#in the first jc says i hit you with all my strength just now. did you feel it

[coquelicoq]

[Image description: Four black-and-white stills from "The Untamed" with text added. They show Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng learning that the other lost their golden core, and again when they each decide to sacrifice themself to save the other.

1: Wei Wuxian with tears in his eyes, hearing Jiang Cheng talk about the Core-Melting Hand. Text reads: "You'll never" 2: Jiang Cheng crying during the golden core reveal. Text: "recover" 3: Wei Wuxian looking down at an unconscious Jiang Cheng right before the core transfer, his mouth set in determination. Text: "from that kind" 4: Jiang Cheng realizing the Wen are about to capture Wei Wuxian. Text: "of devotion."

Altogether, text reads "You'll never recover from that kind of devotion." /end ID]

Leah Horlick, For Your Own Good

[llycaons]

ep13: oh, the misogyny

wwx is finding a way to DISCREETLY get the formation to rest for lwj, who is walking on a broken leg, and still jc is like 'what the fuck did you do now' like damn jc he can't do anything right. makes that post about jc hero-worshipping wwx and copying what he does and idolizing him even funnier

wwx and jc gossiping about wlj is so mean. of course she can't carry a sword, she never learned how! she was a maid. they're clearly judging her for sleeping her way into a position of power, but I see you wen chao I know it's more on you than on her

wwx falling down/out of/off things. first of many!

this is a really pretty shot ngl the water is lovely

wlj being positioned as the jealous, spiteful mistress using her power to harm a Good Woman is so shitty. they both were treated (in this arc) as one-dimensional tools to support the arcs of the men around the. wlj I know the writing did you dirty but you will always be a legend to ME for miss 'ghosts don't exist'

interesting moment - it's actually lwj who steps in to defend mm with jzx. wwx looks like he wants to, but jc shakes his head and wwx ultimately stays put. it's cool to see lwj and wwx trade off scenes that establish them as willing to defy authority and risk attack for the sake of protecting the vulnerable. it makes their ideals and goals feel truly mutual and balanced rather than wwx coming in and inspiring lwj to have a moral code (as is sometimes interpreted by fans)

this fight scene is genuinely REALLY fun and well-crafted. jzx and lwj have some sick moves, as do jc and wwx

WEI WUXIAN ICONIC MOMENTS. god I love it when he points out the hypocrisy of the great sects and the cultivation world. why is this scene never talked about! it's literally one of the best from him in this arc

again a TRAGEDY that this significant moment between them chalks up to an angsty subplot for wwx and lwj later on. it's a fucking good aspect of their relationship and it does compel me like lwj drunk-branding himself is INSANE and I'll never get over it but the misogyny 😭

wwx shot three arrows at once and took out wlj and mm's two guards without hitting mm herself LEGEND

she is literally the only wen with an understanding of how politics work

FAMOUS LAST WORDS. my dude you just locked the teenager who's going to torture you to death in a cave with the weapon he's going to use to do it

this is literally such a fucking funny joke. slept on. also wwx does take serious situations seriously but he also sometimes does this. I don't even blame jc for being like 'are you serious right now'

YOU ARE BOTH SO USELESS. SCREAM

of COURSE mm is the one to slip and cut her hand and release blood to awaken the monster. of course it had to be her

I'd say that she deserved better but honestly after this her arc really rules and she's one of the few characters to get a happy ending so I can't be too mad

this scene is wild. lwj jumps in and THROWS wwx behind him like 20 ft

jc yelling at wwx to be careful and promising to come back. aw man

also WHY ARE THEY ALL LEAVING. wouldn't it be much easier to kill the false xuanwu if they stay and work together? I don't think wwx even expected lwj to stay with him. he was really ready to stay there and fight it off alone and maybe die in the process. he's unwell!

okay this has always bothered me. WHERE DOES HE FIND THE STICKS THEY ARE UNDERGROUND

that underrobe is so beautiful purely on an aesthetic level ugh he has such good taste. also I like that you can see his bare skin under it like HOW hot was that branding iron jfc

EVIDENCE!!!! EVIDENCE for my 'wwx is intimidated by lwj's earnestness and his fears around commitment/the strength of his own feelings cause him to avoid his feelings because getting too attached/too serious is scary for him even tho deep down he craves it'

wwx casually asserting getting scars/being injured as a...sexy and impressive sort of triumph of masculinity (?) as a young teenager vs. his devastated expression seeing lwj's scars as an adult. he has so much to learn

this translation is so weird. just say inedia?

[trensu]

Episode 6: the One Where LWJ is Drunk and Gets Married

YES, GUYS GALS AND NB PALS, WE ARE AT THIS MOST WONDERFUL EPISODE.

OUR FIRST INTRODUCTION TO DRUNKJ!LWJ

AND THE HANDFASTING THAT INSPIRED A MILLION FICS

Okay, to set the scene, we’ve got JC, NHS and WWX having a sneaky drinking party with Forbidden Alcohol

Obviously, LWJ can spidey-sense when a rule is being violently broken so he appears at the scene of the crime to BREAK UP THE PARTY (or possibly a threesome?? He’s not sure but he’s gonna put a stop to that immediately)

HIS SERIOUS BB FACE IS SUPER ADORABLE HERE, GUYS

LIKE, I’M MORE PARTIAL TO WWX BUT UGH, LWJ IS SO CUTE HERE???

IT’S AWFUL

WWX: *bounces right into lwj’s space* join us for a drink lan zhan!! We earned it after defeating the Haunted Water!!

LWJ: *stares over wwx’s shoulder* alcohol is forbidden in the cloud recesses

WHY WON’T YOU LOOK HIM IN THE FACE, LWJ?? IS IT BECAUSE HE’S SO CLOSE TO YOU SUDDENLY???

WWX: chill out dude *playfully tugs on lwj’s sleeve*

Oh man, the glare that lwj shoots at wwx’s hand here could have started a fire. I mean, it must have at least burned a little with how quickly wwx lets go

LWJ: Report to the Punishment Chamber

Did they have to call it ‘punishment chamber’??

It sounds like some kind of kinky sex dungeon, which, like, to each their own,(i’ll read some kinky sex dungeon fic every once and a while, myself)

But this is Ancient Fantasy China summer school…seems a little inappropriate in context

ANYWAY

WWX again tries to coax LWJ in to having a drink with them. He doesn’t understand how someone can just…not drink alcohol. Oh wwx, you budding alcoholic you

And here WWX nobly sacrifices himself to save his drunk buddies by distracting lwj (who was about to call for backup, like a narc) and pins some sort of mind-control talisman on him

Wwx: sit and have a drink with me!

Lwj: *sits down and takes a shot*

Lwj: *passes out*

Wwx: omg i killed him. WAKE UP YOU CAN’T STAY HERE!! YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM!! 

Wwx: *proceeds to gently guide lwj onto the bed*

You know after that initial panic, wwx looks too damn pleased with himself, especially after he gets lwj to call him wei-gege

Wwx suddenly notices that lwj’s ribbon is off kilter and informs him of it bc that’s what friends do

Wwx: your ribbon is crooked

Lwj: *scandalized gasp* crooked??

Why’s he so adorable when he’s drunk?? LOOK AT HIM TRYING TO SEE HIS OWN FOREHEAD AND GETTING ALL CROSS-EYED, WHAT A CUTIE

Wwx: i can help!! 

Lwj: *slaps wwx’s hand* Go Away

Wwx: you’re making it worse!!

Lwj: *slaps wwx’s hand away harder* DON’T TOUCH! THE RIBBON IS ONLY FOR FAMILY AND SIGNIFICANT OTHERS

And now we have a way to measure their queer queer love for each other without making the censors mad

How does this show do it?? This is gayer than most of the stuff aired in the US and the US doesn’t even have that kind of censorship laws media producers here are a bunch of COWARDS, disney i’m looking at you

Wwx: lol, significant others, really?

Lwj: what’s so funny

Wwx: nobody’s gonna marry into the lan clan with your thousands of dumb rules and chronic allergy to fun

LOLOLOL BOY HAS NO CLUE. JUST YOU WAIT WWX, YOU’RE GONNA EAT THOSE WORDS

Wwx: nope, you are gonna be Forever Alone

Lwj: …that’s fine

This is actually kind of heartbreaking tbh

He’s so resigned and pretending so hard not to care!!

HE TRULY BELIEVES HE’S NOT LOVABLE *UGLY CRYING*

Idk how the actor did it bc lwj still has a very placid expression on his face but it somehow manages to convey like, a sense of loneliness while still looking adorably drunk?? Idk man, i think black magic might be involved

All this to say POOR BB LAN ZHAN, COME HERE SWEETIE AND LET ME HUG YOU. YOU’RE GONNA BE FINE, I SWEAR.

Wwx is so incredulous at this response. Like he totally believes lwj would be okay staying alone forever but he doesn’t understand it

Bc wwx is a dumb teenage boy who doesn’t yet have the emotional intelligence to see that lwj is just saying that bc he’s scared and hurting

Now we get to see an acute case of Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome like we did back in episode 2!

Wwx: your mother must be so bored here all the time

DAMN IT WWX

WHAT IS IT WITH HIM AND BRINGING UP PEOPLE’S DEAD MOTHERS???

LWJ: i don’t have a mother 

He says flatly HIDING HIS SORROW

*UGLY SOBBING*

HE’S SO SAD AND LONELY GUYS

IT HURTS TO LOOK AT

WWX: you can’t not have a mother! Somebody gave birth to…oh.

There’s a crack vid somewhere on youtube with this scene voiced over “it was at that moment he realized…he Fucked Up”

And it’s true

Dumb boy

Here WWX makes up by sharing his sad orphan story with LWJ. it’s so sweet

THEIR SONG IS PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND WHILE THIS EXCHANGE HAPPENS

UGH THIS SHOW

LISTEN, ALL THIS HAS HAPPENED ALREADY AND WE’RE BARELY 10 MINUTES INTO THE EPISODE

LIKE, WHAT??

HOW. HOW CAN YOU GIVE ME SO MANY FEELINGS IN TEN MINUTES. THE FIRST TEN MINUTES OF THE EP EVEN.

WWX: my parents died when i was four and I can’t remember their faces–but i do remember getting chased by feral dogs

POOR BB WWX

HE CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER THEIR FACES 

OH, but we do get to see Actual BB!wwx in a brief flashback (within a flashback, remember this summer school business is not present time, how weird is that) and he’s riding a donkey while his mama and papa walk beside him. It’s adorable.

And after all that Emotional Vulnerability, he’s like “i’ll drink to that bro!” and makes a toast

I actually kind of like the toast he makes here with lwj tho

He tells him “may we never forget what is worth remembering or remember what is worth forgetting”

Idk if that’s like, a traditional toast or something he made up on the spot, but i like it

We get a brief moment of plot development here. 

AND OOOOH, THEY’RE ABOUT TO GET IN TROUBLE!!

So some Lan SNITCH barges into the room where lqr and lxc are at and is all “we caught wwx drinking Forbidden Alcohol!” and lxc’s expression is all gently amused

but then Lan Snitch continues “LWJ was with him!!” and lxc’s amused expression quickly morphs into Very Alarmed

(right before that all happened tho we get to see lwj fall out of bed, still passed out drunk and wwx laughs at him. I can’t even hold that against him bc i totally laughed at lwj too)

The camera now shows us some frankly HORRIFYING beating sticks (paddles?? Do they qualify as paddles?? THEY’RE HUGE AND SCARY AND MADE OF NIGHTMARES)

And bc LWJ is too honorable for his own good

Lwj: i am at fault and accept my punishment!

And goes on his knees to willingly get beaten. STOP THAT LWJ

WWX IMMEDIATELY steps in to take the blame, like no, it’s actually my fault bc i forced him to drink when he didn’t want to. LAN ZHAN SHOULDN’T GET PUNISHED!!

LQR: (proving that lans are all Dramatique) ARE YOU TRYING TO RUIN CLOUD RECESSES??

Take a chill pill, old man. A teenager getting drunk is not gonna start the apocalypse (probably)

And here lwj completely ignores wwx’s attempt to absolve him and is all no, I Made a Mistake and Must Get Punished 

Wwx: STOP ASKING FOR PUNISHMENT YOU IDIOT

So the punishment is kind of…harsh, but also lol bc as soon as wwx sees lwj take the beating without flinching or even staggering under the strength of the hits (lwj is truly a stronger man than i; one look at those Nightmare Sticks I would’ve run for the hills), he grits his teeth and forces himself to stay steady

Wwx: *internally but you can totally read it in his face* i’m not gonna let that bastard one-up me!! I have WAY more experience taking punishments. I am the punishment KING.

Okay so that all happens and afterwards WINGMAN LXC STRIKES AGAIN

LXC: wwx, you should definitely visit the family’s private cold spring

LXC: you know, so you can heal faster and not miss class

LXC: not for any other reason

I’D LIKE TO TAKE THIS MOMENT TO THANK GOD AND ALSO JESUS FOR THE UPCOMING SCENE

WE ARE AT THE COLD SPRING

LOOK AT WWX RUNNING TOWARDS LWJ

WET, HALF-NAKED LWJ

Wwx: *leans coquettishly against a tree thing and pouts* why didn’t you tell me about this spring? Friends don’t keep secrets from friends!!

wwx, you’re so clever, how can you be so stupid – boy is flirting at max level and doesn’t even realize it???

Lwj: HOW ARE YOU EVEN HERE *frantically robes up like some virginal maiden which he kinda is*

Wwx: your brother told me!

Lwj: *internally* brother why

And here wwx gets into the cold spring

Wwx: so cold so cold, let me get close to you where it’s warmer~! *dives right into lwj’s personal bubble*

Lwj: *takes a HUGE step back*

Wwx: *pouts* you know i didn’t like you much before but after our Romantic Moonlit Sword Fight and our Sword Fight By the Waterfall, i’ve decided i like you a lot and we should definitely be friends forever

Lwj: *doesn’t even look at wwx* That’s Not Necessary

Wwx: before you reject me, let me show you all the ~benefits~ to being my friend! *starts to strip*

(I’M NOT EVEN KIDDING YOU, HE LITERALLY SAID BENEFITS AND STARTED TO GET NAKED)

LWJ *is Horrified in a Repressed Gay Way* WHAT ARE YOU DOING

WWX: getting naked?? To heal better?? I thought this was obvious???

LWJ: *determinedly walks away*

WWX: wait don’t leave!! I’ll keep my clothes on! Anyway you should definitely visit me in yunmeng and i can pick lotus seeds for you. That’s totally what i meant about benefits.

LWJ: no

WWX: i can also introduce you to all the pretty girls there!

I CRACK UP EVERY TIME AT THIS. WWX, THAT IS A WHOLE GAY BOY YOU’RE TALKING TO, OH MY GOD

Then it turns out the cold spring is actually Haunted Water 2: This Time It’s Personal and tries to drown them

See this is why i don’t trust any bodies of water

They’re all out to get us

AND NOW WE GET TO THE  CAVE OF WONDERS (or cold pond cave, whatev)

Wwx: what is happening

Lwj: *is fascinated by the cave of wonders*

Lwj: *internally* ooooh Magic Guqin!! (BECAUSE HE’S A NERD LOLOL)

Magic Guqin: NOT TODAY SATAN *attacks wwx*

Wwx: WHY IS IT ATTACKING ME, I DIDN’T EVEN DO ANYTHING YET!!

brief pause here to point out that we meet the bunnies now!! Hello bunnies!!! Everyone in the fandom loves you~!!! 💗💗💗

Okay so Magic Guqin continues to attack wwx but wwx is a Clever Boy and figures out that it’s only attacking him because he doesn’t have a sacred lan ribbon

Wwx: lwj, quick, give me your ribbon!

Lwj: *FLIES RIGHT OVER TO WWX and proceeds to bind their wrists together with the SACRED RIBBON ONLY FAMILY ANd S.O.’s CAN TOUCH*

Then the camera zooms in on the metal piece of the ribbon that is now swaying gently between them like, Subtlety? Never heard of her!

Camera: yep, this is totally a straight thing that straight bros do together

So now that they’re bound together for eternity the boys approach the Magic Guqin

Lwj slaps wwx’s hands away from the guqin here – just bc i let you touch the sacred ribbon doesn’t mean you can touch the magic guqin that tried to murder you

BC LWJ IS A MUSIC NERD AND IS TOTALLY GEEKING OUT OVER THE PRECIOUS MUSICAL HEIRLOOM

LWJ proceeds to reverently play the Magic Guqin and we have this moment where he’s like, floating in space surrounded by glowy blue lights??

Idk man, it’s weird but we’ll roll with it

This is the first time we see him communicate with spirits using music, btw. 

Now we meet Lan Yi!! Who is a badass and important for plot reasons but the Valid Reason she’s mentioned here is because SHE OFFICIATES THE WANGXIAN WEDDING (bc we’ve already established that we’re not here for the plot lol)

the boys are tied together with the sacred ribbon and then they bow to a clan elder. How is that not, bare minimum, a handfasting??? 

Okay, technically, lwj bowed to the elder first to show respect while wwx stood there all stunned until lwj reminded him of the Importance of Manners. Then wwx bowed. But I’m pretty sure that still counts.

“You two being here must be destiny!” lan yi says, “i’m gonna do some plot exposition so pay attention.”

Thankfully we are not lwj or wwx so we don’t have to pay attention at all!!

At some point, wwx makes a clever comment and lan yi is all “wwx you’re as smart as i thought!! 

Yes yes i definitely approve of you marrying my great great great grand-son/nephew/whatever the heck he is, idk i’ve been in this cave too long with only bunnies for company" (🎶bunnies are better than people, buns don’t you think that’s true~?🎶 I AM SO SORRY FOR THAT REFERENCE, DISNEY YOU STILL SUCK I JUST HAVE POOR SELF-RESTRAINT)

Okay, she for real complimented wwx’s intelligence (bc I guess everyone’s hot for WWX’s big brain? Idk) but i’m pretty sure she was thinking the rest of that really loudly in her head

Then more plot stuff happens and the episode ends!!!

Beautiful, phenomenal episode. One of the MOST IMPORTANT Wangxian episodes we have!! 100/10 stars, would watch again.

Return to Masterpost

[gravitydefyingtears]

MDZS Audio Drama Extra: Yunmeng Youths

More Yunmeng content?? You want to kill me?! Alright, guess I’ll die then.

Before that, have a quick translated script:

… … …

WWX = Wei Wuxian; JC = Jiang Cheng

… … …

Yunmeng Disciple: I wonder if these chickens are tasty?

Disciple: I want to eat chicken leg!

Disciple: Me, too!

Disciple: How can there be so many legs on one chicken?

Disciple: You eat the wing.

Disciple: Just catch a few more and there will be!

WWX: Shh! Quiet! We’re here; keep it down.

Disciple: Da-shixiong*, this is the spot?

(*eldest brother under the same discipline; head disciple)

WWX: Mn. Jiang Cheng and I already checked it out this morning. Come, go in over this wall.

Disciples: Let’s go, let’s go.

WWX: Keep up, keep up.

Disciples: Careful. Pull me up.

WWX: You all see it? I’ll count to three and we’ll move in together. Run as soon as we get it, hear me?

Disciples: Got it.

WWX: One…two… *moves in*

Disciples: !!

[chickens squawk]

WWX: Got it! What are you guys waiting for?

JC: Wei Wuxian, didn’t you say to wait for “three” before moving?

WWX: I didn’t say three?

Disciples: No…

WWX: Who cares! Come here, come here. One chicken per person.

[chickens do their chicken thing]

Disciples: Da-shixiong, the chickens all woke up. … It’s no good!

[scrambling]

WWX: *sighs* You guys don’t put in enough effort when practicing. Can’t even catch a chicken.

JC: Isn’t it all because of you?! Yet you’re not embarrassed to throw salt on the wound!

Owner: What’s going on?! Who are you?!

[Yunmeng Jiang crowd starts panicking]

Owner: You brats dare to steal my chicken?! Already stole lotus pods in the morning and still dare to come steal chicken in the evening! You want to die, is that right?! You’re running?! Stop! You bunch of chicken thieves! Brats! Stop right there! …

[Yunmeng bunch runs away]

WWX: Alright, he probably won’t chase us here.

Disciple: Da-Shixiong, we’ve only stolen one chicken. How can we split it?

Disciple: Yeah…

WWX: Easy. For this operation, Jiang Cheng and I have the credit of scouting ahead. So, this chicken should be split to us first.

JC: Hmph!

WWX: Firstly, the chicken leg has to go to me, because I was the one who caught the chicken as well. I have the most credit! *thumps chest*

WWX: As for Jiang Cheng…just have the chicken butt.

JC: You wanna die?!

WWX: Come on. If you have the gall, let’s fight. If you win, I’ll give you the leg.

JC: Okay! Who’s scared? I’ll teach you a lesson!

[bros fight]

Disciple: Go Jiang-shixiong! Teach Da-shixiong a lesson!

Disciple: Fight! Fight!

Disciples: Get him! Beat him up! Dodge that!

WWX: *gets hit* Ugh! Ah…Jiang Cheng…you…merciless…

Disciple: Why did you hit so hard?

JC: I didn’t use that much strength!

Disciple: Maybe you hit one of Da-shixiong’s pressure points?

Disciple: Da-shixiong coughed up blood!

Disciple: He’s bleeding from his nose and eyes as well!

Disciple: Jiang-shixiong…

JC: Wei Wuxian, are you okay?!

WWX: I-I don’t blame you. I know you…didn’t do it on purpose. Even if I die…don’t blame yourself.

WWX: In…in the next life…I…I’ll still be brothers with you.

JC: What do you mean “die”?! Don’t speak anymore! I’ll bring you back right now! Father and A-Niang* will surely have some way to save you!

(*less formal address for mother)

WWX: I…

JC: There must be a way!

