#hello again dames nation.

[laikamaeris]

you're a star!

[imaginespazzi]

Part 9: These Moments Of Ours

Masterlist - Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 - Part 8

Just crash, it's our time now (to make this work second time around)

(In which a people-pleasing author gives the people what they've been begging for)

Pairing: Paige Bueckers X Azzi Fudd

Themes: Fluff with a little bit Angst

Words: 7.2K Words

TW: Explicit Sexual Content, Swearing

A/N: Hello my lovelies <3 Thank you for being oh so patient with me because I know I really made y'all wait and hopefully it'll be worth the wait. I'm gonna keep this pretty short and sweet today so onto the usual. Please keep sending me your thoughts and theories; they're the best motivation a girl could ask for. I did edit but feel free to point out the inevitable typos/mistakes. As always, let me know what you liked, what you disliked and what you'd like to see going forward. Have a lovely rest of your week my loves :)

April 2030 

UConn 84   Notre Dame 82 

The blue and white section of the Moda Center crowd erupts in cheers as the final buzzer rings through the stadium. Confetti rains down on the court as the UConn Huskies are crowned national champions once again. Paige’s scream is drowned out by KK’s louder whoop as the two of them excitedly wrap their arms around each other, jumping up and down like they’re college students all over again. 

“Oh okay, love the inclusion,” Ice rolls her eyes but it morphs into a grin as her former teammates pull her into their group hug, all three of them making a ruckus that’s drowned out by the crowd around them roaring in excitement. 

“Can y’all be a little quieter. I’m tryna mourn my Irish in peace,” Sonia says lousily, glaring at them in irritation as she fiddles with her clover bracelet. 

“Oh cheer up Citron,” Paige teases her Wings teammate, “at least y’all finally made it back to the Final Four.”

“Fuck all the way off Bueckers-”

“GO HUSKIES,” a loud voice interrupts Sonia’s grumbling as Jana rushes into their section, the Valkyries center smiling vibrantly as she crashes into her old friends, “BLEED BLUE BABY!”

“Bleed blue!” the three UConn faithful chorus back as Sonia glumly saunters over to Maddy Westbeld who had come over with Jana, the two Fighting Irish alum sharing a commiserating hug. 

“This is why everyone finds you Huskies insufferable,” Maddy says with disgust. 

“Because we just keep winning? There, there little leprechauns,” Ice taunts, light-heartedly patting Maddy and Sonia’s heads as both of them bristle and flash the Wings forward with a synchronized middle finger, “I’m sure you’ll catch up to us never.”

Paige is about to join in on the ribbing when KK turns to Jana with a frown, “where’s Azzi? I thought all of y’all came together.”

She shouldn’t care this much anymore. It’s been five years and Paige thinks it’s a little ridiculous how quickly her ears perks up at the mention of her girlfriend, thinks it’s a little pathetic how she leans in closer to Jana, embarrassingly eager to hear the answer to KK’s question. 

“We did. She wanted to go call her parents to check on Stephie,” Jana explains. 

KK rolls her eyes, her face as disappointed as Paige feels, “of course she did.”

“What’s that supposed to mean,” Jana narrows her eyes at the shorter woman, a protective edge to her tone.  

“It means that this avoidance bullshit Azzi’s on is pretty fucking tired,” KK sneers. 

“KK bro chill,” Ice steps in immediately, looking worriedly between her two friends as Jana’s eyes flash with fire. 

“She’s checking on her daughter KK. She’s not trying to avoid anything,” Jana’s quietness is in stark contrast with the loud cheers around them and Paige swallows the guilt clawing at her throat. This is their fault. Her and Azzi’s. They’d caused an earthquake in their own lives and the aftershocks had rippled throughout their friends and families, creating rubble where there had once been solid foundations. 

KK laughs bitterly, “she had to check on her daughter right now? The game ended like three fucking seconds ago and she couldn’t just wait?”

“You’re being unfair.”

“Why are you always defending her?”

“Because she’s my teammate and it’s not all her fault,” Jana spits out, eyes briefly darting towards Paige who digs her fingernails into her palm, “it’s not her fault that she doesn’t always feel welcome around certain people.”

“And how about the rest of us people who’d really like to see her once in a while?” hurt tinges in KK’s words, “she can’t put the other shit aside for one fucking second?”

Jana opens her mouth, ready to defend her Azzi again but before she can speak, a calm voice cuts in, “hi guys.”

Goosebumps rush up Paige’s arms as she takes in the sight of the ex-girlfriend. There’s nothing extravagant to Azzi’s outfit, a simple UConn sweatshirt paired with black ripped jeans and minimal jewelry but she looks as radiant as always. There’s an awkward tension in the air as Azzi warily takes in the way KK and Jana are still glaring at each other. Her eyes accidentally lock with Paige and the blonde can see the same guilt of this is our collateral damage reflected back in those dark brown orbs. 

“Hi Azzi,” Ice is the first one to break the silence, wrapping the Valkyries shooting guard in a hug, “how’s Stephanie?”

Paige watches as Azzi’s eyes light up at the mention of her daughter's name, all of her previous apprehension gone as she begins to gush about the little girl, “she’s good. Somehow manipulated my dad into letting her stay up past her bedtime but good. She’s only two years old but already such a damn menace,” the brunette’s gaze wanders over to KK, “I guess that was to be expected huh? Any child of mine was bound to be one.”

KK cracks a half smile, bumping her shoulder against Jana’s as a truce sign, “you call it being menace, we call it being smart as hell right El Alfy?”

“Dude that’s what I tell her every time,” Jana immediately accepts the white flag, slinging an arm around the shorter woman, “Azzi just has genius children. Me, you, Nés and now Stephie.”

Ice gawks at the two of them, “seriously?”

“Well you see Ice, statistically she can’t have all genius children. Someone needed to be average,” KK mocks, high-fiving a giggling Jana. 

“Are y’all seeing this bullying?” Ice rounds on Paige and Azzi, hands on her hips with dramatically wide eyes, “are y’all really gonna let them bully your favorite child like this?”

“We don’t have favorites,” Paige and Azzi say at the same, pausing abruptly at the resurgence of familiar synchronicity between them. They glance briefly at each other, shuffling nervously, before immediately looking away. 

“I hate all of y’all,” Ice pouts, petulantly folding her arms against her chest. 

“Aw cheer up Icey,” Jana pats the top of Ice’s head, “how about a round of shots at the hotel bar to cheer you up?” she turns to Maddy and Sonia, who’d been having their own conversation, with a devilish grin, “losing team’s paying.”

“Y’all are sore winners,” Maddy huffs. 

Paige’s eyes dart towards Azzi, waiting for the younger woman to come up with a shallow excuse like she usually does to get out of having to spend more time with the blonde than necessary. And she knows that it’s unfair of her, knows that it’s only natural for someone to actively avoid being stuck in the same place as their past -thinks only a fool like her could want to be in their ex’s presence- but every time Azzi escapes being around her, Paige can’t help the disappointment that curls in her stomach. 

“Y’all coming,” KK asks, a slight edge to her voice as she twists to look at Paige and Azzi. 

“Of course,” Paige grins, locking arms with Sonia who immediately groans, “I’m not passing up free drinks. Especially not when the Irish are paying.”

“Az?” KK’s eyes are hopeful. 

Azzi bites her lip and Paige can almost see the cogs turning in her brain before she schools her features into a soft smile, “yeah. I’ll come.”

*** 

Paige isn’t sure how it happens. Well actually, that’s not quite right. She definitely has an idea of how it happened. She’s not quite sure when KK, Ice and Jana had had time to devise the plan but she’s certain that’s how it happened. Because really, there’s no other reasonable explanation for how she and Azzi have ended up being the only two people, from their previous party of seven, that are still sitting at the bar. Maddy and Sonia had left first, muttering under their breaths about not wanting to be around insufferable winners. Ice had been the next to leave, making up an excuse about how she wanted to call her boyfriend. Then Jana had apparently needed the bathroom. When she hadn’t returned in a solid 15 minutes, it was KK’s turn. A barely disguised grin and a hard-to-believe lie of  I think Jana got lost, I should go help her on her lips as she’d excused herself to the sound of Paige and Azzi’s protests. 

The two of them sit in awkward silence for a bit until Azzi suddenly bursts out laughing, the corner of her eyes crinkling. Paige regards her with amusement, trying to ignore the way the sound of the younger woman laughing feels like hearing her favorite song come on in the car on a warm summer road trip. 

“You’re a little young to be going crazy,” she remarks. 

“Shut up,” Azzi rolls her eyes, lightly punching Paige’s shoulder, “it’s just- they’re still all really shitty liars.”

Paige laughs, “and they still come up with the dumbest plans.”

“Do you remember when they locked us in the Werth changing rooms when we had that stupid fight-”

“Hey,” Paige interrupts indignantly, “it wasn’t stupid-”

“It was definitely stupid-”

“You asked Carol to drive you to rehab instead of me.”

“Because you had practice at the same time.”

“I wouldn’t have minded being five minutes late to practice.”

Azzi snorts, “more like half an hour and you sure as shit wouldn’t have been fine when coach would have yelled at you and made you run suicides after.”

“I wouldn’t have cared,” Paige shrugs, “running suicides would have been worth it for an extra hour with you.”

Azzi stares at her, mouth opening and closing several times before she finally looks away, a soft sigh falling from her lips, “you’re doing it again.”

“I’m not doing anything,” Paige says, unable to keep the defensiveness from creeping into her words. 

“You are,” Azzi slips off the barstool, “you are and you don’t even know it.”

“Azzi,” Paige curls her hand around the other woman’s bicep, pulling her in to stop her from leaving and it’s a bad idea because now they’re too close and her heartbeat quickens immediately at the fact that if she leaned in just a little bit more, there would be no more space left between them, “what am I doing?”

“You’re- you-” Azzi stutters, gulping as her eyes briefly flicker down to Paige’s lips, “you’re making me feel.”

“Making you feel what?” Paige presses. 

For a second, Paige thinks Azzi might just give in to her heart, might just tell the truth but then something hardens in her face, and the next word that slips out of her mouth has both of them going rigid, “how’s your wife Paige?”

“Az-”

“I should go to bed,” Azzi says firmly, trying to wriggle out of Paige’s tightening grip. 

“Azzi-”

“I have an early flight and I should probably wake up a little earlier than I normally would cause you know Jana’s gonna need me to wake her up,” Azzi rambles still trying to twist her arm out of Paige’s hold. 

“Hold on-”

“Can you just let go of me-”

“I’m trying to tell-”

“I really need to get to bed-’

“Az-”

“I have to go-”

“Azzi I’m getting a divorce,” Paige bursts out; the admission feels light a heavy weight off her chest.

Azzi stops fighting against the blonde’s grip, “oh.”

“We’ve- um-” Paige’s throat feels dry as Azzi’s eyes continue to bore into her, “we’ve been separated for a while and I finally-uh- finally filed the papers a little while ago. So um- to your question- I uh- I don’t know how she is because I- I don’t- there uh- there isn’t- there isn’t a wife.”

There’s silence for a bit as Azzi’s head bops up and down as she processes Paige’s revelation, “I’m um-” she clears her throat, “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s not like it’s your fault,” and that’s not completely true -not when Olivia had repeatedly thrown the past back in Paige’s face- but she doesn’t think Azzi needs to know that, doesn’t want the younger woman to feel guilty for things beyond her control. She’s confused when Azzi flinches, like a memory has just pinched her nerves. 

“Right,” Azzi bites, “I really should- I really should be going to bed.”

Something gloomy settles across Paige’s heart as she nods at the brunette’s words, slipping out of her own chair as they start walking towards the elevator in the lobby. She feels antsy, like she’s leaving something incomplete. The silence rings loud between them as they wait for the elevator doors to open, keeping as much distance as they can from each other. It feels like ages before the familiar ding! finally rings out around them. Despite the abundance of room inside, the doorway into the elevator is rather condensed and their shoulders brush against each other as they make their way inside. Audible sighs involuntarily roll off of their tongues at the brief second of contact as they both shiver from each other’s familiar touch. There’s enough space now that they could easily move away -they probably should move away- but instead they stay pressed together. The sound of their uneven breathing fills the elevator as the doors close in front of them.

“I’m uh- I’m on the third floor,” Azzi says as she presses the #3 button, “you?”

“Fifth,” Paige breathes out, eyes fixated on the goosebumps that appear on the back of Azzi’s neck as her hands shake while pushing the #5 button. 

The elevator jolts up and Paige immediately reaches for Azzi’s hips to steady her, eliciting a small gasp from the other woman. She waits for Azzi to move away but the brunette stays put and Paige doesn’t move her hands. 

The doors open on the third floor. Both of them suck in a sharp breath. 

Azzi doesn’t get out. 

*** 

Paige wakes up to the dreadful sound of her alarm clock blaring around her room. It takes a second before the memories of last night start pounding against her skull. Her body aches in the best way possible. The room is still dark -just like it had been last night- and she closes her eyes, trying to revisit the feeling of Azzi’s lips pressed against her forehead, right before the younger woman -with her hair disheveled and bitemarks littered across her jawline-  had left Paige’s room. 

Paige hadn’t asked Azzi to stay. She wonders if she should have; wonders if Azzi would have agreed if she’d asked. But she hadn’t asked and Azzi hadn’t stayed. She regrets it a little bit. She wonders if Azzi does too. And Paige thinks that maybe that’s just the melancholic truth about their tragic story. 

Maybe they’re destined to always regret. 

*** 

April 2033

Paige thinks Azzi’s guest room air conditioning must be broken or something. There’s no other explanation for why, despite having kicked off every single blanket, she feels like she’s tossing and turning in red hot lava. She feels restless, like she has a purpose that she’s leaving unfulfilled. All the different scenes from tonight are rushing through her head, but her heart keeps stuttering on the last one; an image of the way Azzi had looked at her before they’d kissed good night. 

Azzi had asked her to stay even if she’d hidden it under a lame disguise of it being too late and Paige being too angry to drive home alone. And it’s not completely false that her blood is still boiling, their little encounter with fucking asshole still dangerously lingering in her mind as she thinks of the 101 ways she would have liked to murder him. But they both know that the minute Azzi had run her hand down Paige’s back, the moment she’d called her baby, the moment she’d given her the reassurance she was too scared to ask for but needed desperately, Paige had felt all the anger in her body replaced by that familiar sense of calm only Azzi had ever been able to provide. 

And after that had been decided, they’d both hesitated in the hallway, looking back and forth between Azzi’s master bedroom and the guestroom. Paige doesn’t know what had possessed her, why she’d decided tonight of all nights to play this false chivalrous rule-abiding good girl persona when it was the last thing she wanted to do. Because the last couple of weeks had been hell. The stupid rules had been hell. Going slow had been hell. Having to pull away from Azzi and walk out the door every night when all she wanted to was to lose herself in the brunette’s arms had been hell. But she’d done it for Azzi. She’d done it because there isn’t a thing in the world that she wouldn’t do for Azzi. Except tonight had been different. There had been that look on Azzi’s face -the way the younger woman had bitten her lips, the way her eyes had been hooded over, the way her cheeks had been flushed as her gaze roamed over Paige’s body- and  it had morphed into one of pure disappointment when Paige had said she’d take the guestroom. 

You’re a fucking idiot Paige Bueckers, she thinks to herself as she bolts right up, the image finally burning a little too bright behind her eyelids to continue this façade of trying to sleep. Perhaps it’s pointless. It’s late and Azzi loves her sleep; there’s no way she’s awake. But Paige slides out of bed anyways, breathing unevenly as she turns on the nightlight and walks towards her door. She doesn’t have a plan, doesn’t have any idea what she’d even say if Azzi is, by some miracle of god, even awake. But fuck it, Paige needs to see this through. She pauses at the door, hands wrapping around the cold handle as she gives herself one more chance to back out. Really, she doesn’t even know why she’s so nervous. It’s Azzi. Her Azzi. 

Paige twists the handle to tug the door open. 

Azzi’s eyes widen in surprise, her fisted hand -that had clearly been raised to knock on the mahogany door- freezing in place as she swallows and Paige is mesmerized by the way it highlights the veins in her neck. Her eyes move downwards, fixating on where Azzi’s oversized t-shirt hangs looser on one-side, leaving her right shoulder and collarbone on display. The shirt right above her thighs, giving Paige the perfect display of Azzi’s toned long legs looming beneath and the blonde gulps at the sight. 

“Hi,” Azzi speaks first, the low graveliness in her tone causing a coil of want to wrap itself around Paige’s stomach. 

“Hey,” Paige whispers back, “couldn’t sleep?”

Azzi bites her lip, “no- I just uh-, people always say- like when Jana sleeps over or something- she always says that- that the guest room is um- it’s too cold so I just- I wanted to make sure- wanted to ask-” she clears her throat, taking a step forward as she look earnestly at Paige, “are you cold?”

“So cold,” Paige confirms, moving closer to Azzi so their chests are almost touching. 

“You could um-” Azzi licks her teeth, “you could stay in Stephie’s room-” 

“I could?” Paige asks, pressing herself flush against the younger woman, hands wrapping around her waist. There’s barely space for air between them but she wants to get closer, wants to stitch herself into Azzi’s skin and keep them intertwined forever. 

“You could but,” Azzi’s hand trails Paige’s biceps, causing the blonde to shiver, before finally interlocking around her neck, “I think- I think her bed might be a little small for you.”

“Way too small,” Paige breathes against Azzi’s skin as she nips at the brunette’s jawline, before ghosting her lips against her neck, leaving a trail of mine mine mine down her throat.

