#including but not limited to how he loves soccer and how he plays with a soccer ball to clear his head

[akai-anna]

it's "i love kudou shinichi" day

[redbullgirly]

hi hi can i request a max verstappen x footballer smau but she plays for real madrid femenino and we know max is an fcb supporter (also for the sake of the smau, real madrid femenino can be just as good as barcelona femeni) and everyone going crazy when she just takes him to an award ceremony as her plus-one. no soft launch no hard launch and everyone including the grid and christian horner and madristas and everyone is shocked

MADRIDISTAS [MV1/33]

Max Verstappen x footballer!RealMadridFemenino!reader

Masterlist

Summary: Y/N is one of the biggest rising stars in women's football, playing for Real Madrid Femenino. When she's nominated by Women's Football Awards for the Player of the Year, the last thing anybody would expect is her plus one to the ceremony being Formula One driver, Max Verstappen. Not only is he the World Champion himself, but most importantly, Max is a known FC Barcelona fan. Talk about making friends with the enemy...

Warnings: I have very limited knowledge of football, so everything in this story is based on my quick research. If you're a fan, please don't come for me! Though any advice would be much appreciated, because I have more football requests in my inbox XD.

Author's Note: Hi Anon, thanks for the request! I have to say it was quite challenging for me at the start, because I don't know many things about football, but at the end it turned out fun and good. Hope you like what I did with this social media au! :)

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tagged: realmadridfem

yourusername And it's a wrap!🥈⚽️ Thank you to the whole team for another amazing year, we fought hard and we will continue to fight for the Champions League title next year as 2023/24 runners-up. Hala Madrid!✨🇪🇸

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user1 Love the way you play!

realmadridfem Hala Madrid!💪🏆

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yourusername 💯

user2 💥💥💥

user3 Vamosssss

user4 GO GIRLLL🤩🤩🤩🤩

user5 you really deserved to win the finale, the referee was totally biased agains you!!!

user6 Yeah, even as a FC Barcelona fan I didn't think it was fair🙈

martagarcialopez19 amazing Y/N! 🫶

yourusername Thank youuu!💖

user7 wait does y/n know some people from motosport???

user8 No I think it's just girls supporting girls in sports dominated by men tbh ☺️

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user7 oh yeah that makes sense

user9 Buen trabajo que equipo tan bueno con todas y en lo personal muy guapa [Good job, what a great team with everyone and personally very pretty.]

marisabel_rguez The dream team 🙌

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yourusername Yessss

user10 HALA MADRID 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

user11 literally the prettiest soccer player I ever saw😻

user12 you mean FOOTBALL?!😂🧐

user11 sry i'm american so i'm used to saying soccer

user12 well that's WRONG girly😂

user13 Princess

messages between Y/N and Max

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yourusername Short stop back home in Monaco before flying to London for Women's Football Awards and my nomination for Player of the Year 🤞🌷

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user1 so pretty

maitetxuu_10 The nails Y/N 🤩

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yourusername Not better than yours though 😚

user2 i don't watch football but maybe i should start bc of you

user3 Wow you're such a cutie 😍❤️

charlottesiine great work out together!

yourusername Agreed! We should definetly hit the gym together more often 😂

user4 omg wait how do they know each other?? didn't expect y/n y/l/n to be friends with ex-wags??

user5 Idk but they both live in Monaco so it's easy to know basically everyone who's your age there xdd

yourusername True user5, they don't tell you how small the country actually is 😭

user6 SHE IS MY ROLE MODEL EVERYBODY

user7 👏👏👏👏🔥🔥

lucybrozne Seems like the Monaco sun suits you 😁☀️

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yourusername Oh thanks Lucy! 🫶

lucybrozne 🫶

user8 i love that despite fcb beating madrid they're still friends outside of the field🥺

user9 WOW you should be a model

user10 So sad your talents aren’t being fully appreciated in Madrid.

user11 oh c'mmon she probably wouldn't play for them if she felt unappreciated 🙄

user12 but tbh I think she should be the captain.... like she's literally the best player of them all BY FAR

user13 Nah I don't like her. Hope she'll never be a captain🤮

user12 then go away? lol

user13 damnn the 3rd picture did some unholy things to me 😩

user14 right?! I don't think I'm straight anymore🫣

user15 I have no idea who she is but let me tell you she's gorgeous

user16 ✨✨✨👑🎀🌹

twitter

messages between Max and Christian Horner & Max and Carlos Sainz

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yourusername Turning him into Madridista duh.

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maxverstappen1 Y/N I love you... but that's never happening ❤️

yourusername Liar! You complained for a week straight about how that referee in the finals wasn't fair and we should have won agains Barcelona! 😘

carlossainz55 hahaaa mate she got you😂

maxverstappen1 😒

user1 OMGGG we converted him on our side!!!

user2 A sad day to be a FC Barcelona supporter and F1 fan😓

user3 A happy day for Madridistas!😍

user4 damn I may have to start watching football

martagarcialopez19 you're glowing! also thanks god now I don't have to keep the secret anymore xd

yourusername Love ya! 🫶

user5 The IT WAG

user6 can we take a moment to appreciate how cute maxie looks here?🥹

realmadridfem You go girl! Convert new fans!🤩💪

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user7 I'm still shocked by this whole thing 😹

user8 you're not the only one lol

user9 the second picture????

user10 Max is so lucky man🥵

marisabel_rquez ¡La pareja poderosa!😍 [The power couple!😍]

liked by the author

user11 this post murdered me and dragged me all over slaycity with how much it served 🤭

user12 exactly! her and max are so hot and pretty

user13 🤍😍💯🥳 Hala Madrid!!!

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tagged: yourusername

maxverstappen1 My girl ❤️⚽️

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THE END

Author's Note: Thank you for reading the whole thing! I'll appreciate likes, reblogs, follows and comments, or any other way of support. Let me know what you think about this pairing and please tell me if there are any football errors, because I have another request about footballer!reader waiting for me. Have a great day! :)

[alywalyxox]

𐙚⊹₊⋆ how blue lock guys would cuddle you ⋆₊⊹𐙚

silly pic of ml toro （＾∇＾）

ft. isagi, nagi, kunigami, rin, bachira

A/U: first EVER published blog so… (๑>◡<๑)

topic: fluff

thanks for reading and enjoy! ♡

isagi ^_^

Isagi adores daily cuddling sessions with you. feeling your warm, soft and delicate skin press against his feels like a fantasy. his favorite position is spooning you from behind as he gently kisses the crook of your neck, making you feel his warm breath against you. he loves making you feel comfortable in his arms.

nagi ('ω')

Nagi is a snoozer, so cuddling is basically like a side quest to him. he loves being spooned but his favorite position is resting his head on your chest as you kiss the top of his head reassuringly. something he enjoys doing is listening to cigarettes after sex while being cuddled.

kunigami （＾∇＾）

this guy will do anything he can to make you feel pleased. he would legitimately ask if you want him to hold you. as soon as he wraps his arms around you, he snuggles his head on your shoulder and starts gently kissing and biting it leaving tiny marks behind. he sometimes whispers sweet nothings in your ear knowing it will make you blush.

rin (≧∀≦)

although his tough and cold exterior, he’s the complete opposite with you. he limits his time doing other activities including soccer, to be with you. he loves when you sit on him and wrap your legs around him as he slides his arm under your shirt in attempt to rub your back reassuringly. his soft lips always makes way onto yours as he kisses you passionately.

bachira (´-ω-`)

he is an absolute sweetheart. he loves you endlessly, so when you both cuddle just remember that he’d rather be here with you than anywhere else. any cuddling position is okay with him. be prepared to get kisses from time to time on any location. he loves when you play with his hair as you kiss his forehead.

i’d love some requests from you guys and thank you for reading 💋🫶🏻

[skeleton-monarch]

my dad is so funny because he seems to know every football (soccer) team ever in existence.

this means he can make friends with almost any foreigner from a country that loves football.

and i need to stress. he knows so much. i don’t know how he has the time to learn all of this. he knows the coaches for each team, including the past coaches. he knows the dates of when each team was in their heyday. he knows key players. the other night he talked with the guy who was fixing our outlets about this one player who had a free kick they both still watch i guess??? (idk i do not watch football)

he can recognize teams from a glance at their symbols and jerseys. if he learns of the country of origin of the person, he can talk specifically about the teams in that country.

he works full time, cooks, cleans, and in his limited free time he mostly plays totk. i have no clue when he has time to learn all of this.

