#i thought it would be funny having a penguin being fan of a team who wears black and white

[alex31624]

With the Champions League (league phase) over, half the family is resting easy knowing that their team is in the top 16.

The other half have to go through the playoffs.

Who will survive to see their team in the top 16?

[jesncin]

I know you said at some point that you had zero idea on how to put your own stamp on the Bat Rouges, and that does sound super difficult I feel like I have a few suggestions for the big 4 (Joker, Riddler, Selina, and Penguin) at least.

Joker - Follow B:TAS, bits of the 1989 film. In addition to actually being funny yet scary (especially B:TAS) those takes on the man were ex-mafiosi. Do what you will with the concept of Joker once being in the mob.

Riddler - He's an actual genius, but he's also an attention seeking narcissist, and the Arkham games the man has a case of megalomania, so maybe have him at some point move some operations to metropolis. Basically make the man an honorary Superman villain. He HAS worked alongside Lex in the silver age and in SOME comics, so like a Riddler-Lex team up could be in the air.

Catwoman/Selina - This is a free box so long as she remains a thief within the grey area of morality.

Penguin - Another free box honestly because Oswald has been redone a LOT, though I recommend going back to some earlier comics and some modern stuff to distill his essence.

While I appreciate the suggestions, I feel like I'm not clear enough with communicating why I struggle doing a reimagining of the bat rogues. So to put it plainly, when I do a re-mix: I need a thesis (a story to tell). I usually form a thesis if I find a narrative opportunity or I'm dissatisfied with how the character is handled in canon. That thesis will then fuel the story and design interpretation of that character.

Lately I've been reimagining Conner Kent/Superboy because I feel in canon after his initial debut in Reign of Supermen, Conner struggles being overshadowed by Jon Kent Superboy or Superman's legacy. DC doesn't know where to place him or what to do with him after his Lex Luthor-Superman-clone origin as a solo. Much of the later additions to Superfam don't feel as politically motivated as Clark would later be interpreted as (with the exception of Kong). So I wanted to create an origin that helps Conner stand on his own, be a uniquely different experience to Clark, and place him somewhere new after his origin is revealed- that adds longevity to his narrative. That's how my Paul Westfield/Conner Luthor version is created, from that thesis.

And that's my approach with all the characters I've done so far too. I wanted to tackle Martian Manhunter's ableist lore, or I wanted to reinforce the immigrant allegory in the Clois dynamic, or revitalize Superman rogues because they're underappreciated (Livewire), or I wanted the evil robot to be more gender (Brainiac). When I get suggestions to just follow what works, that's not creatively fulfilling for me.

Stuff that gets the gears in my brain turning are when I see fans passionately talking about but also being critical of characters they love. Like this Scarecrow video! It opened my eyes to how underutilized and undeveloped a character Scarecrow is (who I previously thought was popular). That's the kind of thing that gets me excited to pitch an interpretation on a character!

And lastly! I really don't want to crossover Batrogues into other hero's worlds where I can. I've done it sometimes sure, but only when there's a story to tell. Rogues are created to tackle a specific superhero's abilities and themes. A superhero crossing over rogues too often (especially with the Bat rogues, I get it they're the best rogues gallery in the business) feels like the creator lacks confidence in that hero's own rogues gallery. I'd rather revitalize a hero's rogues gallery than have My Adventures With Other People's Rogues Gallery. Amirite, MAWS.

[sc0tters]

it’d be funny to make her a social media person for the team or something 😭

oh my god yes!! it would be so funny if she was social media person and maybe trevor has been trying to find her and contact her because her instagram dm didn’t work since she didn’t know hsi last name she just thought it was some random person.

but like trevor falls first she falls harder???

also lance is a really big hockey person so i could see her keeping up with her team she grew up with and knowing how to play pretty well and it definitely shocks trevor when he realizes she a great skater

A nonnie wanted to name her Taylor so that’s what we’re doing!

Lance is SUPER protective of his sisters so Taylor knew she couldn’t go to him to ask who the guy was because all she knew was that his name was Trevor. Trevor on the other hand just thought she worked with Aston Martin rather than being a driver’s sister because she always had her phone in her hand.

Taylor wouldnt admit it but she never thought she would want something serious because she didn’t think she was capable of having it so when Trevor ended up in her office looking like he had won the lottery she thought it might have been a sign.

She was only ever into the penguins, it got her in trouble in Canada but this girl was a loyal Sidney Crosby fan so nobody really ever got mad at her. But in the recent years because she’s been working she lost touch of the team and watches when she can which is why she didn’t know who Trevor was. Lance when he got into hockey needed a teammate for their rink (the strolls are loaded let’s be real here) so Taylor learnt to skate and she learnt how to play but one broken nose later and she thought the crowd was better for her.

[cafalla]

Game Informer Magazine (November 2019, Issue 319) Scans

I try to focus on mainly scanning older items, but I found this Game Informer magazine and couldn't pass it up.

I mean gosh, anything pre-Covid may as well be a relic, right? (jkjk)

Unfortunately the front cover is a bit damaged, but I still really love this art collage of Pikachu and the Sword and Shield starters!

Here's some scans from this issue that I like!

Starting off, here's the fanart page.

These fanart/personal creation corners are my favorite pages in hobby magazines. It makes me so nostalgic for being a preteen and wanting to make and submit my own art in hopes of it being featured!

When I was about 13, I was obsessed with DeviantArt. My dad showed me how to use the scanner so I could scan my own art and post it (on the family computer, of course). My sister came to me one day and asked me to scan her comic that she wanted to submit to the in-game Club Penguin newspaper/magazine.

I didn't play Club Penguin much (I was a Neopets girl), but I fondly remember her being so proud of that comic. I helped her scan and submit it, and asked her every day if it got put into the paper. I don't think it ever did, but it was a fun time waiting to see if it would.

Speaking of Neopets, I also really loved the Neopets paper. I'd spend hours browsing backlogs of the paper to look at the fanart and read the fanfiction that was posted there.

Good times!

----

I thought this League of Legends art was super neat, but the whole premise of this article is hilarious to me.

Like...ok, Riot/League. iykyk.

I'm a fairly new League of Legends player - I started playing after watching Arcane. My bf has been an on-again off-again League player, but I was always too intimidated to get into it. I actually got into it first from Team Fight Tactics, and then started playing ARAM, and only recently started dipping my toes into Summoner's Rift.

Anyways, as much as I love the game, people can be SO mean. So just seeing the article title and thinking of all the rudeness I've seen in-game is pretty funny. I know a lot of good people play and work on this game though, so I appreciate the optimism and work to make the community better.

Granted, this article isn't only about League of Legends. But I think having them as the front cover for the article is kind of hilarious.

----

As a Pokémon fan, I thought this top ten page was a fun look at past gym leaders, especially considering the cover story for this issue is about the new (at the time) Pokémon mainline games.

The judging criteria is not clear at all. That's ok, there doesn't need to be a reason to do a top ten list - I'm assuming these are just this guy's favorite gym leaders. It is refreshing to see some leaders who don't normally wind up on these kinds of lists though, like Wulfric, Maylene, and Korrina.

This is really wanting to make me go back and play Let's Go! Pikachu lol.

----

Ok, so admittedly I knew nothing about Baldur's Gate 3 until the day it came out and I was like 'What the heck is this game everyone on my friend's list is playing?"

My bf ended up buying it for me and we played it co-op. Definitely deserved all the hype and praise it got.

So color me surprised when I was flipping through this magazine from 2019 and saw mention of Baldur's Gate 3.

There's a whole interview in here with the founder of the BG3 game studio. I knew this game was in development for many years, but I just completely missed the hype leading up to it.

----

Now some scans from the main cover story about Pokémon Sword and Shield.

These aren't all the scans from the spread, but I just wanted to show some of them off! I love multi-page stories about things where they feel almost like scrapbooks with how the graphics are arranged.

----

Here's a preview about the Final Fantasy VII Remake.

I've never played a Final Fantasy game, and though I'd love to someday, I'd have no clue where to start. I do love the character designs and I thought this game looked beautiful when it was announced.

And some more previews for various games.

Little Town Hero was actually on my radar at the time, as it gave big Fantasy Life vibes (and I LOVED Fantasy Life). Also, I just learned from this article that Toby Fox was brought in to compose? Amazing.

I looked it up and it's available on Steam, but disappointingly the reviews seem pretty mixed. I'm gonna add it to my wishlist and grab it when it goes on sale.

----

Here's a couple of reviews from the review section.

And an ending fluff page about creepy Pokémon pokedex entries.

And that's it for this one!

The full magazine is available to read over on my Internet Archive account.

Thanks for reading!

[seeingstarsnhl]

thoughts on ducks v wild last night, as someone who's still very new to hockey, in no particular order:

was rooting for dostal since the last ducks game i watched (v penguins) and i haven't watched enough games to determine each team's style well enough to find out if he just dropped the ball or got caught off guard by minnesota. but dostal :(

the anaheim commentators are so aware of how bad the ducks are it's a little hilarious. man our players peaked a few years ago, they're so old now. mintyukov was really great earlier this season but man i think his confidence got shattered or something. anyway let's get to the faceoff

after minnesota's performance last night i am Super excited for next week's game against dallas. i won't be mad if we lose i just know the game would go crazy

the amount of penalties racked up by the wild on complete accident is a little funny

i know how hard aiming a puck can be. the ducks trying to score last night was comical. either aiming directly for the goalie/his glove or straight up behind the net... again i get it. but wow i am impressed they got one

the post-game ducks fan holding up their phone that said "we suck :("

the fight at the end.. i may have missed the finer points of it since i was eating soup but seeing the brawl break out as soon as the period 3 ending horn sounded had me going. what's the point you already lost LMAO also the other players being otherwise chill and just shaking hands. beautiful

i was watching with a friend who has been begging to see a fight since we started watching games together. granted we've been specifically watching ducks games and they seem disinterested in doing anything, let alone aggressively, so this both caught us by surprise AND had us cheering that the gloves were coming off

the 2 north star jerseys in the crowd :) i'm so pleased the minnesota alt ended up being a nod to that

in conclusion:

🧡💛🖤🤍 go ducks! 🦆 🏒✨

[pies-writes-and-more]

things they do when they love you

Characters: Kageyama Tobio, Tsukishima Kei, Tanaka Ryūnosuke, Yamaguchi Tadashi, Kozume Kenma, Tendō Satori, & Ushijima Wakatoshi, all with a Fem!Reader

Warnings: literally nothing - pure fluff <3

A/N: sorry for the lack of content lately! I’ve been super busy with work and school and I feel myself starting to get selfconscious of my work again so I’m hoping I can break through the writers block it comes with! Hope you enjoy! Also thank you to @thisnoodlewritesao3​ and @satan-ruler-of-hells​ for listening to me talk about this fic probably a million times lol

haikyuu masterlist

Kageyama is awkward with telling you how he feels so he just tries to give you things to show you. like you mentioned once you liked the protein bar that Coach gave you guys and now he bought every single one of them from the store and is bringing it to your house. Oh did you say you liked milk too? Well I guess he’ll just have to bring you the whole fucking vending machine. Just wants to show he will provide you with all the things you love, pls love him back. I feel like he’d also be bugging his older sister all the time - asking her all sorts of questions about girls. She’s the reason your first date wasn’t at a volleyball game (and also the reason why he no longer thinks your first date was the first time you attended his games. “Tobio, a date is supposed to be where the two of you are hanging out together.” “But.... we are together. She’s watching me play.” “.... somewhere where your whole team and the whole of the Miyagi prefecture isn’t!”)

Tsukishima will let you pamper him lol. He likes the attention so when you’re doing face masks, he’ll like look through them and ask you questions about them. Sometimes it comes off as he’s judging you for spending money on this stuff but he’s really just waiting for you to ask if he wants to try one. You bought a dino face mask specifically for him but you thought he’d laugh at you if you asked. So you just kept it with the rest of your sheet masks. You’re putting one on one day and he’s like …. is that a dinosaur. And you’re like…. no? And immediately he’s like well now I have to have it please show me how to put this one. Lol cut to: it does nOT look like a dinosaur (have yall seen those ones that’s supposed to like look like a penguin or lion or something and just looks psychotic??? yeah that). He still likes it and even lets you take a picture of his first face mask cause you just look so happy that you’re doing it with him. It becomes a ritual and any time you’re doing face masks, he’ll do it with you and you just spill all the tea to him about shit you’ve heard at work or school and he just listens and aggressively calls everyone stupid  lol

Tanaka aggressively praises you non stop but like in a good way haha. Did you just post a photo on instagram? He’s liked it first, commented a thousand different things about how he loves your outfit and your expression and how you’re the light of his life, and then he sHARES the photo to his story and is like look at how pretty my girlfriend is yall wish this was you. Oh did you just get a good grade at school??? Non stop bragging to his teammates about how he’s dating a genius (“I mean anyone’s a genius compared to you” “Tsukishima that is NO WAY TO TALK TO YOUR UPPERCLASSMAN YOU ASSHOLE”). If you’re feeling upset about something, he’ll comfort you and all but also tell you that you’re such a badass you could handle anything. And it’s not like empty compliments either - he genuinely believes that you are the most amazing human being to ever walk the planet

Yamaguchi (okay I got this idea partially from @/paige.ipairs on tiktok but it’s so cute that i had to put it here) likes doing anything with you so he likes it when you’re out shopping and you help him pick a new outfit or you style something for him. But his favourite thing is when you’re painting your nails and he’s like … that’s a nice colour… and you’re like Yamaguchi would you like… your nails painted? And at first it’s just the one finger and it’s a matching colour with you. Like on his ring finger to symbolize he’s with you but then soon he’s with you at the mall looking at different colours and picks out one’s he would like for you to paint for him and he just carries them over to you like .. o.o pls

Kenma will actively look for 2 player games that he can play with you. He’ll pretend like it’s nothing and that he just wants to try the game for the 1 player story but he’ll leave a controller out and just kind waits for you to ask to play or pick up the controller. He really likes it when you play, even if you wander around a lot and aren’t super focused on the story line. Minecraft with the two of you is always fun. He thinks it’s really funny how aggressive you get trying to save your animals from the zombies even though they won’t get hurt. You teared up once cause the pen you made for your chickens got blown up by a Creeper and he actually felt so bad even though you told him it was definitely not his fault. Cut to: you screaming aggressively when it comes to any Creeper as revenge for the chickens who were lost in the battle.

Tendō starts reading your favourite mangas and watches all of your favourite series/movies before you two really started dating because he wanted to know what to talk to you about. But now that you guys are together, he’ll plan dates where you can binge-watch all of your favourite movies/shows or just lie around and trade mangas (you had this man actually crying at some of them, he wasn’t ready for the hURT). If you’re not the biggest fan of horror films, he’ll insist that you guys don’t need to watch them but he loves when you stick it out with him cause it means extra cuddles and more snacks as comfort! If you do love horror films, he’ll always buy tickets to the new movies so the two of you can watch it together right away.

Ushijima will hold you no matter where you guys are. Big beefy boy doesn’t really understand why he wouldn’t hold you, even if you guys were in public. When you guys first started dating, you’d avoid reaching out for his hand because you figured big stoic guy like Ushijima, he wouldn’t really be a PDA kind of guy would he? Wrong. Well right, but also wrong. Boy probably doesn’t even realize what PDA is but he’ll reach for your hand and hold it anytime. And if you guys are waiting in line somewhere, he’ll just hold you in his arms in front of him. He has no sense of when not to do this. It’s like you’re his comfort person (which you are). In front of his Coach? Suddenly has you in front of him, hugging you to him. Being interviewed by some reporters? Oh look, you’re here too. Reminding Oikawa that he should’ve come to Shiratorizawa? You’re right in front sticking your tongue out at the Aoba Josai boi like the child you are lol. Honestly, he doesn’t think it’s weird but he knows deep down that he’s just really scared you’ll leave. He likes knowing you’re around because it reminds him you’re always there. 

Haikyuu taglist (let me know if you’d like to join!)

