#limited champion stadium

[crystalelemental]

I actually wanted to do this one on-type. I think Grass revealed that it’s not always as easy as it initially seems. But having done exactly that, maybe I owe Ice an apology. This wasn’t bad at all.

Vs. Shauntal I wanted to make sure I got BP Candice in there somewhere, and apparently this was my solution. She's decently strong on DPS, and SC Jasmine helps her set up perfectly, but the gauge issues here were fairly severe.

Vs. Drake Apparently, Drake here has Wise Entry x2. Fuck you, Drake. Sandstorm, AoE damage, and Wise Entry, are you serious? Ugh. So I beat the shit out of him with Summer Steven. I brought Kukui thinking the extra flinch rate and defense drops would be handy, but truthfully there were likely better options.

Vs. Koga Ghetsis time. Melony is a great partner to him, thanks to the accuracy buffs, All Ramped Up, and potential for disruption. Other fun facts about Melony include that her GMax Resonance actually hits for damage. So when Ghetsis missed the KO on sync, I was like oh man, glad Melony will be putting up shields or Ghetsis would be dead. And then she hit for like 7k. So that's fun. In retrospect, I should've used Lucian here. I wasn't really thinking through the teams I was applying, so I...kinda held on to him expecting to run him somewhere else. Team 1 would've been the best solution, but I was overconfident and really wanted to save him on that, so like...the whole thing was just a mess.

Vs. Agatha Candice Time. Base Candice is so good, I love her. Variety Lorelei is...decisively okay as a partner. The crit rate helps Ice Punch at least do some damage, and she tops off attack reliably. Team Endurance is really handy for the sides. Colress is here for a few reasons. Obviously, Screech does its job, but also paralysis disruption on the side, followed by a successful attack on them, gets us to +3 crit. Which means now Lorelei and Candice can both deal decent damage with their attacks.

Vs. Marnie I'm gonna be honest, I feel bad about this. I don't know what Marnie does. I don't check tips, and Irida's effectively unstoppable, so like...we won with almost no damage. I honest to god don't know what Marnie's fight does.

[ferrstappen]

SLUT! l MV1 imagine

a/n: hey! I’m alive, I hope some of you are alive as well and willing to read something 💘 this is short and just a random idea I had before diving into writing some longer pieces with more plot, but I really hope you like it and as you know, feedback is very very welcome!!! Also I’m sorry if it’s weird or any mistakes bc I wrote this on my phone 💘

Summary: this isn’t your first time being a WAG, but people don’t seem to like the idea of you ending your relationship with Joe Burrow and falling in love with Max.

Looking around, you could tell that this wasn't an ordinary place. The sound of engines revving, the vivid colors of various vehicles, and the hustle and bustle of multiple teams, engineers, sponsors, drivers, and fans walking around the paddock all added to the excitement. It was a truly remarkable sight to behold. The energy was palpable, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of awe taking it all in.

In your previous relationship, your boyfriend would make grand entrances at the stadium, sporting his fancy Cartier sunglasses and jamming to his favorite tunes. He wouldn't pay much attention to the photographers snapping away as he strolled past them, and you'd catch a glimpse of him from afar in a lavish suite. That was quite a contrast to your current situation, which you're still adjusting to.

You were greeted by a well-dressed individual who was sporting the logos of Red Bull, Oracle, and Honda all over their outfit. They handed you a VIP all-access paddock pass which had your name and headshot printed on it, along with details of whose guest you were. To top it off, they also put a Red Bull credential on your wrist. The assistant then guided you towards the power station, where you were hopping to finally catch Max after weeks of not seeing each other.

You never meant to be in this position. You were in a happy, stable, loving relationship, truly. But last year one night in Las Vegas, your boyfriend, Joe, was invited to the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and of course, you both attended, curious and excited about the event. Neither of you knew it would be the beginning of the end.

Your first meeting with Max was captured on camera.

Max and Joe, the reigning Formula 1 champion and the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback together was gold content for the Red Bull socials, and there you were in the back, knowing your place smiling at the interaction, but when you were least expecting it, the champion stretched his hand and introduced himself, catching you and your boyfriend off guard.

As soon as he spoke, I noticed his friendly yet polite tone. "Hi, I'm Max," he introduced himself with a warm smile. His simple gesture of introducing himself made him instantly likable and set him apart from the others in the crowd.

“Hi Max, I’m (y/n). Thanks for the invitation,” you shook the hand that wasn’t holding a can of Red Bull.

“Right. Max, this is my girlfriend. She’s the happiest here because she’s a Red Bull addict,” Joe added, earning a soft laugh from you and a smile from Max.

“Then you came to the right place, (y/n). The mini fridges are all yours, and I’m pretty sure the ones on the second floor have limited editions,”

You thought that was all you were going to see of him, barely catching him after his win to congratulate him, but oh were you wrong, seeing him with a warm gray pull-up hoodie and styled blond hair, sipping gin and tonic and waving his hand as people chanted his name to the tune of a song.

Tu Tu Du Du, Max Verstappen

Or something along those lines.

The moment he recognized you, a sudden rush of excitement and anticipation sent a buzz through your stomach that was impossible to ignore. You felt a mixture of nervousness and elation as he leaned in for a short cheek kiss, the scent of gin lingering on your nose as you briefly noticed the small mole on his upper lip. Despite the presence of your boyfriend standing behind you, you couldn't help but feel a flutter of emotions inside.

“I heard you ransacked the energy station,” A drunk Max Verstappen told you.

“What do you mean?” Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion, and at the same time you felt Joe’s arms tight around your waist.

“There weren't any Red Bulls left on the building after you left, maybe I'll have to send a PR package your way,” Max slurred, taking a new sip from his gin and tonic glass.

You couldn’t answer because Joe was faster: “we’ll sure enjoy that, thank you. Wanna go mingle, babe?”

That was almost five months ago as you made your way in sunny Melbourne, doing your best to avoid prying eyes who were aware of the events that took place last November and how you left Joe Burrow the quarterback for Max Verstappen the racing driver.

But it’s not like you wanted to.

After the first box full of sugar free Red Bull arrived with a note, you left a message on his Instagram before posting a story, tagging him and the team.

The he started sending silly memes, followed by the description of the Red Bull ingredients written in Arabic while on Abu Dhabi.

In February, things had reached a point where it was impossible to ignore any longer. You knew it was time to end things with Joe, and when you did, it felt like a weight had been lifted off your shoulders. Suddenly, you were free to do as you pleased, to go where you wanted to go. And so, when Max invited you to go to Bahrain for testing, you jumped at the opportunity.

It was on this trip that you experienced your first date with Max. You both had such a great time together, laughing until your stomachs hurt. You tried your best to hold back your wandering eyes, but you couldn't help noticing the adorable mole on his lip. And then, when the night sky had blanketed the Middle East, he leaned in and kissed you, sending shivers down your spine. It was a magical moment that you would never forget.

But the next day, your first day on the track, a random person recognized you and rumors went crazy, name-calling, attacks, fans carrying signs “What happened with #9”, grown men calling you a bitch, a whore, a gold digger, jumping from one dick to another. It was so much that Max decided to send you to his home in Monaco, not even caring if you were there for the first Grand Prix of the season, he just needed you to be okay.

As you walked towards the energy station, the ground beneath your feet felt firm, yet your steps were hesitant and shy. You were not alone, though, as someone from the team was following your every move, as per Max's orders. The team wanted to ensure that you were safe and secure as you made your way towards the Red Bull hospitality. Once you arrived, a collective sigh of relief was released, and you waited patiently for Max to arrive. The anticipation in the air was palpable as everyone eagerly awaited his arrival.

You vividly remember that moment when he finally arrived at the paddock, dressed in his Red Bull shirt, shorts, and cap, looking so handsome and sporty. You couldn't help but rush towards him, feeling a surge of excitement and joy. As you hugged him tightly, he smiled and hummed softly, clearly enjoying your touch and warmth. You noticed that he was trying to register your scent, perhaps to make the moment even more intimate and memorable.

You knew he was about to lean in for a cheek kiss, but something inside you urged you to do something bolder and more passionate. So, without hesitating, you turned around, making sure his larger frame was facing the outside, away from prying eyes. Then, you carefully grabbed his face with both hands, feeling his strong jawline and stubble under your fingers. You looked deeply into his eyes, savoring the moment, before leaning in and kissing his full lips.

The kiss was electrifying and unexpected, taking him by surprise, but he quickly responded with equal passion and tenderness. You felt his arms wrap around your waist, pulling you closer, as you lost yourself in the blissful moment. It was a moment of pure connection and love, one that you would always treasure in your heart.

Despite being called all sorts of names by people, you refused to let it get to you. You were determined to continue showing your deep admiration and affection for Max, no matter what others thought or said. You believed that your feelings were genuine and authentic, and you were not going to let anyone else's opinion sway you. Despite the challenges and obstacles you faced, your love for Max remained unwavering and waiting to grow bigger.

[meazalykov]

new family

barcelona femení x kika nazareth x reader

summary: if your family cannot accept you for who you are, your new family will.

warnings: homophobia mentions, coming out, angst, comfort, very long fic

your new home.

the first time you step foot in barcelona, it feels like an entirely new world. at just nineteen, you've been given a rare opportunity to live across the atlantic ocean, far from home, far from the familiar comforts of family and friends to play for the best club in women’s football as a defender. 

it's thrilling, this chance to explore yourself and form your own ideas without the weight of your past or family pulling you back. but it’s also terrifying, since you have to build your social life from the ground up.

the team welcomes you warmly, and before long, you feel like you’re a part of something special– a new family. 

you bond quickly with your teammates, and learn your new rhythm of life in spain. 

but to you there's one person who stands out more than the others—kika, the newest player at barcelona. she's full of life, happy, with a laugh that makes your heart race and a smile that lights up even the darkest days.

at first, you don't understand why you're drawn to her the way you are. 

you’ve had crushes before, but this feels different, for many reasons.

your last crushes were on men, many years ago during your middle school days. 

the feelings you have for kika are more intense, more real. 

you find yourself watching her during training, lingering in her presence, and feeling a flutter in your chest whenever she talks to you. she asks you to be her partner during drills, and you always accept. 

the whole thing is confusing, overwhelming, and a little scary, but also something you can’t ignore.

as the days turn into weeks and the weeks into months, your feelings for kika grow stronger. it hits you one evening when you’re both sitting on the blue barcelona benches after a late training session, the sky painted with the soft hues of an orange spanish sunset. 

kika is talking about her family back home in portugal, her eyes sparkling with fondness, and you realize that you don’t just like kika—you’re Infatuated with her. in that moment, everything clicks into place.

you’re a lesbian.

it’s a realization that shakes you to your core, but also feels like a puzzle piece finally falling into place. 

for the first time, you truly understand who you are, and it’s liberating. 

you begin to accept it, slowly, carefully, letting the idea settle in your mind. it’s a part of you, a part that you hadn’t fully understood until now.

kika, oblivious to the storm of emotions inside you, continues to talk, and you smile, feeling a warmth spread through your chest. you don’t know when it happens exactly, but one day, she looks at you in a way that’s different from before—softer, more intimate—and you realize she feels the same. 

it’s subtle at first, a brush of hands, a shared look that lingers a little too long, until one night after el clasico when you invite her over to your apartment, she kisses you.

it’s everything you’ve imagined and more—soft, sweet, and filled with love. 

you pull back, breathless, staring into her eyes with a mix of disbelief and joy. 

