#i may do more skaters but i may also not because i tend to get busy unexpectedly

[gin-juice-tonic]

my mother forbade me to cut my hair short ‘cause i’m supposed to look feminine😀 i hate it when she puts it like that. anyway, do you have any hairstyle recommendations to make my long hair more bearable? OR hairstyle recommendations in general, in case i can't stand it and go get a haircut in secret, lol

There's lots of ways to have masc long hair. I don't know a lot of names of things, so I just picked pictures. And I don't know what your hair type is, so I just kind of tried to pick a Lot of pictures. How your hair will be read will depend on other factors too, like the things you're wearing, so keep that in mind also.

The first thing you could do is just grow it and grow it and grow it. It might be the last thing you feel like doing, which is fair. Though I did this in high school when I was forbidden from cutting my hair short with the attitude of "you want it long? FINE. I WILL GIVE YOU LONG." So I could at least smirk at my act of rebellion. This hair is reminiscent of metal bands, skaters and surfers, and 90s grunge.

If you want to add to it, I think wearing a hat or other accessory can up the masc factor. In school or work you may not be able to get away with this though.

I could not find any cowboy hat pictures, but that's also a pretty good look if you've never tried it.

The next thing I thought of was the longer hair of the 60s and 70s. Skip this section if you don't have straight-ish hair or don't want to straighten it. Tended to be more styled than the longer hair above. It might feel reminiscent of "feminine" styles, I suppose. But fashion is weird like that. It might help if you re-frame your thought from "feminine" to "old school"

You may notice some of these guys have mustaches. Which is cheating. but it's the thought that counts.

For hair types that may lay a bit flatter than the above. This haircut is one of those cuts that has about a million names. You're better off just finding a picture of it.

Keanu Reeves has also had quite a few flat-ish hairstyles as well

This next one I don't see very often, but I think the low-ponytail is also a good masc look without having to cut your hair. And it's easy to combine with other hairstyles. May be worth testing out even if you get a different haircut.

Last one, my favorite one, the one I'm sure was expected of me. The perfect combination of long and short hair. Everybody hop aboard the mullet train.

Now you might be wondering. Why I have included a picture of Lisa Lisa. Well that is because I think her hair is extremely cool regardless of how feminine she wears it.

But also I am going to include some pictures of famous short haired women if you want to show your mom

And I also want to include the butches from this tumblr post

Because theyre a good example of mullets, low ponytails, and wearing hats.

Anyway I hope that helps

[doodle-pops]

House of Feanor With A Figure Skater Reader

Request: I'm soooo excited that requests are open, they are always a little sliver of joy I can always revisit and smile at! Now if I may... how do you think the House of Feänor would react to the reader being a Figure Skater?? The way they glide across the ice in sparkling outfits and the way they spin and jump at dangerous and gravity defying heights and speeds with their partners is beautiful. – Anon

A/N: I tried my best to not sound repetitive because I felt like I was writing the reaction over and over again. Hope that wasn’t the case. Enjoy!

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Feanor

First of all, he’s making your skates once he learns that you’re a figure skater. Due to this, he would find the time to venture down to the frozen lakes during winter to watch you test them out.

This also means that he’s also observing all your routines wanting to ensure that your skates are up to standards to match the speed and all the jumps you tend to make. This does not prevent him from telling you to be careful every five seconds.

He would hate to learn that one of the skates he made for you wasn’t able to hold out during a routine and you injured yourself. On the plus side, you have a supporter who prefers to silently observe your flightless performance.

You make winters something he looks forward to because he gets to see you dance on the glittering frozen lake like some magical being.

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Maedhros

Another silent observer who sits on the snow banks and watches as you jump and spin effortlessly across the ice. Maedhros believes that you’re some fairy dancing across the ice.

He’s subconsciously wearing a smile when he sees how happy you are in your natural element, looking majestic and doing your thing on the ice. You’re figure skating is the one thing that makes the harsh winters bearable.

Seeing you glide across the ice without looking back and trusting your instinct, or how you leap into the air performing all your turns, you steal the air from his lungs. You once asked him to join and never before have you ever seen him reject an offer.

Knowing how much you enjoy skating during winter, he would meet with his blacksmith and have them fashion more ice skates in different colours should you ever need more.

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Maglor

Now this is a perfect combination of a dancer and a musician. With Maglor’s presence, no more creating or imagining music in your head. Simply request that he brings his harp or flute along, and you’ve got yourself a proper routine.

Maglor is more than pleased to add to your performance apart from observing since he doesn’t know anything about figure skating. He considers his musical contribution and act that brings you two closer.

You’ve once asked him to join you on the ice and immediately refused, believing that he could nowhere as near be graceful as you. As much as he wouldn’t mind being on the ice to pick up when you slipped, he knew more injures would be causes if he joined you.

He is content with playing his instruments and singing as you dance, or rather, glide effortlessly to the melody across the ice. Watching you perform brings lots of peace to his hectic life.

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Celegorm

Look, this can go two ways; your way which is the peaceful and easy way, or the Celegorm way. That means interrupting your skating to show off his skills before crashing into a pile of snow.

Tyelko wants to be as graceful as you on the ice while causing you to crash when he decides to grab you for support first.

Whatever it is you’re doing, he’s attempting it, even if it results in broken bones. There is nothing that can stop him from participating; he wants to be involved like his life depended on it.

At least you have a great company and lots of humour. You’re basically teaching Tyelko how to ice skate for the first time, but he wants to forego all the basics and perform all your jumps and turns.

Huan normally has to stand on the sidelines in case he needs to pull Tyelko out of the snow or laugh at him because he’s nowhere as amazing as you. Huan makes it clear through his cheering as he barks loudly at your routine.

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Caranthir

He’s designing your wear as your skate so you can appear even more glamorous under the peaking sun as the ice glitters behind your feet, adding to the air of magnificence and majesty around you.

I’m serious. He’s down for tagging along while knitting or crocheting a new piece for you to wear while observing you glide across the ice. You’d probably have to drag him onto the ice because he’s more focused on making clothes.

At least you get him to cling to you even though he’s grumbling and holding back on cursing you out because his clothes would become wet from the number of times he’s already slipped.

Caranthir does become spellbound when you’re gauging to make a giant leap or your twirls, it’s one other time you can perfectly capture his attention away from designing your newest outfit.

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Curufin

Like father like son, but it’s more science than anything else. Yes, he is observing your graceful patterns and movements, marvelling at the speeds you travel across the ice at without anything pulling you along.

When in truth, his brain is calculating every possible outcome of how you can glide so effortlessly without losing your balance. Teach him your sorcery. Jk, jk, but seriously, teach him how you don’t lose your balance on ice.

This way, you have managed to successfully drag Curufin onto the ice and teach him how to twirl and skate. Hopefully, once he gets the basics down and obtains his balance, you will have a partner who can hold you for simpler stunts.

While he isn’t going to attempt the more challenging routines like his daring older brother, he would nod his head along and inform you that you’re doing great even though he probably doesn’t know if it’s the right position or stance. He’s just happy to be included as you do your thing.

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Amrod and Amras

Mischievous little minxes who would accompany you on the ice and skate across as effortlessly as you. They might even surprise you with a made-up routine on the spot, including you into the mix so they can toss you about.

I’m sure you all have matching outfits before the year is over, so every time winter comes, you three can put on a performance to show off for the family. The twins would also be the ones to turn your figure skating into a noteworthy performance that people can come view during winter.

