagram

Carter Hart

goalie, #79

hartsy, cahtah haht

drafted 48th overall by PHI in 2016

our starter <3 love him

as i’m making this is injured but is practicing with the team so hopefully he’ll be back soon

deserves better than philly but you can pry him from my cold dead hands

@st-louis has a great primer about him

Samuel Ersson

goalie, #33

drafted 143rd overall to PHI in 2018

not the best but he’s trying (i think)

would benefit from some time down with the phantoms

tbh shouldn’t be our #2

Cal Petersen

goalie, #40

drafted 129th overall to BUF in 2013

looks like he would blow away in the wind ngl

me and my friend hate him i’m sorry (sorta)

has spent most of his career so far with the kings

Felix Sandstrom

#32

drafted 70th overall to PHI in 2015

he should be our #2 idc

or down with the phantoms to improve

i can’t think of him without thinking of those pics @mad-bee posted of him like

👁️👁️

Bobby Brink

forward (rw), #10

drafted 34th overall to PHI in 2019

a baby!! (is a 22 y/o man)

my friend knows him specifically as “our rookie”

a REAL short king (5’8)

university of denver

Cam York

defenseman, #8

yorkie, yam cork

drafted 14th overall to PHI in 2019

umich boy, would’ve graduated with team 101

also a usndtp boy

i’m too lazy to look for evidence but probably part of the hughes summer club

Tyson Foerster

forward (rw), #71

drafted 23 overall to PHI in 2020

even more of a baby than brink (he’s a 21 y/o man)

roomies with beezer, stayed in philly during the off-season

i don’t think he stops smiling

described by beezer as “like a little adhd kid”

seems to be besties with yorkie

Egor Zamula

defenseman, #5

undrafted

was super excited to play alongside pr*vorov when he got called up from the Phantoms

part of beezer’s summer group

Nicolas Deslauriers

forward (lw), #44

nic, des, delo

drafted 84th overall to LAK in 2009

french canadian

hit 600 games 10/10!!

usually one of the top guys on the team in hits, pim, fights

has a career overall of -91 but like isn’t a goal scorer so. averages about 6 points per game in overall career

great fighter very hot 10/10

Nick Seeler

defenseman, #24

seels, seal team

drafted 131st overall to MIN in 2011

underrated!!!!!!!!

another great fighter that’s very hot 10/10

there’s not much to him other than punches but that’s ok i love him

fought des when des was playing with the wild

Noah Cates

forward (lw), #27

catesy

drafted 137th overall to PHI in 2017

has a brother who was with the organization but now is with bridgeport in the ahl (got to play some nhl games together!!!!)

once said flyers locker room lacked the “swagger of the winning mentality” which is a fucking hilarious way to word it

was on 2022 us men’s olympic roster

Morgan Frost

forward (c), #48

frosty

drafted 27th overall to PHI in 2017

never captions his instagram posts

angered torts or something because he keeps getting benched with no chance to properly prove himself

flyers hater

Travis Sanheim

defenseman, #6

sanny, sandy, sandra

drafted 17th overall by PHI in 2014

besties + neighbors with tk (known together as travii or travis²)

whl boy

besties with tk’s oldest kid

Owen Tippett

forward (rw), #74

tippy, tipper

drafted 10th overall to FLA in 2017

got him when we traded our captain :,( miss you G

hair looks unnatural but like i’m 90% it is natural

Garnet Hathaway

forward (rw), #19

undrafted

signed as free agent in july

part of phd line (w/ des & poehling)

UHM HIS FIRST NAME IS FUCKING JOHN?!

i don’t like him please don’t ask why i don’t have an answer

Ryan Poehling

forward (c), #25

drafted 25th overall to MTL in 2017

another guy signed in july

saved him from the penguins 🫶🏻

phd line

honestly i don’t know much abt him

Louie Belpedio

defenseman, #37

drafted 80th overall to MIN in 2014

has like 3 nhl games under his belt (12? as i’m making this)

signed july 2022 but has chilling in lehigh valley

went to miami of ohio

has a totally of 3 points but like i said only 11 games he’s got a lot of space for more

