#soccer prediction score

[ptvsport]

LIVE Wales vs Iran FIFA World Cup: Hennessey shown red; WAL 0-0 IRN

LIVE Wales vs Iran FIFA World Cup: Hennessey shown red; WAL 0-0 IRN

Follow for all live updates from the FIFA World Cup Group B clash between Wales and Iran. 89’ Iran’s hunt for three points continues as Danny Ward comes under the bar for Wales. Taremi is given space to shoot, but his shot goes inches wide. 85’ Hennessey is forced to come off his line after a long ball and it is a foul on Taremi and a red card for him after a VAR check. That is the first red card…

[meazalykov]

the golden girl

uswnt x uswnt!reader

summary: what happened in a world where reader played on the USWNT in the 2019 World Cup?

part one (part two here)

Knowing that the call at eight am could change the pathway of my career, I couldn’t sleep. My mind spins rapidly as I tried to close my eyes and manipulate myself into believing that tomorrow would be an ordinary day, but that didn’t work. 

Hi! My name is Y/n L/n and I am a soccer player who plays for club Olympique Lyon. I am a forward who many people call the “next big thing,” since I am only 19 years old. 

After winning the Champions League final with Lyon, scoring a brace which involved a penalty, my career seemed to go in a great path that was unordinary for a teenager. 

I sat on my bed, criss-crossed, as I stared at the digital alarm clock on my bedside table. 4:38am. Three hours and twenty two minutes until I get the call. 

After traveling to my hometown in the United States, Virginia Beach, I traveled to the last International camp, before the World Cup, in order to “try out” for a World Cup roster spot. My mentality is great, my skills during the camp were phenomenal and I believe I proved that to the coaches, but I am young. 

The coaches will prioritize other forwards like Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Megan Raphinoe, and Christen Press first. I am aware of that. They’ve won the 2015 World Cup four years ago and have the experience to go up again. However, everyone knows that the USWNT will need to bring on youngsters to set themselves up for future competitions, so I have confidence that I'll be the one they’ll call. 

Three hours and twenty minutes later, I sat at my dining room table in Lyon, preparing for the unexpected. 

My phone’s flashlight goes off a few times and my screen brightens at the sight of my International Coach’s number. 

“Hey.” I spoke first as my finger pressed on the green button. The nervousness in my voice was present, I wanted this decision to go my way. 

“Hi Y/n! How are you feeling right now!?” My United States coach, Jill Ellis, asked. 

“I’m- Um— I’m nervous.” I told the truth. I heard a small chuckle come from the coach which I raised my eyebrows at. The tension on my end could be cut with a sharp knife. The lack of sleep made my nerves worse too. 

“Well I have some news for you.” Jill said. I swallowed on nothing as the next few seconds can predict how my day– sorry— year will go. I know she has to call other players about the decisions for them so our call won’t last long, thankfully. 

“Let me start off by saying that all of the coaching staff, including myself, needed to consider someone who is young and has a lot of quality. We were impressed by the amount of work you've put into our international camps and we’ve kept up on your club experience at Lyon for more reference. So, we’ve chosen you to be on the roster to represent the United States in the 2019 World Cup.” The excitement in Jill’s voice grew when she announced that I would be in the World Cup. 

However, most of what she said sounded muffled through the happy tears that poured down my eyes. I couldn’t believe it! My hard work paid off. 

“Thank you!” I said. 

“No Thank you Y/n! We’ll see you soon, Bye!” Jill ended the call before I jumped in joy. 

A couple of months later, I sat on the bench in France as the USWNT was up against Thailand in the group stage. It was the 64th minute and we were up 7-0. As I sat on the bench, my heart raced faster out of nervousness. Eventually, my head turned when I heard her call my name. I am excited, but my stomach felt like there was a rock in it. The weight of expectations settled squarely on my shoulders as I looked at the ongoing game. 

We are winning the game by seven, but I still wanted to prove my best to the coach, teammates, and the fans. When I stood up, my legs felt like jelly making my way to the touchline. The crowd's roar was deafening, every step closer to the pitch amplifying my nerves. 

“You’re going to go on for Raphinoe. We are up 7-0 but use this as an opportunity to get a feel of the field and experience.” Jill spoke with empathy as she patted on my back, allowing me to do the required warmup on the sideline before standing at the midline. 

I tried to shake off the doubts, reminding myself of the countless hours of practice that had brought me to this moment. The nerves in my legs wouldn’t calm down. Maybe I can use that as a source of adrenaline. 

Running onto the field in replacement for Raphinoe, the enormity of the occasion hit me like a ton of bricks. The stadium seemed to stretch endlessly all around me, filled with thousands of spectators watching my every move. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The ball was at the other end of the field, giving me a moment to collect myself.

Then, Julie Ertz shot the ball over the left side of the field to gain space. The ball landed on my ivory-colored cleat and I dribbled around a Thailand opponent before passing to Alex Morgan who lightly tapped the ball behind the net. Goal!

My jaw dropped in realization as Alex jogged over to hug me. Some of the girls on the pitch came to congratulate me on the assist as others clapped their hands. I didn’t take it offensively, we are up 8-0 now and there's not much to celebrate now besides the inevitable win. My first touch in the World Cup gave an assist which I later found impressed spectators. 

I glanced at my teammates when the game started again, finding reassurance in their encouraging, yet concentrated, nods and smiles. They had confidence in my abilities, even if I struggled to find it within myself sometimes. With each passing second, my nerves began to settle, now replaced by a fierce determination to prove myself worthy of wearing the US jersey.

Eventually, I found myself caught up in the rhythm of the play. My eyes were on the ball, blocking out the noise of the crowd and the pressure of the moment. With each touch and pass to a teammate, my confidence grew and my movements became more fluid and precise.

Then, in the 73rd minute, it happened. A perfectly timed pass by Samantha Mewis found my feet. At this point I wanted to be the goalscorer, not the assist. With a burst of speed, I raced towards the goal and dribbled around the defenders who were in the way of the goal, the screaming chants of the crowd fading into the background as they saw what I was doing. At that moment, there was only me, the ball, and the goal.

My right foot unleashed a powerful shot, the ball rocketing into the back of the net with a stunning curve. Goal! The stadium erupted into cheers, the sound washing over me like a tidal wave of euphoria as my teammates ran to congratulate me on my first ever goal in the World Cup. For a brief moment, I allowed myself to bask in the glory of my achievement, the weight of my nerves finally lifted off of my shoulders. The game ended in a 13-0 win for us!

Later in the World Cup tournament, I found myself on the bench as my heart pounded at the match in front of me. Thanks to Alex Morgan and Christen Press who scored in the Semifinal against the Lionesses, we were in the World Cup final against the Dutch. 

As the game enters the 79th minute, with the score being 2-0, the coach calls my name. This took me by surprise since I didn’t believe that any substitutes would join the final. When I stood up, my legs felt like lead as I made my way onto the pitch for Tobin Heath, who had an injury earlier in the tournament and couldn't play all 90 minutes. The roar of the crowd washes over me, drowning out the doubts that threatened to consume me since I am on the right wing.

With only minutes remaining, I can’t make a mistake. I have to make every second count. We are up 2-0 but the Netherlands could easily catch up if we make a few errors, they’re EURO champions and have a statement to make for the world.

As I focus on the ball, blocking out the noise of the crowd and the pressure of the moment, the 89th minute comes along. Krieger gets the ball from a Dutch forward and launches the ball in the air towards Rose Lavelle. The girl who scored the second goal in the final headed the ball over the field again before it landed onto my feet— This is my chance. 

My feet take the ball towards the goal. Veenendaal, the Dutch Goalkeeper, sets herself up in a ready position. As I race closer to the goal, my heart pounds in my chest. The defenders close in but I dribble around them effortlessly. An Oranje defender missed her chance to side tackle me as my left foot unleashed a powerful shot. The ball grazed the tip of Veenendaal’s fingers and the ball hit the back of the net with stunning precision. Goal!

