#this is the kindest message it has literally made my day

[jessahmewren]

I have to say your Prospect fics sparked inspiration in many of us. If you could only see us collectively falling apart and screaming about your writing! I'm going to write something for these two as well and I have you and your stories to thank for that boost of creativity and courage 💚

We prospectors got each other's backs!

*Screams into the void* You guys talk about my writing? :')

I have admired your work for so long. I cannot WAIT to read your Cee and Ezra; you're going to bring such a tangible sensitivity to them I just know it.

Thank you for inspiring ME to continue.

[doromoni]

Not Over the Papaya | OP81

⊹ ｡•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ

Ships : Oscar Piastri x Popstar! Reader , Ex!Lando Norris x Popstar! Reader

Genre : Fluff Smau

A/N : I’m sorry everyone who’s requesting to be added to the taglists :(( I thank you for your support fr! tumblr wouldn’t let me add anymore people. But! I promise I’ll add you lovely people to the maintaglist after this series!

Face claim : Jennie Kim

Warnings : Moderate Cursing , Grammatical Errors

Summary : Y/N and Oscar cope with their own breakups by making the Heartbreak Club.

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

< Previous | Part 4 | Next >

*Message sent

mclaren

liked by Y/N., oscarpiastri, landonorris, and others

mclaren OSCAR PIASTRI!! GRAND PRIX WINNER

!!!🏆

*Message sent

Y/N. 11h

story replies

oscarpiastri Thank you again Y/Niee🧡 Where’s my reward?

Y/N. So so proud of you Osc! I’m so happy for you. Truly deserved 🥺

Y/N. What reward do you want Mr. Eager?

oscarpiastri Attend the next grand prix 😁 pleaseee?

Y/N. How could I say no to that? 😫 Ok Oscar Jack Piastri, I’ll go to the next grand prix for you!

oscarpiastri Lets freaking go!! Now go to sleep!

Y/N. Aye aye sire 🫡.

Y/bf Someone is being brave 🤭

Y/N. Whatever do you mean my dear best friend

Y/bf Nothing Nothing ~

charles_leclerc OH I SEE 👀

Y/N. well you do have eyes Charles, of course you can see 😌

charles_leclerc yes, and I see you supporting my son~ Are you my future daughter in law then?

Y/N. 🤡 ok bye charles

Y/N 7m

*Incoming Call from Oscar

Pick up or Decline

Pick up

“Hi Osc! nows not a great time~ I’m live in 2 minutes”

“I know, I’m here”

“what do you mean your here??”

“ I’m here at the venue. Is it normally this loud? your fans are crazy not gonna lie”

“Oscar your here??? like America?? like my concert?? your here here??”

“Surprise! went as soon as I can”

“ Your flight was for here?? Oscar you just won a race and you literally flown to see me?? Thats an 11 hour flight!”

“Yeah well. Anything to make you happy”

“Holy shit Oscar… no one has ever done that for me. you’re fucking crazy! I’ll meet you later I swear…. wait for me backstage you muppet! I Missed you so much.”

“Missed you loads. Good luck on the show, Dear”

“Thanks so much my kindest sweeties pookie. Now watch we work”

*Call ended

Y/N.

liked by oscarpiastri, y/bf, logansargeant, charles_leclerc, maxverstappen1 and others

Y/N. The chapter has finally closed beautifully. Thank you Florida and the people who made it so✨

oscarpiastri You were so strong for doing this. I’m very proud of you Y/N 🧡

Y/N. Your support and presence meant the world Osc. Thank you for everything 🤍

oscarpiastri wouldn’t miss it for anything.

Y/bf Y/N, my dearest friend. You’ve truly outdone yourself. My tear ducts are empty, you were literally shining. I’m so proud of you!

Y/N. Thank you my OG 🥺 Thank you for holding on to us since day 1.

Y/bf always babe! always.

user1 If you didn’t cry during Y/N’s concert are you even human? fucking bawled my eyes out there.

user2 ik you could feel the hurt in Y/N’s voice when she sang her old songs for Lando. My entire body felt like I was the one who got cheated on.

user3 Y/N is a genius for making her old pop love songs for Lando into ballads. The raw emotions in her voice were both haunting and beautiful at the same time.

user4 Y/N everyone is so proud of you. Your strength astounds us.

Series Taglist : @champagneproblems17 @itsjustfranzi @cheriwritesig @forza-charles @awritingtree @sltwins @gr1mes-cc @hwalllllllelujah @btsfluffsworld @tillyt04 @landotd @booksandflowrs @czennieszn @thatsouthernblondewiththeass @tellybearryyyy @wobblymug @alittlechaotics-blog @bingussthirdtoe @mirrorball-6 @demandealalune @heartsforleclerc @yoongi-holland @maneskin-slave @alenix @forensicheart @bloodyymaryyy @stereading @hahahjej @youre-on-your-ownkid : closed

Maintaglist : @myescapefromthislife @peterholland04 @charlottef1 @fangirl125reader @mel164 @gnarlycore @chloelovesln4 @vickykazuya @merchelsea @ln4author @qzmef @nxk1309 @styl1shl1v @lottalove4evelyn @gr3yhues : closed for now

[wistfulenchantress]

This photo is my entire personality

ok now that’s out of the way here is my intro post <3

Hello, my angel

My name is Witch

(important things are in bold)

My pronouns are they/them (preferred) or she/her, and i'm a genderqueer lesbian

It is always platonic 💛

I'm so bad at using tone indicators but you can always just ask me.

A mysterious force of nature. heart captured with the slightest hint of kindness.

Aquarius, INTJ, swiftie

@ wistfulenchantress on ao3, pinterest, instagram

i'm a minor (i'm chill with interacting with adults just don't be weird. like use common sense)

i am prob one of the most genuine people you will ever meet. if i say something i mean it, i just mean a lot of nice things. i promise i won't lie to you.

im so many fandoms. post a lot of marauders and stranger things, but i am in so many others i would love to talk about so just drop me an ask!

not consistently online rn. i'm getting back to it, but still going through some stuff

poetry blog: @thewordsofwitch

side blog for community: @troybarnesgaytruther

safe space: @safespacewithwitch

check out my ao3!!!!

my greatest triumph

asks and messages are ALWAYS open to silliness, questions, vents, or literally anything. (please put vents in my safe space sideblog, i check that inbox more often. rules for that blog can be found in its pinned post)

PLEASE DO NOT: try to get information about where i'm from, who i am, etc. i do not want to meet you in person please don't make me say no. that crosses a boundary.