@al0ehas​ @aurumk​ @devilkittymusic​ @thisnoodlewritesao3​ @satan-ruler-of-hells​ @trashy-simp​ @jeppiet​ @lucyheartfilias-wife​ @darkvadeeer​ @haikyuutothetop​ @livy384​ @babyshoyo​

[keepyourpantsongohan]

Ayesha Liveblogs Cardcaptor Sakura S1

For faithfulness reasons, I’ll forgo rewatching in English even though I’m Jared 19 and never learned how to read 

I will say the original English dub had a BANGER of a theme song and I do miss that

"I’m a Fourth Grader at Tomoeda Elementary” I know I watched this like when I was age 7 or smth but SHE’S LIKE 10?? OH MY GOD who is letting this ten-year-old roam the streets

“I’m gonna stomp on him” [Lucille Bluth voice] good for her

I fully forgot Sakura had a dad I was ready to accept her Grade 11 brother raising her

Sakura’s roller blades give me visceral memories of my barbie skates

Lmao is Yuki’s ability to throw a piece of candy at a child from a moving bicycle backwards foreshadowing his superhero abilities

Okay having checked this scene in both English versions and Japanese, my opinion no one asked for: the Aminax version is bad voices on all counts, Japanese has a better voice for Toya and original English dub has a better voice for Sakura and Yukito (who they called Julian lmao) I am not accepting constructive criticism 

Tomoyo and Sakura sound so similar I could not even tell that Tomoyo was speaking omg

“There isn’t anything cuter or more interesting than you Sakura-chan” Tomoyo is really honest with her feelings I guess ten-year-olds be like that sometimes

“Is someone there” home invasions are what happens when you don’t lock your front door

This is not a study lmao this is a personal library there is hardly a workspace just aisles of shelves

Oh shit The Clow WIND RAIN SHADOW WOOD SWORD POWER THUNDER SLEEP CARD CAPTORS OF THE CLOW EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED NOW

Wait if this is hanging out in her dad’s study was her dad the last Cardcaptor lmao

Or probs her mom, since she’s gone the way of all anime moms

Sakura is accepting this whole “tiny magical flying lion” thing p well

“I accidentally fell asleep” “For how long” “30 years” same

“Stand right over there” Kerberos does not ask permission before magical girl transforming you lmao

“Why are you acting so wimpy” bc she’s 10 and you’re asking her to fight a giant ghost bird???

Honestly I love a good quest-to-collect-important-items maybe Inuyasha and DBZ ruined my taste but it’s a great formula 

“You’ll be a better adult if you have all sorts of experiences in your life” r u going to take career counselling advice from a tiny flying lion Sakura

I do kind of miss Kero’s slightly unhinged young man energy

I like that whenever Sakura’s brother is rude she steps on his foot or kicks him fkjhjgkh excellent little sister depiction

I was expecting more secrecy but it is very funny to see Tomoyo try to convince her friend to be a superhero

“Do a flashy one” kfhkjdhkj Kero supports the use of magic powers for showing off

“Trademark poses and skills are the basic parts of being a magical girl” oh my gooood

I mean if I walked into my school and there was a mountain of haphazard desks waiting there I too would be threatened 

Sakura is the only one in this group who has a reasonable understanding of what ten-year-olds should be allowed to do

LMAO @ Tomoyo’s team of bodyguards dropping her off to break into the school ONLY TO DRIVE AWAY

Tomoyo and Kero’s friendship is killing me the SHENANIGANS

I’m not sure I accept this light logic bc you need light to cast a shadow

Sakura’s “heart-racing first date” ur TEN oh my god

I mean it’s nice that Sakura wants to save the penguin but why did it take that for her to get upset it was going to drown a whole adult woman

Did Toya just RIP APART a WHIRLPOOL with his BARE HANDS

I wonder how Toya feels that his little sister has a crush on his boyfriend lmao

This cell phone is really top of the line for 1999 lmao I love it 

U know if I were a high school student and my friend asked my 10 year old sibling out to lunch instead of me I’d be confused

"They’re not even gonna hold hands? Kids these days” This is a VERY weird vibe for an episode

You know I guess if you never watch the second episode you never have context for all of these superhero outfits LMAO

None of these locations have security cameras I guess the 1990s was a lawless time

Will all of Yuki’s magical advice be delivered in the form of mysterious field trips

LMAO @ YUKITO ALWAYS TAKING SAKURA TO TOYA’S TEMP JOBS

Say what you will about the ominous influence of the other card, I think Wood is being fairly polite since it’s contorting around her house instead of destroying it lmao

“I was planning to film ‘Sakura Dances in the Jungle’ in the park today” I love Tomoyo 

Every little girl in this show sounds so similar lmao this is not good for my distracted watching style 

Wow Ms Maki is really unloading on these two fourth grade girls 

Since Tomoyo clearly interacts with even the more spirit-like Clow Cards I really have to wonder why no one else in this town is seeing these giant ghost monsters loom around the city

Well I guess this episode is a direct response to my previous comment 

“I can’t stand scary stories” says the girl who spends her nights going into isolated areas and fighting magical ghosts

Seeing Sakura activate her Fly card really gives me overwhelming nostalgia for the days I wanted nothing more than to be a Cardcaptor I used to wave around a toy broom like that magic key ahhhhhhhh

In the absence of the first English voice and with the added gentle Japanese intonation for his speaking, I am constantly forgetting that Yukito’s character is a 16-year-old boy 

Toya is really casually bomb-dropping the fact that he used to see ghosts and Yuki’s just like ‘dope are there ghosts around now’

Omg Kero’s sad face as he dropped the flower in Sakura’s lap 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

“I want to see if she wants to tell me something” like maybe ‘don’t run around town at night chasing ghosts ur 10!!!’ 

UHHHH AGAIN TOYA REAL CASUAL ABOUT THE GHOST THING 

Yukito Tsukishiro: Chronic Aid-er and Abet-er of Pre-teen Mischief 

Also if I’m right his name means something like “Ice White Moon?” Very heavy-handed foreshadowing lmao

“After we left, I went to the museum again and borrowed one” TOMOYO U CASED THE JOINT KJDHFKJHF

WHY IS EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KID IN THIS TOWN ABLE TO BREAK INTO THIS MUSEUM SO EASILY

Tomoyo is eerily well-prepared for this mission it’s like she has been planning to burgle a museum all her life

They really made an executive choice to have both a Yuuki and a Yuki that was a decision that someone made

Oh hey it’s the other pre-teen supehero!!! That guy!!

The more I think about it, the stranger the height difference between Sakura and her brother becomes bc compared to him she’s really like 2.5 feet tall they did not pick a proportion scale

U see this what I mean by gentle intonation, Syaoran somehow sounds older than Yuki simple by roughness of voice

YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH TOYA U DEFEND UR SISTER

“Here, a steamed pork bun” Yuki sure nows how to de-escalate lmao 

“That is made out of an insulator as well” Tomoyo is really prepared for any and every situation

It’s not fair of Li to compare what is probably years of magical training from his family to ‘trial by fire for eight weeks with a plush toy who doesn’t explain anything important until critical moments’

I’m really not sure what’s happening with Rika and the teacher but I DON’T LIKE IT

“I just want to be with you as long as possible” [cut to floral pattern] Tomoyo is aiming to supersede Yuki as Gentle Shojo Protagonist Sakura Fixates On looool

I’m sure there’s NOTHING significant about this familiar-looking sword brooch

Kero biting Li whenever whenever he says something rude to Sakura kghkjghk direct feminist action

What IS THIS business with Li running away flustered like that are pre-teen Cardcaptors ONLY allowed to have a crush on Yukito

“I guess I’ll have to beat him up once” Toya has zero qualms about fighting a ten-year-old

Two fourth graders giving Yukito chocolate while he peacefully hangs out with his boyfriend is the funniest version of executing this weirdness that could happen

What I’m really wondering is how the hell they cut out or explained away Li’s crush in the first English anime

“You were just a fledgling teacher and you married one of your [high school] students!!” u did WHAT what the FUCK MR. KINOMOTO I’m on Sonomi’s side

“Mother got married when she was 16″ MR. KINOMOTO CANCELLED! BANNED! THE HELL IS THIS!

“It was I who was granted time with Nadeshiko from her 16th to 27th birthdays” GO 2 JAIL DO NOT PASS GO 

This episode has added a lot of layers to this show none of which I like

“What kind of person was my dad” someone who should be banned from teaching

“Your father is a disgusting person” WELL

SONOMI I KNOW UR TRYING TO BE NICE BUT HE HAS AT LEAST ONE MAJOR FLAW

Lmao they’re not even giving context why Yuki is around anymore he’s just an accepted artifact of the Kinomoto household

How is that the Time card is Li’s but not Thunder since he also returned that one to its original form

“Their fastest confirmed speed is over 100km/h” Yamazaki leave Li alone he just wants to adore the sloths jhfkhgjhgkhg

Ahhhhhh Li helping Sakura get the Power card?? These motives are quite hard to read but it seems sweet

OMGGG @ TOMOYO MAKING SAKURA DEADLIFT A PLAYGROUND

“I heard a rumour that everyone who asked Kinomoto out has been denied.” Well. [x]

“It’s one of the seven strangest things at this school, that both Kinomoto and Tsukishiro don’t have girlfriends.” WELL. [x]

AWWWWW YUKI DOESN’T LEAVE THE OTHER PRE-TEEN FAN CLUB MEMBERS OUT OF HIS KIND GESTURES

[Hannibal Buress voice] I was so caught up in euphoria of festival arcs, that for like a minute I lived in a world where the rest of this anime didn’t exist 

TOYA BEING THE STAR OF DRAG CINDERELLA... OP UR MIND

I have no idea what the premise of the next Clow Card is but I really hope it’s “turn u into whatever ur acting as” bc I will LOSE my mind

I have not heard Yuki once intone as passionately as he did when he thought Toya was going to fall 

“You like someone else” 👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

“I didn’t promise anyone else a dance” Can I just say I LOVE TOYA?

The moment of stillness before Yukito revealed who he was asking to dance lmao... the repressed teenage wlw inside me LIVES

Yuki and Toya tag-teaming as the Sakura Support Team my heart!!

Geolocating someone from a fax... the incredible 90sness of this act....

I seriously don’t understand this world in which you leave 5- and 10-year-olds unattended for hours where are your child welfare laws

I am really choosing to ignore how absolutely bananas the concept of Tomoyo having a hidden Sakura Movie Theatre is

Speaking of weird, are we just trusting that this old man is normal? Is everyone doing that? I’m still not ready to trust yet the Sakura’s dad situation really burned me

“Girls look their best when they smile” a sweet thought that would not fly if an old man I just met told me that lmao

I’m REALLY not trusting this old man dressing up this girl in his dead (missing?) granddaughter’s clothes and staring broodily when she mentions there is a parent with her

“My great-granddaughter seemed happy” YOUR WHAT NOW 

Their school trips seem much more fun than ours were we never went to the beach or fishing or got disappeared briefly in a cave

It continues to be funny how Sakura and Li have 0% tension re: Clow Cards, 99% tension re: Yukito who is already in a committed Something or the Other with Sakura’s brother

“Why were you on the roof” “Because it’s nice out today” LOL YUKITO

There’s no rhyme or reason to these card types huh some are like “I will destroy an entire zoo for fun” and other ones are like “mood lighting :)”

Sakura really isn’t out here to teach us any lessons lol it’s really a ‘get others to do your homework if you can get away with it’ episode

Rounding out the triad of superpowered pre-teens with Meilin I suppose

“Syaoran is my fiance” I have had it up to HERE with this anime cousinfuckery I don’t CARE if it’s cool in Japan or Hong Kong or whatever STOP BEING WEIRD WITH YOUR COUSINS

Poor Syaoran he was doing so well with getting along with Sakura until Meilin got here

"It was done by a girl again?” Oh my god is Meilin beating up grown men in parks for street cred

“It seems our relationship chart has gotten rather complicated” Tomoyo probably means astrology chart but here’s my understanding so far:

Speaking of complex relationships I wonder how Meilin will react to Syaoran’s crush on Yuki

This rivalry between Sakura and Meilin could not be more one-sided

I really was wondering for a second if the card was going to split in half

I love the vibe of Sakura and Toya teaming up to help their creepy dad but even MORE SO I love that Yukito is In This Household

“The contents are already up here” This episode really doesn’t hit the same way now that cloud storage exists and also what were all those floppy disks for if not to save your work Mr. Kinomoto

I love that Tomoyo always pulls her weight in her superhero sidekick role like she is here to support and help whenever needed 

Sakura using her powers to impress her crush with a ghost duet lmao these priorities 

“Sakura’s Little Adventure” I see what u did there

Kero’s little shoulder pat with his paw to let Sakura know he’s there aw

Omg this Clow Card is so cute “Is it your fault I’m so small now?” [nods pleasantly]

It is very bold of Sakura to be doing magic so casually when her brother and Yuki are right downstairs 

I like that this show recognizes the inherent intimacy of allowing someone to cut your hair

“Information about you has gotten around to the cards” well this is an ominous start to this funky tarot reading

Well the experience of seeing his little sister try to murder him has got to be traumatizing for Toya I hope he doesn’t remember this

UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM DID TOYA JUST FALL OFF OF A CLIFF

“Can you give me a break... and stop looking like Sakura” EXCUSE ME

“My mom’s up there too, so say hi to her for me” OH MY GOOOOD TOYA REALLY DOES SEE GHOSTS AHHHHHHHHHHH

WAIT SO IT WAS A CLOW CARD DOES TOYA HAVE MAGICAL POWERS TOO

Omg @ Toya feeding Yuki from his bed this really is an intimate episode

I kind of appreciate the slow build of this show like it took them 25 episodes to introduce meaningful stakes

“But it might be tougher than the earth going ‘boom!’ Depending on who you are...” Well hello threatening figure in sunglasses standing outside Sakura’s house what’s up

“I’ll look the other way” Ms Mizuki is literally this meme:

I can only assume that if Toya knows Ms. Mizuki then she must be a ghost

Personally if Mizuki gives Syaoran the heebie jeebies I trust his instincts

“Um... do you like Yukito too?” Oh my goooood they’re sincerely discussing being Not Straight in middle school in this 90s anime that I watched when I was 7 I cannot believe

“And it’s been a year since you told me you loved me here” WHY DOES EVERYONE IN THIS FAMILY WANT TO DATE SOMEONE TOO OLD FOR THEM WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING DATING SOMEONE TOYA’S AGE MIZUKI

Also I have to rethink every thought I had about Toya being gay. I mean bi is great too but my thoughts..... racing...........

“Because the next time I see you, you’ll have someone else that you’ll be in love with” Yukito BF confirmed but oh my GOD this relationship chart IS complicated good lord

If there’s anything the episode “Sakura and Her Shrine of Memories” has taught me it’s that everyone in this show is bisexual and all teachers in their neighbourhood should be in jail

I understand that Meilin is a kid but poor Syaoran he is constantly being harassed 

I love Yuki’s bottomless stomach lmao

Syaoran and Sakura have such a genuinely supportive relationship but it is very funny how they try simultaneously to get Yuki’s attention with the exact same words

“I’ve been thinking for a while that Mr. Terada is a lot like my dad” oh thank you Rika for someone finally being normal in this show

“Well it’s a harmless one” You see this is what I mean the dichotomy of Clow Cards is like... “I’m going trap you in a maze until you perish” or “I’m gonna give you a sugar rush :]”

I like that Sakura and Syaoran are starting to partner up as a duo on purpose like yessss I love a 1-2 finish and friendship development

Ahhh poor Syaoran he’s realizing that Yukito’s #1 in his life is the Kinomoto fam

We’re all familiar with the eternal struggle of whether using ur superpowers for school sports is cheating 

AWWW SYAORAN USING HIS POWERS FOR MAGICAL PEP TALKS AFTER HE HELPED TURN REI’S PET FOX INTO A POKEMON CARD THAT’S MY BOOOOY

“I will stomp on him” it’s been 31 episodes let Sakura stomp on her brother

Oh my GOOOD does this Big card mean that Sakura WILL FINALLY STOMP ON TOYA LMAO

Ur telling me that no one else in this ENTIRE TOWN notices this altercation of a giant preteen vs a dragon

Why does the logic for how voices travel based on size apply for the Little card (when Toya was speaking) and not for the Big card (when Sakura is speaking)

Sgskdhgkhkgjh honestly body switching as a trope will never not be funny

Syaoran blushing and running away from Sakura oh how the turn tables

Every domestic scene that Yuki and Toya have adds ten years to my life we love some gay/bi teens about to be gay/bi adults

Ffskhhfkj I absolutely cannot relate to this Southern Hemisphere nonsense of finding ten degrees celsius arctic cold like BRO that is a normal spring day here

“We’re not frozen because we have magical powers” I know that cutaway was to confirm Mizuki’s magical powers again but this would’ve been a hilarious time to reveal that like Yamazaki the Compulsively Lying Classmate had powers

Awwww he likes her now that’s cute 

“I got work that day” I will bet someone ten dollars that Toya is working at that quiz rally

Update from 5 minutes later: PAYPAL ME $10

Kero keeps whispering to the moon when in fact some iteration of the moon is right around the corner (literally)

GOOOOOOOOD SYAORAN REALIZING HE HAS A CRUSH ON BOTH HALVES OF THAT TEAM KILLS ME SWEET BOY

Shared Gaze of People Who Have Dated* Toya and Have Magical Powers They Haven’t Revealed Yet

*Go to jail Mizuki

I am really going crazy wondering when they’re gonna reveal stuff about Yukito like bitchhhhhhh I know you’re a moon man when will u tellll usss

How many more times will Sakura have this same threatening dream before she realizes her math teacher is probably going to try to kill her

Update from one minute later: I guess it was exactly one more time

“That’s right, Yukito’s birthday is on Christmas day” is this coming to be a coming of age where he like suddenly sprouts wings at age 17

I’ve been thinking this for a while but this show makes it seem like Japan has a much more fun approach to athletics than my school experiences

Yukito really is unflappable about hanging out with a bunch of kids half his height huh he’s like the Fourth Grader Whisperer

I KNEW IT YUKITO NEVER GOES WITH SAKURA ANYWHERE UNLESS HER BROTHER WILL ALSO BE WORKING THERE DFHKDFHKJ every time it’s just “Hey Toya :)”

“This kid...” HAHAH TOYA HAS JUST REALIZED THAT SYAORAN HAS A CRUSH ON HIS LITTLE SISTER AND HIS BOYFRIEND THE UTTER SUSPICION IN HIS TONE

“Wind become a binding chain” Whoops Sakura foiled by 4th grade knowledge of the elements

Oh shiiiit love a world-building moment now we have two card combos in play ayyyyy

Lmao @ Kero using his returned powers immediately for fireworks mood lighting is a serious Clow Card priority

“I would like to come again this year” everything in this show feels like foreshadowing for dramatic irony

[cdelphiki]

Life With The Kents AU: Tim’s Life, pt 1, rough draft.