The stadium erupts into cheers as I run to the corner of the pitch to celebrate. A typical knee slide that allowed my knees to slide through the soft grass before I stood up and turned to my teammates who rushed to congratulate me. Everyone on the bench got up and ran to me as well to celebrate. At that moment, the voice in my head told me that I’ve done it. My goal gave everyone the reassurance that we secured a World Cup win for the USWNT four times. 

After winning the Bronze Ball, Gold Medal, and being able to take pictures with the World Cup trophy itself, I cried. The tears wouldn’t stop after my bestfriend Mallory Pugh hugged me as she cried as well. We were so happy, I have never felt so proud of myself and my team. 

Hopefully 2023 will secure us a three-peat…. 

part two here

[07-bilin]

high-school love pt.1

₊˚ପ⊹ summary: a slowburn of sorts in which you and akaashi meet as manager and player, slowly becoming close as the only first-years on the team

₊˚ପ⊹ wc: 1,725

₊˚ପ⊹ warnings: none!

his name

Attending Fukurodani, you expected your three years at the school would be calm, something predictable. This was automatically shattered within the first two weeks of high school. The friend you had made in your class had ultimately been able to convince you to join the girls soccer team, so there you were, outside in the blazing hot sun in the month of April in your P.E getup that didn't fit you in any of the right ways. As a goalie, your job was to defend the opposing team, not letting them score any points, supposedly that's what you were supposed to be doing but ultimately in the end all of the balls ended up flying right past you, the last one hitting you in the face causing the coach to give you a lecture ending the scrimmage at that.

After the lecture, you were shooed off the field to go clean yourself up. You found a sink by the gymnasium and turned it on feeling the cool water on your finger tips. collecting the water between your hands you splashed the puddle on to your face feeling refreshed.

I mean, soccer wasn't your thing, but you joined in support of your friend's endeavors. Overall, there was a small chance of you making the team and even if you did you would probably be benched. But before that could even happen, you would find an excuse to join the team which would lead you back into square one of finding a club to join before being randomly placed into one, though, to be honest, you could care less about the club you joined, you agreed to tryout with your friend as you had enough with her talking about all the hot guys that she'd be able to see if she joined.

As you finished tidying yourself up, ready to head back to the field and most likely to get hit in a bunch of other spots, you saw a volleyball that seemed to have rolled out of a gym. You headed over to grab it and followed the noise of balls being spiked to one gym in particular. You pushed the mosquito net aside before entering the noisy gym, ball in hand.

Your attention was immediately drawn to the boy with gelled up whitish gray hair as he seemed to be the nosiest one here. Your eyes trailed his figure as he approached the net in a fluid motion before jumping up and slamming down the volleyball that seemed to have gravitated towards his palm.

"HEY HEY HEY! AKAASHI WASN'T MY LINE SHOT AMAZING??!"

Your eyes began to dart around to find this certain face named 'Akaashi'. You see a glimpse of him before you feel a slight tap to your shoulder.

Spinning around, your met with a girl with a clipboard, you can tell she's older than you by the way she stands, almost like she's accumulated with the place and used to all the buzz around her in the closed quarters. "You must be here for the manager position,?" she says as she stares at you glancing at the ball that you hugged to your chest even tighter than before after being caught in the act of your seemingly good deed. Although you remembered seeing posters all around the bulletin boards in the first-year hall about a manager position you didn't know it'd be today of all days.. You grimaced as you began to zone out before feeling a weight on your shoulder and glance up at another girl who seems excited to see you.

"Ah,,? We finally got a first year, whats your name little one?" She asks as she gives you a smile. The girl from before is somewhat shocked from the sudden actions of the girl on your shoulder as she comments on her position, "Yukie! Don't scare her, plus, she hasn't even said if shes joining yet." The second-year girl looks at you with enlarged eyes somewhat with an apologetic face before asking, "So, are you?"

You glance between the two upperclassmen who seemed to be starring daggers into you before ultimately stating you would be. The girl who had a ponytail in currently was Suzumeda-san while the one that was glued to your side minutes earlier was Shirofuku-san--but she preferred to be called Yukie-san. As the practice continued, Suzumeda-san ran you through the basics of everything. Although you weren't well versed in the sport of volleyball, the two girls washed away your worries as you joining the club was the first step to learning more about the sport.

From the two chattering upperclassmen, you learned quite a lot of the team already, the one player they mentioned the most was Bokuto-san. He was the ace of the team who often worked up quite a storm of emotions. You soon learned that he it was often a struggle to pick him out of his alienated stage but lately that wasn't the case, due to a particular person. Sure Bokuto interested you but a person who could deal with his mood-swings? Was there actually a person like that on the team? Before you could pry for more information the two girls moved on from the topic before giving you more instructions on how to be a manager for the powerhouse school.

By the end of practice, night had fallen upon them. Coach Yamaiji wrapped up the practice by giving the players a pep talk and eventually ended up introducing you to the team. "Hello, I'm L/n, Y/n from class 1-2, thank you for having me," you stated as you introduced yourself to the crowd of boys. To your surprise, they greeted you warmly which helped cool your anxiety down just a tad bit.

After everyone collectively cleaned up the gymmnasium, you were given your very own Fukurodani tracksuit and volleyball shoes, identical to the players. With these items, the idea finally settled down into your mind, you were really doing this now, full commitment and everything. A small smile formed on your face as you ran your hand over the embroidered characters as you stepped out of the gym into the cool spring night.

As you quickly snuck to the girls locker room, you sighed in relief as it hadn't been locked just quite yet. You quickly changed out of your P.E clothing and into your uniform, throwing on a light cardigan from your backpack before slipping the remaining items into your backpack and fishing out your phone. Switching it on, you were bombarded by multiple messages from a particular someone..

**F/n** "Y/N!!!" -5:28pm

"HELLOOOOOO"

"coach knows you disappeared!!"

"come back y/n before you get lectured again"

"gtg, you better be back soon or else.."

"YAH, I MADE THE TEAM!!" -8:47pm

"text me back when you finally respond,,, AND YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR DISAPPEARING!!"

You stifled a small laughter as you reached the end of the messages from your friend. You felt bad for leaving her behind but from your perspective of her from the past two weeks you think she'll be fine and in no time she'll be best friends with the entire team.

As you approach the gates of the academy with your earbuds plugged into your ears with your eyes staring down at your phone thinking of a reply for F/l/n-san, you don't notice a certain boy in front of you and he seems to not have noticed you either as the two of you eventually collide into each other which ends up with you on the ground, an earbud falling out in the process.

You keep your composure calm as it was your fault and your gaze eventually lands on a boy that wears the Fukurodani uniform quite strictly. Typically the boys will unbutton the jacket but he keeps it buttoned up and it seemed like his tie was also ironed that morning. You shift your gaze up to his face, a sharp glint in his eyes, almost like he's calculating his every move constantly. Much to his clothing, his hair seems to be the most untidiness part of his, frayed in several directions but it fits the way his face is shaped, making him look rather handsome.

Eventually, you notice the hand he placed out for you to reach for god knows how long as you were admiring his beauty. You grab it and feel the callouses he has all over them, must be a sports player you muse.

"Thank you,, uh--," you begin as you get a better look at his features face to face, seeming to click within your mind that you've seen him before, or at least a glimpse of him.

"Akaashi, Akaashi Keiji." He responds calmly. "Are you okay?"

You give him a slight nod as you release your grasp from his hand before fidgeting with your own. "Sorry, that was completely my fault, my name is L/n, Y/n". You say as you give him a nervous laugh trying to not lock your eyes into his. He gives you a small smile before saying it was alright and that he hadn't been paying much attention either. The two of you stand there for a good couple of seconds before you let out another nervous chuckle.

"Well, I'm gonna go this way now Akaashi-kun, see you around school!" You say as you wave bye to him.

