#ryan day press conference

[threeg-light]

3 winners, 3 losers from Michigan’s upset of No. 2 Ohio State Read more..

[pedroscurls]

secret crushes (one-shot)

summary: you've known hugh for years, having not only a personal friendship with him, but also a professional one. then, ryan decides to play matchmaker unbeknownst to you or hugh. pairing: hugh jackman x fem!reader word count: 4.5k warnings: this is complete filth bc how can you not look at that first photo and just be fine??? anyway - porn with little plot, unprotected p in v, public beach sex, seated cowgirl, oral - m receiving, light dirty talk, no use of y/n. a/n: this is for the anon who requested this spicy idea! i hope you enjoyed it as much as i did writing it. i haven't opened up my requests since 2017 (i think), but ya know, that might change after this lol. i mean no disrespect to hugh jackman! this is purely fictional.

“All expenses paid,” you hear Ryan say over the phone. “You deserve a vacation. Even Blake agrees.”

“Ryan, no,” you protest, beginning to clean up your small coffee shop for the day. When you opened your own coffee shop so many years ago, you didn’t expect that not only would it be great business, but that you’d be very close friends with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. 

“Oh, come on!” he says. “When was the last time you took time for yourself, hm?” 

There’s a silence that engulfs the two of you.

Before you can even speak, Ryan chimes in. “Exactly. You’ll have your own hotel room. You don’t have to spend the entire trip with us, though, we will be hurt if you don’t hang out with us, and–” he teases. 

“Okay, fine! Fine,” you huff. “I’m sure after Deadpool & Wolverine, you need some time for you and your family too.”

“Yeah,” Ryan replies. “I feel like I can be a good dad now.”

You let out a quiet laugh. “You’ve always been a good dad.”

“Eh,” he chuckles. “So, we’ll see you at the airport this weekend?”

“Sure.”

“Actually, we’re going to pick you up.” Ryan decides. “That way, I know for sure you’ll be coming with us.”

“God, you’re annoying!” you laugh. “Fine. I’ll see you and the family this Friday night. After I close up.”

“No, no. We’re leaving in the morning. Your coffee shop will be fine.”

“I know, it’s just–” you sigh, resting the phone between your ear and shoulder as you rearrange the bags of coffee on the display. Your mind drifts momentarily when you see the Laughing Man coffee beans, thinking about Hugh. “Nevermind.” 

“You think too much,” Ryan points out then his voice turns serious for a moment. “You’ll be okay. Your shop will be okay. In the time we’ve known you – Hugh and I – you’ve always been working, busting your ass.”

“I know,” you then move your gaze to the amount of photographs on your wall behind the counter. They are photographs that you’ve taken, candid ones of your employees, landscape portraits of the trips you’ve taken to find the best coffee beans, even personal photos of you and your family and friends, including Hugh, Ryan, and Blake. 

“So…” he says. “Pick you up Friday morning?” 

“Yes, Ryan. You can pick me up Friday morning. You’re very convincing, do you know that? You just never quit until you get your way.” 

“What can I say? I’m very persuasive.” He chuckles. “Okay, I’ll see you Friday. Have a good rest of your week. Call me if you need anything.” 

“I’m sure I’ll see you and Hugh before then,” you tease. “At this rate, all this free coffee I give you does amount to a free trip.”

“Exactly! Talk to you later.” 

—

You hadn’t spoken to Hugh in weeks, knowing that he and Ryan had been doing constant press conferences and interviews after Deadpool & Wolverine came out. You’d never admit it to either of them, but you did go out to watch the movie and it only fueled the crush that you had on Hugh. Especially that final scene. You’d be lying if you said that you didn’t go home that night with thoughts filled of him. Shirtless and glistening. It was rather inappropriate, really. Not only did you and Hugh start out as friends, but you also had a partnership with him where he sells his brand of coffee at your coffee shop and takes a cut of what the sales make. It’s worked for years now and you never really looked at him in a way that was more than a friend or partner. You knew he was good looking, so sweet and funny, but it wasn’t until months after his divorce that you started to look at him differently. You had to wonder if he looked at you the same way because you started to notice how often he would come by when you were closing up to help you clean, or how his gaze on you would linger, his touches seemingly becoming more and more less friendly and more intimate. 

You’re already on the plane with Ryan, Blake, and the rest of their family. It never felt like you were the odd one out. Both Ryan and Blake always made you feel like you were part of their family. There were plenty of times where you and Hugh would babysit Ryan and Blake’s children while they were busy and always, they’d ask for Uncle Hugh to sing songs from The Greatest Showman. You were always right there next to him, singing and performing alongside him to entertain the kids. 

When you moved to New York, it was a big leap of faith. It wasn’t always easy, but Hugh, Ryan, and Blake made you feel less alone when there were times you weren’t sure you were ever going to make it out here. Now, you can’t even think of leaving New York. It has become your home. These people… They have become your family. 

You look up from your notebook to see Blake and Ryan staring at you, both with big grins on their faces. You can tell they were hiding something, so you shut your notebook and point at them.

“Okay, spill.”

Ryan feigns a gasp, palms raising up in surrender. “Can’t my beautiful wife and I stare at you lovingly?” 

Blake lets out a quiet laugh and rolls her eyes. “It’s nothing.”

“You’re both really bad liars,” you point out. “What is it? Why are you both smiling at me like that?”

“We’re just happy that you’re finally taking some time to yourself,” Blake replies, moving to sit next to you. 

“You’re much more convincing than your husband,” you say loud enough for Ryan to hear.

“I take offense to that,” Ryan says. 

Blake turns to you and looks down at your notebook, tilting her head in amusement. “Even away from your coffee shop, all you can think about is how to improve it. Don’t you ever stop working?” 

“Never,” you laugh, opening your notebook for her to look through. “Fall is right around the corner, so I’m just thinking of a few specialty drinks that I can introduce for a limited time. I hear pumpkin spice is very popular.”

You and Blake stare at each other and then erupt into a fit of laughter, both of you shaking your heads. “Can you promise me one thing on this trip?” she asks.

“I can try.” 

“Try to have some fun, don’t think so much about work. It’ll be there when you get back. We’re in Hawaii for two weeks. Just–” Blake shrugs. “Be open and let loose.” 

You arch an eyebrow. “I feel like there’s a hidden meaning there somewhere.”

“Oh, there is!” Ryan nods, a grin lining his lips. “Or is there?” 

“The both of you,” you shake your head. “Are ridiculous.”

“Ah, but you love us,” Blake grins. 

“Unfortunately,” you tease. “But okay, I’ll do my best. No work. No thinking about work. I’ll try and focus on being in the present.” 

“Maybe you can meditate,” Ryan calls out. “You know, Hugh swears by it.” 

Hugh. The mere mention of his name makes your heart flutter and you subconsciously bite your lower lip. This doesn’t go unnoticed by Blake who tries to bite back a smile. 

“Yeah, maybe.” You stand up and then motion towards the bathroom, excusing yourself from both Blake, Ryan, and their kids. 

Blake then turns to Ryan and grins. She whispers very quietly. “I think it’s going to work.” 

“I sure hope so. Neither of them have any clue what we’re trying to do.” 

“You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. They’re the only ones who haven’t seen it,” Blake says. 

“Oh, Hugh’s seen it,” Ryan winks. 

Blake chuckles. “Well, let’s see how this trip goes.”

“If it all goes well, they’ll be leaving together,” Ryan replies. 

—

You’ve been in Hawaii for three days now. You’ve possibly spent every moment with Ryan and his family since arriving. You didn’t mind though. Being in their company helped keep your mind away from work, away from the responsibilities that await you at home, away from Hugh. Today, though, Ryan and Blake want to spend the day at a secluded beach to allow their kids to roam free and have fun without worrying about possible paparazzi. 

You look at yourself in the mirror, dressed in a deep blue bikini set – a halter triangle top tied at the base of your neck and back, and a cheeky bottom with side ties that rest on the side of your hips – with a white, long sleeve cover-up. You take a few pictures of yourself, wanting to send it to Hugh or even post it on social media, but you don’t. Instead, you turn off your phone and set it inside your bag before you leave your room to meet Ryan and the family. 

Throughout the entire ride to the island, Ryan and Blake can’t keep their eyes off of you. You busy yourself, though, with playing with their kids, hearing their laughter fill the car. You can tell they’re excited, jumping up and down in their seats as they talk amongst one another about the things they’ll do once they get to the beach. 

It isn’t until you all arrive at the beach and climb out that you notice another car in the lot. Ryan had mentioned before that it would just be his family and you, so you had to wonder if maybe he had gotten something wrong along the way of planning this. But if you were concerned about it, he certainly didn’t show it himself. Instead, he climbs out of the car and grabs the kids’ bags from the trunk before he and Blake motion for you to follow them onto the beach. Your toes hit the sand as you slide your sunglasses on your face. You tell Ryan and Blake that you’ll be at a distance, allowing them at least some time to spend with their kids without you and it gives you enough time to try and meditate. Maybe it will work, you tell yourself. 

You don’t see anyone else nearby and you’re at a good distance from Ryan and Blake, so you set down your towel and bag, removing your cover-up and sunglasses. You make sure to reapply more sunscreen before you walk towards the water. It’s cold and it causes a shiver to run down your spine, so you force yourself to dive in to get acclimated to the temperature of the water. 

The beach had always calmed you down, kept you grounded. It was one of the reasons why you had been so hesitant to leave your hometown of California. From one side of the coast to another. Once you come back up, you run your hands through your wet hair, slicking it back away from your face as you stand, the water only reaching your upper thighs. When you open your eyes, though, your jaw drops. 

Hugh is within a few arms reach as his eyes meet yours. The surprise look on his face tells you all that you need to know. 

He had no idea you would be here.

And neither did you. 

You can’t help but let your eyes take in his frame. His broad chest, water trickling down his frame, disappearing into the waistband of his black board shorts. He’s pulling his shorts up just a bit, but it gives you a good view of the v-cut he has and immediately, you’re aware of the feeling between your legs.

But just like you’re checking him out, Hugh’s also allowing his eyes to roam over your frame. The bikini you’re wearing is so tiny and tight around your frame. He tries to tell himself not to get excited at the mere sight of you, but it’s hard. He’s getting hard, so he does his best to think of other things that could lessen his excitement. 

Since his divorce, Hugh had taken comfort in your presence. What started out as a friendship turned partnership had blossomed into something else. Surely, you felt it too. Or at least that’s what he told himself. 

“Hello, you,” he calls out. 

The both of you begin walking towards each other, meeting in the middle as the waves crash around you. 

“I didn’t know you’d be here,” you say softly. Out of instinct, you reach out to give him a hug, warms snaking around his shoulders. This feels good, hugging him like this feels fucking great. You feel his hard chest and hair against you. He’s so wet, so slick and you just want to–

“I think Ryan may have forgotten to tell us both,” Hugh says, voice deep and husky against your ear as his arms wrap around your waist. Hugh shuts his eyes as he feels your breasts against him, his fingertips resting just above your backside and he feels his manhood stir awake. 

Quickly, Hugh pulls away, slowly lowering himself in the water to cover the growing erection between his legs and also to keep some distance between your bodies. You do the same, swimming further into the water as you both continue to float. 

“And Blake,” you add. “You think it was intentional? You ask, turning to look over your shoulder to see both Ryan and Blake staring at the both of you. 

Hugh looks over at them and lets out a quiet chuckle. “Dunno,” he answers. “But I’m glad you’re here.” 

“Me too,” you blush, heat rising in your cheeks. “How long– How long have you been here?”

“Three days.”

“Those fuckers,” you chuckle. “They totally set this up.”

Hugh laughs alongside you and tilts his head in amusement. He watches you closely, seeing you gnaw at your lower lip nervously (it’s something he’s noticed about you very early on). You bring your hand up to stroke your hair back away from your face and Hugh can’t help but smile to himself. He likes you. Really likes you and he knows that he shouldn’t act on it, knows that there should be some boundary, but he can’t help himself. 

“You nervous?” he asks quietly. 

“What?” you answer, looking up at him. “No…”

“You’re doin’ that thing you do,” Hugh points out. He gently reaches out and runs the pad of his thumb along your lower lip, causing you to release it between your teeth. 

“What thing?” 

“You know what thing,” he chuckles, slowly swimming closer to you. “You bite your lower lip a lot when you get nervous or when you’re deep in thought. So, you’re either nervous or you’re thinkin’ about somethin’. Which is it?”

“Neither,” you lie. 

Hugh narrows his eyes slowly and drags his thumb at the center of your lower lip and down to your chin until he hooks it in his grasp. “Now, I know you’re not someone who lies,” he begins, moving his thumb across your jawline. “Don’t tell me you’re lying now.”

“I’m both,” you blurt out, leaning against his touch. “I’m nervous and I’m thinking about something.”

