#on saturday i was on a swords fighting tournament

[c28hunter]

How the fuck am I supposed to go to school tomorrow if the only three things I'm thinking about now are:

1. Crazy Finnish guy and his upcoming porn music video

2. Slovenian one direction

3. Swords fighting

[bbcmerlinvault]

[Article] “Will's Valiant role”

by Ian Wylie for Manchester Evening News. The earliest date displayed on the page is 18th April 2010 but I feel it would have been published in the week of 21st Septemner 2008 - 26th September 2008. This is because it advertises the time the time this episode is due to air. I am currently unable to find any earlier archive of this article, so I may be incorrect.

[Original source]

Will's Valiant role

WILL Mellor made it a knight to remember when he rode into Camelot with his magic shield. The Stockport-born actor guest stars as Knight Valiant of the Western Isles in the second episode of Merlin (BBC1, Saturday, 6pm) .

Will Mellor as Valiant

WILL Mellor made it a knight to remember when he rode into Camelot with his magic shield. The Stockport-born actor guest stars as Knight Valiant of the Western Isles in the second episode of Merlin (BBC1, Saturday, 6pm).

"I'm here for the tournament," he declares, determined to defeat reigning champion Prince Arthur (Bradley James) in the annual sword-fighting contest. But Valiant has a secret. His shield contains enchanted snakes, ready to strike when commanded by their master. "He's a baddie," smiles Will, 32, star of shows including Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps, Casualty and The Street. He's come to chat up the women and kill a few people on the way." Will threw himself into the role while filming on location at the Chateau de Pierrefonds, north of Paris, which doubles for Camelot. "It was phenomenal, what dreams are made of. I had a great character to play with horse riding and sword fighting in a stunning setting." Co-star Bradley recalls: "On the first day I found myself holding a sword with Will charging at me like a maniac. It was like being thrown in at the deep end. I still have a couple of scratches on my arm from Will. It makes you feel like you are a big warrior hero suffering for his art." Will explains: "Bradley and I worked very well together because we had sword training. Obviously we had to start off very slowly and work our way up to fast pace, because when you're doing the scenes you don't want it to look like you know what's coming. You want to react late, as you would do in a sword fight. So we worked hard on that. "And then when it came, when the adrenalin kicks in and someone shouts action, you're always going to go a bit faster. That's when people can get hurt. So we rehearsed and rehearsed it and got it bang on and then we really went for it. It was great."

Injury Not that Will escaped entirely without injury. "Bradley hit me in the knee about four times. It didn't cut me or anything, the sword was quite blunt but it was very heavy. So I had bruises. "It's very physical. You're hitting these people with shields. I had to fight a lot of stuntmen. I whacked one stuntman with my shield right across his head but he didn't mind, because we wanted to make it look realistic. So you've got fractions, a couple of inches, between each hit. "It was very hot in the chainmail and armour and I got a little bit bumped about but it all felt part of it. At the end of the day I felt like I'd done a day's work. "As an actor, there's not many days you go home and feel like you've done a day's work, because often you're sat about most of the day." The budget doesn't appear to be up to providing horses as part of the tournament, although Will's character is seen riding into town at the start of the episode. "I had to do some horse training but I'm terrified of horses and the horses they have there are massive. So a lot of my stuff was stuntmen. "I had a bad experience with a horse years ago. It reared up while I had hold of its reins and it nearly pulled my arm out of its socket. And then I realised that we are nowhere near a match for a horse that wants to move. I don't like being out of control and they're far too big to fall off." As you might guess, Merlin (Colin Morgan) discovers Valiant's secret and does his best to alert Arthur before it's too late. But convincing King Uther (Anthony Head) of the truth is another matter entirely. Anthony was captivated by knights in shining armour when he was a young boy. "We used to travel to France on camping holidays and my big thing was collecting these beautifully crafted toy knights." So the role of Arthur's all powerful father was just too good to turn down. He says: "Swanning around in chainmail and armour, getting to dress up in really cool clothes because I'm a king. Has it been fun? Hell, yes. It's as if I've come home."

[brookston]

Holidays 2.24

Holidays

Central Excise Day (India)

Day of Stripes & Dots

Dia de la Bandera (Flag Day; Mexico)

Dragobete (Lover's Day; Romania)

Edwin Dickinson Baker Day (Oregon)

Engineer’s Day (Iran)

Flag Day (Mexico)

Forget Me Not Day (Disabled Veterans)

Full Moon [2nd of the Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Bony Moon (Cherokee)

Budding Moon (China)

Daeboreum (Great Full Moon; Korea) [1st Full Moon of Lunar Calendar]

Eagle Moon (Traditional)

Grain Moon (South Africa)

The Great Fifteenth [Lunar Calendar]

Hunger or Hungry Moon (Alternate)

Ice Moon (Celtic)

Little Famine Moon (Choctaw)

Naval Full Moon Poya Day (Sri Lanka)

Raccoon Moon (Traditional)

Snow Moon (American Indian, North America, Traditional)

Southern Hemisphere: Barley, Corn, Dog, Grain, Red, Sturgeon, Wyrt Moons

Storm Moon (England, Neo-Pagan, Wicca)

Trapper’s Moon (Colonial)

Gregorian Calendar Day

Honus Wagner Day

International EBM Day

International Family Drug Support Day

International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

International SCN2A Awareness Day

International War Animal Day

Loud Shirt Day (New Zealand)

Makha Bucha Day (Thailand)

Marbury vs. Madison Day

Mitch Hedberg Day

National Artist Day (Thailand)

National Dance Day

National Day for War Animals (Australia)

National Remembrance Day (Papua New Guinea)

National Trading Card Day

N'cwala (Thanksgiving; Zambia)

Nylon Toothbrush Day

Obnoxious Day

Osmon Roy (Osmanda Regalis) Day

Showza-Shinzan International Yukigassen Tournament (Snowball Fight; Japan)

Sweden Finns’ Day (Sweden)

Tourism Day (Taiwan)

Twin Peaks Day

Ukrainian War Anniversary Day

Voice of America Day

Wild Ginger Day (French Republic)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Caesar Salad Day

Defend the Donut Day

Gouden Carolus Cuvée van de Keizer Open Day

National I Hate Coriander Day

National Tortilla Chip Day

National Tortamali Day

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Day

World Bartender Day

4th & Last Saturday in February

Camellia Day (California) [Last Saturday]

Clam Chowder Cook-Off (Santa Cruz, CA) [Last Saturday & Sunday]

International Sword Swallowers Day [Last Saturday]

International Tongue Twister Contest Day [Last Saturday]

National Day of Terere (Paraguay) [Last Saturday]

National Library Open Day (UK) [Last Saturday]

National Pretty Brown Girl Day [4th Saturday]

National TRiO Day [4th Saturday]

Open That Bottle Night [Last Saturday]

Independence & Related Days

Iseseisvuspäev, Independence Day of Estonia (from Russia, 1918)

Territory Day (Arizona; 1863)

Zamboanga Sibugay Province Day (Philippines)

Festivals Beginning February 24, 2024

Annapolis Restaurant Week (Annapolis, Maryland) [thru 3.3]

Beer City Festival (Santa Rosa, California)

Chinese New Year Parade (San Francisco, California)

Chocolate Wine Trail (Hermann, Missouri) [thru 2.25]

Melodifestivalen (Eskilstuna, Sweden)

New York City Beer Week (New York, New York) [thru 3.5]

Orange Beach Seafood Festival (Orange Beach, Alabama)

Taiwan Lantern Festival (Tainan, Taiwan) [thru 3.10]

Feast Days

Æthelberht of Kent (1st Christian Anglo-Saxon King) [original date]

Ascensión Nicol y Goñi (Christian; Blessed)

Ayyám-i-Há begins (Baha’i) [thru 2.28]

Beard Day (Pastafarian)

Carthaginian Ghost Spotting Day (Pastafarian)

Charles Le Brun (Artology)

Day of the Abdication of the Sacred King (Pagan)

Feast of Vartan (Armenia; Saint)

Giving of Shoes (Shamanism)

Hammie Swinette (Muppetism)

Huey Newton Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lethard, Bishop of Senlis (Christian; Saint)

Lindel Tsen and Paul Sasaki (Anglican Church of Canada)

Lucan (Positivist; Saint)

Mattia Preti (Artology)

Matthias the Apostle (Christian; Saint)

Modest, Bishop of Trier (Christian; Saint)

Montanus, Lucius, Flavian, Julian, Victorious, Primolus, Rhenus, and Donation, martyrs at Carthage (Christian; Saint)

Pretextatus, Archbishop of Rouen (Christian; Saint)

Primrose Lore Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Regifugium (Flight of Kings; Ancient Rome)

Richard Hamilton (Artology)

Robert of Arbrissel (Christian; Saint)

Sergius of Cappadocia (Christian; Saint)

Sepandārmazgān (Women's Day; Zoroastrian Iran)

Shivaratri (Shiva’s Night; Hinduism; Everyday Wicca)

Winslow Homer (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Alamut, by Vladimir Bartol (Novel; 1938)

Buddy and Bowser (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

Chips Ahoy (Disney Cartoon; 1956)

Cocaine Bear (Film; 2023)

Figure Eight (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Fleetwood Mac, by Fleetwood Mac (Album; 1968)

Frozen Feet (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1939)

Get Out (Film; 2017)

Help Me Rhonda, recorded by The Beach Boys (Song; 1965)

How to Ride a Horse (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

I Got Six (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Johnny Cash at San Quentin, recorded by Johnny Cash (Concert Album; 1969)

Kidnapped (Disney Film; 1960)

Lest Darkness Fall, by L. Sprague de Camp (Novel; 1941)

L’Orfeo, by Claudio Monteverdi (Opera; 1607) [1st Modern Opera]

Lucky Seven Sampson (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Misguided Missile (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1958)

Musical Moments from Chopin (Woody Woodpecker & Andy Panda Cartoon; 1947)

My Life as a Zucchini (Animated Film; 2017)

O-Solar-Meow (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1967)

Peer Gynt, by Henrik Ibsen & Edvard Grieg (Musical Play; 1867)

Philadelphia Freedom, by Elton John (Song; 1975)

Physical Graffiti, by Led Zeppelin (Album; 1975)

The Practical Pig (Disney Silly Symphony Cartoon; 1939)

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Film; 1969)

Putty Tat Trouble (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Rabbit Remembered, by John Updike (Novella; 2001)

Rinaldo, by George Frederic Handel (Opera; 1711)

Rock Dog (Animated Film; 2017)

Silk Stockings (Broadway Musical; 1955)

Space Kid (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1966)

Wanderlust (2012)

WhatsApp (Social Media App; 2009)

When You Wish Upon A Star, recorded by Frances Langford (Song; 1940)

Working Class Dog, by Rick Springfield (Album; 1981)

Today’s Name Days

Matthias (Austria)

Goran, Modest, Montan, Sinerot (Croatia)

Matěj (Czech Republic)

Mattias (Denmark)

Madi, Madis, Mäido, Maido, Maidu, Mait, Mati, Matis, Mats, Matti, Mattias (Estonia)

Matias, Matti (Finland)

Modeste (France)

Matthias (Germany)

Elemér (Hungary)

Edilberto (Italy)

Diāna, Dina, Dins, Gatins, Gatis, Kurbads (Latvia)

Gedmantas, Goda, Motiejus (Lithuania)

Mats, Mattias, Mattis (Norway)

Bogurad, Bogusz, Boguta, Bohusz, Lucjusz, Maciej, Piotr (Poland)

Ioan (Romania)

Matej (Slovakia)

Modesto, Sergio (Spain)

Mats, Mattias (Sweden)

Taras (Ukraine)

Maddison, Madison, Madisyn, Madyson, Mateo, Mathew, Mathias, Matt, Mattea, Matthea, Matthias, Mattias, Mattie, Matty, Modesto (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 55 of 2024; 311 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 8 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 155 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 15 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 14 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 25 Grey; Foursday [25 of 30]

Julian: 10 February 2024

Moon: 100%: Full Moon

Positivist: 27 Homer (2nd Month) [Lucan]

Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 66 of 89)

Week: 3rd Week of February

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 6 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Half-Month 5 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 3.10)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 2.24

Holidays

Central Excise Day (India)

Day of Stripes & Dots

Dia de la Bandera (Flag Day; Mexico)

Dragobete (Lover's Day; Romania)

Edwin Dickinson Baker Day (Oregon)

Engineer’s Day (Iran)

Flag Day (Mexico)

Forget Me Not Day (Disabled Veterans)

Full Moon [2nd of the Year] (a.k.a. ... 