NO POLITICAL TALK this is a safe space for anybody and everybody, it is a judgement free zone. i am really triggered by pressure for my political opinions. please don't. i won't respond and i will probably cry. so, please don't. if the post is overtly political you can discuss it with me but also please don’t but you can.

PLEASE DO: talk to me, spam me, do literally anything else that is appropriate. i am always bored, so please never think you are annoying. anons make my day. one time someone just told me a cute fact about their day over anon and my heart exploded. anon asks always welcome <3

please no chain mail, i will delete it

moots!!!!!! (incomplete list)

just my best friend tbh: @justiceforplutoo

my sun, moon, and stars: @garden-of-runar

literally just the best person: @tequilaqueen

absolute favorite ever: @picklerab23

the kindest and sweetest: @jamespotterbbg

genuinely one of the coolest people: @vintagetee13

so so so talented: @liggy-not-potter and @marylily-my-beloved

somehow hasn't blocked me (actually so amazing): @reo-bylerwagon

super friend: @seekmemystar

words cannot express my love: @mybedroomceilingsbored

my friendship rock from @themortalityofundyingstars: 🪨✨ (and it has sparkles)

missing out on things together with: @gildy-locks

idek how to describe how much i need him: @pangothepangolin

even more awesome people: @hisshiss-bitch @the-boy-who-drank-the-stars @moonage-nightterrors @thatrandommatildafan @theoneandonlypjofanatic

there are so many more and i will keep updating this. complain if i forgot you and i will add you, it's not deliberate im just dumb

that's all about me. have an incredible day, love <3

(made by me)

[ratsummer]

💌⭐️ Send this to your emotional support mutuals, who make your day brighter ⭐️💌

Van this for real made my entire daaaaaay I am weeping and smooching youuuu 😭

I am also going to hijack this ask as an opportunity to confess that just yesterday I started drafting a post in my head to all my ghesties here on Tumblr because I have not been as active as I want to and I feel bad! I have been wanting to apologize! I think you are all some of the coolest, funniest, kindest, silliest people and I adore sharing this space with you and I always want to be here to gas you up! YOU guys make MY day brighter literally all of the time!!! And I don't want you all to feel like I am ignoring things you've put time and effort into :c

Also, you all are the ones who have put stories back in my heart <3 I have been so inspired and feeling so creative, I am just the busiest person on earth through summer/early fall so I haven't had the time to dedicate to sharing things with you lovely people c: I try to send little things here or there when I see that one of you need it, but I'd eventually like to be one of the people who has an open ask box for writing little ficlets (what IS a ficlet? vs fic?? vs oneshot??? I'm so old and I've read so much fanfiction and I STILL don't know the differences!!!) on request c:

I feel bad because I really feel like I've been missing out on a lot of what you all have been doing! For real, NEVER hesitate to tag me or send me a message or an ask if you want me to see something/think there's something I'd like!

Anyway thank you again for thinking of me Van and I am thinking of you so much even when I am not being particularly active on here!! Much love from a silly, weepy lil rat <3

[tojisun]

sun sun! can u give me some advice? IF NOT U CAN DISCARD THIS IGNORE IT AND ILL UNDERSTAND!!!

how do u meet people and talk to ppl and go on a date or something w them? i sound like im an alien but im literally too socially anxious (im sociable and get along well w ppl, but struggle heavily with approaching), self-conscious, n inexperienced to know what to do. i wanna make new friends and potentially date someone :<

(also did u get my last message in response to ur reply? or did tumblr eat it like a poopyhead?)

my love omg i have no game whatsoever so i cant *really* help u. my confidence is the size of an apple which is already a lot for me tbh bc it has to contend with my anxiety so my days are a cesspool of “i can do this… but what if i cant” energy LMFAO 🥲

AND IM LITERALLY LIKE THAT TOO OMG like im sociable bc i get adopted by extroverts but i cant approach on my own. and if i do, i find myself having so little i can even talk about past the surface level questions :((

to add, my prev partners were all my friends so i never really had the experience of asking out people and then going on dates to see if we’re gonna work out 😭

although i started mimicking my extroverted friends! theyre not extrovert in the archetype way wherein theyre bubbly or just so energetic? but theyre so proactive in making the conversation going and cementing a bond!

since i think you and i are alike (wherein our issue lies on the approaching part), id let u know what i do instead of what they do!

i started pretending to have confidence in what i say. for example in school? my current school friend and i started hanging out bc i went up to them and went “hey, just wondering if u read the readings yet?” (and then we snowballed there teehee they did actually read it so thats cool as we were able to have a discussion about the topic but even when they didnt, i just end up steering the conversation to something ik we both know—the lecture! it was what started our friendship, but we also began to talk about other things until we were sharing our interests with each other!)

work? same thing! i start with work related topics (i work at a firm so it usually is always our clients hehehe) and then i’d invite them for coffee or lunch! im blessed to have coworkers close to my age which makes it a lot easier to poke on interests. i asked her if she’s seen this video on tiktok (it was something about that love surge couple i think) and she did so we were also able to expand our conversation out of work!

the highlight is that i bullshitted my confidence until it eventually started feeling normal :’)

im sorry that this isnt a sound advice :((

of course its still so important to stay true to yourself and im not telling u to be fake and to not be urself! but faking confidence i think is different bc, for me, its grappling with the hurdle (my anxiety) and training myself until im eventually used to it! im still not 100% the one taking the first step but when i do, im glad that i did :’)

(now for relationships… yea that i got nothing 😭 im so sorry)

but um yea! im sorry for the rambling. it just made me realize how much more work i need to put into myself too!

take care my love and i wish you the best and kindest and loveliest ever!!!

-

(i just checked and i received ur other ask!! im sorry, im kinda swamped rn so my responses have been going down the drain dhejjd but i’ll reply to it too! thank u sm for ur kindness and love <333)

[kimdokjas]

WAIT GABY IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY????? HAPPPPPPYYYYYY BIRHDAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!! 🎉💕🍰✨🎁🎈💫🌸🎉💕🍰✨🎁🎈💫🌸🎉💕🍰✨🎁🎈💫🌸🎉💕🍰✨🎁🎈💫🌸🎉💕🍰✨🎁🎈💫🌸 I found out extremely late and only had limited time to put together something small - I'm so sorry! But I hope you like it 🥰🥹🫶

I didn't intend to get sentimental while writing this but I truly believe that you're the type of person who leaves an irrevocable shine on every soul that you come into contact with. Anyone who has ever met you, for any amount of time at all, will be better from having crossed your path for even a second. And though we haven't been friends for very long, I find myself gleaming whenever we talk!