Someone asked me to write Tim and Bruce making up, and I told them no because it would be too long, then promptly wrote the first 2k words of that fic. Enjoy! 

The first thing Tim did was change his name. 

He’d always kind of hated himself, anyway, for changing it to Tim Wayne, back when Bruce adopted him.  It had been the reason for one of his breakdowns, after all.  Tim Wayne. 

Just sounded wrong.

His lawyer had looked more than mildly alarmed, when Tim met with him the following Monday.  The bruise on his face had fully blossomed by then, having two days to do so.  Deep purple right at the jawline, right where Bruce’s knuckle had hit, softening out to lighter purple and greens, the further away from the center one looked.  

It was clearly a fist print, too. 

And it took up a good fourth of his face.  

“Mr. Drake,” his lawyer, Esteban, had said, “if- if Mr. Wayne…”

“It doesn’t matter,” Tim had said.  He had purposely not covered the bruise in anticipation of this meeting.  He knew what image it would broadcast.  And he didn’t care.  It would help his case, make his lawyer more sympathetic, mean there was no argument over the decision.  Removing ‘Wayne’ from your name in Gotham, after all, was not something anyone had ever done.  

Wayne was a powerful name.  Even more powerful when Bruce Wayne himself had given it to you. 

But Tim was done with Bruce Wayne.  He was ready to just be Tim Drake.  

Tim Drake.  Robin.  A member of Young Justice.

Maybe he should think about his superhero name, now.  Disconnect himself completely from Batman.  

“We can press charges,” Esteban said, after taking a breath and putting his best ‘lawyer face’ on, “if that is why, we should press charges. He still has another kid at home.”

“You’ve signed a NDA,” Tim reminded him, “just get my name changed.”

“Which doesn’t apply to child abuse,” Esteban said, “Which you knew.”

Tim did know that.  He also didn’t care if his lawyer reported it.  Damian didn’t need to be living with Bruce, anyway.  And Bruce deserved whatever scrutiny such a report would bring down on him.  Tim almost didn’t even care if it exposed Batman.

That ‘almost’ was the only thing keeping him from reporting it himself, to get Damian out of there.

“Yeah, well, I’m not a child.  And Bruce didn’t do this.  So relax.”

Damian could take care of himself, Tim was sure.  He lived with the Teen Titans half the time, anyway.  Plus the Kents adored him.  They’d watch out for him.

In fact.  If Tim told Kon, he was fairly certain Kon would tell Clark, who would deal with Bruce himself. 

Which, that was the perfect plan.  

That’s what he’d do.  

“Then who did it, Tim?”

Smiling his ‘Tim Wayne’ smile, Tim just said, “Timothy Jackson Drake is what I want my legal name to be.” 

- - - 

Weeks passed. 

No one seemed to understand why Tim left.

‘That’s just how Bruce is,’ Babs had said.

‘He was upset,’ Helena explained. 

‘Dude lost everything,’ Duke reasoned. 

‘Master Tim,  you must understand-’ Alfred had started, but Tim hung up on him.

Tim didn’t bother to ask Damian his opinion.  

No one understood, and Tim was done trying to explain it to them.

If he could go the rest of his life without thinking about it or Bruce again, he’d live a happy life.  

He didn’t need any of them, anyway.

- - - 

But someone told Jason.

Tim wasn’t sure who, but someone told Jason.  It was obvious, by the mere fact that Jason Todd was in his apartment, in the dark, waiting for Tim to get home.

It had been almost a month. 

He’d cut himself off from the family cleanly.  

And he and Jason might not have had a bad relationship.  They just hadn’t been much more than friendly acquaintances. 

“Welcome to the club, kid,” Jason said, not even looking up when Tim cut the light on to reveal Jason sitting sideways in the armchair, one leg slung up over the side, as he read something on his kindle. One of the ones that lit up.

Tim didn’t really like kindles.  He wasn’t a huge fan of reading, in general, but he definitely didn’t like kindles.  Tim would have never guessed that Jason, being a book nerd, used a kindle.  He kind of seemed like the kind of dork who would prefer to smell the books, or something.  While reading.

“Go away,” Tim said flatly, as he dropped his bag down on the ground and went to fix himself something to eat.  He’d been away on a mission with his team for the last week.  All he wanted to do was eat a bowl of something. Soup, probably. Lay on the couch and eat it while he watched something light and funny, then fall asleep.  Possibly right there on the couch.  

Talking to Jason was not any of those things.  

“Heard you cut ties to Bat completely,” Jason said, “Gotta say. I’m impressed.”

Tim rolled his eyes as he looked through the various cans of soup he had in the cupboard, before he picked a hardy chicken and rice thing.  “Don’t care. Go away.”

“Bat’s pissed, of course,” Jason said, as if Tim hadn’t said anything, “it’s kind of great.”

He watched his bowl spin in the microwave, while trying to blow Jason up with sheer willpower.  Maybe if he thought hard enough, he’d discover latent super power abilities and make Jason disappear.  

It could happen. 

“But what I don’t get is: What did you do?”

“What did I do?” Tim echoed, spinning to stare at Jason, “What the fuck do you mean, what did I do?”

“To piss him off.”  

“Does it matter?” 

“Well, sure.  You always seemed like a goody-goody to me.  Daddy’s perfect little solider.  What could you possibly do to-”

“I didn’t do anything,” Tim shouted, “Just like you didn’t do anything, and Dick didn’t do anything to deserve it.  No one-”

“Let’s be fair here, Timbo.  I tried to kill a dude.” 

“So?” Tim asked, shaking his head, “Why does that make it okay for your literal Dad to attack you?”

Jason opened his mouth, but then just blinked at Tim. 

“He- He-” Tim said, absolutely flabbergasted by Jason’s apparent… acceptance? Of all this?  Out of all the people in the world, Tim thought Jason would understand.  

Abuse was abuse.  It was wrong.  Regardless of what the victim did.

“I didn’t do anything,” he said, as his hand started to shake.  He stepped forward and gripped onto one of the bar stools at his island, and kept going, “And that���s what no one seems to get.”

And Bruce had… Bruce had abused him. Hadn’t he?

That’s what this was. It wasn’t just an attack. It wasn’t just….and… he’d done it to Jason before him.  And Dick before that.  

“Parents are supposed to- Dads are supposed to- supposed to love their kids,” Tim said, his voice quieting with each word, as his focus slipped from Jason, to off in the distance.  

Bruce was their dad.  And he was abusive.  

“Tim.” 

“I was just telling him I cared,” Tim snapped, angry Jason was making him feel things when all he wanted was some soup and an episode of The Simpsons.  Or, maybe something like Futurama would be better.  “And he just- he just…”

“Tim.”

“I didn’t do anything,” Tim whispered, needing to let go of the bar stool to wipe at his eyes.

Jason slowly got up and came to the counter, then sat down on the other side of the island.  Sat his hands on the counter, then splayed out his fingers while he stared at them.

Eventually, long after the microwave had beeped, and Tim had ignored it in favor of staring at Jason’s hands, too, while he tried to keep his vision from blurring any further, Jason said, “Sorry, kid.”  

“It was wrong,” Tim said numbly, and Jason just nodded, “it was wrong when he did it to you, too.”

At that, Jason scrubbed at his own eye, just briefly, before he seemed to realize he was doing it and put his hand back down on the counter.  “It’s whatever,” he said, so nonchalantly that Tim realized Jason was a much better actor than he’d ever realized.  

“He’s our dad,” Tim whispered.

“Yeah.”

“That’s not how Dads are supposed to be.”  

- - - 

After that, he and Jason started hanging out.  Once a week or so.  Sometimes every other week, if one of them were off on a mission.

Jason was doing something in Gotham.  But Tim couldn’t bring himself to care.  Not even when he visited Jason at the Iceberg Lounge and realized that the Penguin was most definitely being held captive behind the fish tank in his office.  

Tim had nothing to do with Gotham anymore.  

And since Jason hadn’t said a word to him about any of it, Tim could just pretend he didn’t know. 

Besides, it’s not like Jason was killing.  

So he didn’t care.

It was nice, after all.  Having a big brother again.  

Clark had kidnapped Damian, it seemed.  

Well, Tim was pretty sure Bruce had allowed it to happen.  Clark probably threatened to expose Bruce, or something.  And took Damian home with him.  

But that was good.  It meant Tim didn’t have to intervene with Damian on a more personal level.  He was safe, and probably much better off with the Kents, anyway.  

He’d heard from Kon that they had bought Damian a bed and everything, suggesting that it was, perhaps, a rather permanent arrangement.  

Tim wouldn’t be surprised if they bought a bigger apartment by the end of the year, either.  

Sharing a room with Damian was probably pretty difficult. 

“You talked to the demon recently?” Jason asked from Tim’s couch, where he was hogging the entire damn thing so he could lay back and toss one of Tim’s coaster’s up into the air over and over.  

“No,” Tim admitted.  He felt kind of bad about it, but it wasn’t like it was his fault.  “I texted him a couple times, he told me to ‘fuck off’ in Damian speak.”  

Jason frowned as the caught the coaster, then looked over at Tim.  “How much you want to bet Bruce is taking his anger at Clark and everything out on Damian, and like, not talking to him at all?”

“Well, you know…I hate to say it, but good.” 

With that, Jason missed the coaster, and it smacked him right in the face.  He scowled and sat up, saying, “Tim…”

“He’s better without Bruce.”

“Damian won’t feel that way.”

“Don’t care,” Tim hummed, grabbing the remote to put something on.  To end this conversation. “It’s the truth. He’ll get over it.”

Tim felt bad, though.  Not reaching out better. Not making himself present in Damian’s life. The way the ‘family’ had split over this whole ordeal was disgusting, in his opinion.  Basically him and Jason vs everyone else, and then Damian off in his own world, protected by the Kents. Where no one wanted to interfere.  

It was like everyone had abandoned him. After he’d already lost Dick. 

But Damian hated Tim. So why would Tim reaching out now do any good?

“He’s just a kid, though.”  

- - - 

[jeawrites]

BBS Derby AU: Important Others

The final bits of fun facts and some info for this AU! I might start writing an actual story here in a bit too, so look out for that!

Anthony-

Nicknamed by the team Jiggly Panda. 

He’s the coach, not even that strict of one but he is very committed. 

He owns the skate park the team practices at! He was also the one to pitch the idea of starting a derby team to his most regular skater (and really good friend) Tyler.

The team loves him, they will fight for him. And, he will fight for them (even though he’d rather not).

He’s the one who convinced Evan to join. 

“It’s just like hockey- except no ice, no sticks or pucks, and you go in a circle the whole time!”

Used to play when he was younger (that’s how he met Brock).

Very competitive when it comes to important bouts. Don’t question him.

The team got him and Brock customized varsity jackets with their respective names on the back and the team’s logo on the front. He nearly cried when he got it.

His laugh is just as noticeable as Jon’s, but his rage is a lot more iconic when its seen. He has broken clip boards. 

He wears a panda hat to every bout, it’s his own symbol for the team. They all love it a lot more than they say they do.

Brock- 

Moo Snuckle, he had the name back when he played for his old team (he thought it was funny then but now its just a little embarrassing). Everyone just calls him Moo.

He’s the bench coach! He helps sort out everyone on who’s going out onto the track and whatnot. If it’s not a bout, he’s usually just the assistant coach. 

Was brought onto the team by Anthony- he got a facebook message late one night.

‘Wanna help coach a bunch of dumbasses with my dumbass?’

He’s really patient with them all. Helps calm down people if they start to get frustrated. Most infamously, he calmed Tyler down after he threw his helmet off and broke it. It took him five minutes and a shit ton of crappy puns.

Brings in extra water for everyone during bouts, makes sure everyone eats before they practice (messages them an hour and a half before hand so they can snack on something healthy).

There's a joke running through the team about him and getting angry. It’s mostly just comparing him to a werewolf. 

On that note, it takes a lot to make Brock angry, so the moment he snaps it’s usually pretty unsettling and you know you’ve screwed up then.

He only got that way once when it was really noticeable, and it was during a bout when the refs weren’t making any correct calls (Joe and Mark excluded because they couldn’t make it that night- Joe was sick and Mark was making sure he was okay).

He actually sobbed for ten minutes after getting his jacket. He wears it to every bout.

Everytime they move up a rank in the charts Brock takes the team to dinner. He insists he can cover the pay, but everyone usually tips in anyways.

Brings extra face paint, duct tape, wheels, and other needs to bouts as a just in case.

Jaren-

Smitty!

He’s the local EMT. Goes to every bout to cover the injuries. 

Was the first one to make fun of Jon for fracturing his wrist.

Nobody actually knows where he learned to be a medical professional, but nobody really questions it either. 

He supports the team a lot, has actually come to a few practices to just watch and hang out with them all. He’s also gone to away bouts whenever he can.

Like’s to heckle the team jokingly, though he has gotten smacked a few times by Marcel and Ryan (not hard of course).

He’s actually really fun to have around too, makes a lot of good jokes and he is scarily good at timing shit. He’s helped them all at practices with that talent. He’s also pranked the entire team at least once with it.

Him and Evan both sort of bonded over being Canadian. Jiggly introduced them to each other as “fellow penguins”.

“My name’s Jaren, how aboot you, eh?”

“Evan, nice to meet you, eh.”

They both shared a few pieces about their old homes and then just sort of became friends. They both act like children sometimes though if kept in the same place together too long.

Him and Jon actually get along really well! Both of them like making weird jokes and acting out dramatic scenes. 

“And with this last breath, I die!” 

“Pfft- Del, oh my god, okay- Nooo!! My one true love, died to an evil oposer--- I curse you Evan for knocking my love out of play!”

The team either finds it really entertaining or really weird. Jaren was kicked out of a practice one time due to one of his and Jon’s acts, if that says anything.

Mark-

Gorillaphent!

He grew up with Luke and Jon, so of course they dragged him out to watch the sport once.

He really liked it, but he didn’t want to play it. But, the reffing seemed fun and with some encouragement he became the Banana Quads first ref! 

On Halloween they have a scrimmage where he wears this ugly purple elephant trunk that he got from somewhere. Nobody wants to question it because people know thats what he wants.

Eventually Ohm gives in and questions it and he gets called on a cut he never made later that game and forced into the penalty box. It happens five more times and then Ohm is paranoid the rest of the night.

“Gorilla, please!! I did nothing wrong--”

“Are you talking back to a ref, Ohm?”

He’s kinda evil, in short.

Not really, he’s actually pretty chill, he just thought that whole ordeal would be funny (and it kind of was).

He’s unbelievably good at making calls. He’s rumoured to have eyes in the back of his head, but he’s actually just pretty observant. 

