#i’ve said this before but it’s hard to want to keep championing for someone who doesn’t even seem to be pulling for himself anymore

[cryingat300kph]

Pretty Thing

Pairing: Sebastian Vettel x Boytoy!Mechanic!Reader

(Bad) Summary: When Ferrari gets a new pretty boy for a mechanic a certain 4x world champion takes notice.

Rating: M Warning(s): Mentions of sex, but no actual sex. Cursing. Use of Y/N. Allusion to homophobia in sports. F slur (but in a self-descriptive and reclaimed way) -Not Proofread-

Length: 1.4K Words

A/N: This is Seb in his chaotic flirt Ferrari era, like 1st/2nd year at Ferrari vibes. Also the ending is kinda cut off because I lost steam, but wanted to put something out. Let me know if ya’ll want this continued, I have ideas ;) <3

“Lewis look, that’s who I was talking about.” Seb says poking Lewis’s arm gesturing towards the bar. “Him?!” Lewis asks turning back to Seb. “Yeah.” Seb suppresses the urge to add Isn’t he pretty? “Damn I'm surprised they would hire a mechanic so-“ “so gay?” Sebastian supplies. “Heh-Yeah.” “Well he usually doesn’t look like that.” Seb says again gesturing towards the man.

The “that” Seb is referring to is the absolute twink uniform you are wearing. You might as well be wearing a flashing sign reading “I like dick! ;)” And Sebastian thinks you look completely and utterly delectable; more than usual.

He’d had his eyes on you since you joined the team at the top of the year. At first he noticed you because were young for someone not on the PR team, and far too handsome to not be in a more front-facing role. He was glad he was known to make sure to get to know all new members of the Ferrari family, because it meant he could satisfy this curiosity; finding out you had climbed the ladder at the factory quickly and had always wanted nothing more than to be in the garage track-side.

His interest in you only grew as he got to know you better. He knew obviously that as a mechanic you weren’t just a pretty face, but he soon found out you weren’t just either of those things. But someone who was extremely funny, kind and just as much of a nerd about racing as he was.

And so, a friendship slightly-beyond coworkers started to form. Now, at halfway through the season you two could be called proper friends, but your friendship is still very tied to work. Either way, you feel comfortable around Seb, comfortable enough to speak freely of your interests and life outside of racing. However, one thing he doesn’t know about you was that you don’t mind sharing a bed with a man.

Its hard being queer in formula one. It’s 2015 and huge strides have been made, but motorsports lags behind. Especially as someone who is involved in a more “masculine” job at Ferrari you keeps your more flamboyant tendencies under wraps. European ideas of masculinity help a lot, but it’s still a bit lonely, stressful and draining, to be closeted.

Hence why you’re here.

It had been a stressful race weekend, but Seb ultimately got podium and everyone was rightfully really happy and the team planned to go for drinks with the winning Mercedes team.

Seb had protested a bit when you said you thought you’d sit this one out. “I would, trust me, but I’ve had this headache all day and I doubt a hangover will make it any better.” You lied. He had seemed to come back to himself, like his earlier protest was a slip. Laughing it off. “You’re right, go, rest. We need your brain intact!”

You had chuckled at that saying bye to him and driving back to the hotel to get changed before heading out for your real plans. You felt bad lying to Seb but after this weekend a guy needed some attention damn it! But most importantly you wanted to dress how you want and exist how you want for once even just for a couple of hours.

---

Without you at the party Sebastian is more melancholy than usual. He's cursing himself for crushing like a teenager, but without you there he’s lost interest. “Dude is this about the guy you told me about.” Lewis asks seeing Seb is obviously down about something. “what? no- it” “Where is he? Go talk to him!" “He’s not here, had a headache so he stayed back.” “Well you don’t seem to be having fun so go after him, just ask to hang out.” “But the team, i should-.” “Kimi is enough of a party for the team, he’d probably enjoy the company.” Lewis nudges him. “You know why I can’t Lewis.” Seb says seriously. “Yeah.” Lewis agrees and they’re silent for a bit before he speaks up again, mischief in his voice. “But maybe we could find some other entertainment for the night. To quell the ache?” “What are you suggesting?” Seb asks suspicious. “There’s a bar a couple blocks from here. Heard its a discreet spot, good for cruising.” He says like he’s stating the weather and not suggesting the two biggest F1 drivers at the moment go cruising for gay sex.“What if someone sees us.” “we’re in America, no one knows who we are.” And Seb is just tipsy enough, and yearning to fuck a stranger and imagine it’s you, so he agrees.

“Let’s do it!”

---

And so, Sebastian now finds himself at a loss for words, staring at you. At you, sipping a cocktail, half sitting on a bar stool, your back slightly arched. Honestly the picture is so inviting. Lewis is just looking at him with a smirk.

Sebastian sees that a couple men obviously have their eyes on you too. He watches as the bartender hands you a drink gesturing to one of the said men. You look over and the man starts to get up. Seb feels his fists tighten, but he relaxes when you hand the drink back to the bartender looking at the man apologetically. He’s glad the man gets the idea and sits back down, Seb doesn’t want to think what he would have done if the man had persisted.

Wait, so maybe you’re just out for a nice night alone, he doesn’t want to disturb that. But dressed like that? He’s having a hard time resisting.

“Lewis what do I do?” He asks. “The flirt is asking me?“ Lewis scoffs, but when Seb just looks at him annoyed, he Chuckles; he’s never seen the confident man so nervous before. “Just, go get him tiger.”

He knows it’s now or never, so Sebastian goes to the opposite end of the bar and tells the bartender to get you a drink.

-- The bartender hands you another drink. It’s top shelf which catches your eye. A couple men have bought you shots and stuff throughout the night but so far when the bartender pointed to who they all weren’t your type. Or they quickly stopped being your type the moment they opened their mouths.

When you ask who, this time, the bartender cocks his head to the end of the bar. You look over and it’s Sebastian! Your eyes go wide, unsure of what to do. What is he doing here?! Here, where you are looking like a complete faggot and nothing like you do at work. But he’s your friend right, he would’ve found out eventually and he just bought you a drink?

You tamp down the flicker of hope that tries to spark. So you just smile and raise the drink to him raising your eyebrows. It’s friendly coworker shit right? He’s just being nice. Your brain is forced to stop working overtime when he approaches you and starts speaking.

“I could barely recognize you y/n!” He says smiling and friendly, but with a hint of something? And he is blatantly looking you up and down. Tongue between his teeth. Oh. You can’t help lighting up despite being nervous. “Well let’s just say the Ferrari uniform is not my personal style.” You joke. “This definitely suits you much better.” He blatantly flirts, which catches you bit off guard, but you try not to show it, excitement now replacing your nerves. “You think the boss will let me wear a crop top to work?” “Maybe I could ask him nicely.” Sebastian says and then leans closer.

“Having something so pretty in my garage can only bring me good luck right?” “Oh, I don’t think you need luck, Seb.” You laugh because now you are definitely blushing.

“Every driver needs luck.” He says low.

The way he's looking at you. It’s almost too much. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted. In the span of a few minutes you’ve basically come out to a coworker turned friend, but also discovered that apparently Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari driver, four time world champion also likes men. And now said Ferrari driver and friend is flirting with you.

You can't wait to see where the night goes.

[aboxofcereales]

Currently trying to collect all the information about our companies’ life before the events of Baldur’s Gate 3. Mainly, about their family and age. Any suggestions/editing will be very much welcome.

Huge thanks to everyone who aiding the cause in comments and reblogs.

Last update - 10 April 2024.

Wyll Ravengard: is about 24, has left the city when he was 17, in origin introduction states that he’s been exiled for 7 years. According to Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, he's in fact 24 & Neutral Good. Apparently his dad, Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard, raised him by himself, Wyll’s mother, Francesca, passed away in childbirth, when Wyll was born, as stated by Ulder’s longsword description, Wyll mentions her during a romance scene in Act 3, also calls himself “a single son to a single father”. According to Murder in Baldur's Gate: Ravenguard has never married and has no interest in domestic matters, moreover the said sword description calls Wyll's mother Ulder's love, not wife, which makes me think that Wyll was born out of wedlock. Supposed to have 3 uncles. I’ve seen a note about Wyll diving to see a mermaid as kid, written by his dad, in the high security vault. Florrick seen him grow up, had a crush on Stelmane as a kid, also during his childhood enjoined fishing with his dad, but sucked at it. Also, Ravengard's Scourger states that "Duke Ravengard's father was the sort of man who works with his hands, and communicates in grunts. In his heart his son vowed to do better. But when Wyll was born, Ravengard felt a strange gravity that drew him away from his son.", that strange gravity might be Francesca's death in childbirth(?). Generally, I strongly advise to take him around the city in act 3, as he tells plenty stories of his boyhood.