[pluppsauthor]

Character Profile Tag

Thanks to @willtheweaver for the tag!

For this one, I'm going to do a character I haven't shown yet. Thomas Taylor II from my newest WIP Fallen Stars and Clouded Skies. (Copy/paste questions at the bottom)

-----

Full name: Thomas Taylor II

Age: 22

Gender: Male

Type of Being: Human

Appearance: Standing at 177 cm (~5'10"), Thomas is a fairly fit man with wide shoulders, light golden skin, and a generally thin frame. He has short light brown hair that stays close to his head, grey eyes, like that of a cloudy sky, and a sharp face with a well-defined jawline covered by only a light amount of stubble.

He typically wears a loose, somewhat formal attire under a long beige trench coat that he typically keeps fully buttoned and tied up, unless the weather is too warm, along with a plain grey flat cap hat.

His resting expression resembles one of a stern concentration, like he was deep in thought. Though, in reality, it is only his resting face.

Way of speaking: Direct, matter-of-fact, and blunt. When speaking honestly, he tends not to hold back his opinions or feelings on a matter.

However, as a detective, he has taught himself how to get information out of people. So he will commonly lie, withhold information, or subtly manipulate people to get the answers out of them he wants/needs. (Gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss)

Physical characteristics: Thomas has a habit of fidgeting with something small, like a pen or parts of his clothing, when he's nervous. He walks in a near-perfect rhythm, even without realising it, as if he had an internal metronome.

His body language is often confident and fearless, even when internally he is screaming. This only changes when he lets his guard down or in cases of extreme and/or sudden stress.

Occupation: Detective/Private Investigator.

Family: Father, Mother, and two sisters. Does not currently live with them.

Best friend: Childhood best friend named Henry.

Pets: Had a pet cat during his childhood up until he was around 15.

Relationships: Has mostly positive relationships with family and friends from when he was growing up. After moving out and starting his detective agency, he fell out of contact with most of these people, expect through letters.

Sometimes, he would take the trip to see them again, but most of the time he is content without too much social interaction.

He had only one lover during his school years, but it fell apart shortly after. Hasn't sought out love after.

Describe their room: During the events of the story he typically stays in various inns and hotels through various towns. In these rooms, he typically throws all of his personal belongings in whatever the closest cabinet to his bed is, and throws the rest in his backpack and onto a nearby chair or at the foot of his bed.

In his personal room above his detective agency, his clothes and various belongings are scattered about in an organised mess. He keeps most of his important things put away in places he can remember, but the rest are put wherever there's open space.

Items in their bag/purse: Throughout the story, Thomas acquires a fair share of items. These items include, but are not limited to, a handheld mirror, tome, crossbow, and mask.

Other than these, he begins his journey with, and keeps for much of it, a lockpicking set, a revolver with seven cylinders in its chamber and roughly 40 rounds of ammunition, maps, compasses, fingerprint dust, lantern and flasks of oil, a few notebooks, and roughly 300 gold coins (part of currency).

Hobbies: Whittling, sailing, gardening, cooking, and hiking.

Favourite sport: Though he doesn't play them himself, his favourite sports include football(/soccer) and rugby. More accurately, this setting's equivalent to them, as those would not be the names of those sports.

Abilities/talents/powers: Due to his occupation, past events, and a bit of foresight, Thomas has taught himself a variety of skills. These include, but are not limited to:

Lockpicking, pickpocketing, sleight of hand, manipulation and the ability to coerce answers out of someone, along with how to fight using one's environment to their advantage, though he has rarely needed that last one.

Fears: Being targeted by a gang or other organised crime group, his business failing, heights, and spiders.

Faults: Selfish, driven by greed, indifferent to things that do not affect him.

Good points: Reasonable, merciful, goal driven, loyal/full of conviction.

What they want more than anything else:

[Start of story] Wants to have enough money to retire and never have to work again.

[During story] Wants for everything to end and to forget everything he has gone through.

------

Hope you all like Thomas! He will be showing up here soon >:) (I hope, I don't know how long it'll take me to post part of his story)

Np tagging @leahnardo-da-veggie, @thecomfywriter, @world-of-iridensia (not sure which one to tag so I'm tagging your writing one), and open tag! :)

---copy/past questions---

Full name: Age: Gender: Type of Being: Appearance: Way of speaking: Physical characteristics: Occupation: Family: Best friend: Pets: Relationships: Describe their room: Items in their bag/purse: Hobbies: Favourite sport: Abilities/talents/powers: Fears: Faults: Good points: What they want more than anything else:

[clavissionary-position]

The Silvio Cinematic Universe

An independent film about an Adult Film Star trying to reconnect with his little brother after the death of their father. No one believes he learned to cry on command only hours before filming the infamous hotel lobby scene. The reviews are mixed; critics panned it for its overly-linear narrative but audiences loved it and to this day filmtube continues to dissect the surreal, hallucinatory sequences during the second act. A little-known fact is that Silvio initially auditioned to play the younger brother, but the director felt he lacked the naive boyishness to pull the role off. No, that wasn't actually Silvio's butt in those shots.

A three-part limited series about a disgraced soccer player who believes he was abducted by aliens. The project was in development hell for twenty years, but it somehow managed to pull off its ridiculous premise to critical acclaim. The show continues to enjoy a healthy meme culture and cult following. Every few months or so a reddit thread pops up debating whether the show was dark comedy or an art-house psych-thriller. No one remembers that Silvio played the alien.

A low-budget indie film that follows a divorced single-father as he fixes up his house after it becomes the target of neighborhood vandalism. The entire two-and-half-hour runtime was shot entirely in one take; a fact that Silvio never tires of being asked about during interviews because he never tires of complaining. He's damn proud of it though. Fans theorize the movie is an allegory for climate change, but the director insists leaving all interpretations up to the audience. Silvio claims he was too mentally drained by the end to even register what words were coming out of his mouth. The film only made a few million at the box office, but it still made profit. Silvio later sued for unfair compensation.

Notes- Inspired by something batteryrose once said about how entertaining it is to throw silvio into the bottom of the pit and see him struggle - I wasn't sure whether to include this as an entry for Different Universe Same Love 2, for the celebrity au prompt, since it's technically inspired by that but without any romance. I'll tag @xxsycamore and @queengiuliettafirstlady anyway and you guys can decide if you want to count it or not. I don't mind either way.

[jerzwriter]

TCAW Day 1 - The Early Years

My headcanon for Tobias's early years below break.

If you'd like to create a template like this, you can find one I created here.

Birth to age seven (The only-child years):

Tobias was born into two different worlds. His father's family was a prominent, very wealthy family; their name alone opened doors. Whereas his mother's hardworking family struggled to get by. Vivian's grandfather was a pastor in a local church, so their family was well revered.

His father was a renowned physician and medical educator. Vivian went to school to be a nurse, but her true love was the arts. After she and Charles were married, she left nursing. She ran a non-profit that she and Charles created that expanded science and art education in disadvantaged schools. This grew to include internships, mentoring, and scholarship programs. Vivian was also an artist and became a curator later in life.

Tobias's parents were madly in love. So much so that, sometimes, he felt left out. They loved him very much, but work and social obligations often took them away from home.

Some relatives on his father's side loved and accepted him (notably his Uncle William), but the rest did not. They disapproved of Charles marrying someone of another race and socio-economic background, and they were not terribly welcoming of Tobias either.

Vivian's family also has misgivings about the union, but when the couple eloped, they welcomed Charles into the family. They adored Tobias right from the start.

Tobia's closest friend was, Kerry Chadwick. The daughter of a family friend, and also from an upper-crust family. She was, and remains, one of his closest friends. Tobias considers her family.

His favorite activities were reading and arts and crafts. He loved spending time with his cousins at his maternal grandparent's home. He also attended Sunday School and summer camp at the family's church.

His parents had another child when he was seven. He was excited but underwhelmed when Jordan was born. He expected an instant playmate, but instead, it was just one more thing that took his parent's already limited time away from him.

Childhood and Tween Years:

Tobias attended Sidwell-Friends School, an elite private school.

He was an excellent student. Naturally intelligent, he didn't have to put much effort into maintaining top grades.