He’s also pretty smart on top of that, so he can sort of tell when he’s going to need to make a specific call before it happens thanks to careful observing and knowledge. 

He has a purple helmet with only two stickers, one being an elephant, the other being a sticker of his name made like a logo.

Him and Joe bully each other on a regular basis, do not interfere or you will get dragged in and become part of whatever war they may or may not be in. Its all fun and games until the two are dumping baby powder on your head.

Joe-

Dead Squirrel (he used to play for, like, a year, but that was his name for it).

He met Mark, Jon, Luke, and Ryan a year before the derby stuff started.

Was dragged onto the team by Gorilla, but he found it really fun to meet new people and the traveling wasn’t half bad! Plus, he really enjoys chasing after the Jammers, especially if his in the lead. 

He wears makeup to bouts- it looks like his head’s missing a peace and a cartoonish brain is coming out (cartoonish meaning there’s not too much effort in it- not that its actually cartoonish).

Also oddly good at making calls when he’s supposed too. He catches some others might not.

He doesn’t ever get really mad, maybe over excited for the bouts. He’s never yelling out of anger though.

Luke and Gorilla are pretty protective over him. Joe’s a little more oblivious to when people are being flirty or a little too polite (he doesn’t want to be rude sometimes and tell them he’s uncomfortable, especially if he might be misreading things) that’s why his two tough derby buddies come in and save the day. 

It doesn’t happen often, just once or twice a year.

He’s loyal to the team, but holds no bias when it comes to making calls. If that’s questioned the team will prove it. (Joe has been offered a few bribes once or twice but his opinion on it remains unmoved and he remains as unbiased as possible). 

“Alright, I’m sayin’ it again. I am not, not going to call you out for back blocks, Marcel, quit trying to convince me and just try to not get back blocks.”

He’s the one who dumps the baby powder on people’s heads. He carries it around with him because its helps keep his bag smelling good, and it makes his skin soft. 

He and Brian are the only two who care if their equipment stinks. He usually supplies Brian with his own little thing of baby powder whenever its needed. 

John-

Mostly their as either an NSO or a fan. If its a home bout he’s usually an NSO. 

He works the score board when he’s an NSO. When he’s a fan, he’s cheering on the team excitedly or hanging out with Jaren on the side. 

He’s really laid back until he’s yelling at the team in excitement. 

“Yeah! Kick their asses ohm, you’re doing great!”

Ryan tried to get him on the team, along with Scotty and Tyler, but they were all denied. 

He does go skating with them on open skate nights though. He just prefers to keep it more casual than competitive. 

The team all chipped in to get him some custom ring with the team's name carved into it and a new vape. It was a present to him for being their number one fan.

He really liked the gift, wouldn’t stop smiling the rest of that day. 

Got an honorary jersey with the name Kryoz (he got to pick it). He wears it to every bout he’s a fan at.

He’s the one who suggests they throw an end of season party to celebrate everything they did that year. He’s also the one who gets stuck planning it out sense he made the idea, but he does convince Ryan, Tyler, Marcel, and Anthony to help out.

[k-r-collins]

No NHL? Now what?

With no hockey on the screen, I’ve turned to hockey in print. Below are my hockey books, my favorite hockey reads, and my to-be-read pile.

Sophie Fournier Series My hockey series, it follows Sophie Fournier as she becomes the first woman to break the gender barrier in the fictional North American Hockey League. It’s about hockey but also learning who you are and the pressures of being the best because anything less equals failure.  Breaking the Ice      Amazon     NineStar (free through the end of March) Sophomore Surge   Amazon      NineStar (40% off through the end of March) Lighting the Lamp   (Coming May 18, 2020!)

My Favorite Reads Take Your Eye Off the Puck by Greg Wyshynski This was the perfect intro for me. When I started watching hockey, I didn’t know anything. This book gave me enough knowledge to understand what I was seeing. And then, on a second read, I felt like I was part of all the inside jokes and references. 

Behind the Bench: Inside the Minds of Hockey’s Greatest Coaches by Craig Custance  I picked it up for the Mike Babcock and Mike Sullivan sections, but I loved the whole book. It was a glimpse into the coaches’ heads and styles whether it was Joel Quenneville and how he set his players up to hit their bonuses at the end of the season; Ron Wilson’s teeth-grinding assessment of Phil Kessel; or John Tortorella’s fascinating take on locker room politics and why he sat Roberto Luongo in favor of Eddie Lack. There’s a reason Craig Custance is one of my favorite Athletic writers. 

This Team is Ruining my Life (But I Love Them Anyway) by Steve “Dangle” Glynn I am not an audio book person but I bet this would be a great listen if you are. If you’ve ever seen an LFR (if you haven’t I recommend Anaconda or THEY LOST TO A ZAMBONI DRIVER), you know Steve Dangle has a unique voice and style which carried through into this memoir of growing up a Leafs fan. From his days at the zoo to the highs of going to the Vancouver Olympics to the lows of, well, being a Leafs fan, it’s a funny, moving read. The Kid by Shawna Richer and Sidney Crosby: Taking the Game by Storm by Gare Joyce Apparently I have two Sidney Crosby biographies which is very on-brand for me. If you want a window into young stardom and the uniqueness of Sidney Crosby and the oddity of hockey fame, here you go. From people stealing his uniforms from his bags at the airport (seriously, what?); to shouldering the expectations of being The Next Wayne Gretzky, the Savior of the Penguins, and the Savior of the NHL these are both in my top books pile for their insight into Crosby and as reference for building Sophie.

To-Be-Read Pile Tales from the Pittsburgh Penguins Locker Room by Joe Starkey I have started this one and I’m really enjoying it so far. I love behind-the-scenes glimpses and this delivers in spades. The Russian Five by Keith Gave A gift from my sister. It’s about five Russian Players - Sergei Fedorov, Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Vyacheslav Kozlov and Igor Larionov and their journey to the NHL when the Iron Curtain was still hanging. Hockey 365 by Mike Commito 365 days - 365 stories. The plan was to read one a day but I fell off pretty early on. I’m hoping to catch up by April and then commit to keeping current. 

Any thoughts or recommendations? I’ll be doing a round-up on my favorite Athletic articles at a later date, but I’m also looking for new hockey content.

[diyunho]

The Joker x Reader - “Freaks” Part 1

Y/N is a metahuman with several peculiarities, but one could say the weirdest is her heart: it is gated by four locks that make it impossible for the woman to fall in love. Also one could say she’s manipulative, cunning and ruthless. Sounds familiar? Maybe that’s why The Joker is the perfect candidate to help her finally get something she always desired: a one of a kind heir.

“Yoooo-hoooooooooo, Mister Jooo-kkkeeerrr!!!!” Bane skips along the poorly lit corridor since it’s almost 11 at night and the Arkham inmates are supposed to be asleep. Yet they’re not: the ruckus woke them all up and now they are standing by the glass walls facing the hallway, wondering what the heck is going on.

The real Bane sighs, completely unappreciative of you borrowing his physical appearance.  

“Hey, cut it out!” he admonishes as Y/N passes by and she decides to stop for a moment.

“Hello there handsome,” you swing your hips while walking towards him and The Riddler snorts, entertained: his cell is right across so it’s not like he can miss the show.

“If you’re going to mimic me, don’t do stuff like that!” Bane hisses through his mask, irritated.

“Apologies honey,” you wink and continue. “Far from me to purposely chop your masculinity to pieces,” but seductively sway on the tip of the heavy boots, taunting more because... who’s going to stop you?

“Seriously?!” Bane growls and you cut him some slack, transforming into The Joker for a few seconds.

“Jeez, don’t get worked up,” you smirk and blow the green hair off your face. “I’m looking for this guy, I know he’s here too.”

“Why are you looking for him?” Killer Croc punches his fists together, hoping he can twist your presence in his favor.

“I need him for breeding purposes,” you serenely admit as The Clown Prince of Crime rolls his eyes three padded rooms up from your present location.

“I told you before I can help with that,” Harvey Dent flips his coin in the air, not understanding why his offer was rejected numerous times.

“Me too!” The Riddler grins. “You should forget about the man that repeatedly refuses your advances and pick one of us,” the mastermind gestures at the cells containing prisoners willing to take on the task.

“I want him,” you revert to your human form, Mr. Freeze gasping with admiration: he’s been a fan for the past two years. “He’s the only male I’m compatible with for procreation on this continent and nobody else will do.”

“How do you know?” Deadshot addresses the burning question.

“I just know, ok?” you pout not wishing to get into details. “That’s why I’m here to bail him out. I helped his men clear the area so we can rescue the father of my future baby.”

“Ugghhhh,” a displeased and very loud protest is heard from The Joker’s cell.

“There you are,” you light up with the happiest smile and abandon the captives held in pretty boxes lined up on the south side of Arkham Asylum.

“Hey Y/N,” Jonathan Crane smacks his lips, “if you get me out of here also I’ll give you two millions.”

“I’ll give you double!” The Penguin shouts and Bane promises:

“I’ll give you three!”

The offers keep on pouring in and the shapeshifter is not a person to say no to easy money.

“Might as well,” you press the yellow buttons outside everyone’s incarceration chambers, leaving the best for last.

“Hiiii Mister Jooooker,” you drag the words and he grumbles, squeezing past you as soon as the glass slides enough for him to emerge from the cell.

“Shut up!” he barks and you couldn’t care less about his crabbiness.

“Your crew is waiting outside,” you giggle and turn into Frost, escorting the grouchy Clown in the direction of the exit you know it’s safe to take.

“Would you look at that?” The Shark teases, not being able to contain his laughter.

“Holy shit!” Panda tries to keep it together yet it’s impossible: the real Frost gives them a dismissing glare, annoyed Y/N is lovingly holding The Joker’s arm as they come down the stairs, definitely engaged in some sort of argument.

“That’s obviously not me!” Jonny mutters and there are more disrespectful remarks from the henchmen patiently waiting for their boss.

“It’s still funny as hell!” Richard underlines and swallows his sentence when Y/N posing as Frost kisses The Joker’s cheek.

“One more sound out of you jerks and I’ll bash your brains in!” Jonny threatens because he’s sick and tired of Y/N playing charades at his expense.

Thankfully you switch to your old self immediately after but the team is glad they’ll have something to tease Frost with in the weeks to come. Although it can be overdone: under the apparent calmness he has quite a wretched temper.

“Delivered as agreed,” you cheerfully announce to his gang and follow J even if he’s not thrilled about it.

“Get lost!” he angrily stomps, pushing you away when you grab his hand again.

“Stop being so rude!” you remodel your body after his and he takes a deep breath, staring back at another fabulous J courtesy of Y/N.

“Stop mimicking me!!!” he sneers and Panda comments in a low tone, convinced he’s far behind to safely say it:

“Two Jokers. God Forbids!”

A couple of goons nearby snicker and the amusement abruptly halts when you raise your voice:

“I heard that!!!”

“Huh?” J inquires.

You just lift your shoulders up, not wanting to distract him from what he has to focus on: making sure he fulfils your demand.

The First Lock  

“You’re still here?!” The King of Gotham comes out of the bathroom, intensely drying his wet hair with a towel. “I thought that by the time I’m out of the shower you’ll be gone.”

You gaze at his naked body, reckoning it’s a nice coincidence to be compatible with such a beautiful specimen. Could be much worse.

“Why don’t you want to help me?” you ask and The Joker is aware what you’re referring to. “I’ve been begging you for a year; I must emphasize I’m losing hope and I will probably have to move to another continent in order to find a new prototype that could give me an heir.”

“Not my problem. Why do you want a kid?” he tosses the towel on the floor and digs around in the closet for a pair of boxers.

“So I won’t be alone,” the disarming reply makes him tilt his head to analyze the stubborn metahuman that pesters him on a regular basis about crap he doesn’t give a damn about. “The storm is coming,” you shift the subject when the lighting strikes the dark skies in the distance at 1:23 in the morning.

J gulps, uneasy: he saw the 6 feet creature for a split second and it certainly startled him.

“Apologies, Mister Joker,” you try to fix the mistake because it’s evident his reaction is below excitement standards. “The fire bolt must have projected my true nature. You only tolerate the pretty side, don’t you?” the sadness in your demeanor confuses J. “They all do…” Y/N whispers to herself. “Is this better?” you transform into Poison Ivy, then Cat Woman, then a random blonde girl with big boobs; by the seventh option The Joker had enough.

“Cut it out!” he finally finds his favorite underwear and you stand by the bed, opting out to be your human self for his sake.

“Can you please help me?” a disappointed woman pleads since he’s getting ready to go to sleep.

“Why would I help you?” The Joker snaps, hoping you’ll disappear from the premises and let him rest at the mansion he found refuge at after breaking out of Arkham.

Your eyes get teary and he never saw you show any type of weakness before; it’s sort of uncomfortable even for him.

“Because us freaks have to stick together.”

“Speak for yourself!” J gets mad at your affirmation and doesn’t know how to react to the tears rolling down your cheeks. “Mmmmm,” he debates, deep in thought: the insane Clown was captive for almost three months and a half and they surely don’t allow any conjugal visits in that shithole. Not that he has anybody in particular that would come to tend to his urges.

“If I help you,” the sudden switch in mood makes you pay attention, “will you quit bothering me?”

“Y-yes, of course! I swear!” you wipe your eyes, full of hope for once. “Since we’re a match it will only take one time! I’ll make it worth your while, I promise.”

You watch J take off his boxers and don’t blink when he yanks you in his arms, afraid he might change his mind: he’s not the most well balanced individual on the planet.

“No kissing,” you dodge his lips. “I only need the technical stuff.”

He gives you a cold stare, fed up with the infernal plague:

“You don’t get to make any other requests!” The Joker pulls you into a passionate kiss that unexpectedly shatters the first lock of your heart.

“Wait, wait…” you part from his soft lips, kind of drunk on the intimacy. “Did you hear that?!”

“Hear what?” he shoves Y/N on the bed and slowly crawls on top of her.

“That deafening noise.”

“Nope,” J purrs while carefully listening anyway. A strong thunder shakes the ground and he grins: “I heard it.”

“Not that, it was something else,” you attempt to explain and he buries his face in your cleavage, protesting the unwanted dialogue: 

“After chewing my ears for months, less yapping would be nice!”

You smile, delighted to have tricked The Joker with your fake tears; you sure counted on him being trapped inside the Asylum without any feminine presence to grace his existence and it payed off in the end. Making yourself available when nobody else is around brought the desired outcome: Y/N always gets what she wants.  

************

The Joker moans in his dream, unhappy with your wiggling.

“What is it?” he cuddles up to your body and it feels soft.

“I’m pregnant,” you yawn and he puffs in disbelief.

“Already?... We had sex a couple of hours ago.”

“U-hum,” you say and let him caress your skin, unaware your true essence peeked from behind the human shell. “It shouldn’t take too long. By morning I will have my heir.”

“That fast?” J opens his eyes since the pillow talk is actually interesting.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t notice I’m different,” you hum with your eyes closed, exhausted from the energy you have to channel into the tiny life growing inside your womb. The soon to be mother is so impatient she won’t skip accelerating the process at the expense of her own vitality.

“No kidding,” The King of Gotham mumbles, smitten with the apparition peacefully dozing off in his arms. The storm outside is wreaking havoc and each time lightning illuminates the blackness J can inspect the delicate feathers covering your body: when he touches you they change colors, red butterflies flying out of the pressed skin. He curiously pokes one and the illusion shatters into glowing dust resembling small fireworks.

The Joker has no clue that he is the first soul to ever see you like this; earlier he didn’t have the opportunity to comprehend what he saw, but he’s sure taking advantage of the situation now to understand what he’s looking at.

“Oh,” he touches your tummy that seems to expand with each passing moment: something is moving and he foolishly smirks without realizing.

Whatever is developing inside Y/N he helped create and strangely enough he can’t wait to see the result.

************

The Second Lock

J drags his feet on the wet grass, watching you admire the sunrise. He woke up and the bed was empty: made him wonder if you vanished without a trace. Yet there you are, waiting for him in the backyard since you figured you owe him this much.

“Mister Joker,” you chuckle, holding something wrapped up in a blanket. “I’m off to my house: thank you for participating in this project,” the indifferent metahuman blurs out: it’s the only speech she prepared. “I requested that everyone owing me money from last night should send it here,” you gesture at the huge duffel bag at your feet. “There’s 35 million dollars in here, all yours as a thank you for helping me.”

“Hm?” he crinkles his nose, insulted at the gift. “Do I look like a prostitute?!”