Gale Dekarios: still not sure if there any information about how old he might be, but I estimated around mid-to-late 30s, though it doesn’t really sit well with him meeting Mystra as a kid (btw there’s an absolutely wonderful post on this topic by @lairofsentinel, check it out), still I’d like Gale to be on the older side, alternatively, he may be around 28-30 due Mystra's return year. Personal headcanon - he's 37. According to Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, he's 35 & True Neutral. He casted his first spell as a babe - a score of rabbits in the panty. Apparently lives separately from his parents in his tower, at least as kid had them both (mentioned when he first tells about his friend-tressym, Tara), thou in his origin (at least as much as heard and played myself but @vitanithepure confirmed it) only his mother gets mentions, the state of the other parent is unknown. Has a very tender relationship with her, but didn’t inform her about the orbe for her own safety, her name may be Morena (godsblessdataminers), Mrs Dekarios really wants him to find someone to settle down with. Also, Tara hates his beard.

Shadowheart (Jenevelle Hallowleaf): is about 50, comments that Viconia documented about 40 years worth of her life at the hands of Shar, in the same note she writes that Shadowheart was able to keep her heart true to her child self, and was hard learning Shar lessons. As I understood when she was kidnapped, she was about 10-13, kidnapping was directly by the Shar command.According to Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, she' 48 & Lawful Neutral. Personal headcanon - she's 51. After her abduction made friends with tiefling named Nocturne (they might have be more than friends?), had a pet mouse for sometime called Nibbles. There’s a grafiti somewhere behind Jaheira house which she has drawn. Shares a questionable taste of romance literature with Wyll and his father. Her parents’ fate, Emmeline and Arnell Hallowleaf: is up to you decisions. Her mother mentions that they wanted Jen to have siblings.

Karlach Cliffgate: early 30s I think, the way she speaks about Gortash makes me thinks she was practically a teenager when she started working for him and spend 10 year serving Zariel. Personal headcanon - she's 29. According to Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, she's 30 & Chaotic Good. Her parents, Pluck and Caerlack, she moved them from Outer City to a nicer place. Her mom died due to fewer when she was a teen, dad a couple years later due to road accident. Both died before she met Gortash. Her mom seems to be behind her love for Minsc, Jaheira etc. You can meet her friend near Baldur’s statue.

Lae’zel of K’liir: seems to be barely 20. Githianky reach adulthood in their late teen, and as Lae’zel was yet to present a mindlflaer’s head, I think she’s the youngest in the party. According to Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, she's exactly 22 & Lawful Evil. Personal headcanon - she's in fact 20. She hates owls due to their necks, Karlach agrees.

Astarion Ancunin: according to translation of his grave he only lived for 40 years before becoming spawn, spend 200 year as such. Safe guess - there's definitely smt wrong with his grave stone or/and translation as it messes the current year - from 220 to 250. According to Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms, he's 263, which doesnt seem right, & Neutral Evil. According the artbook he was a corrupted magistrate, which seem to be true atleast to pre-release version.

Halsin is 350, his family is from the High Forest, thou they are all gone. Spend 3 years captured by drow, loves honey and curving ducks. Jahiera is about 150-160, as she was a child in 1347. Has atleat five foster children: half-elf Rion, half-orc druid Jord, three humans - Jhessem, Fig, and Tate. Minsc was a statue from 1409 to 1480s.

[blarefordaglare]

When Someone Says(Signs) No, It Means No.

A gift for @hotcheetohatredwastaken for the anniversary of BDOR (Blood Drops on Roses) 

Feel free to use this fanfiction however you like, it’s your’s, and also an apology for typing this late-

__

The hero of Twilight regrets his words. In his defense, he never expected them t0 be twisted into the situation that was as of now -but onto that later-. His mind couldn’t help but drift to the events that caused the entire situation. 

“Sweet Ordana Wild,” a heavy sigh escaped the rancher’s breath as he tried to put his thoughts into language, “I ain’t gonna go around fighting another one of those Lynels, curse courage, they’re dangerous.” Don’t get him wrong, the hero adored doing the unthinkable-the impossible. Years of his life were surrounded with that entire mindset, but he has lines. He has lines that were drawn at swords with sharpness that rivaled the master sword, a monster that belonged in a dungeon, and a swing that even a fairy struggled to heal. 

‘Please,’ the hand was moved in a stiff grace, too calculated to be genuine, ‘I’ve done it before-It’s not hard. Please. I promise I’ll be careful. I promise.” The sheer amount of force the champion put into  that single word was enough to prove the want behind the words. 

“Not hard as in Almost died and proceeded to eat half of our food stash?” His tone was dripped with sarcasm, his thick accent hanging in the air. He regretted the possibility of coming off rude-true-but not as much as he would regret being guilty, or at least involved, in an innocent life's death, “No.” 

‘But I said I promised,’ A promise he wouldn’t keep. He didn’t own a crystal ball, neither of the two did. It would be impossible to predict such events. Still, Wild pressed on, ‘plus, I can’t die until I kill the calamity-’ he suppressed the urge to finish that thought with an ‘I think’. That would destroy his entire argument. 

Twilight’s patience was wearing thin, yet growing heavier as it was attempting to remain tied precariously on a thread. He chose to not voice the quite obvious example a hero can die, for his brothers sanity (mostly) and his own, “Wild,” His fingers pinched the bridge of his nose, the skin first turning white, then fading into red as the skin surveyed the touch, “You need to learn, for my sake, yours, and the entirety of Hyrule, when someone says no, it means no.” His voice shook as he spoke, attempting to manifest a straight, assertive tone. 

But looking back, he probably shouldn’t have spoken at all. 

“Wild,” Twilight’s hand rested on the damp, chopped wood, “Remember that fire rod you found? We may need to use it to start this fire. All the wood is wet.” The small piece of flint lay discarded, barely managing to create a spark, let alone light a fire. 

‘No.’ 

“What?” His eyes darted towards the champion in confusion, “What do you mean, ‘no?’” 

“Twiligh-t,” His voice was barely a whisper, yet the ‘t’ was over-enunciated; it drowned out the rest of the noise, ‘When someone signs ‘No’, it means no.” The logic was there, true, but it certainly was not there in the context of the moment. 

The rancher took a moment to breathe, to not let the intrusive thought of simply somehowstealingtheslateanddumpouteveryweponuntilhefindsit get to his head, “Now, who in their right mind taught you that?” 

‘You.’

Oh. 

Right.

“Well, if we don’t get this wood on fire, we will sleep cold.” He tried to keep his voice gentle, reminding himself of what Uli did when he himself was out of reason, keeping a calm attitude while incorporating simple facts that one would know, “You don’t want to sleep cold, do you?”  

‘No.’ It was clear he was hesitant to answer, already figuring out where the conversion was headed. 

“So how about we get out the fire rod, and have a fire?” 

‘No. I’ll just put it on my back and I’ll be warm.’

Smart kid. 

“Fine then.” His voice was tinted with suppressed anger. He couldn’t lash out-that would only embarrass himself.

‘Fine.’

“Fine.”

And with that, he curled up in his bedroll. The chill of the night wind lulling him to an uncomfortable sleep. 

He would only realize, in the morning, the small flame, barely the size of a candle, lit onto a small ceramic, the smoke filling the morning air. He would only realize, in the morning, the tip of the fire rod a bit more grayer than last time.

[valleydean]

Chapter 4 [Read Here]

CHAMPION Part III of Heavyweight a deancas boxing au by valleydean (emmbrancsxx0) read from the beginning | playlist | tip

SUMMARY: Brooklyn, 1933. Dean Winchester, the number one contender, trains to become the next Heavyweight Champion of the World, and this time he won't let anything get in his way. Title holder Castiel Novak has second thoughts about retiring, especially when someone from his past arrives in New York and asks for his help. Meanwhile, a new contender rises to fame and threatens to complicate both of Dean and Cas' ambitions - and their relationship.