“Paige,” Azzi’s voice is breathless as she tilts her head, hissing when Paige bites harshly right above her collarbone, immediately soothing it with her tongue, “I think- I think-fuck” she cuts herself with a moan as Paige turns them around, maneuvering them back towards the bed that suddenly looks far more inviting then it had before,  “I just think-”

“You think too much,” Paige says softly, finally removing her lips from Azzi’s skin -she misses the taste of it immediately- so she can smile teasingly at the brunette. 

“Do I?” Azzi grins dopily. 

Paige rolls her eyes, continuing to walk them backwards, “way, way too much.”

They’re forced to a halt when the back of Azzi’s thighs collide against the backframe of the bed. It feels like a turning point, like they could unlock a new chapter or keep themselves on the one they’re already on. And while Paige would really to skip forward, she’ll be okay with whatever happens next as long as the story being written is still theirs, still about her and Azzi. 

“Paige,” Azzi whispers again -and Paige loves the way Azzi’s lips curl around the syllable of her name- as she bunches the blonde’s shirt in her hands, “make me stop thinking.”

“Whatever you want baby,” Paige promises before they both go tumbling into the mattress, their lips colliding in a heated kiss. It feels like they’re trying to meld themselves into each other, like their bodies are carving out an indent of you and i just always feel right against the bedsheets. 

“I want this off,” Azzi breathes out between kisses, hands lifting the edge of Paige’s shirt, “off, off, off.”

“So bossy,” Paige smirks, leaning up off of Azzi to take off her shirt in a tantalizingly slow manner, enjoying the way the brunette’s eyes darken as they glide across her abs first and then her breasts, “enjoying the sho- fuck Az.”

The words are stolen from her mouth as Azzi swirls her tongue around one erect nipple, her hands cupping Paige’s ass to balance the blonde on top of her. She’s always known exactly how to get Paige to shut the fuck up. Paige groans as Azzi flips them over, shifting herself to press her thigh in between Paige’s legs and the blonde can’t help but grind up against it, desperate for some much needed friction, as Azzi sucks a possessive bruise against her jaw. 

“Missed this,” Azzi whispers, as she kisses down Paige’s neck, “and this,” a kiss pressed against her collarbone, “and these,” Azzi presses her lips softly to each breast, “and this,” against Paige’s stomach, “and these,” two featherlight kisses are peppered against her hip bones, “and I really missed these.”

“Azzi,” Paige moans as the brunette’s lips glide across the inside of her thighs, taking her sweet time marking only i could ever make you feel like this against every inch of Paige’s skin. 

Azzi stops right above the edge of Paige’s boxers before slowly peeling them off as sparkling brown eyes staring up at her with a myriad of unspoken emotions that Paige could spend a lifetime trying to memorize, “missed all of this. Missed everything about you. Missed you so much baby.”

Vulnerability echoes in Azzi’s voice as she slowly moves herself back up, hands coming to cup Paige’s face as they press their foreheads together. And it’s not like she hadn’t known that Azzi must have missed her in these last couple of years. But there’s a part of Paige that had thought that there was no way Azzi could have missed her as much as she missed Azzi. Because missing Azzi had felt all consuming, like there was a constant noose around her neck that got tighter and tighter with every day that passed by. But there’s something about the way the words reverberate around the room, something about the way Azzi looks like she can finally breathe again after saying it out loud that it hits Paige; it hits her that they’ve both been suffocating without each other. 

“I missed you too,” she breathes out, tears pooling at the edge of her eyes, “missed you so fucking much Azzi.”

“Yeah?” Azzi whispers, lips catching the lone tear that falls from Paige’s eyes, “how much?”

Paige shudders as Azzi’s fingers teasingly ghost over her wet folds, “s-so much. Azzi please. Need it so bad. Need you so bad.”

“Whatever you want baby,” Azzi repeats Paige’s own words back to her before she finally gives her what she’s desperately been craving, two fingers rhythmically pumping in and out of her pussy as her thumb rubs circles against Paige’s clit. 

“Fuck, fuck, just like that-” a litany of curses waterfall from Paige’s lips as she bucks her hips up against Azzi’s hand, “fuck please.”

“Please what?” Azzi asks coyly, fingers moving at a faster face as she hides a grin against Paige’s neck, “gotta tell me what you want baby.”

“W-want your mouth please- please Azzi-baby please,” Paige begs, writhing underneath her when Azzi immediately complies, lips attaching to her clit as she adds another finger, “fuck Azzi- I’m so close.”

“I know baby,” the words vibrate against Paige’s core, sending another bout of ecstasy shooting up her spine as she feels that familiar buildup in her stomach.

“Azz I’m gonna-”

“I know. Let go baby. I’ve got you. I’m gonna catch you I promise,” Azzi whispers. 

And it’s those words, that promise, that sends Paige over the edge, a cry of Azzi’s name falling from her lips. Because she knows Azzi means them for a lot more than just this moment, that those words -the promise- are born out of something deeper than lust. And maybe neither of them are quite ready to acknowledge that yet, not ready to make vows that teeter dangerously close to the ones they watched themselves break in the past, but it lingers between them, like a string made of we’ve always been inevitable connecting their hearts to each other. 

Azzi slowly eases her fingers out of Paige, pressing open-mouthed kisses against the older woman’s stomach as she recovers from her high, before looking up at her with a smirk. Never breaking eye contact, Azzi slips her fingers into her own mouth, leisurely sucking at them as she watches Paige’s face contort with desire. 

“Was I good?” she asks teasingly and Paige growls. 

“How have you gotten better at that? Actually you know what never mind,” Paige shakes her head, “I don’t want to know that.”

Azzi laughs, hiding her face against Paige’s neck, “only that good for you.”

“Good,” Paige tightens her arms around the woman on top of her and then scrunches her face as she feels the material of Azzi’s shirt itch against her wrists, “well this is unfair.”

“What is?” Azzi hum backs. 

“I’m fully fucking naked and you haven’t taken a single thing off,” Paige grumbles as she coaxes Azzi’s face out of her neck, hands gripping the edge of her shit, “take this off.”

Azzi stills, her previous serene expression replaced by something more nervous, as she lifts herself up so she’s straddling the older woman’s hips, “Paige-”

“What’s wrong?” Paige’s senses are on high alert immediately as she rises up herself, maneuvering them so Azzi’s fully on her lap. 

“I just-,” Azzi draws in a deep breath, looking downwards as she chews her lips.

“Hey,” Paige whispers, lifting the younger woman’s chin back up before pressing their foreheads together, “talk to me baby.”

“Can we just-” Azzi plays with the end of Paige’s hair, “can we maybe just-” she cocks her head towards the nightlight on the desk, “do you think we could turn the light off?”

“What?” Paige asks confusedly, “Azzi I’ve seen you naked-”

“Not since- not since I had Stephie,” Azzi interrupts, cowering under Paige’s intense stare, “the lights- the lights were off that one time and the other time I don't think- I don’t think we were sober enough for me to care or for you to remember so can we just-”

“Azzi,” Paige cups the younger woman’s face, “baby there is no amount of alcohol in the world that could make me forget you. Trust me I’ve tried,” she slips her hand under Azzi’s shirt, caressing the skin underneath, “but every time I see you baby, I memorize every little part of you,” she dances her fingertips across where she remembers those stretch marks -the ones Azzi is so afraid of her seeing again- are littered across her stomach, “and whether I’m sober or drunk or something in between, I always think every little bit of you is perfect.”

“Paige,” Azzi says softly, something akin to awe coating her voice. 

“Just wanna make you feel as good as you made me feel baby. Please,” Paige wraps her fingers around the edge of Azzi’s shirt again, “can I?”

“Okay,” Azzi concedes quietly, lifting her arms so Paige can finally tug the offending shirt off. 

Paige gives herself a moment to look at the woman in front of her, the woman whose body she’s seen countless times yet she swears that it feels like a different adventure every time. And then she lets herself have a taste, running her tongue lazily across Azzi’s skin, as she slowly maneuvers them so she can hover above the younger woman. A soft smile flitter across her face as she rubs her fingers over the tattoo printed across Azzi’s ribcage. It’s a purple S tattoo, with butterfly wings fanning out on either side. For Stephie. 

Keeping her eyes trained on the darker-skinned , she brushes her lips across the stretch marks on the darker-skinned woman’s abdomen and she hopes that Azzi can read the all of your imperfections are still made for me that Paige is spelling out against her skin. She uses her teeth to pull down Azzi’s panties, smirking to herself when she hears the younger woman's breath hitch above her. Eyes still interlocked with Azzi’s, Paige is purposefully slow as she licks a stripe up Azzi’s folds, relishing the way the other woman’s eyes roll back into her head. 

“So fucking wet,” she hums, “all for me?”

“You know-” Azzi shudders when Paige’s lips brush against her clit, still teasing, “you know it is.”

Paige smirks, “only for me.”

“Please,” Azzi begs as Paige continues to lazily lap at her pussy, giving her something but not quite enough. 

“Say it,” Paige demands, harshly biting against Azzi’s inner thigh as she brings up a hand to rub infinity signs around Azzi’s clit, “say it’s only for me.”

“It’s only for you-” Azzi cuts herself off with a scream as Paige plunges her tongue deep inside her, setting a tempo she knows will have Azzi seeing stars. 

“Doing so good for me baby,” Paige coos as she adds two fingers with her tongue, “always so good for me.”

“Fuck,” Azzi fists the bedsheets, trying to gain some semblance of control as she writhes under Paige’s touch, “feels so good. Paige please.”

“I know,” Paige whispers, “I know what you need baby.”

And that’s the thing about them. That’s why it’s good every single time. Because Paige knows every little crevice of Azzi’s body like it’s her own, knows exactly where to touch and how to touch to elicit those little gasps of pleasure that she wishes she could record and listen to on loop. And it doesn’t matter how long they go without each other in between, coming back always feels like home. But as much as she loves the feeling of coming back, Paige never wants to feel it again. Because this time, she hopes there is no in between without each other. She hopes that this time, they both stay. 

“Paige,” Azzi moans again, her name falling from her mouth like a prayer. 

“I’ve got you,” Paige whispers, capturing Azzi’s lips with her own as she continues her ministrations with her hand, “fall apart for me baby. I swear I’ll put you back together.”

There’s nothing quite like watching Azzi come undone and Paige drinks in the sight of the other woman quivering as she grabs the blonde’s bicep so tight that it’s bound to leave a victory mark. Paige coaxes her through it, nibbling at Azzi’s jawline as the younger woman slowly climbs down from her peak, going limp in Paige’s arms. 

They’re quiet for a while, languorously pressing delicate kisses against each other's skin, soft hands exploring all over each other’s familiar bodies as they tangle their legs together; close not being close enough. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” Paige whines when Azzi starts to move out of her grasp. 

“I got what I came for,” Azzi teases, “so I’m going back to my own bed.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Paige scowls, pulling the younger woman back into her chest. 

Azzi laughs, kissing away Paige’s pout as she wriggles out of her grip and slips out of the bed, “relax. I’m just getting something to clean us up with.”

“Well hurry up. I’m already cold,” Paige mewls before letting out a wolf-whistle as her eyes drift over Azzi’s naked retreating form, appreciating the tautness of the brunette’s back muscles down to her perfectly curved ass. 

“You’re 31 years old Paige Bueckers,” Azzi chides as she walks into the ensuite bathroom but Paige can hear the blush in her voice. 

“And you’re hot as fuck Azzi Fudd,” Paige calls out with a smirk, keeping the and you’re all mine as a secret in her own thoughts. 

“You’re not bad yourself Bueckers,” Azzi returns from the bathroom with a smile and a damp cloth as she hops back onto the bed, gently dabbing it between Paige’s thighs. 

It’s a simple act but Paige feels tears prickle at the corner of the eyes. Because it signifies so much more than just this moment. For most of her life, Paige had grown accustomed to the idea that no one would take care of her unless she took care of them first. She didn't know it was possible that someone could reach out first, that they could hold her first without any expectation of anything else in return. Until Azzi. 

“Baby?” Azzi’s voice is wrapped in concern as she takes notice of Paige’s tears, immediately rising up to brush them away, “what’s wrong?”

“Nothing I just-” Paige loops her arms around Azzi’s neck, shuddering slightly at how earnest the younger woman’s face is, “I really fucking missed you.”

Azzi’s eyes soften as she caresses Paige’s cheek before pressing her lips against her forehead, “I really fucking missed you too.”

***

Paige’s eyes flutter awake to sunlight peeking through the blue curtains of Azzi’s guest bedroom. She groans, shifting to bury her face further into the brunette’s stomach, pinching it when Azzi laughs above her. Lifting her head slightly, Paige can’t help but smile at the woman above her. Azzi’s got her glasses on, a book in her hands as she peers down at Paige with nothing but pure fondness. Something aches in Paige’s chest as countless visions of mornings just like this fill her head. She’d resigned herself to believing that she’d never get this back again, that she’d have to rely on memories of the past to fill the empty void that rattled hollowly against her chest every time she’d woken up without Azzi by her side. 

“Morning sleepy head,” Azzi says softly, putting her book down to brush her fingers through Paige’s hair, “assuming you slept well considering you didn’t even notice when I left to grab my glasses and a book from my room.”

Paige frowns, “you left me?”

“I was bored,” Azzi defends herself, “you were fast asleep and I had nothing to occupy myself with.”

“I can believe you left me,” Paige petulantly accuses again. 

“I didn’t leave-”

“You left me!”

“Okay fine,” Azzi concedes with an eyeroll, “but I came back.”

“Yeah you did,” a soft smile takes over Paige’s features as she leans up to brush her lips against Azzi’s, “you came back.”

“I did,” Azzi whispers against Paige’s mouth, cupping the older woman’s face with her hands. 

Paige is about to deepen the kiss, her hands beginning to slip lower, when the sound of a doorbell ruins any chances of putting in motion any of the uncordial ideas that had taken birth in her mind. She groans as Azzi immediately pulls away.

“Shit, I didn’t realize they’d be here so early.” the younger woman curses, hurriedly tossing Paige’s discarded clothes at her, “here, put your clothes on. I’ll go down first while you change.”

“I- I can come down?” Paige asks slowly. 

Azzi crinkles her eyes in confusion, “what do you mean? What else would you do?”

“I just. I dunno-” Paige shrugs, “I just assumed you uh- you wouldn’t want Stephie to know I stayed the night. I figured I’d sneak out of the window or something.”

“Paige,” Azzi whispers, walking over to grip the older girl’s hands, “you’re not- you’re not my dirty little secret or anything. I’m not- I’m not quite ready to tell Stephie about us- hell I’m not even really sure what we are yet but I know- I know that I don’t want to hide you from her. Besides,” she nudges Paige humorously, “we’re on the 2nd floor babe. I don’t need you trying to climb out the window and breaking your knee before the season even starts.”

Paige watches quietly as Azzi walks out the door. She doesn’t think the younger woman quite understands how much she had needed to hear those words, how much she had needed to not feel like a secret again. It fills Paige with a sense of hope, hope that maybe things would be different this time. Maybe things would be better this time. 

*** 

“Miss Buecks,” Stephie squeals from Azzi’s arms as she spots Paige descending down the stairs, “you’re already here!”

Paige smiles at the little girl, tapping her nose over Azzi’s shoulder, “I promised you I’d be here bright and early didn’t I?”

“Very bright and early,” Katie cocks an eyebrow as she smirks at Paige and Azzi, “how did you get here so early Paige?”

“Don’t be silly Nanna. She drove of course,” Stephie says matter-of-factly before scrunching up her nose, “but Miss Buecks. How come your car isn’t outside then?”

“That’s a great question Stephie,” Katie says and Paige thinks the woman’s a little bit too peppy for a grandmother, “why isn’t your car outside Paige?”

“Because-” Azzi gives her mother an exasperated look before fixing her eyes on her daughter, “because Paige slept over last night.”

“Miss Buecks slept over last night?” Stephie repeats. 

“I did,” Paige confirms, glaring at Katie as she snickers in the corner. 

“Mama can you please put me down,” Stephie says finally. 

The little girl looks upset and Paige feels her heart constrict with fear. In general, she doesn’t really do well with people being mad at her. But she definitely doesn't think she can take Stephie of all people being mad at her. The little girl has chiseled herself into Paige’s heart and if she ever left, Paige thinks she’d leave a hole so big, her entire heart would cease working. 

Azzi shares a nervous look with Paige as she sets her daughter down before crouching down to Stephie’s level, “what’s wrong Stephie-bean?”

Stephie’s bottom lip trembles as she looks between her mother and Paige, “you let Miss Buecks sleepover.”

“I-” Azzi looks helplessly between her own mother and Paige, both of whom look just as tense, “I did but sweetheart why is that upsetting you? You like Miss Buecks.”

“I love Miss Buecks,” Stephie wails and Paige lets out a sigh of relief, the little girl's words wrapping themselves around her like a warm blanket. 

Azzi blanches for a second, “I don’t understand then what’s the problem-”

 “YOU GUYS HAD A SLEEPOVER WITHOUT ME,” Stephie yells, stomping her tiny feet.  

Oh. 

“Stephie-” Azzi says softly, unable to keep the smile off of her face. 

“I can’t believe you’d do this to me Mama,” Stephie sniffs as she turns to Paige with a betrayed expression, “and you Miss Buecks. How could you guys have a sleepover without me?”

“Oh sweetheart,” Paige falls to her knees beside Azzi, trying not to smile when Stephie dramatically turns her face away from them, “we didn’t mean to. It was just really late when we got back from the party-”

“The party,” Stephie cries out, “first you went to a party without me and then you had a sleepover without me. I can’t bel-ieve you guys would do that to me. Don’t you guys love me at all?”

“We’re really sorry Stephie,” Paige says as seriously as she can, reaching out to fold Stephie’s tiny hands into her much larger one. 

“Very, very, sorry,” Azzi echoes. 