Victor Mete

defenseman, #98

drafted 100th overall to MTL in 2016

signed as a free agent in july

more of an assists guy than a goals guy and honestly i’m content with that

career overall +/- of +19

about 250 games under his belt

Sean Walker

defenseman, #26

walks

undrafted

bgsu grad & 2 seasons as captain there

his trade helped us send pr*vorov on his way, hope the door hit him on the way out

not rly talked abt but i think he’s cool (i’m going to bgsu lol)

Long term IR Boys

Ryan Ellis

defenseman, #94

drafted 11th overall to NSH in 2009

i don’t think he’s played a single game with us

like was injured when he was drafted and has been on ir the whole time

we lost phil myers for him (and nolpat too ig)

back injury? i think?

i have no thoughts on him ngl

Rasmus Ristolainen

defenseman, #55

drafted 8th overall to BUF in 2013

horrid career overall +/- (-176)

traded robert hagg & 2 draft pics for him?

i like him tho ig

looks like a different person in like every photo i’ve ever seen of him

his injury is undisclosed

The Phantoms

Wade Allison

forward (rw), #19 (#17 with flyers)

wader, ally, ally cat

drafted 52nd overall to PHI in 2016

he’s my girlfriend i miss him

lived in beezer’s basement last season

part of the fratboys (w/ frosty & beezer)

wmu boy

spent all of last season with the flyers

Tanner Laczynski

forward (c), #9 (#58 with the flyers)

drafted 169th overall to PHI in 2016

OSU boy (ew)

has never spent a whole season up with the flyers :(

my mom once told me he looked like a loser before finding out he was an nhl player

buds with wader

Zayde Wisdom

forward (rw), #14

drafted 94th overall to PHI in 2020

used to live with foerster?

he would cook and tyson would clean

i need him to be called up so we have that duo back

scored 29 goals in his second ohl season

Emil Andrae

defenseman, #6 (#36 with flyers)

drafted 54th overall to PHI in 2020

played 4 games with us this season

not much of a goal scorer but can do it

kinda looks very stereotypical swede

Ronnie Attard

defenseman, #12

drafted 72nd overall to PHI in 2019

was tri-city storm captain for the 18-19 season

another wmu boy — played a season there with ally in 19-20

played 2 games with the flyers last season and 15 the year before

[feigeroman]

The NWR Stocklist (my version)

EDIT (AUGUST 2022): MESSAGE FROM FUTURE FEIGEROMAN! This stocklist is now out of date! I have substantially reworked the numbering system for my version of the NWR stocklist - please refer to this link. This original version is being retained because I fear deleting it might screw up something in several other posts.

The remainder of this post is the old Feige talkng:

So you’re all aware of my various Thomas headcanons, right? You must be, if you’ve been following me for the past month. Well, the fact is, I have a metric shit-ton of headcanons, a small amount of which I’ve been sharing recently. But I’ve been holding back, mainly because of that metric shit-ton, many of them feature characters of my own creation, and I wanted to get those out there first.

The bulk of these are my additions to the North Western Railway locomotive fleet. Like most people, I find it hard to believe that a railway of that size could function with such a small fleet of engines - about twenty in the RWS, expanding to god knows how many in the TVS.

So I decided to expand the fleet accordingly. Over the past few years, I’ve been developing and refining this, deftly mixing characters from the RWS, TVS and my own ideas. Taking a leaf out of the Extended Railway Series, I limited myself to eighty steam engines, and thirty diesels, the names of which are listed under the break.

I should stress that when I originally put together this list, certain characters hadn’t had numbers assigned to them in canon. So those characters will be numbered differently here. Likewise, other characters were introduced after I’d already assigned their canon number to someone else. As this is just my headcanon, that shouldn’t matter to much, but it’s just a heads-up.