His academic acumen and family name made him a favorite among the faculty. Whereas his affable manner and sense of humor made him a hit among his classmates.

Tobias learned how to move in his father's world very early, but with a certain degree of disdain. He preferred being with his maternal family.

He and Jordan had a good relationship, and Tobias was very protective of him, but the age difference got in the way of them being exceptionally close until they were much older.

He loved sports, particularly basketball, and soccer. He played on a few teams at school but preferred playing for fun with his friends/cousins. He also loved music. He didn't play instruments but had a beautiful singing voice and sang in the choir at his family's church until he started high school.

During this time, he began having internal struggles trying to co-exist in two worlds. He was close to his maternal cousins, but their vastly different circumstances created a wedge... not of Tobias's doing. His grandparents worked to bridge the divide, and the cousins maintained a relationship, but damage was done.

High School and College:

Tobias finished high school at Sidewell-Friends. He was extremely popular and known for having a mischievous streak. He graduated near the top of his class.

His lady's man rep started in high school, although it wasn't fully deserved at the time. He didn't date many people, but he was an audacious flirt, and everyone wanted him. He and Kerry (his best friend) dated for a year but decided they were better off as friends.

Tobias was accepted to every college he applied to, including some of the best in the nation. He had decided he wanted to attend an HBCU (historically black colleges & universities) and chose Howard University.

His father, who wanted him to attend an Ivy, was not pleased. Even before this, Tobias was having some conflicts with his father. He didn't feel his father minimized the struggles that he, Vivian, and Jordan faced as black Americans, and he didn't think he had done enough to protect them from his often racist family growing up. While his father's choice in colleges stemmed from a place of wanting "the best" for his son, his failure to understand why it was so important for Tobias to attend Howard only widened the chasm between them.

Howard is in DC, but he lived on campus and avoided his father as much as possible during those four years.

Jordan did not share Tobias's sentiments, and this caused friction between the brothers. The situation was extremely distressing to Vivian, and she attempted to mediate but without much success.

While his family life was at a low, Tobias loved college and reveled in the college experience. He loved a party and was usually the life of it.

In college, he earned the lady's man rep. He did date his college girlfriend, Kiara, for a year and a half, but it was tumultuous. He never cheated on her. He was often perilously close. One day, Kiarra had enough and broke up with him. After that, he refused to date anyone seriously until he was set in his career. He had a blast playing the field.

He chose biochemistry as a major and graduated Summa Cun Laude. Again, his studies came easy to him, but college required a bit more attentiveness than high school had before.

@tobias-carrick-appreciation-week @openheartheadcanons

Perma: @a-crepusculo @animesuck3r @annoyingmillenialnewbie @crazy-loca-blog @doriopenheart @differenttyphoonwerewolf @fayeswiftie @gryffindordaughterofathena @genevievemd @inlocusmads @jamespotterthefirst @jennieausten @kingliam2019 @liaromancewriter @lucy-268 @onikalover @openheartforeverinmyheart @potionsprefect @quixoticdreamer16 @rookiemartin @secretaryunpaid @socalwriterbee @sophxwithers @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction @jerzwriter

OH Only: @alwaysmychoices @annfg8 @binny1985 @coffeeheartaddict2 @mysticalgalaxysstuff @ofmischiefandmedicine @peonierose @youlookappropriate

Tobias Only: @kyra75 @icecoffee90

[monochrome-dreamer]

Am I posting a stupid amount today ? Yes ! And I will not stop ! I like getting my thoughts out ! This is gonna be a long one, and might not be 100% accurate, but buckle up and strap in because this has been in my head.

Anyways, I thought about this pretty hard, but for some reason when I think “Matsukaze Tenma”, I think of the Winnie the Pooh quote; “You’re Stronger than you Seem, You’re Braver than you Believe, and You’re Smart than you Think”, and I’d like to give my thoughts on why I think this is, by going over each statement. Also ! I will be focusing on the ANIME ! I have not played the game !

“You’re Stronger thank you Seem”

From what I vaguely remember , as it’s been a while since I watched it , Go Chrono Stone and near the End of Go S1 is when Tenma became Captain, and then questioned his abilities AS Captain. I’d like to point out that in Go Chrono Stone, there was (technically) 3 captains on that team, excluding Tenma. These being Shindou, former Raimon Captain, Taiyou, Arakumo’s Captain, and (technically), Tsurugi, who was the captain of that Fifth Sector team at the very beginning (he doesn’t quite count tho, which is why I said technically.). We can also include Fei in this lineup, but he hadn’t been a “captain” at this time, so I am not going to. Anyways,

Shindou, A tactics man who controls his team like a conductor does his orchestra. He’s organised, he knows what he’s doing, and his coordination is nothing short of S tier. Taiyou, the Genius who comes once in a Decade. He’s strong willed, he’s passionate, all despite being ill enough to be hospital bound since a young age.

Tenma wasn’t particularly any of these qualities when he was first made captain. He wasn’t quite as exceptional at soccer; the most he could do really well was dribble. He wasn’t an expert tactician, he was in no way “organised”, and he struggled a lot to become a good captain, doubting himself a LOT. This is seen when he goes to Shindou in the hospital about how he can’t be captain, or when he seems to doubt himself when they travel to King Arthur’s Era in CS, when their Time Machine has its little hiccup, and Taiyou and Shindou are the ones to make sure everyone is calm. Not Tenma.

It’s also stated in Galaxy that Tenma being captain was something of an Unspoken Agreement, despite it meaning to be only temporary, and that he had been holding himself back for the sake of his teammates. He was holding himself back. He could have been so much more, but he held himself back and limited himself until someone told him off for it. The guy that’s been telling people to give it their all, has not technically been giving it his all. But that didn’t matter to his two longest teammate, and his closest friends; Tsurugi and Shindou, who merely agreed that they’d have to work harder to catch up.

“You’re Braver than you Believe”

Tenma kicked off the revolution, in a way. Albeit by accident, his passion , love, and sheer enjoyment of free soccer, HIS soccer, drove him to go against Fifth sector, an organisation that seems to have been around for a few years at that point that most people FEARED and wouldn’t dream of going against. But Tenma did. Despite everything, his teammates initial dislike of him and distaste towards the revolution, the fact that Fifth Sector was SO much stronger than him, Matsukaze Tenma went against them for the sake of his Soccer. For Free soccer.

Even when things were difficult; when there was little to no cooperation, when schools were getting DESTROYED by fifth sector in an attempt to guilt trip the rebels, he pushed forward. Albeit with a push from his teammates, (namely Shindou; who checked on him after the news of the school destructions was brought to their attention, and when he found out Ishido Shuuji, the Holy Emperor at the time, was his saviour from 10 Years ago and that Fifth Sector destroying schools was indirectly his fault,) he persisted, and ultimately won.

In CS, the whole fate of soccer, of his friends lives, those were on HIS shoulders. His own future was even at the mercy of Protocol Omega and El Dorado. When they tried to change his reality, the accident of Tsurugi and Yuuichi, the making of Raimon’s soccer team as a whole, those were on Tenma’s shoulders most of the time. And all of it happened while he was in Okinawa. All of it happened when he wasn’t even there. He came home to his friends not knowing who he was, save for Aoi, who he’d known since childhood.

And even still despite the fate of soccer and their reality being in their hands, he fought. He travelled through time, made friends with people from almost a dozen time periods, and reclaimed his future, despite every hardship. If that isn’t some form of bravery, then I’m not sure I know what is. (Mild exaggeration maybe)

ALSO, HE WENT UP AGAINST LITERAL ALIENS AND A BLACK HOLE THAT WOULD HAVE WIPED OUT A LOT OF PEOPLE !! He fought in the Grand Celesta Galaxy practically against his will, had his “super best friend” (as stated by Sakura), taken from him for a seemingly large amount of time without his knowledge ??? Only to then PLAY AGAINST SAID FRIEND IN WHAT THEY THOUGHT TO BE THE FINALS (I think ?? I haven’t watched Galaxy in a minute so take that last part with a grain of salt !!)