CHAPTER PREVIEW:

When they got home an hour later, Eileen, Anna, and Kelly were sitting around the coffee table with three glasses of red wine. Eileen was rocking Maura, who actually wasn’t crying for once. All three of the women glanced up when Jack bound through the door, calling, “Hi, Mommy! Guess what? We saw King Kong!”

Kelly chuckled at him and placed her hand gently on his arm. “That sounds exciting.” Her eyes swept to Cas. “Isn’t that supposed to be a little violent?”

“I loved it!” Jack said.

Dean swept his arm out and pulled down the corners of his mouth. “See? He loved it.”

Kelly seemed even more skeptical than before. “I suppose…”

Jack had already moved on. He jumped onto the couch between Eileen and Kelly and said, “Hi, Maura! Can I hold her?”

“Okay. Do it like we taught you,” Eileen instructed. Jack sat up taller and held his arms out over his lap. Eileen shuffled the baby over to him, and Jack’s grin was ear to ear.

Dean wandered over after Cas, his eyes flashing to Anna briefly before offering a smile to the other two women. “You ladies gossiping?”

“You wish,” Eileen returned.

“Actually, we were talking about Anna’s first day at work,” Kelly answered, causing Dean’s attention to swing over to Anna again. She’d left earlier that morning set on finding a day job, but Dean hadn’t actually expected it to work out for her.

Cas seemed a little more optimistic. “How did it go?”

Anna inhaled, overwhelmed. “Okay, I think. It was a seamstress job. It’s been a while since I’ve sewn anything.”

“Well, you were always good at mending things,” Cas told her.

Anna laughed lightly. “Yeah, like all the holes in your clothes from too much roughhousing.”

Dean cast a side-glance at Cas, whose eyes were sparkling fondly at his sister. It made Dean’s stomach churn.

“Anyway, it was either that or a job as a typist, and I don’t have the slightest clue on how to do that,” Anna said.

“Oh, I can teach you,” Kelly offered. “It’s really not that hard.”

Eileen nodded in encouragement. “Yeah, and there are a lot of other women who know how to do it at the NWP meetings. You should come to one with us, since you’re staying in New York.”

Dean tried not to react bodily, but he couldn’t help it when something like that was sprung on him. “Wait, you’re staying in town?” He swung his gaze toward Cas again, looking for an answer. Cas’ expression was blank, but there was something guilty behind his eyes—like he’d conveniently “forgotten” to tell Dean that piece of information.

“Just until Cas and I have enough money to pay workers for our parents’ farm,” Anna said, which was yet another little tidbit that made Dean’s eyes go wide and demanding. His gaze stayed fixed on Cas, who didn’t seem to be backing down from the challenge.

“That right?” Dean asked tersely.

“Does that mean you’re keeping my room?” Jack asked.

“Jack,” Kelly admonished, but Dean wished she hadn’t because he was wondering the same damn thing.

He broke his and Cas’ staring contest to look at Anna again, finding her steady eyes already on him. Unlike her brother, she didn’t seem apologetic in the slightest. Dean’s spine tingled.

“No,” Anna said, turning her face toward Jack. “In fact, I… think I found a room at a boarding house not far from here. I wouldn’t want to be a burden.” She said that last bit too pointedly, and there was no way it wasn’t directed at Dean as some kind of guilt trip.

“You don’t have to do that,” Cas offered in an urgent tone that made Dean want to roll his eyes. “You’re more than welcome to stay here. Right, Dean?” He tilted his head slightly to the side, and not in his confused puppy way. It was his do what I want or there will be consequences way. As if Dean had a choice now! He’d look like an asshole if he said no.

“Sure,” Dean said, flapping his arms against his sides. “Why not!”

Anna didn’t seem to buy it. Her eyes flickered up and down his body like she thought he was some kind of bug. Ever since the scene Cas had caused in the greenroom, Anna hadn’t even been trying to hide her feelings about Dean. She was constantly regarding him like she’d just sucked on a lemon, and the feeling was mutual.

“That’s very kind,” she said. “But no. It’ll be exciting… being out on my own.” Expression shifting, she smiled gently at Eileen and Kelly, looking both innocently eager and nervous. They seemed to buy the entire thing. “I’ve never done that before. After I moved away from home, I was always with my husband.”

“Of course,” Kelly said. “And you said, after he passed, you moved back to Pontiac to take care of your father?”

Anna blinked, her expression blank for half a second, fast enough to miss. But Dean didn’t. Because, by now, he was basically trained to catch that quick flash of controlled shock. The slight tightening of the lips, the steady stare. Those Novaks were all the same.

He watched the corners of her mouth pull up into a small smile as she nodded. The smile didn’t really reach her eyes. “That’s right.”

A rock formed in Dean’s gut while he scrutinized her.

He needed to talk to Cas about this—and everything that went along with it—before he fell for whatever the hell she was up to.

He found his excuse when the radiator in the corner gurgled, despite the fact that it was a warm spring day. He’d been meaning to turn the heating off for weeks, and now he was pretty happy he hadn’t.

“Anyone else think it’s hot in here?” he asked, lifting his finger and frowning like he’d just come up with the idea. He didn’t wait for an answer. “I better go turn the boiler off before summer. Cas, come on.”

He started walking back in the direction of the front door, only to stop when Cas asked, puzzled, “Why?”

“To help,” Dean said pointedly.

“I don’t know how to turn off the heating.”

Why the hell did he have to make everything so difficult?

“You can hold the flashlight!” Dean said, hoping it didn’t leave any room for argument.

“I’ll help!” Jack enthusiastically offered from the couch.

Dean thought fast, coming up with an excuse. “You keep holding the baby, champ. We don’t need her getting fussy.”

Before anyone else decided to be a pain in his ass, Dean started walking again. He threw over his shoulder, “Cas!”

It took a second, but Cas followed.

[phantomwritr]

The Road Trip (4/?)

The second part of their journey to Milan mostly passed in silence. “Look, we’re just going to have to try and get through this together. You asked me along, so the least you can do is pretend you actually want this,” Lewis said, without taking his eyes off the road.

“Not by choice,” Max bit out.

“What do you mean, not by choice?”

“My PR-team pretty much forced me into this. And for some reason I don’t understand, Christian helped them. I didn’t want this, but they said if I didn’t convince you, the nicest and kindest driver on the grid, voted unanimously by fans, to come with me on this stupid road trip, my reputation would be fucked. So yes, I’m taking advantage of your perceived kindness. Please kindly drop me off at the nearest gas station so the whole world will know how much we hate each other.”

“For what it’s worth, I don’t hate you. I respect you. And honestly I didn’t expect the great Max Verstappen to care about what people think. You always seem to go through life like you don’t give a care in the world—it’s a luxury I could never afford and I envy you for that, but it only motivates me to fight harder to get back in your rear-view mirrors. Or preferably, to see you in mine. If you want to show the world they’re right about us, then fine, I’ll drop you off at the next petrol station. But isn’t it the great strength of champions not to give up when the going gets tough? Isn’t this where champions persevere through sheer grit and determination? Who knows. Perhaps you’ll be surprised.”

Max stared ahead and blinked. “Is this where your whole Still I Rise-shtick comes from? Do you just give everyone who takes advantage of your kindness a pep talk?”

“It’s part of it, yes. But my motto—not a gimmick— is about much more than that. And no, I don’t give everyone a pep talk, but if you think I’m unfamiliar with people taking advantage of me, you don’t know me very well,” Lewis said, the only sign of any frustration being that he gripped the steering wheel a bit tighter.

“Fine, whatever. Let’s just keep this show on the road,” Max acquiesced before going back to staring out the window.

“Glad to see you’ve decided to give it a chance. Want to do another round of those glovebox questions?”

Max shrugged. “Fine, yeah. Uhm, welcome to another round of Glovebox Questions. I guess. Oh, this one’s fun. Can you say three nice things about your travel companion?”

Lewis carefully swerved around someone as he stamped even harder on the gas. “Three?” Max nodded, half turning so he could see the expression on Lewis’ face.

“Well, you’re a great and consistent racer…er…” Lewis tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he racked his brain for something else to say. They nearly swerved onto the lane next to them, but Lewis course-corrected before any harm could befall them or anyone else.

“You’re loyal to your friends and family, which is really admirable…er…one more…” Lewis said as Max arched an eyebrow. “Is it that hard to say something nice about me?”