Characters listed in bold are canon, and all others are my original characters - some have their roots in canon, though, and are also listed in bold, and marked with an asterisk (*). The numbers in brackets indicate the order in which the engines on this list entered NWR service.

STEAM

Thomas The Tank Engine (1)

Edward The Blue Engine (2)

Henry The Green Engine (9)

Gordon The Big Engine (10)

James The Red Engine (11)

Percy The Small Engine (12)

Toby The Tram Engine (23)

Duck The Great Western Engine (26)

Donald The Scottish Twin (32)

Douglas The Scottish Twin (33)

Oliver The Great Western Engine (50)

Barry The Rescue Engine (108) *

Vanguard The Austerity Engine (107) *

Charlie The Fun Engine (82)

Emily The Stirling Engine (68)

Arthur The Obedient Engine (69)

Murdoch The Mighty Engine (70)

Molly The Shy Engine (74)

Neville The Ugly Duckling Engine (75)

Rosie The Yankee Tank Engine (77)

Whiff The Rubbish Engine (78)

Billy The Silly Engine (79)

Stanley The Silver Engine (80)

Hank The American Engine (81)

Scruff The Rubbish Engine (83)

Belle The Big Tank Engine (85)

Harvey The Crane Engine (66)

Porter The Dock Tank Engine (93)

Big Bertha The Banking Engine (29)

Ashley The Suburban Engine (58)

Shanks The Suburban Engine (59)

Cathy The New-Build Engine (27)

Ryan The Purple Engine (98)

Barbara The Mixed-Traffic Engine (13)

Errol The Jazzer Engine (39)

Wendy The Dock Shunter (16)

Rhonda The Welsh Engine (46)

Elspeth The Caley Tank Engine (47)

Maggie The R.O.D Engine (3)

Murphy The R.O.D Engine (4)

Roscoe The Cool Engine (48)

Spike The Wharf Shunter (15)

Jesse The Steelworks Engine (21) *

Heather The North British Engine (41)

Heidi The Cambrian Engine (34)

Grace The Midland Engine (30) *

Sarah The Naughty Engine (18) *

Jason The Night Owl Engine (22)

Clarence The Calm Engine (43)

Saffron The Hippie Engine (51)

Hiro The Japanese Engine (84)

Roy The Scottish Engine (37)

Lady Margaret The School Engine (42)

Monique The Goods Engine (35)

Stepney The Bluebell Engine (40)

Siani The Welsh Engine (28)

Abigail The Compound Engine (31)

Rebecca The Happy Engine (103)

Nia The Helpful Engine (102)

Fletcher The Recluse Engine (36)

Raven The Vicarstown Pilot (54)

Warren The R.O.D Engine (7)

Vernon The R.O.D Engine (8)

Marie The Atlantic Engine (17)

Michael The Franco-Crosti Engine (44)

Loretta The Utility Engine (49)

Franklin The Really Usual Engine (55)

Sonny The Fugitive Engine (105)

Everett The R.O.D Engine (5)

Callum The Private Engine (96)

Reagan The Director’s Engine (6)

Albert The Jubilee Engine (14)

Evadne The Commuter Engine (24)

Hilda The Commuter Engine (25)

Metin The War Department Engine (19)

Temel The War Department Engine (20)

Caneri The Colliery Engine (97)

Jasmine The Suburban Engine (56)

Emerson The Highland Engine (94)

Victor The Works Shunter (71)

Diesel

Daisy The Diesel Railcar (38)

BoCo The Diseasel (45)

Bear The Hymek Diesel (52)

Devious Diesel (104)

Derek The Paxman Diesel (62)

‘Arry The Ironworks Diesel (63)

Bert The Ironworks Diesel (64)

Salty The Dockyard Diesel (67)

Dennis The Lazy Diesel (76)

Diesel Ten (65)

Den The Works Diesel (86)

Dart The Works Diesel (87)

Sidney The Australian Diesel (88)

Paxton The Green Diesel (89)