“You’re Smarter than you Think”

Tenma strikes me as a character who doesn’t often Look before he Leaps. He’s an “everything will work out” kind of guy similar to Endou, but in a very different way. He puts his trust into Soccer. He trusts that Soccer will help him and give him strength. He puts his trusts in his team, who he’s sure will reciprocate and respond to his trust. He trusts in others, and that’s an amazing quality. That he can trust people so wholeheartedly. He trusted Tsurugi, he believed Tsurugi had good in him, that he could be redeemed, and trusted him in their game against Teikoku. He trusted Fei, even despite him turning on them. He trusted his teammates of the Earth Eleven, because he was their captain.

I can’t think much of this line right now , but I do think about it much more than I thought I would, but I genuinely love both this quote, and Tenma. I feel like it just fits him perfectly. He’s so much more than just a guy who REALLY likes soccer, and I think it’s amazing. I love Tenma as a character, I relate to him heavily so there’s a chance I’m being incredibly biased, but I cannot fathom enough how dear he is to me, and how much I see myself in him in so, so many ways. That, however, is for a different post entirely.

I’m not sure what else to say at this point other than I’m a really big nerd, and a very big enjoyer of Matsukaze Tenma, so this will be Maki, Signing off ! 🌻💜

[sunnnfish]

Tagged by @aranarumei ! Thanks a bunch :D going under a cut bc i feel like it

1. Are you named after anyone?

I thiiiink my middle name is named after like a great grandparent or something like that? I forgot. My first name might be too but i also forgot. 👍

2. When was the last time you cried?

Like two days ago? I also cry easily when im frustrated …

3. Do you have kids? / recommend a song?

No kids so im gonna recommend People Become Ghosts by ive… specifically an English cover by UmbraticForest on youtube. Ive recommended it before ill recommend it again i love that song

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

I dont… know? Maybe like. If someone asks an obvious question I’ll say the opposite answer sometimes. Maybe im like a medium sarcasm user…

5. What sports do you play/have played?

Growing up it was like. Soccer->softball->soccer->competitive cheerleading->soccer again until like 11th grade. Then no more sports bc i moved schools and there wasn’t any soccer nearby :(

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Hmm maybe like the way they move/hold themselves? If I actually talk to them then like their voice. ACTUALLY i will be immediately enamored if i see them wearing like a pin or a shirt or whatever of something i like. Locked on.

7. Eye color?

Hazel :)

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

The only reason i watch scary movies is bc of my friends. I find them on a scale of boring to actually scary and i dont like either of those feelings mostly. But ill watch them if my friends want to and some of them turn out actually interesting. Just wouldn’t watch them on my own. So yeah happy endings i guess?

9. Any special talents?

I can make a really realistic water drop sound with my mouth 👍 i can also hum and whistle at the same time and i can snap with all my fingers :)

10. Where were you born / what made you make a tumblr account?

A hospital 👍 i actually dont remember when i started using tumblr or when exactly i made an account but i know i started posting January 2020 because of Bakugan and Danganronpa. Mostly bakugan because there was like NO art and it made me sad. And then i got obsessed with danganronpa </3

11. What are your hobbies?

Well uh. Art. Drawing. Yeah. I also do crochet :) and then reading + video games + anime etc etc the whole shebang. Non-media activities include puzzles and gardening :)

12. Do you have any pets?

We have like a billion cats. Seriously. I thiiink we have like 9-10 total? I dont keep track. Long story short one had babies and then two babies had babies and my sister didn’t let us get rid of them. I only care about one hes a huge black cat <3. Plus we also have a dog.

13. How tall are you?

…5 foot even. Tiny guy

14. Favorite subject in school?

Does art count. Also math though i looove math i love how theres only limited solutions unlike English where you get judged for having opinions. And i guess grammar n stuff. Anyways math and logic my beloved.

15. Dream job?

I’d love to illustrate a book… like any kind. Problem is i dont like writing :( and ive yet to know anybody who would work with me… but yeah like a children’s book or a comic book or like illustrated novel like please…. Im trying though 👍

Anyways thats it :] thanks again for the tag… not gonna tag anyone myself because thats so scary so. Open to anyone :]

[fff777]

watched dream sketch #7 in london, paris, and berlin

Renjun doing a ballet spin and Haechan stretching. Renhyuck ballet AU.

Whatever Jaemren are doing.

Dream practices are always just cuddlefests

Look at this brat, Chenle acts tough and talks big but he's the biggest princess ever

Just a million things going on while Renjun takes cam control

Jaemin, in Korean: How do you say "get it together" in English Mark, in English: I love you

Jisung hyping up DJ Renjun even though he is not DJ-ing right now

Whatever's going on here

I'd seen a gif of this before watching this video and y'all must know I lost my shit. Jaemrenists we are so back.

Renjun just permanently at 180 degrees while practising

Oh wow they performed at Wembley. I only know that name because of soccer lol.

Mark explaining how "guys" refers to men but is also now used as a catchall term for everyone.

They're always just chatting amongst each other in huddles in the breaks between practice <3

Mark's already got his pretty hair done

Yeah okay Nohyuck

Renjun: I'm feelin it are you feelin it Chenle: No

I want to highlight the fact that I am only 3 minutes into this half hour video. There is always so much going on with these dudes.

Saturday Drip rehearsal (y)

Haechan is a sun but suns are also stars

Nomin

Game time! They all look so pretty

It's cool that Hrvy met them backstage :P Hrvy remembers all the details hehe.

Hrvy @ Jisung: You got a lot taller and your voice got a lot deeper ToT I know dude ToT I wasn't even there for it but he's all growed up.

Jisung prepared a little something in English :3 That's my son <3

I wonder why Chenle spoke in Korean (since he's pretty good at English ^^;;)

Kyuu pose strikes again

Deja vu's been growing on me. It's a pretty hype song eh.

My little guys. Also I'm so mean but every time Renjun wears that outfit I think of McLovin.

Low angle Chenji

Jeno flip!!!!!!

Jaemin: Don't skip a meal He's so malewife coded and yet not

Kissu

Picking up and playing with the toys that the fans throw on to the stage

樂樂又在撒嬌啦

Aigo with 350% energy by Haechan

Group huddle. Also Jisung looming over Renjun.

Renjun continues to be horizontal

Their rehearsal space in Paris is pretty small ^^;;

Chenle just promoting Starbs' iced vanilla latte for free and with his homemade slogan.

Mark sliding to the food and Chenle finding him adorable

My little guys again

Princess x Princess (I originally had so many screenshots for this part but I had to delete on account of the Tumblr pictures per post limit hmph)

Headlock of love

Whatever they were doing

They were all just having an insane dance party while Mark watched

Chenle and Renjun having a high pitched siren voice competition

Haechan believing in the power of Ratatouille inside his beanie

Getting hyped while practising Trigger the fever. It does hit different doesn't it.

Jaemin practising French :3 He likes Paris a lot :3

I took sooo many screenshots during this video but Tumblr only allows 30 so I keep having to delete some ToT

Anyway here's more Jaemren

And Markmin

Oh wow the standing spaces are REALLY close to the stage

Aw Haechan picked up a Crayon Shin-chan plush :3 And Chenle picked up a Daegal pillow X3

Lil cuties

Wait omg who gave Renjun and Jisung PSG jerseys??

Now onto Berlin

Mark taking a video of German pigeons

Did Haechan back his ass up into the huddle to get spanked

Jaemin's sweater said "GO HOME SOCIETY" which I assume is some form of introvert social club

Creation of Jeno?

They're such energetic performers. Watching them in concert must be so much fun~

Jeno helping Mark fix the back of his shirt?

Quite a few of them prepared something in German :3

Haechan tummy

Nomin again

Chenle wearing sunglasses during boom

Oh man this video was soooo much fun. I would have included so many more screenshots but alas, Tumblr said no. (I know I could technically reblog this post to add more photos but I am queueing this so I'll forgo the hassle and just cut down on number of photos).