"Mhm, see you tomorrow L/n-san," he replied before slipping away from the school leaving you alone with your thoughts. As you neared your home, you pondered over what he meant by see you tomorrow.. Was he going to track you down and demand for you to pay repercussions. You shivered at the thought of it. Only when you were about to drift into slumber you realized.

Sitting up in bed, "SO THAT'S WHO HE WAS!!" Akaashi, the mystery man, setter, and only first-year on the starting line-up of Fukurodani was the one guy able to calm down Bokuto-san and you just clumsily bumped into him and had no idea what his name was when he probably already knew yours explaining why he smiled upon your reactions.

You flung yourself around in bed not being able to sleep but eventually succumbed into slumber as the next day awaited your presence.

next chapter --->

[kitorin]

journal.

in which, itoshi rin's midnight writing exposes what he's kept concealed from you.

contents. itoshi rin x reader, 2.878 k words, fluff, angst (in the past), itoshi backstory spoilers (mixed with a few headcanons), 1st person rin pov for a bit (journal entry), regular highschool au

a/n. is this my best? no. but is it the best i have for today? yes. happy birthday to rin <3 after assignments are done i'll definitely rewrite this (i gave up on proofreading)

10 / 09 / 2023 : SUNDAY, 12:04 am - 3:21 am

Solitude has never been a foreigner.

In fact, he's quite a familiar individual, an old companion that never seems to leave.

Even before Nii chan left for Spain, solitude was still there for me. During class I wouldn't utter a word to anyone else unless necessary, and contrariwise for said classmates. People still spoke to me; just not to the extent that they'd know what my favourite foods were, or what I liked to watch in my free time, not even bothering with it. I've never been invited to hang out with anyone after school, or been to someone else's house (not that I particularly cared, I was just sure that I was the only one).

But I was okay with it. I didn't want, or need anyone else when Nii chan bought me ice blocks, giving me the bigger piece as we'd watch the sun's warm hues bleed into the sky; the saccharine iciness contrasting how warm is was to be swallowed by sunlight together. Dad took us fishing a lot, he's always been well acquainted with the sea, taking us to locations well populated by bream; my favourite. On our way home we'd harvest kelp (Nii chan likes it in rice, salted) and take photos together on our yacht, admiring how the sun greets the world farewell, sinking into the aquamarine. Mum makes amazing food, I'm constantly astonished at how she manages to memorise every preference, from my love for ochazuke to being able to pour the perfect amount of tea; the rice never becomes too soggy (even I can't pour the exact amount I like). Solitude was close to me, but my family were closer.

There's a lot I could say about them, they've done more than remember what I love and ensuring I was happy; I'm thankful they've delivered the right for me to be comforted, to have a shoulder to cry on, to be able to freely ramble on about whatever fascinated me.

I've always been happy, even if I'm alone outside of the walls I call home. Because whether I laughed my heart out or sobbed to the point I couldn't form a coherent sentence, I'd always come home running to my family. Nothing can beat dinner; where we all relish mum's food, ask each other about our days' and offer solace or advice when necessary.

I miss that. Terribly, to the point my heart aches.

I knew that Nii chan's departure to Europe (Spain, to be exact) would change a lot. I'd have to score without his guidance, walk home alone and buy my own popsicles. Dinner time would have one less soul to laugh with, and home would have one less to embrace.

I just never expected it to be painful change. I never predicted that his return would result in losing us entirely. I didn't think his homecoming would cause my immortal resentment towards the snow, or how my eyes prickle a bit at the mere thought of an ice block. I'd say it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me, separation from him following it on the list of my worst experiences.

Solitude avoided me at home, but wasn't enough.

One time on the way home, I was overhearing the team's conversations (nothing particularly new really) and it was a discussion about the future. It was honestly surprising to find out only some of us intended to become soccer players; Nagi would rather stream or compete in professional gaming, Kurona wants to study marine biology in uni, and Yukimiya wants to give acting a go along with his modelling career. Even Isagi has a plan for if professional soccer isn't an option. He said he wanted to help others achieve their dreams if he fails to do so himself.

I remained silent as always, but had a lot more thoughts racing through my mind. Retreating to my room immediately that night, my first thought was to lie in bed, to neglect the clips I planned to analyse, to ignore muscle training for today and to slack off a bit. That's when I realized how sad the life I was living. I was sad because I was reminded of my reality.

I'm a mere myriad of distinguished achievements, though a hideous attempt of replicating genius Itoshi Sae. I'm a collection of formidable accomplishments, basking in the spotlight of glory and honour. The trophies and awards adorning my room prove it, standing tall with pride and flaunting my hard work.

That didn't mean anything. I had remained in a constant cycle of training, eating, and sleeping. My teammates were just as ambitious yet still worked hard on other things; Yukimiya enjoys modelling and Reo has a passion for economics, That must've been where I was lacking.

That's how I ended up writing again. It was an attempt to break out of this cyclical torture of constant training and sports.

I don't know how I remembered it, but I found my notebook from primary, all the stories messily scrawled yet legible. Scarlet adorned narratives birthed from child-like imagination, eulogising the prose, even though I almost flinched out of embarrassment.

Flipping through the pages, I had found the paragraph my teacher left me, insisting that I keep writing. Obviously, I never did. After getting into soccer I ignored everything school related, and would've found words on a page foolish anyways.

Many years later, I finally followed that advice.

The end result wasn't pretty. I paused a lot, struggled a lot, and almost gave up, a lot. It may have been hideous, but it was mine. A piece birthed from curiosity and memories from the past turned into another attempt. Another attempt morphed into extensive reading, I wanted to observe what was considered worthwhile or meaningless.

Writing rewove the early nights into late night reading, fully immersed in the author's thoughts translated into prose. Reading was the push to giving academics a go. Academics pulled me out of the endless cycle of soccer, there was more to life than training and diet regulation.

Books I can read. Words I can write. Exams I can study for and sports I can practice. Weights I can lift and competitions I can train for.

But to be loved, is so difficult.

It's not like an exam that you can study for and simply memorise the answers to. Or a match that has the security of a referee and reinforced rules. It's not something that can be guaranteed with a mentor.

People treat Isagi to his favourite whenever he has a bad day (he likes kintsuba). People advocate their favourite novels to Yukimiya and Chigiri, even going as far as memorising their preferences to curate their recommendations flawlessly. It must be nice, for someone to invest that sort of effort in you, even if it's simply remembering a hobby.

As my peers savoured the allure of love, estrangement and desolation constantly haunted me; a pest habituating the sleepless nights where I try to escape with a cup of coffee that's long gone cold.

It's lukewarm, praying for another's attention, care and love, to be hungry for one's time. I pathetically plead whoever manipulating my fate to provide me some sort of human connection. I shouldn't be so hopeful of others, yet I find myself dying of curiosity; what would it be like for someone to remember my birthday? Or tell me about the horror movie they adored?

I despise solitude's clinginess. But I hate how it makes me sob endlessly when no one watches.

I have myself. I have my thoughts which I've transcribed to oeuvre. I have the pile of books resting on my bedside table which sleep alongside with me. I have the trophies and awards I've won, I'll always appreciate my own talent and diligence, even if playing soccer brought me so much pain.

I think I'm somewhat pretty. I find my prominent eyelashes special to me, it's something unique to both me and Nii chan. My physique isn't too bad, either. I like the way my legs look, and my shoulders as I dry my hair.

I've always been proud of myself. I've always been enough and I always will be. Just not for others.

That's why I never expected my bond with solitude to be severed so easily. Especially because of y/n out of all people.

I still don't get how it happened. The oblivion to their presence became a peculiar first impression. An odd first meeting turned into abrupt yet regular greetings amidst hallways. Soon, I was sitting with them in every class, passing notes during tedious lessons and discussing our favourite media on the bus ride home.

Before I knew it, passionate rambles about books turned into watching movies together in my room. Whenever they greeted me their friendly wave was replaced with a tight hug, passing notes in class were accompanied with subtle kisses on the cheek.

Our relationship as friends was reimagined to lovers.

