#thanks Welshman

[on-a-lucky-tide]

I saw your text about pulling an all-nighter, so I decided to ring up an old friend for a favor again!

remember to stay hydrated and nap when you can!!

Gomz I adore this, omg. He's so big, so furry, I would nestle there and purr like a damn engine. Thank you. 🥺

[gingersnaptaff]

who are the main characters in welsh arthurian mythos?

Hi anon! You know, I looked at this question and just fuckin DIED with GLEE! Ehdhdjdhdjd I LOVE SHIT LIKE THIS!!!!! SHDJDJDH

First off, Arthur is pretty big. He's less a king and more of a warlord, but there's still a lot of cultural reverence for him in Welsh things. Seriously, Henry VII - a notable faux-Welshman - named his firstborn son Arthur purely because he was going to be Prince of Wales. Also, in Culhwch and Olwen his retinue has TWO Welsh GODS in it - Manawydan and Pryderi (my beloveds.) Idk what they're doing in it but I am inordinately pleased that they are there.

Also, Uther Pendragon / Uther Ben. Taliesin wrote a poem about him which is super fun. (Also, oddly enough Taliesin himself HAS been linked into Arthurian legends on multiple occasions. He's also another Arthur-type in that he's still regarded as tooling the line between mythical and real.)

Gwenhwyfar is also important even though she takes a back seat. Speculation is rife about whether she had a quest/myth about her (sorta like Culhwch and Olwen) and also her name means 'white phantom!' BRING IT BACK. I, for one, think she definitely did have a quest attributed to her in which Arthur had to do something to get her hand in marriage but idk WHAT.

Also, she's a GIANT!!!!!!!! EJDJDKDKDKD

Gwalchmai is also Super Important. There's speculation as to whether he was a mythical character who got implanted into the mythos or if he was always Atthur's nephew. Basically, he's a giant and he kills giants. Seriously, he's CONSTANTLY killing giants in the mythos. Plus he is called 'Gwalchmai Golden / Silver-tongued' in poetry too. In the Mabinogion, he's very often the one to soothe discord between the other knights so he's very diplomatic too.

Cai and Bedwyr, obviously! They come as a pair. Do Not Separate. Now, Cai is sometimes also seen to be a giant but his dad is Cynyr Ceinfarfog who was a real king. He ruled Dyfed and was the dad of Saint Non and, therefore, grandad to SAINT DAVID. (Wales' patron saint!) So Cai, like Arthur, has a saintly lineage. Before the French Romances shifted his character into the more recognisable Kay, Arthur's grumpy seneschal, Cai was a warrior of great renown. And literally superhuman. Like, nobody would received from.a blow from his sword, he could brave fire and water like nobody else, he has the ability to go nine nights and days without sleep or the need to breathe. He's a ledge.

Now, Bedwyr! Again he's a great warrior and ONE-ARMED. He's called Bedwyr Bedrydant (Bedwyr of the Perfect Sinew) and he's HOT SHIT. Seriously, he's like the most beautiful Knight in Arthur's court. The 10th-century poem 'pa gur' says that assailants 'fell by the hundred / before Bedwyr of the Perfect sinew ... fighting with Garwlwyd/ furious with sword and shield.' (Also, BTW Garwlwyd is possibly a werewolf.)

They have to put up with SO MUCH SHIT from Arthur's escapades it's ridiculous. They had to convince Arthur not to intervene in a King abducting a princess and carrying her back to his court, ffs. Give them a HOLIDAY. WITH SALMON TAXIS.

Now, I would say Merlin BUT he is added later into the mythology. He isn't there straight off. But he is Welsh. He's FUN. He was apparently based on Myrddin Wyllt. He went mad, and lived in a forest. His bestie was a king who died.

Now, I also think Owain, and Geraint on account of their having stories written about them but they're two kings who got folded into the mythos a bit later. Urien (Owain's dad) is another example.

Also, Macsen Wledig too. But again writers melded him in later. And I mean this in the sense that he and Arthur share similarities in how they're perceived in Welsh culture.

Anyways, anon, I hope this helps. I'm probably forgetting a TONNE of characters (Peredur, for one.) But I Don't want to bore you or make anybody trawl through this unwillingly so I shall stop! Hopefully, this helps! Thank u for the question!!!!

[milaisreading]

Toddler manager have favourite dad? (AKA coac) I think it's funny that coaches have dispute about who's her fav.

Author: Here it is! It might not be the best thing, but that was what I could come up with. Hope u like it and thanks for the request🩷

Warnings: Reader uses she/her. Requests are open

⚽️Blue lock belongs to:Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura⚽️

Another day, another disaster at the Blue Lock headquarters, except today the coaches decided to completely neglect their duties and instead made it their mission to settle one thing, and one thing only. Now what was that one thing, you may ask? Easy, they needed to settle who the favorite dad- I mean coach was! So now that meant the toddler was trapped in a room while the grown men were arguing. (Y/n) didn't seem to mind the arguing much, and kept on playing with the plushie football Lavinho gave her, along with some other toys Ego bought.

"I am clearly her favorite! After all, I am the one who makes her laugh the most, right (Y/n)?" Lavinho grinned as he turned to look at the girl. The said toddler just tilted her head to the side, unsure what they were are talking about.

"See?!"

Chris and Snuffy rolled their eyes and the Welshman walked over to pick (Y/n) up.

"She literally has no clue what you are even talking about. And even if she did, she wouldn't pick you as he favorite."

"How are you so sure you are the favorite? After all, I always make her delicious food and she loves it! Right, sweetheart?" Snuffy cooed as he took (Y/n) out of Chirs's arms, to which the Welshman protested and tried to get the girl back, but Snuffy moved her away. Finding the sudden movements amusing, (Y/n) giggled and clapped her hands.

"Up!" She exclaimed as Chris cried a little.

"Where is my phone! I need this filmed!"