Norman The New-Build Diesel (90)

Chopper The Quiet Diesel (95)

Stafford The Battery-Electric Shunter (92)

Argyll The Express Diesel (91)

Phillip The Boxcab Diesel (99)

Maxine The Push-Pull Diesel (100)

Donna The Heavy-Freight Diesel (101)

Gideon The Station Pilot (53)

Violet The Multiple Unit (72)

Hyacinth The Multiple Unit (73)

Tanner The Postal Shunter (106)

Mungo The Heavy-Freight Diesel (61)

Tracy The Thunderbird Diesel (60)

Sheridan The Railbus (57)

Pip The High-Speed Diesel (109)

Emma The High-Speed Diesel (110)

[fossadeileonixv]

WTF Friday Q and A!

With some transfer market movement and the CL draw done, let’s go to the phones!

Joseph from Maryland:  Long time listener first time caller. Milan need to be more clinical on the break or on the midfield press?  Which is most important?

In my mind it’s the break. Passes have to be into space, not to the man and they have to be to the correct foot. If that pass is behind a player and to their trailing foot it’s all over. Spacing by the runners is important as well. Little issues on the break killed us in the first game, otherwise it’s easily 3-0 against Samp. Pressure is pressure, no matter what kind of pressure as long as there is work rate. Pressure leads to mistakes which can lead to goals with clinical finishing. 

Bird 79: 

What type of signing are needed to compete in the group?.

We still need another AM that is of equal or better level to Brahim. That asking a lot but it is the key to our season as far as I am concerned. Without one we will struggle in every competition. 

What game plan to beat each team in the group?

As far as the group goes there are no easy games. Porto will be like a trip to the dentist. Must be patient and possess. Same with Athletico. Both games the double pivot will have to be on their toes as well as the wingers. Squahsing counters will be massive. Liverpool? Just go at them with nothing to lose. Unleash Giroud. 

Teen Rockett from parts unknown asks:  

Do we make it out of the group stage?

Yes. How? I’m not sure. Probably need wins against Athletico and Porto at home and hope for the best in the other results. Not saying that is what I think will happen, just saying that’s the only path I see possible. 

What is the ideal finish to this mercato?

The ideal finish to this window is the best AM available, Castillejo going away and being replaced by and offensive RW. That will make me happy. 

Where, do you think, Russu has gone off to?

Russu? I here that he followed Donna to PSG so he can cheer for a 2nd place French team that won’t win a damn thing. 

FRANK:  What do we do with this Kessie situation?

Sign him. Sign Kessie and give him whatever. Good, durable mids are the hardest things to find. You must hold on. I trust Maldini will not let us down. 

How do we handle Romagnoli's expiring contract?

R13 is a different thing all together. If he wants longer years at the same terms I can see that. CBs have a longer shelf life anyways. You need 3 quality CBs. We can no longer get by with 2 starters and a bunch of Palettas. If he wants a raise and assurances of more playing time that will not happen. Though with an aging Kjaer playing time will be there for sure. It’s going to be somewhat delicate but I think he wants to see this out. 

Why has Maignan changed his short sleeved jersey signature look?

I’ve always thought the short sleeve thing was badass. Reina has done it for years and even when he stinks he looks good. I hope we see a return to it. 

Gillis:  If after the first two CL group stage matches Milan have 0pts, should the goal be to focus on finishing 4th and not going straight into EL a-la Inter last year?

Will Milan get a RW before the end of this window?-

Yes. We are not winning the CL. Making it out of the group stage would be a huge success. The league and qualifying again next year is far more important. 

Will Milan get a RW before the end of this window?

Yes. But it will be an underwhelming name that everyone will bitch and moan about that ultimately everyone is happy with.

Once Bakayoko becomes official, should Milan move Kessie should an offer of €50M-€60M come in?

The hell is wrong with you? You’re fired! 

FORZA MILAN!

Lisi

PS: Feel free to add more questions in the comments below and I will answer them as quick as I can!