I hope that you had an enjoyable day full of happiness (and cake, of course!!) May this next year in life treat you with the tender care you deserve :3

//Hugs//

maryam you literally made me cry. for real i'm not kidding, there are actual tears on my face rn ;-; god, i don't really have any words to express how much your message means to me and how thankful i am to know you. even though we only recently started talking, i can confidently say you're one of the kindest people i've ever met here and it's always such a delight for me whenever we get to talk because you always match my energy and there are very few people in my life like that. truly, thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤

also AAAAAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE GIFT !!!!!! i absolutely love it oh my god. father and daughter blep sillies 🥺🤲 they are so so precious. this is SO BEAUTIFUL omg hello???? girl wdym small i'm mentally framing this on my wall as we speak 😭😭😭❤

[ok-ak]

AHHH HAPPY BIRTHDAY AK MY WONDERFUL WIFE 💕✨💕✨💕✨💕✨💕 where do i start! you’re the personification of a slice of apple pie served with vanilla ice cream. you’re cozy and warm and comforting and inviting and everything good in the world. magic in a person. you’re endlessly magnetic and exude such a contagious energy that never fails to make me go !!!!!!!!!!! anytime i see your name pop up. you are so witty and clever and i fully wish i could snatch up your brain because it is genius and precious tbh you are a fucking jewel. you’re so naturally hilarious and compelling and charming. and you have THE single most kind heart in the world and you’re the most wonderful friend?? you are SO compassionate and thoughtful and always make the people around you feel so loved and heard. i can’t even count the number of times you have made my days infinitely better just by seeing you pop up with a little ask message. like literal happy tears have popped out of my eyes multiple times because of how much love you pack into our interactions and your friendships, and i’m SO thankful to be able to call you a friend and that this weird little fandom made our lives collide. i feel so stupidly lucky that you followed me and chose to talk to me because you have brightened up my life in numerous ways. i’ve said some version of this before to you but it still remains wildly true- your presence in my life is a wonderful reminder that the universe is occasionally kind because sometimes it will bring the most beautiful special people into your life in the weirdest of ways and that is something to celebrate! i know one day we will do our h*livia style walk-a-thon across canada and go to ikea and the farmer’s market together before, ofc, returning to our cabin with our five cats (stocked with a moat that we have to kayak through to get to)! because of you i will probably always think “kayak <3″ when i see any and all imagery of cats snuggling forever and always amen. i hope this year brings you endless amounts of joy, love, and wonderful new memories and experiences. you deserve all of that and more, and i can’t wait to see what great things life has to offer you (and this is a DEMAND to the universe to give you everything good 🔪)! I LOVE YOU SM 💕💕💕

oh my god 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 this is the kindest message i have ever received you Literary Poet. you wordsmith!!! you!!!!/$/&-&/$:$:&-&:&:&:&:9;7&/ scream im!? scream

i love you so much 😭 i can only hope i show you half as much from telling you so much but that’s NOT ENOUGH. I am so so grateful to have you my WIFE. i love you so much i’m speechless tbh😭 i just 😭😭 ya know when you 😭😭😭😭😭 and then 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 thank you so much for this my day is drastically better because of it.

giggling so hard at our moat alsldjdk. let’s get marching cat tattoos. walking around the entirety of all of canannanadia with forever and ever. love you 💕💕 kay(ak) forever 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩

[yuujispinkhair]

I haven’t been much into JJK since… June last year but I still find myself randomly coming back to your profile to read “They kiss on the ring, I carry the crown”. The impact this series has had on me is absolutely impressive.

I remember waiting patiently for the new chapters to drop, giggling and kicking my feet as I read them and seeing you as such a huge inspiration. You’re literally the writer who got me back into writing, who gave me the last little push I needed because you ALWAYS have the kindest and sweetest words of love and motivation to give to people.

Winter, I might not be into JJK as much as before but you’re still living in that little corner of my heart as the one writer that made me believe in myself and sent me a little ray of sunshine in my darkest days <3

I hope life is kind to you, for you deserve all the good in it.

Much love to you and your writing, know that it helps people to see the brighter side of life 🫶🏼

I am crying right now because your words touched me so much omg. Thank you so so much for this lovely message! It means the world to me! Irl I feel like such a burden to everyone around me, so hearing that I could brighten your days and motivate you is so incredible to me. I cannot put into words how much this means to me. Genuinely thank you so much! <3<3

I get so nostalgic when I think of last year when I wrote, "They kiss on the ring, I carry the crown". It was really such a magical time. It felt like there was our own little community that was invested in this series and was in love with Yakuza Kuna and had fun daydreaming about him. It was so nice and exciting!! I am so grateful for everyone who accompanied me on that journey!

That story had such a huge impact on me too. I lived in Sukuna's world during that time. It occupied my thoughts every waking minute. I didn't expect that writing about Sukuna, of all people, and a Yakuza boss, would make me see what I need in life. It took me by surprise when the story went in a completely different direction than originally planned as if Sukuna wanted to show me he is a much better man than I had thought at first :) That was something I never had experienced before and also haven't experienced again since then. It will always be very special to me.

It makes me so happy that you still think about this story and that it could bring you happiness and motivate you to write again too! I hope you still find joy in writing, and I am wishing you all the best and send you lots of love! <3<3

Thank you so so much for taking the time to come here and send me this. This is really the kind of thing that stays with me forever, and that makes me want to keep writing even on bad days.

[notimminent]

of all the people that i have had the pleasure of knowing on this website, i just want you to know that you are one of the warmest, kindest, most welcoming and genuinely good people that i have known. you just feel safe and all of that is without taking into account how wonderful your writing is and how beautifully you portray emma — who herself is a literal bright spot in an otherwise really dark show. i just want you to know that every day, no matter what, you’re greatly appreciated and irreplaceable.

Thank you so much, you have no idea how much this means to read. I literally just had a major mood drop because I saw an old dual promo for someone I don't talk to anymore that used to be a big part of my life and I just felt sad because I was thinking how I used to write so much and had a base but also realize looking back how toxic it was. Which makes me sad, but also makes me feel like I’ve grown a lot. 

It’s hard to remember that I still have an impact here despite how long I’ve had this blog. I’ve been here for 8 years almost and so much has changed. I’ve changed. Emma has changed with me and is so important to me and I get so scared that I haven’t been able to show that and that I fall short so much. It’s hard to tell myself that I’m enough and so is Emma.