WWX: I won’t make it back.

JC: Let’s go back right now!

WWX: You all have to remember…remember…

JC: Wei Wuxian!!

Disciples: Da-shixiong!! What do we do?! Wake up, Da-shixiong! Don’t die!!

JC: Wei Wuxian…Wei Wuxian…! You…!

WWX: *laughs, this idiot*

JC: ?! Wei Wuxian…! You—!

WWX: HAHAHA Then I won’t die.

WWX: Heh heh. I was recently researching a type of medicine. It can immediately cause the symptom of bleeding from all seven orifices. Of course, it’s only on the surface and doesn’t actually damage the body—

JC: …Wei Wuxian!! You wanna die?! I’ll kill you right now!! *fights*

WWX: I was wrong, okay?

Disciples: Jiang-shixiong! That was overboard! Hit him, hit him! That’s right!

JC: You want to run?!

Disciple: Hit him! Jiang-shixiong, hit him! That was too much! Hit him! Beat him up!

WWX: *laughs*

[beautiful music plays]

… … …

It’s all so bittersweet, guys. I’m crying while laughing. I just want them to be happy. (timetowriteamillionfixitfics)

I’m supposed to be translating ep 4 of the audio drama, but…I haven’t even listened to it yet… Yunmeng Bro content is the surest way to tears. Someone give me courage. Come bother me on Twitter. Whichever.

*cries into the distance*

… … …

I have some other extras translated under #my translations

[eyeslikefoxglove]

Episode 2 - Wei Wuxian has Foot-in-Mouth syndrome & Foxglove absolutely has a crush

Alright let’s go! It’s almost midnight so I might have to go to bed and continue tomorrow but... YOLO? I guess?

Fair warning, I will gush about cinematography and scenery like a lot. I have zero professional knowledge about it, but it’s pretty.

Wei “let me be really damn sexy when drinking” Wuxian.

He’s so done with everything omg it’s hilarious.

Ok but the actress who plays A-Yan is GORGEOUS.

Why does this show do “creepy yet beautiful” so damn good?

This might be my inner Rumplestiltskin talking but the second I heard “wish-granting fairy” I had to scream bullshit; all magic comes with a price.

My god Jin Ling would’ve gotten la zapatilla for talking to the people in the net like that if my granny had been there.

And I’ll never stop wondering who the fuck is in charge of logistics here. Because there you have A CIVILIAN wandering into a forest covered in magic nets.

That fucking donkey.

Watching this for the first time, with not prior knowledge must be fucking disconcerting. Because you have this literal walking disaster, who everyone (besides the gorgeous man in white) wants dead. But he’s a fucking mess and mostly harmless. So why? And it’s hilarious.

So maybe not that harmless. (Ok but badass WWX is kinda hot)

AND WWX DONE GOOFED. Feet in mouth syndrome at its finest.

Him sassing JL is hilarious.

OH HEY THAT’S MY HUSBAND RIGHT THERE!

But FR, the first time I saw JC in this scene I screamed: oh not he’s hoooooooot.

It’s the cheekbones. And the long hair. And the hands. And the fact that my self preservation instinct was left in-utero because I think getting that man riled up and angry over stupid shit would be hilarious.

... in my defence my family’s love language is being assholes to each other; but with affection you know?

JC: I am badass and have a temper don’t fuck with me.

Me: ok that’s valid but you’re also kind of an angry grape and spent ten minutes trying to find a polite way to say “fuck off and die” via letter.

WWX: why am I so unlike today.

WHEN ARE YOU LUCKY MATE? WHEN?

ooooooohhhhhh petty petty smackdown round one!

I love that JC is throwing digs at LWJ and LWJ is not even looking at him. I mean, the ducklings are carrying the conversation so this must not even be new to them.

Jin Ling is the Peacock, Sizhui is Shijie and Jingyi is a WWX/JC hybrid.

JC: what’s the bad news now?

Honestly? Same.

Why does Netflix not translate HJG as HGJ?

JC telling JL that he’ll break his legs if he fucks up has the same energy as my mum threatening me with making me go out on a Friday night if I don’t pass a test.

And yes, I make jokes about threatening physical violence here because it is my hc that, after the kind of parents the Yunmeng siblings had, JC took a look at JL and decided right then and there to stay away from his own parents’ methods.

I mean, one of my dad’s fave swears is: lord give me patience, because if you give me strength they’re all dead.

Which I find hilarious, so I can’t help but see the same thing in those two.

WWX finding out he’d disparaged his orphan nephew’s parents: It was at this moment that he knew he’d fucked up.

... well, that was creepy.

(Can I make the “compass that doesn’t point north and wooden sword” joke? Please?)

JIN LING SHUT UP.

Nopenopenopenoooooope.

So quick question, despite WWX coming back with his own body in this adaptation he does have a golden core right? Because he does some talisman and array things and he does mention when everyone is shit out of luck in the Burial Mounds that he, LWJ and the Ducklings are the only ones with spiritual energy. But he also gives his sword to WN to fight more often than not and he mentions that his body is “fragile”. So...

WWX just went into scolding/disappointed parent mode lol.

He just deduced everything correctly from a bunch of glittery grass. He’s fucking Sherlock and I can understand why NHS wanted him to help with his brother’s murder.

(Brief interlude so I can thirst over JC’s hands for a second again)

Jingyi is, as always, A Mood.

THE CINNAMON ROLL IS HERE.

“The Yiling Patriarch is not here!”

He’s right behind you mate.

So everyone is wearing Kevlar under their robes right? I’m going to assume so, because otherwise WN would’ve caved LSZ’s chest in with that chain throw. I mean, he punched right through stone so...

IT’S HERE.

IT’S HAPPENING.

NOBODY PANIC.

THE WRIST GRAB.

IS THAT A TIIIIIINY SMILE ON LWJ’S FACE?

THE DOUBLE WRIST GRAB.

LWJ’S SURPRISED FACE.

*screaming into a pillow*

Oh hey, hubby is back!

OMG I’m laughing at him scolding JL. Can’t help it.

Full disclosure, I love Zidian’s design.

Petty smackdown number two!

Lemme go on a Zidian tangent tho: IT’S A LIGHTNING WHIP. That shit should be devastating. Do you know how much voltage is in lightning? Too fucking much. Every time someone got hit with it you would have at least second to third degree burns, not to mention broken bones, muscle spasms and if you’re very very unlucky cardiac arrest. But you don’t. It doesn’t make sense? Help?

... why am I being logical over A FUCKING MAGIC WHIP.

Idk, it’s almost 1am don’t ask me that.

He really wanted his brother back didn’t he. I mean, he was so sure WWX was possessing that body and when nothing happened his face got all surprised and sad. That’s not the look of someone who wants to torture and murder the dude. That’s for sure.

LJY: didn’t you kill him yourself?

JC: conceal don’t feel don’t let them know.

Again, brilliant tiny flashback. We still don’t see what exactly happened at the cliff. You see LWJ holding onto WWX, you see a close up of JC stabbing down from above, but then it cuts to a wider frame and WWX is already falling. We are meant to assume JC did something like stab him on the face or hurt LWJ’s hand.

I HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS OVER JC OK? He’s an angry grape but he’s my angry grape and he misses both his siblings.

Amazing transition again to a mega long flashback.

SHIJIE IS HERE. JC IS SMILING. WWX’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS ARE STEERING CLEAR OF DOGS AND HIS HORRIBLE ADOPTIVE MOTHER. *goes crying to read time-travel fix it fics*

(I’m gonna stop being all thirsty over JC at least until the SunShot Campaign bc 1. I think his mega crush on WQ is adorable and how I wish it’d worked out. & 2. He’s what? 17 at the beginning of this flashback? That feels creepy.)

It’s a little disturbing what WWX says about alcohol easing the mind tho. I mean he’s 17?

JC: A-Jie WWX is being mean to me!

So that’s episode 2 done. It’s 1am and my cat is begging me for food so I bet the neighbours love me right now. I’m not going to take any responsibility for typos or weird turns of phrases because I’m tired.

Tomorrow I have to actually start packing my flat so I might not get another episode out but who knows.

Thanks for reading!

[onepunchmiss]

OPM s2e12 Live Blog

“The Wiping of the Disciple’s Butt”

The season finale. I’m nauseous. Lets begin. 

As always, I’m watching from the perspective of someone who has read the manga and webcomic. 

Right where we left off. Again I love the music. I’m just like, really calm right now actually. hhhhhhhhhhhokay. OOF oh god all the crunching sound effects oh no, this is already so weird watching Garou get his ass handed to him since he’s pretty much curb stomped every other hero in battle thus far, or at the VERY LEAST avoided taking so many hits. This. is so uncomfortable to watch. WOAH ????? THESE SHOTS WERE ONLY THERE FOR A SPLIT SECOND BUT??? HOLY SHIT???

GAROU’S HAIR OH MY GOD 

Oh god oh god Bang is relentless this hurts please stop guys GUYS PLZ  HAS NO ONE REALISED THAT NOT ONE HERO HAS DIED CMON PLZ IT HURTS calm down stop trying to kill him plsplspls OH

THIS 

IS WHY

WE STAN GAROU

HE SAYS FUCK DEATH HOW ABOUT I JUST GET STRONGER INSTEAD QUE EPIC THEME MUSIC

oh god damnit him legit running on all fours right there just looks goofy tho F “preposterous style” Bang you aint lying asdfghjkl really though OH MY GOD EVERYONE IS DRAWN SO BEAUTIFULLY THIS IS SO BLESSED 

WAIT 

NO OPENING THEME???????????????????? WHAT?????????????????????? WHY????????????????????????? ONE, I WANTED TO SEE THE CHIBI OF THE WEEK AND 2 

I WASNT PREPARED FOR MY FAVORITE DOPEY BIRD MAN THE FUCK PHOENIXMAN PLS NO ILY I know people hate him a lot but I just really dig how he feels like a fleshed out character compared to most other monsters, like he’s legit lookit him being all smart and stuff plz I just,,,,,,,,,,,, want to hug dumb fluffy birb ;-;

Woah again I’m being blown away by the animation??? Garou getting smacked around is really fluid and this just looks really cool in general?????

FUCK I CANT DO FLASHBACKS MAN JUST HEARING THE KID VOICE MAKED MY STOMACH LURCH OH NO 

OH NO I SCREAM OH NO I CANT OH NO GIMME 5 MINUTES PLEASE I CANNOT BBY NO I FORGOT ADULT GAROU IS IN THE FLASHBACK WATCHING THIS TIME PLS NO 

LIKE???????? I got kinda a comedic vibe watching him comment on it in the manga but the slow music and shit is just FUKKIN ME UP RIGHT NOW I HATE IT THANKS IT HURTS

oh god his face he has the seething thousand mile stare of quiet rage and its burning a hole STRAIGHT THROUGH MY ENTIRE BEING “But me I was the loner kid. Always gloomy and without friends” STOP. YOU STOP THAT RIGHT THIS INSTANT. IM CRYING AT U RIGHT NOW STOP

NO DONT HOLD HIM LET HIM GO S T O P OR SO HELP ME i can’t watch this what the fuck “I was always the loser” SHIT this legitimately hurts me “I dont want to be the monster anymore” GArou hey did you hear that part?? hEY GAROU DID YOU HEAR YOURSELF THERE??? 

WHAT DID I SAY WHAT THE F DID I JUST SAY STOP HOLDING HIM STOP STOPPIT  THE HELL MAN What if……….. I just go BACK IN TIME AND ADOPT BB GAROU CAN I DO THAT IS THIS POSSIBLE IS THIS ALLOWED ? ?? ?

oh my god it keeps getting worse. I mean. I already knew garou was being disproportionately reprimanded for what he supposedly did, but watching this scene just fucking kicked me in the teeth. As if my stomach wasn’t already in knots. The fuck . why does this hurt so much more watching than reading the frustration in seeping into me ffffff.

This looks really cool but, i can barely focus on that because im pretty much being exsanguinated on the floor over here by this whole sequence look at him crying. do it for me cause I sure as hell can’t 

“I want to strike a blow for the little guy”

Fukkin GETTEM GO GETTEM 

HOLY SHIT HIS VA IS GOING T F OFF 

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH LOOKIT HIM ILY SO MUCH SAVE THE DAY BIRB SAVE 

ASDFGHJKL THIS IS SO INTENSE EVERYONE IS SO INTENSE I KNOW WHAT HAPPENS BUT HOLY SHIT FUCK IM SCREAMING GAROU IS SCREAMING BANG AND BOMB SCREAMING GENOS AND EVEN PHOENIXMAN EVEN THE MUSIC IS SCREAM WE ALL JUST SC R E M

OH MY GOD AND THE LITTLE HEAD NOT GENOS AND BANG GIVE EACHOTHER SAVING THE HEROES OH MY GOD OH FUCK AND THE WAY THEY ANIMATE BANG JUMPING AROUND IS DOPE AS HELL AND ALSO HOLY SHIT ELDER CENTIPEDE I MISSED THE UNSETTLING SMOOTH CG LIKE ANIMATION FOR THE CENTIPEDES EVERY CELL IN MY BODY IS JUST SCREAMING RN I AM OVERLOAD HELP 

Garou flailing in the air in Phoenixman’s grip is … really adorable oh my god. “It’s your fault for not finishing them” ooooooo that shut him up didn’t it oof. Also nice cameo by Tatsumaki there 

ASDFGHJKL THE MUSIC AGAIN I LOVE IT I LOVE THEM LOOK AT THEM OH MY GOD 

THIS IS SO BAD ASS

EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IS SO BADASS

Genos’s eye static, The brother’s fists swirling, THE FUKKIN CARAPACE SHATTERING 

THIS FIGHT IS SO WILD MY COMPUTER CANT EVEN TAKE IT. ITS GLITCHING AND FREEZING UP HOLY SHIT

oh god ok the face coming out of the face was pure nightmare fuel alright then

WAIT

I FORGOT GENOS IS A SELF SACRIFICING DUMBASS. NO IM NOT READY GENOS YOU DOOF LISTEN TO KUSENO LISTEN TO HIM 

oh no 

oh no

im crying oh no

this animation is beautiful first of all and the music like im just here this is where I’m at and I’m crying oh no 

He’s an angel. A literal angel. Look at that and tell me he doesn’t look like a fucking angel in the sky with the rays of light casting shadows around him. 

Genos you are too good and pure for this world but that DOESNT MEAN TRY TO GET YOURSELF KILLED 

Shit they really made it look like he was gonna self destruct there for a second which MADE HIS LAST STAND EVEN MORE INTENSE OH MY GOD SWEETHEART Y’all ever get into a show because you keep seeing one character that catches your interest, and you keep seeing them pop up on your dash or wherever until you finally decide ‘well fuckit, this is the asshole that’s gonna get me to finally watch the show’, cause you’re already invested in them anyway? Genos did that for me with OPM. If this fool didn’t exist Who knows how long it would’ve taken me to get to watching OPM, if ever. And shit like this is why I STILL love him. I usually move on to new faves 90% of the time but nope. Genos earned his spot and is keeping it. Look at this insane shit. My heart. Uhg

Enough gushing asdfghjkl ok but Genos, you just went INTO THE DAMNED THING’s STOMACH,,,,, and you’re SURPRISED that there’s STOMACH ACID?? But real talk. What the EVERLONG FUCK is that thing’s insides made out of? How did it NOT DIE. the FuCK

asdfghjkl Phoenixman’s chuckle???? I love 

Oh Bang no, this is wrenching my heart like I know that he doesn’t actually use his power but its built up so intensely like,,, would he be ok if he did??? and actually more concerningly since it even WAS brought up that he has some hidden true strength, will we EVER get to see that??? Oh Shit well when they word it as “All the power left to me in this life” then yeah, that seems pretty life or death ish???? THE FUCK 

Oh thank god comedic relief is here I feel like i’m about to have a heart attack my chest is so tight hhhhhh ok breathe WAIT THIS ISNT COMEDIC THIS IS BADASS AS HELL JEEZUS witht he flashbacks to the Saitama encounter and THIS LOOK

The Anime is really fucking with the audience huh??? Making it look like KIngs about to throw hands like???????????? OH SHIT AND THIS MUSIC IS DOPE AS HELL TOO IM JUST laughing I have so much excessive energy right now???

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHZAHAHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASDFGHJKLJHGFDSWERTGYHUIUJHGFDFGHJKJHGFRE THE FUKKIN SONG THEY BROUGHT IT BACK THE ULTIMATE SONG I GOT THREE NOTES IN JUST THREE NOTES AND I KNOW IM SCREAMING I GOTTA GO RUN BRB 

IM STILL SCREAMING FADFJSAGFJDSLKAHVFSKLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA OUR MAIN MAN THERE HE IS THERE HE IS IM GONNA THROW UP 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

OH MY FUCK THATS WHAT THE OPENING SEQUENCE EXPLOSION WAS FROM OH GOD OH FUCK BEAUTIFUL THIS IS BEAUTIFUL OH FUCK OH GOD 

The REPRISE oh no oh NO OH NO OH NO NO ITS NOT OVER im not ready its not I cant no no no i dont want to press play cause if I press play it will end soon no no no Oh my god and at the end there isnt gonna be a title card for the next episode because THERE IS NO NEXT EPISODE no non o nonononon on on on ono no no no 

NO 

HEY IVE BEEN RIPPED OFF. WHERES THE FACE WITH HIS HAIR BLOWN BACK??? ASDFJKL fine I cant even be mad everything else was tooo  ofdbghjfshkggfhsjgbfhjka

KING WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT REACTION ASDFGHJKL W H A T 

WAIT THEY ARE DOING THE OPENING THEME AT THE END NO I CANT HANDLE SEEING EVERYOONE NOW OF ALL TIMES GOD DAMNIT WHY ok yknow what. I knew it would be king. I dont know how but i did 

Wha

wh

fkin cliffhanger no please no 

I.. I’m kind of at a loss for words. I’m. That’s it, huh? It’s really over. It doesn’t FEEL over. There’s so much unfinished business. Well, the only way to really neatly wrap everything up as neatly as S1 did would have been to get ALL THE WAY through the Garou arc, which obviously wasn’t going to happen, but this is not a great spot to leave off if we’re going to endure another few years hiatus. My hope is that, with biweekley manga updates, we should wrap up the Monster Association/Garou stuff (assuming it doesn’t diverge from the web comic too much) some time next year, and I’m HOPING that s3 is already being planned accordingly along side manga publications. So MAYBE it will at least be announced around that time 2020. That’s my wishful thinking at least. I don’t think I can survive 3 years. anyway

You could really tell JC Staff poured their hearts and souls into these last 2 episodes. Absolutely gorgeous, paced well, so completely satisfying and making every second of s2 worth while. For me, at least. I’ve already seen people still complaining and I’m just sorry they didn’t have as much fun as I did. 

Seriously, thank each and every one of you guys. This has been a wild ride, I’ve barely had this blog a few weeks before season 2 started airing (and honestly just got into opm maybe a month before that?), so I owe a lot of the success on the blog to the anime I bet. This was the first series I’ve never tried live bogging, and I honestly can’t believe that they were as popular as they were? Especially since I never have any idea what I’m doing but yall listen to me ramble anyway?? Yall are crazy thank you so so so much. Now my tuesdays are gonna feel really empty… next week is gonna be weird as hell. Though I’m gonna get mad nostalgic good vibes rewatching this season in the future in no small part from sharing my experience with everyone who's stuck around. I can’t say see yall next week this time, but, see you next season whenever it may be for sure.

[gothchic6]

Silver’s Skater Girl Chapter 17: The Golden Adventure Part 2: Dusk’s Revenge

While all of this drama has been going on, I've hardly had anytime for the Egg that Professor Elm has me carrying. I take it out of my backpack, the red and blue pattern distinct. I rub my hand over it, and it shakes a bit! I'm happy to see it's still doing okay. I put it back in my bag, and make sure to secure it from possible damage.

Spirit, Dusk and I go to leave the Pokémon Center, when all of a sudden, my PokéGear starts ringing again. I grab it to see who's calling, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see JC's number. I answer it almost immediately while stopping to sit at the booth again.

"Hey Calypso! It's JC! I haven't talked to you in a day or two, and JP left me a crazy voicemail saying a bunch of stuff happened with your Gran or something? I couldn't really tell what exactly she was saying in the message, so I was hoping you could clear some stuff up. And tell me how your journey is going," JC exclaims in a flurry of excitement.

"I have so much to tell you, JC," I say as I look at the clock again. 7:20pm. I have ten minutes to talk, so why not tell her everything?

"Okay, so the last time you called me, I was in Azalea Town about to go kick Team Rocket out of Slowpoke Well. Since then in the last two days, I beat all the Rocket Grunts, punched Team Rocket Executive Proton in the face, won against Azalea Gym Leader Bugsy, made friends with Kurt and his granddaughter, Maizie, travelled Ilex Forest, befriended a girl named Lyra, found out Gran was accused of domestic abuse, explored Goldenrod City, and saw and barely escaped from Gran on the sixth floor of the Goldenrod Department Store.

The Goldenrod Police found and arrested her at the Goldenrod Game Corner, playing Voltorb Flip earlier today. Now, about five minutes ago, JP called me and told me that someone paid Gran's 75,000 bail. So I have a fight to pick with whoever paid her bail. I'm pissed, JC."

It takes JC a few seconds to process all of this information, but she sputters out, "Well, I'd be too. JP and the Goldenrod City Police did their part to get a violent criminal off the streets, and someone goes and posts her bail? That is just pure evil."

"Yeah, so I have to watch out for her again, and I'm not happy. Also, I found out some interesting information," I reply, grabbing her interest.

"And what information would that be," She questions curiously.

"Okay, so Monica is actually a Gym Trainer at the Goldenrod City Gym. She tattled to the Gym Leader, Whitney, about me stealing Dusk, formerly, 'Jessica.' So Whitney banned me from challenging her Gym.

