#like genuinely. how do you score an own goal this hard

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

how do you score such an epic own goal of associating your side with abusers like. yeah “the abuser said to be nicer to him” is literally the worst possible argument here. especially since wilbur isn’t just accused of abusing his girlfriends but intimidating and bullying younger creators like are we forgetting that billzo and freddie have said he was extremely cruel and petty to younger creators behind the scenes.

[ninyard]

If you're in the mood would you share an Andriel HC?

The most fun Andrew ever has playing Exy is when him and Neil are on separate pro teams and have to play against each other for the first time. It’d be the hardest game either of them have ever played. Neil knows how Andrew plays like the back of his hand. Andrew knows how Neil plays like it’s his own name. They are so in tune with each other it is literally IMPOSSIBLE for them to play against each other.

Andrew shuts him out like Neil had always begged him to do. Neil throws shot after shot after shot on him, reading his tells, hoping to score, but he can’t. Andrew is sweating playing against him. The first one Neil gets in, and that goal lights up red, he nearly jumps on Andrew just to be like HA-HA I WIN FUCK YOU YOU SUCK he’s laughing so hard because Andrew is so mad in theory but also kind of smiling in the goals because of how smug Neil is that he got one in. They’re bantering on the court - obviously not going easy on each other because they both want to win - and genuinely it’s so much fucking fun for the both of them.

“Oh, that’s too bad, try again!” Andrew says, blocking a goal, sending the ball as far as he can before Neil sets off down the court. Neil doesn’t look back but Andrew sees his head shake as he runs.

Maybe Neil gets another one in. “See, you’re losing it now, do you want to take a break? Getting too tired?” And it takes everything in Andrew not to bounce the ball off his head.

If Andrew gets subbed out before Neil does, his coach has to nudge him more than once to tell him to focus on his own team and not the little redhead. If Neil gets subbed out before him, he has to hold himself back from cheering when Andrew blocks a goal, forgetting which team he’s supposed to be cheering for.

Andrew’s team ends up winning, and when they’re crossing the court to shake hands, Neil takes his hand into his and just says in German, “You’re sleeping on the fucking couch tonight.”

I’d like to imagine Andrew laughing out loud at that one, but he’d probably just respond, “Better luck next time.”

[aquaticmercy]

Not a request but just some thoughts! I don’t know how to explain it but:

Bucky: girl dad through and through

Steve: Boy dad (I love him so much but i genuinely feel if he had a daughter he would raise her like a son because he don’t know what he’s doing)

Sam: Both boy and girl dad, but the boy always turns into a carbon copy of him while simultaneously being a mama’s boy

omg thank you anon for these thoughts!

Enjoys these Dad! Bucky, Steve, and Sam blurbs!

Bucky Barnes

Bucky Barnes would make the best girl dad. And he’s the best girl dad precisely because everything he’s been through. Because all of the violence and trauma. It’s why he’s so gentle with his daughter, why he’s extra careful around his little girl. 

He spent years being nothing but a weapon, and now that he has the life he shares with you and your daughter, he is so scared of hurting either of you that he treats you both like you’re made of glass. 

He still has that 1940s mindset buried in there, though. Not because he’s a jerk— he knows better than that— but because it’s just there because it was drilled into him from a very young age. 

He catches himself sometimes thinking her daughter should be all dainty and protected and doted on 24/7, and he reminds himself that she has to learn how to be on her own someday.

Still, he treats his daughter like he’s her bodyguard, the way he does with you. He still opens doors for you, stands just a bit too close on the sidewalk. He’s got this invisible shield around both of you. He doesn’t even mean to; it’s just there instinctively.

So now imagine his face when his little girl starts ditching dolls and princesses for more  traditionally masculine things. 

Bucky is very supportive, although he has to manually override some of his 40s brain.

She loves the drums, and he’s all for it. He gets her lessons. He sits next to her during practice to catch all the sticks she drops trying to do complicated tricks. He high fives her whenever she does a sick beat. 

She’s also all about football (soccer). He notices it when she’s cheering for the women’s national team during the World Cup like her life depends on it. 

Bucky immediately starts looking at tryouts and academies. When she has a game, he’s out there on the sidelines, grinning whenever she does anything even remotely good, screaming encouragements when she loses the ball, and celebrating with her when she scores a goal.

But god, it’s hard for him to watch her take a tumble, all elbows and skinned knees. She hits the ground here and there and he winces every time, heart in his throat. He’s so adorably worried until she gets back up and gives her daddy a big thumbs up. 

And yet when she goes in for a not-so-great tackle, he’s the loudest one cheering on the field (and the first one complaining when the ref gives her a yellow card).

But then. Then she decides she wants to try Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. She says she wants to be tough, like him.

This is where Bucky might draw the line. “There’s no way,” he tells you. Not his little girl, rolling around on some mat with kids twice her size, learning to choke people out. 

It makes him think of all the things he’s done, the things he was forced to learn, the violence he was engineered to deliver, and he can’t bear the thought of her going anywhere near that world. 

He wants to shield her from it, to keep her protected, untouched by any of that.

You, of course, see right through him. You sit him down one night and tell him, gently but firmly, that she’s her own person. 

That she’s got his strength. And if she wants to do this, it’s because she wants to be more like him. Because she looks up to him. Because she thinks her daddy is the best person in the world.

It takes a while, but he comes around. But not only because his little girl wants to be like him, but also because he sees so much of you in her. 

You both have the same spark, the same drive, the same way of nudging him to grow. To challenge his thoughts and beliefs.

He watches his daughter march into her first Jiu-Jitsu class with this fierce little smile, the kind he remembers seeing on his own face back in the day.

Don’t get me wrong, he’s terrified. But he’s proud, too. Because she's challenging him to be better, braver, just by being herself. 

And every time he watches her spar, he finds himself cheering—softly, at first. Soon, he’s the loudest parent in the room. His little girl, fighting her own battles, just like her dad.

-

Steve Rogers

Steve Rogers would be a fantastic boy dad.

He’d never admit it, but part of him always fantasised having that kind of relationship with his own dad—playing catch and putting on barbecue, doing all those white picket fence  father-son things. But his dad died when he was young, and even if he hadn’t, Steve would be too small, too sickly, to keep up. 

Now, with a son of his own, he absolutely craves bonding with the kid. And of course he’d love him no matter what, but there's just enough super-soldier serum running through his son’s veins to let him be strong and athletic.

And for a while, everything’s perfect. Steve takes his boy to baseball games, teaches him to throw a curveball, and they spend endless afternoons in the yard sprinting (Steve slows down a bit) and throwing frisbees. During the summer, you could hear them both laughing and talking from sunrise to sunset. It’s everything he dreamed about.

But as his kid grows, Steve starts to feel a distance.

His son’s childhood is just... different.

He’s popular at school and his biggest worries seem to revolve around sports day, acing his tests, and keeping up with all the clubs and extra classes he’s signed up for. His son doesn’t have to fight his way through the day just to be heard or seen. People listen to him. He’s the kid everyone wants to be around. His friends look up to him.

Steve can’t help but remember how different his own childhood was—every day a fight just to prove himself, to survive in a world that didn’t give a weak kid like him any breaks.

He remembers those long, lonely days where he’d sit at the edge of the playground, watching the other boys run across the field, laughing and tackling each other in games he could never join. Sometimes, he’d be nursing a bruised rib or hiding a scraped knee, feeling a bit isolated. He remembers how desperately he’d wanted to be a part of it—to have a world that embraced him instead of challenging him at every turn.

Now, watching his son grow up so different from that—so at ease in his own skin—fills him with happiness. Still, Steve feels a strange tug in his heart. 

Steve can’t help but feel like he’s on the outside looking in, wondering if he can truly understand this world his son is growing up in. He’s scared that him and his son wouldn’t have anything in common anymore.

One evening, after the kid’s asleep, Steve finds himself talking to you for hours about his anxieties.

He tells you how strange it feels, how he doesn't know if he can relate to the person your son is becoming. He can’t shake the feeling that, in some way, his boy’s growing into a world Steve himself never got to experience. A world he cannot help him with.

But you’re there, holding his hand, reminding him that love doesn’t need to look like a mirror. 

A few days later, Steve goes to pick up his kid from school, and what he sees, he will never forget. 

His son was on the playground, standing tall, facing down some older kid who’d been picking on another student— a little boy in a wheelchair. 

Steve’s son was defending someone who couldn’t defend themselves, just like Steve would’ve done back in the day— just like he always does.

When they get home, Steve’s got tears in his eyes as he hugs his son, barely able to say how proud he is. He runs upstairs to tell you what your son did. 

After that moment, all his worries vanish. Steve’s son might not have his struggles, but he's got his heart. 

And that’s all you ever really wanted.

-

Sam Wilson

Sam Wilson as a dad? He’s wonderful. 

You’ve never seen someone so comfortable just rolling with whatever his kids throw at him. 

His little girl has him wrapped around her finger.

When she drags him into one of her imaginary plays, he dives right in without hesitation. 

The two of them have this whole routine now: she’ll declare herself the “Queen of Cupcakes,” and before you know it, Sam’s transformed into her nemesis, “The Grumpy Troll.” 

He’s got a whole stash of masks and scarves just for these characters. He looks ridiculous in a pink tutu and tiara, but he’d never miss the chance to be part of her little kingdom.

But his daughter is not only about tea parties— She’s only eight, but she’s strong-willed and headstrong. She insists on trying things herself first, even if she has to wrestle with it. 

One time Sam reached over to help her open a jar, and she looked up with the most serious little frown, shook her head, and said, “Daddy, I got it.” And she did, after two minutes of huffing and puffing. 

Another time, Sam finds his daughter in the kitchen, a stool dragged up to the counter, sleeves rolled up, determinedly making her own peanut butter sandwich. She’s got peanut butter smeared from cheek to elbow, but she’s concentrating hard, tongue poking out a little as she spreads it just right. When Sam offers to help, she shakes her head without even looking up, determined to get it done.

Then there’s his six year old little boy, who’s gentler, in that way that Sam is. He’s kind-hearted and hilarious in a way that catches you both by surprise. 