Something must've possessed me to blurt out the stupid crush I had on them, and I thank whatever drove me to do that. As awkward as I was it doesn't compare to the skip of my heartbeat when they accepted my feelings.

It's been almost a year since I met them, yet I still feel hot whenever they hold my hand, and flush red at every compliment they whisper. I still find myself stuttering sometimes whenever they're showing me a new outfit they've styled.

I love the way they smile, the creases of joy that adorn the outer corner of their eyes, and how they squint with glee and the sweet, melodious laughter that accompanies it; how breathless they sound whilst laughing. The expression they wear when deep in thought fascinates me, even if it's midway through an exam or them simply observing a video Bachira sent them. I adore their late night thoughts they text me at 3 am, the fatigue itching my eyes seem to evaporate when I notice their name on the notification. I treasure the notes we've scrawled on spare sheets of paper, they're still in between the pages of my books.

Even now, they're sleeping soundly in my bed, arms wrapped around the plush I bought them; I keep getting distracted by the sight of them so relaxed, chest rising up and down with each breath.

I would die for them. Because now I don't need to pretend to be invested on my phone to look less lonely. Now, I don't need to put my bag on the seat next to me to make it look like I sit alone by choice. I don't have to persuade the teacher to let me do group projects alone, or have to observe others with jealousy. Someone defends me from disparaging comments.

Because now, I'm not alone.

7:15 am

THE ENTRY COMES TO AN END, AND EMBARASSMENT DUSTS Rin's face a faint tint of pink. His eyes avoid contact with yours— as he waits for your input his latest piece.

"Well? What do you think?"

You're not sure where to start. You've always known about his strained relationship with his older brother, and how his friendship with his teammates wasn't the same in the beginning. But he never explained it in detail; you wouldn't've guessed that he had some sort of chionophobia, or even cried because he felt so secluded from others. The thought of him concealing his tears and pain from the rest of the world made your eyes prickle and sends your heart racing miserably.

"Doesn't matter—" He reaches for the notebook, closing it and tossing it onto his desk. "Forget it, you didn't see anything." He plops backwards again, head hitting the pillow and groaning as he covers his face with his forearm. "It was shit anyways, I'll rip it out and toss it later."

"It wasn't."

Rin stays silent.

You lie down, mimicking his current position and cup his cheeks with your hand. "You'll never be alone again—, I promise you that." Your voice falters ever so slightly, the thought of his pain makes you feel weak in the knees and sick to the stomach. "You're more than enough, you always have and always will be. You don't need anyone's validation to be beautiful, you never did."

Rin sighs, "I'm only like that because of you." Yet something seems to throb in his heart, the small but overpowering part of him that insists he requires another's approval to be important— someone finally proving that wrong.

"That's not true."

"Yes it is, our classmates still loathe me, so do people who barely see or speak to me." There was no lie in that; but it wasn't Rin's fault. "Yoichi and the others only spend time with me because of you."

"I was only the push for them to speak to you, you know they've always cared, they were just too nervous to speak to you. As competitive as he gets, Yoichi really admires you, to the point he gets so heated and ends up rambling about your skills." That's a secret that was supposed to remain in your private messages, but Yoichi doesn't need to know.

Satisfaction momentarily appears on Rin's face at the thought of his rival's great respect, though it doesn't last very long.

"He's my teammate so it's expected... everyone I speak to at school seems to have something against me, even our English teacher." The mistreatment at school is undeniable, it's not exactly bullying but there's no respect or human decency in how people behave towards him.

"Rin, love, you've done nothing wrong, hate isn't always rational. There will always be people who can't stand seeing others more successful, and that's not your fault."

"Really?" His eyes light up; despite having a sophisticated and cold demeanour all the time, he looks like a child again, hope dances in his wide eyes.

"Really." Your fingers take advantage of the opportunity and pinch his cheeks gently. "Don't listen to all those stupid rumours and assumptions, idiot. I'd fight anyone who tries to hurt you and win every time."

When your fingers let go he immediately kisses you, and it leaves you breathless; the way he pulls you in flexes his well toned biceps and his hand supports your head.

"Thank you." Rin whispers, pulling away a bit. "Thank you for appreciating me. Thank you for everything." It's a rare occurrence for him to sound so frail, same goes for the tremble of his bottom lip.

"Of course, I love you more than anything."

"I love you too." It's escorted by a peck on your nose, and a soft expression sculpted on his face.

Before Rin can throw a blanket over the two of you again, you interrupt.

"You shouldn't throw that entry away." You still haven't forgotten his initial intention with it. "I don't get why you think it's shit."

"It's rushed. And it's just me waffling on about my feelings and the past. There's no proofreading, and it's rushed. It's not even complete either."

"That's the whole point of writing, no? It's the expression of our words and thoughts." You reach towards his desk to pick up the notebook. "Not everything has to be written in one sitting, too."

Rin doesn't bother stopping you from looking through the notebook at this point. "It's still stupid. It's just that I had the urge and motivation to write in the dead of night."

"Well. I like it."

Rin's stoic expression crumbles, revealing the bashful side he keeps concealed from the world. "Then that's good enough for me." The red on his cheeks tell you that you've won the argument.

You turn back to the entry page, impressed with his barely legible yet pretty handwriting. "You should've slept instead."

"I don't get tired anyways." He's quickly betrayed by the yawn clawing out of his throat.

"Liar. Why would you stay up writing so late... your sleep is important you know?"

"Because you are love itself. I won't get a wink of sleep if it means I can think and write about you instead." Rin's pulls you in again, tossing his notebook elsewhere as he leans in. "I promise I'll finish that entry, no— I'll write a book about you one day."

"Writing this, writing that, sleep first dumbass." A smile tugs at your lips as you pull Rin back into the position you were cuddling in a few hours ago. Even though you were the one who slept a lot more, fatigue itched your eyes, and a yawn spilled out too.

In response, Rin tosses a blanket over the two of you, whispering good night as you begin to nod off a bit. He should rest too, he has training tomorrow and has to go to the gym as well.

The Itoshi Rin from before would've slept immediately. In fact, he wouldn't've stayed up in the first place, let alone date someone. But the Itoshi Rin now instead stares at you, admiring each and every feature of yours. You're his savior, the luminescent moon irradiating his world, guiding him away from the grasps of solitude and embracing him with love instead.

Tagging: @yuzurins (yumi you inspired this fic btw lol)

© kitorin : do not repost, plagiarize, change, or translate

[animentality]

laughing at this convo I had the other day

so my friends and I play a soccer game called omega strikers, and my one buddy and I play a mean forward duo.

and we always joke around about blue lock, because you know, it's soccer.

but legitimately. as players.

my buddy plays a very precise character, who locks down areas and is always trying to anticipate what the enemy team is going to do next. he's a barrier character who relies on positioning.

meanwhile, my character is a brute force DPS, who moves in straight lines and has all abilities related to doing damage and hitting the ball very hard, and at strange, unpredictable angles. she excels at being in the right place at the right time, and quickly.

and legitimately... we play like a metavision x predator eye duo, because he's always aware of where opponents are, and thinking about what they're going to do. he plays like a midfielder, basically, always locking down the midfield, or making sure I can make a goal. he's very aware of what's going on at all times.

literally has Metavision.

meanwhile, I could not explain to you how I do what I do, AT ALL, because it's literally pure instinct for me.

I just know where I need to be, and I let muscle memory tell me where to run to. I am focused on the ball at all times, and sometimes I straight up just do not see what is happening anywhere else.

He's always enabling me to make shots or helping me kill or damage other players, and I don't usually notice, I just know it works, right, like, it's actually kind of funny, because he'll be like, I totally stopped the goalie from stopping you, and I'll be like oh did you? Cool. I just tried to score, and I did. So thanks.

But anyway, we were talking about this, and we came to the fucking hilarious realization.

that he is the Sae to my Shidou.

like fr.