Why is he getting angry?... That’s a lot of money for a one night stand.

“They get paid for sex, don’t they?” he enlightens the puzzled Y/N. “What’s that?” J nods at the bundle you gently rock.

“My baby.”

“You gave birth?!” he forgets his hurt pride, not believing it’s already done.

“Yes, about 45 minutes ago,” you kiss your daughter’s forehead and her innocence makes your chest tightly constrict before the second lock of your heart is broken to pieces. “Did you hear that?” you interrogate the man you don’t need anymore.

“Hear what?” The Joker rushes to glimpse at the newborn as you step back, discontent he’s trying to take her.

“That horrifying bang! How can you not hear it?!”

“I have no idea what you’re rambling about,” he forcefully snatches the baby from Y/N’s embrace, grunting at her resistance. “Gimme, I wanna check out what I made!”

He parts the blanket aside and…

“Waaaaah,” the mesmerized parent holds his breath:

The sweet angel has wings embedded with neon green feathers, the same shade as J’s crazy hair.

“Are you done?” you attempt to reacquire your treasure and he slaps your arm.

“Little bird…” J runs his fingers along her wings and the mini-metahuman fusses a bit, already establishing a connection with her dad.

That’s exactly what you’re trying to avoid before it’s too late.

“Mister Joker, I have to go, ok??!!” you seek to remove the baby from her father.

“Stop bothering me!” he sucks on his teeth and begins striding towards the mansion while the panicked Y/N runs behind him.

“What are you doing? Give her back!”

“What should we name her?” The Joker ignores your outburst, totally struck with this overwhelming emotion washing over him.

Oh no, she’s already getting under his skin!

“WE?!” you shout, exasperated. “This is MY descendant!”

“You said I participated in the project so she’s half mine!” The Clown implies the obvious.“I think we should name her Emma, I always liked that name,” he adds to Y/N’s dismay. “Pretty bird…” J shuts you down as soon as you open your mouth to protest, stroking his daughter’s feathers.

He’s already addicted and this is a complete disaster!

“I’ll tell my boys to get baby supplies,” he decides without taking into consideration any opinions you might have about his plan.

“Why?!” you cringe at the proposal simply because The Joker is not part of the equation; but your daughter is already bonding with him and that’s something mommy can’t break: she has her own will and set of abilities enabling her to already make choices. You’re not sure why she’s making him believe he could be included into a two party family; there’s no space for a third, otherwise it would be a three party family and that won’t work.

“Don’t you need supplies for her?” he enters the master bedroom where the infant was conceived only hours ago.

You’re still on the patio, fuming at his absurdities.

“No, I have to go home! I’ll take care of it! Listen Mister Joker, I’m not expecting anything from you! ” you underline the truth and his witty response baffles Y/N:

“I was sure expected though to get naked and have sex right after escaping Arkham, huh?!” and The Joker protectively covers his daughter’s ears, his messed up brain figuring out she shouldn’t hear that. “Where’s home anyway, huh?” the tirade continues.

“That’s none of your business!” you shriek and he repositions Emma in his arms, preparing to lecture her mother when he gets distracted by the growth spur.

“Did she just get…bigger??!!!”

“Yes,” you join him in the middle of the room, explaining things you shouldn’t because frankly you should be at your residence by now. “She’s using capabilities inherited from me in order to speed up her evolution and then take a break to recharge around one year old landmark.”

“Fascinating,” J gushes while placing Emma on the couch: the baby is napping, not bothered by the quarrel anymore. “Wait here; I’ll go instruct my men on what we need.”

This is the limit to make you lose your marbles.

“There. Is. No. WE!” you thud on the wood floor and The Joker watches you get taller and taller until you can barely fit under the vaulted ceiling, electing to show him what he’s messing with. The metahuman transforms into the nightmare she really is: dark and sinister, covered in black feathers with sharp, long claws and fangs ready to tear apart the human trespassing a fine line.

That’s not what The Clown saw last night: you keep the beast caged but now IT needs to come out, otherwise he won’t understand the seriousness of his circumstances.

“You are not needed!” your heavy steps make the ground shake. “You are not wanted!” you corner The Joker between the table and the couch Emma is resting on. “Don’t stay in my way or you’ll regret it!!!! I’m taking my daughter and we’ll go: don’t try to stop me or I’ll kill you!!!” and you bend over to snarl in his face, prepared to shred him to pieces.

Eerie silence while J is gathering all his strength to put up with the fucked up events leading to this moment.  

“You two can’t go,” he straightness his back, so stiff one could think he swallowed a broomstick.

“Why not?” you smell his skin, antagonized.

The Joker tries to look as imposing as possible but he’s still half your size; nothing else in his mind besides some words of wisdom he’s about to repeat:

“Because us freaks have to stick together.”

You unravel your tusks, displeased with his strategy:

“Speak for yourself!”

That went down the drain fast, J thinks while the hideous mug a few inches away from his face doesn’t bulge. His eyes wander off to the sofa and he gasps:

“Where’s the baby?!”

A sharp claw points towards the ceiling and he looks up only to notice Emma snuggling in her blanket.

“Oh my God!” his eyes get big. “What is she doing there?!”

“Snoozing!”

“She’s gonna fall!” The Joker circles around you, worried about the angel.

“She’s not going to fall; she’s comfortable,” you huff and reach to caress her.

“Where are the wings?!” J glares at the gigantic mother tending to her peculiar offspring.

How many people have witnessed such bizarre sight? NONE. And yet The Clown is asking questions without a trace of disgust or judgement; only pure curiosity.

“They’ll come and go, she can’t fully control them yet.”

“Can you…can you turn into your usual self?” he suggests. “You’re very ugly like this and it’s spooking me out.”

“Do you know you’re interested in us because she’s making you?” the monster bites without using her fangs. “You’re useless, yet she wants you around.”

“Oh yeah?” The Joker’s attitude escalates despite the sticky context. “You’re useless also since you chased me until I slept with you; she exists thanks to my help! You should be ecstatic!!”

“Money is not enough?!” you gradually switch to the Y/N he’s familiar with even if you’re still mad.

“I have money,” The King of Gotham pretends not to be relieved by the welcomed transmutation.

“Then what do you want?” you attempt to compromise for your daughter’s sake.

“My birds,” he calmly admits.

You debate on his stupid reply: is J deaf and didn’t catch the memo?! He might be because he keeps on telling you he didn’t discern the odd, loud noises you heard twice so far.

You are not aware it would be such a blessing to hear those sounds again: it could mean the unconventional family Emma is trying to keep together might actually work.    

Also read: MASTERLIST

Diyunho(.)tumblr(.)com/post/153664676321/joker-x-reader-masterlist

[71tenseventeen]

Take My Hand (Take My Whole Life Too) 24

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

Warnings for sexual content, male pregnancy, non-hockey Sid. Sid and Taylor’s ages have been altered to fit the story.

Perpetual credit to my betas, @queen-alia and @icosahedonist.

I’m 90% sure that at least 85% of this has made it through my betas. 

Sid runs his fingers nervously over the letters on the back of the jersey before tugging it on.   

Just before Geno left for the arena he’d brought it to Sid, grinning as he tugged it over his head. “Think maybe you wear tonight if you want. For luck.”

It was too big on Sid everywhere and he could see a couple of marks on the sleeve. “Is this…Did you wear this?” He’d asked, wide-eyed, making Geno chuckle.

“Wear in game seven, win the Cup. Best luck.”

“Oh my God! Geno, I can’t wear this!” He started tugging the sleeves off. “What if I spill something on it? What if something happens to it?”

Geno put a hand on each of his arms, pinning him inside the jersey. “Sid, need to breathe. Would not let you wear if I worry about those things. If you spill, we clean. You think I’m not clean after celebration? Was soaked in beer!”

Sid looked down at the Penguin across his chest and back up at Geno again. “Oh. But… This is a really special jersey.”

Geno, “Special game, special jersey,” he’d said before kissing Sid on the nose with another smile. “You wear for me?”

Sid had been helpless to deny him. “Yeah, of course. I’ll be really careful.”

Geno shook his head, smiling fondly and kissed Sid again.

Now Vero’s eyebrows are nearly in her hairline as she stares at Sid ducking into her car. “What?”

“Is that what I think it is?”  

Sid blushes and ducks his head with a smile. “Yeah. He said it’s, um, from game seven.”

Vero stares at him for a moment before breaking into a wide grin and shaking her head. “When’s the wedding?” she teases as she turns the car around.

“Oh come on, it’s not like that.”

“Sid. Marc-Andre and I have been together a long time and he’s never sent me to a game in a jersey he won the Cup in.”

“It’s not that big of a deal. He was just being nice. It was easier than buying me a new one.”

She laughs. “Okay, Sid.”

Sid uses the special identification card Geno got for him to enter with Vero. Everyone very clearly knows her and they also very clearly look curious about Sidney. No one says anything, though, and Sid wonders if and what they were told about him.

Vero, saint that she is, leads the way, fending off anyone who looks like they might want to chat. Sid’s relieved when they make it to their lounge area—for about two seconds.

Looking around, he feels like he may hyperventilate. He knew the seating would be special but this is—

Vero tugs on his arm. “Breathe, Sid. You’ll get used to it,” she says, pushing him on through the very swanky lounge past a huge buffet and some very plush looking seating areas. Down a couple of stairs, they finally reach what look like slightly more normal, though still much nicer, seats. “Sit,” she orders before disappearing only to reappear what seems like moments later with bottles of water. “Drink.”

He does and waits until he doesn’t feel so much like choking before sitting back and says quietly. “I don’t belong here.”

“Yes you do,” she says with an air of finality, tugging on the his jersey sleeve. “He wants you here and you want to be here for him so this is where you belong.”

“But—” he starts but she cuts him off.

“Would you rather there be no one up here for him?”

“No, of course not!”

“Then drink more water, try to relax and be here for him.”

He can’t argue with that. She’s right, Geno deserves to have someone here for him and right now he wants that to be Sid so he settles back into the seat again and tries to relax.

Talking to the other people in the lounge is still outside of his comfort zone, though Vero introduces him to a handful of wags as “a friend of Geno’s.” For the most part, though, he sticks close to her and tries to enjoy what he came here for.

That part isn’t hard.

It’s easy to join the crowd cheering for the team when they come on the ice, a sharp thrill running through Sid when Geno skates out with the cup above his head.

Once the game starts, he’s not thinking about where he’s sitting or who he’s sitting with—all he can think about is Geno tearing up the ice and how well the Pens are playing. The first period is great except for when Williams makes a dirty attack dragging Geno to the ice, a moment that has Sid on his feet cursing. Geno’s back up in a moment looking ready to murder and where he was cursing moments before, now all Sid can do is cheer, elated as Geno goes after Williams.

Near the end of the first Vero leans over and says, “We should get food during intermission. What do you want?”

Sid turns to her with a shrug. “What are my options?”

“Anything you want. I mean they obviously can’t serve everything but honestly, just about anything you want within reason, we just have to tell them.”  

Sid gawks. “But that’s—what if they don’t have what I want? I don’t want to make someone go to trouble to make something for me that’s not already ready to go.”

“Oh Sid, you’re such a sweetheart,” she says with a smile and a shake of her head. “No wonder he’s so smitten with you.”

He feels his cheeks burning. “He’s not… smitten.”

Vero only laughs.

That’s how he finds himself scarfing down a really amazing steak during first intermission while Vero smiles fondly at him.

The rest of the game passes much like that until the Pens beat the Caps. It’s a good game and Sid is surprised at how much fun he’s having. He’d been so nervous at first but now he has a scratchy throat and he can’t wipe the smile off of his face as he chatters away at Vero. He wants to find Geno right away, tell him how amazing he was but that will have to wait.

Vero stops to talk to various people on the way out, always introducing Sid and though he wouldn’t say he’s fully comfortable with it, he’s too happy to worry much. Geno won. Okay the team won but Geno—he was amazing. Sid can’t help but smile when he thinks about the fact that Geno is, well, maybe not his but he’ll be coming home to Sid and maybe he’ll even want to celebrate that win.

Vero snorts laughter at him and pokes him in the side on the way home. “Look at you.”

“What? They won! We’re supposed to be happy.” He says, completely unable to tamp down his smile even a little bit.

“There’s happy for a win and then there’s ready for your man to come home so you can reward him for winning happy.”

Sid’s too giddy to even deny it. Geno’s not his but he can pretend he is, for now at least. Tonight Geno will come home and touch him and hold him and make him feel like nothing else in the world matters. He bites his lip as he laughs bashfully.

He gets a text just as they pull into the driveway.

<So glad you here tonight. You wear jersey?>

Sid replies with a picture Vero had taken of him at the game.

<Told you. You best luck.>

Before Sid can reply, Geno sends another.

<Might be little bit later than thought. Need to go out with team for little while.>

Oh.

He shouldn’t be disappointed. Of course Geno is going out with the team after a win like that.

“Sid?”

He realizes he’s not smiling anymore as he looks up. “Huh?”

“Everything okay?” She nods towards his phone.

“Oh. Oh yeah,I’m fine.” He forces himself to smile at her.

She frowns. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah of course. It was just Geno. They’re, um, they’re going out. I don’t know if Flower goes too or if he told you.” He stuffs the phone into his pocket just as she pulls to a stop by the garage doors.

“Yeah, they always do if they win the opening game.”

He forces himself to smile again. “Yeah, I figured he probably would. Anyhow, thanks for the ride. See you later, Vero.”  He waves without looking back as he heads inside.

He heads straight to the shower once he’s inside, pausing only to strip off the jersey and hang it neatly in Zhenya’s closet, telling himself he has no reason to be upset. It was the home opener and they won. Geno is the captain, of course he needs to be there. That’s nothing to be upset about.

It was silly, he thinks as he ducks his head under the hot spray, to think that Geno would come straight home to him. Of course he wants to celebrate with his teammates. Maybe he hadn’t mentioned it before but he also had never told Sid he’d be home right after the game. It makes sense, when Sid thinks about it. He thinks about Vero and she hadn’t been upset at all and he realizes it really is silly for him to be. Geno will be home later.

He feels better as he towels his hair off and settles into bed, replaying some of Geno’s better plays in his mind. He smiles, maybe not as giddy as earlier but content. It lasts approximately two minutes—until he opens Instagram and the first thing he sees is a picture of Geno standing with some teammates and a very busty, blonde woman whose arms are wrapped firmly around his waist.

It’s just a fan photo, he’s seen tons of them before but—

“Ran into my boys after the game. G is even hotter in person!” He wrinkles his nose at the caption and frowns hard as he reads the comments where she chronicles her intentions with Geno, should she be able to entice him away from the group.

Geno wouldn’t do that, he tells himself feeling secure in that knowledge for a couple of seconds before his brain betrays him.

Why wouldn’t Geno do that? He never said he wouldn’t sleep with other people, just that he’d take care of Sid. Having a baby on the way doesn’t mean he won’t still date other people. After all they’re not exclusive. They’re not even dating. Geno has promised him lots of things but he’s never promised a relationship, he’s never promised fidelity and—

“Sid?”

Sid snaps his head up, surprised to find Geno standing in the doorway grinning at him.

“What—” Sid sits up. “What are you doing here?”

Geno flashes a funny smile. “Live here.”

“I just meant I thought you were out with the team.”

Geno shrugs. “Was but kept wonder what you up to here.”

“Oh.” Sid’s heart is hammering. Geno came home to him.

Geno raises his eyebrows, grinning as he sits on the edge of the bed. “You got big plans? Need for I leave again?”

Sid can’t stop the smile that spreads as he drops his gaze, blushing. “No!” He’s laughing as he looks back up and sucks in a breath as Geno leans in closer and touches his chin.

“What you do since game, all alone, hmm?” He drawls, sending a shiver down Sid’s spine.

Sid licks his lip. “Actually, I was thinking about you.”

Geno leans closer, close enough that Sid can feel warm breath on his lips. “What you think about me?”

Sid shudders. This is—this is just everything he wanted and he’s going to enjoy it. “I was just thinking about the game, how you played tonight.”

“Mmm,” he hums as he settles on the bed next to Sid. With a smile he reaches over and tugs on Sid who lets himself be moved around until he’s straddling Geno. He can feel Geno hot and hard through both of their pants and, god, Sid is starting to feel desperate. He’s like that for me, he thinks with a flush.

”You like? Think I’m play good?”

Sid’s fingers are already working at the buttons on Geno’s shirt, without even really having thought about it. Their eyes are locked as he nods, says breathily, “So good, G. The best.”