“You’re always thinking about something,” Hugh points out. “Do I…” he asks hesitantly and drops his hand back into the water. “Do I make you nervous?”

“Right now you are.”

“Why?” 

“Because…” you whisper, looking deeply into his eyes. “One, we’re both basically half naked.”

“We’re at a beach,” he says with a small smile. “We’re in our bathing suits.”

“Half naked,” you correct. “And two, you’re just–” you stop yourself and drop your eyes to his lips then back up to gaze into his eyes. You then remember what Blake told you. Try to have some fun. Be open. Let loose. Now, you understand exactly what she meant by that. So, you let out a shaky breath and continue. “You’re just so fucking hot, Hugh, and yes, you’re making me nervous because you’re literally shirtless and wet, and you’re muscular and it’s just–”

Hugh’s laughter interrupts your rambling. You notice the way his nose crinkles upwards when the laughter comes deep within the pit of his stomach. Suddenly, you’re very aware that you just made a fool out of yourself and you gently shove him. 

“It’s not funny! You asked and so I told you. I was being honest!” 

“I’m not–” he sighs, his laughter dying down. “I’m not laughing at you, baby.” The term slips past his lips so effortlessly and he reaches out from underneath the water to grab a hold of your hip, pulling you to him. “I’m laughing because you think I’m hot to a point that you’re stuttering over your words. Have you seen yourself?” The smile remains on his lips and his thumb begins to rub circles at your hip. “Because if anyone should be nervous, it’s me.”

“You?” 

“Oh, come on,” he says. “Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed that I’ve got the biggest crush on ya.” 

“Wait, you what?” your eyes slightly widen in surprise, but you can’t help the way your stomach flips in excitement. 

“I’ve got a crush on ya,” he whispers. “And I shouldn’t even be having crushes at this age,” Hugh chuckles nervously. “But I do. I like you.”

“You’re not joking?”

“Why would I be joking?”

“Because you can have literally anyone you want and–”

“I want you.” Hugh says, leaning down to rest his forehead against yours. “Do you want me to?” 

“More than you fucking know, Hugh.” You wrap your arms around his shoulders and press your lips against him. You sigh against him moving your legs to wrap around his waist underneath the water as you move your lips against his own. 

Hugh growls against you, both hands moving to your hips as he leans further into you, tilting his head to get a better angle of your lips. He didn’t realize this was how his trip was going to go. After Ryan convinced him to take some time off, especially after the success of their movie together, he was hesitant. He didn’t want to take time off. He was used to being busy, especially after his divorce, but Hugh had only agreed to come on the trip to figure out his feelings for you. 

He just didn’t realize that you’d be here too. 

In the distance, you and Hugh can hear a faint clapping and hollering. You both pull away to look over at the noise and see Blake, Ryan, and their kids jump up in excitement, cheering for the both of you. You see them wave in your direction before they begin to grab their things, making their way back to the parking lot. You then look at Hugh and gaze into his eyes.

“Are they leaving us? Leaving me?” You ask. 

“I can take you back,” Hugh says softly. 

You bite your lower lip and nod. “Only if it isn’t–”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if our hotel rooms are right next to each other,” Hugh chuckles, slowly then moving his hands down as he grasps your backside in his large hands, pulling you flush against him. His gaze darkens as he stares into your eyes. He thinks maybe he might have moved too fast, but when you roll your hips against him, he knows exactly what’s going to happen next. 

You want him just as bad as he does. 

“Hugh,” you whisper, voice laced with desire. “Please.” 

“Tell me, baby.”

“I need you.” You bury your face in the side of his neck and gently nip at his skin, feeling his hands move under you, his long fingers brushing against your core as it causes you to gasp. 

Hugh’s painfully hard against his board shorts and he lets out a low groan when he feels your teeth scrape against the skin at his neck. He feels you squirming against him, moaning into his ear and he has to pull away briefly to look into your eyes. 

“Are you sure?”

“If I have to say please one more time…”

“I don’t mind hearin’ you beg,” he winks. “Come on.” Hugh leads you out of the water and towards his towel in a much more secluded area. You drift from him for a moment to grab your things before following him, watching him lay out his towel before he takes a seat on it, legs spread wide. 

You bite your lower lip and lay out your towel in front of him, dropping to your knees as you crawl towards him until you're seated on your knees between his legs. “We won’t get in trouble, will we?”

Hugh shrugs, reaching down to cup your cheek. “Don’t think so. Ryan made sure that no one but us should be here and–”

“That’s good enough for me.” You lean down and move your hands to the waistband of his board shorts. He’s dripping wet from the water and you can see the outline of his length perfectly due to his shorts sticking to him. You hook your fingers into the waistband and slowly pull it down enough to see his length spring free. Hugh lets out a low groan of relief and reaches behind you to undo the knot at the base of your neck. Once loose, he watches your top fall open to reveal your breasts. He doesn’t have enough time to take in your newly exposed chest because your hand wraps around his base, soft lips grazing the head of his manhood. 

“Ah, baby,” he growls, moving a hand to your shoulder, gripping it tightly as your mouth wraps around his tip. Hugh shuts his eyes and tosses his head back, moving one hand to rest on the towel while the other remains on your shoulder. 

You look up at him, feeling an immediate possessiveness wash over you. He looks so beautiful like this, eyes shut, chest heaving, and at your mercy. 

You begin to stroke his base as your tongue swirls around his tip, lapping at his precum. His groans slowly become louder as you lower your head to take more of him, stroking his base when you realize you can’t take him whole. He’s larger than you expected, girthy and long, and it excites you. As you continue to stroke him in time with sucking his length, you feel Hugh’s hand move from your shoulder to the back of your head as his hips slightly lift itself. He pushes himself further into your mouth, feeling the tip of his cock hit the back of your throat repeatedly. 

“Fuck,” he moans, eyes opening to look down at you. God, Hugh can just come at the sight of you. Tears slightly stinging the corners of your eyes and your mouth stuffed full of him. What a beautiful fucking sight, he thinks.

Slowly, Hugh has to pull away from you because he feels the pit of his stomach tightening, searching for release. He lets out a low growl that reverberates through his chest and you lean up on your knees, licking your lips. Hugh reaches out for you and pulls you on his lap, hurriedly moving your bikini bottom to the side. He grasps his manhood and runs his tip along your length, feeling your wetness coat him with each movement.

“You’re wet for me?” he asks, eyes staring up at you. 

“Only for you.” you reply, eyes fluttering as you feel his tip slowly push into you. He releases his hold on his length and rests his hand on your hip, leaning down to press soft kisses against your chest before he moves onto a breast, flicking his tongue against your nipple repeatedly before he wraps his lips around it. 

You let out a loud moan, moving your hands to his shoulders as you slowly lower yourself onto him, your walls tight and wet sliding down his cock. You feel so full of him and he’s not yet fully in the hilt. The stretch is almost painful, but you’re so wet and throbbing that you have to stop yourself from slamming down onto him. 

“Oh god, Hugh,” you whimper, nails digging into his shoulders as you move along his length, not yet allowing him to fill you to the hilt as your walls begin to make way for him. 

Hugh moves his lips to your other breast, eyes staring up at you. He wants more of you, needs more of you so he slowly lifts his hips, inching further within your depths. 

“Shit,” he groans, watching as his cock disappears into you completely. Hugh’s hands rest over your hips as you pull him closer to you, chests pressed against one another as you slowly roll your hips against his. “So fucking tight, baby,” he whispers against you, forehead resting on yours. 

“You’re–” you gasp, feeling his hair at the base brush against your clit as you continue your movements. “So big,” you moan, eyes falling shut. 

Hugh gently pecks your lips and takes a hold of your hips to guide you along his length. He watches you reach for his cowboy hat, placing it on top of your head and Hugh has to force himself to hold back his release. 

“You’re so hot,” he moans, allowing you to take control of your movements. Hugh can’t help the way your walls tighten around his cock – you’re so warm and wet, so inviting and tight. He knows he’s close, but he can’t– he can’t finish without you finishing first. 

“Baby,” Hugh whimpers, holding you flush against him in a tight grip. “Don’t– Fuck, baby, don’t move.” 

“It’s okay,” you whisper, hands moving to link at the base of his neck. “You can come, Hugh.”

“No,” he shakes his head, losing his resolve as your hips move forward and backward slowly. “You have to be first– Shit…”

“This won’t be the only time,” you say reassuringly, lightly pecking his lips. You then increase your movements, hips moving forward and backward at a faster pace. Hugh’s so deep in this position and you know you’re close, but you’re determined to have Hugh finish before you. 

“Sweetheart,” Hugh grunts. “Baby, I’m–” His eyes flutter shut as he lets out a loud groan, mouth slightly agape as his fingertips dig almost painfully into your hips. His release shoots inside of you, painting your walls as his manhood throbs within your depths. 

He’s still half hard and you take this moment to begin bouncing along his length, using your hand to reach down between you to rub your clit and Hugh’s eyes narrow. He pushes your hand away and rubs your clit with his thumb in a circular motion. 

Hugh feels possessive and almost animalistic at the sight of you using him to get yourself off. He can feel your walls begin to tremble and he’s still a bit sensitive, but you just feel so fucking good. 

“Come on, baby,” he coos, applying pressure to your clit. “I know you’re there. Come for me, sweetheart.”

That’s all it took. Your walls tighten around his length as your body trembles against him. Hugh moves his hand to wrap his arms around your waist, leaning up to press his lips against yours. He’s still inside of you, his length softening as the moment passes. 

You move your lips lazily against his, heavy breaths passing through the both of you as Hugh pulls back slowly. “Wanna head back to the hotel?” he grins. 

“Oh, hell yeah.” 

[puckpocketed]

X

behold. a sampler of some Carbery + Warsofsky media prior to the Sharks @ Caps game, December 3rd 2024. May Carolina Reunions continue feeding us narratives for years to come <3

editor's note: for the sake of relevance and brevity I have omitted big chunks regarding their esteemed third Jared Bednar, but you can read all about their coaching lineage here -> this also serves as THEE source text for all three. transcripts were done by me unless otherwise indicated so any mistakes are mine!

Spencer Carbery, Jared Bednar, and Ryan Warsofsky all attend South Carolina Stingrays Fan Fest - by Chris Cerullo (link)

(link)

Carbery media following practice - December 2nd, 2024 [7:30 - 8:36] (link)

When you look at the Sharks where do you see the impact your buddy Ryan has had on the way they've kind of come along here in the last month or so?

Carbery: [They] compete their butts off, continue to get better, um. (pause) And you just know you're gonna get a really really hard working competitive team tomorrow night. So I'm not surprised that they started - what were they, 0 and 9? 0 and 8?

0-7-2 or something like that.

Carbery: Yeah, so now they're - I think I ran the numbers this morning - 9-6 and 1 maybe, since then. Yeah. So there you go. That's not a surprise to me, 'cause I (pause, smile) know him very well and y'know it doesn't matter what - you know what you're gonna get from a [Warsofsky team], they're gonna push us tomorrow night I can guarantee you that.

editor's note: he actually said "warkin" ??? and I've chosen to read the context clues. And for joke purposes my esteemed colleagues have decided he sees Warso's Sharks as pikmin <3

Is he gonna give you something [inaudible] you prepared for [inaudible] some kind of surprise from him of some sort?

(smiling) Oh, I know it. Every time we play a Warsofsky team he's gonna do something - one thing off the wall. I'm planning for it. Something will be totally off-script, that'll be different from the pre-scout that we show.

some important context: Carbery and Warsofsky coached against each other in the AHL - from that first linked article:

“The day before we might chat,” Carbery said. “But once the game gets going -- and I coached against [Warsofsky] in the American Hockey League a bunch in Charlotte -- it’s game on.” How competitive does it get? Warsofsky admitted he changed Charlotte’s neutral-zone forecheck for one game against Hershey to give Carbery and his players a different look from what they saw on their pre-scout video. “I always try to throw a little wrinkle at ‘Carbs,’” Warsofsky said.

Carbery media following morning skate - December 3rd, 2024 [2:25 - 2:57] (link)

[You're] familiar with the coach on the other side, another game where you - maybe there's a little extra motivation for you?

Carbery: (smiling slowly) Yeah.

(everyone laughs)

Carbery: Yeah, any time Wars' - who I've gotten to know really well over our time that we spent together in... (pause, implying Carolina?) developing our friendship he's an ultra-competitive guy, so any time you can stick it to him is a, uh... (long pause while people laugh, nodding and smiling) It's a good day.

Ryan Warsofsky's introductory press conference - June 21st, 2024 [21:30 - 21:45] (link)

Warsofsky: Spencer Carbery, like I mentioned, I worked for him for three years. [He's] head coach in Washington right now. He's the man that molded me into the coach I am, so I need to thank Spence. He's one of my best friends. He's had a huge impact on my coaching career and I can't thank him enough.