“I don’t know,” Katie supplies unhelpfully from where she’s watching the whole situation with pure amusement, “they don’t seem that sorry Stephie.”

“Mom!” “Katie!”

Katie raises her hands in mock surrender as both Paige and Azzi glare at her, “just looking out for my granddaughter’s best interest.”

“Stephie-bean,” Paige says again, maneuvering the little girl’s body to face her, “your Mama and I are very, very, sorry for having a sleepover without you. Please forgive us.”

Stephie looks at the adults kneeling in front of her with a contemplative expression, “you promise you’ll never do it again?”

“Never,” Azzi promises as Paige nods along.

“And when we go to the park today I can get three scoops of ice cream?” the little girl asks, the hint of a smile starting to breakthrough her lips. 

“I don’t know about that one sweetheart. That’s a lot of ice-”

“Of course you can!”

“Paige!” Azzi hisses. 

“And you’ll push me on the swing at the park for twenty minutes?”

“I’ll even push you for thirty minutes if you want,” Paige says and Azzi rolls her eyes. 

“Just had to one-up it didn’t you Bueckers,” she mutters under her breath. 

“And even though Miss Buecks said she’d get me fries at the park, I can get In-N-Out for dinner too?”

“You’re pushing it Stephie-bean-”

“In-N-Out for dinner sounds perfect,” Paige winks at Stephie as a full smile finally overtakes the little girl’s face. 

“You’re hopeless,” Azzi chides the blonde, throwing her hands up exasperatedly but there’s no denying the grin on her face as she looks back at Stephie, “is that all your highness? Are we finally forgiven or did you want to ask us for more unhealthy things?”

“Just one more thing,” Stephie’s eyes twinkle with mischief, “Miss Buecks has to sleepover tonight too.”

Paige and Azzi share a toothy smile with each other before turning to the little girl. 

“I think that could be arranged.”

The words are barely out of Paige’s mouth before Stephie goes tumbling into her and Azzi, tiny arms somehow wrapping around both of their necks as she pulls them into a group hug. The two adults laugh, cocooning the little girl in between them as she rambles on about how excited she is.  And Paige thinks that when all is said and done, when she looks back on her life, she’ll remember this moment as the one where everything started to finally come together. Right now, with Stephie's arms wrapped around her neck and Azzi’s hands curling around the little girl’s back to intertwine their fingers together, this moment here feels perfect. This moment feels like it belongs to Paige.

[kocherry]

❅ ~ Hellfire ~ ❅

Yandere Capitano x Nun!Reader

Hello everyone this is a songfic base on the song “Hellfire” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The yandere aspect is what makes this fic different version from the original Nun!Reader fics ♡

I hope you guys enjoy this cuz I really went down the drain for the Capitano Agenda mainly because of how @jessamine-rose writes Capitano and it inspired me to do a yandere fic about him as well sksksksksk

Sypnosis: Capitano sees himself above the trivial feelings of love and lust. He sings a prayer to the Tsaritsa because of his revolting desire to make you his and his alone. However, the temptation of having you in his arms is quite hard to resist.

Content: Songfic, Yandere Behavior, Unhealthy Relationships, Religious Sacrilege, Kidnapping, Power Imbalance, Perverse Thoughts, Destructive Acts

< 2.2k words under the cut >

Oh, Archon of mine, you know I am not a righteous man

Of my virtue I am justly your proud soldier

Dear Tsarista, you know I'm so much dignified

But why do I have such a despicable desire for a pure soul

Please tell me Tsaritsa, why do I see her dancing there?

Why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul?

In the dark night that the fake sky showed, the nation of Mondstadt sleeps quietly along with its visitors from a foreign land. The Fatui soldiers were all asleep and only Capitano remains awake in a place where he stayed in the City of Freedom. He remains to be restless as he stares at the burning hearth while gripping onto his sword’s handle tightly.

The Captain continues to sing a prayer of song to the Cryo Archon, he couldn’t close his eyes and sleep knowing he had much more to fulfill than his mission.

On the day he met you, he couldn’t forget how you stood up against him and demanded for a duel to save those wretched Knights of Favonius from his wrath. Despite being covered by the church’s garments, your body moves swiftly to dodge his attacks. Your face is bear for him to see and he could see your eyes glaring at him… he felt attracted to them and he hated himself for it.

He especially hates the pyro vision that hangs above your bosom. It kept him awake as he could recall how you glow like fire.

A fire that continues to haunt his mind, heart, and soul.

I feel her, I see her

The sun caught in her hair

Is blazing in me out of all control

Capitano whimpers this part of the song as he crosses his arms and held his shaking shoulders with the most hurtful grip. His armored sharp fingers pierced through the armor and scrapes his skin as he continues to stare at the heart which had the fire shape into your figure. And behind the dark void of his helmet, his dark blue eyes stares at you with longing to hold you and yet his gaze also craves to thrust his cock deep within your tight walls.

The way his thoughts spiral between the threads of loving and lusting for you made Capitano shiver once again. How he hate the way he feels because such perverted scenarios he played inside his mind deprecates how he sees himself. As the matter of fact, he began to think on why not let such desires come true?

And maybe it was time for him to finally rest for the night, Capitano knew it was enough prayers to the Tsaritsa as it was undignified of him to let out those words come out. He puts out the fire in the hearth by piercing his sword through the burning wood, he feels frustrated about tonight’s prayers.

After all it was your fault that he feels this way.

Like fire, Hellfire

This fire in my skin

This burning desire

Is turning me to sin

“Capitano, where do you think you’re going?”

The said man stopped in his tracks, he certainly didn’t expect to see you first thing in the morning and he quietly continues his song of prayer inside his mind. Then he turns to see you still covered as the Church of Favonius’ garments, and he wonders how you would look without them.

“Do you wish to accompany me if you are asking such questions?” He asks with a hopeful tone.

The way your eyes flicker in surprise but also has the glint of letting your guard down being deceive by how soft his deep voice had become. “Well, someone has to keep an eye over you Lord Harbinger, what if you harm Mondstadt’s citizens again?” You folded your arms shaping your breasts into the white garment you wear and the pyro vision waves slightly from the action.

By the Archon of Love’s mercy, Capitano is cursed with the bountiful visual he just saw and also blessed that his helmet covered his gaze.

“Very well you may accompany me Sister (Y/N).”

Your name rolls out of his voice as if he’s been practicing saying your name perfectly and he wonders when he could call you without the Nun title.

It's not my fault, I'm not to blame

It is the nun who wields her bow who sent this flame

It's not my fault, if in my Archon's plan

She made the devil so much stronger than a man!

Capitano hoarsely sings the prayer as he falls into his knees holding the sides of his helmet he couldn’t believe what just happened.

You two were just spending another day deep in the ice-cold mountains of Dragonspine to battle the Snowboar King. When victory came due to the tag team you two made, you suddenly hugged him out of the blue out of happiness. Your long wish to venture the mountains and fulfilled your inner child’s ambition to defeat the monster has been done because of the Captain’s help.

That was also the very first time that Capitano saw you smiling and laughing, those images will forever bury inside his mind. Unless he takes you for himself then perhaps every day, he could see you with such happy expressions that he stirs up.

When it was night and the time for you to part ways with him, you express gratitude for letting you fulfill a long wish as a child. You always had been a caged little dove by your family and you told Capitano of your prison despite being a Sister in the Church of Favoinus.

Little did you know that Capitano only wishes for you transfer from your family’s prison to his own.

And when you kissed the side of his helmet that was the last straw as it provokes Capitano’s darkest thoughts in desiring you. He slowly composes himself as he stands up from the ground, he grips the handle of his sword as he slams the door open. The heavy footsteps could be heard in the quiet night but none could ever wake up from this dangerous aura because the Fatui Harbinger only wishes harm to one person in this nation.

Capitano will have you and damn your Archon’s absence because he cannot protect you from him anymore.

Protect me, Tsaritsa

Don't let the nun cast her pyro vision’s spell

Don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone

Destroy (Y/N)

And let her taste the fires of hell

Or else let her be mine and mine alone

Capitano’s prayer is full of hypocrisy once again, because it was too late, the Cryo Archon couldn’t erase his feelings. You were to blamed for whatever will happen to you from now on as he continues to take another step towards the place where you sleep. The dark void in his helmet begin to light up as his dark blue eyes glow under the dark night of the fake sky.

And when you woke up, the sun isn’t the one who greeted you.

“Let me go this instant! I don’t wish to harm you… you’re the only friend that I truly had please don’t make me hate you Capitano.”

Your voice is filled with betrayal and fear, yet despite feeling those emotions you still linger to a thread of hope that Capitano will let you go. He admires how that even in this situation you would try to see the goodness in him. A goodness that never existed in the first place anyway, for what does that trait could even contribute to his duties as a Fatui Harbinger?

“Didn’t you wish to be free of your family? Didn’t you desire to get away from Mondstadt because you never felt its freedom? And didn’t you say that you want to be with me?”

Capitano had a tight grip on your arm which made you whimper, if this was a different situation, you would have said yes. The only time you ever feel yourself is when you’re with him but… why does it feel like you were just transferring from one prison to the next. You didn’t understand why Capitano suddenly began to change… or maybe this was always how he felt about you.

The vision that hanged below your neck began to glow, “I’ll never be yours.” You told him as your bow materializes in your hand to fight for your freedom.

And the Captain thinks about how cute you would look utterly defeated under him when you would soon realize that you never had any power to win against him.

Hellfire, Darkfire

Now (Y/N), it's your turn

Choose me or your pyre

Be mine or you will burn

Capitano’s prayer turned its direction towards you.

Blood dripped down from your forehead and cheek, they were cut by the blades of the First of the Fatui Harbingers, the Captain. The duel didn’t last longer than you had anticipated despite having a pyro vision, you could not last against Capitano’s honed skills as a fighter. Though defeated you still push yourself up from the grass field even if you were still kneeling on the ground. You look up to his helmet and found the twisted love in the dark abyss of his mask.

The tip of the Captain’s sword lifted your chin up gently.

“Do you yield?”

The situation is a déjà vu from your first duel with him but there is no honor in this fight, not when Capitano fought to utterly humiliate and incapacitate you. Like before, you never gave a verbal answer and turned the tides against him but now. How could you ever fight back when your pyro vision is out of your reach? It was on his hand threatening to destroy it.

“Please don’t.” You were helpless against him, no one would ever come to your help because he chose a place in Mondstadt where people would avoid going into. “That’s the only beautiful thing that ever happened to me in all my life… please don’t take my vision away.”

With your pride already stepped on, the only thing you could do is beg for his mercy but Capitano is confused why you would beg. The only answer he wants to come out of your mouth is that you would accept to be his and his alone.

Oh, Anemo Archon save her from me

Oh, Cryo Archon have mercy on me

But she will be mine

Or she will burn

Capitano notice how you were confused by his sudden prayer song when you didn’t give him an answer. He wants someone to save you from his monstrosity and yet if you would not love him, you will suffer. And despite having defeated you in a fight, his heart ache when you started to cry about his threats to destroy your vision. You were gripping onto his cape tightly as you continue to beg for him to give your pyro vision back.

He kneels down to your form and place his armored hand over your damp cheek, he slowly wipes your tears away. “Forgive me Sister (Y/N), I am a sinner in the eyes of my god but I would not regret the time we had spent together. I may be a monster in your eyes but in my own, I only see a man who desires your love.” Before you could even oppose he gently lifted up your chin and pressed his thumb against your lips. He wants forget how you made him feel because you would be happier without him but alas...

Capitano will never forget and now he wants to know if your lips would have a sweet taste.

Despite the hypocrisy of his actions and words, he is deceivingly comforting you because no one could get you out of this situation other than Capitano himself.

“I will forcibly take you back with me.” His tone turned dark and the ounce of fear you felt tripled.

“And I will never forgive myself because I will never give you a choice. You sought for freedom but I can never give that to you. So I will only propose to you only this once.” Capitano gently lay you to sit on the ground so it will be him to be the one kneeling now with one knee on the scorched grass field.

He then pierces his sword to the ground, he holds out his hand asking you to hold him, you took it of course out of fear. When you did hold his large armored hand, he was trembling despite the fact you could see how utterly composed he is for someone who had put you in this situation.

“Come with me, I wish not to dishonor your virtue by having only to defeat you in a duel.”

Never had you hear him so soft and gentle yet his tone full of desperation and his words were horrifying.

“Marry me (Y/N), and I promise you will not be caged like a bird. I will let you fly on the condition you will have me at your side at all times.”

Tears had fell from your eyes because you knew that your choice will be the one that will give Capitano the satisfaction of his proposal that is more-like a demand. “My answer is yes… I will marry you…” You didn’t voice out that you were just afraid to reject him.

And with your acceptance Capitano thanks the Cryo Archon for his answered prayer but most of all he dedictated his final ode to you.

Like fire, Hellfire, Darkfire… (Y/N) you are mine and mine alone.

~ End

A/N: Also if you guys haven't read the Nun!Reader series, some of the scenes there are parallel to the events that happened there :>

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Fourteen (Part 2)

When my phone buzzes in my pocket I feel a jolt of anxious nausea, but still, whip it out so quickly that it almost slips out of my gloved hand. I release my thumb to tap the screen, anticipating another message from Dean, but this time it isn’t him. 

It’s Jude. 

A weird half-laugh half-cry escapes me and my stomach flutters. The last person I ever thought would message me, as I fully expected to never have to hear from him again, but here he is, lighting up my phone on an ordinary Friday afternoon. Curiously I open the message. 

Thought you’d followed me to Berlin. 

He writes. Quickly followed by a photo of a girl standing ahead of him in a bakery. She has the same coat as I do, and the same hair cut and colour. She really does look like me. I watch the little dots bounce as he types another message.

Looks like you have a German doppelganger.

A smile quirks on my lips, I can’t help it, and then quickly I open my camera and point it up towards a corner of the Cathedral eaves where a horrible gothic gargoyle sits guard with its grotesque little mouth wide open in a silent scream. I giggle softly to myself as I zoom in on it. 

So weird. 

I type back, attaching the photo. 

Because I just saw your doppelganger too. 

I’m glad that there’s nobody around to see how self-satisfied I am, smiling at my own joke. 

Yikes, spitting image.  Still snowing, I see.

Relentlessly. 

So much for springtime. Weather in that country is so fucked. 

I frown. There he goes again with that “your country, that country” stuff. 

Wait, are you not Irish anymore? I remember you making a bit of a song and dance out of the ‘half’ part when I met you. 

Fair enough. Weather in OUR country is fucked. 

Ah yeah, that’s more of it now. Too late Jude, you’ve already disowned us. As a collective nation we’re devastated.

I smirk as I tease him, beginning to pace around, feeling charged with new energy, but then my heart leaps to my throat when my phone comes alive in my hand, buzzing with a phone call from him. I hit accept. 

“Hello?”

His voice comes down the line, deep and low in my ear. “Sorry, I just wanted to infer from your tone whether you’re annoyed or amused.”

I smirk. “Insecure, much?”

He laughs and I hear something crinkle on his end. “Well, alright, I knew you were amused, I just didn’t want to juggle eating my lunch with one hand and trying to text you with the other.”

“What did you get?”

“Hm?”

“In the bakery, like, what did you get for lunch?” 

“Oh, it’s like a multigrain bread roll thing. With cheese and salami.”

“Sounds nice.”

I hear him take a bite out of it. “Mhm. And for after I got this thing called a Puddingteilchen.”

“Sounds enticing.” I say, giggling at the goofy German accent he just put on.

“It’s essentially a vanilla pastry, they love things with gluten here, I try as many new foods as I can.”

“Mhm, how adventurous.”

“I’m in a very ‘trying-new-things’ phase at the moment. What did you have for lunch?”

“A flat white.” 

“Explains why you’re eating vicariously through me.”

I laugh. “Well if there were any food places open I might have gotten something more substantial, right now, honestly the caffeine is just making me feel jittery.”

“Oh no.” 

I walk out of the Christchurch grounds and start ambling back down Dame Street with the phone pressed to my ear. “I’m looking right now and there’s genuinely nothing to eat, I swear they’re treating this snowfall like it’s the apocalypse.”

“They always do that, don’t they?” He says, and then quickly corrects himself. “Oh, sorry, we always do that. We, the collective Irish people, a group to which I still very much belong and have not dissociated myself from now that I live abroad.” 

I roll my eyes and chuckle. “Okay, I get it. You think I’m dramatic.” 

“Never.”

“So what are you doing today? Do you have college?”

“On Fridays I only have classes in the morning, so actually, right now I’m about to go looking for a costume.”

“A costume? For what?” 

“This party I’m going to next month.” He says. “I’m looking for something from the eighties.”

“There’s an 80’s theme?”

“80’s movies, so like, specifically a character from a famous flick. I can’t just be some generic 80’s man. These people have strict rules.”

“Aha, so is this some kind of ticketed event?”

“No, it’s a house party.”

“Strict rules for a house party.”

“You have no idea.” He laughs and I hear him moving about, presumably getting up from wherever he had been sitting to begin walking around. I try to imagine where he might be, but having never been to Berlin it’s difficult to visualise the way that the streets might look. “My friends, the ones hosting the party, they do this all the time. There’s always a theme and you have to adhere to it directly otherwise you don’t get to come in.”

“Yikes.”

“I know, and really, I’m not a costume guy, at least I wasn’t. I showed up to the first party, which, by the way, was themed as ‘Wild West’, in jeans and a t-shirt. They asked me where my cowboy hat was and then closed the door in my face.” 

“Wow, that’s intense.”

“Yes, but it’s all in the name of creativity, I guess. Astrid likes going to them, actually, it’s where we met, so I try to make my best effort.”

His mention of Astrid makes me feel some kind of strange way, but I ignore my unsettlement. “So what are you thinking for this one?”