Geno grins, lips brushing Sid’s now. “You my good luck.”

There are a lot of things Sid could say to that, a lot of things he wants to say but the tension is killing him and the thing he wants most is to kiss Geno until his lips hurt so that’s exactly what he does.

And then Geno takes him apart little by little, surprising Sid by not being in any sort of rush. He takes his time, like he wants to savor every moment, smiling smugly the more he teases until Sid can’t take it anymore and straddles him again, already wet and messy where Geno’s deft fingers have been stretching him. He wastes no time slicking Geno’s cock up while Geno alternates between grinning and gasping. “So anxious, my Sid? Want so bad, you can’t wait?” And Sid can’t take it anymore, lifting to his knees and sinking down, down, down with a long, low groan.

Even then as much as Sid wants to ride him with abandon, Geno grips his hips, keeps things from going too fast. It’s torture and it’s the best thing Sid’s ever felt. He has to drop his head to Geno’s shoulder as he starts to get overwhelmed. Geno’s breath is hot in his ear, voice low as he tells Sid he thought about him all night, hoped he was seeing every moment, couldn’t wait to come home and get his hands on him. Sid’s barely holding it together, holding tight now as Geno rocks up into him faster and faster.

“Next time, I have you put jersey back on. Fuck you while you wear it. Think you like that, Sid?”

Sid can’t answer as he collapses forward, body shaking and shuddering with his release. And then Geno is moving even faster, harder and he pulls Sid’s hips down hard and comes with a loud, “Fuck!”

Sid expects him to zone out a little bit, he usually does as they work to catch their breath but this time he touches Sid’s face and then he’s kissing him and he doesn’t stop until Sid is breathless again. All Sid can think is that if Geno’s going to be like this after every win, it’s going to be a very, very good season.

Part 25

[shadows-twilight]

RWBY Volume 7, Chapter 5

My thoughts and opinions on Chapter 5 of RWBY Volume 7, "Sparks"

SPOILERS BELOW:

Once again, Team RWBY are in their classic bunk bed configuration, albeit now with them on the same wall.

I must say, I like the standard issue Atlas Academy pajamas.

Due to Penny waking them so cheerily, I wonder if Penny, a robotic being really understands the concept of tired.

Montage Time!!!

New song!

Is it just me, or do these Manticores and Beowolves look different from the others? It seems Grimm have regional variations as well.

Haha, the the doodle of Nora braiding Ren's hair on the latter's concept art is officially canon.

Yeah, don't try and split up the Bees at this point, Marrow. It's not going to go well for you.

I love how the anime lines changed color with Yang's eyes.

So that was the "Really Thirsty Moms" segment. Not as far in the forefront as I expected, but still funny.

I love their training room. Very X-Men.

I wonder what Vine meant by "extending [one's] aura". Are you able to make a wider shield around oneself?

I don't know why, but the animation of Ruby getting out of bed and geeking out to Penny reminds me of Marinette from Miraculous. Ironic, considering who shows up later.

TEAM FNKI!!!!! I absolutely love Neon and Flynt's new designs, and their teammate's looks are pretty swanky too.

I'm guessing Nora's weapon upgrade was her riding it around like a broomstick?

I love the upgraded for Neon's propulsion semblance (assuming that's what her rainbow trail is). Very ethereal looking while still rainbowy

Ruby may be asking why they aren't using airships, but what I want to know is why they're not using bigger vehicles. With all of the stuff they're supposed to transport, surely they could do better than a small U-Haul.

PENGUINS!!!

Why do I get the feeling that relationships are going to be a big theme from for this Volume? I mean, sure, we've had little ship-bait moments all over the place, but even on a grander scheme, we've had the Ace-Ops talking about their professional relationships, Weiss calling the rest of Team RWBY her family, and now this conversation with Penny. I really can't wait to see how this plays out as the Volume goes on.

Yeah, honestly that's about how I would imagine a poker game would go for Bad Luck Charm vs Good Luck Charm. Guess their semblances don't cancel each other out as much as we were hoping.

I am still incredibly wary of just how likeable Clover is. Do I want to know what the six possible outcomes were that Penny planned for, because I can't help but feel that at least one of them involved everybody dying.

At long last, we get to meet Robyn Hill, voiced by Ladybug herself, Cristina Vee.

So the "Show Them Your Teeth" graffiti wasn't a White Fang tag? Good to know.

So Ironwood is diverting resources from Mantle's security to this whole Amity plan. Yeeeaaah, this is doing nothing good for Ironwood's credibility.

I must say, I really like Robyn. She can be diplomatic when the situation calls for it, but she's not afraid to get her hands dirty when need be. Very on brand for her character inspiration.

I'm getting the feeling that Penny isn't exactly enjoying having to go against the potential Mantle representative.

Video games are for kids. Real Huntress siblings play with Semblance Summons!

"Irownwood isn't keeping secrets. Not from me." Any other Steven Universe fans think that line sounded a little too familiar?

I don't know if there are other security features in place that they just chose not to show us, but with all of the different semblances that are out there, are these guards really going to let Winter through on visual confirmation alone?

So that's the Winter Maiden. She's pretty.

I like the look of the Maiden's room. The easel and the kitchen area make it look very homie. Can't say I'm too hyped about the two aura transfer pods in the corner, though.

So her name is Fria? As in, based off of Freya? The Norse Goddess? Oh boy, those are certainly some implications.

Winter's gonna be the next Winter Maiden, because Ironwood chose her to be so. Yeah, remember the last time the Ozluminati tried to choose the next Maiden? Remember how well that went? I remember how well that went.

Wow. Jacques (or rather Watts) managed to find a way to lay off almost his entire workforce and yet spin it in such a way that everyone else is the bad guy. Perhaps he is suited for politics.

An episode that didn’t end on Watts and/or Tyrian doing shady shit? Combo Breaker!!!

[puckyou-forpuckssake]

Drowning (2)—S. Crosby

Warning: two sentences implying an abusive relationship. Don’t worry, it’s just the neighbors. I’m so happy you guys love this series. I’m really excited for it! Check out my other imagines and master list on my blog with #hockeyimagine. This series and all questions and statements about it can be found under #drowningsc.

Sidney hadn’t had the time to look to see if Y/N and Andy were in the box. Zach had assured him that they were coming. He was still obviously suspicious of Sidney and the whole situation. He had every right to be. That was his family.

They won 4-3 against the Rangers in overtime. Sid barely listened as Sully congratulated and berated the team and then instructed Olli, Murray, and Horny to do media. He rushed to put on his suit.

“Hey did you wanna go out with us tonight for drinks?” Kris asked Sid. “Cullen is the only one out so far.”

Sid shook his head. If this night was going to go how he hoped, he’d be out eating in a quaint diner in an hour with a beautiful woman and her son. Not that it was a date or anything, he reminded himself. He was merely treating a lovely family to a nice night that they deserved. That’s it. No romance involved at all.

“I have plans.”

“Involve pretty woman and small boy?” Geno grinned. Kris looked intrigued.

Zach patted Sid on the shoulder. “I’m going out with the guys. Walk them up to the apartment. Tell Y/N not to wait up for me. I might end up staying with Olli tonight depending on how many drinks we have. Make sure she locks the door too. Just because I have some money still doesn’t mean we live in the greatest area of Pittsburgh.”

Sid understood then. “You have plenty of money to get a nice place for yourself, and even them. You live with them to try to help but she doesn’t like charity.”

Zach nodded. “I know you like Andy and genuinely want to spend time with him because he’s a good kid. She still believes that you are on charity mode,” he explained. “You’re right, she doesn’t like charity or pity, especially when it involves Andy. That kid is her life. ‘The best accident in my life’ she says. She won’t warm up to you until she realizes a you’re there for him as a kid and for her as a woman of interest.”

Sidney wanted to speak up about that last part and argue, especially under the watching eyes and listening ears of teammates. “Don’t even deny it, Sid,” Zach interrupted. “Just don’t make me regret this.”

Zach walked out of locker room with some of the guys, leaving him, Evgeni, and Kris alone. “What am I missing?” Kris asked.

“Sid in love,” Geno told him.

Sid shook his head. “I’m not in love.”

“ZAR disagrees,” both countered.

“I explain later,” Geno whispers to Kris.

Kris nodded. “The 3 of us are going out tomorrow night in Boston to talk about this,” he informed Sidney. “You’re going to tell us about tonight. You’re going to explain all of this to us. Got it, Sid?”

Sidney nodded. “See you guys in the morning for the flight. Enjoy tonight.”

Sidney grabbed his bags and walked towards the exit. He stopped right before pushing the door open. Nerves rushed over him. He wouldn’t normally be doing this. He wouldn’t probably go to these extremes for another teammate’s family. Okay, so that thought was wrong and he probably would, but without the feelings he has right now. There was something about this situation that pulled him in. He pushed his nerves away as he pushed the door open.

Y/N and Andy sat outside the locker room on a bench. Sid smiled a waved. A small part of him feared they would have left, but that fear was gone now and replaced with excitement.

“Hi Sid,” Andy waved. “You played good tonight, and your box is really cool,” He then whispered, “I actually fell asleep during the second intermission and missed part of the third because it’s so nice up there.”

Sidney chuckled. “Did you enjoy it, Y/N?” He asked. She nodded. He took this time to glance over her. She was wearing one of ZAR’s jerseys, but it was the color of the shirt underneath her jersey that caught his attention. “Are you wearing a Rangers shirt under that?”

She smirked. “Guilty. I couldn’t help myself. Zach wanted to wear my Rangers jersey because he thought your reaction would be funny. I said I didn’t want to torture you that much.”

Sidney, smiling, shook his head. “Well, clearly since your cousin being a Penguin and your son a future one doesn’t convince you,” A large grin appeared on Andy’s face, “I suppose I must convince you to become our #1 fan. Maybe we can go get something to eat. I know a nice diner only a few blocks from here.”

Y/N blushed as Andy yanked on her arm, begging her to agree. Y/N nodded and Sid led them out of the arena. “I hope you guys don’t mind walking. It’s only a few blocks from here.”

Y/N shook her head. “Not at all. We took the Light Rail here anyway.”

Andy stood between Y/N and Sidney, holding each of their hands, as they walked to the little diner. Y/N had objected at first but Sidney didn’t mind. He didn’t say it aloud but it felt like he had a family of his own for once. Andy talked the whole way there about the game. He praised both teams but admitted he was upset when Horny hit Zuccarello and then when Kreider tripped Sid. Sidney had to keep reassuring him that he was okay.

Very few people were in the diner when they walked in. A middle aged woman waved to them from behind the counter. “Hiya Sid!”

“Hi Marnie,” Sid greeted. He led Y/N and Andy to a booth on the left and the waitress, Marnie, brought two menus.

“I suppose you want your usual,” she said. She looked at his guests and smiled. “You’ve never brought your family here before, Sid. Mama’s gonna be upset.”

“Mama?” Andy and Y/N questioned.

“She’s talking about her mom, Sue,” Sid net explained. “Everyone calls her Mama and she calls everyone Baby or some other affectionate term.”

They nodded and glanced over the menu while Sid and Marnie caught up. It had been awhile since he had been into the diner. He had been craving their fries lately though, and one of Mama’s pies.

“I want nuggets,” Andy demanded. Y/N shot him a look. “Please.”

Marnie nodded. “And for you, miss?”

“I’ll have a Pittsburgh salad.”

“And an order of pierogies for the table too, Marnie,” Sid added.

Marnie nodded and walked off. “You come here often?” Y/N asked.

Sidney chuckled. “Is it that obvious? They don’t make a big deal about me here.”

Andy gave him a strange look. “But you’re Sidney Crosby.”

Sid nodded. “And I’m also just Sidney,” He stared at Y/N as he said this. He wanted her to understand. “I’m a normal guy. I come to a little diner to pig out because it makes me feel normal. I love judging people on House Hunters. I binge watch Friends. I like cooking. I play video games. I’m normal.”

“I’m sure your girlfriend loves that,” Y/N commented.

“I don’t have one. It’s just me.”

“Do you have a dog?” Andy asked. Sid shook his head. “You should get one. Or a cat. You need a friend for when you’re home. It probably gets lonely.”

Sid didn’t respond as Marnie had brought out their appetizer, and he also didn’t know how to respond. An 8 year old kid had hit his situation head on. He was alone. He had no one. He visited his team to feel wanted. He played hockey to keep busy. He looked up at that moment to see Y/N staring at him. There was a look in her eye that said she understood him. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it quickly. Sid just nodded, and she gave him a weak smile.

He heard a shout. “Baby Sid!” Instantly a pair of arms wrapped around him. “Don’t you dare wait so long to come see me again.”

Sid chuckled. “I’m sorry, Mama. I fly to Boston tomorrow and then New Jersey. It’ll be a few days until I come back then.”

Mama Sue patted him on the back and glanced up to his company. “Baby you brought another baby Sid and a pretty woman! Why did you hide such a gorgeous family,” She pinched Andy’s cheeks. “You are a good looking boy. Look like your father.”

Sidney glanced at Y/N and saw her face pale. Andy giggled. “Sid’s not my dad. But she is my mom. Sid is our friend. I’ll still be Baby Sid Jr. though.”

Mama Sue chuckled. “And who are you, baby?”

“I’m Y/N. A friend.”

“A beautiful friend,” Mama added. Marnie brought over the tray of food. “Pittsburgh salad for beautiful friend. Chicken nuggets for Baby Jr Sid. And a basket of fries and today’s soup of Zuppa Toscana for Baby Sid. I make fresh peach-raspberry today pie too.”

“Thank you, Mama.”

They didn’t say much as they ate but the feeling was enough to keep Sid full. Andy tried playing with his food and Y/N told him to stop. He shared his fries with her after he caught her several times eyeing them. Andy would talk about his day and chomp on his food causing Sid to tell him to chew and swallow and then talk. He wiped Andy’s face when he was all done. Andy was yawning by the time Mama brought the pie out...in a box.

“Baby Jr Sid looks tired. Eat pie later. I wrote on top how to heat up,” Y/N tried to hand money to Mama for the dinner. She shook her head. “Nonsense. I put on Sid’s tab.”

Y/N pursed her lips. Sid didn’t want Y/N to be offended. “She can pay if she wants to, Mama,” Sid said.

A sharp pain radiated through Sid’s shoulder after Mama Sue hit him. “Stupid boy. You take beautiful friend on date and make pay? You’re hunky Canadien pseudo-father not teach you anything?”

“Mario taught me lots of things,” Sid answered. “Just let her pay.”

Mama huffed and turned to Y/N. “I make deal with you. This meal free as long as you and cute son come back to visit me. Then I let you pay.”

Y/N nodded. “I’ll take that deal.”

“And make sure Baby Sid shares pie with you!” Mama Sue shouted as they left the diner.

“She can be a lot,” Sid said when they were a few storefronts down. “But Mama Sue means well. I’m sorry you had to argue with her back there.”

Y/N shrugged her shoulders and pulled her coat tighter. Sidney had to resist the urge to wrap his arms around her. “It’s fine, Sidney. I know she meant well, but I like to feel that I am capable of taking care of Andy and I without any help.”

“Sometimes people want to help because they care,” Sidney blurted. He was going to apologize and then Andy started coughing hard. Sid dropped to Andy’s level. “Are you okay, bud?”

“Cold,” he muttered.

Sidney watched Y/N huff and purse her lips. “The station is another four blocks from here,” she murmured.

It was clear that Sidney was not supposed to hear that, but he did. “I can give you a ride home,” he offered. “The Rail isn’t going to be warm.”

“Sidney—“

“Take the nice man’s offer, momma,” Andy interrupted, his teeth chattering.

Y/N glared at Andy. “I was going to say yes. I’m not going to let you freeze.”

Andy blushed. “Sorry, momma. I just know how you can be.”

Y/N sighed and bent down to kiss Andy on the forehead. “I will always put you first, Andy. Always,” Y/N stood back up. “Where is your car, Sidney?”

—————————

Sidney pulled up to a mediocre brick apartment building in a shabby part of Pittsburgh. “Do you think Uncle Z will be back tonight, momma?” Andy yawned.

“Probably not bud,” Sid answered. “Your Uncle Z is out with some of the guys. He might stay with Olli tonight.”

“He’s with Olli a lot. Why aren’t you with the guys?” Andy asked.

“Because I wanted to spend the night with you and your mom,” Y/N was quiet throughout the conversation. “Shall I walk you guys up?”

“You don’t have to, Sidney. You’ve done plenty tonight. I really appreciate it.”