Spencer Carbery and Ryan Warsofsky set for first meeting as NHL head coaches - by Katie Adler (link)

[seeminglyranch87]

Taylor & Travis Timeline

October 2023 - part 1

October 1 - Travis is seen leaving Taylor's NYC apartment around 11am. Travis heads back to his hotel where the team is staying before his Chiefs vs Jets Game at MetLife Stadium

Taylor attends the Chiefs vs Jets game at MetLife Stadium, NJ, with Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Shawn Levy, Donna Kelce, Sophie Turner, Sabrina Carpenter, Brittany Mahomes, Melanie Nyema, Austin Swift & girlfriend Sydney Ness, Ashley Avignone, Robyn Lively, and more. The camera cut to Taylor approx. 17 times during the game and the Eras Tour film trailer played twice during ad breaks. Taylor was seen hugging Donna, saying "you're amazing, I don't know how you do it" when the score was 20-20. Taylor was also seen mimicking Travis. The NFL change their tiktok and twitter pages again to reference Taylor's attendance. Various media outlets post footage of Taylor at the game, Travis likes a post of Taylor's reaction to a Chiefs touchdown. The Chiefs won 23-20.

After the game, Taylor was pictured leaving Zero Bond in the early hours of October 2. (x)

October 3 - Taylor is at Electric Lady Studios, walking in with Keleigh Teller. Taylor's shirt is referencing the song 'Any Man of Mine' by Shania Twain, the first lyrics of which are (x)

"This is what a woman wants Any man of mine better be proud of me"

Her hat says "Still Here", possibly referencing her Karma lyric

"Ask me why so many fade, but I'm still here"

October 3 is also National Boyfriend Day.

US Weekly releases an article with quotes from 6 sources on "Why Taylor isn't hiding her romance with Travis Kelce" (x)

"Taylor has decided she's not going to hide anymore"

"She's going to be her authentic self and enjoy life"

The two "talk every day"

"Taylor's really enjoying getting to know Travis, they're taking it day by day, but she has high hopes. She likes that he's a normal nice guy. He's down-to-earth and isn't affected by fame. She also thinks he's hot"

"Travis is completely smitten"

"Taylor is at a point in her life where she's no longer willing to hold back. If something feels right - like it does with Travis - she's jumping in with both feet. She's very happy and loving life right now"

October 4 - Ep 57 of New Heights airs, part of the title is "The NFL Needs to Calm Down" (x)

"Is the NFL overdoing it? What is your honest opinion on how the NFL is treating celebrities at games?" asks Jason

"I think it's fun when they show who is at the game, I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you're watching but at the same time I think they're overdoing it a little bit for sure, especially my situation. I think they're just trying to have fun with it... [the celebrities] are not there to get thrown on TV" responds Travis

October 5 - It's Travis' birthday today! He turns 34.

Donna Kelce makes an appearance on the 'Got it From My Momma' podcast. When asked what her favourite Taylor Swift song is, she responds (x)

"I think probably 'Shake It Off' -- we're getting a lot of that lately, about haters," Donna said with a laugh. 

When asked if she's surprised about the infatuation surrounding Taylor and Travis' relationship

"I feel like I'm in an alternate universe because it's something that I've never been involved with ever before," Donna said. 

The NFL release a statement in response to the New Heights podcast episode discussing the NFL "overdoing" coverage of Taylor at the Chiefs games, saying (x)

"The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we've leaned into in real time, as it's an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we've seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport."

DJ's Loud Luxury post to IG with a video of Travis saying "POV taylor's bf came to your show before swifties found out about football", to which Travis likes and comments saying "I was turnt up!!" (x)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LOUD LUXURY (@loudluxury)

October 6 - Travis speaks at a press conference. When asked about how he is adjusting to public interest in his relationship with Taylor, he says (x x)

"As all the attention comes, it feels like I was on top of the world after the Super Bowl and right now, even more on top of the world. So it's fun,"

“We’re learning with the paparazzi just taking photos from all over the place. But at the same time, it comes with it,” he continued. “You got a lot of people that care about Taylor for good reason. You just got to keep living and learning and enjoying the moments. At the end of the day, I’ve always been pretty good at compartmentalising and being able to stay focused in this building.”

“I always check myself and my ego at the door and make sure that I come in with a clear mind,” he said, before being asked his thoughts on Swift’s world. “It’s worldwide, it’s worldwide, man. It’s been magnified for sure, though.”

A report comes out stating that the NFL asked its networks to promote the Taylor Swift Eras Tour Film at the Chiefs vs Jets game, likely in a bid to get Taylor to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show. (x)

October 6 - Taylor reportedly flew to Kansas City "to see Travis" for his birthday to have a "chill night" (x). A sneaky little visit for Trav's birthday.

October 7 - Taylor leaves Kansas City.

Travis flies into Minnesota for the Chiefs vs Vikings game

October 8 - Travis plays in the Chiefs vs Vikings game in Minnesota. Travis injures his ankle during the game but after an x-ray he returns to the field and scores a touchdown. The Chiefs win 27-20 (x) (x) (x)

Travis would later post pictures of this walk-in fit with the caption (x)

"keep it chill like Sauvignon Blanc"

These are lyrics from the song "Lil Boo Thang" by Paul Russell, which contains other lyrics such as

"I'll be shootin' that shot like 2K, girl"

"But I'm tryna get to know you at least Don't take my talkin' to you wrong I can keep it chill like a sauvignon blanc I'ma keep it real when your man long gone If you're lookin' for a friend, then you got the wrong song"

"You a ten, baby girl, but I'm the one"

October 9 - The Messenger puts out an article in which a source states (x x)

"[Travis] jokes [Taylor] is his good luck charm.

“Taylor is having the time of her life at these football games cheering on Travis. [Taylor] and her friends are fully embracing this era and are having a lot of fun being there. Taylor has worked very hard this last year and It’s fun for her to bring all of her friends along, let loose and show support.”

October 11 - Taylor is in LA for her Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Film premiere. She shuts down The Grove, LA to host a red carpet and early screening event with selected fans, wearing a very 1989-coded blue Oscar de la Renta dress.

Travis, take note, she loved us first <3

TMZ releases an article saying that Taylor intends to attend Travis' next game. The question is, will Travis play with his injured ankle? (x)

"Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ Taylor plans to travel to Missouri to watch Travis and the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Denver Broncos"

October 12 - Taylor attends Arrowhead Stadium to support Travis as the Kansas Chiefs take on Denver Broncos. Taylor is seen cheering on the team alongside Donna Kelce and Ed Kelce. Chiefs defeat Broncos 19 - 8 (x)

The Eras Tour concert film is released today (a day early) due to high demand in the USA and Canada (x)

October 13 - I go to see the Eras Tour concert film! just an FYI :)

October 14 - Taylor, Travis and friends fly to NYC

Taylor and Travis photographed holding hands as they arrive at Nobu, NYC, publicly confirming that they are a couple (x)

Taylor and Travis make guest appearances on SNL - Travis makes a cameo at the end of a sketch parodying the NFL frenzy over their romance. Taylor introduces Ice Spice as the musical guest. (full skit x) SNL IG (x x)

Taylor & Travis attend the SNL afterparty at Catch Steak NYC (x)

According to People (x) (x)

“Taylor and Travis were there all night and they were so smiley, they were so happy,” the source says. “They were so talkative. They were really fun. They talked to every single person in the room that talked to them.” “They were super cool. Super nice, super happy,” the insider adds, noting that Swift and Kelce stayed at the party “until after 4 a.m.” The source also says the pair was definitely not shy with each other.

Although Swift and Kelce “mingled separately,” the pro athlete “kept going over to her and checking in on her every little while, like, ‘Are you good?’ ” the source says. "He was going over and touching her, putting his hand on her lower back or putting his hands on her waist and then they would do a little kiss and then they would go back to talking to whoever they were talking to. He gave her space to talk to other people in the room, and he talked to a ton of people in the room too."

Swift and the Kansas City Chiefs player reportedly carved out some private time at the party, as well. The insider said there was a moment when Travis placed his hands on the “Bejewled” singer’s shoulders “so they're face to face, and then he takes both his hands and grabs her waist. They're leaning in, they're kissing each other." A source told PEOPLE that despite their busy schedules, Swift and Travis are giving romance "a real try." The insider said, "There's not some looming date like, 'Oh, she's going back on tour' and 'his football schedule is getting crazy.' They'll figure it out. He's said it himself, he knows what he signed up for with this attention, but they've spent time under the radar too. They're giving things a real try."

October 15 - Travis attends Eagles vs Jets game to support his brother Jason Kelce at MetLife Stadium, NJ. He is seen leaving Taylor's NYC apartment. Travis is given a friendship bracelet with beads spelling out "on the map" referencing a tiktok trend. He smiles and holds it to his heart. (x) (x)

Taylor & Travis are pictured leaving The Waverly Inn, NYC (x).

A nosey diner shares her observations of Taylor & Travis getting cosy (x)

Annie Williamson told The Messenger. "It looked super romantic and was super intimate."

"I cannot emphasize enough how close they were sitting, like so close and snuggled up."

Ms Williamson also shared a video of the couple leaving the restaurant (x). Thank you for your service Annie 🫡

Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson remind their listeners of the Calm Down with Erin and Charissa podcast recorded on August 3 where they implore Taylor to date their friend Travis (x)

“please try our friend Travis. He is fantastic” 

to which Travis commented on IG

“😂😂 You two are something else!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I owe you big time!!”

Go to previous update -> September 2023 Part 2

Go to next update -> October 2023 Part 2

Return to timeline

[serenefreakgeekao3]

Chocolate and Pining

Jim Halpert x GN!Reader

PART ONE

[TABLE OF CONTENTS]

Check Table of Contents for entire fic summary and Key!

Summary: The cameras arrive and begin their rotation through the office. What will their shiny lens and intrusive questions uncover?

Warnings: canon-compliant cheating (if you count Pam flirting while engaged)

Author's Note: First post of the new rewrite, and Im kinda glad I only post two chapters of this previously because I went through and changed the entire thing from third person pov to first, to match along with the rest of the xReaders i’ve been writing.

[ ֎” ]

"Alright," You begin, your legs crossed while you tap one hand on your thigh. "What do I even say?" You huff a little laugh, shaking your head. You sat on an uncomfortable grey plastic chair, blinds slightly drawn behind you to block the view of the rest of the office working. You turn around and glance back, looking through the small opening available and noting three different cameras roaming the office and zooming in on people.

"What do we do here?" You repeat the question you're given, turning back toward your own interview camera. "Well, this is Dunder Mifflin, Scranton branch. We're a paper-pushing company." You stop for a moment before the producer behind the camera does a sort of wave as if urging you on. "Uh- well, I'm the receptionist here. I took the job almost a year ago. I transfer calls to the department they need to go to, write notes during our meetings- I'm basically Michael's secretary." You awkwardly laugh, glancing at the wall of the conference room shared with Michael's office as if he could hear through it. You wouldn’t doubt it if someone told you he stood there with his ear pressed to the wall.

"What's the most interesting thing about this job?" You furrow your brows in concern, uncrossing your legs and sitting forward. "Look, I don't know what you guys were expecting when you came here with a whole film crew, but we're a paper company. There's literally nothing interesting about working here."

[ ֎” ]

"What's interesting about working here?" Oscar asks, glancing through the blinds before leaning closer to the camera, waving his hand as he speaks quieter, "Now I'm not one to gossip, but the big thing going around is the office romance right now. And I'm not talking about Kelly and Ryan getting back together for the fifth time." He laughs shortly at his own joke before continuing. "See, Pam is engaged to Roy, he works here in the shipping warehouse downstairs. They've been together for years and they finally have a wedding date set for about a month or so from now.

"However, Jim has the biggest crush on her, everyone can tell. Before Y/N got here, Pam was the receptionist and Jim was always jumping up and going over to her to flirt constantly. Now, some believe the flirting is still going on while their desks are right next to each other, but I think it's gotten tamped down a bit since Pam scheduled a date for the wedding.

"And then there's Y/N. They started here when Pam was finally transferred to sales, and the position opened. They actually became quite close to both Pam and Jim pretty quickly, which makes some sense considering Dwight and Michael basically attacked them their first day here." —

[ ֎” ]

"Attacked Y/N? Please," Dwight scoffed, shaking his head, "I was merely preparing the new employee. If you’re not ready for a surprise stab from a ninja on your first day on the job, then I really don’t think you’re ready for work at all.” Dwight huffs out a breath, crossing his arms. “Besides, Jim made me use the dull blade.” He looks away from the camera in a strop, shrugging his shoulders. “If he hadn’t taken my sharp one I wouldn’t have had to pull out the dull one. I had to put extra force behind the attack for it to do anything, so really it’s Jim’s fault for the bruises.