“is this okay?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper, and you nod, too overwhelmed to speak.

“yeah, it’s more than okay,” you finally manage, and she smiles, pulling you into another kiss, this one deeper, more assured. it’s the beginning of something beautiful, something that feels right.

it’s a crisp evening in january in munich, the air buzzing with the electric energy that only a champions league match can bring. 

the stands are packed, fans draped in blaugrana, but with german red as well. 

their cheers and chants echoing through the stadium. you’re on the pitch, adrenaline coursing through your veins as you face off against bayern munich, the intensity of the match pushing you to your limits.

the game has been tight, both teams fighting fiercely for dominance on the field. 

you’ve been giving it your all, weaving through defenders, pressing high, stopping german forwards, creating chances, but the breakthrough hasn’t come yet. 

the score is still 0-0, and you know that one goal for barcelona could change everything in the group stage match.

then, it happens.

a perfectly timed pass from alexia sends the ball back to your foot, just outside the box and after the halfway line. 

as a defender, you notice gaps. bayern had a huge gap where you could launch the ball towards the goal– the only risk being their goalkeeper blocking it. 

you take a quick touch, setting yourself up, and without hesitation, you strike. the ball sails through the air, spinning towards the top corner, and for a split second, time seems to slow down. 

the breath in your lungs were held, watching as the bayern goalkeeper dives, her fingertips brushing the ball—but it’s not enough.

the ball hits the back of the net.

for a moment, there’s silence, as if the entire stadium is holding its breath. 

then the roar of the away crowd erupts around you, deafening and exhilarating, and you feel a rush of pure, unfiltered joy. 

you did it. you scored in the champions league.

as a centre back, this hasn’t happened with you much.

your teammates rush towards you after you put your hands up in joy, their faces alight with excitement and pride. 

you’re grinning so wide it hurts, your heart pounding in your chest as they surround you, offering high-fives, smacks on the back, and hugs. 

but it’s kika who reaches you last, on purpose– her eyes shining with a mix of awe and love.

before you can say anything, she’s wrapping her arms around you, pulling you into a tight embrace. 

you can feel her heart beating just as fast as yours, her breath warm against your ear as she whispers, “you were amazing, y/n.”

and then, without a second thought, she presses a soft kiss to your cheek. it’s a sweet, tender gesture, full of affection and pride, and it sends a warm flush spreading through your entire body. the kiss lingers, her lips soft against your skin, and you can’t help the way your heart skips a beat at the contact.

her words stick to you. she didn’t mention the goal, she said that you were good.

you pull back slightly, just enough to see the wide smile on her face, and you’re sure you’re blushing, but you don’t care. 

“thank you,” you murmur, your voice soft, almost shy.

the moment doesn’t go unnoticed. your teammates who got back in their positions start to giggle and cheer, their voices playful as they take in the scene. 

“look at that!” ewa teases, a wide grin on her face. “our goal scorer’s getting some extra love.”

ona, who’s always quick with a quip, sidles up beside you, her eyes twinkling with mischief. 

“y/n, you’re so in love it’s written all over your cute face.”

you glance at kika, who watched you with that same soft smile before setting herself up for the game, and you know you can’t deny it. 

not when you feel like this—so happy, so content, so in love. you shrug, a playful smile tugging at your lips as you meet ona’s gaze. “i can’t help it,” you say, your voice full of warmth. “she’s kind of hard to resist.”

the match continues, but that moment stays with you—etched into your memory as one of the sweetest, most genuine moments of your life. and as the whistle blows on the field again, you can’t help but feeling like you’ve won twice in one evening.

being with your girlfriend is like a dream. she’s everything you could have hoped for in a partner—kind, understanding, and so full of love that it makes your heart swell just thinking about her. 

your teammates notice the change in you, the way you light up whenever kika is around, and they’re happy for you. 

alexia, your captain and neighbor, is especially supportive, always there with a knowing smile or a gentle word of encouragement.

living next door to alexia and her girlfriend, olga, has its perks. 

the two of them have taken you under their wing from the moment you arrived, treating you like a little sister. alexia is the kind of leader who leads by example, and she’s always there to guide you, both on and off the pitch. her and olga’s relationship is something you look up to.

you spend countless nights at their apartment, talking about life advice, football, and everything in between. 

alexia is your rock, she is the goat to everyone but to you she is another sister. someone you can lean on when things get tough, and olga is like another mother figure, always ready with a joke to lighten the mood, help you with dinner, or a hug when you need it most.

it’s during one of these late-night conversations that you find the courage to tell alexia about your true feelings for kika. 

she listens intently, her eyes full of understanding, and when you’re done, she smiles softly. 

“i’m proud of you, y/n,” she says, placing a hand on your shoulder. “i am happy that you’re being true to yourself– i had to go through the same thing. you and kika compliment each other very well.”

her words give you the strength you need to take the next step—to come out to your family. 

it’s something you’ve been dreading, but you know it’s something you have to do. so, one evening, you call them, your heart pounding in your chest as you wait for someone to pick up.

your mother answers first, her voice warm and familiar, and for a moment, you almost back out. 

but then you remember kika, the way she makes you feel, and you know you can’t keep this part of yourself hidden any longer. you wanted to show the world that you loved kika, and taking that step to tell your family first was important.

“mom, there’s something i need to tell you,” you begin, your voice trembling. 

you can hear the concern in her voice as she asks what’s wrong, and you take a deep breath, closing your eyes as you force the words out. 

“i’m… i’m dating someone–”

“oh my goodness, finally,” your mother cheers. 

“i didn’t realize that you’d have suitors in spain– what's the fellows name!?” she continued. 

your heart broke a tiny bit, knowing that it's not a man you’ll be telling her about. 

“you’ve been watching my games, right?” you ask. 

you couldn’t see your mom, but you could tell her eyebrows were raised. 

“yes?”

“number 18 on my team, kika– she is the person i am dating..” you swallow.

there’s a long silence on the other end of the line, and for a moment, you look at your phone thinking that the call has dropped. but then your mother speaks, her voice cold and distant in a way that makes your heart drop. 

“are you serious, y/n? is this some kind of phase?”

the words hit you like a punch to the gut, and you can feel the tears welling up in your eyes. 

“no, mom, it’s not a phase. i’m a lesbian. i’ve always been, i just… didn’t tell you until now.”

“y/n, this isn’t… this isn’t what our parents raised us to be,” your younger brother’s voice cuts in, harsh and unforgiving. 

“you can’t be serious about this. this has to be a joke. you’re throwing your life away for something that isn’t even right or makes sense.”

your heart breaks.

“it makes sense to me,” you whisper, but they’re not listening. 

they continue to talk, their voices overlapping in a barrage of judgment and disappointment, and you feel your heart tearing apart with every word.

“please, just… try to understand,” you plead, but it’s no use. they’ve made up their minds, and there’s nothing you can say to change it.

“y/n, you need to think about what you’re doing or if you’re being manipulated,” your mother says, her tone final. 

“we can’t support this or you. this is all wrong.”

the words echo in your mind, cutting deeper than anything you’ve ever felt before. 

they don’t accept you, they don’t understand, and it feels like your world is crumbling around you. 

“i… i can’t do this– goodbye.” you manage to choke out before ending the call, you quickly block your families numbers from your phones before the sobs hit your body– forcing you to collapse onto your bed.

you don’t know how long you stay there, crying into your pillow. the sun sets and now your room is dark, since you don’t bother getting up to turn on your ambient lamps.

eventually, you force yourself to get up when you notice the polaroid picture of you and kika sitting on your bedside table. 

your legs are shaky, your heart feels like it’s been smashed into a million pieces, but you know you can’t stay here. you need to be somewhere safe, somewhere where you’re loved.

the family you grew up with will not be your family anymore. you refuse to associate with individuals that cannot accept you for who you are. Luckily you’re in another country so it won’t be as hard.

without thinking, you grab your keys and head to alexia’s apartment across the hall. 

your hands tremble as you knock on the door, and when it opens, you’re shocked to see not just alexia and olga, but also ingrid, mapi, frido, caroline, and marta. 

they’re all there, gathered around the living room, and as soon as they see your tear-streaked face, they jump up from the sectional couch and rush to your side.

“y/n,¿qué pasó?” alexia asks, her voice full of concern as she pulls you into a tight hug.

you try to speak, but the words won’t come out, so you just shake your head, burying your face in her shoulder as the tears start again.

“it’s okay, you’re safe now,” she whispers, rubbing your back as the others gather around, offering their own words of comfort.

“they… they don’t accept me,” you finally manage to get out, your voice breaking. 

“they don’t understand, and they never will.”

there’s confusion from your teammates. everyone looks around to see anger and sadness in mapi’s eyes. she might not relate to it, but she knows exactly what you might’ve gone through. 

“y/n, i’m so sorry,” mapi says, her voice thick with emotion as she reaches out to squeeze your hand.

“you don’t need them,” mapi continues firmly, her hand resting on your shoulder. 

“what happened?” ingrid whispers in mapi’s ear. 

“my family doesn’t want me to be with her, they don’t accept me ingrid.” you say, rubbing your eyes as you put your head up from alexia’s shoulders. 

all of the adults in the room frowned.

“i am so sorry nina.” olga hugs you.

“we love you, y/n. everyone here, and everyone on the team, accepts you.” caroline rubs your shoulder as olga pulls away from your body.

“we’re your family now, y/n. we love you for who you are, no matter what.”

“and we always will,” frido adds, her voice soft but strong. 

“you’re not alone in this,” olga says.

“not at all.” alexia finishes.

the words are like a balm to your broken heart, and you feel a warmth spreading through you as you look around at the faces of your teammates—your friends, your family. 

they’re here for you, they love you, and they’re not going anywhere.

“thank you,” you whisper, your voice trembling as you look at each of them. 

“i don’t know what i’d do without you all.”

“you’ll never have to find out niña,” alexia says, pulling you into another hug. 

“we’re here for you, always.”

as the night goes on, you start to feel a little better, surrounded by the love and support of your teammates. 

it doesn’t erase the pain of your family’s rejection, but it helps to know that you’re not alone.

kika comes over to alexia’s apartment when mapi contacts her, not giving much detail but saying that you needed her support. 

when you tell kika everything– her eyes are wide, filled with a mixture of shock, worry, and something deeper—something that makes your heart ache all over again. 

she steps closer, her hand trembling slightly as she reaches out to touch your cheek, wiping away a stray tear with her thumb.

“y/n…” she whispers, her voice breaking with emotion. 

“i’m so sorry. i… i can’t believe they’d say that to you. you don’t deserve that. not at all.”

her words hit you hard, and you can see the pain etched on her face, pain that mirrors your own. 

it’s clear that she’s hurting for you, that your heartbreak is tearing her apart just as much as it’s tearing you apart. 

she pulls you into a hug, holding you so tight that you can feel her heart beating against yours, strong and steady, grounding you in a way that nothing else can.

“estou aqui, ok?” she murmurs, her breath warm against your ear as she strokes your hair. 

“i’m here, and i’m not going anywhere. we’ll get through this together, i promise.”

you clutch her tighter, feeling a fresh wave of tears coming on, but this time they’re different—not just tears of sadness, but also of gratitude. 

you don’t know what you did to deserve someone like kika in your life, someone who loves you so deeply and so fiercely, but in this moment, you’re thankful for every bit of it.

kika pulls back slightly, just enough to look into your eyes, her hands cupping your face with a tenderness that makes your chest tighten. 