[madminniefics]

Six months after graduating from Tulane University, Sadie Neal is on a one-way trip to Buffalo, New York to start her first real, big girl job with the local professional hockey team, the Buffalo Sabres. The problem? Sadie knows next to nothing about hockey. They use pucks, not balls. They wear skates, not cleats. And they play on ice, not grass. That’s it. How is she supposed to represent them on social media when she doesn’t even know what icing means outside of baking?

Louis Tomlinson (#91 / RW) is coming off a career high season (79 games, 20 goals, 30 assists, 50 total points) that he’s trying to recreate. The goal: Lord Stanley’s Cup. There’s a magic in the locker room that feels like it could be their year. He stays focused by keeping hockey and his personal life separate. Everyone knows that.

Everyone except Sadie.

Bright Eyes / chapter one

When Sadie got off the airplane, the freezing air blowing in from between the cracks of the jet way made all her little hairs stand on end. The breeze blew snow up from the ground, swirled it around the windows, before dropping it back to the concrete and starting over. She shivered, rubbing her bare hands together, as she walked to the baggage claim. She was a long, long way from home. It was almost a different country.

A long way from sun beating down on her skin, warming her entire body as she tilted her head towards it, welcoming the heat. A long way from bikini’s in November and shorts year-round. From sipping fruity drinks with your toes in the sand and sunglasses on your face. Did it even get warm in Buffalo?

What she wouldn’t do to be back home in the unbearable heat and humidity. Matter fact, what she wouldn’t do to be somewhere in the middle. Not too hot, not too cold. But noooo. Have an adventure, Sadie. Do something different, Sadie. Do it while you’re young, Sadie. If she could do the last six months over, she would. Was it too late to turn around and go back to New Orleans? Surely the Saints were hiring.

Her hot pink suitcase was easy to spot five minutes after the bags began dropping onto the conveyor belt. She set her light blue backpack down next to her leather duffle bag so she could wrangle her massive suitcase from the baggage platform. It had been a graduation gift from her momma and it was its first time she’d had a chance to use it.

Sadie pouted when she noticed the huge, black stain across the front of her suitcase. Brand new and already ruined. That’s why she hated flying. Humans weren’t meant to be all up in the sky like that. If they had been, people would have evolved to have wings.

Struggling to carry all her bags, she walked slowly towards the door that advertised taxis were waiting outside. Before she knew it, she was in the backseat zipping through the highway towards her hotel. According to an email she received from a ‘Harry Styles’ in human resources, the hotel the Buffalo Sabres were putting her up in for a week was in walking distance from the stadium and it was clean. The second part scared her a bit—to be real, the first part did because it was colder than ice cubes in January and she hated to walk in the cold—because she wasn’t trying to sleep in a dirty bed. Just thinking about what other people did in hotel beds made her want to gag.

She laid her head on the window as she watched the scenery speed by. The traffic was minimal, it was almost 10pm, and they made it to the hotel in less than 20 minutes. What she’d seen of the city before moving there was via the satellite option on Google Maps. So, not much. There was so much green space. It made her happy even though she knew it would all be covered in snow in a few weeks. What surprised her the most was that, at least in the area where her hotel was, was an actual city. It looked like any other city she’d been to. Maybe Buffalo wouldn’t be so bad.

“Thank you so much,” Sadie said as the taxi driver removed her bags from the trunk. He nodded at her before getting back in the car and speeding off. She took a deep breath, grabbed her bags, and walked into the lobby to check in.

There was a busy week ahead of her. So far on her to do list:

Find an apartment and move in within seven days

First day of real work

Learn hockey

Shouldn’t be hard for someone who graduated with honors…right?

///

In the morning, Sadie learned, the hard way, that she’d forgotten to leave the heater on. She huddled under the thin, cheap, hotel comforter for an extra half an hour trying to extract all the heat from its threads. That only left her shivering against cold blankets. At least she’d slept with socks on the night before; something she’d never done before in her life.