Cue you all practicing in the house at 2am, spinning on flour and powder or tossing each other in the air outside. The high speeds and height you take off at don’t scare them because they’re encouraging you to go faster and make more turns.

Trust me, they become your coach, criticizing your positions and routine as if they’re masters in your field. Keep Huan around to have them in check so you can peacefully glide across the ice for fun.

At the same time, they are also your cheerleaders. The loudest in the area, whistling and clapping like seals as they show support for your latest routine or the same one you repeat every year.

˖ ࣪ . ࿐♡˚. Celebrimbor

Like his father and grandfather, Tyelpë is no different in wanting to engage with you because SCIENCE is important. Like seriously, how are you able to balance so well on ice without falling on your ass. You appear as though you are flying!

While he isn’t interested in being taught a lesson on the ice, he wants to sit and spend the entire day observing how gracefully to fly across the lake, wind in your hair and smile on your face as you twirl and spin. His heart does race when you leap.

You scared him many times during your first performance when you leapt into the air and landed successfully. You never heard your name yelled so many times in one go.

He’s proud of you as well and it shows in his words and the number of ice skates you received. Part of him wants to show you off to others, but at the same time, he wants to keep your talent hidden so he alone can enjoy it.

Masterlist

Taglist: @lilmelily @ranhanabi777 @rain-on-my-umbrella @mysticmoomin @asianbutnotjapanese @batsyforyou @involuntaryspasms @ladyenchanted @stormchaser819 @mcwentfandomtraveling @addaigio @hermaeuswhora @lamemaster @elficially-done-with-life

[the-s1lly-corner]

Hii! Idk if you've ever done something similar, but what do you think about TADC x Skater! Reader? Like, Reader always have their skates on, like it's a part of their digital costume or smth. And i really mean ALWAYS. Someone spilled water on the floor? Reader slips down. They go on an adventure and a part of the floor is inclined? (Like a hill for example) There goes reader down the hill. I think it would be pretty funny lol

Btw, i really love your page, keep it up and don't overwork yourself

TADC cast x rollerskater!reader

Anon I am so so so sorry !! I dont know if I personally got jumbled up or my inbox has been wonky silly goofy or I just got thrown off because of so many people sending stuff in, but I also missed this as well as some other requests 😭😭

This one may be a little short since I've never skated <\3

Written this as more platonic leaning !

CAINE:

Probably poofs himself his own rollerskates, literally the only time you see him on the ground and it's so weird to look at. You guys both slip and fall because bubble wiped themselves across the floor or something

Obviously leads to bubble getting popped

Honestly seeing caine struggle to keep steady while using the rollerskates is... very funny.. look at his lil legs wobble (tell anyone and he will tilt the ground of the next IHA)

POMNI:

Honestly she would probably slip on the floor too if its wet or has marbles. She looks like she would comically fall over, with her legs flinging straight up into the air before plopping down

Looks at you confused as you visibly try to calculate how fast this one little slope will make you go, she probably forgets you have skater feet in the beginning

Subconsciously tries to grab and stop you when you start rolling, but because shes so small you just drag her with you

Theres that squeaky noise as shes being dragged across the floor

Yk the sound

JAX:

Throws marbles on the floor as well as other things that can make you stumble or slip... probably soaps up the floor.. thank god hes just a circus rmemeber and not like, a ringmaster... this dude would tolt the floor in so many different angles just to fuck with you... thankfully, he cant do that!

Though in another timeline... perhaps you werent so lucky...

Not much to be said here, with the bit with zooble in the pilot (the arm thing), jax is more than ready to use peoples unique digital qualities to please him or mess with them, and you being his friend only makes you slightly less likely to be messed with

RAGATHA:

Keeps a hand on your shoulder when she notices the floor is tilted, tends to walk with you while holding your shoulder still. She can only imagine what it's like to be s victim of slopes.. it would drive her nuts.. as long as shes around shes going to do her damndest to make sure you dont roll away or slip... unless jax literally throws marbles in front of you two at the very last second because who can predict that..?

In any case where theres an IHA with a DEEP slope I think she just might resort to carrying you so you dont go FLYING down

ZOOBLE:

Okay you guys might not have the same issues but they can relate to you in the jax department, with him using your qualities to his advantage. Its absolute hell.. I think it would be this shared thing that leads to you guys building a relationship in the first place

That one meme where it's two people at the bar and they overhear each other saying "I hate (x)" then they start making out

Thats you guys ranting about the bunny/j

Offered you some parts before realizing that you cant swap out your limbs like they can

"Ah, bummer"

KINGER:

Has probably asked you why you dont just take them off when you vent to him about jax putting marbles on the floor. Kind of sounds like when people say shit such as "oh you're depressed? Just cheer up!" But like, kinger says it in a genuinely.. not malicious or tone deaf way.. like I dontt think he knows, or perhaps he thinks you're like zooble with detachable limbs and you have another pair of feet hanging around somewhere

Gives a soft "oh.. " when you demonstrate that they are attatched to you

Offers to let you strap pillows to yourself to soften any blows when you fall, let's you have his softest and thickest pillows... what do you mean it throws off your balance...?

GANGLE:

You have probably accidentally rammed into her after misjudging how steep a hill on the ground was

Good news! She stopped your momentum!

Bad news, shes all tangled up in your skates (owie!) And her comedy mask is broken (oh no!)

Please be careful getting her out. We don't want her ribbons to tear or get damaged, we cant have our girl start fraying!

[matchadobo]

masterpost

reposting my works WITHOUT CREDIT including edits, colorings/art, and writings are strictly prohibited. full masterlist and rules for requests under the cut.

🌷matchadobo's 500 followers event is OPEN🌷

ordinary requests are closed due to the ongoing event

rules for requests

no yandere tropes or anything violent/abusive

no race specific nor gender specific (in this case, i only write for gn and afab) nor appearance specific nor age specific or generally something-specific SJASDDJSAJ

i can only write for afab readers identifying as she/her and gn readers identifying as they/them as of the moment

no oc

minors should proceed with their own discretion when visiting my blog and giving requests (i am not enabling minors but i also have no control of their content consumption, this is only a warning and a reminder)

not a native english speaker but i am fluent in this language, just don't expect top tier grammar lmao

i mostly write for kidd, but i'm willing to try and write for these characters. these are the only characters i will accept for requests: (these may subject to change)

fantasy tropes are welcomed! i especially love writing for these, you can check my past hcs for reference (although i don't write for hybrids/minks/fishman/furries, it's uncomfortable for me)

smut and/or suggestive themes are also welcomed

i only write from upto 3 characters for each request, you can put more than 3 people in your requests but i will only choose upto 3

KEEP IN MIND

i'm a very selective author so please don't expect for your request/s to be accepted and made, i don't want to get your hopes up. i only pick the ones i like because these are the ones i can give justice to.

i only write for one piece as of the moment. i'm caught up with wano only.

please be patient with me bc i either complete requests very fast (bc i'm probably on vacation that time) or very slow (bc i'm still a student :c). i only do this in my free time and if we have regular school days, there is no free time!!

be respectful and don't spam requests

colorings

sasaki to miyano

kaeya, diluc, and zhongli

dr. vegapunk/york

izou of ringo

why so serious?

the king of the underworld

raitei no yoroi

hibari and kujaku

BEELZEBUB; Hurry... Quickly... Please... Kill me. As brutally... and... as hideously as you can.