“they don’t get to decide who you are or who you love,” she says, her voice firm, full of conviction. 

“you’re perfect just the way you are, y/n. and i love you, so much. don’t ever forget that.”

her words are saving, pulling you out of the darkness that’s been threatening to swallow you whole. 

you nod, unable to find the right words to respond, but the look in her eyes tells you that she understands.

“we’re your family now,” kika continues, her voice softening as she presses a gentle kiss to your forehead. she smile, not knowing that alexia said the same thing a few moments ago. 

“me, alexia, mapi, everyone here. we’re your family, and we’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

the others nod in agreement, their expressions full of love and support, and you feel a warmth spreading through your chest, chasing away the coldness that’s been lingering since that painful phone call. 

you’re surrounded by people who love you for who you are, people who will stand by you through anything, and that’s more than you could have ever hoped for.

“i love you too, so much kika” you finally manage to say, your voice shaking with emotion as you look into kika’s eyes. 

“all of you. thank you… for being here, for loving me.” you say looking at your present teammates.

kika smiles, a soft, bittersweet smile that tells you she understands the depth of what you’re feeling. 

she leans in, pressing her lips to yours in a kiss that’s full of love, reassurance, and a promise of better days to come. 

it’s a kiss that reminds you that you’re not alone, that you have a family here in barcelona—a family that will love and support you no matter what.

when you finally pull away, you find yourself wrapped in the warmth of your teammates, their arms around you in a group hug that feels like a cocoon of safety and love. 

your new home.

if you're struggling with similar feelings, just know that you're loved always. it might not feel like it, but we love you and support you for who you are!

my master list is here if you want to read more fics <3

[onsomenewsht]

I just wanna feel something, tell me where to go

About when she wants to win gold and you talk too much but don’t answer her questions

《 read part 2, 'cause everybody knows something I don't wanna know

》 Alexia Putellas x fencer!Reader

》 words count: + 1.7k

》 the mountain’s call [way of saying]: the irresistible pull or urge to pursue a challenging goal or adventure

“You look like someone who needs to see the best place in the entire Village”

Alexia looks up from the pass’ lanyard she’s fidgeting with, finding your open smile even before spotting your outstretched hand. Her eyebrow rises on its own accord, always sceptical around strangers.

The Olympic Village is big enough to welcome the egos of some of the best athletes in the world, but not big enough to avoid their clashing. It’s actually encouraged.

Within a certain limit, obviously.

The footballer sees you in passing almost every day, given that the Spanish Team rooms are basically neighbours with the Italian Team ones. Your outgoing attitude and friendly nature make you pretty popular around the village. The fact you’re easy on the eyes and quite the talk among the players isn’t lost on Alexia either – she likes good gossip like anybody else.

“Come on, Reina, don’t let me stand here like an idiot”, your teasing words take her back from her overthinking one more time.

“Shouldn’t you be somewhere celebrating that?”, she points to the medal hanging around your neck.

A genuine smile rises on both your faces as you mindlessly hold the piece of gold to look at it one more time, feeling like this is some kind of dream.

Your gaze falls on Alexia, still sitting in a corner of a communal break room when her teammates are cheering all around for one more victory in their Olympic journey.

“I’m gonna celebrate for the next four years, I can spare some time for you”

“Congratulations, by the way, I heard it’s not the first one”, she takes your hand as you burst out laughing, helping her on her feet.

You may have hosted the closest thing to a party you can do in the Village when, just earlier this week, you won your first gold medal.

It’s not your first Olympics, it’s not even your first Olympic medal. But finally being a gold medalist? An Olympic Champion? You sure could not let it pass over in silence.

The short walk is filled with small talks and giggles, you do most of the talking but Alexia’s grin stays firmly on her face the entire time. You notice her rosy cheeks and more relaxed stance, holding yourself high with pride to finally see the blonde so carefree around you.

“How did you even find this place?”

The night lights of Paris really turn the city into some sort of fantastic dream, the view is easily able to take the breath away from the little balcony you open for her. You’re on top of the biggest complex in the Village, the usual chaos that fills the French capital is somehow just background noise.

“Fencing is an ancient discipline”, you start, barely avoiding Alexia’s playful hit on your arm at your documentary-like approach.

“Jokes aside, the Italian school basically created fencing, but then the French school redefined the system to what it’s like today and they will not shut up about it. It’s a long lasting rivalry between two countries that, sportwise, hate each other”

“Everyone hates the French, sportwise”, the Spain captain agrees, mimicking your move as you sit on the floor of the balcony.

“Fencing into the Grand Palais in fucking Paris is like playing every single game as a World Cup final against the host country in a stadium filled with their fans and colours”

“Dramatic”

“Of course! You’re putting Italian and French people in the same place, asking them to fight with swords, literally. It’s gonna be dramatic”, you let your gaze wander around as the blonde’s one tries to find something inside you.

Alexia waits for you, understanding just now how your cheerful and playful behaviour hides something more complex.

She has turned on your Team Final on her way back from the stadium, curious about it – about you – after the little party you put on for the entire Village following your Individual Final victory.

She got nothing about what was happening, not understanding how some hits were good and others were given away or not counted. She prides herself on being able to recognise good athleticism and quick leg ability though. The way you move on the piste, quickly but precisely in every single gesture, is mesmerising. The way your mind acts even faster than your body is even more captivating.

What surprised her the most is the way you hold back.

While your opponents celebrate any conceded hits and your teammates celebrate loudly all the successful points, you stay stoic and firm the entire time.

It’s something she doesn’t expected from you, usually so excited about everything.

That’s probably one of the reasons that brings her here with you in the first place.

“You don’t look dramatic when you fence”

“Oh, you watched me?”

“It was the bare minimum after your detailed commentary after our last game”

“I’m Italian, I’m a football fan from birth”, you say, rolling your eyes humorously, not ready to reveal that the Spanish team is the only one you care about keeping up with during this Olympic tournament.

Alexia Putellas just admitted she turned on your Final to see you win a gold medal.

“Wait, let’s just go back to you watching me fence”

She smile at your weak attempt to avoid her question, genuinely amused about you but pretty sure you’re gonna tell her everything she asks – eventually.

A comfortable silence between the two of you fills the air for some minutes, somehow guiding your bodies closer.

“How did you find this place?”, the Catalan winks when you turn to look at her.

“I hate fencing with the French”, you start to explain after a bit with a serious note underneath your voice, “I lost my last Olympic Individual Final against a reckless fencer with the most annoying Parisian accent ever”

Another moment passes, Alexia doesn’t pressure you but can feel you relax when she places her hand on your knee.

“Last time I was in Paris, I injured myself. I was out for nine months and lost two major tournaments. This Olympics being hosted here as I was supposed to redeem myself and prove to be good enough at the same time? Really took a turn on me at first”, you avoid her gaze as you sum up one of your biggest fears to a stranger on a balcony viewing Paris’ landscape.

“I needed a place to escape without running away”

“And here we are, facing Paris from a hiding spot”

How the footballer manages to understand you so well in such a short amount of time, in such an unusual setting, is really something that surprises you. Your eyes meet and you can distinctly feel your heart skip a bit.

“I befriended a handyman, this floor is for staff only as some sort of control room”

“This explains the private balcony”

“I should have started with this and not the unasked story of my life”

You can still feel Alexia’s hand on you, mindlessly caressing your leg as you try not to implode and hide the redness of your face. She smirks.

“We’ll play France in the semifinal”, she says with a hint of disbelief and irony.

“Fuck the French”, you state solemnly, “It’s basically a wanna-be repeat of the Champions League’s final, you’re going to be fine”

“If you just jinxed it–”

“I did not, I know an Olympic Champion when I see one”

The burst of confidence and the firmness in your voice, despite the easy way you’re both talking about Spain’s next game, are enough to subside the noises inside Alexia’s head – your voice is a good distraction and your presence is a welcoming discovery.

“How is it?”

“What?”

The blonde’s finger points at the piece of gold still hanging on your neck, you’re just glad it’s her other hand as you look back and forth between her and the medal.

“You won enough to know how it is”

“It’s my first Olympics”

“In Italian there’s a word, I don’t know if you have the same difference in Spanish. It’s olimpionico and it’s not like olimpico – olympic”

“You never go for the straight answer, do you?”, she interrupts you with a teasing smile.

“No, never done anything the straight way my entire life, now let me go on with my wise and deep talk”, you graciously – and quite bravely on your part, if you must say so yourself – drop your arm around her shoulder, releasing a breath as she smoothly adjusts her body closer.

“Olimpionico is formed from the Greek ᾿Ολύμπια, which means ‘competitions of Olympia’ so our Olympic Games, and the root of νικάω, that I don’t know to explain how but can be translated with ‘victory’ or ‘winner’ and you have to trust me on this one”, you’ve never been happier with your strict education and the Italian questionable school system.

“I’m still waiting for the point”

“I mean to say we have a specific word for an Olympic athlete who doesn’t just compete in the Olympic Games but actually wins”

“You won enough Olympic medals to know how it is”

“The last time we won bronze as a team and I lost the gold against the obnoxious Frenchwoman, Alexia, keep up”, you’re perfectly aware of her hand on your thigh and her eyes burning on your face – she definitely noticed your red cheeks and the cracks on your walls.

“It’s my first Individual gold and this is my first Team gold, it’s– I don’t know how to explain, but it’s–”

“It’s olimpionico?”, she indulges you, her accent around the Italian word is way more charming than the French one.

“You get it”

“Olympic Champion sounds so uncool now”

As the night turns into a darker shade of black and the Paris lights really do the city’s name justice, you feel like there’s something profound linking you with the athlete curled on your side.

It’s a shared desire to prove yourself to everyone, while wanting to make just a few close people proud. It’s a shared hunger to be the best among some of the greatest, but to make sure the ones around you shine as much.

It’s a shared feeling, deep inside, telling you’re right where you’re supposed to be.

[jadeazora]

A new Message from the Masters Team is out now!

Starting May31, you'll be able to invite Cheren as a guest to the Lodge, tho you'll need to team up with Cheren & Stoutland in their PML chapter first.

New story content titled Pride of the Myth Seekers will be added to the Mysterious Stones Chapter on Jun1! (You'll need to have collected a total of 700 Mysterious Stones to unlock this story's area.) They mention there'll be some interaction between Volo and Cynthia!

Neo Champions: One More Step to a New Path will begin on May31! Here's their Sync Pair Overviews:

Cheren (Champion) & Tornadus are a Flying-type Tech Sync Pair. Their EX Role is Strike.

Their New Teacher's Quick Wit Passive Skill can increase their Physical Moves ↑ Next and Special Moves ↑ Next effects by one rank when their attack move is successful! Plus, the more their Physical Moves ↑ Next effect is increased, the more it powers up their Moves and Sync Move. Their Black Gale Bleakwind Storm Buddy Move can be activated when they use any move one time. It also gets powered up the more their Physical Moves ↑ Next effect is increased, so we recommend using it in tandem with their Bleakwind Storm Move to keep increasing their Physical Moves ↑ Next effect. Additionally, another Passive Skill of theirs can increase their Physical Moves ↑ Next and Special Moves ↑ Next effects by two ranks after they use their Thoughts of Glory Trainer move or Sync Move.