Noa rolled his at the blonde and walked over to Snuffy.

"I think I am the favorite here." The Frenchman proclaimed as the other 3 raised their eyebrows.

"What? (Y/n) here spent most of her time with me, as she is my teams manager. And she also runs to me whenever she wants to be picked up." Noa explained, pointing at the toddler, who was making grabby hands at him.

"No no no, (Y/n). Look at me, it's your sweet, dear dad Snuffy." The Italian said as he pulled her away from Noa and the other two stood in front of him.

"Sorry pal, but the little lady won't be bribed by you." Lavinho said as Chris nodded his head.

"Besides, it's obvious I am her favorite. I always buy (Y/n) the cutest outfits! She loves the baby blue dresses the most!" Chris said with a huge grin. Lavinho rolled his eyes and nudged the blonde.

"I am still the one who spends time with her playing and watching cartoons, she always looks forward to our playtime."

"Well, she looks forward to me preparing her for her naps. She likes the stories I always tell her." Noa argued back.

"She can't understand a word you say, how is she enjoying it? I clearly win, since my food always makes her smile. I am her favorite." Snuffy chimed in as he walked towards the group, (Y/n) left to play with her toys.

"Nu-uh! Me!" Chris protested. An argument between the four started, causing (Y/n) to stop playing and look at the 4 men. Hugging one of the plushies she got from Noa, (Y/n) giggled and looked at the four men with wide, shiny eyes.

'Dadas...'

[cynicalrosebud]

Rumor Has It (3)

Part 1 Part 2

I blinked after a coffee fueled daze and this shite was written, and I don’t proofread very much, so enjoy!

Dividers and banners by @strangergraphics , check her stuff out, I could scroll through them for hours!

Amsterdam, Netherlands October 29, 2022 0500 hours

The safehouse was dimly lit, cluttered with maps, weapons, and tactical gear. Price, always the epitome of calm even in the midst of chaos, meticulously cleaned his rifle. Across the room, Gaz glanced through the intel on his tablet, his focus unwavering despite the occasional glance towards Rumor.

Rumor, seated at a table with a cup of strong coffee, wore a wry smile. If he was a cat, the sergeant would have bet that his tail would be swaying slowly. His Welsh accent lent a certain smoothness to his words as he spoke. "So, Gaz, you’ve got everything sorted for tonight then? Or do you need me to double-check anything?"

Gaz glanced up, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks. "No, I’ve got it covered. Just making sure we’re not missing anything crucial."

Price, overhearing the exchange, couldn’t help but chuckle. "Rumor’s right; we need to make sure everything’s in order. Can’t have any surprises tonight, especially not the bad kind."

Rumor’s eyes twinkled as he leaned back in his chair, tapping his long fingers on the creaky table, his casual demeanor contrasting with the seriousness of the situation. "Oh, I’m sure Gaz’s got it all under control. But if you need a hand with anything, just give me a shout. I’m very good at checking gear, Cariad.”

Gaz’s gaze flickered towards Rumor, his nerves evident. "Uh, thanks. I appreciate it."

Price, catching the subtle flirtation, gave Rumor a knowing look. "Easy, Rumor. We’re on a mission here. No time for charm."

Rumor’s smile widened slightly. "Just trying to lighten the mood, syr. It’s not every day I get to work with legends like ye."

Price’s grin softened. "Flattery will get you everywhere, but let’s keep it focused. We’re heading out in an hour. Make sure you’re ready."

Gaz nodded, clearly trying to maintain his composure. "We’ll be ready, sir."

As the clock ticked down, the team prepared for the mission ahead. The tension was palpable. Even as the mission loomed closer, there was a certain camaraderie forming between them, with Rumor's charm adding an unexpected layer to their interactions.

0600 hours

The night was thick with fog in Amsterdam, the city's lights barely piercing the darkness. Rumor, Price, and Gaz approached the water's edge, the cold air heavy with anticipation. Their mission was clear: infiltrate the barge, secure the target, and exit without a trace.

Price, taking charge, leaned in to address his team. “Alright, team. We’re hitting the water now. We need to clear the docks, take out any patrol boats we encounter, and then board the barge. Stay sharp.”

Rumor, his confidence unwavering, replied, “Got it, Price. Just lead the way, and I’ll make sure we’re not swimming in trouble.” Gaz had done a minor look into the limited info on Rumor. Known for his exceptional recon skills, the Welshman was adept at locating enemies and navigating through complex environments.

Gaz, slightly flustered but focused, adjusted his gear. “Understood. What’s the plan once we hit the shore?”

Price’s orders were clear as he scanned the dark silhouette of the dock and the barge moored nearby. “We’ll approach from the rear entrance of the barge. It’s less risky. Rumor’s leading us, so follow his lead. We need to take out any patrol boats first.”

The trio slipped through the water with practiced ease. They swam toward a buoy where they would emerge and make contact with Kate Laswell.

Emerging from the water beside the buoy, Price activated his comms. “Laswell, we are in position.”

Laswell’s voice came through the earpieces. “Copy, John. What do ya got?”

Price held up his binoculars, scanning the barge. “I got AQ loading cargo into a barge.”

Laswell responded, “That’s your target. Get onboard and find out who they’re working with.”

Rumor, with a playful grin, swooned, clutching the spot over his heart, “Ah bless me, I hear angels in me ears, ready to take me home to me mam.”

Laswell’s voice, with a hint of dry amusement and a touch of firmness, replied, “Rumor, save the poetry.”

Price chuckled quietly and said, “Rog. Out here”

Laswell’s voice faded as she ended the comms.

Price turned to his team, his gaze sharp. “We’ve got sentries on the perimeter. Stay low and keep alert.” He handed Rumor the binoculars, who checked the area with practiced ease and then passed them to Gaz. As their fingers brushed briefly, Gaz’s cheeks reddened slightly, but he quickly refocused on the task at hand.