I cannot explain how to play my character at ALL, because it all just comes to me from experience and instinct. I just rush around to where my heart wants me to go. I brute force goals in. I am constantly trying to score, even if it is not advantageous to do so. I miss as many shots as I take, because I'm just so aggressive, that I want to be in the penalty box as much as possible.

Plus, my character (the only character I willingly play, like ever, seriously, I never ever swap off her unless she gets banned), straight up demolishes people with a nuke, and has abilities that let me get wicked nasty angles on people that make it very hard to predict what I'm going to do... very Shidou coded, essentially.

Meanwhile, he's my Sae because his character has less abilities related to actually forcing the ball into goal, but he has impeccable set up ability. He's got the midfield on lockdown, and he's always thinking ahead of opponents. And he's my enabler.

and we're in love.

jk (or am I)

Anyway, we had a good laugh over this, because he knows I'm obsessed with Shidou... and the fucking irony is that even in a soccer game... I'm emulating this bitch, or rather, we share one soul, one nature, one heart.

call me predator eye kai.

[towriteloveontheirarms]

"Prologue"- The kissing booth AU

part 1 of 4 || series masterlist || next part

pairing: modern!Aegon II Targaryen x Reader, side modern!Aemond Targaryen x modern!Floris Baratheon

summary: You hadn´t been kissed at the ripe age of sixteen years old, that is no secret to Aemond. After all you grew up together, however throughout all your childhoods and even know you have a different secret to keep. One that could possibly destroy your longest friendship.

word count: 1,4k

warnings: language, mentions of character death and grief, mentions of fighting

note: Here it is my darlings! The prologue for my first ever series. Let me know what you think.❤️

You are born in Kings landing memorial hospital. Same day, same time as Aemond Targaryen, your best friend. Your mother and Alicent Hightower were bffs ever since before people even knew the term. Thus you grew up basically as twins. You were inseparable. For as long as you can remember Aemond and you loved to dance. If there was one thing at your young age of six years, it was that dance machine at the arcade, which would turn out to be your favourite place to dance. That year Aemond got a scooter for Christmas, which you tried riding. Big emphasis on tried, seeing as you almost immediately broke your leg. Aemond signed the cast and started something that would soon turn into a tradition between the two of you. He bought ice cream as an apology.

After your leg is healed you go to the pool with Aemond and his older brother Aegon, who against a protection fee consisting of ice cream, chases of some bullies for you.

Not too long after that you fond yourself in the hospital again. This time it is Aemond who sits on the shitty, small bed. Crying as he tries to process the fact that he would soon lose sight in his left eye. The sight in that eye had been gradually getting worse for a while. It is the hardest you had ever seen him cry.

At age eleven you watched Aegon in his first fight at school. He won.

Then your world as you knew it got shaken up, as you ound out that your mom was sick. It was strange seeing her in the hospital for the first time. You try to stay strong for your father and your younger brother though and try to get used to seeing her there. To say it wasn´t easy is an understatement.

Getting into a fight with Aegon for beating up Aemond  a while later brought some normality back. Especially as you made it up to Aegon by letting him fix your bike. He is so handy.

Afformentioned normality brought you to the realization that you really liked soccer. In fact you were really good at sports.

After you visit your mother around your fourteenth birthday and before you leave the building, your father pulls you aside for a talk. Your mothers condition had gotten worse and the doctors predicted she most probably wouldn´t have much time left. After getting those news even dancing with Aemond didn´t feel the same for a while after that, but he was there for you like no one else. You spent a lot of time in the hospital that year, just sitting with your mom and trying to create somewhat happy memories. You even tried to help her put some make up on, even though you weren´t of much help. You also held her hand for a long time and only cried when she was asleep. You didn´t want your tears to pull her down more than the medical procedures did already.

You also tried to score your first kiss with Jason Lannister. It´s safe to say it wasn´t exactly a love connection. If only for the fact that he sneezed on your face as you inched closer. So instead you watched Aegon getting really, really cute.

The same year you went as a pirate for Halloween. Aemond as the black swan, going all out to include the tutu and makeup and everything. It made you laugh the most you had in years.

Only to have the floor pulled from underneath your feet the next year, when you had to say goodbye to your mom. She had lasted a lot longer than the doctors had thought and that made you proud and happy. You had a lot to say to her. Sitting in the grass beside her grave for endless hours as you told her all about Aegon. Who you didn´t realize you had a crush on just yet.

Months later you watched Aegon ride his motorcycle for the first time. Only to then watch Aemond try to ride Aegons motorcycle. Ending in Aegon teaching Aemond a lesson for sitting on his motorcycle. A lesson consisting of pulling up Aemonds boxer briefs until he gave in and apologized. Only letting him go with the warning to never do that shit again.

Your sixteenth birthday Aemond and you start out by celebrating that he got his dream car. Only to learn not too long later the full extent of just how mean girls really can get.

Your next fail at a first kiss happens while playing seven minutes in heaven. You are alone with Cregan Stark and everything looks like it finally is playing out fine. Your Faces inch closer and you are about to celebrate that he, unlike Jason, hadn´t sneezed in your face yet, when you feel your foreheads bump together painfully. It was no big deal you, tried to tell yourself, but still it gnawed on you, that at the ripe age of sixteen, you still hadn´t been kissed or even been on a single date yet.

The pit in your stomach got bigger when you finally realized you had a crush on Aegon. As probably the last person in your life. Well, other than Aemond, who you hoped, would remain blissfully unaware of the fact until you got over your crush.

Which you did… mostly.

Savouring the last fleeting moments of summer at Aemonds pool. You are painfully aware of the passage of time. The end of summer and the start of the school year, but it´s moments like this that make you wish things could stay this way forever. Aemond sits on the pool lounger beside you. Lathered in sunscreen and sunglasses shielding his eyes from the mid-afternoon heat. The peace of the moment doesn´t last long though as school doesn´t want to wait until the end of summer to torture you.

“Student council expects an idea of our dance club this week, for the fund raiser. We need to come up with something. Something good. Fast.” You turn towards him. Lazily sitting up on the lounger you were lying on before. Aemond looks at you, opening his mouth to reply something when you are distracted by his brother walking in. It´s like the scene in one of those guilty pleasure romance movie. You push your sunglasses up to watch Aegon´s bare upper body glistens with sweat in the sun as he comes walking up the stairs to that lead to the area you and Aemond are chilling in. Shirt slung over his shoulder casually as his free hand runs through his silver hair. Everything feels like it was happening in slow motion.

“Hey, princess.” Aegon´s teasing as usual tone pulls you back to reality. He knows that you hate being called that.

“Hello, Aegon…” You shoot back in an equally teasing tone. You know he hates being called that.

“You, when did you get those boobs?” He points to your very well formed cleavage, that is hidden only by a skimpy two piece you decided to wear to tan.

“That must´ve been about when you were in Football camp, Asshat.” Aemonds interference is well meant, but not helpful at all. Prompting you to scoff at him.

“Aemond! Number two, please.” Number two of your friendship rules stated to `Never share our secrets with anyone else.´

Aegon laughs and shakes his head. “Mum and dad are out of town this weekend. Party starts at eight. No assholes.”

“Does that include you?” Aemond means to say it quietly, only for your ears, but somehow his brother hears. Prompting him to shove your friend in the pool.

You join in with Aegons laughter as he walks away.

“Gods, he´s such an ass.” Aemond grumbles, crawling out of the water, grabbing a towel to dry himself off. You however don´t see any of that. Instead your gaze is fixated on Aegons rear as he walks away.

“I know right…” You whisper distracted but appreciatively.

“Hey! Do I have to remind you of rule number nine again?” Rule number nine was Aemonds responsibility and it was a big one for him. `Relatives of your bestie are totally off limits.´

“What? No, come on! Ew” You huff at him.

“Yeah? You got a bit of drool, right there.” He motions to the corner of his mouth.

“Oh really?” You ask with a mischievous glint in your eyes. It is the only warning he gets, before you throw Aemond back into the water.