[sportyconnect]

If you're a sports enthusiast, you've likely come across a variety of phrases and terms that seem to have no connection to the game at hand. One such phrase is "knick knack paddy whack." This seemingly nonsensical phrase has a rich history and a surprising connection to sports culture. In this article, we'll explore the origins of the term, its meaning, and how it relates to the world of sports. The Origins of "Knick Knack Paddy Whack" The phrase "knick knack paddy whack" originates from an old English nursery rhyme called "This Old Man." The full line goes, "This old man, he played one, he played knick knack on my thumb," with the phrase "knick knack paddy whack" being repeated throughout the song. The term "knick knack" refers to a trinket or a small item of little value. The "paddy whack" part of the phrase is a bit more obscure, but it's generally thought to refer to a hard slap or hit. The Connection to Sports So, how does this phrase connect to sports? It's all about the energy, rhythm, and competitive spirit that both the rhyme and sports share. Just as the "old man" in the rhyme keeps playing "knick knack" despite the challenges, athletes keep pushing their limits, playing their game with determination and grit. For example, in basketball, players must continuously adapt, making quick decisions and executing complex plays. This can be seen in the New York Knicks, a team known for their tenacity and dynamic gameplay. The Knicks' ability to "play knick knack," or adapt and react quickly, is a key part of their strategy. Basketball isn't the only sport where this concept applies. In soccer, players must also think on their feet, making split-second decisions that can change the course of the game. The UEFA Champions League, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, showcases this skill at its highest level. The Phrase in Modern Culture "Knick knack paddy whack" has also found its way into modern culture, particularly in music and entertainment. It's used in songs, movies, and TV shows to add rhythm and rhyme, much like in sports commentary. In sports media, phrases like "knick knack paddy whack" add a layer of excitement and rhythm to the commentary. They capture the dynamic, fast-paced nature of the games we love, from the high-stakes world of NBA playoffs to the strategic complexity of NFL games. The Knicks: A Paddy Whack of Sports History The New York Knicks, also known as the Knicks, have a rich history that intertwines with the evolution of basketball. The team's journey, filled with ups and downs, is a testament to their resilience and passion for the game. This journey is akin to the rhythmic cadence of the old nursery rhyme "knick knack paddy whack," where each verse adds a new layer to the story. The Knicks and Their Knick Knacks The Knicks have had their fair share of knick knacks or memorable moments. One such moment was when they drafted Patrick Ewing, a move that would shape the franchise for years to come. Ewing's presence on the court was a game-changer, and his contributions to the team are still celebrated today. "Patrick Ewing was a force to be reckoned with. His dominance on the court was a sight to behold, and his leadership was instrumental in the Knicks' success during his tenure." The Knicks' knick knacks also include their championship wins. The team has had two NBA championships, with their victories in 1970 and 1973 still etched in the minds of their fans. These wins were not just victories; they were a testament to the team's hard work, determination, and skill. The Knicks' Paddy Whack The term "paddy whack" in the context of the Knicks refers to the team's ability to bounce back from challenges. Just like the old man in the nursery rhyme who played knick knack on various objects, the Knicks have shown their ability to adapt and perform under different circumstances. For instance, despite facing a series of losses, the Knicks have always managed to bounce back and give their fans something to cheer about.

Whether it's a winning streak or a standout performance from a player, the Knicks have a knack for turning things around. The Knicks' Home Court The Knicks' home court, Madison Square Garden, is a testament to their legacy. Known as "The World's Most Famous Arena," it's where the Knicks play their home games. This iconic venue has witnessed some of the most memorable moments in sports history, including the Knicks' championship wins. "Madison Square Garden is more than just a venue; it's a symbol of the Knicks' rich history and their commitment to their fans." The Knicks' Ownership The Knicks are owned by the Madison Square Garden Company, headed by James Dolan. Despite facing criticism over the years, the ownership has remained committed to the team and its success. The Knicks' Future The future of the Knicks looks promising. With a talented roster and a dedicated coaching staff, the team is poised to make a strong impact in the coming seasons. As they continue to play their knick knack paddy whack, the Knicks are sure to add more memorable moments to their rich history. The Knicks Today: Playing the Game of Knick Knack Paddy Whack As we delve into the current state of the Knicks, we see a team that's continuously evolving, adapting, and striving for greatness. The Knicks today are a blend of seasoned veterans and promising young talent, all playing their own version of knick knack paddy whack. The Knicks' Current Season The Knicks' current season is shaping up to be an exciting one. With a balanced roster and a strategic game plan, the team is making strides in the right direction. The players are showing great chemistry on the court, and their performances are a testament to their hard work and dedication. "The Knicks' current season is a testament to their resilience. Despite the challenges, they continue to push forward and give their best on the court." The Knicks' Key Players The Knicks' roster is filled with talented players who each bring something unique to the table. Some of the key players to watch out for include: Julius Randle: Randle has been a standout player for the Knicks. His ability to score, rebound, and assist has made him a crucial part of the team's success. RJ Barrett: Barrett's growth as a player has been impressive. His scoring ability and basketball IQ make him a threat on the court. Immanuel Quickley: Quickley's speed and shooting ability have made him a fan favorite. His energy off the bench is a valuable asset to the team. Watching the Knicks Live If you're a fan of the Knicks and want to catch their games live, there are several ways to do so. You can watch their games on local and national television networks, or you can stream them online. For a more immersive experience, consider attending a game at Madison Square Garden. There's nothing quite like the energy and excitement of watching a Knicks game live. "Watching the Knicks live is an experience like no other. The energy of the crowd, the sound of the ball hitting the court, and the thrill of the game are all part of the magic of Knicks basketball." The Knicks' Legacy The Knicks' legacy is one of resilience, passion, and a love for the game. As they continue to play their game of knick knack paddy whack, they're adding new chapters to their rich history. Whether they're facing a tough opponent or celebrating a victory, the Knicks always give their fans something to cheer about. "The Knicks' legacy is a testament to their passion for the game. They've faced challenges, celebrated victories, and through it all, they've remained committed to their fans and the sport of basketball." As we wrap up our journey through the Knicks' history, current state, and future prospects, we're left with a sense of anticipation for what's to come. The Knicks are more than just a basketball team; they're a symbol of resilience, a beacon of hope, and a source of pride for their fans.

As they continue to play their knick knack paddy whack, we can't wait to see what the future holds for this iconic team. #SportyConnect

[lokitvsource]

Tom Hiddleston Says He’s a ‘Temporary Torchbearer’ Playing Loki

Tom Hiddleston has said he sees himself as a “temporary torchbearer” when it comes to playing Marvel’s god of chaos.

Hiddleston made the comments in a panel discussion about Disney Plus’ original series “Loki” on Wednesday evening hosted by the Royal Television Society. Hiddleston was joined on stage in London, U.K. by his co-star Sophia Di Martino, who plays Sylvie, series writer Michael Waldron and director Kate Herron [who appeared via Zoom.]

“I’m a temporary torchbearer,” Hiddleston said of sharing the character with Di Martino as well as Richard E. Grant and an alligator — all of whom play Loki variants — in the series. “I’ve always thought that. It’s a great role. It’s an archetype, the trickster god, the agent of chaos. I’m just here interpreting that for the time being. Loki has been here for centuries and will be here for centuries more and I’m just stepping into that silhouette for now.”

His comments come as the first tranche of Marvel Cinematic Universe faces — including Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans — hang up their superhero suits following the release of “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019.

Hiddleston, who has now been playing Loki for over a decade, explained that he was drawn to making the eponymous limited series due to the show’s themes of identity and acceptance. “This idea of somehow the [Time Variance Authority] confronting Loki with the shape-shifting nature of his identity and asking him ‘Who are you?’ I found it a new avenue to explore with this character I’ve been playing for a while,” Hiddleston said. “It felt original. It didn’t feel like we were repeating.”

“Loki,” which centers around time travel, even touches on more erudite topics such as philosophy and psychology. “Michael [Waldron] and I were having breakfast a couple of years ago when [he’d] written that first pilot and found ourselves talking about psychoanalytic theory and repetition compulsion and [the question of] can you ever change?” Hiddleston recalled. “Is it possible for people to change? Even if you do will people accept that you’ve changed? Is it possible to know yourself entirely?”

“And then Owen [Wilson] came and was so forensic about examining all of that stuff, and then we realized we were in a police detective thriller. When I was cast as Loki however many years ago, I never thought this character is a detective. But he is here.”

In a wide-ranging talk, Hiddleston, Di Martino, Waldron and Herron discussed various aspects of the series, which will be returning for a second season. “You’ve got to test the fences,” Waldron, who has also written the forthcoming “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” said of some of the show’s wackier elements (such as the afore-mentioned Loki alligator).

“With [Marvel Studios president] Kevin Feige, you get to see how far you can go,” Waldron explained. “So you write in Sylvie soccer kicking an armadillo with a laser mounted on its back and they tell you ‘OK, that’s too much. I like the mind invasion but maybe pull back on the laser armadillo.’”