“It is if you are trying to say something meaningful. I mean, you’re skilled, determined, loyal, good with kids from what I’ve heard. How much more do you want me to stroke your ego?”

Max blanched and Lewis chuckled, his pearl-white teeth shining as he winked at the camera. “That’s…four,” Max said, a nervous chuckle escaping him. “Or six. I forgot to count.”

Silence fell over them like a blanket until Max cleared his throat. “All right, I guess it’s my turn to stroke your ego then.”

“So long as it’s just my ego you’re stroking,” Lewis joked, his lips curling upwards. Max did his best to disguise his chuckle with a cough. “If you want me to be nice to you, you shouldn’t torture me like this.”

“Oh, just shut up and answer the question, Max. Or do you also fail to perform when your engineer tells you a joke?”

Toto wanted to grab Christian by the collar and scream at him as they watched the livestream. Do you see what I mean now?!

[brendathedoodler]

I love how the AS!colors take the roles of the deceased champions. They would totally rock with those funky large Sheikah pets. Speaking of champions....care to elaborate on Loft's bunch?

Admittedly the Skyloft champions are among the less developed concepts I have so far, but I’m happy to share what I do have and the ideas I’ve got so far!

Before I continue though, it’s good to know that all the champions (with the exception of the Gorons) are humans on Skyloft.

Let’s start with Revali, a key element in the story. Revali takes on a sort of Groose-like role, and though he was never particularly friendly with Wild, the two had been close before. Well, close for them, as two very closed off and competitive guys. They were rivals and always used the other as a way to try and improve themselves. Wild had generally been the better swordsman, while Revali was the superior flier. Both were close in skill, and always eager to one up the other.

Then Wild returned from his fall and took Revali’s worry as hostility. Before, Wild had been excellent at reading him, but now there was just… Nothing. No recognition, none of the same competition they’d had before. It’s all gone. Wild is a stranger in his friend’s skin, and Revali would be lying if he said he didn’t resent him for it. That resentment doesn’t stop him from diving to the surface after Wild, though, and it doesn’t stop him from doing what he can to help. This is his world too, and he’ll be damned if he just stands idly by and lets some amnesiac dumbass do it all on his own.

Mipha is another key player. She’s Skyloft’s main doctor and healer, and everyone firmly believes that the goddess blessed her with healing magic. She and Wild had been close before he fell, though they’d never had anything official. She does her best to help Wild in his recovery, though she doesn’t believe he’ll get any memories back. If he does, it probably won’t be much. She understands that they won’t ever have what they had before, and of course grieves that, but she also wants to do what she can to help him. She’s the person Wild goes to if he wants to connect with the past he doesn’t remember. He goes to her for questions, because he trusts her to answer honestly. Besides, he does enjoy her company, he just tries to give her space because he’s sure it’s hard for her. Her and Sidon’s home is always open for him to stay at.

When Wild first arrived back on Skyloft, he stayed at their home. He planned to sneak out in the night, but Sidon caught him and convinced him to at least stay the night. Mipha realized then that no matter how much she wanted to keep him here where she could keep him safe and healed during his recovery, he’d try to escape anyway. She decided then that she wouldn’t try to make him stay, and just hoped that he’d come to trust her enough to come to her when needed (and he does).

Sidon is an entirely different matter. He knew Wild more as the guy his sister liked, but the two didn’t really cross paths all that often before (though did casually know each other, since Skyloft is a rather small place). Wild has begun to befriend him now, since Sidon doesn’t have the same sort of expectations others have since he didn’t know Wild all that well before. Nowadays he’s Wild’s hype man; he’ll cheer him on for a cool dive he did, a cool monster he killed, or for slaying a literal god. Actually, he refers to Wild as “the godslayer” quite often, and it’s one of the first things the chain hears from someone when they arrive at Skyloft. Needless to say, it sparks a lot of questions towards Wild and he answers none of them (at first; he admits some of it eventually but in the moment he’s more concerned with visiting his friends who are probably worried about him disappearing again).

Daruk is actually just vibing on the surface with other gorons. He meets Wild pretty early on, back before he visited Skyloft for the first time post-amnesia. He was covered in mud, walking on all fours, and being followed by a strange ghost-like woman and a giant bird. Wild didn’t speak to him (he hadn’t yet found his voice), but seemed content to listen to what he was saying. Daruk gave him some advice, pointed out some fruits that he’d seen other organic creatures eat (since he seemed hungry), and told him stories about places he’d been.

Later on, Daruk met Wild again. He was cleaner now, had started speaking, and was well into his recovery by then. He explained his situation with the memory loss over a rock roast (Fi sat back disapprovingly but couldn’t stop him from munching away). Daruk, being a comforting dad figure, listened intently and did his best to cheer Wild up after that conversation. It helps that Daruk is a friend who had never known Wild at all before the memory loss, and someone who didn’t understand humans like him well enough to really see how different Wild is from the rest of them. It’s a nice change of pace.

Urbosa’s role isn’t quite solid yet, but the idea I have for her is that she heads to the surface sometime after Wild does and ends up traveling with Flora and Impa in their quest, acting as another guardian and protector of her (as well as a motherly figure). Impa (based more on SS Impa than BotW Impa) and Urbosa do not get along at first. Impa thinks Urbosa is getting in the way of her duty and pointlessly interrupting, while Urbosa respects Impa for protecting Flora but isn’t thrilled that she’s sticking around now that she’s here to help. They eventually become good buddies, though, and even after it all goes down, Urbosa spends time with Impa’s elderly self in the temple.

I’m not entirely sure what to do with Riju yet, but I have a few concepts. I do think that her family will eventually become the gerudo, and currently are known for only having daughters. She and Sidon both go on a quest with Wild on the surface, but I haven’t figured out what those quests are specifically. Anyway, she’s got a lot of pressure from her family and her quest with Wild is a break from that, but also accomplishes something that she believes will make them proud. That’s why she goes on the mission in the first place, but by the end of it she’s more focused on enjoying her time with Wild and exploring the surface. (She does make her family proud though, and when Urbosa hears about what she’d accomplish, she’d insist that she was always proud of her).

[thefandomcassandra]

Champion (10/20): I’ve a Good Heart

cham·pi·on — /ˈCHampēən/

(n) - a person who fights or argues for a cause or on behalf of someone else

(v) - support the cause of; defend — "I don't want these powers. They're too much."

Reigen said he would bear any burden too big for Mob.

If Reigen Arataka had to use one word to describe himself for the rest of time immemorial, it would be 'adaptable'. If he had a second word, he'd use 'bullshitter', but the first word is way more important.

But he was adaptable and, as much as he'd like to gripe and complain about it, he had someone in his corner. Even if the 'someone' was Dimple, it was someone. Someone willing to help him learn to fake it till he made it. Someone willing to keep his smug little mouth shut for the greater good.

Someone who was happy to earn his pay.

"You're getting better at this," Dimple remarked around a mouthful of ghost. Reigen grimaced as he swallowed the awful skittering thing—the grudge that had been haunting Himiko, his upstairs neighbor—and added, "I can't believe Shigeo hasn't noticed."

"I can." Exorcisms left Reigen feeling weird. Oily and slick and choked up, the ever-present pressure in his chest swelling and choking him after excessive uses of his (Mob's) power. "For the first time in his life, Mob can be a kid. He isn't worrying about anything else. He trusts me."

"That must eat you up inside." Dimple wasn't wrong but...he wasn't going to tell him that.

"No more than performing exorcisms for free does."

"So a lot." Dimple wouldn't stop laughing, even after Reigen sent him a sharp look and shock of psychic energy.

For all his bitching and moaning, he was deeply grateful to the evil spirit. If Dimple hadn't been so gracious as to teach Reigen the intricacies of exorcisms and psychic powers—down to the finest bit of aura control, so he wasn't projecting his emotions to every spiritually sensitive person in a ten kilometer radius—he would have absolutely blown his cover within twenty four hours of the revelation. His guidance, no matter how frustratingly smug, allowed Reigen to keep up the lie.

Their first client the day they opened back up—genuinely upset about how infrequent the hours of Spirits and Such had been the past week, and unwilling to accept Reigen's half-assed 'medical emergencies' excuse—was someone being haunted by the negative emotions of a bitter relative. Reigen had to swallow a wave of horror and nausea as the haunting—a centipede-like thing made of desiccated human heads and human arms, covered in bristling hair with a mouth on its underside with teeth-like ribs gnawing on the client's back—made eye-contact with him and spoke.