That was a lot of word jumble for me saying thank you, but thank you. Really, I really, really needed this. Having been here so long, most of my followers are blogs that haven’t been here for over 4+ years. The people I started this fandom with aren’t all the people I’m with now, which is sad but is life. It’s just hard sometimes to realize how much history I have here. I try to be a safe space for myself and others (despite all the angst I write). 

The feeling is mutual. I don’t know who you are but your message warmed my heart and made me smile. Know you’re irreplaceable too and that you are so, so important. 

All the love and hugs from Emma and I ❤️

[f0point5]

not douglas booth entering the story as the bad guy 😭😭😭 how am i supposed to root for lando when you enter my ultimate celebrity crush?? 🫠

so excited to see how everything will turn out - it feels like every time they take a step forward they immediately take two steps back so it seems they still have a long road ahead lmao

I like both y/n and lando as people but gooooshh when they're talking to each other they're lowkey insufferable lol 🙃🙃 lando being so annoying acting all jealous and feeling slighted when he has no right to her (giving me major flashbacks to a friend i was kind of? dating who started acting possessive out of nowhere 🤮 like dude that is one sure way of killing any attraction that might have been there). on the other hand y/n can be so stand offish when lando's just trying to be nice and it's like girlll.. yes you don't owe him anything outside the contract but you'll make both your lives a whole lot easier when you can accept some general pleasantries and don't assume the worst of every innocuous thing you know??

anywaysss what a testament to your writing that you can get me so frustrated about two made up people on my phone!! hahaha, and all that through text messages only! major kudos to you 💕

I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO INTRODUCE HIM FOR SO LONG. There was literally never another choice for Freddie it was him from day 1 he fits it so perfectly 😂

We do have a long road ahead, but this is a speed bump not a hill, it will come to a head very very quickly.

I said it before and I will say it again, if I congratulated a casual friend on something and their response was to tell me I had no clue what I was talking about and then immediately come back with a patronising comment and an invasive question about my personal life, I would be annoyed. I get that she was not always the kindest to him but he was rude to her here. I also get why he was like that because he was coming off a huge disappointment but it’s not endearing to be a dick to people who are trying to be there for you.

I feel like she has a precedent of being a bitch but Lando bungled this one. And trust me this was particularly hard for her to take.

But again, we will dig into this conversation very soon, it opens up other avenues, it’s definitely not a step back in the long run

I’m glad you…enjoyed it…in some type of way 😂

[diactrl]

LITERALLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the sweetest, warmest, kindest, and the most understanding person god has ever invented JUST FOR ME! (yes i am gatekeeping you 🙄) when we met a little over a year ago i knew you would probably stick around but i truly had no way of knowing we'd be on this adventure; and learning each other (and also making each other cry) has to be one of the greatest experiences of my life because we're way past LOLs and the digital nonsense! you impact me on a much larger scale to where i think about you when i see a beautiful flower at the park, or an old funny sticker slapped on a random item at the grocery store probably palce there by a kid.

i love you,

indie. xx

i’ve been reading this over and over again not being able to FATHOM how lucky i am to have you here in my life.

you were one of the first people to follow me and the first friendship i’ve formed on here; literally from the very start.

you’ve been my hype girl for so long and without you, i would’ve stopped before i even began. you’ve been such a bright light and nobody can replace that. no matter what happens, at the end of the day, we always find each other. i wouldn’t change that for a single thing.

this is the sweetest message i’ve received and i will cherish this forever, i literally cannot even begin to explain how much it (you in particular) means to me.

i’m sat here smiling like an idiot reading this, it’s been a weird day for me and this has truly made me the happiest girl. you are the absolute best.

i love YOU <333

[devolawrites]

I originally posted this on Twitter, and tbh I'll probably get the worst cringe in a day and delete the thread and this as well but I need people who have commissioned fics from me or at least know my writing to know what the actual mcfuck has been going on with me lately.

Re: status of my fic comms right now.

It's not that I haven't been honest with people, I have been, but probably not as honest bc I haven't been too honest with myself either? I am working on them. They will be finished. I guarantee that. But... I have very high expectations for myself. Ones that are, most likely, unrealistic. I am genuinely running on fucking empty right now and have been for the better part of six months now. Not that I was much better beforehand but it's been the worst in the past 6 months.

I'm very open and honest about being physically ill with fibromyalgia and endometriosis. Chronic migraines. Asthma. Spinal issues and the like. I also have bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, C-PTSD and, while not diagnosed, am likely touched by the tism as well. As such, I take (or I should say am supposed to take) a lot of meds daily. I haven't been able to take them bc I've been getting violently ill immediately after taking them and no one can figure out why! I also work full time and have been attempting to finish my masters.

That, right there, is baseline 'what the fuck mary take some time to yourself' but, lol. lmao, even. Then my life fell apart in March. How so?

In the span of one week: someone I considered a family member passed away. I finally allowed myself to be open to someone about how I felt after two horribly abusive situations only to get the kindest, gentlest thing ever said to me while also being turned down INTENSELY. And then found out not even 10 minutes after said FAMILY-ZONED (not even friend zoned FAMILY ZONED do you know how weird it is to tell someone you have feelings for them only to get told 'oh i see you like a sister i've never had' and just wanna die) that your best friend died.

Via fucking Facebook message.

And then that week also be the one year anniversary of my Nana's death which I'm sure still was malpractice but we'll never know for sure and I'm still bitter about it. Needless to say, I spiraled. Very badly.

I was already stressed from paying for fixing my car and finding myself needing the extra money from comms more and more and piling on more work on myself bc lmao bills and making my back log even worse and now I felt horrifically alone and vulnerable and embarrassed. And, to be sure, I still did put work out. But I also struggled with a lot of comms that I genuinely had been excited to take on only to find myself just... unable to do them. For one reason or another. Writers block? Feeling like it wasn't meeting expectations?

I'd ask other writers for help. For suggestions. For feedback. For other angles to approach shit. And I got fantastic advice. And still, nothing budged. I literally had burnt myself out and was still trying to run on empty. On fucking fumes. And I still am. And, I'll be honest, it also did sorta sting when I'd finally get work posted and then I'd just... idk. Feel like it flopped. Either with the person who comm'd it or with people in general and that's bc of how Twitter's algorithm hates creators but it's hard to not internalize.