Waldron also revealed that “Loki’s” dialogue-heavy structure was “me testing the fences. That could have easily been another laser armadillo situation.”

He recalled turning in a 15-page dialogue scene between Loki and Mobius for the pilot episode with the expectation he’d eventually cut it down. “And instead the response came back, ‘Can this be longer?’” Waldron said. “And so then I got excited.”

In Waldron’s eyes, the extended dialogue made sense for the character. “One of Loki’s superpowers is his ability to talk his way out of any situation, talk his way into any situation. You want to watch Superman fly, so I wanted to watch Loki talk.”

“And so because this was a show — because we had six hours — that was the most exciting thing to me,” Waldron said. “We get to take a villain from an action movie franchise and have these dialogue-heavy scenes that feel like prestige television.”

The extended dialogues and long takes (“I love a long take,” Herron admitted) also gave the actors the sense they were acting in a theater at points. “Owen actually turned to me at one point said, ‘This feels like a play,’” Hiddleston recalled.

The scale of the show presented a challenge, however. “It was like making almost three Marvel movies just because we were filming so many hours of content at the same time,” Herron said. “I think I just didn’t think about it in terms of the massive scale and just tried to tackle it day by day, just because it was such a mammoth task to get it done.”

Di Martino had recently given birth when she embarked on the shoot, which required her to relocate (with her family) across the Atlantic, so she said it took some time to grapple with the enormity of the job. “There was a lot going on,” said Di Martino. “I think I didn’t really come to terms with it. I just sort of ignored it for as long as possible and just treated it like any other job.”

“And then there’s a moment where you’re on the stage in the studio with, you know, Gugu [Mbatha-Raw] and Tom, and we’re doing this huge fight scene,” Di Martino recalled. “And there was a moment towards the end of filming where I was like, ‘Shit. I’m doing a Marvel show.’ I think it took a while to sink in.” (Variety)

[percentstardust]

modern career paths for my asoiaf muses:

i play the targaryens as a family that originated in norway but ended up in the usa. the lannisters are from england. default city setting is los angeles, california. syrax, drogon, tessarion, anoghul, viserion, vhagar, rhaegal, and vhagar are all animals owned in this verse.

rhaenyra: fashion designer of both women and men’s clothing. literally has dabbled in suits, gowns, wedding dresses, lingerie, and she has her own makeup line. heir to targaryen industries but honestly would rather not abandon her fashion empire. PLOT TWIST. she ends up marrying harwin. uses she / they pronouns.

aemond: he’s a first year pre med student studying to be a doctor. he is also double majoring in psychology. his eye injury will NOT stop him from pursuing his career. he just really wants to be a doctor cause medical science fascinates him. he has too many skills for one person to have. he’s also an athlete on the lacrosse and soccer teams. he’s heavily into student politics too. lost his eye in an accident when he was ten. aemond does it all to make up for being disabled.

aemma: future vet tech major. still in high school. volunteers at a family owned no kill shelter. she really loves animals and she wants to eventually work as a zoo animal vet. she is on the swim team like jace. last name is strong in this au.

jace: he’s really into computers and technology and he can hack things. so he’s going to want to work with computers. he can build one and take it apart before putting it back together again. so he will be able to work in the family tech company as well. also still in high school. he’s student athlete on the swim and track teams despite his scoliosis. last name is strong because nyra marries harwin.

dany: ballet dancer. she the third born daughter and she usually is allowed to do what she wants within limits. dancing is her passion and has been since she was a child. right now she works for and dances for a ballet company. she gets the lead roles in all of the performances. ballet isn’t the only dance she specializes in. she knows others as well but ballet is what she’s most passionate about. she’s also an ice skater but she doesn’t do that competitively anymore due to her thriving ballet career.

jaime: army veteran who was honorably discharged after losing his hand in combat. has all kinds of awards. he was an army ranger to be specific. went back to school to get a degree in law later in life than one should get a law degree but he got one easily due to his intellect . works at his family law firm as an associate.

daeron: aspiring concert violinist. plays multiple instruments including the guitar and piano. music is his life. art is also his life but he’s more set on being a musician than being a painter. still in high school like aemma and jace. will pursue a bachelor in music.

anari: freshman in college. getting a bachelor in music. is a rising pop star who has her first album out along with some unaffiliated covers and singles. has won three grammys and several other awards for her first album. is best friends with helaena targaryen like she is in her hotd era. youngest of four and has three older brothers. given how successful she already is as a musician, she is making a name for herself and her parents are quite proud of her. writing her second album while attending university classes. small but fighty still.

all of them, even jaime and anari, are rich. though the targaryens have more influence, net worth, power, and their money is older. hope this helps.

[chainofclovers]

Ted Lasso 2x5 Thoughts

I loved this episode.

I loved that rom-com plotlines (and actual lines!) became the vehicle for Ted to bring Roy back into football—not just as a pundit or observer from the outside, but as someone who can influence the game. I feel kind of unexpectedly emotional thinking about how Ted (and Beard, and even Nate) will teach Roy how to become a coach, and thinking about all the skills Roy will bring to the table that aren’t currently represented in the coaching staff.

My favorite thing about this episode is how complicated each person’s motivations were. You’ve got people doing the right thing for the right reasons, the right thing for the wrong reasons, the wrong thing for the right reasons, and...I actually don’t think anyone was doing the wrong thing for the wrong reasons, but maybe?

Rebecca is putting herself out there on the dating apps, being brave and stepping outside of her comfort zone, but she seems unable to take Higgins’ advice to be herself because she doesn’t really know who she is in this realm of her life. I think it’s handled pretty lovingly—like, we’re supposed to have fun with her little moments of laughter and panic with the apps, but there are very real reasons why she isn’t sure of herself, and I think the nuance is there.

Keeley is so wrapped up in becoming a competent marketing director and growing her career skills that she misses some opportunities to talk to Rebecca about the human side of using apps to look for love. When Keeley found love with Roy, it wasn’t because she was great at personal branding; it’s because she and Roy recognized something in each other. In fact, all of Keeley’s major relationships on the show, including her friendship with Rebecca, have started organically and offline. Keeley is probably the most successful character on the show when it comes to maintaining solid relationships with the people she cares about, so I think it’s significant that she’s also the character pushing a more artificial way to connect to people because she’s desperate to grow her professional brand.

Nathan is receptive to the lessons about assertiveness but not yet fully understanding that he’s not going to be satisfied by external sources of respect, or by the markers of prestige and an impressive social network, if he’s not satisfied with himself. He’s grown a lot in that he can recognize that he wants to be treated better, but he’s swinging on a pendulum between his deferential, self-deprecating behavior and bullying behavior that causes him to yell and lash out at anyone who has less power than him.

Keeley and Rebecca don’t seem to recognize the way that racism and other prejudices, as well as not having a supportive father (something many of the other male characters can relate to), are factors in Nate’s experiences. They genuinely want to help him, and they do, but their POV is limited.

In creating a place for Roy on the coaching staff, Ted is doing something that’s going to be awesome for Roy, awesome for him, and that will almost certainly be ultimately good for the team and for the other coaches, too. But he’s making these decisions from a very insular place without articulating himself as thoughtfully as he typically would, and at least part of his motivation in connecting Roy to Isaac is because he is still mistrustful of therapy and wants to figure things out without just referring Isaac to Sharon.

Things I Loved:

Mr. Higgins hugging Mrs. Higgins in the tunnel! Their love! Their enduring commitment! Ahhhhh!

How HAPPY Ted seemed when things started to click for Isaac out on the pitch during the pickup game. Also it was so nice that he and Roy finally got to talk to each other.

Beard. Everything about Beard. The suggestion that Beard and Ted are talking, but maybe not about the most important things. British owls.

The moment between Ted and Sharon just before the match. The way she so brilliantly leaves the door open, metaphorically speaking, and metaphor-loving Ted turns it into a literal joke about doors.

The romantic comedy energy of Ted realizing Roy is on the field ready to become a coach. Ted/Roy/Lady Football. Also, Ted really likes coaching football (soccer) and I love that for him!