Once she got out of bed, though, Sadie cranked the heat as high as it would go (75-degrees) and took the hottest shower she’d ever taken. Her skin was still slightly pink as she walked into the offices in the bowels of KeyBank Center. The walk had been nearly 20 minutes from the hotel to the stadium, partially beneath a highway, which she didn’t consider “walking distance.” She added ‘Talk to Harry Styles about what ‘walking distance’ means’ onto her mental to-do list.

And, to top it all off, her toes were freezing thanks to a freak snowfall the night before. There was less than an inch on the ground and everyone was going about their normal business. Sadie was amazed. Back home, every store, school, and office would close. One inch meant road closures and, sometimes, the whole city shutting down. But in Buffalo, it was just another day. Sadie sighed and pushed her cold feet out of her mind. Before knocking on the door in front of her, she shook her head and replaced her disgruntled look with her signature smile.

The familiar face that appeared from behind the door made Sadie feel just the slightest bit better about her morning. Gabe Sanders, Marketing Director for the Buffalo Sabres, looked like he was having a worse morning than Sadie. She felt for him. She couldn’t imagine how long he’d been living in Buffalo, but she imagined if she had been living there for as long as he probably had she would have that same look on her face all the time. That ‘Why-am-I-here, what-am-I-doing-with-my-life’ type of look. All dead, red eyes, stubble, and bags under his eyes.

“Sadie, hey,” He said, punctuated by a large sigh. Sadie felt his breath on the exposed skin of her hands. She made a mental note to buy a pair of mittens. “Come on, I’ll show you to your cube.”

She struggled to keep from bouncing as she followed Gabe back into a room off the main corridor. There was a multitude of cubicles—too many to count—some with a head popping out, some not. It reminded Sadie of whack a mole. Gabe stopped next to a cubicle with a plastic plaque that read ‘H. Styles’ on the outside and knocked twice. Sitting in the chair was a man with short brown hair pushed back from his face, a white button up Oxford shirt, and brown khaki pants with some sort of brown, casual work shoe. So much brown.

“Harry, this is Sadie, it’s her first day. If you wanna, hook her up with her log in and stuff, I have a meeting,” Gabe said as soon as Harry turned around. “Let me know if you need anything, Sadie.”

She nodded and Gabe took off. She had trouble keeping her emotions off her face. He was just going to leave her like that? On her first day? She knew she sold herself on that Skype interview but…for real? Harry laughed at the anxious look on her face and she blinked.

“I’ll help you log in and direct you to Vic Stephens, one of the marketing assistants. She’ll be able to help you with all the other information you need.”

Sadie let out a breath in a whoosh. “Thank you so much.”

“No problem, follow me,” He said, standing from his chair and walking two rows over to an empty cubicle with a plastic plaque that read ‘S. Neal’ on the outside. She bit her lip to keep from squealing. Baby’s first cubicle! She made a mental note to take a picture of herself with the sign later, to send to her momma. “Here’s your cube. You can put your jacket and stuff down and I’ll show you to Vic’s cube.”

Nodding, Sadie dumped her black shoulder bag and her dark green, faux fur lined parka on the chair. She retucked the back of her mint green blouse into her straight legged black pants. Three cubes down sat a woman with long, bright purple hair. She turned around with a massive grin after Harry did a special knock on her cube. Her eyes widened when she saw Sadie.

“New girl?” She said.

“Sadie, yeah.” Harry said.

“Yes! I’m so excited,” This she said towards Sadie. “Marketing is such a boy’s club.”

Sadie chuckled because she didn’t know what else to do. She didn’t want things to be awkward on her first day and she really wanted to make friends with her coworkers. She didn’t know anyone in the city and that would get real lonely, real quick.

“I’ve got a bunch of stuff for you,” Vic noticed how Sadie’s eyes widened. “To help you get acclimated! Not huge work stuff, not yet. Just some manuals and ‘how-to’ type stuff. They’re in your email already.”