After every mission, his son’s the one who toddles over and asks, “Daddy, are you okay?” like he’s got this radar for how people are feeling. He reminds Sam of himself, especially when he worked at the VA.

Sam even found him in the backyard last week, carefully placing a bowl of water and crumbs of bread on the grass. He said “The little bird with the hurt wing might come back, and I don’t want him to be thirsty.”

Another time, he offered his favourite blanket to his sister when she had a cold, even though he always sleeps with it himself. He just tucked it around her shoulders, giving her a quick hug before running off.

And just like his dad, your son is very clingy— very attached to you. If he sees you’re tired, he’ll nestle up on the couch next to you. And when you’re out of the house, he’ll carry your sweater around, or ask a hundred times when you’re coming back.

On the first day of school, your son’s practically clinging to your leg, not quite ready to let go. His eyes are all big, and you could feel how nervous he is without you there. 

Sam crouched down and starts giving him one go his famous pep talks. Before he could finish, his big sister steps in. 

She promises him they’d sit together on the bus and during snack and lunch time, and that she’ll teach him how to be “brave like Daddy.”

Your son squeezes your hand one last time, then lets go, holding onto his sister’s instead as they both walk on the school bus.

“Did you see that?” Sam whispers, his voice full of pride. 

He wraps an arm around you, pulling you close. You lean back into him, watching your kids grow up in front of your eyes.

-end

[millyh23]

Ties That Bind

Kyra Cooney-Cross x Russo!Reader

word count:

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The sun cast a warm glow over the Arsenal training ground, a familiar sight for Kyra. She loved the feeling of the crisp air against her skin and the sound of laughter echoing among the players. Today was no different, but there was an exciting buzz in the atmosphere that felt new.

As she jogged onto the pitch, stretching her legs, Kyra spotted her teammate, Alessia Russo, chatting animatedly with a girl Kyra had never seen before. The girl was tall with long hair pulled back into a ponytail, wearing a bright smile that seemed to light up the field. Intrigued, Kyra couldn’t help but walk over, curiosity piqued.

“Hey, Alessia! Who’s your friend?” Kyra asked, her tone light and friendly.

Alessia turned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “This is Y/N, my sister! She’s visiting today, and I thought it’d be fun for her to see the training session.”

“Nice to meet you!” Y/N exclaimed, extending her hand toward Kyra. There was an infectious energy about her that immediately put Kyra at ease.

“Likewise! So, are you a football fan?” Kyra asked, shaking Y/N’s hand.

“Absolutely! I used to play a bit back in school, but I never really stuck with it,” Y/N replied, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. “I just love watching. There’s something so thrilling about the game.”

“Right? Nothing like the rush of a match!” Kyra agreed, feeling a spark of connection.

As the practice began, Kyra couldn’t help but glance over at Y/N from time to time. She watched Y/N cheer for her sister and the other players, a radiant smile on her face. It was hard to ignore how natural she seemed, her laughter ringing through the air, drawing the attention of others.

During a break, Kyra approached Y/N, her curiosity growing. “So, what do you do when you’re not here supporting Alessia?”

“Oh, I’m finishing up college right now,” Y/N replied, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. “Studying psychology. I’m kind of obsessed with understanding how people think and feel, you know?”

“Nice! That sounds really interesting,” Kyra said, genuinely impressed. “You must have some good insights into all of us chaotic footballers, huh?”

Y/N chuckled, “Oh, definitely. You guys are like a soap opera half the time!”

Kyra laughed, feeling the tension ease as they continued to chat, sharing stories and playful banter. The more they talked, the more Kyra felt drawn to Y/N’s easy-going nature. She was funny, genuine, and refreshingly open—a stark contrast to the often intense atmosphere of training.

As practice wrapped up, Kyra’s heart raced as she thought about how much she enjoyed talking to Y/N. She felt a strange flutter in her chest but quickly brushed it off. Just a new friend, she reminded herself.

Alessia approached, her arm slung around Y/N’s shoulders, a habit they shared since childhood. The easy familiarity in their body language spoke volumes about their bond. “Did you see that last drill, Y/N? You’d be a great defender—watching those tackles, I almost forgot I was in training!” Alessia teased, her playful grin widening.

Y/N rolled her eyes, laughter bubbling up. “Please, I’d probably just trip over my own feet! You should see me at family gatherings; I’m more likely to be the one falling into the cake than scoring a goal!”

Kyra couldn’t help but smile at the easy banter between them, feeling a warmth in her chest. Alessia often spoke fondly of her sister, sharing stories of their childhood—how Y/N would cheer her on from the sidelines, even when she was just starting out. The way they looked out for each other made it clear how deep their connection ran.

“Seriously, though,” Alessia said, her tone shifting slightly more sincere, “I’m really glad you could come. You know you’re always welcome at the training sessions, right? Just don’t start giving me advice on how to tackle!”

Y/N smirked. “I’d never dream of it! I’d leave that to the pros.”

As they chatted, Kyra felt a flutter in her stomach, mixed with a tinge of anxiety.

What if they became closer?

The thought sent a rush of warmth through her, but alongside it came a pang of worry about how Alessia might react.

As they left the pitch, Y/N waved goodbye, her smile radiant. “It was awesome to meet you, Kyra! Let’s hang out again soon?”

“Definitely!” Kyra replied, her heart racing. As she walked away, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something she didn’t quite understand yet.

Alessia sidled up beside her, a knowing grin plastered on her face. “So, what do you think? Isn’t she great?”

“Yeah, she’s cool,” Kyra replied, trying to keep her voice casual. “Seems like she’d fit right in with us.”

“Right? You should hang out more!” Alessia nudged Kyra with her shoulder. “Just don’t get too attached, okay? I don’t want you to steal her from me.”

Kyra chuckled nervously, but the thought lingered in her mind.

A few days later, Y/N texted Kyra, inviting her for coffee after training. The sun peeked through the clouds as Kyra made her way to their favorite café, a quaint spot just around the corner from the training ground.

“Hey! You made it!” Y/N greeted, her smile bright as she waved from a corner table.

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Kyra replied, settling into her seat. “I’m looking forward to this.”

They spent the next hour discussing their lives—Y/N shared stories of her college experiences, her passion for psychology, and her dream of helping people navigate their mental health. Kyra felt herself opening up as well, sharing her journey as a footballer, the highs and lows, and her determination to improve.

“I can’t imagine the pressure you must feel,” Y/N said, her voice sincere. “You have to be at your best all the time. That’s tough.”

“It is,” Kyra admitted, feeling a weight lift as she spoke. “But I love it. It’s my escape.”

Their conversation flowed effortlessly, punctuated by laughter and playful teasing. Kyra found herself leaning in closer, captivated by Y/N’s passion. With each shared story, she felt a growing sense of connection, something deeper than mere friendship.

As they walked back to the training ground, the sky painted in hues of pink and orange, Kyra couldn’t shake the feeling that this was something special. But a small voice in the back of her mind reminded her of Alessia’s warning.

Don’t get too attached.

Match day arrived, and the Arsenal team buzzed with energy as they prepared for the game. Kyra was excited but also distracted, her thoughts frequently drifting to Y/N.

During warm-ups, Kyra spotted Y/N on the sidelines, cheering loudly for her sister. Y/N had brought a homemade sign, “Go, Alessia!” decorated with colorful markers, a testament to her support. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Kyra felt her heart race every time Y/N glanced her way.

As the match unfolded, Kyra played her heart out, but she found herself stealing glances at Y/N. Each smile Y/N threw her way sent a rush of warmth through her, heightening her confusion.

What am I feeling?

After the match, a win for Arsenal, Kyra sought out Y/N. She found her chatting animatedly with Alessia and a few other players, their laughter ringing out in the post-match excitement.

“Kyra! You were incredible out there!” Y/N exclaimed, rushing over to give her a hug. The warmth of Y/N’s embrace sent a jolt of electricity through Kyra, making her heart race even faster.

“Thanks! It was a good game,” Kyra replied, trying to maintain her composure despite the whirlwind of emotions.

Y/N smiled up at her, and Kyra’s breath caught in her throat.

Why do I feel this way?

The question haunted her as they talked more, but she couldn’t bring herself to voice it.

Alessia, noticing the chemistry, raised an eyebrow but kept her thoughts to herself. Instead, she leaned closer to Kyra. “We should celebrate! How about a dinner? Just us three?”

Kyra nodded, but inside, she felt a mix of excitement and dread.

What if things got complicated?

A few days later, they gathered for dinner at Alessia and Y/N’s home. The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with laughter and teasing as they prepared the meal together. Kyra found herself seated between the two sisters, the dynamic between them vibrant and playful.

“Just be warned, if you try to steal my food, I will not hesitate to tackle you,” Alessia joked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kyra laughed, “Noted! I wouldn’t dare cross that line.”

Y/N leaned in, her voice conspiratorial. “She once tackled me just for a slice of cake. It was brutal.”

Alessia gasped, mock horror on her face. “That was one time! And I was hungry!”

As they enjoyed dinner, Kyra felt increasingly aware of Y/N’s presence beside her. The way Y/N animatedly spoke about her life made Kyra’s heart flutter.

She’s amazing.

Kyra thought, fighting the urge to reach out and touch Y/N’s hand.

When they finished eating, the three of them moved to the living room, where Alessia put on a movie. Kyra settled into the couch, trying to suppress the thrill coursing through her as Y/N sat next to her.

About halfway through the film, Kyra felt Y/N’s hand brush against hers, a light touch that sent shivers down her spine. She looked over to see Y/N blushing slightly, her eyes wide as if she hadn’t meant to touch her at all.

“Sorry!” Y/N stammered, pulling her hand away, but Kyra felt a sudden surge of courage.

“No, wait!” Kyra said, reaching for Y/N’s hand again. Their fingers intertwined, and an electric current surged between them.

Y/N’s eyes widened, surprise mingling with something deeper. “Kyra…”

Before either could say more, Alessia jumped up, oblivious to the tension. “Who wants dessert? I brought cookies!”