This might be unpopular but I really like how all the dating app stuff just feels like breeding ground for decoys and misplaced expectations and disappointments and fleeting passions. Ted’s extremely fallible yet heartfelt rom-communism speech reinforces this, practically in a direct address to the audience: you might think you know these plots, but things aren’t necessarily going to come together (at least not right now) the way you assume, and that’s okay. (The question of whether it will actually be okay for Ted is another story, but hey, he’s got the spirit!) These characters are on such disjointed, individual, private journeys right now, and I don’t feel bothered by being manipulated by the mysteries of who is messaging who, etc. because I feel like the writing is very loudly saying “we’re calling back to a really lovely but really manipulative genre, and playing with it, so buckle up y’all!”

I might have more thoughts (I will definitely have more thoughts, whether or not they go here), but I really wanted to try to get my own perspective out of my brain before absorbing too many other thoughts about this episode in particular.

[sylathas-world]

Stories without Heroes

Reading "The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction" by Ursula K. Le Guin, I had quite an enlightenment. In short, Le Guin puts forward a theory in which the central part of a story doesn't concern a hero that often recurs to violence to accomplish something and be considered a saviour. A killer story. Now the story becomes a carrier, a bag holding meanings. No heroism is involved because being human doesn't mean being a hero: it's about relationships, what we do and feel, and how we relate to each other. To be human, you no longer have to feel like you want to be a killer.

Since I was little, my mind completely missed the aggressive part of what being a "man" seemed to mean in the culture I was living in. It was always about the hero, which when I was a child meant being a soccer player or an actor, and often the actor played roles where he was "cool and badass". I wasn't like that, but for years I wanted to: I even dreamt about being a hero, saving and being loved by girls. The whole package. I liked what I wasn't cause I wanted to feel accepted by others and myself.

Now, in retrospect, it makes sense that I consider myself non-binary: I don't fit into the gender role of a man. Being born as one, though, estranged me from my peers. This hero perspective, the fact that you have to be aggressive to be human, not only involves women but everyone who doesn't fit into a specific "man" category. The "Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction" could relieve a lot of people, which often are the ones already with problems about their identity or not being treated equally by society.

We should change the meaning of what a story is because our lives, dreams, and hopes are based on them. Making them more inclusive makes our world more inclusive, and we should aim at that.

Edit: I've watched a couple of youtube videos on the manosphere*, and they introduced many concepts around man's role in our society that intersect interestingly with this post. A significant factor that F.D Signifier, the author of those videos, points out is the presence of a certain kind of cultural hegemony in the world that we live in: hegemonic masculinity. Coined by Raewyn Connel in 1987, the term describes "a set of values, established by men in power that functions to include and exclude, and to organize society in gender unequal ways. It combines several features: a hierarchy of masculinities, differential access among men to power (over women and other men), and the interplay between men's identity, men's ideals, interactions, power, and patriarchy." [1] The values differ from culture to culture, but I think that, through globalization, the hero that Le Guin talks about is a product of this hegemony. What I didn't have, and these heroes had, are the values of masculinity, which are often enforced on female and queer protagonists.

To change the meaning of what a story is, we need to change the cultural hegemony surrounding it; we need to start by changing the masculine hegemony that has historically defined the hero.

*: to the lucky uninitiated, the manosphere is, as defined by Wikipedia, "a collection of websites, blogs, and online forums promoting (to varying degrees) masculinity, misogyny, and opposition to feminism." What makes it interesting is this cultural phenomenon's prevalence on the internet. For example, the Urban Dictionary defines it differently: "A group of websites made for men to discuss men's interests and issues without women nagging them." There are other definitions on the side of Wikipedia, but they have many dislikes. This proves the pride people in that community feel about themselves and their numbers online.

1: Jewkes R., Morrell R. Sexuality and the Limits of Agency among South African Teenage Women: Theorising Femininities and Their Connections to HIV Risk Practices. Social Science & Medicine. 2012.

[ginkgomoon]

Gavin’s Mini House In Detail 🏡

During the Mini House special events, I obtained all the furnishing items and had already unlocked all the furniture in the home so I thought for Gavin’s Birthday Week, I would share all of the little secrets it contains! 

Gavin has four sections of the house including-

Living Room

Loft 

Courtyard

Basement

This post also includes MC’s commentary and quotes from special happenings associated with Gavin. Special furnishes will have the coziness points indicated next to its name.

Please enjoy! 

Living Room

Soft Stool 

The white soft stool next to the tea table.

This stool is a must when Gavin watches soccer games.

The leather surface is very soft, and its height is just right for watching TV on.

Want to know the trend of the soccer lottery recently? How about asking about it? 

It seemed to have won all the recent games, and is both happy and lonely.

If his favourite team loses, Gavin will sit here alone. (#sad) 

White Sofa 

With so many pillows, you don’t have to worry about having no support behind you.

Is the white sofa difficult to clean? 

The bolsters are very comfortable.

Curled up on the sofa with soft ginkgo aroma.

“Gavin, do you remember what you told me?”

“I just want to be with you, just like this...”

“You still remembered!” 

“I won’t forget what I’ve told you.” 

“Then... Do you have anything you want to tell me this time?” 

Gavin kissed MC’s forehead gently.

- This special happening (Starry Sky) refers to the Furniture City Date!

White Table 

“Gavin’s Pad is placed here too.”

(It has a photo of MC and she says she will change it into the both of them next time.)

“I can add a snack box, but Gavin doesn’t really eat snacks.”

Hallway Cabinet

“Gavin waters the plants regularly.”

“These are often loose change on the cabinet which we can take before going out.”

“The silver ornament is a souvenir I bought when we went to Disneyland.”

The “Wavy Thing”

“I noticed a little “go for it” written on the most recently scrawled page of the notebook.” 

“I found a magazine that puts people to sleep in a second, which was necessary for insomniacs.”

Zoombot 

The black Zoombot.

Today I’m again busy all over the place saving Zoombot.

It’s a bit stupid and often gets stuck after hitting the furniture.

Makes a buzzing sound when working.

You threaten it: If you hang again, I’ll replace you!  

Music Stand

The music stand bought by Gavin.

On it are sheets of music scores printed by Gavin.

It will sometimes think that the small black table next to it is a bit short.

Sometimes Gavin uses in in the hanging chair to record melodies.

Gavin will print the music scores and put them on it to practice.

Flowers on the Wall 

Each flower is carefully selected by Gavin.

The front wall stores a variety of flowers.

The flowers on the entire flower wall are all preserved fresh flowers. 

Black Table and Seat 

Looking at it closely, it is the song that Gavin played last time. (Music score sheet on table.) 

It is also very comfortable with the little black seat cushion next to it.

The soft black cushion stuffed with cotton.

My exclusive seat for Gavin’s recital.

I bought it with Gavin when we were shopping at the furniture market.

Hanging Chair/Rose Hanging Chair (Coziness 88)

A great napping spot.

Here in the Leisure Time special happening, MC and Gavin talk about the swing they had in high school. MC is surprised that Gavin knew about the view of the sunset when being on it. He says he “passed by” sometimes. MC notes how the ginkgo leaves danced in the wind. He says, “they were gifts from another person”.

Heart-Shaped Chair (Coziness 28)

A cute small stool and a convenient storage box.

Gavin’s expression was a bit subtle while he sat on it first.

Alternating blue and pink hearts, as it’s a Valentine’s Day limited edition.

Surfboard Cabinet (Coziness 42)

It’s a new surfboard. Bring it next time we travel.

There are also other surfboards. Guess where they are? 

It says fly on the surfboard, like I can leap through waves with it.

(THEIR CUTE SHOES ARE NEXT TO IT AHHH)

Blue Lamp

A lamp that always blows bubbles from the bottom to top.

It’s beautiful and dreamlike when switched on at night.

Black Table on the Left 

“This looks like the score that Gavin played on the beach last time. I suddenly feel a bit nostalgic.”  - This refers to the Slightly Drunken Date!

“I found a picture of an asleep Gavin. He was sleeping soundly.”

Claw Machine and Carpet 

A dream-like claw machine. Gavin will add new dolls in it.

The inserted game coins can be taken out from the back of the machine and then reused.

A small black carpet in front of the claw machine.

I bought it together with the large carpet.

Red Bunny, White Bunny, Pink Bunny, Red Bunny, Grey Bunny.

Motorcycles 

The blue motorcycle sometimes want to compete with the opposite motorcycle.

The colour of the motorcycle displayed is sky blue. 