Bony Moon (Cherokee)

Budding Moon (China)

Daeboreum (Great Full Moon; Korea) [1st Full Moon of Lunar Calendar]

Eagle Moon (Traditional)

Grain Moon (South Africa)

The Great Fifteenth [Lunar Calendar]

Hunger or Hungry Moon (Alternate)

Ice Moon (Celtic)

Little Famine Moon (Choctaw)

Naval Full Moon Poya Day (Sri Lanka)

Raccoon Moon (Traditional)

Snow Moon (American Indian, North America, Traditional)

Southern Hemisphere: Barley, Corn, Dog, Grain, Red, Sturgeon, Wyrt Moons

Storm Moon (England, Neo-Pagan, Wicca)

Trapper’s Moon (Colonial)

Gregorian Calendar Day

Honus Wagner Day

International EBM Day

International Family Drug Support Day

International Repetitive Strain Injury Awareness Day

International SCN2A Awareness Day

International War Animal Day

Loud Shirt Day (New Zealand)

Makha Bucha Day (Thailand)

Marbury vs. Madison Day

Mitch Hedberg Day

National Artist Day (Thailand)

National Dance Day

National Day for War Animals (Australia)

National Remembrance Day (Papua New Guinea)

National Trading Card Day

N'cwala (Thanksgiving; Zambia)

Nylon Toothbrush Day

Obnoxious Day

Osmon Roy (Osmanda Regalis) Day

Showza-Shinzan International Yukigassen Tournament (Snowball Fight; Japan)

Sweden Finns’ Day (Sweden)

Tourism Day (Taiwan)

Twin Peaks Day

Ukrainian War Anniversary Day

Voice of America Day

Wild Ginger Day (French Republic)

Food & Drink Celebrations

Caesar Salad Day

Defend the Donut Day

Gouden Carolus Cuvée van de Keizer Open Day

National I Hate Coriander Day

National Tortilla Chip Day

National Tortamali Day

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Day

World Bartender Day

4th & Last Saturday in February

Camellia Day (California) [Last Saturday]

Clam Chowder Cook-Off (Santa Cruz, CA) [Last Saturday & Sunday]

International Sword Swallowers Day [Last Saturday]

International Tongue Twister Contest Day [Last Saturday]

National Day of Terere (Paraguay) [Last Saturday]

National Library Open Day (UK) [Last Saturday]

National Pretty Brown Girl Day [4th Saturday]

National TRiO Day [4th Saturday]

Open That Bottle Night [Last Saturday]

Independence & Related Days

Iseseisvuspäev, Independence Day of Estonia (from Russia, 1918)

Territory Day (Arizona; 1863)

Zamboanga Sibugay Province Day (Philippines)

Festivals Beginning February 24, 2024

Annapolis Restaurant Week (Annapolis, Maryland) [thru 3.3]

Beer City Festival (Santa Rosa, California)

Chinese New Year Parade (San Francisco, California)

Chocolate Wine Trail (Hermann, Missouri) [thru 2.25]

Melodifestivalen (Eskilstuna, Sweden)

New York City Beer Week (New York, New York) [thru 3.5]

Orange Beach Seafood Festival (Orange Beach, Alabama)

Taiwan Lantern Festival (Tainan, Taiwan) [thru 3.10]

Feast Days

Æthelberht of Kent (1st Christian Anglo-Saxon King) [original date]

Ascensión Nicol y Goñi (Christian; Blessed)

Ayyám-i-Há begins (Baha’i) [thru 2.28]

Beard Day (Pastafarian)

Carthaginian Ghost Spotting Day (Pastafarian)

Charles Le Brun (Artology)

Day of the Abdication of the Sacred King (Pagan)

Feast of Vartan (Armenia; Saint)

Giving of Shoes (Shamanism)

Hammie Swinette (Muppetism)

Huey Newton Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Lethard, Bishop of Senlis (Christian; Saint)

Lindel Tsen and Paul Sasaki (Anglican Church of Canada)

Lucan (Positivist; Saint)

Mattia Preti (Artology)

Matthias the Apostle (Christian; Saint)

Modest, Bishop of Trier (Christian; Saint)

Montanus, Lucius, Flavian, Julian, Victorious, Primolus, Rhenus, and Donation, martyrs at Carthage (Christian; Saint)

Pretextatus, Archbishop of Rouen (Christian; Saint)

Primrose Lore Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Regifugium (Flight of Kings; Ancient Rome)

Richard Hamilton (Artology)

Robert of Arbrissel (Christian; Saint)

Sergius of Cappadocia (Christian; Saint)

Sepandārmazgān (Women's Day; Zoroastrian Iran)

Shivaratri (Shiva’s Night; Hinduism; Everyday Wicca)

Winslow Homer (Artology)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Sakimake (先負 Japan) [Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Alamut, by Vladimir Bartol (Novel; 1938)

Buddy and Bowser (WB LT Cartoon; 1934)

Chips Ahoy (Disney Cartoon; 1956)

Cocaine Bear (Film; 2023)

Figure Eight (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Fleetwood Mac, by Fleetwood Mac (Album; 1968)

Frozen Feet (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1939)

Get Out (Film; 2017)

Help Me Rhonda, recorded by The Beach Boys (Song; 1965)

How to Ride a Horse (Disney Cartoon; 1950)

I Got Six (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Johnny Cash at San Quentin, recorded by Johnny Cash (Concert Album; 1969)

Kidnapped (Disney Film; 1960)

Lest Darkness Fall, by L. Sprague de Camp (Novel; 1941)

L’Orfeo, by Claudio Monteverdi (Opera; 1607) [1st Modern Opera]

Lucky Seven Sampson (Multiplication Rock Cartoon; Schoolhouse Rock; 1973)

Misguided Missile (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1958)

Musical Moments from Chopin (Woody Woodpecker & Andy Panda Cartoon; 1947)

My Life as a Zucchini (Animated Film; 2017)

O-Solar-Meow (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1967)

Peer Gynt, by Henrik Ibsen & Edvard Grieg (Musical Play; 1867)

Philadelphia Freedom, by Elton John (Song; 1975)

Physical Graffiti, by Led Zeppelin (Album; 1975)

The Practical Pig (Disney Silly Symphony Cartoon; 1939)

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Film; 1969)

Putty Tat Trouble (WB LT Cartoon; 1951)

Rabbit Remembered, by John Updike (Novella; 2001)

Rinaldo, by George Frederic Handel (Opera; 1711)

Rock Dog (Animated Film; 2017)

Silk Stockings (Broadway Musical; 1955)

Space Kid (Noveltoons Cartoon; 1966)

Wanderlust (2012)

WhatsApp (Social Media App; 2009)

When You Wish Upon A Star, recorded by Frances Langford (Song; 1940)

Working Class Dog, by Rick Springfield (Album; 1981)

Today’s Name Days

Matthias (Austria)

Goran, Modest, Montan, Sinerot (Croatia)

Matěj (Czech Republic)

Mattias (Denmark)

Madi, Madis, Mäido, Maido, Maidu, Mait, Mati, Matis, Mats, Matti, Mattias (Estonia)

Matias, Matti (Finland)

Modeste (France)

Matthias (Germany)

Elemér (Hungary)

Edilberto (Italy)

Diāna, Dina, Dins, Gatins, Gatis, Kurbads (Latvia)

Gedmantas, Goda, Motiejus (Lithuania)

Mats, Mattias, Mattis (Norway)

Bogurad, Bogusz, Boguta, Bohusz, Lucjusz, Maciej, Piotr (Poland)

Ioan (Romania)

Matej (Slovakia)

Modesto, Sergio (Spain)

Mats, Mattias (Sweden)

Taras (Ukraine)

Maddison, Madison, Madisyn, Madyson, Mateo, Mathew, Mathias, Matt, Mattea, Matthea, Matthias, Mattias, Mattie, Matty, Modesto (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 55 of 2024; 311 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 6 of week 8 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Nuin (Ash) [Day 7 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 155 (Wu-Wu)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 15 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 14 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 25 Grey; Foursday [25 of 30]

Julian: 10 February 2024

Moon: 100%: Full Moon

Positivist: 27 Homer (2nd Month) [Lucan]

Runic Half Month: Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Day 1 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 66 of 89)

Week: 3rd Week of February

Zodiac: Pisces (Day 6 of 30)

Calendar Changes

Tyr (Cosmic Pillar) [Half-Month 5 of 24; Runic Half-Months] (thru 3.10)

[nosetrimmerreview]

Cape Town's Fencing Scene Is Alive And Well

Cape Town is home to some of the most iconic architecture on the planet, and its stunning scenery is often photographed and filmed for a variety of media. However, one thing that Cape Town is not well-known for is its fencing scene. Fencing has been around in Cape Town for centuries, and there are now dozens of fencing schools in the city teaching students of all ages how to fence. If you’re interested in learning how to fence, or just want to explore the city’s fencing scene, read on for tips on where to find the best schools and what to expect when you arrive. What is fencing? Fencing is a sport that was originally used for training knights and warriors. Today, fencing is a recreational activity enjoyed by people of all ages. There are many types of fencing, but the main types are foil, épée, and saber. Foil is the most common type of fencing, and it uses a single bladed weapon. Épée is similar to foil, but it uses two blades. Saber uses a broadsword-like blade and is the fastest type of fencing cape town. The history of fencing in Cape Town Fencing in Cape Town started to take form in the early 1800s when the Dutch East India Company imported fencing masters from Italy. They taught fencing to their employees and soon enough, it became a popular sport on the Cape. Fencing tournaments were held regularly and residents competed against each other in competitions hosted by the Company. The first formal fencing school was established in 1884 by Louis Andrien, a French national who had studied fencing in Italy. Andrien started teaching students at his home and then moved his school to a rented space next door. The school grew quickly, and by 1890 there were already 30 students enrolled. In 1899 Andrien founded the South African Fencing Association (SAAF) which is still operational today. SAAF oversees all official fencing championships held in South Africa, as well as hosting international tournaments. The popularity of fencing led to its use being incorporated into military training during World War I. In 1925 the Cape Town Police Force established their own fencing school and it is still operational today under the name of Police Fencing Academy (PFA). Today there are multiple fencing clubs operating in Cape Town, most of which are affiliated with SAAF or PFA. There are also occasional sword-fighting competitions that are held on a local level. Types of fencing There are a few different types of fencing you can find in Cape Town, depending on your needs. traditional fence: made from sturdy wooden posts and wire mesh, this type of fencing is popular for keeping animals in or out of an area. barrier fence: a stronger version of the traditional fence, barrier fences are often used to keep people and animals separate. They’re also perfect for enclosing gardens or yards. fence post: these tall, thin poles are often used as boundary markers or to create privacy within garden settings. Fencing in Cape Town Fencing has long been a popular activity in Cape Town, and the scene is alive and well. There are clubs for all levels of fencers, from beginners to seasoned veterans. You can find fencing clinics and tournaments all over the city. And don't forget the social aspect: meet new friends, practice your technique, and compete against other fencers! How to fence If you're looking for an exciting way to spend a Saturday morning, Cape Town has plenty of fencing studios to choose from. Whether you're interested in medieval-style fencing or contemporary steel, there's a studio perfect for you. To get started, find the fencing school closest to your home. Many schools offer introductory classes for beginners, and some even offer youth programs so you can keep practicing after graduating from high school or college. Once you've found a fencing school near you, schedule a time to come check it out. You'll need to purchase equipment if you decide to enroll in classes; most schools have rental options available. Don't forget your protective gear! Fencing is an incredibly rigorous sport, and injuries are common. Now that you know everything you need to get started, let's take a look at some of Cape Town's best fencing studios: 1) Academy of Arms: This studio is known for its medieval-style fencing classes, which are perfect for fans of historical fiction movies like "Game of Thrones." If swords and castles aren't your thing, the academy also offers classes in modern steelfighting styles. Classes range in length from two hours to four hours, but they all include practice bouts with live weapons. 2) The Fencing Academy: This studio offers both introductory and intermediate courses in fencing; students will learn how to fence with rapiers and épées as well as bare hands. The academy also offers youth Training for fencing In Cape Town, fencing is alive and well! There are multiple fencing clubs and gyms throughout the city, and even the smallest community has at least one club. There are also many tournaments and events that take place throughout the year, so you're never too far from a fencing match! One of the best things about fencing in Cape Town is the range of skills that you can learn. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn how to fence with a sword, or an experienced fencer looking to try something new, there's definitely a club or gym for you. And if you have your own equipment, no problem – most clubs have at least some fencing gear available for use. If you're interested in learning more about fencing in Cape Town, be sure to check out some of the resources below: -The website of one of Cape Town's leading fencing clubs, The Citadel Club: www.citadelclub.co.za -The website of South Africa's national governing body for fencing, FIE: www.fie-sa.org -The website of SA Fencing Association: www.safencingassociation.co.za Conclusion Cape Town's fencing scene is alive and well, with competitions happening regularly in venues all around the city. Whether you're a beginner looking to learn new techniques or an experienced fencer looking to test your skills against others, there's sure to be a competition near you that will suit your interests. So why not give Cape Town's fencing scene a try? You won't regret it!