By teaming up with Cheren (Champion) & Tornadus, you can get a special Friend Snapshot that will be viewable in the Trainer Lodge.

Bianca (Champion) & Virizion are a Fighting-type Strike Sync Pair. Their EX Role is Support.

Their The Will to Protect Passive Skill applies Unova Circle (Defensive) to the allied field of play the first time they enter a battle each battle. On top of that, their Unova Solidarity Trainer move can also apply Unova Circle (Defensive) to the allied field of play! One of their Passive Skills applies the Free Move Next effect to themselves when their attack move is successful while Unova Circle (Defensive) is applied to the allied field of play, letting them continuously attack without using the Move Gauge. Their White Light Sacred Sword Buddy Move lowers the target's Fighting Type Rebuff by two ranks and also lowers the target's Attack and Sp. Atk by three stat ranks. Plus, another Passive Skill of theirs lets them attack while ignoring the target's Passive Skills that would reduce the damage of attacks, Passive Skills that would protect the target against a critical hit, and the target's Enduring effect, making them a Sync Pair that can excel in a wide variety of battles.

An Extreme Battle Event is coming, as well as Special Battle Event Take On Cheren and Bianca!, where you'll be able to battle Cheren and Bianca in their Champion outfits, and Special Event Pasio Special Stadium, which features Cheren as the Champion.

Scheduled from early to mid-June is the return of the Ball Guy event. A Legendary Gauntlet and an Ultimate Battle are also coming.

New battle content is currently under development. The objective of this battle content is to inflict as much damage as possible to the opponent within the time limit. The grade and rewards you receive at the end of these battles will be determined by how much damage you inflicted. The order in which you attack, strengthen yourself, and weaken the opponent will be vital to dealing more damage. The battles will switch periodically and feature opponents with a specific weakness each time, so you can use a variety of Sync Pairs!

Next message will come in late-June!

Here's the events schedule from Reddit!

[girlkisser13]

nike cabin headcanons

children of nike

• they ALWAYS wear nike and are offended when other campers wear other sports brands like adidas or under armour.

• contrary to popular belief, the children of victory aren't just victorious at everything, they have to work twice as hard as everyone else, then nike helps them out once she's seen that they've really tried their absolute best.

• they are able to identify their opponent’s weaknesses just by looking at them.

• every time there's a world cup of any sport, chiron has to put a gigantic tv in the big house because they WILL riot if he doesn't.

• demigods receive a special card that gives them discounts at all nike stores. if you're her child, you get to test out the new shoes as they're making them.

• they have random game nights in their cabin but because they’re all to proud to loose, it always ends up in fights and arguments.

• everyone who has ever won the olympics is somehow related to nike or has received a blessing from her.

• sore losers. all of them.

• nike claims her children with a shining laurel crown with "we are the champions" playing triumphantly in the background.

• in relationships, they are always the first to say "i love you."

• they have amazing grades because they try so hard to be the best in each class.

• nike grows more powerful by the day, as the brand becomes so popular worldwide, she’s just strolling around on olympus in limited edition jordan’s.

• demigod athletes have to wear nike apparel (whatever is required for their respective sport) or risk losing.

• they have a form of probability manipulation, similar to domino (from marvel), though not as powerful.

• they also have tactile vision, allowing them to see multiple possible outcomes and their chances of success, allowing them to choose the best strategy.

cabin exterior

• the most prominent feature would be large, golden wings spread across the front of the cabin, symbolizing nike’s role as the goddess of victory. these wings shimmer in the sunlight, radiating an aura of triumph.

• the cabin has sleek marble columns in front, resembling an ancient greek stadium or a temple, reflecting the athletic and competitive spirit of nike. the marble is polished and gleaming, representing perfection and excellence.

• the walls of the cabin are adorned with intricate carvings of laurel wreaths, an ancient symbol of victory and honor. these wrap around the windows and doorways, giving the cabin a regal, triumphant look.

• flags and banners surround the cabin, each representing different types of victories: athletic, battle, and personal achievements. they flutter in the wind, constantly shifting as new victories are celebrated by the children of victory.

• eternal flames in sleek, bronze cauldrons flank the cabin’s entrance, symbolizing the ongoing pursuit of victory. these flames could burn brightly, reminiscent of the olympic flame, representing the endless drive for success.

• the entire cabin could have subtle gold accents— door handles, window frames, and even gold leaf in the carvings— that glisten in the sunlight, representing the rewards and glory that come with victory.

cabin interior

• the walls are lined with shelves and cases filled with trophies, medals, and awards. these range from ancient relics symbolizing past victories to more modern trophies from recent camper accomplishments in camp activities and quests.

• the cabin has an area dedicated to fitness and training, featuring weights, punching bags, and other athletic equipment. the children of victory are encouraged to always stay in peak physical condition, with personal training goals and schedules.

• in the corners of the room, there are statues of nike in various poses, each holding a different symbol of victory, such as a palm branch, a laurel wreath, or a pair of wings. these statues would inspire her children to pursue greatness.

• their beds are sleek, with black and gold color schemes. each bed has a personal shelf where a camper can display small tokens of their individual victories, like medals or keepsakes from successful quests.

• the lights hanging from the ceiling are shaped like laurel wreaths, softly glowing in gold. this symbolizes the constant chase for victory, illuminating the cabin with an energy of ambition.

cabin traditions

• at the end of every week, they hold a "victory tally" where campers gather to recount their personal and group wins. each member gets a chance to share their victories, no matter how big or small— whether they aced a sparring match, helped in a quest, or dominated in capture the flag.

• after significant victories— be it a camp-wide event like capture the flag, a quest, or an individual competition— they hold a laurel crowning ceremony.

• the victor is is crowned with a handmade laurel wreath by the head of the cabin. this ceremony is held in front of the cabin as a symbol of personal glory, accompanied by cheering and applause. the wreath is displayed in the cabin until the next victory.

• once a month, the cabin organizes their own "olympics" with a full day dedicated to competition. events include everything from traditional sports like footraces and discus throws to more camp-centric activities like archery, sword fighting, and obstacle courses.

• everyone competes fiercely, and the winners are awarded medals made by hephaestus cabin. it’s not only about winning but also about pushing yourself to the limit in true nike fashion.

• every year, they hold an annual wing race in honor of their mother’s iconic wings. campers compete in a series of races across different terrains: foot races, obstacle courses, and long-distance endurance races. the winner earns the coveted title of "wingbearer" for the year, and they get to wear a pair of specially-crafted, decorative wings (created by hephaestus cabin) during important camp ceremonies and events.

• every winter solstice, they light a large brazier outside their cabin with a special flame called the flame of victory. this flame must be kept burning throughout the winter until the first day of spring.

• the entire cabin works together to defend the flame, but other campers are allowed to "challenge" them by attempting to put out the flame in mock battles. if the flame stays lit until spring, it’s seen as a sign of endurance and strength, and a special celebration is held.

• for campers who achieve monumental victories, the cabin has a tradition of getting small, magical tattoos (thanks to a collaboration with the hephaestus cabin) that symbolize their greatest triumphs.

• these could be small laurel wreaths, wings, or other symbols of nike. each tattoo glows faintly gold and serves as a reminder of their greatest achievements. only major victories like quests or major camp events qualify for a victory tattoo.

divider by @saradika

[deathmetalunicorn1]

One Piece x Record of Ragnarok

The One Piece world is the far future of Earth and Luffy is chosen as a champion to face off against Apollo. Why? Because Nika and I find the potential reactions of the gods to be hilarious when they learn that Luffy is pretty much a god who is toon force personified

-It wasn’t hard to convince Luffy, who came to Valhalla in his prime, right after he discovered that his Devil Fruit wasn’t the Gum-Gum Fruit, but the Sun God Nika Fruit, to fight in Ragnarok. Brunnhilde told him that a feast would be prepared after he won his fight and showed him a video of the food being prepared.

-Brunnhilde herself was going to be his partner, telling him, “My Volundr with you will allow you to remain in your Nika form with no repercussions or strain on your body.”

-Luffy was sparkly-eyed at this, thinking it was going to be so cool to fight with no limitations, wanting to really try out his skills.

-Brunnhilde had no issues tricking him, “But the longer the fight, the longer you’ll have to wait for your food, and it might get cold~” Luffy was almost instantly fired up, lifting his fists to the sky, “I’m not gonna make my meat wait for me!!!”

-Apollo was annoyed his opponent was a pirate, the Pirate King at one point, but nevertheless, a pirate, finding it a poor choice against a god like him.

-Luffy walked out with a meat stick, something Brunnhilde gave him for some motivation to get started, giving him a tease of a taste of the feast that awaited him.

-Apollo sneered down at him, “Really? This is the best humanity could do?” Luffy swallowed, looking a bit confused, “Huh? Who are you?”

-The outrage from the side of the gods, especially from Apollo, was very loud, many were stunned to learn that Luffy had no idea who Apollo was!!

-Apollo glared hard, pointing a finger at him, “You dare ask such a question?! Have you been living under a rock?! I’m the sun god Apollo! The pinnacle of perfection!!”

-Luffy ate the rest of the meat stick in one bite, pulling the bone out after stretching his mouth with ease, stunning Apollo with his bad manners before he grinned brightly, spreading his legs, “Apollo huh? Never heard of you!”

-Apollo was quick to launch an attack, furious at this disrespect from Luffy who seemingly disappeared as he leapt up with ease before kicking the sun god away, stunning everyone with his combat skills with his Devil Fruit abilities.

-Brunnhilde appeared next to Luffy in spirit form, speaking to him, “I’m ready on my side. Remember- the sooner you beat him, the sooner you get to eat to your heart’s content!”

-Luffy punched his fists together before inhaling deeply and energy and power seemed to explode from him, creating a whirlwind, one that nearly took Apollo off his feet.

-Laughter quickly filled the stadium as Luffy appeared high in the sky above, his appearance now drastically different with snow white hair that looked like fluffy clouds.

-Jaws were dropped all around the stadium, many not completely sure what was happening before Heimdall shouted out, “That’s- that’s the Sun God Nika!!” the crowds were instantly alight with cheers and shouts, seeing that a human had a god like ability.

-Apollo believed that this was just for show, instantly going on the attack, “This arena only has room for one sun god!!” Luffy took the punch full force, and his head went back into a nearby wall, with everything else remaining still in front of Apollo, not bothered.

-Like a serpent, Luffy’s head was quick to come back, spiraling around Apollo who was horrified, “What is this?!” Luffy just laughed loudly, having fun.

-Gods were horrified to see how easily Luffy was handling Apollo, bouncing his ass like a basketball… literally, smushing the god into a ball shape and playing around with him.

-Some, like Buddha and Loki were nearly falling over each other, laughing loudly, as Apollo had been talking so much smack leading up to the match.

-Ares and Hermes were conflicted, on one side they found it hysterical, thinking it was amazing Apollo was being put in his place, but at the same time, they, along with many others, were intimidated by Luffy’s power, seeing him as someone very dangerous.

-Luffy was announced the winner in the quickest match of Ragnarok and once he was announced he returned to normal, feeling completely fine before Brunnhilde came apart from him.