“Well, any ideas?”

“Hmmm… Marty McFly?” 

He laughs. “There will be at least three other Marty McFlys. Red puffer vest and blue jeans? Too easy.” 

“Well excuse me! You asked for a suggestion.”

“I was hoping for a good one.” 

“I forgot how sassy you are.”

“You missed that about me, I bet.”

“Did you assume I missed anything about you?” There’s a pause then, in which I instantly feel horrible, and the feeling only increases the longer he waits before saying anything. 

“Well-” He starts, but there seems to be a delay in the line as I end up cutting him off with my next panicked words. “So what idea did you have for a costume?”

He laughs in a somewhat self-conscious way, probably glad of the swerve. “Well I was thinking maybe Maverick from Top Gun.”

“Typical man choice.” I say immediately, which makes him laugh. “Sorry, is that too predictable for you?”

“I can see you doing that. Wearing your little bomber jacket and aviator shades, very hyper masculine. Men just love Tom Cruise.” 

“I am many things, but I don’t think I qualify as hyper masculine” He snorts. “Have you seen my cute little earrings?” 

“No, you’ve never once mentioned them.” 

“So I’m curious, what costume would you have picked if you were invited?” 

“Baby from Dirty Dancing.” I say immediately, because I’ve already been thinking about it for half this conversation. “I want to do that curly thing to my hair and see if it’d suit me.” I catch sight of my reflection while passing a stop window and pick out a strand of my limp, straight hair that has never seen texture beyond the loose waves that remain after I’ve taken my plaits out.

“It would. And the costume, would you go for the shirt and shorts or the pink dress from the ending?”

A smile twitches on my lips. “Sounds like you know Dirty Dancing pretty intimately.”

“A good movie is a good movie, I’m not embarrassed.” 

“I wasn’t suggesting you should be.”

“I can’t believe it, Evie.” He says with that easy laugh he always had. “You’re the very same as you used to be.” 

I baulk a little bit, because I don’t feel in any way the same as I used to back then, when every little thing I did would make me second guess myself, every word I spoke I’d agonise over, and now I don’t feel that easy as much. Now when I speak, people listen to what I say and seem to believe that I’m interesting, even if I don’t. The Evie I was back when he met me and the Evie I am now are nothing alike. “I’m not the same.”

“Well, I think that you are. You’re still so cheeky, you don’t let me get away with anything.”

“I don’t think I was like that back then.”

“What? Seriously?”

“No, I was just shy and awkward and self conscious all the time. I was a nightmare to be around.”

I hear him pause to consider this. “With all due respect, I probably wouldn’t have spent so much time with you if you were like that. You were shy, sure, but you were always funny.” 

“You thought I was funny?” 

“You don’t remember how much we used to laugh at everything?”

“Yes, but I felt like I was just laughing at the things you said because you were so funny.”

“I’m not that funny.” 

“Come on.”

“I’m not funny enough to carry an entire one of our conversations all by myself.” A pause. “You really don’t like that I’ve said that you’re the same, do you?”

“No.” I admit with some reluctance, glancing through the gates of George’s Street Arcade, all of the stalls chained and boarded up inside, seeing it so silent and empty for the first time. Eerie. 

“I’m sorry. You’re different too in loads of ways, I was just trying to say that the things I liked best about you are still intact, and I’m glad of it.”

“It’s okay, just sometimes I feel like I’m going crazy. I seem to remember things wrong a lot.”

“Mm?” He says encouragingly.

“Like, I dunno, it’s as though the way that I’ve stored things in my memory bank is different from how normal people do it. I tend to twist things to fit my own narrative, does that make sense?”

“Like what narrative?” 

“Like, I don’t know… like that I was a loser, or something.” My face gets hot despite the frigid air, and I feel I’m being too frank with him. He probably doesn’t care to hear it. “It doesn’t matter, I’m not really sure what I mean.”

“You were never a loser.” 

“That’s nice of you.” 

“I mean it! I always thought you were cool.” 

What on earth? I was never cool, especially not when I was seventeen, and I can’t help but scoff. 

He sighs. “Well, I’m not here to convince you. I’m just telling you what I thought, you can choose whether or not to believe me.”

“I don’t.”

“Damn, okay, well, you got me. You were the worst, and I hated hanging out with you.” Even though he’s clearly being sarcastic his words still kind of sting, as they reflect almost exactly what Kelly had said to me on Stephen’s night. Jude might not mean them, but someone else had. He seems to sense this and quickly backtracks. “Sorry, that was a stupid joke. Like I said, I’m not that funny.” 

“You are.” I say. “Actually, your whole thing is that you’re funny, but in a slightly mean way.” 

“So I have realised. You know I used to be really mean? Like when I was about fourteen, and I’ve always worried that the vibe stuck around. Did you think I had a mean boy vibe when we used to hang out?” 

Kind of, but I didn’t hate it.” I laugh through my nose, and my breath clouds in the air. “In fact I felt bad for liking it.”

“Who was I even mean to? I don’t remember.” He pauses and then adds, “Which I suppose goes to show how often I was a dickhead – I can’t even remember my own crimes.” 

“Liam.” I say.

“Oh yeah” He says remorsefully. “He probably didn’t deserve the shit he got. We were all mean to poor Liam. ”

“Speak for yourself, I was nice.”

“Oh come on, you were meanest of  us all.”

I scoff. “In what world?”

“Please, I didn’t reject his debs invitation and leave him destitute, crying on the beach in a wetsuit.”

“You’re created an entire false narrative here, he wasn’t crying.”

“Okay, sorry now, but there’s no scenario in my head in which he wasn’t. I just can’t imagine that. He was sobbing in my version of events.”

“Trust me Jude, he was fine. He drove away from me that day without shedding a single tear. Nobody was crying over me back then.”

The line goes quiet for a moment and for some reason my skin prickles like an icy wind has licked over me despite how I’ve warmed up from all of the walking. The silence only lasts for a beat and then his voice returns, bright and easy as ever. “So tell me, who did you end up taking to your debs in the end?”

“Oh God.” I breathe. “Where do I even begin with this? How much time do you have for the highlight reel of sixth year?”

“Lay it on me, Evie.” 

He keeps me company all the way back to my house, and doesn’t even hang up when he starts going in and out of shops in search of his Top Gun costume, giving me updates on what he’s finding, open to any and all suggestions I have about how to create his own patches that match the ones Tom wears in the film. I made him promise to send me a photo of the costume before he wears it out, and when he says he will I find myself actually believing him. 

I start feeling a little sad when I turn onto my street, knowing that I’ll have to hang up soon. We’ve been having so much fun and then… 

“Oh Jesus.” I say to myself as The front of my building comes into view, and I completely cut him off in the middle of a sentence. His voice comes back at me through her receiver, alarmed. “Did something just happen?”

“No, it’s fine, just, I have to go.”

“Okay well, call me back anyt-”

I hang up the phone and stuff it into my pocket as I march up the front steps to the apartment, feeling anger rising inside me.

“Dean!” I cry. He’s standing by the door, shoulder resting against the wall as though he’s been waiting there for a while, and he doesn’t look surprised to see me, fuming, charging up the steps towards him. “What the hell are you doing here?” 

Prev // Next

[benefits1986]

Dalai Dila: Deep Fake?

Hello, OL world! Kamusta ka naman? Gusto ko sanang i-English ito para ‘di masyadong graphic but I need bwelo because in a few hours, rachada na po tayong muli sa mga deadlines forda bills, the bike + road to 2024 and the life after bills, too. In between, concept maps ganaps and self-talk para sa Taurus szn and beyond, need to be in E’s 10th month shoot din. GAH. Reply 1988 ang assigned sa akin so, sobrang daming edits ng elements nito since putok na putok ang shots and ganaps sa Kdrama na ‘to na ‘di ko tinapos pa because so much feels and triggers. LOL.  So, ayun na nga. Dalai L. is now under fire. JUSQ. Syempre, wala pa masyadong kuda ang Metaverse but, paparating na siya sa mga lalayan. LOL. When I saw the video, sabi ko, deep fake ba? DL has been a shaker ng beliefs that for me lang transcends any race, religion and other causes of faction. Even sa work and personal life, may pabaon si DL na curious, cutting and challenging kaya weird ‘yung feeling ko sa ganap na ‘to. I don’t tolerate crimes committed sa kids. ‘Di ko rin siya para i-defend pero ang nakalokang top search sa Meta as of kanina is this particular news channel na very extremist and white. ‘Di ko na lang lalagay dito ‘yung link kasi baka umakyat pa views nila. ‘Di rin naman ganung kadami ‘yung following nila and ‘di rin sila big media agency. However, etong headline na ‘to is alongside trans student na nakipag-head to head sa locker/shower sa homophobic. ‘Yung other news na kasama rin nito is bakit daw walang karapatang mag-defend ‘yung nasa loob ng car if may mob na palapit sa kanya? Wala na raw bang right to defend the self these days? Mhie, sa Pinas, ‘pag may mob, makikiramdam ka muna at mas mauuna ang pagiging usi mo kasabay ng pag-check kung may maitutulong ka ba sa crowd lalo na ‘pag within your community ka lalo ‘pag nasa province ka. In general ‘to ha. ‘Wag mo sama ‘yung mga MO lalo na sa Daang Hari saka sa C5 Extension na may dagat ng basura and nag-cause ng baha sa Las Pinas, Paranaque and Cavite area. Catch basin ba naman saka reclaimed lands ginawang pakak na daanan na sobrang pulpol? LELS. Wala akong paki kung anong color sila. That’s beside the point. The other news din na kasama is ‘yung pag-support ng mga Obamas, Bidens, and Gates sa Ukraine. Jusq. Sinabi nung mga anchors na kung gusto raw tumulong sa Ukraine ng mga kababayan nila, punta sila doon mismo at bitbitin ang funds nila. ‘Wag daw silang isama sa road to WW3. Hmmm. Content analysis ko ba ‘tong walang bots para mas dalisay? Chz.  Anyhow, ayoko munang mag-deep dive sa DL issue. Ako lang muna mag-dig ng mga ganaps para ako lang muna ‘yung may insight. Maiba naman. Wala muna tayong citations. Bitbit ko ‘yung separate the content from the creator hat ko and religion as a source of unnecessary faction and power play na rin. Gusto kong isipin na baka part siya ng culture pero naisip ko rin, baka sinadyang ipaggawa ito kay DL because, shet, na-cite na naman natin ang isang EP ng Black Mirror titled National Anthem, DL is retiring soon and I think, this may be a power play to discredit whatever he did. Maybe, just maybe, may pinagtatakpan siyang something na worse than this video. Kung ano man ‘yun, abangan na lang natin. Baka may rigodon sa org nila since nga 87 na siya. Kung baga, new order.  ‘Di naman ito iba masyado sa Bikram god na ‘di naman napatawan ng parusa because, it’s a man and his two heads’ world, after all. Hayyyyy. DL may not be on trial sa court, pero in this day and era, the trial is much pakak and umaatikabo in the OL world. Sana lang din, sana lang, deep fake ito pero sa angles and all, kung deep fake man, ‘wag dumami pa ‘yung shit. Deep truth na deep throat na lang. ‘Yung abot hanggang esophagus. Para sagad. Pero, like sa National Anthem, ginawaan ng paraan na cinematic and impossible to fake siya. Fan ako ng content ni DL, hindi ‘yung tao. Kaya kung ano man, the lessons will be steeped, filtered and brewed again. Wala namang perfect. I still believe that sinners are saints --figurative ‘yan a bilang takot ako sa mga rebulto. I feel sad lang with how things are turning out for the pop cult world. Less faith in humanity. Greed get greener, Mala-Emerald City na po tayo. And yes, kaya siguro wala nga bagong season ang Black Mirror is because etong real world na ang new season niya. Nangyayari na talaga ang mga ganaps na na-ancipate ko na nung una kong napanood ang National Anthem. Gagi, mhieeee. I kennat.  I remember ages ago, sabi ko na ang next warfare is about a virus na tipong ‘pag isang MRT on a rush hour ang naka-contract, tepok ang kalakhang Maynila. Easy peasy destabilization kasi naka-center lahat sa Manila ang lahat kahit na dapat kahit na federal or ‘yung status quo ang ating form of government, maayos ang infra ng lahat ng man lang na key cities. Sigh. Ang ganda ng Pinas kaya nakakahinayang na LGU levels pa lang noon hanggang ngayon, feudalism pa rin ang galawan. Yes po. Feudal pa rin tayo if you really take time to immerse outside your perimeter. Heck, even in BGC and tabing BGC area nga, kita mo ang power play ng feudalism. Hindi nga lang nagsasaka mga slaves ng feudalist bitches and gents, literal na arawang sweldo and isang high wall with CCTV fortified by electric fence ang naghihiwalay sa mga alta at masa. One of the reasons I hate BGC because it’s a parasite. CHZ. Next time na ‘to para mas mindfuck tayo, opo.  Sad lang na talagang lahat ng established orders are being burnt to the ground. Religion is but reduced to a cash and power-generating system. May solid truth naman dito. Sabi ko nga lagi sa mga first time na mag-join ng community, ‘di perfect ang communities. Lahat naman may shit, lahat may mishaps and brouhaha. Pero, nasa iyo na ‘yan kung ano bang goals mo. And just like the community, ‘di ka rin perfect kaya manage your expectation and stand by your intention. Speaking of which, like Feast. Under fire din sila because of a lot of things thrown at its leaders. First, naghahati sa church. Okay lang na ‘wag mag-mass basta mag-attend ng teaching. What my take is... sinabi ng builders many, many times na the audience --mga ‘di na nagsisimba. Kung baga, alternative sila; hindi sila option. Catholic faith is rooted on a really, really dark chapter. Ultimong plenary indulgence nga, questionable sa akin, pero, at the end of the day, it’s not about how much offerings you bring to the altar, how much incense you inhale kahit nakakaumay naman talaga amoy ng frankincense sa totoo lang. Wala akong paki if siya pinakamahal na essential oil --another scam. LOL.  Kaya, Illuminati shit hole aside, know your why and why not talaga. And separate the content from the creator. :) Imagine a world na cancelled si RuPaul because dami niyang kahalayan, so wala ng Drag Race? Imagine a world without Queen kasi si Freddie Mercury nagpa-cool sa sleeping around like there’s no tomorrow kahit na sobrang risky because of AIDS noong time niya? Imagine a world na burnt every copy ng Harry Potter because JK Rowling is a racist and homophobic? Imagine destroying Van Gogh’s masterpieces kasi isa siyang promulgator ng suicide and self-harm? Does not make sense ‘di ba? So, I think, I carry with me this notion sa DL serye na ‘to. The sins of DL may scream in scarlet but allow his lessons to be chewed by whomever needs and wants to. Plus, learn from his way of life and that comes with his glory and downfall, too.  Abangan ko mga susunod na EP ng Black Mirror Season 9: Earth Edition. Lerkkkkzzzzzzzzzzzz. Pre-dystopian era na talaga. Pero bitbitin natin ang death sa comics universe kung saan, death is a new start. Parang si Logan. :D  Note: OK na magpakawala ng feelings about this sa r/daliaDILA or something similar pero ‘wag na. Ayoko na namang mag-community manager + moderator kasi, mhie, nakaka-addict siya. Naggawa ko na ‘yun in my previous life. Char. 

[chocolatebananapancake]

Hello again

Nice to see you, long time no speak. We've been busy over the past 7 or 8 years. But now we're about to embark on another adventure, so we're back again to update this blog with our journey.

This time we're visiting South America, specifically Chile and Argentina for 1 month. We are arriving into Santiago, traveling down the country towards Patagonia where we will (hopefully) complete the W trek: an amazing hike in Torres Del Paine National Park. Then we will travel back up and see the Atacama desert. It is set to be a jam packed trip with lots to see and do.

We would have loved to visit for longer like our last trip, but we are a bit more grown up now. With a house, full time jobs and cats at home. We are lucky enough to have lovely jobs where they have allowed us this time off and helpful family to look after the cats.

We've been hoping to do this trip and saving for it for a long time. So we're very excited to finally be on the way! Unfortunately this is being written from Paris where we've been for the day. Our flight from Manchester to Paris was delayed which meant we missed our connection to Santiago. There could be worse places to be stranded. But with only one flight per day. We've had a day to explore.

We traveled into Paris after a night at the airport hotel, without too much on the agenda. Much wandering, a visit to Notre Dame to see how they were getting on with the repairs after their fire a few years ago. A walk along the seine and through some lovely parks. 

We did have one planned stop: a visit to Musée des Égouts de Paris (The Paris Sewer Museum) which was, well, smelly!

But we'd heard of cool tunnels to see, which there were. We didn't learn anything as it was all in French. And we hadn't been practicing that much since we hadn't planned on this stop!

We even visited the Eiffel Tower. A full on tourist, walking day. The weather forecast was rain but we were very lucky to have pretty decent weather throughout the day! Perfect as our rain coats were in our backpacks that we were not allowed to have at the airport.

So after a long, but nice, unexpected day in Paris, we're in the airport waiting for our flight to Santiago. Hoping for no more delays, we've already lost a day in the city and have to have our wits about us tomorrow when we arrive (after our 14 hour flight) in order to see as much as we can of the city before we leave to the next one!

Fingers crossed!