[theneoncaster]

Do streamers who post on Tumblr post their schedules? If not fuck it - let’s start a trend~

Follow me at TheNeonCaster on Twitch if you haven’t already!

This streaming week (November 21st 2022) is all centered around Pokémon!

Thursday 7:30pm GMT/2:30pm EST - We leap into the new region of Paldea and immediately fight for our lives in a Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Soul Link Nuzlocke with my Amazing Agender Avian co-host RaffiTheOwl

Friday 7:30pm GMT/2:30pm EST - We have a chill evening with Tabletop Miniature Painting! And yes, it’ll absolutely be Pokémon themed, trust me.

Saturday & Sunday 8:00pm GMT/3:00pm EST - I join a squad of absolutely stellar VTubers and give Pokémon Sword and Shield a final send off with the Fluffy Barrage Tournament! Taking place over two days, it’s hosted by the illustrious WaffoBaffo on his Twitch channel.

That adorbale artwork of my Pokémon trainer outfit is by DizSlime! See you there, Contestants!

[phoenix-manga]

Yuu Meeting the DCA Dorm Leaders: suggested by mister-jedblack

The encounter would have to happen during the school festival. But the other encounters happen during a visit to NRC. I didn’t put in the “how would they get along” description since Yuu’s personality is kind of split through the dialogues.

Evonie

Yuu would meet her at the school festival, Grim would go missing cause that cat would definitely be wandering off. Yuu panics and asks the students if they saw Grim, they’d direct him to Evonie who would use her magic to have the animals find Grim. Grim is brought back by having a deer pick him up by the scruff of his neck and dragged back to Yuu.

Ella

Grim would be looking at the ribbons for display when Ella spots Yuu and Grim and would offer to make a custom design for Grim because she thought he was cute. Grim basks in the praise and would want something that would suit the “Great and Powerful Grim”. Ella ends up making a nice cape for Grim and he would wear it just to show off to Ace and Deuce.

Allison

Would meet during another unbirthday party at Heartslabyul. This time Riddle wants to borrow some special teapots because the teapot was broken by a clumsy student who then got his magic sealed by Riddle. Ace and Deuce invited Yuu as well because it didn’t feel right that they're not attending. Cater probably explains to them who was this special guest attending, lo and behold, Allison shows up through her magic door with a floating teapot in hand.

Briar

They’d probably spot Malleus at the school festival first, he’d look worried and explain that he’s keeping watch over Briar who had fallen asleep. Briar is sleeping soundly on the bench with Malleus sitting next to her. Yuu wouldn’t worry about the situation too much but they probably ask someone to take her somewhere less crowded.

Cerule

Yuu and Grim would be out and about when they would spot Cerule near the campus woods with the Leech twins standing over her. Grim thinks they’re intimidating the poor girl when they start dragging her off to Octavinelle saying something like, “mustn't keep Azul waiting”. They followed them to hear sounds of crying then they bust the door open to see Cerule chopping onions with a bowl of pearls next to her. They had to explain the situation that Cerule did promise to provide pearl tears to Azul when they were children.

Rozeline

Grim smells the sweets near the gates of Chataeu Beastiale and before he could get his grubby paws on it, Palmiers starts growling at Grim to leave her sweets alone. Before the bear could chase him off, Rozeline intervenes and apologizes for her bear’s greed for sweets. 

Vidya

Kalim would probably invite her to a party at scarabia for winning in a tournament for her school and being the best boi that he is, wants to celebrate. So he sends word to Vidya that since tomorrow was a saturday she should come to Scarabia dorm to tell Kalim what went down at the tournament. Of course, Yuu and Grim happen to bump into him along the way and Kalim gets the idea to introduce Yuu to Vidya. Jamil would probably explain to the two who this ‘Vidya’ person is and why Kalim is being more energetic than usual.

Jinlong 

They would meet each other when Grim spots someone who had horns like Malleus over in the distance. Jinlong would be somewhere near the sword fighting area trying to fix the swords by using her fire breath. Grim would rush to her because he can do that too. Yuu rushes after him, scolding Grim for bothering her when she’s working. Jinlong says she won’t mind and lets the two sit by and observe her forging skills.

Elu 

It would start by the two spotting Jack and Leona, Yuu notices that Leona has this hard gaze on the small girl who was roughhousing with one of Savannaclaw’s students, the poor lad was thrown over the boundaries by Elu. Jack notices Yuu and Grim and explains that Leona is observing his rival, because he once challenged her in the past year only to be put in a choke hold. 

Perrine

Yuu and Grim would obviously be enticed to follow the smell of food only to stop and be horrified at the sight of alligators and crocodiles. Perrine notices the two and would assure them that they are friendly. After the two rush inside, the shock fades away when they are seated and start to order their food.

[descendantofthesparrow]

Daughter of the honorable thief - harry hook x reader - part  10

thanks to @musicarose​ who commissioned me to continue this series! without them i probably would have taken much longer to write the next part! 

=

Thankfully the week of quarantine had stayed as a week of quarantine, none of the students showing any signs of sickness or poisoning illness.

So as the next week reared its head, students began to return to their classrooms, food once more being served in the dining hall.

The investigation against the atter had proved fruitless, the source of the toxin had not been found, disappearing soon after the vks had evacuated.

Though you still hung on it, someone had tried to hurt your friends and thousands of people alongside them in the attempt. And the attacker had not been caught, and there were no leads to them.

Though it could be- no, not possible, they hadn't come on the trip with the rest of you.

You felt someone sit on the bench next to you, so you sat up and looked to them, seeing harry staring off in the distance.

“Harry?” he hummed, “are you okay?”

“I jus’….” He muttered, eyes lowering to the ground “I jus’ feel like it was my fault yeh know? If I wasn't there maybe Knotts wouldn’t have been attacked” you punched his arm, he yelped and looked at you surprised.

“don’t you ever say that again, I can guarantee, that if any vk were there, it would have happened, and even if IF” you stressed the if “it was because you were there, its not your fault that someone did that, they have some sort of personal vendetta against a vk, that’s their problem, not yours, now if you talk like that again I will punch you with friendship!”

Harry burst out laughing a the tail end of your sentence, clutching his stomach and tears springing to his eyes. “yeh sure are something (y/n)” he chuckled, giving you a soft smile.

“Thanks, hook” you laughed, standing from the bench and offering your hand “come on, dinners soon” he took your hand and stood, not bothering to release your hand.

=

A boy in the shadows growled, his hand gripping the stone wall tightly. “hes corrupting her, that disgusting pirate” he hissed, smirking as the shadow next him whispered.

‘soon he will be a thing of the past, and she will realize that you have been there for her all along’

“hehe” he chuckled, his green eyes flashing purple “all mine…(y/n) you will realize that you were meant to be mine”

He back into the shadows, his goal clear in his mind.

=

“so” uma interrupted the conversation, placing her try between Harriet and erza, sitting down and waving her fork in the air “any ideas who attacked the park with that mist?”

The group shrugged, picking at their food.  Your phone went off, you took it out and glanced at it, a bright smile blooming on your face.

“hey erza, mom and dad are setting up a kingdom festival with a ball, next month!” erza looked up from her food and beamed.

“the annual festival! Oh my gosh! Ohh!...oh god I gotta bring a date” erza muttered in horror as she realized her mother would pester her about a date.

You laugh sighed and shook your head “same here, except aunt broomhilda would bug me about it”

“what's this about a festival?” Gil interrupted, finally looking up from his eggs.

“once a year the king of England throws a festival for every village and town, and he visits one every year, mom just texted me that hes visiting us this year, as my moms his niece.”

“cool!” gil smiled “can we go with you!”

You paused, eyes widening “Oh hell yeah! That would be awesome! You all could come with us! And to the ball as well!”

“That sounds fun” Harriet smiled “it would be nice to go…after last week it would be a good sprit lifer”

“agreed” erza cheered “so its settled, we all go to the festival!”

“yeah!”

The group clanked your cups together.

Erza side-eyed uma, an idea blooming in her mind.

‘im gonna ask her to be my date to the ball’

She smiled to herself, spying the teal sea horse in umas bag.

=

“uh oh” you muttered, stopping in place, harry, uma, and gil stopping with you.

“whats up (y/n)?” uma asked, placing her hand on your shoulder, you pointed over by the lockers.

There was a girl, long brown hair in an end ponytail, her green eyes scanning the students, and picking at her peach nails.

“whos tha’?” harry asked, stepping away from the girl's eyesight, he didn’t like her energy.

“Lila” you snarled, walking over to your locker and ripping it open “she broke erza down and tried to ruin her, she's an abusive manipulative bitch”

“what did she do?” uma asked, rage starting to grow in her chest.

“im not the one to tell, but she hurt erza in a way I couldn’t forgive, almost killed her….if she tries anything, come get me and I'll punch her for you” uma chucked and nodded.

“and warn Harriet and the others, just so she cant get a footing, most everyone here already knows about her, I want all bases covered so she can't get anyone on her side”

Uma harry and gil nodded, saluting you “yes mam” harry teased, you rolled your eyes and pushed his shoulder.

“Alright, let's get to class”

=

Uma found Erza in the bathroom later that day, on the curled up on the floor, holding her head in her hands.

“erza!” she dropped her bag and slid down next to her “what's wrong are you okay?” “Lila” erza sobbed, gritting her teeth, “she-she” uma wrapped her arms around her, pulling erza into her side.

“What did she do to you!” uma pushed.

“no-no, she didn’t do anything…today” erza shook her head “just seeing her….kinda set me off and I-I couldn’t stay around”

Uma slowly nodded and helped erza stand “alright, let's get you to your room, ill text (y/n) alright?”

Erza nodded, leaning into uma as she helped her out of the bathroom.

=

You sat on your bed, erza laying in between your legs, your fingers brushing thought her hair, and putting mini braids into them.

“What is this amazing show called again?” harry asked from the floor, eyes locked on the tv.

“avatar the last Airbender” you responded.

“I love it”

“I thought you would” you chuckled, patting Erzas head and leaning back on your hands.

“so when the festival by the way,” uma asked from her spot on top of harry.

“next month,  starting the fifth and it goes on till we run out of supplies, a ball on the first Saturday of the festival”

Uma nodded and turned back to the tv “how we getting there?”

“probably car, or plane, don’t know, moms gonna set up transportation” you shrugged, popping some m&ms in your mouth.

“Alright,” uma muttered, rolling off harry and standing to go to the bathroom.

“I can't wait” Gil exclaimed, “I've never been to a festival before!”

“you'll love it” erza laughed “its got food, games, tournaments, shows, shops, sword fights!!” Harry perked up, looking over to erza with a grin.

“yeh had me at sword fights.”

You burst out laughing, erza giggling with you.

“of course it did” you snorted, flopping back on your bed and closing your eyes.

--end of part 10--

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[senaar-ika]

The Pixie & The Bard: Ch. 1

Hi there. It’s been a while. I honestly just haven’t had the creative energy or motivation to write recently. I moved house and started working more and I’m about to start a new semester of university. What with the world being a flaming trash bin my brain hasn’t quite been up for much. 

Welcome to all the new followers and thank you to everyone who’s stuck around. I’ve had this first chapter of a multi-chaptered fic sitting in my drafts for a while so I thought why not share. I hope you enjoy!

Summary: You’re working as a fairy at a Renaissance Festival in the New York countryside when you meet Charlie and Henry. A father and son who are quite the pair. You flirt with guests at the festival for fun all the time, but something feels different about this one . . . 