Kyra and Y/N pulled their hands apart, the moment shattered but not forgotten. As they turned their attention back to Alessia, Kyra felt a mix of disappointment and hope—

maybe there was something there.

In the days that followed, Kyra and Y/N found themselves growing closer, their moments filled with laughter and shared experiences. They began spending more time together outside of training, exploring the city and enjoying each other’s company.

One evening, while walking through a park, the sun setting behind them, Kyra felt a rush of emotions. “Y/N, can I ask you something?”

“Of course! What’s on your mind?” Y/N replied, her expression open and inviting.

“What do you think about… relationships?” Kyra hesitated, the weight of her feelings pressing down on her.

Y/N tilted her head, curiosity piqued. “Well, they can be complicated but also amazing. Why?”

“I… I think I might like you more than just friends,” Kyra confessed, her heart racing as she spoke the words.

Y/N’s eyes widened, her surprise palpable. “You do?”

“Yeah, and I know it might be weird since we’re friends and I’m friends with your sister, but—”

“It’s not weird,” Y/N interrupted, her voice steady. “I like you too, Kyra. I’ve felt this connection since we first met.”

Kyra’s heart soared. “Really? I thought I was being ridiculous!”

“No! Not at all!” Y/N said, her smile brightening. “I’ve been hoping you’d say something.”

As they stood there, the world around them faded away, and Kyra felt an overwhelming sense of relief wash over her. They leaned closer, sharing a tentative kiss, their lips brushing softly before deepening into something warm and sweet.

When they pulled back, Y/N’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling with joy. “Wow, that was nice.”

“Yeah, it was,” Kyra replied, her heart racing.

However, amidst the growing excitement of their relationship, Kyra couldn’t shake the feeling of anxiety.

What would Alessia think?

One evening, while the three of them were watching a movie, Kyra felt the tension building inside her. “Alessia, can we talk?”

“Sure! What’s up?” Alessia replied, her brow furrowing slightly.

Kyra took a deep breath. “So, Y/N and I… we’re kind of seeing each other now.”

Alessia’s eyes widened in surprise, then softened with understanding. “Oh! Wow, I didn’t see that coming, but I’m happy for you both! Just be careful, okay?”

“Thanks, Alessia. I just didn’t want to hide it from you,” Kyra said, relief washing over her.

Y/N chimed in, “I’m glad we told you. I hope it doesn’t change anything between us.”

Alessia smiled warmly. “Not at all! Just don’t expect me to choose sides if you two get into an argument!”

As they laughed, Kyra felt a wave of happiness wash over her, feeling supported and accepted.

However, as the days turned into weeks, Kyra noticed a shift in Y/N’s mood. She seemed more reserved, and Kyra couldn’t help but worry. One evening, as they sat together, Kyra decided to address it.

“Y/N, is everything okay? You seem a bit off lately,” Kyra said, concern lacing her voice.

Y/N sighed, her eyes downcast. “I’m just worried about how this affects my relationship with Alessia. I don’t want to come between you two.”

“Y/N, you’re not coming between us,” Kyra reassured her, taking Y/N’s hands in hers. “Alessia supports us. This is something special, and it’s okay to embrace it.”

“I know, but it’s a lot to navigate. I don’t want to lose my sister or you,” Y/N admitted, her vulnerability shining through.

“You won’t lose either of us. We’ll figure this out together,” Kyra promised, squeezing Y/N’s hands tighter.

As they talked, Kyra felt a sense of determination to support Y/N. They would face the challenges together, no matter what.

Over the next few weeks, Kyra and Y/N worked on finding balance in their relationship. They supported each other in their individual pursuits, attending matches and helping each other through training challenges.

One day, after a particularly grueling training session, Y/N surprised Kyra with a picnic in the park. “I thought we could use a break,” Y/N said, spreading out a blanket under a tree.

“This is amazing!” Kyra exclaimed, her heart swelling with affection as they settled down.

As they enjoyed their meal, Y/N smiled shyly. “I’m really happy we’re doing this. I feel like I can be myself around you.”

“You can always be yourself with me,” Kyra replied, her tone earnest. “That’s what I love about us.”

Y/N looked thoughtful for a moment, then asked, “Do you ever worry about how this will affect your career?”

“I do sometimes, but I know what I want,” Kyra admitted, meeting Y/N’s gaze. “I want to support you and be there for you.”

Their conversation flowed seamlessly, filled with laughter and affection. But as the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over the park, a weight settled over Kyra’s heart.

As the season progressed, Kyra’s performance on the pitch soared, but the pressure began to mount. The media was buzzing with rumors, and Kyra felt the weight of expectations bearing down on her.

One day, after a particularly difficult training session, Kyra found herself snapping at Y/N over a small mistake. “Can you just focus for once? This isn’t a game!” she blurted out, frustration boiling over.

Y/N’s expression fell, hurt flashing across her face. “I am focusing, Kyra! I’m here to support you, not to make things harder.”

Kyra immediately regretted her words. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just stressed.”

Y/N nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I get that, but I need you to communicate with me. I want to help, but you have to let me in.”

“Please don’t shut me out,” Kyra pleaded, her heart aching at the sight of Y/N’s hurt expression.

They stood in silence for a moment, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Finally, Y/N spoke softly, “I just want us to be okay.”

“We will be,” Kyra promised, pulling Y/N into a gentle embrace. “I’m sorry for taking my stress out on you.”

As time passed, Kyra and Y/N worked hard to communicate openly and honestly. Their bond deepened, filled with moments of vulnerability and understanding.

One night, after a successful match where Kyra scored the winning goal, they celebrated together. Y/N’s face lit up with pride as she hugged Kyra tightly. “I’m so proud of you! You were incredible out there!”

“Thanks! I couldn’t have done it without your support,” Kyra said, grinning from ear to ear.

They danced around the living room, lost in their joy and laughter. But as the excitement faded, a moment of stillness settled between them.

“Kyra, I’ve been thinking,” Y/N said, her expression serious. “What happens if things get tough again? We’ve been doing well, but I worry about the future.”

“Me too,” Kyra admitted, feeling the weight of Y/N’s concerns. “But we can face it together. I want to be with you, no matter what challenges come our way.”

Y/N’s eyes softened, a mixture of relief and gratitude flooding her features. “Okay. Together.”

As they shared a kiss, a sense of determination filled the air, a promise that they would continue to fight for each other, no matter what obstacles lay ahead.

However, just as they settled into a rhythm, a sudden twist sent their world spiraling. A rumor surfaced in the media about a potential transfer for Kyra, stirring uncertainty within their relationship.

Y/N confronted Kyra one evening,

her voice trembling. “Is it true? Are you thinking about leaving?”

Kyra felt her heart drop. “Y/N, it’s just a rumor. I don’t want to go anywhere. You mean too much to me.”

“But what if it’s not just a rumor? What if you get an offer and…?”

“Y/N, stop!” Kyra interrupted, frustration creeping in. “You’re letting your insecurities get the best of you. I’m not leaving you.”

“But what if you have to choose between your career and me?” Y/N challenged, her eyes filled with fear.

“Why do we have to make it a choice?” Kyra asked, desperation tinging her voice. “We can make this work, no matter where I go!”

Y/N shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I don’t want to be the reason you miss out on your dreams.”

“Being with you is part of my dream, Y/N!” Kyra pleaded, reaching for Y/N’s hand. “Please believe that.”

But Y/N turned away, her heart heavy with uncertainty. “I need some space,” she whispered before walking out.

In the days that followed, the distance between them grew unbearable. Kyra threw herself into training, trying to drown out the pain of losing Y/N.

But every goal she scored felt hollow without Y/N by her side. One evening, after a particularly rough training session, she broke down, her teammates rallying around her.

“Kyra, you need to talk to Y/N,” Alessia urged, her voice firm. “You can’t let this distance linger.”

“I know, but I don’t want to push her away further,” Kyra replied, her voice cracking.

“You won’t know unless you try. Go find her,” Alessia encouraged, her eyes filled with determination.

With her heart pounding, Kyra made her way to Y/N’s apartment. She knocked hesitantly, fear coursing through her veins. When Y/N opened the door, Kyra’s breath caught in her throat.

“Y/N, I’m so sorry,” she began, her voice trembling. “I never meant to hurt you. Can we talk?”

Y/N stepped aside, allowing Kyra to enter. The silence hung heavy as they settled into the living room.

“I’ve missed you,” Kyra confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’ve missed you too, but I’ve been confused,” Y/N admitted, her gaze shifting to the floor. “I don’t want to hold you back.”

“You’re not holding me back,” Kyra replied, desperation lacing her words. “You’re my support, my everything. I don’t want to lose that.”

“But what if it becomes too complicated?” Y/N challenged, her voice shaky.

“Complications are part of relationships,” Kyra said earnestly. “But I believe we can work through anything together. I want you in my life, Y/N.”

Y/N looked up, her eyes glistening with emotion. “Really?”

“Yes! I’m not going anywhere. I promise,” Kyra vowed, stepping closer to Y/N.

Tears brimmed in Y/N’s eyes as she nodded slowly. “I want to believe you.”

“Then let me show you,” Kyra whispered, wrapping her arms around Y/N and pulling her into a tight embrace.

As they held each other, the warmth of their connection seeped back in, washing away the tension that had built between them.

“I’m sorry for pushing you away,” Y/N murmured against Kyra’s shoulder. “I was scared.”

“I understand, and I’m sorry for the rumors. But I want to face this together,” Kyra replied, pulling back to look Y/N in the eye. “You mean too much to me.”

Y/N smiled through her tears, her heart swelling with affection. “You really mean it?”

“Of course. I care about you more than anything,” Kyra affirmed, cupping Y/N’s face in her hands.

With a tentative smile, Y/N leaned in, their lips meeting in a soft kiss. As they pulled back, Kyra felt a sense of hope blooming inside her.

“Let’s take it one day at a time,” Y/N suggested, her voice filled with determination.

“I’m all in,” Kyra replied, a grin spreading across her face.

In the weeks that followed, Kyra and Y/N found their rhythm again. They communicated openly, sharing their fears and dreams without hesitation.

One evening, as they stargazed on a rooftop, Kyra turned to Y/N, a sense of contentment washing over her. “I’m so grateful for you.”