The client couldn't hear it and, until days before, neither could Reigen. Its voice was like dozens of screaming people, clamoring to be heard, wet and choked. "Tell this piece of shit he's running out of flesh. We want him with us, deep below. Tell him that."

Reigen cordially wove together a palatable tale as Dimple whispered details in his ear, low enough that Mob couldn't hear. The thing was a grudge, obvious by how attached and insectoid it was. The formality with the client meant it was from someone close to him. The flaying of his back meant someone was resentful of his success. They wanted him to lose everything. Burden him. So Reigen Arataka, the Greatest Pscyhic of the 21st Century would exorcise it, of course!

His first public (ish) exorcism was clunky and not at all as flashy as he would have liked—he really just held his hand out, used his powers to tear down the grudge's defenses, then tossed the remnants to Dimple, while the client only saw a fancy light show—but the results were obvious. As it was, the payment he received and the knowledge that his hard work would pay off was enough to keep him from complaining...out loud.

(He still kept seeing the way the grudge twitched and shuddered, human enough to be uncanny but inhuman enough to make the bottom drop out of his stomach. Seeing spirits, ghosts or otherwise, would probably always be horrific. He wasn't sure how Mob could have handled seeing such things his whole life without going mad.)

Read the Rest on AO3

[crystalelemental]

Unit Teambuilding - Maylene

Finally, one of the most anticipated units in the common pool, the attack/crit buffing champion supreme of the F2P world, it's Maylene!

General Overview Full disclosure!  I never thought Maylene was that good.  Sure, she can buff attack and crit, but separately, which meant she was slow as shit.   Drain Punch isn't really dealing good damage, so I never saw her recover much off of it, and Rock Smash is a slow defense drop that can't come out until way too late, given her buffing duties.  So forgive me if I've always felt like Maylene is the epitome of doing only one task and being ready to die in service of it.  You buff attack, or you buff crit.  If you live to see both, it's a miracle.  You will likely do nothing beyond it.  Or, you exist to debuff defense for a self-sufficient ally.  There's just not much else for her.

To be brutally honest, I...don't respect Maylene that much.  I feel like most Gauntlets, she has legitimate difficulty fitting in.  It’s really hard to teambuild around her, and this continues even now.  The good news is, having a recent Gauntlet where I tried to make her work, I can vouch for the skills they gave her being phenomenal tools that really elevate her play.  Pep Rally on Trainer Move is a literal godsend given her gauge issues, and Precision Pals is a huge benefit for units like Bruno who can now conserve some energy.  But.  I also have to admit that these tools won’t fix my larger problems of her lacking any serious recovery, her debuffing being too slow, and her lacking the bulk to really sustain long enough in a Gauntlet context to make waves.  Her best comparison point is Lodge Blue, given the spread of their buffs and the desire to spam an attack, but Blue has considerably better healing and the much more valuable flinch, while packing Pep Rally on his trainer move too.  In every single regard, Lodge Blue is a better pick than Maylene in my eyes.  The only time she’s better is for accuracy.

Team 1: Maylene, Samurai Guzma, Kukui/Tech Farfetch'd Okay look, I need to bring this up every time: Maylene's trainer move provides Sure Hit Next.  Guzma, after a few misses, reaches optimal damage output in a single strike, and Maylene is one of two units in the game that gives him the guaranteed hit without him wasting a turn.  All you want beyond this is someone fast with Leer.  Maylene's Pep Rally should handle the rest.

Team 2: Maylene, Hilda/Elesa/Kris, Blaine/Volkner/Tech Blastoise Now that I'm done being ridiculous, let's talk about something fairly unique that Maylene sets up: physical Inertia sync nukes.  Pep Rally means that she can facilitate units like Hilda and Elesa really well, providing crit rate for Hilda and +3 speed, and providing Elesa with the last +2 attack and +2 speed to get her rolling.  This doesn't quite cap by first sync, but it'll come real close.  Add in Sun or Terrain tech, and you're ready to go.  As another option, Kris.  Kris can, if you need to for some reason, now forego Pinpoint Entry 2, allowing Maylene to provide what's needed.  I'd also note, the Kris ones are definitely anti-Entei and Moltres.  Kris will kick you apart.  Elesa can probably handle Tornadus, but unless Hilda gets a bun condition, she's not handling Cobalion like this.

Team 3: Maylene, Roark, Kukui/SS Diantha Remember what I said about Roark?  How he desperately needs accuracy buffs?   Maylene got Precision Pals on her trainer move.  She can boost his accuracy while capping crit. She can even buff speed at the same time, fixing a lot of his gauge issues.  Kukui can Leer, SS Diantha can Zone/AoE Screech/be better than him.

Team 4: Maylene, Emma, SS Leaf Okay here's one for you.  Maylene can top off Emma's needs, and help with debuffing defense per attack.  But most notably, Maylene cannot reasonably heal herself.  This is where having that partner with Potion is helpful, because they can heal her and keep her going.  SS Leaf is mentioned before AoE Toxic, though realistically it can be whoever you want that can inflict Toxic.  But also because, Maylene can provide accuracy buffs to Leaf, allowing her to conserve energy from Pinpoint Entry.

Team 5: Maylene, Bruno, Brawly Anti-Fighting-weak Karen.  I hate this stage.  +2 evasion is so obnoxious, and Maylene has accuracy boosting that completely removes the threat.  Bruno has more than enough power to keep up, and Maylene helps speed up his setup, grants speed and accuracy he needs, and can even help with the debuffing game that Brawly provides.  Brawly's Potion can even keep Maylene alive.

Final Thoughts Maylene does turn out well, I think she's just the kind of unit that needs to be really careful.  She's not particularly bulky, and can't self-heal like, say, Sycamore.  Even Lodge Blue has a distinct edge on her, with the 60% flinch rate and defense buffs while packing the same split atk/crit buffing and Pep Rally. Maylene's unique niche over him is precision pals, and Rock Smash.  In most situations that don't factor in these traits, Lodge Blue will be a superior option.

[brokenbones-tellstories]

I’m getting sad again. I don’t know if its the SAD or purely circumstantial, but I’m sad. I’ve spent a lot of time over the past several days thinking about a lot of things I’ve tried very hard to put to rest and I simply can’t. I’ve been cursed with this thing about me that makes everyone fall in love with me and as self centered or pompous or whatever you wanna call it that it sounds, it’s true. Ever since I graduated high school it’s been this constant thing that’s followed me around and I can’t shake it and it’s happening again. I swore I’d take it to my grave so I won’t go into details and give it away, even here, but it’s a thing and I don’t know what Im supposed to do with it.  I’m not mad at the person for it happening, not even close. I just wish I could be different. Not as....not whatever it is. Likeable, kind, patient, empathetic, understanding...something, anything, whatever it may be.  How do I explain that its this very personality that’s gotten me where I am? That someone fell so hopelessly in love with me that it near destroyed both of our lives for years on end and just when I thought I had learned my lesson, my best friend went and fell in love with me too. Since then he’s quite literally told me on more than one occasion that he wishes he never had met me and his life was better off without me in it. We barely talk about anything these days and whenever I find the courage to try and share anything with him I think he would like, I either get a simple “okay?’ back or ignored entirely.  I knew from day one that no matter what I did or how hard I tried nothing would ever work out between us. It wasn’t through any fault of our own, we’re just two very different people and life has made us volatile in ways that would never be compatible. We’ve hurt each other in near unforgivable ways with our wayward feelings and there’s a lack of patience and a disrespect that cannot go ignored. We are each others worst nightmares relationally and yet the best of friends at the same time. And still I love him I love him I love him. It’s a constant never ending thought and everything, every. single. fucking. thing. goes back to him. How we were in the city together every single time I was up there whether we even knew it or not. How our paths almost crossed before we even knew the other existed. How the very first conversation we had about a new show coming to broadway was the same one we watched the final performance of, together, four years later.  He, my endlessly frustrating, infuriating best friend who hates the very ground I walk on and still would come back to me, no questions asked, if I ever allowed him the chance. A

nd then there’s the rest of everything.  My best friend dipped out of my life without a word spoken and even after a year and I half I still don’t have an explanation from her. We’ve spoken cordially since, but when I threw out the olive branch asking for lunch or dinner, hoping for a chance to talk, she said no. The anger comes and goes like the seasons. I don’t always feel good enough to be her friend and I often wonder if it’s my own insecurities getting in the way, or if its my new found self respect telling me that I deserve better.  Whatever the case may be, I miss her more than anything. I wonder who her daughter is growing to be. I want to ask her what happened with her ex. I want to know if she’s okay. I wanted her to meet my son and to be happy I’m happy. To breathe that sigh of relief with me when I realized I was happy and okay and I had survived the single worst year of my life. She was supposed to be there forever. The champion of all my insane ideas and my adventure buddy. That girl would’ve gone anywhere with me until she didn’t.