CW/Tags: nothing major, just heavy flirting, awkward dad Charlie, literally too much Henry but I promise his relationship to reader is important, also E making up shit about renaissance faires, this is mostly just me longing to dress up like a fairy and go to a festival and watch people joust ok 

Word Count: 2.6k

Chapter 1 - An Chance Encounter

The festival grounds are surrounded on all sides by forest. Trodden down dirt walking paths snake past vendors and performers, ultimately leading visitors to the main events in the center clearing. The Fairy Tree -as it is affectionately known by performers and guests alike- is your territory. The ancient sycamore tree looks like something right from the pages of a storybook with its sprawling roots, knotted trunk, and layers of thick branches. 

Your inner child sprang out on your first day when your manager led you to the tree, explaining that your character should mostly keep in a close radius to it. She didn’t have to tell you twice. You were up the tree and swinging casually from the branches in minutes. Some of the other fairy cast members wander the festival, making mischief and spreading glitter. But you’re perfectly content to hang around your tree. 

Of course you’re safe, never climbing too high or swinging too recklessly. You keep a little wooden flute at one hip and your bag of “fairy dust” at the other. Piping out mysterious tunes from up in the tree only to surprise guests who happened along past. If they have children you often toss a handful of sparkling fairy dust down, relishing their squeals of delight. 

Today is Saturday. First Saturday to be exact. First Saturday is always the busiest, or at least that’s what the returning cast members have been telling you. First Saturday always falls on the first weekend when schools are closed for the summer, so the families turn out in droves. You likely won’t get a real break today; it’s all hands on deck. 

You lean against the trunk of the old fairy tree, one arm hugged as far around it as you can. You’re only about ten feet up, but it feels like you’re part of the forest. A breeze rustles the leaves, bright and green for the start of summer. You close your eyes gently. In the distance you hear a horn sound and a wave of cheers rise up, carried by the breeze. 

Afternoon tournament already? The day has flown by. Cast members don’t get to have any modern technology on hand while performing, so you tend to gauge the time by the schedule of festivities. Afternoon tournament started at two. You’d been up in the tree since lunchtime. The tournaments, which include jousting, sword fighting, and axe throwing, pull the biggest crowds. Meaning smaller attractions got a bit of a break. 

Carefully you slide down to sit, resting your back against the trunk and balancing your legs horizontally along the length of the branch. You breathe in deeply, just listening for the familiar sounds of the tournament. 

“Dad, look!” The whisper-shout of a young boy pulls you away from the quiet, but your first glance at the boy’s father nearly fells you from your perch. Tall, dark, and built like one of the festival’s knights. He’s focused on his phone, typing furiously. The boy tugs at his father’s sleeve, trying very hard not to look away from you, as if he’s afraid you might disappear.

“What is it, Henry?” It isn’t sharp, just distracted, offhanded, but the bassy richness of the man’s voice sends a flutter to your chest. 

“There’s a lady up in the tree! Look!” You smile down at the boy, Henry, leaning forward a bit so that the iridescence of your wings catches the light, and you wave. The dad glances up briefly from his phone only to do a double take.  

“Hail and well met, gentlemen!” You called, pitching your voice up and putting on your character’s fairy accent. “Ye wouldn’t happen to be lost would ye?” 

Henry is quick to speak up, “My dad is trying to get a good phone signal!” The dad’s face turns a ridiculous shade of pink, his expression sheepish and embarrassed. You giggle, swinging your legs over the side of the branch so they dangle. 

“I dunno what that is, young lad, but perhaps he’d have better luck with a carrier pigeon?” One of the top rules was to always stay in character. No talking about modern life. Immersion is key and after all you’re here to make magic. But Henry seems confused.

“You don’t know what a phone signal is? Don’t you have a phone?” Ah so he’s one of those smart kids. Before you can say anything, Henry’s father cuts in.

“She’s a fairy, Henry, look. Fairies don’t have phones.” The dad explains, gently. His voice is practiced, as though he has to explain a lot to his son. You nod along with him, crossing your ankles and propping your chin on your hand. 

“Aye, he’s right!” You chime in, “And you two look like . . . hmmm.” You scrunch your face in consternation for a moment. “Ah! I know! A knight and his squire?” You point from father to son.

Henry starts to laugh and his father smiles, looking from you to his son and back. 

“Yes! Young squire Henry and the brave knight Sir . . .” You trail off, gesturing towards the boy’s father. 

“Charlie,” He finishes, holding your gaze steadily. You feel your grin widen and you tilt your head, reminding yourself to stay in character. 

It’s not like flirting with guests is discouraged; actually, it’s almost expected of most fairy cast members. You’ve just never been caught off guard like this before. Something about this man, Charlie, sends your heart racing. Perhaps because he seems far too dashing for a dad, or maybe it’s how quickly he is willing to play into the immersion of your job. 

“So the brave knight, Sir Charlie, and young squire Henry find themselves at the Fairy Tree.” You slide yourself over to the trunk and begin climbing down, using the little foot and hand holds nailed into the tree. “Trying to relay a message with no luck?” 

When you reach the ground, Henry bolts over to you. “Why didn’t you just fly down?” 

You crouch down to his height. “Flying for me is like running for you. It’s so exhausting!” 

Henry nods, understanding, and looks back over his shoulder at his dad, still standing a ways back. Charlie smiles at the two of you before glancing back at his phone. 

“My dad is trying to send a picture of me to my mom.” There it is. You feel something in your chest sink a little. You should’ve expected it really. Hot dad and cute kid? There has to be a mom somewhere in the picture. Henry, unaware that his simple statement shook you, continues on. “She lives in LA, but I get to come see my dad every month. He likes to take me to do things like this.” Oh, hot divorcee dad. 

“And what have ye done around the festival today, young lad?” You actually smile as Henry carries on in that childlike way, just talking. Simple statements. Pouring out their day for you. 

The two of you plop down to the forest floor. Henry absentmindedly plays with the grass and pebbles. You pluck a couple of clovers from the grass and begin stringing them together. Usually the fairies are encouraged to tell stories to the children, but this particular child seems happy to tell you the story of his day. Henry is just finishing up recounting how they had eaten turkey legs and french fries for lunch when his dad approaches. 

“I’m surprised to see such an adventurous pair missing the tournament,” You remark, handing Henry the bracelet of clovers you had woven while he was talking. “But I’m glad to hear your stories, young Henry.” 

“There’s a tournament?” Henry’s eyes light up as you slip into your role, telling him all about the lore of the festival.

“Why of course, young Henry! Every sixth day the King holds tournaments where our bravest and strongest knights may show their skill! There’s sword fighting and jousting and horses, and of course all the fair maidens of the kingdom come as well!” You try to avoid looking up at Charlie, squatting down beside his son, for fear of stumbling over your words. “The fairy folk like me perform great songs and dances for the royal court, and all the guests like you cheer and awe at all the talent!”

Henry is hanging on your every word, completely frozen and enraptured in your performance. 

“Unfortunately for you, the tournament for today is probably just finishing up.” Seeing the boy’s face start to sink with disappointment you add, “But! After the tournament the fairy folk will lead a parade back to this very tree and we’ll tell stories! There’s always a bit o’ music with our stories. I play this!” You pull your flute from its slot on your belt and hold it up for Henry, whispering your next sentence. “If you and Sir Charlie aren’t in a rush, I suggest you stick around, the parade should be arriving any minute now.” 

“Can we stay, dad?” Henry turns excitedly towards his father, eyes still wide. Charlie’s face breaks into a full grin that goes all the way to his eyes which crinkle at the corners. A noticeable dimple also appears on his cheek. Stay in character, you have to remind yourself. 

“Of course, honey, if you want to.” Charlie places a hand gently on his son’s back. 

It seems as though Charlie’s about to say something to you, but before he can you’re overtaken by the sound of jingling bells, flutes, and footsteps crunching along the dirt path. 

“The parade!” Henry scrambles to his feet, turning in the direction of the noise. 

You catch Charlie’s gaze as you both move to stand up as well. He mouths a silent “Thank you.” You smile and give him a wink, lifting your flute to your lips. Moving quickly, you dance back to the tree and climb up to hang by one hand from one of the handholds nailed into the trunk. The tune of your flute matches up with the commotion coming up the path. 

At least once a day, a large group arrives at the Fairy Tree led by cast members like yourself. It’s part of the job, performing like that. So why are you so nervous? 

The parade rounds the forest bend, finally coming into sight. Two fairy cast members lead the group, one with a tambourine, the other a pan flute. A dozen or so children are close behind with a couple more fairies mixed in. Bemused parents and adult stragglers make up the rear. 

“Aha!” The performer with the tambourine, halts the parade and points to you. “Kind guests and members of the parade, this is our sister Dewdrop!”

You hop back down to the ground, lowering your flute, and slip into the loose script that formed around storytime each day. “Are we to tell these fine folks a story today, Evergreen?”

And with your line, you settle. This is just your job. You do this every day. Every day there’s a new story. Every day there’s a new crowd. 

You and the other fairies sit the little ones down on “toadstool” seats while the adults gather around. Henry choses the seat closest to where you stand, you notice, so you make sure to give him a smile when you can. Like a good actor, you dance your eyes across the crowd, trying to bounce rather than stick to anyone in particular. But.

But you can’t help but get stuck on Charlie. He’s watching you so intently, occasionally glancing down at Henry as he laughs at all the silly jokes and goofs. Today’s story is one about how the king of the festival was trapped and magicked to dance for eternity by the trickster pixies until a kind hearted fairy saved him. The stories are always a bit silly like that. 

When you and the other fairies take your final bow, all conducting the children in a chorus of “The end!” and tossing handfuls of fairy dust, you make eye contact with Charlie again. Everyone is clapping politely. He’s smiling at you. You hold his gaze for just one second longer. He’s the first to look away, clearing his throat and raising his gaze to the treetops. You barely have time to process what just happened before Henry is tugging at your skirt. 

“You didn’t tell me your name is Dewdrop!” He exclaims, somehow still thriving off of the high energy of the show. 

You giggle, dropping down to his level. “You never asked, young Henry!” 

“That’s a funny name.” He scrunches his nose in such an innocent way you can’t help but smile. 

“Well all the fairies are named a bit differently than you humans.” You explain, “We’re given names that connect us to nature and-” 

“Wait a second!” Henry interrupts and suddenly runs over to his dad. 

They converse softly for a moment, Charlie leaning down so Henry can whisper in his ear. Charlie seems to be thinking hard about whatever his son is saying. He flicks his eyes over to you for what seems like a millisecond, you can’t even be sure he did look at you. Then he nods and Henry scampers back over to you. 

“My dad says we can come back tomorrow! I want to see the fighting and the contests like you said!” Your heart seems to stop for a second before you become very aware of it beating in your ears. 

“That - That’s wonderful, young lad!” You shake yourself back to this fantasy that is reality. “You must stop by the tree and say hello then.” You chance a look over at Charlie to find his eyes locked on you. He smiles and gives a slight nod of his head. 

He steps forward reaching for his son’s hand. “Alright, Henry, let’s get going now and let our friend get back to doing … fairy stuff.” Henry’s face scrunches in a way that your years of working around children tell you he’s not thrilled at the idea of leaving. So you swoop in with a little assist. 

“Sir Charlie’s right, young lad.” You take a pinch of fairy dust from the pouch on your belt, “I’ve got official fairy business to attend to around the festival. But here, I’ll give you a bit of parting sparkle so that you’ll shine until we meet again!” With a flourish, you dust Henry’s flower bracelet with the glittery powder. 

That seems to satisfy the young boy as he gives you a toothy grin and turns to leave with a quick “Bye! See you tomorrow!” 

“Well hang on just a second!” You decide to milk this moment a tiny bit more, just for fun. “That’s no way to leave a proper lady! Give us a bow and a fare thee well!” 

Henry looks confused for a second but Charlie elbow’s him lightly. “Like this,” he whispers. He executes a wonderfully low bow, crying out “Fare thee well, Dewdrop! We shall return on the morrow!” in an over the top sort of faux English accent. 

You laugh, fully, almost definitely out of character. That’s when Charlie looks up from his bow, holding your eyes as he rises back up to his full height. After a second, he clears his throat and elbows at Henry again, muttering “Your turn.”

Henry does his best to imitate his father, but his bow is a bit shaky. “Fare thee well, Dewdrop! We shall . . . Dad what is it?” 

“We shall return on the morrow,” Charlie mumbles, failing to conceal a smile. 