The rest of the afternoon the two of you spend pointlessly brainstorming ideas while tanning and drinking ice cold lemonade, homemade by Alicent, who had become much like a bonus mom to you by now. Until the sun starts to set and it is time for you to return home.

[ecargmura]

Blue Lock Episode 29 Review - The Blue Lock 11

The tryouts are over, so there’s less ball playing and more buildup to see who made it to the frontlines. There’s also a glimpse of their opponents, the U-20 towards the end. I honestly can’t wait to see how this upcoming match will be like as they’re a bunch of high schoolers battling against the nation’s best players under 20 years old. That’s a crazy feat.

I honestly don’t know if Ego made the right choice with those eleven players as some of them didn’t even play with Rin in matches. It definitely is a gamble. However, given that Blue Lock is the name of the show, the BL team will definitely win with Isagi probably stealing Rin’s thunder or something. That’s my prediction. Though, I do feel bad for the ones who weren’t chosen like Reo and Barou. Hopefully, Ego will rotate players if necessary and let the benchwarmers take the spotlight later on.

His lesson about flow was interesting. I do agree that there is a difference between focusing on something leisurely and extremely. What Ego is looking for is the latter—for someone to be in a state where their mind is fixated on scoring a goal that it causes miracles. It did happen to Isagi in the match two episodes ago. It makes me wonder if any other players will unlock it later on.

This episode is more about character interactions than soccer playing. The bad blood between Rin and Shidou goes as far as Shidou injuring Rin to the point that he has to get shocked and then confined like he’s in a mental hospital or something. There’s also Rin and Isagi interacting with Isagi being a good sport and handing him a water bottle in order for him to take a break. Rin fans are definitely eating well for this episode.

There’s also interactions between Shidou and Sae, which is interesting as Shidou is a Blue Lock player while Sae is a U-20 player. Originally, they’re supposed to be opponents, but Sae made a condition where he would only play in the match if he is able to take someone from Blue Lock on his side, which he chose as Shidou. Seeing Shidou being violent towards the other U-20 members make me wonder why he was even allowed to be in Blue Lock in the first place. Regardless, the other U-20 players are interesting because they all have animosity towards Sae which makes sense as he was just inserted into the already established team and then gives an aloof remark of not being interested in others. Sendou seems to be the most hostile of the bunch. Though, I’m surprised that Aiku, the new character introduced, is under 20 years old because he does NOT look like a minor—he looks 25 at best.

New character introductions means more voice actors have been added to the cast. So, apparently, Aiku is voiced by Satoshi Hino, who you may know as Daichi Sawamura from Haikyuu and Rengoku from Demon Slayer. Hino’s voice always does give authoritarian vibes, so I guess it suits him? Sendou is voiced by Akihisa Wakayama who is a voice actor I’m not too familiar with. Also, Blue Lock really likes spending money on big name voice actors because even the JFU fogies have big named voice actors. Buratsuta, the pot-bellied old guy is voiced by Bin Shimada and Hochi, the bespectacled guy is voiced by Toshihiko Seki, whom you may know as flipping Muzan Kibutsuji from Demon Slayer. Like, why is the studio spending so much on voice actors when they should be spending their money elsewhere. Heck, the 11 U-20 members got revealed and they got rather known voice actors to voice these eleven guys—even Kensho Ono is in the cast! What the heck, 8bit?

Anyways, the additional time was super cute with Niko trying to get along with Aryu and Gagamaru and it just becomes an OSHA party at the end. It’s funny how both Gagamaru and Aryu are airheads but so tall while Niko is levelheaded and shorter. I guess the taller you are, the more in tune with the air you are.

I honestly can’t wait to see the match between Sae and the U-20 vs the Blue Lock 11. It’s going to be intense given that the Itoshi brothers are adversaries in this match. It’s definitely going to be a crazy match emotionally. I just pray nothing bad happens to Chigiri’s knee in this match. What are your thoughts on this episode?

[pumperpup]

This one took a bizarre turn, but I ran with it because it's hilarious.

In an unexpected twist before the big game, the Eagles concoct a devious plan to throw off their rivals, the Sharks, by planting a device in their locker room. This device releases a mysterious gas that causes anyone who inhales it to inflate to an enormous size. As the Sharks prepare for the game, they're unwittingly exposed to the gas, and one by one, their bodies begin to expand, filling the room with their increasingly large forms.

Initially, the Sharks are caught off guard and a wave of embarrassment sweeps through the team as they realize their predicament. Looking for a solution, they come up with a clever idea to turn their situation to their advantage. They decide to don their mascot costumes, which conveniently disguise their inflated forms and turn their embarrassment into a strategic disguise.

With their new, enlarged physiques, the Sharks waddle out onto the field, a sight that bewilders and amuses the spectators. Despite the initial mockery, the game begins, and it quickly becomes apparent that the Sharks' inflated bodies are not a disadvantage but a formidable asset.

As the match progresses, the Sharks use their massive sizes to block every attempt at a goal by the Eagles. Their opponents' frustration mounts as every shot is effortlessly deflected by the Sharks' "fat" bodies, which fill the goal and leave no space for the ball to pass through.

On the offensive side, the Sharks find creative ways to maneuver the ball and score goals. Their unwieldy bodies prove to be surprisingly agile, and they manage to score a few goals against the disoriented Eagles. Each goal is met with roaring applause and laughter from the stands, as the spectacle of the game unfolds in a way no one could have predicted.

In the end, the Sharks emerge victorious, their inflated bodies bouncing and jiggling as they celebrate their unexpected win. The celebration is wild, with cheers and confetti filling the air. The Sharks' clever use of their inflated predicament not only wins them the game but also earns them a special place in the hearts of the spectators, who will undoubtedly remember this match as one of the most unusual and entertaining games in soccer history.

The Eagles' plan to sabotage the Sharks backfires spectacularly, proving that sometimes, what seems like a setback can be turned into a triumphant advantage with a bit of creativity and team spirit. The Sharks' victory is a testament to their resilience, proving that no matter the size or shape, determination and unity can lead to success.

[ac-liveblogs]

Manshine City vs Bastard Munchen Part 2 "Oops I stopped Reading For Two Weeks" Edition

Last time: Nagi stood underneath Reo's window with a boombox and asked him to take him back. Reo, who swore he didn't need Nagi and was going to do this for HIMSELF, flings himself out the window.

I do like that Isagi is trying to master-mind the field 'oooh I can predict your every move!', theoretically Kaiser is doing the exact same thing, and they still fail to account for each other and completely fuck up their Pro Strats. I swear, Kaiser is just if the Isagi That Plays Soccer existed off the field as well as on it.

GOD Reo's inner monologue. "We split up once... we followed different paths..." ONE it's been like a month absolute tops TWO I maintain that Reo and Nagi exist in a totally different genre than the rest of the cast.

(Tbh I'm a little disappointed the Reo-Nagi drama seems to have resolved so easily, though there might still be tension outside of the field. I doubt Nagi's going to try and split up with Reo again at this point. Gotta wrap up these character arcs and move on, save the real meat for Episode Nagi in 4 years. Which is a shame, because given how batshit things were back in Blue Lock Reo absolutely Losing It was one of the things I was looking forward to most. What, he can't be too crazy in the insane soccer manga?)

Kaiser and Isagi, you two are my only hope... I need a murder attempt, c'mon...

I don't know enough about soccer to say if a two-stage volley is an 'insane, godly move' but I think a 5-stage anything has got to be pretty impressive. Who knew Nagi could be bothered to count that high. (I know Nagi didn't actually punt Isagi in the face but it sure looked like it, I was taken aback for a second.)

I love the way Nagi's 'ego' manifests on the pitch too, it's great. Gets really hyped up for a little bit of a game, gets super intense, trashtalks like a champ, I am a GOD routine, scores an absolutely insane fucking goal, goes 'yep that's all I wanted' and powers down mid-game. It's not over yet but he did what he came for! He's just like me forreal

"If not for the simple fact that Nagi doesn't know how to play this game, he would be unstoppable!!!" - Reo Mikage, probably

Agi... Reo... guys... chill

Chris' absolute lack of class is the funniest thing about him. This match is being televised, don't go calling your opponent a slut again.