Vicky x

[keywestlou]

NO ONE IS SAFE

NO ONE IS SAFE - https://keywestlou.com/no-one-is-safe/No one is safe any longer. Death and injury have become too commonplace. Today, Speaker Pelosi's husband. Yesterday, blacks and school children. Tomorrow, Jews. We are a nation out of control. Trump let the vermin out of the their holes. The solution? Vote! Get rid of the Republican Party that has crossed over the line and permits and encourages these activities. If the people do not recognize the evil for what it is, the remaining alternative will be outright civil war. January 6 was close to 2 years ago. Hundreds have been arrested. Mostly the small guys, the followers. Time to go after those at the top. Time is wasting. Two groups must be sought out. The political leaders and the money bags who support what is happening. Those who foster the evil. It may already be too late. It takes forever to prosecute, convict and jail. At least 2 years. Could be 4 with appeals. In the meantime, the bad guys continue to get their way. Once the top guys are toppled, the body will fall. Tonight the Fantasy Fest parade. As many as 60,000 will line Duval. I have always wondered where they sleep. There are not enough beds between here and Marathon to hold them. Back when, I thought how much fun it would be to be on a float. The opportunity arose some 20 years ago. My good friend Howard Livingston asked me to join him on a float he had prepared. I jumped at the chance! One time was enough. Never again. A float can be work. The one I was on was. I was totally exhausted at the end of the evening. There were about 70 floats in the parade that year. We were number 64. It took 2-3 hours to make the trip. The first floats had finished before we even began. Howard had purchased 30,000 strings of beads. There were at least a dozen of us on the float. We threw 22,000 to the crowd. Howard had it organized. We kept one arm extended. He had people running to "reload" our arms with beads as they ran out.  The other arm was used to throw. Throwing was initially exciting. Show me this, show me that had its pleasures. After a while, became work. I noticed as we moved down Duval there were many in wheel chairs who were not getting any beads. I changed my modus operandi. Threw beads only to those in wheel chairs and on crutches. The first portion of the trip was down Whitehead to Front. Then Front to Duval. The world changed the moment we hit Duval. It was like entering the mouth of a whale. The crowd and noise devoured us. Exciting! My game plan was to hit La Te Da after the parade to party. Never made it. I was too exhausted. Found my car and drove home. A good experience. However as indicated earlier, a one time experience. The flu season is upon us. Flu season 2022 has begun early. Experts say its severity is the worst in 13 years. If you have not, get a flu shot! Don't be stupid! Flu is non discriminatory. It kills as well as making one ill. The first game of the World Series over. The Phillies beat the Astros 6-5. The interesting thing about the game is that the Astros initially had a 5 run lead. At noon today, Syracuse/Notre Dame. Syracuse a 10 point favorite. Whatever, I don't care. As long as Syracuse wins. Though my heart tells me Syracuse will defeat the Irish by much more than 10 points. Over the years, I have closed the blog with: Enjoy your day! Many have been critical. Wondering how I could suggest that when many of the things I wrote about were of an unpleasant nature. I have decided to change my closing. To something hopefully more fitting: Be well! So au revoir, auf Wiedersehen, good bye to Enjoy your day! Hello to Be well! Be well!  

[myladyofmercy]

young royals rewatch

episode 4

out of the darkness and in to the light

is the dirt thing a swedish tradition?

not even at his brothers funeral wille can really cry

love hiw the credits are slow and empty in this episode

i would hate to gave my grief be televised to the nation

that kitchen/dinner table looks way to simple for a royal family doesn't it?

is that the first time his dad speaks?

the queen choking on her food. pls choke and die.

i hate how noone has any phone cases on tv shows. you could include so much more personality with that

did linda find the old letter or did simon get send a new one because he didn't pay yet

august definitely has body issues and possible ed

you can pause a chess game at any time that was unnecessary

wille needs his brothers? he just lost his real brother! fuck of august

the blue scarf of sadness

is that the dame tie as he wore during the statement in ep1?

august you insecure little shit

wille wears more hair products when he's trying to be composed (now and later before christmas)

okay did simon know remember was eriks favorite song or was it accidentally? did wille tell him?

why is the soloist always standing in the back row tho? shouldn't he be front and center?

that chandelier looks fake as fuck tbh

pink hair girl supremacy

i wonder what the official speech looked like?

blue and red contrasting colors

simon looks like a kicked puppy

willes new room. i made a whole post aboit that.

empty bed. empty heart.

i wanna hug wilhelm

why was his bed lamp on already if they just came into the room?

malin talks

panic attack incoming

i wonder what happens if you call the number?

flashbacks

negative energy i banish thee

need more wille and felice friendship in s2

why wasn't mickes door locked?

love the green walls tho

poor simon

i have no clue what all those pills say

oh no. straight sex.

he's wearing socks. she's wearing a shirt.

augusts psychosexual obsession with his second cousin. someone should tell freud about this. he would prob have a blast

was it royal?

yes give the guy who owes you money more stuff

also did he sell them for so much money he still had drugs left for the party?

love it everytime maltes curls come out

no unnecessary miscommunication i love it

love that linda saw them hug. yeah your daughter has a friend now!

august is so insecure

erik wasn't your brother he was wilhelms so fuck off

dump him

malin mvp

wille again with the pinterest lights

why isn't simon eating at the dinner table tho?

good soup

i still don't know what augusts motive was? like what did he expect to happen if sara told felice? or did he hope she wouldn't do it? and just have it be awkward between them?

still willes bedlamp is on

they propped the note up against the frog

love the acting in the confrontation scene with simon and micke

för min och saras skull. there is that word again

alexander is like an excited puppy

also where is that random building they're always going to? like does it belong to the school or is it just empty and unused?

dead poets society vibes but with much more toxic masculinity

he's getting eriks old place in the society. nice :/

love the representation of both kinds of party. the dancing one in ep1 and now the sitting around a table and playing games one

wille isn't the first born. he doesn't want to be either

love the scene where wille smiles at vincent

where did the drugs he slipped in his pocket go? lisa i need answers

the longest piss in the history of television. both wille and august should see a doctor

also they are talking about their feelings with their dicks in their hands i can't

football field here we go

playing drunk and high must be so much fun

i wanna see all the takes for this scene

also i love that it started snowing accidentally. it gives the scene that much flavor

speaking of flavor. hello astroturf

love that simon really did delete willes number

did wille remember simons number or was it still saved in recently contacted or smth?

elias i love you

the face touching probably reminds simon of micke

du är så fin

the hug!!!

i wonder how long they took to get back to hillerska

there was another bed simon did you know that

why is wille shirtless? did he throw up on himself

the loud breathing again

spooning

that track isn't on the soundtrack is it?

jag tycker om dig också

this seems kind of fruity to me ngl

the shaky ass grab

they're not even pulling their pants of properly those horny little shits

fuck off august

love the little ouch

it's going down. I'm yelling timber

fuck off august

i love the soundtrack so much

[bicrazybabe]

Hello everybody, so today's the day I'll show you my work. I hope you'll like it.

Please understand that English is not my mother tongue. Be nice if there's any errors. You'll find some translations at the end of the story.

I have nothing

The music started and I searched his eyes in the crowd. My first solo ever, and it was for the Nationals.

~~~~~~~~

At first, when we were told that the theme was Vintage my mind went blank for a second. And when my friends started to whine, I got up

"Sir, I think I have the perfect ballad for the Nationals."

Rachel turned around and scoffed "the french girl wants to speak now, we're done..."

Looking at Schuester with pleading eyes I said "no really, I heard it in an old movie, maybe you saw it sir, it's name's Bodyguard."

He smiled and asked me to tell him which song I was thinking about. I got up, told which song it was to our pianist and smiled " maybe I can sing it if you want..."

I finished the song, breathless but smiling. there wasn't any reactions and Schuester looked baffled. That's when we heard clapping, we all turned to the door to see one of our worst enemies there. Santana got up, her rage bubbling "Smythe... What are you doing here?"

He smiled his signature smirk and winked at me "I just came to see what horrible song choice you were going to make... But apparently, somebody knows what she's doing."

At that moment he was facing me, he took my hand in his and kissed it, his stunning green eyes never leaving mine. That's when I felt it... A chill running through my spine, my cheeks started to burn and when he spoke... I melted.

"Ma dame, you have the voice of an angel." He switched back to french and murmured in my ear "Et le visage..." His lips grazed my cheek and he left the room, but not before telling Schuester to listen to me.

Still in shock when I left school, I reached my car when Blaine called me "Hey wait!!! Kurt and I were going to grab a coffee... You want to come?" I agreed happily and followed them to the Lima Bean.

We just sat when Kurt asked "Sooo... What did he told you??? You were blushing like crazy back there..." I was going to tell him a lie when

"If I murmured it Kurt, it's because nobody else needed to hear it."

Turning around, I blushed a deep crimson, he smiled at me again. Speaking to me in french once again he said "accepterais tu un rendez-vous?"

Kurt might not understand french, he understood the last words and started to scream at him. I got up, trying to calm him down and said I'll handle this. I spoke in french, not wanting my two friends to understand what I will say. "Bien entendu Sebastian, je te rejoins demain ici après les cours."

~~~~~~~

The next day was the beginning of the best thing that happened in my life...

And here I am, a few months later searching for my boyfriend in the crowd, I found his just as the music started. I smiled, and started to sing.