“We shall return tomorrow!” Henry finishes and stands back upright. 

As the two of them finally start down the dirt trail you call after them. “Safe travels, Sir Charlie and Squire Henry! T’was a true pleasure that our paths should cross!” 

“Bye!” Henry yells back. 

Charlie looks over his shoulder at you one more time. You wave. He smiles. And then they turn the corner. And they’re gone. 

[thenovelartist]

Kitty’s Key, set 9

<Previous  Next>

25. Puss and Boots

He shouldn’t let the words of others get to him. He really shouldn’t. But here he was, letting those nasty words and haunting thoughts get under his skin.

“Princess,” he said, looking up at her from his position on his stomach on her chaise. “I’m your knight in shining armor, aren’t I?”

She scoffed, not looking up from her project. “More like a Puss in Boots.”

He frowned but immediately covered it up with a smile. “Ouch, princess. That one stings.”

Apparently, he couldn’t keep the hurt from his voice, though, because Marinette put down her project and looked at him. “What’s the matter, Chat?”

He sighed, letting his chin fall on top his hands. “I’m just being stupid. That’s all.”

“How are you being more stupid than normal?” she asked, setting the project completely aside.

“I’m believing the people that say I’m not helpful to Ladybug.”

She scoffed, then stood from her seat to walk over to him. “You’re right. You are being stupid.”

He felt her weight on his back as she laid over top of him, her arms wrapping around his neck best she could as she propped her chin on his shoulder. “You know you’re the most important thing to me, right? As both my partner I can’t live without and my boyfriend that I love and adore.” Her hand then moved, slowly slipping beneath him so that her hand rested over his where his heart would be. “You are valuable to me. And anyone who suspects otherwise is an idiot.”

He smiled, feeling the warmth radiate from her palm on his chest. He reached up to cradle her cheek, holding her there long enough for him to be able to nuzzle against her head.

“I’m not kidding when I called you my Puss in Boots, though,” she said. “Some brave, fearless, swashbuckling, flirty cat. Yeah. That sounds about right. He was pretty cute, too.”

He chuckled. “Thank you, ma princesse.”

She blushed whenever he called her that. “Stop it, you stupid cat.”

He’d believe she meant that when she wasn’t cuddling him or hiding her face in his hair.

 26. Fencing + 27. Protecting You

No normal girl should get this excited over a knock at her skylight.

But Marinette supposed she was no normal girl.

“Chat,” she said, looking up at the young man in black leather sitting cross-legged by her skylight in wait.

“Hey, bugaboo,” he returned with a grin. “I actually can’t stay long, but I kinda couldn’t wait to ask you.”

“Ask me what?”

“If you were free Saturday.”

She grinned at the prospect of a date. Even if she wasn’t, she’d rearrange her schedule for it. But then she recalled that she and Alya and Nino had made plans already and she couldn’t back out. “Like, Saturday night?” she asked hopefully.

“All day.”

She frowned. “No, I’m not. Why?”

His ears and smile fell, life draining from his eyes. “Oh. I… I wanted to invite you somewhere. That’s all.”

She groaned. “I’m so sorry, kitty. But Alya, Nino, and I already made plans last week to go watch Adrien at his fencing tournament since it’s a thousand percent likely that his dad is going to back out and he’s always really upset that no one is there to support him.”

Chat blinked a few times, his ears perking right back up. “Fencing tournament?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry, kitty, but I can’t back out on this one. Not when I have other people counting on me.”

“No!” he cried. “No, it’s not… not that. It’s that… I actually wanted to invite you to that fencing tournament.”

She blinked a few times. “What?”

He nodded. “Yeah. I’ll… I’ll be fencing in it, too.”

“You fence?” The moment those words left her mouth, she realized she shouldn’t be surprised. She’d watched his fighting style for years and knew enough about the sport to know that he did often look like he was wielding a sword.

He nodded. “Yeah. But… You’ll already be at the tournament, it seems.”

She nodded. “I will be. I will be rooting for Adrien, but…” She reached out to grab Chat’s hand. “But now, I’ll be rooting for you, too.”

His smile widened. With his free hand, he cupped the back of Marinette’s head, pulling her closer so that she was touching his forehead. She hummed happily.

“So,” he began in a whisper. “Does this mean you’ll finally let me tell you who I am?”

She froze, realizing that she really didn’t have any more excuses to keep Chat from revealing himself to her. This was it. This was the moment that all remaining secrets were dropped.

At her lack of answer, he pulled away. “What’s the matter, princess?”

She forced a smile and shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I really… I don’t know. There’s no reason to withhold it anymore yet… this is going to sound stupid, but I’m nervous.”

He cocked his head, his lip twitching up in amusement. “What’s there to be scared of?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I just am.”

When he smiled, it was a gentle, loving grin. He unzipped his pocket and pulled out something. “For you,” he said, opening his hand to reveal a key on a necklace. He grabbed the chain and dropped it over her head. “This is the key to my heart, okay? Wear it to the tournament, under your shirt so no one else will comment on it. Come early so I can find you, okay? And you’ll know it’s me because I’ll be the one to comment, okay? That way you’ll know just who to root for.”

She looked down at the key in her hands, one that was on a chain around her neck. “This is the key that you wore for the Adrien contest, isn’t it?”

He shrugged. “What does it matter. It’s the key to my heart, now. I know you’ll protect it, just like you know I protect the key to yours.”

Her cheeks lit on fire. “I do know.”

With a grin that was unabashedly happy, Chat took her hands in his, curling her fingers around the key before pressing a kiss to her hand. “I trust you more than anyone, Marinette,” he said, whispering her name so reverently that she felt like she just might faint. “I trust you to protect that for me.”

With that, he stood. “But for now, I have another commitment. I’ll see you soon.”

She grinned, feeling warm to the core. “I’ll see you soon, mon chaton.”

One last salute, and he was gone, vaulting over the city to who-knew-where. Leaving one very happy princess with a key on a chain that landed right beside her heart. She’d protect her kitty’s heart, and she’d happily spend the rest of life proving that to him.

 28. Secrets

Marinette stood nervously in one of the hallways of the tournament building. The occasional contestant was passing her on their way to get to the lockers. Two people asked if she was lost, at which point she just smiled and said she was waiting for someone.

Who, though, was the question.

Not for the first time, her nerves spiked, ruining the semblance of calmness she was holding onto. It took a good moment to talk herself down from the cliff each time.

“My lady.”

Marinette froze, not daring to turn around and face the voice behind her.

“Marinette,” Chat said again.

She could feel him right behind her. And then, she could see him when he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

Her eyes closed automatically, though she did see his white fencing uniform over his arms. Next thing she knew, her back was flush against his chest, his chin resting on top of her head.

He was tall enough to do that, stupid cat.

“You came,” he said.

“I did,” she said.

“And…” He took his chin off her head. “I see the chain on your neck.”

“Of course,” she said.

“So,” he said, stepping away from her. “Why are your eyes still closed?”

She blushed, her lips pursing in embarrassment.

She gasped at the sudden feeling of his fingers brushing her collarbone. Only to grab the necklace, she eventually realized, pulling the key from its spot hidden under her shirt. “Don’t you want to see the man who hold the key to your heart?”

She did. She knew she did. That was why she came early. She came to see him. To learn who the man who knew about that key was. She only had to open her eyes.

After a steadying breath, she cracked one eye open, only for her other to fly open and her jaw to drop.

Because standing there with a smile, holding the golden key…

Was Adrien Agreste.

“Hey,” he said.

“H-hey,” she responded, her voice barely strong enough to be heard.

He was quiet for a few seconds before asking, “Are you okay… knowing it’s me?”

No. No, she wasn’t. She was going to die on the spot because here was her kitty: the boy she’d fallen in love with years ago and forced herself to give up for the man who was now standing before her.

She was so confused.

And considering his expression fell, her inner turmoil must have been obvious. “Marinette?”

That snapped her from her thoughts. “Huh?”

“Are you okay?”

“No,” she blurted. “No. I’m freaking out.”

He gave a pained half smile. “I’m sorry. Is it too much?”

“Yes!” she squeaked. “My head is going to explode because I just…” She took a breath. “It’s you. You’re my Chat. You made me give up you for you. You were an idiot and put the key around your own neck for that stupid contest, which now makes me realize, you’re a total cheater. How dare you. I can’t—”

Adrien was suddenly laughing. “Oh, Marinette,” he said, scooping her up in his arms and holding her against his chest. “I tried to tell you.”

He did, she realized. Many times. She buried her head into his shoulder and let loose a groan. “I’m such an idiot!”

He chuckled again. “No, you’re not. You’re just My Marinette with all her weird quirks.”

With that, he pulled back enough to be able to press a kiss to her forehead. “You know I love all those little quirks, right?”

She just groaned.

He pulled her in again, holding her tight. “As much as I want to stay right here,” he said. “I should be with my team right now. Sorry to leave you.”

Reluctantly, she forced herself out of her hiding spot against him. “I understand. Go be with your team.”

“Thank you for coming today,” he said. “You and Alya and Nino.”

She grimaced. “I can’t believe I ruined the surprise.”

“Honestly,” he said. “Knowing that you three, particularly you, would be here in the stands today has already pumped me up more than you can imagine. Thank you, all three of you, for coming. It means the world. If I win today, it’s all because of you.”

She felt a new burst of warmth shoot through her. “Then go win for us, okay?”

“I’ll do my best. But there might be one thing that makes me do better.”

Her brow furrowed. “And what’s that?”

“A kiss?” he asked, tapping his cheek. “Right here.”

Marinette watched as someone passed by, waiting for them to disappear down the other end of the hallway before conceding. “All right,” she said, reaching up to cradle his jaw and press a kiss to his cheek.

“And if you win the tournament,” she said, somehow finding the courage to tap his lips. “I’ll give you all the kisses you want.”

Slowly, that signature, lopsided Chat Noir grin spread across his face. “Then I look forward to it, my lady.”

[zwei-the-penguin-with-a-pen]

Yu Yu Hakusho Side-By-Side, Episode 10: Kuwabara’s Spirit Sword

Dub Yusuke says ‘None of them really look like a demon’ while Sub Yusuke just wonders which one is Rando.

Dub Genkai says ‘From here on out you can forget about sympathy’ and ‘You will fight until one of you is incapacitated or dead, I don’t care which’ while sub Genkai just explains that there will be a tournament.

‘COME ON, WALK!’ is an addition. There was no dialogue at all there beforehand.

Sub Yusuke asks Kuwa if he’s afraid while Dub Yusuke says ‘Sounds like a regular Saturday, eh?’

The fart joke is still there, but in the sub it’s ‘in a packed traincar’ while the dub says ‘a crammed elevator’

All the intros are different. ‘Number one delinquent’ is changed to 'worst punk of Sarayashiki Jr High’ and 'Extra Number One Special Delinquent' is 'Much Much Worser Punk’.

Dub Genkai already mentions killing your foe is fine, so she says ‘I already said that’ when Glasses asks her.

Dub Yusuke says ‘It’s not exactly a spectator sport’ while sub Yusuke just wonders who is winning the fight.

Dub Yusuke jokes about Botan not saying ‘BIngo’ so her response is different.

Sub Botan takes most of her dialogue introducing herself to Kuwa, whereas Dub Botan says she’s seen him before an is impressed.

Dub Kuwa asks if Botan is a witch. There’s also lots of mentions of Keiko in the dub, while sub Kuwa really just says ‘This chick ain’t your girlfriend, right?’

Sub Genkai assumes both of them are Koenma’s men and says she’ll still choose her winner fairly. Dub Genkai only says Yusuke is Koenma boy and mentions ‘I didn’t know I was attracting celebrities!’

Filler fight is about the same. Wasn’t much dialogue in either version anyway.

Dub Kuwa mentions brawling in the streets while Sub Kuwa just talks about his spirit awareness.

Sub Yusuke tells Kuwa not to be a wimp while Dub Yusuke tells him not to yell or he’ll be an easy target.

Sub Kuwa tells him to mind his business while db Kuwa says ‘SHUT UP I’M TRYING TO CONCENTRATE!”

‘It’s true, I have punched him several times!” Oh Yusuke...

Instead of ‘A wooden sword’ Dub Kuwa calls the weapon a big stck!

Sword guys keeps assuming Kuwa is evil in the dub

‘Impossible’ becomes ‘What is that?’ prompting Kuwa to say he doesn’t know

Sub Kuwa ponders that he actually made an energy sword while Dub Kuwa just asks how to turn it off.