QIFREY; o, rushing waves... bring to me the one i seek

hcs and scenarios (NOT UPDATED)

all my writing are catered to fem readers unless mentioned otherwise

KIDD; it all started with a drink

ACE; guitar

KIDD; make me pretty, aye?

KIDD; bet

KIDD; 9 things i hate about you

KIDD; how does eustass kidd propose?

KIDD; kidd as a father

KIDD; coming home to you

KIDD; eustass kidd as a college student

KIDD; 3 times he almost said i love you and 1 time he actually did

SHANKS; bathing with the emperor on a hot summer day🔞

KIDD; beauty & the beast

KIDD; dates with college kidd

BENN; billiards séx🔞

KIDD; the captain has an allergy!

KIDD; the captain's madam🔞

KIDD; the pirate's princess🔞

KIDD; kidd being sweet

KIDD; reconcilation

KIDD; n/sfw alphabet🔞

IZOU; haircare with izou

KONIG; someone to come home to🔞

KIDD; overnight

KIDD; how does he apologize after a petty fight

KIDD; giving him flowers

KIDD; toxic ex

KIDD; doing the shaving for him

KIDD; biker kidd au

KIDD; babysitter🔞

SHANKS; safeword🔞

KIDD; fvck me like you love me🔞

KIDD; calm to his storm

ACE; the way you look tonight

KIDD & KILLER; gifts

KIDD; christmas headcanons

KIDD & KILLER; north blue s/o

KIDD; soft and loving kidd

KIDD; tending to his wounds

KIDD; it's the captain's birthday🔞

KIDD; birthday present🔞

KIDD; runaway princess

KIDD; overheard🔞

KIDD; avenging you

KIDD; festival confession

HANGE ZOË; aphrodisiac🔞

KIDD; pampering kidd after a tired day

KIDD; hockey player kidd x figure skater reader

KIDD; wedding headcanons

KIDD; hey, captain. may i have this dance?

KIDD; picking him up from jail😭

KIDD; getting interrupted🔞

KIDD & KILLER; cuddles

KIDD; how he'll comfort you

KIDD; impatient

KIDD & KILLER; cuddles pt. 2🔞

KIDD; aphrodisiac🔞

KIDD; reuniting with him

KIDD; catching feelings for his fvckbuddy

KIDD; kiss-proof lipstick review

KIDD; misconfession

KIDD & KILLER; kidd walks in on you and killer 🔞

KIDD; what are we? 🔞

KIDD; the boy in a band

KIDD; giggly se*x🔞

🌷matchadobo's 500 followers event🌷(event masterpost)

KIDD; mermaid x pirate KIDD; queen!name x knight captain!kidd 🔞

TBoTE SERIES (hiatus)

intro w/ chapter list

edits/fmvs

KIDD; make way for the king

KÖNIG; der Panzer

LAXUS DREYAR

RWRB; tahanan

playlists

eustass kidd

zosan

shanks

perona

sanji

nico robin

weeb sh!t

opm

[sunskate]

I can shed a little light on the packaging issues for smaller feds. Stretchy fabrics are finicky to work with and not everyone has the training or experience with them. For example, skaters from my country have to go to a neighboring one to work with a designer who makes primarily gymnastics costumes. A lot of fabric stores have disappeared and not a lot of options are available for the type of fabric that's needed. You can order online but you have no idea what it'll look like in person or what the quality will be, it may be flimsy or see-through. Also, not every talented seamstress/tailor is also a talented designer, or even good at turning a drawing into a dress - sometimes they're better at sticking to pre-made patterns. Of course, cost is another major issue, as COL and exchange rate can vary greatly even within a relatively small region. It comes down to resources, really. Countries like the UK have a thriving dance sport scene and therefore have designers who specialize in it, similarly to Mat Caron, so even if there aren't any skating costume designers, skaters can still go to them instead. Junior sports are much more recreational in Europe because attending high school is mandatory here, you cannot be homeschooled, so unless you're at a sports academy that can accommodate your training and competition schedule, it's really tough. As a result, they doesn't receive the funding one might get in America, let's say. Or any at all, especially for the individual sports. Kids tend to go into low-cost, potentially high-ROI team sports.

ohh thanks for sharing - i like hearing insights like this. i always wondered about someone like Ekaterina Kurakova, who never seems to have costumes as flattering or as beautiful as she deserves. idk if you're the original anon, but with Charlene and Marco training in Milan, their situation feels more like a taste issue, but maybe i'm wrong

most US juniors don't receive funding either. a handful of junior teams receive lower level funding from the fed for different reasons, and this season, some teams who are doing the best aren't funded. but i do understand that that and the support for the JGP and world championship trips is more than is available from many feds. i would like to learn more about the schools of ice dance in Europe - there's so much i have no idea about

[fang-and-feather]

Ikemen Vampire OC Profile: Amy

Making introduction posts for our my OCs. I chose to start with Amy, since she's my most written. (there may be some future addition to this as I learn more of who my character is in this fandom)

Basic Description: Golden-brown, slight wavy hair, slight bellow her shoulders, often fashioned into a braid to get it out of the way). Blue eyes. Sun-tanned skin from spending too much time outdoors. Athletic build.

Name: Karin Amelia "Amy" Auren

Age: 22

Date of Birth: 20/06/1996

Ethnicity: Mixed Japanese/American

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, music, cooking, running and has a past story in school's fencing competitions, in her original time video-games, roller skating

Dislikes: Being lied to, being underestimated, having to stay still, being in a leadership position (with some exceptions when she needs to), seeing people fight (especially people close to her), loud noises, carrots and beetroot

Phobias/Fears: Abandonment and loss, feeling trapped, big fires

Weakness: Despite being a master in the kitchen, she is bad with other detail oriented tasks, light touches, short movements, small components

Habits/Quirks: Sometimes walks and read at the same time (loves to read but is very anxious to sit for long), can sing herself into a trance-like state while working or to control herself in situations that may cause panic; in her time she usually went around town in roller skaters (she has a especial hate of closed vehicles so its either the skaters, a bike or motorcycle), try not to but she tends to fidget with things or ramble when nervous

Skills/Talents: Won some school competitions in fencing and gymnastics as a child, running; music (singing and playing the violin); cooking, general survival knowledge, know various languages (is more fluent in English, Spanish and Japanese as family’s languages, Arabic she learned from her godfather andFrench from school but know a little of various others); she is agile, flexible and fast, sharp minded, also very observant

Family relationships with other OCs: Hikari (older sister), Kisara (older twin), Hana (youngest sister), also treats her friends as siblings

Curiosities: She is nearsighted, but few people know because she wears contacts, since glasses make activity difficult (and she doesn't like how she looks with them. In her time sometimes she read fanfiction

Personality:

Amy is very friendly and seems very extroverted (although she is more of an ambivert), loves surrounding herself with friends hate to be left alone most of the time, especially for meals, but sometimes she needs that lone time.

She is very protective of her loved ones and children.

She comes off as strong and fearless, always calm and cool, capable of nearly anything, but that's the person she wants people to see.

Although she can fight she is more of a pacifist and would rather solve a conflict in another way, and she can be quite persuasive, coming off even as a bit manipulative.

Very curious, she loves learning new things but do so in pieces because her attention span is quite short.

She is loyal to a fault and grown too dependent on people. Also helpful and hardworking to a fault, she often try to do too much and push herself too hard.

She is honest and doesn't lie outright, that doesn't mean sometimes her words aren't carefully chosen, even to a misleading point.