“Me too,” Y/N replied, resting her head on Kyra’s shoulder. “I never want to go through that distance again.”

“Neither do I,” Kyra agreed, wrapping her arm around Y/N protectively. “We’re stronger together.”

As they sat in silence, the weight of their struggles began to lift, replaced by a sense of clarity. They could face whatever challenges lay ahead, as long as they had each other.

And in that moment, under the vast expanse of the starry sky, Kyra realized that their love was worth fighting for.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The End

[yanderes-galore]

So... what about headcanons of Vox and Alastor fighting over a Fallen Angel! GN Reader?

Oh No... Vox and Alastor alone is bad enough... with a Fallen Angel is somehow worse. I will be honest, I struggled HARD on this one, even with @okchijt's help. So I hope what I got across was coherent, even if not all that intense.

Yandere! Vox vs Alastor with Fallen Angel! Darling

Pairing: Romantic/Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Jealousy, Coercion, Violence, Dubious relationship/companionship.

First of all, if we take Lucifer into account, fallen angels are powerful.

Even Vaggie, who I think I can rope into that category, is strong in a different way.

I personally consider fallen angels rare.

Lucifer and Vaggie are the only ones I can really think of in Hell.

So imagine the fame you can get as a fallen angel?

That would be Vox's beginning obsession with you.

A fallen angel would be great for views.

Meanwhile, Alastor would probably first be intrigued due to the power angels contain, even when fallen.

Although, Alastor may also just be interested since Vox is.

Alastor would do anything to piss the TV off.

The two would start their obsessions simply for their own goals.

Vox wants to use your rarity to his advantage.

While Alastor both wants to mess with Vox and fuel his own motives.

Essentially, both Overlords want a deal with you.

Which often leaves you trying to avoid and ignore them.

I feel like any Alastor vs Vox rivalry is created primarily due to the hate they have for each other.

Vox may genuinely feel he has feelings for you or just want to own a powerful being such as yourself.

Meanwhile Alastor primarily wants you as it would devastate Vox.

That or maybe Alastor gets interested in you first, as two fallen angels I know of work at the hotel already.

Only for Vox to catch wind of it and begin to envy that Alastor managed to score a fallen angel.

Both definitely try to tempt you.

Vox more than anything, with fame and stardom.

While Alastor tried to tempt you with power, a deal that could benefit both of you.

It's all just a competition to get you on one side or the other.

How they do it definitely depends on your strength.

If you're near Lucifer's power, then kidnapping is out of the question.

They'd need to use manipulation to coax you into siding with one of them.

If you're similar to Vaggie or somewhere a bit stronger?

They could probably kidnap you if they lured you somewhere.

A big part of the rivalry is control and power struggles.

It feels a lot like you're being used.

In fact, for the most part, you are.

The two only seem to want you to gloat to the other one.

It's petty and very much like them to do.

Between the two, you'd probably side with Alastor more.

Maybe you've fallen by a mistake.

Maybe you want to go back to heaven?

You don't entirely trust him, but Alastor no doubt picks up on this.

He may even tempt you into a deal, saying that staying with him will give you a chance to get back into heaven.

You just need to make a deal.

Of course, Alastor is a liar, but naive you don't know that.

The only catch is you stay away from Vox.

He likes to make you think that, anyways.

You'll never properly rehabilitate as Alastor will always make you fail.

Both of your "admirers" want to make a deal with you.

While you don't trust either of them, you're also unfamiliar with deals.

So maybe you will stay with Alastor.

But Vox always seems more... welcome.

After all, he wants to make you feel welcome.

Always with honeyed words and friendly gestures.

While Alastor does something similar...

It's all manipulation.

All little lies and fake faces, just to make you trust them.

That's all the rivalry is.

Mind games and competition.

Two demons tempting a naive fallen angel, fresh out of heaven and into the fiery pits.

A rabbit entering a lion's den.

To them it's definitely all about control.

You may be naive, but you've still got some power.

At first, it really is all about power.

Yet over time... It's something else.

Perhaps they begin to want your companionship.

Like with Vox bribing you to stay at the tower.

Or Alastor suggesting you spend more time at the hotel for "redemption".

Perhaps they begin to enjoy your presence.

A little slice of heaven, y'know?

It's eventually less about power, and more just craving your presence.

Fighting to win you over eventually makes them obsessed.

After all, neither of them could ask for a better prize.

A fallen angel? Imagine the attention they'd get when they make you theirs?

So... even when they're obsessed, it's really all about ownership.

Even when they begin to care more, they still want to win against the other.

When affectionate, the two have a possessive undertone.

Their rivalry is bad enough as is.

But with a being such as you, someone so easy to exploit...

It only seems to make things worse for you, stuck between two demons who are competing on who can own you first.

[estapa-edwards]

Rempe with singer reader??

SINGER - M. REMPE

paring: Matt Rempe x reader

word count: 1.3

requested? yes

warnings: use of y/n.

*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*

It all started on a brisk autumn evening in New York City. Matt Rempe had just finished a grueling game against the Boston Bruins, where his team had secured a hard-fought victory. As he made his way out of Madison Square Garden, a close friend invited him to an exclusive after-party in Manhattan. Reluctantly, Matt agreed, hoping to unwind and celebrate the win.

Meanwhile, Y/N was performing at a high-profile charity event across town. Known for her soulful voice and poignant lyrics, Y/N had taken the music world by storm, earning numerous accolades and a massive following. Her performance that night was nothing short of magical, leaving the audience in awe.

Fate, however, had something special in store. As the night wore on, the after-party and the charity event merged into one grand celebration at an upscale rooftop bar. The stars aligned, and amidst the throngs of people, Matt and Y/N's paths crossed.

The rooftop bar was buzzing with energy, filled with celebrities, athletes, and influencers. Matt, feeling slightly out of his element, found solace near the bar, nursing a drink. As he scanned the crowd, his eyes landed on Y/N, who was engaged in conversation with a group of friends. Her laughter was infectious, and her presence seemed to light up the room.

“She’s something, isn’t she?” Chris nudged Matt, noticing his gaze.

“Yeah, she really is,” Matt replied, unable to take his eyes off her.

Encouraged by Chris, Matt mustered the courage to approach her. As he neared, Y/N turned, and their eyes met.

“Hey, aren’t you that guy who scored the game-winning goal tonight?” Y/N teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“And you’re the voice behind my favorite song,” Matt retorted, flashing a grin.

Y/N laughed, a melodic sound that immediately put Matt at ease. They struck up a conversation, discovering a mutual love for classic rock, an affinity for late-night diner runs, and a shared disdain for the paparazzi. As the night unfolded, they found themselves drawn to each other in a way that neither had anticipated.

--- --- --- 

The initial encounter left a lasting impression on both of them. Over the next few days, Matt couldn’t stop thinking about Y/N. Her energy, wit, and genuine personality had captivated him. Determined to see her again, he decided to take a chance.

With some help from Chris, who managed to get Y/N’s number through a mutual friend, Matt sent her a text.

“Hey Y/N, it’s Matt from the other night. I was wondering if you’d like to grab coffee sometime?”

Y/N, who had been equally intrigued by Matt, responded almost immediately.

“Hi Matt! I’d love to. How about this Saturday?”

They arranged to meet at a cozy café in Greenwich Village, away from the prying eyes of the media. Nervous but excited, Matt arrived early, dressed in a casual sweater and jeans. Y/N walked in a few minutes later, her smile lighting up the room.

“Hey there,” she greeted, sliding into the seat across from him.

“Hey yourself,” Matt replied, grinning.

The conversation flowed effortlessly. They talked about their careers, dreams, and the pressures of living in the public eye. Matt was fascinated by Y/N’s passion for music and her dedication to using her platform for good. Y/N, in turn, admired Matt’s humility and determination.

As the hours passed, the café buzzed around them, but they were in their own world. When it was time to leave, neither wanted the date to end.

“Do you have plans for the rest of the day?” Matt asked, hoping to extend their time together.

“Not really. Why, do you?” Y/N responded with a playful smile.

“I was thinking, if you’re up for it, we could take a walk through Central Park?”

Y/N’s eyes lit up. “I’d love that.”

--- --- --- 

Central Park was alive with the colors of autumn, the leaves creating a picturesque backdrop for their impromptu date. They strolled through the park, talking and laughing, occasionally stopping to watch street performers or admire the scenery.

At one point, they found themselves at Bethesda Terrace, a serene spot overlooking the lake. They sat on the steps, enjoying the tranquility.

“You know, this is nice,” Y/N said, leaning slightly against Matt.

“Yeah, it really is,” Matt agreed, feeling a warmth spread through him.

As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the park, Matt felt a sense of contentment he hadn’t experienced in a long time. He turned to Y/N, his heart pounding.

“I’m really glad we did this,” he said softly.

“Me too,” Y/N replied, meeting his gaze. There was a moment of silence, the world around them fading away.

Then, without thinking, Matt leaned in and gently kissed Y/N. It was a tender, sweet kiss that took them both by surprise, but felt undeniably right.

When they pulled away, Y/N smiled, her cheeks flushed. “I think this is the start of something really special,” she whispered.

“I think so too,” Matt agreed, his heart soaring.

--- --- --- 

As Matt and Y/N continued to see each other, their relationship blossomed. They shared countless dates, exploring the city, attending concerts, and even sneaking into Rangers games where Y/N cheered him on from a private box.

However, their romance didn’t stay private for long. The media quickly caught wind of their budding relationship, and soon, the headlines were filled with speculation and scrutiny. Paparazzi followed their every move, eager to capture the latest scoop on the new power couple.

Matt and Y/N were strolling hand in hand through Central Park on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. The autumn leaves crunched under their feet, and the crisp air was filled with the scent of hot dog stands and roasted chestnuts. They had just come from a cozy brunch at their favorite café and were now enjoying a rare, leisurely day together.

As they approached Bethesda Fountain, Matt noticed a small group of paparazzi lurking near the edge of the park. His grip on Y/N's hand tightened slightly.

“Looks like we’ve been spotted,” he murmured.