Sub Genkai mentions that Kuwa will get much stronger while Dub Genkai just explains the energy bit in more detail.

Sub Yusuke says ‘That just makes things more fun’ while Dub Yusuke says ‘At least he’s still ugly!’ What a dick.

Let's not waste my time! The next match is Kibano vs. Dimwit!' Ah, dub Genkai is a treasure!

'Heh, I think that's you!' 'And here I thought my name was Yusuke!' In the sub Kuwa says 'You're next' and Yusuke tells him to shut up.

Minor differences in Kibano's explanation of his mask. More about his power and less about Yusuke's many battles

[sca-nerd]

OKAY BUT I WISH I HAD TAKEN VIDEO OF THIS!

So Hidden Mountain does a great job with their children and youth. Like - I am always super impressed with the time and effort they put into activities and boffer and things. I wish I liked other people’s little kids enough to do the things that they do.

Before the tournaments on Saturday, they had youth combat. There were, I think, maybe five or six kids in armor competing (one of ours forgot his cup and the other one I don’t think even brought his armor). One of the combatants was a little girl named Willow. I think Willow is around 6. Willow is now my hero and inspiration.

For those of you who haven’t watched youth combat - you should. It’s so much fun watching THEM have fun, and it really reminds you that what we do is a game and it’s meant to bring you joy. Willow brought a whole lot of people joy.

In one of her matches, when the Marshal called lay on, she proceeded to scream and rush her opponent. It was a battle cry to end all battle cries and should be a ringtone. Watching this tiny, armor clad warrior scream and rush into combat was adorable, hilarious, and empowering. Especially when her opponent back peddled a couple of steps.

And then she died. But this little girl didn’t JUST die. She D.I.E.D. When she lost her fight, she dramatically flung both her shield and sword into the air and collapsed to the ground with an equally impressive death-rattle. I wasn’t sure which she enjoyed more - the fighting or the dramatic demises. Spectators appreciated both.

At one point during the Rapier tournament, one of the fighters looked at his opponent and proceeded to scream in a very Willow-esque way. “What? It was adorable when she did it.” He reasoned.

It was. It really, really was.

[jawnjendes]

take my hand and we’ll be alright | shawn mendes

university au, shawn x goth gf (is this a thing bc it should be)

~1k words

masterlist | series playlist

Days like these usually happen when a series of small annoyances occur and they make me wish I was home in California again. Then, I get very homesick and isolate myself in my dorm. I sink myself into whatever video game I'm fixated on and I ignore any obligations I may have.

Shawn hasn't seen me on a bad day yet. He hasn't seen me shut down completely, but I did warn him about it. If I was closed off now, wait until I'm playing Mario Kart for twelve hours because I don't want to deal with whatever is bothering me.

My boyfriend hasn't seen me on a bad day, but he might.

It started because I overslept and missed breakfast. Then, I was late for class and had to sit in the very front of the room. After that, people kept physically running into me across campus. I kept thinking that this wouldn't happen to me at the smaller and far less populated community college back home. I kept thinking of how no matter how late I slept at home, I would never miss a meal.

Once I got stomach cramps, I decided to call it quits and go back to the dorm. My brain grew foggy very quickly, so I grabbed my Hogwarts throw and dumped myself onto the couch in front of the TV. I grabbed my Switch controller and booted up Breath of the Wild. Nothing else mattered. Good thing I wasn't working today.

I knew time had passed when Stella walked through the front door. Must have been past four o'clock if she was already home. She immediately knew something was wrong because I typically didn't come home from class until six.

“Aww,” she mused as she walked past the couch and into her room. Stella had seen this before, and at this point she knew better than to try to get me out of the fog. However, she did let me know she would be ordering pizza in case I was hungry.

I didn't feel hungry. I didn't feel anything. I just kept navigating my chosen hero around the kingdom. He didn't speak that much either. It was a coping mechanism. At least this hero was still getting shit done in the midst of his silence. The only shit I got done was defeating another one of the major bosses.

A knock on the door came later. Stella was quick to emerge from her room to answer, talking about how hungry she was. But when I heard her open the door, she let out a surprised, “Oh… you're not pizza.”

“Sorry to disappoint. I'm looking for my girl,” a familiar voice replied.

Guess who forgot about her boyfriend.

Stella's voice perked up suddenly. “Look who's here! It's Shawn, the guy you've probably been ghosting all day!”

Yesterday or tomorrow, I might give a fuck. Today, I only focused on some wild breath.

“Did you guys fight or something?” Stella asked in a much lower voice. “She never talks when she gets like this.”

“No, she just stopped answering my texts this morning,” Shawn replied. “I wanted to see what happened, if everything’s okay. She’s not talking?”

Stella sighed. “She does that on days like these. She’ll just play video games or watch movies and ignore everything else. I think it’s an extreme form of self care or self destruction.” Then she spoke louder, probably at me. “See? I do remember the things you tell me!”

I saw her go into her room again, leaving Shawn with me, and me with my game. Then, there were footsteps behind the couch, but I kept my eyes on the game and my hands on the controller. From my peripherals, I saw Shawn’s tall figure settle down next to me. I could tell he was looking at me like I was going to break at any second.

“Hey, you.” His arm went across the cushions, reaching for my shoulder.

My body visibly tensed when I felt this touch. Slowly, Shawn retracted.

“Alright. Hands to myself, then.”

I continued my game, trying to forget that he was here. It was just me and the hero with the sword. No boyfriend today. No fucks to give today.

“Whatcha playing?” Shawn asked. “Is that… Zelda? With the sword?”

Fuck.

“That’s Link,” I corrected. “But yes, it’s a Zelda game.”

He perked up at my voice. “You’re talking!”

Not anymore.

“Have you been on the couch all day? What’s been going on?” Shawn persisted, only to receive my silence again.

I knew it was frustrating, but I really did not want to use my voice today. I wasn’t sure what would come out, and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stop myself. Whatever that was threatening to burst out of me didn’t seem to have a stopping point.

“Well…” Shawn trailed off.

That was the word Stella would use when she gave up on me. I planned on staying alone all day anyway. I’ll apologize to Stella and Shawn tomorrow if they decide to not cut me out of their lives.

Shawn continued. “Just so you know, I’m gonna stay here until you’re ready. I don’t want you to be alone.”

Well that’s different. Normally, Stella would lend a loose ear. Luca would ignore me in return. My own parents just sent me to therapy. I was practically useless here, why would someone want to stay with me?

For the first time in six hours, I paused the game. I blinked a few times; My eyes were burning from staring at the TV for too long. I opened my mouth to speak, but I was internally startled by another knock on the door.

“Finally!” exclaimed Stella as she burst out of her room.

Unpaused.

~

“You know, I didn’t know you liked video games,” Shawn pointed out. “I’m learning a lot about you today. You’re really good at this game.”

I ditched Breath of the Wild for Super Smash Bros a couple of hours ago. I spent practically the entire time battling people online. Shawn didn’t ask to join in, saying he wasn’t a video game type of guy. He sat and watched, commenting on my fighting and cheering when I won.

He also filled me in on his day. He went to class, probably failed an English Lit test. He got a large order at the flower shop he works at and spent three hours arranging daisies. Had lunch with his mom. What a productive boy.

I let out an irritated squeak when my character got launched off the stage.

“Oohhh, very close,” Shawn said. “You’re still killing it.”

My character was barely revived when the last 5 seconds of the match were up. Shawn and I waited in silence for the winner to be announced. However, Shawn cheered and clapped when my hero with the sword showed up on the screen.

“Thirteen knockouts?” he said in disbelief. “That’s my girl!”

He didn’t see the small smile that had cracked my dull face.

“There’s a Smash tournament at this one barcade,” I spoke up. “I entered. It’s on Saturday, if you wanna come.”

“I’m there,” Shawn said without missing a beat. “So you’re practicing now, eh?”

“I am.”

Silence fell between us again, but the air wasn’t as foggy or tense anymore. I finally decided to close the game and set my controller aside. Then, with a small sigh, I extended my arm towards Shawn and held my hand out.

I still didn’t directly look at him, but I saw him smile from the side. He took my hand and squeezed.

“Thank you for staying with me,” I mumbled. “You didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to stay. Wanted to make sure you’re okay.”

Oh, cool. The dam is bursting again.

“Sometimes,” I began, “I get a little homesick…”

[thegame-r-boy]

Virtual Arena 2.0 (Gaming Event/Spieleereignis) in Idrija!

Guess what, we inhabitants of the famous mercury, zhlikrofi and gerush town in nort-western Slovenia have also our own annual “virtual arena” gaming event!

It is held in the Film Theater of my hometown every autumn, for a fortnight (expect for October, when it will be on every week, except for the 19th of October - I’ll be at MokuMatsuri in Maribor and I’ll hold a local tournament in Mario Kart 8 for WiiU!) on Saturday at 17.00. Though my hometown isn’t really a “gamer’s paradise” town, it’s still quite decent with those eagerly young not-in-the-game-Fortnite-or-Minecraft players.

This years Virtual Arena (VA) was give a code of 2.0, because it’s the second VA in a row. My Switch is the main star of the show - the console is connected via HDMI cable to the movie projector! We also have some company from the president of Pretep (meaning literally “Fight” in Slovene!).si, who willingly gave us some cool stuff: a lag-less screen, some HDMI splitters and a 15 meters long HDMI cable! Cool! He also suggested us to use TournamentEdition.com, where you can see who is winning on all of our tournaments. This years games are ALL FIGHTING GAMES! UwU

The first tournament was really scarce. Only one player came around. But we still managed to make the tournament happen! Though I didn’t want to lose in this game (which is BlazBlue: Central Fiction) or wound my masculanity, that kid gave me still a lot of trouble! Still, he won the 2nd place and at least went out of the film theater with a smile on his face. How nice! :)

What we had, a scene from the game BlazBlue: Centra Fiction (intro) and the one and only player!

Yesterday, we had our second championship in VA 2.0 and boy, it was great! There were a lot of more people around, about 8-12 people, which is nothing compared to international events, but still, when the people started cheering at the players, it was just magic to my ears!

So we played the all-time classic fighter game Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers (USF2). There were 8 player (myself included, because there weren’t so many players around) and we fought the heck out of ourselves! Lastly, a Pretep.si guy won, a small boy was second and an intermediate strong guy was third. It was a very nice event!

Pictures of our event in the game USF2, our main gaming station, some fights, the crowd and the winners!

Our next tournament will be on the 5th of October, where we will battle in the mighty sword of your destiny, the all-time favourite slasher-game Nidhogg 2! I’m really eager to see how many people will come by and play the game. Only rules will be - Don’t jump over your enemy and there will be a 10 minutes time limit for every game!

So, be there or miss out! ;)

DE

Na, fragt mal, was wir so in unsere Freizeit machen? Ja, wir haben auch Spielturniere in unsere Nord-westlichen Stadt, die wegen ihres Quecksilber(erzes), den Zhlikrofi und Gerush-Getränk weltweit bekannt ist! Aber wir spielen auch Spiele - in der Virtuellen Arena, einer s. g. „Gaming-Events“ für Einheimische!

Dieses Ereigniss findet im lokalen Filmtheater meiner Heimatstadt jeden Herbst, durch eine Reichweite von 14 Tagen (ausser im Oktober, wo das Ereigniss jede woche Samstags passieren wird, ausser am 19ten Oktober - MokuMatsuri in Maribor wird am diesen Tag passieren, wo ich einen Tournament in Spiel Mariko Kart 8 für die WiiU console haben werde) jeden Samstag um 17 Uhr. Obwohl meine Heimatstadt nicht gerade eine „gamers paradise“ Stadt ist, ist es immer noch eine dezente Stadt für diese jungen Spieler, die gerade nicht-in-dem-Spiel-Fortnite-oder-Minecraft die besten sind.

Diese Jahr gab ich den Codewort für dieses Ereigniss für die Virtuelle Arena (VA) als 2.0 zugabe, da dass auch die zweite VA von letzen Jahr ist. Meine Konsole die Switch ist der Haupstar dieses Ereignisses - sie ist über HDMI Kabel auf dem Filmbeamer vernetzt! Wir haben dieses Jahr auch hilfe vom ehemaligen Presidenten des Vereins Pretep (was als „Prügelei“ in Slowenischer Sprache bedeutet), der uns freiwillig ein paar echt cooler Dinge geleihen hat: ein Ohne-Lag Monitor, ein paar HDMI zersplitter und einen 15 Meter langen HDMI Kabel! Echt Cool! Er hat uns auch empfohlen, dass wir dieses Jahr die Netzseite TournamentEdition benutzen, wo man sich auch ansehen kann, wer gerade im Ereignis gewiint. Diese Jahr gibt es nur PRÜGELEI-SPIELE für die Nintendo Switch auf Lager!