Although she looks very casual, she puts great care in her appearence.

Many people find her difficult to understand, because she usually only shows a piece of herself needed at a time, like an actress interpreting a character, but these masks are always a part of her

[bellafragolina]

Ice Skating Date

A late Christmas gift for the lovely @astererer !! Hope you enjoy!!

🍓🍓🍓

Skating isn’t really anything new to Aster. She tends to rollerskate around when she’s going somewhere nearby, or whenever she wants to have some fun, and surprisingly ice skating really isn’t that different. She adjusts her balance, gliding over the frozen pond as others sail by. Couples, families, kids, friends, all of them working their way around the ice, hand in hand.

The only person not skating about is Aster’s date. For a man with such presence back in his subway, Ingo seems particularly small out on the rink. Perhaps it’s because he’s curled up, knees touching as he struggles to maintain balance and an upright position on his skates.

Aster carefully stops before him. “Can. . . you not skate?”

Ingo, already rosy from the cold, turns a dangerous red, nearing the same color as his Excadrill beanie. “W-well! I, er, don’t partake in the hobby, but I’ve. . . skated before.” Aster squints, not sure if she believes him. “I don’t do it often, but I heard how wonderful this place was for couples wanting to go on a winter themed date, and I wanted to treat you to a nice day out, and I didn’t realize I’d be so rusty, so. . .”

“So that’s a no.” Aster replies. She chuckles at Ingo’s embarrassed whine, but skates forward, offering her hands to him. Ingo glances at the railing he’s curled around, detaching himself slowly, one hand at a time. “Come on. I’ll show ya.”

Ingo’s grip is tight, cold fingers wrapped around her wrists in a death clench. His feet don’t really move as Aster skates backwards, pulling him along. He stares at her feet, watching them move, brows furrowed as his brain works out the physics of ice skating. Aster snickers to herself, practically able to see the calculations and diagrams floating in and out of his pink ears.

Slowly, Ingo puts more weight onto his skates, carefully leaning into the wobbling steps he makes. Aster moves a little faster to accommodate him, and also to avoid the reach of his longer legs. However, despite Ingo’s planning and careful attempts, he misjudges where most of his weight should lie, and his foot gives out underneath him.

With a scream, he tackles Aster, knocking her onto her back as his face smacks into her chest. The pair slide across the ice, sprayed in the frost of other skaters jerking to avoid them. However, their jerky movements only end up in them also falling over, and then others, until practically the entire rink has collapsed to their butts.

Aster blinks up at the street lights illuminating the rink.

Ingo, horribly embarrassed, pushes himself up. He gazes down at Aster, eyes wide and wet, voice wavering as he tries to apologize. But before he can manage the first word, however, Aster cuts him off with a hearty guffaw. Despite his numbed ears delighting at the sweet  sound, Ingo only blushes harder.

“If you wanted closer, you just had to ask.” She teases. Ingo tries to protest, but Aster just slings her arms around his neck, and he chokes as he realizes their position. “I don’t mind a little cuddling. Though I’d prefer to do it off the ice.”

“Aster. . .” Ingo whines, though he doesn’t resist her tugging.

The cold melts away with the simple press of their lips together. Ice and snow have never existed in the little world the two create for themselves with every kiss they share. They curl together, arms pulling one another ever closer, as the heat of their faces meld into steam caught between their shared smiles.

“Scuse me.” Someone says, popping the warm bubble. Ingo jerks back, dragging Aster up with him, and boggles the man standing over them. “Y’all two wanna. . . get up anytime soon?”

With swiveling heads, the pair see most everyone who had also fallen has stood up again, all waiting for them to rise so they can continue their skating.

Ingo loudly apologizes to everyone, mortified, and Aster can only laugh. Despite what Ingo may lament about later, she thinks this is a wonderful date, one she’ll definitely remember forever.

[sergeifyodorov]

Could u talk about how Carolina achieves goalie haven!!!!!! I am so intrigued sjdhsysosjshs (especially bc one of my fav players is an occasional Carolina goalie 🤭🤭🤭)

aaa Yes. sorry this took so long!!

One of the biggest questions among analysts in hockey is: how much of a goalie's quality is determined by the team they play behind? If you move a goalie to a different team and their numbers change drastically, is it the goalie not adjusting well to the move or is it the team? How separable is a goalie from his skaters?

So, we're going to talk about mathematics. Not in any technical terms, because it is two in the morning as I write this, but just sort of general stats stuff. In hockey (and in other sports but we're talking about hockey,) there is a metric called expected goals, or xG for short.

The general gist of xG, for the uninitiated: it is a made up number that you cannot watch the game and materialize, unlike shots or goals or times your favourite player was shown close up on camera -- you need a computer to generate it. There's also multiple different xG models, since every stat bro seems to have his own. However, they all function in a pretty similar way: determine the odds a shot goes in the net based off its location (on ice), its location (relative to the net), and its location (relative to other skaters, who may be inclined to block the shot in order to prevent this expected goal from becoming an actual one.)

Expected goals are, for lack of a better term, a smoother way of determining the way a game really went than its result. You ever watch a game where your team was in the offensive zone the whole time, just totally dominating play, but a couple of bad bounces and dumb mistakes means you lost? The expected goals might tell a different story.

Back to Carolina. Someone in their front office, many eons ago (I got seriously into hockey only last season, so I can't give you a date) realized this: over the course of one game, anything can happen, but over the course of a dozen? 82? the numbers tend to line up. So the most guaranteed way to win, at least through the regular season, is to find a way to jack up your xG and drop down your opponent's. And the way they do this is with Corsi.

If you're still uninitiated, Corsi is essentially the total amount of shot attempts: shots on goal plus blocked shots plus misses. Corsi ratios actually tend to line up very similarly with xG ratios: if you have twice the shot attempts of your opponent, odds are you'll have twice the goals. Quantity over quality!

The on-ice way they do this is with a very, very high-structure game: your defenders are there to dump the puck in and then make sure it doesn't get dumped out, and your forwards are there to chase the puck and pepper the opposing goalie with softies until he slips up. In the defensive zone, they hound the opponent's forwards, forcing them to either lob a soft one on net or give up the puck. Carolina is currently third in shots for per game (34.91), and dead first in shots against (25.74).

So: say you're a goalie on a team that routinely gives up 45 shots a game (hello John Gibson!) versus a goalie on a team that only gives up 25. That's a much, much lower workload -- on average one shot you'll have to stop every two and a half minutes or so (although shots as a rule tend to come in chunks, so the standard deviation is very high here.) And because you'll have this lower workload, odds on you'll be better rested for every shot, thereby being fresher and more likely to stop it.

Also, because of how tight Carolina is in the defensive zone, very few of these shots against are of significant quality -- they rarely give up breakaways, which are typically the major generator of high-danger chances.

All in all: a Carolina goalie is going to have a good time, not necessarily because they are a good goalie, but because they are in Carolina -- facing few chances and especially few high-danger ones allows the goalie an easier time stopping pucks, which boosts their stats.

[rustbeltjessie]

The past week (the good, the bad, & the miscellaneous):

—One of my uncles is in very bad health, and if he doesn’t get the proper treatment soon, will probably not make it. That’s bad enough on its own, but it has also brought up a whole slew of family drama, which…well, I won’t get into specifics because they’re not really mine to tell, but it sucks.