-He held her hand like a child, “Bruu-chan! Meat!!” her eyelid twitched, making a mental note to smack Buddha the next time she saw him as she nodded, “Yes-yes, come with me. It should be being brought into your room now.” He cheered loudly, leaping up and everyone was stunned, seeing how simple he was, fighting so he could eat.

-On the way he ran into Kojiro who had been watching the fight up close on a balcony and Luffy beamed, “Double sword guy!!” Kojiro laughed warmly, greeting Luffy and Brunnhilde couldn’t help but smile, seeing how easily these two got along, but then again, Luffy seemed to make friends everywhere.

-When Brunnhilde arrived back to his room several hours later with more food, she was stunned to see Ares, Kojiro, Jack, Buddha, most of the Valkyries, Shiva and his wives, and Loki all enjoying the feast with Luffy, turning into a celebration party.

-She couldn’t help but smile as Luffy cheered when she came in with more food and many of the others cheered as well, greeting her.

-She declined to stay, as she was preparing for the next match, but thanked Luffy before walking by Buddha and left him with several large steaming lumps on his head which he only snickered at, finding Brunnhilde’s reaction to Luffy using her nickname hysterical.

[tohwitchesduels]

GO WITCHES DUELS!

Lore: It's been a minute since the Collector visited Boiling Isles (a few months after defeating Belos), however now they're back and willing to play a new game with the Demon Realm. After some talk with King, they both decided to host a tournament known as WITCHES DUELS (that's the name you have chosen). The 16 most powerful teen witches in Boiling Isles will participate (willingly) in a tournament to decide who is the most powerful teen witch in the Boiling Isles!

Information about the tournament: The tournament will feature 16 characters of my choosing competing with one another based on their strength and skill. This by no means is a popularity contest, so I don't care if you know or like the characters featured in battles, as ultimately the battle shall decide who would win a witches duel. The tournament rather than a simple bracket will also feature side battles that would decide the position in the rankings, so get ready as there will be a lot of duels.

The first round is composed of 8 1v1 witches duels between characters that were paired randomly (except for one case but I will explain it later once I introduce the bracket). After this, the winning eight will catch a break so all the losers can face each other in a grand battle royale against one another to decide their positions in the tournament (occasionally if some people tie they will also get their own battle). Once the battles of losers are over we shall advance to the second round which shall decide who gets to semi-finals. The elite 4 themselves will catch a break as I will feature a minor bracket featuring the losers of the second round. The winner of this bracket might have a chance to battle the elite 4 once the semi-finals are sealed, in which there will be 5 battles: 2 official semi-final battles; 2 winner vs losers battles; the battle between the losers of the semi-finals. Then a champion of the second round bracket can yet challenge the elite 4, which can change their placement in the ranking and finally, there will be the last battle between the champions of the semi-finals.

The Format will naturally be polls, however, under each poll, there will be an explanation of what participants can and can't do during the duel: what spells they know and can use depending on the battle format; whether or not they can utilise specific tools like palismen for example; what is their mindset going into the battle. Now keep in mind those are not Death Matches, so no need for calculations on how much raw power the characters have and only a brief summary of what they can and can't do, and the battles are decided in imaginary scenarios by either stadium out or losing consciousness (under the Collector's supervision no one shall die).

There will be no "See results" options as I don't want them to mess up the voting so you will have to make some tough choices, but that's why I feature explanations so you can have a better idea of how strong featured characters are, even if you don't know them or their capabilities. I also would appreciate it if you could provide your own propaganda and agendas regarding what characters are capable of.

If there is a situation in which participants tie, they will either be featured in a battle royale in which the person with the least votes shall be out, or they get their match-ups switched if there are more ties (though only even numbers of battles). There are no repetition if matches unless there were issues with voting or the post. However all battles are final and characters won't meet twice unless it's a battle royale.

Who will not participate in the tournament:

All adult characters are off-limits for this tournament as they shall have their own league. This is strictly a teen championship. I decided to do such separation as adult characters just outclass the teen characters, meaning hardly it would be a fair match for young rising stars.

Only characters with importance and established capabilities shall participate so no background characters that have only 5 seconds of screen time

Vee shall not participate in the tournament. Vee is in this awkward position where she either gets so stomped she shouldn't have considered participating in the first place or is just too OP to give anyone else a chance. As a Basilisk Vee only possesses two abilities: magic absorption and shape-shifting. Because of the nature of magic absorption which can render the opponent powerless if used correctly, Vee simply has an unfair advantage towards most of the competitors. However, Vee herself possesses next to no experience when it comes to battling. Vee doesn't utilise her shape-shifting powers creatively and only limits herself to taking forms of other people which is effectively useless as she does not gain their powers (and even if she did it's either unfair since she will transform into someone who naturally counters her opponent; it would be near impossible to see which form could she actually take at this point, and technically speaking it would be another character battling and not Vee herself) but such deception is effectively useless in 1v1 duels. Vee's absorption powers are also pretty slow and can be easily interrupted as Helos demonstrated (and are not as final as the Greater's Basilisk) and as I said, Vee has no experience in battles so she can't really fight with her personality, nor doesn't know any spells to use to help her.

Masha shall not participate as they have yet to discover magic. So Veesha is only cheering on others

The Collector shall not participate since he's OP, so he rather organizes the entire tournament and arranges the game specifically so no one could get hurt while the kids go all out.

King shall not participate as much as Vee, he's either too strong or too weak to participate. King is not yet fully realized Titan so he does not possess the prowess that Titans possess, only being capable of basic light spells (weaker than average ones), squeak of rage, and barrier (which while strong, can also be easily countered). King instead becomes the announcer and the host of the tournament, along with the Collector.

Hooty shall not participate as he is both too strong and too memorable to give it a fair fight (as Hooty isn't OP, but he might as well end up as such due to the voting). He also becomes the host and announcer of the tournament, but rather the adult league.

Adult league: The characters of the past like previous Grimwalkers, Caleb and Evelyn, etc. shall not participate since we literally don't know how strong and capable they actually are.

Adult league: Camila shall not participate as she barely has any battling experience. She's the best mom and she is willing to throw hands, but she simply lacks experience with magic and her battling style can be easily countered. There's also memeable potential of her swiping everyone with La Chancla, which is hilarious, but not realistic. It would be satisfying to see her try to hit Odalia with a sandal, but Odalia can unleash the phantom that would steal such a sandal and then straight-up knockout Camila if we're being serious and no fun regarding this (but in our hearts Camila is the true winner we all know that)

Adult league: Dell Clawthorne shall not participate as he never used any magic within the show and now he's disabled.

Teen League: As the name suggests, only teenagers will participate, toddlers will not

Adult league: Only a few established Covenheads will participate since the others don't have fully-realised potential

Adult league: Titan Trappers shall not appear as they barely have any champion showcasing the true extent of their magical skill.

Adult league: Jacob Hopkins shall not appear as he lost to Camila who herself can't participate for not having enough skill (I did consider Camila to participate but I ultimately decided that she won't)

Invitations - to those who showed interest in the tournament or TOH in general, but no pressure or need for you to participate in the voting. Just wanted to invite you and ensure there will be some audience to the tournament. Oh, and I also don't mind if you use more than one account to vote as long as those are established blogs and not some spam blogs (like try to not rigg the game too much):

@lilcactusboi @wren-writes-things @the-god-of-chaos-himself @violet-prism-creatively @watery-melon-baller

@thescarletdaffodil @akmonasyrk @lapluieellepleut @damianwaynelives @crushpunchh

@impact801 @evermorecatra @rosetyler42 @memory-overload @cwolfnerakagnome

@branmuffins22 @zyrafowe-sny @metalinjector95 @michaela-artist @goingtohellwithyou

@iheartleopards @thatwierdquietkidthatdraws @sophiesophsofia @tbonner2 @amity297

@itslilacmoon @lucascii @fabseg-reader

Anyone can vote in this tournament of course, but I'm not sure if everyone will see it so I hope at least you can spread the popularity of the tournament or decide on your own who wins and who loses

[wavypotatochips]

Reader being extra sensitive to loud sounds like loud music or people screaming and she gets overwhelmed pretty easily so Sergio always makes sure she’s safe please?

𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐨 𝐑𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐬

𝘗𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴: Sergio Ramos x Female Reader

Word count : 1.8k

𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: Only because you said 'please' c; kidding kidding, of course I can! I feel as if I tweaked your request a bit so I hope that you do not mind c': I Hope you like how I represent your idea ˚ʚ♡ɞ˚!!

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ REQUESTS ARE OPEN, currently swamped with college work, uploads may be limited to weekends for the time being. Thank you for your patience c’: ♥

You have always had sensitive ears to loud noises ever since you were young. You remember being at your first concert when you were just a child, and feeling overwhelmed and uncomfortable with the volume of the music. Even as you grew older and attended more concerts and events, you found yourself always seeking out the quietest corners or wearing earplugs to muffle the sound. This sensitivity to loudness has impacted your life in various ways. For one, it has made it difficult for you to fully enjoy live music events or parties where the music is blaring. You often find yourself feeling anxious and uncomfortable, wishing for the music to be turned down or off altogether. Additionally, your sensitivity to loud sounds has led you to take extra precautions when it comes to protecting your ears. You always wear earplugs when you know you will be exposed to loud noises, such as at concerts or futebol games.

You were not going to allow your sensitivity to prevent you from watching your boyfriend, Sergio Ramos, play in this match that determines the UEFA Champions League champion. Even though the game hasn't started yet, both Liverpool and Real Madrid fans are joyously cheering from the stands. While adjusting your earplugs while watching the game in the VIP section, one of the field cameras zooms in on you. At first, you are unaware of it, but as the cheers from the crowd become louder, you look up at the screen and smile when you see yourself. You wave and blow a kiss in the direction of the camera while wearing one of your boyfriend's jerseys, which has Ramos and his jersey number on the back. You then turn around and point at your back. As you turn around and hear the raucous applause, the camera pans to Sergio Ramos, who is grinning at the massive screen. He blows a kiss back, causing butterflies to erupt in your stomach as you know the kiss is meant for you. You settle into one of the comfortable recliners as the game is ready to begin and take a small breath to try to expel the adrenaline you're experiencing. You're anxious because you want his team to succeed, and you're also a little concerned about whether your earbuds will be able to block out most of the loud noise. At the very least, it is currently doing a good job. 

Of course watching your significant other play a game can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if it's a sport as intense as soccer, but you didn't think it would make you feel as if you are about to have a heart-attack . As you sit in the stands, you can feel your heart pounding in your chest, and your palms are sweaty. You glance at the scoreboard, and the score reads 1-0 in favor of your boyfriend's team.