After my song, I joined my friends for our last song and watched my smiling boyfriend giving me two thumbs up before blowing me a kiss.

~~~~~~~

We're waiting for the results, Santana took my hand in hers, my other hand was breaking Kurt's left hand. Portland's choir was called for third place and my blood was starting to boil... And we heard our name... We just won, I jumped in Kurt's arms, then turned and embraced Santana. Then, to everyone's surprise I ran off the stage to the public to jump in Sebastian's opened arms, kissing him passionately.

I guess it must surprise everybody in my team. Oh, they'll get over it...

---------_----------_---------

Traduction

Ma dame : my lady

Et le visage : and the face

Accepterais tu un rendez vous : would you agree to go on a date

Bien entendu : of course

Je te rejoins demain ici après les cours : I'll meet you here tomorrow after school

----------_-------------_----------

Thank you @extraterrestrialdork for giving me the courage to post this story. I hope you'll like it ☺️

[puckngrind]

What’s in a Name: 13 - J. Toews

Chapter 13.

Where we left off: Christmas in Chicago where Bekah finds a hidden present in the tree.

Warnings: smut, language

Word Count: 4,102

Series Masterlist ) Puck ‘n Grind’s masterlist

Bekah had never felt more nervous than she did prepping for the team Christmas party. FaceTiming Brynn while going over details and watching Jon on television.

“Bekah, breathe! Sit, let’s chat. The party will be amazing tomorrow. They will all be drinking and they don’t care if it’s perfect they just want to hang out together. Plus, maybe lock your bedroom door and change your guest sheets.” Brynn turned on her mothering voice and Bekah stopped and looked at the phone propped up on the counter.

“Rin, this is my first big thing with the team, first. I don’t want to fuck it up! Also, did you just suggest that? No? Really! Here?” Bekah made a face trying to not think about what Brynn was insinuating as she leans against the counter and her new necklace dangles into view.

“Oh, my eyes! My eyes! It’s so, so bright!” Brynn jokingly yells shielding her eyes from the light bouncing off the diamond.

“Funny, Rin.”’ Bekah rocks the necklace between her fingers remembering when she opened the box a few days prior.

“Let’s talk about that fine piece of jewelry and what you thought it was, shall we?” This made Bekah scoop up the phone and crash on the couch. She didn’t answer Brynn. “Ok, I’ll start. That box was smallish from the picture you sent so I’m sure you thought it was something else, am I wrong?” Bekah’s face contorts and starts to speak but words don’t form. “Yeah, so, Bekah, what if it was a ring? Would you go all Bekah on him or say yes without question because you are madly in love with that man?”

“Rin, we’ve only been dating since April.” Bekah fiddles with the necklace. Her fingers tracing the platinum script T holding a diamond. She was sure Jon custom made for her but he wouldn’t answer her questions about it.

“Bekah, friend, love you but...” Bekah inhaled sharply and Brynn laughs. “But, you two have been together for almost four years. F-O-U-R! Four. Don’t give me this undefined horse shit. You are in love with each other. You are so so very good for each other. And when that man does propose in some ridiculously amazing romantic way, you my friend better say yes.”

“Yes, there you go baby!” Bekah’s attention went to the overtime game and Jon’s assist to win it.

“I mean that answer would work. Maybe leave out the last part. Just the first word will do.” Brynn laughs out and Bekah joins her.

“I better head to bed. Busy few days.” Bekah yawns.

“Oh yes, enjoy watching the Winter Classic at Notre Dame! We won’t talk about how jealous my husband still is.” Brynn whispers.

“Speaking of, tell him I said hello. I’ll talk to you soon.” With that the friends ended the call and Bekah headed to bed.

The next few days were jam packed with Blackhawks events. The Christmas party went well and then they all headed to South Bend for New Years. Jon and Bekah had team dinner where Jon mispronounced his own last name for the security guard just like Bekah thought it was pronounced back when they met.  He was relaxed both Bekah and the team took notice.  The two didn’t stay late and headed back to their hotel room before midnight. Jon kisses Bekah hard as the clock struck midnight. “I’m so glad I got to ring in 2019 with you, Beks.” He whispered with the sound of the New York City ball drop coverage on the television of their hotel room.

“Me too, Tae. Now we need to sleep. You have a big game tomorrow. I mean today.” Bekah kisses him again.

“2018 might have been the best year yet but I cannot wait to see what 2019 holds for us, you know?” He pulls at her leg to bring it up onto his hip. Jon’s other hand holding her head as their lips crash into one another.

“Agreed, Jon, but you need to sleep.” Bekah whimpers as they break for air.

“We will but I would like to see if 2019 sex is different.” Jon laughs as he pulls Bekah’s shirt off her body.

“I’m pretty sure it’s the same that it was this morning.” Bekah chirps as she takes his shirt off too.

“Well, let’s find out. Shall we?” His voice was low as he lowered both their bodies to the bed. “I mean we had a whole day of media and skating and it’s a new year.” He hovers over her body kissing down her jaw and sucking at the base of her neck.

“Yeah,”’ Bekah breathes out. “I’m just glad I didn’t fall on national television that’s all.” This makes Jon laugh into her skin.

“Me too, Baby. I’m sure they would have a field day with it too. Someone would mention that you were my girlfriend as you were flat on the ice.” Jon snakes down her body and back up to pull her nipples in between his teeth and fingers. Bekah’s body jolts up at the sensation. Her fingers run through Jon’s hair.

“Tae...” Bekah moans out as Jon drops further down her body to rid both of them of the rest of their clothing. His fingers slip through her folds and pump a few times.

“So ready for me aren’t you Baby?” Bekah nods as Jon replaces his fingers with the tip of cock then slides himself into Bekah while moving his body over hers as he bottoms out. She wraps her legs and arms around him pulling their bodies together and with all her might she rolls their bodies over. “Oh!” Jon’s voice sounds shocked as his back hits the mattress and Bekah sits up.

“This okay?” Bekah questions taking in Jon’s look. She runs her hands down his abs and repositions her body before rocking her hips.

“Fuck yes, it feels amazing.” Jon’s hips jolt up into Bekah and she grinds herself into him. Each movement elicits sounds of pleasure that escapes from their lips. Jon’s hands move from Bekah’s hips to cup her breasts. Running his thumbs over her peaks causing a jolt to pulsate through her body and she clinches around him. “Merde. Beks. Fuck.” Jon feels himself close. Bekah lowers her body flush with his and kisses him hard. His hands return to her hips and pulls her with the small rolling of his hips. He shutters and releases. Bekah’s body shakes and his arms wrap around her to keep her body attached to his. Both panting trying to catch their breath from that high.

“Well...” Bekah attempts to speak but cannot control her breath.

“Agreed.” Jon huffs out as he rolls their bodies to the side and runs his fingers through Bekah’s hair and down spine.

“Sleep. Tae. Sleep.” Bekah whispers as she cuddles up into him.

The experience of the Winter Classic was cold but fun. Brynn blew up her phone when she saw the coverage from family skate. Bekah was loved the look of pure joy on Jon’s face from the picture Brynn sent of the screen. That look was not mirrored in the game itself. The team didn’t do well but as Jon told the media, the experience was one he’d never forget. Bekah listened and wondered if he meant playing at the historic stadium or having her with him for the whole event. Maybe he meant both.

Bekah braced herself after the overtime loss to Nashville a few days later. This meant that her birthday might be spent with an uptight Jon focused on game tape and skating late. She instead woke up to the smell of coffee and breakfast in bed. “Joyeux anniversaire mon amour.” Jon leans over and kisses her lips.

“Merci Tae! But why does birthday sound like anniversary?” Bekah questions the French as Jon slides in front of her on the bed.

“It is the anniversary of your birth, Beks. Speaking of, you make 31 look damn sexy, Baby.” Jon takes the piece of bacon he was eating and waves it like a wand in her direction. “So beautiful.” Bekah feels the blush coming to her cheeks as she sips on her coffee.

“Don’t you have morning skate?” She looks at the clock puzzled.

“I took the day off.” Jon smirks. “I think they will call it a maintenance day. Wanted to spend the whole day with you.”

“We are celebrating my birthday at home before heading to Miami on break. We discussed this. Brynn is having my parents over and everything.” Bekah kicks her foot at Jon under the breakfast tray.

“We are. I just wanted to spend the day with you that’s all. Nothing big. We can lay in bed all day if you want.” His face lights up so his eyes are lost in his smile.

“Promise? No hidden presents? No surprises at dinner? Nothing?” Bekah’s eyebrows narrow.

“Dinner with Brandon and Alyssa only as promised.” Jon winks and crosses his heart with his finger.

“I saw that.” Bekah sips her coffee again.

“Swear. Just the four of us. Official birthday celebrations happening only in Ohio. Well, maybe a cake a dinner but that’s it.” Jon shifts and leans to kiss her lips. His promise held true. Dinner with the Saad’s only was different by the added cake the restaurant placed sparklers in and a small gift from Alyssa.

“You really didn’t need to get me anything.” Bekah looked at the gift bag Alyssa slid across the table.

“Nothing big, promise!” Alyssa motioned for Bekah to open it. Inside a tub of candy buckeyes and a kitchen flour sack towel that made Bekah laugh.

“What’s it say?” Jon leans over to read. “We’re a little nuts in this house.” The words flanked by a buckeye with it’s leaf and an outline of Ohio. “Hey!” Jon’s fake offend voice makes the table laugh.

“Thank you.” Bekah grabs Alyssa’s hand and squeezes.

“Saw it and thought of you. Plus the buckeyes are delicious and that company is from Columbus.” Alyssa smiles as the four resume dinner and discuss plans for break and upcoming home games.

Bekah sat nervously with her Winter Classic hat and new Toews jersey on as the Blackhawks took the ice after a five game losing streak. She knew if the next two games added to the streak that vacation would not be as relaxing as they both needed it to be. Jon’s goal in the first gave them a lead then he scored again in the third. Bekah was on the edge of her seat when she sees the pass to Jon and he redirects the puck into the back of the net. Bekah jumped with everyone in the arena. Hats start flying and she rips her hat off her head and tosses it towards glass. Jon skates by and blows her a kiss before heading back to the bench so the hats can be cleared. After the game, Bekah practically ran into his arms. He picked her up spun her around. “Seven!” She squeals as his lips press to hers.

“I’ll have to replace your hat but here, maybe this will make up for it.” Jon places her back on the ground and fishes the puck out of his coat pocket.

“Tae, that’s yours.” She realizes it his hat trick puck.

“I have plenty. This is your first. You called it way back when we met. Remember?” His hand brushes the hair that fell out of her bun she put her hair in after the loss of the hat. Bekah nods. “One more game then home and vacation.” Jon kisses her and leads her to the car.

Bekah was practically dancing as their plane landed Wednesday evening in Columbus. She was excited to have Jon back in her hometown even if it was only for a few days. Brynn was tasked to plan a small get together Friday evening for Bekah’s birthday but Jon told Bekah he wanted to explore her city just the two of them on Thursday. With everyone working and Jon not having hockey the thought of just meandering around Columbus was exciting.

“I want to go down to the river and walk.” Jon rounds the corner of their hotel room.

“Tae, it’s freezing outside! I thought we could do some of the inside things. You know, Art Museum or the Conservatory.” Bekah has a puzzled look plastered on her face.

“Come on, bundle up. We can do all the indoor things you want after lunch.” He kissed her lips and shuffled her towards the luggage.

“Maybe I should just wear my beach wear!” Bekah chuckles while looking over how ridiculous her luggage looked.

“I mean, I would love it but you might get frostbite in some interesting places.” Jon answers while Bekah comes out dressed in layers, her peacoat and knit hat already on.

“My gloves are missing.” Bekah shoves her hands in her pockets again.

“I’ll buy you new ones today and I’ll keep you warm on our walk. Promise!” Jon wraps her up and they head out to the street and towards the river. “This really is a beautiful area.” Jon breathes in the cold air and looks from the river to the buildings.

“I love it but don’t miss it as much as I thought I would.” Bekah snuggles into Jon’s side as he pulls her shoulder into him.

“I’m glad you said that. I never thought I’d get you to leave honestly. I dropped so many hints.” Jon shifts his weight and clears his throat.

“I remember. Every time you would say anything about Chicago I would doubt how someone like you would want me. I still sometimes don’t know how I got so lucky.” Bekah looks up at Jon. “You okay, Tae?” He stops walking and looks deep into Bekah’s hazel eyes the light hitting just right that the gold flecks dance.

“I’m the lucky one Beks. Something drew me to you in those tunnels like a magnet.” Jon whispers and places his forehead on Bekah’s. “I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I had to know more about you. Every time we were together I fell a little more for you. I counted down the weeks and months until the next time we could find our way back to each other.” Jon holds Bekah’s hips and she turns her head to take in his expression.

“Me too, Tae. What’s this about? You okay?” She removes her hand from her pocket and runs her thumb over his cheek. Jon places his hand over hers and breaths in deep.

“I’m more than okay. I love you Beks. I’ll love you forever if you let me. Always will. I, uh, I asked your dad a question in Chicago when they were there for Christmas.” Jon moves from their close embrace and drops to one knee. Bekah brings her hand right hand over her mouth since Jon hadn’t let go of her left.

“Are you... Tae?” Bekah whispers through her fingers and Jon looks up at her with all the love they share and tears forming.

“Rebekah Marie Pierce, will you do me the honor and become my wife?” Jon pulls out a box from his pocket and opens it with his fingers. Bekah gasps. “Beks, will you marry me?” Jon gulps.

“Yes.” Bekah nods her head, a happy tear breaks free from her eye as she whispers. Jon jolts to his feet and pulls her body into his, kissing her deeply. He breaks away and takes the ring out of the box.

“May I?” He smiles down at her and she nods her head. Jon slips the ring on her finger and breathes out a sigh of relief.

“Tae, this ring is perfect.” Bekah wiggles her cold fingers taking in the spectacular ring. Round diamond set in a vintage style halo rose gold band.

“I created it just for you.” Jon huffs and Bekah looks up at him.

“Were you holding your breath?” She questions and kisses him tenderly.

“Yeah. I know we love each other but that proposal could go one or two ways. You freaking out on me or just saying yes because you know this love we have will last a lifetime.” Bekah giggles at Jon’s admission.

“Well Brynn and I did discuss it and she reminded me that we have been together for awhile even without naming it.” Jon dips down and kisses her. Bekah’s hands come up to cup his face.

“Damn, your hands are cold. Maybe I shouldn’t have stolen your gloves.” Jon laughs.

“You stole my gloves?” Bekah pulls her hands to her lips and blows on them.

“Well I was nervous and didn’t want to fumble and lose the ring. Plus you won’t need them after our appointment.” Jon looks at his watch.

“Appointment?” Bekah’s voice raises.

“We have pedicures and you have a manicure after lunch. Figured there will be some pictures and showing off of the ring at dinner tomorrow.” Jon pulls her hand to his lips and kisses it. “So where does my fiancée want to go for lunch? I didn’t plan that.”

“Fiancée... whelp. Yup. You are my fiancé aren’t ya?” Bekah feels her cheeks flood with heat.

“Yes, fiancée and soon my wife. I think Mrs. Toews might become my favorite name for you... for now.” Jon runs his cold thumb over Bekah’s warm cheek making her shutter. “So Beks, lunch?” He brushes his lips against hers and starts walking back towards their hotel. Bekah decided on the same tiny cafe she took Jon to in 2015. He of course remembered their conversation about mind blowing sex and couple’s laugher bounced off the walls once more.

“I’ve never had a pedicure with a man.” Bekah’s hand slides into Jon’s as they dip their feet in the water. Jon’s fingers spinning the engagement ring around her finger.

“We should do it more often back home. I enjoy them and they are good for me feet after being in skates so much.” Jon brings their joined hands up to his lips. “This ring looks perfect on you.” Jon whispers and Bekah nods. “Are we telling anyone today or waiting until your birthday dinner tomorrow?”

“Let’s wait. Surprise them all.” Bekah giggles. “Maybe FaceTime your parents in? David?”

“They know already. Mom has been hounding me thinking I was proposing on Christmas then she thought I’d do it at the Winter Classic but when I told her I wanted to propose where we met she got all excited and told me she cannot wait to have you officially in the family.”

“So that’s why she asked me if there was anything new going on at Christmas and I went on and on about the foundation stuff.” Jon laughs.

“I’m assuming she may have thought you didn’t want to wear the ring.” He spins it again.

“I don’t want to take it off ever!” Bekah smiles as the Jon finishes his pedicure and walks across the street to grab coffees while Bekah moves to her manicure.

“He looks familiar.” The girl doing her nails says while working.

“Oh really?” Bekah smiles sweetly.

“Yeah, I cannot place why but something about him. He from here?” She looks up and Bekah tries to hide her amusement.

“No, Canada actually.” This stops the line of question and Jon reenters to pay and the two head to the car.

“Where to now Beks?” Jon asks after starting the car.

“Hotel is good. Curious...” Bekah bites her lip and Jon’s foot hits the gas making them laugh.

“I thought we were exploring today?” Jon turns toward their hotel.

“Tomorrow. We need to celebrate.” Bekah scratches at the back of his neck.

Jon quickly found his way to the hotel and pins Bekah to the side of the car. “You know, after all this time I’m still not a posed to taking you right here. It’s no longer your home or where you work.” Jon bites at Bekah’s ear.

“Or you can take me upstairs and not get out of bed until noon tomorrow?” Bekah nibbles at his lips. Jon stands and interlaces his fingers in Bekah’s. They make their way into the lobby and here Jon’s name. Some guy in a White Sox hat nods and Bekah shoves her left hand in her pocket. After stopping for a picture the couple was off again. Jon barely had the door latched before his lips were pressed against Bekah’s and her back against the wall. His hands reach down to cup her ass the lift her up. Bekah’s arms wrapped tightly around his neck. They wasted no time disrobing. Jon hovering over Bekah with his hardened cock. Bekah lifts her hips to rub the tip on her click. She exhaled with the sensation then Jon pressed in. His rhythm intentional hitting every spot he knows would elicit filthy sounds from Bekah’s mouth.

“Come on Beks. I’m there. Come with me.” Jon lifts his body from her’s to change the angle. Bekah slides her finger between their bodies and rubs her clit. “Fuck that’s hot.” Jon presses hard into Bekah sending their orgasms crashing over them. “Fuck. Damn. Fuck.” Jon grunts out as Bekah moves her hand before he crashes into her. Rolling off his hand reaches right in the center of his v line.

“What are you doing?” Bekah questions with a deep breath.

“Checking for blood. I’m good!” Bekah props up and looks to where Jon’s hand was. Fresh scratches had turned his skin pink.

“Fuck. Tae. Did I do that? I’m sorry.” Her fingers tenderly touch the scratches.

“Technically self inflicted since I gave you the ring. Learning curve. Plus you’ve seen some of my injuries. A little scratch is nothing.” Jon pulls her body on top of his and kisses her sweetly. “Round two in a minute there future Mrs. Toews?”

“Rebekah Toews. That doesn’t sound horrible.” Bekah starts to laugh and Jon catches her lips.

“Sounds fucking amazing.” He kisses her again. “I’m so glad you said yes.” Jon kisses her again and roll their bodies for more.

The sun woke both Jon and Bekah up the next morning. The evening of celebrating evident on their tired faces. How about we have breakfast, go do something then nap before dinner?” Jon whispers into his fiancée’s hair.

“Sounds amazing Babe.” Bekah starts to move and Jon pulls her back into his chest.

“I know I keep saying it but I’m so glad you said yes.” Jon kisses her temple.

“I really worried you didn’t I?” Bekah looks up at him and he nods. “Well I’m sorry. I never want you to question that I love you.” Bekah’s heart bings.

“That’s not it, Beks, I know you love me but nine months together and four years is a big difference.”

“I know and I freaked out for most of those four years and looking back I wonder what would have happened if I just let it happen.” Bekah whispers.

“I wonder all the time what would have happened if I met you back in Chicago in my rookie year.” Jon admits.

“I would have never met Rin.” Bekah realizes and Jon opens his mouth then closes it. “Speaking of, we need to get going to do something touristy before dinner.” Bekah pulls Jon’s tired body out of bed and to the shower. The two made their way around Columbus. Jon decided he wanted to see things she loved growing up. Bekah took him by her schools, the playground a boy kissed her on when they were five, her grandparents’ house she spent every Christmas at until he passed and Grandma moved. Jon pictured Bekah in every step. Every piece that made her, her. Before they knew it they were sitting in front of Derek and Brynn’s house. Bekah’s parents car sitting in the drive way. The two looked at each other.