—The oldest kiddo is doing great with his ADHD meds. He’s better able to focus on schoolwork, he listens better, and he has actual reciprocal conversations more often now. (Like, yesterday, we got into a conversation about AI art/writing, and he had some very well-thought-out opinions! I could tell he wasn't just regurgitating things he'd heard; he'd actually put a lot of thought into it.)

—I've gotten a little sad about the fact that I probably am ADHD, and possibly also autistic, or whatever (there’s definitely some neurodivergence in there), but never got any help when I was a kid/young adult. Because AFAB kids tend to present differently and mask better, y'know? All I know is I had an awful lot of school reports that were like: "J. is really smart, but doesn't follow directions well" or "J. does well on everything, when she decides it's something she wants to do." And then when I reached the age of burnout everyone was like: "But you are so smart! You're just not trying hard enough! You're just lazy!" How much better could I have done, especially in college, had anyone noticed that I was trying, that I was fucking struggling, and it wasn't just laziness?

—Speaking of college, I'm still researching universities I might want to attend when/if I go back for another degree.

—There's also a chance we may be moving sometime in the next year.

—And I'm putting some serious thought into how I wanna proceed with Bone & Ink Press. I want to keep it going, but it has long been untenable the way it's currently going. See, the thing is, I never wanted it to become what it became, a semi-legit publishing house with perfect-bound books and royalty payments and the like. I wanted to do small print run zines and chapbooks. So I'm going to finish up/publish the New Wave anthology, and then the three other titles I have on the roster, and then after that...I think I'm going back to its roots.

—The youngest kiddo had his first online class in astronaut science this morning. He loved it so much, and wants to continue with the rest of the course. Now I just gotta scrounge up some money to pay for the rest. (The first class was free; the rest cost money.)

—My dentist appointment went okay. It was fast and relatively painless. I have two small cavities, and have to go back in a month to get them filled, but they said everything else looks good.

—After the dentist, I had a bunch of errands to run. Normally I enjoy running errands but today I just wanted to get home and relax and also, everyone in town was driving like a jackass, so it took an extra long time to get from one stop to the next.

—But I did see two cuties while out and about. There was a hot middle-aged skater dude in the grocery store. (I know he was a skater because I saw him get out of his car, and it had Santa Cruz, Independent, and other skateboard-related stickers on it.) Downtown, I spotted a beautiful 20-something goth person; they looked appropriately eldritch in a long-black coat and big black boots.

—And while in the checkout at Walgreens, I saw this mom come in with two kids. One of the kids was a goth/punk teen; they shuffled into the store with their shoulders all hunched and a scowl on their face. Amazingly enough, the song that was playing over the sound system at the time was the Siouxsie and the Banshees cover of "Dear Prudence," and the teen recognized it, and for a split second, their scowl turned to a half-smile. And then they went back to scowling. It was perfect, because that is the era of my life which constitutes the bulk of my new zine.

—Speaking of the new zine: it's done, and I am glad it’s done, and I’m pretty pleased with it, but I am also fucking exhausted. To paraphrase something I wrote in my journal in 2009, after finishing a zine: I have completely overdosed on punk rock and stories from my own life. So now, I must cleanse myself with different kinds of music and different writing; namely, fiction and poetry. (Even when my poems are based on my real life experiences, which is often, writing them doesn't deplete me in the same way that writing prose memoir does.)

—I've felt pretty on top of my shit in general lately, but I am somehow flat broke again. Despite all the freelance gigs, side hustles, budgeting, etc. I mean I had to buy more printer ink and paper to complete this zine, so there's that. Then there's the fact that no matter how much we budget, our monthly food money always runs out 5-7 days before it gets refilled. Oh, and then there's the dentist thing. My health insurance covers some dental stuff, but not all, so I gotta pay the rest out of pocket. My dentist has a payment plan, but I had to make a down payment and have another bill due when I go back for my fillings. Shit. Anyway, if anyone wants to order some of my stuff/hire me for stuff, now would be a great time.

[freeced]

REKI RAP // "Over It" (SK8 the Infinity)

How can I make it? I'm able to skate But if skating means just getting by then I hate it . . .

Okay, it's the Reki post!! Stream of consciousness here because I'm too busy to overthink things as much as I normally do. It's a Sunday. Sundays are for tuning vocals lifted off a fresh bowl. Sundays are for the gays. Sundays are for flying kites in the park with your best pal. Note: see if Caro wants to go fly a kite in the park later. So, you know, no time to be writing longwinded essays in the face of preserving whatever whimsy is left to be grasped in the wild. But here's what I got!

For as long as I can remember, I've been keenly aware of what it feels like to be second best, late to the party, falling behind, forever catching up...and Connor Quest wrote a perfect song about that years ago. There's even a remake that I played piano on. So this song isn't that, at least not completely. Actually, as it came together in the in-between-uploads rush it came together in, I noticed it really being about creative burnout as much as anything else. When I watched SK8, I think what stuck with me the most about Reki's rough patch wasn't just his feelings of inadequacy as a skater compared to what Langa and the others were capable of, it was that however much he tried not to care, he ultimately couldn't help it. It's a crush of conflicting emotions when you think you no longer care about your passions, yet being away from them hurts just as much.

Musically: I've been working on an album for way too long now, and most of the tracks on it are some kind of boombap song or have a similar feel. It's the style of rap I'm most comfortable with, the style I usually enjoy performing the most, and the kind of beat that tends to make me feel the most creative. I don't think it's what comes close to performing best on my channel (electroswing has kind of taken that over pretty handily), and that's why I've mostly contained it to the album lately, but I wanted to put out at least one more track like this before letting my channel be what it probably needs to be if it's gonna grow. There are some Freeced listeners who have been around asking for a SK8 track for a LONG time, and while this may not be the only one I ever do, it's nice to get it out there before this turning point. I'm also not sad about narrowing the focus of my channel, because collaborating and being involved in other projects (like Out After Winter) as well as learning new skills and continuing to work on my album is keeping me pretty sharp.

In fact, since releasing this song, I think I've found a little more peace with my relationship to burnout than I had at the time. I think it is something that can come and go, and maybe it's okay to sometimes measure my worth by more than just what I create. I don't need to dread being pulled back to the things I love doing, just as I don't need to dread losing my passion for them at times. Lately I've been focusing on the dynamics of my music as much as the content, and I'm starting to see the highs and lows of my compositions reflecting back the peaks and valleys of living an ordinary life.

Anyway, I never know how to end these, but there are some of my thoughts! I hope you like the song, I know it kinda died on YouTube but I don't really mind, if it's the kind of song that someone will find five years from now and relate to, then it's doing what it's supposed to do! And not to sound like a content creator, but, you know. Big things coming.

Big things coming.

[raysanthology]

Éloa Mauvais

I've been working on an Obey Me! CMC recently so I want to post about her !!! Her name is Éloa Mauvais, she's my Lucifer romancer. Her name actually comes from 'Éloa, ou La sœur des anges' ('Éloa, or the Sister of the Angels'), French poet, playwright, and novelist Alfred de Vigny's epic tripartite philosophic poem of Eloa, an innocent angel who falls in love with a stranger at odds with God. It is made clear that the stranger is Lucifer. He falls in love with the girl, but his own twisted notions of love prohibit him from returning the girl's affection in a proper way. In the end, the girl is unable to help Lucifer and he drags her to hell with him.