“Michael? He couldn’t hurt a fly.” Dwight scoffs, then scoffs again for emphasis. “The fact that he tripped and fell that day means nothing, he was merely catching himself from falling with the closest available thing to grab. Which happened to be Y/N’s body, which he then happened to pull down with him. An honest mistake, that.”

[ ֎” ]

— "Now," Oscar continued where he left off with a smirk, "You'd think Jim flirting with Pam, and her egging it on while engaged, should be drama enough for you. But, then you have to figure into the equation that Y/N also likes Jim. I have a pretty good view of the receptionist area when Y/N sits in a certain spot, and I can hear whenever they talk to each other... Sometimes.

"Now I don't know if Jim realized he's a little flirty," Oscar wiggles his fingers with this, "But certainly not as much with them as with Pam. But- man, it's almost painful how hopeful Y/N's voice gets when they talk with Jim. Almost, but mostly just entertaining. And of course, none of the three know about this. It's basically the office soap opera at this point, and no one wants to say anything to disrupt the saga."

Oscar leans back, chuckling to himself before glancing at the camera, "Oh, almost everyone. Don't tell Dwight or Michael either, they're sure to give it away." He pats his leg for a second before smirking, "I'm team Pam. Now don’t look at me that way! I would love for Y/N and Jim to get together, but he’s just too obsessed with Pam! And that woman really needs to get herself a new man, that Roy is a real piece. of. work."

[ ֎” ]

"Team Pam or Y/N?" Phyllis asks, her smile soft as she raises a hand to cover a giggle, "Now I don't like drama, but absolutely team Y/N. Pam is engaged, it's inappropriate."

[ ֎” ]

"Team Pam, all the way." Meredith nods, smirking to the camera. "She was here first. Gotta be loyal to the branch."

[ ֎” ]

"Oh! Team Y/N!" Kelly squeals, wiggling her body in excitement.

[ ֎” ]

Jim sits in the seat, smoothing his pant legs down and sighing. "So, uh, what exactly do I say?" He places his chin in his hand, his fingers tapping restlessly against his bottom lip.

"Anything interesting?" Jim repeats, glancing out the window in the general direction of Pam and Y/N before looking back. "I mean, there's nothing really interesting about this job. Toner prices, how much each piece of paper weighs or costs-" Jim sighs, shaking his head and dropping his hand, "Honestly, the only reason I'm still here at this point is probably my friends. Pam, my desk-mate over there, we've been here for a while together. And then there's Y/N, the relatively new hire. Or, are they new?" Jim tilts his head to think about it, squinting his eyes toward the ceiling. "Has it almost been a year already?"

Jim shrugs, smirking before tapping his leg, "Oh, and also pranking Dwight. Gotta make your own fun here."

"What the- Jim!" Dwight suddenly yells, drawing half the office's attention. The other half continued blandly on with their work, used to their antics it would seem. Jim glances wearily over toward Dwight as he lugs something up from his bottom drawer, placing a plate with yellow jello and a stapler floating inside onto his desk. "What did you do?"

Jim struggles to hold back a laugh, his hand curled in front of his face and chin resting on his palm. Instead, he shrugs, leans back and crosses his arms while trying to maintain a poker face. "Nothing, Dwight. By the way, what happened to your stapler there?"

"You should know, you did it!" He sits there for a moment, glaring at Jim before bounding up, running and calling out, "Michael!"

You were half standing behind your reception desk to get a good look, sniggering to yourself about this prank- it was a good one. You look over to Jim and see him give Pam a high-five, mumbling something to each other before Jim looks in your direction and shoots you a full smile instead of the smirk he had been wearing. You smile back, sitting back down in your chair and scooting up closer to your computer.

The camera swings around closer to Jim, listening more in on their conversation. "How did you even do it?" Pam asks and snickers quietly before straightening up suddenly, grabbing her phone to press to her ear in an attempt to look as if she was doing her work as their boss exits his office.

"Let me see, let me see-" Michael finally lays eyes on the prank, laughing loudly. "Wow, just- wow!" He laughs some more, patting Jim on the back. "This is a creative one, good job Jimbo!" Dwight scoffs, moving to be in Michael's line of sight. Michael jumps slightly as if remembering he's the boss before clearing his throat and looking at Jim. "Oh, but don't do it again."

"Do what again?" Jim asks, playing dumb still and raising his eyebrows at Michael. Michael barks a laugh in return and pats his back again before wandering back into his office, mumbling about jello under his breath. Jim turns toward Dwight with a victorious grin while you stand, carrying your lunch box toward the kitchen. You tap Jim's shoulder twice in passing as if to say good job, and Jim barely has enough time to lift a hand to yours as you gently pull away to continue to your destination.

"Get it out," Dwight demands, standing near Jim and glaring at him.

"Get what out?"

"My stapler!"

"Well, it is your stapler, Dwight." Jim turns back toward his computer, chuckling under his breath.

"Oh, and how am I supposed to get it out?"

"I don't know, eat the jello?" Jim suggests, causing Dwight to scoff loudly as he plops in his chair.

"I can't just eat the jello, Jim. I wrote my name in whiteout on the stapler so everyone would know it's mine." Dwight pauses for a moment before narrowing his eyes. "Unless you knew that, and you'd assume I'd eat this. You're trying to poison me!" Jim sighs loudly, widening his eyes toward the camera before shaking his head.

"Ok, and with that, I'm going to take my lunch." He stands, turning to make his way toward the kitchen.

"If you need something to eat, I have a whole plate of jello right here for you Jim!"

Jim enters the kitchen, watching you press a few buttons on the microwave to heat your lunch. He dons a small private smile before sneaking closer behind you, reaching out and grabbing your sides while calling out a quick, "Boo!"

You jump heavily and yelp, turning around quickly with a hand pressed to your chest, panting out your breaths. "Fuckin- Halpert!" You yell out, smacking his arm before slumping against the counter behind you. Taking a few more breaths as Jim bends over laughing, you call out, "Unfair!"

"Oh? Unfair?" Jim replies, grinning toward you, "This is just payback for that email!"

"Hey, I sent that yesterday!"

"And I just opened it today." Jim grinned, not at all sorry, as you remember the jumpscare chain email you had forwarded to him, hoping to see his reaction.

"Well, that's unfortunate. I wanted to see you jump, I must've missed it." You pouted slightly and Jim's face did a small change, becoming softer and crinkling slightly at the eyes. You don’t seem to notice as you turn toward your food once the microwave beeps.

"Yeah, you were being harried by Michael, something about new shoes?" At which you groan loudly, holding up a finger with an eye roll.

"Don't even get me started on that." You thought back to that same morning when Michael came in with muddy shoes, whining about how he had just bought them even though you could’ve sworn you had seen Michael wearing them for the last half a year. How exactly did time pass in Michael's world, you wondered? And how had they gotten muddied? It wasn’t even raining outside!

"If you need to talk about it, I'm here," Jim said, sounding oddly sincere, but then continued quickly, "Although if the opposite is true I'm also very willing to go into detail about the newest book I just finished of my series."

"Oh? You mean your nerdy novels about swords and dragons?" You reply, raising your eyebrows and smirking at Jim as you stirred your lunch. “Aren’t you supposed to be a jock or something?”

"Don't pretend like you don't love the series, you listen to me ramble about it every week," Jim replied, never losing his smile and never looking away from you. His focus felt like fire on you, and there was nothing you could do to put it out. You weren’t even sure you wanted to. “And it is possible for someone to like sports and reading at the same time.”

"Hmm." You hum, pretending to think about it. It really wasn't a hard choice- while the stories sounded interesting enough by themselves, it was Jim telling them to you that made the whole week worth it. Listening to Jim become so passionate about something he found interesting was almost infectious, you practically waited for these days just to gain inspiration for your own writing. And if you happen to write fanfiction about the stories you've never actually read- well, Jim didn't need to know about that. "Alright, fine, if you insist. So what's new with Salamander and Patterson?"

"It's Sally and Parker," Jim began in disbelief, rolling his eyes fondly as you pick up your lunch, the both of you moving to the break room. You had known that, of course, but watching Jim try to explain for the seventh time why Sally is absolutely not a salamander and is, in fact, more like a snake than anything else just brings a smile to your face and a warm feeling to fill your chest.

You sat down at a chair, thankful for the empty break room as Jim wandered over to the vending machines. He put in some money and roughly pushed a few buttons, complaining all the while about his book characters. He ends up chuckling and shaking his head as he states that he needed to 'start from the beginning.'

A packet of double chocolate chip cookies lands in front of you, and you grin brightly while reaching for the gift. "My favourite, how did you know?" You look up to see Jim looking quickly away, not noticing the red starting to stain his cheeks and the tops of his ears.

"You eat it every week," Jim replies quietly as if that explains it, fetching his own lunch. "Anyway so then Parker-"

It was later in the day, and you sat bored at your desk, a word document pulled up on your computer that was half written with a personal story. Though you weren't actively typing it, instead spinning a pen in your hand as you stare in the direction of the sales associates.

"I honestly don't know what I'm looking for here," Jim speaks lowly, chuckling as he held Pam's hand in both of his, her palm facing upward. He looks up into her eyes as she giggles, shaking her head.

"No, look closer, here," Pam takes one of his hands, taking a finger and tracing a line on her palm as if this would help him read it, "This is the life line. Or- wait, maybe it's the heart line?" Pam giggles again, though misses Jim's almost yearning gaze as he holds her hand a little tighter.

"I don't know what either of those mean, Beesly," Jim replied, his voice low, and Pam finally looked up. Their eyes met and you finally had to look away, the pain in your chest becoming almost too much to bear.

And, almost as if on cue, Roy pushes in the door to the office, walking forward with his hand holding a leather jacket over his shoulder. You glance up quickly, about to start your usual introduction before realizing who it is and clearing your throat loudly, throwing a worried glance toward Jim. He glances over in time, thankfully, yanking his hands back as if burned when spotting Roy turning the corner. It seemed as though Roy hadn't noticed, smiling at his fiance as he approached before leaning down and kissing her forehead.

You watched the pained expression cross Jim's face for just a moment before he managed to school his features into a poker face. You felt for him, honestly. You knew how it felt when the person you liked, well, liked someone else. You just wanted him to be happy above all else, and you knew pining after Pam was not it. If only Pam wouldn't egg it on constantly, maybe he'd have a chance to get over her.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah, let me just pack my things and print out one more file, I'll meet you down there," Pam replied to her fiance, smiling blindingly bright at him before they kiss once more. Roy turned around, passing the reception desk before grabbing a few pieces of candy that you kept out on the top of the desk. He popped one in his mouth before choking dramatically, turning around and coughing a few times before looking directly at you.

"M&Ms? Really? I liked it better when it was Skittles."

"I've never put out Skittles, I like chocolate."

"It doesn't matter what you like, it's for the guests, isn't it? Pam used to put out Skittles and no one complained." He tossed the remaining few pieces onto the floor beside him before walking out of the office. Pam ran up quickly, a worried look on her face.

"I'm so sorry, he must've had a bad day-"

"It's fine, Pam, really." You paste on a smile, annoyed not just at Roy but at Pam for earlier. Pam nodded slowly, her smile regretful as if knowing how you felt before turning around and pressing the last few clicks on her computer to shut it down. She gathered her things in silence, sliding her newly printed paper into a file on her desk. Meanwhile, you stared at your computer screen, not really reading what was there.

"Bye Jim. Bye Y/N, see you tomorrow!" Pam called out, and you replied with a little wave before pressing save on your word document, downloading it to your flash drive. The door to the office hadn't even closed before a new presence was at your desk, leaning over to try and spy on their computer. You looked up to see Jim smirking, looking directly into your eyes.

"Did you close that document just 'cause I came over? Hiding something from me, Y/L/N?" His teasing tone had you smiling against your better judgement, leaning back and crossing your arms.

"Well, I wouldn't want you discovering my master plan. It's a secret for a reason, you know." Jim laughed at your joke, leaning back and taking a handful of M&Ms to pop into his mouth. Watching this, you felt their face deflate just slightly before you hear Jim’s whispers.

"You know, I think I prefer the M&Ms over Skittles any day." He winks, then dumps more from his handful into his mouth, walking back to his desk to finish up his day. You once again couldn't help the small smile that adorned your face in response.

[ ֎” ]

"I've always had a thing for chocolate," You said, shrugging, "I'm the one who sits there all day anyway." You bite your lip for a moment, trying to suppress a smile. "Besides, who cares what Roy thinks? Other people in the office like them, that's all that matters."

[ ֎” ]

"What kind of person do I like?" Jim makes a baffled face, blinking a few times before resituating in his seat. "I don't know why that's relevant, but if I had to choose..." He trails off, his eyes taking on a far-off look, "Someone sweet, smart- someone who laughs at my jokes while also making me laugh. Someone who will help me with my pranks and listen to my ramblings." He looks back up to the camera with a small smile, "Someone with a sweet tooth that I could spoil."