Gaz, now holding the binoculars, peered through them. “Got it. I’ll keep an eye on the perimeter.”

Rumor, showcasing his expertise, addressed the pair. “Understood. I’ll handle the navigation.” His knowledge of the barge’s layout and skill in locating enemies made him the perfect guide.

The barge loomed ahead, dark and imposing. Inside, every sound seemed magnified.

Price, scanning the dark silhouette of the barge ahead, added, “We’ll approach from the rear entrance. Less chance of running into guards that way. Rumor’s leading us in, so follow his lead.”

Rumor, with a slight grin, remarked, “I see the hat still never comes off, syr.”

Price shot Rumor a brief, amused wink despite the seriousness of their situation. “Keeps the rain out of me eyes. Plus, it’s good for keeping the noggin warm.”

Gaz, still focused but slightly flustered, adjusted his gear. “Let’s get moving. We don’t want to hang about.”

Navigating through the barge, Price maintained control with clear directives. “Watch for guards. Stay silent and sharp.”

Rumor, now fully focused, scanned the surroundings with a keen eye. “We’re clear so far. Stick close and follow my lead.”

Gaz kept his gaze alert, trying to stay composed. “Point the way, Rumor.”

As they approached their target, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Rumor’s usual charm was replaced by a focused intensity. He turned to Price and Gaz, whispering, “Almost there. Stay alert.”

Price met Rumor’s gaze with a nod of fondness. “Check. Let’s get this done.”

With their objective in sight, the trio moved with determined precision.

The barge was eerily quiet, its darkened interior filled with the sounds of dripping water and the creak of metal. Rumor, Price, and Gaz moved with practiced stealth, Rumor pausing by each door, expertly checking for traps and disposing of them when needed.

They advanced cautiously, their breaths steady and silent.

Rumor led the way, his expertise in recon work making him the ideal guide through the dimly lit corridors of the barge. He signaled for Price and Gaz to stay close, his eyes scanning every corner for potential threats.

Price, his demeanor serious, held his weapon at the ready. “Keep it tight. We clear the barge, take out every enemy inside, and secure any intel we can find.”

Gaz, his gaze sharp, nodded in agreement. “Understood. Let’s move.”

The trio continued, taking out enemies with swift and precise movements. Each opponent was neutralized before they could raise an alarm. Rumor’s keen sense of direction and ability to memorize layouts made short work of their path through the barge.

They reached a central room, where the remaining enemies were gathered. With a coordinated effort, Price, Rumor, and Gaz engaged the foes in a stealthy firefight. Each shot was calculated, minimizing noise and chaos. The battle was fierce but efficient, ending with the last enemy falling silent.

Price, surveying the area as text tones rang in the room, turned to his team. “Check their phones. We need any intel they’ve got.”

Gaz moved quickly, scanning the phone of the defeated final enemy. After a few tense moments, he found a series of text messages that made his eyes widen. “Looks like the Las Almas cartel is working with Al-Qatala. They’re planning to transfer someone into the U.S. The transfer’s happening at Café Gracht at 8am.”

Price’s eyes narrowed with concern. He activated his comms, his tone urgent. “Laswell, we’ve got a situation. The Las Almas cartel and Al-Qatala are coordinating a transfer to the U.S. The operation’s set for Café Gracht at 8am. We need you to locate the café. Something big is about to go down.”

Laswell’s voice crackled back through the earpiece. “Copy that, Price. I’ll find the café and get everything in motion. Keep me updated.”

Price turned to Rumor and Gaz, his expression resolute. “Alright, we need to get out of here and prep for the next phase. We’ve got a lead on where this transfer is happening, and it’s crucial we’re there to intercept.”

Rumor, ever calm, nodded. “Understood. Let’s get to extraction and prepare for the next move.”

With their mission on the barge complete, the trio retraced their steps, moving efficiently to their extraction point.

As they exited the barge, the fog of Amsterdam enveloped them once more. The night air was filled with the promise of further action, and the stakes had never been higher.

[saintsenara]

given lily evans's surname and working class midlands childhood, is it correct to say that she comes from a welsh background? any other welsh coded characters in the series?

thank you very much for the ask, anon!

i mean, potentially. evans is certainly a welsh [or maybe cornish] surname, but it's an anglicised one and, as a result, is really widely distributed across britain:

for comparison's sake...

this means that it wouldn't be immediately perceived as being welsh on someone who didn't have a welsh accent, much like other anglicised welsh surnames, like rees, jones, morgan, and davies.

[names like mcgregor or o'connor - in contrast - would be perceived as scottish or irish in origin respectively, even on someone who was as english as they come.]

so mr evans might be welsh, or he might come from a line which has lived in cokeworth for centuries.

and - it's worth saying - that even if he is of immediate welsh origin, this wouldn't come with any significant social barriers. there are lots of jokes and stereotypes about welshmen - i'm sure he'd be known as "taff" or "boyo" to the lads in the pub and would hear a fairly regular sheep-shagging joke - but none of this would prevent him from being perceived as an equal within his class group.

[being irish, on the other hand, would. especially in the seventies.]

as for other characters, the only time the word "welsh" is used in the books is to describe the common welsh green dragon [celtic legend, we stan!].

on the basis of names, we can uncover:

six unambiguously welsh legends from canon - dai llewelyn, gwenog jones, gawain robards [who are the only people i can find with clearly welsh first names], celestina warbeck [although this comes from extra-canonical material], sir cadogan, and, of course, merlin.

two important families with names which are widespread in wales - even if they're not etymologically of welsh origin - prewett [molly weasley as gwen shipman, i can see it] and carrow.

and then a scattering of people with anglicised welsh surnames and non-welsh first names [mark evans, hestia jones, roger davies, etc.], anglicised welsh surnames and unknown first names [the hufflepuff quidditch player cadwallader], and anglicised welsh first names but non-welsh surnames [caradoc dearborn, owen cauldwell - who's much more likely to be scottish, dilys derwent, gladys gudgeon, ivor dillonsby etc.]. dean thomas also has a welsh surname, but we should assume this comes via the caribbean - the crimes of empire were perpetrated by the celts too.

in the films, bill nighy plays rufus scrimgeour as a welshman [it's actually a scottish surname - a lot of the surnames jkr uses are, which makes sense, given her long association with the place], and i've definitely accepted that into my own headcanon. even if he doesn't quite have lloyd george vibes...