Before she came to Devildom she was an ice skater - she's a hardworking perfectionist with gifted child syndrome who's constantly fighting burnout. Éloa is very smart, and once she comes to the Devildom there's this innate need to live up to the expectations that have now been placed upon her. Especially when it comes to Diavolo and Lucifer (as she becomes closer to Lucifer, this only gets worse.) with their high positions. She's very versatile though, a little bit of a people pleaser even, but she gets along pretty well with all of the brothers (and others) despite all of their differences. I think because Lucifer loves and cares for his brothers so much, seeing Éloa be such an understanding and kind person to them, it only makes him respect her more. I think she's genuinely just happy to make friends and hangout with everyone.

In terms of her love life, I think Éloa's similar to Jaehee (Mystic Messenger) where she's kind of like, "I don't have time for a relationship or love because I only have time/need to focus on work even if I wanted it". I also just don't think she's really been in a lot of relationships prior to coming to Devildom anyway, so it's still sort of foreign to her. Because of this, she tends to be absolutely shocked when people flirt with her in a sort of "why me of all people?" kind of way. She's constantly trying to work (whether it be jobs, schoolwork, helping Lucifer) to keep herself distracted and everyone happy and I think at some point Lucifer or one of the brothers would find ways to force her to take some time to herself. One thing about Éloa, she will almost always obey an order. It takes her SOOO long to even realize she likes Lucifer; she just doesn't think that's what she's feeling towards him. As their friendship heightens, I think she may attempt to distance herself in fear of disappointing him, seeing him as an authority figure she must please first, above their friendship and above what she may feel for him. I think she genuinely thinks that she just really admires him, and other people have to be like babe you have a CRUSH on this man. And believe me this just wrecks her world for a minute cause she has noooo idea what to do and how to act in front of him.

It's been super fun making her and thinking about Éloa and Lucifer's dynamic together - in fact they kind of remind me a lot of Lee and Mr. Grey from Secretary. I think I want to make her an ESFJ and Virgo but I'm not 100% sure yet; I am leaning towards it, though. But that's about all the information I have on her at this time, I look forward to expanding upon her character even more!

Here are some doodles I've done of her as well!

[mapsofnonexistentplaces]

stillness, roots, and texture for freya ?? :vD (for the character design asks !)

stillness: How does your OC act while still? Are they fidgety? Do they have any common gestures or tics? Does their clothing affect how they hold themselves while at rest?

shes known to move around a lot hehe.... save for whenever shes nervous and like. intimidated by people. she tends to hop and skip and pace around while talking, gestures with her hands a lot, also tends to fiddle with them. notably really likes carrying around marbles and flipping them around between her fingers, she can do cool tricks with them.... though not really a tic she does have nystagmus and her eyes sometimes shake, in general her eyesight's pretty stilted and she tends to either stare real wide or just get really close to people's faces which can be a little unnerving sometimes hah. her balance is also a bit off because of this and so she may drag her feet around to feel out textures or just like. grant herself more stabilitous posture in general. when in place she does like to shift her weight around from either foot and just wobble around. she doesnt like sitting still for too long.

the last question is very interesting to me.... i do think she like. wears her big green coat so much that it doesnt really affect her much anymore or at least she doest really feel its weight actively. but if shes especially tired or anxious or any other sensation that makes her hyperaware of her surroundings she does kind of just like. sink under it. OH in general she likes hiding her hands within her sleeves, probably extends to her hiding her face in the mane of her coat as well....

roots: Is your OC’s look inspired by any specific style of clothing or fashion trend? What are the roots and/or inspiration for their look?

hmm honestly its an amalgamation of a bunch of things? when writing about it textually i frame it as like. alt 2000s/2010s type clothing, specifically that of a very costume-y almost 'amateur cosplay' style texturing, but from a doylist perspective in terms of what i was collecting when i first came up with her design.... it was mostly just trying to come up with an outfit for an ice skater that wasnt too "frilly" nor "skintight" and instead referenced around more contemporary costuming, combined with a light focus on other winter sport type clothing like those big loose ski pants with geometric patterns on them or floppy coats made out of fur....

for some very specific references. i based her character concept and part of her outfit off kula kof. i completely stole the idea and mechanism for the retractable ice skates off her kof14 design hah. solely because at the time i was playing a lot of kof and trying to find a third main and i played kula for a bit and i thought her animations and moves were sick. so i just transmitted her ice themed weirdgirl swag to freya....

freya having stuff like fingerless gloves and a faux-mesh upper portion of her shirt is also loosely meant to like. harken her to metal subcultures because Yeah thats a very important trait of hers! the green part of her fit i also imagine is like. kind of latex-y. do with that what you will

texture: Does your OC favor any specific kinds of cloth or textures? Is there anything they can’t wear or don’t like? What sort of fabrics do they prefer?

hmm id say she isnt particularly sensitive to any kind of fabric so much as she just like. likes to keep up some pretense of variety in there. like shes very picky about matching fabrics and doesnt like "repeating" materials in an outfit too much because she thinks it looks boring that way.... like theres a reason her main outfit consists of like. thick furry coat leather boots rubbery mantle etc.

design asks + list of characters. send me more!

[enochscribbles]

Hiii!!! If it isn't to much trouble may I have (male) genshin matchup please. My pronouns are she/her. I tend to be shy around new people but I can be somewhat loud with people who im close to. My height is 5'0. I would describe my aesthetic as girly/soft/cottegecore, lots of long dresses and skirts.

Im not very athletic and im not a big fan of sports but I love to go roller and ice skating. I also love to read books and to also cook and bake food. I also like to garden. I've been playing the violin for 7-ish years. I love animals. I am currently studying in college. I like to Watch nature/animal documentaries. I also like sweets.

Somethings I dislike are people who bend or ruin my books and people who speak over me when im trying to talk.I love music, I can listen to any genre and like it but my favorites are indie,bedroom pop and classic rock. sorry if i spelt anything wrong. Hope im not bothering you:)

I am 18, so like I know none of the characters have like confirmed ages, but one of the characters who most people see as an adult lol (does that make sense? Lmao)

Hi! Thank you for the request. Like the last matchup, I wrote it assuming it’s romantic but tried to keep it ambiguous.

I wasn’t entirely sure about these (particularly as perception of that first character’s age varies), so I wrote two somewhat shorter. Sorry about that. (You’re not bothering me at all, don’t worry.)

Okay, first:

I’d match you with Tighnari!

So, Tighnari is very straightforward and stern with people who need it, but seems more friendly among good company

He’d make you feel completely at ease even with someone shy

(Although a small obstacle is that you may have to tone down how loud you can get around him, you know, for the sake of his ears. Sorry about that.)

He strikes me as the kind of person to listen carefully to what you have to say and not immediately dismiss people

Animals? Nature documentaries? Right up his alley, he could speak about plants and animals for hours, so if you’re interested in those things, you’ll likely get along well

As well as gardening, there may not be much of that to speak of in the rainforest but he loves botany

Since you mentioned studying in college, as a scholar, he’d be a huge help with coursework, whether it’s explaining facts, helping you stay on track studying, reminding you to take breaks- he’s really good at all of it

I’d also match you with Albedo!