“Perfect,” Sadie beamed. “Thank you.”

“No problem, I’m here for you if you ever need anything.”

Sadie nodded as Harry wrangled her back to her cubicle. He helped her set up her computer and email log in information before leaving with a ‘Let me know if you need anything!’ Looking around at the bare walls of her cubicle, Sadie took out a tiny picture, in a gold frame, from her purse and set it next to the computer. The picture was of a dark skinned man with an impressive afro, in his late-twenties, holding a seven-year-old girl, dressed head-to-toe in Barney clothing, that looked like a clone of the man. Sadie smiled at the picture before pulling her phone out and taking a selfie.

To: Momma

First day 😬

She attached the picture before sending it. Her momma, a notorious early bird, texted back almost immediately. Sadie slipped out of her Vans and wet socks in favor of her gold, sparkly work-appropriate flats before checking her phone.

From: Momma

Hockey 😬

Sadie choked back a laugh. Her momma had made her thoughts on Sadie’s choice of job, location, and organization no secret. Everyone knew that Sadie’s momma wanted her to hold out, to find a job in New Orleans, to stay at home with her forever. But, just as everyone knew that, they also knew that Sadie didn’t want that. She wanted to leave, find her own way, and that meant Buffalo. She’d made a promise and she intended to keep it. And that started by leaving Louisiana.

Setting her phone to the side before she did something ill-advised, like text her momma talking about how much she missed her already, she opened her email instead. There were five messages, all from Vic, all reading URGENT in the subject line. Her breakfast, if one strawberry Danish and a cup of orange juice could be considered breakfast, threatened to make a reappearance. She took a deep breath to calm herself before opening the first email.

///

Sadie was leaning into her computer screen, eyes flickering back and forth as she read through the employee manual that Vic emailed her, when she heard a noise behind her. She snapped around on her rolling chair—her favorite kind of chair—to see Harry and Vic standing in the doorway of her cubicle. She smiled.

“We were wondering if you wanted to go have lunch with us,” Harry said. Sadie furrowed her brow and looked at the clock. She couldn’t believe it was lunchtime already. Nodding, she grabbed her phone, tossed it in her bag, and tossed that over her shoulder.

“Do I need my jacket?”

“No, we’re just going to the cafeteria,” Vic said.

“Cool,” Sadie said, following closely behind Harry and Vic. She looked down each hallway as they walked beneath KeyBank Center. Her lips pursed and she stopped as she looked down a hallway that led to the ice. Players sped in an out of her limited viewpoint through the double doors. How could they skate that fast, not fall, and remember the rules? Sadie could barely rollerblade in a straight line without falling over.

One of the players skated into her eyesight. The way he stood, legs slightly spread, on the ice made Sadie wonder if it was as easy as it looked. Because that man looked graceful there with his large frame being held up by two glorified knives. As if he could sense that she was staring, he turned his head towards her. Shameless, she kept staring. He had an intriguing look about him. She wanted to know what color his eyes were.

Harry noticed Sadie wasn’t walking alongside them anymore and looked back. He placed a hand on Vic’s hand so that she would stop walking before calling Sadie’s name. She shook her head and jogged up to catch up with them without giving the man on the ice another glance.

“They have open practice tomorrow, if you wanted to watch. Call it research for your posts,” Vic said, winking at Sadie. Her face flushed but it was a good idea. While Vic and Harry talked about what they were ordering for lunch, Sadie was thinking about the Sabres player with the captivating stare.

///

What did one wear to an open practice? Was office attire too formal? Was it cold inside the arena? Did she just need a sweater, a long sleeve shirt, a coat? Were a beanie, mittens, and earmuffs too much? Important questions that Sadie had no answers for that morning as she prepared for her second day of work.

In the end, she dressed casually that day in the hopes that she would fit in both at practice and among her coworkers. A pair of navy blue, skinny, cropped khakis paired with a cream button up blouse and a grey cable knit sweater over that. She wore the same flats she had the day before, mostly because they were her only closed-toe, work appropriate shoe. She had a countdown on her phone till her first paycheck. She was going straight to the mall that day.