"You coming, Y/L/N?" Jim calls out, the office dark. You're the last two in the building now, it seems, and you glance up from your desk where you're standing to smile at him.

"Oh, I just have a few more papers to print, you go on ahead."

"Don't work too hard, Y/L/N. The effort isn't worth it." You laugh in response, waving him off. You both exchange a quiet goodbye before you wander over to the copier, which was printing multiple copies of what looked like Dwight's face on the 'Scranton Strangler' wanted poster. The camera swings between the pages and back to you, where you only shrug and smirk.

"It'll be funny," Is your only excuse as you take the pages and start hanging them on the pillars of the building around the office, sliding an extra copy into Jim's desk as a memento.

[rainbowsandwhumperflies]

The Winged Servant - 9

content warnings: dehumanization/insulting the whumpee, threatening many characters, discussion of murder, breaking and entering, life threatening situations, yet another sword injury, dissociation

prev chapter | masterlist

There were more footsteps. Not loud, not close, but loud enough. Close enough.

“Your, um, Your Highnesses-”

“Stay out of this, you stupid bird,” Prince Cardan growled at me, and I nodded quickly.

“My apologies, Your Highness.” I pressed my back up against the wall as the footsteps got louder.

“See? You can’t even keep your stupid pet quiet,” Prince Cardan snapped at his brother. “Do you really think you two could take care of Kieran as well as I could?”

“He’s not a pet, Cardan. Oh my god, you’re insufferable! I forbid you from trying to kill Kieran in my place.”

“Forbid me? You’re not exactly in any position to stop me.”

“Yeah, because you attacked me! Do you even hear yourself?”

There was a gun pointed at my head before I'd even realized anyone was close enough to point one. “No funny business, or I shoot you.”

 If someone aims a weapon at you, then you do your best not to let that weapon touch you. That had been almost my only order tonight. That, and follow the prince. I wasn't supposed to let the gun rest against my temple the way it did now, but if I moved away-

I took a shaky breath, opening my eyes despite the fact that I hadn't really noticed them close. The princes were in a similar predicament, frozen in place while guards pulled guns off of their waists.

“Your Highnesses,” I whispered, trying desperately to find out what I was supposed to do, but the guard with a gun pointed at me squeezed my shoulder.

“Stay quiet if you know what's good for you.”

Prince Cardan scoffed. “Yeah, right. Kieran isn't consistent enough to run a country, and this is proof! He's got free speech protected in-”

“Yeah, not for you. You are being searched for weapons right now, and I won't have you conferring with each other.”

He opened his mouth, but Prince Ryan interrupted. “Cardan, I implore you not to do anything stupid right now.”

“You know what, Ry? That’s your other problem. You use big words that no one understands and get mad that no one listens.”

“... Implore? That big word that no one understands? Seriously?”

“Please stop talking,” the tallest guard said wearily. He stood watching in the corner, his hand resting on a weapon but not yet pointing it at any of us. “Every day I thank my lucky stars that Kieran took over. Wright, will you handcuff them?”

Prince Ryan glared as his arms were pulled behind his back, but he didn’t resist, didn’t flinch when fingers dug into the gash on his arm.

“What about the angel?” the guard—Wright?—asked.

I hadn’t been searched. It was obvious, probably, that I didn’t have a weapon, that I hadn’t moved an inch. Not since those first footsteps, when Prince Ryan had told me not to move until he said otherwise.

“What about the angel? Handcuff him too. If he somehow is innocent, we’ll find out at his trial.”

Wright tilted her head at me. “Angel. Did you help the twins break into the castle or not?”

I blinked slowly. “Break in?”

She glanced at the other guards. “He might be in shock or something. In which case, he’ll need medical care sooner rather than later.”

“He’s not in shock,” Prince Ryan huffed. “He just doesn’t know what’s going on. Yes, he helped us break in, he just didn’t know we were breaking in.”

“You watched them kill people and didn’t realize they were breaking in?” she asked me, and I frowned.

“The royal family doesn’t need explanations to carry out their will, ma'am. I'm supposed to do as they say without question. It's not really- it's not my business if we're breaking in or not.”

She promptly handcuffed me.

Prince Ryan had let himself be handcuffed, so I held still and went where they put me.

Prince Cardan did not.

He didn’t stand a chance, without weapons and surrounded by so many guards, but that didn’t stop him from trying. That didn't stop him from punching two people in the face and lunging toward me and shoving me in front of him.

I didn't move away when a weapon swung towards me, barely flinching as a blade hit my arm. I was good, I was a good servant, I could be good and hold still when I was punished and-

“Onyx,” someone snapped, and I looked up.

There was blood running down my arm. Prince Cardan had been apprehended and was in handcuffs. I was in handcuffs. Prince Ryan was in handcuffs, and glaring at me.

“Come on, Onyx,” he said. “Don’t start letting your brain drift now. You’ve been doing well tonight; you need to do well for a little while longer.”

“Apologies, Your Highness,” I managed to whisper, bowing my head toward him.

He glanced at the guards around us. “Well. No time like the present to throw us in the dungeon, hm?”

~

We weren’t taken to a dungeon, or a jail, or anywhere else that I would’ve assumed that this Kieran person put people who tried to overthrow him. Maybe he wouldn’t bother putting us anywhere—maybe this was a temporary fix while we awaited execution.

In any case, the guards brought us to what looked like… a guest bedroom.

The princes both looked upset, but stayed compliant as they were brought to their knees on the carpet. It was- it was nice carpet. Our carpet was not this soft, not this plush. I would kneel on this carpet for years if they'd like me to, I thought. 

Prince Ryan did not look as happy as me with our conditions. “Is your king too much of a pussy to put us in a real prison for grown-ups? Or does he think that he can give us hugs and words of affirmation and we'll realize that we've been bad people all along?”

“He doesn't think we'll be able to shut you up, that's for sure,” Wright muttered. “Here's the thing. The king has never once tried to convince someone to work overtime when they didn't want to. That's not a grace you'd ever extended, but we've gotten real fond of him. If he doesn't want to work overtime, we won't make him.”

“He hasn't stopped searching for us for five years. He won't wake up from his beauty sleep to say hi now?”

“Nope,” Wright agreed cheerfully. “He won't. He can deal with you first thing in the morning, and not a moment earlier.”

“And we'll all just… hang out here until then?”

“Mhm!”

“And the other people you've caught?” Prince Ryan’s eyes were narrowed, glancing at the obvious exits of the room. “They're in prison?”

“Some of them. Lucia is on her way here to wait with you—you three are a bit more of a priority than everyone else you roped into this.”

Suddenly, the prince’s eyes snapped to me, and I whimpered a bit. What was I supposed to do right now? It was treason to refer to the royal family with their first names, but I hadn't been the one doing that. Should I have been telling the guard not to? It wasn't my place to correct humans on what to do. Was it?

“The angel,” Price Ryan finally said, and I let out a breath of relief as I realized he was still talking to the guard. “Is he… priority? Like the royal family?”

“The Rao family,” Wright corrected. “You're not what we consider royalty around here. But the angel is… well, we're not sure about him. So Kieran gets to decide when he gets up.”

“What about-”

“Mr. Rao,” she said slowly. “You're being a little too nosy. To the point that I think I might need to worry a bit about what you're planning. I suggest you shut up until Kieran comes. You might be able to get a few hours of sleep if you start now.”

He swallowed, but leaned back against a wall silently.

Something was wrong. Something had gone very, very wrong. We'd been breaking in, the princes had said, and we'd gotten caught. And this place was under Kieran’s rule, which was ridiculous because everything was supposed to be under Her Majesty's rule.

The guard here had not called her “Her Majesty.” She'd called her by her first name. That was treason, and yet no one had seemed surprised and no one had contradicted her.

The princes were being quiet, like they'd been told to. And the princes never did what they were told to, so something was wrong. Something was wrong and I didn't know what and I needed to stay quiet and I needed someone to tell me what to do.

And all I was allowed to do was wait.

~

Taglist (lmk if you'd like to be added/removed!): @kaleidoscope-of-thoughts @toyybox @rainydaywhump @risk606

[theloveoffootball10]

sᴛɪᴄᴋᴡɪᴛᴜ : ᴛ ᴇ ɴ

m a s t e r l i s t

ᴛ ᴇ ɴ

Walking into the paddock on qualifying day with the Miami sun blazing down I'm excited to be here, I always love being at a race but this time I've got my friends with me. I couldn't come without Ryan knowing how big of a fan he is but Callum, Millie, Liv and Danielle also decided to travel with us. My dad absolutely loves my friends so when I told him I wanted them to come with us to Miami, he didn't think twice about getting as many paddock passes as I needed even though he has his own friends here.

"Lucía! You didn't tell me Max would be here!" Liv practically screams at me as we spot Max in the distance. After Tomorrowland she confessed to me that it was in fact her that had a one night stand with Max.

"He's Lando's best friends of course he's going to be here"

"At least you and Lando have a label though"

"We don't have a label Liv. I don't know what the fuck my relationship with him is. He wants to take me out on a date but up to now it's just sex" before Liv and I can continue our conversation we're interrupted by Max.

"Whoa Lucía what the fuck is this?" Max spots me as we're making our way to Aston Martin's hospitality "I thought you were sleeping with Lando now you turn up in Aston Martin merch! Are you sleeping with Stroll as well?"

"Absolutely fucking not! I'd rather never have sex again! Do I look like I'm wearing Stroll's number?" The thought of sleeping with Stroll makes my skin crawl and not in a good way.

"So you're sleeping with Alonso?"  

"Ew! Fucking hell don't ever say that again! That's disgusting Max, he's my dad and incest isn't my thing believe it or not" I say trying not to laugh at the expression on Max's face.

"You could have just said that! I thought I was going to have to break it to Lando that you're seeing someone else!"

"No! We're not in a relationship however I can confirm I'm definitely not seeing anyone else. Once you're over the shock that I'm a drivers daughter, you'll find me in the Aston Martin garage if you want to join us" I say with a laugh as we continue our way to where my dad is waiting. After a brief conversation with Max I can feel how tense it is between him and Liv. They definitely have unfinished business.

"Nandooo!" Ryan shouts as he sees my dad and pulls him into the biggest man hug before my dad hugs all of my friends "we missed you old man"

"Hey less of the old" my dad scolds with a smile on his face as he pulls me into a hug "it's nice to see you all here again. I can't wait to show you what we have planned for Monday night when I take you all out"

"What have you got planned?" I ask confused what my dad is talking about.

"Just something I have planned. All will be revealed but this is what I needed you to buy the over the top dress for and I'm taking you out for your birthday"

"You confuse me so much papá" I say grabbing a drink from the open bar "why is it so secretive?"

"It's not secretive, I've just told you I'm taking you all out on Monday night. Anyway can I borrow you for a minute Lucía?" My dad asks pulling me to one side, I know before he says anything what this is going to be about "you and Lando what's going on? I saw the photos of Belgium I know my daughter when I see her. If there's a relationship there then I'll support you"

"Oh god I had a feeling you'd bring this up. Papá we're just seeing how things go. It's nothing serious, Belgium wasn't planned we just both happened to be there"

"Lucía explore what might be there but I promise if he hurts you he won't ever drive a formula one car again. I need to get to a press conference I'll see you all later" my dad waves as he leaves to look for Chelsea. I know my dad is just being protective but I need to warn Lando that my dad has worked out what is going on.

Deciding I need to talk to Lando I send him a message telling him to meet me at the back of the McLaren hospitality suite.

"Where's the fire? You look stunning by the way" Lando pulls me into him his arms around my waist and his lips finding my neck.

"Thank you but I need to be serious for a minute" holding Lando by his waist I run my fingers along the edge of his low hanging race suit "my dad knows there's something going on with us, I think he's known since the photos came out of you at Tomorrowland"

"Fuck he's going to kill me" Lando buries his head in my shoulder and I feel him tense up.

"Lando. No. You don't get it. He's on our side"

"I'm sleeping with his daughter and he's on our side?" Lando asks pulling back to look at me the confusion of written all over his face.

"He doesn't want you to hurt me but he's on our side however he doesn't know it's just sex. I'm close to my dad but not that close" I confirm knowing where my dad stands. From the conversation I had with my mum about Lando I know she's on our side as well.

"I'm not going to hurt you Lu. That's the last thing I want to do" looking into Lando's eyes I believe him. Call me stupid but I don't think he's the kind to mess a girl around. I don't think he'd ever intentionally hurt me.

[compoundvee]

tell me more about avas background pls !

yayyy! okay, okay, okay, i'm so excited! sorry this is literally a whole wikipedia article on her. i just love her so much!

CHILDHOOD.