Isagi "I have every tool I need to beat Kaiser except actually being better at this game than him!" Yoichi

Noa's just watching his team burn around him like "hmm. Excellent."

Chigiri throwing his hat into the 'dumb eye power' ring with a truly outstanding entry.

I know Kunigami is in this game, it just really doesn't feel like Kunigami is in this game. The match is losing track of Chigiri as well, I got a little surprised when he popped back up. I know the lack of synergy is on purpose due to the 'every man's either out for himself or the guy he's mentally ill about' aspect/'build your team around the striker' philosophy, but it does make the teams feel really uneven when the only characters that tend to matter are the Strikers + whoever's supporting them at the moment. It wasn't so bad when they were playing with limited teams, but right now half the teams feel like total space filler.

(The whole 'guaranteed shot' thing feels a bit... insulting to the concept of goalies/defense players too. I don't know much about soccer but it does feel like a major dick move LOL. To be fair, Gagamaru is not a goalie. Does Bastard Munchen not have a goalie better at goal-keeping than 'guy with hard head that doesn't play this role normally'.)

But yeah seriously Kunigami went to an ambiguous soccer torture camp to get his whole personality destroyed and for what. This? He doesn't even get to pretend to be the biggest threat on the field for even one game. Give that man a refund. Or at least some free therapy.

"go... the world's most random shot... even i don't know where it's going!!!" that is NOT impressive that's what i do every time I kick a ball. maybe i should be a pro soccer player. i could beat noel noa

Isagi has some nerve being shocked that Yukimiya is sabotaging him because ~they're on the same team~ yeah okay whatever dude and what was your end-goal here again

man, these matches just keep getting longer and longer despite the fact that they're aiming for way less goals...

[myusernameistrashfr]

My hyper-realistic 2024 Olympic women’s soccer predictions☺️✨💖

- USA scores only off corner kicks 🇺🇸⛳️

- Spain receives 1 or less yellow cards in the entire tournament 🇪🇸⚠️

- Japan goes for a high block, leaving only two defenders (defense ain’t really their focus) 🇯🇵😮‍💨

- Zambia plays exquisitely well as a team, but they have to bench their striker, Barbra Banda, because she just can’t finish 🇿🇲❌

- Colombia causes ZERO injuries 🇨🇴🤕

- Nigeria vs New Zealand final 🇳🇬🇳🇿🏅

- The crowd adamantly routes against France because home advantage is “unfair” 🇫🇷😒

- Australia decides to just let New Zealand represent them this time & just plays their games for fun 🇦🇺🤪

- Marta wants to stop wearing red lipstick but Brazil forces her to, saying it’s been their good luck charm in every recent major tournament 🇧🇷💋

- Germany is super consistent & never chokes in important moments 🇩🇪💪🏻

[ultrone]

Now this is kind of like spray painting a smiley face and giving it to Banksy however I present to you, my dating lottie matthews hcs (precrash)

Lottie looooves to braid your hair or do it up for you, especially if you don’t usually do anything particular with it.

Lottie would wear any kind of jewellery that you gave you forever, and she’d let you play / fidget with it.

Lottie would paint your nails your fav colour to try to help your bad habit of biting / picking them when anxious.

Lottie would encourage and support absolutely anything you do with the most love - she’d compliment every botched bakery attempt and she’d try to vibe with whatever songs you played for her.

Lottie would take forever to get ready to go anywhere / would change her outfit a million times before an event - she’d start to get a bit stressy but literally without thinking you could tell her where anything in her room is.

She spoils you. She remembers everything you’ve said you like and she will buy you any silly little thing she sees connected to that.

She is still surprised when you show up to every one of her soccer games (fuck her parents) and she makes sure to direct any celebration of any goals she scores to you so you can share her joy.

She always checks that you’ve ate enough / drank enough water / took any meds.

She can predict what you’re going to say and often finishes your sentences / answers for you.

She loves when you wear her yellowjackets stuff (possessive lottie)

After a game or practice she likes to just lay on the grass with you, she makes you a daisy chain / flower crown every time.

banksy LMAOOO noo but omg these are so cuteee 😭😭😭 i loved them a lot, they’re so real

i love her so much <333

ps. u should start writing 🫣

[bropunzeling]

Matthew/Leon - hands

Leon likes to touch.

It's not something Matthew predicted, but maybe he should have. On the ice, Leon showed no qualms about throwing his weight around; trying to throw Matthew around, too. Got his fist in Matthew's jersey often enough. It tracks that he would want to get his hands on Matthew off the ice, too.

Except --

If it were just during sex, Matthew would get it. That's how sex works. That's how sex with them works: the nails digging into skin, the searing heat of Leon's palm against the side of his ribs, the strength of his grip when he hauls Matthew in. Matthew pushes, and Leon pulls, and somehow they find equilibrium.

But not long after they started this, it started happening outside the bedroom. Touching the back of Matthew's neck in an elevator. Brushing a thumb under the hem of Matthew's t-shirt sleeve before he leans in for a kiss. Rubbing the small of Matthew's back when he gets them both a beer from the fridge.

It's starting to drive Matthew crazy.

Like now, sitting on Leon's couch in January, sipping a post-sex beer that he accepted to be polite and watching -- fuck if he knows. Some soccer game that Leon gives a shit about and he doesn't. The score is tied at nothing. It's deathly boring. He should've left an hour ago.

Would've, too, except for the casual hand barely touching his shoulder, fingertips hot through the cotton of his t-shirt. It's nothing, and yet Matthew's pinned in place.

"Shit," Leon says as something happens. God knows what. The screen is blurring in Matthew's vision. He's not sure what he wants. For Leon to let go of him, so he can finally leave. For Leon to press down, to actually touch him, instead of leaving him here in limbo. It's like a parody of high school, the old yawn and stretch, getting a hand around the shoulders of a girl you like, except Matthew's not a girl Leon likes, he's a guy Leon loves to hate. It's what you'd do if you were dating, except what he and Leon are doing is the furthest thing from that. If Leon keeps him like this any longer, Matthew's going to crawl out of his skin.

"Shit," Leon says again, leaning forward. The press of his arm against Matthew's back burns. His palm flattens against Matthew's shoulder, fingers digging into Matthew's bicep. The new pressure makes Matthew suck in a breath, but Leon doesn't seem to notice.

Something happens -- Matthew couldn't say what if there was a gun pressed against his skull. Good, apparently; Leon sags back into the couch. His hand relaxes, shifting on Matthew's shoulder, closer to his neck. His thumb brushes against the column of Matthew's throat.

Matthew needs to leave. Should have left. Curfew's soon. He doesn't like this beer. He doesn't care about this game. The longer he's here, the more he's going to think about if this means anything.

Matthew sits there, and lets himself be touched.

[extraliga-related]

Do you have any info on Eduard Šalé? I was charmed to pieces by his draft day interview on ESPN and as someone who is likely to see him often in the Pacific, I'd love to know more about him!

FAVORITE CZECH EXTRALIGA ROOKIE!! YES!!

Prone to essay, so... be warned?

Ambitious kid from Brno who was first brought onto the ice by his grandpa. Usually the youngest kid on the team since he kept on joining the next higher tier as an underager. Led to coaches not expecting too much from him, so he put the pressure on himself and made it his goal to not fall into the habit of improving just one area at a time. Quote from when he was 15:

"I'll have to keep working on everything, though. From skating to shooting to stick-handling and so on. Everything needs to be improved all the time."

and when asked about relying on his talent:

"Even those who are talented still have to work hard to get somewhere."

And now we can see where it already led him!!

______________

Got the attitude that he doesn't care about individual rankings or numbers, whether or not he's leading the top-scorer list, just about contributing to the team and succeeding as a unit. No time to contemplate the future but rather focus on each game individually and once it's done it's done, no use to dwell more than a day when all you can do is make adjustments and try again.