Then there’s the world itself. Our crumbling economy and inflation that’s gotten so out of hand we’re barely keeping afloat. I can’t even afford to put lights on the christmas tree that was gifted to us this year. It’s my sons first christmas and I cant buy him the things I want to.  The tags on my car are years out of date and I have an outstanding ticket from it that if I Got pulled over again I’d be arrested.  My license is expired and I can’t renew it without paying for the car which means I can’t fly to chicago for my best friends wedding next fall.  I don’t have enough money to pay my bills each month as it is. How can I save hundreds of dollars for the car and a license. And why the fuck was I so stupid two years ago and let it go ignored? I was only out of work for three weeks. I could very well have handled it then and I didn’t.  I’m 27 years old and I’ve amounted to nothing I wanted to. I work part time in a coffee shop and I don’t know anything different. If I work full time, all my extra money would go to childcare and negate the entire point of working more. I Literally can’t win for losing. I dropped out of college twice because of finances and an inability to cope with life. I want to go back so bad it hurts. I want to be the first, and likely only one of us siblings to obtain a degree. I want to do it for myself.  For my son. I need to. I need to accomplish this thing to know it can be done. I need to check it off my bucket list if only for spite because there was a time I didn’t think i’d even live to get my diploma....why stop there? The ultimate fuck you is a life lived and lived well. I’m just tired and tired of everything and I hate that I can’t stop thinking even for a second.

Make it fcking stop.

[truc0nfessionz]

today i feel really sick and sad.

a lot of it is work. if im being honest, im tired. 5 years of constant changes and sprinting in new directions has fucking worn on me. 5 years of new bosses, new products, new leadership and the same disorganized CEO - it gets exhausting after a while.

it’s hard to be the one who champions every change, the one who always produces something from nothing. it’s hard to keep putting in “my all”, all of which gets thrown away when we see the next shiny object to chase. i get it, it must be hard to be ultimately responsible for the fate of the business and i really do have empathy for that.

but it is really hard to keep sprinting alongside it all. at some points, your legs give out and you’re just getting dragged. i try to be grateful there’s a company still here to drag me at all after all the questionable leadership we’ve seen.

i feel like i’m in jess’ crosshairs right now. she’s pissed that the CS numbers look bad, somehow conveniently forgetting that they forced me to go to absolute minimum viable staffing. now she’s focused on the hoops i can jump through to fix it. meanwhile, the answer is i just need more people.

and honestly, i get tired of jumping. i get tired of telling the same stories. i am so grateful to have this income, but the way it wears on my soul is starting to get old.

i hope it’s a phase. i hope we recover. i hope the metrics improve enough for her to focus her energy somewhere else and leave my team in peace. but if not, i guess we’ll see what happens. i guess we’ll see how much energy i can give and what happens when i finally can give no more. cause damn, i am so tired.

also, i’m still deeply hurt about my 30th birthday and the fact that my best friend and my parents didn’t really show up for me. i didn’t get a birthday card, a flower, a balloon, nothing. neither party tried to call me on my day. it’s like it was nothing to them. and considering I’M the person who shows up for them in every way - i go to great lengths to always make sure they feel special, loved, appreciated - it’s so fucking hurtful to me that they couldn’t even give me 10% of what i give them.

and it hurts a lot specifically from K. i’ve always said she’s the one who knows my heart. she would know that i literally don’t need expensive gifts or an equal contribution - i just want to be acknowledged in SOME WAY that shows you thought about me before this physical moment when i’m standing here. why would i have to explain that to someone who has claimed to know me and be my best friend for YEARS?

honestly, i don’t know how to get over this. i can see how to many it wouldn’t be a big deal, but to me it’s very personal. it’s the biggest milestone birthday ive had in a decade…. and you did nothing at all.

it’s actually enough for me to wonder if i’m going to continue the friendship at all. why would i show up for anyone who doesn’t show up for me?

and to add insult to injury - the fucking expensive ass gift i got her for christmas (that she ASKED FOR) isn’t the right thing in the end and she wasn’t even going to TELL ME during the period where i could actually get my money back. she would have let it sit there and let me waste my money entirely instead of just be honest with me.

how on earth is this someone who cares about me? the math doesn’t math on that at all. it just doesn’t.

so if i have to let this go overall, i have to. and it would hurt like hell for a long time. it fucking hurts right now. but as a 30 year old woman, i can’t show up for people who don’t show up for me. i won’t.

just because you’ve been a part of my life in the past doesn’t mean i can take you into the future. but i will let it go with love. i will wish nothing but the best for those who don’t move on with me. but i will hold the love for myself most dear - because at the end of the day: i can’t love anyone who doesn’t love me the same way.

so yeah i’m really fucking tired right now. just exhausted with work and with life. and honestly, if my best friend and i break up i might be exhausted for a long, long time. but i’m gonna push on. i’m gonna do what i can do. and no matter what, im gonna live a great life. with or without those who didn’t show up for me.

[frontproofmedia]

ALYCIA BAUMGARDNER: I WANT ALL THE SMOKE

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Published: July 13, 2023

 Undisputed champion hunting Taylor, Serrano, Cameron and Mayer after revenge mission in Detroit 

Alycia Baumgardner is hunting the biggest names in the sport – but only when she completes a revenge mission in style as she defends her undisputed Super-Featherweight title against old foe Christina Linardatou at the Masonic Temple in Detroit on Saturday night, live worldwide on DAZN.   Baumgardner (14-1 7 KOs) headlines in her hometown for the first time as she makes the second defense of her undisputed crown and can right the only loss of her career in the process as she meets Linardatou (14-2 6 KOs), the Greek who defeated her over eight rounds in July 2018.   ‘The Bomb’ became undisputed with a huge win over Mikaela Mayer in London in October and now headlining at home, the 29 year old is getting a taste of the big time and wants more, providing she can exact her revenge on Saturday night.   “I’m writing a book, on who I am,” said Baumgardner. “Winning on Saturday closes a chapter. People are saying, ‘well Christina was her only loss’. There are only clips of the fight on YouTube, I’ve never seen the whole fight. I remember when I was in the ring that night and her hand was raised, I was like ‘damn, I’ve got my first loss’. But then I was like, ‘I’m not done, who cares?’    “It was needed for growth, and I want people to recognize what growth looks like; it’s ugly, and it hurts. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel and it tells a story.    “I wanted to show people that a loss doesn’t have to be a bad thing. I got to see at that given time, what it would have looked like had I won because I saw her career; she became a World champion after that. And I thought ‘wow, that could have been me’ but everything comes back full circle, and I am happy everything played out the way it was supposed to as now I’m undisputed and fighting her in my backyard. I keep thinking how the fight is going to play out, it will be spectacular, it will give me the feeling that this is what I have been waiting for and I am going to punish her.    “I want her to know that she is in with someone that isn’t the same fighter that she fought five years ago. I chose her. I could have fought anyone, but I chose her. She’s hungry and she should be. She has fought some great fighters, and she’s pumped that she’s beaten me before, that drives her, but she has no idea. After the first fight she came up to me and said you are the hardest fighter I’ve ever fought. If she thinks I hit hard then, just wait until she gets this work. You are in there with a dog, and I am going to punish you.   “To be in this era now as a woman fighter is everything I imagined when I turned pro. I can say I am part of history and we have been able to showcase to the world what a woman athlete looks like.    “I would love a fight with Katie Taylor, Amanda Serrano, Chantelle Cameron; those are huge fights. We have undisputed champions at every weight class and it builds to big fights, whatever way you look at it. A rematch with Mikaela, even at 135lbs, would be great, to beat her in the States in front of a sold-out crowd would be amazing. I want the Katie fight, I was there in Dublin, and I saw something different. I want all the girls, I’m hungry, I’m a fighter and I like a challenge.    “This is going to show everything, the full package, people have seen glimpses and in my last performance I gave myself a B, there’s an A+ out there and on Saturday it’s going to be that.”   Baumgardner’s defense is part of a big night of action in Detroit as Cuban amateur sensation Any Cruz makes his professional debut against former World title challenger Juan Carlos Burgos.   Michigan Heavyweight Jermaine Franklin returns to action after back-to-back fights in London, England against Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, and he faces unbeaten Mexican Issac Munoz, while the night is kicked-off live on DAZN by Detroit’s Ja’Rico O’Quinn taking on Carlos Mujica over ten rounds at Featherweight.