Y/N glanced over and sighed. “I guess it was bound to happen. Let’s just keep walking.”

The couple continued their walk, attempting to ignore the growing cluster of photographers. However, the paparazzi were relentless, quickly closing in on them and bombarding them with questions.

“Matt! Y/N! Are you two officially a couple?”

“How do you handle the long-distance with your busy schedules?”

“Y/N, how does it feel to date a hockey star?”

The questions kept coming, each one more intrusive than the last. Matt could see Y/N tensing up beside him. She had always been a private person, preferring to let her music speak for itself.

Deciding it was time to address the crowd and hopefully get them to back off, Matt raised his hand for silence. The paparazzi quieted down, eager for his response.

“Listen, we appreciate the interest, but we’re just trying to enjoy a day out together,” Matt began, his voice calm but firm. “We’re happy and we’re doing great. That’s all there is to it.”

He paused, then added with a grin, “And if you really want to know how Y/N is feeling, I’d recommend you stream her new song, ‘Delicate’. It’s out now and it’s incredible.”

The paparazzi exchanged glances, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected plug. Y/N couldn’t help but chuckle, squeezing Matt’s hand in appreciation. She loved how he could diffuse tension with his easy going nature.

“Thanks for your support,” Matt continued. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’d like to get back to our day.”

With that, he and Y/N resumed their walk, leaving the paparazzi to chatter excitedly among themselves. As they strolled away, Y/N looked up at Matt, her eyes filled with gratitude.

“You handled that perfectly,” she said, smiling. “And thanks for the shout-out.”

“Anything for you,” Matt replied, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead. “Now, let’s find a quiet spot and enjoy the rest of our day.”

They found a bench near the lake, far from the prying eyes of photographers and fans. Sitting close together, they talked about everything and nothing, savoring the rare moments of peace in their otherwise hectic lives.

[malk1ns]

november 19 vs lightning, 3-2 OT loss

sidney's milestone yips return 🙄

this series is now on ao3! i'll be adding games in chunks from now on :)

Sanja never believes Zhenya when Zhenya says he doesn’t really get angry with Sid.

Oh, they bicker, of course—you can’t spend practically 24 hours a day with someone for nine months out of the year without small irritations flaring up. One of them will be overtired and crabby, or they’ll disagree about where to go for dinner near the end of a long roadie…stuff like that.

But major arguments, flaring tempers and angry, icy silences? They don’t do that. It’s something Zhenya’s always been smug about.

There is, of course, an exception.

Having a front-row seat to Sid’s career has been a privilege and an honor. Zhenya doesn’t regret a single decision that’s kept him at Sid’s side since 2006; even taking their relationship out of it, because it’s not like they’d break up just because they temporarily lived apart, getting to watch someone live up to the type of potential Sid has and work his way into the record books is not something Zhenya would give up willingly.

The time those records take, though.

Sid overthinks every aspect of his play when he’s getting close to some sort of milestone. He handles the puck like he’s never seen one before, passing when he should shoot and hesitating when he should pass until the lane disappears. He retreats into his routine with a rigidity that he’s mostly shed as he’s gotten older, and he gets snappy with anyone who dares to so much as hint around the concept of a milestone.

It was funny at first. And then Sid entered top-ten categories, leapfrogging over the types of players that most guys won’t come near to matching ever, and the milestones started coming faster and faster, and Sid took longer and longer to actually achieve them.

The goalless drought before 500 had been comical, and ultimately happened in the type of storybook ‘how is this real’ fashion that only Sidney Crosby is capable of and made the wait worth it. Six hundred, though?

“Next time,” Zhenya fumes, slamming the pantry shut perhaps a bit harder than he means to, “you shoot on power play, like, not pass right back to me, I’m get yelled at during break!” He brandishes the bag of trail mix at Sid before ripping it open and cramming a handful into his mouth, chewing with his mouth open just because he knows it pisses Sid off.

“Oh, fuck you,” Sid scoffs, glaring at him so hard that if Zhenya were even slightly less ticked would have him cowering and apologizing. “You passed up plenty of your own fucking chances, eh, how about you get a goal one of these games!”

Zhenya throws his hands up, scattering trail mix across the kitchen island. “I’m not hold whole team up while I pick around on ice, forget how to play hockey, like, need extra-special time for score big goal!” he practically shouts. “Everyone tries to help, like, gets you puck, sets you up, and you’re not shoot. Have to score and move on so we’re play games for real, Sidney, not think about stupid records!”

“You think I want this?” Sid hisses, sweeping some of the spilled M&Ms into his hand and throwing them into the sink so hard a few of them bounce right back out. “All I want—all I’ve ever asked for, every single time this happens, is for people to play.like.normal! I can’t focus when everyone’s watching me, I can’t see the net, I can’t get my grip right…” He tugs at his hair, a nervous habit that Zhenya used to warn would make him go bald until Zhenya’s own hairline started to recede and Sid’s stayed stubbornly put.

Zhenya opens his mouth to snap back, but Sid’s face is twisted in genuine upset, so he takes a deep breath and forces himself to calm down.

Sid needs to get out of his head. Sid needs a distraction. Zhenya’s always been good at that.

“You’re think grip is bad?” he asks, smiling beatifically at Sid when Sid looks at him suspiciously at his abrupt change in tone. “Seems fine this morning, like, tight but not too tight, you know? You’re want to go upstairs and check, practice some more? I’m tell you if it’s good.”

Sid’s expression flickers from suspicion to confusion to disgust to…intrigued. Zhenya mentally high-fives himself. Time to seal the deal.

“And then maybe,” Zhenya purrs, circling the island and crowding close to Sid, “you’re help me get it in goal, like, I need practice too, you know?”

Sid smacks at his arm, but he’s laughing as he abandons his attempt to clean up and drags Zhenya upstairs.

They forget to set an alarm and get yelled at when they skid in late to video review the next morning. Sid’s smiling again, though, and Zhenya would bag-skate himself for a full 60 minutes to make that happen.

[mari-lair]

It’s wild when I see people say Aoi is written only to be Akane’s love interest, cause Akane never hid that he is her boy.

He goes the extra mile just for a hint of her attention and had given the classic childhood friend heroine speech of "I’ll love my crush even if they never look my way."

It's framed as a joke but he is genuinely happy as long as Aoi exist, he can enjoy his life and look forward to all his days no matter how shitty they are (Teru bullies him, the clock keepers work him dry, he gets rejected constantly, and so on,) as long as Aoi is alive and happy.

He is ridiculously easy to please when it comes to Aoi.

And while Aoi does loves Akane, visibly being affected by him: As seen by her possessive attitude, her wish to be closer to him, and the way his hard work influenced her, she doesn’t try or want her world to revolve around him.

Yes, she will cry and crumble if he doesn’t like her because she cares deeply, their relationship is a solid part of her character, but she has plenty of hobbies and plans without him, most of her problems are caused by herself or society's views and expectations of her, she wouldn’t do what Akane asks of her or change for him, not unless he is asking for something she also wants for herself.

Let’s compare how they talk about each other for a bit.

The only time Aoi talks about her feelings for Akane is in chapter 84, which is very far into the manga.

And this exposition shows her envious and insecure side, how she admires kindness and wishes she was as lovable: It shows a conflict that says as much about Aoi’s character as it does about Akane’s character.

Meanwhile, Akane consistently talks about her, and most of his expositions don’t offer any substance to his character, other than “he is in love”.

The only exposition that says as much about himself as it does about Aoi is the one in chapter 24, which shows he stalks her, and Aoi encourages it, since she trusts him, and unfortunately, she have been in need of constant protection from a young age:

Even when Akane explicitly says he’ll talk about himself.

He doesn’t.

He  proceeds to spend the whole chapter talking about Aoi.

The only thing he says about himself in that entire rant is “I hate that part of you”, which he later admits was a lie, something that he used to have her stay and listen.

He isn’t just her boy, he has a life outside her, a very busy life.

As Aoi put it, “He works hard and is dutiful.” which mostly translates to ‘helpful and trust worthy’, so he is constantly seen giving other characters advise that works or making them snap out of their bullshit: He is the reliable one.

His classmates respect him , Teru trusts his judgement, and hell even Kou, who barely interacted with Akane had called him and not a close friend like Nene, when he felt powerless and needed help.

But no matter how seriously he may take his duties or want to help people, Akane has decided he was born to love and protect Aoi.

That’s his priority, always.

His only long term goals involve Aoi, he devoted all his heart and soul to her.

If she wanted Akane to change his style to clothes he would never wear on his own, or make him get into new hobbies, or tell him to score lower than her, he would do it right away: He is comfortable being her boy, he’ll throw his pride away with no hesitation for her and do anything to make her happy to an extreme even most ‘heroines’ I see wouldn’t cross.

The one thing Aoi made VERY clear despite never saying out loud is “Keep your eyes on me. Don’t flirt with anyone else.” and that’s a wish that Akane took to heart, to the point that he is the only character that stays ‘loyal’ to his love interest even on silly extra events, like the ‘kiss day’ arts.

Everyone else send a kiss, no matter if they have a love interest or not, since is just a fun little bonus.

Akane only starts to touch her when he is confident Aoi likes him too: When he assumes she wants him, before that he always kept a certain distance, understanding he ain’t entitled to shit just because they are childhood friends.

Akane is far from perfect, he can be selfish and self centered, his approach to help usually tactless, but at his core, he always seek to do what Aoi wants, no questions asked.

His devotion is extreme to the point of being unhealthy, but he isn’t lying or trying to please Aoi here: As long as she is alive, and enjoying life, he will be delighted doing any of the things she wants. Her best hairstyle in his eyes is always the one she chose to style, the best clothes are always the ones she wants to wear.

There is nothing he likes more than her. Or to make her happy.

Even what Akane loves to do the most, which is to gush about Aoi nonstop until he looks batshit insane, is something that she had encouraged and never complained, no matter how much it escalated, so he was convinced she loved the attention.

Once she is honest and admits she doesn’t like it, he immediately tries to drop it.