Das Erste Ereigniss was sehr schlimm. Nur ein Spieler kam. Aber wir haben die Sache recht Streng angenommen und spielten mit nur zwei (also auch ich) Spielern! Obwohl ich nicht in diesem Spiel (was BlazBlue: Central Fiction war) verlieren wollte oder meine Masculinität erniedrigen wollte, gab mir dieser Bursche immern nocj viel Ärger! Dennoch, er gewann den zweiten Preis und wenigstens ging aus dem Filmtheater mit einem Lächeln auf seinem Gesicht. Wie schön! :)

Was wir hatten, eine Szene aus dem Konsolenspiel BlazBlue: Central Fiction (Einleitung) und der Ein und Einziger Spieler!

Gestern hatten wir unsere zweite Runde im VA 2.0 und Junge, war das gut! Es gab viel mehr Leute, zwischen ach und zwolf Leute, was noch immer nicht gerade viel ist, wenn mein das mit Spiel-Ereignissen im Ausland vergleicht, aber immernoch, als die Leute angefangen haben zu Schreim für ihre Favouritenspieler - das war Musik in meinen Ohren!

Also wir spielten den All-Zeit-Klassiker Prügelei-Spiel Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers (USF2). Da waren ach Spieler (mich inclusive, da es nicht so viele Spieler gab) und wir prügelten uns aus! Zuletzt, ein von den Pretep.si Leuten gewann, ein kleiner Junge wurde zweiter und ein maßiger starker Typ wurde dritter. Es war ein schönes Ereignis!

Fotos vom Ereignis in dem Spiel UF2, unsere Hauptspielstation, ein paar Prügelein, die „Massenmenge“ und die Sieger!

Unser nächstes Ereignis findet am 5ten Oktober statt, wo wir uns in der mächtigen Schwert-der-Schicksales, einer allzeitlichen Beliebtheitspiels widmen werden - Nidhogg 2! Ich bin wirklich gespant, wie viele Leute dabeisein werden und das Spiel auch spielen werden. Die einzigen Regeln werden sein - Überspring nicht den Gegner/Feind und es wird eine zehn Minute Spielezeit für jedes Spiel im Spiel geben!

So, seit da, oder seit dran! ;)

[raybyanothername]

Full Time Mediator - 3 Ninjas

Jerry Jeffries knew that being Sam Douglas' partner was going to give him a headache, he just didn't realize how long it would last.

Snippets of his life as the godfather to Colt.

Notes: In the first movie, Sam refers to his partner as Jerry, but never uses a last name. I decided it was Jeffries and that Colt was named after him. I then proceeded to write a little more of this headcanon every time I watched the movie.

-.-.-

Jerry really should have known that partnering with Sam Douglas was going to be a massive headache. Four years into the friendship Douglas had met, married, and had two kids with Jessica Tanaka. And that was just the first two years.

“Are we seriously investigating Mori Tanaka’s business right now?” Jerry gave Sam a pointed looked as he dropped the tax records for Tanaka Karate on the man’s desk. Sam did not even attempt to look guilty with Mori Tanaka’s face staring at him from the family photo on his desk.

“Mori’s the one who asked me to look into it,” Sam shrugged and Jerry looked at him skeptically as he took his seat at the desk across from him. Sam noticed and sighed, “Its Snyder. Mori thinks he’s cooking the books somehow. I said I’d take a look.”

Jerry kept his comment about this being a job for the Financial Division to himself. Douglas was weird when it came to his father-in-law and Jerry wasn’t touching those Daddy Issues with a ten-foot pole. Maybe a twenty-foot pole? And a couple bottles of whiskey.

“Jess know about this?” Jerry watched Sam roll his shoulders, “She doesn’t. Gotcha.” Great. Now he had to keep his mouth shut at Sunday night dinners. “You’re lucky your kids are cute,” Jerry grumbled as he picked up a file – 1120s for the past two decades. Yay.

The kids were cute. Little Sam was a bundle of blond giggles and Jeffrey scowled at everything. And Jerry would be lying if he said he didn’t get great amusement at seeing Jeffrey the Scowler toddling after his father every Sunday. And not just because the tyke was named after him.

“Agent Jeffries,” Jerry looked up at their unit chief, he had his eyebrows raised at the piles of folders on their desks, “We catch a case no one told me about?”

Jerry smirked at Sam, “You want to take that one, Douglas?”

Another shoulder roll, “Not really.”

-.-.-

“Alright, kid,” Jerry threw his hotdog wrapper in the trash, “Out with it. Why am I here?”

Jeffrey – Colt, whatever – rolled his shoulders back as he folded his hotdog wrapper into smaller and smaller squares. Jerry couldn’t help but smirk. He and Sam were heads of their own units now, so it’d been a while since he’d seen that particular shoulder roll.

“Should I guess?” Jerry grinned at the fifteen-year-old, who instantly scowled. “Hmm, fight with your old man?” Scowl. “Girl trouble?” Blush. Scowl. “Ok, you and Rocky fighting?” Eye roll. “Your mom giving you grief about grandkids?”

Colt’s head swiveled and his eyebrows scrunched together, “What?”

Jerry chuckled, “Just my mother then.” They kept walking. Colt had asked him to go to lunch. An odd occurrence. It was becoming odder by the second.

“Will you teach me to shoot?” Jerry was really happy he’d finished his hotdog already. Colt was looking at his hotdog wrapper – now magically transformed into a flimsy ninja star.

“You tryin’ to get me killed?” Jerry stopped to turn towards Colt, “Cause your mother will kill me I even think of saying yes to that.” It was a true statement. Jessica Douglas was the scariest person he’d ever met.

Colt crossed his arms and met his eyes now, “I won’t tell if you don’t.” Oh, yeah, like he was going to fall for that. “I figure, if people keep pointing guns at me, it might be a good idea to learn how to use one.” Guilt trip, party of one.

“That’s what cops are for,” Jerry could feel himself losing that one when Colt started laughing. “Ok,” Jerry sighed, “Point made.” He started walking, “But if your mother finds out I’m throwing you under the bus quicker than you can throw a ninja star.”

-.-.-

A boxing gym would not have been Jerry’s first guess when looking for Colt. He had, in fact, thought the beach or the mall more likely. But Jerry had asked Rocky, who had snorted and rattled off an address before wishing him good luck. Very sarcastically.

“Well, I’m shocked!” Jerry could play at sarcasm too. He probably shouldn’t do it when Colt was attacking a bag with such ferocity. But hey, Jerry was a workaholic, teasing Sam’s kids was the closest he got to fun nowadays.

Colt threw one last punch and sent the bag spinning. He looked displeased as he turned to face him. Jerry could guess why. His eyes were ringed red. And it wasn’t all sweat on his face. “What are you doing here?” Colt pushed past him.

Jerry followed him to the locker room, “Big, bad deputy director came in all huffy this morning.” That was an understatement. A probie had fled from Sam’s office crying. “Only one person manages to throw him that far off his game.”

“Rocky gave me up,” Colt jerked his locker open.

“Like a hot potato,” Jerry grinned as he straddled the bench that ran along the lockers.

Colt didn’t have a lot of tells. He rolled his shoulders when he was nervous, his voice went an octave higher when aggravated, and if anything really got to him he was liable to beat the crap out of it.

Honestly, if he didn’t share every damn one of those with Sam Jerry wouldn’t have a chance in hell of identifying when the kid was actually upset. Not that he’d tell either of them that. It didn’t go over well. Shocking!

“So,” Jerry leveled a look at Colt as he finished vigorously wiping the ‘sweat’ from his face, “What the old man do?” Colt scoffed, but he sat down on the bench in front of him. Jerry was actually a little concerned he might start crying again – in which case, all bets were off, he’d kick Sam’s ass for him.

“There’s a tournament next month,” Colt stared at the floor, teeth gritted, “I’m old enough for the advanced division.” Jerry saw where this was going. Sam was not a fan of fighting. For sport especially.

It was particularly funny if you knew the man went to college on a wrestling scholarship.

In any case, every time it came up – Colt got in a fight at school, Colt wanted to spend a weekend at his grandfather’s, Colt and Rocky sparing in the backyard, when the girl across the street asked Colt to show her a few moves – Sam freaked.

“The one in LA?” Jerry kept pretty decent track of martial art tournaments in the area. It was an easy way to figure out where Colt would go when upset and it had come in handy a few times in the past.

Colt nodded, “He said no, of course.” He sneered, “I’ll never learn to control my temper if all I want to do is fight.” There was a sniffle. Oh, Jerry really hoped the kid wasn’t going to cry.

“Chin up kid,” Jerry clipped his chin with his hand, “I’ll talk to your dad.” Colt’s head swung around to stare at him, wide eyed. Jerry made it a point not to step on any parental toes, but seriously? You don’t make a man a godfather if you don’t want him to point out your hypocrisies.

So that’s what he did. He dropped the kid off at home and headed back to the office.

Sam was still in his mood, but Jerry was more than a match for that.

“You made him cry, you know,” Jerry closed the door of Sam’s office and folded his arms. Sam looked up, a scowl still on his face, “Colt.” And the scowl flopped. Belly-flopped, if the red face was anything to go by. “I have a strict, no crying policy when it comes to godsons.”

“You only have one godson, Jerry,” Sam rubbed his fingers into his eye. Good, he felt guilty. Jerry didn’t want to actually kick his ass, technically, Sam was his boss.

Jerry grinned, “I’m aware.” He took a seat, propped his feet up on the desk, “I’m not sure how aware you are of your blatant hypocrisy, Mr. Wrestling Scholarship.” And the scowl was back. “Oh, yes, I know about the tournament.” Jerry leveled a withering look at Sam, “Anything you’d care to add before I launch into my prepared lecture?”

-.-.-

Jerry grumbled into his pillow as he reached for his phone. It was ringing, obnoxiously. No respect for the hangover. Didn’t it know he was suspended?

“Jeffries,” Jerry answered robotically, rolling in his bed to face his ceiling. Bad plan. His stomach churned.

“Snyder escaped from prison.” Jerry sat up in bed, hangover forgotten, “Yesterday.” The voice registered as Sam Douglas. He’d made deputy director last year and was in Washington as of last night.

Jerry checked his clock, 11a, “Protection detail?” He got up to grab clean clothes.

“FitzPatrick is scrambling now,” Sam sounded ragged, worry edging his voice, “I was only informed half an hour ago when FitzPatrick called me to help locate Jess and the boys.”

Heads would roll. Possibly literally if Mori Tanaka still had that sword. Jerry slipped on a clean pair of jeans and found himself clipping on his off-duty weapon.

“I told FitzPatrick to loop you in. I know you’re suspended,” Sam was huffing, angry, “But I know for sure you didn’t have anything to do with this mess. I can trust you to find the boys.”

“Find?” Jerry paused with his keys in hand, “They’re not at home?” Rocky was at UCLA this year he knew, but Colt at least should still be in bed at 11a on a Saturday.

Sam chuckled, dark and hollow, “Rocky’s in the dorms this year, campus police are enroute, but Colt left early this morning apparently and left his phone.” Jerry hissed. That didn’t bode well, “We had a fight last night before I left.” There it was.

“I’ve got some idea where he’ll be,” Jerry tugged his cell from its charger, “I’ve got my cell, I’ll call FitzPatrick as soon I’ve got him.” If Colt wasn’t at home, he was training.

He was driving through LA traffic towards Reggie’s Boxing Gym. At 11a on a Saturday. With a hangover. The things he did for his godson.

-.-.-

Colt was sitting on the ambulance’s bumper when Jerry finished talking with the cops. The teen’s gaze was focused entirely on the white sheet that now covered the body of one Hugo Snyder.

“Well,” Jerry huffed as he sat beside him. Colt’s head snapped up to look at him. “I’m glad I taught you to shoot.” That earned him a half-smile. Jerry wrapped an arm around the brunet. Colt was shaking like a leaf. “But if your mother asks?”