[themanfromeire]

Could I request Sirius helping his girlfriend who ends up blind after a mishap with a potion? It's temporary but the poor girl still has to get around somehow!

Of course you can, mo grhá! Thanks for requesting. I hope it’s okay :) Also, thank you for the request!!

Sirius Black x Reader - Blinded By Love

A potion mishap involving a carrot, a done with everything Remus, a trying reader, and chaotic Sirius Black and James Potter.

Cross posted to AO3

```

Potions lessons where you were partnered with your boyfriend were anything but boring. 

Not only did you have to concentrate on reading the instructions written in front of you, stirring the potion at a certain time, a certain frequency and a certain direction, but you also had to fend off Sirius AND James simultaneously. 

God, you were a strong person. 

You had proposed to Remus that he become partners with you, so that your work would actually be completed to an acceptable standard, but the lycanthrope had declined, citing Sirius’ complete and utter adoration of you as a reason not to. 

He claimed that he would be unable to concentrate with the lustful looks you two would send each other from across the room. Remus also stated that unless you were partnered together, Sirius would whine to him about being separated from you all day. 

The Welshman didn’t think he was emotionally strong enough to listen to Sirius complain about not being near you. ‘The year of him simping over you was bad enough!’ he had explained with a chuckle. The guy was not mean, just done with everything. 

You had proposed that you keep the two on leashes, with dream catchers tied above them to keep them occupied whilst you and Remus completed the potions assignment. The idea had drawn a hearty laugh from Remus, along with a playful ruffle of your hair, but not an agreement. 

So here you were, trying to brew a potion with your chaos that you called your boyfriend, along with his platonic love of his life, James. Remus loomed between the two desks, making the odd sarcastic comment to you.

It was complete pandemonium, but you wouldn’t have it any other way.

Sirius turned the page of your textbook to distract you, whilst James added something to your cauldron. It was not an unusual occurrence, in fact, it was so common that James, Sirius and Remus frequently made bets about who out of the first two could add the largest object to your potion without you noticing.

What was unusual was what happened next. 

As your lover distracted you so James could drop an entire carrot that he had stolen from the Great Hall at lunchtime that day, you realised what was happening, and whipped your head towards the cauldron.

Just in time to see it explode. 

Bright orange liquid flew in all directions with a bang that you felt reverberate in every single cell of your body. The kind that shook your core, like a marching band trudging by, filling your being with the pounding of the bass drum and snare to the rhythm of their steps. 

And then, silence. Followed by hysterical laughter. 

The voice of Slughorn cut through, trying to calm the laughter of the Marauders, but nothing could bring that train back to the station, especially not as James Potter stood in the centre of the room, completely covered in orange goop. 

“The four of you, detention. I will be deducting 30 points from Gryffindor for your antics, Mr Black, and Mr Potter. Go to Madame Pomfrey at once. The very second she dismisses you, I want all of you back here to clean up this mess. Do I make myself clear?” 

 A chorus of insincere “Yes sir”s that were interrupted with giggles replied, and as the other two exited the dungeons, Sirius’ arm found its usual home around your waist, and the boy began to guide you out of the room, something which you were eternally grateful for. 

You allowed your boyfriend to guide you towards the hospital wing as you raised a hand to your eyes and began to rub the orange, carrot-scented potion from your them to view the spectacle that had Remus howling with laughter, and your boyfriend’s echoing along the corridor, but as you rubbed at your eyes, the darkness remained. 

You dug the heels of your hand into your eyes, frantically rubbing, attempting to banish the umbra from your vision, but no change occurred. Maybe if you tried harder, it would disappear?

As you went to attempt to scrub it away once more, a cold and gentle hand wrapped around your wrist. Sirius. “Hey now, baby. Prongsie didn’t mean to explode our potion, there’s no need to cry.” Sirius’ voice adopted a soft, yet lighthearted tone as he spoke. 

It only got more joking as he continued. “But I’d say karma has paid a nice visit to him. Oi, Prongs, I thought you were a proud Gryffindor, mate! What house are you now? Clementine?” He barked a laugh at his own joke, though you could hear his laugh die down as he noticed your silence. 

Instead of giggling along at his quips, you were still aggressively massaging your poor eyes. Sirius pulled your hands down from your face. “Oh mon amour…” He began softly, using the caring tone he reserved only for the Marauders and you, “You’re absolutely clarried in it.”

He moved his hand from your wrist, and to your cheek. He stroked it softly. “Look at me.” He asked softly, but you couldn’t even pinpoint the direction that his voice was coming from. “Baby?” Sirius asked, and you could hear the concern in his voice rising. 

“Siri… I can’t see.” You uttered ashamedly. The words froze Sirius in his tracks, and he squeezed your waist tighter, pulling you closer to his body. “We’ll… We’ll get you to Madame Pomfrey, okay? Just hold on, darling,” He assured you, but there was clear anxiety in his voice as he fumbled over his words. 

Your boyfriend began to power walk towards the Hospital Wing, his arm still around you protectively. As he pushed past James and Remus, he didn’t even entertain the other two Marauders’ questions, his priority was you. 

Once you arrived at the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey took one look at the two of you and pointed to an empty bed where Sirius led you. The Mediwitch didn’t even ask what had happened as she began to treat you. 

Years of dealing with the Marauders had numbed her to their actions and their resulting stupidity caused injuries. There was never a dull day dating Sirius Black, that’s for sure.

[strawberrysapphocake]

COLIN. HUGHES. IS CANONICALLY GAY.