You feel a mix of relief and anxiety, hoping that the scoreline stays in their favor. You want your boyfriend to do well, and you know how much this game means to him. You cheer him on from the stands, shouting his name as he runs down the field.The tension in the stadium is palpable as the game progresses. The other team is putting up a good fight, and they're not letting up. You can see the determination in your boyfriend's eyes as he plays, and you're filled with pride. As the final minutes of the game tick away, you're on the edge of your seat. The other team is pushing hard, trying to score an equalizer, but your boyfriend's team is holding strong. The whistle blows, signaling the end of the game, and the scoreboard shows that your boyfriend's team has won 1-0. You scream loudly and jump to your feet, clapping and cheering along with the rest of the crowd. You can see your boyfriend on the field, grinning from ear to ear, and you feel your heart swell with joy.Watching your loved one play a sport can be stressful, but it's all worth it in the end when you see the joy on their face after a hard-fought victory. You swiftly follow the other people down to the field, your smile never leaving your face as you are overjoyed that your boyfriend's team won the Champion League tournament. Once everyone has arrived at the pitch, you can see confetti covering the entire area as the team celebrates together. As you search the area for Ramos, someone accidentally pushes your shoulder, causing one of your earplugs to fall out. The noises of fireworks exploding in the air are heard precisely as if on cue, forcing you to wince and cover both of your ears. Your left ear, where the earplug was removed, is now loudly ringing. You initially made an effort to block out the ringing and concentrate on inserting the earplug once more, but more fireworks soon started to go off. Now it was a steady, high-pitched noise that seemed to be emanating from inside your skull rather than just an occasional noise. All you could do was remain there while tightly gripping your head since the ringing was so loud that it was difficult for you to concentrate.

Sergio Ramos was on top of the world. He had just won a prestigious competition that he had been working hard for months. Sergio Ramos notices the girlfriends of his teammates rushing to their boyfriends and giving them elegant hugs. He glances around for you and smiles because he knows you are also here. He pushes through the on-duty security personnel, television crews, and stadium staff as he moves around looking for you. His eyes sparkle when he sees you, but they quickly change to concern when he notices that you are clutching your head and writhing in agony. He rapidly approaches you and puts his hands over yours to muffle the loud noises. He pinches his lip in uncertainty as he realizes that he needs to act quickly, especially since he will soon have to take the stage. He is aware of your sensitivity to loud noises because this has happened to you before. As the cacophony grows intolerable, you stay in the same position, not even raising your eyes to look at your beloved. Remembering that the medical staff has noise-canceling headphones, Ramos swiftly removes his hand and runs towards where the medics are. He hastily grabs the headphones and runs back to you, placing them on your head. You remove your hands from your ears once you feel the headphones against your hands. Despite how noisy the stadium is at the moment, the noise canceling headphones do their job and allow for the least amount of sound. Ramos tightly hugs you while wrapping his arm around you and rubbing your back. The anguish in your brain starts to fade as you encircle him with your arms as well. You exhale shakily. Finally, you open your eyes.

He senses your head movement as you gaze up at him and looks down to face you as you start to speak, "Thank you, baby.... I'm sorry my earbud fell out as soon as the fireworks started." You start to feel down, hoping that you haven't ruined the mood. He replies, "My love, don't apologize, it's okay," and kisses your forehead.

"Do you feel better now?"  He worriedly cups your face and asks, "Do you want me to take you to the medics room for some peace and quiet?"  You give a dismissive head shake, claiming that you are now more at ease. Your heart clings to his words because you adore how much he cares for you. He legitimately won the Champions League competition, but rather than celebrating, he is prioritizing you and your comfort. Sergio smiles at you, feeling happy that he could help. He is always determined to always put his girlfriend's comfort first, no matter where they went or what they did.

 You look at him with a smile and are about to say something when more confetti starts to rain from the sky. You laugh as you feel it cover you and you see it cover Ramos as well. Ramos is grinning broadly in front of you as confetti rained down all around him, and the sight brought joy to your heart. You are so madly in love with the man in front of you. You move back from him and place both of your hands on his shoulders while yelling, "YOU DID IT YOU DID IT! You joyfully exclaim, "I'm SO proud of youuuu!," making him laugh at the sight. He loves seeing you so happy. 

Sergio picks you up easily, his strong arms wrapping around you as you hug him tightly. He could feel your heart beating fast against his chest, matching his own racing heartbeat. As he holds you  close, he can sense your happiness and excitement, and he couldn't help but smile at himself. "Congratulations, my love!" you exclaim once more, beaming at him. Sergio's heart swells with pride as he looks at your beautiful face. He is so lucky to have you in his life, always there to support him and cheer him on. Without a second thought, he leans in and plants a kiss on your lips, pouring all of his joy and gratitude into it. You two broke apart after letting the kiss linger for a few more seconds, breathless but grinning from ear to ear. Sergio couldn't help but laugh at the sheer joy of the moment, feeling as though he could conquer the world with his girlfriend by his side. "Thank you," he whispers, his voice filled with emotion as he places you down. You smile up at him, your eyes shining with pride and love. "Don't thank me; you deserve all the praise!," you say. "You deserve this."

Sergio hugs you close once more, feeling the warmth and love emanating from you. He knows that this was just the beginning of many more victories to come, and he is grateful to have you by his side every step of the way.

[onboardsorasora]

@blacklaces my darling, this one and the next (that I'll write soon I promise lmao) are for you!

Part 1 | Part 8 | Part 10

Tennis AU - Part 9 (1.5k words holy hell)

Max shuffled uncomfortably on the sofa, shifting his half hard dick to rest more comfort in his sweats. 

He'd flown into Paris this morning and was waiting on Daniel to finish his media duties for the day. He was playing tomorrow in the semi finals against Novak Djokovic, someone who even Max knew about in his limited tennis knowledge. He knew Daniel was…nervous about the match up, knew that Daniel had a losing streak against the almost robotic champion. 

They had matched up a handful of times over the last few years at different majors tournaments. And Daniel had lost all but once. In 2018.

In 2016, they had played each other in Center Court in the Wimbledon Men's Finals and Daniel had lost in spectacular fashion after a tie break. It was apparent even to Max that he hadn't had the right conditioning at the time and his game had broken down. Novak had smelt blood in the water and had the match won in no time.

Max had watched the highlights in the plane, his heart ached at seeing Daniel's pissed off face while he stood there with his consolation prize, listening to Novak thank him for being a good opponent. Max knew the feeling, and knew that his lover had internalized it deeply and made himself a better player because of it.

They'd met again in 2018, an almost mirror of their circumstances two years prior. Max had put on the full match on the big screen the moment he settled into the Parisian apartment he was renting. He’d had a few hours to kill before Daniel was available and already knew that he had won it, it was the lone Wimbledon win in his stat list. Pundits and journos alike lauded it as an amazing comeback story. A redemption London.

He found himself in a daze, he wasn't sure which set they were in anymore. All he could focus on was the grunts and groans of exertion (not completely dissimilar to his moans of pleasure) and the tight clench of Daniel's ass as he ran, heaved and lunged along the grass. His little white shorts showing to all and sundry the perfect shape of it. The tattoos on his thighs– the collection not yet complete, were stark against the soft white of his shorts and the tanned olive of his skin.

The roar of the crowd broke him from his daze, and from his unconscious palming of himself. Daniel on the TV had fallen on his back in the grass, his hands cupping his face and hiding his overjoyed reaction from the camera and crowd. He eventually sat up with his legs bent, shorts riding up sinfully, looking around the packed stadium with glassy honey eyes as everyone stood to their feet cheering for him. The camera zoomed in on his wet smile and the commentators waxed poetic about how his grin was one of the brightest and most recognizable on the circuit. They spoke about how much he deserved it and how much better a player he was since 2016. 

An official motioned to his family and Daniel jumped to his feet and waved to the still cheering crowd before picking his way to the family box. He crumpled into his mother's arms, sobbing into her hair while she rubbed his back. His father and sister crowded around them, knowing it was best to go to him than wait for him to come to them. By the time he collected himself, an official was leading him back to his bench to prepare for the awards ceremony. 

Max paused the feed and grabbed his ringing phone;

"Hey Daniel."

"Hey Maxy, I'm just about done here. Are we still on for lunch?"

"Yeah, I was thinking we could order in at my apartment?"

"I thought we were going to like a beestroh." 

Max snorted at his exaggeration. "I've thought about it, and cafe bathrooms are too tiny and I want to do more than just give you a quick handjob."

"Maxy-" Daniel sounded scandalized, then he muttered; "thank God I didn't have you on speaker. I'm sure that would have been the story of the Open."

"You know better than that." Max said coolly, pressing his palm again against his now half chub. He could hear Daniel's smile and pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth.

"Send me your address." 

They hung up shortly after and Max texted over the apartment's address as requested and then ordered food from a nearby café.

Daniel arrived before their lunch and Max kissed him hello at the door, pressing him into the heavy wood. Daniel moaned, fisting his hands into Max's soft cotton shirt.

There was a sudden knock and they detangled themselves bemusedly so Max could accept the food delivery. Daniel walked further into the space, blushing at the paused video still on the screen. Max joined him in the living area, wrapping his arms around Daniel's rounded shoulders. 

"Watching my greatest hits?" Daniel bit his lip.

"Do you still have those white shorts?" Max asked instead, pressing Daniel's back into his chest, hooking his head over his shoulder. Daniel barked out a shocked laugh,

"I'm not sure, probably. Liked what you saw?" He turned into the circle of Max's arms so they were face to face.

"I, of course, prefer you with nothing on. But those white shorts are a close second." Max watched as Daniel's smile widened. He leaned in for a kiss and Max met him halfway, pressing their lips together and licking into each other's mouths.

"Did Blake send any instructions?" Max pulled back as Daniel snorted. 

"I can't even be mad at you because of course he did." Daniel giggled, dropping his forehead on Max's shoulder. "Pretty much the usual, curfews at eight and 'nothing too rigorous'."

Max laughed, "we shall save the 'rigorous activities' then for when you win, of course."

"Are you trying to incentivize me to win?" Daniel’s eyes crinkled in his mirth, his body shaking Max’s with the force of his giggles. Max smiled widely.

"I was going to rim you, but that might be too rigorous so you'll have to wait until tomorrow. After you win." Max smirked as Daniel's smile fell into a slack O.

"You can't just say that! Now I'm gonna have a hard on the whole time." He whined, pressing his hips flush against Max's, their cocks meeting.

"I'll help with your pre match prep—"

"Don't you dare fucking— fuck what's the word— pavlov me. Is that the word? Don't you fuckin make it so that I think of you while I'm prepping for a match. That's the most evil thing—" Daniel accused with a laugh, he watched as Max's eyes turned into crescents while he laughed. 

"That is the meanest thing, I'm gonna fuckin make sure you get hard before every race now." Daniel continued to tease.

"I of course am ok with this, it means I get to keep you, always." Max stilled as he realized belatedly what escaped his lips in his happiness. He watched Daniel's reaction as honey eyes widened briefly then softened. Daniel opened his mouth to say something and closed it once, then twice before settling on a small, tender smile. A blush high on his cheeks.

"I'm ok with that too." Daniel whispered eventually, licking his lips nervously and looking into Max's waiting, blue eyes.

Max surged forward, contracting the small space between them and molded Daniel's kiss swollen lips with his own. Daniel moaned into his mouth, relaxing into Max's lead and eagerly massaging their tongues together.

Max eased them into the sofa, crowding on top of Daniel's pliant form. They made out languidly as if they had all the time in the world. Reacquainting themselves with each other’s bodies, almost reverently now with this new turn of their relationship. 

Soon, Daniel's sweatshirt and Max's Tshirt were discarded to the floor. They groped and stroked each other, careful to not leave any marks or bruises. Contrary to what Blake, Michael and Lando thought, Max had self control around Daniel. He may not exercise it, but he at the very least was aware of its existence. 

He, as much as everyone else, wanted Daniel to win tomorrow. He wanted Daniel to be 100% ready for the battle ahead. Daniel didn't need to be worried about a bruise pulling at an inopportune moment, or a muscle cramping from being held in a position (more than likely over Max's shoulder) for too long. He could hold back. He'd show them. 