Not an entirely different person to Tighnari, but more importantly, someone you could also get along with

First of all, the cottagecore/soft aesthetic meshes well with Mondstadt as a location and its characters, which includes Albedo, and I can see a few ways it could fit well

Spending time reading in the Knights’ library

Ice skating in Dragonspine’s safer outskirts! Albedo might not regularly himself, unless Klee asked, but he finds it quite beautiful and you’ll find many drawings of ice skaters in his sketchbooks, trying to capture the dynamic movement, speed and striking figures

He’s meticulous during experiments and I imagine with his own possessions, so your books and anything else are in safe hands, he also may not exactly fumble as a completely organic human would

While nature documentaries wouldn’t immediately catch his attention (as I believe he only pursues things he’s personally interested in), he’d probably find something intriguing related to his experiments and then would just start watching them anyway with you

Cooking is a form of alchemy. Probably. Jokes aside, I do think Albedo would find cooking worthwhile, as a science and to cook for Klee and others, including you – and his own meals can be quite bland, so improving at cooking by doing it with you might be something he’d be interested in

It was a close call, but Venti was almost almost in here, pretty much purely because you mentioned a cottagecore aesthetic, and a tad because of the music…perhaps I’m a little biased towards an old favourite?

Oh I can write headcanons for Venti if you actually think he’d be better, though

[talenlee]

Decemberween 2022: Music!

New Post has been published on PRESS.exe: Decemberween 2022: Music!

As you get older you stop paying attention to ‘music’ in a general way. I don’t drive a car, I don’t go to parties, I tend to listen to music that’s functionally entirely under my control, and this year I have been trying to avoid streaming services for music.

This has also meant more stealing stuff, which I feel completely fine about, but it has meant stealing stuff in low quality mp3s, which of course, the person in my life who might hear them and can appreciate bad music quality doesn’t like.

Still, here’s some stuff I found this year and I like:

Night Gaunts - Post Party Depression [Days N Daze Cover]

Watch this video on YouTube

It’s weird how this song, which I first found on Spotify (you know, before the stealing stuff) didn’t have an album cover to me. Now it has an album cover and I can’t imagine wanting anything else. Sick, huh?

The Town Inside Me [With Lyrics] (Bridget Theme) - Guilty Gear Strive OST

Watch this video on YouTube

Oh man, remember when Bridget GuiltyGear dropped and we got treated to a new wave of incredibly stupid discourse? A detail easily missed in all this was that there was a new theme song with it, and most of the Guilty Gear Strive music whips (I particularly like Disaster of Passion, the theme for May), but The Town Inside Me got to stand apart of it and included an enduringly weird line that keeps popping into my head, ‘I hate the alarm clock I chose.’

Also it’s got a horns bit! I like horns bits!

絶頂讃歌／和ぬか【Music Video】

Watch this video on YouTube

This one might be blocked in your region, don’t know, can’t help ya. It’s called Orgasm Anthem by Wanuka, and it’s a really fun, poppy Japanese song you can hum along with.

KICK BACK

Watch this video on YouTube

We also got the OP to Chainsaw Man Kick Back, which is… a cover? Of a Morning Musume song?

Venus Line

Watch this video on YouTube

And while I’m loading up on Anime themes, I also really liked Venus Line, the opening to Birdie Wing. Oh no, wait I just noticed this one does a horns bit too. I might just be really into horns in my music?

Sunrise Skater Kids - Rylo Ken [Official Video]

Watch this video on YouTube

There’s still always room in my heart for ironically pop-culture engaged pop punk though, and even if I feel like Sunrise Skater Kids is the kind of band I expect to make ‘pronouns’ jokes at some point if you give them enough rope, I still like this song just because if you’re going to make fun of a character, it helps to present them the way you perceive them.

Regurgitator - ! (The Song Formerly Known As)

Watch this video on YouTube

Oh, you know what else was super popular this year? 1997 Australian pop music! For reasons undisclosed at this point I’ve been doing a lot of retro listens to 90s pop music and trying to determine if there’s some inherent quality to them I don’t appreciate enough, or if maybe it’s just making my brain think I’m a teenager again.

I like this song a lot because it feels like it’s expressing a very 2020 kind of vibe about loving music but not loving music culture, and how people and anxiety are at odds with one another for how you can appreciate it.

The Dear Hunter "King of Swords (Reversed)"

Watch this video on YouTube

I don’t know anything about this one but the name makes me assume it’s part of a greater operatic structure and I absolutely do not care to hear more. But I am a sucker for the jabby violins at the start.

Carmen Miranda's Ghost 02 - Dawson's Christian

Watch this video on YouTube

Finally, the thing that made me decide I needed to do a post like this.

Carmen Miranda’s Ghost is a science-fiction zine album of filks made by a variety of folk and headlined by an anarchist songmaker way back in 1989. The story of how it got made is a bit interesting and cool, and maybe the vibe of it is just something that resonates with me a lot. It’s sea shanties, but it’s also science fiction, so there’s an unreality to it and there’s worldbuilding and that’s dope as hell.

And this morning as I write this, I got confirmation of something.

There are a lot of fun names on the credit list for this album of nonprofessional music. Particularly, one of the songs is written by Mercedes Lackey, which is pretty neat (as much tolerance as you have for her). But the other thing is, on a couple of these songs, there’s a chorus voice, doing bass backup for a higher front voice.

That voice is Mike Pondsmith, the creator of Cyberpunk.

I checked with Talsorian Games, and asked if they could confirm it was the same Mike Pondsmith. They told me yes – and they called the album a rare gem.

Check it out on PRESS.exe to see it with images and links!

#Decemberween2022

[november-rising]

I wrote this quickly so if something(s) doesn't make sense or looks extra wonky - it is.

I don’t slant towards fully grounded headcanons but that doesn’t mean realism isn’t appreciated. I tend to think and ponder and outline and ponder again about a thought. Having your insight is very helpful! I thought I’d feel left out because I know nothing about ice dancing and/or figure skating BUT you’re teaching me.

Reading about the showcase (is that the right term?) where coaches and talent converge, yes, I think this would be the perfect place for Sydney to be first seen. I think a two-day expo would be the best way for Sydney to be shown. I do like Carmy and Tina talent scouts/coach-in-training. Marcus could be PT but what if he’s also into costume design? It’s probably a stretch but, as I watch Marcus, he starts off as the work horse  (baking bread); yet, when Carmy AND Sydney comes into the restaurant, his creativity is nurtured and respected. Since he’d understand the body, how it all moves as one, he could understand how fabric, design, and lighting enhances the performance.

I do appreciate Natalie being a touch more invested in the candidates. How is Carmy nudged towards getting back on the ice?

Would that be during the expo after seeing Sydney? Natalie “encouraging” (doing everything – pulling out every trick she has to get her little bro out on the ice again) him?

Something, something, something, Syd and Carmy end up on the ice. And it just works. 100% everyone is done and over and like FUCK! I think the dynamic should be coach/mentor should be the brief interaction to play into folks thinking Syd and Carmy are menor/mentee only.

I’m thinking that having the Carmen Berzatto want to coach or consult Sydney would be a   the settled and grounded move. He’d say she’s not ready. Others are pressing in on it: Nat, Tina, Richie and Uncle Jimmy. Carmy sees her wobbling – she just barely makes the move (or not) and then here comes Carmy going out to support her.

Now, would he go out to support her as a way of inspirational pairs dancing via romcom everything clicks? Coaching her as to how to execute the move? Skating on the ice with her, observing and realizing her potential? This could lead into Ritchie and Cicero betting because they know Carmy doesn’t skate with fools.

Since Carmen didn’t know about the black market betting (tomato cans), I think this would be the turning point. This would be when Carmen starts back up with Claire to win a sure bet. Sydney may or may not know…we can think more about that letter.