I don’t really know how to properly articulate this—I just feel so ridiculously happy and validated. This is what I mean by wanting to see the queer experience portrayed realistically in mainstream media: we see Colin struggling with being closeted in the ultra-heteronormative world of professional football, as well as dealing with microaggressions, even coming from his friends/trusted colleagues—but we also see him get to be genuinely happy and at ease with his boyfriend, and just generally really content when he’s able to be himself without putting up pretenses. His experience as a queer person is not all about suffering all the time, and we need more representation of queer joy, like this, in television.

Also, perhaps equally as important: Colin isn’t a main character! He’s simply one member of an ensemble cast all going through their own complicated personal issues. And being gay isn’t the center of his character, either. Colin is multifaceted: he has self-esteem issues unrelated to his sexuality (compounded by being demoted from the starting lineup and by Nate’s bullying), he has a close friendship with Isaac, he likes driving sports cars even though he admits they’re “too much car for [him]”, he’s clumsy and constantly getting injured accidentally (think water pressure + nearly dying of asphyxiation twice in one workout session), he’s a proud Welshman, etc., etc.—Colin is a character who feels real and fleshed out and more than just a piece of token representation.

Anyway… oof, I swear I didn’t go into this post intending to write an entire TED Talk about a Ted Lasso side character (haha… “Ted Talk”… get it?); but since I did, thanks to you all for reading.

[problematicwelshman]

Are you alive?

I am, Anon. Thanks for asking. Just been quiet since there’s not much new to say lately.

The Eponymous Welshman has been quiet too, some say it’s because he’s busy, some are saying he’s been chased off Twitter by mean assholes, others say his PR team has told him to pipe down again. All I know is that we’ve been without Sheentweets for a while, and since that’s his main form of interaction, I got nuthin.

At least until today.

Some awards were announced recently, congrats to David Tennant and Michael Sheen for their “Best Comedy Partnership” award, to Staged for “Best Returning Comedy” (even though--Staged? Really?), and to GO for “Best Returning Drama.”

Acceptance videos were recorded and shared, and everyone is happy and proud. (Well, we’re assuming that, since Michael only makes a cardboard appearance in David and Georgia’s video. No mention at all from his partner.)

But look at all the other content we got! Leather gloves! Ugly boots! Sideboob! I’m late to the discussion. If you want all the juicy details and discourse, go see @invisibleicewands, @ingravinoveritas, or @artificial-indulgence. There’s some great discussion on all those blogs about timing, messaging, and thought experiments.

What I am going to address is this:

This set of comments was in response to one of these poses, and…eew. TMI.

But what really gets me is the casual body shaming going on. I mean, look--APAT looks GOOD. Even sexy if generic blondes are your thing. No question she's got a good body. She's not a natural in front of the camera, but I’m guessing her target demographic doesn’t care about that. So yeah--you go girl. But just because you had 2 kids doesn't mean you automatically turn into a potato. People gushing over her looking this way after 2 kids are perpetuating a harmful myth. ALSO, people who expect women to look like that after having kids are also jerks. Let people who have kids look like they look without commenting on how it is JUST BECAUSE THEY HAD KIDS.

I know the commenter was trying to give a compliment, but to frame it as a surprise that a mid-20s woman with the means and the time to “shape up” after giving birth did just that is not really the compliment it was meant to be.

[oumaheroes]

Congrats for the 1000 followers! :D You and your fics are such a blessing to this fandom

If I'm not mistaken, one of your answers said about the brit bros getting drunk and ends up in Wales' garden but Wales himself nowhere to be seen? O.o My mind went to that news about a drunk Welshman swimming across the hoover dam (I know it happened in the U.S but still) and your answer makes me very curious. Where he disappeared to? To the comfort of his own room or is he outside doing God-knows-what? I need some answers, please.

Thank you so much, @notnobleone! And I did say that, you're right! They go out drinking, Ireland ends up passed out in Wales' garden bushes, England's missing his shoes or something sat stupid on the doorstep, and Scotland's been trying to drunkenly unpick the door all night long. And Wales, the homeowner?

Wales is nowhere to be seen

And you know what? I spent hours looking for that post to link this to and I CANNOT find it; your memory is incredible! I don't even know how far back I wrote that!

Here are the answers you seek, just for you and your lovely brain ❤️

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

Jail Break

Wales emerged into the Police Station waiting room behind a very stern looking young constable, overdressed for the weather in a long-sleeve t-shirt and jeans. The constable looked away when Wales tried to smile at him in thanks, his mouth a disapproving hard line before he began to read him his exit procedure.

Wales was mostly presentable looking from his brief stay in the cells, despite wearing only last night’s clothes, and the only real sign that anything was amiss was that he was alarmingly more rumpled that Belgium had had reason to see him in years- hair all angles, dark circles under his eyes, and a curious amount mud around his hems.

He smiled at her once he caught her eye, giving her a small nod, ‘Hello, Marie.’

‘Rhys.’ Belgium smiled to the constable as Wales came closer and motioned with her arm towards the door, ‘After you.’

‘No forms to fill out?’

‘Already done.’

‘You’re a treasure.’

Belgium smiled, ‘I know.’

Outside, Wales blinking gritty eyes in the bright midday sunshine, Belgium took the arm he offered her and began to lead him forwards through to the centre of Brussels.

‘I’m so sorry about this.’

‘Don’t be.’ She squeezed his arm, ‘Was exciting. I’ve not been woken up by a call from the police in a good few decades.’

‘Francis?’

‘Lars.’

Wales raised his eyebrows but didn’t enquire further, ‘Were you asleep?’

‘Most people are at six in the morning.’

‘Six.' Wales rubbed his eyes, ‘Lord. I don’t even remember twelve in the morning. I'm surprised I remembered your land-line number.'

'You didn't. The police picked you up stumbling about outside the train station. You told them my name and I'm known enough by a few authority figures for them to make the connection.'

Wales held a hand over his eyes and sighed something in Welsh that sounded offensive. 'I won't ask you to keep that between us; it's too good not to share.'