Shucking down both their sweatpants inelegantly, Max pulled back from Daniel’s sinful mouth and spat into his palm. He cradled their dicks together in his large hand and swallowed Daniel's moan as he stroked them off slowly, rocking his hips a little to help provide some friction.

Daniel panted, clenching his fingers into Max's blonde strands to almost center himself. He whispered curses and praise into Max's lips, the other man feeding off of his pleasure. He always enjoyed taking Daniel apart. 

With a shudder and a long moan, Daniel came first, shooting his hot load over Max's hand and against their bellies. Max hummed in satisfaction, using Daniel's cum to further lubricate his grip before he too came with a groan, mixing with Daniel's mess.

They breathed shakily into each other's mouths, feeling their lips brush lightly with the movements. As if their mouths couldn't help but touch.

"So are we gonna do this before every match day or…?" Daniel broke the silence, smiling at Max's snort. 

"If that is what you want."

"As long as I get you, I'm good."

"I'm glad."

[crystalelemental]

Oh, they chose to be Psychic weak?  That was ill-advised.

Vs. Kahili I don't know why I started with Kahili.  To be blunt, I didn't really think that hard this time through.  It's Psychic.  I love Psychic.  Giovanni led off because it's not like I have much else to do.  Will can flinch so it's extra funny.  Thankfully, Giovanni missed every goddamn crit on sync, because Giovanni is a failure.

Vs. Marshal Yeah, it's SS Steven.  Do I really...need to explain...?

Vs. Flint "Haha, now I have half sync cooldown and-" dead by turn 2.  Suck my ass.

Vs. Bruno At this point I was just slapping shit together.  Lana's no-penalty AoE shreds the field, and Olympia is more than capable of performing the needed denial turn 2.

Vs. Hop Hop at least tries, I'll give him that.  The debuffs combined with what seems like  a doubling up let him slow the team really badly.  Unfortunately, Caitlin stocks.  Zero gauge cost while on-type.  Also, Lucian boosts speed with each Growl, which also cuts your offense and makes you weaker to my damage.  And to round it out, SS Dawn, who tanks like a champion.  Our last sync from Caitlin dealt 75k.  He never stood a chance.  Except for in all the ways he did because I was so over-confident on Psychic I barely paid any attention and just let this happen.

[irithnova]

Naadam - and how Mongolia celebrates it.

What is Naadam in Mongolian culture and how would Mr Mongolia celebrate it?

Naadam is a traditional sports festival in Mongolia. It includes Mongols adorning themselves in national dress, mounted soldiers in uniform, music, dancers, and of course, the "Three Manly Sports":

Horse riding, wrestling and archery!

Naadam is a 2000 year old event, however, the term "Naadam" was coined in the 13th century by Chinggis Khaan (according to the secret history of the Mongols) and has been celebrated ever since.

Naadam used to be a preparation/practices/training for war. Competitions such as this would take place just before major battles in order for the war commanders to select which soldiers would be in which division.

Individuals who demonstrated exceptional strength, speed, and flexibility in wrestling, keen eyesight and precise hand-orientation in spear-throwing and archery, and also patience and skill in horse training/horse racing were carefully selected during the competitions.

Naadam takes place around mid-July in the heat of the summer, and is considered one of the biggest and most important festivals in Mongol culture along with Tsaagan Sar.

National Naadam is celebrated in the capital - Ulaanbaatar, in the national sports stadium. However it's not just restricted to the city! It takes place all across the country.

The Naadam festival kicks off with a ceremonial transfer of the symbolic "Nine Banners of the Great Mongol Empire" from the Government House to the Naadam stadium, escorted by honorary guards.

After a speech by the president or a representative, the games officially commence. In Ulaanbaatar, the capital, the event assumes a grand scale, drawing the most talented wrestlers, horse trainers, and archers from all corners of Mongolia!

As I've previously mentioned, Naadam takes place in the countryside too! In the countryside, herders journey to towns not only to partake in the festivities but also to reunite with friends and relatives, they may not have seen in a while.

Mongolia also has a bit of a reunion - with different Mongolic ethnic groups and other ethnic groups who's people participate in Naadam coming over to visit. Buryat and Uriankhai people are an example, and they (So, Buryat Mongols, Uriankhai/"forest people" as Mongols call them, usually denoting the likes such as Tuvans and Yakuts) have their own archery competitions. It's basically like one big get together!

Wrestling

Mongolian wrestling has no time limit and one objective - avoid touching the ground with anything other than your feet, or else you lose the match.

It also has no weight classes!

The National Wrestling Championship takes place during Naadam , however even before this, there are previous stages.

First is Soum (village) Naadam. Soum Naadam showcases wrestlers from various villages vying for the opportunity to represent their respective villages at the regional level.

Wrestlers who win at the Soum Naadam progress to the Aimag (province) Naadam, where they contend against other wrestlers within their own province to win the opportunity to represent the province.

The ultimate challenge awaits the winner of the Aimag Naadam at the National Naadam in Ulaanbaatar, the grandest and final tournament. Here, the aimag representatives vie for the prestigious title of national champion!

Mongol wrestling painting, 16th century

I definitely think Mr Mongolia is an avid wrestler/quite sporty himself (jock™) however he is a nation and so his nation strength and... Many, many years of experience would mean that it would be unfair for the most part if he went against humans. And besides, he absolutely risks outing himself if he participated in Naadam, especially with how popular wrestling is and uhh, considering the wrestling outfits... The lack of anonymity with that comes with it hahah.

However I think he participates in his own way. I think occasionally he helps with being with being a referee. Another thing: music. During Mongol national wrestling matches, you can often hear someone singing a Mongolian long song in the background. A long song is well, a song, which doesn't actually have a lot of words, but the the words are drawn out by the singer and emphasis is put on reaching impressive notes and putting power and volume in the voice. I think he does musical performances during naadam!

Archery

The Mongols are famous for their archery. There are many different types of Mongol archery.

There's Khalkha Archery, the most practiced one (seeing as the Khalkha Mongols are the majority ethnic group in Mongolia), spanning across a remarkable duration of 48 hours.

Those who triumph in this contest earn the esteemed distinction of the state archery title.

There's also women's archery! As for the women's archery tournament, they display their prowess by releasing 20 arrows towards a 60-meter target, while their male counterparts take aim with 40 arrows at a distance of 75 meters. The target itself comprises a symmetrical arrangement of diminutive leather cylinders, artfully positioned in rows of two and three.

Two red cylinders occupy the center of the target, but hitting them doesn't earn extra points. Each hit on a target gives one point, but merely hitting isn't enough for a score. The target must move a set distance from its starting point to count towards the final score.

There's also Uriankhai archery and Buryat archery - with Uriankhai archery only being practiced by men, and is practiced by the Uriankhai ethnic groups (this is a name Mongols give to what they consider Northern "forest people" like Tuvans or Yakuts). It has ties to religious ceremonies related to their culture. Buryat archery is practiced by the Buryat minority ethnic group of Mongolia. Both of which take place during the national Naadam festival.

They even have child archers!

I definitely think Mongolia is very passionate about archery, and watches the archery competitions intently. I think he helps with setting up the targets and prepping some of the archers when he can. He finds it fascinating to watch them display their skills and techniques with such precision and accuracy - and he wishes he could participate himself! He believes it is a testament to the level of dedication and hard work that athletes put into their craft and loves the satisfaction of the perfect hit - he'll always appreciate a good archer. Further, he puts time aside to go and watch the Buryat and Uriankhai archery with Buryatia and the others as its quite important to them all.

Horse racing

Over a thousand horses gather from all corners of the region to partake in this grand event. Diverging from Western traditions, these races traverse immense distances, spanning a remarkable range of 15 to 30 kilometers. The length of each race is intricately tied to the age of the horses, with the seasoned contenders gallantly competing over the longest stretches.

Curiously, the jockeys who guide these horses are not seasoned professionals, but rather children as young as 5 years old, with the oldest among them being 13. Yet, it is the horse's prowess that truly determines the outcome, as the race serves as a testament to their remarkable skills.

Age and gender play crucial roles in the classification of horses within the realm of horse racing. For example, in the case of geldings, they are divided into distinct age groups, spanning from 2 years old up to 6 years and older.

The races commence in a distinctive manner. All the horses gather behind a standard-bearer, cross the finish line together, and then follow the guidance of the official rider to reach the starting line.

In each class, the top 5 performers are crowned as "airgiyn tav," and the top three champions proudly claim gold, silver, and bronze medals. People joyfully sing their praises while showering them with fermented mare's milk (airag) on their rump, neck, and cheek.

The victorious jockey ascends to the esteemed title of "tumny ekh," signifying their leadership over a multitude of ten thousand.

Multiple races are showcased during Naadam. Stallions, specifically those known as Azarga, have a race of their own, while geldings partake in a minimum of three races. Further, a special race is organised specifically for pacing horses in Ulaanbaatar.

Remarkably, even the horse that crosses the finish line last in the two-year-old category is bestowed with a special appellation: "bayan khodood," meaning "full stomach." A heartfelt song resonates through the air, expressing good wishes and luck for the humble competitor to emerge triumphant in the following year.

The subject of child-jockeys seem to be somewhat contested amongst Mongols themselves. I'm not going to touch on that debate, however it should be noted that safety measures have been implemented in order to make sure that the race is as smooth as possible, but I understand that this can be a point of controversy. I definitely think Mongolia does his best in making sure the riders are well prepared/equipped for the races to ensure that have the best chances of coming out uninjured/relatively unscathed as possible. I think he puts extra time and care into this aspect of his Naadam participations considerably. He enjoys it to an extent as it reminds him of when he was a very young horse rider, and he does enjoy the celebrations afterwards, however the safety of the riders is at the forefront of his mind.

Other Naadam headcanons:

-Because Mongols usually wear their best clothes to Naadam, Mongolia definitely does too! He has a different outfit planned for each day.

-He uhh definitely enjoys all the food that's about 🤤 (khuushur, buuz)

-Probably floods his social media with pictures during this time

-Overall, it's quite an exciting yet busy time for him, he is involved in both the preparations for Naadam and participation in some aspects of Naadam, whilst also making sure to keep socialising with all the people he's invited over! But he manages it well.