Ava was made in a lab using Homelander's DNA and the DNA of an unnamed female superhero. Many speculate it's Queen Maeve due to their similar red hair but this has been denied by Vought and Ava's creator, Dr. Vogelbaum. Vogelbaum described Ava as his "retry" when it came to Homelander, being much gentler and less abrasive with her training so her brain could develop properly unlike her fathers. During the seven years, Ava was kept in the lab, her father would visit her twice every year. For Christmas and for her birthday. She would describe these days as her "happy days" due to them being the only time she would get to see him in person and not on her TV screen.

She was revealed to the public at seven years old, being introduced on her father's hip as he floated down during a press conference. Many believe that Ava was only brought into the public eye so suddenly to keep Homelander in the court of public favor due to him having recently committed a war crime most likely. Now viewed as a loving father, Ava would quickly become "America's Daughter" being seen with her father everywhere and becoming a child star overnight.

Ava became the face for child supes everywhere and while being able to keep a professional demeanor on camera even at such a young age, Ava deeply struggled with emotional regulation and often had outbursts in her dressing rooms that would result in injury or death of her manager at the time.

Ava would go through several managers by the time she was fourteen.

Despite her outbursts, Ava would develop a close-knit relationship with Queen Maeve, viewing the woman as the mother she never had. Ava learned how to control her emotions and her powers with the help of Maeve as her father would just get frustrated with her, resulting in the pair fighting.

THE SEVEN.

Ava would be the youngest member to join The Seven at just eighteen, officially joining alongside Stormfront as a replacement for Translucent. Ava had already been doing missions with The Seven since she was sixteen, as her connection to Homelander assured her an automatic spot in the group. Her addition to The Seven sparked many debates on nepotism in the supe industry, embroiling her in her first controversy when she claimed to "not be a nepo baby," and that she "worked just as hard as any other supe to get this position," concluding with "if those supes worked harder, they could've gotten the position too."

After becoming an official member of The Seven, her introduction ceremony being one of the most viewed specials of that year, Ava and her father's relationship would only become more tumultuous. Homelander often accosting, berating, and bullying Ava for being "weak" and "needing thicker skin" when it came to missions as her goal was to help people while his was to look good for the public. This turned every mission into a warzone, the pair often breaking into fights that would result in massive property damage.

After her father got into a relationship with Stormfront, Ava would only become more vitriolic towards the man as her and Stormfront notoriously didn't like each other, disagreeing on basic moral standpoints such as not killing innocent civilians. This would prompt Ava to team up with A-Train to expose Stormfront and get her kicked from The Seven. During this time, Ava would be attempted to be recruited by Starlight to take down Vought. Despite nearly being convinced, Ava declines to help her as Vought is the only family she's ever known.

Still, Ava would end up helping Starlight and The Boys when she and Queen Maeve would join them in taking Stormfront down. Though Stormfront would flee from the fight, Ava would follow her despite Maeve's warnings to let her go. Ava would fly after Stormfront, finding her in the woods with Becca, Butcher, and Ryan. It is unclear exactly what happened but this fight would result in Stormfront and Becca succumbing to their injuries.

After this, Ava and Homelander's relationship almost seems to mend as the rejection of Ryan brings Homelander closer to Ava, recognizing her as his child for the first time since she was a child and even hugging her.

THE INCIDENT ON 32ND STREET.

THIS SECTION HAS BEEN REMOVED BY VOUGHT INTERNATIONAL.

GOD U

After the tragic accident on 32nd Street, Ava announced to the public she would be attending God U in order to better understand and control her powers. This decision was not made by her but by Vought in order to clean up her image.

While attending Vought, Ava would study crimefighting where she would be introduced to Andre Anderson, Jordan Li, Cate Dunlap, and Luke Riordan. These would be the first-ever friends she'd make in her entire life. During this time, she would begin romantically seeing Jordan though that didn't last long due to their conflicting personalities and habit of always arguing. The pair still remain friends.

During her sophomore year at God U, she'd meet Marie Moreau and the pair would quickly become close. Upon meeting Marie, Ava finally felt like she had met a real hero and was in complete awe of her even if they argued occasionally. Marie would quickly become Ava's best friend, replacing Cate as they would begin to grow distant and cold towards each other.

During their investigation into God U, Ava begins romantically seeing Andre Anderson. Ava would find herself becoming very dedicated to him very quickly, nearly killing Sam Rioran when he attacked Andre.

Upon learning of the supe virus, Ava would take Marie's side on the matter, turning against Cate and telling her that she's reminding her of her father. A fight would break out between the two, resulting in Cate knocking Ava out and leaving to start the riot against innocent non-Supes at God U.

Ava would help Marie, Jordan, and Andre during this riot trying to talk sense into Cate but leading nowhere. The riot only ends when Homelander swoops in, accusing Ava and her friends of "betraying their own kind" and shooting Marie with his heat vision, knocking her out. This engages Ava enough to fight her father, nearly overpowering him but, despite her best efforts, losing and being knocked out by him.

INCARCERATION.

Ava is now considered a disgrace to Vought, being falsely labeled a "Supe-Terrorist" and is locked up with Marie, Jordan, Andre, and Emma in supe prison.

Her father has gone on multiple press tours, denouncing her and pinning crimes he committed on her.

[newgenog]

REVENGE

Notes: This is part one of chapter four. If you're just stumbling across this, and haven't already done so, please stop and start by reading part one of chapter one.

This #Batwoman AU is based on the ABC tv series #Revenge. Our favorite hero tried her hand at vengeance and got pretty far. I'm writing this #fanfic to explore the complexity of someone like her not changing her course, and how it would impact everything about her and everyone that matters to her. BUT, she's not powered or caped, just focused on her mission with bottomless resources.

So look, I'm not going to lie. These chapters are only getting longer. There's a lot to cover. Therefore, this one will be shared in 5 parts instead of 4. Meet me here on Tumblr each Friday for parts 1-4, and then we'll finish it up with the whole chapter on Ao3 for part 5.

Let's get into it!

CHAPTER FOUR - DUPLICITY (Part One)

Ryan goes after the psychologist who evaluated her after her mom’s death, and determined that she should serve out her time in a youth correctional facility.

JULY 1ST, 12:15 PM

Dr. Rhyme: “Robyn, would you say you’re happy being alone?”

Ryan fights back an offended scowl at the question and grins instead. While she’s talking to a psychologist whose job it is to seem sympathetic and invested in her clients’ wellness, Ryan finds her question audacious.

Ryan: “I’m used to it.”

Dr. Rhyme: “That’s not what I asked you, though. I asked if you were happy.”

Ryan: “I guess I’m not really sure how to answer that question.”

Dr. Rhyme: “Why don’t you try answering honestly, with whatever comes to mind?”

The truth never did Ryan any favors before, but sure, the more she could ground her responses in facts, the better.

Ryan: “It’s safer this way.”

Dr. Rhyme: “Safer for who?”

Everyone…

Ryan: “Everyone who was ever supposed to take care of me is gone.”

Dr. Rhyme: “Is that what you're looking for, now: someone to take care of you?”

Ryan: “I don’t need anyone...”

Dr. Rhyme: “Fair enough. So why are you really here then, Robyn?”

That question would be answered soon enough.

~~~~~

3 DAYS EARLIER, AFTER THE SIONIS PRESS CONFERENCE, THE HOLD UP

Ryan Wilder doesn’t panic. She plans. She improvises. She always keeps her head.

Each time she’s had to pivot due to something unexpected, it’s been purely tactical. She’s been taught to keep her emotions in check, so she's thoughtful, never reactive. Her simmering rage keeps her internal pilot light smoldering, and that's the only feeling she permits. Like an engine, if struck at the right angle, she could consume anything around her in flames, but with the right circumstances and maintenance, she can run for a long time this way.

Angelique working in the restaurant bar beneath her home is a can of aerosol that has the potential to spread her fire. For most, expecting yourself to anticipate any and everything that could happen so you're prepared for all possible outcomes would seem unreasonable. For Ryan, it's a mandate.

She turns, abruptly. She should have never come down here. And, way too in her head, she runs smack into Sophie, who reacts by wrapping her arms around her to prevent her from falling backwards. Ryan looks up and is as unready for the smirk on Sophie's lips as she was to see Angelique again.

Sophie: "Don't tell me you're already leaving."

Her voice is low because it can be, given that Ryan is pressed against her. Ryan swallows hard. It's becoming more difficult to fight off her panic. For every single reason, she needs to escape. She's worked too hard to reclaim her power to lose it all over these women, but there's no sign of power in her tone when she responds.

Ryan: "I've gotta go."

Somewhat confused, Sophie drops her arms, and Ryan steps back without another word or glance, so she can leave before things get worse.

13 YEARS AGO, GOTHAM CITY HIGH SCHOOL

Ryan is walking with her head down, because she’s reading her favorite comic, Ghost Kid. The comic is laying open on top of the stack of books she’ll need for her next set of classes, which are serving as a table. She’s doing a pretty good job of navigating the hallways filled with students without looking ahead of her, because this is something she has practice with and does on a regular basis. She moves through the crowds as though she’s noncorporeal, much like her favorite comic character.

Ryan stops outside of her classroom, and rests her back against one of the lockers, waiting until closer to the bell to enter, so she can avoid the classroom ruckus. Unfortunately, she’s chosen the locker of an older student with a full face of makeup, a low cleavage spaghetti strapped top, and a rule-breaking denim skirt, who needs to get the locker open. Instead of simply asking Ryan if she can get by, the blonde girl places her acrylic bubblegum pink nailed hand on top of Ryan’s comic and books, and pushes them downward so that they fall to the ground. Ryan looks up, taken aback and perplexed.

Blonde Girl: “This is a fresh-nerd free zone. So you’re going to have to find an elsewhere to be before your dweebiness seeps into my locker.”

Ryan doesn’t respond. She just kneels down to collect her books. A brunette who seems to share the blonde's sense of fashion and attitude walks over, smugly.

Brunette Girl: “God, could she be any slower? The boys aren’t going to wait all day for us.”

The blonde girl audibly sighs, and kicks one of Ryan's books further away, so Ryan can move from in front of her locker to chase the book. Before Ryan can decide how she wants to react, she hears the voice of a girl she has the next class with: Angelique.

Angelique: “Bitch, if you kick anything else of hers, I’m going to put my foot in your ass.”

Blonde Girl: “Who the fuck are you calling a bitch?”

Angelique: “You’re right. There are two bitches standing here, so let me clarify. I’m talking to you, BITCH!”

The blonde girl turns to hand her purse to her brunette friend, and before she can turn back around to face Angelique again, Ryan has jumped up and started pushing Angelique into the classroom, and the bell rings. Other students start rushing in behind them, before the teacher can close the door. Anyone who’s not inside once the door is closed is considered late for class.

It’s Biology class, so the students sit two to a table. Ryan and Angelique share a table toward the back, as far from the door as possible, and their usual table mates have no choice but to sit with each other once they realize all other seats are taken. Angelique is cracking her knuckles and staring at the door, clearly ready to go back out there and finish what she started. Ryan wraps a hand around her arm, hoping it’ll keep her seated. At the feel of Ryan’s touch, Angelique quickly shifts in her stool to face Ryan.

Ryan: “Thank you, but chill. Seriously, it’s cool.”

Angelique: “Nothing about that was cool.”

Ryan: “It’s not worth you getting kicked out, though. You know, in the end, she’ll be fine…”

Angelique: “Somebody needs to make her un-fine so she’ll stop doing shit like that. You didn’t deserve that.”

Ryan smiles at Angelique, appreciating her protectiveness. They didn’t even really know each other. Her smile breaks Angelique’s anger, and then their teacher begins addressing the class. Ryan drops her hand, feeling like Angelique has decided to stay put, and looks forward to give at least some of her attention to the lesson that’s being introduced. She can feel that Angelique hasn’t chosen to do the same.

~~~~~

JUNE 28TH, 6:00PM, KANE MANSION

Catherine: "What the hell just happened?"

Tyler sits in front of Jacob's desk as they both watch the news reports on his laptop following Roman Sionis’s renouncement from joining the mayoral race, and the leaked footage of his daughter’s crimes that came immediately afterwards. He is still desperately trying to connect dots from Sionis's history, to understand what enemies could have the motive, access, and resources to instigate such an elaborate attack. Both men turned their attention to Catherine when she abruptly barged into Jacob's office, after having wishing all of their perplexed guests a good evening.

Jacob: "You tell me. I knew you were cut throat, but you've had all of us fooled, pretending to care about Roman."

Tyler quickly looks back at Jacob. He had no idea Catherine was on the list of potential suspects.

Catherine: "How dare you call me an actor when you gallivanted with my closest friend all throughout our home and God knows where else."

Jacob: "And for that, you're willing to throw everything we've worked for away - this entire family's reputation?!"