I agree that he had all the wins. Are there any local, east coast, Midwest, etc conferences that Sydney could succeed in which would further cement Sydney as a needed skater for The Bear.

Sundaes would be great. Just like those two are always cooking, working in the kitchen…they want to experience more. To bridge that thought, these two are always in the cold but why no sundaes. Toppings would be an excellent bridge.

Top of the line skates are a must for Carmy to have custom made for Sydney.

Sydcarmy has been haunting me down to my soul for the past couple of days so here: ICE SKATING AU where they perform THIS routine

That chemistry!!!! It is Sydcarmy to a fuckin T

[quecksilver]

FS Tarot: Yuzuru Hanyu

I got a few anon messages asking for readings and the name most mentioned was Yuzuru Hanyu. You asked for it so here it is! I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this again because it's a lot of work but while watching JGP and ACI practices I had some time so I banged this out in like two hours. Don't look at the typos and grammar mistakes. My first language is still not English so if there's awkward phrasing ignore it. I'll now go into my usual spiel...

I use the Deviant Moon Deck with the moon spread, in which i arrange the cards in a circle and read from the left side, counterclockwise. Each card represents a different aspect. You can look at the cards yourself HERE so ill just forego describing them like I did previous seasons (though feel free to ask me about interpreations and how I arrived at conclusions if you want).

Present Day: Upright Page of Pentacles

This card represents a young person with an open mind, particularly a student who is eager to learn and push the boundaries of what they are able to do. They've set their sight on self-improvement and are willing to work hard for it.

1t also often stands for someone who's very inventive and daring.

Pretty straightforward card in the context of Figure Skating. Even though Yuzuru is recycling his programs it can be said that his new content and tech is pretty daring and it's no secret that he's very set on self-improvement.

Past Influences: Upright Ten of Cups

This is a card usually meaning family, home life and the bond with the people closest to you. In its upright position the Ten of Cups stands for a peaceful, loving home that is full of unconditional support and love.

It's often read as a return to a loving home after a rough period or injury with a newfound appreciation of the previous experiences, good or bad.

Since this is a card usually read to be about family/close confidants I'm not sure how much of it can be read into an Figure Skating context but since it is the card that represents past influences it's probably not wrong to read it to mean his actual family/close loved ones. Their influence remains a positive one.

Subconscious Influences: Reversed Seven of Wands

The Seven of Wands stands for triumph over adverse circumstances or, as it is here since the card is reversed, loss. Self-Doubt plagues the person as previous defeats have made them lose faith in their own ability and it will take effort to shake off that impression. Self-Doubt can be a self-fulfilling prophecy after all.

This card appears in the subconscious influences spot which I'd interpret to mean either that the person is not ready to tackle these self-doubt or that they're actively working to get over them but have not done this (yet). Either way, self-doubt is not at the forefront of their mind.

Secret Desires and Wishes: Upright Star

And here we go with pretty much the complete opposite of the previous card. In the secret desires and wishes we have a card that represents hope and regained faith. Whether that is in ones own abilities or not is not clear but with the previous card being what it is, I'd say it fits all too well.

Another meaning this card often has is destiny. What the person sees as their destiny and moving towards it. Since it's “secret” maybe the person simply speaks to no one (or very few people) about their dreams and hopes, thinking them foolish or embarrassing or maybe even being afraid to jinx it. The subconscious self-doubt may also play a role here.

Hidden Forces: Reversed Page of Wands

The reversed page of wands can be interpreted to be someone... well... stupid. But I really prefer to interpret it as someone rash and unthinking who makes stupid decisions. That just seems more polite. Indecision and poor decisions together can make for quite the big hurdle to jump over.

I find the Hidden Forces card to always be the hardest to interpret since it is a hidden force to the person the cards are read for so how am I, from a distance reading, supposed to make a guess who this card pertains to? I'm gonna be daring and not go for a person though and instead guess it's about a governing body of a sport. Not naming any names.

It's just as likely (if not more) though that this card simply pertains to someone close to Yuzuru whose short-sighted choices affect him.

Events yet to come: Upright Seven of Swords

There he is again. The harlequin that tries to swallow a sword. This card is pretty easy to read and stands for a dangerous and ill-conceived situation that very likely ends in failure and/or injury. After all, if you flirt with danger without a safety net the risks are great. Better not underestimate them.

Well, this one is easy to interpret. Yuzuru is certainly putting himself at risk attempting the high tech content and pushing the envelope again despite his history with injury. The cards definitely point towards a high risk of injury once again. That isn't really a surprise. It remains to be seen if the card simply represents the risk (possible) or a coming injury (and if so, how big of an injury). If I was reading for a person I had sitting across from me I'd definitely advice them to more cautious.

Surrounding Environment: Reversed Eight of Cups

In the surrounding environment position we have a card that means mostly perseverance. It stands for people seeing things through despite the risks that may be associated. It doesn't say anything about how wise this decision may be however.

Another thing that could be said is that this card means someone who can't break out from their path due to fear or simply stubbornness. Either way it means someone isn't straying from their preset path no matter the costs. Since this card is about the surrounding environment I'd interpret it to either mean the coaching team or the other skaters. It doesn't necessarily have to be bad especially if the path has been well thought out. If it is the coaching team, I'd say it probably pertains to a season-long plan they may follow.

Influence of Others: Reversed Empress

Quite a hard card to interpret to me because it is usually associated with a female figure in the person's life. I'd like to simply forget about that aspect for a bit though it may actually point to a female figure in his life I don't know about. The Reversed Empress usually means things like infertility, fights with a female figure or lack of care from such a figure.

I'd like to interpret it more creatively and say it's related to creativity. Stagnation after keeping to a certain path without looking elsewhere and rather than a fight with a female figure an inner turmoil pertaining to that. This is a very creative interpretation and may thus be completely off the mark but I simply feel better about doing this rather than speculating about the personal life of someone I don't know.

Spiritual Forces: Upright Nine of Pentacles

The Nine of Pentacles often stands for material wealth or someone wealthy. As such it's quite hard to interpret in the spiritual forces position. The closest I can get is someone wealthy in spirituality. Whether that's religious spirituality or simply the belief in something of a higher power such as luck. It could also be the belief that hard work will be rewarded or something equally pragmatic. Aside from that, I've got nothing. It definitely points to a positive spiritual mindset though or if you want to be more esoteric the spiritual forces smiling down upon the person.

Final Outcome: Upright Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles stands for a hard won goal, but a won goal nonetheless. The person takes pride in one's work, is ambitious and doesn't give up and thus comes out victorious in the end. What's interesting about the Eight of Pentacles in particular is this focus on the training, hard work and overcome hardships that precedes the victory rather than a victory that happens out of luck.

I feel it fits in very well with the rest of the reading that speaks of hardships but also a lot of determination and a influences that support and aid in reaching the set goal.

Interpretation:

Honestly what else is there to add?

Once again I'm quite astounded by how much sense Yuzurus readings make. Every single one I've done for him so far just flows very well and falls into place in a way that makes sense. This one is no exception. Sorry about drawing the Seven of Swords again... I swear... It's just his card at this point.

As always, please don't take these too seriously and don't call me a witch in the notes. I usually interpret the cards quite favorably because I feel like I should but there are some cards... You just can't do anything about it. (Hi, Seven of Swords...)

Feel free to share, discuss, lament, cry and be merry! And don't forget to have fun with this new season and support small fed skaters!