Was ranked among the top 5 players for the draft early on, dropped after his numbers in the league didn't add up to much (7+7 in 43 games). Criticized for not producing even though he was statistically among some of the most productive forwards given his ice time averaged about 12 minutes while perpetually being on the 4th line.

It's not on him that the league is inherently hard to play in for U20 candidates and he knows it. Wasn't deterred and kept his frustration in check even whilst enduring a 24-game drought. While the U18 WJC didn't go so well for the whole team, they came back swinging in the U20 WJC and brought home a silver medal. Did admit to crying after losing the final while a teammate vehemently tried to deny it. A kid who's in touch with his emotions! And not afraid to show them!

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Some Facts:

previously had the choice to decide between a football/soccer, tennis, or hockey career

was indeed among the top-scorers in Juniors (U16 -> 4th at 21+33 in 38 games; U17 -> 2nd at 27+24 in 39 games; U20 -> 2nd at 42+47 in 39 games)

was only 2nd 2005-born player to step on Extraliga ice

named Tomáš Plekanec as one of his hockey idols, scored his first Extraliga goal against him & his team

aforementioned goal happened while both the youngest (Šalé) and oldest (Jágr) player in the league were on the ice

scored a hattrick against Třinec despite only getting 10 minutes of ice time on the 4th line that game when he was 17, making him the 2nd youngest player to do so

Extraliga Rookie of the Year 2022

does not know how to celly

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Already got prior connections to Seattle!

The man who announced Seattle's pick is Robert Kron, another Brno native. And one of the first people to congratulate him was the Kometa Brno legend himself, former goalie and current scout for Seattle, Sasu Hovi. Speaks perfect Czech, once scored a goalie goal, and met Šalé before as he's still around whenever there's a special event (or scouting to do).

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Had reasons to describe his game ahead of the draft, might as well tack an amateur view on here:

Left shooting LW (with the option to switch to C) who's still growing into his size but already knows how to efficiently utilize it.

Got the agility and intelligence to read and predict the play, allowing for a commendable transition game resulting in plenty of chances for him and his teammates to score on. Actually channeling all those skills at once (throughout a full match) and cashing in on said chances is something that'll come to fruition further along his path of development.

His stick-handling/shot release is a sight to behold. Can adjust his hands/body any number of ways, fooling the opposition, and still have it land exactly as intended. That is if he doesn't hesitate too long, which has happened. Once he's got the visual analysis while maintaining a fast pace down? Better look out! Needs to apply the same initiative and foresight when skating without puck.

And that penalty shot... 👀

[schraubd]

Turkey Implements the Stefanik Principle

One of the more common refrains I heard by persons who wanted to defend Elise Stefanik's bad faith grandstanding on campus free speech was the supposedly rhetorical question "how hard is it to simply condemn 'calls to genocide'?" The problem -- well, not the problem because that implies there is only one, but a problem -- is "who decides what count as a 'call to genocide'?"  We already knew, for instance, plenty of campus actors characterizing Israel's conduct in Gaza as "genocidal"; and it was not long before South Africa brought its own "genocide" charge against Israel before the ICJ. If, as is not improbable, the ICJ rules that at least some of the genocide claims against Israel are "plausible", one can only imagine the turnabout that will occur by the usual on- and off-line subjects who just witnessed pro-Israel activists claim the skins of several high-profile academic actors on the principle of "zero tolerance for permitting speech 'supporting genocide.'" This turnabout was absolutely predictable and while I'm not sure "deserved" is exactly the right word to use here (given that the persons who will be victimized will almost certainly not be named "Chris Rufo" or "Bill Ackman"), it's hard to deny the karmic significance. But we don't even need to wait that long to see this poisoned tree bear fruit. In Turkey, an Israeli national playing for a Turkish soccer club flashed a signal after scoring a goal meant to represent solidarity with the Israeli hostages who remain in Hamas' captivity. As a result, he's been arrested by the police for "supporting genocide", with threats of further recriminations by the Turkish Justice Minister as well as a promise by his team's president that he'd be kicked off the squad. It's entirely unsurprising that, in the wrong political climate, merely signaling sympathy for Israeli hostages will mark one as a genocidaire (hey, who remembers that essay just days after 10/7 that arguing that even grieving dead Israeli civilians was a means of fueling the Israeli death machine?). Again, all of this was obviously predictable in advance, and while I doubt Turkey is taking its cues from Congress' most craven opportunistic weasel, it still demonstrates the naivete of anyone who thinks that the answer to Stefanik's "genocide" question was "simple". via The Debate Link https://ift.tt/YD0pX95

[civilizationmysteriesoftheworld]

Unveiling the Hidden Secrets of the Mayans: Facts You Didn’t Know!

When you think of the Mayans, you might picture grand pyramids, intricate carvings, and that infamous calendar that once sparked doomsday theories. But there’s so much more to this ancient civilization that goes beyond popular legends. Let’s uncover some of the lesser-known secrets of the Mayans—secrets that have been shrouded in mystery for centuries

1. The Mayans Were Masters of Astronomy

Imagine building structures so precisely aligned with the heavens that they create a visual spectacle during celestial events. For the Maya, this was more than architecture; it was a cosmic connection. Take, for example, the Pyramid of Kukulcán at Chichen Itza. During the equinox, the setting sun casts shadows that resemble a serpent slithering down the pyramid steps—a powerful symbol of their devotion to the cosmos.

The Mayans tracked the stars, believing that the heavens guided their lives. They timed rituals, festivals, and harvests with such precision that some say they were centuries ahead of their time in understanding the celestial calendar. Want to dive deeper? Click here to watch the video and explore the Mayans’ incredible knowledge of the stars.

2. Blood Rituals and Human Sacrifice: An Offering to the Gods

The Maya had a complex relationship with spirituality and believed that life itself was the ultimate gift to the gods. Bloodletting ceremonies, where kings, queens, and priests offered their blood, were a central part of Mayan rituals. Human sacrifices, though rarer than among the Aztecs, were also practiced, but they were seen as an honor rather than a punishment.

These rituals were all about maintaining balance in the universe, connecting the earthly with the divine. While it may seem dark to us today, these ceremonies were deeply meaningful to the Mayan way of life.

3. The Game of Life and Death: The Mayan Ball Game

Forget soccer or basketball—the Mayans took sports to another level. Their ball game, played on grand stone courts, was a sacred contest where players hit a heavy rubber ball using only their hips, aiming to score through a stone hoop. But this game wasn’t just for entertainment; it held significant spiritual meaning, and it’s rumored that some teams played with their lives on the line. Imagine playing a game where the stakes are much higher than any trophy!

Curious to see how the Mayans’ ball game influenced their culture and religion? Watch our video here for an in-depth look at this ancient sport and its life-or-death stakes.

4. Mayan Hieroglyphs: A Complex Writing System

Despite their incredible knowledge, much of what the Mayans wrote has been lost to history. The Spanish conquistadors, viewing Mayan books as pagan relics, destroyed most of their codices. Today, only four of these ancient books survive, but they reveal a civilization with a deep understanding of mathematics and time.

The Mayans developed a concept of zero long before it was known in Europe, and they used this knowledge to create a calendar that could predict solar eclipses with stunning accuracy.

5. The Mystery of Their Disappearance

By 900 AD, many of the Mayans’ grand cities were abandoned, left to be reclaimed by the jungle. Theories about their mysterious disappearance range from warfare and climate change to something more enigmatic. To this day, archaeologists continue to piece together clues, trying to understand why this thriving civilization faded into history.

The story of the Mayans is as captivating as it is mysterious, and they left behind far more questions than answers. If you’re intrigued by the hidden tales of ancient civilizations, make sure to watch our full video to explore even more secrets of the Mayans. And don’t forget to subscribe for more deep dives into the world’s most fascinating historical mysteries!