He still has an ‘I was born to love you’ mentally, he just stop putting on a show, or trying to make her heart flutter. Most of his displays of worry, affection, or ‘ill protect you’ became either quiet or casual.

...Still.

He can’t help but show his love loudly from time to time, he is cringe at heart, truly hopeless, but he is trying his best.

In short: Aoi is in desperate need for more character focus, but the one determined to make their life revolve around their love interest is clearly Akane.

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Psycho Analysis: Snowflame

(WARNING! This analysis contains C-C-C-COCAINE!)

Imagine this absurd concept: A supervillain cartel boss whose powers are fueled by him getting high off his own supply. Imagine too that this man wears a ridiculous outfit, and exists to be an anti-drug PSA that fails epically because he makes doing drugs look awesome. Now also imagine that everything about him is played completely straight without a single bit of acknowledgment of how absurd and campy the whole thing is.

That, my friends, is Snowflame.

The New Guardians is a comic series that would have been long forgotten as a crusty relic of the late 80s if not for giving the world the absolute coolest villain ever conceived. Snowflame has amassed a cult following the likes of which would make Jim Jones envious, due to the sheer absurdity of his existence and the pure unadulterated action movie villain charm of his dialogue. He’s perhaps one of the most minor villains out there with only a handful of appearances to his name, but he’s loved more than villains who’ve appeared twenty times as much as him.

I’m here to show you why.

Motivation/Goals: Snowflame is a cartel leader, and so he really wants to peddle drugs. Guess which drug is his forte. Go on, guess. And that’s really all there is to him! I need to reiterate that his threat as a cartel leader is played completely and utterly straight even as he spouts off the hammiest dialogue you’ve ever seen and literally gets a power up by snorting coke. This is the very core of his appeal, in that he is something genuinely terrifying and threatening but presented in a way only a comic book can pull off.

Of course, his true motivation is far, far simpler.

Look at this man. That is the face of a man who exists solely to snort illicit substances up his nose. He lives to be high. That is the extent of his desires, and all else is second to that simple goal. As long as he can ignite and continue to be the instrument of cocaine's will, he is satisfied.

Final Fate: Every single time Snowflame shows up, he dies. In his initial appearance, he apparently blows up, but three decades later, he makes his coke-fueled return to do battle with Catwoman, and despite inhaling enough cocaine to kill an elephant, a feat that should theoretically make him nigh invincible, he fucking dies.

...Or does he? Snowflame returns yet again in Peacemaker Tries Hard! Here he does battle with, you guessed it,

...who puts a poison dart frog in his cocaine and kills him.

Maybe. My theory is that Snowflame is the Kenny of the DC universe, and whenever some bastard kills him his coke-fueled powers just respawn him the next day.

Best Scene: While his fight against Catwoman is unfortunately lackluster as ordained by the writers (Selina is not lasting two seconds against Snowflame and his coke-fueled powers under realistic circumstances), it gave us one of the most gorgeous and badass panels ever made:

Really brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it?

Best Quote: Yeah, there’s no fucking contest here, it’s this:

Final Thoughts & Score: I think I speak for all of us when I say Snowflame is one of the greatest fucking characters ever conceived.

Everything about him is a towering testament to what makes the medium of comic books great. The best villains tend to be the wildest and most out-there concepts, like a giant alien starfish that mind controls people, or a gay gorilla in love with a brain in a jar, or a giant racist communist egg. And don’t even get me started on the villains the Doom Patrol fights! Snowflame is the epitome of that; he is what would happen if Tony Montana was a DC supervillain by way of Captain Planet. He is absurd, over-the-top, and so goddamn cool.

It’s very obvious they were trying to do an anti-drug PSA here given the time the comic was released, but it absolutely falls flat on its face when the strawman constructed to be defeated so that the lesson might be dispersed is an absolute lunatic who dresses in colorful spandex and spouts off the most epic lines to ever come out of a villain’s mouth. Everything about him is absurd, but unlike something like Egg Fu he’s absurd in a tasteful and cool way rather than a shockingly racist way. Snowflame is just a dude who snorts cocaine to gain superpowers, it’s as simple as that and yet it’s also completely bonkers.

It’s genuinely unsurprising that this guy managed to get such a massive cult following that he spawned a fanmade webcomic and then got to pop up in the comics again over three decades after his supposed death. And it’s said cult following that has allowed him to pop up time and time again, even getting an appearance in the fourth season of Harley Quinn. I’m sure you can guess that I’m part of that massive cult fanbase, and I can only dream of writing a villain as incredible and grandiose as this drug-addled madman. Infinity/10 isn’t a real score, so he’ll have to settle for a 10/10 instead.

...Oh yeah, remember in the Egg Fu review when I said I wasn’t going to review Hemo-Goblin?

Psycho Analysis: Hemo-Goblin

This is gonna be really short, because there is so little to this guy. He is a one-shot, but boy what a fucking shot he is. Hemo-Goblin is a racist vampire created by South African white supremacists to give members of the New Guardians AIDS. You read that right. This is a racist AIDS vampire.

Now, unlike Egg Fu, who was a horrible racist caricature created from topical anti-communist sentiments of the time, Hemo-Goblin was seemingly created with better intentions. But you know what they say about intentions; the road to Hell is paved with good ones. I get wanting to do a commentary on the AIDS crisis, and I don’t think it’s out of the question for a superhero book to handle such a thing, but maybe having an AIDS-powered vampire give HIV to a Jamaican woman and a gay man isn’t the most tasteful and nuanced way to do this.

Oh, and by the end of his only appearance, he dies of AIDS in jail.

I’m not gonna lie, guys: I kinda love this stupid fucking creature. His weird design, the absurdity of his concept, and the awful execution of his premise makes him memorable for all the wrong reasons, but he’s memorable nonetheless. I think if Snowflame didn’t exist and wasn’t the coolest villain ever, more people would talk about the insanity that is Hemo-Goblin, though having a single appearance before dying and never appearing again doesn’t help his case much. Still, he’s just cazy enough to earn himself a 3.5/10, so he’s got that going for him.

[chidoroki]

Maybe it's a unpopular opinion but i think that, whatever Isabella thought about it, shipping Ray would have destroyed her. She tried to keep her distance from him, because she was afraid to love him like her son, because she was unable to save him. She says "i couldn't dote on you" but she also thinks "i love you so much". She loves him so much when she tried to not. So i'm pretty sure that giving him to demon ans seeing him die (because she sees the kids die) would have broke her heart forever

Oh for sure. I don’t think anything could break her as much as Leslie’s departure did, but having to ship out Ray would definitely land a critical hit on her heart. No one would ever know this, of course. Isabella would hide her true emotions on a daily basis, as she does with every other kid she sends to the gate, but despite their very unusual and complicated mother-son relationship, she still cares for him as much as any other kid she had the chance to raise. We just don't get to see her loving nature towards Ray much because.. well, she's real damn good at her job.

I believe she only distanced herself after she learned that Ray was her actual son. Before Ray made the deal with her, there was no reason for her to treat him any different from anyone else. She thought he was just another kid she had to raise to be eaten for some demons to ensure her own survival. It sounds bad, I know, but it also means there was no point in acting fake around him. Everything she did pre-agreement was as genuine as she could get, given the circumstances of the house. For the first couple of years, she was nothing but a mom to him, just like she was to the other kids.

The distance between them grew once the deal came into play because they now saw each other as enemies. That actually helped them in regards to them handling their different situations and their own emotions, as the deal gave them different roles to act in. The whole shepherd/sheepdog idea made their interactions more civil and blunt. Sure they both ended up despising one another and plotting for the other’s downfall, but the agreement ultimately made it easier for them to deal with each other, as all their actions, words, thoughts, etc were as fake as could be. They learned that by twisting their relationship in such an insane way would help keep their emotions out of the picture so they can each pursue their goal in their never-ending game of chess, sneaking around their formalities to gain advantages over the other.

If they had to act like a real mother & son to each other with all the knowledge they both had about the farm, it would certainly make those last six years mentally and emotionally exhausting, no matter how hard they tried to hide it. Makes me wonder if Ray never offered up himself as her watchdog, would Isabella have shipped him off early instead? She kept Ray around since she could still control and use him as her own puppet, but I dunno if her love for him would’ve been strong alone to save him. She takes her caretaker job so seriously that love certainly couldn't save any other kid of hers, so despite Ray being her actual son, I wouldn’t doubt that she might’ve shipped him out prematurely here. His test scores could possibly gave him the chance to stay a bit longer, since she favors results more than the rules of the house, but there’s no way she could’ve ignored a kid who knew the secret and have them walk around the plantation carefree either. That would’ve created several problems. In the end, the deal was a huge benefit to them both. Obviously it spared Ray's life, but it also saved Isabella from getting even more emotionally attached to him by tossing their precious relationship aside.

Of course I know she does love him deep down. All I need to prove it is this one page that still manages to break my heart in several pieces and oh my god y’all I love them so damn much aaaaahhhh. Damn it Shirai! Did you really have to do this to them? And to me??

Aside from all the occasions I’ve spoken about Isabella loving her kids & Ray, ch 181.7 also throws the truth right in our faces once more thanks to Ray’s goodbye note. I recently mentioned in my 182days posts how touching it was for Isabella to hold onto the children's stuff because it shows us how near and dear they all were to her heart, so while she does eventually use the note to gain trust from Matilda & the other ladies, I firmly believe she kept it as a memento of Ray first and foremost. We see her holding onto that note here as if it’s just the most precious thing in the world and it warms my heart knowing that she kept it on her person the night of the escape since the entire house literally went up in flames and everything else in it was lost. If her love for Ray was this obvious to the four sisters who barely knew a thing about her, then it had to be clear as hell to her actual kids.

The love she feels for her kids (& Ray most importantly) should also be common knowledge to us readers as well, but I see some people doubt it every now and then still. It's fine, really. People will always see her as a villain and that's understandable. But *gestures to everything I ever said about this woman* hello?? Pfftt. ANYWAYS! Thanks for letting me ramble on about these two! (and if you're the same anon who sent the other ask that came in right after this one then I'll be answering that one shortly.)

[strawberryblondebutch]

Wait did you watch the game? If so, what did we do wrong/what did Ohio State excel at that we couldn’t match?