After she paid her loans, rent, and miscellaneous bills, anyway.

She smiled at coworkers whose names she didn’t know as she walked down the row to her cubicle. Sadie set her bag down on the desk to remove her jacket and scarf. She fixed her blue accent necklace, a gift from her Auntie Donna for graduation, she hung her jacket and scarf on a little hook on one wall of her cubicle and turned her computer on. Practice began at 10 that morning so she had time to check her email and get her things together before heading over to pick a perfect spot.

The supervisor wanted a mockup of social media posts for the next month by the end of the week. Perfect. Sadie decided to take her phone to take pictures to go along with her posts. They would feel more like fan photos rather than professional and Sadie thought that would be good to make the team seem more approachable.

At ten till, Sadie tucked her notebook and favorite pen into her bag and turned the computer screen off before walking over to the stands. She snagged a front row seat, right by the glass a few feet from the goalie, and got comfortable. Placing her bag in the seat next to her, she grabbed her notebook, pen, and phone out.

There were players’ families all around her. Women holding children by the glass while they spoke to their corresponding player. Fans, too. They were sat on the other side of the stadium, though. Sadie smiled as she snapped pictures. She belatedly hoped that it wasn’t weird that she was taking pictures of people without asking. She would look up the specific players’ names later and send emails asking permission.

She snapped a few pictures of the goalie—Payne, number 35—as he stretched and drank some water. Growing bored, she stood and began taking pictures of the other players as they talked before practice started. She was looking through her pictures when she realized two players had skated up to her.

Looking up, her eyes widened when she saw the Man with the Eyes from lunch the day before. He, and his friend, had yet to put their helmets on. She gave his friend—Horan, number 13—a quick once over before settling her gaze on Mr. Bright Eyes. The smirk on his lips combined with the stubble on his face made him look dangerous.

“You looked lonely,” Left-winger Horan said, leaning an arm against the glass. “We thought we’d come keep you company till practice started. I’m Niall.”

“Oh, no I’m fine, thank you! Just doing some work,” Sadie said, fixing them with her blinding smile. Niall blinked twice, mesmerized. “I’m Sadie! I would shake your hands but…”

She motioned at the glass panels between them and shrugged. Niall nodded and opened his mouth to speak before the goalie called his name. He sighed instead.

“Gotta go. Until next time,” He said, nodding at Sadie. She waved cutely before setting her gaze on Niall’s friend. She looked from his eyes to his lips and back before deciding that she didn’t want to be fired on her second day of work. She focused on his eyes instead of the devilish smirk lingering on his lips. She still couldn’t decide what color his eyes were. Blue, that much was obvious, but what shade? It was killing her.

“I’m Louis,”

His gruff, deep voice combined with the British accent hit Sadie straight between her legs. She swallowed hard and took a soothing breath before responding. What would it look like if she was stuttering and stammering in response to his accent? She’d never been thirsty like that and she wasn’t about to start then.

“Nice to meet you,” She smiled, just as the coach blew his whistle. Louis looked back for a moment before training those eyes back on Sadie. She placed a hand on the glass to steady herself under the weight of his gaze. His eyes flicked down to her hand before looking her straight in her eyes.

“See you around, Sadie,” Louis said, winking before skating backwards away from her. He got to the middle before he turned. Sadie bit her lip, shook her head, and sat back down. She picked up her notebook and pen and wrote:

needs to get done

find an apartment and move in within seven days

one month mock up schedule

learn hockey

talk to harry about walking distance

emails asking for permission for pictures

furniture shopping

what color are his eyes???

Tearing the page out of her notebook, she tucked it away in her bag before paying attention as practice began. Whenever Louis skated past her he would look in her direction with a smirk or a nod, making the family members turn to look at her and whisper. She heard a kid ask their mom who she was and blushed. She couldn’t help but think her job just got a lot harder.