And it made wanting to write and wanting to work on things so much harder because it became less and less about wanting to do something I genuinely enjoy and wanting to smush yalls Barbies around and felt like an obligation with no reward. And that's not yalls fault, truly. But I internalize that shit really hard and take it as a 'you're not doing this right, no wonder people would prefer others write shit and not you, you can't keep up the schedule you made for yourself.' Which is why my timeline even changed in March.

I tried to make a more realistic turnaround time, with the same disclaimers. I even mentioned to people that they'd be on a WAITLIST. And I still feel like I'm not working fast enough. Not because of any pressure from those who have paid. But my own brain. And it sucks.

Because it's making me spiral and making it even worse and it's a snake eating its own tail because if I can just get out of this fucking cycle of doubting myself and feeling like it's not gonna be worth it, I can conquer this shit. I owe so many people so much and I just... I feel horrible. I know that I should refund like, most if not all of you at this point. I just haven't had the funds to be able to do that, tbfh. I only just was able to get caught up on bills these past 2-3 checks. And if you want a refund, please, tell me! I'll do it!

But I think once this batch I have currently listed on Trello is completed, I'm closing comms for a good fucking long while. And learning how to actually enjoy my writing again. Because right now, I don't. I don't enjoy sharing my work and getting no boosts. No comments. Kudos are nice, don't get me wrong, and I love every single kudos that I get, when I get them. But it's hard to not let the self doubt and self critique fester. And again, this is not any of yalls fault. It's my own. And I don't know how to fix it, tbh.

So, once these comms are up, it's gonna just. Stop. I'll probably work on my own stuff, but I didn't even do any of the ship week content that I wanted to do (wolchefant, wolcred, wolmeric OR wolstinien) because I didn't want to upset those who I owed work to.

So, that's the state of me as a fic writer right now. It's more theory than practice, at this point, and I'm just... I'm trying, I really am. I have so many drafts in my google docs right now and I hate everything I've written so much that I'm starting from scratch every time.

Which is why the Trello has, for the most part, stood still. I'm not blowing you guys off. I just genuinely have nothing to show. And I'm sorry.

[these-written-reveries]

RE your most recent tags: I hope you know how much I genuinely appreciate you. You're such a kind and loving soul, so gentle and loving. I know it's hard, I really do, I had to learn to open myself up again and so many times I wondered why I bothered but I persisted and I'm still not 100% there yet but I will be one day. And I know you will be, too.

You're one of the kindest people I know and I adore talking with you. I'm sorry it takes me so long to respond to everything you send me but I always intend to and I hate that sometimes it takes me way longer than I want to.💔

Anyway, I'm thinking of you, I'm sending you so much love and lots of hugs!!! I'm proud of you and I'll respond to our DMs soon and you can always send me asks or messages and I'll reply when I can!!! I already consider us friends and I hope the feeling is mutual (though I totally understand if not!)❤️

Erika, you have me in literal TEARS 😭 At the same time, I'm smiling so much it hurts.

THANK YOU 💖 like honestly, truly, thank you. I genuinely appreciate you and your sweet words so very much. You have always been so kind in return to me and have never seemed to misunderstand me and the good intentions behind all my words to you -which, in my case, is rare when looking back at my past. That alone means the world to me and has encouraged me more to continue to be vulnerable and make genuine connections with others. I so love talking with you too! It's okay that you're too busy to respond right away! You know I totally understand. I still really appreciate your efforts to let me know that you see it all and intend on responding eventually!

You're an amazing person, Erika, and I really am so glad to have met you and become your friend. And yes, of course I consider us friends! 🥰🫂 I'm so proud of you for continuing to open yourself up and learning to embrace your vulnerability. That is, by no means, an easy thing to do. Looking forward to the day where we both feel more comfortable and secure in expressing such vulnerability.❤️

Thank you again for taking the time to send me this, it made my whole day! 😭 I'm sending you so much love and hugs back!! And I wish you all the luck to get you through this rough time! Just know I'm always here for you and I'm always rooting for you! You got this!! 💖🫂💖🫂💖

[koushuwu]

WAHHHHHH HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRINCESS!!!!! Thank you so so much for always being there for me, for saying the kindest words, and for supporting me for so long. U have an incredible heart, and I’m so damn happy to know you. Thank you for always making me smile, and I hope I can do the same for you <3 I hope ur day is just as fricken amazing as you are. U deserve the world and so much more!!! Happy birthday! :)

MASON MY LOVE! MY DARLING! MY ENTIRE HEART! 🥺🥺🥺 thank you for all of these incredibly kind words. you have literally no idea how happy this message has made made, but i’ll have you know that it is a lot! you definitely do the same for me as well, and i love you for that. you’re wonderful and i can’t even begin to describe how happy i am to even be able to support you and make you smile, and even more so to get the same in return. ily, mason. thank you so much again, for sending me this incredibly sweet message 💕💖💗💝

[onlyfreds]

He's a Simp | F.W.

Title: He's a Simp

Requested: Yes/No

Summary: Fred is a simp when it comes to Hogwart's most popular girl: Y/N L/N

A/N: This is absolutely the first time that I wrote the whole fic through Fred's POV.

(Fred’s POV)

“Finally!” George said as he hopped off the couch, stretching a bit, “What took you forever? I’m starving.”

I rolled my eyes at him, flipping him off, “Don’t be overdramatic. I only took five minutes.”

George scoffed, “Whatever, let’s go. I’m hungry.”

The two of us then headed down to the Great Hall then we sat down next to Ginny.

“What took you two so long?” She asked as she took a bite out of her toast.

“Oh nothing.” George said, filling his cup with pumpkin juice, “Fred just wanted to make sure that he looked good for his favorite girl.”

I felt my cheeks heat, “I did not!”

“Yes, you did!”

“I did not!”

“Yes, you did!”

“I did not!”

“Can we at least eat breakfast first before you two argue?” Ron said impatiently, cutting off the argument.

“Who’s Fred’s favorite girl anyway?” Harry asked.

Hermione looked at him, “You seriously don’t know?”

Harry shook his head.

“His favorite girl is none other than Y/N L/N.” George said, teasingly nudging my shoulder.

Harry still looked confused, “Who?”

“Miss Popular!” Ron said through a mouthful of food.

“She’s the most intelligent.” Hermione said.

“The kindest, the sweetest, the prettiest, the hottest, the sexiest and the most amazing person in school.” I said, smiling dreamily.

“Aaw.” Ginny cooed, “Look at that, Freddie’s in love.”