Maybe its name will be “Azure”? (because Gavin uses colours to individually name items.) 

Spring Landscape Display 

The landscape has been embedded into the window, like beautiful paintings.

Maybe there is a new world inside.

I can't help stopping to enjoy the view each time I pass.

Is designed for a wider view, improving your mood even when you're tired.

Winter Landscape Display (Coziness 61)

A corresponding landscape should be changed into winter.

Such heavy snow! Frozen river! Unfortunately, they are all fake. 

You can enjoy the red maple leaves and snow even at home, isn’t it wonderful?

Loft 

Painting

This is a word map that covers the entire wall.

Looking at it, Gavin and I have already been to so many places.

If you want to travel, you can find the destination on it in advance.

I'm willing to create memories with him in many more places.

Chandelier

The current iron style design is really cool.

Shines warm yellow when turned on, warming our hearts.

Display Cabinet  

It should have been a wine cabinet, but Gavin doesn’t drink, so it became a display cabinet.

The ‘little things’ between me and Gavin are displayed inside.

It looks empty now, but it will slowly be filled up in the future.

Black Tea Table

A black low table in front of the sofa.

I occasionally work here.

The star and moon deco piece is very beautiful, I picked it with Gavin.

You can put fruits and snacks on it while reading.

The wood texture had a matted quality with the black coat of paint.

Art 

Looks cold but is artistic.

Seems useless, but also seems cool.

Greenery

A corner with blooming flowers all seasons, is warm and restful to the eye.

Outside the window is a huge ginkgo tree, and the fallen leaves are like brocade.

I feel like it’s always spring with all these flowers around.

It compliments the scenery outside the window. (They have a ginkgo tree right outside their home!) 

Cabinet 

Photo framed have karmas from the Starry Date and the Romantic Date!

Decorative Cabinet/Snowman Closet (Coziness 49)

The two little snowmen stared at each other throughout the winter. (Cute little reference to the CN Recovery ASMR.)

It looks like a window at first glance, but it’s actually a cabinet if you look carefully.

And you could open it. Didn’t see that coming right? 

Starry Sky Wall (Coziness 52)

Today’s wish… I hope that Gavin…

I will accompany you to see the meteor rain which falls on this Earth.

Every moment a wish is realised, there will be a meteor streaking across the sky.

Dandelion Lamp (Coziness 43)

The lamp looks exactly like the grapefruit during Mid-Autumn Festival.

Like a burning sparkler, shining brightly.

Six light sources, not too dazzling nor too dark.

Festive Decoration Table (Coziness 57)

Although there are two cups of drinks, we can still drink from the same cup.

The sofa in the corner always makes people feel safe. 

Although we are only two people, I still chose two long couches.

The letter under the ginkgo biloba leaf, writes a love poem.

All the shopping bags represent his most flawless love.

The wide view allows you to see the scenery in the yard.

The soft white mat was added afterwards.

But it’s always hot under the sunlight, so the curtain is often pulled down.

Basement

Security Camera 

You are in a monitored area, please mind your actions.

Bulletproof Glass 

It’s not a normal screen, it’s bulletproof.

It's not often that one gets to see such a cool and HARD-CORE transparent screen.

Anyways, curious what’s in this wall.

Sci-fi glass wall in the movies.

The engraved badge is Gavin’s silent pride.

1-2-3... still shorter than it!

Gingko Tree

Seasons slip by soundlessly.

No matter how small their wishes are, they will become seeds and eventually bloom in gold.

All life’s little joys turned into gold.

It guards the serene life here quietly over in the corner.

(Gavin makes ginkgo bookmarks with them for MC. CRIES.)

Corner Resting Area 

These action figures are actually pretty fun!

The puzzle is all grown up. It should be able to piece itself back together. (LOL)

(Puzzle) Maybe finish it while Gavin’s gone? 

(Table) It sometimes thinks the table is a bit short.

(Chair) It looks hard but it’s actually comfortable to sit on.

Very spacious, but looks a bit empty.

Some decorations should be displayed here.

Sitting on a blanket is also very comfortable. You can also lean on the small pillow. 

(Carpet) This is a carpet. You can’t tell, right? 

The advanced smart carpet that is warm in winter and cool in summer is awesome.

(The book on the table is called ‘Kritik Der Urteilskraft’- The Critique of Judgement by famous German philosopher Immanuel Kant. It follows after the Critique of Pure Reason and the Critique of Practical Reason- the First and Second Critiques, respectively. The Critique of Judgment constitutes a discussion of the place of Judgment itself, which must overlap both the “understanding” and “reason”.)

“You need to take better care of your health.”

“Who was the one working overnight over the proposal the other day?”

“Alright, we’re birds of a feather, so... so both of us should look after ourselves for each other!” 

“Rest assured, I will. After all, it’s different now. I have you by my side.”  -Harmonous Compa Special Happening

Gavin’s Workspace

Accompany Gavin though every sleepless night.

This seems… No, I’m seeing things.

All folders are neatly organised and arranged.

A spacious table, with files and reports spread all over when busy.

I no need to worry about waking up from naps due to cold late at night.

I was reminded of some criminal investigation shows I have watched. Come on, Officer Gavin!

If this complicated case is made into a movie, it will be an exhilarating one. 

(Computer) A customised large-screen UHD model customised for work purpose.

(Computer) Work exclusive computer, only connected to intranet.

(Computer) The three auxiliary monitors can help keep the data safe.

(Chair) If you want to protect your waist, you should first have a comfortable cushion.

(Chair) if you work long hours, be sure to work in a comfortable chair.

(Board Area) What does it say? Ermm… Cats have nine lives? 

“Found a girl crookedly drawn next to a work record when he reached a bottleneck.” 

Airplane

This airplane model was assembled by Gavin himself.

The computer says-  Agent B-7

Team Operator S.T.R.I.K.E

Location Tracker 

S.P.Y Camera 

U4V Commando

Gunship Operation 

Motorcycle Repair Area 

Every vehicle is so cool in its own way! 

Hello, you are... Little… Erm… Let me think… 

With the strength to lift mountains and the spirit to take on the world! Ha! 

The robot arm is actually a simple robot.

For your safety, please don’t linger below it

(Motorcycle) I would like to greet my seniors.

Electronic Control Pad

Responsible for controlling the rising, descending and switches of the entire area.

On Spring Festival, it will say: Happy New Year, Sir!”

Sooner or later, fully automated smart management will be achieved.

Radio Office 

It’s an important communication device, and the only disadvantage is that it’s a bit heavy.

It’s actually a satellite phone, and it can receive signals everywhere.

Looks like the palm phone in the 90s. Oh no, I’ve exposed myself.

It looks like an electrocardiogram.

Don’t know how to use this weird device.

A thick laptop that it’s properly shut when not in use.

A cool eagle logo is printed on it.

Gavin used it only for special tasks and it will not be brought out.

LMAO MC DOESN’T HAVE ACCESS-

Courtyard 

Corner Seating Area 

A courtyard in sunny or snowy days are interested in their own ways.

Sometimes the unfrequented bolsters will envy the knee pillow.

It's’ wonderful when two people are sitting here reading, even if they don’t talk.

Standing barefoot on the soft lawn is very comfortable.

There's nothing nicer than basking ourselves when its sunny.

Binoculars

The white binoculars which you can see things several miles away.

You can use it to watch the stars when it’s not too cloudy.

But star-watching is clearer mid-air.

Seems to be the same binoculars as those in the scenic area.

The binoculars in the scenic area require coins, but this one doesn't.

Outdoor Lounge Chairs 

The new furniture I asked Gavin to buy.

Can enjoy the sunlight spa comfortably when relaxing. 

Closing my eyes, I feel like I’m lying on a beach.

The soft breeze and warm sunshine. This is life. 

Lying on it and looking at the blue sky and white clouds, your mind goes blank easily.

The blue and white clouds-

Leisure Table/Romantic Table (Coziness 52)

Lace tablecloth… I can’t imagine that it was chosen by Gavin.

The elaborately prepared dinner and roses, just for today.

A large sunshade on the balcony. (Black large umbrella.)

Bird Nest (Coziness 37) 

Once it was a pair of binoculars, now it’s a bird’s nest.

I bought it just because it was cute, but I’ll consider having pets in the future.

Birds flying by can also have a free meal here.