“I insist,” Sid leaned over and whispered, “I’ll be honest too. ZAR asked me to. Not that I wouldn’t have anyway.”

Y/N rolled her eyes and chuckled. “That sounds like him,” Y/N glanced back at her son. Sid looked back too and saw Andy slowly dozing off. “Would you mind carrying him up? It’s been a long day and I don’t want to wake him up. He might be a little heavy though.”

Sidney nodded. “I don’t mind. Maybe I can get out of lifting tomorrow,” he joked, causing Y/N to giggle. “Lead the way to your abode.”

The seven story brick apartment building opened with a simple key code—1-2-3-4 to be in fact. Sidney didn’t understand how this was safe. There was only one set of stairs in the building also, and they lived on the seventh floor.

“No wonder ZAR hates cardio workouts but is really good at them,” Sidney commented by the time they got to the fourth flight of stairs. “This is quite the workout.”

“Zach isn’t really here much any more,” Y/N told him. “He’s only here during the season when he’s on the roster. He has been spending a lot of time with Olli. I think they are thinking about getting a place together, but I know Zach doesn’t want to abandon us. He’s always been so supportive and I will always be grateful for that and liking out for us, but I just want him to live his own life. I did it before he got here. I can do it again.”

At the fifth flight Sidney heard the thump of music. At the sixth the moans of sex. Andy didn’t stir through the whole trip up. Once they reached the seventh floor, they had to go to the opposite end of the building to Y/N’s apartment. Sidney briefly stopped in front of one apartment, 7E, where he heard lots of screaming and yelling. Y/N shoved him along and stopped two doors down at 7C. Quickly she unlocked the door and shooed Sidney in.

“Andy’s room is this way,” she told him.

“Is that couple going to be okay?” Sidney asked.

She shrugged. “They fight all the time. As long as they don’t disturb apartment 7K, everyone will be fine and the cops won’t be called. I’m praying that doesn’t happen. It’s just a mess then.”

“Y/N, this isn’t safe,” Sidney whispered. He laid Andy down in his bed and walked out with Y/N. “This can’t be good for Andy.”

Y/N bit her lip and crossed her arms. Sidney watched many emotions cross her face. “I work the front desk at a downtown hotel and occasionally waitress at the hotel’s restaurant when someone can watch Andy. I can’t get a nice little townhouse and pay for the hospital bills. This isn’t where I ever pictured myself being.”

Sidney lunges forward to catch her as she collapsed in tears. He held her close and walked towards the couch. Y/N curled into his touch as he sat down. Sidney didn’t say anything; he just let her cry and rubbed her back. That’s what she needed. She was a 29 year old with an 8 year old son. Both hadn’t had the best life, but Y/N was doing her very best to make sure Andy was ahead in life, even if cancer pushed him back. She had no time for herself, Sidney realized. She had no one to vent or cry to. She put everyone ahead of her and left nothing for herself. She was alone—just like him.

Sidney glanced down and saw her tears had stopped and her breathing was even. Sidney didn’t have the heart to move her; besides, he liked the feel of someone being next to him. He could survive this one night.

[justgotham]

I really must thank the organisers of the Heroes & Villains event. I met up with the agent who had organised our passes, and arranged our interviews. He led me to a behind the scenes meeting room, knocked on the door, and inside I saw two of my favourite actors waiting for me. What was that line about real life, again?

My initial reaction was disbelief, I was immediately star-struck. To their credit both gentlemen put me at ease. By the end of the conversation It felt more like I’d been in a room with old friends. At first I couldn’t even get my fingers and thumbs working to hit the record button, but got there eventually. This wasn’t a tech issue, this was interviewer malfunction!

Action!

Dark Knight News: Right, it’s finally recording.

Robin Lord Taylor: Boom!

DKN: So, I’m here for Dark Knight News and DC Comics News with Cory Michael Smith and Robin Lord Taylor AKA Edward Nygma and Oswald Cobblepot. First of all, how are you finding London? Have we been nice to you?

Cory Michael Smith: Oh, yeah. I love it.

RLT: It’s been fantastic.

CMS: This is my fifth or sixth time here, it’s probably my most visited city outside the U.S. I love it! I came early, I’m staying late… it’s great!

RLT: Yeah, the same. I think it’s maybe my third or fourth time. It’s just fantastic. When I first came to London I was like oh my gosh, there’s actually another city I could conceivably see myself living in besides New York.

DKN: That’s how I feel about New York!

RLT: Really? Wow. They feel like sister cities in a way. They’re very similar in many ways.

Riddle Me This

DKN: I have loads of questions for you from the whole team, but… let’s have a look. (Under my breath) Are you single? Nope, skipping that… Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/significant other? Nuh-uh… Will you marry me… What th’ … (Back in full voice) Ah, here we go (CMS and RLTare laughing at this point.)

Edward and Oswald… radical departures from the way that anyone has played them before, which is awesome. A conscious decision, or did the producers want you to go down fresh avenues of interpretation?

CMS: It was very conscious. In the beginning we had a conversation with the creators about the character, but it’s felt pretty hands off for most of it. Early on with Nygma we were trying still to find the character, we were so far away from The Riddler. So we had some course corrections, and tried some stuff and had some different plot lines. It’s been so fun to go from Nygma to The Riddler. It’s felt like a really exciting evolution. Then the back and forth…. it’s felt like a very organic development of character. It’s been really fun.

RLT: I don’t know if you’ve heard, but it was really fascinating the way they cast the show. When I auditioned (Robin looks over to Cory) and I don’t know if it was the same for you, but we were not allowed to see the script. We weren’t even supposed to know what the project was, so they had sent out just scenes that were written just for the audition, with very little description.

When I came in to audition I made choices not knowing it was The Penguin. I was given a scene, and so, OK, here’s what I’m gonna do with that, and it just happened to be exactly what they had in mind. And that was the same for all of us, they didn’t want us to come in with any expectation or any thought about what came before. So it was very intentionally, made to be a departure for all of us, from the characters as we knew them before.

DKN: That makes so much sense. That’s a much more organic way to form a character naturally. One of my favorite parts of the show is how organic and natural it does feel from a character performance standpoint. I was speaking to Drew (Powell) earlier, and having a real, physical Solomon Grundy, rather than a CGI monstrosity was brilliant.

CMS: Thanks.

RLT: Thank you.

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue. I Have Multiple Personalities… And So Do I.

DKN: Obviously duality is a huge theme in Gotham, and in Batman’s universe. Robin, you started out as a good son, a family man, forced into becoming a monster. Cory, you were a nice, stand up guy, working for the police. You then had your heart broken, and your mind destroyed by guilt, forcing you to become the Riddler. Has it helped you, as actors, playing these two radically different personalities, that are the same person?

CMS: Absolutely! After four years of doing this, I feel way more in command of my body, and my voice, and there’s something really exciting about being on a TV show that feels so… operatic, and big. We both come from a theatre background, and you have the allowance to really fill a space when you’re doing theatre.

That’s rare in TV and film today, to be granted the authority to really flex your muscles that way. To learn how to do it on-screen, in a way that is focused, but still like… eruptive… it’s been a great education.

RLT: Yeah, definitely. It’s been great. There’s the idea that, when you’re on film that everything has to be smaller. This show has completely stripped all that away.

DKN: Every episode feels like a movie, and every performance is full of life.

RLT: Exactly, it’s larger… it’s like the largest performance you can give, and they want that. They encourage us to be big, and to be brave and put it all out there. That’s what I’ll take away from this whole experience. Feeling so much more confident in who I am, and knowing that when I walk into a room, I know how to command a space now… which I don’t think I really understood that before.

The Tools Of The Trade

DKN: Would either of you like to have the comic-book toys, like the staff, or the umbrellas in the final season?

CMS: Oh, yeah! Give me my cane! (All three of us laugh)

RLT: Yeah, he gets a cane, I get my umbrellas.

CMS: Give me my cane!

RLT: I’d love the helicopter umbrella, that would be great. Also, I’m really hoping that we get the monocle next year. In the storyline it’s an injury, so I don’t know who would cause it in the show (points at Cory) probably him… (We laugh) I think it would be fantastic! Especially since it’s wrapping up, I feel like, by the end, all of the pieces are gonna start coming together for all of us.

CMS: (To Robin) Do you plan on gaining 50 lbs this season? (We all laugh) Can you imagine? Oh, my God!

RLT: And shrinking! (More laughs)

DKN: That’s too funny.

I Did it My Way

DKN: Like you said, Robin, sadly things will be wrapping up. There’ve been quotes from the show-runners saying that characters like Mother and Orphan / The Lady Shiva and Cassandra Cain are coming onto the show. Are you guys excited about that? Some new blood?

CMS: Absolutely, yeah, totally.

RLT: I’m excited about new blood, but really what I’m hoping is, since it’s the last season, that even with the introduction of new characters, we’ll still be able to come back and focus on the core family, the core group that has been there since the beginning.

DKN: The backbone of the show.

RLT: Exactly. That’s going to be really gratifying, and it’s going to be very emotional. I’m already anticipating that.

CMS: I know, It’s a lot.. It’s a lot.

Men For All Seasons

DKN: The fans are, obviously, really sad about it ending too. I’ve been reporting on the show since it started, and one small comfort is that you’ll be going out with a bang, and not with a whimper.

CMS: Oh… it’ll be epic!

RLT: It’ll be fantastic. Also, just to know that it’s the end. I’ve been saying that once the show is done and time goes on, new people will still be discovering it. I’m just so glad that they’ll be able to watch it, all five seasons as though it’s a movie. The fact that we will have an ending, and that it will be, over five years, the big arc of the whole thing. I think it will be really great.

DKN: I was hoping you’d get ten years, like Smallville did, but…

(They both laugh and smile)

RLT: Hey, you never know… maybe Netflix will pick us up.

(More laughter from all three of us)

Every Girl’s Crazy ‘Bout A Sharp Dressed Man

DKN: It’s great seeing you both so casual, and relaxed. You’re usually in these sharp suits, and all dressed up. The costumes in the show are great! Do they feel as good to wear as they look?

CMS: Oh my God, yes. It’s extraordinary. We’re fortunate to have them custom made, and when you put them on you feel… powerful.

RLT: Yeah.

CMS: It feels right, and the fabric is beautiful, or it’s glistening, or it’s velvet, or whatever it may be. It just feels rich, and you can walk into a room and really own the clothes.

RLT: Yeah. It’s like putting on the skin of the character. I love working that way too, to be able to go from the outside into the emotional interior. To be able to put on the suit, have the nose, and then the hair. It’s like all these pieces come together, and then I’m Oswald. It feels really great.

Comic-Book Men

DKN: What was your relationship with comics. Before working on Gotham, and since?

CMS: Before the show, I didn’t have a relationship with comics, we didn’t grow up with them in our house. My brother and I didn’t read them. Now… (Laughing) now I have a collection! Particularly of Batman. I’m mostly focused on reading Batman comics, and now I have a little library that I’m pretty proud of.

DKN: Cool!

RLT: Yeah, same. I wasn’t a huge comic-book person as a child, but I was obsessed with the movies. Now it really is so rich. The art, the creativity and background of these characters I find so fascinating. It really feels like it’s mythology… the mythology of today, and I think it’s so exciting. The fact that it inspires both myself, and other people, that’s exciting.

DKN: Thank you so much.

So, to close. Any final message to our readers, your fans, from Cory and from Robin. What would you like to say?

CMS: Join us on the ride to the finale. It’s gonna be epic!

RLT: I love you, and thank you.

DKN: And we all love you, and thank you. Thanks guys!

RLT: Cheers, mate!

CMS: Thank you, man.

DKN: Fingers crossed, we’ll see you next year!

CMS: Yeah!

RLT: Fantastic!

[jgreenfeld]

meet the muse;

jessica abigail greenfeld | 22 | bisexual | irish-american | aeronautical engineering student/mechanic | potterhead | supernerd | oreo addict | bookworm | cheerleader

10 FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

1. Harry Potter

Your obsession with Harry freakin' Potter is a timeless affair. You read the first book tucked into a corner on the a tour bus, musicians fiddling with their instruments all around you, but you were lost to them. You were too busy learning spells, playing Quidditch and fancying yourself Mrs Jessica Potter. Sure, a lot of your friends have outgrown their Harry Potter phase, but you don't think that'll ever happen to you. He was never just a character to you, he was a comfort when you were recovering from your illness and figuring out what life was going to be like without being able to hear things from now on. You lost quite a number of things after the meningitis hit, but you never lost Harry. He taught you how to be brave and true and a little bit sassy, and you're always going to love him.

2. Atticus Finch

Your father is a mechanic, not a lawyer. He wears sports jerseys instead of tweed suits. But he's still the closest thing to Atticus Finch that this world is going to get - in your eyes anyway. Your dad was the first one to introduce you to To Kill A Mockingbird. He panicked and shoved his own copy into your hands after you finished the fifth Harry Potter book and spent three straight hours wailing over Sirius. Of course, TKAM wasn't going to be something that necessarily cheered you up, but you were hooked from the get-go. Atticus taught you how to be just and fair. He taught you to think about what it would be like to walk a mile in someone else's shoes. He taught you valuable life lessons that you still carry today, and even though it would be impossible to hope that everyone in the world could be more like him, you could at lease try to channel all that energy yourself. You like to think that he taught you how to be a better person.

3. Mark Watney

Mark Watney taught you that space is dangerous and terrifying and that it has the potential to be the very death of you. He taught you that it's vast and empty and nothing but a challenge. And it only made you love it even more. When your father picked up on your space obsession, right after your solar system model won first prize at the middle school science fair, he gave you a copy of The Martian. In all honesty, he had no clue what it was about but the name hinted that he was on the right path. You devoured it whole. Or rather... you spent the full night yelling at your book whenever something traumatic happened and Michelle fully attempted to smother you with a literal pillow just to get you to shut up. Mark Watney made you fall in love with space even more, and he kickstarted your desire to work for NASA one day. When you feel like you're never going to make it, you just need to look to him for a kick up the ass.

4. Gilbert Blythe

Gilbert Blythe is the very first love of your life. You understand that there's a high chance you’re not his type, because when he tugs on Anne's pigtails and calls her 'carrots', she hits him over the head with a slate and it's love at first sight for him because of that. If Gilbert Blythe ever tugged on your hair to get your attention, then you probably would have just decided to marry him right then and there. Still, what's not to love about him? He's kind and he's funny and he's smart and he cares about school. Perhaps you would be relationship goals based solely on the fact that you're a nerd and he's a nerd. But you'll never get to test that theory out, which is a shame. In the meantime, Gilbert is setting the standards for all other men and he's raised the bar to a whole other level.

5. Paddington Bear

Paddington Bear is the reason you demanded a duffle coat and red wellies at the age of six. He's the reason you wanted to travel to Darkest Peru whenever a family vacation was brought up. And he's the reason that you still unironically enjoy a marmalade sandwich, even to this day. Plus, he's cuddly and kind and the exact friend you think anyone should have. Honestly, you'd love to be someone's answer to Paddington Bear.

6. Matt Saracen

You're never going to be a football player and, to be quite honest, you never really want to be. You're tiny and any tackle would crush you in an instant. Soccer, on the other hand, is different. And then, of course, there's cheerleading. Matt Saracen was never a cheerleader, although you have total faith in him and believe that he could be anything he wanted to be. He was a football player though, and had always been desperate to be one, despite shortcomings like money and being one of the younger kids on the team. You relate to that. Friday Night Lights taught you all about teamwork. You love being part of a group like that, whether that be the girls soccer team or the cheerleading squad. It's what you miss most about high school, that sense of belonging. You love your family but Michelle likes to make your life a living hell, Brendan can only defend you so much and Gabby has her head in the clouds half the time. Matt taught you that sometimes it's okay to feel way more at home when you're part of a team.

7. Leslie Knope

She likes waffles, she likes fairness and she loves her friends. Leslie Knope is exactly the kind of woman that you want to grow up to be. Maybe you don't have a future in politics, but that's okay! You can still embody her in all the ways that are important. You're a feminist, you would happily arrange a wedding ceremony for two gay penguins and you would absolutely die for Michelle Obama. Leslie Knope is that caring and goofy friend that you want to be, and while you're not as savvy as her or as good with words, and you absolutely do not have her knack for public speaking, you wake up every morning and tell yourself that you're going to be a Pawnee Goddess that day.