Colt chuckled, his grip tightening on the shock blanket wrapped around his shoulders, “I’m just naturally gifted.” Jerry nodded, tucking the kid’s head underneath his chin as he went. “What about dad?” Colt’s voice cracks and Jerry almost doesn’t catch it the kid is talking so quietly.

“Pretty sure he’s gonna be focused on the bullet that went whizzing by your head rather than the one you shot.” In fact, Jerry would bet hard money on that. Sam would be agonizing over the bullets in the boxing gym’s wall for days. “He might get distracted by the fact that Snyder knew your weekend routine better than him too.”

Suspension was a blessing in disguise. Sam would be in a mood for weeks.

-.-.-

“I had nothing to do with it Sam.” Jerry didn’t look up from his desk. He didn’t even wait for Sam to knock. He’d known this was coming.

“But you knew he was going to apply?!” Sam had his hands planted firmly on his hips. Jerry looked up from his paperwork and thought vaguely of retirement. “You didn’t think to tell me?”

Jerry snorted, “Tell you your son was joining the Bureau? Do I look suicidal to you?” Sam pinched the bridge of his nose. “Come on, you really surprised Colt’s the one following in your footsteps? He’s been doing it since the day he was born.”

“I’m aware,” Sam sighed as he flopped into one of the chairs in front of Jerry’s desk. Jerry watched him roll his shoulders back. “But I thought he’d stay put on the LAPD.”

“And that’s…better?” Jerry scrunched his eyebrows together, “Don’t they get shot at more than us?” Sam glared at him. Jerry grinned. “The kid studied Criminal Justice. He can kick more ass than you ever could. And he’s got nicer hair. Just accept that you’re being replaced by the newer and better model, Sammy.”

Sam doubled over in laughter, “Jess has been wanting me to retire.”

“If you don’t, I will,” Jerry shook his head, “I do not get paid enough to mediate your arguments full time.”

“Haven’t you been doing that since he was born, Jer?”

[thinkingaboutyoungroyals]

Tyrus Month: Ren Faire

You’ll Be The Prince And I’ll Be Your Knight (AO3)

The bus was slowly loading with passengers and Cyrus anxiously swung his head around, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

“Are you sure he’s coming, Cy?” Buffy asked, sounding impatient.

“Yeah, the bus leaves in 10 minutes, we have to get on,” Andi added.

“He’ll be here!” Cyrus said but was almost on the verge of disappointment. “He promised me he would.”

“Hey, if he doesn’t show, it’s okay,” Jonah offered, placing a hand on Cyrus’ shoulder. “Not everyone is into Ren Faires. If you guys didn’t take me last year, I probably wouldn’t have known how fun it is.”

Cyrus tried not to care too much because he knew caring too often led to disappointment. But, TJ promised he would come with them that day.

When Cyrus had brought up the annual Renaissance Faire in conversation the other day, the older boy said that he had never gone before. So, naturally, Cyrus invited him to tag along and TJ had looked uneasy but not unopposed to the idea.

What if he had changed his mind and didn’t want to go anymore because he thought it was lame? He could have at least texted Cyrus.

Pouting and resigned, Cyrus was about to just get on the bus when he heard a loud, “Underdog!”

His head swung around to see TJ jogging towards them, hair in disarray and devoid of its usual gel, and his hoodie unzipped.

Cyrus felt his heart skip a beat at the sight. The older boy looked cute. Not that he wasn’t cute all the time. But, it was a rare sight to see TJ Kippen without the gelled back hair. Now, Cyrus wondered if he would survive the 4 hours or so they would be spending at the Faire.

“Sorry! My alarm didn’t go off and my parents left early for work so I couldn’t catch a ride,” TJ huffed when he neared them.

“Dude, did you run here?” Jonah asked.

“No, I flew,” the other boy replied, sarcastically but without malice.

Jonah seemed to accept this with a laugh. “You crack me up.”

Meanwhile, Andi clapped her hands, happily. “Okay! Now that we’re all here, let’s go!”

With the short-haired girl leading the way, they all filed into the bus, ready to start their day at the Renaissance Faire.

“So… what exactly do you do at a Renaissance Faire?” TJ asked as they followed a crowd of costumed Ren Faire-goers.

“Tons!” Cyrus answered, excitedly. “You can wear costumes and eat giant turkey legs and joust and speak like you’re from ye olde days.”

TJ chuckled. “Not my usual way of spending a Saturday but sounds like fun.”

Cyrus grinned.

Their little group stopped outside a giant tent and he turned to the taller boy.

“First things first: costumes!” he exclaimed

They went in and the girls immediately headed for the gowns while Cyrus took TJ’s arm and dragged him towards the tunics, trousers, and fake chainmail. Jonah stayed by the entrance, examining a barrel of fake swords.

“You can have your pick of any costume you want!” Cyrus announced with a dramatic wave of his hand at the outfits in front of them. “You can be a lowly peasant, a charismatic noble, or a brave knight!”

Lips pursed in concentration, TJ’s eyes scanned the costumes in front of him

Nerves took over Cyrus and he couldn’t help but feel anxious. What if TJ thought this was too weird and dorky?! What if he never wanted to hang out with Cyrus again?!

“What are you dressing up as?”

TJ’s question broke through his anxious thoughts and melted them away.

“O-Oh… Um… Probably a noble.”

“So… like a Prince?”

“More or less.”

TJ smiled and turned back to the rack of costumes. “Then, I’ll be your knight in shining armor.”

Blood rushed to Cyrus’ face, burning his cheeks and ears. “W-Wait, what?”

But, TJ had already asked the help of a passing employee, pointing at the costume he wanted.

When they emerged from the costume tent, they fit right in.

Andi was dressed in a baby blue princess dress, a plastic circlet on her head.

Buffy had, once again, picked the same costume she did last year of a rogue but in red, this time. Her only addition was a bow and arrow.

And just like last year, Jonah opted not to dress up, but he picked up another sword and strapped on some fake leather gauntlets.

Meanwhile, Cyrus had opted for a pair of black trousers tucked into boots, a white tunic with a dark blue overcoat and black belt, and a matching blue hat.

“What’s taking TJ so long?” Buffy asked, arms crossed as she tapped her foot against the grass.

Cyrus shrugged. Earlier, TJ couldn’t decide on the top he wanted so he sent Cyrus ahead since the latter finished getting dressed way before he did.

Finally, the costume tent’s flaps opened to reveal the remaining member of their group.

Cyrus’ breath hitched and he found himself openly staring as TJ stepped out.

The basketball player was wearing fake chainmail, topped with a long-sleeved blue tunic and black trousers tucked into boots. Tied to the black belt around his waist was a fake sword. His hair had been brushed and it shined in the sun. He stood tall and proud, his back straight and chin up... like a real knight.

“Wow,” Andi breathed.

“You look…” Buffy trailed off.

“Docious magocious, man!” Jonah piped.

Cyrus swallowed the lump in his throat as TJ turned to him, as if asking what he thought.

“I would have worn the helmet and gauntlets too, but they were too heavy,” the athlete said. “Maybe next year.”

Cyrus’ heart fluttered. TJ was literally at Renaissance Faire for only twenty minutes but he was already planning on going next year. If he wasn't careful, Cyrus was going to fall hard and fast and he wasn't sure if the other boy would even catch him.

Woe is he who crushed on someone unattainable.

TJ must have taken his silence for disapproval as his smile disappeared.

“You don’t like it?” he asked, sounding like a kicked puppy.

“No! I mean, yes! Yes, I like it!” Cyrus managed.

The taller boy still looked unsure. “Really? It doesn’t look too much, does it? Should I have skipped the chainmail?”

“You look amazing! Really! I swear! You look so good! I mean… you look good.”

Cyrus was stammering now and he mentally yelled at himself to stop talking.

However, it looked like his words were effective because the pleased smile was back on TJ’s face.

“Okay, we’re all ready, right? Let’s go!” Buffy announced and followed by Andi, she led the way into the Faire.

As they walked, TJ’s head swiveled everywhere, taking in all the sights and asking Cyrus questions that the shorter boy was only all too happy to answer. He also translated a few basic medieval phrases and sentences for him.

“Art thee famished, Sir Knight?” Cyrus asked him at some point.

“Um… yes?” TJ cutely answered.

“Say, ‘Aye, my Lord!’”

“Aye, my Lord.”

The whole group each bought a giant turkey leg and ate as they walked. They visited the shops and bought a few souvenirs.

They passed by some people dancing to lute music and before Cyrus realized what he was doing, he had grabbed TJ’s arm and dragged him to dance. The athlete awkwardly followed along with the movements, but he got them, eventually.

From the corner his eye, Cyrus spied Andi sneakily taking a picture. He would have to ask her to send it to him later.

After the little dancing session, they got to walking again.

They passed by the tug-of-war tournament and they paused to watch two guys going at it to the cheers of the crowd. After a few more tugs, the guy on the left managed to bring the rope to his side, knocking the other guy off his box. The crowd cheered and the winner received his prize.

“Buffy and Jonah did it last year,” Cyrus whispered to TJ when the lady asked if anyone else dared to volunteer and show their strength. “They did it for hours.”

“Cool,” TJ replied before turning to Buffy. “Are you doing it again?”

“Nah, I already beat Jonah,” she replied.

“Oh, look, that guy is going!” Cyrus piped, excitedly as a guy dressed in a Robin Hood-like costume stepped forward and took one end of the rope.

“Does anyone dare to taketh the challenge of this noble sir?!”

No one moved.

“No one is braveth nor strong enough?”

“I’ll do it!”

Cyrus’ eyes widened as TJ left his side and stepped up to the box and picked up the rope.

“Excellent! Ready? Begin!”

With bated breath, Cyrus watched TJ pull on the rope with all of his strength. The jock had his game face on, one he normally wore on the court.

His opponent wasn’t much bigger than him, but the playing field was level. The rope jerked once or twice in either direction but otherwise, barely moved.

“TJ’s doing great,” Andi said, sounding impressed.

“Come on, TJ!” Cyrus cheered, forgetting to speak in medieval. “You got this!”

TJ pulled on the rope and his opponent almost slipped off his box, making the crowd gasp.

“TJ! TJ! TJ! TJ!” Cyrus chanted.

Gaze flashing briefly to Cyrus, TJ gave the rope another tug and just like that, the other guy fell forward off his box.

The crowd cheered, Cyrus the loudest of all. He wanted to run up to the other boy and jump in his arms to hug him in congratulations but restrained himself by planting his feet firmly on the ground. It wouldn’t do to cause a spectacle here.

After the lady had placed his prize around his neck, TJ went back to the rest of their group, showing off the little gold medal.

“That was so cool!” Andi exclaimed.

“Totally dosh, man!” Jonah added, slapping TJ’s hand.

“Not bad, Kippen,” Buffy said, fighting a smile.

Laughing, TJ thanked them before turning to Cyrus. The younger boy was beaming with pride.

“Sir Knight, thee did well,” he stated.

“I thank… thee… my Lord,” TJ replied.

Cyrus wanted to squeeze his cheeks. He was so darn cute.

Then, TJ removed the medal from around his neck and offered it to Cyrus.

“For thee, my Prince.”

Once again, Cyrus felt himself turn red and his heart fluttered at the sweet gesture.

Technically, if these really were medieval times, TJ would get on one knee and pledge his allegiance to Cyrus, but that might be too much to ask from the older boy at the moment.

So, Cyrus simply accepted the medal and wore it around his neck. In front of him, TJ was smiling up to his ears, his green eyes practically sparkling in the sun. Cyrus couldn’t look away.

He truly did look like his knight in shining armor.

“Um… guys… we’re still here.”

Andi’s voice broke through their moment, making Cyrus look away in embarrassment. He almost missed his two best friends’ knowing looks towards him.

“Let’s go over to the jousting! It’s starting in ten minutes!” Buffy piped.

Arm-in-arm with Andi and Jonah following along behind them, they went off.

Cyrus turned to TJ and bravely held his hand out. “Shall we, Sir Knight?”

TJ slipped his hand into his, flashing him a sweet smile. “Leadeth the way, my prince.”

Hand-in-hand, the Prince and his Knight walked off into the sunset…at least, that was how it went in Cyrus’ head. His heart was beating too fast for him to truly comprehend that he, Cyrus Goodman, was holding T.J. Kippen’s hand.

The day felt like a true fairytale and the hand holding was quite the happy ending he had always dreamed of.

He couldn’t wait for next year’s Renaissance Faire.