Catherine: "ME! The fact that I still allow you within 20 feet of this family should tell you what I'm willing to do to protect it. That I tolerate you at all…"

Jacob: "You expect me to believe you had nothing to do with those videos being leaked to the press?"

Catherine: "Jacob Kane, what on this forsaken Earth are you talking about?"

Jacob: "...those emails were sent from inside The Crows."

Catherine: "And you'd rather accuse your vendetta seeking wife than admit to yourself that your shop is in worse shape than your home, and one of your underpaid rentacops cops has turned on you. So you're an adulterer and a narcissist. Gotham City's very own Man of the Year."

That was her final word. She turned away from them and stormed out as quickly as she entered, and Kate (who had been standing in the doorway about to enter, herself) had to shuffle out of the way to avoid a collision. She’d been approaching, equally curious about why Sionis had changed his mind…Her father's attention was already returned to Tyler.

Jacob: “She’s right about one thing. I can’t have anyone at The Crows undermining me. I don’t know who we can trust, and I need to get to the bottom of this immediately. Go get Moore, and don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. Whatever the price, whatever she needs, we’ll do it. But I know she’ll get to the bottom of this.”

Kate: “No, you can’t do that.”

Tyler: “Sir, I agree that seems unnecessary. I can handle it.”

Jacob: “Clearly you can’t. And why can’t I, Kate?”

Kate: “Sophie’s family is going through a lot right now. She’s taken on enough, already.”

Jacob: “What gives you jurisdiction over her life? Who exactly are you to her? And, don’t you have a company of your own to run? Why don’t you let Moore decide what’s best for her family, and you can prioritize yours for a change?”

It was a low blow, because her father knew that pointing out Kate had no influence over Sophie would sting.

Kate: “How have I done anything but prioritize this family? I was here tonight when I didn't even agree that Roman should have been running for Mayor. I did that for you…”

Jacob: “We all have obligations to maintain our lives. We play our roles, and most importantly stay in our lanes. You’re stepping outside of yours right now.”

Kate: “Dad, I’m not a child. I might live here, because I want to stay close to my sisters, but that doesn’t give you the right to control me.”

Jacob: “But you can control your ex girlfriend.”

The cold glare Kate gave her father should have frozen the entire room.

Jacob: “Tyler, go now. We don’t have any more time to waste. Get her terms, and we’ll meet them, but I need her on this.”

~~~~~

Tyler arrives at The Hold Up about an hour later. He heads straight to the bar, and requests a scotch from the new bartender, along with Sophie Moore’s presence. She approaches from the kitchen, and looks over him as soon as she sees him, stopping to stare before finally proceeding forward.

Sophie: “Tyler, right?”

Tyler: “Right.”

Sophie: “Got a suggestion for the menu or something?”

This was her wishing aloud, because dealing with anyone associated with a Kane was never that simple.

Tyler: “Actually, it’s not your restaurant management skills I’m here to talk about.”

Sophie pierces her lips. She can’t decide if this is news she wants or not. She had a feeling that The Crows wouldn’t wait forever, but also, she thought she’d have a little more time. It would have been nice to not have everything coming at her at once, but life would always life, at least hers would.

Sophie: “So Jacob Kane sent you. I guess that makes sense.”

Tyler: “Apparently, you’re the only one he can trust to uncover a recent cyber attack on The Crows, and he seems to think you’ll do a better job than I’ve done so far.”

Sophie: “I’d be flattered, but you’re obviously not thrilled about this.”

Tyler: “I was handling it, but I follow the chain of command. So, what’s it going to take to get you to say yes.”

Sophie isn’t sure how many more times she can tell Jacob Kane to wait before he’s no longer willing to.

Sophie: “Nothing has changed since I last asked for more time. In fact, things have actually gotten more complicated.”

Tyler: “So I heard…”

Sophie: “Huh?”

How could this Tyler guy know anything about her life when she only barely knows of him at all.

Tyler: “Kate told us not to bother you with this.”

Of course. Who else would mention Sophie to a relative stranger but Kate?

Sophie: “She did what?!”

Tyler can tell he’s struck the right nerve. He can work with this.

Tyler: “She seems to think you can’t handle this…”

Sure, that probably wasn’t exactly how Kate meant it, but words are always up for interpretation. Sophie smothers her agitation. She doesn’t want to let being challenged push her into doing something that she’ll regret, but she really hates people doubting her.

Sophie: “No one speaks for me but me.”

Tyler: “Alright then, why don't you have a drink with me so I can tell you what's going on, and we can discuss your terms?”

Her mom walks up behind her. There was no way to keep Diane away from the only other thing besides her girls that meant something to her. So, they agreed to a reduced schedule with more breaks, and a physical activity and nutrition plan to help with what her medications are trying to offset.

Diane: “Yes, go have a drink with this attractive young man.”

Sophie: “Mom, please!”

Sophie pulls her mom away from Tyler so she can at least pretend they have some privacy.

Diane: “I’ll hear nothing of it. Both Angelique and Jordan are here to oversee things so that I won’t have to work too hard. You can take an evening to yourself.”

Sophie rolls her eyes, and then responds in a hushed tone, hoping her mom will follow suit.

Sophie: “Sure, let’s pretend anyone else is in charge when you’re around. Oh, and like Angelique is the most trustworthy person ever! I still can’t believe you hired her without talking to me first.”

Diane: “You said I needed help…”

Sophie: “From me! That’s why I’m here, Mom!”

Diane: “And you’re well on your way to ending up just like me with the way you work. We could both use a little more time away from this bar… Besides, everyone deserves a second chance. Let’s see how the girl does.”

Sophie rolls her eyes again, this time because she knows her mom’s right, about all of it, and she kind of hates that. Tyler interjects, making it clear he could hear everything her mom said.

Tyler: “Sounds like you’re running out of arguments, Moore. I'm going to guess you weren't the go-to for interrogations at the DOD.”

Diane: “Go! I’ll be fine.”

Sophie stops debating because she's outnumbered, and walks towards the back of the bar, so she can go into the office and collect what she needs to leave with Tyler.

~~~~~

To be continued...

As always:

All #Batwoman things I do now are in the name of #SaveBatwoman. Go follow all the social handles and support the cause.

For the month of April 2023, we're writing 30 new Batwoman FanFics in 30 days in support of the Save Batwoman campaign. Each day has a prompt. If you want to sign up to write a oneshot of your own, you can choose a date and prompt by going to this link: https://calendly.com/savebatwoman/savebatwoman-fanfic-schedule?month=2023-04.

See you next week!

[anotherwvba]

Inside My Head(canon): A Family Tradition

Some of you may have noticed in some of my recent story posts, parts 4 and 5 of "Challenge Accepted" to be precise, that the WVBA's Irish bad boy Aran Ryan mentions that he has a fight upcoming with The Sandman and that he's going to hand him his first loss. But if you check out my "History of the WVBA," you'll see that in my story Mr. Sandman was the first WVBA Champion over 25 years ago and has lost before. So what gives? Simply put, in my story, the Sands are a WVBA legacy.

Tyrell “The Razor” Sands started his boxing career more than 40 years ago, first as an amateur, then going pro. His flamboyant style and knockout artistry earned him the nickname "The Sandman" in the press. He would soon capture the North American and Continental Heavyweight Titles, but promoters refused to sign the loudmouthed and opinionated Sands to a World Title fight. Their fear was that Sands wouldn't play ball with the boxing establishment and that fear was well-founded.

The founding of the WVBA saw many of the world's best boxers, many of whom had been shunned by the establishment, signing exclusive deals. Sands, now in the prime of his career, knew he had to be part of this groundbreaking league. A press conference was held to announce the WVBA Championship Tournament and Sands was brought out as the final participant. When he came on stage, a brash young Turkish fighter going by Bald Bull called him out in a most disrespectful manner, yelling for "The Sandman." What Sands said in response is one of the WVBA's most famous moments...

"Look here, kid. I'm gonna do what somebody shoulda done to you a long time ago. I'm gonna beat some respect into you, son. By the time I'm done, you gonna call me MISTER Sandman."

The rest, as they say, was history.

From that day forward, the WVBA was the domain of Mr. Sandman and he was its undisputed champion and star. He would be the most popular fighter in the league, appearing on talk shows, having cameos in TV and movies, and signing multiple endorsement deals. But, through all of it, Sands was humble behind the scenes. Behind the flamboyant Mr. Sandman was now a hard working family man, a dedicated boxer, and a loyal friend. After multiple reigns as WVBA Heavyweight and, later, World Circuit Champion, Mr. Sandman decided it was time to hang up the gloves. 

The first of his four children, his son Andre, was born during his first reign as World Circuit Champion. After he lost the title to Super Macho Man and his next child, his daughter Nanshe, was born, Sands dedicated himself to his family. He still made appearances for the WVBA until its closing, often serving as a color commentator on WVBA pay-per-views, but his focus was now at home.

Being born into the Sands family meant that fighting was often forced upon you. Not by their father, mind you, but by those kids who wanted to prove how tough they were by beating up the Champ's kids. The first time Andre came home with a black eye, Tyrell made the decision that all of his children would know how to defend themselves. And so began Andre's introduction to boxing.

While Tyrell Sands is largely based on the Mr. Sandman of the Punch-Out!! video games, just with a less threatening and more fleshed out persona, his son Andre is based on the character Sandman from an old Punch-Out!! fan film by Team Awesome. It was an entry in the Nintendo Short Cuts contest and can be found here. 

In that fan film, Little Mac beat Mister Sandman for the title, but then was brutally beaten in the return match and retired. When Mac sees Mr. Sandman’s son, simply called The Sandman, is the new champ and that he says if his father hadn’t beaten Mac into retirement, he would have, Mac makes a comeback for a dramatic showdown with the new champ. It’s this braggadocious, arrogant character that inspired Andre.

Andre Sands learned the sweet science at his father’s knee. Gifted with natural athletic skills and with his father’s incredible ring knowledge to learn from, Andre was soon a standout amateur, winning multiple local and regional Silver and Golden Gloves competitions. When Andre decided to go pro instead of going to college, he and his dad had a falling out.

As a professional, Andre quickly became a star, but was carefully protected and groomed by promoters without his knowledge. This led to Andre’s ego growing and him becoming more arrogant and cocky. These traits bled into all aspects of his life and career. He began to play with opponents, openly mocking them and showboating en route to his victories, often by knockout.

When the WVBA relaunched, Andre initially turned down their invitation to join on the advice of his team of agents and promoters. But when fans started to say that the son couldn’t measure up to the father, that he wasn’t joining the WVBA because deep down Andre knew he couldn’t live up to Mr. Sandman’s legacy, the blow to Andre’s ego was more than he could handle.

Now, Andre is in the WVBA, still undefeated, still racking up knockout after knockout. His goal is simple, to capture the WVBA World Circuit Championship and not just eclipse his father’s legacy, but to supplant it entirely. Taking the ring name The Sandman, Andre Sands plans to win the title undefeated and make the boxing world forget the Mister.

[historyofglee]

On this day in 2011:

the cast and crew of Glee were welcomed to New York City by Mayor Mike Bloomberg in a press conference outside the Gershwin Theatre.

The press conference was attended by cast members Kevin McHale, Harry Shum Jr., Darren Criss, Heather Morris, Chord Overstreet, and Cory Monteith, and crew members Dante Di Loreto, Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, and Brad Falchuk.

Cast members Chris Colfer, Lea Michele, and Ashley Fink were also present at the Gershwin Theatre, but were not pictured with the Mayor at the conference.