Later, I found out that Whitney is hosting a birthday party for Monica tonight in the Gym at 8pm. So I'm going to go crash Monica's birthday when we get off the phone," I relay to her.

I can hear JC trying to stifle some giggles, but she's not doing a very good job at it. "Hey, you let me know how that goes, okay? That sounds like so much fun right now."

"I'm hoping for it to be a success," I say determinedly, "Besides, I need that Goldenrod Gym Badge, and I'm not letting Monica get in my way. Anything new going on with you?"

"Yeah, kind of," JC starts out, "You know how I thought that JP wouldn't stop by my Pokémon Center as often after the whole incident three days ago?"

"Yeah, I thought she backed off? What's going on," I ask concernedly.

"Oh, don't worry, she's not being mean to me or anything like she was," JC assures me, "It's just the opposite, really. She comes at least twice a day to check up on me now even though Jenny Anne is actually the one assigned to Route 32.

I always catch her staring at me weirdly whenever she comes in to heal her Pokémon. Sometimes, if she's in a good mood, she'll bring me food from Violet City.

And she's always complimenting something about me! Yesterday, it was how my hair was in perfect loops, and today was how I healed her Aipom, Pomskey, 'awesomely.'"

My eyebrow twitches at this interesting development. "That is weird," I comment, "She's been sounding normal on the phone lately, and I haven't noticed anything weird about her. Maybe she just wants to be a good friend in order to make up for your guys' past. Unless she like-likes you. I don't know if you swing that way, but it's a possibility."

"...I've never really thought about it before, to be honest. I spent all of my childhood and adolescence studying for my Officer and Nurse positions that I never really had the time for romance," JC says awkwardly.

"Hey, don't feel bad," I comfort her, "I recently developed my first crush, and I'm seventeen. We don't all figure out things in our lives at the same rate."

"Thanks, Calypso," JC says quietly after a brief moment, "Is your first crush that Silver guy with the red hair?"

"…Shut up, JC," I say monotone.

"I knew it! I don't blame you, he's handsome in a menacing kind of way. But anyway, what should I do about JP, Calypso? The whole situation is so confusing."

"Well, I suppose you have to figure out two things," I speculate, "One, figure out whether JP is acting super nice because she wants to be your friend, or if she likes you romantically. Two, if she likes you romantically, you have to figure out if you are in a position to reciprocate her feelings back."

"Ugh, Calypso, you're right. I've got to figure this out," JC groans. "Oh, wait, Calypso! JP is calling me right now! I'll call you later, okay? I'll let know what happens either later tonight, or in the morning. Bye!"

"Bye," I say just as quickly before hanging up the phone.

Spirit and Dusk have been talking among themselves while patiently waiting for me to get off the phone. Spirit resumes her place on my left shoulder, while Dusk floats on my right side.

"So much drama, so little time, you guys," I comment as we finally leave the Pokémon at 7:30pm.

It's late enough that the street lights of Goldenrod are shining bright golden yellow to illuminate the city. I ride the loaner board all the way north up to the Gym.

We hide underneath the Magnet Train Track above us while surveying the entrance of the Gym.

First, we see just one Beauty guarding the Gym. After about two minutes, a small group of Beauties and Lasses come strolling up to the entrance. The original Beauty chats with them amicably before they all file into the Gym, one by one. I'm guessing that Whitney and Monica are already inside considering that I didn't see them.

The Gym doors close, and I can hear the Beauty locking the doors. That won't stop us, though.

We notice windows on either side of the front of the Gym. The one on our left is slightly cracked open.

"Hey, Spirit," I whisper, "Do you think you could fly up and open that window some more without being too loud? If you can do that, I think I can climb up the side of this fence so I can reach the window."

'I'll try,' Spirit says as she flies silently up to the window. She perches on the edge of the open window, nudging the bottom glass with her beak. After applying a tiny bit of pressure, the window opens enough to where I'm confident I can fit my body through it.

"Thanks, Spirit," I murmur up to her almost inaudibly. Sneakiness level up 100%!

Dusk floats up to where Spirit is waiting for me near the window. I get a footing on the concrete block fencing to my left, slowly standing up on it to try to reach the window. I wobble a few times due to my klutziness, but I manage to hold on. I stretch up to my full height of 5'7", and I get my right hand up on the metal ledge of the window. With all my strength, I swing myself back and forth until I hook one of my feet on the ledge, pulling myself up and through the window.

I do a somersault into the Gym from the window. I actually land on my feet for once.

The Gym itself is a multi-pink pattern with green ledges. It's also heavily decorated for Monica's Birthday Party, banners and streamers hanging almost everywhere.

The Gym Guru who is usually at the front of the Gym isn't here; I'm guessing he went home after the Gym closed. Just another person I don't have to sneak by.

There's a path up to the north of us. When we walk up a few feet, we notice a flight of stairs directly to the right of us, leading up on the ledges.

We decide to explore the north path first, but I find that it's a dead end. We go back to the stairs, walking up them, only to realize that a Beauty is hanging up streamers directly to left of us. I try to walk to the right quietly, but my curse strikes again. I trip and fall, causing the Beauty to hear the noise and come running over.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be in here! This is a private birthday party—Wait, you're that girl who stole Jessica! I'm afraid I'll have to kick you out, battle style," Beauty Victoria states confidently as she sends out the first of her three Pokémon, a Level 9 Sentret.

I send in Spirit, hoping to conserve Dusk's energy for a certain later battle. One of Spirit's Faint Attacks is all it takes to take her down. Beauty Victoria recalls her frustratedly.

Beauty Victoria sends in a Level 13 Sentret in her place. The Level 13 Sentret manages to get two minimal hits from her Fury Swipes, but ultimately gets steamrollered by Spirit's Faint Attack/Wing Attack combo.

Beauty Victoria's face is now red in anger. She recalls the Level 13, and then sends out her strongest Pokémon—you guessed it—a Level 16 Sentret.

She instructs this Sentret to use Defense Curl, hoping to heighten her Defense so Spirit can't knock her out instantly. Smart Move. But it won't work forever.

It takes 2 Faint Attacks and 3 Wing Attacks, but Spirit finally knocks her out after five turns of Defense Curl.

"Spirit grew to Level 19," the Pokédex announces.

Beauty Victoria grudgingly pays me 896 before allowing to continue past her. I heal Spirit with a Potion before we continue further.

We see another staircase further over to the right. We descend down it, leading to a hallway with trees on the left side, and the wall on the other. Further down, there's an opening to the left, and a hallway straight ahead.

We decide to go through the opening on the left, not realizing that we're putting ourselves in view of Beauty Samantha. Apparently, she was organizing Monica's gift table.

"Hey, you're that girl who stole Jessica from Monica! How dare you break in here and crash Monica's party," Beauty Samantha declares, sending out the first of two Pokémon, a Level 16 Meowth.

"Who wants to battle," I ask the two spooky Pokémon on my shoulders.

'I'll battle the Gym Trainers, and I'll leave Monica and Whitney to you and Dusk,' Spirit says as she flies forward to face the Meowth on the battlefield.

"Meowth, use your Fury Swipes," Beauty Samantha shouts.

"Spirit, dodge it and use your Wing Attack!"

Spirit soars up into the air, trying to dodge Meowth's Fury Swipes, but to our surprise, Meowth can leap really high. She gets one hit on Spirit for an eighth of her HP in damage.

Spirit immediately retaliates with her Wing Attack, cutting Meowth's HP down to a third.

"Spirit, finish this with Faint Attack!"

"Meowth, let's go! Use your Fake Out to stop it from attacking!"

Meowth's Fake Out hits first, the hit leaving Spirit with 3/4ths of her HP left. Unfortunately, she also flinches in response.

"Meowth, keep going at it! Use Bite to make her flinch again!"

"Spirit, dodge and use your Faint Attack!"

Spirit is faster than Meowth, disappearing into her cloud of darkness. Meowth keeps looking around, searching for Spirit, but she is too well hidden. Then, after a second of suspense, she strikes Meowth from behind.

Meowth faints from the unescapable attack. Beauty Samantha recalls her, before sending out a second Level 16 Meowth that's a twin of the first one.

'Let's get this over with,' Spirit comments as we start out with a Faint Attack.

"Meowth, use Growl!"

Meowth starts growling at Spirit aggressively, startling Spirit, and lowering her attack. Spirit stills hits Meowth with her Faint Attack, but it only reduces her HP by half.

"Meowth, use your Fury Swipes!"

"Spirit, dodge it, and use Wing Attack!"

Meowth goes in a frenzy, hitting Spirit 4 out of 5 times with her Fury Swipes. It reduces Spirit's HP to a little less than half.

Spirit still has enough strength to soar into the air, and plough into Meowth at high speed with her wings. It makes Meowth faint, to Beauty Samantha's dismay. She recalls Meowth, and pays me 896.

We realize that we can't get through to the left, so we pass Beauty Samantha on the right, going up a path and to the right. It leads us to a bigger hallway with a staircase on the left, where I see that the other path to the other hallway connects to it.

We walk up and to the left, finding another entrance to the area that was blocked off by Beauty Samantha. I look around, and see no one, so I heal Spirit with a Super Potion.

Spirit looks like she's tired, so I ask her if she wants to switch out. She accepts my offer for a nap, so I switch her out with Cyndi as my first Pokémon.

Cyndi and I sneak further down the hallway, where we see a Lass on our right, facing that direction. We go further down and to the right to avoid her, only to find another Lass guarding the other side.

Lass Carrie sees my sneak attempt, and comes to challenge me. She only has one Pokémon, a Level 17 Snubbull.

"Snubbull, we gotta take down this party crasher! Use Bite!"

"Cyndi, dodge it, and gain some speed with your Quick Attack!"

Cyndi dashes past Snubbull, who isn't able to keep up. Cyndi sprints in a circle around her, making her dizzy, before actually attacking. It reduces her HP by a third.

"Snubbull, don't let her take you down! Use Charm!"

Snubbull tries to Charm Cyndi, who succumbs to it, reducing her Attack two levels.

"Cyndi, don't sweat it! Use your Ember attack!"

Cyndi charges a fireball to blue, flinging it directly to Snubbull's face. It reduces her HP to almost none.

"Come on, Snubbull, you can do it! Use Lick!"

"Cyndi, take her out with your Headbutt!"

Cyndi and Snubbull charge each other, but Cyndi is faster. She head-butts Snubbull straight on the forehead, causing her to fly back and hit the wall, knocking her out instantly.

Lass Carrie recalls Snubbull whilst swearing under her breath. She pays me 272 in winnings.

We walk past her, and finally see the first glimpses of Whitney and Monica. They are joined by the other Lass that I snuck by earlier. They are standing around a large table with a multilayered cake in the middle. Whitney is about to cut the cake when we stumble upon the scene.

Dusk instantly puffs up in anger at seeing Monica again. I can't help but feel a little nauseous at seeing her again too. She's such a terrible person.

"See, Whitney, I told you this punk wannabe freak would try to crash my birthday party," Monica complains loudly to Whitney.

"Hey, you're the girl from the Radio Tower! I can't believe I didn't realize that it was you earlier! How dare you break into MY Gym and crash Monica's birthday party? I should call the Police Department to come pick you up, but I think I'll let Cathy escort you out instead," Whitney threatens.

Lass Cathy steps towards me, sending out the first of three Pokémon, a Level 15 Jigglypuff.

"Jigglypuff, use Defense Curl!"

"Cyndi, use Headbutt to make her flinch, and then use Flame Wheel!"

Jigglypuff curls up her body to raise her Defense by a level. Cyndi sends her flying with a Headbutt, but she's puffed herself up to the point where she's floating in the air. Cyndi turns her dashes into the start of a Flame Wheel, rolling towards Jigglypuff. However, when she makes contact, she bounces into Jigglypuff, causing both of them to bounce violently in opposite directions, causing damage to both parties.

Cyndi's HP reduces by a fifth, while Jigglypuff is a little bit worse for wear, losing a third of her HP in damage.

"Jigglypuff, use Disable on Quilava's Flame Wheel!"

Jigglypuff snaps her fingers, and Cyndi is unable to use her Flame Wheel attack.

"Cyndi, do what you did before and use Ember!"

"Jigglypuff, use Sing," Lass Cathy calls out as Cyndi blasts Jigglypuff with a small fireball.

The Ember hits Jigglypuff just as she starts singing her song. Cyndi starts getting drowsy, but her Ember ultimately knocks Jigglypuff out.

Lass Cathy recalls Jigglypuff, only to replace her with another one of the same level and gender. For some reason, Trainers at this Gym feel the need to train several of the same Pokémon.

Now that the previous Jigglypuff has been defeated, Cyndi can use her Flame Wheel again! Unfortunately, Cyndi has fallen asleep, to my annoyance. The last Jigglypuff barely got any song out. I call bullshit. Anyway…

"Jigglypuff, use Pound on the sleeping Quilava!"

"Come on, Cyndi, quit your snoozin! We need to do some bruisin'," I shout obnoxiously.

Monica, Whitney, and Cathy all groan at my terrible rhyme.

Cyndi is hit with both Jigglypuff's Pound and my terrible rhyme, and I honestly think the rhyme did more damage. The Pound decreases her HP by a tiny bit, but both of them instantly rouse her.

"Yay, Cyndi! My obnoxoius rhyme worked! Now use your Flame Wheel!"

Cyndi rolls into a flame-covered wheel, being so fast that Jigglypuff has no time to move even if Cathy issues a command.

Cyndi slams Jigglypuff into the nearest wall, almost flattening her. It's only due to her large amount of HP that she survives the hit with a tiny bit of HP left.

"Jigglypuff, I know you can do it! Use Pound again!"

"Cyndi, finish this with your Quick Attack!"

Cyndi's Quick Attack has first priority, and she throws Jigglypuff into the wall again, knocking her out.

"Come on, Cathy, don't lose to this freak," Monica shouts from the sideline.

"Shut the fuck up, Monica," I reply harshly.

"Make me, FREAK!"

Cathy doesn't respond to Monica or I's bickering, recalling her Jigglypuff, and once again replacing it with the last clone of itself.

"Jigglypuff, we gotta take Quilava down! Use Sing!"

"Cyndi, cover your ears!"

Jigglypuff starts singing again, and I immediately plug my ears because I know if I listen to her song, I'll fall asleep. Cyndi thankfully does the same thing.

Unfortunately for Monica and Whitney, they were too busy talking shit about me to notice that Jigglypuff used Sing, so they're both asleep now. Haha.

Jigglypuff's Song ends, and she notices everyone around her are either sleeping, or plugging their ears. Jigglypuff puffs up in anger, and takes apart the microphone she's holding to reveal a black marker.

To everyone's surprise, she proceeds to draw on Whitney and Monica's faces, mad that they fell asleep during her song.

"Jigglypuff, no, don't do that! You're supposed to do that to the enemy! Now use Pound!"

"Cyndi, dodge it and use Flame Wheel!"

Jigglypuff puts the rest of her anger to use in her Pound attack. To my astonishment, not only is she able to rush Cyndi, but she also hits her in the face, reducing her HP to 2/3rds. That is one angry, yet adorable, Jigglypuff.

But Cyndi refuses to let her get away with it. She comes barreling towards Jigglypuff in her Flame Wheel, knocking her into the wall again, reducing her HP to a fourth.

"Jigglypuff, use Disable again!"

"Cyndi, finish this off with your Headbutt!"

Jigglypuff snaps her fingers again, but it doesn't matter as Cyndi rushes her again, headbutting her in the forehead with enough force to make her faint.

"Jigglypuff, no," Lass Cathy cries out as she recalls her worryingly. While Monica and Whitney are still asleep, I heal Cyndi with a Potion and switch her out with Dusk as my first Pokémon.

"Whitney! Monica! Wake up! She beat me and I don't have any Revives!"

Cathy is able to wake up Whitney and Monica, who are still woozy from Jigglypuff's song.

Monica immediately looks at her reflection in the screen of her PokéGear. What she sees makes her scream.

"Waaah! I told you that this freak would ruin my birthday! Now I have this marker all over my face, ruining my makeup! You'll pay for this, you freak," Monica screams at me hysterically.

Whitney grabs Monica by the shoulder, and says soothingly, "Don't worry, Moni, I'll take care of her. As the Gym Leader of Goldenrod Gym, I promised you that I would protect your birthday party at all costs. And I'm fulfilling that promise."

Monica looks at her in disbelief, replying, "That's sweet, Whitney, but this freak has made things personal. I'm not giving her the satisfaction of getting to battle you until after I rip her limb from limb. Let me do my thing. I got this."

Whitney let's go of Monica's shoulder, allowing her to step forward to challenge me.

My eyebrows raise at her brazen threats. "Is that a threat or a promise, Moni?"

Monica's face instantly goes red at my use of her personal nickname. "You're not allowed to call me that. You're on now, you punk wannabe loser freak!"

The first Pokémon she sends out I recognize as an Level 15 Azurill.

Dusk floats from my shoulder to face Monica and Azurill.

"Jessica! My sweet baby, why are you working for the enemy? Come back to mommy right now!"

"Her name isn't Jessica," I growl menacingly, "Her name is DUSK!"

'Yeah,' Dusk yells at her.

"I can't believe you! You brainwashed Jessica into thinking I'm the bad guy here!"

Her total lack of responsibility infuriates me.

"You ARE the bad guy here, Monica! You verbally abused a Pokémon Center Nurse, cried about it to the manager, and made it look like you were the victim!

Not only that, but you totally don't know how to take care of Dusk! You insulted her because she played tricks on you guys all the time, but I bet none of you know that Misdreavus feed off of fear!

So don't claim to care about a Pokémon you had no interest about learning to care for, and that you verbally abused for two years! Just admit you don't care about her like you said, and cut the bullshit!"

Monica is speechless at my rant, and she glances between the matching stern expressions of Dusk and I. Seeing that we're both not backing down, she scowls sinisterly.

"So I see how it is. Well, then, 'Dusk' if you want to stay with this punk wannabe freak, then go. You don't belong here with me anyway. You don't fit the Gym's aesthetic, and you don't fit mine either."

Everyone in the room gasps dramatically. I guess Dusk and I are going to have wipe the floor clean with Monica. That's the only option I see right now.

"Come on, Dusk, let's wreck her!"

*Dusk's POV*

This tiny adorable Azurill is definitely a new addition to Monica's team, because I don't remember her. I feel bad for her, but she's exactly the type of Pokémon that Monica would want to train anyway. Hopefully, she'll take care of her as well as she takes care of her other Pokémon, Honey Bear.

"Sapphire, use your Charm!"

Sapphire's Charm makes my Attack stat go down. But it's a stupid move, because I can't even hit her with physical moves.

"Dusk, use your Confuse Ray," Calypso calls out to me. I oblige.

"Take this, bitches," I shout as I send out a Confusion Ray.

I confuse the Azurill with the ray, and she starts stumbling over in confusion. After a second of stumbling, she accidentally rolls onto her head, causing an eighth of damage to her HP.

"Sapphire, use your Bubble!"

"Dusk, use Psywave to pop the bubbles!"

Azurill blows a few little bubbles, so I, of course, start screaming to disrupt said bubbles. The Psywave is powerful enough that it destroys the bubbles before they can hit me. It's also powerful enough to reduce Azurill's HP by half.

Monica starts screaming, and calling Calypso and I freaks again. I hate her so much.

"Don't worry about her, Dusk! You got this! Use Spite!"

I yell a bunch of things at Monica that I've been holding back for a while. It reduces Azurill's PP for the move Bubble by 5. It also makes me feel extremely good to do so, even though she has no clue what I said. Calypso hears it, and starts laughing hysterically. Monica yells at Calypso for laughing at her before issuing another command,

"Sapphire, use Slam!"

Azurill charges at me, attempting to slam me, but these idiots clearly forgot that I'm a Ghost Type. She goes straight through me.

Calypso starts laughing at Monica's idiocy, and I can't help but giggle too.

"Dusk," Calypso says through the giggles, "Use Psywave again!"

I unleash another Psywave of hell from my mouth. It's even louder than the last one, and it instantly makes Azurill faint.

"Motherfucking bitch," Monica starts cursing while recalling Azurill, "You did not just make my little Sapphire faint! Well, Honey Bear will take care of you," She says as she sends out her last Pokémon, and my nemesis, Honey Bear. She appears to be at Level 16. Ha, I'm at Level 18. Loser.

I haven't rolled with Monica and her crew for a while so I don't know what kind of moves Honey Bear has learned. We'll see.

"Dusk, let's finish this," Calypso shouts to me. I can't help but agree with her.

"Oh, it's not over yet, freak! Honey Bear, use your Lick attack," Monica screeches.

"Dusk, dodge it, and use Confuse Ray!"

Honey Bear comes dashing towards me, her tongue outstretched. That's a super-effective move, so I fly as high up as possible, trying to avoid her.

Once I'm high up enough that she can't reach me, I send a Confuse Ray towards her. It almost misses its mark, but thankfully it hits her directly on the ear. She starts thrashing around in confusion. Her HP reduces by an eighth.

"Dusk, hit her with a Psywave and confuse her more!"

I hit Honey Bear with a sonic wave, reducing her HP to half.

"Come on, Honey Bear, let's go! Use Leer!"

Snapping out of her confusion, Honey Bear leers at me from the ground, lowering my Defense by one level.

Honey Bear has retreated further back, so I have to float down closer if I want to hit her with any attacks. There's also the problem of my lowered Defense. If she hits me with Lick, I know it won't be good. I wonder what Calypso's going to do…?

"Dusk, float closer and use Psywave again!"

"Honey Bear, use Lick! And make sure you get her this time!"

Honey Bear tries her hardest to jump up and Lick me, but as she does, I start screaming in her face, blowing her away with the Psywave. Her HP reduces to a fifth.