George chuckled, “In love? He’s whipped for her. He’s basically a simp!”

“And, here she comes now.” Hermione said with a small smile.

As if on cue, Y/N came in with Angelina and Alicia.

At that moment, the world seemed to fall into slow motion, the way her eyes seemed to almost disappear behind her smile. Her laugh was a tune that came straight from heaven.

I wondered what it would be like if I made her laugh, if I was the cause of her laughter.

I wondered, as I always did, what it would be like to hold her, hug her, kiss her, love her so freely and openly to show the whole world how lucky I am to have her in my life. To call her mine.

I felt Ginny gently tap my chin, “Fred, you’re obviously gaping at her and you’re literally drooling.”

I could feel the blush rising up to my cheeks as I wiped the spit off my chin.

“Seriously Freddie.” Ginny said, smacking Ron’s hand away as he tried to reach for her toast, “Why don’t you ask her out? She’s really nice.”

George snorted, almost spewing his pumpkin juice on Harry, “Ginny, before Fred could utter a single syllable in front of Y/N he would’ve already melted just by looking at her.”

“Yeah.” Hermione said with a small giggle, “Fred would do absolutely anything Y/N would tell him.”

Harry laughed, “That’s how much he’s whipped for her.”

“Mate, he’s practically wrapped around her finger.” Ron said.

Harry leaned forward, “You better get a move on mate. Before someone else beats you to it.”

--

George and I were walking back from the library, having finished researching for one of my products when I heard someone calling me.

“Hey Fred! Wait up!”

I turned and my heart skipped a beat when I saw that Y/N was the source of the voice.

“H-hi, what’s u-up?” I asked, praying that the blush could only be mistaken for the heat.

She gave a small smile, handing me a book, “Here, you left this in the library.”

I took the book from her, “T-thanks.”

She nodded, “I’ll see you around.” Then she headed back inside the library.

George nudged my shoulder teasingly, “Aaw, somebody’s a simp.”

I flipped him off, “Who wouldn’t be? Just look at her.”

He tried to reach for the book Y/N handed me, but I swatted his hand away, holding the book close to my chest.

George scoffed, “You really are obsessed.”

--

News about the Yule Ball traveled around Hogwarts spread like wildfire. Now guys were asking their dream girls left and right.

Ron was planning on asking Hermione, Harry was too late for Ginny and George had already asked Angelina.

My only problem: How was I supposed to ask Y/N L/N?

I was walking back from the owlery when I overheard a conversation from a bunch of guys I didn’t know.

“Mate, do you already have a date for the ball?”

“No, I was actually planning on asking Y/N.”

“You’d be one lucky guy to date her.”

“She’s literally the girl of my dreams.”

“Come on, whoever gets to marry her. I would be so jealous of.”

My hands immediately clenched to fists at my side as I walked away from the group.

My thoughts were so clouded that I accidentally bumped into someone.

“Oh, sorry.” We both said at the same time.

I looked up and my eyes met the y/e/c ones of Y/N.

“Sorry.” I apologized sheepishly, “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

She gave a reassuring smile, “It’s fine. I was just heading to the owlery.”

I nodded, “Yeah, I had just gone there.”

Y/N was already halfway up the stairs when an impulsive and possibly rash decision made me call after her, “Hey Y/N!”

She turned around, “Yeah?”

“Will you go to the ball with me?” I asked, immediately regretting my decision and started to brace myself for rejection.

But she just smiled, “I would love to.”

My eyes widened, thinking I’ve misheard her, “Come again?”

She giggled, the sound similar to angels singing, “I said that I would love to go to the ball with you.”

I grinned, “Thanks. I’ll pick you up at eight?”

She nodded, her beaming smile never seemed to leave her lips, “Sounds brilliant.”

I walked back to the common room with a spring in my step, not believing my luck that out of all the people in this school, I was Y/N’s date to the ball.

“Someone’s in a good mood today.” George said.

I grinned, “How couldn’t I be Georgie? The sun’s shining. It’s a beautiful day.”

“Come on.” Ginny said, suddenly interested in the conversation, “We know there’s something going on. So just spill it.”

I smiled, leaning back on the couch, “I asked Y/N to the ball.”

“And?” Ginny and George said in unison.

“She said yes.”

“Yes!” Both of them said, doing a little celebration dance along with the chant, “She said yes! She said yes! She said yes!”

It was honestly the best day of my life.

--

Christmas couldn’t come any faster.

Next thing I knew, I was already standing at the end of the staircase by the Great Hall.

I fiddled nervously with the end of the jacket the dress robes came with, hoping that Y/N didn’t back out last minute.

I then heard soft footsteps growing louder and louder with each passing moment.

“She’s beautiful.” I heard Angelina say next to causing me to turn around.

My jaw literally dropped when I saw her. She looked like a goddess dressed in a y/f/c gown that fell a bit past her knees with her hair tied up in a half-up half-down look. Giving a shy smile when she saw me staring at her.

“You look absolutely gorgeous.” I said, when she arrived at the bottom of the stairs.

Her cheeks were suddenly painted with a tint of rose pink, “You look quite dashing as well.”

I offered my arm to her, “Ready to party?”

She giggled, taking it, “Absolutely.”

Everyone was looking at us when we entered, I saw George give me a thumbs-up from afar.

--

We were taking a small break after dancing the night away. Having a drink in a secluded part of the hall.

“What are you doing on the arm of a Weasley, L/N?” An, obviously, drunk Adrian Pucey calls out.

Y/N’s brows furrowed as she answered, “Why? What do you care?”

Pucey gave a drunken laugh, “Shouldn’t you be on the arm of someone better? Like me?”

I was ready to go and teach the guy a lesson on manners when Y/N placed a hand on my arm, “Are you trying to make me laugh Adrian? Whoever told you that you were better than Fred Weasley is talking dragon dung. And I would rather skip the ball than not be on Fred’s arm. So, if you excuse us, we have to go.” She said, dragging me back into the Great Hall.

“I’m so sorry about that.” She apologized, “Pucey could be such a prick at times.”

I paid no attention to her apology, “Do you really mean it?”

She gave me a confused look, “Mean what?”

“What you said. That you would rather skip the ball than be someone else’s date?”

She blushed, “Yeah.”

I couldn’t believe what I heard; has she been waiting for me to ask her this whole time?

“I’ve actually fancied for such a long time.” She admitted, fiddling with a stray strand of her hair.

Have I actually died and this is already heaven?