(Featured Photo: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing)

[mirroredranger]

dimensionhoppinghybrids​:

mirroredranger​:

Valerie exhaled, her whole body moving with the breath. It was obvious that she hasn’t told anyone outside of those involved. It was obvious that it still weighed on her and hurt her. And now she was telling a stranger? No, he’s proven to be worthy of her trust, as much as the friends she kept in the dark. And now she had just admitted that his son was on the periphery of those events.

“I’m what’s known as a Faller. I’ve been through the space between worlds and lost my memories because of it,” Valerie said. She felt numb, matter-of-fact, like she had spent all of her emotions in the last outburst she made at the houndour-looking god. She probably did. “All I remembered was my name and that I was a Pokemon ranger. I was connected to the Union to get back up on my feet, so they placed me in Alola. I thought it was because there were no other rangers serving there. I didn’t realize that it was really to spy on Aether and be used as an example.”

Xerneas, that made her think of how difficult it would be if someone like Rosa knew. The Unovan champion would be torn between her support for what good the Union did, but also to what they did to her friend. And what about Red or Kunikida? She heard stories about the lengths Red would go for friends, he’d drop everything to help. It was probably a good thing Valerie didn’t make it to Kanto, she might have run into him and caused him problems. And Kunikida himself was so close to getting into that very same danger.

“When I realized, it was too late. Gladion was arrested. It was going to be just a matter of time before I was taken to be questioned. Maybe even coerced to help, since they had one of my pokemon as a hostage,” Valerie added. Again, she exhaled through her nose before slowly inhaling again. “I didn’t meet Desire until after everything went down.”

This made Dave go silent as he thought on that for a moment. She was clearly distressed, if by her voice and her stature, she was possibly falling in on herself, or simply drained. He could tell that this was pulling at a lot of reserves she really didn’t have, so he let her stay there and think, until a knock came to the door, and an Indeedee came in with a tray of two cups of tea. Giving his thanks and polite dismissal, he levitated a cup to Valerie and let her take it as he took his own.

“I see.” Dave said, humming as he considered this, and took a sip of his tea to buy a bit of time.

“I can’t judge you for being, a faller you said? I am not exactly from this world either, so, you have my sympathies, as this seems to weigh on you heavily.” He said as he took this information to heart as well. This was all adding up to what he supposed was heavy stress.

He couldn’t fault her if she found herself buckling at this point. This seemed like she was holding up a lot inside. “But this is all in past tense, I can only guess that either things got resolved, somehow, or you managed to escape any kind of arrest by the skin of your teeth.” He said, knowing he didn’t have all the evidence, but knowing that he might be wrong, or might be right.

That made him pause. “If I may ask, how does this involve my boy?” He asked her, genuinely wanting to know what Desire had involved himself in. Of course he didn’t pressure her, but let her talk in her own time. Here? They had all the time in the world, and he was just an ear and a conversationalist for now that needed a bit of info here and there.

Just as Dave did, Valerie took a sip of her tea to buy some time. Green tea, not too hot, yet not lukewarm.

“I found some help in unexpected places, so I did escape. Lunala found me as well, so we came up with a plan to free him,” she elaborated. It made her think. Maybe back then, Seren was keeping her from falling over. She just kept herself in hiding at that time. “We confronted the people who arranged for the arrests. But it wasn’t enough to clear my name.”

Was she this tired then too? It’s hard not to imagine being so. “When I happened to wander to another world, Desire found me. He offered rest and a listening ear.” Valerie glanced up at Dave. In that way, Desire did seem to take after him.

But that made her think. Didn’t Gladion say that Joseph consider him family? It would then make sense that Desire could have learned details through his brother. But she wasn’t here to speculate about that. “I thought it was strange that when I came back, everything was cleared up. Like magic.”

"Hmm." Dave hummed in thoughtful agreement. "It seems you have been placed on a difficult road." He said to her gently as he called for some tea to be brought to them both. Figuring a refreshment would help to ease her nerves.

"I know that I'm not anyone of significance to you, but I'd like to ask you to stay, if only briefly." He said gently to her. "You are, by all accounts. Someone Desire seems to think of highly. And I believe you are a good sort." Or he wanted to believe. Hed reserve his judgements still.

"Especially after a fiasco like this."

Well truthfully that was an understatement. This was a disaster. A heavy disaster of proportions. Even if it wasn't him that intervened, then it would've been Palkia. This was his realm of interest, not Dave's. Dave got involved because his son got directly involved in the most reckless of sorts.

This was a mess. The only thing Dave could really do was meddle a little, throw some data under a pen name and have the humans go monkey on it all to muddle up the muck as it was. It wouldn't do much immediately, but it would sting probably later. Dave wanted to at least put in humor in his attempt. Hed go with monkey tails. Monkey tails could add a lot in humor.

Dave sighed softly. He was just glad that he considered this the soft glove approach. Palkia? Fire and brimstone galore.

"Can you explain to me what happened?" He asked her. "With Gladion i mean."

[louislyrics]

x

[starter-library]

RIDE THE CYCLONE LYRIC STARTERS

FEEL FREE TO CHANGE PRONOUNS/NAMES/PHRASING AS YOU SEE FIT

“I know this dream of life is never ending”

“You know the sun is rising while descending, it goes on and on and never ends”

“I was designed to predict the exact time and place of someone's death”

“'I’ve realized that the only thing that makes less money than theatre, is releasing an album on a streaming service”

“Free will is just a fridge magnet, and we live briefly in a cold unfeeling deterministic universe in an abandoned warehouse called time”

“The smart ones all packed up and went why stay if you can’t pay the rent”

“Drink some brew, join the choir build yourself a funeral pyre”

“Well, this couldn’t possibly get any stranger”

“My name, or who I used to be- my life, an unsolved mystery”

“From ashes I was made and ashes I return”

“I'm gonna stand a little farther away from you, okay?”

“I respect you taking the moral high ground”

“I’m just trying to prove to you that I’m a good person!”

“What the world needs is people like me to keep it all spinning around”

“Some of us are winners, some were born to lose”

“I’m the mover, I’m the shaker, I’m the headline-maker”

“Maybe that was a little harsh. Love you!”

“Yes, there's a problem! I'm the solution!”

“We need a little less of them, a little more of me!”

“You can make any odious idea palatable- even social darwinism”

“Let me whisk you away to happier, darker, more slattern times”

“Goddammit! Can you keep it in your pants for two seconds, you horrible succubus!?”

“I write poems to burn by firelight, drink champagne, and guzzle gin”

“Don't knock it 'til you’ve tried my life of sin”

“My life's one never-ending carnival, a world of boozy-floozy flashing light”

“He said, "I think I am in love with you" I've heard that lie a million times before”

“At night I burn myself with cigarettes just to somehow prove I'm still alive”

“I choose to burn out rather than fade away”

“I champion [name]’s journey of sexual discovery”

“What is even the moral? What does it teach you? What’s the lesson?”

“Not every story has a lesson”

“It's time to start the party, but there ain't no party here yet”

“My rage has subsided. A moment- I am vulnerable now”

“When I look into your almond eyes, I do not see the boy I am, but the man I must become to possess you”

“I want to take all of the pain from your soul, and in the passion factory of my heart, transform it into functional joy”

“Beginnings are easy, endings are hard, but the very middle of a story is impossible”

“You might see before you an ordinary man ha! An earthly illusion”

“make love to me, [name]”

“Oh my goodness, what have I gotten myself into?!”

“Oh, I have no desire to rule the galaxy. Oh, to hold you close is enough for me”

“I'm so happy right now, I can never come down!”

“Some might say we're released, pushing daisies, deceased, but we all know the worms must be fed”

“There's just one lingering fear: my soul, is it here?”