"Honey Bear, no! Grrr..." Monica growls exasperatedly, "Use Lick one more time!"

"Dusk, use Psywave! Whoever hits the other first is the winner!"

I float down to where Honey Bear is attempting to lick me one more time. When she's about 4ft (1.2 M) from me, I start screaming again, right in her face, about how much of a bitch she and Monica were to me.

I scream so loud that the Psywave sends her flying into the wall. After a few seconds, all of us see that Honey Bear isn't unable to battle.

Calypso looks to me, her mouth dropped wide open. "We did it, Dusk," she whisper-screams, "We motherfucking did it!"

*Calypso's POV*

"NOOO! How could this have happened to me on my birthday! WHY?!"

Monica starts crying hysterically while recalling Honey Bear, so Whitney goes to comfort her.

While Whitney's distracted, I take a few seconds to switch Dusk out with Cyndi for my battling Pokémon so Dusk can rest and watch the final battle by my shoulder.

Cyndi, Dusk and I walk up to where Monica and Whitney are sitting on the floor behind the cake table. Whitney's got her arms wrapped around a sobbing Monica, and when I approach them, Whitney glares at me.

"What do you want? You've already done enough damage here tonight. If you don't leave, I'll call the Goldenrod City Police Department!"

"First off, Monica didn't pay me. Second, if I'm not mistaken, you told Monica that you would 'take care of me' because I wrecked her birthday. I just wrecked Monica, and now you're not going to do anything about it? If you're anything like the Gym Leader you're supposed to be, I know you'll get up, and kick me out of your Gym, battle style! Either you kick me out, or I leave here with a Plain Badge!"

Whitney is stoic for a second before standing up and eyeing me sharply.

"You know what, you're right. Moni, I told you I'd take care of this, and I'm going to. Calypso Aspen Primrose, you are going to regret ever messing with any of us!"

To my surprise, Whitney only has two Pokémon on her team. The first she sends out is a Level 17 female Clefairy.

Cyndi goes to take her on. Whitney issues the first command,

"Clefairy, use Doubleslap!"

"Cyndi, dodge it, and use your Flame Wheel attack," I call out.

Cyndi out speeds Clefairy, hitting her with a Flame Wheel for half of her HP in damage.

Clefairy got covered in soot as a result of the Flame Wheel, and she is not happy. She runs up and hits Cyndi in the face with her Doubleslap 3 out of 5 times for a fifth of her HP in damage.

"Cyndi, use Headbutt to make Clefairy flinch!"

"Clefairy, use Metronome!

Clefairy starts waggling one of her fingers, while Cyndi charges her. Cyndi hits her with Headbutt, reducing her HP to almost none. Clefairy retaliates, her Metronome turning into Slash, and she reduces Cyndi's HP to a little under half.

"Clefairy, use Doubleslap," Whitney tries, but my next move makes it not matter,

"Cyndi, use your Quick Attack!"

Cyndi's Quick Attack hits first, making Clefairy faint instantly.

"Cyndi grew to Level 21," The Pokédex congratulates.

"H-hey! Just one left? But… I ain't losin, you hear?"

"We'll see about that," I say as I recall Cyndi for some rest. I send out Dusk in her place.

Whitney's last Pokémon is a Level 19 Miltank. The worst thing about Normal Type Pokémon is that they usually have an obscene amount of HP. I'm hoping that status problems might be able to help me with this battle.

"Miltank, use Rollout," Whitney starts the battle off.

"Dusk, dodge it and use Confuse Ray!"

Miltank rolls into an extremely fast wheel of muscle, bouncing around the room. Dusk tries to avoid it by flying upward, but Miltank is able to gain enough air bouncing to hit her. It reduces her HP by a third.

Despite being hit with an attack, Dusk is still able to accurately hit Miltank with her Confuse Ray. To our annoyance, Miltank pulls out a Lum Berry and eats it, eliminating her status problems. I growl frustratedly.

"Ha, you never expected that, did you," Whitney taunts me.

"That was a smart move, but it'll take more than that to trip us up," I reply back confidently.

"LOSE! FUCKING LOSE, YOU FREAK! GO WHITNEY," Monica starts screaming.

I want to tell Monica to shut the fuck up, but I hold my tongue and opt for, "Dusk, use Spite on Miltank's Rollout!"

Dusk reduces Miltank's PP for Rollout by 5, but it doesn't stop Whitney and Miltank from using it, however. Miltank hits Dusk with another round of Rollout, with more power this time, leaving her with an eighth of HP left.

"Come on, Dusk, you can do it! Use Confuse Ray one more time!"

Dusk sends another Confuse Ray to Miltank, who actually stays confused this time. She stumbles around, accidentally hitting her head against the wall in confusion for a fifth of her HP in damage.

"Come on, Miltank, you got this! Use Stomp!"

I start to laugh because Stomp is a Normal Type move, so it can't hit Dusk. But to my astonishment, it does! She faints from the impact.

"How did your Miltank use a Normal Type move on Dusk," I question as I sadly recall Dusk. She put up a good fight.

"Miltank has the ability, Scrappy! She can hit Ghost Type Pokémon with Normal and Fighting Type moves."

"GO WHITNEY! YOU AND MILTANK CAN DO THIS," Monica starts screaming again.

"Monica, shut the fuck up!"

It might be a risk, but I think I might let Forest have a go at it.

"Go, Forest, use your Poisonpowder!"

"Miltank, use Rollout again!"

Miltank almost flattens Forest, but he swiftly sidesteps her, throwing his Poisonpowder on her.

She starts losing HP due to the poison, reducing her HP to 3/4ths.

"Miltank, use Attract on Bellsprout," Whitney instructs her.

Miltank sends Forest a seductive look, and that's all it takes for him for him to be head over heels, infatuated.

"Forest, come on, use your Vine Whip attack!"

Forest is too immobilized by love to make any moves, to my frustration.

"Miltank, use your Stomp!"

Miltank runs up to Forest, stomping his lower body with her hoof, reducing his HP to a fourth.

"Forest, no! Are you okay?" He manages to get up, thankfully.

"Forest, stay strong! Use your Vine Whip!"

"Miltank, use Stomp to end it!"

"Dodge it, Forest!"

Forest is too in love with Miltank to make any moves. Miltank starts approaching to make the final blow. In my desperation, I shout out,

"Forest, don't do this! She doesn't actually love you! Use your Vine Whip!"

Forest finally snaps out of his infatuation, barely able to dodge Miltank's Stomp.

Forest is able to grab one of Miltank's legs with his vines. With all the strength, he can muster, Forest makes Miltank trip and fall on her face, reducing her HP to half. Then, another round of poison reduces it a couple more points.

"Miltank, take him out with your Rollout," Whitney continues the onslaught.

"Come on, Forest, you can dodge it!"

Forest tries his hardest to avoid Miltank's massive wheel of destruction, but she's too fast, and crashes into him. The hit sends him flying against the wall, making him faint.

"Oh, Forest, you did so well," I give him praise as I recall him back into his Poké Ball.

"You've already got two fainted Pokémon, and one of your other ones is injured! Why don't you just give up now," Whitney taunts me. I don't fall for it.

"YEAH, FREAK! GIVE UP SO I CAN FINALLY CELEBRATE MY FUCKING BIRTHDAY," Monica screeches in conjunction with Whitney's taunt.

I point to Monica, "First, I don't give a shit, so shut the fuck up," and then I turn to Whitney, "And you're one to talk. You only have two Pokémon, one of them is fainted, and the other has half it's health left, along with poison status. I'm not worried."

"We'll see about that! Send out your next Pokémon!"

I know that Cyndi is hurting with less than half HP, and Miltank's Rollout is super-effective against Spirit, so I decide to let Zellie have a shot. Her Sonicboom could come in handy.

"Zellie, use your Sonicboom!"

"Miltank, finish this before it starts with your Rollout!"

"Zellie, flip over it!"

Miltank comes speeding towards Zellie, who doesn't even blink at the faster Pokémon's wheel of destruction. Once Miltank comes within two feet of her, Zellie flips entirely over Miltank, and shoots a Sonicboom that stuns her. Miltank's HP goes to down less than a fourth. Then, the poison reduces it to almost nothing.

"Oh, poor me," Whitney cries out sarcastically, "Whatever shall I do? Oh, wait, I know! Miltank, use your Milk Drink!"

Miltank heals her HP to a little more than half. I grind my teeth in frustration, but I'm hoping that Zellie's Sonicboom will get the job done.

"Zellie, don't stop! Use Sonicboom as much as you can!"

Zellie starts spitting out continuous Sonicbooms, most of them missing the fast Miltank, but one of them hit for 20 points in HP damage. It reduces her HP to a fourth.

"Miltank, we can't tolerate this! Use Stomp to knock these intruders out of here!"

"Zellie, dodge it!"

Miltank goes to Stomp Zellie's face in, but the moment she goes to stomp down, Zellie zips out of the way.

"How is she doing that," Whitney calls out, "My Miltank is faster than her!"

"Faster, yes, but not more evasive. Besides, Zellie is more accurate with her attacks. And you're using physical moves while we're using special moves from a distance. That's why ours are more likely to hit."

Miltank's HP reduces to almost nothing from another turn with poison status.

"Miltank, come on, you got this! Use Milk Drink!"

"Zellie, stop her, and finish this with your Quick Attack!"

Zellie's Quick Attack has priority over Miltank's Milk Drink, and she knocks Miltank out before she's able to heal herself.

"Zellie grew to Level 13. Zellie grew to Level 14," The Pokédex announces.

"Ugh…," Whitney sighs as she recalls Miltank. Then, all of a sudden, she starts bawling, "Waaaaah! Waaaaah! ...Snivel… Hic. ….You meanie!"

"Umm, I literally just won a Pokémon battle against you in your own Gym. You owe me a Plain Badge," I say harshly.

Monica wraps her arms around a sobbing Whitney now, snarling, "You literally broke in here to ruin my birthday and you think Whitney is going to give you a Gym Badge? She doesn't owe you shit."

"Calypso, get lost! Get out of here before I call the Police Department," Whitney cries out childishly.

I start getting a little angry. "We had a deal. Either I lost and you kicked me out, or I won, and got a Plain Badge."

"Whitney, she did technically beat you in your Gym in Gym Operation Hours," I'm surprised to hear Cathy speak, "We did close early for Monica's Birthday Party, and by law, we were supposed to be open to receive Gym challengers. I'd just give her the Badge, Whitney."

"CATHY?! WHY ARE YOU STANDING UP FOR THIS FREAK," Monica screeches again.

Whitney growls, "If I give you this badge, will you get out and never come back? Also, you can never harass Monica again."

"Deal, but if Monica fucks with me again, the second part of the deal is invalid."

Monica looks like she's about to protest this, but Whitney gives her a silencing glance.

"Deal," Whitney says as she places a small square shaped golden badge in my hand.

"I guess you did beat me fair and square. Even if you broke in here to do it. But that doesn't mean I want you anywhere in my sight. If I ever catch you harassing any of my Gym Trainers again, I'll make sure you get creamed next time."

"Duly noted," I say as I walk past them, and slowly walk my way out of the Gym, a tired Zellie by my side.

"Boy, are you a trooper, Zellie. Thank you so much for toughing it out and finishing what Dusk started, and Forest continued," I congratulate her.

'No problem. I thought Miltank was gonna knock me out so many times, but you got us through it. I'm so happy I'm getting stronger!'

"Yeah, and you grew two levels from that battle," I continue, "I'm really proud of you, Zellie."

Zellie swishes her tails back and forth in happiness. I notice her start to tire as we finally get to the entrance of the Gym. I offer her to return to her Poké Ball so she can rest on the way home. She obliges.

I go to ride on the loaner board when Spirit surprises me by popping out of her Poké Ball, and perching on my shoulder.

"Hey, what's up, Spirit? You feeling okay from earlier?"

'I just wanted to tell you how well I think you did in there. You went in there, took charge, and didn't take no for an answer. You're becoming everything your Gran feared you'd be. But at least you're you.'

I can't help but smile at Spirit's compliment.

"Aww, thanks, Spirit. I think I just really wanted this for Dusk and for myself too. And the Team. You guys mean everything to me."

Spirit caws in contentedness, and we ride silently to the Pokémon Center.

I heal all of my Pokémon before Cyndi and I completely crash on the Pokémon Center booth. As we doze off, I can hear the ring of my PokéGear going off. But I'm too tired too answer it…

*Third Person POV* (An hour and a half ago)

"Hello, welcome to the Goldenrod City Jail, I'm Officer Jenny Marie. How can I help you today?"

"Yes, I've come to post the bail of an inmate in your facility," Poké Maniac Donald says as he walks closer to the front desk.

"Okay," Officer Jenny Marie says cheerfully, "Which inmate's bail did you want to post?"

"I want to post the bail of Ruth Marken."

"Okay, I'm looking up Ruth Marken in the system… Found her! Okay, so her bail is set for 75,000. Did you still want to post it?"

"Yes," Poké Maniac Donald confirms.

"Okay, so how did you want to pay for that? Cash, check, or credit?"

"It'll be cash," Poké Maniac Donald says as he pulls out the wad of cash that Monica gifted to him for this purpose.

"Okay, let me count this… Okay, this is indeed 75,000. Let me process this transaction, and I'll bring your inmate out to you shortly. I have to let you know however, that there are conditions of releasing her from incarceration. She has a restraining order put on her from her granddaughter, and she must not come within 100 yards of Calypso Aspen Primrose. If she does, she'll break her restraining order, and she'll be brought back here. Understand?"

"Yes," Poké Maniac confirms again.

"All right, we're done! I'll be right back with your inmate!"

After about a minute, Officer Jenny Marie comes back with a large disheveled woman following behind her. Incarceration doesn't look good on Ruth Marken.

"Here she is! Well, I hope you two have a great day! And keep out of trouble," Officer Jenny Marie says farewell while sitting back behind her desk again.

Ruth Marken stares at the random person who posted her bail. Hell, she should've been able to pay her own bail, but she lost thousands gambling and much more was stolen from her ungrateful bitch of a granddaughter.

Poké Maniac Donald beckons her to follow to him outside. They exit the Jail, Ruth easily being able to keep pace with Donald.

"Who are you? Or what are you? Some kind of Pokémon furry?"

Poké Maniac Donald blushes instantly at this question, replying furiously, "I am a man dedicated to Pokémon, Madam, and in order to know about Pokémon, I dress like a Pokémon. Anyway, you should be nicer to the person who just posted your bail."

"I don't even know you. Why did you pay massive amounts of money to post my bail," Ruth questions him.

"Oh, it's not just me. You, me, and another person all have one common enemy, my dear Ruth," Poké Maniac Donald says sinisterly.

Ruth matches her grin to Poké Maniac Donald's tone. "Let me guess, it's my lovely ungrateful bitch of a granddaughter, Calypso. She's always causing trouble."

"Yeah, she beat me in battle and gloated about to several people, and she stole the Pokémon of the person who paid to get you out of jail. If you want to help us, we want to take her down."

Ruth thinks about this for a few moments before replying, "You've got yourself a deal. Here, if you hold on to me, Fafnir can fly us to Cianwood City, where I live. We can plan things out there. Of course, it's a little messed up right now because lovely Calypso got into some trouble."

"Nah, I'd rather stay in Goldenrod if that all right with you. I live in one of the houses over by the Underpass Tunnel. We can plan from there."

"Humph... fine. Lead the way," Ruth says grumpily, while following Poké Maniac Donald down the Goldenrod Main Street. Officer Jenny Marie told them not to get into trouble, so they went searching for it.

[macdnldsarchive-blog]

hey ! i’m jc, 20 & hail from the pst. i’m hp & eddie redmayne / newt trash. literally eddie is the loml. i am a college student working towards a psychology major, i love puns & i recently rescued an abandoned puppy & named him remus :-) enough about me, here’s some information on my lil lion mary ! this may be a little long so pls bare w/ me !

               alycia debnam-carey — mary macdonald is seventeen and a seventh year member of gryffindor house. she is a muggleborn, which explains why they’re in support of the neutrals/order. most people know them as loyal and openminded at their best, but aggressive and impulsive at their worst. 

P O I N T E R S ; 

mary is the definition & embodiment of a ray of sunshine.

you associate mary with oversized sweaters, tea & the smell of rain. warm summers & the smell of the ocean breeze, surrounded by your closest friends having a bonfire. she is the calmness the sound of the rain brings on a late night as it falls against your window, but she’s also the power, rage & strength of the ocean as it crashes down onto the sand. she’s the warmth of the sun on your skin, the comfort & feeling of home wrapped in a sweater with a nice cup of tea. she’s your favourite song, blasting through the speakers while all your friends sing along, not giving a damn about everyone else. she’s deep conversations under the moon, empathy & kindness. she’s getting back up after being knocked down, standing her ground no matter how tough things got.

mary is a CHAMELEON. but not in the sense you’d think. not in a bad way.

she’s a chameleon in the sense that she adapts to other people, not necessarily being two faced, but in how she interacts. she limits herself to what she can say or do. she draws a line of what’s too far and what’s alright when with someone. 

EXAMPLE: with lily, mary — of course — would be annoying & childish, but i believe that lily does keep her grounded so she doesn’t reach that full potential of annoyance. HOWEVER, if she were with james or any of the marauders... it’s over. there’s no coming back. she becomes this obnoxious person, childish to the point she’ll laugh at the words boobies or immature to the point she can’t say the words penis or vagina but this is just an example :-) 

her range, type, level ( ? ) of socialization can also vary from the type of mood she’s in!

there will be days where she’ll be quiet, others where she’ll be her normal self -- a bit of quiet, a bit of loud, grounded & where she’ll be the most care free person in the world, doing whatever whenever & enjoying herself as well as her friends.

B A C K G R O U N D ;

so, mary was born to two muggles — marilyn & jaime.

they were two ordinary, hardworking muggles.

they were modest & honestly just trying to give their little girl the best life they could.

being an only child, mary was a little weird. she’s often found talking to herself, a habit that she still holds. often in concentration or watching a film, or even reading a book, you could hear her mumble something under her breath.

with her parents always at work, mary found herself with other families & children while they were gone. it was a fairly small neighborhood so everyone knew just about everyone. her family was well-known & loved.

mary always played with the other children, didn’t have trouble making knew friends & always made sure that everyone was included.

it was when she was ten that her modest, simple & easy lifestyle had changed.

her father was offered a position that wouldn’t make their family worry about money as much as they did now & he took it.

within the first half year, their lifestyle changed drastically.

mary ended up getting a nanny, there were no more shorts, pants or shirts there were a little too big, but dresses that fit a little too tight, pearls & flats.

just to offer an example her family pretty much went from the weasleys to the malfoys.

her parents began going to fancy parties to uphold their newly found image & leaving mary behind. they’ve given her the life they wanted but had lost touch of their modesty, & their roots of hard working class people.

mary hated it & had resented her parents for dressing her up like a doll & taking her along to the boring parties where the adults would talk about the weather, work & nothing else. maybe a compliment or observant comment about the chandelier that hung from the ceiling at wherever building the party was held in.

when mary had gotten her letter to hogwarts, her family thought that it was a prank.

they gave credit to those who came up with it & mary had half believed it as well, knowing that magic just couldn’t be real. they even laughed as the letters continued to come & eventually got annoyed when they would come home to about fifteen letters a day. they eventually got the police involved to try & track where the letters were coming from — the owls. whom they’ve attempted to follow, but would lose in the middle of the chase.

it wasn’t until albus dumbledore himself had gone to mary’s house that he talked to his parents, apologising for the overbearing amount of letters they had received, but with the school year drawing closer they needed a response.

her parents were furious ( they had a dursley-esque response to this whole thing. ) & had demanded albus dumbledore to leave.

however, in the end mary was allowed to go to hogwarts school of witchcraft & wizardry even though her parents did not approve. 

they didn’t disown her, but they have made it a point to not have time for her. 

so when she came back from her first year of hogwarts during the holidays, there was nothing for her under the tree, no conversation about what she’s learned, how she’s been — nothing.

so because of that mary had decided to come and stay at hogwarts all year round.

throughout her years at hogwarts, she became a target for not only the purebloods, but even the halfbloods that believed mudbloods didn’t deserve a place in the wizarding or worse, to live.

and it wasn’t because she was a mudblood, oh no. it was because she never backed down. no matter  how many hexes you throw at her, she’ll never give in. she will never give anyone the satisfaction of her seeing her beat down.

it doesn’t mean she didn’t feel it though. the abuse beat her down hard, their words cut deeper than any knife, but she never wanted anyone to see her cry. partly because she was always known as this enigma off good & bravery, she didn’t want to seem weak.

she had the mindset that if you cried, you were weak. especially after it happened for the first time during her first year when mulciber had started to harass her where she cried & he began to kick her down even harder.

however, it was also during that time she met the marauders as well as lily & everyone else where she aspired to be brave & fearless just like them.

so she grew tougher, grew another layer of skin.

she’s no longer the sunshine she was, but rather a strong blazing fire.

the attack with mulciber took place their fourth year.

she was crippled with fear & anxiety, cutting most people off.

when word got out about the attack, many thought she was making it up while others believed she also deserved it if it was true.

she was hardly at hogwarts her fourth year. with the permission of albus dumbledore, she was allowed to go back home, taking stats of homework with her.

but her parents weren’t around & her nanny was still there. she could care less though, she just wanted to be isolated.

like if u tried sending her owls she’ll just ignore you tbh,

but fifth year, she’s still broken & weary of slytherins.

sixth year, she learned to forgive, but not forget.

seventh year, she’s back STRONGER than ever. 