“Ready?” Jon asked.

“Ready!” Bekah answered popping out of the car and into his embrace. The couple walked through the door and Brynn was the first to catch the ring on Bekah’s finger.

“Is that.... eeeeeeekkkkkkk?!?!” Brynn squeals with delight and rushes her best friend. Jon nods at Jim and Marie comes over to gush over the ring.

“So when’s the wedding?” Bekah hears her Grandmother’s voice from the couch.

“We haven’t...” Bekah starts.

“I was hoping this summer.” Jon matter of factly states and looks over at Bekah’s stunned face.

“Oh that soon. Would there be a reason?” Bekah’s grandmother questions and all heads snap in her direction then at Bekah’s. She feels the heat rising in her cheeks and her mouth goes dry.

[birbleafs]

[fic] A Much Ado About (PSI)oulmates

Series: Saiki Kusuo no Ψ-nan || The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. Rating: T Genre: Humour, Breaking The Fourth Wall Character(s): Saiki Kusuo, Aiura Mikoto, Satou Hiroshi, Akechi Touma, Toritsuka Reita Warnings: None, save for canon-typical shenanigans Summary:  Aiura decides to combine her divination abilities with Kusuo’s powers for a super special comedic segment on Affinity Levels. Fic can also be read on AO3 _______

Excerpt taken from clairvoyant Dame Mata-Mata’s advert for Amazing Psychic Services:

99.9% accurate affinity readings and guaranteed life-long happiness! Discover your twin flame with as little 10,000 yen per hour! Some would say it’s foolish to risk your future and wallet on such clandestine offerings, but we assure you, we are no worse than the underhanded brand marketing on children’s television series! Call 1800-TWINFLAMES -1234567 to book a reading today!!

***

Anyone who would believe such clandestine and shady offerings isn’t just a fool but a complete buffoon, Kusuo scoffs impassively at the flyer before him. This is definitely worse than the underhanded brand marketing on children’s TV shows.

“They’re a total noob at it, fer sure!” Aiura says, leaning in too close and posing next to Kusuo as she takes a wefie with her phone. “Like sure, the concept of twin flames and soulmates ain’t new, but to claim everyone has half a soul yearning to get jiggy with its other missing half for life-long bliss is like, a gross oversimplification.” I don’t really care to be honest, Kusuo deadpans. He stares sullenly at how Aiura’s arm is still wrapped around his; she offers him a cheeky grin and a peace sign, snapping yet another wefie before she finally slides away to the opposite seat. “Soulmates just have more natural affinity for each other,” Aiura says, batting her eyelashes at him coyly. “But just like with everything, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to put in any effort to make it work! Hey, speaking of which—the author has a super special birthday tradition where she writes and/or posts up a new story, so this fanfic can totally be about Affinity Meters, right?!” Don’t know what you’re going on about and still don’t actually care, Kusuo retorts, shoving a spoonful of coffee jelly into his mouth as he resolutely tries to enjoy his Sunday afternoon. But Aiura persists, easily breaking the fourth wall to elaborate further: “Just like how Kusuo can use the Affection Meter to quantify a person’s love for another, today we’ll combine Kusuo’s telepathy and my own divination abilities to measure soulmate compatibility via Affinity Levels! So, without further ado, let’s go, let’s goooo!” Aiura, no, Kusuo groans in quiet despair. “Miko-chan, YES!” Aiura whoops, fist-pumping the prologue away as the scene fades out. _______

i.

Satou Hiroshi

Conventional. Moderate. Regular. Behold the quintessential stock background character, the pinnacle of normality—Satou Hiroshi. Standing at a height of 169.9 centimeters and weighing at precisely 61.0 kilograms—the exact national average of a healthy sixteen-year-old Japanese male—he is the gold standard, the epitome of normal. It’s a shame then that few recognize Satou-kun’s remarkable ordinariness, Kusuo muses, watching said background character ambling down the sidewalk with an approving smile. Nevertheless, perhaps that may be to my benefit. Surely our Affinity Levels must be pretty high; after all, we’re both normal and regular high-school teens who do not stand out much— “I don’t think using your powers to make yourself inconspicuous counts though,” Aiura says as she glances over Kusuo’s shoulder, puzzled at his fixation on someone so… well, boring. Kusuo isn’t even listening. We both have regular aspirations and hobbies, seeking only to live peaceful days! “Funnily, I now remember peeking at Normal-kun’s fortune for Hii-chan. And get this, his biggest dream is being on stage as a rock star! Like seriously, how typical can he get?” —So, taking into consideration all of the above, Kusuo presses on, undeterred by Aiura’s commentary, surely we would hit it off as friends with optimal affinity levels! “Uhm, Kusuo?” Aiura nudges him with her elbow, pointing at the meter hovering beside them. “Not to be a wet blanket and all, but the Affinity Meter started running again as you were waxing lyrical earlier, so now it’s showing that Normal-kun and your Affinity Levels are like, really just two stars at best.” She leans forward, squinting at the screen. “Simply because he thinks you’re okay but still a bit of a weirdo. Dayum, the nerve of this twerp!” Kusuo stares wordlessly at her for a beat, slack-jawed. A-Ahyuu…?

Affinity Level: ☆☆ _______

 ii.

Akechi Touma

“It pains me to have to do this,” Aiura lets out a dramatic sigh. “But since Childhood Friends is a pretty popular trope in animanga, and therefore in fanfiction, I guess there’s no avoiding it.” Kusuo scowls, not liking where this is heading at all. It can totally be avoided. We can just avoid talking about it altogether. “Is that you, Kusuo-kun?” Akechi says as he suddenly appears at Kusuo’s side, curiosity in his eyes. “Oh, I see Aiura-san is here as well. I couldn’t help but notice how you two were standing and talking together so I thought I should come say hello, even though I was rather hesitant at first. I didn’t want to abruptly barge into your conversation, you see, as that would have been awfully rude, and I certainly don’t wish for you to think of me as rude, Kusuo-kun.” Yet here you are barging in anyway, blathering on incessantly like a runaway freight train, Kusuo remarks drily. “Well, I couldn’t help but overhear the mention of Affinity Levels,” Akeichi beams as he continues, unfazed by the jibe. “And I can’t say my curiosity isn’t the least bit piqued, even if I have little to no real interest or belief in the notion of soulmates. In fact, the existence of an actual soul remains debatable in scientific circles—” Exasperated, Aiura tries to interject. “Since you ain’t all that interested, mind if you just zip those lips for like five minutes? My hair’s gone all frizzy from the heat of your endless jabbering!” ��However, these debates on the existence of the soul had also been instrumental to the understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the human body—” “Oh my God, please just stop yapping for ONE sec—!!” Aiura shrieks, tugging at her curls in frustration. She accidentally kicks the Affinity Meter to start running, and the lights blink and flash in a rapid blur before the meter gradually slows down to display four bright stars upon its screen. There’s a beat; the trio leans forward, staring at the meter in awkward silence. Kusuo’s brows are furrowed at the unexpected results; he shrugs it off as a fluke. Clearly there’s some technical issue with Affinity Meter (never mind that the meter works, in part, based on Aiura’s divination abilities, which have, to date, always been accurate). There’s just no way Akechi could ever beat Satou-kun on that scale, he’s too much of an abnormal— But Aiura is already moving forward, reaching out to grasp Akechi’s hand in a firm handshake. “Aiura-san? Is there something…?” She acknowledges Akechi’s curious gaze with a curt nod. “All right, I can’t deny it any longer. Not with that impressive detective aura of yours and with results like that on both Kusuo and my own Affinity Meter.” Oi, oi. Don’t start spouting weird nonsense now, Miss Abnormal! “All right, Akeinu! I hereby deem you a worthy rival in the fight to stand as Kusuo’s trusted sidekick!” “Oho! You’ve even given me a cutesy nickname as acknowledgment! I must say I’m quite flattered, Aiura-san.” How about I side-kick both of you out of my life right now? Kusuo sighs, mildly perturbed by this unexpected turn of events.

Affinity Level: ☆☆☆☆ _______

iii.

Toritsuka Reita

…… …… …… What, did you seriously think Toritsuka was getting a proper scene? He’s already way too pathetic. NEXT— “W-wait, did you just cut my scene?!” Toritsuka shrieks from the void like a headless chicken. “Don’t just write me off, Saiki-saaan!!” —Saiki exits stage left, pursuing normalcy. “And don’t just narrate yourself out!!”

Affinity Level: N.A. _______

iv. Aiura Mikoto

“At first glance, you might think we make for an odd couple,” Aiura says with a coquettish smile. “And how it seems absolutely cray that we could get along. Or like, that we don’t mesh just ‘cause our personalities clash way too much or somethin’.” She chuckles at the notion, running perfectly manicured nails through her luscious locks. “I mean, it’s obvs only those inexperienced with the inner workings of the heart would think that. Because opposites attract, y’know? It’s the push-pull dynamism between us that spices things up! Like two tango dancers stirring up a flame on the dance floor—it keeps things refreshing and exciting, but still comforting and familiar in the end, like sharing a nice, warm bath at the end of the day, or cuddling up together at the sofa, feeding each other spoons of dessert…” Aiura pauses, blushing when she catches sight of the Affinity Meter fluttering gently by her shoulder, at the line of stars glowing from the screen, a beacon of reassurance of their status as soulmates. She turns towards Kusuo, suddenly self-conscious as she tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Say, Kusuo… How about we head to that nice dessert buffet together and—” Only to realize she had been practically talking to thin air all this time. “H-Huh?! Aww, gimme a break! Where did you run off to this time, Kusuooo?!”

Affinity Level: ☆☆☆☆☆ _______ v.

Coffee Jelly

Good grief—finally some peace and quiet. Kusuo sighs as he leans back into the leather seat of his booth, in a nondescript cafe far away from his usual annoyances. He dips a spoon into his dessert bowl, lifting a dark sliver of coffee jelly to his mouth, and smiles in absolute contentment. There’s a soft whirr, and then a ping from somewhere below. He flicks a furtive gaze at the Affinity Meter hovering at the empty space beside him, curious despite himself. The endless line of glowing stars are probably a bit much, but he smiles anyway at the screen. Huh. I guess it works after all.

Affinity Level: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

—End— _______ Notes:

It’s tradition for myself to spend my birthday writing and/or sharing a new fic (happy birthday to me!! lol). I also had this sitting in my draft for way too long and decided to kick myself to finish it. Apologies for any typoes/errors.

Comments and critique are always welcomed for my fics—I'd like to hear what you think, if you've enjoyed this! Thanks for reading :)

[rosesgonerogue]

Gaming

Daminette December Day Four

It was a rare lazy day in the Wayne Manor, and the occupants weren’t quite sure how to handle it. A few members of the Justice League were visiting, and Bruce had forbidden the appearance of any of the Batkids for the next seventy-two hours after what had happened last time. Jason had a million excuses, but they were still banned, nonetheless. 

Besides, Marinette was visiting. Damian’s long-distance girlfriend couldn’t take the time to tear herself away from Paris very often, and if one of them screwed up and revealed their identity, Damian was going to murder them. 

The Demon Spawn was picking the Parisian Princess up from the airport while the others tried to figure out something to do with one another. 

Jason, splayed upside-down on a couch, started, “We could--”

“No,” the others chorused in perfect sync. 

“You didn’t even know what I was going to suggest,” he whined. 

“Did it involve guns?” Dick asked wearily. “Little D would murder you where you stand with his bare hands.” 

“I mean--”

“No knives,” was Cass’s contribution. 

“I’m pretty sure sparring of any kind is off the table,” Tim said, not deigning to look up from his laptop. 

“What else is there to do?” Jason complained. 

“Anything that doesn’t endanger Marinette if you want to live,” Babs said, stretching. 

“Why are you even here? You don’t live here.” 

“We like Marinette, though,” Stephanie said. 

“This is all a disaster. Let’s just do something simple before Little D monopolizes all of her time, like play Mario Kart,” Dick said from where he hung on the chandelier. 

“That actually isn’t a terrible idea,” Jason contemplated. They thought a bit longer on the idea, but before any alternatives were given, Cass lurched to her feet, eyes keen. 

“They’re here,” was all she said before disappearing into the rest of the house. 

Sure enough, soon after the others heard the telltale sounds: a car door slammed, followed by Marinette’s giggle. The collective Batkids (minus Cass) spilled out into the foyer, racing each other to the front door. 

Hellos were said and the lot of them found themselves dragging Marinette into the entertainment room. “We decided we wanted to challenge you to a video game tournament,” Jason explained. “You probably haven’t played a ton of video games, so we’ll make sure to go easy on you.” 

Marinette smiled, a more predatory smile than they thought her capable of. “Oh, thank you all so much.” 

When she won the first round, they dismissed it as a fluke. When she won the second round, they were a little wary. When she won the third round, they decided to stop going easy on her. 

After fifteen rounds, Jason was ready to throw the controller out the window. “How?! How are you so good?” 

Marinette blinked innocently. “Beginner’s luck, I guess. I’ve actually never played this game before.” 

The siblings squabbled over what would be the next game before Jason pushed the others away, brandishing Ultimate Mecha Strike III in his hands. “This isn’t a game for beginners, let’s see how she fares.” 

“That one is more violent, I don’t think Marinette would like a fighting game,” Babs protested. 

Only Damian saw the positively evil smirk flash across Marinette’s face, and he was simultaneously terrified and attracted. Incredibly attracted. 

“Oh, I don’t mind if it’s a little violent,” Marinette said sweetly. “I’m willing to give it a try.” 

Two hours later, Jason stared numbly at the screen, once more declaring Marinette the winner. “I… how? I don’t understand. I don’t understand.” 

Marinette primly set down the controller before she stood up to stretch. “I know in France we don’t play as many video games as you Americans, but if you’re a national champion, you still end up being pretty good. Is it time for our reservation yet, Dames?”

“Just in time, Angel,” the youngest said before escorting his girlfriend out of the room. 

It was silent before Jason let out an unholy screech. “NATIONAL CHAMPION?!”

Taglist:

@ozmav @daminette-december2019 @cravethosecrazysquares @krispydefendorpolice @thesunanditsangel @sonif50 @kris-pines04 @persephonebutkore @tbehartoo @corabeth11 @caffeinetheory @drarryismylife101 @bluerosette23 @weird-pale-blonde-person @mystery-5-5 @heaven428 @thethirdwheelfriend @thetinymoonflower @interobanginyourmom @chocolate1721

It’s Rose again! This is a shorter one, I’m a senior in college and finals come first. Sorry! But I’ve written ahead, so hopefully I’ll be able to post everyday, even if it’s just something short like this. I had some fun with Damian and Marinette already in an established relationship, I feel like they would be super mischevious together. 

I have to say really quickly, I’m amazed at the amount of support that you guys have already shown! Thanks a ton, you’re making me even more eager to write when I can! Based on popular demand, when this is all over I think I will rework “Just a Friend” into a longer fic. That’s a possibility for any of these if I get enough feedback about it. Let me know what you think! If you want to be added to the taglist just let me know, and let me know if I missed you! 

[colossalsummer]

KOTLC book one READ ALONG part 2 of 5

I read the first Keeper of the Lost Cities book and annotated every page. Here are the highlights. (Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3/ Part 4/ Part 5)

Chapter 11

Tiergan: “I’ll see you Tuesday.” This is a weird thing to focus on, but… they have a seven day week like we do?

Soooo okay okay okay why are they giving her a top-level education gratis? Do they plan to use her once she graduates? Nothing in life is free.

Sophie: “What am I supposed to tell my family? They’re not going to let me disappear every day with no explanation.” Alden: “About that, Sophie. You and I need to have a talk.” OH-HO the truth come out

The sorrow in his eyes made her feel like she’d swallowed something slimy. Clearly, it wasn’t going to be a pleasant conversation. Ah—so this is a kidnapping. Cool.

Her registry pendant, Della explained. Everyone had to wear one, so they could be easily found. Oh so a collar. I’ll be ditching that come time for the revolution

Sophie: “But… why does anyone work, then—if they already have money?” Della: “What else would we do with our time?” Sophie: “I don’t know. Something fun?” Della: “Work is fun.” Spoken like somebody who’s never worked retail on Black Friday. Some work is dangerous and boring. Who’s doing that stuff?

Chapter 12

Alden: “Now that the Council knows you exist, they’ve ordered that you move here. Effective immediately.” Oh, I see. A kidnapping.

She didn’t belong in the human world, and she was tired of pretending she did. It feels a little messed up for all these elves to keep insisting that she doesn’t belong with humans. She probably won’t feel like she totally belongs with elves, either, and then she won’t feel like she fits in anywhere. Y’all gonna give this child a complex.

Sophie: “You’re going to kill me off?” Alden: “As far as your family and the rest of the humans are concerned… yes.” IT IS A KIDNAPPING

Chapter 13

Sophie: “I drugged my family.” Fitz: “You did the right thing.” Sophie: “It doesn’t feel like the right thing.” HELLO *looking around fandom* ARE WE ALL SEEING THIS??

To be honest I don’t have a lot of notes for this chapter because it was just so heartbreaking and distressing. Like I have one note at the end of the chapter and all it says is “oof”

Someone protect this child

Chapter 14

Alden: “Fitz can help you get settled in here while we’re gone.” Sophie: “Here? I’ll be living here?” Sweetie, Fitz can’t be your step-brother ’cause then there won’t be a love triangle

Elwin: “Whoa, that is some serious damage. It’s not permanent… And it’s not your fault. Toxic food, toxic water, toxic air.” Fluoride, smallpox vaccinations, 5G…

Elwin: “Now, try not to let this worry you, but your body needs a major detox. We’ll start with these.” …My essential oils

Chapter 15

Alden: They run an animal preserve at Havenfield, so they always have all kinds of exciting things going on.” COOOL

“We’ve even had to collect endangered species—gorillas, lions, mammoths—”  YES THANK YOU SHANNON

“Grady and Edaline train the animals to be vegetarians by feeding them gnomish produce; that way they won’t hunt one another once they’re moved to the Sanctuary.” mmm good luck obligate carnivores

“Another roar interrupted their conversation. Whatever it was sounded like it wasn’t happy about its new diet plan.” It is dying slowly because it can’t produce its own taurine but OK

Hopefully elf veggies are different than earth veggies. That’s just what I’m going to keep telling myself.

The path lead to a wide meadow, where gnomes were using thick ropes to lasso what looked like a giant lizard covered in neon green feathers. UNNH YES I DON’T DESERVE THIS

Also no wonder nobility work for fun, they got gnomes out here doin’ the dangerous jobs

I’m not going to bore you with my breakdown of this dinosaur reconstruction but as a person who worked in a museum as a paleontology educator these bits are the most exciting parts of the book for me. I rate this tyrannosaur 6/10 for scientific accuracy and 10/10 for handsomeness. Shannon Messenger gets 20/10 for popularizing feathered theropods.

…she couldn’t decide if he reminded her more of James Bond or Robin Hood—which felt wrong. He was so unlike her chubby, balding dad she wasn’t sure how to relate. Sophie, meet your new, hotter dad.

Chapter 16

At Sophie’s nod she conjured up a bowl of orange glop and a spoon. Why do elves eat so much goo? This whole time it’s been nothing but goo

Della: “Our world is ‘talent-based’.” AH-HA

Sophie: “Seems kind of unfair.” Yeah, who decides which talents matter and which don’t?

“Get ready to add the amarallitine, Dex.” Oh, I’ve heard of YOU

Grady: “I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushes for you to get transferred to Exillium—and let’s just say it’s somewhere you don’t want to go.” Oh, so there are BAD schools… it all comes together…

So if Edaline and Juline are sisters, is Dex like Sophie’s foster cousin?

Chapter 17

Dex: “The Leapmaster 500. You’re lucky. My parents aren’t nobility, so they’re only authorized to have the 250—it’s missing tons of cool places.” Like bad Netflix. I don’t love that this society limits where poor people can go.

Dame Alina: “First and foremost, whoever put the reekrod in my desk over the weekend will—It’s not funny!” *the camera slowly zooms in on Dex*

A spotlight focused on Sophie. Well, first day ruined. Only took fifteen minutes.

Her name hissed around the room like a viper’s nest. “Ssssssophie.” 

Stina: “You left it open, idiot. I guess remembering to close doors is too hard for the son of a bad match to remember.” Ah wonderful, eugenics. I love elf school

Chapter 18