Y/N was stunned at her sudden confession and started to ramble, “Oh Godric, I’m sorry. I just made things so awkward. It’s okay if you don’t feel the same. I mean, of course you won’t feel the same. Why would you? I could be so annoying at times and I’m not even that pretty. Besides, I’m sure there are other girls that are way in your league-“

She wouldn’t let me speak, so I did the only thing I knew to shut her up: I crashed my lips onto hers.

I rested my hands on her waist as she rested hers on my shoulder.

Once our lungs started to demand for air we pulled away.

“Will you let me talk now?” I asked.

Y/N looked up at me, cheeks painted red, “Yeah. Sure.”

“I love you too.” I confessed, “You did not make things awkward, you made it feel like I was in heaven. You are the prettiest, the hottest, the sexiest girl I have ever laid eyes on. My whole family teases me for being such a simp for you. I am so whipped that I would gladly do anything you ask me to do. So, now all those have been sorted out, will you give me the honor of being your boyfriend?”

She giggled, pressing our lips together in a brief kiss, “That’s the best thing I would ever be: Fred Weasley’s girlfriend.”

There was no denying that Fred Weasley is a simp for Y/N L/N.

𝚃𝚊𝚐𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝:

@lumosandnoxwriting @gostupid-godumb @famdomhideout @nova-darling @gaycatlord-stuff @pandaxnienke @escapingrealitybyreading @catching-the-train-to-hogwarts ​ @lunylovelovegood @thefallengodesse(Send a Message/Ask or fill out my taglist form if you want to be added!)

[rinkrats]

🥺 that mike lange story. But also those tags #sid loooves christmas #he loves giving presents #looks good in red #piles on the pounds fast #post hockey career as santa 😂😂👌🏽👌🏽

he loves his mementos and presents and is COMMITTED to them. scrapbooking. matching jackets. little pills with hidden motivational messages~*~ his love language is gifts and neck smooches and stalking geno. relevant right now are some anecdotes i sent a friend earlier this year for dorky sid gifts fic fodder:

1. Crosby's constant thoughtfulness would be impressive from anyone, much less someone of his stature.

"Sid always texts me happy birthday, he's always asking me like, how's Russia?" Evgeni Malkin said. "We talk and message all summer. He asks me how my skates are. He knows, like, everything. He follows my Instagram, I think (laughs)."

In addition to having a handle on those little details, Crosby is constantly providing those around him with memories and mementos. If the team is on the road and goes, say, sightseeing or to a sporting event and takes a group photo, Crosby will later send a framed copy to everyone.

When Ron Hextall and Brian Burke watched their first Penguins game in person, Crosby is the one who approached head equipment manager Dana Heinze and asked for two used game pucks to give to the new GM and president of hockey ops. 

After the Penguins won in 2009, Crosby had jackets made for the three players on the team who had scored a Cup-clinching goal in Game 7: Talbot (Pittsburgh), Ruslan Fedotenko (Tampa Bay) and Mike Rupp (New Jersey).

"They were blue jackets with gold buttons, and each one had a patch on it that said 'GWG Game 7,'" Talbot said. "At one of our first team meals the next season, he presented us with the jackets and did a big ceremony with the music and stuff. We had a private room in the restaurant. I still have the jacket."

-The Consummate Teammate, Captain and Ambassador, Feb 2021

2. Merz: My first interaction with Sid was when we were on the bench, guys were talking about a teammate, and the first thing this 15-year-old says is, “Hey, guys. Let’s keep everything positive. Don’t talk about your teammates that way.”

Salcido: When we were getting ready for nationals, he found these little pills that you could put a hidden message inside. They unscrewed, and inside was a tiny scroll. He gave one to every teammate. … He had everyone fill one out. He didn’t tell anyone what to write, but he made it known that we all knew what the goal was: winning nationals. So we wrote on our scrolls, rolled them up and put them in the pill thing. We kept them with us everywhere we went.

-‘Is this real?’: Stories of Sidney Crosby’s year at a Minnesota prep school, May 2020

3. On “Butterfly Boy” Jonathan Pitre:

Though the Senators are his team, Sidney Crosby has always been Jonny’s favourite player. After the TSN documentary airs, Tina gets a call from the Penguins. Sid needs Jonny’s measurements. He wants to have a suit made for him by his personal tailor, Domenico Vacca.

“It’s the kindest, sweetest gesture,” Tina says. “Sid heard that Jonny went to a lot of games, so he wants him to look like he’s one of the guys.”

“I want him to feel like a pro,” Crosby says. “Here’s a guy who is going through something so painful, and his first thought is always, ‘How can I help others?’ When I was young, I’d watch on TV the players coming to the rink in their suits. That was a cool part of being an NHL player. I want him to feel that, to make it as real as possible for him.”

Tina tries to discreetly measure Jonny while she’s changing his dressings. But he’s way too smart for that.

“Um, Mom, why are you measuring me? Am I going for surgery again?” he asks.

“No, no!” Tina replies, trying to reassure him and come up with a good lie, all in the same breath. “The doctor needs them just to make sure they have proper dressings next time you are in.”

A few weeks later, the sharp navy blue suit shows up at their front door, along with a couple of ties, an autographed stick and a handwritten letter from Sid. 

“His eyes just light up,” Tina says. “Jonny always liked to be well-dressed, and he just loves having his own suit. It fits perfectly. He looks so good in it.”

-Beauties by James Duthie (2020)

4. Pascal Dupuis inspired his Pittsburgh Penguins teammates on their run to the Stanley Cup, and Sidney Crosby found a special way of driving that message home.

Dupuis retired in December with lingering health concerns because of blood clots. Despite his NHL playing days coming to an end, the veteran forward remained an integral part of the Penguins and was in uniform to hoist the Cup after Pittsburgh's six-game win against the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup Final.

On Sunday, Dupuis brought the Cup home one last time as a player to share a special day with his family, friends and hometown fans.

"Yes, it does feel bittersweet a little bit," Dupuis said. "You get the Cup, you want to celebrate. But at the same time I got a gift by the mail [Saturday]. Basically, it's a book of all the pictures of all the good stuff we went through. It came from Nova Scotia, so you guys can figure out who it came from (Crosby), but he couldn't give it to me during the season, he saw me skating a little bit.

"And he sent it [Saturday], before my day with the Cup, so he knew what he was doing to get me right here," Dupuis said, putting his fist over his heart.

-Pascal Dupuis shares Stanley Cup with family, friends, Aug 2016

5. In 2011, Crosby was out of the lineup with a concussion, and the Penguins made their annual visit to Children’s Hospital.