“Cruel existence was only a sham?”

“You must know where I've been, won’t you tell me at last who I am?”

“Why be left with no family and no friends?”

“Time eats all his children in the end”

“A melody floats through the air when silence falls, does no one care?”

“This is no way to die, lord!”

“Now that all is said and done isn’t there anyone to tell me who I am?”

“How do you know it's my birthday?”

“How do we know it's not your birthday?”

“There's no shame in loving my small town”

“It took a horrible accident for to realize how goddamn wonderful everything is”

“I used to think that life was just a heartbreaker that just breaks, and it breaks, and it breaks and it breaks 'til you can't break no more”

“I see the world with all its backwards upside down”

“There's nothing wrong with being the nicest girl in town”

“I wouldn't change my life for a thing”

“I used to think that life was just a heartbreaker it breaks and it takes until you can't take no more”

“It's not a game maybe that's news cause no one will win here and no one can lose”

“there's no one to measure our foolish pride and no one keeps score of how hard we tried”

“You give and choose while you love and lose and you feel the world is spinning with no ending or beginning”

“After reading thousands of human fortunes, my final insight is: your lucky number is 7. You will soar to great heights”

“We're all just sailing through space there's no up, there's no down”

[laprimera]

Their first few pokemon rendezvous was a warmup really. Geeta was confident on the battle ground and her Pokemon were in perfect sync. ‘Your Pokemon are an extension of yourself’; something she says when she mentors and sometimes a mantra to herself.  They were trusted partners and it was up to their trainer not to let them down by listening to their strengths and weaknesses. 

But Dendra was quite the opponent even if Geeta won their scrimmages. It wasn’t without a fight and the enthusiasm she had was infectious. The usually even tempered Geeta had an excited fire in her eyes and the stillness in her form was quickly lost in trying to keep up with the action. 

“ Dendra I’ve hadn’t had that much fun in awhile. I can tell your Pokemon go all out for you. ” Said with a wide smile and a few hard claps before attending to her Pokemon. 

Their sparring wasn’t over however. It was her turn to be taught. 

Geeta was La Primera, the top-Champion; and while that meant her skills as a trainer was the best in the region that didn’t mean she was perfect. What happens if for some reason she didn’t have access to her partners? What happens if she was cornered or had to stand between saving someone and danger? Not everyone played fairly with Pokemon.

But Dendra she trusted to get her started with learning self defense. It really felt like being in classes again. Her coat was shaken off, her tie loosened and even her long hair was pulled back. Every point of advice and strike was soaked in and the effort was definitely seen in how Geeta mirrored her mentor. 

Exhaustion was eminent, probably more for Geeta who had little training compared to Dendra. If Dendra didn’t tell her to stop she’d probably keep on going regardless. It was a self sabotaging stubbornness that easily got away from her. 

    Work harder, come at it harder --

And thank you to her darling Chu for being her sparring partner. 

Her eye’s didn’t stray from the target but Geeta gave a hard nod at instruction. Her last set were firm but maybe a little off center and shaky from weariness. Arceus damnit, she wanted them perfect but breaths were shallow and arms shaking. 

“ Should we try that again? ” Winded, red in the face but still quite headstrong in pushing it. 

[SPARRING STARTERS/ NO LONGER ACCEPTING (FOR NOW)]

@lacampeona​ sent: ‘ let’s go again ’ 

“Again? Are…are you sure about that, M-uh, Geeta?”

Concern glints in Dendra’s eyes as she peers over at her latest new student: the Top Champion of Paldea. With both of their schedules opening up at the same time (an extremely rare occasion), the pair had decided to fill their free evening with a long overdue sparring session. To start, Geeta had run Dendra through her paces on the battlefield as usual, her elite squad emerging victorious in back-to-back showdowns. However, while they were both tending to their team members following the heated contests, the Champion caught Dendra off-guard with a surprising request: she wanted to start learning self-defense. No Pokemon involved.  

So, in usual Dendra fashion, the chipper instructor accepted the request without hesitation and didn’t even ask why Geeta was so interested, launching into an enthusiastic lesson on the spot. After emphasizing that the best forms of self-defense were still relying on your Pokemon, fighting dirty, or running away fast, Dendra finally walked Geeta through some pressure point vulnerabilities and simple strikes, demonstrating hits into the padded hands of her Hariyama, Chu. (As long as teaching students was involved, the immovable Chu didn’t mind being deployed this way. Human punches didn’t hurt him at all, and he enjoyed teaching as much as his trainer.) 

It’s growing very late in the Paldea League arena now, but Geeta shows no signs of slowing down, readying up her stance yet again. Dendra is only a bit winded herself, but she didn’t have an entire region resting on her shoulders. However, when her worried gaze locks with Geeta’s, she’s met with a quiet, steely look of determination. Paldea’s Top Champion must be built different.     

Keep reading

[mymansdanny3]

CHAMPIONS

daniel riccardo x driver!reader

|CHAPTER ONE|

“lara

the first arab female driver in history of formula 1,how does it feel to be starting your first season?”

“oh my god i’m so extremely excited this is my dream come true and i’ve worked so hard and i’m finally here so ya”

“we’ll uh thank you for your time miss lara”

“the pleasure is all mine”

lara got out of her seat and walked back to her new alphine pr team

“lara we have a group interview with all the grid in about 10 mins”

“okay cool one sec”

she said as she picked up the phone to call her best friend,linda.linda’s been there since lara first started karting at the very late age of 14.

“brooo hiii how did it goo” said linda the moment she picked up

“i didn’t even do it yet” said lara with a slight laugh

“oh you got my hopes up,thought you’d call me with good news”

“bro i’m just shit nervous”

“don’t be your the most strong willed one on the grid so you’ll be okay”

“thanks bro,oh shit okay i gotta go but i’ll call you after, byeeeeeee”

“yes okay byeeeeee”

they closed and lara rushed back to the team so they could get there in time

the moment she walked in all eyes were on her,she felt so worried but knew that she had to keep her head up.

she was placed to sit in between leclerc and ricciardo,she had been a big fan of daniel ever since she was a teen.

“hi i’m daniel” “and i’m charles”

“hii ya i know who you guys are” she felt her cheeks flush, “i’m lara”

“where are u from lara” says the older one with a smile

“egypt”

“oh wow that’s really cool” said charles

“ya thank you” she said

“guys let’s start ya?” said the interviewer

“so welcome back to the 2022 session”

“we have a few new faces on the paddock but the one that stands out the most is miss lara,hi welcome to your first f1 session how are u feeling?”she said with a bright smile

“hi hi hi um im so excited to be here and i’m so ready to crush everyone”she said with the biggest smile”sorry y’all but uh anyways ya i’m so excited and truly am so grateful for this chance to be here with the big dogs”

“so lara your not only the first female f1 racer but also first arab f1 racer how do you feel about that?”

“i ofc feel like so like omg i can’t even explain it”she said as she smiled even more “i feel like one i accomplished something no one before me could and two i’m so happy that someone finally did so it opens doors to the others like me to accomplish this dream”

“we’ll the rest of the drivers how do you feel about a female being on the grid this session?”

vettel the first to speak says “i’m so happy for her and truly feel like this is a great opportunity to all other females to keep on trying” he said as he looked at her with an approving grin

next came lewis “i feel like it should’ve happened sooner, but as they say sooner better than later”he said with a smile

esteban says shortly after “i’m so very excited to have her as a team mate she is a huge talent in the sport and i’m excited to see what comes from our friendship” he says as you both start laughing

“i also wanna say that i watched someoof her races when i first heard the news and i feel like we’re all up for a big challenge since she’s such an amazing and talented driver”she looked over her shoulder to see that the words came out the famous honey badger, she smiled and thanked them all and they all smiled yet daniels smile caught her eye and made her heart flush.

the interviewer asked the rest of the grip some questions and finally said “well that’s all thank you all and good luck”

they all got out of there seats, lara started to walk away when a young british boy came up to her

“hi i’m lando, so i wanted to tell you were having a start of the session party tonight and we all want you to come”

“oh thank you i’d love to come lando”she said nicely

“great! here’s the address come at uhhhhh hmmm oh right 8 and wear your party attire” lara and lando both laughing at how forgetful he is

“i will don’t worry” she said as she walked away

that went surprisingly well, she thought as she continued to walk