“Mastering all the elements is one of the steps toward entering the nobility.” Everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked

“Dude.” Is this a human-obsessed thing or is there straight-up an elvish word for dude

Sophie: “What exactly is a ‘bad match’?” Marella: “A couple that was ruled genetically incompatible. Usually that means their kids will be inferior.” THERE ARE SCREENINGS??

Sophie: “What’s Exillium?” Marella: “The school where they send the hopeless cases.” Yep I want to go there

Chapter 19

Telepaths were in high demand. Once she’d proven trustworthy, she’d receive assignments from the Council. OH OKAY so they send her to wizard school and when she graduates they don’t miss a beat, just scoop her on up and enlist her

If a prodigy hadn’t manifested by Level Four, they might be expelled—and even if they stayed at Foxfire, they couldn’t take the elite levels, which meant they’d never be nobility. Most ended up working class.

But once again it didn’t escape her notice that Grady avoided telling her what his special ability was. It couldn’t be something bad. Could it? The man has dinosaurs so if he was going to do something bad I feel like he’d have done it already

Chapter 20

Sophie: “Prentice?” Marella: “Yeah. He was this supertalented Telepath, but he got exiled like twelve years ago.” Oh as old as I am hm how interesting go onnn…

Lady Galvin: “Don’t you know anything about alchemy?” FFFF that’s why I’m HERE you old BAG

Lady Galvin: “Dame Alina probably thinks this is funny, forcing me to teach such basic serums. Well, I won’t have it.” You know, you aren’t getting paid, you can quit. I don’t mind.

“I’m Keefe.” Will this bad boy help us lead the resistance?

Keefe: “Did you do any damage?” Sophie: “Only her cape.” Keefe: “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Do you have any idea how epic that is?” I really like this lil anarchist.

Keefe: “Destroyed Galvin’s cape.” Elwin: “Wish I could’ve seen that!” I’m recruiting this man for the rebellion. Keefe and Elwin get sorted in the Chaotic Good pile for the day of reckoning.

Stay tuned for Part 3.

[thecollegefootballguy]

The Real 2020 Season: Week 3

Hello everyone, welcome to Week 3 of The Real 2020 Season! We’re imagining how things would have gone in the 2020 football season if COVID hadn’t ruined everything.

Check out the previous weeks here if you’d like a bit of context: Week 0, Week 1, Week 2

-

The Rankings

Week 3 AP Poll

1. Clemson 2-0 (2-0) 2. Alabama 2-0 (0-0) 3. Georgia 2-0 (0-0) 4. Oklahoma 2-0 (0-0) 5. Oregon 2-0 (0-0) 6. Florida 2-0 (1-0) 7. Texas 2-0 (0-0) 8. Notre Dame 2-0 9. Auburn 2-0 (0-0) 10. Texas A&M 2-0 (0-0) 11. Ohio State 1-1 (0-0) 12. Oklahoma State 2-0 (0-0) 13. Washington 2-0 (0-0) 14. LSU 1-1 (0-0) 15. UCF 2-0 (0-0) 16. Minnesota 2-0 (0-0) 17. Utah 2-0 (0-0) 18. Iowa 2-0 (0-0) 19. Indiana 2-0 (1-0) 20. USC 1-1 (0-0) 21. Cincinnati 2-0 (0-0) 22. Penn State 1-1 (0-0) 23. Missouri 2-0 (1-0) 24. Liberty 2-0 25. Memphis 2-0 (0-0)

-

The Narrative

The biggest news around the college football landscape are the ripples emanating from three upsets of top ten teams the week before. Ohio State’s and Penn State’s losses in particular are severely hurting the Big Ten. The whole league, widely regarded as the second strongest conference in the nation after the SEC, now more or less looks like they have no team with a wide open shot at the Playoff only 2 weeks in. It’ll be a continuing problem for the whole season. LSU’s loss to Texas in Baton Rouge shocked the defending champions, but the SEC as a whole is in a much stronger position relative to the Big Ten even with the Tigers’ loss. They have 5 teams in the top ten after all.

Oregon’s win over Ohio State finally means the PAC-12 has a legitimate Playoff contender. It has been a long time in the wilderness for the Conference of Champions but the Ducks are definitely building momentum for a huge season.

As for the G5, the AAC has a huge lead over the rest of the conferences at that level. Even if a Boise State or an App State has a huge season they’ll have to defer to the American champ unless the league eats itself.

Many teams still haven’t played a quality opponent so far in the season so there still is a lot shrouded in mystery.

-

The Games

We’re beginning to see a blending of both non-conference games as well as league play within several conferences. It still isn’t a super-exciting slate for many fans, but the game of the week is certainly the contest between #2 Alabama and #3 Georgia.

Winning teams are highlighted in bold.

Incarnate Word at Baylor UNLV at Iowa State Boston College at Kansas Vanderbilt at Kansas State Western Illinois at #12 Oklahoma State UTEP at #7 Texas Arizona at Texas Tech Maryland at West Virginia Ball State at #19 Indiana Arkansas State at Michigan San Jose State at #22 Penn State Rutgers at Temple #18 Iowa at #16 Minnesota South Dakota State at Nebraska Central Michigan at Northwestern Air Force at Purdue Appalachian State at Wisconsin Charlotte at Duke Florida Atlantic at Georgia Southern FIU at Old Dominion Marshall at Ohio Virginia Tech at Middle Tennessee #24 Liberty at Western Kentucky Prairie View A&M at Louisiana Tech SMU at North Texas #14 LSU vs Rice Jackson State at Southern Miss UAB at Miami FL Grambling State at UTSA Akron at #1 Clemson Miami OH at #21 Cincinnati Kent State at Kentucky Northern Illinois at Eastern Michigan Western Michigan at #8 Notre Dame Florida State at Boise State Northern Colorado at Colorado State New Mexico at New Mexico State Utah State at #13 Washington #17 Utah at Wyoming Nevada at South Florida UCLA at San Diego State Portland State at Oregon State #20 USC at Stanford Idaho at Washington State BYU at Arizona State Colorado at #10 Texas A&M South Alabama at #6 Florida #3 Georgia at #2 Alabama #23 Missouri at South Carolina Furman at Tennessee Arkansas at Mississippi State #9 Auburn at Ole Miss Duquesne at Coastal Carolina Louisiana at Georgia State NC State at Troy Texas State at Louisiana-Monroe Connecticut at Virginia Albany at Massachusetts Norfolk State at East Carolina Houston at #25 Memphis Navy at Tulane Northwestern State at Tulsa #15 UCF at Georgia Tech Murray State at Louisville Colgate at Syracuse Villanova at Wake Forest James Madison at North Carolina Richmond at Pittsburgh

Well it’s still not exactly a banner week. The titanic clash between #2 Alabama and #3 Georgia sort of lived up to expectations, although the Bulldogs really did look a step too slow for the Crimson Tide. It doesn’t necessarily mean that UGA is out of the Playoff race, the SEC champion will be in the Top 4 under basically any circumstances, but they’re gonna need an answer for the likely rematch with Alabama if they do make it to Atlanta.

The rest of the top five breezed through their matchups as #1 Clemson dispatched Akron and #5 Oregon brushed aside Hawaii. #4 Oklahoma was off this week. The rest of the major Playoff contenders in the top ten handled their foes easily. Aside from UGA’s loss we won’t see much of a shakeup at the top.

The only other ranked vs ranked matchup of the day belonged to #18 Iowa’s surprisingly easy victory over #16 Minnesota. With Wisconsin seeming to have taken a step back with their loss to Indiana, perhaps the Hawkeyes will return to the top of the West Division standings in the Big Ten. The only other ranked team that lost aside from Georgia and Minnesota was #20 USC on a road trip to rival Stanford. The loss is the Trojans’ second and knocks them out of the Playoff race early.

The G5 is experiencing their traditional September culling at the hands of the P5 and each other. The AAC is down to 4 undefeated teams in Cincinnati, Memphis, SMU, and UCF. The Sun Belt is sitting pretty with Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, and Troy. The Mountain West is already down to just Boise State. Conference-USA and the MAC already have 0 undefeated teams, putting them at an early disadvantage for the NY6 race. Boise does own the G5 game of the week with an easy home win over struggling Florida State.

There were several out-of-conference rivalry games being played such as WVU-Maryland, New Mexico-NMSU, and Marshall-Ohio but for the most part the results wouldn’t interest people who aren’t fans of those programs. Overall it wasn’t too exciting of a week.

-

The Standings

Conference games are now being played by every league, though most of the teams have still only played non-league contests. The standings are still not very indicative of real team quality of the Playoff race, but they’re still fun to look at.

-

The Big Picture

The Playoff picture hasn’t been altered nearly as much in the past week as it did in weeks 1 and 2. Georgia’s loss doesn’t necessarily doom them. If the Bulldogs can rally to win the East and then beat Alabama in the rematch you know they’re heading to the semifinals. However, the fact remains that even with so much talent in the SEC it’s looking like the Crimson Tide might be in a class of their own this year, with LSU and UGA seemingly unable to compete. We’ll see how Auburn, A&M, and Florida fare.

The rest of the P5 didn’t have any seismic shifts. The Big Ten is definitely still languishing in the basement after all of their top programs took Ls in their first two weeks. They all rebounded in Week 3 but that barely takes the edge off the humiliation. We could seriously be looking at a Playoff without the Big Ten for the first time since the inception of the tournament. Clemson should still run through the ACC without hassle. The Big 12 is shaping up to be contested at least, with Texas and Oklahoma State lining up behind the Sooners. Oregon is definitely leading the PAC-12, but it’s harder to trust the Ducks with going something like 12-1 even though they beat Ohio State.

Not surprisingly, the AAC is absolutely lapping the competition in the G5 race. With their win over Georgia Tech, UCF now has two P5 scalps in this young season. If they go undefeated, the Knights will again have a compelling case for inclusion in the Playoff. That may be a big if, with Cincinnati and Memphis and perhaps others providing some internal competition. The Mountain West, usually the second strongest of the G5 conferences, is once again putting all of its eggs in one basket with Boise State, the only remaining undefeated team in the league. The Sun Belt, usually one of the weakest conferences, is in a stronger position than usual, though this time it looks like either Coastal Carolina, Louisiana, or Troy will try their hand at supplanting Appalachian State. The Mountaineers already have two losses on the season. It’s unlikely that C-USA or the MAC will be able to put a team into a NY6 bowl with the way things have developed so far.

-

The New Rankings

Week 4 AP Poll

1. Alabama 3-0 (1-0) 2. Clemson 3-0 (2-0) 3. Oklahoma 2-0 (0-0) 4. Oregon 3-0 (0-0) 5. Florida 3-0 (1-0) 6. Texas 3-0 (0-0) 7. Notre Dame 3-0 8. Auburn 3-0 (1-0) 9. Texas A&M 3-0 (0-0) 10. Ohio State 2-1 (0-0) 11. Oklahoma State 3-0 (0-0) 12. Georgia 2-1 (0-1) 13. Washington 3-0 (0-0) 14. LSU 2-1 (0-0) 15. Iowa 3-0 (1-0) 16. UCF 3-0 (0-0) 17. Utah 3-0 (0-0) 18. Indiana 3-0 (1-0) 19. Missouri 3-0 (1-0) 20. Cincinnati 3-0 (0-0) 21. Penn State 2-1 (0-0) 22. Stanford 3-0 (2-0) 23. Liberty 3-0 24. Memphis 3-0 (1-0) 25. Miami FL 3-0 (0-0)

The polls didn’t change a whole lot because almost all of the top 25 cruised through their games against weaker opponents. Despite the relative lack of movement, we have a new #1 as Alabama supplants Clemson as the highest regarded team in the nation following their win over Georgia. The Bulldogs fell out of the Top Ten following their loss to the Tide, but only just. USC and Minnesota drop out of the polls following their losses and were replaced by Stanford and Miami.

The American remains the only G5 conference with any teams in the poll, and they have three with UCF, Cincinnati, and Memphis. Though of course the voters are keeping even those programs an arm’s length away from the top ten, UCF even fell down a spot as Iowa leapt over them following the Hawkeyes’ big win over the Gophers. It’s a hard luck world for the G5.

-

Week 3 is in the books! Stay tuned to see how the rest of the Real 2020 Season plays out!

[doof-doofblog]

BREAKING NEWS

Hello again everyone! With this being a blog all about EastEnders, I can not not mention the devastating news which broke this morning. I’m sure you’ve all heard the devastating news that our beloved landlady of the Queen Vic, Dame Barbara Windsor has sadly passed away at the age of 83. 

Dame Barbara Windsor played the role of the legendary Peggy Mitchell from 1994 - 2016!  During her time on the soap, she received the Best Actress award at the 1999 British Soap Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 British Soap Awards! 

Peggy had so many memorable moments on the Square, from battling breast cancer, her marriage to Frank Butcher, her friendship with Pat, another marriage to Archie Mitchell, running for local government, having her precious Queen Vic pub being torched by her own son, getting drunk in an ice cream van with Pat (I’m sure you’ll remember that hilarious moment!) and of course her devastating death after revealing to her son, Phil, that her cancer had returned - but to which she actually decided to take her own life, with the ghost of her best friend, Pat, being there by her side.

I for one, am absolutely devastated to hear of her passing. Barbara, of course was not just known for her role as Peggy Mitchell, but also known for her role in the Carry On movies. Between the years 1964 - 1977 she made regular appearances in the movies and TV specials with the rest of the Carry On cast members. As well as appearing in EastEnders and the Carry On series, from the years between 1954 - 2016 she appeared in a couple of movie roles, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Alice In Wonderland. (Some films she was uncredited and some were small roles). 

Devastatingly, in April 2014, Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s which she decided not to reveal to the public, at the time she only informed her close friends and colleagues. On 10th May 2018, her husband, Scott Mitchell, revealed her condition to the public, sadly over time, he revealed that her health and mental state was deteriorating and there had been moments when she no longer recognised her husband. In January 2019, many of her co-stars from EastEnders announced that they would be running the London Marathon in aid of a dementia campaign. In August of the same year, on Barbara’s 82nd birthday, she and her husband became ambassadors for the Alzheimer’s Society. 

In August of this year, it was reported that with her mental state still deteriorating, she had been moved to a care home in London. She sadly passed away at 8.35pm on 10th December 2020, peacefully with her husband at her bedside. It makes me sad that I have to write this post, she will always be remembered as such an icon, not just for her role in EastEnders, but in movies, TV and theatre! She was an all round beautiful, talented woman. A true national treasure and she’ll be truly missed. She wasn’t just Queen of the Mitchell family or Queen of Walford, she was the Queen of people’s hearts. May you rest in peace Dame Barbara Windsor! xXx 

[pluckyredhead]

Daredevil 101: Cruel & Unusual

Hello, friends! I am back to fill up 10 minutes of your pandemic self-isolation downtime. Today we’re covering the storyline “Cruel & Unusual,” which ran through Daredevil v2 #107-110. Greg Rucka joins our usual team of Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark as a co-writer, which means a hardboiled dame investigating corruption, because Rucka has a #brand.

Content Warning: Severe violence against children is described but not shown; attempted suicide.

In the aftermath of what happened to Milla, Matt has sunk into depression. His friends are understandably concerned:

While Foggy pleads with him, Luke has a more assertive approach: yelling. Matt doesn’t take it well:

Yes, Matt breaks his hand. Yes, I laughed.

Anyway, Luke wants Matt to help him on a case, but Matt’s not hearing it, so Luke goes to the rest of Nelson, Blake, and Murdock:

MCU viewers will remember Big Ben Donovan from Luke Cage and Daredevil. They didn’t change much for the show, except that in the comics he sometimes beats people up in addition to being a super sketchy lawyer.

Anyway, he is currently on death row for decapitating three children - siblings, specifically. Not only that, he confessed to it. But Luke doesn’t think it fits his MO, and is hoping Matt - or barring that, Foggy, Becky, and Dakota - can do something to save Ben’s life. As they all agree, Ben sucks, but he doesn’t deserve to die for a crime he didn’t commit.

They try to get Matt on the case but he’s not interested. Dakota talks to a cop friend of hers, Detective Kurtz, and finds a few weird loose ends:

She then goes to see Ben in prison:

With Ben’s permission, she records his confession. On her way home from (I’m assuming) Sing Sing, she stops at a diner - and is attacked in the parking lot by a stranger, who beats her up and tells her to stay away from the Donovan case.

Furious, she goes straight to Matt and tells him to get his head out of his ass:

She wants Matt to listen to Ben’s confession and see if he hears anything off - that is, if he’s not too busy sitting around feeling sorry for himself. I know she’s coming off really aggressive here but the implication in the comic is that Matt has basically shut out the world for a worryingly long time by this point.

Anyway, Dakota storms out and Matt decides to listen to the recording - and realizes that Ben is definitely lying about killing those kids. So he finally pus on outside pants and heads out to do something about it:

Ben tells Matt the same thing he told Dakota - he did it, he has accepted his punishment, leave him alone. But Matt knows he’s lying, so he sees if the other Ben has any information for him:

That missing dad is still the loose end. Is he alive and thus probably the killer? Or if he’s dead, why won’t Ben (Donovan) confess to killing him too? Matt asks if Ben knows anything else about the dad, and Ben says he worked on the docks.

Meanwhile, Dakota continues to poke around and get in trouble, because that’s who she is as a person (I love Dakota so much). The same dude who beat her up before attacks her again, but this time she’s ready:

Also, surprise! He’s with the FBI. Which a) means there’s a cover-up happening, and b) freaks everyone out a bit because Matt and the FBI don’t have the greatest history with each other.

Matt, meanwhile, keeps digging and discovers that the missing dad didn’t just work “on the docks.” He worked specifically for this dude: 

Eric Slaughter, one of Fisk’s early rivals! We haven’t seen him in a while but he was a regular foe in the early Miller years - here he is in the Guts Nelson issue. Anything, this can’t be good.

Meanwhile in prison, Ben attempts to kill himself and is stopped just in time:

(Please note if you read the comic that the attempt and method are shown on the page.)

This man is on death row, so why would he try to kill himself? He’s clearly terrified of the consequences of Matt and Dakota digging into this case, but why?

Meanwhile, Dakota’s father, a CIA agent, also shows up to warn Dakota off:

Dakota’s like, uh, how did covering up the decapitation of three children become about national security, and also why are the CIA and the FBI working on the same case? This is extremely stinky.

Meanwhile, Matt and Foggy go to see Ben, who is even more insistent that Matt drop the case, this time practically to the point of hysteria. It does a number on Matt:

Foggy is such a good friend! Matt is so sad! That is a very specific photo reference!

Back at the office, Becky gives Dakota some very good advice:

As I said, I love Dakota, but she is a liar liar pants on fire. LISTEN TO BECKY!!! She had a crush on Matt and got over it! She has survived for three decades (now four)! She knows whereof she speaks!

Dakota and her flaming pants head out on the trail of another lead Becky has dug up, this time up at Columbia:

Yeah. Big Ben Donovan has a son, and if he doesn’t take the rap for the triple homicide, whoever is actually behind it will kill his son.

As Dakota leaves the building, she is shot by a sniper. Meanwhile, Matt attempts to confront Slaughter and finds himself in a trap:

In an extremely Murdocky move, Matt escapes by leaping out the window and through the sniper helicopter outside.

Meanwhile, Dakota is taken to the hospital. Matt blames himself. Becky, who has witnessed five fridgings by this point, is officially Done With His Shit:

You tell ‘im, Becks! No but seriously, she’s completely right, because this is a Greg Rucka storyline: Dakota got shot because she’s a hard-nosed investigator whose personal demons won’t let her leave a case alone even when it puts her in danger. It actually has nothing to do with Matt except that he’s also working on the same case, and blaming himself won’t help her.

Instead, Matt tracks down the FBI agent who attacked Dakota, leans on him, and learns the truth: the children and their father were actually killed by Eric Slaughter’s right-hand man. Slaughter had ordered the father killed for stealing from him, and his killer went rogue and murdered the kids as well. But the feds are in bed with Slaughter, because they’re using his smuggling operations on the docks to track terrorist activity:

If Slaughter’s man got arrested for the quadruple homicide, Slaughter would stop cooperating with the feds. So they gave him a fall guy, figuring Ben was a shitty person anyway and an acceptable loss in the ~War Against Terror~. It’s pretty disgusting all around and depressingly plausible.

Matt’s like “Well, arrest the real killer and let Ben go or this ends up on the news.” And he brings Ben a visitor:

Little Ben is, unsurprisingly, rather touched to hear what his father was willing to sacrifice for his safety!

Agent North tells Slaughter that his free pass has expired:

With all the loose ends wrapped up, Matt goes to see Dakota:

Aw that’s nice. And hoo BOY that last panel is a Charlie Coxish expression if I’ve ever seen one. Can Michael Lark see the future???

Next Up: Greg Rucka leaves and the book gets lackluster again. But, um, there’s a lot of ninjas and more Milla-related ableism? Yay? Hold on to your butts, kids, it’s almost Shadowland time!