I was playtesting a game for work today so I only saw the score later. Based on previous games, I think it’s a couple things:

1) The Buckeyes play very solid defense, which is hard for a high-shooting volume team like Wisconsin. If you look back at the St. Cloud State games from two weeks ago, their defense (not just the players, but the entire defensive schema) is… not good. Skaters are out of place on almost every goal, which gives UW more secondary and even tertiary chances. 24 SOG is low for this team and suggests they weren’t getting those secondary chances much.

2) The psychology of spite.

I’m going to talk about baseball a little bit, because it’s relevant. I’m going to talk about two Phillies pitchers.

The first is Aaron Nola. Nola is sort of a lost breed of pitcher: he barely hits 95 mph and has said he cannot physically hit 97, so he relies on pinpoint control to make up for that low velo. Nine of the ten hardest pitches he’s thrown in his decade-long career? Those were against his brother Austin.

The other guy I want to talk about is Zack Wheeler. Wheeler signed in Philly as a free agent from the Mets, and he had a horrible experience as a Met. While recovering from Tommy John surgery, his team made him spend his own money on tickets TO WATCH THE METS. When he signed with the Phillies, the Mets put out a statement that all but said “this guy sucks at pitching.” Wheeler hates the Mets, and he has said that he purposely throws harder against his old team because of that.

The Buckeyes genuinely fucking hate the Badgers. There was an article a few years ago about how most OSU players had been passed over by Wisconsin and Minnesota (who primarily recruit from blue blood prep schools) and had a chip on their shoulder. They wanted to prove they were better than the teams that turned them down. So the Badgers treat this as just another rivalry game. The Buckeyes are giving 120% because they have hatred in their hearts.

[greatpawtender]

can you imagine post case 4 laurent calling up makoto and being like "Hey Do You Want To Do A Con Again" only for makoto to turn him down so completely that it kind of forces him to reassess his own goals and priorities and what he wants out of life now that his grudges have been settled.

because he just kind of Assumed that his way of living would work for makoto and that working with team confidence would set him down that same path for life (see: the parallels between the way he and makoto are treated by team confidence when they first join), because why Wouldn't it? and he probably thought makoto's genuine desire to be a good person and make an honest living was a result of conformity more than anything. (and it's not even like an honest life is Inherently Better, more that laurent, as someone who was never really able to lead that sort of existence, can't really understand its value beyond it being Safer)

the difference is that makoto doesn't enjoy hurting people, even if it's for a good cause, while laurent (imo) has a very "the end justifies the means" approach and is, I would argue, a lot more childish and petty.

with hindsight and the context of his own treatment, the way makoto is treated by team confidence starts feeling like projection on laurent's behalf. "I saw people fake die in front of me, so it's fine" "I wasn't told anything, so it's fine" "I suffered, but because it's all fake it's fine". tbh it feels like laurent never allowed himself to properly process any of his trauma besides the stuff that was "real" (and even in that case, he only really processed dororthy's death after the score had been settled), so he just expects that makoto will do the same thing and be fine, which is. not how it should go

I just think laurent should be given the chance to kind of. Think about team confidence more critically upon witnessing makoto's post case 4 depression that's all. I think he should go bug makoto at his new job and when makoto doesn't react at all and makes it very clear that he wants laurent Gone, laurent has to confront the fact that this sort of stuff really can fuck people up, and maybe he's a little less okay than he thought. and then he goes and whines to oz about it and then they make out idk

hi op. hi. hey . can i make out with you? no? okay sorry

AOUFUGHHF YOURE SO RIGHT YOURE SO RIGHT OG MY GOD this has been my EXACT thoughts regarding makoto and laurent too god they are so insane

i swear to god its like generational trauma between them 😭 its like the children dealing with what the parents dealt with when they were younger LMAOOO

god i am a sucker for post-case 4 cause there is no way everyone, at least makoto, will be okay after that. i agree so hard with makoto just not reacting At All instead of the comical GRAHHH NOOO YOU CAN'T ROPE ME INTO THIS AGAIN!!! but only in my hc i feel like makoto would just comply because hes so Tired

anyway id love to talk more aboit this but i am stupid but thank u op youre so smart and correct and hot

[avissapiens]

Jockbull Summer Week 2 (19/11/23-25/11/23)

Model used is Tsonghan Wu

1

Went hard with the push ups this week. It gives me such a euphoric rush. I’ve built my chest in the gym normally so by the time I've got a pump from doing a single set of push ups I've got my own set of stress toys to flex and play with. The highest score for this week was 36 with no backtracking. One notable Session involved Scandinavian_King(of Set C fame) pushing me harder and harder to keep doing sets past my first one. Each time to failure. I get so easily riled up with shit like that. Guys taking advantage of the muscle lust to push me harder. I think that night I got a total of 90 in a 5 min span.

2

Muscle related competition was a bit sparse this week. K was out sick so no push up rival. I did end up trying to beat my great friend Teal’s record of 50. That did not work. But I'll get there. Need to get there. Need to fucking win.

3.

This is a fortnightly task but I have noticed an issue. It is related to the problem of me defaulting to these shitty pieces of clothing just cause they are there. I wear them, they make me feel like a dysmorphic trash bag and then because I wear them they are dirty and get put in the wash basket. Which interrupts me being able to instantly put them in the Task box. Luckily I've got some Rawgear stuff coming to pad out the wardrobe before I get to those pieces.

4.

This was the first time I actually got to practice the accent with Jockrs. Truth be told, I'm fucking great at that kinda stuff. I’ve always had a natural ability for voice modification and accent work. So i put it at like a 5/10 on the intensity scale for the whole time we were on the call. Jockrs didn’t fare as well. Obviously it’s a little harder to go from Aussie to Cali than my more neutral “trans-atlantic” mess. One thing i'd like to overcome in this whole process is the Irony poisoning. I spent so much of my life as a Snarky sarcastic dweeb. So much of my life being “Ironic” and joking about without taking things to the genuine core of me. So even this task it’s difficult to get started because in the first couple minutes you’ve got that awkward Irony block for doing something that feels affected. It was such a fun experience tho. After a while the voice just flows through you and it is such a flowey, breathy voice. So fluid and easy.

5.

Rather than describe every BtG episode I'm going to focus on different things that I love and how this show absolutely scratches some old fantasies from my days as a dumb teenager in the musclegrowth kink community. Episode 3 where Baki is placed in a normal high school athletics test, and because of his sheer strength and inhuman physique is completely out of bounds and therefore almost flunks. Absolute Muscle RP fuel. Add to that all the gore and viscera in the other scenes. It’s very itch scratchy and possibly kink forming if you’ve got the abyss already bubbling away.

6.

I am a glutton for punishment and I made an extra task for myself in each of the sets. I did this by drawing tarot cards. Letting the universe speak to me to guide my journey. For this set I drew a Wheel of fortune which talks about fortunate initiative, spontaneity, random success, equality of souls.

And i translated that to "Take more chances with guys in the gym" I hopped on this one quick too. 

I had to kinda work myself up for it but this really chill seeming asian dude with nice curly hair who has legit been at the gym the same time as me for i'd wager 80% of my workouts.

He was just resting and I asked his name and stuff complimented him and asked his goals.

His name is Adrian, he used to do a lot of sport and was focused on strength gains back in high school, but now he's in uni and is more focused on just looking good.

He goes to my school but does law and commerce so unlikely we'll ever share a class or even be there at the same time.

He asked some of my stuff yada yada.

And he kept saying super low under his voice like "you're so huge dude. So huge"

And then when he was leaving he came and said goodbye. It seems small, I know but it’s a big achievement for me every time I make a gymbro. It’s hard making friends in this country.

[tojisun]

omg so sorry i didnt understand the sabrina carpenter post? different edm as in? sorryyy

omgg pls dont apologize!! edm as in edmonton, the oilers’ home ice!

post is basically op playfully (or is it…) begging the oilers to play better in home ice—“i beg you, don’t embarrass me, motherfuckers” LMAO—especially after todays game :’33

too much rambling under the cut, pls ignore again!!

the oilers scored FINALLY after a shutout on saturday’s game, so it was genuinely their first point in the finals round AND THEN THEY NEVER SCORED AGAIN 😭

panthers racked up points, and the game ended 1-4. the panthers took the lead in the series (2-0)

the oilers were always consistent in the way that they get back up in the second game, but today broke that streak so fans are stressing, and rightfully so.

the panthers are a behemoth. bobrovsky (their goaltender) is insane on his own; they broke down how much pucks make it past him and 0% of ones that are sent on the ice make it (idk how else to explain it but it’s when you hit a puck with your stick, and the puck glides on ice). he stops those shots 100% of the time. his weakness, they said, are pucks sent from the shoulders and up but those are rare so, in a sense, bobbys got those covered too 😭

and the panthers’ forwards? fucking assholes (positive). they’re so flexible and fast; you think they’re being marked properly, then next thing you know they’re angled to the goal and then the puck is flying and then boom—they score.

(im not an athlete so do forgive me for these nonsensical comments, im just really buzzed)

AND THEIR DEFENSEMEN? menaces. theyre hot on your heels, and they TAG TEAM PEOPLE. mcdavid has been, as ESPN eloquently said, “double teamed” (sounds like a euphemism 😭). they also tried to, and succeeded with, separating mcdavid and draisaitl because these are the oilers’ best duo. in their prime, their shots always made it in. in this season’s games, mcdavid would be checked by two players, and draisaitl would be slammed onto the glass protector or something, and the deliberate way they are being iced out of each other made it difficult for davo and drai to do their duo plays

and its not just them, but every hard hitter in the oilers would find themselves marked by two people once theyre in the offensive zone. its an insane play (i havent watched enough hockey yet to be able to put hockey reference but this type of defense is so consistent and prevalent in basketball, especially against bigger players. so seeing it be applied on ice was so sick too)

AND THEIR STEALS? DUDE. the panthers are so good at snatching the goddamn puck. sure it led to many MANY cross checks, but its still undisputed that in their aggression, they make insane plays

additionally: matthew tkachuk? a scrappy kitten. he is so terrifying on ice, cute when being pulled away from fighting, and his shaved sides reminds me of johnny 😭

BUT YEA. theyve always been an insane team but its different seeing them play against the oilers who, from what ive seen this season, were a beast of their own—with davo at the core of it

[desifleabag]

A few days ago, I was drunk, standing on the terrace with a beer in hand, conversing with my best friend. The night sky stretched out above, the city skyline visible. She asked me, "What if these plans, dreams, and the career I desire don't work out?"