Belgium watched him run his tongue across his lips, looking sheepish and uncomfortable, for long enough to make the early wake up worth it, and then took pity on him. She dug about in her handbag and handed him a fresh bottle of water. ‘Here.’

‘Ta.’ He took a long drink. 'You'd think I'd learn by now not to mix hops and grapes.'

‘I wanted to come and get you earlier,' Belgium told him, 'but there was some hassle with border control. They were a bit concerned that you’d managed to get through border control without a passport and it took a while to get them to drop it.’

Wales capped the bottle and shook his head helplessly. ‘I can’t tell you how. Didn't even have one when out.’

‘Yes, I thought that. Why would you ever carry a one at all.'

They fell silent as they came to a crowded crossing. The press of human bodies that close was a bit too warm even for Belgium in her summer dress and sunhat. She could only imagine how Wales felt, dressed for a presumably Welsh summer evening and legs stuck in thick denim.

‘Where are we going?’ Wales asked as they began moving again, across the road and then down a cobbled side street further into the heart of the historical part of town.

‘Home.’

‘Oh no,’ Wales looked horrified, ‘No love, you don’t have to do that. I’ll take myself home; get out of your hair.’

‘No offense, but you do need a bath-‘ Wales winced, ‘and I’d rather you leave my lands in decent condition, at least. Despite the inelegant arrival.’

Wales laughed awkwardly, ‘That’s fair enough.’

‘So, come on then.’ Belgium tugged his arm again, ‘Tell me. Consider it payment,’ she said as Wales made a face, ‘For breaking you out of jail.’

‘Like a hoodlum.’

‘Like a hoodlum.’

Wales let out a breath of air, ‘I do wish I could tell you. I’m not sure what happened, honestly. We were-‘

‘-out in Cardiff?’

‘Bristol.’

‘Oh.’

‘We all took trains there; none of us could have driven home again, of course. I remember being in a pub and then-‘ Wales waved a hand, ‘bit and pieces in between. I remember the train seats, oddly enough, because they looked like the material of one of Alisdair’s shirts, you know those really ugly ones that he has-‘

‘Oh I love those. The terrible retro 80’s ones.’

‘Hideous things, absolute disgrace. But anyway, I remember the chairs, and I remember being at a station. I think Patrick was there, or maybe all of them were...’

He trailed off, thoughtful, ‘Actually, now that I think about it, I think Patrick put me on the train. He told me the platform and was there when I went through the gate, at least. How the fuck I didn’t realise I was going to London, I’ll never know. Then the Eurostar? Maybe night ferry? I would have had to have got the Tube to get that line, somehow, and I couldn’t have been in any fit state to-‘

He stopped, cheeks pinking.

‘Why were you in Bristol?’ Belgium asked, taking pity on him.

‘Arthur’s turn to pick the place we went. Bastard chose the nearest city to my house though, presumably knowing that I’d host rather than us needing to get a hotel or travel far back again.’

‘I’m surprised you let him.’

‘He said London’s too expensive.’

‘Still.’

Wales shrugged, ‘It is too expensive.’

Down another street, the smell of chocolate shops with their wide open doors and windows making the heavy air sickly. Wales took another sip of water. ‘So, Bristol it was.'

'And they just left you alone.'

'I'm starting to think it was more a planned abandonment.'

It took Belgium a considerable amount determination not to show her amusement openly. 'I'm sure they didn't know you'd end up in Brussels.'

'No,' Wales acknowledged gracefully with a rueful smile, 'That little mess is all my own.'

'I'd say safely making your way through several different transport methods and customs to illegally slip into the European Union is a decent achievement. I really hope you remember how you did it, the government won't like that gap sitting about.'

'I'm very sure I couldn't have done it any way other than by being far too drunk for sense. And maybe with a dash of fraternal vendetta.'

Belgium laughed, 'Well. Lucky you because now you can spend your day here with me instead of waking up with them.'

'Lucky me too,' Wales patted his pocket with a grin, 'Because I've still got my house keys with me.'

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

AN: This fic was written in honour of the many Brits who get drunk and end up wandering about in Europe with no memory of how they got there, like Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, France... it's common

[disastrouscanasta]

tag game! tagged by @star-spangled-bastard, thanks so much!!

ARE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

My welsh name is technically shared with a very famous Welshman, but that was an afterthought, lol

As for Arthur, yes, Arthur Morgan from my favourite video game ever

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

No idea

DO YOU HAVE KIDS?

Nope

WHAT SPORTS DO YOU PLAY/HAVE YOU PLAYED?

I used to do a lot of sports, but the most recent ones were football and archery

DO YOU USE SARCASM?

Yes

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?

Clothes

WHAT'S YOUR EYE COLOUR?

Swampy brown, with a teensy bit of green

SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Horror films my beloved

ANY TALENTS?

I can read fairly fast

WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES?

Writing, watching films

DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?

No :(

HOW TALL ARE YOU?

About 170cms 

FAVOURITE SUBJECT?

History and English, always and forever

tagging @blood-mocha-latte, @someguywriting, @almost-a-class-act :)

[mays-corner]

(This post is a bit random so if you get it you get it if you don't get it it's fine)

It's 2024. I should be going to the disco, which I dislike.

Instead, I decided to hyperfixate on a Welshman.

One thing that baffles me to this day, and trust me it has happened more than once, is has anyone ever tried to protest at least a bit to still have Matt as John? Did no one try hard enough? Or have the attempts failed?

I mean-

I'm a newer fan (even with content crumbs I am a fan) still, so I can't be sure, but I'm amazed that in all these years that have passed, no one ever did anything, and now he can't even play Constantine (I think).

And now, the only role I've seen is him dubbing John 💀

Ignoring this discourse about John, I've decided to search for other roles, movies, and series, and what I've found was interesting, to say the least.

I am becoming passionate about him for various reasons. Other than wanting to revive pre-pandemic activities, I have noticed a pattern: I enjoy searching for things that I only watch. These are some thoughts I had about some things I could not find in Italy:

Hard to find (for example, I'm still searching for "The Halcyon," and the funniest thing about this is that in Italy, it was shown on TV (on an RAI channel, RAI is an Italian broadcaster) during 2017 and it's not available on their platform.

Region-locked content (the DCAU being region-locked is such a crime; we only have House of Mystery, and that's it) or even trying to watch a simple cameo when the entire series is region-locked (the Harley Quinn one). However (and this is good news), while searching for Away (one of his movies to watch), I found Tubi and used a free VPN. It was slow, but it worked, and I watched it.

Expensive (I paid Assassin's Creed Black Flag in installments, so that wasn't expensive, but still...)

It was a play, so they haven't recorded it, but to see and better understand the role he played (in this case, read), I read Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola, and it was still effective.

Not even available on Chili (an Italian streaming platform on which you can rent or buy movies), the title only appears but is not available for streaming (lol).

Using Vinted or secondhand shops in general (it’s not the best time for me to go fully secondhand, but I suppose I could find some things there).

At the moment, I've watched just what I could easily find without resorting to piracy (which is ironic, since in Assassin's Creed Black Flag, Matt voices Edward Kenway, a pirate.).

In this list of things I could easily find, we have:

Constantine (thanks to another fan)

Criminal Minds/Criminal Minds Suspect Behavior (I had Disney Plus for a month, so I've watched it from there)

Flypaper, Adverse (Prime Video)

Arrow (Prime video)

Legends of Tomorrow (Netflix and Mediaset infinity)

House Of Mystery (Amazon prime, you have to rent it but still)

While writing this I found that "Layer cake" is on Sky, which I have and Now TV too.

Pocket Money (While watching it I just understood two words out of an entire short and I'm a c2 in English 💀)

Away, Wild Decembers, Armistice, Blood Monkey

So, you might have been asking yourself... Have I gone mad? To search and find for stuff not even available in my own country? In my own continent, too?

But I thought this is what comes with being a fan of someone, even if the career is what it is.

Considering me being unlucky, I was never able to see Matt when he acted and then had premieres at the same time.

Asssassin’s Creed Black Flag? I was 10, a child, lol.

Legends Of Tomorrow? I liked anime, manga and everything japanese.

And the list goes on...

It's nice to see what was like and what I couldn't live, gosh, I'm praying hard that we get to see him act again, I want and I wish to be present, live or not.

I wanted to make a really nice speech but nothing comes to mind, when I get it maybe I'll post it 💀

[gingersnaptaff]

who is george duke of clarance

Oh, hi!!! I love your blog and thank u so much for this question. So, this is a brief rundown because lots of people have yelled about him better than I have.

Right, George, Duke of Clarence was the middle brother to Edward IV and Richard III, so he's a pretty important lad. His dad was Richard, Duke of York (so the white rose in the Tudor rose) and his mum was Cecily Neville.

He's an important player during the Wars of the Roses - which faux-Welshman and my personal enemy Henry VII would eventually win - and all that entailed, but he was a schemer and so switched sides depending on what suited him.

He also married Isabel Neville who is the daughter of Richard Neville, Duke of Warwick, otherwise known as the Kingmaker (cuz he helped put Edward IV on the throne and ousted Henry VI) Coincidentally, her sister, Anne, married his brother, Richard.

The whole reason why I tagged him that mulled wine post? Well, a) I was severely seeped deprived and thought it was funny.

But the slightly more pertinent reason is that Edward VI executed his brother for treason and - so the story goes - did so in quite possibly the most ridiculous yet terrifying ways. He drowned him in a butt of Malmsey wine.

(There's no record of this, it's just a rumour, but I guarantee when you next have mulled wine you'll be thinking of this.)

If you wanna learn more there's a video here that goes a bit more in-depth:

[invisibleicewands]

Michael Sheen is portraying Aneurin 'Nye' Bevan - the man who spearheaded the creation of the National Health Service (NHS) - in the National Theatre's latest play, aptly named Nye.

Written by Tim Price, the production, according to the National Theatre, takes the audience on a "surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain's welfare state".

But, as the Welshman tells ITV News, the timeliness of the show's release has taken on extra importance given the modern-day pressures felt by the NHS and, what he feels, is the need for radical change.

Sheen said: "I think the NHS has to be reimagined I suppose in many ways.

"The kind of audacity of Bevan's vision and the drive and the determination to bring those fundamental beliefs about: you shouldn't be denied basic healthcare because of your lack of means."

He added: "We really don't want it to go back to the way it was.

"We talk about people having surgery without anaesthetic because they couldn't afford it, I mean just awful, awful stories and we cannot let things go back to that."

Audiences can enjoy performances of the play at the National Theatre, in London, up until Saturday May 11, before it moves to the Wales Millennium Centre, in Cardiff, for several weeks.

And, in a quirk organisers hope will entice greater viewing interest, the production is also available to watch in selected cinemas.

Dame Helen Mirren starred in the 2009 production of Phedre, which was then the first play to be broadcast in cinemas across the UK.

She explained to ITV News the importance of bringing such shows to the big screen, enabling future generations to watch what she hailed as "incredible performances".

"Having spent a lot of my career in theatre, having seen incredible performances you know witnessed them on stage, acted with the person or sitting in the audience and thinking future generations will never know how brilliant this performance was, was always very heartbreaking for me.

"Of course, theatre and film are two completely different disciplines and it's a strange marrying of the two, but at least to save great performances, great plays, great productions for future generations is one very important element."

Asked about the play's importance in highlighting work done by the NHS, Sheen recounted how an early performance demonstrated a real-life example of the healthcare provided by staff.

He said: "Funnily enough on one of the earlier performances someone, unfortunately, got taken quite ill in the theatre and it was towards the end of the play and we had to bring the lights up and everything and stop the play. 