M I S C ;

she won’t hesitate to hex of jink you if you mess with her or her friends.

honestly she’s in detention more often than not bcus she jinxes ppl & her excuse is ALWAYS that she was practicing a spell & it just happened to come out wrong & hit the person in the face. LMAO

she’s fucking good at dueling though, hence why she’s in the dueling club.

loves qudditch. compares it to basketball, but there’s flying & three hoops involved.

she’s a fucking BEAST in the pitch & hella competitive. honestly, fuck with her in the pitch & ur dead.

she’s very muscially talented. she can sing & play the guitar.

she’s shy performing solo & would often look at her feet if she had to for frog choir.

if she ever feels musically inspired, she’ll take her guitar and go into the room of requirement.

she has insomnia & anxiety. diagnosed when she went back home after the attack.

mary has a bad habit of being around people who’ve done her dirty. 

she always gives second chances & that’s like her biggest weakness.

aLRIGHT. IF YOU MADE IT THIS FAR YOU DESERVE A COOKIE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEARING WITH ME & MY CHILD. HIT ME UP WITH ALL THE PLOTS !!

[thesportssoundoff]

The Preview: UFC on Fox from Colorado

Joey 

Jan 23rd, 2017

The  UFC's first foray (HA!) on Fox for 2017 is a pretty solid affair all things considered. We're beginning to creep our way out of the winter bad show doldrums (although the Canada card ain't too pretty) with the next two cards being pretty damn solid all things considered and UFC 208 quickly falling into the "So hated it's now underrated" department. Slowly but surely we're emerging from the drek. Just gotta get by that Canadian card, fellas. Compared to the last two Fox cards in January (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_on_Fox:_Johnson_vs._Bader) and (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFC_on_Fox:_Gustafsson_vs._Johnson), I'd say this one really holds up pretty well. There's a lot of meaningful stuff on the main card and there's JUST enough meaningful stuff on the prelim slate to not feel like you're wasting your time there either. The headliner is a battle at bantamweight between Julianna Pena and Valentina Shevchenko with the winner almost certainly getting a title shot in the spring or summer time. The co-main event is a pretty damn awesome fight between two guys who are riding hot streaks at 170 lbs with Donald Cerrone fighting Jorge Masvidal. There's a super big heavyweight fight featuring the top prospect and an aging HW hero and the opener is a fucking war and a half with Alex Caceres taking on Jason Knight. Let's get to it then!

Fights: 12

Debuts: 5 (Jordan Johnson, Eric Shelton, Alejandre Pantoja, Bobby Nash and Jeremy Kimball)

Fight Changes/injury cancellations: 3 (Hector Lombard vs Brad Tavares cancelled due to injuries, John Phillips out/Jeremy Kimball in, Yancy Medeiros out/Bobby Nash in)

Headliners (fighters who have either main evented or co-main evented shows in the UFC): 6 (BJ Penn, Yair Rodriguez, Joe Lauzon, Marcin Held, Court McGee and John Moraga)

Fighters On Losing Streaks: 2 (Andrei Arlovski, Jason Gonzalez)

Fighters On Winning Streaks: 6 (Jorge Masvidal, Andrei Arlovski, Donald Cerrone, Valentina Shevchenko, Nate Marquardt and Alex Caceres)

Stat Monitor for 2017:

Debuting Fighters (Current number: 0-0)- Jordan Johnson, Eric Shelton, Alejandre Pantoja, Bobby Nash and Jeremy Kimball

Short Notice Fighters (Current number: 2-2)- Bobby Nash, Jordan Johnson and Jeremy Kimball

Second Fight (Current number: 1-1)- JC Cottrell

Twelve Precarious Ponderings

-So right away, we have to acknowledge this main event. Shevchenko vs Pena, barring something unforeseen, will be a #1 contender fight given the fact that off the top of my head, these two are the only ones streaking currently in the division. Both represent interesting stylistic challenges for Amanda Nunes and there's stories built in about of that layer. For Shevchenko, she fought Nunes before and lost a very open ended 29-28 decision. Open ended meaning that there's doubt as to whether or not Nunes would've won had the fight been a five round affair. Julianna Pena seems to have a better grasp on fight promotion, even if she annoys plenty of people, and so you'd imagine if this turns into a trash talking feud, Pena would be the better fit. It doesn't make sense to take Nunes from headlining two big PPVs (even if it was as the B-side twice) and then ask her to be on Fox or co-main event a PPV. From a business standpoint, it's a matter of "who should the UFC want to win?" and I'm not quite sure there's a clear answer here just yet.

-This fight is a big challenge for Shevchenko primarily. Julianna Pena for the most part has a style that negates the strengths of her opponents, often turning fights into bully clinch fighting and squirrely exchanges on the mat. Pena has a skill set that probably works regardless of opponent because it's not predicated on anything but her own strengths. Shevchenko's two biggest UFC performances have seen her start slow but build up momentum as she figures out her own path to victory. Against Holly Holm, the five round format allowed her to make adjustments long term that paid off in the end en route to a big decision win. Vs Nunes, she never got in gear until the third round and that was primarily due to how physical Nunes is.

-What will the legacy of Jorge Masvidal be if he wins vs Donald Cerrone? Masvidal theoretically could be riding into this fight on a ridiculous nine fight winning streak across two weight classes. Masvidal's been a victim of some rough judging but also a victim of his own malaise in fights, taking his foot off the gas and coasting to the judges en route to a "WTF happened?" split decision loss. He won't be afforded that luxury here vs Cerrone.

-Assuming Cerrone wins, what would be next? Give in to the assumption that Maia has a guaranteed title shot waiting for him so Woodley/Thompson winner and Maia are both out. What else can Cerrone do? Does Robbie Lawler make sense?

-THREE major challenges for Francis Ngannou on this card. The first is the obvious acknowledgment of the competition jump here. Arlovski is so far and away the best opponent Ngannou  has ever faced that it's almost laughable to try and compare him to anybody on his resume. That said Arlovski's not the same guy he was in his prime so you can sort of kind of negate that. The second  is the altitude in Denver which makes cowards of many a men. Ngannou's not a guy who fights like he's paid by the round either but he's also not somebody who rushes. For a young fighter he's very patient so while the altitude is seriously something to watch, I'm not TOO too concerned I suppose. Lastly, Greg Jackson. Both Anthony Hamilton and Francis Ngannou train with Greg Jackson which is going to represent an interesting quandry I suppose.  Jackson's going to have trained twice for Francis Ngannou with Hamilton basically acting as a test run for Arlovski. Did he learn anything new during Ngannou vs Hamilton?

-Let's say Ngannou breezes through Arlovski. Just runs right through him. When do we start the title talk?

-There's been some scuttlebutt about Aljamain Sterling vs Rafael Assuncao being neither the prelim main event nor the opening fight on the main card. I'd like to offer, I suppose, a few explanations:

1- This fight has been rebooked twice now. Your best ability sometimes is availability and it could be argued or reasoned that the UFC has zero reason to trust either Rafa or Aljamain to make it to a main card fight or a prelim headliner capacity. Injury prone guys get hurt a lot so it's harder to feel like you can commit to them in higher profile engagements.  You can kind of count on Sam Alvey and Nate Marquardt to make it to their commitments.

2- Knight vs Caceres is going to be wild and wacky fun while Sterling vs Assuncao  is for the purists, as one might say.

3- Jason Knight is a guy the UFC thinks has star potential so they're giving him the big push.

-Nate Marquardt's recent wins have me kind of sort of excited. Allow me to explain before y'all bury me under my own words.  Marquardt's chin is a seriously broken one from years of fighting elite competition. Having said that, his hand speed, technique and ground game all looked pretty damn solid vs Tamdan McCrory and he removed CB Dollaway from consciousness before that in a really impressive come from behind win. Sam Alvey is going to really test what Nate has left----but I feel like it's worth pointing out that in the UFC, Alvey recently has only lost to dudes like Elias Theodorou and Derek Brunson. I'm not saying I'm all in on Nate's comeback yet BUT I'm willing to be convinced if he can get by Alvey who is all kinds of wrong for him at this point in his career.

-Of the fights on this prelim slate that I'm most into, Alessio Di Chirico vs Eric Spicely is the one I'm really excited to see. Italy's got a few good middleweight prospects and Di Chirico is one of them; a whirling dervish of offense on the feet with decent-ish grappling chops. Spicely has the ability to shut those guys down as he did vs Thiago Marreta. Big challenge here for Di Chirico.

-We've talked a bit about how the TUF flyweight season is already a bit of a hit given how Tim Elliott vs Mighty Mouse was a great fight and Brandon Moreno has rejuvenated 125 lbs. Alexandre Pantoja vs Eric Shelton is buried way down onto the card but it's a really great fight with two guys who could have long term futures at flyweight in the UFC.

-Li Jingliang fight week! The Leech is getting ready to claim another foe.

-Welcome to the UFC, Jordan Johnson! Your opponent is Henrique da Silva who we all kind of expect to be in the top 15 eventually and you're taking the fight on super short notice. Good luck, dude!

Must Wins:

Julianna Pena

Pena's fighting style and her attitude are not everybody's cup of tea but she has something unique at bantamweight. She can sell a fight, sell herself and she's got the ability to quite possibly be champion. Cringe if you like but seriously, she CAN beat Amanda Nunes. It's not like Nunes hasn't lost time and time again to hyperactive grapple first ground and pound artists before. Shevchenko vs Nunes II would be a darned good fight but Pena vs Nunes might be a bigger fight.

Donald Cerrone

The narrative on Cerrone continues to be and will continue to be a story where every "big fight" he loses, we'll have to hear about how he chokes. Jorge Masvidal is a fighter he should beat in a co-main event slot on big Fox.  Big fight opportunity for Cerrone to shut some people up.

Jason Knight

I was torn between Ngannou and Jason Knight here. I went with Knight because even IF Ngannou loses to Arlovski, it's heavyweight and heavyweights are always one win away from relevancy. Jason Knight fights in a much tougher weight class where you need to string together like four good performances in a row to get an eyebrow raise.

Five Underlying Themes:

1- Whether the winner of the main event can put on a performance worthy of getting people excited about a potential PPV headliner vs Nunes.

2- Whether or not the altitude turns what should be a very good card into a very sloppy card.

3- The on-again/off-again love affair between the UFC and Donald Cerrone as Jorge Masvidal comes to ruin the show.

4- How hard they push Francis Ngannou.

5- If we see more complaining than usual about the commentary with Jon Anik leading the charge on big Fox.

Predicting (Bonus) Winners!

Current record: 8-4

Julianna Pena Donald Cerrone Andrei Arlovski Jason Knight Nate Marquardt Aljamain Sterling Li Jingliang Luiz Henrique da Silva Alessio Di Chirico Jason Gonzalez Marcos Rogerio De Lima Eric Shelton

FOTN: Donald Cerrone vs Jorge Masvidal POTN: Aljamain Sterling and Andrei Arlovski

[tkmedia]

Dougie’s Monday Mailbag (Jeremias Ponce, Mythical Matchups, Arturo Gatti)

Dougie’s Monday Mailbag (Jeremias Ponce, Mythical Matchups, Arturo Gatti)

Jeremias Ponce (right) punishes Lewis Ritson. Photo by Mark Robinson/ Matchroom Boxing 14 Jun by Doug Fischer JEREMIAS PONCE Doug hi, That Saturday DAZN card rocked. I enjoyed seeing some new talent, Cyrus Pattinson and Sol Dacres both look to be worth following and seeing Alen Babic do his thing is always fun (for as long as that is going to last). But that Jeremias Ponce take down of Lewis Ritson is what got me writing in. What a war. I knew nothing about Ponce going into this but am 100% a fan from now forward. What a beast!  In round 1 the announcers were doubting if he could maintain the torrid pace. In round ten he still was, and with quality. I’d love to see him in with any of the top guys though if he gets his IBF shot against Josh Taylor I think the streak ends there. What do you think about his place in the unbelievably stacked 140-lb. division? Can you tell us any more about him? Hope this finds you well. Cheers. – Alec Thanks for sharing your thoughts on DAZN’s boxing offering from England on Saturday and the eye-opening performance from Ponce. If you want to know more about the rugged Argentine, please read Diego Morilla’s pre-fight feature on his countryman: https://www.ringtv.com/622906-unbeaten-jeremias-ponce-looks-to-make-a-statement-vs-lewis-ritson-in-ibf-elimination-bout/ I think Ponce is a welcome addition to the loaded junior welterweight division, but I don’t think he’s at all ready for the undisputed Ring champ, Josh Taylor, and as far as his place among the top 140-pounders, I think he’s just outside of the top 10. As impressive as he was against Ritson, I doubt the Ring Ratings Panel will suggest that he displace any of the lower-top-10 rated junior welterweights (Nos. 8-10 are Subriel Matias, Shohjahon Ergashev, and Robert Easter Jr.). Based on the discourse I’ve seen from the panel so far, they’re more inclined to enter Jose Pedraza, who stopped unbeaten (21-0) Julian Rodriguez in eight rounds, on Saturday on the Stevenson-Nakathila undercard. (T)hat Jeremias Ponce take down of Lewis Ritson is what got me writing in. What a war. I thought it was a darn good scrap, but I wouldn’t call it a “war” – the action wasn’t two-sided enough in my opinion – from where I was sitting Ponce was in command during most of the fight, although Ritson did hang tough for as long as he could and certainly had his moments. I knew nothing about Ponce going into this but am 100% a fan from now forward. What a beast! The 24-year-old “winger” (an old-school label for fighter’s who loop most of their long-range power punches) will make for action fights, especially when he’s matched with fellow aggressors. A savvy and battle-tested stick-and-mover like Taylor (or Viktor Postol or Easter) will likely outclass Ponce, who is stiff in his upper-body, flat-footed, and likes to work behind a high “earmuff” guard. However, he’s game as fighter’s get, and I like his concentrated body attack and mean uppercuts that he rips when he’s in close. I don’t see many junior welterweights having an easy time with him. I’d love to see him swap punches with Matias or Ivan Baranchyk. In round 1 the announcers were doubting if he could maintain the torrid pace. In round ten he still was, and with quality. Ponce had the same mojo that Ritson did at lightweight, especially during the Newcastle native’s British title run from 2017-2018. I think the two-fisted volume-punching pressure-fighting version of Ritson that stopped Robbie Barrett, Joe Murray, Scott Cardle and Paul Murray in succession would have fared better vs. Ponce than the dude trying jab and pick his shots out of a Philly Shell defensive posture. CHAVEZ VS. GATTI, HEARNS VS. MUGABI Hey Dougie, Curious about your picks for two mythical match-ups that could have actually happened… A junior middleweight bout between a prime Thomas Hearns and rising contender John Mugabi in 1985. A welterweight bout between the always vulnerable Arturo Gatti and a nearly washed JC Chavez in 2000. In my opinion, both bouts could go either way, and I imagine both fights would be thrillers for as long as they lasted. I think a peak Hearns avoids a Barkley-esque upset by boxing smartly against the hard-hitting Mugabi, likely forcing a mid-to-late rounds stoppage. Hearns W TKO 9. And I see Gatti-Chavez resembling Duran-Barkley and Morales-Maidana, bouts in which the old warriors had the perfect opponents to show enough flashes of their former glory to make it close on the cards. Chavez W SD 12. I look forward to your takes. Thanks. – Bag’A’Chips I think peak Hitman blasts Mugabi out in one or two rounds. The Beast, who squared up right in front of his opponents and loaded up with every shot, was tailor-made for The Motor City Cobra’s piston-jab and straight-right bomb. All Hearns would need to do is keep his composure and box from a distance. As long as he didn’t get overzealous in search of the KO and rush it, there’s no way Mugabi could last with him or reach his chin.

Chavez circa 1990, on his way to winning more than 80 consecutive fights. Photo by THE RING I can also see the 2000 version of Chavez prevailing over the 2000 version of Gatti like Duran over The Blade or losing a close decision the way El Terrible did vs. Chino. At first, I was thinking Gatti would absolutely destroy Chavez, who I considered finished after his second loss to Oscar De La Hoya in 1998. The sluggish version that dropped a 10-rounder to Wily Wise in 1999 would have been beaten down to late stoppage by Gatti’s heavy haymakers. But then I remembered that Chavez regained a semblance of his old form when he challenged Kostya Tszyu for the WBC 140-pound belt in 2000. He was painfully slow and had to resort to blatant low blows vs. King Kostya, but his vintage stance and technique was almost there… enough at least for him to have a few moments vs. a future hall of famer in his prime. Tszyu patiently picked Chavez apart until his corner rescued him in Round 6, but the Russian-Aussie was so much sharper than Gatti ever was, especially in 2000. I know Gatti would be motivated like never before to face a legend like Chavez, but he couldn’t help but loop and telegraph his big shots to the body and head. I think Chavez would do a much better job of blocking (and countering) Gatti’s bombs (which could do as much damage as Tszyu’s sharp shots) than he did evading Kostya’s well-timed and quick one-twos down the pike. I’d forgotten how much those back-to-back losses to Ivan Robinson in 1998 had messed with Gatti’s mojo. He really didn’t regain it until he was paired with Buddy McGirt following the Oscar De La Hoya drubbing in 2001, and even then, it took a few fights (including the loss to Micky Ward that kicked off their classic trilogy). So, I go back and forth with this one, but I guess I’ll go with the all-time great like you did. There wasn’t much of the real JC Superstar left in 2000, but whatever he could summon (and I figure Gatti’s reputation would get him to train hard) would probably be enough to get by the version of Thunder that was troubled a little bit (and bled A LOT) vs. the pesky Baby Joe Hutchinson. HARDEST HITTER Hi Dougie, Just got a brief question: Who is the hardest p4p puncher – Gennady Golovkin at his peak, Naoya Inoue or Artur Beterbiev? And a bit longer MMs: Alexander Povetkin vs. Chris Byrd (prime for prime), David Tua Luis Ortiz vs. David Tua Dillian Whyte vs. Chris Byrd, David Tua Deontay Wilder vs. David Tua, Chris Byrd Thanks for all your useful & entertaining work. – Jose Thanks for the kind words, Jose. Your Mythical Matchups: Alexander Povetkin vs. Chris Byrd (prime for prime), David Tua – Byrd wins a close, maybe majority decision (provided the fight is on neutral ground); Tua, trailing badly on the official cards, scores a come-from-behind late TKO. Luis Ortiz vs. David Tua – TuaMan by mid-to-late TKO. Dillian Whyte vs. Chris Byrd, David Tua – Byrd by close UD, Tua by mid-to-late KO Deontay Wilder vs. David Tua, Chris Byrd – Tua by early KO; Byrd frustrates and outclasses Wilder for much of the bout but at some point The Bronze Bomber clips his wings with a big, wild right hand.

The Monster connects vs. Jason Moloney Who is the hardest p4p puncher – Gennady Golovkin at his peak, Naoya Inoue or Artur Beterbiev? Inoue by a significant margin in my opinion. GGG and Beterbiev are physically stronger (at their weight classes than Inoue is at 118) and more durable, but the Japanese star is a more talented overall athlete with quicker hands and feet, better timing/reflexes and sharper punching technique, which adds to more P4P “pop” to his power shots. THUNDER AND THE IBHOF I’ve heard a lot of people say Arturo Gatti doesn’t belong in the HOF. I think he does, given his resume (not ATG-status, but it’s called The Hall of Fame, not the Hall of All-Time Greats) and his willingness to go where 99% of us wouldn’t dare to venture. Now detractors will say “There are better guys than Gatti NOT in”, but that doesn’t mean Arturo Gatti shouldn’t be in. Do you think Gatti belongs in the HOF? What’s your line of thought if you don’t think so? Also, who are some of those guys with better careers than Thunder that you believe DO belong in the HOF? – Gregory K. If you’re just going on strength of resume (especially if you mainly credit victories) there are too many to mention, Greg, but you make a good points about Gatti’s worthiness, and I’ve never heard anyone break it down as you did with this simple line: “…but it’s called The Hall of Fame, not the Hall of All-Time Greats.” That’s such a good point. Being an attraction, a crowd-pleaser, someone who made hardcore fans out of casuals is a factor in the voting even though purists are against it. Gatti didn’t get my vote when his name first appeared on the IBHOF ballot because I believed there were more deserving candidates that year, but he was so beloved that he made it in (posthumously) on his first year of eligibility. Once he was in, I didn’t bitch about it too much (as some of my peers did). Gatti’s got a solid resume. Yes, he was outclassed by De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr., but there’s shouldn’t be any shame in losing to those two. He’s got solid victories, including James Leija, Leo Dorin, Tracy Patterson, Gabe Ruelas and Gianluca Branco.

The final chapter between Gatti and Ward. However, I think his slugfests – win or lose – are what put him over the top. There are too many to mention, but his modern-classic trilogy with Micky Ward can’t be ignored or downplayed IMO. And four of his ring battles were deemed the Fight of the Year by Ring Magazine: vs. Ruelas (1997), Ivan Robinson (1998), and Ward (2002 and 2003). Being in four Ring fights of the year ties him with Joe Frazier and George Foreman (that’s all-time great company right there). Only Carmen Basilio (who was in five consecutive fights of the year) and Muhammad Ali who was in SIX fights of the year, according to The Ring, are ahead of Gatti in that department.   Email Fischer at . Follow him on Twitter and IG at @dougiefischer, and join him, Tom Loeffler, Coach Schwartz and friends via Tom’s or Doug’s IG Live every Sunday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Douglass Fischer (@dougiefischer) GET THE LATEST ISSUE AT THE RING SHOP (CLICK HERE) or Subscribe

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Dougie’s Monday Mailbag (Jeremias Ponce, Mythical Matchups, Arturo Gatti)

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Aligning Within

 Diadel Ortiz talks to Jenny Campbell~May 2020

EDUCATOR. WIFE. MOTHER. YOUTH ADVOCATE.

As a lifelong learner and youth advocate, I use education to empower adults and children in all aspects of their lives. I have dedicated most of my adult life and professional career to education, teaching, mentoring, and sharing good morals. I enjoy spending my time with my family and serving the community. 