[joodles98]

do u ever think about raileon as being two sides of the same coin? the dragon guarding a castle and the king who loves his subjects yet is trapped in a tower. childhood friends (perchance) turned into friendly rivals and eventually lovers.

do you think they idolized red and blue as kids or teens (depending on how old you think they are bc in my mind reguri are slightly older, maybe like late 20s while raileon are early 20s) and they dont talk about it but you can clearly see the parallels of battle prodigy child who goes on to be champion and rival who ends up becoming the 8th gym leader who prefers double battles plus a researcher (and both r super gay)

yes to all of that a million times ❗️these characters are so intertwined to me.

i have all kinds of scattered thoughts

i think leon would have invited rednblue to galar to get their input/expertise in creating his battle tower (since they have the experience in setting up the battle tree 😋)

blue would love how cutthroat the galar league is/the gym leadership system, also really enjoy the commercial appeal of it/spectacle of the stadiums. red doesnt really care for any of that but he fucking loves gigantamaxing his charizard. he feels his cool meter thru the roof. when he sees gigantamax pikachu for the first time his heart explodes

there is something to say about red and leon confronting its hard(scary) to go back home. but its nice to have someone on your side to remind you of who you are and who you can be.

red especially, who "threw away" the obligations of being champ because the core of his journey was to test the limits of his strength, learn and grow, and battle for the sake of it because its what he loves to do. period. (and ending up becoming a hero just because he saw abuses of power and knew he could stop it, since no one else was.) leon realizes that living and battling really could be simple and fundamental once he's free of the excess of championing lol, and the only real pressure and maintenance of reputation comes from a personal definition within. that's it.

red as a character, to me at least, symbolizes we get to choose what we let go of, what we carry on, and what's new that we'll venture into. nobody's judgement, no matter how big or loud it seems, can "make" us do anything, that is, if we have the courage to decide what defines us and act accordingly

basically. i think red is a character who is the epitome of authenticity (the responsibility we have to our own life and dreams.) he is just doing his thing forever fuck the haters. mad respect. everybody can learn from him

on the other hand, i think leon symbolizes possibility. the way identity is a constant process. like the many lives we have the fortune to live in our one life, if we have the courage and resilience to begin again. (resilience and not stubborn kind that makes you blind to opportunity. im talking like a strong acceptance of reality, unwavering belief that life is meaningful. i think that's what leon's growth arc is about 🤧)

blue and leon could become drinking buddies over the self-reinventing journeys they undertook after losing 🫣. its so fascinating to compare the outcomes of someone who was champ for less than an hour vs. someone who was champ for over 10 years (a whole childhood/teenagedom!). also considering leon just had a whole fucking terrible week before his loss that probably already put his identity on shaky foundation. (the darkest day and losing to eternatus in front of hop. being betrayed by rose. etc).

when i think of older blue and post game leon they are a reminder of at the end of the day its that you gotta make sure the things you do is for You

baseline reguri for me is that blue never actually "hated" red. jealousy and frustration can make a kid who just wants recognition and praise pretty volatile. for raihan, especially when he was younger, he had to be pretty vigilant to not let his jealously of leon taint their friendship/rivaly. it could be a factor in his investment of a personal brand and celebrity through his influencer status(quiet his inner doubt/impostor syndrom/make up for the he perceivs he lacks).

but i also think raihan's interest in history makes him the contextual thinking type to have been skeptical of leon's experience as champion, especially since leon's hard to read. (the way they both have different types of trust issues. lol) it kinda protected his heart from being too hurt of the physical distance leon's championing put in their friendship over the years too, especially since their rivalry continued on into a professional, profitable setting and they both had images to maintain. (whereas red and blue are coworkers also lol, but working side by side.)

i want to talk about raileon slow burn so bad but i have to go to work rn 😭

[champion-level-astroturfing]

Sorry if someone's asked this before, but what's the worst thing you've had to clean up?

@acetraineramelia

You're actually the first who's dared ask! And oh boy!

so the worst messes always always always come at the end of the season, when they hold the champion cup. this is quite simply because there's not TIME to clean everything up fully between matches in a tournament like that; we get like an hour max between go-rounds (unless there's been enough successful challengers qualified that it has to go two days, which happens every so often, but even then there's a limit what you can do overnight). So the pitch gets chewed up something chronic by the end and we're just here making sure nothing's going to give way underneath someone or trap them in unexpected quicksand or other exciting possibilities (and that the forcefields that keep the trainers safe when someone Dynamaxes are still working...)

and obviously all max moves are destructive in some way. but some are worse than others. worst are probably rockfall, quake, and steelspike for sheer amount of damage done to just the terrain in general, geyser for just making EVERYTHING WET which is such an arse in general, and then the one that makes for the biggest chore is, as you might expect, max ooze. we love throwing poison like, literally everywhere.

and of course we're always gonna have water and rock moves so long as nessa and gordie are still kickin around in the major league, so that's guaranteed to deal with. but sometimes we get lucky and the challengers prefer the less destructive maxes.

last year though. last year.

multiple challengers who used Max Quake; Max Overgrow and Max Flare in the same battle (love putting my trust in the stadium's fire extinguishers); like seven different instances of Max Geyser; and a few flutterbys, airstreams and phantasms just to spread everything around a little. the pitch was a fucking MESS by the time the champion battle came round.

and now i tell you. the champion's got a garbodor. who can gigantamax. and she doesn't always g-max it, she's often using something else, but for whatever battle tactic bullshit reason that day was Big Giant Heap Of Magic Trash day

saw that g-max malodour come down and kissed goodbye to all my free time for the next like two weeks

[the-kipsabian]

Going off your post (idk I sort of like conspiracies & theories). Here's my take::

So I semi remember a tweet after Stadium Stampede when the photo of OC bloodied and basically being carried out by Trent & Chuck was posted... Danhausen mentioned how he could take him (I may be remembering wrong)... What if when he comes back he takes the belt? Like every cursed item if it's returned it breaks the curse? Just a thought. I'd love to know your opinion or theory on this?

OH MANNNNNN

first of all, welcome to the theory crafting conspiracy zone youre so welcome to come here i love this shit so much even tho im probably wrong 9/10 times when i theorize about things but its so fun to do and one of my favorite ways to consume wrestling lol

second, i found this tweet?

which sets up some. interesting implications for sure. if i had seen this earlier tbh i would have assumed this was more in relation to the all out match with mox, seeing how oc was pushed to the very limit in there and "to pay times debt" could easily be taken as having an opponent that could finally beat him after oc has suffered for so long and was on the end of his rope mentally and physically finally; however as we stand right now, with ocs second reign starting, clearly in much darker tone than before, and danhausen teasing his return, this could mean anything

i do love the take of danhausen being the one thats able to lift the curse from the belt tho, as someone who originally cursed it, if he gets his hands on it. personally i would enjoy seeing oc run as champ again as long as possible tho, ssooo in my perfect little imagination this wouldnt mean that danhausen gets to be the champion, but he joins forced with oc, turning them both heel (as is a very clear implication here in both of their demeanors lbr) - oc remains unchanged because he knows what he is like now as a champion. what he has to do. the vicious side of him that he has to tap into to keep that belt

tbh maybe tagging with danhausen would make him even more wicked. i mean that man got oc to wear something out of ordinary during their tag match at revolution (BLACK DENIM MY BELOVED), who knows what kind of a hold he can have on oc when the mans already corrupted to hell and back and danhausen is ready to show a more wicked side of him upon return as well

[aimeedaisies]

The Princess Royal’s Official Engagements in March 2023

01/03 As Patron of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society, HRH visited The Royal Northern Spring Show in Inverurie, Scotland 🚜

02/03 As President of the National Equine Forum, HRH attended the 31st National Equine Forum in London 🐴

03/03 Held an Investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in the morning. As Royal Patron of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, later visited The Grange, Saunderton, on the occasion of their 40th Anniversary. In the evening as Patron of Tenovus Cancer Care, HRH attended their 80th Anniversary Concert at St David’s Hall, Cardiff 🎖️🐶🎤

07/03 Princess Anne accompanied by Sir Tim Laurence, attended the races at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, where she presented the trophy to the winners of a race named in memory of her grandmother, The Queen Mother. Later she held a reception for the races at Windsor Castle 🏇🏼

08/03 Held two investiture ceremonies, one in the morning and one in the afternoon at Windsor Castle🎖️

09/03 As Patron of Maritime UK, HRH attended the Annual Awards in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire ⚓️

10/03 In Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Princess Anne visited Special Quality Alloys Limited and ITM Power. Later, as Patron of the Vine trust she held a dinner at Holyrood House, Edinburgh ⚡️

12/03 As Patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, accompanied by Sir Tim, HRH attended the International Rugby Match between Scotland and Ireland at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🏉

13/03 King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence attended the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. Later the King and The Queen, with the aforementioned members (minus Catherine) of the royal family hosted members of the diplomatic and Commonwealth communities at Buckingham Palace for the annual Commonwealth Day Reception ⛪️🥂

14/03 unofficial Princess Anne attended Champion Day (day one) of Cheltenham Festival. Peter Phillips, Zara and Mike Tindall also attended the races, Zara is the Director of Cheltenham Racecourse.🐴

15/03 As Colonel-in-Chief of the Intelligence Corps, Princess Anne visited the Government Communications Headquarters in Cheltenham and laid a wreath at the memorial for Intelligence Corps staff. Later on HRH opened Five Valleys Medical Centre in Stroud, in the evening HRH, accompanied by Sir Tim, attended the Gloucestershire and District Agricultural Valuers Association’s Centenary Dinner at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester 🩺🥂

16/03 unofficial Princess Anne, accompanied by Sir Tim, attended St Patrick’s Thursday (day three) of Cheltenham Festival. Zara and Mike Tindall also attended the races 🐴

17/03 Princess Anne, accompanied by Sir Tim, attended Gold Cup day (day 4) of Cheltenham Festival and crowned Paul Townend, jockey of Galopin Des Champs the champion racer of the year and presented him with the gold cup 🏆

18/03 As patron Scottish Rugby Union, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, HRH attended the Guinness Six Nations International Rugby Match between Scotland and Italy at Murrayfield Stadium and presented Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie with the Cuttitta Cup after beating Italy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇹🏉

20/03 As Patron of the Acid Attack Survivors Trust International, Princess Anne visited the set of Coronation Street at ITV studios in Salford. They are currently filming an acid attack storyline and HRH met with producers, script writers, the makeup department and actors and discussed how they have worked together to create and portray such a delicate storyline 📺

21/03 The Service of the Royal Victorian Order was held in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. King Charles, Sovereign of the Order, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Grand Master of the Order, accompanied by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester were all present. Later King Charles held a reception at Windsor Castle for those who attended the service. 🏅🍾

22/03 As President of the Scotch Chef’s Club, Princess Anne visited Cowbag Farm in Kelso, where HRH was given a tour of the farm, met cows and sheep, unveiled a plaque and planted a gum tree. 🐮🐑

27/03 As Patron of the Butler Trust, HRH held the Annual Awards Ceremony at St James’s Palace. In the evening, as Patron of Save the Children UK, HRH accompanied by Sir Tim attended the International Financial Review Annual Awards Dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane. 🥇🍾

28/03 Princess Anne carried out the following engagements in Suffolk;

As Royal Patron, National Coastwatch Institution, visited Felixstowe Station and afterwards attended a Reception at Orwell Hotel, Felixstowe. ⛵️

Opened Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s new Combined Fire and Police Station, Ipswich. 🚒

As Patron of the Excelsior Trust, visited the restored Great Yarmouth Shrimper Horace and Hannah at Ipswich Waterfront. ⛴️

28/03 Princess Anne carried out the following engagements in Suffolk and Norfolk;

Visited Adnams Brewery, to mark its 150th Anniversary. 🍻

Opened the Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science’s new Headquarters, Lowestoft. 🐟

As Patron of Friends of Happisburgh Lighthouse, visited Happisburgh Lighthouse. 💡

Visited Elm House Temporary Accommodation in Thetford. 🏠

30/03 As Patron of the Injured Jockeys Fund, Princess Anne opened their South West Hub at Taunton Rugby Club, Taunton. 🐎

31/03 As Vice Patron of the British Horse Society, HRH this visited Summerfield Stables in Birmingham. 🐴

Total official engagements for Anne in March: 51

2023 total so far: 142

Total official engagements accompanied by Tim in March: 10

2023 total so far: 38