"And someone said 'Is there a doctor in the house?' and there was about fifty of them!

"So, yes, it's well attended anyway. And I meet people outside of the stage door you know saying 'I've been working in the NHS for thirty years or more' and they're so moved by the production and they just want to say 'thank you for doing it'.

"But I mean it's just an opportunity to say 'thank you' to them for their service."

[jamietarttsnorthernattitude]

Word for you: noise

Thank you! Noise from if i glued myself shut you would find your way in the Dani and Jamie secret besties fic:

Jamie jumps in front one second before Monroe can hit Colin, and the ball bounces harmlessly towards the Welshman, who dribbles with it before play is whistled dead. Jamie feels the collision before the pain, and both Jamie and Monroe tumble towards the ground. For a split second he thinks maybe he will escape this mess unscathed.

He’s wrong.

Their legs tangle, and when they fall, Jamie reaches out an arm to break his fall. The pain hits like a brick as lightning shoots through his thumb and up his arm. Dani sprints over, and for a second, everything else blurs with pain until all Jamie can see is Dani’s face, haloed by the stadium lights, and all he can hear are his soft murmurings.

But then a light is switched, the stadium's noise is turned back on, and the silence of his teammates is deafening. Dani motions for the physios but Jamie waves him off and staggers to his feet, holding his arm protectively to his chest before shaking it out, ignoring the feeling of glass under his skin.

I added 448 words! Here is a snippet from that:

Jamie sneaks from Keeley’s house early, while she is still asleep. He makes his way back to the hotel happy, but wishing he had time to see Dani while he was in town as well. His original plan was to thank Keeley and then surprise Dani. But then Keeley offered him sex and well he hadn’t slept with someone since that woman right after the Gala. And well, Keeley was Keeley, he knew it was too little too late, but he had meant it when he thanked her for seeing him, for seeing what Dani seemed to see in him as well.

The bus ride back to Manchester is long, the team busy with their own music or movies. Jamie spends the day doing active recovery with the lads, feeling a little better with his place on the team with the goal in last night’s match.

His father hadn’t texted him other than one message after the match.

“Dad”: fucking finally

Two words spoke volumes. The goal would appease his dad, but not for long, not forever.

[arthursfuckinghat]

sorry you're like the first welshman i've met online that i didn't meet irl before so this is an experience thank you lol

(and you like rdr2, which is also amazing thank you)

Helo!! The welsh red dead community is reallyy small so it's nice to meet other welsh fans, a rarity for sure!! I love your analysis posts so much 🫶

[orreanintrepidness]

Someone called Ali a warlord literally ONE TIME to his face and he immediately attached the title to himself ever since. Thus, this gif was born. But I never did elaborate on it at all- Let me fix that Alistair's takeover, just under a year ago, isn't the first time Orre has had someone sweep in and take power over the region. No, since the region was settled 200 years prior, it has indeed shifted around a fair bit. During the early Orrean period (Equivalent to the modern old west era ((The 1800s)). ) Orre was ruled by someone holding the title of Sheriff. Funnily enough, the first Hagen would be the one to hold that title from it's inception, to it's end which came about following her death during the Orrean invasion of Unova somewhere in the middle of that century. Following this, Orre would be an anarchic mess for a good century or so. Bandit kingdoms popping up, etcetera etcetera. No rule of law whatsoever. This only changed when a band of Orrean mercenaries, led by Alistair's "Father" (Quotations because, well, Alistair is a clone, rather than actual son) Antonio Hagen, became sizable and powerful enough to assert itself as the dominant power, and therefore de-facto rulers of the region. Mind you, no titles were involved this time, and Orre essentially became a region split into smaller subregions each ruled over by members of Antonio's circle. This would lead to a swift modernization of Orre, which only ended once Orre once again collapsed after Antonio threw Orre into that one war that gets mentioned in the earlier games (You know, the one Lt. Surge talks about), and in turn threw it in on the losing side. Orre legitimately collapsed not long after other regions invaded it, and is the direct reason a lot of Orreans are typically hostile to "Outsiders" (A term Ali uses often, as people who've followed for a long time have seen). This collapse led to the former governance to turn into what would become Cipher, essentially Proto-Cipher, and in turn directly led to the creation of the Hagen trio (Alistair, Larissa and Lilli Hagen). Cipher would go on to in a way take over the region from the shadows, getting the mayor of Phenac, making Snagem a puppet organisation etcetera. Leading on to almost total technological stagnation, Orrean tech was, and still is in places, stuck in the 80's-90's. They're STILL using floppy disks. The most recent change, back to another form of warlordism, only occured after Alistair returned to Orre, gathered up what remained of Snagem as his "league staff" and essentially used that to repeat exactly what his father had done, the one difference being he is far less dictatorial, practically uninvolved with the daily lives of Orreans, and has managed to drag Orre out of the stone age with such speed that it's already on par with the likes of smaller major regions like Kanto, Johto and the like, and has only managed to partially crawl out of technological stagnation thanks to the Orreans literally stealing technology from literally everyone around them. The title of sheriff now being used for what would have been the subregional warlords of his father's day. Though these serve as ACTUAL sheriffs more than anything else, governance is left solely to Alistair for the most part. TLDR: Rye is a silly Welshman that spends way too long thinking about things far to intricate and convoluted about a region that hasn't been mentioned in any way shape or form by Nintendo in over 18 years, and it frequently spawns random meme images that I post without ANY context only for me to explain months down the line. Oh, and the Hagens somehow keep getting control of Orre, it's funny, all of them minus the First, Alisson, really have no place having that kind of control. The end.