Bible quote: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.” – Jeremiah 29:11

My life goals

DOCTORATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION Completion – 2021. Qualitative research on the topic: “How Does Parental Expectation Affect College Preparedness.”

Educator

Leaders for Life, Inc. I prepare young adults ages 16-24 to complete and pass the TASC (NJ High School Diploma) Exam – using Common Core Curriculum Standards in English, Math, Social Studies, and Science.

Areas of Expertise

Cooking, teaching, counseling,  and administrative operations youth empowerment

Education/Career

“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream” – C.S. Lewis

I have worked in several industries- banking, magazine publishing, non-profit, and higher ed development. I’ve had the privilege of learning from and mentoring great leaders. I am a lifelong learner who prides herself in taking risks and providing exceptional service. Integrity is essential to me – I understand the importance of always being true to yourself and others. I am a leader who inspires others to their greatness.

Note from Diadel:

I started this interview in January 2020, when I briefly heard of the outbreak in China. The pandemic was not visible here in the US. But as the weeks continued, and I kept on drafting and editing this piece, the US got hit with COVID-19. Not knowing what would happen next or how I was going to find time to complete this conversation, I decide to focus on the safety of myself and my family and to follow the state guidelines and put shelter-in-place.  I had to put my own needs and the needs of my family first before I could move forward.

Now, we are in May, five months in, and I have decided to complete this interview.  Interviewing and keeping up with my writing is a method that helps me find inner peace, calming, and inspiration.  As I compose, I find myself immersed in an awareness of my soul and submerged in a warm space, where I can share, receive, and create wondrous stories. I hope you can relate to the conversation in this interview as they happened during a difficult time for the interviewer and me. 

My guest today is an educator, wife, mother of 4, and youth advocate. Jenny Campbell shares her life, her blessing, and her path through the pestilence of the forthwith in life. 

DK– Hello, Jenny, how are you and your family doing? I know this pandemic has hit hard for all of us, but especially in your area in New Jersey, where the COVID-19 outbreak is like a war zone. I know I find myself worrying about my family and friends in the NY and NJ areas. It seems these two states have been walloped. I have been in prayer, kneeling to the Lord for strength, comfort, love, and healing.

JC– It’s good to hear from you, Diadel. I pray you and your family are doing well completely.  The pandemic has blessed us with time and peace to reconnect and build our energies.  We are all together, loving each other while getting through this. We rely on each other’s prayers and compassion each day.

DK- How has this pandemic affected your life?

JC– The most significant issue we are facing during this pandemic is financial in security.  My husband works in retail (he is the breadwinner), and the stores have closed. He was forced to apply for unemployment for the first time in the 20+ years since his migration to the US.  It has been difficult for him, personally.  We are not sure what the future will bring for us financially.  However, we are remaining faithful and prayerful.  We know we are not in control of the now  so we rely on His (The Lord) promise to get us through.

DK- I admire your strength and courage through this difficult time. I know many people who are also struggling financially.  It is hard, and I send you prayers and hope this will settle.

DK- What have you seen that is heartbreaking?

JC– It has been heartbreaking to watch the number of deceased increase every day.  It has hit home for us:, a close friend lost his mother and cousin (our dear friend),and three close friends lost their brothers. This virus is unbiased.  It is also heartbreaking watching the irresponsibility of people still congregating and not respecting the shelter-in-place orders.  I can only imagine how many others they are infecting.

DK-  I am so sorry, Jenny.  This outbreak has become so scary at times, not knowing what will happen next. It mutates continuously without warning. Having the CDC guidelines are there to protect us and help us stay safe and alive. I, too, have seen people not taking it seriously.

DK- How have you managed to remain calm and positive?

JC– It is a blessing to have my family together.  I can see their faces and hear their voices each day.  That alone calms me.  Nonetheless, prayer, laughter, and our intimate conversations have allowed us to stay positive and optimistic.

DK- What are some ways you have helped the community?

JC– I have recently joined the board of a great non-profit called Circles For Healing: www.circles4healing.org;  We put our resources together and started a Flash Food Bank for our community  and surrounding cities. To date, we’ve been able to bless and serve well over 1000 families with food and essential products through our CFH Village Care Box initiative. We have partnered with food trucks to feed essential and healthcare workers. Additionally, we have a wonderful partnership with Green Grocer Food Hub in Bloomfield, NJ; they provide fresh vegetables and fruits to our senior citizens and homeless shelters. Most importantly, we continue to provide support and prayers to each other and our families to keep us grounded in our work and His call.

Circle of Healing

Circle of Healing

Circle of Healing

Circle of Healing

DK- That is wonderful that you can give back to your community during this time of need. I know they are so appreciative of all the hard work you and your team put out daily.

DK- How do you encourage others to help in times of need?

JC– I remind people that it’s more important to do what you can for whomever you can.  Helpingcan be as simple as a telephone call, a text, or a video call.  It is vital to check on your friends and family who you ASSUME are doing well. Check on those that suffer from depression. Be deliberate in the things you say and do. This pandemic is like a war on our mental and emotional stability. There are so many issues surrounding being locked in. We have to check on children and adults who may be in violent situations; ensure their safety. Sharing your resources of food, money, or support can make a huge difference. Reach out to those that you do not hear from often. They need you more than ever before.

DK- It surely is a time of need for all of us. Just a simple check-in with family, friends, and neighbors is a start.

Let’s talk about you.

DK- How do you differentiate yourself?

JC– I believe everyone’s experiences are different. I think how they manage the trauma associated with these experiences are different.  My life’s experiences have raised me; they have made me the woman I am today.  I like to be honest with myself first in every aspect of my life.  This allows me to be authentically me when I interact with others.  It is essential for the love I give to others to be aligned with the love I have for myself.

DK- What do you love most about yourself?

JC- I love my integrity. MOST. I love my ability to love freely. I learned that the greatest love of all is the love of God and, thereby, self.  I had a challenging childhood, like many others. I spent most of my adolescence quietly searching for acceptance. But, I’m grateful for my life’s experiences that brought me closer to understanding and forgiving myself; it taught me to love openly.

DK- Beautiful. It is important to know thyself, accept thyself, and love thyself.

DK- What are the most critical changes you have faced within yourself?

JC- I was raised by a single mother; with two older brothers.  My mother took care of everyone else except herself.  She taught me how to take care of others; I think she did that to a fault.  I had to learn how not to forsake myself for the betterment of others.  I had to learn how not to be codependent.  I had to learn how to say “NO” to others when the things that were requested of me were not beneficial to my well-being.

DK- What do you want your life to be about?

JC- I want my life to be about service. I want to use the gifts that God has provided to improve the lives of others. I have a very intimate relationship with God.  I pray and meditate on His word daily.

DK- We certainly all have beautiful gifts to share with humanity. 

DK- What are your top five values? Are you living those values, and how?

JC– Love– I wake and live with love in my spirit every day; Light- I am committed to illuminating light.  It is essential to living in your authentic self every day.  Learning– I am an eager learner.  I look forward to learning something new every day, no matter the age or status of the ‘teacher.’ Intimacy– I love the intimate relationship I have with my husband. He is my best friend.  And Service– I am committed to providing service to my brothers and sisters.  I wake each day, knowing that I will share my time, wisdom, and/or service to someone.  I am confident I live these values every day.  These values are the epitome of the women I am.

DK- What are some of your personal goals you are working to achieve?

JC– I want to complete my Ph.D. in higher education administration.  I love learning; I’ve always dreamed of achieving the highest degree possible.  I am working on my dissertation now to complete my doctorate.

DK- I love that you are achieving your personal and career goals. I want to hear more of the completion when you relinquish your intention.

DK- What motivates you to do your very best?

JC– My four daughters and husband are my motivators.  I aspire to be my best self for them  I want to always raise my girls by example.

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Jayla

Jazelle

Jendayi

Leandra

DK- Your daughters are amazing. I feel privileged to have seen them as children and grow into beautiful young women. They have achieved greatness.

 Let’s talk about your life.

DK- How different was your life 2 years ago?

JC-  Two years ago, I was not the CEO of my own company, Retention Strategies Unlimited (RS U). RS U was born on December 22, 2018. Having my own company has given me the power to enjoy and mentor, teach, and support our youth. It is a great way to empower students and parents in the college application process, through first-year matriculation.

DK- Amazing where the path of life takes us. It is beautiful that you are helping students and parents during a challenging time to apply and prepare for college. These times can be somewhat intimidating. Excellent to have reliable support.

DK- What in your life brought or has given you the highest satisfaction or fulfillment?

JC– My highest satisfaction was having my family witness me graduate with a bachelor’s degree in 2010. It was the most fulfilling moment of my life, to-date.

DK- What are the challenges of being a woman?

JC–  I think being a woman is a gift.  The gift of giving life. But, more importantly, raising generations of men and women.  The challenges associated with that are (1) knowing how to balance giving too much, or not enough to your children. You want them to be the greatest they can be. It’s difficult learning to give them the tools necessary to be their greatest versions of themselves.  (2) Being a great wife balancing the responsibilities and not losing yourself in the needs of your family.  (3) being a woman not forgetting how to love yourself and focusing on your own personal goals as a woman, as an individual.  (4) Remembering that you are also a person with feelings and needs- that are just as important as your family’s. Recognizing that two drowning people can’t save each other.  Thereby, remembering to always practice self-carein order to take care of those you love.

DK-  Do you have a hard time accepting defeat?

JC– I do not see any experience as defeat.  I see all experiences as lessons.  So, I never lose- I either learn, or I win.

DK- Great way to view defeat. Looking at it through a positive light.

DK-  What is your philosophy of life-based on?

JC– “I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me.”

DK- How does love influence your life and affection?

JC– Love is an action word.  It is my responsibility as a child of God to give love as He gives to me.  Affection is physical- humans must be touched.  It is necessary for human development.

DK- Reciprocity of what God has given us to share with others.

Let’s talk about your marriage and parenting.

DK- How long have you been married?

JC– April 2020 is our 22nd wedding anniversary.

DK- Congratulations, that is wonderful. It is beautiful to see love is the center of your marriage.

DK-  What kind of boundaries protect your marriage?

JC–   We are committed to respecting each other.  If you can’t do it or say it in front of one another, we shouldn’t do it.

DK- Absolutely. Respect is the glue to a relationship.

DK-  What are your biggest challenges as a parent? What are your greatest joys?

JC– My most significant challenges as a parent was/is making sure I am not instilling fear in my daughters. My goal is always to support them.  But, I don’t want them to second guess themselves. I want them to be confident in their decisions, as well as, know that if they make a mistake, they can recover.

My greatest joy is watching them navigate through life’s challenges.  And, trust me enough to talk to me about anything.  They are all very comfortable sharing anything with me.

DK- What do you think is the most important thing to remember about parenting?

JC–  Remember, your children are people too.  Be the parent you wish you had.

Let’s talk about your career.

DK- Can you tell me a bit about your career path and what led you to the role you’re in today?

JC– I am an educator- I teach young adults who are preparing to earn their high school diploma. Many of them have been out of school for as little as two years, to as much as ten years. I believe teaching is a gift. Many of my positions have led me to where I am today.

DK- What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

JC–  I enjoy changing the lives of my students.  I enjoy watching them regain confidence in themselves.  I appreciate how I empower them to see that they are capable and worthy of a great future.

DK- What a great feeling it is to support students’ achievement. 

DK- How are you educating your students during this crisis? How are you keeping in touch?

JC-For my business clients: The COVID 19 pandemic has created an excellent opportunity for parents and students to focus on preparing for college. I also meet with my clients via ZOOM – weekly. I provide a viable plan of action for each student – depending on their grade level. Parents participate in workshops, and virtual meetings to ensure the entire family is engaged in the process. For my work: I utilize Google Classroom to offer encouragement, assignments, and support to ensure they are remaining focused on the goal of earning their high school diploma.

DK- I honor you and all teachers for dedicating time, committing to continue to educate and share the love of learning with students. It is needed, especially during this time of crisis.

Let’s just talk.

DK-  Is there something that surprised you about the role when you first started?

JC–  Yes. I was surprised when one of my students (a 22-year-old man) told me, “If I had you as a teacher in high school, I wouldn’t be here right now.”

DK- Teaching is opening the heart to compassion for others. That is beautiful.

DK- What are some of the biggest challenges you face today?

JC-I am my own worst critic. I always want to know I am doing enough for every student, individually..

DK- As a female, what has been the most significant barrier in your life/career?

JC–  I knew what I was getting into. However, I wish our education system was better equipped to ensure ALL students have a positive educational experience.

DK-  What are some strategies that can help women achieve a more prominent role in society?

JC– It is essential to really take stock in what your gifts are- and expound on those gifts. You can build a business in any industry these days. Use your ideas to make money for yourself. Women entrepreneurs are growing exponentially. We have to learn how to be self-sufficient using our own gifts.

DK- Totally, this is the area for all women to rise up and walk their path.

DK- What words of wisdom do you want to share with others?

JC– I have always been at peace in the sea. There’s something about submerging in the sea that gives me rejuvenation, cleansing, and a sense of peace. No matter what challenges life brings, there is joy. Your ability to stand in your stillness long enough to hear your own voice, trust your discernment will be the key to your healing, personal growth, and falling in love with yourself. You have the power to create the life you want. 

DK- What do you think would probably surprise most people about you?

JC– I think people would be surprised that I endured years of moelstation. People don’t equate trauma with a person that has a positive outlook on life and who is always willing to help others.

DK- I agree. Society sometimes has a hard time relating traumatic experiences with a person’s positive outcome.

DK- What have you found to be the best way of absorbing disappointment, rejection, distress, and discouragement?

JC–  I expect life to be unpredictable.  I anticipate that there will be disappointments, rejections, distress, and discouragement.  That is not of God.  I don’t take them personally. I see these things as external circumstances outside of my control.

DK- Anticipation is an essential part of life that comes with expecting the unpredictable. And being guided by God is what makes life living.

DK- If you had one piece of advice to give to a woman, what would it be?

JC– I would advise women to trust themselves. It is ok to love and be loved; you are worthy. Trust that God will never do anything to hurt you. So, live…love…and give love and peace to others. But, most importantly, yourself. Be good to you.

DK- Woman is the light of the world. 

DK- Anything you would like to add?

JC– Yes, as heartwrenching and stressful as this time is, I encourage you to take a look at the things you might have taken for granted.  Are you upset about shelter in place? Remember those that have no place to shelter.

Are you upset you can’t go to work? Remember, those that have no job.  Are you upset you have to pay bill-rent/mortgage and car?  Remember those that don’t have any of those luxuries.

Are you sick of being in the house cooped-up with your spouse?  Remember why you got married. Rediscover each other.

Are you tired of homeschooling your kids?  Remember the teacher(s) you’ve been judging throughout the year to teach your children.  Are you sick of cooking?  Remember those that have no food.

There’s always another perspective. Be blessed; you have a choice. Be grateful for it all.  Find humility in the chaos and be at peace.

DK- Good outlook on the things we all take for granted. May we see with open eyes and warm hearts.

DK– What does it mean to be an Authentic Women?

JC– Being an authentic woman means to be true to yourself.  Understanding that you will never be perfect, but you are God’s perfect imperfection.  His grace and mercy will always be your refuge.  So, don’t be afraid to fall.  But be courageous enough to get up and start  over again.  You are GREATNESS, and no one can take that away from you.

DK- I know these are hard times, and I want to “Thank You” for presenting and showing us that even through a crisis, you can stand up, spread love and support one another. You have shown us that strength in ourselves and faith in God will help us get through any life disaster, being true to ourselves with integrity and facing fear with the willingness to overcome.  Jenny, I send you blessings and prayers to you and your family. And love to the world.

~Diadel Kimberlee

Check out these websites: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html

Retentions Strategies Unlimited: http://retentionstrategiesunltd.com/

If you would like to make a donation to Circles For Healing: www.circles4healing.org

  Showcase-Authentic Women~Jenny Campbell Aligning Within  Diadel Ortiz talks to Jenny Campbell~May 2020 As a lifelong learner and youth advocate, I use education to empower adults and children in all aspects of their lives.

[llycaons]

ep10: well aren't you just full of surprises, but can we slow down?

I really liked this opening scene! lwj is a little easier to read, the music is gorgeous, and wwx looks content and happy to listen to it. so I was really thrown off when it suddenly ended

they cut down that scene to what, 2 minutes? TWO MINUTES?? this deeply significant scene both emotionally and plot-wise, given ample time to progress and culminate in both the novel and drama? this is a very strange decision for the donghua to make, and it's been so good about pacing up until now

that user who said the donghua boobs in wwx's rooms were massive wasn't really being fair. I think it's kind of silly and I like the gender-neutral stick figures better (which fit cql wwx better anyway) but it's not anything to get upset about and not ooc for donghua wwx

goddd jc is such an agressive dick

oh my god jyl says "alright, stop fighting" but I recognize the mandarin word because that's exactly the phrase she used in cql...sobbing

jc here yelling at wwx because he's been reckless...like cql jc is quite a bit different but wwx in ALL versions really...doesn't seem to like this expression of worry. he doesn't like getting blamed and yelled at even when he knows it's coming from a place of genuine fear and worry, and he defends himself in various ways when it happens, less when they were younger but more starting here. so no, I don't think he's a fan of 'tough love' ngl and I don't blame him I always thought it was kind of a shitty thing to do to someone you care about and not something that really lends itself to longterm healthy relationships or well-being, given the circumstances

and slightly unrelated but there's a reason being with jc exhausted wwx and by the end of the novel he was sick of having to deal with him and pretending he was okay when he wasn't and putting his own needs aside constantly and being his caretaker etc. but he flourished with jyl's affection (and lwj's, later)

anyway donghua jc is on point. I cannot wait for this asshole to get out of wwx's life

lwj's father is never seen and we barely know anything about his relationship to his kids and given how much his actions influenced how his kids were raised and how trapping his wife parelleled what lwj did to wwx later I think that's a huge missed opportunity. but if he just is mentioned then dies? I mean I'd rather he was dead from the beginning for all the impact his living in the story had. I guess his death was just one more stressor on lwj during that time?

WWX is TWENTY????

wait that means that he went to gusu as a 17 or 18 year old and everyone is older than I expected. I really think the fact that they're teenagers fighting a war and losing their homes is fairly important to the story and this is a change that baffles me. what does this add? I don't think it improves anything

anyway this jc wwx my dad likes you better scene is essentially the same in all versions, but somewhat static here since they never leave the room

what's new is the wens suddenly being really into spying. is this the intro of jgy? finally?

jfm leaving because of a marital dispute seems so petty when the clans are on the brink of war. at least in the drama he was escorting a wounded leader of an exterminated sect. I do not remember why he left in the novel but I think it was mentioned in a very brief line

oh my god the first shot of wlj is her giant boobies. please give it a rest

yinzhu and jinzhu are so cool I love them

wlj walking towards the camera but not actually getting closer...the animation was supposed to be a strength of this adaptation, wasn't it?

surprisingly the whipping scene didn't really hit me. you don't even see wwx for half of it, it goes on for way too long, and jc doesn't tearfully throw himself in front of wwx to beg her to stop. it's just...something that happened. that was bad. I guess

myu's outfit is so hideous I just have to say I think it's godawful ugly and simultanously reminds me of the bi flag which is obviously a coincidence but one that irks me

wlj trying to manipulate myu but badly misjudging her and her priorities, expecting the rumor taunt to do the trick (probably based on rumors she's heard of myu herself) but being surprised at what a stone-cold possessive and prideful woman she is

that one shot of wwx looking up at myu towering over him and he just knows she'll cut off his hand is truly so terrifying

I think he was actually ready to give it up in the novel and the drama but here he just looks really scared

ok I have to say I just hate wlj's design too it's not just the stupid face and the massive anatomically inaccurate boobs or the garish makeup it's that rabbit-ear hairstyle it's just so distracting

a bold choice to end the scene there with myu attacking back. that's one of the best scenes in any versions, and a personal favorite, so I would have rather had the entire fight all at once

the entire episode felt quite rushed to me and one the one hand it interferes with the experience, but on the other hand it cuts down on time I have to be in the flashback and that's a plus

almost 1/3 of the way through and everything after this is sure to be exciting. thank god

really not looking forward to this ugly artstyle trying to sell me on a-yuan being a cute baby

it may just be that this show is both terrible and really good but for the different reasons as the novel and the drama are. I love adaptations

[celebritylive]

After weeks of hearing about The Masked Singer‘s almighty Super Nine, the top three performers from Groups A, B and C finally took the stage on Wednesday’s April Fools-themed episode.

Host Nick Cannon reintroduced the competitors and offered new clues about each group. Group A — Kangaroo, Turtle and White Tiger — have a combined 15.4 million Instagram followers. Group B’s Banana, Frog and Kitty have all been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, and Astronaut, Night Angel and Rhino of Group C racked up seven Grammy nominations between the three of them.

RELATED: The Masked Singer: Who’s Been Revealed So Far?

During the clue packages, the disguised celebs offered a super clue, and once their performance wrapped, they cleared up a rumor that might’ve fooled the viewers and judges about them by sharing what they’re not. Then after each set of three masked stars sang, the audience voted on their least favorite performance from every group. White Tiger came in last for Group A after singing “I’m Too Sexy,” Banana fell to the bottom in Group B, and Rhino’s Jonas Brothers cover made him Group C’s loser.

When Robin Thicke offered up his guess of Billy Ray Cyrus for Banana, the “Blurred Lines” singer noted that he once performed with one of Cyrus’ daughters and commented on the infamous black and white striped suit he wore while shaking it with Miley at the 2013 VMAs. “I was supposed to be a referee,” Thicke claimed.