8. Clint Barton

You watch the Avengers and you fall in love with superheroes. Your dad seems bolstered by this since he's been trying to get you to read comics for years now, and this eventually persuades you. You discover that you're a die-hard Captain America fan and there are several failed attempts to write a popular Steve/Bucky story when you foray into fanfiction, only to realise you're nowhere near as gifted a writer as you think you are. But you still love this world and these characters and it's like a blanket gets wrapped around you when you find out Clint Barton is actually deaf in the comics. Just like you. You devour Hawkguy, trawl the internet for all the meta discourse and fanfiction you can find and you even dress up as Kate Bishop one Halloween. Clint Barton teaches you that you can have a disability and still be a superhero.

9. Luke Skywalker

There was no way that you were making it through your childhood without discovering Luke. And Leia and Han and Chewie. But Luke was the one that stuck with you most and your dad was very proud of you for that. He's a hero, but not the typical rough-and-tough, 'needs a damsel in distress to save' sort of hero. He teaches you that you can save the galaxy and still be loyal and compassionate and have a good heart. You don't need to be jaded to be a hero, and it's okay to show emotion. And sometimes it's okay to be a little bit of a drama queen as well. You appreciate that last one.

10. Buttercup

The Princess Bride is one of the few movies that you and Michelle actually agree on. Or rather, you like all movies and she hates anything that you like. But even Michelle can't say no to The Princess Bride. Buttercup is a character who undergoes development, giving you hope that maybe one day Michelle will also go through that same growth and decides that she wants you to be her sister. Perhaps it's a pipe dream but you never give up hope. Buttercup also teaches you that you can fall hard and fast for someone who says 'as you wish' to your every command and like, you get that. You're pretty sure that you'd die on the spot should anyone say that to you.

9 TWEETS

@jupiterjess: i've ran out of oreos. is my life even worth living anymore?

@jupiterjess: the new cheerleading captain at jasper high messaged me for tips. LITTLE OLD ME. i'm blushing hardcore.

@jupiterjess: thank you so much to everyone who failed to tell me i've been walking around with a chocolate milk moustache all day!!!!! you're the best guys!!!!!! thanks!!!!!

@jupiterjess: do you ever just. stop and think. about exoplanets?? someone come hold my hand and talk to me about exoplanets.

@jupiterjess: HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY JAMES POTTER, YOU'RE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!!!!!

@jupiterjess: america, i have no idea what you're doing right now, but you need to be better than this. wake up and smell the racism.

@jupiterjess: 'it's a power that jedi have that lets them control people and... makes things float.' rEY asdfgh

@jupiterjess: as a bisexual, the trailer for 'last christmas' has been very difficult for me. thoughts and prayers for jess in this trying time.

@jupiterjess: @NASA i love u

8 FACTS ABOUT SPACE

1. Halleys Comet won’t orbit past earth again until 2061

JESS' INPUT: Okay, so here's another fun fact about Halleys Comet! At Disney's Magic Kingdom, Main Street USA is connected to Tomorrowland by one thing and one thing only. Main Street's design is based on the year 1910, and Tomorrowland's design is based on the year 1986. What do those two years have in common? That was when Halleys Comet orbited past Earth! ... That's more of a Disney World fact, but pretty cool all the same, huh?

2. A full NASA spacesuit costs $12,000,000.

JESS' INPUT: 12 million! That's so much money, holy smokes. Honestly, imagine going around wearing an outfit that cost 12 million dollars. Wouldn't be me! I'm getting anxiety just thinking about it.

3. There may be a planet made out of diamonds.

JESS' INPUT: Okay, so this planet is like, 40 lightyears away and it's eight times the size of earth. Researchers think it could be made of graphite and diamonds and everyone is like 'wow, that's cool!' And okay. yeah, I get it. Diamond planet. That's super cool. But you know what isn't cool? That episode of Doctor Who where they went to the diamond planet and that one woman got possessed. That was the opposite of cool.

4. The footprints on the moon will be there for 100 million years.

JESS' INPUT: There's no atmosphere on the moon so the footprints there can't be eroded by wind or anything like that. So those footprints are going to be there for practically forever. Imagine being Buzz and Neil and being able to flex like that. I went to the grocery store the other day, accidentally dropped a jar of Marmite and then stood in it - so my footprint was there because the cashier couldn't handle the Marmite-y smell for long enough to clean it up and apparently I wasn't allowed to help for 'health and safety'. So at least my footprint is going to be imprinted somewhere. Just nowhere that's as cool as the moon.

5. The moon was once a piece of the earth.

JESS' INPUT: People think that there was some sort of collision which made a part of earth break off. They say it was an early protoplanet of Mars called Theia. Anyway, Theia made the moon break away from Earth but it stayed around to orbit us because of the Earth's gravitational pull. Don't you love the moon? She's a lesbian queen! Hey, maybe Theia had a crush on her or something and just went about it like, the wrong way.

6. There is floating water in space.

JESS' INPUT: Uh huh! So there's this massive water vapour cloud that astronauts found and it holds - oh my gosh, get reads for this - it holds 140 trillion times the mass of Earth's oceans. My head is honestly spinning just thinking about it. 140 trillion! That's crazy!

7. There is a volcano on Mars three times the size of Everest.

JESS' INPUT: Yep, her name is Olympus Mons and I would personally like to know why she didn't have a starring role in The Martian. Maybe it's because she would have easily outshined Matt Damon. Sorry, Matt.

8. In 3.75 billion years, the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxies will collide.

JESS' INPUT: I'll be honest, my brain doesn't even know where to begin processing this. I can't... compute. What is this... I can't... Sorry, I'm shutting down. Jess out!

7 OREO FLAVOURS

7. Hot & Spicy Cinnamon Oreos. - you can pretend you can handle spicy food by eating one of these. and doesn't that make you look cultured, huh? still... it's a weird mix of flavours. 5/10. 6. Peeps Oreos. - a solid 7/10 for taste... but you still feel guilty about eating a fluffy marshmallow chicken, hence the low ranking. 5. Oreo Mini. - all the 10/10 taste of a regular oreo but they're tiny so it's very easy to hide them when you want to sneakily eat them in class! a solid 12/10 for being so gosh darn convenient. 4. Golden Oreos. - look, you were brought up in ireland and that means that sometimes you just really, really want a custard cream, okay? this is america's answer to that and it comes in a delicious, compact oreo form. *chef's kiss* exquisite. 8.5/10 3. Mint Oreos. - honestly, it's so easy to feel halfway to sophisticated when you eat one of these. a solid 9/10. 2. Red Velvet Oreos. - CREAM CHEESE IS THE PEOPLE'S CHEESE!!! 10/10!!!!!! 1. Cinnamon Bun Oreos. - you nearly cried when you tasted these for the first time. the sun was shining. obama was president. your skin was clear, your crops were growing. the promise of tomorrow was as bright and warm as the feeling in your chest when that cinnamon-y biscuit-y goodness first met your tastebuds. you could write an essay on cinnamon bun oreos. 100000/10.

6 FAMILY MEMBERS

1. Jensen Greenfeld

Your dad is probably your favourite person in the world. You'd do anything for him - including deferring your college acceptance to keep an eye on him, because that's what family does. He's your rock, your best friend, and he's the most giving person you've ever met in your life. He and your mum met in university when he studied abroad for a year and they were instantly best friends, keeping in touch long after they'd graduated and your dad moved back home. He knew your mum always wanted a kid and so he gave her you. It's unconventional, you know that, and most people raised their eyebrows at him helping another woman conceive in such a short time after his wife passed away, but that's the kind of person your dad is. Generosity helped him through his grief. How could anyone criticise that? He taught you how to ride a bike, change a leaky exhaust and adopted Comet for you so you wouldn't feel so lonely when you moved to New York to be with him. When he ended up in hospital, you were beside yourself. But not because you had to stay with him now instead of going to college like you'd planned. You could never begrudge him that, not when so much of his own life has been dedicated to making sure you were happy.

2. Magda McTaggert

Your mum has never had the easiest life. Disowned by her parents after she came out to them, she had to make her own way in the world. That's something you've never been able to relate to, because she made sure that you always had people who loved you. When you were sick as a kid, she stayed up with you every night, barely getting any sleep herself. She was your champion when you began to learn sign language, and she held your hand when the doctors first began talking about your cochlear implants. You miss her when she's in Ireland and you're in America, but she's only ever a Skype call away.

3. Kinsey McTaggert

Technically, Kinsey is your step-mother. But you rarely refer to her as that. She's your ma. She's been in your life since you were three-years-old so keeping her at arms-length with a 'step' term doesn't feel right to you when she's just as much your family as your mum and dad are. Sure, you'll call her by your first name but that's because Kinsey is so terrifyingly, inexplicably, astronomically cool. She's been managing bands for her whole life, she has pink hair and she let you come on tour when you were younger and being homeschooled. Your fondest memories are the tour bus with your mum and Kinsey and whatever up and coming rockers had adopted you as their little sister. Kinsey is the reason you felt alright leaving your mum behind to start school in America. You know she's in safe hands with her wife.

4. Michelle Greenfeld

Michelle has pretty much hated you since the day you were born. Perhaps 'hate' is a strong word, but she highly dislikes you and never let you forget the fact that you're only her half-sister. In some ways, you get it. You came into the family shortly after her mum had died. Her dad had a kid with another woman and, even though there were absolutely no romantic feelings involved, it still must have felt like a kick in the teeth. You try your best to be accommodating of her feelings because you know she's not all bad. The ways she treats Brendan and especially Gabby is proof of that. She can be the perfect big sister - unfortunately, just not to you.

5. Brendan Greenfeld

Brendan likes you though, and you're so happy about that. Brendan is exactly what you want in a big brother. He's protective and funny and taught you all the cheats for his video games, so you're basically unstoppable when it comes to Mario Kart now. He was also the one that told Gabby to shut up when she saw you for the first time after you lost your hearing. He took learning sign language in his stride and always makes sure there's room for you to sit at movie night. Sometimes you worry that, if it ever came down to it, he'd still pick Michelle over you - full sibling loyalty and all. But maybe that's doing Brendan an injustice, because he's never been anything other than the perfect big brother to you.

6. Gabby Greenfeld

Gabby is a sweetheart. She might be a little flaky at times and come out with mildly offensive things, but you know that she means well. Michelle is her favourite but she loves you as well, even if she often turns her nose up at your love for scrunchies and denim jackets. She'd rather get you to wear something sparkly and show-y and while you'll never say no to glitter, you don't think that Gabby's closet is quite for you. In fact, you're pretty sure only she can pull it off. Gabby is wild and free and doesn't care what anyone thinks of her. She's loving and loud and you want to make sure that you get to keep her around forever.

5 MEMORIES

memory one

You blush when Tor lets out a low whistle. "Some talent you've got there, Little J," he says. That makes you blush even more. Tor is just so nice. And has a handsome face. Kinsey says you're far too young to like boys yet and that you're far too smart to like someone like Tor. She says he goes through girls like a revolving door and you're not sure what that means, but you like the attention from him anyway. "I was just messing around," you smile, your fingers trailing over the keys again. He tips back his head and laughs. "Well, mess around anymore and I might be out of a job. Are you trying to upstage me?" Tor teases. Grinning, you shake your head and Serge wanders over. Normally, he's so tall and silent and sort of intimidating but his smile is warm when he reaches over to ruffle your hair. "Say the word and I'll kick Tor to the curb in an instant, Jess," he promises solemnly. You know that they're just joking, but it's nice to feel that sort of validation. Especially when you're a little kid and they're rockstars. That's why music is so special, it brings everyone together, even Irish Harry Potter enthusiasts and charming keyboardists with pretty eyes.

memory two

The headache has cleared up but you still feel groggy and confused and so you fall back asleep again, promising yourself that you'll ask after your mum when you wake up again. Because maybe then you'll be able to hear her. There's no such luck when you come to again. Everything is silent and it's too weird to even begin describing. You're confused at first but your mum's tears, your dad's shell-shocked expression and the grim line set around Kinsey's mouth helps you to put the pieces together. There's a kind looking doctor who's writing something on a notepad for you, and you already know what it's going to say before he places it in your lap. You've worked it out. You're deaf. It's as if years fall away from you at that moment. It's hard to reconcile the news with everything you know about yourself. Your whole childhood has been music and now what? That's gone away and you're just meant to be okay with it? How is that fair? With shaking hands, you take the pen from the doctor and write a reply. As soon as your mum reads it, she starts crying again but your dad finds it in himself to smile and he reaches over to squeeze your knee through the hospital bedsheets. He still has that piece of paper which is stupidly sentimental of him and you love him for it. It read: Okay. What's next?

memory three

At first, you were excited. After years of homeschooling, you're finally going to a proper high school and you get to see your dad every day. What's not to love about all of that? However, now that you're in New York, the nerves have started to settle in. What if no one wants to be your friend? What if the kids at school are weird about the deaf thing? What if they try and touch your implant? What if they don't let you join the soccer team even though Kinsey bought you new cleats specifically for that? Most of all, what if Michelle tries to smother you in your sleep? Your dad laughs when you voice that one aloud. "Don't you think you're being a little bit dramatic?" he asks you, fondly smoothing down your hair. You laugh along with him but you aren't so sure. That night at dinner, Michelle spears a meatball with her fork in such an aggressive manner, glaring at you all the while, that you think you're about to faint. No, you don't think you're being dramatic at all.

memory four

"Jess? Jess, are you alright?" At first, you can't even reply. You're too speechless. With shaking hands, you present him with the letter - your CalTech acceptance letter. Your dad cheers at once and he scoops you up into a hug and you think that you could just die of happiness right then and there. You're going to be studying aeronautical engineering. All of the hard work, the late night physics reading, the dedication to science club, the hours spent in your dad's garage understanding engines, the grease and oil covering your hands and your hair and your face. It was all worth it. And now it's one step closer to NASA.

memory five

A heart attack. Your dad isn't even old, and as far as you know he's always had a clean bill of health so what's changed. You stay silent all the way to the hospital and Brendan lets you. When you arrive, Gabby hugs you and even Michelle manages a watery smile your way. Then all four of you are allowed into see him. He's lying in bed, tubes attached to him, but he's sitting upright and he smiles at you, his kids, even if he does look sleepy. Then he cracks some sort of joke and hell if you can remember what it is. But that's what makes you cry. The idea of college goes flying right out the window. He argues with you, naturally. So you lie and tell him you were never that sure about it anyway. He doesn't believe you at first because that career path has been the only thing you've ever been sure about since you were 11-years-old. Maybe you're a good actress because eventually he relents and lets you stay with him. Or maybe, deep down, he's scared to be on his own now too.

4 CRUSHES

1. Tor Eklund

keyboard player for The Corkscrews

has the nicest set of teeth in the world

went through girls like a revolving door according to Kinsey

called you 'little J'

total dreamboat

saw you as a little sister

2. Graham O'Connell

striker for the boys football team in Ireland

had never seen or read Harry Potter but he had floppy hair so you were willing to make allowances

always complimented your football boots

was your first kiss

asked if the two of you could keep in touch when you moved to Canada

messaged you one day to say he'd started watching Harry Potter

you were overjoyed

messaged you again to say he didn't really like Remus Lupin

you well and truly dodged that bullet, didn't you?

3. Amanda Forbes

literally the prettiest girl you've ever seen in your life

was visiting Jasper in the summer with her family

was also a cheerleader

your bisexual awakening

said she wanted to kiss you because she had never kissed a girl before

kissed you lots of times that summer

ghosted you when she left and has a boyfriend now

well, fine then, Amanda

4. Steve Rogers aka Captain America

I mean, you're only bloody human, aren't you?

3 JOBS

1. Neighbourhood Dog Walker

You were fourteen. You needed some money. You loved dogs. It made perfect sense. All the neighbours trusted you to look after their pooches and you made about twenty different canine friends.

2. Apprentice Mechanic

When you told your dad you wanted to be an aeronautical engineer, he said that you needed hands on experience. It helped that he owned an auto shop. Convenient, right? He thought a week working alongside him would help you get to grips with things and prepare you for college. You kept working there for three years. You loved it so much.

3 Aeronatucial Engineer

With your dad on the mend, it doesn’t seem like such a pipe dream anymore. Now you’re at NYU and you feel lucky that they want you to study with them. It’s not CalTech but it’s still one step closer to NASA, and this way you still get to be close to your dad.

2 DOGS

1. Comet

2. Sirius

1 JESS

Bubbly, optimistic, generous, strong-willed, determined, resilient, resourceful, courageous, cheery, nurturing, reckless, stubborn, lacks self-awareness, self-conscious, easily influenced, cares too much about what other people think of her, total Gryffindor, eats too many Oreos, space nerd, deaf, soccer player, cheerleader, dog mom, half-Irish, half-American.