[f1]

ICYMI: Hollywood stars mega trucks and a ping pong showdown it's the best social media from Austria

It was another action-packed weekend of racing in Austria, which saw the return of the Sprint, mixed weather conditions and a host of track limits penalties. But there was also plenty happening off-track, so check out the best social media you might have missed from Spielberg... F1 meets Hollywood There was some big news heading into the event as Alpine announced they had secured €200m of backing from investors including Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds, who co-owns Welsh football team Wrexham AFC with fellow actor Rob McElhenney. With McElhenney teasing an F1 visit, the Enstone team could not resist a reference to the popular TV series that has followed his and Reynolds’ journey at Wrexham so far. Max and Yuki take to the dirt Before any F1 cars hit the track, Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda were sent to a mine to race mega trucks. It’s fair to say the experience was a wild ride for both drivers... Steiner and Horner are the best of friends Friday’s Team Principals’ press conference brought plenty of serious questions and answers, but there was still time for some banter between Haas’s Guenther Steiner and Red Bull counterpart Christian Horner, who got up close and personal on the sofa. Leclerc and Sainz (try) to suit up It proved to be a competitive weekend for Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz with the upgraded SF-23. But first, they had to put their helmets and race suits on... Hulkenberg never tyres of banter Ever wondered where F1 tyres go at the end of the race? Not on Kevin Magnussen’s road car, as the Dane joked in the paddock, much to team mate Nico Hulkenberg’s amusement. Russell goes up against the boss We recently saw George Russell take on Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton in a high-stakes game of ping pong, but who would be his next challenger? Step forward team boss Toto Wolff. The big weekend debate With the rain coming and going, and temperatures rising and dropping, there were some split strategies when it came to shorts and trousers across the three days of running... Piastri’s priceless reaction There was an unfortunate moment for a jet pack performer ahead of the race, with gravity winning out and a tumble ensuing. As TV cameras cut to Oscar Piastri, there was only one face he could pull... Wolff fires up the Austrian crowd In addition to some ping pong with Russell, Wolff enjoyed his appearance at the F1 fan forum, where he reignited some Mercedes vs Red Bull rivalry on the latter’s home soil. via Formula 1 News https://www.formula1.com

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Left: Shubman Gill, Source: BCCI. Right: Rishabh Pant. Source: BCCI Subhayan Chakraborty in Pune Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli were among the first to bat at the nets at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The session followed a brief stint by pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, as India prepared for the crucial second Test after trailing 0-1 against New Zealand in Bengaluru. The spotlight was on Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul due to concerns over Pant’s right knee and Rahul’s batting form leading up to the Pune Test. While Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep bowled at one net, the emphasis of the session was on countering various spinners, around a dozen of them present at the venue. With Pant unable to keep wickets in Bengaluru following a blow on his knee while keeping in the first innings, there are some doubts whether he would be risked for the second of the three Tests against the Black Caps. Pant had a long batting stint in the nets, facing spinners, throwdown specialists, pacers and even bowling coach Morne Morkel. It was mostly stand and deliver stuff from Pant as he took the spinners to the cleaners, executing his trademark slog sweep sixes to perfection. He batted without any visible discomfort but it is understood that a call on his playing XI status will be taken closer to the game with the Indian team scheduled to train again on Wednesday morning. Notably, Pant didn’t have any strapping on his right knee and underwent a wicket keeping session with head coach Gautam Gambhir taking charge of the session alongside T Dilip for around 20 minutes. “Rishabh is pretty good. I think Rohit (Sharmna) touched on it the other day. He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee. But fingers crossed, he’ll be good to keep in the Test as well,” Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate told the reporters on Tuesday. While Pant batted for around an hour, there was KL Rahul batting in the adjacent nets. There has been intense scrutiny over Rahul’s form in the longest format of the game and the experienced batter had to face extreme social media backlash following a poor show with the bat in his home city of Bengaluru. Rahul looked in decent touch as he tackled the spinners without any major concerns but was troubled by Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna on quite a few occasions while also facing the throwdown specialists as he missed a few deliveries rising from a good length spot. Ten Doeschate minced no words in the press conference as he said that Sarfaraz Khan’s stellar 150-run knock, and Shubman Gill’s return to fitness have increased the competition for the spot in the middle order. It will be a straight face off between Sarfaraz and Rahul for the playing XI spot in Pune unless the team management decides to rest Pant and make Rahul keep wickets. “Yeah, there’s no point in sugarcoating it, there’s a fight for a spot,” ten Doeschate told the reporters on Tuesday. “Sarfaraz was obviously brilliant in the last Test. I went to KL after the last Test (and) said how many balls do you play at (and) miss at? He didn’t play at (and) miss at one ball and that’s what tends to happen when you’re not getting runs. It’s not like we’re worried about his form. If you go on just the past three months since Gauti has been in here, he’s keen to give him (Rahul) as much rope as we can. We have a lot of faith in him. “But at the same time, it’s a very competitive environment, with Sarfaraz getting 150 plus runs (222 not out) in the Irani Trophy final. The decision will be what’s best for the team, but we’ll certainly back all the guys in,” he added. Notably, Sarfaraz Khan, who became a father on Monday, was not present at the practice session on Tuesday and will join the team on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar, has linked up with the squad and was seen bowling for close to a couple of hours alongside Ravichandran Ashwin. “We’ve had Washy around the white-ball squad for a while and [we] like the way he operates,” ten Doeschate said.

“And it’s also nice to see guys are getting rewarded for Ranji Trophy performances as well. So hopefully that sends a good message out to the other guys and it’s certainly not a desperate measure. We’ve certainly got a lot of faith in the spinners that we have, and we just want to make sure we’re absolutely prepared for the conditions and if that does mean taking the ball away from the left-hander, we want that option.” There were four practice nets available for the practice session and the division of bowlers were pretty interesting to note. At net number one, only pacers operated – a few net bowlers, Prasidh, Harshit and Akash. Net number two had a couple of local spinners, Washington Sundar, Ashwin, Axar, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Net number three had only net bowlers, who were spinners, and net four had throwdown specialists. All the batters interchanged the nets with special emphasis on playing spin bowling. Rohit and Kohli were much more focused on solidifying their respective defence but also playing the ball more under their eyes. There were many sweep shots during their hour-long session. Whereas Jaiswal and Gill took down the pacers but were playing mostly down the line against the tweakers. For Pant, it was mostly smashing the spinners out of the park while Rahul was closely monitored by ten Doeschate during his batting stint. The likes of Axar Patel, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Sundar also had a hit at the nets. Gill, who was one of the first ones to have a hit at the nets, had another session with ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar throwing some short of the length deliveries to him. In between the two sessions, Gill, who is set to feature in the Pune Test, had a short catching session with fielding coach T Dilip. Also read:  Sarfaraz or Rahul; India’s assistant coach speaks about growing competition in middle-order@CricSubhayan #INDvsNZ https://t.co/bCJPQmxABE — RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 22, 2024 For more sports content follow: RevSportz The post India nets in Pune: Focus on tackling spinners as Risbabh Pant, Shubman Gill sweat it out without discomfort appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Left: Shubman Gill, Source: BCCI. Right: Rishabh Pant. Source: BCCI Subhayan Chakraborty in Pune Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli were among the first to bat at the nets at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. The session followed a brief stint by pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, as India prepared for the crucial second Test after trailing 0-1 against New Zealand in Bengaluru. The spotlight was on Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul due to concerns over Pant’s right knee and Rahul’s batting form leading up to the Pune Test. While Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep bowled at one net, the emphasis of the session was on countering various spinners, around a dozen of them present at the venue. With Pant unable to keep wickets in Bengaluru following a blow on his knee while keeping in the first innings, there are some doubts whether he would be risked for the second of the three Tests against the Black Caps. Pant had a long batting stint in the nets, facing spinners, throwdown specialists, pacers and even bowling coach Morne Morkel. It was mostly stand and deliver stuff from Pant as he took the spinners to the cleaners, executing his trademark slog sweep sixes to perfection. He batted without any visible discomfort but it is understood that a call on his playing XI status will be taken closer to the game with the Indian team scheduled to train again on Wednesday morning. Notably, Pant didn’t have any strapping on his right knee and underwent a wicket keeping session with head coach Gautam Gambhir taking charge of the session alongside T Dilip for around 20 minutes. “Rishabh is pretty good. I think Rohit (Sharmna) touched on it the other day. He was having a little bit of discomfort at the end range of his movement with the knee. But fingers crossed, he’ll be good to keep in the Test as well,” Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate told the reporters on Tuesday. While Pant batted for around an hour, there was KL Rahul batting in the adjacent nets. There has been intense scrutiny over Rahul’s form in the longest format of the game and the experienced batter had to face extreme social media backlash following a poor show with the bat in his home city of Bengaluru. Rahul looked in decent touch as he tackled the spinners without any major concerns but was troubled by Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna on quite a few occasions while also facing the throwdown specialists as he missed a few deliveries rising from a good length spot. Ten Doeschate minced no words in the press conference as he said that Sarfaraz Khan’s stellar 150-run knock, and Shubman Gill’s return to fitness have increased the competition for the spot in the middle order. It will be a straight face off between Sarfaraz and Rahul for the playing XI spot in Pune unless the team management decides to rest Pant and make Rahul keep wickets. “Yeah, there’s no point in sugarcoating it, there’s a fight for a spot,” ten Doeschate told the reporters on Tuesday. “Sarfaraz was obviously brilliant in the last Test. I went to KL after the last Test (and) said how many balls do you play at (and) miss at? He didn’t play at (and) miss at one ball and that’s what tends to happen when you’re not getting runs. It’s not like we’re worried about his form. If you go on just the past three months since Gauti has been in here, he’s keen to give him (Rahul) as much rope as we can. We have a lot of faith in him. “But at the same time, it’s a very competitive environment, with Sarfaraz getting 150 plus runs (222 not out) in the Irani Trophy final. The decision will be what’s best for the team, but we’ll certainly back all the guys in,” he added. Notably, Sarfaraz Khan, who became a father on Monday, was not present at the practice session on Tuesday and will join the team on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar, has linked up with the squad and was seen bowling for close to a couple of hours alongside Ravichandran Ashwin. “We’ve had Washy around the white-ball squad for a while and [we] like the way he operates,” ten Doeschate said.

“And it’s also nice to see guys are getting rewarded for Ranji Trophy performances as well. So hopefully that sends a good message out to the other guys and it’s certainly not a desperate measure. We’ve certainly got a lot of faith in the spinners that we have, and we just want to make sure we’re absolutely prepared for the conditions and if that does mean taking the ball away from the left-hander, we want that option.” There were four practice nets available for the practice session and the division of bowlers were pretty interesting to note. At net number one, only pacers operated – a few net bowlers, Prasidh, Harshit and Akash. Net number two had a couple of local spinners, Washington Sundar, Ashwin, Axar, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Net number three had only net bowlers, who were spinners, and net four had throwdown specialists. All the batters interchanged the nets with special emphasis on playing spin bowling. Rohit and Kohli were much more focused on solidifying their respective defence but also playing the ball more under their eyes. There were many sweep shots during their hour-long session. Whereas Jaiswal and Gill took down the pacers but were playing mostly down the line against the tweakers. For Pant, it was mostly smashing the spinners out of the park while Rahul was closely monitored by ten Doeschate during his batting stint. The likes of Axar Patel, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Sundar also had a hit at the nets. Gill, who was one of the first ones to have a hit at the nets, had another session with ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar throwing some short of the length deliveries to him. In between the two sessions, Gill, who is set to feature in the Pune Test, had a short catching session with fielding coach T Dilip. Also read:  Sarfaraz or Rahul; India’s assistant coach speaks about growing competition in middle-order@CricSubhayan #INDvsNZ https://t.co/bCJPQmxABE — RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 22, 2024 For more sports content follow: RevSportz The post India nets in Pune: Focus on tackling spinners as Risbabh Pant, Shubman Gill sweat it out without discomfort appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[havithreatendub4]

#press conference #September 24, 2024 #ssiff #Modi #cast #Director #producer

Johnny leaving his hotel for the photocall

#September 24, 2024

#fans

[bllsbailey]

Palm Beach Sheriff: Security Level At Mar-A-Lago Is The 'Highest It Could Possibly Be' In Wake Of Assassination Attempt

A Secret Service agent guards the Mar-a-Lago home of former President Donald Trump on March 21, 2023 in Palm Beach, Florida.

During a press conference in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, authorities gave updates on the second assassination attempt on 45th President Donald Trump’s life.

Before getting into the details of the assassination attempt itself, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw asserted in an announcement that the security level at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate was and is the “highest it can possibly be,” following the second attempt on Sunday.

Authorities also made sure it was known that Trump’s golf session at Trump International Golf Club West Palm Beach on that day was “off the record,” meaning that it was not included in any schedules that the general public could view.

Secret Service was a hole ahead of where Trump was hitting when an agent suddenly spotted the AK-style rifle sticking out through the fence. They immediately fired back.

While gunshots did go off, Sheriff Bradshaw clarified that the suspect “didn’t even get close to getting a round off.”

As soon as shots were fired from the Secret Service agent’s gun, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh fled the scene in a car. He even left behind a digital camera, a backpack, and a black bag containing food in addition to the loaded AK-style rifle with a scope on the course’s fence line. He was apprehended soon after.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced that cell phone data revealed that Routh was near the gold course for nearly 12 hours before the agent noticed him and fired shots.

Routh has an extensive criminal record dating back to the 1990’s. In 2002, according to North Carolina Department of Corrections records, he was charged with a possession of a weapon of mass destruction and a felony. In another incident, he was charged with multiple misdemeanors, including a hit-and-run offense, resisting arrest, and a concealed weapons violation.

Sheriff Bradshaw concluded the press conference by stating that Trump called him on Sunday night and “thanked [him] for everything that we did along with the Secret Service.”

“He knows we worked great together, and he feels safe — that’s important because he is. And what we did yesterday proves that the system can work,” Bradshaw said. “Because the suspect didn’t even get close to getting a round off and we apprehended them, and brought him to justice. So, we’re were very, very proud of that.”

This second assassination attempt came just 50 days before Donald Trump goes head-to-head against Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

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