At the end of the night, panelists Ken Jeong, Jenny McCarthy, Nicole Scherzinger and Thicke decided which of the bottom three singers would get sent home. Banana and Rhino lived to fight another day, meaning White Tiger did not prove to be king. Judges and viewers alike had been suggesting former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was under the White Tiger costume — and they scored a touchdown with that guess.

“I’ve always loved dancing and my dance moves were always one of a kind and I always felt like I was never on rhythm, so when I got asked to do The Masked Singer, I knew I was in. I wanted to do it,” the retired NFL pro, 30, said after being unmasked. “I wanted to learn how to sing and also I really wanted to learn how to dance.”

Some of his former teammates recognized those dance moves, though. “One or two of my teammates did contact me like, ‘Dude, that is definitely you. I know your moves, I’ve seen those moves in the locker room plenty of times,’ ” Gronkowski said. When McCarthy suggested he come out of retirement and return to the NFL locker room, the three-time Super Bowl winner responded, “You never know.”

Gronkowski went on to thank the panel for the unique experience.

“Thank you guys,” he told the judges. “I enjoyed every performance in front of you guys. I love you guys so much. I’m just so thankful to be here. Legends right in front of my eyes.”

Scroll down for a breakdown of what happened when season 3’s top nine competitors came together on Wednesday.

Turtle

Clues: running a 10K; 40 lbs. is a quarter of his body weight; “I’m hardcore about being the best at everything I do.”; “I had to become one with the turtle, like a method actor.”; “I’m not a dancer.” Super clue: The Amazing Adventures of Shellboy comic, which costs $10.15 Song: “Higher Love” by Steve Winwood Guesses: Chris Evans, Drew Lachey, Nick Lachey, Brian Littrell What they’re not: “I’m not known for just one thing.”

Kangaroo

Clues: “I came here to show my strength and bounce back after being vilified by kanga-rumors of my past.”; “I’m incredibly nervous every time I’m on that stage.”; “I’ve been put through hell this past year.” Super clue: A kangaroo doll Song: “Not Ready to Make Nice” by Dixie Chicks Guesses: India Arie, LeAnn Rimes, Amber Rose, Jordin Sparks What they’re not: “I may be a kangaroo, but I’ve never lived in Australia.”

White Tiger

Clues: “raunchiest party on the block”; “When I first got here, I’d never sung in front of a crowd. I didn’t even know what an eight-count was.”; “I know I don’t have the best voice, trust me.” Super clue: Flossing and shooting a basketball Song: “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred Guesses: Rob Gronkowski, Joe Manganiello, JJ Watt What they’re not: “I’m just not brawn, I’m brains. I even wrote a best-selling book.”

Kitty

Clues: “Since starting young, for a large part of my life, I struggled with my self-image, regardless of my success. My mind only saw darkness and ugliness when I looked in the mirror.”; “I get to let my freak flag fly.” Super clue: Last season’s Tree, because “Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year.” Song: “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” by Celine Dion Guesses: Vanessa Hudgens, Avril Lavigne, Nicole Richie, Emma Roberts What they’re not: “I was not dreaming when Robert Redford helped me to get my very first role.”

RELATED VIDEO: ‘The Masked Singer’ Unveils The Taco and He Says Keeping the Secret Wasn’t That Hard

Banana

Clues: “I was just a party boy looking for a good time”; “A traumatic injury from my past made me forget the lyrics in my second performance.” Super clue: A mullet Song: “Sweet Home Alabama” By Lynyrd Skynyrd Guesses: Billy Ray Cyrus, Bret Michaels, Brad Paisley  What they’re not: “Blue-collar has many, many meanings. When I say blue-collar, I’m a funny guy, but I’m not standup funny.”

Frog

Clues: “The passion for performing I lost over the years has been totally reinvigorated.”; “I had to be all concerned about my image.”; “I even take a power nap before each performance.”; “You’re getting served.” Super clue: A knight in shining armor Song: “Jump” by Kriss Kross Guesses: Omarion, Lil’ Romeo, Sisqo What they’re not: “I’m actually not a trained dancer at all. Do you feel me, baby?”

Night Angel

Clues: “cloud nine”; “facing rejection in my past”; “I’ve avoided putting myself front and center for years.”; “Helping others for so long has made spreading my own wings feel incredible.”; “I feel like I can see endless possibilities in my future.” Super clue: A tricycle Song: “Rise Up” by Andra Day Guesses: Brandy, Tamar Braxton, Tisha Campbell, Oprah Winfrey What they’re not: “I’m not just a voice, I’m a mogul.”

RELATED: The Masked Singer Fans Think Jordyn Woods Is the Kangaroo: ‘I’ll Put Money on It’

Rhino

Clues: “Earlier in life, I tried to be what everyone wanted me to be.”; “I became comfortable playing a role.”; “Music has been my passion since I was a child.”; “I’ve risen up the Billboard charts and you may even have an album of mine.” Super clue: A slot machine Song: “What a Man Gotta Do” by the Jonas Brothers Guesses: Vince Gill, Derek Jeter, Duff McKagan What they’re not: “I’m not nearly as tall as you think I am.”

Astronaut

Clues: hitting a pot; an Exploring Earth book; “no tether attached”; “For years, I’ve been searching for a chance to blast away labels that have been imposed on me.”; “On my old planet, something happened that changed the course of my career. I was forced to start over but negativity made it difficult to launch again.”; “I’m not a competitive guy.” Super clue: a broken world record Song: “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley Guesses: David Archuleta, JC Chasez, Ryan Tedder  What they’re not: “I’ve never had traditional voice training.”

The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays (8 p.m. ET) on Fox.

from PEOPLE.com https://ift.tt/3bKgF42

[trensu]

Episode 33: The One where WWX Needs to Stop Touching Swords of the Un-Sexy Kind

So we start the episode with MAXIMUM PAIN

JC is crying and shaking and clinging to jyl’s dead body and I WANT TO DIE

Plus side, wwx grabbed the guy who stabbed jyl and choked him to death

Now wwx is surrounded by all the stupid idiots that comprise the cultivator world and they’re all hurling insults and accusations at him and MY POOR SUNSHINE BOY IS JUST HAVING A BREAKDOWN

We get a shot of lwj who is fighting tooth and nail against the cultivators but he’s surrounded and can’t get to wwx

Also, just so you all know, LWJ HAS THE BEST FIGHT SCENES. He just stopped two blades at once and knocked the guys down 

Oh noooo, wwx pulls out his demon flute and starts playing! Resentful energy starts going even more crazy!

Lwj: wei ying, stop!

EVERYTHING IS AWFUL

AND IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE

Wwx is crying as he’s playing and i’m DYING INSIDE

Oh no! Wwx just spat a bunch of blood

Lwj sees him spit out the blood

AND SUDDENLY THEIR SONG IS PLAYING ON A CELLO, ALL SLOW, AND IT HURTS SO MUCH TO HEAR IT PLAYED THIS WAY

While lwj is distracted by the sight of his soulmate breaking down some ASSHOLE ATTACKS HIM FROM BEHIND AND CUTS HIS ARM

He takes him down and then slides effortlessly into another attack that manages to legit slice some dude’s neck open

OUR BOY IS NOT HOLDING BACK AT ALL, FOLKS

SO FAR LWJ’S MAD FIGHTING SKILLS ARE THE ONLY THING KEEPING ME TOGETHER

Oh no

Wwx just pulled out Plot Device 2 after getting the high ground, and lwj is watching him from below as he does this

Wwx: since you want it so much, come take it with your own ability

And he just chucks it to the crowd

We get to see all the greed and desire for power from all the cultivators here as they start cutting each other down to get their hands on this thing

It disgusts me

Now wwx is laughing BUT IT IS NOT HAPPY LAUGHTER. IT IS DESPERATE GRIEVING LAUGHTER, I HATE IT SO MUCH

AND LWJ IS WATCHING WITH A HELPLESS LOOK ON HIS FACE

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

WWX IS AT THE CLIFF

THAT ONE CLIFF WE HATE

I CAN’T DO THIS

OH GOD

Lwj: wei ying, come back

He says this so softly and full of desperation

He’s so scared

But wwx just steps back more, closer to the cliff’s edge and HE’S CRYING AND JUST LETS HIMSELF FALL

LWJ FUCKING LUNGES FOR HIM

OH GOD I CAN’T DO THIS

I CAN’T

Lwj barely manages to grab him in time and he grips him tight in his hand with all his might

Wwx looks so surprised, completely shocked that someone would try to save him at this point

Lwj, on the other hand, has a grim determined look on his face. He caught his soulmate, just barely, but he caught him and he will not let go!!

Wwx: lan zhan

There’s blood streaming down lwj’s hand from the wound on his arm and it’s just pouring over wwx’s hand

Wwx just hangs there limply, making no move to pull himself up towards lwj

Wwx: lan zhan, let me go

NONONONONONONO

Lwj’s grip SLIPS FOR A SECOND THAT GIVES ME A FREAKING HEART ATTACK but he manages to adjust his grip and clutch at him HARDER

He hasn’t said a word! He hasn’t said anything bc he’s focusing everything he has on holding onto wwx

Then we see jc striding into the scene and I’M DYING I’M DYING THIS IS GOING TO HURT SO BAD

Jc gets to lwj’s side and looms over the both of them

Wwx: jiang cheng…

And wwx for a split second looks happy; he’s happy to see his brother bc it’s his brother, the guy who’s been with him since they were children

But jc draws his sword and glares at him

And that joy peters off into pained acceptance bc wwx thinks he deserves this

Nononononononononononono my yunmeng bros don’t do this to me, please no

Lwj: Jiang Wanyin, stop it!

LWJ IS SAYING THIS THROUGH GRITTED TEETH BC HE SAW JC DRAW HIS SWORD

HE SEES HIM AIMING IT THREATENINGLY AT HIS SOULMATE 

AND HE DOES NOT HAVE THE STRENGTH OR ABILITY TO BLOCK HIM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE CAN’T LET GO OF WWX

Jc takes his sword and tells wwx to go to hell and strikes the stone between lwj and wwx

It’s enough to wobble where lwj is at and wwx SEES this and panics

HE WILL NOT BRING LAN ZHAN DOWN WITH HIM

So he yanks his arm from lwj’s grip and lets himself fall

Lwj: WEI YING

AND WE HEAR LWJ SHOUT HIS SOULMATE’S NAME. IT’S FULL OF DESPAIR BC HIS SOULMATE IS LOST TO HIM NOW

AND HIS FACE IS JUST ALL DEVASTATION AND HEARTBREAK

KILL ME KILL ME IT HURTS TOO MUCH

And then the camera pulls back and lwj looks so small standing on that cliff as jc just walks away

Lwj: wei ying

He says his soulmate’s name one last time in a pained gasp, like he can’t get enough air in his lungs, like breathing hurts, bc EVERYTHING HURTS, HE JUST LOST HIS SOULMATE

And then before, i can spiral into a nervous breakdown from the sheer ENORMITY OF EMOTIONS THIS SHOW JUST SHOVED DOWN MY THROAT...

We get a time skip!

~16 years later~

The scene opens to lwj playing ~their song~ on the guqin

Oh god it sounds so beautiful

It’s played in a way that sounds soothing and peaceful

Probably to keep the audience from finding a cliff and taking a dive…

Also, this is the first time we see lwj with his hair down! Or at least it doesn’t have a fancy hairpiece in it; it’s still tied back a bit tho

It’s a fucking travesty that we don’t get to see his hair like this more often. He looks so freaking soft here…

In fact everything looks so soft here: out of focus shots of wwx and lwj, a breeze gently rustling the curtains…

It really is just what i needed to recover from what happened like, two seconds ago, tho, so kudos to the showrunners

Now we get a quick series of flashbacks to mo xuanyu, the juniors, etc etc

The show’s like hey guys, remember 30 episodes ago we started telling a different story with a whole bunch of other characters??

Yeah, we didn’t think so, let us remind you real quick

AND ~THEIR SONG~ IS PLAYING THE WHOLE TIME

Okay, we’re back at present-day Ancient Fantasy China and wwx just starts regaining consciousness

Of course the first thing he does is tenderly watch lwj play their love song

Wwx: sixteen years...it feels like a dream

IT’S VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW THAT THE FLUTE PART OF THEIR SONG STARTS UP AS SOON AS WWX STARTS TO SPEAK

Lwj: you’re awake

I AM HAVING FEELINGS

MUCH LESS PAINFUL FEELINGS THAN 5 MINUTES AGO, BUT THERE’S A LOT OF THEM AND IDK WHAT TO DO

Lwj continues to play on his guqin

Wwx: i never thought i could still be alive

Lwj: the day you fell of the cliff, jc insisted on searching for your body but he could only see the bones of the dead

Wwx: what about you? Have you ever tried looking for me?

Of COURSE HE FUCKING DID YOU’RE HIS SOULMATE WHAT DID YOU THINK HE WAS GOING TO DO, OH MY GOD

Lwj: three years later, i went there but there were no bones left

God, they’re both speaking so gently to each other 

like they can’t quite believe they’re able to have this conversation, that this reunion is happening at all.

Wwx: why three years later?

Lwj’s hands freeze over the guqin when he asks this

Lwj: these 16 years…

NOTICE HOW LWJ POINTEDLY DOES NOT ANSWER THE QUESTION

Wwx: if i say i don’t know where i was these last 16 years, will you believe me?

Lwj: yes, i believe you

His voice is all soft and full of feeling

Wwx: lan zhan, did you really believe me back then?

HAVE I MENTIONED THAT THEY’RE SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER EVER SO SOFTLY AND TENDERLY AND GENTLE-LIKE?? I AM FULL TO THE BRIM WITH EMOTIONS RN

WWX IS TEARY EYED THE WHOLE TIME, MY HEART MY HEART

Oh, now we cut to a freaking beautiful shot of lwj sitting on a rock with his guqin on his lap, surrounded by trees and a waterfall

HE’S FUCKING GLOWING IN THIS SHOT

And my god the scenery in this show is just so fucking gorgeous

Like, how did they make it so beautiful???

We cut back to wwx and watch as wwx steps out of the Silence Room (aka the jingshi, aka LWJ’S BEDROOM) and starts wandering the Cloud Recesses

And i’m here like ummm? Where’s your mask wwx? YOU’RE WANDERING THE CLOUD RECESSES PRETTY CONFIDENTLY THERE WITHOUT YOUR MASK. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING.

We do get cute little flashbacks as wwx reminisces about the last time he was here tho

It’s bittersweet

Oh, he’s coming up to the library pavilion and ~THEIR SONG~ starts playing again! 

WE FLASHBACK TO ANGRY BB!LWJ 

LOOK AT HOW PRECIOUS AND LITTLE THEY ARE HERE. 

BABIES, THEY’RE ALL BABIES HERE. 

Y’KNOW, BEFORE THEY GET HIT WITH ALL THAT WAR AND LOSS AND EMOTIONAL TRAUMA

Now we cut to wwx wandering the back hills of the cloud recesses and there are bunnies!!! HELLO BUNNIES, WE MISSED YOU~!

Wwx picks up one of the bunnies and starts petting them

Wwx: little bunny, do you remember me?

SO CUTE, I DIE.

Wwx: i didn’t know that you were still being kept here after so many years!

He’s holding the bunny so gently and petting them AHHHH

Wwx: didn’t that fuddy duddy say he didn’t like you?

HE SMILES SO SWEETLY AT THE PRECIOUS LITTLE BUNNY

Wwx finishes his time with the bunny and casually makes his way towards the cold spring

HALF NAKED LWJ

WET HALF NAKED LWJ

CHILLING IN THE COLD SPRING BEING TOTALLY GAY

Oh, but when wwx realizes who’s in the cold spring, he gets this pleased little smile on his face!!

That smile slips right off his face tho when he sees that lwj’s back is littered with scars

The music here gets all low and ominous here too.

Wwx’s brows get all furrowed and his mouth drops open in shock

Wwx: whips?

Lwj turns around and sees wwx standing there

he seems pretty surprised to see wwx there, actually, his eyes widen and everything

When he does this HE REVEALS THE WEN BRAND BURNED INTO HIS CHEST RIGHT WHERE WWX HAD IT BURNED INTO HIM IN THE MURDER TURTLE CAVE

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Wwx lets out a little gasp and jerks back in shock when he sees it

At that, lwj immediately flicks his gaze downward and to the side in an obviously nervous gesture

He robes up pretty quickly from here (like REALLY quickly)

Wwx is still staring at him with his eyes all wide but not in a “omg hot naked dude” way; more in a “oh no, what happened?!” sort of way

Side note to mention I LOVE HOW LWJ LOOKS WITH WET HAIR, IDK WHY BUT I DO

Lwj: you’re awake

Wwx: lan zhan, the whips on your back...

Lwj: *looks down and doesn’t answer*

Wwx: you have always been a model among the disciples. What on earth have you done to deserve such a severe punishment?

His brow is all furrowed and he looks almost angry

But his voice is soft and serious and full of concern

And i’m sitting here like, OH BOY, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LIKE THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION WWX

Wwx: lan zhan, answer me

WHAT IF HE DOESN’T ANSWER, WWX? HMMM? WHAT WILL YOU DO THEN? 

REMEMBER THAT ONE TIME HE DEMANDED YOU ANSWER HIM AND YOU GOT ALL MEAN AND SNARKY?

BECAUSE I DO

I’M STILL NOT OVER IT, THAT WAS REALLY MEAN OF YOU

Lwj: *pointedly stays silent and keeps his gaze lowered*

And here the some lan disciples interrupt before we can get any answers

They’re here to give us Plot, how dare they

Apparently lqr got himself in trouble; couldn’t control a spirit or smth. What a rookie.

But we don’t care bc he’s wwx’s nemesis lol

Wwx and lwj rush over to the “Underworld Chamber” where lqr is at

Yes, they have a building called the Underworld Chamber bc the lan clan specializes in dramatics i guess

And also, somehow between the cold spring to the underworld chamber, lwj’s hair dries completely and he has it all done up again with his snazzy silver hairpiece??

Which, actually, is freaking hilarious if you think about it

Like, oh, gotta go save my uncle but if he sees me so disheveled he’ll make me write lines for sure...better get myself dolled up before i arrive there

Wwx does his cool magic talisman thing to bust open the doors of the dramatically named chamber and then locks the doors up behind them once he and lwj get in

Lwj looks very worried about his uncle, who is currently swooned into the arms of some rando lan disciple

Lwj immediately takes over the guqin bc he’s the Guqin Master and starts playing Magic Music

and the possessed sword is floating in the middle of the room exuding Bad Vibes™

Wwx whips out his shoddy flute and starts playing the Magic Music too bc it’s DUET TIME, BABY

Lol lqr immediately starts groaning when he hears the flute start up

Wwx’s like oh shit, lqr will recognize me if i play masterfully as i usually do so he switches from playing Magic Music to playing ~Their Song~ but, like, horribly??? It’s terrible terrible flute playing.

(also, like, i know they’re all acting, none of them know how to actually play the instruments their characters play but here i’m like ARE YOU EVEN TRYING?? DO THOSE FINGERINGS BELONG TO ANY ACTUAL NOTES???)

(I know i wasn’t the greatest at playing the flute in high school--okay, i was actually a pretty shitty flutist BUT EVEN I CAN TELL THAT THOSE FINGERINGS ARE BULLSHIT)

(okay i’m done yelling about the flute-playing now)

AND LOL LWJ’S FACE IS LIKE WHAT WHAT WHAT ARE YOU DOING, THAT SOUNDS HORRENDOUS HOW DARE YOU MUTILATE OUR LOVE SONG THAT WAY

Lqr: stop the flute! Get out!!

I’M D Y I N G LOLOLOL

Wwx stops playing and looks at lqr like, yikes

Lqr: no more…

And then he passes out like a drama queen omg

Wwx looks at lwj like “oops, sorry about your uncle??”

But after lqr is very much unconscious he starts playing Magic Music well again

So that all happens and eventually the sword spirit chills out and clatters to the floor

It’s still very obviously exuding Bad Vibes™ and doing this creepy whisper thing so of course wwx is like IMMA GRAB IT

OMG WWX STOP TOUCHING SCREAMING SWORDS

HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING JFC

Yeah so for some reason, wwx thinks it’s a good idea to touch the possessed sword and it starts screaming at him obvs and he starts to shake

Lwj is watching him all worriedly

The screaming seems to overwhelm wwx bc he’s flung back STRAIGHT INTO LWJ’S ARMS

Like, no hesitation. Lwj IMMEDIATELY catches him all tenderly as he falls

We cut back to the silence room with lwj at lqr’s bedside, checking his meridians/spiritual energy/whatever the hell

He’s very focused but all the juniors are cheeping at him like baby birds, it’s adorable

Except one of the juniors starts talking about the possibility of the yiling patriarch possessing someone and lwj opens his eyes and glares at him

HE GLARES SO HARD

AND ALL THE JUNIORS DUCK THEIR HEADS IN SHAME 

Lwj dismisses them

Lwj: sizhui, go to bed

Lsz: but dad!!

Lwj: say no more, go

Lsz: yes father

I LOVE DADJI AND LSZ MOMENTS, I HAD TO INCLUDE THIS EXCHANGE

Lsz leaves and bumps into wwx who’s lounging casually outside that building. It’s night time. He’s dressed all in black. Wearing a mask. He looks sketchy af is what i’m saying.

Like, you choose NOW to wear a mask?? WHERE WAS THAT MASK EARLIER???

Wwx: are you okay, random junior that i’m fond of for some unknown reason?

And lsz opens up to him and starts being all Clever and talking Plot Points

Wwx is watching him puzzle this out and he’s so proud and impressed with lsz

Wwx: good analysis, it seems you’ve studied really hard!

More plot talk and then lsz is all why are you wearing a mask again?

Wwx: i’m afraid of being seen by some old friends…

“FRIENDS” LOLOL YEAH OKAY

Cut to a new scene. It’s morning time!