As the alcohol coursed down my throat, I welled up with tears due to the thoughts swirling in my mind. After a pause, I responded, "You know, at least you dare to pursue what you love. You have the will to live to take classes for your passion to pave the path toward your dreams. You have the guts to envision your aspirations and keep believing in them. In a world where people dictate what to do and what not to do, it's a challenge to follow your heart and persist amidst the chaos. You consistently choose to be true to yourself, even though this world attempts to control your dreams, preferences, and dislikes. Look at yourself; you keep choosing yourself because you have faith in your abilities. Believing in oneself is no small feat. Look at me; I couldn't even tell my aspirations to my parents out of fear that they might throw me out or subject me to torment for dreaming. Today, merely acknowledging what I want from life and imagining my dreams is frightening. Undoubtedly, dreaming can be daunting. But when I dare to dream, the reality of what society and my parents have instilled in me often crushes my hopes. You could say I'm like Raju from '3 Idiots' because I'm afraid. I fear that the five years I've invested in my dreams haven't paid off because I lacked concentration, efficiency, consistency, and the ability to work hard. I admit to these shortcomings. As you grow older, some things shine so brightly that you yearn to seize them and savour the moment. Back then, I allowed this vast void and loneliness to consume me with various distractions, which I now deeply regret. I wasn't taking responsibility for my failures back then, but today I want to say to myself loudly that I indeed faltered over the past five years. I couldn't reach my full potential. I believed I was mediocre. I accepted my parents' notion that I wasn't a hard worker, and I resigned myself to being an average student in college. I'm genuinely sorry for that. Five years ago, in my purple diary, I had a list of dreams and a bucket list to fulfil. Today, I've checked off some boxes but lack the strength to check the others. I feel like giving up, but I don't want to. Every time I pass by a temple, I pray to God for the strength to overcome my obstacles and problems because I know that failure should fuel your determination to achieve your dreams. But, I don't know why, it has made me feel worse about myself, and I haven't risen from the ashes. Perhaps one day, I'll burst into those ashes, regretting that I didn't even attempt to accomplish what I desired. That would be humiliating for me when it comes to pursuing my dreams, the pressure of perfectionism and the fear of failure often loom large in my life. Sometimes, it feels as though these feelings are etched on my face. When I embark on a new endeavour, I yearn for success, but I've come to realize that it's not up to us to determine whether our goals and dreams will come to fruition. All we can do is put in the effort and remain passionately dedicated to our aspirations, leaving the outcome to the universe. Personally, I i perceived this different exampleexample, while I have a deep desire to play football, I catch myself constantly checking the scoreboard during the game. It's as if I'm questioning how I can truly enjoy playing football and achieve victory when my focus is fixed on the score.

Now, I can relate to Ved from 'Tamasha,' and how it led him to live a life he never wanted but was forced into. When your heart yearns for something, and you can't pursue it, it's one of the most profound sorrows I've ever experienced. I want to tell my parents and family that the dreams they've chosen for me are not my own. I don't want to end up like Ved; I want to be Don. I don't want to be like Raju; I want to be RRanchod Das I want to be Veera. I want to be Aisha. I want to live a life that's about me. I'll try again. I'll dare to dream and work relentlessly for what I've always wanted." After saying this, tears streamed down my face, and my best friend gazed at me, saying, "We will."

[icharchivist]

Please reply to this only when your post limit it's in a safer range but..

. What's your personal anni event tier list?

ALL EVENTS ARE QUEEN.......... i don't want to put them on tier list per se because i did love all of those i read, and putting a grade or a top or something on them wouldn't exactly do justice to the fact that every year i get emotional about all the anni we got.

the only anni event i don't have an opinion on is Home Sweet Moon because i didn't read it.

my top and thoughts kinda:

I think my favorite event is "And You".

It was the one that emotionally ruined me, while also feeling like a celebration of the years past, it really highlighted the journey we followed through the most. It's a really touching event.

and i think out of all of them, it feels the most Anniversary Event - it dives into creation lore while also being the most focused on the main character, it dives into the importance of family which is our main goal after all, and it gives answers to the blue hair phenomena while also setting up potential future threats. And it also celebrates a lot of the characters who crossed our path as well as seeing exactly how their lives were changed thanks to us.

In my opinion, it's the perfect Anniversary Event.

If i were to nippick the only thing about And You is that it has less of a narrative structure as the others event, since we kinda go from one simulation to the next and then to a reality check, and while there is an organization that makes act 1, act 2, act 3, it has its own structures compared to the rest.

Still, it's my perfect anni event for me.

Next, to me, is What Makes the Sky Blue 000.

As the conclusion of a trilogy it works hard to tie all the loose ends while also really opening the doors to the creation lore. We get the result of the built up of the previous years, and it slaps.

It also feels like an anniversary event due to the focus of the characters from others saga coming to help out against the threat in the skies, which really makes it stand out as well.

Next, i'll but Heart of the Sun.

I'll still need to sit a little on the event really to see how much it affected me, but despite some frustration, it's a very solid event. All the parts are really good and i think it's pretty well balanced.

Part 1 focused a bit more on the people we know and love and i think it worked very well as an anniversary, as a way to remind us of what mattered to us.

Part 2 managed to set up really well its stakes and to build up to the climax. And Part 3 delivered on the drama and everything that could possibly follow.

I think it had the weight necessary to celebrate 10 years of Granblue. It really dived into creation lore, and more insight on the past of the skyrealm as well. I also really like the recontextualization of the Phoenix, and the way to approach the Diviners into the lore.

The Event could have risked being overstuffed, but i genuinely think it somehow managed all of its plotlines really well and in the end everything feels like it had the proper focus it needed.

I think also the thematic of rebirth, and also grief, is a good one to celebrate 10 years of the game.

It's definitely one of the most solid plotwise and i think it's an insanely good 10th anni event in particular.

Next is What Makes the Sky Blue - Paradise Lost because i never fucking recovered man.

as a side note i think the wmtsb trilogy is a little hard to judge individually since they're all parts of trilogy and are meant to really built up from one another. With the benefit of insight it's difficult to see them as separate event. As a trilogy, it is one of the best written element of Granblue. As separate events, it means i think also that part 1 and 2 have weaker elements due to the fact that it's the benefit of the conclusion of the trilogy that makes them shine.

But i still score Paradise Lost high because the angst was hitting some of my favorite tropes of all time so i can't avoid it.

Next to me is Seeds of Redemtpion.

To me it was my introduction to the Eternals and it did its job very well. There were a lot of emotional high and introduction to some lore point, and the Seox/Nehan conflict was extremely compelling.

It's an event who suffered a lot on people's expectation though and it's true there's something a bit frustrating about the hyperfocus on Seox when all of the Eternals were teased.

I do think it's an event where the ideas are stronger than the narratives that bring them there. The last part was weaker than the rest and the ending was a bit rushed while the rest of the plotlines were left to be completed elsewhere.

I still love this event a lot as it was my first anni event per se, but i get the issues people had.

Next will be What Makes The Sky Blue, the OG.

Still was a strong event, still really dived into the creation lore, managed to really flesh out the archangel and Lucifer, and gave us Evil Sandalphon. What's not to like.

by virtue of being one of the oldest event it was a bit shorter and stuff but everything is done so tightly it was worthwhile.

it also worked well as anni goes since it included characters we've met in our journeys in it and actually focused on our crew too, as well as Lyria and Vyrn's powers and importance as well.

Finally my last one will be Created by the Stars, Loved by the Skies

This one's rough. The fandom isn't kind with it and i hate to add to it because i do think people are ways harsher than the event deserves -- but yeah it was on the weaker side.

The thing is that I love Cosmos, so just by virtue of the event focusing on her, i don't hate it, i couldn't hate it. but it's a very rough event.

The three parts don't jive well together. They sound like three different event patched together. The first part ask us to care about characters whom we don't ever see again, which is like... it's okay to have war content and all of that, and anni is probably the best place for that, but it felt very jarring. Part 2 was better if only because it focused on the primals we came to love and care about. And Part 3 was rough again because of the whole apocalyptic stakes linked to it.

I kinda imagine that the 3 parts were meant to echo the three parts of Cosmos character - first story being more about the humans (zooey), the second more about the primals (geo), and the third about finding a balance (yuni). But yeesh was it rough and i think Geo in particular was not given much to do and it hurt any type of messages that could have been had.

Also sorry but this event introducing that "if the Singularity dies the world gets destroyed" by having MC near death and the world starting to collapse.... kinda bugs me. IT removes a lot of stakes and i kinda hate it. "and you" also kinda is built on that, but i think "and you" kinda shows how the world would get destroyed by the Singularity's death in more subtle ways linked to the situations we die in. Ex: if Shinsha kills us, the fact she is unleashed into this world is what will cause its end yaknow? I thought CBTSLBTS was a bit vulgar about it.

That being said i love Cosmos. The relationship with Lucifer was amazing. Part 2 was extremely well done. And while i have issues with part 1 being in this story, it is a fantastic story on its own rights and i still hope Baldr will come back one day. Yuni is adorable and a fantastic addition to the cast.

But yeah it's a rough one and the return of Cosmos only a year later doesn't help the event stands on its legs imo. we desperately need Geo to be relevent again though, it's really the element of this anni that makes me go "wait, for real, that's all?!". Justice for Geo.

Still! i loved the event and think there's more good in it than the fandom has been saying about it. People have hated it hard and i think that despite its flaws, it shouldn't be getting this type of reception. If anything it was a gamble that didn't pay off.

But yeah that's pretty much my Anni Events Opinions. Sorry i can't give opinions on HSM though.

here you go o7