Crosby got along so well with one boy there and was so touched that he later asked Bullano to go back... just the two of them, no cameras, no attention.

When Bullano and Crosby met for the follow-up visit, Crosby appeared clutching a pair of Toys “R” Us bags, filled with a Transformer toy the two had discussed.

“He literally bought every type of this toy they make,” Bullano said. “[Crosby] had never seen it before and thought it was so cool.

“There are no pictures of this. There’s no video. He was laying in the bed with the kid. They were just playing. We were there for over two hours. I got to know the mom really well because we were just sitting there.

“The kid had no idea. Didn’t expect it. They had no idea he was coming. We got there and he said, ‘Hey buddy. hope you don’t mind that I came back.’ The kid couldn’t believe it.

“[Crosby’s] crazy cool about stuff like that.”

What’s crazy is trying to recount the many times stuff like this has happened with Crosby:

• The Little Penguins Learn to Play program has been around for nine seasons, outfitting now 1,200 kids with free head-to-toe hockey equipment. Not only does Crosby serve as the face of the program — which the NHL has now adopted — but he helps fund it, too.

“There’s an awareness of what a person in his position can bring,” Penguins vice president of communications Tom McMillan said. “I think he activates that as much as anybody I’ve seen during his playing career.”

• After a recent practice, Crosby noticed a local family in the Penguins dressing room, approached them, introduced himself, learned their story and wound up giving them a signed stick.

Nobody asked Crosby to do that, and he wanted zero credit when discussing it a couple days later.

“For people who have the opportunity to come in here, people dealing with certain things, if you can brighten their day a bit or spend some time with them, it’s something that’s special for all of us,” Crosby said.

• A few years ago, through a team charity event, Crosby befriended a 4-year-old Amish boy with cancer. Crosby remarked to Bullano how much he loved talking to the boy because of how engaging the boy was and how he wasn’t consumed with technology. Crosby even tried to visit the boy but learned he had passed away.

• He learns the first and last names of the kids who attend his hockey school in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia.

“Two kids came from Japan its first year,” Bullano recalled. “He was so blown away by that. He couldn’t wait to meet them.”

• Earlier this season, the Penguins welcomed Grant Chupinka, 24-year-old cancer patient, into the dressing room. Crosby chatted up Grant and his parents, Steve and Kim.

He spent his usual time — about two or three times the requirement. Gave the tour. Then found out the Chupinkas didn’t have tickets for that night’s game and decided he would pay for them to go.

“I’m sure he could just give them an autographed puck or something, but he takes his time to go out and see them and talk to them and get to know them,” Brian Dumoulin said. “It speaks volumes for him and who he is as a person.”

Spend any length of time with Crosby during his visits with those less fortunate, and a few things become obvious.

One, Crosby is really good at these. Smooth but not in a slimy way. Sweet. You know how when you’re around someone talking and they go out of their way to make eye contact with everyone around? That’s Crosby.

He’s also humble, always introducing himself like those he’s meeting don’t already know. Holding a hand is no issue. And Crosby is the rare 20-something pro athlete without kids who acts every bit like he does.

“It is not an easy situation to talk to someone with terminal cancer,” McMillan said. “A lot of people couldn’t do that. He has an amazing ability to do that and make that person feel good.”

Crosby has welcomed several Make-a-Wish kids and tries, if at all possible, to schedule such events for practice days — to maximize the time he’s able to spend.

He’s developed a special friendship with Patrick McIlvain, a soldier who nearly died when he took a bullet to the head in Afghanistan. McIlvain actually does physical therapy with one of Crosby’s sticks.

A former club hockey player at Cal U, McIlvain comes by every year, and the Penguins don’t even bother to tell Crosby. Either he already knows or immediately stops what he’s doing to come say hello.

“He’s not doing it to leave a legacy,” said Terry Kalna, Penguins vice president of sales and broadcasting. “His numbers leave the legacy. He’s just a down-to-Earth, good guy.”

Before a visit, Crosby has Bullano email him what is essentially a scouting report on who he’s going to meet. He likes to learn about them, their situation and what they’ve been through. As much information as he can ingest. Crosby never just swoops in, shake a hand and leave.

“As much as anyone has ever seen, he accepts the responsibilities of being not just a professional athlete but a star professional athlete,” McMillan said. “He views it as part of the job. Like coming to the morning skate. That’s just what you do.”

Put another way, “he owns those moments,” says Kalna.

Said Bullano, “He’s just a good human being.”

-When it comes to giving, Sidney Crosby does as much as he can, Feb 2017

6. When Crosby received a generous signing bonus on his Reebok deal, he wanted to share it with everyone.

“He gave everyone on the bus gifts,”  says Oceanic radio commentator Michel Germain. “Him sharing his bonus with all the people he’d been travelling with for two years, that impresses me greatly. I think the most important thing about Sidney Crosby is his personality and the kind of human being he is. What he exuded. The inner richness he’d already developed.” 

-Superstitious and generous, Dec 2006

7. also this simply because it makes me ;w;

Even in defeat — no, especially in defeat — Sidney Crosby proved why he wears the "C" for the Penguins.

After the game, with his heart sinking and his season over, the Penguins’ captain bent over, sank to the ice to pick up the puck, took it to linesman Tony Sericolo and then skated to his team’s handshake line.

I immediately thought of a View from Ice Level I’d written on Crosby making sure a retiring official was sent away from PPG Paints Arena properly. I knew picking up the puck wasn’t for the same reason that was, but I also knew, in some way, it was connected to Crosby’s awareness and respect of the game.

“It was for the Islanders,” Crosby told me after the game, his eyes swollen from a first round exit – by way of a sweep to make it worse. He told me how the winning team always wanted the puck, and it was his way of providing it for the Islanders.

Crosby looked me right in the eye as he told me this, just as he did with every other member of the media to come to him after the loss.

I could tell from those swollen eyes and the way he sat at his stall, by himself with his hands folded as he stared blankly, that Sidney Crosby is much more used to being on the receiving end of a puck when a series ends than he is at retrieving it for the winning team.

That scene. His swollen eyes. Staying in the locker room until most had left – talking to anyone who needed him. Most of all, though, picking up the puck that prompted my question in the first place and making sure the right people got their piece of their own history.

It all adds up to one thing: In victory and in defeat, Crosby respects the game above all else – just as he’s always done.

-Even in defeat, Crosby shines, April 2019