Lwj is staring longingly at wwx

Wwx: you’re not suspecting me are you? I’ve been sleeping for 16 years.

HELLO DENSE!WWX. CAN’T SAY THAT I’VE MISSED YOUR OBLIVIOUSNESS

HE’S OBVIOUSLY USING EVERY OUNCE SELF RESTRAINT TO NOT GRAB YOU AND KISS THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS OUT OF YOU

Also, is this how he’s coping with being dead and resurrected? Pretending he took an extended nap?? this is a crowley approved coping mechanism, and i too approve of extended naps

Lwj: of course i believe you

Now they’re doing Plot Talk but we’re not gonna go into detail

Instead we’re going to enjoy their general proximity to each other and watch their pretty beautiful gorgeous faces as they bask in each other’s presence and talk smart with their wonderful voices

*dreamy sigh*

WWX IS BEING CLEVER

AND LWJ IS KEEPING UP WITH HIS CLEVERNESS

AND THEY REACH THE SAME CONCLUSION AND SAY IT OUT LOUD SIMULTANEOUSLY

BC THEY’RE GENIUS SOULMATES

(their conclusion has to do with Xue Yang and Plot Device 1 that may have something to do with Plot Device 2?? Only mentioning it vaguely bc it becomes relevant to wangxiantics later. We don’t need to know more than this lol)

Ooh, the end of their Plot Talk wwx says something about how whoever planted the sword ghost is obviously coming after him

Like, he realizes that he’s the target (presumably; i suppose it’s a reasonable assumption for him to make at this point). He stares off into the distance totally accepting of becoming the target again

But lwj gazes at him like OVER MY DEAD BODY IS ANYONE GONNA TAKE YOU AWAY FROM ME AGAIN, I JUST GOT YOU BACK!!

Maybe i’m projecting bc OVER MY DEAD BODY AM I LETTING ANYONE HURT MY PRECIOUS SUNSHINE BOY AGAIN,. COME OUT HERE AND FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN/WOMAN/NB PERSON

Now they’re back at the Underworld Chamber where the sword ghost (sans sword) is just chillin there and it’s all glowy and blue instead of smoky black.

Blah blah PLOT blah blah Follow the sword ghost blah blah Find sword ghost’s owner blah blah

Oh, and here lwj says they’re going on a trip together for Plot Reasons

Wwx is very excited about it. He hops and LEANS HARD into lwj.

Like, he’s putting weight into it guys, just getting all up close and personal with lwj’s strong sturdy shoulder~!

Wwx: i finally won’t be controlled by the strict rules here!

UM EXCUSE ME???

WHEN HAVE YOU EVER FOLLOWED THEIR RULES, WWX

WHEN

NAME ONE TIME

GO AHEAD, I’LL WAIT.

Lwj steps back slightly and wwx barely catches himself in time, it’s GREAT.

GUYS, OUR BOYS ARE TRAVELING TOGETHER AGAIN

ON A MISSION

TOGETHER!! 

SIDE BY SIDE!

TO HUNT DOWN EVIL!

TOGETHER!!

JUST LIKE OLD TIMES BEFORE ALL THE ANGST AND TRAUMA HAPPENED!!!

Look at our boys! Together! In qinghe!! Qinghe brings back so many fond memories!

They go into town to explore

Lol, we meet a mountebank selling portraits of the yiling patriarch that are supposed to ward off evil 

Wwx gets distracted by him and stays behind to chat while lwj keeps going

Wwx inspects the portraits and is SUPER DISAPPOINTED AND OFFENDED

THOSE PORTRAITS PHYSICALLY PAIN HIM

Wwx: the yiling patriarch was famous for his good looks! Who are these losers?? If you never saw the actual person, don’t draw randomly!! Stop misleading the younger generation! THEY HAVE TO KNOW HOW PRETTY I AM

Ah, poor wwx. Nobody can capture his beautiful perfect face.

SURPRISE JIN LING!!

ANGRY LITTLE BOY

KNOCKING DOWN THE POOR INNOCENT MOUNTEBANK

He’s all, that guy should be grateful all i did was kick him. I will kill anyone who mentions the yiling patriarch around me!!

Lol he’s such a brat, i love him.

Wwx: *internally* i wonder how his personality turned out this way. Poor temper, strong hostility. He learned all his uncle’s and father’s defects but none of his mother's strengths. If i don’t start working on him now, he’ll definitely suffer in the future…

LOOK AT WWX BEING A CONCERNED UNCLE!! I LOVE HIM SO MUCH

Except he hasn’t had much practice being an uncle so he brings up the time he pinned him to the ground with a talisman 

Jin ling gets offended...

Aaaand here comes FAIRY THE WONDER DOG!! 

Wwx hears the dog barking and making their way towards him AND FLIPS THE FUCK OUT

HE RUNS AWAY SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS

IT’S HILARIOUS

And we end on that high note.

Talk about emotional whiplash.

How can you make me want to tear my heart out of my own chest at the beginning and 40ish minutes later have me giggling like a loon??

Return to Masterpost

[meme-and-askbox]

Get To Know Me Uncomfortably Well

1. What is you middle name?     Rae, and I don't hate it as much as I did when I was younger.  In fact, if I ever get published, my pen name is going to be Rae (redacted).

2. How old are you?     43, physically.  Emotionally, 3 or 300, given any particular day 3. When is your birthday?     15 October. 4. What is your zodiac sign?     Libra, and boy, am I ever. 5. What is your favorite color?     Purple, black, fushchia, aqua. 6. What’s your lucky number?     Don't have one.  I don't have luck. 7. Do you have any pets?     I have two.  Fucko and Harpo.  Actually, they're cats, named Sam (Samhain Murray) and Maggie (after Maggie the Cat in Gargoyles) 8. Where are you from?     North Carolina.  Lil bit outside Charlotte. 9. How tall are you?     It says 5'7 on my license, but.  It's probably more like 5'5 10. What shoe size are you?      Ladies 11 wide, Men's 8-9 depending on the shoe. 11. How many pairs of shoes do you own?      5.  Two pairs of Sketchers, a black pair I keep for funerals, a pair of suede ankle boots, and a pair of Harley Davidson biker boots. 12. What was your last dream about?      Roxy the pink police poodle.  She's a recurring dream, and I'm working on turning her and her handler into a novel. 13. What talents do you have?     I don't suck at writing.  I have pretty phenomenal reading retention; I can't tell you page numbers or anything, but I can recall that I read article X, and in it, they said A, B, and C.  I'm good with most non-reptile animals. 14. Are you psychic in any way?     Occasionally I have dreams that come true later, and I get odd flashes of deja vu, in that I'm certain I've done this before but I don't quite remember when. 15. Favorite song?     At the moment, it's "Glitter and Gold" by Barns Courtney 16. Favorite movie?     Sleeping Beauty. I can watch it a million times. 17. Who would be your ideal partner?     oh, oi.  I have no idea, because I don't want a partner.  I guess my ideal would be someone who had the same interests as me, and who didn't mind being either fucked off and left alone, or attended to every whim as the need occurs.  I'd honestly like to have someone to talk TV/Movies/Books with, have a cuddle every now and again, then fuck off to your own thing. 18. Do you want children?     Fuck no.  But even if I did, I couldn't have 'em anymore.  All the lady parts got surgically removed in my 20s. 19. Do you want a church wedding?     Do you WANT me to combust on the spot? 20. Are you religious?     More than I'd admit to, but less than my fam would like me to be. 21. Have you ever been to the hospital?     For myself?  Yes.  For someone else?  Yes. 22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law?     Do speeding tickets count?  Cause I had a couple. 23. Have you ever met any celebrities?     I have!  I used to hit the Star Trek convention circuit pretty heavy and I met most of the TOS cast, and the TNG cast too.  My favorite is John deLancie. 24. Baths or showers?     Showers, please. 25. What color socks are you wearing?     White with purple toes and heels. 26. Have you ever been famous?     Christ I hope not. 27. Would you like to be a big celebrity?     I'd like to be a Stephen-King level celeb, but not much more. 28. What type of music do you like?     80s and 90s.  I tuned out of music around 2000. 29. Have you ever been skinny dipping?     Uh, yes. 30. How many pillows do you sleep with?     5.  Three for my head, one between my knees, one tucked under my hip. 31. What position do you usually sleep in?     On my side, but lately it's been 50%-50% side/belly. 32. How big is your house?     3br, 2ba modular home.  So maybe 2000-ish sq ft? 33. What do you typically have for breakfast?     I don't.  I hate breakfast.  But because I take insulin, I usually scarf down some yogurt or Lance crackers. 34. Have you ever fired a gun?     Yes.  I enjoy guns even though I don't really own any.  My uncles both have/had huge collections, and I got my love from them.  But I know myself well enough to know that with my temper and my past suicidal tendencies, having a gun in the house would not end well. 35. Have you ever tried archery?     Nope 36. Favorite clean word?       Fudgin'. 37. Favorite swear word?     Fuck.  It's so versatile. 38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?     48 hours. 39. Do you have any scars?     Quite a few. 40. Have you ever had a secret admirer?     Not a real one.  I thought I had one for awhile in high school, but it turned out to be a joke some of the guys on my bus route played on me. 41. Are you a good liar?     Depends on the subject.  In the small things, yes.  "Does this make my ass look big?"  "No, of course not."  But on the big stuff?  No.  I don't lie well. 42. Are you a good judge of character?     Nope.  I'd like to think I am, but I have a string of disastrous ex-friendships and relationships in my wake to prove that I am, in fact, a shitty judge of character. 43. Can you do any other accents other than your own?      Not convincingly. 44. Do you have a strong accent?     Some people say I do.  I don't hear it, but then, I'm surrounded by it. 45. What is your favorite accent?     British, Scots, Irish, Spanish, Greek, Italian.  In that order. 46. What is your personality type?      INFJ, if I remember right. 47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing?       My Harley boots. 48. Can you curl your tongue?      Nope. 49. Are you an innie or an outie?     Innie! 50. Left or right handed?     Right.  My dad was a leftie, though 51. Are you scared of spiders?      Nah, not really.  If I see one, I just burn the house down and go about my life.  Yes, I'm terrified of the little ELFs. 52. Favorite food?     Chicken and rice.  Cook the rice in chicken broth, simmer the chicken in with it, throw in a can of cream of chicken soup, stir, simmer until hot, and serve.  Best thing EVER. 53. Favorite foreign food?     Chinese.  Cashew Chicken, Orange Chicken, Sweet & Sour Pork 54. Are you a clean or messy person?     Messy.  Cluttery.  Two Steps Away From Hoarding.  Take your pick. 55. Most used phrased?     Some variation of "fuck."  Lately, "fuck me." 56. Most used word?      See above, re: fuck 57. How long does it take for you to get ready?     If I'm showering first, about twenty minutes.  If I'm just getting dressed, about ten. 58. Do you have much of an ego?     I'd like to say no, but yes, I do. 59. Do you suck or bite lollipops?     Suck, baby. 60. Do you talk to yourself?     Sometimes I'm the only one who listens to me. 61. Do you sing to yourself?     Constantly, especially in the shower or when I'm cleaning. 62. Are you a good singer?     Fuck no. 63. Biggest Fear?     Snakes. 64. Are you a gossip?     Sometimes, especially with my besties. 65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen?     Backdraft.  "You go... we go!" 66. Do you like long or short hair?     Shooooooooort. 67. Can you name all 50 states of America?     At one time I could.  But thanks to Yakko Warner, I can name all the countries of the world. 68. Favorite school subject?     Creative writing and physics.  I failed physics at the time, but I can tell, now that I understand most of it (thank you, Mythbusters!) that I would have loved it. 69. Extrovert or Introvert?     An extroverted introvert.  I don't MIND being around people, but I really would be happier with my own company.  But, when I am with other people, I am gregarious to the point of obnoxious. 70. Have you ever been scuba diving?     Nope. 71. What makes you nervous?     Practically everything. 72. Are you scared of the dark?     Nope.  Not since I was like, seven. 73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes?     They don't call me Grammar Nazi for nothing... 74. Are you ticklish?      I refuse to answer on the grounds it might be used against me. 75. Have you ever started a rumor?      Nope, but I've certainly helped pass them along. 76. Have you ever been in a position of authority?       Yep, I used to be manager of my office.  Hated it. 77. Have you ever drank underage?       Yep. 78. Have you ever done drugs?       Nope.  I don't like needles, and I don't have the cash. 79. Who was your first real crush?        Wayne E.  He looked so handsome in his ROTC uniform, and he was always nice and friendly with me and my BFF JC.  We both had huge crushes on him, but he was a few grades ahead of us, so I don't think we registered except as friends.  But that was okay. 80. How many piercings do you have?    Four.  Two in each ear. 81. Can you roll your Rs?     Thanks to Sra. Iglacia, yes.  Took her two whole semesters, but she got the whole flaming lot of us Southern kids rolling our Rs. 82. How fast can you type?    80ish WPM, last time I took a test. 83. How fast can you run?     I think a snail outpaced me. 84. What color is your hair?     A nice chocolately brown, with highlights trending a little auburn. 85. What color is your eyes?     Cornflower-type hazel. 86. What are you allergic to?     Mobic, IV contrast dye, Ciprofloxacin, medical-grate latex, ragweed and oak pollens, dumbasses. 87. Do you keep a journal?     Not in a few years, no.  I stopped when my dad died, idk why. 88. What do your parents do?     My dad's passed away, but before he died he was disabled, and before THAT, he was a computer systems programmer and analyst for Piedmont Natural Gas and Bank of America.  Mom's retired and disabled now with back problems, but she was an LPN before that. 89. Do you like your age?     No.  I hate being a responsible grown-up.  I want to be ten or eleven again, old enough to know things, but young enough not to be responsible for anything other than basic chores, and I still got allowance. 90. What makes you angry?     Practically everything, at some point.  My family puts it as I have a wild hair across my ass and it'll go off anytime. 91. Do you like your own name?     It's not a bad little name, but I always liked Daphne better. 92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they?    Fuck no.  Ugh. 93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child?     NEITHER.  I want cats.  or dogs.  or fish.  or a bird, I think I could love a bird.  or a turtle. 94. What are you strengths?    I'm loyal to a fault; if you're my friend, I am always in your corner and I will 100% throw hands with the first motherfucker who looks at you wrong. 95. What are your weaknesses?    Impulsive, careless, stubborn 96. How did you get your name?     My Dad's uncle (Kelly) and my mother's father (Ray became Rae).  Can you tell they were expecting a boy and got me? 97. Were your ancestors royalty?     Christ, no.  They were poor Irish. 98. Do you have any scars?     ...didn't we just answer this?  Yes. 99. Color of your bedspread?     Flowered. 100. Color of your room?    White walls, burgundy carpet.

from @evilwriter37  and @marcymakemagic

[marcusssanderson]

12 Books Athletes Should Read About Success In Sports and Life

Our latest collection of amazing books for athletes. Enjoy!

Let’s face it: jocks don’t always have a great reputation when it comes to hitting the books.

This bias persists even as several studies demonstrate that athletes have higher GPAs than non-athletes. A Kansas University Study even found that athletes had higher graduation rates, better attendance at school, lower dropout rates and higher scores on assessment tests.

So what should these athletes be reading that isn’t a part of the school curriculum? Or better still, why should athletes be reading books designed to make them better? Most athletes have a whole host of trainers, coaches, and even therapists working to make them elite. Why go searching for even more information?

The answer is simple.

Truly competitive athletes will stop at nothing to be among the elite – and even the best trainers and coaches can’t know everything. Most coaches and trainers are coming at their athletes from a very specific perspective.

Some coaches are very technical, some coaches are about drill work, and some are about pushing to your limit. Very few coaches and trainers know anything about nutrition or the mental side of performance. Even if you are lucky enough to have a coach or trainer who knows about these things, chances are, they are coming from a very specific philosophy that may or may not be suited to your individual needs.

If you are a competitive athlete and you are not out there reading this information and learning what might work best for you personally to improve, then guess what? Your competition is.

If you are a recreational athlete and don’t care so much about competition, you still need to be doing your proverbial homework to make sure you have good form, don’t get hurt, and improve your mental game.

So let’s discuss some amazing books for athletes and why they foster exceptional development.

Inspirational Books for Athletes About Mindset and Life

1) The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

Ever heard of myelination? Didn’t think so. Yet this process has so much to do with how we develop the skills necessary to become an elite athlete or basically to become good at anything at all. The Talent Code describes the process by which people become “prodigies” (spoiler alert: it involves thousands upon thousands of hours of correct repetition). Daniel Coyle breaks down this complex process into something that is easy to understand.

I request that the parents of the athletes I consult for read this book so that they understand what we are trying to accomplish. Athletes will finish this book with the feeling that they can do anything by putting in the work. It is inspiring in a very realistic way. There are no shortcuts here. You have to do the work to be great.

2) Thrive by Brendan Brazier

Would you like to know the secrets of an Ironman Triathlete? This is the book for you. Brendan Brazier has smoked the competition in Ironman’s, and is also the founder of Vega Sports Performance Products. That is a pretty impressive resume. Even finishing one Ironman is a grueling undertaking and Brazier did it as a career for a long time.

That means he was training about 40 hours a week. This book personally changed my perspective about nutrition and a lot of other things. You will learn how Brendan went from someone whom he felt was an ‘average’ athlete to a polished professional.

He explains how to use clean eating to ensure maximum performance and recovery. He also introduces a lot of foods that you might not have heard of, but are extremely helpful because of their ability to help you perform and recover.

Ever since reading this book and following its principles, I have stopped feeling run down and sore.  I am also now a Vega fan for life. This is indeed, one of the best books for athletes.

3) When The Past is Always Present by Dr. Ronald Ruden

As a certified hypnotist and Havening Practitioner, I work with a lot of athletes who are physically doing everything they should be doing, but can’t break through the mental barriers to get to the next level. As Tori Nyberg would say, “we train our bodies everyday, but when was the last time you trained your mind?”

This is ultimately a very important point. I am a proactive person, so I think you should destroy any little gremlins that might be hiding in your sports locker by doing some Havening or Hypnosis sooner rather than later.

But, of course, it is sometimes tough convincing others of that. So, this doctor, who is the founder of Havening, will explain to you some ways in which the mind works and how to get it back on track. In over 16 years of working with athletes, I have found it is those who are mentally tough that really make it to the next level. Don’t wait!

4) Unleash Your True Athletic Potential by Julianne Soviero

Okay, so I am the author, BUT I can’t think of a more important book for all athletes. The information in it has come from being a lifelong athlete, certified personal trainer, hypnotist, Havening Practitioner, and someone who is addicted to continuing education.

I have shadowed some of the best trainers, athletes, social workers, and physical therapists in the world over the last decade. I became obsessed with ways to improve athletic performance after an injury nearly destroyed my pitching career, and the information in the book reflects that.

Not only that, but it is the only book for athletes that I know of that looks at ALL of the components of performing your best, as opposed to just focusing in on one small piece. It discusses nutrition, training, injury prevention, optimal recovery, hydration, the mental component of performance, and so much more!

It is a guide for every athlete of every level to maximize performance.

5.) Waterski Girl Wonder: A Journey of Perseverance by Shellie Blum

The first female freestyle waterski ramp jumper in the world, Shellie Blum has endured her share of grueling setbacks. In this inspiring book, she takes you through her journey of perseverance. Whether or not you’re a waterskier, you’re bound to enjoy this inspiring true story.

6.) The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience, by Jennifer Pharr Davis

In “Pursuit of Endurance”, Jennifer Davis reveals what it takes to maximize endurance and leverage the power of strength and resilience. She also documents her remarkable achievements in the field of endurance hiking, backpacking, and trail running.

7.) BUILDING INDESTRUCTIBLE ATHLETES : The Small Things That Make Athletes Great! by DONNY MATEAKI

Donny Mateaki is an athlete who played football, basketball, and track. In “Building Indestructible Athletes”, he teaches how to improve athletic performance, hip and shoulder mobility. The book seeks to help athletes discover how to lower the risk of injury.

8.) Unthinkable, by Scott Rigsby

Scott Rigsby is an inspiration to many people the world over. Despite losing both his legs at age 18 and battling depression and addiction, he become the first double-leg amputee ever to cross the finish line in the Ironman Triathlon. “Unthinkable” is an account of his extraordinary journey.

9.) Functional Training, by Juan Carlos “JC” Santana

In “Functional Training”, author Juan Carlos Santana presents his revolutionary approach to training and conditioning methods that will help take your performance to the next level. The book is designed to help you achieve optimal results no matter what your sport.

10.) Running with Raven: The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired, by Laura Lee Huttenbach

Inspired by Robert “Raven” Kraft, a legend of the running world, this book explores the stories of the dozens of people who came to run with Raven and had their lives changed. Anyone will be inspired by Raven’s  tale of perseverance, understanding, and courage.

11.) Fast-Track Triathlete: Balancing a Big Life with Big Performance in Long-Course Triathlon, by Matt Dixon MSc

Written by elite triathlon coach Matt Dixon, this book offers a laser-focused, effective approach to workouts, recovery, strength and mobility. Designed for the busy professional, the book will guide you on how to create a successful sport and life performance recipe.

12.) Champion Minded: Achieving Excellence in Sports and Life,  by Allistair McCaw

In “Champion Minded”, Allistair McCaw, a world-renowned Sports Performance and Mindset coach, teaches the mindset, habits and discipline of a champion. The book will help you learn how to think, act, look, prepare, communicate, compete, commit and live like a champion.

Which of these top books for athletes would you read first?

What are you waiting for? With the holidays coming up, you know you are getting tons of Amazon gift cards. Go get your inner nerd on and start reading these books for athletes. I guarantee that you will learn things about how to maximize your potential at any level.

The post 12 Books Athletes Should Read About Success In Sports and Life appeared first on Everyday Power.